NASCAR Rant Report - Wednesday, April 23rd

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Major headlines out of Monday and Tuesday:

Reflecting on Rockingham and RCR Appeal
Cup Series Returning from Off Weekend
Homestead-Miami May Host 2026 Championship Race
2026 NASCAR Hall of Fame Nominees
Katherine Legge Receives Death Threats

Plus, miscellaneous topics so far this week.

Reflecting on Rockingham and RCR Appeal:

The NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Rockingham Speedway saw Jesse Love initially taking the checkered flag, but his car failed post-race inspection due to a violation involving the rear suspension, leading to his disqualification. As a result, Sammy Smith was declared the winner. Richard Childress Racing announced their intention to appeal Love's disqualification.

The race at Rockingham was notable for several reasons beyond the disqualification. It marked the return of NASCAR to the track after a long hiatus, with enthusiastic fan turnout and competitive racing. The event highlighted the potential for Rockingham to host future races, possibly even in the Cup Series. Despite some challenges, including infrastructure issues and the need for improvements, the reception was positive.

The CW reported that the race garnered 1.053 million viewers, marking a 19% increase compared to the tenth race of last year's Xfinity Series schedule at Dover. The event saw a sell-out crowd with approximately 26,000 spectators for Saturday’s race. Overall, the Rockingham race weekend was a success, setting the stage for ongoing discussions about the future of the track.

Check out our Source Materials Page for more on this topic.

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Cup Series Returning from Off Weekend:

This weekend, the NASCAR Cup Series is returning to action at Talladega Superspeedway for the Jack Link's 500. With only five drivers having won races so far this season, Talladega presents an opportunity for new winners to emerge and potentially shake up the playoff standings. The race kicks off the remaining 28-weekends of the season, a demanding stretch with no breaks until the season ends in November. This will test teams and drivers both physically and mentally, and every driver in the field is looking forward to the competition ahead.

Check out our Source Materials Page for more on this topic.

Homestead-Miami May Host 2026 Championship Race:

NASCAR is expected to move its championship weekend back to Homestead-Miami Speedway in 2026, after hosting it at Phoenix Raceway since 2020. This decision is part of a new plan to rotate the championship venue annually, with Phoenix remaining in the rotation and continuing to host two races each season.

Homestead-Miami Speedway, which hosted the championship from 2002 to 2019, is highly regarded for its progressive banking and multi-groove racing, making it a favorite among drivers and fans. The track's ability to produce exciting races and its favorable climate for a November event are key reasons for its selection.

The move is seen as a positive change by many in the NASCAR community, including drivers like Denny Hamlin and William Byron, who appreciate the track's emphasis on driver skill. Homestead's return is expected to bring a significant economic boost to the area, estimated at $350 million.

While Phoenix Raceway has faced criticism from some for less exciting races, it will still play a role in the championship rotation, ensuring a variety of tracks host the season finale in the coming years. An official announcement from NASCAR is anticipated in the coming weeks.

Check out our Source Materials Page for more on this topic.

2026 NASCAR Hall of Fame Nominees:

The nominees for the 2026 NASCAR Hall of Fame have been announced, featuring 15 individuals across the Modern Era and Pioneer Ballots. Kurt Busch and Randy LaJoie are the new names on the Modern Era Ballot. Busch, a former Cup Series champion and Daytona 500 winner, won 34 races in his career. LaJoie is a two-time Xfinity Series champion with 15 wins.

Other Modern Era nominees include Greg Biffle, Neil Bonnett, Tim Brewer, Jeff Burton, Randy Dorton, Harry Gant, Harry Hyde, and Jack Sprague. The Pioneer Ballot features Jake Elder, Ray Hendrick, Banjo Matthews, Larry Phillips, and Bob Welborn.

The Landmark Award nominees are Alvin Hawkins, Lesa France Kennedy, Dr. Joseph Mattioli, Les Richter, and Humpy Wheeler. Voting will take place on May 20, with fans able to cast their votes online until May 18.

Check out our Source Materials Page for more on this topic.

Katherine Legge Receives Death Threats:

NASCAR driver Katherine Legge has been facing severe backlash, including hate mail, death threats, and inappropriate sexual comments, following her involvement in a crash during the Xfinity Series race at Rockingham Speedway. Legge, who has extensive experience in various motorsports but is relatively new to stock car racing, addressed the issue on her podcast, "Throttle Therapy." She emphasized that while she is open to constructive criticism, the personal attacks and threats are unacceptable.

Legge has called for more accountability from fans, social media platforms, and organizations to ensure a safe environment for all athletes. She remains committed to her racing career and is determined not to let the hate deter her from pursuing her passion.

Legge has received support from the racing community, including IndyCar driver Marco Andretti, who criticized the negative comments directed at her. Legge's next race will be at Talladega Superspeedway, where she will continue her multi-race effort in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

Check out our Source Materials Page for more on this topic.

Miscellaneous:

Le Mans Documentary: Prime Video will release a documentary titled "American Thunder: NASCAR to Le Mans" on June 12th, detailing NASCAR's 2023 endeavor to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans with a Chevrolet Camaro.

Dr. Jerry Petty's Passing: Dr. Jerry Petty, a renowned neurosurgeon who treated NASCAR drivers for over five decades, has passed away at the age of 90. NASCAR and several drivers, including Dale Earnhardt Jr., paid tribute to his contributions to the sport.

Jesse Iwuji's Return: Jesse Iwuji will make a surprise return to the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Talladega Superspeedway, driving the No. 91 DGM Racing Chevrolet. Iwuji, a US Navy Reserve officer, has previous experience in NASCAR's Xfinity and Truck Series [1].

Jake Garcia's Xfinity Debut: Jake Garcia will make his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut at Talladega Superspeedway, driving the No. 29 Ford Mustang for RSS Racing. Garcia currently competes full-time in the NASCAR Truck Series.

Nick Sanchez's Truck Race: Nick Sanchez, currently a rookie in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, will return to the NASCAR Truck Series at Texas Motor Speedway on May 2nd, driving the No. 07 Chevrolet for Spire Motorsports. Sanchez has unfinished business at Texas, where he led most of the race in 2023 before crashing out.

Ryan Flores' New Role: Ryan Flores, a front-tire changer, has moved from Team Penske to Front Row Motorsports' No. 38 team. Flores views the change as an opportunity to mentor younger pit crew members and help improve the team's performance.

Josiah Wright Reinstated: Josiah Wright, a rear tire changer for RFK Racing, has been reinstated after violating NASCAR's substance abuse policy. Wright likely completed NASCAR's Road to Recovery program.

Tim McGraw Concert: Tim McGraw will perform a pregame concert at the MLB Speedway Classic at Bristol Motor Speedway on August 2nd. The event will celebrate Tennessee's country music history and precede the first Major League Baseball game played in the state.

Al Pearce's Funeral: Funeral services for longtime Autoweek NASCAR writer Al Pearce will be held in Newport News, Virginia, on June 24-25. Pearce, who passed away at the age of 82, attended 56 consecutive Daytona 500s and authored 13 NASCAR books.

NHMS Community Service: New Hampshire Motor Speedway staff participated in Speedway Cares Day, dedicating over 78 hours to clean up and prepare a local baseball field for the Loudon Youth Baseball Program's 2025 season.

Check out our Source Materials Page for more on these topics.

Thumbnail image credits on our Source Materials Page.

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