NASCAR Rant Report - Wednesday, February 26th

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Major headlines out of Tuesday:

NASCAR Comments on Officiating Procedures
Petition to Bring Back Kentucky Motor Speedway
Xfinity Series News
Atlanta TV Ratings

NASCAR Comments on Officiating Procedures:

NASCAR has faced criticism for inconsistent officiating, particularly regarding caution flags during the final laps of races. In the Daytona 500, NASCAR allowed the race to continue under green despite a significant crash, while in Atlanta, a caution flag was quickly thrown after a late crash, ending the race under caution. This is in addition to similar scenarios across the Xfinity and Truck series as well.

Drivers and officials have expressed differing opinions. Denny Hamlin supported the decision to end the Atlanta race under caution, stating, "The race had to end under caution. Safety should always be No. 1 and entertainment should be No. 2." Kevin Harvick echoed this sentiment, calling for more consistent officiating. Richard Petty highlighted the frustration among fans and drivers due to the unpredictable nature of caution flag decisions, calling for a definitive plan to restore integrity to the sport.

NASCAR's Senior VP of Competition, Elton Sawyer, has addressed the challenges in officiating, particularly regarding caution flags during the final laps. He admitted NASCAR's mistake in not throwing a caution during the Xfinity Series race at Atlanta, emphasizing the need to balance safety and entertainment. Sawyer stated, "Our goal is to finish our races under green conditions. That’s our No. 1 goal. But also we’re not going to be racing through a debris field." He highlighted the importance of prioritizing driver safety, noting, "We’re racing cars and trucks at 180-plus miles an hour. There is an element of danger." Sawyer also acknowledged the need for consistent officiating and mentioned that NASCAR is considering revisiting the overtime line or implementing new policies to ensure safer finishes.

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

Petition to Bring Back Kentucky Motor Speedway:

NASCAR fans have launched a petition to restore NASCAR events to Kentucky Speedway, a venue that last hosted a Cup Series race in July 2020. The petition highlights the emotional attachment fans have to the 1.5-mile tri-oval track, which has been used as a storage unit for Ford Motor Company's surplus inventory since being abandoned by NASCAR. Fans argue that Kentucky Speedway deserves a spot on the Cup Series schedule due to its unique characteristics and the cherished memories it has created for families and racing enthusiasts.

The petition emphasizes the track's significance in Kentucky's racing heritage and its impact on local communities and economies. It calls for NASCAR to reconsider its decision, stating, "Let's bring back our beloved NASCAR events to Kentucky Speedway. Rekindling these momentous events will not only invigorate local communities and economies but also restore a treasured piece of Kentucky's vibrant racing heritage."

Denny Hamlin has also voiced support for the return of 1.5-mile racetracks like Kentucky Speedway. He praised the track's setup, noting that it provides opportunities for exciting racing and strategic maneuvers. Hamlin stated, "This track just sets up perfectly for the car... It just was a fantastic race from beginning to end."

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

Xfinity Series News:

Eighteen-year-old road racer Austin Hill will compete in three Xfinity Series races for Joey Gase Motorsports, starting at Watkins Glen International in August. This creates an interesting scenario as there is already an Austin Hill in the series.

Riley Herbst will return to the Xfinity Series for a four-race deal with Joe Gibbs Racing, beginning at Circuit of the Americas (COTA). Herbst, currently a full-time Cup Series rookie with 23XI Racing, aims to gain additional seat time and improve his performance on road courses.

Ross Chastain will race in five Xfinity Series events for JR Motorsports, with Acceptance Insurance as his primary sponsor.

Sheldon Creed has partnered with Road Ranger for 13 races in the 2025 season, driving the No. 00 Ford Mustang for Haas Factory Team.

Ryan Ellis will continue his partnership with Four Loko, driving the No. 71 Chevrolet Camaro for DGM Racing at Bristol Motor Speedway. The sponsorship will highlight Four Loko's latest flavor, CAMO.

Jeremy Clements will make his 500th Xfinity Series start at COTA, with Henderson Jet Services as his sponsor.

Sport Clips Haircuts has extended its partnership with Darlington Raceway, sponsoring the Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help A Hero 200 during NASCAR's Throwback Weekend.

Aedan McHugh, a former engineer for JR Motorsports, will become the new crew chief for Cope Family Racing's No. 70 Chevrolet, starting at COTA.

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

Atlanta TV Ratings:

The Cup Series race at Atlanta, the Ambetter Health 400, drew 4.586 million viewers on FOX, a 1% increase from last year, making it the most-watched sports event of the weekend in the U.S. The race peaked at over 5.5 million viewers and was the highest post-Daytona audience in four years.

The Xfinity Series race at Atlanta also saw significant viewership gains, with 1.36 million viewers tuning in on the CW, a 14% increase from last year. This was the highest viewership for the spring Xfinity race at Atlanta since the series began racing there twice a year in 2021. The CW's coverage, featuring a new booth and graphics, has been well-received by fans.

Despite these positive trends, the Truck Series race at Atlanta experienced a decline, averaging 675,000 viewers on FS1, down 26% from the previous year.

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

Upcoming Changes to Rant Report:

At Rant Report, our mission is to keep you informed, while saving you time. However, when there is little or no news to share, sending a newsletter to your inbox goes against that mission.

For this reason, Rant Report will be shifting its schedule from five days a week to Monday/Wednesday/Friday only. Any news that would have previously been covered on Tuesday or Thursday will be combined with the Wednesday and Friday newsletters, respectively.

The Saturday Editorial and Sunday Race Day Preview will continue as normal.

This newsletter is constructed by AI and reviewed by our editorial team.

Check out our Source Materials Page for today’s 45 sources.

Thumbnail image credits on our Source Materials Page.

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