NASCAR Rant Report - Wednesday, June 11th

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Major headlines out of Monday & Tuesday:

NASCAR Crosses the Boarder to Mexico
Reflecting on the Michigan Weekend
Hamlin Might Miss Mexico Race for Baby

Plus, miscellaneous topics so far this week.

NASCAR Crosses the Boarder to Mexico:

The upcoming NASCAR Cup Series race in Mexico City marks a historic milestone as the first points-paying Cup event held outside the United States since 1958. The track is a modified 2.49-mile layout of the F1-famous circuit at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. At 7,350 feet above sea level, it is the highest elevation race in Cup Series history. The thin air reduces engine horsepower and complicates cooling, prompting teams to adapt with special tuning and cooling strategies. Drivers have also taken various approaches to prepare physically for the altitude, from altitude training to simply embracing the unknown.

The logistical effort to bring NASCAR to Mexico has been monumental. Over 130 haulers and nearly 300 drivers have made the journey from Michigan to Mexico City, with NASCAR officials coordinating customs, manifests, and security in a military-style operation. Teams had to prepare cars and equipment weeks in advance, and the entire industry has collaborated to ensure a smooth transition to racing at high altitude and in a foreign country.

Daniel Suárez, the only Mexican-born driver in the Cup Series and a former Xfinity champion, is at the center of the event. Racing in his home country while facing contract uncertainty with Trackhouse Racing, Suárez carries both the hopes of local fans and the pressure of needing a strong performance to secure his future.

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

Want some non-AI content? Check out the previous Editorial:
Motorsports ‘Hot or Not’ #2

Reflecting on the Michigan Weekend:

The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series race at Michigan culminated with Denny Hamlin’s 57th career win and third of the season. Hamlin’s win came in his 701st start, placing him among an elite group of drivers with victories beyond their 700th race. The race was defined by fuel mileage strategy, with several frontrunners—including William Byron and Carson Hocevar—falling short in the final laps.

The Michigan event also highlighted the strengths of the Next Gen car on intermediate tracks, where its balance and aerodynamic quirks created tight, unpredictable racing. Analysts praised the race for its purity—free of gimmicky cautions—and for showcasing the full spectrum of team execution, from pit strategy to driver communication. The broadcast, handled by Amazon Prime, received high marks for its clarity, insightful commentary (especially from Steve Letarte), and minimal commercial interruptions, further enhancing the viewing experience.

Driver Quotes:

Denny Hamlin: “It’s fantastic. Chris Gayle, this whole team, has done a great job. We’ve been so fast throughout the entire year. Just haven’t finished it for one reason or another. Feels good to come here to Michigan where we’ve been so close over the years… Once I got to the lead, that’s when I started conserving. He kept telling me I was good. I knew I was going to have to go 100% to get around everybody. Just worked them one by one.”

Ty Gibbs: “We had a very fast Monster Energy Toyota Camry. It’s just unfortunate because I feel like we had the capability to go do it… Wish we could have got one. That was not the option with the fuel spot from where we were in. Just very unfortunate... I was going to go until we were going to run out of fuel. I didn’t run out of fuel yet. That was my plan. I think a win is more important than third.”

Chris Buescher: “I felt like we had the fastest car in the middle and late in the runs... I made a mistake late in the race that kept us from getting to Hamlin.”

Carson Hocevar: “It’s just frustrating. We had the speed, we had the car, and we were leading. But the tire went down, and even if it hadn’t, we were probably going to run out of fuel.”

Alex Bowman: “I feel OK. It was the biggest hit I’ve ever taken in a stock car by a mile.”

Frankie Muniz: “What an incredible race! This is why I live for racing—battling side by side with some of the best drivers out there. We had a few heart-stopping moments, but we came through without a scratch on the truck… As a driver, you’re never satisfied until you’re in victory lane, but this felt like a win.”

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

Hamlin Might Miss Mexico Race for Baby:

Denny Hamlin may miss this weekend race in Mexico City as he remains on baby watch with fiancée Jordan Fish, who is expecting their third child. With the baby now overdue, Hamlin reiterated in multiple interviews that if the child hasn’t arrived by the time he needs to depart for Mexico, he will stay home, with the logistical challenges of international travel played a role in his decision. NASCAR’s updated waiver policy allows for excused absences due to childbirth, meaning Hamlin would retain his playoff eligibility and points if he misses the race.

Fish, now 41 weeks pregnant, shared her surprise at still being pregnant via social media, while Hamlin joked that their son is “quite like his father—very hard-headed and stubborn.” The couple announced the pregnancy last December and are preparing to welcome their first son, who will join daughters Taylor and Molly.

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

Miscellaneous:

Jack Daniel’s & Alex Bowman Whiskey Collaboration: Jack Daniel’s and NASCAR have released a limited-edition “NASCAR Chicago Street Race” Single Barrel Whiskey, hand-selected by 2024 race winner Alex Bowman. The bottle celebrates the upcoming 2025 Chicago Street Race and will be available in the Chicagoland area. Jack Daniel’s will also return with its Turn 1 Club hospitality experience during race weekend.

‘American Thunder’ Le Mans Documentary: A new Prime Video documentary, American Thunder: NASCAR to Le Mans, chronicles NASCAR’s Garage 56 project at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The film highlights the technical development of the modified Chevrolet ZL1, the emotional journey of the team, and the fulfillment of a dream first attempted by NASCAR founder Bill France in 1976.

Patrick Staropoli Expands Xfinity Schedule: Patrick Staropoli will run three more Xfinity Series races with Sam Hunt Racing in 2025—at Atlanta, Kansas, and Martinsville. The doctor-turned-driver debuted earlier this year with a 16th-place finish and has also competed in the Truck and ARCA Menards Series.

AirBox Sponsors Harrison Burton in Mexico: AirBox will sponsor Harrison Burton’s No. 25 Ford Mustang in the Xfinity Series race at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. The partnership aims to promote clean indoor air solutions internationally. Burton praised the product’s impact on his home life and expressed optimism about his team’s playoff push.

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

Thumbnail image credits on our Source Materials Page.

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