NASCAR Rant Report - Wednesday, June 18th

Subscribe to Rant Report | Listen on YouTube | Follow us on Social Media

Major headlines out of Monday and Tuesday:

Reflecting on the Weekend in Mexico
23XI/FRM/NASCAR Lawsuit Updates
Carson Hocevar Fined for Mexico City Comments

Plus, miscellaneous topics so far this week.

Reflecting on the Weekend in Mexico:

The NASCAR Cup race in Mexico City on Sunday was the first points-paying Cup race held outside the United States since 1958. While a multi-year agreement with promoter OCESA exists, the 2026 race is not yet confirmed, partly due to scheduling conflicts with the FIFA World Cup and other motorsport events.

The weekend saw a dominant victory by Shane van Gisbergen, winning by a staggering 16.567 seconds—the largest margin of victory in a Cup race since 2009 and the largest on a road course in over 30 years. His win also reshaped the playoff picture, bumping several drivers closer to the elimination line and intensifying the battle for postseason spots.

The event drew an enthusiastic crowd, with 90% of attendees from Mexico and 44% from Mexico City. From a broadcast perspective, the Viva Mexico 250 drew 2.10 million viewers on Amazon Prime Video, making it the most-watched motorsports event of the weekend. It also marked the lowest-rated Cup race since 2017 and the lowest audience for a Prime-exclusive Cup broadcast so far. However, the post-race show attracted 1.07 million viewers, the highest for any Prime post-race segment so far. It was also the youngest demographic yet for Prime’s NASCAR coverage, suggesting growing interest among younger fans despite overall modest numbers.

Driver Quotes:

Shane van Gisbergen: “That’s why I’m here, to win road races. But I’m not here to run last on the ovals either. I need to keep getting better to justify being a Cup Series driver. I feel like we’re really making strides… I can’t wait to do the victory lunch during the week at Trackhouse and just see how stoked everyone is there.”

Daniel Suárez: “Every single thing about this weekend exceeded my expectations. The people, the fans, the sponsors, the excitement, the energy… Very, very happy for that. Very blessed. I hope that we can do it many more times.”

Chase Elliott: “It was a really special thing for us to be able to come down here and do this. I thought it was really well done. I haven’t had any bad experiences throughout either one of my trips to Mexico City. I thought the weekend was overall a success.”

Christopher Bell: “I just need to work on myself a little bit, figure out what Shane was doing through a couple sections of the race track. I can’t really say that it was my car that was lacking. It was on me this weekend.”

Michael McDowell: “It’s incredible energy and incredible atmosphere. It feels like a festival and a concert and a race all happening at one time.”

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

23XI/FRM/NASCAR Lawsuit Updates:

On Tuesday, attorneys for 23XI and Front Row formally requested a rehearing before the full Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. This move follows a June 5 appellate panel decision that overturned a preliminary injunction allowing the teams to compete as chartered entries during litigation. Without a successful appeal, the teams risk losing their charter status.

During a recent federal hearing, Judge Kenneth Bell pressed both sides on their end goals and urged them to consider settlement. Attorney Jeffrey Kessler, representing the teams, reiterated that they are open to settlement but claimed NASCAR has shown no willingness to negotiate.

Kessler also outlined potential remedies if the teams prevail, including forcing NASCAR to divest its racetrack holdings, eliminating restrictions on teams using their Next Gen cars in other series, and removing barriers that prevent tracks from hosting non-NASCAR events. These remedies aim to dismantle what the plaintiffs view as NASCAR’s anti-competitive control over the sport.

Meanwhile, the court has not yet ruled on the teams’ motion to dismiss NASCAR’s counterclaims. Another hearing is scheduled soon to address NASCAR’s demand for additional communications and financial records from the Race Team Alliance and other teams.

The trial is set for December 1, 2025, and the outcome could significantly reshape the structure and governance of NASCAR.

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

Carson Hocevar Fined for Mexico City Comments:

In the aftermath of NASCAR’s inaugural Cup Series race in Mexico City, Spire Motorsports driver Carson Hocevar if facing disciplinary action for derogatory comments he made about the city during a Twitch livestream. Hocevar, who had never traveled outside the United States before, referred to Mexico City as a “shithole” and expressed concerns about safety, travel logistics, and feeling confined to his hotel.

In response, Spire Motorsports fined Hocevar $50,000 and mandated that he complete cultural-sensitivity and bias-awareness training. The fine will be donated equally to three Mexican charitable organizations: Cruz Roja Mexicana (Mexican Red Cross), Un Kilo de Ayuda (focused on childhood nutrition and development), and Fondo Unido México (United Way Mexico). Spire emphasized that Hocevar’s comments violated the team’s core value of “RESPECT,” which is prominently displayed across its operations.

Hocevar issued multiple public apologies, acknowledging his ignorance and expressing regret for forming opinions based on secondhand information. He praised the passion of the Mexican fans and committed to being an ally moving forward. NASCAR confirmed that Spire’s disciplinary measures satisfied its requirements, and no additional penalties would be imposed by the sanctioning body.

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

Miscellaneous:

ESPN’s “SportsCenter” Live from Dover: ESPN’s “SportsCenter” will broadcast live from Dover Motor Speedway on July 20 as part of its “50 States in 50 Days” tour. The broadcast coincides with the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 and includes extensive fan zone activities.

Iowa Speedway Sells Out Again: The Iowa Corn 350 NASCAR Cup Series race at Iowa Speedway has sold out for the second consecutive year. The event, scheduled for August 3, 2025, will be broadcast on USA Network. The Iowa Corn Growers Association has extended its title sponsorship, and the weekend will also feature ARCA and Xfinity Series races, plus a fan fest in Des Moines.

Darlington Raceway’s 75th Anniversary: Darlington is celebrating its 75th anniversary with a “75 Greatest Moments” campaign leading up to the Cook Out Southern 500 on August 31. The campaign includes fan voting, digital content, and a special exhibit at the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

Brennan Poole Returns to Cup Series: Brennan Poole will make his first NASCAR Cup Series start since 2023, driving the No. 44 NY Racing Chevrolet at Pocono with sponsorship from Members First Credit Union.

Superman-Themed Car for Tyler Reddick: Tyler Reddick’s No. 45 car will feature a Superman-themed paint scheme at the June 28 race at EchoPark Speedway. The promotion is part of a collaboration between 23XI Racing, Upper Deck, and Warner Bros., with a trading card set also being released.

Matt DiBenedetto Teams with Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau: Matt DiBenedetto will drive the No. 99 Pocono Mountains Chevrolet in the Xfinity Series race at Pocono on June 21. The partnership includes fan events and behind-the-scenes content.

Patrick Emerling and Camelback Resort Partnership: Patrick Emerling will race the No. 07 Camelback Resort Chevrolet at Pocono. The partnership includes a fan meet-and-greet and promotional events at the resort.

Mike Harmon Racing Returns to Trucks: Mike Harmon Racing is rejoining the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with Dawson Cram driving the No. 74 truck at Pocono. The team will also compete in the Xfinity Series and plans to debut ARCA driver Caleb Costner later this season.

Spencer Boyd and CSI Asphalt Maintenance at Pocono: Spencer Boyd’s No. 76 truck will be sponsored by CSI Asphalt Maintenance at Pocono. The company is celebrating the partnership with a fan giveaway of service credits.

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

Thumbnail image credits on our Source Materials Page.

Subscribe to Rant Report | Listen on YouTube | Follow us on Social Media