NASCAR Rant Report - Wednesday, June 25th

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Major headlines out of Monday & Tuesday:

Reflecting on the Pocono Weekend
23XI/FRM/NASCAR Lawsuit Updates
NASCAR's First In-Season Challenge

Plus, miscellaneous topics so far this week.

Reflecting on the Pocono Weekend:

On Sunday at Pocono Raceway, Chase Briscoe captured his first win with Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) and third career Cup Series victory. After a miscommunication on his final pit stop left him short on fuel, Briscoe masterfully conserved enough to hold off teammate Denny Hamlin and Ryan Blaney in the closing laps.

No post-race penalties were issued following the weekend’s events, and all cars passed inspection. On the media front, the Cup race averaged 1.869 million viewers on Prime Video, a decline from the previous year’s 2.391 million, but in line with the previous Prime viewership numbers. Amazon also noted that over 40% of the race viewers stayed to watch the extended post-race coverage. The Xfinity race on The CW drew 1.12 million viewers, peaking at 1.575 million, marking a 21% increase over the 2024 event and the highest Pocono Xfinity viewership since 2020.

The weekend also saw a frightening pit road incident when a flying tire injured Shane van Gisbergen’s crew member JP Kealey, who sustained cracked ribs and a partially collapsed lung but is expected to recover.

Driver Quotes:

Chase Briscoe: “I truthfully did not think I was going to win. I’m still in shock, truthfully… I’ve been telling my wife the last two weeks, I have to win. To finally come here and do it, it has been a great day… I feel like I honestly weigh a hundred pounds less already.”

Denny Hamlin: “It was definitely going to be really difficult. The key moment, the 19 and like three or four others pitted. And then that caution came out, and it leaped them in front of us.”

Brad Keselowski: “This is my fault, let me just be clear with this… I didn’t check the crew chief and the spotter, and that’s my fault… I feel bad about not taking advantage of that.”

Ryan Blaney: “Had Hamlin been able to take the fight to Briscoe, I might’ve had an opportunity to go for the win. However, that never materialized.”

Connor Zilisch: “I’ve been chasing the oval win for a while now… The advice from [Dale Jr.] is advice well taken… to get him a one-for-one win as a crew chief is pretty awesome.”

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 June 23, U.S. District Judge Kenneth Bell ruled that NASCAR’s countersuit against 23XI and FRM will proceed, denying the teams’ motion to dismiss. While the judge disagreed with some of NASCAR’s legal arguments—particularly the claim that joint negotiations among teams inherently violate antitrust law—he concluded that NASCAR had presented a “plausible” claim under the Sherman Antitrust Act. This allows the case to move forward to summary judgment and potentially trial on December 1, 2025.

Simultaneously, NASCAR is requesting 11 years of detailed financial records from 12 non-party teams, including driver salaries, sponsorship deals, and manufacturer agreements. These teams, including Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing, and Team Penske, argue that the request is overly broad, invasive, and potentially damaging to competitive balance. They fear that even anonymized data could be traced back to specific teams, compromising trade secrets and business strategies.

The non-party teams offered to provide anonymized, aggregated financial data, but NASCAR rejected the compromise, insisting on full transparency. The teams also expressed deep mistrust in NASCAR’s ability to keep the data confidential, citing a recent incident where sensitive information was disclosed in open court. Judge Bell appeared skeptical of NASCAR’s position, questioning why general cost summaries wouldn’t suffice and warning both sides against escalating the conflict further. He memorably remarked, “I’m the fire marshal, and I’ll be here in December,” underscoring his frustration with the litigation’s intensity.

Meanwhile, Denny Hamlin has stated that 23XI is open to a settlement but insists the initiative must come from NASCAR. Mediation is expected in August, but no formal settlement talks have occurred yet. The case remains on track for trial in December, with the outcome poised to reshape NASCAR’s charter system and the broader team-owner relationship within the sport.

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

NASCAR's First In-Season Challenge:

NASCAR has launched its first-ever In-Season Challenge, a five-week, bracket-style tournament designed to inject excitement into the summer stretch of the Cup Series season. The challenge features 32 drivers, with the top four seeds being Denny Hamlin, Chase Briscoe, Chris Buescher, and Christopher Bell.

The format mirrors NCAA’s March Madness: drivers face off in head-to-head matchups, with the higher finisher advancing to the next round. The tournament begins at EchoPark Speedway (Atlanta) and continues through Chicago, Sonoma, Dover, and concludes with the final showdown at Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the Brickyard 400. The winner will receive a $1 million prize, along with a trophy, ring, and jacket.

The tournament is broadcast exclusively on TNT Sports, with alternate coverage on truTV hosted by Larry McReynolds and Jeff Burton. Fans can also participate by filling out brackets online for a chance to win $1 million for a perfect bracket or other cash prizes through NASCAR’s fantasy game.

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

Miscellaneous:

NASCAR Eyes Philadelphia Race at Franklin Field: Discussions are underway to bring a NASCAR race to Franklin Field in Philadelphia. Governor Josh Shapiro and NASCAR President Steve O’Donnell confirmed early talks, emphasizing the importance of not undermining Pocono Raceway while exploring urban race venues.

NASCAR Showcases EV Prototypes in Chicago: NASCAR will debut electric vehicle prototypes in a 20-minute exhibition at the Chicago Street Race. Featuring drivers David Ragan, Rajah Caruth, and Brent Crews, the showcase highlights NASCAR’s push toward sustainable technology, though officials and drivers like Ryan Blaney stress it won’t replace the Cup Series.

All-Pro Auto Reconditioning Expands with Byron: All-Pro Auto Reconditioning has extended its sponsorship of William Byron through 2030. The partnership will grow annually, with All-Pro appearing as a primary sponsor in more races each season, reflecting confidence in Byron and Hendrick Motorsports.

DePaul University Sponsors McDowell in Chicago: DePaul University will sponsor Michael McDowell’s No. 71 Chevrolet in the Chicago Street Race. The partnership includes branding, student engagement, and academic integration, showcasing DePaul’s commitment to experiential learning and community involvement.

Brand South Africa Backs Anthony Alfredo: Brand South Africa and several partners will sponsor Anthony Alfredo in the Xfinity Series race at Atlanta. The initiative promotes South African culture and business while strengthening international ties through motorsports.

Jordan Taylor’s Truck Series Debut: IMSA champion Jordan Taylor will make his NASCAR Truck Series debut at Lime Rock Park with Spire Motorsports, driving the No. 7 Gainbridge Chevrolet. Known for his road racing success, Taylor brings experience and high expectations to the inaugural Truck Series event at the Connecticut road course.

Thomas Annunziata Joins Spire at Lime Rock: Rising road course talent Thomas Annunziata will also debut in the Truck Series at Lime Rock, driving Spire’s No. 07 Chevrolet. With a strong background in Trans-Am, ARCA, and Xfinity Series racing, Annunziata is eager to prove himself with a top-tier team.

Truck Series Returns to New Hampshire with Team EJP 175: E.J. Prescott, Inc. will sponsor the Team EJP 175 Truck Series playoff race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on September 20. The event marks the Truck Series’ return to the track since 2017 and celebrates the Prescott family’s long-standing NASCAR involvement.

Alex Labbe to Race for Reaume Brothers: Canadian driver Alex Labbe will make his Truck Series debut at Lime Rock Park with Reaume Brothers Racing in the No. 22 Ford. A veteran of the Xfinity and NASCAR Canada Series, Labbe brings road course experience and aims to make an impact.

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

Thumbnail image credits on our Source Materials Page.

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