NASCAR Rant Report - Wednesday, March 19th

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Major headlines out of Monday and Tuesday:

Reflecting on the Weekend in Las Vegas
Random Denny Hamlin News

Plus, miscellaneous topics so far this week.

Reflecting on the Weekend in Las Vegas:

The recent NASCAR Cup Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway was Josh Berry's first career win in the Cup Series, driving for Wood Brothers Racing. Berry's victory was notable not only for his personal achievement but also for the Wood Brothers, who secured their 101st win and their first at a 1.5-mile track since 1993. Berry, who had shown promise in previous races, managed to outduel Daniel Suarez in the final laps, securing the win by 1.358 seconds.

FS1 achieved a 1.48 rating and 3.011 million viewers for the Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas, marking the best rating for a NASCAR event on cable since the spring Darlington race in 2021. The race also was a track record 32 lead changes, among 13 different drivers.

Driver Quotes:

Josh Berry: "It’s just incredible. They’ve just been so good to me. It’s just been a great relationship. Obviously, [I] thank everybody at Wood Brothers Racing but Team Penske as well. They welcomed me with open arms and tried to help me accelerate the learning process as much as I can. I really can’t say enough for [crew chief] Miles Stanley, man. He is so good at what he’s doing, and we have a great thing going on together."

Daniel Suarez: "Such a battle with Daniel there at the end, beating and banging on a mile-and-a-half, crazy. Whoever was going to get out front was probably going to win. We were able to get in front."

Ryan Preece: "It feels good to have a good finish and not just have cautions fall my way."

William Byron: "We grew up all the way back to iRacing days racing each other. So, good for him. Happy for them. He’s definitely been a contender."

Christopher Bell: "It was a grind today for sure. I don’t really know how I feel yet, but we certainly didn’t do what we did the last couple of weeks and that was just have a nice clean race. I think the Interstate Camry was definitely capable of competing for the win when we were at our best, but just going to the back and to the front and to the back and to the front, we just didn’t get a handle on the balance, because it changes so much from being back there."

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’ – Saturday, March 15th

Random Denny Hamlin News:

Progressive Insurance has signed on as the primary sponsor for Denny Hamlin's No. 11 car for 18 races in the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season. This partnership fills the sponsorship void left by FedEx, which ended its long-term association with Hamlin and Joe Gibbs Racing after the 2024 season. Progressive's sponsorship will debut at Homestead-Miami Speedway this weekend.

Hamlin had a remarkable weekend at a Las Vegas casino, winning over $200,000 from slot machines. He hit three jackpots, including one for $126,150, another for $85,825, and a third for $65,300. Hamlin shared his excitement on social media, noting that it was his first time playing slots and crediting his friend for giving up a "hot seat". Despite his casino success, Hamlin's performance in the NASCAR race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway was less fortunate, finishing 25th after a penalty for speeding on pit road.

Hamlin's luck took a turn when a lawn mower caught fire at his North Carolina home, causing a small grass fire. He shared videos of the incident on Instagram, humorously noting that his luck had run out.

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

Miscellaneous:

Darlington Raceway celebrated its 75th anniversary with a special exhibit at the NASCAR Hall of Fame. The exhibit, which opened with the help of NASCAR legends Richard Petty and Mark Martin, showcases the track's rich history through various artifacts and photos. Darlington Raceway, known as the "Track Too Tough to Tame," has been a significant venue in NASCAR since its opening in 1950

Haas Factory Team announced that Autodesk will sponsor Cole Custer's No. 41 Ford Mustang for two NASCAR Cup Series races this season. The sponsorship will debut at Homestead-Miami Speedway and continue at Sonoma Raceway. Autodesk has previously sponsored Custer in both the Cup and Xfinity Series.

Miami Dolphins edge rusher Bradley Chubb has been named the grand marshal for the Straight Talk Wireless 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Chubb, a two-time Pro Bowl star, will kick off the event with the famous command to start engines. Chubb's involvement highlights the connection between sports and the competitive spirit of NASCAR.

Grammy Award-winner Wisin and Cuban duo Gente de Zona will serve as dignitaries for the Straight Talk Wireless 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Wisin will be the honorary pace car driver, while Gente de Zona will act as honorary event officials. Their participation brings a vibrant South Florida energy to the race.

NASCAR Cup Series and Xfinity Series teams participated in a Goodyear tire test at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The test aimed to gather tire data and optimize setups for intermediate-sized tracks. Teams from each of NASCAR's manufacturers took part in the test, including drivers Ryan Blaney, Chase Briscoe, William Byron, Sheldon Creed, Aric Almirola, and Austin Hill.

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

Thumbnail image credits on our Source Materials Page.

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