NASCAR Rant Report - Wednesday, March 5th

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

Major headlines out of Monday and Tuesday:

Reflecting on COTA and If NASCAR Will Return
Katherine Legge to Make Cup Series Debut
Crypto Hackers Hijack NASCAR Social Channels
Is Christopher Bell the Championship Favorite?

Plus, miscellaneous topics so far this week.

Reflecting on COTA and If NASCAR Will Return:

The Cup Series race at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas, was a standout success, featuring a new shorter track layout that delivered exciting and professional racing. Christopher Bell secured his second consecutive win, holding off William Byron and Tyler Reddick in the final laps. The race was notable for its clean competition, particularly in the closing stages, which many hope will set a new standard for NASCAR. Kyle Busch, who led a race-high 42 laps, finished fifth after being overtaken by Bell in the closing laps of the race. Despite extending his winless streak to 60 races, Busch's performance was seen as a positive sign of his competitiveness. Road course specialists like Shane Van Gisbergen and AJ Allmendinger faced challenges, with Van Gisbergen struggling on restarts and Allmendinger dealing with tire issues.

The event was marred by confusion over track limits at Turn 6, with NASCAR officials admitting to communication errors later in the week. This was the third consecutive week of officiating issues for NASCAR, following problems at Daytona and Atlanta. Despite these challenges, the race was well-received, with over 4.1 million viewers tuning in, making it the most-watched sporting event of the weekend. The positive reception suggests that COTA could remain a fixture on the NASCAR schedule, provided that the issues with track limits and communication are addressed. NASCAR insiders and drivers have expressed optimism about returning to COTA next year, citing the track's world-class facilities and the exciting racing it produces, and have high hopes for the contract with the venue to be renewed.

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

Want some non-AI content? Check out the previous Editorial:
NASCAR Officiating Needs To Meet New Expectations

Katherine Legge to Make Cup Series Debut:

Katherine Legge, a 44-year-old British racing driver, is set to make her NASCAR Cup Series debut at Phoenix Raceway in the Shriners Children's 500. Legge will drive the No. 78 Chevrolet for Live Fast Motorsports, sponsored by DROPLiGHT and Sherfick Companies. This marks the first time a female driver has competed in a Cup Series race since Danica Patrick in 2018. Legge has a diverse racing background, including five NASCAR Xfinity Series starts, four Indianapolis 500 appearances, and numerous races in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, where she has achieved four class victories.

Legge expressed her excitement about the opportunity, stating, "Entering the NASCAR Cup Series is a dream come true. Racing stock cars has been an incredibly fun and new challenge that’s given me a renewed sense of vigor for this sport." She also emphasized her desire to be seen as a competent driver, not just a female driver, and hopes to inspire others by her example.

Live Fast Motorsports co-owner Jessica McLeod highlighted the significance of having a versatile and dynamic driver like Legge join their team, reflecting their commitment to providing opportunities for drivers in the Next Gen era. Legge's debut at Phoenix is part of Live Fast Motorsports' partial Cup Series schedule for 2025, which includes seven races.

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

Crypto Hackers Hijack NASCAR Social Channels:

On Tuesday, NASCAR's social media accounts, including those for the Xfinity and Truck Series, were hacked to promote a fake cryptocurrency called $NASCAR Token. The posts, which claimed the token was built on the Solana blockchain to enhance fan engagement and provide exclusive experiences, were quickly deleted. This incident mirrored a similar hack on the NBA's social media accounts earlier in the day, which falsely announced the launch of an $NBA Coin. Both organizations confirmed the hacks and took swift action to remove the fraudulent posts. The coordinated nature of these attacks has raised concerns about the vulnerability of high-profile sports organizations to cyber threats. While the hackers' intentions remain unclear, the incidents have highlighted the need for enhanced cybersecurity measures to protect against such breaches in the future.

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

Is Christopher Bell the Championship Favorite?

Christopher Bell's chances for a third consecutive win look promising as he heads to Phoenix Raceway, where he is the defending champion and has a strong track record. His crew chief, Adam Stevens, expressed confidence in their ability to continue winning, particularly at Phoenix and Las Vegas, where Bell has previously performed well. Bell's recent victories have also made him the favorite for the upcoming race at Phoenix, where he is the defending champion.

Bell's success has been attributed to a combination of strategic adjustments, improved tire management, and a renewed focus on racing. His team has adapted well to the challenges posed by new tire compounds and track conditions, as demonstrated by their performance at COTA. Bell's consistent top finishes and ability to capitalize on race opportunities have solidified his status as a championship favorite.

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

Miscellaneous:

NASCAR is reportedly closer than ever to adding a fourth manufacturer to its roster, with Dodge and Honda being the leading candidates. Dodge, through its Ram brand, is rumored to have submitted a formal application to join the Truck Series in 2026. Meanwhile, Honda's potential entry is bolstered by its planned exit from IndyCar by 2026, making NASCAR a viable option for the manufacturer. The shift towards hybrid engines and new technologies in NASCAR could play a role in attracting these new manufacturers.

Kyle Larson and William Byron will compete in select NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races for Spire Motorsports. Larson will race at Homestead-Miami Speedway and Bristol, while Byron will compete at Martinsville. Both drivers have had previous success in the Truck Series and are expected to perform well.

The Zac Brown Band will headline the NASCAR Chicago Street Race this summer as part of the Busch Light Summer Music Series. The concert will take place after the NASCAR Xfinity Series race on July 5 and is one of five full-length concerts at NASCAR races nationwide.

Austin Cindric and Team Penske have unveiled a special throwback paint scheme for the Darlington Raceway event, honoring Dale Earnhardt. The scheme features the blue and yellow design used by Earnhardt during the 1979 and 1980 seasons when he drove the No. 2 car.

Bubba Wallace will throw out the first pitch at the Tennessee baseball game against Xavier. Wallace, a well-known Tennessee fan, is promoting the upcoming Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Wallace has had a mixed start to the NASCAR season, with a win in the Daytona duels but a 20th-place finish at COTA.

Several NASCAR drivers have announced new sponsorships for the 2025 season. Josh Berry will have eero as a primary sponsor for three Cup Series races, starting with the Shriners Children’s 500 at Phoenix Raceway. Jeremy Clements Racing will partner with Alliance Driveway Solutions for eight Xfinity Series races, beginning with the GOVX 200 at Phoenix Raceway. Joey Gase Motorsports will team up with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to promote fire safety awareness, starting at the Phoenix event and continuing throughout the year. Sheldon Creed will have Pit Boss Grills as a sponsor for select Xfinity Series races, starting with the Phoenix Raceway event. Additionally, the Vans Warped Tour will sponsor Nick Leitz in the #07 SS-GreenLight Racing Camaro for the GOVX 200 at Phoenix Raceway, marking the return of the iconic music festival and connecting music and motorsports fans.

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

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 it’s 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.

Thumbnail image credits on our Source Materials Page.

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