NASCAR Rant Report - Wednesday, May 28th

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Major headlines out of the Monday and Tuesday:

Reflecting on the Coca-Cola 600
Seeding for the In-Season Tournament
Mexico City Xfinity Series Field Expanded

Plus, miscellaneous topics so far this week.

Reflecting on the Coca-Cola 600:

The 2025 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway saw Ross Chastain become the first driver since 1969 to win a NASCAR Cup Series race from the last place starting position. After crashing in practice, The Trackhouse Racing team worked through the night and into the early morning to prepare a backup car, which he then drove from 40th to first. The win was made even more poignant by the Memorial Day setting, as Chastain carried a photo of fallen U.S. Army Specialist Kevin McCrea in his car, honoring his legacy in a deeply personal tribute that resonated with fans and the McCrea family alike.

The race marked Amazon Prime Video’s debut as a solo NASCAR broadcaster, and the reception was overwhelmingly positive. The broadcast featured no full-screen commercials during green-flag racing and a completely commercial-free final 62 laps. Fans and critics alike hailed the production as one of the best in recent memory, with many calling for Amazon to expand its NASCAR coverage beyond the five races it currently holds.

As of now, official viewership ratings for the Coca-Cola 600 on Amazon Prime have not been released. However, early sentiment from NASCAR executives suggests optimism, noting that a significant portion of NASCAR’s fanbase already subscribes to Prime Video. Ratings are expected to be released soon and will be closely watched as a measure of streaming’s viability for major NASCAR events.

Two penalties were issued following the weekend. In the Cup Series, the No. 66 team (Josh Bilicki, Garage 66) was penalized for a right-rear wheel loss, resulting in a two-race suspension for the tire changer and jackman. In the Xfinity Series, the No. 10 team (Daniel Dye, Kaulig Racing) received the same penalty for a similar infraction.

Driver Quotes:

Ross Chastain: “It’s sinking in that we won the Coke 600. What that means for the team and me, I don’t know yet. I’m excited to find out, though. This group of guys that I’ve got is relentless. There was no question that everybody was going to give every bit of effort they had. We had shop guys that were at concerts and ball games and everything that just dropped what they were doing, came to the shop… This is the storybook ending this is supposed to have. It usually doesn’t.”

William Byron: “It’s just frustrating. I don’t really have many words for it. I wish I won. [Chastain] was catching me, I was trying to defend, I put a couple good defensive moves on but I got loose in Turns 3 and 4, and that was really it. He got that run down the frontstretch and I tried to protect the inside, but it wasn’t enough. Then the scenario there with the cars we were around, it was tough. So, yeah, he got a run on me and was able to get to the bottom and clear me off of Turn 2. Disappointing just to lead that many laps and such a great effort by our whole team. I guess I could have anticipated that last run a little better. I ran in dirty air for a long time and heated my tires up. Then we lost a chunk of time, and the 45 [Reddick] about crashed in front of us. Yeah, sucks.”

Denny Hamlin: “We were really fast, obviously. Us and the 24 were the class of the field for most of the day, and then the 1 came on really strong there at the end. Would have loved to see that battle through, but obviously, once they told me that I was short on fuel, at that point, I kind of stopped chasing the 24 just because I’m not going to risk trying to get in the fence when I’m too short on fuel anyway. It was fun battling up front. Nobody could lead because everyone would get too loose. My car was better in second but fast enough to lead. But once I led, it was too loose, so we were just back and forth, and obviously put on a great show.”

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

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Seeding for the In-Season Tournament:

The NASCAR In-Season Challenge is a new, bracket-style competition that will unfold over five races beginning June 28 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The format features 32 drivers competing head-to-head, with the highest-finishing driver in each matchup advancing to the next round. The field will be narrowed from 32 to 16, then to 8, 4, and finally 2 drivers who will face off in the final race at the Brickyard 400 on July 27. The winner of that final showdown will take home a $1 million prize.

Seeding for the bracket will be based on each driver’s best finish across three upcoming races—Michigan, Mexico City, and Pocono—all of which will be broadcast on Prime Video. Tiebreakers will be determined by the next-best finish, followed by overall season points.

Before the bracket can be set, however, the 32-driver field must be finalized. That will happen after the Cracker Barrel 400 at Nashville Superspeedway on June 1. Currently, Brad Keselowski holds the final qualifying spot (32nd) after a strong fifth-place finish in the Coca-Cola 600. He overtook Riley Herbst, who now sits 34th. Shane van Gisbergen and Cole Custer are also in the mix, sitting 33rd and 35th, respectively.

None of the four drivers have had notable success at Nashville in the Cup Series. Keselowski has four starts with only one top-20 finish. Custer has two starts, both outside the top 25. Herbst has no Cup starts but has four top-10s in Xfinity Series races there. Van Gisbergen has only one Xfinity start at the track, finishing 15th. With limited experience and tight margins, Nashville promises to be a pivotal and unpredictable final chance for these drivers to secure their place in the Challenge.

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

Mexico City Xfinity Series Field Expanded:

NASCAR is expanding the field for the upcoming Xfinity Series race in Mexico City, allowing up to 40 cars to compete. The two additional entries will be granted through “international provisionals,” but with significant restrictions: teams starting 39th and 40th will not be eligible for prize money, driver or owner points, playoff points, or any playoff eligibility—even if they win the race or a stage. Instead, the next-highest finishing eligible driver will receive the points, though not the playoff benefits.

The move is largely seen as a goodwill gesture to accommodate international teams and drivers making the effort to compete in this high-profile event. NASCAR officials cited the logistical and financial commitment required to race internationally as a key reason for the provisionals, ensuring that teams who travel to Mexico City won’t be excluded due to qualifying misfortune.

One of the most notable entries is Daniel Suárez, who will run double duty in his home country. Suárez, a former Xfinity Series champion and current Cup Series driver for Trackhouse Racing, will pilot the No. 9 Chevrolet for JR Motorsports in the Xfinity race, backed by Quaker State. This will be his first NASCAR national series start in Mexico and his first Xfinity appearance of the 2025 season.

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

Miscellaneous:

NASCAR Considering Horsepower Increase: NASCAR is actively discussing a potential increase in Cup Series horsepower, possibly from 670 to 750 HP. Senior VP Elton Sawyer confirmed ongoing talks with stakeholders, including team owners and engine builders. While no decision is final, the topic is a priority as NASCAR evaluates how to enhance on-track performance without compromising cost efficiency or reliability.

Will Brown to Race for Kaulig at Chicago: Reigning Supercars champion Will Brown will make his second NASCAR Cup Series start at the Chicago Street Course on July 6, driving the No. 13 Chevrolet for Kaulig Racing. Brown, who debuted at Sonoma in 2024, joins teammates AJ Allmendinger and Ty Dillon. His entry is backed by MobileX and several other sponsors. Brown aims to follow in the footsteps of Shane van Gisbergen, who won the inaugural Chicago race in 2023.

Pocono Raceway’s “Beast Infield Block Party” Returns: The popular Beast Infield Block Party will return to Pocono Raceway during the June 20–22 NASCAR weekend. Sponsored by Monster Brewing’s Beast brand, the event will feature live music, comedy, fireworks, and fan activations. It kicks off Thursday night and runs through Saturday, complementing the tripleheader race weekend.

Sponsorship Updates: Justin Haley will carry Garner Trucking as the primary sponsor for the Cup races at Nashville and Michigan. Garner, celebrating its 65th anniversary, has been a partner of Spire Motorsports since 2023. Christopher Bell will be sponsored by menswear brand COOFANDY at the October Martinsville Cup race. Bell will also serve as a global ambassador for the brand’s “Dress the Win” campaign. Logan Bearden will make his 2025 Xfinity Series debut at Nashville, driving the No. 14 SS-GreenLight Racing Chevrolet with sponsorship from Tennessee-based T3 Vodka.

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

Thumbnail image credits on our Source Materials Page.

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