NASCAR Rant Report - Wednesday, May 7th

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Major headlines out of the Monday and Tuesday: 

Reflecting on the Weekend at Texas
NASCAR Announces Championship Rotation
NASCAR: Full Speed Season 2 Netflix Release
TNT Sports Announces Broadcast Team

Plus, miscellaneous topics so far this week.

Reflecting on the Weekend at Texas:

The NASCAR weekend at Texas Motor Speedway was eventful, with Joey Logano securing his first Cup Series win of 2025. His victory marked his 37th career win and locked him into the playoffs. Chase Elliott's winless streak has been extended to 37 races, despite a strong start to the season with a non-points win at the Clash.

This weekend’s penalty report highlighted a infraction in the Xfinity Series, where Daniel Dye's No. 10 car had two loose lug nuts, resulting in a $10,000 fine and a one-race suspension for crew chief Kevin Walter. Dye finished 11th at Texas and is looking forward to the upcoming races.

TV ratings for the weekend were strong, with the Cup Series race drawing 2.56 million viewers on FS1, up from the previous year. The Xfinity Series also saw increased viewership, maintaining a streak of over one million viewers per race. The Cup Series race was the highest-viewed motorsports event of the weekend, outperforming the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix and IndyCar. 

Driver Quotes:

Joey Logano: "The sport changes so quickly. It is crazy how you can just ride these roller coasters. I am so proud of the team. Proud to finally get AAA Insurance into victory lane. They have been a partner of mine since I have been at Penske, so 13 or 14 years and we have yet to win with them so it was awesome to get that done here… We just were grinding it out, a couple here and a couple there and eventually we get the win. It is nice to get one, really nice."

Ross Chastain: "Starting 31st, we wanted to go +30 positions today. It’s all on this crew – the engineering group at Trackhouse Racing and the group at Chevrolet. We made an adjustment during the race and it fixed the car. All the problems we had yesterday and the start of the race, they were gone. I was confident. I was not confident yesterday … you heard me in the booth say it. With just one adjustment, it brought this Tootsies Chevy to life and that’s why you keep fighting."

Ryan Blaney: "The one time I didn’t pick the outside the 71 (Michael McDowell) got the lead and then I couldn’t get it back. Just driver making dumb decisions and not doing his job. I appreciate the team. The 12 car was a fast car today. I just can’t do anything right currently. Hopefully it will work itself out." 

Erik Jones: "It was a sloppy day in a lot of ways. We had two pit road penalties, but just happy to come back from it and get a top five."

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

Want some non-AI content? Check out the previous Editorial:
NASCAR Sponsorship Flashback

NASCAR Announces Championship Rotation:

NASCAR has officially announced that Homestead-Miami Speedway will host the 2026 Championship Weekend, marking the return of the season finale to the track for the first time since 2019. This decision is part of a new rotating model for the championship races aimed at sharing the season's conclusion among various marquee venues and markets. Homestead-Miami Speedway previously hosted the championship from 2002 to 2019.

The 2026 Championship Weekend will take place from November 6-8, featuring races for the Cup Series, Xfinity Series, and Craftsman Truck Series. Phoenix Raceway, which has hosted the championship since 2020, will remain in the rotation and continue to host two Cup Series events, including a Round of 8 playoff race.

NASCAR's decision to rotate the championship venue is driven by fan feedback, industry collaboration, and the desire to create variability and excitement in the competition. The rotation will focus on short tracks and intermediate tracks, excluding superspeedways and road courses for the immediate future. Warm-weather locations are preferred to avoid weather disruptions in early November.

Homestead-Miami Speedway will undergo improvements to ensure it is a championship-caliber facility, with upgrades planned for hospitality suites and fan amenities. The track's history of memorable moments and its challenging racing conditions make it a fitting choice to kick off the new rotation model.

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

NASCAR: Full Speed Season 2 Netflix Release:

Season 2 of the Netflix docuseries "NASCAR: Full Speed" premiers on May 7, 2025, offering fans an immersive look into the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. This season features top drivers such as Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney, William Byron, Christopher Bell, and Daniel Suárez, capturing their intense battles on the track and providing a glimpse into their personal lives.

Among many other moments shown in the series, William Byron opens up about his mental preparation and sports therapy sessions, providing insight into how he manages the pressure and stays focused during the playoffs. Chase Briscoe faces the closure of Stewart-Haas Racing while welcoming twins with his wife, Marissa. The series captures his emotional journey, balancing new fatherhood with the demands of the NASCAR postseason.

Christopher Bell and his wife, Morgan, experience the tension of waiting to see if he advances to the Championship 4 after a controversial finish and post-race penalty at Martinsville. Daniel Suárez shares his passion for vintage automobiles, giving viewers a tour of his classic car collection.

Overall, "NASCAR: Full Speed" Season 2 aims to provide an all-access look at the high-stakes battles and personal moments that define the NASCAR playoffs, showcasing the triumphs and challenges faced by the sport's elite drivers.

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

TNT Sports Announces Broadcast Team:

TNT Sports has announced its broadcast team for the inaugural NASCAR In-Season Challenge, which will feature five races starting on June 28 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The broadcast booth will include NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., Daytona 500-winning crew chief Steve Letarte, and veteran motorsports commentator Adam Alexander. This team will also cover the races for Amazon Prime Video.

Pit reporters for the series will be Marty Snider, Danielle Trotta, and Alan Cavanna. Shannon Spake will host the pre- and post-race studio coverage, joined by analysts Jamie McMurray and Parker Kligerman. Additionally, Mamba Smith will contribute as a correspondent for B/R Racing and TNT's NASCAR coverage.

TNT Sports will also offer an alternate viewing experience on truTV, called the NASCAR In-Season Challenge Altcast, hosted by former crew chief Larry McReynolds and 21-time NASCAR Cup Series winner Jeff Burton. This broadcast will focus on individual driver bracket storylines each week.

The NASCAR In-Season Challenge will be part of a new seven-year multimedia rights agreement between TNT Sports and NASCAR, which includes exclusive simulcasting of practice and qualifying sessions on truTV and Max. TNT Sports has a long-standing relationship with NASCAR, dating back to 1983, and aims to bring innovative and creative coverage to the sport.

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

Miscellaneous:

Jesse Love's Upcoming Cup Series Starts: Jesse Love will make two additional NASCAR Cup Series starts in Richard Childress Racing's No. 33 Chevrolet. He will compete at Kansas Speedway on May 11 and Richmond Raceway on August 16. Love, who debuted at Bristol Motor Speedway and recently raced at Texas Motor Speedway, aims to gain valuable experience on mile-and-a-half tracks. He currently holds the fourth position in the Xfinity Series driver championship standings.

Carolina Handling Partners with Michael McDowell: Carolina Handling will sponsor Michael McDowell and Spire Motorsports' No. 71 Chevrolet for the YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on October 19. The partnership highlights Carolina Handling's commitment to service and reliability, aligning with Spire Motorsports' values. McDowell, known for his leadership and experience, looks forward to representing Carolina Handling at the high-speed venue.

Morgan & Morgan Renews Partnership with RCR: Morgan & Morgan has renewed its multi-year partnership with Richard Childress Racing. The law firm will sponsor Kyle Busch's No. 8 Chevrolet at the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on August 31. The partnership, which began in 2023, focuses on cause marketing and community engagement.

NASCAR All-Star Race Fan Vote: The top 10 drivers in the 2025 NASCAR All-Star Race Fan Vote have been revealed. Fans can vote for their favorite driver until May 17, with the winner announced after the All-Star Open on May 18. Notable past winners include Dale Earnhardt Jr., Danica Patrick, and Clint Bowyer.

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

Thumbnail image credits on our Source Materials Page.

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