Ty Majeski has been on quite a journey in his motorsport career. In a results-oriented industry, the Wisconsin native has learned about the cutthroat nature of NASCAR the hard way, only to come back stronger with every hardship. Despite his topsy-turvy career, the 30-year-old had the perfect fairytale ending to his Truck Series season by clinching the championship at Phoenix Raceway. However, behind the glory and the celebration are unspoken struggles that have shaped him into a more resilient and wise racing driver.
Taking a trip down memory lane, the reigning champion reflected on losing his seat a few years ago, only for Chase Briscoe to come to the rescue. Thus began his journey at ThorSport Racing, where Majeski has become a force to be reckoned with in the Truck Series.
Ty Majeski’s fortunes changed with a simple text message
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Ty Majeski has been on a roller coaster ride throughout his NASCAR career. The Wisconsin native’s career got off to a strong start after being hired by Roush Fenway Racing in 2017 as a part-time Xfinity Series driver. However, lady luck wasn’t on his side, as the team was forced to shut down operations soon after, with the driver only making 15 starts. Another opportunity came knocking soon after, as Majeski secured a Truck Series seat with Niece Motorsports, competing in 16 races before being fired from his job.
Having lost his No. 45 seat just two days after the race in Darlington, Ty Majeski’s future was looking increasingly uncertain. As they say, ‘It’s always darkest before dawn’ and a solution presented itself from an unlikely source. Recalling a turning point in his career, the Truck Series winner wrote on X, “I was fired in the AM on Sept 8th 2020, texted @ChaseBriscoe_14 for David Peppers number that day. I drove up to Sandusky and met with Duke and Rhonda. A few months later won the 2020 Snowball derby. Got a call shortly after that race with a job offer. Now we’re 2024 CHAMPS🏆❤️”
In 2021, Majeski took on the role of an engineer at ThorSport Racing, with the promise of competing in a select few Truck Series races during the season. Driving the No. 66 Chevy, the Wisconsin native secured two top-ten finishes in four appearances, doing enough to convince his employers for a full-time seat in the prestigious team. Despite the slight detour that was taken in his motorsport journey, the driver felt it benefitted him in the end by saying, “Obviously I wanted to be full-time in 2021, but looking back now and the experience that I gained by touching every single part that went into the race truck, I feel like helped my progression and happened earlier.”
The rest, as they say, is history. Ty Majeski cemented his place in the Truck Series, winning twice in his first full-time role and ending the season in fourth place. With progress not being linear, 2023 proved to be a valuable learning experience for the racing driver, as he was forced to settle for a place four points lower than his first year. However, all his hardships finally paid off this time around, as the No. 98 Ford racer won his first Truck Series championship and his team’s sixth with a dominant display at Phoenix Raceway.
Majeski gives credit to those who helped him along the way
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Having reached the pinnacle of Truck Series racing, Ty Majeski hasn’t forgotten his struggles or those who helped him when times were tough. After losing his seat at Niece Motorsports, the Wisconsin native continued racing on his super late model, and victory at the Snowball Derby in Pensacola, Florida, proved to be the catalyst that changed the trajectory of his racing career. His short-track crew chief, Toby Nuttleman, was present at Phoenix Raceway, joining in the celebrations alongside the ThorSport Racing crew, despite not being directly involved in the result.
via Imago Ty Majeski wins the NASCAR Truck Series Playoff Opener
Like a true champion, Majeski acknowledged that he wouldn’t have achieved such success without getting help along the way. He said in the post-race interview, “Even though he (Nuttleman) wasn’t a part of this specific championship, he’s a huge reason why I’m here talking to you right now as 2024 NASCAR Truck Series champion. You surround yourself with good people and stay grounded and never think you’re the best. That’s exactly when you are going to get beat. So just keeping grounded. Always keeping your head down. Always trying to get better each and every race.”
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Having been a top finisher at the Kulwicki Driver Development Program, Ty Majeski was seen performing a Polish Victory Lap as a tribute to the late racing driver. The role Alan Kulwicki has played in shaping the driver’s career is immense, with the 31-year-old saying, “Their program was really a jump-start to my career.” Having received $54,000 because of his performances in 2015, Majeski reinvested it into building a new racecar, which helped him win more races. The ThorSport Racing driver hasn’t forgotten his roots, and his humble attitude will go a long way in helping him achieve new heights in his NASCAR career.

When drivers incur NASCAR’s wrath, the consequences are usually not amiable. Last weekend in Martinsville, Austin Dillon was among three drivers who were slapped with penalties. They attempted to slow down in order to let their OEM playoff teammates secure a Championship 4 spot. However, Dillon’s previous penalty marks a change in the sport – officials’ tolerance of overly aggressive driving tactics is dwindling.
When Dale Earnhardt Sr executed a bump-and-run on Terry Labonte on the last lap in a 1999 Bristol race, NASCAR did not take notice. In fact, the move was regarded as iconic – although Earnhardt only meant “to rattle his cage.” Officials also did not mind Denny Hamlin nudging Kyle Larson for the win in 2023. Pocono. So a controversial insider of the sport fires shots at NASCAR for its increasing vigilance.
NASCAR’s judicial arm may be too long
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The aggressive moves that Austin Dillon undertook in Richmond were thrilling, to say the least. One fan watching the Cook Out 400 race live blurted out – “He is back!” – Dillon’s move closely mimicked Dale Earnhardt’s. As he was driving the same No. 3 car, the Intimidator’s spirit seemed revived. On the final lap of the race, Dillon spun out both Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin and charged fiercely to seize the victory. However, NASCAR was not so thrilled. Despite letting him keep the win, Dillon’s playoff eligibility and 25 driver and owner points were stripped.
A similar incident played out in the Xfinity Series championship finale in Phoenix. On lap 62, Stefan Parsons got a little loose and hurtled his car to the side of Anthony Alfredo’s car, the latter pinning him to the wall. In retaliation, the Our Motorsports driver hooked into his rival’s right-reared and sent him violently to the outside wall. In a ‘Door, Bumper, Clear’ episode, spotter Brett Griffin did not like NASCAR’s 2-lap rough driving penalty to Alfredo. “‘Boys have at it’ is dead. They penalized Joel’s buddy, Anthony Alfredo…they should have parked him. They put him on pit road for two laps and held him for aggressive driving, for right-rearing a guy on purpose. They’ve clearly taken away what we’ve beat on this show for however many years we’ve been doing it – 7,8.”
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Griffin’s argument upholds the essence of NASCAR racing – driving within inches of your rivals and doing all you can to clinch a race win. He dejectedly continued about Austin Dillon, “‘Win at all costs’ is dead. Austin Dillon won at all costs and he got destroyed. He got to keep the win but he didn’t get in the playoffs – which is the most hypocritical bulls—t I’ve ever seen…NASCAR is drawing a line in the sand and they’re telling you they don’t have an officiating problem. But everything else they’re telling us is, ‘We’re gonna do more officiating than we’ve been doing.’ They just did it last week suspending 9 people.”
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Brett Griffin’s passion for focusing on a win and nothing else has been alive for years.
A historic achievement fuels his passion
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Clint Bowyer is currently a Fox Sports broadcaster alongside Kevin Harvick. Earlier, he competed in the Cup Series for Stewart-Haas Racing – and 2018 was a memorable year for him. In Martinsville Speedway, Bowyer shattered a 190-race winless skid – he had not won since 2012. Bowyer led 215 laps after snatching the lead from 3rd-place finisher Ryan Blaney. Then he did a fabulous job avoiding any misstep over the final 200 laps that would have allowed Kyle Busch to close in. After clinching the victory, he was so ecstatic that he started his celebratory burnout at the entrance to Turn 3 of the Paperclip. However, Bowyer’s “Eye in the Sky” was behind this massive achievement.
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Brett Griffin was spotting the No. 14 SHR car back then, having worked with Bowyer since 2012. He confessed in an interview about the most rewarding part of his job. “Hands down, it’s winning. You don’t do what we do for as long as we have without the desire to win races. I used to want to win for me…but now I think more about the win for all the people back at the shop working their tails off each week, the crew guys at the track and for our families who support us back home and watch races on TV.” He added, “Last week’s win was really special because I got to see Clint celebrate the win with his kids.”
Evidently, Brett Griffin’s passion is infuriating him more about NASCAR’s judicial decisions. Although he is against aggression, a little scope should exist for drivers to have their way.

Joey Logano may have just created the biggest debate in NASCAR at the moment. It’s not about his title, but about the format NASCAR follows. The playoffs system remained mired in controversy this season. It wasn’t because Logano came back from being eliminated. Rather, what fans are upset about is drivers who dominate all season long are forced to sit out of the Top 4 because of the current playoffs format. NASCAR legend Richard Petty agrees with the community on this one, going as far as to bring a potential solution.
Following a fan question about the playoffs, Richard Petty suggested a tweak to the playoffs system, bringing the focus to getting wins, rather than just points.
Petty Suggests the Winner-Take-It-All Approach
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While Joey Logano’s victory brought a wave of happiness for a lot of drivers, it also sparked a consensus of doubts and criticisms about the current playoff structures. Logano is a driver with one of the least number of victories and the stats for his top five or top 10 runnings aren’t very promising. However, given the complex point system structure that NASCAR follows, it can become tedious to maintain parity.
Currently, the drivers accumulate points. These are dependent on a season-based performance. Usually, the winners will earn higher points, but the ones who do not will also have a chance of making it to the top depending on how well they perform throughout. Two drivers already faced damage from the existing system. These were the drivers with the most wins this year, Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin. Both were favorites going into the playoffs. Larson even set expectations high
While this could seem to be a good option, sometimes it is possible for non-winning drivers as well to accumulate points and topple winners to the Top 4 run. Cutting to the criticism and the controversy regarding the current NASCAR playoff structure, Richard Petty made his stance very clear. He has always been an advocate of clear and transparent rules that favor drivers who win.
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According to Petty, it is the number of victories that a driver has that should be the deciding factor in their Top 4 run. Suggesting this structure, Petty said, “I guess what I would do, look at the deal and say, okay we’ve had, this guy has won, that guy has won, this guy ain’t won, forget the points. Let the winners run for the championship, I mean if the guy’s won one race or 10 races, they get into the championship. Looks to me in the long run, that would be the best way because you got some guys up there that almost run for the championship that didn’t win any of the races. They didn’t quite make it but there’s a possibility and it has happened in the past”.
One of the primary reasons why this could be a good model is because it would elevate the importance of every race. For example, the driver who wins at Las Vegas Speedway would still have to make it to Miami and Martinsville so that they could bag the most victories. Rather than focusing on earning just steady points, drivers are prone to exhibit risky driving strategies, which is the crux of any motorsport. Although the model that Petty suggested might foster a lot of aggression, it would help one to witness the real nature of motorsport racing. After all, why choose to depend on risk-free driving for the sake of just points when winning is at stake?
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When Richard Petty placed his bets on Joey Logano
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It seems as though the seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion has a very good idea about the current drivers and placed his picks on the right person. It was not long ago that Richard Petty had picked Joey Logano as one of his top picks from the current standing of drivers. Petty was highly impressed with the kind of speed that Logano exhibits and the way he has made it to the standings.
The King said, “Yeah, he’s the top car everywhere he goes. A lot of times he’s maybe not the fastest, but he is always in the Top 8 or Top 10. No matter where they run. Yeah, and this is what they have run the third race this year. He definitely needs to be in the champion run.” It was evident from the way Logano was driving throughout the season that he might not be able to bag a lot of victories. But he was in complete hustler mode which ensured he climbed his way back.
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One of the most effective factors that has helped him in this run and maintaining his position throughout is the current NASCAR playoff structure. Although he comes second to Kyle Larson who has won the most number of races throughout the season, Larson was nowhere in the final standings. Yet Logano, who was almost on the verge of elimination, made his way back and positioned himself in the Top 4.
Logano was able to make sure that he kept up to his reputation and marked a solid victory at Phoenix on Sunday. While he did have a close call with teammate Ryan Blaney, he was still able to manage his run and claim the NASCAR Cup Series trophy for the third time.

NASCAR’s foundations rest on privilege. Since the France family established the stock car racing series in 1948, the sport has catered to an elite faction. Independent contractors doled out their own money to put a car on the racetrack – and sitting in the 21st century, nothing has changed. The reason why the Race Team Alliance clamored for change lies with the bucks. Even top-tiered teams like Hendrick Motorsports confessed to not breaking even on their profits for years.
Now, the dire reality is dawning upon people. We all know the young talents in the lower series like Connor Zilisch. The 18-year-old phenom made fans’ jaws drop by winning at Watkins Glen on his Xfinity debut. However, several drivers of equal caliber are trying to get into NASCAR – but in vain, as a few insiders lament.
Money fights with talent in NASCAR
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Chandler Smith can be regarded as the cream of the Xfinity Series. Previously, he competed for Kyle Busch Motorsports and picked Craftsman Truck Series race wins. Then in 2023, he joined Joe Gibbs Racing for Xfinity – starting with a Richmond victory. This year, his run has been phenomenal – 2 wins, 22 top-tens, and 17 top-fives. Yet you will be surprised to learn that this prodigy’s NASCAR career screeched to an early end this year. JGR has confirmed its 2025 Xfinity line-up and it excludes the 22-year-old – because he lacks sponsorships. “You got to bring a big, big, big pocketbook with you,” Smith admitted.
In a recent episode of ‘Door, Bumper, Clear,’ co-host and spotter Brett Griffin pointed out the influx of fresh talent. “Between the ages of 17 and 22 in this sport right now, we’ve had the most talent we’ve ever had.” But he also highlighted the bitter reality that Smith is facing. “It worries me…I hate to say this out loud, but if you don’t have $3-4 million a year behind you either in sponsorship or family money, you’re not going to get there.” Freddie Kraft also chimed in, underlining JGR’s situation. “The money’s getting the ride over the talent. You’ve got guys like Chandler Smith, Ryan Truex that are race-winning drivers at Gibbs right now that are out – because of guys coming in with money.”
Ryan Truex had a breakthrough year, winning in Daytona and Dover. Yet due to lack of sponsorship, he will need to drop to a part-time Xfinity role under JGR next year. Kraft continued about how money defeats talent in NASCAR. “Unless you have that kind of money which you’d like to set on fire…then by all means do it, because that’s what you’re doing. Even if you win the race – you go out there and dominate, lead every lap in a subpar truck. Somebody’s going to call you, ‘Man we would like you to drive our truck. Do you have a $100,000? …or do you have $2 Million.’ So it doesn’t matter how much talent (you have).” Griffin ominously added, “If we don’t fix this in 10 years, we’re in deep, deep s**t.”
These costs are meant for different factors. Just running the car during the week takes up nearly $400,000. Apart from this, there are travel expenses and entry fees. Drivers also need access to proper training setups, and racing simulators as well.
Despite the already bitter situation, money is not the only thorn in talent’s path.
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The number of eyes matter
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Since NASCAR drivers rely heavily on sponsorships to survive, they differ from other sports athletes. Instead of just focusing on how to drive, they also focus on their image. This showbiz side of the sport makes it compulsory for drivers to maintain popularity and good standing among fans. Even there, NASCAR is a competition for them – it has 3,1 Million followers on Instagram.
Hendrick Motorsports, the most popular Cup Series team, has only 501,000 fans on the same platform. So Chase Briscoe, one of the outgoing Stewart-Haas Racing drivers, agrees that without a solid social media foundation, your future in NASCAR is limited. Briscoe faced a career scare soon after Tony Stewart announced shuttering his team in May. For 2025, he will replace Martin Truex Jr in the JGR No. 19 entry. Although his future is secure, he frankly stated the marketing side of NASCAR.
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“How many followers you have is a big thing on how sellable you are and how attracted people are to you,” Briscoe said. “I think 15 years ago, nobody cared how many Twitter followers or Instagram followers you had, but now certainly they do and, for sure, the sponsors do. Just the landscape of how we do things has evolved.” He also added, “Essentially, we’re race car drivers, but we’re also a marketing company and to be a marketing company you have to be good on social media, so that’s kind of what we’ve turned into.”
Evidently, talent is not all that will get you into a NASCAR team. Money and popularity accompany it – unless a driver has all three, the journey is tough.

Team 23XI and Front Row are the two torchbearers who have taken up the onus to make sure that there is light at the end of the tunnel. The lawsuit is now reaching new heights with every passing day and it might be implying a tougher impact on the team and its future monetary standing. Michael Jordan, the NBA legend has been the forerunner of this role, one cannot help but be concerned about the potential loss he might have to face.
While Jordan aims to disrupt NASCAR supremacy and opt-in for a system that could be beneficial for teams, the pursuit is getting tougher with every passing day. NASCAR insiders do predict that this could have an impact on the sponsorship dynamics as well which could lead to major repercussions.
Michael Jordan might have to shell out millions of dollars in the fight against NASCAR
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The lawsuit against NASCAR is not in favor of Team 23XI as of now. Although the teams were eligible to run for the season, it put them in a precarious situation. Team 23XI and FRM filed an injunction where the aim was to maintain their pre-existing charter until the end of the lawsuit. However, the court ruled out this possibility, dining the injunction. It opened up an array of speculations regarding the status of the team. The court stated that the teams did not meet their burden of proof in an eight-page-long release. It also failed to prove how the teams would have to face major problems if the charter was evoked.
The court ruled, “At this time, Plaintiffs have not met their burden as required for a preliminary injunction. Should circumstances change, Plaintiffs may file a renewed motion for preliminary injunction”. The team had argued in court that the open status of the team could lead to possible loss of sponsors. This will indeed become a reality if the team loses its charter and chooses to battle on the tracks as an open team. Not only that, this can severely impact the revenue generation of the team, keeping in mind that the sponsor agreements always mention that the teams have to run all the races.
Reacting to this, NASCAR insider Brett Griffin stated, “As of right now, it’s going to happen at 23XI next year because if they don’t have these charters, somebody’s going to have to come up with three or four per car to compete, and it’s fortunate that they have a guy like Michael Jordan that allows them to do that. I just, I just hope they run good all year next year”. Things started to go downhill when the injunction did not go in favor of the plaintiffs and instead put their position at risk.
via Imago DARLINGTON, SC – MAY 13: Tyler Reddick 45 23XI Racing Forward Together Toyota enters turn 4 during qualifying for the NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Series Goodyear 400 on May 13, 2023 at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, SCPhoto by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire AUTO: MAY 13 NASCAR Cup Series Goodyear 400 EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon230513442400
If Team 23XI is reduced to an open team and they eventually lose out on the sponsors it will become imperative for Michael Jordan to shell out his money and invest in the sport. Given his monetary success, it might not be a very hard thing to do and it can also bring more new drivers. But it can impact the financial standing of the team in the long run because every money has to come through from the owners themselves. Additionally, they receive no money from NASCAR since they won’t be a chartered team.
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Till now, both Team 23XI and Front Row Motorsports have not signed the take-it-or-leave-it charter agreement that had been presented to teams just 48 hours before the playoffs. It seems as though Michael Jordan is all set to topple the format of the charter and the NASCAR system, even if it means investing millions of dollars from his pocket.
Kenny Wallace warns Michael Jordan and Team 23XI
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It seems the warnings from NASCAR insiders are piling in. Even Kenny Wallace is wary of the situation and chimed in. Speaking of how this might be a fatal move and Team 23XI might fail miserably from the lawsuit, Wallace took to his X account. The post read, “I hate it for them, but I said, man, be careful. NASCAR’s got friends in Washington DC; they know what they’re up to, Richard Petty and the gang; they tried to do this stuff years ago, but the injunction failed. The judge ruled yesterday on Friday, so right now Michael Jordan, 23XI, and Front Row are O and 3. It means they have tried to go against NASCAR three times and they have lost all three times”.
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Wallace has pointed out that this has happened in the past as well. A similar situation occurred when Kentucky Speedway brought an antitrust lawsuit, arguing that they were unfairly excluded from hosting races. However, the court sided with NASCAR. It stated that, as the governing body, NASCAR has the authority to choose the venues and locations where they hold their events. This decision underscored NASCAR’s right to control race scheduling and venue selection as part of its regulatory powers.
Given that NASCAR is already in the upper hand and the ruling has been in their favor till now carves a detrimental image for Team 23XI. The current situation is indeed precarious for Team 23XI, and this could potentially indicate that in the upcoming 2025 season, they will run as “open teams”.

23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports have just hit a major legal roadblock in their fight against NASCAR. The teams, who are challenging NASCAR’s 2025 charter agreement and its negotiation practices, were dealt a tough blow in court. Despite their push for a more equitable system in the sport, a recent ruling didn’t go in their favor, and it’s looking like they’re not ready to accept this outcome quietly.
The legal battle has been heating up, and now it seems like the teams are gearing up for their next move. With everything on the line, including the future of chartered and unchartered entries, the stakes couldn’t be higher. NASCAR’s system could face major scrutiny depending on how things play out, and the teams aren’t backing down just yet. They’ve made it clear—they plan to keep fighting. But what’s their next step?
23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports find themselves fighting back against NASCAR with full force
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23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports are not giving up on their legal fight against NASCAR, despite facing a major setback in court. Bob Pockrass has been closely following the case, and the latest development is that the teams have filed to appeal a key ruling. Legal battle over NASCAR’s charter system hits new phase as 23XI and Front Row Motorsports fight on
A U.S. District Judge recently denied their request for a preliminary injunction, which would have allowed them to race as unchartered teams in the 2025 season while the case was still ongoing. This decision is a big blow to the teams, who are accusing NASCAR of anticompetitive practices tied to the 2025 charter agreement.
Even though the teams didn’t get the win they hoped for in this round, they’re not backing down. The two teams are backed up against a wall and are now moving forward with plans to challenge the ruling in the Court of Appeals.
The lawsuit itself is focused on NASCAR’s negotiation tactics and how they believe those tactics are unfairly limiting competition in the sport. If the teams succeed in their appeal, it could have a huge impact on how NASCAR runs its business moving forward. With the lawsuit being such a big situation that will continue into the next year, many NASCAR critics are coming forward to talk it and recently it was Jeff Gluck and Jordan Bianchi who summed their thoughts on the fight against the governing body.
NASCAR insiders discuss the controversial charter deal lawsuit
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NASCAR insiders Jeff Gluck and Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic recently discussed the ongoing lawsuit involving NASCAR, 23XI Racing, and Front Row Motorsports on The Teardown podcast. The legal battle stems from 23XI and Front Row’s struggle to secure their charters, which NASCAR had initially issued to them in early September.
The latest update in the case is that both teams lost their bid for a preliminary injunction. Jeff Gluck explained that the charter agreements NASCAR provides come with a clause that prevents teams from taking legal action against the organization once they sign them. In a twist, 23XI Racing and Front Row are now asking the judge to waive this clause, allowing them to move forward with the charters that were offered to them.
However, the judge has pushed back, telling the teams they need to show proof of actual harm rather than just speculation. As a result, NASCAR has pulled back the charter agreements for both teams, making things even more complicated.
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via Getty NASHVILLE, TN – JUNE 24: 23Xi co-owner Michael Jordan talks with Denny Hamlin (#11 Joe Gibbs Racing FedEx Ground Toyota) during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Ally 400 on June 24, 2023 at Nashville SuperSpeedway in Lebanon, TN. (Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
“This is not going to end anytime soon,” Gluck noted, hinting that the drama will stretch well into the offseason. With all the legal back-and-forth, it’s clear this issue will keep NASCAR insiders busy for a while. What do you think will be the outcome of this case? Will 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsport change how the sport handles its charter deals forever, or will NASCAR penalize the teams for picking a fight and have the teams’ charters revoked? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Brad Keselowski knows a thing or two about defying expectations. As fans and analysts dissect Martin Truex Jr.’s recent retirement announcement, Keselowski finds himself lumped into speculations about NASCAR’s “elder statesmen” calling it quits. At 40, Keselowski knows these whispers are inevitable, but he’s not quite ready to take his foot off the gas. While retirement chatter swirls around him, Keselowski is more focused than ever on something else — something far from the idea of slowing down.
With Truex stepping away, Denny Hamlin and Keselowski will become the elder statesmen of the NASCAR garage. But rather than view his age as a countdown clock, Keselowski seems to draw energy from his veteran pursuits. Inspired by none other than the legendary Mark Martin, who raced well into his 50s, Keselowski hints he may still have plenty of laps ahead. However, if you think he’s slowing down, his fiery, three-word response says it all.
Brad Keselowski has time before retiring from NASCAR
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When asked about his future in NASCAR, Keselowski didn’t hold back. “I’ve got time,” he said, declaring his intent to continue in NASCAR. While some drivers may see their 40s as the twilight of their careers, Keselowski sees it as the perfect moment to carve out a legacy comparable to Mark Martin’s. He reflects, “I just think about Mark Martin driving until he was 50. If he can do it, I can do it. That’s still like another 10 years from now.”
Keselowski wants to follow the footsteps of the NASCAR legend Mark Martin who did not retire until he was 54. Following a career that spun decades driving cars on the race track, Martin even came back as a consultant. Martin’s legacy is all Keselowski needs to continue to race in NASCAR and not step away from the sport he loves so much. As co-owner of RFK Racing, Keselowski feels the weight of balancing driver and owner roles but finds the partnership invigorating. Recently, he’s been hitting a stride, with strong finishes at Darlington and Charlotte giving him a new burst of confidence. “I left the Coke 600 saying, ‘Oh, I’ve got 10 years left in me.’”
Brad Keselowski isn’t holding back when it comes to setting the record straight for his future in NASCAR. Recently, he took to X (formerly Twitter) with a message that left no room for doubt about his intentions. Wrapping up his gratitude to fans and sponsors for their support this year, Keselowski didn’t miss the chance to address the retirement rumors head-on.
“And anyone who thinks I’m ready to retire can kiss my tail,” he declared, making it crystal clear he’s nowhere near done. Keselowski emphasized he’s still got “a lot of fight left” and made a bold statement to cap it off: “Already can’t wait for 2025. Cya then.”
For a driver like Brad Keselowski, who’s spent years competing at the highest level, this fiery response underscores just how much he’s looking forward, not back. For the driver/team co-owner, these achievements only reaffirm what he’s known all along: “They don’t make a drug that good as being able to win races.” And as long as he feels that rush, retirement is the last thing on his mind. Now that Keselowski is planning on staying in NASCAR for longer, he has a few changes in his mind that he would like to see the sport implement. Start off with the playoff format.
Brad Keselowski wants the playoff format to change
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Brad Keselowski is no stranger to voicing his opinion on NASCAR’s playoff format after this season’s championship weekend. With Ty Majeski, Justin Allgaier, and Joey Logano emerging as champions in the Truck, Xfinity, and Cup Series, respectively, Keselowski had a moment of reflection on his flight home.
He took to social media to make a post on X to express a lingering feeling he couldn’t shake: while Joey Logano’s title was well-earned, Keselowski felt the playoff format itself still leaves something to be desired.
In his post, Keselowski shared that he believes Logano’s championship was justified but argued that the current system doesn’t truly represent what a season-long fight for the Cup Series should be about. “Two things can be true at the same time,” he wrote. “Joey Logano deserved to win the championship; this format doesn’t feel ideal for rewarding the NASCAR Cup championship.”
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via Getty SONOMA, CALIFORNIA, JUNE 07: Brad Keselowski, driver of the #6 King’s Hawaiian/Despicable Me 4 Ford, looks on in the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway on June 07, 2024, in Sonoma, California. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
This wasn’t just an off-the-cuff remark, either. Keselowski has expressed similar sentiments before. Whether his comments will spark any change remains to be seen, but one thing’s certain: Keselowski isn’t backing down from this debate anytime soon. Do you think that NASCAR will make changes to the controversial playoff format for 2025? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

In NASCAR, there are few things that are as closely watched as team dynamics and ownership decisions. While we often see the stars, the cars, and the headlines, the behind-the-scenes action can be just as dramatic—if not more so. But when it comes to Tony Stewart, how does his leadership style impact the people around him? What’s the real story behind Stewart-Haas Racing’s rise—and perhaps, some of its internal struggles?
Joel Edmonds, a familiar voice for fans of the Door Bumper Clear podcast, just dropped a bombshell during his recent appearance in Phoenix. As the conversation turned toward SHR and Tony Stewart’s influence, Edmonds didn’t hold back. His reflections on his time working under Stewart, give a rare glimpse into the challenges within the team that fans don’t usually get to see.
The reality of Tony Stewart’s NASCAR Ownership
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Edmonds has been in NASCAR for a long time. He started in the sport back in 1991 and hasn’t looked back since. After leaving Roush Fenway Racing in 2015, he teamed up with Stewart-Haas Racing, working as a spotter for Aric Almirola. His duties as a spotter saw him work with drivers such as Cole Custer as well as Chase Briscoe, both big names in the SHR camp.
During the podcast, Edmonds shared his perspective on the leadership shift at SHR, reflecting on his eight years with the team. He pointed out that while many of his colleagues were transitioning to different teams, a lot of people were still hanging on to the Custer deal. But it was his comments about Tony Stewart that really got attention. “I saw Tony was there. Like, as soon as they won, he was hugging the crew guys and all that, which is kind of—a—I mean, I’m not taking a shot at him, but it’s kind of a slap in the face, you know? I was there six years. I don’t know how many times I saw the guy,” Edmonds said.
For Edmonds, there was a clear frustration that goes beyond just the wins and losses as he shared on the Door Bumper Clear podcast. “You’ve got to be present to win, and it’s not his fault for shutting down, probably,” he continued. It’s an insight that shows just how critical presence is in a sport that demands so much from its teams, and how Tony Stewart’s occasional absence left an impact on those who worked tirelessly behind the scenes.
via Imago NASCAR legend Tony Stewart | Image Credits: Imago
Edmonds continued, recalling a poignant moment when Stewart was actually present for a race: “My first year, he was around a lot. The day my mom was having hip surgery in Charlotte, we were at the Roval, and he stood beside me that whole race at the Roval on the spotter stand.” Despite this rare moment of connection, Edmonds emphasized that, ultimately, it was the absence that weighed heavier. “I think you got there when he got sick of it. Yeah, well, and I understand the getting sick of it part because there are so many things that are not like they’re supposed to be.”
In the last few years, Tony Stewart gradually reduced involvement in NASCAR. While he continued as team-owner after retirement, Stewart found an interest in the NHRA, a league where his wife Leah Pruett races in a team the couple owns. When Pruett announced her pregnancy, she revealed it would be Tony Stewart taking over the reins of her drag car as he competed in a different motorsport. It meant Stewart had less time to give to SHR, especially with the prospect of starting a family and taking on a new role in racing.
This rare, unfiltered take from a former SHR employee offers a look at the complicated dynamics of Tony Stewart’s role at SHR. While fans might see the victories and the headlines, the reality behind the curtain is far more layered. It’s a story of leadership, challenges, and, perhaps, a few missed opportunities.
Why Stewart Haas Racing did not work out
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Stewart-Haas Racing, once a powerhouse in NASCAR, is calling it quits after the 2024 season. After nearly 15 years, the organization is facing a tough decision. Stewart and Haas announced that the team would shut down, citing the intense commitment required for success in NASCAR and the challenges they’re facing in the Next Gen era.
SHR has struggled to keep up with the giants like Joe Gibbs Racing and Hendrick Motorsports in recent years. After the retirements of key figures like Stewart, Kevin Harvick, and Clint Bowyer, the team has been working through a rough patch. Last year only one SHR driver made the playoffs, and there’s been a noticeable lack of on-track success. This slump has been paired with dwindling off-track support, as corporate sponsors have shifted their allegiances, with Smithfield pulling out of NASCAR entirely and Anheuser-Busch backing Trackhouse Racing instead.
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On top of that, SHR’s partnership with Ford is coming to an end, further complicating things. As for Tony Stewart and Gene Haas, both have their focus elsewhere. Haas has been heavily invested in Formula One, while Tony Stewart has spent more time with his NHRA team, where his wife even drove for him last year. With the demands of running SHR weighing on them and their personal and business interests shifting, they decided it was time to step away and let someone else take the reins.
Are you a Stewart Haas Racing fan who is saddened by the news of them disbanding? Share your thoughts on this in the comments below.

It’s the age-old debate that never quite leaves the NASCAR community: What should the true path to a championship look like? Fans are constantly questioning if the playoff format captures the essence of racing or if it’s a chaotic scramble that favors certain drivers. It’s not just a debate about points or wins, but a deep-rooted argument about fairness, legacy, and what NASCAR is supposed to represent. And after every season, these debates only grow louder, especially when it feels like an “undeserving” driver has snatched the title.
So, when recent fan polls revealed a dramatic shift in opinion about the best playoff format, many immediately took notice. Comparing the current results to a similar poll from 2020, it seems that preferences have changed drastically in just a few years. Now, instead of the current elimination-style playoff leading the poll, a whopping 45.4% of fans prefer the original Chase format, with 38.6% leaning toward a full-season format, leaving only 16% in favor of the current elimination format. It’s an eye-opening reversal that has led to one surprising conclusion within the NASCAR community: the so-called “Chase Elliott Effect.”
The “Elliott Effect” Exposes NASCAR’s Championship Format Debate
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This “Chase Elliott Effect” is a theory buzzing through fan discussions, suggesting that Elliott’s 2020 championship victory under the elimination format may have swayed public opinion, giving a false sense of support to a system that fans no longer seem to want. Some argue that Chase Elliott’s massive popularity skewed the 2020 poll results, pushing the elimination format to the top at a time when people were simply thrilled to see NASCAR’s most beloved driver clinch a title. The “effect” implies that fan bias for Elliott temporarily overshadowed any real dissatisfaction with the playoff format.
According to poll comparisons, the elimination format received 48.2% support in 2020 but has now plummeted to a mere 16%. Fans are looking back on the last few years, where controversial champions have emerged, and wondering if Elliott’s win created a short-lived favor for a system that’s more divisive than it seemed at the time. The elimination format, which pits drivers in a high-stakes knockout system, brings excitement, but many now argue it can lead to “undeserving” champions, overshadowing drivers with a consistent, strong season.
NASCAR’s original Chase format, a simpler system with a 10-race stretch for a handful of top drivers, seems to be regaining favor, capturing nearly half of the fan vote in the latest poll. This format represents a balanced middle ground that many feel preserves the integrity of the season without the “winner-take-all” drama of the current elimination-style playoffs. And then there’s the full-season format, a nostalgic nod to NASCAR’s roots, where consistency over 36 races determined the champion, bringing in a solid 38.6% of fan support this year.
Mixed Views on the “Chase Elliott Effect” and Format Preferences
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The discussion wouldn’t be complete without passionate fan comments dissecting every angle. One fan noted, “If the 2020 poll was done after the last race of the season like this one, then it was simply the Chase Elliott effect.” This comment reflects the belief that Chase Elliott’s win under the elimination format made the structure more popular for the moment, creating an artificial “bump” in support when, in reality, many fans were just caught up in the excitement of his victory.
Others chimed in, pointing to the perceived unpredictability of recent champions. “People’s tastes changed after seeing three champions that should’ve never been in the discussion,” said one fan, adding that Elliott’s 2020 win may have indeed skewed the results. This perspective suggests that fan frustration with recent champions—who may not have had the most consistent season performance—is influencing today’s call for a format change.
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Some fans speculate that the increase in betting on NASCAR races has intensified emotions, especially when people feel their bets are upended by a format they see as unfair. “Because ‘their guy’ didn’t win,” one fan wrote, suggesting that frustration, particularly among Elliott supporters, has sparked a shift in preference now that the stakes feel personal and financial for many.
via Getty DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA – AUGUST 31: Chase Elliott, driver of the #17 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, prepares to practice for the NASCAR Xfinity Series Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help a Hero 200 at Darlington Raceway on August 31, 2024 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
And, of course, there are the Hendrick loyalists, who some believe may have distorted poll results in 2020 just to see their driver succeed. “Because Chase Elliott won the championship, so Hendrick fanboys inflated the poll,” argued one fan, highlighting that Elliott’s dedicated fan base may have momentarily rallied around a system that would ensure his victory.
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Still, others caution against blaming it all on the “Chase Elliott Effect,” saying, “People can say it was the ‘Chase Elliott factor,’ but I remember seeing a chart showing he’d have won the 2020 Championship under every format since 2004.” This fan believes Elliott’s success was legitimate, suggesting that the criticism may stem more from discontent with recent champions rather than Elliott himself.
What championship format is your favorite? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

If you shut off the noisy criticism for a bit, you will realize what Joey Logano has achieved in his NASCAR career. He clinched his third Cup Series title – also the third in a row for team owner Roger Penske. Nobody has achieved that under the modern-day playoff format since 2014. What is more, Logano now stands way above all of his active competitors – including 2-time champion Kyle Busch whose 231 wins across three NASCAR series are the highest of all time. Wait, there’s more!
What is more striking is Joey Logano’s snuggling with the very best in the sport. He is one of only five drivers to win three championships before the age of 35. That elite group includes Jimmie Johnson, Richard Petty, David Pearson, and Jeff Gordon. Yet he has more than just stats resonating with one of these stars, according to a Hendrick Motorsports veteran.
Joey Logano may have a legendary sheen
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“We just have to put our foot on their throats.” Although Joey Logano’s pre-race comment was not so pleasant, it accurately depicts how he has mastered the playoff format. For a decade, Cup Series drivers have competed ferociously in a 10-race elimination format. Here, whatever you have achieved in the regular season does not matter. Logano’s 13 top-ten and 7 top-five finishes may be middling. His P11 finish in total points and average finish of 17.1 is also an all-time low for a Cup Series champion. However, the 22 team worked their hardest when NASCAR takes notice the most – in the postseason. Three of Logano’s four wins came during these hard-fought 10 races.
Steve Letarte, a veteran HMS crew chief from 1995 to 2014, marvels at that achievement. In a recent episode of ‘Actions Detrimental’, Letarte compared Joey Logano’s success to 7-time champion Jimmie Johnson. “Logano and Paul Wolfe’s numbers are like postseason…Logano has 35 wins, I wanna say 15 are in the playoffs. He won 4 races this year, 3 were in the playoffs. I don’t think they sit down and say, okay, we’re gonna be great here…But there’s something about Paul Wolfe and Joey…however they operate, however, they prepare…they are without a doubt Jimmie Johnson-esque when it comes to playoff numbers.” Indeed, 15 of Logano’s 36 career Cup wins — 41.7% — have come in the playoffs.
And Jimmie Johnson himself has acknowledged Logano’s achievement. During the Phoenix finale, expectations ran low about his victory, especially after a pre-race penalty. But after starting 5th with 54 laps to go, Joey Logano seized the story. He toppled all his rivals – teammates Ryan Blaney, Christopher Bell, and William Byron. And as Logano celebrated on Victory Lane, Johnson watched about half a mile away.
The legend tipped his hat to the consistency showcased by Logano and Team Penske, saying, “We see it year in and year out. His abilities, his drive, his focus. And a lot of it has to do with timing, timing of your manufacturer, timing of your team, a track that is strong for you.”
Denny Hamlin also took note of this Penske consistency – but he would like no part of it.
The path does not align for Hamlin
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We all know that Joey Logano was a hazy metaphor during the early phase of this season. While the No. 22 driver grappled with finishes – he ended four out of five races outside the top 20 – Denny Hamlin was a shooting star. Besides clinching three victories, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver cashed in on consistent finishes. For example, he posted a 6-week streak of top-five finishes between Dover and Gateway.
Yet Roger Penske boasts consistency in another regard – three years of mastering the playoffs. Hamlin reflected on Joey Logano’s 2018 championship, “They said at Homestead…we’re gonna build the fastest car for 10 laps and then let’s just see how it all works out. They had a short run at the end, they won the race.”
Then his 2022 championship also showed a late emergence. “2-3 years ago…the regular season was not good – there were races you didn’t even know he was in…But then they find the path to Phoenix – they get there, show up, and they’re great.” Hamlin even harped on Ryan Blaney following the same approach last year. “We ran off all his finishes that were 12 in a row of 11th or worse. It was a lot of really poor finishes…They were just not good, not fast. And then won the championship.”
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Despite Penske’s proven method of winning Cup championships, Hamlin wants none of it. He boldly declared his verdict in spite of his own lack of a championship. “Okay, I understand the formula – but I don’t know how to do that and nor would I want to. I want to get as many bonus points as I can through the regular season.”
Evidently, Joey Logano’s 2024 title has drawn a mixed bag of responses. It is going to remain the talk of the town for a long time – at least until the 2025 season commences.

Bobby Allison, founder of racing’s

CNN —
Joey Logano took home his third career NASCAR Cup Series championship at Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona on Sunday.
Logano held off teammate and last year’s champion Ryan Blaney for the final 20 laps to take the checkered flag. Blaney was looking to become the first back-to-back champion since Jimmie Johnson won five straight from 2006-2010.
With the win, Logano becomes the 10th driver in NASCAR history to win three or more titles. He previously won the championship in 2018 and 2022.
An exuberant Logano told the NBC broadcast after the race, “I love the playoffs, I love it, man.”
“What a race, what a Team Penske battle there at the end,” Logano continued. “Had a good restart, was able to get in front of the No. 12, had good long-run speed and that was all I had to hold him off. To get three of them, that’s pretty special.”
Logano’s third title wasn’t always guaranteed after he was eliminated in the Round of 12 at Charlotte Motor Speedway last month. However, Alex Bowman’s No. 48 car was disqualified for failing weight requirements in a post-race inspection. Logano was then reinstated.
A week later, Logano won at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the Round of 8 to clinch his spot in the championship race.
Team Penske’s recent dominance continued as Logano’s win gives the team its third consecutive title after Blaney won last year.
Blaney said he was “worn out” but celebrated his teammates victory following the race.
“Congrats to him, congrats to the 22 team, Penzoil and Ford,” Blaney said. “They put together a great playoffs and if we are going to race somebody, I am happy it was him for the championship. I am happy to be 1-2 for Roger (Penske). Three in a row for Roger is super amazing … At least a Penske car won it. Heck of a battle. Hope the fans enjoyed it. Hopefully we come back even stronger next year.”
The championship came down to four drivers – Logano, Blaney, Hendrick Motorsports’ William Byron and Tyler Reddick of 23XI Racing team owned by NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin.
Byron finished in third and Reddick finished sixth.
The 34-year-old Logano finishes the 2024 season with three race wins.

James Gilbert/Getty Images
In the final race of the 2024 NASCAR Monster Cup season, Ford’s Joey Logano emerged victorious at the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona, defeating fellow Ford driver Ryan Blaney by 0.33 seconds.
With Logano’s victory, he claimed his third NASCAR Cup Series Championship.
Chevrolet’s William Byron finished third, 5.119 seconds behind the leader, while Chevrolet’s Kyle Larson placed fourth, 7.169 seconds behind first.
Blaney entered Sunday’s championship leading the standings with 5,000 points, bolstered by the best finishes in the early races that determined his placement, with Logano bringing in second place.
Notably, Tyler Reddick finished in sixth place and Bubba Wallce in seventh.

The 1957 Chevy Black Widow is one of those rare cars that is loved and remembered as much for its build as it is for its backstory. The Black Widow was never a distinct machine by itself; instead, it was built off the 1957 Chevy 150 two-door sedan, which was a robust, lightweight, and pocket-friendly option. In fact, the ’57 Black Widow was initially nothing more than a special equipment package that did not even come from Chevrolet’s official factory line.
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After the 1955 Le Mans tragedy, where the French driver Pierre Levegh’s silver Mercedes crashed into the side stand and killed close to 80 people, racing was viewed as a starkly risky sport. This led to GM withdrawing its official support from racing teams. However, off the radar, GM established SEDCO under the leadership of Vince Piggins, a former Hudson engineer, which led to the inception of several iconic cars in the years to come, including the Black Widow.
The formula for building the first Black Widow, which debuted on the NASCAR circuit, was fairly simple — it was Chevy’s lightest sedan equipped with a ridiculously powerful engine. Though the engine of the car was certainly an attention grabber, it was the other minor tweaks and modifications that made it a raging success.
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[Featured image by sv1ambo via Wikimedia Commons | Cropped and scaled | CC BY 2.0]

Roger Penske and his team Penske Racing is arguably the best auto racing company in the United States. This idea was further bolstered by his team’s exploits in winning a third straight NASCAR Cup Series championship at Phoenix last Sunday. Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney finished 1-2 in stretching the team’s dominant run in the Next Gen era.
This triumph couldn’t have come at a better time for the veteran team owner. In fact, this win in Phoenix was an extension of how the other arms of Penske Racing have performed this year. They won the Indianapolis 500, the IMSA Weathertech Championship, the World Endurance Championship, and the 24 Hours of Daytona. It is indeed a long list and one that none of the other owners can match or come close to in the NASCAR garage. So what’s next for Penske Racing, and what could his NASCAR team do to level up next year?
Roger Penske has immense trust and faith in his team members
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There’s a different level of comradery among the team members at Team Penske. This was evident from Joey Logano’s comments in the victory lane. “I’ve got the best team. I don’t know if I’m the best driver, but I’ve got the best team.” The same was reciprocated on the racetrack, as the two Penske drivers fought tooth and nail in the final few laps. It was hard racing, but nothing egregious that could derail Penske’s hopes of a third title.
Although the 87-year-old owner isn’t too invested in the daily operations of his team at NASCAR, his message and vision remain consistent every year. Moreover, this year’s success across different series was a source of inspiration for his NASCAR drivers to add to the silverware. And this is indeed an advantage they have over their rivals in the Chevy and Toyota camps.
“I think that’s been a great thing for us not only here in NASCAR racing but all other series. Because it rubs off. I mean, we talk about the 24 hours at Daytona that rubbed off on these guys; they’re always asking me how we are doing. When you think about it, the number of people that we have that we touch, every race in our company, and we have 74,000 people that tomorrow are going to be just climbing the walls with happiness because of the success, that’s what I’m in it for.” Roger Penske said after celebrating a championship win in Phoenix.
He also shared the formula of success that has worked out for his team. And it is about putting the right people in the right places and nurturing them from the grassroots level. “We want to win properly. I think when you race in this league with the teams we have here. We didn’t put them in from the top in the funnel; they came up through the bottom, every one of them. So they have that domain knowledge, which makes it so important, and they work as one team.”
via Getty INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – MAY 28: Team owner Roger Penske poses for a photo in victory lane after his driver Josef Newgarden, driver of the #2 PPG Team Penske Chevrolet, wins the 107th Running of Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 28, 2023 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
If anything, Roger Penske certainly has an eye for the talent. But with the legacy of his racing company, it isn’t an easy task to handpick the drivers that represent his brand of racing. One that thrives on the success of championship wins. So the question begs, how does he identify the right drivers that would carry the flag of Penske Racing and elevate it to new heights?
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Here’s how Roger Penske picks his race car drivers
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Racing for Team Penske is indeed a massive undertaking. The history, the legacy across different disciplines of racing, is something that can be overwhelming for drivers representing the team colors. But the veteran owner has been able to identify the star, which he feels can sustain the pressure of delivering the goods. And not fold when the going gets tough.
Sharing his thought process in what he sees in his driver before roping them in, he said, “I think first we want drivers that have won in some series. Today the technical relationship with the crew chief or the chief mechanic, or the engineer is so important… You kind of look at that; do they have those attributes to be a part of that success, and we don’t have to tell our guys what to do?” The 87-year-old owner added.
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Looking at the last few years, Penske drivers have certainly stepped their game up and maybe overdelivered on their promises. It will be interesting to see if the likes of Rick Hendrick and Joe Gibbs have a rebuttal to this dominant run next year.

Frankie Muniz insisted he was

Joey Logano’s championship win in Phoenix has led to a massive backlash against the current playoff format. With an average finish of seventeen, was Logano’s win justified as the best racer of the 2024 season? If you compare his run to that of either Kyle Larson or Christopher Bell, the arguments about the current format being flawed make sense. However, despite the constant bickering from the community, NASCAR is adamant that they will continue with the playoffs.
“You can talk about the format if we do some different things, but absolutely we’re going to stick with it,” Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR’s chief executive officer, said this ahead of the Phoenix race. So, on the one hand, you’ve got a stubborn governing council of NASCAR and, on the other, enraged fans who want to see consistent drivers be a part of the championship race. With the current order, you’ll only get more surprise winners like Austin Dillon, Chase Briscoe, and Harrison Burton advancing to knockout rounds.
So is there a solution to this dilemma? Well, the thought of NASCAR being open to tweaking the current format ignites hopes. But what would the new format look like? Does the return of the Chase format make sense, and if yes, how would that work out with the knockout stages?
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Chase vs the Playoff—which format is better?
Since its inception year in 2004, the Chase format rewards the most consistent race car drivers. From 2004-06, the chase or playoff as we know it today was made up of 10 drivers. This was changed to 12 drivers from the 2007 season. Here the drivers competing in the playoffs with the most amount of points in the 10 races would go on to win the championship.
But, in 2014, the elimination-style format was implemented, and the onus was now given to race winners. Be it the regular season or the playoffs, and since 2017, tweaks and changes have been made to this format with the addition of stage races and more. However, something is off when a star driver like Kyle Larson, who has multiple race wins, isn’t able to make it to the championship 4.
While the storylines are good for the sport, fans want to see the best drivers throughout the entire run battle for the championship. And this is where the fans were divided on Joey Logano’s championship win. Just like NASCAR fans, Jeff Gluck and Jordan Bianchi have polar opposite viewpoints on the current playoff format. Gluck leaned on a chase-style format, while Bianchi wanted a win, and you’re in element retained to the new system.
“This car is designed to keep everybody close; this car is designed for parity; why not just go back to the 10 race, the Chase as we knew it? Give maybe double the bonus points and playoff points so people have more to start with so they don’t. You only have 30 to start with, and then you’re gone in one round. So maybe you have like 70 to start with or something right for top guy.” Jeff Gluck said this while speaking on Teardown.
via Getty LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 06: Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, waits on the track prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on February 06, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Although Bianchi was open to rewarding a change that rewards consistency, he wanted to retain the wins rewarding the drivers. “I’m not against it. If you reward drivers enough for winning, and I think that to me is a big thing where the one beauty of this format I really like it, rewards winning unlike anything else. I want to make sure that one rewarding wins is still there, and it’s still important, and that if it doesn’t work, we end up, you know, we’re going to this playoff format this year. Oh, we’re going to change it up.”
But how do the two formats and their strengths stand out, and how will it help NASCAR to make the tweak to the current system? Let us find out.
A mix of chase and elimination-style racing is what NASCAR needs
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We’ve seen the Chase format give us stories like Tony Stewart’s incredible comeback in 2011. He won the championship on a tiebreaker against Carl Edwards. It was an incredibly close points battle, and yet the winner was decided based on the number of wins. Stewart had five, while Edwards only had one win that season. Now you see multiple race winners do make a case for the return of the chase.
Making this argument, Gluck stated, “10 races is a long time. Tony Stewart did in 2011; you top your cap to them. You say, wow hey over 10 races, that was phenomenal. Like, I don’t think anybody would be going well. That’s a gimmicky, fluky kind of thing over 10 races and two and a half months.” On the flip side, winning certainly brought out the thriller races and storyline, especially in the playoffs. You had Tyler Reddick send it through on the last lap at Homestead and Ryan Blaney redeeming himself at Martinsville.
Perhaps NASCAR should chalk out the win, and you’re in to make the playoffs. But in the knockout round, a win should be able to help the driver advance, and such an idea would make sense to Bianchi too. “So like, if you could figure out a way and say, hey we’re gonna have this one through ten playoff format, okay. But I want to make sure you do it in a way where winning matters, where guys are going to be kind of put in fairly on the basis of winning.”
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Seeing that the playoffs or the chase has undergone a number of tweaks, therefore there’s a potential for a new change ahead of 2025. It’s been eight years since the current model was implemented, and perhaps now is the time for something different.

Hendrick Motorsports drivers finishing 1-2-3 at the Martinsville Speedway on their 40th anniversary was indeed a big highlight of this season. Very few teams in the Cup garage could pull off such a stunt, and the likes of William Byron, Kyle Larson, and Chase Elliott delivered quite a spectacle. But just when we thought nothing like this could repeat in 2024, Team Penske replicated them at an even grander stage.
The championship decider at Phoenix Raceway was indeed a historic one for Roger Penske and his team. Joey Logano emphatically won his third championship, and his teammate Ryan Blaney, who was nipping at his heels, finished a close second. It was total dominance from the Penske drivers as they finished 1-2. And this did draw the veteran team owner to level with his two rivals in the Cup garage in another NASCAR record.
Roger Penske is on a record-making spree
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The driver’s points standings play a big role in judging how the teams have performed throughout the season. Despite the playoffs being a roller coaster ride, the #22 and #12 teams outwitted their rivals on the biggest stage in the championship race. It wasn’t just a normal 1-2 finish, but these results saw the two top the driver’s standings as well.
Logano winning the title saw him clinch the top spot in the standings, whereas Blaney, with just five points behind his teammate, secured the second place. For the first time since 2019, a team was able to finish 1-2 in the driver’s standings. Joe Gibbs Racing was able to achieve this feat with Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr. in 2019. Moreover, it was Hendrick Motorsports who set the tone for setting up this record back in 1996, and they managed to repeat it twice during the 2007 and 2009 seasons.
“Team Penske becomes the third team in the history of the NASCAR Cup Series to finish 1-2 in driver point standings — joining @JoeGibbsRacing (’19) and @TeamHendrick (’96, ’07, ’09).” Joseph Srigley shared this via X. Moreover, this was also the first time since 2010 a team was able to win three championship titles in a row. Jimmie Johnson and HMS were the ones who held this record from their dominant streak of five consecutive championship wins from 2006-10.
For the last decade or so, none of the teams truly stamped their authority on the sport with a streak of championship wins. But somehow Team Penske has risen to the occasion and has set the tone for this decade. They already have three, and with the talent at their disposal, they can go for more. However, it is indeed a head-scratcher on how this team has managed to stay dominant in an era where the Next Gen car was supposed to bring parity to the field.
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A resilient team and years of hardship now bearing fruit for Team Penske
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Ever since the Next Gen car rolled, teams have been having a hard time trying to figure out how to get the best out of them. Moreover, the unique playoff format certainly makes it difficult for the teams to experiment and find their strengths as the season goes on. But, for a team like Penske Racing, they are not just restricted to stock car racing. They are involved in IMSA, IndyCar, and Endurance racing. So if there was one team who could stand tall and set the tone in the spec car era, it was going to be them.
However, the real strength for them lies in their team and how they’ve gotten better over the years. “When you think about it, the number of people that we have that we touch. Every race in our company, and we have 74,000 people that tomorrow are going to be just climbing the walls with happiness because of the success. That’s what I’m in it for.” Roger Penske said after the championship win in Phoenix.
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“I think when you race in this league with the teams we have here. We didn’t put them in from the top in the funnel; they came up through the bottom, every one of them. So they have that domain knowledge, which makes it so important, and they work as one team,” he added.
It is about time that HMS and JGR get their house in order, or there is a possibility of Team Penske dominating this entire decade.

Kyle Busch has had quite a difficult season, hasn’t he? For the first time since he started his full-time racing career, the Nevada native finished the season winless, breaking a streak that has existed for 19 years. ‘Rowdy’ has had his share of bad luck in the sport’s top division this year, proving that even legends are not immune to poor seasons. A 20th-place finish in the Cup Series is not good enough for the Richard Childress Racing driver, who will learn valuable lessons from his 2024 campaign.
The outcome of Busch’s season hasn’t been because of a lack of effort. Having come agonizingly close to Victory Lane several times, the 39-year-old has had to deal with his fair share of bad luck. Reflecting on the season gone by, the No. 8 Chevy driver took to social media to pen a heartfelt letter to his fans.
Kyle Busch hopes to come back stronger
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It seems like Kyle Busch has come full circle. He started his full-time career at Hendrick Motorsports, finishing 20th in the driver standings in his rookie season, a position he was forced to settle for this year when the checkered flag was waved at Phoenix Raceway. Over the years, the racing driver has experienced all the highs and lows that NASCAR has to offer, winning two Cup Series championships and an Xfinity Series title. Having gone from being a talented but outspoken youngster to a respectful elder statesman, fans have seen plenty of character growth for ‘Rowdy’ over the years, both on and off the racetrack.
Acknowledging the rough year he has experienced in 2024, Kyle Busch took to social media and wrote, “Arguably the toughest year of my career. Full of trials, n heartbreaks. I know my RCR guys r gonna get after it this winter n we’ll come back stronger nxt season. Grateful for all of our partners, helping us do what we love. Thx Rowdy Nation for sticking w me. Y’all r the best.💯”
It’s not like Kyle Busch hasn’t had the chance to enter Victory Lane this season. During the second race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, he finished 0.007 seconds behind eventual race winner Daniel Suarez, highlighting just how fine the margins can be between victory and third place. Busch also secured back-to-back runner-up finishes at the Coke Zero Sugar 400 and Cook Out Southern 500, while securing top-five results at Dover and Michigan as well. Such has been his bad luck that even Kevin Harvick couldn’t help but say, “I’m starting to feel sorry for Kyle Busch because of everything that is happening.”
Having won three races in 2023 and ending the season in 14th place, it’s been quite a fall in performance for Kyle Busch, who has faced one setback after another at NASCAR’s highest level. The No. 8 Chevy driver has faced every issue under the sun this year, from lack of speed to pit road troubles and being involved in multi-car wrecks, it almost seems like Murphy’s law has been working overtime against the Richard Childress Racing driver. However, with one year remaining on his contract, will Rowdy use the off-season to refresh and recharge and aim for a better season in 2025? Or is the thought of retirement looming?
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Busch responds to fans demanding his retirement
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Despite his lackluster 2024 season, Kyle Busch remains one of the winningest drivers in NASCAR history. With 63 wins in the Cup Series, no other active driver can match Rowdy’s record at the highest level. If that wasn’t all, the Nevada native also has 102 wins in the second tier and 66 Truck Series wins, highlighting his dominance across the sport’s three national series. While Rowdy may have fallen short this time around, are calls for his retirement premature?
Sharing his views about the fans’ opinion, the Richard Childress Racing driver said, “Generally speaking, I probably actually agree a lot of times with the fans. Sometimes they get a little overzealous on some things. But on-track product, commercial times, things like that. I agree with a lot of the stuff they say. And to then have fans tell you you’re washed up and you can’t do it and you should retire and you should just get out of it? I’m like, ‘Wow, OK, cool. Maybe.’”
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It’s fair to say that Kyle Busch will be looking to redeem himself during the 2025 season. While there have been plenty of talks about a potential move elsewhere, the 39-year-old is expected to remain at RCR for another year at least and will hope to work alongside his No. 8 team to analyze the problems from the season gone by. Could we finally see a sensational ‘Rowdy’ comeback when the Cup Series season resumes next year? Time will tell. However, the Nevada native will be hungrier than ever to prove himself once again.

Joey Logano has pretty much nailed the win-and-in playoff format. The Team Penske driver secured his third Cup Series title with an impressive victory at Phoenix Raceway, ensuring a three-peat for Team Penske. While the No. 22 Ford racer has excelled within the postseason framework, the triumph didn’t come without controversy, as more consistent drivers such as Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell failed to make it into the Championship 4. However, the 34-year-old was a deserved contender, performing when it mattered the most to lift the Bill France Cup in the final race of the season.
Revealing the secrets behind his success, Logano shared insights about his approach going into the championship race at the 1-mile tri-oval. Has the Team Penske driver found an unorthodox way of achieving glory at NASCAR’s highest level?
Joey Logano’s shrewd approach paid off
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Work smart, not hard. That’s a mantra Joey Logano seems to have adopted, given the way he won the championship in 2024. While the amount of effort he has put in cannot be underestimated, the Connecticut native has epitomized what a ‘clutch performer’ means with his performances in the Cup Series. He won a race at Nashville Superspeedway during the regular season to qualify for the playoffs and went on to secure a statement victory in the opening postseason race at Atlanta. Having almost been eliminated at the Charlotte Roval, Bowman’s disqualification gave him another shot at the title, and Logano capitalized by winning in Las Vegas.
Victory in the opening Round of Eight race gave Joey Logano plenty of time to prepare for the championship race in Phoenix. Revealing why he deliberately underperformed at Homestead-Miami and Martinsville, the Team Penske driver said on The Teardown podcast, “For us, our advantage was that we got in sooner and we took those two weeks to really not do good at those two racetracks because we were focused in here. I guess, you know looking back at it, there’s a reason why we won those three and it seems like that’s the recipe to do it. It’s easy to say, hard to do.”
via Getty DAYTONA, FL – FEBRUARY 16: Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Pennzoil Team Penske Ford Mustang Shell, fields questions from the media during Daytona 500 Media Day on February 16, 2022 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fl. (Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
After winning the 2024 South Point 400, Logano and the No. 22 Ford team set their sights on Phoenix Raceway, as the outcome in the remaining two playoff races became inconsequential. Even though fans speculated that had he not won at Vegas, the Team Penske driver would have struggled in the subsequent two races, the 34-year-old shut down the hypothetical scenario by saying, “You can’t say that because we would run completely different at those racetracks because we’d actually care, you know.”
Ultimately, the team’s approach paid off, as having more time to prepare helped the team perform when it mattered the most. Joey Logano qualified in 2nd place at Phoenix Raceway, winning the opening stage and showcasing a defensive masterclass to keep his teammate Ryan Blaney at bay during the closing laps. In a sport where the finest of margins can make all the difference, having more time to prepare ultimately proved to be the difference maker, with the Team Penske driver saying, “You’re not under stress right? So your batteries are recharged.”
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Logano defends the playoff system after Phoenix Raceway triumph
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If there’s one driver who has excelled in the elimination format, it’s Joey Logano. The Team Penske driver has made it to the Championship 4 six times in the last decade, reinforcing the ‘Even-Year-Logano’ theory that has been making rounds on social media. While the playoff system has been a perennial punching bag in the NASCAR community, and in some cases, rightly so, the Team Penske driver doesn’t share the same views as some of his colleagues, who consider it ‘broken’.
With Kyle Larson securing six wins but not making it to Championship 4, questions were raised about the win-and-in format, which failed to reward drivers for their consistency. However, Logano defended the existing postseason structure by saying, “Can we tweak things? I’m sure. But gosh, it just makes incredible storylines all the way through. And everyone has the same opportunity…The advantage that the 5 had, the 45 had, going into the playoffs – what else could you want? They earned the advantage…if you don’t make it from that, like oh well.”
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Ever since the Next-Gen cars were introduced in 2022, Team Penske has been dominating the Cup Series championship, winning three titles in a row. As for Joey Logano, the 34-year-old has found a way to thrive in a complicated format, while his counterparts Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson have struggled. It’s not difficult to see why the No. 22 Chevy driver is enjoying life under the existing postseason framework, having lifted the Bill France Cup in 2018, 2022, and 2024. However, could NASCAR look into rewarding consistency by making changes to the existing structure? Time will tell.

Will Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin’s 23XI Racing run as an open organization for the 2025 season? Well, there’s a huge possibility that both the owners of 23XI and FRM will have to go down this road after their request for preliminary injunction was denied by the courts. This was the second setback for the teams after they were denied a request for expedited discovery. This would’ve made their argument for the injunction strong.
Instead, now that the tides have turned against them, while the teams are going to file an appeal to this ruling, they will have to make haste. After the end of 2024, the charters owned by the two teams would be of no value, as they haven’t agreed to the new deal. Former NASCAR driver Kenny Wallace had his reservations about Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin’s move to go to court against NASCAR. And after the injunction was denied, he once again shared a similar take.
Kenny Wallace isn’t feeling optimistic about 23XI & FRM’s chances in their legal battle against NASCAR
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This isn’t the first time NASCAR is facing an anti-trust lawsuit. Back in 2002, Francis Ferko, a minority shareholder of then-publicly traded SMI, held NASCAR and ISC accountable for violating the agreement to have a second Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway. But in 2004, when the suit was about to go to trial, the two parties settled.
Something similar happened when Kentucky Speedway filed a case on anti-trust grounds for lack of races at the racetrack. In this instance, the court backed NASCAR, citing that as the governing body, they can decide the venues and locations where they want to operate. So as far as legal matters go, NASCAR seems to come out on the sweet end of things one way or another. This is why Kenny Wallace’s response to the court ruling was once again to warn Michael Jordan and Co. of the potential outcome.
“I hate it for them, but I said, man, be careful. NASCAR’s got friends in Washington DC; they know what they’re up to, Richard Petty and the gang; they tried to do this stuff years ago, but the injunction failed. The judge ruled yesterday on Friday, so right now Michael Jordan, 23XI, and Front Row are O and 3. It means they have tried to go against NASCAR three times and they have lost all three times.” Wallace shared this on X.
Meanwhile, Wallace also shared a contrasting example of how RFK Racing and Brad Keselowski are looking to expand. “I’m a crack a little joke right now. NASCAR’s doing so bad that Brad Keselowski is going to start another team up. Poor NASCAR, we’re losing so much money that we’re gonna start another team up, says Brad Keselowski. Then you’ve got these guys over here suing NASCAR because they say it is a Monopoly. Listen, I understand Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan; they just want a bigger piece of the pie, and I’m not condemning it whatsoever.”
Speaking of a bigger piece of the pie, NASCAR also made a huge revelation ahead of the championship race in Phoenix.
Teams are the biggest beneficiaries of the new TV deal
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NASCAR is from its glory days when sponsorship money was in abundance and TV ratings were sky-high. Now, the teams have to scramble for multiple sponsors so that they can run their race cars throughout the years. Rising costs of racing and not enough returns have seen many teams pack their bags and leave NASCAR. Stewart Haas Racing is the prime example of how a crippling business model has led to more problems for the owners and the teams.
Even the winningest team, Hendrick Motorsports, hasn’t been profitable in the last 10 years. “I don’t think Hendrick Motorsports has made a profit in 10 years.” Jeff Gordon said this on Dale Jr. Download. One of the sticking points in the charter negotiations was that the teams wanted more split from the TV money, and it seems like they are getting that.
“I won’t go into what the money split looks like, but what I will say is that the amount of money it now puts the race teams, starting in 25, as the single largest beneficiary of our media deal. And we did that because the race teams were upside down financially.” NASCAR President Steve Phelps said in a press conference.
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So this now puts Michael Jordan and his team in a precarious position. They declined to sign up for a potentially good deal and are now staring at the possibility of running as an open organization for the 2025 season.

Justin Allgaier is the only driver to compete in all nine NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs, but he has never won a championship. Always a bridesmaid, never a bride. In those nine playoffs runs he finished second twice and appeared in the Championship 4 a series-leading seven times. So much success and yet no championships for Allgaier.

NASCAR Truck Series championship contender Ty Majeski was fined $12,500 by the stock car series this week after missing media obligations to vote in his home state of Wisconsin on Election Day.
Majeski is one of four drivers who can win the truck title at Phoenix Raceway on Friday night. Majeski talked with Thorsport Racing owners and all agreed he would cast his ballot in person on Tuesday.
Majeski called the penalty “unprecedented” and said he will appeal the decision.
“I felt like I needed to do my duty as a U.S. citizen to vote. My team owners and I, we all made the decision to exercise that right,” he said.
A NASCAR spokesman said the team never disclosed Majeski was not available because he was voting.
Majeski said he didn’t know until last week after the race at Martinsville, when he finished 11th to advance on points, that he would be in the championship four. The 30-year-old Majeski will compete with Corey Heim, Christian Eckes and Grant Enfinger in trying for his first Truck Series title.
“This has never happened before. Election Day, everyone knew it was Election Day for a long time,” he said. “It’s unfortunate circumstances for everybody.”
Majeski said he has always been a person who votes on Election Day and has never filled out an absentee ballot.
“I wanted to make sure my vote was counted,” he said.

When 23XI Racing realized their playoff hopes were slipping, the team took drastic measures. With the Final Four in sight, tension soared, and strategies veered into the gray. As Ryan Blaney closed in on the third championship slot, it was a points battle between him and William Byron that held the key to the final berth. Their teams deployed stealthy moves to boost chances, triggering NASCAR’s penalties. Meanwhile, Richard Childress and other team owners could do little but watch as NASCAR cracked down on these high-stakes tactics.
All three drivers were slapped with a total of $600,000 fine along with a deep points redux and suspensions of crew chiefs, spotters, and team executives for Phoenix. Their teams were outraged at this severe punishment at first,cing was the first to know it was useless, and now their fellow perpetrators are in a similar soup. but then that opposition fizzled out. 23XI Racing was the first to know it was useless, and now their fellow perpetrators are in a similar soup.
Richard Childress got a slap in the face
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Well, the acts looked pretty egregious to begin with. Although William Byron exchanged the lead of the Xfinity 500 race several times, the No. 24’s car lost its pace by lap 471, falling to 6th place. Brad Keselowski was in the mode to overtake him, but the No. 1 and the No. 3 crew chiefs colluded for a Chevy ‘deal’. Soon, Austin Dillon and Ross Chastain formed a ‘rolling roadblock’ behind him, preventing other cars from overtaking Byron. Similarly, Bubba Wallace intentionally slowed down to let Christopher Bell take a wall ride to the front.
And Wallace’s team was the first to realize the gravity of the act. Shortly after declaring their intent to appeal on Tuesday, 23XI Racing withdrew it. The National Motorsports Appeals Panel (NMAP) heard and considered the appeal by Trackhouse Racing on Thursday. Eventually, the three-person panel of Kelly Housby, Lyn St. James, and Steve York determined Ross Chastain’s actions to be violating the NASCAR rulebook. Soon after this decision rolled out, Richard Childress accepted defeat. They had a hearing set for 5:30 p.m. ET but withdrew its appeal.
Richard Childress clearly felt it was impossible to pull his grandson out of this mess. Holding sufficient precedents—like Clint Bowyer’s ‘Spingate’ fiasco in 2013 or Cole Custer intentionally slowing to let Chase Briscoe win in 2022—the Martinsville dilemma was a clear-cut case.
The panel explained its decision about Trackhouse, announcing, “We feel in the best interest of racing, and to protect the integrity of the sport, it was appropriate to uphold and affirm NASCAR’s decision with regard to the NASCAR rule 4.4, attempting to manipulate the outcome of the race.” The suspension of spotter Brandon McReynolds will also affect Parker Kligerman and Big Machine Racing for the upcoming Phoenix activities.
However, will this teach the perpetrators a lesson? History counters this possibility.
Inadequate penalties?
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Dale Earnhardt Jr. vehemently opined that this is hardly enough to contain the lawlessness running wild in NASCAR. “To really get someone’s attention, I think parking them a race – it will be enough of a deterrent for someone to not do it again,” Dale Jr. said. On top of that, Richard Childress’ grandson has a checkered history of illicit moves this season.
During the August Richmond race, Austin Dillon wrecked out both Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin to seize the win. Then Bubba Wallace also holds this history—he ‘door-slammed’ Alex Bowman during the cool-down lap after the latter won the Chicago Street Race. Last year, another infraction of rules was committed, and the perpetrators clearly did not learn their lesson.
In March 2023, NASCAR issued L3 penalties to all four Hendrick Motorsports cars and one Kaulig Racing car. The issue was “Unapproved modification of a single source vendor supplied part (hood louvers).” Each race team lost 100 driver points, 100 owner points, and 10 playoff points. Also, the crew chiefs had to pay $100,000 fines each.
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The appeals only reduced their points penalties, but the monetary fines were in place. Despite this hefty punishment, only a month later the No. 24 and the No. 48 HMS cars breached the rules yet again. This time, they made illegal modifications to the greenhouses of both cars. Penalties came yet again: 60 driver and owner points, 5 playoff points, fines of $75,000, and two-race suspensions for the crew chiefs.
Evidently, the penalty may not be enough to avoid a repetition of the Martinsville fiasco. For now, Richard Childress and Co. have realized their futile appeals and can focus on nursing their penalized teams back into form again.

The veteran Motorsports journalist Holly Cain is back at her desk in the NASCAR wire service office, with her earphones plugged in and glued to her laptop, working the magic as she gives timely updates from NASCAR. Cain is a true testament to hard work and dedication, as it wasn’t long ago that the Lakeland native was fighting cancer. That too for the second time!
On January 7th, 2024, Cain announced her cancer’s return, starting a grueling seven-week treatment of chemotherapy and radiation. After five rounds, she was cleared to race again, making her comeback at Talladega’s spring race. Her return sparked joy in the NASCAR community, and now a fellow journalist’s tribute to her battle moved Dale Earnhardt Jr., reflecting the deep respect for Holly Cain’s strength and resilience.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. is delighted to have Holly Cain back!
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This wasn’t Cain’s first tussle with cancer. Back in 2014, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and, after a long battle, defeated it. But it returned during the NASCAR 2023 season finale at Phoenix. Recently, The Athletic’s Jeff Gluck shared the story of how it started. Gluck recently posted a photo of Cain, hard at work, as it took him down memory lane to when, on this very day, her cancer reappeared.
Gluck wrote on X, “This morning walking into the track, I was thinking of how a year ago on this day, I was riding on the back of a golf cart with Holly Cain. She pointed to a large lump on her neck and expressed concern it meant her cancer had returned.” According to the Athletic journalist, Holly Cain, despite that, worked throughout the race weekend, and only after that, when she went home to do a checkup, did she get to know that the cancer had returned. After strenuous treatment, Cain notified everyone in the NASCAR community via X.
She wrote, “Just had my second big exam to confirm…I am cancer-free! And soooooo appreciative of my doctors, my family, and friends – everyone who encouraged and supported me! Still recovering from treatment, but I’ve got this.” Jeff Gluck, after seeing her recently, was delighted to have his fellow motorsport journalist still contributing to impactful storytelling.
“Holly underwent an extreme chemo/radiation treatment that many people do not survive. Somehow, she’s still with us. And one year later, she’s here at the track again, doing her job as always. Definitely not taking it for granted. We’re so happy to get extra time with you, Holly,” Gluck added.
The veteran journalist was touched reading this as she replied, “Thank you for always being so kind and thoughtful Jeff. You checked on me throughout it all and your friendship and care has meant more to me than you know. I’m so fortunate!” Seeing Gluck’s post, even Dale Earnhardt Jr. was glad to see his good friend Cain back at what she does best. Jr. was quick to reply to Gluck’s post, “Best post of the day.” Holly Cain and Dale Earnhardt Jr. have known each other since before Junior became one of the most popular names in the sport.
Holly Cain, remembering her first meeting with Jr., had previously said, “It came in the small conference room of a Charlotte chain hotel in 1998 during the traditional preseason NASCAR Media Tour. And the 23-year-old Earnhardt wasn’t even the primary focus of the interview session, scheduled to promote the upcoming Busch Grand National season, as the Nationwide Series was then known. Looking a little overwhelmed by his first “media tour,” Earnhardt sat quietly at a table by himself, waiting patiently in case any of the handful of reporters wanted a one-on-one interview when the formal portion of the event was over.”
And not just Dale Jr., but pretty much the entire NASCAR community would be pleased to see her back to full strength as they all rallied together for her treatment.
Holly Cain is loved across the NASCAR community
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When the news of her second bout with cancer became public, a fundraising campaign for her treatment expenses was started. After having been a motorsport journalist for more than 30 years, Cain is admired and respected by other media members, as well as the racers she writes about. NASCAR journalist Doug Rice was quick to take charge of the campaign as they aimed to raise $60,000 for medical expenses.
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And, the overwhelming support from the motorsport community was instrumental in raising nearly $25,000 within just one day, demonstrating how the NASCAR community cherishes her. In the three decades of writing stories, Holly Cain has won many awards, including the NMPA Pocono Spirit Award back in 2015, an honor that celebrates those who demonstrate courage, sportsmanship, and dedication to Motorsports.
It’s often rare for a journalist to have such deep bonds with the sportsmen or, in this case, drivers that she covers, interviews, and at times is also critical about. Yet, it has led to long-lasting connections, ones that stand firm in times of need. Like this recent campaign, even when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014, the NASCAR community came together to support her.
In fact, NASCAR legend Clint Bowyer in the 2014 Kansas race carried Cain’s name on the roof, along with sponsorship from 5-Hour Energy to support the company’s program with Living Beyond Breast Cancer (LBBC). When Cain got to know about this, she was back home in Florida undergoing chemotherapy. “I merely represent thousands of others affected by breast cancer and what Clint and Living Beyond Breast Cancer and 5-Hour Energy are doing will have a tangible effect on all of us,” This is what she had said after hearing about Bowyer’s gesture.
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via Imago Jimmie Johnson (left), Holly Cain (right)
With the Cup Series finale nearing, surely Holly Cain is super busy with work as NASCAR’s 2024 champion will soon be crowned? However, who do you think it will be?

NASCAR is heading to the season finale at Phoenix and this would be the 6th time Joey Logano has made it to the championship 4 since the elimination format was introduced in 2014. No other active driver has achieved this feat! Logano is also the only multiple-time Cup Champion among the four contestants. However, the way Logano’s 2024 season was going, reaching the finale seemed like a bleak possibility.
If you look at the stats, Logano only finished in the top 5 just four times this season! Four out of 25 races is unlike the 2022 champion. This reflected in the playoffs as, other than his win in the opening race at Atlanta, his campaign was mediocre until the round of 8. Thrice he finished 28th or worse in the playoffs. However, throughout the season, the Logano faction seems to bring their best game when it’s needed the most. While many are crediting his Championship 4 appearance to luck, Logano disagrees!
Joey Logano on why he is deserving of the Championship 4 berth
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The #22 team only bagged just one win in the regular season, but that was enough to make it to the playoffs. Similarly, the win in the Atlanta race was enough to reach the next round. However, in round 2, Logano was in a pickle entering the eliminator at ROVAL. With -13 points below the cutline, the #22 faction had to bring their A-game. And that is exactly what they did. After four consecutive finishes outside the top 10, Logano got a P8 at ROVAL, which initially did not prove enough but kept him next in line in case someone was eliminated.
To his good fortune, Alex Bowman’s car failed post-race weight inspection, giving Logano his spot. While luck is a factor in this, Logano believes that they were always in contention since the HMS driver had an illegal entry. Then the Penske driver won the round three opener at Las Vegas and booked a spot in the top 4, now eyeing his third championship.
Ahead of the final race, Joey Logano opened up on the Bowman incident, explaining how it was not luck that put him in round 3. Logano on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio said, “If we all are supposed to be playing on an equal playing field, they pushed it too far and you get dinged for it. Like we all push it far and however it happened I don’t know, but they went too far in NASCAR to put the foot down. And we were next in line, does that make us lucky? No. We were next in line for a reason and we had a race against a car that wasn’t legal. So we had the spot the whole time in my opinion.”
The Penske driver is of the opinion that no one makes it to the final 4 without deserving it. And if the 6-time finalist is saying that, we can take his word for it. “Nobody makes it to the championship 4 for not in a deserving way. You have to get here somehow. Everyone has this same opportunity when we roll into February Daytona. Everybody has the same opportunity to get to championship 4, no matter how you get there. But we all have the same opportunity to get there. So we came in as maybe not the number one seed or maybe not even the number 10. But we figured out how to get through the rounds and now we are here. So everyone has the same opportunities to do that,” Logano added.
Luck or no luck, there is no denying that Logano is one of the most successful active drivers in the Cup Series. The 35-time Cup Series race winner is 4th in standing after Kyle Busch (63), Denny Hamlin (54), and Brad Keselowski (36). Logano has a strong chance to equal the wins with Keselowski after the Phoenix race and also become the driver with the most amount of championships amongst the active ones. However, a driver who can prove to be a thorn in this journey is the defending champion and his teammate, Ryan Blaney. But in contrast, according to Logano, the two teams are prepping together for the championship race.
Teamwork continues as championship chances have doubled for Penske
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Ryan Blaney won the dramatic Martinsville race, making it Penske domination in the championship 4. And Team Penske has clearly got an upper hand amongst the four divers. Blaney and Logano are former champions whereas Tyler Reddick and William Byron haven’t yet won a title. Other than the experience difference, Blaney is coming off a win and momentum can definitely be a factor in giving Penske the upper hand. Lastly, Blaney has the best average finish among all active drivers at the Phoenix Raceway. The #12’s average finish on the track since 2021 is 4.1 compared to Byron’s 10.3, Logano’s 12.1 and Reddick’s 15.6.
via Imago Joey Logano (left), Ryan Blaney (right)
However, some think that the drivers with the most amount of preparation time have the upper hand. Logano, after winning Kansas, had 2 weeks to prep for the final race, naturally giving him an advantage. And thankfully for Penske, the #22 team is helping in expediting the prep process for the #12 team. On this Logano said, “Yeah, I mean, it’s an advantage to just get the team working that direction already. While Paul (Wolfe, Logano crew chief) and our engineers have been focused 100% on Phoenix the last two weeks, that allows (Johnathan) Hassler (Blaney crew chief) to be able to kind of lean on those guys a little bit what we’ve been studying and working on.”
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If team Penske wins another championship, it would be Penske’s 5th and Logano’s 3rd. However, the #22 has put his team’s goals ahead of his. “Yeah, I mean, obviously it would be great. I guess when it comes to individually, I don’t think about it that much. I think of it more of a team ’cause I know what a championship is worth to everybody. I think that matters more…But I’d like to see the people that I care about at our race team celebrate,” Logano added.
Do you think Team Penske can win the 2024 championship? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

Joey Logano is in a unique position. The driver could deliver a Cup Series three-peat for Team Penske at Phoenix Raceway, cementing their dominance in the Next-Gen era. His teammate Ryan Blaney, who is the reigning champion, will also be in contention for the Bill France Cup, while Tyler Reddick and William Byron occupy the remaining two Championship 4 spots. With the stakes higher than ever, the Connecticut native is hoping to avoid the controversy that occurred at Martinsville.
Despite accusations of race manipulation flying around, Joey Logano has thrown shade at NASCAR for not taking action against the No. 24 Chevy team, who ultimately benefited from Austin Dillon and Ross Chastain’s assistance at the 2024 Xfinity 500.
Joey Logano hopes for a clean race in Phoenix
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The penultimate race of the Cup Series season had no shortage of drama and controversy. Ross Chastain, Austin Dillon, and Bubba Wallace, along with their respective teams, were punished by NASCAR for race manipulation, resulting in the suspension of key personnel as well as a $600,000 overall fine. Driving under the Chevrolet umbrella, the Trackhouse and Richard Childress Racing drivers were found guilty of blocking incoming traffic from making the pass over William Byron, who was competing for a spot in the Championship 4.
While the sanctioning body has punished those involved, Byron remains in contention at Phoenix Raceway under controversial circumstances. When asked by Bob Pockrass how the penalties could impact the final race of the season, Joey Logano replied, “It’s kind of hard to say. The beneficiaries of it are still in and nothing happened. You tell me if it was good enough or not. Did it work or did it not? Was it worth it? I don’t know, I’m not NASCAR. I’m not the person that can make the call on that stuff. Just driving cars. You just hope everyone races fairly.”
In many ways, NASCAR’s punishment was also meant to serve as a reminder to other drivers to not attempt a similar feat in the winner-takes-all-race at Phoenix. However, William Byron ultimately benefitted from the so-called “deal,” and escaped unscathed despite his controversial sixth-place finish at Martinsville Speedway.
Unsurprisingly, Joey Logano feels hard done by, given that the rest of the Championship 4 contenders secured race wins to earn their shot at the title, while the Hendrick Motorsports driver received help from fellow Chevy drivers.
As he has done so often in the past, Joey Logano will hope to pull off one more clutch performance in the final race of the season. The 34-year-old has the experience of performing at the biggest race of the season, having lifted the championship twice already, in 2018 and 2022. While his season might not have been the most dominant this year, Logano has performed when it mattered the most to continue his even-year streak. Could he go on to win the title, just as he did in 2018 and 2022? Time will tell.
Logano dismisses ‘lucky’ claims ahead of championship race
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In the last 10 years, Joey Logano has made it to Championship 4 a staggering six times. The Connecticut native has firmly established himself as one of NASCAR’s modern greats, highlighting the importance of consistency and hard work to secure results on the racetrack. Despite securing just three wins this season, the Team Penske driver has refuted claims that he was lucky to have made it this far, as Alex Bowman’s disqualification earned him a spot in the Round of Eight.
Explaining how he and his team found a way to remain in the title race, Joey Logano said, “If we’re all supposed to be playing on an equal playing field and they (No. 48 team) pushed it too far, you’re going to get dinged for it. We all push it far and however it happened, I don’t know. But they went too far and NASCAR had to put the foot down. We were next in line. Does that make us lucky? No, we were next in line for a reason and we had to race against a car that wasn’t legal. We had the spot the whole time.”
In a format that rewards consistency, making it to Championship 4 is impossible without earning a spot amongst NASCAR’s best. Logano has secured wins at key moments during the ongoing Cup Series campaign, whether it was at the Nashville Superspeedway, the opening playoff race at Atlanta, or the Round of Eight fixture in Las Vegas.
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Given the circumstances, he has done more than enough to earn his place at Phoenix Raceway in the final race of the season. All he needs to do is perform one more time to lift the silverware on the grandest stage of them all.

Over the years, the NASCAR playoff format has become a proverbial punching bag. The controversy at Martinsville Speedway in the penultimate Cup Series race highlighted the uglier side of the existing structure, with manufacturer allegiances becoming more pronounced than ever before. Drivers such as Kyle Larson, who have won six races in the season failed to make it to Championship 4, while less consistent drivers remain in contention for the title at Phoenix Raceway.
Reflecting on the existing format, Denny Hamlin issued a warning that NASCAR could face severe backlash on social media if Joey Logano were to clinch the Bill France Cup in the final race of the season.
Don’t hate the player, hate the game
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Joey Logano has pretty much nailed the win-and-you’re-in playoff format. Ever since the elimination-style playoff structure was introduced in 2014, the Connecticut native has made it to Championship 4 six times, winning the Cup Series twice during that timeframe. Despite having a lackluster season, the Team Penske driver has secured three victories at key points during the campaign, helping him fight for the crown once again. The 34-year-old was kicked out of the postseason after finishing eighth at the Charlotte Roval, but Alex Bowman’s disqualification reinstated him, and victory in Las Vegas punched his ticket into the final four.
However, Denny Hamlin isn’t expecting a good reception should Logano win the championship at Phoenix Raceway. Speaking on the Actions Detrimental podcast, the veteran driver said, “I can tell you this and it’s not their fault or his fault or anyone. But if Joey Logano wins this title, there is going to be a wrath on social media about this format. It already is. It’s so interesting because Kyle Larson, you said in this season or when you decided this that you wanted to put an emphasis on winning. He’s won more races than anyone by a long way and yet he is not part of the title fight.”
Had NASCAR followed the Sprint Cup Chase format, which was used until the 2014 season, Kyle Larson would have remained in contention for his second Cup Series title. Instead, the existing format doesn’t reward consistency but encourages a win-at-all-costs approach, as victory is the only way to automatically progress into the next playoff round. Taking advantage of the situation, Joey Logano has legitimately earned his spot in the Championship 4, while more consistent drivers throughout the season have fallen short.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dirty Mo Media (@dirtymomedia)
Denny Hamlin cited another example to highlight the issues with the existing playoff structure, saying “Kevin Harvick won ten races and didn’t get to race for the title. The format is broken and if you disagree you’re in denial.” With car manufacturers having so much sway on the sport, it was only a matter of time before certain parties would game the system to work in their favor. It’s time NASCAR does more to reward consistency and give drivers a reason to perform at the highest level for the duration of the season. Could Joey Logano’s victory prompt the sanctioning body to re-work its existing format? Time will tell.
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Denny Hamlin reflects on missing out on the championship
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If there is one driver who knows what it’s like to miss out on the championship, it’s Denny Hamlin. The Joe Gibbs Racing veteran has come close plenty of times, but not close enough to lift the elusive Bill France Cup in the final race of the season. While 23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick remains in contention, the only way Hamlin can lift the trophy this year will be as an owner, not a driver for the No. 11 Toyota team.
Despite having three wins this season, Denny Hamlin hasn’t entered Victory Lane since the 2024 Würth 400 at Dover Motor Speedway earlier this season. Criticizing the playoff format for missing out on the title, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver said, “You know you have that stretch in the middle of the summer you’re thinking, ‘We’re right there on the verge, we’re one of the top teams.’ But the win and you’re in just changes everything and it certainly, those good consistent finishes is definitely what it does not reward.”
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At the age of 43, Denny Hamlin doesn’t have time on his side as he continues his hunt for the Cup Series title. He might still be at the top of his game, but the championship will continue to elude him unless he can adapt to the existing playoff format. While his focus will be on cheering for the No. 45 entry for the team he owns, the Florida native will feel a tinge of resentment for not being in contention for the ultimate prize at Phoenix Raceway.

As Dirty Mo Media prepares to launch the latest episode of Herm & Schrader on November 13, they do a deep dive into the enduring friendship between Ken Schrader and Dale Earnhardt Jr. In the latest episode of the Dirty Mo Media channel, Schrader and Dale Jr. reflect on the early days of stock car racing, sharing stories of the challenges that shaped their careers. They explore the evolution of the sport, the bond that ties drivers together, and all that makes NASCAR more than just a competition.
But it’s not just about racing. Dale Jr also reveals moments of connection, humor, and respect between two of NASCAR’s most beloved figures. As they recount their shared experiences, Dale Jr. takes a moment to express his gratitude to Ken in a heartfelt letter, paying tribute to their friendship and the legacy of Dale Earnhardt Sr. However, the real twist comes years later when Dale Jr. connects the dots in an unexpected way—revealing the surprising connection to Carl Edwards’ father.
How Dale Earnhardt Jr met Carl Edwards’ father
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As Dirty Mo Media gears up to launch the latest episode of Herm & Schrader on November 13, the Dale Jr Download shares a heartwarming moment between Ken Schrader and Dale Earnhardt Jr. But there’s one story that stands out—a surprising flashback from Dale Jr.’s past, which ties back to Carl Edwards’ dad.
On the November 8th episode of Dale Jr. Download, the JR Motorsports boss starts reminiscing about an incident that happened years ago. Back when he was just starting to carve out his place in NASCAR, he and his friends ended up at a gentleman’s club after a race. The group of drivers, including Jr., had been traveling, and it was supposed to be a quick stop on their way home. But things didn’t go quite as expected.
Jr. recalls with a chuckle, “We get to the door and try to go in, and the guy says, ‘Hey, you can’t come in.’” Turns out, they weren’t exactly welcome. Schrader and the others, trying to make light of the situation, told Jr. to stay quiet and act like he belonged. “Just keep your eyes forward. Don’t say a word,” they told him. But the plan didn’t work. They were turned away.
So, Dale Jr. and one of the guys, who happened to be Cousin Carl (Carl Edwards), ended up sitting in the bed of a pickup truck outside the club, drinking beer and watching the chaos unfold. It was the kind of night that would stick with him. “We’re just sitting there, and we watch this guy doing a gun deal in the parking lot,” Jr. remembers. “It was wild.”
But the most unexpected twist came years later when Jr. and Carl Edwards were sitting together at a driver’s meeting at Daytona. Jr. had just arrived early and sat down next to Carl, who waved him over to meet his dad. “You know my dad?” Carl asked. Jr. was a little confused, saying, “No, I don’t think so, man.” That’s when Carl hit him with the surprising bombshell: “Yeah, y’all hung out in the back of a pickup truck outside a st–p club in Kansas back in ’91.”
via Imago Dale Earnhardt Jr
Dale Jr. laughed, stunned by the connection. “That was you?” he says, realizing just how small the racing world is. Carl’s dad, who had shared that night with Jr., was none other than the guy he’d met with years ago outside the club. Now that Carl Edwards has retired, he, in fact, decided to follow in Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s footsteps by giving up the steering wheel for a mic.
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Carl Edwards gets into the media side of NASCAR
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Carl Edwards is embracing a new chapter in his career. After retiring from racing in 2016, he stepped away from the spotlight to focus on family and community work. But Edwards has recently revealed a growing interest in following the footsteps of legends like Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kevin Harvick. He wants to do this by making a transition into broadcasting.
Despite his legendary status on the track, Edwards prefers the microphone to the fire suit, indicating that he’s open to TV work. Edwards’ broadcasting journey is not entirely new. He first dipped his toes into the TV world back in 2012, calling Nationwide Series races for ESPN. His appearances continued in the following years, and now, with veterans like Harvick joining FOX Sports and Dale Jr. moving to TNT Sports, it’s clear the trend of drivers transitioning to the booth is only growing.
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This shift towards veteran drivers in broadcasting isn’t accidental. NASCAR on FOX made a strategic decision in 2022 to bring in a rotating lineup of former drivers like Tony Stewart, Matt Kenseth, and Danica Patrick to keep things fresh and relatable for the audience. With that said, would you be interested in watching a Carl Edwards broadcast? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Drama continued to encompass NASCAR ahead of its championship-deciding season finale as the sanctioning body issued $600,000 in fines and suspended nine team members from three different teams on Tuesday for alleged race manipulation at Martinsville Speedway.
The penalties came down after a contentious final battle Sunday at the Virginia track in which Christopher Bell initially qualified for the championship final four, but his move to hit the wall and use it for momentum violated a banned safety rule and was disallowed.
That gave the final spot in this week’s winner-take-all finale at Phoenix Raceway to William Byron.
But, NASCAR was clear in disqualifying Bell that it would take a hard look at the actions other drivers played in the sequence of events as Bell and Byron battled for the final spot in the championship four.
Elton Sawyer, NASCAR’s senior vice president of competition, seemed to stress that punished drivers Ross Chastain, Austin Dillon and Bubba Wallace were lucky not to be suspended.
“In this case we felt we wanted to focus more on the team leadership, something that we haven’t done in the past,” Sawyer said. “But I promise you that does not exclude going forward. We have meetings coming up this week with our drivers and we will get that point across to them and be very clear that when you do anything that’s going to compromise the integrity of our sport, we’re going to react.”
Drivers have been on notice since a 2013 scandal that they are mandated to give 100% at all time and not participate in any race manipulation. It stemmed from the final regular-season race of that season when Clint Bowyer deliberately spun to start a sequence of events that gave teammate Martin Truex Jr. the final playoff spot.
Truex was kicked out of the playoffs — the scandal ultimately caused the closure of Michael Waltrip Racing — and Jeff Gordon was added as an unprecedented additional driver because he’d been robbed of the chance to race for the playoff position. It was after a weekend of crisis meetings between NASCAR and the teams at the playoff-opening race that NASCAR made its 100% rule.
But the manipulation rule is openly flouted at Daytona and Talladega, where the cars from the manufacturers all work together in the draft and when the drivers make their pit stops. There has yet to be a penalty for those instances.
In this latest case, NASCAR determined Toyota driver Wallace faked a flat tire in order to give Bell the leeway to move out of the way and hit the wall. The riding the wall move was banned after Chastain did it in 2022 to earn the final playoff berth.
In the case of Byron, NASCAR ruled that Chastain and Dillon both ran interference to help fellow Chevrolet driver Byron not lose any position on the track that would cost him a spot in the championship.
Sawyer said the sanctioning body considered taking action against manufacturers Chevrolet and Toyota, but there is nothing in the rulebook that would call for the manufacturers to be punished. NASCAR also planned to meet with the leaders of Ford, Chevy and Toyota to discuss the situation.
Because the penalties were issued the week of the season finale, the teams have until Wednesday afternoon to ask for an expedited appeal. The appeals would likely be heard Thursday.
Trackhouse Racing, which fields Chastain’s Chevy, said it would appeal, as did 23XI for the Toyota of Wallace.
“We feel strongly that we did not commit any violations during Sunday’s race,” 23XI said in a statement. The team is currently embroiled in a lawsuit against NASCAR over the charter system and has Tyler Reddick racing Sunday for the Cup Series title.
The penalties issued were:
Ross Chastain
A $100,000 fine for Chastain, a $100,000 fine for Trackhouse, and one-race suspensions for team executive Tony Lunders, crew chief Philip Surgen and spotter Brandon McReynolds. Chastain is the defending race winner at Phoenix. The team also lost 50 points.
Austin Dillon
Dillon was fined $100,000, as was Richard Childress Racing. One-race suspensions were given to team executive Keith Rodden, crew chief Justin Alexander and spotter Brandon Benesch. The team also lost 50 points. Richard Childress Racing also said it would appeal.
Bubba Wallace
Wallace was fined $100,000, as was 23XI. The one-race suspensions went to team executive Dave Rogers, crew chief Robert Barker and spotter Freddie Kraft. The team also lost 50 points.
Sawyer had said Sunday that NASCAR would review the Martinsville finish to see if there was indeed any race manipulation with rival drivers helping others that are aligned with the same manufacturer.
But he said he hoped the penalties were harsh enough to curb the manufacturer alliances and race manipulation.
“We looked at the most recent penalty that we had written for an infraction very similar… we wanted to ramp this one up,” Sawyer said, “and we did. We did that in a way that included team leadership and this is something that we felt like we wanted to get our point across that it is a responsibility of all of us…. to uphold the integrity of the sport.”

The only thing certain after the last lap of the cutoff race in Martinsville was Ryan Blaney’s win, securing him a championship 4 spot. However, there was utter chaos and confusion surrounding Christopher Bell’s finish, along with potential race manipulation tactics. The JGR driver was fully committed to his cause and shipped his race car in the fence. For the time being, it looked like he just might have made the transfer.
But, surprisingly, there was no reaction from Bell after he exited his race car. Perhaps he knew that he used the hail melon and that NASCAR was probably going to rule him out. Well, after a long 27-minute discussion, the officials did reach a verdict and penalized Christopher Bell for a safety violation. However, throughout this sequence, Jeff Gluck felt something was off and was expecting Bell to plead his case right from the get-go.
Did Christopher Bell know he was guilty of breaking the safety rules?
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Before the #20 Toyota Camry pulled off a hail melon 2.0, something strange happened on the last lap of the race. William Byron, driving the #24, couldn’t afford to lose a spot; meanwhile, Bell needed to gain one to make it through to the final 4. As he approached turns 3 and 4, Bubba Wallace surprisingly got loose and strayed up the racetrack. This allowed the #20 to thread the needle and ride the wall to claim the finish.
Certainly, Bell knew that he had gotten the better of Byron, and he had claimed the fourth and final spot. His reaction should’ve been celebratory, but instead, he had a grimace on his face, which was spotted by Jeff Gluck. “He got out of the car with a grim face, and it seemed to me like he was yeah, they’re probably not going to let this stand. I rode the wall. So then I was kind of surprised, but then afterwards they said, Well, I didn’t do it on purpose, and Adam Steven’s really mad about it, and Gibbs tried to protest it in the hauler.” Gluck said on the Door Bumper Clear podcast.
“My move was completely different than what Ross’ was. I got loose getting into the corner and slid right into the fence.” This was Christopher Bell’s defense after the verdict came in. But why exactly was Bell so unsure about his finish? We saw Austin Dillon celebrate at Richmond, knowing he might have crossed the line. Why didn’t Bell react or protest as soon as he got out of his race car?
This was the mystery Gluck was trying to solve. “If Bell thought, Hey, I didn’t do that on purpose, he should’ve been jumping up and down. He should’ve left his car and gone to the hauler and said, Hey, whatever you guys think happened, that was not a wall ride; there was none of that. If he felt like that wasn’t intentional and he didn’t mean to do that to gain positions. How come he wasn’t out there screaming about it?”
The big surprise was NASCAR took a long, hard look at Bell’s wall ride for 27 minutes and decided that was the only verdict they reached. William Byron was cleared as the fourth car to race for the championship, and others were let off the hook. But what happened next did take everyone by surprise.
NASCAR dropped the hammer on the leadership group
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On Tuesday, NASCAR announced that they had penalized the No. 1, 3, and 23 teams for violating the NASCAR Member Code of Conduct at Martinsville Speedway. It was evident that the spotters, the crew chiefs, and the team members had way too much leverage in altering the outcome of the race via the team radio. Therefore, addressing the issue at its core, NASCAR banned the crew chiefs, spotters, and team executives from all three teams involved.
The drivers and the owners were handed a $100,000 fine each and docked 50 points from the owner’s and driver’s standings. Although the drivers in this instance were excused from serving the ban, a repeat of such an incident could see NASCAR setting a new precedent. Moreover, they are also looking into making changes to the rule book that can help them penalize the OEMs as well.
“We plan this week to have meetings with all of our stakeholders to make our point very clear going forward that we will include drivers in this if we have to. This is something that’s not gonna be tolerated. We’re not going to be dealing with this, and we’re going to be going to the racetracks and giving our fans the best product that we possibly can on the racetrack. That’s our goal.” Elton Sawyer said this via SiriusXM NASCAR radio.
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It’s fair to say NASCAR is taking steps to tackle the issues that might plague the sport. But will this be enough to keep the dirty tactics of drivers and teams at bay? Only time will tell.

The final laps of the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville promised a classic NASCAR thriller: tight competition, high stakes, and ballsy maneuvers. Christopher Bell, fighting for a Championship 4 berth, pushed his No. 20 JGR car around the outside wall after making a move on Bubba Wallace on the final lap to secure his spot, somewhat echoing Ross Chastain’s jaw-dropping “Hail Melon” move from 2022. But as Bell made his move, NASCAR assessed him with a safety violation, a call that cost him a chance at the title and sparked heated debate across the sport. Speaking on his ‘Happy Hour’ podcast, veteran driver Kevin Harvick didn’t hold back, explaining exactly why he believes NASCAR made the right choice in penalizing Bell.
Harvick’s perspective carries weight due to his own track record as a driver with NASCAR’s rule enforcement. In 2002, Harvick experienced fines and a suspension for rough driving after intentionally spinning out Coy Gibbs during a Truck race at Martinsville. That incident, where he admitted his intentions over the radio, prompted NASCAR to take immediate action, removing him from the race. He’d already been fined that same season for a post-race altercation with Greg Biffle. Known for his on-the-edge driving style, Harvick has firsthand experience with NASCAR’s evolving approach to safety and rule consistency, giving him unique insight into why moves like Bell’s need firm enforcement.
The Hail Melon rule: A clear but controversial decision
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For Harvick, NASCAR’s decision against Bell wasn’t a difficult call; it centered on safety, which he says drivers had settled in 2022 after Chastain’s wall-riding stunt. Chastain’s move was exhilarating but risky, with him shifting into fifth gear and hurtling along the wall to secure his Championship 4 spot. Fans loved it, but drivers and officials saw clear dangers: flying debris, loose parts, and potential harm to fans and drivers. In a meeting with NASCAR, drivers agreed that stock car racing should boil down to more than just slamming the gas and clinging to the wall.
“There was a meeting with the drivers and NASCAR [after Chastain’s move] … the wall ride was unanimously voted to say, ‘We don’t need that. We can’t do that,’” Harvick said. He explained that the move wasn’t explicitly banned in the rulebook but was widely condemned by the racing community, who felt such maneuvers threatened safety. From Harvick’s view, NASCAR’s choice to penalize Bell reflected a shared stance within the sport—a way of saying NASCAR should involve more than wall-slamming tactics.
Christopher Bell’s team at Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR), however, expressed disappointment with the ruling. JGR President Dave Alpern called it “a tough one to lose like this,” especially given that he had already overcome numerous obstacles, including a spin after contact with Corey LaJoie and a pit-stop blunder that cost him a lap. But Harvick felt otherwise, calling it “the easiest call that NASCAR’s gonna make” since drivers had already agreed that moves like Bell’s were too risky for high-stakes competition.
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Bell’s intentions: A mistake or repeat of the Hail Melon?
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Kevin Harvick admitted that Bell probably wasn’t trying to recreate Chastain’s wall ride but rather made a quick decision when he found himself in a tight spot. “He did get loose … but unfortunately for him, there’s a camera inside the car,” Harvick explained. In the last moments, footage appeared to show Bell choosing to “put the gas down [and ride] the wall” instead of easing back to regain control.
via Getty BROOKLYN, MICHIGAN – AUGUST 17: Christopher Bell, driver of the #20 Rheem Toyota, prepares to practice for the NASCAR Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway on August 17, 2024 in Brooklyn, Michigan. (Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images)
With the timing right before the Championship 4, NASCAR faced a tough call, Harvick noted. Enforcing this “black and white” rule consistently—even if it’s not formally written in the rulebook—was critical to maintaining fairness and safety. NASCAR’s penalty against Bell signals a clear message about acceptable tactics. Harvick believes this ruling shows NASCAR’s commitment to ending wall-riding in any form, whether intentional or not.
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Bell’s penalty may have cast a shadow over the Martinsville race, but NASCAR’s stance remains firm: the Hail Melon move was an exciting flash in NASCAR history—now permanently off-limits.

The race manipulation incidents in the Martinsville eliminator raised questions about the integrity of the sport. Ross Chastain and Austin Dillon helped Chevy teammate William Byron by causing a blockade behind them. Had Byron lost a spot, Christopher Bell would have progressed and Chevy would have been out of championship contention. Also, Toyota was equally desperate for a second car in the playoffs after Tyler Reddick already had a spot in Phoenix, winning the Homestead race.
Bell needed a position to gain draw points with Byron because, in case of a draw, the driver with the best finish in any of the three races in round three progresses. And Bell had a P2 in Las Vegas to help him. To let the #20 driver pass, Bubba Wallace slowed down on the final stretch. These blatant displays of race manipulation had NASCAR penalize the culprits, in this case, the #1, #3, and #23. However, the question that currently remains unanswered is are the penalties enough for this to be a lesson. A NASCAR insider disagrees!
NASCAR needs to impose harsher penalties!
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As of now, NASCAR hasn’t suspended any of the three drivers. They have only been fined $100,000 and have been docked 50 points from their season. One race suspension has come for their crew chiefs, spotters, and race executives, along with a $100,000 fine for the teams as well. While a $200,000 fine per team might sound like a lot, is it? Wouldn’t this set a precedence that you can manipulate a race and get away with it by paying a fine?
NASCAR Vice President Elton Sawyer, justifying the penalties, said, “And this one, something that we feel like that, you know, we want to get our point across that it’s a responsibility of all of us, the team owners, the team leadership as well as ourselves here at NASCAR to uphold the integrity of our sport…We plan this week to have meetings with all of our stakeholders to make our point very clear going forward that we will include drivers in this if we have to. This is something that’s not gonna be tolerated.” Only talk and no actions aren’t going to change anything.
Even the 50 points docked are of drivers who are out of the playoffs and it rendered no effect on their standings. Bubba Wallace and Chastain are where they were. Only Dillon moved from 28th to 33rd. NASCAR spotter Brett Griffin recently referred to the 2013 Michael Waltrip Racing debacle at Richmond, which led to the team eventually shutting down. According to Griffin, those are the kind of precedents NASCAR should set to fix this broken system.
Griffin on the Door Bumper Clear Podcast said, “I think you know it was 11 years ago whenever the thing happened at Richmond with the MWR deal. And Clint (Bowyer) was never proven to have done anything wrong there. Despite what you think you can’t prove he wrecked on purpose. What got him was Ty Norris’ comments on the radio with Brian Vickers. But nonetheless they fined every car, they took points from every car. That means it was a big deal. Essentially, it put MWR out of business.”
According to Griffin, if NASCAR wants to bring a significant change or send a message to the culprits, they have to bring harsher penalties on everyone involved. “So when you come in and you make those types of fines and points (Like in the case of MWR) it gets people’s attention.” Griffin put forth a hypothetical situation explaining the kind of consequences that would be impactful in this case. Griffin said, “If the 23 gets hit and I’m not saying he will but if he gets hit with a 200-point penalty today that’s going to take a lot of money out of their pocket.”
Unless such penalties are issued, this might keep repeating. Like in 2022, Cole Custer slowed down to let Chase Briscoe pass and progress to the next round at the ROVAL. NASCAR issued the same penalties as Martinsville in that case. No driver was suspended. Had they been harsher there, this probably would have been avoided. And this is surprising since NASCAR is known to be harsher than this. The perfect example is the Michael Waltrip Racing incident.
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What happened with Michael Waltrip Racing?
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In 2013, it was the Richmond race, the last one before the chase began, including 12 drivers. In the race, Ryan Newman was leading and poised to win bagging a spot in the 12. But MWR had different plans. With just 10 laps to go, Clint Bowyer spun bringing out a caution. This gave Brian Vickers a chance to pit. It was later revealed that all this was orchestrated to let Martin Truex Jr. get a spot over Vickers and have enough points to qualify.
This led to the elimination of Newman as he was dropped spot in a race which was a must-win for him. After a lot of uproar from Newman’s SHR team and then NASCAR analyzed the video and in-car radio conversation. The most incriminating aspect of the incident was the radio exchange between Bowyer and crew chief Brian Pattie. NASCAR concluded that this conversation initiated a chain of events involving team orders, ultimately resulting in Bowyer intentionally spinning his car. NASCAR also investigated a radio conversation between Vickers and his crew chief Ty Norris, where Norris ordered a pit stop with three laps remaining to potentially benefit Truex Jr.
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As a result, Bowyer was fined $300,000 and docked off his 50 points. Not just that even Vickers and MTJ (who had no direct involvement in the race manipulation), also had 50 points docked off. This led to MTJ being ousted from the top 12 and Ryan Newman being reinstated. This was followed by several of the organization’s sponsors—including their primary and biggest sponsor, NAPA Auto Parts abruptly cut ties with the organization. Two seasons later, the team went out of business.
If such were the implications of indulging in race manipulation, no team probably would even think of doing it. What do you think about this? Were the NASCAR penalties enough? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

Who in their wildest dream would’ve thought that NBA legend Michael Jordan would challenge the status quo set by NASCAR and the France family? Since its inception, NASCAR has been operating as a family business, but the roll-out of the charters has dragged them back to the courtroom. The ownership group at NASCAR is facing an anti-trust lawsuit filed by 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports.
While the two parties have put forth their arguments, it all boils down to getting the bigger piece of the pie. The new fans looking into this case from the outside might feel pretty confident about Michael Jordan’s chances in the court. But for those who’ve been associated with NASCAR for a long time, they’ve seen this movie before. And for the most part, NASCAR has pretty much had its way.
Although the federal court in North Carolina has yet to deliver its final verdict, it is hard not to think about the possible repercussions this can have on MJ and 23XI Racing.
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Michael Jordan is in a tough spot with the antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR
“I don’t have basketball anymore, but this could replace it very easily.” Michael Jordan said this while experiencing the Southern 500 race at Darlington Raceway. It felt like, after his illustrious career on the courts of basketball, he finally found a new home at the short ovals in NASCAR. And why wouldn’t he? His driver Tyler Reddick won the regular season championship and is now in contention to win the Cup Series championship in Phoenix.
Interestingly, Jordan has been more and more invested in his new business venture. Especially after he sold his majority stakes from the NBA team Charlotte Hornets for $3 billion. This sale saw Jordan turn a personal profit of $1.8 billion, according to Investopedia. With steady progress alongside his partner Denny Hamlin at 23XI Racing, MJ felt the grass was greener on the NASCAR side until he decided to trade blows with the France family on the new charter agreement.
The reason why MJ relinquished his ownership stake in his NBA team after 13 years was to pursue a different challenge. Another aspect for Jordan to make this decision was the lack of performance by the team. While the team did win the first and last game with Jordan as the owner, they only made the playoffs three times. This is far from ideal for an athlete who won six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls and five MVP titles to his name. But, if you look at the rise of 23XI Racing in just four years, it is indeed tough to see the NBA icon turn his back on the team.
via Getty AUCHTERARDER, SCOTLAND – SEPTEMBER 27: Basketball player Michael Jordan watches on the 1st tee during the Afternoon Foursomes of the 2014 Ryder Cup on the PGA Centenary course at the Gleneagles Hotel on September 27, 2014 in Auchterarder, Scotland. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)
While the prospect of 23XI’s exit hangs in balance based on the lawsuit filed, it’s difficult to see it happen. This is evident from 23XI Racing’s attempts to get a preliminary injunction. The motive behind this move is to continue racing in NASCAR in 2025 while they continue with their anti-trust case. It is essentially a defense mechanism to safeguard the drivers, employees, and sponsors associated with the team. Neither NASCAR nor the two teams see eye-to-eye with the charter deal. And without a decisive verdict, it is indeed tough to guess in which direction the pendulum will swing.
However, a look back at NASCAR’s previous lawsuit just might give us a fair idea of what the outcome of this anti-trust case looks like.
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Major legal cases NASCAR had to face over the years
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This isn’t the first time NASCAR is facing an anti-trust lawsuit. Back in 2002, Francis Ferko, a minority shareholder of then-publicly traded SMI, held NASCAR and ISC accountable for violating the agreement to have a second Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway. But in 2004, when the suit was about to go to trial, the two parties settled. ISC sold Rockingham Speedway to SMI, and this allowed Texas to have its promised second Cup race of the season. However, the Rockingham Speedway was the one that came off the worst in the deal, as SMI sold the track in 2007, and by 2015, the oval track had announced bankruptcy.
Just a few years later, Kentucky Speedway filed another anti-trust lawsuit for lack of Cup race against NASCAR’s sister company, ISC. The racetrack argued that NASCAR prevented the non-ISC racetrack from hosting NASCAR races due to its association with ISC. The France Family is the majority owner of the ISC, and surprisingly, Michael Jordan and 23XI Racing are putting up similar arguments in their case. But the court dismissed Kentucky Speedway’s case, citing NASCAR can decide the date and the tracks where they want to operate.
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It is interesting how the challengers keep on changing, but the fact NASCAR stands tall despite the legal woes is something that stands out. Now this doesn’t necessarily mean they have an upper hand in their ongoing legal conflict against 23XI and FRM. Unlike the previous cases, NASCAR isn’t the sole winner even if they get the ruling in their favor. A global icon like Michael Jordan that brings attention and a new audience to the sport is something NASCAR is trying to achieve. So, his exit from stock car racing isn’t necessarily a win-win for the France family and NASCAR.

With six wins under his belt, a pole position at Homestead, and a knack for championship-level consistency, Corey Heim has proven he’s no ordinary talent. His rise through the ranks made him a strong contender for a Cup Series seat. However, will 2025 be the year the Heim finds himself a Cup Series drive?
But in a surprising twist, Heim has taken a detour that has fans and insiders confused. Could this unexpected decision signal bigger changes ahead for 23XI Racing and Michael Jordan’s involvement in NASCAR? What does this mean for Heim’s career in NASCAR?
Where is Corey Heim racing in 2025?
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As whispers floated around NASCAR about Corey Heim possibly leaping the Cup Series, fans were buzzing. Given that Heim entered the Truck Series finale at Phoenix without a definite route for his future, rumors buzzed and fans floated around them with excitement. Could Heim be a future 23XI driver? With Michael Jordan’s future in NASCAR up in the air, the idea of a young talent like Heim joining the big leagues added some spice to the speculation.
But Corey Heim just threw a curveball and instead of chasing Cup Series glory, he’s staying put with TRICON Garage for another full-time season in the Truck Series. The news dropped like a plot twist in a movie as the team announced X. TRICON even tweeted, “Here to stay,” making it clear that they’re thrilled to have Heim back for a third year. The chance to join 23XI Racing and race alongside stars like Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace might still be on the horizon, but for now, Heim’s staying true to TRICON.
Given 23XI’s ongoing battle with NASCAR, a third charter would have been a difficult prospect for the team. At the moment, Michael Jordan and Co. are fighting to retain their current charters, with the lawsuit in full swing. Given the difficult addition of a third car, 23XI Racing also has two drivers who look like they’re here to stay. Bubba Wallace received his extension recently, and with Tyler Reddick’s presence in the Top 4, the team may not be too keen on replacing either driver.
With Tricon, Heim has made it into the finals of the Truck Series, and looking at his momentum, there is a strong chance that he might win the title. Although Phoenix has not been one of his best tracks, Heim has managed to secure a 7th-place finish there in 2022. While ARCA is quite a different series of Stock car racing, Heim has managed to finish 2nd at Phoenix in the past.
What does Heim have to say about continuing in Tricon?
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Currently, Corey Heim is one of the four championship contenders set to battle it out at Phoenix Raceway for the series title on Friday night. Reflecting on his journey with Tricon, Heim shared his excitement, saying, “I am excited to be back with Tricon for my third full-time year. I have developed so much alongside this organization in the last two years, and we have made some incredible memories along the way. I can’t wait to continue this journey in 2025 with my No. 11 crew.”
Heim’s path to success has been nothing short of impressive. He began his NASCAR national series career with Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM), where he snagged his first win at Atlanta Motor Speedway in 2021. After KBM closed its doors, Heim moved to Tricon and instantly made his mark, collecting three wins in 2023 with a stellar average finish of 6.8.
This season, he’s doubled his victories, taking six checkered flags in 22 races and dabbling in select Xfinity and Cup Series starts with Legacy Motor Club, 23XI Racing, and Sam Hunt Racing. “We’re extremely fortunate to get another year with Corey,” said Tricon’s general manager Kevin Ray.
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via Imago Corey heim
“His dedication to not only the No. 11 team but the entire organization has elevated TRICON beyond measure in our team’s short history. While we’re looking forward to 2025, our priority remains on closing out this season with a victory and our program’s first championship,” added Ray. With that said, do you think that this was the right move for Corey Heim? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Brad Keselowski isn’t content with just a playoff entry for the #6 car. It might look like the veteran driver is easing into his career after taking up an ownership role, but his recent actions suggest otherwise. Keselowski is still ambitious when it comes to his role as the driver of the #6 team, and this is why he’s making major changes to the team ahead of the next year.
After calling the shots for Brad Keselowski and the No. 6 team for three years, Matt McCall will not be returning as the crew chief for the 2025 season. McCall helped Brad Keselowski get back into victory lane this year at Darlington Raceway. However, this was the only win this partnership brought to the team, and Keselowski certainly isn’t satisfied with these results on the racetrack.
“We want to thank Matt [McCall] for his dedicated efforts over the last three seasons and his role in the success that we have had, and we wish him well in future endeavors.” RKF Racing shared this statement with a post via their Instagram handle. Matt McCall isn’t new to the role of crew chief; he spent seven years calling the shot for the #1 team at Chip Ganassi Racing.
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However, when Ganassi took an exit from NASCAR following Kyle Larson’s controversy, McCall made the jump to rebrand team RFK Racing. Expectations were going to be high being the leader of the camp for a former NASCAR champion, but he couldn’t live up to the expectations of the team. This ultimately forced Keselowski’s hand in trying to make changes in the team, and it looks like his fans are thrilled that he made this decision.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by RFK Racing (@rfkracing)
Brad Keselowski isn’t going to settle for mediocrity
110 races was the streak the #6 team broke when they won at Darlington this year. The Next-Gen era hasn’t been kind to veteran races, but Keselowski had almost no joy in terms of results on the racetrack. The top 5s and top 10s are good, but a team like RFK Racing with a driver like Brad Keselowski has to compete for trophies. Unfortunately, those opportunities have been few and far, with McCall leading the charge for the #6 team. Therefore, his departure from the team was a big relief to this race fan. “OH HAPPY DAY!!”
The win at Darlington did unlock the door for the playoff for Keselowski and his team. But in comparison to the other playoff teams, they didn’t have a strategy or tricks up their sleeve to have a deep run. Their playoff run only lasted for the first three races and they were out of the title race in the first round itself. Highlighting the same a fan added, “Thank goodness. Something was clearly holding the 6 car back. The 17 has shown consistent 5-15th speed almost every race. The 6 usually has to unload wish 20-25th speed and has to spend all race getting up to the 17.”
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A few might defend McCall given that he’s helped change the fortunes for the team in 2024. However, in the first two years, the #6 looked like a mid-pack team. In over 70 races, Keselowksi wasn’t able to win a single race, and in terms of progress, they had nothing but seven top 5 finishes. Lack of race-winning speeds and a vision certainly hampered the progress of the team, and the departure of McCall was indeed the right call, according to this fan. “I’ve been waiting for this announcement for two years now.”
RFK Racing is yet to announce the replacement for McCall, but going by the comments on Reddit, it looks like fans have identified the new crew chief for Keselowski’s team. “This is the right move. I hope Brad brings someone good on to replace him; odds are it’ll be Bullins but it could be a surprise pick for Brad’s twilight years as a driver as well.” Bullins is a veteran crew chief and commanded the #2 Penske car from Keselowski’s racing days at Team Penske. He is a free agent after his stint with Wood Brothers Racing and the #21 team, so there’s a possibility of a reunion between Bullins and Keselowski.
There were a few who almost predicted this outcome of McCall leaving the team. Their prediction began after the #6 team looked out of sorts and sync during the crucial playoff races. “Honestly, I don’t think him and BK were ever on the same page. Had some questionable decision making especially during the Round of 16.”
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Would you like to see Jeremy Bullins back with Brad Keselowski in the #6 team, or is there a better candidate who can pair well with the veteran driver?