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2025 NASCAR Discussion ThreadNASCAR
- Thread starter Dylan
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As expected, Martin Truex Jr. is trying for the Daytona 500. Because of the lawsuit, instead of being the 4th 23XI car, it is the 5th JG...er, "Tricon" car, running the 56 number Truex ran with the long-dead Michael Waltrip Racing and long-time partner Cole Pearn as crew chief and Bass Pro Shops as the sponsor.
That makes 42 cars, which means at least 1 will go home before Daytona 500 Sunday, with 2 going home if Helio Castroneves qualifies or races his way in.
Make it 43 cars - Jimmie Johnson is doing the Daytona 500 and Coca-Cola 600, and just those 2 races (assuming the goal is to hit 700 starts as suggested by the LMC release).
It's not 44 cars for the Daytona 500, but there will be at least 37 at The Clash - Team AmeriVet is running multi-time (and defending) Bowman Gray Modified track champion Burt Myers in the 50.
Make it 38 cars for The Clash - the freshly-renamed Garage 66 is running Garrett Smithley. Still no word on who, if anybody, replaces the DQ'ed Mike Wallace for the
Daytona 500.
That makes 42 cars, which means at least 1 will go home before Daytona 500 Sunday, with 2 going home if Helio Castroneves qualifies or races his way in.
Make it 43 cars - Jimmie Johnson is doing the Daytona 500 and Coca-Cola 600, and just those 2 races (assuming the goal is to hit 700 starts as suggested by the LMC release).
It's not 44 cars for the Daytona 500, but there will be at least 37 at The Clash - Team AmeriVet is running multi-time (and defending) Bowman Gray Modified track champion Burt Myers in the 50.
Make it 38 cars for The Clash - the freshly-renamed Garage 66 is running Garrett Smithley. Still no word on who, if anybody, replaces the DQ'ed Mike Wallace for the
Daytona 500.
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The Clash format is out, and it looks to be much the same as the LA version of The Clash:
- The field will be divided into 3 practice groups, and each group gets 3 sessions.
- The fastest lap in the final session sets the lineup for the heat races (fastest starts heat 1 on pole, 2nd-fastest starts heat 2 on pole, 3rd-fastest starts heat 3 on pole, 4th-fastest starts heat 4 on pole, and keeps on rotating through the heats), with presumably a 40-car limit.
- Heat races are 25 green-flag laps (no overtime), with the top 5 in each heat going on to the main.
- Heat 1 finish sets 1st/5th/9th/13th/17th for both the main and the last-chance qualifier (assuming 10 cars in the heat for the latter), Heat 2 finish sets 2nd/6th/10th/14th/18th, Heat 3 finish sets 3rd/7th/11th/15th/19th, Heat 4 finish sets 4th/8th/12th/16th/20th.
- The LCQ is 75 green-flag laps (again no overtime), with the top 2 advancing to the main, starting 21st and 22nd.
- 23rd and last in the main goes to the driver with the most 2024 points that did not otherwise qualify.
- The main event is 200 green-flag laps (with a guaranteed green-flag finish), with a break at 100 laps.
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The option tire is back for the spring Phoenix Cup race. The word is, if it does well there, it will be the tire used for the Cup championship.
Meanwhile, I would like to see NASCAR try to screw MB...er...Pow...er...Garage 66 out of attempting the Daytona 500 after they got Chandler Smith as a replacement for the DQ'ed Mike Wallace. Smith. whose regular driving gig this year is with the Front Row truck team, has a top-15 in the 2023 Coke Zero Sugar 400, and top-20s in his other two Next-Gen Cup starts.
Meanwhile, I would like to see NASCAR try to screw MB...er...Pow...er...Garage 66 out of attempting the Daytona 500 after they got Chandler Smith as a replacement for the DQ'ed Mike Wallace. Smith. whose regular driving gig this year is with the Front Row truck team, has a top-15 in the 2023 Coke Zero Sugar 400, and top-20s in his other two Next-Gen Cup starts.
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Jimmie Johnson is now the principal owner at Legacy Motor Club, with founder Maury Gallagher retaining a minority stake and an ambassador role, and a hedge fund joining as another minority owner.
Corey LaJoie may have lost the full-time Rick Ware seat to Cody Ware, but he's still doing a part-time schedule in the 01 (renumbered 15) for them, including the Daytona 500, while also doing pre-/post-race analysis for Prime. That makes 10 open teams for the 500:
Meanwhile, I forgot to mention last month that RWR is entering the 15 in The Clash with the guy with the most wins at Bowman Gray, Tim Brown. That makes 39 (likely) entries, with the entry list due to be released any time now (I think Tuesday is the likely day).
Also, an update of sorts on the Project91 provisional - ex-full-time Cup drivers with "elite" credentials are also eligible...assuming they provide 90-day advance notice (and presumably also if they last raced less than 4 years prior, so no Rusty Wallace). Still no word on what happens if multiple requests are given.
Finally, the charter (or simply owners' points should NASCAR get to seize the FRM/23XI charters) changes are in:
Corey LaJoie may have lost the full-time Rick Ware seat to Cody Ware, but he's still doing a part-time schedule in the 01 (renumbered 15) for them, including the Daytona 500, while also doing pre-/post-race analysis for Prime. That makes 10 open teams for the 500:
- LaJoie in the RWR 01
- Justin Allgaier in the JR Motorsports 40
- JJ Yeley in the NY Racing 44
- Martin Truex Jr. in the Tricon/JGR 56
- Anthony Alfredo in the Beard 62
- Chandler Smith in the Garage 66 (ex-MBM/Power Source) 66
- BJ McLeod in the LiveFast 78
- Johnson in the Legacy 84
- Helio Castroneves in the Trackhouse 91 (with the Project91 provisional should he need it)
Meanwhile, I forgot to mention last month that RWR is entering the 15 in The Clash with the guy with the most wins at Bowman Gray, Tim Brown. That makes 39 (likely) entries, with the entry list due to be released any time now (I think Tuesday is the likely day).
Also, an update of sorts on the Project91 provisional - ex-full-time Cup drivers with "elite" credentials are also eligible...assuming they provide 90-day advance notice (and presumably also if they last raced less than 4 years prior, so no Rusty Wallace). Still no word on what happens if multiple requests are given.
Finally, the charter (or simply owners' points should NASCAR get to seize the FRM/23XI charters) changes are in:
- SHR 4 now FRM 4
- SHR 14 now Trackhouse 88
- SHR 10 now 23XI 35
- RWR 15 now RFK 60
- Kaulig 31 now Kaulig 10
- SHR 41 now Haas Factory Team 41
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I apologize for the delay, but the OP has been updated with the schedules for all 3 national series as well as a video by Eric Estepp that breaks down how to watch the sport here in the states.
Practice, qualifying, and the heat races for the Clash were tonight. So far the track seems to race way better then the Coliseum has the past 3 years. Looks much easier to set up a pass without having to punt the guy in front. However the 1st and 4th heat races were full of very aggressive driving that we can probably expect more of for tomorrow nights LCQ and main event.
Practice, qualifying, and the heat races for the Clash were tonight. So far the track seems to race way better then the Coliseum has the past 3 years. Looks much easier to set up a pass without having to punt the guy in front. However the 1st and 4th heat races were full of very aggressive driving that we can probably expect more of for tomorrow nights LCQ and main event.
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Three drivers could use the points provisional to make the main race tonight. In order, they're Ryan Blaney (starting 17th in the Last Chance Qualifier), Kyle Larson (starting 10th) and Ty Gibbs (starting 3rd). John Hunter Nemechek (was to start 12th) is the only driver going to the back for repairs/unapproved adjustments at this point, which will be done at-track this morning without a re-inspection.
As for the field-fillers, Cody Ware is starting the LCQ14th 12th, Cole Custer is starting 15th, Garrett Smithley is starting 18th 16th and Tim Brown is starting 19th (may be 18th if they move him outside and Nemechek inside as there is no 20th-place LCQ starter). You may object to me calling Custer a field-filler, but that's where SHR (the predecessor to Haas Factory Team) ran much of last year.
The surprising thing is Shane Van Gisbergen raced his way into the main, finishing 3rd in the 2nd heat race (which is where he started) to start 10th tonight.
As for the field-fillers, Cody Ware is starting the LCQ
The surprising thing is Shane Van Gisbergen raced his way into the main, finishing 3rd in the 2nd heat race (which is where he started) to start 10th tonight.
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To the back of the LCQ:
Blaney-water cooler, radiator
Allmendinger-splitter, toe link, fascia
Custer-front suspension
Nemechek-body panels and rear deck lid
Lots of chrome horn, and 44 laps through the LCQ, it's Larson and Austin Dillon. Blaney's off track and will take the provisional, Herbst is 15 laps down, while Myers and Brown are battling each other, Ware, and Smithley for the back of the lead lap hard enough that Ware's spin of Smithley brought out the latest caution.
On the restart, Jones made the outside work long enough to clear Austin Dillon for 2nd, while Larson checked out. Smithley now 1 lap down.
We made it to lap 57 before Berry punted Gibbs out of 6th to bring out yet another caution. A. Dillon jumped to the outside at the choose. Dillon made it work in the less-than-2 laps before the accordion spun the Spire cars.
Dillon to the outside again on the restart at lap 59, and it didn't work out this time as Jones didn't let the hole happen and Dillon fell all the way back to 7th.
The local track hero race ends as Wrecky Spinhouse wrecked Myers hard into the freshly-installed SAFER barrier on lap 62, with a full-on red for clean-up.
Jones outside again, with Berry behind Larson.
Gibbs around on lap 65, while Jones took the lead on the outside at caution. Gibbs tried to jump Haley in retaliation. Berry jumps to the outside for the restart, Larson on the inside.
Don't even get a full lap in before 3-wide for the lead off of turn 4 sends Jones around. Berry out front, and Jones out of the race.
Custer now takes outside row 1, and I don't know if Larson still has enough front bumper to retake 2nd. Berry gets away, and Larson also does, with A. Dillon taking 3rd. Dinger dinged the wall and off, and Custer fading fast. Larson has enough of a chrome horn to move Berry out of the lead, and Berry smart enough to ride around in 2nd as Gibbs went around on lap 75 to end the LCQ under caution (a reminder that only the main must end under green).
Larson and Berry race their way into the main, Blaney takes the provisional, and local track hero Brown had a late charge to finish 10th.
Blaney-water cooler, radiator
Allmendinger-splitter, toe link, fascia
Custer-front suspension
Nemechek-body panels and rear deck lid
Lots of chrome horn, and 44 laps through the LCQ, it's Larson and Austin Dillon. Blaney's off track and will take the provisional, Herbst is 15 laps down, while Myers and Brown are battling each other, Ware, and Smithley for the back of the lead lap hard enough that Ware's spin of Smithley brought out the latest caution.
On the restart, Jones made the outside work long enough to clear Austin Dillon for 2nd, while Larson checked out. Smithley now 1 lap down.
We made it to lap 57 before Berry punted Gibbs out of 6th to bring out yet another caution. A. Dillon jumped to the outside at the choose. Dillon made it work in the less-than-2 laps before the accordion spun the Spire cars.
Dillon to the outside again on the restart at lap 59, and it didn't work out this time as Jones didn't let the hole happen and Dillon fell all the way back to 7th.
The local track hero race ends as Wrecky Spinhouse wrecked Myers hard into the freshly-installed SAFER barrier on lap 62, with a full-on red for clean-up.
Jones outside again, with Berry behind Larson.
Gibbs around on lap 65, while Jones took the lead on the outside at caution. Gibbs tried to jump Haley in retaliation. Berry jumps to the outside for the restart, Larson on the inside.
Don't even get a full lap in before 3-wide for the lead off of turn 4 sends Jones around. Berry out front, and Jones out of the race.
Custer now takes outside row 1, and I don't know if Larson still has enough front bumper to retake 2nd. Berry gets away, and Larson also does, with A. Dillon taking 3rd. Dinger dinged the wall and off, and Custer fading fast. Larson has enough of a chrome horn to move Berry out of the lead, and Berry smart enough to ride around in 2nd as Gibbs went around on lap 75 to end the LCQ under caution (a reminder that only the main must end under green).
Larson and Berry race their way into the main, Blaney takes the provisional, and local track hero Brown had a late charge to finish 10th.
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Halfway through the main, only 2 caution (Busch spin lap 20, Byron spin lap 78), top 3 Hamlin/Reddick/Elliott. Blaney raced his way to the top 10, Busch 2 laps down, Byron 1 lap down, rest of the cars stayed on the lead lap.
Reddick restarted on the outside, managed to get back inside, and they don't make it 3 laps before Larson came down on Cindric and spun. Briscoe also spun. Reddick trying again on the outside on the restart. This time it's a deadlock for 2nd, and no hole for Reddick behind Elliott.
Hocevar got the worst of the Logano-into-Bell-into-Hocevar accordion, 92 to go. Also, with these quick cautions, Busch is now back on the lead lap.
Reddick restarted on the outside, managed to get back inside, and they don't make it 3 laps before Larson came down on Cindric and spun. Briscoe also spun. Reddick trying again on the outside on the restart. This time it's a deadlock for 2nd, and no hole for Reddick behind Elliott.
Hocevar got the worst of the Logano-into-Bell-into-Hocevar accordion, 92 to go. Also, with these quick cautions, Busch is now back on the lead lap.
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Elliott chose the inside, didn't quite work as Reddick used the outside to get clear.
Blaney up to 7th.
The judges gave the Larson/Byron synchronized spin (Larson off Hocevar's nose via Briscoe) 9.5, 9.6, 9.5 and 3.8 from the East German judge. 85 to go.
As usual, Reddick chose the outside, is making it 2x2 for a while until he got freight-trained by Elliott and Buescher.
Another yellow as Wallace spins Keselowski, 80 to go. Elliott chose the inside from 2nd.
A note on tires - with the halftime break out of the way, teams can only change flat tires on a 1-for-1 basis, using the set from the 3rd practice/qualifying.
Elliott challenging hard for the lead as Hamlin went up the track, and eventually gets it. Blaney up to 3rd. Reddick dropping like a stone, down to 7th.
Blaney by Hamlin for 2nd. The impressive thing is he hardly used the bumper at all tonight.
40 to go, and the leaders are now into traffic.
28 to go, and Elliott and Blaney have checked out and are clear of traffic (for now).
15 to go, and the leaders are back in Chevrolet traffic.
10 to go and Busch helped out his Chevrolet frenemy by sending Blaney high.
5 to go, and Elliott is back into heavy non-Chevrolet traffic.
Elliott wins The Clash, Blaney 2nd, Hamlin, Logano, Wallace, Chastain, Cindric, Reddick, van Gisbergen, Buescher round out the top 10.
Blaney up to 7th.
The judges gave the Larson/Byron synchronized spin (Larson off Hocevar's nose via Briscoe) 9.5, 9.6, 9.5 and 3.8 from the East German judge. 85 to go.
As usual, Reddick chose the outside, is making it 2x2 for a while until he got freight-trained by Elliott and Buescher.
Another yellow as Wallace spins Keselowski, 80 to go. Elliott chose the inside from 2nd.
A note on tires - with the halftime break out of the way, teams can only change flat tires on a 1-for-1 basis, using the set from the 3rd practice/qualifying.
Elliott challenging hard for the lead as Hamlin went up the track, and eventually gets it. Blaney up to 3rd. Reddick dropping like a stone, down to 7th.
Blaney by Hamlin for 2nd. The impressive thing is he hardly used the bumper at all tonight.
40 to go, and the leaders are now into traffic.
28 to go, and Elliott and Blaney have checked out and are clear of traffic (for now).
15 to go, and the leaders are back in Chevrolet traffic.
10 to go and Busch helped out his Chevrolet frenemy by sending Blaney high.
5 to go, and Elliott is back into heavy non-Chevrolet traffic.
Elliott wins The Clash, Blaney 2nd, Hamlin, Logano, Wallace, Chastain, Cindric, Reddick, van Gisbergen, Buescher round out the top 10.
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As part of the "fresh strategies" mentioned above, Xfinity is sponsoring an expanded fastest lap program, with a championship point for each eligible driver/team that posts the fastest lap in each national series race and a donation by NASCAR (which may or may not be matched by Comcast) to the charity of the driver with the most fastest laps. While drivers ineligible for points in a particular series, as well as the Championship 4 (both drivers and owners) in the championship race won't get the point, they will still be otherwise eligible for the award, with race disqualifications extending to ineligibility for the award. Also, ties will be broken by the better finish.
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Daytona 500/Duels qualifying (through 15 of 45 cars, round 1 with the top 10 overall going to round 2 and the top 2 Open cars (*) locked in on speed):
Smith - 49.505
McDowell
Truex* - 49.641
Gragson
Johnson* - 49.783
Haley
Custer
Allgaier*
Hocevar - 49.863
Jones - 49.912
Nemechek
Castroneves* (also has the Project91 Provisional to fall back on)
Alfredo*
Stenhouse
Ware
Austin Dillon to the top - 49.487, McLeod slots in between Stenhouse and Ware.
Preece to the top - 49.356, Allgaier on the top-10 bubble (49.863)
LaJoie misses the top 10 by .016, Yeley only faster than Ware
Custer barely (49.830) knocks Allgaier out of the top 10 and out of the Open lock-in, locks in either Truex or Johnson (assuming both remain in the top 10 overall)
Haley now on the bubble (49.825)
Ty Dillon to 2nd, Johnson on the overall bubble (49.783)
Herbst (49.770) on the overall bubble, locks in Truex.
The field-filler portion of qualifying is complete. Truex (still has a shot at the pole at the moment), Johnson locked into the 500. Allgaier, Castroneves, Smith, Yeley will be in Duel 1; LaJoie, Alfredo, McLeod will be in Duel 2.
After 28, Truex on the overall bubble.
Blaney now on the bubble (49.630), Truex will be in Duel 1 and locked into the 500, Johnson will be in Duel 2 and locked in the 500.
Keselowski now on the bubble (49.545), knocked off by Busch to put Elliott (49.538) on the bubble and lock Preece into the top 10
Bell knocks Elliot off the bubble, Gilliland (49.535) now on the bubble
Cindrick knocks Gilliland off the bubble, Busch (49.507) now on the bubble
5 to go, Preece, Cindrick, Ty and Austin Dillon, Bell locked into the top 10, Busch still on the bubble
3 to go, Logano knocks Busch off the bubble and slots in 3rd as they run, Bowman (49.506) now on the bubble with Smith and Larson also in jeopardy
Berry to go, Briscoe to the top (49.641), Preece, Cindric, Ty/Austin Dillon, Bell, Hamlin, Larson also locked in, Smith (49.505) on the bubble
Berry knocks Smith out of the top 10 to finish round 1
Smith - 49.505
McDowell
Truex* - 49.641
Gragson
Johnson* - 49.783
Haley
Custer
Allgaier*
Hocevar - 49.863
Jones - 49.912
Nemechek
Castroneves* (also has the Project91 Provisional to fall back on)
Alfredo*
Stenhouse
Ware
Austin Dillon to the top - 49.487, McLeod slots in between Stenhouse and Ware.
Preece to the top - 49.356, Allgaier on the top-10 bubble (49.863)
LaJoie misses the top 10 by .016, Yeley only faster than Ware
Custer barely (49.830) knocks Allgaier out of the top 10 and out of the Open lock-in, locks in either Truex or Johnson (assuming both remain in the top 10 overall)
Haley now on the bubble (49.825)
Ty Dillon to 2nd, Johnson on the overall bubble (49.783)
Herbst (49.770) on the overall bubble, locks in Truex.
The field-filler portion of qualifying is complete. Truex (still has a shot at the pole at the moment), Johnson locked into the 500. Allgaier, Castroneves, Smith, Yeley will be in Duel 1; LaJoie, Alfredo, McLeod will be in Duel 2.
After 28, Truex on the overall bubble.
Blaney now on the bubble (49.630), Truex will be in Duel 1 and locked into the 500, Johnson will be in Duel 2 and locked in the 500.
Keselowski now on the bubble (49.545), knocked off by Busch to put Elliott (49.538) on the bubble and lock Preece into the top 10
Bell knocks Elliot off the bubble, Gilliland (49.535) now on the bubble
Cindrick knocks Gilliland off the bubble, Busch (49.507) now on the bubble
5 to go, Preece, Cindrick, Ty and Austin Dillon, Bell locked into the top 10, Busch still on the bubble
3 to go, Logano knocks Busch off the bubble and slots in 3rd as they run, Bowman (49.506) now on the bubble with Smith and Larson also in jeopardy
Berry to go, Briscoe to the top (49.641), Preece, Cindric, Ty/Austin Dillon, Bell, Hamlin, Larson also locked in, Smith (49.505) on the bubble
Berry knocks Smith out of the top 10 to finish round 1
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What's worse, he'll start no worse than 36th.
Duel 1 lineup (for the inside row of the Daytona 500)
Briscoe (will start the Daytona 500 on the pole)
Preece
Berry
Austin Dillon
Ty Dillon
Smith
Busch
Elliott
McDowell
Alllmendinger
Byron
Truex (open car, locked in on time)
Gibbs
Reddick
Wallace
Haley
Allgaier (open car, can fall back on time if Truex or Johnson finish their respective Duels first among the open cars)
Hocevar
Chastain
Castroneves (open car, can fall back on the Project91 Provisional if he doesn't race his way in)
Stenhouse
Smith (open car, must race his way in)
Yeley (open car, must race his way in)
Duel 2 lineup (for the outside row of the Daytona 500)
Cindric (will start the Daytona 500 on the outside pole)
Logano
Hamlin
Bell
Larson
Bowman
Gilliland
Keselowski
Buescher
Blaney
Gragson
Suarez
Herbst
Johnson (open car; locked in on time)
van Gisbergen
Custer
LaJoie (open car; can fall back on time if Truex and Johnson finish their respective Duels first among the open cars)
Jones
Nemechek
Alfredo (open car; must race his way in)
McLeod (open car; must race his way in)
Ware
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