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Reuters
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Stubbs: NASCAR Madness keeps the subplots churning
June 27 - On Saturday, the elimination portion of NASCAR's inaugural In-Season Challenge will begin at EchoPark Speedway in Hampton, Ga. The five-week, 32-driver, bracket-style challenge features a grand prize of $1 million, but why should fans bother to pay attention to yet another storyline in a sport full of them? Perhaps it is not the shameless gimmick that it seems to be at first glance. The idea of having an in-season tournament is not exclusive to NASCAR. The NBA introduced one in 2023 as a way to spice up the first half of the schedule. That's exactly what NASCAR is attempting to do with its In-Season Challenge. Despite several bold scheduling initiatives, including the addition of the Chicago Street Race, a return to Nashville Superspeedway and the return of the Brickyard 400, NASCAR's summer stretch has seemed relatively stale compared to the rest of the season for years. Fans annually endure one of the longest seasons in professional sports, and races in the dog days of summer generally don't generate the same hype that races over the first and final quarters of the season do. NASCAR's In-Season Challenge is an attempt to remedy that stale feeling and get fans excited well in advance of the postseason. The five-race tournament begins Saturday, where half of the 32-driver field will be eliminated. Those 32 drivers were seeded based on their best finish over the last three races: Michigan, Mexico City and Pocono. Following the Chicago Street Race on July 6, the field will be chopped to eight. Following Sonoma on July 13, the field will be whittled down to four before the July 20 race at Dover decides the final two drivers left standing. From there, the winner of the tournament is decided in a crown jewel event, as the Brickyard 400 on July 27 crowns the champion of the inaugural In-Season Challenge. So scoff at the creation if you must, but on the surface, the In-Season Challenge is a harmless storyline that has the potential to liven up the summer. If anything, it will place a spotlight on fights for position that otherwise would have seemed pointless. A battle for 27th place may be the battle to advance to the next round. If the race leader is running away with the win at Indianapolis, a spirited tussle for 14th could determine who gets an extra $1 million. Advancing in the tournament carries with it the knowledge that you beat another competitor head-to-head in a pressure-packed situation, regardless of the circumstances. Bragging rights and a big check may be on the line for competitors, but fans will get to see different strategies and calls be made as teams attempt to do whatever they can to advance. Without the In-Season Challenge, certain strategies or decisions may not seem noteworthy. But during the In-Season Challenge, they could be the difference between $1 million and the wrong kind of blank check. Saturday's race at Atlanta is pretty much guaranteed to feature soap opera levels of drama with or without the In-Season Challenge. But pitting 32 drivers against each other in head-to-head matchups, in a race where working together is the key to winning, makes the fourth superspeedway race of 2025 appointment viewing. Fans also have the opportunity to win their own $1 million if they can fill out a perfect bracket. It adds a March Madness wrinkle to the viewing experience. Throw in a street course, a road course, a unique one-mile oval in Dover and a crown jewel race at the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and a chaotic slice of the schedule is ready to offer even more twists and turns. The In-Season Challenge won't be the sole focus of teams as they try to win races and position themselves to make the Cup Series playoffs. But it's a chance for NASCAR's summer stretch to cut through the noise of a busy entertainment world and give fans a reason to be on the edge of their seats for every lap of the next five races. With a million bucks on the line, you can bet the drivers will be on the edge of their seats, too. --Samuel Stubbs, Field Level Media
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Kurt Busch Comment Unexpectedly Sparks Chorus of Boos From Pocono Crowd
Kurt Busch Comment Unexpectedly Sparks Chorus of Boos From Pocono Crowd originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Kurt Busch and his fans will never forget Pocono Raceway. There are good memories from the 2.5-mile Pennsylvania track, including three wins in 2005, 2007 and 2016. Advertisement But there's a really bad one that happened on July 23, 2022. That's the last time the 2004 NASCAR Cup Series champion ever competed in the sport when he backed his No. 45 car into the wall during qualifying and suffered a concussion. On Saturday, the 46-year-old returned to The Tricky Triangle for the first time since his accident three years ago and admitted during Prime's coverage of practice and qualifying that it was a 'cleansing/purging' experience. Kurt Busch addresses the media at Daytona International Yeazell-Imagn Images The scheduled Grand Marshal for Sunday's race then drew an unexpected response from fans when asked by analyst Corey LaJoie if he was going to wave the green flag as part of his weekend duties. Advertisement 'I'm gonna be 'Gentlemen, start your engines,'' the former driver said. 'The governor wants to wave the green flag so I'm learning how to share with that.' A chorus of boos rang out from those standing nearby, obviously expressing their displeasure with Governor Josh Shapiro. 'Whoops. Normally I'm the guy getting booed,' Busch joked. 'No, you guys have been awesome.' Busch rubbed plenty of fans the wrong way earlier in his career. However, in the later years, the tide had turned and many of those same fans were supportive of the 2017 Daytona 500 winner. And there was no better evidence of that than three years ago when his career came to an abrupt end at Pocono and he received so many well wishes from those fans and the industry as a whole. Advertisement Related: Kurt Busch Makes Painful Pocono Admission During Emotional Return to Tricky Triangle This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 22, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
NASCAR Driver Carson Hocevar Punished For Mexico City Comments
NASCAR Driver Carson Hocevar Punished For Mexico City Comments originally appeared on The Spun. NASCAR Cup Series driver Carson Hocevar has dominated the headlines over the past few days because of his comments about Mexico City. Advertisement During a since-deleted stream on Twitch, the talented driver for Spire Motorsports called Mexico a "s--hole." This was before the Cup Series made its way over to Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez for this past Sunday's race. Shortly after receiving backlash for his behavior, Hocevar issued an apology to NASCAR fans around the world. "When I answered that question on a stream, I was skeptical about the trip so far and believed everything I read or heard about Mexico City from people who more than likely also had never been here," Hocevar wrote on X. "Now that I've actually left my hotel a couple times and raced here in front of some of the most passionate fans I've ever seen, my opinion has changed. I am embarrassed by my comments, by the race I ran, and I may have to move here to hide out from Ricky anyway. "Count this as another lesson for me in a season I've learned so much. Don't believe everything you hear without seeing it yourself. If anyone should give anyone or any place the benefit of the doubt it's me. I'm sorry Mexico City. Consider me an ally going forward and an example of getting off Twitch and seeing things with my own two eyes." Despite this apology from Hocevar, he received a hefty punishment this Tuesday. NORTH WILKESBORO, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 17: Carson Hocevar, driver of the #77 NASCAR Day Giveathon Chevrolet, looks on during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Open at North Wilkesboro Speedway on May 17, 2024 in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. (Photo by)For starters, Spire Motorsports has fined Hocevar $50,000 for his remarks. His money will be donated to three organizations that serve communities in Mexico. Additionally, he'll have to undergo cultural-sensitivity and bias-awareness training. Advertisement "These actions are consistent with Spire Motorsports' core value of RESPECT, which is something we proudly display on every race car, team uniform, trackside hauler, and digital channel," Spire Motorsports said in a statement. "Respect is not a slogan. It is a daily expectation that we 'walk the walk' in how we speak, compete, and serve the communities that welcome our sport. "Carson's recent comments made during the livestream fell short of that standard. They did not represent the views of Spire Motorsports, our partners, or NASCAR. Carson has acknowledged his mistake publicly, and his prompt, sincere apology demonstrated personal accountability. We now take this additional step to underscore that words carry weight, and respect must be lived out loud." NASCAR fans have applauded Spire Motorsports for this decision. As for Hocevar, it's very clear that he knows he messed up. Now it's up to him to gain people's trust back. Related: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Critiques Carson Hocevar's Attitude and Performance NASCAR Driver Carson Hocevar Punished For Mexico City Comments first appeared on The Spun on Jun 18, 2025 This story was originally reported by The Spun on Jun 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
Fox News
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- Fox News
NASCAR race in Mexico City worth extra effort to grow the sport
Sometimes it takes a heavy lift to move the needle. And that's exactly what this weekend's NASCAR race at Mexico will be. A heavy lift. That moves the needle. The Cup Series races in Mexico City this weekend, and that is awesome. Yes, there certainly is a group of the NASCAR fan base and the industry as a whole that doesn't believe NASCAR should race in Mexico City. It is a long and arduous process to move race haulers across the border and deep into the country. The United States-Mexico relations are not at their friendliest, especially in light of the protests in Los Angeles. And there are tracks in the United States that want races. So why go battle those logistical and political challenges to race in Mexico City? The growth of the sport depends on it. Going to a city with more than 20 million people exposes the sport to people who might have never seen it in person. It provides exposure at the highest level and megastars of the sport in a country where NASCAR already has a regional series. It shows sponsors and those interested in investing in the sport that NASCAR is willing to take it globally, increasing the pool of potential sponsors and drivers. Increasing the dollars and potential talent in the sport. Racing at Mexico City will be an event, much like racing at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum or the streets of Chicago. Are there security concerns? Sure. Just as there were when NASCAR raced in Chicago and other places. For context, an off-duty cop was shot in an attempted robbery of the Kansas Speedway vault in 2006. Are there other tracks in the United States where NASCAR could race? Sure. But the tracks that could grow the sport to a new fan base are few and far between. The ones that could generate excitement among the NASCAR faithful — think Bowman-Gray and Rockingham — both held races this year. Albeit, those races were the exhibition clash at Bowman-Gray and an Xfinity-truck doubleheader at Rockingham. Are there some sponsors where racing in Mexico doesn't reach their customer? Sure, at least if they don't do business in Mexico. But part of racing in Mexico is about generating excitement about Mexicans who live in the United States for the NASCAR product. That should also increase the exposure of current sponsors. Are there logistical hurdles? Sure. Hauler manifests are complicated. NASCAR is chartering planes to fly much of the industry as a whole in order to make sure all the teams get there with no safety or logistical issues. So that sounds a lot for a NASCAR race. And it is. But sometimes it takes a heavy lift to move the needle. Many of the same concerns were talked about around the Chicago race and so far, those have been relatively smooth — except for the weather. I went to the NASCAR Xfinity races in Mexico from 2005 through 2008. They were fun. I loved going to the country and experiencing the culture. I also enjoy a trip to Watkins Glen or the Darlington area or Las Vegas. They are all different and all have unique aspects that fans can appreciate. Same with Mexico City. For those who love NASCAR and contend that it has the best racing in the world, then what better way to prove that than taking it across the border? What better way to expose the drivers? A Netflix Series won't work for everyone, and seeing the real thing on someone's home soil can potentially do wonders. Speaking of that, this puts NASCAR at the same venue as Formula 1. Hopefully INDYCAR goes there next year, too. So for all those who want to spew insults about our neighbors and want to hate, go ahead. There's nothing stopping you. But sometimes you have to do something out of the comfort zone — out of the norm — to grow the sport. This is one of those times. Will it work? There's never a guarantee. But it's certainly worth the effort to try. Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR and INDYCAR for FOX Sports. He has spent decades covering motorsports, including over 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting News, NASCAR Scene magazine and The (Daytona Beach) News-Journal. Follow him on Twitter @bobpockrass.
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
WATCH: Ohio State fan Denny Hamlin throws up O-H after winning NASCAR race in Michigan
Denny Hamlin is an elite NASCAR driver and outspoken Ohio State Buckeyes fan. There are plenty of rumors on the internet and comments in media about why and how his Buckeye fandom started, but it got far more intense this season. After winning his first race of the year this seaon back in March, he waved an "11 Against the World" flag (his car is No.11). Hamlin certainly outdid himself this race, though. He made a late pass for the lead and held on to win his third race of the season (and 57th overall career win) at Michigan International Speedway, in Brooklyn, MI (about 40 miles from the Ohio border). He then threw up an O-H to the stands twice after getting out of his car to celebrate the win. Fans were still cheering, but that moment got some predictable boos. All in all, NASCAR fans still love him, but Buckeye fans will probably love him even more for now. This is not the first time Hamlin has good-naturedly angered crowds when he travels to races. He recently threw a "Horns Down" sign before his race in Michigan a month ago. He finished that race 38th. This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: WATCH: Denny Hamlin throws up O-H after winning Michigan NASCAR race
