2025 NASCAR

[220]

Practice and quali over for the clash, main event qualification races to start soon.
I was expecting SVG to be competitive on a 1/4 mile flat track no one has experience racing a cup car on but qualifying 10th was better than I expected.

[220]

Couple of big names have missed a top 5 in the first 2 heats to advance to tomorrows main.
Ryan Blaney was last in the first heat, Kyle Larson 8th in the second, both will have to try and finish top 2 in tomorrow's last chance qualifier to make the final. If Lagano qualifies in the neat heat Blaney would qualify as the highest placed in last years championship who didnt qualify on speed.
SVG was 3rd in his heat which should see him start the final from 10th.

[Stray Cat]

That 1st heat race had a lot of pushing and shoving at the rear of the field. It should be an interesting final lap(s) in the LCQ and main event.

[220]

Apart from the 1st heat they were fairly clean racing, with cars separating with a bit of green flag running. To be expected in the heats given how the fields were made up with 1st,5,9,13,17 in the first heat 2nd 6,10,14,18 in the second. There was a bit of a speed difference between each car, that disappears in the LCQ and main so will be interesting.

[220]

A win for Chase Elliott led from nearly start to finish leading 171/200 laps, impressive drive from Ryan Blaney to finish 2nd after starting last.
SVG finished 9th ran as high as 6/7 and dropped as low as 11/12 had the bumper used on him a few times and used it himself when he needed to making a pass.
Cleaner race than I was expecting, drivers were using the bumper to move the car in front just enough to get under them.

[Hatchdog]

I haven’t followed NASCAR for several years but I did catch the last chance race yesterday. What an interesting track to run those cars on. Congrats to Chase Elliot.

[220]

I haven’t followed NASCAR for several years but I did catch the last chance race yesterday. What an interesting track to run those cars on. Congrats to Chase Elliot.

Very interesting track, you would assume it would be single groove with no passing but Blaney drove from the back passing the entire field without wrecking anyone or putting a mark on his car. The inside grove was definitely preferred but the outside worked and cars could run 2 wide for laps. Drivers were regularly picking up spots using the outside on 2 wide restarts.

[Stray Cat]

Enjoyed watching Larson run in the LCQ race for the win...too bad it didn't last in the main event. Very impressed with Blaney's drive to the front, his car didn't seem to have many rubs or scuffs on the side. Good to see Elliot have a good run through lapped traffic for the win. Seemed like Goodyear brought the proper tire for this race.

[Cowboy Gun Fan]

The progress for 23XI's lawsuit against Nascar has been more positive than negative lately, but that could change in the near future:

https://www.newsweek.com/sports/racing/ ... it-2025511

[220]

I will make a couple of predictions for the year, I think SVG will make the playoffs with a win probably multiple and I wouldnt rule out a short track or super speedway win for him this year. Will probably finish 15-20 in regular season points. He still has some work to do on intermediate track but expect him to stay out of trouble and finish mid field as often as not.
Conner Zilich will run top 10 on debut at COTA and like SVG on debut a top 5 or even a win isnt out of the question. He is just quick and can drive a road course, he already has a rolex from daytona last year, and this year teamed up with Scotty Mac and SVG he was as quick if not quicker than them. A GT car is not that different to a modern nascar.

[220]

Practice 1 run and done for Daytona, Hamlin topped the session, Helio Castroneves P12, SVG P17, Jimmie Johnson P32

[fortyshooter]

Heard reports that part of Nascar ownership is now up for sale. They want to go global whatever that means!

[220]

Heard reports that part of Nascar ownership is now up for sale. They want to go global whatever that means!

Not the first time nearly 40 years ago we had Nascar sanctioned oval races here in Aus.
Waltrip, Petty, Bonnett, Gant, Sheppard, Allison all raced down under, the Calder Thunderdome is still there, still get used for track days and promotional stuff but would need some serious dollars spent to get everything back to standards, Last official race of any kind was 20 years ago and hasnt held a Nascar race since the late 1990's.

[220]

Front row is set for the 500 with Briscoe starting from pole along side Cindric,
Truex and Johnson were the 2 fastest non charter teams so both are in the field having been 22nd and 29th in qualifying.
SVG was 30th, I thought he may have been higher up but his team mates Surez and Chastain were 25th and 37th respectively so probably about all the car and setup could be expected to do. The 4th trackhouse car with Castroneves was 39th.
The duels will set the grid and tell us how many cars we have starting, 2 more non charter spots up for grabs but Castroneves has an exemption under a new rule for high profile non nascar drivers, if he qualifies through the duels we will have 40 cars if he doesnt and uses the exemption 41 cars will line up for the 500.

[Stray Cat]

It was neat to see the emotions of Kelly and Dale Jr. after Algier raced his way in. You could hear it in Jr's voice how much it meant to them.

[Hatchdog]

We have a snowy Sunday predicted, perfect to stay indoors and watch the race. I hear there is a chance of rain and the race start has been bumped up to 1:30 Eastern time.

[220]

Not the best start to the season for SVG, suffered damage early in stage 2 at Daytona that took him out of contention and caught up in a last lap crash at Atlanta that cost him a top 10. Ran up front at Atlanta in the final stage and led at one point, certainly doesnt look like someone that had never driven a lap of a super speedway only 12 months ago.
Next race is COTA so he should be near the front all weekend, they are racing the shortened circuit this year, SVG's take on the shorter circuit is interesting, the mile or so that has been cut off only had one overtaking opportunity and the cut through replaces it as an overtaking spot. The same number of overtaking opportunities per lap but more laps to get it done.

Supercars season started down under Friday night, Cam Waters dominated Fridays Saturdays and Sundays races taking pole the win and fastest lap in all 3. The Saturday night race was epic and some of the best driving you will see. Bump and runs not allowed in Supercars, drivers have to redress it themselves by letting the other car back through or cop a drive through or post race time penalty. After punting the leader Waters had to drive slow enough to allow the leader to catch back up while keeping what was the 3rd placed car behind him and orchestrate a passing opportunity to only let the car that he punted past both of them. Once done he still needed to pass for the lead.

Worth watching from the 10min mark
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6sAD9d2WAs

[220]

No real surprise SVG is the favorite with the odds makers for COTA. At half the odds of the next regular cup driver I think he is too short but the odds are dictated by where the money is going so plenty of people expecting him to win.
Big surprise for me is Conner Zilich as second in the market, guess after SVG showed it is possible for a quality driver to win on debut they dont want to be caught again.
Unreal to think you have a driver in his rookie season as a short priced favorite and a driver who has never made a cup series start second in the betting. They are both quality drivers but not sure they deserve to be so short in betting compared to the rest of the field.

[Cowboy Gun Fan]

Nascar is now Suing:

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/617733 ... al-scheme/

[Cowboy Gun Fan]

Eric explains it a whole lot better:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dm4BXhcPXUA