2025 NASCAR

[220]

Another road course and another pole for SVG, put down one lap and parked it, good enough to take pole by 1/4 second from Conner Zilich for the Xfinity race.
The Xfinity race tomorrow may well be a preview of what you can expect for the foreseeable future at cup level at least when it comes to road courses. I am really looking forward to it, if anyone can take the fight to SVG it is Zilisch, team mates in equal machinery going head to head, hopefully we get some long green runs so they can really race.

[220]

Another qualifying and another pole for SVG he will lead the field to green for the cup race tomorrow.
Xfinity race starting now for anyone interested.

[220]

A dozen laps in and Zilisch and SVG have swapped the lead a number of times, Sam Mayer can almost hang with them only 2 seconds behind but they are already 10 seconds ahead of 4th place.

[220]

Both Zilisch and SVG flipped the first stage pitting on lap 18 despite the fact they both set the fastest laps just before pitting.
At that stage they were 10 seconds ahead of Mayer in 3rd and 20 seconds ahead of 4th.
The swapped the lead again in the pits with Zilisch ahead again.

[220]

Svg took the lead again about 1/3 into the second stage, Zilisch took it back about the 2/3 mark and certainly seems to have better long run pace building a 2 sec lead before they both flipped the second stage and pitted.
No yellows apart from the stage cautions, might be a fuel economy run to the finish if they dont get a caution in the final stage.

[220]

Great race, ran green to the finish, Zilisch took the win, not as quick as SVG but clearly did a better job of setting up the car and keeping the rear tyres on it. SVG was way quicker under brakes into corners but didnt have the drive off them. Rubbed bumpers a number of times and SVG could have gone through but didn't, no doubt he could have dive bombed Zilisch and moved him out of the way at pretty much any stage in the closing laps but like I have said a number of times if he gets raced clean he will race you clean.

[220]

I get the full USA experience of trying to watch Nascar today, the device I use to stream it has logged me out of the account, at 4.30am in the morning I will get shot if I wake any of the family up for the password. Trying to find a pirate stream to watch it

[220]

20 laps in and SVG is 5 seconds down the road, pulled a 1 second lead the first lap and it stayed at that for around 15laps back to Byron but he is looking after rear tyres better today and everyone else is dropping off earlier.

[220]

SVG flipped the stage and still finished 2nd, Chastain stayed out despite running top 5 and took the stage win and playoff point.
10 laps into the second stage and Byron is sticking within 1/2second, Gibbs has also worked his way forward to 3rd and looked to have good long run pace in the first stage.
Not so much the stages that are ruining the racing but the stage cautions, driver like Chastain that looks to have a top 5 car forced to make a call before 20% race distance to chase points instead of staying in contention for a win. He can get more points with a stage win, points in the second stage and a 20th place finish than a win is worth.

[Vaquero]

SVG flipped the stage and still finished 2nd, Chastain stayed out despite running top 5 and took the stage win and playoff point.
10 laps into the second stage and Byron is sticking within 1/2second, Gibbs has also worked his way forward to 3rd and looked to have good long run pace in the first stage.
Not so much the stages that are ruining the racing but the stage cautions, driver like Chastain that looks to have a top 5 car forced to make a call before 20% race distance to chase points instead of staying in contention for a win. He can get more points with a stage win, points in the second stage and a 20th place finish than a win is worth.

He can get more points with a stage win, points in the second stage and a 20th place finish than a win is worth.

And that is why it's not racing to me. Wins should point well above any other BS in the damn race.
That's not racing.
And Why I'll never ever watch anymore.

RP