NASCAR championship week is right here.
It’s the busiest and extra thrilling week and weekend of the season, however this 12 months there’s way more occurring across the sport than crowning a champion. All three sequence have been on observe final weekend, and all three sequence left Martinsville Speedway having skilled some type of drama or driver frustration with regard to how the elimination races performed out.
Because the week continues to unfold, listed below are the headlines to comply with.
Martinsville fallout
As of this writing, NASCAR has not additional addressed something from Sunday night time at Martinsville Speedway. The Championship 4 shouldn’t be anticipated to vary. Nevertheless, NASCAR has to have a look at the radio communications from the Nos. 1, 3 and 23 groups to know how the ultimate laps have been run by producer teammates round William Byron and Christopher Bell.
The final time NASCAR discovered that somebody had helped a teammate was on the Charlotte Roval elimination race in 2022. Stewart-Haas Racing was penalized with factors, cash, and suspensions for Cole Custer’s crew being decided to have pulled over for Chase Briscoe.
The radio communication signifies there was some ‘plan’ in place, which seemingly can be to not mess with a fellow Chevrolet driver. The optics of Byron having blockers must be addressed. NASCAR additionally tore down Wallace’s automobile to see if one thing occurred to it when he slowed on the ultimate lap at a time when Bell wanted that place.
Ongoing scrutiny of how final weekend’s closing laps performed out for Bell (above) and Byron means the game hasn’t fairly moved on from Martinsville but, even because the Phoenix finale looms. Matthew T. Thacker/Motorsport photographs
No matter what NASCAR decides, it is going to be a subject of dialog in the course of the closing weekend of the 12 months. You’ll be able to depend on drivers dealing with questions or utilizing social media to precise their opinions over who would have been penalized, whether or not NASCAR received it proper or incorrect, and if Bell deliberately rode the wall.
Preliminary injunction determination
After all, a call within the antitrust dispute seems more likely to occur proper in the course of championship week, and with a type of championship-contending groups additionally being one of many events suing NASCAR. 23XI Racing and Entrance Row Motorsports need to race as constitution groups subsequent season whereas having the discharge clause about suing NASCAR faraway from the settlement. Regardless of the determination, it can have large implications on the 2025 season and can grasp over championship weekend.
State of the game
NASCAR is anticipated to handle the media in its conventional state of the handle sooner or later in the course of the weekend. One has to think about this 12 months’s version might be among the many most dreaded for NASCAR.
Take into account the standard questions concerning the racing product and officiating, and add within the ongoing lawsuit and {that a} determination is anticipated this week relating to the preliminary injunction. Oh, and one of many drivers competing for the championship – Tyler Reddick – is employed by a type of groups suing NASCAR.
Martin Truex Jr.’s closing trip
It’s the ultimate trip as a full-time driver, at the very least. Truex has plans to run the Daytona 500 subsequent season, and who is aware of if or when he may pop up after that.
The New Jersey native’s profession is up there with the very best. Truex was noticed due to his expertise and given a chance to turn out to be a NASCAR driver at a time when he admits he wasn’t working towards that. It shortly resulted in two Xfinity Sequence championships driving for Dale Earnhardt Jr., after which a rocky Cup Sequence profession between 2007 and 2013.
Truex bows out as a full-timer this weekend, however you may count on to see him at Daytona subsequent 12 months – and at a Corridor of Fame induction ceremony somewhat additional down the highway. Motorsport Pictures
There have been years of struggles in inferior gear, modifications of groups, after which a dishonest scandal, not of his personal doing, that booted him from the playoffs. However when Truex landed at Furnishings Row Motorsports, all of it modified. Not immediately, however after a horrible 2014 season, the work started, and by 2017, he was a champion.
Since 2015, Truex has received 32 races. He did it with class and fervour, and has turn out to be a determine that others within the storage can be hard-pressed to search out one thing dangerous to say about. As quickly as he’s eligible, Truex might be a first-ballot NASCAR Corridor of Famer.
Stewart-Haas Racing
The sand within the hourglass runs out Sunday night time for Stewart-Haas Racing. The group can exit as champions within the Xfinity Sequence if Cole Custer defends his 2023 title, however within the Cup Sequence, the one factor on the road is another checkered flag to chase. The expectations aren’t excessive for a victory given the corporate’s struggles over the previous couple of seasons, coupled with the truth that the percentages are in favor of championship contender triumphing. However there might be no stop by anybody carrying a Stewart-Haas shirt.
It will likely be an emotional day, too. Stewart-Haas prided itself on being a spot the place hardcore racers and hard-nosed drivers went to work. Though it ends with a whimper as a substitute of the bang it may as soon as make, the group deserves the respect of being remembered for what it did in its heyday and never for its ending.
Stewart-Haas could have run 1,986 nationwide sequence races when the weekend involves an in depth. With one weekend left so as to add some extra, 70 victories have been earned within the Cup Sequence and 28 within the Xfinity Sequence.
Ryan Blaney repeat
There has not been a repeat champion since Jimmie Johnson received 5 straight Cup Sequence titles from 2006 to 2010. And there has by no means been a back-to-back champion within the elimination period format. Blaney has the prospect to reset each of these statistics this weekend. He’s effectively conscious of no driver having but repeated on this format, –and he is aware of somebody must be the primary.
Blaney stunned along with his championship run final 12 months, and to again it up with one other championship race solidifies his spot as a prime contender within the sequence. Not is that this a driver and crew who can be talked about as having potential however all the time falling brief on the finish of the 12 months.
Joey Logano searching for three
There are two energetic drivers within the Cup Sequence with multiple championship on this resume. That would change Sunday if Blaney provides a second, however for now it’s Logano and Kyle Busch with two titles. A 3rd for Logano would give him probably the most championships for an energetic full-time driver.
Logano and his crew have been given two weeks to arrange. Paul Wolfe having two weeks to verify they’re higher at Phoenix Raceway than they have been within the spring shouldn’t be ignored. And if Logano is tough to beat for a race win, it’s a unique stage when he’s competing for the championship. So, placing apart how he received right here – Alex Bowman’s disqualification and Logano not being sturdy within the common season – he’s right here, and he’s going to be an element on Sunday.
Justin Allgaier tries once more
The NASCAR veteran will get one other shot at his first championship, and he’ll once more have many in his nook, hoping it occurs. Allgaier has been a staple within the Xfinity Sequence since becoming a member of JR Motorsports in 2016, and he’s accomplished all the pieces however win the large prize. It hasn’t been for lack of effort, however fortune has not shined on Allgaier when it issues most.
In 296 begins with JRM, Allgaier has received 22 races. He’s completed no worse than seventh within the standings with six earlier Championship 4 appearances. And he was the championship runner-up to Cole Custer final 12 months.
It’s becoming he’s made it to the Championship 4 as a result of it’s been one other season and postseason of not having issues come simple. Maybe, given all that’s occurred to Allgaier and his No. 7 crew, taking the laborious highway will outcome within the greatest reward.
