Lebanon, Tennessee (AP) – Baba Wallace is tuning into NASCAR and feels the momentum with a diverse array of media partners.
Isn’t it the ideal moment for NASCAR’s “In the Season Challenge” to launch?
However, Wallace had momentarily forgotten about its impending debut.
“It’s easy to overlook, but we should recall how thrilling it was when they first announced it. I believe it’s set to be a significant draw for fans, encouraging them to invest a bit more,” Wallace shared.
Kyle Larson attempted to make a double at the Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600, and he said he was among those unaware of the fresh competition in the new NASCAR season. This included the Sunday Night Cup Series Race at Nashville Super Speedway.
“I haven’t really seen any promotions for it, so I think it’s easy to forget,” Larson noted.
NASCAR introduced this new competition during the season in May 2024, allowing drivers to focus later in the season.
The format is straightforward. The 32-man driver race commenced in Michigan on Sunday and will wrap up with Pocono on June 22nd. Drivers will be seeded based on their best finish in the five races starting in Atlanta.
The single-elimination rounds will eliminate 16 drivers in Chicago, 8 in Sonoma, 4 in Dover, and the final two at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The winner will receive $1 million, grabbing the attention of drivers as part of a new media rights agreement that includes TNT.
Larson, the 2021 Cup Series champion, remarked, “You just have to be consistent all the time.”
Chris Buescher from RFK Racing is among those not realizing this challenge is kicking off. He requires a victory after losing points due to a penalty in Kansas in May. The prizes are enticing.
“That’s real money,” Buescher said. “But we don’t want to change our approach at the racetrack. We need to focus on winning the race. There’s a lot at stake towards the end of the year.”
Three-Time Cup Series Champion Joey Logano compared the rewards of this event to the earnings from the All-Star race and stage victories in this new competition.
“This may take longer, but it’s a race within a race,” Logano explained. “So you wouldn’t want to lose too much to pursue that, right?”
Denny Hamlin initially was excited about the seasonal challenges when they were first announced. However, upon reviewing the competition format, his enthusiasm waned with the inclusion of numerous road courses.
“To be honest, we’re going to need some luck or a good draw to make it work,” Hamlin stated. “I wish it involved more traditional ovals, but that’s the schedule. Sadly, it’s probably not my strong suit this season.”
Brad Keselowski and his No. 6 Ford for RFK Racing entered Nashville in 32nd position. He hasn’t devoted much thought to this season’s competition yet, but he anticipates it will be enjoyable once it kicks off.
“It’s beneficial for the sport, great for our fans, and it’s a competition,” Keselowski said. “If there’s competition, we want to win it. That said, we need to focus on one week at a time… and it’s hard to look beyond that.”
All Team Penske Drivers Set for Playoffs
With Ryan Blaney achieving his first victory of the season at Nashville Super Speedway, three drivers have qualified for the NASCAR Cup playoffs, even with Team Penske’s first race scheduled later this year.
Blaney, who hadn’t secured a win since November, joins Talladega winner Austin Cindric and three-time Cup Series champion Joey Logano, who won in Texas. Josh Berry, associated with Team Penske through Wood Brothers Racing, also clinched victory in Las Vegas.
Michael Nelson, president of Team Penske’s NASCAR Operations, expressed his relief at the pressure being slightly alleviated for all the teams.
“It’s certainly a relief to ease that pressure for everyone,” Nelson said. “Again, it allows us to pursue opportunities and aim for multiple victories. We’re grateful to be at this point with our car.”
Watch Out for Hocevar
Carson Hocevar matched his career-best finish at Nashville, moving from 26th to 2nd. At just 22 years old, he’s in his second Cup Series season with Spire Motorsports, showcasing an aggressive style reminiscent of Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Hocevar made contact with Stenhouse on lap 106 of 300, sending him into the wall and out of the race. Stenhouse criticized Hocevar for being too aggressive and mentioned he would discuss the incident with the younger racer – but not immediately after the race.
“No,” Stenhouse replied, “It costs too much money.”
___
AP Auto Race: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing
Source: apnews.com