Digest

Jeff Gluck and Jordan Bianchi discuss the potential return of the NASCAR championship race to Homestead-Miami Speedway, expressing disbelief at the idea that Homestead's city council would offer a significant financial incentive to bring the race back. They then discuss the cancellation of Fox Sports' Race Hub show, expressing disappointment and surprise at the decision, particularly given the show's relatively good ratings and its importance to NASCAR. The hosts also discuss Michael McDowell's move to Spire Motorsports, praising the move for both McDowell and Spire. The podcast concludes with the hosts' weekly "Was It a Good Race?" poll, where they debate the quality of the Darlington race and make their predictions for the fan vote.

Outlines

00:00:00

Darlington Race Recap

This Chapter discusses the NASCAR Cup Series race at Darlington Raceway, focusing on Brad Keselowski's victory, RFK Racing's resurgence, and Chris Buescher's unfortunate loss of a potential win due to a late-race incident with Tyler Reddick.

00:45:30

2025 NASCAR Cup Series Schedule

This Chapter delves into the upcoming NASCAR Cup Series schedule, with Jordan Bianchi revealing insights from his article on the 2025 schedule. The hosts discuss the potential addition of Mexico City to the schedule, likely at the expense of Richmond. They also discuss the clash, which is rumored to be moving to Bowman Gray Stadium, and the possibility of a cold-weather race.

00:57:03

Championship Race Controversy

This Chapter focuses on the hosts' disappointment over the likely return of Phoenix as the host track for the championship race. They argue that the championship race should be held at a track with better racing, suggesting Kansas or Darlington as alternatives.

01:00:54

Kyle Larson's Double Duty

This Chapter concludes with a discussion of Kyle Larson's upcoming double duty at the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600.

01:01:09

Homestead's Bid for Championship Race

This Chapter discusses the Homestead-Miami Speedway's bid to host the NASCAR championship race in 2026. The hosts express disbelief at the idea that Homestead's city council would offer a significant financial incentive to bring the race back, given NASCAR's current TV contract worth over a billion dollars per year.

01:08:51

Cancellation of Race Hub

This Chapter discusses the cancellation of Fox Sports' Race Hub show, expressing disappointment and surprise at the decision, particularly given the show's relatively good ratings and its importance to NASCAR. The hosts speculate on the reasons behind the cancellation, including Fox's reduced NASCAR race schedule and the increasing cost of producing daily studio shows.

01:06:38

Michael McDowell's Move to Spire Motorsports

This Chapter discusses Michael McDowell's move to Spire Motorsports, praising the move for both McDowell and Spire. The hosts highlight McDowell's strong leadership qualities and his ability to build successful teams, while also acknowledging Spire's recent progress and the potential for McDowell to help them continue their upward trajectory.

01:15:16

Was It a Good Race? Poll

This Chapter features the hosts' weekly "Was It a Good Race?" poll, where they debate the quality of the Darlington race and make their predictions for the fan vote. The hosts discuss the race's key moments, including the battle for the lead and the late-race incident, and ultimately disagree on the overall quality of the race.

Keywords

Q&A

• What was the main storyline of the Darlington race?

  The main storyline of the Darlington race was Brad Keselowski's victory after a three-year winless streak. This win marked a significant turnaround for both Keselowski and his team, RFK Racing, which had been struggling earlier in the season.

• What happened to Chris Buescher at Darlington?

  Chris Buescher had a frustrating race at Darlington, where he lost a potential win due to a late-race incident with Tyler Reddick. Reddick made an aggressive move that sent Buescher into the wall, ultimately ending his chances of victory.

• What are the potential changes to the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series schedule?

  The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series schedule is expected to include a race in Mexico City, likely at the expense of Richmond. The clash is also rumored to be moving to Bowman Gray Stadium, potentially becoming a cold-weather race.

• Why are the hosts disappointed about the likely return of Phoenix as the championship race host?

  The hosts believe that the championship race should be held at a track with better racing, suggesting Kansas or Darlington as alternatives. They argue that Phoenix's racing is not as exciting as other tracks and that the championship race should be held at a track that truly tests the drivers' skills.

• What is Kyle Larson's upcoming double duty?

  Kyle Larson is scheduled to compete in both the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600, which are both happening on the same weekend. This will be a challenging undertaking for Larson, but it is a testament to his talent and his willingness to push himself beyond his comfort zone.

• How did Tyler Reddick and Chris Buescher handle the incident at Darlington?

  Both drivers handled the incident professionally. Buescher expressed his frustration but did not get physical, while Reddick acknowledged his mistake and apologized to Buescher. The hosts praised both drivers for their maturity and professionalism in a heated situation.

• What are the hosts' thoughts on the potential addition of Mexico City to the NASCAR Cup Series schedule?

  The hosts are generally positive about the potential addition of Mexico City to the schedule, believing it will be a popular event with a great atmosphere. However, they also acknowledge that road course racing has not been consistently strong in NASCAR and that the event's success will depend on the overall experience rather than just the racing itself.

• What are the hosts' concerns about the clash potentially moving to Bowman Gray Stadium?

  The hosts are concerned that moving the clash to Bowman Gray Stadium will diminish its impact as a season-opening event. They believe that the clash should be held in a major market to generate excitement and attract a wider audience.

• What are the hosts' arguments against holding the championship race at Phoenix?

  The hosts argue that Phoenix's racing is not as exciting as other tracks and that the championship race should be held at a track that truly tests the drivers' skills. They also believe that the championship race should be held at a track that is more widely recognized and celebrated within the NASCAR community.

• What are the hosts' suggestions for alternative championship race locations?

  The hosts suggest Kansas or Darlington as alternative championship race locations. They believe that both tracks offer challenging racing and that they would be more fitting venues for the championship race.

• Why are the hosts surprised by Homestead's bid to host the championship race?

  The hosts are surprised because NASCAR's current TV contract is worth over a billion dollars per year, and they believe that Homestead's city council offering a financial incentive to bring the race back seems insignificant in comparison.

• What are the hosts' thoughts on the cancellation of Race Hub?

  The hosts are disappointed and surprised by the cancellation of Race Hub, particularly given the show's relatively good ratings and its importance to NASCAR. They speculate that the cancellation may be due to Fox's reduced NASCAR race schedule and the increasing cost of producing daily studio shows.

• What are the hosts' thoughts on Michael McDowell's move to Spire Motorsports?

  The hosts believe that McDowell's move to Spire Motorsports is a good fit for both parties. They praise McDowell's leadership qualities and his ability to build successful teams, while also acknowledging Spire's recent progress and the potential for McDowell to help them continue their upward trajectory.

Show Notes