PRESS RELEASE | DAVE & BUSTER'S Dave & Buster’s announces its first ever partnership with a NASCAR driver, fan-favorite Toni Breidinger and TRICON Garage (TRICON). The NASCAR star has officially joined the brand as its 2025 Summer Ambassador, bringing fans along for an action-packed ride filled with in-store appearances, limited-edition merch, exclusive giveaways, and racing game competitions. Toni Breidinger is a trailblazing American race car driver and model, known for making history as the first Arab-American woman to compete full-time in a NASCAR national series. Her dynamic personality and strong social media following make her the perfect fit as Dave & Buster’s Summer Ambassador, where her love for racing and entertainment aligns seamlessly with the brand. During the August 8th NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Watkins Glen International, Toni will drive the No.5 Dave & Buster’s Toyota Tundra TRD Pro for TRICON. As part of the partnership, Breidinger will appear at exclusive Dave & Buster’s meet & greets, including stops in New York City and Chicago, where fans can snag signed gear, pose for photos, and try to compete with Toni on racing games. Her appearances kick off in Chicago on July 5th, followed by NYC Times Square on July 18th, and conclude at Watkins Glen on August 8th. Toni will also be rocking her custom Dave & Buster’s fire suit and truck at her upcoming race at Watkins Glen International. And stay tuned on social as Dave & Buster’s will be giving away signed Toni merch and a limited-edition Dave & Buster’s X Toni NASCAR-style t-shirt. Toni is encouraging guests to play all-new racing games, rack up wins, climb the leaderboard, and score major prizes all summer long. “I’ve been a fan of Dave & Buster’s for as long as I can remember. I always stop in when I’m on the road. I love the games, and energy, so getting to partner with a brand I genuinely enjoy is really exciting for me.” said Breidinger. “There’s nothing like being behind the wheel, whether it’s on the track or in the arcade, and now I get to do both at one of my favorite places. I’m so excited to compete with fans who love racing as much as I do and make this a summer to remember.” This summer, the Leaderboard Challenge invites guests to go full throttle across five high-speed, high-stakes racing games — including Hot Wheels Victory Lap, NASCAR Pit Stop, Top Gun: Maverick, Cruisin’ Blast, and Super Bikes 3. Every first-place finish or jackpot win helps players climb the nationwide leaderboard and rack up entries for a shot at epic prizes. The more you play, the more chances you have to win — so buckle up and get ready to race all summer long. To learn more about the partnership and see if you can top Toni’s score, visit your local Dave & Buster’s or head to daveandbusters.com.

PRESS RELEASE | IHRA & SPEED SPORT 1 The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) has announced its 2025 television and streaming plans with official broadcast partner SPEED SPORT, bringing the adrenaline-pumping excitement of IHRA drag racing to fan through a dynamic blend of live television and digital streaming on SPEED SPORT 1, SPEED SPORT 2 and IHRA.TV . As part of this multi-platform media partnership, IHRA events will be professionally produced and distributed across SPEED SPORT 1 and its major streaming and broadcast partners, including Amazon Prime, The Roku Channel, PlutoTV, and more — reaching millions of motorsports fans with premium drag racing content delivered live and free. “Partnering with SPEED SPORT is a game changer for IHRA and motorsports entertainment,” said Darryl Cuttell. IHRA CEO. “This platform enables us to reach 100s of millions of people on their existing devices anywhere - anytime - internationally - live and recorded at no cost. This will create new fans and racers, thrill the existing, and encourage sponsorship for teams. In addition to live streamed races, we can't wait to share our content that will go beyond the scenes of racing in 2025 and showcase the human element from team and fan perspectives.” The broadcast team features some of the most respected names in motorsports media. Ken Stout will serve as play-by-play host, with former NHRA Funny Car driver Tommy Johnson Jr. providing color commentary. Veteran broadcaster Ralph Sheheen will serve as the race-day host at select events, bringing insight and storytelling from years of experience. Pit reporters Kristen Beat and Kristin Bank will offer exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes access and real-time updates, and powerful interviews from drag racing’s most emotional vantage points. “We are extremely excited to present an incredibly strong production and broadcast package on SPEED SPORT 1,” said Joe Tripp, SPEED SPORT CEO. “IHRA is a historic, world-class series with tremendous competition — and the streaming and live television complement will reflect that. This is precisely the type of live sports content our distribution partners at Amazon Prime, The Roku Channel, PlutoTV and others look for — and IHRA on SPEED SPORT 1 will deliver right off the line.” SPEED SPORT has been synonymous with motorsports excellence for more than 90 years. With this new partnership, SPEED SPORT will continue its legacy by delivering high-quality, engaging content that showcases the power, speed and passion of IHRA drag racing. The production will be led by the experienced team at Windy City Creative Group (WCCG), with industry veteran Steve Grein serving as executive producer. With more than 20 years of experience producing top-tier motorsports content, Grein brings deep expertise and a proven track record to the IHRA broadcast team. Grein’s résumé includes work with IHRA, ADRL and countless shows under the Lucas Oil Productions banner. He also served as executive producer for MAVTV for five years, helping shape the network’s motorsports identity and bringing professional, action-packed coverage to fans nationwide. The full event schedule, including streaming and broadcast times, will be released in the coming weeks. Fans are encouraged to follow IHRA.com and SPEEDSPORT.com for updates and behind-the-scenes previews. Visit SPEEDSPORT1.com for broadcast schedules and viewing options. Logo Courtesy IHRA & SPEED SPORT1

PRESS RELEASE | Sonoma Raceway Sonoma Raceway and Pit Boss® Grills are thrilled to announce that ESPN host and reporter Marty Smith will serve as Grand Marshal for the Pit Boss/FoodMaxx 250 NASCAR Xfinity Series race on Saturday, July 12. Smith will bring his signature charisma and passion for motorsports to the pre-race ceremonies, culminating in delivering the most famous words in racing: “Drivers, start your engines!” A native of Pearisburg, Virginia, Marty Smith has spent more than two decades as one of the most respected and recognizable voices in motorsports media. He launched his career in 1999 as a contributor for NASCAR.com, where his passion for racing and natural storytelling talent quickly set him apart. In 2006, he joined ESPN as the network’s lead NASCAR reporter, becoming a familiar face to fans through his work on SportsCenter, NASCAR Countdown, and NASCAR Now. Known for his distinctive southern charm, authenticity, and insightful reporting, Smith has built a strong connection with both athletes and audiences. Today, he co-hosts the popular ESPN show Marty & McGee and continues to appear regularly across ESPN platforms, including SportsCenter, College GameDay, and ESPN.com. “My relationship with my friends at Pit Boss goes back many years, through my work with college football and NASCAR and the best places to grill at tailgates,” said Smith. “When they called me on this, I wasn’t sure I should do it. But in this season of my life I want to seek out unique opportunity that challenges me not to settle, some of which that might make me uncomfortable. I’ve always thought it’d be cool to give the command, and to do it at Sonoma, a place with so many special memories for me, is even more special. So here we are. Let’s uncork ‘em. I just hope I remember the words.” His appearance at Sonoma is sure to energize the crowd and elevate the excitement surrounding NASCAR’s return to Northern California’s legendary road course—its only stop in the Golden State for the 2025 season. “We are honored to welcome Marty Smith as our Grand Marshal,” said Sonoma Raceway Executive Vice President and General Manager Brian Flynn. “Marty’s love for the sport and his authentic connection with fans make him the perfect person to kick off what promises to be an action-packed day at the track.” The Pit Boss/FoodMaxx 250 is part of a thrilling race weekend that also features Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series event, the Toyota/Save Mart 350. Fans can expect wheel-to-wheel racing, scenic wine country views, and unforgettable moments both on and off the track. Tickets for the Pit Boss/FoodMaxx 250 and the full weekend of racing action are available now at SonomaRaceway.com or by calling (800) 870-RACE [7223]. Photo Courtesy Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Photo from www.x.com/f1 By Ryan Wu Bounce Back for Norris After a costly mistake at the Canadian Grand Prix, Lando Norris bounced back in style, reaffirming his Championship credentials with a superb performance at the Austrian Grand Prix. He outpaced his teammate and title rival, Oscar Piastri, to claim victory and cut the Championship gap to just 15 points. Norris' weekend began on a high note, as he outqualified Piastri by a remarkable 0.521 seconds. The fierce rivalry between the two continued from Montreal, with thrilling wheel-to-wheel battles throughout the race. Piastri took the early lead from third on the grid, while an oversteer moment on lap 14 saw Norris run wide into the gravel, briefly losing ground. However, McLaren opted to pit Norris first on lap 20, undercutting Piastri, who stopped four laps later. The team executed a second successful undercut on lap 53, which played perfectly into Norris's hands. He managed to pass Piastri just before the Australian rejoined the track, where he was momentarily forced off by Colapinto—who was being lapped at the time—compromising Piastri’s ability to immediately respond but fortunately all drivers stayed in the race. Despite a late charge from Piastri, who at one point closed the gap to around 1.4s, Norris finished the race strong roughly 2.7 seconds ahead. Nightmare Weekend for Red Bull Max Verstappen, starting from 7th, knew he had a tough challenge ahead after reporting issues with car control and tire grip. Over the radio during qualifying, he described his car as “completely undriveable.” His frustration must have peaked when, on the very first lap, he was T-boned by Kimi Antonelli at Turn 3 — an incident that took both drivers out of the race. Antonelli was later handed a three-place grid penalty after the stewards found him fully at fault, but moral victories will likely mean little to Verstappen, who now trails Oscar Piastri by 61 points in the Championship standings. Adding to Red Bull’s misery, Yuki Tsunoda once again failed to score points — his ninth race for the senior team since debuting in Japan. He was engaged in a duel with Franco Colapinto and ultimately caused a collision which spun the Argentine driver and was punished with a 10-second penalty as a result. While his debut performance at Suzuka can be forgiven given the circumstances, this marked his fourth consecutive non-points finish and the fifth overall. To make matters worse, Liam Lawson — the very driver Tsunoda replaced — has outscored him since the switch, with 12 points to Tsunoda’s 7. Lawson even managed to outperform both Red Bull drivers with an impressive 6th-place finish at the Red Bull Ring. After the weekend, Christian Horner summed it up bluntly, calling it a “home race to forget.” It would be unfair to place all the blame on Tsunoda for what to-date had been an underwhelming performance. The issue speaks to broader mismanagement within the team. The driver swap was an early panic move — part of a pattern Red Bull has shown in recent seasons. Tsunoda’s struggles may suggest the team was right not to promote him last winter, but they also placed him in a role with sky-high expectations that were nearly impossible to meet. This recurring cycle of promoting young academy drivers only to quickly lose faith in them is clearly not a sustainable path to long-term team success. Strong Race Pace from Stake F1 plus Midfield Updates Rookie Gabriel Bortoleto delivered an impressive performance for Stake by qualifying 8th, marking his first-ever Q3 appearance. Meanwhile, it looked to be a difficult day for his veteran teammate Nico Hülkenberg, who started from the back of the grid. However, Hülkenberg fought his way through the field, and both drivers ultimately finished in the points, securing Stake's first double-points finish of the season. Elsewhere on the grid, it was a disastrous day for Williams, who suffered a double DNF. Carlos Sainz didn’t even make the start, as his car failed during the formation lap and caught fire in the pit lane, ending his weekend before it began. Alex Albon was also forced to retire after just 17 laps, marking his third consecutive DNF. Williams has scored only 4 points over the last four races, and their current fifth place in the Constructors’ Championship is now under serious threat from a resurgent Racing Bulls team. As a reminder, Williams has opted not to further develop their 2025 car, instead focusing resources on next year’s entry ahead of major regulation changes. Nonetheless, the car has shown solid pace in the midfield, and resolving their recent mechanical issues will be crucial if they hope to maintain their position in the standings. Racing Refresh Driver of the Day Lando Norris, McLaren Final Points Finishing Positions 1st: Lando Norris 2nd: Oscar Piastri 3rd: Charles Leclerc 4th: Lewis Hamilton 5th: George Russell 6th: Liam Lawson 7th: Fernando Alonso 8th: Gabriel Bortoleto 9th: Nico Hulkenberg 10th: Esteban Ocon Next on the F1 Schedule: British Grand Prix: July 4th-6th

Photo from www.x.com/f1 By Ryan Wu In one of the most thrilling races of the season, Lando Norris claimed his first-ever win at his home Grand Prix, cutting the Championship gap to just eight points behind his McLaren teammate, Oscar Piastri. Neither McLaren driver started from pole, as Max Verstappen delivered a stunning final lap in Q3 to snatch the top spot, edging Piastri by just over a tenth of a second. Rain loomed large over the race, with heavy showers hitting the track just before lights out. Chaos struck immediately. At the end of lap 1, a collision between Esteban Ocon and Liam Lawson ended Ocon’s race and triggered the first Virtual Safety Car (VSC). The second VSC came after Gabriel Bortoleto lost control while warming his tires and was forced to retire. On lap 11, a thrilling duel unfolded between Norris and Verstappen. When Verstappen ran wide at Chapel, McLaren surged to a 1-2. But a slow double-stack pit stop cost Norris dearly, handing the position back to Verstappen. As rain intensified, the full safety car was deployed on lap 14. Racing resumed three laps later, only for another safety car to be called when Isack Hadjar rear-ended Kimi Antonelli, taking both rookies out of the race. During this second safety car period, Piastri was handed a 10-second penalty for excessively slowing the pack—briefly allowing Verstappen to pass. It marked a tough day for the Championship leader, whose 13-second advantage had already been wiped out by the first safety car. When racing resumed, a rare unforced error from Verstappen saw him spin and tumble down to ninth, where he immediately came under pressure from Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon in the Williams cars. With Piastri yet to serve his penalty, Norris managed the gap to perfection. When McLaren called in Piastri on lap 43, Norris stayed out and crossed the line first to claim a historic win—despite late pleas from Piastri to impose team orders, believing his penalty to be unjust. A Long Time Waiting for Hülkenberg After qualifying 20th last week, Nico Hülkenberg managed a slight improvement at Silverstone, starting 19th. At that point, it seemed his long-awaited podium would have to wait yet again. But sports often defy expectations—what seems inevitable can quickly be turned on its head. In a chaotic, rain-soaked race on Sunday, Hülkenberg finally shed the unwanted distinction of holding the record for the most Formula 1 starts without a podium—a record he led by 110 races heading into the weekend. After 239 career starts, the German driver at last earned his place among the top three. He surged to 10th within the first three laps and climbed to third by lap 10. From there, a composed and resilient drive—fending off none other than seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton—sealed a long-overdue celebration. Hülkenberg’s joy was evident as he proudly held up the Lego-built trophy, a fitting symbol of a career milestone finally reached. Rookie Report To put it plainly, this was a disastrous day for rookie drivers. Franco Colapinto, whose F1 future is increasingly uncertain amid strong rumors of an impending replacement by Valtteri Bottas, didn’t even make it to the starting grid due to a clutch failure in the pit lane. Of the remaining rookies, none except Oliver Bearman managed to finish the race—though Bearman’s outing was far from clean. He was involved in a late-race collision with Esteban Ocon, causing both cars to spin. To make matters worse, Bearman was also handed a 10-place grid penalty for a red flag infringement during qualifying. Racing Refresh Driver of the Day Nico Hulkenberg, Stake Final Points Finishing Positions 1st: Lando Norris 2nd: Oscar Piastri 3rd: Nico Hülkenberg 4th: Lewis Hamilton 5th: Max Verstappen 6th: Pierre Gasly 7th: Lance Stroll 8th: Alex Albon 9th: Fernando Alonso 10th: George Russell Next on the F1 Schedule: Belgium Grand Prix: July 25th-27th

By Adam Carabine Happy Saturday everyone!  This weekend, the NASCAR Cup Series travels to Chicago Illinois for the Grant Park 165 at the Chicago Street Course.   The Chicago Street Course is a street circuit course on the streets of Chicago.  The track is 2.14 miles long, and features 12 turns.  Last year’s winner at this race was Alex Bowman.   Tomorrow’s race will be 75 laps long (for a total of 160.5 miles), with stage breaks occurring at 20 – 45 – 75.  Pit road speed is 35 mph, and the caution vehicle runs at 40 mph.   This year, the NASCAR Cup Series has run 4,751 laps, for 6,881.84 miles so far this season.  No driver has completed every single lap, but Chase Elliott is one lap behind, and Tyler Reddick is five behind.   Top 5 Career Average Finishers at Chicago Street: Michael McDowell 6.00 over 2 races Ty Gibbs 6.00 over 2 races Kyle Busch 7.00 over 2 races Justin Haley 9.00 over 2 races Austin Cindric 10.50 over 2 races   Bottom 5 Career Average Finishers at Chicago Street: Josh Berry 36.00 over 1 race JH Nemechek 35.00 over 1 race Ty Dillon 35.00 over 1 race Christopher Bell 27.50 over 2 races AJ Allmendinger 27.50 over 2 races   The Chicago Street Course is a Road Course   Top 5 Career Average Finishers at Road Courses: Chase Elliott 7.44 over 37 races (7 wins) SVG 8.92 over 8 races (2 wins) Tyler Reddick 12.16 over 28 races (3 wins) Chris Buescher 12.60 over 39 races (1 win) Christopher Bell 13.59 over 28 races (3 wins)   Bottom 5 Career Average Finishers at Road Courses: Ryan Preece 24.88 over 25 races JH Nemechek 24.58 over 9 races Austin Dillon 23.98 over 41 races Riley Herbst 23.00 over 2 races Noah Gragson 22.36 over 11 races   Because the Chicago Street Course is so new to the NASCAR Cup Series, there is a two-way tie for winningest driver.  Shane Van Gisbergen and Alex Bowman have each won the race once, and that’s it.   Notable drivers who have not won at Chicago Street: Kyle Busch (has won at 24 other tracks) Denny Hamlin (has won at 19 other tracks) Joey Logano (has won at 19 other tracks) Kyle Larson (has won at 18 other tracks) Brad Keselowski (has won at 17 other tracks)   Shane Van Gisbergen earned his first Cup Series win at the Chicago Street Course – it was his first ever Cup Series race.   Based on average finish, Ty Gibbs and Justin Haley list Chicago Street as their BEST track, and Ty Dillon and Ryan Blaney list it as their WORST.   Based on their point pace, let’s have a look at how this season is comparing to last season for drivers:   Drivers Faring Better than in 2024 Tyler Reddick +614 pts Chris Buescher +587 pts Bubba Wallace +403 pts Chase Briscoe +360 pts William Byron +320 pts   Drivers Faring Worse than in 2024 Brad Keselowski -326 pts Ty Gibbs -287 pts Todd Gilliland -275 pts Joey Logano -275 pts Josh Berry -223 pts   Next, let’s look at who’s having their best and worst career year by Average Finish:   Best Career Year Chase Elliott 10.28 Christopher Bell 12.06 Chase Briscoe 14.89 Ryan Preece 17.83 JH Nemechek 19.11 Josh Berry 20.35 Todd Gilliland 20.53   Worst Career Year Cole Custer 23.94 Carson Hocevar 21.83 Zane Smith 19.56 Ty Gibbs 19.11   Rookie of the Year Battle SVG 268 (1 win) Riley Herbst 206   The Manufacturer Standings are calculated by awarding points to the highest finisher for each manufacturer according to their finishing position.  (40 for 1st, 35 for 2nd, 34 for 3rd, etc.)  No stage points or playoff points count.   Manufacturer Standings Chevrolet 656 Toyota 641 Ford 610   Here is the same formula, but used on a team-vs-team basis:   Chartered Team Standings Hendrick 637 Joe Gibbs 617 Trackhouse 505 Penske 499 RFK 492 23XI 459 Spire 439 Legacy MC 436 Front Row 423 RCR 400 Kaulig 386 Hyak 328 Wood Bros 293 Haas Factory 235 Rick Ware 140   At each stage break, the Top 10 drivers are awarded points based on their finishing positions.  Here are the leaders this year:   Stage Point Leaders William Byron 179 Ryan Blaney 145 Kyle Larson 134 Denny Hamlin 132 Tyler Reddick 128 Chase Elliott 106 Bubba Wallace 101 Austin Cindric 99 Alex Bowman 99 Carson Hocevar 91   Milestone Watch Chase Briscoe Looking for his 20th Career Top 5 Joey Logano Looking for his 170th Career Top 5   Here are the top 10 longest active winless streaks:   Winless Streaks Justin Haley 159 races Cole Custer 115 races Bubba Wallace 97 races Erik Jones 97 races Kyle Busch 75 races Michael McDowell 66 races Daniel Suarez 52 races Brad Keselowski 41 races AJ Allmendinger 38 races Alex Bowman 34 races   The race begins Sunday, July 6th at 2:00 pm EST (11:00 am PST) – Enjoy the race everyone!   Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter  @RacingRefresh   Is there an error? Is there a stat missing that you’d like to see? Let us know!

Photo by Krista Jasso/Getty Images By Adam Carabine A look at the Top Ten in our weekly Power Rankings, plus the biggest movers! While finishing position is important, it’s not always indicative of the full picture.  StatChat rankings are determined using a large number of statistical inputs, with an emphasis placed on the most recent 5 races.   Shane Van Gisbergen – This week: 10 – Last week: 14 After a healthy jump up the Power Rankings for winning in Mexico City, SVG had a really solid oval performance in Atlanta this past weekend.  He earned points in both stages, and ran in the Top 20 all day.  With a crazy race like Atlanta was, even just a solid finish is better than crashing out.   Christopher Bell – This week: 9 – Last week: 5 Unfortunately for Bell, he falls a few spots this week due to a rough race in Atlanta.  He scored his third DNF of the season, and finished 30th without even completing half of the laps of the race.    Erik Jones – This week: 8 – Last week: 11 Legacy Motor Club has been on a bit of a tear lately, as both Jones and his teammate John Hunter Nemechek have been racking up solid finishes.  Atlanta was no exception for Jones, as he managed to avoid most of the chaos and finished with a Top 5.   Kyle Larson – This week: 7 – Last week: 12 Larson has had a few struggles with consistency lately, and it actually found him falling out of the Top 10 of our Power Rankings last week.  This week he returns, though not in exactly convincing fashion.  His P17 at Atlanta was enough to bring him back into the Top 10, but he’s got some work to do to get back to the top.   Chris Buescher – This week: 6 – Last week: 13 It’s been a solid few weeks for RFK Racing as well, and Chris Buescher gets a well-deserved bump into the Top 10 of the Power Rankings.  He led 15 laps at Atlanta, earned 8 stage points, and finished in the Top 10.    Tyler Reddick – This week: 5 – Last week: 8 After a slow slide down the Power Rankings, it was a nice return to form for Tyler Reddick at Atlanta.  While he didn’t get the win, he had a reassuring evening for him and his team.  He won Stage 2, led 18 laps, and was in contention for the win up until the very end.  He wound up P4.   Ryan Blaney – This week: 4 – Last week: 4 Despite another terrible last-placed finish for Blaney (which once again wasn’t really his fault), he manages to hold onto his spot in the Power Rankings for now.  This is the last week his win in Nashville is more heavily weighted, so he could drop in the coming weeks if he doesn’t get some better luck when it comes to wrecks.   William Byron – This week: 3 – Last week: 2 Speaking of awful, no-good days, William Byron had one of his own and also had a DNF, finishing 37th. Silver lining – he did earn stage points in the first stage, and he continues to be the Regular Season points leader.    Chase Elliott – This week: 2 – Last week: 3 Chase Elliott had already been uber-consistent all season, and finally got the win that officially locks him into the playoffs in Atlanta.  There wasn’t really any doubt he’d make it to the Round of 16, but this sets it in stone now.  He also earned the most Stage Points of anyone, and had the most Quality Passes too.    Denny Hamlin – This week: 1 – Last week: 1 Hamlin was one of the many, many (many), cars that were involved in an early wreck. While he tried to limp it back around the track, he ended up having to take the DNF.  Despite this, he manages to hold onto the top spot based on some stellar weeks leading up to this.    Biggest Movers   Ross Chastain – This week: 18 – Last week: 7 Falls 11 places   Chase Briscoe – This week: 17 – Last week: 6 Falls 11 places   Alex Bowman – This week: 19 – Last week: 31 Gains 12 places   Rest of the List 11. Brad Keselowski LW: 15 +4 12. AJ Allmendinger LW: 10 -2 13. Carson Hocevar LW: 17 +4 14. Ryan Preece LW: 9 -5 15. Ty Gibbs LW: 20 +5 16. Bubba Wallace LW: 23 +7 17. Chase Briscoe LW: 6 -11 18. Ross Chastain LW: 7 -11 19. Alex Bowman LW: 31 +12 20. Zane Smith LW: 26 +6 21. Joey Logano LW: 16 -5 22. Kyle Busch LW: 21 -1 23. Todd Gilliland LW: 18 -5 24. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. LW: 29 +5 25. Austin Cindric LW: 22 -3 26. Justin Haley LW: 30 +4 27. Ty Dillon LW: 32 +5 28. Josh Berry LW: 19 -9 29. JH Nemechek LW: 28 -1 30. Daniel Suarez LW: 25 -5 31. Michael McDowell LW: 24 -7 32. Austin Dillon LW: 27 -5 33. Cody Ware LW: 34 +1 34. Noah Gragson LW: 33 -1 35. Cole Custer LW: 35 -- 36. Riley Herbst LW: 36 --

Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images By Logan Morris When NASCAR first announced that five races would be streamed on Amazon Prime, the news was met with excitement and some cautious criticism. After five broadcasts on the streaming service, it’s fair to say that the broadcasts themselves have been a major success. However, one drawback to this move has been a decline in overall viewership. The conventional wisdom is that a rise in younger viewers offsets any major loss of older viewers. But, I’m here to tell you I don’t think it’s that simple.  NASCAR is currently undergoing significant changes; it is a true period of transition. That is nothing new, of course; the changes for NASCAR have come fast and furious over the last few decades.  We saw the advent of what would become the NASCAR Playoffs, stage racing, shorter races, new venues, more road courses, and so on. But when NASCAR announced it would air five races on Prime, it made it more difficult for a decently sized portion of the fan base to watch, and in my opinion, that’s bad business.  Yes, I’m aware everyone will shout about how a younger audience outweighs losses, but that’s dismissive and disrespectful to people who have followed and supported the sport for decades. While it’s true that advertisers want younger eyes on their products, it’s not as if older people don’t spend money to support sponsors and the sport. The decline in viewership proves that NASCAR missed the mark by moving a section of races to Prime.  A 16 percent drop in overall viewership is nothing to scoff at. They also suffered a 36% drop in viewers over the age of 55. Why is that okay?  I know everything evolves and changes with time; that’s natural. But, NASCAR shouldn’t forget its roots in the process. If the sport were as broken as some of the younger fans suggest, then I don’t know how it’s lasted 77 years. NASCAR wasn’t built on street courses or road courses; it was built on rubbing and beating and banging. Look no further than Mexico City or the Chicago Street Course for examples of trying to do too much. What makes those locations so much more valuable than Chicagoland or Kentucky? Is it all in the name of money? Why? NASCAR is making plenty of money. NASCAR has tried to pay tribute to its roots occasionally over the years, and the return to North Wilkesboro and Bowman Gray Stadium is the kind of move NASCAR should be making. There’s an old adage, “What’s old is new again.”  Look at how those communities rallied around NASCAR’s return, especially when compared to the lacklustre LA Clash at the Coliseum experiment.  People claimed The Clash in LA attracted new fans. But unless they’ve been hidden away in a bunker, there’s not much evidence to back that up. I’m all for trying some new things and even expanding the footprint internationally under the right circumstances. However, what about fixing some of the messes NASCAR has made here? As I previously mentioned, what about Kentucky and Chicagoland?   What about Auto Club Speedway? That provided some of the best races this next-gen car has produced, but they tore it down to turn it into a short-track. The short-track now looks increasingly unlikely to come to fruition; at last check, much of what’s left of the track has been overtaken by a warehouse complex.  NASCAR should continue to meet its present and future with its past. Why not a return to Hickory Motor Speedway? What about South Boston Speedway? There’s a host of tracks that NASCAR could add to the schedule in place of the ever-growing road course portion of the schedule.  I’m not suggesting that every change that NASCAR has made over the last few decades has been a mistake. There are some more controversial changes that I’ve come to completely embrace and enjoy - stage racing and the playoffs come to mind. All I’m saying is there comes a point where it can go a little too far. You can’t simply alienate long-time fans in hopes of making new ones.  To paraphrase, NASCAR Hall Of Fame member Mark Martin recently said on the Kenny Wallace Show, the long-time fans will keep watching, but the people who NASCAR is trying to attract and keep glued to the sport are being sold something that isn’t what the sport was built on. They’re being sold something that chips away at the foundation of what sport is.  I know times change and things have to evolve and grow, but NASCAR is missing the mark in the way they’re trying to do that. Sometimes to go forward, you have to go back. NASCAR should lean less on things it hopes will draw new fans and more on its roots. I’m betting if they did that, they would draw more new fans than they think. After all, it worked very well for a long time.

Photo by Krista Jasso/Getty Images By Adam Carabine & Logan Morris Logan Morris: Hey, Adam! We’re back after this year’s second race at the newly renamed EchoPark Speedway, and what a wild one it was! The si-reen might still be ringing in Dawsonville!  Adam Carabine: It probably is! We shouldn’t be shocked to see Chase Elliott in victory lane, though I am surprised it took 18 races for him to get there this year.  PS - I’ve been to the Dawsonville Pool Room, friendly folks there! What did you think of the race - one of the rare Saturday night Cup Series adventures? LM: Overall, I enjoyed the race. Some of it left a little to be desired, and we will break that down. It was a long night!  The win for Elliott breaks a pretty lengthy winless streak. The grumbles of his fan base were getting louder every week.  I must say that I prefer races on Sunday afternoons. My Sunday felt a little off. AC: Yes, Elliott’s win broke a 44-race winless streak dating back to Texas last year, but he’s probably been the most consistent driver this season week in and week out.  He still has yet to finish outside of the Top 20!  I agree about the Sunday race thing, too - I was unable to watch the race live due to prior commitments, so I stayed up until 4am watching it!   The hometown hero got it done in Atlanta, and we saw some insane amounts of chaos and calamity.  Where do you want to start? LM: Well, we have to start with that big one that felt like it collected the entire field. Chaos doesn’t even begin to describe it. One of the greatest tracks in NASCAR history became nothing short of a parking lot in one fell swoop, that had cars getting beaten around like lotto balls. As spectacular of an image as that created, and it’ll be viral for a long time, a pile up like not really doesn’t say much for the quality of the race. I stand by the belief that Atlanta doesn’t have enough room to be an effective drafting style track.  AC: I’m not sure if you caught the interview with Joey Logano after he’d been released from the infield care centre, but he reacted live to watching the instant replay for the first time.  He was audibly shocked at the calamity of it all, and he’s a guy who’s been around the block and seen a few wrecks in his time!   I think Dale Jr. said it best on the broadcast - it’s not so much the high speeds that make Atlanta crazy, it’s the fact that the speeds don’t really get any slower in the corners.  The banking is now such that they can run full throttle and they lose maybe 5mph in the corners.  Then you add the narrowness of the track, and up to 40 cars all jockeying for position - it’s a wonder we haven’t seen something like this happen sooner.   However, the rest of the racing - including that final run to the finish - was absolutely fantastic.  It was so fun to watch many different drivers build up momentum and be able to pass, only to then be passed back again.  It really was a game of who can be at the front at the right time - the very end.    LM:  I agree that much of the rest of the night provided fantastic racing. However, when nearly half the field is wiped out and several others forced to kind of limp along for as much as they could, there is an asterisk that goes with it. I’ve seen fantastic racing in the All-Star Open or Clash heat races, but it doesn’t have quite the same juice because much of the field isn’t in the race. Now, don’t get me wrong, this is far from NASCAR’s first calamity, and it won’t be its last.  But, if I’m not mistaken, 36 cars out of the 40-car field were damaged somehow or another. I don’t know if that’s selling people on the greatness of the sport. It at times felt like a demolition derby.  AC: Fair enough, I suppose that does open the door to a bigger discussion than what we have time for right now - what makes NASCAR great?  I bet you could poll 100 fans and find 100 different answers.  It isn’t necessarily known for its clean racing, but let’s not get too far down that path.  Maybe later this offseason we can debate it! LM: No one appreciates the old school beating and banging nature of what NASCAR was built on more than I. But, I think races like last night can cross the line. You’re right, it’ll be a wonderful debate for another time, and I look forward to it. What else stuck out to you? AC: I think we’d be remiss if we didn’t touch on the first broadcast of the TNT portion of the schedule.  Many certainly praised the NASCAR on Prime broadcasts, and often with good reason.  What did you make of TNT - even though many of the on-air talent were actually the exact same! LM: I enjoyed it. We’ve talked about it before, but Dale Jr’s passion in the booth just shines through and is infectious.  I loved that there was an alt-cast on TruTV. I plan to pay some more attention to that this weekend in Chicago. I felt like it was also a coming down to earth broadcast for many of the Fox critics. So many seem to act as though Fox wants to go to commercials as often as they do. TNT did much of the same. It’s the difference between a streaming service and cable. Nothing more, nothing less.  I’m kind of glad the Prime portion of the schedule is over because so many people acted as though they found some way to reinvent the wheel as far as broadcasting NASCAR goes. As long as we have a true post-race show, I’m pretty easy to please. What did you think? AC: I’ll always give Dale Jr. his flowers - he’s got an amazing ability to describe the action and his enthusiasm is contagious.  I was watching the closing laps at about 3:30am and I was wide awake, partly due to the commentary!  I know you are staunchly against the anti-Fox arguments (especially when it comes to the Prime broadcast), but I still just found this product to be more enjoyable to watch.  I’ll take this booth any day over the Fox booth - and yes, that includes Mike Joy.  Finally before we hit our awards, we haven’t really had a chance to talk about the In-Season Tournament Bracket.  First of all, thoughts? Love it? Hate it? And second of all, any intriguing matchups to look for next week? LM: You know, at first I was pretty skeptical, but once I saw it in action and the way it meant a little more to the drivers, I’m looking forward to the next four rounds. It’s too soon to say that I want it back next year, but my first impressions are really positive. I mean, how about Ty Dillion giving Denny Hamlin fans some flak? When would you typically see that kind of playful jabs from him? I’d venture to say never.  If the drivers keep embracing it and showing their personalities, they could prove that there’s more charisma in this era than previously thought. How did you feel about it? AC: I agree entirely.  I like the idea, in theory, but it’s been so nice to see the drivers actually caring about it too.  There will probably be more to watch for as the bracket gets to the end, as the stakes get higher, but I think it’s a great concept and it gives the fans something else to think about while watching.  Okay, let’s get on to our awards now! Best Performer LM: My best performer has to be Brad Keselowski. I know he came up short, but he had his best race of the season. I felt a little bad for him coming up short. He proved he’s still a very capable force on the drafting tracks.  AC: I felt so bad for him, it really looked like he was going to finally get off the schneid, but Elliott stole his thunder at the last minute.  My best performer is going to go to Carson Hocevar.  There’s lots of chatter around him - is he too aggressive, does he need to grow up, etc.  I care less about that and more about the fact that this guy continually drives his way up through the field and has solid speed nearly every week.  In Atlanta he had the highest Pass Differential of any driver, +39 (meaning he passed others 39 times more than he got passed).  He’s certainly a talented guy, and I think he is improving each week. Biggest Move of the Race LM: My biggest move of the race has to go to Alex Bowman. He made it impossible for Brad Keselowski to have any shot of passing the 9, simply because Bowman refused to push him! Elliott owes Bowman a steak dinner!  AC: No kidding, that was some incredible teamwork there - especially after Hendrick Motorsports had one of its worst days the week before.  I’m having trouble narrowing down the single biggest move, and so I’m going to give a bit of a cop-out answer and say whoever was passing for the lead in the final 30 or so laps.  There were some amazing divebombs, crossover moves, and just overall amazing driving being done by the leaders, and so I just wanted to shout them all out for keeping it clean and yet so, so entertaining. Biggest Disappointment LM: I’m going to take the low-hanging fruit on this one and say Ryan Blaney. In this era of Atlanta, Blaney has proven his prowess. But Saturday night was another lowlight in what is, in many ways, a miserable season for him. Yes, he’s going to the playoffs. But, overall, this season has left a lot to be desired so far.    AC: If I had a dollar for every time that Blaney has been turned into the outside wall in a violent head-on collision, I’d have way more money than I would like to for such things.  This season must be taking a toll on his body after all of these wrecks he’s been involved in - and truly a lot of it is just simply bad luck. I’ll go with Keselowski as my biggest disappointment - but really just that I’m disappointed he couldn’t get the dub. What to Watch for Next Weekend LM: This weekend we head to the streets of Chicago. Alex Bowman got it done here one year ago. This is also the place where SVG burst on the scene. It seems to be a yearly question of wondering if the weather will cooperate, and we’re not sure if NASCAR will return to Grant Park next year. Is this the year calamity doesn’t break out? AC: I hope so - I actually think the course is fun, and it has potential if we can remove the weather and other distractions from the race.  Last year we had a somewhat surprise winner in Alex Bowman, could we be in for another surprise?  When it comes to tracks that are newer to the schedule, there’s just less reps for any of the drivers/teams and so that leads to more mistakes.  I’m looking forward to seeing how it shakes out! LM: Let’s go back to that same old place, sweet home Chicago!