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Good news, bad news for NASCAR Cup teams ahead of Martinsville playoff race

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Good news, bad news for NASCAR Cup teams ahead of Martinsville playoff race

The Cup Championship 4 field will be set Sunday at Martinsville Speedway.

Joey Logano and Tyler Reddick have secured spots in the title race. That leaves six drivers to vie for the final two spots.

Here is a look at the good news and bad news for Cup teams ahead of the Martinsville playoff race.

23XI Racing — Good news: Tyler Reddick’s victory at Homestead sends him into the Championship 4 for the first time. His win gives 23XI Racing, in its fourth year of existence, its first chance for a Cup title. … Bubba Wallace has three top 10s in the last four races at Martinsville, including a fourth-place finish in the spring race. Bad news: Reddick has only two top-15 finishes in nine Martinsville starts.

While Tyler Reddick celebrated, Ryan Blaney and Denny Hamlin were left to ponder what could have been.

Front Row Motorsports — Good news: Michael McDowell will make his 500th career Cup start this weekend. Bad news: Todd Gilliland has not had a top-15 finish in the last 12 races this year.

Hendrick Motorsports — Good news: William Byron won the spring race at Martinsville, leading a 1-2-3 Hendrick finish. Kyle Larson was second. Chase Elliott was third in that race. … The organization has won five of the last eight Martinsville races. … Elliott has 11 top 10s at Martinsville. Kansas is the only track that he has more top 10s with 12. … Elliott has run the most laps (1,336) in the top five at Martinsville in the Next Gen car among any Cup driver. … Larson has three top-five finishes, including a win, in his last four Martinsville starts. … William Byron has won two of the last five Martinsville races. …Byron has not finished worse than sixth in the last five races this season. … Alex Bowman has eight top fives and 17 top 10s this year. Both tie his career best total. Bad news: Bowman’s win in October 2021 is his only top five at Martinsville in 16 starts.

A aggressive move by Tyler Reddick at Las Vegas ended his race. Kyle Larson says he continues to juggle how aggressive to be at times.

Joe Gibbs Racing — Good news: Christopher Bell leads all drivers with 14 top fives and 22 top 10s this season. Both are a career high for Bell. … Bell can clinch a spot in the Championship 4 by scoring 34 or more points Sunday. … Denny Hamlin has five wins at Martinsville, most among active drivers. Bad news: Hamlin’s last win at Martinsville came in March 2015. … Ty Gibbs has finished outside the top 30 each of the past three races. … Martin Truex Jr. is winless in his last 50 Cup starts.

Homestead winner Tyler Reddick makes a big jump in this week’s top 10.

JTG Daugherty Racing — Good news: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. has three top-five finishes this season, one more than he had last year at this time. Bad news: Stenhouse has one top-10 finish in his last 13 starts at Martinsville.

Kaulig Racing — Good news: AJ Allmendinger finished eighth last weekend at Homestead for his third consecutive top 10 at that track. … Shane van Gisbergen is back in the No. 16 this weekend. … Daniel Hemric ranks first in the series in laps run. He’s completed 8,879 of 8,932 laps (99.4%). Bad news: Kaulig has not had a car finish better than 23rd in a Cup race at Martinsville.

Legacy Motor Club — Good news: The organization has had one car finish in the top 10 in two of the last four races. Bad news: John Hunter Nemechek has not finished better than 25th in three Martinsville Cup starts. … Erik Jones has one top 10 in 15 career Cup starts at Martinsville.

Richard Childress Racing — Good news: Austin Dillon is making his 399th career Cup start with RCR. Bad news: While Kyle Busch has the most short track wins (16) among active drivers, he hasn’t won at a short track since April 2019. … Busch has not finished better than 16th in his last four Cup starts at Martinsville. … Dillon has not finished better than 25th in the last three races this season.

Rick Ware Racing — Good news: Corey LaJoie has three top-20 finishes in his first five races with the team. Bad news: The organization has not had a car finish better than 22nd in a Cup race at Martinsville.

RFK Racing — Good news: Chris Buescher has finished 17th or better in each of the last seven races. That streak started with his Watkins Glen win. Bad news: Brad Keselowski has not finished better than 17th in the last five Martinsville races. … Buescher has never led a lap in 18 Cup starts at Martinsville.

Tyler Reddick’s last-lap pass of Ryan Blaney to win at Homestead rates as the best finish of the NASCAR Cup season.

Spire Motorsports — Good news: Carson Hocevar’s pit crew had the fastest four-tire pit stop at Homestead at 8.974 seconds, according to Racing Insights. … Hocevar’s pit crew also had the best four-tire pit stop average time of 9.526 seconds at Homestead, according to Racing Insights. … Justin Haley ranks second in the series in laps completed at 8,873. He’s run 99.3% of the laps this year.

Bad news: Haley has never finished better than 27th in seven Cup starts at Martinsville. … Zane Smith has finished 31st and 34th in his two Cup starts at Martinsville.

Tyler Reddick becomes the second driver to advance to the Championship 4 race in Cup.

Stewart-Haas Racing — Good news: Chase Briscoe has had five consecutive top-10 finishes at Martinsville. … Josh Berry finished 11th at Homestead, marking his best result in the last 16 races. … Ryan Preece has three top 10s in the last seven races. … Preece has two top 10s in the last four short track races. Bad news: Noah Gragson has not finished better than 20th in three Martinsville Cup starts.

Team Penske — Good news: Joey Logano has scored 10 consecutive top 10s at Martinsville, the longest active streak. If Logano scores a top 10 this weekend, it will tie him with Dale Earnhardt Sr. for sixth on the list of all-time consecutive top 10s at Martinsville. … Ryan Blaney, who won last year’s playoff race at Martinsville, has nine top-five finishes in 17 Cup starts at the historic half mile track. Bad news: Austin Cindric has one top-10 finish in 17 career short track starts in Cup.

Trackhouse Racing — Good news: Ross Chastain has finished in the top 10 in each of the past two short track races. Bad news: The last top 10 for Daniel Suarez at Martinsville was in March 2019.

Wood Brothers Racing — Good news: Harrison Burton has finished in the top 20 in two of the last three races this year. Bad news: The last win for the Wood Brothers at Martinsville was April 1973 with David Pearson.

 

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Tony Stewart Becomes Nascar President After Several Mess By Steve Phelps which Leads to

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Tony Stewart Becomes Nascar President After Several Mess By Steve Phelps which Leads to

The recent announcement of Tony Stewart as the new president of NASCAR comes at a pivotal moment for the sport, following various controversies and challenges during Steve Phelps’ tenure. Known for his fierce competitive spirit and deep understanding of NASCAR, Stewart’s appointment signals a shift toward a leadership style that prioritizes both driver concerns and a return to traditional racing values. Stewart’s reputation as a three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and team owner brings credibility to his new role, and many fans and insiders are optimistic that he can guide the organization through its current difficulties.

Under Steve Phelps, NASCAR saw several ambitious changes aimed at expanding its fan base and modernizing the sport. These included efforts to diversify its audience, such as scheduling races in new markets, embracing digital technology, and updating rules to make racing more exciting. However, while these moves aimed to attract new fans, they often drew criticism from long-time followers and drivers alike, who argued that the changes undermined NASCAR’s heritage and disrupted the sport’s traditional appeal. Decisions such as the Next Gen car’s introduction, controversial officiating calls, and the handling of safety concerns sparked debate and frustration among many fans and participants.

Safety, in particular, became a flashpoint under Phelps’ administration, especially after incidents that raised concerns about the Next Gen car’s structural issues. Drivers openly expressed fears regarding their safety on the track, and some criticized NASCAR’s perceived inaction. Stewart, as someone who has experienced the dangers of racing firsthand, has been vocal about driver safety and is expected to address these concerns as a top priority. His influence could prompt faster responses to safety issues, restoring trust among drivers.

Additionally, Stewart’s background as a team owner and a former driver provides him with a unique perspective that could enhance NASCAR’s decision-making process. His leadership style, characterized by his hands-on approach and no-nonsense attitude, may help NASCAR strike a better balance between innovation and tradition. Fans and teams alike are hopeful that Stewart’s leadership will steer NASCAR in a direction that honors its roots while embracing necessary changes responsibly. His presidency could mark a new chapter for the sport, one focused on revitalizing its foundation and addressing the complex issues that have divided its fan base in recent years.

 

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Famous NASCAR Hall Of Famer Passes Away As Family Releases Emotional following……..

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Famous NASCAR Hall Of Famer Passes Away As Family Releases Emotional following……..

Bobby Allison, a towering figure in NASCAR and a venerated member of the sport’s history, has passed away at the age of 86. A founding member of the “Alabama Gang” and a 1983 premier-series champion, Allison’s storied career spanned nearly three decades.

Born on December 3, 1937, in Miami, Florida, Bobby Allison’s fascination with racing began at a young age. Despite early resistance from his parents, Allison pursued his passion, starting his racing career in 1955 at Hialeah, Florida. Eventually, he relocated to Hueytown, Alabama, where he, alongside his brother Donnie and friend Red Farmer, became known as the “Alabama Gang.” The group quickly established themselves as prominent figures in the racing community.

Throughout his storied career, Bobby Allison secured 85 official race victories, placing him fourth on NASCAR’s all-time win list. His accomplishments were solidified with his induction into NASCAR’s Hall of Fame in 2011. With 718 career starts, he ranked 14th in series history, and his 336 top-five finishes were second only to Richard Petty. Allison also marked NASCAR history with 446 top-10 finishes and 59 pole positions.

Among his significant achievements were three Daytona 500 victories in 1978, 1982, and 1988. His 1988 win was particularly memorable, as he finished ahead of his son Davey, marking the first one-two father-son finish in the Daytona 500.

Beyond his remarkable wins, Bobby Allison was no stranger to infamous incidents on the racetrack. During the 1979 Daytona 500, he was involved in a post-race altercation with Cale Yarborough.

Allison also experienced tremendous personal loss when his career was halted by a severe crash at Pocono Raceway in 1988, resulting in serious head injuries and memory loss. This crash robbed him of the memories of his last victory and curtailed his racing days. Family tragedies further shadowed his legacy; the loss of his younger son Clifford in a 1992 Michigan racing accident, followed by the devastating helicopter crash death of his son Davey in 1993 at Talladega.

In recognition of his enduring contributions, a 2024 ruling by NASCAR acknowledged a disputed 1971 victory, further affirming his fourth-place standing on the all-time wins list.

The family of Bobby Allison has issued the following statement, via NBC Sports:

“With deep sadness, the family of Bobby Allison announces his passing at the age of 86. He passed away peacefully at home on November 9, 2024, surrounded by family. He had been in declining health over the past few years but continued to give back to the sport he loved.

“Bobby was the ultimate fan’s driver. He thoroughly enjoyed spending time with his fans and would stop to sign autographs and have conversations with them everywhere he went. He was a dedicated family man and friend, and a devout Catholic.”

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Danica Patrick takes a cheeky jibe at Kamala Harris after Donald Trump wins US presidential elections

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Danica Patrick takes a cheeky jibe at Kamala Harris after Donald Trump wins US presidential elections

Danica Patrick shared her thoughts on the aftermath of Donald Trump winning the recently-concluded US presidential elections. The 42-year-old seemingly took a jibe at the Democratic nominee Kamala Harris.

Former NASCAR driver Patrick was vocal in her support and campaigned for President-elect Trump. The 2008 Indy Japan 300 winner also said that this was the first time she voted in any presidential election.

In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), the former Stewart-Haas Racing driver wrote about what she expects to see following Trump’s return to the Oval Office. Patrick wrote:

“Grab your popcorn! We still have the Diddy list, mass government firings, angry libs making videos to show how mad they are, celebs leaving the country, a riveting final speech by Kamala, the view, and so much more!”

Ahead of the election results, the Wisconsin native gave an update on the on-ground rally in Michigan and flying in ‘Trump force 1’. Patrick wrote on X:

“It’s 12:42am as I write this. • @realDonaldTrump is on stage at his 4th rally of the day here in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The energy he has is truly unreal… Somehow that passion has led me all the way to November 4th…. riding on Trump force 1 for the final evening of the campaign…. Talking about race cars with @realDonaldTrump while we flew to the last rally.”

“I really think that when you are in alignment with yourself and speaking truth about something you are passionate about… it gives you energy. And he[Donald Trump] is passionate about YOU and this country! He doesn’t need this job, he wants this job. And no one has had their will tested more than him. We are all one vote away from a different reality than the one we are living in. Please wake up, the golden age awaits”

“We’re living in Good vs Evil” – Danica Patrick at a Trump political rally

First-time voter Danica Patrick said in a rally for Donald Trump that wearing “proud America” these days is considered a political stand and not love for her country.

Patrick said at a political rally for the Republican nominee in Lititz, Pennsylvania:

“I want to wear a t-shirt that says proud American and it doesn’t say it isn’t telling people that I’m making a political stand about being a Republican. When I was a kid, I wore this cool leather jacket with an American flag on the back and USA down the arm. Somebody out there has had that, right? If I wore that today, I’d be making a political stand. Why is that happening? Why is that not just being an American?”

She added:

“We’re not living in a time of Republican-Democrat. We’re living in Good versus Evil. We’re living in Right versus Wrong.”

Following her full-time retirement from NASCAR in 2017, Patrick remained in touch with the motorsports world by joining the Sky Sports F1 broadcasting team. She has also ventured into entrepreneurship and owns a vineyard in Napa Valley, California, and an athleisure clothing line.

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