Tag:

NASCAR Cup Series

Motorsport

NASCAR Race Results: Another non-Playoffs winner strikes again with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. gifting JTG yet another restrictor-plates win since last year’s Daytona 500 win at the Dega

by Sports Benches

What a finish & what a day it has been at Talladega by another new non-Playoffs winner. This time it’s Ricky Stenhouse Jr. in the No.47 Chevy Camaro after he gifted JTG Daugherty Racing yet another restrictor-plate event win since his Daytona 500 moment last year. Although it would’ve been any great if this was another regular season race, but at least Ricky & JTG has something to celebrate and he’s here for more – having renewed his multi-year contract earlier this season. 

He had a brilliant start from 32nd to 2nd earlier on thanks to an early yellow. Now he may be been running mid-pack for a while, particularly during Stage 2 before that last-lap mini-drama changed everything. But as said, steering clear of yellows alongside some good adjustments were key to dominating this race & he’s done all of that to get what he and the No.47 Team wanted with the win. 

Ah, so sorry for RFK Racing’s co-boss man Brad Keselowski (in the No.6 Ford Mustang) who fell so short by 0.006 seconds to Roush’s former long-time employee in Stenhouse. Another last restart would’ve been any better when he couldn’t get much help on the inside line & Stenhouse got the upper hand on the outside. But at least, there’s some positives to take out for 2nd as this is what restrictor-plate racing was all about when it’s so unpredictable full of “The Big Ones”.

What else? It’s been a while from Erik Jones in the famous No.43 Toyota Camry for Legacy Motor Club since this year’s Daytona 500 (8th) & he came off a really good afternoon as the best Toyota placed driver today in 5th behind the two Hendrick Motorsports Chevy cars of Kyle Larson (4th) and William Byron (3rd). 

So does Justin Haley in the No.7 Chevy for Spire Motorsports who finished 7th with more to come after his second race back from Rick Ware Racing. Then there’s Austin Dillon in 8th at Richard Childress Racing. Good to see him finish off nice and clean following that Richmond win a while ago & he didn’t make the Playoffs when he wrecked Denny Hamiln at the finish line. 

Speaking of Hamlin today, he came out not bad in 10th behind his 23XI employee Bubba Wallace (9th) when he was running up and down for some time & avoiding these yellows saved the day for him. But again, he’s currently in a comfortable middle ground at 4th in Playoffs points with one Round of 12 race left this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway’s Roval course. All he has to do is keep running Top 5-7 including a win in any three semi-final races if that helps and Denny is sure that a championship can finally come his way when the season finale reaches Phoenix early next month.

And if that’s not enough, how about we give a round of applause to Rick Ware Racing with both Ford cars in the Top 20 – Cody Ware in 12th for the No.15 & Corey LaJoie 18th in the No.51. Plus, don’t forget NZer Shane Van Gisbergen who finished 15th in the shared No.16 Chevy for Kaulig Racing – his current Xfinity Series home. 

Looks like SVG is so getting used to this sport ahead of his full-time Cup ride next year at Trackhouse other than his usual road course expertise where he’s getting the benefit of the doubt if he wins any of regular road course races there & a Playoffs spot immediately hands over to him. More to come also as he continues to keep on learning with merit every week.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Motorsport

NASCAR Race Today: Another Chevy day this time with a different non-Playoffs driver by Ross Chastain at Kansas for Team Trackhouse

by Sports Benches

It’s been another Chevy day but also another non-Playoffs winner’s day this time by Ross Chastain (No.1 Chevy Camaro for Trackhouse) at Kansas Speedway. 

We haven’t heard much from him other than slow and steady starts earlier on but he wasn’t far from the Top 10 before the start of Stage 3 thanks to a number of yellows where things went his way such as his long-run form that got what he wanted at the end of the day including that winning move on Kyle Busch (No.8 Chevy for Richard Childress Racing) with 67 laps to go (out of 267). He does look like and race like a champion indeed as proven many times before having won the season finale race event at Phoenix last time around almost a year ago despite not being eligible for the Championship 4 but his next big opportunity will have to be in 2025 that provided he can win at least one regular event race or always be Top 10 for the first 25 + races.

Not only Chastain was outstanding, there was another non-playoffs driver who also had a great day too in none other than Martin Truex Jr (No.19 Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing). He always kept a great eye on the front runners thanks to his excellent start from 19th to 8th (both in Stages 1 & 2) & then 3rd behind Hendrick Motorsports’s William Byron. If it wasn’t for that speeding penalty, MTJ would’ve still been in the Playoffs hunt. All we could say that he’s doing the best he can to finish off his full-time Cup record on a high going into October & early November.

Who else? Reigning champion Ryan Blaney was the best lone Ford driver out there  to post a Top 10 after he finished 4th in the No.12 Ford Mustang for Team Penske. Meanwhile at the Spire Motorsports Chevy hub, Zane Smith also had a wonderful afternoon in the No.71 team thanks to his brilliant Stage 3 improvements after he finished 10th. 

Sure he won’t be short of suitors when it comes to Zane’s next Cup ride for 2025 as he’s getting there on-track with time & patience, so he can prove Trackhouse wrong at an organisation that he didn’t even race for them – not even once despite being under contract at the time until his mutual release a few weeks ago.

And last but not least, Corey LaJoie in 15th this time in the No.51 Ford for Rick Ware Racing since that recent driver swap last week, with Justin Haley going the other way into his now former spot at Spire – which is the No.7 team. He too is happy with the race car as reflected earlier during Stage 2 when he was in 20th at the time and as you can see with the Stage 3 yellows, Corey gained some more track position on his first race here for RWR. 

Yeah, things aren’t the same anymore when Spire chose to do things differently for next year by luring Haley back at this bright race shop. But we know he’s good at growing small teams with his experienced track record at Cup level & no doubt he will continue to help make more memories for Rick & Lisa Ware — even a first race win would be nice too for everyone working there including Corey himself.

Two more chances now for those Top 12 Playoff drivers still in the hunt as we’re going back on the high line in Talladega once again for the YellaWood 500 at 5am AEDT next Monday.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Motorsport

NASCAR Race Review: Chris Buescher def. Shane Van Gisbergen on what has been a signature road course race finish with the win for Ford’s RFK Racing team at Watkins Glen

by Sports Benches

Plenty of twists and turns with some stunning side-by-side racing including that last lap on overtime from Watkins Glen International in New York where it was full of race/pit strategy as well as a mix of mechanical and contact drama into the wall. The winner you’re looking right now at is Chris Buescher from the No.17 Ford Mustang for RFK Racing even though he may have missed the Playoffs bubble by 1-2 spots when the regular season finale ended at Daytona a few weeks ago.

Haven’t heard much from him earlier on from 24th but he’s been flying high when he restarted in Top 7-8 at the start of Stage 3. From there, Buescher got a real sniff up front for the whole time alongside a good pit strategy thanks to another early Stage 3 yellow including the race lead off Joey Logano with 17 laps to go. 

Despite having go through a series of late yellows, Chris Buescher successfully fought off Shane Van Gisbergen on the run home that signalled the best of road course racing so far in 2024 of NASCAR at The Glen – congrats to Chris & the No.17 RFK crew. Commiserations to SVG for the runner-up spot but he too had a great day out up front for Kaulig Racing (No.16 Chevy) as sure we’ll see more of him right now at Xfinity level as well as Cup full-time next season with Trackhouse (3rd car).

What else? Spire Motorsports also had a terrific afternoon with all three (Chevy) cars in the Top 10. We begin with the No.77 of Carson Hocevar (3rd) followed by No.71’s Zane Smith (5th – even though Michael McDowell was upset with him post-race who finished 7th in the No.34 Ford for Front Row Motorsports) & No.7’s Corey LaJoie (8th). Gotta say future is bright indeed thanks to their big money investments over these past 12 months.

So does the No.41 Ford of Ryan Preece who posted a Top 10 finish in a while & his third overall of 2024 since Nashville back in late June in 9th for Stewart-Haas Racing. And despite losing his way when he was stuck on the gravel late in Stage 2, Daniel Suarez is well and truly safe into the Round of 12 (currently 5th on Drivers’ Playoff points) after he managed to rebound through a couple of Stage 3 yellows in 13th for the No.99 Trackhouse Chevy team. All he has to do is keep up the good faith & Daniel will probably see some good breakthrough moments like racing in the semis & even the Final ASAP.

Other than Daniel, the next Cup race this weekend (a night race) at Bristol Motor Speedway on the short track will be the last chance for those languishing outside the Top 12 Playoffs bubble. With the likes of Denny Hamlin, Brad Keselowski, Martin Truex Jr. & Harrison Burton — they are all stuck in a must-win situation or else be eliminated & have try again next season when the 3 x Round of 12 events begins towards the end of this month in Kansas.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Motorsport

NASCAR Race Review: Chase Briscoe def. Kyle Busch for the best of the final Playoffs spot following his Southern 500 win at Darlington

by Sports Benches

Lots to look back from a long night of racing in the Labor Day weekend Cup race from Darlington Raceway with Kyle Larson so dominant for the most part, but a couple of late Stage 3 cautions saw Larson beginning to slip away while the centre of attention up switched over to best of the last Playoffs spot up front between Chase Briscoe & Kyle Busch.

The winner of that battle belongs to Chase Briscoe over Kyle Busch who won them all in the No.14 Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing – both the Southern 500 win as well as that 16th and last Playoff spot. 

Great to see Briscoe get his moment when his car was solid all-night long with Chase unable to get around Larson under green long enough before a series of late yellows went his way & now he wants to finish off Stewart-Haas Racing’s tenure with another championship exactly 10 years on from Kevin Harvick’s one & only 2014 championship-winning Cup season.

Meanwhile, Gotta feel for Larson where he had the best performing race car on show & he would’ve defended that win if it wasn’t for these yellows, but still more to come though if he wants to win his 2nd Cup championship so bad since 2021.

What else? The Toyota race cars continue to be always Top 5-10 material with Christopher Bell in 3rd yet again thanks to his long-runs, Spire also had another Top 10-15 weekend this time from Corey LaJoie’s No.7 Chevy in 9th, No.45’s Tyler Reddick in 10th who just won the regular-season championship for Denny Hamlin’s 23XI Racing as all eyes on the co-owner Hamlin now to hopefully win a first championship for himself over the next few weeks, and another Stewart-Haas Ford driver came home not bad by the No.41’s Ryan Preece after he finished 12th.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Motorsport

Thoughts on Triple 8 Supercars driver Will Brown’s NASCAR plans for next season

by Sports Benches

Before the weekend, current Triple 8 Supercars driver Will Brown says that he’s sure to come back for more cameo NASCAR races next year. However, at the same time he also said that he won’t be looking to move into the US full-time anytime soon like his predecessor Shane Van Gisbergen – that’s fine by him since he’s happy living here. 

He still has a part-time job at his family car dealership business while still retaining his top ride where Supercars races tend to race more than 12 events throughout the year, so still lots of time to keep him busy on & off track. 

If he wants to go back to NASCAR when it comes to cameo events, he would still like to do road courses with two including an Xfinity race for the first time rather than one at Sonoma and Chicago. 

But no word yet though whether if he would like to do oval racing at this stage & if he wants to do an oval race like on a short track to begin with, then he would be in a Trucks car like SVG (Indy) and Cam Waters (Martinsville & Kansas) did over the last 12 months.

For now, Will is having the time of his life right now leading the Supercars drivers’ points going into the Sandown endurance race in the next few weeks. 

Both a Bathurst 1000 win and a championship title would mean so much to him and while he may not be willing to leave his life behind here, there’s always others who would love to race NASCAR – don’t forget that when you got Cam Waters (No.6 Tickford Racing Ford) as the next in line after SVG. 

I don’t know about Brodie Kostecki right now after a tough off-season when he also made his Cup debut at the Indy road course race for Childress last year, but we’ll have to wait and see having just announced his switch from Erebus’s Chevy for Dick Johnson Racing’s Ford next year.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Motorsport

NASCAR News Today: More on Zane Smith if he doesn’t secure a return to Front Row Motorsports next year with Ford standing in his way after his release from Trackhouse

by Sports Benches

While it’s great having Shane Van Gisbergen fulfill his wish to race Cup full-time next year for Trackhouse under the No.88 numberplate that meant lots to both Dale Jr. and SVG’s former Supercars team at Triple Eight Race Engineering (although he raced the No.97 there all along up until last year), but there’s still a lot more talk about Zane Smith who already announced his release ahead of 2025 from Trackhouse the other day.

As it stands, under the proposed seven-year charter rules, each Cup team can only hold up to three charters except Joey Gibbs Racing & Hendrick Motorsports.

So no room for Zane to come back at Trackhouse since they only have three Cup rides instead of trying to keep 4 or even 5 drivers while his current seat in the No.71 at Spire Motorsports has already been taken by former Front Row Motorsports team-mate Michael McDowell next year. 

Yes, Spire still has a spot available in the No.7 to replace Corey LaJoie but they most certainly won’t put Smith in there either due to his predominantly poor season, and would rather have Justin Haley in there from Rick Ware Racing with Rodney Childers coming along from the soon-to-be former Stewart-Haas team.

Image Reference: Zach Catanzareti via Wikipedia, CC BY 2.0

Same goes to Kaulig Racing even though they might replace Daniel Hemric in the No.31 but Kaulig and Trackhouse has a great business relationship when it comes to talent and there’s no way Kaulig would want to use someone who has already been dumped by Trackhouse like Smith. 

Also, whatever happens with the No.31 for at least next year, it will most likely be a pay driver where it could be Ty Dillon instead of Hemric & Smith doesn’t have his own sponsorship anyway.

The only other place he could end up within Cup is a return to Front Row Motorsports where he won a Truck Series championship back in 2022. Sure, he will have unfinished business with FRM as his proven Cup experience and his long-term ambitions will mean a perfect match for the pair like it was before – even though he skipped or barely raced Xfinity but we’re beginning to see more of this now.

However, there’s a catch and according to Kevin Harvick via his Fox Happy Hour podcast, it’s up to Ford to make this happen & since he left FRM for Trackhouse/Spire after the 2023 season, management wasn’t very pleased about this move at all. So looks like that 3rd FRM Cup ride is still taking so long but a different Smith could be jumping over from Joe Gibbs Racing’s Toyota Xfinity Series team in Chandler and not Zane. 

He also said that the No.34 car for 2025 would be filled by Noah Gragson in place of Spire-bound Michael McDowell rather than put Gragson in a 3rd car and put the underperforming Zane in there.

I think both Chandler’s enormous talent and even his sponsors may have ticked every box to FRM’s plans of closing the gap upfront as Ford would agree with this 100% & so would Chandler who no doubt wants to race on Sundays soonest in a Blue Oval – despite being in a Toyota again this year & many years before in Trucks when he was with Kaulig in a Chevy last season.

If it’s not for FRM, he might be better off going to Rick Ware Racing if Rick is happy to put faith in him & Ford agrees to this or else he should get a top Xfinity ride like JR Motorsports or Joe Gibbs Racing, so he can try win another championship there but in NASCAR’s second tier. Then we’ll know by then he can win Cup as well but I hope they don’t screw him up next time.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Motorsport

NASCAR Race Review: Harrison Burton holds off with the big Daytona summer win over Kyle Busch following a last-lap shootout on Wood Brothers Racing’s 100th win milestone

by Sports Benches

It was a huge night full of The Big Ones for the Ford cars upfront where they dominated each and every stage but tonight’s Cup race at Daytona was about Harrison Burton in the No.21 for Wood Brothers Racing. 

He was the one who just got away with his first career Cup win, his first Playoffs opportunity and also his team’s 100th race win – even though he won’t be coming back there next season with Josh Berry already confirmed to replace Harrison due to his underwhelming regular race results since he first replaced Matt DiBenedetto back in 2022. 

But that doesn’t mean he isn’t that bad in Cup after all when you look back at some good Top 5/10s before. He was battling mid-pack from the start before a series of yellows particularly throughout Stage 3 went his way with lots of track position & extra adjustments on pit road. All he had to do is get that race lead ahead of the final lap restart & hold off through the checkered flag and there he is holding off Kyle Busch (No.8 Childress Chevy) to get that breakthrough moment he was hoping for in a race that was so unpredictable twice a year at this same Daytona race track.

Wishing Harrison all the best wherever he ends up next year as it’s his night tonight in victory lane.

Shoutout to Cody Ware following a brilliant night to bring his No.15 Rick Ware Ford home in 4th, so does Parker Retzlaff in 7th for the part-time No. 62 Beard Motorsports Chevy; Meanwhile, Daniel Hemric continues to be so good at the big tracks in 9th for Kaulig also in a Chevy & there was bunch of Toyotas filling in the Top 10 with Christopher Bell (No.20 Joe Gibbs) in 3rd behind Kyle and Harrison.

One more regular race now to go before the Playoffs going into the Labor Day weekend next week at Darlington Raceway with another two special shoutouts – Leigh Diffey in his debut at NBC’s new lead NASCAR Cup caller & his co-commentator and former NASCAR racer Jeff Burton who also celebrated his son’s big breakthrough moment from upstairs.

As said, his time at Cup for the most part hasn’t been that great other than a handful of Top 10s prior to this as we would’ve liked but he’s grateful for the sponsors backing him every step of the way like Dex Imaging.

Again, I’d like to see him end up at Rick Ware Racing & stay being a two-car team since Justin Haley is most likely going to Spire Motorsports to replace Corey LaJoie despite Haley being around here for one year but he’s a top asset to them anyway with lots of $$$ or a returning top Xfinity ride would do it if Harrison wants it – it’s up to him.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Motorsport

NASCAR: Thoughts on Zane Smith being released by Trackhouse as they’re now closer to fulfilling Shane Van Gisbergen’s Cup dream for their proposed 3rd Cup ride next season

by Sports Benches

Earlier this morning our time, Zane Smith confirmed to everyone that he won’t be the one who will be getting the newly-created 3rd Cup ride next season for Trackhouse. Instead, they’ve mutually agreed to part ways at season’s end with the No.7 vacant Spire seat is expected to go to Justin Haley while his current No.71 Spire seat for 2025 has already been taken by Michael McDowell earlier this year & Trackhouse doesn’t have any room left to keep him. 

As per proposed charter rules from 2025-2031 coinciding with the next TV rights contract, every full-time Cup teams other than Hendrick Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing are capped up to three owned charters each rather than four.

Not even going to another Chevy satellite Cup team under loan would make any difference to change their mind when Trackhouse currently has Ross Chastain, Daniel Suarez and New Zealand’s Shane Van Gisbergen, with Connor Zilisch being eyed as one of their young drivers for the future who will be racing for JR Motorsports next year at Xfinity level.

If Smith was to get to another ride since he’s set to become a free agent just after one year into a multi-year deal, it looks he will be coming back to Front Row Motorsports’s Cup program in McDowell’s place of the No.34 or even the newly-created 3rd car (probably the No.36) where Noah Gragson might be slotted in the No.34 car in place of McDowell.

Yes, some say he would need to drop down to Xfinity since his race results straight out from Trucks to Cup this season hasn’t been good for the most part. But he has finished well on some occasions before though so surely he will get some more Cup time at another team, which is likely to be a return to Front Row Motorsports – the team where he won a Truck Series championship back in 2022.

It’s been a real bugger for Smith to be let go by Trackhouse as I would’ve personally kept him for that 3rd Cup car while SVG should get at least one more full season of Xfinity before he steps up. But again, SVG has been a proven Supercars champion before including his immediate impact initially on a part-time basis to NASCAR last year and it would be bad decision if Trackhouse simply ignored someone who wants to fast-track his way into Cup every week like SVG. 

Why throw away that promise to someone who loves batting upfront in Australia when he wants to achieve so lot more in the US that would mean more Supercars drivers inspired to race NASCARs there & in turn add significant exposure to our Supercars competition here? I would understand that from an Australian Motorsport fans’ perspective so we can boost our NASCAR profile here even more, having seen a few regulars race in the US at least on a road course over the last 12 months – such as Brodie Kostecki at Indianapolis (Roval) last year, as well as Cameron Waters & Will Brown this year.

Despite needing more time to make a full on impact when it comes to Zane Smith’s long-term Cup goals, let’s hope he will keep on churning some good results no matter happens like that rare P2 finish at Nashville two months ago & also his P7 run earlier this week at the rain-delayed Michigan event. Wishing him the best of luck wherever he ends as sure he won’t be short of suitors next season.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Motorsport

More on the RFK Racing 3rd charter hunt this week this time on Rick Ware Racing

by Sports Benches

There’s a bit more to it in RFK Racing’s 3rd charter venture this week since they will be expected to get a significant sponsorship and financial boost from Kroger any minute from now, with Tad Geschickter also expected to leave JTG Daugherty Racing as part-owner at season’s end who is currently sponsored by them right now thanks to Tad’s business links. 

Should RFK purchase a 3rd charter regardless of the sport’s new charter model from 2025-31, Stewart-Haas Racing’s Ryan Preece is the primary candidate to fill in the newly-created RFK 3rd Cup car for Ford full-time. 

He too is currently without a job for next season once SHR shuts down come November with three of his other SHR Cup team-mates already secured new rides elsewhere, such as Josh Berry at Wood Brothers, Noah Gragson at Front Row and Chase Briscoe at Joe Gibbs Racing. Yes, his race results here at Cup haven’t exactly set the world alight since he first replaced Cole Custer in the No.41 Ford Mustang last season, but then that’s more a team issue who is on its last legs ahead of SHR’s shutdown as we know it.

The question is though where they could purchase that 3rd charter from? They can use the Kroger money to fulfil that expansion worthwhile if this sponsorship deal comes out true.

One would say Kaulig Racing when the team’s owners look to buy 51% stake of Richard Childress Racing but that’s for Richard to consider since he’s 78 right now while we don’t know what JTG will look like despite Ricky Stenhouse Jr. recently signed a contract extension there when Tad walks out the door.

If it wasn’t for these two teams, why not enter Rick Ware Racing?

Rick Ware Racing

First of all, they’re currently happy running two Ford Mustang Cup cars right now with Justin Haley currently in the No.51 alongside Kaz Grala and the returning Cody Ware sharing in the other No.15 team. 

With Haley onboard, RWR has grown so much so far in 2024 and you gotta thank him for fulfilling the team’s much-needed potential. But Haley is also in demand with the likes of Spire and even Hendrick & it would be very difficult for him to say no going into next year as Haley is expected to replace Corey LaJoie in the No.7 Chevy alongside the chance to work with veteran crew chief Rodney Childers.

With that being said, RWR could not only take a significant financial package from Spire or Hendrick for Haley but also give the one charter away to RFK under a season-long lease for 2025. 

Good for them to get even more $$$ but how are they going to use it? The plan for RWR would be is run one full-time car (The No.51) while the 2nd car likely to be scaled back on a part-time basis. Not even the return of Grala is a guarantee since he doesn’t have the same calibre as Haley & neither does Rick’s son Cody as the best possible scenario is to get a good enough replacement for Haley in LaJoie. 

Then come 2026, RWR could either get it back or see themselves get a significant new partner involved like Gordon Smith & Brad Daugherty or Haas if RFK wishes to purchase one permanently without them having to pay $40 million to get a completely new second charter.

Although I wouldn’t be too surprised if RWR chooses to leave altogether at some point – should they make that RFK charter lease as a permanent sale while they sell the other remaining charter like to Haas or some other new Cup team. 

Post-Notes

RFK Racing is high flying once again with two Cup cars under co-owner Brad Keselowski and Chris Buescher but they would still like to wish more success and a third charter with a third full-time Cup car is the perfect next step to bridge their way back up front like it once was before.

Another new big sponsor will be a great get with Preece set for one last opportunity to prove himself in a more good Ford Mustang race car being provided by Roush & Keselowski unlike SHR. 

For now, that mystery 3rd charter seller or leaser for RFK remains to be seen with the Kroger money.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Motorsport

Thoughts on NBC’s NASCAR coverage going uninterrupted under green for a few Cup races later this season but with side-by-side ads rather than full screen commercials

by Sports Benches

First, there was a massive shake-up in the lead announcer role yesterday when it comes to calling the Cup races for NBC with Leigh Diffey now confirmed to replace Rick Allen beginning this weekend at Daytona. Now coinciding with Leigh’s full-time debut, NBC now wants to air the whole race uninterrupted but still work around ads while under green for three Cup races this season including this weekend followed by two Playoffs races at Atlanta next month & Talladega in early October.

So in other words, when the NBC NASCAR commentary booth advises viewers that we go into an ad break – we won’t be seeing a whole few mins screen that is full of commercials. Instead, we will see side-by-side/split-screen commercials while the race goes on under green. If a caution comes out though, then they may as well throw a few mins of full-screen ads before you won’t miss a single thing just in time before the restart. So that’s the whole process based on today’s announcement.

For those hoping for ad-free racing like we currently see in Supercars and Formula 1 on Foxtel back here in Australia, this won’t happen just yet until at least the middle of next season when Amazon and TNT/Max will air a few Cup races each in the mid-summer. Both Amazon and Max are paid streaming services where you will need to pay to watch the races as this is something NASCAR wants to see over the next seven years of their next TV rights contract whether or not if it will benefit their fanbase where we are at a time now that viewers are tuning in more from their devices than those who are on cable TV.

I’m not sure whether or not if NBC wants to go ad-free at some point other than full-on green flag racing with just a handful of split commercial breaks when they got the paid Peacock Premium service, but probably too early to say at this stage when there’s a lot of sponsors/advertisers out there pouring $$$ to promote/market their business nationwide.

While a few of the NBC Cup races later this season aren’t really ad-free, but at least it’s a good start to have the whole race uninterrupted so we all know what’s going on from start to finish without missing out anything while they were out.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail