DAYTONA BEACH, Fla — The NASCAR Cup Collection in addition to the NASCAR Xfinity Collection turns their focus to the excessive banks of the Daytona Worldwide Speedway this weekend for a doubleheader on the World Heart of Racing. Nevertheless, the week main as much as the pair of races has been as busy as they arrive.
Between 3 driver and staff bulletins, a driver eradicating himself from playoff rivalry, an entitlement sponsor, a two-day take a look at and extra, this week has loads of noteworthy objects main into Saturday evening’s Coke Zero Sugar 400 (7 p.m. ET, NBC, MRN).
Chase Elliott vs. Kyle Larson
Each of Kyle Larson’s wins this season have come on the expense of Chase Elliott. From their late race contact within the 2nd race of the season at Fontana to their run-in on the ultimate restart at Watkins Glen. Elliott didn’t appear happy with Larson and the way his Hendrick Motorsports teammate raced him for the win final Sunday.
They every met in an organizational extensive debrief on Monday. Each stated that Watkins Glen is behind them and neither have something dangerous to say in regards to the different. Basically each say the previous is the previous and prepared for transfer ahead.
However are they actually?
Whereas I don’t count on any fireworks out of those 2 for the following few weeks, I’ve to marvel the lasting affect of this as we transfer additional alongside into the playoffs.
Larson admitted that he did extra listening than speaking in that Monday assembly. He felt dangerous for the way he needed to race on the finish of Watkins Glen however he additionally needed a win too. I believe it’s ironic that Elliott had Bristol on his thoughts afterwards.
Whereas they’re in Daytona this week, I don’t see any form of resemblance of a payback approaching Saturday. You don’t usher in a payback on a superspeedway.
Then it’s to Darlington adopted by Kansas. Neither place you try this on both. Bristol…. Nicely that’s the place to do it, however I actually don’t see Elliott ushering in a payback there. He could also be pondering long run.
I don’t envision a situation to the place both Elliott or Larson are in any form of jeopardy of being eradicated within the 1st spherical of the playoffs. The 2nd spherical?
It received’t occur at Talladega, however it might on the ROVAL ie. Elliott vs. Kevin Harvick final 12 months. I can imaginative and prescient a situation to the place 1 of the two might be in a precarious playoff place for the 2nd spherical cut-race.
If each are battling for a win, does Elliott race Larson otherwise? I believe so. What about if each advance to the Spherical of 8 and 1 of the two could make it to Phoenix and the opposite not and it’s all the way down to the tip of the race at Martinsville?
Elliott could money in his favor from Larson there.
Which is why I can sense one thing brewing right here. I imply HMS was Elliott’s staff in 2020. He knew Jimmie Johnson was stepping away at seasons finish and with a title in hand, this was now his future. He was going to comply with within the traces of Jeff Gordon and Johnson. Now it was Elliott.
Then Larson got here in throughout his championship protection to upstage him and win double digit races and took house the title as a substitute. Was Larson stealing Elliott’s thunder at HMS?
With Larson working Elliott like he has for two wins, this might be within the class of when Johnson and Gordon have been at odds at instances.
Foolish Season
Joey Logano signed a long run extension to stay at Workforce Penske. Daniel Suarez signed a brand new deal to remain at Trackhouse. Zane Smith obtained a brand new deal to stay a Entrance Row Motorsports driver as he’ll run full time the Truck Collection once more in 2023 but in addition make some Cup and Xfinity Collection begins too. Smith will probably be amongst these within the Daytona 500 subject in a third FRM automotive for subsequent February too. Aric Almirola modified his thoughts and received’t retire in spite of everything. Not solely is he again in 2023, he’ll be in NASCAR on a multi-year deal to stick with SHR within the No. 10 Ford.
Greg Ives additionally introduced on Friday morning that the 2022 season will probably be his final. Alex Bowman is now in a search of a brand new crew chief for a contract 12 months for him in 2023.
Talking of 2023, the place does Kyle Busch land?
It looks as if as the times and weeks tick by, the probability of Busch remaining at Joe Gibbs Racing for 2023 is getting increasingly slimmer. I imagine that Busch doesn’t have a deal or down the street with anybody but, however as Labor Day weekend comes subsequent week, I’ve to imagine that he’s getting antsy.
He has a household. He has objectives for his household that contain Brexton racing for his personal Truck staff (KBM) by time he’s capable of drive. This subsequent contract has so much driving on that truth. Busch additionally doesn’t wish to race 36 weeks and be gone so much for an underfunded staff or one which’s not aggressive both.
So what does he do?
I hold listening to Kaulig increasingly and that might in concept work because the 16 automotive has had 3 completely different drivers in it this season. Why not 1 full time driver subsequent 12 months? Chevrolet I’m positive would like to get a longtime Truck Collection staff like KBM on their aspect and a technique to funnel some youthful drivers by way of there.
I’m additionally positive Toyota would hate to lose that chance because the Truck Collection has been an excellent place to place their budding younger stars at.
That’s why that is equally a producer warfare too as a result of who wouldn’t need KBM. It’s simply the place does Busch himself land?
Ford has restricted choices. It seems SHR is working it again in 2023. Penske isn’t increasing to 4 full time automobiles so the blue ovals don’t have so much to supply. Chevy has Kaulig and Toyota might put Busch within the 45 at 23XI if Busch’s large brother one way or the other doesn’t return. Extra on that in a minute.
However 23XI Racing was clear this week that they’re not increasing to a third automotive in 2023. They’re set a two and the plan is for each drivers now to return. Bubba Wallace was simply given a couple of weeks in the past a contract extension and the cope with Kurt Busch runs by way of 2023.
Whereas rumors are that Tyler Reddick could be open to coming over a 12 months early and that Richard Childress isn’t nonetheless keen on how Reddick dealt with issues, either side is mainly saying that’s not going to occur.
Chidress stated after Reddick’s Indy win that they’re preserving Tyler for 2023. Steve Laluetta stated this previous week that they made the announcement that they’ve signed Reddick early as a result of it offers them time to plan. Why he wonders, would they put themselves in a bind once more?
They’ve a plan in place and sticking to it. It’s too late so as to add a third automotive and too far down the street to safe a third constitution so that they’re sticking to their weapons for 2023.
The one change could be if Busch doesn’t come again which is the place Kyle Busch makes essentially the most final minute sense to rent.
Which is why so long as this stays muddied which it’s going to for a bit of additional, Busch’s on monitor success will proceed to appear like it has.
Martinsville Check
The Cup Collection is testing at Martinsville early this week (Tuesday-Wednesday) however not essentially to take action in hopes of bettering the present this Fall. This was an already scheduled take a look at amongst groups and one that’s handled like a typical take a look at and never one sanctioned by the game to assist. That take a look at already occurred.
This one is actually going to attempt to assist with a special tire compound being dropped at the take a look at, however the gearing choices which are getting used will nonetheless drive the drivers to shift which in consequence, received’t alter the course of what we’re prone to see in October.
That is extra about staff particular enhancements to assist them within the playoff race as a substitute.
That’s why this take a look at isn’t what some thought it was going to be.
Kurt Busch Information
This was the primary time in over a month that I wasn’t actually anticipating any information on the Kurt Busch entrance. See, since his Pocono qualifying crash on July 23, every week his standing was being questioned.
Would he be again for Indy? Every Wednesday afternoon it was unveiled he’d miss the upcoming race whereas nonetheless coping with concussion like signs and that Ty Gibbs would fill in. Final week nonetheless, it was on Thursday that it was introduced that Busch would simply sit out the ultimate 2 races of the common season in hopes of being again for the ten race postseason.
So we already knew that Ty Gibbs could be within the No. 45 Toyota for Saturday evening’s Coke Zero Sugar 400 (7 p.m. ET, NBC, MRN) at Daytona. Nevertheless, I didn’t count on this Thursday to seek out out Busch would withdraw his playoff waiver and open up a spot into the postseason in consequence.
“As a lot as I needed and hoped to have the ability to get again within the No. 45 automotive to make a playoff run with our staff, it’s nonetheless not the proper time for me,” stated Busch. “Along with not being cleared to return to racing, I do know that I’m not able to be again within the automotive. I respect the game of NASCAR, my fellow drivers and the followers an excessive amount of to take up a playoff spot if I do know I can’t compete for a championship this season. The choice was not a simple one, however I do know it’s the proper factor to do. I’ll proceed to take time to heal and strengthen as I put together to be again within the automotive and can do all I can to assist 23XI proceed the success we now have had this season.”
“Kurt has elevated our whole group this 12 months,” stated 23XI staff president, Steve Lauletta. “Though Kurt won’t be competing for a championship this season, he’ll proceed to play a significant function within the group as he works with our competitors group to maintain bettering and strengthening the staff.”
So what does all of this imply? Let’s have a look.
Whereas Busch is out, the 45 automotive continues to be within the playoffs on the house owners factors aspect of issues. Now, I get this may be complicated so lets handle this right here. Driver factors and proprietor factors are two separate issues that on the Cup stage aren’t actually ever mentioned as a result of they most years coincide with each other.
Drivers rating factors every race and so does the automotive. I don’t wish to deliver up a darkish previous however it is a related instance. In 2020, Kyle Larson was out of his journey with Chip Ganassi Racing after utilizing a racial slur. Let’s imagine he wasn’t suspended from NASCAR like he was. Somebody might have picked him up per week later and after we returned to racing, Larson raced for them.
He would get to maintain his driver factors and nonetheless be championship eligible. The 42 automotive would have the identical factors Larson scored for them up till that time however from the primary race Larson wasn’t in it ahead, Matt Kenseth’s level (Larson’s substitute) could be scoring factors for the 42 automotive.
Get it now?
So the 45 automotive has collected factors nonetheless with Ty Gibbs driving it. Nothing has modified. Kurt Busch is the one one not scoring factors however the 45 automotive nonetheless did. With the 45 automotive having a win from Busch in Kansas, it’s nonetheless playoff eligible and can stay that manner.
If the No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota staff have been to win the NASCAR Cup Collection house owners title, it will be simply the third time in collection historical past {that a} break up driver and proprietor championship has occurred and the primary time since 1963.
The primary time the NASCAR Cup Collection had a break up driver and house owners championship was in 1954. Lee Petty received the drivers championship that season on seven wins, driving a Petty Enterprises Chrysler, however it was automotive proprietor Herb Thomas who took house the house owners championship in 1954 after his No. 92 Hudson staff completed the season with 12 victories.
The second and solely different time the collection noticed a spit championship was in 1963, when Joe Weatherly received the collection driver championship, however it was the Wooden Brothers Racing group that received the house owners championship that season. Weatherly’s season was robust placing up three wins and 35 prime 10s in 54 begins, however the well-known No. 21 staff was capable of seize 5 wins on the season and take the house owners title.
Truck Collection Positive aspects Craftsman Again
NASCAR and Stanley Black & Decker, the world’s largest instrument firm and a pacesetter in out of doors gear, right now introduced American instrument icon CRAFTSMAN will return because the title sponsor of the NASCAR Truck Collection starting in 2023. After serving because the collection’ title sponsor from its inception in 1995 to 2008, the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Collection will make its homecoming at Daytona Worldwide Speedway on February 17, 2023.
Along with the Truck Collection title sponsorship, Stanley Black & Decker will additional broaden its presence within the sport, getting into right into a multi-year partnership designating the corporate and its iconic manufacturers because the “Official Instruments Companion of NASCAR” and “Official Instruments” of all NASCAR-owned and operated tracks.
“We have a good time the return of the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Collection with our clients, distribution companions and workers,” stated Doug Redpath, President of Hand Instruments, Equipment and Storage for Stanley Black & Decker. “From proud owners and homebuilders to auto fans and grasp mechanics, CRAFTSMAN has been the model generations have trusted to get the job accomplished. The Truck Collection represents genuine, daring and proud drivers and followers, which embody the identical traits of our CRAFTSMAN model. We sit up for our return in Daytona in 2023 to reunite with our loyal followers as we start this new chapter in NASCAR historical past.”
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Collection title sponsorship consists of unique model integrations on automobiles, crew uniforms, tracks and extra along with the branding of the Triple Truck Problem and Championship Race entitlement. It’s going to additionally function a platform to help the launch of latest merchandise, amplify seasonal promotions, and spotlight the various methods CRAFTSMAN is constructing satisfaction.
As a part of the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Collection Title Sponsor announcement, representatives from NASCAR and Stanley Black & Decker revealed a CRAFTSMAN Toyota Tundra truck at Daytona Worldwide Speedway alongside present Truck Collection driver Zane Smith and inaugural Truck Collection champion Mike Skinner.
Stanley Black & Decker Named the Official Instruments Companion of NASCAR
With a mission to have a good time those that make the world, paired with a permanent partnership historical past with NASCAR, Stanley Black & Decker and its manufacturers akin to CRAFTSMAN, DEWALT and MAC TOOLS will probably be put to work throughout all NASCAR places. The corporate’s instruments will probably be extremely utilized from the pit crews throughout the large race, to the groups answerable for developing new racing services throughout the nation, producing unequalled enthusiasm on and off the monitor.
“Stanley Black & Decker is an modern firm that has a wealthy historical past in our sport and these new agreements join our manufacturers in an genuine and significant manner,” stated Daryl Wolfe, Govt Vice President and Chief Income Officer at NASCAR. “We all know NASCAR followers are model loyal and acknowledge how necessary instrument efficiency is in racing. We’re excited to see how this official partnership deepens the reference to our racing group whereas additionally bringing again CRAFTSMAN, the model that began all of it within the Truck Collection.”
As an Official Companion, Stanley Black & Decker has unique NASCAR Advertising and marketing and Promotional rights and turns into a member of the NASCAR Gas For Enterprise Council.