NASCAR Monday Mash-Up: A Wild West Weekend in Texas
Did we just have a NASCAR weekend at Texas that was… good? At the very least, all three national series races were entertaining in their own way. Things got a little wild in the Wild West this weekend thanks to this slick racetrack.
Texas Motor Speedway has rightfully been criticized since the reconfiguration and repave in 2017. The racing just hasn’t been the same, passing is difficult, and drivers hate coming to the track.
For the Truck Series, Xfinity Series, and Cup Series, the track put on entertaining races. Unpredictable races, in many ways. Now, does that mean the racing was “good” in each of these events? That’s up for discussion, but entertainment was not lacking.
Kyle Busch shows off in the Truck Series again
For the second time in four races, Kyle Busch was a winner in the Truck Series. Busch and Spire Motorsports had a great RealTree paint scheme and he put on a clinic for these young drivers.
I love when Rowdy gets in the trucks because it elevates the performance level of all of the regulars. Everyone in that series wants to beat Busch, and few are able to get it done. No one bested him this time as he won his 66th Truck Series race.
Jesse Love is a qualifying ace
Three times this season, Xfinity Series rookie Jesse Love has won the pole. The NASCAR newcomer has been very impressive in the early part of the season. He could be knocking on the door of a win very soon.
Love didn’t have a great race on Saturday. He lost track position and had to fight hard to get it back. Still, P9 in the end for his fifth straight top-10 finish.
Sam Mayer breaks Ryan Sieg’s heart by 0.002 seconds
Justin Allgaier won the first two stages of this race and lost in the final laps, once again. However, it was Ryan Sieg who suffered the worst heartbreak at the end of this NASCAR race at Texas.
Sam Mayer and Sieg came on late and battled it out over the last 10 laps of the race. Door to door, coming to the line they were both putting their foot through the floor trying to win the race. Mayer came out on top by inches, and just 0.002 seconds.
Busch and Jimmie Johnson have trouble in practice
Moving on to the Cup Series, Texas gave a pair of NASCAR champions trouble in practice. Kyle Busch found the wall and had to go to a backup car. More frustration for that No. 8 team at RCR.
Then Jimmie Johnson managed to find the wall. However, his crew worked to get the No. 84 Toyota Camry back together for the race on Sunday. Johnson would then rail against shortened practices, asking for twice as much time if and when NASCAR decides to alter the time limit on practice.
Fire on pit road puts Ty Gibbs in tough spot
Early in the race, Kyle Larson was the fastest car by far. Ty Gibbs was able to stay within one second of the NASCAR champion. However, during the first set of green flag stops, a fire broke out in the pit stall before Gibbs’.
It kept the 54 car on the track for about two laps longer than they had planned and it hurt their track position overall. Gibbs battled back for a P13 finish but had a car fast enough to win on Sunday.
Top 10
- 1Breaking
DJ Lagway
Florida QB to return vs. LSU
- 2
Dylan Raiola injury
Nebraska QB will play vs. USC
- 3
Elko pokes at Kiffin
A&M coach jokes over kick times
- 4New
SEC changes course
Alcohol sales at SEC Championship Game
- 5
Bryce Underwood
Michigan prepared to offer No. 1 recruit $10.5M over 4 years
Kyle Larson held for two laps for losing wheel
Speaking of Larson, he had a rough NASCAR Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway. Larson was in the lead when a caution came out. While under caution, he felt as if he had a flat, and soon his right rear wheel was coming off.
Larson was held two laps on pit road for losing a wheel under yellow. His car was never the same after dragging the diffuser and he would finish P21 by the end of the race.
Chase Elliott, Hooters back in Victory Lane
The big story from Sunday – Chase Elliott AND Hooters are back in Victory Lane. Elliott had to wait a year and a half and 42 Cup Series races to get back. Hooters has waited since 1992.
Elliott, in honor of the late Alan Kulwicki, made sure to spin his No. 9 Chevy Camaro around and give the crowd a Polish victory lap. It was a fitting gesture for Elliott who is a historian of the sport, connected to the past through his father.
William Byron, Ross Chastain drama???
One more note before we move on from this week, William Byron wrecked Ross Chastain on the white flag lap to end the race. Chastain won Stage 2 and had a top-3 spot locked up until being wrecked and finishing P32 in a DNF.
Chastain refused to comment and Byron felt he had been blocked while on a strong run to pass the No. 1 car. Rick Hendrick made a big deal when Chastain wrecked his cars. Let’s see if it’s as big of a deal now that it’s the other way around.
NASCAR leaves Texas for Talladega
Moving on from an entertaining weekend at Texas, the NASCAR carnival heads out to Talladega. One of the most iconic venues in all of racing. If you haven’t been to Dega, you just won’t get it until you do.
These superspeedway races open the door for drivers to steal a win, and with it, a spot in the playoffs. After going short trackin’ and road course racing, and even hitting some 1.5-mile tracks, it’s time to get back to a superspeedway.