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NASCAR Monday Mash-Up: Tough debut, statement win, and more officiating issues

JHby:Jonathan Howard•03/03/25•

Jondean25

NASCAR Christopher Bell COTA
Mandatory Credit: Jamie Harms-Imagn Images

What a weekend at COTA in Austin, Texas! The new shorter configuration at the track put on a great NASCAR show in Cup and Xfinity. We saw Connor Zilisch make his debut, Christopher Bell make a statement win, and unfortunately, more officiating issues.

While the officiating was thankfully overshadowed by the great on-track product this weekend, there were still problems. Consistency and communication are the two biggest issues that teams and NASCAR are having right now.

Two great races and a lot of action in between the green and checkered flags – let’s get into what happened and then move on to Phoenix.

Sheldon Creed and Jesse Love trade paint and tweets

Not only did Sheldon Creed and Jesse Love fight it out on the track, trading door bumps and paint, things went online! Creed sent a tweet tagging Love in it basically saying “play stupid games, win stupid prizes.”

To Love’s credit, he kept it short and sweet. “Scoreboard, buddy.”

Dale Earnhardt Jr. couldn’t watch NASCAR Xfinity finish

During the NASCAR Xfinity Series race, Dale Earnhardt Jr. had a lot to be happy about. But he also had a lot to be nervous about.

His two young rookies, Connor Zilisch and Carson Kvapil put on a show. It just wasn’t one that Dale Jr. felt comfortable with.

Connor Zilisch outlasts Carson Kvapil for the win

The end of the NASCAR Xfinity Series race delivered. Those final 20 laps were epic and showed that these drivers have a lot to race for.

Zilisch and Kvapil went side-by-side, bumped doors, and almost burned their tires up fighting each other. The 88 came out on top this time around, though.

Ross Chastain loses his mind into Turn 1 on Lap 1

We finally got to Sunday and Ross Chastain decided he was going to pretend it was 2022 again. Chastain went deep into Turn 1 at COTA and caused a huge pile up, spinning Chase Elliott in the process.

Chastain’s antics also hurt his 18-year-old teammate, Zilisch, in the process. He had to fight all race long to get anywhere near the front, despite running top lap times.

Austin Cindric right rear hooks Ty Dillon – will NASCAR respond?

During the early stages of the race, Austin Cindric and Ty Dillon had contact. In retaliation, Cindric more or less right rear hooked Dillon who spun out and was able to continue.

The question is, will NASCAR punish Cindric? Right rear hooks on ovals are a huge no-no, but what about road courses?

Kyle Busch, others confused over NASCAR track limits

Before the weekend, drivers were told that the track limits would be enforced in the essess. That was generally understood to be Turns 3-4-5-6.

However, it was clear after Stage 1 on Sunday that NASCAR was not officiating on Turn 6. It took teams until about halfway through the race to realize that they could cut the course in that turn.

Kyle Larson and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Usually, we would expect Kyle Larson to contend for the win at a track like COTA. Sunday did not go according to plan with a track limit penalty, a loose wheel, and a late spin all during the race.

Larson has definitely had better weekends at the track. This time around, it just wasn’t his day.

Connor Zilisch flames out in NASCAR Cup Series debut

On top of the Lap 1 incident caused by Ross Chastain, Connor Zilisch had another Trackhouse teammate altercation. Daniel Suárez spun late and that caused the final blow to Zilisch.

As the field was attempting to avoid Suárez, Zilisch went right. Well, the 99 car kept rolling that way and the two collided. Both were DNFs with Zilisch’s car catching fire in the process.

Denny Hamlin cleans Austin Dillon out into the gravel

Speaking of incidents on the track, we had a few of them. It felt like there were more bumps and hits in this COTA race than the last three combined.

Denny Hamlin late in the race sent Austin Dillon to the gravel pit. It looked like Hamlin lost grip in a part of the track that had a lot of dirt on it and he was unable to control his car before hitting Dillon.

Christopher Bell outlasts William Byron for back-to-back NASCAR wins

By the end of the race, it was Christopher Bell and William Byron. These two almost always find a way to be there in the top five when push comes to shove.

The last run to the finish line didn’t end up in pushing or shoving. Byron, Bell, Kyle Busch, and Tyler Reddick all raced incredibly clean, including Chase Elliott late. Bell came away with his second win of the season and second win in a row.