re: 2022 NASCAR Season Thread - 2022-23 Offseason

Saw a video on YouTube (out of the groove) a little while ago that says Toyota is considering not accepting the waiver for Kurt Busch. That would move Truex in to the playoffs.
I doubt Kurt is gonna be back this year so that might be a good play. Let the games begin.

To have been a fly on the wall:

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MARTINSVILLE, Va. — Kyle Larson won last Sunday‘s NASCAR Cup Series event at Watkins Glen International, but it was at the expense of his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Chase Elliott.

Elliott, who restarted in the lead with five laps left in the Go Bowling at The Glen, lost the lead and ultimately the race when Larson made contact with Elliott‘s No. 9 Chevrolet in the first corner of the 2.45-mile road course and Elliott ran wide.

While Larson was celebrating in Victory Lane, Elliott was visibly upset on pit road after the race following a fourth-place finish.

On Monday, the two hashed out their differences during the weekly Hendrick Motorsports competition meeting.

“I wish things would have I guess played out differently and Monday would have been a lot better for me,” Larson said during a break in Tuesday‘s organizational test at Martinsville Speedway. “It was productive. In the end, it was positive to have that talk. I‘m ready to just move on from it and look forward to Daytona and on into the playoffs.”

The victory at Watkins Glen was Larson‘s second of the season but first since his victory at Auto Club Speedway on Feb. 27, a stretch of 22 races for the defending NASCAR Cup Series champion.

Elliott, who clinched the regular season championship at Watkins Glen and the bonus points that go with it, did most of the talking during the competition meeting according to Larson.

“I took most of it in,” Larson said.

Alex Bowman, who was also on hand for the organizational test at Martinsville, added that with Larson and Elliott being two of the best road-course competitors in NASCAR, something like what happened Sunday was eventually inevitable.

“Things on the race track are bound to happen when you have, in that scenario, two of the best guys on road courses restarting out front racing for wins,” Bowman said. “You do it enough times, eventually something is going to happen.

“I think we‘re all going to work great together in the future. On my side, that‘s no different than any other week.”

In the end, Larson said that the frustration Elliott felt comes down to the fact that they both want to win every race they enter. For his part, Larson says that next time he finds himself in that situation, he needs to be a little more courteous.

“One thing is for sure, we all like to win. We try really hard to do that,” Larson said. “In the end, I probably should have a little more respect next time.”

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Elliott did most of the talking during the competition meeting according to Larson.

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I'm sure he did.

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In the end, Larson said that the frustration Elliott felt comes down to the fact that they both want to win every race they enter. For his part, Larson says that next time he finds himself in that situation, he needs to be a little more courteous.

In the end, I probably should have a little more respect next time.”

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Like I said Sunday, this ain't over. Larson knows he's a marked man.

Give me a frickin break. This team stuff has gone on forever and teams usually help each other not hurt. I recall Hendrick ganging up on Awesome Bill 3 cars to 1 to win a superspeedway after caution. Then it goes a step further when MNFR cars team up on SS tracks. Its very uncommon for teamates to take out another one. Its the golden rule - race hard but don’t wreck each other.

What I don’t like is a driver owning another team thats sketchy. Hamlin helping 23xi teams over his own (by the way I always see that XI and think of Chyna owned).

And for the record I think Rick is a cheating son of a gun for years - but now Nastycar has so many inspections its impossible to cheat in a meaningful way. Big teams are like F1 and have more resources to squeeze that .005 second out of this or that.

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You also had Jeff and Jimmie at each others' throats.

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True, and I think Rick learned from not handling that quickly enough to not let this Kyle/Chase fued fester. Kyle has 2 wins this year both by taking out Chase. Some payback is coming but Chase will do it in a less hurtful way just to say hi.

South Carolina women's basketball coach Dawn Staley to drive NASCAR pace car at Darlington

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DARLINGTON, S.C. -- Dawn Staley will be out front again, this time at Darlington Raceway.

South Carolina's two-time national women's championship coach will drive the pace car for the first race of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs - the Southern 500 on Sept. 4.

Staley attended the event in 2017 following the her program's first NCAA Tournament crown.

"Now, that I know what I'm in for, I can't wait to get back on the track again," she said in a statement.

Staley said NASCAR drivers, staff and fans all welcomed her the last time. She appreciated that because supporters are so connected to their sport, "just like women's basketball fans are to their teams."

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Kyle has 2 wins this year both by taking out Chase.

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Yep. But in fairness, the 1st time at Fontana wasn't Larson's fault, his spotter went full retard.

Show me how Rick proved it. The teams always meet on Mondays to go over week. Anyone knows it will be discussed thats normal. If Rick took care of it then Kyle doesn’t do it again after Fontana. The Chase haters keep finding ways to look foolish. Rick was a crook and all that. But it has mothing to do with driving a car today. Newsflash, Big teams have best cars. Chase drives great at big team. Kyle had his one year flash in pan with old car that was tricked out after years of upgrades. Now he only wins this year taking out Chase. Of course it will be discussex, duh. If reversed same thimg would happen. Do mot take out teamate. Thats bottom line.

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Chase acted like a spoiled kid and used his “daddy” Rick to get his more talented brother in trouble.

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What's the story between Chase and Hendrick? I keep hear reference to it.

Pockrass:

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Kurt Busch (concussion) to miss start of playoffs. 23XI has withdrawn waiver request, so two playoff spots available at Daytona. Busch: "I respect the sport of NASCAR, my fellow drivers and the fans too much to take up a playoff spot if I know I can’t compete for a championship."

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Cue the Toyota conspiracies saying that Toyota was uncertain about Kurt’s availability so they want him out of the way to give Truex a greater chance to get in.