By Holly Cain, NASCAR Wire Service
With Ryan Blaney’s victory last week at Nashville, Team Penske became the first team to land all drivers – including their partner team Wood Brothers Racing – into the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.
Nashville
Trackhouse Racing Revs Up NASCAR Weekends With Trackhouse Live Concert Series
- Kick-Off Event Featured The Castellows at Tootsie’s in Nashville
- Concerts Also Planned for Richmond, Kansas and Charlotte
CONCORD, N.C. – Trackhouse Racing is taking the NASCAR race weekend to a new level with its Trackhouse Live concert series, combining the thrill of racing with unforgettable live music.
After a packed house debut at the legendary Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge in Nashville, the series rolls into Richmond, Virginia, for its next stop on Friday, Aug. 15.
Friday Night Lights Returns June 6 at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway
- Special 1/4-Mile Event Added to Schedule Following Early Season Rainouts
NASHVILLE, TN – Friday night short track racing returns to Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway June 6 with a special Friday Night Lights event featuring the exciting 1/4-mile divisions. The event, which was added to the schedule following multiple early season rainouts, gives fans and drivers alike a bonus night of grassroots racing in the heart of Music City.
Here’s How New England Drivers Performed At Nashville, Detroit, And Epping, NH
By Lou Modestino
Ryan Blaney won the Cup race at Nashville. Joey Logano of Middletown, CT ended his day in fourth and Ryan Preece of Berlin, CT came in 28th position.
Justin Allgaier won the Nashville Xfinity race. Anthony Alfredo of Ridgefield, CT came in 29th. Kris Wright came in 31st. Wright steers a for Cape Cod’s Chris and Mary Our entry. Both owners reside in Chatham, MA.
At the Indy Car race Detroit, MI was taken by Kirkwood beating second place driver Santino Ferrucci of Woodbury, CT, his best show in that sanction.
Early Exit on Race Day
Heading into Sunday’s Funny Car eliminations at New England Dragway in Epping, NH , Bob Tasca III of Hope, RI was confident in the team’s setup and potential. But any hopes of a deep run at his home track were dashed in Round 1. Facing Phil Burkart, Tasca lost traction just past 60 feet and smoked the tires, coasting to a 7.569 at 94.02 mph and a first-round loss.
“Too much,” Tasca said. “Lost traction around 60 feet.”
Eyes on Bristol
Despite the early exit, the team leaves New England with key positives—most notably, top-tier speed and valuable data from their No. 2 qualifying effort.
“We’ve set speed records. We’ve been 340 mph,” Tasca said Friday. “But we have got to go down the racetrack consistently.”
The Tasca Racing crew will look to bounce back quickly as the NHRA tour rolls on to Bristol Dragway in Bristol, Tennessee, for next weekend’s NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals. With the car showing serious horsepower and the crew focused on consistency, Tasca will arrive in Tennessee ready to contend.
Are the NASCAR fans unhappy about having to pay to see five Cup races in the middle of the season Here’s a more detailed look at the different perspectives:
Negative Reactions:
- Disappointment and Frustration: Many fans express feeling “slapped in the face” by the exclusivity of these races, especially if they prefer watching on traditional TV.
- “Unfair” to Regular Viewers: Some fans, like the one on Facebook who mentioned Jimmie Johnson fans, feel that NASCAR is prioritizing a new audience and leaving regular viewers behind.
- Increased Cost and Complexity: The shift to streaming and pay-per-view adds to the cost of watching NASCAR, potentially making it less accessible for fans on fixed incomes or those who prefer free options.
More Positive or Accepting Views:
- NASCAR’s Growth Strategy: Some fans understand that NASCAR needs to adapt to the changing TV landscape and see streaming as a way to reach new audiences and expand the sport’s reach.
- The Future of Sports Broadcasting: Others view streaming as the future of live sports and are open to exploring new platforms like Amazon Prime for watching races.
- Benefits of Streaming: Some fans see potential benefits to streaming, such as less commercial interruption and a more streamlined viewing experience.
Other Considerations:
- The Internet Makes It Easier to Find Information: While the shift to streaming might seem confusing to some, fans can still use the internet to find out where and when races are being broadcast.
- NASCAR’s Financial Position: Some fans acknowledge that NASCAR needs to generate revenue and that streaming may be a way to achieve that.
- Boycotts and Alternative Strategies: Some fans are actively boycotting the streaming races or finding alternative ways to watch.
Our own view is that NASCAR will lose more fans than ever!
Blaney Has Victory In His Rearview, Confidence In His Tank
By Holly Cain, NASCAR Wire Service
Admittedly, Ryan Blaney considered his victory at Nashville Superspeedway Sunday night almost as much a sigh of relief as it was a rush of celebration. The 2023 NASCAR Cup Series champion has led races and been ranked among the top-10 in the championship points standings all season only to have strange circumstances and just plain bad luck derail his chance at a trophy hoist.
Ryan Blaney Commands Cracker Barrel 400 At Nashville Superspeedway
By Holly Cain, NASCAR Wire Service
Ryan Blaney claimed his first victory of the 2025 season Sunday night in the Cracker Barrel 400 at Nashville Superspeedway. The 2023 NASCAR Cup Series champion led a commanding, race-best 139 of the 300 laps to finally secure that all-important Playoff position.
Trey Craig Declared Winner of Rackley Roofing Battle of Broadway 150 Following Post-Race Tech
- Berry’s #21 Disqualified for Left Side Weight Violation in JEGS/CRA All-Stars and Southern Pro Series Event
NASHVILLE, TN – In a post-race development Thursday night at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, Trey Craig has been declared the official winner of the Rackley Roofing Battle of Broadway 150, following the disqualification of Josh Berry after post-race technical inspection.
Chuck Barnes, Jr. Claims CRA Street Stock Victory in Thrilling Battle at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway
NASHVILLE, TN — In a highly exciting feature event, Chuck Barnes, Jr. of Louisville, KY powered his way to victory in the CRA Street Stock 30-lap main event Thursday evening at the legendary Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway. The race was part of the highly anticipated Rackley Roofing Battle of Broadway, which brought out some of the top talent in short track racing.
NASCAR Hits Halfway Point With High Stakes At Nashville Superspeedway
by Holly Cain, NASCAR Wire
With only four previous NASCAR Cup Series races at the 1.33-mile Nashville Superspeedway, Sunday night’s primetime Cracker Barrel 400 (7 p.m. ET on Amazon Prime, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) presents a lot of unknowns and a lot of opportunity.
Turn Up The Music For Saturday Night’s Xfinity Showdown In Nashville
by Holly Cain, NASCAR Wire
It’s been three races since a NASCAR Xfinity Series full-timer celebrated in Victory Lane this season so there’s plenty of motivation on the grid for Saturday night’s Tennessee Lottery 250 at Nashville Superspeedway (7:30 p.m. ET on CW Network, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).