AUTO RACING: F1's McLaren team takes 3rd win and Larson doubles up in NASCAR
Last race: After winning in Xfinty, Kyle Larson sends it again in Bristol leading 411 of 500 laps and blocking a No. 2 Hamlin from taking his third-straight win.
Next race: April 27, Talladega, Alabama.
Online: http://www.nascar.com
North Carolina Education Lottery 250 presented by Black's Tire
Site: Rockingham, North Carolina.
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Newsweek
6 hours ago
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NASCAR Veteran Believes Only a 'Conspiracy' Can Beat Shane van Gisbergen
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. NASCAR Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin has stated that only a "conspiracy" can end Shane van Gisbergen's dominance on road and street courses. The statement arrives after van Gisbergen's recent victory at Watkins Glen International. The 36-year-old driver has proven that his performance remains unmatched, as he secured four consecutive race wins in his rookie Cup year, joining Chase Elliott and NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon as the only drivers who won four road or street courses in a row. His win at Watkins Glen backs his recent multi-year contract extension with his team, Trackhouse Racing. Given his winning spree, Hamlin noted that van Gisbergen has only failed to win a race when he was taken out by another car as a result of an error. He jokingly stated on his Actions Detrimental podcast that only a conspiracy can prevent van Gisbergen from winning. He said: "There's going to be a race that something happens that's gonna take him out. Like, he got taken out of Chicago. Remember, in the wet somebody made a mistake. Shane Van Gisbergen, driver of the #88 WeatherTech Chevrolet, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Go Bowling at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August 10, 2025 in Watkins Glen, New York Shane Van Gisbergen, driver of the #88 WeatherTech Chevrolet, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Go Bowling at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August 10, 2025 in Watkins Glen, New York"Like, he definitely is able to be vulnerable to someone else making a mistake. He's not going to make it on his own. It's going to be into Turn 1. Somebody ping-pongs into someone else, and it knocks him into Shane after he just pitted. Like, that's what we need. We need a conspiracy." Hamlin also took aim at NASCAR in the podcast for making "horrible" business decisions that reportedly backfired, such as reducing the horsepower on the Next Gen car, which has allegedly made overtaking more difficult. He said: "I think that we have a fundamental car problem. It is no doubt a problem. Everyone that has ever driven it has said it's a problem. I believe that the Next Gen car is reaching hate levels of the COT (Car of Tomorrow) with the wing. From fans — I think they're starting to dislike this car as much as the drivers that have to drive it. "We've just steadily progressed our way back and back and back and back and taken horsepower away more and more and more. These are 10th floor decisions and let's just say us drivers are on the third floor. No business is immune to bad decisions. I think that the NASCAR business has made some horrible decisions over the last given amount of time and eventually, it catches up." Hamlin added that NASCAR is going to have to pay for those bad decisions. He said: "You can't just say, 'This is the direction I wanna go.' 'Well, why?' 'Well, this is the direction I wanna go,' and not eventually have to pay for that. You're going to have to pay for your bad decisions at some point. And this could be said for lots of things that have happened in those offices. We'll just see how it goes."
Forbes
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Newsweek
a day ago
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NASCAR Comes Under Fire From Denny Hamlin For Making 'Horrible' Business Decisions
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. NASCAR Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin has called out the sport for its decisions on the Next Gen car, which is attracting more hate from fans. Hamlin called the horsepower reduction in the current cars a "horrible" business decision by NASCAR after the most recent race at Watkins Glen International, which is said to have irked NASCAR fans. Hamlin made it clear that the current Next Gen car has a "fundamental problem," stating that fans have begun hating it as much as drivers. He likened the current car to the Car of Tomorrow (COT) used between 2007 and 2012, which wasn't famous for being a fan favorite. The 44-year-old driver has stated in the past that the Next Gen car is not ideal for quick overtakes. The car produces 670 horsepower on most tracks, except on superspeedways like Daytona and Talladega, where it is tuned to churn out 510 horsepower. Speaking about the fan hate the Next Gen car has been receiving on his Actions Detrimental podcast, Hamlin said: "I think that we have a fundamental car problem. It is no doubt a problem. Everyone that has ever driven it has said it's a problem. I believe that the Next Gen car is reaching hate levels of the COT (Car of Tomorrow) with the wing. From fans — I think they're starting to dislike this car as much as the drivers that have to drive it." Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 Progressive Toyota, looks on during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Brickyard 400 Presented by PPG at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 26, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 Progressive Toyota, looks on during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Brickyard 400 Presented by PPG at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 26, 2025 in Indianapolis, NASCAR cars were limited to 750 horsepower, but the Next Gen car was introduced with a power drop, which Hamlin thinks was a bad business decision, since it affects the racing spectacle. He added: "We've just steadily progressed our way back and back and back and back and taken horsepower away more and more and more. These are 10th floor decisions and let's just say us drivers are on the third floor. No business is immune to bad decisions. I think that the NASCAR business has made some horrible decisions over the last given amount of time and eventually, it catches up. "You can't just say, 'This is the direction I wanna go.' 'Well, why?' 'Well, this is the direction I wanna go,' and not eventually have to pay for that. You're going to have to pay for your bad decisions at some point. And this could be said for lots of things that have happened in those offices. We'll just see how it goes." Related: Denny Hamlin Points To Major Horsepower Deficit Problem on NASCAR Cars
