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Time of India
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
NASCAR announcer resurfaces with NFL after shock disappearance that baffled Michael Jordan
Rick Allen has a new gig with Panthers. Source: X Former NASCAR Cup Series announcer Rick Allen has a sweet new NFL gig, and it is a shock to many! Rick Allen, who was the voice of NBC's NASCAR Cup Series coverage for over a decade, suddenly exited through the 2024 season. His departure was so sudden that NBA icon and 23XI Racing co-owner Michael Jordan was left shocked at his exit. Ex-NASCAR announcer Rick Allen has a new Panthers gig, after baffling 2024 disappearance To mark his latest gig, Allen shared the news on social media. On X, Allen shared a photo from the announcer's booth at Bank of America Stadium. "Let's go!! Starting my new role as entertainment PA announcer for @Panthers football games! #KeepPounding,' he wrote. However, it's fair to say Allen still carries some heaviness about his past replacement. Recently, Allen reunited with former colleague Dale Earnhardt Jr. on the latter's podcast 'Dale Jr Download', where Allen admitted he was "crushed" when he found out he was being replaced. Allen revealed that he was quite miffed with how NC handled his exit from the NASCAR Cup Series and added that the network told him not to say anything or release a statement about being replaced. 'You said I kind of disappeared...I did. I was told not to say anything initially and then I kind of just thought I'm gonna not say anything,' Allen revealed. "Would you have done it differently?" said Earnhardt Jr., to which Allen replied, "I think so now." Allen broke down how his exchange with NBA legend Michael Jordan, who was very taken aback by the switch and even asked him about it. 'We were at Michael Jordan's golf course. The first think that Jordan says to me: 'What'd you do man? Howcome you aren't announcing the races? You're NASCAR'. Allen continued, "I sat there and I was like 'oh my'. Not only does Jordan know who I am, which I was like wow, okay. He thought I had done something wrong and that's why they put Diffey in. By me not saying anything, and the way NBC did it, I think it looked like I had done something wrong and that's why I wasn't [on anymore]. And so I think I would have been more vocal, just so the people know it wasn't my choice." Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Carson Hocevar reveals odd approach to friendships with NASCAR drivers
NASCAR driver Carson Hocevar has created plenty of issues on the track this season with fellow drivers, including Ricky Stenhouse Jr, Ryan Blaney and Austin Dillon. That approach might be a reflection of how he views being friends with his fellow drivers. On the latest episode of the Dale Jr Download, Hocevar told Dale Earnhardt Jr. that he doesn't have a single friend in any of the three NASCAR series, and he has only hung out with other drivers once off the track. 'Not anyone in the industry….Nope, none…I've only hung out one time with any other driver, it was SVG and Bubba at his property, one time. Carson Hocevar on if he has any friends at the NASCAR level Related: NASCAR standings, see where Carson Hocevar sits Carson Hocevar stats ( 368 points, 4 top 10s, 2 top 5s, 1 pole, 5 DNFs, 72 laps led, 22.526 average finishing position in 19 races Advertisement Hocevar was honest about 'not really talking to anybody' and rarely interacting with others, even when he's at the track. He doesn't go out, he doesn't drink, and he rarely interacts with fellow drivers on the entry stage. While it could be argued that the 22-year-old has plenty of time to create friendships at the Truck Series level, Hocevar stated that he really didn't have any friendships in the Truck Series, nor when he was racing short track. Instead, his friend group is comprised of his iRacing buddies. Related: NASCAR predictions for final races, including a Carson Hocevar win He does, however, have a very close relationship with his friends from iRacing and is building a property where they can all hang out more regularly. Outside of that, though, making friendships in the Cup Series doesn't seem likely to happen anytime soon. Advertisement It's certainly the kind of approach that some fans will love, with Hocevar's passion for racing and his hard-line approach to having no friends on the track reflecting his style of driving. However, other drivers will likely see it as another reason why he drives overaggressively, at times not treating other drivers with the respect that might come from good relationships. Related: NASCAR schedule 2025 While it might be a controversial approach among his peers and will likely lead to further confrontations, Hocevar seems perfectly suited to play the role of the heel that makes NASCAR more interesting. It will also make him the driver that fans either love or love to hate. Related Headlines
Newsweek
22-06-2025
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Connor Zilisch Pokes Fun at Dale Earnhardt Jr. After Xfinity Win at Pocono
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Connor Zilisch may have taken a lighthearted jab at his team boss, Dale Earnhardt Jr., with the way he celebrated his NASCAR Xfinity Series race win at Pocono. The race marked the pair's first race together as driver and crew chief. Zilisch's second victory of the season arrived after he capitalized on a caution on Lap 71 and stayed in the battle for the top spot. Just as Justin Allgaier and Chase Elliott brought their elbows out, Zilisch was quick to take advantage of the situation. Though Jesse Love took the lead, Zilisch ensured he got a strong restart and overtook Love in just four laps to win the race. The 18-year-old executed the race calmly and showed no signs of haste. Connor Zilisch, driver of the #88 Registix Chevrolet, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Explore the Pocono Mountains 250 at Pocono Raceway on June 21, 2025 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. Connor Zilisch, driver of the #88 Registix Chevrolet, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Explore the Pocono Mountains 250 at Pocono Raceway on June 21, 2025 in Long Pond, this marked a great race day for Zilisch and Dale Jr., who was serving as the interim crew chief for the 18-year-old driver, Zilisch's post-race celebrations would have likely annoyed Dale Jr. The former NASCAR Cup Series driver has admitted on his Dale Jr. Download podcast that he isn't a fan of drivers emerging from the car's roof hatch to celebrate. However, Zilisch did just that. Was this a way of poking fun at his new boss? Only Zilisch knows that. Well, that'll be a topic on the @DaleJr Download 🤣 — Xfinity Racing (@XfinityRacing) June 21, 2025 Speaking after his Xfinity win, Zilisch addressed his race preparations and admitted that a driver must trust the simulator. He said: "There's a lot that goes on behind the scenes. I've done a lot to prepare myself for this. I never feel like I show up to a racetrack and I'm like, 'man, I'm nervous. I don't know what I'm going to do.' I always have a plan showing up to a new racetrack. I showed that today. I went out for practice and I was third on the first lap never seeing the place before. "It's not easy to do that. I was going wide open down into [turn] 1, and I was like, 'wow, this is fast.' You kind of just have to trust the simulator and trust your notes and what you've seen and watched. I try to give myself an idea of what I'm going to see when I get to the racetrack without having to overthink about it." He added: "I've folded more times than I've been able to count this year, so I wouldn't say I'm perfect. It's just a matter of preparing and not letting any situation be too big. Those restarts can be chaotic and nerve-wracking, especially when you're up there at the front racing for a win. But I treat any race the same - I run my next best corner and hope that what I do works out for me. Sometimes it doesn't and sometimes it does. Today, it worked out."
Newsweek
10-05-2025
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Ryan Blaney Faces Scrutiny Of NASCAR Insiders After Texas: "Something Is Going On"
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Ryan Blaney, who clinched the NASCAR Cup Series championship in 2023 and finished second in 2024, has come under the scrutiny of industry insiders, including Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. In 2025 so far, the Team Penske driver has suffered four race retirements. During the Dale Jr Download podcast, Earnhardt Jr. reacted to Blaney's troublesome race at Texas Motor Speedway which saw him make a "dumb decision," as the driver branded it, on one of the restarts. Earnhardt Jr. explained: "Ryan Blaney choosing the second row on the inside instead of starting next to [Kyle] Larson late in the race. And he got out and said, 'Yeah, I messed up.' "The only type of driver that I see make that move and I go, 'Oh, okay,' is a guy like [Ross] Chastain. I know that he's probably thinking, 'I'm [expletive] going three-wide here. But Blaney is not that guy. Blaney is not going to put his fellow competitors in a three-wide situation. Ryan Blaney, driver of the #12 Advance Auto Parts Ford, greets fans as he walks onstage during driver intros prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Jack Link's 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 27, 2025... Ryan Blaney, driver of the #12 Advance Auto Parts Ford, greets fans as he walks onstage during driver intros prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Jack Link's 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 27, 2025 in Talladega, Alabama. More"I feel like in those situations, I know you don't love restarting on the outside, but I think you have to. You just have to do it. If we get a chance to see Blaney, we've got to ask him what's going on. Something's going on with Blaney." Blaney claimed he made "dumb decisions" in Texas. He explained, as previously reported by Newsweek Sports: "The one time I didn't pick the outside, the 71 [McDowell] gets the lead, and then I couldn't get it back. "Just driver making dumb decisions and not doing his job. I appreciate the 12 car was a fast car. Just can't do nothing right currently, so hopefully it will work itself out." Commenting on the restart, Blaney added: "The top wasn't very good at all. It was pretty dirty. And the one time I have a shot to do it, and don't do it, the guy [McDowell] gets the lead. "So I just didn't do a good job. Then it was hard to get it after that. Just didn't get a good push, and just could never hang with them over in [Turns] 3 and 4." Blaney concluded, discussing his climb from 24th to 3rd: "Honestly, we really didn't do it with strategy. "We just kind of passed cars. So no, it was good and I thought our car was really good. I couldn't get control of the race. "So, overall, a proud day, fast car, and hopefully go forward. We've had speed all year, so it was nice that in the last couple of weeks, we've [Penske] gotten a car in Victory Lane. So that's good, hopefully we can join them."
