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New York Times
3 days ago
- Automotive
- New York Times
NASCAR Cup Series at Nashville odds, predictions: Ross Chastain's rise, ‘Double' controversy and more
The NASCAR Cup Series heads to 'Music City' for the Cracker Barrel 400 at Nashville Superspeedway on Sunday night. As always, we're interviewing our motorsports experts, Jeff Gluck and Jordan Bianchi, about some of the biggest controversies after Memorial Day weekend's events, and what to expect from this week's race. Take it away, guys! You wrote about NASCAR's 'Double' problem: Because of a rule tweak that means a driver can't miss the start of a race without forfeiting playoff points (unless for injury), completing both the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 is too logistically complicated. It reminds me of horse racing's Triple Crown problem, that the Preakness is too soon after the Kentucky Derby for some horses to run both, and yet officials don't seem willing to budge on the calendar. Is there an argument here, like with the Triple Crown, that it should be this difficult? That that's the whole point? Jeff: NASCAR doesn't want to take a backseat to any other event or racing series, which is why this is happening. Officials feel full-time NASCAR drivers should prioritize their events, even if it's the Indy 500. I personally believe that is short-sighted and missing the big picture. IndyCar is zero threat to NASCAR right now (even the Truck Series beats some IndyCar races in viewership), and the Indy 500 is a singular, standalone event that doesn't even run head-to-head with a NASCAR race. Why not capitalize on the large audience of casual Indy 500 viewers (more than 7 million people tuned in) and get a free advertisement for your NASCAR race later that night? If the driver doing the Double is late, that's their fault because they miss the chance of getting playoff points or a win. But to strip all of their playoff points for the entire season essentially makes it so that no contending NASCAR driver will even try the Double anytime soon, so it's a self-defeating decision that actually makes the 600 less relevant than if it were connected to a lead-in from Indy. Advertisement Jordan: While Jeff's argument makes sense to a point, how much fanfare NASCAR can gain from running the Double is unquantified. The reality is that the uptick is likely not significant enough for the league to be OK with a superstar driver missing one of its races, especially a crown jewel. Allowing a driver to skip a NASCAR race to compete elsewhere is a slippery slope that potentially creates a bigger issue down the road, and it is also a disservice to your loyal fan base, who paid good money to watch the driver compete at the NASCAR event that week. You open the door to allow drivers to miss a race(s), and you're not too far away from being professional golf or tennis, where the star players only turn out a handful of times each year, not every week. Last week, Ross Chastain's win marked the first of the season for a car not affiliated with the 'Big Three' (Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing and Team Penske). How many more wins like that do you think we'll see? What drivers outside of the Big Three have the best shot at the playoffs? Jeff: I can talk myself into believing there could be all sorts of different organizations in victory lane. We're certainly due a win from Tyler Reddick at some point, so there's one from 23XI Racing. It feels like Spire Motorsports is getting closer to breaking through soon, too. And that's not to mention the possibility of RFK Racing or Richard Childress Racing putting a great day together. Oh, and don't forget that Shane van Gisbergen (Trackhouse) or AJ Allmendinger (Kaulig) could win on a road course (with several approaching soon). In about six weeks from now, we'll have a much better sense of who can make the playoffs based on points and who needs a win, but it's still too soon to tell. Jordan: There are a good number of teams beyond the 'Big Three' that could win any given week. This is especially true as NASCAR heads into a seven-race stretch that includes an assortment of wild-card tracks with three races on road courses and a drafting oval. And then there is 23XI Racing, where both Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace have been very good at times, but are still not yet to the level you expect out of 23XI, and each feels like they're due to break out. We're about halfway through the regular season (crazy!?). Who is trending up and who is trending down? Jeff: Chastain has certainly been impressive, moving from 14th to eighth in points (and winning the 600) during the last seven races — a period in which he has not finished outside the top 20. It also seems like Chase Briscoe is trending in the right direction with three top-fives in the last five races. As for the downward trend, Bubba Wallace has now crashed out of three straight races and has only one top-15 finish in the last six races. Wallace has tumbled from seventh in points to 12th during that time. Advertisement Jordan: When looking at who is trending upwards, Chastain is the name that immediately pops up. Even though Trackhouse does not consistently have the same level of speed in its cars as the 'Big Three,' Chastain is still producing impressive results. He is effectively putting that team on his shoulders and making them better. And when you look at how the schedule sets up over the next few weeks, his winning again feels like a distinct possibility. On the other end of the spectrum is Alex Bowman, whose season has been a bit of a roller coaster and as of late, the results have been hard to come by. In the past seven races, Bowman has five finishes of 27th or worse. Who is your favorite to win at Nashville? Jeff: I'm going to go with Chastain to stay on a roll. He finished second at Texas and then won Charlotte. Nashville, while concrete, isn't too dissimilar to what creates speed there. Chastain already knows how to get around Nashville quite well — he finished second, fifth and first there before crashing out last year (in overtime after leading 45 laps, by the way). Also, there's value there because Chastain only has the eighth-best odds (he's +1200). Jordan: William Byron is overdue in a big way to get his second win of the season. And the intermediate Nashville track is a great place for him to do just that, as this style track is the strong suit for the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports team. Expect Byron to again lead a lot of laps, just like last week at Charlotte, but this time he closes it out to add another win to his resume. Who is a long shot you like? Jeff: Sometimes weird narratives happen in NASCAR, and there could be a fittingly strange one this week. Austin Cindric is +5000 at Nashville, where his spin with two laps to go last year changed the course of an entire season. If you recall, that Cindric spin is what allowed teammate Joey Logano to survive a five-overtime race and win his way into the playoffs; without that victory, he would have missed the playoffs and not won the championship. Cindric is obviously going through a tough time after seeing his dad fired from Team Penske, so I can see all of these storylines coming together in a weird NASCAR way. (But mostly, I just think it's absurd to have a Penske car at +5000, so that's really why I picked him here.) Jordan: Why not Carson Hocevar? The second-year driver has had plenty of speed this year, but various factors have prevented him from getting the corresponding finish to match that speed. Last week, an engine failure sidelined him as he was running third. If Spire Motorsports can again bring a fast car and Hocevar and the team can put together a complete race, there is no reason why Nashville couldn't be the site of his first career win. Betting/odds links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication. (Photo of Ross Chastain: Logan Riely / Getty Images)
New York Times
24-05-2025
- Automotive
- New York Times
Reaction to Monaco GP's move away from Indy 500 date: ‘Motorsports Christmas' is canceled
Santa Claus is not coming to town. After this year, race fans will find themselves on the permanent naughty list as the tripleheader Memorial Day Weekend tradition affectionately known by some as 'Motorsports Christmas' will end. Formula One's Monaco Grand Prix is moving to June, separating it from the Indianapolis 500 and NASCAR's Coca-Cola 600 — all of which are typically contested on the same Sunday. American motorsports fans are fond of getting up early to watch Monaco with a cup of coffee, gluing themselves to the Indy 500 while grilling and settling in for NASCAR's longest race at night with an adult beverage or two. Advertisement But after Sunday, our 'Motorsports Christmas' stockings will be filled with coal. Before we bid farewell to the greatest day in racing, here's a group discussion among our four motorsports writers, all covering one of the races in question: Luke Smith and Madeline Coleman (both in Monaco this week), Jeff Gluck (Indy 500) and Jordan Bianchi (Coke 600). For anyone new to the idea, what makes Monaco, Indy and the Coca‑Cola 600 sharing one Sunday so special? Coleman: The Monaco Grand Prix embodies what F1 represents, capturing the glitz, glamour and history of the sport. Meanwhile, the Indy 500 showcases the capabilities of IndyCar, illustrating the fine line of where the limits lie. The Coca-Cola 600 serves as NASCAR's Memorial Day tribute and holds a significant place for me, as it was my first NASCAR race in person (and the first motorsport race I ever covered). With a full day of racing, motorsport fans can experience a variety of driving disciplines and strategies, including Kyle Larson attempting to do the 'Double' by racing in both the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600. Gluck: It depends on whether you're an American reading this or someone overseas. I'm guessing the NASCAR part of the tripleheader is not at all special to fans outside the U.S., but many NASCAR fans I know will watch all three as part of the tradition. In some ways, it's been a gift to expose other forms of racing to an often-insular group (everyone thinks their series is the best, after all). As mentioned above, Monaco and the Indy 500 may be the only non-NASCAR races some stock car fans watch all year. Smith: Any of these races would be a significant event. The fact they all fall on the same day, allowing fans to enjoy back-to-back racing, is exciting. Monaco and the Indy 500 are crown jewel events in the F1 and IndyCar seasons, respectively, forming two-thirds of the 'Triple Crown of Motorsport' alongside the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Both events feature a level of pomp and ceremony not found in other races. To immerse yourself in motorsport history in just 12 hours, there's no better way than these three events. Advertisement Bianchi: These are races that are proudly noted by the winning driver when looking back at their career. So when you have all three held on the same day, consecutively, it creates a sense of celebration where instead of fans of each series throwing their noses up at the other, they take an increased interest in what is happening that they otherwise wouldn't. For those who might not be as familiar with the intricacies of each series, why is it so hard for someone in today's era to be successful in multiple disciplines? After all, isn't racing just racing? Coleman: Something I thoroughly enjoy about working in motorsports is talking about this topic with drivers and team personnel because these disciplines are so different, from the cars to the tracks to training to the technology and data. It isn't simple. Plus, as Jenson Button told me last year, 'I don't think you can class yourself as the best driver in the world unless you've raced in other categories and been competitive. Driving an F1 car is very specific compared to driving a rally car, compared to driving even a GT car.' Gluck: It's all so specialized in the modern era, and it's borderline impossible to jump from one series to another and expect success. The cars drive differently, the racing standards are different, the race procedures are different. An F1 driver simply isn't going to jump into an oval race and expect to win, just like a NASCAR driver would never be up to speed in an F1 car without extensive seat time. What Larson is doing with the 'Double' on Sunday has captured so many imaginations because being successful in two different cars is extremely challenging. Smith: It's very, very different, being able to race around a street circuit like Monaco versus a superspeedway like Indianapolis in an Indy car versus Charlotte in a stock car. Each requires a very different set of skills, but the common theme is bravery. It's why seeing Robert Shwartzman score pole for his debut in the Indy 500 is such a big deal, given he's spent the entirety of his career racing in single-seaters on road and street courses — and never before on an oval. The skills are completely different. The other big limiting factor is time: The hectic schedule for each series makes it impossible to prepare for a shot at any other discipline properly. Bianchi: There is also the issue of manufacturer and sponsor conflicts that often interfere with a driver from jumping to a different series. This wasn't such a hurdle decades ago — at least not insurmountable, but it too frequently acts as a blockade. The sponsorship money required to support top-flight racing has increased to such a level that many teams don't feel the financial risk is worth allowing their drivers to go 'play' elsewhere. Advertisement Based on their comments, it sounds like most F1 drivers have no interest in running the Indy 500. What's your take on why that is? Coleman: Part of it likely is the risk versus reward aspect as well as the speed. Racing in the Indy 500 takes a lot of preparation because ovals are dangerous and require focus and skill. That is significant banking, the walls are fairly close, and the speeds are quicker than F1's top speeds. Yes, one may argue that street circuits could prepare F1 drivers for close proximity, but there's a reason F1 doesn't have a lot of banking anymore. They respect the race; however, many don't sound like they want to try it. Oscar Piastri recently discussed it, ahead of the Miami Grand Prix. Gluck: From what I've read, it's a safety concern. The F1 guys think Indy 500 drivers are nuts. But let's have IndyCar driver Colton Herta chime in on this one: 'It's more dangerous than most stuff that they do (in F1). There's no doubt about that. … But it's not that much worse than crashing at some other places in an IndyCar. So I think they have a bit of a misunderstanding. And I bet they have never been here in person and just don't understand it, because I think if they saw everything (with 350,000 people in attendance), they'd be willing to give up their gripe with it being unsafe.' Smith: If you ask the majority of the F1 grid, they'll admit that even watching the Indy 500 is a scary experience for them, given the speeds and impacts involved. Daniel Ricciardo was always pretty clear in saying it was a step too far for him to consider trying his hand at it for that reason. It's often only when drivers make the switch from F1 to IndyCar that they start to get a better understanding of it. Alexander Rossi and Marcus Ericsson are two drivers who have both gone on to win at the Brickyard post-F1, but neither would have likely given thought to doing the Indy 500 while still part of the grand prix racing world. Bianchi: If someone who's never previously raced on an oval, let alone at such high speeds with other cars close, doesn't feel comfortable doing so, it's hard to criticize their decision. If an F1 driver did cross over next year and run Indy, who would you be most excited to see try it? Coleman: I'd like to see Max Verstappen or Valtteri Bottas, the latter of whom I think would be most likely to try. Verstappen's skill level and adaptability are arguably unmatched, and if he were ever open to trying ovals, it would be interesting to see how he'd adjust to IndyCar. It's highly unlikely, but it would be exciting. Meanwhile, Bottas has had conversations with IndyCar teams before, and he's admitted to having his eye on the Indy 500 before. Gluck: I'd want to see someone with a chance of adapting quickly and winning, so definitely Verstappen. You'd think the adaptability of Verstappen and his sim-racing experience would help him get up to speed quickly. But three years ago, he was among those who said Indy is too dangerous, and he had no desire to do it, so that probably will never happen. Smith: I want to see Alonso go back to the Indy 500. Back in 2017, Alonso got permission to miss Monaco and race at Indianapolis, famously leading a big chunk of the race before an engine failure forced him to retire late on. He failed to qualify in 2019 and barely registered on the radar in 2020. Alonso is the closest active driver to completing the 'triple crown,' having won at Monaco and Le Mans. I'd love to see him take a shot at achieving racing history. Advertisement Bianchi: Lewis Hamilton and Verstappen are the obvious choices. Especially Hamilton, just because an Indy 500 win would elevate him to an even higher plane, which is hard to fathom considering he already has a case for being F1's greatest driver. Imagine the build-up to the month of May and race day itself if Hamilton or Verstappen filed an entry. Juan Pablo Montoya is the only driver who has raced all three in his career. Do you ever see another driver doing that? Coleman: One day, someone will race all three again. There are barriers to consider — reaching F1 means eventually joining the European ladder. Multiple IndyCar drivers are ex-F1 drivers, and some F1 drivers have crossed over into the NASCAR world, such as Kimi Räikkönen with Trackhouse's Project 91. So it's not impossible to do all three. Gluck: I don't see any viable candidates, but it'll happen again someday. We have to rule out NASCAR drivers, because they'd never get a superlicense to race F1, so it would have to be an F1 castoff who ended up in IndyCar for a few years and then decided to try NASCAR. Maybe if someone like a Logan Sargeant rediscovers his passion for racing and runs IndyCar for a bit, then gets curious about NASCAR and tries to run a couple of seasons there. It's possible, just not anytime soon. Smith: It'll take a very special type of driver and a unique career path for that to happen again. My best bet is that it would be a driver who makes it to F1, races in Monaco, doesn't hang around too long, makes the move over to IndyCar, spends time in the U.S., and then thinks, 'Hey, let's give NASCAR a go.' Nowadays, multidisciplinarians are rare, especially when considering the demands of the F1 schedule. So for now, I don't see it happening again. Bianchi: It will definitely happen again. The likeliest scenario is a driver whose opportunity in F1 has concluded, who then comes to the United States to continue their racing career. Maybe Kimi Räikkönen will get bored in retirement and give it a go; after all, he does have experience racing a stock car at Charlotte. Can you tell us how much the drivers in the series you cover care about or follow the other races on this day? Coleman: It is probably more likely that F1 drivers will tune in for the Indy 500, at least some of them. The time zones don't help, considering Monaco is six hours ahead of the East Coast. It'll be midnight when the Coca-Cola 600 begins. Verstappen has stayed up to watch a NASCAR race before (when Shane van Gisbergen competed), but I believe the Indy 500 is more likely. Gluck: Most NASCAR drivers will keep an eye on Monaco and watch as much of the Indy 500 as they can while going through their pre-race appearances and obligations at the Coke 600. IndyCar drivers will be getting busy around Monaco time, but might watch a bit of it during breakfast. Anyway, go ahead, Madeline and Luke, hurt the NASCAR drivers' feelings by telling them no one in F1 watches the 600. Smith: Sorry, Jeff, but I don't think many F1 drivers will be watching the 600 — partly because it won't start until midnight in Monaco! A lot of them will tune in to the Indy 500 once they're through everything in Monaco after the race. McLaren has a natural interest given its involvement there and how much it emphasises the crossover between its teams, but others will also be trying to find somewhere to watch it. Advertisement Bianchi: Although F1 drivers may not watch NASCAR's longest race, the reality is that of the three races, the Coca-Cola 600 may be the most competitive from green flag to checkered flag than any of the three races on Sunday. If you were a race fan with an unlimited budget and could only do one of these races on Sunday, which would you pick? Coleman: I'd pick Monaco every time. Legends have raced the same streets locals take to work and school, and Monaco has become synonymous with F1. The racing product is an issue, and I am intrigued to learn how this year's changes will impact it. It's not a given that Monaco will always be on the F1 calendar, a question that the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 do not face. It's best to enjoy the moment while it lasts. Gluck: This is so tough, because Monaco is absolutely on my bucket list just for the glamorous and gorgeous setting. Still, there's nothing like the Indy 500. I truly believe it's the world's greatest race, as do every one of its competitors. It's the largest single-day attendance on the planet (a sold-out crowd of 350,000), and if it were up to me, I'd never miss another one for the rest of my life. Smith: A bit like Alonso is out to complete his 'Triple Crown' of Le Mans, Monaco and Indy, I'm also just one race shy of having covered those three events — and it's the Indy 500 that's missing. When F1 announced earlier this year that Monaco would be moving date to try and help the calendar make more sense, my first thought was, 'Does this mean I can do the 500!?' I love how much ceremony goes into the race, the traditions involved, and how it stands as so much more than just another round of the season. I adore Monaco, and I really want to cover a NASCAR race someday. But the Indy 500 would be a bucket list event for me. Bianchi: Sitting on a yacht docked alongside Monaco's famed circuit while sipping overly expensive champagne sounds absolutely delightful. Yes, please. Top photo of Charles Leclerc and the 2024 Indianapolis 500: Mark Sutton – Formula 1/Formula, Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
New York Times
24-05-2025
- Automotive
- New York Times
NASCAR Cup Series at Charlotte odds, predictions: Kyle Larson's ‘Double' attempt on Memorial Day Weekend
The NASCAR Cup Series heads to Charlotte for Memorial Day Weekend, and we get another chance to see Kyle Larson attempt to be the second driver ever to complete 'The Double' — finishing all 1,100 miles of the Coca-Cola 600 and Indy 500 in the same day. Five drivers have attempted the feat — John Andretti, Robby Gordon, Tony Stewart, Kurt Busch and Kyle Larson — but only Stewart completed all 1,100 miles, running sixth at Indy and third at Charlotte in 2001. Last year, Larson made his first attempt, but a storm system delayed the Indy 500 start, and then followed him to Charlotte, ending the Coca-Cola 600 before Larson could take over mid-race. Advertisement Sunday's race is the first of Prime Video's five exclusive NASCAR looks, which includes the Cup Series' first points-paying race in Mexico City on June 15. As always, our motorsports experts, Jeff Gluck and Jordan Bianchi, are here to walk us through all we need to know before the big race, plus favorites and long shots to win it all. Take it away, guys! Kyle Larson is attempting the double again! Last year, NASCAR gave him some pushback on it. What's the vibe this year? What are the odds he completes it this year? Jeff: It's been quieter for Larson this year, which is how he likes it. Last year, the hype was immense, but then Larson couldn't even complete the Double when it rained at Indy, and he missed the NASCAR race. The weather is more favorable for Sunday now, so Larson should have a great chance to run both. I don't think he will win Indy, but if he gets a top-10 and finishes all the laps in both races, that would be very impressive and check the box of his Double feat. Jordan: It's definitely a much more low-key vibe this go around, though this should be expected considering the novelty has worn off to some degree with this being his second attempt. But should Larson complete the 500 and make it to Charlotte in time to run all 600 miles, he will certainly be back in the spotlight. As for what to expect performance-wise, a top-10 finish at Indy should be viewed as a success, and winning at Charlotte is certainly on the table. In fact, he should be considered the favorite to win. Does the controversy over Penske in IndyCar bleed over into the NASCAR world? If so, how? Jeff: Not yet, but it's possible. Here's why: Right now, Penske has three huge holes in its IndyCar program after firing three top officials, which will require reshuffling the organization. It's not out of the question that Penske could slide some people around who touch the NASCAR program. Also, it's fair to wonder what this means for Austin Cindric. While Cindric is running well enough to keep his job (he's already won a race this season, after all), what will his long-term future be now that his father, Tim, is no longer a Penske employee? Advertisement Jordan: The impact should be minimal, even if there is some behind-the-scenes reshuffling, as one of the benefits Penske has over most other teams is the depth of resources at its disposal and the number of talented people it has on staff. Both these advantages should help overcome losing three key members. The Austin Cindric angle is an interesting one, though Roger Penske is very loyal, and while he may have had to let Austin's father go, this shouldn't mean that Austin is suddenly on shaky ground. Plus, results do matter. And on this front, he is delivering, as his stat line is similar to teammate Joey Logano, the defending Cup champion, and he's led more laps than his other teammate, Ryan Blaney, the 2023 champion. Who is your favorite to win the Coca-Cola 600? Larson is the favorite, but might his 'Double' attempt dampen his shot? Jeff: There's a reason Larson is the favorite after oddsmakers just watched the Kansas race earlier this month, in which Larson led 221 of 267 laps and won from the pole. Charlotte is a 1.5-mile track like Kansas and Texas, a race in which Larson led the most laps and finished fourth the week before Kansas. That said, Larson might not have won the Kansas race if the field hadn't made mistakes that allowed him to retain his track position, so his pure dominance might be a bit of a mirage. But he's still going to be really good, and I could easily see him capping his Double attempt with an exclamation point victory. Jordan: Larson and his No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports car are at their best on intermediate tracks, which is what Charlotte is. This is the driver and team everyone will be gauging themselves against on Sunday. Who is a long shot you like? Jeff: There are some wildly absurd long shots here who could absolutely win the race. You're telling me Chase Briscoe, a Joe Gibbs Racing car, is +3500? Seriously? And Josh Berry, who actually won at a 1.5-mile track earlier this season, is +2500? It might even be worth taking a flier on former Coke 600 winner Austin Dillon (+20000), at least for a top-10 finish. Dillon is actually tied for seventh on the active list for top-10s at Charlotte (five). Jordan: Josh Berry and Wood Brothers Racing have had lots of speed on intermediate tracks this season, so the fact that he's listed at +2500 is head-scratching. So if you're looking for a flier, you could do a whole lot worse than Berry. Streaming and Betting/Odds links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication. (Photo of Kyle Larson: James Gilbert / Getty Images)
Newsweek
29-04-2025
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Denny Hamlin Clarifies Rejected NASCAR All-Star Package As He Reveals Staggering Cost
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Denny Hamlin has revealed why NASCAR teams have rejected the proposal for a "Run What You Brung" package at the All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway next month. Despite insiders, including The Athletic NASCAR reporter Jeff Gluck, calling for the teams to approve the proposal, Hamlin has uncovered the "reality" of the situation. Speaking during the Actions Detrimental podcast, Hamlin explained: "I know Jeff Gluck had a massive rant last night on 'The Teardown' about the teams talking about the money. But it is a reality. Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 Sport Clips Haircuts Toyota, speaks to the media after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway on April 06, 2025 in Darlington, South Carolina. Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 Sport Clips Haircuts Toyota, speaks to the media after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway on April 06, 2025 in Darlington, South Carolina. Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images "Everyone wants to have fun and do all these things, but who is going to pay for it? ... We are gonna destroy three cars to build this car. Under the rules, it was like you have to use Next Gen parts, but you can do whatever you want to them. "So, we're going to destroy every piece and part of that car and make it lighter or something. Like, we're going to modify it. Going to bend the chassis and do all types of things to this thing that will make it illegal at any other racetrack that we go to?" The 23XI Racing co-owner went on to reveal the eye-watering cost of each car in the fleet, adding: "We've been very transparent in the fact that this car cost $300,000. "Do the math real quick. If I put my three cars on the racetrack and just to build this wild, illegal car, I'm going to destroy it and now I lose one more car out of my fleet. "I only get seven cars per door number. So, that's three cars that are wiped out of my fleet that I'm not going to get a replacement for because I'm not going to get a replacement car if the car has damage to it if you wreck it. You have to show NASCAR that it's wrecked, bent or whatever and you need another chassis. I can't afford to lose that out of my rotation. "We used to have 14 cars, now we're down to seven. The whole cost-cutting thing was to shorten up how many cars we have in our stable. Can you ask for another chassis? Sure, but I'm gonna spend $1 million just on parts and pieces. "We haven't even developed anything yet. So, just in parts and pieces to replace all this sh*t we're gonna modify, we're gonna spend a sh*t ton of money. And it only pays $1 million to win. It's paid $1 million to win for 30 years. It's not that cool anymore. Even if one of my cars won, I don't see this as even remotely breakeven proposition." Hamlin concluded: "For those like Jeff Gluck that complain about, 'well, all you talk about is money.' It's because the teams don't have enough money. This is what we're fighting for. This is what we've been talking about. "If you continue to lose money year after year, why would you just raise your hand and say, 'sure, I'll take another $1 million loss.' You can't do that. It's not sustainable. It's not possible under the parameters set in front of us and that was that do whatever you want."
