Latest news with #NASCARCupSeriesGoBowling
Newsweek
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Dale Jr. Hits Back at Kyle Petty For Supporting NASCAR's Next Gen Car
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Former NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. has hit back at Kyle Petty for supporting the current Next Gen car, arguing that it fails to produce high-quality racing. Petty had praised the current car, emphasizing that NASCAR must adjust to it. There has been much debate about the Next Gen car, with most current drivers speaking against it. Denny Hamlin recently targeted NASCAR for reducing the horsepower when it was introduced in 2022, describing it as a "horrible" business decision. The main argument is that the current car makes overtaking more difficult. Petty, who raced from 1979 to 2008, called out Dale Jr. earlier for his criticism of the Next Gen car, stating that cars have always attracted criticism every time they've undergone major changes. Speaking on the Performance Racing Network, he said: "We had one of our prominent members of the NASCAR community, Dale Jr., criticize the Next Gen car the other day. I don't think that criticism is deserved in a lot of ways. We have not raced stock cars since about 1958. We don't race stock cars, we race NASCARs. This is the NASCAR car that we have today. People complained in the 70s when they went to tubular chassis. They complained when we went to radial tires. They've complained all along as the progression of the cars. Austin Cindric, driver of the #2 Snap on Ford, and Bubba Wallace, driver of the #23 McDonald's Toyota, race during the NASCAR Cup Series Go Bowling at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August... Austin Cindric, driver of the #2 Snap on Ford, and Bubba Wallace, driver of the #23 McDonald's Toyota, race during the NASCAR Cup Series Go Bowling at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August 10, 2025 in Watkins Glen, New York. More"We were still racing cars with carburetors when you couldn't go to your local auto parts store and buy a carburetor. It was an antiquated car that we were racing and people seemed to want to have that antiquated car. This car jumped leap years ahead. We have to adjust to it." Now, Dale Jr. has responded to Petty, stating that the Next Gen car does not produce the kind of racing he expects. He said on the Dale Jr. Download: "I really, really respect Kyle, I think the world of him, and I appreciate his opinion. But I would just disagree that the car doesn't produce what I expect. "Again, going back 75 years, I know Kyle's been around a long time, the car doesn't produce the kind of racing that I know we are capable of at road courses and short tracks. "The car does not produce the type of racing that I think should be our standard, and I know what we're capable of at road courses and short tracks; and I would not stop at trying to achieve f****** amazing great racing at those style tracks."
Newsweek
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Cadillac F1 Advised to Consider NASCAR's Connor Zilisch For 2026 Seat
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. IndyCar driver James Hinchcliffe has advised the Cadillac F1 team to consider NASCAR star Connor Zilisch as its driver for its debut season in 2026. Cadillac has been having discussions with several drivers, and given Zilisch's impressive racing background, he has been linked to the American outfit. Cadillac's entry into the sport was approved in March this year, and the team has been in full swing to get racing next year. However, it has yet to announce its driver lineup. The outfit has made it clear that it prefers experienced drivers, but it hasn't entirely ruled out rookie drivers who have the potential to make a significant impact on the grid. Former Red Bull Racing driver Sergio Perez and Mercedes reserve driver Valtteri Bottas have been strongly linked to Cadillac, and speculation suggests the team has shortlisted them for the next year. However, there has been no official confirmation. Hinchcliffe named five American drivers Cadillac should talk to, with Zilisch being one of them. The 19-year-old driver has been leading the Xfinity Series in points standings in his rookie year. He secured five race wins in the last eight rounds and is on his way to winning the championship. Connor Zilisch, driver of the #87 Red Bull Chevrolet, speaks to Trackhouse Racing team owner Justin Marks during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series Go Bowling at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August... Connor Zilisch, driver of the #87 Red Bull Chevrolet, speaks to Trackhouse Racing team owner Justin Marks during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series Go Bowling at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August 09, 2025 in Watkins Glen, New York. MoreLinking him to Cadillac, Hinchcliffe revealed Zilisch's racing background and highlighted his ability to dominate different kinds of circuits. He wrote on "Zilisch had a promising road racing career going, winning in everything from Trans-Am cars to prototypes to stock cars. Without the financial freedom to simply choose the route he wanted to go, opportunities came up in stock cars before anyone in the open wheel world took notice – and that is our loss. "Competing full time in the Xfinity Championship in 2025 he already has three wins in the season, including his first oval victory. Given his road racing background it is incredibly impressive that he is now competitive on the types of track that a lot of the drivers he's racing against trained on exclusively on their rise to this level." Hinchcliffe added that if Zilisch was given a chance to compete in Formula 2, he could be race-ready for F1 in no time. However, it remains to be seen if this fits in Cadillac's plans. He wrote: "And that's really my point on Zilisch – he seems to be one of the most adaptable drivers that I've ever seen. Watching what he's done so far gives me the feeling that if he was given a proper programme in an open wheel car, and a season or two of F2 to cut his teeth, he could be F1-worthy in short order. And he has the time, because despite the impressive CV he is still only 19 years old." While Hinchcliffe does make a strong point, the chances of Zilisch securing a full-time entry in NASCAR's Cup Series next year are high.
Gulf Today
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Gulf Today
Team owner predicts van Gisbergen will make a deep run in NASCAR playoffs
Labeling statistics as "kind of an American thing,' Shane van Gisbergen avoids dwelling on his record-setting rookie season in the NASCAR Cup Series. "It normally hits me on the plane ride home or at 4 a.m. after a few beers,' van Gisbergen said Sunday after conquering the Watkins Glen International road course in New York for his fourth victory this year. "I try to reflect on it, but I also try and get to the next week pretty quick. I'll try not to tweet at 4 a.m. this morning.' If the laid-back Kiwi were into chest-pounding on social media, the list of heady accomplishments includes being the third driver with four consecutive Cup wins on road or street courses, joining 2020 champion Chase Elliott and NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon. It also includes being the first rookie with four victories - breaking a tie with seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson and three-time champion Tony Stewart - and the largest margin of victory (11.116 seconds) in Watkins Glen history and second largest this season behind his 16.567-second win at Mexico City that was the biggest gap from first to second since 2009. The next achievement could be the loftiest yet for the driver from Auckland, New Zealand, who struggles massively on the ovals that comprise most of the season. Can van Gisbergen be a legitimate championship contender in Year 1? Shane Van Gisbergen celebrates with his father, Robert van Gisbergen, Jessica Dane and his dog, Ronald in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Go Bowling. AFP Trackhouse Racing owner Justin Marks, who put his reputation on the line and convinced sponsors to risk millions on an audacious plan to make the Cup playoffs with an inexperienced and unheralded rookie, suggests a deep run awaits the No. 88 Chevrolet. "Shane just continues to go showcase why we've made a long-term commitment to him, why we brought him over here from New Zealand and built this team around him,' said Marks, who signed van Gisbergen to a multiyear extension last week. "Because in a sport like this where winning is so important and so hard to do, if you can catch some lightning in a bottle like we've got with SVG, you've got to really lean into it. That's what we've done. It's like seeing a plan come together.' The plan now has a path to the doorstep of a Cup title. The first round of 16 drivers is contested on three ovals, but van Gisbergen has a sizable 22-point cushion (victories are worth five points apiece for the playoffs) to overcome a 26.9 average finish on ovals. Pared down to 12 drivers, the second round features a road course at Charlotte Motor Speedway. A win there would catapult a driver into the third round, where eight drivers will square off for four berths in the championship finale at Phoenix Raceway. "He's in a really good position,' Marks said. "I think we have a real opportunity to get to the Round of 8.' The playoffs open at tricky Darlington Raceway, whose odd shape is among the most difficult layouts in NASCAR, but van Gisbergen is more concerned about the first-round cutoff race at Bristol Motor Speedway. He finished 38th in his April 13 debut on the Tennessee short track. "I ran terrible there,' said van Gisbergen, who finished 20th a week earlier at Darlington. "Bristol was so far from anything I've ever done, and that's a really tough place. That's probably the biggest worry. Darlington, I feel fine, especially now that we have a lot of points. You've just got to have three solid weeks, and you might get through. We just have to play the averages, make no mistakes and make sure we're in a good spot every week.' After pulling Connor Zilisch from the Cup race at Watkins Glen, Marks said it's unclear when the Xfinity Series points leader will return from the broken collarbone he suffered while celebrating his series-high sixth victory Saturday. With approval from NASCAR, Zilisch could skip the final three regular-season races and still be eligible for the Xfinity playoffs. "He's a huge asset and a huge part of the future of the business,' Marks said. "We have to make sure that we're not hurting any long-term opportunities by taking advantage of a short-term opportunity.' Having raced with a broken collarbone in 2021, van Gisbergen believes Zilisch could return for the Aug. 22 race at Daytona International Speedway. "I had a weekend off and raced the next week, so pretty much what he's going to go through,' van Gisbergen said. "I'd get a plate put in and then take it out at the end of the year. It's obviously going to be in pain. My biggest problem was tightening the belts. I could really feel the plate through the skin, and it was a horrible feeling. But I raced the next week and did pretty well. For sure with some good doctors and some good drugs, he'll get through the race fine.' With team owner Michael Jordan in attendance, Bubba Wallace finished eighth at Watkins Glen (a spot ahead of 23XI Racing teammate Tyler Reddick) for a season-best fourth consecutive top 10. The stretch includes the Brickyard 400 victory that qualified Wallace for the playoffs and relieved enormous pressure from the No. 23 Toyota driver. "Indy was life-changing,' Wallace said. "It allowed me to not harp on all of the mistakes that I usually make at a road course. The big boss was here, so it's good to get MJ a couple of top 10s.' Associated Press
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
‘Generational aura debt': NASCAR racer Connor Zilisch on fall from car that broke collarbone
Connor Zilisch has taken his accident in rather good stride. The NASCAR driver suffered a nasty fall trying to exit his Chevrolet to celebrate him winning the Xfinity Series. Connor Zilisch's fall from his car left him with a broken collarbone.(Reuters) The incident at Watkins Glen left the 19-year-old with a broken collarbone. Once Zilisch had greater clarity on his injury, the driver was back with his team, and was photographed in an arm sling. Connor Zilisch laughs off NASCAR car fall He's decided to laugh off the entire matter, sharing a video of his fall, which the original poster captioned, saying 'NASCAR driver KO's himself trying to get out of his car.' The video from the day of the accident shows Connor climbing out of the window to celebrate the win, when he appears to lose his balance and fall, remaining still on the ground, before he's taken away. Connor, reacting to this fall, said 'Now that I know I'll be alright, it's gonna be tough to make a comeback from this generational aura debt.' He added, 'Dang, at least I won.' Not just Connor, his father too is getting in on the fun The funny streak seems to run in the Zilisch family, since not just Connor, but his father too had jokes about the fall. 'Silver lining. Pooping himself is no longer his most embarrassing moment,' his father, Jim, wrote on X. Also Read | Connor Zilisch reveals broken collarbone after freak fall: What's the recovery time? The accident, which took place a couple of days back, had left many fans worried, but Connor provided an update soon after. 'Thank you everybody for reaching out today. I'm out of the hospital and getting better already. Thankfully, CT scans for my head are clear, I just have a broken collarbone. Thankful for all the medics for quick attention and grateful it wasn't any worse,' he had said. Zilisch was also scheduled to compete for Trackhouse Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series Go Bowling at The Glen. However, after the fall, his team announced they were pulling the Chevy from the race.
Newsweek
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
NASCAR Playoff Bubble Battle Explodes After Watkins Glen Drama
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. The battle over the final spot in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs is heating up after the race at Watkins Glen. RFK Racing drivers Ryan Preece and Chris Buescher are vying for the 16th spot. At The Glen, Buescher finished third, netting him a notable points haul, while Preece ended up lower in the classification, ending the race in 13th place. Preece was upset with the result when speaking to the media, noting how tightly contested the race for a spot in the playoffs is. Brad Keselowski, driver of the #6 Nexlizet Ford, (C) speaks to Chris Buescher, driver of the #17 Ford, (L) and Ryan Preece, driver of the #60 Mohawk Northeast Inc. Ford, backstage during pre-race ceremonies... Brad Keselowski, driver of the #6 Nexlizet Ford, (C) speaks to Chris Buescher, driver of the #17 Ford, (L) and Ryan Preece, driver of the #60 Mohawk Northeast Inc. Ford, backstage during pre-race ceremonies prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Go Bowling at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August 10, 2025 in Watkins Glen, New York. More Photo by"You can definitely manage those expectations, but I f****** hate losing, so it's hard to do that... I want to go to Richmond, and I want to f****** do everything it takes to win," Preece told reporters. "A lot of passion with racing, so it's nice to be in the position where I'm racing again." Preece is now 34 points behind Buescher for 16th place following the race. Buescher earned 44 points, 11 points more than Preece's 33-point haul. Even though he grew his advantage over Preece, Buescher was left disappointed not to fight for the race win, but seemed content with the weekend overall. "At the end of the day, the next two weeks need to be solid weeks," the No. 17 car driver said. "We need to go there, bring fast Mustangs — and we need to win. I keep spewing the same line because I certainly hate points racing. "While it didn't give us a bad result by any means today, you have to think it hinders your best opportunity to win. It's the situation we're in - we get it." The top 13 spots in the Cup Series playoffs are locked in already, with the bottom three spots still yet to be decided. Tyler Reddick is 117 points clear and should get safely into the playoffs after the upcoming two races. Alex Bowman sits 60 points above the bubble, sitting securely in P15 unless he has two terrible race weekends. Buescher is the former 2015 NASCAR Xfinity Series champion and has won six times in his Cup Series career, spanning 10 years. He won both Richmond and Daytona back in 2023 - putting him in the driver's seat for the 16th spot unless Preece pulls out some magic at the last two races. For more NASCAR news, head on over to Newsweek Sports.
