Latest news with #RheemToyota
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
NASCAR Insiders Clap Back At Michigan Critics: 'It's a Damn Good Race'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. While many fans might have fumed at the race results of the NASCAR Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway, considering the way Denny Hamlin secured victory, the fact of the matter is that such mileage races are also a form of pure stock car racing where drivers have to not only focus on raw speed but also have to conserve fuel to avoid running out towards the end of the race. The FireKeepers Casino 400 Cup race saw Carson Hocevar lead in the early stages, which meant he utilized all that his car had to offer. However, that burned a significant amount of fuel. With just 18 laps to go, Hocevar encountered a flat left rear tire, which forced him to pit, leading him to finish the race in P29. Hocevar admitted that despite the flat tire incident, he would still have to pit since he was running low on fuel. Similarly, William Byron, who led the race for 98 laps, ran out of fuel when there were just four laps to go. He drove hard in the end to defend the spot while Hamlin chased him, causing him to burn more fuel. Christopher Bell, driver of the #20 Rheem Toyota, and Michael McDowell, driver of the #71 Delaware Life Chevrolet, race during the NASCAR Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway on June 08, 2025... Christopher Bell, driver of the #20 Rheem Toyota, and Michael McDowell, driver of the #71 Delaware Life Chevrolet, race during the NASCAR Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway on June 08, 2025 in Brooklyn, Michigan. MorePitting in the closing stage of the race for fuel meant Byron finished the race in P28, allowing Hamlin to secure his third victory of the season. Being a seasoned driver, Hamlin conserved his fuel and gave a tough fight to Byron, setting an example of how performance and mileage can be achieved in the same race. Speaking on the Teardown podcast, The Athletic's Jeff Gluck and Jordan Bianchi discussed the nature of the race at Michigan and revealed that it has the perfect mix of speed, strategy, team elements, and cautions that make a very good race. Bianchi said: "I say this all the time. If you are a NASCAR fan and you did not like this race, why? Because your favorite driver didn't win? Okay, sure, but this is what NASCAR racing is. You had the speed sensation, you have guys being able to make moves we didn't talk about, all of the things that we've talked about the Next Gen car, you had strategy, you had all of the team elements! You even had cautions. You had guys who overstepped, Blaney made a mistake and hit the wall, you had a damn good race here. I don't know why you would really hate this race." Gluck then pointed out fan reactions on X that complained about the mileage race, which prompted him to point out the strategic elements that make such races compelling. He added: "That is a strategy play, that is like guessing to see, and how much did you save, and how much did you lift, and should you go hard, should you try to take the lead. What's wrong with that? That's great stuff!" Bianchi responded: "It is a fundamental part of racing. Do you go hard? Do you save? Do you burn up your stuff and all of this? It's phenomenal."
Newsweek
10-05-2025
- Automotive
- Newsweek
NASCAR Delivers Blow To Two Cup Teams After Pre-Race Inspections In Kansas
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. NASCAR has announced that two Cup Series teams were penalized after the pre-race inspections at Kansas Speedway - 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports. No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford driver Todd Gilliland will lose his car chief, Joe Marra. The No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota driver Tyler Reddick faces the same issue, with Michael Hobson also ejected. On top of the crew chiefs being ejected, the teams will also lose pit-stall selection for the AdventHealth 400. Reddick qualified fourth for the Cup Series race in Kansas, whereas, Gilliland will begin the race from 23rd. Christopher Bell, driver of the #20 Rheem Toyota, and Ty Gibbs, driver of the #54 Monster Energy Toyota, lead the field to a restart during the NASCAR Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400 Presented by ESPN... Christopher Bell, driver of the #20 Rheem Toyota, and Ty Gibbs, driver of the #54 Monster Energy Toyota, lead the field to a restart during the NASCAR Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400 Presented by ESPN BET at Kansas Speedway on September 29, 2024 in Kansas City, Kansas. MoreHendrick Motorsports driver Kyle Larson secured pole position. Joining him on the front row is Chris Buescher, followed by Christopher Bell alongside Reddick in second and third, respectively. Closing out the top five starters tomorrow is Joey Logano. NASCAR Cup Series: AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway starting grid
Newsweek
27-04-2025
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Christopher Bell Demands More Than Safety Fixes as NASCAR Fails to Bring New Package to Talladega
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. NASCAR has confirmed that it is bringing no change to the superspeedway package for its cars this weekend at Talladega after failed tests leading up to the weekend. Championship contender Christopher Bell has discussed his thoughts ahead of Sunday's race, admitting that he wants more than just a change to the superspeedway package. NASCAR has been tackling cars going airborne since 2023, something that has plagued the Next Gen car design since its inception. The sanctioning body has implemented a number of aerodynamic changes to try and fix the problem, but while it's much less severe now, the issue of cars flipping still persists. Speaking with the media at Talladega including FOX Sports' Bob Pockrass, the driver pushed for a more substantial change from the sport. "There's no change for this week. I mean, I have my full faith in them that they're doing the best that they can to make sure the races and the cars are as safe as possible. So, honestly, I haven't really thought about that too much. Christopher Bell, driver of the #20 Rheem Toyota, is introduced during the NASCAR Cup Series Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on April 13, 2025 in Bristol, Tennessee. Christopher Bell, driver of the #20 Rheem Toyota, is introduced during the NASCAR Cup Series Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on April 13, 2025 in Bristol, Tennessee."I would enjoy a new superspeedway rules package - not just a safety package, but a rules package to try and change up the way that these races are going. But I haven't heard anything about that, and I know that NASCAR's working hard to make sure that the cars are safe. "But I think it's time to start thinking about the style of racing that we have here. You don't want to have to move field mileage and run at 50 or 60%. I don't think anybody wants to do that. Even whenever it comes to go-time and you start racing and pushing hard, the cars are so locked down that it becomes hard to move. Once the pack forms and you're bumper-to-bumper and door-to-door, you rarely see movement in the pack. "So, yeah, I would love to see them just change the rules package to allow us to race a little bit better. It's funny - we talked right before Atlanta and I was dogging the rules package, and then Atlanta ended up being a pretty good race. "But just the inherent difference between Atlanta being a mile and a half, and Daytona and Talladega being bigger tracks, the style of racing is very different between the two." October 2024 saw a number of changes to tackle this issue. An extended-height roof rail (a 2-inch polycarbonate fin) to deflect air if the vehicle slides sideways An extended rocker panel skirt to eliminate space between the car's floor and ground A fabric beneath the right-side roof flap functioning like a parachute to help keep cars grounded NASCAR is currently designing a new flap that will sit on the A-post of the car, designed to reduce lift when the car goes into a spin. NASCAR officials have provided their own insights into these potential changes. "We spent a lot of time looking at this. ... When Ryan's car crossed from the track, it hit the lip of the bus-stop chicane, which was protruding about 2 inches. So we had a pretty significant tire mark there and a chunk of asphalt missing," said Dr. Eric Jacuzzi, NASCAR's vice president of vehicle performance innovation aero via "The other part ... I went and looked at some helicopter research and when you hover a helicopter over pavement, the engine power is let's say '100.' When you move over to grass you need '120' or '130' — I believe it was 30% more power. That's because of that surface. To me, it makes a lot of sense that the grass, we would have lost some of that downforce we had." The A-post "started as a concept that wasn't really viable," he continued. "and then we had a couple brainstorms and sort of came up with this idea. It proved to be very, very effective."
