David Land “Fixes” the Brickyard 400

On motorsports YouTube, it's hard to find anyone more passionate about the Indianapolis Motor Speedway than David Land. He's also, unapologetically, a racing purist in a lot of aspects, and he does not always agree with decisions NASCAR makes. However, he still wants to see the NASCAR race at his childhood hometown track succeed as well.

On motorsports YouTube, it’s hard to find anyone more passionate about the Indianapolis Motor Speedway than David Land. He’s also, unapologetically, a racing purist in a lot of aspects, and he does not always agree with the decisions NASCAR makes. However, he still wants to see the NASCAR race at his childhood hometown track succeed as well.

In response to NASCAR’s rumored move back to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval, David Land added his opinion on the potential return of the Brickyard 400. Sporting a lab coat standing next to a whiteboard, David Land goes through what he feels NASCAR and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway should do to “fix” the Brickyard 400. What did he have to say, and how much of it can or will actually happen?

Brief Takeaways

David Land suggested completely breaking the mold of what a traditional modern NASCAR race is for the Brickyard 400. From how you qualify for the race, to field sizes, to restarts, to stages.

David Land described what a race at Indianapolis should be, to him, in these four words: special, difficult, exclusive, and with a sense of urgency. He then goes into depth about the three-day Brickyard 400 weekend, and how that would allow for these four things he is looking for. He models a lot of how he goes about the race weekend around the way that the Indianapolis 500 is approached.

It’s a completely different way to approach a NASCAR race weekend. It’s also a different way to approach a race itself. The Brickyard 400 itself has some pretty major changes made to it as well in this scenario David Land has put together.

Analyzing What He Said

Obviously, it’s very unrealistic that all of the things he suggested would actually happen because NASCAR would have to break a lot of their own rules to make a lot of these changes happen. However, the sentiment David Land has makes a lot of sense.

He says in the first of his four words to describe what a race at Indianapolis should be that the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis should be special. Why not implement some unique aspects that make this race special?

The Indianapolis 500, which David Land models a large part of his Brickyard 400 weekend proposal after, is more than just a one-day show. There is practice all throughout the month of May, and qualifying happens one week before the actual race.

It’s truly unlike any IndyCar race or motor race in general that you see. NASCAR has even gone this route to some extent with the Daytona 500. No other points race in NASCAR has qualifying races a few days before the actual race.

Why is the Daytona 500 like this? It is a special and unique event. It’s not like the rest of the races on the schedule, and its’ qualifying procedure reflects that exactly as it should.

The Brickyard 400 was a very prestigious race, and it still should be. NASCAR would be the only other sanctioning body to run on the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway Oval other than IndyCars for the Indianapolis 500. Running on that race track is an incredible privilege.

This race should not feel like a normal race weekend. Why should NASCAR not break the mold? If they want the Brickyard 400 to be a “Crown Jewel” once again, they are going to have to think outside the box.

It’s worth noting that the race is still not guaranteed to happen yet, and there are a lot of factors to consider with this race. What is preventing the things that diminished the value of the Brickyard 400 from happening again? Will the racing product be good enough to keep fans interested in the race where it needs to be?

That is the ultimate question, and it will be interesting to see how creative NASCAR gets with the Brickyard 400 if it returns. Who knows?

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DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 11: NASCAR Hall of Famer and JGR team owner, Joe Gibbs looks on during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 11, 2026 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Joe Gibbs Racing Adds Spire Motorsports to Lawsuit, Motions for Gabehart to Cease Work

What’s Happening?

Joe Gibbs Racing has added to its lawsuit filed against former Crew Chief and Competition Director Chris Gabehart, filing to add Spire as a co-defendant, and to prevent Gabehart from continuing his work at Spire.

JGR initiated this lawsuit on February 19, alleging Gabehart, a long-time Crew Chief, most recently for Denny Hamlin, and the team’s now former Competition Director, “embarked on a brazen scheme to steal JGR’s most sensitive information and use it for the benefit of a direct competitor in NASCAR.”

That direct competitor, Spire Motorsports, which currently employs Gabehart as their Chief Motorsports Officer, is now a co-defendant in this lawsuit, via an amended complaint filed Tuesday.

Per the latest filing from JGR, which employed Gabehart as Competition Director last season, is asking the court for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction with seven key requests.

Key to these requests is that Gabehardt cease providing Spire with “services for Spire similar to those he provided to JGR” for 18 months following his February 9 formal termination from JGR.

JGR also requested that Spire stop accepting Gabehart’s work as per the noncompete obligation of his termination.

The filing also has several requests regarding the team information Gabehart allegedly retained from JGR.

These include Gabehart returning this information alongside the devices that store this information and “cease and desist from retaining, transferring, using or copying any Confidential Information and Trade Secrets.”

From JGR’s filing:

c. Gabehart immediately cease and desist from retaining, transferring, using or copying any Confidential Information and Trade Secrets

d. Gabehart return any Confidential Information and Trade Secrets in his possession to JGR;

e. Gabehart transfer to the custody of JGR’s counsel any device used to store the Confidential Information and Trade Secrets and, through an agreed upon Court ordered process, allow the forensic preservation and review of these devices for identification of Confidential Information and Trade Secrets, the return of any identified Confidential Information and Trade Secrets to JGR, and the removal of any identified Confidential Information and Trade Secrets from the devices;

f. Gabehart cease and desist from using or disclosing JGR’s Confidential Information and Trade Secrets to third parties;

As of press time, Gabehart has commented on the lawsuit in a post to X on February 20, where he claimed a third-party investigator “examined my laptop, cell phone and personal Google Drive and found no evidence to support the baseless allegations in JGR’s lawsuit.”

What do you think about this? Let us know your opinion on Discord or X. Don’t forget that you can also follow us on InstagramFacebook, and YouTube.

HAMPTON, GEORGIA - FEBRUARY 20: Jesse Love, driver of the #2 Samsara Chevrolet, looks on during qualifying for the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series Bennett Transportation & Logistics 250 at Echo Park Speedway on February 20, 2026 in Hampton, Georgia. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

Rumor Mill: Are These the Top Candidates For Legacy Motor Club’s Expansion?

What’s Happening?

The NASCAR rumor mill is heating up as a new rumor suggests that a former series champion and an active NASCAR Cup Series driver could be in line to drive for Legacy Motor Club in 2027.

The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season is well underway, while teams and drivers are still settling into their new lineups and seats, others are already prepping for next season.

Most expect the 2027 NASCAR Silly Season to be one of the wildest in years, with many major names on contract seasons, and top seats looking for new drivers.

One story that will likely carry through the 2026 season, and into the offseason, is Legacy Motor Club, which is expanding to three full-time cars in 2027 via the acquisition of a charter from Rick Ware Racing, which is currently leased to RFK Racing for their No. 60 entry.

While many storylines could stem from this transaction, one that is already playing out is LMC’s driver search, as the team looks to add a new face to their roster alongside drivers John Hunter Nemechek and Erik Jones.

Though we are nearly a year away from what would be the first race for this third car, per recent rumors, a few names are already emerging as top candidates.

What’s the Rumor?

Monday afternoon, a post from a well-known NASCAR rumor account made the rounds on social media, naming two drivers as possible options for LMC.

In their post, the user claimed that 23XI Racing’s Riley Herbst and Richard Childress Racing prospect Jesse Love were “early contenders” for the ride.

Of course, this is just a rumor, and even if they are possible candidates, things can change. However, both of these options come with their own storylines and questions.

What Do We Know?

The first thing that likely comes to mind when hearing this rumor is that both of these drivers would have to depart their current spots, something that most have suspected will happen by next season.

For Herbst, he is facing the impending promotion of top NASCAR prospect Corey Heim to full-time competition.

This year, Heim, the reigning NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Champion, is racing part-time with 23XI Racing, with almost every rumor and blurb suggesting next year will be his first full-time season in NASCAR’s highest level.

While 2026 Daytona 500 Champion Tyler Reddick is reportedly on a contract season, most see Herbst as the clear weak link at 23XI, though, in the somewhat unlikely event Reddick were to jump ship, there could be a world where a spot opens for Heim without affecting Herbst.

Regarding Love, the reigning NASCAR Xfinity Series Champion is in his third full-time year with RCR in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, and, for some time now, has been rumored to be looking for a promotion, beyond his part-time Cup Series schedule.

This is not the first time Love and LMC have been tied together in the rumor mill, as in June 2025, when LMC was in the midst of a lawsuit to get their third charter by this season (something that never came to be), a report from Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports suggested there could be interest in Love as that third driver at LMC.

As of right now, Love has yet to score a full-time Cup Series ride. But there is a chance a slot opens in-house as RCR Cup Series driver Kyle Busch is on a contract year, a situation that could leave Love with a difficult decision between staying in a familiar spot or returning ot the Toyota camp.

But the biggest decision could come down to RCR, which, in the event Busch excels this year, could face deciding between a NASCAR legend and keeping their best prospect in some time.

Nonetheless, all of this is hypothetical, as the gears are just now turning on what could be a NASCAR Cup Series Silly Season for the ages.

What do you think about this? Let us know your opinion on Discord or X. Don’t forget that you can also follow us on InstagramFacebook, and YouTube.

Keelan Harvick Signs With TOYOTA | Hamlin Calls Out Hocevar | Sheldon Creed, Corey Day, and More!

Denny Hamlin fires off on Carson Hocevar, Sheldon Creed finally gets his long-awaited breakthrough, and 13-year-old Keelan Harvick makes a massive career move. From sharp words on a podcast to a feel-good victory and a headline-grabbing development deal, this episode covers three very different stories that could all have long-term ripple effects.

  • What exactly did Denny Hamlin say about Carson Hocevar — and was he right?
  • Has Hocevar officially reset the “garage credit” he was building?
  • What does Sheldon Creed’s first win in the NASCAR O’Reilly Series mean for his future?
  • And why is Keelan Harvick signing with Toyota Racing Development such a big deal?

There’s controversy, redemption, and a glimpse at the next generation all wrapped into one packed show. Some reputations are being tested, others are being rebuilt, and one young driver may have just taken the first major step toward the Cup Series.

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