With the Brickyard 400 come-and-gone, the NASCAR world has officially started its two-week break for the Paris Olympics. With the sport on hiatus, it leaves plenty of time to look back and watch some of NASCAR’s most iconic races, especially from the Generation-6 car. But which races are the best to watch? Let’s dive into the 10 best races to watch from the Gen-6 during the Olympic break.
Let’s start this list with a popular one. Ask any fan to list their favorite races from Gen-6, and the 2018 race at Chicagoland will be included. It had everything from competitive action to surprise faces up in the front and made Chicagoland Speedway a fan favorite. From Dale Jr.’s iconic “slide job” call to a thrilling edition of the “Kyle vs. Kyle Show,” the 2018 Overton’s 400 is definitely warranted for a re-watch.
Sticking with 2018, who can forget the inaugural race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval? It was the first “big swing” NASCAR had taken in years, and one we’re still discussing today. The big pileup in Stage 3 and Jimmie Johnson and Martin Truex Jr. getting together, parting the seas for Ryan Blaney to get the win. This race was the first of its kind and the start of something new, not just for Charlotte but for the sport as a whole.
An iconic race needs not just one but multiple iconic moments. The 2016 championship race at Homestead-Miami Speedway checks that box. It was the final race for Tony Stewart and Carl Edwards in a Cup car, along with the infamous Edwards/Joey Logano wreck that set up Jimmie Johnson winning his record-tying seventh NASCAR Cup Series championship. This was also the final race before NASCAR’s “Stage Racing Era” began in 2017. The 2016 Ford Ecoboost 400 had it all and is one fans should definitely re-watch during the Olympic break.
The Gen-6 shined best at the short tracks, and what race shows that better than the 2017 First Data 500 at Martinsville? It had everything fans want in a short track race: tempers, bumper-to-bumper action, and a thrilling finish. Add the intensity of the playoffs into the mix, and this race did not disappoint. From Chase Elliott vs. Brad Keselowski to the start of Denny Hamlin’s villain arc, no one will forget this race at Martinsville.
Many fans consider Bristol Motor Speedway as NASCAR’s best race track. Put it together with the Gen-6 car, and the result is a fantastic race. The 2019 Bristol Night Race race was competitive from the start, with no one leading more than 93 laps during the 500-lap event. It came down to Matt DiBenedetto vs. Denny Hamlin, and many can say that DiBenedetto became a household name among NASCAR fans. Hamlin came away with the win, but NASCAR fans came away with another fantastic race.
Let’s go back just over a decade ago to year one of the Gen-6 cars. Following a lackluster Daytona 500, many fans were skeptical about what this car could produce. Those doubts were silenced during the 2013 Auto Clun 400 at Auto Club Speedway. Hamlin and Logano put on a battle for the ages, culminating in the two getting together and parting ways for Kyle Busch to get the win. At a time when the Gen-6 was on the ropes, this race gave hope that the car could deliver some thrilling racing.
Any list of NASCAR races to watch has to include at least one Daytona 500. Considered by many to be the best Daytona 500 of the Gen-6 era, the 2014 Daytona 500 had a mix of everything, including weather and a late-night finish. Some of the most iconic moments of the Gen-6 occurred in this race, including Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s celebration, earning it a spot on this list.
Every list needs a “Wild Card” addition to its lineup. For this list, it’s the inaugural Bristol Dirt Race in 2021. This was the first NASCAR Cup Series race on dirt since 1970, marking a historic moment for the sport. Yet despite the race on dirt, it raced more like the old Bristol configuration before 2007, with everyone running the bottom. The two favorites, Larson and Christopher Bell, wrecked out early, with Joey Logano besting Ricky Stenhouse Jr. for the win.
Sticking with 2021, and Bristol for that matter, the 2021 Bristol Night Race was one that fans look on fondly for its on-track action and tempers at the end. Once again, pair the Gen-6 with a short track, and the result is a phenomenal race that sits at No. 2 on Jeff Gluck’s “Was it a Good Race?” Poll. Everyone remembers Chase Elliott vs. Kevin Harvick that parted the seas for Larson to score his sixth win of the season.
Let’s end this list with another Daytona 500. But not just any Daytona 500, the closest finish in the history of the Great American Race. A rookie Chase Elliott started on the pole for his first 500, with Dale Jr. starting alongside. The Toyota brigade of Joe Gibbs Racing and Furniture Row Racing dominated the day, leading up to a side-by-side finish between Hamlin and Truex, with Hamlin taking the win by just 0.010 seconds over MTJ.
What do you think about all this? Let us know on Discord or X what your take is, and don’t forget you can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and even YouTube.
Just when things finally seemed to calm down in the NASCAR garage, a bombshell dropped. Joe Gibbs Racing is officially suing former competition director Chris Gabehart, and the allegations are serious. Power struggles, confidential data, secret photos, and a potential move to Spire Motorsports.
From competition department tension to an $8 million damages figure, this lawsuit could have major implications beyond just one team. Gabehart helped elevate Denny Hamlin back into championship form and played a key role in JGR’s recent success, which makes this split even more shocking. This preview only scratches the surface. The full breakdown dives into the timeline, the alleged evidence, and what this could mean for the Cup Series balance of power moving forward. Watch the full video to learn much more
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NASCAR President Steve O’Donnell says the Cup Series schedule is not guaranteed to remain at 36 races, and the sanctioning body is evaluating whether a different structure would make more sense.
Speaking about the long-term outlook, O’Donnell said everything from the total number of events to when they are held is under consideration.
“It’s worked for us, but I would not say this is the way it will always be. Is there a number of races that makes more sense? Could it be 30, or even more? Could we introduce midweek races and shorten the season? All of that is on the table.”
The Cup Series has run a 36-race points schedule for more than two decades, typically from February through November.
NASCAR’s current media rights deal spreads races across multiple broadcast, cable, and streaming partners, having been in place since 2025. Compared to the previous deal, far fewer races now air on traditional broadcast television, so fans have to follow the season across several networks and platforms, including FS1, USA, Prime Video, and TNT Sports. O’Donnell previously acknowledged that the transition led to a late-season dip in viewership as coverage has been on broadcast TV less often, and it clashes directly with the NFL.
O’Donnell says weekday races are an option if NASCAR wants to shorten the overall calendar without dramatically reducing the number of races. The sport last had midweek races during the 2020 season, when it was the first sport to return to action, at Darlington. During that time, NASCAR did multiple midweek races, including at Darlington, Charlotte, and Kansas, to compensate for the weeks missed during quarantine, and the audience showed up in TV ratings.
A shorter season could also reduce direct competition with football, which dominates the U.S. sports calendar each fall, while additional races would create more inventory for media partners.
Across sports, schedules are increasingly shaped by media strategy rather than tradition. The NFL, for example, has expanded its reach without drastically lengthening its season, adding standalone games on holidays, exclusive streaming packages, and international matchups to maximize value per game. The league also added a 17th regular-season game in 2021, its first expansion in decades, as part of a broader revenue push.
Other U.S. leagues are following similar paths. The NBA introduced an in-season tournament to create new broadcast inventory without extending the schedule, while MLB continues to sell national windows and streaming packages across its existing 162-game season.
In motorsports, Formula 1 has expanded the calendar itself. The series ran 21 races in 2021. 10 years earlier, it ran 19 races. And now it has a record-breaking 24-race schedule, despite being a global championship. Much of that growth is driven by hosting fees from cities and governments, as well as rising international demand, but drivers and the industry have already shown displeasure regarding the ever-growing schedule, deeming it too exhausting.
The shifts across sports accelerated drastically after the pandemic, when leagues became more dependent on media revenue and more willing to adjust calendars, formats, and distribution to match changing viewing habits. NASCAR, for example, rarely changed its calendar before 2020, but after the pandemic, it’s become one of the most diverse calendars in motorsports: racing on dirt, in stadiums, reviving old tracks, adding road courses, expanding internationally, and constantly changing its post-season race placements.
NASCAR has not announced any plans to alter the Cup schedule. O’Donnell’s comments indicate the organization is evaluating options as it plans future seasons under an evolving sports media environment.
What do you think? Should NASCAR have more, fewer, or the same number of races going forward? Would you like to see midweek races? Let us know what you think on Discord or X. Don’t forget that you can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
Following days of intense online speculation and rumors within the diecast community, Lionel, LLC has officially confirmed that it is set to be acquired by Round 2, a portfolio company of Praesidian Capital.
The two giants of the hobby and collectibles industry will eventually merge to form a new entity known as the Lionel Brands Group.
The Daily Downforce reached out to Lionel, and they confirmed Round 2’s intent to purchase the company, noting that the transaction is expected to progress over the coming weeks. The move signals a major shift in the landscape of NASCAR merchandising and diecast production, bringing together two of the most recognizable names in the business.
“We are aligned around a shared vision to build a stronger, fan-first platform that supports the brands, communities, and partners that have made each company successful,” the statement read.
For fans and collectors worried about immediate disruptions to their pre-orders or current programs, Lionel emphasized that the transition will not affect day-to-day operations in the short term.
“In the near term, it remains business as usual,” the company stated. “Our priority is maintaining continuity and supporting the programs already underway.”
Lionel, which has long held the exclusive license for NASCAR diecast, and Round 2 (known for brands like AMT, Johnny Lightning, and Racing Champions) aim to leverage their combined “strong legacies” to create new growth opportunities.
While the announcement confirms the intent to merge, specific details regarding future product lines or changes to the “Lionel Racing” brand remain under wraps. The company noted that future updates will be shared via their official social media channels as the transaction moves forward.
The statement concluded with a nod to NASCAR fans: “We’ll be in touch once we have more to share – Enjoy the race Atlanta!”
Are you a diecast collector? What do you think about this latest move? Let us know your opinion on Discord or X. Don’t forget that you can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
