Saturday’s sessions for the Cup series were extremely eventful, as uncertainty about tire wear is in the air. No one knows what will happen on Sunday, but Saturday certainly did not look good for the tires.
According to Larry McReynolds, the tires looked worse and more worn out during this practice session than they did a year ago for the spring race, which is certainly welcomed by most fans.
Tires were cording after about 30 laps into the run, and the falloff in lap times was significant. Still, it is worth noting that Sunday’s race will be around 10° warmer than the sessions held on Saturday, and most in the garage believe that the temperatures are the biggest factor in whether the tire wears out or not.
Alex Bowman earned the pole over Ricky Stenhouse Jr. by just 0.013 seconds, with a lap time of 14.912. It’s his second straight pole at Bristol. Bowman earned his second pole of the season, and it’s the first time he’s achieved multiple in the same year.
However, the sessions weren’t quite straightforward, as multiple drivers got loose during their laps. Notably, both multi-time champions had the biggest moments, with Kyle Busch spinning through turns 3 and 4 but avoiding contact and Joey Logano nearly spinning, smacking the wall off of turn 2 during his lap. He will have to repair his Mustang for the race. Kyle Busch and Joey Logano will start 15th and 38th, respectively.
Who is your pick to win the Cup race? What type of race will we see? Let us know what you think on Discord or X. Remember to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube for more updates.
Chris Gabehart has responded to Joe Gibbs Racing’s lawsuit, strongly denying the allegations and calling the claims “false,” “frivolous,” and “retaliatory” in a public statement released this Friday.
After the lawsuit became public, on Thursday, Gabehart spoke out for the first time, stating that he did not share any confidential JGR information with Spire Motorsports or any third parties and that he intends to prove that in court. He also said a third-party forensic review of his personal devices found no evidence supporting the accusations, adding that JGR declined an offer to examine Spire’s systems before filing suit.
“Yesterday afternoon, Joe Gibbs Racing filed a lawsuit claiming — falsely — that I shared JGR confidential information with Spire Motorsports and/or other unnamed third parties… I feel compelled to speak out today and forcefully and emphatically deny these frivolous and retaliatory claims.”
Gabehart said he will address the matter further in a formal legal response in the coming days.
You can learn more about the lawsuit, why it started and all the context surrounding it in the article linked below
Weather could play a major role in the NASCAR weekend at EchoPark Speedway, with current forecasts calling for a 40% chance of rain Saturday afternoon and increasing to 55% in the evening. While conditions are expected to improve, contingency plans are already in place in case races cannot be completed as scheduled
NASCAR has not announced any official schedule changes yet, as decisions will be based on how conditions develop in real time. With rain chances increasing through Saturday afternoon and evening, teams are preparing for multiple outcomes, and Sunday is expected to serve as the primary backup window if events can’t be completed as planned.
Conditions are constantly being monitored, but fans should be prepared for possible schedule adjustments throughout the weekend. We’ll keep you updated throughout the race weekend here on The Daily Downforce
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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