Monthly Archives: August 2023

Podcast: Is Chris Buescher a contender yet?

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DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA – AUGUST 26: Chris Buescher, driver of the #17 Fifth Third Bank Ford, takes the checkered flag to win the NASCAR Cup Series Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway on August 26, 2023 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)

Click here to listen to this week’s episode.

Race Discussion: Daytona

Cup: CokeZero Sugar 400

  • RFK tag teams the field and gets the win for Chris Buescher
  • Should Brad have been penalized for his donuts on the backstretch?
  • Ryan Blaney hard hit
  • Ryan Preece flips
  • Is Chris Buescher a contender yet?

Playoff standings: https://www.nascar.com/standings/nascar-cup-series/

Xfinity: Wa-Wa 250

  • Justin Allgier finally gets one

Trucks: Milwaukee Mile 

  • Grant Enfinger battles Carson Hocevar for the win
  • Ty Majeski hit with a massive penalty 

News Discussion: 

  • Joe Gibbs says he expects an announcement soon on Hamlin
    • Assume that 23XI will follow
  • Carson Hocevar takes over the 42 at Darlington
  • Matt DiBenedetto looking for plans for 2024
  • AJ Allmendinger may be replaced for 2024 in the Cup Series
  • DBC says to expect at least one double header on 2024 schedule
    • NOT necessarily (or likely) the same track, instead two close tracks
    • NOT Saturday/Sunday, but maybe Wednesday/Sunday
    • Way to allow an Olympic break without ending season later

Playoff Brackets – Let’s not go through the whole thing. We’ll do first four out and our final fours. Full brackets can be posted on the site. 

Eric’s Bracket: 

James’ Bracket: 

Preview: Darlington

Eric: William Byron

James: Kyle Busch

Fantasy Update: James

Shoutouts if any

  • Eric: 
  • James: 

Black Flags

  • Eric: 
  • James: 

Close show  

  • Where can we be found on social media?
  • James @jameskuch on Threads and X
  • Eric @eyoungbm on Threads and @TSuperspeedway on X
  • Facebook: Facebook.com/TheSuperSpeedway

 For more of the podcast:

  • Website address: www.thesuperspeedway.com
  • Find the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play, and Anchor.
  • Subscribe for new episodes each week. 
  • If you go to anchor.fm/thesuperspeedway you can leave us an audio message and we might play it on the show.

Podcast: Byron capitalizes on McDowell’s mistakes for Watkins Glen victory

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WATKINS GLEN, NEW YORK – AUGUST 20: William Byron, driver of the #24 Valvoline Chevrolet, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Go Bowling at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August 20, 2023 in Watkins Glen, New York. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Click here to listen to this week’s episode.

Race Discussion: Watkins Glen

Cup: Go Bowling at the Glen

  • Byron gets win number 5 on the season
  • McDowell trips up 3 times
  • We good with a 2 hour race?
  • Chase has to pull a Keselowski at Daytona
  • One Bubble spot left. Bubba vs Everyone

Playoff standings: https://www.nascar.com/standings/nascar-cup-series/

Xfinity: Shriners Children’s 200

  • Sam Mayer vs Ty Gibbs

News Discussion: 

  • NASCAR Classics
  • Austin HIll returning to RCR in XFINITY for 2024
  • NASCAR gets the Netflix treatment in 2024
    • Docuseries to feature 2023 playoffs
  • Hamlin, JGR and Toyota have some things to work out for 2024
    • Rumors are Ford met with 23XI at Michigan
    • Also rumors Ford and SHR are done after 2024

SRX Corner: 

  • Jonathan Davenport puts on a show
  • Rocket Man wins his first major championship
  • What did we think of the 2023 season?

Preview: Daytona

Eric: Erik Jones

James: Joey Logano

Fantasy Update: James

Shoutouts if any

  • Eric: 
  • James: 

Black Flags

  • Eric: 
  • James: 

Close show  

  • Where can we be found on social media?
  • James @jameskuch on Threads and X
  • Eric @eyoungbm on Threads and @TSuperspeedway on X
  • Facebook: Facebook.com/TheSuperSpeedway

 For more of the podcast:

  • Website address: www.thesuperspeedway.com
  • Find the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play, and Anchor.
  • Subscribe for new episodes each week. 
  • If you go to anchor.fm/thesuperspeedway you can leave us an audio message and we might play it on the show.

Podcast: Is Michael McDowell’s Indy win an ‘underdog’ victory?

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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – AUGUST 13: Michael McDowell, driver of the #34 Horizon Hobby Ford, celebrates with a burnout in front of his crew and family after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Verizon 200 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on August 13, 2023 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)

Listen to this week’s podcast by clicking here.

Race Discussion: Indianapolis

Cup: Verizon 200 at the Brickyard

  • Michael McDowell locks himself into the playoffs with a victory
  • Chase Elliott comes up one spot short
  • Only two cautions (?) in the race
  • Suarez has trouble in the pits
  • Van Gisbergen is HUMAN — Finishes 10th
    • Still a top-10 finish though

Playoff standings: https://www.nascar.com/standings/nascar-cup-series/

Xfinity: Pennzoil 150 presented by Advance Auto Parts

  • Ty Gibbs with the win

Craftsman Trucks: TSport 200 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park

  • Ty Majeski with the statement win
  • Lane Riggs finishes third!
  • Shane Van Gisbergen finishes 19th in his first NASCAR oval race

News Discussion: 

SRX Corner: 

  • Tony Stewart is back on top
  • Half the field wrecks early

Preview: Watkins Glen

Eric: Tyler Reddick

James: Daniel Suarez

Fantasy Update: James

Shoutouts if any

  • Eric: 
  • James: 

Black Flags

  • Eric: 
  • James: 

Close show  

  • Where can we be found on social media?
  • James @jameskuch on Threads and X
  • Eric @eyoungbm on Threads and @TSuperspeedway on X
  • Facebook: Facebook.com/TheSuperSpeedway

 For more of the podcast:

  • Website address: www.thesuperspeedway.com
  • Find the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play, and Anchor.
  • Subscribe for new episodes each week. 
  • If you go to anchor.fm/thesuperspeedway you can leave us an audio message and we might play it on the show.

Podcast: Chris Buescher holds off Monday Martin to double down at Michigan

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To listen to this week’s episode, click here.

Race Discussion: Michigan

Cup: FireKeepers Casino 400

  • Chris Buescher wins second race in a row
    • AUDIO: Scott Graves on being an underdog (1:31)
    • Holds off Martin Truex Jr. in late stages
      • AUDIO: Truex on being hard to pass (1:03)
  • Race was postponed after 74 laps to Monday
  • LOTS of attrition early
    • Kyle Busch
    • William Byron
    • Chase Elliott
    • Josh Berry

Playoff standings: https://www.nascar.com/standings/nascar-cup-series/

Xfinity: CaboWabo 250

  • John Hunter Nemechek does it again
    • AUDIO: JHN on the regular season championship (0:37)
    • Contact with teammate Ty Gibbs early causes multi-car wreck
  • Justin Allgaier continues to beat himself

News Discussion: 

  • Noah Gragson indefinitely suspended after liking a racist tweet
    • Daniel McFadden from The Frontstretch essentially broke the story
    • Was suspension the right decision? 
    • What does this mean for Gragson’s future? 
    • Gragson may or may not have been fired?
  • Martin Truex Jr. announces he is coming back next year
    • Will this start the dominos? 

SRX Corner: 

  • KFB is 2 for 2
    • AUDIO: Kyle Busch on his win (0:17)
  • Super clean race. Stewart says it’s unfortunate that people will say that’s because of Paul Tracy not being there. Says it’s the track more than anything. 
  • GIANT success. Will SRX come back? 
  • AUDIO: Joey on Berlin (0:52)

Preview: Indy Road Course

  • SVG is back
  • IndyCar and Xfinity doubleheader
  • Will this be the last time on the roadcourse?
    • AUDIO: Denny Hamlin says yes (0:24)

Indy Pick: 

Eric: Todd Gilliland

James: AJ Allmendinger

Fantasy Update: James

Shoutouts if any

  • Eric: 
  • James: 

Black Flags

  • Eric: 
  • James: 

Close show 

  • Where can we be found on social media?
  • James @jameskuch on Threads and X
  • Eric @eyoungbm on Threads and @TSuperspeedway on X
  • Facebook: Facebook.com/TheSuperSpeedway

 For more of the podcast:

  • Website address: www.thesuperspeedway.com
  • Find the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play, and Anchor.
  • Subscribe for new episodes each week. 
  • If you go to anchor.fm/thesuperspeedway you can leave us an audio message and we might play it on the show.

Chris Buescher wins the FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway

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Chris Buescher won the 2023 FireKeepers Casino 400 Monday at Michigan International Speedway, his fourth career victory and his second victory in 2023. It was also his second victory in a row, following a win the weekend before at Richmond Raceway.

Below you will find video from different appearances by the drivers during the weekend. The SuperSpeedway was in attendance during the race weekend, and you can find exclusive videos from our coverage below.

John Hunter Nemecheck wins Cabo Wabo 250 NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Michigan International Speedway

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John Hunter Nemechek won the Cabo Wabo 250 NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Michigan International Speedway Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023.

Below you will find video from different appearances by the drivers during the weekend. The SuperSpeedway was in attendance during the race weekend, and you can find exclusive videos from our coverage below.

Here’s why SRX needs to come back to Berlin Raceway

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The Superstar Racing Experience, the all-star series founded by Tony Stewart and Ray Evernham (Ray has since moved on) made its first stop at Berlin Raceway in Marne, Michigan, just north of Grand Rapids, Thursday night. And to say it was a rousing success would be an understatement.

Tickets had been sold out for months — they sold out just days after they went on sale. When the track put up a select number of Fan Zone tickets for sale a few weeks before the race, those sold out quickly as well. The stands were near capacity for the limited late model race that was held two hours before the start of the SRX event. When I arrived at the track at 2 p.m., seven hours before the scheduled green flag of SRX heat 1, the parking lot was as full as it usually is an hour before a race there.

The fans were loud, they were into it, and they didn’t move from their seats when light rain slowed the action down for a half hour or so between the heat races.

Berlin Raceway is a terrific track, and it’s just the sort of track that embodies the SRX series. For one, there’s tons of history there. While there are many famous race tracks in the south, there is a lot of racing royalty that is from Michigan, and who cut their teeth at the nearly circular track. Names like Brad Keselowski, Carson Hocevar and Erik Jones to name three Michigan NASCAR drivers.

Brian Keselowski has a couple of ARCA wins there, as does Bob Keselowski.

Mike Eddy won the last ASA race held at Berlin in 2004, which just so happens to be the race that was my first at the facility. I’ve been going back when I can since. I attended the Battle at Berlin 250 last year, the Money in the Bank 150 earlier this year and I’ll be back Wednesday for the Battle at Berlin again. Those are super late model races, and they’ve been a staple of the Michigan NASCAR weekend for years, with several NASCAR stars coming out to take to the track.

Erik Jones won the Money in the Bank earlier this year and is a former Battle at Berlin winner. Next week’s Battle at Berlin will feature Jones, William Byron, Chase Elliott, Josh Berry, Carson Hocevar and more.

Berlin is unique, in that the asphalt is worn out, and the closest thing to a straightaway is on the frontstretch, but drivers never straighten the wheel around the track. The racing line is below the yellow line coming off the turns — they were using the grass in turn two during the SRX race Thursday night. But the most unique feature of the track is what’s missing — a wall on the outside of the backstretch. That means you don’t have to worry about hitting a wall if you go wide, but you might have to worry about ending up in the woods instead.

Despite its age — the track opened in 1950 as a horse track before becoming a dirt stock car track and eventually being paved — the facility has a new shine all over it. The main grandstand is a former section of bleachers from Michigan International Speedway. The track features a bar that would rival any stand-alone establishment, and there is usually a band playing whenever there aren’t cars on the track.

It’s a top-notch facility, which has hosted ARCA races for many years, but finally found itself on the national stage this week.

The race was competitive and fun, and while the drivers didn’t tear up any equipment, the racing was still spectacular.

Stewart said after the race that he could see coming back to Berlin again. it’s tough when the schedule only has six slots, but Berlin definitely deserves a chance to host once again. While I love the rotation of different tracks each year, when one is as big of a hit as Berlin, it earns the right to be on the short list for a return.