Sometimes drivers just need one more lap to change the outcome of a race. The fast speeds of NASCAR don’t always leave us with enough time to express ourselves in the moment. Here is one more lap of thoughts for us to digest after another exciting weekend of racing.
Turn 1: Matt DiBenedetto! Can we just take a moment to appreciate that at the end of three nights of amazing short track racing we saw a fan favorite ‘underdog’ come within a dozen laps from winning his first MENCS race. Just last week he was notified that he would not be returning to the number 95 Levine Family Racing Toyota. At his lowest point this weekend surrounded by media DiBenedetto reiterated his passion “I want to win in the cup series, that’s what I’ve said and that’s my goal. I’m here to keep climbing the ladder”
Matt almost did it, and he did it with flair. Knowing it was his time to get in the ring and start throwing punches, the 28 year old donned a boxing outfit for driver introductions. We are all staring at a crowd favorite, with talent and personality, now he just needs a ride for 2020.
Turn 2: Tough trucks get hot under the lights. This weekend’s NGOTS UNOH 200 was an old school bumping and beating Bristol race. NASCAR put traction compound on the bottom groove, and cleaned off the top lane. This created a mostly one lane track for a lot of the race and required drivers to use the bumper to get past others. The second lane did come in through the race, but it wasn’t used as much as we would see the following nights.
During the entire race we saw carnage as there were numerous cautions and short runs. A lot of teams ended up in the garage with fenders falling off their trucks.
Ross Chastain was the most liberal with his bump and runs, especially towards the end of the race where he pressed the issue putting himself on the bottom of a three wide fight in the middle of a corner.
When the smoke cleared drivers were talking, and yelling up and down pit road. There was even a scuffle in the garage area. Chastain put it best “This what built this place, you come in this tunnel theres quotes about rattling cages, there’s helmets being thrown, if we are going to fill this place up the carshield chevy is going to be the one adding the excitement.”
Turn 3: Austin Cindric, the big 4? Cindric is not actually comparable to the top three drivers in the Xfinity series, but he may be the most likely to disrupt the party come the playoffs. Currently the fourth seed Cindric is only 16 playoff points behind Tyler Riddick in third and 31 behind Bell in first. The young Team Penske driver has had his share of struggles this season, but has put together fairly consistent results before breaking through with two wins the last three races. Both were on road courses which caters to his driving style, but that doesn’t mean he cannot compete on the ovals. Cindric again impressed with a top five at Bristol and next week at Road America favoris him to close the playoff point, and let’s not forget the Roval during the playoffs. The Biggest question is if he makes it to Homestead, can he get it done?
Turn 4: The MENCS is off for a weekend before the nostalgic throwback race at Darlington, but the NXS will pay a visit to Road America before heading to the historic track. The NGOTS will also visit a road course this coming weekend going across the border to rub fenders at the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.
While I’m disappointed to not see premier series drivers on the edge fighting for the playoffs, I am thrilled that we are going to get more road course action. Both tracks have always put on great events and these drivers are slowly becoming talented and well rounded competitors.
- 2021 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs - August 29, 2021
- NASCAR Cup Series Road America recap - July 5, 2021
- NASCAR Cup Series Martinsville night race review - April 13, 2021