If the entire racing season could be compared to a unique race weekendwe would be at that point where the transporters will have backed up to their assigned locations with supernatural precision (honestly, it’s an art).
This time next week we’ll talk about waiting Rolex 24 test weekend at Daytona, which precedes next week’s Rolex 24, which precedes the NASCAR Clash, then a week’s break, followed by that familiar February-November whirlwind.
All this to say that we are still at the time of year when we have to hunt background topic in order to review this old-school four-speed gearbox every week.
ROLEX 24 TICKETS How much do they cost for the 2025 IMSA race at Daytona? What are the options?
First Gear: Who needs a grill when you’ve got Cook Out?
Phew. It was getting a little awkward for a while as the NASCAR Clash stood naked in front of the auto racing world.
But the season-opening exhibition is once again dressed up in marketing costumes and is now officially known as the “Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium.”
Yes, this still responds to Clash.
Here’s the roll call of the old company names: Busch Clash, Bud Shootout, Budweiser Shootout, Sprint Unlimited, Advance Auto Parts Clash, Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum.
It’s a pretty steady run for Cook Out, the burger-and-shake chain based in North Carolina since 1989 (340 locations in 10 states, according to official literature).
Less than two months after the Clash, we get the Cook Out 400 at Martinsville, not to be confused with the Cook Out 400 later in the season at Richmond, just two weeks before the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington.
Cook Out has pioneered a strategy in the southeastern United States that has so far failed to gain a foothold in Florida, as if no one here is ready for a drive-thru that also offers hushpuppies, corn dogs and cheese curds.
Finally, without wanting to quibble, shouldn’t it be Cookout — a word? “Cook Out” feels like you’re ordering us to do our own cooking, since you always cook at a good barbecue.
Second Gear: NASCAR still very popular with viewers
Someone hunkered down and did some research, and even though NASCAR, like any sports entertainment venue that doesn’t sell football, isn’t getting the TV numbers of the previous generation, it still dominates auto racing in North America.
Of the 38 most-watched races in 2024, 36 were NASCAR Cup Series events. The Daytona 500, as always, led the way, but its audience was down (around 6 million viewers) due to rain which pushed the race back to Monday. As often happens, the Indianapolis 500 came in second with around 5 million viewers.
Proving that fans will be tuning in to witness a high-wire act, the combined four races at Daytona and Talladega all made the top 14 most-watched races. The figures were published on X by the popular account known as Nascarman.
Oh, the other non-NASCAR race in this top 38? The Miami F1 race, which placed 16th.
Third gear: slow down, teams of three cars
No more four-car teams!
Well, except the ones we already have.
NASCAR said that in the future, teams would be limited to a maximum of three charters. Longtime four-car teams Hendrick Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing are grandfathered under the old standard and will continue that way.
A three-car team is still allowed to run a fourth car in one or all races, but it will be entered as an unchartered (“open”) car with no guaranteed starting place if more than 40 cars show up.
Is this some sort of fallout from the ongoing lawsuit involving the Front Row and 23XI teams – both of which recently increased from two to three cars?
Maybe.
Maybe not.
Fourth Gear: one more race in Chicago
Are you a fan of downtown Chicago street racing?
The weather was gloomy for the first two editions, but the scenery was cool and it gave us the opportunity to meet (and keep) Shane van Gisbergen.
But if you’re a fan of this race, you better enjoy the 2025 version because it looks like it will be the last one.
“We’re just looking at 2025,” NASCAR Chief Operating Officer Steve O’Donnell recently told Sports Business Journal. He also added: “We’re going to go through the event, see where things are… but focusing on 2025 and making this event as successful as possible.” »
That’s not what you’re saying if you’ve had positive discussions with local people about extending relations.
A departure from Chicago would not be at all surprising, given that the original deal was for three years and given rumors of negotiations with other major cities – San Diego, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati have been ruled out as potential new sites for street racing. .
— Email Ken Willis at [email protected]
This article originally appeared in the Daytona Beach News-Journal: NASCAR news: Clash now a Cook Out; The television numbers have arrived; Chicago will end
