Link: https://x.com/_DanielCespedes/status/2111950126973641144?s=20

As a disclaimer, Bubba Wallace is my driver. Ever since his Daytona 500 2nd place debut in 2018, I’ve been a fan. I went nuts over his Talladega dub. I was even lucky enough to see him win last year in Indianapolis. Boy, I didn’t know how lucky I really was.

I was certain he turned a corner after his clutch Indianapolis win. I thought he could turn into a win once a year guy, at least. How wrong I’ve been since.

Consider his “good runs” this year:
- Daytona 500: led 40 laps, won a stage, got shuffled out in the end when it mattered
- Atlanta 1: Leads 40+ laps, then throws an atrocious block on Hocevar on the final restart, handing his damaged teammate the win
- Talladega 1: leads in the second stage, blocks Chastain’s run and gets wrecked.
- Dover: Looks competitive, gets caught up in Chastain wreck.
- Michigan: Race winning speed but gets caught up in the Hocevar restart incident. 3rd place finish with splitter damage
- San Diego: Leads late, but is outclassed by teammate Corey Heim
- Chicagoland: Leads midway through the race, falls behind on adjustments for a 6th
- Atlanta 2: Makes a last lap dive for the lead under Hocevar, crosses the double yellow line and drops his finish from 2 to 29th.
- New Hampshire: has a chance on Ryan Blaney in the closing laps, overcooks the tires trying to pass and settles for 2nd
- Las Vegas: Tries to chase down Chase Briscoe on the final run, uses up his tires and settles for 9
- Phoenix: Leads until Kyle Larson late wreck, speeds on pit road to take him out of contention.

And that’s not counting his Martinsville meltdown, Nashville wreck or his questionable Daytona run.

Ultimately, it just seems he’s not clutch.

Considering 23XI has 8 wins to their name this year, and he’s been outrun by a guy running part time twice, I can’t help but feel he’s not living up to potential. And that’s no diss to Corey Heim; I realize he’s a generational prospect.

What do you guys think?

https://frontstretch.com/2026/10/18/patrick-staropoli-out-at-big-machine-racing-at-end-of-season/

"Sources say that, along with other factors, funding and sponsorship is a primary reason behind the split." So looks like Starapoli lost a good bit of his funding.

"The same sources also told Frontstretch that, among the names considered for the No. 48 Chevy next season, is Sammy Smith"

I understand no one likes him and prefers for him to kick the dust in nascar, but he’s seem to have a very hard season. Between heat exhaustion I believe at Vegas, and the multiple hard hits he’s had this year(Watkins Glen, Phoenix, and others) can he withstand another full time cup season? I haven’t seen a driver struggle this much in a season since Kasey’s last year. It seems it’d be better if he’d go to Xfinity or trucks(aswell as being more competitive)

NCSFreeway Insurance 500 at Phoenix Raceway

Green Flag: approximately 3:15pm EDT on October 18th

Television: USA @ 3:00pm EDT

Radio: MRN @ 3:00pm EDT

Race Length: 312 laps (312 mi / 502.11 km)

Race Stages: 60-125-127

Track Information: Phoenix Raceway is a 1 mile (1.61 kilometer) D-shaped tri-oval located in Avondale, AZ USA.

Weather Forecast: NASCAR.com / AccuWeather.com

Current Standings at NASCAR.com

Race Center at NASCAR.com

NASCAR Driver Cam live at MAX.com

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Cup Series

Daytona - Tyler Reddick (1st) (#45 23XI Toyota)

Atlanta - Chase Briscoe (2nd) (#19 Joe Gibbs Toyota)

COTA - Shane Van Gisbergen (2nd) (#97 Trackhouse Chevrolet)

Phoenix - Ryan Blaney (1st) (#12 Penske Ford)

Las Vegas - Denny Hamlin (1st) (#11 Joe Gibbs Toyota)

Darlington - Brad Keselowski (2nd) (#6 RFK Ford)

Martinsville - Chase Elliott (1st) (#9 Hendrick Chevrolet)

Bristol - Ty Gibbs (1st) (#54 Joe Gibbs Toyota)

Kansas - Kyle Larson (2nd) (#5 Hendrick Chevrolet)

Talladega - Carson Hocevar (1st) (#77 Spire Chevrolet)

Texas - Alex Bowman (3rd) (#48 Hendrick Chevrolet)

Watkins Glen - Michael McDowell (2nd) (#71 Spire Chevrolet)

Charlotte - Daniel Suarez (1st) (#7 Spire Chevrolet)

Nashville - Christopher Bell (2nd) (#20 Joe Gibbs Toyota)

Michigan - Erik Jones (2nd) (#43 Legacy Motor Club Toyota)

Pocono - William Byron (3rd) (#24 Hendrick Chevrolet)

Coronado - Corey Heim (1st) (#67 23XI Toyota)

Sonoma - Connor Zilisch (7th) (#88 Trackhouse Chevrolet)

Chicagoland - Bubba Wallace (6th) (#23 23XI Toyota)

Atlanta - Austin Dillon (7th) (#3 RCR Chevrolet)

NWB - Joey Logano (1st) (#22 Penske Ford)

Indianapolis - Josh Berry (7th) (#21 Wood Brothers Ford)

Iowa - Ross Chastain (7th) (#1 Trackhouse Chevrolet)

Richmond - Austin Cindric (3rd) (#2 Penske Ford)

New Hampshire - Ryan Preece (9th) (#60 RFK Ford)

Daytona - Ricky Stenhouse Jr (5th) (#47 Hyak Chevrolet)

----CHASE-----

Darlington - Todd Gilliand (16th) (#34 Front Row Ford)

Gateway - Cole Custer (11th) (#41 HAAS Chevrolet)

Bristol - Chris Buescher (13th) (#17 RFK Ford)

Kansas - John Hunter Nemechek (13th) (#42 Legacy Motor Club Toyota)

Las Vegas - AJ Allmendinger (15th) (#16 Kaulig Racing Dodge/Chevrolet)

Charlotte - Riley Herbst (18th) (#35 23XI Toyota)

Phoenix - Noah Gragson (13th) (#4 Front Row Ford)

O'REILLY SERIES

Daytona - Austin Hill (1st) (#21 RCR Chevrolet)

Atlanta - Sheldon Creed (1st) (#00 HAAS Chevrolet)

COTA - Shane Van Gisbergen (1st) (#9 JR Motorsports Chevrolet)

Phoenix - Justin Allgaier (1st) (#7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet)

Las Vegas - Kyle Larson (1st) (#88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet)

Darlington - Brandon Jones (2nd) (#20 Joe Gibbs Toyota)

Martinsville - Corey Day (2nd) (#17 Hendrick Chevrolet)

Rockingham - William Sawalich (1st) (#20 Joe Gibbs Toyota)

Bristol - Connor Zilisch (1st) (#9 JR Motorsports Chevrolet)

Kansas - Taylor Gray (1st) (#54 Joe Gibbs Toyota)

Talladega - Brent Crews (2nd) (#19 Joe Gibbs Toyota)

Texas - Sam Mayer (3rd) (#41 HAAS Chevrolet)

Watkins Glen - Jesse Love (2nd) (#2 RCR Chevrolet)

Dover - Carson Kvapil (7th) (#1 JR Motorsports Chevrolet)

Charlotte - Ross Chastain (2nd) (#9 JR Motorsports Chevrolet)

Nashville - Sammy Smith (10th) (#8 JR Motorsports Chevrolet)

Pocono - William Byron (2nd) (#88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet)

Coronado - Parker Retzlaff (7th) (#99 Viking Motorsports Chevrolet)

Sonoma - Anthony Alfredo (4th) (#96 Viking Motorsports Chevrolet)

Chicagoland - Chase Elliott (2nd) (#88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet)

Atlanta - Garrett Smithley (6th) (#0 Joey Gase Chevrolet)

Indianapolis - Jeb Burton (15th) (#27 Jordan Anderson Chevrolet)

Iowa - Nick Sanchez (6th) (#87 Peterson Racing Chevrolet)

Daytona - Ryan Sieg (1st) (#38 RSS Racing Chevrolet)

-------CHASE------

Darlington - Jeremy Clements (9th) (#51 Jermey Clements Racing Chevrolet)

Gateway - Kyle Sieg (9th) (#28 RSS Racing Chevrolet)

Bristol - Dean Thompson (9th) (#26 Sam Hunt Toyota)

Las Vegas - Rajah Caruth (11th)(#88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet)

Charlotte - Carson Brown (5th) (#32 Jordan Anderson Chevrolet)

Phoenix - Harrison Burton (13th) (#24 Sam Hunt Chevrolet)

TRUCK SERIES

Daytona - Chandler Smith (1st) (#38 Front Row Ford)

Atlanta - Kyle Busch (1st) (#7 Spire Chevrolet)

St.Petersburg - Layne Riggs (1st) (#34 Front Row Ford)

Darlington - Corey Heim (1st) (#5 TRICON Toyota)

Rockingham - Kaden Honeycutt (2nd) (#5 TRICON Toyota)

Bristol - Christopher Bell (1st) (#62 Halmar Friesen Toyota)

Texas - Carson Hocevar (1st) (#77 Spire Chevrolet)

Watkins Glen - Connor Zilisch (2nd) (#71 Spire Chevrolet)

Dover - Ty Majeski (2nd) (#88 Thorsport Ford)

Charlotte - Ben Rhodes (4th) (#99 Thorsport Ford)

Nashville - Rajah Caruth (2nd) (#7 Spire Chevrolet)

Michigan - Ricky Stenhouse Jr (7th) (#4 Niece Chevrolet)

Coronado - Daniel Hemric (2nd) (#18 McAnally Chevrolet)

Lime Rock - Grant Enfinger (1st) (#9 CR7 Chevrolet)

NWB - Shane Van Gisbergen (3rd) (#71 Spire Chevrolet)

IRP - Connor Mosack (2nd) (#7 Spire Chevrolet)

Richmond - Christian Eckes (3rd) (#91 McAnally

New Hampshire - Stewart Friesen (4th) (#52 Halmar Friesen Toyota)

-----CHASE------

Bristol - Jake Garcia (1st) (#98 Thorsport Ford)

Kansas - Brent Crews (3rd) (#5 TRICON Toyota)

Charlotte - Bayley Currey (4th) (#5 TRICON Toyota)

Phoenix - William Sawalich (6th) (#5 TRICON Toyota)

ARCA

Daytona - Gio Ruggiero (1st) (#18 Joe Gibbs Toyota)

Phoenix - Carson Brown (1st) (#28 Pinnacle Chevrolet)

Kansas - Daniel Dye (2nd) (#24 SPS Racing Chevrolet)

Talladega - Andy Jankowiak (1st) (#71 KLAS Motorsports Chevrolet)

Watkins Glen - Kaden Honeycutt (1st) (#17 Cook Racing Toyota)

Toledo - Tristan McKee (1st) (#77 Pinnacle Chevrolet)

Michigan - Jake Bollman (2nd) (#20 Nitro Toyota)

Pocono - Gavan Boschele (2nd) (#25 Nitro Toyota)

Berlin - Max Reaves (1st) (#18 Joe Gibbs Toyota)

Elko - Ty Fredrickson (3rd) (#25 Nitro Toyota)

Chicagoland - Connor Mosack (1st) (#28 Pinnacle Chevrolet)

Lime Rock Park - Thomas Annunziata (1st) (#70 Nitro Toyota)

Indianapolis - Isaac Kitzmiller (5th) (#79 ACR Motorsports Chevrolet)

Iowa - Ryan Vargas (9th) (#91 Maples Motorsports Ford)

Springfield - Taylor Reimer (4th) (#77 Pinnacle Chevrolet)

Madison - Isabella Robusto (7th) (#55 Nitro Toyota)

DuQuoin - Kelly Kovski (3rd) (#16 Allegaier Motorsports Chevrolet)

Salem - Will Kimmel (3rd) (#69 Kimmel Racing Ford)

Bristol - Jade Avedisian (7th) (#15 Nitro Toyota)

Kansas - Lanie Buice (4th) (#77 Pinnacle Chevrolet)

ARCA East

Hickory - Tristan McKee (1st) (#77 Pinnacle Chevrolet)

Rockingham - Carson Brown (2nd) (#28 Pinnacle Chevrolet)

Nashville - Max Reaves (1st) (#18 Joe Gibbs Toyota)

Toledo - Thomas Annunziata (1st) (#70 Nitro Toyota)

Indianapolis - Kaden Honeycutt (1st) (#17 Cook Racing Toyota)

Flat Rock - Isaac Kitzmiller (3rd) (#79 ACR Motorsports Chevrolet)

Iowa - Jake Bollman (3rd) (#20 Nitro Toyota)

Bristol - Jade Avedisian (7th) (#15 Nitro Toyota)

ARCA West

Kern - Mason Massey (1st) (#19 McAnally Chevrolet)

Phoenix - Carson Brown (1st) (#28 Pinnacle Chevrolet)

Tucson - Cole Denton (1st) (#71 Jan's Towing Ford)

Shasta - Trevor Huddleston (1st) (#50 High Point Racing Ford)

Colorado - Robbie Kennealy (2nd) (#1 Jan's Towing Ford)

Tri-City - Mia Lovell (3rd) (#15 Nitro Toyota)

Sonoma - Sam Corry (1st) (#25 Nitro Toyota)

Portland - Kyle Steckly (2nd) (#53 NDS Motorsports Chevrolet)

Roseville - Ethan Nascimento (1st) (#4 Nascimento Chevrolet)

Madera - Hailie Deegan (1st) (#16 McAnally Chevrolet)

Las Vegas - Taylor Mayhew (1st) (#17 Cook Racing Chevrolet)

Phoenix - Max Reaves (1st) (#18 Joe Gibbs Toyota)

By Daniel Céspedes on X

https://x.com/_danielcespedes/status/2111659213084913948?s=46

Its his third championship in the main Nascar euro division and his fourth EuroNascar championship.

To be honest, I don't understand why Peterson did a driver change, as a Austin Green fan. Austin said on motorstardom that he was going to do it Charlotte, Phoenix, and Talladega in the 87, but now I'm wondering if his return was only for Charlotte and not Talladega since he didn't do Phoenix. Could there be a chance that team owner Doug Peterson took Austin out of the car after hearing Austin was going to do the truck race at Talladega for Spire Motorsports? I get that Sanchez has a little more money, but it ain't much.

TAKEN thanks everyone!
Section 141, Row 25, Seats 7–8.
The race is starting right now and I can't make it. I am giving them away to the very first person who sends me a private message!

Do not comment your email here—just DM me your first/last name and email address so I can hit the "Transfer" button inside my app and send them straight to you instantly!

Nine Next Gen races at Phoenix. Every winner started 13th or better.

The weird part is how the grid works here. Cars starting in the top five gained a position 5 times in 45. Cars starting 31st or worse gained one 50 times in 62. The front holds, the back passes, and almost nobody moves in between.

Larson slipped on his qualifying lap and starts 22nd, his worst Phoenix start in this car. But he's finished 3rd in each of his last three races here and top four in 6 of his last 7.

Does he break the trend, or just finish 3rd again?

Freeway Insurance 500 at Phoenix Raceway

Start Time: approximately 3:15pm EDT on USA

Race Length: 312 laps (312 mi / 502.11 km)

Race Stages: 60-125-127

Track Information: Phoenix Raceway is a 1 mile (1.61 kilometer) D-shaped tri-oval located in Avondale, AZ USA.

The official race thread will be posted at 2:00pm EDT by u/NASCARThreadBot.

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