Show Notes
Loudon delivered a race where track conditions, strategy and execution changed everything — Inside the Race breaks down why. Steve Letarte, Kyle Petty and Jamie McMurray take a deep dive into the “art of rain” at New Hampshire, examining how lap times evolved as the track dried, NASCAR’s decision to mandate a non-competitive pit stop to remove rain tires, and whether that decision should ultimately be left to the teams. They also look at Shane van Gisbergen’s speed, Josh Berry’s continued Chase push and the radio moments that revealed the frustration inside his team. Penske crew chief Jonathan Hassler joins us to break down Ryan Blaney’s weekend, including the two-tire call, pit crew strategy and his communication with the team. Steve and Jamie also take us into The Lab to break down the pit-road chaos — Christopher Bell’s tire changer getting dragged out of the box, Byron’s stuck wrench and lost wheel, Blaney’s pit-road trouble, and Denny Hamlin’s unforgettable “Enchilada” radio moment. Plus, we break down the tightening Chase battle, who can clinch the fifth seed before Daytona, and what to watch for when NASCAR’s new rules package makes its debut at the track.
Rain. Strategy. Chaos. The Chase. Inside the Race breaks it all down
Timecodes: 0:00: Weekend recap 0:45: Racing in the rain 6:28: Josh Berry runs well despite uncertain future 17:44: Weekend Winners 18:51: Jonathan Hassler joins Inside the Race 35:29: The Lab: Wet vs Dry Conditions 45:15: The Lab: Pit Road Mayhem 53:48: Chase Preview 57:04: Daytona rules update interview 1:00:36: Overtime Kyle Larson tease
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
More from Inside The Race
Tyler Reddick and the No. 45 team delivered when it mattered most, but what decisions made the difference for a trip to Victory Lane? Crew chief Billy Scott joins Inside the Race to break down the strategy, two-tire call and decisive restart that helped Reddick secure the win—and breathe new life into the championship fight.
Chase Briscoe and the 19 team are on a roll! After scoring back-to-back wins at Charlotte, the 19 car is proving it has the speed, pit crew and execution to contend for a championship. But just how close did Briscoe come to losing it all? James Small joins Inside the Race to break down the closing laps, the team’s evolution on pit road and the final battle with Christopher Bell that sealed the win. Denny Hamlin’s costly pit-road penalty puts the No. 11 team in a must-fight situation heading to Phoenix. With four races remaining, Steve Letarte, Jamie McMurray, and Kyle Petty break down the championship picture, who’s still in contention and what it will take to make a run at the title. The team also breaks down the hard hit involving Bubba Wallace and Alex Bowman. The championship pressure is building. Get the full breakdown on Inside the Race! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The Chase is heating up, and every mistake matters. Chase Briscoe bounces back in Las Vegas after narrowly missing the win at Kansas, outdueling Kyle Larson and Tyler Reddick in the closing laps. Steve Letarte, Kyle Petty and Todd Gordon break down how Briscoe stayed disciplined, raced both offense and defense, and ultimately won the race in Turns 1 and 2. Plus, how did Larson recover from a long green-flag pit stop that left him a lap down? What was Denny Hamlin thinking when he stayed out—and how did splitter damage derail his day? The team breaks down exactly how small changes to the splitter can have a massive impact on performance. Winning crew chief James Small joins the show to talk about the 19 team’s identity, the pressure of a heavyweight championship fight, pacing Chase Briscoe through the race, and looking ahead to a very different challenge at Charlotte. Plus, the team previews the first 400-mile daytime race at Charlotte since the 1960s and asks: who can handle the heat, tire wear and chaos as the Chase rolls on? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Kyle Larson dominated Kansas for a fourth career win at the track — but the story was much bigger than another victory. Inside the Race breaks down Larson’s battle with Chase Briscoe, the late-race pit road strategy that put everything on the line, and what Larson’s max-points day means with six races remaining in the Chase. Steve Letarte, Kyle Petty and Jamie McMurray also break down Carson Hocevar’s aggressive restart battle with Brad Keselowski, the points battle taking shape behind the leaders, and how Hendrick Motorsports has closed the gap. Plus, the team takes a closer look at NASCAR’s qualifying metric — how the 70% past-race / 30% owners-points formula works, why it has drawn criticism, and what could be reconsidered during the offseason. It’s on to Las Vegas: what to watch for in the second of three consecutive 1.5-mile races. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Bristol delivered everything we expect from a playoff race — contact, controversy, risk, reward and a wild final restart. Carson Hocevar and Ryan Blaney found themselves at the center of the action. Did Hocevar simply refuse to lift, and how much does Bristol itself explain what happened? The Inside the Race team breaks down how Joey Logano won the restart, the decision that led to Blaney’s pit-road penalty, and what the next three weeks could mean for Logano and Denny Hamlin. With the Chase pressure rising, someone in this group has to separate themselves. Steve Letarte and Jamie McMurray look ahead to Kansas, revisit the Chase elimination picture, and break down how Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson could be heading toward a collision course.