Five to Go

Episode 294 - The upper hand in the NASCAR suit, grading the Cup Series' middle class

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Five to Go
Episode 294 - The upper hand in the NASCAR suit, grading the Cup Series' middle class
December 31, 2024
Doug, Dan, and Devin discuss the suing teams' big recent win versus NASCAR and what a non-chartered Tyler Reddick could have decided. They also parse through some racing headlines and chew on the idea of AI helping make a new Playoff format. The crew also talks about NASCAR's big media facility controlling much of the live content in the next years and how that saves broadcasters money. And the boys give season grades for RFK Racing, Trackhouse, and 23XI.
Date Name
01/10/25 Episode 295 - Big Daytona 500 names, rotating races Doug, Dan, and Devin talk about some surprising and big names entering the Daytona 500, the growing list of NASCAR drivers in the Rolex 24, and the NASCAR team that may want to run Indy. They also discuss some Truck, NXS, and ARCA driver news, the start date for the NASCAR monopoly lawsuit, and Chase Elliott's popular new sponsor. They also toy with the idea of having NASCAR races rotate on and off the schedule.
12/31/24 Episode 294 - The upper hand in the NASCAR suit, grading the Cup Series' middle class Doug, Dan, and Devin discuss the suing teams' big recent win versus NASCAR and what a non-chartered Tyler Reddick could have decided. They also parse through some racing headlines and chew on the idea of AI helping make a new Playoff format. The crew also talks about NASCAR's big media facility controlling much of the live content in the next years and how that saves broadcasters money. And the boys give season grades for RFK Racing, Trackhouse, and 23XI.
12/17/24 Episode 293 - Driver marketing and grading five more Cup teams Doug and Devin talk about NASCAR's tweaks to the practice and qualifying formats for 2025, the latest twists in the big lawsuit, and if there could be another lawsuit soon. They also discuss driver marketing incentives and how NASCAR has missed the mark in recent years. And they grade the 2024 Cup seasons for Kaulig Racing, Legacy Motor Club, Wood Brothers Racing, Richard Childress Racing, and Stewart Haas Racing.
12/10/24 Episode 292 - Platforms and grading Cup teams Doug, Dan, and Devin talk about the Snowball Derby and buzz through some other racing headlines. Included in that mix is NASCAR president Steve Phelps saying the platforms for NXS and NCTS changing, at some point. Dan defines what a platform is and Doug wonders why the changes came to Cup first. The crew also grades the seasons for Spire Motorsports, Front Row Motorsports, the former JTG Daugherty team, and Rick Ware Racing - and Devin has a harsh grade for one of them.
12/03/24 Episode 291 - Short tracks, lawsuits, and uniforms Doug, Dan, and Devin discuss the NASCAR drivers entering the Snowball Derby and Dan recalls how pricey post-race tear down can be for teams. They also talk about the latest in the NASCAR lawsuit saga, Toni Breidinger's move to Trucks, and new Truck Series firesuits and the reasons why NASCAR changed the rules.
11/26/24 Episode 290 - GM finally allowed in F1, crew chief shakeups With Dan away, Doug and Devin discuss the big F1 weekend in Vegas and Cadillac/GM's move to F1, including American drivers to consider. They also talk about Chris Gabehart's move from the No. 11 pit box and some other big crew chief announcements and why JGR made the move. And they talk about 23XI adding Herbst to a third team and whether or not the No. 35 has a charter, Truex Jr.'s Cup news, and some other Silly Season moves.
11/20/24 Episode 289 - Swaps, expansions, sales, and Joe dirt Doug, Dan, and Devin discuss the new Amazon-TNT booth and the pending sale of some of the NBC Networks - and what that sale says about NASCAR's TV future. They also talk about RFK adding Kroger and Preece and what that leaves of Stenhouse Jr.'s No. 47 team. The trio then breaks down Todd Gilliland's number switch, JGR's dirt allowance, and the latest in the lawsuit saga. They also theorize about if NASCAR would actually own its own teams and charters, as they do in IMSA.
11/12/24 Episode 288 - Logano: champion to elite, remembering Bobby Allison Doug, Dan, and Devin break down Logano's third Cup championship win at Phoenix and how the racing action fared. They also discuss Allgaier's epic drive and the career comeback of Majeski. The crew also talks about SHR's closing, the ends of several other eras, and the life of the late Bobby Allison.
11/04/24 Episode 287 - Outsmarting-self-ville: Blaney's game winning drive, the hijinxes, and Holly Cain Doug, Dan, and Devin discuss Blaney's clutch drive in consecutive years and how the desperate Playoff drivers and gooey tires made for a really good race. They also break down Bell's fateful wall ride, manufacturer games and if they are really that bad or not, and some outsized tempers in Xfinity and Trucks. The crew also gives their Phoenix championship picks right after reporter Holly Cain joins to preview her new "NASCAR Mavericks" book.
10/24/24 Episode 285 - Doug Rice's Last Lap sees a familiar Playoffs story emerge Doug, Dan, and Devin break down Joey Logano's fuel-saving win in Las Vegas and how is not as underrated as some say. They talk about Bell's runner-up disappointment, Reddick's hasty move and major wreck, and Allmendinger's big win. They also discuss Hailie Deegan's move to INDY NXT and some crew chiefs out of a job. And they also play the audio from PRN's Doug Rice's invocation, green flag, checkered flag, and sign off from his last broadcast from the booth.
10/08/24 Episode 283 - 'Dega, new ROVAL, and charter suit Devin shares how fans with him in the Talladega grandstands had a different reaction that many others during the Cup race. He, Doug, and Dan also break down some officiating pitfalls and the main thing missing in each call. They also discuss why the win for Stenhouse Jr. is more significant than people realize, the Playoff implications in all three series after 'Dega, and the changes to the Charlotte ROVAL layout. Then Devin and Doug analyze some arguments from 23X1/Front Row camps' historic lawsuit against NASCAR and why opinions will shift with time.
10/01/24 Episode 282 - Kansas comebacks, win-pressure, 'Dega preview Doug, Dan, and Devin break down the four races from Kansas Speedway, including the non-Playoff spoilers, Truck Series eliminations, and Cup and Xfinity contender drama. They also talk about the pressure on Elliott and Busch to win, if Hendrick was playing possum earlier in 2024, and Ty Dillon's move back to Cup. Then they check the Talladega entry lists and preview the big tripleheader weekend there.
09/24/24 Episode 281 - Devin's full breakdown of the Bristol weekend Doug, Dan, and Devin discuss all four races at Bristol Motor Speedway this weekend, including the vibe Devin got in the pits and garage all weekend and why he was not surprised by the tire falloff on Saturday. Dan details why Kyle Larson's dominance was no easy feat and the boys also analyze the rare in-season trade of Haley and LaJoie. The trio also previews Kansas and why no Xfinity driver should feel safe, as they begin their Playoffs.
09/17/24 Episode 280 - Tire hype, Playoff fright at Glen and Bristol Doug, Devin, and Dan break down Chris Buescher's thrilling win over Shane Van Gisbergen at Watkins Glen and Devin shares a compelling stat about Playoff driver finishes. They also talk about drivers having a surprisingly good run after two Cup Playoff races, the failed hype over Watkins Glen tire falloff, King Connor Zilisch, and how Bristol's tires will be harder to predict than people think.
09/13/24 Episode 279: Logano wins Playoff opener, Charter disagreements Devin Kupka and Dan Elliott breakdown Joey Logano's win at the Quaker State 400 Available at Walmart in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff opener. Will Ford go for the three-peat, and is the pressure on Chase Elliott to perform? Kupka and Elliot go in depth about the latest news on charters. A look at the tires the cup cars are on for Watkins Glen.
09/03/24 Episode 278: Briscoe-rella, AMS preview, tight Playoffs, Hovecar one-on-one Doug, Dan, and Devin breakdown Chase Briscoe's haymaker vault over Kyle Busch at Darlington and into the Playoffs and why Darlington is a really good regular season finale site. They check the numbers of past recent Playoffs and how tight the field is in 2024 and since the Next-Gen. They also preview Atlanta, talk about the 2025 NASCAR schedule, hear from Chase Elliott about AMS, and talk to rookie Carson Hocevar about how prepping for Atlanta is so different than other tracks.
08/28/24 Episode 277: Underdog winners times three, the Retzlaff-Burton move, more Silly Season bombs Doug, Devin, and Dan break down the Harrison Burton Cinderella story and whether that or Kyle Busch not winning was a bigger surprise. Devin gives his view from the Daytona grandstands and why he is adamant about the top-30 rule. Dan gives his theory on cars lifting off and why Retzlaff might later regret pushing Burton. Doug discusses Layne Riggs' Truck Series win and his view reporting from the pits for MRN for the first time in MIlwaukee. The crew also discusses a potential new NASCAR TV network and the big Trackhouse Silly Season.
08/20/24 Episode 276: Reddick finishes job, why NASCAR won't move away from TV With Dan out, Devin and Doug talk about Reddick finally finishing a win off and taking the points lead and also their take on the pre-appeal Dillon penalty. They also discuss the Playoff driver-travails, airborne cars, Silly Season surprises, and how global money could affect the driver/team market. They also discuss the implications of TV controlling so much of NASCAR and why that is not at all changing.
08/12/24 Episode 275: Dillon madness, compressed standings, and base-car Doug, Dan, and Devin break down the whacky Austin Dillon-Richmond finish and how NASCAR could curb egregious crashing, They also look at the Playoff picture in all three series and decide which series has the best Playoff schedule. They then talk to AMS GM Brandon Hutchison and later discuss the Braves game at Bristol and NASCAR night at Truist Park.
08/06/24 Episode 274: More charters, crazy schedule ideas - all in person! Doug, Dan, and Devin post up in the "Dan Cave" and discuss Doug and Devin's time in racecars at AMS and at the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame and Dan talks about what discussing his history with others is like. Then the crew breaks down Richmond Raceway, the chance teams actually have in winning the charter war, and what an international schedule and revamped Playoffs could look like.