NASCAR Fans View

About NASCAR Fans View

A former hometown Stock Car driver and car owner, Rusty Norman brings a real racer’s perspective to every NASCAR Cup Series weekend. Each week throughout the season — from Daytona in February to the Championship at Phoenix in November — Rusty shares his honest opinions on the drivers, the racing, and the storylines fans actually care about. It’s NASCAR, from someone who’s actually been behind the wheel. NASCAR Fans View is an independent, unofficial fan podcast and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by NASCAR LLC.

Publisher

Rusty Norman

Category

news · sports

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

28 Jun 2026

Latest episode

11 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

15 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   11 Oct 2026

   episode 2635-Chase Race Six At Charlotte Motor Speedway

   From a NASCAR Fan’s View (https://www.nascarfansview.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/140702_RustyPix_100x133-e1407596752544.jpg) Once again, the Cup teams will line up to start the Bank of America 400 according to the metric because practice and qualifying were canceled due to the weather. That means another race with the teams starting the race with only their notes from the previous run at the track. That could be a good thing, or maybe a bad thing for the way they will line up according to the metric, which puts Kyle Larson on the pole and Chase Briscoe next to him on the front row. There are reasons this fan thinks starting by the metric is both good and bad for those at the top of the points. If we take a quick look back to the last Cup race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway, two of the top four starters this afternoon drove to second and third place finishes. Daniel Suarez took the win for the Coca-Cola 600, with Denny Hamlin third and Tyler Reddick fourth. Today, Suarez starts fifteenth, Hamlin starts twelfth, and Reddick starts third. Christopher Bell, who hasn’t had much luck in the Chase since taking the win in the first Chase race five races ago, finished second in the 600. Today, he starts seventeenth. I don’t know if that means much for this race, but with how things have been going for him lately and what he needs today, this fan definitely thinks he needs a win, or at the very least, he needs a really good points day. Ryan Blaney starts fourth in today’s race. In the 600, he finished seventh. In the Chase so far, he has basically had good finishes and bad finishes. Austin Cindric starts fifth today. Checking on his finish at the 600 shows he had a tough day. He finished thirty-eighth. William Byron starts sixth in today’s race. At the 600, he finished ninth. Joey Logano starts seventh today; in the 600, he finished eighth. Bubba Wallace starts eighth today; in the 600 he finished twenty-second. Chase Elliott finished thirty-seventh in the 600; Today he starts ninth. I could go on with this trip down memory lane back to the Coca-Cola 600, but I think I’ve said enough. The reason is what I said earlier about the Cup teams starting today’s race without practice or qualifying, using only their notes from their previous experience at the Charlotte Motor Speedway, and their best guess for how they want the setup to be off the truck. Any adjustments that might have been made in practice and qualifying will now be made during the race. In this fan’s opinion, I am sure they are hoping they were close off the trucks, because what they start with they will be stuck with until they can make adjustments on the normal pit stop or by taking one out of sequence to make those adjustments. Another reason I bring all this up is that it was a time when the Chevys and Fords were still playing catch-up to the Toyotas. Well, at least the JGR Toyotas. Since then, the Chevys have been constantly working to improve, and they have. I know Daniel Suarez won the 600 in a Chevy. I won’t say that was a fluke, but in a way it was. I don’t know that anyone expected Suarez to win it, but he did. And he won it in a Chevy ahead of three JGR Toyotas. Those Toyotas were Christopher Bell, Denny Hamlin, and Tyler Reddick. On that day, Kyle Larson started eighteenth and finished fifth; Chase Briscoe finished thirty-fourth that same day. Today, Larson and Briscoe start on the front row mostly because of the way they’ve finished last week and the week before. I guess I should include that because of the NASCAR rule book and the metric used when qualifying is not able to be used. We all have watched as Kyle Larson has taken over the points lead with his not unexpected vast improvement in finishes. Kyle had been showing improvement for the Hendrick Chevys, but was having trouble finishing races where it seemed he should. Chase had been struggling in several ways until a couple of races ago, and now he has finished in the top two in the last two Cup races. To me, that shows a vast improvement by Briscoe. He has always been in the mix, even if it was only in Chase conversations, and many wondered when he might turn things around. It appears he has, and even though he still needs to make up a lot of points, he has to be considered to be a contender now. Especially with him continuing to run up front as he has recently. So… my question for today’s race isn’t particularly difficult, but it is important. In fact, I think I have more than one question. First, will Kyle Larson continue with his outstanding performance and increase his lead in the points standings? Is Kyle Larson due for an off week? Will the two, Briscoe and Larson, continue running up front as they have the last two weeks, or will another Chase contender take the win and close the gap on Larson and others? As I said, these aren’t difficult questions, but they do beg an answer. One thing I do know. We will know a whole lot more about all of these questions when this race is in the books… Hey, this is Russ and that’s my view… See you next time… All views expressed are strictly the opinion of the writer © October 11, 2026 – all rights reserved Rusty Norman, Nascarfansview.com, and PodCastNorm Dot Com All audio productions by www.podcastnorm.com and Pod Cast Norm Productions All music TwoBuckThemes from Mike Stewart unless otherwise stated NASCARFansView.com is an independent, unofficial fan site and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by NASCAR LLC.

2. 

   4 Oct 2026

   episode 2634-Chase Race Five At Las Vegas

   From a NASCAR Fan’s View It’s Chase Race Five at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and things are heating up at the top of the standings. I don’t know about you, but this fan can’t believe we’re already at the midpoint of The Chase, and the intensity hasn’t let up for one minute yet. (https://www.nascarfansview.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/IMG_0131.jpg) I will say this. It’s been an interesting start to the 2026 Chase, and this fifth race will likely be just a continuation of the unexpected. After all, I don’t know many fans who thought Kyle Larson would have the results in the first four races that he did, but he did, and he has been on a good run so far. We all watched him dominate last weekend at Kansas and walk away with a 26-point lead over Denny Hamlin after taking a maximum-points day of 76. But this is Vegas. The Toyotas took the top five qualifying spots to start the race, and Denny Hamlin took the pole. He was followed by his three JGR teammates, Ty Gibbs, Christopher Bell, and Chase Briscoe. Tyler Reddick, who has been struggling for a while now, showed up with speed this weekend and qualified fifth. I’m not sure how you feel about their show of speed during qualifying, but to this fan, it looks pretty ominous. The top fourteen qualifiers are all Chasers. The other two Chasers, Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano, qualified twentieth and twenty-third. The two of them sit fourth and fifth in the points. That may not seem too bad, but I would say they both have their work cut out for themselves if they want to maintain their places or advance further up in the standings. From this fan’s view, they both need really good points days, and Blaney needs them worse. He is ninety-one points behind Larson going into today’s race and can’t afford another bad day at the races. I’m thinking he wants a win in the worst way. I do find it interesting that the four JGR Toyotas are starting in the top four starting spots. After the way the last two weeks have gone, I guess it should be expected. After all, Denny Hamlin has won the last two races at Vegas, and with his pole starting position, he just might make it three in a row. His teammate, Ty Gibbs, also seems pretty confident about taking the win today and has spoken very positively of his chances of pulling it off. He starts second, next to Hamlin on the front row. Even though Christopher Bell took the win at the first Chase race at Darlington, he hasn’t been able to make a big impact at follow-ups since. He hasn’t been running all that bad, but he hasn’t been running all that good either. At least, not good enough to take another victory. He runs well on the intermediate tracks, but is still looking for his first victory at Vegas. Chase Briscoe has definitely had a rough start in the Chase, but he and his team look to have found something, with recent performances, especially last weekend, until he hit the wall several times trying to beat Larson. He finished fourth but still was showing found speed and I wonder if it will carry over to this weekend. All four of the Hendrick Chevys are starting in the top fifteen. Of them, Kyle Larson starts sixth, and William Byron starts eighth. We all know how Kyle has been running. It just remains to be seen whether or not he continues running as strong as he has started the Chase. He runs well at Vegas, and his chances are as good as any I mentioned so far to have a great points day or take another win. I’m anxious to see how his day goes. William has been struggling a lot in recent times, but much like the rest of his Hendrick teammates, he has been showing a lot of improvement, and this fan can’t help but wonder if today might be his day to get his first win in 2026. Not saying he will, but he was the fastest in practice yesterday. There are a couple of things to watch out for in today’s race. The biggest may be tire problems. Several drivers did experience tire problems in yesterday’s practice. Now, I’m not saying tires will play a big part in the race. In fact, they may not play a part at all, but since there were problems in practice, everyone will be a little on edge for the possibility. It is going to be hot and slick, and from my view, it will be important to have good long-run speed to be successful and to run at or near the front at the end of the stages and the end of the race. Although there are several who are very good at managing their tires and fuel, it will be important in this one. Two of the best at it at Vegas are the top two in the points race, Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson. Will it make a difference in today’s race, and will these be the two battling it out in the final laps? Yeah, that is a definite possibility, but not the only possibility. With most of the Chase competitors starting in the top fifteen, just about anything is possible. That’s not to mention the fact that someone other than one of the Chasers could win. What will that mean for the points? I don’t know, but I can guarantee it could make things even more interesting… Hey, this is Russ and that’s my view… See ya next time… All views expressed are strictly the opinion of the writer © October 04, 2026 – all rights reserved Rusty Norman, Nascarfansview.com, and PodCastNorm Dot Com All audio productions by www.podcastnorm.com and Pod Cast Norm Productions All music TwoBuckThemes from Mike Stewart unless otherwise stated NASCARFansView.com is an independent, unofficial fan site and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by NASCAR LLC.

3. 

   27 Sept 2026

   episode 2633-Chase Race Four At Kansas

   From a NASCAR Fan’s View (https://www.nascarfansview.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/140702_RustyPix_100x133-e1407596752544.jpg) The NASCAR Cup teams head back to Kansas Speedway for the Hollywood Casino 400. Yeah, it’s another weekend and Chase Race Four. Kansas Speedway has proven itself to be challenging, especially for those competing for the Championship. There isn’t any obvious reason for that. It just seems that when it comes to racing for the Championship at Kansas Speedway, the ones competing for the Championship struggle. I don’t have an explanation for that, and maybe it just seems that way from this fan’s view. Once again this weekend, practice and qualifying were canceled for the Cup teams. That means Joey Logano and Kyle Larson start on the front row. Well, that is if there are no penalties from pre-race inspections and both of them make it through. A few things are different this weekend, though. Since they will be lining up according to the rulebook, the metric changed this week because it also includes how they finished last weekend. That moved a few of them up closer to the front for starting the race. So, this fan wonders if that will be a blessing or a curse for those two guys on the front row. I mean, last week Logano won the race; the week before that, Larson won. Remember Christopher Bell took the win in the first Chase Race, and he starts third, first on the second row, this weekend. I can’t help but wonder if that won’t give him a slight advantage for this one. I say that because of how the Toyotas, in particular the JGR Toyotas, have performed on the mile-and-a-half ovals. After all, three of the four JGR Toyotas are starting in the top seven. That could put pressure on the Chevys and Fords and could mean a big change in the points standings, depending on how the Chevys and Fords do against the Toyotas. Statistically, the Toyotas have performed better than the others on the mile-and-a-half tracks this season, but that gap has tightened over the summer. Ryan Blaney has been the Ford to watch along with the Toyotas, but he is starting twentieth-fifth. That means he has his work cut out for himself. Is it outside the realm of possibilities that he could win? Not at all, but it won’t be easy. He definitely needs a good finish. Another thing about those three top starters that is pretty obvious, at least to this fan. Bell, Larson, and Logano are the winners of the first three Chase Races. That could spell trouble for the rest of the field today? I suppose it could. With the lineup the way it is, all three of the top starters should also get the best pit stalls, and that could make a difference over the rest, too. Ok, I’ve spent a lot of time talking about the top three starters because they’ve won the first three races, but there are a bunch of Chasers that I am sure want to press those top three for the win today. I mean, there’s Carson Hocevar starting fourth, Ty Gibbs fifth, and Denny Hamlin sixth. Of those three, no one wants to turn things around worse than Hamlin. Over the first three races of The Chase, he has bled points every week. Last week, Larson passed him in the points lead by one point. One point isn’t all that much, unless you consider that Larson was seventh in points when The Chase started. Denny hasn’t been running all that bad. He just hasn’t been running all that good. The thing about The Chase is that a win can really make a big difference in the points battle. Logano and Bell are only sixteen and seventeen points out of first, respectively. If either of them wins today, they could take over the points lead. After them, things get a little more separated. Ty Gibbs is only forty-two points out. Ryan Blaney is just fifty-two points out. From my view, scoring points is the most important thing on every driver’s mind going into today’s race. Those at the top want to build a little distance between themselves and those behind them. If last week showed the pressure on drivers to perform and get as many points as possible, today’s race is going to be even more aggressive. It is probably good that Blaney and Hocevar worked out their differences over last week’s run-in with each other. With pressure mounting each week, I expect the emotions to increase right along with it. I expect to see even more aggressive driving and moves as The Chase moves forward. The next four races could tell a lot about whether the Chevys and Fords have gained speed over the dominance the Toyotas have enjoyed for most of this 2026 season. From this fan’s view, it is obvious that both are showing up more competitive against the Toyotas, but it is still anybody’s race to win today. I guess we will see if they still have an advantage over the Fords and Chevys or whether that advantage has basically disappeared. Today’s race could tell us a lot about how the next few races might go and which of the drivers and manufacturers might begin to pull away, points-wise. I have no idea how things are going to go, but of this I am sure. There is going to be no lack of drama, emotion, and aggression. Hold on tight, folks; things are going to get very interesting… Hey, this is Russ and that’s my view… See ya next time… All views expressed are strictly the opinion of the writer © September 27, 2026 – all rights reserved Rusty Norman, Nascarfansview.com, and PodCastNorm Dot Com All audio productions by www.podcastnorm.com and Pod Cast Norm Productions All music TwoBuckThemes from Mike Stewart unless otherwise stated NASCARFansView.com is an independent, unofficial fan site and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by NASCAR LLC.

4. 

   19 Sept 2026

   episode 2632-Chase Race Three At Bristol Under The Lights

   From a NASCAR Fan’s View (https://www.nascarfansview.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/140702_RustyPix_100x133-e1407596752544.jpg) The Cup teams take it to the Bristol Motor Speedway for Chase Race Three. Weather canceled qualifying for the Cup teams at Bristol on Friday, so, you know what that means, don’t you? Yeah, that’s correct. The starting lineup will be according to the rulebook. That also means a few interesting things could change how the race goes. Sometimes, things happen that make a large difference in how things might have gone. Because of the weather situation, Kyle Larson, last week’s winner, starts on the pole and, barring the unforeseen, will likely have the best pit stall. Having that pit stall could be an even greater advantage than starting on the pole. Taking in the reality of that starting lineup and pit stall situation, especially at Bristol, could have major implications for Kyle and the rest of the field. Look, I know nothing is ever set in stone in the NASCAR Cup Series, but let’s be honest. Last weekend Kyle broke his fifty-one-race winless streak and carries the momentum into this weekend from that win. Of course, everyone knows that doesn’t mean much when it comes to the actual race, but it does mean he is taking that momentum to a place where he generally performs well. Naturally, there are other factors involved in what the weather did, the field having to start according to the rulebook metrics, and how the rest of the field lines up. If nothing else, it should make it very interesting, depending on how things go. One of the interesting things from my view about how the race will start is that Joey Logano starts on the front row with Larson. Logano and Larson both scored a bunch of points last weekend and led the most laps between them. They also battled each other for much of the race for the win. Last weekend, Logano started on the pole, with Larson outside him on the front row. This weekend, those roles are reversed. As a fan, I don’t know that that will have any bearing at all on how this one will go from the drop of the green flag, or when the checkered flag drops at the finish. I almost hate to bring this up, but Denny Hamlin starts from the third position, just nine points ahead of Larson, who gained five spots in the points standings with his win last weekend. That means the drama will be heightened as this race progresses. In fact, there are several drivers starting in the top fifteen that could end the day with a win. That wouldn’t be all that much of a surprise, since that area is full of Chasers looking for a win. Let’s not forget that a winner from outside The Chase could also happen. That makes things even more interesting, especially in a night race at Bristol on a Saturday night. As a quick side note, William Byron, Carson Hocevar, and Alex Bowman start fourth, fifth, and sixth, and all three are quite capable of winning. Of course, Byron has had his share of difficulties in this part of the season, but he did manage a good finish last weekend, even though he once again faced difficulties during the earlier parts of the race. I can’t help but wonder if this might be his time to take his first win in 2026, much like Larson broke through last weekend. Of course his results won’t be as dramatic as Larson’s, but he could still make a pretty good leap back into contention. After all, we are only three races in. Carson Hocevar is once again my possible dark horse winner. If he pulls off a victory, that would definitely shake things up in The Chase. The same goes for Bubba Wallace starting tenth. Should he take the win, it would be a second Toyota to win in the first three races of The Chase. That would really shake things up in this fan’s opinion. Once again, there are so many possibilities in this Bristol night race that it is hard to get a real grip on which of the drivers might win. Christopher Bell quickly comes to mind as well as Brad Keselowski, Austin Cindric, Ty Gibbs, and even Ryan Preece. Some Long shots for this one, at least from this fan’s view, are Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott, Chase Briscoe, and Tyler Reddick. Sure, I know there are others, but I just didn’t want to list most of the rest of the field. Looking at this Bristol night race, and how things often go here, I suppose it could go much like last weekend. Who knows, but that it might be another battle between Larson and Logano, with either the same or reversed result at the finish. I don’t have any idea how it will finish, but I am sure it will be intense… Hey, this is Russ and that’s my view… See ya next time… All views expressed are strictly the opinion of the writer © September 19, 2026 – all rights reserved Rusty Norman, Nascarfansview.com, and PodCastNorm Dot Com All audio productions by www.podcastnorm.com and Pod Cast Norm Productions All music TwoBuckThemes from Mike Stewart unless otherwise stated NASCARFansView.com is an independent, unofficial fan site and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by NASCAR LLC.

5. 

   13 Sept 2026

   episode 2631-Cup Teams Take On The Enjoy Illinois 300 At Gateway

   From a NASCAR Fan’s View (https://www.nascarfansview.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/140702_RustyPix_100x133-e1407596752544.jpg) Chase race one is in the books. Now the Cup teams move on to Chase race two at the World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway. Things have definitely changed quite a bit from where they were before last week’s race. Oh sure, Denny Hamlin is still on top, but his points lead has changed. Last week he had a good lead over second place of twenty-four points. This week, it is twenty-four points between him and fourth place. That is a big difference for just one weekend, and it really tightens things between first and fourth. After that, things loosen up a little, but still, it is only forty-nine points between first and seventh. After finishing seven times in second place, Christopher Bell finally broke through for his first win in the 2026 season and jumped four places in the standings to second behind Hamlin. I know it is only one race into the Chase, but that is impressive for more than one reason. The main reason is that he has been one of the most consistent finishers this season, and starting off the Chase with a win could mean there is more in store for him. Yeah, I realize you can’t tell a lot from just one race, but there is a thing called momentum. In the Chase format, momentum can mean a lot moving into the next few races. That is where the rubber meets the road, and only after a few more races will we actually know where that momentum leads. Unfortunately, every week could be a one-off for several drivers, and the points race could change accordingly. I mean, take a look at the starting lineup for today’s race. Joey Logano took the pole, and Kyle Larson starts beside him on the front row. Why is that such a big deal? Well, from this fan’s view, they are seventh and eighth in the Chase Standings. One is a Ford, and the other is a Chevy. One has two wins, and the other has no wins in 2026. Their starting spots could by no means have anything at all to do with how the race will end. But it could. After observing the practice and the qualifying, the Penske Fords did appear to have good grip on the track, and both Logano and Ryan Blaney had good speed in practice and both qualified well, Logano on the pole and Blaney third. I can’t help but ask this next question. Is it possible that Kyle Larson will break out of his slump of no wins? I mean, it has been fifty-some races since he has visited Victory Lane. That’s a long time and not something any of us expected. Yeah, I realize the Chevys have been working through adapting to a new body style, but for Kyle, the new body style hasn’t been his only problem. He has three DNFs this season, and some of them have come when he was running well and having a good race. I know I’m repeating myself, but for Kyle and his teammate, William Byron, if it weren’t for bad luck, they’d have no luck at all. Byron’s luck turned against him again last weekend with engine problems. That dropped him all the way to the sixteenth spot in the Chase. That was only a drop of three places, but he really didn’t get many points at all. He definitely has a deep hole to dig himself out of, and his qualifying for this week wasn’t great either. He starts twenty-fourth. There is a possible dark horse starting in the sixth spot, and that is Carson Hocevar. I know he hasn’t been finishing all that well, but he has shown speed just about every weekend. That speed hasn’t necessarily carried over to the end of a race, but he is definitely someone who could pull off the unexpected win. Okay, I could go on talking about many different drivers, but for this race, I can’t ignore the fact that the Toyotas qualified fourth, fifth, seventh, ninth, and tenth. Four of those are JGR Toyotas, and we all know how they’ve been running this season. There is a fifth Toyota in those top ten, and it is the 23XI Toyota of Bubba Wallace. He is another this fan considers like Hocevar. He has been running well and could be the one in Victory Lane when this one is finished. It is hard to discount how the Toyotas might fare in today’s race. In fact, I think they are expected to be running up front by many, at least by the end of the race. Where exactly they will be is an unanswered question that will be answered when the final checkered flag falls. Will it be a Ford, a Chevy, or a Toyota sitting in Victory Lane? Will it be one of the expected drivers, or will it be a total surprise winner? Will the Chase standings be completely changed up, or will they stay pretty much the same? That, my friends, are the questions, and we won’t know the answers until this one is over… Hey, this is Russ and that’s my view… See ya next time… All views expressed are strictly the opinion of the writer © September 13, 2026 – all rights reserved Rusty Norman, Nascarfansview.com, and PodCastNorm Dot Com All audio productions by www.podcastnorm.com and Pod Cast Norm Productions All music TwoBuckThemes from Mike Stewart unless otherwise stated NASCARFansView.com is an independent, unofficial fan site and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by NASCAR LLC.

6. 

   6 Sept 2026

   episode 2630-2026 Chase Begins At Darlington

   From a NASCAR Fan’s View (https://www.nascarfansview.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/140702_RustyPix_100x133-e1407596752544.jpg) The biggest question on everyone’s mind, at least from this fan’s view, is which of the drivers will be at the biggest disadvantage as the 2026 NASCAR Cup Chase kicks off at Darlington Raceway. Weather has set the field up in a peculiar way, and the Chase drivers are spread throughout the complete field. There was no practice and no qualifying, and that means the field is set by NASCAR’s matrix. It also means that the entire field will start the race with their notes from the spring race and the best guess the engineers could come up with as they unloaded off the trucks for this one. That’s a heck of a way to start the first race of the Chase. Looking at the situation from a very negative perspective, I would say that gives some an advantage and puts others at a very distinct disadvantage. The first real advantage goes to Tyler Reddick since he will be starting on the pole, more because of the weather rather than actual qualifying speed. Now, listen. I’m not saying he may not have taken the pole anyway. I’m just saying he got the first positive break to start this 2026 Chase. Judging from the way they ran in the spring race and the overall performance of Toyotas in general this season, this could mean Tyler Reddick could come away with a win and points advantage after this one is over. I know he has also struggled during the summer months, but he seems to have turned things around a bit. Will this give him the boost he needs to start strong as the Chase begins, much like his start to this year, or will it be a day of disappointment? Honestly, from this fan’s view, I think it could go either way. As I mentioned earlier, the sixteen Chase drivers are scattered throughout the entire field, and some are starting as far back as thirty-fourth and thirty-fifth. That would be Carson Hocevar and Chris Beuscher. It may not mean anything at all, and the Southern 500 is a long race, but that is a tough place to start from with so many of them starting in the top twenty or so. Say what you will, but they have a lot of ground to make up. The JGR Toyotas do seem to be well placed in the field, and that could bode well for them over some of the other teams. The way the JGR and 23XI teams have been running and are starting today could mean trouble for the rest of the Chasers as they start mostly in the top twenty. The best of the Hendrick teams isn’t even in the Chase, and that is Alex Bowman, starting tenth. Of the other three, Chase Elliott has the best starting spot, but that is eighteenth. William Byron starts twentieth, and Kyle Larson starts twenty-fifth. When I consider their season, I have to say they are definitely at a disadvantage as they start this season’s Chase. When I look at Byron and Larson individually, I see a couple of teams that seem to be struggling. That doesn’t mean they haven’t had moments of running well, but the story of their season, at least from this fan’s view, has been different than their usual performance. I’m not saying they haven’t had their moments of running well. What I am saying is that they just haven’t always finished well in the closing laps of races where it looked like they were going to finish well. It makes me wonder if their fortunes might change as they enter into the Chase. If the past races of this season show mediocre performance, could it be that they suddenly begin to win races and become honest-to-goodness contenders for the championship? That may be a pipe dream for the Hendrick Chevys, and I include Chase Elliott in this discussion. The Hendrick teams have definitely struggled during this 2026 season, but they are the Hendrick teams, and things could change as quickly as today’s race. There are a lot of unknowns as the 16 Chasers take to the track at Darlington today. No doubt Darlington is a challenge for all. A lot of unexpected things can happen today and very well could make a difference in the way the next races in the Chase end up. So, what do you think? Is it going to be business as usual with the Toyotas kind of leading the way while the Chevys and Fords continue to struggle? Well, many of the Fords, except for Ryan Blaney’s Penske Ford. He has been running well almost every week, even if he hasn’t always finished well. I don’t know about you, but I think this could be one of the most interesting races we’ve seen, especially after the weather canceled the qualifying and spread the Chasers everywhere throughout the starting field. Could it be that someone other than a Chaser wins today? Yeah, that’s a possibility, and wouldn’t that make things even more interesting…? Hey, this is Russ and that’s my view… See ya next time… All views expressed are strictly the opinion of the writer © September 06, 2026 – all rights reserved Rusty Norman, Nascarfansview.com, and PodCastNorm Dot Com All audio productions by www.podcastnorm.com and Pod Cast Norm Productions All music TwoBuckThemes from Mike Stewart unless otherwise stated NASCARFansView.com is an independent, unofficial fan site and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by NASCAR LLC.

7. 

   29 Aug 2026

   episode 2629-2026 Cup Finale At Daytona

   From a NASCAR Fan’s View (https://www.nascarfansview.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/140702_RustyPix_100x133-e1407596752544.jpg) There is at least a little drama left for this final race of the 2026 regular NASCAR Cup season. I suppose it is fitting that the regular season started at Daytona and it is ending at Daytona. So, what is that remaining drama? Well, that is a good question, and many will say there is none. Others, like this NASCAR fan, see something that the others either don’t see or choose to ignore. I suppose there are some that honestly really don’t care too much about those making the final sixteen for the Chase. To be honest, from this fan’s view, some are making a bigger deal about it than others. They say there are five contenders for the final three spots left to qualify for the Chase, but I only see one, or maybe two spots that could change, depending on how this Coke Zero Sugar 400 tonight pans out. After all, this is Daytona. Not only is it Daytona, but it has new rules that can, or will, change the way the race goes. From what I understand about these rule changes, the drivers will have to adapt to what they are given as far as balance and horsepower. The biggest reason for making such a rash statement from this fan’s view is that they have only their qualifying lap to have any idea whatsoever as to how their cars are going to feel and handle. They have to rely on what their engineers are telling them and possibly any time they got in the simulators. From what I could tell from watching the qualifying, some were very uncomfortable with what they have to work with. So, does that mean they can’t adjust? Absolutely not. Let’s not forget. We are often reminded that the Cup drivers are “the best in the world.” That may or may not be true, but still, some adapt and adjust to some changes NASCAR makes a little faster than others do. From what I saw in qualifying, many of the Toyota drivers weren’t all that confident in what they were working with. That doesn’t mean they didn’t qualify well. It only means that many on the top team didn’t, and that was the JGR team. Only two of them in the top fifteen and none in the top ten. Let’s look at the obvious. Denny Hamlin will be the top seed when the Chase begins. Ryan Blaney will quite likely be second place in the Chase, but Ty Gibbs and Tyler Reddick may or may not swap their spots around simply because there are only twenty points separating them. Now, don’t get me wrong. I realize there are others close in points to some, and there could be some spots swap around a bit (especially since this is Daytona and just about anything can happen). Ross Chastain qualified on the pole. I have to admit, that was a bit of a surprise, but not totally unexpected. Ross has shown himself to be quite capable on the “superspeedways.” I’m not going to stick my neck way out there, but he just might pull off a win in this one. Frankly, I would like to see that. Probably the tightest battle for making the Chase for those not already locked in is the one between SVG and Ryan Preece. From this fan’s view, barring the absolute unforeseen, it is the only real drama that will depend on how they finish and whether either of them gets caught up in a “Big One.” Speaking of possible “Big Ones,” we all know they can happen at any time, and they can totally affect how the race ends up for more than one or two. Included in that “more than one or two” statement could be anyone in the field. Someone hunting for a spot in the Chase or someone on their way to a victory. As it stands right now, three drivers are not totally locked into the Chase. If a “Big One” happens and takes them out along with it, all bets are off, and they might miss making it. Of the ones I see possibly making it, only Ryan Preece is really close enough to SVG to break into the Chase, leaving SVG on the outside looking in. Will that happen? Probably not, but this is Daytona. As a fan, I am looking forward to seeing how this Coke Zero Sugar 400 goes. There are a lot of possibilities to consider, and with the rule changes happening for the first time in this race, there is no telling how this one will end up… Hey, this is Russ and that’s my view… See ya next time… All views expressed are strictly the opinion of the writer © August 29, 2026 – all rights reserved Rusty Norman, Nascarfansview.com, and PodCastNorm Dot Com All audio productions by www.podcastnorm.com and Pod Cast Norm Productions All music TwoBuckThemes from Mike Stewart unless otherwise stated NASCARFansView.com is an independent, unofficial fan site and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by NASCAR LLC.

8. 

   23 Aug 2026

   episode 2628-Pressure Is On At The Magic Mile

   From a NASCAR Fan’s View (https://www.nascarfansview.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/140702_RustyPix_100x133-e1407596752544.jpg) I don’t know about you, but it is hard to believe there are only two weekends left in the 2026 regular NASCAR season. This part of the season seems to have flown by more quickly than in other years. I guess it could be because I have gotten older that the time seems to fly by, but I’m not so sure that is the reason. All I know for sure is that the Chase starts the week after Daytona next weekend, and there are a number of drivers hoping that these next two races add up to big points totals for them. Unfortunately, there are only so many points to go around, and though some may still have a chance to make it into the Chase, there are more that will likely have to wait until at least next season to try again to make it in. I’m not willing to crown him just yet, but Denny Hamlin probably has the best chance of being the number one seed going into the Chase. Even though he has appeared to struggle at times, he has been rock solid most of the latter part of the season, and this NASCAR fan thinks he will finish off strong. He only needs to have good, decent finishes for the next two weekends to clinch that number one seed. If he has disastrous races in the next two, he could be in trouble, but the chances of that happening are very low. It would also depend on how those three drivers closest to him in points fare. Ryan Blaney is 115 points behind going into the race here at the Magic Mile. A couple of wins for him and real disasters for Hamlin (like finishing last both weekends) could make the final results very close. The points separation between the others in the top four right now is only 23 points. That doesn’t give a lot of breathing room for Ryan Blaney, Ty Gibbs, and Tyler Reddick. Blaney is twelve points ahead of Gibbs and only twenty-three ahead of Reddick. Of all that is going on in the top four, the rest are needing them to all have bad luck for the next two races to even think about getting close and we all know that isn’t going to happen. Just considering the points at the present time, the top four are pretty much going to stay the top four. They may swap positions around, but in my opinion, I don’t honestly expect anyone different to move into the top four positions. That being said, the rest of the top sixteen in points are probably not going to change either. I say that knowing that Daytona is next week and just about anything is possible. Like I said though, I don’t expect it. Ryan Preece is fifty points behind SVG. SVG is sixteenth in points, and he really can’t afford to have a bad race either at the Magic Mile or Daytona if he wants to stay qualified for the Chase. If anyone is precariously sitting on the bubble, that would be SVG. He doesn’t have much room left for a bad finish. The top seven have clinched a spot in the Chase. That means all four of the JGR Toyotas will be in the Chase no matter what. Taking a reality check, there are four Toyotas that could be racing for the Championship at the end of the Chase. In fact, there are six that may have the chance to be in the top four when it comes down to it. Still, there is no easy road for any of them because of the way the Chase format is set up; no one can afford to have a bad day at the races. Now, I realize I have spent a lot of time talking about the Toyotas. That is mostly because they have been the better performers for most of this season. That doesn’t by any means suggest that there aren’t others that can be in the hunt when it comes down to crunch time. That would discount the great performances Ryan Blaney has had over these last weeks of the season so far. He has been running consistently strong, and I really expect him to continue to do so. Joey Logano and Chris Buescher are two other Fords that must be considered to be in the hunt once the chase begins. I have to admit that the Chevys have somewhat confused me. I know they have been adapting to the new body style, but even when it looks like they are getting a grip on it, they finish badly. I mean, did anyone really expect Kyle Larson and William Byron to have no wins this season? I know I didn’t expect that to happen. I thought each of them would have at least one win apiece. Instead, they have continued to struggle to carry a good day all the way to the end of a race. I hate to admit it, but unless their fortunes change when the Chase begins, I’m not counting them out, but I am not counting them in either. I do believe they will both make the Chase, but I am not so sure they will make a good showing. They are not the only Chevys that will be contending in the Chase, and I could be in for the shock of the century if they all of a sudden find the speed and balance that propels them to the front and possible multiple wins. The New Hampshire Motor Speedway is a very challenging track with hardly any banking, and I expect those that can turn the fastest laps on the long runs could end up at the front and even in Victory Lane. I’m not saying that will be a Chevy, but then again, it could be… Hey, this is Russ and that’s my view… See ya next time. All views expressed are strictly the opinion of the writer © August 23, 2026 – all rights reserved Rusty Norman, Nascarfansview.com, and PodCastNorm Dot Com All audio productions by www.podcastnorm.com and Pod Cast Norm Productions All music TwoBuckThemes from Mike Stewart unless otherwise stated NASCARFansView.com is an independent, unofficial fan site and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by NASCAR LLC.

9. 

   15 Aug 2026

   episode2627-Night Racing At Richmond

   From a NASCAR Fan’s View (https://www.nascarfansview.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/140702_RustyPix_100x133-e1407596752544.jpg) It’s once again time for short track racing on a Saturday night and the place is Richmond Raceway for the Cook Out 400. That’s 400 laps and 300 miles of Saturday night, under the lights. It is all of that and more as the drivers jockey for all the points they can muster as their chances for qualifying for the Chase are down to these next three races. It does appear to this NASCAR fan that Denny still has a pretty good grip on the points lead for the 2026 NASCAR Cup Championship, although things at the top of the standings have been shaken up in recent weeks. I honestly never expected Ty Gibbs to be in second place in the standings. Mostly because I never really expected Tyler Reddick to have the kind of luck he has had in recent weeks. He has gone from leading in points over Denny Hamlin to fourth place. Most of his drop has happened in the summer schedule of the 2026 season. Now, I admit, only 120 points separate the top spot from the fourth spot, and only seventeen points separate second from fourth. Looking at it from the angle of second, third, and fourth in points, just about anything can happen in the next three races. I can’t say I’m expecting anything drastic to happen. I’m just saying the last several weeks have been tough for some and good for others. One other thing about the standings at this point is, all four JGR Toyotas are in the top six. I can’t say I expected that either. Although the Chevys should have expected it, this fan is relatively surprised it has taken so long for them to get a grip on the new body style. Some weekends, it does look like they’ve improved by qualifying better, but the way they finish in the race shows they seem to be mostly lacking in speed. Now, I’m not saying they don’t have their moments, but they just don’t have it when it comes to head-to-head racing, especially with the Toyotas. I know I’ve mentioned this often lately, but the Hendrick Chevys are the ones that are the biggest surprise, at least to this fan. I realize Chase Elliott has two wins this season, but compared to the Toyotas, he is just not nearly as competitive as the Toyotas camp in general. Still, he is ahead of his teammates in the standings. Alex Bowman started the season with pretty consistent finishes, then ran into physical problems and dropped to twenty-ninth in the standings. After his physical challenges, that was to be expected, although he hasn’t had the best racing luck since then, either. Although they are okay in the points standings so far, the two Hendrick drivers and teams that are the biggest surprise to this NASCAR fan are William Byron and Kyle Larson. They are both in the Chase, at least for the time being, and they are both struggling with no wins this season. Byron has struggled slightly more than Larson, but they both have three DNFs. Of these two, probably the biggest surprise is Kyle Larson. He does have eight top fives and eleven top tens, but he is currently in a bout with the worst case of racing luck – other than Tyler Reddick – I have seen in a long time. Of the Hendrick Chevys, he and his team have shown the most improvement in performance for the HMS garage. I’m not saying he is the only one that’s shown improvement, but overall, he has been showing up better than the other three HMS teams with regularity. But. To quote the words of an old song, “If it weren’t for bad luck, he’d have no luck at all.” Byron did qualify fifth for today’s race and could possibly have a very good day. As for Larson, well, he definitely has his work cut out for himself. He qualified thirtieth. Just seventy-four points separate the eleventh spot in points from the sixteenth spot. Depending on how things go in today’s race and the next two, a lot can change. All it takes is a DNF by one or more, and there could be some major changes to the top sixteen. Only twenty-one points separate seventeenth from twentieth and only fifty-one points from sixteenth to twenty-first. If that doesn’t sound like drama in the points standings over the next three races, I don’t know what does. From past experience at Richmond, I expect long green flag runs and a possible surprise winner. Will Austin Dillon make it three in a row at Richmond by winning from sixteenth? Will it be Ryan Blaney taking the trip to Victory Lane from the pole? Will it be a Ford, or a Chevy, or the expected or unexpected Toyota? Your guess is as good as mine. Maybe even better… Hey, this is Russ and that’s my view… See ya next time… All views expressed are strictly the opinion of the writer © August 15, 2026 – all rights reserved Rusty Norman, Nascarfansview.com, and PodCastNorm Dot Com All audio productions by www.podcastnorm.com and Pod Cast Norm Productions All music TwoBuckThemes from Mike Stewart unless otherwise stated NASCARFansView.com is an independent, unofficial fan site and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by NASCAR LLC.

10. 

    9 Aug 2026

    episode 2626-Cup Teams Take On Iowa Speedway

    From a NASCAR Fan’s View (https://www.nascarfansview.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/140702_RustyPix_100x133-e1407596752544.jpg) Counting this race at Iowa Speedway, NASCAR Cup teams are counting down to the Chase with only four races left to make it in. For some, the time is running out. For others, the time isn’t passing fast enough. There are several that are okay up to this point and some that just need to stop the bleeding. The summer has been a rough time for some who looked to be ready to be challenging for the championship. Tyler Reddick comes to mind as one who has had a rough time. At one time, much earlier in the season, he looked like he was going to run away with it all. And then, the tide turned. Suddenly, the one that looked to be the most invincible was struggling to finish up front and was losing points to Denny Hamlin. He now sits eighty-four points behind points leader Hamlin. It all happened relatively quickly. Denny kept winning, and Reddick kept having problems. He is now only thirty-six points ahead of Ryan Blaney, who sits third in the points. Ryan has had an interesting year, and his strong point has not only been winning a couple of races, but also being fairly consistent with four top fives and fifteen top tens. That consistency has kept him in the hunt, and he sits only 120 points behind points leader Hamlin. He is by no means out of the picture, and depending on how things go over the next four races, he does have a chance to pull ahead of Denny. I’m not so sure things will go that well for him, but I can’t deny the fact that it could. I don’t think I would be the first to say he is presently a long shot, but he definitely is in the hunt. Ty Gibbs is right there, also. He is only 135 points out from Hamlin and just fifteen points behind Blaney. The four I just mentioned have clinched their spots in the Chase, so they are set no matter what happens in the four races ahead. Some of the Toyotas had problems in the practice session, and they are hopeful their crews can figure it out before time for the race. One of those drivers was Denny Hamlin, and another was Chase Briscoe. If they don’t figure out the problem, Denny could be looking at his hold on the points lead fading a bit. You can bet that Reddick, Blaney, and Gibbs will be chomping at the bit if it looks like they can make up even a little ground on the points leader. Taking a short break from talking about the drivers, Let’s talk a little about the track. I can’t remember a time recently when I’ve heard so many complaints about the condition of the track. Apparently, the surface is aging very quickly, and some even say it needs to be resurfaced. Most of those complaints seemed to be about how rough the track is and how poor the grip is. It seemed the drivers were having trouble hooking up and getting comfortable with the balance. What that means for the race, I am not sure. All I know is that often, when the complaints are through the roof, the racing is generally much better and more aggressive and tighter. Can’t say that will be the case in this one, but the possibility is there. I reckon we will know more when it gets started. Well… back to talking about drivers and teams… I know I shouldn’t be surprised, but Carson Hocevar is fifth in the standings heading to the Chase. He has been running fairly consistently and has been collecting those stage points, but there is a definite separation between the first four spots in points and the rest of the challengers. Over one hundred stage points separate fifth place from the top four, and it just gets worse from that point. From this fan’s view, that says something about the top four and how they’ve been running. I’ve already mentioned some of the Toyotas experienced problems during the practice and the qualifying. It remains to be seen if their problems carry over into today’s race. From my view, I expect them to run like they have been running. I will be watching to see if more of them are affected with the same problems as Hamlin and Briscoe faced. That could make things interesting. There are some unexpected strong points for the Chevy teams. Kyle Larson qualified in the front row next to Blaney. That could be a good thing for him, but the way things have been going for the #5 Hendrick Chevy, well, let’s just say he needs a good day and leave it at that. Austin Dillon qualified seventh, Connor Zilisch eighth, and Ross Chastain ninth. There may be hope for the Chevys making a good showing today. With the way most of them have been struggling this season, a good day might be a surprise, but a win an even bigger one… Hey, this is Russ and that’s my view… See ya next time… All views expressed are strictly the opinion of the writer © August 09, 2026 – all rights reserved Rusty Norman, Nascarfansview.com All audio productions by www.podcastnorm.com and Pod Cast Norm Productions All music TwoBuckThemes from Mike Stewart unless otherwise stated NASCARFansView.com is an independent, unofficial fan site and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by NASCAR LLC.

11. 

    26 Jul 2026

    episode 2625-On To The Brickyard 400

    From a NASCAR Fan’s View (https://www.nascarfansview.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/IMG_0131.jpg) There’s a difference when NASCAR takes it to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It is a track steeped in history and tradition. Ask just about anyone, whether it be a driver, crew chief, or crew member. They will tell you that everything just feels different at this place. Even the owners know the feeling and the history of the Brickyard, and every one of them wants to win at Indy. There is just a different air about the place. It is the oldest and most historic track around. Even with all that history and tradition, things do change somewhat, like what happened in qualifying for the Brickyard 400. Not that it was so unexpected that Carson Hocevar won the pole position. He has shown speed at times, and to this fan, he has shown that he has had the speed more than once to take the pole position. This one was similar to another time when the last one to qualify and possibly beat him out for the pole was Denny Hamlin. However, this time Denny didn’t run fast enough to take it from him. He qualified fifth, much to Hocevar’s delight. Probably one of the things about the qualifying results that surprises this fan the most is the way the Spire Motorsports cars qualified. I’ve already mentioned Hocevar, but Daniel Suarez qualified next to him on the front row, and Michael McDowell qualified sixth. Michael McDowell is a former winner at Indy, but admittedly, it was on the Indy Road Course in 2023. The problem I see with the qualifying order and the Spire Teams is that the three JGR Toyotas qualified third, fourth, and fifth. In seventh, just behind McDowell, is another Toyota driven by Cory Heim, who won the Naval Base Coronado Anduril 250. That is pretty much a stacked deck of Toyotas in the top ten. Chase Briscoe is qualified eleventh, and he has been making a strong showing lately and now sits in the eighth spot in the points race to qualify for the Chase. That is a lot of Toyotas that have been showing good speed and winning a lot of races between them this season. The first Ford doesn’t show up until the thirteenth starting spot, and that’s Ryan Blaney in his Penske number 12. When it comes to the race, I don’t really expect him to stay there. When it comes to the In-Season Challenge, he does have an obvious starting advantage over his competition for the million dollars, Todd Gilliland, who qualified thirty-sixth. Of course, 400 miles leaves a lot of time for a lot to happen in the race within the race. Since this is Indy, I won’t say Gilliland’s chances are small, but I will say the deck might be slightly stacked against him. He only has to finish ahead of Blaney. He doesn’t have to win the race. As long as both are still running, they both have a chance for the million. An accident for one or both of them could decide things depending on where they end up in the final results. (Gee, that doesn’t sound like there’s any pressure involved on either one of them, does it?) Alex Bowman, starting eighth, is the highest qualified Hendrick Chevy. From this fan’s view, it goes without saying, He could be a contender in this one. Since he has his contract extension with Hendrick for another year and he says 2027 will be his last year in full-time Cup racing, I’m sure he would love nothing better than to surprise everyone with a win at the Brickyard. I’m not going to rule him out even though he has struggled most of this season. His teammates, William Byron and Chase Elliott, had to be disappointed with their qualifying times. Byron starts twenty-first and Elliott twenty-seventh. Once again, from this fan’s view, they can only hope their crew chiefs can find them more speed as the race goes on. Once again, this is Indy, and it is a long race where a lot can happen. When it comes to what I really think their chances of winning this one are, well, let’s just say it would be surprising if one of them does. I’m not saying the odds are against them, but considering their performance lately, I just don’t expect it. That brings us to the last Hendrick driver, Kyle Larson. He qualified in the tenth starting spot and has been known to pull off some surprising finishes at times. Right now, he is in the middle of a long stretch without a win in Cup. It has been over a year since his last win. It’s not that he’s been running badly. He has had chances to run up front and even take a win this season, but something has always happened to cause him to fall back from taking a win, even when it looked like it was inevitable. He is not only in a slump from winning, but he is going through an extended period of struggling with “bad racing luck” that has affected him just about every week in some way. I am sure he would like nothing better than to win at the Brickyard and break that losing streak. With the strength the Toyotas have been showing almost every weekend, I’m not really expecting Kyle to break the streak with a win in today’s race at Indy. But I will admit he is more than capable of pulling a win off if anyone can… Hey, this is Russ and that’s my view… See ya next time… All views expressed are strictly the opinion of the writer © July 26, 2026 – all rights reserved Rusty Norman, Nascarfansview.com All audio productions by www.podcastnorm.com and Pod Cast Norm Productions All music TwoBuckThemes from Mike Stewart unless otherwise stated NASCARFansView.com is an independent, unofficial fan site and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by NASCAR LLC.

12. 

    19 Jul 2026

    episode2624-Cup Teams Take It To North Wilkesboro For Points

    From a NASCAR Fan’s View (https://www.nascarfansview.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/140702_RustyPix_100x133-e1407596752544.jpg) This podcast is available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify It’s again time for short track racing under the lights. The place is North Wilkesboro Speedway. It kind of reminds me of my younger days, except that it is going to be on a Sunday night. The reason I bring that up was an advertisement I remember from one of our local radio stations a long time ago. It always started with the excited statements of “Saturday night under the lights! Saturday night under the lights!” Wow! Does that bring back some memories. Well, it just doesn’t have the same ring to it when it says “Sunday night under the lights.” You might ask what does that have to do with this race at North Wilkesboro. To be honest, not a whole lot. It’s just a memory from the past of this old NASCAR fan, and this old track brings out that old memory. What is important is that this is the first points race at this place in thirty years. It couldn’t happen at a better time since, counting this race, there are six races for the drivers to make the Chase. That’s not a lot of time for some, and some feel it is too long a time, the way their season has been going. It is also the semi-finals of the In-Season Challenge, with the two finalists taking their hope for winning a million dollars to Indianapolis next week. With the season winding down to its final weeks to make the Chase, it is pretty obvious that Denny Hamlin has a great chance of being the season champ. He is already leading by twenty-four points and looks pretty good to keep on leading until Daytona. The closest to him is his fellow Toyota teammate and his 23XI employee, Tyler Reddick. Between them, they have nine wins this season, and though Denny now leads, Reddick led for many weeks after winning five races early in the season. Both of them looked to be untouchable when it came to points and they kind of cornered the headlines for weeks on end. Then Ryan Blaney showed that consistency pays off when it comes to accumulating points. As it stands, going into this race at North Wilkesboro, he has drawn to within sixty-five points of leader Hamlin. Because qualifying was rained out and he won last weekend’s race at EchoPark, he will be starting on the pole with a chance to move even closer to cutting more points from Hamlin’s and Reddick’s lead, depending on how things go for all of them in today’s race. It could make this points race even closer with the drama to match. This being a short track, a lot can happen at any time that could change the look of the points race for any or all three of the ones I just mentioned. With the rule changes made to the front end of the cars, it is possible for just about anything to happen to any of them that could cost them in points dearly. All it takes is a big pileup with a lot of front-end contact. Just being in the wrong place at the wrong time with the weaker frontends could make the difference between having a good day and a bad one. With thirty-eight cars on the track at once. There is also the elevated possibility of an encounter with the old nemesis, “bad racing luck,” and the difference between having a good points day and a very bad one. I realize there is no guarantee that nothing bad will happen to those at the top of the points list, but there is equally no guarantee that something bad will happen. It can all come down to that thing called racing luck. Speaking of bad racing luck, there is something that stands out to this fan, and it concerns a former champion. Yeah, I’m sure you know I’m talking about Kyle Larson. There is something that jumps out to me concerning just how much run-ins with bad racing luck can affect a driver’s season. Looking at the stats, Kyle has led 637 laps so far this season, which is second only to leader Denny Hamlin. He has taken more stage points than leader Hamlin at 169 to Hamlin’s 151. Because of his struggles in some of the races, he only has 594 points which puts him in sixth spot in the points standings and 197 points behind the leader. From this fan’s view, he has his work cut out for himself if he wants to catch up to the present leaders. In fact, if his run of bad luck continues, he may have trouble even making the cut for the Chase. If things had gone a little differently for him during this season, he could have been in the top four and maybe even the top two and just ahead of Reddick. If that doesn’t say something about how having some really bad race days mixed in with some really good ones can make the difference between a championship year and a mediocre one, I don’t know what does. Look, I know the season isn’t over yet, but time is running out. Not just for some… but for everyone who has hopes of making the Chase. North Wilkesboro Speedway may make a way for someone, but it could also break bad for another. With all that’s going on, the season could turn out even worse for one or more of the front-runners. That is one of the things we won’t know for sure until this one is over… Hey, this is Russ and that’s my view… See ya next time… All views expressed are strictly the opinion of the writer © July 19, 2026 – all rights reserved Rusty Norman, Nascarfansview.com All audio productions by www.podcastnorm.com and Pod Cast Norm Productions All music TwoBuckThemes from Mike Stewart unless otherwise stated NASCARFansView.com is an independent, unofficial fan site and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by NASCAR LLC.

13. 

    12 Jul 2026

    episode 2623-Cup Teams Take On The Quaker State 400 At EchoPark

    From a NASCAR Fan’s View (https://www.nascarfansview.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/IMG_00361-e1407599896494.jpg) (https://www.nascarfansview.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/IMG_02721.jpg) It’s summer. It’s hot. It’s near the middle of July. The Cup teams are once again taking on the EchoPark Speedway. The track is notoriously slippery at this time of year. The only fortunate thing about this race is that the Cup teams are racing early evening into the night, and that will make a difference as this one progresses. Two Fords sit on the front row, ready to lead the field to the green. In fact, there are a total of four Fords starting in the top ten and six Chevys. I know it’s very obvious, but does anything jump out at you from the lineup for this one? Yeah, that’s right; there are no Toyotas in the top ten. Erik Jones is the first one, and he qualified eleventh. The next Toyota doesn’t show up until twentieth. That would be the JGR Toyota of Chase Briscoe. That in itself is a big change from the norm lately. I realize the Toyotas don’t always qualify well, but Denny Hamlin has often qualified pretty well, and he is starting twenty-eighth. In fact, all of the Toyotas except one are starting from the twentieth to thirty-second spots and even this fan is surprised by that. I know what you’re thinking… Yeah, but… I agree with that, yeah, but. The Toyotas do usually show up at or near the front when the laps are winding down to the conclusion of a race. Especially the JGR Toyotas. Maybe that’s why this fan is so surprised by the qualifying and where they sit to start the Quaker State 400. The usual suspects for qualifying better, and mostly those Toyotas, are starting way in the back. That may not surprise many of you, but it did surprise me this weekend. If I can get personal for a little bit, I know it is obvious, week in and week out, that I’m a Chevy fan. That doesn’t mean I only like the drivers that drive Chevys, but it does mean I am a bit partial to the ones in Chevys. I suppose that is a carryover from my days growing up and when I used to race. I owned Chevys, I ran Chevys, I won races in Chevys, I won a few championships in Chevys at my local tracks, and I used to drive only Chevys as my personal transportation. Of course, as a family, we don’t own just Chevys anymore, but I am still a Chevy fan. So, this week, it was good to see five Chevys qualifying in the top seven and another in ninth. Of course, you know it is also hard for me not to show a definite bias towards the Hendrick Chevys. I know I shouldn’t be biased, but I have been following Hendrick racing of all types for a long time. Although I like all four of the Hendrick drivers and teams, I guess it is pretty obvious that Kyle Larson is the one I follow more closely than the others, but that doesn’t rule out the other three. Truth be told, I was following Kyle Larson even before he joined the Hendrick camp. In fact, I think it’s great that there are other Chevy teams beginning to show up with speed other than just Hendrick. I’m a Ross Chastain fan as well and he hails from Alva, Florida, and that is close to where I live. TrackHouse Racing, Spire Motorsports, Kaulig, and RCR are all on my radar every week. I am a very happy fan when any of the Chevys qualify well and run up front, especially now that they finally seem to be adjusting to the new Camaro body style. (Gee, it’s only taken them a little over half the season to get this far.) Yeah, I like those Penske and RFK Fords, too. I don’t usually pull for them to win over the Chevy guys, but they are much too talented to overlook. Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski, and yes, Chris Beuscher, Ryan Preece, and Austin Cindric all need a win and could take one today. I think this season in particular, I have diagnosed myself with Toyota overload syndrome. Not that I have anything against them, other than that they always seem to be stomping the competition at the end of races. I mean, just look at how many wins they have just between Denny Hamlin and Tyler Reddick. Christopher Bell is healing up and just may surprise us all when this one is over. So, here’s how I think today is going to go, and I know I’m not alone in this assessment. No matter what the qualifying lineup looks like, when it comes to the end of the race, the Toyotas will most likely be somewhere near the front or even leading. That’s just the way things usually happen at EchoPark Speedway. As usual, running one lap at a chart-topping top speed is nothing like running 400 miles and consistently running down and passing the competition for the win. If past races from this season are used as a guide, there will likely be a Toyota or two pressing forward for the win. I could be wrong in my assessment, but that is the way I see this one going… Hey, this is Russ and that’s my view… See ya next time… All views expressed are strictly the opinion of the writer © July 12, 2026 – all rights reserved Rusty Norman, Nascarfansview.com All audio productions by www.podcastnorm.com and Pod Cast Norm Productions All music TwoBuckThemes from Mike Stewart unless otherwise stated NASCARFansView.com is an independent, unofficial fan site and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by NASCAR LLC.

14. 

    5 Jul 2026

    Episode 2622-Cup Teams Taking On Chicagoland

    From a NASCAR Fan’s View (https://www.nascarfansview.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/140702_RustyPix_100x133-e1407596752544.jpg) It’s been seven long years since the NASCAR Cup teams have visited this place called the Chicagoland Speedway, but that’s exactly what they’re doing on this race day. In fact, there are two races taking place as they take to the track for the Eero 400, but then that isn’t news to you or me. There are eight races left for the drivers and teams to qualify for the Chase, and that isn’t news either. So, is there really anything new about this race? Not really. NASCAR hasn’t visited this track in seven years. The track has been largely ignored for that length of time, and its racing surface is the oldest, if not one of the oldest, on the NASCAR circuit. In other words, it is old and rough and even more of a challenge than it was seven years ago. Even though the challenge is real, it didn’t seem to affect the two starting on the front row. One one-thousandth of a second separates Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson in their qualifying times. The question that comes to mind for this fan is: will it make a difference in how the race ends? The quick answer is one I often give as a fan. Probably not. Qualifying is one thing; the race is another. I hardly ever consider how they qualify as a definite view of the race’s outcome. There are just too many variables that can take place over the planned 400 miles of this or any race. Since that is how I usually look at a race, I have to admit this one might go against my usual thinking. There are several reasons for that and one of them has to do with the strength the Toyotas have shown over most of this 2026 season. In particular, the strength of the JGR and 23XI teams. Denny Hamlin has four wins and a bunch of poles this season. When it didn’t look like he had a chance to win when a race started, he has come from the back of the field twice to take the win. One of those times, he started on the pole, ended up in the back, and still managed to pull off the win. Honestly, he is having a banner year, and he has never looked as strong as he does this season. There was a time, as I watched qualifying, when I thought all six JGR and 23XI Toyotas would take the top six starting positions and that they might just take the top six spots when the race was over, and it was going to be another race dominated by the Toyota teams. Instead, Kyle Larson’s Hendrick Chevy and the RFK Fords of Chris Buescher and Brad Keselowski qualified second, third, and fourth. However, it is worth noting that all but one of the JGR and 23XI Toyotas qualified in the top eight. Tyler Reddick was the only one of the six who didn’t make the top ten, but he did qualify thirteenth. It is also worth noting that his qualifying time was only a little over two tenths of a second slower than pole sitter Hamlin. There are more questions that come to my mind. From this fan’s view, one has to wonder if this will finally be the day Kyle Larson ends his string of no wins stretching back to last season. I also wonder whether one of the two RFK Fords might get their first win of the season. Either way, when I consider how the Toyotas have been running this season, I have to admit that I’m not really expecting that to happen, although it might be a pleasant surprise. The second part of this race is sort of a race amongst the drivers themselves. You and I both know it as The In-Season Challenge. In the end, one of them will win a million dollars, so it really continues during every race for four weeks. This is the second week with two to go afterward. Today’s race will be challenging for several reasons. The track surface is old, and it will eat tires faster than normal. That will be, and has been, the norm this year and part of what the drivers wanted out of the tires provided by Goodyear. The track is rough, and that is a challenge for the Gen 7 cars. There are many reasons for that, but almost every driver, crew chief, and fan is familiar with it. The driver who does a good job controlling tire wear will give himself an advantage that could result in a surprise winner. As usual, strategy will be an important part of today’s race. A lot will be riding on the decisions made as the race progresses. Of course, a lot depends on whether there are a bunch of caution flags, especially near the end. I know I’ve only mentioned a few I think will do well today. But there are a bunch of hungry drivers who want to pull off the win. That, amongst other reasons, is why I really haven’t been suggesting a winner in recent weeks. The Toyotas appear to have a performance advantage over the Fords and Chevys, but I’m not ruling anyone out. Now, since this seems to be a day of questions from this fan’s view, I have to ask at least one more. Is there enough time for anyone to overtake Hamlin or Reddick for the points lead before the Chase? Hey, this is Russ and that’s my view… See ya next time… All views expressed are strictly the opinion of the writer © July 5, 2026 – all rights reserved Rusty Norman, Nascarfansview.com All audio productions by www.podcastnorm.com and Pod Cast Norm Productions All music TwoBuckThemes from Mike Stewart unless otherwise stated NASCARFansView.com is an independent, unofficial fan site and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by NASCAR LLC.

15. 

    28 Jun 2026

    episode 2621-Cup Teams Road Racing At Sonoma

    From a NASCAR Fan’s View This podcast is available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify (https://www.nascarfansview.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/140702_RustyPix_100x133-e1407596752544.jpg) For the second week in a row, the NASCAR Cup teams are taking on another Road Course. Even though they are still in California, there is really no comparison between the two venues other than that they are both Road Courses. This one is shorter and possibly more challenging, even though that might be a hard sell to the drivers. Maybe I should qualify that statement a bit. The Naval base was brand new to them, and Sonoma has long been on the NASCAR circuit. At the Naval base, they had no notes to go off of and started a new book for that course. At Sonoma, they have plenty of notes, but it will still be a challenge. It has always been that way, and it is a real driver’s track. So, am I saying that the track at the Coronado Naval Base wasn’t a real challenge other than being new? No, not at all. It was also a driver’s track and a real learning experience for the crew chiefs as well as the drivers. So, getting back to Sonoma, a few things come to mind that might be considered obvious. Once again, SVG is a favorite to be leading the field at the end of the day. That may be true, and it is hard to argue with his abilities on the road courses, but if qualifying gives any indication for how the race might go, he just might have a few challengers in this race. I don’t know that it is that much of a surprise that Ty Gibbs took the pole for today’s race. He has been showing a lot of speed this season and is generally much improved overall. The question is whether or not he will be there at the end of the day. Not to be critical, but he has sometimes struggled to finish at the front, even though he does often seem to be a contender as the races draw to their final laps. I’m gonna put my opinion on hold and just see how he does in this one. Carson Hocevar has once again surprised many and qualified second. He sat at the top until Gibbs ran his fast lap. Even though he still lives up to his aggressive style, he is showing that he is maturing and making better decisions as the races progress. He’s been showing speed, but hasn’t always followed up his good qualifying sessions with good finishes. If you want to talk about surprises, well, from this fan’s view, I would have to say that Kyle Larson not having a win since sometime last season is the biggest, at least from my view. It’s not that he hasn’t shown any speed as the season has progressed, but he has had some bad luck affect his finishes, and it still appears to me that the Toyotas still have an advantage over the Chevys so far this season. He may be starting third, and this could be the day that turns his season around as far as wins go, but even he has his work cut out for himself. Did I mention that SVG qualified sixth? No, I didn’t, and that was another surprise as this race gets closer to starting today. I’m not going to count him out from winning because he always seems to show really good speed at Sonoma, even though he doesn’t dominate at this track as he does at some of the road courses. Unless he experiences some bad racing luck like he did last weekend, I still think he could be pressing for the lead as this one draws to a close. He really needs a good race, since he sits 17th in the points standings, and this is the last road-course race of the season. I only bring this up because he has been performing better on the road courses than the ovals. That means he needs to have a good race today and keep on improving his performance on the ovals for the rest of the season. If you listen to the odds-makers, they still put SVG at the top of the list for today’s race. They also mention Kyle Larson as second. I don’t know that I agree with their assessment of today’s race all that much. There are nine races left for drivers to make the Chase, and you can bet that’s going to be on their minds as they face today’s race and the ones that follow. I expect things to be a bit more aggressive because of the limited time left to qualify and that could make things quite a bit more interesting in today’s race and over the next several weeks. I’m really expecting an unexpected winner in today’s race. The way things have been going lately, that isn’t an unreasonable expectation. There are a bunch of good road course racers in this one, and several that this fan can easily see as possible winners. Does that mean I will be right in my thinking? Well, that remains to be seen, but I will say this: don’t be surprised if I am… Hey, this is Russ and that’s my view… See ya next time… All views expressed are strictly the opinion of the writer © June 28, 2026 – all rights reserved Rusty Norman, Nascarfansview.com All audio productions by www.podcastnorm.com and Pod Cast Norm Productions All music TwoBuckThemes from Mike Stewart unless otherwise stated NASCARFansView.com is an independent, unofficial fan site and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by NASCAR LLC.

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