NASCAR’s playoff stretch rolled through Las Vegas on Sunday, with Chase Briscoe taking the win as Kyle Larson and Tyler Reddick crossed the finish line while wrecking after Larson hit the wall chasing Briscoe on the final turn. The race capped a weekend that also produced sharp public criticism of the sport’s direction, a surprise retirement reversal, and an $850,000 civil judgment tied to a driver’s personal life.
Tony Stewart, who retired from full-time Cup racing in 2016, told the Oil and Whiskey podcast that he no longer watches NASCAR because the cars have been stripped of power.
“I’ll be honest, I don’t even watch anymore,” Stewart said. “It is, it is so neutered. I mean, they’re driving cars with 500 horsepower. When I, at the peak when I was running, we were at 875 horsepower, those things. And then they cut the nuts off of them. We went down to a 775 horsepower package and I was miserable. I’m like, these things are pieces of s–t.”
Stewart pointed to a production truck as evidence of how far the sport has fallen behind the street.
“I’m going to do a commercial tomorrow with Dodge and Ram and we’re promoting a truck that has 777 horsepower that you can buy off a showroom floor. And you can go to Talladega to the truck race and outrun that thing by theory with more power from a street truck that you can buy. It’s like, NASCAR, wake the f–k up. What are we doing?”
Despite the criticism, Stewart is returning to competition. He is scheduled to drive the No. 25 Ram for Kaulig Racing in the Truck Series race at Talladega on Oct. 23 as part of a promotional deal with Dodge and Ram.
Kahne’s Surprise Return
Kasey Kahne, 46, is set to come out of retirement to drive a Spire truck full-time next season, according to Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic. Kahne, a 31-time race winner, last competed in 2018, when he retired citing health issues including dehydration. He has made only six career Truck Series starts.
Keselowski Leaving RFK Racing
Brad Keselowski is departing his own team, RFK Racing, at the end of this month. Keselowski joined Roush-Fenway Racing five years ago and helped turn the organization around; this season two of the team’s three cars made the playoffs. His five-year contract expires this year. There have been reports the organization wanted him to shift into a managerial role while he preferred to continue racing full-time.
Vegas Finish and a Costly Court Case
Sunday’s race at Las Vegas ended with Kyle Larson, driving a throwback scheme paying tribute to Kyle Busch’s former No. 5 Kellogg’s car, battling for the win before wrecking with Tyler Reddick as Briscoe took the checkered flag. Five races remain in the Cup Series postseason, the first year NASCAR has run its playoffs without the longtime win-and-advance elimination format.
Separately, NASCAR Truck Series driver Jennifer Jo Cobb has been ordered to pay $850,000 to the wife of spotter Clayton Hughes after a civil court found Cobb had an affair with Hughes that preceded the couple’s divorce in 2021.
The series heads to Charlotte next.
