Transcript
Speaker: Oh, yeah. Alright, Dale. I'm Victor Lane here.
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Speaker: The Brickyard belongs to Bubba! Wallace wins it in the... Unbelievable!
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Speaker: We don't pay for this. all Alright. Everybody's locked in. Let's do it. Welcome to another episode of Victory Lane Vibes, where your hostess is with the most assist.
Speaker: It's pain. It's... Jer, it's Carl. It's Jared, and we are here after... Kansas. We are on a strict time limit this evening, so let's start the show.
Speaker: um Question one. Larson goes back to back and wins. in Kansas. What stood out to you the most from the race weekend? Uh, Carl, you're new around here. I'll let you go first.
Speaker: What do you think of the the cup race?
Speaker: I... I don't know. Uh... It was the cup race at Kansas. I don't know. Nothing. um I mean, yeah it seemed like...
Speaker: And tire wear had been a bit more important than it had in years past. And that may have to do a lot with the fact that we had a cooler weekend. than usual. um Well, you know, I'm not I'm not really entirely sure I mean Besides the finish, I mean, there was nothing really to talk about. You know, it was a...
Speaker: It was a ham and cheese sandwich of a race, you know? it's Nothing to write home about, but you're not going to complain about it, you know?
Speaker: Ham and cheese sandwich of a race is awesome I appreciate you saying that That's fantastic. Yeah. Jer, what do you think of the priest? Ham and cheese sandwich of a race. I'm gonna... I'm gonna mull that over later. figure out what that means um the i don't know it
Speaker: It... I have... true How do I phrase this? I don't particularly enjoy. when we don't get qualifying. i don't like um Just the like.
Speaker: Ugh. i just don't like it i don't like how it leads us into the weekend i don't like what it says for the next race I'm just not the biggest fan of it. I would much rather see them get out there and qualify. So that already coming in, I'm not a huge fan of.
Speaker: Um... I... It felt like. You know, Larson winning again, it just really felt. Ugh. you know It feels like...
Speaker: he was either going to win this one or not and whether or not he won it to me felt like if he was going to start getting that momentum towards the finish line. uh for the season and he's carrying some momentum there so to me it makes me and we'll get into this but to me it makes me start to second guess where I thought the championship was heading so It was.
Speaker: Like... It was an entertaining race. I enjoyed it. i think that weekend overall was fairly entertaining but It just kind of stood out to me as
Speaker: I don't really know how to put into words, I guess. It... either I don't know we're either going to finish the season and it's going to mean nothing or we're going to finish the season and I'm going to look back and be like all right well Kansas that was a turning point for me You know? That's kind of just where I'm at with it.
Speaker: It's very fair. Peyton, what about you? What stood out to you the most from the race weekend? This was the most mediocre Kansas race that we've experienced in the next -gen car.
Speaker: that' Like...
Speaker: butts. 85 % of that race. was Like I it... Just wasn't fantastic. He had some comers and goers.
Speaker: You had the intrigue of what the heck was going on with 2311. You had one big motor blow up and then you had a. Carson Hosovar moment to start one of the stages.
Speaker: Besides that was just a Larson beatdown, which is fine. It just happens, but... Just an overall plane race with a... I would say somewhat compelling finish towards the end. I thought the chase down a time.
Speaker: Anytime you can get a pass for the lead in the last 25 to 40 laps. i'm gonna Intently bumped that up by... in terms of Did I enjoy that race by at least 25 %?
Speaker: So I'm not going to write off the entire race as being bad, but... It's not one that I'm going to go back and be like, oh man, you remember that race? and in 06 there's something in 26. and have fond memories of it.
Speaker: The other thing that still surprises me... protracted? I would say. Most people who know wheel would to say that Kansas provides above -average racing It's still chronically undersold. I don't know if that place has a super high capacity and it just always looks empty but you just figure that they could at least get that place looking a little bit more healthy. And I don't want to necessarily put them in this position or I want to necessarily say like they need to cut it down to just one race a season.
Speaker: Cause I. thing. one of the people on another podcast i think might be denny on his show said well what do you slot in. and mean I mean, I'm just not in Rockingham, but... it's a good market. It's an area that...
Speaker: you know They sort of need between them and Iowa. That's sort of their lot in the Midwest. I suppose also Chicago. but you know in that sort of area You need that sort of. slot to fill in but Yeah.
Speaker: I'm certain it may have some washout some implications that we'll cover later but In terms of the racing weekend... Yeah, just Mid. I think this is the cheeks. Cheeks for us, we can. You know, I'll expand on my thought.
Speaker: ah later I think Cheeks just describes it. for mentions that will be discussed here in a second. but um You know, I for one was on this show two years ago saying that the playoffs did consist of 10 races of Kansas.
Speaker: All day, every day, 24 -7. And it just seems like, I don't know whether the competition has caught up to Toyota or the rules changed, caught Toyota on the back foot, but...
Speaker: um I'm not here to see Larson put Bill to ass, but... um It was kind of a boring race as a one -man show. We saw Chase Briscoe throw all over throw up all over himself.
Speaker: And he couldn't hold a line to save his life. um which led to the inevitable which was largely going back to back but and it's uh This is probably the worst Kansas race, I'd say, in three years.
Speaker: But we move. Question two. ah With a maximum points day of 76, the math says that there are four horses in the title fight between Lugano, Christopher Bell, Denny Hamlin, and aforementioned Larson.
Speaker: Does Denny have a shot at the title, or is this... ah opium coming from uh the Denny fans. Jer, I'll start with you.
Speaker: I don't know Because kind of like I was saying, um this weekend is one of those things where. Larson has a habit throughout his career of coming into the 11th hour, whether it's the race or the entire season.
Speaker: And so this feels a bit like a... Kyle Larson, 11th hour that we're shaping up to get. And. It... Would I think legitimize. last year for some people in a way i think a lot of people still feel some type of way about how that played out you know it was the last season before we got the Format change. And I think for good reason, because last year just left such a bad taste in everybody's mouth from like.
Speaker: you know, to from Two thirds of the series there. So it was just, it's. For me, I very much desperately want to see the Denny Hamlin. like um redemption arc there i want to see like you know this first season with a new formats change i would love to see that redemption arc play out because of that also but at the end of the day like If Larson's going to come through and win it, he's going to come through and win it. so
Speaker: I am not giving up hope. I am definitely like leaning. I just, again, I think it would be such a like. a fantastic outcome to see him turn it around but like yeah i'm not giving a hope i still think that there's a chance but Yeah, I'm kind of in the camp of like, why not both? Why can't it be a little bit of a hopium and also him have a chance?
Speaker: car What do you think? Uh, I mean... You know, I think Uh... I think to Jared's point a little bit, you know, we're kind of getting back into Marvel season a little bit, right? And so um they released the Avengers Endgame, I think, and then...
Speaker: I think the new one comes out. uh, the first quarter of next year. And my point to that is this right in the, in the buildup of the MCU at the end of like every movie. There was like a short homage to whoever the next superhero was.
Speaker: Or whatever. And and like. Kansas. could have ended with a shot of, like, Chad Knauss' Lowe's hat. um Cliff Daniels has found, I mean, Kyle Larson too, but Cliff Daniels also has really found a way to elevate this team in a time when.
Speaker: I wouldn't say they've struggled. That's the thing. like You know, I've been annoyed all year because, like, they've made out this story about, like, how bad the Chevys have been. ah The Fords have been third in manufacturer points all year. They have not been that far off. um And I think some luck has certainly been a part of that as well.
Speaker: So... Um. You know, I think that, like Jerry said, I think that this format legitimizes... Whether it's Lugano or Larson, I wanted it to be Hamlin because of all the things that have happened, right?
Speaker: But whether it's Lugano or whether it's Larson or Hamlin, um Look, man, the reality of it is this. Like I've like i've told Art a million times about Kyle's championship in 2015. The rules are the rules. You had 10 races as long as you made the cut.
Speaker: to be a part of the 16 for the last 10 whatever you did after that point you control your old destiny so um You know, for Larson and for Logano to be in the spot that they were in. um that I think they definitely have a shot. I think denny i think it's i think it's you can't write Denny off just yet. i think Coming up to a couple tracks of his.
Speaker: um that he's going to be substantially good. I think i think Vegas, you know, he's he's really good at. I think... I mean, Larson's also very good there, but I think Vegas is a good shot. I think Talladega's a good shot. so Um... You know, it's hard to press. i you know um I don't know who right now really comes out on top. Uh... I'm probably going to be pissed off either way.
Speaker: But, you know, I mean, it's... Right now, I think it's still – even with a 26 -point gap, I think it's there's it's still all to play for there. But, I mean, you know, the five has done a tremendous job in utilizing this opportunity to – kind of get back on top. So.
Speaker: I do. What's fascinating is... As we've gotten gone along... This is the best the parody has been among the manufacturers Yesterday we... The race finish we got, we got a Chevrolet.
Speaker: running in front of a Ford, running in front of a Toyota. It would not have been any surprise to see any of the three manufacturers somehow take a win. if they had gotten the track position.
Speaker: like if briscoe had gotten that track position earlier on and was able to tune his car and sort of maintain that I think Arsenal would have a tough situation trying to hold. Uh, Yeah.
Speaker: Call back. that position earlier on. The momentum right now is obviously with Larson. They have found something. As. ah other folks mentioning it does have that chad canals sort of feel to it I'm not willing to go ahead and say that it is.
Speaker: Out of. Denny Hamlin's grasp. Because he's still... bin. Good. He's... finished in the top 10 in Everest except Darlington.
Speaker: last Yesterday, he got the third most points and finished third. So overall, a very good day. It's just that Larson. these wins. are just so meaningful.
Speaker: when the two midlands they've captured just on its own that's an extra 20 plus points And he goes out and has a perfect day. So... I would rather be in Kyle Larson's position than Denny Hamlin's because the momentum is there.
Speaker: But it wouldn't take much for the 11 team to find. to get back in the hunt. I will say I think the 22 is out of it. He had a good run going Unless he comes out and wins at Vegas, I just think he is done.
Speaker: That Penn State team seems to be able to put... two cars up front at one time maybe You know, a lot of times it's just one and other times they sort of. flying around while one driver's having to find his way back and forth from the back of the field to the front due to some sort of pit road mishap.
Speaker: But I... i just think The next two tracks, those being those Mod House, and he has not been fantastic. I think it's gonna hold him back. And then... Well, it's the 20.
Speaker: i think the I think the consistency... If Denny Hamlin's going to pay more dividends than... what the 20 has been capable of, which is funny saying that because the 20 literally has what 6 billion second place measure this year.
Speaker: But. I think realistically. in terms of who do I feel confident about, it's... the top two drivers. in the title hunt are going to be the ones that will walk away from it.
Speaker: Out of the Ford. three of them i don't want to ever be successful ever again in life so Denny, you kind of have to. You you must. that You have to. Save us Denny.
Speaker: if they're all bad for their own individual reasons Danny you gotta come through dog you gotta I don't know if if you gotta sell your soul, but you gotta you gotta figure out something, man. it's a It's... ah that die It's interesting. while we're speaking on the uh the previous topic at hand Um,
Speaker: Chevrolet has found something or... the rules change even the playing field something with the splitters that ceota was doing but the other manufacturers didn't know how to do. and then Now everybody's doing it, so Toyota's don't look as as lethal on mile -and -a -halves.
Speaker: But be that as it may, clean air is king with this stupid car. And we have two more opportunities to have a win every race like the one we saw on yesterday. so Yeah, Denny, you got to wreck people, bro. You got to.
Speaker: You gotta to get your wheels up and your elbows up, man. You were a terrorist last year um at this track. And I expected the same behavior out of you ah yesterday. But the only person that you wanted to to have with was Christopher Bell in the last 10 laps. I don't think that's enough to win you a championship. So you got to.
Speaker: get back in the samurai or do something get some Some smelling salts or something. You gotta to wake up, bro. Black ticket. I don't like it. ah Question three.
Speaker: Tire wear posed a threat on the race weekend where practice and qualifying were rained out. If the facility has lights, should an NASCAR postpone practicing qualifying until later in the day when we fit it in?
Speaker: All right. Carl, I'll start with you. What do you think? Yeah, absolutely absolutely not. I was watching um my my... My favorite. Uh... Go to bed, YouTube, watch. um the older you get you get those my favorite going to bed youtube video is watching um Shout out Colby Evans for uploading all the go -to -go -home qualifying sessions from the late aughts, early teens.
Speaker: And I was watching, I think it was a rate i think it was maybe Texas perhaps, Texas in 2010, where like the early morning cue. got rained out so they ran it after the nationwide race or whatever the case may be. There's no excuse. I mean, at least for the...
Speaker: You know, give these teams at least 30 minutes just to run install apps and make sure everything is good. I mean... ah You know what? what is there any Is there any reasoning that they said that they can't run it if a private area has lights? I understand that.
Speaker: um You know, if we're racing during the day, practicing and qualifying at night has no no pertinence, that's cool, whatever. But you have, especially in the case, you have situations where you have teams like the 45 that have been great all year. No shade to them, 23 as well.
Speaker: like You know who? are like, oh, we missed the setup a little bit, and now we have to spend two -thirds of the race trying to fix the car, and we may not get that lucky. I mean, at least let them have a fighting chance. I mean, they would have learned something. i't i don't I don't really get the logic there.
Speaker: Um. you know, and they've done it in years past. So I don't. i don't know where all of a sudden they're just like oh no we can't you know, see if it rains for five minutes. We're done. I don't umt really understand that. so yeah they should run it it if at night or they should run it you know whenever If they can get a window to get it in, get it in.
Speaker: Like that. Peyton, what's your take? yea or nay As a fan who likes to see on -track action. Absolutely. Yay. As someone who...
Speaker: realizes... You're going to get a lot of situations like we saw on Saturday where. what there was a four hour rain delay for the trucks in the middle of their race and that race What, I don't think it ends until close to 8pm?
Speaker: I think thereabouts, maybe like 7 p .m. And then you're supposed to have the trucks or, excuse me, the Cup Series just roll it after that. And... have all the drivers and everything else that goes along with that just sitting around waiting along with the fans.
Speaker: I think that seems relatively impractical because...
Speaker: I just think in terms of the TV commitments and I think everything else that goes into it. i just can't imagine them just wanting to sit around especially given nowadays that the practice sessions or I'm glad they're there, but the way they make them sound, they can sort of take them or leave them. The cars pretty much roll off.
Speaker: ready to rip off the box. I mean, obviously for Tyler Reddick, hopefully they probably could have figured out what was going wrong with that car if they had some practice laps. So maybe they could avoid having some bloodshed.
Speaker: But for Bo Wallace, like his car was pretty lousy in stage one. They got that thing. feeling a lot better for him just in time to get hosavard Wasn't really host tomorrow's fault. But, well. It was a aggressive. Anywho.
Speaker: I say all that. If they decide they want to do it. That's awesome because I don't work for a cup team. And I'm not a Cup Series driver, and I'm not a Cup Series driver's...
Speaker: family member so i don't care if all their lunch and dinner planes get ruined But in terms of... the practical reasons why. I can understand. What I understand is I don't know why they decided to have it at 10 a .m. Eastern time, which would have been 9 a .m. local time.
Speaker: That's extremely early, so I don't understand why they opted for that. because there wasn't anything else going on later that day. So. Just hard scheduling, but... I understand it, but Yeah, having gone to Darlington this year and had All qualifying practice framed out.
Speaker: I probably would have stuck around a little bit later or tried. Hopefully they try to find a spot for it. Jer, your thoughts? Yeah, I mean... Every time something like this comes up, I...
Speaker: am always struck by the fact that like there seems to be no like right or good or perfect answer because there's just like Either way. you are sacrificing something, right? like either way you are you are like Peyton said screwing up everybody's dinner plans screwing up everybody's lunch plans like you know making them stay at the track forever you know the fans are at the track forever like stuff like that It. Like...
Speaker: That's a sacrifice to be made to. push that into the evening and you know utilize those lights But also, like... I don't know. I really do see both sides of it too, because. also Peyton as a fan for myself like I...
Speaker: kind of like there's a part of me that also wants to say like i don't care like you need to get the cars on track you need to get the qualifying in you need to get the practice in like That's the purpose of it. And it is frustrating to me that we have.
Speaker: Like it feels a bit like we've gotten like. Maybe callous isn't the right word, but like they're like. It just seems to be one of those things where it's like, eh, well. We didn't get to qualify. So we're just going to rack them up based on the rule book. and we'll just send the boys out there and we'll just see what happens. like I don't like that. It removes the... It removes a part of the weekend that I think is really important in terms of like.
Speaker: you know. to Carl's point, there's the setup, but also just like, that's part of the weekend. Like you'll, I really hate to say this, but like, you'll never see formula one being like, well, we couldn't qualify today, guys. Like.
Speaker: That. I don't think like that just doesn't happen right like they get it in they shorten it they figure it out like I really want that like respect for the moment to be a part of NASCAR as well of like, well, no, we have to qualify. Because from my perspective, you don't you don't have to broadcast it.
Speaker: Like you could just. get those guys out on the track, let them rip it. And then be like, yep, this is the qualifying. Like we did it. Fans were here. Sorry y 'all didn't get to see it, but we did. Like... It happened and this is how it's starting. I would vastly prefer that over, well, we just didn't do it. So rule book says.
Speaker: I hate that I think it's so frustrating. But on the other side, there's the logistics of it, right? I've worked in these events before I've worked in that industry so like I understand that it gets dangerous.
Speaker: when you have a track open for a certain amount of time it gets dangerous your team leaves You cannot call people in. Their shifts have to end at some point. And so if you have somebody that clocked in at 10 a .m. and thought they were clocking out at 6 and now you're asking them to clock out at 10 p .m. or later or worse.
Speaker: Now you, again, there's a safety concern there for the crew, for the people who are working that event. like You know, there's the whole thing with. you know concessions run out of food concessions run out of water like it just becomes a really bad experience at the track for the fans and for the people working the event so i understand that but also at the end of the day like to the scheduling point that peyton said like A four hour, almost nearly five hour rain day is unacceptable.
Speaker: Like. There's no right answer. But there's a better answer. And the better answer is like not doing that. I don't know. like Again, I don't know what they could have done. There's no good Like I keep saying it, there's no good answer here, but like.
Speaker: Five -hour rain red flag? Are you serious? Like figure something out. Like that's. These... Weather forecasts come out with enough time for us to make decisions.
Speaker: and make better decisions that don't result in a five -hour rain delay. That's ridiculous. Use your brain. Oh my god, that's insane. like again broadcast like contracts all these things everything goes into it but like That feels like.
Speaker: a no -brainer to me right like you should be looking at that and making decisions ahead of time That's crazy. I mean, it's a tough spot. i mean for them in that structure right because essentially the rain ended just in time for them to get the truck race started and they did get to halfway which that is impressive.
Speaker: So I think the question is, is are you okay with them rain shortening a playoff race for the truck series? And that's that's sort of a tough call. One thing I will say that's kind of funny.
Speaker: So... A lot of people... sort of hope, I think inside the industry said. you know, the practice is just going to allow the fastest people to get faster. and it will take some of the sort of wow look you know jumbled up aspect out of it That race was not. super jumbled. I think the only outlier in terms of who ran up front.
Speaker: was Austin Sendrick and. it shouldn't be a huge surprise that a Penske car runs well. in a nascar race All right. There was no one that finished in the top 10.
Speaker: Yeah, no the top 10 is absolutely the least surprising lineup. that you've ever seen. So it wasn't even as though the lack of practice brought out any sort of randomness. that we would have liked to have seen so Yeah.
Speaker: I agree with everyone who says yeah, we should definitely advocate for them trying to find a way under any means possible. to have practice because and The lack of it didn't. Bring us a better race.
Speaker: I mean, you just think of it like they've they've been shoving the chase down our throats. since the the announcement was made and this is supposed to be You know, the peak time of your season. So why not do what you have to do to make sure that at least the the drivers with the yellow on their car have an opportunity to you know go and win a championship.
Speaker: I just think that it's kind of a smack in the face if you... If the sanctioned body tells you. You got to bust your ass for 26 weeks to have a chance of winning all these millions of dollars that we award at the end of the year.
Speaker: then I'm sure you can you can find 30 minutes of practice. You can find an hour for practice. If they... Made a way. For them to postpone well to cancel qualifying in North Wilkesboro for the points race, but at least give them an hour to practice during that time frame to get a feel for their car. Why can't you do it in the playoffs and that's a regular season?
Speaker: like The facility has lights and we're not utilizing. you know the track's capabilities. It's the same thing for Martinsville. Martinsville spent all those millions of dollars for... ah lights to have a night.
Speaker: Cup event. And we don't even get A Race in the Sunset anymore. it's one o 'clock in the afternoon we're done by 4 30 and sign rsc like what was the point to spend all that money for lights for the cars tour for late models.
Speaker: All right, brother, let's work. Um, So I hear everybody's points about, you know, food and safety and then all these other things. like Those are great things that have to be considered. But to Jared's point. The weatherman been telling you all week it's going to rain, bro.
Speaker: you Call inaudible. Do something different. plan better. It's crazy. We're in 2026 and people are not utilizing the fact that if your iPhone tells you that it's going to rain in 45 minutes, that you can't just make the boss call the day before then to say, hey.
Speaker: I know you have tickets for this event, but here's what we're going to do to put on a better show for you on Interrupted Racing. at night. Shalom. Question four.
Speaker: uh, Bubba gets caught in the Brad Keselowski hosts for our beef and gets turned and battled back to finish P9 to maintain the agenda. What is Bubba's ceiling? with six races left. to go.
Speaker: Uh, Jare. I'll start with you Look, I'm not about to sit here and do points math because it's 10pm and I'm tired and I'm bad at points math. But at the end of the day, Bubba's been so consistent this year.
Speaker: Like so consistent. He's got a good team. He's been like. He has maybe not had consistent finishes necessarily, but he's still sitting P10. That's not for nothing, right? Like that's not an accident.
Speaker: So. He's like... He knows he's not going to like win this championship or whatever, but he's. doing what he needs to do to stay up there. And I think we could very easily see him in the top 10 creeping.
Speaker: Up the ranks. I think probably more than some. Expect. Like I. I am not. I wouldn't say that this was like...
Speaker: above his best season necessarily but i'm not also going to sit here and say that i'm disappointed in this season for him I think the team really like. put their best effort out i think we talked about obviously we talk about consistently consistency a lot with this format and like how it shows in your standings and how it shows in your points and just like week to week what that looks like for the team but like 2311 in general has...
Speaker: um proven that they know how to play that game and they play that game very very well obviously they played it better with tyler eddick this season but that's not to say that bubba wasn't you know, right there with them for a lot of it. so I think we could see him gain a few more. ah a couple more positions um as we approach the end but I don't see him like falling off necessarily. I think he's in it to the end.
Speaker: Uh, Fun fact, Bubba has tied his career best for top 10 this year. and there's six races left to go. soldier You may be on the subject.
Speaker: Um, curl. Which thing? Howdy howdy dowdy dowdy Yeah, I don't know. He's, what did I say? where I saw ninth, I think, tenth today.
Speaker: Time for night technically yeah well he's ahead of He's ahead of him who shouldn't be named because then you get a whole bunch of Twitter mentions of people that that say that they'll fight you at a racetrack.
Speaker: Austin Sendrick fans aren't like that. No, I'm talking about... ah Uh... TikTok shop dealer in harm. But anyway. um You know...
Speaker: ah yeah yeah I can see like like a seventh. I can see... i I don't know, man. I think... Some people would have to fall apart in the in the fifth to seventh range.
Speaker: for him to get the six. They've been incredibly consistent to Jarrett's point. um As a matter of fact, I was just talking today with the boys about how, um you know, apparently, I guess the word going around is whatever manipulation Toyota had with the cars earlier in the year has apparently gone away. um And it has not hurt, give as much as it hurt 2311. And again, not to be funny, but it certainly has seemingly hurt.
Speaker: Billy Scott more than it's hurt Charles the Knight. um And that consistency has been there. And, you know, it's like I said on Twitter today, I'm so sick and tired of it feels like every.
Speaker: other year. it You know, having that the the he -gets -on -base montage conversation from Moneyball. Um, you know He runs good at Vegas, so who's to say he couldn't win there, right? I mean, they were able to rally back to it.
Speaker: to ninth this week after um you know getting caught up in brad's mess you know which you know of course he gets out of the car like a horse's ass and is like i don't know what happened So, with you know, it's like, I mean, it's cool, bro. Everybody liked that. Everybody wanted you to do that. You could have just admitted to it. But, I mean, at the same time, you have to take out, you know, six other cars doing it.
Speaker: But uh... You know, he could definitely win Talladega. So those are two right there that I think. He can certainly turn up the the wicker on a bit. I think he'll run good at Homestead at the end. I think he probably could run pretty good at Vegas. I mean, at not Vegas, but... ah Martinsville.
Speaker: sure Charlotte, too. Yes, another one. I didn't even think about that. Although, 600 was not what we wanted out of him. um You know, I could see him climbing to, like, seventh. um I would love to see six. I think Talladega is going to...
Speaker: really kind of... Played it a little bit. um I think they had to keep getting stage points, things like that. I would be over the moon with fifth. I don't think that's really going to happen. But I think. If he's able to climb kind of out of, like, the bottom two spots in the top ten, right, and have, like, a definitive, like, eight through six.
Speaker: year Right. um I think especially in a year that has been mired by. um Them saying that the guy in the 77 is the greatest of all time. not like No hate to Carson, I'm just saying.
Speaker: I think that would, to me, at least come away like feeling like that this year was a major success, especially given everything else that's happened. um this year whatever the case may be so I think he can rally a couple more spots. I think a win can still be on the table. um Like I said, they really surprised me in New Hampshire.
Speaker: They really surprised me. um This week, where did he run? Uh... it At Lucas Oil. Now, Lucas, I'll...
Speaker: We'll be right back. St. Louis? He was fast, but he kept crashing. Oh, that's what it was, yes. um yeah that's what it was I'm so glad I was relatively inattentive for most of that race Um... But... Oh, and Bristol, I guess, happened more recently. I think you were in top ten at Bristol, too. So, I mean, like I said, they... Yeah, they yeah they have shown up.
Speaker: you know really since the drop since since the outset of this this chase And run considerably well. And I think they can keep it up. I think... They're finding something, but man, it would just be nice if one of those wins or other this year hadn't gotten away from them or or you know whatever. so Hopefully... um You know, they...
Speaker: You know. uh, in the year strong, but yeah, I think that if he can get, get above nine, eight would be great. Uh, and I think that it's very possible. So we'll see.
Speaker: So... The ceiling is eighth place. It's very simple mathematics. Here's why.
Speaker: The trend. And his career teaches us that. It is unlikely that he's going to win any of the remaining races. Could he win? Certainly. these are tracks that as everyone else mentioned He runs well on.
Speaker: It would not be a super shocking thing. If he did. But I would say just given the average is of his career. It... It is unlikely that he's going to win. so Currently in... 10th place.
Speaker: Tied with Austin Sendrick. I think realistically, if you go without a win. you have limited room to move up. I think. Carson Josevar came off a very bad weekend. I think he's quite likely to outrun Bubba.
Speaker: I would say... in four of the next six races. So that should lift Carson Host far up. I think Sendrick will fall back down. I just don't think he's got the overall, I think. yesterday of his career was a huge outlier.
Speaker: He is more of a... 10th place to 8th place kind of guy And so I think Bubba can probably capture a third place finish. I would say probably.
Speaker: So I'd say a third place finish. And let's save. Hmm. Three more top tens. a top 15, and a DNF. And I think the big interest will be...
Speaker: Where does Tyler Reddick? If Tyler Reddick goes without a win? I could see... Bubba catching up to him. So. I think someone looking like a Ty Gibbs or a Tyler Reddick.
Speaker: and a chase briscoe sort of continuing to slide back some towards bow would be his best opportunity to move up to eighth. I could also see a scenario where Bubba finishes off.
Speaker: And... 12th place where Byron gets warmed up a bit. As does... A host of ours will rebound. i think Elliott is just too far back, and I think the...
Speaker: Priest, Buescher, and Suarez are. out of it Now. Bubble cracks off a win? Two wins. Hey. six, six place. So I'd say it'd be the ceiling there, but I think realistically at the end of the year.
Speaker: If he finishes eighth place, I would say. given how tough that summer stretch was. Me... I'd say that's solid.
Speaker: Jared, did you weigh in on this?
Speaker: I did. You know... um The point I'm just going to say is I have an agenda to maintain. And as we saw yesterday, the agenda maintains. So much so that Hardy, shout out to Hardy, has agreed with me.
Speaker: That's the only priority that we have. in this organization. This Victory Lane vibe is maintaining the agenda. Um, I don't root for the team until My driver performs better than the team.
Speaker: And I feel like this will be. Um... i wouldn't call it a what wake -up call to denny but i feel like a lot of the the slander that Bubba gets and all the backhand accomplishments Bubba gets towards in comparison between him and Tyler. I don't think they'll stop when the 23 is the highest performing team at your organization. so I feel like. um They're on the right path to gain higher than.
Speaker: Eighth. Um... Winds would help. crashes would help. but just consistent performance. and consistent strategy to keep a ah front -running car up front.
Speaker: and getting out of the squirrel's nest or the doghouse or whatever it is back there in the back will help secure. um stage points throughout the waist and not just stage points for finishing the top ten at the end So. um keep doing what you're doing 23 crew shout out to the pit crew as well because they've been uh they've been on fire this past month so hopefully they uh they keep it going i'm saying And with that...
Speaker: It's time for Late's Too Bright. I'm going first because I don't want it taken. I don't know if anybody else saw the tweet so I get to say it first. My light's too bright. It's Austin -centric. Well, Jared.
Speaker: Austin Cedric finished second. Why is it getting your lights too bright? I'll tell you why. That boy had been in that car for five years. Five years.
Speaker: And he just recorded his very, very first. Top five. while I'm out on the half track. You are a waste of space. Get out of the car.
Speaker: oh Bubba. Hey, look, bro, the next time you and Roger are having a conversation, if if if Denny don't want to sign you. to a new contract, just come on come on down to Penske Racing because the Nepo baby is just doing just that. He's just taking the money and filling the ceiling necessarily. Boy, you just got to come on down to Roger Penske's shop, have a chat with him.
Speaker: you know, political views and ties aside. and just get you into the two car baby while it's in the two we need to we need that name rail Back on that card. Lights too bright.
Speaker: Stinky. Yucky. Yuck. just Just yuck. Just yuck.
Speaker: Sorry. Carl, whose light's too bright?
Speaker: I mean, it's it's like I said on Facebook a few times yesterday. If this racing cars deal don't work out for... Um...
Speaker: Chase Briscoe. I can't remember where he's from. Hamilton. Hamilton, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana. I don't remember where he's from. but ah If racing cars don't work out for him, he can sure as hell... He's from one of those weird... Bullshit. City of the Sun, like the border of but Indiana and Kentucky. Mitchell, Indiana. Mitchell, Indiana. There we go. There we go.
Speaker: Uh... But if – I don't know how far his nearest Bass Pro Shop is from Mitchell, but if – This race car driving thing don't work out. He can work at the Bass Pro dealer.
Speaker: Uh... Inside and because he is amazing at sailing. I mean Come on, man. i You know. You were the only thing guy that had somebody for him. And, I mean, it admittedly, i mean the three did kind of hose him down a little bit there.
Speaker: Um... And, you know... i All I'm going to say is is that Denny... Denny Hamlin. had the gusto to do with what what it took.
Speaker: defend off our charging larson chris busher at kansas chris busher and uh Trace Briscoe apparently do not. And I mean, you know, I just.
Speaker: You know, you let it slip through your fingers. I don't know what else to tell you, man. is Actually... Back up. Damn. i I really meant to give it to to Lane Riggs, but I completely forgot, so never mind. No, him too. Oh, yes, sir. Yeah, I meant to give it to Lane Riggs because I didn't even know what happened until after for the race, and I saw the picture, and I was like...
Speaker: All right. Cool. Whatever. Um, Anyway, so yeah, My Life's Too Bright goes to... ah That old boy. Chase Briscoe. I can't. Peace. This is fantastic.
Speaker: I had to look it up. Well, perfect. Cause I had to look it up. Of course. the close I was in Mitchell, Indiana just a few weeks ago. Well, they have a big ass sign when you cross. They sure do. They have a big ass sign. And I'm like, and and I saw that. i guess was even all number and yeah and never like And I was like ah like, this is the first time I have ever seen.
Speaker: A hometown. That is that proud of their NASCAR. I love him. The company I worked for last year for a little bit, or yeah.
Speaker: 25. They're based out of Rushville, Indiana. No fucking mention of Tony Stewart anywhere in that town. That's crazy, actually. Yeah. That's crazy. There's a mural when you come into town. also and I don't mean to get into semantics here, but there's a mural about all the things like Rushville is home to and Tony Stewart is not on the fucking mural. There's no street named after him. There's nothing. It's crazy. They put his shit. Oh, that's crazy, actually. Yeah. Well, Mitchell, Indiana is... very proud of their driver however they do not have a bass pro shop they don't have a lot
Speaker: they got nothing mind you they don't got a lot they got a speedway with truck parking i know that much they sure do they have a an aldi um they have a taco bell and a few other things uh The closest one is in Clarksville, Indiana on Lewis and Clark Parkway, about an hour away from.
Speaker: Mitchell, Indiana. So anyways, um my light's too bright. All I'm going to say about mine is have you no respect for the Martinsville glizzy.
Speaker: Amen. You. Ooh.
Speaker: You have little culture. Bunch of scoundrels out here How dare you First of all, why did your fucking, who was it, the team? Who was it? Somebody, the crew chief, stopped the driver from going after him. And then the team goes and jumps him at the Martinsville glizzy stand.
Speaker: It's crazy. The infield wanted that. Peyton and I frequented that a lot when we went to the race. it's the martinsville glizzy stand like come on that has the best ones gory heim took the sign home because somebody punched the sign and dented it So Haim's got that next to a Martinsville clock now.
Speaker: Apparently Martinsville was the most dangerous city in Virginia this weekend. Yeah, it was crazy. That's crazy. My real light's too bright, though, is people who saw that and were like...
Speaker: and had sympathy for the driver in a bad position, but did not have sympathy for the driver in the bad position from previous weeks. So. That's where I'm at.
Speaker: Well, boys and girls, it was a Formula One weekend. Oh, yes, please. There it is. Please tell. Oh, I know where this is going and I completely forgot about this. Please tell. Do it, do it, do it. You know what I had to do to him? I had to do it to him.
Speaker: Do it to him. Let's go. I have to give it to this dumbass in Orca. yeah What the heck are you doing? So the championship leader, Bowman. He gets caught up in an accident.
Speaker: Showdown. He... End up clipping this car. long smoke trail and he ends up on the outside retaining wall. of the corner The car is complete stationary. One car misses him.
Speaker: And then four seconds later, which feels like a lifetime because it is a lifetime for any competent driver. You think the accident is over. Nope. The 91 car. comes in And. the maulishes him.
Speaker: I... Like everyone needs to go if you have not seen it just go type in arca crash It's the most popular thing about ARCA right now because it's ARCA. And it is insane. It is such a violent accident. And the fact that as the championship leader.
Speaker: What? The 91 car the way they just Piled in. At the end. Is insane. I don't know what the spotter was doing. I don't know what the driver was doing.
Speaker: One would figure, hey, I see smoke ahead. Should I? Hit the brakes, slow down as much as possible, or B. throttle up. Well, apparently in the Arca series. I mean... that You earned the term ARCA breaks for a reason.
Speaker: So that's my light too bright. Honorable mention? End finger. Yes. What are you doing there buddy? You idiot. You get a little sleepy after that four -hour break that you're going to end up against the retaining wall. ah And then all of a sudden your car just comes to a stop and the caution flag comes on like, oh.
Speaker: My car repairs.
Speaker: No, sir. No, no, no. Kind of easy two -lap penalty on that. So. I thought that was very funny. But... Come on now. Who are you? or you falling I mean.
Speaker: At least Carson Hosvar, when he would do that, he would actually just spin the car. And be like, oh, man, at least you got some plausible liability. Come on, you can't make it that easy.
Speaker: You can't make it that easy, boy. Light's too bright, both of them. Absolutely. welldeerved well -deserved well -earned lights too bright Yeah, they granted and figured things diabolical.
Speaker: In 4K, too. You wild boy. Um, Yeah, you know, I think the bright spot of this weekend, this weekend of F1, was that it was Saturday morning. You know how amazing it is to wake up on Saturday morning and have a whole -ass F1 race?
Speaker: Yeah. It was great. Then that Tennessee game happened, and it just... Racism should happen on religious holiday weekends more often because that was fantastic. that was i is it really or is it never mind I'm not gonna give you know what It wasn't a religious weekend. It was a it was a remembrance of a war like from like 10 years ago. yeah's it's Yeah.
Speaker: Thank you.
Speaker: Yeah. yeah Anywho. Yikes. I promise you all a 50 -minute listen, and we're just about there. so Thank you for listening. Thank you for being here. Like, comment, subscribe. Tell your Bambis, tell your Grammys. Got some merch. get these shorts.
Speaker: The Traveling Circus goes to... Las Vegas. next and hopefully The 23 team hits triple sevens on the slots, and we come in here in a much better, happier mood for you.
Speaker: uh to record the next episode of victorian vibes um oh i'm gonna end the episode on this But this is your first time listening. Bookmark this show. Apparently, quote unquote traditional NASCAR media has been getting slandered.
Speaker: Slandered on social media for all the bootlicking and stuff. And I'm proud to say that we don't do that here. Uh, we were paying us yet. We give you the the real deal Holyfield up in these these four walls. so um Yeah, the check's coming to clear. Hopefully it still clears by the time it gets to positive. put up You can do for now bookmark us when that happens. because it For now now, we give you the live and direct. You know what I'm saying?
Speaker: NASCAR I'm for sale so little boy you can buy my love you cut me a check and boy I tell you what I ain't never seen a bad race also right play and the playoffs man those were great y 'all should bring that back like listen Whatever you need, I got you. What were you going to say, Carl?
Speaker: Oh, nothing. I was i was actually going to say I've seen... ah He's on it. That's sweet. Good. Tweets. I saw one old boy was talking about, uh... Eric Yusef and they were calling him traditional media and I was like Since when is that the case exactly? And then I was like, also...
Speaker: You go do it. If you're so mad, you go make the con thing. You go make me do it. It ain't that hard to do. You do it. Well, I say it ain't that hard. It's very hard. But... It's easy to get started, but yeah, anyway. so I thought you were talking about times that, but then I realized. So are people mad because, what, did somebody say that Kansas was good and they disagreed with them? Is that what happened?
Speaker: So apparently... People have been dumping on Like Junior and Denny. um and a couple of the like dirty modes we get a lot of flack and then a lot of the the smaller news outlets.
Speaker: um and similar size to us apparently with a little more traction and and popularity have been again dumped on for not giving the fan perspective and always just cluck clucking with everybody else's takes. Whatever. You can't be miserable all the damn time. Sometimes you have to be whimsical. You got to get the big lollipop. Drink it. This is America.
Speaker: Yeah, you got to wear the hat with the like the little rotor blade. You just got to enjoy the fact that that, you know, I don't know. It doesn't matter. Anyway. Oh, boy. Unless you're arguing.
Speaker: Anyhow. Yeah, miserableness finds a way. Always and does. There's our time this evening, ladies and gentlemen. We will see you next week. Peace.

