Roundtable: The racing was closer at Michigan, but was it better?
The aero package at Michigan, primetime races and standalone races for the NASCAR Xfinity and Truck Series -- all that and more on this week's edition of the NASCAR Roundtable.





















Also, will anyone move up to challenge the clear favorites - Christopher Bell, Cole Custer, Tyler Reddick - to claim the 2019 NASCAR Xfinity Series title? That was discussed in last week's edition of the NASCAR Roundtable.
Passing the leader seemed difficult without help. Was that just because Joey Logano, who led 163 laps was that strong or would you blame it on the package?
Jim: Passing the leader isn't supposed to be easy. The leader is generally the leader for a reason - they are faster than everyone else. I can tell you one guy who didn't have a problem passing and that was Joey Logano. He took back the lead each and every time he lost it. I think the overriding frustration of most drivers lies in the fact they don't have the speed to match the Gibbs and Penkse cars to take the lead and keep it. Those two organizations clearly got off to a better start this year in finding speed with this package.
Nick: I didn't like that passing was so difficult without help. If you weren't getting a push, you couldn't really make a move on your own to pass the leader. Yes, the racing was closer, but that doesn't mean the racing for the lead was better. The restarts put on a show as usual, but having the top three run bumper-to-bumper in front of a pack is not better than two cars taking off and battling amongst themselves, swapping the lead every lap. Yes, Logano's strength out front made it even more difficult for challengers, but we saw the same issue at Pocono. I know it looked better than previous years and the stats back it up, but it wasn't what I was looking for in a race.
Tim: I think it was mostly that Joey Logano was fast all day and Kevin Harvick had issues throughout the first two stages with his car. I honestly feel that fans’ expectations are a little unrealistic to expect cars to finish side by side each week. I understand the driver’s frustration at times feeling like they are limited in what they can do with their car in this package but that’s why I also feel it’s still a work in progress.
Do you think it's time to look at a scheduled primetime race during a weeknight?
Jim: Sure, if we don't want any fans in attendance. All I heard was Monday's race was going to be a huge success on TV because it would end in prime time. It drew a 1.0 rating. Even in 2019 most fans who attend races in person come from outside the city in which the race is held. If TV wants to foot the bill to hold a midweek race, then let them foot the bill to the track that does it. I personally don't see the point of racing in front of empty grandstands in hopes of gaining a TV audience.
Nick: As Jim pointed out, it may help TV viewership, but it won't fill those grandstands. There are a lot of fans who can only attend races because they are on weekends. Not I wouldn't be opposed to one or two mid-week primetime races, but it should never become the norm.
Tim: If we get to a point to where everyone is willing to accept a made-for-tv deal then go for it. I think the only week/weekend that would make sense would be to maybe try and run the Daytona July race on a July 4 that falls midweek and then maybe run up to Atlanta and run that weekend as well. It’s close enough to the majority of teams to make sense logistically and Atlant deserves a warm-weather date. Plus diehard fans could have two relatively close races to attend in the same week if they choose.
Christopher Bell, Cole Custer and Tyler Reddick have clearly separated themselves from the rest of the field in the Xfinity Series. Do you see anyone else right now who could move up to their level?
Jim: It would be difficult for another driver to match that level of performance this late into the season, but if it were to happen, my guess is it would come from a driver at JR Motorsports - Justin Allgaier, Noah Gragson or Michael Annett. Annett has already won one race and has been solid in several others. Both Allgaier and Gragson have shown the speed to contend for wins but need to have a "clean race" with mistakes in order to capitalize. Bell, Custer and Reddick aren't going to make it easy for anyone else to join the party.
Nick: Justin Allgaier is the next-best bet. He is a veteran, won multiple races this year and has been near the front again this year. He just hasn't broken into the win column yet, but it will come. Still, that No. 7 team has some work to do if they want to go head-to-head with the 'Big 3' dominating the series right now.
Tim: I have to say I agree with Jim on the obvious contenders to the ‘Big 3’ right now in the Xfinity Series. The JR Motorsports drivers have the experience in Allgaier and Annett, plus Gragson has shown good speed at times although he is young. The only other ‘sleeper’ I might consider would be Austin Cindric who also has a fast car.
The Xfinity and Truck Series will have their own events at Iowa Speedway this weekend. Do you think those series should have more standalone events away from the Cup Series?
Jim: It would be a great idea but I doubt it's feasible. Remember, both series used to have several standalone events and one of the reasons they disappeared is because it was not financially beneficial for the tracks, which had to pay the sanctioning fees with smaller crowds. Combining events into single weekends across two or three series was a cost-saving venture for tracks and TV networks. I think the are places that could work such as a return to Montreal, which typically drew large crowds of its standalone Xfinity races.
Nick: That's how it was originally supposed to be. I really wish the Xfinity and Truck Series got some of their identity back and didn't just follow Cup around for most of the season. We certainly need more events unique to those divisions.
Tim: I think it would work but it would have to be at locations that could afford it. I agree with Jim that Montreal is a place to consider if the right promoter gets behind it. I also think two other places could pop up for Xfinity and Truck standalone events. Canadian Tire Motorsport Park already hosts a truck race, I feel the support might be there in that market (just outside of Toronto) to support an Xfinity race someday. I also think if Jukasa Motor Speedway keeps growing after it’s reopening, a truck race would make sense there too.

Nationwide to end team sponsorship at Hendrick Motorsports
Stewart-Haas and JTG Daugherty take eNASCAR Heat wins at Bristol

Latest news
Suarez: Raikkonen “doesn't know how aggressive” NASCAR rivals will be
NASCAR race winner Daniel Suarez believes Kimi Raikkonen will be “fast” on his Cup Series debut at Watkins Glen but could struggle in dealing with aggressive tactics from his rivals.
Chris Buescher after third at Richmond: "I'm ready for the win"
Chris Buescher never led a lap in Sunday’s race at Richmond but he was on the verge of throwing the NASCAR Cup Series playoff picture into chaos.
Logano: "We led 222 laps but not the right one"
Sunday was a day of both positives and negatives for Team Penske's Joey Logano.
Harvick holds off Bell at Richmond for second straight Cup win
After a 65-race winless streak, Kevin Harvick is now 2-0 and has raced his way into contention for the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series championship.
The ex-F1 driver taking on NASCAR with a new team
Saddled with uncompetitive Minardi machinery, Tarso Marques didn't manage to score points in his three partial seasons of Formula 1. But now the Brazilian has the chance to show what he can do in NASCAR, and explains the story of his comeback with new Cup Series entrant Team Stange
The early benefits and challenges of NASCAR's Next Gen car
NASCAR’s new stock car generation is encouraging an influx of fresh blood into its top tier. But there are concerns that parts are in short supply as the entire paddock tries to build up stocks at the same time
How Penske's rookie sensation opened NASCAR's new era in style
After holding his nerve and hip-checking his teammate on the run to the line, Austin Cindric made a perfect start to life as a full-timer in the NASCAR Cup Series by winning the Daytona 500. Here's how the Penske Ford man emerged first across the line in the first points-scoring race for the much-anticipated Next Generation cars
Six key themes to follow in the 2022 NASCAR Cup season
There are plenty of uncertainties ahead of the 2022 NASCAR Cup season as an all-new fleet of cars take to the track for the first time. Ahead of this weekend's Daytona 500, our experts explain what you need to know
How NASCAR had to learn a harsh lesson ahead of Next Gen arrival
The NASCAR Cup kicks off with the Daytona 500 this weekend, but a major engine overhaul and a subsequent mountain of work has been required to be ready for the arrival of the Next Gen cars.
How Larson took the long way round to NASCAR Cup glory
From villain to hero, Kyle Larson had to reach his lifelong goal the hard way and go through a very public shaming after a ban for using a racial slur, but his talents shone long before his name grabbed the headlines...
How NASCAR is gearing up for its "biggest change" in 2022
It’s not just Formula 1 that’s set for upheaval in 2022, as the NASCAR Cup series adopts its Next Gen cars that will cast any in-built advantages aside and require teams to adopt a totally new way of operating. Far more than just a change of machinery, the new cars amount to a shift in NASCAR's core philosophy
Why Bubba Wallace’s Talladega win is such a big moment for NASCAR
Bubba Wallace claimed his maiden NASCAR Cup Series at Talladega on Monday to become the first Black victor in the category since Wendell Scott in 1963. Both Wallace and Scott had faced obstacles and racism in their paths to their breakthrough wins, and NASCAR is trying to put it right with its range of diversity programmes