Remembering the wildest Coke 600 in NASCAR history
When it comes to iconic NASCAR races, the 2005 running of NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 is up there as one of the wilded and most bizarre. It was May 29th, 2005, a few hours after Dan Wheldon had won his first Indianapolis 500 earlier in the day. 43 drivers took part in NASCAR’s longest race and […]
When it comes to iconic NASCAR races, the 2005 running of NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 is up there as one of the wilded and most bizarre. It was May 29th, 2005, a few hours after Dan Wheldon had won his first Indianapolis 500 earlier in the day.
43 drivers took part in NASCAR’s longest race and through 5+ hours of chaos, it came down to an aging champion searching for one last moment of glory and a new superstar on the cusp of greatness.
The race kicked off in the daylight with Ryan Newman and Jeff Gordon leading the field to the green flag. Seven laps were run before the caution flew and the safety vehicles were deployed in what would be a very busy night for them. Martin Truex Jr. rubbed the wall and while it was nothing major, it was the beginning of the most caution-filled race in NASCAR history.
The first 100 laps were fairly subdued and nothing peculiar occurred. But as Kyle Busch defended the lead against then-teammate Gordon, a multi-car pileup ensued on the backstretch. No big names collected, but the free pass did go to 2000 NASCAR Cup Series champion Bobby Labonte, who had started back in 34th. And you’re going to want to remember that name for later.
Chaos reigns
Things began to unravel from that point onward. The race could hardly go 20 laps without an incident. Ten cautions flew between lap 115 and 240. Perhaps the most notable incident happened on the 247th lap, when Dale Earnhardt Jr. and then-teammate Michael Waltrip were battling for position. A misjudged crossover move by Earnhardt sent Waltrip spinning wildly down the frontstretch, destroying both cars in the process. Former Cup champions Matt Kenseth and Terry Labonte also got swept up in the mess and had their nights ended prematurely. Terry’s brother Bobby was able to weave through the chaos and just barely avoid the out-of-control race cars.
Dale Earnhardt Jr., Dale Earnhardt Inc. Chevrolet
Photo by: George Tiedemann via Getty Images
When the race returned to green flag conditions, the carnage began to subside (for the moment) and everyone finally got the chance to take a breath after 375 miles of almost non-stop destruction. The cautions continued to trickle in, but they were for minor things such as a piece of debris or oil on the track. But when Kasey Kahne blew a right front tire and threw debris all over the track, NASCAR was forced to display the yellow once more. How was this yellow more significant than the others? Well, it happened in the middle of green flag pit stops and just like that, the running order was turned upside down.
The race-altering yellow
All four Hendrick cars were trapped deep in the running order, as were many other top contenders. One driver was told to pit by his crew chief seconds before the caution was displayed, but that driver called an audible and decided to wait after seeing Kahne limping around on the apron. That driver would be veteran Bobby Labonte, who now ran second to Carl Edwards. With the rules as they were back then, cars that stayed out to get a lap back weren’t waved around the pace car. Instead, they restarted just ahead of the leaders at the tail-end of the lead lap, putting Edwards and Labonte in the middle of the field — and the eye of the storm.
On lap 364, Joe Nemehcek fought his way through the traffic and took over the race lead. With the drivers tired and the race running incredibly late, tempers began to flare. Under caution, Edwards and Dale Jarrett got into a shoving match with their cars over some earlier contact.
Another massive pileup took place with just twenty laps remaining. Seven cars in total received damage including notables such as Gordon, Brian Vickers, Kevin Harvick, and Mark Martin. Jimmie Johnson was lucky to be directly in front of the accident as few behind it made it through. That wreck officially broke the old NASCAR record for cautions in a single Cup race, and they weren’t even done tearing up equipment yet.
Brian Vickers, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet damage
Photo by: Getty Images
As for Johnson, he had been quietly avoiding drama throughout the race. He entered the event as the favorite, and not just because the track was called Lowe’s Motor Speedway at the time, which was also his primary sponsor. Johnson was the defending winner of the Coke 600 and swept both races at Charlotte the previous year. He was now one of the few drivers left standing in the closing laps.
And this race wasn’t done surprising us just yet. As the laps ticked down to under ten laps remaining, race leader Nemechek lost control and backed it into the wall due to a tire failure. His mangled No. 01 machine slid down the track and directly into the path of Johnson. The No. 48 somehow made it through the blinding smoke, inches away from what would have been a terrible impact.
Joe Nemechek crashes from the lead
Photo by: Getty Images
The lead was put into the hands of none other than Bobby Labonte. That weekend was weird for him, even before the green flag flew. His bright green Interstate Batteries car was replaced with FedEx colors for this race because his teammate Jason Leffler, who had originally carried the scheme, failed to qualify for the event. The company then made an unusual deal with Gibbs to be placed on the No. 18 car. Labonte was also facing a winless streak that dated back to the end of the 2003 season and he was eager to return to Victory Lane.
Labonte fights to the bitter end
The race was red-flagged with nine laps to go and the commentators decided to speak with Labonte, but as they quickly found out, he wasn’t in the mood for chatting.
“You got me Bobby?” … “Yeah.” … “Do you think you can hold him off?”… “I’m gonna try.” … “How good is your car? As good as it’s been all night I guess?” … “Yeah.”
He was so focused on the mission ahead of him, knowing he had the inferior car. But he was not about to bow down in the face of such odds. That weekend was also the tenth anniversary of Labonte’s first win at the Cup level, which came at this same race in 1995. He knew that behind him, he had a hungry rookie in Edwards and Johnson’s Hendrick-powered No. 48. Johnson also had slightly fresher tires than those ahead of him.
The race resumed with just six laps left. Johnson quickly moved forward, taking second with four laps and six miles left to run Labonte down. Well, he was on him in a single lap.
Labonte fought with everything he had, but he also had a reputation as one of the cleanest drivers in the field. He wasn’t about to get physical in this tense battle for the win. Johnson sent it to the inside of Labonte in Turn 1 on the final lap, but he got too tight and had to lift. It looked as if the battle was over, but Johnson was not finished yet. He sent it deep into the final set of corners on the outside, sparks flying out from under his No. 48 Chevrolet. He clawed forward, pulling alongside Labonte out of Turn 4 as the stands erupted with camera flashes.
At the line, just 0.027s separated them in the closest finish in the entire 65-year history of the Coke 600. Johnson enjoyed the sweet taste of Victory Lane champagne that night, while Labonte endured the bitter agony of defeat, kicking the side of his car in disgust. It was not the celebration he had hoped for to commemorate his first NASCAR Cup win from ten years prior. And as fate would have it, Labonte raced on for another decade, and never won again.
The 46th running of the Coca Cola 600 was a riveting, but bizarre event that lasted five hours and 13 minutes. It featured a record number of cautions at 22, which has yet to be beat. 21 of the 43 drivers that started the race led at one point and the driver who led the most laps [Vickers] never even made it to the finish. And when the smoke cleared, only 36 inches stood between the first and second place cars. It signified the clashing of two eras with Labonte, one of the last stars of the Winston Cup era losing to the man who would turn the newly introduced NASCAR playoffs into his personal playground.
And while there have been plenty of weird and wild Coke 600s, nothing compares to what went on this Sunday evening in 2005.
Read Also:
In this article
Be the first to know and subscribe for real-time news email updates on these topics
NASCAR Cup Series at Pocono Raceway odds, expert predictions for Great American Getaway 400
The NASCAR Cup Series is in Pennsylvania this weekend for The Great American Getaway 400 at Pocono Raceway. As drivers prepare to face NASCAR’s “Tricky Triangle,” we’re getting race insights from our motorsports experts, Jeff Gluck and Jordan Bianchi. They’ll fill us in on NASCAR’s future in San Diego, the roiling feud between Carson Hocevar […]
The NASCAR Cup Series is in Pennsylvania this weekend for The Great American Getaway 400 at Pocono Raceway. As drivers prepare to face NASCAR’s “Tricky Triangle,” we’re getting race insights from our motorsports experts, Jeff Gluck and Jordan Bianchi.
They’ll fill us in on NASCAR’s future in San Diego, the roiling feud between Carson Hocevar and Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and of course, favorites and long shots for Sunday’s race.
Take it away, guys!
How to watch NASCAR at Pocono
Race: The Great American Getaway 400
Track: Pocono Raceway — Long Pond, Pa.
Time: Sunday, June 22, 2 p.m. ET
Watch: Prime Video
NASCAR Cup Series at Pocono Raceway Q&A, predictions
Jordan reported that NASCAR is nearing a deal for a Cup Series street course race in San Diego. Will this replace Chicago, or will it be an additional street race? What are your thoughts on the increasing street course races in the NASCAR schedule? How does it shift strategy among teams?
Jeff: Personally, I think there’s only room for one street course race per year in NASCAR. A street course needs to be highlighted in its own way, and it could quickly become less special if there are multiple per season. It’s sort of like the NHL’s Winter Classic when it was diluted with the Stadium Series; there’s a careful balance when it comes to these special events. NASCAR is not traditionally a road racing series (it only had two road course races per season for decades) and certainly wasn’t a circuit with street races until a couple of years ago, with the addition of Chicago. Fans are already weary of too many non-ovals anyway, but it’s certainly an opportunity for teams like Trackhouse Racing, who can hire a road course ace to launch them into the playoffs.
Jordan: While NASCAR’s original three-year contract with the city of Chicago is up at the end of the year, the possibility is there that NASCAR could return next year by exercising the option it holds. But to Jeff’s point, having two street courses on the schedule could potentially take away some of the novelty, which is part of the appeal of doing this. Plus, there is the cost to consider when staging two such races. It certainly isn’t cheap. Looking at it from the team perspective, it’s a further indication that the schedule going forward, consisting of five to six road/street courses and six drafting tracks, will continue to feature a good mix of various tracks.
Whew, Carson Hocevar really can’t keep himself out of trouble, can he? (Though it seems he’s good at apologies!) What do you think will happen with him and Ricky Stenhouse Jr.? Is it really just a coincidence that Stenhouse was the one Hocevar had a run-in with? Is that just bad luck or intentional? Could this boost performance for either of them? Is this a powder keg about to blow?
Jeff: Yeah, Stenhouse is not going to let this one go. Unfortunately for Hocevar, that was the worst possible person he could have collided with, and it shows bad judgment on his part, because it was completely unnecessary. Hocevar was a lap down at the time, and he shouldn’t have even let himself get close enough to Stenhouse for them to have contact; Hocevar wasn’t racing for anything but cleaned Stenhouse out. Whoops. So now Stenhouse is going to have to enact some sort of revenge, or he’ll come across as not being a man of his word, which is antithetical to his personal code. In other words, Hocevar either needs to watch his back or his rear-view mirror.
Jordan: Word of advice for Carson Hocevar: If you see Ricky Stenhouse Jr. this weekend and he’s wearing his shorts with the camo design, quickly walk in the other direction.
I believe this is the final race to determine seeding for the in-season challenge. What should we know about this process, and what are the stakes at Pocono for that tournament? Do the drivers care? Is this on the teams’ minds?
Jeff: This has been such a silly way to seed the in-season tournament. Instead of just taking the point standings and going 1 vs. 32, 2 vs. 31, etc., NASCAR has been seeding the top 32 drivers over a three-week stretch based on their best finish. So the No. 1 seed right now is Denny Hamlin, who won at Michigan and then didn’t even race last week at Mexico City. Meanwhile, Joey Logano is the No. 27 seed — so would it be an “upset” if he knocked off a No. 6 seed in Round 1? Of course not, and he’ll probably be heavily favored. So, again, doing it this way is a miss and will only confuse bettors. As for whether the teams care, the answer is no — not until next week, anyway. Once we start seeing the matchups and they start getting asked about it, then it could be on their minds more.
Jordan: In addition to what Jeff said about the seeding, keep in mind that the opening tournament race is at Atlanta, a track with a well-deserved reputation for generating chaos where multi-car accidents are commonplace. There’s a good chance the bracket will see some notables knocked out early, with a good number of “Cinderellas” moving forward. Additionally, the fact that the Chicago Street Course follows Atlanta only creates additional opportunities for upsets to happen. It will be very interesting to see what this bracket looks like after a couple of races.
Who is your favorite to win this weekend and why? Who has been dominant here in the past?
Jeff: Denny Hamlin is Pocono’s all-time wins leader — yes, all-time, not just among active drivers — with seven victories. That’s almost too easy, and he’s a heavy favorite after going win-win-second in the three Next Gen races there. Oh, what’s that you say? You’re not seeing a win for Hamlin in 2022? That’s because he got disqualified for a very minor infraction (still illegal, but minor) after winning that year. For betting purposes, you need to view it as a win. But again, that seems like a pretty obvious pick, so if you’re looking for slightly better value? Perhaps go with William Byron, who is Pocono’s all-time leader in average finish despite never actually winning there. He has +800 odds.
Jordan: That William Byron doesn’t have another win or two or three this season is surprising, considering how dominant he’s been at times. He’s due, overdue, to finally get that second victory, and Pocono represents a great place to do it. He’s finished in the top 10 in over 50 percent of his starts here, and this is one of those tracks where the best teams in a given season tend to shine. Also, don’t be surprised if Kyle Larson puts a tough few weeks behind him by putting a classic No. 5-team stomping on the field where he sweeps the stages, leads a ton of laps and rolls to the win.
Who is a long shot you like here?
Jeff: Pocono is the type of race where we could see an upset if fuel mileage plays out the right way. But that doesn’t help you much, because there are a lot of people to choose from in that regard. A better play might be to see if you can parlay a couple of plus-money top-10 picks together. Like, is it a stretch to think AJ Allmendinger (+10000 to win) and Michael McDowell (+20000) could both be in the top 10? Not at all. So maybe play around with that and see if you can come up with a combination that might work. After all, it would have been a great strategy last week when John Hunter Nemechek and Cole Custer landed surprising top-10s in Mexico City.
Jordan: Legacy Motor Speedway has shown considerably more speed in its cars recently, and if this speed is again present on Sunday, Erik Jones at +8000 makes for a great sleeper pick. Among active drivers, he has the fifth-most top-five finishes and seventh-best average finish, and with Pocono being a track known for long green-flag runs, the opportunity could be there for LMC to gamble with a Hail Mary strategy to score an upset win.
Race winner odds for The Great American Getaway 400
Betting/odds links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication.
(Photo of Denny Hamlin: Chris Graythen / Getty Images)
NASCAR race betting odds for Pocono: Denny Hamlin latest favorite
Daytona Motor Mouths: Shane van Gisbergen wins NASCAR Mexico City race The guys break down Shane van Gisbergen’s NASCAR win in Mexico City, Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s beef with Carson Hocevar and more before Pocono. It was this week, 25 years ago, when Pocono was the stage for one of NASCAR’s rare occurrences of that age. […]
Daytona Motor Mouths: Shane van Gisbergen wins NASCAR Mexico City race
The guys break down Shane van Gisbergen’s NASCAR win in Mexico City, Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s beef with Carson Hocevar and more before Pocono.
It was this week, 25 years ago, when Pocono was the stage for one of NASCAR’s rare occurrences of that age.
It was mid-June of 2000 when Dale Earnhardt got the bum’s rush on the final lap, entering the final turn, with the checkers in sight. Jeremy Mayfield did the honors, executing a textbook bump-and-run to get the third of his five Cup wins before his career flamed out in a big way (do your own research because we’re here to gamble, not air dirty laundry).
You couldn’t consider it an upset victory since Mayfield had a couple wins and was running with the lead pack regularly. The only surprise was the how and who — how Mayfield did it and who paid the price.
Jeremy Mayfield won the 2000 Pocono 500 24 years ago today.
Mayfield bumped Dale Earnhardt out of the lead on the final turn of the race.
In victory lane Mayfield said, “I just wanted to rattle his cage a little bit, ya know what I mean?” pic.twitter.com/LtvjH2jNNB
Pocono isn’t a place for shockers. Chris Buescher (with Front Row Motorsports) and Ryan Blaney (Wood Brothers) won back-to-back at Pocono in 2016-17, but in the 12 races since, it’s been nothing but pre-race favorites puttering into Victory Lane.
Pocono Raceway is such a tri-oval it’s actually triangle-shaped. And it’s 2.5 miles around, with the three corners banked rather low at just 6, 8 and 14 degrees. Much like Indy, a car needs to turn well, not just go fast.
In other words, don’t go too far down the odds board looking for a potential payday.
Could Denny Hamlin possibly be well-rested?
+425: Denny Hamlin
+550: Kyle Larson
+650: Ryan Blaney, William Byron
+850: Christopher Bell
+1000: Tyler Reddick
The bettors seem to think New Dad Denny will arrive with some reserve horsepower, given how he took last weekend off. And Reddick? He’s winless this season and has one top-10 since mid-April (and that was a ninth!). But there’s this: In the three Pocono races of the Next Gen era, he’s finished second, second and sixth.
Chase Elliott leaves the group of favorites
+1200: Chase Elliott
+1750: Joey Logano, Ty Gibbs, Chris Buescher
+2000: Brad Keselowski, Carson Hocevar, Ross Chastain
+2500: Kyle Busch, Bubba Wallace, Chase Briscoe
Our boy Billy Clyde won at Pocono three years ago, and was ninth and 10th the next two years. Add a chicane and maybe one big sweeping right-hander at Pocono, and Chase might’ve remained in the lead pack of favorites like he was last week. He’s double-dipping this weekend and, for what it’s worth, co-favored in Saturday’s Xfinity Series race.
Three Daytona 500 winner way down here
+3000: Alex Bowman
+4000: Josh Berry, Austin Cindric
+5000: Erik Jones, Ryan Preece
+7500: Ricky Stenhouse, Daniel Suarez
+10000: Zane Smith, Michael McDowell, AJ Allmendinger
Cindric, Stenhouse and McDowell have all won a very famous race on a 2.5-mile track. Pocono is also 2.5 miles around. Your odometer can be deceiving, however.
It’s not often you find last week’s winner dwelling down among the betting public’s bottom feeders. That alone tells you how much of a road-course specialist Shane van Gisbergen remains at this point of his NASCAR career.
How to watch Saturday’s Xfinity race at Pocono: Start time, TV info and weather
The NASCAR Xfinity Series will return to Pocono Raceway for its longest race on the 2.5-mile track since 2019. Saturday’s race is scheduled for 100 laps (250 miles) at Pocono, whose past five Xfinity Series races were scheduled for 90 laps. The Xfinity Series’ 2016-19 races at Pocono were scheduled for 100 laps. Cole Custer […]
The NASCAR Xfinity Series will return to Pocono Raceway for its longest race on the 2.5-mile track since 2019.
Saturday’s race is scheduled for 100 laps (250 miles) at Pocono, whose past five Xfinity Series races were scheduled for 90 laps.
The Xfinity Series’ 2016-19 races at Pocono were scheduled for 100 laps. Cole Custer won the June 1, 2019 race that was extended to 103 laps by a late caution flag.
Custer also won the Xfinity race at Pocono last year but won’t return to defend after moving back up to the Cup Series this season. Austin Hill (who won at the 2.5-mile track in 2023) is the only past Xfinity winner at Pocono in the field.
Details for Saturday’s Xfinity race at Pocono Raceway
(All times Eastern)
START: The command to start engines will be given at 3:29 p.m. … The green flag is scheduled to wave at 3:40 p.m.
PRERACE: The Xfinity garage will open at 8:30 a.m. … Practice is at 10 a.m. … Qualifying is scheduled to begin at 11:05 a.m. … Driver introductions are at 3 p.m.
DISTANCE: The race is 100 laps (250 miles) on the 2.5-mile track.
STAGES: Stage 1 ends at Lap 25. Stage 2 ends at Lap 50.
ENTRY LIST: Click here for the 38 cars entered at Pocono Raceway.
TV/RADIO: CW will broadcast the race starting at 3 p.m. … Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio will have radio coverage.
FORECAST: WeatherUnderground — A mixture of sunshine and clouds with a high of 82 degrees and winds from the west at 5 to 10 mph. It’s expected to be 80 degrees with a 13% chance of rain for the start of the Xfinty Series race.
LAST TIME: Cole Custer led the final nine laps to beat Justin Allgaier by 0.670 seconds on July 13, 2024.
Costa Oil Joins Rick Ware Racing as Co-Primary Sponsor for Pocono
Rick Ware Racing (RWR) is partnering with Costa Oil – 10 Minute Oil Change, one of the fastest-growing models in the quick-lube space, for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series event at Pocono Raceway. The company, whose headquarters are located in Hanover, Pennsylvania, will serve as the co-primary sponsor of the No. 51 Ford Mustang Dark Horse, […]
Rick Ware Racing (RWR) is partnering with Costa Oil – 10 Minute Oil Change, one of the fastest-growing models in the quick-lube space, for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series event at Pocono Raceway.
The company, whose headquarters are located in Hanover, Pennsylvania, will serve as the co-primary sponsor of the No. 51 Ford Mustang Dark Horse, driven by Cody Ware, in the Cup Series’ annual trip to the 2.5-mile speedway.
“Working with the RWR family is more than a sponsorship – it’s a strategic partnership built on shared vision and mutual growth,” said Costa Kapothanasis, CEO of Costa Oil. “Rick Ware has built an organization that understands how to create business value in a competitive environment.”
Costa Oil has been integrating itself within Rick Ware Racing this season, serving as a primary sponsor in select CARS Tour Pro Late Model events and NASCAR Xfinity Series events with Carson Ware, and now jumping into the NASCAR Cup Series as a co-primary sponsor of Cody Ware.
“We won with RWR and Cars Ware in a Pro Late Model on the CARS Tour, and it’s a relationship that has grown with Carson in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and now with Cody in the NASCAR Cup Series. This synergy is what excites us the most.”
Founded in 2013, Costa Oil strives to serve as America’s premier choice for quick automotive servicing. Using top-of-the-line products backed by exceptional customer service, including complimentary fluid top-offs and tire-pressure checks, Costa Oil combines short wait times with quality, allowing both individual customers and fleet managers to get back on the road quickly.
“The NASCAR Cup Series is the pinnacle of American motorsport, and being aligned with RWR gives us access to a business ecosystem that shares our obsession with speed, precision, and results,” Kapothanasis added. “We’re not just putting our name on a car – we’re investing in relationships that help drive long-term success.”
In addition to serving as the co-primary sponsor of the No. 51 Ford Mustang Dark Horse in Sunday’s event, Costa Oil will also serve as the primary sponsor of the No. 35 Ford Mustang in the NASCAR Xfinity Series event, driven by Carson Ware, for Joey Gase Motorsports.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Costa Oil to the RWR family for their home race at Pocono,” said Rick Ware, owner of Rick Ware Racing. “They’re a fast-growing company that’s changing the game in the quick-lube space by focusing on speed, convenience, and customer care – all values that we live by in motorsports. This partnership isn’t just about logos on a car – it’s about building something meaningful with a brand that shares our drive to grow, compete and deliver results.”
Sunday’s The Great American Getaway 400 at Pocono Raceway will take place on June 22 at 2:00 PM ET with coverage on Prime Video, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.
Former NASCAR driver joins Nashville Kats ownership group
NASHVILLE — Michael Waltrip, a former NASCAR driver whose career included two Daytona 500 victories, has joined the ownership group of the Nashville Kats, a founding franchise of the Arena Football 1 league. The Kats announced the 62-year-old Waltrip joining the group Friday along with his craft beer company, Michael Waltrip Brewing. The ownership group […]
NASHVILLE — Michael Waltrip, a former NASCAR driver whose career included two Daytona 500 victories, has joined the ownership group of the Nashville Kats, a founding franchise of the Arena Football 1 league.
The Kats announced the 62-year-old Waltrip joining the group Friday along with his craft beer company, Michael Waltrip Brewing. The ownership group already includes former NFL coaches Jon Gruden, 61, and Jeff Fisher, 67, with the latter the majority owner and team president, as well as the AF1 commissioner.
Gruden coached the Oakland Raiders from 1998 to 2001, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2002-08 and the Oakland Raiders from 2018-21, while Fisher coached the Houston Oilers from 1994-96, the Tennessee Oilers from 1997-98, the Tennessee Titans from 1999-2010, the St. Louis Rams from 2012-15 and the Los Angeles Rams in 2016.
Gruden’s first season in Tampa Bay culminated with the Bucs winning Super Bowl XXXVII in their first appearance in the NFL’s title matchup. Fisher led the Titans to Super Bowl XXXIV to cap the 1999 season, and it remains the franchise’s lone appearance in the big game.
Waltrip drove in NASCAR’s top-tier Cup Series on a full-time basis from 1985 to 2009 and continued to race occasionally through 2017. He won the Daytona 500 — the prestigious season opener often referred to as “NASCAR’s Super Bowl” — in 2001 and 2003.
“We now have three living legends attached to the Nashville Kats — Jeff Fisher, Jon Gruden, and Michael Waltrip — all with the ultimate goal to win championships and raise the AF1 to its ultimate potential along with any team associated with the AF1,” Bobby DeVoursney, the CEO and managing partner of the Kats, said in a team release announcing the move.
Waltrip’s brewery now is the team’s official craft beer. The team also plans a “Waltrip Winner’s Circle” fan zone for the upcoming season.
The Kats, who played in the Arena Football League last season, will face the Southwest Kansas Storm in the AF1 semifinals Sunday at F&M Bank Arena in Clarksville.
Kaz Grala joins Sam Hunt Racing for three Xfinity road course events
Sam Hunt Racing (SHR) announces today that Kaz Grala will pilot the No. 24 Overplay GR Supra at a series of upcoming NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) road course races starting at the Loop 110 in Chicago. Overplay, the no-code gaming platform recently featured on Shark Tank, is pleased to add Grala to its schedule of […]
Sam Hunt Racing (SHR) announces today that Kaz Grala will pilot the No. 24 Overplay GR Supra at a series of upcoming NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) road course races starting at the Loop 110 in Chicago.
Overplay, the no-code gaming platform recently featured on Shark Tank, is pleased to add Grala to its schedule of sponsored racers in the 2025 Season.
Grala was SHR’s first ever full-time driver. He currently supports LEGACY MOTOR CLUB’s NASCAR Cup Series efforts as a Simulation Testing and Reserve Driver. In his first season with Sam Hunt Racing in 2023, Grala showcased exceptional ability to perform at road courses. Driving the No. 26 Toyota GR Supra, Grala secured three top 10 finishes on road circuits, including a season-best fifth place at the Charlotte ROVAL, and strong performances at Road America (7th), Indianapolis Road Course (9th), and the Chicago Street Course (10th). These results not only highlighted his versatility and skill but also contributed significantly to Sam Hunt Racing’s most successful season to date, with Grala achieving two top 5 and nine top 10 finishes overall.
Kaz Grala embarked on a pivotal role this year with LEGACY MOTOR CLUB, serving as the team’s Simulator Testing and Reserve Driver. This position leverages his extensive racing experience across NASCAR’s premier series to enhance the team’s performance through advanced simulation work and preparedness to step in as needed. Grala’s efforts have assisted LEGACY MC’s improvement in performance this season by playing a key part in the team’s simulation program.
“I can’t wait to finally suit back up, especially with my friends at Sam Hunt Racing. We had a lot of success together in 2023, and with the growth they’ve had since then, I have confidence that we’ll be able to contend up front each time we hit the track” said Grala. Of his experience making video games on Overplay’s platform Grala states, “My role at LEGACY MOTOR CLUB as their simulation driver has kept me sharp behind the wheel this year, and ties in perfectly with the driving games we’ve created with Overplay. For the first time, fans are playing racing games that I made. Overplay has been an incredible sponsor to work with so far, as they’ve fully immersed themselves in the NASCAR world this year. I’m looking forward to what we are all able to accomplish together, and I can’t think of a better place to get started than the streets of Chicago.”
Grala brings with him a wealth of experience at NASCAR’s highest level, having made 31 Cup Series starts since his debut in 2020. In his very first outing, he turned heads with a seventh-place finish at the Daytona Road Course. Most recently, he delivered a strong 14th-place result at Atlanta in 2024 with Rick Ware Racing, continuing to showcase his adaptability and competitive edge across a range of teams and track types.
Making his return to Sam Hunt Racing, Grala brings an advantage with his old and new experiences, the No. 24 team. His time at the Cup level has only sharpened his race craft, and success at the NXS level with SHR is an asset that will be invaluable as the team looks to build on its road course success and contend for stronger finishes across the Xfinity Series schedule.
“It’s always nice to have a familiar face walk into SHR. Kaz has been working in the LEGACY MC simulator all year, so I know he’s more than eager to be back on track and get real-world reps,” said Hunt. “He knows our process as well as anyone and has had a lot of success with us in the past, especially on these road courses. I think we have all continued to improve since 2023, and I’m thankful and proud to have Overplay partner with us to support the effort. It’s going to be a fun couple of races for sure.”
Brian Gainey will continue to lead the effort as crew chief for the No. 24 team. Gainey has seen much success at Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) where he previously worked as the Car Chief of the No. 20 in the NXS.
“I would like to welcome back Kaz to SHR. It’s great to have someone to compete in the 24 car that has over 150 starts in NASCAR’s top 3 divisions. With that being said we are taking Kaz to (3) road courses this year,” said Gainey. “It’s no surprise that road courses fit Kaz’s strengths and SHR’s. I’m excited to hit the ground running with Kaz and try to get the best result each race, and I believe he will be a contender at all three tracks.”
Tune in to The Loop 110 at The Chicago Street Course on July 5th at 4:30 PM ET. All NASCAR Xfinity Series races will be broadcast on the CW Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90.
#NBAFinals
