The spotter for Bubba Wallace had an issue with Joey Logano‘s comments after the NASCAR All-Star Race. On the Door Bumper Clear podcast, Freddie Kraft pointed out Logano’s hypocrisy for being angry about how he lost the race to Christopher Bell and the promoter’s caution.

“What the f**k,” Kraft began. “First of all, he was crying after the race about the caution that we all knew was coming. This is probably one of the most hypocritical things I’ve ever heard anybody say.”

Kraft was referring to Logano calling out Bell for his driving style during the final laps of the race. Bubba Wallace’s spotter gave Logano credit for being “the best defensive racer in our sport,” but also noted Logano would have done the same thing if the roles were reversed.

“It’s just funny for me,” Kraft said. “He gets out of the car. First of all, he’s mad about the caution… The roles were reversed. He was finally the best car and got beat by strategy or caution. But we all knew that caution was coming.”

Joey Logano was ‘pissed off’ after the NASCAR All-Star Race

Kraft later said, “That was quintessential Joey there at the end of that race complaining about the cautions and getting raced hard. Rolls reversed, he’s doing the exact same thing to Christopher.”

At the All-Star Race, Joey Logano led 139 of the 250 laps. The promoter’s caution came out on Lap 216, and that’s when Christopher Bell made his move to the top. Logano stayed out during the caution, while Bell pitted for two tires. Bell pulled even with Logano at Lap 241 to eventually pass him after drifting out toward the wall.

“I’m pissed off right now,” Logano said after the race. “Just dang it, we had the fastest car. The Shell-Pennzoil Mustang was so fast. You get to … I’m trying to choose my words correctly on the caution situation. Obviously, I got bit by it, so I am the one frustrated.

“He did a great job of trying to keep me behind him, and I knew that once I got that run off Turn 4, it was like alright, I’m going to have to be a little more aggressive and kind of leaned on him and got him out of position,” Bell said. “I knew once I got the lead, I had the tire advantage so I should be able to cruise, and it worked out that way.”

Here’s to turning up, slowing down, and cars that go real fast.

We’re a little over a week away from NASCAR rolling into Nashville for the Cracker Barrel 400 at Nashville Superspeedway, and I know I’m biased because I live here but it’s always one of my favorite weeks of the season because of the way NASCAR and Nashville embrace each other every year.

The sport has a long history in Music City, from the early days racing at the Nashville Fairgrounds to the sport hosting their annual championship week in Nashville.

Obviously country music and racing go together like cocaine and waffles (if you don’t get Talladega Nights reference you’re probably not a NASCAR fan) so there are always plenty of cool events and collaborations that take place during race week here in Nashville, from Luke Combs appearing on Bubba Wallace’s car last year to driver appearances on Broadway. It’s just a fun week.

And country music is going to be well represented on the track once again during this year’s race in Nashville.

Eric Church‘s Nashville bar, Chief’s, was unveiled today as the sponsor for the #67 car for Corey Heim, who will be making his second start of the season for 23XI Racing.

23XI Racing is, of course, the team owned by NBA legend and Eric Church’s friend and fellow North Carolinian, Michael Jordan, along with Joe Gibbs racing driver Denny Hamlin. The team regularly fields the #23 car for Bubba Wallace, the #45 of Tyler Reddick and the #35 car for Riley Herbst, and has fielded a fourth entry for select races this season.

Heim, meanwhile, is one of the fastest rising stars in NASCAR. He’s already won three races in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series this season after finishing 2nd in the final standings last year. Heim is currently in the lead in the points standings, and has pretty much dominated most of the season. (He would probably have a couple more wins this year if it weren’t for some bad luck or ill-timed cautions).

The race will mark the first for Chief’s as a primary sponsor in NASCAR, and the race will likely feature a head-to-head battle of the Broadway bars on the track with Tootsie’s frequently serving as the sponsor for Trackhouse Racing drivers Ross Chastain and Daniel Suarez.

I mean, as much as I love mi amigo, I know which bar I’ll be rooting for in the race…

Eric Church Bumped By Legendary NASCAR Driver While Driving Pace Car At Talladega

Of course it only makes sense that Church’s bar would be featured on the track: The country star has one of the most popular songs about racing among NASCAR fans with his hit “Talladega,” one that you’re pretty much guaranteed to hear at the campgrounds of any NASCAR race these days.

And the song was such a big hit that it also earned him an invitation to drive the pace car at… you guessed it, Talladega.

Church spoke with Country Heat Weekly recently, and during the interview, NASCAR racing came up. After briefly describing himself as a “Dale Earnhardt fan,” he got into the hilarious story about his experience driving the pace car at Talladega. It first started with the details, and getting down to Talladega Speedway from Nashville:

“The year after ‘Talladega’ came out – ‘Talladega’ was the number one song – I got asked to come and drive the pace car at Talladega. I was like, ‘Yeah, sounds like a fun thing.’ The night before, we had an industry party in Nashville, and it was only like a 3 or 4 hour ride to Talladega. They said, ‘You need to be there at 8 a.m..’

We stayed at this industry party until 2:30 (in the morning). And we get on the bus, and we get there, and I didn’t know what my responsibilities were. At 7:30 a.m., there’s a knock on the bus door. I get up and they’re like, ‘Hey, you ready to go drive the pace car?’ I had to practice. I’m actually doing that thing where I’m like… I’m not actually sure I should.”

You’re telling me Eric Church almost drove the pace car drunk at Talladega?

According to how he tells the story, the country music star was trying his best to be responsible. At one point, he even told the guy – who he described as a “Bubba type” – that he wasn’t sure he should be driving a car… especially not one that’s meant to go over 100 miles per hour:

“I was like, ‘I was at a party until 2:30 in the morning… you think we should wait a little bit?’ He said, ‘Man, it’s NASCAR, you are fine.’ I said, ‘Alright bud.’ And then we did (the practice run) and it was fine. The race came later. So by the time I get to the race, I’m leading the pace car around, and I remember it was Jeff Gordon and Jimmy Johnson were on the pole.”

Church then went into the fact that if you aren’t going fast enough around the banking on the turns at Talladega, the cars will literally slide down the steep embankment. The only way to stay up on the track is to keep the speed above 110 to 120 miles per hour.

And for those who aren’t well-versed in NASCAR talk, Jeff Gordon and Jimmy Johnson being “on the pole” meant that they were the two drivers directly behind the pace car to start the race. Eric Church was still struggling to trust the car and give it gas, which led to one of the NASCAR drivers behind him giving him a little sign to speed things up:

“As I’m coming into the first turn, (the guy next to me) is going ‘Faster, faster, faster.’ So I’m going faster. Jeff Gordon was behind me and he came up and he tapped me (with his car) just to say hello. It was playful, but he tapped me, and my whole world went (sideways). It was a wonder I didn’t crash.”

Could you imagine the headlines? “Eric Church Wipes Out At Talladega” and “Jeff Gordon Purposefully Wrecks Church’s Slow-Moving Pace Car” would have done insane numbers.

Fortunately, Eric Church was able to keep it together after the bump. That being said, he shared that the driver that playfully nudged him was never his favorite, and the bump didn’t help:

“I was never a Jeff Gordon fan. But I said after we got to the next turn, ‘If he does that again, I’m slamming on my brakes and he’s gonna have no radiator for the rest of this race. If you have any comms, tell him to never do that again.’ He was just saying hello, and taking a guy who he knew was nervous going into it and gave him a little tap.”

I’m just glad that when you hear the words “Eric Church” and Talladega” together, you still just think of his kickass song from 2014. There’s an alternate universe I suppose where we got an Eric Church-Jeff Gordon rivalry for the ages, and Church and Talladega together probably would bring up something totally different.

“Talladega”

At first glance, Carl Edwards is a simple family man who lives on a farm in Columbia, Missouri. As an athlete who is a Hall of Famer in his respective sport of NASCAR racing, there’s not a hint of brashness in his voice.

Yet, Edwards is one of the best NASCAR drivers of his generation. The humble 45-year-old won 28 NASCAR Cup Series races in a career that culminated with his enshrinement in the NASCAR Hall of Fame in February. 

On May 25, Edwards will once again be one of the stars of a NASCAR telecast, though he’ll trade in a firesuit for a suit and tie and a steering wheel for a teleprompter as he provides analysis for Prime Video’s pre- and post-race coverage of five NASCAR Cup Series races. 

Edwards’ retirement in January of 2017 shocked the NASCAR world. After all, he was fresh off a Championship 4 appearance in 2016, and while he heartbreakingly lost the championship, he was at the top of his game. 

But Edwards, being a man who knows racing isn’t the end game of his life, was content with his career. In his Hall of Fame induction speech in February, he said he was grateful not to have won the championship in 2016. When Kyle Larson offered Edwards the opportunity to practice his car at North Wilkesboro while Larson qualified for the Indianapolis 500, Edwards politely declined. 

After being mostly radio silent in the years following his retirement, Edwards began to creep back into the NASCAR scene. He was at Darlington in May of 2023 when he was recognized as one of NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers. He drove the pace car at Kansas in September of 2024, and was the honorary starter at Darlington in April. 

Starting on May 25, he’ll be one of the faces of Prime Video’s studio coverage of NASCAR as he works alongside host Danielle Trotta and fellow driver-analyst Corey LaJoie. 

Nearly a decade removed from his retirement from NASCAR, Edwards said that after getting to know the Prime Video crew, he knew it was the right time to come back to the sport, albeit in a different capacity. 

“I’ve been shocked at the way the sport has welcomed me,” Edwards told Yardbarker in a virtual news conference on Monday. “I really know what it’s like to be part of the NASCAR family. It’s a really good feeling.” 

Edwards wasn’t sure about the opportunity to work with Prime Video – until Sr. Coordinating producer Alex Strand and others from the team came to his house in Columbia to talk with him. 

“They came all the way to Columbia, Missouri,” Edwards said. “We had a heck of a fun day. As we sat around my table, at my house, with my family, I realized that this Prime team, they’re fans. They love sports. They love being at the events. All of that came together. NASCAR welcomed me back for five races. I thought, ‘This will be an adventure. My family’s coming with me. Why not? Let’s go do it.”

After talking with fellow talent in Steve Letarte — a former crew chief with a decade of TV experience — and fellow Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr., Edwards knew that the opportunity was one he couldn’t pass up. 

“I’m just so grateful that Prime came all the way out to Missouri and talked me into this,” Edwards said. “The timing just feels right.” 

For everyone who watched Edwards’ race, seeing him come back to NASCAR feels right, too. 

All quotations obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.

Disclaimer: When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

If you’re wondering where to watch the Coca-Cola 600 without getting stuck in a maze of subscriptions and blackout rules, here’s some good news: this year’s race is easier to catch than you might think. The Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR event — one of the biggest races on the calendar — is happening Sunday, May 25 at 5 p.m. ET, live from Charlotte Motor Speedway. It’s the kind of race that feels like summer officially clocking in. And, it’s all streaming on one platform. Prime Video.

This isn’t just any race — it’s the 66th running of the Coca-Cola 600, the longest event in the NASCAR Cup Series. Four stages. 600 miles. 40 drivers. For fans, the Coca-Cola 600 sits right up there with the Daytona 500 and the Southern 500 — but what makes this one special is the sheer test of endurance. It starts in the late afternoon, rolls into dusk, and wraps under the lights. 

So let’s talk streaming. NASCAR on Prime Video is a thing now — not for every single race, but they do have exclusive rights for some of them, including the Coca-Cola 600. And if you’ve been wondering how to watch NASCAR on Prime, the setup is actually quite easy.

How to Watch the Coca-Cola 600 on Prime Video

Here’s how it works: if you’ve got Prime Video, you’re already halfway there. Amazon has partnered with different sports channels through Prime Video Channels, and some NASCAR events — including the Coca-Cola 600 — are available to stream live. No need for five logins or jumping between apps. Just head to Prime Video and toggle to the Sports section.

Now if you don’t already have a Prime membership, it’s $14.99/month or $139/year. That gets you access to Prime Video (plus free shipping, exclusive deals, and a bunch of other stuff you’ll probably use more than you think). Once you’re signed up, just search for NASCAR, Coca-Cola 600, or head to the Sports section within Prime Video.

In short: if you’re out grilling with friends or catching it solo on the couch, Prime makes it easy to tune into one of NASCAR’s biggest nights — without overcomplicating your weekend.

For more deals on streaming services and entertainment products, check out TV Guide’s Shopping hub.

It’s a big week for NASCAR.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Given his resume, Kurt Busch knew it was a matter of when, not if, he would be selected into the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

Still, getting voted in on the first ballot on Tuesday was a huge relief for Busch, who let out an emotional sigh of relief after hearing his named called at the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

“I’m very grateful and thankful that it happened this first time,” Busch said. “You want to have that answer as fast as you can.”

Ray Hendrick and Harry Gant were also voted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame on Tuesday, while executive Humpy Wheeler was named the Landmark Award winner for his contribution to the sport. A ceremony will be held to officially induct the Class of 2026 into the Hall of Fame in March.

The 46-year-old Busch held off Jimmie Johnson to win the 2004 Cup Series championship and went on to win 34 Cup races, including at least one victory in 19 of his 21 full-time seasons on the premier circuit before he retired in 2023.

His journey to NASCAR stardom began in 2000 with a Truck Series rookie season that foreshadowed greatness. His big breakthrough came in 2004, when he became the first driver to win the title under NASCAR’s “playoff” system – a feat that proved both his excellence and adaptability.

The consistent Busch finished in the top 10 in the Cup Series standings 10 times.

“Things happened fast for me in this sport and I don’t know how or why,” Busch said. “There was no template, there wasn’t the ladder that these days you see the kids that have a system where it is going to be this or that. For me it was being in the right place at the right time and the universe smiled down on me.”

Hendrick, who died in 1990 at age 61, was the original “Mr. Modified.”

He is one of the winningest drivers of all time, with than 700 modified and late model sportsman wins between 1950-88. His success started in his home state of Virginia, where his No. 11 was well know. He won five track championships at South Boston Speedway — four modified and one late model sportsman.

He was known as a driver that was willing to race “anywhere and everywhere,” and did just that. He filled his schedule with modified and late model sportsman races across the East coast. Hendrick was known best for his wins on short tracks, but also produced victories at Talladega, Charlotte and Dover.

Despite never winning a Modified Division championship, Hendrick finished in the top 10 in the standings nine times from 1960-69.

The 85-year-old Gant, known as the “Bandit” for his long-time sponsorship with Skoal Bandits, won 18 Cup Series races, including the Southern 500 in 1984 and 1991. In the five seasons from 1981 through 1985, he finished in the top five in points four times, including a runner-up championship finish to Terry Labonte in 1984.

He also won 21 Xfinity Series races.

Members of the NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting Panel met Tuesday in an in-person closed session at the Charlotte Convention Center to debate and vote on the 15 nominees for the induction class of 2026 and the five nominees for the Landmark Award.

The 49-person voting panel included representatives from NASCAR, the Hall of Fame, track owners from major facilities and historic short tracks, media members, manufacturer representatives, competitors (drivers, owners, crew chiefs), recognized industry leaders, a nationwide fan vote conducted through NASCAR.com and the reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion (Joey Logano).

Busch and Gant both received 61% of the “modern era” ballot votes. Jeff Burton finished third, followed by Harry Hyde and Randy Dorton.

Hendrick received 31% of the “pioneer” ballot votes. Bob Welborn finished second.

Gant raced into his 50s, and still holds premier series records for oldest driver to win a race (52 years old) and a pole (54). He drove the first race car with a telemetry system installed in it at Talladega in 1985 and relayed the data to CBS during its coverage of the event.

This was the Gant’s seventh time on the ballot. He did not attend the announcement ceremony on Tuesday and was not available for comment.

All three were among NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers and one of NASCAR Modified’s All-Time Top 10 Drivers.

Wheeler became synonymous with promotion and innovation.

He spent 33 years as the president and general manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway and played a pivotal role in transforming the venue into a world-class facility.

Wheeler added a new dynamic to the sport, a visionary whose leadership and creativity helped shape today’s fan experience with the introduction of dramatic prerace ceremonies and the development of night racing at superspeedways.

He was known for his innovative promotions and stunts.