Were the Haters Right? Did We Fix NASCAR?
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In this episode of Stacking Pennies with Corey LaJoie, the hosts dive deep into the recent Bristol races across NASCAR's Cup, Xfinity, and Truck Series, celebrating multiple first-time winners and thrilling finishes. Corey reflects on the evolving nature of short track racing, arguing that while NASCAR has made positive strides in improving race quality—especially through the O'Reilly Series' offensive tools and better pit crew culture—the core issue remains unresolved: the overly wide tires are still stifling close racing and creating a lack of grip variability. He critiques the current Cup Series for lacking the dynamic, aggressive racing found in the Trucks and O'Reilly series, calling for a rethinking of aerodynamics and tire design to restore true competition. The episode also highlights the emotional and cultural impact of mentorship, spotlighting veteran pit crew members like Daniel Smith and Braxton Brandon who elevate team performance beyond mere speed. Beyond racing, Corey shares personal stories of life lessons from coaching his daughter’s softball team and the power of small, intentional rewards in shaping behavior, underscoring the show’s recurring theme: success comes from stacking small, consistent wins.
NASCAR has made progress but hasn't fixed the short track package—wider tires are still limiting true racing and grip variation.
The O'Reilly Series’ offensive tools (like packing air on the left rear) create better racing than the Cup Series, which lacks such dynamics.
Veteran pit crew members bring irreplaceable culture, mentorship, and championship DNA that can’t be measured by stopwatch times.
Confidence is everything in racing—Ty Gibbs and Connor Zilich’s recent wins are proof that belief can overcome poor equipment and results.
Small, consistent actions (like coaching kids or rewarding effort) compound into long-term success—'stacking pennies' is a life philosophy.
…and 2 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Bristol Breakdown: Three Winners, One Epic Race
“It was such a good event and just a lot of great racing this weekend. I think Bristol, the way it is now with the rubber on the bottom, the PJ1 on the bottom, the truck race didn't really get to see the migration of the top, but a little bit longer races got to see that migration of the top.”
The Truck Series Struggles and the Weight of Responsibility
“It's not just an extra payday. I've got a very experienced group of guys, not only behind the wall, but going over the wall. And they were on the 25 truck when I drove to Darlington, had a great night.”
The Great Tire Debate: Why NASCAR’s Short Track Package Isn’t Fixed
“If they took an inch of tire away... it would really spice things up. Now, they talked about cutting the old F1 tires where they cut grooves in them? They talked about that. But then ultimately, the softer it gets, the rubber essentially just fills in those slots and it becomes another flat surface.”
The Power of Culture: Pit Crews That Win Championships
“Those are guys that can shape the culture of a race team, and they know what it takes to not only win races but to win championships at this level, and that is something that you cannot measure with a stopwatch or any AI analytic system that you want.”
Confidence, Momentum, and the Psychology of Racing
Corey discusses how confidence impacts performance, using Ty Gibbs and Connor Zilich as examples. He reflects on how losing confidence can destroy a driver’s edge, and how momentum is a real force in racing—even when you’re not winning, you’re still moving forward.
“Those are guys that can shape the culture of a race team, and they know what it takes to not only win races but to win championships at this level, and that is something that you cannot measure with a stopwatch or any AI analytic system that you want.”
“If they took an inch of tire away... it would really spice things up.”
“When y'all talk about that and on the verge of spinning out and on the verge of busting your butt and trying to push the edge, trying to find a limit, he's like, that's where, that's where I like it when you guys go there.”
Hosts
Corey LaJoie
person
Ryan Flores
person
NASCAR
organization
Ty Gibbs
person
Connor Zilich
person
Christopher Bell
person
Daniel Smith
person
54 Team
organization
Braxton Brandon
person
Cheddar Bob
person
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