By Roy J. Akers- www.skyviewsports.net
With NASCAR rolling into Nashville to start the second half of the regular season, there are the usual suspects and much more. The manufacturers are giving us solid news going into the weekend.
Two Zoomcasts and then the manufacturer’s news
Chevrolet
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| Hitting the Halfway MarkAt the drop of the checkered flag at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the NASCAR Cup Series has officially raced its way into the second-half of its regular season schedule. With Chastain’s crown jewel triumph, Chevrolet has collected a series-high five wins this season, with the 32-year-old Alva, Florida, native joining his fellow Team Chevy teammates, William Byron and Kyle Larson, with an early ticket into the 2025 playoffs. Dating back to just the third race of the season at Circuit of The Americas, Byron took over the series’ points lead and has been a fixture among the top-two positions ever since – ultimately regaining the lead from his Hendrick Motorsports teammate, Larson, following a strong points day and a runner-up finish at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Chevrolet also holds a commanding lead in a variety of statistical categories including stage wins (14), top-10s (60), laps led (1,976) and pole wins (7). On the ReboundWith eight different winners thus far this season, eight opportunities remain to secure a playoff position by virtue of a win. Among those looking for their first trip to victory lane of the season includes a handful of Team Chevy drivers that are hitting a stride as we enter the second-half of the regular season. |
 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. finds himself in the 13th position in the points standings after falling just short of a top-10 finish at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Consistency has been key for the No. 47 Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet team, which has positioned the single-car organization in a provisional playoff position heading into the second-half of the regular season. In 13 points-paying races this season, Stenhouse Jr. has completed all but three laps, as well as tallied four top-12 results, including two in the top-six. The Mississippi native is well on his way to a career-best season-long average finish, heading to Nashville Superspeedway with a 16.8 average. |
Ford Performance
| LOGANO EYEING CONSECUTIVE CUP WINSAT NASHVILLE SUPERSPEEDWAYJoey Logano went the final 110 laps without pitting and survived five overtimes to win last year’s Ally 400 at Nashville Superspeedway, clinching a spot in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. Logano was seemingly out of it, running 16th with two laps remaining, but when the caution came out it gave everybody in the field new life. Logano continued to climb through the field as accidents created multiple restarts and cars either started to run out of fuel or were forced to pit. Crew chief Paul Wolfe gambled and kept his driver out until the very end and it worked as Logano was able to jump out on the fifth overtime restart and hold off Tyler Reddick at the finish line. Logano, who led the final nine laps, had just enough fuel as the tank emptied in the middle of his post-race burnout. |
 FORD DRIVING 4 A DIFFERENCE STANDINGSThree more races remain in the Ford Driving 4 A Difference presented by the Gene Haas Foundation with Ford’s five NASCAR Xfinity Series drivers hoping to win as much as $20,000 for their charity of choice. The points each driver earns in races at Charlotte, Nashville, Mexico City, and Pocono will be added together with the winner being the one with the highest total. If a driver wins one of those events, their point total for that race is doubled. In the debut race last weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Sam Mayer scored points in the first two stages en route to an 11th-place finish. That enabled him to assume the lead by six points over Ryan Sieg while Sheldon Creed is third, Harrison Burton fourth and Kyle Sieg fifth. |
| Sam Mayer 38Ryan Sieg 32Sheldon Creed 29Harrison Burton 16Kyle Sieg 4 |
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| RYAN PREECE: “Nashville is definitely a unique racetrack. It’s considered a mile-and-a-half and an intermediate, but it races similar to a short track – not entirely, but there are some characteristics about it that you can take from the background that I’ve been in and it just kind of fits my style. It’s definitely a place that I’ve grown to like and look forward to going to.” |
 CHRIS BUESCHER: “I think some of the first laps I ever made in a Cup car when I was 16 or 17 and testing for Roush was at Nashville. I’ve been there when it was eight degrees and there were icicles falling off the catchfence down the backstretch while we were testing and hitting the windshield. That will get your attention. On the flip side, it’s been one of the hottest races I’ve ever been a part of. I don’t know what we’re in for, but we’ve got a lot going on in Nashville during the week and I’m looking forward to it.” |
Toyota Gazoo Racing – NASCAR National Series – NCS/NXS/NCTS
Hamlin hits 700 starts … This weekend in Nashville is a special race for Denny Hamlin, as the driver of the No. 11 Toyota Camry XSE for Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) hits his 700th career Cup Series start. Hamlin’s storied career to-date has 56 wins – with two already this season – 239 top-fives and 364 top-10s. Hamlin seeks his first win at Nashville Superspeedway this weekend, as he has two top-10s, as well as two pole positions, in the four previous Cup Series races there.
Heim back in the No. 67 … For the second time this season, Corey Heim will be behind the wheel of the No. 67 Toyota Camry XSE for 23XI Racing as he continues his development plan with the team. In his first start of the 2025 season, the Toyota Development Driver managed a solid run at Kansas Speedway, coming home in the 13th position. Nashville Superspeedway is another track Heim has Cup Series experience in as he ran the race last season for 23XI Racing.
Almirola, Earnhardt back in GR Supras … At Nashville Superspeedway this weekend, Aric Almirola and Jeffrey Earnhardt return the cockpits of Toyota GR Supras with Almirola in the No. 19 for JGR and Earnhardt in the No. 24 for Sam Hunt Racing. This will be the sixth Xfinity Series start of the season for Almirola, who also makes his fifth at Nashville where he’s accrued three top-10s. For Earnhardt, this will be his second start of the season after running at Talladega in April.
Heim looking for more in the Truck Series … Along with running the Cup Series race on Sunday, Heim resumes his regular duties in the Truck Series with TRICON Garage where he’s been the man to beat this season. The driver of the No. 11 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro has dominated the season so far, with four wins, seven top-fives and nine top-10s, along with 752 laps led. He goes for his first career win at Nashville Superspeedway where he has two consecutive top-five finishes, including a third last season.
Roy J. Akers covers NASCAR for www.skyviewsports.net
