On this episode of Bringing the Heat, host Trey Lyle is joined by Bryan Nolen to break down day eight of the NASCAR vs. 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports antitrust trial.
The podcast opens with an update stemming from the previous day regarding a nondisclosure agreement tied to speculation about Richard Childress potentially selling his team. The judge ruled that if NASCAR does not sufficiently address the plaintiffs’ questions, he will issue a ruling on the matter.
The discussion then shifts to the defense’s cross-examination of NASCAR Chairman and CEO Jim France. The questioning sought to portray France in a more positive light, focusing on his background and his family’s long-standing history in the sport.
Lyle, Nolen and Massie also break down testimony from John Probst, NASCAR’s senior vice president of racing development. Probst addressed the development of the Next Gen (Gen 7) car, the gold code protocol and the cost of starting a NASCAR Cup Series team.
The conversation continues with analysis of the testimony from NASCAR Chief Financial Officer Greg Maffei, who focused on the financial aspects of the case. That included discussion of NASCAR covering certain tax obligations for the France family, a point the hosts note could reflect poorly on the defense.
NASCAR Vs. 23XI/FRM Lawsuit Day 8 Recap
The episode concludes with a recap of testimony from NASCAR expert witness Dr. Mark Zmijewski, who attempted to discredit the teams’ expert witness, economist Dr. Edward Snyder. Lyle also discusses NASCAR’s current public perception and how the sanctioning body could attempt to recover, regardless of the outcome of the case. The hosts also analyze a letter from Bass Pro Shops’ Johnny Morris regarding NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps’ comments about Childress.
Watch here or listen wherever you get your podcasts.
Podcast Director at Frontstretch
A Graduate of Virginia Tech in Sports Media and Analytics, Trey Lyle has been covering NASCAR since 2021 as the producer of the Fast Lane with Ed Lane on VTRN Sports 93.3 FM in Lynchburg, Va.
Trey joined FS in 2023 to co-host Happy Hour and help out on the podcast front.
He now hosts Bringing the Heat with Trey Lyle and oversees the entire podcast operation for Frontstretch.
Operations Manager and Multimedia Director at Frontstretch
Bryan Nolen is the Operations Manager and Multimedia Director for Frontstretch.com. He also hosts the Bringing the Heat with Bryan Nolen Podcast and occasionally makes appearances on The Happy Hour Podcast. He has a Sportscasting degree from the Dan Patrick School of Sportscasting. He resides in Boise, Idaho, with his wife, his French Bulldog Archer and two rabbits.
Follow him on Twitter @TheBryanNolen
Content Director at Frontstretch
Michael Massie joined Frontstretch in 2017 and has served as the Content Director since 2020.
Massie, a Richmond, Va., native, has covered NASCAR, IndyCar, SRX and the CARS Tour. Outside of motorsports, the Virginia Tech grad and Green Bay Packers minority owner can be seen cheering on his beloved Hokies and Packers.