What’s Happening?
Talladega didn’t disappoint race fans this weekend, locking one of 2025’s most consistent drivers into the Round of Four. But, it’s still not time to shut the book on NASCAR’s final Superspeedway race of the season. So, who were the biggest losers from NASCAR’s weekend at Talladega Superspeedway?
The CW
So, did the CW just have an off weekend or what? This was far from the worst NASCAR broadcast we have seen in 2025, but Talladega felt like a rare miss for The CW. Now, this isn’t the fault of the booth, of course, they have been top-notch this year, but they had some let’s just say FOX-esque moments this weekend.
Of course, there was the wreck where they maintained side-by-side; everyone seemed to notice that. But there were complaints of a quick wrap-up to an ultra-important race, and those who had a scrolling bar at the bottom informing them that Washington State at Virginia was kicking off on NewsNation, creating a less-than-ideal aspect ratio.
Ten minutes was a good amount of time to wrap things up, but it did feel a bit rushed. This will be an interesting thing to factor in as The CW grows its College Football and Sports lineup in the future. How will the series be affected? Will it be moved to NewsNation while another important event wraps up?
Kyle Busch
Did anyone else think Kyle Busch was going to win this weekend, or was it just me? The No. 8 was there at the end, but could never get a run, could never get a line to work for him, but nonetheless, another weekend in the books for a lame duck team. Anyway, this was a big week for No. 8 fans, as Busch scored a new Crew Chief, a championship-winning Crew Chief, Jim Pohlman of JR Motorsports fame.
For some time now, Busch’s fans have called for such a change, and instead of RCR making the move, former Crew Chief Randall Burrnett is leaving. But, this doesn’t mean the problems are leaving Busch anytime soon, hey, this past weekend was a good showing of that after all. There is going to be a lot of work needed at RCR and in the No. 8 camp if they want to get back on track.
But, as Busch has a chance to leave yet again in 2027, is it really worth all that work for 2026? If he does end up parting ways with the team, is the No. 8 set to be a lame duck for the next 37-point races?
William Byron
It’s hard to throw all the blame on Big Bill Byron, as his two poor finishes aren’t exactly his fault, but the No. 24 team is seeing one of the most poorly timed implosions in NASCAR playoff history. If Byron does not make the Championship Four, there will likely be some, yet few, calls for some form of automatic Championship Four entry for the Regular Season Champion, after all, he is a Hendrick driver.
But, this is far from Kevin Harvick in 2020; Byron and the No. 24 team have had a quiet and incapable showing in the Playoffs, with the sixth-best average finish and one top five. Even a fresh look at the full season points, as inaccurate as they would be from reality, shows that Byron is basically out of the title hunt, so, at this point, it is what it is in the 24 camp. But, hey, he’s pretty good at Martinsville, right, who knows?
Team Penske
You thought you had us all right? A chance to lock both your drivers in the Championship Four that almost guaranteed a Penske runaway for a second year in a row. But, nonetheless, in a round of the playoffs built on tracks you dominated, it didn’t happen; in fact, both drivers are DEEP below the cutline, with Logano at -38 and Blaney at -47.
Now, at their very best, only one of the two Penske cars will make it to Phoenix. The freedom felt in that statement is amazing. Imagine the possibilities. But, of course, an obstacle stands in the way, Martinsville, and somehow, some way, the feeling lingers that I, at the very least, will be eating my words this time next week.
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