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| November 2025 News |
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Larson Edges Hamlin for Championship
Nov 02 - Nascar headed to Phoenix Raceway to wrap
up their season.
With the scheduled 312 laps winding down, Denny
Hamlin led William Byron by nearly three seconds and
appeared headed for the first Cup title in his 20 years
at Joe Gibbs Racing. In dominating fashion, Hamlin led
seven times for 208 laps and won the second stage.
However, with three laps to go, Byron had a tire go
down which brought out a caution. Byron fell from 2nd
to the back, dashing his title hopes.
The caution sent the race to overtime and Hamlin pit
from the lead for fresh tires. Others stayed out and
Hamlin lined up 10th for the overtime restart – 5 spots
behind Kyle Larson (Hendrick Motorsports) - and
chose the bottom row for the final run.
From the outside lane, Larson charged through the first
two corners and maintained a gap with Hamlin.
On the final lap, Hamlin lost momentum on the bottom
and couldn’t recover. Larson finished 3rd and Hamlin
6th.
Without having led a lap, Larson captured his 2nd
championship with 3 points ahead of Hamlin.
Ryan Blaney won the race.
Nov 02 - Nascar headed to Phoenix Raceway to wrap
up their season.
With the scheduled 312 laps winding down, Denny
Hamlin led William Byron by nearly three seconds and
appeared headed for the first Cup title in his 20 years
at Joe Gibbs Racing. In dominating fashion, Hamlin led
seven times for 208 laps and won the second stage.
However, with three laps to go, Byron had a tire go
down which brought out a caution. Byron fell from 2nd
to the back, dashing his title hopes.
The caution sent the race to overtime and Hamlin pit
from the lead for fresh tires. Others stayed out and
Hamlin lined up 10th for the overtime restart – 5 spots
behind Kyle Larson (Hendrick Motorsports) - and
chose the bottom row for the final run.
From the outside lane, Larson charged through the first
two corners and maintained a gap with Hamlin.
On the final lap, Hamlin lost momentum on the bottom
and couldn’t recover. Larson finished 3rd and Hamlin
6th.
Without having led a lap, Larson captured his 2nd
championship with 3 points ahead of Hamlin.
Ryan Blaney won the race.
New INDY 500 Themed Rest Area
Nov 5 - The Clear Creek Welcome Center on I-70, by Terre Haute, sits 2 miles in from the Illinois border.
It was torn down and rebuilt with a Indianapolis 500 theme and opened today! Awesome!
Some of the amenities include exercise equipment, a playground, picnic shelter, dog park, walking trail
and many Indy 500 displays. (There are 26 rest areas in Indiana for the weary traveler.)
Nov 5 - The Clear Creek Welcome Center on I-70, by Terre Haute, sits 2 miles in from the Illinois border.
It was torn down and rebuilt with a Indianapolis 500 theme and opened today! Awesome!
Some of the amenities include exercise equipment, a playground, picnic shelter, dog park, walking trail
and many Indy 500 displays. (There are 26 rest areas in Indiana for the weary traveler.)
| Artists Rendering |
| Kyle Larson Celebrates Championship |
| Hamlin Heartbroken |
NASCARs Single-Race Playoff Format
The dislike for Nascar's system for awarding the
championship made itself heard after the final Xfinity
race this weekend at Phoenix, in which Connor
Zilisch failed to win the championship.
Zilisch had an extraordinary season - with 10 wins and
20 top-5 finishes. He secured rookie of the year
honors as well as becoming the Regular Season
champion.
The Nascar playoff system that determines the
champion, narrows the field from a select number of
drivers down to four over the last several races, and then
at the final race, the driver's points are erased and
whomever does best, wins the championship.
In the eyes of many fans, Zilisch deserves to be the
2025 Xfinity Champion.
However, Zilisch finished the Phoenix race in 3rd, and
the championship went to the race winner - 20 y/o
Jesse Love, who, in his 2nd year in the series, had 2
wins this season and 9 top-5s.
While disgruntled fans bemoan Zilisch's fortune, I
hope they don't take it out on Love, who won the
championship fair and square. If people don't like the
rules, they need to complain to NASCAR management,
not tell Love he doesn't deserve it.
The dislike for Nascar's system for awarding the
championship made itself heard after the final Xfinity
race this weekend at Phoenix, in which Connor
Zilisch failed to win the championship.
Zilisch had an extraordinary season - with 10 wins and
20 top-5 finishes. He secured rookie of the year
honors as well as becoming the Regular Season
champion.
The Nascar playoff system that determines the
champion, narrows the field from a select number of
drivers down to four over the last several races, and then
at the final race, the driver's points are erased and
whomever does best, wins the championship.
In the eyes of many fans, Zilisch deserves to be the
2025 Xfinity Champion.
However, Zilisch finished the Phoenix race in 3rd, and
the championship went to the race winner - 20 y/o
Jesse Love, who, in his 2nd year in the series, had 2
wins this season and 9 top-5s.
While disgruntled fans bemoan Zilisch's fortune, I
hope they don't take it out on Love, who won the
championship fair and square. If people don't like the
rules, they need to complain to NASCAR management,
not tell Love he doesn't deserve it.
| Jesse Love 2025 Xfinity Champ |
SERIES DIFFERENCES:
The Playoff for the Cup series begins with
16 drivers and lasts over the last 10 races.
The Playoff for the Xfiniti and Truck series
begins with 12 drivers and lasts over the
last 6 races.
The Playoff for the Cup series begins with
16 drivers and lasts over the last 10 races.
The Playoff for the Xfiniti and Truck series
begins with 12 drivers and lasts over the
last 6 races.