Five to Go

Episode 236: Cultural relevance, Talladega, and Trucks-talk

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Five to Go
Episode 236: Cultural relevance, Talladega, and Trucks-talk
September 26, 2023
With Dan off, Doug and Devin explain how NASCAR's cultural irrelevance shows and some ways they think that could change. They also talk about some drama leaving Texas, the driver Devin thinks will make a deeper Playoff run, and Devin's view from the stands at Talladega this weekend. They also cover some NASCAR Silly Season news and rumors and connect some Truck Series dots ahead of their elimination weekend in Talladega.
Date Name
11/24/23 Episode 243: Vegas Speedweek, streaming, and Squier Doug, Dan, and Devin convene on Black Friday to talk about the majors pros and cons of F1's opulent foray into Vegas and what a "NASCAR-F1 Speedweek" could look like. They also talk about Josh Williams' move to Kaulig and some NASCAR vacancies and what the entrance of a streaming service could look like in the new broadcasting deal. And the guys look back on the late Ken Squier's additions to the sport and Doug shares some advice the legend gave him.
11/10/23 Episode 242: Deep 2023 diving Doug, Dan, and Devin break down each of the three Championship Four races at Phoenix, including the craziness and rage in Trucks. They also break down the points standings for the top three series and highlight some drivers that had sneaky good and really bad seasons. They discuss the bad ratings for the season and at Phoenix and reasons why and pay tribute to the late car owner Leo Jackson. And they talk about the end of the Harvick era and champion Ryan Blaney's ability to breakthrough to fans outside of NASCAR.
11/01/23 Episode 241: Martinsville madness, sizing Hamlin, and chasing Phoenix Doug, Dan, and Devin rate Devin's UNG Women's Soccer call and discuss the Playoff and teammate drama from Martinsville. They also recollect Aric Almirola's career and that of the retiring crew chief Jason Ratcliff. Then they make some Phoenix championship picks for all three series and debate why Hamlin just cannot climb the mountain.
10/24/23 Episode 240: Homestead to Martinsville - classic races and high stakes Doug, Devin, and Dan break down the tight racing from Homestead-Miami and try to predict where title favorites Hamlin and Truex Jr. can make up ground. They also discuss the Xfinity Series and Craftsman Truck Series Homestead races and the latest in Silly Season in those divisions and a hot prospect that may be on the move. They end the episode with a tribute to Georgia dirt tracker Frank Ingram.
10/17/23 Episode 239: Sneaky good Vegas, crew chief roles, saluting Harvick Doug, Dan, and Devin discuss the close finish in Vegas and the win for Kyle Larson, along with Dan's surprise at Bell's runner up finish. They talk the Blaney un-DQ, and how much a crew chief can really dictate strategy. Doug recalls his time at Road Atlanta's Petit Le Mans and Devin shares some big Kevin Harvick tributes for Homestead this weekend. The crew also updates and speculates the latest Silly Season developments.
10/10/23 Episode 238: ROVAL-winning isn't enough, schedule dive, NXS Silly Season Devin shares his observations after covering the ROVAL race and Doug and Dan and him talk about Allmendinger's win and why it does not assure his future. They talk about the drivers eliminated from the Cup and Xfinity Series' Playoffs, Mayer's clutch win, Burton's choke and his future, and racing with Stage yellows. They also discuss Deegan to the NXS and another top driver rumored to be leaving Kaulig. Then they go over the big changes in the 2024 Cup schedule and why it is better than some think.
10/03/23 Episode 237: Talladega, ROVAL, and fight ethics Doug and Dan hear from Devin about his view from the Talladega stands and the crowd reaction to the Blaney win. They also discuss the agony for Kevin Harvick, the crapshoot Playoff standings, and the hard hits Cup cars took. Christopher Bell helps preview the strategy at the ROVAL and the boys discuss fight ethics after a nasty one in the Truck Series garage.
09/26/23 Episode 236: Cultural relevance, Talladega, and Trucks-talk With Dan off, Doug and Devin explain how NASCAR's cultural irrelevance shows and some ways they think that could change. They also talk about some drama leaving Texas, the driver Devin thinks will make a deeper Playoff run, and Devin's view from the stands at Talladega this weekend. They also cover some NASCAR Silly Season news and rumors and connect some Truck Series dots ahead of their elimination weekend in Talladega.
09/19/23 Episode 235: Bristol , the charter market, and Texas tires Devin downloads some of his big Bristol stories: Zane Smith-Trackhouse, Spire-Live Fast charter, Hemric-Kaulig-Cup, teammates tussling, Logano's elimination, Harvick's malaise, Bristol-concrete-Spring returning, Earnhardt Jr. leading laps, Hamlin embracing the heel, and Truck and Xfinity Silly Season rumors. Doug and Dan discuss this all with him and also the Gen-7 parity problem and whether or not tires will be a Texas x-factor. And they leave off with a tribute to the late Sherry Pollex
09/19/23 Episode 234: Come for Bristol, stay for the bots Doug and Dan chat with Devin, while he is on his way to Bristol, about stories he will cover this weekend, Playoff takes from Kansas, and the teammate rivalry at Hendrick. They also discuss Trackhouse and Kaulig Silly Season rumors, including arm hair-analysis, and take a deep dive on A.I., while reminiscing on the lost art of the press conference.
09/07/23 Episode 233: Green, yellow, and red at the Lady in Black Doug, Devin, and Dan discuss the ups and downs of the 16-driver Playoff cadre and why one race is not enough to judge most of them. They also talk about what made the Southern 500 memorable on Sunday, how Kyle Larson won, and Bowman v. Suarez v. Mack. Then they talk Silly Season rumors (some of which broke after the recording) and play a little hot stove "Would You Rather."
08/30/23 Episode 232: Daytona - wild or not? Playoffs - wild guesses only Doug, Devin, and Dan are back together to digest Buescher's Daytona win and the Cup Series regular season results. They each give their sure bet, dark horse, and total shock guesses for the Playoffs and talk about parts of the Gen-7 car that NASCAR should consider tweaking. They talk about manufacturer support and the disparity there, too. And they wrap up with Doug discussing watching a German hill climb race, including his conversations with drivers Michelle Tute and Gerold Schneider.
08/29/23 Episode 231: Watkins Glen recap, regular season finale preview, & GMS leaving NASCAR Truck Series Devin Kupka and Dan Elliott give us a recap of the Watkins Glen weekend. Chase Elliott running out of fuel in the middle of the race. GMS leaving the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and the fallout of the move. Denny Hamlin silly season rumors, does he return to Gibbs next year, does 23XI switch manufactures this year, alongside Stewart-Haas Racing possibly selling two charters. A NASCAR Cup Series regular season finale preview, who's in and who's out. Will a new youth ladder created by NASCAR help the lower series. Dan also gives his thoughts on a protentional new championship system.
08/22/23 Episode 230: McDowell, Elliott, SVG, and parity shown in points Doug, Dan, and Devin give their takes on McDowell's statement win and how the Playoff implications are deeper than most think. They rate Elliott's chances to win Watkins Glen, what SVG's Truck debut could spell for his future, and the NASCAR driver with whom McDowell most likely compares. The crew also examines the point standings and just how close some of the Playoff drivers are.
08/15/23 Episode 229: Pure Michigan excellence, Gragson saga, two HOFs Doug, Dan, and Devin discuss Chris Buescher and RFK's resurgence, fans' hasty hot takes, the aero at Michigan pointing to why the race was exciting, and Elliott's latest setback. They also discuss the Gragson-LMC fall out and where Gragson could race next year, the foreign invasion on the Indy road course, and the new way one manufacturer is using AI. They also talk about the inductees in the 2023 GA Racing Hall of Fame and some ins and outs of Johnson and co. entering the 2024 NASCAR Hall.
08/03/23 Episode 228: Richmond - the eye test, the fix, the race craft Doug, Dan, and Devin discuss the pros and cons of Sunday's Richmond Cup Series race and the tension (again) between racing and entertainment. Keselowski has some comments. Are the Fords really making a comeback or are other teams readying for the Playoffs? The guys compare the race crafts of Chris Buescher and Tyler Reddick. They also discuss the root of some on-track problems, the surprising new NXS-CW TV deal, and a Silly Season rumor from left field.
07/27/23 Episode 227: What would you do if you were Hamlin or Larson? Doug, Dan, and Devin discuss the moral racing dilemma of racing similar cars with a trophy in sight. Dan also talks about driver-grievances evolving with the cars. The gang discusses the Logano-wrecker debacle, Rick Ware Racing's potential, Silly Season, and what's at stake for the Truck Series regular season finale.
07/19/23 Episode 226: Truex's second Monday win, and are Supercar drivers taking over NASCAR With Doug on vacation, Devin and Dan discuss Martin Truex's second Monday win of the season. Chase Elliott is 60 points behind the playoff cutoff line, how the pressure may be affecting him. The boys also talk Pocono Raceway and ask the question, are Australian Supercar drivers taking over the NASCAR scene.
07/12/23 Episode 225: The Quaker State 285 at AMS w/Daniel Suarez and Mason Massey Doug and Devin download their weekend full of action on the ground at Atlanta Motor Speedway, while Dan expresses what he thought of the race, while watching at home. And they explain why they all think that 300 miles is enough. They also discuss the points standings, the art of racing in the rain, big sponsor news, SRX, driver-owners, and the Harvick-Childress tribute. Then Daniel Suarez joins to talk "Daniel's Amigos" and SVG, followed by Mason Massey sharing about the Beau Slocumb tribute scheme he ran at his home track.
07/05/23 Episode 223: Chicago and SVG's stunner, AMS week, and two Aric (Erik)'s Doug, Dan, and Devin breakdown the Chicago Street Race and Shane Van Gisbergen's incredible win. They talk about what the race's success means for the sport both home and abroad. They discuss NASCAR's timing of shortening the race and gear up for the big AMS race weekend. Then Devin interviews Erik Jones about the schedule and Doug asks Aric Almirola about what of his driver items he is allowed to keep.