Todd Gilliland and Ryan Blaney throw it back to the 1990s at Darlington. (Photo: Kevin Ritchie | The Podium Finish)
DARLINGTON, S.C. – At 1.366 miles in length and an egg shaped layout that has flummoxed NASCAR Cup Series competitors since 1950, Darlington Raceway has tested the best in stock car racing, especially in the Goodyear 400.
While most consider the fall edition of Darlington’s Cup race, the Cook Out Southern 500, as a crown jewel event, the Goodyear 400 is a shorter yet grueling race for competitors and pit crews. The 73-year-old track’s last repavement was in 2008 which means those precious Goodyear Eagle tires are chewed up as quickly as your canine companion enjoying their morning meal.
If there is a track where Sunday’s best etiquette and a sense of Mother’s Day attitude is on display until Lap 267 (or the final lap of the race), Darlington Raceway provides such behavior. There is a modicum with tire management, namely with ensuring that the tires can last throughout a run for a charge before a scheduled pit stop.
As Greg Stucker of Goodyear pointed out during The Morning Drive on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, teams may opt to short pit to maximize grip and speed versus fulfilling a fuel run. Then again, this is one track where a driver cannot afford to be a tire set short of stickers for a final dash to the finish.
Most point out to the infamous “Darlington Stripe,” or battle scars obtained from brushing the wall. Naturally, it is a notable badge of honor that most of the field will earn after 400 miles of racing. Then again, winning at “The Track Too Tough to Tame” is akin to beating a Zelda game on any Nintendo console.
Once the flagman unfurls the green flag on race day, it is anyone’s guess as to who will prevail in this year’s Goodyear 400 at Darlington. For the time being, come along for the ride this and each race weekend with Podium Preview.
This weekend, Jasmine Sharpe, Kobe Lambeth, Matt Sisoler, Teresa Bennink and yours truly ruminate over the memorable throwback paint schemes for Sunday’s Goodyear 400 and Ross Chastain’s antagonistic role in NASCAR.
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Question 1
And it seemed like a long, long time since Ryan Newman last drove a Cup car. (Photo: Trish McCormack | The Podium Finish)
Which of this year’s Goodyear 400 throwback paint schemes has captivated your attention the most and why? Defend your answer!
Sisoler : I love the throwbacks to Dale Jarrett from Ross Chastain and Ricky Stenhouse Jr, (and that JTG actually did a throwback and not just a splash of color on the back of the car and calling it a throwback), and all of the Hendrick throwbacks. Hendrick Motorsports brought its A-game for this NASCAR throwback weekend, from Larson’s throwback to Tony Stewart, the Chase Elliott tribute to his dad, the Byron throwback to Gordon’s 1998 car and Bowman’s tribute to his spotter’s Xfinity car, they all look really good.
Special mentions go to the return of the Rocketman, Ryan Newman, for his throwback to his first car on the Rick Ware No, 51, and also to Daniel Suarez’s Ricky Rudd Quaker State car, because both schemes are wonderful adaptations of the cars from a bygone era to the NextGen era and hit me right in the nostalgia.
Tiongson : I really like William Byron’s Jeff Gordon 1998 Chromalusion colors. While it is a difficult paint scheme for Gordon fans to recall after his bitter 1998 NASCAR All-Star Race defeat at Charlotte, it is a unique livery with different colors appearing depending on the angle.
The Hendrick Motorsports organization absolutely knocked it out of the park with a faithful recreation of the car, other than some liberties taken with the associate sponsors. In this day and age of wrapped cars, it is nice to see a throwback that is as faithful to the past with a twist to the present.
Question 2
Does Ross Chastain make for the perfect villain? (Photo: Kevin Ritchie | The Podium Finish)
How important is it for NASCAR to have a driver like Ross Chastain who does not mind wearing the villain’s cape among the different drivers in the field?
Lambeth : Even if people disagree with Ross Chastain’s on-track antics, you can’t deny the fact that he’s generating headlines and putting NASCAR in the spotlight. From last year’s last-lap “Hail Melon” desperation at Martinsville to making a long list of rivals, Chastain is willing to do whatever it takes to fight for every position on the track whether it’s for the win or 15th-place. He ruffles feathers and wearing the villain’s cape doesn’t seem to bother him. Instead of stacking pennies, Chastain is stacking enemies.
In his own words, “I bring my friends to the track with me.” This mentality shows he’s taking no prisoners on the road to victory. It’s understandable that some drivers may not want to carry the burden of being a villain which is certainly not a role for everyone. Each story needs a protagonist and antagonist. Either role suits Chastain perfectly. People either love him for his unique story about making it to the highest levels of NASCAR, or dislike him for being overly aggressive.
Sharpe : I wouldn’t personally call it being a villain. Ross Chastain is just being himself. He’s not trying to cause harm or ill intent on purpose, it’s just different personalities clashing with one another on the track. Last week Gragson crossed a line post race and all Ross did was stand his ground. He’s not the type of individual who enjoys conflict, but Chastain can be quite aggressive in his style of racing competitors.
Ross’ ability to overcome these ‘obstacles’ has gained him tons of attention and why he’s been rising in popularity. The community enjoys racers with heart and personality; something the Team Trackhouse racer has is willing to prove to anyone.
(Fun Stat: He’s the first Next Gen Driver to have accumulated 20 top fives.)
Bennink : Different personalities and the opportunities to show them are essential to NASCAR. The opportunities for the drivers to express their personalities have been stifled with too many trying to be what others expect them to be.
What kind of story is it without an antagonist anyway? They have always existed and they are the drivers we remember who provides a dose of healthy competition and watercooler discussions among race fans.
Earnhardt, Waltrip, Kyle Busch. These are the drivers that Chastain is being compared to. I love that he rolls with it and I hope he continues to live up to that moniker.
Two laps around Darlington have made our tires wear out like chewing gum losing its flavor. Before we get back to talking about “The Lady In Black,” let’s rewind to last Sunday’s AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway, Race No. 12 of 36 of the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season!
It was a terrific day for two TPF panelists.
In the meantime, Lambeth retains his points lead.
Next, here is a look at the top 10 starters for Sunday’s Goodyear 400 at Darlington!
Row 1 – Martin Truex Jr. and Bubba Wallace
(Photo: Kevin Ritchie | The Podium Finish)
Row 2 – Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and William Byron
(Photo: Kevin Ritchie | The Podium Finish)
Row 3 – Ross Chastain and Daniel Suárez
(Photo: Kevin Ritchie | The Podium Finish)
Row 4 – Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin
(Photo: Kevin Ritchie | The Podium Finish)
Row 5 – Tyler Reddick and Brad Keselowski
Last but not least, let us return to the track with our race winning picks for Sunday’s Goodyear 400 at Darlington!
Might one of these three prevail at Darlington? (Photo: Trish McCormack | The Podium Finish)
Lambeth : After coming close to victory last weekend until he tangled with Denny Hamlin on the final lap at Kansas Speedway, I think Kyle Larson will quickly redeem himself with a special win on NASCAR Throwback Weekend at the track “Too Tough To Tame!”
Bennink : Historically, Larson does very well at Darlington, but he had never won until winning the Xfinity race. Momentum and practice time with running the Xfinity race gives Larson the advantage this weekend.
Sharpe : Not only does Martin Truex Jr. know how to wheel at Darlington, but has the least amount of beef with other drivers. That’ll help him to remain out front without the fear of another driver taking him out from prior beef.
Tiongson : Well, if the No. 24 wins “Best In Show,” William Byron will likely win the 2023 running of the Goodyear 400. I anticipate this coming down to Kyle Larson and Byron for the checkered flag with Byron prevailing in the end.
Sisoler : Just shy of 25 years since that paint scheme had heartbreak in the All-Star Race, I think William Byron is going to take that gold Chevrolet throwback to Jeff Gordon to victory lane in Sunday’s race at Darlington.
We’re ready for some racing. How about you? What do you think are the biggest storylines heading into the race? Who are your favorites to win? Tweet us now @ThePodiumFinish and tell us now!
Thanks as always to the TPF team for their amazing efforts this week as we celebrate our 15th anniversary of operations!
The opinions and thoughts expressed in Podium Preview are solely of the authors. They do not reflect any organizations affiliated with the participants and author outside of TPF. This weekly feature is strictly for entertainment purposes. Ultimately, they are not indicative of TPF, the organization and its staff.
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