The DIGEST: Issue 2. Retirees, Trophies, Silly Season Hype and More!

There must be something strange in the water as this week three of racing’s big names all announced there departures from the sport. Also, the silly season rumor mill continues to churn as questions arise about the reigning Cup Series Champion’s future. Plus, trophies!

Kasey Kahne to Retire at the end of 2018 Season

The biggest story of the week in the NASCAR world had to be Kasey Kahne’s surprise announcement that he will be stepping away from full time NASCAR racing after the conclusion of the 2018 season.

Kahne moved over to the number 95 Leavine Family Racing stable after six years, and lackluster results, at Hendrick Motorsports. The Enumclaw, WA native has decided that he’s had enough of the Cup Series grind and is ready to pursue other things in life.

“It’s all that I really think about when we are having fun, when we’re — whatever it may be — I’m still there. I’m still thinking about racing, and I think it just gets to be a lot. Twenty-five years later, it’s just a lot, and it will be nice to not have that on my mind full-time. So that’s kind of my biggest reason is just to think more about him (son, Tanner), think about other things in life and things that I want to do, achieve, and just not be so deep into racing for a little bit.”

Aside from time with his family, Kahne is going to be able to spend more time with his World of Outlaws sprint car team. Kasey Kahne Racing recently scored a huge victory with driver Brad Sweet at the Knoxville Nationals.

“I feel like I’ll definitely do a little bit more. Our teams are very good,” said Kahne.

“Last week with Brad Sweet winning the Knoxville Nationals was a huge part for KKR. It was a dream for a lot of us to win that race. It was special to be there and cheer him on.”

“I still love that race. And that’s where I started or where I learned how to drive. I could see myself doing 40-50 sprint car races next year.”

Kahne, a former USAC Champion, began his NASCAR Cup Series career in 2004 with Evernham Motorsports. After winning the Rookie of the Year title that year, he went to score his first victory in 2005 at Richmond before scoring six wins in 2006.

Kahne has won the Coke 600 twice, and won last year’s Brickyard 400.

Elliott Sadler to Retire at the End of 2018 Season

Emporia, VA’s Elliott Sadler announced this week that after a span of over two decades, he will be ending his full time NASCAR career at the end of this season.


Sadler began racing in the NASCAR Busch Series in 1995, running four season before moving up to the Winston Cup Series in 1999 with Wood Brothers Racing. His first Cup Series win came in 2001 at Bristol; the first win for the Wood Brothers in eight years.

Sadler moved to Robert Yates Racing in 2003, picking up a victory at Texas in 2004. He continued to race in the Cup Series for Yates, Evernham, and Petty Motorsports through the 2009 season.

In 2010, Sadler and sponsor One Main Financial began racing for Kevin Harvick Inc. in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. After the shutdown of KHI, Sadler continued on under the Richard Childress Racing banner for the next two seasons before taking his sponsor with him to Joe Gibbs Racing in 2013. Sadler spent the 2015 season racing for Roush Fenway Racing.

In 2016, Sadler moved to JR Motorsports, and has been a championship contender ever since.

Sadler was named the Grand Marshall of the Xfinity Series race at Bristol this past week, and gave one the best commands to start a race seen in recent years.

Truex Switching Teams in ‘19 Possible

As the 2018 NASCAR silly season ramps up, rumors have began circulating around the future of 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Champion Martin Truex Jr.

It was announced a couple of weeks ago that Furniture Row Racing sponsor 5 Hour Energy would be leaving at the end of the year, leaving about half of the number 78 car’s 2019 season open and without sponsorship. FRR owner Barney Visser has stated that he does not wish to once again fund the team out of his own pocket, has he had done since the founding of the team in 2005. However, in a statement released this week, he said that the team will continue in 2019.

"Furniture Row Racing continues to develop sponsorship opportunities for 2019 and beyond. ... Furniture Row Racing not fielding a team in 2019 is not an option and we have every intention of continuing to build on our success for years to come."

Even so, Truex has yet to sign a new contract for next season. When asked about how sure he was about his return to the 78 team next season, he couldn’t answer with confidence.

"That's hard to put a number on," Truex said after practice at Bristol Motor Speedway. "Honestly, I really don't know. I think in another week or two, I'll have a better answer for you, a better percentage.

"Right now, we need sponsorship. That's as simple as it gets. So it's hard to say. Is there a 50 percent chance we get that in a couple weeks or is there a 100 percent chance or is there 2 percent, I don't know. I can tell you that everything really is based upon that."

Should Truex be unable to come to terms at Furniture Row, there are rumors circulating about where he could land, including the soon-to-be vacated seat in the number 95 at Leavine Family Racing after Kasey Kahne retires at the end of this season.

Regular Season Trophies Unveiled

NASCAR unveiled the trophies to be presented to each series’ regular season champions earlier this week.

The two foot trophies feature an engraved spire for each of the various series’ regular season races. This accolade is presented to each regular season champion alongside the other, more pivotal award, 15 additional playoff points.

The first driver to receive his trophy was Johnny Sauter after winning the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series victory at Bristol on Thursday and claiming the 2018 regular season title.

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series will crown it’s regular season champion at the Brickyard 400 in Indianapolis while the Xfinity Series will conclude their regular season the following week in Las Vegas.

Glenn Jarrett Signs Off at Michigan

Glenn Jarrett, son of NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Ned Jarrett, and brother of NASCAR Champion Dale Jarrett, hung up his microphone following the Consumers Energy 400 at Michigan.

Jarrett is a former NASCAR driver himself, having run 10 races from 1978 to 1983. He then moved to the NASCAR Busch Series, making 67 starts from 1983 to 1993.

Jarrett is most well known as a pit report for TNN Motorsports through the 1990s and early 2000’s. Following the end of the TNN era, Jarrett moved on to SPEED Channel. Jarrett was a common go-to reporter when networks needed an extra hand during weekends where the same network carried events in multiple locations.

SEE ALSO >> Jim Noble Leaves Tradin’ Paint >>

Glenn Jarrett finished out his career as a reporter for the Motor Racing Network.

Jarrett offered his appreciation to the racing community on his Twitter account.

Low Entry Count Forces Cancellation of Berlin 251

The week started without the annual Battle at Berlin 251. This event has traditionally been contested the Monday following the Cup race at Michigan but this was canceled due to a low entry count.

Berlin Raceway officials cited the low entry counts to the abundance of other races in the area, including the Kalamazoo Klash, and the upcoming championship runs causing teams and drivers to rethink making the trip to Marne, Michigan this year.

The event is planned to return in 2019.

MORE >> Looking Back at My Trip to the Berlin 251 >>

“Thanks to everyone for all the comments and well wishes last night...the fans, the drivers and team members,my comrades at MRN and everyone involved in our sport made this an incredible ride...I'm a lucky guy..I will miss all of you.”

The Digest is a weekly recap of top stories and tidbits from the previous week in the world of motorsports. If you've made it this far into the post, thank you. Please consider sharing this content on the interwebs and following PixelatedSPEED on Facebook and Twitter and joining in on the conversation.

THE DIGEST: Chase at the Glen, France DUI, Silly Season Rumors & More

Photo: Getty Images for NASCAR Media

What a week in the world of NASCAR racing! This week’s edition of The Digest runs the gamut of a first time winner’s exuberance to the pitfalls of the a CEO in turmoil. Sprinkled in for good measure are plenty of silly season rumors with a new car as the cherry on top.

Chase Elliott Scores First Cup Victory

In his third full time NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series season, Dawsonville, Georgia’s Chase Elliott finally found his way into the winner’s circle by claiming the victory in the Go Bowling at the Glen in Watkins Glen, New York. Elliott held off a stout Martin Truex Jr, who ran out of gas on the final lap after the two raced neck and neck throughout the final stage of the race. This was Elliott’s first win in 99 career starts, after having previously scored eight runner-up finishes.

Elliott was strong throughout the weekend, having topped the leaderboard at the end of final practice and qualifying a solid third place. Elliott continued to show his strength on Sunday leading 52 of the scheduled 90 laps and winning Stage 2 en route to the eventual win.

“Holy cow, what a thrill,” Chase Elliott said in victory lane. “Golly, I don’t know what to say. Just so thrilled, so emotional, so much relief. Working on three years and hadn’t won one. I came here with a great opportunity today and was I was able to get it done.”

The Georgia native almost gave it all away in turn one of the final lap.

"I started to wheel-hop, and I knocked it out of gear in order not to spin out, and luckily I had a big enough gap where he (Truex) couldn't get me; but what a day!"

While Elliott found himself at the top of the heap come the checkered flag, he was only a single caution flag away from possibly having to deal with Kyle Busch. Busch had perhaps the best car in the field, but after a fueling blunder on pit road he found himself restarting the race from the 24th position.

"Every year we come here, we have a fast car and fail to execute,” said Busch. “Whether that's just called bad luck or whatever. Last year we had a lug nut get stuck in the caliper. This year we had fueling problems. It never ceases to amaze me."

 Busch charged through the field and ended up third.

"It was a heck of a lot harder than it should have been," he said. "But that was the predicament we were put in, and we had to go to work. I certainly gave Joe (Gibbs) his money's worthy today."

Brian France Out as NASCAR CEO After DUI

Kyle Busch’s early dominance, Chase Elliott’s breakthrough, pit road mishaps from multiple teams, and tight competition throughout the entire field made this year’s race at Watkins Glen perhaps the best show of 2018 thus far and maybe even the best Cup Series race ever held at the New York road course.

That is what should’ve dominated the NASCAR news scene on Monday, however the poor choice of NASCAR CEO Brian France instead took center stage after the top NASCAR executive was arrested for a DUI in the Hamptons on Sunday night.

Related: France DUI Shows Need for New NASCAR CEO

After being released on Monday from the Sag Harbor Police Department, France quickly issued a statement.

“I apologize to our fans, our industry and my family for the impact of my actions last night. Effective immediately, I will be taking an indefinite leave of absence from my position to focus on my personal affairs.”

Soon afterward, NASCAR also issued a statement echoing Brian France’s leave of absence and announcing that Jim France, uncle to Brian and brother to the late NASCAR leader Bill France Jr, would take the helm of the sanctioning body in the interim.

In the wake of the France’s arrest, the NASCAR world has been left with questions concerning exactly who will be leading the sport into the future. At this time it is unclear if NASCAR will have Brian France resume his duties once his personal affairs are in order, or if the sport will look toward introducing new leadership at its top level.

Stewart Open to Another Indy 500 Run

Tony Stewart

Tony Stewart talked with reporters this week during the unveil of the 2019 NASCAR Cup Series Ford Mustang. He said that he’d be open to another opportunity at racing in the Indianapolis 500.

"I’d want to do at least one race before that," Stewart said. "I’ve been there and ran it. If I go, I’m not going just to run it. I don’t want to be a sideshow like Danica (Patrick) was at Indy this year. If I go, I want to go feeling like I got the same opportunity to win that everybody else in the field does.

"It’s an insult to those guys who do it every week to just show up and think you’re going to be as good as those guys. They are on the their game. They know their cars. They know how they need their cars to feel in traffic to be good in the race. It'd be foolish to think you can just show up and be competitive and think I was going to win."

Stewart did not reveal any hard plans or details, but has simply left the door open for a return to the festivities during the month of May in Indy.

Ford Unveils 2019 Cup Series Mustang

Ford Performance unveiled the 2019 Ford Mustang to be entered into competition in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series on Thursday. The new car replaces the Fusion, which as been in competition for over a decade in NASCAR’s premier series.

Ford has seen an uptick in performance this season as rival Chevrolet has struggled with the introduction of their newest body style, the Camaro.

The introduction of the Camaro came just as NASCAR was transitioning to an optical-scan-based inspection system and a fresh aero rules package for 2018. As a result, Chevy as seen a significant drop in its performance this season, with only two victories after 22 races thus far… the season opening Daytona 500 and last week’s race at Watkins Glen.

It remains to be seen how the new Mustang will stack up, but the hope for Blue Oval loyalists is that having a season of experience with the optical scanners in inspection, and a return (more or less) of this year’s areo package for next year will benefit the transition for Fusion to Mustang and limit the growing pains in 2019.

Silly Season Questions Building Up

The rumor mills are really beginning to crank up as we enter the end of the NASCAR regular season. The dominos are stacked and waiting to for the first to fall in a series of moves that will set the stage for the 2019 season.

Early in the week Bob Leavine, owner at Leavine Family Racing, confirmed to Frontstretch.com reporters that the team was looking to retain driver Kasey Kahne in 2019. While there is a strong likelihood that Kahne will return to the 95 seat, the big speculation is that LFR will move from Chevy to Toyota next season. The team has informed suppliers Richard Childress Racing that they will not be continuing their partnership after the conclusion of the 2018 season. It has also been confirmed that Leavine is in talks with Toyota and Joe Gibbs Racing.

AJ Allmendinger

It was also announced that JTG-Daugherty Racing will move from Earnhardt Childress Racing engines to Hendrick engines after this season. JTG-Daugherty left the RCR technical alliance for Hendrick after last season.

Richard Childress said Sunday in Watkins Glen that replacements would be found for the departure of Leavine Family Racing from the technical alliance and JTG-Daugherty from the engine program next year.

“We’re good,” Childress said. “We’ve got replacements for all of them but one, so we’re fine.”

Speaking of JTG-Daugherty Racing, after several less than stellar seasons and too many missed opportunities to capitalize on raceday, it looks as though AJ Allmendinger may be heading out of the 47 car after this year. Adam Stern, motorsports reporter at the Sports Business Journal has reported that JTG-Daugherty is evaluating its driver lineup for 2019 with speculation that Ryan Preece or Daniel Hemric could be tapped to drive the 47 car.

The biggest bombshell of the week in silly season news came with rumors of Kurt Busch leaving Stewart-Hass Racing with sponsor Monster Energy and heading over to Chip Ganassi Racing, replacing Jamie McMurray. All parties have been pretty quiet about the possible changes, aside from Busch saying, “I’ve talked to a bunch of teams.” A possible replacement for Busch in the SHR 41 car could be in the form of Cole Custer, who currently races for the team in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

The Digest is a weekly recap of top stories and tidbits from the previous week in the world of motorsports. If you've made it this far into the post, thank you. Please consider sharing this content on the interwebs and following PixelatedSPEED on Facebook and Twitter and joining in on the conversation.