Somehow, the end of NASCAR’s Naval Base race outlasted the U.S. Open. I didn’t think that was possible after everyone spent all weekend complaining about how late the Open was finishing each day, but NASCAR found a way.
Nice work!
Is that a good thing? Probably not. I’m of the opinion that an automobile race should never end after 6 p.m., but I reckon that’s what happens when you’re on West Coast time. The bigger, more important question, is …
Was that a good race? We got a first-time winner in Corey Heim, who I’m fairly certain most of you had never heard of until yesterday. First-time winners are always cool, so that’s a plus. It also wasn’t Shane Van Gisbergen, so that’s another step in the right direction.
NASCAR TRUCK SERIES STAR LAMENTS OPPONENT’S ‘SCUM RACING’ AFTER SPINNING OUT ON FINAL LAP
I was fully prepared to be forced to write another SVG story today. Thankfully, I get to write about … Corey Heim … instead!
What a Monday.
I’ll be honest with you, I don’t love road courses. They’re just not my thing. If I wanted a street race, I’d watch the insufferable F1 race. I don’t think these particular cars belong in that environment. But, we got some cool views, and some drama, so I’m not going to sit here and complain all day. It wasn’t awful.
Speaking of drama … did anyone see Noah Gragson absolutely TEAR INTO Kevin Magnussen after the race? The former F1 driver got his first taste of a pissed-off redneck, and it went just horribly. Welcome to the states, Kevin!
We also had a presumably drunk fan commit what I assume is a felony, Jimmie Johnson rip all the snot-nosed kids down in the Truck Series, and Kay Adams revving everyone’s engines in San Diego.
Let’s get after it.
Four tires, a splash of Sunoco racing fuel and maybe a good ol’ lawyer for the poor sap who is probably still behind bars today … Monday Morning Pit-Stop — the ‘I Don’t Think Kevin Magnussen Will Be Joining NASCAR Any Time Soon’ edition — is LIVE!
It’s one of the funniest non-fight-fights I’ve ever seen in NASCAR. I don’t think there are two more polar opposite drivers in the garage than Noah Gragson and Kevin Magnussen.
Noah is, clearly, a hothead. He’s young. He’s reckless. He’s fiery. He also loves to ask the same question, over, and over, and over again.
“What’s your f–king problem?”
Kevin Magnussen, on the other hand, is none of those things. He’s older. He’s a veteran. He comes from a far more … elegant? … racing series. He’s calm as a cucumber. And, of course, a little full of himself.
“My problem is you’re in my face,” he said, repeatedly, in the calmest demeanor I’ve personally ever witnessed.
NASCAR DRIVER TY GIBBS SPITS FIERY MESSAGE AT TYLER REDDICK AFTER GETTING SPUN OUT
I can’t stop watching this interaction. Nothing really happened, but at the same time, everything happened. It all stemmed from Kevin seemingly punting Noah into next week late in the race because Noah blocked the hell out of him at every turn.
Take a look:
Thoughts? First impressions?
I don’t know. I’m not sure I see what, exactly, Noah did to finally get wrecked? He spent all day blocking Magnussen’s moves, which is what you’re supposed to do. Did it seem like he was driving a little erratic at times? Yes. But they’re also on a Naval Base, so I get it.
Now, we don’t have Noah’s in-car audio. Did his spotter tell him he wasn’t clear when he came down on Magnussen in that final corner before he got wrecked? He was not clear. Magnussen was very clearly there. Perhaps Kevin just had enough of Noah’s nonsense and decided to move on with his day?
Let’s go ahead and hear from both fellas. Shockingly, one seems pissed. The other seems like it’s all one big game.
Guess which is which!
Kevin just laughs the whole thing off and essentially says this is what NASCAR drivers do, which, frankly, is another reason I can’t stand F1. What a pompous response.
How about the EGO on this guy?!
“I’ve watched NASCAR before, so I know that’s how you guys play it,” he said, in his fancy Danish accent.
Yeah, OK, pal. You know what? I’ve decided I’m fully on Team Noah after that interview. I was on the fence for most of the morning, but I will be damned if we get lectured by the Europeans on our own soil.
Not on my watch. Not on the eve of our 250th birthday. Piss off, Kevin.
Speaking of riding the fence … let’s kick this class into high gear and get to a couple quickies on the way out, starting with the most American thing I saw all weekend:
Amazing. It’s all amazing. What a scene! What a sport. God, I love this country.
Yes, I assume because this happened on a NAVAL BASE, the penalty will be a bit harsher. People are saying it could be a felony? I guess, but are we really going to bring federal charges on a drunk fan who hopped the fence at a NASCAR race just to talk to … Sheldon Creed?
Seems like our resources are better spent elsewhere at the moment.
PS: All that just to talk to Sheldon Creed? What a move.
Next? Jimmie Johnson, for some ungodly reason, decided to race the Truck Series race over the weekend, and it sounded like he hated every single second of it.
“I couldn’t believe the disrespect that everybody had for each other. I mean, just gouging each other nonstop. When I came in, it was the era of pointing people by. And I got my butt chewed by numerous Cup guys, even when I was in the Busch Series, that I raced them too hard.”
Lordy. Doesn’t sound like Jimbo is gonna race a truck again any time soon. Although, to be fair, he wasn’t exactly perfect on Friday himself:
“I thought for sure that he was wiping out Butterbean right there” is the most NASCAR sentence I’ve ever heard.
Bet Kevin Magnussen doesn’t hear that on an F1 broadcast! He’d probably cry.
Finally, on the way out, I have an obligation to congratulate Corey Heim on his first Cup win. I personally think Tyler Reddick let him off the hook a little too easy as the laps were winding down, but whatever. I reckon that’s what happens when you already have a billion wins this season.
Thoughts?
First of all, I’m not 100% sure Denny would ever just let someone by like that and let off the gas to regroup. Come on. It’s easy to say that from afar, but my guess is Denny ain’t exactly practicing what he preaches here.
Congrats to Corey, but it feels a little gimmicky when a teammate just moves over for you.
OK, that’s it for today. Good work, everyone. Fun(ish) race out in San Diego. I’m not sure they should do it again, but at least it was safer than Chicago or Mexico!
Here’s NFL personality (and OutKick star) Kay Adams taking in her first NASCAR race on the way out.
See you at Sonoma.
