Off the Chain with Hoppy Mellow

Texas was full of twists and turns again this year and that led to Joey Lagano getting the win.  The Chain Gang discusses the ups and downs for several drivers in the field along with a proposal for a new points system in 2026.  

The racing at Dega ain't what it used to be... well unless you watch the Xfinity race.  

The Chain Gang loaded up and traveled to the Rock to see NASCAR make its return to the track and boy were we glad we did!  It may have new pavement but the racing action was still uniquely Rockingham as cars sped through the 22 degree banking and drove right on the edge of spinning out as they searched for speed.  

Since the Chain Gang couldn't get together until Wednesday this week, it gave us time to take in all the criticism of the Bristol race and reflect on it a bit.  We've got the fan take on what we saw and what NASCAR should be doing about their self-inflicted problems.

After Byron lost the chance to lead 100% of the laps with the worlds worst pitcall on when to come down pitroad, the race got much more interesting.  Denny was lurking and ready to pounce when the caution he needed kept Blaney from stealing it himself.

Denny leading 274 laps and winning the race is something we haven't seen for quite some time... 10 years since we've seen him in victory lane at Martinsville to be exact!  Check and Hoppy were there with in person perspective and Willy has the best jokes you'll never hear!  

Larson saved the day and kept Bowman the Slowman out of victory lane but not before Willy got some good points with his pick this week.  The Chain gang can tell you all about Homestead in this one!

The B hot streak continued in Vegas this week when we arrived on Berry after seeing the first 4 race wins go to Byron and Bell.  Needless to say, watch out for Blaney and Busch at Homestead next week!

The soft option tire delivered the best Phoenix race any of us can remember. We may never see another one quite like it.  Let's soak it in and talk about the implications as Bell goes 3 outa 4 on the season. 

We were all pleasantly surprised by the quality of the racing over at COTA this past weekend!

No special into and outro music this week!  Just getting right into the meat and potatoes of an Atlanta race that left us all hungry for a more satisfying finish!!!

After a rain delay and some typical NextGen pack racing, we were treated to some wrecks and a surprise winner.  Fans have started to see through these shenanigans and the race only got a 69 on the good race poll, making it the lowest scoring Daytona 500 in this car.  

We have assempled one show with all of the things you need to know about rule changes, team changes, and who to watch out for in the Daytona 500!  LFG!

The Clash arriving at Bowman Gray this year was one for the ages!   Hoppy and Checky got to experience it live while Willy stayed home to sip whiskey and complain about the FOX coverage.  Let's talk about everything we saw at the Clash as we kick of NASCAR 2025!

In the end of 2024 it would come down to qualifying, restarts, and mirror driving... which Logano beat Blaney in at the checkered flag.  

Martinsville and mayhem go hand in hand.  But none of us expected a C Bell wall ride or manufacturer shenanigans.  Let's get into all that and see if we can predict who will be the champ!

Homestead delivered on a playoff race in 2024 better than it ever has before.  All 7 Playoff drivers were battling for the leads spots most of the race and when it came down to the end, lead changes and drama ensued.  Our Chain Gang is ready to break it all down!

We got ourselves a pretty exciting fuel mileage finish to the race that ended with Logano in victory lane and now everyone has been put on notice that the 22 is ready for his 3rd title... which would be the 3rd straight for Penske.  Let's hope that Denny has something to say about that.... or Reddick does.... or Larson does.... anyone?

Well we didn't think we'd see another huge post race DQ this week but that's what we got!  The Chain Gang were all sitting at turn 7 for the Roval this year and we have all the action to report to you from the track!  LFG!

The dam has burst and the outdated leadership of NASCAR was on full display at Talladega for all of us to witness.  Thank you Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin for being our David vs Goliath.  It's time to show his big ass what happens to giants!

The race weekend at Kansas had so many cool things going on it was hard to remember them all!  Mine and Checky's first ever trip there was a 10 out of 10 and we've got all the insider reporting to give you on the race weekend.  

The worst Bristol race in recent memory will go down as a win for Kyle Larson and a final mistake for the 19 team in their last championship bid.  It's off to Kansas now and we can't wait to get there!!

Watkins Glen gave us another last lap heart pounding finish this year between SVG and CFB.. Dale Yeah!

Joey Lagano parked it in victory lane after an overtime finish in a race that saw many different leaders and some intense racing to kick off the 2024 playoffs.  MTJ keeps the struggles going and Larson couldn't save his car while Denny rode in the back.   Things will be very interesting as we head into race 2 of the round of 16 at the Glen this weekend!

The "other Chase" gets the job done at Darlington and shocks the racing world!  Two thirds of the Chain Gang were on site for the action at the track too tough to tame and we have lots to say about this thriller!  

The Fireball 400 at Daytona delivered action and drama once again!  And, once again, the Chain Gang came together to complete Fireball challenges while cheering for our drivers.  Harrison Burton got the W and KFB played the role of experienced veteran.  Where do we go from here?  Let's find out!

After having to wait until Monday once  again at Michigan, we thought it might be just the scenario Martin Truex needed to return to victory lane.  Alas, Martin had late race trouble once again and Tyler Reddick picked up his second win of the season.  

NASCAR finally got their S*** together and handed down penalties following Sunday nights drama at Richmond so the Chain Gang came togethe for an emergency podcast to share what we think of the situation and what it means for everyone involved.

The most epic race in Richmond was also the first one the Chain Gang has seen there in person together!  We have first hand experience from what we saw of the points race debut of the soft red tires and how it helped the racing there.  But... first.... we break down every crucial moment in the last lap drama that unfolded thanks to Austin Dillon's win at all costs moves that took out both the 22 and 11 to gain the win.  We're fired up and we got lots for NASCAR to learn from us on this episode!!Let's go!!!!!

The return to the Brickyard may have lacked passing but we still got some good ole NASCAR drama to chat about before the Olympic break!  Larson got the job done and NASCAR can't decide when to throw a caution.  

Pocono doesn't have a lot for us but we did get another 7 car and 8 car wreck.  

Many crimes were committed in Chicago this weekend... even more than usual with NASCAR in town!  We had green flag laps, stage points, and wins all stolen right in front of us this weekend!!  Come hang with the the gang and we'll tell you all about the offenses committed!!  

Nashville was the tail of 2 halves of racing.  An unprecedented 5 green white checkers at the end left us with lots to talk about.  The Chain Gang is ready to give you all the down low on what you need to know about NASCAR this week!  LFG!

There was a lot of fuss in New Hamshire about the way NASCAR called the race and you can listen to Hoppy, Willy, and Checky debate it to find out whether you think it should be ran more like a soup nazi's restaurant or a track where you race free or die.  The choice is yours!  

The first Cup race at Iowa was far better than predicted and had more twists and turns than a corn maze.  We were left with Ryan Blaney scoring his first win of 2024 and a playoff picture that's heating up!

After making history by forgetting to press record for the first time in Off the Chain podcast history, the Chain Gang gathered themselves up and made a show out of it.  Much like Sonoma starting as a cluster f*** and finishing with a green flag run to the end.  LFG!

NASCAR is giving us all the drama we can handle by slow rolling the Kyle Larson waiver request and we're here to break it all down for you and give you all the angles that the other podcasts can't or won't!    Don't say we didn't warn  you!!! 

Us race fans all took it on the chin on Sunday when our glorious day of motorsports was destroyed unapologetically by weather.  Larson and the rest of us were all left with that depressed feeling of wondering what might have been.  Our Chain Gang is here no matter what to give you the fans take on all the hot topics coming out of this weekend such as waivers, wins, and what Willy thinks about liars.  

NWS delivers on another compelling All Star Weekend!  The Chain Gang calls for schedule changes we need to see, figures out who to fire at SHR, and what Dale JR should be doing about it!   Let's GO!!

Reddick blew his shot, Chris B blew his top, and Brad K blew out the tires in a 'Merica burn out.  What more could you ask for from the Lady in Black in 2024!?!?

Just when you think Kansas couldn't get any more exciting, it goes and breaks the all time record for the closest finish in NASCAR history!!!  We break down those last laps and what could have unfolded in multiple scenarios.  We also attempt to settle debate on what the best finish in history is while reflecting on the best race in history.  All this and more with the Chain Gang!!!

Denny was one of several leaders in this Dover race that was, thankfully, not rained out this year.  It may have only been a 60% good race on the Gluck poll but it still had a lot of solid racing all day and that's what we watch Dover for!  Also, Hoppy still has a bone to pick about Talladega...

Talladega's last lap drama showed up once again.  We thought we would see Brad K fllipping a Ford for the win like he did in his first win there but it turned out to be his Airness Tyler Reddick gliding across the line first.  The Chain Gang has plenty to say about this Alabama getaway!  

Texas produced more cautions then we've seen since Bristol and plenty of good wrecks and action to go along with it.  The Chain Gang breaks down several of the wrecks while wrestling with what this win means for Hooters.  

Byron has wracked up his 3rd win in 8 races this year and the most in the Next Gen car and we're left to ask when the hell NASCAR is gonna wake up and fix short track racing?!?!?!?

Everyone this week has problems with the way NASCAR calls cautions and the way that NASCAR uses rain tires, and the way that Hamlin runs his restarts... well the Chain Gang is here with some answers that you just won't hear on all those other podcasts out there.  Let's goooooooooooooo!

William Byron became the first multrace winner for the 3rd season in a row at COTA.  And while that may be commendable, the Chain Gang has many other topics to attend to in this week's episode including a shoutout for MTJ now leading the points while not leading in any other major category of the standings!

Spring Bristol was NASCARs first ever March race in the new car and boy did it deliver in the most unexpected way possible!  The tires got ground to the cords in 40 laps and left us all wondering what would happen next! After the race, Jeff Gluck spun up yet another Bristol rap so Hoppy was forced to respond with one of his own.  The Chain Gang is ready to break it all down this week so let's gooooo!

Bell came with a chip on his shoulder after wrecking out of the championship race in Phoenix last fall.  He drove his Yota to the lead and never looked back and even though it wasn't a tight finish, it was a good race by Phoenix standards... at least it was according to the Chain Gang!

Larson had a perfect points day in Vegas but almost lost to Reddick at the end. We analyze this run along with several others from the race day. Hoppy also questions the assumption that many drivers, such as Chase Elliott, will win this year. Let's ride with the Chain Gang!

Was HOTlanta spring '24 the best finish in NASCAR history?The Chain Gang attacks this question like a pitbull with an attitude problem and then we turn our focus to what this win means for the driver of the 99 car and his hopes to keep his seat from getting too hot this year. Let's goooooo!