Articles by Neha Dwivedi,The SportsRush

Sports

Daniel Suarez Insists NASCAR Has Done More Harm Than Good By Restricting Cup Drivers in Lower Series

There’s clear distinction between the Cup and Xfinity Series in NASCAR, and drivers competing in the Cup are a step above. Do they get to show it often? Not really. And Daniel Suarez feels that it’s actually not good for the sport. When Kyle Larson stormed to victory in an Xfinity race in Bristol, beating Carson Kvapil by more than two seconds, he didn’t mince words afterward. On Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour podcast, he said he wanted to embarrass the Xfinity Series drivers and NASCAR to remind everyone what Cup-level racing looks like. Larson’s remarks lit a spark across the garage, even drawing a nod from Daniel Suarez, who once fought Cup regulars in Xfinity. Suarez agreed with Larson’s sentiment about raising the bar. Under current rules, Cup drivers with more than three years of full-time experience can enter no more than five Xfinity or Craftsman Truck Series races per season. NASCAR created the rule to prevent Cup veterans from dominating the feeder series and taking home most of the prize money. While well-intentioned, the rule also stripped younger drivers of a valuable measuring stick, the chance to battle the best before joining them. Suarez, who earned his first Xfinity win against Kyle Busch and claimed his championship while racing Larson, argued that the old system hardened him. “The cup drivers back then, they were allowed to race as many races as they wanted. So, I believe that I would have won way more races if there were no Cup drivers like there is right now… My curriculum will look way nicer, but I wouldn’t have learned what I learned. Like I was racing against the best of the best every single week. So, it’s different now.” “I don’t dislike the new rules of NASCAR of limiting the Cup guys. With that being said, now the guys from Xfinity and Trucks, they go to Cup and the jump is bigger… because they don’t really know where is the bar… They think that okay that’s it. But once they go to a cup series, a completely different level, not just in drivers, but in engineers in big cruise and everything.” That gap is soon to be narrowed again. NASCAR announced a policy change for 2026, according to which, full-time Cup veterans with over three years of experience can run up to 10 races in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (name to be changed from Xfinity), double the current limit. In the Craftsman Truck Series, they’ll be permitted eight starts, a three-race increase. However, restrictions will remain for playoff events, keeping the regular-season finales and postseason free of Cup interference. With the adjustment, NASCAR insiders and drivers hope the presence of Cup stars will accelerate the development of younger talent, especially vital now that entry ages are dropping. Beginning in 2026, the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series will allow 17-year-olds to compete on road courses and ovals 1.25 miles or shorter, while the Truck Series will lower its minimum to 16 under the same conditions. The Cup Series will retain its age limit of 18. For a sport that lost its testing freedom decades ago, “seat time” is still the greatest teacher. Letting rising stars rub fenders with proven Cup racers is an education. And for drivers like Larson and Suarez, that’s what keeps the ladder system honest: learning the ropes from those who already know how to climb them.

Sports

Jeff Gordon and Rick Hendrick Vow Bounceback Season from Alex Bowman After Disappointing Year

Alex Bowman, after a 2024 season filled with early hope, endured a long and challenging 2025 campaign, in which he remained winless throughout. But the leadership of his team has full faith in him and explained why he’s on the verge of a rebound. Bowman’s 80-race drought finally ended in 2024 when he muscled through wet conditions at the Chicago Street Course, overtaking Joey Hand late and holding off Tyler Reddick, who was seizing hard on slicks. That win looked ready to springboard his season, but a technical setback at the Charlotte Roval that same year derailed his playoff push after the Round of 12. The setback, a car-weight infringement, cost him a likely Round of 8 berth, and his misfortunes carried into the 2025 season. Bowman went winless and clawed into the playoffs only by scraping in on points. He closed the season 13th in the standings, banking two poles (Homestead and Bristol), six top-fives, and sixteen top-tens. Outside observers questioned whether the Hendrick Motorsports driver could recapture his winning form, his bosses, Rick Hendrick and Jeff Gordon spoke with conviction. Ahead of the finale at Phoenix, Hendrick praised the group’s perseverance. “I think they put a lot of pressure on themselves. They had a good start on the year. There have been some tracks that Alex was our best car. So, no different than trying to work on the short track program. That team is working hard on getting better everywhere. I think they’re showing great signs.” Hendrick acknowledged that every stable has a driver playing catch-up at times. For example, Chase Elliott wasn’t having that good of a season a year or so ago. But now the team has stepped that up. Hendrick himself admitted that he has seen tremendous focus on the #48 team because of their sponsor and pride. That’s why he believes Bowman will have a good season next year. Gordon echoed that sentiment. He credited crew chief Blake Harris and the No. 48 outfit for providing key data and insights that contributed to the organization’s overall success. “We know that they’re very valuable, but we also know there’s things that need to be improved there. It’s a big part of our focus in this off-season, is giving Alex, Blake, the tools that they need and making sure surrounding them with all the things that can help strengthen their team and button up some of those things. I’m with Rick, I don’t think they’re that far off.” Gordon took pride in the team’s effort while acknowledging the pressure that comes with wearing Hendrick colors. Anyone at HMS carries high expectations, especially with the performance of the other three. But he believes they’re right there. They’re already contributing a lot. He believes a few tweaks could make all the difference. The talent is there, the chemistry is growing, and the results, he insists, will follow. “I think a few minor adjustments, and I think those guys can be right there in the hunt,” Gordon noted. Bowman, for his part, even in a season light on wins, showed enough skills and consistency to suggest that a resurgence isn’t far off. For Hendrick Motorsports, the blueprint is to sharpen the edges, keep the faith, and let the No. 48 get back into contention in 2026.