Marty & McGee: NASCAR carrying loads of momentum into 2024

The brand new Netflix sequence launched final month. The Conflict on the Coliseum was final week. Come Sunday, the eyes of the racing world shall be on Daytona Worldwide Speedway as soon as once more.

That is proper, a brand-new season of NASCAR is true across the nook. Qualifying for the 2024 Daytona 500 begins on Wednesday evening. Twenty-four hours later, the Duel kicks off to substantiate the ultimate few locations within the Nice American Race, and the inexperienced flag drops on Sunday.

Who higher to get you primed for an additional season of spirited stock-car shenanigans than Marty Smith and Ryan McGee?

McGee: All proper, son. Daytona is right here. Is there an overarching theme for the 2024 NASCAR season that you simply’re watching out for?

Marty: I feel the game has loads of momentum coming off of the “Full Velocity” documentary on Netflix.

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McGee: Starring you.

Marty: It actually developed loads of characters that I feel will garner curiosity from folks that in any other case would not have recognized or cared. Actually, Denny Hamlin was the massive winner in that and he’ll be an element at Daytona. You may put that within the financial institution.

McGee: One in all solely 4 three-time winners. The one drivers with extra are Richard Petty with seven and Cale Yarborough with 4.

Marty: There at all times appears like there is a new and delightful vitality down there at Daytona each time we go, as a result of it’s a new season. There’s that sense of renewal, rebirth.

McGee: We are saying it on a regular basis, the Daytona 500 prerace grid is Earth’s happiest place. Keep in mind that time we bought caught on the market strolling the size of the pit lane? The one people on the recent facet of the wall had been the drivers rolling out onto the monitor and Marty & McGee, strolling our butts off, simply hoping no NASCAR officers noticed us.

Marty: We had been pumping our fists and strolling like hell, and the Wooden Brothers had been like, “Hey guys … um … what are you doing on the market?” However that is that vitality I am speaking about. It is at all times there. However I simply assume that this season has a lot potential. Have a look at a champion like Ryan Blaney. I feel as a result of he’s so invested within the sport, McGee, he provides a lot of his personal time to develop the game on all these totally different platforms.

McGee: Like, ahem, our By no means Inform Me The Odds ESPN Star Wars podcast, simply this week!

Marty: It simply appears like there’s loads of constructive momentum.

McGee: And youthful momentum. I bear in mind the final actual preseason NASCAR Media Tour, 5 years in the past, and this large rift opened up between Blaney’s technology of fellows versus the established guard of the game. Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch had been mad as a result of these youthful guys had been doing all of this advertising and marketing work and, within the minds of the veterans, hadn’t but earned that proper. All of us wrote then, “Is that this the altering of the guard?” However it wasn’t as a result of the older dudes answered by profitable all the following championships and races. However I really feel prefer it’s occurred now. Do you?

Marty: Sure, I do. However I additionally assume that a part of that’s that each one the outdated dudes are gone. , the standard-bearing guys for therefore a few years are all retired now. Harvick is now within the TV sales space. All these guys that received all these races and all these championships for therefore lengthy at the moment are ambassadors, house owners, tv analysts. So yeah, man, I do really feel like there’s this group of younger drivers, and I really feel like they do have personalities to develop the game, in the event that they need to.

McGee: That is the important thing phrase: “In the event that they need to.” I’ve argued with a number of the guys that we’re speaking about, that they’ve the persona, however the followers say they do not as a result of they have not truly been launched to those guys. Interval. Perhaps Netflix adjustments that. We simply noticed Jimmie Johnson go into the NASCAR Corridor of Fame final month, and also you and I wrestled with that notion his complete profession, folks telling us, “Nicely, this man is boring” and we’re like, “No, he is truly the least boring individual you will ever meet!” However for no matter motive, that connection by no means occurred, and I really feel like these guys now perhaps have a greater deal with on that.

Marty: I take a look at it, Blaney is a good persona, however he is a really distinctive persona in that he is very jovial away from all of it. When he places the helmet on, he turns into an murderer. Then there’s these guys which were round some time that also have a aggressive fireplace, whether or not that is Hamlin, Busch, Joey Logano …

McGee: Martin Truex, Jr.

Marty: All these guys, younger and outdated, have the potential to be nice components. All of them are champions. So, you realize they know methods to do it, however can you set it collectively on this present format? It is simply so arduous to win within the format proper now. No Daytona 500 winner has gone on to win the championship since Jimmie Johnson in 2013.

McGee: Whoa.

Marty: Proper?

McGee: I prefer it being arduous on these guys. I am a sick sportswriter. So, combine it up! That is why I like what NASCAR retains doing to the schedule, too. Actually ever since 2020, they’re prepared to strive some stuff and if it really works, nice. If it does not, OK, they will not do it like that once more. However the thought of shifting dates round, bringing again North Wilkesboro, lastly sending a Cup race to Iowa Speedway, I identical to the truth that they’re prepared to strive issues, and I actually like the truth that it retains groups on their toes.

Marty: I agree. And I’m actually fascinated to see what it actually means for Jimmie Johnson’s group, Legacy Motor Membership, as a result of they’ve moved to Toyota and have two younger drivers in Erik Jones — although he is been round some time — and John Hunter Nemechek. Jimmie Johnson has been in a Chevrolet fairly actually his complete life, however he strikes to Toyota primarily based on the truth that they go from a group that was not thought-about elite tier by their very own producer to at least one that’s by Toyota. So, what does that in the end imply? They’ve Matt Kenseth on board in an govt function. Jimmie driving in 9 races, beginning at Daytona. Jimmie Johnson with one thing to show is a scary thought.

McGee: In the meantime, over at his former group, Hendrick Motorsports, Chase Elliott has one thing to show, too. He is this mixture of every part we have talked about: a younger man but additionally a veteran, a former champion however dealing with the hurdles of the format whereas additionally coming off a brutally disappointing season during which he was harm, suspended and missed the Playoff. Worst-case situation.

Marty: The most well-liked driver within the sport. And he did not win a race in 2023. So, what sort of fireplace does he present up with? I feel he most likely can have a chip on his shoulder to show some issues.

McGee: As we wish to say on “Marty & McGee,” we’ll get you out of right here on this. We have talked about drivers. We have talked about racetracks. We have talked about NASCAR typically. Would you wish to now have a rousing, prolonged dialog about charters and the continued monetary negotiations between NASCAR and group house owners?

Marty: No, thanks.