{"id":1493997,"date":"2022-05-27T07:29:44","date_gmt":"2022-05-27T11:29:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1493997"},"modified":"2022-05-27T07:30:37","modified_gmt":"2022-05-27T11:30:37","slug":"nascar-drivers-prepare-for-charlotte-and-offer-their-thoughts-on-indy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nascar-drivers-prepare-for-charlotte-and-offer-their-thoughts-on-indy\/","title":{"rendered":"NASCAR Drivers Prepare for Charlotte and Offer Their Thoughts on Indy"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fnascar-drivers-prepare-for-charlotte-and-offer-their-thoughts-on-indy%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1493997&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p class=\"mg-t-b-20 ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt88 mg-t-b-20 article-content\" data-v-ead826e2=\"\"><i><strong>By <\/strong><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxsports.com\/personalities\/bob-pockrass\"><i><strong><u>Bob Pockrass<\/u><\/strong><\/i><\/a><br \/><strong>FOX Sports NASCAR Writer<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"mg-t-b-20 ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt88 mg-t-b-20 article-content\" data-v-ead826e2=\"\"><strong>Some <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxsports.com\/nascar\/cup-series\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>NASCAR<\/strong><\/a><strong> drivers will watch the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday and wonder what could have been.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"mg-t-b-20 ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt88 mg-t-b-20 article-content\" data-v-ead826e2=\"\">Some NASCAR drivers will watch and wonder what could be.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mg-t-b-20 ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt88 mg-t-b-20 article-content\" data-v-ead826e2=\"\">And other NASCAR drivers will watch and not wonder the least bit of whether their racing careers could have taken a different path.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mg-t-b-20 ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt88 mg-t-b-20 article-content\" data-v-ead826e2=\"\">The ultimate race for open-wheel oval racing, the iconic Indianapolis 500, draws worldwide interest.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mg-t-b-20 ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt88 mg-t-b-20 article-content\" data-v-ead826e2=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxsports.com\/nascar\/kurt-busch-driver\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Kurt Busch<\/a> is the only driver entered in the NASCAR race Sunday at Charlotte Motor Speedway (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxsports.com\/nascar\/coca-cola-600-nascar-cup-series-may-29-2022-racetrax-4681\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Coca-Cola 600, 6 p.m. ET on FOX<\/a>) who has competed in the Indianapolis 500.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mg-t-b-20 ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt88 mg-t-b-20 article-content\" data-v-ead826e2=\"\">His brother, Kyle, had a deal set in 2017 to do it, but team owner Joe Gibbs wouldn\u2019t let him attempt to run both Indianapolis and the 600-miler at Charlotte on the same day. Busch still wants to land a deal to compete in the Indianapolis 500.<\/p>\n<div class=\"delta-video-container mg-t-b-20 article-content\" data-v-ead826e2=\"\">\n<h3>Kyle Busch on the Indianapolis 500<\/h3>\n<div class=\"video-player-container\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxsports.com\/watch\/play-5ae3d7f820012cc\" class=\"pointer video\"> <img data-srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxsports.com\/static-media.fox.com\/ms\/stg1\/sports\/800\/450\/play-5ae3d7f820012cc--busch.png?ve=1&#038;tl=1,  https:\/\/a57.foxsports.com\/static-media.fox.com\/ms\/stg1\/sports\/1600\/900\/play-5ae3d7f820012cc--busch.png?ve=1&#038;tl=1 2x\" alt=\"Kyle Busch on the Indianapolis 500\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" class=\"thumbnail lazyload\" src \/><\/a><\/div>\n<p>\n    Kyle Busch had a deal done to race in the Indy 500 in 2017, but Joe Gibbs wouldn\u2019t approve it. Busch says the Indy 500 is still on his radar.\n  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mg-t-b-20 ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt88 mg-t-b-20 article-content\" data-v-ead826e2=\"\">&#8220;It&#8217;s certainly on my radar,&#8221; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxsports.com\/nascar\/kyle-busch-driver\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Kyle Busch<\/a> said. &#8220;The year that I had it sold and committed and sponsorship was there and everything like that, I got told no.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mg-t-b-20 ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt88 mg-t-b-20 article-content\" data-v-ead826e2=\"\">&#8220;I haven&#8217;t necessarily tried to sell sponsorship since.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mg-t-b-20 ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt88 mg-t-b-20 article-content\" data-v-ead826e2=\"\">The driver most often mentioned who could possibly do an Indy 500 one-off is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxsports.com\/nascar\/kyle-larson-driver\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Kyle Larson<\/a>, because of his ability to jump into a variety of race cars and excel. Larson bristles somewhat at the Indy 500 question because he doesn\u2019t want to create any false expectations that he will run it.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mg-t-b-20 ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt88 mg-t-b-20 article-content\" data-v-ead826e2=\"\">He hopes to someday but right now doesn\u2019t have a set plan. He didn&#8217;t grow up wanting to race Indianapolis despite his sprint-car roots (most IndyCar drivers come up through sprint cars or other cars with open cockpits).<\/p>\n<p class=\"mg-t-b-20 ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt88 mg-t-b-20 article-content\" data-v-ead826e2=\"\">&#8220;My goal and dream at the time was always to make it to NASCAR,&#8221; Larson said about his early years racing. &#8220;Obviously if IndyCar \u2014 or whatever the lower series are \u2014 opportunities came first, I probably would have entertained it maybe just because I thought that&#8217;s what I would have had to have done at the time.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mg-t-b-20 ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt88 mg-t-b-20 article-content\" data-v-ead826e2=\"\">&#8220;But thankfully it all worked out, and I&#8217;m a full-time NASCAR guy and can maybe someday do some other stuff in IndyCar if I got the opportunity.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"delta-video-container mg-t-b-20 article-content\" data-v-ead826e2=\"\">\n<h3>Kyle Larson on whether he would race in the Indy 500<\/h3>\n<div class=\"video-player-container\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxsports.com\/watch\/play-5ae428a040012cc\" class=\"pointer video\"> <img data-srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxsports.com\/static-media.fox.com\/ms\/stg1\/sports\/800\/450\/play-5ae428a040012cc--larson.png?ve=1&#038;tl=1,  https:\/\/a57.foxsports.com\/static-media.fox.com\/ms\/stg1\/sports\/1600\/900\/play-5ae428a040012cc--larson.png?ve=1&#038;tl=1 2x\" alt=\"Kyle Larson on whether he would race in the Indy 500\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" class=\"thumbnail lazyload\" src \/><\/a><\/div>\n<p>\n    Kyle Larson says his answer to Indy 500 questions is the same as always and that NASCAR was always his career goal.\n  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mg-t-b-20 ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt88 mg-t-b-20 article-content\" data-v-ead826e2=\"\">One driver who competed in the IndyCar developmental series is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxsports.com\/nascar\/michael-mcdowell-driver\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Michael McDowell<\/a>, the 2004 Star Mazda champion. But within a couple of years, he was signed with Michael Waltrip Racing and put on a NASCAR route.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mg-t-b-20 ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt88 mg-t-b-20 article-content\" data-v-ead826e2=\"\">&#8220;My journey was headed that way,&#8221; McDowell said. &#8220;To think of all that stuff and not ever have a shot at it? As time has gone on, I&#8217;ve been so thankful that I made the move to NASCAR that I did because for me, there wasn&#8217;t a lot opportunity at the time [at the top IndyCar level].<\/p>\n<p class=\"mg-t-b-20 ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt88 mg-t-b-20 article-content\" data-v-ead826e2=\"\">&#8220;I just caught NASCAR at the right time, right before development driver stuff went away and all that. So if I had waited two or three more years, I don&#8217;t think I&#8217;d ever have a long-lasting career. So I&#8217;m thankful I did what I did, but when I watch it, I definitely want to do it.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"delta-video-container mg-t-b-20 article-content\" data-v-ead826e2=\"\">\n<h3>Michael McDowell on if he had followed road to Indy<\/h3>\n<div class=\"video-player-container\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxsports.com\/watch\/play-5ae3cda97000d96\" class=\"pointer video\"> <img data-srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxsports.com\/static-media.fox.com\/ms\/stg1\/sports\/800\/450\/play-5ae3cda97000d96--mcdowell.png?ve=1&#038;tl=1,  https:\/\/a57.foxsports.com\/static-media.fox.com\/ms\/stg1\/sports\/1600\/900\/play-5ae3cda97000d96--mcdowell.png?ve=1&#038;tl=1 2x\" alt=\"Michael McDowell on if he had followed road to Indy\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" class=\"thumbnail lazyload\" src \/><\/a><\/div>\n<p>\n    Michael McDowell is in the Road To Indy Hall of Fame as the 2004 Star Mazda champion. Does he ever wonder what would have happened if he had followed that road to Indy?\n  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mg-t-b-20 ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt88 mg-t-b-20 article-content\" data-v-ead826e2=\"\">It would seem that Indiana native <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxsports.com\/nascar\/chase-briscoe-driver\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Chase Briscoe<\/a> would have a huge desire to race at Indy, but he doesn\u2019t.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mg-t-b-20 ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt88 mg-t-b-20 article-content\" data-v-ead826e2=\"\">&#8220;Honestly, I don&#8217;t think I&#8217;m brave enough to try it,&#8221; Briscoe said about going 240 mph in an IndyCar. &#8220;I tell everybody I just want to start-and-park. I want to be a part of the opening ceremonies.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mg-t-b-20 ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt88 mg-t-b-20 article-content\" data-v-ead826e2=\"\">&#8220;I want to be a part of walking out, during the brick walk, taking the green flag. &#8230; I would love to run a road course, but I don&#8217;t know about an oval yet.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mg-t-b-20 ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt88 mg-t-b-20 article-content\" data-v-ead826e2=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxsports.com\/nascar\/darrell-wallace-jr-driver\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Bubba Wallace<\/a> never had the Indy 500 dream. In fact, when he raced as a youngster, he didn\u2019t necessarily have professional aspirations.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mg-t-b-20 ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt88 mg-t-b-20 article-content\" data-v-ead826e2=\"\">&#8220;I didn&#8217;t know what the path was \u2014 we just raced to race,&#8221; Wallace said. &#8220;But I never really ever had any desire to go the IndyCar route or run the Indy 500.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mg-t-b-20 ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt88 mg-t-b-20 article-content\" data-v-ead826e2=\"\">&#8220;I respect the hell out of those guys. Those guys are nuts.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mg-t-b-20 ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt88 mg-t-b-20 article-content\" data-v-ead826e2=\"\">Seven-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson even had his reservations about driving an IndyCar on an oval, as he competed only on the road courses last year in his first post-NASCAR season. But with safety improvements, including an aeroscreen that keeps debris from flying into the face of the driver, he eventually got comfortable with it and will start 12th Sunday driving for Chip Ganassi Racing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mg-t-b-20 ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt88 mg-t-b-20 article-content\" data-v-ead826e2=\"\">Johnson will have most of the NASCAR garage rooting for him \u2014 except for maybe <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxsports.com\/nascar\/austin-cindric-driver\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Austin Cindric<\/a>, son of Team Penske President Tim Cindric. Austin grew up going to the Indy 500 and obviously will root for his Penske teammates.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mg-t-b-20 ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt88 mg-t-b-20 article-content\" data-v-ead826e2=\"\">&#8220;I look at the Indy 500 as a race fan,&#8221; Cindric said. &#8220;It&#8217;s what I&#8217;ve grown up watching, and idolizing drivers and teams and the process and the fanfare.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mg-t-b-20 ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt88 mg-t-b-20 article-content\" data-v-ead826e2=\"\">&#8220;I&#8217;ve tried to put myself in the driver&#8217;s seat, especially on qualifying day. But I don&#8217;t know what I&#8217;m missing.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mg-t-b-20 ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt88 mg-t-b-20 article-content\" data-v-ead826e2=\"\">Cindric does have an Indy 500 start in the back of his mind.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mg-t-b-20 ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt88 mg-t-b-20 article-content\" data-v-ead826e2=\"\">&#8220;I&#8217;d love to be able to do it as a driver and [would] love to do it on merit and [would] love to do it in a quality car, a quality entry,&#8221; Cindric said. &#8220;I also say that I\u2019m pretty focused and committed on my job right now.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mg-t-b-20 ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt88 mg-t-b-20 article-content\" data-v-ead826e2=\"\">&#8220;But I did say going to the race last year that that&#8217;ll be my last time at the Indy 500 on race day [as a fan]. And the next time \u2026 I&#8217;m either on the grid or out of a job. So one of the two. Hopefully, the first one.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"delta-video-container mg-t-b-20 article-content\" data-v-ead826e2=\"\">\n<h3>Austin Cindric on what the Indy 500 means to him<\/h3>\n<div class=\"video-player-container\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxsports.com\/watch\/play-5ae3ed673000d96\" class=\"pointer video\"> <img data-srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxsports.com\/static-media.fox.com\/ms\/stg1\/sports\/800\/450\/play-5ae3ed673000d96--cindric.png?ve=1&#038;tl=1,  https:\/\/a57.foxsports.com\/static-media.fox.com\/ms\/stg1\/sports\/1600\/900\/play-5ae3ed673000d96--cindric.png?ve=1&#038;tl=1 2x\" alt=\"Austin Cindric on what the Indy 500 means to him\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" class=\"thumbnail lazyload\" src \/><\/a><\/div>\n<p>\n    Austin Cindric grew up with the Indy 500 as an integral part of his life considering his father\u2019s executive role at Penske.\n  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mg-t-b-20 ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt88 mg-t-b-20 article-content\" data-v-ead826e2=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxsports.com\/nascar\/tyler-reddick-driver\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Tyler Reddick<\/a> also isn\u2019t ruling it out.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mg-t-b-20 ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt88 mg-t-b-20 article-content\" data-v-ead826e2=\"\">&#8220;I don&#8217;t say I wonder what could have been. I wonder what it could still be, right?&#8221; the 26-year-old Reddick said. &#8220;I&#8217;m young. I would love to hopefully find myself in the seat of something like that if the opportunity presented itself.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"delta-video-container mg-t-b-20 article-content\" data-v-ead826e2=\"\">\n<h3>Daniel Suarez, Bubba Wallace, Tyler Reddick on their different paths to NASCAR<\/h3>\n<div class=\"video-player-container\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxsports.com\/watch\/play-5ae3cda70000d96\" class=\"pointer video\"> <img data-srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxsports.com\/static-media.fox.com\/ms\/stg1\/sports\/800\/450\/play-5ae3cda70000d96--briscoe.png?ve=1&#038;tl=1,  https:\/\/a57.foxsports.com\/static-media.fox.com\/ms\/stg1\/sports\/1600\/900\/play-5ae3cda70000d96--briscoe.png?ve=1&#038;tl=1 2x\" alt=\"Daniel Suarez, Bubba Wallace, Tyler Reddick on their different paths to NASCAR\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" class=\"thumbnail lazyload\" src \/><\/a><\/div>\n<p>\n    Daniel Suarez, Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick all took different paths to NASCAR. With the Indy 500 this week, was there ever a chance that they wanted to go that route or would want to run that race?\n  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mg-t-b-20 ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt88 mg-t-b-20 article-content\" data-v-ead826e2=\"\">If any of those drivers wonder if they will regret not pursuing an Indy 500 opportunity \u2014 there are plenty of reasons not to as it would take focus away from a NASCAR championship effort \u2014 they might want to listen to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxsports.com\/nascar\/dale-earnhardt-jr-driver\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Dale Earnhardt Jr<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mg-t-b-20 ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt88 mg-t-b-20 article-content\" data-v-ead826e2=\"\">Earnhardt was asked Tuesday if he ever wished 15 to 20 years ago that he had found a way to compete in the Indy 500.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mg-t-b-20 ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt88 mg-t-b-20 article-content\" data-v-ead826e2=\"\">&#8220;Of course,&#8221; said Earnhardt, who is now part of the NBC Sports broadcast team for the race. &#8220;Without a doubt there are regrets that I didn\u2019t maybe try to figure out a way to be able to experience that once in my life.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mg-t-b-20 ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt88 mg-t-b-20 article-content\" data-v-ead826e2=\"\">&#8220;When you\u2019re watching a guy like Kyle Larson talk about it and consider it, you\u2019re encouraged because you want to see him go out there and do it. Having my own experience, my own regret, I certainly think that a guy like Kyle Larson would have the same regrets if he doesn\u2019t ever give it a shot.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mg-t-b-20 ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt88 mg-t-b-20 article-content\" data-v-ead826e2=\"\">Earnhardt knows his time has passed, just as it has for him making another start in the Daytona 500.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mg-t-b-20 ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt88 mg-t-b-20 article-content\" data-v-ead826e2=\"\">&#8220;That ship has sailed,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I\u2019m 47. I\u2019ll always wonder, I guess, what might have been, what I could have had the opportunity to do.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mg-t-b-20 ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt88 mg-t-b-20 article-content\" data-v-ead826e2=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxsports.com\/newsletter\"><i><strong><u>Looking for more NASCAR content? Sign up for the FOX Sports NASCAR Newsletter with Bob Pockrass!<\/u><\/strong><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"mg-t-b-20 ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt88 mg-t-b-20 article-content\" data-v-ead826e2=\"\"><strong>What to Watch For<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"mg-t-b-20 ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt88 mg-t-b-20 article-content\" data-v-ead826e2=\"\">Can the Next Gen car handle 600 miles? Can the left rear tires handle the loads with the teams looking for maximum speed with tire pressures and camber likely different than what Goodyear recommends?<\/p>\n<p class=\"mg-t-b-20 ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt88 mg-t-b-20 article-content\" data-v-ead826e2=\"\">And will a driver dominate as has been the case in past 600-mile races at Charlotte?<\/p>\n<p class=\"mg-t-b-20 ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt88 mg-t-b-20 article-content\" data-v-ead826e2=\"\">The hope is that the Next Gen car will race like it has at many of the other intermediate tracks, which except for Texas have had solid racing this year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mg-t-b-20 ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt88 mg-t-b-20 article-content\" data-v-ead826e2=\"\">Speedway Motorsports did put down resin earlier this week in hopes of creating a second groove.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mg-t-b-20 ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt88 mg-t-b-20 article-content\" data-v-ead826e2=\"\"><strong>Thinking Out Loud<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"mg-t-b-20 ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt88 mg-t-b-20 article-content\" data-v-ead826e2=\"\">The race on Sunday always brings up debate on whether a 600-mile race is still necessary on the NASCAR calendar.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mg-t-b-20 ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt88 mg-t-b-20 article-content\" data-v-ead826e2=\"\">And as I\u2019ve said before, sure it is.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mg-t-b-20 ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt88 mg-t-b-20 article-content\" data-v-ead826e2=\"\">While several races could be shortened with little impact, it is good to have one marathon on the schedule, one ultimate test of driver and machine. The 600 fills that role.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mg-t-b-20 ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt88 mg-t-b-20 article-content\" data-v-ead826e2=\"\">The Sunday night of Memorial Day weekend seems like a perfect time to do it, with many people having Monday off from work.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mg-t-b-20 ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt88 mg-t-b-20 article-content\" data-v-ead826e2=\"\"><strong>Social Spotlight<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"mg-t-b-20 ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt88 mg-t-b-20 article-content\" data-v-ead826e2=\"\"><strong>They Said It<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"mg-t-b-20 ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt88 mg-t-b-20 article-content\" data-v-ead826e2=\"\">&#8220;I&#8217;m going to have to try to frame that window net and put it over my mantle on my fireplace or something.&#8221; <i>\u2014 <\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxsports.com\/nascar\/ryan-blaney-driver\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i>Ryan Blaney<\/i><\/a><i> after his All-Star win<\/i><\/p>\n<p class=\"mg-t-b-20 ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt88 mg-t-b-20 article-content\" data-v-ead826e2=\"\"><i>Bob Pockrass has spent decades covering motorsports, including the past 30 Daytona 500s. He joined FOX Sports in 2019 following stints at ESPN, Sporting News, NASCAR Scene magazine and The (Daytona Beach) News-Journal. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram @<\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/bobpockrass\"><i><u>bobpockrass<\/u><\/i><\/a><i>. <\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxsports.com\/newsletter\"><i><strong><u>Looking for more NASCAR content? Sign up for the FOX Sports NASCAR Newsletter with Bob Pockrass!<\/u><\/strong><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n<hr class=\"story-section-divider\" data-v-ead826e2=\"\" \/>\n<div class=\"story-favorites-section-add\" data-v-ead826e2=\"\">\n<div class=\"logo-container\"> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/b.fssta.com\/uploads\/application\/leagues\/logos\/NASCARCup.vresize.160.160.medium.0.png\" alt=\"NASCAR Cup Series\" width=\"80\" height=\"80\" class=\"team-logo\" \/><\/div>\n<p> <span class=\"ff-gb fs-20 bold\">Get more from NASCAR Cup Series<\/span> <span class=\"ff-h fs-14 opac-55 lh-1pt43 center\">Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more.<\/span> <button data-favorite-uri=\"league:auto\/cup\/league\/2\" data-action-location=\"article favorite\" data-favorite-text=\"FOLLOW\" data-remove-text=\"FOLLOWING\" aria-label=\"Follow Button\" class=\"button-favorite center flex pointer fs-14\"><span class=\"favorite-star\"><\/span> <span class=\"favorite-text\"><\/span><\/button><\/div>\n<hr class=\"story-section-divider\" data-v-ead826e2=\"\" \/>\n<div class=\"mg-b-15\" data-v-ead826e2=\"\"><span class=\"fs-14 uc\">in this topic<\/span> <\/p>\n<div class=\"mg-t-25 story-topic-group\">\n<div><span class=\"button-topic\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/foxsports.com\/placeholder.png\" alt=\"NASCAR - CUP - Coca-Cola 600 - 5\/29\/2022\" width=\"40\" height=\"40\" class=\"button-icon\" \/> <span class=\"ff-h fs-14\">NASCAR &#8211; CUP &#8211; Coca-Cola 600 &#8211; 5\/29\/2022<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span class=\"button-topic\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/foxsports.com\/placeholder.png\" alt=\"Kyle Busch\" width=\"40\" height=\"40\" class=\"button-icon\" \/> <span class=\"ff-h fs-14\"> Kyle Busch<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span class=\"button-topic\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/foxsports.com\/placeholder.png\" alt=\"Joe Gibbs Racing\" width=\"40\" height=\"40\" class=\"button-icon\" \/> <span class=\"ff-h fs-14\"> Joe Gibbs Racing<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<hr class=\"story-section-divider\" data-v-ead826e2=\"\" \/>\n<div class=\"flex-col-left\" data-v-ead826e2=\"\"><span class=\"fs-14 uc mg-b-25\">share story<\/span> <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Bob PockrassFOX Sports NASCAR WriterSome NASCAR drivers will watch the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday and wonder what could have been.Some NASCAR drivers will watch and wonder what could be.And<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":489,"featured_media":2315279,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1493997","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1493997","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/489"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1493997"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1493997\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2315279"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1493997"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1493997"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1493997"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}