Lug Nuts and Beer

What wins in NASCAR -- money or talent? Why is it a good thing that Martin Truex Jr. can coast to Miami? How can your fantasy football league use NASCAR to set your draft order? Plus, how should longtime fans make sense of the rapidly changing NASCAR driver landscape? That and more on this week's episode of Lug Nuts and Beer.Race RecapFurniture Row Racing proved on Sunday at Watkins Glen that it not only has the speed to win Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races, but it has the experience and strategy to compete with anyone. After Sunday’s win at Watkins Glen International in upstate New York, Martin Truex Jr. finds himself with four wins this season and over twice as many playoff points as the next closest driver. Is Homestead now a lock for the Furniture Row Racing team? No matter what kind of racing you prefer, the I Love New York 355 at Watkins Glen had a little of something for everyone. Top drivers clashing? Check. New stage winner? Check. Death threats between drivers during the race? Check. Fuel mileage strategy? Check. Exciting finish? Check. Martin Truex Jr. let several cars, including Brad Keselowski and Ryan Blaney pass him in the waning laps, only to regain the lead as other drivers had to pit for fuel. Coming to the checkered flag, Truex needed every drop of gas in the tank to hold of a late-charging Matt Kenseth.Michigan picksTom - Kyle LarsonDylan - Daniel Suarez

What happens when you go to a race with no plan, no tickets, no hotel and only $6 between two grown men? True to typical form, the guys took Pocono Raceway by storm for their first-ever trip to the Tricky Triangle. Tune in to hear about Pocono’s infield bash, Wild Willy's rodeo challenge, a night spent in a rental car and a recap of a weekend spent in the Pennsylvania mountains for the Overton's 400.Plus, our picks are in for the I Love New York 355 at Watkins Glen International.Race RecapKyle Busch claimed victory at one of the two tracks left on the NASCAR circuit that, prior to Sunday, he had never won. With one victory, Busch suddenly finds himself near the top of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup points standings with five races remaining before the playoffs.

A number of surprise race winners in 2017 have created an unusual NASCAR playoff picture with big-name drivers still winless. Harvick wins his first race of 2017. The call for more road courses gets louder. That and more on this week's episode of Lug Nuts and Beer. Sonoma RecapNASCAR playoff spots are filling up as Kevin Harvick returned to victory lane on Sunday for the first time in 2017. The California native stretched his fuel to grab his first career victory at Sonoma Raceway as he maintained a comfortable lead over Stewart-Haas Racing teammate Clint Bowyer. Martin Truex Jr. led a race-high 25 laps, but engine trouble forced him to the garage on lap 86.Ten of the 16 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series playoff spots are now spoken just 16 races into the regular season. Big-name drivers such as Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Matt Kenseth, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Joey Logano (due to his encumbered Richmond victory) are still winless. Who will be on the outside looking in when the playoffs begin? How many winless drivers will make it into the playoffs on points? Plus, after the first road course race of the year was another hit among fans, it's only a matter of time before NASCAR adds more road courses to the schedule. How many should be added, and where?  

Martin Truex Jr. won his second race of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season at Kansas Speedway, leading 104 of 267 laps. Truex began his career winning just two races in his first nine full-time seasons. After winning seven races since the start of the 2015 season, has he joined the likes of Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jimmie Johnson and Kyle Busch as a household name among casual sports fans? Which other athletes achieved notable success but never received much mainstream media attention? We discuss.Brian Vickers' old Red Bull car recently went on sale for $35,000. Would you buy it, and if so, what would you do with it? Plus, who will win the NASCAR All-Star race at Charlotte Motor Speedway this weekend?  All that and more on this week's edition of Lug Nuts and Beer.  

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. won the pole on Saturday and took the checkered home Sunday. The results speak for themselves, but the way Stenhouse got to victory lane was all but easy. Ricky used a last-lap pass of Kyle Busch in overtime to snag his first career win at his home track. The guys discuss how winning at Talladega has reminded opposing teams that the rebuilding process at Roush Fenway Racing may be on the fast track. If Dale Earnhardt Jr. weren't retiring at season's end, would he keep his current crew, or would he opt for change? Plus, what will happen first: Kyle Busch catches a break and get his first win of the season, or Kyle Busch runs out of reasons why he hasn't won a race yet this season? We discuss how Busch's career stats at 'Dega may have something to do with his disdain for the track. Race RecapDanica Patrick calls Ricky Stenhouse Jr. the hardest working driver in the sport, but she doesn't have to convince us -- his performance of late speaks for itself. Stenhouse passed Kyle Busch in overtime of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway to claim his first Cup series victory in 158 attempts. The Big One took out a few of the race's best competitors including Kevin Harvick, Joey Logano, Martin Truex Jr., Matt Kenseth and Chase Elliot, leaving the finish wide open to any car in the field. Stenhouse has now finished in the top 10 in five out of the last seven races.

We discuss Dale's decision to retire, how it affected us, what his retirement means for NASCAR, our favorite Dale Jr. victories and which drivers Dale Jr. fans can turn to once he's gone.Goodbye, Dale Jr.Dale Earnhardt Jr. announced his retirement this week after 18 years in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. It came as a shock to the NASCAR community, but the decision wasn't entirely unexpected after a series of concussions over his career and a newly formed family have caused some to question if he should hang it up. Earnhardt's journey has been unlike any other in the history of NASCAR. His last name burdened him with unrealistic expectations since day one. He lost his father to a last-lap crash in the 2001 Daytona 500 and has since received the type of fame and attention that can ruin a man. Yet, somehow, he has remained humble and genuine through it all. He's widely regarded as one of the most "real" and honest athletes of all time. What you see is what you get with Dale Jr., and that has made him more beloved than a name ever could.Earnhardt's last race will be at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 19, 2017. Better get those tickets ASAP if you want them. In this episode...This week's episode of Lug Nuts and Beer isn't about the great race at Bristol. We discuss Dale's decision to retire, how it affected us, what his retirement means for NASCAR, our favorite Dale Jr. victories and which drivers Dale Jr. fans can turn to once he's gone. Plus, our picks are in for the Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond International Raceway.  

"I would go to a go-kart track and wreck kids to boost my confidence"- How to spend NASCAR's bye week after a bad season start. You didn't forget about Jimmie Johnson, did you? After a slow start to his 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series campaign, Jimmie Johnson and the 48 team reminded fans why Jimmie is a seven-time champ. The guys discuss Jimmie's greatness, the decision that cost Ryan Blaney the race and an underwhelming start to the season for Joe Gibbs Racing. We compare the first seven races of this season with the first seven races of last season for JGR. The stats may surprise you. Plus, we give an honest opinion of the new All-Star race format and discuss how the race could be more exciting. What do you think... awesome or gimicky? Buckle up, grab a cold beer and tune in to hear the hot takes!Race RecapRyan Blaney seemed to be on his way to his first-ever career victory on Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway, winning the first two race segments and leading a race-high 148 laps. However, the race slipped away from the 23-year-old when his team opted not to pit during a caution with several laps remaining before the end of stage 2. Jimmie Johnson, didn't have the best car of the afternoon, but he improved enough as the race went on to be in contention when it mattered. Johnson passed Joey Logano with 18 laps remaining and was able to hold off the field for his first victory of the 2017 NASCAR season. Johnson has won four of the last six races at Texas and has now won a race in NASCAR's top series in 16 straight seasons.

After one one of the most entertaining NASCAR races in recent memory, the Lug Nuts and Beer guys recap Martinsville and show appreciation for a classic track that seems to be getting better with age. Kyle Busch was passed by Keselowski for the win and blamed a bad set of tires for losing the race. The guys discuss if Busch is a sore loser or just a frustrated competitor. Also, in a perfect world, what track should be added to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series circuit? Eldora Speedway? Iowa Speedway? Tom and Dylan discuss tracks that should gain and lose races, as well as ideas that would help bolster the future of NASCAR and give fans better racing.Race RecapBrad Keselowski became the first driver to win multiple races this season by taking the checkered flag on Sunday at the STP 500. Sometimes, when conditions are just right, the stars align for NASCAR at certain tracks, and the STP 500 in Martinsville proved to be one of those days. There were multiple lanes for drivers to pass each other, tempers flared, stage racing (if only for one race) seemed to encourage harder racing, and a hard-fought, late-race pass around Kyle Busch led to Keselowski claiming his first-ever victory at Martinsville Speedway.

Kyle Larson has been knocking on Victory Lane's door all season. Sunday at the Auto Club 400 in Fontana, California, he secured a statement win. Larson won for the second time in his career, but this win felt more like a message for all of NASCAR: Kyle Larson is really good, and he's officially ready to contend with the big boys. The guys discuss the emergence of Kyle Larson, "flash-in-the-pan" athletes, how segment racing has affected race strategy, and Tom searches for food enlightenment on his quest to eat hundreds of dollars worth of Chipotle in a week.Race RecapMost races this season have not been kind to the driver who dominated the race. However, Fontana showed favor to the Cali kid, and Kyle Larson survived some late-race drama to claim his second career victory. With 11 top-ten finishes in his last 17 races and three second-place finishes in a row, it seemed like just a matter of time before Kyle Larson returned to victory lane. The other dominant car of the afternoon was Martin Truex Jr., but his pit crew had its worst stop of the day at the worst time, allowing Larson to pull away from the field.

March is for Madness. So an underdog winner and overtime should not have been much of a surprise on Sunday. Ryan Newman won the Camping World 500, and that got the Lug Nuts and Beer guys thinking: how would you celebrate winning your first race in 127 tries? They also talk about the biggest upset victories in recent NASCAR history, whether or not Dale Jr. fans should be hitting the panic button, and what they think Kyle Busch did after the race.Race RecapThough there were no punches exchanged this week, Joey Logano found a way to get the last laugh at Kyle Busch's expense on Sunday in Phoenix. With just a few laps remaining and Busch seemingly in control, Logano's right-front tire exploded, sending him into the wall and sending the caution flag flying. While most drivers elected to pit for tires, Ryan Newman and crew chief Luke Lambert decided to take track position over fresh tires. Newman led the field to green in overtime and was able to withstand a late push from Kyle Larson to capture the checkered flag for the first time since 2013.

In this special edition podcast, the guys debate who would win in driver vs. driver fights. Jimmie Johnson or Kevin Harvick? Joey Logano or Brad Keselowski? Austin Dillon or Ty Dillon? Kyle Larson or Chase Elliot? Ryan Newman or the field? Dale Jr. or Martin Truex Jr.? Plus one last mystery matchup. Who ya got? Grab a beer and tune in!*Skip to the 18-minute mark to get straight to the debate. Race RecapLast week, Brad Keselowski was on the receiving end of a late-race gift that opened the door to victory lane in Atlanta. This week, he was the one who seemingly had the race won, but car troubles with two laps to go gave Martin Truex Jr. all the opportunity he needed. Truex was the class of the field nearly all day, as he led 150 laps and became the first driver to sweep all three segments of a race under NASCAR's new race format. However, it was the drivers who finished 4th and 22nd that dominated the headlines at Vegas. Joey Logano and Kyle Busch got "tangled up" coming out of turn four on the last lap. Busch, running fifth at the time, was the one who wrecked and ultimately decided to retaliate by throwing punches at Logano after the race. Fans can only hope this rivalry continues to unfold as the season moves forward.

A familiar scene unfolded on Sunday afternoon in Atlanta at the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500. Kevin Harvick had undoubtedly the fastest car of the afternoon, and led 292 of 325 laps. However, a speeding penalty on pit road with 14 laps to go sent the Jimmy John's Freaky Fast car to the back of the field. Harvick was the last of 11 drivers that were flagged Sunday for a total of 13 speeding penalties on pit road. Kyle Larson led the field late in the race, but he was unable to hold off an opportunistic Brad Keselowski. Keselowski secured his first win of the season and another early-season victory for Ford.Will NASCAR be able to fit more sponsors into the names of races in the future? Will Kevin Harvick stop blowing dominating performances? Have the Toyota drivers lost their edge? Grab a beer and tune in as the guys discuss the best of NASCAR’s action from Week 2 in Atlanta.

The 2017 Daytona 500 represented a new chapter in NASCAR racing, and Kurt Busch helped Monster Energy make a splash in its first weekend as the title sponsor of the Cup Series. A number of wrecks took out the usual restrictor-plate race front-runners and left some younger drivers with an opportunity to etch their name in Daytona history. However, Chase Elliot and Kyle Larson both ran out of fuel as they lead the race with only a few laps remaining. Kurt Busch outlasted the rest of the field and claimed his first Daytona 500 victory in his 18 attempt at the Great American Race.The Lug Nuts and Beer guys catch up on life since last season's podcast and are already in mid-season form after race number one. Tom and Dylan discuss the Daytona 500, Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s return, the new NASCAR rule changes and the Happy Daytona Day marketing campaign.Relax, grab a beer and catch up on racing’s best podcast.

No fuel, no problem! Kurt Busch used every fuel-saving tactic known to racing to stretch his fuel to the finish line as he claimed his first victory of the season in the We Paint Winners 400 at Pocono Raceway. It was Kurt's 12th top 10 finish in the NASCAR Sprint Cup season's first 14 races. Dale Earnhardt Jr. came up just short of his first win of the season as he registered his fourth second-place finish in 2016. The Lug Nuts and Beer duo discuss The We Paint Winners 400 at Pocono, rainy race weekends, a possible Hendrick Motorsports resurgence and their own stressful fuel situation they experienced during the Coca-Cola 600 race weekend. The boys also talk about home brewing beer and preview this weekend's FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway. Brews of ChoiceTom enjoyed a Bell's Lager Beer from the state up north while Dylan debuted his very own home brew creation, Bahnson Brew.Drink up, friends. Enjoy the show! 

Miles the Monster seemed particularly hungry on Sunday afternoon at Dover International Speedway, but Matt Kenseth battled back for his first win of the 2016 season. Matt held off youngster Kyle Larson during a dramatic 20-lap run for the finish to take the checkered flag. Kenseth has seen his share of bad luck this season, but for at least one race it seems as if he was able to pass the bad luck on to other drivers.For the first time in six years, the Lug Nuts and Beer duo sadly missed the spring race at Dover, and they missed a classic. The guys share stories about their previous experiences at the track, Jimmie "Dover Dominator" Johnson's mishap that collected 18 cars in a wreck, the decision by Kyle Larson to not bump Matt Kenseth out of the way for the win, and they look ahead to the 2016 All-Star race.Brews of ChoiceAt this point, Tom has officially secured his spot as Great Lake's Brewing Company's biggest fan, as he sips on a delicious Dortmunder Gold Lager during this week's episode. Dylan, not an IPA fan, steps outside his comfort zone and is pleasantly surprised by Raven Beer's Tell Tale Heart IPA.

On a day that saw 35 of 40 cars involved in an accident, Brad Keselowski drove a near-perfect race to claim his second win of the season. Thunderstorms threatened to shorten the GEICO 500 all afternoon, and consequently we saw drivers racing each other extremely hard from green flag to checkered flag. While there were a number of storylines unfolding throughout the day, it was "The Big One(s)" that left people breathless after the race.....and looking for answers. Tom Crilley made the 11-hour drive from Ohio to Talladega, Alabama, to give us a first-hand account of the most dramatic racing of the season. The guys discuss the experience at the track, the allure and risk of plate racing, and they relive the scary moments of teh GEICO 500 at Talladega that saw multiple drivers airborne and many cars torn to shreds. Tune in for that and a quick preview of the Go Bowling 400 at Kansas SpeedwayBrews of ChoiceAs a tip of the hat to this week's winner, Brad Keselowski, Dylan drinks some Miller Lite. Tom drinks a Goose Island IPA and recounts a beer festival in Columbus, Ohio, that introduced him to the Chicago-based brewery. 

One week after securing his first win of the season at Bristol, Carl Edwards made the first ever last-lap pass for victory in the storied history of Richmond International Raceway. In turns 3 and 4, Edwards made his move on Kyle Busch, giving him the classic bump-and-run. The move sent Kyle Busch up the track, and allowed Edwards to take the checkered flag for the second straight week.This week, the boys discuss the exciting racing at Richmond, the growth and maturity of Kyle Busch over the past few years, the return of Tony Stewart, what NASCAR would fine the Lug Nuts and Beer crew $35,000 for if they were drivers, and we preview the GEICO 500 at Talladega (You'll never believe who the guys both pick to win).Brews of ChoiceThis week Tom plays it safe with Great Lakes Brewing's Burning River Pale Ale. Birthday Boy Dylan celebrates in style with Jack Daniel's Gentleman Jack, and the guys discuss their love/hate relationship with Jack D. 

Carl Edwards started the day at Bristol Motor Speedway on the pole and finished the day with his signature backflip and a trip to Victory Lane. In a race that did not lack drama or excitement, Edwards led a race-high 276 laps and all but guaranteed himself a ticket to the NASCAR Chase. Behind Edwards, a number of unlikely faces filled out the top ten. Chase Elliot and Matt DiBenedetto both registered career-best finishes, while Trevor Bayne and Clint Bowyer finished their best races of the season.This week, the guys discuss newly found Lug Nuts And Beer podcast fame on Colossus at Bristol, Matt Kenseth's ongoing bad luck, and Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s epic comeback after killing his engine to start the race. Plus, what was the deal with the Joe Gibbs Racing tire issues?Don't miss the final recap of the Food City 500 and predictions for the Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond International Raceway! Brews of ChoiceFull Tilt Brewing's Baltimore Pale Ale portrays images of motorcycles and American patriotism for Dylan. Tom breaks away from his traditional brand of brews with a Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale.

Kyle Busch grabbed his fourth NASCAR victory in eight days with his second straight weekend sweep, winning the Xfinity Series race on Friday night followed by the Sprint Cup Series race on Saturday night. The hottest driver in NASCAR may not have had the fastest car in the Sprint Cup race on Saturday night, but "Rowdy" took the lead from Martin Truex Jr. when it mattered most to claim the victory at Texas Motor Speedway. The Lug Nuts and Beer guys discuss pit strategy, the problem with NASCAR night races, the difficulty of home brewing beer and the upcoming race at Bristol. Plus, will Peyton Manning have a new Nationwide jingle at Bristol Motor Speedway this weekend? Tune in to find out!Brews of choiceGreat Lakes Brewing once again proves to be a staple for Tom, as he drinks Turntable Pilsner. Dylan continues his drinking journey through Peabody Heights Brewery's finest beer. This week he enjoys Mocha Obscuro, an award-winning, home brewed Imperial Stout.

Kyle Busch swept the Camping World Truck Series and Sprint Cup races at Martinsville Speedway over the weekend after beginning his NASCAR career 0-for-30 at "The Paperclip." The defending NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion has now won at all but three tracks on the Sprint Cup circuit (Charlotte, Kansas, Pocono) and has amassed 35 career victories at just 30 years old. He continues to prove to be one of the more dominate drivers in the modern NASCAR era.The Lug Nuts And Beer boys discuss their first in-person race of the year, introducing girlfriends to NASCAR culture, unprepared tailgating, banana/mayonnaise sandwiches and all the exciting racing action from the STP 500.Brews of choiceDylan tells a story about touring Peabody Heights Brewery in Baltimore while drinking a Red Cent Amber Lager. Tom revisits a Lug Nuts And Beer classic beverage -- Redneck Chardonnay, more commonly known as Bud Light.

The first bye week of the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season is coming to an end. Many of the drivers and crews went to the beach, spent time with family and celebrated the Easter holiday weekend. The Lug Nuts and Beer duo used the off week as an opportunity to preview the STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway, discuss the first five races of the season and share some family stories.We'll be watching the Martinsville race from the track for the first time this season. Stay tuned for all the details on episode 8 of the Lug Nuts and Beer podcast early next week. Gentlemen, start your engines! It's time to go racing at Martinsville.  

It may have taken overtime to decide, but a familiar scene unfolded on Sunday at the Auto Club 400. Jimmie Johnson passed a dominant Kevin Harvick in the final laps for his sixth career victory at the two-mile oval in Fontana, California, proving once again that the field has no kryptonite for the "super" 48 team. Tom and Dylan discuss Kevin Harvick's fantastic and equally disheartening results the past two seasons. Since joining Stewart-Haas Racing in 2014, Harvick has finished in second place 20 out of 77 races. The guys also discuss the wild XFINITY race finish on Saturday and some pent up frustration from Martin Truex Jr., Cole Pearn and Danica Patrick.Beers of choice for this episode: Great Lakes Burning River and Blue Moon.

One of the closest finishes in NASCAR history (.010 seconds) ended with the Cactus King winning at Phoenix International Raceway for the eighth time. Harvick picked up his fifth win in his last six trips to the speedway. The guys discuss Harvick's dominance at Phoenix, the second photo-finish of the season, as well as interesting stories about Rattlesnake Hill and how they would choose to celebrate a victory if they won a NASCAR race.Once again branching out this week with two new beers, Tom drinks Brooklyn Lager and Dylan drinks Lazy Bird Brown Ale by Birdsong Brewing Company. Tune in to hear the reviews as we talk craft beer and racing! 

NASCAR has gone West for its annual three-race swing. Dylan and Tom discuss the Kobalt 400 that included some wild weather and saw Brad Keselowski return to victory lane. The guys use Vegas week as the perfect time to discuss drivers who have been down on their luck early in the season, manufacturer parity and Keselowski's fan and competitor image. Plus, should Denny Hamlin be concerned after two sub-par races?Branching out from their early-season beverage choices of Bud Light (redneck chardonnay, crispy cool) and Sam Adams, the guys support local breweries this week with Red Oak Lager and Great Lakes Blackout Stout.

Tom and Dylan reunite for this special edition podcast - the first show recorded together in person. For the second time in three weeks, the Lug Nuts and Beer duo selected Bud Light (AKA Crispy Cools, AKA Redneck Chardonnay) as their podcast beer of choice.In racing news, Jimmie Johnson claimed career victory number 76 in the Folds of Honor QuickTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday, tying him with the late, great Dale Earnhardt. The guys discuss NASCAR's new low-downforce racing package, the wizardry and dominance of Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus, the surprise Stewart-Haas Racing switch to Ford cars in 2017 and other laugh-filled topics. Sit back, grab a beer, and enjoy the podcast.

The first week of the 2016 NASCAR season produced the closest finish in Daytona 500 history, with Denny Hamlin taking the checkered flag by inches over Martin Truex Jr. Tom Crilley and Dylan Flickinger discuss the 2016 edition of the Great American Race, its winners and losers for the day, and reminisce on a retired recipe from Sam Adams Brewery.

Tom and Dylan kick off the first ever podcast episode of Lug Nuts and Beer. They share stories of how they became passionate NASCAR fans and discuss offseason headlines, all major topics surrounding the 2016 Daytona 500 and the origin of Crispy Cools.