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The 2021 NASCAR season: Things @nascarcasm is thankful for
By @nascarcasm | Wednesday, November 24, 2021
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Today, we give thanks to many drivers, incidents and moments from the 2021 NASCAR season. Here’s the list in no particular order.
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Young Ben managed to win the championship in what was a really, really aggressive season for the Camping World Truck Series. The kid is no lightweight. Except when it comes to beer.
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The ‘Dinger had a career year – one Cup Series win, five Xfinity Series wins and a berth in the Xfinity Series Championship 4. Plus whenever he wins, he looks like he just stepped barefoot on a scorpion. We love that.
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Sure, Kyle Larson winning all those races was cool, but the real show happened in Victory Lane, when his wife Katelyn would celebrate by shotgunning a beer. Kyle won 10 times during the regular season in addition to the All-Star Race. Enjoy the offseason, Katelyn’s liver.
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There was no greater emotional swing than hearing Clint Bowyer was retiring from full-time competition … but he was entering the booth for FOX Sports. His rookie season was everything could have hoped for – the perfect blend of wacky and informative. He knows how to explain what’s going on with the cars, but doesn’t quite know how to push the button to talk to the drivers. It’s Emmy-worthy.
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Alex Bowman not only had the best Cup Series season of his career, but he also ruled the merch game. How? By mastering the art of the self-deprecating T-shirt. It the perfect response to any vitriol from other drivers. If you call him a hack, he slaps in on a shirt and sells it, earning a profit. Now drivers gonna be hesitant to insult Alex because he’ll be on the horn with the screen printer in minutes.
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Finally, a good, old-fashioned on-track slobberknocker that concluded with drivers angrily pointing at each other on pit road. I know that being thankful for two guys really disliking each other goes against the spirit of the holidays. But Chase wasn’t sorry, Kevion wasn’t sorry, so I’m not sorry.
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It’s difficult to explain why we’re so thankful for Tyler Reddick, but we are. When he’s on track, he just ups the fun meter. In the closing stage, he’ll suddenly be up in the top 10 and making ballsy moves to gain more spots. He’s like the dude who shows up fashionably late to the house party and kicks it up a notch. “AWWWWWWW S—T, TYLER’S HERE.”
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Up until Carson Hocevar blessed us with his presence, the most notable hat in NASCAR was Richard Petty’s signature cowboy hat. It still is. But Carson Hocevar at least earns an honorable mention.
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Specifically for whenever Kyle Busch is on vacation. IYKYK.
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The NASCAR Playoffs are brilliantly designed. Each round goes as follows: “Give them two races to get upset with one another and then send them somewhere that they can easily bang into one another.” Bristol Motor Speedway, the Charlotte Roval and Martinsville Speedway were all edge-of-seat barnburners this year. It’s like taking 16 people that are livid with one another and then cramming them into the same elevator.
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YES … THAT Denny Hamlin. Boo him all you want – we’re thankful for him. First off, he brought a new Cup Series team to NASCAR, which he co-owns with Michael FRIGGIN’ Jordan (“Friggin’” not actual middle name). Secondly, he was never, ever boring, and embraced his full heel turn by the end of the season. He was the one that gave the money quotes. He was the one who didn’t care what people thought of him. The only thing that seems to bother him is if you call his firesuit “PJs,” which is odd.
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