NASCAR’s most thrilling race of the year finished at 3 a.m., fans at home were screwed & angry Bubba Wallace

Good news for those who just woke up today…

Atlanta once again gave us one of the best NASCAR races of the season. Ryan Blaney won this morning with a thrilling last lap pass, Bubba WallaceChristopher Bell, Carson Hocevar and many other drivers were on the line.

Now the bad news…

I said yes this morning. You read that right.

Ryan Blaney won a NASCAR race that finished at 3 a.m. For those of you reading this with your coffee, the race literally ended a few hours ago in Atlanta. The track is still hot. Shippers are still hitting the road. I’m pretty sure Blaney just finished his presser.

Again, no one got to see their best finish of the season because, for some bad reason, NASCAR opted to restart the rain-delayed race at 12:01 a.m. From where? I have no idea. None. None. Zilch. Nada.

BUBBA WALLACE ‘SEEING RED’ AFTER CRASHING, HERD OF WOMEN COME OUT OF FURY AND CALLING, AND NASCAR MISSED THE ACTION

But I guess that’s why I’m here? To fill in the gaps because you were all asleep. That’s why they pay me moderate amounts. For days like this.

Did I like it? No. Do I understand? Again no. Do I think NASCAR is doing fans a disservice? Of course. A big one.

We will get into this topic.

What else? There’s Bubba Wallace getting penalized at the finish, attacking the Toyota, and an absolutely bitter argument between William Byron and his crew chief. These two might hate each other. You will see.

Four tires, some Sunoco race fuel and maybe an Adderall for next time NASCAR decides to start the race at midnight on Sunday… Monday Morning Pit-Stop – ‘Wakey Wakey, Eggs & Backey!’ edition — LIVE!

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Atlanta deserves better than what NASCAR gave them this weekend

Do you understand? A great finish. It’s a great race. I’ve been saying this for years; Atlanta was the best race of the season. If you’re new to NASCAR and looking for a track to go to, choose Atlanta.

Not Daytona. Not Talladega. Not Bristol or Darlington.

in Atlanta.

A few years ago they refurbished it and banked it (?), making it a smaller version of Daytona or Talladega. And it has produced the absolute best racing for nearly three years now. We’re not hitting the big superfast road, none of this fuel mileage nonsense. There’s none of that single-file nonsense that we had for 80 laps at Daytona because everyone’s just trying to get to the end.

Real racing. God, Dale would love this place.

Anyway, I certainly praise Atlanta’s move towards NASCAR. They destroyed Atlanta this weekend. Everyone knew the rain was coming and the race never progressed. Not even a little! It started late Sunday night, rained out after about 100 laps, and then they decided to wait THREE HOURS instead of running today.

An overview of the races during the NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 at EchoPark Speedway in Hampton, Ga., on July 12, 2026, available at Walmart. (Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

I’m definitely not a proponent of Monday races. And I understand the weather looks inauspicious today (another reason to bring the race forward last night). But God, who stays up until three in the morning to watch this finish?

Western Coasters? Certainly. But any working-class Americans east of the Mississippi (or south of Mason-Dixon) have no chance of seeing Ryan Blaney win.

Hell, I couldn’t even get to the RESTART! In the middle of the night on a work night, when I wake up at 6 a.m. the next morning… with two small children at home?

Yes, no shooting. I have no chance. This is stupid talk.

It was a great race at the best track on the programme. NASCAR needed to do better this weekend. Fans at home and at the track deserved better.

Bubba Wallace had a pretty good result

Yes, that last tweet. Let’s talk about this because I think I’m in that camp too.

I understand Saturday night racing isn’t very good ratings-wise. I understand But I think most of this happens in the fall. Moreover I oppose college football.

In this case, yes, NASCAR had 100 percent gotten rid of Saturday night racing. I’ve long argued that NASCAR should drop the tackle on football altogether and finish the season on Labor Day weekend, but that’s neither here nor there.

if you will to insist do night races in the summer, then Saturday night. Summer has come. Nothing else happens. The children are not at school. Ratings will be good.

Most importantly, you give yourself plenty of leeway for the weather so that your best race of the season doesn’t end while 80% of America is asleep.

By the way, I have no idea if this number is accurate, but it seems close enough.

Speaking of making things up, let’s check out how Bubba’s morning ended (began):

Bitchin’ Byron and Tara Allmendinger!

Thoughts? First impressions?

Here’s the thing… Bubba crossed the yellow line and moved into forward position. It’s a little hard to argue with this, considering the video shows exactly that.

I mean, there you are. Literally in front of him. The rule states that “vehicles must compete above double-painted lines at all times. Passing under double-painted lines to advance position will result in a black flag.”

Junior said he would be punished the moment he made the move. He saw it immediately.

Bubba says he was pushed there and tried to give his seat back but couldn’t because Ty Gibbs was pushing him. He claims the data will prove it. We’ll see.

As for Ty Gibbs… Let’s see how his morning started:

Oh my god. What a war this would be!

I’m not sure why Bubba is so mad at Ty Gibbs, unless he’s talking about Ty Gibbs destroying him at the end of Phase 2:

Is the block clear? Maybe. So a necessary block from Bubba at the end of Phase 2? No. Come on. What are we doing here? What’s the point? You’re asking a lot for a driver to stop there on a dime when he least expects it.

As Bubba said after the race, “This is just another day for Bubba Wallace and Company.”

Okedokee, Bubba! Whatever you say.

Two more are on the way. First? Let’s meet with William Byron and crew chief Rudy Fugle. wow before the rain starts:

“I’m freaking out. This is so scary!”

“I heard you, okay!? I heard you! I got it! You got five left, I took a spin around the left rear, we’re tight right now! This is a tight spot! We can park or we can keep trying until I work on it again! Just drive the damn thing!”

“You got it!”

Ahh.

William Byron still has no wins this season. He finished 16th last night.

I’m sure the ride home was fun at least this morning!

Bubba Wallace, driver of the No. 23 Columbia PFG/Academy Sports Toyota, walks onstage during driver introductions ahead of the NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400, on sale at Walmart, at EchoPark Speedway in Hampton, Ga., on July 12, 2026. (Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)

OK, that’s it for today. Good work everyone. At the exit, AJ Allmendinger’s wife, Tara, America’s Most Beautiful Pageant, It will happen next weekend!

Come out and vote for Tara, racing fans! It shouldn’t be a difficult choice.

“I am proud to be a healthy, fit American wife and mother who refuses to believe she is done yet.”

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Amine.

See you in Indy.