Race Picks (the last season?), Uncle Max vs. The Points Leader: MARTINSVILLE


I come to you today with some disappointing news, well, for me—I didn’t get the promotion.  It’s ok though, I’m taking it in stride (whatever THAT means).

I don’t know what cost me the job—I think I interviewed well, and I got plenty of compliments from the corporate higher-ups.  Sometimes there’s just too many people going for a role, and they go with a coin flip.  Just my luck that it lands on tails instead of “Hire Max”.

With that being said, I *am* excited about the end of the Nascar season.  Since I’ve started really watching the sport, Martinsville’s become my favorite track.  Here’s hoping we have an exciting AND safe race three times over—and if not, hey, there’s always the Phoenix dogleg to cut!

TRUCK SERIES (6 wins) Slim Jim 200 (Friday 6pm ET on FS1) COREY HEIM—Heim Time on a grandfather clock.


XFINITY SERIES (2 wins) IAA & Ritchie Bros. 250 (Saturday 7:30pm ET on CW) CONNOR ZILLICH—Shades of the Toyota/SaveMart sponsorship.


CUP SERIES Xfinity 500 (Sunday 2pm ET on NBC) Points Leader (1 win) picks CHASE BRISCOE.  Favorite (3 wins): RYAN BLANEY—he knows how to win when it matters.  Next Favorite (5 wins): CHASE ELLIOTT—always a popular win.  Dark Horse (2 wins): BUBBA WALLACE—just to stick it to the haters.



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Spade Racing Opens a 2025 Donruss Hobby Box: Pack 10 of 16


It’s back to new cards, with a “hobby box” of 2025 Donruss racing cards.  There’s sixteen packs, so join me as I go through each of them!


Pack 10 of 16: Signed, Sealed, Delivered


First Look: Here’s our first legit special insert of the set, a Kyle Busch autograph.  Kudos to Rowdy, as his autograph is quite legible.  I’m assuming that’s pretty far down on his list of personal accomplishments, somewhere between winning a random Truck race and being decent at leaving voicemail messages.


To the Back: To be fair to Richard, he was also in charge of running an entire race team that employed a good chunk of his family.  Its probably hard to appreciate having another win in the bag when you’re making sure everyone is getting paid on time (even Mike Skinner).


Say What: “I’ve finally made it to Cup full-time!  Time to irritate people by changing the number on the Wood Brothers car!”


Final Rating: 9 preferred lanes out of 10



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Spade Racing’s Stars in Unusual Cars: Bobby Labonte



Bobby Labonte runs for the TRG 71 car (2009-10) 

Join me throughout this year as I take a look at when some of the sport’s biggest stars drove some unusual cars! (Presented in no particular order).


Why? After being released from a crumbling Petty Enterprises, Bobby Labonte latched on at Yates Racing in their 96 car (which was “Hall of Fame Racing” in name-only).  But when THAT team ran out of sponsorship funds, Labonte began moonlighting for The Racers’ Group (TRG), which had debuted in Cup that season.  Labonte would stick with TRG through the midway point of the 2010 season.


How successful were they? Even by new-team standards, this was a disaster, as Labonte finished better than 18th once in the TRG 71.


What was the aftermath? While TRG would hang on through the 2011 season, Labonte would return to full-time racing with JTG-D in 2011 and 2012, then revert to a part-time schedule through 2016.  He was never able to return to his JGR-level form.


Ranking on the Strange-O-Meter? 7 Tax Slayers out of 10—Bobby Labonte had quite a fall from grace, and running for a team that was gone in just a few years was the best evidence of that.


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Nascar Unveils Alternate Marketing Campaign Slogan, “Heck Yes”



This is a parody

In response to criticism of their new marketing slogan “Hell Yeah”, Nascar has unveiled a new alternative marketing slogan for the upcoming 2026, “Heck Yes”.

“We at Nascar are all about inclusion, and we’re pleased-as-punch to offer ‘Heck Yes’, our inoffensive alternative to the other slogan”, said Nascar marketing spokesman Justin Steiner.  “We’re just so gosh-darn happy to show that we’re for everyone, even those who don’t like to say H-E-double-hockey sticks out loud.”

The bowdlerized slogan will appear in specifically targeted ad campaigns, reaching out to those who are offended by the mere mention of a mild curse word.

“Going in the 2026 Daytona 500, we’ll partner with Son of a Gun protectant to offer the dadgum fan with the most freaking intensity a lifetime supply of fudge.  Because you don’t have to say a certain world that rhymes with ‘smell’ to enjoy Nascar!”, Steiner said.

At this point Steiner explained that the previously-announced “Hell Yeah” campaign will still be going forward.

“We’ll still be using the ‘You-know-what Yeah’ campaign, but we’ll be restricting its use.  We’ll make sure that nobody who can possibly be offended by the four-letter-word will be exposed to such friggin adult language.  By jove, it’s a great day to be a Nascar fan, eh what?”



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Race Picks (the last season?), Uncle Max vs. The Points Leader: TALLADEGA


Wow, it’s been busy lately! Work is already starting to change over the displays to Christmas (remember, we’re a model store for the region), I managed to pull off a five player trade in fantasy football, and I’m still waiting to hear if I got the promotion at work.

Obviously the last thing there is the most-important one (it’s not like I play REALITY football), and I’m thinking it’ll come down to the big corporate tour in a few weeks. They always come by with other store managers to inspect the holiday displays we do a month early, just to make sure everything is done “beyond perfect”. So here’s hoping I don’t leave a single inflatable snowman out of place!


TRUCK SERIES (6 wins) Love’s RV Stop 225 (Friday 4pm ET on FS1) PARKER KLIGERMAN—I’m still disappointed that “Food Country USA” isn’t a theme park.


XFINITY SERIES (2 wins) United Rentals 250 (Saturday 4pm ET on CW) SHELDON CREED—FINALLY.


CUP SERIES Yellawood 500 (Sunday 2pm ET on NBC) Points Leader (1 win) picks DENNY HAMLIN.  Favorite (3 wins): RYAN BLANEY—easy way to end the stress on if he’ll advance or not.  Next Favorite (5 wins): ALEX BOWMAN—easy way to end the talk of if he deserves a Hendrick ride.  Dark Horse (2 wins): RICKY STENHOUSE JR.—easy way to remind the sport that Hyak exists.



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Spade Racing Opens a 2025 Donruss Hobby Box: Pack 9 of 16


It’s back to new cards, with a “hobby box” of 2025 Donruss racing cards.  There’s sixteen packs, so join me as I go through each of them!


Pack 9 of 16: A Tough Cookie, a Charter Hooky, and a Forgotten Rookie


First Look: I give Chase Briscoe all the credit in the world for reinvigorating his career after the disintegration of Stewart Haas Racing. Now if he could just do something about that hair…


To the Back: From the sound of things, it’s Tyler Reddick’s contract that is the fulcrum on which the 23XI Charter controversy balances.  Not since Francis Ferko, huh?


Say What: “Yeah, I’m a rookie this year too.  Don’t worry, even I forget sometimes.”


Final Rating: 7 stage breaks out of 10



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Spade Racing’s Stars in Unusual Cars: Darrell Waltrip (part 2)



DW races for three different teams in 1998

Join me throughout this year as I take a look at when some of the sport’s biggest stars drove some unusual cars! (Presented in no particular order).

Darrell Waltrip talking to
Ken Schrader


Why? The departure of longtime sponsor Western Auto Parts America left Darrell Waltrip Motorsports in the lurch going into the 1998 season.  After replacement Speedblock didn’t pay its sponsorship bills, Waltrip sold the team to Tim Beverly.  Beverly then shut down operations to regroup, allowing Waltrip to race as a substitute for rival Dale Earnhardt in The Intimidator’s #1 car.  Once regular driver Steve Park recovered from his injuries, Waltrip returned to the newly-rechristened Tyler Jet Motorsports, now sponsored by Tabasco.


How successful were they? After a slow start to the season Waltrip came into his own racing for Dale Earnhardt Inc., posting a fifth-place finish at California and contending for a win at Pocono.  Upon returning to his former race team, however, he returned to struggling, leaving the operation at the end of the year.


What was the aftermath? Tabasco’s anger at Beverly running Chevys instead of Pontiacs led to what became known as the “Tabasco fiasco”, an embarrassing sponsor conflict still remembered by NASCAR insiders.  While Tyler Jet Motorsports would struggle before a brief resurgence with driver Johnny Benson, Waltrip would struggle in his final two seasons with Haas-Carter Motorsports.


Ranking on the Strange-O-Meter? 8 bad racing puns out of 10—yes, he probably hung on too long in the driver’s seat, but seeing a legend like Darrell freaking Waltrip knocking around the sport like a journeyman was jarring.



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Las Vegas Race Press Release a Royal Flush of Gambling Puns



Experts and sharps were faced with the usual this week, with a full house of race teams issuing press releases featuring assorted gambling-related puns.  However, one team went all-in, issuing one that hit the jackpot.

“We’re rolling the dice this weekend in Vegas”, the team’s press release touted, “with a set-up that will take us from an underdog to an odds-on favorite.  We’re putting all our chips in the middle of the table here.”

The press release continued past the flop with a turn of gaming phrase.

“We’re going all-in on Sunday”, the release continued, doubling-down on the gambling wordplay.  “You have to be willing to gamble to win a race, and even though we’re not in the playoffs, we’re staked for the long haul.”

The release didn’t leave its conclusion up to chance as to what they were trying to convey.

“Wanna bet?  We’re not going into this big blind.  We’ve got what it takes to beat the marks and break the bank.”

When reached for comment, the press release’s writer stated that his bad beat was not figuring out a way to work “craps” into it without offending the team’s sponsors.



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Race Picks (the last season?), Uncle Max vs. The Points Leader: LAS VEGAS



EDITOR’S NOTE: Uncle Max is unavailable due to a heavy workload this week.  He texted me his picks last night.


TRUCK SERIES (6 wins) off


XFINITY SERIES (2 wins) Focused Health 302 (Saturday 7:30pm ET on CW) CONNOR ZILISCH—I still can’t believe a “302” race isn’t in Delaware.


CUP SERIES Bank of America ROVAL 400 (Sunday 5:30pm ET on USA) Points Leader picks DENNY HAMLIN.  Favorite (3 wins): RYAN BLANEY—time for Penske playoff magic.  Next Favorite (5 wins): CHRISTOPHER BELL—or maybe some JGR/Toyota magic.  Dark Horse (2 wins): BRAD KESELOWSKI—or just some dull fuel-mileage wizardry.



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Spade Racing Opens a 2025 Donruss Hobby Box: Pack 8 of 16


It’s back to new cards, with a “hobby box” of 2025 Donruss racing cards.  There’s sixteen packs, so join me as I go through each of them!


Pack 8 of 16: Seeing Double, the Racing Prodigy Bubble, and Future Trouble


First Look: Yeah, technically they’re different, but you’d think there’d be card-sorting technology in place to prevent getting the same dang card twice in a single pack by now.


To the Back: Hopefully Connor’s had a more well-rounded upbringing than Kyle Larson or Jeff Gordon.  Oh, and the car is safe—its the window rail that’s dangerous.


Say What: “You mean in the future my sponsor and team owners won’t be the same thing?”


Final Rating: 5 firesuits out of 10



www.spaderacing.com updated four times weekly


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