2024 was a fun season and a challenging year. A thread with a few parting thoughts while flying back from the last NASCAR race of the season:
1). The 6 team had a strong middle part of the season and faded come playoff time. I learned a lot this year and we will come back smarter and recharged.
2). The highlight of the season for the 6 team was April through May when we won Darlington and almost won Coke600 and Dega. We really hit our stride.
3). The lowlight for the season 6 team was the first 6 races of the playoffs. We just couldn’t find speed or execution. Tough times.
4). Logano got another championship. I’m happy for him and Blaney to be so successful.
5). I’m not looking back wondering what would’ve been if I stayed at Team Penske. Success as a driver owner, even if less as of today, means so much more to me.
6). 2 things can be true at the same time- Joey Logano deserved to win the championship; This format doesn’t feel ideal for rewarding the NASCAR cup championship.
7). Daytona500 is less than 99 Days away. HT @LarryMac28
8). Look for several (official) big announcement from RFK in the next 2 weeks.
9). 2024 was a big season for NASCAR and potentially end of an era in many categories. I feel a big season of change on the horizon in many different areas.
10). Finally, thanks to my partners and fans for all your support this year. Couldn’t be here without you!
And anyone who thinks I’m ready to retire can kiss my tail. I have a lot of fight left in me and already can’t wait for 2025. Cya then ✌️
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Heading home from our season finale with a bittersweet 2nd place finish, It dawned on me how grateful I should be for everything in my personal and professional life.
That said, we all know that this coming week will not be so great for many people in the motorsports industry.
The week after the season is over is a time of contraction and like every year, many great people will see their jobs disappear and livelihoods at stake.
I’ve seen this happen year after year and helplessly watched from the sideline. This year will be different.
My new company @KAMSolutions is hiring. We are looking for great people who are experienced and hungry to prove themselves. Those that understand the detail required to reliably build the fastest machines on earth and in space. The motorsports talent base is a perfect fit.
As this championship Sunday morning begins, I have so many thoughts to share, it truly feels like being a kid again on Christmas morning.
Yes, I know how tough the competition will be when we get racing; that’s what makes this moment to run for a 2nd cup championship so special.
I can’t guarantee a result, but I can guarantee the effort will and has been immense. No matter how today goes, I’m so thankful for the opportunity and ready to make the most of it.
That said, I feel really good about today’s race and our chances to leave a lasting legacy.
Before things get too crazy busy a few shout outs are definitely in order.
Respect to Nascar- just getting this 2020 season in with everything going on in our world was a true accomplishment. Nice work @stevephelps@odsteve And all the NASCAR officials.
Often I get asked by fans and/or those who want be a part of motorsports, “What tips do you have to be a successful racer?”
In my early days as a @Nascar driver, my first response would have been- “loose is fast” or “downforce is king, learn to understand aerodynamics”
However, Someone asked me a few weeks ago and I took a pause and reflected on the last 10 years of experience. It didn’t take me long to realize that those answers weren’t very deep and aren’t how I feel today.
First a must watch video recap for those that don’t know and for me to reference. 😊
1). We had phenomenal cars at @WGI in 2011-2014. Unfortunately we didn’t win any of those 3 in part because Marcos and Kyle were a little better than me and from some circumstances.
In the end, we scored 3- 2nd place finishes in a row. I’m still proud of that to this day.
When getting out of the car, I saw Jeff coming and knew he was probably upset we rubbed on the track. What I didn’t know was that he cut a tire down and lost a lap resulting in a bad finish. So I didn’t get his level of frustration at all at the time.
While Jeff was speaking, at least 3 other people were talking/yelling to me at the same time. You can see the 3 at the start of the video, Michael Ribas (pr rep), Jamie little (ESPN) & Brett McMillan (PRN radio). In the process my ears were still ringing from the race as well.
Quick thread on the state of our country’s educational system from my perspective as a new business owner privileged with this platform-
As we approach a key election year, inevitably my timeline is full of all kinds of nauseating political rhetoric.
One of the main talking points over the last 2 elections has been the rising costs of a 4 year college education and the lack of quality jobs behind the degree(s).
Certainly a higher education is important for any population base in an advanced nation to be successful as the USA 🇺🇸 continues to be; however I find myself curious as to what the ceiling should be and who defines “higher education” standards.