As the 2023 season hurtles towards its thrilling climax, the NASCAR scene has already seen one chapter conclude in the rearview mirror – the NASCAR Truck Series Championship race. Ben Rhodes can now boast the title of being the youngest two-time truck series champion. However, this race was more than just a celebration of Rhodes’ prodigious talent; it served as a glaring cautionary tale for the Cup series contenders.

This is why there has been vocal support in favor of racing with respect. Hendrick Motorsports‘ ex-crew chief, Steve Letarte, recently didn’t mince words when he stressed the importance of the Cup drivers working to race hard but fair at all times.

Letarte urges Cup drivers to embrace Kyle Busch’s respect rally

Earlier this year, Kyle Busch kickstarted a much-needed “respect” conversation in the NASCAR world. The seasoned veteran, no stranger to a bit of bumper-touching, declared, “We have completely lost any sense of respect in the garage area between drivers.” It was a candid assessment of the current state of affairs, where it seems like nobody gives two hoots about anyone else on the track.

With just one race left on the calendar, Letarte has called on the Cup drivers to heed the message. He drew a vivid analogy to describe the attitude of drivers as the season nears its climax.

“We’re 35 weeks in, right? Like this is kind of like, when you go to take the victory kneel, and the one pissed-off lineman jumps and like, hits the guy? He looks like an a**, you know? You’re like, ‘Dude, you’ve had four quarters to do something,'” Letarte stated.

Letarte also delved into the strategic mindset that drivers adopt during playoff races. He highlighted the need for drivers to adjust their approach to ensure they don’t jeopardize their own chances or those of their competitors.

“So, I think that if you normally run it at 95% to make sure you don’t wreck when you’re around the playoff guy, you roll it back to 90 so you don’t make a mistake and collect them,” Letarte explained. He stressed the fine balance between racing hard enough to make it challenging for competitors while not crossing the line into recklessness. And this will be crucial considering what transpired in the Truck Series finale.

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Chaos unleashed as the Truck Series Championship Race went off the rails

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The recent truck series championship race unfolded as a stark reminder, providing the Cup drivers with a glaring “what not to do” list. A staggering total of 12 caution flags marred the race, with a disproportionate eight of them appearing during the final stage and overtime.

As if that weren’t enough, an additional 29 laps were tacked onto the originally intended 150-mile race, transforming it into a two-hour-and-thirty-minute marathon. Each time the trucks restarted in overtime, it seemed as if a yellow flag was ready to make an appearance, signifying yet another incident on the track.

On a night when drivers seemed to have a penchant for wrecking each other, racecraft took a back seat, leading to a mind-boggling quadruple overtime race. The absurdity reached such heights that even NASCAR chose not to unfurl the yellow flag when a significant crash involving Tyler Ankrum occurred near the rear of the pack, culminating in the waving of the white flag.

With a mind-numbing 43% of the race run under the shadow of the yellow flag, it was evident that drivers were intentionally jettisoning their competitors down the stretch.

Joe Gibbs Racing star, Denny Hamlin, expressed his frustration, asserting, “This is what happens when there’s no rules, no officiating. You get a product like this. “The show” has taken over US Motorsports and why it’s hard to take seriously.”

NASCAR writer Kelly Crandall was equally exasperated, stating bluntly, “You’ve got to be sh****ng me. No one deserves a trophy after this. Just go home.”

With the high-stakes championship run at Phoenix on the horizon, the question emerges: Will we witness a display of tame and respectful racing, or are we doomed to endure a repetition of the truck series chaos?

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