Bringing news from the worlds of NASCAR, IndyCar and Formula 1 together in a single episode is no small ask, but Wyatt Watson and Michael Finley are up for it.
NASCAR driver Hailie Deegan‘s recent announcement of her impending move to Indy NXT with HMD Motorsports for 2025 raises several questions including, but not limited to, the feasibility of stock car drivers transitioning to open-wheel racing, how realistically a driver can move from Indy NXT to IndyCar and how Deegan’s large social media following may benefit her own campaign as well as the marketability of Indy NXT.
Meanwhile, Haas F1’s new partnership with Toyota leaves much to be revealed. At the moment, the Japanese manufacturer is insistent that a factory return to F1 is not on their radar, but it’s not a crime to dream, right? How will this relationship impact Haas’ NASCAR operations, where the team is partnered with Ford?
“The Pit Straight” is Frontstretch‘s open-wheel racing podcast, available during the racing season weekly on Tuesdays on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and right here on the web.
Alex is the IndyCar Content Director at Frontstretch, having initially joined as an entry-level contributor in 2021. He also serves as Managing Director of The Asia Cable, a publication focused on the international affairs and politics of the Asia-Pacific region which he co-founded in 2023. With previous experience in China, Japan and Poland, Alex is particularly passionate about the international realm of motorsport and the politics that make the wheels turn - literally - behind the scenes.