Kevin Batstone, Jeff Davis, and NASCAR Sky are back to break down all the chaos, strategy, and drama from the 68th running of the Daytona 500 🏆🌴 — the first official points race under NASCAR’s brand-new 2026 format.

Tyler Reddick gets it DONE 💪 taking home the iconic Harley J. Earl Trophy and delivering the first Daytona 500 win for 23XI Racing 🚗🔥 — all after a wild offseason that included a headline-grabbing legal battle with NASCAR ⚖️

We’re breaking down:
⛽ Fuel mileage gambles
💥 Late-race wrecks that flipped the script
🌧 NASCAR moving the start time up an hour to dodge the rain
📊 What this win means in the brand-new 2026 points system

Plus — we debate the future of the Chase-style playoff format 🏆 Is NASCAR headed in the right direction, or are we entering a new era that changes everything?

Then it’s full throttle toward EchoPark Speedway in Atlanta 🏎️💨

You already know we’ve got:
🎯 Expert race picks
📈 Fantasy lineup strategy
🔍 Key storylines to watch
🧠 The premiere weekly analyst breakdown you expect from Mash The Gas

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Welcome back, race fans — the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season is officially underway, and Mash The Gas is firing on all cylinders to kick it off.

We were set to open the year with coverage of the NASCAR Clash at Bowman Gray, but winter weather in Winston-Salem, North Carolina had other plans. Snowfall over the weekend forced the Clash to be postponed until Wednesday, February 4th, so instead, Kevin Batstone and Jeff Davis step in to launch the season with everything you need to know heading into 2026.

NASCAR Sky couldn’t be with us on this episode but will return following the Daytona 500 and for the remainder of the season.

In this episode, we cover:

• Key offseason updates across the garage
• The return of the new Chase format — no more “win and you’re in,” with points mattering more than ever
• Breakdown of the ongoing lawsuit
• Steve Phelps stepping away as NASCAR Commissioner
• Remembering Greg Biffle and the passing of Denny Hamlin’s father
• Our bold 2026 season predictions
• NASCAR history, laughs, and the energy that makes Mash The Gas what it is

We’re setting the tone for another high-octane season of real NASCAR talk, honest opinions, and plenty of fun along the way.

Strap in — the 2026 season starts now.
It’s time to Mash The Gas.

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YouTube 👉 https://www.youtube.com/@DiscussionCombustion

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Jeff, Kevin, and Sky are back behind the mics one last time this season to break down NASCAR Championship Weekend! The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season ends with Kyle Larson taking home his second championship — despite not leading a single lap at Phoenix.

It was absolute heartbreak for Denny Hamlin, who led 208 laps, started on the pole, and was just 40 seconds away from clinching his first Cup Series title before disaster struck — a late caution from William Byron’s blown tire flipped the race upside down. Hamlin lost crucial track position on pit road, and Larson capitalized to become only the 18th multi-time Cup Champion and the third driver to win multiple titles for Hendrick Motorsports.

The crew also breaks down:
🔥 The epic Truck Series finale, where Corey Heim went seven-wide in NASCAR overtime from P10 to win the title.
⚡ Jesse Love’s shocking Xfinity Series Championship win.
🛠️ The massive offseason change ahead — the Final Four format is gone, and NASCAR is set to unveil a brand-new playoff system for 2026.

Thank you to all of our listeners, supporters, and everyone in the NASCAR community. Mash The Gas will be back stronger than ever in February 2026 to kick off the new season. Enjoy the holidays — we’ll see you at The Clash

🎧 Stream Mash The Gas everywhere:
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YouTube 👉 https://www.youtube.com/@DiscussionCombustion

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