In this episode of The 4th Stage Podcast, the crew breaks down everything that went down at the at Phoenix Raceway, where championship contenders and underdogs battled it out on one of the most technical tracks on the schedule. We dive into the biggest moments from the race, key strategy decisions, standout performances, and which drivers may have gained serious momentum early in the season.

From there, we shift gears and look ahead to Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The hosts preview what to watch for on the 1.5-mile track, which teams tend to perform well there, and which drivers could capitalize on the changing point standings.

We also take a look at the current NASCAR Cup Series standings, discussing who sits at the top early in the season, which drivers are quietly putting together solid runs, and who might already be feeling the pressure heading into Las Vegas.

As always, the conversation comes from a fan’s perspective—mixing race reactions, bold predictions, and the storylines shaping the season as the road to the playoffs begins to take form.

Welcome to the pilot episode of The 4th Stage Podcast! In our first episode, we dive into the action from the DuraMAX Texas Grand Prix Powered by RelaDyne at Circuit of the Americas and break down some of the biggest moments from the weekend in the NASCAR Cup Series. From road course strategy to standout performances, we share our thoughts and reactions as fans watching one of the most challenging tracks on the schedule.

We also look ahead to what’s coming up next at Phoenix Raceway for the Straight Talk Wireless 500. With a completely different style of racing on deck, we talk about the drivers to watch, potential storylines, and what fans should expect when the green flag drops on Sunday.

Join us as we kick off The 4th Stage Podcast by recapping COTA and previewing the next stop on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule.