2026 Daytona 500 Controversy & F1's Biggest Problem Yet | Flag to Flag Ep. 3 | 2026

Twenty-five years since we lost Dale Earnhardt Sr., and we're not mourning, we're celebrating. I'm John, repping the #3 shirt loud and proud. Chad forgot to wear his. Moving on.

This week Chad takes us inside the garage at Daytona after crewing the #95 GK Racing Chevy in the Truck Series, including being one of 33 trucks that failed pre-race inspection (the reason is less scandalous than it sounds, I promise). He's also heading to Atlanta this weekend for his first NASCAR O'Reilly Series race with Mike Harmon Racing, so we'll have boots on the ground coverage coming your way.

We break down the IndyCar Phoenix oval test, Malukas leading, Newgarden right behind him, and what it signals for a series that feels like it's building toward something special. Then we shift to Formula 1, where Bahrain testing has drivers genuinely concerned about the 2026 regulations. When Max says it feels like Formula E on steroids and Fernando says his chef can navigate Turn 12, that's not just testing noise, that's a warning sign for the on track product.

And then there's the Daytona 500. Tyler Reddick and 23XI got their moment, but the finish had everyone talking. We get into the Riley Herbst block, whether it was dirty or just a bad read, and why the team and manufacturer context makes this conversation so much bigger than the move itself.

We also shout out Kwinana Beach Motorplex in Western Australia for our Local Racing Report, make our Atlanta picks (John is riding with Carson Hocevar, consider this your warning), and somehow end up calling Chad and John's good friend Jessie live on the podcast.

New episodes every week. Find us everywhere at Flag to Flag Podcast, @flagtoflag_podcast on Instagram.