I wouldn't be shocked if Sexton wins out here, but he needs divine intervention at this point to prevent Webb from reaching a third title.

I can't believe I'm saying this, seeing as where we were in that stretch from Dallas to Indianapolis, but things can't be super relaxed in the Star Yamaha rig right now.

He didn't panic, didn't let a couple of small mistakes derail him, and he simply let things come to him and let his raw pace take over once he got out in front.

He was as aggressive as he needed to be in those opening two laps, and that's all you need sometimes.

This an all-timer in his element, and he's not missing 9 times out of 10.

Well, that paid off in spades because Sexton, cut Webb's points lead in half from 15-to-8 with seven rounds left.

After 2023 nothing is over until the fat lady sings, but we're as close as humanly possible to this being over.

This week, the NASCAR circuit heads to the Lone Star State for the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas in Austin.

That shot of Sexton on the side of the berm with his head in his hands spoke several thousand words.

If Webb wasn't squarely in the mix before Saturday, he certainly is now, tied for the points lead after outworking Ken Roczen.

Keselowski has won six times in his career at Talladega, and he has won the summer race at Daytona once

Tampa was LOUD for Mookie for the entirety of that charge up to the front.

You could say most of the same things about Jordon Smith that you could for Sexton here. Probably not the fastest, but...

As with any NASCAR season since the advent of the playoffs, any one of around 20 drivers can win races and compete for a championship.

For many reasons, I imagine Saturday night felt good for Jett and his inner circle.

Here's hoping we can get this kind of speed out of Tomac all season.

A new playoff schedule would also need to be established, and it would need to stay fairly consistent for the new format to work.

Even with the speedbump, Sexton broke back away from Ken Roczen in no time and made things a formality over the final 10 minutes.

I can't say Lawrence is anything other than the clear favorite, but that doesn't mean he's an outright lock...let's not rush to crown him.

I was very impressed at times with Red Bull KTM's Julien Beaumer; you saw glimpses of what could be coming down the road with him.