Teammates help each other out. 

It’s part of racing, and always has been.

When Jeff Gordon was trying to wrap up his first title back in the 1990s, Rick Hendrick would enter an extra car in the race just so it could drop out and guarantee Gordon another spot. When stages are about to end, drivers often don’t lap their teammates even if they are able to do so, out of respect for their overall team goals. Every team on the grid, from Hendrick to Gibbs to SHR and beyond, has told its drivers to support their teammates in one way or another, often explicitly on the radio. 

So the decision to punish Cole Custer and the 41 team for alleged improper action to help teammate Chase Briscoe at the end of the Roval race is quite dishonest in my view. This wasn’t a Clint Bowyer itchy arm situation and there was no blatant manipulation. Briscoe was going to dive bomb into that corner regardless of what Custer did, and likely make the pass anyway, so overanalyzing the 41 car’s actions is unnecessary. 

What’s most bothersome is the inconsistency. In recent years, Chase Elliott did a playoff favor for Kyle Larson by holding up Kevin Harvick, and Erik Jones was told explicitly to not pass teammate Denny Hamlin. But nobody was punished in those instances.

Let’s not get into the habit of over-policing, which is the complete opposite of “boys, have at it” and not the direction we need to go in as a sport.

Competition is tough in the luxury sedan world these days — with stout offerings available from upstarts like Genesis as well as long-standing segment leaders such as Audi and BMW.

One brand that always puts up a good fight in this arena is Mercedes-Benz, and their midsize sedan offering, the E-class, should never be left out of the discussion of top luxury rides.

The E-class slots between Mercedes’ smaller C-class and larger S-class. WIth a history of offering sharp looks inside and out, a powerful and smooth ride, as well as leading tech and safety options, it has a strong past to live up to.

The 2022 E-class model sees some minor upgrades in terms of features offered, as well as some new paint schemes — but it’s core competencies remain strong. It’s a sporty ride masquerading as a family sedan, featuring exquisite design and powerful performance.

The 2022 E-class is available as a sedan, coupe, convertible or wagon. I recently spent some time behind the week of a 2022 Mercedes-Benz E450 sedan, and I’m back with a full report on how it measures up vs. its luxury competition.

Mercedes-Benz is one of the leading contenders across the board in the luxury vehicle category, and one area where the luxury brands are battling for supremacy is in the flagship three-row SUV category.

The Benz offering here is the GLS class — which goes head-to-head with U.S. stalwarts like the Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator, as well as global SUV offerings from BMW, Audi, Infiniti, Lexus and Range Rover.

A three-row luxury SUV with comfortable seating for seven people, the GLS pulls out all the stops in a bid for category supremacy. But is it enough?

I recently spent some time in a 2022 GLS 450, and I’m back with a full report.

When it comes to sporty compact SUVs, Mazda has no shortage of offerings for potential customers — all providing the rare SUV combination of driving enjoyment and vehicle utility.

In addition to their long-standing CX-5, Mazda recently introduced the CX-50 — a more off-road inspired offering with higher ground clearance.

For the 2022 CX-5, Mazda has made all-wheel drive standard, improved engine options, made minor exterior design changes, and also upgraded the suspension.

I recently tested out the 2022 CX-5, and I’m back with a full report on how it measures up to its competition both outside and inside the Mazda lineup.

Fifteen years is an eternity in the automotive industry.

But before the release of the 2022 Toyota Tundra, that’s how long it had been since the brand’s biggest truck had gotten a new look. With as much innovation as its competitors have seen in the years since, this move was long overdue.

Packing some strong tech upgrades, new power plant options including a hybrid offering, and an exciting new look, the 2022 Tundra is sure to bring a spark into Toyota’s efforts to grow in the full-size truck segment as it takes on the Detroit Three’s heavyweight contenders.

I recently spent some time in the redesigned Tundra and I'm back with a full report.