ATYL: New Short Track Package On Display | Is It Better or Worse Than Before? (Phoenix Analysis)

From practice to race day, drivers were voicing their opinions on the new short track package.

A majority of the drivers, like Tyler Reddick, said the on-track product was “exponentially worse”. The inability to pass was still a major issue and and during the race, Bubba Wallace even commented, “Whatever the hardest thing y’all done in life… It ain’t got shit on trying to pass here in Phoenix.”

On the other hand, drivers like Denny Hamlin had some positive insight to share, saying the product was “a little bit better”.

Now that the Shriners Children’s 500 is over, join Taylor Kitchen to review the on-track action. Plus, tune in to discuss a few drivers that are in the danger zone early on in the season.

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Taylor Kitchen

Taylor Kitchen found her passion for motorsports after watching a NASCAR Xfinity Series race with her grandma in 2016. The following year, she would attend her first race at Kentucky Speedway. The smell of the gas and roar of the engines filling her ears was enough to solidify her love of the sport. She spent the next few years working her way into the NASCAR online community and researching as much as she could to gain a vast knowledge of the sport. However, something was bothering her. At the time, Taylor struggled to find content within the space that was female-led and came from the perspective of a new fan. This inspired her to create her own media outlet, “Above The Yellow Line” in 2021. On this platform, Taylor writes, films, edits, and markets high-quality videos discussing the latest news and events from the sport. In April of 2022, her company partnered with the prominent NASCAR media outlet TobyChristie.com to provide them social media content and to report on location during select race weekends. Since then, Taylor has been able to help build TobyChristie.com's YouTube audience to well over four thousand subscribers and continues to help expand the company's social reach with her team. 2022 marked a new era for the brand as Taylor expanded ATYL’s capabilities to help various drivers with their communications, public relations, digital media, and marketing. In June of that year, she was hired by ARCA Series Champion, Austin Theriault to work for his driver development program, "AT Racing Development". As the organization's Director of Digital Marketing and Media, she produces and directs her clients tailor-made social media strategies. She also takes part in marketing efforts for her drivers. In May of 2023, Austin Theriault of AT Racing Development partnered with Team Hornaday Development and brought Taylor to the team as their Communications Manager. Working with Ron and Candice Hornaday, Taylor helps direct their drivers social media strategy and PR efforts. She also partakes in company and driver marketing and recruiting efforts