Street Knowledge With Chris Graham

Tyler Reddick emerged at the head of the pack in a wild finish in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega. Reddick, who drives for 23XI Racing, celebrated the win with team co-owner Michael Jordan – yes, that Michael Jordan. Reddick crossed the finish as literally all heck broke loose behind him. AFP’s resident NASCAR writer, Rod Mullins, takes us through how it all went down on Sunday, and recaps Saturday’s exciting Xfinity Series race, which was won by 19-year-old rookie Jesse Love.

Ken Mitchell, the Democrat challenging Trump Republican Ben Cline for the Sixth District seat in Congress, isn’t going to get a writeup in Blue Virginia. Ben Tribbett isn’t going to tweet about his campaign. Richmond and Northern Virginia Democrats are going to ignore him, like the ignore everybody else with a D beside their name west of the Route 29 corridor. Which is a shame. Because Ken Mitchell is the kind of Democrat who actually has a Tom Perriello ‘08 longshot chance of winning in November.

Chase Elliott hadn’t won in a while – his NASCAR Cup Series winless streak went back 18 months – before his win on Sunday in Texas. AFP’s NASCAR beat writer Rod Mullins joins us to break down Elliott’s win, Brad Keselowski’s frustrating runner-up finish, the series of bumps and other dust-ups that sent the race to OT, and the photo-finish Xfinity Series race. Then the talk turns to the University of Kentucky basketball coaching search, which ended with the hiring of former UK star Mark Pope; and the fortunes of the Cincinnati Reds, Washington Nationals and Baltimore Orioles in the early weeks of the 2024 MLB season.

William Byron is NASCAR’s first three-race winner in the 2024 Cup Series season with his win on Sunday at Martinsville Speedway. AFP NASCAR reporter Rod Mullins reports on the big race weekend at the historic Virginia track, which saw Hendrick Motorsports take the three podium spots on Sunday, and Aric Almirola taking the Xfinity Series race on Saturday night. Stories referenced in this podcast William Byron takes Martinsville for win #3 in 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season Emotional Aric Almirola wins Dude Wipes 250 Xfinity race at Martinsville

Podcast: Does Cody Rhodes leave Wrestlemania as the undisputed champ? Cody Rhodes has been trying to “finish the story” for two years. Does “The American Nightmare” finally achieve the dream and become the undisputed WWE champ at Wrestlemania 40 this weekend? Chris Graham and Josh Deal preview WM 40 weekend, and also break down the CM Punk interview with Ariel Helwani, and the impact of what Punk had to say about the AEW business model might have on Tony Khan’s near-future. Stories referenced in this podcast: CM Punk shoots on Tony Khan, AEW: ‘It’s not a sustainable business’ Mailbag: How does WWE book Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns, The Rock at Wrestlemania?

Martin Truex Jr. led 288 laps, but a crash a half-lap from the white flag sent Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond into overtime, and Denny Hamlin and his team outmaneuvered the field to the win. AFP’s NASCAR writer, Rod Mullins, joins the show to break down the day, the night, and the final two laps, plus the OT. Mullins also previews this weekend’s race at Martinsville, where he will be on scene providing coverage of the Xfinity Series and Cup Series races.

The transfer portal is open, though you wouldn’t know it, to look at how quiet it has been at Virginia. Virginia Tech, though, and JMU could be losing pretty much everybody to the portal. AFP editor Chris Graham reports on the latest portal news, updates the JMU coach search, and breaks down how coaching moves factored into UNC’s surprise Sweet 16 loss.

William Byron, who took the checkered flag at the season-opening Daytona 500, added a win at Circuit of the Americas on Sunday, in the first NASCAR Cup Series road race of the 2024 season. AFP’s resident NASCAR writer, Rod Mullins, breaks down Byron’s win, and previews the upcoming Cup Series races in Richmond and Martinsville.

Rod Mullins was in the media center for last weekend’s Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Being behind the scenes gives you a different perspective on a day of NASCAR Cup Series racing action. Rod joins AFP editor Chris Graham to break down the race, won by Virginia native Denny Hamlin, and share what was being talked about in the pits.

Christopher Bell was in the Championship 4 in Phoenix a few months ago, but engine issues ended his run at the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series title early that day. Bell notched the win this weekend in his return, capping an emotional week at the track for Joe Gibbs Racing. AFP’s NASCAR writer, Rod Mullins, breaks down the Phoenix race, and previews Bristol, where he will be on the scene beginning on Saturday.

Virginia (21-9, 12-7 ACC) cannot afford a hiccup with Georgia Tech (14-16, 7-12 ACC) coming to town Saturday night. AFP editor Chris Graham breaks down the matchup, and also looks across the ACC at the conference’s three NCAA Tournament bubble teams – UVA, Wake Forest and Pitt – and what each needs to do heading into next week’s ACC Tournament. Stories mentioned in this podcast: Preview: Virginia faces absolute must-win this weekend with Georgia Tech in town Metrics: Where do the ACC bubble teams stand as we edge closer to Selection Sunday?

Kyle Larson raced to victory in Las Vegas on Sunday. AFP NASCAR beat writer Rod Mullins joins the show to break down Larson’s win, and the rides of other top drivers in Sunday’s race. Other topics: What happened to Chris Buescher’s tire, and why is NASCAR investigating? Amazon is making a splash in the NASCAR TV game. Honda appears to be ready to get involved in the NASCAR business.

For the first time in a decade, AFP editor Chris Graham will be attending a Virginia game without a credential hanging around his neck. Chris will be in Cameron Indoor Stadium for Saturday’s ACC clash between Duke and Virginia. It’s not a must-win for the ‘Hoos, but a W would be a nice add to the NCAA Tournament resume. On the eve of the contest, Chris breaks down the matchup with an eye on how Virginia will try to game plan for what Duke will bring. Story referenced in this podcast Virginia heads to Duke, where a Cavalier Court Storm could help NCAA resume

Daniel Suarez was just thismuch faster than the field in his photo-finish win in Atlanta on Sunday, at the end of one of the more thrilling NASCAR Cup Series races in recent memory. AFP’s resident NASCAR beat writer, Rod Mullins, joins the podcast to break down the action – 48 lead changes, crashes involving 32 race teams, the three-wide finish. We also look ahead to this Sunday’s race in Las Vegas.

Virginia (20-8, 11-6 ACC) needs a win at Boston College (15-12, 6-10 ACC) on Wednesday to keep on the right side of the NCAA Tournament bubble. But are there bigger issues for this Virginia team, which has lost three of its last four, and hasn’t scored out of the 40s in two weeks? AFP editor Chris Graham addresses the issues for the ‘Hoos, and the strategic tweaks that coach Tony Bennett could be putting in place to get things moving in the right direction. Stories referenced in this podcast Preview: Virginia faces do-or-die game with Boston College on Wednesday Bennett has the blueprint for how to fix his offense: He just doesn’t want to use it Mailbag: Should Virginia try to speed the game up to try to get more offense?

We’ve been writing all week about how Virginia coach Tony Bennett and his team have recognized that there’s a softness about this year’s team. Can the Cavaliers toughen up in time to make a stretch run heading into March Madness? AFP editor Chris Graham previews the next game up for UVA – with ACC leader North Carolina coming to JPJ. Stories referenced in this podcast Just being honest: North Carolina is a tough, tough matchup for this Virginia team Virginia is ‘soft’: Where do we see it the most? The worst place: in the post ‘Soft’: When this 20-win Virginia team gets down, oddly, it stays down

There was enough of a break in the torrential rain to allow for the running of the 2024 Daytona 500 on Monday, with William Byron taking the #24 Chevrolet to the checkered flag in the NASCAR season opener. Rod Mullins joins AFP editor Chris Graham to break down how it happened. We also discuss the ongoing review of fuel strategies by NASCAR, and the dispute between the team owners and the France family over how the billions that the business generates should be divided up.

No shame in losing, but Virginia’s 75-41 loss at Virginia Tech on Big Monday was more than an instance of losing a game. There was a lot wrong with everything that happened down in Blacksburg. AFP editor Chris Graham tries to get to the bottom of what happened in the loss, which in a couple of ways seems to have undone the good of the recent eight-game winning streak. Stories referenced in this podcast Listless Virginia pantsed by Virginia Tech in front of national TV audience It only counts as one L, and other observations from UVA’s 75-41 loss at Virginia Tech Metrics: Blowout loss at Virginia Tech did serious damage to Virginia in the computers

Virginia (20-6, 11-4 ACC) faces a tough road test on Monday night with a game at in-state ACC rival Virginia Tech (14-11, 6-8 ACC). AFP editor Chris Graham breaks down the matchup, the second of the home-and-home between the two this season. We also look back at Virginia’s 49-47 win over Wake Forest on Saturday, and how the weekend action impacted the six ACC teams in contention for NCAA Tournament at-large bids. Stories referenced in this podcast Preview: Virginia has tough road test at Virginia Tech on Big Monday First one to 49 wins: Five observations from Virginia’s ugly W over Wake Forest Metrics: How Virginia, rest of the ACC, sit with the computers after Saturday action The ACC’s dumb mistake with March Madness: Scheduling harder than the Big 12 Jay Woolfolk knocked out early, but #14 Virginia completes series sweep

Virginia pretty much beat itself earlier in the week in that 74-63 loss to Pitt. The ‘Hoos (19-6, 10-4 ACC) have to get back on track with a game against a tough Wake Forest (16-8, 8-5 ACC) on Saturday (noon ET, ESPN2). Wake dominated UVA in a 66-47 win in Winston-Salem last month. AFP editor Chris Graham, after recapping what happened on Tuesday in the loss to Pitt, looks ahead to the weekend. Stories referenced in this podcast Virginia, licking wounds from Pitt loss, entertains Wake Forest on Saturday Metrics: How did the home loss to Pitt impact Virginia with the computers? Pitt’s threes were falling: The offensive rebounds, though, they’re on Tony Bennett Tony Bennett, in Pitt postgame presser slip, suggests his team might have ‘quit’ Pitt made a ton of threes: That, and four other observations from Virginia’s 74-63 loss Pitt, draining threes all night long, notches 74-63 upset at #21 Virginia