What Really Happened in Birmingham?

Chase Sexton used a different playbook in Birmingham. He didn’t just go fast—he raced smart. Instead of his usual all-or-nothing approach, he made calculated moves, knowing when to attack and when to back off. Look at these changes of pace:

Sexton Race 3 – Change of Pace

When Webb made his move, Sexton instinctively dropped his lap time by over a second. Then, just as quickly, backed off. Maybe he learned from Arlington. There is no need for a risky counterattack.

But when Malcolm Stewart started closing in during TC3, Sexton turned it back up just enough to secure second place. (Sexton could have actually finished fourth in TC Race 3 and still taken the overall).

It was a controlled, calculated approach, something that’s been missing from his game until now.

This wasn’t a one-off. Throughout the Triple Crown, Sexton showed patience, using his speed when it mattered rather than riding on the edge every lap. He decidedly controlled his pace after passing Jason Anderson in Race 1, managed the lead in Race 2, and stayed composed under pressure in Race 3.

Sexton Race 1 – Change of Pace

Sexton Race 2 – Change of Pace

No reckless mistakes. No desperate late-race charges. Just strategic, measured race craft. If this is the new Sexton, Webb might have a real fight on his hands down the stretch.

Winning without Winning

Nate Thrasher won his second Triple Crown of his career, but he’s yet to win an individual race on the same night he’s won the overall. Winning a Triple Crown without taking a race win is rare. Only seven times in 40 Triple Crowns (both classes) has the overall winner not won a race. Even crazier? Thrasher owns two of those.

History of Winning Triple Crown without Winning a Race

This is becoming the theme of Triple Crown racing. In the first 3 years, only once was the overall winner unsuccessful in claiming a race win. But in the next four years? Six times. It’s clear that Triple Crown racing is shifting toward rewarding podium consistency over all-out race wins. And if Sexton hadn’t thrown away his 2nd place in Race 3 at Arlington, this year could have produced three such winners.

Hammaker is Unstoppable… When He’s Leading

Seth Hammaker might be the fastest 250 East rider on the track—but only when he’s out front. Across Races 2 and 3, Hammaker clocked the fastest lap 60% of the time. But in Race 1, where he had to fight through the pack, he only managed the top time once.

2025 Birmingham, Seth Hammaker Lap Time Ranks

When he’s leading, Hammaker is untouchable. His best lap in Race 2 was a blistering 0.5 seconds faster than 2nd place R.J. Hampshire’s, and even in Race 3, his best lap outpaced Thrasher by over 0.3 seconds.

He was one small mistake away from a perfect day. Of course his crash was so early in Race 1 it is impossible to say whether he would have won it or not. But his confidence never wavered. Sitting 13 points behind Tom Vialle, Hammaker is still in the hunt, especially with a string of northeast rounds ahead that could put Pro Circuit back on track.