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Tag: A J Allmendinger

Hot 20 – Weights and measurements not a good Jeopardy category for Logano

Three of last Sunday’s top drivers failed to make the cut simply due to not being registered to run for Cup points. Regan Smith, Matt Crafton, and Johnny Sauter all were within the Top Twenty, but their focus is on one of the other two national series. Smith will be kept busy, though, as he sits in for the suspended Kurt Busch. Considering the ride was especially created by Gene Haas for Busch to wear his company colors, one has to wonder about the long-term fate of the No. 41.

What is 3100 pounds yet weighs in at under a ton? It appears Logano did not just have the winning ride at Daytona…he had a magic car.

The Hot 20 after Daytona

1. Joey Logano – 1 Win – 47 Points
Daytona 500 winner provided a “ton” of laughs on Letterman.

2. Kevin Harvick – 42 Points
If only it were the Daytona 505, all green, all of the time.

3. Dale Earnhardt Jr – 42 Points
A late change to the slow lane proved costly.

4. Denny Hamlin – 41 Points
Got yelled at so much, he thought he was Stenhouse for a moment.

5. Jimmie Johnson – 40 Points
Car was fast at Daytona, his pit crew even faster.

6. Casey Mears – 39 Points
Car just got better and better thanks to a Bootie call…or two.

7. Clint Bowyer – 37 Points
If you cannot be the man to beat the man, be the man who makes the man unbeatable.

8. Martin Truex Jr – 37 Points
Last year he was no Kurt Busch, this year that is a good thing.

9. Greg Biffle – 35 Points
This season you can discover “What’s Buggin’ Biffle.”

10. Kasey Kahne – 35 Points
Won just once in 2014, but Atlanta was the place.

11. David Gi_ _i _ and – 33 Points
I’ll take an “L”, Pat Sajack.

12. Michael Annett – 32 Points
14th on Thursday, 13th on Sunday, a Top Ten in Atlanta?

13. Sam Hornish Jr – 32 Points
Welcome back to Cup, Sam.

14. Austin Dillon – 30 Points
The No. 3 now driven by the man in the black hat.

15. Aric Almirola – 29 Points
Somewhere there has to be someone named Eric Elmirola.

16. David Ragan – 27 Points
Loaned out by Front Row to sit in for Kyle at Gibbs.

17. A.J. Allmendinger – 25 Points
No sponsor, no Sprint Unlimited.

18. Danica Patrick – 23 Points
Kurt sits, Tony wrecks, and Danica gets a written warning. Thank God for Harv.

19. Carl Edwards – 22 Points
Is there a doctor in the house? Why yes, yes there is.

20. Cole Whitt – 22 Points
Good funding stems from good finishes. I hope this helps.

February 25, 2015
Hot 20 – The Elimination Format was Good, but an Actual Five Race Post-Season Even Better

Over the course of the season, Jeff Gordon was the top driver of 2014. However, NASCAR has not determined its champion using the results of the entire campaign for more than a decade. They want excitement, drama, unpredictability. They want what the other big boy sports have, and when they waved the flag to start the season finale, four drivers had an even shot to claim the prize. Unfortunately, 39 we knew who would not, also were out there.

Regular season and then the playoffs. That is what you get with the NFL, MLB, NBA, and the NHL. You play to entertain and to position yourself into earning a shot at the championship. Since 2004, NASCAR has also done this, except for allowing the non-contenders to remain out on the field of play getting in the way of those who matter.

What if NASCAR had a real playoff? It has been brought up that the season is too long, that there needs to be a reduction in the schedule. Realistically, there is no way anyone is going to say adios to the big dollars that comes with putting on a 36 event schedule, not including the extras at Daytona in February and Charlotte in May. However, NASCAR could shorten its regular season to 31 races, as it was in some seasons in the 1970s, 80s, and 90s, for its 43 car fields. Then they could reduce it to the top 20 drivers and teams over the course of a five-race championship playoff, resetting the points to zero for the post-season, and allowing the best of the best to settle it among themselves.

The point system would remain the same, other than instead of “win and you are in,” winners are given credit for their victory with 25 bonus points, instead of the three they are presently given. In that way, a race winner would claim as much as 70 points, compared to the 43 for the runner-up. During the playoffs, points would range from one to 20, with the winner’s bonus reduced to three points in recognition of the smaller field and the impact of a win over the shorter “season.” So, in the playoffs, a race win could earn up to 25 points, compared to the runner-up’s 20. Yes, a driver sweeping the first four races of the playoff would have enough to win the title before they run Homestead but, let’s be honest, if they were that dominant they should win it.

The playoff teams would be expanded from 16 to 20, with those not making the cut sent home, their season over. Considering there are really no more than 25 quality entries in any given race, all we would be doing is exchanging quantity for quality, with Charlotte being the final race of the regular season.

Using 2014 as a guide for illustrative purposes, neither A.J. Allmendinger or Aric Almirola would make the playoffs as, despite each picking up a win, neither would have made it on points in our Top 20. Along with the other 14 Chasers from this season we would have included Austin Dillon, Brian Vickers, Clint Bowyer, Jamie McMurray, Kyle Larson and Paul Menard. A pretty fair exchange.

TALLADEGA

Twenty drivers hit the track all even as the opening round of the playoff Chase begins on the super speedway in Alabama. Kyle Busch once again got snake bit come go time when he gets caught up in a crash that left him dead last. Of course, those cars that got him in reality would have been home watching television under this format. Meanwhile, Brad Keselowski responded from the less than loving embraces Denny Hamlin wanted to put on him at Charlotte, and Matt Kenseth did, by claiming 24 points in winning at Talladega. Kenseth, ironically enough, pushed Bad Brad to the front and finished just behind him on the track.

1 Brad Keselowski 24 Pts
2 Matt Kenseth 20
3 Ryan Newman 18
4 Clint Bowyer 18
5 Kevin Harvick 16
6 Kurt Busch 16
7 Joey Logano 14
8 Kasey Kahne 14
9 Austin Dillon 12
10 Denny Hamlin 11
11 Kyle Larson 11
12 Jimmie Johnson 9
13 Brian Vickers 9
14 Carl Edwards 8
15 Greg Biffle 7
16 Jeff Gordon 6
17 Dale Earnhardt, Jr. 5
18 Jamie McMurray 4
19 Paul Menard 2
20 Kyle Busch 1

MARTINSVILLE

Keselowski takes his four point lead over Kenseth to Martinsville, where more than a few need to come up big to make amends for the previous week. After finishing 17th at Talladega, Dale Earnhardt Jr. was among them. In winning, he added 24 points to the five he picked up the previous week, but he remained deep in the standings. Kenseth, Bowyer, Ryan Newman and Joey Logano all had a second strong playoff result, Keselowski was 16th to drop like a stone, as Jimmie Johnson slipped well out of contention with yet another less than stellar result.

1 Matt Kenseth 37 Pts
2 Ryan Newman 36
3 Clint Bowyer 34
4 Joey Logano 32
6 Dale Earnhardt, Jr. 29
5 Brad Keselowski 29
8 Jeff Gordon 26
7 Denny Hamlin 26
9 Austin Dillon 24
11 Kurt Busch 19
10 Kevin Harvick 19
12 Greg Biffle 18
13 Kyle Larson 17
15 Carl Edwards 16
14 Brian Vickers 16
16 Kasey Kahne 15
18 Kyle Busch 14
17 Jamie McMurray 14
19 Jimmie Johnson 13
20 Paul Menard 12

TEXAS

Kenseth heads into the Lone Star State a point ahead of Newman, with Bowyer three away. When it came time to fire off the six guns, Gordon was seeking his own version of High Noon after Keselowski’s bid to take the lead left him with a cut tire and a good day that went for nought. To make matters worse, his rival returned atop the leader board. Johnson’s win at least moved him back into territory where he might yet see light at the end of the long tunnel he is trying to emerge from.

1 Brad Keselowski 48 Pts
2 Dale Earnhardt, Jr. 44
3 Ryan Newman 44
4 Matt Kenseth 42
5 Joey Logano 42
6 Kevin Harvick 39
7 Denny Hamlin 38
8 Jimmie Johnson 38
9 Clint Bowyer 37
10 Kurt Busch 33
11 Kyle Larson 31
12 Kyle Busch 31
13 Jamie McMurray 30
14 Jeff Gordon 29
15 Austin Dillon 29
16 Carl Edwards 28
17 Greg Biffle 27
18 Brian Vickers 23
19 Paul Menard 18
20 Kasey Kahne 16

PHOENIX

After the events at Texas, Keselowski takes a four point lead over both Earnhardt and Newman heading out to the desert, with Gordon’s dreams pretty much shattered by that torn tire. Kevin Harvick came up with a race most can only dream about, absolutely dominating most laps and pretty much all of the re-starts to win. He now sits just behind Keselowski, who finished fourth behind Gordon and Kenseth. Bowyer was dead last on this day, taking him from contender to pretender, while Johnson erased even a glimmer of good tidings by finishing 19th.

1 Brad Keselowski 65 Pts
2 Kevin Harvick 64
3 Matt Kenseth 60
4 Dale Earnhardt, Jr. 58
5 Joey Logano 58
6 Ryan Newman 55
7 Denny Hamlin 55
8 Jeff Gordon 48
9 Kurt Busch 47
10 Kyle Larson 41
11 Jimmie Johnson 40
12 Jamie McMurray 39
13 Greg Biffle 39
14 Clint Bowyer 38
15 Carl Edwards 36
16 Kyle Busch 35
17 Austin Dillon 32
18 Brian Vickers 30
19 Paul Menard 23
20 Kasey Kahne 22

HOMESTEAD

Heading for Miami and the final showdown, 10 drivers remain mathematically alive with seven still with a legitimate shot at the title. Kenseth and Harvick, in fact, could claim it with a victory, no matter what Keselowski did. That is just what Happy Harvick did, leaving Keselowski’s third place result at Homestead just not good enough. A five race playoff, only 20 cars on the track and, in this scenario, the same Sprint Cup champion as provided by the elimination series.

1 Kevin Harvick 88 Pts
2 Brad Keselowski 83
3 Matt Kenseth 75
4 Ryan Newman 74
5 Denny Hamlin 70
6 Dale Earnhardt, Jr. 65
7 Joey Logano 64
8 Jeff Gordon 61
9 Kurt Busch 58
10 Jamie McMurray 55
11 Jimmie Johnson 52
12 Clint Bowyer 51
13 Kyle Larson 49
14 Paul Menard 40
15 Greg Biffle 40
16 Carl Edwards 39
17 Kyle Busch 37
18 Austin Dillon 36
19 Brian Vickers 35
20 Kasey Kahne 31

November 20, 2014
The Final Word – Kahne Provides Some Drama at Dover

Thank God for Kasey Kahne. With no Kahne, the broadcast of the Dover race would have been about as exciting as watching a Soap Box Derby contest in Saskatchewan, or a downhill ski event in Saskatchewan, or an outdoor performance of the Sound of Music…in Saskatchewan. The hills might be alive, but they are nowhere to be found. Sort of like waiting for drama at Dover, except for the performance of Kasey Kahne. He came in six points in the Chase. It almost proved to be not enough.

When Kasey’s crew left him with a loose wheel after a pit stop, he needed to come in. In doing so, he went two laps down. When he needed a green lap stop later, he went down four. He just did not stay there. Pit strategy and cautions fell at the right time, his car was just that good, and in the end Kahne finished Dover in 20th. Not great, but it was enough, by two points, to continue in the Chase.

Aric Almirola was buried in 41st after Chicago, and 28th in Delaware kept him buried. A.J. Allmendinger was six to the good on Saturday, but Dover is a track he historically does not do well at. History won, as he finished 23rd, and it was Kahne who advanced.

I had thought Greg Biffle might be the man. He was, but the car was not. Usually good on this track, he was 21st when he needed a top fifteen. Kurt Busch was 18th, but after the disaster at Loudon only a top ten would have saved him. As for Denny Hamlin, he was six points out of it coming in, but a 12th place finish cured his ills and all is forgiven up to and including Talladega.

Now, the top dozen are even, 3000 points for everyone in a 12 driver tie. Jimmie Johnson has 14 Top Tens, along with a couple of wins, in sixteen tries at Kansas. That bodes well for him. Jeff Gordon, who won at Dover has three on the plains, so he should do well. Other Chasers with strong Kansas resumes include Carl Edwards, Brad Keselowski, and Kevin Harvick. Oh, Kyle Larson seems to like the place, too. I am starting to think the kid is on a scouting mission for next year.

Not everyone likes Kansas, though after Dover I can not imagine it being a worse televised experience than that. Hamlin and Dale Earnhardt Jr. do not exactly burn up this venue. Same goes for Ryan Newman. However, there are two gents who have a tough time just cracking the top twenty there. It could be an interesting day for Joey Logano and Kyle Busch.

In case you missed it, Kyle Busch won another Nationwide race last weekend. I went to the bathroom last weekend, and so did you. Look at that, an entire paragraph totally unnewsworthy.

There is no question that the stats that spit out after Kansas should be interesting. We have great story lines, strong characters, but sadly I believe the NASCAR movie just does not measure up to the book.

Advancing…
1 – Brad Keselowski – 1 Win – 2140 Points – *
2 – Joey Logano – 1 – 2136 – *
3 – Jeff Gordon – 1 – 2117 – *
4 – Kevin Harvick – 0 – 2123 – 46 Points In
5 – Jimmie Johnson – 0 – 2121 – 44
6 – Kyle Busch – 0 – 2111 – 34
7 – Dale Earnhardt, Jr. – 0 – 2104 – 27
8 – Matt Kenseth – 0 – 2097 – 20
9 – Ryan Newman – 0 – 2091 – 14
10 – Carl Edwards – 0 – 2091 – 14
11 – Denny Hamlin – 0 – 2081 – 4
12 – Kasey Kahne – 0 – 2079 – 2

Eliminated…
13 – A.J. Allmendinger – 0 – 2077 – 2 Points Out
14 – Kurt Busch – 0 – 2073 – -6
15 – Greg Biffle – 0 – 2072 – -7
16 – Aric Almirola – 0 – 2061 – 18

September 29, 2014
Hot 20 – After Dover, it is Over for Four Contenders

According to the Chase, a couple of Penske drivers lead the way in the standings with Sunday’s race at Dover to determine the dozen who advance to the next round. According to our season long standings, Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano certainly are worthy of consideration. Penske thinks so, as Logano this week signed a contract extension that should keep the team mates together for some time.

Of course, consideration should also be extended to Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. for their season efforts. In fact, Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick are not too far out of the conversation just yet, either, and odds are all will also advance to the next stage of the “playoffs.” The cream continues to rise to the top.

Whatever they do next year, it will be without benefit of private testing sessions. If NASCAR or Goodyear is not testing, then nobody is. In fact, getting caught doing so will result in the harshest penalties NASCAR can hand out. A minimum of a $150,000 fine, 150 points, a six week vacation for the crew chief kind of harshness. The annual three day test at Daytona to clear out the cobwebs is also gone. You get the feeling that they are serious about this.

The reasoning behind it is to reduce costs to teams, and few seem to disagree. It is expected to be a boost for the lesser funded operations. Reduced horsepower and reduced spoilers are also slated for next season in the hopes it creates less down force and thus, more passing opportunities. Anything that makes the action better is more than welcome.

Welcome news that Jamie Little is bound for FOX after the ESPN boat finally sinks. There is nothing wrong with the pit reporters on that network, but their analysts and hosts are a disaster. To borrow the line from Dennis Miller, “…of course, that’s just my opinion. I could be wrong.” Sorry, I just made myself laugh there.

It is rather enjoyable to have a column such as this. It is merely a fan’s view, my honest observations. It is true that I do not enjoy seeing Logano, Denny Hamlin, or Brian Vickers win. That does not mean they are not lovely gentlemen. I bet if I shared a beer with any of them my perspective could probably change. I honestly do not enjoy the ESPN broadcasts, I think they do a disservice to the sport, but I also doubt my comments are going to cause anyone to fire Rusty Wallace tomorrow. You can agree or disagree, and we can have some fun in doing so. Sometimes, though, real life does jump out and bite us.

I am glad to hear the criminal case against Tony Stewart has ended with the grand jury decision not to proceed. I am sad to hear that the family of Kevin Ward Jr. do not accept the verdict. They firmly believe Stewart intentionally accelerated his vehicle in a bid to intimidate the younger driver and in doing so, struck and killed him.

“This matter is not at rest and we will pursue all remedies in fairness to Kevin.” As a father of sons not much younger than Kevin, I understand the sentiment. If Stewart’s actions did not kill their son, the actions of their son are what got him killed. No father would want to accept that. I sure would not. I do not know if I ever could.

The top nine of our Hot 20 remain in the Chase, and should be there after this Sunday’s action. From Kasey Kahne on back, that is another story. As for who to expect to be among the contenders on Sunday, I think Kyle Larson will continue to show why he is the best newcomer this season. It think we also should have an idea how Johnson will do in his bid for seven, considering he is a nine time Dover winner.

As for a bold prediction, based on past history, expect Kurt Busch, Hamlin, Aric Almirola, and A.J. Allmendinger to miss the Chase, and Greg Biffle to race his way to another set of downs.

Hot 20

*Winning bonus expanded from 3 to 25 points
1 – Jeff Gordon – 3 Wins – 1041 Points
2 – Brad Keselowski – 5 – 1025
3 – Dale Earnhardt, Jr. – 3 – 1017
4 – Joey Logano – 4 – 1004
5 – Jimmie Johnson – 3 – 939
6 – Kevin Harvick – 2 – 916
7 – Carl Edwards – 2 – 872
8 – Matt Kenseth – 0 – 854
9 – Ryan Newman – 0 – 837
10 – Kyle Larson – 0 – 821
11 – Kasey Kahne – 1 – 809
12 – Greg Biffle – 0 – 802
13 – Kyle Busch – 1 – 783
14 – Jamie McMurray – 0 – 782
15 – Clint Bowyer – 0 – 781
16 – Austin Dillon – 0 – 759
17 – Paul Menard – 0 – 753
18 – Denny Hamlin – 1 – 727
19 – Kurt Busch – 1 – 717
20 – Brian Vickers – 0 – 701

September 25, 2014
Hot 20 – Could the Best at Loudon and Dover be a Non-Chaser?

New Hampshire is the next stop on the Chase tour, and if anyone needs to rewrite expectations it would be Aric Almirola and AJ Allmendinger. Both have not done well at Loudon in the past, though Almirola was fifth in the race 15 months ago and the Dinger has one Top Ten. Still, both average beyond 20th there and after the results in Chicago came in they find their title hopes down to fumes. Yet, it is nothing that an unexpected win would not cure.

Neither are among our Hot 20, based on the season to date. Brad Keselowski is, with back to back wins giving him five on the season. However, he is not the hottest based on this system of providing a 25 point bonus for a win. That remains Jeff Gordon, who despite having two fewer trips to Victory Lane, does have an average finish advantage of 9.7 to 13 over Keselowski in 27 races. Wins are big, especially in how we tabulate these standings, but being consistent also has its rewards. The difference is that Keselowski has finished outside the Top Twenty seven times this campaign, Gordon only three.

Something tells me Brad is not too concerned, with last weekend’s win locking him into a Chase spot for the next five events. However, it is still too early to hand him the trophy just yet. No matter what he does at Loudon and Dover, Keselowski will have the same 3000 points as the other 11 gents left in the Chase when they move on to Kansas.

Marcos Ambrose missed the Chase, and next year we will miss him as he returns to his native Australia. He is a fun guy with talent, especially when left hand turns lead to more to the right. Ambrose has a couple of Cup wins in 218 starts, both coming at Watkins Glen, and leaves to raise his family back on their native soil.

Nothing is more important than family. The Ward family lost their young son Kevin in an accident involving Tony Stewart, a case that will go to a grand jury to determine if the case should proceed to trial. While what video evidence I have seen leads me to believe this was a tragic accident Stewart was not responsible for, I was not there nor do I have knowledge of all the facts. A family lost their young son that day, and they deserve a thorough, transparent review of what took place. I pray for justice for all involved.

Sixteen drivers remain involved in the Chase, but do not expect much to change in the standings between now and the conclusion at Dover. Based on their track records, both Almirola and Allmendinger are done, with Greg Biffle in a fight for survival. I would expect over the next couple of weeks to see Jimmie Johnson absolutely shine. I would expect, based on past results, strong efforts from Gordon, Carl Edwards, Keselowski, and Matt Kenseth, with Ryan Newman coming on strong to beat out Kasey Kahne for the final spot to the next round. Of course, depending on who wins these races, all my speculation could wind up all out the window.

There is a reason why non-Chaser Kyle Larson is among our Hot 20. Based on results from earlier this season, expect him to be the star on these tracks once again this weekend and next.

BOLD = Current Chasers

*Points awarded as during the regular season, except the winning bonus is 25 rather than 3 points.

Hot 20
1 – Jeff Gordon – 3 Wins – 1023 Points
2 – Brad Keselowski – 5 – 987
3 – Dale Earnhardt, Jr. – 3 – 982
4 – Joey Logano – 3 – 935
5 – Jimmie Johnson – 3 – 900
6 – Kevin Harvick – 2 – 873
7 – Carl Edwards – 2 – 845
8 – Matt Kenseth – 0 – 831
9 – Ryan Newman – 0 – 811
10 – Kasey Kahne – 1 – 788
11 – Kyle Larson – 0 – 779
12 – Greg Biffle – 0 – 774
13 – Clint Bowyer – 0 – 764
14 – Kyle Busch – 1 – 747
15 – Jamie McMurray – 0 – 742
16 – Austin Dillon – 0 – 726
17 – Paul Menard – 0 – 724
18 – Denny Hamlin – 1 – 719
19 – Kurt Busch – 1 – 709
20 – Brian Vickers – 0 – 701

September 18, 2014
The Final Word – If You Only Caught the Final Forty at Chicago, it was one Heck of a Race

Forty laps. The action was exciting, the announcers sounded excited, it was NASCAR at its best in Chicago. For 40 laps.

Within those 40 laps, we saw Brad Keselowski shoot through the middle between the dueling Kyle Larson and Kevin Harvick to take the lead with sixteen to go. It was a great piece of racing, and once he was through he was gone. Two in a row, fifth of the season, and Keselowski earned himself a berth in the next round of the Chase.

Within those 40 laps, we saw a kid truly emerge as a star. Larson just missed the Chase, but the 22 year old did not miss an opportunity to show the big boys that he is and will be a force to be reckoned with. He led, he fought to keep the lead, and he challenged anyone who attempted to get by him, which helped allow Keselowski to disappear in front. If not for Larson, Harvick or Jeff Gordon might have had a chance to go after Keselowski, but the young man did not give them that chance. His first career Cup win still lies ahead of him, but it does not seem to be that far away.

Within those 40 laps, we saw Gordon come up from fourth to be in the mix at the end. He caught Harvick and then he battled the boy for that runner up spot. When Larson touched the wall with a couple to go, the veteran went by for good. Good racing, with the former champ even offering congratulations and a few words of advice to the newcomer when it was all over.

Within those 40 laps, we discovered that there are times couples should not touch, especially when using their fenders. Danica Patrick got by Tony Stewart, but when she slipped in front of boyfriend Ricky Stenhouse Jr. he touched her behind in an unappreciated fashion. Both needed repairs to run the final ten and neither finished inside the Top 15.

Within those 40 laps, we discovered who amongst the Chasers would be snake bit. Aric Almirola looked great, was up there running well within the Top Ten when his engine blew up. He finished 41st and already needs a win if he hopes to advance to the next round as a contender.

Within those 40 laps, Joey Logano benefited from some trash on the grill that really perked up his ride. Perked it to a fourth place finish, but it did not benefit his engine. That blew at the finish line, but those 40 points more than made up for it.

Within those 40 laps, Carl Edwards lost a left rear tire. That left him 20th when the day was done. No good, but not as bad as some, and still leaves him among the top dozen in the standings.

Not as bad as Almirola. Not as bad as Greg Biffle in 23rd. Not as bad as A.J. Allmendinger in 22. Not as bad as the first 227 laps of what had been yet another snore-fest on ESPN until the end. In fact, Edwards sits a point to the good amongst our Chasers, a point up on Ryan Newman.

Sunday, it is New Hampshire holding their fate. That should be welcome news for those who run well there. Among those who have average finishes of 12th or better we have Denny Hamlin, Jimmie Johnson, Gordon, and Keselowski. Maybe we might see the kid once again up front. Larson finished third there in July in his only Cup start on the track.

Not all will be happy. Those who average outside the Top 15 at Loudon include Kasey Kahne and Logano, who after Chicago just need to avoid disaster this weekend. As for Biffle, Almirola, and A.J. Allmendinger, they will have to do more than that if they hope to advance on points. Then again, wins erase sins, so maybe, just maybe.
1 – Brad Keselowski – 1 Win – 2059 Points
2 – Jeff Gordon – 0 – 2051
3 – Joey Logano – 0 – 2049
4 – Kevin Harvick – 0 – 2047
5 – Dale Earnhardt, Jr. – 0 – 2042
6 – Jimmie Johnson – 0 – 2041
7 – Denny Hamlin – 0 – 2041
8 – Kyle Busch – 0 – 2041
9 – Kurt Busch – 0 – 2039
10 – Kasey Kahne – 0 – 2034
11 – Matt Kenseth – 0 – 2034
12 – Carl Edwards – 0 – 2030
13 – Ryan Newman – 0 – 2029
14 – A.J. Allmendinger – 0 – 2025
15 – Greg Biffle – 0 – 2021
16 – Aric Almirola – 0 – 2007

September 15, 2014
Feel Good Story of 2014 Overshadowed

As the NASCAR touring series rolls into the central part of the United States I can’t help but reflect on last weekend. First, I’m going to discuss NASCAR racing and not opine about incidents that happened away from NASCAR sanctioned tracks. After the race in Watkins Glen AJ Allmendinger said it best, “I said on TV after the race, this NASCAR community, as a whole we’re a family, and when anything like that happens, it’s something that you don’t just kind of erase and you forget about. And all of our thoughts and prayers, and it may not seem like it, or I wish there was more to do, but it goes to the Ward family and what happened. It also goes to Tony because it’s not like he’s sitting there and forgetting about it. It’s a tough scenario.” Just yesterday during NASCAR’s weekly teleconference Brad Keselowski said about the incident, “I think my take on it right now is to just kind of let the dust settle for a little bit and let some cooler heads prevail.”

I could not agree more with Keselowski. My thoughts are with all of the people involved with the incident. NASCAR truly is like family and it’s hurting right now.

Reflecting back on the weekend events at Watkins Glen I can’t help but smile. It’s my home track and once again it delivered some of the best racing action of the season in all three of the races they put on. The K&N Series saw a green-white-checkered finish that saw some incredible passing late in the race and one of the leaders spinning out in the last turn coming to the checkered flag. That spinning car took out the sand barrel barriers at the entrance to pit road at Watkins Glen in spectacular fashion. The Nationwide Series race, although not as exciting as the other two races, saw Marcos Ambrose flex his road course muscle. However, the Penske drivers of Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski flexed their muscles after Ambrose and runner up Kyle Busch spun out in the inner loop less than ten laps into the race. It was exciting to watch them recover and charge to the front.

The Sprint Cup race saw pole-sitter Jeff Gordon lead the field until a bad pit stop had him running in second but closing on Ambrose when he lost power and laps to the field while his crew fixed it. Perennial front runners Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski also had issues and needed repairs to their cars. This allowed Ambrose and road course power AJ Allmendinger to battle it out for the win and battle they did. They race each other clean and very hard. Doors were banged, cars were moved over and Allmendinger got his first Cup victory and the first victory for JTG-Daugherty Racing.

One thing that should be mentioned is that Watkins Glen is a happening place. The grandstands are packed and so are the campgrounds. There are plenty of activities for all types to do. From playgrounds for the toddlers to concerts in the infield for the adults, there are plenty of things to do at Watkins Glen on a race weekend. The track has gone under continuous improvements over the last few years and the staff and volunteers are top notch, making sure that whether you’re a member of the media or a fan, your needs are addressed. Hats off once again to Michael Printup and his staff for another stellar job!

Victory Lane at the Glen was an experience for all that were in it. There was smiling and laughing like I have not seen at Watkins Glen since Marcos Ambrose and Steve Park got their first Cup victories years ago. A monkey was clearly lifted off the backs of not only the driver, Allmendinger, but his car owners, Jodi and Tad Geschickter and Hall of Fame basketball player Brad Daugherty were simply ecstatic and they should be. Not only were they ecstatic, they were entertaining. Daugherty is a full foot and a half taller than his driver and the bear hug and lifting of Allmendinger in victory lane was unforgettable.

In the media center Daugherty made no bones about it, they’re a small team and they kicked the butts of the big boys. But what I focused on was the feeling of family that was described by everyone involved with that team. It was the same thing that I heard when Ambrose won with their Nationwide team but more importantly what I heard in their old shop that they shared with the Wood Brothers quite a few years ago. Jodi Geschickter said, “We’ve been in the sport for 20 years, and it’s flown by, but you take it a week at a time and you hope and you pray that this is the week and you prepare, but you never really know what’s going to happen. There’s so many variables, and I try to explain that to some of the younger guys in the sport. You always have to be on your game, you always have to be prepared and be in a position to win. This week we were. I can’t be any happier to have won here in Watkins Glen with Scott Products on the car and with AJ Allmendinger and our family up here with us. It’s a wonderful place to win. It’s a real blessing.”

Co-owner Daugherty said about the Geschickters,”I don’t even feel like it’s business. We’re friends. We have a great time. We go racing. Jodi feeds us and makes sure we don’t get too sick and do what we’re supposed to be doing, and Tad hustles his behind, makes sure the lights stay on. We’ve got a true family atmosphere and we’re lucky to have a young man like AJ to have an opportunity to have a driver of his caliber. Our crew chief Brian Burns, unbelievable job this year. He’s coming into his own as a crew chief. He was texting me throughout the race to keep me from having a stroke up because I was questioning his pit strategy and about to lose my mind. He kept assuring me it was going to be okay so I needed the comfort. Great group of people. We’re not the biggest and not the baddest, but we’re the winners today.”

There’s so much more that I could write about that team but I don’t think it’s necessary. On a weekend where there was so much sorrow and pain the feel-good story of the year was buried. The weather, typically an issue at least one day of a race weekend at the Glen was stellar (including a super moon). The track and its staff were on top of their game. The grandstands and campgrounds were packed with fans. The comeback of Allmendinger was complete. Many competitors and big names were in victory lane to congratulate him (Childress and Penske come to mind). Some of the most genuine people in the garage area own the team and frankly, I couldn’t be happier for them, regardless of my objectivity in reporting. Congratulations JTG-Daugherty, you’re making the 2014 Chase!!

August 13, 2014
The Final Word – Tragedy in New York

Watkins Glen might have hosted the action on Sunday, but it was Saturday night at the Canandaigua Motorsports Park a hundred miles away that drew our attention.

Amateur video shows Kevin Ward Jr racing his Sprint car against Tony Stewart, winding up brushed against the wall and out of action. The 20-year old unbuckled himself, came out of his car, walking toward the cars running under caution. He appeared upset at being taken out of the race, apparently pointing toward Stewart.

We see the car in front of Stewart go past, as Ward appears to take a slight step to his left, away from the car as the video briefly follows it before panning back to pick up Stewart. It happens so fast, so I pause the video showing the young man halfway down the track as Stewart’s car appears in the frame. It appears to be passing him, then Ward is gone. In less than two seconds, his body is flung upward, dragged, then tossed for yards before coming to rest down the track. The crowd reacts as emergency personnel race to his still form.

There are some who claim, in watching the same video, that it shows a deliberate action. It does not. Due to the angle, we do not know the precise distance Ward was standing from Stewart’s, or even the previous car, as it passed. We do know that it was close. There are those who claim Stewart gunned his car as he passed, causing it to fish-tail toward the young man.

In going over the video numerous times I cannot tell for certain if the end of Tony’s car initially flipped ever so slightly to the right or not. If it did, it could not have been by more than a couple of inches, if that. I do know it definitely moves left. In his anger, Ward may have approached too close, within mere inches to the side of Stewart’s moving car, to his rear tires. So close that any slight movement, or no movement at all, was going to catch him. Even under caution the cars were still moving at a fair clip. The engine of Stewart’s car does sound like it revs up, either through a brief acceleration or the car broke traction on the dirt track instantaneously with making contact; contact that appears to have been made with Stewart’s rear right tire.

On Sunday, Stewart did not race. Regan Smith drove for him, as the winless Stewart drops nearly a hundred points out of a Chase place. It was a day of celebration for first time Cup winner A.J. Allmendinger, who shared his condolences for what had taken place the day before even as he secured a Chase berth of his own.

It was a race that featured a great battle in the end between Allmendinger and Marcos Ambrose. It featured a terrible crash that saw both Ryan Newman and Michael McDowell walk away from pieces of scrap metal. It saw a bid by Jeff Gordon end when he lost power, Denny Hamlin lost his along with his brake fluid even before finding some barrels to destroy later on, and Kyle Busch left with a gas can and shortly after left with a blown tire.

With four to go, a dozen Chase spots have been claimed by race winners with only four left on points unless another first time victor emerges at Michigan, Bristol, Atlanta, or Richmond. Tony Stewart may be there to contend, but today his thoughts no doubt are understandably with a young man and a track a hundred miles from Watkins Glen.

SWEET SIXTEEN
1 – Dale Earnhardt, Jr. – 3 Wins – 773 Points
2 – Brad Keselowski – 3 – 696
3 – Jimmie Johnson – 3 – 650
4 – Jeff Gordon – 2 – 768
5 – Joey Logano – 2 – 671
6 – Carl Edwards – 2 – 658
7 – Kevin Harvick – 2 – 645
8 – Kyle Busch – 1 – 615
9 – Denny Hamlin – 1 – 552
10 – Kurt Busch – 1 – 539
11 – Aric Almirola – 1 – 532
12 – A.J. Allmendinger – 1 – 525
13 – Matt Kenseth – 0 – 703
14 – Ryan Newman – 0 – 645
15 – Kyle Larson – 0 – 635
16 – Clint Bowyer – 0 – 634

CONTENDERS & PRETENDERS
17 – Greg Biffle – 0 Wins – 626 Points
18 – Kasey Kahne – 0 – 622
19 – Austin Dillon – 0 – 616
20 – Marcos Ambrose – 0 – 584
21 – Paul Menard – 0 – 574
22 – Brian Vickers – 0 – 573
23 – Jamie McMurray – 0 – 566
24 – Tony Stewart – 0 – 537
25 – Casey Mears – 0 – 516
26 – Martin Truex, Jr. – 0 – 508
27 – Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. – 0 – 447
28 – Danica Patrick – 0 – 419
29 – Justin Allgaier – 0 – 398
30 – Michael Annett – 0 – 360
31 – David Gilliland – 0 – 334
32 – David Ragan – 0 – 312

August 11, 2014
Allmendinger Wins At The Glen & Updated Chase Grid

With drivers racing with heavy hearts following the tragic incident involving Tony Stewart and Sprint Car driver Kevin Ward Jr., the world’s best stock car drivers knew they had to put on a great show to allow the fans to forget about the events that occurred, even if it was for just a few hours.

When you see finishes like 2012’s epic duel between Marcos Ambrose and Brad Keselowski, or last year’s battle between Keselowski and Kyle Busch, you know Watkins Glen can put on one heck of a show. Not to mention, with the new chase rules, if you win a race within the first 26 races (and attempt to qualify for every race as well as remain in the top 30 in points) you will be eligible for the chase.

We’ve already seen one first time winner this season when Aric Almirola took the checkered flag at Daytona, and for the first time since 2011, we now have two first-time winners in one season.

Judging by the first few laps of the race, it appeared that Jeff Gordon and the heavily favored Ambrose were going to battle it out all day for the trophy, until Gordon’s car lost power around lap 50. Gordon ended up finishing the race in 34th position, four laps down.

Ambrose was unsurprisingly solid all day long, having the best average running position (third) and highest driver rating (130.9). However, Gordon’s misfortunes may have opened the door for a driver whom everyone thought was a contender for the victory, A.J. Allmedinger. And he did not disappoint.

After taking the lead on a restart after a massive red-flag-causing wreck involving Ryan Newman, Danica Patrick, Michael McDowell, Greg Biffle and Alex Bowman, not even Ambrose could shake Allmendinger from the top spot. Even when Denny Hamlin, Alex Kennedy and Reed Sorenson wrecked with just a few laps to go, setting up a restart with just two laps to go, Allmedinger was able to defeat Ambrose by 1.160 seconds and claim his spot in the chase. With Allmendinger’s victory, here’s a look at the updated chase grid as well as five drivers who are on the outside looking in.

1) Dale Earnhardt, Jr., 3 wins, 1st in points.

2) Brad Keselowski, 3 wins, 4th in points.

3) Jimmie Johnson, 3 wins, 7th in points

4) Jeff Gordon, 2 wins, 2nd in points

5) Joey Logano, 2 wins, 5th in points

6) Carl Edwards, 2 wins, 6th in points

7) Kevin Harvick, 2 wins, 9th in points

8) Kyle Busch, 1 win, 15th in points

9) Denny Hamlin, 1 win, 20th in points

10) Kurt Busch, 1 win, 21st in points

11) Aric Almirola, 1 win, 23rd in points

12) A.J. Allmendinger, 1 win, 24th in points

13) Matt Kenseth, 0 wins, 3rd in points

14) Ryan Newman, 0 wins, 8th in points

15) Kyle Larson, 0 wins, 10th in points

16) Clint Bowyer, 0 wins, 11th in points

Outside Looking In:

Greg Biffle, 8 points behind Bowyer

Kasey Kahne, 12 points behind Bowyer

Austin Dillon, 18 points behind Bowyer

Marcos Ambrose, 50 points behind Bowyer

Paul Menard, 60 points behind Bowyer

August 11, 2014
Two Drivers Looking for Victory at Watkins Glen to Make Chase

Marcos Ambrose and A.J. Allmendinger both know that the road course at Watkins Glen offers them one of their best chances at securing a spot in the 16 member Chase for the Sprint Cup. When asked questions about making the field both have differing thought processes. One will speak about their team in the field, the other says he doesn’t necessarily think about it because he’s not in it yet.

On the same day that it was announced that Kimberly- Clarke was going to stay on board with Allmendinger and the No. 47 JTG-Daugherty for three more years, Allmendinger let us know that the his car owners are still looking for sponsorships. “Tad (Geschickter),” Allmendinger said, “is out there continually trying to work on finding sponsorship and really help build the race team. It doesn’t hurt. The more money you find the more it’s going to help with resources at the race team. He is working hard on that. I know this whole week he has been out there trying to help sell and find more money for the race team. I think we just have to continually grow. Being a one car race team you are always going to be behind. I think it’s just as we add more resources and Tad continually goes out there and tries to find more money for us and Brad (Daugherty) does the same thing. That is going to help, but I think just trying to keep updating our cars.”

Allmendinger was pretty honest with the gathered media saying that he doesn’t think that his team is necessarily up to the task of being a championship team. “When it comes to the Chase side of it,” he said, “It would be great to be in the Chase because it meant we won. That is the only way we are going to get in. When it comes to making the Chase to win a championship with our race team right now I am not sure that we are quite in that realm of saying if we make the Chase we can go win the championship. Anything can happen, but I think to come here and if we were to win to get into the Chase would just be great for all of our sponsors and this race team and to help keep building the race team and promoting it. That is the way I look at it. I don’t look to make the Chase to make the championship, but when it comes to this weekend I feel like after our test here a couple of weeks ago we had a really good test. I feel like if we do the right things we can be in contention to win the race. I don’t want to make it all or nothing. If we don’t win and we have a great top-five, top-three run, but we don’t win I don’t want that to be a disappointing weekend. But like I said, I think if we do the right things, kind of like at Sonoma we had a good shot to win that race, we will have good speed in the race car I believe. We will see what happens.”

For Ambrose, it’s a bit different situation. He has won here at both the Nationwide and Cup level. He said, “I get talked about more and people want to know what I am doing (here). That is a good thing. I don’t have a problem with that. When someone asked him that and started with, “If you made the Chase…” Ambrose was quick to respond, “I hate to be rude but I am not in the chase yet. I just haven’t thought about it. It is pretty straight forward. RPM would love to have both cars in the Chase and that is what we will try to do this weekend.”

Ambrose admitted that the last couple years have been a struggle for him. His 2015 plans are announced and there’s rumors of him exiting NASCAR and heading back home to Australia. “It has been a struggle,” he said. Our first two years before this new body we had really good speed every week and it was a lot of fun. The last couple years have been a challenge. It’s been a grind, no doubt. We are looking for that next step for our team. It is a big step for us to make the Chase with Aric (Almirola). I am driving for the King and driving for Ford and it is great to be part of the series. Just because it is hard doesn’t mean it isn’t great.”

Look for Watkins Glen’s race on both days to be some of the most entertaining to date. There are more than a handful of drivers who can win the race when they have nothing to lose (previous winners) and must win to make the chase. The weather is predicted to be beautiful all weekend, something that is relatively rare in upstate New York. Expect both Allmendinger and Ambrose to be a factor.

August 8, 2014