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  • Hot 20 – It is a summer time Saturday night in Daytona

    Hot 20 – It is a summer time Saturday night in Daytona

    Daytona. Usually, I look forward to any race from that track. After Chicago’s race coverage on NBC, I am really looking forward to it. That was the best NASCAR television broadcast in years.

    I like to be informed and entertained, with an odd opportunity to laugh mixed in. Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Steve Letarte showed their personal chemistry extends beyond the track and into the broadcast booth. They talked, they joked, they provided insight, and they were fun to listen to.

    Jeff Burton did what we expected the Mayor to do. He was obviously excited to share with us what he saw and what it meant, and that just ratcheted up our own excitement and understanding of what we were witnessing. Rick Allen kept it all nicely wrapped together with his call of the action.

    Add to that the descriptions from pit road, the camera work, and the direction that masterly mixed the audio and the video into a seamless professional package, and NASCAR fans finally got what they deserved. Great television, and from a track few expected to find it.

    It has been a very long time since I’ve been able to answer Sheryl Crow’s question from all those years ago in a positive fashion. I can now.

    Not a boogity, boogity, boogity to be found.

    1. KYLE BUSCH – 5 WINS (736 Pts)
    Some did not like the way he won at Chicago, but he is just fine with it…and he got the trophy.

    2. KEVIN HARVICK – 5 WINS (674 Pts)
    I am guessing he is not Happy to be referred to as the second-best driver in NASCAR.

    3. MARTIN TRUEX JR. – 3 WINS (594 Pts)
    Plate racing is not Martin’s thing. Never has been. Might that change on Saturday night?

    4. CLINT BOWYER – 2 WINS (579 Pts)
    Some think Larson could be part of the Big Three. He needs to get by Bowyer and Logano first.

    5. JOEY LOGANO – 1 WIN (617 Pts)
    Driving the right make and for the right owner to make waves near Daytona Beach.

    6. AUSTIN DILLON – 1 WIN (314 Pts)
    Well, they are returning to Daytona. Some think ole Austin never left.

    7. BRAD KESELOWSKI – 592 POINTS
    Driving a Penske Ford has meant good results the past few years on the big tracks.

    8. KURT BUSCH – 560 POINTS
    Hates teammates who refuse to just hand over Stage Points. Tough.

    9. DENNY HAMLIN – 537 POINTS
    Tops list of active drivers with 407 Daytona laps led in 25 starts.

    10. KYLE LARSON – 524 POINTS
    Larson is a true racer, not a snowflake. Learn from him. Don’t be a snowflake.

    11. RYAN BLANEY – 495 POINTS
    Along with Larson, the best of the newest generation.

    12. ARIC ALMIROLA – 493 POINTS
    Damn loose wheels.

    13. JIMMIE JOHNSON – 442 POINTS
    75 points to the good makes things all good for the seven-time champion.

    14. CHASE ELLIOTT – 435 POINTS
    His dad took 116 races to win his first one. Chase is heading into #95.

    15. ERIK JONES – 408 POINTS
    The 22-year-old is good, good enough for this season, but not as good as he will be.

    16. ALEX BOWMAN – 390 POINTS
    Good enough as long as someone else behind him in points does not get a win.

    17. RICKY STENHOUSE JR. – 367 POINTS
    23 points can be made up, but his last top five was at Talladega.

    18. PAUL MENARD – 362 POINTS
    Four Top Tens, but five times outside the Top 25. Which Menard will show up at Daytona?

    19. DANIEL SUAREZ – 316 POINTS
    When it comes to the Chase, no win and he won’t be in. Just ask Dillon as to how that works.

    20. JAMIE MCMURRAY – 309 POINTS
    Jamie is back in as William Byron drops out.

  • NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Chicagoland

    NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Chicagoland

    Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

    1. Kyle Busch: Busch outdueled Kyle Larson for the win at Chicagoland, posting his fifth win this season and 48th of his career.

    “That was a wild final lap,” Busch said. “And the fans had the audacity to boo me, so I ‘shhhh’ed’ them. ‘Boo’ plus ‘shhh’ equals ‘Busch’ basically.”

    2. Martin Truex Jr.: Truex took fourth in the Overton’s 400 at Chicagoland, recording his 11th top-five of the season.

    “Contrary to last week at Sonoma,” Truex said, “the race at Chicagoland is decided on the track, and not in the pits. Kyle Busch won by spinning Kyle Larson; I won at Sonoma by tricking Kevin Harvick. I think it’s clear that NASCAR fans prefer the ‘take out’ to the ‘fake out.’”

    3. Kevin Harvick: Harvick led 39 laps and finished third at Chicagoland.

    “I could have snuck in for the win if Kyle Busch and Kyle Larson had wrecked each other,” Harvick said. “Had they done so, I would have been there to pick up the pieces, and inevitably, NASCAR would have called a debris caution.”

    4. Joey Logano: Logano finished eighth at Chicagoland for his 13th top-10 result of the season.

    “Some people are calling Sunday’s race the best one of the year,” Logano said. “And some are calling the final lap the ‘Lap Of The Century.’ That means Kyle Busch was part of the ‘Lap Of The Century’ with Kyle Larson, and Kurt Busch was a part of the ‘Slap Of The Century’ with Jimmy Spencer.”

    5. Clint Bowyer: Bowyer finished fifth at Chicagoland, scoring his sixth top-five finish of the year.

    “We had some pit road penalties that really cost us,” Bowyer said. “I got caught speeding on pit road, then got caught speeding while serving the penalty, and next, I ran right through a stop-and-go penalty. And finally, I drove our chances of winning straight into the ground.”

    6. Kyle Larson: Larson charged to the front late and battled Kyle Busch in a memorable last lap at Chicagoland. After much contact, Busch gave Larson a final bump, spinning Larson and propelling Busch to the win.

    “The No. 18 car got the best of me today,” Larson said. “Busch put the nose of the Skittles car on my back bumper and said ‘Taste the rainbow.’ In the business, I think that’s called getting ‘candy-assed.’”

    7. Brad Keselowski: Keselowski finished ninth in the Overton’s 400.

    “That was a heck of a battle between Kyle Busch and Kyle Larson for the win,” Keselowski said. “First Larson put Busch into the wall, then Busch returned the favor. When one Kyle does that to another Kyle, it’s called an ‘I for an I.’”

    8. Denny Hamlin: Hamlin finished seventh at Chicagoland and is now eighth in the Monster Energy Cup points standings.

    “That was Kyle’s 48th career Cup win,” Hamlin said. “That puts him one behind Tony Stewart. Kyle really wants to get ahead of Tony. Mostly so he can say, ‘Look! Tony Stewart’s behind!’”

    9. Ryan Blaney: Blaney came home 18th at Chicagoland and is now 10th in the points standings, 241 out of first.

    “What a treat for fans of NASCAR,” Blaney said. “Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the booth, and a thrilling finish on the track. Now, the term ‘slide job’ is a new part of NASCAR vernacular. Note to the people of Junior Nation: ‘vernacular’ is not an STD, and for a ‘slide job’ to take place, no money needs to change hands.”

    10. Kurt Busch: Busch finished 17th at Chicagoland as younger brother Kyle took the win in dramatic fashion.

    “I expressed frustration with Kevin Harvick racing me so hard on the final lap of Stage 2,” Busch said. “When I confronted Harvick about it, he referenced my brother Kyle’s mocking of booing fans with a ‘crying’ gesture and replied, ‘What he said.’ So, in the end, I guess Harvick ‘had a point,’ for winning the stage.”

  • Hot 20 – Chicago presents a Sunday in the park, three days shy of the 4th of July

    Hot 20 – Chicago presents a Sunday in the park, three days shy of the 4th of July

    Last week it was Sonoma, a road course set in a beautiful background with curves and hills and places one could speed up and those where one had to slow down. This week it is Chicago. It is round.

    Okay, so I am not excited by the wonder that is Chicagoland. The name of the 2.5-mile tri-oval gives one the impression of excitement, like an amusement park. If only that were true. Personally, I find the name a little hokey, and the action less than advertised.

    Not so for Kevin Harvick, who won the first two races held there in 2001-02. Martin Truex Jr. has the last two. That comes as bad news for those still seeking that first win of the season. Still, others seeking another victory on this particular track will include Ryan Newman (2003), Kyle Busch (2008), Brad Keselowski (2012, 2014), and Denny Hamlin (2015). Newman needs it the most, but his odds are the longest.

    What we won’t see this Sunday is drivers abandoning bonus points to have a shot at the win. That only paid off at Sonoma for Truex, who won the race. His 40 points matched the total of Keselowski (13th place), was two back of Jimmie Johnson (11th), and nine behind the haul of Chase Elliott (fourth). Bonus points do matter, but not so much if, like Truex, Harvick (second), or Clint Bowyer (third), you already have your golden ticket to the Chase.

    The newly minted Overton’s (formerly the Tropicana, USG Sheetrock, LifeLock.com, GEICO, MyAFib, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Tales of the Turtles) 400 is coming our way on Sunday. The Overton’s Windy City 400 would have been nice. Instead of an attempt to brand the event, next year it could well be the Viagra 400. Well, that is one way to get fans up for a race. Let the excitement begin.

    As for our Hot 20…

    1. KYLE BUSCH – 4 WINS – 695 Pts
    The betting could come down to just three choices: Rowdy, Happy, or anyone else.

    2. KEVIN HARVICK – 4 WINS – 1 E.W. – 624 PTS
    His team learned that you do not play poker with Cole Pearn.

    3. MARTIN TRUEX JR. – 3 WINS – 546 Pts
    Hey, a crew chief can change his mind, and Truex doesn’t mind at all.

    4. CLINT BOWYER – 2 WINS – 544 Pts
    Sometimes a driver is the hero. Sometimes it is a man named Thomas Selbe.

    5. JOEY LOGANO – 1 WIN – 584 Pts
    Won his race at Talladega and sits third best in overall points…

    6. AUSTIN DILLON – 1 WIN – 313 Pts
    …while Austin won his race at Daytona and sits 18th in overall points.

    7. BRAD KESELOWSKI – 554 POINTS
    Still a bridesmaid, but with two previous Chicago wins, might this be his time?

    8. KURT BUSCH – 524 POINTS
    His Cubs have a World Series, Kurt has a Cup title, but he is still seeking a win at Chicagoland.

    9. DENNY HAMLIN – 505 POINTS
    Only Texas and Pocono were true duds this season, as the rest has been pretty stout.

    10. KYLE LARSON – 472 POINTS
    Won the pole, and sure looked good for about four laps out in California.

    11. ARIC ALMIROLA – 471 POINTS
    Except for Texas and Richmond, all have been Top 15 results. Danica who?

    12. RYAN BLANEY – 466 POINTS
    Ryan probably did not need to do any arm strengthening exercises this week…or next.

    13. JIMMIE JOHNSON – 419 POINTS
    No wins yet, but until two or three behind him get their own wins, he is sitting just fine.

    14. CHASE ELLIOTT – 411 POINTS
    Finished fourth last week, yet claimed the most points.

    15. ERIK JONES – 376 POINTS
    Like man-made climate change, the predictions as to young gun triumphs have been a bit off.

    16. ALEX BOWMAN – 363 POINTS
    …that is not to say a good number won’t make the Chase…but they might not shake many suds.

    17. RICKY STENHOUSE JR. – 346 POINTS
    I hope he enjoyed the view at Sonoma, as the race sure sucked for him.

    18. PAUL MENARD – 338 POINTS
    Unless that second career win is coming soon, he can not afford to lose any more ground.

    19. DANIEL SUAREZ – 290 POINTS
    On our charts, but only a win can give him a shot at the title this season.

    20. WILLIAM BYRON – 289 POINTS
    To mingle with the Universe, and feel, What I can ne’er express, yet cannot all conceal.*

    * From “There Is Pleasure In The Pathless Woods” – A poem by Lord Byron

  • NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Sonoma

    NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Sonoma

    Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

    1. Martin Truex Jr.: Truex led 62 laps and used some clever pit strategy to secure the win in the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma.

    “I’ve got to hand it to crew chief Cole Pearn,” Truex said. “He suckered Kevin Harvick into pitting early. It was pure trickery and it helped us secure the win. You don’t see tricks turned like that in NASCAR, except in the Daytona infield.”

    2. Kyle Busch: Busch finished fifth in the Toyota/Save Mart 350, posting his 11th top-five result of the year. He leads the Monster Energy Cup points standings by 72 over Kevin Harvick.

    “How about Martin Truex Jr.’s pit strategy?” Busch said. “Kevin Harvick’s team fell for it big time. It kind of reminded me of the Mars company’s lollipop-production strategy, because there’s ‘a sucker born every minute.’”

    3. Kevin Harvick: Harvick started sixth and finished second at Sonoma, bested by Martin Truex Jr., who feigned a late pit stop which made Harvick pit earlier than expected.

    “We fell for it,” Harvick said. “Cole Pearn threw out the bait, and we bit, and that bites.”

    4. Joey Logano: Logano finished 19th at Sonoma and is now third in the Monster Energy Cup points standings, 112 out of first.

    “We really didn’t have a car fast enough to win,” Logano said. “So my day at Sonoma was basically a nice, leisurely drive through wine country. Not to be confused with ‘whine‘ country; that’s where my dad lives.”

    5. Clint Bowyer: Bowyer took third at Sonoma as Stewart Haas Racing cars placed four cars in the top 8. Bowyer is sixth in the points standings, 152 behind Kyle Busch.

    “Martin Truex Jr. celebrated his win with a glass of wine in Victory Lane,” Bowyer said. “Personally, I think that’s bad optics for a NASCAR driver. It’s one thing to drink wine but from a wine glass? If it was me, I would have sent a crew member on a ‘Chase For The Cup’ from which to drink wine.”

    6. Brad Keselowski: Keselowski finished 13th at Sonoma on a tough day for Penske Racing.

    “That was the last Fox NASCAR broadcast of the season,” Keselowski said. “Now, NBC takes over. Hopefully, NBC can do something to make the product more entertaining. Seriously, NASCAR needs a real jump in viewership. And trust me, I’m an expert in ‘jumps in viewership.’ Back in 2014, ratings exploded when I was ‘jumped’ between two haulers by Matt Kenseth.”

    7. Kurt Busch: Busch started 23rd and worked his way through Sonoma’s twists and turns to score a sixth-place finish.

    “Far be it from me to criticize Kevin Harvick’s team for being fooled,” Busch said. “After all, I’m the guy who thought he was dating an assassin.”

    8. Kyle Larson: Larson started on the pole at Sonoma and finished 14th.

    “Martin Truex Jr.’s crew chief Cole Pearn deserves all the credit for the win,” Larson said. “His pit stop bluff was arguably the most brilliant overtaking maneuver in NASCAR history. Had that been at the poker tables, Pearn would have forced Kevin Harvick’s team to fold and watch a sure victory go down the drain. I’m not sure what cards they were holding, but I’m guessing it was a ‘flush.’”

    9. Aric Almirola: Almirola finished eighth at Sonoma.

    “Despite Kevin Harvick getting duped out of the victory,” Almirola said, “it was still a successful race for Stewart-Haas Racing. SHR cars finished second, third, sixth, and eighth. And we all celebrated by jumping off a bridge, mostly because Cole Pearn told us Martin Truex Jr. was gonna do it first.”

    10. Denny Hamlin: Hamlin finished 10th at Sonoma, recording his ninth top 10 of the year.

    “There were only two cautions on the day,” Hamlin said, “and those were just for the end of the stages. I know one person who wanted one more caution, and that’s Kevin Harvick. That would have tightened up the gap between Harvick and Martin Truex Jr. So, I’m surprised NASCAR, like they have done so often in the past, didn’t just invent some debris on the track. Even if there wasn’t debris on the track, they could have convinced everyone there was. I’m almost positive Rodney Childers would have bought it.”

  • The Final Word – Sonoma, where even the winner wound up tied for third best in points

    The Final Word – Sonoma, where even the winner wound up tied for third best in points

    Stage points? We don’t need no stinkin’ stage points. Pit late, then say hello to my little friends. Fresh tires. Now, they proved to be the key to victory at Sonoma.

    Sonoma is the most visually appealing track on the circuit. You would not want to walk it. Too damn many hills. When it comes to a little left, a lot of uphill, and a right…just to start with…you had something special going on in California wine country.

    It was a special start for Kyle Larson after winning the pole. That dream went up in dust about four laps later when Martin Truex Jr. took the lead. Larson tumbled down the ladder to finish outside of the Top Ten.

    Truex, now he was something special. So was Kevin Harvick. So was Clint Bowyer. So were Kyle and Kurt Busch. They were the boys up front for most of the opening stage. Then they gave it all up to pit, giving up the bonus ducats to ensure track position in the middle stanza. A.J. Allmendinger claimed the stage, followed by Brad Keselowski, Jimmie Johnson, and Chase Elliott. However, when they waved the green again, they were all sitting between 14th and 18th.

    By this time, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Bubba Wallace, and Kasey Kahne were not even among our best 30. They were soon joined by Allmendinger, as the road course ace blew the call and his transmission with a missed shift. About that time, Harvick took over the top spot from Truex, while Jamie McMurray hit the garage with oil pump issues. As we witnessed earlier, in the final laps of the segment, the best came in and the rest managed at least a few points for their efforts.

    When the green waved again, Keselowski, Johnson, and Elliott all had 16 bonus points in the bank. None of our previous race winners this season, all six of them, had any. However, up front, there was Harvick, Truex, Bowyer, and them Busch boys. At least they all had power steering. That was more than Ryan Blaney had, as his hopes for even a Top Thirty got dashed.

    With under 40 to go, it was time for a final pit stop. Atop the Truex pit box, Cole Pearn called for his boy to come in. Harvick’s team heard the call and beat him to the pits. By a lot. It would seem Pearn lied. He had changed his mind and kept Truex out. In fact, Harvick was in eight laps before the defending champion, who even had six lap fresher rubber than Bowyer. That proved to be the key move of the event.

    Eight laps after pitting, Truex used the extra grip he had beneath him and moved past Bowyer into second. Just two circuits later, and Harvick was the next to fall. Those two ducked into the pits for even fresher tires, but now they needed a caution to bunch them all up. It was a caution that never came.

    Truex won his third of the season, the 18th of his career, and his second on the track just outside of San Francisco. As for the runners-up, no harm, no foul. Harvick and Bowyer got back to where they started from before they made their bids for redemption.

    Bonus points did play a role in making it a good day for a few. Elliott managed to cling to fourth and with bonus points, he had a race-best collection of 49 when it was over. Johnson picked up 42, Keselowski had 40, the same tally Truex got for his win. So, stage points really did matter, if you wanted them. The only impact on the charts after Sonoma saw Alex Bowman extend his hold on that final Chase place to 17 points up on Stenhouse. That was pretty much it.

    Coming up is Chicago, a place with its own colorful history. There was Dean O’Banion and his lovely flower shop, and that was nice. At least it was until some had it renovated and its owner ventilated. Say it with flowers, they say. Another chap said it with his little friends and ruined a perfectly good St. Valentine’s Day. I think they would have preferred flowers before the fact rather than after.

    As for Chicago this Sunday, they will want those stinkin’ stage points. Even those who are out to win.

  • Hot 20 – A Sonoma Sunday as the boys are back after their Father’s Day break

    Hot 20 – A Sonoma Sunday as the boys are back after their Father’s Day break

    Father’s Day, or was it Father’s Week? With time off, the boys took a little time for some R&R as they get set for the road course at Sonoma on Sunday. While all had some time with the family, some mixed in some other activities, while others dwelt on the race to come. Among the seven active drivers with a career win there, four have already won multiple times this season. Only Jimmie Johnson, Kurt Busch, and Kasey Kahne have yet to get one in 2018, but most should be relaxed and ready to go this weekend.

    This weekend, our Hot 20 will be turning left…and right…and left…and…

    1. KYLE BUSCH – 4 WINS – 664 Pts
    Spent his time off on a family vacation on North Carolina’s Outer Banks.

    2. KEVIN HARVICK – 4 WINS (1 E.W.) – 589 Pts
    Keelan had to share dad with his sister Piper this year.

    3. CLINT BOWYER – 2 WINS – 510 Pts
    Near the top of the standings meant it was time for Cash and Clint to go fishing.

    4. MARTIN TRUEX JR. – 2 WINS – 506 Pts
    Martin, Senior paved the way for Martin, Junior…and that road seems pretty straight right now.

    5. JOEY LOGANO – 1 WIN – 566 Pts
    Thanks to Hudson, Joey joined the club in 2018.

    6. AUSTIN DILLON – 1 WIN – 292 Pts
    Back in February, his butt gave birth to a tattoo to celebrate his Daytona 500 victory.

    7. BRAD KESELOWSKI – 514 POINTS
    Scarlett’s dad thinks NASCAR should embrace hybrid technology…as long as the car still roars.

    8. KURT BUSCH – 493 POINTS
    Test drove on the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya during the Catalan GP. He still lives!

    9. DENNY HAMLIN – 468 POINTS
    Went golfing in his league of duffers. Bubba Wallace is still not invited back.

    10. RYAN BLANEY – 457 POINTS
    Faith and Begorrah, now where would ye think a nice Irish lad would spend his time off?

    11. KYLE LARSON – 443 POINTS
    Threw out the ceremonial first pitch last week, as the hometown White Sox beat the Indians.

    12. ARIC ALMIROLA – 433 POINTS
    Aric has Alex and Abby. Anyone else notice a trend?

    13. JIMMIE JOHNSON – 377 POINTS
    May have worked on his Swiss yodeling since we last saw him.

    14. CHASE ELLIOTT – 362 POINTS
    Went along to make sure Blaney made it back.

    15. ERIK JONES – 346 POINTS
    A crew chief can be just like your daddy, and Erik, Rowdy, and Denny will go without this week.

    16. ALEX BOWMAN – 331 POINTS
    Arizona boy has been able to share some big moments with his dad, Sean. Next…that first win.

    17. RICKY STENHOUSE JR. – 327 POINTS
    As long as he does not upset Hamlin on the track, he gets to join him on the links.

    18. PAUL MENARD – 327 POINTS
    Considering how he got his start, he damn well better have given John at least a phone call.

    19. JAMIE MCMURRAY – 283 POINTS
    It might have been the day for fathers, but probably it was more about Carter and Hazel.

    20. WILLIAM BYRON – 277 POINTS
    The 20 year old’s Cup career is just 15 races old. Just being a single dude is sweet.

  • NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Michigan

    NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Michigan

    Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

    1. Kyle Busch: Busch finished fourth at Michigan as the lone Toyota among seven Fords in the top 8.

    “What do you call one Toyota amongst so many Fords?” Busch said. “‘Asian Fusion.’”

    2. Kevin Harvick: Harvick finished second to Stewart-Haas Racing teammate Clint Bowyer in the rain-delayed and rain-shortened Firekeepers Casino 400 at Michigan.

    “If I’m going to lose to anyone,” Harvick said, “I’m happy it’s Clint. But let’s be serious, he was very fortunate, opting for a two-tire pit stop and then having the rain come at a perfect time. So I have to ask him this: ‘Did you just punk me, lucky Clint?’”

    3. Joey Logano: Logano finished seventh in the Firekeepers Casino 400, recording his 12th top-10 result of the year.

    “Firekeepers Casino is a great destination for betting,” Logano said. “You could play it safe and put money on Kevin Harvick or Kyle Busch. But if you’re looking for a ‘long shot,’ check with Kurt Busch, because he claims he’s dated a sniper. And he has great odds for the money.”

    4. Clint Bowyer: Bowyer gambled with a two-tire pit stop and beat Kevin Harvick on a restart, then took the win when rain cut short the Firestarters Casino 400.

    “I got the jump on Harvick on that final restart,” Bowyer said. “For the second time on Sunday, it was like someone was shot out of a cannon.”

    5. Martin Truex Jr.: Truex finished 18th at Michigan.

    “Rain delayed the start of the race,” Truex said, “and rain shortened the race. As far as I, the 2018 Monster Energy Cup champion, is concerned, it’s ‘reigning‘ all the time.”

    6. Brad Keselowski: Keselowski finished sixth at Michigan.

    “The checkered flag flew early on Sunday,” Keselowski said. “Now, I could be referring to our race, or the Canadian Grand Prix, where supermodel Winnie Harlow flew the checkered flag two laps early. She should be embarrassed. Harlow’s next trip down the runway should be on the cat-walk of shame.”

    7. Kurt Busch: Busch started on the pole at Michigan and finished third, as Stewart-Haas Racing finished 1-2-3.

    “That’s right,” Busch said. “My SHR teammates Clint Bowyer and Kevin Harvick finished first and second. Team owner Tony Stewart is thrilled. The last time Tony and I were involved in a ‘1-2-3,’ it was after he punched me in the NASCAR hauler.”

    8. Kyle Larson: Larson, seeking his fourth-straight win at Michigan, struggled to a 28th-place finish at Michigan.

    “I was slowed by a spin in the grass on Lap 85,” Larson said. “That left a huge divot. And, to make another golf reference, the rain made sure that no one had a ‘green in regulation.’”

    9. Ryan Blaney: Blaney won Stage 1 at Michigan and finished with an eighth-place finish.

    “Michigan may have had the best pre-race show in NASCAR history,” Blaney said. “Mostly because a daredevil was shot out of a cannon into a net. That’s excitement. And speaking of ‘excitement,’ the original ‘human cannonball’ in NASCAR was ‘Mr. Excitement’ himself, Jimmie Spencer, who once emptied the water when he once plopped into a swimming pool.”

    10. Denny Hamlin: Hamlin finished 12th at Michigan and is now eighth in the points standings, 196 out of first.

    “We have a week off,” Hamlin said, “then it’s off to Sonoma, in California wine country, for a road course race. I’m not sure traditional NASCAR fans enjoy road races. They prefer the combination of alcohol and twists and turns to comprise their drunken drive home from an oval race.”

  • Hot 20 – 50 years of NASCAR at Michigan

    Hot 20 – 50 years of NASCAR at Michigan

    Another weekend. Another race. Another track that does not excite me. Welcome to NASCAR.

    Michigan International Speedway, located in the lush, rolling Irish Hills, is about 40 miles southwest of Ann Arbor. The fact it is considered a sister track of Texas, and the basis of the facility in Fontana does not exactly thrill anyone, but they do go fast there. Speeds of over 215 mph can be expected. Will it cause a newbie to tune in for all of the excitement? Nope. However, there are questions those of us who follow the sport will watch in order to uncover some answers.

    Will the race change who is in a Chase place and who is not? Erik Jones and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. are less than 20 points to the good, leaving them vulnerable to be caught by Alex Bowman. That could happen. A win by Paul Menard, Daniel Suarez, Jamie McMurray, William Byron, Ryan Newman, or Bubba Wallace would tumble at least one of them out. Are the odds good that this will happen? Nope.

    As they are working on their 14th name sponsor since 1969, this track does not have a brand name that much resonates. That is unless you happen to have been a big fan of the FireKeepers Casino Hotel over the past couple of years. Newman has won there twice, in 2003 and 2004, so that should still your beating heart. Kurt Busch, Kyle Larson, and Matt Kenseth each have three to their credit over the years.

    If you want tradition, there was nine-time track winner David Pearson. Cale Yarborough had eight. Bill Elliott shook the suds seven times. Mark Martin and Rusty Wallace both won at Michigan five times. Four-time victors there include Dale Jarrett, Bobby Allison, Richard Petty, and Greg Biffle.

    This is not to say there have not been exciting finishes. Jarrett won his first in Cup with a razor-thin margin over Davey Allison in 1991. Ernie Irvan took one in 1997, three years after nearly losing his life at the same track. Jeff Gordon claimed a tight contest with Ricky Rudd in 2001. 2009 was the year Martin won when both Jimmie Johnson and then Biffle ran out of fuel on the final lap. Of course, there was 2012 when Dale Earnhardt Jr. finally snapped a 143-race winless streak. Great finishes. Great races? Don’t ask and I won’t tell.

    The last four who won this particular event include Johnson, the elder Busch, Logano, and Larson. If it is not Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick, or Martin Truex Jr., the smart money is on either Logano or Larson. Anything else would be something of a shock.

    Here is a look at our Hot 20 going in.

    1. KYLE BUSCH – 4 WINS – 624 Pts
    Has won here, but that was August 21, 2011.

    2. KEVIN HARVICK – 4 WINS (1 E.W.) – 537 Pts
    One pit stop at Pocono made all the difference.

    3. MARTIN TRUEX JR. – 2 WINS – 487 Pts
    After last weekend, he is back among the Big Three where he belongs.

    4. JOEY LOGANO – 1 WIN – 524 Pts
    One more win, and we will be talking about a Big Four, and all would belong on that pedestal.

    5. CLINT BOWYER – 1 WIN – 453 Pts
    I just saw a photo of Carly Bowyer. She looks nothing like Clint. Hey, just sayin’.

    6. AUSTIN DILLON – 1 WIN – 269 Pts
    It is a very good thing a win is a golden ticket, as he has done nothing since Daytona.

    7. BRAD KESELOWSKI – 474 POINTS
    Just a 90 mile drive from his Michigan hometown to the track.

    8. KURT BUSCH – 447 POINTS
    Has won there with Roush Fenway, Penske, and Stewart-Haas. Maybe it was the driver.

    9. DENNY HAMLIN – 437 POINTS
    With less than 15 laps to go last week, turned a shot at a Top Ten into 35th.

    10. KYLE LARSON- 425 POINTS
    Has won three of the last four Michigan races, including a spring-summer sweep last year.

    11. RYAN BLANEY – 413 POINTS
    Took the pole last week, but only dogs truly appreciate a pole.

    12. ARIC ALMIROLA – 406 POINTS
    He is about as safe as one can be without a win.

    13. JIMMIE JOHNSON – 360 POINTS
    Five Top Tens in his last seven events. I do believe Mr. Johnson has returned.

    14. CHASE ELLIOTT – 334 POINTS
    Finished in the top dozen the last half dozen races. The boy is movin’ on up.

    15. ERIK JONES – 322 POINTS
    The pride and joy of Byron, Michigan has finishes of 13th and third in his two starts near home.

    16. RICKY STENHOUSE JR. – 319 POINTS
    Have You Driven a Ford Lately? This would be a good time to drive the hell out of this one.

    17. ALEX BOWMAN – 310 POINTS
    Last week’s meeting with Hamlin tumbled Alex out of his Chase place.

    18. PAUL MENARD – 289 POINTS
    Unless he has a win up his sleeve, he can not afford to let the points gap grow any wider.

    19. DANIEL SUAREZ – 258 POINTS
    The best Monterrey, Mexico born driver in NASCAR.

    20. JAMIE MCMURRAY – 253 POINTS
    The best Joplin, Missouri born driver in NASCAR. Carl Edwards was born in Columbia.

  • NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Pocono

    NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Pocono

    Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

    1. Kyle Busch: Busch took third at Pocono and remained atop the Monster Energy Cup points standings.

    “Martin Truex Jr. interjected him into the Cup favorite conversation,” Busch said. “And I think a lot of people are pulling for him over me and Kevin Harvick. Kevin and I are not fan favorites; Martin is. But that’s not the full story. Martin can be ruthless and cold-blooded. Don’t let that smile fool you. While Harvick and I are the bad guys, Truex’s act is a ‘good guise.’”

    2. Kevin Harvick: Harvick led 89 laps and finished fourth at Pocono, posting his 10th top 5 of the season.

    “I’ve gone two races without a win,” Harvick said. “That’s two too many, and also too, too many. I know it sounds like I’m too’ting my own horn. But I’m not. That’s DeLana’s Twitter job.”

    3. Martin Truex Jr.: Truex pulled away on a restart with seven laps to go and held off Kyle Larson to win the Pocono 400.

    “I just wanted to send a message to Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch,” Truex said. “That message is this: I am a big dog, and I plan on staying on the porch. Also, they should get used to their ‘noses’ in my ‘rear end.’”

    4. Joey Logano: Logano finished ninth at Pocono, recording his eleventh top 10 of the year.

    “It was an uneventful day for the most part at Pocono,” Logano said. “And therein lies the problem with attendance at NASCAR: races are so boring, fans are ‘un-eventing‘ them.”

    5. Brad Keselowski: Keselowski took fifth at Pocono, recording his fourth top-five result of the season.

    “Dr. Henry Bock passed away recently,” Keselowski said. “He played a huge role in the creation of the SAFER barrier. I’m sure Dr. Bock will be in heaven, and when it’s my time, I, like many who have been protected by the SAFER barrier, hope to ‘run into him’ up there.”

    6. Kurt Busch: Busch started sixth and finished 19th at Pocono.

    “How about the GM executive who wrecked the pace car at the Detroit Grand Prix?” Busch said. “The crash left a field of debris, leading some to say he needed to ‘pick up the pace.’ But let’s give the man a break. He’s a big-time company big shot, not a race car driver. And I’m sure to be an executive in such a position, it takes a certain amount of ‘drive.’ He just didn’t have it in Detroit.”

    7. Jimmie Johnson: Johnson led his first laps of the season at Pocono and came home eighth at Long Pond’s tri-oval.

    “That’s right,” Johnson said, “I led two laps. That’s two more than the pace car at the Detroit Grand Prix.”

    8. Kyle Larson: Larson finished second at Pocono as his quest to chase down Martin Truex Jr. in the closing laps failed. Larson is ninth in the Monster Energy Cup points standings, 199 behind Kyle Busch.

    “Truex just had too much car,” Larson said. “But I should have executed better on that final restart. But I can forgive myself because I have the absolute right to pardon myself.”

    9. Ryan Blaney: Blaney started on the pole at Pocono and raced to a sixth-place finish.

    “As pole-sitter,” Blaney said, “let me be the first to commend the pace car driver for a job well done. Like he was supposed to, he led the field to green, as opposed to leading the field to yellow, which was the case at the Indy Car Detroit Grand Prix. I guess it could have been worse. The last time an ‘Indy-ana pacer’ lost control in Detroit, you had the ‘Malice In The Palace.”

    10. Clint Bowyer: Bowyer finished 20th at Pocono and now sits sixth in the points standings, 171 out of first.

    “I’ve never been involved in a race in which the pace car wrecked,” Bowyer said. “I have, however, been involved in a race in which there was a mysterious spin.”

  • Hot 20 – If only the action at Pocono could be as cool as its name

    Hot 20 – If only the action at Pocono could be as cool as its name

    Some things matter. Some do not. Every weekend, no more than 30 entries matter to some degree. The rest do not.

    Most weekends NASCAR features a race and while some matter to race fans, most do not. Bristol, Charlotte, Darlington, Daytona, Sonoma, and Talladega races matter due to what they deliver and a long history of tradition.

    Some are loyal to the short tracks at Martinsville and Richmond. Indianapolis is an over-hyped crown jewel, great history but not much gripping action delivered. Homestead gets the nod as long as it hosts the final race of the season. Those tracks present 16 of the 36 points events each season.

    Pocono gives us two. It is a track ranked by some down amongst such venues as Chicago, Fontana, Kansas, and Kentucky. Cool name. Interesting layout. Lovely trees in the background. Like Indianapolis, it might be more entertaining for open-wheel racing than for the fender folk. Still, twice a year they return there, and twice a year I forget about the last one and actually look forward to the tri-oval. Each year I hope that it will all come together for a terrific contest.

    Maybe this year. Maybe this will be the one. It is a track that boasts of the performances put in by the likes of Jeff Gordon, Emerson Fittipaldi, Danny Sullivan, Juan Pablo Montoya, and A. J. Foyt.  Kyle Busch won there last July. Ryan Blaney is the defending June race champion. Chris Buescher won there for Bob Jenkins in 2016. Denny Hamlin has four Pocono wins. Jimmie Johnson and Kurt Busch each have claimed three.

    Yes, the highlight packages of the past from Pocono look truly awesome. The highlights. The actual action come race day….well, maybe this will be the year. I sure hope so. Such things matter.

    1. KYLE BUSCH – 4 WINS – 573 Pts
    If he runs at Pocono like he did at Charlotte, he might be the only one who matters.

    2. KEVIN HARVICK – 4 WINS – 1 E.W. – 485 Pts
    Today, that encumbered win comes in to play.

    3. JOEY LOGANO – 1 WIN – 506 Pts
    Picks up an average of 39 points per race. You do not have to be loved to be awesome.

    4. MARTIN TRUEX, JR. – 1 WIN – 430 Pts
    If he only had some Kryptonite to toss as Superman on Sunday, he could have won it.

    5. CLINT BOWYER – 1 WIN – 421 Pts
    Crew chief Mike (Buga) Bugarewicz would love a happy homecoming.

    6. AUSTIN DILLON – 1 WIN – 244 Pts
    If he had finished second at Daytona, he would be less successful than Suarez.

    7. BRAD KESELOWSKI – 437 POINTS
    Won Saturday’s Xfinity race. Please raise your hand if you give a damn.

    8. KURT BUSCH – 429 POINTS
    The only driver in NASCAR to have seen Kyle Busch wearing a diaper. I hope that is true.

    9. DENNY HAMLIN – 429 POINTS
    “We’re either really good or we’re average at best.” Finishing third is average?

    10. KYLE LARSON – 382 POINTS
    Raced Sunday in Charlotte, North Carolina. Raced Wednesday as an outlaw in Fairbury, Illinois.

    11. ARIC ALMIROLA – 376 POINTS
    The decision to move over from the King to join Smoke has proven to be a good one.

    12. RYAN BLANEY – 375 POINTS
    A cylinder let go around lap 150 and they tried to limp it home. Instead, they started a barbecue.

    13. JIMMIE JOHNSON – 327 POINTS
    Imagine. Almost an entire year with a single win. I bet Michael McDowell can.

    14. ERIK JONES – 314 POINTS
    Three bad luck pit road moments buried any hope of shining last Sunday.

    15. ALEX BOWMAN – 299 POINTS
    One of the greatest coaches in NHL history. What? Sorry, wrong Bowman.

    16. CHASE ELLIOTT – 296 POINTS
    According to TMZ, he believes “Judging Hooters Competition Harder Than Racing Cars”

    17. RICKY STENHOUSE, JR. – 296 POINTS
    His Charlotte experience was better than someone else’s Indianapolis adventure.

    18. PAUL MENARD – 263 POINTS
    Another Cup guy racing Xfinity on Saturday. One more young driver fails to get a ride.

    19. DANIEL SUAREZ – 245 POINTS
    More than 50 points out of the Chase…unless he wins. Winning is always good.

    20. JAMIE MCMURRAY – 231 POINTS
    One ahead of Newman and Byron, two up on Wallace.