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Tag: Cale Yarborough

Rest in peace Cale Yarborough, the toughest racecar driver the world has ever seen

Cale Yarborough, a three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, passed away today at the age of 84. The Timmonsville, South Carolina native’s career spanned 31 years and 560 starts. Yarborough won 83 of those starts, an impressive 14.8% winning percentage. He also set a then-record with 3 consecutive NASCAR Cup Series championships, a record only matched and then broken by 7-time champion Jimmie Johnson.

It seems ironic that the most memorable moment of his career was a heartbreaking loss in what was one of the most iconic finishes in the 1979 Daytona 500, and the fight with the Allison brothers that ensued.

But Daytona also gave him great moments, such as the 1983 Daytona 500, where Yarborough infamously won while making engine noises while driving the No. 28 Hardees car, entertaining the millions of fans who heard him.

Yarborough was hailed as the toughest driver on the blacktop, fighting tooth and nail for every single spot. If a driver upset him, Yarborough let him know. If a competitor respected him, the respect was mutual. Yarborough never made himself out to be a flashy driver, which made sense, considering his humble beginnings. There’s a story that Yarborough and his wife were once on the way to a race in 1962 when a toll booth slowed their journey. Having no money after paying a $10 speeding ticket earlier in their journey and eating hastily made sandwiches along the way, the couple scrambled to find all the money they could in every possible crevice of the car. When they couldn’t come up with the required fare, Yarborough somehow convinced the toll agent to let him pay on the journey back with his race winnings. After an engine failure doomed Yarborough’s night at the track and his financial situation, he borrowed money from the track promoter, paid the toll agent and went on to become one of the greatest drivers in NASCAR history.

Yarborough won his first race at the Valdosta (GA) Speedway in 1965, and started a streak of 8-straight consecutive top-9 points finishes in 1973 and winning Winston Cup titles in 1976, 1977, and 1978. He retired from full-time competition after 1980 and proceeded to run at least 10 races a season until 1987, garnering 14 wins over 8 years to further cement himself as one of the greats.

Whether it be on or off the racetrack, his tough driving style, never-back-down attitude, and work ethic told you he was a racecar driver without him even having to tell you what he did for a living.

Few men have embodied the spirit of a sport brought up by hard-working men and women who were willing to do whatever it took to put food on the table, outrun the law, and most importantly, win. Cale Yarborough, however, was the epitome of the hard-working attitude embraced by so many across the American South who became stock car racing legends.

Cale has now joined the ranks of Dale Earnhardt, David Pearson, Lee Petty, and so many others before him up above, but his legacy here below will be remembered through the ages.

Rest in Peace, Ol’ Hickory.

Cale Yarborough, 1939-2023

December 31, 2023
Michigan International Speedway – Did you know?

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series heads to Michigan International Speedway this weekend for the FireKeepers Casino 400.

Stewart-Haas Racing’s Clint Bowyer is the defending race winner. The Ford driver is winless this year but did you know that Ford Motor Company has won 37 of the 99 Cup Series races at Michigan while Chevrolet has won 26? However, this year may be the exception as Toyota has captured nine wins, Ford has won four times and Chevrolet has only one win this season.

But did you know that Cale Yarborough won the first NASCAR race in a Mercury for Wood Brothers Racing at Michigan on June 15, 1969? The event was highlighted by an intense battle between Yarborough and LeeRoy Yarbrough during the final 150 laps. On the last lap, the drivers made contact twice. Coming out of the final turn Yarbrough spun and crashed 300 yards from the finish line as Cale Yarborough sped past him to claim the checkered flag. It was the first of eight victories at the 2-mile track for Yarborough.

Yarborough still holds the Cup Series record at Michigan for most top fives, with 21, and has led the most laps (1308). But did you know that David Pearson leads all drivers with nine wins at Michigan? He also holds the record for the most poles with 10.

Kurt Busch is the defending pole winner for the FireKeepers Casino 400 and the SHR driver is tied with Team Penske’s Joey Logano with three poles each at the 2-mile track, leading all active drivers. But did you know that 20.2% of the Cup Series races at Michigan have been won from the first starting position? The most recent driver to win from the pole was Chip Ganassi Racing’s Kyle Larson in June 2017.

Larson and Busch also have the most wins at Michigan among active drivers with three. Notably, Larson also earned his first Monster Energy Cup Series win at Michigan in August 2016. However, Chase Elliott has the series-best driver rating of 104.5 at the track. The only item Elliott has left to check off is a trip to victory lane.

Elliott enters the race with the best average finish of 5.33. He is currently third in the series driver standings after winning at Talladega and following that up with four more top-five finishes. But did you know that the Hendrick Motorsports driver has scored six top 10s in six career starts at the track?

And we can’t forget Kevin Harvick who is winless in 2019 after a season-high eight victories last year. But did you know that the driver of the SHR No. 4 Ford enters Michigan with the second-best driver rating of 98.1?

Harvick has two wins at the track and has finished in the top five in his last seven Michigan races with a victory in August and one runner-up finish in June 2018. This weekend’s race could be a turning point in what has been a frustrating season.

You can never count out Joe Gibbs Racing’s Kyle Busch at any venue. But did you know that he has only the 10th-best driver rating (89.2) at Michigan?

With one win in 2011, an average finish of 18.357, 10 top 10s and six top-fives in 28 starts, Busch will be hoping to carry over the momentum of last week’s 55th career victory at Pocono. On the plus side, the team seems to have turned a corner with top-10 finishes in his last four Michigan races.

So far this season, there have been six different winners in 14 races with Joe Gibbs Racing leading the way with nine. Tune into the FireKeepers Casino 400 Sunday, June 9 at 2 p.m. on FS1 and MRN to find out which driver will take home the next trophy.

Follow @angiecampbell_ for the latest NASCAR news and feature stories.

June 6, 2019
NASCAR’s Hot 20 of All-Time
The best of the best, a legacy that has given us 70 championships since 1949. 33 individuals have been able to lay claim to the crown. Three men have won it seven times.

To be a champion immortalizes you, but so does excellent performance. A driver can win, but fail to grab a title. He can also rack up Top Fives and Top Tens, even if he fell a tad short in claiming the checkered flags earned by his competitors.

A few names might surprise you, at first. Yet, when ranked for most championships, wins, Top Fives, and Top Tens, these are the 20 best NASCAR has had to offer in the driver’s seat over 70 seasons of motor mayhem.

I bet there is no argument that the King leads the parade.
1. RICHARD PETTY – Born July 2, 1937
  7 Championships, 200 Wins, 555 Top Fives, 712 Top Tens
2. JEFF GORDON – Born August 4, 1971
  4 Championships, 93 Wins, 325 Top Tens, 477 Top Tens
3. DALE EARNHARDT – (April 29, 1951 – February 18, 2001)
  7 Championships, 76 Wins, 281 Top Fives, 428 Top Tens
4. DAVID PEARSON – (December 22, 1934 – November 12, 2018)
  3 Championships, 105 Wins, 301 Top Fives, 366 Top Tens
5. DARRELL WALTRIP – Born February 5, 1947
  3 Championships, 84 Wins, 276 Top Fives, 390 Top Tens
6. JIMMIE JOHNSON – Born September 17, 1975
  7 Championships, 83 Wins, 224 Top Fives, 352 Top Tens
7. BOBBY ALLISON – Born December 3, 1937
  1 Championship, 84 Wins, 336 Top Fives, 446 Top Tens
8. CALE YARBOROUGH – Born March 27, 1939
  3 Championships, 83 Wins, 255 Top Fives, 319 Top Tens
9. LEE PETTY – (March 14, 1914 – April 5, 2000)
  3 Championships, 54 Wins, 231 Top Fives, 332 Top Tens
10. BUCK BAKER – (March 4, 1919 – April 14, 2002)
  2 Championships, 46 Wins, 246 Top Fives, 372 Tens
11. MARK MARTIN (Born January 9, 1959)
  40 Wins, 271 Top Fives, 453 Top Tens
12. RUSTY WALLACE – (Born August 14, 1956)
  1 Championship, 55 Wins, 202 Top Fives, 349 Top Tens
13. TONY STEWART – (Born May 20, 1971)
  3 Championships, 49 Wins, 187 Top Fives, 308 Top Tens
14. TERRY LABONTE – (Born November 16, 1956)
  2 Championships, 22 Wins, 182 Top Fives, 361 Top Tens
15. NED JARRETT – (Born October 12, 1932)
  2 Championships, 50 Wins, 185 Top Fives, 239 Top Tens
16. RICKY RUDD – (Born September 12, 1956)
  23 Wins, 194 Top Fives, 374 Top Tens
17. KEVIN HARVICK – (Born December 8, 1975)
  1 Championship, 45 Wins, 191 Top Fives, 336 Top Tens
18. HERB THOMAS – (April 6, 1923 – August 9, 2000)
  2 Championships, 48 Wins, 122 Top Fives, 156 Top Tens
19. KYLE BUSCH – (Born May 2, 1985)
  1 Championship, 51 Wins, 183 Top Fives, 269 Top Tens
20. BUDDY BAKER – (January 25, 1941 – August 10, 2015)
  19 Wins, 202 Top Fives, 311 Top Tens
Three of those boys will be out to add to their accomplishments this weekend. The Daytona 500 is coming up this Sunday, a time for new beginnings and a time for bringing things to an end. After 15 years and over a thousand columns of various incarnations, this edition represents my final regular contribution to this site.

I want to thank Barry Albert for providing a writing home for me back in 2004. My thanks to Angie Campbell for her editing prowess and her encouragement. I would like to give a shout out to Racing Reference, a website that helps a fellow make sense of it all, a great aid to such scribes as myself. Finally, thanks to you for joining me on this journey.
February 13, 2019
Hot 20 – Not everyone loves Talladega, but not everyone is normal

Talladega. Do you need any more incentive to watch the action this Sunday? It is Talladega, dammit!

Flying around in aircraft formation inches apart at 200 mph. That would be good enough to force me into the Depends, especially if I were in the passenger seat. It is a track that causes skid marks to appear everywhere. One wobble, one mistake, and a whole bunch of folks find themselves in a world of hurt. It does not have to happen. Just the threat that it could, on each and every lap, is enough to watch, to wonder, and to marvel at the skills of the boys going round and round.

Just the nature of the beast allows almost all to hold out hope that victory could be their own, legends and no frill competitors alike. Many of the greatest names in the sport have won at least three times there. Bobby Allison. Brad Keselowski. Buddy Baker. Cale Yarborough, Dale Earnhardt. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Darrell Waltrip. Davey Allison. David Pearson. Jeff Gordon. Joey Logano. How sweet it would be to be included among those names.

More than a few have had that honor over the past 50 years. The big names boycotted the first race in 1969. Too dangerous, they said. It gave Richard Brickhouse his lone Cup victory. Peter Hamilton had four career wins, two with his sweep in 1970. James Hylton won twice during his career, including the summer of 1972. Dick Brooks claimed his one and only a year later. Same track, same solitary milestone for Lonnie Pond, Ron Bouchard and Phil Parsons.

Talladega is a track that plays no favorites. A legend or a no name can claim victory, and both can expect one hell of a ride at any time on any corner for any reason. To you, an Elliott could just mean a boy who once played with a funny looking alien fellow and ate Reese’s Pieces. Or a Busch is just a cold beer. Or someone named Kyle must mean a chap who does rap (never heard of the guy, personally). None of that would detract from your Talladega experience.

If you base your television viewing on how many times it causes you to exclaim “Holy Crap!”, might I suggest Talladega.

1. CHASE ELLIOTT – 1 ROUND WIN (3056 Pts – 2 Wins)
It is time for Bill to remove the training wheels. The boy no longer needs them.

2. KEVIN HARVICK – 3101 POINTS (7 Wins)
Harvick just hired my 85-year old mother-in-law to join his pit crew. She starts Sunday.

3. KYLE BUSCH – 3096 POINTS (7 Wins)
The knob is gone next year and, no, I am not referring to the driver.

4. MARTIN TRUEX JR. – 3069 POINTS (4 Wins)
Along with Blaney, the Most Popular Driver contenders include him and the names listed above.

5. JOEY LOGANO – 3064 POINTS (1 Win)
Lately, he has been a Top Five guy at Talladega, and that is something he would like to continue.

6. KURT BUSCH – 3054 POINTS (1 Win)
Surviving the Roval and Talladega is not an easy thing to do, but here is hoping.

7. BRAD KESELOWSKI – 3054 POINTS (3 Wins)
Almirola’s drive to Victory Lane took a detour into Keselowski…and stopped there.

8. RYAN BLANEY – 3043 POINTS (1 Win)
Blaney’s Roval win was no accident, but it sure was assisted by one.

9. ARIC ALMIROLA – 3033 POINTS
Can he bounce back after Dover wreck? Sure, he bounced off Keselowski, didn’t he?

10. CLINT BOWYER – 3033 POINTS (2 Wins)
Feels sick about ruining the day for Almirola. Feels even sicker about ruining his own.

11. KYLE LARSON – 3031 POINTS
Good luck and determination got him here, but he will need more than that to continue.

12. ALEX BOWMAN – 3009 POINTS
Sometimes you do not want anything to do with Aric and Brad. Not a damn thing.

13. AUSTIN DILLON – 2101 POINTS (1 Win)
Avoid a wreck and he just might finish…but that has not happened at Talladega for a while.

14. JIMMIE JOHNSON – 2098 POINTS
I am loaning Jimmie my 2008 Chrysler Pacifica so he can at least get his parade laps in.

15. DENNY HAMLIN – 2094 POINTS
The way he is driving he obviously does not know he has been eliminated from contention.

16. ERIK JONES – 2079 POINTS (1 Win)
“How cool would it be to own this cardboard cutout of me in your house?” Not for a grown man.

17. RYAN NEWMAN – 629 POINTS
Just killin’ time.

18. DANIEL SUAREZ – 593 POINTS
About losing his ride, “When you don’t have anything good to say, it’s better not to say anything.”

19. PAUL MENARD – 591 POINTS
Some drivers worry about such things as sponsorship. I wonder if Paul understands why?

20. RICKY STENHOUSE JR. – 581 POINTS
At the moment, he is having a better season than McMurray. Hey, at least it is something.

October 10, 2018
Darlington Raceway has the answers that NASCAR is seeking

When Furniture Row Racing announced that they would cease operations Tuesday, my first reaction was shock. But as the news sunk in I realized that it should not have come as a surprise but rather another indication that NASCAR’s efforts to reduce the cost of operating a team at the premier Cup Series level are failing miserably.

I won’t pretend that I have any answers. To say that NASCAR needs to cut costs is simplistic at best. What I do know is that the current system isn’t working and hasn’t been for some time. Fans aren’t attending races and we don’t need the track records to verify this. All we have to do is view the television broadcast on any given Sunday and it’s impossible to miss the empty seats. Television ratings are down and the only competitive teams are those that are funded by the owners with the deepest pockets.

But as I pictured those empty seats I immediately thought about this past weekend at Darlington Raceway. I remembered standing outside and looking at the grandstands and realizing that they were packed with enthusiastic fans. So enthusiastic that when the threat of severe weather forced the track to announce that everyone should leave their seats and find shelter, hardly anyone moved. Those fans were not about to miss one minute of the upcoming Southern 500.

Maybe Darlington has found at least some of the answers that have eluded NASCAR. Their throwback weekends have certainly been a success although it’s not a formula that would work anywhere else. But the ideals behind it just might. It may not address the main issue of cutting costs but it’s a place to start and a step in the right direction.

What they do best is give fans what they want and it starts with tradition. Past winners include the men who laid the foundation for NASCAR, names like Cale Yarborough, Bobby Allison, Herb Thomas, David Pearson, Dale Earnhardt, and Bill Elliott, to name a few.

And each year, Darlington continues to pay tribute to its storied history. This weekend Richard Petty, one of NASCAR’s most iconic and influential ambassadors and winner of the 1967 Rebel 400 held court at the track. He was joined by others such as Jeff Burton, Ward Burton and Ricky Craven, all past winners at the “Track Too Tough to Tame.” Local dignitary, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, an ardent supporter of Darlington Raceway, was there as well.

The track itself adds another distinctive element to the race’s appeal with its unique design, making it a standout among the newer cookie-cutter venues that are almost interchangeable. While adjusting the schedule to include a more diverse selection of tracks is not something that can be done overnight, it’s an issue that needs to be addressed, sooner rather than later.

As for the next step, consider this tweet from Michael Waltrip, as he suggests a way to address risings costs.

“Listen people closely and I will tell why making a NASCAR team work financially is nearly impossible. NASCAR stands for National Association for STOCK Car Auto Racing. The Stock piece of our name is gone. Bring back Stock and you might fix a broken business model.”

Waltrip’s idea may sound good in theory but it is also unfeasible.

Although it’s impossible to turn back time, it is never a good idea to forget the past. It’s time to embrace what drew people to NASCAR in the first place – competitive racing, passionate drivers who aren’t afraid to speak their minds, a sense of community and tradition. Focus on the basics; the fans will come and the sponsors will follow.

What steps should NASCAR take to get back on course? That is the million dollar question.

Follow @angiecampbell_ for the latest NASCAR news and feature stories.

September 5, 2018
Hot 20 – Back to Darlington, back to a September tradition and the Southern 500

Tradition. On Sunday, NASCAR returns to its traditional roots, to the track that was Daytona before Bill France replaced the beach-road course with his 2.5-mile architectural marvel. Before the Daytona 500, the marquee event was held in Darlington.

The Southern 500 has been on the calendar since 1950, except for a brief period when NASCAR went insane and dug up its roots in the name of a few dollars. On Sunday, the boys will be back to the 1.3-mile circuit of Herb Thomas, Buck Baker, and Fireball Roberts. They made the place famous long before the likes of Jeff Gordon, Cale Yarborough, Bobby Allison, David Pearson, Dale Earnhardt, or Bill Elliott made their marks. Maybe I should say, before the Lady in Black left her marks on them.

Each of our Big Three have won there as has our only active seven-time season champion. A classic race and a top-notch broadcast crew on NBC to keep you glued to the television. It does not get any better than this.

1. KYLE BUSCH – 6 WINS (1003 Pts)
His throwback weekend would include a repeat of 2008, except this time in September.

2. KEVIN HARVICK – 6 WINS (1 E.W. – 960 Pts)
He won his Southern 500 in 2014…in April.

3. MARTIN TRUEX JR. – 4 WINS (849 Pts)
Won it in 2016 after sanity returned and it once again was the Labor Day Classic.

4. CLINT BOWYER – 2 WINS (776 Pts)
His car will have a Ned Jarrett look, who won the 1965 race by a record 14 laps. Fourteen laps!

5. KURT BUSCH – 1 WIN (796 Pts)
21 attempts, 21 times he has not been invited to the Lady in Black’s post-race boudoir.

6. JOEY LOGANO – 1 WIN (768 Pts)
He will be honoring Pennzoil and Steve Park when they hit the line on Sunday.

7. CHASE ELLIOTT – 1 WIN (697 Pts)
Dad won the Southern 500 three times. If the son could win, that would be awesome, eh Bill?

8. ERIK JONES – 1 WIN (635 Pts)
He seemed to tame the track in his first outing. Might she be out for revenge this year?

9. AUSTIN DILLON – 1 WIN (475 Pts)
After Daytona, Dillon disappeared but he has been making some noise as of late.

10. RYAN BLANEY – 733 POINTS
His car will have the same look at his father’s did…when Ryan was nine.

11. BRAD KESELOWSKI – 730 POINTS
Driving a hot rod with a paint scheme Rusty Wallace would love…and does.

12. KYLE LARSON – 729 POINTS
Remember Davey Allison’s rookie colors of 1988? Larson will remind you what that looked like.

13. DENNY HAMLIN – 707 POINTS
Eight years, two Southern 500 wins, a pair of runner-up finishes, and all but once in the Top Six.

14. ARIC ALMIROLA – 658 POINTS
Racing the colors that made Danica Patrick a winner. Okay, I’m just being facetious.

15. JIMMIE JOHNSON – 604 POINTS
Driving throwback colors of…himself. Did not win a title in 2012…but did win a Southern 500.

16. ALEX BOWMAN – 572 POINTS
Not sporting throwback colors. Probably was worried it would distract one of the announcers.

17. RICKY STENHOUSE JR. – 493 POINTS
Nothing runs like a Deere. That is what Ricky is hoping for.

18. RYAN NEWMAN – 481 POINTS
Will be looking a lot like the first RCR driver to race the No. 31…Neil Bonnett.

19. DANIEL SUAREZ – 479 POINTS
A good throwback scheme would be Jack Roush cars that could compete.

20. PAUL MENARD – 473 POINTS
Has to win either at Darlington or Indianapolis, or all he gets is a Participation Trophy.

August 29, 2018
Hot 20 – Michigan is the focus of this weekend but, apparently, so is France

Bill France. Bill France, Jr. These men were NASCAR.

Smokey Yunick. Maurice Petty. Glen Wood, Leonard Wood. Ray Evernham. These men were NASCAR.

Lee Petty. Richard Petty. Fireball Roberts. Joe Weatherly, Junior Johnson. Bobby Allison. Dale Earnhardt. Cale Yarborough. Darrell Waltrip. Bill Elliott. These men were NASCAR.

Ned Jarrett. Ken Squier. These men were NASCAR.

Tony Stewart. Jeff Gordon. Mark Martin. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Carl Edwards. These men were NASCAR.

Rick Hendrick. Joe Gibbs. Roger Penske. Jack Roush. Richard Childress. These men are NASCAR.

Jimmie Johnson. Kyle Busch, Kurt Busch. Kevin Harvick. Martin Truex, Jr. Denny Hamlin. Brad Keselowski. Kyle Larson. Chase Elliott. These men are NASCAR.

These men, a few women, and so many others made the sport. Were the sport. Are the sport.

Brian France is not NASCAR. There is a reason 97 percent of all family businesses do not survive as such into the fourth generation.

At Michigan on Sunday, NBC’s stellar broadcast crew will once again deliver to our living rooms the people who are NASCAR. Those who matter. The reasons we watch.

Especially our Hot 20. Only 16 spots are open to qualify for a championship run, but a win gets one in and there are only four opportunities left to do just that. Right now, that is the only driving news that matters when it comes to NASCAR.

1. KYLE BUSCH – 6 WINS (934 Pts)
Smokey Yunick would not have let a fueling malfunction stop one of his cars from winning.

2. KEVIN HARVICK – 6 WINS (864 Pts)
Such a terrible day it was at Watkins Glen. He only finished 10th. Only.

3. MARTIN TRUEX JR. – 4 WINS (813 Pts)
Everyone was just thrilled Chase won last week…except for this one.

4. CLINT BOWYER – 2 WINS (703 Pts)
June was a good month to visit Michigan. Hoping August will be just as rewarding.

5. JOEY LOGANO – 1 WIN (691 Pts)
Nice day at the beach at Watkins Glen, though the only water was pouring from his radiator.

6. CHASE ELLIOTT – 1 WIN (619 Pts)
Five Michigan career starts, finishing 2nd, 2nd, 2nd, 8th, and 9th. The boy wants another, it seems.

7. ERIK JONES – 1 WIN (572 Pts)
No longer the best 22-year-old driver this season.

8. AUSTIN DILLON – 1 WIN (412 Pts)
A win and you are in. I like that rule, but…

9. KURT BUSCH – 705 POINTS
No charges were issued, yet Brian France once suspended him. Just thought I would mention it.

10. BRAD KESELOWSKI – 670 POINTS
Winning his first of the season in his home state would be sweet.

11. KYLE LARSON – 660 POINTS
Has won three of the last four at Michigan, a string only interrupted by Bowyer two months ago.

12. DENNY HAMLIN – 650 POINTS
New Redskins’ Super Bowl XXVI cap comes 26 years after the original flew out the bus window.

13. RYAN BLANEY – 639 POINTS
As long as he does not drive like Brian France, he will be in the mix after Indianapolis.

14. ARIC ALMIROLA – 602 POINTS
Unlike Canada and Saudi Arabia, Almirola and DiBenedetto have renewed diplomatic relations.

15. JIMMIE JOHNSON – 563 POINTS
I bet you thought Bowyer was the NASCAR guy with the road service ties.

16. ALEX BOWMAN – 523 POINTS
Unless he gives up 18 points per race between now and after Indianapolis, he is in, unless…

17. RICKY STENHOUSE JR. – 461 POINTS
…Ricky or anyone from him down to Matt DiBenedetto can win one of the next four.

18. PAUL MENARD – 451 POINTS
The Wood Brothers auto should be strong at Michigan, but it needs to be the strongest.

19. DANIEL SUAREZ – 434 POINTS
Some actually believe Suarez has a shot this weekend to win. Maybe a small wager is in order.

20. RYAN NEWMAN – 431 POINTS
Won at Michigan once in 2003 and once in 2004. He sure could use another one now.

August 8, 2018
The Final Word – Talladega, bringing you the thrill of victory…and the agony of defeat

Talladega was sweet. That was the kind of action that captured my attention as a kid, watching Wide World of Sports. As Jim McKay so iconically put it all those years ago, “Spanning the globe to bring you the constant variety of sport… the thrill of victory… and the agony of defeat… the human drama of athletic competition.” That was Sunday at Talladega.

Joey Logano got the thrill. It was his third on the big track and the 19th Cup victory of his career. It was exciting, but not exactly a nail-biter, as Logano led the final 42 laps. Kurt Busch was right there in case he faltered, while Chase Elliott did manage to slip ahead of Kevin Harvick at the line for third.

Thrills for the fans meant the agony of defeat for so many others, as it often does when the circuit visits Alabama. Jamie McMurray had one hell of a spill during practice, tumbling through the air to roll over a half dozen times to totally destroy his primary ride. His back-up fared a little better. Erik Jones caught the apron, went up to get turned by McMurray, then onward to pile into Trevor Bayne along the wall. It also ruined the day for Kyle Larson and Martin Truex Jr. Innovation, thy name is Talladega. To get Truex back out there, the crew busted out a concrete saw in order to make repairs. That was a first.

No big one yet, but the clock was ticking. With 22 laps to run, William Byron took the air off the rear of Jimmie Johnson’s equally unstable auto, and the fun began. While Johnson survived to eventually finish 12th, Byron, Paul Menard, Clint Bowyer, Michael McDowell, Brad Keselowski, A.J. Allmendinger and Austin Dillon were toast on the spot.

We learned a few things at Talladega. First, pit road infractions might set you back, but they did not end your hopes on the 2.66-mile loop. Elliott, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Alex Bowman, and Daniel Suarez were among those tagged who managed to finish in the Top Ten. However, if you get hit with speeding late in the race and then get hit for speeding again while taking the pass-through penalty, your hopes evaporate. They did for Denny Hamlin, though even he recovered enough over the next hour for a lead lap 14th place conclusion.

We learned that pitting early helps. On the opening segment Ford and Toyota all came in early on, the Chevys did not. They also did not lead the parade at the end of the stage. Lesson learned, so when the Fords came back to the pits early in the second segment, the Toyota boys arrived on the next lap, with Chevrolet just one more behind them. Not that it worked for them all. Six of the Top Seven at Talladega were Fords. Chevy had the third, eighth, and ninth best, with Kyle Busch driving the best Toyota in 10th.

With 58-points, Logano took the lion’s share of points, with only Harvick and Stenhouse among the others breaking 40. David Ragan is 25th on the season, but sixth on the day. Single point days were “enjoyed” by Top 20 drivers Larson and Jones.

From Talladega, we technically stay in the south as the circuit moves to Dover, Delaware. It might not be Talladega, but it sports one of the best trophies in the sport at a track owned by legends. In the first 18 races run there from 1969 through 1978, the winners were limited to Richard Petty (5), David Pearson (5), Bobby Allison (3), Cale Yarborough (3), and Benny Parsons (2). That is some kind of blue-blood pedigree, Hall of Famers all.

By the way, the first time we saw Dover on our television screens it was 1974. The man who got the thrill of victory that day was Yarborough. The agony of defeat was experienced by Petty, as the race leader lost an engine with three laps to go. The action was described by Bill Flemming and Chris Economaki. The program, ABC’s Wide World of Sports.

April 30, 2018
Hot 20 – Nothing like a good swig of Bristol to get the taste of Texas out of your mouth

Texas. That may have been the worst NASCAR race I ever watched. If not, I hope I never remember a worse one. Indianapolis in 2008 might challenge it, but that was due to having to throw out a caution every 10 laps to prevent the damn tires from exploding. That race was a disaster due to the tires. Texas was a disaster all on its own. If you saw it and liked it, I envy you.

Bristol. This is where all those bad feelings about horrid racing should all go away. It is where Darrell Waltrip won a dozen times, including seven straight. Nine times Cale Yarborough, Dale Earnhardt, and Rusty Wallace each shook the suds. It is where Kyle Busch will try to claim his second straight this year to up his own total to seven.

Bristol is where they have been providing NASCAR thrills twice a year since 1961. Earnhardt and Wallace both won their first there. It was where Davey Allison edged out Mark Martin by inches in 1990. It is where Busch won over Jeff Burton in 2007 and then Martin in the fall race of 2009 by a combined margin of under two-tenths of a second.

The former Southeastern 500 has had Food City as its sponsor since 1992. Wallace claimed this particular Bristol offering six times. Jimmie Johnson won it last year. Well, there is no time like the present.

If you watched last week, come on back. This is Bristol. Things will be different this Sunday. I promise.

1. KEVIN HARVICK – 3 WINS – 257 Pts
A damn lug nut and some damn lug who could not even tighten a nut. That was Texas.

2. KYLE BUSCH – 1 WIN – 316 Pts
Finally got to walk down the aisle, but Harvick did his best to ruin the party again.

3. MARTIN TRUEX JR. – 1 WIN – 250 Pts
He coulda been a contender. He coulda been somebody, instead, a tire blew and he was done.

4. CLINT BOWYER – 1 WIN – 249 Pts
A win and averaging over 35 points per race. How sweet life is.

5. AUSTIN DILLON – 1 WIN – 159 Pts
The only member of the Bowtie Brigade with a checkered flag.

6. JOEY LOGANO – 278 POINTS
So, this is a comeback year? If only his 2017 Richmond win had not been encumbered.

7. RYAN BLANEY – 265 POINTS
Fifth straight Cup guy to win a Xfinity race. I wonder what those ratings are like?

8. BRAD KESELOWSKI – 237 POINTS
Brad has nothing to say regarding the questionable air guns. When did that ever happen before?

9. KURT BUSCH – 224 POINTS
All I hear is how great Kyle is at this or how wonderful Kyle did that! Kyle, Kyle, Kyle!

10. DENNY HAMLIN – 222 POINTS
A pair of pit penalties could not do what that wreck early in the final segment accomplished.

11. KYLE LARSON – 202 POINTS
The wheels on the car get ground, ground, ground and then they make a terrible sound.

12. ERIK JONES – 193 POINTS
Thinks 400 miles at Texas would be enough. I think 40 feet is enough.

13. ARIC ALMIROLA – 177 POINTS
Texas was lovely for Almirola until it wasn’t.

14. ALEX BOWMAN – 154 POINTS
Wished he could have had a day like Almirola. Bowman’s was messed up by the second lap.

15. PAUL MENARD – 146 POINTS
30th in Texas and still on this chart. It gives you an idea how bad the day went for others…

16. RYAN NEWMAN – 145 POINTS
…like Newman. He was 27th after another tire left another driver hitting another wall.

17. WILLIAM BYRON – 135 POINTS
A Top Ten. See, Texas did not suck for everybody.

18. CHASE ELLIOTT – 128 POINTS
A brace that supports the rear window did not meet specs in Texas, at a cost of 20 points.

19. DARRELL WALLACE JR. – 126 POINTS
A new look driver, an old look number, and an old-time sponsor for Bristol.

20. A.J. ALLMENDINGER – 123 POINTS
Okay, this is the Hot 19 along with a trio currently on simmer.

21. JIMMIE JOHNSON – 123 POINTS
Lose a couple of pounds, eat a chocolate cake. Gain a few points, then get wrecked. Same idea.

22. RICKY STENHOUSE JR. – 123 POINTS
Are drivers athletes? Well, just ask Kansas football coach David Beaty.

April 11, 2018
The Final Word – The Daytona 500 finish reminded us of when giants ruled the asphalt

Unstable. Set to go off with the least provocation. No, I’m not talking about CNN or late night talk show hosts, most celebrities, or more than a few politicians. What I am referring to is the Daytona 500.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. weebled, wobbled, and stacked ‘em up. He drove off, for the moment at least, but it was goodbye Erik Jones, Daniel Suarez, and Jimmie Johnson before they got 60 laps in. Segment two found Chase Elliott the meat in a Ryan Blaney – Brad Keselowski sandwich and the aerodynamics took care of the rest. Adios Elliott, Keselowski, Kevin Harvick, and Danica Patrick. Then, down to the final couple of scheduled laps on the day, Kurt Busch was near the front but traded paint with Blaney and found himself facing the wrong way. Sayonara Kurt, Alex Bowman, and Matt DiBenedetto, who had looked so good before things went so bad.

Good was remembering 20 years ago when the No. 3 crossed the finish line first, and car owner Richard Childress looking so happy for his driver, Dale Earnhardt. Sunday we saw Childress looking happy once more as the No. 3 of grandson Austin Dillon took the Great American Race. For a brief moment, we remembered a time when things were not so unstable, when the news was really the news, and you could believe what you had heard and seen. Believe me, what we saw at the end of the Daytona 500 felt so real and good, if only because it reminded us of a time past.

Of course, Dillon won it because Aric Almirola threw a block in front of Dillon’s freight train, and wound up as one would expect in such a situation. While Dillon went on to win, Bubba Wallace, driving for Richard Petty, was the guy pushing him to victory, edging out Denny Hamlin at the line. Joey Logano was fourth, which was not as surprising as finding Chris Buescher taking fifth. Blaney, who was seventh in the end, was third in the opening stage and took the second to lead the points standings. He sits six ahead of Dillon and Paul Menard, who was sixth.

It was an entertaining race, assisted by the volatility of the cars that made things a tad unpredictable for us, and for the drivers. The race kept us engaged while the television crew did not drive us off. In fact, the FOX coverage was pretty darn good. I do like the left side of the screen ticker better than the scroll they used to run atop it. Informative and entertaining. What a concept.

Some were not as enthralled with the action. It was not worth a crap if you were named Kyle. Kyle Larson got some damage in that opening wreck and finished 19th. Kyle Busch had tires going down and fenders smacking the fence and wound up 25th. Stenhouse was blowing more steam than Old Faithful late in the second stage, and the Busch wreck really left him steaming in 29th when the day was over.

Heading to Atlanta, Suarez, Jones, and Johnson sit with a single point each for their Daytona efforts. Johnson has won two of the last three raced down in Georgia, with Keselowski the defending race champ. With just five points, ole Brad also could use some stability himself come next week. Last Sunday, as oft times happens at Daytona, we were provided with a good show.

The Daytona 500 finished with some of NASCAR’s most iconic numbers, the No. 3, the No.43, the No. 11 and the No. 22, coming home one-two-three-four. Just for the briefest of moments, the hands on the wheel could have been those of Earnhardt. Petty. Cale Yarborough (or was it Ned Jarrett or Darrell Waltrip?). Fireball Roberts. Those were the days when giants ruled the asphalt. May such memories of the past merge with the reality that was last Sunday. May they just be the harbinger of more good things for Sundays come.

February 19, 2018