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NASCAR 2012 Season Predictions

[media-credit id=18 align=”alignright” width=”300″][/media-credit]*Kevin Harvick’s wife DeLana gives birth to a healthy baby boy on July 14^th. The couple refuses an anonymous $1,000,000 offer to name the baby “Jimmy John,” as well as an anonymous $2,000,000 offer to name the baby “Kyle Hates.” Instead, the Harvick’s name the child “Richard Childress Harvick.”

Then in July during an incident in the New Hampshire Motor Speedway garage area, Kyle Busch is punched by a “Richard Childress” for the second time in less than a year when young Harvick nabs Busch trying to steal candy from a baby.

Kevin Harvick finishes the season with four wins and finishes fourth in the final Sprint Cup standings.

*Brad Keselowski leads at the halfway point of the Daytona 500, earning the $200,000 bonus, and tweets about it as he speeds around the 2.5 mile oval at over 200 miles per hour. NASCAR is not too pleased, and true to their commitment to abolishing secret fines, announces a $25,000 fine for Keselowski on Twitter.

*Kurt Busch, in his new ride for Phoenix Racing, is the laughingstock of the NASCAR garage, and this time, it has nothing to do with his ears. Busch remains bewildered as to the reasons of the laughter, that is, until Roger Penske, a Greek mythology aficionado, explains to Busch the legend of the Phoenix, a mythical firebird that builds a nest, then burns the nest and itself to a pile of ashes, after which a new Phoenix emerges.

Busch is oblivious to the connection, and says he’s never burned a nest, but does cop to burning several bridges.

*Four-time Sprint Cup champion Jeff Gordon begins the “Drive For Five,” the 11^th installment of his annual quest for his fifth Sprint Cup title.

Hendrick Motosports teammate Kasey Kahne simultaneously begins his own “Drive For 5,” as he takes over the No. 5 car driven by Mark Martin. Kahne’s first order of business in his new car is to adjust the seat. His second order of business is to squelch the retirement rumors inherent in driving the No. 5.

*In honor of the deal with Stewart Haas Racing that ensures Danica Patrick a starting spot in the season’s first five races, the Bradford Exchange offers the “Danica Patrick Silver Platter” collectible edition place settings. Each plate is hand-crafted, and comes with a matching spoon, as well as a GoDaddy.com napkin holder.

Patrick starts 29^th in the Daytona 500, and finishes 39^th after a wreck with Robby Gordon sends her to the garage, where a miffed Gordon demands an apology, and a refund for some worthless merchandise he hastily purchased.

*Boris Said wins the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Infineon Raceway on June 24^th, slipping by Marcos Ambrose on the final lap. In the post-race press conference, Said Shockingly announces his retirement from racing in order to pursue his true love, rock and roll. Said introduces his band, the “Said Heads,” featuring Said on vocals, Boris Heard on guitar, Boris Smelled on bass, Boris Tasted on drums, and Boris Felt on keyboards.

The “Said Heads” first single, “Greg Biffle Needs A Friggin’ Whoopin,’ And I’m Going To Give It To Him,” debuts at Number 198 on Billboards Top 200 modern rock tracks, and the band later embarks on a Japanese tour opening for Slipknot and GWAR.

*The pairing of Denny Hamlin and new crew chief Darian Grubb is an instant success, as Hamlin wins three of the season’s first eight races, including back-to-back wins at Martinsville and Texas. An optimistic Hamlin starts thinking about winning a championship, while a pessimistic Grubb starts thinking about losing his job.

*Bill Elliott’s pilots his Wal-Mart-sponsored car to a solid 9^th-place finish at the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona on July 7^th, a result that proves two things: 1) Elliott’s still got it, and 2) you can still get a 27 cent can of kidney beans at Wal-Mart.

*Carl Edwards wins the Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway, dominating a race marked by few lead changes and ever fewer cautions. Luckily, massive 2011 road construction projects alleviate traffic issues at the track, allowing fans speedy egress from the Sparta facility, resulting in some of the weekend’s best racing.

Edwards posts five wins in the season’s first 26 races, and starts the Chase For The Cup in first, and finishes second to Jimmie Johnson for the Sprint Cup title.

*Dale Earnhardt, Jr. snaps his winless streak by winning the Aaron’s 499 at Talladega on May 6^th, starting from the pole and leading 198 laps. After a victory lap, Earnhardt drives his No. 88 Chevrolet into the infield, where legions of Junior Nation fans, ironically “amped” up on Diet Mountain Dew, lift the 3,400 machine over their heads, as it becomes the first vehicle in history to “crowd surf.”

Earnhardt doesn’t win again until December, when he captures NASCAR’s most popular driver award.

*Kyle Busch sweeps the weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway in late August, winning the Camping World Truck, Nationwide, and Sprint Cup races.

Busch celebrates with the slowest victory procession in history, a drive which takes him from Bristol to Mooresville, NC at four miles per hour. There, Busch cruises at a snail’s pace through the winding back roads of rural Iredell County for hours, until a county officer stops him and advises him that “You’ll have to go faster.” A satisfied Busch complies.

*Prior to the Nationwide STP 300 at Chicagoland Speedway, the Reverend Jesse Jackson voices his protest over the lack of minorities in NASCAR by uttering the phrase “bigotry, bigotry, bigotry” in his invocation, leading to a firestorm of controversy, as well as an Auto-tuned Youtube hit song.

The situation leads to a dialogue between Jackson and Brian France, and the

Simpleminded NASCAR chairman agrees to make changes, starting the following week in Indianapolis, where France taps the Black Keys to perform before the race.

*Columbia Pictures announces it will film a sequel to Talladega Night: The Ballad Of Ricky Bobby titled Talladega Nights 2: The Ballad Of An Entirely Fictional Character Loosely-Based On Tony Stewart. A clean-shaven Zack Galifianakis is tapped to play the title role, and immediately begins a strict dietary regimen to gain 15 pounds for the role.

*Dale Earnhardt, Jr. adopts the phrase “One In ‘12” as the official rallying cry in his quest to capture his first Sprint Cup championship. However, after a late-season slump leaves him in 15^th place in the points standings, “One In 12” quickly becomes Earnhardt’s rallying cry for simply making the Chase.

*It takes three months for Matt Kenseth to earn his first win of the season, a victory at Charlotte in the Coca-Cola 600, and another two months for people to start caring.

*Jimmie Johnson, feeling that he needs a change, shaves his signature beard and grows a Fu Manchu mustache, which affords him a more serious and sinister look. Johnson becomes the most-feared driver at autograph signings, as well as on the track, where his newfound persona rankles many drivers, including Joey Logano, who is envious of any type of facial hair.

Johnson wins his sixth Cup title with a masterful performance in the Chase, winning four races and wrapping up the title at Phoenix on November 11^th.

February 9, 2012
Carl Edwards Will Sign Autographes at Canadian Motorsports Expo

[media-credit name=”Credit: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images for NASCAR” align=”alignright” width=”225″][/media-credit]After finishing second in last year’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series standings, Carl Edwards will be coming to Canada for the Canadian Motorsports Expo on Saturday February 11th. Edwards will be signing autographs and taking part in an hour Q&A session with the fans.

“I’m looking forward to coming to Toronto on Saturday, February 11 to meet Canadian racing fans at the Canadian Motorsports Expo,” Edwards said. “I was in kind of a rush the last time I was in Canada, last August. We were doing double-duty that weekend, shuttling back and forth between the Michigan Cup race and the Nationwide race in Montreal. This time, it’ll be nice to chat with the fans in a more relaxed setting.”

Edwards finished second in standings after Tony Stewart won the tie-breaker as he had won more races than Edwards in 2011. The championship battle last year between Edwards and Tony Stewart stands as the closest championship battle in NASCAR’s history. Edwards is also one of the drivers to win a race on Canadian soil as he won the 2009 NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

The Canadian Motorsports Expo Powered by Inside Track Motorsports News will be taking place at the International Centre from February 10th to February 12th.

“We’re very pleased to announce that Carl Edwards will be our headline celebrity at this year’s Canadian Motorsports Expo,” CME’s David Weber said. “Heading into this year’s show, virtually all of our exhibitor space has been sold and we’ve gotten a lot of great support from some of the country’s top companies, racing series, tracks, manufacturers and retailers. This year’s CME is going to be the best ever, and we’re extremely excited that Carl Edwards is going to be part of it.”

The three-day event is meant to highlight the best of Canadian motorsports, while giving the fans a chance to meet racing superstars. Along with Edwards’ appearance, there will be a CASCAR reunion held on February 12th and the Inside Track Reader’s Choice Awards will be given out on February 10th.

Watch the CME’s website (www.CanadianMotorsportsExpo.com) for details on Carl Edwards’ appearance, including confirmed times and the autograph session, and for more information about the Canadian Motorsports Expo.

January 20, 2012
Common Sense Rules for NASCAR

CIA Stock Photo

I was reading a NASCAR news story the other day and thinking to myself, ‘What ever happened to common sense?’ And then it occurred to me that the term common sense is an oxymoron.

Having the sense to do or say the right thing has become a characteristic that is rare in today’s society. NASCAR is a perfect example of this.

Common sense and truisms are closely linked so I thought I would share some of these truths as guidelines for the common sense impaired.

A closed mouth gathers no foot. This one is simple. Think before you speak (or tweet) and avoid those embarrassing headlines (Kasey Kahne-Breastgate).

Be careful who you step on while climbing the ladder of success; you’re liable to meet them on the way down. Kurt Busch

Don’t bite the hand that feeds you. Just ask Denny Hamlin, Ryan Newman or Brad Keselowski-Secret fine recipients.

Expect the unexpected. Trevor Bayne wins the 2011 Daytona 500.

Good things come in small packages. Mark Martin

Hope springs eternal. Dale Earnhardt Jr. fans

Money talks. “It doesn’t matter if you have the most wins, pole positions, a championship or talent. If you have the money, you get a job.” Mike Skinner

Keep your hands to yourself. “Hold my watch.” Richard Childress

Nobody loves a winner who wins all the time. – Jimmie Johnson

Close, but no cigar. Carl Edwards

Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. – Tony Stewart

If in doubt, remember this. There is nothing so small it can’t be blown out of proportion.

Mike Skinner quote courtesy of Angie Skinner-SiriusXM NASCAR Radio via Facebook

January 2, 2012
Favorite memories of the 2011 Sprint Cup season

The 2011 season of NASCAR started out with a bang when rookie Trevor Bayne won the Daytona 500. It ended with an electrifying duel between Tony Stewart and Carl Edwards for the championship. Sandwiched in between was one of the most competitive seasons in recent history.

In no particular order, these are a few of my favorite memories of the 2011 Sprint Cup season.

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1) “Are you kidding me?” Only one day after turning 20 and in only his second Cup start, Trevor Bayne won the coveted Daytona 500 race. He became the youngest driver to ever win NASCAR’s most prestigious race and he did it driving the No. 21 Ford for the legendary Wood Brothers Racing team.

2) Sports fans love an underdog and this year we had several drivers who defied the odds. Including Trevor Bayne, there were five first time winners this season.

a. Regan Smith scored his first victory at the Showtime Southern 500 at Darlington. The win was especially satisfying after suffering a heartbreaking defeat at Talladega in 2008. Although he crossed the finish line first, the win was overturned after it was determined that he had violated the rules by dropping below the yellow line.

But this time was different. As he captured the checkered flag at the famed track, he told his crew, “This is the Southern 500; we’re not supposed to win this thing!”

b. David Ragan was up next as he drove into victory lane at the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona in July. “No better place to do it than Daytona.” Ragan said. “I knew we could do it all along. I feel like I should have done this 100 years ago.”

c. Paul Menard also had his first win this season at a track that has special meaning for him. After the race, his father, John Menard, said, “Paul’s been coming here since we carried him in at three years old. I remember sneaking him into the garage in an engine box because he was too young to be in here. All his life he wanted to race.”

As he drove across the finish line an emotional Menard said, “Dad, this one is for you.”

d. Marcos Ambrose is the fifth of the first time winners in 2011, claiming his first victory at Watkins Glen. Ambrose had come close to a win last season at Infineon Raceway but saw it slip away when he lost the lead after failing to maintain speed.

I’ve sacrificed so much to get here,” he said, “and to finally win here is a dream come true.”

3) Brad Keselowski proved the adage that when the going gets tough, the tough get going. A few days after breaking his ankle during a test session at Road Atlanta, he scored his second win of the season at Pocono.

But the story of what inspired him to persevere is what really makes this a special victory.

Keselowski’s cousin had recently lost a friend who was one of 30 Americans who died when their helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan. After hearing of the tragedy, Keselowski vowed that he would not use a relief driver and would drive the entire race himself.

After winning the race he dedicated the victory to the troops in Afghanistan.

“I might not be feeling great, but those are the guys that are really making sacrifices,” Keselowski said. “Whenever I got in the car and felt like, man, this really hurts, it was good inspiration as to what it takes to ‘man up’ and make it happen.”

4) Jeff Gordon achieved another milestone in his career with his 85^th Sprint Cup Series win at Atlanta. It broke a tie and he now stands alone in third place on the all-time wins list. He trails only Richard Petty (200 career wins) and David Pearson (105).

It’s difficult to compare drivers of different eras but there can be no doubt that Gordon is one of the best drivers that this sport has ever seen. And he’s not done yet.

5) The finale at Homestead achieved the impossible. It actually lived up to all the hype preceding the event. Everything fell into place for a fight to the finish. Stewart emerged victorious passing 118 cars along the way and captured his third Sprint Cup championship title.

“If this wasn’t one of the most exciting races to watch from a fan standpoint, you’ve got to go to a doctor immediately,” said Stewart. “I feel like I passed half the state of Florida. This is definitely one of the greatest races of my life.”

December 14, 2011
David Gilliland Shares Racing Pride with Son Todd on Race Finale Weekend

David Gilliland not only finished up the 2011 NASCAR season at Homestead-Miami Speedway behind the wheel of the No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford, but he also played the part of proud dad, watching son Todd do some racing of his own, all for charity.

[media-credit name=”Photo Credit: Breaking Limits LLC” align=”alignright” width=”215″][/media-credit]During the Ford Championship weekend, the younger ‘Gilly’ competed in ‘NASCAR Unleashed’, a newly released racing video game. The ‘race’ competition was held at the Speedway with each NASCAR kid choosing a charity for which to donate the winnings.

“I did good,” Todd Gilliland said. “I finished second out of the NASCAR kids. There was one kid that was a wild card and he went all the way to the finals but then he lost. I finished third over all.”

Each NASCAR kid also had to choose a charity for which to compete. Gilliland chose the Sherrills Ford Optimist Park, a recreation center in the family’s hometown that suffered fire damage to their concession stand.

“I chose it because I played soccer there and I might play baseball there,” Todd Gilliland said. “Their concession stand burned down so I thought it might help rebuild it.”

“I got $5,000 for them.”

“I’m very proud of him,” David Gilliland said of his 11 year old son. “He picked the park for his charity.”

“We just moved into the neighborhood and their concession stand burned down,” Gilliland continued. “He chose that charity all on his own and I’m very proud of him.”

Although the youngster enjoyed playing the new X-Box game, ‘NASCAR Unleashed’, Todd Gilliland is a racer in his own right, hoping to follow in his dad’s footsteps. Although the youngster chose to wear a fire suit sporting his dad’s number, he deserted his dad for Carl Edwards’ No. 99 car to race in the video game.

“I hope I will race like my dad,” Todd Gilliland said. “I race quarter midgets at Bobby Labonte’s track.”

Dad Gilliland is also extremely proud of his son’s desire to follow in his racing footsteps.

“He wants to race and we do as much as we can,” Gilliland said. “We’re trying to think of the next step to take. He’s a good little racer.”

Unfortunately, Gilliland does not feel quite so positively about his own season behind the wheel in the Cup Series. In fact, he would give himself the grade of a ‘C’ for his 2011 performance.

“Our main focus is to get better each week,” Gilliland said. “We started off that way and made progress but we kind of lost it along the way.”

“We are a less funded team and we don’t have the resources like the other teams we race against,” Gilliland continued. “If we blow an engine or wreck, we just dig a hole deeper and deeper. So, we’ll use the offseason to rebuild and make progress to get more competitive.”

While Gilliland is looking forward to improving for 2012, he is not totally sure that he will be back behind the wheel of the No. 34 again next year. As with so many teams in the sport, Gilliland’s team is also one of those struggling with sponsorship.

“I’m not 100% sure about next year,” Gilliland said. “We’re hoping to be back and hoping we can get that worked out.”

“We’ll know shortly,” Gilliland continued. “We definitely need sponsorship but everybody does right now.”

“It’s been a difficult time for NASCAR but we’re going to work through it.”

Now that the season is completed, Dad Gilliland, son Todd and the rest of the family are most looking forward to some down time, celebrating the holidays and recharging their batteries.

“We’re going to go to California,” Todd Gilliland said. “And we will go to the desert and go to the sand dunes.”

“I’m looking forward to some time off,” Dad Gilliland said. “We have some fun things planned with the family.”

“I’m excited for the off season,” Gilliland said. “I’m as ready as I’ve ever been for it.”

“But most of all, I’m very proud of my son and all he’s been able to do,” Gilliland said. “Both my kids are on honor roll and do well in school.”

“I’m just a proud dad to have such a great family.”

November 23, 2011
NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Homestead

Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

1. Tony Stewart: Stewart won at Homestead, his fifth win of the Chase, and took home the 2011 Sprint Cup championship, the third of his career. Stewart and Carl Edwards both scored 2,403 points in the Chase, but Stewart won by virtue of his Chase victories.

[media-credit name=”CIA Stock Photo” align=”alignright” width=”225″][/media-credit]“If being a car owner in tough financial times has taught me one thing,” Stewart said, “it’s how to close the deal.

“I’m going to enjoy a long, off-season celebration, one that may require a rewrite of an infamous Rolling Stone article. My work here is done, and so is crew chief Darien Grubb’s. He’s looking for a job. Oddly enough, it seems someone counted Darien out too early, as well.”

2. Carl Edwards: Edwards was unable to run down Tony Stewart over the closing laps at Homestead and finished second, failing in his bid to win his first Sprint Cup championship.

“Everyone has lauded my graciousness in a losing effort,” Edwards said. “So, I’m going out like a champion, but not as one.”

3. Kevin Harvick: Harvick finished eighth at Homestead, earning his sixth top-10 result of the Chase. He finished third in the standings, 58 out of first.

“Tony Stewart had ‘Destiny’ on his side,” Harvick said, “and probably on his lap late Sunday night. I can only imagine what the victory celebration was like. I can only imagine it because I wasn’t invited.”

4. Matt Kenseth: Kenseth came home fourth in the Ford 400, posting his fifth top-5 result of the Chase and finishing fourth in the point standings.

“My first order of business next year,” Kenseth said, “is to exact my revenge on Brian Vickers in a race that matters to him. I vow that I will make sure his go-cart slams the wall.”

5. Jimmie Johnson: Johnson ended the Chase For The Cup without a championship for the first time in six years. He finished 32^nd, six laps down, and ended the year sixth in the point standings, 99 out of first.

“Congratulations to Tony Stewart,” Johnson said, “for synchronizing his best Chase performance with my worst. What’s the bigger story here? Stewart’s crowning, or my uncrowning? I hate to ‘reign’ on Stewart’s parade, but the end of a five-year run as champion trumps Stewart’s third title in ten years.

6. Brad Keselowski: Keselowski finished 20^th in the Ford 400, one lap down after a strong qualifying effort of fifth. He finished fifth in the Sprint Cup point standings, 84 out of first.

“NASCAR fined me $25,000 for criticizing fuel injection,” Keselowski said. “That’s called getting ‘throttled.’”

7. Jeff Gordon: Gordon finished strong in the Chase, taking fifth at Homestead for his 18^th top-5 result of the year. He improved three place to eighth in the point standings, 116 out of first.

“Congratulations to Tony Stewart,” Gordon said. “It’s amazing that Tony won five of the ten Chase races. And even more amazing that it still took a tiebreaker for him to win the Cup. Ironically, Stewart will have loads of personal appearances to make, so it appears he’ll be back in a ‘tie’ soon.”

8. Dale Earnhardt, Jr.: Earnhardt just missed a top-10 finish at Homestead, crossing the line 11^th in the Ford 400. He finished the season seventh in the point standings, 113 out of first.

“My winless streak continue and we made no noise in the Chase whatsoever,” Earnhardt said. “If I had to grade my performance, it would be somewhere between a ‘D’ and an ‘F,’ which would make it a little ‘E.’”

9. Denny Hamlin: Hamlin closed a disappointing season with a ninth at Homestead, ending the Chase For The Cup ninth in the standings, 119 out of first.

“Joe Gibbs Racing faces a long off-season,” Hamlin said. “Kyle Busch faces a longer off-season, and a shorter leash. Most of us in the organization will be strategizing for the 2012. We’ll put our heads together, while Busch will try to get his together.”

10. (tie) Kyle Busch/Kurt Busch: Kyle and Kurt finished 23^rd and 34^th, respectively, at Homestead to mercifully end a disappointing Chase for both. Kurt finished 11^th in the final Chase standings, 141 out of first, while Kyle finished 12^th, 16 behind Kurt.

“If there was any doubt as to our kinship,” Kurt Busch said, “this should prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that we are, in fact, brothers. Luckily, our parents still claim us. I wish I could say the same for our race teams. Who did more yelling this year? Me at my team, or Kyle’s at him?”

November 22, 2011
Surprising and Not Surprising: Homestead Ford 400

In a championship battle between two drivers separated by a mere three points going into the race, it was no surprise that Carl Edwards, driver of the No. 99 Aflac Ford and Tony Stewart, driver of the No. 14 Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet, participated in a battle of epic proportions that did not end until the checkered flag flew.

[media-credit name=”CIA Stock Photo” align=”alignright” width=”225″][/media-credit]Here is what was surprising and not surprising from the final race of the 2011 season, the 13^th annual running of the Ford 400 from Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Surprising: While NASCAR Chairman Brian France wanted a ‘Game 7’ moment, it was most surprising that this race was not only that, but also an amazing story of comeback, guts and determination.

From a hole in the grille to a fuel mileage gamble, several rain delays, and pit problems causing him to have to pass over 116 cars, Tony Stewart seemingly battled every element known to man to win the race, his 44^th in 464 Cup races, as well as the championship.

Stewart actually tied in championship points with Edwards, 2403 to be exact, but won the tie-breaker due to his five wins. Doing just what he needed to do, Stewart, principal of Stewart-Haas Racing, became just the second owner/driver since Alan Kulwicki in 1992 to score the coveted championship.

Stewart is the seventh champ to win the season finale in his championship run. This was Smoke’s third championship, the others coming in 2002 and 2005.

Stewart also becomes the ninth driver to win three or more championships, joining drivers Darrell Waltrip, Lee Petty and Cale Yarborough, all of whom are Hall of Famers or nominees for the Hall.

“I felt like when we took the white flag, that I could do what I needed to do,” Stewart said. “To be able to fight our way up there, what a dream come true.”

“As far as the owner’s side, it was more important to me to get Gene (Haas) that championship,” Stewart continued. “That’s a big deal in this sport. I’m so proud that we were able to get him up on that stage.”

“I’m in awe,” team owner Gene Haas said of his driver. “I think Tony proved he’s the greatest driver in the world today.”

Not Surprising: Although exuding total class, as well as being the first person to congratulate the race winner and champion, it was not surprising that there was no one at Homestead more disappointed than Carl Edwards in coming up short for the Cup.

Yet even in defeat, Edwards was able to at least be a bit philosophical through his disappointment.

“It’s difficult but to put it in perspective, I plan to be here next year and the next year,” Edwards said. “I just appreciate having this opportunity. I feel like I became a better racer through this.”

“This was a very mentally tough thing, from Tony’s win at Martinsville until now,” Edwards continued. “I’ll be tougher next time too. I learned a lot.”

This second place finish was Edwards’ seventh top-10 in eight races at Homestead-Miami Speedway. It was also his 26^th top-10 finish in 2011, proving that he earned the title of ‘Mr. Consistency’ throughout the season.

Surprising: At a track far from his hometown of Mayetta, New Jersey, it was surprising to see just how well Martin Truex, Jr. ran at Homestead, Florida.

The driver of the No. 56 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota not only scored the outside pole to begin the race, but finished a strong third in the Ford 400. This was Truex’s fifth top-10 finish in seven races at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

“It’s a lot of fun when you can run like that,” Truex, Jr. said. “Just proud of everybody for sticking together.”

“I’m looking forward to next year,” Truex Jr. continued. “It’s going to be fun.”

“Everyone here has put such effort into making our cars better,” Truex, Jr. said. “We’ve had a pretty good season and have had fast race cars.”

“If we can take care of a lot of little things this winter, hopefully we will have three cars capable of winning races week in and week out.”

Not Surprising: Matt Kenseth, who has been ultra-steady all season long, did not disappoint and not surprisingly scored a fourth place finish in his No. 17 Crown Royal Ford Fusion in this year’s race finale.

“It was a good run for us in spite of hitting the wall early,” Kenseth said. “We did all that stuff, we just didn’t have the grip and speed they had.”

“I thought it was Carl’s, to be honest with you,” Kenseth said of his teammate’s championship battle. “He had tires and Tony didn’t, but he just couldn’t quite catch him.”

Surprising: Jeff Burton, admittedly running some experimental set ups in his No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing, scored a surprising top-10 finish. Even more surprising, Burton achieved his goal of claiming 20^th in the point standings.

“Everyone is working on next year and everybody’s experimenting a little bit,” Burton said. “We’ve done a lot of testing the second half of the year with the 31 car. Really feel like we’ve moved the ball forward.”

“We had a tight battle for 20^th in points,” Burton continued. “I know that doesn’t sound like much but it means something to us. We had a tight battle for bragging rights.”

Not Surprising: While Brad Keselowski’s Cinderella story did not result in a championship, to no one’s surprise, last year’s Nationwide champ finished fifth in points, in spite of his 20^th place finish at Homestead.

“I don’t think anyone really expected that out of us, but I never stopped believing that we could be, you know, a contender and have a lot of fun and do well as a team,” the driver of the No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge Charger said. “I think we’ve got a lot to build off of.”

“We’ll work on it, build off it too,” Keselowski continued. “I’m real proud of the effort for the whole team.”

Surprising: Since Jeff Gordon, behind the wheel of the No. 24 Drive to End Hunger, seemed to be on a down-hill slide at Chase-end, it was surprising that he was able to bounce back for a top-five run. His finish also propelled him three positions up in the point standings to the eighth spot.

“It was a great day, a top-five, a great year,” Gordon said. “We had three wins, got number 85, and came up short in the Chase, but we look forward to next year and battling it out for the Sprint Cup.”

As a champion himself, Gordon also had nothing but praise for NASCAR’s newest king.

“Congratulations to Tony Stewart, my gosh, what an amazing run he had in these final ten races,” Gordon said. “He has done some incredible things in his career but I’m guessing that this one is going to top them all.”

“He did it in a fashion that everybody dreams of doing.”

Not Surprising: Kasey Kahne, winner of last weekend’s race at Phoenix, continued his good run, finishing seventh for the last time in the No. 4 Red Bull Toyota Camry. Kahne will now take all his marbles and head to Hendrick Motorsports for the 2012 season, replacing Mark Martin.

“I think we had the best car there those couple runs before the final run,” Kahne said. “We were flying. It felt really good and then we just got tight in that final run.”

“It was crazy,” Kahne said of the race and the championship battle. “That’s as close as a championship can be, will ever be. Those two guys both deserve to be champions if you ask me.”

Surprising: While both Busch brothers, Kurt and Kyle, have experienced some troubles both on and off the track this season, it was surprising to see just how far they fell, finishing eleventh and twelfth in the points standings respectively.

Kyle Busch, behind the wheel of the No. 18 Interstate Batteries Toyota, not the M&Ms Toyota due to his bad behavior with Ron Hornaday in the Truck race two weeks ago, showed moments of brilliance in the race finale. Busch, however, then faded to finish well back in the back in pack in the 23^rd spot.

Big brother Kurt Busch, driving the No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Dodge Charger, had troubles early in the Homestead race when on Lap 4, something broke in the engine. He officially finished 34^th.

“I’ve never been so disappointed in my life,” Kurt Busch said. “I think I missed a race once my rookie year and this almost tops that.”

Not Surprising: As exciting as the 2011 season has been, including the race finale and championship, it is not surprising that all good things must come to an end. In addition to the close of Jimmie Johnson’s reign as champion, other goodbyes, including David Reutimann leaving Michael Waltrip Racing, as well as Red Bull Racing pulling out of the sport, need to be said.

“It’s been a good five years,” Brian Vickers, driver of the No. 83 Red Bull Toyota, said of his run with the team. “We had some ups and downs. The only goal we didn’t accomplish was the championship.”

“I want to thank everyone at Red Bull, Toyota and all the guys for their hard work through the years,” Vickers continued. “This is it.”

“It’s disappointing,” David Reutimann, driver for the final time of the No. 00 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota, said. “I love my guys. A lot of these guys have been with me since the Truck Series and have come up with me.”

“I’m going to miss them,” Rooty continued. “It’s certainly a lot more bitter than it is sweet for sure.”

“We think we had a motor problem,” Jimmie Johnson, driver of the No. 48 Lowes Chevrolet, said. “I started getting some warning signs in the way to the pits.”

“We had a fast car but I worked my way up and was having some fun,” Johnson, who finished 32^nd, continued. “Sad way to end the season but it’s racing and we’ll come back next year.”

Speaking of next year, it is most surprising just how quickly this 2011 season has flown. Yet it is not surprising that testing at Daytona and Speedweeks is literally just around the corner.

So, until 2012 brings us all back together at the track, happy holidays and God bless!

November 21, 2011
Smoke Rises

Congratulations to the man called Smoke. He set out on a journey 10 weeks ago that he himself said his team was not ready for. He gave himself no chance to win. But through the head games there was a fire burning deep behind those eyes. A fire that betrayed a passion that could not be denied. You may beat me but I will run you balls to the wall keep it from happening. And indeed in the final race he did exactly that passing 118 cars during the final race. But when the checkers waved it was the 14 across the stripe first. The points they ended in a tie. But the tie breaker was wins and that left Smoke sitting on top of the hill as the King of the mountain once again.

[media-credit name=”CIA Stock Photo” align=”alignright” width=”224″][/media-credit]In all honesty it was a hard fought battle. Carl Edwards fought hard, raced hard and played fair and showed all the attributes of a champion. He in fact did not lose the championship. Points wise he tied with Smoke. But Smoke won more races than Edwards. Consistency brought him to the dance. But victories sent him home alone. Congratulations to Carl on being a great racer, and a great champion. For teaching his children and all of ours that there is more to winning than getting the trophy and there is more to being a champion than finishing first.

Darian Grubb gambled big time today. He rolled the dice and he took the chance. He bet that gas mileage would win the race. He was wrong. But he won the gamble none the less. He won because his risk paid off in spades when the caution waved for rain and Carl Edwards was still behind Tony Stewart on the restart. The rain gave them enough caution laps that both contenders could go the distance. It was now down to grit and guts and who could handle the pressure without a mistake on the track the best.

For 40 laps, two of the best drivers of our time ran just as hard and just as fast as they could possibly drive. Their focus on one another and their own cars. The crowd in the stands held their breath. The people at home held their breath. Could Smoke over come a day of mishaps to hold on to that top spot? Would Carl’s engine hold on when three of his teammates had lost theirs? Even the crew chiefs were feeding information. Bob Osborne radioed to Edwards, I know you are doing everything you can man but we really need that spot. You have to pass the 14. He tried. He ran so hard and so close to the wall that he should have taken paint off of it. But everything he gained Smoke took back the next lap. It became obvious that it was going to take a catastrophic failure of some sort for the 99 to catch and pass the 14.

When the white flag flew neither slowed down. Four corners and a straight away and half later, Anthony Wayne Stewart proved to the world why he is considered one of the top-10 drivers in the world today. Smoke won his 5th race of the chase and tied Edwards in points and won the tie breaker to become the Sprint Cup Series Champion for 2011.

Stewart joins an elite group of three champions to ever win the championship as an owner driver. He joins Richard Petty and Alan Kulwicki in holding the highest position in his sport while also writing the checks to pay the bills. Stewart took the championship in just his 3rd full year as an owner.

Stewart’s trophy cabinet is as diverse as any in the sport today. With wins in World of Outlaw Sprint Cars, Silver crown cars, USAC dirt stock cars, Indy cars, IROC cars and NASCAR Stock Cars. This is Stewart’s third NASCAR Championship with his previous cups coming from 2001 and 2006.

With his first owner/driver championship, Stewart fulfilled a promise to his hero A.J. Foyt by bringing the 14 back to victory lane and into the champions circle.

As the glitter and confetti settle in the steadily falling rain, I think it is important to note that this is the first time since 1975 and the modern day points system that we have ever had to use the tie breaker. I think it is also important to note that Edwards did everything he had to do to win the championship. He lead the most laps. He sat on the pole. He just finished 2nd. But noting that I think it is just as important to make note of the class and grace in which he accepted finishing 2nd. He did nothing to detract from the victory of the 14 team. Instead he said simply “we got beat. But we will use this to build on and come back stronger next year.” The true attitude of a champion showed twice tonight.

The 2011 season has drawn to a close. The only things left are banquets with new and different stuffed chicken somethings and creamed spinach oh and seeing who Smoke’s date will be this time. It’s sad in a way. But we can look at it this way the Daytona 500 is in 98 days.

~~~~~ **** ~~~~~

Congratulations to Austin Dillion our 2011 CWTS champion and his RCR team.

Congratulations to Ricky Stenhouse Jr. our NNS Champion and his Roush Fenway Racing team.

Congratulations to Tony Stewart our 2011 Sprint Cup Series Champion and his Stewart Haas Racing team.

That said, to all the competitors in all the series thanks for giving us everything you have to give, you are our heroes. Most importantly, thanks to all the families who shared their loved ones with us so we could cheer our favorite driver and favorite teams. You are the true heroes of the sport and we are forever in your debt.

November 20, 2011
Matty’s Picks: Vol. 28 – Homestead-Miami – November 20, 2011

[media-credit name=”miamihomesteadspeedway.com” align=”alignright” width=”254″][/media-credit]It all comes down to this, one race, three points, one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion. 65,000+ will be on hand Sunday Evening to witness the battle between two-time Sprint Cup Series Champion, Tony Stewart, and number-one contender for the title, Carl Edwards.

Both men have visited Victory Lane twice in their driving careers, so the tale of the tape sets the stage for an exciting finale this Sunday. The stats speak for themselves this week, with both drivers having success at Homestead-Miami Speedway:

Stewart
2 – Wins (1999,2000)
3 – Top-5’s
6 – Top-10’s
12.4 – Average Finish
3206 – Laps Completed (Most of any driver)

Edwards
2 – Wins (2008,2010)
4 – Top-5’s
6 – Top-10’s
5.7 – Average Finish
441 – Laps Led (Most of any driver)

Stewart has run all 12 races at Homestead, whereas Edwards has only participated in 7 of the season finales at the track.

This is the first year that I can remember that The Chase for the Sprint Cup will not come down to Jimmie Johnson NOT finishing the race in 43rd to clinch the title spot. Although Carl Edwards has not won a race during this 2011 Chase for the Sprint Cup, the new points system has done what it was designed to do, and that’s create a battle until the final lap of the final race of the season.

I personally do not understand how a guy that has won 4 of the last 11 races does not hold a commanding lead heading into this final race of the 2011 Sprint Cup season, but the “Shootout to the finish” that NASCAR fans have hoped for, has finally become a reality. I am not the kind of person that rewards mediocrity and have often been doted with a “checkers or wreckers” mentality, but I am a bit excited to see this title battle come down to two extremely talented drivers.

I will be following the first portion of the race on Sunday from a perch high above a little-known Whitetail feeding ground via Twitter updates on Sunday Afternoon (so Mikey, remind me to have a full battery in my cell-phone heading to my tree-stand for night watch).

Phoenix Recap

Not a very good Winner Pick for me last week in Jimmie Johnson, wielding an un-traditional paint scheme on the No.48 Lowe’s/KOBALT Tools Chevrolet last week. Its been a rough go of it for Johnson in this 2011 Chase for the Sprint Cup, and just when I thought he was due for a win, I was wrong.

Johnson started 16th last Sunday, and used pit strategy to climb as high as 8th within the first 100 laps. But with little rubber down on the new racing surface at Phoenix International Raceway, fresh tires became a hot commodity as the race wore on. The early, two-tire stop proved to be detrimental to Johnson’s push to the front, as he told his team his car was “scary loose” just before the midway point in the Kobalt Tools 500.

The crew worked the rest of the race to tighten Johnson’s car up, but only managed to sneak his way back to a 14th place finish.

My Dark Horse pick last week, Jeff Burton, finished better than my Winner Pick for the first time since the Bank of America 500 at Charlotte last month. It just so happens that my Winner Pick for that race in Charlotte was Jimmie Johnson, and my Dark Horse for that race was last-week’s race winner, Kasey Kahne. Also interesting that my Dark Horse pick last week finished in the exact same position (4th) as Kahne did in October at Charlotte, the last time I picked Johnson as my Winner Pick. Now I’m rambling on…..lay off Uncle Ed.

Anyway, my Dark Horse was a solid pick for me last week, and if it wasn’t for the willpower of Cousin Carl Edwards, I would have netted myself a Top-3 Dark Horse Pick last week at Phoenix. Yet again, had Carl Edwards not passed Jeff Burton in the closing laps of the Kobalt Tools 500 last week, we wouldn’t have such a close margin between first and second in points heading into this weekend’s grand finale.

Homestead-Miami Picks

Due to Mother Nature, I have nothing to go off of making my final picks of the season this week, as rain has delayed all on-track activities this afternoon in Miami.

Winner Pick

I have a gut feeling that the winner of Sunday’s race is going also be the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion, but I will make it fun and not go with one of the two guys in the battle for the championship this year.

“The Closer” is the guy I’m picking to win this Sunday at Homestead, against my better judgment. Kevin Harvick sits 51-points behind Carl Edwards in Sprint Cup Series points standings, and also yields a rather impressive history at Homestead.

Despite not ever visiting Victory Lane at Homestead, Harvick boasts a rather impressive average finish of 7.9 at the 1.5-mile oval. He also has five Top-5’s and eight Top-10’s at Homestead, completing all but one lap of 10 races he’s started in South Florida.

It’s Harvick I’m going with this week just to make this column remotely interesting, so watch for the Budweiser to be flowing in Victory Lane this week.

Dark Horse Pick

The 16th place driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series’ points standings is A.J. Allmendinger. The guy I’m looking at to mix up the Top-10 this week at Homestead is A.J. Allmendinger. He’s coming off a 6th-place finish last week at Phoenix, falling just one spot short of his season-best.

Allmendinger has finished in the Top-10, four times in this 2011 Chase for the Sprint Cup, with two coming in the last two weeks. His short history at Homestead-Miami Speedway has included a 5th, a 10th, and an 11th-place finish, most notably last year starting and finishing in the 5th position. Possibly his most impressive run at the 1.5-mile oval in South Florida was in 2008 when he started dead last on the grid and drove his way all the way to an 11th-place finish.

Bonus Pick: Who Wins the Championship?

It’s Stewart that wins the 2011 Chase for the Sprint Cup on Sunday…

I think that consistency will run out for Carl Edwards this weekend, and Stewart will prevail in the end. He’s been untouchable the past 11 races, and I don’t see anything changing this weekend.

If Stewart can manage to find the point early, he controls his own destiny. The worst thing that can happen for Smoke is for Edwards to get out front and for Stewart to play catch-up the remainder of the race. Edwards has been lucky up to this point, and I think it runs out this weekend with Smoke claiming his 3rd NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship.

That’s it for this grand finale this weekend, and stay tuned next week for my 2011 Season Wrap-Up of Matty’s Picks.

Until Next Time…You Stay Classy NASCAR NATION!

November 18, 2011
NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Phoenix

Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

1. Carl Edwards: Edwards chased Kasey Kahne to the finish at Phoenix, but had to settle for the runner-up spot in the Kobalt Tools 500. Edwards remained on top in the Sprint Cup point standings and will take a three-point lead over Tony Stewart to Homestead.

“I would say the Sprint Cup championship is mine too lose,” Edwards said. “That would be inaccurate. It’s not mine to lose; it’s Jimmie Johnson’s. Jimmie had a great run; unfortunately, it’s slowed to a ‘walk.’

“I could win the Cup without a single victory in the Chase. If that happens, I expect NASCAR to react quickly, and hire meth-head Jeremy Mayfield as a consultant, his job being to ‘tweak’ the Chase points system.”

2. Tony Stewart: Stewart led 160 of 312 laps at Phoenix, but had to pit for fuel with 18 laps to go. He worked his way back to the front and finished third, right behind points leader Carl Edwards in second, to stay three points behind. The Sprint Cup championship will be decided next Sunday at Homestead.

“You’ve got me,” Stewart said, “with four wins in the Chase, against Edwards, with not a single win in the Chase. How am I not in the lead, and how am I three points down? How has Edwards pulled that off. I’m mystified. In any case, the Chase For The Cup comes down to ‘Smoke’ versus ‘Smoke And Mirrors.’

3. Kevin Harvick: Harvick finished an uninspired 19^th at Phoenix, and remained third in the point standings, 51 behind Carl Edwards.

“I’m out of the running for the Cup,” Harvick said. “That’s no surprise, because I’ve been driving like it for nine races.

“But with nothing to race for, I can finally take care of some unfinished business. That would be wrecking Kyle Busch and finally gaining vengeance for the incident in Darlington. Alas, no one cares anymore, especially Busch.”

4. Jimmie Johnson: Johnson came home 14^th at Phoenix and improved one spot to fifth in the point standings. He now trails Carl Edwards by 68.

“I’m finally giving up the crown,” Johnson said. “So, expect a ‘reign-out’ at Homestead. To Tony Stewart and Carl Edwards, I say ‘May the best man win.’ But since I’ve been eliminated from Cup contention, that won’t happen. So, ‘May the next best man win.’”

5. Brad Keselowski: Keselowski finished 18^th in the Kobalt Tools 500, his third straight finish outside the top 17. He improved one spot to fourth in the point standings and is now 68 out of first.

“Expect me to be a fixture in the Chase for years to come,” Keselowski said. “I like what we’re doing at Penske Racing. Despite my young age of 27, I feel like my presence alone has raised the maturity level immensely at Penske. Between Busch and I, it seems he’s the ‘baby’ of the duo.”

6. Matt Kenseth: Kenseth started on the pole at Phoenix and was dominant early before Brian Vickers wrecked him on lap 177. Kenseth finished 34^th and is now sixth in the point standings, 70 out of first.

“Somebody give Vickers at mirror,” Kenseth said, “because he better ‘watch himself’ at Homestead.”

7. Kurt Busch: Busch led 57 laps at Phoenix but ran into trouble on lap 279 when came down pit road for a splash of fuel but was tagged for speeding. Forced to serve a pass-through penalty, Busch’s chances at the win were done, and he eventually finished 22^nd, one lap down.

“I was ‘officially’ eliminated from Cup contention twice in one race,” Busch said. “Of course, there’s no one to blame but myself, so I’ll blame everyone but myself.”

8. Kasey Kahne: Kahne captured his first win since 2009, snapping an 81-race winless streak by outrunning Carl Edwards to the line at Phoenix.

“I’ll hate to see Red Bull out of NASCAR,” Kahne said. “That’s a sentiment shared by everyone in the garage, except for Matt Kenseth. Brian Vickers will soon drive off into the sunset. And when I say ‘into’ the sunset, I mean it literally, because Vickers will probably hit it.”

9. Jeff Gordon: Snake bitten first by handling problems, then brake issues, Gordon finished 32^nd at Phoenix and was officially eliminated from Sprint Cup title contention. He is now 11^th in the point standings, 112 out of first.

“It’s been a season I’d like to forget,” Gordon said. “Unfortunately, at my age, and even as a four-time champion, now the ‘seasons to forget’ far outnumber the ‘season’s to remember.’”

10. Kyle Busch: Busch started from the back at Phoenix after an engine change, but his slide continued when his engine blew on lap 188. Busch finished 36^th and is 12^th in the point standings, 135 out of first.

“We suspected we may have engine troubles,” Busch said. “And we were right. Like my sponsor, my engine gave up on me.

“I may be last in the standings, but I can also be ‘first,’ to admit that my anger issues need addressing. I think it wise that I should ‘seek counseling’ for my issues, before my issues force me to ‘seek counsel.’”

November 15, 2011