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  • Chastain to run Cup race at Indianapolis with Spire Motorsports

    Chastain to run Cup race at Indianapolis with Spire Motorsports

    For the sixth time in the 2020 NASCAR season, Ross Chastain will be pulling double duty between the Cup and Xfinity Series on the same weekend. A day after he competes in the Xfinity Series’ inaugural oval-road course event at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Chastain will pilot the No. 77 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE sponsored by Melon Man Brand for Spire Motorsports in the Cup Series’ oval-shaped event for the Big Machine Hand Sanitizer 400 at the famed racetrack on Sunday, July 5.

    The Alva, Florida, native will make his sixth Cup start of this season, third in the No. 77 car for Spire Motorsports. His previous two starts in the No. 77 Chevrolet came in the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway in February and the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May under a partnership with Chip Ganassi Racing. His other three Cup starts of this season were in the No. 6 Ford Mustang for Roush Fenway Racing, (Las Vegas, Auto Club and Phoenix), as an interim competitor for Ryan Newman, who was injured following his last lap accident in the Daytona 500.

    Sunday’s 400-mile race at the Brickyard will mark the third time Chastain will race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in a Cup Series car. He drove for Premium Motorsports at Indianapolis the previous two seasons, finishing 26th in 2018 and 22nd in 2019. After this weekend, he will have made his 77th Cup Series start.

    “I’m excited to roll out the Melon Man Brand paint scheme this weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway,” Chastain said. “It’ll be fun to do something new. When we came up with the idea to create a personal brand, we wanted to do something different, something that would stand out. I think the look of the car and our branding initiatives check those boxes. Jeff [Dickerson] and T.J. [Puchyr] have supported me and my career without a moment’s hesitation, ever. It’s an honor for me to drive for Spire Motorsports this weekend in Indianapolis.”

    Chastain, currently, races as a full-time competitor in the Xfinity Series in the No. 10 Nutrien Ag Solutions Chevrolet Camaro for Kaulig Racing. He is ranked third in the regular-season series standings and has recorded four top-five results and 10 top-10 results despite being winless through the first 12 races. He is also coming off back-to-back runner-up finishes at Talladega Superspeedway and at Pocono Raceway, and has won two consecutive Dash 4 Cash $100,000 bonuses. He has raced at Indianapolis as an oval-shaped venue in the Xfinity Series from 2015 to 2018, but this Saturday, July 4, will mark his first at the track’s oval-road course layout.

    This season, Chastain has competed in 23 races across NASCAR’s three major division series as he has also competed in six NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series races for Niece Motorsports. He has finished in the top 10 four times with a best result of third at Homestead-Miami Speedway on June 13.

    The Big Machine Hand Sanitizer 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the 16th race of the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season, will air on July 5 at 4 p.m. ET on NBC.

  • Busch’s win indicative of Chevrolet resurgence in the Cup Series

    Busch’s win indicative of Chevrolet resurgence in the Cup Series

    By winning in Kentucky on Saturday night, Kurt Busch and his Ganassi Racing team solidified the speculation that the Chevy teams in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series have returned to competitive form.

    This, after a disastrous 2018 for the manufacturer that only saw two drivers win four races (Austin Dillon – 1, Chase Elliott – 3) and a long dry spell in 2019 broken up by Elliott’s win at Talladega before winning three straight (Alex Bowman – Chicagoland, Justin Haley – Daytona, Busch – Kentucky).

    Elliott’s win seemingly opened a stretch where it appeared that Chevrolets were finally on the verge of turning things around. At Talladega, six of the top-10 drivers were Chevrolet drivers, including runner-up Bowman and rookies Ryan Preece and Daniel Hemric, both of whom finished in the top-five. Bowman would score two more runner-up finishes in the next two races before scoring a seventh at Charlotte. He scored another top-10 at Michigan before scoring his big win at Chicagoland.

    Elliott has also had several stout runs since winning at Talladega, following it up with four straight top-fives. He’s since run into some issues, but the finishes aren’t indicative of his No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts team’s performance. Meanwhile, Hendrick Motorsports teammate William Byron is having a strong sophomore season, scoring three poles and six top-10s in 2019, including a runner-up finish at Daytona last weekend.

    Speaking of Daytona, five of the top-10 finishers were Chevrolet drivers including race winner Haley. As a matter of fact, the top-four finishers were Chevrolets (Haley, Byron, Jimmie Johnson, Ty Dillon). Although rain played a factor in calling the race, Chevrolets did seem to have the field in hand, leading 60 of the 127 laps run, including 46 by Austin Dillon.

    Although he sits 13th in points, Kurt Busch’s teammate Kyle Larson has also rattled off some strong runs, including a win in the non-points All-Star race at Charlotte. He’s scored a pole (Sonoma), three top-fives, and seven top-10s, but four DNFs have kept the No. 42 Ganassi Racing team from truly scoring the results the team deserves. Meanwhile, the No. 1 team has been a consistent force on a weekly basis, scoring four more top-fives and 10 more top-10s to go along with his Kentucky win.

    All of this is in contrast to some of the teams that were dominant one year ago, notably Stewart-Haas Racing. SHR Fords won 12 races in 2018, but are winless so far in 2019. Compared to the win total of teams like Hendrick, who was winless at this point a year ago, ditto Ganassi, and it’s safe to say the Chevrolet camp has caught up and are now actually competing with the Fords and the Toyotas.

    Granted, there are hurdles to cover, such as the 10 wins from Joe Gibbs Racing and the five wins from Team Penske. But Chevrolet has started a trend in 2019, and if it keeps up the momentum it has been building during the spring/summer stretch, names like Larson, Elliott, and Byron could find Victory Lane before season’s end. There may even be a glimpse of a certain seven-time Cup champion parking it in the Winner’s Circle. Time will tell for sure heading into Loudon next weekend.

  • Is a win on the horizon for Chevrolet in the Cup Series?

    Is a win on the horizon for Chevrolet in the Cup Series?

    The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series is heading into its eighth race of the season and while Chevrolet has made a lot of progress in that time, they still haven’t managed to find victory lane yet. In fact, their performance has been so far off lately that they aren’t even in the manufacturer’s championship picture at this point in time.

    Beyond that, Chevrolet’s best finish this entire season is a second-place effort by Chase Elliott at Martinsville Speedway, which doesn’t bode well for the manufacturer’s program at intermediate tracks this season. It could even mean that Chevrolet misses the Playoffs for the third straight year in a row.

    Interestingly enough, no Chevrolet driver seems to be immune to the problem at this point. While some believe it is the new aero package, that still doesn’t explain why they had to play catch up last season too. Furthermore, it doesn’t explain Toyota and Ford’s advantage with the new package.

    NASCAR officials took six cars to the wind tunnel for testing after Sunday’s race at Texas Motor Speedway, which could be a sign that NASCAR is interested in knowing why Chevrolet is at a disadvantage and what can be done to level things out.

    With that being said, however, Chevrolet has gotten progressively better over the course of the 2019 season and despite some mistakes, are getting closer and closer to being in contention. Take Kyle Larson for example, who had the spring race at Atlanta Motor Speedway locked up, but was taken out by a speeding penalty.

    Then there was Chase Elliot, who despite starting up front at Phoenix, made a lane change before reaching the start-finish line at the beginning of the race and had to go the back. He would ultimately recover to finish 14th, but the incident took him out of contention for what could have been a win.

    Another example was William Byron, Jimmie Johnson and Kurt Busch, who all found themselves in the top 10 after Sunday’s race at Texas. If nothing else, it was a huge momentum shit for Chevrolet and could be a sign that things will continue to get better as Chevrolet hits those mile and a half tracks.

    Will they win though? Believe it or not, with Chevrolet’s best showing being at a short track and two short track races coming up, the answer seems to be yes. Above all that, There is also Talladega, Dover and Kansas, which have all been great tracks for Chevrolet in the past.

    As for making the final four, that question is a lot harder to answer, but will ultimately depend on whether Chevrolet can win, continue to be consistent and stay away from the bad luck that has thrown them for a loop throughout this season.

  • Kurt Busch quietly finishes strong in California

    Kurt Busch quietly finishes strong in California

    When drivers change teams, usually performance changes briefly before leveling out. The chemistry between the driver and their team, crew members and sponsors take time to wedge their way into a comforting blend to begin running smoothly.

    Rarely do you see a driver switch to a new team and constantly run and finish up front, that is unless a driver gets a big change in a high tier team. Case in point, Ross Chastain at Las Vegas Motor Speedway last year driving for Chip Ganassi Racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, grabbing the win and getting to smash the watermelon to lay out a new tradition for himself as a Florida watermelon farmer.

    The start of the 2019 season brought a change of face for Kurt Busch. The 2004 champion left Stewart Haas Racing to join Chip Ganassi Racing, replacing Jamie McMurray in the No. 1. He also left the blue oval Fords and joined the Chevrolet bow ties. Despite his talent and competitive nature, most expected him to take a couple of months into the year before finding his groove and competing strongly once again.

    However, the new face behind the No. 1 Chevrolet Camaro has had strong success after the first five races. He quietly has been leading the Chevrolet camp, is the only driver with multiple top five finishes, and teammate Kyle Larson has been right alongside. The two Ganassi drivers are currently eighth and ninth in points, with Larson only three points ahead in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series standings, and Busch holding yet another strong run at California finishing sixth.

    “We had a good day. I was just hoping to get a top five and came home just a bit short,” Kurt shared as he was one spot short of his third top five finish of the season. “But the growth rate of us at Ganassi and the adjustments we’re making, I couldn’t be happier. I’m smiling as I’m driving the car. It’s so much fun to toss it down in there with all this downforce and the horsepower, you just pitch it sideways and see if it’s going to stick. But, we know we’ve got our work cut out for us. It’s awesome to run up front. I’m smiling. But, we know at our growth rate, we’re not on a plateau yet. I’ve got to keep going.”

    The Las Vegas native got to witness his brother’s milestone in history at the end of Sunday’s race when Kyle Busch won his 53rd career Cup Series victory. It was also his 200th win across all three series, including the Xfinity Series and the Gander Outdoors Truck Series.

    “Yeah, I thought he was done,” Busch reflected when his brother received the uncontrolled tire penalty on pit road. “But, this is a big day. For my little brother to have 200 wins, they’re all added up through his hard work and his dedication to perfection. Not bad for two kids with an attitude from Vegas.”

    Kurt Busch talks about his sixth place run after the 2019 Auto Club 400. Photo courtesy of Rachel Schuoler from Speedway Media.

    The media joked about the history of the Busch brothers having “hotheads” as kids, but as the two have matured throughout the years, everyone acknowledged their footprint in the sport.

    “As far as attitudes and winning? I’ve got to hold up my end of the bargain,” Kurt laughed as he discussed his and his brother racing in NASCAR throughout the years. “I’ve gotten too nice and I’m not winning enough; but I’m having fun. I love the Ganassi guys. Matt McCall (crew chief) wants more. I know he does. I want more. I was hoping for a top five today but we’ll take it. All in all, we’re running where we need to be running.”

    Kurt knows his team still has work ahead of them, but he sounded very optimistic heading into Martinsville Speedway next weekend.

    “I want to see more Bowties up there all around me.”

  • Chevrolet had its worst season in nearly four decades, but its V.P. is optimistic about the future

    Chevrolet had its worst season in nearly four decades, but its V.P. is optimistic about the future

    Chevrolet is looking to regain its mojo in 2019.

    At the conclusion of the 2015 season Cup Series season, Chevrolet was celebrating their 13th consecutive manufacturers’ title.

    Although Jimmie Johnson won his seventh championship in 2016, the other two manufacturers on the premier NASCAR circuit, Ford and Toyota, have made significant gains.

    Toyota won back-to-back manufacturers’ titles in 2016 and 2017, while Ford, thanks to the incredible performance from Stewart-Haas Racing, won the 2018 championship. It was Ford’s first manufacturers’ title since 2002.

    Chevy’s introduction of its Camaro ZL1 model into the Monster Energy Series got off to a hot start with Austin Dillon’s victory in the 60th running of the Daytona 500. However, Chevrolet accounted for just four wins in 2018, its worst performance in nearly four decades. The No. 9 of Chase Elliott accounted for three of the four victories. During the 1982 Cup season, Chevrolet won three races on the year. Hall of Famer Bobby Allison won two of them, and Dave Marcis won at Richmond, his fifth and final victory as a Cup Series driver.

    But Chevrolet’s vice president of performance vehicles and motorsports, Jim Campbell, is looking forward, not backward.

    “Obviously (we) don’t have anybody in the Championship 4 for the Cup, so that’s disappointing, but I would say that as I take a look at a year in which we introduced a new car, the Camaro ZL1, and we have begun this transition that we all go through at different points,” said Jim Campbell, the Chevrolet U.S. vice president of performance vehicles and motorsports.

    “Many veteran drivers have started to retire, and we’re bringing in a young crew of drivers. We had our young group that got a year of experience. You see Chase Elliott really accelerated his season through the back half with three wins in the last 14 races, and then (Kyle) Larson was very consistent all year long, didn’t make the final four, but proud of those guys.”

    Elliott finished the season as the top Chevy driver in sixth, while the only other Chevy driver to finish in the Top 10 was 2014 rookie of the year Kyle Larson, who finished ninth.

    The aforementioned Johnson snapped a 16-year streak of winning at least one race. Two of his teammates at Hendrick Motorsports also went winless — Alex Bowman and William Byron. Byron, though, who won the Xfinity Series championship in 2017, won rookie of the year.

    “Overall, the trajectory of the season, not exactly what we wanted, but definitely heading in a better direction than in the front half of the season,” Campbell said. “When you bring a new car in, and you have change over in drivers, those are big moments for manufacturers.

    “More work to do. But I’m really excited about what that means for us for next year.”

  • The Clock is ticking for Team Chevy

    The Clock is ticking for Team Chevy

    We are at a point in the season where it is time for the Chevy’s to step it up. If they don’t step up now, it might be hard to do it later in the season.

    This is as far as they can possibly go. The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season is halfway done, and playoff time is right around the corner. This is where teams that have started the season slow usually start to take off.

    A good example is former driver and current owner Tony Stewart. He would usually start the season slowly but when summer arrived he would heat up. Could it be the new Camaros that are causing the manufacturer to struggle?

    When looking at the stats and on what is going on this season, there is only one Chevy team that has been the closest to winning, that being Kyle Larson’s No. 42 team.

    You can’t even say Chip Ganassi Racing overall because Jamie McMurray’s team is not even up to the level of Kyle Larson’s team. There isn’t an organization that is on top, it is only the No. 42 team.

    Many expected a lot from Hendrick Motorsports which is expected to win year in and year out. There has been a recent struggle with them thus far though. Chase Elliott’s average finish is 14.5 and Jimmie Johnson’s is 15.6. They were expected to be the leaders of the organization and the manufacturer.

    Looking back, Chevrolet’s only win this season was at the Daytona 500 to start the 2018 campaign by Austin Dillon for Richard Childress Racing. There has not been a track style where they have been dominant.

    Kentucky, however, could be the start of momentum for Team Chevy. Last year there were two Chevrolets in the top three. Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott can break the spell for Chevrolet at Kentucky.

    The Chevy’s usually run pretty solid at Kentucky. One of the biggest keys to better finishes from them should be qualifying better.

    Getting to the final round is something that a lot of teams have struggled in doing especially at the mile and a half tracks. On short track and restrictor plates, their qualifying isn’t as bad but it is important to remember that most races are on the mile and a half tracks.

    If more teams can get to the final round of qualifying then that could be the start they need to get better. This could be the weekend that defines an improvement for Team Chevy.

    Follow on Twitter for updates: @BryanR_305

  • The Final Word – In Kansas, Harvick was Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End

    The Final Word – In Kansas, Harvick was Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End

    Boogity, boggity, boggity. It was Saturday night racing at Kansas, boys. Yes, sir, it was the Might As Well Watch Paint Dry 400. Kansas, where excitement goes to die. Kevin Harvick started at the pole and led through to the competition caution. Ryan Blaney led at the re-start and continued to do so right to the end of the opening segment. Okay, Harvick did make it close at the end, but close does not even count in horseshoes when the other guy wraps his around the peg. Maybe we would be hanging on the edge of our seats in the middle frame. Lord, I hoped so.

    I forgot that this was Kansas, where such hopes also go to die. Harvick led the segment for 50 laps, then gave it up to Kyle Larson for the final 30. There. That was our excitement. Okay, Jimmie Johnson came into the second stanza down a lap. Daniel Suarez and Brad Keselowski joined him after coming in for tire issues under green. At this point, the smart money was on either Larson, Harvick, or Blaney. Did an entirely new crop of fans take this in, and were now sitting there in front of the television sets saying that from now on they just have to watch this sport? Damn near made myself laugh just now.

    Matt Kenseth was racing. He spent most of the time off the lead lap, but he was out there replacing Trevor Bayne for this one. Being in a Ford is good this year unless you are in a Roush Fenway Ford. Kenseth is a great driver. He is a former champion. However, he can not turn water into wine, and he needed that kind of miracle power.

    Mind you, his chances were better than this race becoming a ratings juggernaut. When we opened the final segment already half the field found themselves a lap or more down. Larson led when they went green and stayed there until caution finally came out with 30 to go. Suarez wobbled, and William Byron sideswiped him just enough to cut down a tire. Oh, and Blaney had gotten by Harvick to sit a distant second. Harvick remained in third. Would anyone else even matter on this night?

    Why yes. After they got going again, Harvick emerged up front, but Joey Logano slipped into the runner-up spot. With 20 to go, the pair of Larson and Blaney were fighting it out for third when they came together. After hitting the wall, it was goodbye to Mr. Blaney. Larson’s team ended their own hopes, we thought, when they messed up in the pits. They went after a fender repair, but the tire was never tightened before the jack dropped. Yet in the end, Larson claimed fourth. Okay, that was a bit of a miracle.

    After 240 laps of dry as dust action, they did their best to create some measure of excitement. Harvick pitted under caution, but Logano, Martin Truex Jr., Erik Jones, Denny Hamlin, Chase Elliott, and Byron did not. They were leading Harvick when they dropped the green, but within seconds a wreck beside Harvick missed him by a hair. Byron clipped Clint Bowyer and slammed face first into the wall. Ryan Newman and Kenseth were among those collected.

    With eight to run, it took Harvick no time at all to use his four fresh friends to charge up into second, and when it came down to the final two trips around he got around Truex and that was the race. It was Harvick’s fifth victory on the season and 42nd of his career. Good point nights were recorded by Larson and Logano, while it was single digits for Byron, Newman, and Suarez.

    Next week, they head to Charlotte where the stars will shine for the annual exhibition classic. Johnson has won four of them, though it would be tough to jump on his bandwagon at the moment. Chevrolet has won more than half of them over the years, but that is another musical conveyance that might be shy a few believers. For example, on Saturday night there were five Fords in the Top Ten, Toyota had four, and Larson the lone bowtie representative. That is how this season has gone for them.

    It will be another Saturday night, but at least we won’t be in Kansas anymore, Toto.

  • Can Anyone Compete With Ford?

    Can Anyone Compete With Ford?

    Ford has done nothing short of dominating the 2018 NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series (MENCS) season. Eleven races into the 36 race season and Ford has managed to find their way into victory lane six total times. While it is true that four of the six wins came with Stewart-Hass Racing driver Kevin Harvick, the other Ford drivers in the field have been strong. There is no shortage of talent, or speed, in the Ford camp.

    So far in 2018, Ford has amassed 2,145 laps led, 48 top 10s, 17 stage wins, and six race wins. Things seem to be picking up for the “Blue Oval.”

    Stewart-Hass Racing has obviously been the dominant Ford team this season, accounting for five of the six wins that Ford has, of which Kevin Harvick owns four, and Clint Bowyer has one. Team Penske driver Joey Logano has the other Ford victory that came at Talladega Superspeedway in the 10th race of the Cup Series season.

    The fact that Harvick and Logano are the only two Ford drivers to win so far this season is not a reflection of the strong cars that the manufacturer has brought to each track this season. Brad Keselowski, Ryan Blaney, Kurt Busch, Aric Almirola, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. have all had some really great runs this season. Blaney probably should have won Bristol, until he was caught up in a wreck coming to the end of the second stage.

    Keselowski has had a strong car at several races this season but has fallen into the clutches of bad luck. At Bristol, he blew a tire toward the end of the race and erased any shot he had at winning. At Talladega, he got caught up in the big one on lap 165 by running into the back of teammate Blaney, who were both a part of the 14 cars involved in the calamity.

    Roush Fenway Racing has shown some speed with Ricky Stenhouse Jr., who drives the No. 17 for the team. Those strong runs, combined with the recent announcement that 2003 MENCS Champion Matt Kenseth will be returning to the team to run a part-time schedule in the No. 6 car currently driven by Trevor Bayne, could be the shot in the arm that team needs to become a contender again.

    But, Ford’s domination isn’t limited to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. They are also flexing some muscle in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Of the 10 races run in the series, Ford has snagged four wins with four different drivers. Harvick, Keselowski, Logano, and Blaney have all taken home a trophy this season driving a Ford.

    In the Xfinity Series, Ford has recorded 631 laps led, 22 top 10s, five stage wins, and four race wins. Team Penske accounts for three of the four wins, between three different drivers (Keselowski, Logano, and Blaney). Stewart-Hass Racing has the fourth win with Harvick.

    Ford has scored a win at four very different race tracks, including ISM Raceway, Atlanta, Auto Club, and Texas. These tracks range anywhere between one mile in length to two miles in length, showing that Ford is capable of winning regardless of the tracks that they run on. We will have to wait until later in the season to see if they will be able to keep the momentum going on the road courses and the bigger tracks like Michigan and Pocono.

    In short, if you are a Chevrolet or Toyota team, you need to be doing some serious digging to try to shut these Fords down this season. We do have to give credit where it is due; Toyota has won four races this season. Three with Kyle Busch and one with 2017 MENCS Champion, Martin Truex Jr. But if you are a Chevy team, you need to be worried. With only one win coming at this year’s Daytona 500, Chevy has not seen the early success that it is used to. Jimmie Johnson, a seven-time champion and one of the strongest, consistent Chevy drivers, has struggled this season and currently sits in the longest winless streak of his career, dating back to the spring Bristol race of 2017. Kyle Larson, though, has shown some strength this year. He battled with Kyle Busch for much of the third stage at Bristol but could not capitalize on the run after spinning out while leading the race.

    It may still be early in the season, but I don’t think it would be a surprise for us to see a Ford taking home the championship in the MENCS when they make their final stop of the year at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 18. And don’t be surprised if it is the No. 4 Fusion for Stewart-Hass Racing claiming his second MENCS title.

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

    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.

  • Johnson’s Early Struggles Will Not Define His Success

    Johnson’s Early Struggles Will Not Define His Success

    Although Jimmie Johnson is currently 35th in points with back to back finishes of 27th or worse, he is still optimistic about the 2018 season.

    The uncharacteristic results of the 2017 season seem to have rolled over into the first two races and both exhibition events of the season. Last year, Johnson posted a career-worst 11 top-10 finishes and a 10th place finish in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship. So far this season, he has been involved in a crash in every event, has a DNF in three of the four races, and has yet to lead a lap.

    In the Daytona 500, the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet crashed when the field entered Turn 3 coming to the green-checkered flag at the end of Stage 1, resulting in a 38th place finish. This past week at Atlanta Motor Speedway, the team struggled with handling and car setup all weekend. Johnson spun on the backstretch on lap 159 after a right front tire came apart. He finished in the 27th position, five laps down.

    When asked about the crash at the Daytona 500, Johnson wasn’t pleased with how the competition was racing so early in the event.

    “Unfortunately, many thought that was the black and white checkered flag and not the green and white checkered flag,” Johnson said after he was released from the infield care center. “On Lap 59 to be throwing blocks like that just let to a lot of wrecked race cars.”

    The exhibition races proved no different. In the Advance Auto Parts Clash, Johnson was involved in a last-lap crash coming to the checkered flag. Later, during Daytona Speedweeks, he crashed on Lap 8 in the first Can-Am Duel qualifying race with a sudden flat left-rear tire at full speed at the exit of the tri-oval, collecting Aric Almirola.

    However, ‘Seven-Time’ is determined not to let the end of last season and the first two rounds of 2018 determine his success for this year. He reassured his fans and team through a tweet Monday after the Atlanta race.

    The Hendrick Motorsports veteran doesn’t seem fazed two races into the season and is confident about his pursuit of a record-breaking eighth championship. Johnson looks to break through this weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where he holds four career victories. To witness the race in person on March 4, you can order tickets for the Pennzoil 400 on the speedway’s website at http://www.lvms.com/tickets/pennzoil_400/.