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Hot 20 – Bristol is an all-star venue though Charlotte remains host of the all-star race

Ever since 1987, Charlotte has hosted the all-star race. Some, including Kevin Harvick, figure it should be rotated to other venues like those other sports do. I would agree, only if I had a veto as to what tracks it went to. Even then, I am not sure I would ever agree to the change.

Do not get me wrong. I do not believe Charlotte always produces the greatest events, but it has three things in its favor. First, it is the home for most of the teams. I like that ole home kind of vibe that comes from having the event just down the road a piece from where they all live. Second, Charlotte has been the home to the longest, most demanding race of the year since 1960. That gives it status and tradition. Third, the all-star race is run just the week before the greatest weekend in auto sports. After the all-stars hit the track, the next weekend we have the Monaco Grand Prix, the Indianapolis 500, and the World 600 keeping us recording and watching races all through the day. The all-star race at Charlotte is a nice appetizer before we enjoy the main course.

Now, if the alternative to Charlotte was Daytona, Talladega, Sonoma, or Watkins Glen, then maybe. If it was Bristol, I would be tempted. Why? How about watching the action this weekend and you can tell me as to why that might make a good choice. If it keeps your butt glued to the seat, be it trackside or on your couch, that is always a good thing.

The all-star race is a month away. Bristol features our Hot 20, and the not so hot 19, this Saturday afternoon.

1. BRAD KESELOWSKI – 2 WINS – 274 PTS
Even if they fail to win their appeal, he will still sit among the top two come Monday.

2. KYLE LARSON – 1 WIN – 315 PTS
Along with Brad and that other Kyle, favored to take the checkers this weekend.

3. MARTIN TRUEX, JR. – 1 WIN – 275 PTS
Fall 2011, second. Spring 2012, third. The other 20 at Bristol, outside the Top Ten.

4. JIMMIE JOHNSON – 1 WIN – 190 PTS
So ends his horrific six-race winless streak. Oh, the humanity. Good Lord.

5. RYAN NEWMAN – 1 WIN – 163 PTS
Since he won, where has he gone?

6. KURT BUSCH – 1 WIN – 151 PTS
A theory is that Kurt and Ryan have been hanging out playing Pinochle on race day ever since.

7. CHASE ELLIOTT – 298 PTS
Before Junior, the most popular driver was an Elliott. After Junior, it might be again.

8. JOEY LOGANO – 243 PTS
On his Verizon commercial, he says “We don’t need more Joeys.” I am biting my tongue.

9. RYAN BLANEY – 224 PTS
Along with Larson, Elliott, and Jones, the next generation has arrived and they are damned good.

10. KYLE BUSCH – 211 PTS
Prior to 2012, was 5-for-14 at Bristol. Since they shaved the upper banking, he has been 0-for-9.

11. JAMIE MCMURRAY – 209 PTS
Arguably having his best season, including the Daytona, Indianapolis, Charlotte trifecta of 2010.

12. CLINT BOWYER – 204 PTS
Some drivers wear heart monitors, and some others are named Clint.

13. KEVIN HARVICK – 198 PTS
Obviously, does not like staying at home in mid-May.

14. TREVOR BAYNE – 164 PTS
Tennessee Trevor is intending to make Bristol Bayne country.

15. ERIK JONES – 159 PTS
The last first-year driver to win the title was…Red Byron…in 1949…in the division’s first year.

16. DENNY HAMLIN – 151 PTS
Springtime at Bristol over the past seven years has meant 19th or worse…except for 2014.

17. KASEY KAHNE – 147 PTS
With Bush Beans the pole sponsor, might one take it without even having to sit in a car?

18. ARIC ALMIROLA – 146 PTS
He loves Bristol…but will the feeling be mutual?

19. RICKY STENHOUSE JR. – 139 PTS
A pair of Xfinity titles and he is a former American Ninja Warrior. Okay, he also knows Danica.

20. DALE EARNHARDT JR. – 133 PTS
What? You were expecting Jeffrey?

April 19, 2017
NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Texas

Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

1. Kyle Larson: Larson finished second at Texas, his fourth runner-up of the season, and remains the Monster Energy Cup points leader.

“Given a few more laps,” Larson said, “I think I could have caught Jimmie Johnson for the win. Given a few more lifetimes, I think I could have caught him in the number of Cup championships won.”

2. Martin Truex Jr.: Truex finished eighth at Texas, posting his fourth top 10 of the year.

“We definitely had the car to better that eighth-place finish,” Truex said, “so I’m disappointed. If I had it to do over, I think we could have pulled out the win. So, talk about ‘resurfacing’ all you like; it’s the thought of ‘re-finishing‘ that intrigues me.”

3. Chase Elliott: Elliott posted his fifth top-10 finish of the year with a ninth at Texas, and remained second in the points standings, 17 behind Kyle Larson,

“Winds were gusting up to 25 miles per hour,” Elliott said, “which means they were faster than Jeffrey Earnhardt.”

4. Brad Keselowski: Keselowski finished sixth in the O’Reilly Auto Parts 400 at Texas, recording his sixth top-10 result of the year.

“Only at Texas does the winner get to put on a cowboy hat and fire a set of replica six-shooters,” Keselowski said. “Jimmie Johnson had that honor on Sunday. It’s certainly not the first time for JJ; he’s won seven times at Texas. And, judging by Jimmie’s dehydration issue after the race, I’m guessing he went to the bathroom and shot even more blanks.”

5. Joey Logano: Logano led late at Texas but couldn’t hold off a charging Jimmie Johnson, who took the lead with 16 laps to go. Logano finished second and is fifth in the points standings, 72 out of first.

“Much like a Kyle Busch punch,” Logano said, “Jimmie went by me like I wasn’t even there.”

6. Ryan Blaney: Blaney won the first and second stage in the O[Reilly Auto Parts 400, but faded to a 12th place finish.

“My last pit stop cost me,” Blaney said. “I overshot my pit stall and that blew my chance of winning. Obviously, my crew assumes I’ll hit my marks perfectly when I pit. I didn’t, and that’s been the story of my year because I’ve been ‘exceeding expectations’ all season.”

7. Kevin Harvick: Harvick started on the pole at Texas and finished fourth, posting his first top five of the season.

“I’ve never won at Texas,” Harvick said. “I seem to be cursed at that track. Heck, as one of NASCAR’s least-liked drivers, I believed I’m ‘cursed’ at every track.”

8. Kyle Busch: Busch came home with a disappointing 15th at Texas, ending a streak of three consecutive top-10 finishes.

“Ozzy Osbourne visited my pit box during the race,” Busch said. “If Ozzy is the ‘Prince Of Darkness,’ my complexion says I’m the ‘Prince Of Lightness.’”

9. Jimmie Johnson: Johnson started from the very rear at Texas and passed Joey Logano with 17 laps to go, then cruised to his first win of the season.

“After a slow start to our season,” Johnson said, “it’s great to finally get a win. But I’m not satisfied. I’m hungry for more, but not as thirsty as I was for fluids after the race. My car’s fluid delivery system malfunctioned, so I needed three bags of intravenous fluids. It’s certainly not the first case of a ‘three-bagger’ making an appearance in a NASCAR infield.”

10. Jamie McMurray: McMurray finished seventh at Texas, joining Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Kyle Larson in the top 10.

“The Texas Motor Speedway track was recently repaved,” McMurray said. “So, race-winner Jimmie Johnson picked the perfect time to ‘resurface.’”

April 11, 2017
Kevin Harvick Earns Coors Light Pole at Texas

By Staff report | NASCAR.com

Kevin Harvick topped the leaderboard in all three rounds of Coors Light Pole qualifying, circling Texas Motor Speedway in the final round at 198.405 mph to earn his 19th career pole. The Stewart-Haas Racing driver is also the first repeat pole-sitter this season, having earned the top qualifying spot at Atlanta Motor Speedway in March.

Sophomore Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver Ryan Blaney was second-fastest, his No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford clocking in at 198.020 mph. Blaney also topped opening practice in the Lone Star State earlier today.

Harvick’s SHR teammate Clint Bowyer will start third (198.020 mph), while Team Penske’s Joey Logano (197.759 mph) and Brad Keselowski (197.563 mph) rounded out the top five, respectively. This gave Ford all five of the top starting positions.

Nine cars were unable to make a qualifying lap in Friday’s three-round session after failing to get through pre-qualifying inspection: Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chase Elliott, Kyle Busch, Kasey Kahne, Kyle Larson, Erik Jones, Chris Buescher, Derrike Cope and Timmy Hill. They will all start from the back of the field in Sunday’s 500-mile event. Busch is the reigning race winner.

Jimmie Johnson brought out the red in the middle of the 20-minute opening round, when he spun and flat-spotted the tires on his No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. Although he advanced to the second round, he was unable to continue qualifying and will start 24th.

“I think we used up all our luck in Homestead last year,” Johnson joked on pit road. “Glad the Lowe’s Chevy is still in one piece, we’ll fight back from here.”

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series returns to the track Saturday for a pair of practices beginning at 9:30 a.m. ET (FS1).

O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 Starting Lineup:

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April 7, 2017
Hot 20 – If you like Texas Bobbleheads, just nod yes…over…and…over…again.

Texas is next on the dance card this weekend, an apropos venue to hear about Bellator and Monster Energy getting together to present some pre-race smackdowns, some good ole fashioned ass whippin’s, some unscripted mayhem. In their desire to make NASCAR cool and hip again, or whatever is considered trendy in today’s vernacular, Monster Energy plans on presenting some MMA matches prior to some selected events. Sounds like they are just going to try and recreate a Berkley peace march.

Maybe you could have Kyle Busch get together with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. for a little pre-race activity. After Stenhouse bumped Kyle to get back on the lead lap at the end of Stage 2 at Martinsville, accomplishing the task while allowing Chase Elliott to slip ahead for the Stage win, once again we seem to have a burning Busch on our hands.

Ricky’s pal, Danica Patrick, along with Tony Stewart have had their likenesses enshrined in Milwaukee’s Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum. Just nod your head repeatedly in agreement.

In 2014, Hall of Famer (baseball version) Tony La Russa saw bobbleheads produced showing him in both the colors of the Athletics and the White Sox. At Phoenix, he was decked out in those of Shell/Pennzoil when the 72-year old dropped by the Team Penske garage to visit with Joey Logano. Come to think of it, didn’t Kyle Busch want to turn Logano into a bobblehead a couple of weeks ago?

Sunday is Texas…with not 38 or 39 on the entry list, but a full 40! Well, they do like things bigger there, including the race field it seems. As for these boys listed below, they will indeed be our Hot 20. Temps for Dallas are forecast for the mid-80s F come race day.

1. BRAD KESELOWSKI – 2 WINS – 234 PTS
The King of his Kesel (owski)?

2. KYLE LARSON – 1 WIN – 268 PTS
Visited the rocket center in Huntsville, but even Smoky could not have put a Saturn V in his car.

3. MARTIN TRUEX JR. – 1 WIN – 236 PTS
Best damn driver at Martinsville…for the opening stage.

4. RYAN NEWMAN – 1 WIN – 152 PTS
This just in. Newman plans to play in Texas, yet has not a single fiddler in the band.

5. KURT BUSCH – 1 WIN – 119 PTS
That Daytona win is looming larger and larger with each subpar performance since.

6. CHASE ELLIOTT – 264 PTS
Over his past ten, an average finish of 8.3 with six Top Tens. That will do for now.

7. JOEY LOGANO – 207 PTS
With MMA fights coming to some NASCAR events, are you ready to rumble, Joey?

8. KYLE BUSCH – 188 PTS
Pre-race? Hell, shouldn’t they be having the fights after the race?

9. RYAN BLANEY – 179 PTS
His dad was a North Carolina Cup driver. The boy is the same…just better..as dad had hoped.

10. CLINT BOWYER – 174 PTS
Top Tens in three of his past four…nothing worse than 13th in last five.

11. JAMIE MCMURRAY – 163 PTS
Must have thought he had Flintstone tires at Martinsville…but it eroded away just the same.

12. KEVIN HARVICK – 154 PTS
This Sunday, they will feature Danica. In November, Texas will hand out Harvick bobbleheads.

13. KASEY KAHNE – 146 PTS
Junior was fine, but his Chevy McChevy face got all steamed up with Kahne.

14. ERIK JONES – 144 PTS
While everyone is talking about Larson, another young gun is quietly working his way up.

15. JIMMIE JOHNSON – 141 PTS
Oh, my God, what’s wrong with Jimmie? Well, if this is running bad, imagine him running good.

16. TREVOR BAYNE – 140 PTS
His 14th Texas start? Damn, time does fly by.

17. DENNY HAMLIN – 139 PTS
Made contact with Danica at Martinsville, and wound up in a wall of hurt…and a garage of tears.

18. ARIC ALMIROLA – 127 PTS
Best showing since Daytona? 14th.

19. AUSTIN DILLON – 126 PTS
Coming off his best win of the season, he is taking the big hat to Texas. Seems about right.

20. RICKY STENHOUSE JR. – 113 PTS
The most relevant 27 remain in the Top 27…or at least that is what he keeps trying to tell her.

April 5, 2017
NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Martinsville

Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

1. Brad Keselowski: Keselowski passed Kyle Busch with 43 laps and cruised to the win at Martinsville, earning his first win at the Virginia short track.

“This was my first win at Martinsville,” Keselowski said. “I’m pleased to get my first grandfather clock trophy because it’s about ‘time.’

“And speaking of ‘time,’ Paul Wolfe is not yet serving time for his suspension for a failed inspection incurred at Phoenix. And we all know what appealing a suspension for which you are clearly guilty is: ‘buying time.’”

2. Kyle Larson: Larson finished 17th at Martinsville, snapping his streak of four consecutive races in the top 2. He remains the leader in the Monster Energy Cup points standings, four points ahead of Chase Elliott in second.

“Two of the youngest drivers lead the points standings,” Larson said. “Some of the veterans like to joke that Chase and I are still in diapers. That’s funny and all, but everyone in NASCAR knows that the thing most akin to diapers in this sport is the points format, because, apparently, it ‘needs changing’ all the time.”

3. Martin Truex Jr.: Truex won Stage 1 at Martinsville and eventually finished 16th at Martinsville.

“I like the added intensity that stage racing brings to NASCAR,” Truex said. “It’s answered some questions that have long been asked in racing circles, like ‘Can the 80th lap of a race be just as exciting as the final lap?’ Or, ‘Could Kyle Busch’s fuse be shorter?’”

4. Chase Elliott: Elliott finished third in the STP 500 at Martinsville, posting his third top five of the season.

“Martinsville is the shortest track on the NASCAR circuit,” Elliott said. “It’s only ½-mile around. Some NASCAR fans call it a ‘paperclip;’ others call it a ‘waistline.’”

5. Joey Logano: Logano took fourth at Martinsville, posting his third top-five result of the year. He is fifth in the Monster Energy Cup points standings, 61 points out of first.

“Matt Kenseth finished ninth,” Logano said. “So, as was the case back in November of 2015, my day ended with Kenseth behind me.”

6. Kyle Busch: Busch finished second at Martinsville after leading a race-high 274 laps. He is sixth in the points standings, 80 out of first.

“I lost a lengthy battle for the lead with Brad Keselowski,” Busch said. “I blame a faulty set of tires for my failure. I’m very irritated. Not just at those tires, but also at Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., Joey Logano, M&M’s that melt in my hand, and life in general. In other words, ‘Everything is grating.’”

7. Ryan Newman: Newman finished eighth at Martinsville and is 11th in the points standings.

“Just for the record,” Newman said, “Danica Patrick and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. did not get engaged. Ricky must be the one holding up things because anyone who’s pissed off Danica knows she’s not afraid to ‘engage’ with anyone.”

8. Kevin Harvick: Harvick struggled to a 20th-place finish at Martinsville and has yet to post a top-five finish this season.

“We struggled all day,” Harvick said. “The No. 4 Jimmy Johns Chevrolet was just slow. How slow, you may ask? Well, we were so slow, in honor of our performance, you can walk into any Jimmy Johns, order a sub, and pick it up for free the following day.”

9. Clint Bowyer: Bowyer scored his second straight top-10 finish with a seventh in the STP 500. He is eighth in the points standings, 94 out of first.

“I think Tony Stewart is proud of my efforts as of late,” Bowyer said. “And I’m proud to be the guy that was given the opportunity to take over the No. 14 car. But let’s face it, I’ll never be able to truly fill Tony’s seat without 30-40 more pounds in my rear end. In the words of Tony’s long-time lead mechanic, also known as ‘Sir Fixalot,’ ‘Tony’s got back.’”

10. Ryan Blaney: Blaney finished 25th at Martinsville, posting his worst finish of the season. However, he is seventh in the Monster Energy Cup points standings, 89 behind Kyle Larson.

“I’m still pleased with my performance so far,” Blaney said. “If you would have told anyone before the season that Ryan Blaney would be seventh in the standings after Martinsville, they would have said ‘Who’s Ryan Blaney?’ And I would have told them, ‘I’m Dave Blaney’s son.’ And they would have said, ‘Who’s Dave Blaney?’ And that makes the Blaney’s a veritable ‘Who’s who?’ of stock car racing.”

April 4, 2017
Bowyer Fastest in Final Martinsville Practice

MARTINSVILLE, Va. — Clint Bowyer topped the chart in final Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice at Martinsville Speedway.

The driver of the No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet was the fastest with a time of 20.174 and a speed of 93.863 mph. Kyle Busch was second in his No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota with a time of 20.238 and a speed of 93.567 mph. Jamie McMurray was third in his No. 1 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet with a time of 20.246 and a speed of 93.530 mph. Brad Keselowski was fourth in his No. 2 Team Penske Ford with a time of 20.247 and a speed of 93.525 mph. Ryan Newman rounded out the top-five in his No. 31 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet with a time of 20.250 and a speed of 93.511 mph.

Nobody drove a run of 10 or more consecutive laps.

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April 1, 2017
Hot 20 – Martinsville will boast superb on track talent, but can FOX attract the viewers at home?

The ratings are in. They continue to sink, with anything not being raced at Daytona all down. Daytona was great, the rest were okay. There used to be a time when okay was good enough. That was when, to answer Sheryl Crow’s question, we had it bad. Today, not so much. The passion is gone, at least from a ton of fans. Even the sponsors no longer have the passion, the desire to make those NASCAR-themed spots that were, well, spot on.

What to do, what to do? The stars have been, and remain, pretty accessible to the fans. Hell, even 79-year old Richard Petty remains a fan favorite and an easy target for an autograph. On the other end of the spectrum, we have Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney, Erik Jones, Trevor Bayne, and Daniel Suarez leading the way for the 20-somethings. That might bode well for the future, but what about today? If you are a gear-head, the strategy, the setups is something of a draw, but for most folks, when their car is not running well it is simply broken.

Wasn’t the racing once a lot closer? I know in the old days it was not, not when the winner was a lap or more ahead of the next guy. So, what made NASCAR the “in thing” 20 years ago? They went from southern to national, where a guy like California’s Jeff Gordon would rival the likes of Dale Earnhardt from North Carolina. That created some sparks. They had open-wheel types like Gordon, Tony Stewart, and Juan Pablo Montoya take a turn at the wheel. That caused interest. Danica Patrick arrived and that was interesting, at least for a while. Pack racing might drive the drivers nuts, but it keeps us watching. Again, Daytona was watched, the rest…not so much.

I love the documentary-styled vignettes on the broadcasts. They always cause me to stop and watch. Is there anything else exciting, such as the broadcasters, the camera angles, the whole television experience to draw us in? Not really. Even the commercials are the same as when you watch NCIS. Seen it already with Gibbs and Ducky, so I’m good. What remains exciting is the talent. It just needs to be showcased a hell of a lot better.

Now, don’t get me started on XFINITY. Thankfully, Ryan Reed and Justin Allgaier at least won two of the five races. Seventeen of the 25 Top Five positions to date have gone to Cup drivers. Nineteen-year-old William Byron has four Top Tens, but I suspect few know that, or him. That is a problem. I do not know what their ratings are. To be honest, I do not really care.

Whatever you do, you cannot blame the guys among our Hot 20. Will Larson continue to dominate? Will Elliott get his first win and move to the front of the pack? What can Keselowski do with a car not beat to crap? Can Truex continue to perform well? Will Johnson and Earnhardt continue their climb back into contention? Those are some pretty good questions. I think most are still interested in the answers.

The trouble is getting them to commit to spending a Sunday afternoon watching it all unfold, rather than to spend just a few minutes in the evening to check the post-race reports. That is like reading the last page of the book to see how the story ends, rather than submerging one’s self into the experience. The Martinsville saga this weekend will be a good one, but the book needs to be spruced up a bit to keep us engaged.

1. KYLE LARSON – 1 WIN – 243 PTS
A win, most points, but Martinsville is a challenge he would love to overcome.

2. BRAD KESELOWSKI – 1 WIN – 214 PTS
Have the living daylights beat out of your car by the fourth lap, and still finish second? Wow.

3. MARTIN TRUEX JR. – 1 WIN – 205 PTS
Tires. He don’t need no fresh stinking tires. On second thought…

4. RYAN NEWMAN – 1 WIN – 123 PTS
After ending a 127 race winless streak, the new one is now up to…well…one.

5. KURT BUSCH – 1 WIN – 118 PTS
That Daytona win allows him to forget about the results of the past three events.

6. CHASE ELLIOTT – 214 PTS
The only thing separating him and the other top guys is the empty win column, and that’s it.

7. JOEY LOGANO – 174 PTS
Beat out Larson, Kyle Busch, and Erik Jones to win XFINITY. Again, what is that series for?

8. JAMIE MCMURRAY – 162 PTS
Three Top Tens in his last four races. Hey, he doesn’t want teammate Larson to feel alone.

9. RYAN BLANEY – 157 PTS
He can say whatever he wants about Junior. Mind you, guess who owns the land he lives on?

10. KEVIN HARVICK – 147 PTS
Harvick better win soon. Heck, Keelan is already wearing Larson gear.

11. CLINT BOWYER – 143 PTS
October 13, 2012. While he is happy for the moment, it has been awhile since that last win.

12. KYLE BUSCH – 136 PTS
Once upon a time, when you mentioned Kyle it meant a guy named Busch.

13. DENNY HAMLIN – 123 PTS
Virginia is for Virginians. That is the slogan going into this weekend for Hamlin.

14. KASEY KAHNE – 122 PTS
Remembering David Steele.

15. ERIK JONES – 116 PTS
Just a win away from a milkshake celebration. Hey, he still is only 20.

16. TREVOR BAYNE – 114 PTS
Anywhere in the Top 15 on Sunday would be moral victory.

17. JIMMIE JOHNSON – 109 PTS
No, Jimmie is not a god. Superman, yes. A god, no.

18. ARIC ALMIROLA – 108 PTS
Andrew Murstein has a drive to win. Richard Petty has 200 as a driver. No pressure, Aric.

19. DANIEL SUAREZ – 102 PTS
We now know why Carl Edwards retired. He just wanted to be a coach.

20. AUSTIN DILLON – 92 PTS
Where is Junior? He is the guy looming large in Dillon’s mirror.

March 29, 2017
NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: California

Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

1. Kyle Larson: Larson survived four late restarts and pulled away for the win at Fontana, finally snatching a win after three consecutive runner-up finishes.

“It’s frustrating building a huge lead,” Larson said, “only to have it wiped out by a caution flag. Restarts are dangerous for a race leader, especially when there are four restarts. It’s times like those when it’s imperative to proceed with caution.”

2. Martin Truex Jr.: Truex finished fourth in the Auto Club 400, posting his second top-five finish of the year.

“I regret not getting fresh tires on the final pit stop,” Truex said. “It’s not like we didn’t have the tires—we start with 11 sets. And I needed fresh tires to have any chance of catching Kyle Larson. So, I urged my crew chief to ‘burn rubber’ so I could ‘burn rubber.’”

3. Brad Keselowski: Keselowski overcame damage in an early spin to finish second at Fontana.

“Kyle Larson was dominant,” Keselowski said. “He could pass cars at will and made it all look so easy. It was like it was ‘Target practice.’”

4. Chase Elliott: Elliott led the Hendrick Motorsports charge at Fontana, finishing 10th. He is second in the points standings, 29 behind Kyle Larson.

“I hear Danica Patrick was critical of NASCAR’s reasoning for fining drivers,” Elliott said. “I tend to agree with her. I would say to NASCAR officials sitting smugly in their rules trailer, ‘You can’t have it both ways.’ But NASCAR’s rulings are so subjective, they need to be told, ‘You can’t have it three ways, or four ways.’ And let’s be honest, the only people having ‘three ways’ and ‘four ways’ in trailers are Dale Earnhardt Jr. fans.”

5. Joey Logano: Logano finished fifth in the Auto Club 400 at Fontana, recording his second top five of the season.

“Kyle Busch and I raced each other cleanly all weekend at Fontana,” Logano said. “Thank goodness, because I don’t want any more of Kyle’s punches coming my way. As these three boring races out West can attest, one ‘West Coast swing’ is enough.”

6. Kevin Harvick: Harvick came home 13th at Fontana and is now ninth in the points standings, 106 out of first.

“Frankly,” Harvick said, “I’ve had enough of the West Coast and its smog. I’m ready to head back East, where we race at classic NASCAR tracks like Martinsville. As you know, aerodynamics don’t play much of a role on a half-mile track. So, those West Coast locations can keep their ‘dirty air.’”

7. Kyle Busch: Busch finished eighth at Fontana, posting his second top-10 finish of the year.

“I didn’t have one single run-in with Joey Logano,” Busch said. “And that’s exactly how I’d like it, because I prefer to have ‘no contact’ with him.”

8. Jamie McMurray: McMurray finished sixth at Fontana.

“That was a big win for Kyle Larson,” McMurray said. “But not as big as the oversized novelty pair of sunglasses he was wearing after the race. Kyle’s already a diminutive little fellow; with those giant shades on, I’d say he’s the second coming of ‘Slim Shady.’”

9. Ryan Blaney: Blaney finished ninth in the Auto Club 400 and is now seventh in the Monster Energy Cup points standings, 86 out of first.

“Kyle Larson was in a minor car accident after leaving Auto Club Speedway after the race,” Blaney said. “Luckily, Kyle walked away without a scratch, which isn’t that big of a surprise, because he was untouchable all day.”

10. Clint Bowyer: Bowyer finished third at Fontana, posting his first top-five result since the Bristol Night Race in 2015.

“I’m driving the No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing car made famous by Tony Stewart,” Bowyer said. “Tony was known as much for his temper as he was for his driving skill, which led to the coining of the phrase, ‘Where there’s Smoke, there’s ire.’”

March 28, 2017
The Final Word – Larson finally finds gold in California

Kyle Larson went back to his home state of California and won at Fontana. A win. Now, I’ll be the first to admit that the 24-year old from Elk Grove is not perfect. Sure, he might be leading the standings, but perfection?

His average finish over his past four races is only 1.75. Only. The best he could do was second at Homestead to wrap up last season. Larson started this year 12th at Daytona. Then he was second at Atlanta. Second at Las Vegas. Second at Phoenix. It is about time he was perfect, don’t you think? With the second win of his career, he leads the standings by 29 points over Brad Keselowski.

Keselowski had an interesting day. On the start, he got into the hiccuping Denny Hamlin while Ryan Newman rearranged his left rear quarter-panel. That could not have been good on that tire, but we never really discovered if it would be a problem. You see, on the fourth lap, Jimmie Johnson tagged him when Keselowski had to lift, sending Brad spinning through the infield grass. He managed to get back into the Top Ten after the second stage, then second only to Larson at the end. Considering how the car looked, that was an incredible result.

Picking up 40 or more points in a race meant you mattered most of the day. Keselowski did not. Clint Bowyer (third) and Martin Truex, Jr. (fourth) did. In fact, after finishing second to Larson in the opening stage before leading him after the second frame, the Truex brain trust decided to stay out before the overtime finale. Their rival picked up the new Goodyears and that was that. Jamie McMurray was sixth on Sunday, and with points in both stages, he also had a real good afternoon to move to seventh in the season standings. Even Chase Elliott had a good day, with bonus points added to his 10th place completion placing him tied in seasonal points with Keselowski, just without a win.

Being in the Top 16 is what they all are aiming for. Johnson tumbled out after a 21st place result. 20-year old Erik Jones eases in, taking 12th place points bulked up by stage bonuses. Other notables who failed to finish among the Top 20 included Kurt Busch, Trevor Bayne, Paul Menard, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Danica Patrick. To be honest, it is no longer coming as a surprise to see some of this group this far from the front. Patrick is 29th in the standings, four points up on A.J. Allmendinger, but at least he needed to receive a 35 point penalty after Atlanta to be buried this deep.

After races in Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Fontana, with a trek to Texas on the horizon, they return east to Virginia for one week and a date in Martinsville. Johnson has nine grandfather clocks while Hamlin has five of the iconic first place trophies. You would think both should do well. History tells us that Truex, Kurt Busch, and Aric Almirola might not. It also says Larson, Truex, and Elliott might also falter. Something tells me that history, at least this time out, might be full of it. Current events might suggest that relying totally on history might not be the right choice for Sunday.

March 27, 2017
Hot 20 – You know all the big names on this list heading to Fontana, and some not among them

Despite placing fourth on Sunday, no Ricky Stenhouse Jr. No Dale Earnhardt Jr. Neither Austin Dillon or Ty Dillon. No Danica Patrick. A.J. Allmendinger was third at Daytona, outside the Top Twenty ever since. One can have the name, the equipment, the marketing, but results are what matters and for some those results just have not been there just yet.

However, each and every one managing to crack our Hot 20 not only are known but they have done well enough. I mean, just by averaging 18 points per race, an average of 19th place per contest without stage bonuses, is all it takes to be in Cup racing’s top tier. Not a high fence to get over, you would think.

Just six points separate Stenhouse, Earnhardt, and the Dillons from leaping up, but it gets a little more serious for Patrick and Allmendinger. Patrick is 20 back, while Allmendinger is a head scratching 33 off the pace. If this was the NFL or MLB instead of NASCAR, somebody would start getting a little anxious. Maybe some are.

California would be the apropos place to have a eureka moment. For some, in the words of U-2, they still haven’t found what they are looking for.

1. BRAD KESELOWSKI – 1 WIN – 178 PTS
After Daytona wreck, a win and a trio of Top Fives. He found it, and never had to look for it.

2. MARTIN TRUEX JR. – 1 WIN – 153 PTS
Six wins in three seasons. Barney Visser’s crew has come a long way since its 2005 debut.

3. KURT BUSCH – 1 WIN – 105 PTS
Does Energizer have a car battery, one that keeps going and going and going?

4. RYAN NEWMAN – 1 WIN – 101 PTS
Joins previous Childress drivers who have won at Phoenix; Dale Earnhardt and Kevin Harvick.

5. KYLE LARSON – 184 PTS
Runner-up in four of the past five races. Striving for Miss Congeniality next?

6. CHASE ELLIOTT – 171 PTS
21-year-old’s worst finish in his last nine races is 14th. Hard to miss him week in and week out.

7. JOEY LOGANO – 135 PTS
No one can claim he wrecked on purpose to ruin Kyle’s day….not this time.

8. RYAN BLANEY – 127 PTS
With only three wins over the past 25 years, the Wood Brothers expect their fortunes to change.

9. KEVIN HARVICK – 123 PTS
Happy Hours begins next Tuesday from 7 to 9 pm ET, on SiriusXM, Channel 90.

10. JAMIE MCMURRAY – 119 PTS
Reserves his wins for Charlotte (2), Daytona (2), Talladega (2), and Indianapolis (1).

11. KASEY KAHNE – 105 PTS
Still holding the fort, along with Chase, as they wait for those other two guys to gain traction.

12. TREVOR BAYNE – 100 PTS
Last Wood Brothers winner (2011) wants to be the first for Roush since Carl Edwards (2014).

13T. KYLE BUSCH – 97 PTS
Dear Joey: I hate you. Most sincerely, Kyle.

13T. DENNY HAMLIN – 97 PTS
Screw the racing. Auctioneering is where his future lies – Sandy Wexler.

13T. CLINT BOWYER – 97 PTS
Other than for Daytona, the results have been fine. Not great, but certainly not bad.

16. JIMMIE JOHNSON – 93 PTS
California should be his to win…but wasn’t that what I said about Harvick at Phoenix?

17. ARIC ALMIROLA – 90 PTS
Another Daytona win for the boss’s 80th birthday would be a nice gift idea.

18. ERIK JONES – 82 PTS
What were you doing at 20 years of age?

19. PAUL MENARD – 78 PTS
There are 30 Menards locations near Fontana. Hey, if I can shill for Harvick, I can for Paul’s dad.

20T. MATT KENSETH – 72 PTS
It might have been only one point at Phoenix, but what a lovely point it was.

20T. DANIEL SUAREZ – 72 PTS
Might this rookie be finding his legs…or maybe just finding his wheels?

Update:

Penalties announced by NASCAR soon after this column was published have little effect on the standings. If not successfully appealed, the loss of 35 points by Keselowski only drops him to second, behind Truex, as wins trump points. Harvick’s loss of 10 points only finds him swapping places with McMurray.

Meanwhile, Allmendinger’s 35 point penalty at Atlanta was upheld on appeal. Still, even if it had not been, he would still have been sitting 20th, a couple of points ahead of Kenseth and Suarez. It is still early in the season, which only means this team has time to catch up…if they can catch up.

March 22, 2017