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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    As for our Hot 20…

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Sonoma

    NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Sonoma

    Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    9. Aric Almirola: Almirola finished eighth at Sonoma.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Michigan

    NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Michigan

    Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    6. Brad Keselowski: Keselowski finished sixth at Michigan.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Hot 20 – 50 years of NASCAR at Michigan

    Hot 20 – 50 years of NASCAR at Michigan

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Here is a look at our Hot 20 going in.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • The Final Word – Pocono provided a soothing, pleasant environment…and some race cars

    The Final Word – Pocono provided a soothing, pleasant environment…and some race cars

    Man, Pocono is pretty. It is so green. Watching a race from there is like watching a video on kittens or puppies. You might not be riveted to all you see, but you could calmly drift away to your happy place as you find yourself in the midst of peaceful meditation. Not exactly what you were bargaining for when you tuned in a race, but in these wacky times there are worse things to experience than some ambient video.

    It was 160 laps within a soothing, pleasant environment. After the first 100, it was suggested that the outcome might result in one of a handful of drivers claiming the top prize. Kevin Harvick was again very good. Kyle Busch, Clint Bowyer, and Martin Truex Jr. were among the best. Even Chase Elliott was among our leaders as he continued his quest for his first Cup win. It was pretty. It was nice. It was relaxing. All that was missing was the back rub, a nice fruity drink and a gentle warm breeze. Maybe a certain Beach Boy song playing in the background.

    I love kittens and puppies, and I really like Bubba Wallace. He is a lot like Danica Patrick. Popular and charismatic, a total package that is just missing the race results just yet at this point in his career. He also missed fourth gear early in that final stage. You shift about six times per lap at Pocono, and a single gear grinding miss and your day is over. Wallace was the first one out, and in doing so damn near increased my level of awareness during my afternoon of peaceful contemplation.

    While everything was just groovy with me, Matt DiBenedetto’s brakes were catching fire. Kyle Larson was on fire, but Derrike Cope was not, as the younger driver pushed the 59-year old into a skid to bring out a late caution. Coming out of the pits, Rowdy got by Harvick to take the lead for the first time on the day. That almost got me to open one eye just a bit.

    With just over 40 miles left out of the 400 scheduled, trash on the track. Another caution, another round of pit stops, another leader. This time, Truex in front, followed by Harvick, and Larson shoved himself into third when they took the green. I was relaxing, sure, but I was still noticing stuff.

    Three laps later, and the boys ruined everything. Denny Hamlin got loose, and while he caused Alex Bowman to scrape the outside wall, Hamlin went for a skid and punched his nose on the inside barrier. Yellow waved, and it was going to come down to a 10-lap shoot-out. Now I was awake. As for that shoot-out, on the re-start, Joey Logano got into Erik Jones to spin him and the autumn colored flag was back out. Meanwhile, the cars that really mattered still belonged to Truex, Larson, Kyle Busch, and Harvick.

    That is how they finished. Truex, who had won the opening stage only to fall back due to a pit miscue, won his second of the season and the 17th of his Cup career. The only change amongst the Chase contenders has Bowman dropping, to be replaced by the 14th place finisher Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

    Pocono was not boring. It was very, very relaxing, with a few moments to vie for your attention in the late going. Now that I am fully awake, I need some excitement. Time to fire up the lawn mower for a few laps in the yard before supper.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Charlotte

    NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Charlotte

    Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

    1. Kyle Busch: Busch started on the pole at Charlotte and led 377 of 400 laps on his way to the win in the Coca-Cola 600. With the victory, Busch became the first driver to win a points race at every track on the NASCAR schedule.

    “We haven’t seen this level of domination in this sport,” Busch said, “since Kevin Harvick’s last win.”

    2. Kevin Harvick: Harvick smashed the wall on lap 83 at Charlotte and finished 40th.

    “Walls are unforgiving,” Harvick said, “and so is the inspection line. I failed pre-qualifying inspection three times. But that’s okay. We’ll be fine. You know, there’s a saying in NASCAR that I like to live by: ‘Fail inspection, live to cheat another day.’”

    3. Martin Truex Jr.: Truex finished second at Charlotte, posting his eighth top five of the year.

    “I visited the White House last week to celebrate my 2017 championship,” Truex said. “President Donald Trump was so impressed by my accomplishments, he offered me a cabinet position as Secretary of Transportation. I was grateful for the offer, but I had to turn it down because I think I’m overqualified.”

    4. Joey Logano: Logano started second and finished 22nd at Charlotte. He is second in the Monster Energy Cup points standings, 67 behind Kyle Busch.

    “Kyle was out of this world,” Logano said. “He led a whopping 377 of 400 laps. It’s probably the only example of great leadership Kyle’s displayed in his career.”

    5. Brad Keselowski: Keselowski led two laps and finished fourth in the Coca-Cola 600.

    “The way it looks now,” Keselowski said, “the battle for the Monster Energy Cup championship will be a two-man battle between Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick. Personally, I’m not ready to concede that. In the words of the great Tom Richmond, ‘I’d like to make it a threesome.’”

    6. Kurt Busch: Busch finished eighth at Charlotte and posted the best finish among Stewart-Haas Racing drivers.

    “Tony Stewart was spotted at the Monaco Grand Prix,” Busch said. “Everybody knows Tony can be very ornery on occasion. I imagine if he would have driven in Formula 1, he would have been known as the ‘Grand Prick’ of Grand Prix racing.”

    7. Denny Hamlin: Hamlin came home third at Charlotte as Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch claimed a dominant victory.

    “On the greatest day of racing of the year,” Hamlin said, “Kyle was incredible. Australians Daniel Ricciardo and Will Power won at Monaco and Indianapolis, while Kyle put 39 other drivers ‘down under’ his name in the race results.”

    8. Kyle Larson: Larson survived a Stage 3 spin and drove to a seventh-place finish at Charlotte.

    “Kyle Busch totally dominated that race,” Larson said. “He led almost every lap. Heck, instead of the ‘Coca-Cola 600,’ they could have named in the ‘Kyle Busch 600.’ Or better yet, the ‘Monotony 600.’”

    9. Ryan Blaney: Blaney’s engine blew with 22 laps to go in Stage 3, sending his No. 12 car ablaze. He finished 36th.

    “I wasn’t the only driver ‘on fire’ at Charlotte,” Blaney said. “Kyle Busch dominated qualifying and the race. Funny thing is, the only ones that got burned were fans who came to see an exciting race.”

    10. Clint Bowyer: Bowyer finished 12th at Charlotte and is now eighth in the Monster Energy Cup points standings.

    “As you know,” Bowyer said, “Tony Stewart was in Monaco for the Formula 1 race. There was a time when Tony entertained the idea of racing in Formula 1, but he quickly decided against when he got stuck in the cockpit.”

  • The Final Word – Kyle Busch had the whole wide World 600 in his hands

    The Final Word – Kyle Busch had the whole wide World 600 in his hands

    Australia. If there was any road to success on Sunday, it was to be a native of Australia. Perth-born Daniel Ricciardo led from start to finish to claim the Monaco Grand Prix. At Indianapolis, Toowoomba’s own Will Power kissed the bricks and drank the milk.

    Unfortunately, the last Aussie to drive a Cup car was Tasmanian Marcus Ambrose four years ago. The closest we have now, according to my calculations, would be the boys from California. Going in, I guess that would have meant Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson, or A.J. Allmendinger among our favorite mates to take hold of the tiller of their Yank Tank left hookers to burn off some motion lotion to finish the day doing some circle work.

    Then again, betting on a Roger Penske driver might have been a good one. After taking his 17th Indianapolis 500 as a car owner, his boy Joey Logano led the opening lap at Charlotte. Maybe Joe Gibbs had the answer, as it did not take long before Logano was replaced up front by the trio of Kyle Busch, Erik Jones, and Denny Hamlin.

    Tires became the early story. We soon discovered Austin Dillon was not going to win it. Since his Daytona 500 win, the lad’s performance has gone down under. He lost a tire, scraped the wall, and his hopes of even a Top 20 took a big hit. As to what I said about Harvick earlier, forget it. No Aussie luck came his way when he blew a front tread and pounded the wall late in the opening stage to end his day. They all came in, but Brad Keselowski missed his pit box. The good news was, he gained a dozen spots. The bad news is that without new rubber he fell like a stone on the re-start.

    Rowdy claimed the opening stage. The wall claimed William Byron early in the sophomore stanza when he got loose and tore up the rear end of his auto. That provided the fans with a bit of excitement. Hamlin added some more when he and Johnson touched going into the corner, sending Johnson sideways in front of the pack. He managed to get Logano to skid, but everyone managed to avoid disaster. Still, you could not say things were boring.

    For fans of Kyle Busch, the opening pair of frames was exciting, as their icon was the first in both. However, it was NASCAR’s longest night. A Kyle had an issue in the segment, but it was Kyle Larson who went for a slide all on his lonesome. Lots of smoke and fury, but no contact. Lots of smoke and fire a few laps later, as Ryan Blaney’s ride finally blew up as they earlier predicted and it went up like a Viking funeral pyre.

    300 laps down and Kid Busch was still laying them down. It was as if he was the only one who mattered. Of course, the story of this one was going to be that he won, or why he did not. At least a dozen others still running had picked up some stage points, so there was no shortage of those who would be been more than happy to step into his tracks.

    Jones had come to the pit second, he left 19th. Kasey Kahne cut into his pit box, caught the air hose of Jones’ tire changer and whipped it and the air gun away. Slick trick, though I doubt the victims of the deed fully appreciated the skill involved as much as others might have. You had to appreciate Ryan Newman’s quest to stay among the Top 20 in the standings for much of the race, but early in that final run, a wheel bearing issue sent him to the garage.

    They all helped add some seasoning to the night, but they were all hamburger compared to the Busch steak. A perfect 70 point night, his 47th career victory, the fourth of the season. It was his first points race victory at Charlotte as he now has won at every active Cup series venue.

    I know that Las Vegas has its own Eiffel Tower, but I guess there is a Sydney Opera House hidden around there somewhere. Good on ya, Mate.

  • Hot 20 – Hall of Famers and military heroes are honored at Charlotte this week

    Hot 20 – Hall of Famers and military heroes are honored at Charlotte this week

    Jeff Gordon. Four-time NASCAR champion. Three-time Daytona 500 champion. Four-time Brickyard 400 winner. Six-time Southern 500 victor. Three-time World 600 champion. Three-time All-Star race winner. Winner of 93 Cup races. He probably was the most automatic inductee into the Hall of Fame since Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt. His was the opening name announced Wednesday for the Class of 2019.

    Next, they turned to ownership, with Jack Roush and Roger Penske both given the keys. Roush has 137 victories as the man who owns the garage, putting Matt Kenseth and Kurt Busch in their championship rides. Notable drivers Mark Martin and Carl Edwards also had great success in his cars. Penske has 105 wins to his credit, with Brad Keselowski bringing him his Cup title in 2012. Penske has claimed a few other motorsports accolades over the years, including ownership of 16 Indianapolis 500 winning entries. Among his drivers, you can include the names of Mark Donohue, Mario Andretti, Rick Mears, Bobby Unser, Al Unser, Al Unser Jr., Emerson Fittipaldi, Hélio Castroneves, and Rusty Wallace. I think you get the idea.

    Two fallen drivers, Davey Allison and Alan Kulwicki, are popular selections. Both were lost in aviation accidents in 1993. Allison won 19 times in just 191 career starts, winning 10 of them in 1991 and 1992 when he was third best in the standings both times. Kulwicki only won five times in his time, but he was the driver and team owner and took the Hooters No. 7 Ford to the championship the year prior to his death.

    This week in Charlotte, they honored the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2019. This Memorial Day weekend, they will honor the troops. It is racing’s most celebrated 24 hours, with action starting at Monte Carlo, moving on to Indianapolis, then to Charlotte as NASCAR salutes some of the heroes, both those on active service and those who have made the supreme sacrifice, who make such days as this possible.

    1. KEVIN HARVICK – 5 WINS – 484 Pts
    Expects the future of NASCAR to look like the All-Star race did. I bet he does.

    2. KYLE BUSCH – 3 WINS – 503 Pts
    If you are a tender flower who screws up on his pit crew, you might want to reconsider things.

    3. JOEY LOGANO – 1 WIN – 491 Pts
    As long as Larson does not squeeze him into the wall again, then all will be well.

    4. CLINT BOWYER – 1 WIN – 386 Pts
    Let us remember 2Lt. Dale E. Bowyer (1921-1974), Distinguished Service Cross recipient.

    5. MARTIN TRUEX JR. – 1 WIN – 376 Pts
    Defending champion recently visited with his Commander-in-Chief.

    6. AUSTIN DILLON – 1 WIN – 241 Pts
    Won at Daytona. All is good. See you in the Chase.

    7. BRAD KESELOWSKI – 396 POINTS
    Has a Hall of Famer owner. How cool is that?

    8. KURT BUSCH – 393 POINTS
    Has driven for two Hall of Fame owners. Top that!

    9. DENNY HAMLIN – 380 POINTS
    Drive fast on the track, drive much slower on Pit Road. That is a recipe for success.

    10. RYAN BLANEY – 365 POINTS
    Watch the Spider-Man animated series. Ryan would appreciate it.

    11. ARIC ALMIROLA – 342 POINTS
    Four Stewart-Haas drivers among the Top Dozen. How sweet it is.

    12. KYLE LARSON – 336 POINTS
    Don’t squeeze Joey. Don’t squeeze Joey. Don’t squeeze Joey…

    13. JIMMIE JOHNSON – 286 POINTS
    Got his start thanks to a Hall of Famer. Between them, they have 11 titles.

    14. ERIK JONES – 285 POINTS
    Until his boss makes the Hall of Fame, he is left with just 3 Super Bowl rings and 4 Cup titles.

    15. ALEX BOWMAN – 271 POINTS
    Traded in his car for a Coast Guard Response Boat this week. No points were awarded.

    16. CHASE ELLIOTT – 266 POINTS
    Just what we need, another Cup guy driving in the Xfinity series. Let the beat downs begin.

    17. RICKY STENHOUSE JR. – 265 POINTS
    It would be mean to suggest that he could get more attention if he dated a Monster Energy gal.

    18. PAUL MENARD – 240 POINTS
    Patrick County has its heroes, like the Wood Brothers and 1Lt. Leevi Barnard (1980-2009 in Iraq).

    19. WILLIAM BYRON – 229 POINTS
    He has the right car number to be a Hall of Famer.

    20. RYAN NEWMAN – 225 POINTS
    Come to think of it, Newman has also driven for a pair of Hall of Fame owners.