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Tag: Denny Hamlin

  • Hamlin’s Dominant Run Ends in the Wall

    Hamlin’s Dominant Run Ends in the Wall

    Denny Hamlin’s day was dominant, but contact with Chase Elliott late in the Can-Am 500 at Phoenix Raceway knocked him out of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.

    Starting the afternoon in second, Hamlin first took the lead on Lap 26 when passed Elliott exiting Turn 4, after he got loose, only to lose it a lap later when Elliott put the chrome bumper to him in Turn 1. On Lap 28, Hamlin powered around his outside in Turn 2 to take the lead.

    He was challenged late in the stage by Kyle Larson, who took it from him on Lap 68 and Hamlin settled for second in the first stage.

    After beating Larson off pit road, Hamlin commanded the lead for the next 151 laps. During which, he took the green and checkered flag to win the second stage.

    When Trevor Bayne brought out the third caution, Hamlin lost the lead on pit road when his car stalled briefly and exited behind teammate Matt Kenseth.

    With 42 laps to go, Elliott again put the bumper to Hamlin through Turn 4. But past the exit, they made contact again and Hamlin brushed the wall. Over the next few laps, smoke started billowing from the right-front tire, the tell-tale sign of a tire rub. With 38 to go, the tire gave way as he entered Turn 3, he veered up the track and slammed the outside wall, ending his day and Playoff run.

    “Well we had a fast car all day. We did essentially our job all day long. We put ourselves in good position. Things just didn’t work out there, in the end.”

    All of this comes in the wake of the much-publicized incident two weeks ago at Martinsville Speedway, in which Hamlin dumped Elliott in Turn 3 with three laps to go to try, but failed, to win the race himself.

    Hamlin was asked if he thought that his apology following the incident would prevent something along the lines of what took him out.

    “Each person has their own opinion of how they do things, and it just proves to the people that thought I was the bad guy that he would do the exact same thing under the same circumstances. It’s part of racing. I got into him, and he chose to retaliate and, so, I’m in the garage and that’s the way it is.

    “We did a great job all day. This is the best car I’ve had in a very long time. We just got behind on a pit stop, and that just gave those guys an opportunity to get close.”

    Hamlin ended the day in 37th and sixth in points, trailing Elliott by 17 for fifth.

  • NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Texas

    NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Texas

    Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

    1. Martin Truex Jr.: Truex finished second in the AAA 500 and clinched a spot in the Chase final four at Homestead.

    “The pressure is on for five drivers looking for that final spot,” Truex said. “I’m just glad I can sit back and relax, and watch frustration boil over for other drivers. So, while they’re going ‘postal,’ I’ll be going ‘coast-al.’”

    2. Kyle Busch: Busch finished 19th in the AAA 500 and is already good to go for Homestead by virtue of his win at Martinsville.

    “There are three drivers with clinched spots,” Busch said, “and five others with clinched sphincters.”

    3. Kevin Harvick: Harvick passed Martin Truex Jr. late to win at Texas and qualify for the Chase finale at Homestead.

    “The No. 4 Jimmy John’s car was not only ‘freaky fast,’” Harvick said, “it was ‘freakin‘ fast.’”

    4. Brad Keselowski: Keselowski finished fourth at Texas and is fourth in the points standings, 19 ahead of Denny Hamlin in fifth.

    “I’m going to Phoenix like a NASCAR fan in the infield going to the port-a-potty,” Keselowski said. “I’m headed there strictly to ‘take care of business.’

    “And speaking of business, I’ll have Discount Tire sponsorship for the No. 2 car for several races next year. I think Discount Tire sponsorship will be very noticeable to the NASCAR fan base, because what NASCAR fan is not intrigued by cheap rubbers?”

    5. Denny Hamlin: Hamlin started second at Texas and finished third at Texas, and will vie for the last of the four available playoff spots at Phoenix.

    “I spent much of the day looking to see if Chase Elliott was behind me,” Hamlin said. “He was, but fortunately for me, there were 15-20 cars between us.”

    6. Chase Elliott: Elliott failed pre-qualifying technical inspection and started 34th at Texas on his way to an eighth-place finish.

    “I’ll likely need a win at Phoenix to make a run for the Cup at Phoenix,” Elliott said. “Here’s a prediction: if you don’t see me in Victory Lane, you can probably find me in the NASCAR hauler with Denny Hamlin.”

    7. Ryan Blaney: Blaney took sixth in the AAA 500 and is sixth in the Monster Energy Cup points standings, 22 behind Brad Keselowski in fourth.

    “Dale Earnhardt Jr. tweeted a pic of Tony Stewart in spandex,” Blaney said. “Unfortunately, it was so tight, you could see the outline of Tony’s ‘mo jo.’”

    8. Matt Kenseth: Kenseth finished fourth at Texas and will likely need a win at Phoenix to advance as a Cup contender at Homestead.

    “I won’t be a full-time Cup driver in 2018,” Kenseth said. “So, the next two races for me will be ‘win and I’m in’ and ‘over and out.’”

    9. Jimmie Johnson: Johnson, who won at Texas in April, finished 27th at Texas, his day marred by an unscheduled pit stop due to a vibration.

    “I’ll tell you what else is vibrating,” Johnson said. “My head, because I’m shaking it because I really have no explanation for our struggles.”

    10. Kurt Busch: Busch started on the pole at Texas after turning a record lap in qualifying. He finished ninth on Sunday.

    “That’s the Busch brother way,” Kurt said. “Whether we’re going super fast, or being super whiny, it sounds like a broken record.”

  • Hot 20 – Will the drama continue in Texas and Phoenix on the road to Homestead-Miami?

    Hot 20 – Will the drama continue in Texas and Phoenix on the road to Homestead-Miami?

    Dale Earnhardt Jr. is right when he says NASCAR needs more Martinsville-like dramas to play out every week. What they need is “drama and exciting finishes — the fans sitting there in the grandstands cheering like crazy, and booing, and cheering and booing after every interview, for 15 minutes after the race — we need that every weekend.” Damn right.

    They need more races on tracks that excite us and fewer on those that do not. They need better announcers who can pull off a telecast all on their own, regardless as to the non-action. People we are compelled to tune in to watch just because they are as entertaining, at least, as the product they describe. They, the good folks running NASCAR, need to listen and to act. One thing I am pretty sure of is…they don’t and will not.

    Texas is one of those races where the sport is popular in a large metro area. That might be enough to get folks to actually go to the facility. Tuning in at home might be another question. As for the storyline coming in, we have one driver locked into the final four, one almost there, a wide-open battle for the final transfer spot, and one young gun who has to win or hope somebody, or some bodies, will fall on their face. Eight drivers matter. Thirty-two others are hoping to play spoiler.

    Only a dozen drivers will be worthy of mention come next week. I, for one, will not mention a single one. My focus will be on other things for the next couple of weeks, but we will chat about the outcome after Homestead when the smoke clears.

    The only thing we know for sure is that Kyle Busch and, more than likely, Martin Truex Jr. will be two of the four seeking to win the title. Who the other two shall be is why Texas and Phoenix should keep us tuned in for the answer.

    1. KYLE BUSCH – SEGMENT WIN – 4100 POINTS – 5 Wins
    Saw the post-race celebration with his family. So, who vacuums Brexton’s room afterward?

    2. MARTIN TRUEX JR. – 4117 POINTS – 7 Wins
    If he took Sunday off, he still would be at least 27 points to the good come Phoenix.

    3. BRAD KESELOWSKI – 4079 POINTS – 3 Wins
    Just a Logano cut tire away from victory last week. Teammates can be such fun.

    4. KEVIN HARVICK – 4053 POINTS – 1 Win
    “It all started when Blaney hit me back.”

    5. JIMMIE JOHNSON – 4050 POINTS – 3 Wins
    Nine-time Martinsville winner had just a slightly better chance than you had to win last Sunday.

    6. RYAN BLANEY – 4047 POINTS – 1 Win
    The new generation is getting a lot more comfortable expressing themselves these days.

    7. DENNY HAMLIN – 4045 POINTS – 2 Wins
    The last Virginian to get in this much crap in his home state was Gen. George Thomas.

    8. CHASE ELLIOTT – 4027 POINTS
    In the immortal words of Popeye the Sailor, “That’s all I can stands, cuz I can’t stands n’more!”

    9. KYLE LARSON – 2237 POINTS – 4 Wins
    His elimination from the Playoffs is not a flaw in the system…it is what happens in playoffs.

    10. MATT KENSETH – 2215 POINTS
    If the 10th best driver this season cannot get hired, damn few drivers have much job security.

    11. KASEY KAHNE – 2150 POINTS – 1 Win
    Some refer to Kahne as a Hendrick refugee. To my knowledge, he did not even cross a border.

    12. AUSTIN DILLON – 2148 POINTS – 1 Win
    So…Austin and Rowdy get foiled by Happy again. It must be true. I saw it on Youtube.

    13. RICKY STENHOUSE JR. – 2146 – 2 Wins
    Could a new teammate be his present housemate?

    14. JAMIE MCMURRAY – 2146 POINTS
    Believes the next All-Star race might be a good time to unveil Charlotte’s road course.

    15. KURT BUSCH – 2139 POINTS – 1 Win
    Won the NASCAR title, the Daytona 500, and seen every MLB park. Check, check, and check!

    16. RYAN NEWMAN – 2130 POINTS – 1 Win
    During these times, anytime you sign a new sponsor is a very good time.

    17. JOEY LOGANO – 839 POINTS – 1 Win
    “I missed the call” – Crew chief Todd Gordon. The problem no doubt lost in the billowing smoke.

    18. CLINT BOWYER – 829 POINTS
    Third at Martinsville, a track that produced the kind of racing that “put this sport on the map…”

    19. ERIK JONES – 768 POINTS
    That Jones Boy is down to his final three before taking over the ride Smoke made famous.

    20. DANIEL SUAREZ – 731 POINTS
    An average of 22 points per race gets you on this list. That is an easy top 16. I guess not so easy.

  • The Final Word – That Martinsville grandfather clock was too large for the shelf, so…

    The Final Word – That Martinsville grandfather clock was too large for the shelf, so…

    Martinsville, where eight boys were trying to lock themselves into the final field of four contenders for the championship in Homestead. At the same time, 31 boys and a girl were doing their utmost to spoil the party for someone by winning the thing themselves. I mean, who would not want a grandfather clock to mark the time since they won at that Virginia track?

    It was a cold one, with the temp sitting at 48F (9 C). You might as well have been racing this one in Canada. Some were cold, but Brad Keselowski was hot to start with. He took the opening stage, ahead of Kyle Busch. Seven of the eight contenders, with the 13th place Kevin Harvick the lone exception, picked up points. Denny Hamlin was 10th, but a speeding penalty would set him outside the top 30. While only eight really mattered on that day, I should mention that even Joey Logano, Kasey Kahne, and Austin Dillon were up there racing with the big boys. Some gents took this spoiling thing to heart.

    Not much changed in the second segment. Keselowski stole the lead back from Busch late in the run, as all but Hamlin picked up points among our contenders. Denny managed to stay on the lead lap, though barely, sitting 12th. Among the also-rans making cameos we still had Logano, once again in third place, with Matt Kenseth and Clint Bowyer joining in on the fun.

    To that point, none of the contenders had hurt their chances, Logano was the best bet to be a spoiler, with half the race left to run. I do try to be a “glass half full” kind of guy, so while Kyle Larson went for a solo glide into the inside wall to buckle up his ride, the good news was that he had already been eliminated from the Chase. Rather than “Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive”, something tells me Larson probably looked at it as a broken glass kind of deal.

    Few incidents involved those in the top half of the standings. Erik Jones went for a single spin. That might have meant something a month ago, but not much on Sunday. Jimmie Johnson sideswiped Trevor Bayne, and that meant something but just not as much as it could have. While it seemed like some of the boys were losing contact with the top dogs, a late caution bunched the bottom five together again. That fourth and final spot was still up for grabs.

    While Logano appeared to be a potential spoiler, Busch spoiled that effort. Down to 13 laps remaining, Rowdy dived into the corner and punched some metal where rubber is supposed to reign supreme in Joey’s left rear. Four laps later, Logano spun, and the caution came out. The final run for all the marbles was going to be a short one.

    It turned out especially short for Elliott. He managed to send Keselowski high to fend him off, but Hamlin’s bumper horn was working fine. Elliott spun into the wall, and his hopes for his first career victory was put off for another day. Caution came out again, and a green-white-checker finish was in the offing.

    For those not cheering for Hamlin, Karma was your friend. Busch managed to do a little tag and go of his own, but to a lesser degree, then held off Martin Truex Jr. to claim the victory as they wrecked behind him coming to the line. How did they wreck? Well, Blaney got into Hamlin, and the rest just found those two in the way.

    Busch has found his way into Homestead with his win. Truex is 67 points to the good and looking very healthy. Keselowski is 29 up, while Harvick has a three-point lead over Johnson as eight points separate fourth from seventh. None of our contenders finished outside the top dozen. Well, except for one.

    Elliott was recorded in 27th and falls to 26 points off the pace required for him to stay in contention. A win at Texas or Phoenix is no doubt on his wish list. If nothing else, we know who the fans love and who they do not. As Elliott and Hamlin had a little post-race discussion, the nice son of the nice Hall of Famer from Dawsonville appeared to give clear notice that he might be nice, but enough is enough. The fans loved it. There are reports of Hamlin damn near losing half of his fan club, which should leave two or three holding down the fort.

    Meanwhile, I’m sure the winner’s second grandfather clock will prove too large for the shelf, so it will stand many years on Kyle Busch’s floor. I am not sure how tall it is or how much it weighs. In the meantime, I am off to do other things but we will get together to chat about how this all turned out after Miami.

     

  • NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Martinsville

    NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Martinsville

    Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

    1. Martin Truex Jr.: Truex finished second at Martinsville as Kyle Busch took the win.

    “We didn’t win,” Truex said, “but it was a good points day for us. And points get me very excited. You know what I get when I see my points pile up? A huge bonus.”

    2. Kyle Busch: Busch bumped his way past Denny Hamlin in overtime to claim the win at Martinsville and punch his ticket to the Chase finale at Homestead.

    “I could head to Homestead now,” Busch said, “skip the next two races, and still leave Florida with the Monster Energy Cup championship, and possibly a tan.”

    3. Brad Keselowski: Keselowski won the first two stages at Martinsville and was in position to win with about 10 laps to go when Penske Racing teammate Joey Logano blew a tire to cause a caution. Keselowski was passed on the restart by Chase Elliott and finished fourth.

    “Logano knew he had a tire problem,” Keselowski said, “yet he decided not to pit anyway. He basically cost me the win. I’m frustrated and angry with Joey. But I had a talk with Rusty Wallace. He told me it’s perfectly acceptable for the driver of the No. 2 car to hate his teammate.”

    4. Denny Hamlin: Hamlin was passed by Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch during an overtime finish, and faded to come home seventh in the First Data 500. Hamlin had previously bumped Chase Elliott out of the way, leading to a confrontation after the race.

    “I was confronted by an angry Chase Elliott fan after the race,” Hamlin said. “He looked like he was three sheets to the wind, or maybe six hot dogs to the toilet. In any case, I didn’t want any part of this guy. And if you saw the size of him, you know he had many parts.”

    5. Chase Elliott: Denny Hamlin bumped Chase Elliott out of the lead, causing Elliott to spin and wreck late at Martinsville. Elliott finished 27th and chased Hamlin down on the cool down lap to voice his displeasure.

    “I told Hamlin to ‘Kiss my behind,’” Elliott said. “He smugly replied, ‘I already did, with my car, when I wrecked you.’

    “All I have to say to Denny is ‘Halloween is over, but costume time isn’t. I’m going to be Matt Kenseth, and you’re going to be Joey Logano.’”

    6. Kevin Harvick: Harvick finished fifth at Martinsville and is now fourth in the Monster Energy Cup points standings.

    “It’s good to finally see some heated confrontations between drivers after the race,” Harvick said. “Unfortunately, no punches were thrown. NASCAR doesn’t need stages; it needs rounds.”

    7. Ryan Blaney: Blaney finished eighth at Martinsville and is now sixth in the Monster Energy Cup points standings.

    “I may not be the best driver in NASCAR,” Blaney said, “but I’ve got the best hair in NASCAR. And I’ve got a lot of it. I once took my car to the wind tunnel, and my hair failed.”

    8. Jimmie Johnson: Johnson finished 12th at Martinsville and is fifth in the points standings, 67 behind Martin Truex Jr.

    “I’ve got eight wins at Martinsville,” Johnson said, “so I know what it’s like to leave Martinsville with a grandfather clock trophy. I’ve got a trophy room at home solely dedicated to Martinsville trophies. I call it the ‘8 Time Room.’ Hopefully, come mid-November, I’ll have another trophy room in my house with the same name.

    9. Matt Kenseth: Kenseth finished ninth at Martinsville and is 10th in the points standings.

    “Martinsville Speedway debuted its $5 million LED lighting system,” Kenseth said. “Those are some bright lights. You could tell by just looking in the stands that everybody was well-lit.”

    10. Kyle Larson: Larson finished a disappointing 37th at Martinsville after spinning and slamming the inside wall on lap 300.

    “I may be out of the running for the 2017 Monster Energy Cup,” Larson said, “but I’m already looking ahead to 2018. I think I’ve proved my talent over the past that I should be the odds-on favorite to win the 2018 Cup. So, looking back, I’m looking forward.”

  • Hamlin Fastest in First Practice at Martinsville

    Hamlin Fastest in First Practice at Martinsville

    MARTINSVILLE, Va. — Denny Hamlin topped the chart in first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice at Martinsville Speedway.

    The driver of the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota was the fastest with a time with a time of 19.846 and a speed of 95.415 mph. Kyle Larson was second in his No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet with a time of 19.870 and a speed of 95.299 mph. Ryan Newman was third in his No. 31 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet with a time of 19.900 and a speed of 95.156 mph. Ryan Blaney was fourth in his Wood Brothers Racing Ford with a time of 19.925 and a speed of 95.036 mph. Kyle Busch rounded out the top-five in his No. 18 Gibbs Toyota with a time of 19.932 and a speed of 95.003 mph.

    Brad Keselowski, Matt Kenseth, Jamie McMurray, AJ Allmendinger and Ty Dillon rounded out the top-10.

    Busch posted the fastest 10 consecutive lap average at a speed of 94.460 mph.

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  • Martinsville Speedway – Did You Know? Playoff Edition

    Martinsville Speedway – Did You Know? Playoff Edition

    The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series heads to Martinsville Speedway this weekend for the first race in the Round of 8. The track has been a part of the Playoffs since its inception in 2004. Five times the driver who won this race has gone on to claim the championship trophy.

    But did you know there’s only a 15.38 percent chance that a non-Playoff driver will win on Sunday? It’s only happened twice, with victories by Jeff Gordon in 2005 and Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 2014.

    Martin Truex Jr. continues to dominate the Playoffs with his victory at Talladega, his sixth on 1.5-mile tracks and the most in NASCAR history. However, his performance at Martinsville tells another story.

    Did you know that Truex has only two top-five finishes at Martinsville in 23 starts? Only one other driver (Ryan Blaney) in the Playoffs has a worse driver rating at the half-mile track. Truex’s 75.1 rating ranks him at only 17th-best in the series. The good news is that the next stop in the Round of 8 is Texas Motor Speedway, another 1.5-mile track. Martinsville could be a track where those 69 Playoff points will come in handy.

    At the other end of the spectrum is defending race winner Jimmie Johnson. The Hendrick Motorsports driver has the series-best driver rating of 116.9 at “The Paperclip.” Did you know that out of the 13 Playoff events held at Martinsville, Johnson has won six of them? He leads all active drivers with nine Martinsville victories and has three poles, 19 top fives and 24 top 10s. After barely making it through to the Round of 8, this could be his best chance at redemption and his ticket to the finale at Homestead-Miami.

    Denny Hamlin is currently sixth in the championship standings but he may be hitting his stride at the perfect time and place. In the last three races, he has three top six results including a fourth at Charlotte, sixth at Talladega and a fifth-place finish at Kansas. But, did you know he has captured the checkered flag five times at Martinsville, second only to Johnson, among active drivers? Hamlin travels to his home track with the second-best driver rating (106.6), 12 top fives, 17 top 10s and three poles.

    Kyle Busch is second in the standings despite a disappointing showing in the previous round with finishes of 29th, 27th and 10th. With the third-best driver rating (101.3) at Martinsville, one victory, 12 top fives and one pole he should be able to get his season back on track and contend for more wins. Did you know that in his past four starts at the short track, he has finished fifth or better?

    Brad Keselowski won the spring race at Martinsville in his No. 2 Team Penske Ford. He has five top fives, nine top 10s, a 12.9 average finish and the fifth-best driver rating at the track. With a season sweep, he can secure his spot in the Championship 4. But he may have his work cut out for him. Did you know that only two manufacturers have won Playoff races at Martinsville? Chevrolet has captured 11 wins while Toyota entries have won twice.

    Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be making his last start at Martinsville as he nears the end of his full-time Cup career. The No.88 Chevrolet will feature one of his favorite paint schemes, the Grey Ghost. His season has been unremarkable so far with only seven top 10s but did you know that three of those top 10s have come in the last four races? While he’s undoubtedly a long shot at best, he heads to the Virginia track with the fourth-best driver rating. In the last 12 races at Martinsville, he has one win, five top-five finishes and seven top 10s. Earnhardt has nothing to lose as he attempts to add another grandfather clock to his collection.

    Tune in to all the action at Martinsville Speedway as the Playoffs resume Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on NBCSN. In the meantime, check out the video below, ‘The history of NASCAR at Martinsville Speedway.’

     

  • Hot 20 – Martinsville has to stay, but there is room for improvement in the NASCAR schedule

    Hot 20 – Martinsville has to stay, but there is room for improvement in the NASCAR schedule

    Thirty-six races. A few are great venues that produce very entertaining television events. A lot more are not. Some tracks have two events, and you wonder why. Some have two and you wonder…why not three? As our Hot 20 venture to Martinsville on Sunday to open the Round of Eight, would NASCAR be more appealing if we kept 36 races, but ran more of them at tracks people want to see races run? How about nine of them at NASCAR’s three most fan-favored venues?

    If they put me in charge of NASCAR for an hour, this is what next season’s Cup schedule would look like. What do you think?

    Feb. 18 – Daytona
    Feb. 25 – Atlanta
    Mar. 4 – Las Vegas
    Mar. 11 – Phoenix
    Mar. 18 – Fontana
    Mar. 25 – Martinsville
    Apr. 8 – Texas
    Apr. 15 – Bristol
    Apr. 21 – Richmond
    Apr. 29 – Talladega
    May 6 – Watkins Glen (from Dover)
    May 12 – Kansas
    May 27 – Charlotte
    June 3 – Pocono
    June 10 – Bristol (from Michigan)
    June 24 – Sonoma
    July 1 – Chicago
    July 7 – Daytona
    July 14 – Kentucky
    July 22 – New Hampshire
    July 29 – Talladega (from Pocono)
    Aug. 5 – Watkins Glen
    Aug. 12 – Michigan
    Aug. 18 – Bristol
    Sep. 2 – Darlington
    Sep. 9 – Indianapolis
    Sep. 16 – Las Vegas
    Sep. 22 – Daytona (from Richmond)
    Sep. 30 – Charlotte (road course)
    Oct. 7 – Dover
    Oct. 14 – Talladega
    Oct. 21 – Darlington (from Kansas)
    Oct. 28 – Martinsville
    Nov. 4 – Texas
    Nov. 11 – Sonoma (from Phoenix)
    Nov. 18 – Homestead-Miami

    That’s 36 races featuring six on a superspeedway, retaining six on short tracks while expanding to five road courses. Minimal changes, maximum impact. How does it look to you?

    1. MARTIN TRUEX JR. – 4069 POINTS – 7 Wins
    Not only does he have enough in the bank to have a bad race, but could even take a day off.

    2. KYLE BUSCH – 4042 POINTS – 4 Wins
    Winning would have been nice, but not being eliminated is even nicer.

    3. BRAD KESELOWSKI – 4026 POINTS – 3 Wins
    Junior wants teammates and young guns to advance…friends with the wrong team, not so much.

    4. KEVIN HARVICK – 4017 POINTS – 1 Win
    In 606 career starts, he has 303 top 10 finishes. You want to bet against good ole 50-50?

    5. JIMMIE JOHNSON – 4017 POINTS – 3 Wins
    The drive is alive for his date with eight.

    6. DENNY HAMLIN – 4014 POINTS – 2 Wins
    Virginia is for Lovers…and Virginians. That is the view of this native son of Chesterfield, Va.

    7. RYAN BLANEY – 4009 POINTS – 1 Win
    In 68 years, Wood Brothers have not a single driver’s championship. Maybe this is the year.

    8. CHASE ELLIOTT – 4006 POINTS
    Might want to think about getting that first win sooner than later.

    9. KYLE LARSON – 2236 POINTS – 4 Wins
    Damn engines.

    10. MATT KENSETH – 2184 POINTS
    Damn guys who cannot count.

    11. JAMIE MCMURRAY – 2138 POINTS
    It was doubtful he was going to win, but after he got all torn up last week all doubt was removed.

    12. KASEY KAHNE – 2126 POINTS – 1 Win
    Leaving Hendrick pens and stationary behind him, but will be taking Travis Mack.

    13. KURT BUSCH – 2124 POINTS – 1 Win
    After flogging Monster Energy for years, I wonder if he is feeling a bit like Tammy Wynette.

    14. AUSTIN DILLON – 2122 POINTS – 1 Win
    His N.C. team lost 4-2 to the eventual 2002 Little League World Series champions of Louisville.

    15. RICKY STENHOUSE JR. – 2119 POINTS – 2 Wins
    Things got so bad he went from 12th and in the final playoff spot one week, to 15th the next.

    16. RYAN NEWMAN – 2107 POINTS – 1 Win
    His second-place finish at Talladega is sandwiched between two results outside the top 30.

    17. JOEY LOGANO – 810 POINTS – 1 Win
    A win a win, but is it really if it is an encumbered one that fails to give you a pass to the Chase?

    18. CLINT BOWYER – 793 POINTS
    His last win came on October 13, 2012, in Charlotte. Even an encumbered one might be nice.

    19. ERIK JONES – 757 POINTS
    One moment his car was facing this a’way, the next it was facing that a’way.

    20. DANIEL SUAREZ – 709 POINTS
    String of six straight among the top 15 came to a crashing conclusion last week.

  • NASCAR: 3 To Watch Sunday At Martinsville

    NASCAR: 3 To Watch Sunday At Martinsville

    Sundays First Data 5oo at Martinsville Speedway will kick off the Round of 8 this weekend. Most of the eight drivers remaining in the Playoffs have had wins in the past or good finishes.

    Sunday’s race will be crucial because if any of the eight Playoff drivers win the event, they will automatically punch a ticket to the championship-deciding race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

    Below are three Playoff drivers to look out for on Sunday.

    1. Jimmie Johnson

    Johnson celebrates victory at Martinsville Speedway. Photo: Chris Trotman/NASCAR via Getty Images

    When it comes to Martinsville, no other playoff driver has had the success that Jimmie Johnson has had in recent years. In 31 starts at Martinsville, Johnson has compiled nine wins, 19 top fives and 24 top-10 finishes. Martinsville played a key factor in Johnson’s seventh championship last year as winning last October gave Johnson a lock for Homestead and he would go on to capture his seventh championship.

     

     

    2. Denny Hamlin

    Hamlin posted the fastest time in first practice at the Indianapolis. Photo: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

    Denny Hamlin, who grew up in Chesterfield, Virginia used to come to the Martinsville short-track hoping one day he would be the name everyone talked about. Thus far, Hamlin remains one of the favorites when the series heads to the paperclip. In 23 starts, Hamlin has compiled five wins and 12 top-five finishes in his career at Martinsville.

     

     

     

     

    3. Brad Keselowski

    Brad Keselowski celebrates victory at Martinsville Speedway. Photo: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

    Keselowski heads to Martinsville hoping to start right where he left off. In 15 starts he has one win which came in April of 2017, five top-five finishes, and nine top-10 finishes.

     

     

    The First Data 500 from Martinsville Speedway kicks off at 3 p.m. Eastern on NBC.

  • The Final Word – Kansas, where a sour engine and an enthusiastic crew ended the hopes for two

    The Final Word – Kansas, where a sour engine and an enthusiastic crew ended the hopes for two

    Imagine a race that featured the excitement of Daytona or Bristol. Imagine a race with a broadcast crew that featured the talent of a Chris Economaki, Vin Scully, Danny Gallivan, or a Keith Jackson. Imagine that Yoko Ono co-wrote that song with her husband. That should snap us all back to reality, though that last one is apparently true.

    Kansas was not a venue that promised an event for the ages, but it is where the goal of Jamie McMurray and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was to win. It is where Matt Kenseth and Kyle Busch needed to do well while hoping Jimmie Johnson and Ryan Blaney did not. It is where Kyle Larson, Kevin Harvick, Denny Hamlin, and Chase Elliott needed to stay out of trouble, while it was to be just a nice day at the office for Brad Keselowski and Martin Truex Jr. We watched to see how this chapter of the story would end. For four, the dream of a championship this season would do just that…come to an end.

    Blowing up does not constitute staying out of trouble. Larson did just that in the opening stage, and despite having a decent points advantage over the “have-nots” coming in, we got introduced to the first guy unofficially eliminated in this race from Chase eligibility. No one had joined him in the garage by the time the opening segment concluded, especially Blaney and Johnson. If they faltered, Larson still had a hope. Unfortunately for himself and Stenhouse, all the others in the top dozen were in the top 10 when they took their break.

    Busch claimed the opening segment, the next was claimed by Hamlin. Still no good news for Larson. As they entered that final stage, Larson was not much of a thought, to be honest. It looked more like Rowdy was in, barring a mishap, while that final spot was going to be determined between Johnson and Kenseth. In the early going, Matt led Jimmie by five points as they ran on the track.

    With more than 90 laps to go, we became pretty sure Stenhouse was toast. A cut tire, a brush against the wall, and a trip to the pits pretty much ensured that his hopes for victory were dashed. Kenseth was riding second, Johnson 10th. It appeared that was the race to watch until we watched Johnson go sliding through the grass. They re-started, and shortly after Johnson went for yet another skid. Now down to 70 to go, that final spot was open to one of three guys. Kenseth had drifted back to 14th, Johnson to 27th, with Larson locked in at 39th. Still too much to ask for, you might think, but if Larson was praying, someone was listening.

    They failed to even get another lap in after the latest re-start when Erik Jones pounded the wall and carnage ensued. McMurray got torn up, so his hopes for victory were over, along with his Chase dreams. However, Kenseth also picked up some hurt. All of a sudden, Larson was back in play. If Johnson finished 23rd or worst, he would be eliminated. Kenseth needed to finish no further back than 17th and within seven points of Johnson, or he was eliminated. Larson had to just sit back and enjoy the show. Maybe further discussion with the good Lord might prove helpful.

    Ask and Larson shall receive, it seemed, as it appears He remained tuned in. On the clock to get repairs done, too many boys climbed over the wall in Kenseth’s pit. That gets you punted to the garage. Any goals regarding the day and the Chase for that driver were not going to be realized.

    With both McMurray and Kenseth done, with Stenhouse having no hope for victory, we had to change our focus, adding Busch to the mix. Two of those three would advance. If Johnson finished 22nd or better and Busch was no worse than 25th, Larson was gone. If they failed to do so, then Johnson needed to sit at least three spots ahead of Busch at the line. When they got things running again, Busch was our leader, Johnson was sitting ninth and 60 laps were left.

    For Larson, the direct line upwards went dead as the rest of this one concluded with minimal drama. Busch was 10th, Johnson 11th, and Larson was eliminated. Oh, Martin Truex Jr. claimed his seventh win of the season. He, along with Harvick, Hamlin, Blaney, and Busch all recorded rather stout performances, with Martinsville beckoning them next Sunday.

    Four races are left, along with eight drivers, to decide the title. If history means anything, both Johnson and Hamlin will do very well this Sunday afternoon in Virginia. Imagine how excited those two boys are.