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Tag: Dover

  • The Final Word – Dover is where they raced but Las Vegas is what is on our minds

    The Final Word – Dover is where they raced but Las Vegas is what is on our minds

    Racing is not foremost on my mind today, but Sunday in Dover early in the afternoon it was all that mattered for a few drivers. Ten looked rather comfortable when they determined which dozen would advance on the championship trail, with six others vying for two remaining spots.

    Two had to win. For Kasey Kahne and Kurt Busch, that was all that would save them. Good would not be good enough, and when Busch caught a commitment line violation in the final segment, no hope remained for him. Neither had much going for them on that day, as Kahne finished 14th, while the elder Busch was 20th at the stripe.

    Jamie McMurray and Ryan Blaney were not safe starting the day. By the time they started the final portion of the race, only bad tidings would put them in jeopardy. As the laps counted down, it came down to three drivers seeking a single position. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. came to Dover tied with Austin Dillon for the final place, with Ryan Newman just one point behind them.

    The story of the day, as it turned out, took place at the end of the opening segment. Stenhouse and company took a risk. They long pitted and hoped for a caution to get them track position. The gamble paid off, and despite an ill-handling car that never for better, they used that to finish the segment in fourth and picked up seven points. Seven very important points.

    With 50 laps to go, Newman was 13th, Dillon was 16th, with Stenhouse back in 19th. In the standings, that still left Stenhouse two points ahead of Newman and four up on Dillon. Fifty laps later, that is exactly where they remained and Stenhouse advanced.

    Up front, Kyle Busch had a much better day than his brother. He got by Chase Elliott with two laps remaining to steal a win, to leave Elliott still in search of his maiden victory. When it came to stout performances, Rowdy, Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Larson, Brad Keselowski, Jimmie Johnson, and Elliott all did well. Five of them are among the Top Five as they reset the points for the second round of the Chase and a date in Charlotte. Elliott is not among them. He is in our bottom four, four points behind Stenhouse who currently sits in the eighth position.

    Then again, it was only a race. Tragically, this week our focus is not on racing or football players kneeling. It is not even on some foreigner from a different culture, holding different values, following a doctrine literally from the dark ages, aligned with people who wish us harm. That would almost come as a relief. What did occur was darker, less understandable, more ominous, and more disturbing.

    Instead, we are reminded that when the U.S. Constitution was written, it was at a time when the best firearm you could possess was a flintlock musket, with minimal accuracy beyond 100 yards, that could fire no more than two or three times a minute.

    At this moment, I am not thinking much about Dover or Charlotte. Our thoughts this week are with the people who have been affected by the events that took place in Las Vegas. To be honest, to some degree, we all have been.

  • Hot 20 – You will not see any old men taking a knee during the national anthem at Dover

    Hot 20 – You will not see any old men taking a knee during the national anthem at Dover

    When they play the national anthem in Dover, you will not see a single old man get down on his knees. First of all, it is too damn hard to get back up. Secondly, and most importantly, for some inexplicable reason, an old guy’s knees become as tender as their testicles. That is just an uncomfortable fact of life.

    I agree with peaceful protest and free speech. Take that away, and one alternative is to shut up and just go along in order to get along. That is not my way and never has been. However, when all such forms of peaceful protest and opposition against anything are banned, all you are left with is raising absolute hell to gain attention and then you face the risk getting your ass kicked. I do not believe we are anywhere near that.

    When your form of peaceful protest is deemed to be disrespectful to your nation, when the paying customer is offended and decides to take their business elsewhere, maybe one needs to reconsider a more effective form of protest. No matter the cause, you want the people with you, to support you bringing attention to it, to even cause them to rally to deal with the issue. To do otherwise renders the action as ineffective and nothing more than a divisive self-indulgement. Lord knows, we have seen far too much of that lately.

    If you want to show that you stand for inclusiveness, why not have both teams standing shoulder to shoulder together in visual solidarity for their cause, any cause, while still honoring the nation that has given them so much? With league support, players can wear respectful logos, there could be supportive banners, they could honor those who support their cause, have them on the field for the national anthem, have them sing it, or be part of a respectful yet stirring half-time presentation. These are just some of the things they can do if they truly desire to bring attention to their cause, to seek a solution to the wrongs they wish addressed, rather than just playing at being social warriors. That goes for anyone, even Dale Earnhardt Jr.

    Just do not disrespect your nation. At least NASCAR gets it. So did Martin Luther King, Jr.

    Now, allow me to climb down from my pedestal and return to writing about sports, where our contenders for the championship will be reduced by four when they complete the Monster Mile in Dover. For an old guy, climbing down from a pedestal is about as painful as taking a knee.

    1. MARTIN TRUEX JR. – SEGMENT WIN – 2149 Pts – 5 Wins
    Looked like he had something for Kyle last week until fate decided it had something for him.

    2. KYLE BUSCH – SEGMENT WIN – 2119 Pts – 3 Wins
    At this moment in time, the two best are leading the way.

    3. KYLE LARSON – 2125 POINTS – 4 Wins
    Locked into the next round, but still searching for a main sponsor for next year.

    4. BRAD KESELOWSKI – 2106 POINTS – 2 Wins
    Was fourth in his final fall race at New Hampshire. Next year, they will be in Las Vegas.

    5. DENNY HAMLIN – 2088 POINTS – 2 Wins
    “I’d rather run good and finish bad then run bad and finish a little better, honestly.”

    6. MATT KENSETH – 2087 POINTS
    No wins but could finish last on Sunday and he still is locked into the next round.

    7. JIMMIE JOHNSON – 2076 POINTS – 3 Wins
    Get knocked out early at Dover, and the season can take a very bad turn.

    8. RYAN BLANEY – 2070 POINTS – 1 Win
    Moving from a single car operation to one with cars and drivers in stock and open wheel.

    9. CHASE ELLIOTT – 2070 POINTS
    So damned popular they named the playoffs after him.

    10. KEVIN HARVICK – 2069 POINTS – 1 Win
    Don’t you just love it when teammates come together?

    11. JAMIE MCMURRAY – 2053 POINTS
    Nice and steady could work for this round, but probably not so much in the next.

    12. RICKY STENHOUSE JR. – 2044 POINTS – 2 Wins
    I am guessing the odds of winning the title start getting pretty long about here

    13. AUSTIN DILLON – 2044 POINTS – 1 Win
    He better not take the knee on Sunday, or Grandpa might have to fire his ass.

    14. RYAN NEWMAN – 2043 POINTS – 1 Win
    Not exactly setting the track on fire, yet all he needs is to smolder a bit hotter than some others.

    15. KURT BUSCH – 2027 POINTS – 1 Win
    Has not won since the Daytona 500. Has to win this Sunday.

    16. KASEY KAHNE – 2023 POINTS – 1 Win
    What odds must one give in order to have someone bet on him this week?

    17. JOEY LOGANO – 719 POINTS – 1 Win
    The last time Joey experienced the kind of time-out he received last week, he was 3 years old.

    18. CLINT BOWYER – 718 POINTS
    Last June at Dover, he had to stop for a leak.

    19. ERIK JONES – 703 POINTS
    The final eight races are just a dry run for what we might expect to come next season.

    20. DANIEL SUAREZ – 624 POINTS
    An average finish of 15.6 is much better than, say, Junior’s 21.6 over the season.

  • The Final Word – Kyle Busch has reason to smile after he completed the Magic Mile

    The Final Word – Kyle Busch has reason to smile after he completed the Magic Mile

    Less than three months to Christmas! If that does not come as good news, then hopefully you are all aquiver over the fact that there are eight races remaining in the NASCAR season. If that does not spark your excitement, enjoy the baseball playoffs and the football season, provided they have not yet ticked you off to the point that you want to boycott them all. Maybe you might like to tune into a few food-related programs. Isn’t Guy Fieri still stopping by those diners, drive-ins, and dives?

    I guess you could say that sometimes you do not get exactly what you hoped for in life, especially in these times. If you did not want Kyle Busch to advance to the next round of the Chase, New Hampshire was not for you. If you did, then you are happy that he joins Martin Truex Jr. as locked into the dozen drivers who will advance. They are not alone, as points already assure that Kyle Larson, Brad Keselowski, Denny Hamlin, and Matt Kenseth will be joining them. Ten others are not out of the woods, and four of them will stay in the forest after Dover. As to how we got to where we are, let us see how things went last Sunday in Loudon. It began as it ended, with Busch the Alpha and the Omega on this day as he started from the pole and led the opening lap.

    Mind you, it was not all Busch all the time. Truex decided to go to his favorite place, while Larson took over second during the opening segment. Nine Chasers, along with Erik Jones, were up front to this point. All were still on the lead lap, though Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was not among the Top Twenty. Clipping the wall seven laps in saw his four-point deficit in the standings to make the cutoff increasing as they went.

    Truex appeared to have the next stage in hand, at least before Austin Dillon sent Kevin Harvick for a spin. Happy sent up billows of tire smoke trying to keep from going around, but when he came to rest in the middle of the track no one could see. Kurt Busch did not when he ran into him. Behind them, Truex and Dale Earnhardt Jr. made contact trying to avoid the roadblock. Then they backed up into each other in trying to get their cars turned around to face in the right direction. Even Hamlin was involved as they waved the red flag to sort out the mess.

    When it came time begin the final run, one Busch was back in front, while the other joined Harvick in the garage. In fact, other than three laps under caution led by Truex, it was all Rowdy from that point. Kasey Kahne picked up a flat, intentionally caused a caution, got penalized, but his problems turned out to be more than deflated rubber. Kahne finished 35th, Harvick 36th, and Brother Kurt 37th, while Rowdy picked up his 41st career victory and third of the season.

    Heading to Dover next Sunday, the Top Ten are fine. That includes Harvick, who has enough in the bank to go into the next event 25 points to the good. Jamie McMurray is nine up, leaving Stenhouse and Dillon tied for the final cutoff spot, one ahead of Ryan Newman. Unless those final three all wreck early next week, it will be all about winning for Kurt and Kahne if they want to keep their hopes alive for the 2017 title.

    Truex and Kyle smile after finishing the Magic Mile. The other Kyle, Brad, Denny, and Matt are sound to advance to the next round. Among the other 10, for six the Chase will not end. For four it will all be over by the time they complete the race at Dover.

    Come to think of it, my poetry is something like having Christmas just three months away. Some like it; others, not so much. If it upsets your sensitivities, you can always take a knee in protest.

  • Hot 20 – No lug nuts, no crew, as Kyle discovered heading to Pocono

    Hot 20 – No lug nuts, no crew, as Kyle discovered heading to Pocono

    They went and done it. Kyle Busch comes in leading early in the race at Dover. For whatever reason, when they went to tighten up the rear left lug nuts, the air gun was removing them instead. When the jack dropped, the car left, and shortly after the tire left the car. Bad news for Kyle. Today, bad news for the crew.

    A major penalty can be handed out for sacrificing safety in order to have a fast pit stop. That clearly was not the case here, but it did not matter. Gone for four races are crew chief Adam Stevens, tire changer Jacob Seminara and tire carrier Kenneth Barber. To be fair, the rule does state “loss of wheel(s) due to improper installation will result in a mandatory minimum four race suspension of the crew chief and the tire changer and tire carrier of the lost wheel(s).” As I read it, and it appears this is NASCAR’s interpretation, intent matters not. Something tells me that a certain jackman might owe his buddies a few beers, at the very least.

    Sometimes the crew does things a bit more on purpose. As we head to Pocono, we remember last year at this time, at this track, when Brad Keselowski’s rear tire carrier threw a hip check to the side of his driver’s car in the pits. NASCAR saw it, and did not like the unapproved modifications to its aerodynamics. Mind you, all he got was a call to return to the pits to repair the indentation. No one got vacation time.

    Keselowski knows all about vacation time. He has not made it past the first segment in the past two races. As for Busch, he is left hoping race engineer Ben Beshore will have the magic atop the box to get him his first victory of the season as the Hot 20 make their first visit of the campaign to Pocono.

    1. JIMMIE JOHNSON – 3 WINS – 414 PTS
    Seven is heaven, but to win eight would be great.

    2. MARTIN TRUEX JR. – 2 WINS – 545 PTS
    Good on segments, good on wins, good on points, good to go for the Chase.

    3. BRAD KESELOWSKI – 2 WINS – 410 PTS
    Dear Race Friends: Please do not wreck me until at least the second segment. Thanks, Brad.

    4. KYLE LARSON – 1 WIN – 536 PTS
    Had the best car out there last week, at least until the final re-start.

    5. RICKY STENHOUSE JR. – 1 WIN – 299 PTS
    Afraid last week that he had to hit the wall a third time to finally kill the car. It only took two.

    6. RYAN NEWMAN – 1 WIN – 299 PTS
    Late caution during green flag stops shuffled the order, allowing the Rocket a Top Ten at Dover.

    7. KURT BUSCH – 1 WIN – 291 PTS
    Wiggled early and took out Keselowski last week. One flat later, and he was gone himself.

    8. AUSTIN DILLON – 1 WIN – 263 PTS
    Until nine more drivers win this season, he is sitting pretty for the Chase.

    9. KEVIN HARVICK – 429 PTS
    Six Top Tens in his last seven races leaves him winless yet sitting pretty.

    10. KYLE BUSCH – 416 PTS
    “The wheels on the car go round and round…” He hates that song.

    11. JAMIE MCMURRAY – 415 PTS
    Has run no worse than 12th over the past seven events.

    12. CHASE ELLIOTT – 398 PTS
    After Richmond, Talladega, Kansas, and Charlotte, Dover was like a breath of fresh air.

    13. DENNY HAMLIN – 361 PTS
    Four Pocono wins, but the last one came seven years ago.

    14. CLINT BOWYER – 349 PTS
    Thought Tony Stewart was back, but it was just an idiot fan climbing the Dover catchfence.

    15. JOEY LOGANO – 348 PTS (1 Win*)
    Some seem to think Donald Trump’s win in November was also encumbered. They are wrong.

    16. MATT KENSETH – 327 PTS
    Screw it. Just win on Sunday and all this point counting will no longer matter.

    17. RYAN BLANEY – 320 PTS
    Ryan’s plan is to get eight more points than Kenseth and hope someone winless does not win.

    18. TREVOR BAYNE – 287 PTS
    40 points is not hard to make up…with a win. You might notice a bit of a theme here.

    19. ERIK JONES – 283 PTS
    Joins Saturday broadcast team of Erik, Ryan, Ricky, Kevin, Joey, Clint, Danica, and Denny.

    20. DANIEL SUAREZ – 278 PTS
    I read “Suarez drives in three”, but it was Eugenio’s performance for the Reds over the Cards.

  • The Final Word – Dover, where yellow became my favorite color

    The Final Word – Dover, where yellow became my favorite color

    When it comes to extraordinary television, sit on the edge of your seat excitement, Dover under green will not exactly get your heart racing. In fact, Sunday’s race was more of a cautionary tale. When the yellow waved, the interest spiked.

    They waved the flag to start the race. I dozed. There was a caution, but it was for one of the exhaust eaters. No big deal. Then they dropped the jack on leader Kyle Busch in the pits, nearly spun the fingers off tire man Kenny Barber, and then the tire rolled off as Busch pulled out. That got my attention. I bet it got the attention of the entire crew. It sure got the attention of NASCAR. It seems Barber, tire changer Jake Seminara, and crew chief Adam Stevens could all face a major penalty. That could cost them each up to four races. We shall see. However, instead of trying to jump the gun by putting on fewer lugs nuts, the air gun was actually pulling them off instead of spinning them on. Be it a malfunction or a miscue, it was rather memorable.

    Then, back to my nap. For a couple of laps. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. did not take tires under the caution, but caused the next. The lights went on, I woke up, and Stenhouse had some mangled rubber. That contact with the wall did not help either.

    I was about to head off to dream land when Stenhouse hit the wall again. He was finally done. Still, no nap for me, as on the re-start, Kurt Busch broke loose and drove Brad Keselowski into the fence. Bad Brad was toast. Busch lingered, but the damage he sustained finally got to his tire, which got him into the wall, and finally in to the garage to stay. There were still three-quarters of the race left to run and three bound for the Chase were already gone for the day.

    They pitted, when Clint Bowyer’s crew noticed a mechanical issue. Fluids were flowing out where they should not be flowing. To the garage for repairs. By the time he returned, 18 laps had gone by.

    I was able to get in some serious “zzzz” time for the next hundred laps. That was interrupted by another caution. It would seem Joey Logano met the outside barrier, and the repair time cost him four circuits.

    More than a hundred laps of round and round later, the alarm went off again. Regan Smith, sitting in for the mending Aric Almirola, had his right front surrender. Another caution, another tire, another fence, another retirement.

    As the final laps clicked off, it was Kyle Larson, Jimmie Johnson, and Martin Truex Jr., the contenders. One more caution, and we were off to overtime. Six additional laps under green, we thought. It actually ended under caution.

    Johnson moved to the lead with a better re-start and had gone by the overtime line when all hell broke loose behind them on the front stretch. Ty Dillon wiggled and got punted into the safer wafers, while Trevor Bayne and Kasey Kahne not only rhymed but also were among those who failed to make the line. Under caution, Johnson, Larson, and Truex did, in that order.

    It marked the 83rd career win for Johnson, tying him for sixth all-time with Cale Yarborough. It gave him his 11th career Dover win in 31 attempts, and third victory of the season. As far as the standings go, the only real change of note was Matt Kenseth out performing Ryan Blaney, 13th compared to 32nd, and moving seven points up in the battle for the final Chase place.

    With Pocono coming up next week, here is a final cautionary tale. If you are not in the Top 17 heading to Pennsylvania on Sunday, you are not going to make the Chase on points. With the rest 40 or more points out, their best hopes lie in winning one of the next 13 events. The way things have played out so far, with nine winners to date, even a single victory might not be enough.

    This might be a good time for recent past Pocono winners Kahne, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kenseth, and Chris Buescher to catch lightning in a bottle one more time. Either Sunday, or the return date in August will do. Maybe.

  • Hot 20 – If Dover is such a boring track to watch a race, why is Jimmie Johnson so excited?

    Hot 20 – If Dover is such a boring track to watch a race, why is Jimmie Johnson so excited?

    Some things are just not like the others. May featured the World 600 and the All-Star race at Charlotte, the spring derby at Talladega, events a fellow can get excited about. This week. Dover.

    Maybe Jimmie Johnson will stall on the re-start like he did last spring. That caused one hell of a mess. No, it was not racing, but it sure was not boring. It was not boring when Carl Edwards bounced off the infield wall. At the end, Kyle Larson kept Matt Kenseth honest right to the stripe, as the veteran claimed the victory. That was not a boring finish.

    Miles the Monster is not boring. He is big, and the trophy is cool as it holds a model of the winning car in its big mitt. The Monster Mile was once known as White Lightning, but I am thinking that Miles is a bit of a Teetotaler. Come to think of it, so are Donald Trump and Kathy Griffin. Why that fun fact amuses me as much as it does, I do not know.

    They have raced 94 times at Dover since the first Cup event in 1969. Richard Petty won the first two, three of the first four, and is tied with Bobby Allison with seven victories. That is good enough for second best.

    Among active drivers, Kenseth and Ryan Newman have won three apiece but they are a long ways away from the top gun. Remember that guy who jammed things up last year? Johnson has won 10 in 30 attempts. That is a pretty good average. I wonder who the favorite might be?

    It would seem our seven-time Cup champion just likes collecting the more unusual trophies. Ten Monsters to go with his nine Martinsville grandfather clocks. Say what you might about the one-mile track in Delaware or the driver who dominates it, but I think we can agree that there is a trophy room out there that is anything but boring.

    Like Austin Dillon, Johnson is among our Hot 20 with a Chase in his future.

    1. MARTIN TRUEX JR – 2 WINS – 491 PTS
    First in points, tied for first in wins. What do you think of Furniture Row now?

    2. BRAD KESELOWSKI – 2 WINS – 409 PTS
    Dreams of lasting a tad longer this Sunday than he did in the race last week.

    3. JIMMIE JOHNSON – 2 WINS – 359 PTS
    The gatekeeper of the room with Monsters and Grandfather Clocks.

    4. KYLE LARSON – 1 WIN – 486 PTS
    Monaco is too far away to attempt a Triple but has dreams of a Memorial Day Weekend Double.

    5. RICKY STENHOUSE JR. – 1 WIN – 298 PTS
    Like Happy and Rowdy, he has an attractive better half, but he also has something they do not.

    6. KURT BUSCH – 1 WIN – 290 PTS
    With his Daytona 500 win and three of the past four a Top Ten, it is good to be Kurt.

    7. RYAN NEWMAN – 1 WIN – 266 PTS
    When a veteran looks you in the eye and says you are who they fight for, that has an impact.

    8. AUSTIN DILLON – 1 WIN – 238 PTS
    Points? Who needs stinkin’ points when you get a win at Charlotte?

    9. KEVIN HARVICK – 388 PTS
    The buck stops with the crew chief, as Childers loses $10,000 for Charlotte’s loose lug nut.

    10. KYLE BUSCH – 386 PTS
    Hates to lose, be it 38th at Daytona or 2nd at Charlotte. He won’t be a happy camper.

    11. JAMIE MCMURRAY – 385 PTS
    All of his wins have come on just four marquee tracks, and this is not one of them.

    12. CHASE ELLIOTT – 362 PTS
    Keselowski saved mechanics a ton of time last week, removing any thought of making repairs.

    13. CLINT BOWYER – 343 PTS
    Solution to a front end that just would not turn last weekend. Clydesdales. Just a thought.

    14. JOEY LOGANO – 336 PTS (1 WIN*)
    Win at Kansas was encumbered, meaning it means nothing when it comes to Chase eligibility.

    15. DENNY HAMLIN – 332 PTS
    One very bad day away from being in danger of losing his contender status.

    16. RYAN BLANEY – 308 PTS
    One very good day away from potentially putting Hamlin in that position.

    17. MATT KENSETH – 288 PTS
    A repeat of last year’s spring edition would be just fine with him.

    18. TREVOR BAYNE – 271 PTS
    Doing enough to stay on this list, but not enough to challenge for a title.

    19. ERIK JONES – 256 PTS
    Just turned 21 this week. I turned 21 in 1977. I win!

    20. DANIEL SUAREZ – 246 PTS
    Five straight in the Top 20, three of the last four in the top dozen. There is still time.

  • Hot 20 – Talladega could not have come at a better time

    Hot 20 – Talladega could not have come at a better time

    NASCAR is losing steam. Surprise! It is not exactly news, but this week comments made by the top brass yet again reminded us of what has been going on for about a decade now. NASCAR got its big TV contract in 2001 to bring the action nationwide. It lost one of its legends in that opening race, then his son became part of a very compelling and riveting story line, and a fad was born. Everybody who was anybody jumped aboard the bandwagon. That lasted until the economic downturn following the 2007 season. The good times came to a grinding halt, and have not yet returned. As Merle Haggard used to ask, “Are the good times really over for good?”

    Once upon a time, but a time not so far away, 112,000 seats surrounded the track at Richmond. Today, they number 60,000. Last Sunday, only half of them had butt cheeks draped upon them. This week, NASCAR boss Brian France says his sport is not the only one having trouble enticing fans to leave their electronic devices behind, especially those tuned into his races, to make the trek to see the action live. They are having a summit next month in Charlotte, joined by experts, to seek out some answers. Charlotte track owner Humpy Wheeler has his own answers. Get rid of the aero push, the thing that gives the leader in clean air a distinct advantage, once and for all. Do that and then see the return of on-track excitement, the return of duels for the lead, the return of rivalries, and the return of the fans. Simple solution, but one they have been unable to solve for nearly twenty years.

    NASCAR was here long before Dale Earnhardt Jr. and it will be there long after he leaves. Sure sounds strong, defiant, and even true to some degree. However, compare how much merchandise Junior moves and compare it to anyone else…hell…everyone else, and you might just notice a few beads of sweat on the foreheads of NASCAR’s big shots. In the past, big stars left but it was all small potatoes back then compared to today. Dale Earnhardt died, but his son was there pick up some of the slack. Today, Junior is planning on going. Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, and Carl Edwards are already gone. Can Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney, Erik Jones, Daniel Suarez, and the Dillon brothers keep those rabid fans in tow, the ones who will hang around no matter what? That is the question.

    Few tracks pretty much guarantee excitement. Talladega happily is one of them. Multiple lead changes, the potential of mayhem each and every lap, and the thrills that it brings. You do not need an Earnhardt to present that. You sure do when you go to Kansas for the next contest, and we return to a 1.5-mile oval and the same old, same old. Without the likes of Junior to cheer for, the lukewarm supporters will once again dissipate like a mist in the wind. They might return for the all-star event, they might catch the World 600 at Charlotte later this month, or next month’s road course challenge at Sonoma, then the Firecracker 400 at Daytona in July. Kansas, Dover, Pocono, and Michigan each have two events scheduled this season, with the first coming our way in May and June. Think about that, then tell me “how bad have you got it?” Exactly.

    Talladega could not come at a better time. Here is to the hot action for our Hot 20 in Alabama on Sunday afternoon.

    1. BRAD KESELOWSKI – 2 WINS – 327 PTS
    Junior might be the current King of Talladega, but with four wins Brad is the Crown Prince.

    2. JIMMIE JOHNSON – 2 WINS – 270 PTS
    When did they start painting the walls to look like Junior’s car?

    3. KYLE LARSON – 1 WIN – 398 PTS
    “I would race a lot more if I was allowed to. That’s why I feel like I’m the last true racer.”

    4. MARTIN TRUEX JR. – 1 WIN – 358 PTS
    Having a decent season, but imagine how good it would be if not for all those damned penalties.

    5. JOEY LOGANO – 1 WIN – 333 PTS
    Joey is sad. He heard Rowdy got a commitment line penalty at Richmond. The tears are flowing.

    6. RYAN NEWMAN – 1 WIN – 225 PTS
    In 30 starts, just five Top Fives, with his best being third eight years ago. You can save on the suds.

    7. KURT BUSCH – 1 WIN – 192 PTS
    When it came to Dale Earnhardt and Mr. Busch, oh well-a bird, bird, bird; bird is a word.

    8. CHASE ELLIOTT – 346 PTS
    Driving for Hooters this weekend. Make up your own joke.

    9. KEVIN HARVICK – 286 PTS
    Bloomin’ good result resulted in Outback Steakhouse giving away Bloomin’ Onions. Really.

    10. JAMIE MCMURRAY – 282 PTS
    Jamie only wins on the biggest stages. This would be one of them.

    11. CLINT BOWYER – 266 PTS
    Not as vile as Colbert, but he can sometimes string together some hot phrases on the radio.

    12. KYLE BUSCH – 235 PTS
    Five minutes. No crews, no officials, no cameras. Just five minutes is all he asks.

    13. DENNY HAMLIN – 231 PTS
    With Kyle, Denny, and Matt all here, the lack of Joe Gibbs wins is truly a non-story.

    14. RYAN BLANEY – 229 PTS
    Only five points earned over the past two events, with four of the past six outside the Top 20.

    15. TREVOR BAYNE – 216 PTS
    Still only one Cup win to his credit, but if you have to win just one…he picked well.

    16. RICKY STENHOUSE JR. – 201 PTS
    Joining Martin and Sherry, along with a host of others, in Catwalk for a Cause later this month.

    17. ERIK JONES – 193 PTS
    Lasted less than five laps last week, earned just one point. Talladega just has to be better.

    18. MATT KENSETH – 192 PTS
    Richmond was a race that proved to be 237 laps too long. Before that, he had a very nice day.

    19. ARIC ALMIROLA – 189 PTS
    The “other” drivers with more than one win in the No.43…Bobby Hamilton (2) and Jim Paschal (2).

    20. KASEY KAHNE – 179 PTS
    Krispy Kasey Kahne went cycling last week and, as Gollum might say, “It burns us.”

  • Hot 20 – As Richmond arrives, Earnhardt announces his departure

    Hot 20 – As Richmond arrives, Earnhardt announces his departure

    One day they are going to make that movie. It will feature a young Dale Earnhardt Jr. growing up in the shadow of his legendary father. We will see his daddy’s pride as his namesake begins his racing career. That first Tier II win at Texas in 1998. The two Tier II titles that came that year, and the next.

    Two years later, Senior saw Junior take his first Cup victory on that same Texas track. Junior won, ole Dale was seventh in the GM Goodwrench Chevrolet. Four races later, at Richmond, Junior won his second. Dad was 10th. The Legend and his Legacy.

    Then came the improbable story line. Dale Earnhardt would leave us on the final lap of the Daytona 500 on February 18, 2001. It was a race won by Michael Waltrip, a winless veteran driver who the Terminator put in the seat of a Dale Earnhardt Inc. car. His son finished second. On a day that should have been devoted to celebration, the Man in Black was gone.

    No one would dare write a script like this one. A week later, another of his drivers, Steve Park, would win at Rockingham. His friend and rival, Jeff Gordon, claimed Las Vegas. His race team, now led by a 25-year old Kevin Harvick, returned to Victory Lane for Richard Childress in the next race at Atlanta. What could top this emotional ride? When they returned to Daytona in July, it was Dale Earnhardt Jr. winning, with Waltrip in second, and we rejoiced as they celebrated atop their cars in the infield as the crowd roared in approval.

    Junior would win at Dover later in the year, and in October he was victorious at Talladega, the scene of his father’s final victory just the year before. Senior won 10 times at that track, and the 2001 win for his son was the start of four consecutive conquests on the same superspeedway. The movie will take us to the twin Talladega triumphs of 2002, to Talladega and Phoenix the next season, and then to 2004. The Daytona 500, Atlanta, Richmond, Bristol, Talladega, and Phoenix.

    Then came the lean years. The break from his late father’s team. The man who lost a legendary father joined a man who lost a cherished son. The main story went behind the scenes, as the successes on the track became few and far in between. Just four wins over nine seasons. However, there was one more act in the play, a resurgence before the final curtain would drop.

    Four more wins in 2014, including his second Daytona 500. Three in 2015, including his sixth at Talladega, one more summertime victory to give him four at Daytona, and his third career decision at Phoenix. Before the credits roll, the movie will see the on-track heartbreak of 2016, the loss of half a season. Yet, while he wondered about his future out on the track, there was true joy as the year ended with his new bride Amy by his side. A new chapter was about to begin as the movie comes to a close.

    Peter Jackson, if you are not too busy, this is a movie I would really love to see.

    Here are our Hot 20 heading to Richmond this Sunday.

    1. BRAD KESELOWSKI – 2 WINS – 277 PTS
    Leads the pack, but his day at Bristol was one for the dumper. On to Richmond!

    2. JIMMIE JOHNSON – 2 WINS – 244 PTS
    With his 6.72 races per win ratio, his next victory should come by the time they leave Michigan.

    3. KYLE LARSON – 1 WIN – 360 PTS
    Great acceleration out of the pits on Monday. Just too great, as it turned out.

    4. MARTIN TRUEX JR. – 1 WIN – 323 PTS
    Had a rare good day at Bristol and now hopes for a rare good day at Richmond.

    5. RYAN NEWMAN – 1 WIN – 186 PTS
    One win means the difference between fifth and 14th. I hope Junior is listening.

    6. KURT BUSCH – 1 WIN – 163 PTS
    Went three laps down and still had a better day than his brother.

    7. CHASE ELLIOTT – 333 PTS
    He was not a factor last week, so explain to me that Top Ten result.

    8. JOEY LOGANO – 291 PTS
    Not a fan of the driver, but Cameron Curtis reminds us we all should be a fan of the man.

    9. JAMIE MCMURRAY – 244 PTS
    Granted, we are just eight races in, but 2017 has been a very sweet year for the 40-year old.

    10. KEVIN HARVICK – 239 PTS
    Before you panic, he has 24 wins over the past seven seasons, and a winless streak of just 13.

    11. CLINT BOWYER – 239 PTS
    From second tier a year ago to second place this past week to a place he’s won at twice before.

    12. RYAN BLANEY – 228 PTS
    No power steering, no quick fix, no points to speak of, but just check out those biceps.

    13. KYLE BUSCH – 214 PTS
    When the wheels on the car don’t keep round and round, one’s day can go to crap in a hurry.

    14. TREVOR BAYNE – 192 PTS
    Best performer for Jack Roush since Carl Edwards left to join Joe Gibbs.

    15. ERIK JONES – 192 PTS
    The 20-year-old has one Top Ten as he enters his 12th career Cup race.

    16. DENNY HAMLIN – 184 PTS
    Tenth on Monday and now heads to a track where he has won three, including the one last fall.

    17. RICKY STENHOUSE, JR. – 168 PTS
    Three Top Tens over the past five contests but just one in eight tries at Richmond.

    18. KASEY KAHNE – 164 PTS
    Does Junior’s announcement ease the pressure on him or is the clock still ticking?

    19. ARIC ALMIROLA – 161 PTS
    You could say that Bristol (tire) rubbed him the wrong way.

    20. MATT KENSETH – 159 PTS
    It does not matter where you run all day, as long as you are in the picture at the end.

  • The Final Word – The drama at Dover was over by my half-time beer break

    The Final Word – The drama at Dover was over by my half-time beer break

    Perspective. It means everything.

    Take Trevor Bayne, for instance. Last Sunday at Dover, he picked up a speeding penalty while on pit road during an early caution. No big deal. Sure, he finished 20th on the day, but with not a single Roush driver making the Chase, expectations were not exactly soaring.

    Then there was Kevin Harvick. It was he who blew a tire and brought out the caution in the first place. He had to head to the garage for repairs. Did it ruin his day? Forty laps down in 37th does not cause much celebration, but nobody’s dog was going to be in danger of being booted by a disgruntled driver. That win in New Hampshire had given Harvick a new perspective, and a pass into the Round of Twelve in the Chase.

    That brings us to Kyle Larson. He needed to make up five positions to continue the hunt. On the Harvick-manufactured yellow, he came to the pits complaining of a lack of power. During the diagnosis, an extra man went over the wall and that got Larson slapped with a penalty. No problem, you can get a lap back. Maybe. Not if you lose your right front and slap the wall to go six laps down. In the loaf of life, that turns your hopes into toast.

    Still, there was yet another Chip Ganassi auto still in the hunt. Jamie McMurray had eight cylinders to power him there. Make that seven cylinders. How about six? We had not even made the half-way point in the race when the gerbil finally died and McMurray’s engine up and died with it.

    That left only Tony Stewart to challenge Austin Dillon for the final transfer spot. Only Tony remained to offer up some drama, but he had a hill to climb and a car more adept at running in the valley. Stewart, with a Top Fifteen car that needed to win, finished 13th and out of the running.

    Martin Truex Jr., on the other hand, continues to prove that Furniture Row can no longer be considered anyone’s weak sister. Winning three of the past five, and his fourth of the campaign, the single car outfit from Colorado is making one heck of an argument that just maybe they might be considered a favorite to win it all.

    Six was all that finished on the lead lap in this one. Joining Truex were Kyle Busch, Chase Elliott, Brad Keselowski, Matt Kenseth, and Joey Logano. Chasers one and all. Jimmie Johnson would have, but a man over the wall way too early dropped him from first to 16th, and down a lap he never would get back.

    Those seven drivers are now deadlocked in points as the next round of the Chase begins. Along with Harvick, Dillon, Kurt Busch, Denny Hamlin, and Carl Edwards, the dozen contenders all head to Charlotte with 3000 points in the bank, with no advantage held by anybody. Maybe Johnson had an edge, with seven career wins at everybody’s local track. Okay, local for everyone but Truex. Truex only has one there. The way he is running, nobody is betting against him making it two this Saturday night.

  • Hot 20 – Dover seats nearly 30,000 fewer fans and now NASCAR wants to reduce the pit crews

    Hot 20 – Dover seats nearly 30,000 fewer fans and now NASCAR wants to reduce the pit crews

    I hate change. Even good change can take a while to be appreciated. I did not like the Chase when it came out. I do now. I am still perturbed brand names like Firecracker 400 and World 600 were kicked to the curb to make a sponsor happy who obviously had no appreciation for the traditions of the sport. Then again, neither does NASCAR.

    I am not happy that the cars of today no longer look stock, but they are safer and today’s version beats the hell out of the Car of Tomorrow monstrosities. I am bothered by torn down grandstands and hidden attendance figures. I like “Win and You are In,” so even a guy like Chris Buescher has a shot at the brass ring, but now it seems they want to change the size of the pit crew. I find that I do not like the idea all that much.

    NASCAR wants to help folks save money, which sounds good to you and me. However, if MLB or the NFL tried reducing their payroll by one to save a buck it probably would come across looking either cheap or desperate to aficionados. Instead of a pit crew of six, it could drop by one for next season. That is a position that maybe pays out between $1000 to $3000 per race, depending on the team and its performance expectations.

    If that guy is a tire changer, then who will put the tire on the hub for the guy with the wrench? Maybe the jackman has to reach over. Maybe he waits for the rest of the rubber to make its way over. Maybe we have 30-second stops. Maybe the tire guy carries two at a time. Maybe we finally have an opening for gorillas in NASCAR. Oh, safety is another concern, to reduce the number of folks out there on the asphalt. That excuse sounds so much better than “some racing teams are so tight for cash that one paycheck could make a difference.”

    Winning it all comes with a pretty good paycheck. However, to be eligible at Homestead, one has to still be in contention after Dover. Four more of our Hot 20 become also-rans as they reduce the number to 12 on Sunday.

    1. MARTIN TRUEX JR. – 1 SEGMENT WIN (2086 Pts)
    Sit on a guitar, then try to fit it through the templates. Harvick sat on his guitar in Chicago.

    2. KEVIN HARVICK – 1 SEGMENT WIN (2071 Pts)
    Keelan is happy with another trophy, Dad is happy with his free pass to the next round.

    3. BRAD KESELOWSKI – 2087 PTS
    If you drive hard, damage car, fail post-race inspection, you get penalized…or so he thought.

    4. KYLE BUSCH – 2085 PTS
    Not locked in, but a 33 point advantage sure beats hanging on by one.

    5. MATT KENSETH – 2078 PTS
    Funny, when Logano once tried to pass Kenseth it did not work as well as it did for Harvick.

    6. JOEY LOGANO – 2073 PTS
    To describe how bad his 11th place car was at Loudon, they had it put down right after the race.

    7. DENNY HAMLIN – 2071 PTS
    Rolling, rolling, rolling, keep that damn tire from rolling…Hamlin got the raw end of that.

    8. JIMMIE JOHNSON – 2070 PTS
    With 10 victories, the most by any driver ever at Dover

    9. CARL EDWARDS – 2068 PTS
    NASCAR claims Edwards has commitment issues…at least late at Loudon.

    10. CHASE ELLIOTT – 2068 PTS
    If this is what he can do at 20, imagine him with a bit more experience.

    11. KURT BUSCH – 2067 PTS
    First Top Five in 10 weeks sure came at the right time last Sunday.

    12. KYLE LARSON – 2057 PTS
    In 10 Dover starts in Cup and XFINITY, his worst finish is 11th (June 1, 2014, Cup race).

    13. AUSTIN DILLON – 2052 PTS
    Beat Larson by six at Dover and mission accomplished…unless Jamie or Tony wins.

    14. JAMIE MCMURRAY – 2052 PTS
    Take four fresh ones and then charge up the field…well, it sounded good in theory.

    15. TONY STEWART – 2046 PTS
    If Tony wins, he is in…or if he has a good day and the trio ahead of him do not.

    16. CHRIS BUESCHER – 2027 PTS
    Hey, it was fun while it lasted. Still, he got more coverage lately than Clint or Danica…

    17. KASEY KAHNE – 699 PTS
    …or Kasey, for that matter.

    18. RYAN NEWMAN – 676 PTS
    I hear there will be an opening with HScott Motorsports next season.

    19. RYAN BLANEY – 642 PTS
    Decent year that saw Blaney drive his first full season for a team back to full-time after a decade.

    20. A.J. ALLMENDINGER – 627 PTS
    JTG Daugherty Racing is not among the big boys in resources, so just being on this list is a win.