Tag: joey logano

NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Dover

Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

1. Kyle Busch: Busch started on the pole at Dover and led 21 laps on his way to an eighth-place finish.

“I’m just glad to survive with a decent finish,” Busch said. “The ‘Monster Mile’ claimed a few victims on Sunday. Talladega’s 2.66 mile track could be even more monstrous. Then we get Kansas Speedway’s 1.5 mile track. It doesn’t scare anyone, except prospective ticket buyers.”

2. Martin Truex, Jr.: Truex finished 15th at Dover.

“Jimmie Johnson bought my team’s kids bicycles as an apology for wrecking me at Charlotte,” Truex said. “Just like what he did in Charlotte, this was a ‘sorry’ move as swell.”

3. Kevin Harvick: Harvick led 286 laps before a lug nut broke a valve stem, forcing an extra pit stop. Harvick fell a lap down but worked his way back to finish sixth.

“I was dominating,” Harvick said, “but that’s one way to ‘stem’ the tide. My luck with tires has been very unfortunate lately. But I’ll refrain from bashing Goodyear, because I ultimately had a good week.”

4. Chase Elliott: Elliott won at Dover and clinched his spot into Round 3.

“My ticket has been punched,” Elliott said. “I don’t know if that translates to tickets being bought, though.

“I like my chances to win the Monster Energy Cup. It would be great to join my father as Cup champion. My dad Bill won the 1988 Winston Cup championship. Dad was known as ‘Wild Bill From Dawsonville.’ With a championship, I could be known as ‘Awesome Chase From The Same Place.’”

5. Brad Keselowski: Keselowski finished 14th at Dover after he was collected in a crash triggered by Aric Almirola’s spin.

“I’m seventh in the playoff points standings,” Keselowski said. “That’s too close to the cutoff line for me, so I’m going to Talladega with every intention of winning. That’s called ‘Brad Intentions.’

“And while Talladega is not an official elimination race, it is the ultimate elimination race.”

6. Kurt Busch: Busch finished fifth at Dover, posting his sixth top 5 of the season.

“I’m pleased with my finish,” Busch said. “Talladega’s next on the schedule, and I finished second there in April. So the thought of ‘Dega’s super speedway makes my ears perk up. Or it used to, until the ‘perkiness’ was surgically removed from my ears back in 2006.”

7. Joey Logano: Logano finished third in the Gander Outdoors 400.

“I hear Matt Kenseth won’t be driving in 2019,” Logano said. “I’ll have no part of Matt’s going away party, but I will party that he’s going away.”

8. Clint Bowyer: Bowyer wrecked late at Dover and finished 35th, 16 laps down, and left him below the cutoff line to advance to the next round.

“Fans were able to bet on sports at a kiosk at Dover Speedway,” Bowyer said. “Sure, betting is fun, but if you’re a real NASCAR gambler, you’ll eat a hot dog at Martinsville.”

9. Aric Almirola: Almirola was leading when Clint Bowyer wrecked, opening the door for Chase Elliott to stay out and win the race. Almirola finished a disappointing 13th.

“I’m winless in my last 149 races,” Almirola said. “Maybe I should have stayed out on old tires and kept the lead. But hindsight is 20/20, and you really need to have great vision to look back to my last win.”

10. Ryan Blaney: Blaney finished 11th at Dover.

“The win at Charlotte gave me a lot of confidence,” Blaney said. “And I’m very confident I can win at Talladega. The name of the game at Talladega is to hang back and wait for an accident up front to open the door. So, I’ll maintain my strategy from Charlotte, and keep Jimmie Johnson in front of me.”

October 8, 2018
Hot 20 – The Big Three still remain the biggest obstacles for the rest as they hit Dover

On to Dover this Sunday, and down to a dozen championship contenders. Once again, as we enter the second round of eliminations, Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick look solid. So does Martin Truex Jr. Not so for everyone else.

Just ask Aric Almirola and Kyle Larson. If Jimmie Johnson had not wrecked coming to the line and if Jeffrey Earnhardt did not sit idle for as long as he did just shy of it, one of them would have been out. Both lads came into Charlotte between 17 and 23 points to the good, and it almost was not enough.

As for Johnson, he said that, after sleeping on it, he still thought he made the right decision to try to challenge Truex for the win last Sunday. I might disagree, but I am not a well decorated former race car championship winner, so what do I know? Well, if you research why George Custer did what he did at the Little Big Horn, you can see the logic behind his actions. Sadly, the result is all we remember, both for ole George and Jimmie.

The Monster Mile is not exactly one of my favorite venues. On the positive side, the NBC crew is my absolute favorite broadcast team. I do believe those boys and girls can make me watch a soccer game. Okay, as Maury would say, “that was a lie.” Still, it should make for an entertaining broadcast as we begin the round that takes us from Dover, to Talladega, to Kansas.

Let the fun continue.

1. KYLE BUSCH – 3055 POINTS (7 Wins)
“I guess all of us are just stupid” when it came to that late wreck. He was far from alone.

2. KEVIN HARVICK – 3050 POINTS (7 Wins)
If having a dud day means finishing ninth, being a dud sometimes is not bad at all.

3. MARTIN TRUEX JR. – 3038 POINTS (4 Wins)
Sure, he lost his bid for a win, but Johnson lost his bid for a championship.

4. BRAD KESELOWSKI – 3025 POINTS (3 Wins)
Believes the 2019 rules package will equate into closer racing. We shall see. We shall see.

5. CLINT BOWYER – 3015 POINTS (2 Wins)
One outsider who moved to the inside was not tempted to gamble it all away for a win.

6. JOEY LOGANO – 3014 POINTS (1 Win)
Todd Gordon to his driver, “Brad led the army off the cliff” after the late race pileup in Turn 1.

7. KURT BUSCH – 3014 POINTS (1 Win)
Took the pole, finished fifth, avoided being part of Brad’s army. A good day, all in all.

8. RYAN BLANEY – 3013 POINTS (1 Win)
I want to thank Jimmie Johnson for all he did FOR me…and TO Martin Truex Jr.

9. CHASE ELLIOTT – 3008 POINTS (1 Win)
If the new rules package allows the cream to rise, he should like the changes just fine.

10. KYLE LARSON – 3006 POINTS
Next, his pit crew will turn water into wine after just raising that car from the dead.

11. ARIC ALMIROLA – 3001 POINTS
Thanks, Jimmie. I might not have gotten here without you.

12. ALEX BOWMAN – 3000 POINTS
Started last Sunday a point above the bubble, only to now sit 13 points under the bubble.

13. JIMMIE JOHNSON – 2097 POINTS
A bridge…or maybe a chicane…too far.

14. AUSTIN DILLON – 2066 POINTS (1 Win)
Literally went to the wall to keep his playoff hopes alive…but that is what ended them.

15. DENNY HAMLIN – 2053 POINTS
Super sorry I ran into the back of your car, Erik.

16. ERIK JONES – 2041 POINTS (1 Win)
“What the [expletive] are teammates even for?”

17. RYAN NEWMAN – 609 POINTS
Meanwhile, at the kiddie’s table…

18. PAUL MENARD – 570 POINTS
Has not had a good past couple of weeks, and it is doubtful things will get any better at Dover.

19. DANIEL SUAREZ – 566 POINTS
Still searching for a landing spot and Dover has so far been very, very good to him.

20. JAMIE MCMURRAY – 553 POINTS
Anyone want to hire a Top 20 NASCAR driver for next season?

21. RICKY STENHOUSE JR. – 553 POINTS
I guess this is the week for tie-breakers.

October 3, 2018
NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Charlotte

Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

1. Kyle Busch: Busch finished 18th at Charlotte.

“Luckily,” Busch said, “I was already on to Round 2 of the Playoffs. If there’s such a thing as a ‘leisurely’ drive around a ‘roval,’ that was it.”

2. Martin Truex Jr.: Truex was leading on the final lap when Jimmie Johnson attempted a daring pass and spun, sending Truex off course. Truex finished 14th.

“I deliberately spun Jimmie after the finish,” Truex said. “It’s called ‘an eye for an eye,’ or, as I’m fond of saying, ‘If you take a ‘dump’ on me, I’m gonna take a ‘dump’ on you.’”

3. Kevin Harvick: Harvick finished ninth in the Bank Of America Roval 400.

“I clinched my spot in the next round simply by starting the race,” Harvick said. “Only a driver known as the ‘Closer’ could achieve such a feat.”

4. Brad Keselowski: Keselowski misjudged the entry to Turn 1 on a late restart and caused a huge pileup. Keselowski’s day was done and he finished 31st.

“Turn 1 on the roval is a near-90 degree turn,” Keselowski said. “It appears I didn’t take the ‘right angle’ to safely navigate the corner. As such, my day took a sharp turn for the worse.”

5. Kurt Busch: Busch started on the pole at Charlotte and finished fifth in the Bank Of America Roval 400.

“Personally,” Busch said, “I like the ‘roval’ course. Like me, it’s unpredictable, and also like me, most people say they hope they never see it again.”

6. Joey Logano: Logano finished 10th at Charlotte and moved on to Round 2 of the Playoffs.

“What a great finish,” Logano said. “You could call it a ‘fantastic’ finish. Some great finishes at NASCAR races can simply be called ‘tastic’ finishes because there are no ‘fans.’”

7. Clint Bowyer: Bowyer took third at Charlotte and joined his three Stewart-Haas Racing teammates in Round 2 of the Playoffs.

“There are 12 drivers in Round 2,” Bowyer said. “Four of those are SHR drivers. The chances that a driver for SHR ultimately wins the Monster Energy Cup championship are pretty good. How do I know? Because the ‘4’ of SHR is a good bet to win it all.”

8. Kyle Larson: Larson won Stage 1 and finished 25 at Charlotte and is on to Round 2 of the Playoffs.

“But just barely,” Larson said. “I got caught up in Brad Keselowski’s wild ride through Turn 1 late in the race and ended up just squeezing into the next round. I would say all credit goes to the man upstairs, but only if Jimmie Johnson is a floor above me.

“I married my girlfriend Katelyn Sweet last Wednesday. We’ve already produced two children, so we’ve been living in sin and synergy.”

9. Aric Almirola: Almirola finished 19th at Charlotte and qualified for the next round of the Playoffs as the 11th driver in.

“Dover is the next destination on the schedule,” Almirola said. “Hopefully, there will be no mention of the word ‘doval.’”

10. (tie): Chase Elliott: Elliott finished sixth at Charlotte and safely qualified for Round 2 of the Playoffs.

“The action at the ‘roval’ was as wild and crazy as predicted,” Elliott said. “That’s all thanks to Jimmie Johnson. Was J.J. driving a Toyota, because he seemed to be on a ‘Kamikaze mission?’”

10. (tie): Ryan Blaney: Blaney took advantage of Jimmie Johnson’s ill-advised pass attempt to steal the in win at Charlotte from Martin Truex, Jr.

“The door opened,” Blaney said, “and I drove right through it. Which is basically what Johnson did to Truex’s door. Johnson and Truex are legends in this sports. Fortunately for me, the ‘stars’ aligned, then wrecked, which gave me the win.”

October 1, 2018
Hot 20 – Charlotte’s roval goes left, it goes right, and possibly where everything will go wrong

They thought Talladega was a wild card. Boy, something tells me that Charlotte’s Roval is going to test them like never before. This one makes the World 600 nothing more than a nice test, a rest in some ways, before the storm coming their way on Sunday.

When your first danger spot is identified as Turn 1, you got to think that the excrement is about to hit the ventilation system. A tire barrier, a safer barrier, and a concrete barrier all await those who fate decides to screw with. Imagine the potential for carnage for the start and any re-starts that follow.

The next most treacherous part of the track? According to some, the entire rest of the track can claim that honor. Sounds interesting. Sounds more like a demolition derby. Sounds like a race I am not going to miss.

Prepare for some hearts to be broken, along with a few auto body parts. It is the Roval at Charlotte this Sunday.

1. KYLE BUSCH – 1 ROUND WIN (2125 Pts – 7 Wins)
Best on the season, the best at Richmond, so who cares about the Roval?

2. BRAD KESELOWSKI – 1 ROUND WIN (2111 Pts – 3 Wins)
I guess you could say he has entered a one race slump.

3. MARTIN TRUEX JR. – 2141 POINTS (4 Wins)
Another member of the family will be leading the pack…at least prior to the green flag.

4. KEVIN HARVICK – 2113 POINTS (7 Wins)
Name a scenario where he does not advance. There isn’t one.

5. JOEY LOGANO – 2081 POINTS (1 Win)
Not totally out of the woods, but he sees prairie just ahead.

6. ARIC ALMIROLA – 2079 POINTS
No wins but lots of speed, and that might be enough for round one.

7. KYLE LARSON – 2073 POINTS
Charlotte should be easy until he comes across all those curvy parts.

8. KURT BUSCH – 2071 POINTS (1 Win)
He has the talent. He has the equipment. Now all he needs is good fortune.

9. CHASE ELLIOTT – 2066 POINTS (1 Win)
This whole Roval thing should have a lot of folks nervous, including Bill’s boy.

10. AUSTIN DILLON – 2066 POINTS (1 Win)
The smart money had him out after this round, but now he has to clear just one more hurdle.

11. ALEX BOWMAN – 2061 POINTS
Sitting five to seven points to the good, and that can’t be good.

12. RYAN BLANEY – 2060 POINTS
If Bowman is nervous, imagine how this guy feels.

13. CLINT BOWYER – 2056 POINTS (2 Wins)
Finish four or five points better than the two ahead of him, and all will be fine.

14. JIMMIE JOHNSON – 2054 POINTS
If Bowyer does well, it would be smart to stay close to him, though ahead would be even better.

15. ERIK JONES – 2039 POINTS (1 Win)
Has a win this season, but now he needs another one.

16. DENNY HAMLIN – 2031 POINTS
It is either win it all or nothing.

17. RYAN NEWMAN – 583 POINTS
A Chevy is nice, but the offer from Ford was nicer…but that is next year.

18. PAUL MENARD – 566 POINTS
As long as he has a sponsor with deep pockets he shall remain safe.

19. RICKY STENHOUSE JR. – 552 POINTS
He might not have Danica, but he has something McMurray and Allmendinger do not.

20. DANIEL SUAREZ – 550 POINTS
Does leaving Gibbs mean leaving all hope behind?

September 27, 2018
NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Richmond

Please Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

1. Kyle Busch: Busch battled back from a start of 39th and took the win at Richmond, earning his 50th career Cup victory.

“They say ‘Virginia is for lovers,” Busch said. “But did you hear the fans? ‘Virginia is for haters.’”

2. Brad Keselowski: Keselowski led late at Richmond but faded and finished ninth.

“I had an ongoing battle with Kyle Busch,” Keselowski said. “As you know, we don’t like each other, but we raced clean. We raced side-by-side for several laps. We were so close, we traded paint, as well as insults.”

3. Martin Truex Jr.: Truex was strong early at Richmond, winning the first two stages, and came home third in the Federated Auto Parts 400.

“We didn’t win,” Truex said, “but I clinched my spot in the round of 12 based on points. That really puts me at ease. It’s always good to know that your immediate future is secure.”

4. Kevin Harvick: Harvick started on the pole and ran near the front all night at Richmond on his way to a second in the Federated Auto Parts 400.

“I thought I’d be able to run down Kyle Busch at the end,” Harvick said. “It looked like he’d used up his tires getting past Brad Keselowski. I guess those Goodyear tires are better than I thought. I guess I owe Goodyear an apology, because, ironically, I blistered them with my words after the Las Vegas race.”

5. Kyle Larson: Larson finished seventh at Richmond and is seventh in the playoff points standings.

“Next up on the schedule is the ‘roval’ at Charlotte,” Larson said. “Nobody knows what to expect there. They’re calling it the ‘Great Unknown,’ so it shares its nickname with Kurt Busch’s day-to-day mental state.”

6. Aric Almirola: Almirola finished fifth at Richmond and is sixth in the playoff standings.

“All I have to do at Charlotte is have a solid finish,” Almirola said, “and I should be a lock to advance to Round 2. That’s assuming things don’t go ‘haywire’ at Charlotte, which happens to be the route drivers will be taking on a course they’re not very familiar with.”

7. Chase Elliott: Elliott led 34 laps and finished fourth at Richmond.

“The No. 9 Chevy was fast,” Elliott said. “Now that it’s football season, we like to call the Hooters car the ‘Juggs Machine.’”

8. Kurt Busch: Busch finished 18th at Richmond as younger brother Kyle won. Kurt is eighth in the playoff standings.

“Kyle drove a heck of a race,” Busch said. “And he won the spring race at Richmond as well. We call that a ‘sweep.’ Judging by fans’ opinions of Kyle, you’d think he’d riding a broom instead of using one.”

9. Austin Dillon: Dillon finished sixth at Richmond.

“Brian France pleaded not guilty to driving while impaired,” Blaney said. “Everybody knows he’s guilty, but as a high-powered NASCAR official, he can afford a high-priced lawyer who will argue France is above the law. So, France might as well just plead guilty to being drunk on power.”

10 (tie). Joey Logano: Logano finished 14th, one lap down, in the Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond.

“I had an uncontrolled tire penalty,” Logano said. “That’s an aggravating penalty, but it’s not the worst fate. What’s worse than an uncontrolled tire penalty? An ‘uncontrolled bore,’ which is what happens when a normally mild-mannered and uninteresting person like Matt Kenseth loses his mind and wrecks you.”

10. (tie) Clint Bowyer: Bowyer finished 10th at Richmond.

“Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished fourth in the Xfinity face on Friday night,” Bowyer said. “It was great to see Junior back on the track. Fans love seeing Junior driving, but Junior loves broadcasting. But we can’t have both. Or can we? Why not let Junior call a race from inside the car. It’s a win-win situation, and that’s two more wins than Junior’s used to getting on race day.”

September 25, 2018
Hot 20 – Richmond’s good ole rock and roll road show, gotta go, Saturday night, Saturday night

We know some things. In these times, some folks do not seem to know anything, but we do. Brad Keselowski is advancing to the next round. After Saturday night in Richmond, it should be confirmed that Martin Truex Jr. and Kyle Busch will be joining him. I feel pretty confident about Kevin Harvick and Joey Logano about now.

Some I am almost sure of. Some I am not. Based on how they are running and how they have run, I am pretty sure that anyone behind Aric Almirola, seven of them in total, are fighting for the final three transfer spots in the Chase.

I am not sure nine points is enough for Austin Dillon, for example. I am not ready to bury the likes of Jimmie Johnson, Chase Elliott, or Denny Hamlin just yet. I think there is still hope for Erik Jones.

However, they need to get it done this Saturday night in Richmond. The short track is normal. The next one is not. A week later at Charlotte, the Bermuda Triangle, the Black Hole, the darkness of Mordor possibly awaits with the inaugural running of the Roval. I mean, if Joey Gase winds up being the winner of that race of mystery I would not be the least bit surprised.

1. BRAD KESELOWSKI – 1 CHALLENGER ROUND WIN (2069 Pts – 3 W)
Is the boy trying to run the table?

2. MARTIN TRUEX JR. – 2087 POINTS (4 W)
Nothing to lose and everything to win…again.

3. KYLE BUSCH – 2085 POINTS (6 W)
Easily cut through the grass at Las Vegas. Imagine if he had been sponsored by Caterpillar.

4. KEVIN HARVICK – 2060 POINTS (7 W)
Damn pit crew. Damn tires. Damn Las Vegas.

5. JOEY LOGANO – 2056 POINTS (1 W)
As long as his next Richmond win is not as encumbered as his last one was, he’ll be fine.

6. KURT BUSCH – 2046 POINTS (1 W)
When a car shoots up toward you at a 90-degree angle, a good day is about to go bad.

7. RYAN BLANEY – 2042 POINTS
A Top Five gives the lad some breathing room.

8. KYLE LARSON – 2041 POINTS
The Rail Rider.

9. ARIC ALMIROLA – 2034 POINTS
How could he scrape the wall? Scrape Blaney, sure, but the wall?

10. AUSTIN DILLON – 2031 POINTS (1 W)
If he gets a decent finish on Saturday night, I will start believing he will advance..but not before.

11. CLINT BOWYER – 2029 POINTS (2 W)
Another Top Ten at Richmond this year might be all he needs.

12. ALEX BOWMAN – 2028 POINTS
Three Hendrick cars in the hunt, but that could be down to one…or none…after the Roval.

13. JIMMIE JOHNSON – 2022 POINTS
Things were going so well until the final dozen or so laps.

14. CHASE ELLIOTT – 2019 POINTS (1 W)
McMurray was doing so well, and then he became a contender collector.

15. ERIK JONES – 2009 POINTS (1 W)
Mr. Harvick, I presume.

16. DENNY HAMLIN – 2008 POINTS
Obviously did not have the same earth moving capability as Rowdy.

17. RYAN NEWMAN – 561 POINTS
A decent run last weekend…not that it matters anymore.

18. PAUL MENARD – 551 POINTS
The top three guys out of the Chase recorded Top Tens last Sunday. I should care, but I do not.

19. DANIEL SUAREZ – 530 POINTS
Will fate be kinder to him next season than it was to Kasey Kahne this year?

20. RICKY STENHOUSE JR. – 528 POINTS
Jamie McMurray is 26 points behind him. He damn near moved ahead until Lady Luck left town.

September 20, 2018
The Final Word – The first race of the playoffs in Las Vegas damaged the hopes of some

Now it gets real. There is no argument as to whom the contenders are, and who are the pretenders. Say what you will, but even though there might be forty cars on the track, only 16 matter.

It was the playoff opener in Las Vegas and now the race winner and the boys in the hunt for the championship are all we need focus on. The rest are merely hamburger helper, the garnish around the good stuff. Martin Truex Jr. showed early he was pure sirloin by taking the opening stage. All the contenders, in fact, were in the forward half of the field.

Kevin Harvick was among them. However, he could still use a pit crew that matches his driving talents. Some gain ground when they turn in for service. Harvick does the opposite. On Sunday his car got tighter and tighter during that middle stage, not turning worth a damn. Finally, his tire gave up, he clipped the wall, and pole sitter Erik Jones had no place to go but into him. Two contenders were done for the day.

If you ask Harvick, the tires sucked. There were issues with the rubber but it is not clear what those issues were other than the results. Jamie McMurray was our best outsider on the day, a solid Top Ten run going for him, when a rear tire gave up, he spun into the wall, collecting Chase Elliott. He became our third contender to be booted from the event with 55 laps remaining.

Truex allowed Brad Keselowski some time up front but had gone back in front prior to the caution. Things changed in the pits when Keselowski and his Penske compadre Joey Logano emerged just ahead of the defending champ. Logano took the point position, but Truex had just gotten by Keselowski for second when Kyle Busch broke loose to bring out the yellow once again. While Rowdy was now buried in 26th, Keselowski, Truex, and Logano came out of the pits in that order for the final run to the line.

Or so we thought. Up front, Kyle Larson joined the party riding the high side. He got past Keselowski, while behind them Truex managed to get by Logano for third. Just when we started to wonder how things would shake out, another contender in Denny Hamlin went through the grass to tear up his splitter to bring out the caution yet again. The old Etch A Sketch of how this one might turn out got turned upside down and shaken with 20 to go. It was a Las Vegas gambler’s dream, as it was time to lay down your bets as to whether this one was going to go to Keselowski, Larson, Truex, Logano, or might we have yet another surprise coming our way?

If more contenders getting beat to a pulp over the final dozen laps was a surprise, we got a few, along with enough cautions to force overtime. Among the stricken were Jimmie Johnson, when he tagged the wall. Alex Bowman had a tire go down. Kurt Busch and Clint Bowyer both had contact…twice.

There was no surprise when Keselowski once again cleared the field and was off to the races in the extra laps needed to jump into an automatic berth into the second round. It was his third straight victory, coming off the Southern 500 and the Brickyard 400. It marked the 500th for Roger Penske in all forms of racing his cars are involved in. Four drivers find themselves needing to fight to get in, heading to Richmond anywhere from six to 20 points on the outside. They include Johnson (22nd at Las Vegas), Elliott (36th), Hamlin (32nd), and Jones (40th). Both Truex (3rd) and Rowdy Busch (7th) are just a handful of points away from being locked into the next round as well.

Things just got real and by the time they leave Richmond Saturday night, things will become very clear for most of the others.

September 18, 2018

Erik Jones Starts the Playoffs with Pole in Las Vegas

Erik Jones will kick off the playoffs by winning the pole for Sunday’s Inaugural South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series at 188.121 mph in 28.705 seconds.

“It’s exciting to be in the Playoffs for the first time,” proclaimed Jones. “In the Cup Series, you want to be in contention for a championship. This is our opportunity to do it this year. It’s going to be fun. It’s going to be challenging. It’s going to be a new experience.”

Joey Logano was 0.003 seconds off the top spot, and will start on Jones’s outside. Both drivers were the only competitors to run a 188 mph average speed in the final stage of qualifying.

“Just not quite fast enough. I hate being three-thousandths of a second off,” Logano shared as he was frustrated by the short margin. “I am proud of the effort everyone has put into this car. We have a good Pennzoil Ford to run here at Vegas. I am excited about that. Just didn’t finish the turn quite good enough. Got into the corner and turned the first part alright but couldn’t finish the center to the deepest point of the corner. So we will start second and race from there.”

Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch, who was hundredths of a second from being eliminated in the first round of qualifying, wound up third and fourth in the final stage of qualifying. Kevin Harvick was the only one of the “Big 3” to consistently run up front in all three stages of qualifying and will start fifth.

“It was good”, Harvick confidently stated. “We fought tight the whole time and at the last one I got it in there a little too high in turn one and could never really get it back to the bottom but it was still a good lap.”

The rest of the final stage results for positions six through twelve went to Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott, Kurt Busch, Alex Bowman, Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Larson and Jamie McMurray, the only non-Playoff contender in the final stage of qualifying.

Earlier Stages of Qualifying for the Inaugural South Point 400:

In the first stage of qualifying, Kevin Harvick held the top spot over Joey Logano, Alex Bowman, Kyle Larson and Client Bowyer. All playoff drivers made it to Round 2, but Kyle Busch bobbles in the middle of 3 and 4, almost costing him as he finishes 24th in the first round, barely edging out Regan Smith and Matt DiBenedetto.

The second stage had Erik Jones at the top of the charts with a slightly slower time than the first stage. Harvick, Logano, Hamlin and Larson was the top five positions going into the final stage. The Playoff drivers eliminated at the second stage were Brad Keselowski, Clint Bowyer, Aric Almirola, Jimmie Johnson and Austin Dillon.

Starting Lineup
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Inaugural South Point 400

Pos	Car	Driver	Team	Make
1	20	Erik Jones (P)	DeWalt	Toyota
2	22	Joey Logano (P)	Pennzoil	Ford
3	11	Denny Hamlin (P)	FedEx Ground	Toyota
4	18	Kyle Busch (P)	M&M’s	Toyota
5	4	Kevin Harvick (P)	Mobil 1	Ford
6	12	Ryan Blaney (P)	PPG	Ford
7	9	Chase Elliott (P)	NAPA Auto Parts	Chevrolet
8	41	Kurt Busch (P)	Haas Automation	Ford
9	88	Alex Bowman (P)	Valvoline	Chevrolet
10	78	Martin Truex Jr. (P)	5-hour ENERGY	Toyota
11	42	Kyle Larson (P)	DC Solar Vegas Strong	Chevrolet
12	1	Jamie McMurray	GEARWRENCH	Chevrolet
13	2	Brad Keselowski (P)	Autotrader	Ford
14	17	Ricky Stenhouse Jr.	SunnyD	Ford
15	14	Clint Bowyer (P)	One Cure	Ford
16	10	Aric Almirola (P)	Smithfield	Ford
17	48	Jimmie Johnson (P)	Lowe’s for Pros	Chevrolet
18	3	Austin Dillon (P)	DOWFROST	Chevrolet
19	19	Daniel Suarez	ARRIS	Toyota
20	21	Paul Menard	Menards/Aquafina	Ford
21	24	William Byron #	AXALTA	Chevrolet
22	31	Ryan Newman	Liberty National	Chevrolet
23	6	Trevor Bayne	AdvoCare Rehydrate	Ford
24	34	Michael McDowell	Speedco/Rotella	Ford
25	95	Regan Smith	Procore	Chevrolet
26	32	Matt DiBenedetto	Zynga Poker	Ford
27	38	David Ragan	MDS Transport	Ford
28	37	Chris Buescher	Natural Light Race Day Resume	Chevrolet
29	47	AJ Allmendinger	Kroger ClickList	Chevrolet
30	13	Ty Dillon	GEICO	Chevrolet
31	43	Bubba Wallace #	World Wide Technology	Chevrolet
32	72	Corey LaJoie	Dragonchain	Chevrolet
33	99	Kyle Weatherman	StarCom Fiber	Chevrolet
34	15	Ross Chastain(i)	Xchange of America	Chevrolet
35	96	Jeffrey Earnhardt	American Soldier Network/Xtreme Concepts	Chevrolet
36	23	JJ Yeley(i)	Steakhouse Elite	Toyota
37	00	Landon Cassill(i)	StarCom Fiber	Chevrolet
38	51	BJ McLeod(i)	Jacob Companies	Ford
39	66	Timmy Hill(i)	Rewards.com	Toyota
40	7	Reed Sorenson		Chevrolet

(P) Playoff Contender
(i) Ineligible for driver points in this series
(#) Rookie

September 15, 2018

Hot 20 – On to Las Vegas, and let the games begin

Change is coming to NASCAR. Not the kind that makes people return in droves to the grandstands, but the change that always comes through the passage of time. Martin Truex Jr. moves to a new team, as his old one folds. That means Daniel Suarez is on the move, replacing the retiring Kasey Kahne. Jamie McMurray is in search of a new ride and we await word as to what the future holds for Kurt Busch.

Sunday in Las Vegas, 16 drivers will go through the first of three gauntlets to see who survives into the next round of the Playoffs. Playoff points give Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick, and Truex good margins to build on to make it through. However, a run of real bad luck and someone else winning can turn things upside down for some. There is always the possibility of a change in the running order by the time we hit October. The question is, who will rise and who will fall?

In the north, things have gotten much colder than usual. In the east, the forecast is for wet and wild. In Las Vegas, the weather for Sunday calls for a temperature of up to 100 F (38 C). Too hot, too cold, too wet and wild. It seems a lot of folks would like to see some change.

For a few near the bottom of the rung among our playoff contenders, positive change will be what they seek this weekend. A few at the top like things to continue as they have been.

I guess change is something we have come to expect in these times. Now, it all depends on what kind of change is on its way.

1. KYLE BUSCH – 2050 POINTS (6 Wins)
Odds of making the next round of the playoffs are at least 4-to-1.

2. KEVIN HARVICK – 2050 POINTS (7 Wins)
The names of the winners of the past five Las Vegas races are Harvick, Keselowski, and Truex.

3. MARTIN TRUEX JR. – 2035 POINTS (4 Wins)
Team exits NASCAR. Car exits Indianapolis early. Time to stop exiting.

4. BRAD KESELOWSKI – 2019 POINTS (2 Wins)
Southern 500. Check. Brickyard 400. Check. A 2nd Cup Championship. On the Bucket List.

5. CLINT BOWYER – 2015 POINTS (2 Wins)
His odds of winning on Sunday are long. Very long.

6. JOEY LOGANO – 2014 POINTS (1 Win)
His last five visits to Las Vegas has seen him roll Top Tens every time.

7. KURT BUSCH – 2014 POINTS (1 Win)
Is this his last rodeo with Stewart-Haas?

8. CHASE ELLIOTT – 2008 POINTS (1 Win)
One Top Five, two crashes. Dad did not have any better luck at this track.

9. RYAN BLANEY – 2007 POINTS (1 Win)
Has rolled a lucky seven or better his last three trips down the Strip.

10. ERIK JONES – 2005 POINTS ( 1 Win)
One of the big stars of the future, but has the future arrived just yet or not?

11. AUSTIN DILLON – 2005 POINTS (1 Win)
Someone below him will move past him by the time they leave the Roval, unless…

12. KYLE LARSON – 2005 POINTS
Running second does not equate into playoff points, but is an indicator of what might be to come.

13. DENNY HAMLIN – 2003 POINTS
His point total should indicate a rather quick exit, but only a fool would bet against him just yet.

14. ARIC ALMIROLA – 2001 POINTS
Of course, he will not get out of the opening round, but that car has some serious speed.

15. JIMMIE JOHNSON – 2000 POINTS
His date with eight will not be easy to lock down.

16. ALEX BOWMAN – 2000 POINTS
Making a cameo this season. Needs to be better, not just better than the last half of the field.

17. RYAN NEWMAN – 532 POINTS
Decent enough the past seven races, but 11 times outside the Top Twenty killed his chances.

18. PAUL MENARD – 524 POINTS
A Top Ten at Indianapolis, but outside that standard the previous ten events.

19. RICKY STENHOUSE JR. – 521 POINTS
Bad luck and a bad engine last week was symbolic of how his season has gone.

20. DANIEL SUAREZ – 511 POINTS
Making room for Truex next season, so does he replace the retiring Kasey Kahne?

September 12, 2018
NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Indianapolis

Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

1. Kevin Harvick: Harvick finished fourth at Indianapolis and is seeded second for the start of the Playoffs, which begin at Las Vegas.

“Vegas has myself, Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski, and Martin Truex Jr. as favorites to win it all,” Harvick said. “Those are the car numbers 4, 18, 2, and 78 cars. So, if you’re a betting person, odds are ‘even.’”

2. Kyle Busch: Busch led 27 laps and finished eighth in the Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard.

“We snatched up Martin Truex Jr. not long after Furniture Row Racing shut down,” Busch said. “So, as far as Joe Gibbs Racing goes for next year, Truex is in the ‘fold.’

3. Martin Truex Jr.: Truex was knocked out just three laps in at Indianapolis and finished 40th.

“Furniture Row Racing is shutting down operations after this season,” Truex said. “So, not only am I losing my seat, I’m losing a chair also.”

4. Brad Keselowski: Keselowski got by Clint Bowyer and Denny Hamlin on a late restart and pulled away to win the Big Machine Vodka 400, his second consecutive win.

“I’ve always said, ‘I’d rather be kissing bricks,’” Keselowski stated. “And my wife has often said the same.”

5. Kurt Busch: Busch came home sixth in the Big Machine Vodka 400 At The Brickyard.

“Rain pretty much washed out all track activities for the weekend,” Busch said. “Just ask the fans that spent the weekend in the infield. They’ll verify that there was nothing ‘dry’ anywhere to be found.”

6. Kyle Larson: Larson finished 14th at Indianapolis and will start the Playoffs as the 12th seed.

“If I win the Monster Energy Cup championship from the 12th seed,” Larson said, “it will be the biggest steal in NASCAR history. In other words, it will be a case of ‘Kyle Larson-y.’”

7. Clint Bowyer: Bowyer finished fifth in the Big Machine Vodka 400 at Indianapolis.

“We’re headed to Las Vegas,” Bowyer said, “the betting capital of the world. I think gambling at NASCAR tracks would be great for the sport. And my teammate Kevin Harvick is an expert on the subject because he knows who has the horseshoe up their butt.”

8. Denny Hamlin: Hamlin was leading and on his way to a likely win at Indy before Landon Cassill and Jeffrey Earnhardt crashed, causing a caution that ultimately led to Brad Keselowski’s win.

“That’s the first time an Earnhardt has factored into a win in quite some time,” Hamlin said. “Nothing pisses a leading driver off more than a wreck at the back of the field. First, you see ‘yellow,’ then you see ‘red.’”

9. Joey Logano: Logano finished 13th as Penske Racing teammate Brad Keselowski took the win.

“That’s two big wins for Roger Penske at Indy,” Logano said. “First, Will Power won the Indianapolis 500 in May, then Brad wins the Brickyard. Local Indianapolis bars have created a drink in our owner’s honor. It’s called the ‘Roger Penske–half milk, half Miller Lite.”

10. Chase Elliott: Elliott finished 15th at Indianapolis and will start the playoffs as the eighth seed.

“The NASCAR post-season used to be called the ‘Chase,’” Elliott said. “So, 25 years from now, will I have a son named ‘Playoffs?’”

September 11, 2018