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  • Bad luck puts Harvick and Logano in early Chase hole

    Bad luck puts Harvick and Logano in early Chase hole

    CONCORD, N.C. — Kevin Harvick and Joey Logano found themselves in a hole early in the Round of 12 after trouble struck both of them in the Queen City.

    The weekend for the driver of the No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet got off to a fast start by scoring his first pole of the season on Thursday. He led the first 12 laps and remained close to the front for most of the first half of the race.

    He was running third on lap 156 when his car started fading. He brought the car down pit road, they eventually took it behind the garage and retired from the race.

    He was asked if he had any idea what caused the engine to shut off.

    “No, it just suddenly shut off and the things that it points to are no oil pressure,” Harvick said. “It’s definitely not a power issue with the battery or anything like that. They are trying to diagnosis it. I hate it for everybody on our Busch team they made some great adjustments today and got our car back where we needed to be to run up front and everything was going fine. Lots of things can go wrong and today they did.”

    Harvick was credited with a 38th-place finish.

    He leaves Charlotte 12th in points 41 back of Jimmie Johnson and eight back of Denny Hamlin for the eighth-place Round of 8 cutoff.

    Logano also had a day that started out solid and turned south quickly.

    He assumed the lead under the first round of green flag stops on lap 115 from Chase Elliott, suffered a tire blowout two laps later and slammed the wall in turn 1. He managed to sustain only minor damage and remained on the lead lap in eighth.

    On the same lap Harvick had his engine issue, however, Logano suffered another tire blowout and slammed the wall in turn 1 a second time.

    He was asked what the major issue in the race.

    “I don’t know,” Logano said. “Tires are popping. We’re not the only car that had the issue, but we’re the ones that hit the wall when it happen, so that’s not the best place to have them go down. We had a fast car. Our car was capable of winning the race. We drove up from 10th and were up to third and running down the leaders, so I felt really good about what we had. I don’t know. Things happen. It’s part of racing, I guess.”

    The damage, while more severe on this hit, didn’t stop him from continuing on in the race. He was running at the finish in 36th 80 laps down.

    Logano leaves Charlotte 11th in points 39 back of Johnson and six back of Hamlin for the eighth-place Round of 8 cutoff.

  • Hot 20 – Thank God for the Chase, as a dozen contenders and the also-rans return to Charlotte

    Hot 20 – Thank God for the Chase, as a dozen contenders and the also-rans return to Charlotte

    Heading back to Charlotte, when you look at the Chase and compare it to the situation if they used the season-long standings to determine a champion, it is easy to see why we have a playoff format. It has all to do with generating interest. We want to know who is the best, but today we want the journey to at least be entertaining. Originally, the World Series was established to bring the two top teams from each league together, teams that had never played an inning against one another, to determine which was best. It was the only way to properly determine bragging rights.

    At least it provided some uncertainty as to which team ruled supreme, something to provide a little excitement for the fans at the end of the season. Imagine, a year before the modern World Series came into being. Imagine watching the National League pennant race of 1902 as Pittsburgh claimed the crown by 27.5 games over Brooklyn. They held a 4.5-game lead on May 9th, and never looked back. It was no doubt one hell of an exciting season if one happened to be a fan of the Pirates. It must have been a lot like watching Richard Petty in 1967 when he won 27 races and the rest were content with smelling his exhaust. Instead of drama, it was more a comedy for those who had to share the same tracks as the King that season.

    As for the Pirates, they won again in 1903, albeit by just 6.5 games over the New York Giants. This time the American League champion Boston Americans, the future Red Sox, challenged them and won. That upset some sensibilities, enough so that the Giants, who won the NL in 1904, refused to play the repeating AL champion Americans. That was then. Now we have 10 out of 30 teams playing extra games to challenge for the title in the fall. If there was more weight placed on determining which team was best, and less on the drama, no more than four would be playing at this time of year. Such is not the case.

    Sixteen started the Chase with some hope. That is now down to 12 as they pull into Charlotte. If we relied strictly on the season tally to award the trophy, it would already be down to Brad Keselowski and Kevin Harvick. Just two points would be separating them. Both could have sat out Saturday night’s race and still have been one-two in the standings come Monday. Hence, the Chase.

    Just ask Martin Truex Jr. if he likes this format. Ask six-time champ Jimmie Johnson. If it is of any consolation, the 12 best on the season remain in the Chase.

    1. BRAD KESELOWSKI – 3000 PTS (947 Season Pts)
    Official standings are set by the best first round finish, and Brad’s best was fourth…twice.

    2. KEVIN HARVICK – 3000 PTS (945)
    What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, so I’m guessing that tire did not get any stronger.

    3. JOEY LOGANO – 3000 PTS (888)
    If you upset someone, phone and talk about it. Maybe 2015 would have turned out differently.

    4. KYLE BUSCH – 3000 PTS (872)
    Recently was seen in the White House. Hell, I didn’t even realize he was running.

    5. DENNY HAMLIN – 3000 PTS (867)
    Kicking ass in the final year of a contract is always a great idea.

    6. KURT BUSCH – 3000 PTS (852)
    Big Cubs fan hoping his dreams and those of his favorite club both come together this year.

    7. MARTIN TRUEX JR. – 3000 PTS (851)
    If not for the Chase, his hot streak would be meaningless in terms of the championship.

    8. CARL EDWARDS – 3000 PTS (844)
    Carl Edwards Jr. is a Cub reliever. No relation.

    9. CHASE ELLIOTT – 3000 PTS (787)
    New driver in that ole car and yet the same kind of results. That is how you follow a legend.

    10. JIMMIE JOHNSON – 3000 PT (785)
    This time, it was a pit crew member who got caught speeding.

    11. MATT KENSETH – 3000 PTS (781)
    Three Top Tens, along with a pair of Top Fives, worked well in the opening round.

    12. AUSTIN DILLON – 3000 PTS (764)
    Ganassi misfortune worked to the advantage of the Childress grandson.

    13. TONY STEWART – 2074 PTS
    Cars too technical, sponsors so demanding, emotions too P.C…time to be just an owner.

    14. KYLE LARSON – 2073 PTS
    Chip Ganassi had two cars in the Chase.

    15. JAMIE MCMURRAY – 2053 PTS
    Today, Ganassi has the same number in the Chase as Jack Roush.

    16. CHRIS BUESCHER – 2045 PTS
    It was fun while it lasted.

    17. KASEY KAHNE – 728 PTS
    If Best of the Rest was a thing, it would belong to Kasey. Not much consolation, I know.

    18. RYAN NEWMAN – 700 PTS
    Took batting practice with the Kansas City Royals, and looked like he belonged…in a race car.

    19. A.J. ALLMENDINGER – 649 PTS
    Best damn name in sports.

    20. RYAN BLANEY – 645 PTS
    Learning, gaining experience, but really did not need that blow-out to teach him anything new.

  • NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Dover

    NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Dover

    Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

    1. Martin Truex Jr.: Truex dominated at Dover, leading 187 laps on his way to the win in the Citizen Soldiers 400. Truex has two wins in three Chase races and has emerged as a clear Cup favorite.

    “I talked with New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi earlier in the week,” Truex said. “We could have talked forever, but due to both our busy schedules, we had to cut it short. You could say we made it to ‘third base.’”

    2. Brad Keselowski: Keselowski started on the pole and finished fourth, leading seven laps.

    “Sadly,” Keselowski said, “Tony Stewart has been eliminated from the Chase. Tony finished 13th, but he needed some other drivers to have bad results. Unfortunately, and Ryan Newman can vouch for this, Tony didn’t get the help he needed.”

    3. Kevin Harvick: Harvick finished 37th at Dover, his worst finish of the season after a broken track bar suffered early in the race sent him to the garage for repairs.

    “Luckily,” Harvick said, “I won at New Hampshire, so my spot in the next round of the Chase was secure. So, I didn’t have to cause a wreck to make it to the next round. A lot of drivers said I did that on purpose. Maybe I did. But I’m here to say I’m a changed man. My only ‘intent’ now is to win the Sprint Cup championship.”

    4. Joey Logano: Logano finished sixth at Dover, posting his 20th top 10 of the year.

    “Next up is Charlotte Motor Speedway,” Logano said. “Traditionally, we’ve seen a lot of mechanical failures at CMS. Not with the cars, mind you, but when we race there, all hell ‘breaks’ loose.”

    5. Kyle Busch: Busch finished second at Dover and advanced to the next round of the Chase For The Cup.

    “I visited the White House on Wednesday,” Busch said. “I was honored as the 2015 Sprint Cup champion. You know, I have a lot in common with President Obama. We’re both brothers, and we both take care of business in our own respective ‘Oval Office.’”

    6. Denny Hamlin: Hamlin started seventh and finished ninth in the Citizen Soldier 400.

    “Martin Truex’s second win of the Chase solidified the notion that Toyota engines are the class of the field,” Hamlin said. “Can Toyota pull off another win when the Chase hits Charlotte? Without a doubt. If that happens, it would an instance of ‘easy, three-sy, Japanese-y.’”

    7. Matt Kenseth: Kenseth came home fifth at Dover as all four Joe Gibbs Racing drivers advanced to the next round of the Chase.

    “Now we’re on to Charlotte,” Kenseth said. “Two years ago there, I attacked Brad Keselowski after we tangled during the race. That’s what happens when the tension of the Chase builds: drivers butt heads. In most cases, drivers are butt heads.”

    8. Jimmie Johnson: Johnson finished seventh at Dover on a day when he had a car good enough to win. But a drive-through penalty accessed when his jackman jumped the wall too early cost him.

    “I think we were well on our way to a victory,” Johnson said, “but then my jackman ‘jumped to a conclusion.’”

    9. Kurt Busch: Busch finished 15th at Dover, two laps down, and punched his ticket to the next round of the Chase.

    “The XFINITY Series race was called the ‘Drive Sober 200,’” Busch said. “I think it’s great that NASCAR is encouraging people to drive sober. But this is NASCAR. I don’t think you’ll ever see the ‘Bring Your Cooler To The Race But Drive Sober 200.’”

    10. (tie) Carl Edwards: Edwards finished 14th, one lap down, in the Citizens Soldier 400 at Dover.

    “That was not my best performance,” Edwards said. “Dover’s ‘Monster Mile’ rendered me a ‘Monster Mild,’ which is also how most drivers, who dislike me but don’t hate me, would describe me.”

    10. (tie) Chase Elliott: Elliott posted his ninth top-five finish of the year with a third at Dover and advanced to Round 2 of the Chase For The Cup.

    “I’m the only rookie left in the Chase,” Elliott said. “And I’m devoted to becoming the first rookie to win the Cup. My slogan from here on is ‘Chase For The Cup,’ assuming it’s not already copyrighted.”

  • 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.

  • NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: New Hampshire

    NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: New Hampshire

    Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

    1. Kevin Harvick: Harvick passed Matt Kenseth with five laps left and took a pivotal win at New Hampshire, advancing to the next round of the Chase For The Cup.

    “Our goal was to win the race,” Harvick said. “After a bad performance at Chicagoland, I knew we needed the victory to secure our spot in the next round. And I know exactly how to get in the right mindset to maximize performance. In addition to Brad Keselowski, I know how to ‘push’ myself, as well.”

    2. Brad Keselowski: Keselowski finished fourth in the Bad Boy Off Road 300 at Loudon. He is the leader in the Sprint Cup points standings by one over Martin Truex Jr.

    “The ‘Bad Boy Off Road 300,’” Keselowski said. “That’s ‘BBOR’ for short. So, for any fan who experienced that race, they just watched the ‘B-BOR-ed 300.’”

    3. Martin Truex Jr.: Truex finished seventh at New Hampshire, posting his 14th top 10 of the year.

    “Kevin Harvick came on strong at the end,” Truex said. “I guess that’s why they call him the ‘Closer.’ Kevin may be a favorite to win the Sprint Cup, but he’s no one’s favorite. What he lacks in popularity, he makes up in talent. So that makes him the most talented driver in the world.”

    4. Joey Logano: Logano came home 11th at New Hampshire and is now fifth in the points standings, 14 out of first.

    “Barring disaster,” Logano said, “I should advance to the Chase’s next round. So, barring a ‘Matt Kenseth meltdown,’ I should advance to Round 2.”

    5. Kyle Busch: Busch finished third at New Hampshire, posting his third consecutive top-10 result, and is now third in the points standings.

    “After the next Chase race at Dover,” Busch said, “the Chase field will be trimmed to 12. ‘4’ is the number of drivers that will be eliminated. I’d like my chances more if the No. 4 car was eliminated.”

    6. Denny Hamlin: Hamlin finished 15th at New Hampshire, the lowest finisher among all Joe Gibbs Racing drivers.

    “JGR has four cars in the Chase,” Hamlin said, “but we’ve yet to win a Chase race. I’m going to change that. I’ve made it my mission to win at Dover. So, you can say I’m in the ‘mission-ary’ position.”

    7. Matt Kenseth: Kenseth dominated the second half of the Bad Boy Off Raod 300, but faltered on a restart with five laps to go, allowing Kevin Harvick to slip by and take the win.

    “That certainly was not my best restart,” Kenseth said. “Harvick laid back and got the jump. And, as Carl Edwards will tell you when somebody jumps, I flinch.”

    8. Kurt Busch: Busch finished fifth in the Bad Boy Off Road 300, posting his seventh top five of the year. He is 11th in the Sprint Cup points standings, 20 out of first.

    “My ex-girlfriend Patricia Driscoll was accused of stealing from her charity,” Busch said. “It must take a lot of nerve, to be a government assassin and steal from your own charity.”

    9. Carl Edwards: Edwards started on the pole at Loudon and led 31 laps on his way to a sixth in the Bad Boy Off Road 300. He is ninth in the points standings, 19 out of first.

    “That was my sixth pole of the season,” Edwards said. “So, much like former Cup champion Alan Kulwicki, I’ve taken a handful of ‘pole-ish’ victory laps.”

    10. (tie): Jimmie Johnson: Johnson finished eighth at New Hampshire and now sits eighth in the Sprint Cup points standings, 17 out of first.

    “I failed the post-race laser inspection at Chicagoland,” Johnson said. “I miss the good old days of NASCAR when I was winning championships and inspections were simply done with a fine-toothed comb.”

    10. (tie): Chase Elliott: Elliott finished 13th at New Hampshire and is ninth in the Sprint Cup points standings, 19 out of first.

    “I’m in position to advance to the next round,” Elliott said. “I’m happy with my performance so far. I think I speak for myself, as well as any fan who meets me, when I say I’m happy with my ‘Chase experience.’”

  • The Final Word – As we await the next great announcer, 16 will soon become 12 after Dover

    The Final Word – As we await the next great announcer, 16 will soon become 12 after Dover

    Mistakes. They happen. You just have to learn to overcome them, hopefully not to be repeated. On Sunday I made a mistake, and I know that it will never happen again.

    I listened to some of Vin Scully’s final broadcast for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Then I turned the channel to listen to those describing the action for the race at New Hampshire. Big mistake. I went from an 88-year old icon describing the action, informing me with tidbits of information about the 18 players penciled in to the lineups, hitting me with trivia of all descriptions to keep me engaged even during the down times, and kept me glued to his every word and at the same time keeping up with the progress of the game. Scully was a true artist. You would think with 43 drivers, 43 crew chiefs, and 258 crew men, NASCAR announcers would have a vast canvas on which to paint their pictures.

    Be it baseball, football, or describing the action on the track, Scully is the template all should attempt to emulate. The action is often slow in developing, what is newsworthy might take a while to unfold, but you are never bored. You want to stay tuned so you did not miss anything, be it something on the field of play or just as likely some entertaining commentary that amused or educated.

    In NASCAR, Ken Squier did exactly that. A more contemporary team, in my opinion, was Kyle Petty and Wally Dallenbach. They made me laugh, learn, and stay tuned to the broadcast. I did not want to miss a thing. Some wonder why I keep returning to this theme. Have you noticed anything changing for the better yet? You have your answer. I am tired of seeing fans leave, grandstands coming down, and attendance figures hidden away. Aren’t you?

    I think there are announcers out there who do a fine job but not near enough. If a radio or television station or network does not have one, they need to find such a wordsmith. Broadcast schools should produce such skilled practitioners of the art who through time and experience will become the verbal Rembrandts of their time, those who will keep us listening, watching, and caring. To fail to do so is a mistake.

    Kevin Harvick made no mistakes in Chicago, but he suffered misfortune to finish 20th. At Loudon, he suffered neither, got past the 20 of Matt Kenseth to punch his ticket to the Round of Twelve in the Chase. It was his 100th race for Stewart-Haas and his 11th victory for them.

    Kenseth, Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski, Kurt Busch, Carl Edwards, Martin Truex Jr., and Jimmie Johnson all had good finishes. They were good enough to join Harvick among the Top Eight on the day. Kyle Larson was just out of the Top Ten, but that was good enough to move him back into contention for the next round. Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin, and Chase Elliott had to settle for Top Fifteen finishes, but even they managed to increase their wiggle room in points.

    Things did not go so good for Austin Dillon, Jamie McMurray, Tony Stewart, or Chris Buescher, as that quartet heads to Dover needing to make up some ground before the cut-off. There were no expectations for Buescher, who at 30 points in the weeds needs to win Sunday to advance. Stewart, on the other hand, is hoping to head off to retirement with a stronger challenge, but after finishing 23rd last weekend he is 11 points out. With Dillon and McMurray only five out, he would need to leapfrog ahead of them both and still catch Larson to do it without taking the checkered flag.

    Stewart won at Dover just over three years ago, so it might be a mistake to count him out just yet. However, since that victory, Johnson had taken three there, with Harvick, Kenseth, and the semi-retired Jeff Gordon with the others. In fact, 10 of Johnson’s 77 career decisions have come at Dover. Betting against him this Sunday might prove to be the bigger mistake.

  • Logano Approaches Race 2 of a Round Like Any Other Race

    Logano Approaches Race 2 of a Round Like Any Other Race

    Asked if there’s any pressure in the second race of a round if you don’t win the opening race of the round, Joey Logano said he’ll just approach it the same way he would any other race.

    Speaking to the media during his media availability this morning at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, the driver of the No. 22 Team Penske Ford was asked what the pressure is like in the second race of a round when you fail to score the victory in the first race of the round.

    “I just approach it the same way I would any other race,” Logano said. “If you didn’t have a good race last week, then the pressure is added – no doubt. But we finished second last week and scored some good points. We talk about this round as being base hits and don’t have to do anything crazy. We did that exactly last week, so we’ll just come up here and do the same exact thing. If something happens, something happens and we’ll approach Dover in a different way, but, right now, let’s go out here and if we can win the race, let’s win the race. If not, let’s try to top-5 it and that will give us a good sense of security heading into Dover. It’s one race at a time, one step at a time. For us personally, the 22 team had a good weekend last week. The pressure is probably the same as what it was in Chicago. We just have to do what we know how to do.”

    Last week, Logano scored a runner-up finish in the Chase-opening Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 400 at Chicagoland Speedway. His afternoon wasn’t a barn burner or down in the dumps. He just drove under the radar until the checker flew.

    He currently sits fifth in points just seven out of first-place.

    He was also asked if Team Penske sweeping the first three spots in the final points standings in IndyCar this season added any pressure on and/or open up resources for he and Brad Keselowski.

    “They finished one-two-three, so holy moly! I don’t know if you want to call it added pressure, but I think there’s plenty on us already and I think we are better under pressure,” he added. “I like that. Fifty years for Team Penske, you guys well know that. But for them to do that on the 50th Anniversary is very special and it’s really cool to be somewhat a part of that. I feel like I’m part of the team – even the Indy Car team. There are a lot of guys that are cross-pollinated throughout our company. Does it open up some resources? Maybe a little bit here and there, maybe more time for a lot of guys like maybe the machine shop opens up a little bit.

    “I’m probably not the best person to answer a lot of those questions, but it is a motivational thing. I think it’s great to see that. It makes the NASCAR guys want to go out here and continue this awesome year that Team Penske has had so far, and Brad and I have a great shot at it. What if we finished one-two at Homestead? How cool would that be? We have an amazing opportunity to do that. We’ve got a long ways to go to get there, but we can do it.”

  • Hot 20 – As they head to Loudon, a half-billion dollar lawsuit leaves me very confused

    Hot 20 – As they head to Loudon, a half-billion dollar lawsuit leaves me very confused

    Nothing like a good old-fashioned hand out to make people feel good. Terrence Cox III and his Diversity Motorsports wants in. They are suing NASCAR, the tracks, even the other teams, in a racial discrimination lawsuit for half a billion dollars.

    Oh, what I could do with that kind of cash. Hell, I could run for president if I were only born in the right country. I am not sure what Diversity wants, but it seems they would like to be handed something even the Wood Brothers can not get if a locked in spot is their goal. They are even suing JTG Daugherty, a team former non-Irish NBA player Brad Daugherty has a 10 percent ownership share in.

    What is interesting is that the organization appears to be more a sponsorship vehicle than an actual racing team. Since it first appeared earlier in this decade, Diversity has never to my knowledge attempted to enter a single car in any national NASCAR event with anyone…ever. If they have been wronged, I am not sure as to how. So they feel entitled to a spot due to what, exactly?

    They claim that comedian Steve Harvey wanted to start a race team, associate it with Diversity Motorsports, but NASCAR said they would never work with a team that included Diversity. Harvey, for one, disagrees with that assertion. In fact, he seems downright upset at the moment, saying he never wanted to start a team, that he just wanted to expose underprivileged youth to NASCAR. When Diversity head Terrence Cox, III talked to Harvey about having young folks protest Coca-Cola, Harvey says he refused to participate. Does any of this make sense to you? I know I am having trouble with it.

    Being dragged into this has raised the ire of the comedian. “Now here I come, my ass all over the cover of TMZ and everywhere, talking about how I want a damn race team”, Harvey said on his radio show. “I don’t want no damn race team. I don’t even like fast-ass cars.”

    Confused? Me, too. I think I will leave it to the lawyers to figure it all out.

    We have enough to deal with just seeing how things might progress in New Hampshire with our Hot 20.

    1. MARTIN TRUEX JR. – 1 SEGMENT WIN (2050 Pts)
    Is there something wrong with the laser inspection system? Who cares, they got the win!

    2. BRAD KESELOWSKI – 2049 Pts
    Wants a transformer car; passes tech before the race, turn into a fire-breathing dinosaur after it.

    3. KYLE BUSCH – 2046 Pts
    Even his winning truck failed inspection at Chicago. Maybe the problem is too much inspecting.

    4. DENNY HAMLIN – 2045 Pts
    Boasts best average finish in New Hampshire. Seeks best finish period on Sunday.

    5. JOEY LOGANO – 2043 Pts
    The car was not good enough at Chicago, but the driver was in the end.

    6. CHASE ELLIOTT – 2039 Pts
    Late caution, lost lead, and chase Truex was all he could do at the end.

    7. MATT KENSETH – 2038 Pts
    If this visit to Loudon is anything like the last two, hand Matt his pass when it is all over.

    8. JIMMIE JOHNSON – 2037 Pts
    Got a break Harvick did not get, then needed more brakes and less gas in late pit row stop.

    9. CARL EDWARDS – 2032 Pts
    Swerving on the cool down lap helps rear toe return to legal limits. Watch Carl. Watch ‘em all.

    10. KURT BUSCH – 2031 Pts
    When he read that familiar name in the headlines, I wonder if he whispered, “I told you so.”

    11. JAMIE MCMURRAY – 2030 Pts
    Toured a GM assembly plant last week. Unfortunately, they were not handing out free samples.

    12. TONY STEWART – 2028 Pts
    Back on Newman’s gift list. The Beatles were right, all you need is love.

    13. KEVIN HARVICK – 2027 Pts
    Two feet short of the line, Sweet Jesus, two feet short of the line.

    14. AUSTIN DILLON – 2027 Pts
    Says NASCAR won’t stand drivers who refuse to stand for the national anthem.

    15. KYLE LARSON – 2026 Pts
    If his owner held his breath, would that make Larson a blue Chip driver? I am truly sorry.

    16. CHRIS BUESCHER – 2016 Pts
    Penske Fords seem to run good, so why not borrow one from them…or a Studebaker.

    17. KASEY KAHNE – 667 Pts
    Sitting at the head of the kid’s table.

    18. RYAN NEWMAN – 655 Pts
    However, sometimes when things get rough and tough, you got to hide your love away.

    19. RYAN BLANEY – 613 Pts
    Old tires were almost good enough to steal one at Chicago.

    20. A.J. ALLMENDINGER – 607 Pts
    I still can not get over Mr. Tickles. Maybe his full name is Sam Elliott Tickles. Much better.

  • NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Chicagoland

    NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Chicagoland

    Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

    1. Martin Truex Jr.: Truex stormed back from a flat tire that left him a lap down to win the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 400 at Chicagoland. The win automatically qualified him for Round 2 of The Chase For The Cup.

    “For the second consecutive race,” Truex said, “something became unraveled. This time, it wasn’t Tony Stewart.

    “On a sad note, my car failed the post-race laser inspection. And I have to question to accuracy of NASCAR’s lasers. And when I say ‘lasers,’ I’m sarcastically using air quotes à la Austin Powers Dr. Evil.”

    2. Brad Keselowski: Keselowski finished fifth at Chicagoland and is now second in the points standings, one behind Martin Truex, Jr.

    “Does a race sponsored by a television show called ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ really target the demographic NASCAR fans offer?” Keselowski said. “Maybe it does. NASCAR fans are not teenagers, or ninjas, or turtles, but they can often be classified as mutants.”

    3. Denny Hamlin: Hamlin took sixth in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 400 at Chicagoland, recording his 16th top-10 finish of the year.

    “You read right,” Hamlin said. “This race was named after a turtle movie. But who’s surprised? This sport is all about sponsorship, so, in short, NASCAR was a shill for ‘shell.’”

    4. Joey Logano: Logano finished second at Chicagoland, joining his Penske Racing teammate Brad Keselowski, who finished fifth, in the top five.

    “I had a strong finish,” Logano said, “but more importantly, I didn’t run afoul of Matt Kenseth. But even more importantly, I didn’t run afowl of Ryan Newman. ‘Running a fowl’ of Newman means he calls you a ‘chicken.’”

    5. Kevin Harvick: Harvick finished a disappointing 20th at Chicagoland after falling a lap down early when an untimely caution came as he was preparing to pit under green.

    “I’m not sure there even needed to be a caution,” Harvick said. “There was a loose tire that came to rest in the infield. That tire was harmless, and a threat to no one, but it cost me. Just call it ‘burned rubber.’”

    6. Kyle Busch: Busch started on the pole at Chicagoland after rain washed out qualifying and finished ninth.

    “That’s a solid start to the Chase,” Busch said. “I have a title to defend, and that title is ‘2015 Sprint Cup Champion.’ My older brother Kurt has a title he reluctantly defends, and that title is ‘douchebag.’”

    7. Kurt Busch: Busch finished eighth in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 400, posting his 17th top 10 of the year.

    “The Tony Stewart-Ryan Newman feud is not over,” Busch said. “Newman still appears to be pissed. You know, Newman has a B.S. degree in engineering from Purdue University. And if Stewart, likewise, had a B.S. degree, Newman would be fine with it, because Ryan doesn’t take no ‘B.S.’ from anyone.”

    8. Carl Edwards: Edwards finished 15th at Chicagoland, the only Joe Gibbs Racing driver who failed to finish inside the top 10.

    “We just didn’t have it,” Edwards said. “I was on the outside looking in. What was I looking for? Answers, of course.”

    9. Chase Elliott: Elliott finished third in his first career Chase For The Cup race.

    “I was on my way to the likely win until Michael McDowell blew a tire,” Elliott said. “That brought out the final caution, and that cost me the win. That just goes to show the fine line between winning and losing, and that is the moral of the story. In the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 400, I lost by a ‘hare.’”

    10. Jimmie Johnson: Johnson finished 12th at Chicagoland, his chances at a win ruined by a late pit road speeding penalty.

    “I’m pretty sure I wasn’t speeding,” Johnson said. “I know because I haven’t gone ‘too fast’ since I won my last Sprint Cup championship in 2012.

    “Dale Earnhardt Jr. is not in the Chase For The Cup. But that doesn’t mean he’s not relevant. Also relevant is his crew chief, because ‘Greg Ives Matters.’”