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Tag: Kasey Kahne

  • The Final Word – They came, they saw, and they lost to Harvick…this time at Las Vegas

    The Final Word – They came, they saw, and they lost to Harvick…this time at Las Vegas

    If you missed the action from Las Vegas, allow me to bring you up to date. If you read my column from last week regarding Atlanta, consider yourself fully informed. Enjoy your day.

    If you have a few more moments to spare with me, last Sunday was a lot like the previous Sunday. Only worse, if you do not happen to love watching Kevin Harvick go to the front and ruling the contest. Atlanta saw him have to overcome some slight adversity, more of an inconvenience than anything else. Las Vegas saw him manage to escape with barely a scratch even when his air guns were malfunctioning. He led, he won both stages, he claimed his second straight win, the 39th of his career, and put the maximum 60 points in the bank. Not that he really needs it.

    Worse than Atlanta? Well, when you consider that half the field was lapped after the first segment and only nine were on the same circuit as Harvick at the end, yes. It was worse. Not only did Harvick lead 80 percent of the time, almost all those who were in the Top Ten during any segment finished in the Top Ten at the end. The only exceptions were Kurt Busch, who had his car break loose and then proceeded to break the car of Chase Elliott. That concluded their day far too early in the final frame.

    Kyle Busch finished second, but Kyle Larson picked up more points by taking third. Martin Truex Jr. and Ryan Blaney also did better to end the day in the Top Five. Also among the best of the rest, we had Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, and Paul Menard, while the aforementioned wreck opened the door for Top Tens available to Erik Jones and Aric Almirola.

    Jimmie Johnson at one time was a couple of laps down, but considering he entered the race sitting 35th overall, a 12th place result was damn near as good as a win. That rockets him up to 29th in the season rankings. Still not good, but better.

    Joining the seven-time champ outside the Top 20 we have a pretty fine representation of talent. Elliott drops down to join Trevor Bayne, A.J. Allmendinger, William Byron, Jamie McMurray, Daniel Suarez, and Kasey Kahne among the have-nots. Every race provides a chance for redemption, a chance to recover and move back up the ladder. The funny thing is, as in odd not humorous, while at this time of year we think time is on their side, the actuality is that the longer it takes for redemption, the longer are the odds of climbing out of the hole. The door closes quickly.

    Phoenix might provide some measure of salvation. The bad news is that of the past 11 contests held there since the fall of 2012, Harvick has won six of them. The good news is that he has not won it since the spring race two years ago. More bad news is that while Kahne has won there, he has not done so since the autumn of 2011. Johnson has four, including three straight. Unfortunately, none since November of 2009.

    Maybe next week’s column will sound a whole lot like this one, and the one before that. I sure hope you love Kevin Harvick.

  • Daytona 500 Report – More of the Same

    Daytona 500 Report – More of the Same

    The 60th edition of the Great American Race was run Sunday under sunny skies in Daytona Beach, Florida. From the start, shortly after 3:00 p.m.,  it was nearly four hours of chaos. At the end, there were only a few competitive cars left to race.

    At Lap 61, nine cars were eliminated or damages. This included stars like Erik Jones, Jimmie Johnson, and Kyle Larson. At Lap 103, Chase Elliott, Danica Patrick, Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski, and Kasey Kahne were eliminated. It wasn’t over. At Lap 200, Kurt Busch, Martin Truex, Jr., Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., William Byron, Ryan Newman, and Kyle Larson were eliminated or damaged. Then came the “overtime,” and that cost Aric Almirola, who was leading at the time, elimination. That’s a total of nearly half the field.

    Why, you may ask. The answer is restrictor plate (or tapered spacer) racing. It involves cars racing at fast speeds, so close together that there is no room for error. Then include the fashionable practice of blocking. It’s Daytona Roulette. The result is only a few cars lucky enough to have avoided all the earlier carnage can be around at the end. Unfortunately, on this day even the lessening of contenders did not stop the blocking, and a crash ended the race. You may have read my earlier comment on the so-called plate racing from about five years ago. This guy doesn’t like it. Many people do. Some like the fact that almost anyone can win and others like the crashes. With 80 percent of the field either having damage or eliminated from competition, it becomes little more than a demolition derby or as I called it, a train wreck, not racing.

    One proponent of this “racing” told me today that we run nearly 200 mph at several tracks, why is this a problem at Daytona, he asked. High banks and aggressive drivers is the answer. Those tracks don’t have the banking or the aggressive behavior that is required at Daytona because in order to keep up, you have to block, and when you get a push from behind, you are helpless to slow down.

    What’s the answer? I won’t pretend to even think I know. I do take one tidbit from the past. Back in the dark ages before Bobby Allison tore out the catchfence at Talladega when everyone was running seven-liter engines, NASCAR decided to inch away from the big blocks for a more reasonable cost. The late Bud Moore was the first to try it and his No. 15 Fords had a hard time keeping up until everyone changed. Speeds at Daytona were about 176 mph and the racing was great. Now they use these smaller blocks and go even faster with a restrictor plate. Much like the gun debate in society, no one has an answer and no one is even trying to do anything to change it. So, we’re stuck with crash fests. Sad.

    The lesson from all of this is never take anything from plate races that would mean there is a pattern to competitiveness that would ring true for the rest of the season (except for the three remaining plate races). Chevrolet won the 500, but only led 19 laps on the day. Ford drivers led 150 laps and Toyota drivers led 38. Chevrolet, which brought the new Camaro ZL1 to Daytona, led only 19 laps all day. When we get to Atlanta, we’ll have a better idea of the season ahead. No, we won’t anoint Bubba Wallace the most popular driver yet (though he’s got a head start on that), or declare the young kids as not as advertised. It’s back to reality next week and real racing.

  • Hot 20 – Best from last Sunday dream of being the best this Sunday at Daytona

    Hot 20 – Best from last Sunday dream of being the best this Sunday at Daytona

    Forty drivers, 40 spots. Still, despite the lack of interest and resources for additional teams to attempt to enter the iconic competition, we have some high-quality contenders to watch out for. Alex Bowman and Denny Hamlin are locked into the front row, as long as their cars last. The rest of the top 20 qualifiers went into Thursday trying to protect their positions from all challengers in the two 20 car heats.

    Some of those trying to turn up the heat were quality drivers who were trying to improve on what took place last Sunday. Heading into this Sunday, does anyone want to count out the likes of Ryan Newman, Kyle Larson, Jamie McMurray, Bubba Wallace, or defending Cup champion Martin Truex, Jr.?

    I didn’t think so.

    The Hot 20 prior to the Duels…

    1. ALEX BOWMAN
    Junior who?

    2. DENNY HAMLIN
    Denny who? Okay, I’m just messing with you.

    3. JIMMIE JOHNSON
    His date with 8 could begin on Sunday.

    4. KYLE BUSCH
    Some days he wins, some days he crashes, but damn near every day we know that he raced.

    5. WILLIAM BYRON
    Jeff who?

    6. ERIK JONES
    I often wear a 2005 Little League coach’s shirt, and Jones would have been too young to play for us.

    7. DANIEL SUAREZ
    Open the border if that means more like him.

    8. KEVIN HARVICK
    Open the border, but what would Harvick do in Canada?

    9. RICKY STENHOUSE JR.
    If bad things happen, he won’t hear about it when he gets home…if you know what I mean.

    10. CHASE ELLIOTT
    Has Dad’s old number now needs some of Dad’s old results.

    11. JOEY LOGANO
    To win without penalty is his goal.

    12. PAUL MENARD
    New standard bearer for the Wood Brothers and the sponsor is not who you might think.

    13. ARIC ALMIROLA
    Aric does not look like Danica, but will his results by any different?

    14. AUSTIN DILLON
    If he can grow a mustache better than he wears a Stetson, I might have a suggestion for him.

    15. RYAN BLANEY
    This just in. Ryan is full of it. More at 11 on KB News.

    16. CLINT BOWYER
    Look at that. Sitting in a playoff position at the moment. How long will that last?

    17. KURT BUSCH
    Not the KB is was referring to earlier.

    18. KASEY KAHNE
    In 416 races, the No. 95 has not once won a race but Kahne was hired to change that.

    19. BRAD KESELOWSKI
    A bit slow early last Sunday, a bit fast later in the day seems to be pointing in the right direction.

    20. TREVOR BAYNE
    If he has a career like Mark Martin, the No. 6 is in good hands.

  • Hot 20 – Sunday’s Clash to feature 17 drivers representing 12 championships and 332 Cup wins

    Hot 20 – Sunday’s Clash to feature 17 drivers representing 12 championships and 332 Cup wins

    The new pre-season opens this Sunday, as those who made last season’s Playoffs or claimed a pole, who has ever claimed a Daytona 500 pole, or who has ever won this event in the past dust off the cobwebs and rev the engines. Now, you may be asking yourself how could this be a “Hot 20″ column with only 17 drivers competing? Well, you have to improvise.

    Martin Truex Jr.
    Won three poles in 2017. He also picked up a ring at a dinner after the season.

    Kyle Busch
    Won eight poles in 2017, which seems rather greedy to me.

    Kevin Harvick
    Keelan is now 5-and-a-half. His NASCAR debut is still at least 15 years away.

    Brad Keselowski
    Brad has a ring. Kevin has a ring. Kyle has a ring. Martin has a newer ring. Notice a theme?

    Chase Elliott
    Won nothing last year, except one pole and the hearts of fans looking for a new Pied Piper.

    Denny Hamlin
    You would have thought that with his last name, Denny would have been the new Pied Piper.

    Kyle Larson
    You can never have too many Kyles.

    Ryan Blaney
    …or Ryans.

    Jimmie Johnson
    Give me a moment and I might come up with a reason he is here. Maybe seven of them.

    Austin Dillon
    All hat and maybe a few cattle.

    Jamie McMurray
    Dimples are considered the cutest deformity ever. Jamie has them. So does Duchess Kate.

    Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
    Available. Need I say more?

    Kurt Busch
    Another season where all the excitement comes on the track.

    Kasey Kahne
    New team, a new look.

    Ryan Newman
    Fortunate that races can be won by a nose, but never by a neck.

    Joey Logano
    Was encumbered by a win that did not count and a playoff that was not to be.

    Erik Jones
    Turns 22 in May. Old bastard. He is the last on this list who will be in Sunday’s event.

    Matt Kenseth
    Had the talent to continue, just not the charisma apparently, so he won’t be driving.

    Dale Earnhardt Jr.
    Has the charisma, but to avoid a possible clash at home, he is avoiding the Clash at Daytona.

    Mae Thornton
    Tied for 20th with the rest of us, my late mother also failed to qualify for the Clash.

    As I said…you improvise.

  • Kasey Kahne Relishes his Role As the Underdog in 2018

    Kasey Kahne Relishes his Role As the Underdog in 2018

    Kasey Kahne discussed his new role as an underdog on Wednesday at the 36th annual NASCAR Media Tour. Kahne has experienced the highs and lows of Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series racing in a career approaching its 15th season.

    He came into the sport as a phenom. He started out at Evernham Motorsports and drove as a  factory driver for Dodge. From there he went to Robert Yates racing when Yates retired, became a Toyota driver at Red Bull for a season awaiting an offer from Hendrick Motorsports, and left HMS when the youth movement gained momentum, but there were some highs.

    There weren’t many, though – save for a win at Indianapolis Motor Speedway last year – in the late stages of Kahne’s tenure at Hendrick Motorsports, so Kahne looks forward to the fresh opportunity presented to him by his new team, Leavine Family Racing.

    “I’ve had a lot of experience throughout the years, being with different teams and different manufacturers but this year, every single person is new,” Kahne said. “It’s a fresh start. For me, it’s something that I feel like I can contribute to. My whole mindset is about the relationships and doing things together.

    “It’s a small group compared to what I’ve had the last six years and it’s a group of people who want to go in the same direction. I feel like if we do that and we work together to make the No. 95 the best car it can be, we’ll have some success.”

    Kahne’s crew chief, Travis Mack, left his role as Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s car chief at Hendrick to run the pit crew at LFR.

    “He works hard,” Kahne said of Mack. “He’s really into Cup cars and being a crew chief. I think that having a young guy who’s super excited and enthusiastic will be good for our team the whole season.”

  • Hot 20 – Truex is king, Junior is done, and the kids are moving to the big boy table

    Hot 20 – Truex is king, Junior is done, and the kids are moving to the big boy table

    The cream rose to the top, as the top four accumulated half of the wins between them this season. Four drivers, 18 wins, and now four shared championships.

    Next season NASCAR decides its 70th Cup champion, an honor claimed by just 32 men in that time. Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick, and Brad Keselowski will be joined by Jimmie Johnson and Kurt Busch as each will seek to add to their trophy cases. A bunch of talent will be bursting out of the gate at Daytona come February to make their own arguments. Rick Hendrick does not make up his roster based on age alone, boasting the elder statesman and the baby in 2018. The 41-year-old seven-time king Johnson will be joined by a new teammate, William Byron, who does not turn 20 until next week.

    Nothing says our final four will not be back. Truex had a dominant season, while Busch once again laid claim as being one of the very best in the business. Harvick and Keselowski have not grown any moss, and then there is Chase Elliott, who turns 22 at the end of the month. Another Hendrick driver who will be sporting his father Bill Elliott’s old number, seeking that first career win. Only a fool would bet against that happening.

    NASCAR has its issues, to be sure. They cannot figure how to get fans back to the tracks or even how to insist on television crews with the talent to keep us watching, no matter what. However, there is no shortage of storylines for next season. Along with those mentioned, a new generation has emerged. Kyle Larson and Ryan Blaney have arrived. Twenty-one-year-old Erik Jones is on the cusp. Next season, 24-year-old Bubba Wallace will drive the iconic Petty blue No. 43, featuring a familiar look for a native son of Alabama, but something rare in NASCAR.

    But all that is nearly three months away. In the meantime, we give thanks for the likes of Dale Earnhardt Jr., Matt Kenseth, and Danica Patrick, and wait to see what the future holds in store for them. We await to see what Kurt Busch will be doing next year. Above all else, we salute a very worthy 2017 champion who tops our Hot 20.

    1. MARTIN TRUEX JR. – 5040 POINTS – 8 Wins
    For the driver, his fiancé, his team owner, and his entire team…this was truly well deserved.

    2. KYLE BUSCH – 5035 POINTS – 5 Wins
    One position, and possibly one caution, away from holding his own celebration.

    3. KEVIN HARVICK – 5033 POINTS – 2 Wins
    Handling issues and a debris-induced hole did not help his cause.

    4. BRAD KESELOWSKI – 5030 POINTS – 3 Wins
    Fears a lack of manufacture parity might mean his Fords will be fried next year.

    5. CHASE ELLIOTT – 2377 POINTS
    In 2018, the torch passes to the next generation and this is the standard bearer.

    6. DENNY HAMLIN – 2353 POINTS – 2 Wins
    Learning that the Elliott Bible states, “Do unto others AS they have done unto you.” Let us pray.

    7. MATT KENSETH – 2344 POINTS – 1 Win
    If this is how Matt goes out, he did it as we would have expected…in style.

    8. KYLE LARSON – 2320 POINTS – 4 Wins
    The next generation has arrived. After Elliott, Larson is definitely Exhibit “B.”

    9. RYAN BLANEY – 2305 POINTS – 1 Win
    Exhibit “C” is moving on to join Roger Penske next season.

    10. JIMMIE JOHNSON – 2260 POINTS – 3 Wins
    Already among NASCAR royalty, he will once again try to rate eight in 2018.

    11. AUSTIN DILLON – 2224 POINTS – 1 Win
    Just four top 10s and he sits 11th. Nine top 20’s in his last 10 races mean more than I thought.

    12. JAMIE MCMURRAY – 2224 POINTS
    Seventeen top 10s, and he sits tied with Dillon in the standings. Maybe it is the cowboy hat.

    13. RICKY STENHOUSE JR. – 2222 POINTS – 2 Wins
    Two wins do not a season make. Well, that statement has been proven to be wrong.

    14. KURT BUSCH – 2217 POINTS – 1 Win
    What is next?

    15. KASEY KAHNE – 2198 POINTS – 1 Win
    As Kurt rose Furniture Row to the next rung, can Kasey do the same for Leavine Family Racing?

    16. RYAN NEWMAN – 2196 POINTS – 1 Win
    Double figures in top 10s in all but two of his seasons, including 13 more this year. Really.

    17. JOEY LOGANO – 930 POINTS – 1 Win
    Even with a win that meant something, he probably would have been done by Kansas.

    18. CLINT BOWYER – 871 POINTS
    Things started well enough, then Michigan, Bristol, Darlington, and Richmond happened.

    19. ERIK JONES – 863 POINTS
    At 21, I guess that would make Jones Exhibit “D”.

    20. DANIEL SUAREZ – 777 POINTS
    Loved Michigan and Darlington even less than Bowyer did.

    21. DALE EARNHARDT JR. – 668 POINTS
    Thanks for the memories. It was one hell of a ride.

     

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

     

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Hot 20 – Dorothy returns to Kansas after spending last weekend in the Talladega tornado

    Hot 20 – Dorothy returns to Kansas after spending last weekend in the Talladega tornado

    This Sunday, NASCAR action takes us to Kansas. We just cannot get enough of Kansas, which is why we find ourselves watching the action from there for a second time this season. If not Kansas, I guess there is always Kentucky, Chicago, Dover, Fontana, or Pocono , but allow me to calm down my beating heart.

    Coming out of Talladega to Kansas, and I am just taking a guess here, probably will not increase the ratings. Entertainment value and tradition go a long ways to attracting and keeping the fan base. Last week was the Alabama 500. We started with the Daytona 500. Darlington delivered the Southern 500. We know the early race in Charlotte is really the World 600. How high on your list of must-see traditional spectacles do you rank the Hollywood Casino 400 in Kansas?

    If you are Kevin Harvick and Joey Logano, it would rank pretty high. The pair split the last four of these fall classics.

     

    1. MARTIN TRUEX JR. – SEGMENT WIN – 3120 Pts – 6 Wins
    Earned his pass into the next round and has secured full sponsorship for 2018. Good times.

    2. BRAD KESELOWSKI – SEGMENT WIN – 3101 Pts – 3 Wins
    No communication for much of the race, but a whole lot when it ended.

    3. KYLE LARSON – 3096 POINTS – 4 Wins
    Things were looking good for a while before Suarez and Elliott thought they were in a cartoon.

    4. KEVIN HARVICK – 3089 POINTS – 1 Win
    A repeat of last year’s Hollywood Casino 400 finish would be just fine with Harvick.

    5. DENNY HAMLIN – 3088 POINTS – 2 Wins
    The Roush boys have fancy pit guns no one else has. All that goes out the window next season.

    6. CHASE ELLIOTT – 3087 POINTS
    Found a hole, filled a hole, and then someone tossed dirt in the hole.

    7. RYAN BLANEY – 3076 POINTS – 1 Win
    Tough luck last week cost him some points, but he has emerged as a top-tier talent.

    8. JIMMIE JOHNSON – 3074 POINTS – 3 Wins
    22 Kansas races, 17 Top Tens, along with three wins. Jimmie likes Kansas just fine.

    9. KYLE BUSCH – 3067 POINTS – 4 Wins
    Rowdy Busch? He is more like a Battered Busch.

    10. MATT KENSETH – 3066 POINTS
    Maybe he will become the fastest damned school bus driver who ever lived next season.

    11. RICKY STENHOUSE JR. – 3052 POINTS – 2 Wins
    Best Kansas finish is 11th. Twice. Well, the Chase was fun while it lasted.

    12. JAMIE MCMURRAY – 3045 POINTS
    21 Kansas races, 4 Top Tens. This does not look good.

    13. KASEY KAHNE – 2104 POINTS – 1 Win
    Chase is over, time at Hendrick is near done, but Kansas marks his 500th career start.

    14. RYAN NEWMAN – 2103 POINTS – 1 Win
    Newman is a NASCAR ninja. Unseen, unnoticed, and then late Sunday afternoon he appeared.

    15. AUSTIN DILLON – 2099 POINTS – 1 Win
    This season has come down to trying to catch Newman and Kahne and staying ahead of Kurt.

    16. KURT BUSCH – 2089 POINTS – 1 Win
    Turning left is expected, but that sharp right-hand turn was not.

    17. JOEY LOGANO – 794 POINTS – 1 Win
    Best damn driver not to make the Chase.

    18. CLINT BOWYER – 775 POINTS
    Best damn driver not to make the Chase who was born in Emporia, Kansas.

    19. ERIK JONES – 749 POINTS
    Got a whole face full of McMurray the other day.

    20. DANIEL SUAREZ – 708 POINTS
    Looking good last Sunday, but when he forgot to look to his left things started to look real bad.