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Tag: Kevin Harvick

NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Atlanta

Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

1. Kevin Harvick: Harvick dominated at Atlanta, leading 181 laps and winning Stage 1 on his way to the win in the Folds Of Honor Quick Trip 500.

“I just dominated a race,” Harvick said, “yet all I hear in NASCAR circles is talk of the Denny Hamlin-Bubba Wallace feud. I should be the one they’re talking about. Luckily, the use of Adderall is rampant in NASCAR, so I should be able to treat my ‘attention deficit disorder.’”

2. Denny Hamlin: Hamlin led 26 laps and finished fourth at Atlanta.

“Harvick was unbeatable,” Hamlin said. “From the start, it was clear he was going to win. You could say Harvick’s chances were a slam dunk.

“And speaking of basketball, Darrell Wallace Jr. is out of my basketball and golf leagues, which, collectively, are known as ‘The Fores And Fives.’ We’ll survive. Darrell wasn’t much of a golfer anyway. As I said after Daytona, ‘His driving sucks.’”

3. Brad Keselowski: Keselowski took the runner-up spot at Atlanta to Kevin Harvick, who dominated the weekend at the

“Fords took the top 3 spots,” Keselowski said, “and I couldn’t be happier. Last year, I complained when Toyota was dominating. Well, turnabout is fair play, and it’s time to celebrate with a cold beverage. No, not Miller Lite, but some wine, because everybody knows ‘wine-ing’ in NASCAR gets things done.”

4. Joey Logano: Logano took sixth at Atlanta to go along with his fourth at Daytona and leads the Monster Energy Cup points standings.

“This Denny Hamlin-Bubba Wallace feud has taken on a life of its own,” Logano said. “First, it’s about Adderall. Now, Wallace has been kicked out of Hamlin’s basketball and golf leagues. I propose they both be ejected from any and all debate leagues because this is the dumbest argument in the history of NASCAR.”

5. Ryan Blaney: Blaney finished 12th at Atlanta and is second in the Monster Energy Cup points standings.

“The threat of rain was imminent over the duration of the race,” Blaney said, “and was also the most exciting aspect of the race.”

6. Austin Dillon: The Daytona 500 winner finished 14th at Atlanta and is currently sixth in the points standings, 19 out of first.

“I considered getting a ‘Folds Of Honor Quick Trip 500: 14th Place’ tattoo on my butt,” Dillon said, “on a day when clouds filled the sky. But I came to my senses, and decided against getting a tattoo where the sun don’t shine.”

7. Clint Bowyer: Bowyer’s strong start to the season continued with a third in the Folds Of Honor Quick Trip 500.

“The NRA is scheduled to sponsor the Bristol night race in August,” Bowyer said. “Maybe by then, we’ll have this issue with pit guns solved. A lot of teams had an issue with pit guns at Atlanta. And that has a lot of people triggered.”

8. Martin Truex Jr.: Truex came home fifth at Atlanta.

“The No. 78 Toyota failed inspection three times before qualifying on Friday,” Truex said. “There hasn’t been such a level of failure in NASCAR since Jimmy Spencer took a physical back in 2001.”

9. Kurt Busch: Busch finished eighth at Atlanta and is eighth in the Monster Energy Cup points standings, 21 out of first.

“Jeff Gordon said he’d be open to racing in the truck series at Martinsville,” Busch said. “That’s big news, for NASCAR, for Martinsville, and for Denny Hamlin, whose ‘pickup’ game is currently one person short.”

10. Kyle Busch: Busch led the way for Joe Gibbs Racing at Atlanta with a seventh in the Folds Of Honor Quick Trip 500.

“Austin Dillon and Kevin Harvick have the first two wins of the year,” Busch said. “So I guess the story so far this year revolves around two asses.”

February 27, 2018
The Final Word – Atlanta was like a Happy little children’s song for Harvick

If you’re Happy and you know it,
Drive your car.
If you’re Happy and you know it,
Drive it far.
If you’re Happy and you know it,
End the day doing donuts,
If you’re Happy and you know it,
Be as you are.

That pretty much sums up the 500 mile race Sunday at Atlanta. Kevin “Happy” Harvick dominated the opening stage, and though an air gun mishap dropped him back, he was near the front after the second stage. The third, it was all Harvick, with a few cameos as some anticipated rain, others tried different strategies, but all to no avail. It marked his first win at the track on which he claimed his first back in 2001. This victory was his 38th and locked him into the playoff hunt.

While Harvick led more than half the time, Brad Keselowski was second after holding point for 38 laps. Denny Hamlin was fourth with 26 up front, while Kurt Busch settled for eighth, taking the second stage and leading 52 circuits.

Only 13 drivers managed to run the full 325 laps, including Top Five finishers Clint Bowyer and Martin Truex Jr. Pole sitter Kyle Busch was seventh but did well enough throughout in accumulating extra notches to wind up third best in points on the day. Rounding out the Top Ten was Joey Logano, Kyle Larson, and Chase Elliott.

Good days for some, bad days for others who one would think would have done better. A blown tire that did some serious renovations to the front fender did in Jimmie Johnson. After the Daytona disaster, it would be an understatement to say that he is off to a slow start. He already sits way down in 35th in the standings. Others with 10 points or less on Sunday included A.J. Allmendinger, Matt DiBenedetto, Bubba Wallace, and a blown engine parked Trevor Bayne in 35th.

Next stop is Las Vegas, as the teams answer the call to go west with their young men. Just 36 entries last week marked a 22 year low, but Premium Motorsports will add the uncharted entry of Joey Gase for the trip to the Strip to push the entry tally to 37. It will be the 23rd career Cup start for the 25-year-old from Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Truex is the defending race champion, though a second visit to the venue comes up in September, a date that once belonged to New Hampshire. Keselowski has won two of the past four in Las Vegas, sandwiching the 2015 victory of Harvick. It could be a case of the rich getting even richer next weekend. It might be early, but Johnson is not the only one who could use a little luck to come their way on their visit to The Entertainment Capital of the World. Alex Bowman, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Jamie McMurray, Erik Jones, William Byron, and Daniel Suarez are just some of those who have seen craps come up enough times already. Something better than snake eyes is what they will be looking for the next time they roll ‘dem bones on Sunday.

As for Harvick and Daytona winner Austin Dillon, they might prefer the wheels on the bus to continue going round and round. However, if the damn things fall off, there is always next week. The pressure is off.

February 26, 2018
Kevin Harvick dominates the Xfinity Series to win at Atlanta

Veteran driver Kevin Harvick schooled the field to bring home the trophy in the Rinnai 250 Friday afternoon at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Once he got his No. 98 Stewart-Haas Ford up front, there was no looking back for Harvick. He led the most laps, 141-of-163, to capture the checkered flag at Atlanta.

It was Harvick’s 47th win of his Xfinity career and his fifth victory at Atlanta. He also tied Tony Stewart for winning at Atlanta with four different teams. Harvick, age 42, is also the second oldest winner at Atlanta with Harry Gant being the oldest at age 54.

Harvick commented on his domination of the race saying, “It’s just been a really good place for me obviously getting my first win here, and being able to run good cars here throughout the years.” He added, “The racetrack has stayed very similar to what it’s been for a number of years, it’s been a great racetrack for us.”

Stage 1 would be the only stage for the caution to come out, one for Cole Custer hitting the wall and the other for debris on the track. Stages 2 and 3 would both go caution free. Harvick won all three stages.

Joey Logano brought his No.22 Penske Ford home in second, 4.183 seconds behind Harvick. Logano did all he could do to try and catch Harvick to no avail. This was his third consecutive second-place finish at Atlanta.

“I don’t think we were even close. Kevin played with us all day long, we just kinda rode out there,” Logano said after the race.

Christopher Bell, who started on the pole, had a great run going in his No. 20 Joe Gibbs Toyota today, finishing in third place.

Bell stated, “Our Ruud Camry was really fast, it just wasn’t quite good enough to get up there and run with the No. 98.”

John Hunter Nemechek and Elliott Sadler rounded out the top five. Justin Allgaier, Austin Cindric, Kyle Benjamin, Ryan Truex and Ryan Reed finished sixth through 10th, respectively.

The NASCAR Xfinity Series will be heading next to Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the Boyd Gaming 300, on March 3.

[pdf-embedder url=”http://www.speedwaymedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/NXS-Atlanta-unofficial-results-Feb.-2018.pdf” title=”NXS Atlanta unofficial results Feb. 2018″]

February 24, 2018
Hot 20 – 36 Charter teams and just 36 cars running at Atlanta on Sunday

36. Damn, and I was so looking forward to saying nothing but positive things this season. 36. That is the number of entries slated to run at Atlanta on Sunday. 36. The last time we had that small a field, it was 1996 in Martinsville. Rusty Wallace and Jeff Gordon were the race winners at that venue. 36. The last time we had that many run in Atlanta was in 1976, 42 years ago. David Pearson and Dave Marcis were the eventual victors. That year, 20 of the 30 races had fields of 36 and less.

More than 40 years later, and maybe things have not changed that much after all. I guess NASCAR knew what they were doing when they handed out just 36 charters. That is all we got in Atlanta. I think we can safely say that, at most, only 36 entries matter. Truth be told, that number might be closer to 25, but did I not say I was trying to be positive this season?

The Hot 20 heading to Atlanta...

1. AUSTIN DILLON – 1 WIN – 47 Points
After 20 years, the No. 3 returns to Daytona’s Victory Circle…and life is as it should be.

2. RYAN BLANEY – 58 POINTS
Led for most of last Sunday and while he missed the win, he sure cashed in on bonus points.

3. JOEY LOGANO – 50 POINTS
Boasts having the car number first made famous by Fireball Roberts. Talk about good lineage.

4. DARRELL WALLACE JR. – 47 POINTS
Runner-up at the Daytona 500, driving for Richard Petty. How sweet is that!

5. PAUL MENARD – 46 POINTS
Atlanta has a slick, sliding worn out racing surface and, as Menard would put it, it is fun.

6. MICHAEL MCDOWELL – 39 POINTS
First race for his new team a success, but how long will the good times roll?

7. DENNY HAMLIN – 37 POINTS
It is okay to take personal jabs at your fellow drivers…just as long as it isn’t Denny, it seems.

8. RYAN NEWMAN – 34 POINTS
Dillon got his win. Now, it is Newman’s turn to bring home the bacon for Childress.

9. CHRIS BUESCHER – 33 POINTS
Is JTG Daugherty the next team to move from also-ran to someone to watch?

10. ARIC ALMIROLA – 33 POINTS
When you try to block a freight train on the final lap of the Daytona 500, you get freight trained.

11. TREVOR BAYNE – 31 POINTS
Daytona is one thing, but Atlanta is where you truly discover what you have.

12. MARTIN TRUEX JR. – 30 POINTS
11 bonus points help pad an 18th place result.

13. CLINT BOWYER – 29 POINTS
I could talk about Clint or the fried chicken breast served on a potato roll and topped with bacon.

14. ALEX BOWMAN – 29 POINTS
It appears Bowman the Showman wants a new name. Bowman the Slowman would sure suck.

15. A.J. ALLMENDINGER – 28 POINTS
He probably thinks JTG Daugherty has already arrived.

16. KURT BUSCH – 27 POINTS
Most folks use a mirror to see behind them. Kurt turned his whole car, but it was not his idea.

17. JAMIE MCMURRAY – 23 POINTS
Hoping his 25th Atlanta start finds him finally able to shake the suds at the end.

18. RICKY STENHOUSE JR. – 22 POINTS
He fumed, he steamed, he got wrecked. That is some kind of hat trick.

19. KEVIN HARVICK – 19 POINTS
Harvick’s advice to Hamlin: “Sometimes you’ve got to keep your mouth shut.’’

20. KYLE LARSON – 18 POINTS
Somebody has to make room for Elliott, Byron, Jones, Keselowski,…

21. KYLE BUSCH – 18 POINTS
…Suarez and Johnson, but it won’t be either of these two.

February 22, 2018
The Final Word – The Daytona 500 finish reminded us of when giants ruled the asphalt

Unstable. Set to go off with the least provocation. No, I’m not talking about CNN or late night talk show hosts, most celebrities, or more than a few politicians. What I am referring to is the Daytona 500.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. weebled, wobbled, and stacked ‘em up. He drove off, for the moment at least, but it was goodbye Erik Jones, Daniel Suarez, and Jimmie Johnson before they got 60 laps in. Segment two found Chase Elliott the meat in a Ryan Blaney – Brad Keselowski sandwich and the aerodynamics took care of the rest. Adios Elliott, Keselowski, Kevin Harvick, and Danica Patrick. Then, down to the final couple of scheduled laps on the day, Kurt Busch was near the front but traded paint with Blaney and found himself facing the wrong way. Sayonara Kurt, Alex Bowman, and Matt DiBenedetto, who had looked so good before things went so bad.

Good was remembering 20 years ago when the No. 3 crossed the finish line first, and car owner Richard Childress looking so happy for his driver, Dale Earnhardt. Sunday we saw Childress looking happy once more as the No. 3 of grandson Austin Dillon took the Great American Race. For a brief moment, we remembered a time when things were not so unstable, when the news was really the news, and you could believe what you had heard and seen. Believe me, what we saw at the end of the Daytona 500 felt so real and good, if only because it reminded us of a time past.

Of course, Dillon won it because Aric Almirola threw a block in front of Dillon’s freight train, and wound up as one would expect in such a situation. While Dillon went on to win, Bubba Wallace, driving for Richard Petty, was the guy pushing him to victory, edging out Denny Hamlin at the line. Joey Logano was fourth, which was not as surprising as finding Chris Buescher taking fifth. Blaney, who was seventh in the end, was third in the opening stage and took the second to lead the points standings. He sits six ahead of Dillon and Paul Menard, who was sixth.

It was an entertaining race, assisted by the volatility of the cars that made things a tad unpredictable for us, and for the drivers. The race kept us engaged while the television crew did not drive us off. In fact, the FOX coverage was pretty darn good. I do like the left side of the screen ticker better than the scroll they used to run atop it. Informative and entertaining. What a concept.

Some were not as enthralled with the action. It was not worth a crap if you were named Kyle. Kyle Larson got some damage in that opening wreck and finished 19th. Kyle Busch had tires going down and fenders smacking the fence and wound up 25th. Stenhouse was blowing more steam than Old Faithful late in the second stage, and the Busch wreck really left him steaming in 29th when the day was over.

Heading to Atlanta, Suarez, Jones, and Johnson sit with a single point each for their Daytona efforts. Johnson has won two of the last three raced down in Georgia, with Keselowski the defending race champ. With just five points, ole Brad also could use some stability himself come next week. Last Sunday, as oft times happens at Daytona, we were provided with a good show.

The Daytona 500 finished with some of NASCAR’s most iconic numbers, the No. 3, the No.43, the No. 11 and the No. 22, coming home one-two-three-four. Just for the briefest of moments, the hands on the wheel could have been those of Earnhardt. Petty. Cale Yarborough (or was it Ned Jarrett or Darrell Waltrip?). Fireball Roberts. Those were the days when giants ruled the asphalt. May such memories of the past merge with the reality that was last Sunday. May they just be the harbinger of more good things for Sundays come.

February 19, 2018
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.

February 19, 2018
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.

February 14, 2018
The View From My Recliner — Pre 500
It’s been a while, but the recliner is set for another great season of NASCAR action.

I hope there is more action in the Daytona 500 than the Advanced Auto Parts Duel at Daytona because riding around in single file and the big one happening on the final lap doesn’t mean action to me.

It looks like the new ride height rule has crew chiefs and engineers scratching their heads about how to make the car handle at Daytona. Thankfully they have a couple of days to run simulations and get a plan together and hopefully bring us an action-packed Daytona 500.

The idea behind this column is to share the perspective of a fan. If there is something you want to comment on, feel free to e-mail me jdhwood20@aol.com. I am here for you.

Time for some Bold Predictions from the Recliner.
- The five crew members over the pit wall will be a mess and before NASCAR gets to Charlotte for the All-Star Race, that rule will change.
- Ryan Blaney will win the Daytona 500.
- I will be the new owner of BK Racing. Well, not really, but Ron Devine won’t be soon.
- When we hit the intermediate tracks, every Ford driver will be complaining that Chevy and Toyota will have an unfair advantage.
- The Danica Double will end with wrecks at Daytona and Indy.
- Chase Elliott will get his first win and they will keep coming after that.
- Furniture Row Racing will have the Championship hangover and Martin Truex Jr. will not make the final four at Homestead.
- The final four at Homestead will be: Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick, Kyle Larson and Ryan Blaney.
- The 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Champion will be Kyle Larson.
There are a few things I will be watching for this year.

I want to see how Aric Almirola performs in Stewart-Haas equipment. He was respectable at Richard Petty Motorsports, but he knew most weeks that a top-15 was what he could hope for. Now that he is in a top-notch ride, he needs to prove he is the driver who can handle the equipment.

I hope Bubba Wallace gets enough funding and RPM has the patience to see him develop as a driver at the Cup level. I think he has the talent and I hope he gets the chance to prove it.

I am looking forward to finding out how the Hawkeye inspection platform works and if we will have 20 cars late for qualifying.

It truly is an honor to have this space to share my thoughts on a sport I love.

Enjoy the Duels and the rest of Speedweek.

We’ll talk soon when I share The View From My Recliner.
February 13, 2018
The Final Word – Sometimes the dawn of a new season is an exciting time, sometimes it is 2018

A new season has dawned, the engines roared back to life, and the Clash delivered a…well…a modicum of excitement. If you are a Brad Keselowski fan, it was one hell of a race. If you like Jamie McMurray, it kind of sucked. If you were looking for diving and dashing for the opening, Chase Elliott gave us one or two moments. If you wanted to sit on the edge of your seat, share the chair. This was not one for the ages, I am afraid.

If you were seeking to calm those who are heading for the exits or entice those who never were with you in the first place, I do not see how either mission was accomplished. Drop me a line and tell me where I am going wrong. Tell me how Sunday’s action kept you riveted. I am at a loss, to be honest.

As for Thursday’s duels, they are now two 20-car races with nothing on the line. 40 entries for 40 spots for the most iconic race of them all. That does not bode well for Las Vegas, Phoenix, or California when they swing west after the visit to Atlanta. How many have grown up yearning to be the next Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube champion, or the master of the TicketGuardian 500, and let us not forget about the Auto Club 400? No one, that is who.

Usually, my pessimism is in check at least through to May. Usually. On the bright side, when the points start counting next Sunday, I will be glued to the tube once again. I wonder how Martin Truex Jr., Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch, and even Clint Bowyer will do. I am looking forward to seeing how Elliott, Ryan Blaney, Kyle Larson, Bubba Wallace, and William Byron will perform. Let us not forget about Erik Jones. Veterans and young pups on the biggest opening act stage in all of sports. The Daytona 500 means something, and I am looking forward to watching the action unfold.

Atlanta’s Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 might be fine. Since Kentucky ran off with its original spring date, this is a one and done deal for the good folks in Georgia. I guess there is something traditional about this event, and the corporate splash does have some patriotism mixed in.

Then they head west. Maybe by then, the storylines will be interesting. Somebody might shine brightly to start the season, some might be hurting early, a kid might do things a kid is not expected to do. Something, anything, to entice us to watch the multi-colored autos with the big numbers on their roofs roar around and around and around.

That is in the future. The Clash is behind us, the Duels provide something for Thursday afternoon, while Sunday is the one we have been waiting for. Even me. A new season has dawned, and a new Daytona 500 champion awaits his crowning…unless you believe Danica Patrick has a Cinderella story of her own in the offing. Now I’m just being silly.

February 12, 2018
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.

February 7, 2018