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  • NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Talladega

    NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Talladega

    Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

    1. Martin Truex Jr.: Truex crashed out at Talladega with 17 laps to go when he made contact with David Ragan, setting a chain reaction crash that victimized Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick, and Kyle Busch.

    “My win at Charlotte already puts me into the next round of the Chase,” Truex said. “There’s no pressure. So, at Kansas, you can expect my car to be all over the track because I’ll be the one running ‘loose.’”

    2. Brad Keselowski: Keselowski passed Ryan Newman on the final lap at Talladega to win the Alabama 500 and secure his spot in the Round Of 8 of the Chase For The Cup.

    “It was a wild day at Talladega,” Keselowski said, “and I’m in a state of shock. Frankly, I’m stunned, that a Ford could win in a race with Toyotas in the field. And that, my friends, is the sound of ‘sandbagging.’”

    3. Kyle Larson: Larson survived a wreck-filled day at Talladega to post a 13th-place finish and solidify his odds of advancing to the next round of the Chase.

    “There were three red flags on Sunday,” Larson said. “It felt an awful lot like my car was being inspected.”

    4. Denny Hamlin: Hamlin finished sixth in the Alabama 500, posting the best finish by a Toyota driver. He is fifth in the Monster Energy Cup points standings.

    “I’m in good position to advance to the next round of the Chase,” Hamlin said. “Barring a disaster, or as we saw at Talladega, disasters, I should move on to the third round. Hopefully, the 40 professional drivers in the field at Kansas will show professionalism.”

    5. Kyle Busch: Busch finished 27th after his No. 18 Toyota was collected in a lap 171 crash triggered by contact between Martin Truex Jr. and David Ragan.

    “If the field of 8 was set now,” Busch said, “I’d be out, and Truex would have eliminated his biggest competitor in the championship. I’m not saying Truex’s wreck was intentional; I’m just saying he was driving ‘with a purpose.’”

    6. Chase Elliott: Elliott started second at Talladega and finished 16th, six laps behind the leaders.

    “Like many drivers,” Elliott said, “I was an innocent victim of someone else’s recklessness. Fortunately, there’s a 20-point cushion between me in sixth and Kyle Busch in ninth. Of course, it’s no fun hitting a wall at such speeds, but I couldn’t ask for a ‘SAFER barrier.’”

    7. Kevin Harvick: Harvick’s No. 4 Ford survived involvement in two big crashes to post a 20th at Talladega.

    “Only 14 cars finished the race,” Harvick said. “It takes NASCAR three races to pare the field down to 12 drivers. Talladega can do it in a single race.”

    8. Ryan Blaney: Blaney won the second stage and finished 18th at Talladega.

    “That stage win is worth a point in the standings,” Blaney said. “And every single point is vitally important in the NASCAR playoffs. And what better place to reiterate the importance of a ‘Big One’ than Talladega?”

    9. Jimmie Johnson: Johnson finished 24th at Talladega.

    “We were penalized for working on the car during a red flag,” Johnson said. “Usually, when NASCAR tells Chad Knaus to stop altering the car, it’s after the work is already done.”

    10. Matt Kenseth: Kenseth finished 14th in the Alabama 500, and is 10th in the points standings.

    “I joked that my 2018 driving plans may involve a school bus,” Kenseth said. “The last time I took someone to school, it was Joey Logano in Martinsville.”

  • Hot 20 – Talladega is not for wimps or the faint of heart

    Hot 20 – Talladega is not for wimps or the faint of heart

    If there was one NASCAR race I was going to watch this autumn, it would be the action coming up this Sunday at Talladega, Alabama. If the only thing you know about the sport is that usually there is some guy named Junior in the field, this is the one to tune in. If you do not care about points, the Chase or what that even is, could not care less as to who is in what car, but you just want to see something on the television that makes you go “holy crap!”, this is the one race for you.

    Nose to tail, side by side, just inches apart, ripping around a 2.66-mile tri-oval that is 48 feet wide with 33-degree banking in the corners at speeds of over 190 miles per hour. It is obvious to anyone watching what could happen. It is amazing when it does not. When it does, and the Big One almost always takes place and all hell breaks loose, you will wonder about these crazy people who do what they do to provide this kind of entertainment on a Sunday afternoon.

    If all NASCAR races could deliver on the promise of a high-octane thrilling competition every time out, you would already know all this. Instead, we hear about television ratings plummeting along with track attendance, empty grandstands being torn down, sponsors pulling out and a driver’s ability to attract the cash at least as important as what they can do in a race car.

    We have a couple of former champions, one still in the running for this season’s crown, out of their rides for next season. At least one team running in the top twenty this season is folding its tents. As for star power, it does not matter to many fans how they did, but who they are. In that case, the retirements of the likes of Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, and Carl Edwards, combined with the upcoming departure of Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the possible exodus of Danica Patrick leaves a lot of merchandise sitting on the shelves.

    Yet, none of that should matter this Sunday afternoon. Talladega is the one to watch, no matter who is driving or what they are driving for. Just grab your favorite beverage, have your favorite snack handy, ensure that there is a pathway between your seat and the bathroom, and park yourself in your favorite chair for what should be a damned entertaining experience.

    Sunday is Talladega.

    1. MARTIN TRUEX JR. – SEGMENT WIN – 3106 Pts – 6 Wins
    The one guy who comes to Talladega very, very relaxed and without a care in the world.

    2. KYLE LARSON – 3072 POINTS – 4 Wins
    Without a Chase, he would trail Truex by 11 points. No one else is close, hence…the Chase.

    3. KEVIN HARVICK – 3069 POINTS – 1 Win
    Looks to be in good position, but let us not take any chances this weekend.

    4. CHASE ELLIOTT – 3059 POINTS
    Might be saving up his wins for the No. 9 but, if so, he might want to reconsider.

    5. DENNY HAMLIN – 3056 POINTS – 2 Wins
    Instead of NFL kind of money, with dropping support drivers are lucky to make lunch money.

    6. KYLE BUSCH – 3055 POINTS – 4 Wins
    One bushed Busch by the time they were done at Charlotte.

    7. JIMMIE JOHNSON – 3051 POINTS – 3 Wins
    If a tire goes flat, can the team deliver the new rubber out onto the track as it is a safety issue?

    8. JAMIE MCMURRAY – 3044 POINTS
    McMurray’s last win was this race, four years ago.

    9. MATT KENSETH – 3043 POINTS
    List of open seats for next season is dwindling. It is time to make a statement.

    10. BRAD KESELOWSKI – 3042 POINTS – 2 Wins
    A paint scheme to honor Junior would look even better in Victory Lane.

    11. RYAN BLANEY – 3039 POINTS – 1 Win
    Talladega, where “there’s confidence but not a lot of comfort.” Sounds like my wedding day.

    12. RICKY STENHOUSE JR. – 3034 POINTS – 2 Wins
    Won the last time they were at Talladega. He sure could use another one on Sunday.

    13. AUSTIN DILLON – 2086 POINTS – 1 Win
    Has the right car number to do great things at this track.

    14. KASEY KAHNE – 2074 POINTS – 1 Win
    Among those leaving their seats, at least Kahne has found a new home for next season.

    15. KURT BUSCH – 2068 POINTS – 1 Win
    Still looking.

    16. RYAN NEWMAN – 2068 POINTS – 1 Win
    NASCAR driver. Rescue rancher.

    17. CLINT BOWYER – 760 POINTS
    I guess you could say he is the best of the rest.

    18. JOEY LOGANO – 752 POINTS – 1 Win
    On the positive side, he has run well in Chase events. On the downside, it does not matter

    19. ERIK JONES – 748 POINTS
    Such a fitness freak, he actually runs the stairs with his car while doing a television segment.

    20. DANIEL SUAREZ – 686 POINTS
    If you bet that Suarez was going to finish 20th in points this season, it would appear that you won.

  • The Final Word – Charlotte was a day of triumph for Truex and a rough one for Rowdy

    The Final Word – Charlotte was a day of triumph for Truex and a rough one for Rowdy

    It was a home date for most of the teams as the next round of the Chase opened in Charlotte, North Carolina. Martin Truex Jr.’s outfit hails out of Colorado, so for them, every date finds them on the road. It is a road that could take them all the way to the championship.

    Once again, we were left wondering if one of the leaders would suffer a big points hit due to some unwelcome circumstance. Then there were the four coming in behind Ricky Stenhouse Jr., the eighth-ranked driver. Would Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott, Matt Kenseth, and Jamie McMurray start to move up, or would bad tidings await one or more of them?

    As they took off, we were reminded of three things. First, when it comes to an announcing crew that is informative and entertaining enough to keep us tuned in, we are still looking and waiting. Maybe next year. Second, when it comes to jam-packed grandstands, maybe there was something else taking place in Charlotte that was more attractive for folks to attend. A sea of empty seats was evident beyond the racing surface. Third, segment stage points count, and you need them to advance. Truex did not get any the opening stage, but that was a rarity. Brad Keselowski also came up short, but he had wiggle room. However, Stenhouse and Blaney also came up empty, and they did not. Maybe the next segment things would be better.

    It looked good for Kyle Busch. He was up or near the front, but part way through the stage his rear danced up into the wall. That left his back end smiling where it should have been closed-mouthed, and that did not help the aerodynamics a lick. They repaired it good enough to return, but he was a lap down and outside the top thirty. Kevin Harvick and Elliott were 1-2 for the second straight stage, while the top 12 in the standings were among the top 13 on the track opening the final run. They all were there except for Rowdy. He was now two laps off the pace.

    It was Harvick, then it was Truex, and then Kyle Larson taking over point. As for the younger Busch, he went for a skid that was not productive. Sure, he was still running, still trying to minimize a points disaster, but still having a very bad day. That incident did not help Larson. He dropped back after the pit stops, leaving Truex and Harvick up front with about 50 to go.

    Busch was a factor. He hit the wall again with 10 laps remaining. Sucked for him, sucked for Truex, it even sucked for Harvick. He came in second, but after a slight pit miscue, he was sixth when they waved the green.

    When they hit the line, Truex was beside Denny Hamlin, with Elliott and Larson right behind, with four remaining. Hamlin did not have a good start, stalling his line, while Truex looked like he was bound for Denver. Then a Busch got in the way of his celebrations once again. This time, it was Kurt Busch getting real loose to go up the hill to clip Larson before continuing on a slide that brought out a green-white-checker finish. If nothing else, if you were still watching you were not going to be tuning out until it was over.

    One thing we learned in this race is that whoever led after the first turn on a re-start was going to lead that lap. The four contending were all contending in the Chase; Truex, Hamlin, Elliott, and Harvick. Yet, did anyone doubt it would be Truex claiming this one, his sixth of the season? He is locked into the next round, while Talladega looms next week. Even Harvick, sitting second 21 points to the good, could be buried in 12th if things go bad in what they call the wildcard of the Chase.

    Kyle Busch had enough in the bank to still sit 11 points on the positive side of the ledger, despite a 29th place result. Too early to write anyone out just yet. McMurray holds down the eighth place, but even the 12th place Stenhouse is just 10 points behind. It could be worse. While good days were recorded Sunday afternoon by Truex, Larson, Harvick, Hamlin, Elliott, and McMurray, just avoiding a bad day in Alabama next Sunday might prove to be even more important.

  • NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Charlotte

    NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Charlotte

    Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

    1. Martin Truex Jr.: Truex started 17th and Charlotte, but the handling on his No. 78 Toyota finally came around at the right time, and he pulled away to win the Bank Of America 500.

    “That’s my sixth win in 30 races this season,” Truex said. “That’s one of every five. Stated as a fraction, that’s a fifth. Stated in terms a NASCAR fan can understand, that’s 750 milliliters.”

    2. Kyle Busch: Busch fell a lap down after slapping the wall on lap 137 and finished a disappointing 29th at Charlotte.

    “I needed immediate medical attention right after the race,” Busch said. “I was overheated and dehydrated. Doctors in the infield care center said I looked white as a sheet. That’s when they knew it was okay to release me.”

    3. Kyle Larson: Larson was leading with 55 laps remaining, but his tire carrier slipped and fell on a pit stop, costing Larson the lead and track position. He eventually finished 10th.

    “It was an unavoidable mistake,” Larson said, “and I feel bad for my tire carrier. But he feels even worse. He’s beaten himself up about it so much that he’s in traction.”

    4. Denny Hamlin: Hamlin won the pole at Charlotte and led the first 35 laps on his way to a fourth, his 13th top five of the year.

    “I said NASCAR drivers should make as much as athletes in the NBA and NFL,” Hamlin said. “I guess what I’m saying is drivers should be more overpaid than we already are.”

    5. Chase Elliott: Elliott took second at Charlotte, posting his second consecutive runner-up finish.

    “I feel like those two runner-up finishes have prepared me for a win,” Elliott said. “It’s just a matter of time. How much time? I’d say about ‘two seconds.’”

    6. Kevin Harvick: Harvick dominated early at Charlotte, winning the first two stages and raced to a third-place finish.

    “I think we had the fastest car,” Harvick said. “I think we’ve found the speed we’ve been missing. I think you’ll see the No. 4 Jimmy John’s/Busch Ford really showing that at Talladega. To put it in perspective for fans in the Talladega infield, my car will be moving around ‘Dega’s 2.66-mile track as fast, if not faster, than Jimmy John’s and Busch beer moving through your digestive tract. I think we can challenge those Toyotas, so expect a race as competitive as your race to the port-a-potty.”

    7. Jimmie Johnson: Johnson finished seventh at Charlotte, recording his 11th top 10 of the year.

    “We got away with an apparent rules violation in the pits,” Johnson said. “One of my pit crew members tightened a lug nut when I was clearly out of the pit box. I can’t explain it. I guess the only thing we can do is open up the NASCAR rule book. To which page, you ask? The one labeled ‘interpretation.’”

    8. Brad Keselowski: Keselowski finished 15th at Charlotte and is now 10th in the points standings, 64 out of first.

    “It was an exhausting day at Charlotte,” Keselowski said. “But I’ll tell you what’s really exhausting: saying ‘Toyota’ when someone asks who’s won the last four races.”

    9. Matt Kenseth: Kenseth posted a solid 11th at Charlotte.

    “Five hundred miles in those conditions is brutal,” Kenseth said. “You saw what happened to Kyle Busch. He was overcome with carbon monoxide poisoning. Luckily, he recovered. It’s mentioned a lot in our sport, but never has racing in ‘clean air’ been more important.”

    10. Jamie McMurray: McMurray finished fifth at Charlotte and is now eighth in the Monster Energy Cup points standings, 62 behind Martin Truex Jr.

    “It was incredibly humid out there,” McMurray said. “Kyle Busch visited the infield care center due to overheating. He didn’t seem too upset. It was the first time in his life he’s been called ‘smoking hot.’”

  • Denny Hamlin Captures Pole for Bank of America 500 at Charlotte

    Denny Hamlin Captures Pole for Bank of America 500 at Charlotte

    CONCORD, N.C. — Denny Hamlin captured the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coors Light Pole Award Friday night at Charlotte Motor Speedway with a qualifying speed of 191.598 mph. It was his first pole this season, his second at Charlotte and his 25th career pole.

    Hamlin has scored at least one pole each season during his 13-year career in the Cup Series, with the exception of 201l.

    “It’s good, you always like to keep streaks alive,” he said. “Hadn’t had a pole this year and have had one every other year, but it’s good. We’ve been so close and we’ve made so many final rounds, been in the top five, but not as fast as our teammates. Today we adjusted on it, got it a little better each round and had some goodwill.”

    The Joe Gibbs Racing driver’s No. 11 Toyota will lead the field when the green flag waves for Sunday’s Bank of America 500. Teammate Matt Kenseth will join him on the front row after a 191.489 mph lap, starting second, in the first event of the Playoff’s Round of 12.

    Kevin Harvick, with a speed of 191.394 mph, will start third followed by Kyle Busch in fourth and Clint Bowyer in fifth.  Brad Keselowski, Chase Elliott, Kurt Busch, Kasey Kahne and Kyle Larson will start in positions sixth through 10th, respectively.

    The pre-race inspection had some teams rushing to make qualifying runs during the first round after failing their first attempt to pass the inspection process, including Kyle Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Erik Jones. Busch and Earnhardt were able to qualify in the closing minutes while Erik Jones did not make it through in time to qualify.  Jones will start 38th. Corey LaJoie and Brett Moffitt also failed to make qualifying runs and will start in 39th and 40th.

    Of the remaining Playoff drivers, Ryan Blaney will start 15th, Martin Truex Jr. 17th, Jamie McMurray 18th and Stenhouse 22nd. Jimmie Johnson did not make it past the first round of qualifying and will begin the race in 25th place.

    A frustrated Johnson told NBC Sports, “Multiple trips through inspection doesn’t help by any stretch. We just missed it, so, another frustrating Friday, unfortunately. Back tomorrow and we’ll have to pass a bunch of cars Sunday. It sucks getting behind and starting the weekend behind, but it is what it is and we’ll have to go to work on Sunday.”

    On-track activities will continue Saturday with two Cup Series practices at 11 p.m. ET and 1:30 p.m. ET. The Bank of America 500 will be broadcast Sunday on NBC at 2 p.m. ET

    Follow @angiecampbell_ for the latest NASCAR news and feature stories.

    [pdf-embedder url=”http://www.speedwaymedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Charlotte-BOA-500-starting-lineup-C1730_STARTROW.pdf” title=”Charlotte BOA 500 starting lineup C1730_STARTROW”]

     

  • Hot 20 – The Yates legacy will come to life under the hood of a third of the Charlotte field

    Hot 20 – The Yates legacy will come to life under the hood of a third of the Charlotte field

    When one of the legends in the sport leaves us, we remember. If a man is known simply by the company he keeps, Robert Yates did very well.

    As a team owner, he was the boss to such NASCAR luminaries as Davey Allison, Larry McReynolds, Ernie Irvan, Dale Jarrett, and Ricky Rudd. His boys led him to 57 Cup wins over parts of nearly 20 campaigns. Jarrett and Allison allowed him to celebrate three Daytona 500 wins and a pair of July races. They each brought him a World 600 victory. He was a five-time winning owner at Talladega. Thanks to Jarrett, he got to kiss the bricks twice at Indianapolis. The boys helped him to a pair of Bristol wins. Six Richmond triumphs, two each delivered by Irvan and Jarrett, with Allison and Rudd chipping in the other two. In 1999, Jarrett delivered a Cup championship. Yes, Yates knew talent, and they produced for him.

    Robert Yates also knew engines. Not only was there a Yates engine powering Jarrett, they also sent Bobby Allison and Darrell Waltrip to the top of the mountain. Yates Engines provided the gusto that provided 77 Cup wins, and continue to do so under the guiding hand of his son, Doug.

    NASCAR owner, engine maker, and Hall of Fame inductee in the class of 2018, Robert Yates leaves us at 74 years of age.

    When the engines come to life this Sunday afternoon in Charlotte, a third of the field will have Roush-Yates power plants under the hood.

    1. MARTIN TRUEX JR. – 3059 POINTS – 5 Wins
    Could sit Saturday night and still rank among the top dozen.

    2. KYLE BUSCH – 3041 POINTS – 4 Wins
    Elliott did not try to block him or send Kyle into the fence and lost. Chase needs a new plan.

    3. KYLE LARSON – 3034 POINTS – 4 Wins
    Ganassi has won 16 titles – 7 IndyCar crowns, 5 Grand-Am, 4 Champ Car. One appears missing.

    4. BRAD KESELOWSKI – 3020 POINTS – 2 Wins
    Not sure if he be a Hatfield or McCoy, but Rowdy wants to womp him low and womp him high.

    5. JIMMIE JOHNSON – 3017 POINTS – 3 Wins
    Not only is he NASCAR’s most decorated active driver, but also its highest paid. Sorry Junior.

    6. KEVIN HARVICK – 3015 POINTS – 1 Win
    Wants the future of the sport, Mr. Elliott, to win soon. As for what Mr. Busch thinks…

    7. DENNY HAMLIN – 3013 POINTS – 2 Wins
    “NASCAR drivers should be making NBA, NFL money.” I wonder if track owners will pony up?

    8. RICKY STENHOUSE JR. – 3010 POINTS – 2 Wins
    Sometimes a gamble earns you seven points and advancement in the Chase.

    9. RYAN BLANEY – 3008 POINTS – 1 Win
    Give a kid a checkered flag, and that Kyle Larson cap he was sporting comes right off.

    10. CHASE ELLIOTT – 3006 POINTS
    The day he decides to be a selfish jerk on the track is the day he will head to Victory Lane.

    11. MATT KENSETH – 3005 POINTS
    Ladies and Gentlemen, allow me to introduce you to the next WWE heavyweight champion.

    12. JAMIE MCMURRAY – 3003 POINTS
    Ganassi came close in 2005 to a title, but Stirling Marlin broke his leg. This was his replacement.

    13. RYAN NEWMAN – 2067 POINTS – 1 Win
    No doubt he loves his crew chief, but probably loves Stenhouse’s just a bit more.

    14. AUSTIN DILLON – 2065 POINTS – 1 Win
    Won the last time he was at Charlotte. Another would be a lovely consolation prize.

    15. KASEY KAHNE – 2046 POINTS – 1 Win
    Can he do for Leavine Family Racing what Kurt did for Furniture Row?

    16. KURT BUSCH – 2044 POINTS – 1 Win
    19th was his best first-round finish, and that is just not good enough. It really is not good at all.

    17. CLINT BOWYER – 750 POINTS
    Sixth place finish at Dover was good. His crew chief’s $10,000 fine…not so much.

    18. JOEY LOGANO – 741 POINTS – 1 Win
    If Kim Jong-un had launched those bad boys on Wednesday, Joey would have been safe.

    19. ERIK JONES – 728 POINTS
    If Hamlin is right, we might need a bottle drive to help top up Erik’s salary for next season.

    20. DANIEL SUAREZ – 653 POINTS
    Suarez could take the next three races off, and still would easily claim a spot in our Hot 20.

  • NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Dover

    NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Dover

    Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

    1. Kyle Busch: Busch started second at Dover and passed Chase Elliott with two laps to go to win at Dover.

    “I stood for the American flag,” Busch said, “but I was sitting for the checkered flag.

    “Unfortunately, my brother Kurt didn’t advance to the next round of the Chase. Kurt won the Daytona 500 in February. Since then, he’s done mostly nothing, which is the same as saying he hasn’t done much of anything.”

    2. Martin Truex Jr.: Truex started on the pole at Dover and finished fourth, and is still the leader in the Monster Energy Cup points standings.

    “The championship is turning into a two-man battle between me and Kyle Busch,” Truex said. “I think we should just put our two Toyotas side-by-side and force Brad Keselowski to pick a winner.”

    3. Kyle Larson: Larson won Stage 2 and finished fifth in the Apache Warrior 400 at Dover, posting his 14th top five of the year.

    “There’s been a lot of talk lately about standing for the national anthem,” Larson said. “To stand or not to stand, that is the question. But this is NASCAR, the ‘stands’ that really should be a concern are the ones that hold the fans.”

    4. Brad Keselowski: Keselowski won the first stage and finished 10th at Dover.

    “I said it before and I’ll say it again,” Keselowski said. “I support your civil rights 100 percent. If you want to stand for the national anthem, I support your desire to do so. If you’re afraid not to for fear of having your ass kicked, I support your right to feel fear.”

    5. Denny Hamlin: Hamlin broke an axle and finished 35th in the Apache Warrior 400.

    “And speaking of things that ‘crack under pressure,’” Hamlin said, “Chase Elliott should have won that race.”

    6. Chase Elliott: Elliott led 138 laps at Dover, but couldn’t close the deal as Kyle Busch passed him with two laps to go to steal the win.

    “I think I may be coming down with a case of the flu,” Elliott said. “Or maybe I’m feeling a bit ‘run down.’

    “Kyle may be the favorite to win the Monster Energy Cup. He looms large in the championship picture, much as he did in my rear-view mirror.”

    7. Jimmie Johnson: Johnson finished third at Dover and is now fifth in the Monster Energy Cup points standings, 42 behind Martin Truex Jr.

    “Chase Elliott almost had his first career win, ” Johnson said. “I know he must be disappointed. He was this close to victory, and by ‘this’ I mean the length of a two-inch piece of tape.”

    8. Matt Kenseth: Kenseth came home 11th at Dover, just missing his 15th top 10 of the year.

    “Did Ryan Newman keep Chase Elliott from winning?” Kenseth said. “Of course not. Newman’s never prevented anyone from winning anything of consequence, except himself.”

    9. Kevin Harvick: Harvick finished 17th at Dover, with his shot at a stronger finish hindered by an unscheduled pit stop.

    “There was very little, if any, sitting for the national anthem,” Harvick said. “I think that goes to show that NASCAR is the most ‘All-American’ sport there is. The red, white, and blue are important to NASCAR, especially the white.”

    10. Jamie McMurray: McMurray finished ninth at Dover, recording his 15th top 10 of the year, and advanced to the next round of the Chase For The Cup.

    “I think all major sports had an increased amount of attention on the national anthem,” McMurray said. “But only in NASCAR was the playing of the anthem more exciting than the event itself.”

  • Chase Elliott Speeds to Lead Final Dover Practice

    Chase Elliott Speeds to Lead Final Dover Practice

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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