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  • The Final Word – I know I’m late, but can I make my Talladega prediction now?

    The Final Word – I know I’m late, but can I make my Talladega prediction now?

    If only I could time travel. Going back a few days, I could have been able to pin-point exactly what one needed to do to win at Talladega on Sunday.

    1. Drive a Ford.

    2. Work for Tony Stewart and Gene Haas.

    3. Save fuel.

    4. Do not lead until after the final turn.

    It would not work next year, with the new rules packages coming in. However, last Sunday, it would have been spot on.

    As it turned out, only 14 drivers mattered. If they were not behind the wheel of a blue oval, they did not stand a chance. Of the 193 laps they eventually ran, only nine were led by someone in another make of car, five of those by William Byron in a Chevy.

    If you were working for Stewart-Haas, you were among the Top Four all day long. Those four led the opening two segments, actually running far beyond anyone else especially over the opening 55 laps.

    A lot of cars ran out of fuel coming to the green flag as they embarked on over-time. Kevin Harvick was among them, as that SHR entry wound up in 28th. Kurt Busch ran out of petrol while leading coming out of Turn Four in sight of the finish line. He wound up 14th.

    Between them, Harvick and the elder Busch led 154 laps. Not a place to be if you wanted to save on fuel. Now, sitting third and fourth, especially on that final run to glory, paid dividends. Aric Almirola was fourth for most of the day, moved to third when it counted, and crossed the line ahead of team-mate Clint Bowyer for the victory. Almirola’s win locked him into the next round of the playoffs, along with Harvick and Dover winner Chase Elliott. Kyle Busch is a sneeze away from being there himself, while his brother and Joey Logano are not a lock, but both are still 30 to the good. As for the hopes for six others, it all hinges on what happens next Sunday at Kansas.

    It was one of the most impressive team races in NASCAR history. All four Stewart-Haas entries were disciplined. They opened up spots for their team-mates on re-starts, stayed tight together up front, and stayed that way right to the end. No one could touch them. They tried, but as veterans Jeff Burton and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. pointed out from the broadcast booth what the rest had to do to challenge as the laps counted down, the boys on the track seemed to toss away those opportunities on every turn.

    Next Sunday, Byron has to win to advance. Kyle Larson is 26 points out. Ryan Blaney is 22 away. Brad Keselowski finds himself 18 on the outside, behind Martin Truex, Jr. and 21 in Bowyer’s rear view. Not an impossible gap, but not an easy one to see disappear.

    Hope is not buoyed for the rest by the knowledge that the most recent winners at Kansas were named either Harvick or Truex the past four visits there, or the guy before that was Kyle Busch. Logano won it twice prior to that, sandwiching Jimmie Johnson’s third win at the venue. The seven time champion has just four more chances to win one final time with Chad Knaus on his pit box before the pair end their race day alliance at the end of the season. Together they have won at least once every season since 2002.

    If a contender does not do it this upcoming weekend, I think a Johnson and Knaus celebration would be a fan favorite. I would love to tell you how it ends but, alas, that time traveler thing has not worked out for me. If it had, I would have gotten extremely rich betting against the polls a couple of years ago.

  • NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Talladega

    NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Talladega

    Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

    1. Kyle Busch: Busch finished 26th at Talladega and is now third in the playoff points standings.

    “Stewart-Haas Racing totally dominated the race,” Harvick said. “It was like they were leading the world’s fastest funeral procession, because they ‘buried’ the field.”

    2. Kevin Harvick: Harvick faded to 28th after being forced to pit for fuel with three laps remaining at Talladega.

    “That cost people a free Bloomin’ Onion at Outback Steakhouse,” Harvick said. “But no apology from me is in ‘order,’ because a chance at the win at Talladega is way more ‘appetizing.’”

    3. Chase Elliott: Elliott finished 31st in the 1000Bulbs.com 500 at Talladega.

    “Since I won at Dover,” Elliott said, “I was the only driver able to remain calm at Talladega. So, while I was thinking ‘relax,’ many others were thing ‘Exlax.’”

    4. Aric Almirola: Almirola passed Stewart-Haas Racing teammate Kurt Busch, who ran out of gas, and took a huge win at Talladega. Almirola advances to the third round of the NASCAR playoffs.

    “I’m the least well-known driver in the Stewart-Haas stable,” Almirola said. “So, while I was riding on their bumpers for most of the race, I’ve been riding on their coattails for much longer.”

    5. Kurt Busch: Busch won the pole at Talladega and led 108 laps, but his victory hopes were dashed when he ran out of fuel on the final lap, handing Stewart-Haas teammate Aric Almirola the win.

    “The race went to overtime,” Busch said, “otherwise I have enough fuel to hang on for the win. As it was, Aric Almirola was the one making the ‘splash.’”

    6. Joey Logano: Logano finished fifth in the 1000Bulbs.com 500 at Talladega.

    “That’s right,” Logano said, “the ‘1000Bulbs.com’ was the name of the race. Be careful typing that website address. That ‘u’ and ‘l’ are a doozy.”

    7. Martin Truex, Jr.: A mechanical issue plagued Truex throughout the day at Talladega, resulting in a 23rd-place finish. It left Truex in the final transfer spot as an elimination race looms at Kansas.

    “That means I’ll be racing for the win,” Truex said. “And that means I’ll go out of my way to get the win. And that means that if Jimmie Johnson is in my way, I’ll move him out of the way.”

    8. Clint Bowyer: Bowyer started second at Talladega and finished second as Stewart-Haas Racing swept the top 2, as well as sweeping the top 4 in qualifying.

    “Ten drivers are vying for 6 spots at Kansas,” Bowyer said. “That means 4 drivers will go home disappointed, as well as all fans in attendance at Kansas Speedway’s boring track.”

    9. Brad Keselowski: Keselowski finished 27th at Talladega.

    “I’ll need a solid finish at Kansas to advance to Round 3,” Keselowski said. “I certainly don’t want to leave Kansas and have to tell my dog, ‘We’re not in the playoffs anymore.’”

    10. Ryan Blaney: Blaney finished 29th and now heads to Kansas needing a strong finish to advance to Round 3 of the playoffs.

    “I plan to let it all hang out at Kansas,” Blaney said. “‘That’s a phrase you don’t mind hearing a NASCAR driver say, but you definitely don’t want to hear a NASCAR fan say it.”

  • Hot 20 – Not everyone loves Talladega, but not everyone is normal

    Hot 20 – Not everyone loves Talladega, but not everyone is normal

    Talladega. Do you need any more incentive to watch the action this Sunday? It is Talladega, dammit!

    Flying around in aircraft formation inches apart at 200 mph. That would be good enough to force me into the Depends, especially if I were in the passenger seat. It is a track that causes skid marks to appear everywhere. One wobble, one mistake, and a whole bunch of folks find themselves in a world of hurt. It does not have to happen. Just the threat that it could, on each and every lap, is enough to watch, to wonder, and to marvel at the skills of the boys going round and round.

    Just the nature of the beast allows almost all to hold out hope that victory could be their own, legends and no frill competitors alike. Many of the greatest names in the sport have won at least three times there. Bobby Allison. Brad Keselowski. Buddy Baker. Cale Yarborough, Dale Earnhardt. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Darrell Waltrip. Davey Allison. David Pearson. Jeff Gordon. Joey Logano. How sweet it would be to be included among those names.

    More than a few have had that honor over the past 50 years. The big names boycotted the first race in 1969. Too dangerous, they said. It gave Richard Brickhouse his lone Cup victory. Peter Hamilton had four career wins, two with his sweep in 1970. James Hylton won twice during his career, including the summer of 1972. Dick Brooks claimed his one and only a year later. Same track, same solitary milestone for Lonnie Pond, Ron Bouchard and Phil Parsons.

    Talladega is a track that plays no favorites. A legend or a no name can claim victory, and both can expect one hell of a ride at any time on any corner for any reason. To you, an Elliott could just mean a boy who once played with a funny looking alien fellow and ate Reese’s Pieces. Or a Busch is just a cold beer. Or someone named Kyle must mean a chap who does rap (never heard of the guy, personally). None of that would detract from your Talladega experience.

    If you base your television viewing on how many times it causes you to exclaim “Holy Crap!”, might I suggest Talladega.

    1. CHASE ELLIOTT – 1 ROUND WIN (3056 Pts – 2 Wins)
    It is time for Bill to remove the training wheels. The boy no longer needs them.

    2. KEVIN HARVICK – 3101 POINTS (7 Wins)
    Harvick just hired my 85-year old mother-in-law to join his pit crew. She starts Sunday.

    3. KYLE BUSCH – 3096 POINTS (7 Wins)
    The knob is gone next year and, no, I am not referring to the driver.

    4. MARTIN TRUEX JR. – 3069 POINTS (4 Wins)
    Along with Blaney, the Most Popular Driver contenders include him and the names listed above.

    5. JOEY LOGANO – 3064 POINTS (1 Win)
    Lately, he has been a Top Five guy at Talladega, and that is something he would like to continue.

    6. KURT BUSCH – 3054 POINTS (1 Win)
    Surviving the Roval and Talladega is not an easy thing to do, but here is hoping.

    7. BRAD KESELOWSKI – 3054 POINTS (3 Wins)
    Almirola’s drive to Victory Lane took a detour into Keselowski…and stopped there.

    8. RYAN BLANEY – 3043 POINTS (1 Win)
    Blaney’s Roval win was no accident, but it sure was assisted by one.

    9. ARIC ALMIROLA – 3033 POINTS
    Can he bounce back after Dover wreck? Sure, he bounced off Keselowski, didn’t he?

    10. CLINT BOWYER – 3033 POINTS (2 Wins)
    Feels sick about ruining the day for Almirola. Feels even sicker about ruining his own.

    11. KYLE LARSON – 3031 POINTS
    Good luck and determination got him here, but he will need more than that to continue.

    12. ALEX BOWMAN – 3009 POINTS
    Sometimes you do not want anything to do with Aric and Brad. Not a damn thing.

    13. AUSTIN DILLON – 2101 POINTS (1 Win)
    Avoid a wreck and he just might finish…but that has not happened at Talladega for a while.

    14. JIMMIE JOHNSON – 2098 POINTS
    I am loaning Jimmie my 2008 Chrysler Pacifica so he can at least get his parade laps in.

    15. DENNY HAMLIN – 2094 POINTS
    The way he is driving he obviously does not know he has been eliminated from contention.

    16. ERIK JONES – 2079 POINTS (1 Win)
    “How cool would it be to own this cardboard cutout of me in your house?” Not for a grown man.

    17. RYAN NEWMAN – 629 POINTS
    Just killin’ time.

    18. DANIEL SUAREZ – 593 POINTS
    About losing his ride, “When you don’t have anything good to say, it’s better not to say anything.”

    19. PAUL MENARD – 591 POINTS
    Some drivers worry about such things as sponsorship. I wonder if Paul understands why?

    20. RICKY STENHOUSE JR. – 581 POINTS
    At the moment, he is having a better season than McMurray. Hey, at least it is something.

  • The Final Word – As they were counting chickens at Dover, fate ordered up a few omelets

    The Final Word – As they were counting chickens at Dover, fate ordered up a few omelets

    Do not count your chickens before they hatch. That was the lesson we got in Dover on Sunday. A lot of things can happen between the time the egg emerges from the backside of the hen to when that little pecker bursts from the shell. A lot of bad things.

    You might have a metal part with the resilience of cheap plastic before you even get started. You might have a little knob not registering what the little knob is supposed to be accomplishing. You might have a visit to the pits turn into something that rhymes with pits. You might bounce off a wall or a competitor. Yes sir, a lot of bad things can happen.

    Jimmie Johnson started the race in the garage. Under the pace laps, he had a lower ball joint failure at 45 miles per hour. The car you use to take Grandma out for a nice Sunday drive would last longer than what Johnson was in. Bad part or bad mechanic? It damn near made what happened the previous week at the Roval seem totally irrelevant.

    Kyle Busch started on the pole and ran point the opening fifteen laps. He tried to make some adjustments to the track bar using a little knob in the car. It registered nothing on his dash. It seemed to register nothing as to what he wanted adjusted. Eighth place seemed more than he deserved in the end.

    Kevin Harvick owned this race. He took over from Rowdy and won the opening stage. He was untouchable in the middle frame. His valve stem was touchable when the car went down off the jack while the lug nuts were still being tightened. Gone went the stem, back came the car, back a lap down he went. Sixth was the best he could do after that. The pits is where Harvick’s hopes seem to die all to often.

    Aric Almirola looked good among the replacements up front. So did Brad Keselowski. As did Clint Bowyer. Then Bowyer got a flat. Six laps later, something broke in front and his car got broken up along the wall. 35th place is not where he belonged.

    With just a handful of laps left Almirola and Keselowski gave up the challenge. Aric rubbed the wall, that caused him to rub Keselowski, who then rubbed out Alex Bowman, who finished 28th.

    Into over-time we went, and for the second time in his career it was Chase Elliott giving the fans a thrill as he brought it home in front and took his golden ticket to the Round of Eight. An early birthday gift to his dad. “KyB” and Happy could lock their way in if Talladega is kind to them. At the other end of the spectrum, Bowman is left with two races and 34 points to make up to make it. He won’t. Kyle Larson (12th) is a dozen out, while Bowyer and Almirola (13th) each are ten points in the rearview mirror of Ryan Blaney (11th).

    In front of them all looms the 2.66-mile experience known as Talladega. Nobody is out at the hen house doing a statistical survey just yet. Maybe they might do a tally heading to Kansas, but the whirlwind to watch out for right now is the one about to roar in to Alabama this Sunday.

  • 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 on the pole at Dover and led 21 laps on his way to an eighth-place finish.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Hot 20 – The Big Three still remain the biggest obstacles for the rest as they hit Dover

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

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

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

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

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

    Let the fun continue.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Charlotte

    NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Charlotte

    Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Richmond

    NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Richmond

    Please Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    9. Austin Dillon: Dillon finished sixth at Richmond.

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

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

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

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

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

  • The Final Word – A Saturday night to get reacquainted with the Big Three at Richmond

    The Final Word – A Saturday night to get reacquainted with the Big Three at Richmond

    Richmond, the second race of the opening rung of the championship ladder. Only four storylines awaited to be written.

    Who would win, and would it be Brad Keselowski for a fourth straight contest?

    Who could keep out of danger from falling out of the top dozen as they search for a berth in the second leg?

    Who could move up from the next four, already in danger to being eliminated, to challenge for one of those top dozen spots after having some hard luck at Las Vegas?

    Finally, who outside of our drivers of interest could make themselves relevant? The best of last week, Jamie McMurray, got wrecked before it was all over. Would someone outside the top sixteen manage to finish the event and make us notice they were even there?

    None of the outsiders showed up by the time that opening stage completed. Often it is too early to tell much, but Martin Truex, Jr. and Kevin Harvick dominated while Keselowski showed up late for third. No one else was even close. Chase Elliott was fourth, making us wonder if he was going to erase the nine point gap between himself and those above the cut off line when this one came to a conclusion. Clint Bowyer was the man in his sights, who started with an ill handling car that gave him no breaks in that opening run. As for as those who had to pass a lot of cars in that initial run, both Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin seemed prepared to put forth a good argument before it was all over.

    Stage two provided more of the same. Truex ran away with it, with Harvick next up. Keselowski was fourth, so still in the hunt. To this point, the question remained if Elliott would move into the top dozen and replace Bowyer, or not. As for an also ran, Ryan Newman was in the distant conversation. He was also a hot topic before the race. Newman will be leaving Richard Childress to take the ride split between Matt Kenseth and Trevor Bayne this season for Jack Roush.

    Just to make things interesting, the pit stops brought some interesting events. First, Truex got tagged with tire violation to set him back. Elliott went to the front, moving up three spots, thanks to his crew. That left us watching and wondering how things might shake out when they took the green.

    The “Baby” Busch soon rejoined the party, and soon was in front. He had the best car in the end, and won it to get his free pass to the next round. Harvick had the most steady car in the event, and was the runner-up. Like Busch, Truex had a nice comeback, making up nearly twenty spots from is pit miscue to come home in third. All three join Keselowski, who was ninth on that night, locked into the next round of three races based on wins and points. Up next, though, is the Roval in Charlotte next weekend.

    Elliott was fourth on Saturday night, and now is ten to the good. Bowyer and Jimmie Johnson are outsiders, yet the pair are within seven points of Ryan Blaney and Alex Bowman. Erik Jones and Hamlin, who wound up 16th,  damn near need a win to be in. As for the 24 other boys out on the track for this one, none were among our Top Ten.

    The Roval. That is a track that makes Talladega look downright tame. For you and I, a very entertaining race to watch. For the crews, an absolute nightmare to navigate. Let the good times roval next Sunday in Charlotte.