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NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Preview-Charlotte
It’s a home game this week for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series as the drivers and teams will compete in their own backyards. One team and driver will show who’s best Friday night in the annual running of the North Carolina Education Lottery 200 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

There are 35 trucks on the preliminary entry list with the No. 1 owned by Tracy Lowe, Clay Greenfield of the 68 and Joe Nemechek of the 87 being the only withdrawals from the race.

A few notables – Timothy Peters is back competing in the No. 92 Ricky Benton Racing Ford and Daniel Hemric will be back for the first time in a Truck since 2016 driving the No. 20 of Young Motorsports.

In the past five races, there have been three different winners with Kyle Busch being the only repeat winner of this race.

Here’s a look at who to expect to be in victory lane at the end of the night.
1. 1. Kyle Busch – It should be no surprise that Busch is on top of the list for this weekend’s race. He has won this race seven times and is the previous race winner. He earned his first win at Charlotte in the Truck Series in May 2005. The only thing that’s different this time is that he’ll look to tie Ron Hornaday’s winning streak. Busch came close last weekend at Kansas by finishing second, but it wasn’t good enough to score the win. In the last four races, he has earned three wins, four top five’s and four top 10 finishes, along with 327 laps led and an average finish of 1.2, not bad for the Kyle Busch Motorsports owner. He’ll be a challenging factor in Friday night’s race.
  2. Noah Gragson – Gragson claimed career victory No. 2 last weekend at Kansas Speedway and that momentum could carry over this week at Charlotte. While he only has one start at the 1.5-mile track with a finish of ninth in the previous race, Gragson has been dominant in most 1.5 mile races this year. With a late race restart in Atlanta, he restarted in the ninth position and almost pulled off the win before finishing second. In Las Vegas, Gragson finished 12th after starting fifth. So don’t be surprised if we see the No. 18 Safelite Tundra back in victory lane again this weekend, as momentum could be huge for the 19-year old.
  3. Matt Crafton – Seven races in and Crafton is still looking for that breakthrough victory of the 2018 season. While it’s hard to believe the No. 88 Menards driver doesn’t have a win yet, you really can’t count him out on any given race weekend. In Dover after Gragson had a late race tangle with eventual race winner Johnny Sauter, Crafton finished second. Last week at Kansas, he led only four laps before battling a tight conditioning truck all night. He could score that first win this weekend as Charlotte is the site of Crafton’s first ever victory back in 2008. He also scored another win two years ago in 2016 after starting 17th.
  4. John Hunter Nemechek – Nemechek has run okay at Charlotte but has never been considered as a possible upset. However, he could be this weekend. In two starts, he has finishes of 12th and 22nd, respectively. He is coming off a strong run at Kansas this past weekend by finishing fourth. Nemechek could get that first win at Charlotte Friday night and what a win that would be for the family-owned team.
  5. Timothy Peters – Peters could be a real upset this weekend if he could pull off the win tomorrow night in the No. 92 Ricky Benton Racing Ford. In the past five starts, he has two top fives and four top 10 finishes with a best finish of fifth in last year’s race. However, those starts were in the now-defunct Red Horse Racing stable who were contenders for the win week in and week out. It’s no doubt Peters and the No. 92 team will have a battle on their hands Friday night. However, should they play their cards right and have a little bit of luck, they could just be a surprise winner.
Live coverage begins with the first practice scheduled for 9:05 a.m. ET with no live TV. Final practice will be shown on Fox Sports 1 beginning at 10:35 a.m. ET.

Qualifying is scheduled for 4:40 p.m. ET on FS1 with the green flag at the approximate time of 8:49 p.m. ET, all on FS1 and MRN Radio, weather permitting, as there is a 70 percent chance of thunderstorms in the forecast Friday afternoon and evening.
May 17, 2018
Hot 20 – NASCAR’s greatest stars of today gather in Charlotte Saturday night

Stars. Many are called, but few are worthy. Each week, NASCAR provides somewhere between 34 and 40 entries out on the track, but fewer than 25 have any legitimate shot at making a difference. We know the names of those who have succeeded, those who have made and earned, a place in the spotlight. Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick, Martin Truex Jr., Kurt and Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski and, yes, for a time this year, we welcome back Matt Kenseth. Champions all.

However, no Dale Earnhardt Jr. No Tony Stewart. No Jeff Gordon. No Carl Edwards. Instead of addressing the issues we have addressed week after week, NASCAR is trying to get us all excited about a new crop of drivers. Bless their pea picking hearts, they are promoting the hell out of the new generation. Talented, youngish, but few have earned their stripes over their young careers. Not yet.

Among the 11, four have actually begun to shine. The other seven have, between them, managed no victories, just four Top Fives, 29 Top Tens, over a combined 365 events. Each and every one of them could be stars eventually, just not today. Three are stuck in rides that will not be winning soon, or even being part of the race day conversation. Only two are locked into the All-Star race, with the other nine hoping to beat out a dozen other drivers in advancing from the Open that will begin Saturday’s action.

One has, without doubt, the personality of a star. However, Darrell Wallace Jr. is just 16 races into his Cup career. A single Top Five, a pair of Top Tens, and 11 laps led does not make a star out of him on the track. Not yet, but the lad has personality to burn. He also drives for Richard Petty. That is some serious star power right there. Maybe this weekend, or next, he will break through. Wallace is the exception. He, I will be watching.

However, if you want to watch the stars of NASCAR, those who have already made their mark on the sport, here are the names you should know for Saturday night.

1. KYLE BUSCH – 2015 CHAMPION – 46 Career Wins – 474 Starts
One of the top three gents the past four seasons, with 17 wins over that time period.

2. KEVIN HARVICK – 2014 CHAMPION – 42 Career Wins – 622 Starts
5 wins in a dozen starts in 2018. Rowdy has been his only rival as of late.

3. MARTIN TRUEX JR. – 2017 CHAMPION – 16 Career Wins – 453 Starts
Took his owner to the Promised Land last season.

4. JIMMIE JOHNSON – 2006-10, 2013, 2016 CHAMPION – 83 Career Wins – 591 Starts
Tied with Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt for most titles, and still in the hunt for an eighth.

5. DENNY HAMLIN – 31 Career Wins – 446 Starts
Best driver on the circuit yet to claim a championship. The Mark Martin of his day?

6. BRAD KESELOWSKI – 2012 CHAMPION – 24 Career Wins – 317 Starts
Among the Top 14 for eight straight seasons, including fourth best thus far in 2018.

7. JOEY LOGANO – 19 Career Wins – 339 Starts
The former wunderkind’s career got off to a slow start, but has blazed hot with Roger Penske.

8. KYLE LARSON – 5 Career Wins – 159 Starts
The 25-year-old has been the very best among the kids coming up.

9. MATT KENSETH – 2003 CHAMPION – 39 Career Wins – 651 Starts
Got a phone call. Got a part-time ride. Got another chance to shine amongst the other stars.

10. KURT BUSCH – 2004 CHAMPION – 29 Career Wins – 624 Starts
Not great in recent seasons, but when you are this good, good often can be good enough.

11. AUSTIN DILLON – 2 Wins – 169 Starts
The Daytona 500 can do wonders for a fellow’s career.

12. RICKY STENHOUSE JR. – 2 Wins – 196 Starts
Two wins last season turned his life and career pages with a flourish.

13. CLINT BOWYER – 9 Career Wins – 445 Starts
After four seasons in the wilderness, it appears the boy from Emporia has made his way back.

14. RYAN NEWMAN – 18 Career Wins – 596 Starts
Struggling to regain the magic that led to his runner-up year of 2014.

15. CHASE ELLIOTT – 89 Starts
No wins, but 25 Top Fives for the 22-year-old have to count for something.

16. RYAN BLANEY – 1 Wins – 102 Starts
The 24-year-old announced his arrival last season and is not missing a beat now with Penske.

17. KASEY KAHNE – 18 Career Wins – 516 Starts
Either nearing the end or just starting on his new beginning.

18. JAMIE MCMURRAY – 7 Career Wins – 558 Starts
If you are only going to win seven, win them at Charlotte, Daytona, Talladega, or Indianapolis.

19. ERIK JONES – 51 Starts
With 19 Top Tens, the 22-year-old is touted as being among the new constellation of stars.

20. ARIC ALMIROLA – 1 Wins – 256 Starts
Only his far superior ride gives him the nod over Chris Buescher.

May 16, 2018
NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Kansas

Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

1. Kevin Harvick: Harvick started on the pole at Kansas and passed Martin Truex Jr. with a lap to go to take the KC Masterpiece 400, his fifth win of the year.

“I narrowly missed being collected in the lap 253 crash,” Harvick said. “Combine that good fortune with the elation of my fifth win, and my nickname becomes ‘Happy-Go-Lucky.’”

2. Kyle Busch: Busch finished 10th at Kansas, posting his ninth top 10 of the season.

“I thought my three wins this year were impressive,” Busch said. “But Kevin Harvick’s five victories puts mine to shame. And then he has the audacity to troll me with ‘Busch’ sponsorship on his car.”

3. Joey Logano: Logano finished third in the KC Masterpiece 400 at Kansas, recording his fifth top-five result of the year.

“Matt Kenseth is back,” Logano said. “Luckily for me, he wasn’t back with a vengeance. But let’s face it, Matt’s not the most intimidating driver. He doesn’t scare anyone unless it’s me on the track at Martinsville or Brad Keselowski between the haulers at Charlotte.”

4. Kurt Busch: Busch finished eighth at Kansas as Stewart-Haas Racing teammate Kevin Harvick scored his fifth win of the season. Busch is fifth in the Monster Energy Cup points standings, 110 out of first.

“Harvick has been dominant on 1.5-mile tracks,” Busch said. “He’s a master of the 1-½ mile oval. He’s driving circles around everyone, including the tracks.”

5. Clint Bowyer: Bowyer finished 15th at Kansas and is now sixth in the Monster Energy Cup points standings, 117 out of first.

“It’s amazing what Kevin Harvick is doing this year,” Bowyer said. “He’s obviously the clear favorite to win the Monster Energy Cup championship. Sixteen drivers qualify for the postseason; 15 of those will be in the ‘Chase.’”

6. Brad Keselowski: Keselowski finished 14th at Kansas.

“Personally,” Keselowski said, “I couldn’t care less if the France family sells NASCAR. We all know Brian France can be bought; I’m sure he can be sold, as well.”

7. Kyle Larson: Larson finished fourth at Kansas, leading a race-high 101 laps on the way to his fourth top five of the season.

“We overcame our share of adversity,” Larson said. “First, I had to start near the back of the field, then I made contact with Ryan Blaney late in the race. But those are nothing compared to the toughest adversity we face each week, and that’s post-race inspection.”

8. Ryan Blaney: Blaney held off Kevin Harvick to win the first stage at Kansas, but made contact with Kyle Larson with 20 laps to go and suffered a blown right front tire. He finished 37th.

“I was just a little too aggressive,” Blaney said. “I was trying to side draft Larson and I just got sucked into him. Larson would certainly agree with my assessment, especially the ‘sucked’ part.”

9. Denny Hamlin: Hamlin took fifth in the KC Masterpiece 400, posting his fifth top five of the year.

“Did you see Alex Bowman blow a tire with 30 laps to go?” Hamlin said. “We haven’t seen sparks fly like that since Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Danica Patrick met.”

10. (tie) Martin Truex Jr.: Truex gambled on a late caution, staying out while most of the leaders pitted for tires, and nearly held off Kevin Harvick for the win at Kansas. But Truex succumbed to Harvick on the final lap and the driver of the No. 78 Toyota settled for second.

“I think night races appeal to everyone,” Truex said. “Newer fans like it because of the spectacle, and most of the traditional fans like it because it’s the closest thing to ‘moonshine’ this sport gets anymore.”

10. (tie)Jimmie Johnson: Johnson struggled to a 19th-place finish at Kansas, his first result outside the top 12 since April 8th at Texas.

“I had one teammate’s car sending out a shower of sparks,” Johnson said, “and another ended up in flames. Since I’ve stopped winning Cup championships, the only glory Hendrick Motorsports sees now comes in blazes.”

May 15, 2018
Four Takeaways from the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race at Kansas
Kansas Speedway was the home for the sixth race of the 2018 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. It was dominated by a young 19-year old.

Here are four takeaways from the 37 Kind Days 250.
1. Kyle Busch Motorsports Strong In The Heartland – It’s no doubt that if it’s not Johnny Sauter or Matt Crafton dominating the races, then it’s the Kyle Busch Motorsports stable. This weekend it was the No. 18 of Noah Gragson and the No. 4 of Kyle Busch. Gragson started on the pole and led most of the race, while his boss, Busch, followed closely behind in second. Gragson cut into the points lead and is now 35 behind Sauter. It will be interesting to see if Gragson can get on a roll after winning at Kansas this weekend.
2. GMS Racing Has Strong Showing – GMS Racing drivers had a strong showing at Kansas Friday night. Last week’s winner Johnny Sauter finished fifth, Justin Haley 10th and Dalton Sargeant 11th. The team continues to be strong week in and week out.
3. John Hunter Nemechek Posts Top Five Finish – In just his fourth race of the season, Nemechek posted his second top five by finishing fourth. Currently, he has three more races for the 2018 season while he is competing part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
4. Brandon Jones Back In The Truck Series – Brandon Jones returned back to the Truck Series this past weekend driving the No. 51 Kyle Busch Motorsports entry. It was Jones’s first race back since Bristol of last summer where he finished 10th. He started 13th and finished seventh and fifth, respectively, in both stages. When the 37 Kind Days 250 was all done and finished, the Atlanta Georgia native finished eighth.
May 15, 2018
Hot 20 – Selling NASCAR could be about as tough as trying to sell fans on watching Kansas

For Sale. National sanctioning body. A real fixer-upper. Updated safety features. Decades of tradition. All offers to be considered. Contact Goldman Sachs for further details.

Ever since Bill France gathered together other influential racers and promoters at the Streamline Hotel at Daytona Beach on December 14, 1947, and its founding two months later, it has been a family operation. NASCAR moved from the beach to the big track at Daytona in 1959. A decade later, he brought us Talladega. It was a time when the cars on the track were the cars on the street, with some modifications. By 1966, they introduced changes to the frames and chassis. It was the heyday of short track racing in the south, many of which departed the scene at the same time as the founder handed over the reins.

Bill France Jr. brought the sport into the modern era in 1972. It was the time of Winston Cup. Darrell Waltrip’s Monte Carlo and Richard Petty’s Dodge Charger looked a whole lot like what you could hit the streets in come Monday. Television arrived, at least sporadically, and a nation was let in on what had been primarily a southern secret. Another change in the car appeared when 1981 arrived. Not radical changes, mind you, as Dale Earnhardt’s Goodwrench No. 3 Chevy looked like the beast we all well remember. Fans still turned out in even greater numbers, even when they altered the car once more in 1992. A highly modified body, hours in the wind tunnel, fiberglass bumpers, noses, and tails, and higher costs. If we didn’t know it by then, that old Hudson Hornet was not coming back.

The new millennium brought new leadership as Brian France became the third generation to run the family operation. As Charles Dickens opened the Tale of Two Cities, it truly was the best of times, it was the worst of times. 2001 opened with a nationwide television audience and a long-term contract. It also opened with the death of its greatest active star. In order to provide greater safety, they went to work, and that produced the Car of Tomorrow in 2006, and the sport has never been the same since. No more slingshot passes. Clean air now meant everything. With the splitter and boxy exterior, the cars looked like nothing you would find in a showroom, not that you would want to buy one of them. By the end of the decade, the catchphrase “How bad have you got it” was more like how bad has it gotten. A downturn in the economy and fans quit coming. Seats were torn out of race venues. Attendance figures became a secret. Chicago, Kansas, and Kentucky came on board, but for what reason? Five years ago, a more streamlined sixth generation auto came out. It looked better, but the racing did not get much better.

Now, we are where we are today. Declining attendance, declining viewership, at a time when the most loyal fans are among the oldest, and the drivers they followed are either retired or near the end of the road. Announcers who simply lack the chemistry of good ole boys joking around, telling stories, keeping us entertained, as well as following what action there is on the track. We were reminded of what we are missing when the Cup guys announced the Xfinity race at Talladega. If only every race provided that kind of viewing experience.

Despite their recent purchase of the ARCA series, and the recent memo stating how the France family “remains dedicated to the long-term growth of our sport”, the door is open for the tire kicking to begin. Whoever makes an offer needs to bring back the fans and the sponsors, who are also departing. Whoever comes in will pay billions for the privilege, and they better have a plan. The current one is not working.

What is wrong with NASCAR? Watch Kansas on Saturday night for a hint. Meanwhile, post-race inspections at Dover meant 20 point penalties to Clint Bowyer and Daniel Suarez (rear window violations) while Austin Dillon avoided a point hit for his splitter issue. I wonder what Smoky Yunick would think?

1. KYLE BUSCH – 3 WINS – 466 Pts
Looked damn good even with a vibration, until they had to shut it off.

2. KEVIN HARVICK – 3 WINS (1 E.W.) – 426 Pts
Three clean wins, one encumbered win, and that still equals “four” in my book.

3. JOEY LOGANO – 1 WIN – 444 Pts
A fan of Junior, the “Most Popular Driver for the past 100 years.” Joey seems to like old people.

4. CLINT BOWYER – 1 WIN – 360 Pts
All he wanted was to become relevant again. Mission accomplished.

5. MARTIN TRUEX JR. – 1 WIN – 340 Pts
After a 2017 sweep of Kansas, what is one more?

6. AUSTIN DILLON – 1 WIN – 221 Pts
If he had been second at Daytona, he would now sit 19th in the standings.

7. BRAD KESELOWSKI – 365 POINTS
It was nice of Harvick to share the stage for a time at Dover.

8. KURT BUSCH – 358 POINTS
“…seeing this schedule for next year, I’m not excited.” I know how he feels.

9. RYAN BLANEY – 346 POINTS
Just the second best Penske Ford at Dover…and he finished eighth.

10. DENNY HAMLIN – 344 POINTS
Obviously got his driver’s license for his skills on the street, not those coming into the driveway.

11. KYLE LARSON – 307 POINTS
Named his new daughter Coke. Okay, I am kidding. I think I am kidding.

12. ARIC ALMIROLA – 304 POINTS
Leaving the track without assistance this year would be nice.

13. JIMMIE JOHNSON – 268 POINTS
No chance of moving up on this ladder this week, except for a win.

14. ERIK JONES – 253 POINTS
He swears he has seen the ghost of Matt Kenseth at Kansas.

15. ALEX BOWMAN – 252 POINTS
Cup, Xfinity, Trucks, ARCA, K&N…one driver who has touched all of NASCAR’s bases.

16. CHASE ELLIOTT – 241 POINTS
Without a win in the bag, those penalty points hurt. Chase is one who knows that pain.

17. RICKY STENHOUSE JR. – 239 POINTS
He has a new teammate this week. Some old guy I hear.

18. WILLIAM BYRON – 225 POINTS
Learned to race in a simulator, then in a car at 15. It is a new era.

19. RYAN NEWMAN – 218 POINTS
The Rocketman is fizzing out.

20. DANIEL SUAREZ – 214 POINTS
Earn a podium finish, and good things happen. Fail post-race inspection, bad things take place.

May 9, 2018
NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Dover

Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

1. Kevin Harvick: Harvick started second and dominated at Dover, taking both stage wins and cruising to the victory in the AAA 400, his fourth win of the year.

“I felt invincible out there,” Harvick said. “That’s in stark contrast to the fans at Dover, who were invisible out there.”

2. Kyle Busch: Busch blew the engine of the No. 18 Pedigree Toyota with 130 laps to go at Dover, and suffered his worst finish of the season, a 35th.

“I knew the car wasn’t running right,” Busch said. “The, all of a sudden, ‘Kaboom!’ Or more like, ‘Ky-boom!’

“I left the drive shaft laying on the track, and I was done. So I said ‘Piece out.’”

3. Joey Logano: Logano finished 13th at Dover and is second in the Monster Energy Cup points standings, 22 behind Kyle Busch.

“The France family is exploring the possibility of selling NASCAR,” Logano said. “It’s a tough sell. Viewership is down, fans aren’t buying tickets, and sponsors are leaving in droves. That’s why the France’s have offered an affordable price that comes with ‘no interest.’”

4. Clint Bowyer: Bowyer finished second in the AAA 400, as Stewart-Haas Racing teammate Kevin Harvick took the win handily.

“I was leading the race when the rains came with 80 laps to go,” Bowyer said. “It was a short rain, and therefore a short reign.”

5. Brad Keselowski: Keselowski led 108 laps and finished sixth at Dover, posting his sixth top 10 of the season.

“Kevin Harvick looked great out there,” Keselowski said. “Heck, he even looked great in his driver’s suit. You could say he won in ‘convincing fashion.’”

6. Kurt Busch: Busch finished fifth at Dover on a strong day for Stewart-Haas Racing, as Kevin Harvick won and Clint Bowyer took second. Busch is sixth in the points standings, 108 out of first.

“SHR is dominating,” Busch said. “And Tony Stewart is loving it. The team, and Harvick in particular, have delivered this year. That’s what Tony demands. He refuses to settle for anything other than the best, and the occasional lawsuit.”

7. Aric Almirola: Almirola finished 11th at Dover, while his three Stewart Haas Racing teammates placed in the top five, with Kevin Harvick winning.

“It was a blast celebrating in Victory Lane with the team,” Almirola said. “To signify Harvick’s fourth win this season, we held up four fingers. As fingers go, I guess I’m the fourth one on this team. The other three fingers are the middle ones of Harvick, Clint Bowyer, and Kurt Busch.”

8. Ryan Blaney: Blaney finished eighth at Dover, and is now seventh in the Monster Energy Cup points standings, 120 out of first.

“A JP Motorsports crew member broke the jaw of one of the team’s co-owners,” Blaney said. “I know sponsors are hesitant about investing in NASCAR now, but it seems to be the perfect time for a certain large hard candy to advertise.”

9. Denny Hamlin: Hamlin finished seventh at Dover and is eighth in the Monster Energy Cup points standings.

“Kyle Busch had some troubles,” Hamlin said, “but Daniel Suarez finished third, tying his career-best finish on an oval. Daniel is from Mexico and may be the key to bringing a new segment of fans to the sport. The marketing possibilities are endless, and the likelihood of a fanatic fan base looms. Can you imagine a famous Mexican beer coupled with a legion of adoring fans? It’s not the ‘Nation Of Earnhardt’ It would be the ‘Corona-tion Of Suarez.’”

10. (tie) Martin Truex Jr.: Truex suffered a flat tire during Stage 1, but charged back to post a fourth-place finish at Dover.

“Xfinity Series driver Spencer Gallagher failed a drug test,” Truex said. “He was suspended indefinitely, but showed up for Xfinity testing at Charlotte anyway; he was told to leave. So, he went from ‘testing positive’ to ‘testing negative.’”

10. (tie) Jimmie Johnson: Johnson finished ninth at Dover, scoring his third top-10 finish in the last four races.

“I’m still looking for my first win this season,” Johnson said. “It seems to be hard to find. I guess it’s a matter of finding championship form or continuing to rely on my ‘championship former.’”

May 9, 2018
The Final Word – It was over when Harvick said it was over at Dover

It is now official. Kevin Harvick is the most generous driver in NASCAR. No one shared like Harvick did Sunday at Dover.

Harvick started up front after inspection issues removed Kyle Larson from starting at point. After leading the first 21 laps, he turned it over to Alex Bowman before Brad Keselowski took over for the next 60. Nearing the end of the opening segment, Harvick returned to wrap it up. Segment two, Harvick shared with Keselowski. Until the final 40 laps, when it was again all Harvick.

As for the final frame, Harvick remained happy sharing the lead. He allowed Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Clint Bowyer to run in clean air. He even allowed Joey Logano a single lap up front. However, when he got tired of just fooling around, Harvick regained control over the final 63 laps to beat Bowyer by seven seconds. It was his fourth win of the season (one of which is encumbered), 41st of his career, and his second ever at Dover. Hopefully, this time young Keelan Harvick does not bust the arm of this Miles the Monster Trophy.

As for the likes of Harvick, who picked up maximum points, Bowyer, third place finisher Daniel Suarez, and Keselowski in sixth, it was the best of times. The worst of times were experienced by Paul Menard and Ryan Newman. Both went back to the garage with wheel related mechanical issues and returned many, many laps down for single-digit points runs. Austin Dillon and Bowman were not much better finishing outside the best 20. In fact, if not for that Daytona win, Marshal Dillon would be hanging his hat on 19th place in the standings.

Kyle Busch was good. So good that he quit talking about that vibration he had. The one that got worse and worse as the day went on. In a steady Top Five ride, something finally broke in the drive train and his worries were realized. He finished 35th, but he did collect 17 bonus points to soften the blow somewhat.

Busch remains atop the leader ladder in points and tied with Harvick for “unencumbered” wins. Bowman and Jimmie Johnson came into Dover 13th and 15th in the standings, respectively, but swapped spots as Johnson came home in 9th. Stenhouse finished 15th, but he lost the 16th and final Chase place to Chase Elliott who was 12th on the day. His bonus points vault him into that final playoff berth. Suarez was outside the Top 20 coming in but now sits just seven points behind Elliott as Menard falls outside the Top 20, nine points behind Newman.

Next up is Kansas, where Martin Truex Jr. swept 2017. He comes in after finishing fourth in Delaware. Do not count out Johnson. Even if he fails to win his fourth on that track, he has failed to make the Top Ten just six out of 23 attempts. Ole Seven Time won’t move up on the standings after this race in points, but it is funny what a single win could do. Maybe Harvick will be willing to share.

May 7, 2018
Hot 20 – Dover is not Talladega, but it simply oozes the very best of tradition

Sometimes the news is good like it was at Talladega last week. Entertaining races and I loved the Cup guys manning the microphones for the Xfinity race. They were laid back, funny, and in the case of Darrell Wallace, Jr., pretty darn articulate. Michael Waltrip was a pizza delivery boy, and it brought me back to the best NASCAR show ever. I miss Inside Winston Cup, where Waltrip was held in line by Ken Schrader. Allen Bestwick and Johnny Benson tried to keep things moving forward in a loosely sane manner, even as a garbage truck rolled noisily down the alley behind their studio.

Last Saturday, Spencer Gallagher made that announce crew quite giddy as he claimed his first career junior circuit triumph. The 28-year old won it for his team owner, his dad Maury, as the family operation climbed to the top of the mountain. What a wonderful story. So heartwarming. So family orientated. So traditional.

Well, that went for crap in a hurry. Today, young Gallagher is suspended for violating NASCAR’s drug policy. He is now on their quaintly named Road to Recovery Program. Gone is his team’s shot at the Dash 4 Cash money. Gone is his playoff eligibility for this season. It is a good thing dad has rather deep pockets.

On the positive side of things, Amy and Dale Jr. welcomed Isla Rose Earnhardt into the family on Monday. It is way too early to play matchmaker, but His Royal Highness Prince Louis Arthur Charles of Cambridge is a fine looking young man. Then again, she is already royalty in our books.

Let us hope Dover brings us another feel-good story, one that might last the week. Dover is no Talladega, but they do have Miles the Monster, in sculpture and trophy form. This is the 50th year the track has hosted a Cup event, starting with Richard Petty’s 1969 win in the inaugural Mason-Dixon 300. The venue marked NASCAR’s return to action after 9-11, a race won by Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Track records for practice and race times over all three national series are held by the likes of Brad Keselowski, Mark Martin, Bill Elliott, Erik Jones, Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney. Jimmie Johnson has won 11 times on that surface.

You might not remember Jody Ridley, who won there in 1981. He might be the only former winner you might not know. Thirty-five drivers have claimed at least one of the 96 contests at Dover. A pair of Allisons won there. Each Busch brother. A couple of Earnhardts. Two guys named Petty. Forty were won by Hall of Famers, 68 by drivers who have laid claim to the Cup championship.

Dover brings us both Miles the Monster and tradition. You can never have enough of either.

Among our Hot 20 we have…

1. KYLE BUSCH – 3 WINS – 447 Pts
When he’s not happy, he’s not smiling.

2. KEVIN HARVICK – 3 WINS – 366 Pts
Smiles when he is happy, smiles when he is not. Beware of the unhappy smile. It is evil.

3. JOEY LOGANO – 1 WIN – 417 Pts
Spotter T.J. Majors helped Junior to victory at Talladega in 2015, and now Logano in 2018.

4. CLINT BOWYER – 1 WIN – 335 Pts
The Fords are flying, the Mustang is on its way, but the rest of the sedan fleet is DOA?

5. MARTIN TRUEX JR. – 1 WIN – 303 Pts
Was winless at Dover last year, but claimed the most points (3rd and 4th).

6. AUSTIN DILLON – 1 WIN – 210 Pts
Did he pee himself last week? You would have to ask team interior mechanic Adam Brown.

7. KURT BUSCH – 320 POINTS
Runner-up at Talladega. “I feel like I left that one out on the table.”

8. BRAD KESELOWSKI – 317 POINTS
He really could have used an ice-cream after Sunday’s wreck.

9. DENNY HAMLIN – 314 POINTS
He meant to get back-to-back speeding penalties. He needed the challenge.

10. RYAN BLANEY – 313 POINTS
Last Saturday he was very good for television but absolutely perfect for radio.

11. KYLE LARSON – 280 POINTS
With NASCAR buying ARCA this week, he can now add to his Cup, Xfinity, and Truck tallies.

12. ARIC ALMIROLA – 278 POINTS
Driving a SHR Ford has been sweet for the entire gang.

13. ALEX BOWMAN – 238 POINTS
When a cashier asked him what he thought about Junior retiring, he said his replacement is lame.

14. ERIK JONES – 234 POINTS
Has some points room, but not that much room to repeat what took place last time out.

15. JIMMIE JOHNSON – 230 POINTS
The kid did not take the air out of his sails, but it sure disappeared around that rear fender.

16. RICKY STENHOUSE JR. – 217 POINTS
Some think all one needs is more cowbell. Kurt Busch needed a bit more Stenhouse.

17. RYAN NEWMAN – 214 POINTS
Close to a playoff spot, a 594 race career, and Spencer Gallagher gets all the headlines?

18. CHASE ELLIOTT – 209 POINTS
Third place finish the best among three Chevrolets in the Top Ten last Sunday.

19. PAUL MENARD – 206 POINTS
Won the second stage last week, yet finished 30th with some fender bending assistance.

20. WILLIAM BYRON – 202 POINTS
Twenty percent fewer tuned in to watch Byron at Talladega than who watched Gordon and Junior last year. That is shocking, even in these times.

May 2, 2018
NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Talladega

Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

1. Kyle Busch: Busch, seeking his fourth consecutive victory, finished 13th in the Geico 500 at Talladega, and remained atop the Monster Energy Cup points standings.

“I’ll have to ask my brother Kurt a question,” Busch said. “How do you not win at Talladega when you’re running second with a teammate right behind you? Come on. In that situation, you’ve got to partner up and make the pass for the win. Heck. I’ve seen better teamwork at Red Bull Racing in Formula 1.”

2. Kevin Harvick: Harvick started on the pole at Talladega and finished fourth at Talladega.

“I couldn’t quite make it to the front,” Harvick said. “At Talladega, it’s all about the draft. Of course, having a flannel paint scheme can’t be conducive to aerodynamics.”

3. Joey Logano: Logano snapped a 36-race winless streak with the win at Talladega, leading the final 40 laps while holding off Kevin Harvick and Kurt Busch.

“I finally got the monkey off my back,” Logano said. “So, I guess you could call this an unencumbered win.

“Matt Kenseth is returning to NASCAR in 2018. Of course, he’s still finalizing details of his contract with Roush Fenway Racing. That really concerned me, because the last time Matt said he had some ‘unfinished business,’ it meant big trouble for me.”

4. Clint Bowyer: Bowyer was collected in the second of two big crashes late at Talladega and finished 31st.

“It really sucks to have your day ended through no fault of your own,” Bowyer said. “And it makes me mad. I can certainly relate to what Indy Car driver James Hinchcliffe recently discussed because I know what it’s like to be ‘pissed in a race car.’”

5. Brad Keselowski: Keselowski won Stage 1 at Talladega, but was collected in a late pile-up triggered by contact between Hendrick Motorsports teammates Jimmie Johnson and William Byron. Keselowski finished 33rd.

“Had we stayed in the race,” Keselowski said, “we could have done some damage. Unfortunately, the damage was done to me.”

6. Ryan Blaney: Blaney started 23rd and finished 18th at Talladega, and is eighth in the Monster Energy Cup points standings.

“Attendance at Talladega was great,” Blaney said. “No matter where you view the race, there’s not a bad seat in the house. But the best seat is in one of the luxury boxes set high above the start/finish line. They’re called ‘Suite Home Alabama.’”

7. Denny Hamlin: After racing up front for most of the day at Talladega, Hamlin suffered two late speeding penalties and fell to 14th. He is seventh in the Monster Energy Cup points standings, 133 out of first.

“I was penalized for speeding while trying to serve my penalty for speeding,” Hamlin said. “And I lost my cool a little bit. Maybe I need a figure of authority to control me, like a ‘governor,’ for example.”

8. Martin Truex Jr.: Truex finished 26th at Talladega, four laps off the lead lap.

“Auburn coach Gus Malzahn served as Grand Marshall for the race,” Truex said. “That made about half the race crowd happy. I imagine in order to please the whole crowd, Judge Roy Moore would have to give the command to fire the motors. I’m not sure he could handle the duty. He’d probably just say ‘Ladies, start my engine.’”

9. Aric Almirola: Almirola took seventh in the Geico 500 on a solid day for Stewart-Haas Racing, as teammates Kurt Busch and Kevin Harvick finished second and fourth, respectively.

“Busch or Harvick should have won that race,” Almirola said. “Kurt made his move too early, and Kevin wasn’t ready. That really threw a wrench into Harvick’s plans on winning, as well as his balls.”

10. Jimmie Johnson: Johnson finished 12th in the Geico 500.

“I was the cause of one of Sunday’s ‘Big Ones,’” Johnson said. “That wreck took out a lot of cars. But you know what they say: ‘If it’s ‘plate’ racing, somebody’s bound to get ‘forked.’”

April 30, 2018
The Final Word – Talladega, bringing you the thrill of victory…and the agony of defeat

Talladega was sweet. That was the kind of action that captured my attention as a kid, watching Wide World of Sports. As Jim McKay so iconically put it all those years ago, “Spanning the globe to bring you the constant variety of sport… the thrill of victory… and the agony of defeat… the human drama of athletic competition.” That was Sunday at Talladega.

Joey Logano got the thrill. It was his third on the big track and the 19th Cup victory of his career. It was exciting, but not exactly a nail-biter, as Logano led the final 42 laps. Kurt Busch was right there in case he faltered, while Chase Elliott did manage to slip ahead of Kevin Harvick at the line for third.

Thrills for the fans meant the agony of defeat for so many others, as it often does when the circuit visits Alabama. Jamie McMurray had one hell of a spill during practice, tumbling through the air to roll over a half dozen times to totally destroy his primary ride. His back-up fared a little better. Erik Jones caught the apron, went up to get turned by McMurray, then onward to pile into Trevor Bayne along the wall. It also ruined the day for Kyle Larson and Martin Truex Jr. Innovation, thy name is Talladega. To get Truex back out there, the crew busted out a concrete saw in order to make repairs. That was a first.

No big one yet, but the clock was ticking. With 22 laps to run, William Byron took the air off the rear of Jimmie Johnson’s equally unstable auto, and the fun began. While Johnson survived to eventually finish 12th, Byron, Paul Menard, Clint Bowyer, Michael McDowell, Brad Keselowski, A.J. Allmendinger and Austin Dillon were toast on the spot.

We learned a few things at Talladega. First, pit road infractions might set you back, but they did not end your hopes on the 2.66-mile loop. Elliott, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Alex Bowman, and Daniel Suarez were among those tagged who managed to finish in the Top Ten. However, if you get hit with speeding late in the race and then get hit for speeding again while taking the pass-through penalty, your hopes evaporate. They did for Denny Hamlin, though even he recovered enough over the next hour for a lead lap 14th place conclusion.

We learned that pitting early helps. On the opening segment Ford and Toyota all came in early on, the Chevys did not. They also did not lead the parade at the end of the stage. Lesson learned, so when the Fords came back to the pits early in the second segment, the Toyota boys arrived on the next lap, with Chevrolet just one more behind them. Not that it worked for them all. Six of the Top Seven at Talladega were Fords. Chevy had the third, eighth, and ninth best, with Kyle Busch driving the best Toyota in 10th.

With 58-points, Logano took the lion’s share of points, with only Harvick and Stenhouse among the others breaking 40. David Ragan is 25th on the season, but sixth on the day. Single point days were “enjoyed” by Top 20 drivers Larson and Jones.

From Talladega, we technically stay in the south as the circuit moves to Dover, Delaware. It might not be Talladega, but it sports one of the best trophies in the sport at a track owned by legends. In the first 18 races run there from 1969 through 1978, the winners were limited to Richard Petty (5), David Pearson (5), Bobby Allison (3), Cale Yarborough (3), and Benny Parsons (2). That is some kind of blue-blood pedigree, Hall of Famers all.

By the way, the first time we saw Dover on our television screens it was 1974. The man who got the thrill of victory that day was Yarborough. The agony of defeat was experienced by Petty, as the race leader lost an engine with three laps to go. The action was described by Bill Flemming and Chris Economaki. The program, ABC’s Wide World of Sports.

April 30, 2018