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  • Kentucky Speedway – Did You Know?

    Kentucky Speedway – Did You Know?

    The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series heads to Kentucky Speedway this weekend for the Quaker State 400. Forty drivers will compete for the trophy with only nine regular season races remaining before the playoffs begin.

    The inaugural Quaker State 400 was held on July 9, 2011, and was won by Joe Gibbs Racing’s Kyle Busch who led 125 of 267 laps. Busch captured the checkered flag again in 2015 while Brad Keselowski has won three of the six Cup Series races (2012, 2014, and 2016) at the 1.5-mile track. Busch‘s teammate, Matt Kenseth, has one victory at Kentucky, in 2013. But did you know that Kentucky Speedway is the only track on the current schedule where no Chevrolet car has ever won?

    With only nine races left in the regular season winning is paramount. Ten drivers have secured their spot in the playoffs with victories but the clock is winding down for everyone else. Kyle Busch, Chase Elliott, Jamie McMurray, Denny Hamlin, Clint Bowyer and Matt Kenseth are currently 11th-16th in the playoff picture, but none of them have been to Victory Lane this year.

    Keselowski is the defending race winner and holds the track qualifying record with a speed of 188.791 mph, set on June 28, 2014. He leads all active drivers with an average starting position of 4.500 and has the series second-best driver rating (119.2). But did you know that Keselowski is the only driver to win a Cup Series race from the pole (2014) at Kentucky?

    With two wins and four top fives at Kentucky, Kyle Busch is hoping to turn his luck around and grab his first win of the season Saturday. He has the series-best driver rating of 125.6, the series-best average finish (5.167) and has led the most laps in the top 15.

    Kenseth will be trying for a repeat of his 2013 triumph this weekend. With Joey Logano only three points behind him in points, a win is essential. He has the series third-best driver rating (107.9), three top fives and six top 10s. But did you know that with his win in 2013, Kenseth became the oldest Kentucky winner (06/30/2013 – 41 years, 3 months, 20 days)? Another trip to Victory Lane would be icing on the cake.

    This will likely be Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s last race at Kentucky Speedway as he will retire from full-time competition at the end of this season. While he only has the 13th-best driver rating at the track, he does have one pole, two top five finishes and ranks fourth-best in fastest laps run (34). But did you know that Earnhardt is the oldest driver to win a Kentucky pole? In 2013 he captured the Coors Light Pole Award at the age of 38 years, 8 months and 20 days.

    Qualifying well could be the determining factor for a victory at Kentucky. Three of the six (50 percent) Cup Series races have been won from the front row while five of the six races (83.3 percent) have been won from a top 10 starting position.

    Be sure to tune into the action this weekend as the racing intensifies in anticipation of the upcoming playoffs. The Quaker State 400 will be broadcast on NBCSN at 7:30 p.m. ET Saturday.

    In the meantime, check out the video below as Keselowski, low on fuel, holds off Carl Edwards to capture his third win at Kentucky Speedway.

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

  • Hot 20 – Kentucky – I am so happy I feel like bouncing…just more like Eeyore than Tigger

    Hot 20 – Kentucky – I am so happy I feel like bouncing…just more like Eeyore than Tigger

    Welcome to the Eeyore edition of the Hot 20. Last week, it was Daytona. That was the Happy Snoopy Dance version. This Saturday night, it is Kentucky. My level of excitement is slightly subdued.

    It is not as if there is nothing to watch for. Clint Bowyer might like a win, but he is not quite yet in desperate straits. Matt Kenseth might and with Joey Logano just three points behind him, a win or just a much better day than the one his rival experiences would be sweet. Logano would be fine except for the fact five guys below him in points have wins and Joey’s victory counts for nothing.

    Kenseth won in Kentucky in 2013, and could sure use another. Kyle Busch has a pair there, in 2011 and 2015, but his points total sure looks good enough despite him being winless. In 2012, 2014, and 2016, the winner was Brad Keselowski. Other than to chalk up some more playoff points, he needs it like I need to gain another 20 pounds.

    If a 2017 race winner wins again, it could be pretty ho-hum. If someone 11th through 15th takes the prize, that would be nice. However, if someone 16th or beyond claims the contest Saturday night, Kentucky just might turn out to be mighty interesting indeed.

    Of course, like Eeyore, I can be content in the knowledge that things could always be worse. Not sure how, but they could be.

    1. JIMMIE JOHNSON – 3 WINS (516 Pts)
    If this racing thing doesn’t pan out, he could always be a salesman. He is quite the pedaler.

    2. KYLE LARSON – 2 WINS (667 Pts)
    Top gun in points, has a pair of wins, and soon might not be known as the “other” Kyle.

    3. MARTIN TRUEX JR. – 2 WINS (649 Pts)
    According to Las Vegas, this is your favorite for Sparta’s big race.

    4. BRAD KESELOWSKI – 2 WINS (535 Pts)
    Ignore Thornton. “I am Sparta!”

    5. RICKY STENHOUSE JR. – 2 WINS (395 Pts)
    Wins at Talladega and Daytona. Who the hell does he think he is, Jamie McMurray?

    6. KEVIN HARVICK – 1 WIN (557 Pts)
    Has not yet won at Pocono, Texas, or Kentucky. Time to break out the bucket list.

    7. RYAN BLANEY – 1 WIN (435 Pts)
    Backward flip into a pool after signing a giant rubber duck. That was his Daytona experience.

    8. KURT BUSCH – 1 WIN (408 Pts)
    Said Junior had the car to beat last week…and, by God, they beat it real good.

    9. RYAN NEWMAN – 1 WIN (399 Pts)
    I am starting to think that they keep Newman locked up in a dark room between races.

    10. AUSTIN DILLON – 1 WIN (323 Pts)
    Darlington might be three months away, but his paint scheme that day will be so sweet.

    11. KYLE BUSCH – 559 POINTS
    Doesn’t need a third Kentucky win. He just wants it.

    12. CHASE ELLIOTT – 524 POINTS
    Upset with McDowell, but will keep it civil. I mean, Michael is just too damn big not to.

    13. JAMIE MCMURRAY – 504 POINTS
    If he is not finishing in the Top Fifteen, it means he crashed.

    14. DENNY HAMLIN – 498 POINTS
    How this race differs from the Daytona 500? If he wins Saturday, the car won’t be up on display.

    15. CLINT BOWYER – 469 POINTS
    Not locked in just yet, but feeling pretty confident.

    16. MATT KENSETH – 445 POINTS
    Not so confident, but he is one of three who has won in Kentucky before.

    17. JOEY LOGANO – 442 POINTS (1 W)
    It has been a while since a race winner was sitting outside a Chase place.

    18. ERIK JONES – 386 POINTS
    Has it much easier at an autograph session than, say, Brad Keselowski.

    19. DANIEL SUAREZ – 354 POINTS
    Maybe…just maybe…we have the first Mexican Olympic bobsleigh champion right here.

    20. TREVOR BAYNE – 351 POINTS
    A Bayne win Saturday would even make Eeyore smile.

  • Kyle Busch Fastest at Kentucky in Final Truck Practice

    Kyle Busch Fastest at Kentucky in Final Truck Practice

    SPARTA, Ky. — Kyle Busch topped the chart in final NASCAR Camping World Truck Series practice at Kentucky Speedway.

    The driver of the No. 46 Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota was the fastest with a time of 29.853 and a speed of 180.886 mph. Christopher Bell was second in his No. 4 KBM Toyota with a time of 29.869 and a speed of 180.867 mph. Kaz Grala was third in his No. 33 GMS Racing Chevrolet with a time of 29.886 and a speed of 180.687 mph. Matt Crafton was fourth in his No. 88 ThorSport Racing Toyota with a time of 29.897 and a speed of 180.620 mph. Johnny Sauter rounded out the top-five in his No. 21 GMS Chevrolet with a time of 29.902 and a speed of 180.590 mph.

    Brandon Jones, Austin Hill, Noah Gragson, Justin Haley and John Hunter Nemechek rounded out the top-10.

    Busch posted the fastest 10 consecutive lap average at a speed of 178.896 mph.

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  • NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Preview – Kentucky

    NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Preview – Kentucky

    The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series returns to action this week after a weekend off. It will be the 10th race of the season for the Truck Series, just six races before the playoffs begin.

    There are 34 entries on the preliminary list for Thursday night’s truck race. In the past five races at Kentucky Speedway, there have been five different winners. Only two of those winners are entered in the race, Matt Crafton and Kyle Busch. Here are some drivers to keep an eye on for tomorrow night’s race.

    1. Kyle Busch – You better believe that whenever Kyle Busch is entered in any race, he’ll have an automatic shot to win. In the past five races, Kyle has raced in three of them with one win and two top fives. However, in his previous outing at Kentucky, Busch crashed out on lap 56, ending his night early.
    2. Matt Crafton – Crafton has had a sour season so far with only two top five and five top 10 finishes in 2017. At Kentucky, he is the highest active driver stat wise. In five races, Crafton has one win plus one top five and one top 10 finish and has led 43 laps. Crafton’s turning point could take place at Kentucky.
    3. Johnny Sauter – Sauter has been decent at Kentucky. He has one top five and three top 10 finishes at Kentucky. Sauter has been strong this season and is looking to continue building his momentum for a chase at the championship.
    4. Christopher Bell – In two races, Bell has one top five and one top 10 finish. With two wins already this season, he’ll be looking to secure a third win as he has no career wins at Kentucky.
    5. John Hunter Nemechek- Nemechek has been on a roll in the past two races, securing two consecutive wins. Nemechek’s track record at Kentucky has not been too shabby with one top five and one top 10 finish. Nemechek has a best finish of second which came in the 2016 race.Qualifying is slated for 5 p.m. ET Thursday, while the race is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET, both on FS1.
  • The Final Word – Daytona…best race of the season

    The Final Word – Daytona…best race of the season

    Daytona. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. A win to be in.

    Well, that is what many were hoping for Saturday night. Junior led from the pole, was sitting up near the front, and finished only behind Brad Keselowski when the opening stage came to a conclusion. No problem. He was contending and that was good enough for the moment.

    Sadly, rather than a presentation of The Greatest Story Ever Told, a flat tire and some grinding work against the fence made it more like the Life of Brian. Earnhardt, who is retiring from full-time racing after this season, still walked among us, just a couple of laps behind where his fans had hoped he might be.

    It could have been worse. Kyle Busch had a tire go down, wiggled briefly in front of his brother, then found himself in the middle of a crap storm. By the time the cars quit hitting each other and the wall, Martin Truex Jr., Joey Logano, and Austin Dillon were among them with time on their hands. Kyle may have departed, but at least Kurt Busch was left on the track, if that was any consolation.

    The only constant was that nothing was constant. You had the feeling that when they began the final half of the 400-mile journey, everyone had a shot at it. Well, everyone not already beaten to a pulp. Maybe Ryan Blaney would win again. Maybe Chase Elliott would claim his first. If either was to come to pass, they had their work cut out for them. With 155 miles left, Chase Elliott got turned, went across in front of Blaney, and the pair went on a tear through the grass. They were bowed, though not yet beaten.

    Remember Earnhardt? When they went back under green, he was 16th and back on the lead lap. Did the man whose career from 2001 to 2004 read like sensationalized fiction have one more fairytale ending in his library? With 140 miles left, Junior was back in the Top Ten as Hendrick teammate Jimmie Johnson took over the lead.

    Then it happened. You know how Cinderella ends? Pretty sweet, eh? Well, in this version, Kevin Harvick lost a tire, spun in front of Earnhardt, and it was pumpkin pie for them both. Others spun, but Happy and Dale were the pair that were done.

    Maybe Clint Bowyer was going to lock his spot in the Chase. He trailed only Ricky Stenhouse Jr. with a hundred miles remaining, which is when Keselowski checked out of this one. Tire went down, the nose inhaled the wall, and as he headed to the garage, the two leaders headed to the pits. Good time as any for a much-needed fuel stop. We might have known who was not going to win at this time, but the identity of the winner was still a total mystery. Maybe this is why Daytona races are a joy to watch.

    Sixty miles to go. The top four all looking for a win to vault ahead into a Chase place. Daniel Suarez was followed by Kasey Kahne. Bowyer and Matt Kenseth were in on points, but barely, and that would be in jeopardy if either of those first two claimed this thing. David Ragan, Erik Jones and Paul Menard all desperately need a win, and all were in the mix as the laps counted down. I tell you, it was pretty darn hard to sneak away to get that final cold one the way they were racing.

    With 35 miles to go the winless Chris Buescher, A.J. Allmendinger, and Ty Dillon had moved up to join the others hoping for a season-defining result among the top dozen. Daddy’s adult pop was still calling, but I was still not moving. Incredible action.

    Twelve miles left, and still, we had no idea who would win. We did get a definite idea of who else would not. Kyle Larson got hooked by Stenhouse and went airborne. It was a Days of Thunder conclusion for him and Kenseth, as Blaney had his straw house blown down. As for Kurt, he managed to avoid an accident earlier, only to find that fate was just waiting to claim his auto.

    Eight laps left. Every lap an exciting one, but the only one that was going to matter in the end was the one that ended it. That lap would come in overtime, and while Menard, Bowyer, and Michael McDowell were second through fourth, it was Stenhouse coming home for his second victory of the season. He was a heart-breaker, especially when you consider that, other than Ryan Newman in fifth, the rest of the top 11 Saturday night remain winless on the season.

    Most entertaining race of the year. If you are hoping for another possible Earnhardt storyline in Kentucky next Saturday night, you should expect to be disappointed. In six previous events held at that venue, the winners have gone by such names as Keselowski (3), Rowdy (2), and Kenseth. That is all.

    Now I can go get that frosty beverage.

  • NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Daytona

    NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Daytona

    Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

    1. Kyle Larson: Larson crashed on Lap 193 in the Coke Zero 400 when he slipped in front of Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and the impact briefly sent Larson airborne. Larson finished 20th.

    “That’s not the only thing that went airborne,” Larson said. “My testicles went skyward as well. Talk about an ‘aero package.’”

    2. Martin Truex Jr.: Truex’s day at Daytona ended on Lap 71 after he was collected in an accident triggered by Kyle Busch’s spin. Truex finished 34th.

    “I was just a victim of circumstances,” Truex said. “And those circumstances involved Kyle Busch spinning out of control. But it could have been worse. The only thing worse that Busch physically spinning out of control is Busch mentally spinning out of control. That happens a lot more.”

    3. Kevin Harvick: Harvick’s Daytona race ended on Lap 106 when he blew a right rear tire and slid into traffic, damaging the No. 4 Jimmy Johns Chevrolet. Harvick finished 33rd.

    “When you blow a tire at nearly 200 miles per hour,” Harvick said, “there’s not much you can do. You’re basically at the mercy of a car you have no control over. It’s kind of like what driving for Richard Childress Racing must be like today.”

    4. Jimmie Johnson: Johnson finished 12th at Daytona and now holds seventh place in the Monster Energy Cup points standings.

    “I wore a helmet sporting the likenesses of Darrell Waltrip and Bobby Allison,” Johnson said. “They have 84 career Cup wins, and I’m only one win away from joining that group. It’s awesome to be mentioned amongst those two NASCAR legends, but I haven’t let it go to my head…until now, that is.”

    5. Kyle Busch: Busch finished 20th at Daytona.

    “Daniel Suarez really came through on an otherwise tough day for Joe Gibbs Racing,” Busch said. “The rookie finished 17th. Daniel is from Mexico, and his presence in the sport has really opened a new demographic for NASCAR. That’s gonna take your typical NASCAR fan some getting used to. To them, the ‘Hispanic Market’ is a specialized convenience store.”

    6. Brad Keselowski: After spinning on a Lap 106 accident, Keselowski hit the wall on lap 118, ending the day for Penske Racing after teammate Joey Logano crashed out on Lap 71.

    “Congratulations to Ricky Stenhouse Jr.,” Keselowski said. “That’s his second restrictor-plate race win this season after winning at Daytona. He got a kiss from his girlfriend Danica Patrick in Victory Lane after the race. Danica absolutely loves it when her boyfriend wins, because it gives her a reason to be in Victory Lane.”

    7. Chase Elliott: Elliott finished 22nd in the Coke Zero 400, battling back after a lengthy slide through the grass after contact with Trevor Bayne on Lap 98.

    “If you were listening to my radio feed,” Elliott said, “you probably heard me curse when I spun. And if you’re listening to my radio feed, you probably know I just signed a contract extension with Hendrick Motorsports. Together, those two facts mean I’m ‘filthy rich.’”

    8. Jamie McMurray: McMurray survived a chaotic Coke Zero 400 with a 14th at Daytona. He is eighth in the Monster Energy Cup points standings, 163 out of first.

    “There were a number of wrecks that could be classified as the ‘Big One,’” McMurray said. “But let’s not kid ourselves. The real ‘Big One‘ is McDonald’s Dollar Menu. With food that cheap, you really don’t need to restrict anything on your plate.”

    9. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.: Stenhouse passed David Ragan with two laps to go and held on to win the Coke Zero 400. It was Stenhouse’s second win this season.

    “I was lucky to even be in the race at that point,” Stenhouse said. “Kyle Larson wrecked in front of me on Lap 193, but I didn’t hit him because his car went airborne and sailed over me. I guess that gives new meaning to ‘piloting’ a race car.”

    10. Clint Bowyer: Bowyer took the runner-up spot in the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona, posting his fourth top five of the year.

    “Richard Petty turned 80 on July 2nd,” Bowyer said. “Personally, I admire Richard. He drove in an era when drivers were defined by toughness, guts, and a willingness to scrap for every inch. In those days, you had the ‘King;’ these days, Danica Patrick is certainly not the only driver classified as a ‘princess.’”

  • Daytona – Did You Know?

    Daytona – Did You Know?

    The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series travels back to Daytona Beach for the Coke Zero 400. Forty drivers will compete for the trophy as NASCAR celebrates the Independence Day holiday with a weekend filled with racing and patriotism.

    But did you know that the first summer race at Daytona International Speedway was called the Firecracker 250? The 250-miles race was held on July 4, 1959, and was won by Fireball Roberts. He dominated the caution-free event, leading 84 of 100 laps and finishing ahead of the second-place finisher, Joe Weatherly, by 57 seconds.

    Sixty-one drivers have won at least one race at Daytona but only five drivers have posted consecutive wins in the July race including Fireball Roberts (1962-1963), A.J. Foyt (1964-1965), Cale Yarborough (1967-1968) David Pearson (1972-1974) and Tony Stewart (2005-2006).

    Sweeps are rare but did you know that five drivers have won both the Daytona 500 and the July race in the same year? The list includes Fireball Roberts (1962), Cale Yarborough (1968), LeeRoy Yarborough (1969) and Bobbie Allison (1982). The last driver to sweep Daytona was Jimmie Johnson in 2013. This year’s Daytona 500 winner Kurt Busch hopes to join this elite group.

    NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty leads all drivers with 10 Daytona victories, scoring his 200th win at the track on July 4, 1984. But did you know that Dale Earnhardt Jr. leads all active drivers with four?

    Brad Keselowski is the defending race winner with three top fives and four top 10s. He has two wins this year and is one of 11 different drivers who has captured checkered flags. As we head to Daytona, Kyle Busch has the series-best driver rating of 94.7. He’s followed by Earnhardt Jr. (94.2), Kurt Busch (90.6), Denny Hamlin (89.7) and Joey Logano (87.8). But did you know that all of the top five have at least one win at Daytona?

    Kyle Busch (one win) and Jimmie Johnson (three wins) lead all active drivers with three runner-up finishes each. Kurt Busch (one win) leads the way with seven top-five finishes among active drivers as well as being tied with Earnhardt Jr. with nine top-10 finishes.

    As the regular season winds down wins become crucial. Kyle Busch, Chase Elliott, Jamie McMurray and Denny Hamlin are currently in the top 10 in the points standings but are winless this year. But did you know that Clint Bowyer (11th), Matt Kenseth (12th) and Erik Jones (16th) are in the most danger of falling out of the top 16 unless they visit Victory Lane soon?

    However, they are not alone. This will be Earnhardt’s last race at Daytona as a full-time competitor in the Cup Series and it could be his best chance to turn around a disappointing season that has seen only four top 10 results. His ability to work the draft at restrictor plate tracks could give him the advantage he needs if he has any hope to make the playoffs.

    It may seem unlikely given his results this season but his success at Daytona is undeniable. Did you know he has a career total of 17 wins which ranks him third all-time behind his father, Dale Earnhardt, who has 34 victories, and Tony Stewart with 19?

    He also seems to have a knack for winning at Daytona when everything is on the line. After losing his father in the 2001 Daytona 500, he came back in July to win the Pepsi 400, in one of NASCAR’s most memorable and poignant races. Take a look at the video below as Earnhardt discusses the emotional win.

    The on-track action begins Thursday at 3 p.m. ET for the first Cup Series practice and culminates with the Coke Zero 400 race Saturday evening at 7:30 p.m. on NBC.

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

     

  • Kyle Busch Fastest at Daytona in First Practice

    Kyle Busch Fastest at Daytona in First Practice

    Kyle Busch topped the chart in first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice at Daytona International Speedway.

    The driver of the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota was the fastest with a time of 45.584 and a speed of 197.438 mph. Brad Keselowski was second in his No. 2 Team Penske Ford with a time of 45.632 and a speed of 197.230 mph. Kevin Harvick was third in his No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford with a time of 45.639 and a speed of 197.200 mph. Joey Logano was fourth in his No. 22 Penske Ford with a time of 45.647 and a speed of 197.165 mph. Ryan Blaney rounded out the top-five in his No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford with a time of 45.647 and a speed of 197.165 mph.

    Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Matt DiBenedetto, Austin Dillon, Trevor Bayne and Kurt Busch rounded out the top-10.

    Bayne posted the fastest 10 consecutive lap average at a speed of 196.073 mph.

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  • Hot 20 – Daytona in the summer time

    Hot 20 – Daytona in the summer time

    The changing of the guard. NASCAR fans are getting used to that. Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, and soon Dale Earnhardt Jr. Summer returns, which means FOX leaves to be replaced by NBC.

    I also read that FOX Sports is dumping its prose in favor of video. Ironically enough, I read about it. Some of us still like to read. If I am wrong about that, I may soon be writing about other things for folks who maintain a certain level of literacy.  You would not want me to return to video, but it raises some possibilities. For example, not only could I describe my raised middle digit in salute to what I think about “progress,” but I could visually share it with you should the video censors allow.

    Did you notice Danica Patrick’s visor cam last weekend? I loved it. It had that in-car video game feel. You felt like you were actually in the car because visually you were. You looked out the windshield and saw the hands on the wheel. Of the innovative camera angles presented in recent years, the visor cam is the best. I bet we could even see a raised middle finger should the situation warrant it.

    Sonoma was our featured track last week, which was good. Daytona returns for this weekend. That is great. Kentucky, New Hampshire, and Indianapolis come to our screens after that, but why dampen my mood just yet.

    NASCAR says stage racing will be staying. I might be in the minority, but I like it. I think it is stupid to add an additional stage to the World 600, but I do like it for the most part. They probably offer up too much for those who might have been something in the first half of the race but disappear when it counts, but who ever blamed NASCAR for being perfect? Okay, I just made myself laugh.

    Ten drivers have given the rest of the field the bird, with wins all but locking them into the Chase. Six others are there on points, but that number could dwindle should somebody else claim their first win of the season. Right now, Joey Logano, Clint Bowyer, and Matt Kenseth are fighting it out over those final two playoff spaces. That could change to just the final slot should somebody like Dale Earnhardt Jr. or Trevor Bayne come up with the goods on Saturday night.

    An Earnhardt in Victory Lane at Daytona. Now, I am not sure if that would constitute much of a change or not. It would sure be one way to rocket up to be among our Hot 20…

    1. JIMMIE JOHNSON – 3 WINS – 483 Pts
    The perfect gift idea for his crew chief? A new laptop, of course.

    2. KYLE LARSON – 2 WINS – 659 Pts
    When you average more than 40 points every week, they start to add up.

    3. MARTIN TRUEX JR. – 2 WINS – 646 Pts
    Hell of a car, hell of an opening stage, too bad about that engine last week.

    4. BRAD KESELOWSKI – 2 WINS – 519 Pts
    Does anyone really think Penske would let Brad get away?

    5. KEVIN HARVICK – 1 WIN – 548 Pts
    The winningest driver in Cup…over the past week.

    6. RYAN BLANEY – 1 WIN – 415 Pts
    Despite the win, Blaney still has seven races in which he garnered less than 20 points.

    7. KURT BUSCH – 1 WIN – 389 Pts
    After his appearance on the Today Show, he can never again criticize his pit crew.

    8. RYAN NEWMAN – 1 WIN – 367 Pts
    If only Paul Menard could find his way to Victory Lane, Childress would be 3 for 3.

    9. RICKY STENHOUSE JR – 1 WIN – 355 Pts
    Mr. Stenhouse. That was not what I would call a love tap.

    10. AUSTIN DILLON – 1 WIN – 322 Pts
    Going with the red, white, and blue on Saturday night.

    11. KYLE BUSCH – 542 PTS
    Want to be a crew chief for a day? If you do, it is best you come in with deep pockets.

    12. CHASE ELLIOTT – 509 PTS
    Still looking for that first win, but found a new four-year contract extension.

    13. JAMIE MCMURRAY – 477 PTS
    Daytona. It is a track worthy of another McMurray victory.

    14. DENNY HAMLIN – 476 PTS
    Won Xfinity race at Michigan. Thankfully, William Byron finally got his win at Iowa last week.

    15. JOEY LOGANO – 434 PTS – 1 Win
    Another unencumbered win, like the one he had there 2.5-years ago, would sure come in handy.

    16. CLINT BOWYER – 427 PTS
    Clint’s best finish there is fourth.

    17. MATT KENSETH – 423 PTS
    Has won a pair of Daytona 500’s, but now hopes to overcome his summertime blues.

    18. ERIK JONES – 358 PTS
    Is this just a one season stop before moving on to Gibbs Racing?

    19. TREVOR BAYNE – 337 PTS
    Won the big race in 2011, was third in last year’s July contest.

    20. DANIEL SUAREZ – 334 PTS
    10 Mexican wins, 3 Xfinity, 1 truck victory. It is just a matter of time.

  • Logging Laps: Road course racing is perfect.

    Logging Laps: Road course racing is perfect.

    NASCAR is and has always been a southern sport. Even with the massive boom in popularity we saw from the early 90s till the late 2000s, NASCAR’s primary fan base and roots were always in the short tracks of the Deep South. Bumping, banging, and hard-nosed racing is where rivalries and champions were born. It’s what led blue-collar workers to become racers and race fans.

    However, like everything else in the world, the only thing constant is change. NASCAR is no exception to this rule, with the cars, drivers, tracks, and the very sport itself, being reshaped and remodeled over and over again in the last 15 years. We see more competition now that we ever have, and the cars and drivers are closer than they ever were before.

    On a typical race weekend, the difference between the fastest five cars and the rest of the top 25 is little more than a few tenths of a second. That makes aero, clean air, and track position more important than just about everything else now. That’s why we see so many races where the leader after pit stops is the leader at the next flag. Passing is so hard now that even with almost all the downforce taken off these cars, it’s still a rarity to see a green-flag pass for the lead. It creates a racing product that is a damned hard sell to new fans and a sport that has seen a massive exodus of its old, core demographic.

    Like I said before, times change. We can’t stop advancement in the sport any more than we could actually go back in time. It’s just not possible. However, there is a beacon of light in the garage. A small window to the past that we often times miss, road course racing.

    Sonoma Raceway and Watkins Glen have quickly become the only real analogs to the old style of racing that made NASCAR so popular. A race where tires fall off, drivers can show their skill, aero means almost nothing and if you’re faster than the guy in front of you, you can pass him.

    It’s almost ironic when you stop to think about it because NASCAR has always been oval-centric. There was a time when most of the teams took their worst car to the road course races and didn’t even try. It was the era of ringers where top teams would hire a specialist just for 1-3 races a year simply because they thought they would get a better result that way. They put little to no effort into the road courses because they didn’t matter. Drivers dreaded going to a road course race and would bemoan it. Now, the drivers, crews, and fans resoundingly love it, so much so that we’re actually going to see a road course (Roval) race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the playoffs next year.

    What is truly amazing is that when you watch the races from Sonoma or Watkins Glen, you see what the sport used to be – men and women, braver than most, wrestling an unruly 3400 pounds race car, side-by-side and bumper to bumper, for position. We see the bumping and banging that the old fans miss. We see the action at the front of the pack and the passing we used to enjoy. Tires fall off, tempers flare, and strategies come into play that we could never have predicted. It’s truly a great show for everyone involved and a microcosm of the sport we all remember and miss.

    Sure, NASCAR has evolved and the time when short-track racing at small fairgrounds across the country is gone. Yes, we’re stuck with 1.5-mile tracks that try every trick in the book to make something out of nothing, tire dragons, VHT, progressive banking, soft green tires, and more. Attendance is down and so are the TV ratings, but in my opinion, and based on what I’ve seen from the fans in the stands, the people online, and the crews in the garage, we have an antidote for the anemic state of racing we love so much – road courses.

    It’s as simple as tuning into the last few years of races and watching the action, the fender-banging, the last lap passes, the fuel games and the pit strategy. Road course racing is giving us everything you could want as a NASCAR fan, rivalries included. Just look back at Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski, Tony Stewart and Brian Vickers, Martin Truex Jr. and Keselowski, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Matt Kenseth. The list of driver flare-ups over contact goes on and on.

    This is exactly what so many fans have been complaining about, boring races with no passing, no action, and no drama. Now, after another great weekend of road course racing, it appears obvious that we have a pretty simple solution to those issues, now don’t we?