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

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

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

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

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

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

Sunday is Talladega.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

October 11, 2017
The Final Word – Charlotte was a day of triumph for Truex and a rough one for Rowdy

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

October 9, 2017
NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Charlotte

Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

October 9, 2017
Emotions Overwhelm Martin Truex Jr. After Overtime Win at Charlotte

CONCORD, N.C. — The dark clouds overhead seemed to foreshadow what would be an emotional day at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

It began with a tribute to the late Robert Yates as Dale Jarrett paced the field prior to the green flag to honor his friend and beloved NASCAR icon.

“He taught a lot of us about how to race, how to compete, how to win and do it all the right way,” Jarrett said.

It ended with Martin Truex Jr. in Victory Lane, his voice breaking, at a loss for words, as his emotions overwhelmed him. His girlfriend, Sherry Pollex, was noticeably absent. Pollex has been undergoing chemotherapy after a recurrence of ovarian cancer.

When asked how he handles the uncertainty, “You try to hold it all in all the time but you can’t, you just can’t. She’s at home right now…I love you,” he said, as he turned and walked away to celebrate with his team.

It was Truex’s sixth win of the season but it didn’t come easily. He qualified 17th and struggled with the car’s handling, finishing 12th in the first stage. It was the first time he had failed to finish in the top 10 of Stage 1 since July at Daytona.

“We weren’t even close to being able to win at the beginning of the race. The car actually wasn’t that bad on that first run, but when we put the second set of tires on, the balance completely changed in a way that we didn’t expect it to, so then we had to play catch‑up,” he explained.

With help from his pit crew, Truex continued to improve, finishing fourth in Stage 2.

“It was tough out there today, the car was a handful. Man, just thanks to my guys. We kept digging. The pit crew was flawless.”

In the final stage, Truex led 91 laps and persevered through two late-race restarts, the final one in overtime, to capture the checkered flag. With this win, he is guaranteed a spot in the next round of the Playoffs. Truex leads the standings with a 34 point advantage over second-place Kyle Larson.

While the pressure is off Truex for the next couple of races, his rivals for the championship should not be ignored. Playoff contenders claimed eight of the top 10 positions. Chase Elliott finished second followed by Kevin Harvick, Denny Hamlin and Jamie McMurray, rounding out the top five. Jimmie Johnson placed seventh, Ryan Blaney was eighth and Kyle Larson finished 10th.

And then there’s Kyle Busch, a perfect example of how quickly things can change. He entered the Bank of America 500 second in the Playoff standings with a 41 point cushion after winning two consecutive races in the previous round. His troubles began on Lap 135 when he hit the wall in Turn 3 and damaged the right-rear of his No. 18 Toyota. During the race he spun three more times, finishing 29th and dropping from second to sixth in the Playoff standings.

It’s a lesson Truex has learned the hard way, to appreciate the highs and not dwell on the lows, because change is inevitable.

“Dealing with the ups and downs and keeping that kind of even keel and keeping your head on straight and understanding the things that are truly important, all those things,” he said, “are what I’ve really learned.”

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

October 8, 2017
NASCAR: Charlotte Bank of America 500 Race Recap

Charlotte Motor Speedway is becoming Martin Truex Jr’s next home. In 2016 Truex scored his first Charlotte victory in dominant fashion by leading the majority of the race. However, the journey to his second Charlotte win in Sunday’s Bank of America 500 yesterday wasn’t easy.

Missing the third round of qualifying on Friday, Truex was determined to search for the speed that he was missing from his fellow competitors. Heading into Saturday’s practice rain forced NASCAR to cancel both Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice sessions and Truex would go into Sunday’s race scratching his head.

Starting seventeenth on Sunday, Truex hoped that his Friday struggles would not factor in the race. With weather approaching, NASCAR moved the start time up one hour to give a cushion from hurricane Nate quickly approaching the Carolinas.

Truex missed out by gaining any stage points after Stage 1, finishing 12th. Truex thanked his pit crew for getting him in the position to have a shot to win. Truex would grab the lead from Kevin Harvick during the green flag pit stops on lap 234. He would go on to take the checkered flag winning by 0.911 seconds over second place Chase Elliott.

After Sunday’s win, Truex spoke to the media on his success at Charlotte.

“Unbelievable win,” Truex said. “Just a total team effort. Every single guy – every guy on this team just did a perfect job today, and I can’t be more proud of them—and this time of the year is just when you want it to happen.”

Chase Elliott, for the second consecutive week, finished in the runner-up position and currently sits 25 points above the cutoff position which is Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

Chase Elliott spoke about his fight back to another top-five finish and proclaimed that a win is coming for his team.

“It was a hard-fought day and really, from where we were in those middle stages, I was proud of the way we fought back and were able to get back to the front. It’s frustrating to run like this. We’re definitely tired of running second. But, if we keep running like we are, hopefully, the opportunities will be there,” Elliott said.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. enters Talladega as the proclaimed favorite after winning the last two restrictor plate tracks.

The second race of the round of 12 kicks off next Sunday at 2 p.m. Eastern on your local NBC channel.

October 8, 2017
Charlotte Motor Speedway – Did You Know – Playoff Edition

CONCORD, N.C. — Charlotte Motor Speedway hosts the opening race of the Playoff’s Round of 12 this year with the Bank of America 500 Sunday afternoon. Martin Truex Jr. leads the hunt for the championship trophy but Kyle Busch is closing fast.

Busch is looking for his third consecutive win to secure his spot in the Round of 8. But that’s only part of his story. Did you know that a victory at Charlotte would give him a win at every active track on the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series circuit? Busch has the second-best driver rating (105.6) at Charlotte.

From 2004 – 2014 the 1.5-mile track held the fifth race of the playoffs but in 2015, Charlotte began playing host to the fourth. Jimmie Johnson is the defending race winner and is usually one of the top competitors at the track with the series-best driver rating (110.4). But did you know he also leads the series with eight checkered flags? Another trip to Victory Lane would tie him with Bobby Allison and Darrell Waltrip for fourth on the Cup Series all-time wins list.

Johnson, however, failed to make it past the first round of qualifying for the Bank of America 500 Friday evening and will start the race from 25th place.

He explained the challenge he will face during Sunday’s race, “There is far less opportunity to work strategy in order to leap-frog people and have something work for you. Last weekend in Dover we finally got to the top 3 and then the checkered fell. It just takes a long time to pass quality cars, and you get inside the top 10, and they’re quality cars. It takes 50 laps per position and then you just mathematically run out of (the) opportunity to get to the front. So, I’m disappointed with tonight. I’m disappointed with the way qualifying has been going. We’re trying hard but we just can’t get our fingers on it right now.”

But don’t count him out yet. In 2003, Johnson won the Coca-Cola 600, after starting 37th.

Matt Kenseth is currently ranked 11th in the Playoffs and will need a win to advance to the next round. He has the third-best driver rating (96.1) with two victories, 12 top fives, 20 top 10s and two poles. Pole-sitter, Denny Hamlin, has the fourth-best driver rating (95.8) with seven top fives, 15 top 10s and one pole but did you know he has never scored a win at Charlotte Motor Speedway?

The odds are in favor of a victory by one of the top 12 drivers. Only once has a non-Playoff competitor won the Charlotte Playoff race – Jamie McMurray in 2010. Another significant factor is qualifying well and that’s good news for Matt Kenseth who will start second in the race. It’s the most proficient starting position, having produced 17 winners.

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs continue Sunday with the Bank of America 500. Tune into NBC at 1 p.m. ET for all the action.

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

October 7, 2017
Denny Hamlin Captures Pole for Bank of America 500 at Charlotte

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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October 6, 2017
Hot 20 – The Yates legacy will come to life under the hood of a third of the Charlotte field

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

October 4, 2017
The Final Word – Dover is where they raced but Las Vegas is what is on our minds

Racing is not foremost on my mind today, but Sunday in Dover early in the afternoon it was all that mattered for a few drivers. Ten looked rather comfortable when they determined which dozen would advance on the championship trail, with six others vying for two remaining spots.

Two had to win. For Kasey Kahne and Kurt Busch, that was all that would save them. Good would not be good enough, and when Busch caught a commitment line violation in the final segment, no hope remained for him. Neither had much going for them on that day, as Kahne finished 14th, while the elder Busch was 20th at the stripe.

Jamie McMurray and Ryan Blaney were not safe starting the day. By the time they started the final portion of the race, only bad tidings would put them in jeopardy. As the laps counted down, it came down to three drivers seeking a single position. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. came to Dover tied with Austin Dillon for the final place, with Ryan Newman just one point behind them.

The story of the day, as it turned out, took place at the end of the opening segment. Stenhouse and company took a risk. They long pitted and hoped for a caution to get them track position. The gamble paid off, and despite an ill-handling car that never for better, they used that to finish the segment in fourth and picked up seven points. Seven very important points.

With 50 laps to go, Newman was 13th, Dillon was 16th, with Stenhouse back in 19th. In the standings, that still left Stenhouse two points ahead of Newman and four up on Dillon. Fifty laps later, that is exactly where they remained and Stenhouse advanced.

Up front, Kyle Busch had a much better day than his brother. He got by Chase Elliott with two laps remaining to steal a win, to leave Elliott still in search of his maiden victory. When it came to stout performances, Rowdy, Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Larson, Brad Keselowski, Jimmie Johnson, and Elliott all did well. Five of them are among the Top Five as they reset the points for the second round of the Chase and a date in Charlotte. Elliott is not among them. He is in our bottom four, four points behind Stenhouse who currently sits in the eighth position.

Then again, it was only a race. Tragically, this week our focus is not on racing or football players kneeling. It is not even on some foreigner from a different culture, holding different values, following a doctrine literally from the dark ages, aligned with people who wish us harm. That would almost come as a relief. What did occur was darker, less understandable, more ominous, and more disturbing.

Instead, we are reminded that when the U.S. Constitution was written, it was at a time when the best firearm you could possess was a flintlock musket, with minimal accuracy beyond 100 yards, that could fire no more than two or three times a minute.

At this moment, I am not thinking much about Dover or Charlotte. Our thoughts this week are with the people who have been affected by the events that took place in Las Vegas. To be honest, to some degree, we all have been.

October 2, 2017
NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Dover

Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

October 2, 2017