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Tag: Martinsville

The Final Word – If happiness is a warm puppy, someone let the dog out at Martinsville

Not everyone is a metrosexual male. There are some rude, uncaring, disrespectful individuals in this world who hide behind the civility of society in a bid to get away with saying or doing whatever they damn well please. There are some who reserve the right to tune in such individuals with a well delivered slap to the head.

It happens in NASCAR. Slapping an ill-mannered opponent upside their helmet comes with a downside, and I am not just talking about possible sanctions from a genteel organizing body. First, though it might upset the individual, they do not receive the full impact due to them wearing a helmet. Second, helmets are hard, even harder than the toughest hands. That said, it still can be a rather satisfying action for the slapper regardless as to the consequences.

This applies to car fenders. When Jimmie Johnson wanted to get by A.J. Allmendinger at Martinsville, he bumped him with his front fender. When Denny Hamlin wanted to get by Johnson, he did the same. When Johnson wanted to show his displeasure, he slapped Hamlin with his front fender as his rival went by. No doubt, all very satisfying.

Still, it came with consequences. A tire rub forced Johnson to require some repairs in the pits, and on the next restart, he was buried in 25th. However, this is Jimmie of the Chase we are talking about. By the final lap, he was alone in front cruising to his 79th career victory and his ninth Martinsville grandfather clock. Only Jeff Gordon, who finished sixth in his most recent career swan song, has been as good over the years.

So, Hamlin was not happy with Johnson, but his teammates were a little frustrated with Denny. As the laps counted down, three Gibbs cars ran nose to tail. According to Kyle Busch, Hamlin was the slowest of the trio, keeping them back and allowing Johnson to get away. Hamlin, Matt Kenseth, and Busch finished third through fifth.

Brad Keselowski, now a non-Chaser, was second. He thought he could have been first had NASCAR not gotten confused when the caution came out with 150 laps to go. They had cars on the track, some in the pits, and then the leader ran out of gas and confused everyone. It took them 39 laps to figure it all out, with the rest of the way under green. Yes, if they had known it would take so long they would have red flagged things, but they did not.

Joey Logano was ninth, so he remains within four points of the Final Four. Battling teammates Kevin Harvick and Kurt Busch had less than stellar days. Harvick was 20th, two laps down, while a lap further back in 22nd was Busch. They have work to do in Texas. Not as much as Carl Edwards has before him. Tire does down, car slams into the wall, and 36th place was his fate. A win to be in is the only path for him to follow.

A half hour after the race, a car plowed into a crowd of fans leaving the venue.The driver has been charged with reckless driving. As of this writing, no word yet as to the cause of this. Twenty-two were injured, nine of whom were transported to local hospitals. Let us hope for good news for each of them.

Edwards has won three times at Texas during his career. He could use another on Sunday. In fact, all but one of our Chasers has recorded a victory at the venue. It might be a good time for Harvick to join them.

October 31, 2016
The Final Word – Talladega. Need I say more?

Talladega had everything on Sunday a race fan or adrenalin junky could desire. It provided incredible action, with leaders driving looking at their mirrors rather than out the windshield, running at close to 200 miles per hour just inches apart. We watched in awe as they managed to avoid disaster lap after lap, at least until disaster struck. Even at the end, Kevin Harvick channelled his inner Negan when confronting teammate Kurt Busch on pit road after the event. It had everything.

It was a countdown to heartbreak, but whose? Just over a hundred miles in, we thought we had the answer. Joey Logano left the pits under green dragging his jack underneath the car for a full circuit before coming back to pay the penalty and remove the piece of equipment. At the same time, Denny Hamlin got tagged for speeding. It could have meant the end of their title hopes, but it was not.

Three laps later, Martin Truex Jr.’s auto went up in a beautiful white plume of smoke to bring out the caution. No engine, no chance, with his only hope being for Logano to somehow wind up no better than 27th on the day. That did not work out so well for him.

Anyone else visiting the Heartbreak Hotel? Why, yes, there was one more. Brad Keselowski was the guy to beat, but he spent so much time in front he collected a bit of trash that would not go away. Finally, he let Ryan Blaney slip by him so he could tuck up behind to have the air turbulence clean off his grill. It worked like a charm, but it proved too late. The engine was cooked, and Keselowski’s day and his championship dreams went up in a Truex-like puff of smoke.

That left Logano to take the win, as Brian Scott came home right behind him for a season-best finish. Hamlin, Busch the elder, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. rounded out the Top Five. Along with Keselowski and Truex, the Chase ended for Austin Dillon and Chase Elliott as they all regroup for this weekend in Martinsville.

Before that, maybe there needs to be a peace summit at Stewart-Haas after Busch ran into the side of Harvick’s car on the cool down lap. If Busch could let out his inner Rick Grimes, I guess Harvick could release his inner Negan, a reference you might understand if you watch a certain AMC program. Harvick leaned into his teammate’s car on pit road and seemed to initiate some kind of physical interaction.

“He’ll understand it and I’m sure he’ll clear it up in his interview,” Busch said in his, though Harvick did not clear up much of anything. “We’re great teammates, we’re going good together,” Busch continued, and he was right. They had got together, in a bit of a bad way, which was the root of their problems. Now they have to talk. Just hope nobody brings Lucille.

His forced exile from the cockpit did not prevent Dale Earnhardt Jr., who is ranked third in restrictor plate victories all-time, behind Jeff Gordon and his father, from showing up as a guest commentator. In the booth wearing his glasses, I could not help but wonder exactly when Junior developed an inner accountant. There was no question about his knowledge of the track and that kind of racing. No question either as to where he would prefer to be sitting and it was not high in the sky.

That was Talladega, but can anyone tell me the official name of the race? Who cares, it was at Talladega. That track creates its own traditions, no matter what they call the event. On Sunday, the first of three semi-final races takes place at Martinsville. Once again, I am reminded how NASCAR has tossed aside traditional branding to make a buck. I mean, which sounds better to you, the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 or the Old Dominion 500?

Let me conclude by presenting, if I had my way, what the NASCAR schedule would look like. Sadly, 10 events have always had changing sponsored names, with no opportunity to establish some kind of identity. One day…one day. Tell me what you think.

Daytona 500 – Daytona, FL
Dixie 500 – Atlanta, GA
Las Vegas 400 – Las Vegas, NV
Phoenix, AZ
California 400 – Fontana, CA
Virginia 500 – Martinsville, VA
Texas 500 – Fort Worth, TX
Southeastern 500 – Bristol, TN
Richmond 400 – Richmond, VA
Alabama 500 – Talladega, AL
Kansas City, Kansas
Mason-Dixon 400 – Dover, DE
World 600 – Charlotte, NC
Pocono 400 – Pocono, PA
Motor State 400 – Brooklyn, MI
Sonoma, CA
Firecracker 400 – Daytona, FL
Sparta, KY
New Hampshire 301 – Loudon, NH
Brickyard 400 – Indianapolis, IN
Pennsylvania 400 – Pocono, PA
355 at the Glen – Watkins Glen, NY
Volunteer 500 – Bristol, TN
Yankee 400 – Brooklyn, MI
Southern 500 – Darlington, SC
Capitol City 400 – Richmond, Tn
Chicago, IL
Loudon, NH
Delaware 400 – Dover, DE
National 500 – Charlotte, NC
Kansas City, KS
Talladega 500 – Talladega, AL
Old Dominion 500 – Martinsville, VA
Fort Worth, TX
Phoenix, AZ
Homestead, FL

October 24, 2016
Hot 20 – Here is hoping for a little Sunday excitement in Kansas…or a bottle of wine in my fridge.

Usually, when a sport enters its playoff phase, there is news galore. While the Blue Jays, Indians, Cubs, and either the Nationals or Dodgers, continue in their quest for a World Series crown, the excitement seems a bit, well, subdued in NASCAR.

That is not to say there is no news. Ryan Newman got a contract extension from Richard Childress, so he will continue to drive for them. So, Ty Dillon will either drive a new entry, if they get the sponsorship, or Grandpa leaves him in the minors for another year.

What goes on when the sun goes down? Other than Jeff Gordon trying to finish a race by candlelight last November, not much of anything at Martinsville. In time for its 70th season next year, lights are going up.

So, there is news. With Clint Bowyer set to return to decent equipment as Tony Stewart’s replacement, we seem a bit slim on the silly season news front. The big dogs seem all set to stay in their respective kennels for 2017.

XFINITY driver Daniel Suarez dropped by the White House as NASCAR’s rep for National Hispanic Month. Jamie McMurray talked to some submariners in Connecticut. Yes, nothing but thrilling stuff.

Dorothy and her little mutt might not be there, but the rest of us will be focusing our attention and our ruby reds on Kansas. Jimmie Johnson is locked into the next round, and thanks to Denny Hamlin’s expiring engine last week, all 12 of our contenders are still within hailing distance of advancing.

Here is hoping excitement in the form of some great racing action is coming our way this Sunday. I do not know if it is the bit of snow on the ground, the sub-freezing temps outside my house, our ongoing kitchen renovation, or the crown that popped off my tooth, but I could use some excitement about now of the good kind. I am feeling like a politician in mid-rant. You know a case of the blah, blah, blahs.

I am relying on a few folks from among our Hot 20 to deliver a few thrills this weekend in Kansas.

1. JIMMIE JOHNSON – SEGMENT WIN (3045 Pts)
His search for a seventh Heaven comes down now to Martinsville, Texas, Phoenix, and Miami.

2. MATT KENSETH – 3040 PTS
Being at the back only allows you see exactly where you plan to be going.

3. KYLE BUSCH – 3036 PTS
While some were being splattered with fertilizer, he overcame an early tire issue to finish sixth.

4. BRAD KESELOWSKI – 3034 PTS
With his cushion, he plans “to just go and lay up at Kansas.” Ask Hamlin how that worked out.

5. KURT BUSCH – 3033 PTS
“Charlotte has turned into Talladega.” Well, Talladega-lite, maybe.

6. CARL EDWARDS – 3029 PTS
For a good portion of the race, he thought he was blowing up. Twelfth seemed pretty good after that.

7. MARTIN TRUEX JR. – 3028 PTS
As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly…and my bump would help Austin.

8. DENNY HAMLIN – 3012 PTS
Tried to avoid the drama, but drama found him, to the joy of four of his competitors.

9. CHASE ELLIOTT – 3009 PTS
When Rowdy zigged, Chase got zagged.

10. AUSTIN DILLON – 3009 PTS
Sometimes no help is the best help of all.

11. JOEY LOGANO – 3006 PTS
Just in case you missed his tire going down and him finding the wall, he did it again.

12. KEVIN HARVICK – 3004 PTS
Thanking Hamlin would not be appropriate, but his blown engine deserves a good ole hug.

13. KYLE LARSON – 2109 PTS
Now he gets a Top Five. It would have been nicer had he recorded that a week earlier.

14. TONY STEWART – 2106 PTS
His exit is similar to that of Big Papi. Both made the dance, but the music ended far too soon.

15. JAMIE MCMURRAY – 2084 PTS
A second-straight Chase season no longer enough, as Dimples wants to go deeper in 2017.

16. CHRIS BUESCHER – 2070 PTS
Clint did not win. Danica did not win. Greg did not win. Paul did not win…but Chris did.

17. KASEY KAHNE – 766 PTS
Too late to matter, but finishing third anywhere at any time has to mean something.

18. RYAN NEWMAN – 738 PTS
Is a new sponsor coming for a new entry, or is Ty is going to have to deal with disappointment?

19. RICKY STENHOUSE JR. – 658 PTS
Does having a good points race really matter? Well, you don’t see A.J. on this list, now do you.

20. RYAN BLANEY – 655 PTS
OMG…Ryan just met Sam Elliott. Hey, Chase is cool…but I’m talking about Sam Bloody Elliott!

October 12, 2016
Hot 20 – Mr. Hamlin, what races do you suggest we remove, reduce, or reschedule?

As NASCAR swings into Chicago and begins the Chase, I can not help but notice that Denny Hamlin, and now Danica Patrick, have made mention that the season is too long. Reduce some races in length, reduce some altogether, run some mid-week are among their suggestions. I am cool with that, but in my mind there are a dozen races on eight tracks that cannot be touched. Ever.

Daytona, Talladega, Bristol, and Charlotte continue with their two each with no changes to race length. If 600 miles to too long at Charlotte, stay home. You can not tinker with the two road courses at Sonoma or Watkins Glen. The Southern 500 should never again be violated at Darlington. Same goes for the Brickyard at Indianapolis. The racing there might be questionable at Indy, but it has become a crown jewel event. Touch any of them, and more than a few of us fans will be gone. NASCAR simply can not afford to see too many more of us on our way out.

As for the other 24 contests on the other 15 tracks, go for it. However, you risk some upset folks at Martinsville, Richmond, and Atlanta where tradition means something to some people. Remove those tracks, and you remove fans. Texas, Michigan, Las Vegas, Fontana, and Chicago are not going anywhere. The trio of northeast venues, Pocono, Dover, and Loudon, would be tough for NASCAR to abandon. I could not care any less for Kansas or Kentucky, but I am sure there are others who do not share my sentiment.

As long as NASCAR refuses to brand each of its events so they might each become something special, traditional, and untouchable instead of nothing more than a spot to park a sponsor’s name for yet another generic race, a lot of them can disappear, be moved, or reduced in length without much fanfare. I mean, this weekend in Chicago we have the legendary and prestigious Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 400. Good bloody grief! What these two drivers are proposing works in theory. However, the devil is in the details, and we should leave it to Mr. Hamlin and Ms. Patrick to toss out a few specifics until we go ballistic. You know we would, no matter what they come up with.

As for the Chase, eight organizations are represented by the 16. Joe Gibbs has all four of his outfits in the running. Stewart-Haas goes with three, missing only Patrick. Roger Penske and Chip Ganassi both came through fully loaded with their two car teams. Barney Visser was also perfect, going one for one with Martin Truex, Jr. We have a pair from Rick Hendrick’s stable, Richard Childress has his grandson, and Bob Jenkins has his surprise entry. Some did not make it, even those with past success. Jack Roush came up empty, despite three entries. Neither of Richard Petty’s cars made the grade.

A dozen veteran Chasers joined by a quartet of first-timers. Austin Dillon and Kyle Larson are joined by rookies Chase Elliott and Chris Buescher. How might they do? As 2014 champion Kevin Harvick lays it down, “Are you happy to be there or do you want to win?” If they want to win, they could do fine. Like the seven former champions back for another drink from the well.

Heading into the Chase, NASCAR has decided to be kinder, gentler to those crew chiefs who break the rules. One loose lug nut does not a suspension make. Now it will take three, and then he is gone along with 35 points. So much for kinder and gentler, and this is a new rule change that goes beyond the Chase and into next season.

Failure to get the winning car successfully through the Laser Inspection Station by a significant amount, and you keep the win, but it won’t mean much. Up to 35 points gone and during the Chase that win might not count toward a free pass into the next round. With the points penalty, that just could kill the season. It is the kind of penalty that cost Ryan Newman 15 markers heading into Richmond.

Newman might not be in the Chase, but after what happened last week, he could wind up being a factor. We will have to wait to see how hot he might be at one member of our Hot 20 heading to Chicago.

1. BRAD KESELOWSKI – 2012 PTS
Tied for wins with Kyle, second only to Harvick in points. Brad might be thirsty again.

1. KYLE BUSCH – 2012 PTS
Imagine having to race all 36 races to win the title. Last season seemed so much shorter.

3. DENNY HAMLIN – 2009 PTS
You can shorten the World 600 in Charlotte…or you could to go-cart racing as an alternative.

4. KEVIN HARVICK – 2006 PTS
His Chase attitude is to “worry about the consequences when all the dust settles.” Game on.

4. CARL EDWARDS – 2006 PTS
Is this the year he can finally put that brides-maid dress away?

4. MARTIN TRUEX, JR. – 2006 PTS
Has led the pack this season for 1,664 miles. If you are going on a trip, here is your driver.

4. JIMMIE JOHNSON – 2006 PTS
Seeking a new nickname. Maybe something that rhymes with “Seven Time.”

4. MATT KENSETH – 2006 PTS
There is nice Matt and there is Chase Matt. You don’t want to make Chase Matt angry.

9. JOEY LOGANO – 2003 PTS
Last year, guess who upset Chase Matt.

9. KURT BUSCH – 2003 PTS
He has a title. Younger brother has a title. All older siblings know that just does not cut it.

9. KYLE LARSON – 2003 PTS
Over his last three races, has finished first, third, and second. That is called momentum.

9. CHRIS BUESCHER – 2003 PTS
Not everyone gets to live in the penthouse. even for what most predict will be a short stay.

9. TONY STEWART – 2003 PTS
Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? Newman knows!

14. AUSTIN DILLON – 2000 PTS
A truck title. A XFINITY crown. There is room on the shelf for one more.

14. JAMIE MCMURRAY – 2000 PTS
Could former winner of Daytona 500, Brickyard 400 win the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 400?

14. CHASE ELLIOTT – 2000 PTS
Again, the nickname says it all. Would like to change that to “Champ” if he can.

17. RYAN NEWMAN – 633 PTS
Who is considered Public Enemy No. 1 in Chicago? Ask Newman; he might have an answer.

18. KASEY KAHNE – 633 PTS
If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again next season.

19. TREVOR BAYNE – 586 PTS
Unlike some, Bayne is determined to leave any at-track tantrums to his toddler.

20. A.J. ALLMENDINGER – 583 PTS
Racing in Chicago, but might have more interest in how the Bears do Monday against the Eagles.

September 14, 2016
The Final Word – Sunday was a strange, strange day at Bristol

There are ways to describe Sunday’s action in Bristol, but to do it justice one would need a blow-by-blow analysis of most of the competitors to figure out what happened, and how it happened. Let us begin with what we know.

We know that Carl Edwards had one of the most dominant cars on the day. So did Matt Kenseth, while Kurt Busch (third) and Kevin Harvick (seventh) gave Edwards some company up front. Still, it was Cousin Carl who persevered, at the beginning, in the middle, and right to the end when he was putting some distance between himself and the field. Wheels that went straight, tires that kept inflated, walls that did not bite him, and the speed to see him lead a majority of the 500 laps allowed him to gather up his 26th career victory, his fourth at Bristol. That we know.

What happened to his Joe Gibbs teammates is a little tougher to analyze. All four entries started in the first five positions, but 20th by Denny Hamlin was the best the rest could do after he sustained some damage in a pit road collision. Kenseth led for 142 laps, but the snake came back to bite him yet again this season. While running first, he lost his right front but found the fence. When he found it again later on, for the same reason, he was done in 36th. It could have been worse.

Kyle Busch had been making a habit of winning lately, after consecutive triumphs at Martinsville and Texas. He took the drama out of it early, losing his right front and slamming the wall just 50 laps in. Sixty laps later, he got tagged from behind by Chris Buescher and went for a spin. Seventy laps further on, he got a pit road penalty. Seventy laps later, he lost another right front, found another fence, and finally put the car out of its misery, finishing 38th. Maybe too much camber angle proved to be the culprit.

Some had bad tidings, but good results. Dale Earnhardt Jr. could not even get up to speed on the green flag lap to start, and was down two laps in no time. At least he did it with 500 laps to go, and due to some good fortune popped up in the end to run second. Even Junior thought he had, at best, a Top 15 ride. Chase Elliott had a tire issue, fell back to 31st by the 200th lap, but was fourth when they waved the checkered. Then there was Joey Logano. He finished 10th, despite an early green flag stop for a vibration that got costlier when their tire rolled away in the pits to sit even one behind Elliott at the time.

Not enough great days for some others this season, but a few had one on Sunday. Trevor Bayne and Matt DiBenedetto were fifth and sixth at Bristol while Clint Bowyer had a Top Ten. Not so for Kyle Larson, as he dropped from third to a good 60 laps in arrears when his track bar broke. Cars seemed to get into trouble, rise out of the ashes, only to have their hopes dashed later on. Danica Patrick was 29th on Lap 200, fourth on Lap 275, and by Lap 435 she was barely in the Top Thirty. The Danica Line at Bristol was 27th, just one back of Austin Dillon and one up on Cole Whitt.

On Sunday, there was no Big One, just a bunch of nasty Little Ones. However, as Talladega promises to do on May 1, that short track in Tennessee messed with people, including the minds of fans trying to keep track of the comers and goers, the heartbreakers and the heartbroken. It was not a boring 3.5-hours.

Before they get to Alabama, they have a Sunday date in Richmond. Despite all his woes this year, Kenseth remains just five points out of a Chase place. Another win, like the one he celebrated last autumn at Richmond, would for all intents and purposes lock him into the championship hunt. Up to now, Kenseth has run well but always waiting for that black cloud to roll in to ruin his day. A single win and he is back to rainbows and blue skies. Funny, blue skies is exactly the weather they are calling for this Sunday.

April 18, 2016
The Final Word – It was a John Wayne kind of day for Mr. Busch at Martinsville

Martinsville has been on the NASCAR calendar since 1948, the year before John Wayne truly hit it big in Hollywood. Both showcased a great cast of supporting characters over the years, and both have been synonymous with action. Sunday was no different.

If Martinsville was The Searchers from 1956, Kyle Busch was its Ethan Edwards, the Wayne character who was determined, diligent, and successful in his quest. In the end, he crossed his arms and headed out into the sunset with his 35th career victory in a dominant performance that saw our defending champion up front for 70 percent of the picture.

Kevin Harvick was a featured performer. He arrived a bit late, stayed near the front for a time, but in the end, he had to be content with 17th. You might remember Wayne’s 1962 picture The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. In the end, Jimmy Stewart rode off in a train, while Wayne’s Tom Doniphon, who actually shot the title character, was last seen in a pine box. Come to think of it, ole Tom was in that box when they started that film, so maybe Harvick got the best of it.

There was 1972’s The Cowboys, with the Matt Kenseth version of Wil Anderson also a force to be reckoned with for 90 percent of the movie. Then things went bad for our hero, another hole got dug, and the cattle drive was left to others to decide as Matt finished 15th.

John Wayne began his movie career in a 1926 silent called Brown of Harvard. The Duke played an uncredited role as a Yale player. Dale Earnhardt Jr. mattered for five laps, cut a tire and spun out, and went down a lap. It took him 300 laps to get it back, and the best he could do was 14th. Like Wayne, Junior was in the film, but you had to keep an eye out in order to catch him.

The Greatest Story Ever Told was an epic 1965 story on Christ. It featured the likes of Max von Sydow, Charlton Heston, Jose Ferrer, and Telly Savalas. Then, after the Crucifixion scene, a centurion utters the words, “Truly this man was the Son of God” in a very familiar drawling voice. My God, it was John Wayne, in a skirt. At the end, some said the same thing when A.J. Allmendinger showed up in the runner-up spot, except for the skirt part. At least, we noticed the Dinger was in the vicinity, so it probably came as less of a shock.

In 1949, Wayne played Captain Nathan Brittles in She Tied a Yellow Ribbon. He was an aging officer near retirement. Ben Johnson and Harry Carey, Jr. played Tyree and Pennell, a pair of up and comers of the next generation. They remind me of a pair who represent the future in this modern calvary, played Sunday by the fourth and fifth place finishers, Kyle Larson and Austin Dillon.

Another driver had an interesting day. He got caught speeding early, managed to crumple up his hood a bit later, but in the end, he still managed a Top Five. Brad Keselowski took his lumps but came away with a decent result. This Rooster Cogburn displayed some True Grit (1968).

Then there was John Wayne’s Alamo from 1960. I do not think I need to explain why Aric Almirola and Denny Hamlin come to mind. Let us just say that 38 drivers did better on the day, including a 16th placed Danica Patrick.

At least, everyone lasted 200 laps or more, so we could not cite 1931’s The Deceiver. In that one, Wayne had a brief role in the picture. He played a corpse. Thankfully, we no longer have start and park entries.

If you got John Wayne on your mind, then it seems apropos that the boys and girl head back west to Texas for a Saturday night showdown. The last three straight races that have been run there, four of the past five, and five of the previous seven, were all won by Jimmie Johnson, the guy who finished ninth last weekend. I guess we have seen this movie before.

April 4, 2016
The Final Word – Kyle removes the Kryptonite as Superman wins at Fontana

Among the things I learned on Sunday from Fontana include…

-you don’t tug on Superman’s cape.
-you don’t spit into the wind.
-you don’t put up for long with ole Lex Luthor
-and you don’t mess around with Jim.

Jimmie Johnson, that is. For most of the day, the field had to deal with Kevin (just call him Lex) Harvick, who led early and led often. About the only time he did not lead was when he unnecessarily came in early to dump a perfectly good set of tires in a vain bid to eliminate a vibration. Then he was back. In fact, he might have gotten away with it, if not for Kyle Busch.

Busch was among a number of drivers that were relevant on the day and was running second when he discovered the limitations of the track. That came in the form of the outside wall after a tire indicated that it not longer wished to be of service. Caution waved, the Kryptonite was removed from the track, Busch was left in 25th, and this allowed for the possible finale moviegoers had hoped for.

After the restart, Johnson moved down to the line, hugged it tightly, and came up to Harvick’s rear quarter-panel. A bit of side drafting tugged Luthor…ahem…Harvick…back enough to set Johnson sailing right by and into the lead. In the end, no super villain, no Kryptonite, not even Batman could stop the inevitable from happening. SuperJimmie won his 77th career victory and marked the 15th straight season that he was won at least twice during the campaign.

As for Batman, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. could not get by any of the jokers, penguins, or riddlers. He got up to the horizon, but never challenged, finishing 11th. By the way, Superman should always trump Batman. One is an alien who our sun bestows with superpowers while the other is an athletic rich guy with a lot of neat contraptions. No contest.

Denny Hamlin finished third, and really was nowhere to be seen for the first 150 laps, but was visible in the end. Joey Logano was fourth on the day, was in the vicinity of the lead for much of the time, but probably was best remembered by Martin Truex Jr. as the guy who turned him enough to cause him to solidly tag the fence to turn a good day into 32nd. Also notable were Chase Elliott, who was fifth, while Carl Edwards came in just behind to record yet another solid effort.

“I’m alright, it really hurt, though,” was the report from Kyle Larson after he lost a tire, touched the outside wall before experiencing a huge impact against the infield barrier that put him up where he did not belong. Danica Patrick was not Supergirl, but she went flying after Kasey Kahne turned her into the wall to demolish her entry. That set the Danica Line artificially to 38th on the day, just one behind Greg Biffle and just ahead of Larson.

With his win, Johnson moves one ahead of Dale Earnhardt on the all-time list, sitting sixth behind Richard Petty, David Pearson, and Jeff Gordon, while he is eight wins away from passing by the likes of Bobby Allison, Darrell Waltrip, and Cale Yarborough. I do not think anyone is betting the farm against that happening this year, at least, not yet.

The good news for the field is that Johnson will not win next week. Neither will Harvick, Hamlin, or Kyle Busch, all of whom have been writing headlines over the first five events. After a week off, they all return for Martinsville, a place Kyle Busch has never won. Harvick has just one, compared to Hamlin’s five. Then you have Superman, as one must ask themselves if eight is enough? Well, not if you are within just six wins of the great Cale Yarborough it’s not. Meanwhile, my best wishes to you over Easter.

March 21, 2016
Hot 20 – Kenseth to miss Texas and Phoenix after facing NASCAR justice (pending appeals)

Bad boy and bad girl. It would seem NASCAR is an equal opportunity disciplinarian, as both Matt Kenseth and Danica Patrick got slapped for aggressive driving at Martinsville. In short, they purposely ran into people with bad intentions.

Gone for two, including the races in Texas and Phoenix, is Kenseth for taking out Joey Logano in mobster style last week. Nine laps down he plucked the front running Logano out of the mix and bulldozed him into the wall. As I write this, Kenseth is appealing his penalty, though I would be surprised if any change in his sentence is forthcoming.

There are those hand ringers who figure this was an awful thing. I do not agree. In fact, I think I just became a Kenseth fan for life. The way I see it, all he did was tune in a mouthy little twerp who danced all over his accomplishment of knocking the former champ out of the way back in Kansas, robbing Kenseth of his best shot at continuing in the Chase. You do not celebrate causing another’s misfortune unless you want karma to come back and bite you in the ass.

Now, you might suspect that I am no fan of Logano. That would be correct, but my feelings toward the man are based only on perception. If I knew him and ran into him on a weekly basis and could not stand him, that is one thing. The truth is, we have never met, and if I had the chance to sit down with Logano for a couple of hours over some adult pops, I might end up a fan of his for life, too. Instead, my feelings toward him, along with those of most of you, are based only on a perception, and that perception just leaves me ice cold.

As for Patrick, her temper was anything but cold. It warranted her picking up a behavioral penalty for using her car to rearrange parts of that driven by David Gilliland at Martinsville. That cost her $50,000 and 25 points.

Both penalties, by the way, are justified, though I do not condemn their actions. They felt they needed to do something, they did what they did, and now have to pay the piper. End of story.

This column takes a break next week but returns to set the table as the boys and girl venture into Homestead to wrap things up for the season. Just in time to see the return of a certain bad boy to the track. My hero, at least for the moment.

Our Hot 20 during the Chase, and only the Chase, to date include…

1. JOEY LOGANO – 3 Wins, 265 Points
Joey might be the best in the Chase, but Kenseth seemed more than able to chase him down.

2. JEFF GORDON – 1 Win, 260
Do you believe in fairy tales with happy endings?

3. CARL EDWARDS – 257
It has been seven years since he won his third at Texas.

4. DENNY HAMLIN – 1 Win, 248
Could have still been in the hunt himself except for Harvick’s actions at Talladega.

5. MARTIN TRUEX JR. – 247
If NASCAR is going all “wild west,” shouldn’t that well suit a team from Denver?

6. RYAN NEWMAN – 231
Being outside the Chase, he shouldn’t feel the need to repeat last year’s move at Phoenix.

7. KYLE BUSCH – 224
Four Top Fives, including a win, in last five attempts at Texas, bodes well for Sunday.

8. BRAD KESELOWSKI – 221
How things change. Just a year ago the Feud of the Week involved Brad and Jeff.

9. KURT BUSCH – 217
Can pick either Kenseth or Keselowski to blame for his tribulations last week.

10. DALE EARNHARDT JR. – 215
Jeff cheered for winning, Matt cheered for creaming Logano, Junior cheered for being Junior.

11. KEVIN HARVICK – 1 Win, 214
After Matt’s little adventure, we did not hear much from Harvick. Trevor Bayne wonders why?

12. JAMIE MCMURRAY – 201
Not a contender but he has become relevant.

13. RICKY STENHOUSE, JR. – 196
Not among the Top Twenty heading into the Chase, but some groundwork is being laid for 2016.

14. KASEY KAHNE – 195
Four Top Tens during the Chase, but 19th at Talladega, 24th in Chicago, dead last at Charlotte.

15. MATT KENSETH – 1 Win, 185
I once thought Matt was as boring as white bread…but not anymore!

16. GREG BIFFLE – 185
The worst season of his career still the best Roush-Fenway has this year.

17. ARIC ALMIROLA – 184
Ranked 17th on the season, 17th during the Chase events. Not great, but he is consistent.

18. KYLE LARSON – 184
Newman’s berth to Homestead last year went through Larson…literally.

19. JIMMIE JOHNSON – 181
Are we there yet?

20. PAUL MENARD – 177
He always wanted to have the same success as Jimmie, but this is not quite what he envisioned.

November 4, 2015
The Final Word – Gordon wins but it is Kenseth with the knockout at Martinsville

There are things that matter. A retiring champion seeking to go out in a blaze of glory. A 25-year old looking to complete his career redemption as well as claim a fourth straight checkered flag. An elder statesman who believes that young man deserves something a bit different.

Some things just do not matter. For example, in the XFINITY series, where Cup drivers have a second home, none of them matter except for a race winner and those actually running for a title. Same goes in Cup, as just eight drivers are eligible to try and chase down a championship. The winner always matters, no matter where they sit in the standings. As for the remainder, if you are not among the eight and did nothing to cause us to gasp, you do not matter.

It did matter when Chaser Kyle Busch went for a spin at Martinsville after claiming to have found water on the track just before the midpoint. He tagged Austin Dillon and fell into the middle of the field. Same for Carl Edwards, who got into the back of A.J. Allmendinger in the same incident as the accordion effect took over. Both had points to gain, and definitely something to lose. It mattered, and it also gave us a break from the monotony that was Martinsville for much of the day. Much of it, but surely not all of it, as we were to discover.

With 65 laps to go, a lot started to matter. Matt Kenseth got tangled up with Brad Keselowski and then got popped over to really pop Kurt Busch. It mattered that both Chasers had to go to the garage for repairs, and it mattered for Edwards, as the caution brought him back onto the lead lap. It mattered that Kenseth thought his last name was Hatfield, and Penske drivers were the McCoys.

Revenge is best-served cold as Kenseth gave us our best gasp moment. Keselowski’s teammate, Joey Logano, the guy who had dominated the race, passed the battered Kenseth, who was nine laps down. Kenseth said on the radio he thought his right front must have gone down, but it appeared for all the world that he purposely hooked the leader and bulldozed him straight into the wall. Anything with a Penske stamp on it appeared to be a target, and one had to wonder if even the Captain himself was safe.

Brian France thought Logano made a smart decision when he bumped Kenseth out of the way in Kansas. I wonder how smart he thought this hit was? Anyway, Matt got parked, as if his car or Logano’s was going anywhere fast after that. As to what the crowd thought of it, you would have thought Kenseth was an adopted Earnhardt with the ovation he received.

It was almost anti-climatic that Jeff Gordon finally won in his swan song season. Almost. He was near the front most of the day, and was the best after Logano’s departure, leading the final 22 laps to claim his 93rd career victory. The crowd at Martinsville roared their approval as the four-time champ claimed a final four berth for the Homestead showdown on November 22. Gordon shall retire with wins in all but three of his 23 full-time campaigns; in 1993, 2008, and 2010. He wants just one more win in one specific race before heading off to become one of the sport’s most articulate ambassadors

Amongst those who mattered, Rowdy overcame his earlier issue to claim fifth on Sunday, a position ahead of Martin Truex Jr., with Kevin Harvick in eighth. Edwards turned his return to the lead lap to a 14th place finish, but not that terribly far out of the running. As for Keselowski, Kurt, and Logano, they have some work to do.

As for Kenseth, they do promote the Chase as having a knockout format. Well, at Martinsville, Kenseth knocked Logano out. After Kansas, did anyone expect anything less? It is now up to Logano, along with Keselowski and Kurt, to pull themselves off of the canvas to answer the bell at Texas and Phoenix beyond that.

This column will not appear next week, but returns after Phoenix when we will know who will be joining Gordon in the battle for the championship. Who knows, maybe my return will come sooner than Matt’s.

The Chase

1. JEFF GORDON – Win
2. KYLE BUSCH + 9
3. MARTIN TRUEX, JR. +9
4. KEVIN HARVICK +7
5. CARL EDWARDS -7
6. BRAD KESELOWSKI -24
7. KURT BUSCH -26
8. JOEY LOGANO -28

November 2, 2015
Hot 20 – Gordon is a favorite to win at Martinsville, Truex and Kurt not so much

The truth, sometimes it is a tough thing to nail down. Sometimes not. Truth is, Jeff Gordon should do well at Martinsville. In the past five events there, the retiring four-time NASCAR champ has a win and four Top Tens. Over the past dozen years, a span of 25 races, Gordon has failed to claim a Top Ten only three times. He finished 20th in the fall of 2010, 14th in the spring of 2012, and finished 12th in the fall of 2014. That leaves 22 Top Tens, 18 Top Fives, and five victories. You just cannot do better than that. The stats do not lie, and after taking ninth this spring, Gordon still has it. That is the truth.

Sometimes, the truth is a little tougher to ascertain. A couple of years ago, a mysterious spin combined with a baffling call to the pits that briefly allowed a teammate to make the Chase caused controversy. Did Clint Bowyer intentionally spin his car? Bowyer denied it and Sprint Cup Series director John Darby is quoted as saying after the race that “I don’t think anybody realistically believes that was the case with the 15 car.” That tune changed quickly, as the truth appeared to be much more conspiratorial than NASCAR first thought. It cost Martin Truex Jr. a Chase position and his job, and he did nothing wrong. It cost Bowyer some credibility, it cost the team a major sponsor, $300,000 in fines and it possibly caused the eventual demise of Michael Waltrip Racing.

Last weekend, did Kevin Harvick, with a car that was barely running, that was barely in the Chase, deliberately spin out Trevor Bayne to save his season at the cost of Denny Hamlin and Dale Earnhardt Jr.? No, says NASCAR. So, we have to accept that Harvick was telling the truth. I mean, not everyone lies to us in order to get out of a sticky situation.

“I got out of the way, and I never even saw (Bayne) until he was by me.”
Kevin Harvick 2015

“I did not use performance enhancing substances as alleged in the notice of discipline…”
Alex Rodriguez 2014

“I had so much wheel, by the time I got to the gas, he was underneath me. I spun out.”
Clint Bowyer 2013

“I take these charges very seriously, and look forward to clearing my good name,”
Michael Vick 2007

“I’m not going to be the Alabama coach.”
Nick Saban 2006

“I have never had a single positive doping test, and I do not take performance-enhancing drugs.”
Lance Armstrong 2004 (among others)

“I did not have sexual relations with that woman”
Bill Clinton 1998

Sure, some may have misled us in the past, but would Kevin Harvick? Nah.

Here are our Hot 20 over the past five events at Martinsville.

1. JEFF GORDON – 5.4 AvFin – (1 WIN, 3 T5, 4 T10)
Has averaged a Top Seven finish going back 45 races and 23 seasons. Expect good things.

2. MATT KENSETH – 6.4 – (0-2-4)
No pot of gold at the end of this rainbow, but should he come across Logano along the way…

3. CLINT BOWYER – 6.8 – (0-2-4)
Author of “The Secrets of My Success.” Harvick has a copy.

4. DENNY HAMLIN – 8.8 – (1-1-3)
You can take that damn roof hatch and…

5. JOEY LOGANO – 9.8 – (0-3-3)
Mr. Three-in-a-Row has never won at Martinsville, but his last three have been Top Fives.

6. KYLE BUSCH – 11.2 – (0-1-1)
Does not believe Gordon can win it all. Next we will hear how he does not like kittens.

7. KEVIN HARVICK – 13.4 – (0-0-3)
If Karma is on duty this weekend…

8. GREG BIFFLE – 13.6 – (0-0-2)
MWR refugee Brian Pattie to be his crew chief next season.

9. DALE EARNHARDT JR. – 14.4 – (1-2-3)
Best 21 finishes at Martinsville boasts a 6.3 average; his worst 10 finishes…27.7

10. TONY STEWART – 14.5 – (0-1-1)
What is probably no longer equates into what was.

11. JIMMIE JOHNSON – 15.0 – (1-3-3)
Used to own this place, but outside the Top 30 his last two attempts.

12. CARL EDWARDS – 15.4
Expected Harvick to get penalized after Talladega. He probably even expects a Top Ten Sunday.

13. BRAD KESELOWSKI – 16.2 – (0-2-3)
While his 2014 visits were a write-off, he was the runner-up last spring.

14. ARIC ALMIROLA – 16.2 – (0-0-1)
Raised in Daytona. I wonder where he got the racing bug?

15. JAMIE MCMURRAY – 17.0 – (0-0-3)
Looked decent last week, at least until he turned all smoky.

16. PAUL MENARD – 17.6 – (0-0-1)
Best non-Chaser last week, but Martinsville is really not his kind of place.

17. DANICA PATRICK – 20.4 – (0-0-1)
Never thought you would see her name on this list again this season, did you?

18. KASEY KAHNE – 20.8 – (0-1-1)
Best thing about Martinsville will be the trip home.

19. KURT BUSCH – 21.2 – (1-1-1)
Won in the spring last year, but has been outside the top dozen 16 of his past 17 starts here.

20. CASEY MEARS – 22.6
Had a pair of Top Tens at Martinsville in 2008. None since.

22. MARTIN TRUEX JR. – 24.2 – (0-0-1)
Was sixth in the spring. That ought to count for something.

October 28, 2015