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Tag: Matt Kenseth

Dover International Speedway – Did You Know?

This week, NASCAR travels to Dover International Speedway for events in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, the XFINITY Series, and the Camping World Truck Series. The Cup Series AAA 400 Drive for Autism will close out the weekend’s competition Sunday at 1 p.m. on Fox Sports 1.

There have been 94 Cup races with 35 different winners at Dover. The first Cup Series race was held on July 6, 1969, and was won by Richard Petty. David Pearson captured the inaugural pole and leads all drivers with six poles. But did you know that he also holds the record for most consecutive poles at Dover? From 1973 to the spring of 1974, he scored three straight poles.

Matt Kenseth is the defending race winner and heads to Dover hoping for a repeat performance. Last year the Joe Gibbs Racing driver held off a relentless Kyle Larson, leading the final 47 laps in his No. 20 Toyota to capture the checkered flag. He has three wins, 17 top fives and 14 top 10s at the 1-mile track with a 108.6 driver rating, second only to Jimmie Johnson. But did you know that Kenseth posted his first career Coors Light Pole at Dover in 2002?

Johnson is the undisputed master at the Monster Mile with a track-record 10 wins, the series-best driver rating (118.3) as well as the best average running position (7.8). In addition, the Hendrick Motorsports driver has 15 tops fives, 21 top 10s, and three poles. But did you know that if Johnson can pull off another win this weekend, he will become only the third Cup Series driver to win 11 or more races at a single track?

Richard Petty has done it at four different tracks, Martinsville (15), North Wilkesboro (15), Richmond (13) and Rockingham (11). Darrell Waltrip has accomplished this feat twice with 12 victories at Bristol and 11 at Martinsville.

Kyle Busch, winless this season, enters Dover with an opportunity to turn things around. He has the third-best driver (105.4), 11 top fives and 15 top 10s. With two victories, in 2008 and 2010, and a runner-up finish in the 2016 fall race after leading 102 laps, look for Busch to be a top contender. But did you know that if he leads 59 laps on Sunday, he will become the 11th Cup Series driver to lead 13,000 or more laps?

The best chance to claim the trophy at Dover is to qualify on the front row. Thirteen of the 94 races have been won from the pole (13.8 percent) while 16 have been won from second place (17 percent).

The AAA 400 Drive for Autism broadcast begins at 1 p.m. ET, Sunday, on FS1. Be sure to tune in early as this year’s pre-race activities will include special events to honor Richard Petty’s upcoming 80th birthday including a custom made cake to replicate the 1969 Ford that he drove to victory lane in the 1969 inaugural race plus a question and answer session. Petty will also drive a street-ready No. 43 Plymouth Road Runner Superbird tribute car around the track before the green flag drops.

In the meantime, check out the video below as Kenseth and Larson battle for the lead in the final laps.

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

June 1, 2017
Hot 20 – If Dover is such a boring track to watch a race, why is Jimmie Johnson so excited?

Some things are just not like the others. May featured the World 600 and the All-Star race at Charlotte, the spring derby at Talladega, events a fellow can get excited about. This week. Dover.

Maybe Jimmie Johnson will stall on the re-start like he did last spring. That caused one hell of a mess. No, it was not racing, but it sure was not boring. It was not boring when Carl Edwards bounced off the infield wall. At the end, Kyle Larson kept Matt Kenseth honest right to the stripe, as the veteran claimed the victory. That was not a boring finish.

Miles the Monster is not boring. He is big, and the trophy is cool as it holds a model of the winning car in its big mitt. The Monster Mile was once known as White Lightning, but I am thinking that Miles is a bit of a Teetotaler. Come to think of it, so are Donald Trump and Kathy Griffin. Why that fun fact amuses me as much as it does, I do not know.

They have raced 94 times at Dover since the first Cup event in 1969. Richard Petty won the first two, three of the first four, and is tied with Bobby Allison with seven victories. That is good enough for second best.

Among active drivers, Kenseth and Ryan Newman have won three apiece but they are a long ways away from the top gun. Remember that guy who jammed things up last year? Johnson has won 10 in 30 attempts. That is a pretty good average. I wonder who the favorite might be?

It would seem our seven-time Cup champion just likes collecting the more unusual trophies. Ten Monsters to go with his nine Martinsville grandfather clocks. Say what you might about the one-mile track in Delaware or the driver who dominates it, but I think we can agree that there is a trophy room out there that is anything but boring.

Like Austin Dillon, Johnson is among our Hot 20 with a Chase in his future.

1. MARTIN TRUEX JR – 2 WINS – 491 PTS
First in points, tied for first in wins. What do you think of Furniture Row now?

2. BRAD KESELOWSKI – 2 WINS – 409 PTS
Dreams of lasting a tad longer this Sunday than he did in the race last week.

3. JIMMIE JOHNSON – 2 WINS – 359 PTS
The gatekeeper of the room with Monsters and Grandfather Clocks.

4. KYLE LARSON – 1 WIN – 486 PTS
Monaco is too far away to attempt a Triple but has dreams of a Memorial Day Weekend Double.

5. RICKY STENHOUSE JR. – 1 WIN – 298 PTS
Like Happy and Rowdy, he has an attractive better half, but he also has something they do not.

6. KURT BUSCH – 1 WIN – 290 PTS
With his Daytona 500 win and three of the past four a Top Ten, it is good to be Kurt.

7. RYAN NEWMAN – 1 WIN – 266 PTS
When a veteran looks you in the eye and says you are who they fight for, that has an impact.

8. AUSTIN DILLON – 1 WIN – 238 PTS
Points? Who needs stinkin’ points when you get a win at Charlotte?

9. KEVIN HARVICK – 388 PTS
The buck stops with the crew chief, as Childers loses $10,000 for Charlotte’s loose lug nut.

10. KYLE BUSCH – 386 PTS
Hates to lose, be it 38th at Daytona or 2nd at Charlotte. He won’t be a happy camper.

11. JAMIE MCMURRAY – 385 PTS
All of his wins have come on just four marquee tracks, and this is not one of them.

12. CHASE ELLIOTT – 362 PTS
Keselowski saved mechanics a ton of time last week, removing any thought of making repairs.

13. CLINT BOWYER – 343 PTS
Solution to a front end that just would not turn last weekend. Clydesdales. Just a thought.

14. JOEY LOGANO – 336 PTS (1 WIN*)
Win at Kansas was encumbered, meaning it means nothing when it comes to Chase eligibility.

15. DENNY HAMLIN – 332 PTS
One very bad day away from being in danger of losing his contender status.

16. RYAN BLANEY – 308 PTS
One very good day away from potentially putting Hamlin in that position.

17. MATT KENSETH – 288 PTS
A repeat of last year’s spring edition would be just fine with him.

18. TREVOR BAYNE – 271 PTS
Doing enough to stay on this list, but not enough to challenge for a title.

19. ERIK JONES – 256 PTS
Just turned 21 this week. I turned 21 in 1977. I win!

20. DANIEL SUAREZ – 246 PTS
Five straight in the Top 20, three of the last four in the top dozen. There is still time.

May 31, 2017
NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Charlotte

Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

1. Martin Truex Jr.: Truex led 233 laps and won Stage 2 on his way to a third-place finish in the Coca-Cola 600.

“That’s the third consecutive year I’ve led the most laps in the Coke 600,” Truex said, “and all I have to show for it is one win and a lousy t-shirt.”

2. Kyle Larson: Larson started at the rear of the Coca-Cola 600 after he failed to pass inspection in time for a qualifying lap. He raced as high as third before scraping the wall on lap 153, then smacked the wall harder 45 laps later, which ended his day. He finished 33th and dropped out of the top spot in the Monster Energy Cup points standings.

“By the time I passed inspection,” Larson said, “I didn’t have time to turn a qualifying lap. In a sport based on speed, I guess we first need to be faster at passing inspection.”

3. Jimmie Johnson: Johnson ran out of gas two laps from the finish, which allowed Austin Dillon to win his first Cup race. Johnson finished 17th.

“Much like my fuel intake system,” Johnson said, “this sucks. But congratulations go to Dillon. He really proved he belongs with the big boys. You know, a lot of people thought he got a NASCAR ride only because of Richard Childress. I think that’s called being ‘grandfathered in.’”

4. Brad Keselowski: Keselowski’s Charlotte experience ended abruptly when he rear-ended Chase Elliott, whose No. 24 slowed dramatically after running over a piece of debris from Jeffrey Earnhardt’s car. Keselowski finished 39th.

“I’m not sure what piece came off of Earnhardt’s car,” Keselowski said. “But knowing it came from Jeffrey Earnhardt’s car, I’m guessing it was a piece of junk.”

5. Kevin Harvick: Harvick started on the pole at Charlotte and finished eighth despite dealing with a loose wheel early in the race, then a spin caused by some fluid on the track.

“Congratulations to Austin Dillon and Richard Childress,” Harvick said. “I know the importance of winning as an RCR driver. Whenever I won in an RCR car, both Richard and I celebrated. So the partying may have been mutual, but the parting was not.”

6. Chase Elliott: Elliott crashed out early at Charlotte when he ran over a piece of Jeffrey Earnhardt’s car and was subsequently smashed from behind by Brad Keselowski. Elliott finished 38th.

“It’s not the first time an Earnhardt has disappointed a fan base this season,” Elliott said.

7. Jamie McMurray: McMurray finished 12th at Charlotte and is sixth in the points standings, 106 out of first.

“Austin Dillon and his team made all the right calls,” McMurray said. “And it’s good to see the No. 3 in Victory Lane. But I don’t think anyone is going to start calling Dillon ‘The Intimidator’ anytime soon. Based on his fuel mileage victory, I think a more fitting nickname would be the ‘Fume-igator.’”

8. Joey Logano: Logano finished 21st at Charlotte, one lap down, and is now 10th in the Monster Energy Cup points standings.

“It wasn’t the best of days for Penske Racing,” Keselowski said. “First, neither Will Power nor Helio Castroneves won at Indianapolis. Brad Keselowski and I? We didn’t have any luck ‘In-dy Car’ either.”

9. Kyle Busch: Busch likely had the fastest car on the track but finished a disappointing second to Austin Dillon, who successfully gambled on fuel strategy to capture the win.

“Leave it to a Busch brother to be ornery after a second-place finish,” Busch said. “As it was, I came up short, in the race and in the post-race press conference.”

10. Clint Bowyer: Bowyer finished 14th at Charlotte and is now ninth in the Monster Energy Cup points standings, 343 out of first.

“Channing Tatum gave the command to start the engines,” Bowyer said. “Tatum was in Charlotte to promote his movie, ‘Logan Lucky,’ which takes place at Charlotte Motor Speedway and involves some type of robbery during the Coca- Cola 600. I think Austin Dillon will serve as a special consultant because he stole the race on Sunday.”

May 29, 2017
Hot 20 – Motor Car Racing’s biggest day after one of NASCAR’s most newsworthy weeks

Change. Sometimes change is good, like when you win a few million dollars. That is good. You get married to your sweetheart. Good. Your children start arriving. If you are a mature adult, and not some self-serving narcissist, that is very good. New talented drivers emerge on the scene. That is also a good thing.

Some change sucks. Your favorite driver retiring, for example, if only for very selfish reasons. Trying to dump the Southern 500 was a bad thing. Abandoning such traditional names as the Firecracker 400 and the World 600 is not only bad but makes you appear dumb as a stick. About as dumb as adding a third stage for points in a 600-mile race, allowing the possibility of the driver finishing 26th to wind up with more points than the race winner. That is bad, also.

As for changes in the 2018 schedule, good or bad? That is the question. Moving the Brickyard 400 to September? Iconic track, bad venue for NASCAR in my opinion. It does not much matter. Move Richmond from the final race of the regular campaign to the second of the Chase? It might work. Small market, short track, tons of tradition. Maybe.

Changing the fall race in Charlotte to include its road course section? The World 600 is iconic. The fall race is not. Anything that includes another road course is good, but we will not know for sure until we see it. Will we be entertained? The fact that it is a Chase race ticks a box, and if it continues to be a 500-mile contest it would be by far the longest road course endurance test on the circuit.

They thought about changing to the road course at Indianapolis. Those in charge of the iconic venue said no. Indy was all about the oval, in their opinion, period. I guess they decided not to cry over spilled milk and moved on.

The Hall of Fame might need to change. Each year, they elect five more to be enshrined. Once, you needed a championship or 40 plus wins to get in. Now, no title and under 20 victories might still be enough. Mind you, Wendell Scott won just one race but his NASCAR journey was a lot like Andy Dufresne’s trek out of Shawshank. He deserves to be there. Dale Earnhardt Jr., on the other hand, once was a long-shot but today he is an automatic thanks to Curtis Turner’s induction in 2016. Is a change required? You be the judge.

This week, the new inductees were announced. For a change, I can not argue with any of them. Engine builder and team owner Robert Yates. Inaugural NASCAR champ Red Byron. Championship crew chief and team owner Ray Evernham. Broadcast icon Ken Squier. Truck king Ron Hornaday. Next year, maybe mechanic, builder and crew chief Smokey Yunick might be included. He may not have kissed many rings and certainly no one’s ass, but he more than earned his spot. A softening of their attitude regarding him would be a most welcome change.

Of course, for a change, this Sunday it is about more than just NASCAR. The Formula One offering starts the day with the Grand Prix of Monaco. Back on this side of the pond, the open wheelers are featured in the Indianapolis 500. Down south, the World 600 comes our way from Charlotte, North Carolina.

Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton lead the way in F-1’s sixth race of the season. IndyCar finds Simon Pagenaud and Scott Dixon the top dogs. As for NASCAR, here is a look at our Hot 20 heading to Charlotte. In the words of Jackie Stewart, let the motor car racing begin.

1. MARTIN TRUEX JR. – 2 WINS – 431 PTS
When it comes to who should win this race this year, Truex is a “no change” kind of guy.

2. BRAD KESELOWSKI – 2 WINS – 408 PTS
A rule is not “made up” if you failed to read the fine print. Sticker tires are 100% unused.

3. JIMMIE JOHNSON – 2 WINS – 323 PTS
NASCAR makes up new rules, Johnson keeps winning championships. Expect more rules.

4. KYLE LARSON – 1 WIN – 475 PTS
Thinks All-Star race and season finale should move to different venues. He is wrong, of course.

5. JOEY LOGANO – 1 WIN – 320 PTS
Joey and Danica will be in the lineup. Aric Almirola is gone for two or three months.

6. RICKY STENHOUSE JR. – 1 WIN – 276 PTS
You would think a boy from Olive Branch, Mississippi would be the most peaceful guy out there.

7. KURT BUSCH – 1 WIN – 246 PTS
Well, all day long at the track all I hear is how great Kyle is at this or that! Kyle, Kyle, Kyle!

8. RYAN NEWMAN – 1 WIN – 238 PTS
Rocket Man? Amongst our race winners, it is more like he is the Invisible Man.

9. CHASE ELLIOTT – 361 PTS
After the fan vote last week, Chase is the new Danica. Okay, a more manly version.

10. JAMIE MCMURRAY – 354 PTS
Has won twice at Charlotte, but never this classic event.

11. KEVIN HARVICK – 347 PTS
Believes Truck Series should be run at non-Cup tracks, to bring out the fans. Harvick is right.

12. KYLE BUSCH – 325 PTS
Last week it was for money, this week it is for points.

13. CLINT BOWYER – 317 PTS
If it is not a rule, then Crew Chief Mike Bugarewicz gets in touch with his inner Smokey Yunick.

14. RYAN BLANEY – 291 PTS
His dad did not get his shot until he was in his late 30’s. Ryan knows that he is a fortunate son.

15. DENNY HAMLIN – 289 PTS
29 career wins, but not one yet at Charlotte. There is always Sunday.

16. TREVOR BAYNE – 250 PTS
Failed to join his fellow stars in Saturday’s big race. He has incentive to do well this weekend.

17. KASEY KAHNE – 242 PTS
Last week he won $1000 in a World of Outlaws race. So, they release prize money figures?

18. MATT KENSETH – 233 PTS
At least seven in the line-up for Sunday will wind up in the Hall of Fame. Matt is one of them.

19. ERIK JONES – 217 PTS
Stay off the grass.

20. DANIEL SUAREZ – 217 PTS
Was last week his coming out party?

May 24, 2017
NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Kansas

Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

1. Kyle Larson: Larson finished sixth in the GoBowling.com 400, posting his seventh top 10 of the season. He leads the Monster Energy Cup points standings by 44 over Martin Truex Jr.

“That was quite a fiery crash involving Joey Logano, Danica Patrick, and Aric Almirola,” Larson said. “My prayers are with Aric, but mostly with Danica, because according to her interview, she’s the real victim.”

2. Martin Truex Jr.: Truex led 104 laps and pulled away on the final restart to win the GoBowling.com 400 at Kansas.

“My car was super on restarts,” Truex said. “In a race that took place in the heart of the Great Plains, you would expect a lot of people to get ‘dusted.’

“We were untouchable. No one behind us had a chance. Anytime there was a restart, the No. 78 Toyota told everyone else to say ‘hello’ to ‘goodbye.’”

3. Brad Keselowski: Keselowski recovered from falling two laps down to take the runner-up spot at Kansas.

“I probably did more passing on the track than anyone else,” Keselowski said. “In fact, it was easy. As a driver for Penske Racing, it’s ‘passing’ off the track that isn’t so easy. Just look at our inspection record.”

4. Jimmie Johnson: Johnson was headed for a likely top-10 finish before a spin with four laps remaining relegated him to a 24th at Kansas.

“I had a number of problems,” Johnson said. “One was a penalty for driving through too many pit stalls. Another was making contact with Kurt Busch. That’s never a good thing. I should have remembered the advice once given to me about Kurt long ago: ‘It’s best to steer clear of Kurt Busch, on the track and in life.’ That’s sage advice, and I’m not sure who it came from, a fellow driver, or one of Kurt’s former girlfriends.”

5. Chase Elliott: Elliott found trouble early at Kansas when he rammed into Michael McDowell’s No. 95 as Elliott was leaving pit road. Elliott’s No. 24 car suffered significant damage and he limped home to a 29th-place finish.

“It was totally my fault,” Elliott said. “Had I used my rear-view mirror, I’m sure I could have avoided the accident. Me not using my mirror? Well, that reflects badly on me.”

6. Joey Logano: A brake failure with 67 laps to go caused Logano to veer into the path of Danica Patrick and both slammed the wall, and both were then smacked by Aric Almirola’s sliding No. 43. Logano finished 37th.

“There was nothing I could do,” Logano said. “Thus, we were all unlucky. But I was the unluckiest because I had to ride in the back of an ambulance with Danica. That’s the last place I want to be. Can you blame me, though? Apparently, Danica can. If blame were wins, she’d be undefeated.”

7. Kevin Harvick: Harvick started eighth and finished third at Kansas, posting his fourth top five of the season.

“I really had to work hard for that third place finish,” Harvick said. “You could say I gave it my all. That’s not quite how it is when I film commercials. You certainly don’t get all of Kevin Harvick; heck, you’re lucky if you get three inches of Kevin Harvick. Some people say that three inches of Kevin Harvick is still a good day.”

8. Jamie McMurray: McMurray finished eighth at Kansas, recording his seventh top 10 of the year. He is fifth in the Monster Energy Cup points standings.

“That was a scary crash involving Joey Logano, Danica Patrick, and Aric Almirola,” McMurray said. “It sounded and looked like Patrick thought Logano was at fault. In fact, she threw a ‘guilty party’ in his honor.”

9. Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.: One week after winning at Talladega, Stenhouse finished 11th at Kansas.

“My girlfriend Danica Patrick took a big hit in her wreck,” Stenhouse said. “She’s okay because she’s one tough cookie. Luckily, she doesn’t have a concussion. That’s due in part to NASCAR’s stringent safety procedures, but due mostly to the fact that she has the hardest head in this sport.”

10. Clint Bowyer: Bowyer took ninth in the GoBowling.com 400 at Kansas.

“NASCAR told Carl Long he couldn’t have a marijuana vape shop sponsor on his car,” Bowyer said. “That sponsorship went up in smoke. I can’t believe NASCAR could be so uptight. I’ve always said, you can’t spell ‘NASCAR’ without ‘NARC.’”

May 15, 2017
Hot 20 – If even fewer viewers tuned in for Talladega, what hope does Kansas have?

The world, as we know it, must be ending. Forget about all the politics and the violence and the hypocrisy and the attempts to mix cultures that just don’t mix. I am talking about something serious here. The television ratings from the race at Talladega are the worst in more than 20 years. Talladega. The worst. What in hell is going on?

I appreciate we do not have the same car culture we once had. I get it that our society now has the attention span of a gnat. Have you ever taped that race and tried to fast forward your way through it? It cannot be done. Unlike some 1.5-mile tracks, say the one coming up Saturday night in Kansas, Talladegea features 2.66-miles of potential mayhem. You do not even need to be able to tell one Junior from any other to be glued to the excitement that lies before you from the seat of your comfy couch. Still, for seven straight springs, the ratings have slid; 5.9-million viewers watched the action on FOX, 11 percent fewer than who watched a year ago. That is not even half of those who tuned in back in 2005.

No surprise that this is not just a Talladega thing. Just about all the broadcasts this season have seen multi-year lows in ratings and viewership. I do not see Daytona or Bristol on that list. That does not surprise me, either, for the same reason Talladega’s numbers do. They all present action that is thrilling at tracks that cause fans to circle the dates on their calendars to ensure they do not miss a thing. Last Sunday, it appears that a lot of folks decided they could not care less.

Hell, if they can get more viewers to watch a 3.5-hour broadcast featuring a 3-minute horse race on a muddy track between critters few ever heard of, then our world is truly changing.

That brings us to Kansas. Aric Almirola did well at Talladega, but his car failed post-race inspection. He loses 35 points and his crew chief for the next three races. Amy and Dale Earnhardt Jr. might be hosting a short home renovation tv series. Instead of building toward a Chase, they will be concentrating on rebuilding a porch.

As for me, maybe I can plant some vegetables and pick some weeds. Sadly, a UN resolution bans me from partaking in World Naked Gardening Day. Apparently, no one wants to see my rutabagas.

Maybe Kansas and our Hot 20 might attract more interest this Saturday night.

1. BRAD KESELOWSKI – 2 WINS – 367 PTS
The best way to minimize a penalty is to win a couple of races.

2. JIMMIE JOHNSON – 2 WINS – 305 PTS
Imagine his popularity if Seven-Time was known as Demetrious or The Rock. Works for others.

3. KYLE LARSON – 1 WIN – 428 PTS
Leads in points, leads in stage points, but trails in wins. That is called motivation.

4. MARTIN TRUEX JR. – 1 WIN – 374 PTS
Led 172 laps in this race last year. Now, he needs to deliver the finish he wants.

5. JOEY LOGANO – 1 WIN – 318 PTS
His last car looked like he loaned it to Thelma and Louise.

6. RICKY STENHOUSE JR. – 1 WIN – 250 PTS
Junior wins at Talladega. What, were you expecting someone else?

7. RYAN NEWMAN – 1 WIN – 237 PTS
For a while, it looked like Kyle, but Newman spun and Stenhouse won.

8. KURT BUSCH – 1 WIN – 227 PTS
Considers Kansas “one of our strong tracks” as of late, but has just a pair of Top Fives in 22 tries.

9. CHASE ELLIOTT – 353 PTS
A.J.’s team wanted him to get into the Chase, so he did.

10. JAMIE MCMURRAY – 318 PTS
See the hole, be the hole, and some no doubt thought he was some sort of hole to do so.

11. KEVIN HARVICK – 309 PTS
No wins, but a couple of poles to his credit. Apparently, that does count for something.

12. CLINT BOWYER – 289 PTS
After the ‘Dega big one, “I probably sharted a little bit.” You just gotta love Clint.

13. KYLE BUSCH – 277 PTS
If the Rocket Man had not been launched late last weekend, Kyle would be sitting sixth.

14. DENNY HAMLIN – 267 PTS
Won the Talladega 309…but finished 11th over 500 miles.

15. RYAN BLANEY – 240 PTS
Avoided the big one last week, but only because Stenhouse took him out eight laps earlier.

16. TREVOR BAYNE – 223 PTS
Eight laps after Blaney, Bayne was retired and still lost four points to his rival.

17. KASEY KAHNE – 214 PTS
A Top Five last week, and just nine points out of the Chase. Time to click them heels.

18. MATT KENSETH – 205 PTS
The world continues to change, as he closes his museum in Cambridge, Wisconsin next month.

19. ERIK JONES – 200 PTS
Why is this soon to be 21-year-old a race car driver? You can blame Mom.

20. ARIC ALMIROLA – 187 PTS
You can’t acquit if the car don’t fit.

21. DANIEL SUAREZ – 187 PTS
I thought you needed to average 20 points per race to get on to this list. Thanks, Aric!

May 10, 2017
Kansas Speedway – Did You Know?

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and the Camping World Truck Series travel to Kansas Speedway this weekend for racing under the lights. The Truck Series Toyota Tundra 250 is set for Friday, May 12, at 8:30 p.m. ET while the Cup Series Go Bowling 400 will air Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET. Both races will be televised on FS1.

Joe Gibbs Racing’s Kyle Busch is the defending race winner and is still searching for his first victory this season. He has four top fives and six top 10s at the track with the 12th best driver rating. Busch is currently 10th in the point standings.

The first Cup Series race at the 1.5-mile track was on Sept. 30, 2001, but did you know that it was won by Jeff Gordon? There have been 22 Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway, one each year from 2001 – 2010 and two races per year since 2011. Hendrick Motorsports leads the series in wins at Kansas with six; Gordon has three (2001, 2002, 2014) and Jimmie Johnson also has three (2008, 2011, 2015).

Fourteen different drivers have won poles at Kansas, led by Kevin Harvick, Johnson, Matt Kenseth and Kasey Kahne, with three poles each. But did you know that Jason Leffler won the pole for the inaugural Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway in 2001? He won it in the No. 01 Dodge for Chip Ganassi Racing with a speed of 176.499 mph and is the only driver to capture his first career Cup Series pole at Kansas.

Leffler, known as “LEFturn,” began his career as an open-wheel driver winning three consecutive USAC Midget championships from 1997-99 and the 1998 USAC Silver Crown championship. He also made three starts in the IndyCar Series and finished 17th in the 2000 Indianapolis 500.

Leffler’s NASCAR career began with four starts in the XFINITY Series in 1999 with Joe Gibbs Racing, running a full-time schedule in 2000. He advanced to the Cup Series in 2001 with Chip Ganassi Racing. During his career, he made 423 starts across the three national series and has two XFINITY wins and one victory in the Camping World Truck Series.

On June 12, 2013, Leffler lost his life in a crash during a 410 sprint car race at Bridgeport Speedway in New Jersey. He was 37 and left behind a son, Charlie, who was only five years old at the time

Leffler was a fierce competitor on the track but his most enduring quality was his generous spirit off the track. He will always be remembered for his irresistible smile, his selfless desire to help others and who could forget his trademark haircut?

Three-time Cup Series champion Tony Stewart remembers Leffler as “a great racer and an even better friend. We raced together a lot, and our career paths were very similar. He loved racing, especially open-wheel racing, and that’s a passion we both share. To not have him around to talk about whatever race one of us had just run, or were going to run, will be hard.”

Qualifying well at Kansas Speedway should give drivers an edge. Five of the 22 (22.7 percent) Cup Series events have been won from the front row, four from the pole position and one from second-place. But did you know that 54.5 percent of the races have been won from a top-10 starting position? Brad Keselowski won from the deepest in the field ( 25th) in the spring race of 2011.

As we head to Kansas Speedway, Jimmie Johnson leads all drivers with the series-best driver rating of 110.6, with three wins, nine top fives, 17 top 10s and three poles. Kenseth (108.1), Harvick (105.3), Martin Truex Jr. (95.7) and Kahne (91.4) round out the top five best driver ratings.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. has struggled this season but did you know that he has the sixth-best driver rating (90.0) at Kansas Speedway? He has three top fives, nine top 10s and one pole at the track and is looking forward to the race.

“Kansas is a great racetrack for me,” Earnhardt said. “That place has widened out pretty good and you can run against the fence there, which is a line that I like to run. It’s a very fast racetrack and very smooth, a lot of fun, so we should have a good time.”

The on-track action begins Thursday, May 11, with Truck Series practice, culminating with the Go Bowling 400 Saturday evening at 7:30 p.m. In the meantime, check out the video below as we take a moment to remember Jason Leffler.

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

May 10, 2017
The Final Word – Talladega, the track most drivers seem to hate but most fans love

So, let us talk about Talladega. We had Ricky Stenhouse Jr. start on the pole. Then we had a race full of excitement with a host of “oh, my God, did you see that?” moments. That pretty much covers the highlights from the opening 168 laps. It was as thrilling as I had hoped, but this one came down to the final 30 circuits on that big track.

No one dominated this one. No one went to the front and stayed there all race long. They came and they went. On lap 162, Ryan Blaney took a bow. A kiss from Stenhouse did the trick to end his day. Eight laps later, Chase Elliott went. Straight into the fence. A.J. Allmendinger just touched the back of the car, and Chase was gone. So was A.J., who was left sitting with his world turned upside down until the wreckers arrived. We said adios to Erik Jones. Kevin Harvick went bye, bye. The race was ruined for Joey Logano, who became the meat in the middle of a heavy metal sandwich. Ta-ta to both Martin Truex Jr and Trevor Bayne. By the way, Danica Patrick seemed to be doing well on this day. At least, until that moment. A very hard hit on the inside wall was not the way she wanted to end her day. At least, she left the track happy.

Before all the fun began, Kyle Busch had taken over as the leader. With just three to go, two cars bounced against one another, taking out the third car belonging to Ryan Newman. That left an overtime period to decide it all, and it was time well spent.

Busch had the lead, at least he did until Jimmie Johnson launched Stenhouse for the pass on the final lap. To add to the excitement, Jamie McMurray threaded the needle between Busch and Johnson with no room to spare. In fact, there was no room. I think he was driving one of those cartoon cars that could stretch out to fit the space. Johnson faded, but Rowdy charged back into the mix, but it was not enough as Stenhouse, McMurray, and Busch hit the line in that order.

I told you Danica left the track happy. She got to award the winner with a kiss. Team owner Jack Roush ended a 101 race drought and probably thought about following Patrick’s lead. It was the first career Cup win for his driver, who has all but punched his ticket into the Chase. Stenhouse only led the one lap, but it gave him a 49 point day. Kyle Busch had 42, while Brad Keselowski won the opening stage and finished seventh to record 40 of his own.

Aric Almirola and Kasey Kahne both were in the Top Five, with Paul Menard and David Ragan in the Top Ten. The failure of his crew to keep his right rear tight much of the race left Dale Earnhardt Jr. very ordinary in 22nd. It could have been worse. Each of the aforementioned drivers who had a different opinion of the day than I had all finished behind him. Unfortunately, this result leaves Junior 67 points, or a victory, out of a playoff spot.

No doubt the excitement level is reaching a fever pitch as we all anticipate Kansas coming up this Saturday night. Well, that might be the case for Johnson, who has three wins at that track. Harvick, Logano, and Matt Kenseth each have a pair. Last spring, Kyle Busch won his first there. As for all the exciting highlights, we did have Denny Hamlin try to dart through a hole between Keselowski and Kyle Larson late in the game. Instead, he lost air, lost control, but found Logano to take them both out of it. In the words of Mike Joy, “That was a 7-10 split in the GoBowling 400.”

Okay, that was the lone highlight. I hope you enjoyed it. We can always hope that this year’s race proves at least as good as last year’s line.

May 8, 2017
Hot 20 – Talladega could not have come at a better time

NASCAR is losing steam. Surprise! It is not exactly news, but this week comments made by the top brass yet again reminded us of what has been going on for about a decade now. NASCAR got its big TV contract in 2001 to bring the action nationwide. It lost one of its legends in that opening race, then his son became part of a very compelling and riveting story line, and a fad was born. Everybody who was anybody jumped aboard the bandwagon. That lasted until the economic downturn following the 2007 season. The good times came to a grinding halt, and have not yet returned. As Merle Haggard used to ask, “Are the good times really over for good?”

Once upon a time, but a time not so far away, 112,000 seats surrounded the track at Richmond. Today, they number 60,000. Last Sunday, only half of them had butt cheeks draped upon them. This week, NASCAR boss Brian France says his sport is not the only one having trouble enticing fans to leave their electronic devices behind, especially those tuned into his races, to make the trek to see the action live. They are having a summit next month in Charlotte, joined by experts, to seek out some answers. Charlotte track owner Humpy Wheeler has his own answers. Get rid of the aero push, the thing that gives the leader in clean air a distinct advantage, once and for all. Do that and then see the return of on-track excitement, the return of duels for the lead, the return of rivalries, and the return of the fans. Simple solution, but one they have been unable to solve for nearly twenty years.

NASCAR was here long before Dale Earnhardt Jr. and it will be there long after he leaves. Sure sounds strong, defiant, and even true to some degree. However, compare how much merchandise Junior moves and compare it to anyone else…hell…everyone else, and you might just notice a few beads of sweat on the foreheads of NASCAR’s big shots. In the past, big stars left but it was all small potatoes back then compared to today. Dale Earnhardt died, but his son was there pick up some of the slack. Today, Junior is planning on going. Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, and Carl Edwards are already gone. Can Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney, Erik Jones, Daniel Suarez, and the Dillon brothers keep those rabid fans in tow, the ones who will hang around no matter what? That is the question.

Few tracks pretty much guarantee excitement. Talladega happily is one of them. Multiple lead changes, the potential of mayhem each and every lap, and the thrills that it brings. You do not need an Earnhardt to present that. You sure do when you go to Kansas for the next contest, and we return to a 1.5-mile oval and the same old, same old. Without the likes of Junior to cheer for, the lukewarm supporters will once again dissipate like a mist in the wind. They might return for the all-star event, they might catch the World 600 at Charlotte later this month, or next month’s road course challenge at Sonoma, then the Firecracker 400 at Daytona in July. Kansas, Dover, Pocono, and Michigan each have two events scheduled this season, with the first coming our way in May and June. Think about that, then tell me “how bad have you got it?” Exactly.

Talladega could not come at a better time. Here is to the hot action for our Hot 20 in Alabama on Sunday afternoon.

1. BRAD KESELOWSKI – 2 WINS – 327 PTS
Junior might be the current King of Talladega, but with four wins Brad is the Crown Prince.

2. JIMMIE JOHNSON – 2 WINS – 270 PTS
When did they start painting the walls to look like Junior’s car?

3. KYLE LARSON – 1 WIN – 398 PTS
“I would race a lot more if I was allowed to. That’s why I feel like I’m the last true racer.”

4. MARTIN TRUEX JR. – 1 WIN – 358 PTS
Having a decent season, but imagine how good it would be if not for all those damned penalties.

5. JOEY LOGANO – 1 WIN – 333 PTS
Joey is sad. He heard Rowdy got a commitment line penalty at Richmond. The tears are flowing.

6. RYAN NEWMAN – 1 WIN – 225 PTS
In 30 starts, just five Top Fives, with his best being third eight years ago. You can save on the suds.

7. KURT BUSCH – 1 WIN – 192 PTS
When it came to Dale Earnhardt and Mr. Busch, oh well-a bird, bird, bird; bird is a word.

8. CHASE ELLIOTT – 346 PTS
Driving for Hooters this weekend. Make up your own joke.

9. KEVIN HARVICK – 286 PTS
Bloomin’ good result resulted in Outback Steakhouse giving away Bloomin’ Onions. Really.

10. JAMIE MCMURRAY – 282 PTS
Jamie only wins on the biggest stages. This would be one of them.

11. CLINT BOWYER – 266 PTS
Not as vile as Colbert, but he can sometimes string together some hot phrases on the radio.

12. KYLE BUSCH – 235 PTS
Five minutes. No crews, no officials, no cameras. Just five minutes is all he asks.

13. DENNY HAMLIN – 231 PTS
With Kyle, Denny, and Matt all here, the lack of Joe Gibbs wins is truly a non-story.

14. RYAN BLANEY – 229 PTS
Only five points earned over the past two events, with four of the past six outside the Top 20.

15. TREVOR BAYNE – 216 PTS
Still only one Cup win to his credit, but if you have to win just one…he picked well.

16. RICKY STENHOUSE JR. – 201 PTS
Joining Martin and Sherry, along with a host of others, in Catwalk for a Cause later this month.

17. ERIK JONES – 193 PTS
Lasted less than five laps last week, earned just one point. Talladega just has to be better.

18. MATT KENSETH – 192 PTS
Richmond was a race that proved to be 237 laps too long. Before that, he had a very nice day.

19. ARIC ALMIROLA – 189 PTS
The “other” drivers with more than one win in the No.43…Bobby Hamilton (2) and Jim Paschal (2).

20. KASEY KAHNE – 179 PTS
Krispy Kasey Kahne went cycling last week and, as Gollum might say, “It burns us.”

May 3, 2017
The Final Word – Richmond was like a nice white dress shirt…with ketchup on it

We all know what it is like. We get all excited about some event, then it does not go as planned. That Christmas morning you waited for so long, only to wake up with the flu. The day at the ballpark longed dreamed of, only to see the storm clouds roll in. That long anticipated first date, only to discover you just blew the rear of your pants out. For me, that was Richmond.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. returned to Richmond after announcing his impending retirement. Richmond, where he won his second, and final, Cup race during his father’s lifetime. Then Cinderella discovered her nice coach turned into a pumpkin after a speeding penalty took him forever out of the hunt for a Top Ten spot. A spin, then being splashed across the outside wall by his teammate left him in 30th.

Matt Kenseth was the man. He led from the pole for the initial 163 laps. All was wonderful beneath the Virginia sunshine. Then he drifted back a bit, then had a bad pit stop, then cut a tire against Martin Truex Jr. to wind up 23rd.

Just ask Kyle Busch about Richmond. He might not tell you, at least not with a recording device anywhere near. He got caught speeding early, but he was making progress as the race continued. He was within striking distance for the lead when Joey Logano cut in late to pit road, obstructing Busch’s view of where the commitment line was. He ran over it. He got penalized. He went from contender to 16th.

As for Logano? Well, he won, of course. It was his 18th win in his 300th career start to become one of seven who has all but punched their ticket to the Chase. Yet, despite the victory, he was just fourth in points earned on the day, with 42. That was eight shy of Brad Keselowski, the race runner-up, and second stage winner. That was five short of Denny Hamlin, in third, and fifth place Kevin Harvick.

Erik Jones got a point. Just one. Mind you, he did not manage to get in five laps last Sunday when he got help cutting a tire. That sent him into the grinder that was the outside wall and he was done. A.J. Allmendinger got a point. Midway through the second stage, his auto developed some issues that required a trip to the garage. A long trip. He was running at the end, just 67 laps down. Ryan Blaney got a point. Another cut tire, another meeting with the wall. At least he waited to near the end to come to an end. Ask those three guys what they thought about Richmond.

That was then. Talladega is what is coming up now. This Sunday, we go to the House of Earnhardt. Ten wins by the father. Six more by the son. No flu. No split britches. No rain. It would not dare.

May 1, 2017