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  • Keselowski Grabs the Pole at Pocono

    Keselowski Grabs the Pole at Pocono

    Brad Keselowski will lead the field to the green flag on Sunday at the Tricky Triangle.

    The driver of the No. 2 Team Penske Ford scored the pole for Sunday’s Axalta “We Paint Winners” 400 at Pocono Raceway with a time of 49.525 and a speed of 181.726 mph.

    “Yeah, it was a really solid effort for Team Penske to get 1-2,” Keselowski said of his qualifying performance. “That is really hard to do, I can tell you that. We had great speed obviously today. I wasn’t really sure what to expect with the rain and all the other variables that were kind of thrown at us with low practice. We thought we would be okay and quite honestly we tested here and we weren’t very good and we were just kind of not really sure what to expect. We got that half a lap of practice in and we weren’t all that good there either but for some reason here in the qualifying session the team put things together and worked on it and found some speed and dialed on it each round and we got faster each round. That is why we are up here today. It was a team effort. I am really proud of the group with the Miller Lite Ford running up front and getting the pole is great but we want to be up there on Sunday as well. We will enjoy this moment and then get back to work and try to make it stay up there Sunday.”

    It’s the 12th career pole and first of the season for the 2012 Sprint Cup Series champion.

    He’ll be joined on the front row by teammate Joey Logano who posted a time of 49.614 and a speed of 181.400 mph in his No. 22 Ford.

    “It is interesting, I think the tires are actually getting better every run,” Logano said. “The will and the want to go faster I think rose as well. Congratulations to the 2 car. It kind of stings for us. The last two weeks we have won the first two rounds and come in second in the third round. It is a bummer for us but both Team Penske cars are fast and that is pretty cool when we start the race on Sunday. We have a good starting spot and it is a long race so we will be just fine.

    “Yeah, we were so close,” a disappointed Logano added. “The last two weeks we have been the fastest car in the first two rounds and given it up in the third. You want to get those poles. The pole means a lot and it is cool to rack up that stat but overall both Team Penske Fusions are up front and that says a lot about where our organization is right now. Man, I just wanted to get the pole. It stings but it’s cool we are up front.”

    Matt Kenseth will start third in his No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota after posting a time of 49.637 and a speed of 181.316 mph.

    “It was good for us,” Kenseth said of his qualifying performance. “It was an interesting qualifying session because a lot of people didn’t get any practice, including us, so it’s kind of a little bit of a tricky place to get up to speed and get your momentum and get it to feel good. With all that being said, it went really well for us. We were able to have some pretty good speed the first round and adjust on it every time. Just got off a little bit the last run, but it was still obviously a good time. Think it was the best I’ve ever done here.”

    Kevin Harvick will start fourth in his No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet after posting a time of 49.671 and a speed of 181.192 mph.

    “It was good,” Harvick said of his qualifying performance. “The car was definitely better than the driver. But I think as you look at how fast the car is, I just made a lot of mistakes in really all three rounds. I was just trying to get too much out of it instead of just letting the car do the work as fast as it is. But all in all, those were still pretty good laps. We made one lap of practice this morning, that’s all. We’ve got some work to do tomorrow, but most of all, on the driver’s rhythm!”

    Carl Edwards will round out the top-five in his No. 19 JGR Toyota after posting a time of 49.790 and a speed of 180.759 mph.

    “I thought not shaving was going to do the trick, but it didn’t – wasn’t that good of luck, so I’m going to shave,” Edwards said. “Our Toyota was fast. We’ve got ARRIS SURFboard modems on there – they’ve got the fastest modems and I thought we were going to have the fastest car, but I think I gave up a little bit in the tunnel. It’s so easy to do that here, but I had fun though. Pretty fast – I didn’t know that we’d all be that fast.”

    Tony Stewart will start sixth in his No. 14 SHR Chevrolet. Jimmie Johnson will start seventh in his No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. Dale Earnhardt Jr. will start eighth in his No. 88 HMS Chevrolet. Kurt Busch will start ninth in his No. 41 SHR Chevrolet. Denny Hamlin will round out the top-10 in his No. 11 JGR Toyota.

    Kasey Kahne will start 11th in his No. 5 HMS Chevrolet. Kyle Busch will round out the 12 drivers that made the final round of qualifying in his No. 18 JGR Toyota.

    Chase Elliott will be the highest starting rookie in 13th. Defending race winner Martin Truex Jr. will start 17th.

    Forty cars were entered, so none were sent home after qualifying.

    Twenty-two Chevrolet cars, 11 Ford cars and seven Toyota cars comprise the starting field for Sunday’s race.

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  • Ray Black Jr. Steps Up From Truck to XFINITY and Beyond

    Ray Black Jr. Steps Up From Truck to XFINITY and Beyond

    Last year on Pocono race weekend, Ray Black Jr. was driving in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. This year, Black has taken a step up to the XFINITY Series, driving the No. 07 ScubaLife.com Chevrolet Camaro for SS Green Light Racing.

    “We did a really good job as a team in the Truck Series last year with a lot of top-15 finishes,” Black said. “We were debating whether to run again in the Truck Series or step up to the XFINITY Series. We figured for the money we were putting in this year and the budget that we had, we could make the XFINITY Series leap, be somewhat competitive and build on that.”

    After deciding to go to the next level, Black has been experiencing the normal vagaries associated with competing in a brand new series.  He has, however, been progressing nicely, from 33rd place finishes in the first two races to his best finish of 17th at Dover.

    Black, however, struggled in the most recent race at Charlotte, suffering an oil line issue which relegated him and his team to a 37th place finish.

    “So far it’s been a roller coaster, Black said of his season to date. “We’ve had some good races and bad ones. Overall, we’ve learned a lot and had a lot of new cars. It’s on the right track and it’s been a good step up for right now.”

    As he has moved up, Black acknowledges that there has been a lot of learning involved in that transition, both on the part of his team and on his own part.

    “As far as my team is concerned, they have done a good job so far with the change,” Black said. “As a driver, I feel like I’ve learned a lot about these cars but there are a lot of things they do differently in the XFINITY Series, with more tires and different strategies. And you have a lot bigger teams in this Series.”

    “I feel like I have a lot more to learn, but that makes it fun.”

    Black has been taking it all in, especially when it comes to the differences between the trucks and XFINITY cars.

    “The biggest lesson I’ve learned is to drive these cars with the aero-dependency,” Black said. “The trucks are more mechanical and with the cars, you are almost driving sideways and that’s the fastest way to do it.”

    “That’s been our biggest hill to climb and I’m definitely not where I should be there. But I’m getting closer.”

    Black is also learning other lessons as he steps up the rungs of the NASCAR ladder, including handling the length race and the fact that some of the Cup drivers are also his competitors.

    “The race is longer too so you have to pace yourself and make sure you are there at the end. I’ve always been good at that, so that is paying off for us,” Black said. “And then I’ve been learning how to race these other guys, especially the Cup guys.”

    “That’s been interesting but you have to race whoever is on the track,” Black said. “But if you get Kyle Busch popping up in these races, the problem is that he laps us all so fast. Getting laps down in these races is the toughest part.”

    “We’re just trying to get more speed so we can race competitively with the guys. We’ll have our chance.”

    Black is also proud to have the chance to make history, with the XFINITY Series racing at Pocono for the first time ever.

    “I think it’s pretty neat,” Black said. “I’ve been here twice in Trucks and these are great races. That front stretch is really long so if you get a good run there, you can make it five wide.”

    “I’ve had some cool experiences here so I think XFINITY coming here is awesome. I think it’s neat and cool to be a part of it.”

    While Black is having a cool experience at Pocono, he is also having some pretty cool experiences off the track. He and his father are currently constructing an international location for the Commercial Diving Academy in St. Kitts.

    “We’ve built a bunch of docks and a marina,” Black said. “That’s the base of it right now. Slowly in a couple of years, we will have an entire center.”

    “Last time I went down, we were building underwater platforms and surveying the area. We had to do some dredging and make it deeper. We also had to build jettys with rocks to tie the boats to. It is a lot of work right now and that’s what I like doing when I’m not on the track.”

    “I love racing but you have to pay the bills too.”

    Speaking of those bills, Black is hoping to pay some as he takes to the track tomorrow in the Pocono Green 250.

    “I want a top-20 finish, at least,” Black said. “That’s a worst case scenario. A top-15 would be really great.”

    “We need to get back on track and make sure that we don’t let the mechanical failure of last week turn our season upside down.”

    “So, I’m going to get right back out there and continue stepping up,” Black said. “It’s been a good transition from Truck to XFINITY for me and I just hope to keep building on it here at Pocono.”

     

  • Suzanne Igdalsky Shares Life as Pocono Wife

    Suzanne Igdalsky Shares Life as Pocono Wife

    Ever wonder about the women behind the men who run NASCAR race tracks?  Suzanne Igdalsky, the wife of Pocono Raceway President and CEO Brandon Igdalsky, is one of those special women, working on race weekend to do all she can at track, as well as running her own business and being mom to 12-year-old twin girls.

    And while many may think that Suzanne’s connection to NASCAR started with her marriage into the Pocono Raceway family, she was actually born into it herself growing up in Lehighton just a half hour from the Pocono race track.

    “A funny story, my grandfather had owned a hunting cabin that was adjacent to track property,” Igdalsky said. “And he was here before Doc Mattioli even came into this area.”

    “After the track was built, I would come up as a kid for every race. And after the race, my grandfather and I would collect cans under the grandstands. So, I’ve been coming around NASCAR since I was a little girl.”

    In spite of spending so much time at Pocono Raceway, Suzanne and her husband’s paths did not cross until she finished college.

    “After I finished my Bachelor’s degree, I had gone out with a couple of friends,” Igdalsky said. “And I met Brandon at Shenanigans, which Brandon likes to call a bar but I say is a restaurant.”

    “He just sort of popped out in front of me and started talking to me. It was cute. And it was cute because our grandfathers had some differences, which was interesting. But it all turned out well and both grandparents were at the wedding and on great terms.”

    Once they tied the knot, Suzanne began to realize the enormity of the job her husband had running the race track and began to immerse herself in it as well in order to help and support the family business.

    “In the beginning, to be honest, I didn’t pay as much attention as I probably should have,” Igdalsky said. “But as I started to realize what this was all about, I now try to attend as many functions as I can with Brandon and be a support for him.”

    “And I also try to network myself with the NASCAR community and I absolutely have grown to love NASCAR.  The NASCAR family has become a second family to our family.”

    While Suzanne has embraced the NASCAR family, her own family, especially twin daughters Madison and McKenzie, are her top priorities.  So, will they be the next generation in the Pocono Raceway family business?

    “Well, the kids just want to be kids right now,” Igdalsky said. “Would I say they are interested? I would say yes. Do I think that they are going to be in this industry when they are older? I cannot say.”

    “They both have strong personalities. Madison is Brandon’s little clone, so perhaps I could see her being involved, especially with social media because she is really good with that. And McKenzie is very scholarly and she likes to read her books.”

    “I guess time will tell about their involvement in the future at the track.”

    While family is of utmost importance to Suzanne Igdalsky, what she says surprises people most about her is that she also runs a very successful business of her own. Not surprising, however, is that her business benefits children with special needs and their families.

    “I’m a speech pathologist and I work with kids from birth to age 3 in early intervention,” Igdalsky said. “I actually own my own early intervention agency now. I’m now in five counties and I have grown to about 15 staff.”

    “We are family-centered and routines-based, which means we work wherever is best for the child. It could be at daycare, at grandparent’s houses, or even grocery stores. I had one therapist meet her child at the pool.”

    “We want to work on the child’s goals in their natural environment. So, if a family is having trouble going to the grocery store, we will come out and work with them wherever they need the help.”

    In addition to her thriving business, Igdalsky is also involved in volunteering and helping the Pocono community whenever possible.

    “Obviously, doing volunteer work with children is a big thing for me. Autism is a part of my life and I have a soft spot there.”

    “But I’m also an animal lover. I’m always trying to support different kinds of animal charities. I admit that I am a cat lady, with one indoor cat and the stray cats that have also found their way to me.”

    “So, I now have about 9 outside cats, which Brandon is not a fan of. But, because he loves me, he indulges me and is flexible with it.”

    While Suzanne Igdalsky balances her role as race track wife, mother, businesswoman and philanthropist, her greatest memories to date at Pocono involve two very special family members.

    “I have many great memories of growing up here and having my family here,” Igdalsky said. “But my greatest memory was when Doc (Mattioli) and Rose were in good health and were here with us.”

    “Yes, that is the best memory for me.”

     

  • NASCAR Racing Schedule for Pocono

    NASCAR Racing Schedule for Pocono

    The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and XFINITY Series head to Pocono Raceway this weekend. The Camping World Truck Series is off. Please check below for the complete schedule of events.

    All times are Eastern.

    Thursday, June 2:

    On Track:
    2-2:55 p.m.: XFINITY Series First Practice
    4-4:55 p.m.: XFINITY Series Second Practice

    Friday, June 3:

    On Track:
    11 a.m.-12:25 p.m.: Sprint Cup Series First Practice – FS1
    12:30-1:25 p.m.: XFINITY Series Third Practice – FS1 (Canceled)
    3-3:55 p.m.: XFINITY Series Final Practice – FS1 (Canceled)
    4:30 p.m.: Sprint Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying – FS1

    Garage Cam: (Watch live)
    10:30 a.m.: Sprint Cup Series
    Noon: XFINITY Series

    Press Conferences: (Watch live)
    9:30 a.m.: Chase Elliott
    10:15 a.m.: Martin Truex Jr.
    10:30 a.m.: Brennan Poole
    10:45 a.m.: Daniel Suarez
    1:20 p.m.: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
    1:40 p.m.: Brad Keselowski
    5:15 p.m.: Post-Sprint Cup Series Qualifying (time approx.)

    Saturday, June 4:

    On Track:
    9:05 a.m.: XFINITY Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying – FS1
    11:30 a.m.-12:25 p.m.: Sprint Cup Series Final Practice – FS1
    1 p.m.: XFINITY Series Pocono Green 250 (100 laps, 250 miles) – FOX

    Press Conferences: (Watch live)
    11 a.m.: Pocono Raceway President & CEO Brandon Igdalsky
    3 p.m.: Post-XFINITY Series Race (time approx.)

    Sunday, June 5:

    On Track:
    1 p.m.: Sprint Cup Axalta ‘We Paint Winners’ 400 (160 laps, 400 miles) – FS1  (Postponed until Monday, June 6 at noon on FS1)

    Press Conferences: (Watch live)
    4 p.m.: Post-Sprint Cup Series Race

    Complete NASCAR TV Schedule

    Special NASCAR Programming:

    • Chase Elliott on “Ridiculousness” – Thursday, June 2 at 10 p.m. ET on MTV
  • The View from my Recliner

    The View from my Recliner

    It’s Pocono week and I can tell you from experience, the infield at Pocono rivals Talladega for the things you can see and learn.

    One Pocono race, you saw porn on a big screen and a Chevy Vega and Ford Pinto chained axle to axle with a fire pit in the middle in the ultimate game of tug of war. I have witnessed a deer cross the track and a streaker on the track. Boy, there are some memories at Pocono.

    Since they dropped the racing from 500 miles to 400 miles at Pocono, it has drastically improved. I can’t explain why, but eliminating those extra 100 miles changed the way the drivers attack the track.

    It has been a little while since I wrote my column due to technical issues, but everything is ironed out and we’re all ready to set the world on fire with some predictions for the second half of the regular season.

    Prediction 1: This is from my heart probably not my head, but Tony Stewart will win a race and make the Chase. The best chance for Smoke to earn his win is at Daytona or the two road courses.

    Prediction 2: Keith Rodden will not finish the season as Kasey Kahne’s crew chief. Kasey Kahne has not run consistently well for the past three years. Rookie Chase Elliott is regularly running around the top-10 and Kahne is ranging from 15th to 20th. Hendrick Motorsports has a Cup-winning crew chief in the organization in Darian Grubb who could get right on the box and change the culture of the team.

    Prediction 3: NASCAR will make the right call with the rules package for Michigan and Kentucky and will change the rules and use that package for the rest of the season. The racing was fantastic for the All-Star race and NASCAR will try to re-create that racing.

    Prediction 4: Ty Dillon will be announced as the new driver of the No. 31 car. Kevin Harvick said before leaving RCR that those kids will get everything. It is a shame because Ryan Newman is a talented racer but you can see that he isn’t getting the best RCR equipment.

    Prediction 5: Joe Gibbs Racing will announce that Aarons will sponsor Matt Kenseth in 2017. Kenseth’s dry humor will be great for the Aarons commercials and hopefully, get Michael Waltrip off of my television.

    Kudos to Mike Joy who made sure during the Fox broadcast to seamlessly work in the names of the fallen on the windshields and the stories behind them throughout the race. It wasn’t forced and the way he told their stories was heartfelt.

    Enjoy the racing at Pocono and I’ll be back next week with the View from my Recliner.

  • NASCAR BTS: Pocono Raceway Goes to the Dogs

    NASCAR BTS: Pocono Raceway Goes to the Dogs

    Many race fans not only like to camp for the weekend festivities, but they also enjoy bringing along their canine companions.  This week’s NASCAR Behind the Scenes takes a look at what Pocono Raceway is doing to make those four-legged fans feel right at home at the track.

    “We got a mission from the top when Brandon (Igdalsky, President and CEO of Pocono Raceway) said that we needed to think of some ways to continue to bring added value to our race fans,” Ben May, Chief Marketing Officer, said. “So, we came up with the unique idea of creating a Bark Park, a special area where dogs can play while their owners meet and socialize.”

    “We really wanted to attract people that maybe would not come to the race and dogs came to our mind.  We knew that race fans couldn’t come to Pocono Raceway for three days and leave their dogs home alone.”

    May acknowledged that while Pocono has allowed dogs in the infield in the campsite area for the past few years, there is a leash rule that they have to obey. The rules are that the dogs have to be on a leash or a runner and so cannot run freely.

    The Bark Park will address the problem of the leash and will be that newly created spot where dogs can run, play and meet other dogs in a safe place throughout the race weekend.

    “We already allowed dogs here so this was a natural progression for our love for dogs,” May said. “The Bark Park is like the dog park in your town or in your neighborhood. So, it’s a chance to let your dogs off the leash, stretch their legs and to, of course, have an added thing to do at the infield while you are here at the track.”

    The Bark Park will be located in the infield at Pocono Raceway, near the Infield Fan Center on Earnhardt Road. It will be provided free of charge and open to all fans who have secured an infield campsite.  The facility is 100 feet by 100 feet and features a secure gate, obstacles, and size-appropriate exercise areas.

    “Our goal is to have it be just like your dog park at home,” May said. “There will be obstacles there for the dogs, picnic tables for their owners, and places to hang out and talk about racing, dogs or life in general.”

    May anticipates that the Bark Park will be one new place where race fans can go to socialize with other race fans who love their dogs.

    “We found over the years that we have a ton of campers that have come here to Pocono Raceway and they always like to be next to the same people that they met ten years ago,” May said. “So, I think the Bark Park is just this added layer to the bonding and those relationships that the race fans have built amongst themselves.”

    When fans come to Pocono Raceway in June for the first race weekend, the track will be christening the new Bark Park. And fans who come out for that event may just see some of their favorite drivers’ pooches come to play and romp in the new area.

    “We are going to do a grand opening in June and we will definitely extend an invitation to some of the drivers, team owners and the folks in the motor coach lot,” May said. “They all have a ton of dogs so we hope they will come to the Bark Park and let them stretch their legs a little bit as well.”

    There are two other events that will celebrate Pocono Raceway going to the dogs, one a ‘Best in Show’ contest and the other a chance to win a dog house, complete with a porch, and a $200 gift card for dog food.

    To enter the ‘Best in Show’ contest, fans who have an infield camping spot can buy a limited edition Pocono Raceway dog tag.  This tag will be the entry ticket into the contest, where dogs will compete for ‘Best in Show’ prizes. The winning dog will be announced during the infield Block Party on Saturday night of the Pocono race weekend.

    The special dog tag will also grant additional access to the Bark Park for extra hours over and above what the public will receive.

    For more information about the dog tags, camping spots or to purchase tickets, fans can call 1-800-RACEWAY or visit www.poconoraceway.com.

    Fans can also register to win the dog house and the dog food gift card by visiting www.poconoraceway.com/barkpark.  The deadline to enter for this contest is July 31st.

    “When we launch products or new initiatives, we like to have several layers and make it fun,” May said. “And so far we are having a lot of fun planning this Bark Park for our race fans.”

     

  • Marco Andretti ‘In A Good Place’

    Marco Andretti ‘In A Good Place’

    Marco Andretti, driver of the No. 27 Snapple Honda for Andretti Autosport, is not only racing on his home track in Pocono this weekend, but he is also feeling ‘in a good place’ in his eleventh year in IndyCar.

    “I feel like I’m just coming into my own as a driver,” Andretti said. “I think it took a little too long, but I feel I’m in a good place.”

    “I feel like we can compete anywhere we roll off,” Andretti continued. “That’s a good feeling.”

    While Andretti feels he can compete anywhere, he is definitely looking forward to competing at the track where his family has so much history. In fact, his grandfather Mario has won at Pocono, his father Michael has finished third, and all three generations, including Marco, have sat on the Pocono Raceway pole.

    “If this track was anywhere in the world, I would love to race here,” Andretti said. “I honestly think it’s made for these race cars.”

    “It’s such a challenge, it’s so fun, and it presents good racing. And selfishly I can stay in my own bed.”

    Andretti has had a bit of a love/hate relationship with Pocono, having had two starts, one from the pole, but only has a ninth place best finish to show for it. He can, however, make some history at the track if he completes 200 laps at Pocono and then the final 85 laps of the season at Sonoma.

    If that occurs, Andretti would have completed 2,232 laps, joining competitor Tony Kanaan in the history books with his 3,305 laps completed.

    Andretti may be in a good place but he will also be facing some challenges at a race track that is definitely unique, as well as tricky to boot. And this weekend, the race will pose an even bigger challenge with the introduction of the new aero kit that occurred for the 2015 season.

    “I think it’s unknown because of how unique this place is,” Andretti said of the new aero package at Pocono.  “We’re pretty similar to Indianapolis, I guess you could say, with just the configuration of the car, except for the rear wing, I believe.”

    “Every track we’ve gone to this year has seemed to present a unique challenge.  It’s different all the time.  You can’t just roll off with previous setups and be successful.”

    “We’ve been really working at it, just trying to stay with it.”

    While comfortable at present, Andretti also has had some manufacturer changes to face when it comes to racing at his home track. In 2013, he ran with Chevy as his manufacturer and then last season ran with Honda as he is now.

    “Quite honestly, I think Honda definitely had the better fuel mileage in 2013. But that was with the single turbo,” Andretti said. “As soon as they went to the double, I think Chevy definitely caught up in that respect.”

    “But 2013 was too good to be true for a while,” Andretti continued. “We got a little mixed up with strategy. I don’t remember exactly the scenario. We led a ton of laps (88). The car was so good.”

    “Then last year was my fault,” Andretti said. “I had a pit-lane violation. Even with one short yellow, we were able to keep it in the top-10 or come back to the top-10.”

    “We had a decent car.”

    Andretti is also feeling in a good place as far as his No. 27 team, including racing under the watchful eye of his father.

    “Quite honestly, it’s been really good,” Andretti said. “I wouldn’t change anything on the 27 stand.   Dad is extremely good at calling races.   Dad and I, we’ve been getting along great.”

    “I think we’ve been stronger. We let a few go, but I’m really happy with the 27 team in general across the board.”

    “I don’t really know anything otherwise.  We’ve just been making this deal work.”

    Although Andretti acknowledged being in a good place behind the wheel of his IndyCar ride, he also thought that he might just consider a Formula One opportunity if offered.

    “It depends on a lot of the logistics, for sure,” Andretti said. “I mean, Formula One is still the cream of the crop for me.”

    “Having said that, it would be tough to leave because I am just coming into my own as a driver. Formula One would be like starting all over. The expectations wouldn’t be high maybe with that team. If you can go beat your teammate over there, that’s what people look at.”

    “Yeah, I would definitely take a strong look at it. But my heart right now lies over here. Those cars are definitely fun, but this is what I’ve grown up doing.”

    And just as he said for now, Andretti is in a good place and focused on getting the best finish that he can at Pocono, especially since he technically is not yet out of contention for the championship.  Andretti currently sits in the seventh spot in the standings.

    “It takes me staying out of trouble,” Andretti said. “You know, this is definitely one race that counts, especially this year.”

    “If I have any hope for the title, it’s a must win for me. Even with a win, I need some misfortunes of a few other drivers.”

    “Maybe some of the guys at the front, they’re going to be conservative, I just have to worry about me and try to maximize what we can do.  The rest will hopefully take care of itself.”

    “But we have to win this one for sure.”

     

  • NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Michigan

    NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Michigan

    Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

    1. Kyle Busch: Busch qualified sixth at Michigan, but a wreck in Saturday’s practice relegated him to the back of the field for the start of Sunday’s race. Despite starting in a backup car, he finished with a strong 11th-place finish that helped solidify his Chase chances.

    “I got the job done with a backup car,” Busch said. “That’s unusual. In years past, I don’t start backing up until the Chase starts.”

    2. Kevin Harvick: Harvick started seventh and finished second in the Pure Michigan 400, recording his 10th runner-up finish of the year.

    “I, like many drivers, wasn’t happy with the high-drag aero package NASCAR mandated,” Harvick said. “That drag made it impossible for me to get close enough to even attempt a pass on Matt Kenseth. But I tried my darndest. No one has ‘chased the dragin’ like that in NASCAR since Tim Richmond.”

    3. Matt Kenseth: Kenseth started on the pole at Michigan and was the strongest car throughout, leading 146 of 200 laps on his way to his third win of the season.

    “When Matt Kenseth controls a race from start to finish,” Kenseth said, “it’s called ‘boredom-ination.’”

    4. Joey Logano: Logano finished seventh in the Pure Michigan 400, posting his 17th top 10 of the year.

    “Here are a few words to describe Sunday’s race,” Logano said. “Brutal. Grueling. Uncomfortable. But enough about the fan’s perspective.

    “Seriously though, NASCAR thinks rule changes are the guidepost to racing in which the aerodynamics lead to passing while still maintaining the high speeds that attract fans. Sadly, though, the real ‘fantasy draft’ only happens for football season.”

    5. Jimmie Johnson: Johnson spun on lap 183 at Michigan and limped home to a 39th-place finish, his second-worst of the year.

    “I finished right between J.J. Yeley and Travis Kvapil,” Johnson said. “They’re not exactly household names. They’re barely ‘racetrack’ names. However, Sunday was one time when Yeley and Kvapil can say they were among the hottest drivers in NASCAR.”

    6. Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Earnhardt finished 10th at Michigan, posting his 14th top-10 result of the year. He is third in the Sprint Cup points standings, behind Kevin Harvick.

    “The aerodynamic package for Michigan made for some extreme temperatures in the cockpit,” Earnhardt said. “It reached 150 degrees in some cars. They say you can fry an egg at that temperature. Matt Kenseth chose to ‘make toast.’”

    7. Martin Truex Jr.: Truex took third at Michigan, earning his seventh top-five result of the season. He sits fourth in the points standings, 111 out of first.

    “This aerodynamic package made for some boring laps,” Truex said, “and the fans were clearly bored. If NASCAR fans want to see real ‘drag racing,’ I suggest they attend NHRA events. There, the women are actually a ‘Force.’”

    8. Brad Keselowski: Keselowski finished ninth at Michigan, recording his 15th top 10 of the year. He is fifth in the points standings, 112 out of first.

    “Penske cars had to replace their splitters prior to the race,” Keselowski said. “That was at the behest of NASCAR, who thought the splitters were noncompliant. I guess it’s true that it was, in fact, brutally hot inside the cars, because we got caught red-handed.”

    9. Kurt Busch: Busch finished 20th at Michigan, only his third finish outside the top 15 this season.

    “It was hot in Michigan on Sunday,” Busch said. “Honestly, I could barely take it. But I’m not complaining. You know what they say: ‘If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the bitchin.’’”

    10. Carl Edwards: Edwards came home sixth in the Pure Michigan 400 as Joe Gibbs Racing put three cars in the top 6.

    “Joe Gibbs Racing cars went 1-2-3 in qualifying,” Edwards said. “Now that’s what I call putting the ‘success’ in ‘succession.’”

  • Matt Kenseth Wins At Pocono As Kyle Busch Runs Out Of Fuel

    Matt Kenseth Wins At Pocono As Kyle Busch Runs Out Of Fuel

    By Reid Spencer

    LONG POND, Pa. – Matt Kenseth, the unexpected winner of Sunday’s Windows 10 400 at Pocono Raceway, had to do a double-take.

    So did second and third-place finishers Brad Keselowski and Jeff Gordon.

    Kenseth got a gift on the final lap of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race when Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch ran out of fuel halfway through the final lap at the 2.5-mile triangular track.

    Seeking his fourth straight victory in the series, Busch didn’t save quite enough fuel on the last green-flag run to complete the 160-lap event, but he still gained 10 points toward his goal of reaching the top 30 in the series standings.

    Busch, who finished 21st after getting a push toward the finish line from Reed Sorenson, is now 13 points behind 30th-place David Gilliland. Busch has five races to crack the top 30 to become eligible for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.

    Because Busch was pushed by another car, he did not get credit for completing the final lap, but that did not affect his finishing position.

    Collectively, the top three finishers led seven laps. Joey Logano, who handed the lead to Busch when the No. 22 Team Penske Ford ran out of fuel with fewer than three laps left, led 97.

    But Kenseth wasn’t about to look a gift horse in the mouth, especially after the driver of the No. 20 JGR Toyota did what others failed to do—save enough gas to get to the finish. Kenseth’s second victory of the season locked him into the Chase.

    “There’s nothing like wins,” said Kenseth, who collected his first victory at Pocono and the 33rd of his career. “We had a lot of wins in 2013 and were pretty spoiled and last year we had a big dry spell, and this year we were able to win Bristol.

    “We’ve been up front a lot, so just really, really thankful to be with these guys and to get the win. I never thought I’d ever win at Pocono, and I never ever thought I’d win a fuel mileage race, so we did both today.”

    Despite coming tantalizingly close to a fourth straight win, Busch was philosophical about the near miss.

    “Man, that’s a bummer,” said Busch, who ran out of fuel on the Long Pond straightaway approaching the Tunnel Turn, less than a mile-and-a-half from the finish line. “I wish I would’ve saved a little more there that last run.

    “I wish I would’ve known that the 22 (Logano) was that far away from making it. He was way far away from making it. Man, that was just a shame that we weren’t able to get it done there.”

    Busch took a moment to reflect on what might have been. The empty fuel tank also cost him entry into the top 30.

    “We would be celebrating a win and a Chase berth,” he said ruefully. “We got greedy. I don’t know how greedy, but that’s the position we’re in.

    “If it came down to other things that we haven’t had the success that we’ve had here lately, we would’ve had to have pitted and just made the opportunity of it and made the best finish that we could. But, we went for broke today and come up a little bit short, so can’t fault the team.”

    Keselowski, who ran out of fuel as he approached the finish line, recovered from an early penalty for sliding through his pit, knocking his jack man off his feet and knocking a tire out of his front carrier’s hands.

    The No. 2 Ford lost a lap, regained it and came home second, 9.012 seconds behind Kenseth, as lack of fuel took its toll on the frontrunners. The outcome left Keselowski with mixed feelings.

    “Unfortunately, just another race where I kind of feel like it didn’t all come together for us, and this one certainly on my end with having problems on pit road and kind of sliding through the box,” said the 2012 series champion. “That dug a hole, got us a lap down with the penalty and so forth.

    “I think the last restart with, had to be somewhere around 60 or 70 to go (actually 63), we restarted 12th and we were able to drive up to sixth and looked like we were going to be able to get to fifth, and then the fuel play came in there at the end. We were able to take care of it to bring home second, which is a very respectable day. Certainly probably not where we were going to finish without the fuel, but I guess that’s sometimes how it works.”

    Dale Earnhardt Jr. ran fourth and Greg Biffle fifth, as none of the top five finishers were threats to finish that high before the varying fuel strategies scrambled the final order.

    “There at the end we were one of the last ones to pit which allowed us to run hard all the way to the finish not having to conserve or save fuel,” said Gordon, smiling at the stroke of good fortune. “I thought we were trying to get maybe 10th or 12th and all of a sudden they said you’re third, and I think I was probably the most shocked person out there on the race track when I found that out.

    “I knew cars were peeling off, but I just didn’t realize that many were either running out or coming to pit road.”

    Note: Both Martin Truex Jr. and Logano, who along with Busch had the strongest cars all afternoon, were cited for speeding on pit road after running out of fuel and were dropped to 19th and 20th, respectively, in the finishing order, the last two cars on the lead lap.

    NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race – Windows 10 400
    Pocono Raceway
    Long Pond, Pennsylvania
    Sunday, August 02, 2015

    1. (7) Matt Kenseth, Toyota, 160, $233601.
    2. (9) Brad Keselowski, Ford, 160, $205166.
    3. (10) Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, 160, $181686.
    4. (15) Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet, 160, $134375.
    5. (25) Greg Biffle, Ford, 160, $139908.
    6. (12) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 160, $144851.
    7. (22) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 160, $125323.
    8. (19) Clint Bowyer, Toyota, 160, $124073.
    9. (5) Tony Stewart, Chevrolet, 160, $116279.
    10. (8) Carl Edwards, Toyota, 160, $87915.
    11. (18) Paul Menard, Chevrolet, 160, $94440.
    12. (27) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 160, $112908.
    13. (4) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 160, $120611.
    14. (29) Landon Cassill(i), Chevrolet, 160, $82250.
    15. (17) Jamie McMurray, Chevrolet, 160, $111541.
    16. (20) Danica Patrick, Chevrolet, 160, $89125.
    17. (24) David Ragan, Toyota, 160, $107539.
    18. (21) Aric Almirola, Ford, 160, $116956.
    19. (13) Martin Truex Jr., Chevrolet, 160, $106015.
    20. (3) Joey Logano, Ford, 160, $128853.
    21. (1) Kyle Busch, Toyota, 159, $140811.
    22. (11) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 159, $93645.
    23. (14) Ryan Newman, Chevrolet, 159, $110670.
    24. (31) Justin Allgaier, Chevrolet, 159, $102528.
    25. (28) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, 159, $92203.
    26. (39) Michael Annett, Chevrolet, 159, $77895.
    27. (33) Cole Whitt, Ford, 159, $88853.
    28. (26) Casey Mears, Chevrolet, 159, $92092.
    29. (36) Matt DiBenedetto #, Toyota, 159, $75895.
    30. (35) JJ Yeley(i), Toyota, 159, $75745.
    31. (32) Brett Moffitt #, Ford, 158, $74095.
    32. (40) Travis Kvapil(i), Ford, 158, $73920.
    33. (37) David Gilliland, Ford, 158, $81720.
    34. (41) Reed Sorenson, Chevrolet, 157, $73520.
    35. (38) Jeb Burton #, Toyota, 157, $73370.
    36. (43) Timmy Hill(i), Ford, 156, $73120.
    37. (6) Kurt Busch, Chevrolet, 150, $90931.
    38. (42) Alex Kennedy #, Chevrolet, 126, $68102.
    39. (30) Sam Hornish Jr., Ford, 123, $90375.
    40. (23) Trevor Bayne, Ford, Overheating, 91, $104605.
    41. (34) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ford, Accident, 27, $64030.
    42. (2) Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet, Engine, 20, $104855.
    43. (16) Kasey Kahne, Chevrolet, Accident, 3, $66530.

    Average Speed of Race Winner: 132.159 mph.
    Time of Race: 03 Hrs, 01 Mins, 36 Secs. Margin of Victory: 9.012 Seconds.
    Caution Flags: 8 for 32 laps.
    Lead Changes: 18 among 13 drivers.

    Lap Leaders: Kyle Busch 1-16; K. Harvick 17-19; Kurt Busch 20-32; M. Truex Jr. 33-38; J. Logano 39-51; Kyle Busch 52; D. Hamlin 53-54; B. Keselowski 55-57; D. Patrick 58-62; J. Logano 63-87; M. Kenseth 88; K. Larson 89-93; J. Logano 94-123; D. Ragan 124; G. Biffle 125-126; J. Gordon 127-128; J. Logano 129-157; Kyle Busch 158-159; M. Kenseth 160;.

    Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led): J. Logano 4 times for 97 laps; Kyle Busch 3 times for 19 laps; Kurt Busch 1 time for 13 laps; M. Truex Jr. 1 time for 6 laps; K. Larson 1 time for 5 laps; D. Patrick 1 time for 5 laps; B. Keselowski 1 time for 3 laps; K. Harvick 1 time for 3 laps; M. Kenseth 2 times for 2 laps; D. Hamlin 1 time for 2 laps; G. Biffle 1 time for 2 laps; J. Gordon 1 time for 2 laps; D. Ragan 1 time for 1 lap.

    Top 16 in Points: K. Harvick – 780; J. Logano – 734; D. Earnhardt Jr. – 717; J. Johnson – 713; M. Truex Jr. – 694; B. Keselowski – 681; M. Kenseth – 662; J. Mcmurray – 631; Kurt Busch – 620; J. Gordon – 617; D. Hamlin – 614; P. Menard – 591; R. Newman – 584; C. Bowyer – 574; K. Kahne – 559; C. Edwards – 553.

  • Ray Black Jr. Under the Sea and On the Race Track

    Ray Black Jr. Under the Sea and On the Race Track

    It is not often that a NASCAR driver marries his passion for racing with a passion for scuba diving. But NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver Ray Black Jr. has done just that, balancing his love for being on the track as well as under the sea.

    “I grew up scuba diving,” the driver of the No. 07 ScubaLife.com Chevrolet for SS Green Light Racing said. “My father got me into it at a very young age. I was born in Alabama, but we moved to Florida when I was about ten years old.”

    “I got into scuba diving then. I had a good time, enjoyed it and stuck with it. I ended up having my own business from it, like inspections on boats and salvage too. So, I still do some of that when I can.”

    While Black has thoroughly enjoyed his life underwater, he was also bitten by the racing bug in his early teenage years.

    “I just like going fast in just about anything,” Black said. “I started watching racing on TV and got hooked on it.”

    “I got my Dad to get me a race car. It took me awhile to convince him, but he finally did, and we were good at it. We started winning a little bit here and there and he turned the reins over.”

    “I was young and 14 years old. So, he thought it was just a phase. It took a while to convince him but then I think he saw the light.”

    “I went to mini-Cups, a full-body quarter scale race car. I raced that at Orlando Speed World and other small tracks in Florida. I did that for two or three years and then went straight to Pro-Trucks and late models.”

    Although Black loved going fast, he actually took a calculated step away from the sport, regrouping to focus on diving and to assess his career goals.

    “When I turned 18 years old, I stopped racing for two years to focus on diving,” Black said. “I just kept tearing things up and being irresponsible.”

    “So, I’m glad that I had to stop but then had the opportunity to get back into it. My Dad told me if I would learn diving, become an instructor for scuba and commercial, and pay my dues, he would look back into racing if I still wanted to do it.”

    “And then two years later, I turned 22 and he asked me if I wanted to get back into it. And I did. We started doing late models and I started doing a lot better at it.”

    “I definitely felt that I had matured, was more focused and was not taking it for granted,” Black said. “I got a second chance and it’s really rewarding. You start realizing that you can’t tear things up all the time. You start seeing the other side of things and have more respect for it all.”

    Black also feels that he and his team have really come together this year. He is, however, a bit harder on himself as a driver, feeling that he still has room to grow.

    “As a team, I would give us an A grade or maybe an A-minus,” Black said. “The team chemistry is awesome. We have one of the most lively teams out here. We bring a lot of people who go to all the races. They pump everybody up and get everyone going.”

    “We just have fun and make sure that no one is too serious. We’re all here to have fun. Once you make it too serious, it is not enjoyable and it kind of wears on you. I think everyone is having a good time. We like them and they like us. I think we’ve bonded really well.”

    “As a driver, I’m probably a B-plus. I’m not exactly where I want to be, especially because I haven’t been to most of the tracks. It’s a learning curve.”

    One of Black’s major goals is to get into the top-10 in the point standings.

    “I think we’re doing a great job. We’re fighting for a top-10 in points and we’re on the verge of it,” Black said. “There are some circumstances that have held us back. I’m not making excuses but we have blown two motors and you can’t fight those.”

    “You kind of plan for a few bad races but to have those things happen, now we can’t have any mistakes. Other than that, we’re having a good season. Once we get in the top-10 in points, I’ll feel a lot better about it.”

    Unfortunately, Black did not have the race he wanted at Pocono Raceway this weekend. He wrecked trying to avoid the No. 94 of Wendell Chavous. The impact from the inside wall locked up his transmission, preventing him from being able to re-fire and finish the race.

    And while he finished a disappointing 24th, he still maintained his 11th place position in the point standings and will go on to Michigan seeking further movement forward.

    Until then, Black will continue to balance his racing and his scuba diving, believing that the two sports are definitely complementary and synergistic.

    “When you’re under water, you are by yourself,” Black said. “You have a good team above you to help you out but you have to make the final decisions. At the end of the day, it is all you by yourself under the water.”

    “So, that’s like racing where you give all the feedback you can and you let them set you up the best they can. But at the end of the day, you have to perform, make sure you stay out of trouble and finish.”

    “It’s just all focus, mental preparedness and physicality in both sports. Most of it is just staying calm under pressure. So, there are a lot of things that transpire to make it is what it is. And I love it.”

    “It’s cool to be at the helm on the track and underwater,” Black continued. “If there is a mistake, it’s hard to blame anyone but yourself.”

    “You have to step up to the plate and that makes you that much more of a better person.”