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Tag: Richmond

The Final Word – Bristol, we have a problem

Bristol is not Las Vegas, Phoenix, Fort Worth or Charlotte. There are reasons to go to the Virginia-Tennessee border. The country is beautiful. On Sunday, it appears a lot of people were taking in the scenery. They sure in hell were not at the race track.

NASCAR is in serious trouble. Sure, we have commented on the dropping ratings and crowds for years. The pretty people who once made it the thing to be part of have all disappeared and even the sponsors rarely do anything special in their commercials as they did a decade or more ago. We knew things were not great. Then we saw the grandstands at Bristol on Sunday.

They were “optimizing the stadium configuration for the spring race only” the track folks announced, taking “a more frontstretch and backstretch approach.” That was their way of explaining why not a single soul was sitting in the large stretches at either end of the facility. Not a soul. No doubt the buses arrived to take the sight seers out on their tour and off they went. Not a candy wrapper to be found.

“To create a more energetic atmosphere” was what was to be enjoyed by the token few left behind. I can smell the bovine excrement from here. In a stadium that is built for 146,000 fans, only an estimated 38,000 bothered to show up for the prizes and to be revved up during the cautions and stage breaks. When one of your most iconic tracks, one that can be counted on to serve up some great action, looks as abandoned as North Wilkesboro, you have a problem. An Apollo 13 kind of problem.

Sometimes a race can be highly entertaining. Daytona was. Bristol was. Everything in between was not. They actually sucked. I wager that the “action” presented in Atlanta, Las Vegas, Phoenix, California, Martinsville, and Texas earned the sport not one single new fan. Not one. Instead, they probably sent a few more former fans packing. When they quit turning out at a track like Bristol, disaster looms on the horizon.

Want a quick easy fix? How about announcers who entertain you in a fashion the race is not. NBC finally got it, with the style of broadcasting delivered by Dale Earnhardt Jr, Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte, Rick Allen and company keeping us tuned in just to hear what those boys and girls might say. On FOX, their style depends on the race being worth to watch, as their commentary does not provide a diversion for when it is not. Thus far, six of the eight have not.

Now, take that NBC-style commentary with his broadcasters who might tell you what is happening, who might make you think, who certainly will make you laugh, and pipe it through as a channel on the scanners worn by those in the crowd. I am sure it would add to the experience a whole lot more than massive sections of empty seats and a few prizes. If they can not fix the racing, at least fix the experience.

After 15 years of watching the sport closely, of commenting on it weekly, it simply became a chore for me. I am not the only one. Next year, NASCAR once again attacks its own tradition. For 11 seasons (2004-2014) they moved the Southern 500 out of its usual Labor Day spot. They even dropped the Southern 500 moniker for a time. When they finally returned to tradition, we thought they might have learned something. They did not. Next season, the former Firecracker 400 July race at Daytona moves to the fall, to be replaced by the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis. The track at Indy is iconic, the NASCAR racing there is always horrid. Almost unwatchable,

They keep saying the current schedule is stagnant. Who in hell are “they?” Are “they” people who actually go to the races, who are continuing family traditions with an annual trek to Daytona in the summer on their own dime? I sincerely doubt it. The tracks are not stagnant. The dates are not stagnant. The damn racing experience and the television commentary are what is stagnant. If you want to do something, fix that.

Next week it is Richmond. Not bad. Two weeks after that, it is Talladega. Always great. After the shock we got at Bristol, I just hope they have enough fans left to fill at least half of the seats. I am taking nothing for granted.

April 9, 2019
The Final Word – Is it a big swing and a miss as NASCAR makes big changes for 2020?

In answer to Sheryl Crow’s question of more than a decade ago, “I don’t.” Other than for Daytona, which usually is a visually thrilling spectacle on its own, this has not been a banner season for the televised version of NASCAR. Sadly, that has been the case for at least 10 years now. Unless you are a stats freak, know who is where in the standings, are a gear head who just loves cars, there is nothing much to see or hear to keep you glued to the tube each week. So, now they plan to shake things up for next season. A lot.

As a traditionalist, I do not like it at first glance. However, what is, well, no longer seems to be working. In fact, just 13 dates from this season will be the same for next. The Daytona 500 still opens the season in mid-February. Then the changes begin.

Las Vegas replaces Atlanta the next week as they, along with California, play musical chairs. The biggest change has Homestead moving from 36th to sixth on the schedule as fans of Martinsville will have a big change coming to their lives.

Martinsville does not appear until nearly two months later, with dates in May and a playoff run in early November. They will have not one but three short track courses to help determine a champion. Richmond and Bristol still have their April dates and, while Richmond retains its September run, they will move Bristol’s second date from August to early November.

Three iconic events are also on the move. The Southern 500 in Darlington is on the move…again. It drops back a week to take over the Indianapolis playoff spot. The Brickyard 400 will now welcome the fireworks in early July. The former Firecracker 400 will become the final regular season event, as Daytona takes the Darlington date in late August.

While some dates for other tracks will be moved slightly out of order compared to this season’s schedule, it at least is somewhat recognizable. Even the season conclusion in Phoenix will be on the same date, concluding the year a week earlier and at a different venue.

There is one more exception. It will no longer be your daddy’s Pocono experience. Instead of visits in early June and then in late July, now it will be two visits in late June on two successive days. A Saturday-Sunday doubleheader. Tell me, how bad have you got it?

Some of the changes are interesting. Moving the season ending event matters not, as Homestead has never become an iconic event in most minds anyway. Adding a third short track is good. Keeping the roval in Charlotte as part of the mix is fine. Adding some tradition with the Southern 500 becoming even more meaningful actually comes across as a fine idea.

Moving the summer Daytona date is an eye opener. Maybe it will work out. A doubleheader at Pocono? What would cause fans, who care less and less about the sport, to love the thought of spending a lovely full weekend in Pennsylvania for a double hit of what they do not watch now?

Pack racing is visually stimulating. Events where the competitors are strung out all over the track are not. It is a simple fact. How to change that perception is something they have yet to find an answer for. For those contests, if the announcers are not entertaining in their own right, only the die-hard fans remain. The rest are gone. Maybe with NBC’s return later in the season with their new approach to covering the action, entertaining us along with describing the action, they can help save the day.

Since Daytona, the races at Atlanta, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Fontana, and Martinsville have been just painful to watch. I only hope the live experience, at the track, is a much more enjoyable experience. God, I sure hope so.

How bad have I got it? You know the answer. I miss those days when I did.

March 27, 2019
The Final Word – A Saturday night to get reacquainted with the Big Three at Richmond

Richmond, the second race of the opening rung of the championship ladder. Only four storylines awaited to be written.

Who would win, and would it be Brad Keselowski for a fourth straight contest?

Who could keep out of danger from falling out of the top dozen as they search for a berth in the second leg?

Who could move up from the next four, already in danger to being eliminated, to challenge for one of those top dozen spots after having some hard luck at Las Vegas?

Finally, who outside of our drivers of interest could make themselves relevant? The best of last week, Jamie McMurray, got wrecked before it was all over. Would someone outside the top sixteen manage to finish the event and make us notice they were even there?

None of the outsiders showed up by the time that opening stage completed. Often it is too early to tell much, but Martin Truex, Jr. and Kevin Harvick dominated while Keselowski showed up late for third. No one else was even close. Chase Elliott was fourth, making us wonder if he was going to erase the nine point gap between himself and those above the cut off line when this one came to a conclusion. Clint Bowyer was the man in his sights, who started with an ill handling car that gave him no breaks in that opening run. As for as those who had to pass a lot of cars in that initial run, both Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin seemed prepared to put forth a good argument before it was all over.

Stage two provided more of the same. Truex ran away with it, with Harvick next up. Keselowski was fourth, so still in the hunt. To this point, the question remained if Elliott would move into the top dozen and replace Bowyer, or not. As for an also ran, Ryan Newman was in the distant conversation. He was also a hot topic before the race. Newman will be leaving Richard Childress to take the ride split between Matt Kenseth and Trevor Bayne this season for Jack Roush.

Just to make things interesting, the pit stops brought some interesting events. First, Truex got tagged with tire violation to set him back. Elliott went to the front, moving up three spots, thanks to his crew. That left us watching and wondering how things might shake out when they took the green.

The “Baby” Busch soon rejoined the party, and soon was in front. He had the best car in the end, and won it to get his free pass to the next round. Harvick had the most steady car in the event, and was the runner-up. Like Busch, Truex had a nice comeback, making up nearly twenty spots from is pit miscue to come home in third. All three join Keselowski, who was ninth on that night, locked into the next round of three races based on wins and points. Up next, though, is the Roval in Charlotte next weekend.

Elliott was fourth on Saturday night, and now is ten to the good. Bowyer and Jimmie Johnson are outsiders, yet the pair are within seven points of Ryan Blaney and Alex Bowman. Erik Jones and Hamlin, who wound up 16th, damn near need a win to be in. As for the 24 other boys out on the track for this one, none were among our Top Ten.

The Roval. That is a track that makes Talladega look downright tame. For you and I, a very entertaining race to watch. For the crews, an absolute nightmare to navigate. Let the good times roval next Sunday in Charlotte.

September 25, 2018
Hot 20 – Richmond’s good ole rock and roll road show, gotta go, Saturday night, Saturday night

We know some things. In these times, some folks do not seem to know anything, but we do. Brad Keselowski is advancing to the next round. After Saturday night in Richmond, it should be confirmed that Martin Truex Jr. and Kyle Busch will be joining him. I feel pretty confident about Kevin Harvick and Joey Logano about now.

Some I am almost sure of. Some I am not. Based on how they are running and how they have run, I am pretty sure that anyone behind Aric Almirola, seven of them in total, are fighting for the final three transfer spots in the Chase.

I am not sure nine points is enough for Austin Dillon, for example. I am not ready to bury the likes of Jimmie Johnson, Chase Elliott, or Denny Hamlin just yet. I think there is still hope for Erik Jones.

However, they need to get it done this Saturday night in Richmond. The short track is normal. The next one is not. A week later at Charlotte, the Bermuda Triangle, the Black Hole, the darkness of Mordor possibly awaits with the inaugural running of the Roval. I mean, if Joey Gase winds up being the winner of that race of mystery I would not be the least bit surprised.

1. BRAD KESELOWSKI – 1 CHALLENGER ROUND WIN (2069 Pts – 3 W)
Is the boy trying to run the table?

2. MARTIN TRUEX JR. – 2087 POINTS (4 W)
Nothing to lose and everything to win…again.

3. KYLE BUSCH – 2085 POINTS (6 W)
Easily cut through the grass at Las Vegas. Imagine if he had been sponsored by Caterpillar.

4. KEVIN HARVICK – 2060 POINTS (7 W)
Damn pit crew. Damn tires. Damn Las Vegas.

5. JOEY LOGANO – 2056 POINTS (1 W)
As long as his next Richmond win is not as encumbered as his last one was, he’ll be fine.

6. KURT BUSCH – 2046 POINTS (1 W)
When a car shoots up toward you at a 90-degree angle, a good day is about to go bad.

7. RYAN BLANEY – 2042 POINTS
A Top Five gives the lad some breathing room.

8. KYLE LARSON – 2041 POINTS
The Rail Rider.

9. ARIC ALMIROLA – 2034 POINTS
How could he scrape the wall? Scrape Blaney, sure, but the wall?

10. AUSTIN DILLON – 2031 POINTS (1 W)
If he gets a decent finish on Saturday night, I will start believing he will advance..but not before.

11. CLINT BOWYER – 2029 POINTS (2 W)
Another Top Ten at Richmond this year might be all he needs.

12. ALEX BOWMAN – 2028 POINTS
Three Hendrick cars in the hunt, but that could be down to one…or none…after the Roval.

13. JIMMIE JOHNSON – 2022 POINTS
Things were going so well until the final dozen or so laps.

14. CHASE ELLIOTT – 2019 POINTS (1 W)
McMurray was doing so well, and then he became a contender collector.

15. ERIK JONES – 2009 POINTS (1 W)
Mr. Harvick, I presume.

16. DENNY HAMLIN – 2008 POINTS
Obviously did not have the same earth moving capability as Rowdy.

17. RYAN NEWMAN – 561 POINTS
A decent run last weekend…not that it matters anymore.

18. PAUL MENARD – 551 POINTS
The top three guys out of the Chase recorded Top Tens last Sunday. I should care, but I do not.

19. DANIEL SUAREZ – 530 POINTS
Will fate be kinder to him next season than it was to Kasey Kahne this year?

20. RICKY STENHOUSE JR. – 528 POINTS
Jamie McMurray is 26 points behind him. He damn near moved ahead until Lady Luck left town.

September 20, 2018
The Final Word – The first race of the playoffs in Las Vegas damaged the hopes of some

Now it gets real. There is no argument as to whom the contenders are, and who are the pretenders. Say what you will, but even though there might be forty cars on the track, only 16 matter.

It was the playoff opener in Las Vegas and now the race winner and the boys in the hunt for the championship are all we need focus on. The rest are merely hamburger helper, the garnish around the good stuff. Martin Truex Jr. showed early he was pure sirloin by taking the opening stage. All the contenders, in fact, were in the forward half of the field.

Kevin Harvick was among them. However, he could still use a pit crew that matches his driving talents. Some gain ground when they turn in for service. Harvick does the opposite. On Sunday his car got tighter and tighter during that middle stage, not turning worth a damn. Finally, his tire gave up, he clipped the wall, and pole sitter Erik Jones had no place to go but into him. Two contenders were done for the day.

If you ask Harvick, the tires sucked. There were issues with the rubber but it is not clear what those issues were other than the results. Jamie McMurray was our best outsider on the day, a solid Top Ten run going for him, when a rear tire gave up, he spun into the wall, collecting Chase Elliott. He became our third contender to be booted from the event with 55 laps remaining.

Truex allowed Brad Keselowski some time up front but had gone back in front prior to the caution. Things changed in the pits when Keselowski and his Penske compadre Joey Logano emerged just ahead of the defending champ. Logano took the point position, but Truex had just gotten by Keselowski for second when Kyle Busch broke loose to bring out the yellow once again. While Rowdy was now buried in 26th, Keselowski, Truex, and Logano came out of the pits in that order for the final run to the line.

Or so we thought. Up front, Kyle Larson joined the party riding the high side. He got past Keselowski, while behind them Truex managed to get by Logano for third. Just when we started to wonder how things would shake out, another contender in Denny Hamlin went through the grass to tear up his splitter to bring out the caution yet again. The old Etch A Sketch of how this one might turn out got turned upside down and shaken with 20 to go. It was a Las Vegas gambler’s dream, as it was time to lay down your bets as to whether this one was going to go to Keselowski, Larson, Truex, Logano, or might we have yet another surprise coming our way?

If more contenders getting beat to a pulp over the final dozen laps was a surprise, we got a few, along with enough cautions to force overtime. Among the stricken were Jimmie Johnson, when he tagged the wall. Alex Bowman had a tire go down. Kurt Busch and Clint Bowyer both had contact…twice.

There was no surprise when Keselowski once again cleared the field and was off to the races in the extra laps needed to jump into an automatic berth into the second round. It was his third straight victory, coming off the Southern 500 and the Brickyard 400. It marked the 500th for Roger Penske in all forms of racing his cars are involved in. Four drivers find themselves needing to fight to get in, heading to Richmond anywhere from six to 20 points on the outside. They include Johnson (22nd at Las Vegas), Elliott (36th), Hamlin (32nd), and Jones (40th). Both Truex (3rd) and Rowdy Busch (7th) are just a handful of points away from being locked into the next round as well.

Things just got real and by the time they leave Richmond Saturday night, things will become very clear for most of the others.

September 18, 2018
Hot 20 – If only the action at Pocono could be as cool as its name

Some things matter. Some do not. Every weekend, no more than 30 entries matter to some degree. The rest do not.

Most weekends NASCAR features a race and while some matter to race fans, most do not. Bristol, Charlotte, Darlington, Daytona, Sonoma, and Talladega races matter due to what they deliver and a long history of tradition.

Some are loyal to the short tracks at Martinsville and Richmond. Indianapolis is an over-hyped crown jewel, great history but not much gripping action delivered. Homestead gets the nod as long as it hosts the final race of the season. Those tracks present 16 of the 36 points events each season.

Pocono gives us two. It is a track ranked by some down amongst such venues as Chicago, Fontana, Kansas, and Kentucky. Cool name. Interesting layout. Lovely trees in the background. Like Indianapolis, it might be more entertaining for open-wheel racing than for the fender folk. Still, twice a year they return there, and twice a year I forget about the last one and actually look forward to the tri-oval. Each year I hope that it will all come together for a terrific contest.

Maybe this year. Maybe this will be the one. It is a track that boasts of the performances put in by the likes of Jeff Gordon, Emerson Fittipaldi, Danny Sullivan, Juan Pablo Montoya, and A. J. Foyt. Kyle Busch won there last July. Ryan Blaney is the defending June race champion. Chris Buescher won there for Bob Jenkins in 2016. Denny Hamlin has four Pocono wins. Jimmie Johnson and Kurt Busch each have claimed three.

Yes, the highlight packages of the past from Pocono look truly awesome. The highlights. The actual action come race day….well, maybe this will be the year. I sure hope so. Such things matter.

1. KYLE BUSCH – 4 WINS – 573 Pts
If he runs at Pocono like he did at Charlotte, he might be the only one who matters.

2. KEVIN HARVICK – 4 WINS – 1 E.W. – 485 Pts
Today, that encumbered win comes in to play.

3. JOEY LOGANO – 1 WIN – 506 Pts
Picks up an average of 39 points per race. You do not have to be loved to be awesome.

4. MARTIN TRUEX, JR. – 1 WIN – 430 Pts
If he only had some Kryptonite to toss as Superman on Sunday, he could have won it.

5. CLINT BOWYER – 1 WIN – 421 Pts
Crew chief Mike (Buga) Bugarewicz would love a happy homecoming.

6. AUSTIN DILLON – 1 WIN – 244 Pts
If he had finished second at Daytona, he would be less successful than Suarez.

7. BRAD KESELOWSKI – 437 POINTS
Won Saturday’s Xfinity race. Please raise your hand if you give a damn.

8. KURT BUSCH – 429 POINTS
The only driver in NASCAR to have seen Kyle Busch wearing a diaper. I hope that is true.

9. DENNY HAMLIN – 429 POINTS
“We’re either really good or we’re average at best.” Finishing third is average?

10. KYLE LARSON – 382 POINTS
Raced Sunday in Charlotte, North Carolina. Raced Wednesday as an outlaw in Fairbury, Illinois.

11. ARIC ALMIROLA – 376 POINTS
The decision to move over from the King to join Smoke has proven to be a good one.

12. RYAN BLANEY – 375 POINTS
A cylinder let go around lap 150 and they tried to limp it home. Instead, they started a barbecue.

13. JIMMIE JOHNSON – 327 POINTS
Imagine. Almost an entire year with a single win. I bet Michael McDowell can.

14. ERIK JONES – 314 POINTS
Three bad luck pit road moments buried any hope of shining last Sunday.

15. ALEX BOWMAN – 299 POINTS
One of the greatest coaches in NHL history. What? Sorry, wrong Bowman.

16. CHASE ELLIOTT – 296 POINTS
According to TMZ, he believes “Judging Hooters Competition Harder Than Racing Cars”

17. RICKY STENHOUSE, JR. – 296 POINTS
His Charlotte experience was better than someone else’s Indianapolis adventure.

18. PAUL MENARD – 263 POINTS
Another Cup guy racing Xfinity on Saturday. One more young driver fails to get a ride.

19. DANIEL SUAREZ – 245 POINTS
More than 50 points out of the Chase…unless he wins. Winning is always good.

20. JAMIE MCMURRAY – 231 POINTS
One ahead of Newman and Byron, two up on Wallace.

May 30, 2018
The Final Word – Richmond taught us that sometimes we have no clue as to how it all will end

Sometimes you watch a race and you just know early what the outcome will be. Sometimes you discover you did not have a clue. Welcome to Richmond last Saturday night.

It appeared that pole sitter Martin Truex Jr. would have a great day. Then again, Joey Logano was the one to watch. He was in the end of the caution-free opening segment, one that left half the field in the dust, at least a lap down. Already the likes of Erik Jones, Alex Bowman, Paul Menard, A.J. Allmendinger, and Jimmie Johnson were out of it. Done. Gone but not forgotten. We were kind of wrong about that, too, as it turned out.

The second segment, more of the same. No cautions, as Kurt Busch took a turn up front, followed by Clint Bowyer. Then Logano made his return to claim the top bonus points. No doubt, Logano would be the one to beat. Right? Wrong.

The third frame was more of the same, and more familiar names leading the parade. We started with Kurt, then Bowyer, then Truex, before Kevin Harvick took a bow. Then the cautions started to fall, and so did our earlier expectations.

Sure, Truex did come back to lead the way for 35 laps. For a moment, we thought how it began, so would it end. We had no idea. A screwed up pit stop left the defending champion sucking wind, finishing 14th. So, who would finally emerge? Which one of our aforementioned heroes would shake the suds when it was all over?

None of them. Kyle Busch started deep in the field and led 31 of the final 32 laps to claim his third straight Cup victory with an overtime decision. It marked the 46th time he has claimed the prize, and in over the past 25 NASCAR races, it was the Rowdyman taking eight of them.

Great points day for Busch, and a good one for brother Kurt, yet it was Logano taking home a race-high 53 ducats in finishing fourth. With his eight career runner-up finish was Chase Elliott. As for Johnson, he who was lost and gone from view until Talladega next week, he finished sixth. Sixth. Be it God, Jesus, Mohammed, Buddha, the Great Manitou, or Chad Knaus up on the box, somehow a miracle took place. A big adjustment after the opening segment, a wave around late in the third, a couple of cautions, and some great driving greatly assisted in putting the seven-time king in a place to claim a Top Ten, which moves him into 15th in the season standings.

At Richmond, we discovered we knew nothing. At Talladega on Sunday, I expect one hell of an adventure. I am pretty sure I will not be wrong about that.

April 23, 2018
The Final Word – Bristol was so exciting, they made it a two day event

Back in 1927, the Bristol Sessions marked what some call the “Big Bang” moment of country music. I bet you thought the city on the Tennessee-Virginia border was all about racing. Well, for a time over the past couple of days, it was. Here and there, at least.

While Bristol’s bang from the past involved Jimmy Rodgers and the Carter Family, the one that took place Sunday finished the hopes of Chase Elliott and Martin Truex Jr. within four laps. It ended the 99 lap dominance of Ryan Blaney before the end of the opening segment when the leader got taken out. You could say the rain then took care of the rest before the mid-way mark. That brought us to Monday.

Monday in Bristol was crap. It was cold and it was raining. They might as well have tried to run the sucker in Edmonton. At least we northerners are used to such nonsense. Hell, by the time we hit afternoon it was coming down heavy like Christmas morning up here. Oh, we think such weather in mid-April sucks, too.

Down south, when they finally resumed, raindrops were all over the windshields and the camera lenses. Who says NASCAR does not run in the wet? When they finally hit the end of the session, the midpoint of the race, Brad Keselowski was again the leader. Kyle Busch was making noise, and even Jimmie Johnson appeared to be something of a challenger.

Why not Kyle Larson? The gent got himself into the mix and look very sporty as he came up to run point. However, the point is to not go where someone has gone before, like on the inside. Ryan Newman was inside, Larson did not notice that fact until he got spun. The caution allowed him to stay third, with Keselowski and Busch on the lead row of the re-start, and Johnson beside Larson with 175 laps to run.

They remained our main quartet, with others coming in for a quick guest spot before fading back. Darrell Wallace Jr. popped up to lead his first ever laps in Cup before surrendering top spot to Busch. With about 70 to go, Keselowski started to fade, while the likes of Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Newman, Joey Logano, and Austin Dillon poked their noses out to say howdy. With about 30 to go, Keselowski had drifted down a lap when he tagged the fence after his left front went down.

However, it came down to the remaining trio of our former quartet to bring this one home. With a little bump and run with five to go, Busch took his second straight victory, the 45th of his career. Larson and Johnson also made the podium and enjoyed 40-plus point days. Stenhouse and Alex Bowman rounded out our Top Five. Neither Wallace or Dillon made the Top Ten in the end.

Next Saturday night, another short track event as they move slightly north to Richmond. As Rodgers might say, time for a little “Moonlight and Skies”…weather permitting.

April 16, 2018
Hot 20 – Heading to Texas after a week off to ponder some stuff

A week off with no races to forecast or summarize. Funny, I did not get the shakes or suffer any other negative reactions. That probably is not a good thing for NASCAR.

The downtime means that some took the time to ponder how NASCAR might be made better, or at least more palatable. Some theorize that a shortened schedule might do the trick. They either have the attention span of a gnat, or they view much of the menu like some of us react to having to fulfill certain expected family obligations. You cannot wait for the damn things to be over.

However, others believe more short tracks could be the answer. Maybe those folks are on to something. There are just 10 races on six tracks that feature events I really look forward to. While they include Talladega, Daytona, Darlington, Sonoma, and Charlotte, Bristol is always a joy to take in. In fact, I could be convinced to also include the presentations that are offered at Richmond and Martinsville. They usually provide a pleasant way to spend a few hours on the weekend. Good luck expecting the same from me for California, Texas, Michigan, Chicago, and Pocono.

There are those who figure diversity will do the trick. Frankly, once they get into the car all I care about if that they have talent and the auto is competitive. A black Canadian woman with some aboriginal ancestry would not increase my excitement if the car is a dud or they remind me too much of Joey Logano. If the race bores the hell out of me, including my sister in the mix might help, but not by much. It does not matter who is doing what, but what they are doing and if it entertains me. If it does not, I care not.

This month, we have Bristol, Richmond and Talladega to soak in. This weekend, we have Texas. There is a lot to love about Texas, but this venue is not one of them. Hopefully, the boys will prove me wrong on Sunday.

Here are our Hot 20…

1. KEVIN HARVICK – 3 WINS – 212 Pts
A fourth win in seven tries this season would put ole Happy in very exclusive company.

2. MARTIN TRUEX JR. – 1 WIN – 249 Pts
Making Happy unhappy at Texas this year would make Truex…well…happy.

3. CLINT BOWYER – 1 WIN – 210 Pts
Last month, he went from low on gas to full throttle to pick up a grandfather clock.

4. AUSTIN DILLON – 1 WIN – 148 Pts
If nothing else, his sponsor will make some wonder as to just what exactly AstraZeneca is.

5. KYLE BUSCH – 257 POINTS
Has a closet full of bridesmaid dresses, but he wants his own white wedding moment.

6. RYAN BLANEY – 233 POINTS
Like Rowdy, still looking for that first win…but sitting damned pretty in points.

7. JOEY LOGANO – 232 POINTS
My favorite Cup driver named Joey.

8. BRAD KESELOWSKI – 226 POINTS
My favorite Cup driver named Brad.

9. DENNY HAMLIN – 217 POINTS
He discovered at Martinsville that it appears Harvick does not like having his backside patted.

10. KYLE LARSON – 195 POINTS
I love 3-year old Owen’s question to Bowyer, “Good job, Clint. How’s your hangover?”

11. KURT BUSCH – 177 POINTS
Last fall set the Texas qualifying record with 200.915 mph. Wants to top it this spring.

12. ARIC ALMIROLA – 171 POINTS
If team-mate Bowyer can end his winless streak, surely Aric can end his at 125.

13. ERIK JONES – 152 POINTS
I miss Matt Kenseth, but Jones’ performance is making that harder to do.

14. ALEX BOWMAN – 145 POINTS
Replacing the Most Popular Driver to become Hendrick’s best of 2018…thus far.

15. PAUL MENARD – 139 POINTS
Isn’t it about time for Menard to snap his 238 race drought?

16. RYAN NEWMAN – 135 POINTS
Before you criticize Dillon’s lack of performance since Daytona, he still has more points.

17. JIMMIE JOHNSON – 121 POINTS
Still cold as ice, and yet he keeps climbing the ladder.

18. CHASE ELLIOTT – 115 POINTS
If an Elliott cussed in a forest and no one is around to hear it, do they still make a sound?

19. A.J. ALLMENDINGER – 110 POINTS
One eighth place finish can make all the difference.

20. WILLIAM BYRON – 108 POINTS
A 20-year old dissatisfied to be just among our Hot 20. I wonder how Bubba and Trevor feel?

21. RICKY STENHOUSE JR. – 108 POINTS
Wrecked his primary car at Martinsville and the replacement was a dud.

April 4, 2018
Hot 20 – Martinsville has to stay, but there is room for improvement in the NASCAR schedule

Thirty-six races. A few are great venues that produce very entertaining television events. A lot more are not. Some tracks have two events, and you wonder why. Some have two and you wonder…why not three? As our Hot 20 venture to Martinsville on Sunday to open the Round of Eight, would NASCAR be more appealing if we kept 36 races, but ran more of them at tracks people want to see races run? How about nine of them at NASCAR’s three most fan-favored venues?

If they put me in charge of NASCAR for an hour, this is what next season’s Cup schedule would look like. What do you think?

Feb. 18 – Daytona
Feb. 25 – Atlanta
Mar. 4 – Las Vegas
Mar. 11 – Phoenix
Mar. 18 – Fontana
Mar. 25 – Martinsville
Apr. 8 – Texas
Apr. 15 – Bristol
Apr. 21 – Richmond
Apr. 29 – Talladega
May 6 – Watkins Glen (from Dover)
May 12 – Kansas
May 27 – Charlotte
June 3 – Pocono
June 10 – Bristol (from Michigan)
June 24 – Sonoma
July 1 – Chicago
July 7 – Daytona
July 14 – Kentucky
July 22 – New Hampshire
July 29 – Talladega (from Pocono)
Aug. 5 – Watkins Glen
Aug. 12 – Michigan
Aug. 18 – Bristol
Sep. 2 – Darlington
Sep. 9 – Indianapolis
Sep. 16 – Las Vegas
Sep. 22 – Daytona (from Richmond)
Sep. 30 – Charlotte (road course)
Oct. 7 – Dover
Oct. 14 – Talladega
Oct. 21 – Darlington (from Kansas)
Oct. 28 – Martinsville
Nov. 4 – Texas
Nov. 11 – Sonoma (from Phoenix)
Nov. 18 – Homestead-Miami

That’s 36 races featuring six on a superspeedway, retaining six on short tracks while expanding to five road courses. Minimal changes, maximum impact. How does it look to you?

1. MARTIN TRUEX JR. – 4069 POINTS – 7 Wins
Not only does he have enough in the bank to have a bad race, but could even take a day off.

2. KYLE BUSCH – 4042 POINTS – 4 Wins
Winning would have been nice, but not being eliminated is even nicer.

3. BRAD KESELOWSKI – 4026 POINTS – 3 Wins
Junior wants teammates and young guns to advance…friends with the wrong team, not so much.

4. KEVIN HARVICK – 4017 POINTS – 1 Win
In 606 career starts, he has 303 top 10 finishes. You want to bet against good ole 50-50?

5. JIMMIE JOHNSON – 4017 POINTS – 3 Wins
The drive is alive for his date with eight.

6. DENNY HAMLIN – 4014 POINTS – 2 Wins
Virginia is for Lovers…and Virginians. That is the view of this native son of Chesterfield, Va.

7. RYAN BLANEY – 4009 POINTS – 1 Win
In 68 years, Wood Brothers have not a single driver’s championship. Maybe this is the year.

8. CHASE ELLIOTT – 4006 POINTS
Might want to think about getting that first win sooner than later.

9. KYLE LARSON – 2236 POINTS – 4 Wins
Damn engines.

10. MATT KENSETH – 2184 POINTS
Damn guys who cannot count.

11. JAMIE MCMURRAY – 2138 POINTS
It was doubtful he was going to win, but after he got all torn up last week all doubt was removed.

12. KASEY KAHNE – 2126 POINTS – 1 Win
Leaving Hendrick pens and stationary behind him, but will be taking Travis Mack.

13. KURT BUSCH – 2124 POINTS – 1 Win
After flogging Monster Energy for years, I wonder if he is feeling a bit like Tammy Wynette.

14. AUSTIN DILLON – 2122 POINTS – 1 Win
His N.C. team lost 4-2 to the eventual 2002 Little League World Series champions of Louisville.

15. RICKY STENHOUSE JR. – 2119 POINTS – 2 Wins
Things got so bad he went from 12th and in the final playoff spot one week, to 15th the next.

16. RYAN NEWMAN – 2107 POINTS – 1 Win
His second-place finish at Talladega is sandwiched between two results outside the top 30.

17. JOEY LOGANO – 810 POINTS – 1 Win
A win a win, but is it really if it is an encumbered one that fails to give you a pass to the Chase?

18. CLINT BOWYER – 793 POINTS
His last win came on October 13, 2012, in Charlotte. Even an encumbered one might be nice.

19. ERIK JONES – 757 POINTS
One moment his car was facing this a’way, the next it was facing that a’way.

20. DANIEL SUAREZ – 709 POINTS
String of six straight among the top 15 came to a crashing conclusion last week.

October 25, 2017