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The Final Word – Indianapolis had a wild conclusion, and thanks to YouTube I can talk about it

It rained. TSN (Canada) pulled out, and the channel I was recording the race on abandoned the effort, presenting instead a few toss away programs. Well, to be fair, I did state before that I do not get all that excited about Indianapolis, and it would seem TSN took my comments to heart. On Sunday, they made like the NASCAR Nazi…and no race for me. I guess I could have watched some soccer but, as most folks know, soccer is not really a sport. Not like poker is, anyway.

So, my Indianapolis experience was 12 laps. Then the rain. Pretty exciting stuff. Of course, for those blessed enough to watch the action, things got a tad more exciting later. Much, much later. So, I missed it when Chase Elliott blew up on the 43rd lap. I missed lap 76 when Dale Earnhardt Jr., son of the Intimidator, slammed into a hesitator in front of him, taking out his radiator.

I also did not see, with 50 to go on a restart, Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr. fighting for the lead. When Truex broke loose, they were both fighting for their favorite tow-truck operator, as they slammed into the fence. Take a rest, lads.

With 10 to go, Clint Bowyer broke loose, clipped Erik Jones, then destroyed Kurt Busch on his way twirling on down the track like an out of control kid’s toy. Goodbye boys.

With six to go, Kyle Larson grazed the inside wall then went across to the outside to put his beast to bed. TSN…you are jerks.

That required a restart with two to go. Jimmie Johnson was smoking. He got up to the lead, and then the engine expired. Johnson hit the wall, and we were off to overtime.

So, with two to go, again, Trevor Bayne got turned as they went green, and everything turned red for him, Austin Dillon and Ryan Blaney. Something tells me that if I could only have been able to record the final 12 laps, not the opening dozen, I would have been a satisfied fellow.

They tried to get it finished one more time, with Brad Keselowski in front, with Kasey Kahne beside him on the inside. Wrong lane decision for Brad. In the first turn, Kahne got by, cleared his rival, and he was gone. Okay, he was gone far enough and soon enough when Denny Hamlin’s smoker dived to the wall, and the caution came out just late enough for the leader to have hit the overtime line.

Kahne wins. Kahne wins for the first time since Atlanta in 2014. Kahne heads to the Chase. Kahne might have just saved his ride for 2018. A great result for him, not so great for a few others.

“Ron,” you might be saying, “you seem to know a hell of a lot for a guy who did not get to watch the race.” You would be right, but a series of much-appreciated highlights are made available to scribes like me to take another look at the action on a service available only to a privileged few. I like to call it, YouTube.

It was a good points day for some, such as Kahne, Joey Logano (fourth), Matt Kenseth (fifth), and Kevin Harvick (sixth), but it was not so hot for Elliott in 39th. Finishing in the second half of the field of 40 we had Dillon, Jones, Johnson, Bowyer, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

When it comes to the Chase, Kahne moves in, leaving just four positions still up for grabs on points alone. Rowdy, Elliott, and Jamie McMurray are still solid. That leaves Bowyer just two points up on Kenseth, with the rest all needing a win to get in. A good points day for even Logano is no longer good enough. However, Aric Almirola, who missed seven races due to injury, is within two points of 30th place. That more than likely would make him eligible for the Chase if he can win one of the next six. He finished 13th on Sunday.

Pocono is up next, and among the former winners there we have Junior, Kenseth, Logano, and Chris Buescher. One of those boys wins, and all of a sudden Bowyer experiences bad tidings, and McMurray becomes a lot more uncomfortable.

I hope I get to watch it on television. If not…well, there is always YouTube.

July 24, 2017
Hot 20 – Indianapolis is fine, but all things considered, I’d rather have been watching Eldora

The most anticipated race of the week is not the one slated for Sunday in Indianapolis. Sure, the Brickyard has been around since 1909. Sure, it has been home to the Indianapolis 500 since 1911. Yes, it has hosted NASCAR’s Brickyard 400 since 1994, when Jeff Gordon won his first of five at the iconic track. It retains its brick finishing line, where every winner kneels down with his entire crew, along with some family members, to pucker up and lay a nice wet and dirty one in celebration.

Now, if you want to get dirty, the truck race at Eldora Raceway in Rossburg, Ohio was the place to be. Dirt. No bricks, no pavement, nothing but slip sliding away dirt. You would think such a showcase would have been broadcast universally. It was not. Unless you had the Fox Business Network as part of your cable package, you were screwed.

I wonder what Humphrey Bogart’s Rick Blaine of Casablanca fame would have thought?

Of all the tracks, in all the towns, in all the world, on all the television sets, that race could have been broadcast onto mine. We had our hopes. Canadians will always have Eldora, we thought. No. We lost it. We have to wait until Sunday when Cup action comes to us from Indianapolis. Damn. Well, here’s looking at you, kid, and our Hot 20 as they prepare to pound the bricks.

1. MARTIN TRUEX JR. – 3 WINS (758 Pts)
Finishes sixth or better in seven of his last ten races…but those three he missed he missed big.

2. JIMMIE JOHNSON – 3 WINS (552 Pts)
Is Alex Bowman the guy to replace Junior next season? As far as Jimmie is concerned, he is.

3. KYLE LARSON – 2 WINS (720 Pts)
Starting from the rear allows him to give a friendly wave each and every one of his competitors.

4. BRAD KESELOWSKI – 2 WINS (564 Pts)
NASCAR is shaking up leadership team, prompting a driver to change his name to Brad France.

5. RICKY STENHOUSE JR. – 2 WINS (441 Pts)
Fewest points among those with 2 wins or more. I bet he feels just awful about that.

6. KEVIN HARVICK – 1 WIN (639 Pts)
It is hard to do play-by-play when Keelan’s hands are covering the toy cars.

7. DENNY HAMLIN – 1 WIN (589 Pts)
Nobody runs away from a grandfather clock but put a live 22-pound lobster in Denny’s hands…

8. RYAN BLANEY – 1 WIN (486 Pts)
Loudon was not good, but not really bad. It was just…Loudon.

9. KURT BUSCH – 1 WIN (455 Pts)
Another race, another few lugnuts loose, another $10,000 fine for another crew chief.

10. RYAN NEWMAN – 1 WIN (428 Pts)
When it comes to cycling with the boys, Ryan would rather be riding a moped.

11. AUSTIN DILLON – 1 WIN (363 Pts)
The fact he is actually 20th in points probably does not cause him any sleepless nights.

12. KYLE BUSCH – 650 POINTS
Damn stupid penalties, but Sunday it is Indy. Kyle always wins at Indy, doesn’t he?

13. CHASE ELLIOTT – 587 POINTS
It is untrue that Elliott has more points than there will be fans in the stands on Sunday. I hope.

14. JAMIE MCMURRAY – 572 POINTS
Jamie will appear in Friday’s hauler parade. Hoping fans will return the favor on the weekend.

15. CLINT BOWYER – 526 POINTS
As long as Logano does not win anytime soon, things are looking good.

16. MATT KENSETH – 524 POINTS
Sure, a win at Loudon would have been nice, but Logano’s disaster proved almost as helpful.

17. JOEY LOGANO – 472 POINTS (1 Win)
He needs another win to get in…and a hell of a lot better scriptwriter for the rest of this season.

18. ERIK JONES – 427 POINTS
Gibbs pays his salary, so he is leaving to join that crew next season. It might be a step down.

19. DANIEL SUAREZ – 404 POINTS
Has a pair of 6th place finishes to go with a trio of 7th place results. Now, it is time for a Top Five.

20. TREVOR BAYNE – 369 POINTS
The good news is that he leads Dillon by six points. The bad news is…

July 19, 2017
Hot 20 – If given a choice, rather than Loudon I would prefer to be stuck in Lodi again

Loudon, New Hampshire is where they hand out a lobster to the winner. Okay, it is not as cool as Dover’s Miles the Monster trophy, with a diecast of the winning car held aloft in its mighty hand. No grandfather clock like they award at Martinsville, or the six-shooters of Texas, and that sweet Les Paul guitar for races in Nashville. On the positive side, you can not eat any of those other awards.

Will we be thrilled with edge-of-seat riveting excitement at Loudon? It is not exactly a super speedway or features the beating and banging at Bristol nor does it present the rights to go with the lefts of the road courses. It has been on the NASCAR Cup schedule only since 1993, so it does not even have the history of a Darlington or Charlotte. How much is Loudon in need of an excitement transplant? Well, they are putting some sticky substance on the turns for better grip. Yes, hope springs eternal.

Eleven active drivers have wins there. Kyle Busch is winless this season, but he should be good for the Chase on points alone. Denny Hamlin and Clint Bowyer seem good for now, but for now might not be good enough in a few weeks. A win for either would be comforting.

It would mean more for former winners Matt Kenseth and Joey Logano. Kenseth leads Logano by seven points in the battle for that final berth. Now, should Erik Jones, Daniel Saurez, Trevor Bayne, or someone else behind them in the standings win, that is where the excitement would truly lie. Then, Bowyer would be sitting on the bubble and the gap between in and out increases. Kasey Kahne won there once and is not even among our Hot 20. Win on Sunday and he certainly would be. That would be exciting.

For you, Loudon will come down to how your favorite driver performs along with the prospect of someone needing a win getting one. That is where the excitement Sunday afternoon will stem from, along with re-starts and visor cams. Lots and lots of visor cams.

1. MARTIN TRUEX JR. – 3 WINS (709 Pts)
If the Chase began today, he would go in with a 12 point lead…

2. JIMMIE JOHNSON – 3 WINS (519 Pts)
…over Mr. Johnson.

3. KYLE LARSON – 2 WINS (710 Pts)
Missed qualifying, then sped down pit road, and wound up passing everybody but one.

4. BRAD KESELOWSKI – 2 WINS (536 Pts)
Wants better cars and more manufacturers. I want better tracks and a lot more visor cams.

5. RICKY STENHOUSE JR. – 2 WINS (418 Pts)
On television last Monday, he was the best damned Ninja Warrior in NASCAR.

6. KEVIN HARVICK – 1 WIN (599 Pts)
Finished ninth at Kentucky, and was the last driver on the lead lap…

7. RYAN BLANEY – 1 WIN (462 Pts)
…while Ryan was 10th at Kentucky…and a lap down.

8. KURT BUSCH – 1 WIN (419 Pts)
The smoke proved to be due to a failed axle at Kentucky.

9. RYAN NEWMAN – 1 WIN (414 Pts)
Points are fine, but that win at Phoenix has made all the difference.

10. AUSTIN DILLON – 1 WIN (341 Pts)
Ryan’s Childress teammate would not even be on this list if not for Charlotte.

11. KYLE BUSCH – 609 POINTS
Won XFINITY race at Kentucky, meaning 12 of 16 on their schedule have been won by Cup guys.

12. CHASE ELLIOTT – 560 POINTS
Very good driver, but one hell of an ax thrower.

13. JAMIE MCMURRAY – 545 POINTS
One way or another, Hamlin’s gonna find ya, he’s gonna getcha, getcha, getcha, getcha.

14. DENNY HAMLIN – 538 POINTS
What, did that go over my radio?

15. CLINT BOWYER – 495 POINTS
Hot at Sonoma and Daytona, but just lukewarm at Kentucky. Needs to bring the heat on Sunday.

16. MATT KENSETH – 478 POINTS
Loses his ride next season. Talk about having incentive to put forth a great audition run.

17. JOEY LOGANO – 471 POINTS (1 Win)
Win or get more points than Kenseth. Just being better won’t cut it, as we saw last week.

18. ERIK JONES – 426 POINTS
Replaces Kenseth in the No. 20 next season. Needs a win to replace him in the Chase this season.

19. DANIEL SUAREZ – 373 POINTS
Went from fighting for a Top Ten last week, to just fighting to bring the wreck across the line.

20. TREVOR BAYNE – 352 POINTS
Like Kahne, he needed a win. Like Kahne, he found the damned wall instead.

July 12, 2017
Hot 20 – Kentucky – I am so happy I feel like bouncing…just more like Eeyore than Tigger

Welcome to the Eeyore edition of the Hot 20. Last week, it was Daytona. That was the Happy Snoopy Dance version. This Saturday night, it is Kentucky. My level of excitement is slightly subdued.

It is not as if there is nothing to watch for. Clint Bowyer might like a win, but he is not quite yet in desperate straits. Matt Kenseth might and with Joey Logano just three points behind him, a win or just a much better day than the one his rival experiences would be sweet. Logano would be fine except for the fact five guys below him in points have wins and Joey’s victory counts for nothing.

Kenseth won in Kentucky in 2013, and could sure use another. Kyle Busch has a pair there, in 2011 and 2015, but his points total sure looks good enough despite him being winless. In 2012, 2014, and 2016, the winner was Brad Keselowski. Other than to chalk up some more playoff points, he needs it like I need to gain another 20 pounds.

If a 2017 race winner wins again, it could be pretty ho-hum. If someone 11th through 15th takes the prize, that would be nice. However, if someone 16th or beyond claims the contest Saturday night, Kentucky just might turn out to be mighty interesting indeed.

Of course, like Eeyore, I can be content in the knowledge that things could always be worse. Not sure how, but they could be.

1. JIMMIE JOHNSON – 3 WINS (516 Pts)
If this racing thing doesn’t pan out, he could always be a salesman. He is quite the pedaler.

2. KYLE LARSON – 2 WINS (667 Pts)
Top gun in points, has a pair of wins, and soon might not be known as the “other” Kyle.

3. MARTIN TRUEX JR. – 2 WINS (649 Pts)
According to Las Vegas, this is your favorite for Sparta’s big race.

4. BRAD KESELOWSKI – 2 WINS (535 Pts)
Ignore Thornton. “I am Sparta!”

5. RICKY STENHOUSE JR. – 2 WINS (395 Pts)
Wins at Talladega and Daytona. Who the hell does he think he is, Jamie McMurray?

6. KEVIN HARVICK – 1 WIN (557 Pts)
Has not yet won at Pocono, Texas, or Kentucky. Time to break out the bucket list.

7. RYAN BLANEY – 1 WIN (435 Pts)
Backward flip into a pool after signing a giant rubber duck. That was his Daytona experience.

8. KURT BUSCH – 1 WIN (408 Pts)
Said Junior had the car to beat last week…and, by God, they beat it real good.

9. RYAN NEWMAN – 1 WIN (399 Pts)
I am starting to think that they keep Newman locked up in a dark room between races.

10. AUSTIN DILLON – 1 WIN (323 Pts)
Darlington might be three months away, but his paint scheme that day will be so sweet.

11. KYLE BUSCH – 559 POINTS
Doesn’t need a third Kentucky win. He just wants it.

12. CHASE ELLIOTT – 524 POINTS
Upset with McDowell, but will keep it civil. I mean, Michael is just too damn big not to.

13. JAMIE MCMURRAY – 504 POINTS
If he is not finishing in the Top Fifteen, it means he crashed.

14. DENNY HAMLIN – 498 POINTS
How this race differs from the Daytona 500? If he wins Saturday, the car won’t be up on display.

15. CLINT BOWYER – 469 POINTS
Not locked in just yet, but feeling pretty confident.

16. MATT KENSETH – 445 POINTS
Not so confident, but he is one of three who has won in Kentucky before.

17. JOEY LOGANO – 442 POINTS (1 W)
It has been a while since a race winner was sitting outside a Chase place.

18. ERIK JONES – 386 POINTS
Has it much easier at an autograph session than, say, Brad Keselowski.

19. DANIEL SUAREZ – 354 POINTS
Maybe…just maybe…we have the first Mexican Olympic bobsleigh champion right here.

20. TREVOR BAYNE – 351 POINTS
A Bayne win Saturday would even make Eeyore smile.

July 5, 2017
The Final Word – Daytona…best race of the season

Daytona. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. A win to be in.

Well, that is what many were hoping for Saturday night. Junior led from the pole, was sitting up near the front, and finished only behind Brad Keselowski when the opening stage came to a conclusion. No problem. He was contending and that was good enough for the moment.

Sadly, rather than a presentation of The Greatest Story Ever Told, a flat tire and some grinding work against the fence made it more like the Life of Brian. Earnhardt, who is retiring from full-time racing after this season, still walked among us, just a couple of laps behind where his fans had hoped he might be.

It could have been worse. Kyle Busch had a tire go down, wiggled briefly in front of his brother, then found himself in the middle of a crap storm. By the time the cars quit hitting each other and the wall, Martin Truex Jr., Joey Logano, and Austin Dillon were among them with time on their hands. Kyle may have departed, but at least Kurt Busch was left on the track, if that was any consolation.

The only constant was that nothing was constant. You had the feeling that when they began the final half of the 400-mile journey, everyone had a shot at it. Well, everyone not already beaten to a pulp. Maybe Ryan Blaney would win again. Maybe Chase Elliott would claim his first. If either was to come to pass, they had their work cut out for them. With 155 miles left, Chase Elliott got turned, went across in front of Blaney, and the pair went on a tear through the grass. They were bowed, though not yet beaten.

Remember Earnhardt? When they went back under green, he was 16th and back on the lead lap. Did the man whose career from 2001 to 2004 read like sensationalized fiction have one more fairytale ending in his library? With 140 miles left, Junior was back in the Top Ten as Hendrick teammate Jimmie Johnson took over the lead.

Then it happened. You know how Cinderella ends? Pretty sweet, eh? Well, in this version, Kevin Harvick lost a tire, spun in front of Earnhardt, and it was pumpkin pie for them both. Others spun, but Happy and Dale were the pair that were done.

Maybe Clint Bowyer was going to lock his spot in the Chase. He trailed only Ricky Stenhouse Jr. with a hundred miles remaining, which is when Keselowski checked out of this one. Tire went down, the nose inhaled the wall, and as he headed to the garage, the two leaders headed to the pits. Good time as any for a much-needed fuel stop. We might have known who was not going to win at this time, but the identity of the winner was still a total mystery. Maybe this is why Daytona races are a joy to watch.

Sixty miles to go. The top four all looking for a win to vault ahead into a Chase place. Daniel Suarez was followed by Kasey Kahne. Bowyer and Matt Kenseth were in on points, but barely, and that would be in jeopardy if either of those first two claimed this thing. David Ragan, Erik Jones and Paul Menard all desperately need a win, and all were in the mix as the laps counted down. I tell you, it was pretty darn hard to sneak away to get that final cold one the way they were racing.

With 35 miles to go the winless Chris Buescher, A.J. Allmendinger, and Ty Dillon had moved up to join the others hoping for a season-defining result among the top dozen. Daddy’s adult pop was still calling, but I was still not moving. Incredible action.

Twelve miles left, and still, we had no idea who would win. We did get a definite idea of who else would not. Kyle Larson got hooked by Stenhouse and went airborne. It was a Days of Thunder conclusion for him and Kenseth, as Blaney had his straw house blown down. As for Kurt, he managed to avoid an accident earlier, only to find that fate was just waiting to claim his auto.

Eight laps left. Every lap an exciting one, but the only one that was going to matter in the end was the one that ended it. That lap would come in overtime, and while Menard, Bowyer, and Michael McDowell were second through fourth, it was Stenhouse coming home for his second victory of the season. He was a heart-breaker, especially when you consider that, other than Ryan Newman in fifth, the rest of the top 11 Saturday night remain winless on the season.

Most entertaining race of the year. If you are hoping for another possible Earnhardt storyline in Kentucky next Saturday night, you should expect to be disappointed. In six previous events held at that venue, the winners have gone by such names as Keselowski (3), Rowdy (2), and Kenseth. That is all.

Now I can go get that frosty beverage.

July 3, 2017
Hot 20 – Daytona in the summer time

The changing of the guard. NASCAR fans are getting used to that. Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, and soon Dale Earnhardt Jr. Summer returns, which means FOX leaves to be replaced by NBC.

I also read that FOX Sports is dumping its prose in favor of video. Ironically enough, I read about it. Some of us still like to read. If I am wrong about that, I may soon be writing about other things for folks who maintain a certain level of literacy. You would not want me to return to video, but it raises some possibilities. For example, not only could I describe my raised middle digit in salute to what I think about “progress,” but I could visually share it with you should the video censors allow.

Did you notice Danica Patrick’s visor cam last weekend? I loved it. It had that in-car video game feel. You felt like you were actually in the car because visually you were. You looked out the windshield and saw the hands on the wheel. Of the innovative camera angles presented in recent years, the visor cam is the best. I bet we could even see a raised middle finger should the situation warrant it.

Sonoma was our featured track last week, which was good. Daytona returns for this weekend. That is great. Kentucky, New Hampshire, and Indianapolis come to our screens after that, but why dampen my mood just yet.

NASCAR says stage racing will be staying. I might be in the minority, but I like it. I think it is stupid to add an additional stage to the World 600, but I do like it for the most part. They probably offer up too much for those who might have been something in the first half of the race but disappear when it counts, but who ever blamed NASCAR for being perfect? Okay, I just made myself laugh.

Ten drivers have given the rest of the field the bird, with wins all but locking them into the Chase. Six others are there on points, but that number could dwindle should somebody else claim their first win of the season. Right now, Joey Logano, Clint Bowyer, and Matt Kenseth are fighting it out over those final two playoff spaces. That could change to just the final slot should somebody like Dale Earnhardt Jr. or Trevor Bayne come up with the goods on Saturday night.

An Earnhardt in Victory Lane at Daytona. Now, I am not sure if that would constitute much of a change or not. It would sure be one way to rocket up to be among our Hot 20…

1. JIMMIE JOHNSON – 3 WINS – 483 Pts
The perfect gift idea for his crew chief? A new laptop, of course.

2. KYLE LARSON – 2 WINS – 659 Pts
When you average more than 40 points every week, they start to add up.

3. MARTIN TRUEX JR. – 2 WINS – 646 Pts
Hell of a car, hell of an opening stage, too bad about that engine last week.

4. BRAD KESELOWSKI – 2 WINS – 519 Pts
Does anyone really think Penske would let Brad get away?

5. KEVIN HARVICK – 1 WIN – 548 Pts
The winningest driver in Cup…over the past week.

6. RYAN BLANEY – 1 WIN – 415 Pts
Despite the win, Blaney still has seven races in which he garnered less than 20 points.

7. KURT BUSCH – 1 WIN – 389 Pts
After his appearance on the Today Show, he can never again criticize his pit crew.

8. RYAN NEWMAN – 1 WIN – 367 Pts
If only Paul Menard could find his way to Victory Lane, Childress would be 3 for 3.

9. RICKY STENHOUSE JR – 1 WIN – 355 Pts
Mr. Stenhouse. That was not what I would call a love tap.

10. AUSTIN DILLON – 1 WIN – 322 Pts
Going with the red, white, and blue on Saturday night.

11. KYLE BUSCH – 542 PTS
Want to be a crew chief for a day? If you do, it is best you come in with deep pockets.

12. CHASE ELLIOTT – 509 PTS
Still looking for that first win, but found a new four-year contract extension.

13. JAMIE MCMURRAY – 477 PTS
Daytona. It is a track worthy of another McMurray victory.

14. DENNY HAMLIN – 476 PTS
Won Xfinity race at Michigan. Thankfully, William Byron finally got his win at Iowa last week.

15. JOEY LOGANO – 434 PTS – 1 Win
Another unencumbered win, like the one he had there 2.5-years ago, would sure come in handy.

16. CLINT BOWYER – 427 PTS
Clint’s best finish there is fourth.

17. MATT KENSETH – 423 PTS
Has won a pair of Daytona 500’s, but now hopes to overcome his summertime blues.

18. ERIK JONES – 358 PTS
Is this just a one season stop before moving on to Gibbs Racing?

19. TREVOR BAYNE – 337 PTS
Won the big race in 2011, was third in last year’s July contest.

20. DANIEL SUAREZ – 334 PTS
10 Mexican wins, 3 Xfinity, 1 truck victory. It is just a matter of time.

June 28, 2017
Sonoma Raceway – Did You Know?

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series travels to Sonoma Raceway this weekend for the Toyota/Save Mart 350. Thirty-eight drivers will compete but only one will make it to the Wine Country Winner’s Circle for a champagne celebration.

Sunday’s race will be the 29th Cup Series event at Sonoma. The inaugural race was held on June 11, 1989, with Ricky Rudd holding off Rusty Wallace to win the Banquet Frozen Foods 300. It was his only victory that year, though Rudd would go on to win again in 2002. But did you know he is one of only six drivers with multiple wins at the track?

Jeff Gordon leads the series with five victories at the road course, including three consecutively, from 1998 – 2000. Tony Stewart has three trophies but did you know he captured the final win of his Cup career last year at Sonoma, ending an 84-race winless drought?

Ernie Irvan, Rusty Wallace and Rudd have two wins each. Kyle Busch has scored two checkered flags, in 2008 and 2015, and is the only active driver with multiple wins.

The Sonoma race will consist of 110 laps on the 1.990-miles road course which is lined with 1,000 tire packs made up of 25,000 tires. But did you know that each driver who completes the Toyota/Save Mart 350 will make 1,100 turns during the race?

Kyle Larson heads to Sonoma as the points leader after his win last week at Michigan, giving him two victories this year. He has the series fifth-best driver rating (90.0) at the track with a best finish of 12th place last year. But did you know that he is one of nine drivers who has secured a spot in the playoffs with wins?

The only way any of them would fail to make the playoffs is if there are more new winners than spots left in the 16-driver field. As it now stands, Jimmie Johnson (3), Brad Keselowski (2), Martin Truex Jr. (2), Ryan Blaney, Kurt Busch, Austin Dillon, Ryan Newman and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will almost certainly join Larson as participants in the playoffs.

Rounding out the top five at Sonoma are Kurt Busch (107.8), with the series-best driver rating, followed by Johnson (99.9), Clint Bowyer (90.2) and Kyle Busch (90.1)

Kyle Busch and Bowyer are both winless this season but did you know they are among six active drivers with Sonoma victories? Kyle Busch has won twice (2008, 2015) while Clint Bowyer (2012), Kurt Busch (2011), Jimmie Johnson (2010), Kasey Kahne (2009) and Truex (2013) each have one win.

One more interesting statistic — In his final trip to Sonoma as a full-time Cup Series driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr. may not be anyone’s favorite to win. But did you know that he leads all drivers with a 7.0 average finish in the last three races at Sonoma?

Qualifying will be crucial this weekend as the pole position is the most proficient starting position. It has produced more wins than any other position, with five, while the second starting position has produced three wins. But did you know that Juan Pablo Montoya won from the deepest in the field in 2007 after starting in 32nd place?

The on-track action begins Friday afternoon with two practices while Coors Light Pole qualifying will be held on Saturday at 2:45 p.m. ET. Be sure to tune into The Toyota/Save Mart 350 Sunday at 3 p.m. on FS1 for the 16th race of the season. In the meantime, check out the video below as we remember Tony Stewart’s last trip to victory lane.

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

June 21, 2017
Hot 20-California to make a sharp turn to the right, but only on the race track at Sonoma

It is ironic that the two tracks that feature folks turning to the right are in California and New York, where you would think left would be the preferred direction. Sonoma is the perfect venue to feature our hot drivers, with temperatures this week in the 90s, though promises to be in the low 80s come Sunday. It a facility well used, with 340 days of racing events featured annually.

This is no oval in the sunshine. Its undulating geography has them rise up through the second and third turns, where the inside tires ride higher than the outside. Uphill they go, through the chute before heading back down to reach the hairpin left-hand 11th turn. Then, it is a race to the finish line to complete the 1.99-mile journey.

Sonoma is where Tony Stewart claimed his final career victory, his third on the track. Only six active drivers remain who have claimed a win there. Kyle Busch has a pair. The other five include Kurt Busch, Jimmie Johnson, Martin Truex Jr., Kasey Kahne and Stewart’s employee, Clint Bowyer. The latter pair sure could use another one about now.

No matter how your season has been going, a victory on the road course would make everything seem alright…just not alt.right. That is a totally different deal apparently.

The Hot 20 heading to Sonoma include…

1. JIMMIE JOHNSON – 3 WINS – 449 Pts
After signing up for an additional three seasons, wants Chad Knaus to join him.

2. KYLE LARSON – 2 WINS – 640 Pts
17th at Martinsville. 14th at Richmond. 33rd at Charlotte. 12th or better everywhere else.

3. MARTIN TRUEX JR. – 2 WINS – 635 Pts
When you count playoff points, Truex becomes our leader.

4. BRAD KESELOWSKI – 2 WINS – 476 Pts
Some say he could be the new man in the 88. Others say they then would burn their 88 gear.

5. RYAN BLANEY – 1 WIN – 376 Pts
Embrace your Nickelback adoration and become Hanna, Alberta’s most beloved driver.

6. KURT BUSCH – 1 WIN – 359 Pts
Sonoma is wine country. Wine comes from grapes. Grapes grow on Busch’s. Okay, it’s a theory.

7. RICKY STENHOUSE JR. – 1 WIN – 354 Pts
When my wife has a bad day at the office, we don’t talk about work. Thought I might mention it.

8. RYAN NEWMAN – 1 WIN – 344 Pts
I briefly saw Newman at Michigan. Once, but I did see him.

9. AUSTIN DILLON – 1 WIN – 297 Pts
Former Air Force fan sent him his flight gloves. My biggest fan is a proctologist. I want nothing.

10. KYLE BUSCH – 510 PTS
Has led in each of the past six races, and won the All-Star race. I do not think he has to worry.

11. KEVIN HARVICK – 508 PTS
From DeLana to Joey: “Congrats! Now you’ll really see who wears the fire suit in the family.”

12. CHASE ELLIOTT – 478 PTS
Runner-up finish last week was his best, to add to his handful of Top Fives in 15 attempts.

13. JAMIE MCMURRAY – 450 PTS
If his teammate can win, he can win. Next iconic race comes up soon in Daytona.

14. DENNY HAMLIN – 430 PTS
Was fourth on Sunday, which is good. Won the Xfinity race on Saturday (sort of), but who gives a damn?

15. JOEY LOGANO – 398 PTS – 1 Win
Encumbered is a fancy way of saying wins without benefits.

16. MATT KENSETH – 398 PTS
Fun fact: Only those currently in a Chase place have earned a playoff point this season.

17. CLINT BOWYER – 391 PTS
His boss won at Sonoma last year, he won in 2012, and Clint might need to do it again.

18. ERIK JONES – 346 PTS
Was racing recently in Senoia, Georgia. I wonder if he got to meet Carl, Rick, Daryl, and Negan?

19. TREVOR BAYNE – 323 PTS
This month he has a win and now Levi Jensen Bayne. It has been a great June for Trevor.

20. DANIEL SUAREZ – 313 PTS
Older drivers still rule, as just nine of this group of twenty are 20-somethings.

June 21, 2017
The Final Word – Larson wins on a Michigan Fathers’ Day as Bowyer slips down the ladder

Popular. Iconic. A “must be in” race. If that is what you were looking for, you were disappointed. A 37-car field was the smallest in 21 years. Tight, pack racing, the kind that leaves you swooning each and every lap. If that is what you were looking for, sorry, Sonoma is coming up next weekend. No, this week it was Michigan.

About the only exciting moment in the early going came when Erik Jones pulled in under green during the opening segment due to loose lug nuts. That stop dropped him to 37th, a lap down. Would we seem him again? The odds were not in his favor.

Two segments, two “wins” for Martin Truex Jr. Ten times he has done it, and of his point total, 100 of them have come due to taking a race segment. If the boy runs well, the boy earns the bonus. Would he win the race? Up to the final stage, only Kyle Larson and Kyle Busch seemed like the main challengers. Kevin Harvick, Denny Hamlin, Clint Bowyer and Matt Kenseth were making some noise up to that point, but only time would tell if they would be a factor when it counted.

By the time we had 14 laps to go, Chase Elliott had entered the picture. Ryan Blaney was in the vicinity. Jamie McMurray also used some pit strategy to poke his nose in, along with Daniel Suarez. Bowyer took his nose out of it as he ground down the right side of his car against the fence. One more pit stop, one more opportunity to provide some excitement.

Sunday was Father’s Day. I spent some time with my father-in-law, Jack Clements, and my dad, the original Ron Thornton. I hope you were able to spend some time celebrating with your pop or being celebrated for being one. After spending some quality time with your loved ones, this would have been the time to turn the tube on to watch the conclusion of the race. If you had missed the opening 186 laps, trust me, you can forgive yourself.

With 10 to go, Blaney’s car started to run in some molasses after getting loose, stacking the field. You just knew that somebody was going to get punted. When Bubba Wallace Jr. turned Suarez, he found himself straightened out by the lady on his inside. You just knew that Danica Patrick was not going to be a happy camper, as she crunched the inside barrier.

They re-started with five to run, and that is when Larson checked out. He was number one, Elliott was number two, and the rest were somewhere behind. It was win number two for Larson on the season, while Hamlin (fourth), Truex (sixth), and Rowdy (seventh) all had 40-plus point days.

Both Joey Logano and Hamlin slip past Bowyer in the standings. Thanks to having five drivers behind him in points holding wins, Bowyer now drops out of a Chase position into 17th place. That means he heads to Sonoma seven points behind his two rivals, and for him points mean everything. At least, unless he wins.

Now it is time to enjoy a popular, iconic, a “must be in” contest that features driving door to door, fender to fender racing. They add the right turns to the lefts out in California, as they head just north of San Francisco. Last year’s winner at Sonoma will be cheering on the 2012 race winner, as team owner Tony Stewart hopes his boy Bowyer can claim the prize once again.

As for you and me, this is a race we might actually have to watch. It might even be one you can invite your dad to watch with you.

June 19, 2017
Michigan International Speedway – Did You Know?

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and the XFINITY Series will compete at Michigan International Speedway this weekend while the Camping World Truck Series travels to Gateway Motorsports Park. The Cup Series race will headline the competition Sunday with 37 drivers entered in the Cup Series “FireKeepers Casino 400” event.

Last week at Pocono Raceway Ryan Blaney scored his first win in the Cup Series giving Wood Brothers Racing their first checkered flag since Trevor Bayne won the Daytona 500 in 2011. But did you know that he was the 10th different driver to capture a Cup Series victory this season? Blaney joins Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Austin Dillon as first-time winners this year.

Darrell Wallace Jr. will make his second Cup Series start this weekend, filling in for the injured Aric Almirola. Almirola’s recovery is progressing well and he could return as early as July 14 at New Hampshire. This means that Wallace has, at the least, four more chances to hone his skills in the Cup Series.

Sunday’s race is the 95th Cup Series race at Michigan. The first race at the two-mile track was held on June 15, 1969, and was won by Cale Yarborough for Wood Brothers Racing. He gave them another win in the June event the following year. Yarborough has eight career wins at Michigan but did you know that David Pearson leads all drivers with nine victories? Kurt Busch and Matt Kenseth lead all active drivers with three each.

Joey Logano heads to Michigan as the defending race winner. The Team Penske driver started the season strong and grabbed a win at Richmond in April but did you know that in the last five races, Logano’s best finish was a 21st place result at Charlotte? He has dropped from as high as third to 11th in the points standings.

Will we see another first-time winner at Michigan?

It may surprise you to learn that Chase Elliott has the series-best driver rating (125.1) at Michigan. In his only two starts last year, he earned two runner-up finishes. Elliott also has the series-best average finish (2.000), average running position (4.300) and the series-most laps in the top 15 (391 laps, 97.8 percent).

Or will we see another veteran take the checkered flag?

Kenseth has the second-best driver rating (102.2) heading into Michigan and the series-most quality passes with 990. He has scored three trips to victory lane at the track with 14 top-fives, 20 top-10s and one pole. Kenseth is looking for his first win this year to solidify his berth in the playoffs. But did you know that a Michigan victory would tie him with Tim Flock for 18th place on the all-time Cup Series wins list?

Could this be the weekend that Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his team get it together and turn his final Cup season around?

Earnhardt is currently 23rd in the standings. He has the fifth-best driver rating (96.0) at Michigan with two wins (2008, 2012), eight top fives, 14 top 10s and two poles plus the second-most quality passes at the track with 933. A top five finish could bolster the confidence of the No. 88 team as they head into the final 11 races of the regular season.

Thirty-seven different drivers have won in 95 races at Michigan and capturing the pole may be the key to winning it all. The pole position has produced more winners (20) than any other starting position.

The on-track activity begins Friday with practice and qualifying on FS2. Tune into the FireKeepers Casino 400 Sunday at 3 p.m. on FS1 for the 15th Cup Series race of the season at Michigan International Speedway.

In the meantime, check out the video below as Dale Earnhardt Jr. wins the LifeLock 400 at Michigan on June 15, 2008, breaking a 76-race winless drought. It was his first visit to victory lane for Hendrick Motorsports.

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

June 15, 2017