1. Kurt Busch Heading to Stewart-Haas Racing In 2014
A story that has been developing over the past week has finally ended. Kurt Busch signed the contract to driver for Stewart-Haas Racing next year and beyond. He will join a team that is already stacked for next year with Kevin Harvick and Tony Stewart and the one year “veteran” Danica Patrick. Ryan Newman was just recently let go for 2014 and now Busch will look to replace him. I have very mixed feelings about this move. One positive thing is that Busch is a pretty good driver. Not only does he have a championship to his name, but he does well in cars that probably shouldn't be running up front. Along with that is the fact that he can win races just about anywhere from road course to short track and even to a superspeedway. But the negative things definitely out weigh the positive. For one, Kurt Busch is really hot headed. By that, I mean that he is quick to get angry at very small things while Ryan Newman is very cool and calm most of the time. This could really affect the result of the four teams. Another thing is how much backlash the organization could get. Tony Stewart had told Ryan Newman that the reason he was released is because they did not have enough money to run four teams. Gene Haas, who has absolutely no idea what in the world he is doing, overrides Stewart and gives Kurt Busch, who hasn't been in a very good ride since 2011, a contract to drive for Stewart's team. I don't care if Haas has his name on the team. It is NOT his decision. Let me repeat that. It is NOT his decision. If Stewart, one of the greatest drivers of our generation, says he can not run four cars, he can not. It is as simple as that. Now, you have Ryan Newman mad at the team and this could result in some wrecked race cars. I just think the move to get Kurt Busch should have never happened and it could blow up in the face of Stewart-Haas Racing.
2. Great Finishes In the Past at Atlanta
Whenever the series heads to the Atlanta Motor Speedway, we always think of the amazing finishes that have occurred there. First, you think about the battle to the line that Bobby Labonte and Dale Earnhardt had in 2000. Earnhardt crossed the line .010 seconds ahead of Bobby Labonte for the win. The next year held an even more memorable finish. Kevin Harvick, who had just taken over for the late Dale Earnhardt, held off Jeff Gordon on the final lap and crossed the line just .006 seconds ahead of Gordon for the win. The celebration was just as memorable as tears flowed down the faces of Dale Earnhardt's former crew members. Kevin Harvick even rode around the track with three fingers held out the window. In 2005, there was just as good a finish. Carl Edwards, who was looking for his first win, held the lead coming out of turn 4 on the final lap, but Jimmie Johnson was coming. Johnson got a run on the inside coming to the line, but Edwards was able to win by just .028 seconds. In 2011, Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon had a very impressive battle as well. Johnson and Gordon spent the last ten or so laps slipping and sliding their way around the track. It looked like they would wreck at any point, but Gordon was able to hold off Johnson to take the win. The point I am trying to make is that the finish at Atlanta is always one worth watching. I believe this year could have just as a crazy a finish due to all the drivers needing a win.
3. Kyle Larson Replacing Juan Pablo Montoya at EGR In 2014
Since Juan Pablo Montoya was released from his contract at EGR starting in 2014, a lot of speculation was made about who would drive the car. Some people were saying, Kyle Larson, some people, including myself, thought Ryan Newman should take over, and even Mark Martin was thrown in the mix to driver part time with Larson. Finally, EGR made the decision to go with Kyle Larson. Once again, I have mixed opinions about the Larson move. One positive thing is that Larson is a really good driver. Even though he does not have a NASCAR Nationwide Series win this year, he does have a lot of good runs like at Bristol in March. But the negative things once again outweigh the positive things. For one, Larson does not have the needed experience, in my opinion. I believe that the right path for a driver heading to Cup is at least 3 ARCA wins, 2 Camping World Truck Series victories, and at least one Nationwide victory before they are even offered a Sprint Cup job. Larson has no ARCA wins, one Camping World Truck Series victory, and no Nationwide Series victories. This to me means that he is not ready for a job. Granted, he has not raced in Cup yet and it is a little too soon to judge. A final thing is that Larson only has one teammate to go to for information. Jamie McMurray is a great racer and just needs the right equipment and he could be a wonderful driver in the series. But Larson really needs somebody else other than McMurray. If EGR went to a three car team and added Juan Pablo Montoya back, I think Larson would excel in his career. With only McMurray, I think he can still do good, but he is going to be missing a lot of experience at road courses and other tracks. If Larson turns out to be a bust or a great driver, we will always come back to this move as being really stupid or the smartest idea ever.
4. Martin Truex Jr., Denny Hamlin, and Bobby Labonte Injured
It was a tough week to be a race car driver. Martin Truex Jr. was diagnosed with a fractured wrist after a rough incident near the end of the race last Saturday at Bristol. Denny Hamlin also sprained his thumb during the same wreck. Truex and Hamlin should have no trouble racing Sunday night except for Truex, who might have trouble when he shifts gear. But there was one other driver injured during the week. Bobby Labonte went to the hospital during the week with three broken ribs after a crashing his bicycle. He was held in the hospital overnight for observation. He is unable to race this Sunday and Mike Bliss will replace him in the #51. This is a big injury for Labonte if you think about it. Labonte is nearing the last part of his career and it was already announced that Allmendinger will replace him next year in the #47. Now, he gets injured and will miss at least one race. With very select rides left in the series, Labonte might not get another chance after this injury. I'm not saying I want this because Labonte is one of the last drivers left from the Winston Cup days of the sport and I don't want that era to leave the sport. I wish Bobby a speedy recovery and hope he is back really soon.
5. A.J. Allmendinger Replacing Bobby Labonte at JTG-Daugherty Racing In 2014
This news was expected for a good little while and finally it was announced this week. A.J. Allmendinger had signed a contract with JTG-Daugherty Racing to drive the #47 next year. Like I have previously stated in some of my race recaps, Allmendinger has been on a roller coaster for the past two years. In 2011 at Daytona, he tested positive in a random drug test and was indefinitely suspended from the sport. He quickly went through the road to recovery program and was allowed back in the sport, but he had lost his ride at Penske Racing. This year, Allmendinger was given a chance to race an IndyCar in the Indianapolis 500 for Roger Penske. Allmendinger did well and Penske decided to give him an opportunity to race the two road course races in the Nationwide Series for him. The Dinger made the best of his opportunity by winning both races. Now after he has ran races for JTG-Daugherty Racing, he now has a Sprint Cup ride for next year. I think Allmendinger is going to do a really good job in this ride. He is a good road course racer and can do well on any other track on the circuit. If sponsors fall the right way and the team's equipment is decent, we could have a new first time winner next year.
6. My Pick to Win
This is a really tough pick for me this week, to be honest. There aren't too many drivers who looked good in practice and in qualifying. I think I'm going to go with a driver that needs a win bad. I am going to go with Denny Hamlin. He has been the only driver to really show speed in practice and even qualifying. He is going out fourth for the race and he was a winner at Atlanta last year. If you don't like that pick, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Matt Kenseth, Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Carl Edwards, and Kasey Kahne are good picks as well. Well, I thank you guys for once again reading my opinions. I was pretty long winded in my opinions this week, but these were very important issues for the series. I hope you guys continue to follow me and I will continue writing for you guys.
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