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1. Paul Menard: Contender or Faker This Year?
Today, I am going to discuss two drivers who have really caught my eye through eight races this year. The first is Paul Menard. If you recall, Menard already has a top five finish this year and four top ten finishes in only eight races. Menard has been running close to his two teammates at Richard Childress Racing, Austin Dillon and Ryan Newman, for pretty much the entire year thus far. Here is my question for Paul Menard and his team. Are they contenders this year or fakers? I, honestly, need to see more from Menard to know for sure. Here is the thing. If you take a look at Menard's results in the early part of the year recently, he runs really well to start the season. As the season reaches the summer stretch, Menard really falls off and it seems like it happens every single year that goes by. This year, though, seems a little bit different. Menard hasn't been just finishing good, but he has been running really well. When he finished third at Las Vegas about a month ago, he was really good for the entire race. He seemed fast and he seemed like he had control over his car. Along with that, Menard is really in a good place now. Last year, he was the third guy behind Kevin Harvick and Jeff Burton. Now, he is one of the mentors for Austin Dillon along with Ryan Newman. That, to me, gives him a different role and it looks like it has been helping him also. Hopefully, Menard's team stays on track and he is able to make his way into the Chase for the first time in his career.
2. Brian Vickers: Has He Finally Found His Way to Cup Success?
The second driver that has caught my eye thus far this year is Brian Vickers. If you recall, Vickers has a top five finish and three top tens through eight races in his first season racing full time for Michael Waltrip Racing. I have discussed a lot recently the problems Brian Vickers has experienced in the past few seasons. I won't repeat those, but they have built him up to where he is today. I have a single question for Brian Vickers. Has he finally found his way to Cup success? Now, don't take this question the wrong way. Vickers has done well in the Cup Series in the past, but he hasn't been the driver we thought he would be when he started running for Hendrick Motorsports in 2004. Now, though, he looks to be on his way to Cup success. The main reason is the fact that he is finally in the right situation. With Hendrick Motorsports, he was really the guy tagging along behind Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon. Now, he is a part of a good duo with teammate, Clint Bowyer, It is no longer about living up to expectations of two of the better drivers in out sport, but finishing good in the championship and winning races. I, personally, think that is key for Vickers to be a good driver. All in all, don't be surprised if Vickers manages to make the Chase this season and contend well.
3. Swan Racing Financial Troubles: What Brought This Terrible Problem On?
The biggest story of the NASCAR off week was the financial troubles that Swan Racing announced. If you recall, Swan Racing decided to field two cars this season with rookie drivers, Cole Whitt and Parker Kligerman. Well, it has turned out that that move did not work for the team. After struggling a good bit the entire season, both drivers were without good sponsorship and, thus, no money. Since the problem was announced, it has partially been fixed. Cole Whitt will continue to drive the number twenty six, but now under the banner of BK Racing with rookie teammates, Ryan Truex and Alex Bowman. XXXtreme Motorsports will take over the owner points for the number thirty and J.J. Yeley will drive the car, which will switch to the number forty four after this weekend. That leaves Parker Kligerman without a car for the rest of the season. Here is my question for Swan Racing. What brought this terrible problem on? The main reason is the introduction of two cars. Swan Racing was barely competing with one car, but much less two cars. Then, add into the mix that they filled the two new cars with rookies. It is hard for a team to attract sponsors with drivers who are rookies. Sponsors want drivers who are veterans to represent their brand. That, to me, is the only explanation to why Swan Racing is now gone from the sport. Hopefully, Whitt remains driving in the sport and Kligerman finds his next opportunity soon.
4. Brad Keselowski's Ideas for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Schedule: Smart or Not Smart?
Another big story from the off week was Brad Keselowski's ideas for the Sprint Cup Series schedule. On his blog, Keselowski posted his idea of the perfect schedule including a very nice graphic. If you recall, Keselowski was the 2012 Cup champion and the 2010 Nationwide champion, which means he really should have a say in the schedule. Just kidding, guys, calm down. Anyway, Keselowski posted his idea of the schedule during the off week and it was pretty innovative, for lack of a better word. Keselowski added some new tracks including Road Atlanta and Iowa, doubleheader weeks throughout the summer and during the Chase, and a finale in Las Vegas just after the All-Star race one week before. The question is simple. Is the schedule smart or not smart and should NASCAR consider it? I really do like his ideas, honestly. I mean, the doubleheader weeks are great and he considered some of us who have to go to school by making the doubleheaders mostly during the summer. Also, he considered the logistics of the races, which makes that really easy for the teams. Honestly, I would love to see the schedule. I mean, it wouldn't hurt to try it one year and if it didn't work, it didn't. Just that easy and we revert back to the old schedule. Maybe NASCAR will look at the odd proposal and consider it for just a little while.
5. My Pick to Win
Recently, we have visited a good many tracks where the winner is just hard to come by. Some tracks, like Richmond tonight, require a certain breed of driver to win the race. Still, there are a good many guys who always look good here. Last year, Kevin Harvick and Carl Edwards both walked away with wins at the track and they look to be very good this year in practice for the race. Also, both of them have been pretty good on the short tracks this season. Among those two drivers, there are a good many others who will be battling for the win tonight. A few other drivers to consider as possible winners tonight are Brad Keselowski, Kasey Kahne, Jimmie Johnson, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, Clint Bowyer, Joey Logano, and Tony Stewart are drivers to look at tonight. Also, some underdog picks are Kyle Larson, Brian Vickers, and Jamie McMurray for tonight's race. Tonight should be a good race and I will be writing about it for you guys. Well, that is all for me and until we meet again.
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