My Thoughts: 2014 Indianapolis

         Since 1911, Indianapolis Motor Speedway has been the host of one of the most famous races in motorsports: the Indianapolis 500. The race is known worldwide and from 1911 until 1993, the only race on the track was the historic 500 mile event. All that changed when it was announced that NASCAR would head to the Brickyard in 1994. Some fans were appalled at the idea while some were excited for the race, but all that didn't matter as the green flag waved on the race in 1994. Jeff Gordon was the winner that day and since then, the Brickyard 400 has become a piece that adds to the history of Indianapolis Motor Speedway every year. Just look at some of the best races there in the past few years.  In 2011, Paul Menard found himself in the lead in the last five laps at a track where he had grown up. He managed to save enough fuel and hold off Jeff Gordon to win his first career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. Last year's race is another that pops into mind. Ryan Newman, who had just found out he wouldn't return to Stewart-Haas Racing in 2014, stole the pole from Jimmie Johnson in qualifying and Newman was able to take the win after a strategy call late. One key thing between both of those races: pit strategy. Fuel and tires will be key late in the event and all the drivers will be looking to get fuel and fresh rubber late in the event. But don't expect every driver to take four tires. Newman took two tires last year while Johnson took four and this propelled Newman to the win. Strategy will be interesting to follow in the event and it will provide us with a winner today. With that, I have a few topics I want to discuss with you guys. Topics include a discussion of the recent week off for the top series, a discussion of last year's winner, a discussion of Kurt Busch, a discussion of Brad Keselowski, and, of course, my pick to win at the Brickyard. I am excited to write about these topics so let us go ahead and jump into them.

1. NASCAR Takes Week Off: Who Do This Help the Most?
         Like usual for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, the week before the annual Brickyard 400 was one that the teams had off. Today will be two weeks since the drivers were racing at New Hampshire and this track poses a different battle. The track is two and a half miles long and it is one of the flattest on the schedule. Drivers and teams have been preparing for it for two weeks now and they have also received some nice down time. In fact, they won't have another week long break until the checkered flag waves in November at Homestead and they will have a whole offseason in front of them. This off weekend brings one single question to my mind. Who does this off weekend help the most? I think this off weekend helps the drivers the most. Listen, I have never driven a race car, but I know it is tough to race thirty eight weeks a year, let alone most of those weeks consecutively. They needed this week to refresh their minds and bodies and I think all will come back ready to race. Another thing about this week off is that we are now into Chase mode. There are only seven races remaining until we start the Chase. That means drivers can take that week off and use it as a push towards the Chase. It could very well mean one position gained on track and a chance to win a race before the final ten race stretch of the year. Now, the real race to the end of the season starts and all the drivers will be prepared thanks to this week off.

2. Ryan Newman: Can He Repeat at Indianapolis?
          The story of last year's Brickyard 400 turned out to be about Ryan Newman. Coming into the race, the stories were about him as well. Stewart-Haas Racing had recently announced that Newman would not be with the team in 2014 and a lot of media attention was brought to this story. Even in Indianapolis on pole day, the discussions were surrounding this move. Ryan Newman quickly silenced all the talk as he bested Jimmie Johnson to take the pole as the final driver out. Then, he used a little opposite strategy than Johnson to win his first Brickyard 400 in his home state. All this brings one question to my mind. Can Ryan Newman repeat at Indianapolis and jump into the Chase? I really think he has a chance to repeat today. The main reason is how fast he has been this weekend. He was top twenty in both practice sessions held at the track and he qualified in fourth position with great drivers behind him. That means Newman will be a contender and he will be in perfect position to jump into the lead early in the event. A final reason is just Newman's win last year. Usually, when a driver wins at a track, he easily becomes the favorite on the next trip to the speedway. To me, Newman looks like a favorite considering his run last year. Don't expect Newman to dominate the entire event, but if he gets a chance to run a different strategy, he could take that opportunity and grab a win for his Richard Childress Racing team.

3. Kurt Busch: Will His Indianapolis 500 Experience Help Him This Weekend?
         In May, the story of the Coca-Cola 600 was Kurt Busch attempting the Double for the afternoon. That means he would run the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on the same day. It would be quite the feat if Busch could do it and it started off well with a sixth place finish in the 500 in his first attempt at running the race. It seemed like his chances in the Coca-Cola 600 would be much better considering he had been in the race before, but engine trouble brought his night and his Double to an end. Still, Busch was fast at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is headed to the track today. I have one question for Busch this afternoon. Will his Indianapolis 500 experience from two months ago help him today? I, honestly, don't think it will. One thing it will help is his confidence at the track. Knowing he has raced on this track already this year means he will have an upper hand on some of his competitors. That could give him some advantage over his fellow drivers in the field and he could take the win. Still, the differences between an IndyCar and a stock car are numerous. Weight, nimbleness, tires, fuel mileage, aerodynamics, and so many other things are different, which means that there is really no comparison between the two types of cars. Still, Busch's confidence will be high heading into this event and his fast stock car could just hand him the win at the Brickyard.

4. Brad Keselowski: Will His Momentum Continue at the Brickyard?
         Brad Keselowski has been, arguably, one of the best drivers in the Cup Series over the last three weeks. He has won two races at Kentucky and New Hampshire with an okay finish at Daytona. In fact, he has been one of the hottest drivers since Dover on the first week of June. He has finished inside in the top 3 in every single race except for Daytona and Sonoma, which are both unpredictable tracks. That means Keselowski has been in championship form and he is certainly a contender for the title. I have one question for Keselowski. Will his momentum continue today at Indianapolis Motor Speedway? I think his momentum will continue today. The main reason is the fact that he has a fast Team Penske Ford Fusion again. I believe Keselowski's fast Fords in recent weeks have been the reason why he has been a contender for the win at every single race. He was fast in qualifying yesterday with a third place starting spot and his car has seemingly been fast in all practice sessions. Another reason is just how well he has been performing recently. Keselowski doesn't have stellar numbers at the Brickyard, but that hasn't meant anything in the past few weeks with how dominant he has been. Keselowski is definitely going to be a contender today and his momentum this season should continue this afternoon at Indianapolis.

5. My Pick to Win
         The Brickyard 400 has been home to the typical winners like Tony Stewart, Kevin Harvick, Jeff Gordon, and Jimmie Johnson, but it has also been home to some rather unexpected winners in the past few years. Look at Paul Menard, Jamie McMurray, and Ryan Newman in the past few years. All of those drivers did not come into the Brickyard as the favorite or as possible winners of the event, but they walked out of Indianapolis with a trophy and they were able to kiss the bricks. I have discussed this already in this edition, but strategy will be a key part of this four hundred mile race this afternoon. The last pit stop for all the drivers will end up deciding who wins the race in the end. Plus, it will possibly steal a win from a dominant driver for the entire event. I have a good many picks for today's race. Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson, Ryan Newman, Kasey Kahne, Jeff Gordon, Brad Keselowski, Matt Kenseth, and Tony Stewart are good picks for today's race at Indianapolis. Paul Menard, Brian Vickers, Jamie McMurray, and Juan Pablo Montoya, yes Montoya, are underdog picks that could win this afternoon's event. I am excited for this year's Brickyard 400 and I am ready to write about it. I hope some great moments occur and we see a good race. Well, that is all for me today and until we meet again.




Credits:
-Image:
http://static.nascar.com/content/dam/nascar/articles/2013/07/22/main/2002-Bill-Elliott-NASCAR-Brickyard-400-kissing-bricks-922x520.jpg/jcr:content/renditions/original

Heat Races Decide Main Event for Second Annual CarCash MudSummer Classic for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series

Heat Race #1
        Erik Jones started on the pole for the first heat race of the night. Jones was fastest in single truck qualifying, which handed him the pole for the first heat race. The race went green and Jones immediately jumped ahead of the field as the trucks started to fan out. Joe Cobb, who was looking to transfer based on position, spun out in turn 1 on the first lap, but he was able to continue on without a caution. Jones came back around to lead the first lap of the event with ease. Early in the going, Jody Knowles held the final transfer spot as a go-or-go homer driver, but J.R. Heffner was looking for the spot. On lap 5, J.R. Heffner passed Jody Knowles to take the last transfer spot for the moment. The laps continued to click away and Erik Jones crossed the checkered flag as the flag to flag winner. Ben Kennedy spun coming to the checkered, but he was locked into the field and he would move on to the feature. J.R. Heffner took the final transfer spot while Jody Knowles and Joe Cobb were forced to move to the last chance qualifier. After one heat race, the action was sure to pick up.

Finishing Order:
1st: Erik Jones*
2nd: Darrell Wallace Jr.*
3rd: Kyle Larson*
4th: J.R. Heffner*
5th: Jody Knowles
6th: Ben Kennedy*
7th: Joe Cobb
(*: Locked into the main event.)

Heat Race #2
Mason Mingus started on the pole for the second heat race of the night. The race went green and Mingus immediately looked to hold off the pack. As Jeb Burton battled Mingus for the lead, John Wes Townley and Cody Erickson went for a spin in turn 1 on lap 1. The two spun together and they quickly got back going, but both drivers were behind the field and they were hoping to take the final transfer spot. This put Michael Affarano in the final transfer spot with the two drivers battling with him way behind. Burton was able to lead the first lap after passing Mingus and he started to set sail. The laps clicked by in the event and neither Erickson or Townley could make it up to the final transfer spot. Burton led the race from flag to flag while Michael Affarano took the final transfer spot. John Wes Townley and Cody Erickson would have to head to the last chance qualifier. After two fantastic heat races, only three remained to decide the feature field.

Finishing Order:
1st: Jeb Burton*
2nd: Joey Coulter*
3rd: Mason Mingus*
4th: Gray Gaulding*
5th: Michael Affarano*
6th: John Wes Townley
7th: Cody Erickson
(*: Locked into the main event.)

Heat Race #3
Ron Hornaday Jr. started on the pole for the third heat race of the night. The race went green and Hornaday jumped out ahead of the field as the trucks fanned out behind him. On lap 2, Ty Dillon quickly passed Michael Annett to take the final transfer spot as Dillon looked to run away with the spot. R on Hornaday Jr. remained the leader ahead of the pack and he looked fast on track. The ten laps of the event clicked by quickly and Hornaday took the checkered flag as the winner and leader of every single lap. Ty Dillon took the final transfer spot while Michael Annett and Jennifer Jo Cobb were forced to move to the last chance qualifier. Only two heat races remained as the field for the last chance qualifier began to shape up.

Finishing Order:
1st: Ron Hornaday Jr.*
2nd: Tyler Reddick*
3rd: Ty Dillon*
4th: John Hunter Nemechek*
5th: Michael Annett
6th: Chase Pistone*
7th: Jennifer Jo Cobb
(*: Locked into the main event.)

Heat Race #4
Matt Crafton started on the pole for the fourth heat race of the night. Jared Landers, who needed to transfer to the feature through the heat race, did not start the event after a crash in single truck qualifying. The race went green and Crafton immediately jumped ahead of the field. Austin Dillon stayed in the final transfer spot on the start and he looked to hold it. Crafton led the early part of the race, but Ryan Blaney made his way past him on lap 5. Blaney began to cruise and he looked like his father, Dave Blaney, on the track. Blaney crossed the line for the checkered and the win after a ten lap battle. Austin Dillon took the final transfer spot while Norm Benning and Jared Landers, if he could race, would moved onto the last chance qualifier. After four heat races, only one remained along with a last chance qualifier. 

Finishing Order:
1st: Ryan Blaney*
2nd: Matt Crafton*
3rd: Timothy Peters*
4th: Austin Dillon*
5th: Norm Benning
6th: German Quiroga*
7th: Jared Landers#
(#: Landers did not run the heat race and he would not run the last chance qualifier due to a crash in single truck qualifying.)
(*: Locked into the main event.)

Heat Race #5
Ken Schrader started on the pole for the final heat race of the night before the last chance qualifier and then before the feature. Schrader led the first lap as the field fanned out behind him. Schrader was the in the final transfer spot while Tyler Young looked to chase him down for the spot. The field was running hard as the laps clicked away. After running green early, the first caution of the short race waved on lap 5. Korbin Forrister went for a spin in turn 4. His truck stayed off the wall, but he stopped on track. NASCAR waved the caution and Forrister was able to get back going. This forced the field to line up once again as they looked to complete the event. Schrader was on point, but Sauter was in the preferred groove on the inside. The race went back green and Sauter used that inside groove to take the lead ahead of Schrader. Tyler Young looked to pass Schrader, but the two would start to battle. Johnny Sauter crossed the line for the checkered flag after leading the second half of the race while Ken Schrader moved on with the final transfer spot. Tyler Young moved on to the last chance qualifier to make the feature. After five heat races, a last chance qualifier would decide the rest of the feature field. 

Cautions:
1st Caution: Lap 5- Korbin Forrister went for a spin in turn 4, but he was able to get back going.

Finishing Order:
1st: Johnny Sauter*
2nd: Ken Schrader*
3rd: Tyler Young
4th: T.J. Bell*
5th: Bryan Silas*
6th: Korbin Forrister*

Last Chance Qualifier:
Jody Knowles started on the pole. He barely missed the feature in the first heat race, but he would be in a good spot to start the last chance qualifier. The race went green and John Wes Townley quickly passed Knowles for the lead as the field looked to move on to the feature. On lap 4 of the 15 lap event, Michael Annett moved into the final transfer spot with Cody Erickson on the outside looking in. Just as Annett moved into the spot, the first caution of the short race waved on lap 6. Joe Cobb went for a spin in turn 4. He came to a stop while NASCAR waved the caution. He quickly got back going after the caution. The caution laps did not count and the field was quickly lined up. The race went green quickly and Jody Knowles took the lead from John Wes Townley. Just as the race went back green, the second caution waved on lap 7. Tyler Young went for a spin in turn 2. His truck spun and drifted up the track. He clipped Michael Annett and Annett hit the wall, but continued on. Young was able to get going with only slight damage to his truck. The field was quickly lined up again with the feature spots still on the line. The race went back green and John Wes Townley took the lead back from Jody Knowles. The field looked to be racing hard on the restart and the hard racing brought out the third caution on lap 9. Joe Cobb went for a spin in turn 4 underneath Jennifer Jo Cobb, his daughter. He came to a stop on track, but he was able to get back going after the caution waved. The field was lined up once again with Michael Annett still holding the final transfer spot. The field was lined back up and the race went green again. John Wes Townley held onto the lead after the restart and he looked to run away. The laps began to click away and the battle for the final transfer spot was raging behind Townley.  With two laps to go, Cody Erickson was on the outside hoping to make the race, but his race changed with the fourth caution on lap 14. Erickson went for a spin in turn 2. His truck stayed out of the wall and he was able to get back going after the caution waved. This left him only two laps to pass Michael Annett to take the final transfer spot. The field was lined up for one final time in the last chance qualifier. The race went green and John Wes Townley jumped out ahead of the field as Cody Erickson began to battle Annett. Shortly after the restart, the field was back around for the white flag. Erickson made a move to pass Annett in turns 1 and 2, but he couldn't. He gave it a last ditch effort heading to the checkered flag, but Annett held him off to take the final transfer spot as Townley won the last chance qualifier. Tyler Young, Jody Knowles, Norm Benning, and Annett moved on while Erickson, Jennifer Jo Cobb, Joe Cobb, and Jared Landers missed the event. Now, after battles to make the field and line up starting spots, the race was ready to begin.

Cautions:
1st Caution: Lap 6- Joe Cobb went for a spin in turn 4 and stopped on track.

2nd Caution: Lap 7- Tyler Young went for a spin in turn 2 and Michael Annett clipped him while he spun, but both would continue on in the event. 

3rd Caution: Lap 9- Joe Cobb went for a spin in turn 4 and stopped on the track.

4th Caution: Lap 14- Cody Erickson went for a spin in turn 2, but he continued on in the event.

Finishing Order:
1st: John Wes Townley*
2nd: Tyler Young*
3rd: Jody Knowles*
4th: Norm Benning*
5th: Michael Annett*
6th: Cody Erickson
7th: Jennifer Jo Cobb
8th: Joe Cobb
9th: Jared Landers
(*: Made the feature event.)

DNQs: Cody Erickson, Jennifer Jo Cobb, Joe Cobb, and Jared Landers






Credits:
-My Own Notes
-Statistics:
http://www.nascar.com/en_us/news-media/articles/2014/7/23/eldora-qualifying-heat-races-results-truck-series.html
http://racing-reference.info/
-Image:
http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/84abe3ed6dfb877b63f0c3d467eb034c995b08ba/c=1464-778-3570-2363&r=x404&c=534x401/local/-/media/USATODAY/test/2013/10/25/1382728512000-10-25-13-eldora-trucks.jpg

Brian Scott Leads the Charge of Chevrolet Drivers As He Takes the NASCAR Nationwide Series Pole at Chicagoland

        With a time of 30.370 seconds (177.807 mph), Brian Scott grabbed his second NASCAR Nationwide Series pole of 2014 with a blazing fast speed. Scott, and his Richard Childress Racing teammates, were fast for the first two rounds, but a key final round would decide the polesitter. Erik Jones was the early provisional polesitter in the final round with a fast lap, but Scott quickly jumped ahead of him early in the round. The rest of the field looked to beat the RCR driver, but he remained at the top and took his second career NASCAR Nationwide Series pole at Chicagoland. Scott has picked up the pace and run well this year, but a first win has eluded him thus far. Listen to this statistic, though. In his three previous pole races in the series, Scott has finished inside the top five in all of them. Tonight could be Scott's night to win with only two Sprint Cup drivers in the field. Behind him, three of the four other drivers in the top five are behind the wheel of Chevrolets. Ty Dillon, Scott's teammate, was fastest in the first round, but he settled with a second place starting spot in the final round. Chase Elliott ran fast for the entire session and took a third place finish in his first trip to Chicagoland. Erik Jones was the only non-Chevrolet driver in the top five with his fast Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota starting fourth. Kasey Kahne is the highest starting Cup driver with a fifth place starting spot as he looks to win a second race on the year in the series. The rest of the field behind them is filled with a mix of Toyota drivers, Chevrolet drivers, Ford drivers, and a few sparse Dodge drivers. The first session of knockout qualifying at Chicagoland for the Nationwide Series was a very flying fast session. Drivers were battling hard and the four drivers competing in the Nationwide Dash 4 Cash (Brian Scott, Chris Buescher, Regan Smith, and Elliott Sadler) were looking to out do each other. Tonight, Brian Scott will start the highest of those four. All in all, this session could decide who will take the trophy in tonight's event.

        Ty Dillon was the first driver on track to start the twenty five minute first round. He ran a blistering fast lap to start the round as he jumped to the top of the board. Drivers began to file onto the speedway, but Dillon's lap remained the fastest of the bunch as some drivers were holding back in the first round. Dillon continued to hold station on point as the minutes throughout the event began to click away. About eight minutes into the round, Brendan Gaughan had a little trouble. His car carried up the track exiting turn 4 and he slightly grazed the outside wall. He made it to pit road, but he didn't have too much damage. The team decided to fix the damage a little bit on pit road and start at the back of the field in the event, but Gaughan would continue on in the session. The caution did not wave on the session and it would continue on. With about ten minutes to go, most of the field looked to be in the positions they were in as the top twenty four began to take shape quickly. Drivers still filed onto the track, but the battle to make the top twenty four wouldn't start heating up for a few more minutes. With two minutes left, the battle for the final transfer spot started to heat up. Chad Boat, Eric McClure, David Starr, John Wes Townley, and others looked to move on to the second round. After a shuffle towards the back part of the top twenty four in the final minute, J.J. Yeley took the final transfer spot and Ty Dillon remained the fastest in the round. Chase Elliott, Kasey Kahne, Sam Hornish Jr., Brian Scott, Regan Smith, Elliott Sadler, Ryan Blaney, and others moved on while Eric McClure, David Starr, and others missed the second round. After a rather calm first round, the next two rounds would decide the eventual polesitter. 

         Kyle Larson was the first driver on track for the start of the ten minute second round. He ran a decent lap to start the round as he looked to make the third and final round. Quickly, Brian Scott jumped to the top of the board with a blazing fast lap. The rest of the field ventured onto the speedway, but Scott was way faster than the rest of his competitors. The minutes began to click down in the session as the drivers outside the top twelve looked to battle for the final transfer spot. With about two minutes left, this battle for the twelfth and final transfer spot would heat up. Regan Smith, Ryan Reed, Chris Buescher, and Kasey Kahne were looking to grab the spot with Kahne holding it. Most of these drivers went on track, but as the red and black flag waved over Chicago, Kahne was still holding the twelfth and final transfer spot. Brian Scott remained the fastest at the top of the board. Ty Dillon, Erik Jones, Ryan Blaney, Sam Hornish Jr., Cale Conley, Brendan Gaughan, Trevor Bayne, Kyle Larson, Elliott Sadler, and Chase Elliott  also moved on while Regan Smith, Chris Buescher, Ryan Reed, and others missed the final round. A five minute fight for the pole would decide a pole winner and help a race winner start close to the front.

        Erik Jones was the first driver on track for the five minute final round. He ran the fastest lap of the session and it looked like Jones would be on the verge of his first pole in his first start in the Nationwide Series. A few drivers followed him onto the track, but they fell short. Just a second later, Brian Scott jumped to the provisional pole with a blazing fast lap. A couple drivers came close to his time, but he looked to be untouchable with only a minute and a half remaining. The track stood silent, but it looked like a few drivers were looking to run a lap. Sam Hornish Jr. went out with about thirty seconds remaining, but he didn't make it as the red and black flag waved. Brian Scott was on top of the board and he would take the pole the event. It was Scott's fourth career NASCAR Nationwide Series pole as he will look to win his first race in the series with a great starting spot.

         Early on in his career, Brian Scott looked like a decent driver, but he didn't look like a top notch driver in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Since the start of last year in the Nationwide Series, when Scott joined Richard Childress Racing, he has looked like a completely different driver. He is a factor in every single race, he is fast in practice, he qualifies near the front, he runs well in the race, and he has been close to winning a couple of events. He already has three top fives this year along with eight top tens and a fifth place spot in the standings, but there is still one thing missing for Scott: a much needed win. He starts from the pole tonight and a win could be in the plans for this young driver tonight. One single win could push him towards the top of the standings and give him a boost as he searches for more wins. The rest of the field will look to keep him from that win. Ty Dillon was blazing fast in the session and he will start second as he looks to win his first career Nationwide Series race. Chase Elliott already has two Nationwide wins, but a third place starting spot could hand him another and move him up slightly in the points. Erik Jones is making his first start in the Nationwide Series, but a fourth place starting spot could give him his first win as well. Kasey Kahne is definitely the most experienced driver in this top five and a fifth place starting spot could hand him another win in the series. The rest of the Nationwide field follows behind this stacked top five and they will look to win in a stand alone event at Chicago. There are many guys who can take the win tonight, but they will have to battle hard to do so and it will be a battle worth watching from start to finish. Will Brian Scott take this pole to his first win, will Ty Dillon win his first Nationwide Series race, will Regan Smith be the highest finishing Dash 4 Cash driver again, or will another driver head to victory lane? We only have to wait a couple hours to find out all these answers and a whole lot more.
(More Stats Down Below!)




Top 5 Qualifiers (With Times):
1st: Brian Scott     30.370 (177.807 mph)
2nd: Ty Dillon     30.398 (177.643 mph)
3rd: Chase Elliott     30.443 (177.381 mph)
4th: Erik Jones     30.453 (177.322 mph)
5th: Kasey Kahne     30.485 (177.136 mph)

Notables Not in Top 5 (With Times):
6th: Sam Hornish Jr.     30.493 (177.090 mph)
7th: Elliott Sadler    30.503 (177.032 mph)
8th: Ryan Blaney    30.550 (176.759 mph)
11th: Trevor Bayne     30.637 (176.257 mph)
12th: Kyle Larson     30.647 (176.200 mph)
15th: Regan Smith     31.030 (174.025 mph)

DNQs: None





Credits:
-My Own Notes
-Statistics:
http://www.nascar.com/en_us/nationwide-series/leaderboard/leaderboard-qualification.html
http://racing-reference.info/getqualify/2014-18/B
-Image:
https://twitter.com/NASCAR/status/490612682098098178/photo/1

My Thoughts: 2014 New Hampshire

         When New Hampshire received a NASCAR Cup Series date in 1993, the track instantly became a favorite for drivers and fans alike. “The Magic Mile”, as it is called, is just that. It is a flat mile track located in New England and it is bad fast. Drivers hit one hundred and fifty miles an hour heading into each of the corners and that is fast considering the track has almost no banking in the turns. It has been a scary track in the past for some drivers. In 2000, Adam Petty and Kenny Irwin Jr. both passed away in practice crashes at New Hampshire. Since then, the track has changed a good bit and the drivers have loved the changes. In fact, New Hampshire has held some great races in the past few years. We don't have to venture far to look at last year's race. In the end, the race turned out to be filled with strategy. Drivers were on all different types of fuel strategies and Brian Vickers, who was running a part time schedule, was out front in his Michael Waltrip Racing ride. While drivers ran out of fuel around him, Vickers stayed in the lead and he was able to win the race as a surprise winner. Along with that, drivers have been known to win their first career race at New Hampshire. In 2009, Joey Logano took the lead after a pit stop move and rain began to pour around the track. The race was past halfway and the race was called with Logano still holding onto the lead. The rain handed Logano his first career win and since then, he has won a few more races through the years. It is safe to say that New Hampshire is a track home to a good many moments and it will continue to be for years to come. With that introduction, I have a few topics I want to discuss with you guys before today's race. The topics include  a discussion of a brand new alliance, a discussion of Jeff Burton, a New Hampshire Chase race discussion, a discussion of winless drivers this year and their success at New Hampshire, and, of course, my pick to win this afternoon's event. Well, let us go ahead and jump into these topics for this afternoon's race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

1. Race Team Alliance Formed in NASCAR: What Does This Mean For the Sport?
         A big piece of news came out during the week for NASCAR. Rob Kauffman, co-owner of Michael Waltrip Racing, announced that his team and eight other NASCAR teams had formed a Race Team Alliance as it is called. The other teams involved in the alliance along with Michael Waltrip Racing are Chip Ganassi Racing, Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing, Richard Childress Racing, Richard Petty Motorsports, Roush-Fenway Racing, Stewart-Haas Racing, and Team Penske. To give this alliance a definition, I will try to give it a simple one. Basically, the purpose of this alliance to ensure that all decisions for the sport are made the right way and this alliance will attempt to promote the sport through marketing and other commercial ideas. NASCAR has downplayed the importance of this alliance for the whole week, in my opinion. With all that in mind, I have just one question about this brand new alliance. What does this mean for the sport heading forward? I think this alliance will have an impact on the sport in the next few years. The main reason is the high caliber of teams involved in this alliance. Basically, these nine teams are the best of the best in NASCAR racing today. With this sort of connection together, they will surely have close to the same ideas on issues and that could lead to all the teams voting the same on issues. Plus, each of these teams can easily promote new sponsors and marketing around NASCAR for years and years to come. Still, though, this alliance could become old news in the next few years. Kauffman needs to keep this alliance together and he needs to ensure each team stays on top of marketing and ideas. All in all, I like the promise of this alliance, but I don't want it to change the sport too much.

2. Jeff Burton: Could This Be His Last Race?
         Jeff Burton has been a mainstay in NASCAR for a little over twenty years now. He has moved from Roush Racing in his early years to Richard Childress Racing as recent as last year. This year, though, things have changed for Burton. He signed a limited schedule with Michael Waltrip Racing for 2014 and he decided to head to the NBC Sports booth when NASCAR coverage moves part time to NBC next year. Burton has raced one race this year and his final race scheduled for this year is today's New Hampshire event. I have one question for Burton. Could this very well be his last NASCAR race? I truly feel like this will be his final event. The main reason is just the close proximity of his new gig as a broadcaster for NBC next year. Making this move to broadcasting will mean that Burton, basically, wants to move in a new direction in NASCAR. I don't see him driving and being a broadcaster next season. Plus, he doesn't have any more races scheduled for this year and I don't see him gaining another one. Still, though, this isn't a bad race or track for Burton to make his final start. Burton made his first career NASCAR start at New Hampshire in 1993 when the track first became a Cup track. Since then, Burton has been a pretty good driver at New Hampshire. He won four races at New Hampshire from 1997 to 2000 including leading all three hundred laps at the fall event in 2000. I feel like Burton's final race might be today, but it wouldn't be a bad track for him to make his final NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start.

3. Will This Race at New Hampshire Prepare the Chase Drivers For This Chase Race in September?
         New Hampshire is not only a track that is key for heading towards the Chase in the summer, but it is a key track during the Chase. It is the second race of the Chase and it has been a key track for drivers looking to win a championship. Last year, Matt Kenseth won the first two races of the Chase at Chicagoland and New Hampshire. The win at New Hampshire was key for Kenseth and it gave him the push for the rest of the Chase, but he fell short of the title. In 2011, Tony Stewart won five races in the Chase including New Hampshire and he was able to take the championship in a close battle with Carl Edwards. It is safe to say New Hampshire is a key track in the Chase and I have one question surrounding it. Will this race today prepare the Chase drivers for September's Chase race at the track? I really think it will. The main difference between these two races is the weather at the track. In the summer, the track is pretty hot while in the early part of fall, the track isn't hot, but a rather stable temperature to race in. That means track conditions will be a bit different, but that will be the only real difference between the two. I feel like the drivers who are good in today's race will be the same drivers who are good at New Hampshire in September. This was the case last year and I feel like it will be the same case in just a couple of months. Still, though, the drivers are going to have to battle hard. New Hampshire isn't a simple track and it could help decide the championship when the series heads to Homestead in November.

4. Which Previous Winner at New Hampshire Has the Best Chance to Win His First Race of the Year?
         Along with that discussion of how this race at New Hampshire will help Chase drivers come September, is the discussion of a few winless drivers this year who have good track records at New Hampshire. In fact, there are several drivers this year who haven't won a race, but have went to victory lane when they went to New Hampshire. That list includes drivers like Tony Stewart, Kasey Kahne, Brian Vickers, Matt Kenseth, and Ryan Newman to name a few of the contenders. Concerning these five drivers today, I have a single question. Which of these drivers has the best chance to head to victory lane at New Hampshire and grab their first win of the year? I, honestly, feel like Tony Stewart has the best chance out of these drivers to win this race. Stewart hasn't been himself this year with returning from his broken leg and starting the year with a new crew chief, but we have passed the halfway point of the season. That means Stewart can forget all about what has happened thus far this year and go out and win a race. Once he does that, his Chase spot would be safe even without worrying about his finishes already this year. I feel like most of these drivers will win before the Chase starts, but I feel like Tony Stewart has the best chance of these five to head to victory lane at New Hampshire.

5. My Pick to Win
         I have discussed a lot today about winning races, but as we move down the stretch, that will be the biggest thing on the minds of all the drivers. Winning could decide who wins the championship and who doesn't in the end. Today's race at New Hampshire will be key not just because a winless driver could win just a few races before the Chase, but because New Hampshire is a key track in the Chase. One thing to look at that could decide a winner today is this: fuel mileage. It never seems to fail that New Hampshire races end up being decided by fuel mileage. The driver who plays the strategy the best in the race will be able to take the victory in the event. I have several picks for today's race and they all will have a chance for the victory. Good picks for today's race include Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski, Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Denny Hamlin, Tony Stewart, and Jamie McMurray. Also, consider Ryan Newman, Kyle Larson, Matt Kenseth, Brian Vickers, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. as possible winners of the race. Today's event should be a good battle to watch and I am excited to watch it and write about it. I hope it turns out great and we see a few great battles along the way. Well, that is all for me and until we meet again.





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Kyle Busch Destroys the Track Record While Taking the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Pole at New Hampshire

        With a time of 27.574 seconds (138.130 mph), Kyle Busch was able to destroy the track record at New Hampshire and take his second NASCAR Sprint Cup Series pole of 2014. Like usual in the new NASCAR qualifying system, the final round was filled with a waiting game near the end. Only four drivers out of the twelve had went out before the final three and a half minutes, but the action began to pick up. Jimmie Johnson beat the track record and jumped ahead of Tony Stewart, but Busch had not completed a lap yet. He did a minute later and he blistered Johnson's track record time by near a tenth and he took the provisional pole. Busch outlasted the rest of the drivers who attempted runs and he was able to take the pole in style over the field. It was Busch's fifteenth career pole in the series and only his second at New Hampshire. This pole will put Busch in a good position to start tomorrow's race and he will certainly be a threat to the field. Jimmie Johnson came within a tenth of having the pole and a track record to his name, but he was forced to settle with a second place starting spot at New Hampshire. Denny Hamlin ran fast like his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate in Busch and he took a third place starting spot. Tony Stewart proved the summer is his time to heat up with a fourth place starting spot at New Hampshire. Jamie McMurray has been fast the entire weekend and he took a fifth place starting spot for his Chip Ganassi Racing team. The rest of the field followed behind with a few surprises deep in the field. Greg Biffle and Dale Earnhardt Jr. will have to battle from starting spots outside the top twenty five while Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski, the two Team Penske drivers, just have to battle from outside the top five. The first knockout qualifying session at New Hampshire for the Cup Series was a rather calm session, but one that will decide the winner come tomorrow afternoon.

        Brian Vickers was the first driver on track to start the thirty minute first round. Vickers, who won last summer's race at New Hampshire, ran a decent lap to start the round. Early on, though, his Toyota teammate, Denny Hamlin, jumped to the top of the board. Just a few seconds later, Brad Keselowski jumped to the top of the board. Hamlin, who was running his second lap when Keselowski took the top spot, jumped back to the top of the board after completing his second lap. The rest of the field began to head on track in the next few minutes, but Hamlin still stood on top after outlasting these runs. With about ten minutes left, though, the battle for the twelfth and final transfer spot would be the story of the round. Jeff Gordon, Matt Kenseth, Joey Logano, Brian Vickers, Kurt Busch, and others looked to move on to the second and final round. Gordon and Logano moved into the next round in the next few minutes, but the battle was still raging as time closed within a minute left on the clock. A few drivers looked to steal the final spot from Kasey Kahne, but they fell short as the red and black flag waved. Kahne remained the driver in the final transfer spot while Denny Hamlin remained the fastest driver in the session. Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski, Jimmie Johnson, Martin Truex Jr., Jamie McMurray, Clint Bowyer, Kyle Busch, Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick, and Tony Stewart moved on while Dale Earnhardt Jr., Greg Biffle, Kyle Larson, Ryan Newman, and others missed the final round. After a long thirty minutes, the field would have ten minutes to decide a pole winner.

         Joey Logano was the first driver on track for the ten minute second and final round. He ran a decent lap to start the round as a few other drivers went on track. Early on, Tony Stewart jumped to the top of the board. After two minutes, only four drivers had went on track and it looked like that would be the case for a few minutes. Drivers were starting to line up on pit road, hoping for a cloud over the speedway to run a fast lap. With about five minutes left, the drivers were still lined up and waiting for the cloud. With three and a half minutes remaining, the charge onto the track began. Drivers began to file onto the speedway as Jimmie Johnson took the provisional pole with a track record speed and with only three minutes left. Just a minute later, Kyle Busch went out and blistered Johnson's time to lay down a track record speed of his own. Busch would look to hold onto the pole with two minutes remaining. The field tried to beat him, but Busch remained the fastest man in New Hampshire and he took the pole with a track record speed. Busch was fast in qualifying, but he will have to run fast during the race as well. 

        Kyle Busch has looked a little off in the last six weeks since a top ten at Charlotte. He has only one top five in those six races and he has finished outside the top forty twice in only six races. Plus, he has dropped from as high as third in points all the way down to eleventh after the race at Sonoma three weeks ago. This weekend at New Hampshire seems a little different for Busch. He already has a pole for the Cup Series in his pocket and he finished a solid second in the Nationwide Series race earlier this afternoon. If he can put everything together on Sunday, he could be looking at his second win of the season in the series, but listen to this. In eighteen races this year, only three of them have been won from the pole. If Busch is to win from the pole, he will have to battle hard with the field to do so. Jimmie Johnson will look to keep Busch out of victory lane as Johnson looks for his fourth win of the season with a second place starting spot. Denny Hamlin has a lone win at Talladega this year and a third place starting spot at New Hampshire could give him a second one. Tony Stewart desperately needs a win and a fourth place starting spot on The Magic Mile could put him closer to that win. Jamie McMurray surprised everybody with an All-Star win this year, but he needs a points paying win for a Chase spot and a fifth place spot on the grid will help him with that. As the season has passed halfway, the key point now has become winning races. Drivers are searching for wins and they will start to look for them every single week. Tomorrow's race at New Hampshire will be no different and we could see a winless driver win this year. In fact, Tony Stewart, Matt Kenseth, Kasey Kahne, Brian Vickers, and others need wins this year and they have all won a race at New Hampshire before. They should be threats tomorrow for the win in the event. It should be a great race and there are many things that could happen. Will Brian Vickers repeat after his surprise win at New Hampshire last year, will Matt Kenseth win at the track where he won for the first time last year in the Chase, or will another driver stand on top in victory lane? We only have to wait until tomorrow to find this out and a whole lot more. 
(More Stats Down Below!)





Top 5 Qualifiers (With Times):
1st: Kyle Busch      27.574 (138.130 mph)
2nd: Jimmie Johnson     27.642 (137.790 mph)
3rd: Denny Hamlin     27.785 (137.081 mph)
4th: Tony Stewart      27.786 (137.076 mph)
5th: Jamie McMurray      27.798 (137.017 mph)

Notables Not in Top 5 (With Times):
6th: Joey Logano     27.839 (136.815 mph)
7th: Brad Keselowski      27.841 (136.805 mph)
10th: Kasey Kahne      27.970 (136.174 mph)
11th: Jeff Gordon      27.994 (136.058 mph)
12th: Kevin Harvick     28.024 (135.912 mph)
15th: Matt Kenseth      27.953 (136.257 mph)*
18th: Kurt Busch      27.968 (136.184 mph)*
28th: Dale Earnhardt Jr.     28.168 (135.217 mph)
(*: Kenseth and Harvick were fast enough to be in the top twelve, but they missed the second and final round.)

DNQs: None





Credits:
-My Own Notes
-Statistics:
http://www.nascar.com/en_us/sprint-cup-series/leaderboard/leaderboard-qualification.html
http://racing-reference.info/getqualify/2014-19/W
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My Thoughts: 2014 Daytona #2

         When the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series was at Daytona in February, the situation was different compared to tonight. It was the annual Daytona 500 for the Cup drivers and it was the first race of the 2014 season. Each driver was filled with hope and promise for the upcoming season and each driver wanted to get 2014 started off with a bang. Sixteen races after the Daytona 500, mindsets have changed. Ten drivers have already qualified for the Chase and only a few drivers seem to be on the verge of making the Chase as well. After tonight's race, the season will be halfway and only eight races will remain before we decide the sixteen drivers who will be battling for the championship in the final ten race Chase. Tonight's race is the final wild card before the Chase. A driver can come out of nowhere, win tonight, and be in the Chase after the Richmond race. It could be any number of drivers, but also consider some of the drivers who haven't won yet this year and want to race into the Chase. Drivers like Tony Stewart, Matt Kenseth, Kasey Kahne, Greg Biffle, and Jamie McMurray have shown their abilities on restrictor plate tracks before and they will all be looking for their first win of 2014 and a Chase spot. But don't count out the underdogs. Drivers like David Ragan, David Gilliland, Landon Cassill, Reed Sorenson, and others could come out of nowhere to win the race. Plus, some drivers like Aric Almirola, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Danica Patrick, and Austin Dillon aren't underdogs, but they could steal an upset win. Tonight's race at Daytona is going to be unpredictable and that is just how we like it. With that introduction, I have a few topics to discuss with you guys. Topics include a discussion of victory lane injuries, a discussion of Tony Stewart, a discussion of Dale Earnhardt Jr., a discussion of those underdog drivers, and, of course, my pick to win the race. Well, let us jump into these topics as we prepare for a fireworks show at Daytona.

1. Brad Keselowski Injures Hand in Victory Lane at Kentucky: Should NASCAR and the Teams Be Concerned?
        Last Saturday night, Brad Keselowski utterly dominated the event at Kentucky. He pulled into victory lane for the typical celebration and it would turn out to be a bizarre celebration by the end of the night. As Keselowski and his team were going to shoot champagne around victory lane, Keselowski cut his hand wide open a bottle. He began to bleed and he ran towards the infield care center. He received four stitches and his hand was taped, but the stitches were removed in Daytona earlier on Friday. It was a scary situation and one that I want to talk about here. Here is my question. Should NASCAR and the teams be concerned about victory lane celebrations? I would say they should be pretty concerned. Let me say this before I begin. I believe every driver should be able to celebrate in victory lane after winning and they deserve to celebrate a win, but there needs to be some concern every time. I mean, I don't remember somebody ever getting hurt while celebrating a race win. I'm sure it has happened, but I don't remember it. That means, to me, that NASCAR and all the teams in victory lane should be very cautious. The situation at Kentucky didn't turn out too bad, but it could have. Keselowski could have injured himself bad enough to need surgery or need work done to his hand. That would have not been good for Team Penske and Keselowski in hopes of winning a championship. Still, it is a very rare thing. I don't think that will happen again for a while, but we need some more concern in victory lane and I hope NASCAR looks into this.

2. Tony Stewart: Does He Reach Victory Lane at One of His Favorite Tracks?
        Before I begin this topic, I want to give you guys some very compelling statistics. Stewart has won four of the last nine summer races at Daytona with two back-to-back wins in 2005 and 2006. Stewart has won seven races at Daytona in the Nationwide Series including four straight from 2008 to 2011. I can continue going, but it seems like these statistics speak for themselves and there is one single main idea: Tony Stewart is great at Daytona when it isn't the Daytona 500. He has never won the Daytona 500, but he has won in just about everything else. Stewart hasn't won yet this year, but here is my question as he looks for that first win. Will he reach victory lane at one of his favorite tracks? Of course, he has a chance like anybody, but he has a way better shot than most of the drivers. The main reason is the fact that Stewart is a good driver in the draft and he has good teammates in the field. Tony Stewart's wins at Daytona speak for themselves. He knows the draft well and he is a good driver to have near you during any part of a restrictor plate race. Plus, he has three teammates in Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch, and Danica Patrick who are pretty good racers at the restrictor plate tracks. He can help them in the race and they can help him take the win. The final reason is the summer stretch we are in. I have mentioned this before, but the summer time is when Tony Stewart starts to click off wins and good finishes. Today's race will be no different and he will be a contender for probably the entire event. Hopefully, Tony Stewart runs well and he is able to move into the Chase.

3. Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Can He Sweep at Daytona in 2014?
        One of the major stories heading into this weekend's race was about Dale Earnhardt Jr. possibly sweeping the two races at Daytona in 2014. If you recall, Earnhardt outlasted a rain delay during the day and he was able to go out and win the race during the night in the Daytona 500. He battled hard all night and he deserved to win the race in the end. Since then, Earnhardt has proven he is a contender this year with another win at Pocono just a couple weeks ago and he is sitting second in the points due to his consistency. I have just a single question for Earnhardt and his team heading into the race. Can he win and sweep at Daytona in 2014? I certainly think he can. The main reason is how confident he has been acting recently. Earnhardt has not finished outside the top ten since Charlotte in May and he has looked very fast every week. In fact, some weeks, he has looked almost unstoppable. At Pocono a couple weeks ago, Earnhardt looked great and he ended up taking the win. A final reason he can win the race is his ability in the draft. Earnhardt is another driver who can go out in the draft and almost see the air as he is flying around the track. He has always been a great driver on the superspeedways and Daytona is probably his favorite. Plus, he is starting seventh and he will definitely be an early factor with all of his teammates close to him. If you don't think Earnhardt can win this race at Daytona, check your predictions again because he will be a factor for sure.

4. Underdog Drivers: Who Has the Best Chance to Win the Race?
         I mentioned in the introduction about underdog drivers and how they will have a chance to win this race at Daytona. We always talk about how the draft is the ultimate equalizer and this will be the case for drivers who don't have as much money in the bank. Along with that, I want to give you guys a driver who I think is the underdog with the best chance to win the event. There are a good many to choose from like David Gilliland, David Ragan, Landon Cassill, Terry Labonte, Bobby Labonte, Josh Wise, Michael McDowell, Reed Sorenson, Michael Annett, and a good many others along with that. For the Aaron's 499 at Talladega, I picked Michael McDowell to have the best chance and he ran well, but wrecked during the event. Today, I thought about going with David Gilliland. He pushed teammate, David Ragan, to the win at Talladega last year and he is on the pole for this Daytona event, but I am going with a different driver. I am going with Landon Cassill as the underdog driver that I think can win the event. Why would I choose him? Well, listen to this. Cassill finished twelfth this year in the Daytona 500 and he finished a career best eleventh at Talladega in May. Cassill has been one of the least talked about underdogs in superspeedway races this year, but he has been legitimate at all those tracks this year and in the past few years. I would expect Cassill to be a factor all race long and he will certainly be there when the checkered flag is close to waving.

5. My Pick to Win
        Daytona is always known as a wild card and that has been the case many times in the past. Just look at the winners in 2011. Trevor Bayne came out of pretty much nowhere in 2011 to win the Daytona 500 just a day after his twentieth birthday. David Ragan, who was snubbed out of that Daytona 500 win after a penalty, used help from his teammate, Matt Kenseth, to win the 2011 Coke Zero 400 for the first time. Plus, the track holds some great finishes. Just think of the 2007 Daytona 500 where Kevin Harvick barely edged Mark Martin to win his first 500. It was an extremely close finish and one of the most memorable ones in recent memory. Also, in 2007, Jamie McMurray barely edged Kyle Busch at the line to win the summer race at Daytona. Let us summarize this. The finish in the annual Independence Day weekend race at Daytona will be great and it could hold an underdog winner after four hundred miles of Daytona racing. Now, I have to decide on a driver who will win the event. Like I usual do at restrictor plate races, I can't choose a winner because it is so tough to choose a guy to win the event. Everybody has a chance in this race and it will certainly be one of the best races of the season. Unfortunately, the race was rained out tonight and it will be moved to tomorrow morning. Depending on rain and other things, I don't know if I will be able to write about it or not. We will have to see, but it will definitely be a great race either way. I am excited for it and I am definitely not ready to wait for it. Well, that is all for me tonight and until we meet again.





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Dakoda Armstrong Wins His First Career NASCAR Nationwide Series Pole After Rain and a Crash at Daytona

         With a time of 46.845 seconds (192.123 mph), Dakoda Armstrong was able to win his first career NASCAR Nationwide Series pole after rain ended qualifying at Daytona for the series after only one round. With threats of rain in the minds of all crews before the start of the session, each team was planning to run fast in the first round. That was definitely the case as drivers began to file onto track and run fast laps in the first minutes of the first round. Armstrong jumped to the top of the board with help from his Ford teammates with about fifteen minutes remaining in the round. With about seven minutes left, rain began to pour on a segment of the backstretch and a group of cars had a huge wreck that brought the round to a halt. NASCAR called the first round and looked to continue the session, but rain began to pour all around the track. NASCAR called the session after a single round and Dakoda Armstrong grabbed the pole as he was fastest after the first round. Trevor Bayne helped his fellow Ford driver to the pole and he was able to grab a second place starting spot after finishing third at Daytona in February in the series. Chris Buescher missed the Daytona Nationwide race in February, but he qualified third for tonight's race at the historic track. Ryan Reed has been consistent all year and he took a fourth place starting spot at Daytona. Kyle Busch was up to his usual ways as he took a fifth place starting spot for tonight's event. The second chance for the NASCAR Nationwide Series to perform knockout qualifying at Daytona was an unforgettable session. The huge crash in the rain mentioned above took out a good many drivers and left most of the fans and drivers shocked after the wreck. Dakoda Armstrong's upset pole win will be a moment that will be remembered for the rest of the year. After a very interesting session of qualifying, these starting spots for the drivers could lead to a win for one lucky driver.

        Joey Logano was the first driver on track at the start of the first round. A good many drivers waited two and a half minutes before heading out when Logano led a group out. He ran a rather slow lap compared to his pack because he was leading the draft. A good many other groups went out and early on, Matt DiBenedetto, who was driving an underfunded Chevrolet, jumped to the top of the board. Just a minute later, Scott Lagasse Jr. jumped to the top of the board as the shuffling of groups began. Drivers were moving all around the leaderboard as they passed the finish line each lap around. A minute later, Regan Smith jumped to the top of the board after help from his JR Motorsports teammate, Chase Elliott. Just a lap later, Dakoda Armstrong flew to the top of the board with help from some of his other Ford teammates. As Armstrong moved to the top, the shuffle at the top of the board began to cease. The rest of the battles would be for the twenty fourth and final transfer spot to the next round. A good many drivers like Dylan Kwasniewski and David Ragan were on the outside and they were hoping to move their way in. A good many underdog drivers were also looking to make their way in. With about eight minutes left, those were the only drivers left on track. For those drivers, though, their session would take a turn for the worst. 

         As a group of drivers led by Mike Bliss started down the backstretch with eight minutes left, rain began to pour on track. Mike Bliss tried to pull off track as he hit the wet part of the track. He did, but his car began to spin due to the wet conditions. At the same time, Eric McClure and Robert Richardson Jr. began to spin. Drivers like Benny Gordon, Joe Nemechek, Matt DiBenedetto, Ross Chastain, Scott Lagasse Jr., and Blake Koch began to spin and pile into the wreck. Chastain had extremely heavy damage after hitting Bliss and Lagasse caught fire while leaving the scene. All the drivers had pretty heavy damage while the backstretch became soaked. NASCAR brought out the red flag immediately and they began to move the damaged cars. Drivers began to wait and NASCAR decided to end the first round since all drivers had run a lap during the round. This meant Tanner Berryhill took the final transfer spot while Dakoda Armstrong moved on as the fastest driver from the first round. Trevor Bayne, Kyle Busch, Elliott Sadler, Chase Elliott, Regan Smith, Darrell Wallace Jr., Joey Logano, Kasey Kahne, and others moved on while Dylan Kwasniewski, David Ragan, John Wes Townley, and others missed the next round. As the drivers were looking forward to the second round, rain quickly began to fall all around the track. The track was quickly covered in rain and NASCAR decided to call qualifying after a single round. This put Dakoda Armstrong on the pole for the first time in his very young career. Armstrong hasn't been up front too much this year, but he will be at the front tonight and hoping for a win.

         When Richard Petty and his team pegged Dakoda Armstrong to drive their car before the beginning of this season, some people were left scratching their heads. Not many people had heard of Armstrong, but he has done pretty well in NASCAR and ARCA for a couple of years. He ran well in a full season for Stacy Compton in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in 2013 and he ran a few races for Richard Childress Racing in the Nationwide Series. Now, he is in his first full year of Nationwide competition for Richard Petty and he is in the spotlight with his first pole in the series at a very historic race track. If he could win tonight, it would be a win for Armstrong on the thirtieth anniversary of his boss's two hundredth win in NASCAR's highest series. It would mean a lot for the entire team and it would be a great win to see. Trevor Bayne starts second tonight and he will look to win at Daytona for the first time in the Nationwide Series. Chris Buescher will look to take a second place run at Talladega in May to a win at Daytona tonight and he will start from the third spot. Ryan Reed will look to take his first NASCAR win with a fourth place starting spot for this race tonight. Kyle Busch already has three wins this year in the series and he will look to take a fifth place starting spot to his fourth win. The rest of the Nationwide field follows with some very good underdogs mixed into the running order. Daytona is always a wild card and tonight's race will definitely be filled with action, wrecks, and, possibly, an underdog winner after two hundred and fifty miles. There are many things that can happen and they will all happen for sure. Will Dakoda Armstrong take his first pole to his first win, will Chase Elliott manage to take his first restrictor plate win, will an underdog head to victory lane, or will another driver head to the historic victory lane at Daytona? We only have to wait a couple of hours to find this out and a whole lot more.
(More Stats Down Below!)





Top 5 Qualifiers (With Times):
1st: Dakoda Armstrong     46.845 (192.123 mph)
2nd: Trevor Bayne     46.886 (191.955 mph)
3rd: Chris Buescher     46.915 (191.836 mph)
4th: Ryan Reed     46.979 (191.575 mph)
5th: Kyle Busch     47.053 (191.274 mph)

Notables Not in Top 5 (With Times):
6th: Elliott Sadler     47.079 (191.168 mph)
7th: Chase Elliott     47.103 (191.071 mph)
8th: Regan Smith     47.115 (191.022 mph)    
10th: Kyle Larson      47.212 (190.630 mph)
11th: Joey Logano     47.261 (190.432 mph)
13th: Kasey Kahne     47.422 (189.785 mph)
16th: Ty Dillon     47.834 (188.151 mph)

DNQs:
41st: Benny Gordon      48.623 (185.098 mph)
42nd: Blake Koch     48.631 (185.067 mph)
43rd: Tommy Joe Martins     49.009 (183.640 mph)
44th: Matt DiBenedetto     49.172 (183.031 mph)
45th: Bobby Gerhart       49.242 (182.771 mph)





Credits:
-My Own Notes
-Statistics:
http://www.nascar.com/en_us/nationwide-series/leaderboard/leaderboard-qualification.html
http://racing-reference.info/getqualify/2014-16/B
-Image:
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdKjlWUJDDnL6jaBa_gbltn6ZIDSg30S326BMLN_UzsVUqZs-LLyosR5zaZJuhRnpCfHz4oO1tk0KwqhaBuwFaA8hwndch7b-N9a0k1uonxWB7dpp2f-0SiHgTAsBkQTykfbuhSmkSSvP3/s1600/Dakoda+Armstrong+1-11-14+NASCAR+via+Getty.jpg

Kyle Busch Wins His Sixth Straight NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race at Kentucky

          After leading ninety one of the one hundred and fifty laps in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Kentucky, Kyle Busch was able to take his sixth straight Truck win dating back to last season at Homestead. Busch was the dominant truck for the entire night, but a final restart with about ten laps to go would decide the winner of the event. Busch restarted with his teammate, Darrell Wallace  Jr., next to him and he managed to hold off Wallace and Ryan Blaney to take the win in pretty easy fashion. In only five truck starts this season, Busch has won every single start and won his final start of 2013 at Homestead. It seems like Busch is always on a constant roll and Kentucky was no different. It was his fortieth win in the Truck Series as well and he is within eleven victories of tying Ron Hornaday Jr.'s all time record of fifty one wins in the series. It seems within Busch's grasp and he has a chance to pass the number. Busch's teammate, Darrell Wallace Jr., ran well after his win at Gateway two weeks before and he took a second place finish. Ryan Blaney battled hard all night as well and he walked away with a third place finish. Timothy Peters stayed consistent all night and he was able to take a fourth place finish. Brad Keselowski had a pit road penalty after removing equipment form his box, but he was able to battle back to a fifth place finish in his attempt to win his first ever race in the series. The rest of the Truck Series racers followed behind this stacked top five. The annual race at Kentucky for the trucks was a race filled with strategy and unforgettable moments. Many drivers were able to play the right strategy call to take a good finish in the event. Brad Keselowski's pit road mistake turned out to be one of the most memorable moments of the race. Kyle Busch dominated the event and left his mark on the race. All in all, the Kentucky Truck race turned out to be a Kyle Busch dominated race, but one that could have taken a turn in the end.

         Kyle Busch started on the pole. It was his third NASCAR Camping World Truck Series pole in only his fifth start of the season in the series. The race went green and Busch jumped out to the lead after a quick battle with Darrell Wallace Jr. Wallace wouldn't back down, though, as he took the lead on lap 2 of the event. Just as he jumped out to the lead for the first time in the event, the first caution of the event waved on lap 2. Debris from Matt Crafton's truck was spotted on the track in turn 2. Crafton wouldn't need any repair because the debris was just a side skirt and he would only be affected by down force. John Wes Townley also made slight contact with the wall in turn 2 after breaking loose, but he continued on with slight damage. None of the drivers received the lucky dog. The debris was quickly cleaned up and the field was lined back up. The race went green again and Darrell Wallace Jr. managed to hold onto the lead. The race looked to move into a green flag run, but the second caution of the event quickly waved on lap 8. Bryan Silas broke loose exiting turn 4 underneath Mason Mingus. Silas's truck immediately began to slide and he slid into the frontstretch grass. He spun back towards the asphalt and came to a slight stop on the apron. Silas continued on without damage, but he would need fresh tires. Adam Edwards received the lucky dog. The caution brought a little bit of strategy for some of the field. Brad Keselowski and Austin Dillon, who started in the back, decided to come down pit road and get tires to gain on the leaders. It would be interesting to see how this move worked for these two drivers throughout the rest of the race.

         The race went back green and Darrell Wallace Jr. once again held onto the lead ahead of his boss, Kyle Busch. Wallace began to run away as the race entered the beginning of a long green flag run. It looked like he would be the leader throughout the run, but Kyle Busch's truck began to pick up speed. Busch began to charge up to Wallace a few laps into the run and he took the lead with ease on lap 36. Busch began to set a torrid pace as the first pit stops of the event began to close in. Busch had run away as the first green flag pit stops of the event began on lap 49. All the lead lap drivers quickly began to file down pit road with the exception of Brad Keselowski and Austin Dillon. Keselowski and Dillon stayed on track a few more laps because they had pitted during the second caution. They finally came down pit road around lap 56 and Kyle Busch inherited the lead. Busch held the lead until the third caution waved on lap 60. Debris was spotted on the track in turn 3. Austin Dillon, who had just pitted, received the lucky dog. Brad Keselowski had remained on the lead lap after his pit stop and both drivers were on the lead lap with similar strategy as the rest of the field. All the lead lap drivers remained on track and the field was lined back up after the debris was picked up. The race went green and Kyle Busch once again held onto the lead ahead of the field. Busch looked to run away as the field raced behind him. He was putting fast laps down every single lap and it looked like the race was in the middle of another long green flag run, but the fourth caution quickly waved on lap 76. 

         John Wes Townley broke loose in turn 4. His truck began to slide up the track and he tried to save it. He couldn't and backed into the outside wall hard. Townley drove away, but his back end was heavily damaged and he would need repairs. None of the drivers received the lucky dog because Townley was the first driver a lap down. Once again, strategy calls would be made during the pit stops under the caution. Brad Keselowski and Max Gresham decided to stay on track. Timothy Peters, Ryan Blaney, and others took two tires while Kyle Busch, Darrell Wallace Jr., and others took four tires. This left Keselowski out front for the first time in the event and Busch ended up in the back part of the top ten for the first time. It would be interesting to see how each driver handled a different situation. The race went green and Keselowski was able to hold onto the lead even with older tires. The drivers who took two and four tires looked to pass him, but Keselowski looked faster than all of them. He was putting down blistering laps out front, but Kyle Busch began to close. Busch was slicing through the pack and he was in second in about ten or fifteen laps after the restart. Busch began to move towards passing his foe at the front and within a few laps of taking second, he was on Keselowski's back bumper. Busch made quick work of the 2012 Cup champion and he took the lead on lap 96. Just as Busch began to move into a rhythm out front, the fifth caution of the event waved on lap 98. 

         Jeb Burton broke loose in turn 3. His truck began to slide and he almost saved it, but he broke loose. His truck pointed towards the outside wall and he pounded it hard. Burton drove away, but he had heavy damage to his truck. Joe Nemechek received the lucky dog. The caution brought what could be the final stops for the leaders if another caution didn't wave and the pit stops brought a little strategy.  Kyle Busch and a few of the other lead lap drivers took fuel only while Brad Keselowski and others took two tires under their stops. For Brad Keselowski, his race would take a turn. As his team changed two tires, one of the crew members added an adjustment to his truck on the decklid. The wrench became stuck as Keselowski went to leave and the crew member couldn't pull it out. Keselowski left pit road with the wrench still in his truck and he received a penalty for removing equipment from the box. This put him at the back of the lead lap with only fifty laps left to go. Keselowski would have to battle back while Kyle Busch would have to hold onto the lead. The race went back green and Busch immediately jumped ahead of the drivers behind him. He began to pull away as the field looked for a way to chase him down. Busch was setting a torrid pace and the laps began to click away in the race. Brad Keselowski was coming, but he would need a caution to even have a chance at Busch. With about fifteen laps to go, it looked like Busch was gone and the field could do nothing to prevent him from winning his fifth race of the season. All that changed, though, as the sixth caution waved on lap 139. 

        Caleb Holman began to slow on the backstretch. He looked to coast onto pit road using the turn 3 access road, but he was going way too slow. NASCAR was forced to wave a caution to help move Holman's truck. Bryan Silas received the lucky dog. The caution brought all the lead lap drivers back to Kyle Busch, but they would still have to battle him for the win. Along with that, there would be a final set of strategy stops for some drivers and a final run to battle for the win. Brad Keselowski and a few other drivers decided to come down pit road for two tires while Kyle Busch, Darrell Wallace Jr., Ryan Blaney, and others stayed on track. It would be interesting to see if Keselowski was able to run down the leaders and win the race. After a little bit of strategy, the truck drivers lined up for a final restart in the race. The race went green for the final time and Darrell Wallace Jr. began to battle Kyle Busch hard on the bottom of the track. The two battled side-by-side for a couple of corners before Busch finally took the lead away. Meanwhile, Brad Keselowski shot through the field in the final few laps. He reached the top five and his progress stalled as Busch passed the line with two laps to go. Busch was hitting every corner perfectly and he took the white flag with ease. Busch passed through the first two turns and headed to the final two turns of the event. He crossed the finish line first and took his fifth win in the Truck Series in 2014 in only his fifth start. It was a dominating victory for Busch to add to his already great statistics in NASCAR.

        Kyle Busch has been, arguably, one of the best drivers in the two lower divisions of NASCAR for the past few years. He has won many races in the Truck Series and Nationwide Series. In fact, he has become the most winningest driver in Nationwide Series history at only twenty nine years of age. He has also taken his dominance in the lower series to a good many wins in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series along the way. He hasn't won a title in the series yet, but he has been on the verge for a good many years. It is only a matter of time before we call Busch one of the better drivers in NASCAR altogether. The time seems to be coming and it will only be a couple more years. Busch's driver, Darrell Wallace Jr., has been on a recent good streak as well and he took a second at Kentucky to follow up his Gateway win two weeks before. Ryan Blaney battled hard for the entire night at Kentucky and he was able to battle to a third place finish. Timothy Peters stayed consistent and played the right strategy to take a fourth place finish at Kentucky. Brad Keselowski battled back from numerous problems while looking to win his first Truck race and he took a fifth place finish even with penalties and tough strategy calls. Johnny Sauter came home ninth and was able to hold onto his points lead, but he lost a few points to his teammate, Matt Crafton. It will be interesting to see how the points change throughout the course of the season and who ends up champion after twenty two races. The Truck Series takes a week off before heading to Iowa Speedway for a stand alone event for the series. Will Timothy Peters be able to repeat at Iowa, will Darrell Wallace Jr. continue his recent string of good finishes, or will another driver stand tall in victory lane after a short track battle? We will have to wait a week to find this out and a whole lot more.
(More Stats Down Below!)




Cautions:
1st Caution: Lap 2- Debris from Matt Crafton's truck was spotted on track in turn 2.

2nd Caution: Lap 8- Bryan Silas broke loose underneath Mason Mingus in turn 4 and went for a spin down the frontstretch.

3rd Caution: Lap 60- Debris was spotted on track in turn 3.

4th Caution: Lap 76- John Wes Townley broke loose in turn 4 and backed into the outside wall hard. 

5th Caution: Lap 98- Jeb Burton broke loose in turn 3 and almost saved his truck, but he slammed the outside wall hard.

6th Caution: Lap 139- Caleb Holman slowed on the backstretch of the track.

Lucky Dogs:
1st Caution: None
2nd Caution: Adam Edwards
3rd Caution: Austin Dillon
4th Caution: None
5th Caution: Joe Nemechek
6th Caution: Bryan Silas

Top 5 Finishers:
1st: Kyle Busch
2nd: Darrell Wallace Jr.
3rd: Ryan Blaney
4th: Timothy Peters
5th: Brad Keselowski

Notables Not in Top 5:
6th: Matt Crafton
7th: Austin Dillon
8th: Ron Hornaday Jr. 
9th: Johnny Sauter
14th: Joe Nemechek
15th: German Quiroga
27th: Jeb Burton





Credits:
-My Own Notes
-Statistics:
http://www.nascar.com/en_us/camping-world-truck-series/leaderboard/leaderboard-live.html
http://www.nascar.com/en_us/camping-world-truck-series/lapbylap/view-all-laps.html?intid=lapbylap_lapbylapleaderboard_08292013
http://racing-reference.info/race/2014_UNOH_225/C
-Image:
http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/311b93b848bb2bd6b99b4a750f21abc76b3ab512/c=312-194-2708-1995&r=x404&c=534x401/local/-/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2014/06/26/1403837119000-2014-06-26-Kyle-Busch2.jpg