A Las Vegas Motor Speedway Memory: Earnhardt Jr.’s Empty Fuel Tank Hands Keselowski the Victory in the 2014 Kobalt 400

Strategy has always been an important aspect of NASCAR racing, most recently with pit road calls. Extended lengths of races, improved tire wear, fuel saving techniques, and the emphasis on winning at all levels of the sport have forced teams to stretch their resources in hopes of earning the best possible finish. Drivers have learned to push fuel windows to their extreme and ask for two tires rather than four to improve their track position. Sometimes, these bold strategy moves work and put drivers in victory lane. However, most of the time, these calls lead to disappointment as a win slips away.

On March 9, 2014, two drivers familiar with each other experienced the highs and lows of strategy racing while battling for the win in the Kobalt 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his team decided to stay on track during the fourth and final caution on lap 221, hoping to run 56 laps on a tank of Sunoco gasoline after his lap 211 green flag pit stop. The #88 already had a win from the season opening Daytona 500, which meant the team could try some unique strategy to grab another victory since they were already locked in NASCAR’s brand-new “win and you’re in” Chase format.

Meanwhile, Brad Keselowski, who drove for Earnhardt Jr. in the NASCAR Nationwide Series from 2008 to 2009, and his team opted to pit during the final caution. Keselowski’s crew put two fresh tires on the #2 Ford Fusion and returned their driver to the race in seventh spot. He had three drivers with little fuel in their racecars in front of him, including the #88, and three drivers with a full tank of gas. His fresher rubber was a distinct advantage for the 42-lap green flag run to conclude the event.

In the end, the battle for the win came down to Earnhardt Jr.’s fuel mileage gamble and Keselowski’s two fresh tires. The two drivers participated in a thrilling battle for the win underneath the Las Vegas sun. However, the victory came down to a last lap slip up for Earnhardt Jr. and Keselowski’s ability to capitalize. One driver was left with a bad LVMS memory and the other experienced a happy moment at the 1.5-mile track.

Brad Keselowski started the 400-mile race in the second position while Dale Earnhardt Jr. started on the outside of Row 7 in the 14th spot. During the first half of the event, the two drivers maintained their spots in the Top 10 as they battled through a 106-lap green flag and three cautions in the first 160 laps of the event. On lap 196, though, Keselowski and Junior’s path towards victory in the race crossed for the first time.

Just four laps prior to lap 200, Keselowski started a round of green flag pit stops as the leader. His team gave him four fresh tires and returned him to the race track as other pit crews prepared for their own stops. As the next few laps passed, drivers like Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch, and Paul Menard pitted for four tires to continue the cycle of stops. On lap 206, Earnhardt Jr. grabbed the lead for the second time in the race as his team pondered a potential strategy call much different from the rest of the field.

Due to the green flag character of the race, Steve Letarte, Earnhardt Jr.’s crew chief, decided to keep his driver on track longer than the rest of the field during the round of stops. The team’s hope was that Junior could pit around lap 210 and have the race stay green to its conclusion. If that occurred, the reigning Daytona 500 champion would have a possibility of making it on fuel to the finish while his fellow competitors would definitely have to pit again.

The #88 led five laps before he came down pit road for his stop on lap 211. The stop was flawless from his crew and he returned to the track with only two drivers left to pit during the cycle: Denny Hamlin and Carl Edwards. They pitted on lap 213, hoping to use the same strategy as Earnhardt Jr. in the late stages. After the cycle of stops, Keselowski returned to the lead knowing he would need to stop again and Junior cycled into the fifth position. However, after making all the strategy plans for green flag racing, the fourth and final caution waved on lap 221. Now, teams would have to work on another strategy decision to end the event.

Three drivers decided to stay on track during the caution while the rest of the field pitted. Earnhardt Jr., Edwards, and Hamlin, the three drivers who had pitted late during the green flag cycle, stayed out with enough fuel in their racecars according to the teams’ calculations to finish the 267-lap event. Behind them, three drivers prepared to restart in the fourth through sixth spots after adding just fuel to their racecars on pit road. In seventh for the restart was Keselowski. His crew chief, Paul Wolfe, had opted to give his driver two fresh tires, which cost the team some track position. Yet, they had fresher tires than everyone else in the race. For the next 42 laps, those pit road decisions would help determine the winner of the race.

On lap 226, the green flag waved for the final time and the mix of strategy calls caused a chaotic restart. As Earnhardt Jr. moved out to a five car length lead, drivers behind him battled two and three wide around LVMS. Keselowski ended up in second position on his two fresh tires at the completion of lap 226, but he was three-fourths of a second behind the leader. On lap 228, the #2 Ford dropped to third while Junior held the lead. The battle between the two drivers was far from over, though.

Despite losing the second spot, Keselowski maintained his momentum and returned to the runner-up position around lap 244 with just 23 laps left in the event. The next 10 laps proved to be crucial in deciding the race winner. While Earnhardt Jr. tried to save fuel at the front of the pack, the #2 Ford started chasing him down for the lead. On lap 253, the advantage moved underneath a second between the two drivers. Five laps later, the gap was only three tenths of a second and it appeared the two tire strategy call of Keselowski would prevail.

However, Earnhardt Jr. and his spotter, T.J. Majors, noticed Keselowski’s charge towards the lead and the #88 changed its racing line on track. For the next few laps, the North Carolina driver extended his lead by a few tenths as the end of the race neared. Finally, after saving fuel throughout the final run and monitoring his gap, Earnhardt Jr. took the white flag with Keselowski half a second behind him. The final lap ended up being very interesting for the two competitors.

Both drivers powered through turns 1 and 2 smoothly with the advantage between them remaining at half a second. On the backstretch, though, Earnhardt Jr. experienced a problem. The low amount of fuel in his racecar caused his engine to miss slightly exiting turn 2. The hiccup caused him to lose power and he moved towards the inside of the track, trying to slosh some fuel in the pickup. Meanwhile, Keselowski destroyed the half second between himself and the lead heading down the backstretch and cleared Junior entering turn 3. The power returned to Earnhardt Jr.’s car in the final turn, but it was too late. 

Keselowski powered away from the #88 and crossed the finish line first while Earnhardt Jr. managed to finish in second spot over a second back. Wolfe’s two-tire decision paid off with a much-needed victory after a tough 2013 season. On the other hand, Letarte’s gamble to keep his driver on track during the final caution resulted in a disappointing second place finish after Junior led at the white flag. Earnhardt Jr. wasn’t discouraged after the race, though, due to his chance to win the race and his win in the Daytona 500 just two weeks prior. 

“We took a gamble and we didn’t win the race, but it still worked in our favor to run second and gave us a chance to win," Earnhardt Jr. said after the race. Still, watching Keselowski celebrate on the frontstretch wasn’t what the #88 team had hoped for when making the late gamble. For the #2 team, the victory lane moment proved to be an early memory to carry throughout the rest of 2014.  

Keselowski ended the 2014 season with six total victories. He captured wins at Kentucky, New Hampshire, Richmond, Chicagoland, and Talladega in addition to his Las Vegas triumph to lead the series in the category. However, a 31st place finish at Martinsville in October derailed his championship hopes and he missed the first Championship 4 battle at Homestead-Miami Speedway by just a couple of points. Over the next three seasons, he won eight total races and finished fourth in the points last year after making the Championship 4 for the first time.

In the two races this season, the 2012 Cup champion has shown speed and been a contender for the race win. A crash in the Daytona 500 left him with a disappointing 32nd place finish, but he returned to the track last week and captured a runner-up finish at Atlanta Motor Speedway. With a win to his credit at Las Vegas, the #2 Ford will be a car to watch for the 400-mile event tomorrow and it could be another excellent season for the Michigan native.

Despite missing out on the Las Vegas win, Earnhardt Jr.’s 2014 season ended as one of the best of his career. He added a season sweep of victories at Pocono and a Martinsville win to his Daytona 500 victory, giving him four total for the season. He ended up finishing eighth in the points after an excellent year compared to his previous seasons. A year later, he added three more victories to his career total including another Talladega win, a Daytona triumph, and a rainy victory at Phoenix. He finished 12th in the overall standings at the end of the year. Unfortunately, his win at Phoenix turned out to be the last of his career.

2016 started off inconsistent for the North Carolina driver and ended early for him. Crashes at Talladega and Michigan caused him to experience concussion-like symptoms, much like he experienced late in the 2012 season. After the Kentucky race in July of 2016, Earnhardt Jr. was forced out the car due to the severity of his medical issues. He missed the remainder of the season trying to heal from his head injuries. The two-time Daytona 500 champion returned for the 2017 Cup season, but he wasn’t in his usual form. He announced in April of last year that 2017 would be his final full-time season in the sport. He ended the disappointing year with only one Top 5 finish. He concluded his Cup career with a 25th at Homestead-Miami Speedway in the season finale.

For 2018, the 15-time Most Popular Driver award winner has stayed busy as he prepares for the future. He spent the week following the 60th Daytona 500 in Pyeongchang, South Korea, working the Winter Olympics for NBC Sports. When NBC begins broadcasting NASCAR races in a few months, he will be a prominent figure on TV talking about the sport. Also, he has plans for a DIY Network home renovation show and he will become a dad for the first time in May. Finally, he will be in the racecar for at least one more time this season. He will be piloting his own #88 at the fall Richmond race in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for all his fans to see him back in a racecar.

Strategy gambles sometimes pay off for teams and sometimes they don’t. In 2008, Dale Earnhardt Jr. won his first race at Michigan driving for Hendrick Motorsports with just a few drops of fuel left in the tank. His team’s strategy decision had paid off. In 2014, though, their late race fuel mileage gamble didn’t end in a victory at Las Vegas. For Brad Keselowski and his team, the decision to take on two fresh tires allowed them to move up the leaderboard in the last run and steal the victory from Earnhardt Jr. Their late race battle and exciting final lap duel created a memorable Las Vegas Motor Speedway memory, one that will be remembered for years to come.
(More Stats Down Below!)




Cautions: 4 for 18 laps

Lead Changes: 21

Margin of Victory: 1.530 seconds

Top 5 Finishers:
1st: Brad Keselowski
2nd: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
3rd: Paul Menard
4th: Joey Logano
5th: Carl Edwards

Notables Not in Top 5:
6th: Jimmie Johnson
7th: Ryan Newman
8th: Kasey Kahne
9th: Jeff Gordon
10th: Matt Kenseth
11th: Kyle Busch
12th: Denny Hamlin
14th: Martin Truex Jr.
16th: Austin Dillon
17th: Jeff Burton
19th: Kyle Larson
21st: Danica Patrick
26th: Kurt Busch
33rd: Tony Stewart
37th: Alex Bowman
41st: Kevin Harvick




Credits:
-My Own Notes
-Statistics:
racing-reference.info/race/2014_Kobalt_400/W
-Image:
www.cbssports.com/general/story/24475310/keselowski-edges-junior-on-last-lap-in-las-vegas
-Quote:
www.sportingnews.com/nascar/news/las-vegas-results-finish-brad-keselowski-wins-dale-earnhardt-jr-second-out-of-fuel/cb7zkq48ajv61r22e30mi4i87
-Video of Finish:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bxYOEXv5fg&t=67s
-Full Race:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6_l6x26bJs&t=12s

My Thoughts: New Hampshire #2

         The site of Chase race #2 is the New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The bad fast, flat one mile race track in Loudon, New Hampshire is a totally different monster compared to last week's race at the one and a half mile high banked Chicagoland Speedway. That makes today's race a totally different contest. Unlike last week, where passing was rather easy for the drivers, it will be a difficult task to pass anybody today. That means track position will be key and strategy will ultimately affect how the race is run. This is always the case when we head to New Hampshire. Earlier this year at the track, Kevin Harvick and Jeff Gordon were hoping to go a long way on the last run of the race on fuel when the caution waved. The field slowed down and both Gordon and Harvick ran out of fuel during the caution laps. This gave Brad Keselowski the lead and he was able to head to the win. In the first race of 2013 at New Hampshire, it has been well documented how Brian Vickers was able to play the strategy game in his Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota to win his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event since 2009. Unlike other tracks on the circuit, though, New Hampshire leaves the door open for many different drivers to win. In the last thirteen races at New Hampshire, thirteen different drivers have went to victory lane. That means any driver can step up and win the race just like Matt Kenseth did in the second Chase race last year. He went into New Hampshire having never won there before, but he was the victor on that day as he looked to win the championship. To conclude, we are in for a show today as all the Chase drivers will be looking to win and guarantee themselves a ticket to the next round of the Chase. With that introduction, I have a few topics to discuss before today's second Chase race. Topics include a discussion of Brad Keselowski, a discussion of Chip Ganassi Racing, a discussion of Aric Almirola, a discussion of the recent streak of different winners at New Hampshire, and, finally, my pick to win today's three hundred mile event. I am excited for today's race and these topics so let's jump right into them.

1. Brad Keselowski: Is He the Championship Favorite?
         If you read my qualifying post discussing the qualifying session for this weekend's race at New Hampshire, you know Brad Keselowski is rolling as of late. Two weeks ago at Richmond in the regular season finale, he lead all but seventeen laps in the event as he won his fourth race of the season and became the number one overall seed heading into the Chase. In the first Chase race at Chicagoland last week, Keselowski battled the rookie, Kyle Larson, and Kevin Harvick on a late race restart to take his fifth win of the season and grab himself a spot in the next round of the 2014 Chase. To top it all off, he came into New Hampshire this weekend and blistered the field as he grabbed his fifth pole of the season. To add even more weight to that pole, he has won the last two races where he started on the pole. With all that in mind about the Team Penske driver, I have just one question. Is he the championship favorite in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series? He most certainly is the favorite. The main reason is just his abilities at the next few tracks. New Hampshire, Dover, Charlotte, Talladega, and others have been really good tracks for Keselowski. He has the opportunity every single time we visit there to win and win with authority. Plus, he has a great team behind him. This entire year, Team Penske has provided the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion with some of the fastest cars I have ever seen. He has dominated events this year and has looked great doing it. His wave of momentum will continue as we roll through the Chase and he is the favorite in my mind to stand on the podium as champion in 2014.

2. Jamie McMurray and Kyle Larson: Are They the Two Best Non-Chase Drivers?
        Chip Ganassi Racing has two drivers, Jamie McMurray and Kyle Larson, in its fold, but neither one are in the Chase for the championship this season. Well, somebody should tell them that. McMurray and Larson have ran great races all year long including Larson's second place finish at Auto Club earlier this year and his third place finish a week ago at Chicagoland. McMurray has also had great runs this entire year including a fourth place run at Richmond to end the regular season. Both were highly competitive last week at Chicagoland and they are extremely competitive this weekend at New Hampshire. In fact, both McMurray and Larson were two of the three non-Chase drivers to make the final round of qualifying this weekend. McMurray will roll off second while Larson rolls off from tenth place after a mistake in qualifying. With all that in mind, here is my question for this topic. Are they the two best Non-Chase drivers this season? They definitely are the two best drivers not in the Chase. The main reason is just how great they have been recently. In every race this year, the major contenders have been the drivers who are currently in the Chase along with McMurray and Larson. They have been on top of their game in all aspects of the word. In fact, Larson was in the Chase late in the regular season, but a couple bad events took him out of Chase contention. That is especially noteworthy for Larson considering he is a rookie this year in NASCAR's highest series. All in all, Chip Ganassi Racing has been a great team this entire year and expect them to contend for wins in the Chase even though Larson and McMurray aren't in the Chase.

3. Aric Almirola: Can He Recover After a Bad Finish at Chicagoland?
        Aric Almirola came into Chicagoland a week ago as one of the underdogs in the Chase. His upset victory at Daytona in July propelled him into the Chase for the first time in his young career. He came into Chicagoland last week with something to prove. And prove something he did. He was running in sixth place late in the event when his engine expired. He finished deep in the field and the loss of points put him last in the Chase running order with twenty three points to make up before Dover. It was an unfortunate problem for Almirola. He was on the verge of a Chase defining moment, but his engine quit on him. Still, he has two races to make up the points before the first round of Chase eliminations. That brings me to my question for this topic. Can Almirola recover after a bad finish at Chicagoland? He definitely can. When Almirola won at Daytona, I didn't see him going anywhere in the Chase. I now have changed my position. The main reason is his runs recently. At Richmond in the regular season finale, he took a tenth place finish as he looked to build up momentum. At Chicagoland last week, he was running sixth when his motor expired on him. With a little more work and some hard driving, Almirola can easily grab a top five today at New Hampshire along with having a good finish next week at Dover. Don't count out Aric Almirola from making the second round of the Chase as he looks to prove himself this year.

4. Thirteen Different Winners in Thirteen Races at New Hampshire: Who Has the Best Chance to Make It Fourteen?
        It isn't often where a track doesn't have dominant winners from year to year, but New Hampshire is one of those tracks. New Hampshire does not have a repeat winner since 2008 and that is thirteen full races. Plus, consider the drivers who haven't won during that streak. Kevin Harvick, Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Carl Edwards, and others in the Chase have not won at New Hampshire during the thirteen race streak. That means the streak could continue today. It could especially continue today considering the amount of strategy at New Hampshire and the fact that difficult weather conditions could allow different drivers to win. With that, here is my question for this topic. Which driver who hasn't won during the streak at New Hampshire has the best chance to make it fourteen? Jeff Gordon has the best chance to make it fourteen today. Gordon rolls off thirteenth on the grid and he isn't exactly the best driver at New Hampshire, but look at how well he has done this year. He has won three races and he has looked strong at all tracks we have been to. He has a ton of momentum like Brad Keselowski after a second place finish last week behind the Team Penske driver. Gordon will certainly be a threat today and he could continue the streak to fourteen different winners today.

5. My Pick to Win
         I have mentioned it a lot today, but New Hampshire is one of the most unpredictable tracks in NASCAR. Weather conditions, restarts, strategy, car conditions, and so many other things greatly affect every single race here. Strategy has been factor in at least three of the last four events at New Hampshire. Today, we could be racing to halfway due to the rain in the area and strategy will be even more affected by this. All that information culminates into saying this: today's race at New Hampshire will be very unpredictable and we will be left on the edge of our seats during every single lap. I have a good many picks for today's race. My picks include Brad Keselowski, Jeff Gordon, Kasey Kahne, Ryan Newman, Jimmie Johnson, Joey Logano, Jamie McMurray, Kyle Busch, and Kevin Harvick. Kyle Larson, Aric Almirola, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and Brian Vickers are underdog picks to win today's race as well. I am looking forward to today's race at New Hampshire and I'm sure it will greatly affect the rest of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship. I won't be writing about it today, but I will be watching intently as the storylines unfold. Well, that is all for me and until we meet again.





Credits:
-Image:
http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2014/0714/rpm_g_shepherd_logano1x_600x400.jpg

Brad Keselowski Continues His Wave of Momentum at the Start of the Chase By Taking the Pole at New Hampshire

        With a time of 27.090 seconds (140.598 mph), Brad Keselowski was able to set the track record at New Hampshire and take the pole for the second Chase race of 2014. Keselowski, who has been riding a wave of momentum in recent weeks, has been very impressive recently. He won the regular season finale at Richmond two weeks while leading all but seventeen laps in the event while also starting on the pole. Last week, he went to Chicagoland for the first race of the 2014 Chase and took the win to guarantee himself a spot in the next round of the Chase. He comes to New Hampshire this weekend and takes the pole while sitting at the top of the leaderboard in two of the practice sessions. It is safe to say Keselowski will be a factor again this weekend as he looks to sweep at New Hampshire on the season, but he will have a lot of competition from his fellow Chase drivers and the rest of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series field. Jamie McMurray, who is not in the Chase this year, will look to win and prove that he deserves to be in the Chase himself with a second place starting spot. Kevin Harvick continues to run fast every single week with a third place starting spot as he looks to win his first Cup championship. Denny Hamlin made his way into the Chase thanks to a win at Talladega and he looks to win again with a fourth place starting spot. Kyle Busch has finished second in the last three races at New Hampshire and he will look for a win with a fifth place starting spot. The rest of the Sprint Cup regulars and Chase contenders follow behind this stacked top five. The second knockout qualifying session for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at New Hampshire was rather calm, but the qualifying session could change a lot of things as we head down the stretch towards the battle for the championship.

        Marcos Ambrose was the first driver on track to start the thirty minute first round. Ambrose ran a decent lap as he looked to make the second and final round. Early on, Jimmie Johnson, who had struggled so far in practice on Friday, jumped to the top of the board with a track record speed. About six minutes into the round, Denny Hamlin jumped ahead of Johnson with a track record speed of his own. These two laps would not matter as Brad Keselowski, who had been fastest in practice on Friday, jumped to the top of the board two minutes later. Keselowski looked to hold station at the top while the rest of the drivers ran laps. The minutes were clicking away in the round as Chase drivers moved in and out of the top twelve that would head to the final round of qualifying. With about five minutes left in the final round, the session started to head up after a calm twenty five minutes. Drivers like Joey Logano, Matt Kenseth, Kurt Busch, Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne, and others were looking to take the twelfth and final transfer spot. The spots around twelfth began to shuffle quickly as the final minutes clicked away in the round. As the red and black flag waved to end the first round, the shuffle was complete with Dale Earnhardt Jr. taking the final transfer spot and Brad Keselowski remaining the fastest driver. Carl Edwards, Kyle Larson, Jimmie Johnson, Denny Hamlin, Brian Vickers, Kevin Harvick, Joey Logano, Kyle Busch, Jamie McMurray, and Ryan Newman moved on while Jeff Gordon, Clint Bowyer, Matt Kenseth, Kurt Busch, Kasey Kahne, and others missed the final round. After the long thirty minute first round, the drivers would only have a quick ten minutes to take the pole at New Hampshire.

        Denny Hamlin was the first driver on track to start the ten minute final round. Hamlin ran a good lap on his second time around to jump to the provisional pole early on. He looked to hold onto the pole, but he had a good many more drivers to contend with. Four minutes in, Jamie McMurray dashed Hamlin's hope of a pole as he jumped to the provisional pole. Just a minute later, though, McMurray would be knocked from the top as Brad Keselowski laid down a blazing fast track record speed. Keselowski had only a few more drivers to dodge as the session reached halfway. Kyle Larson looked to lay down a quick lap and beat Keselowski, but he would have a little trouble during his run. His brakes locked up heading into turn 3 and he sailed up the track. He managed to slow his car down and barely bump the outside wall. He pulled down pit road with little damage, but he would be able to lay down a lap a little later. Still, it was all Brad Keselowski with a minute left in the round. All the drivers completed their runs late and, as the red and black flag waved, Brad Keselowski was still at the top of the leaderboard. He grabbed his fifth NASCAR Sprint Cup Series pole of the year as he looks to grab his sixth win of the season. Keselowski is fast once again and he is becoming the biggest threat for the Cup championship.

        Brad Keselowski is rolling in recent weeks. Two straight wins mean that Keselowski has the momentum for sure. Also, consider this. In the last two races where Keselowski has sat on the pole, he has taken his Team Penske Ford Fusion to victory lane. Plus, the last time NASCAR visited New Hampshire, Keselowski went to victory lane in both the NASCAR Nationwide Series and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. It is safe to say Keselowski is a heavy favorite, but here is another statistic to consider. In the last thirteen races at New Hampshire, thirteen different drivers have visited victory lane. Keselowski, who won just this summer, will have to end that streak to take his third straight win as we run the second race of the 2014 Chase. Behind him, Keselowski has a lot of drivers who are hoping to end Keselowski's recent streak of wins. Jamie McMurray would love to spoil the Chase party as he starts second tomorrow. Kevin Harvick, who hasn't won at New Hampshire since 2006, will look to become the fourteenth different winner in fourteen races from his third place starting spot. Denny Hamlin would like to guarantee himself a spot in the next round of the Chase with a win at New Hampshire from his fourth place starting spot. Kyle Busch, Hamlin's teammate, will look to do the same exact thing from his fifth place starting spot. The same can be said for the other Chase drivers behind these guys as Dover next week marks the first round of eliminations. The field will have to battle hard on the flat one mile track in New Hampshire and it will be a great battle for sure. Will Brad Keselowski win his third straight race, will Jamie McMurray win a Chase race as a non-Chase driver, will another non-Chase driver spoil the Chase party, or will another Chase driver seal his ticket to the next round? We only have to wait a day before we find out this information and a whole lot more.
(More Stats Down Below!)




Top 5 Qualifiers (With Times):
1st: Brad Keselowski     27.090 (140.598 mph)
2nd: Jamie McMurray     27.121 (140.437 mph)
3rd: Kevin Harvick     27.193 (140.065 mph)
4th: Denny Hamlin     27.253 (139.757 mph)
5th: Kyle Busch     27.260 (139.721 mph)

Notables Not in Top 5 (With Times):
6th: Jimmie Johnson     27.319 (139.419 mph)
7th: Joey Logano     27.354 (139.241 mph)
8th: Carl Edwards     27.398 (139.017 mph)
11th: Dale Earnhardt Jr.     27.428 (138.865 mph)
13th: Jeff Gordon     27.412 (138.946 mph)*
15th: Kurt Busch     27.413 (138.941 mph)*
16th: Matt Kenseth     27.430 (138.855 mph)
17th: Kasey Kahne     27.436 (138.825 mph)
(*: Gordon and Kurt Busch were fast enough to be in the top twelve, but they missed the final round.)

DNQs: None




Credits:
-My Own Notes
-Statistics:
http://www.nascar.com/en_us/sprint-cup-series/leaderboard/leaderboard-qualification.Round_2.html
http://racing-reference.info/getqualify/2014-28/W
-Image:
http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/244e7aa319ff908444a43ab6f505eeac6fa99b4f/c=669-0-4102-2581&r=x404&c=534x401/local/-/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2014/09/19/1411162981000-9-19-14-early-brad-keselowski.jpg

My Thoughts: 2014 Richmond #2

         Here we are. In February at Daytona, talk was cheap. People were picking their championship winners when they really had no idea how that driver would race throughout the season. After twenty five Cup races, all that has changed completely. Thirteen different drivers have went to victory lane and guaranteed a Chase spot while Matt Kenseth has guaranteed he will have a spot on points. That leaves two spots remaining with Ryan Newman, Greg Biffle, Clint Bowyer, and Kyle Larson all within striking distance of making the Chase on points. All the rest of the drivers in the top thirty need a win tonight to make the Chase. Most likely, the four drivers close on points will have the best opportunity to take the Chase spots. It is always interesting when we head to Richmond for the final regular season race of the year. In 2004 when the Chase was first used, Jeremy Mayfield came into the race fifty five points out of the Chase, but he changed that. He was able to dominate the race and take the win to make the Chase for the first time in the first year of it. Last year's race was one that has been talked about a ton since it happened. Late in the event, Clint Bowyer spun on track as his teammate, Martin Truex Jr., was on the outside looking in for the Chase. This brought a frantic finish to the race as the field battled hard. Ryan Newman, who had taken the lead with ten laps to go, looked to battle into the Chase while Carl Edwards held him off to win the race. This finish put Truex in the Chase while Joey Logano used help from David Gilliland to make the Chase. NASCAR decided this was cheating and moved Truex from the Chase while adding Newman and Jeff Gordon to the Chase with an unprecedented thirteenth place spot. Richmond has been home to these moments for years and tonight's race will be even crazier as two Chase spots remain. With that introduction, I have a few topics I want to discuss with you guys. Topics include a discussion of last year's race, a discussion of a sponsor extending with a team, a discussion of drivers with three wins, a discussion of the drivers who will take the final transfer spots into the Chase, and my pick to win tonight's race. Well, let us jump into these topics as we end the regular season and look forward to the Chase. 

1. 2013 Richmond Chase Controversy: Will It Ever Be Forgotten?
        I discussed briefly what happened in last year's race at Richmond, but I want to discuss it in-depth here. With about ten laps to go, Ryan Newman took the lead from Carl Edwards. If Newman held onto the lead, he would take the win and head into the Chase. As the laps began to wind down, some controversial audio came from Clint Bowyer's team and Bowyer spun on track almost immediately. Everyone thought the spin was questionable, but the caution still waved and pit stops occurred. Newman's pit stop did not go well and he slid back in the running order. The final restart came and Brian Vickers, who was also Truex's teammate, was called to pit road by his team to give Truex another spot. Newman tried to charge to the front again, but Edwards held onto the lead and win while Newman settled for third spot. This meant that Truex and Joey Logano took the final transfer spots into the Chase while Newman and Jeff Gordon were out of the Chase. After the controversy, the entire Michael Waltrip Racing team was fined and Truex was taken out of the Chase. Newman and Gordon were added as thirteen drivers looked to go to battle. The controversy rocked the NASCAR world for the next few weeks and it still resonates today. I have just one question for the sport and the controversy. Will it ever be forgotten? It will never be forgotten. The main reason is the outcomes of that controversy that are still around today. Martin Truex Jr. and Clint Bowyer's careers completely changed when that happened. Truex was forced to leave MWR because his sponsor, NAPA, left. He went to Furniture Row Racing where he hasn't done as good as he should be doing. Clint Bowyer made the Chase and ran okay during the Chase, but this year he has struggled and he will have to fight tonight to make the Chase. Plus, the format of the Chase has completely changed because of this dark controversy for NASCAR along with some other rules. It was a very dark spot in the history of our sport and it will be a moment that will never be forgotten.

2. Nationwide Expands Sponsorship with Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Hendrick Motorsports: How Will This Help the Team?
         Nationwide Insurance has been a big part of NASCAR since 2008, but it will become an even bigger part heading into next year. The sponsor will no longer sponsor NASCAR's secondary series as Comcast XFINITY will take over, but Nationwide will be the primary sponsor on Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car in twenty one races. This will be the case in 2015 along with 2016 and 2017. Along with that, Nationwide will be a big partner for the entire Hendrick Motorsports organization. We will see Nationwide on Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s car tonight at Richmond for the first time. If you recall, though, it has been the primary sponsor on Ricky Stenhouse Jr.'s car a good many times in the past two years in the Sprint Cup Series. I have just one question for Earnhardt and his team. How will this help them in the next few years? It will certainly help them tremendously. If you remember, there were a few races this year where Dale Earnhardt Jr. did not have a scheduled sponsor. Now, there are only fifteen races in the next three years where Hendrick needs another sponsor other than Nationwide on his car. That will make it a whole lot easier for Hendrick and Earnhardt because they won't have to stress about getting sponsor money. Plus, this means Nationwide will still be a key part of NASCAR for a good many years to come. It also means Earnhardt will have a good year next year with this new sponsor on his car and a new backing for his team. Earnhardt will be a contender next year and Nationwide will be a huge part in it.

3. Which Driver With Three Wins Has the Best Chance to Grab Number 4?
       There have been thirteen winners this year in NASCAR's highest series, but the most wins for any driver in the field is three wins. Five drivers have taken three wins this year and they are the best of the best in our sport. Those drivers are Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, and Jimmie Johnson. With that in mind, I have just one question for these five drivers. Which one of them has the best chance to take their fourth win of the year and take the number one seed heading into the Chase? Joey Logano has the best chance out of these five drivers to take his fourth win of the season. The main reason is how fast he has been this weekend. Logano has been very fast the entire weekend at Richmond, like usual, and he took a fifth place starting spot yesterday during qualifying. Another reason is his win this past April at Richmond. Logano battled hard late in the race and he was able to hold off Brad Keselowski, Matt Kenseth, and others to take the win in style. It was Logano's first win at Richmond, but he looked great in taking the win. Logano will be fast tonight and he will look to take the win. If he does grab the win, he will be the number one seed heading into the 2014 Chase and he will be the favorite heading into the Chase. It could mean the difference between Logano winning his first title and not being about to take the title.

4. Which Two Drivers Will Take the Final Two Chase Spots at Richmond?
        Well, we have reached the most important topic of this edition of my thoughts for Richmond. Fourteen drivers are locked into the Chase already with Matt Kenseth the only driver locked in with points. Before the race starts, Ryan Newman and Greg Biffle are in while Clint Bowyer and Kyle Larson are just a few points out and hoping to jump into the Chase. The rest of the drivers who are in the top thirty will hope to win tonight's race and move into the Chase because of their win. Well, I have a little input on this subject with one question. Which two drivers will take the final two Chase spots at Richmond? Ryan Newman is going to take a Chase spot for sure. He doesn't have to run too hard unless somebody new wins the race tonight at Richmond, but he looks like a heavy favorite to me. Greg Biffle looks like another obvious choice, but I am not picking him. I am going with Kyle Larson. Wait, Kyle Larson? The rookie who struggled at Richmond in his first race there after a first lap spin? Yes, the rookie, Kyle Larson, is my pick. Here is why. Larson has been fast this entire year and he is really good when he returns to a track for the second time. Some people forget that Larson started first here in April before he spun on the first lap. He is starting eighth tonight and he will be a contender for the win along with being one of the guys who will be near the front as he looks to make it in on points. Newman and Larson will be the two drivers making the Chase after tonight's race and they will be contenders throughout the entire Chase.

5. My Pick to Win
        Richmond is a very hard race to predict, especially the second one of the year right before the Chase starts. Some drivers are completely focused on winning the race while others are focused solely on having the most points when the race is over. That means a lot of drivers will get into trouble and the Chase could be greatly affected by some moves in the race. Plus, strategy, restarts, and cautions can greatly changed the outlook of the event. Ryan Newman was leading last year in this race when the caution waved and pit stops occurred. He ended up third while Carl Edwards walked away with the win. The same thing could happen tonight and a driver could miss out on a much desired Chase spot. I have a good many picks for tonight's race. My picks include Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski, Jeff Gordon, Kasey Kahne, Kyle Larson, Kevin Harvick, Carl Edwards, and Jimmie Johnson. Some underdog picks for me include Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Danica Patrick, Jamie McMurray, Ryan Newman, and Clint Bowyer. I am very excited for tonight's event. Richmond is always a track with great races, but add in the fact that it is the final race before the Chase and things will really start to heat up. Drivers will battle the entire night for just one position and I am ready to watch those battles. I won't be able to write about it tonight, but I will be watching with great interest. Well, that is all for me and until we meet again.




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My Thoughts: 2014 Atlanta

         We only have two races remaining before the start of the 2014 Chase as sixteen drivers will look to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship. Right now, twelve drivers are already qualified for the Chase with a good many other drivers fighting for the final four spots. Those drivers include Matt Kenseth, Ryan Newman, Clint Bowyer, Greg Biffle, Kasey Kahne, Kyle Larson, and a host of others. One key between these drivers: no wins this year. If any of these drivers find a way to victory lane in the next two races, they would automatically be in the Chase. That also means at least two drivers are going to make the Chase on points and that could lead to a lot of action in these races as well. We have discussed the prospective Chase field, but we have to talk about the penultimate race of the regular season tonight. The series heads to Atlanta Motor Speedway for the next to last regular season race. The track is a bumpy and bad fast mile and a half in Georgia with a long history of fantastic finishes and crashes. It is the more typical race track on the Cup schedule compared to the three fourths of a mile Richmond International Raceway, which is the final regular season race of the season next week. It will be a test for all the drivers in the field especially considering the close finishes here in the past. Dale Earnhardt Sr. barely beat Bobby Labonte to the line in 2000 for his penultimate win in NASCAR, Kevin Harvick held off Jeff Gordon by just a little bit to win in just his third start in the wake of Dale Earnhardt's death in 2001, Carl Edwards managed to hold off a fast charging Jimmie Johnson late to win his first career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race in 2005, and Jimmie Johnson had a hard fought battle with Jeff Gordon in 2011, but Johnson took home the trophy at Atlanta. With so much on the line tonight, we can expect a great finish and, possibly, a driver win and make the Chase with just one race remaining. With that introduction, I have a few topics I want to discuss with you guys. Topics include a driver returning to the series after a three race absence, a discussion of the 2015 NASCAR schedule, a discussion of a driver making his first start in the Cup Series, a discussion of Kevin Harvick, and a my pick to win today's event. Well, let us jump into these topics as we wait for a Sunday night race in Georgia.

1. Tony Stewart Returns at Atlanta: How Will He Perform After Three Weeks Off?
        The events of August 9, 2014 still roll through my mind. Tony Stewart and Kevin Ward Jr. had an accident in Canandaigua, New York. Ward jumped from his sprint car after the accident and ran at Stewart's car due to being his anger at the accident. Stewart couldn't avoid him and Ward went flying after Stewart made contact with him. He was dead instantly and the world lost a twenty year old race car driver. Stewart was reeling from that terrible tragedy and he missed the races at Watkins Glen, Michigan, and Bristol due to the pain he was feeling. Well, tonight at Atlanta, things are going to be different: Smoke will rise. Stewart is returning to the track at Atlanta with the opportunity to still make the Chase after missing three races. I'm sure this tragedy will forever affect Stewart's life, but tonight is his opportunity to begin the healing process. I have just one question for the three time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion as he returns. How will he perform after being out of the car for three straight weeks? He will perform pretty well at Atlanta. The main reason I feel this way is how fast he has been this entire weekend. He qualified twelfth in qualifying on Friday night and he has been extremely consistent in every single practice session. Granted, he has missed three weeks of competition and it will certainly be an adjustment considering the bumpiness and difficulty of AMS, but Stewart is going to come back strong and I am going to support him fully as he jumps behind the wheel of a car again.

2. 2015 NASCAR Schedule Released: Which Changes Seem Most Important?
        On Tuesday, NASCAR released the 2015 schedule for all three of its major series. The Nationwide and Truck schedules seemed to be pretty much the same, but the Cup Series schedule had a few major shake ups. The first major change was with the race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Next year, the race will be the second race of the year instead of being on Labor Day weekend like it has been recently. Darlington will leave its April date from this year and slide into its traditional Labor Day weekend date. Bristol will transition from a March race into a mid-April race due to the weather and Phoenix will slot into Bristol's previous date. The final big change was with the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona in July. Instead of being run on a Saturday night, it will now be run on a Sunday. These are all the major changes for the schedule next year and I have just one question. Which change is the most important one for the future? Darlington moving to Labor Day weekend is by far the biggest change and the most important one. For years, Darlington had the annual Southern 500 on Labor Day weekend and it was a huge part of NASCAR history. In 2004, all that changed when Darlington moved to a single date heading into 2005. Now, they have the traditional date back and it will be an even better race with that in mind. Another reason this is the biggest change is due to the proximity of the Darlington race to the Chase. The race will be the penultimate round of the regular season before the final one at Richmond. That means an always chaotic race at Darlington will be even more chaotic with the thought of a Chase berth on the line for all the drivers. Next year, I will be building up this Darlington race for months and I'm sure it won't disappoint along with the other schedule changes.

3. Ty Dillon Making His NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Debut: How Will He Perform?
        In 2011, Ty Dillon burst onto the racing scene with a fantastic year in the ARCA Racing Series. He won a good many races and took the title over some great ARCA regulars. In 2012, he transitioned to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series where he raced for two years. He won a couple races, but he was unable to take a Truck title. After two solid Truck years, he made the move to the NASCAR Nationwide Series for this year. He has already taken a win at Indianapolis and he has looked consistent the entire year, but the biggest race of his racing career will be tonight's event. The youngest Dillon boy will make his Cup debut driving for his grandfather with his brother, Austin, as his teammate. It will be a great moment for the young driver and I have just one question for him. How will he perform in his first Cup start? He will perform pretty good for his first start. The main reason is his past success at Atlanta. His first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series win came at Atlanta in 2012 and he started on the pole while dominating the event. Plus, Dillon is very good on the mile and a half tracks. This year in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, he has scored the most points on mile and a half tracks compared to the other drivers. This makes Atlanta look like a great place to make his first start and Dillon will do a great job. He starts twenty ninth and he will have to battle to move up in the race, but he will do a good job and make Richard Childress and his team proud.

4. Kevin Harvick: Does He Have the Momentum Heading Into the Chase?
        For a good many weeks, it seemed Jeff Gordon had the momentum heading into the Chase, but that has seemed to change. Kevin Harvick seems to have taken the momentum heading into the Chase and he looks very fast. It seemed like at the beginning of this year, Harvick would be the driver to beat. He left the only team he had known, Richard Childress Racing, after 2013 and he headed to the super team at Stewart-Haas Racing. He immediately proved he was going to run well with a win in the second race of the year at Phoenix. He continued the momentum, but he seemed to cool off slightly as we hit the summer months. He hasn’t won since Darlington, but that doesn't mean anything for Harvick. Since the Michigan race in June, he has finished second three different times and he has won four poles including the last two poles at Bristol and Atlanta. I have just one question for Harvick. Does he have the momentum heading into the Chase? He certainly has the momentum. If you look at last year's results early in the Chase, Harvick won at Kansas and ran very consistently throughout the Chase. He has been on a mean streak this year heading into the Chase and I feel like he will have another stellar Chase in 2014. Plus, he hasn't had too many bad finishes this year and he will be a championship contender. I would not be surprised if we are calling Kevin Harvick the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion after this year.

5. My Pick to Win
        I have said this a lot this year, but Atlanta is certainly a driver's race track. During the early part of the race, drivers will be running fast on the bottom, but the groove will transition to the high side as the race nears a close. That will benefit drivers like Kyle Larson, Kasey Kahne, Tony Stewart, and others who love to run the high line. The key for the race early on will be making sure each team makes the right adjustment as the track transitions to pure night. The driver who makes the best adjustments will eventually win the race and the driver who plays the best strategy could also take the victory. In the end, this race will decide a lot of things and we could see a winless driver take a win to guarantee a Chase spot. I have several picks for tonight's race at Atlanta. My picks include Kasey Kahne, Kevin Harvick, Kyle Larson, Jimmie Johnson, Brad Keselowski, Ryan Newman, Kyle Busch, and Matt Kenseth. Some underdog picks for tonight’s race are Martin Truex Jr., Tony Stewart, and Austin Dillon. I am very excited for tonight's race. After the fantastic finish for today's NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park, I feel like tonight's race will have an even better finish to it. I won't be writing about it, but I will be watching as it all unfolds in Atlanta tonight. It will be a fantastic race and one that will change the picture of the Chase. Well, that is all for me and until we meet again.





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My Thoughts: 2014 Michigan #2

        For years, Daytona and Talladega have been viewed as the fastest and most fear inducing tracks in NASCAR, but a new track has taken hold of both of those titles: Michigan International Speedway. On Friday in qualifying, Jeff Gordon turned an unrestricted lap at over 206 miles per hour, which is within six miles per hour of Bill Elliott's 1987 lap turned at Talladega. The cars are blazing fast for sure and maybe a little on the edge of speed. In early Saturday morning practice, Ryan Truex broke loose in turn 2 and sailed up the track towards the wall. He slammed it hard and came to a stop with heavy damage. He walked to the ambulance, but he reported pain in his collarbone and he complained of a headache. The hit left him with a concussion and he will have to sit out Sunday's race due to the possible problems related to his injury. Many accidents like this have occurred at Michigan, but the cars still continue to gain speed with the passing years. Still, Michigan is a track where the races are definitely worth watching. We have seen some instant classics here in the past few years. To the cheers of millions of fans around the world, Dale Earnhardt Jr. crossed the finish line in 2012 for his first win in the series since 2008, which also came at Michigan. Earlier this year, a lot of teams played the strategy card, but Jimmie Johnson turned out to have the best strategy and he was able to hold on to win his first race at Michigan in his storied career. One key for all Michigan races: fuel strategy. Fuel strategy is key at Michigan due to the many long green flag runs, but consider this. The last race had eight cautions with a long green flag run late. That run will eventually decide the winner of the event and give another driver a Michigan victory. With that introduction, let us jump into these topics for today's Michigan race. Topics include a discussion of Kurt Busch, a discussion of a driver filling in for Tony Stewart, a discussion of last week's underdog winner, a discussion of the upcoming Chase, and, of course, my pick to win the annual fall race at MIS. Well, let us get started today as we prepare for the twenty third race of the year in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

1. Kurt Busch: Has His Team Finally Turned Their Fortunes Around?
        When Kurt Busch won at Martinsville in March, it should have guaranteed him a spot in the Chase, but his new team was struggling in the early half of the year. He fell all the way to twenty eighth in the points at Charlotte, but since then, his team has turned it around. In those ten races, Busch has a worst finish of twenty eighth at Indianapolis, where he had a great car except for getting caught a lap down by strategy. He has also climbed to twenty first in the points and he looks like a Chase contender finally. I have just one question for Busch and his team. Have they finally turned their freshman season around and headed towards a great Chase? I certainly believe they have. The main reason is the fact that Busch has been running better and qualifying even better throughout the year. This has proved to be very important for the team because good starting spots mean good finishes. Plus, good runs allow Busch to finish up higher and higher every single week. Another significant reason is continued confidence for Busch and his team. Around the halfway mark of the season, each race track the series went to was a repeat of a race earlier in the season like today's race at Michigan. That means Busch's new crew chief for this year, Daniel Knost, has a notebook for most of the tracks they are returning to. That will ensure Busch has a nice set-up and his car is  tuned to run well throughout the conclusion of the regular season and the Chase. Kurt Busch has been under the radar for most of the season this year, but he looks to be improving heading to the Chase and this could be his year to run well in the Chase.

2. Jeff Burton Filling in For Tony Stewart: How Will He Do For the Team?
        Last Saturday night, Tony Stewart struck Kevin Ward Jr. with his sprint car after Ward jumped out of his car to show his displeasure with Stewart. The accident left the racing world reeling and Stewart still hasn't completely recovered from the trauma of the tragedy. He is going to sit out his second straight race after missing last week's event at Watkins Glen. Jeff Burton was tapped to drive the car for this weekend and he will most likely be the driver on standby for the rest of the year in case Stewart doesn't want to race. I have just one question for Jeff Burton. How will he help the team in possibly a one off race for Stewart-Haas Racing? Let's be honest here. Burton was only decided as the driver of the car on Wednesday and he had to get used to the car throughout practice on Friday and Saturday, but I am expecting some good things out of him. He qualified in twenty seventh and will have to fight his way to the front, but he has a fast race car for sure. Give him about thirty to fifty laps to feel out the car at Michigan and he will be able to move his way through the field to contend. I discussed at New Hampshire that it could be his last race in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, but it looks like Michigan will be his final race in the series. If he does well today, though, I expect he will get another opportunity and could do well in this fast Chevrolet.

3. A.J. Allmendinger: Will He Perform Well in the Chase?
         In 2012, A.J. Allmendinger's career took an unexpected turn at Daytona in July. He was suspended from NASCAR due to a failed drug test and forced to attend the road to recovery program. He had a great ride with Penske Racing, but he was immediately fired and searching for a ride. Quickly, he moved through the program and returned to NASCAR in the Nationwide Series with Roger Penske again. He ran two of the road course races in 2013 and won both of them in style. He returned part time to the Cup Series at the end of 2013 with JTG-Daugherty Racing and moved full time to the team in 2014. It looked like the perfect opportunity for Allmendinger and he took advantage of it. He lead the most laps at Sonoma in June and came to the second road course at Watkins Glen with a ton of confidence. He took that confidence to a win and is now in the Chase for the first time in his young NASCAR career. After that recent turn of events for Allmendinger, I have just one question for him and his team. How will they perform in the Chase after winning the Watkins Glen race? Honestly, I had them wrote off if they happened to win a race this year, but I have changed my mind. This team isn't a team that runs at the back most weeks during the year. They have an alliance with Richard Childress Racing and they have a driver in Allmendinger who is no slouch when it comes to racing. They have proven they can race at any track on the schedule along with being there late when it counts. Don't expect them to run the table and take the title, but don't expect them to lay down after the first three events of the Chase and get eliminated.

4. Four Races to Go: Which Winless Drivers Have the Best Chance to Win and Make the Chase?
        It seems like just yesterday we were discussing the brand new Chase for this year and the beginning of the season with the Daytona 500, but we are now only four races until all the talk stops and the Chase really begins. Twelve drivers have won races up until now, which means four spots remain for winners or drivers who make it in on points in the last four races. There are still several drivers like Kasey Kahne, Greg Biffle, Clint Bowyer, Matt Kenseth, Ryan Newman, Kyle Larson, and others are without a win and looking to make the Chase on points. Still, though, they would love to win and guarantee a Chase spot. I have just one question for some of these winless drivers. Which winless drivers have the best chance to win and make the Chase? I think Greg Biffle and Kasey Kahne are the two drivers who have the best chance to win in these final four races. Biffle is on this list because we are at Michigan today, where Biffle is quite possibly the best to ever race at the track. He can easily take the win today and he will certainly be a factor in the event. Kasey Kahne is on this list because these next four tracks are all good tracks for him. He has won at all four tracks at least once including his first career win at Richmond in 2005. He is always a factor when we head to these tracks and I think he could take a win to a Chase berth. The other winless drivers this year have a chance to win as well, but I feel like Biffle and Kahne have the best chance to take the victory. 

5. My Pick to Win
        Michigan is a track where drivers are either really good there or really bad there. Jimmie Johnson is a good example of this fact. Johnson is one of the best to ever race in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, but he didn't win a race at Michigan until earlier this year in June. Some others have won a ton of races at Michigan like Greg Biffle and Dale Earnhardt Jr. These drivers look to me like they will be contenders today, but there are several others who have a chance to win today at Michigan. My picks for today's race are Joey Logano, Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Greg Biffle, Kasey Kahne, Kurt Busch, Brad Keselowski, and Jimmie Johnson. Some underdog picks to consider are Ryan Newman, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Jamie McMurray, and Paul Menard. Michigan is a very fast track where restarts and strategy are going to help decide the winner in the end. I am excited to see how the race unfolds. I won't be writing about it, but I will be watching to see who the next NASCAR Sprint Cup Series winner is. Still, I hope today's race is another fantastic one for 2014. Well, that is all for me today and until we meet again. 





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My Thoughts: 2014 Watkins Glen

        With five races left before the start of the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Chase, wins are the most important thing for all drivers. This race today, though, won't be the best opportunity for some drivers to win a race and make the Chase. The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is running the final road course race of the year at the 2.45 mile Watkins Glen road course that will test all drivers. It is the most diverse track remaining before the Chase and it will certainly provide a lot of excitement. Just think of the races, finishes, and wrecks we have had here in the past. Probably one of the best finishes in the past few years was at Watkins Glen in 2012. Kyle Busch was leading at the white flag, but he went spinning at the exit of the second turn thanks to Brad Keselowski. Keselowski took the lead, but he received some heat from Marcos Ambrose. The two went sliding through the grass and flying all around the track as they looked to take the win on an oil soaked track. In the end, Ambrose passed Keselowski and barely beat him to the line to take a fascinating victory. Plus, there have been some very big wrecks at Watkins Glen. Whenever we come to the track, everyone talks about Jimmie Johnson's huge crash in 2000 where he went sailing into an outside barrier in turn 1 due to brake issues. Everyone remembers the huge wreck in 2011 heading out of turn 1 for David Reutimann. Contact with Boris Said and a few other drivers led to David Reutimann piling into one of the barriers hard. His car went flying and it was heavily damaged, but he was okay after the incident. All this means one thing for today's race: it is going to be very wild. With that introduction, let us jump into these interesting topics for today's event. Today's topics include a discussion of two NASCAR road course ringers, a discussion of Carl Edwards, a discussion of Tony Stewart, a discussion of wild card events, and, of course, my pick to win. Well, let us jump into today's edition of my thoughts as we complete one year of this interesting series here on the website.

1. Which NASCAR Road Course Ringer Has the Best Chance to Win at Watkins Glen: Marcos Ambrose or A.J. Allmendinger?
       When we head to Watkins Glen, most of the drivers who contend from week to week remain contenders at the track, but there are always a few drivers who become contenders for this one week. Two major ones in today's race are Marcos Ambrose and A.J. Allmendinger. Ambrose has been in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for a good many years and he has taken two wins at the track. Allmendinger has been a pretty good Cup driver on all styles of tracks, but he has excelled at the road course tracks including two wins in the NASCAR Nationwide Series at road courses last year. All those statistics are good and mean a little heading into the race, but here is the major question concerning these two drivers. Which one of them has the best chance to take the victory today and make the Chase? I, honestly, believe Marcos Ambrose has the best chance in this afternoon's race. The main reason is just how good Ambrose has been at Watkins Glen in his career. In his six starts there, five of them have resulted in a top three finish with the exception of his thirty first place finish last year. Those are fantastic numbers and it seems like Ambrose will build on those today with his second place starting spot. A final reason is what is on the line for Ambrose today. If he wins this race, he will be another driver added to the list as a contender in the the new Chase this season. That would mean a lot for Ambrose, but it would also mean a lot for Richard Petty Motorsports to have both of their drivers in the Chase. I wouldn't be surprised if we see Ambrose standing tall in victory lane again after a fierce ninety lap race to complete the weekend sweep and jump into the Chase.

2. Carl Edwards: Can He Complete the Road Course Sweep?
         Some of you guys may be surprised to hear that the best NASCAR Sprint Cup Series regular at road courses in the past few races has been Carl Edwards. Edwards was very consistent at the road course races last season and he went to Sonoma this season and took the win over Jeff Gordon, who is probably the best ever at road courses. Edwards, who already has two wins this year, looks like a contender for a title, but he needs to gain some more consistency heading into the Chase. With all that in mind, I have just one question for Edwards. Will he be able to complete the road course sweep for this year? I think Edwards has a legitimate shot at today's win. Edwards didn't qualify well for the event with a sixteenth place starting spot, but starting spots really don't matter at the road course tracks. It is all about strategy and being there when the end of the race nears. Edwards was there late at Sonoma and he seemingly has the chance today to take his third win of the season. But we can't ever assume anything at Watkins Glen when the race nears the end. Edwards is going to have a fast car, but he has to keep his nose clean the entire race and be there at the end. I feel like he will be there and he could very well take the sweep at the end of the event to take his third win of the season.

3. Tony Stewart: Will He Finally Win a Race This Year?
        I decided on this topic yesterday afternoon around three o'clock, but things have changed significantly since then. What occurred last night at the Canandaigua Speedway in New York will forever change the lives of Tony Stewart and Kevin Ward Jr.'s family. Last night at around ten thirty, Tony Stewart and Kevin Ward Jr. made contact in a sprint car race at the track. The contact sent Ward spinning up the track and caused him to slam the wall hard. He came to a stop on track with damage, but he was unhurt. The caution waved and Ward was livid about the contact. He jumped out of his car as the leaders began to circle the track. He began pointing his finger at Stewart as they came around at caution pace. The driver in front of Stewart barely avoided Ward as he walked up to Stewart's moving car. Stewart didn't see Ward and he struck him at around fifty miles per hour. The contact sent Ward flying across the turn and onto the ground after being drug for a good many feet. The medical personnel came quickly to the scene. Ward was taken to the hospital, but he was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital. It was a tragedy and the twenty year old Ward was gone from the world in just a flash of a second. Since then, a lot of stories have been written and a lot of news networks have covered the situation, but I think they have failed to mention the point of the tragedy: a twenty year old is dead and his family's life is forever changed. It isn't good to look at him as a victim, but as a race car driver who had his life accidentally taken away way too early. The emotional toil of the incident forced Tony Stewart out of the car for the Watkins Glen race with Regan Smith taking his place in the event. This is going to be a rough time for Stewart these next few weeks and the last thing on his mind should be about winning a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. He needs to be focused on recovering from this event and moving along with the family of Ward. Today's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event will go on, but everyone will be thinking about Kevin Ward Jr. and his family and Tony Stewart as they move through this difficult time. Rest In Peace Kevin Ward Jr. and may his family be able to recover from this tragedy.

4. Will This Race Be the Biggest Wild Card Race of the Year?
         We always discuss Daytona and Talladega as being wild card races throughout the year, but we have to look at Watkins Glen as a wild card race now. Just think about the 2012 running of this race. Kyle Busch was leading on the final lap of the event, but he did not even come close to winning as he spun heading through the second turn. Brad Keselowski moved into the lead, but he was passed by Marcos Ambrose several times during the final lap. Ambrose walked away with the victory after one of the craziest last laps in Watkins Glen history. It was definitely a wild card event, but today's race has more on the line with the winner automatically getting a Chase bid if they didn't have a win previously. With all that in mind, I have one question for this event. Will it be the biggest wild card event of the year? Without a single doubt, it is definitely going to be the biggest wild card we see all year. The main reason is the amount of drivers who have a chance to win today, but they normally wouldn't be able to win a race in the series. Think about Marcos Ambrose, A.J. Allmendinger, and others like these drivers who can win today and make their way into the Chase. They will all be fighting for the win and the event could become wild with all the strategy calls and all the battles throughout the pack. We could be talking about the best race of the year when it is all said and done and it is sure to be a good fight.

5. My Pick to Win
        There has been one key word throughout this edition of my thoughts: winning. Throw all numbers and statistics out the window for these final five races because it is all about winning a race. Yes, some drivers are going to get in on points, but they are still concerned about winning before the Chase starts. I feel like a few drivers will win and take their own Chase spot, but some will be left out of the battle because they didn't get a much needed win. It will be interesting to follow all day long to see if somebody can take their first win and jump into the Chase for the championship. I have a good many picks for today's races at Watkins Glen. Picks for today's race include Marcos Ambrose, Jeff Gordon, A.J. Allmendinger, Kevin Harvick, Carl Edwards, Kurt Busch, and Brad Keselowski. Some underdog drivers to look at today are Dale Earnhardt Jr., Matt Kenseth, Jamie McMurray, and Ryan Newman to take the win. Well, we have been through a lot already before this race, but it is now time to race and see who will win a road course race. It will definitely be a battle all day long and it will be a fun race to watch. I am not writing about it today, but I will be watching to see what happens at the Glen. Well, that is all for me and until we meet again.




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My Thoughts: 2014 Pocono #2

        Six races remain before the start of the 2014 Chase and only one word describes them: diverse. The road course named Watkins Glen, the two mile Michigan Speedway, the half mile oval known as Bristol, the mile and a half Atlanta Motor Speedway, and the three fourths of a mile Richmond International Raceway are five of the six, but the most diverse of these tracks is this weekend: the two and a half mile Pocono Raceway. The track only has three distinct corners and it is one of the trickiest tracks on the circuit. It isn't called “The Tricky Triangle” for no reason. The track has been home to some great finishes in the past and one of them was in this race last August. Jeff Gordon and Kasey Kahne lined up side by side on the final restart of the day. Gordon got the jump on Kahne heading to turn 1, but Kahne didn't let out of the gas and powered around Gordon's outside. Kahne ran away and was able to take the win with ease over his teammate. The win guaranteed Kahne a Chase spot and it propelled him through the ten race stretch. Another good finish was at this track just a couple of months ago. Brad Keselowski was leading late, but his grille became covered with trash. He attempted to clean his grille by catching up to Danica Patrick, but his momentum slowed enough to allow Dale Earnhardt Jr. to pass him for the lead. Earnhardt held on and took the win ahead of Keselowski, who was bummed about giving up the win. One key to follow in all Pocono races wasn't mentioned in these finishes, but it is definitely fuel strategy. Fuel is key to winning a race at Pocono and whoever has the best fuel strategy will end up winning the race. With that introduction, I have some topics to discuss with you guys today. Topics include a driver leaving his organization next year, a new crew chief jumping on the box for a historic driver, a team receiving harsh fines after Indy, an up and coming driver heading to a historic organization, and, finally, my pick to win the second Pocono race. Well, let us jump into these exciting topics before the race begins today. 

1. Carl Edwards Not Returning to Roush-Fenway Racing in 2015: Where Will He Go?
        News broke at around 10:30 last week before Sunday's John Wayne Walding 400 about who would drive for Roush-Fenway Racing in 2015. It turned out to be a press conference about who wouldn't drive for Roush next year. The one driver who wouldn't: Carl Edwards, who had been with the team since his debut in Cup in 2004 and along with a couple years in the Truck Series. Edwards had been rumored to be leaving the team, but now it is official. The man who finished second in the points in 2008 and 2011 will be behind the wheel of another car next season. The key question is this one. What team will he be racing for next year? It seems without a doubt that Edwards will be taking his talents to Joe Gibbs Racing next year and I feel like this is a good fit. The main reason I see this as a good fit is the drivers Edwards would have around him. Kyle Busch, Matt Kenseth, Denny Hamlin, and Carl Edwards on the same team sounds like a very formidable team in NASCAR. Between those drivers is one hundred and seven NASCAR Sprint Cup Series wins along with Kenseth's 2003 Cup title. Edwards would fit in well as a fourth driver on the team and he could grab some more wins. Another reason is that all of these drivers are from about the same era of NASCAR. Kenseth started a few years before the other three, but Hamlin, Edwards, and Busch started their Cup careers around the same time. That means they would have similar experiences in Cup and they would be able to relate to each other behind the wheel. Honestly, I think this move for Edwards will hand him some more Cup wins and hand him a championship along the way behind the wheel of a fast Toyota.

2. Greg Ives Will Be Crew Chief for Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 2015: How Well Will the Duo Work Together?
        It was announced earlier this year that Steve Letarte would be leaving as crew chief for Dale Earnhardt Jr. and head to the NBC Sports booth to cover NASCAR races for the network next season. Amidst all that, it was not known who would be on top of the box for NASCAR's most popular driver. Now, we know without a doubt who will be there. Greg Ives, the chief engineer for five of Jimmie Johnson's championships and current crew chief for Chase Elliott in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, will be the man on Junior's pit next season. Elliott's car, which is owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr., has been fast the entire year including three wins with Ives at the reins. That means Earnhardt has knowledge of Ives ability as a leader and Rick Hendrick knows he will be a good leader of a Cup team. Here is the question for the duo, though. How will they work together next year after Earnhardt's success this season? I think Earnhardt will run really well with Ives guiding him every race. The main reason is the connection the two have with Ives working for Junior's Nationwide team. It is a testament to Greg Ives that one of the most notable drivers in the sport would want him to guide one of the young faces in NASCAR and they haven't disappointed this year. Three wins in twenty races is not something that comes easily especially the win Chase Elliott had at Darlington earlier this year. To me, that means that Greg Ives knows how to lead a team. Another reason is the two are pretty similar. Earnhardt is a rather quiet guy who doesn't talk too much during interviews, but he is pretty outspoken on the radio with what adjustments he wants. Ives is very good and making sure his driver receives the right adjustment and he will be able to calm Earnhardt down in certain situations. I feel like this is a formidable duo next year and we will be talking a lot about their success.

3. Denny Hamlin and Team Fined After Indianapolis Infraction: Were the Penalties Too Harsh?
       One of the major stories leaving Indianapolis was the infraction Denny Hamlin's team had committed. The firewall in the back of the car, which protects the driver from fires, was found to have holes in it. That is illegal according to the rule book because it could harm the driver and it adds a lot of downforce to the back of the car, which was the intention of the team. The penalties following this were pretty hefty. Darian Grubb, Hamlin's crew chief, and the team's car chief, Wesley Sherrill, were both fined and suspended for six races, which means they will be back for the first Chase race of the year. Hamlin was docked seventy five driver points and seventy five owner points along with receiving some fines of his own. That doesn't affect making the Chase for Hamlin because he already has a win on the year and is locked into the ten race battle for a title. Here is the question I have concerning this issue. Were the penalties for the entire number eleven team too harsh? I don't think they were harsh at all. Keep in mind that we are discussing driver safety here. When teams start messing with areas that are designed to protect a driver, I believe they should receive max fines and penalties. I mean, that was a stupid call to make for twenty pounds of rear downforce if you could hurt your driver in the end. I think the whole team knew a penalty was coming and they decided to go for it, but NASCAR caught them and now they are paying the right consequences.

4. Ryan Blaney Driving for the Wood Brothers in 2015: Is That a Smart Move?
        Ryan Blaney isn't a household name yet in NASCAR competition, but his last name is a very notable one in our sport. Ryan's father, Dave Blaney, was and still is a great USAC sprint car racer and he has had some great runs in NASCAR for many years now. These next few years, though, are going to be the years of Ryan Blaney. Next year, Blaney will head to the Wood Brothers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series to run the limited schedule the team runs every year. Along with that, Blaney will run full time in either the Nationwide Series or the Truck Series, but most likely the Nationwide Series. None of that is official yet, but Blaney's part time move to Cup next year is official. I have one question about this new job for Blaney. Is it a smart move to run Cup part time during the next few years for Blaney? I believe it is an extremely smart move for him to run some Cup races next year. I have discussed before about how Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, the Dillon brothers, Darrell Wallace Jr., and others are the future of our sport, but Ryan Blaney is definitely the future of our sport. The kid can drive for sure considering he has won in the Nationwide Series and the Truck Series during his little time in NASCAR. He is really fast and this gig Blaney now has to drive in Cup is a fantastic one. He will get some experience along with running with the best drivers in the sport. Blaney will definitely be full time in Cup in a few years, but these runs he will have these next few years will really help him out.

5. My Pick to Win
         In the last edition of my thoughts for Pocono, I discussed how the track was kind of a driver's race track. It takes a certain mold of a driver to succeed at Pocono and not every driver likes the track. Then, there are the drivers who absolutely love when the series pulls into “The Tricky Triangle”. Those drivers are the ones who will be the drivers to beat today. But don't forget about strategy. One strategy call could take the dominator of the event out of the battle for the win and hand the win to a driver who wasn't expecting to run up front. Plus, the finish could become crazy thanks to strategy and we see a fantastic race in the Pocono mountains. I have a good many picks to win today's race and they will all be contenders for the win. Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski, Tony Stewart, Kyle Larson, Kevin Harvick, and Ryan Newman are good picks to win today's race. Brian Vickers, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and Austin Dillon are possible underdog winners of today's race. Pocono is always an exciting track and I feel like today's event will be another exciting show. I am excited to write about it and watch as the action unfolds over four hundred long miles. Well, that is all for me and until we meet again. 





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