My Thoughts: 2014 Texas

        Texas Motor Speedway. Ever since NASCAR started heading to the track in 1997, the action has always been fierce and fun to watch. The track has held some great finishes in the past. Most fans remember the battle for the win between Elliott Sadler and Kasey Kahne in 2004. The two came door-to-door at the line and Sadler barely walked away with the win. Last year's events were action packed as well and very crucial to the championship in the end. Kyle Busch won the spring race a season ago in dominating fashion after he started from the pole. Jimmie Johnson came back in the fall at Texas and dominated the race to take the win. The win at Texas, ultimately, handed the championship to Johnson and it has been a good track for him recently. Along with all the contenders you have to consider at Texas, strategy and tires have to be considered as well. Typically at Texas, green flag runs can be expected. Because of this, each team needs the perfect strategy and the one with the best one usually wins. Also, tires are a key part of the event. Texas has a very abrasive surface and fresh tires are key for a win each and every year. When the race goes green today, each team will be battling these factors in a fast five hundred mile battle in the Lone Star State. I have a good many topics to talk about today as we head into the Texas battle. Topics include a discussion of Austin Dillon, a discussion of a struggling manufacturer this weekend, a discussion of Kurt Busch, a discussion of Tony Stewart and his pole, and, of course, my pick to win today's race. Let us go ahead and dive in to these crucial topics for today's race.

1. Austin Dillon: Has He Exceeded Expectations?
         After six very diverse races in the Cup Series, it is pretty much time for evaluations of driver performance. I am going to start off today by giving my evaluation of Austin Dillon this year. If you recall, Dillon took a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series title and a NASCAR Nationwide Series title before heading to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series as a rookie in 2014. Of course, the expectations were set pretty high considering he is running the number three for Richard Childress Racing, which was most famously used by Dale Earnhardt Sr. Here is my question for Austin Dillon and his team heading into the seventh race of the season. Have they been able to exceed expectations? I say they legitimately have. I mean, Dillon is usually horrendous at the start of the race. In fact, in almost every single race this season, my dad and I have joked about the future of our sport out there running outside the top 20. Basically, we think Childress has messed up. Then, by the end, this boy has it figured out. I mean, he has finished in the top 20 in basically all the races this season. Plus, he took the pole in the Daytona 500, which is usually one of the most talked about qualifying sessions of the entire season. Dillon followed that pole up with a top 10 in his first race in his rookie campaign. Pretty much the only thing he hasn't done yet is win a race. Opportunities for him to do so are coming up and he could very well take one of those opportunities to a win. To finish off my argument, Dillon is ninth in the points standings and ahead of drivers like Kasey Kahne, Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch, Tony Stewart, Clint Bowyer, and others that have experience in the sport. All in all, Dillon has done well for himself in a very pressure filled ride in NASCAR's highest series.

2. What Is Wrong With the Toyotas This Weekend?
        This question floated across my mind the entire weekend through qualifying and practice. What is wrong with the Toyota drivers this weekend? Now, listen to me before I start this discussion. I don't think Toyota will struggle the entire race, but this weekend has been a complete struggle for them. Denny Hamlin and Brian Vickers were the only two Toyota drivers to make it into the second round of qualifying on Saturday. Hamlin was the only one to make it to the final round and he qualified sixth, which isn't too terrible, but everybody else was horrendous, to say the least. Clint Bowyer qualified twenty fifth, Matt Kenseth qualified twenty sixth, and Kyle Busch qualified a very measly twenty ninth. The bad thing about Busch is that one season ago he started on the pole at Texas and won the race in dominating fashion. The only thing I see wrong with the Toyota this weekend is that they just aren't fast. It seems like they are practically a mile per hour slower than the rest of the field at any part of the track. Now, speed is extremely important at Texas. I feel like Toyota will have this issue figured out when the race goes green this weekend and they will have some contenders at the front.

3. Kurt Busch: Is He Finally Back?
        Last week's race at Martinsville for Kurt Busch was like his recent career. The early part of the day for Busch was like the down part of his career. Busch made contact with Brad Keselowski on pit road and he thought his day was over. Busch began to charge back through the field and by the end of the race, he was battling Jimmie Johnson for the win. Busch was able to beat Johnson in a fantastic battle and he took his first win since October of 2011. Because of that win, Busch has made it to the top of the mountain and he is now in the Chase. The question I have for Kurt Busch is a very simple one. Is he finally back to perfect form in NASCAR? I truly think he is. I mentioned this in my write-up about last week's race, but Kurt Busch seems to have experienced a complete attitude change recently. I mean, normally, Busch would be pretty angry after the incident with Keselowski in the pits. The key thing is he didn't get angry, really. He stayed pretty calm and he was able to keep himself up near the front of the pack. His ability to stay calm ultimately led to the win and now a Chase spot. Plus, he is with a pretty good team. Stewart-Haas Racing has several drivers who are the top tier of NASCAR currently and the past few years. Busch is now in the right hands for the future and he looks to be ready to make his way back to the championship.

4. Tony Stewart on Pole: Is Today His Day?
         Another part of the Stewart-Haas Racing quartet of drivers is the boss and leader of the group, Tony Stewart. If you haven't heard about Stewart's problems recently, I will save everybody the trouble and not repeat them. If you want to read about his struggles, you guys can check my post the day after his incident last August and see all about it. Nonetheless, he has experienced some hard times recently. His return at the beginning of this year was also a little bit of a struggle, but he has turned it on recently as we approach his favorite part of the season: the summer. Yesterday, he took his first pole of the season and he looks fast. I have one question for Tony Stewart and the rest of his guys. Is today their day to have a good run? I really believe it is. First, take a look at these statistics before we get into the real part of the answer. Last year in the two Texas races, Kyle Busch started first and took the win and Jimmie Johnson took the win after starting third. That means somebody from either the top 5 or the late part of the top 10 will win the race. Well, Stewart starts in the first half of the field. Another part to this is Stewart's attitude recently. I mean, after winning the pole yesterday he looked ready and confident. I mean, he was pumped about the pole and it looks like he will be a legitimate contender for the rest of the year. Hopefully, Stewart makes his way back to the top in NASCAR and he returns to the great form we saw just a few years ago.

5. My Pick to Win
        Last week's race at Martinsville went how everyone expected. Jimmie Johnson dominated the day, but a surprise winner took the checkered flag: Kurt Busch. Busch battled back from problems early in the race to take the win late. Really, today's race can't be compared to that. Texas Motor Speedway races are completely about strategy. Tires are very key and since it has rained there all day, tires and strategy will be a huge factor, considering the race might be run partially under night time conditions. To add to that, guys who were good throughout the weekend might not be good at night and the opposite might be true for guys near the back. Only time will tell how the race goes. I think some good picks for today's race are Jimmie Johnson, Tony Stewart, Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards, Brad Keselowski, Kasey Kahne, Kevin Harvick, Clint Bowyer, and Jeff Gordon. Marcos Ambrose, Trevor Bayne, and Ryan Newman are also underdog picks to look at when the race nears the end. Well, rain has struck NASCAR again today. It looks like the race will finish by tonight, but I won't be able to write about it. Next week, the series heads to Darlington Raceway and I will be there for both races on the weekend. I am beyond excited and ready to go to Darlington for what is sure to be a good set of races. Expect some articles with pictures on my trip throughout the next week after the races. Well, that is all I have for today and until we meet again.




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My Thoughts: Texas

            With only three races left in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season, we are still left with even more questions than answers. We do know that Matt Kenseth and Jimmie Johnson are tied right now in the points, but we don't know who is in prime position to win the championship. We know that Matt Kenseth has had more success on the mile and a half tracks this year than Jimmie Johnson, but we don't know who is better coming down the home stretch. Plus, an added wrinkle was put into place last week at Martinsville. Jeff Gordon walked away with the win at Martinsville and now he only sits twenty seven points away from the points lead. Also, Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch are only twenty eight and thirty six points away, respectively. Jeff Gordon has definitely been the most consistent of these drivers thus far in the Chase and has went from being added at the last minute to the Chase to possibly winning his fifth championship. Can he do it or will another driver take the title away? I can't tell you the answers yet, but I hope my thoughts will clear up a little bit of the confusion. Today's topics for my thoughts include a driver signing with a new team, a Nationwide driver making his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start, who I think is the biggest threat for the championship, a new legitimate contender in the battle, and the feature topic of my thoughts: my pick to win. Let us go ahead and dive into the craziness that is my thoughts for the fall race at Texas.

1. Martin Truex Jr. Officially Signs with Furniture Row Racing; Will He Succeed?
        Finally, the most expected move thus far this year was officially announced this week. Furniture Row Racing announced that they had signed Martin Truex Jr. to a multi-year deal in the #78. This is a great piece of news. For one, Truex deserves a wonderful ride like the Furniture Row Racing #78. After the raw deal he was cut with Michael Waltrip Racing, he needs anything to get back on track and this is the perfect way. But will Truex succeed in his new ride? I think the answer to that question is a very definite yes. One major reason is the strides Truex has made in the past few years. Truex has transformed from a decent driver with an okay ride to a usual Chase driver with a great ride. Personally, I think FRR has better equipment than MWR. Since the equipment is better, I think Truex can take more wins than he has the past few years. A second and final reason is just the reputation Truex has. Now, he will probably never get away from the belief that he is a cheater due to what happened at Richmond, but as a true fan, we know that he is a down to earth guy and a great driver to beat. This respect in the garage will definitely go a long way to make sure that he has a good ride. I mean, think about it. People are not going to support you or give you a ride if you don't have respect, but they will definitely give you a good ride if you have that respect. I think this will go a long way for Truex in the future and I hope he will succeed well with Furniture Row Racing.

2. Parker Kligerman Making His Sprint Cup Debut; How Will He Perform?
        A up and coming driver was given his first opportunity this week in Sprint Cup to perform. It was announced that Parker Kligerman was given his first chance to drive a Sprint Cup Series car with Swan Racing. I think this is completely awesome for Kligerman. For one, Kligerman deserves chances. I mean, he was amazing with Brad Keselowski Racing in the Truck Series, but Keselowski let him go. Then, he went to Red Horse Racing where he took a victory at Talladega last year. Now, he is driving for Kyle Busch in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and has had a lot of success. I think this means he deserves a chance in the highest division of the sport and I thank Brandon Davis and Swan Racing for giving him that opportunity. But will Kligerman perform well in his first start? I think he will perform well compared to his equipment. I mean, Swan Racing is not a top tier team. This means the expectations for a finish shouldn't be extremely high due to the equipment, but you have to factor that in to the finish. If Kligerman finishes in the top 25, that should be a win for himself and his team. Do I want him to finish way better than that? Heck yes. Shoot, I would like for him to win, but I know it is not going to happen so I am going to keep my expectations high, but not crazy. Nonetheless, I think Kligerman will show us something today and he will become a very good rookie driver in the future.

3. Jimmie Johnson or Matt Kenseth: Who is the Biggest Threat For the Title?
         There is a key question regarding the championship with three races left to go. Who is the bigger threat for the title: Jimmie Johnson or Matt Kenseth? Based on how everything sits right now, I think that Matt Kenseth is the biggest threat. Yes, that is probably crazy. Jimmie Johnson is always the biggest guy in the battle for the title in the Chase, but you have to look at what has happened thus far this year. For one, Matt Kenseth has been extremely successful on mile and a half tracks. Four of his seven wins this year have come on mile and a half tracks and he has been the best at these races even when he wasn't winning. Jimmie Johnson has not had the same success with no wins this year at the mile and a half tracks. This could go a long way in deciding who walks away with the championship at Homestead. A second and final reason is the amount of consistency Matt Kenseth has shown this year. Whether the series was at a big track or a small track, Kenseth was somewhere in the vicinity of the front. Yes, his finishes don't reflect that sometimes, but racing is just as important as finishing. Jimmie Johnson, on the other hand, was at the front most of the season this year, but he did have some dry spells where he did not finish good. Just based on these examples, I believe Matt Kenseth is the biggest threat for the title, but anything can happen in these last few races.

4. Is Jeff Gordon in the Championship Battle After His Win at Martinsville?
         Well, we thought we knew the battle for the championship was between only two drivers, but that all changed last week at Martinsville. Jeff Gordon took the victory at Martinsville and moved his way into the battle with Jimmie Johnson and Matt Kenseth. Even though he is close to the front of the battle, the question is still raised: is he a legitimate contender in the battle? I truly believe he is a legitimate contender. One reason is his consistency in the Chase. I mean, he was added to the Chase two days before it began. This meant he really wasn't supposed to be there, but he definitely is now. Gordon has been the most consistent driver thus far in the Chase and he will gain on the two leaders in the final three races. A second and final reason is just Gordon's credentials in his career. Gordon is a four time champion and has won a lot of races. Yes, he hasn't been a champion in a while. Yes, he hasn't won that many races recently. But the drive never leaves a driver. Occasionally, they fall behind the pack, but they always make it back up. I think this is Gordon's time and he needs to take full advantage of that. With all this evidence in mind, I think it is no longer a two man battle, but a three or possibly four man battle as the series heads into the final stretch of the 2013 season.

5. My Pick to Win
         Last week, Jeff Gordon took his first win of the season at the smallest track on the circuit at Martinsville. Last time at Texas, Kyle Busch sat on the pole and took the victory after late strategy gave him the lead. Last time at Texas in the Chase, Jimmie Johnson sat on the pole and won the race. Today, I think that the race will be extremely crazy and one that will not give away the winner until the final few laps. Hopefully, that is the case because a great race sounds like an awesome thing at Texas. Today, I think Matt Kenseth, Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski, Kasey Kahne, and Carl Edwards are good picks to take the victory in the shootout at Texas. I thank you guys for once again reading through my thoughts. If you have differing opinions on the issues I discussed, let me know what you think in the comments below. I will continue to write for you guys as much as possible, but I will not be able to write about the race today. I hope you guys understand and continue to read my writing. Hopefully, today's race is still very enjoyable and until we meet again.




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