It’s hard to
believe we only have 10 more races till the Chase! With that, comes the talk of
the wildcard battle. This is the beginning of a showdown between a group of
drivers fighting for those two elusive spots that will get them in the Chase
for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Who will be the ones to just barely get in the top
10 and who will be the two to clinch the WC (Wildcard) spots, either by points
or by wins? Here are my thoughts about 6 possible contenders in current
position order.
10th – Martin Truex Jr.
I have to say, I thought that Martin
would just miss a WC spot because he wouldn’t get a win... not anymore! Currently,
he is 8 points inside the top 10, but I don’t think he will stay there. Luckily
for him, with the win at Sonoma, he just became one of the top contenders for
the WC. I think Martin will run strong enough to stay somewhere between 11th
– 14th, and will be one to watch.
11th – Kasey Kahne
Kasey stands 8 points outside of the
top 10, but I don’t think that will be for long. Kasey had a 3 race streak of
finishing outside of the top 20, but rallied back at Sonoma with a 6th.
If Kasey gets back to the way he usually runs, I don’t think he will have to
use his win to get in the Chase. I can see Kasey climbing back into the top 10,
and getting out of the WC talk completely.
13th – Jeff Gordon
Jeff, so far, has had another crazy
year, which makes it hard to predict how he might do. Jeff is 12 points outside
of the top 10, and because of his finishes, I think he will stay in that
vicinity. He did have a 2nd place finish, though, and if he finishes
decent this week at Kentucky, it might mark the start of an upswing. If that
proves true, I think he may be a contender for the wildcard. As we saw in 2012,
you can never count Jeff out. Because he won the fall Pocono race, he was able
to clinch a WC spot and finished 10th last season.
14th – Joey Logano
Joey is one of the four drivers I
highlighted in a previous article “The Silent Four”. Since then he has
continued to do well. He has gained 4 positions in the standings and is now in
14th, just 14 points outside the top 10! In the last 5 races he has
4 top 10’s and an 11th place finish. I think Joey could continue rising
all the way to 12th, but will probably need a WC spot to get in the
Chase. With how he has been running lately, I wouldn’t be surprised if a win is
just around the corner.
15th – Tony Stewart
Tony has been up and down in his
finishes all year, which makes him even more unpredictable. He sits 15th,
20 points out. The first part of the season, Tony did not do well at all.
Lately, he had a streak of 5 races in the top 15, but that was just stopped by
a 28th place finish at Sonoma. I can see Tony going down in the
standings as easily as I can see him going up! What will be in Tony’s favor,
though, is the very likely possibility of getting a 2nd win. Of these
six drivers, he is one of the few who I think can. If he does, he will almost
certainly clinch a WC spot.
17th – Kurt Busch
Kurt is definitely a contender for
the WC spot, despite being in 17th, 28 points out. That will be a
problem for Kurt, but as we have all seen, he has been running good. He has 3
top 10s in the last 5 races, and I think could win a race any week now. If he
does, he’s going to improve his rank in the standings. There are, however, too
many guys ahead of him that are primed for a win…so much so, that the two
wildcard takers will probably both be somewhere between 11th – 15th.
If he can make it into the top 15, he will probably be bigger threat.
The Wildcard spots were a great
addition that NASCAR added to the Chase. Because of it, we get to enjoy an
intense battle as the chase approaches. You could say it’s like an appetizer
right before the main course. I’m looking forward to it this year and with
that… Let the battle begin!
6/29/13
6/22/13
Kurt and Dale
Kurt Busch and Dale Earnhardt Jr…
I think they have something in common. What possibly could that be? Well, public image changes recently.
Let me explain. I have been noticing changes in “public” Dale in the last 2 years and changes in Kurt just in the last few months. When you see them in an interview now, they are different then how they once were. They seem calm, relaxed, articulate, and smooth. How did they get there, though? I believe it is something they might have in common as well: People in their life. Before, Dale Earnhardt Jr. did not seem to like interviews with the media. He seemed rather uncomfortable and ready to get it over with. When asked a question, he would give short answers and often look at the ground. Then came the 10th anniversary of his father’s passing and his pairing up with Steve Letarte as his crew chief. That’s when I started to notice a change. I think the 10 year mark of the day his father passed was somewhat of a closure for Junior. That day will always hurt, but I think he has finally come to terms with it. Also, Steve seems to have pulled Earnhardt slowly out of his shell. Earnhardt admitted in an interview a few years ago that while he was at the track, he stayed mostly in his RV. He didn’t go restaurants around the track or other public outings like that. When Letarte became his crew chief, though, he helped Dale get out more and enjoy the uniqueness of each track’s town. The two seem not only to get along well, but work together well, too. Dale seems happier, healthier, and more motivated than he has been in a long time. Because of that, I’ve seen a completely new side of Dale.
Two things last year caught my eye. First, Dale wrote a heart-felt letter to his 16 year old self. It was very reflective and read like something that he put a lot of time and thought into. It showed a much deeper side of him. After that, because he said he felt compelled, Dale wrote a good-sized article about his love for the Washington Redskins. Dale became literary Dale, and was good at it too! Who knew that the guy who usually answered questions in no more than 10 words, could express himself in that way! Then the change became noticeable in his interviews. He elaborated in way he had never done before and actually seemed relaxed. To take it a step further, Dale actually commentated part of the Michigan Nationwide race! I thought he did very well. Along with these changes off track, has come changes on track. Dale has become a better driver and the whole team is performing great. I think Dale is on the rise, and will soon start getting those wins.
Now let’s talk about Kurt. I honestly thought Kurt was done. After all the rants, threats to the media, fines, suspensions, and getting demoted to a “B” team, the only thing that seemed to keep Kurt from disappearing completely was his large amount of talent. In the recent months though, I have seen a change I never thought I would see, and I think it came from his girlfriend, Patricia Driscoll. She has stood by her man and has maybe even helped him get through one of the big obstacles in his path: his perspective toward and relationship with the media. As everyone knows, Kurt hated the media with a passion. He seemed uncomfortable, annoyed, short-tempered, and impatient. It got him in trouble a few times too. It makes you wonder if Patricia has worked with Kurt to help him feel less tense around the media, control his temper, and give good, articulate answers. As president of the Armed Forces Foundation, she would be very skilled in addressing the media and developing a good relationship with them. As I watched Kurt in an interview Sunday, before the Michigan race, the change was very apparent. He seemed relaxed and happy, like he was enjoying the interview! His answers were great, and for the first time in a long time, he looked marketable. Patricia may be Kurt’s miracle worker, and she very well might have saved his career. Even if you are not a Kurt fan, you could see a side of him last Sunday that was a lot more likeable.
I’m glad to have seen changes for the better in both of them, and I think it will serve them well in the future.
I think they have something in common. What possibly could that be? Well, public image changes recently.
Let me explain. I have been noticing changes in “public” Dale in the last 2 years and changes in Kurt just in the last few months. When you see them in an interview now, they are different then how they once were. They seem calm, relaxed, articulate, and smooth. How did they get there, though? I believe it is something they might have in common as well: People in their life. Before, Dale Earnhardt Jr. did not seem to like interviews with the media. He seemed rather uncomfortable and ready to get it over with. When asked a question, he would give short answers and often look at the ground. Then came the 10th anniversary of his father’s passing and his pairing up with Steve Letarte as his crew chief. That’s when I started to notice a change. I think the 10 year mark of the day his father passed was somewhat of a closure for Junior. That day will always hurt, but I think he has finally come to terms with it. Also, Steve seems to have pulled Earnhardt slowly out of his shell. Earnhardt admitted in an interview a few years ago that while he was at the track, he stayed mostly in his RV. He didn’t go restaurants around the track or other public outings like that. When Letarte became his crew chief, though, he helped Dale get out more and enjoy the uniqueness of each track’s town. The two seem not only to get along well, but work together well, too. Dale seems happier, healthier, and more motivated than he has been in a long time. Because of that, I’ve seen a completely new side of Dale.
Two things last year caught my eye. First, Dale wrote a heart-felt letter to his 16 year old self. It was very reflective and read like something that he put a lot of time and thought into. It showed a much deeper side of him. After that, because he said he felt compelled, Dale wrote a good-sized article about his love for the Washington Redskins. Dale became literary Dale, and was good at it too! Who knew that the guy who usually answered questions in no more than 10 words, could express himself in that way! Then the change became noticeable in his interviews. He elaborated in way he had never done before and actually seemed relaxed. To take it a step further, Dale actually commentated part of the Michigan Nationwide race! I thought he did very well. Along with these changes off track, has come changes on track. Dale has become a better driver and the whole team is performing great. I think Dale is on the rise, and will soon start getting those wins.
Now let’s talk about Kurt. I honestly thought Kurt was done. After all the rants, threats to the media, fines, suspensions, and getting demoted to a “B” team, the only thing that seemed to keep Kurt from disappearing completely was his large amount of talent. In the recent months though, I have seen a change I never thought I would see, and I think it came from his girlfriend, Patricia Driscoll. She has stood by her man and has maybe even helped him get through one of the big obstacles in his path: his perspective toward and relationship with the media. As everyone knows, Kurt hated the media with a passion. He seemed uncomfortable, annoyed, short-tempered, and impatient. It got him in trouble a few times too. It makes you wonder if Patricia has worked with Kurt to help him feel less tense around the media, control his temper, and give good, articulate answers. As president of the Armed Forces Foundation, she would be very skilled in addressing the media and developing a good relationship with them. As I watched Kurt in an interview Sunday, before the Michigan race, the change was very apparent. He seemed relaxed and happy, like he was enjoying the interview! His answers were great, and for the first time in a long time, he looked marketable. Patricia may be Kurt’s miracle worker, and she very well might have saved his career. Even if you are not a Kurt fan, you could see a side of him last Sunday that was a lot more likeable.
I’m glad to have seen changes for the better in both of them, and I think it will serve them well in the future.
6/14/13
A Team's Success
It seems like
whenever a driver is dominating and having success in a race, season, or series,
people think 3 things: it’s boring, it’s the car, and they’re cheating. At
least that seems to be the chatter when Jimmie Johnson is having success. I
understand that it can be boring when one driver dominates, but the other two
comments, I have a problem with. To me, it’s sad when a driver has had the
success that Jimmie has had at the top of the most competitive racing series in
America, and all that most people want to say is that it’s just because of the
car and they’re cheating.
So could it really be just the car? Well, think about this. Hendrick fields four cars and is known to have the best engines and chassis around. If they produce the best cars then, wouldn’t you think all 4 would be at the top of the standings? Jeff Gordon is 11th right now and hasn’t been running all that great. That is probably because of bad luck though, so you can’t accurately depict how he is running. Let’s look at Kasey Kahne. He has 1 DNF to Jeff’s 3 this year. Kasey sits 4th in the standings but has only had 4 top 10’s, which is only 28.6% of the races so far. He’s has placed 3rd three times this year, but has only been able to close the deal once. Dale Earnhardt Jr., like Kasey, has also had 1 DNF. Dale actually has the same number of top 10’s as Jimmie at 9, but 3 less top 5’s. He also doesn’t have any wins yet, and Jimmie has 3. Of full time drivers, Jimmie also has the highest average finish so far with 8.1. The next best is Carl with 11.1. Jimmie hasn’t had any DNF’s yet and is leading the standings by 51 points.
So actually the Hendrick guys have been all across the spectrum, and if you look at years past as, that statement still holds true. So why would this be? I think it’s one word: Team. From driver ability, to crew chief strategy, to pit crew agility, a team’s ability and togetherness is what can really make or break them. There’s been multiple times, where we’ve seen drivers who have not had the best car or who have faced adversity, end up winning the race over a strategy call or get a top 10 finish. I’m not saying that the car doesn’t factor in. If your car is not performing well, then you’re probably not going to be able to place well. With that being said, having the fastest car doesn’t guarantee a win, either. It’s not just the car that makes the team successful.
So what about cheating? I’m honestly tired of people saying a team is cheating or an organization is cheating just because they are running great… and it’s not just directed at team #48 and Hendrick. We’ve also been hearing it about JGR (Joe Gibbs Racing). The JGR bunch has really been running well… at least if they don’t blow their engine. I remember early on in Dover last week, about 5 of the Toyota cars were in the top 10, including all three JGR cars in the top 5! That’s not the only race we’ve seen Toyota’s strength either. That’s why some people say they’re cheating, but are they? Just because someone is running well, doesn’t mean that is the reason. It’s called innovation. There is a big difference between the two, but they are often misconstrued. Here is Merriam-Webster’s definition of each:
Cheat: To violate rules dishonestly.
Innovate: To make changes or do something in a new way.
The difference between the two in a sport is that one violates the rules and one works within them. Joe Gibbs or Toyota may have found something that the other teams haven’t yet. Maybe that’s why they have such strong cars… but quite frankly they have to find out what is causing their engines to blow up and fix it or it’s not exactly going to work for them that well. Maybe the reason why they are so strong is the same reason they are blowing up. Either way, that’s experimentation. It’s what has gotten the sport to where it is today. If a team isn’t innovating or at least trying their best to innovate, then they are not doing their job! Because of innovation we have one of the most hardest and competitive racing series in the world!
So to close my points, I think that it’s not just the car that makes a team successful, it’s the team’s ability, togetherness, and attitude towards adversity. When it does come to having a good car, though, I don’t think the only explanation is due to cheating. They might have just found an innovation, and it’s the other teams’ responsibility to figure it out, apply it, and find something else to improve on so they will maybe have an edge. It’s part of the job, and is what makes this sport great.
So could it really be just the car? Well, think about this. Hendrick fields four cars and is known to have the best engines and chassis around. If they produce the best cars then, wouldn’t you think all 4 would be at the top of the standings? Jeff Gordon is 11th right now and hasn’t been running all that great. That is probably because of bad luck though, so you can’t accurately depict how he is running. Let’s look at Kasey Kahne. He has 1 DNF to Jeff’s 3 this year. Kasey sits 4th in the standings but has only had 4 top 10’s, which is only 28.6% of the races so far. He’s has placed 3rd three times this year, but has only been able to close the deal once. Dale Earnhardt Jr., like Kasey, has also had 1 DNF. Dale actually has the same number of top 10’s as Jimmie at 9, but 3 less top 5’s. He also doesn’t have any wins yet, and Jimmie has 3. Of full time drivers, Jimmie also has the highest average finish so far with 8.1. The next best is Carl with 11.1. Jimmie hasn’t had any DNF’s yet and is leading the standings by 51 points.
So actually the Hendrick guys have been all across the spectrum, and if you look at years past as, that statement still holds true. So why would this be? I think it’s one word: Team. From driver ability, to crew chief strategy, to pit crew agility, a team’s ability and togetherness is what can really make or break them. There’s been multiple times, where we’ve seen drivers who have not had the best car or who have faced adversity, end up winning the race over a strategy call or get a top 10 finish. I’m not saying that the car doesn’t factor in. If your car is not performing well, then you’re probably not going to be able to place well. With that being said, having the fastest car doesn’t guarantee a win, either. It’s not just the car that makes the team successful.
So what about cheating? I’m honestly tired of people saying a team is cheating or an organization is cheating just because they are running great… and it’s not just directed at team #48 and Hendrick. We’ve also been hearing it about JGR (Joe Gibbs Racing). The JGR bunch has really been running well… at least if they don’t blow their engine. I remember early on in Dover last week, about 5 of the Toyota cars were in the top 10, including all three JGR cars in the top 5! That’s not the only race we’ve seen Toyota’s strength either. That’s why some people say they’re cheating, but are they? Just because someone is running well, doesn’t mean that is the reason. It’s called innovation. There is a big difference between the two, but they are often misconstrued. Here is Merriam-Webster’s definition of each:
Cheat: To violate rules dishonestly.
Innovate: To make changes or do something in a new way.
The difference between the two in a sport is that one violates the rules and one works within them. Joe Gibbs or Toyota may have found something that the other teams haven’t yet. Maybe that’s why they have such strong cars… but quite frankly they have to find out what is causing their engines to blow up and fix it or it’s not exactly going to work for them that well. Maybe the reason why they are so strong is the same reason they are blowing up. Either way, that’s experimentation. It’s what has gotten the sport to where it is today. If a team isn’t innovating or at least trying their best to innovate, then they are not doing their job! Because of innovation we have one of the most hardest and competitive racing series in the world!
So to close my points, I think that it’s not just the car that makes a team successful, it’s the team’s ability, togetherness, and attitude towards adversity. When it does come to having a good car, though, I don’t think the only explanation is due to cheating. They might have just found an innovation, and it’s the other teams’ responsibility to figure it out, apply it, and find something else to improve on so they will maybe have an edge. It’s part of the job, and is what makes this sport great.
6/13/13
In the Blink of an Eye
If you haven’t heard it yet, you’re going to hear it in
racing all weekend. The unthinkable happened. Wednesday night, Nationwide driver
Jason Leffler was killed in a heat race for the Sprint Car 410. I’m still in
shock. It all hasn’t quite sunk in yet, but does a little more so every hour.
This is the first time ever, since I have been watching NASCAR, that I have
experienced losing a driver. It hurts. I’m sure if I had seen it unfold, it
would have hurt more, but it still hurts. When this all happened, I was in the
middle of writing a review for Michael Waltrip’s book In the Blink of an Eye.
After I heard the news about Jason, I thought of it and realized, “Wow, things can change in the blink of an eye”.
I remember when Dan Wheldon passed in 2011. The only time I had watched him race was when he won the Indy 500 that year. When I started hearing the news on Twitter, I knew the name sounded familiar. I looked him up, and saw it was indeed the driver I had seen win that day. I felt sad, even though I hardly knew about him. Knowing more about Jason Leffler and watching him race several times, it hits at home more.
We watch our drivers race almost every week. We understand it is a dangerous sport, but I think we forget how dangerous it is sometimes. Safety innovations had given us that privilege. The safety measurements that we have today are probably the best innovation racing has ever had, but that still isn’t a guarantee. Sadly, sometimes things just happen.
One death that really stunned me was one that didn’t involve racing. Most people wouldn’t know about it, unless you watch XGames. Back in January, I was watching something I had never seen before: Snowmobile Best Trick. One by one, riders would go through the course, jump off each ramp, and perform the best tricks they could. Caleb Moore jumped off the ramp and performed a trick they said he had done many times before. He under rotated a flip though, sending both he and his snowmobile tumbling in the snow. At first, his injuries sounded minor, but they proved to be much more severe. He passed away later that week.
It really affected me for a few days, but in the end I realized something: These people are wired this way. They absolutely love doing what they do. They accept the risk that is in front them and would rather spend 25 years doing what they love, than a regular lifetime doing something else. The same goes for race car drivers. They accept that risk, and love doing what they do.
That’s what I am reminding myself of now. At the same time, I am remembering what Michael talks about in his book, relying on your faith. When Dale Sr. passed, he had to rely on his faith more than ever. In any hard time, that’s what you have to do. It is what will carry you through.
So Jason, we will miss you…Say "Hi" to Dale for us.
I remember when Dan Wheldon passed in 2011. The only time I had watched him race was when he won the Indy 500 that year. When I started hearing the news on Twitter, I knew the name sounded familiar. I looked him up, and saw it was indeed the driver I had seen win that day. I felt sad, even though I hardly knew about him. Knowing more about Jason Leffler and watching him race several times, it hits at home more.
We watch our drivers race almost every week. We understand it is a dangerous sport, but I think we forget how dangerous it is sometimes. Safety innovations had given us that privilege. The safety measurements that we have today are probably the best innovation racing has ever had, but that still isn’t a guarantee. Sadly, sometimes things just happen.
One death that really stunned me was one that didn’t involve racing. Most people wouldn’t know about it, unless you watch XGames. Back in January, I was watching something I had never seen before: Snowmobile Best Trick. One by one, riders would go through the course, jump off each ramp, and perform the best tricks they could. Caleb Moore jumped off the ramp and performed a trick they said he had done many times before. He under rotated a flip though, sending both he and his snowmobile tumbling in the snow. At first, his injuries sounded minor, but they proved to be much more severe. He passed away later that week.
It really affected me for a few days, but in the end I realized something: These people are wired this way. They absolutely love doing what they do. They accept the risk that is in front them and would rather spend 25 years doing what they love, than a regular lifetime doing something else. The same goes for race car drivers. They accept that risk, and love doing what they do.
That’s what I am reminding myself of now. At the same time, I am remembering what Michael talks about in his book, relying on your faith. When Dale Sr. passed, he had to rely on his faith more than ever. In any hard time, that’s what you have to do. It is what will carry you through.
So Jason, we will miss you…Say "Hi" to Dale for us.
6/12/13
JeLana
As I have watched
NASCAR, I have become familiar with many people besides the drivers. Pit
members, crew chiefs, PR people, and yes, wives. One of the most known wives
has to be DeLana Harvick. None of the other wives have been as involved with
the sport or their husband’s team. That’s what sets her apart from the others.
She became more known to me after the “Fire suit in the family” comment was
made, and that’s when I noticed that DeLana is a lot like my sister, Jen.
Both are very strong,
smart, independent woman. It was genius for DeLana to think of putting Joey’s
comment on a T-Shirt and sell them to raise money for the Harvick’s foundation!
I know if my sister was put in that situation, she would have done the same.
Both certainly are not going to let the man make all the decisions. They’re
also not very “frou-frou”. Seeing how similar they are, I decided to peg a
nickname on my sister: JeLana. It’s a morph of the two names with my sisters
first initial “J” replacing the “D” in DeLana’s name. I told my sister about it
and at first she didn’t understand, since she doesn’t watch NASCAR. I then
explained it to her and she thought it was cool.
Now, Jen and DeLana are both new moms. My sister’s daughter, Isla and DeLana’s son, Keelan are only two weeks apart, and it’s not only been interesting to see the two babies change, but also the moms. Here are two women who were all business, but now they have a “softer” side.
Here’s what I mean. DeLana tweeted this comment close to Easter: “Honest to God, I have no idea who I am... I'm perusing the aisles for Easter basket contents!!! And I don't want to slit my wrists.” Apparently, before motherhood, DeLana wasn’t into the sentimental. My sister was same the way, but now they have a new perspective. They both enjoy shopping for children’s’ holiday items all because of their little bundles of joy.
Here’s another tweet from DeLana: “When my day starts off with a kiss and a hug from Keelan there's a 100% chance nothing better could happen...” DeLana doesn’t strike me as a person who would have said that before about a baby. My sister certainly wasn’t! But now, when it comes to their babies, they feel the same way.
Over the last 10 months, I’ve seen a new look on their face. A look I haven’t seen before. It’s the joy motherhood has brought them and it’s pretty cool to see.
So as I close, I have to say, I’ve found it interesting how NASCAR affects my life. My sister and I are 13 years apart, so it is hard for us to relate, but because of these similarities, I’ve gotten to understand my sister better. So thank you NASCAR and thank you DeLana.
Now, Jen and DeLana are both new moms. My sister’s daughter, Isla and DeLana’s son, Keelan are only two weeks apart, and it’s not only been interesting to see the two babies change, but also the moms. Here are two women who were all business, but now they have a “softer” side.
Here’s what I mean. DeLana tweeted this comment close to Easter: “Honest to God, I have no idea who I am... I'm perusing the aisles for Easter basket contents!!! And I don't want to slit my wrists.” Apparently, before motherhood, DeLana wasn’t into the sentimental. My sister was same the way, but now they have a new perspective. They both enjoy shopping for children’s’ holiday items all because of their little bundles of joy.
Here’s another tweet from DeLana: “When my day starts off with a kiss and a hug from Keelan there's a 100% chance nothing better could happen...” DeLana doesn’t strike me as a person who would have said that before about a baby. My sister certainly wasn’t! But now, when it comes to their babies, they feel the same way.
Over the last 10 months, I’ve seen a new look on their face. A look I haven’t seen before. It’s the joy motherhood has brought them and it’s pretty cool to see.
So as I close, I have to say, I’ve found it interesting how NASCAR affects my life. My sister and I are 13 years apart, so it is hard for us to relate, but because of these similarities, I’ve gotten to understand my sister better. So thank you NASCAR and thank you DeLana.
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