Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Dover and Las Vegas weekend

Hey folks! Here's my take on the Dover and Las Vegas weekend. The Trucks were at Vegas and the Nationwide and Cup were at Dover.




Saturday afternoon was the Nationwide race at Dover. Kyle Busch won with 101 laps led, followed by pole-sitter Joey Logano with 95 laps led, rookie Chase Elliott with 1 laps led, rookie Chris Buescher and Elliott Sadler. Rounding out the top-10 were Kyle Larson, Brian Scott with 3 laps led, Regan Smith, Trevor Bayne and rookie Ty Dillon. With 5 races to go, Chase Elliott seems to have clinched Rookie of the Year and the top-6 names won't change, probably. Chase Elliott, Regan Smith, Ty Dillon, Brian Scott, Elliott Sadler and Trevor Bayne could move around in points, but only with multiple missed races could a driver fall from the top-6. Chris Buescher, the seventh place driver, though only 1 spot behind Trevor, his teammate is more than a race back in points, due to a Daytona DNQ in February. He wouldn't be as many points back, otherwise.  Their other teammate Ryan Reed's 9th. Trevor has MS and Ryan has diabetes, but they can each control their disease and race anyway. Chase Elliot and Regan Smith are the main title contenders. Other drivers not mathematically eliminated are long shots. Ty , in 3rd place is almost a full race back from Chase, who still leads.  If Chase chokes, which means he has a bad race or stretch of these, Regan Smith , teammate will overtake him in points. In addition to being a rookie, Chase is 18, 19 in November, so I think he could choke. Also, things outside the driver's control can cause a bad race. Another driver could hit him or he could have car trouble and either of these could cause a DNF. If it was a bad enough wreck or a blown engine, his race would be over that day.




Saturday night was the Truck race at Vegas. Erik Jones won with 19 laps led, followed by Darrell Wallace, Jr. with 84 laps led, Matt Crafton with 4 laps led, Timothy Peters with 26 laps led and Brian Ickler. Rounding out the top-10 were pole-sitter Ryan Blaney with 6 laps led, rookie Ben Kennedy, Jeb Burton, Taylor Malsam and Joey Coulter with 1 lap led. Bryan Silas led 2 laps and finished 12th. Rookie Tyler Reddick finished 15th with 2 laps led.   German Quiroga was 16th with 1 lap led. TJ Bell led 1 lap before a blown engine relegated him to 25th.




Sunday was the Cup race at Dover. Jeff Gordon won with 94 laps led, followed by Brad Keselowski with 78 laps led, Jimmie Johnson, Joey Logano and Matt Kenseth with 2 laps led. Rounding out the top-10 were rookie Kyle Larson, Martin Truex, Jr., Ryan Newman, Clint Bowyer with 1 lap led and Kyle Busch. Carl Edwards was 11th with 1 lap led. Pole-sitter Kevin Harvick was 13th with 223 laps led. Jamie Mcmurray was 22nd with 1 lap led. Kyle Larson and Austin Dillon are the best rookies and Kyle L. will probably be Rookie of the Year. The new Chase has eliminations and the first 4 to go were AJ Allmendinger, Kurt Busch, Greg Biffle and Aric Almirola. Allmendinger and Almirola were underdogs, as Allmendinger's more a road racer and Almirola won a plate race and their teams aren't the best. Allmendinger's team's small and Almirola's, is for some reason, just not that great. Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano and Jeff Gordon are in the next round on the win each has and the ones to be in on points are Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Matt Kenseth, Ryan Newman, Carl Edwards, Denny Hamlin and Kasey Kahne. Eight of these will make it to the next round, which starts in three races. Each Chase round's three races, until the final race. Four drivers will still have a shot then and the one with the best finish wins. Some people don't like the Chase, say no playoffs in motorsports. They don't think it's good in this kind of sport. I don't care too much. I like to watch motorsports and basketball. That's it, since I was 11, when I got over my sporty phase I had as a kid.


Come back next week for my take on Kansas.

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

New Hampshire and Kentucky Weekend + my life

Hey folks! Here's my take on the Truck and Cup races at New Hampshire and Nationwide race at Kentucky.




Saturday afternoon was the Truck race at New Hampshire. Polesitter Cole Custer won with 148 laps led, followed by Darrell Wallace, Jr. Matt Crafton with 20 laps led, Johnny Sauter and John Nemechek. Rounding out the top-10 were Cameron Haley, Erik Jones with 7 laps led, rookie Tyler Reddick, Joey Coulter and Ryan Blaney. Erik Jones was the youngest Truck race winner, since he won last year at 17, but Cole Custer beat him for that, at the age of 16. The rules of the Truck series say 16 and 17 year olds can run in a few short track races.




Saturday night was the Nationwide race at Kentucky. Brendan Gaughan won with 22 laps led, followed by Brian Scott,  Polesitter rookie Ty Dillon with 155 laps led, rookie Chase Elliott with 20 laps led and Regan Smith. Rounding out the top-10 were Cale Conley, rookie Chris Buescher, Michael McDowell, Justin Boston and Ross Chastain. Trevor Bayne was 15th, which means his top-15 streak has run Kentucky1-Kentucky2. I hope it keeps on. Maybe he could win at Dover, the next race. He was 2nd there in June. Chase Elliott has locked up Rookie of the Year, probably at this point, but his teammate Regan Smith could pass him in points yet as -20 can be overcome. He could take advantage of Chase's bad luck, if that was to happen. Since they're teammates, as I said, it would be a sweep of Rookie of the Year and champion. They have had rookie champions in this series before, but they were older than 18, so I can't be sure Regan Smith's redemption's impossible. Last year, he choked away a big lead. Not a huge fan of either of these drivers, but I know about this as a race fan. As the weeks go by, it looks more and more like Rookie of the Year and champion will be a JR Motorsports, the team both these drivers are on, sweep.


Sunday was the Cup race at New Hampshire. Joey Logano won with 73 laps led, followed by rookie Kyle Larson, Kevin Harvick with 155 laps led, Jamie McMurray and Jimmie Johnson. Rounding out the top-10 were Aric Almirola, polesitter Brad Keselowski with 78 laps led, Kyle Busch, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Brian Vickers with 15 laps led.


My life's been a little busy lately. I had a physical for bowling and it came back good, however, I was unable to start it this week. We thought I could give them the papers Monday, but they need them early. If we take them to the place they need to go Thursday, I can start next week, likely. My mom had a doctor's appointment for a checkup from her surgery and got a good report. We stopped for supper on the way home. I got a cold (probably from my mom)  over the weekend, so that means I can't do water aerobics this week

Monday, September 15, 2014

Chicagoland weekend

Hey folks! Here's my take on Chicagoland weekend. All series raced this time.


Friday was supposed to be Truck race day, but rain delayed it to Saturday night, after the Nationwide race. Kyle Busch with 66 laps led, followed by Matt Crafton with 14 laps led, Austin Dillon with 28 laps led, rookie Tyler Reddick with 1 lap led and Jeb Burton. Rounding out the top-10 were Darrell Wallace, Jr. with 10 laps led, rookie Ben Kennedy, Joey Coulter, Joe Nemechek and Bryan Silas. Ryan Blaney led  6 laps before finishing 12th. Johnny Sauter was 14th after  leading 24 laps. Ray Black, Jr. led 1 lap before an 18th place finish.


Saturday was the Nationwide race. Kevin Harvick won with 43 laps led, followed by Kyle Larson, Kyle Busch with 141 laps led, Ryan Blaney and Trevor Bayne. Rounding out the top-10 were Elliott Sadler, rookie Ty Dillon, Regan Smith, Brian Scott with 6 laps led and rookie Chase Elliott with 2 laps led. Rookie Chris Buescher was 12th with 5 laps led. Jeffrey Earmhardt led a lap before a blown engine relegated him to 30th. Jeremy Clements led 2 laps before he had a blown engine, which relegated him to 33rd. The points spread in the top-6 was 84 and now it's 80 between Chase Elliott and Trevor Bayne. Chase Elliott leads the standings by 18 points and is on the way to Rookie of Year. Trevor Bayne's top-15 streak's now 12 races.


Sunday was the Cup race. Brad Keselowski won with 62 laps led, Jeff Gordon with 26 laps led, rookie Kyle Larson with 20 laps led, Joey Logano and  Kevin Harvick with 79 laps led. Rounding out the top-10 were Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch with 46 laps led, Kurt Busch, Jamie McMurray with 32 laps led and Matt Kenseth. Aric Almirola led 2 laps, then blew his engine while leading and was relegated to 41st. Joey Logano got debris on his grill at the end, so he blew his engine right at the finish. Their Chase has started now.

Monday, September 8, 2014

Richmond Weekend

Hey folks! Here's my take on the Richmond race weekend. The Trucks were off this time.


Friday night was the Nationwide race. Kyle Busch won with all 250 laps led followed by rookie Chase Elliot, Kevin Harvick, Ryan Blaney and Brian Scott.  Rounding out the top-10 were Regan Smith, rookie Dakoda Armstrong, Elliott Sadler, rookies Ty Dillon and Chris Buescher. Trevor Bayne was 15th, which extends his top-15 streak to 11 races. As long as Chase Elliott, Regan Smith, Ty Dillon, Elliott Sadler, Brian Scott and Trevor Bayne run in all the races, they will remain the top-6 in points. Trevor's way ahead of Chris Buescher, the 7th place in points driver. Chase Elliott leads the Rookie of the Year standings, in addition to being the points leader. Regan Smith trails him by 19 points.


Saturday night was the Cup race. Brad Keselowski won with 383 laps led, followed by Jeff Gordon, Clint Bowyer, Jamie McMurray and Kevin Harvick with 17 laps led.  Rounding out the top-10 were Joey Logano, Kurt Busch, Jimmie Johnson, Ryan Newman and Aric Almirola. The Chase field was set and it's Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, Jeff Gordon Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Matt Kenseth, Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick, Carl Edwards, Kasey Kahne, Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Kurt Busch, AJ Allmendinger Aric Almirola, Ryan Newman and Greg Biffle. Jimmie Johnson had to be treated for dehydration, but was ok. During the race, a fan, maybe a drunk one, climbed to the top of the fence, but was caught and charged with something.


Come back next week to see my take on Chicagoland. As to what's going on in my life, I'm joining a bowling league if I can start late. I need a physical before I can start and it starts today, but I couldn't get a physical until 9-16. I had a PPD, which I also needed. I'm line dancing later this month with that rec group I mentioned and after that, I'll do water aerobics, if I want.



Monday, September 1, 2014

Canadian Tire and Atlanta Race Weekend

Hey folks! Here's my take on the Atlanta and(for Trucks) Canadian Tire  race weekend. The Truck race was a day race but the others were night races.


Saturday night was the Atlanta Nationwide race. Kevin Harvick won (again, since he won this race last year) with 159 laps led, followed by Joey Logano, Kyle Larson, Kyle Busch and rookie and pole-sitter Chase Elliott with 36 laps led. Rounding out the top-10 were Regan Smith, Brian Scott, David Ragan, rookie Ty Dillon and Elliott Sadler. This was Chase's first Nationwide pole. Trevor Bayne was 12th due to a loose racecar, which for those not real race fans that found me is a steering problem. They can do things to see if they can fix it when they pit, adjust certain things. He's been in the top-15 the last 10 Nationwide races. He's only been outside this range 3 times this year, which makes this his most consistent year. As long he races every time the rest of the year, he'll finish no worse in the standings than last year, which is 6th, his current position. The points spread in the top-6 is 71 points, so given the gap between 6th and 7th, no one outside the top-6 has a shot at championship, with the top-3 having the best chance.  The gap between 6th and 7th is also why Trevor Bayne will finish no worse in points than where he is, if his streak continues. A group I'm part of on Facebook has a member whose friend with MS thinks Trevor can check his if he stays fit. I hope he can beat it at least long enough to Cup race next year. The group talks about how he'll bring back the 6, his Nationwide number, in the Cup. The 6 has been a Nationwide only number for Roush since 2 years ago. His sponsor AdvoCare, will follow him up, too.  My pick for the championship of the top-3's Regan Smith, in 2nd -15 from Chase. Chase is my Rookie of the Year pick. Regan Smith and Chase Elliott have been the points leaders, other than the one week Elliott Sadler led.  Trevor was 2nd in points before he cut a tire at Texas in April. Just before this tire cut, he was tied with Smith  in points but Smith had a win, which is the tiebreaker. This series will have a new sponsor next year.


Sunday afternoon was the Canadian Tire Motorsports Park Truck race. This was a road race. Ryan Blaney won with 34 laps led, followed by German Quiroga with 8 laps led,  Erik Jones, rookie Gary Gaulding with 5 laps led and Andrew Ranger with 4 laps led. Rounding out the top-10 were Matt Crafton, Brennan Newberry, Johnny Sauter with 4 laps, Cole Custer with 2 laps led and Timothy Peters. Alex Tagliani led 7 laps and finished 16th.


Sunday night was the Atlanta Cup race. Kasey Kahne won with 25 laps led, followed by Matt Kenseth with 53 laps led, Denny Hamlin with 37 laps led, Jimmie Johnson and Carl Edwards. Rounding out the top-10 were Danica Patick, Ryan Newman, rookie Kyle Larson, Aric Almirola and Greg Biffle. Next week the Chase field will be set.


Come back next week for my take on Richmond.