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.

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