Happy New Year: NASCAR Addition

Well the new year is upon us and in the NASCAR world a few drivers are thinking "about time!" NASCAR Behind the Wall is going to take a fast look at some drivers that want to forget about 2013 and move on in the new year and season.

Denny Hamlin

Denny Hamlin entered 2013 like any other season, ready to make the Chase and try to finally bring home a Championship. After Vegas, fans got to see an all out boxing match with Joey Logano and DH that festered into Fontana, and that is where Hamlin's season pretty much ended. DH never quite made it back to 100% all season, but he did happen to finish the season as the last winner in 2013, and for that reason he is looking forward to 2014 and getting back to the Chase.



Brad Keselowski

Coming into 2013 BK was NASCAR's defending Champion and showed why when he started the season hot. Then came some suspicious rear end housings and NASCAR penalties including losing Paul Wolfe for a few races. Once they were reunited the #2 team went through everything from in race penalties, to parts of there car ripping off, to just plain bad luck. BK never really bounced back but he did steal a Chase win away from contenders and for that reason he is looking forward to 2014 and getting back to Championship form.

Carl Edwards

Carl started 2013 by winning race number two at Phoenix and breaking his win less streak (he didn't win at all in 2012). Carl then won the last race before the Chase (Richmond) to get back into the Chase after missing it for the first time in his career. Everything sounds great right? Why would Carl want to forget 2013 and get the new year started? Well, the Chase happened. Carl started the season on a good note but after finishing the Chase in last place (our first ever 13th place finisher in the Chase) Carl wants to forget 2013 and for that reason move onto 2014 and try putting it together for a full season.

Tony Stewart

What didn't happen to Smoke in 2013? Stewart started the season off slow which has become a staple of his, and then it seemed he was starting to heat up. Everyone started talking about him and that maybe Smoke is ready to get into his "summer hot" stretch. After a few sprint car incidents came up Smoke finally ran out of luck in a crash and ended up with a broken leg that ended his season. Stewart had to sit out (and possibly stop eating so many soda cookies) and for the reason he is looking forward to 2014 and his new SHR teammates making a splash.

Honorary Mention: Martin Truex Jr, Kasey Kahne, and Paul Menard.

Happy New Year to the NASCAR World. We are that much closer to the 2014 season beginning. Let the count down to Daytona continue!

Driver Spotlight: Kevin Harvick (Preseason Addition)

Kevin Harvick 2014 Preview

By Richard Tix

Last season Matt Kenseth moved from one ride that he had been with for most of his career (Jack Roush) to another major team (Joe Gibbs). Many fans thought he might have a slow transition while building chemistry with his new team. After having a pretty good season in 2012 it was a big move for both Roush and Kenseth and it was one of the biggest headlines of the preseason. Well Kenseth made everyone forget what the big deal was by winning his third race with his new team and 3 races in his first 11.

Entering 2014 we have many new faces in new places but the biggest name seems to be Kevin Harvick. Harvick had an impressive 2013 campaign after winning two Chase races (four total wins in 2013) and finishing third in the Chase standings.

It's always great to see teams rally even when they know the team will be dismantled after the season is over, but times change and people move on. This season Harvick moves into the #4 ride at Stewart-Haas racing with his buddy Tony Stewart. So the big question is will it take some time for Harvick to settle in or will it be smooth riding from the beginning?

One more storyline to watch from the SHR camp will be if/how long it will take for personalities to take affect and create some in season drama? From still having Danica who always has story lines, to signing great friend Harvick, to also bringing in once outspoken Kurt Busch, how will Tony Stewart handle this four man (well, 3 man and Danica) team as a still somewhat new owner?

My Take:
I think that Harvick will step into SHR just fine to start 2014. The past two seasons he has got off to a good start within the first ten races. In 2013 Harvick wasn't great, but he was very consistent to start the season (other then Daytona) so I don't see any reason that with a good team behind him and good parts his team can start off smooth. I only wonder about the long run at SHR. Will someone feel that they are not getting the best equipment? With the possibility of Danica and Kurt being left on the back burner while Owner and best bud get the best equipment will someone get upset? Also, Kurt was brought in by Haas so it could cause some tension between them with Tony Stewart. The SHR camp will have a lot of pressure and included will be the fact that Stewart will want to come back strong and not wait until he gets hot in the summer (which has been a trend of his during his career), so will everything stay smooth?

A four car team is a lot to handle as a somewhat new owner/driver so it will be a fun ride to watch during 2014.

Take to Twitter and let me know what you think of the situation. Who will run well? Will there be drama? Can the four team work? Will Busch stay calm if he finds more bad luck?

Driver Spotlight: Dale Earnhardt Jr (Preseason Addition)

Dale Earnhardt Jr's 2014 Preview

By Richard Tix

The first Driver Spotlight of the 2014 season will come early this year, yes in fact still in 2013. The way I see it, if you are going to start the season off, why not start it with Nascars most popular driver (again), Dale Earnhardt Jr? (Take a look here at last years Driver Spotlight on Jr)

Jr will turn 40 this Nascar season and time could be running out for him to win multiple Championships, but that doesn't mean he can make a run at finally getting his first.  In fact, he could be hitting the prime of his career right now. In 2013, Dale posted the most top 10's he has ever had in a single season (22) and he also had ten top 10's on the year. What seems most telling to me about the 2013 season is that he ended up finishing the season 5th in the points Chase.

Lets take a quick look at the final ten races of the 2012 season for a better understanding of how he finished the best he has in the standings since 2006. If you look at how the Chase started for Dale you would say it would have been easy for him to roll over and just coast through the rest of the 2013 season (35th place finish at Chicago). In the next 9 races he did manage to finish in the top ten 8 times, with 5 of those being top 5's. That's a hot ending to the 2013 season that could roll over into 2014.  He had half of his season top 5's in the last 10 races of the season, where they matter the most.

If Dale could have erased that first Chase race he may have been contending throughout the Chase. His worst finish (other then the 35th place when he had engine troubles) was 15th which was his only finish outside the top 10.

After the review of 2013, it is hard not to think that Jr has a shot to contend in 2014. In fact, these numbers probably make Jr Nation drool with the thought of him holding that Championship Trophy. It all starts at Daytona where Jr use to be dominate. In his last 5 starts at the Daytona 500 he has finished runner up 3 times, the other to he finished 24 (but won the Pole), and 27th.

Is this the season that he starts out with a win in the first race and goes on to contend for a Championship? Let's here your take! Get on Twitter and send me your opinion and thoughts on Jr this season.

Nascar World Top Stories: December

Nascar World is a section dedicated to keeping you up to date with Nascar Articles from around the web. So just incase you missed it, check out these articles from other sites.

• NASCAR Releases Rule Changes for 2014- Yahoo.com
• Dillon to Drive No. 3 car for RCR- Nascar.com
• Bobby Labonte to Compete in 2014 Daytona 500- Nascar.com
• NASCAR Reveals 2014 Rules Package- Nascar.com
• Dale Jr Dominates 2013 Best Selling Die-Casts- Nascar.com
• NASCAR Delivers 2014 Competition Package to Teams- MRN.com
• Roush's Hanger Tribute to the Military-MRN.com
• Drivers Looking to Bounce Back- MRN.com
• Drivers Share their Favorite Race-MRN.com
• NASCAR Does Final Testing for 2014 Rules Package- ESPN.com
• NASCAR Hires Jimmy Small to Run Iowa Speedway-SI
• Madison Martin Named New Miss Sprint Cup for 2014- Yahoo.com/NASCAR.com
• Billy Scott Hired as Crew Chief for Brian Vickers- Yahoo.com/NASCAR.com
• The Number 1 Key for the 2014 Rookies? Identify Their Competition- FOXSports.com
• Kenzie Ruston to Race for Ben Kennedy Racing- MRN.com
• Road to the Sprint Cup: Part 1- MRN.com
• Road to the Sprint Cup: Part 2- MRN.com
• 2014 Sprint Cup Series Team/Driver Chart (With Rookies)- Jayski.com
• Top 10 Drivers Without a Championship- NASCAR.com
• Road to the Sprint Cup: Part 3- MRN.com
• Road to the Sprint Cup: Part 4- MRN.com
• A Season Defined by One Night in Richmond- NASCAR.com
• Race of the Year-MRN.com
• DW: Everything Changes in NASCAR in 2014- FOXSports.com

Check back, this article will get updated throughout the month.

Also, check out Nascar Behind the Wall on Twitter to get even more updates from the Social Media World.

The Offseason Movement

Well 2013 came to an end and I ended up just having enough time to watch the Chase, but not to post about it. Hopefully everyone enjoyed the ride, but once again we have a season that ended with Jimmie Johnson as our Nascar Sprint Cup Champion.

This season seems to be shaping up to be a good one, and its only December. Can Jimmie Johnson get number seven? How will Earnhardt fans take seeing the #3 on the track? How will things work out with so many personalities at Stewart-Haas? Plus there are plenty more story lines with drivers in new rides and the Gen 6 car in it's second season.

Unlike last season, I will be starting off the season at Daytona and hopefully making it all the way through the last Chase Race. Each week I will for sure include an after race Power Rankings with some rising and falling drivers. Hopefully I can find time for most track previews and also some driver spotlights throughout the season.

If at all fails, check me out on Twitter where I will post, Retweet other Nascar Sources, and connect with any Nascar fan that is out there! Everyone get your calendars out and continue your countdown to Daytona (as I'm sure you all already have)!

Week 29 Preview (Chase Race #3)

Dover International Speedway (Chase Race #3)

Well race 3 is a make or break race for guys like Kurt Busch, Jeff Gordon, and Kevin Harvick. For these guys things can go south very quick. Same goes for Kenseth, Johnson, and Kyle Busch. Each of these drivers have to make the pace and not fall off of it or the hill maybe too hard to climb. Lets take a look at the Chase drivers and who fares well at Dover.

The Good:

• Jimmie Johnson- 4 times JJ has tamed the Monster Mile in his last 10 races here for a win. On top of that he has 8 top 10's in that same span. Yeah, he has been good at Dover International Speedway.
• Carl Edwards- Well Dover is just what Carl wants to see. He is kind of teatering on the edge right now and could use a great finish. He has 7 top 10's in his last 10 here but no wins in that same time.

The Middle:

• Kevin Harvick- Harvick has an average finish of 10th in his last 10 starts at Dover yet only one of those has been a top 5. Earlier this year he finished 8th here so maybe he will build on that.

The Bad:

• Ryan Newman- Well in his last 5 races at Dover has one finish within the top 20 (15th) and the rest have been higher. Not good news for a guy needing a win to stay relevant in the Chase,
• Kasey Kahne- Kahne has an average finish of 17.5 and only 4 top 10's in his last 10 races at Dover. So what I am saying is, the bad could get worse for Kasey this week. Either way, he is packing up and getting ready for 2014.

Pit Road Week 28 (Post Chase Race #2)

New Hampshire (Loudon) Chase Race #2

Well I have been on vacation and out of town the past two weekends so Nascar Behind the Wall has gotten, well, behind. Hopefully I can get back on track for the rest of the Chase season starting with the Power Rankings after New Hampshire. So lets get right into it, also take a look at the race results here.

Pit Road Week 28

1. Matt Kenseth- Coming into the Chase Kenseth was having a boom or bust season. After two Chase races he is having a boom start. Kenseth is hoping the bust doesn't come next, but so far he is the clear cut leader after starting with back-to-back wins.
2. Kyle Busch- Well, Kyle just can't find the win, but if you aren't going to win coming in second will help. Kyle should also be happy he has started this Chase out well, because he has a history of running well during it.
3. Jimmie Johnson- Back to back top 5 finishes has JJ still in the hunt. He is only 18 points behind Kenseth in the points but will need to keep running this well and hope for a slip up to add to his title resume.
4. Greg Biffle- I gave the Biff the nod over Carl and Harvick because of the strong run at NH. He finished 3rd after a disappointing 16th in the Chases opening race. Biffle hasn't been that impressive this season but maybe he has saved the best for last.
5. Carl Edwards- Carl got a top ten finish (9th) one week after finishing one spot outside the top 10 in the first Chase race. 
6. Kevin Harvick- Harvick is right on the edge of drivers who still have a small shot at the title. He will need to go on a good run but we have seen that this year so anything is possible.
7. Jeff Gordon- Gordon had a real shot at winning at NH and making a huge jump in the standings, instead he finished 15th and is on the border of being out of contention.
8. Kurt Busch- Kurt is the last guy in the standings that I think has any shot of making a run at the title (though a very small shot). After Kurt (and Gordon 2 points behind) I don't believe anyone has a chance. Kurt has been fast but can it all come together in the last 8 races?
9. Dale Earnhardt Jr- Well this spot doesn't matter, because I don't think anyone down here will make an 8 race push, but Jr just made a run up front and finished 6th just one week after having a very rough day. These guys down here are just looking to get it going and carry into 2014 on a good note.
10. Ryan Newman- Newman followed a top 10 with an uninspiring 16th place finish. Newman is just looking to next year by now as he is on his way out.
11. Clint Bowyer- See Newman (minus the on his way out). After the last race before the Chase fiasco Clint just doesn't have it going.
12. Joey Logano- One of the hottest drivers before the Chase, JoLo had a bad luck start and only a top 15 this week (14th). Back to the drawing board at Penske.
13. Kasey Kahne- Kasey took a second half of the race spin and ended up 37st, ending any thought of a title run in 2013.

2013 Current Chase Standings

Nascar now heads to Dover International Speedway where Tony Stewart stole a win earlier this year. Race three is going to be a huge race for the top 3 drivers (Kenseth, Busch, and Johnson) as if one falters it will open up the door the rest of the way. 

Week 27 Preview (Chase Race One)

Chase Race One: Chicagoland Speedway

Well this week has been a world wind of allegations and information that has left the Nascar community with spinning heads. With the dust settling and fans finding out that Martin Truex Jr was out and Ryan Newman is in we head to Chicagoland for the Chases first race.

Lucky for the Chase drivers Tony Stewart is not running, he has 10 top tens in 12 career starts at Chicagoland.  Also, the most recent winner here is not in the chase this year, that would be last years Champion Brad Keselowski.

So the question is, who has the upper hand in the first Chase race?  Lets take a look at that question in Good, Middle, and Bad this week (Only guys in the Chase). You can also check out last years Chase race at Chicagoland here.

The Good:

• Jimmie Johnson- He has 9 career top 10's in 11 career starts here and 6 top 5's, but JJ has yet to win at this track. Will this be the year he gets a win here, or will his Championship quest start out like all the rest have?
• Kevin Harvick- Well you could say Harvick is good here, he does have 2 wins, 6 top 5's, and 7 top 10's in his 12 race career here. I would say he has a great shot at getting a hot start to the Chase.
• Ryan Newman- Newman has won a Pole here, Won a race here, finished in the top 10, and top 10. He has done it all and has a career average finish of 14.9 in 11 starts.

The Middle:

• Clint Bowyer-Bowyer (Mr. Intentional Spin) has 6 top 10's in his 7 starts here, yet only one time has he finished inside the top 5. He is consistent, but he will need to push for the front if he wants to push for a title again.

The Bad:

• Greg Biffle- The Biff has 1 top 10 in his 10 starts at Chicagoland. That isn't good news to the one guy most fans are writing off as a non contender. To his defense, he does have 3 11th place finishes and a 13th place finish, so it isn't out of sight to get a top 10.

The Unlucky: (Best driver's at Chicagoland that did not make the Chase)

• Jeff Gordon- As of this article Gordon is not in the Chase (right now you never know). Jeff has 12 starts here, 7 of them being top 10's, 6 top 5's, and 1 win (plus a Pole). I can see Gordon making a big run this year during the Chase and showing Nascar fans what theyre missing out on with the #24 team missing the Chase.

Who I like here for the top 5

• Ryan Newman
• Jeff Gordon
• Kasey Kahne
• Clint Bowyer
• Jimmie Johnson

Dark Horse I like for a run at the top 10?

• Brain Vickers- Maybe even a top 5

Well after this week we will get our first taste of how the Chase will break down. This is not a make or break race but it will help mold the field. Nascar Behind the Wall's review most likely will not be up until late next week as I will be out of town on a fishing trip in Northern Minnesota. 

Pit Road Week 26

Richmond International Raceway September 7th 2013

Let me take a deep breath, that has to be just about everyone's reaction after the race at Richmond and the news in the following days.  Saturday night it was Ryan Truex getting in the Chase after a late caution in which his teammate Clint Bowyer spun out with now one around. A few days passed and then on Monday Nascar fans learned of a conspiracy, that Bowyer was told to spin out to help bring a caution that would eventually lead to Truex making the Chase.

Nascar looked into this further and Monday Evening came down on MWR. This action left Truex out of the Chase and gave Ryan Newman his spot in the Chase, that most believed he deserved after taking the lead late at RIR (right before the "spin out" caution.

In other news, Nascar now enters its 10 race Chase, if you haven't forgotten about that. Well this addition of Pit Road will reset the Power Rankings to who is hot coming in and looks to have title contention. From here on most of the focus in previews and reviews will be about drivers in the Chase (with a few side notes from other story lines).  Take a look here at the full race results. *On a side note, Ryan Newman Signed on to RCR for 2014 and will drive the #31, but this is old news by now as well*

Pit Road Week 26 Power Rankings

1. Jimmie Johnson- I'm sorry, but I just don't think the #48 team can stay in this bad luck slump during the Chase. I will believe it when I see it, until then I have him starting in the top spot. He has been there, done that, and after only winning 1 title in the past 3 years he wants it.
2. Kyle Busch- Having said that about JJ, I do think others have the chance to pounce. Kyle has been notorious for falling off during the late season, but last year he fell off and missed the Chase and then turned it around and was one of the best drivers during the Chase. He has been fast all year so if he stays hot JJ will be looking over his shoulder, and then coughing up dust.
3. Joey Logano- Yeah, JoLo is everyone's dark horse, but he happens to be the driver I was high on all year. After he finally got a win that I was eagerly predicting, he has stayed hot while entering the Chase. This is his first Chase rodeo, but his teammate and last years Champ, BK, will be there to help along the way.
4. Matt Kenseth- I am not so sure about this spot for Kenseth. At times he has looked like the best bet to take down JJ, and other times he cant stay out of trouble or bad luck. He has been on a roller coaster and that doesn't cut it in the Chase.
5. Kevin Harvick- Well for the first half of the season he was Mr Consistency, he has been a little more rock as of late but he has still been solid. He already has a ride at Stuart-Haas next year but I think he will give it his all for RCR on his way out the door.
6. Kurt Busch- This man has been fast all year, I mean fast. Kurt though, has yet to win a race while being that fast. Something has got to give, and I think he will get a win in the Chase, but I do not think he will stay consistent enough in all the other categories to contend.
7. Clint Bowyer- This might be low for Bowyer, but not too many people will complain after the news that came out. Bowyer has been up front in just about every race, but when push comes to shove he hasn't finished one out for a win. Last year he was a threat to JJ and BK but fell just short (2nd). This year he will look to build on that, but he needs to find a way to win a few.
8. Kasey Kahne- Another guy who could be too low, Kahne has been fast on many occasions this season but he has also had the same story as Kenseth, roller coaster.  If he can stay consistent he does have a chance to be a darkhorse contender.
9. Carl Edwards- It has been a nice season for Carl, but I just don't know if he has enough to win it. He does have one thing on his side, he is Nascar's most recent winner (RIR). Unfortunately for him his story of winning has got lost in the Newman/MWR fiasco.
10. Ryan Newman- The lucky dog when it comes to the Chase (not really because he deserved the win and to get in, and worked his butt off to get up front) Newman is on his swan song with SHR. Newman did have one of the best Mondays in the history of Mondays, he got into the Chase without driving and also signed on to RCR for 2014 to drive the #31 Cat car.
11. Dale Earnhardt Jr- Sorry Jr Nation, I just don't like his chances. It isn't that Jr has been bad this year, its just that he hasn't been a front running contender much, so it is tough to see him being a contender now. He did have a nice run last year before his concussion so he cant be ruled out, he just isn't an odds on favorite.
12. Greg Biffle- Well Biff, I think you are getting the low spot in a lot of individuals rankings for the Chase. I have no problem with you but I think a guy like Jeff Gordon or Brad Keselowski in your spot would not only have a better shot at the tittle but be more entertaining. If you say you realized Biffle was racing this year (other then his win) you are either a Biffle fan or lying. But in all seriousness Biffle has just been background noise this year, he has been good but not great. He could hang around the middle of the standings but I don't see him as a contender.

Well Nascar fans, its time to start the Chase. With all the resent news and drama the Chase should shape up to be a good one this year. The big question is, will there be a 4th Champion in as many years, or will JJ get another (as BK and Smoke have no chance)? Check back in for my first Chase Preview later this week.

Week 26 Preview

Richmond International Raceway: Federated Auto Parts 400

So Kyle Busch just won at Atlanta and Nascar heads to one of his best tracks, is this a sign that he may finally have a good run during the Chase? I'm not sure if he will turn this into a stretch run but it can't hurt his chance.

One thing is for sure at Richmond, a lot of drivers are going to be over aggressive and try and squeeze into a Chase spot. Guys like JoLo, Newman, Busch, Keselowski, Kahne, etc are all looking to get into the Chase and for most of them another win (or first win) would go a long way. We should have an exciting last regular season race this season to jump start the 10th ever Sprint Cup Chase. Take a look at this years results from he first trip to Richmond.

The Good:

• Kyle Busch- One of his best tracks on the Nascar Schedule, Rowdy will be a front runner again this time around.
• Jeff Gordon- In Gordon's career he has enjoyed a lot of success at Richmond International Raceway and this time around he could use a bit of the old magic he has had in the past. Gordon is winless in 2013 and is one of the drivers on the cusp of getting into the Chase. A win this weekend and he may just squeak in.
• Kevin Harvick- Nascar's winner at RIR the first time around in 2013, Harvick has had 7 top 10's, 3 top 5's, and 2 Win's in his last 10 starts here.

The Middle:

• Clint Bowyer- Well he has a track record as of late to be considered in the "Good" category, but this season it seems like Clint has been in the middle a lot. Top 5 finishes here, top 10's there, but always just short when it comes to wins.

The Bad:

• Martin Truex Jr- One top 10 in the last 10 starts here at Richmond, the other Jr hasn't fared too well at RIS. Last time around he finished 17th which was his best finish in 6 races at RIR.
• Greg Biffle- In his last 10 starts here he also only has 1 top 10. Earlier this year he finished the race 36th and 15 laps down. Biffle is on the edge but should still get into the Chase even with a poor finish here.

Need More?

• RIS Preview from the first trip here in 2013
• RIS Review with Power Rankings from earlier in 2013
• Tony Stewart Press Confrence
• RIR Entry List
• RIR/Iowa Race Schedule
• Brad Keselowski Chase Long Shot
• Driver Reports Post Atlanta

Pit Road Week 25

Atlanta Motor Speedway Summer Race 2013

Well again I have been busy and Nascar Behind the Wall has gotten behind so I will start this article off with an appology to anyone who has been coming here to read preview and reviews each and every week. My Bristol Review was an unfinished product and this week I didn't have a Hot Lanta Preview. Well this week I missed the race while being out of town on a family camping trip so I will only add in my Power Rankings and leave alone the rising and falling drivers (other than to mention BK is just about dead in the water when it comes to his bid at being a repeat Champion). Take a look at the full race results here.

Pit Road Week 25 Power Rankings

1. Joey Logano (LW-2)- Come on National Media, JoLo has averaged a 5th place finish over his last 6 races. All of those races were top 10's, and the last 3 have been top 5's (1st, 5th, and 2nd). I seem to remember a resent Penske driver getting hot around the same time last year. Now Ill step back, I don;t know that Joey can win it, but he is making a push to be a contender.
2. Kyle Busch (LW-4)- Well Kyle won at Hot Lanta and also won at the Glenn a few races ago, but will he make a change in his late season dud's he has been known for? If he figures it out this year he will be a title contender.
3. Jimmie Johnson (LW-3)- I ask again this week what is going on? Will this be out of the #48 teams system come Chase time? Is there a chip in the armor?
4. Matt Kenseth (LW-5)- One week after a win at Bristol Kenseth falls to a 12th place finish. It wasn't a bad finish but he is looking for a hot streak heading into the Chase.
5. Clint Bowyer (LW-6)- Bowyer had some more bad luck this season and just when it looked like he could finally win a race in 2013. Clint can contend come Chase time, but he will need to find some wins along the way.
6. Kasey Kahne (LW-1)- And the Kasey Kahne rollercoaster continues. Another rough outing for Kahne after a good outing the week before.
7. Kevin Harvick (LW-9)- Another week and another top 10, Harvick finished 9th Sunday night.
8. Dale Earnhardt Jr (LW-8)- Two top tens in a row for Jr, this week he finished 8th but doesn't seem like a contender to get a win anytime soon.
9. Carl Edwards (LW-7)- Carl lead a bunch of laps but finished 18th Sunday night. He will look for some more speed come Chase time.
10. Juan Pablo Montoya (LW-10)- Did this firing start a fire under him or what? Ever since the Glen he has finishes of 11th, 3rd and 7th. 
11. Kurt Busch (LW-NR)- Kurt was fast like normal, but came up short and finished 4th. He is inching his way towards getting into the Chase but one misstep may leave him like his brother last year (out of the Chase but running well).
12. Greg Biffle (LW-11)- The Biff has been the king of midiocrity this season and once again he finished that wat in Atlanta (15th). I don't see him as much of a title contender this season.

Dropped Out: Brad Keselowski

Just Missed: Martin Truex Jr, Brian Vickers, Jeff Gordon, Ryan Newman, and Jamie McMurray

Lot of guys on the edge of getting in this week. This was the last Power Rankings where anyone could get there name in, starting next week it will only be drivers who are in the Chase. Also starting next week the rankings will start all over, a clean slate, like it is the beginning of the season.

Pit Road Week 24

After leaving Michigan with another first time 2013 season winner, Joey Logano, I figured the same might happen at Bristol. Well I was wrong and Matt Kenseth was the one to prove it. I missed most of the race so this weeks review will mostly be based on how they finished and how the points effected there points standings. So I am throwing out the window if a driver ran well but got caught up in a wreck. So now that you know how I am attacking this weeks review lets get after it. Check out the full results here from this past Saturday.

Rising:

• Juan Pablo Montoya- Maybe getting fired got him going, none the less starting at the track he got fired after (Watkins Glenn) he has finishes of 5th, 11th, 3rd. He might make a case for another ride in Nascar if he keeps it up.
• Paul Menard- He needs a win and a miracle but the fact is he had a 4th place finish last week in Michigan and a 6th place finish this week at Bristol. He still sits 17th in points.
• Jeff Gordon- After a struggling stretch where it looked like his Chase chances were spent Gordon finished 7th at Bristol. Surprisingly he is still 13th in points and a win would go a long way in getting that Chase spot he is seeking. 

Coasting:

• Kasey Kahne- If you take out his rough day at the Glenn Kahne has 4 top 10's in that stretch of 5 (3 top 5's). He is heating up for a stretch run, but the question is can he stay out of trouble during the Chase?

Falling:

• Brad Keselowski- It didn't look like BK was having the strongest night, but finishing 30th by the end of the night really brought him back down after making a good run as of late. He really needs to push for top 5's and more important wins in the last few races.
• Kurt Busch- Same story as BK, Kurt lands on the falling list just after making a strong push towards the top 10 (He dropped back out this week after jumping in last week). Kurt still needs that illusive win.
• Jimmie Johnson- Wow, trouble finds JJ a week after bad luck found him. Is this still the same JJ that won all those Championships? I'm sure he will put it together but this team normally is immune to bad luck.

Pit Road Week 24 Power Rankings

1. Kasey Kahne (LW-10)- I'm going way against the grain, but Kahne's last 6 goes like this (11, 3, 1, 34, 7, and 2nd this week). Someone has to take JJ's spot, and even though Kenseth just got his 5th win I don't consider someone "Hot" until they can do it for at least a mini stretch.
2. Joey Logano (LW-8)- I have been on his bandwagon since the season started, but look at the stats (5 straight top 10's with a win and 2 top 5's in the last 5 races).
3. Jimmie Johnson (LW-1)- Whats going on with the #48 team? Is the dynasty starting to come to an end? Is he going to become the Patriots of Nascar (Great but not Amazing)? Or maybe its just a road bump.
4. Kyle Busch (LW-4)
5. Matt Kenseth (LW-11)
6. Clint Bowyer (LW-5)
7. Carl Edwards (LW-3)
8. Dale Earnhardt Jr (LW-9)
9. Kevin Harvick (LW-2)
10. Juan Pablo Montoya (LW-NR)
11. Greg Biffle (LW-NR)
12. Brad Keselowski (LW-7)- Fair or not BK gets to hold on after being one spot higher (11th) in the standings and by being the reigning Champ over Kurt. Let me get this straight though, both have tons of work to do and really need to find a win because neither would get the WC.

Dropped Out: Kurt Busch and Ryan Newman

Just Missed: Paul Menard and Jeff Burton

Well the past few weeks have been busy and this is the start of the Bristol Review from a few weeks ago.

Week 24 Preview

Bristol Motor Speedway: Irwin Tools Night Race Summer 2013

Unfortunatley I am back from the race in Michigan and not going to be at the race at Bristol. On the bright side Nascar is at Bristol! This time we come to Bristol with so many drivers looking for some kind of security in there Chase hopes. Joey Logano just added his name to a long list of drivers trying to get into the top ten or at the very least get a WC spot.

Earlier this season Kasey Kahne got the win at Bristol but has been up and down since then. Maybe this is the week another driver adds his name to the first time winners in 2013? Or, maybe this is the week a guy gets another win to solidify his spot in the Chase? One things is for sure, some tempers will most likely heat up and boil over. Take a look at the race preview from earlier this year and also the race review from after. Also take a look at the full race results from the last race at Bristol.


The Good:

• Kyle Busch- Well if its a sign of anything to come, Kyle just won the Truck race on Wednesday.  Kyle has a career average finish of 9.8 in 17 races at Bristol (of current drivers that is a best). He has 5 wins, 8 top 5's, and 12 top 10's in those 17 races.
• Brad Keselowski- I want to change up some of the "good" drivers from last time, so for extra insight check out last races preview. BK finished 3rd last time here and also has 2 wins I n 7 career starts at Bristol. He needs a win bad so look for him to push the limit a bit if he finds himself up front.
• Kurt Busch- The second Busch on this list, Kurt is well known to be good here at Bristol. Most of his domination came before being on small teams, but last time here earlier this year he finished 4th so he has a shot (plus he has been bad fast this year).

The Middle:

• Ryan Newman- 7 top 10's in his last 10 starts at Bristol, if that doesn't scream middle of the road I don't know what does (none of them were top 5's).  He needs a strong, very strong run at Bristol to make a run at the Chase.

The Bad:

• Joey Logano- A win one week and the next you find yourself on the wrong list. JoLo only has one top 10 in 9 career races at Bristol. He seems to start the race in a good position but can not close with all the traffic. Maybe this is the time at Bristol where his confidence helps him figure out how to navigate Bristol.
• Juan Pablo Montoya- JPM only has 3 top 10's in his last 10 starts here. To top that off we all know he has no wins on ovals. He seems like he is the kind of the guy who could surprise at a track where beating and banging is accepted, but it hasn't clicked yet.

Need More?

• Bristol Paint Scheme's
• Austin Dillon on the Move? -Nascar.com
• Kurt Busch in High Demand

Michigan Weekend 2013

Pit Road Week 23

Pure Michigan 400: Michigan International Speedway

Nascar leaves Michigan International Speedway for the second and last time this season. Last time we were at MIS in 2013 Greg Biffle got his first and only win of 2013, this time it was Joey Logano's turn. Logano not only won the Pole on Friday but also had a great day overall Sunday which finished in Victory Lane.

JoLo's win will add him to the growing list of drivers trying to get into the Chase from a WC spot. JoLo, Newman, Truex Jr, and Greg Biffle are all on that line. To make things more interesting, as of right now Kasey Kahne has taken over the first WC spot with two wins.  Its going to be a wild ride until the end of the race at Richmond when the Chase field will be set.  Take a look at the final results of the Pure Michigan 400 here. Also take a look back at the Michigan International Speedway Garages 2013 for my first hand look inside the garages this year.  I will most likely also have a MIS Race Weekend in Photo's article up later this week.

Rising:

• Joey Logano- He was strong this weekend. I have been predicting all season he would get a win this year and most likely before the Chase, he finally made me look good. JoLo may not have got the chance to prove me right if it wasn't for Mark Martin running out of gas with just a few laps left.
• Kurt Busch- He was fast once again in 2013 but just short of the win. Kurt did spend a lot of time up front and will now spend a lot of time taking questions about where he will be in 2014. He finished 3rd.
• Brad Keselowski- Yes, he finished 12th, but he had a very strong day and instead of gambling to try and get the win -or a 30+ finish is it didn't work out- he came in and got fuel. It was the second wee he went with the safe move and it could end up getting him into the Chase -but it could also be his downfall- only time will tell.

Coasting:

• Clint Bowyer- After getting back on track at Watkins Glenn Bowyer followed up with a 5th at MIS. He is safe for the Chase but still needs to get some more wins during the Chase if he wants to win the Cup.

Falling:

• Dale Earnhardt Jr- Seriously though, if he has another finish like this he may start to worry about missing the Chase. If you look at the whole day Sunday he had a good day. He spent much of the day up front but a cut tire doomed his day again at MIS.
• Jimmie Johnson- This isn't falling out of the standings, or JJ needing to worry, but its just a fact that he had a rough, rough weekend. In practice he spun and had to go to a backup car and then he had engine trouble on Sunday and ended up packing up early. This season JJ has had some missteps that are not like that team so its something to look for in the Chase.
• Jamie McMurray- He didn't have it at all on Sunday at MIS and finished up 22nd. J Mac was on a little stretch where it looked like he might knock them off and possible find a win. After MIS and another driver getting a win his chances just dropped dramatically.

 

Pit Road Week 23 Power Rankings

Week 22 Power Rankings

1. Jimmie Johnson (LW-1)- Well he had a long day. After starting from the back -spun into the wall in practice- he fought his way up near the top 10 and then had engine problems. He has work to do before the Chase but can anyone really take this spot until then?
2. Kevin Harvick (LW-4)- Harvick had a strong day by staying up front most of the day but never leading and eventually finishing 2nd. He is in the Chase and just needs to get on a streak.
3. Carl Edwards (LW-3)- Carl followed up his road course 6th with another top 10 (10th) at MIS. He has been pretty consistent in 2013 and should make the Chase.
4. Kyle Busch (LW-2)- After a much needed win at the Glen Kyle struggled early and often at MIS. He eventually finished 31st and has his mind on Bristol.
5. Clint Bowyer (LW-7)- Well he is officially back on a hot streak, but the question is when will a guy with 8 top 10's and 13 top 10's get a win?
6. Kurt Busch (LW-NR)- Well from unranked to 6th in a week, Kurt has been hot again. He lead a bunch last Sunday and looked early to be a favorite. Now we head to Bristol where he has a good track record.
7. Brad Keselowski (LW-9)- He finished 12th but he had a top 5 car all day. BK actually looked like he had a car that could maybe push for the win but choosing not to gamble and get a splash of fuel lead to a middle of the road finish.
8. Joey Logano (LW-12)- JoLo won the Pole on Friday and then the race on Sunday. I had been waiting for the win all season and I still think he will make a Chase run, if not make it. He could be a top 5 finisher if he gets in.
9. Dale Earnhardt Jr (LW-5)- The big fall is a bit unfair considering he had a good car that was only brought down by a cut tire, but parity seems to be setting in with every driver but JJ.
10. Kasey Kahne (LW-10)- Well he finished 7th but didn't move up in the rankings, but that just about all the drivers around and not so much him. Kahne has been up and down this year so a good finish at Bristol will move him right back up the rankings.
11. Matt Kenseth (LW-8)- Speaking of up and down, Kenseth has finishes of 22nd, 23rd, and 15th (MIS) in his last 3. Its one of those down parts of 2013.
12. Ryan Newman (LW-11)- Rocket man hangs on for one more week with a 13th place finish but he needs some more top 5 runs to get into the Chase.

Dropping Out: Martin Truex Jr
Just Missed: Greg Biffle, Juan Pablo Montoya


More?

• Nascar Sprint Cup Standings
• Michigan International Speedway Garages 2013

This next week we take a trip back to Bristol for a Saturday night race that is sure to get heated with every driver fighting for a chance at the Chase. Come back and check out the preview later this week!