GEICO 500
Week 32
By Richard Tix
Well, Charlotte was.....Interesting.
In my opinion the racing was exciting on the track and the after race activities were like post race fireworks. In case you forgot, Kevin Harvick punched his ticket into the next round at Charlotte before the rest of the Chaser's head to Talladega and there tango with the "Big One." A huge sigh of relief is off of Harvick and Joey Logano's (Kansas winner) shoulders heading into the Geico 500 at Dega.
As for the rest of the field? Well, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr, Brad Keselowski, and Matt Kenseth all have some work to do from varying degree's. JJ and Jr almost have to win to get in. BK pretty much has to win (-19 from 8th), but could have some luck go his way and get in. Matt Kenseth is only a point out of 8th and will just look for a great finish and to keep his #20 clean.
The last two (BK and Kenseth) were part of Charlotte's post race fireworks last Saturday. Tuesday, NASCAR announced the punishments for all involved. BK received a $50,000 fine and a four race probation (rest of this season). Tony Stewart received a $25,000 fine and a four race probation. Both Denny Hamlin and Matt Kenseth ended up with no fines or race probation's.
So, those are the fact's. This next part is my opinion, so take it how you will since everyone is entitled to there own.
BK got off easy. I am a big BK fan (but I do not always agree with his actions or thought, nor do you with your favorite driver). I try and keep it pretty unbiased on here, because even writers have there favorite drivers, because shouldn't we all still be fans first? I love seeing emotion, right or wrong, but he went overboard. With NASCAR preaching safety, he should have been a bit more cool in such small bunched up areas (Pits, Garage, etc). I would have not argued if he got more or even a suspension.
That being said, part of the reason he was fined in the first place was safety on pit road where Matt Kenseth "had his safety gear off." Well, if that's the case with BK than I totally understand Tony Stewart getting a fine. He put just as much driver safety in jeopardy at BK. Yes, it was in retaliation and he had nothing to do with it, but in life that doesn't matter (just think if you had siblings, sometimes the brother or sister acting second always was the one getting caught). Stop pointing fingers and saying "well he started it." Smoke involved himself.
But, if NASCAR is fining and putting Smoke on probation there is no way Hamlin and Kenseth should get off with nothing. DH followed BK through the garages, needed his crew to hold him back, and started throwing stuff. If anything he helped the incident stay escalated (which I get it, he was very upset at BK and emotions were running). Kenseth had BK in a head lock and was pulling his arm back. NASCAR fined Ambrose in his incident with Casey Mears (RIR), so if you want consistency Kenseth should have been penalized. If Smoke is, they all should be. In my opinion they should both have a one race probation for being involved, or NASCAR may end up with another mess after Talladega. Smoke should have been fined, but I am not sure why he got the same four race probation that BK got?
So, after that mess NASCAR heads to a place where the racing is close quarters and always ends drivers days early with big wrecks. Will it carry over? Will JJ, JR, or BK win and clinch there spot for the next round in the last race of this round? I know one thing, it will be a wild ride so enjoy it.
In my opinion the racing was exciting on the track and the after race activities were like post race fireworks. In case you forgot, Kevin Harvick punched his ticket into the next round at Charlotte before the rest of the Chaser's head to Talladega and there tango with the "Big One." A huge sigh of relief is off of Harvick and Joey Logano's (Kansas winner) shoulders heading into the Geico 500 at Dega.
As for the rest of the field? Well, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr, Brad Keselowski, and Matt Kenseth all have some work to do from varying degree's. JJ and Jr almost have to win to get in. BK pretty much has to win (-19 from 8th), but could have some luck go his way and get in. Matt Kenseth is only a point out of 8th and will just look for a great finish and to keep his #20 clean.
So, those are the fact's. This next part is my opinion, so take it how you will since everyone is entitled to there own.
BK got off easy. I am a big BK fan (but I do not always agree with his actions or thought, nor do you with your favorite driver). I try and keep it pretty unbiased on here, because even writers have there favorite drivers, because shouldn't we all still be fans first? I love seeing emotion, right or wrong, but he went overboard. With NASCAR preaching safety, he should have been a bit more cool in such small bunched up areas (Pits, Garage, etc). I would have not argued if he got more or even a suspension.
That being said, part of the reason he was fined in the first place was safety on pit road where Matt Kenseth "had his safety gear off." Well, if that's the case with BK than I totally understand Tony Stewart getting a fine. He put just as much driver safety in jeopardy at BK. Yes, it was in retaliation and he had nothing to do with it, but in life that doesn't matter (just think if you had siblings, sometimes the brother or sister acting second always was the one getting caught). Stop pointing fingers and saying "well he started it." Smoke involved himself.
So, after that mess NASCAR heads to a place where the racing is close quarters and always ends drivers days early with big wrecks. Will it carry over? Will JJ, JR, or BK win and clinch there spot for the next round in the last race of this round? I know one thing, it will be a wild ride so enjoy it.
Also, check out the article: Talladega: The Big One- Some cool old video's of Talladega highlights.
(This is just a review of each drivers recent past performance, generally about 5-10 past races)
(Since it's Talladega, anyone can really fit into any of these)
The Good
- Clint Bowyer- He was on this list week 10, the first time NASCAR came to Dega, and he followed up with a third place finish. Maybe he can keep it going? The thing about Dega is your bound to run into the big one from time to time.
- Ricky Stenhouse Jr- Its a small sample size, but Stenhouse knows his way around Dega. In his three starts he has finishes of 13th, 3rd, and 10th.
- David Ragan- We are going to give the little guy the spotlight one more time here. Earlier this year he was caught up in a crash, but before that he had four straight top 10's (including a win).
The Middle
- Greg Biffle- In his last 10 races he has 5 top ten's here (which is tied for second most behind Bowyer). He also has 3 top 5's, but has yet to win in 23 tries. A lot of guys could be put in the Middle category, but without a win in his career here Biffle fits the spot.
The Bad
- Tony Stewart- Talladega has brough zero luck smokes way in recent races. He hasn't finished in the top 20 since 2011 (4 straight races outside the top 20).He only has one top 10 in his last 9 starts.
- Kurt Busch- One top 10 in his last ten starts (2010), Kurt has only four top 20's in that same time frame. Half of those poor finishes have come from some kind of problem or wreck. Tough luck lately.
- Marcus Ambrose- He has zero top 10's in his last 10 starts at Talladega. That right there gets you on this list alone. He only has 11 career starts here and that first one was his best (4th).
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