2017 NASCAR Pit Road Week 19: NHMS

Weekly Review and Power Rankings

Overton's 301

By Richard Tix

Loudon Thoughts

Late Start Times

• Is this really the issue fans want to fight? I guess this is the loud topic of the week this time... Unfortunately NASCAR hears the loud ones which means people focus on the real battle (exciting racing on the track) get overlooked all too often. I get it, the last start times are rough for many, but when you know the schedule you can at least try and plan around it. I would rather plan around a late time then always have a crappy car/race product on the track, so let's speak up for the important things and worry less about what time the race starts when it's a fight between three whole hours (noon or 3 for me in CT). Pick your battles and the one I want to win isn't the small battle..

Truex Playoff Points

• They just keep going up. Martin now has 29 playoff points and if the playoffs started today he would have 44 (meaning a race worth of points for every three race round). Meanwhile the next closest at the moment is Jimmie Johnson and his 16, and if the playoffs started today Larson and his 23 would be the closest (remember playoff points are awarded to the top 10 after the regular season). The fight for first was a lot more fun before the No. 42 got hit with a penalty, but it is still an important one to watch because Larson really could use the extra playoff points for being a regular season champion (15 points).

Fans in the Stands

• I am not one to harp on attendance on TV while sitting at home not at the track. I've long been behind the fact that the sport is in transition and right sizing from the over-sizing in the 90's at a time when HD TV and "attention spans" have taken over the sports world. However, this time some folks need to be called out.. That's right, everyone who was in such an uproar that NHMS was losing a date to Vegas, but didn't actually show up to show why NASCAR was wrong is on blast. You can not be the loud voice against something and then not actually support it to prove a point. What I saw in the stands was what NASCAR was acting on (plus the fact that they were getting money by moving to LVMS for a second date). The racing has been lagging some at NHMS for a bit now, but if you want to stand up and be that loud opinion guy on social media, then show up at the track... Shame on you.

Pit Road Power Rankings: Week 19 (Week 18)

1. Martin Truex Jr (LW-1)- Just another week for Martin win a dominate type of race that included a playoff point. This time he came up short of the win, though.
2. Kyle Larson (LW-2)- Truex is for sure 1A right now, but Kyle is a close 1B and doesn't seem to be fading (other than penalties).
3. Kyle Busch (LW-3)- 95 laps led, 41 total points, and a playoff point. Even with a rough 12th place finish the day actually went pretty well for Rowdy.
4. Kevin Harvick (LW-5)- Harvicks top fives and top tens are on par with Truex and Larson, but he is missing all of those wins (one total). If they find winning speed come playoff time the four team could upset the No. 42 and No. 78.
5. Denny Hamlin (LW-6)- After three top fours in four races, Hamlin finally broke out, held of Larson, and got win No. 1 of 2017.
6. Chase Elliott (LW-4)- The end of the race finishing position still seems to be an enigma for this No. 24 team.. They can win, but when will they finally put a whole race together?
7. Jimmie Johnson (LW-11)- JJ got back into the top ten column on Sunday with a 10th, but it still is weird to not see him contending as often (just three top fives thus far). When is the last time he only had three after 19 races?
8. Jamie McMurray (LW-7)- Sunday was a step back, but he has taken so many steps forward this year that he is still safe on points at the moment.
9. Clint Bowyer (LW-12)- In his last four he has an average finish of 6th. SHR as a whole seems to be on a bit of an uptick right now.
10. Ryan Blaney (LW-9)- The No. 21 team can be fast, but can they find consistent finishes?
11. Brad Keselowski (LW-NR)- BK is still eight in points after a horrible stretch that ended in crash after crash (all but one that wasn't his fault). His nine top fives and 12 top tens still show how good he can be when they're on the track (oh, and two wins).
12. Matt Kenseth (LW-NR)- Boy did Kenseth need that fourth place finish on Sunday. Between his great run and Joey Logano's poor run, Kenseth put some ground between them in the standings.

Dropped Out: Joey Logano (LW-8) and Erik Jones (LW-10)

Just Missed: Kurt Busch and Ricky Stenhouse Jr.