2015 Week 12 Pit Road: Charlotte

Weekly Review and Power Rankings

Week 12: Coca-Cola 600

By Richard Tix

This weekend NASCAR stayed in Charlotte after the Sprint Cup All Star Race. This week, NASCAR Behind the Wall went camping and did not catch much of the race... What I did catch was a lot of race view and tweets with updates from sources at the track.

After missing much of this weeks race i will not get into much of a race review, but instead head directly to the power rankings for the week.

However, I would like to mention again the deal that ifantasyrace.com has for DraftKings and access to there site. It's a great deal, especially if you love fantasy sports! Check it out following this link.

Pit Road Power Rankings Week 12 (Week 11)

1. Kevin Harvick (LW-2)- Lots of parity this season, but one constant remains....Kevin Harvick. The Coca-Cola 600 wasn't his best race of the season, but he still finished in the top 10 and lead a few laps (26). Finish: 9th
2. Martin Truex Jr (LW-3)- Two top fives in his last four races and four straight top 10's for Truex. He is still second in points 12 races into the season and has 11 top 10's. Finish: 5th
3. Dale Earnhardt Jr (LW-4)- Jr's last three finishes? 1st, 3rd, and 3rd. Many could make a case for him in the #1 or #2 spots. Sorry, Jr Nation. I held back a bit and only moved him to the third spot as he did not lead a lap in those last two 3rd place finishes. Finish: 3rd
4. Jimmie Johnson (LW-1)- Sunday night was a rough one for Jimmie Johnson. JJ took a few turns and got loose a few times on his way to a bad finish. What is weird is how well he has run on the 1.5's this year and how good he has been at Charlotte in his career. Finish: 40th
5. Kurt Busch (LW-5)- Now that Kurt got his win he doesn't have to worry too much about the Chase. But, he just keeps having quality runs. Again on Sunday he had a great car but managed to finish just inside the top 10, reminds me of Harvick's non Chase races in 2014. Finish: 10th
6. Matt Kenseth (LW-8)- Other then some bad luck at Talladega Kenseth has really kept his hot "short track run" going since NASCAR left the small track swing. He now has back to back top 10's on 1.5 mile tracks. Maybe the 20 team has found something? Finish: 4th
7. Ryan Newman (LW-9)- Newman has 10 finishes of 12th or better in 12 races so far, including 8 top 10's. This team just keeps putting together top finishes and it is showing with Newman sitting 11th in points even after his penalty. Finish: 6th
8. Jeff Gordon (LW-6)- Gordon just didn't have the car to run up front on Sunday. Other then Deg, it was his first finish outside the top 10 since Las Vegas. Finish: 15th
9. Brad Keselowski (LW-10)- After a few rough finishes from Bristol through Talladega, BK has jumped back with two 7th place finishes with very good cars. The past two races he could have easily finished top 5, but didn't close the deal. Finish: 7th
10. Joey Logano (LW-7)- The cream of the crop is in the top 10, which is shown by JoLo all the way in 10th. But really, he has been a bit less of a factor as of late than he was to start the season. Finish: 13th
11. Carl Edwards (LW-NR)- One win and Carl is back in the top 12? Well, the last two spots are wide open compared to the top 10. Guys like JMac, Almirola, Menard, and Hamlin are all in the talks, but Carl locking in a spot while NASCAR was at a 1.5 is big news for JGR. Finish: 2nd
12. Kyle Busch (LW-NR)- Same thing goes for Rowdy as did Carl, one finish of 11th and he is in the top 12? Well, I really don't have too many great cases for the top 12 and a comeback after his injury seems like a good spot. Now, if he doesnt back it up he will drop out just as fast. Finish: 11th

Dropped Out: Jamie McMurray and Aric Almirola

Just Missed: A bunch of guys.

Well, this week no one added there name to the leader board list after Carl Edwards nailed the come out of no where win. This week we head to Dover to see if anyone can dethrone Jimmie Johnson at the Monster Mile.

2015 Charlotte Entry List: Coca-Cola 600

Coca-Cola 600 Entry List

Charlotte Motor Speedway

By Richard Tix

Entry list from Jayski.com

After last weeks All Star Race at Charlotte, Sprint Cup gets back to some racing that is actually worth points. Here is a look at the entry list:

Notes: Kyle Busch is finally back in a points race this weekend. After missing 11 races he will drive the #18 Skittles JGR Toyota. Carl Edwards is in the Subway scheme this weekend for JGR. Ryan Blaney will be making another start in the #21 for the Wood Brothers (backed by Penske). Jeff Green will attempt to make the race in the #30. David Ragan will be in the #55 for Michael Waltrip Racing. 

Pit Road Week 12: Charlotte

Weekly Review and Power Rankings

Week 12

By Richard Tix

After 12 races (11 regular season races and 1 All-Star Race) Jimmie Johnson finally broke the curse. No, not his win less streak, but MY win less streak. It is the first time in 12 races that I predicted the race winner. Ok, ok, Jimmie Johnson also finally won a race in 2014, I guess that is news as well...

The review of the Coca-Cola 600 this week will be short. I tend to keep the reviews short when I didn't catch most of the race. This week I was in Southern, MN camping with family. This is typically a small family reunion at a camp ground (about 30-35 friends and family all together). Typically we make a run into town at a small local bar to catch some of the race. Sometimes when we get back we will catch a bit more at the camp ground (sometimes a family member will get a site with cable).

This year I did neither, but I did catch some of the action on Twitter from time to time. So, I am basing most of my rankings on media and teams twitter feeds and the full race results. Also included in the rankings will be consideration after looking at some race loop data which is always handy. (Full Coca-Cola 600 race results)

Pit Road: Power Rankings Week 12 (Week 11)

*Does not include the All-Star Race into the Rankings*

1. Kevin Harvick (LW-2)- Havick takes the top spot from Gordon, but this was a tough one. Gordon had a good 600, but Harvick once again had a great car and led 100 laps on Sunday. Kevin just didn't have enough to get to JJ in the end.
2. Jeff Gordon (LW-1)- Jeff Gordon still holds NASCAR's points lead after 12 races and he and he put himself in the Chase after his Kansas win. Now all the 24 team needs to do is keep it locked in and they could make a Championship run.
3. Matt Kenseth (LW-3)- Tough company at the top. Kenseth has a good night on Sunday as he led 33 laps and spent a lot of time up front. He actually ran the race on average in 5th position and spent 99.8% of the race in the top 15. He eventually came home in 3rd place and is still 2nd in points without a win. 
4. Kyle Busch (LW-5)- Kyle didn't have the greatest race, but he brought it home 9th. I feel like that is how a lot of the season has gone, not a great race but a pretty good finish. He has only had 7 races of the 12 that he has been in the top 15 for more than 55% of the time. Watch out if the 18 team does get it fully together though.
5. Carl Edwards (LW-7)- Another average race for Carl, yet he finished 4th Sunday night. Can this team break out? Will this be his last year at Roush? All of these are questions Carl does not want to hear, but he better get used to it.
6. Jimmie Johnson (LW-12)- 11 races into the 2014 season and Jimmie Johnson did not have a win. Well, he got his first and he has a great shot at picking up #2 this week at Dover. Watch out, JJ could be back in the top 5 very soon.
7. Dale Earnhardt Jr (LW-4)- The 600 itself wasn't a terrible race for Jr as he spent most of the night in the top 10, but Dale Jr did finish the night 19th. After his bad finish at Dega, he had struggled (finish position) in the last 3 races. 
8. Joey Logano (LW-6)- JoLo spent most of the night in the top 15 and also ran the night on average around 8th, but the competition on top is heated and his 12th place finish dropped him a few spots. Not to worry, he and his Penske teammate have still been fast the last few races, they just have to finish.
9. Brian Vickers (LW-11)- I did predict Vickers (and AJ Allmendinger) as my surprise drivers this season, but even past that this is a great story. Vickers finished the 600 6th and picked up his 5th top 10 of the season. The bigger story is he doesn't have very many bad runs on the season and is 8th in points.
10. Kasey Kahne (LW-10)- Here is where the rankings get shaky. You could make a case for a lot of guys in the bottom spots. Kahne had a disappointing Charlotte run after finishing 14th, but his previous two finishes were 3rd and 8th.
11. Paul Menard (LW-NR)- Menards finished in the top 10 (8th) at Charlotte after not spending much time up front all night (34% of the race in the top 15, average running position of 18th). Even though it wasn't a great race it was still a good finish and his 2nd top 10 in the last 3 races.
12. Brad Keselowski (LW-NR)- After a good start BK has cooled off as of late. He and the #2 team has started piecing it back together in the last 4 races though (Dega he was taken out early and finished 38th). His other 3 finishes in the last 4 are 10th, 13th, and 4th. 

Dropped Out: Greg Biffle and Kyle Larson

Just Missed: Ryan Newman and Aric Almirola

Honorable Mention: Jamie McMurray

Week 12 brought us a new winner in 2014 (Jimmie Johnson) but as week head to Dover there are still some big names out there win less. Clint Bowyer is still riding a 53 race win less streak that dates back to the Charlotte Chase race in 2012. Tony Stewart, Kasey Kahne, Greg Biffle, and Ryan Newman are all looking for a win in 2014 as well. But will it be Jimmie Johnson's race to lose at Dover? 

I finally predicted a race winner in 2014 after a few close calls and a few terrible underdog picks, but I wasn't alone. Matt Aleza (@MattAleza1 and of ThisSportz) also let me know before the race on Twitter that Jimmie Johnson was going to win. 

Onto race 13 of the 2014 season. I have a pretty busy week this week after a long weekend, but I will have the preview up tomorrow and at least one extra Dover article this week.