2015 NASCAR Stock Watch: Week

Which NASCAR Drivers are Trending Up, Even, or Down?

By Richard Tix

Should you buy into the trends of these drivers so far in the 2015 season after four races? Is your favorite driver trending Up, Even, or Down? Should you buy low? Is your driver a risk, but high reward? Maybe he is a safe stock? Check out what NASCAR Behind the Wall thinks after the first four races.

Preseason Stock Watch

NASCAR Drivers Trending UP

Kevin Harvick

• I am not sure if up is the word when it comes to Harvick. After his hot start to 2015 there really isn't any room to go up anymore. He is a hot stock and all the #4 team has to do is keep the roll going. I will remind you of this, there will be some down moments in 2015 and that might be the time to buy in, because he will more than likely bounce back.
• Should You Buy In?
• He, Childers, and SHR have been a perfect fit. Between that and his personal life it seems like he has it all figured out right now. Again, its still 20 races until the Chase starts so he may have his stumbles, but he should be strong come the last ten races.

Martin Truex Jr

• It's tough to find a better come back story than Truex right now. Take all the Richmond drama, loosing a ride, having a tough 2014 season, and everything that is going on personally, and it makes for a great story in 2015. 
• Should You Buy In?
• I think this one car team can make a splash in 2015. Its Truex's best start in his career and Furniture Row is clicking. Will he win a title? Probably not, but a run to the final eight might be within grasp and anything can happen once you get there. This is a medium risk with a high reward.

Joey Logano

• 2015 has started where 2014 left off. JoLo is fast week to week and is always a favorite to win each race. The issue has been finishing out races and not just being fast in qualifying and in the first half of a race. He looks like he will contend for another title this year.
• Should You Buy In?
• I've said it before, but JoLo will be a title contender for some years to come now. He is comfortable at Penske and in this Gen 6 Car. He is a safe stock to buy into and may end up winning it all.

Kasey Kahne

• Is Kahne finally back? He had many struggles in 2014 that left him barely making the Chase (if not for an Atlanta win). So far in 2015 he is top 5 in points after four races with a pair of top 10's (one a top 5). 
• Should You Buy In?
• It is always tough to say no when talking about a Hendrick car, because no matter what at least two of the four are a threat year to year (most of the time more). But, that being said Kahne has disappointing before so the stock is hard to trust. He does have the talent to win it all so if you can deal with some up's and down's he has potential. 

Brad Keselowski

• Unlike after his great 2012 Championship year, BK has come back strong after a great 2014 season (struggled mightily in 2013). Team Penske seems to still be the only Ford to have figured it out (or just have the best drivers?). If Pensek can keep giving BK and JoLo fast cars they will compete.
• Should You Buy In?
• Just like Joey I think BK is a safe bet. He can wheel it with the best of them and has a Championship to make you feel better after buying in. The big concern is Ford and if they will stay with the Chevy's.

AJ Allmendinger

• After helping a small team make the Chase in 2014 AJ has started on a roll in 2015. It seems he has gained a bit on 1.5's that will help him in consistency on the year. Oh, and he is still good on road courses.
• Should You Buy In?
• For a Championship or year to year success? I wouldn't say he will give you a lot in return. That being said, him improving on 1.5's will give him a great shot to make the Chase win or not. Oh, and it will help him in the Chase possible move past the first round.

NASCAR Drivers Trending EVEN

Dale Earnhardt Jr

• Jr has started the season strong, but it still seems like the kind of roll he was on in 2014. Will it produce long term results is always the big question. Bad luck at Phoenix ruined his start of top 5's (so he probably be put in the "UP" category as well. 
• Which Way Will He Go?
• It still has to be "Up." He should pretty much already be in that category, but some bad luck has kept him down after last week. After a rough Phoenix it should be a good time to think he bounces right back in the next few weeks.

Matt Kenseth

• Kenseth is still searching for that magic he had in 2013. Last year he went win-less and it has to be eating at him. But, he is still with JGR and still has a great shot week to week to grab a win.
• Which Way Will He Go?
• I really think in the big picture he stays right here. I do think a win will be coming in 2015, but I still do not see Kenseth has being a top 4 driver which would be the only way you say he would be moving up from his stock spot. Still, he is a safe play for the Chase and to advance at least a round.

Denny Hamlin

• Another JGR driver that is hanging in limbo. Denny was a rising star at one point but as of late (after his injury at Auto Club a few years back) he has been hanging around the average club too much.
• Which Way Will He Go?
• I still have faith that Hamlin will bounce back and be a great value, but right now he is a bug risk because we haven't seen much consistency. If you like to gamble he has the talent to pull through in the end, just like in 2014 when he made the Finale.

NASCAR Drivers Trending DOWN

Carl Edwards

• Edwards move to JGR was much anticipated and so far in my mind it has been disappointing. Has he been bad? No. But I expected more out of him early, especially considering he started off better in 2014 with a struggling RFR.
• Will He Bounce Back Up?
• Its so early to say he will be a bust in 2015, but I am not sure he will have the season I once thought he would. Maybe it will take half the year to get comfortable and by that time will it be too late to make a title push? The thing with Edwards is, even when he is bad you will still get a decent return, so he isn't too risky.

Clint Bowyer

• 2015 started off on the right foot and it looked like Bowyer my finally get away from that Richmond shadow, and then the next few races happened. It still hasn't been pretty early on, but things almost seemed like they would start going in the right direction.
• Will He Bounce Back?
• If so many stocks are going up what gives? Someone has to stay down, right? I like Bowyer so its tough to say it, but he may struggle with his ups and downs all year. 

Kyle Larson

• Sophomore Slump? Larson's first two races made you forget about his strong rookie year for a moment. Everyone figured he would have a strong 2015 season and the So Slump was just a phrase that wouldn't happen. Will it?
• Will He Bounce Back?
• Larson will soon be rising back up again, so if you want to buy in on a stock that might be cheap today, he is your guy. His stock is young and people are scared that the Sophomore Slump is a real thing, but just look at his last two races, he is getting better. 

Tony Stewart

• Its not a good time to be a Tony Stewart fan. I feel for them because most of the ones I have met are very loyal and I am sure it sucks to see him struggle like this. At Phoenix he finally seemed to be getting a run together and then bad luck hit.
• Will He Bounce Back?
• I really think it might be the end of the road for Smoke, and that hurts to say. I just feel like he has so much catching up to do because of all the changes that NASCAR made while he was hurt or out that he is in a huge hole. His stock is cheap right now and it can't get much lower, so you could still buy low and hope he figures it out, because if he does he still has a shot to be on top.

Rookie Report: Week 16

2014 Season Rookie Report

Week 16

By Richard Tix

It has been awhile since NASCAR Behind the Wall has taken a look at how the 2014 rookie class has been doing. In fact, we haven't taken a look since week 5 of the NASCAR Season. As I did back in week 5, I like letting the rookies get a bunch of races in before taking a look at there season. They now have 15 races under the 2014 belt so it is safe to say they're starting to settle in. Just around the corner of the 2014 season will be NASCAR's loop back to some tracks it's already been to. We will learn a lot about what the rookies learned the first time around.

But, first up is the 2014 rookie classes first look at turning right. NASCAR heads to Sonoma Raceway which can be a lot for a driver to take in, but also a drivers opportunity to steal a win and maybe a Chase birth. 

**Rookies listed by highest in Sprint Cup Standings**

• 7th- Kyle Larson
• 17th- Austin Dillon
• 29th- Justin Allgaier
• 30th- Michael Annett
• 31st- Cole Whitt
• 35th- Alex Bowman
• 37th- Ryan Truex

#42 Kyle Larson

After week 5 Kyle Larson's stock was at an all time high for himself. He had just finsished 2nd at Auto Club to Kyle Busch and talk was all about him. Well since then he has bought a house, announce he is having a child, oh, and he has been racing pretty well too. Since week 5 he has 5 top 10's and 2 top 5's in 10 races. Even his poor finishes in the last 10 haven't been that bad excluding his 27th at Martinsville (11, 18, 12, and 16). I think the people who said he needs more time before being in Cup are either hiding under a rock hoping he starts to fail or all turned into believers. Oh, and he is 7th in points, highest guy in points without a win other then Matt Kenseth.

#3 Austin Dillon

Last time we took a look at Dillon he was 9th in the points standings. After 5 races he had a 9th and two 11th place finishes. Since then he has only done that once (11th at Darlington, which is a very quality finish). Also during this stretch since week 5 he only has 3 top 15's (10 races). Even though those stats look like he isn't progressing, the fact that he has had a good handful of recent races where he logged over 100 laps in the top 15 is a good sign. His best tracks have been the two Super Speedways (Daytona and Talladega) but he has been learning along the way. 

#52 Justin Allgaier

After Dillon and Larson we start getting into rookies with lesser equipment so it is a bit harder to judge. I will start with this about Justin, he has had some pretty impressive runs unfortunately most have not resulted in great finishes. After week 5 he was 29th in the standings and after the last 10 races he has stayed still at 29th. He has has 5 top 25 finishes since week 5 (10 races) and just finished a career best 16th at Michigan. In fact Michigan was the first time this season his driver rating was above 70 after running 71% of the race in the top 15. 

#7 Michael Annett

Allgaier stayed still at 29th in points in the last 10 races but Annett came a bit closer. After week 5 he was 31st in the Cup standings and in the last stretch he moved up to 30th. In the last 10 he has four total top 25's with two of those being top 20's. Annett had a career best finish of 16th at Talladega but I would argue his 20th place finish at Pocono was one of his better races. At Pocono he ran a season high 24 laps in the top 15 and a season high average running position of 23rd. 

#26 Cole Whitt

A lot has happened since week 5 of the NASCAR season for Cole Whitt. After week 8 Swan Racing folded under financial pressure. But BK racing was quick to pick up Cole and add a third rookie to there team (Bowman and Truex). Cole has only has one top 25 since his career high finish 18th in week 5 (Fontana). However, 7 times in his last 10 races he has finished in the top 30. In my mind BK racing is not ready for three cars, let alone 3 rookies. But, they were good enough to give Cole a shot (I would also argue that Cole Whitt is the best rookie on the BK Team). So, times are rough for Whitt but he should stick around if he keeps showing he can compete in lower equipment. He is currently 31st in points.

#23 Alex Bowman

When I see a car in the wall my first thought is Alex Bowman.... Alright, he has had some rough outings lately, but I don't actually immediately think its Alex (though I'm not surprised when it is).  Unlike my thoughts on Larson, I did believe Bowman needed more grooming in lower levels (I really liked Larson, so I had no problem giving him a shot). He only had 6 career top 10's in 36 career starts in Nationwide and most of Bowman's work has been done in the ARCA series to this point. But, I don't blame Alex, because NASCAR does not have a lot of opportunities when you look it as a whole, so he had to jump on it. I only hope he can stick around long enough to actually get some time behind the wheel and a decent ride. Currently he is 35th in points, having started all 15 races with no top 10's.

#83 Ryan Truex

Not a lot to see here. I like Ryan Truex, but he really should be getting more experience in lower levels. He has only run 40 total laps all season in the top 15 (28 of those coming at Talladega). BK Racing really shouldn't be running 3 cars, let alone 3 rookies right now. If they are going to run 3 car's they really should fill the third car with a veteran to help out the young guys. You have to wonder how long BK Racing will be able to keep this up. Right now he is 37th in points, running 12 of the 15 races and a high finish of 30th.

Past Rookie Reports:

• Week 5
• Week 1
• Preseason

Pit Road Week 9: Richmond

Weekly Review and Power Rankings

Week 9

By Richard Tix

My reaction from Saturday night? That. Was. Fun. Saturday night at Richmond was short track racing at its best. How do I know this? Well for one, the racing was great down the stretch, but you can truly know when you see all the emotion after the race.

Whether its Marcus Ambrose throwing hay makers or Brad Keselowski letting his emotions go, the short track racing on Saturday got everyone fired up. On that note, I do want to share one opinion. I maybe a fan of Brad Keselowski, but I do not always agree with him. But one thing gets me when it comes to NASCAR fans, and that is the issue of letting emotion out, or how others put it, "whining."

Every season I hear fans constantly say they want drivers to be more vocal, let there individual self out and there voices and opinions be heard. We want to hear them be human and not NASCAR robots. Yet, when a guy like BK lets his emotion and passion go literally just minutes after a race people get on him and attack him for whining. He was racing for the win, maybe his point wasn't the right point, but he was letting it go, getting it out there. I mean, this is the same emotion that built NASCAR to what it is today!

Dale Earnhardt let people know what was on his mind because he was passionate about racing, and I hate to say this, but he was not always right and a lot of time it was just because of how great a competitor he was. He wanted to win and you could tell that by what he said after the race whether he was right or wrong.

So why are there some fans out there who ask for more out of drivers until a driver says something they don't like? You can not always have your cake and eat it too. I m not a Busch brother fan, but I do not chastise them for speaking there mind, especially after the race (where I get into it is if you throw your team or someone under a bus). I don't mind when Denny attacks NASCAR's ideas.

I like it. I definitely do not turn around and call them whiners and complain just because I do not like them. If NASCAR is to truly move on and try and get back to its glory days, then fans also need to decide what they want. Do you want emotion and passion, or just more NASCAR robots? Programs to do and say what NASCAR officials want them to say.

To end this rant, I am not saying you can't disagree with BK (or anyone in the past or future) and dislike him, but telling him to shut up or calling him a whiner or baby because he shows fans how much he loves his sport is crazy in my mind. If you do want to chastise him, then don't be the fan who cries that drivers don't let out enough emotion or talk enough after a race about what happened on the last couple of laps.

Moving on, did anyone see Marcus Ambrose's punch on Casey Mears coming? Wow, I didn't think Ambrose could connect like that. A side note, this was a fight between 18th and 19th, so you know the racing was intense.

But, enough of all this non race winner talk, the real winner this weekend was Joey Logano who became the second driver to win multiple races this year and actually lock himself into the Chase. JoLo has easily had his best start to a season in only his second year at Penkse. Moving to Penske seems to be the best move he, and Penske, has made. The way it is looking Logano could possibly be a Championship contender this season. No one is happier with the way this season has started more than Roger Penske.

So lets move onto this weeks Power Rankings. Is you missed it here is the full race result (If you did miss it just search for a video of the last restart, because it was some amazing racing). Also, Check out the Richmond Preview.


Pit Road: Power Rankings Week 9 (Week 8)

1. Jeff Gordon (LW-1)- I am keeping Gordon a top the rankings for another week. Once again he was one of the cars to beat, and was right there in the end, but for the second time this season he finished 2nd to Joey Logano.
2. Matt Kenseth (LW-2)- Kenseth looked to be in a great position at the end of the race, but on the last restart it looked liek BK had him, or maybe Gordon had him? Either way, Kenseth was trying to block both drivers and lost position eventually. Still a great run.
3. Joey Logano (LW-9)- Huge jump for JoLo this week, but think about this, in 3 races he has 2 wins. His issue in the middle of these wins was a front hub so there is only so much he can do.
4. Kyle Busch (LW-3)- Harsh, a drop for KB after finishing 3rd? Unfortunately someone had to slide for the red hot Logano. In no way is this Kyles fault, in fact they made a brilliant move at the end of the race to go with 4 tires. He rocketed through the field, and with a few more laps, he most likely would have ended up winning at Richmond.
5. Dale Earnhardt Jr (LW-4)- 7th place finish on Saturday by Jr, led a few laps, and still sits 5th in points, not a bad day for Dale. Also, nothing special so he wont be moving around in the rankings too much this week, but a solid finish keeps his momentum moving in the right direction.
6. Carl Edwards (LW-5)- Carl was quiet but finished in the top 10 on Saturday (9th). Interesting to note, Carl doesn't really have a bad finish all year and that is why he is third in points.
7. Kevin Harvick (LW-8)- Harvick had a pretty good car on Saturday (he won the Nationwide race on Friday, holding off rookie Chase Elliott) but he couldn't bring it home at the end of the race. He finished just outside the top 10 (11th).
8. Brad Keselowski (LW-12)- BK finally broke out of his slump by leading 114 laps (second to Gordons 173) and looking like a real contender in the closing laps. Bk just couldn't get around Kenseth and finished 4th.
9. Ryan Newman (LW-NR)- Newman has finished every race (except the 500, 22nd) in the top 20. He has not been amazing nor has he been bad and that was the case again Saturday at RIR where he finished 8th. Overall it was a very solid night for the 31 team and they should get a top 5 sooner rather than later.
10. Jimmie Johnson (LW-6)- JJ finished 32nd on Saturday after his night was thrown out when he had to pit over concern about his right front. He started to worry right around the window where teams were having tire problems. I know 32nd is better than 42nd but I wonder if they should have chanced it a few more laps hoping someone else went down first?
11. Greg Biffle (LW-11)- The Biff has been quiet all season but he has found himself in 11th in points. The #16 team will need to find some more speed if they want to contend for a win but, at least they're hanging around.
12. Kyle Larson (LW-10)- His day started out on the pole and then looking the opposite way after Clint Bowyer spun him around. Larson stayed calm and worked his way back up to the top 10, ending his night in 16th. 

Dropped Out: Tony Stewart

Just Missed: Brian Vickers and AJ Allmendinger (great run by the #47 team to get a top 10, almost top 5).

Honorable mention: Martin Truex Jr and Jamie McMurray

Finally, NASCAR Behind the Wall went two races, or about 55 votes without someone getting it right. Well Matt Aleza (also, with ThisSportz) predicted Saturdays winner! I didn't get many votes this week, so I will be trying to ask a few extra times on my twitter account. Keep em coming in!

As always, thanks for checking the blog out. Come back for more daily as I will have the Talladega TV/Race Schedule, Entry list, Preview, and a special Dega article this week!

Pit Road Week 8: Darlington

Weekly Review and Power Rankings

Week 8

By Richard Tix

The 8th race of the NASCAR season brought fans the first Saturday Night race of the season at Darlington and after 7 different winners to start the season Darlington also brought the first multi time winner of 2014.  Early in the race it was all about Joey Logano and Jeff Gordon up front. Gordon seemed to be strong on long runs, but on a night of short runs this ended up being part of his downfall.

After a lap 40 caution Kevin Harvick took the lead from Gordon on the restart, which ended up being a theme of the night for the #4 team. A few laps later another caution came out and Harvick gave up the lead after a few guys (Denny Hamlin and Matt Kenseth) took two tires. Kenseth took the early lead but eventually Harvick ran him down with four fresh tires.

For much of the rest of the race it really seemed to be much of the same. A caution would come out for someone getting a larger than normal Darlington stripe and Harvick would win the restart. Time after time fans watched Harvick take the restart and racked up more laps lead on the night.

Then late in the race Jimmie Johnson, after a long day/night of finding the right set up (he fought from the back all the way up to second) seemed to have a contending car. While in second and running comparable times to Harvick a caution flew with about 0 to go. JJ, Dale Jr, Kenseth, and Gordon all took two tires. In my opinion I though guys who were already up front like JJ and Kenseth should have taken four. Harvick took four fresh tires but started behind the others who took two.

To many fans surprise, Jr won the restart and actually looked like he could hold on with two tires, if not JJ also looked like he could take the win. Harvick was charging with four, but it didn't seem like he had enough time. Then, another late caution came out and everything changed. Now Harvick didn't have to fight through as much traffic. JJ took the lead on the GWC as Harvick started 3rd and Jr seemed to get a slow restart.

Harvick ran him down and didn't seem to have much trouble passing him with the four fresh tires. The win, Harvicks second of 2014, means that Harvick will make the Chase for sure (As long as he doesn't fall off completely and finish worse than 30th in points, which wont happen).  

If you need another look at the full race results, check them out here for the Bojangles Southern 500. Also, check out this weeks Darlington Preview. NASCAR takes a week off for the Easter Holiday before heading to Richmond Raceway for another Saturday Night Shootout April 26th.

Pit Road: Power Rankings Week 8 (Week 7 Power Rankings)

1. Jeff Gordon (LW-1)- Gordon will keep the top spot this week after a good but not great run on Saturday night. He finished 7th but his car fell off a bit towards the end of the race. Once again he had a car on the long run but not the short, and restarts hurt him. Will he stay consistent enough to get a win eventually?
2. Matt Kenseth (LW-2)- The top two in the Power Rankings ironically do not have a win in a season where wins count for more. When it comes down to it, teams need to also find chemistry and solid finishes to make the last round (a win definitely helps ease the stress though!). Kenseth hasn't seemed as strong as 2013 (which everyone expected) but most thought he would win by now especially if we have 7 different winners.
3. Kyle Busch (LW-3)- The first guy in the Rankings with a win, Kyle had a rough night but still brought the car home 6th. He now has a win, a top 5, and a top 10 in his last 4 races.
4. Dale Earnhardt Jr (LW-7)- Jr had a small shot at winning late in the race Saturday, but other then that he had a very quiet 2nd place finish. Jr, Latarte and the 88 team worked all night to finally get the car up front so it was a great finish.
5. Carl Edwards (LW-5)- 13th. Thats really all there is to say about Edwards night. At one point he was down a lap so fighting back for a 13th place finish should be a win for this team.
6. Jimmie Johnson (LW-9)- What a fight out of the 48 team on Saturday. JJ spent most of the day part of the race trying to figure out anything on the car. Then they slowly figured out something he could work with. By the end of the night JJ was up front and JJ haters were all saying "nooooo anyone but JJ." Point is, JJ and the 48 is on top of things yet in 2014, but they're still pulling in a 3rd place finish. (Side note, as I said before the second to last pit, I still think they should have taken four, I think his car was just as good as Harvick's if he had four fresh tires).
7. Tony Stewart (LW-8)- Without looking at the stats I would say Stewart ran 15th to 20th all night. Then I looked and he ran 9 total laps in the top 15. Yet, he finished 9th. That's a very forgettable top 10, but hey it works.
8. Kevin Harvick (LW-NR)- From not ranked all the way up to 8th. This is Power Rankings not just points standings. You can make a case for even higher, because most of his bad runs are all just bad luck, but when I do mine I take in account everything. To become Champion you also have to get lucky and not have bad luck. Maybe Harvick and the 4 team is just getting it out of the way now?
9. Joey Logano (LW-4)- Roller coaster night for JoLo. He took the lead early, then fell way off and even had some body issues. Then he started his climb back up to the front. Just when it looked like he would salvage a top 10 he had a hub issue and took it behind the wall. 
10. Kyle Larson (LW-12)- Larson now has back to back top 10 finishes twice in his 8 race career (not including his 4 2013 races). It wasn't a great day for him as he spent a lot of the race about 18th, but he finished 8th which was his high position of the race. He has kept his car mostly clean and has shown he has talent, the more experience he gets the more he will challenge for top 10's, top 5's and wins.
11. Greg Biffle (LW-NR)- The Biff is back in the rankings after finishing 5th at Darlington. He was very quiet most of the night, but as it was for most of these guys, they found a way to finish well. This top 5 is just one week after he finished 6th.
12. Brad Keselowski (LW-10)- Its crazy to think BK is barely hanging on to a top 12 spot in the Power Rankings, but fact is he is only hanging on because of performance and starting position, not how he finishes. In his last 5 he doesn't have a top 10, yet he is still sitting in 7th in points. Another bad finish and it will be a long run to get back into the rankings.

Dropped Out: Paul Menard and Brian Vickers

Just Missed: Austin Dillon, Ryan Newman, and Clint Bowyer

Honorable Mention: Josh Wise, AJ Allmendinger, and Danica Patrick

More Articles:

• March Madness NASCAR Style: Champion
• This Week in NASCAR: 4/14
• The Fight for Points

Pit Road Week 6: Martinsville

Weekly Review and Power Rankings

Week 6

By Richard Tix

After a week of tragic losses (RIP Bobby and Lynda) some NASCAR fans just needed racing to heal the heart. Sometimes in times of sorrow we need to look to do what those lost loved ones would want us to do, and in this case that might have been racing.

Boy, did Martinsville bring the racing. Just after the green flag flew the fireworks began. Drivers came into the pits early with level heads and left with tempers at a high.  Fireworks flew when Brad Keselowski and Kurt Busch got into it on the track after they got into a wreck on pit road. Things settled down between the two after another caution. Kurt Busch then took his beat up SHR car towards the front after he said "our day is done." 

Kurts Day was anything but done, I guess he forgot Martinsville is a beat up cars dream. He took his #41 SHR Chevy all the way to the lead and battled with Jimmie Johnson on the closing laps. After taking the lead late he held JJ off for his first win in two years and his first with SHR. If you missed it, here are the STP 500 results.

Martinsville Preview

Pit Road: Power Rankings Week 6 (Week 5 Power Rankings)

1. Dale Earnhardt Jr (LW-4)- Look who is back atop the rankings and not just my Power Rankings, but also the NASCAR Standings. This spot almost went to JJ because JJ had a great day at Martinsville, but Jr has been so consistent and fought through bad days. Sunday wasn't a very good day, yet he finished 3rd. That says something about this team.
2. Jimmie Johnson (LW-5)- If JJ could have taken that win and got back around Kurt, I would have a different #1 this week. For now JJ will have to be patient, his time will come. 
3. Matt Kenseth (LW-2)- Kenseth finished 6th, yup 6th. I had to look at it again because what I remember about the race was a lot of JGR guys struggling. Good finish for the #20 team.
4. Carl Edwards (LW-1)- Carl is another driver having a great start to 2014 yet he had a mediocre finish at Martinsville. But because of all the mediocre finishes by guys on top of the standings he only falls to 4th after a 13th place finish. Look for him to bounce back at Texas.
5. Jeff Gordon (LW-3)- Gordon had a long day! After being many fans favorite to win on Sunday, Gordon found himself in the back. But at the end of the day the team didn't give up and salvaged a 12th place finish. 
6. Kyle Busch (LW-7)- A week after a win, Rowdy took the Pole for the STP 500. Other than that he had a long day of trying to find his car. He ended up finishing 14th, but like the next guy on this list still moves up a spot.
7. Tony Stewart (LW-8)- Not a great day for Smoke, he spent some time towards the front, but wasn't truly a contender for the win Sunday. After two straight top 5's he fell all the way to a 17th place finish. The bottom of these rankings really have a mix of guys who have been up and down, so Smoke somehow gains a spot without doing much. We will chalk it up as an Owner Win.
8. Kurt Busch (LW-NR)- After his "day was over" on Sunday, Kurt rallied to win his second grandfather clock (first since 2002). I will give him this, he did a heck of a job bouncing back after his near melt down when he and Brad Keselowski got into it. Maybe Kurt has turned the corner? If so he is a huge threat for the Cup.
9. Joey Logano (LW-NR)- After two rough weeks, JoLo once again had a strong showing at Martinsville. He picked up his 3rd top 5 (all of them 4th place finishes) and sits 8th in the standings. If he keeps it up, he should join his Penske teammate with a win in 2014.
10. Austin Dillon (LW-10)- Staying at 10th, Dillon was quiet again on Sunday but managed another top 15. Top 15's can get you on the list if you get them every week, but he wont be moving up very fast. Good start for a rookie though, as he is riding around learning, yet still finishing top 15 (I'm looking at you Danica).
11. Brad Keselowski (LW-6)- This happened in 2013 as well, but so far the causes of his slips are different. He has still seemed to have a fast car, but the finishes don't so it. One more week and he will go from first in the rankings to out of them in a few races.
12. Paul Menard (LW-NR)- Man I wanted to give this spot to AJ Allmendinger, but Menard has 3 top 10's in his last 4 races. That is too tough to ignore.

Dropped Out: Jamie McMurray, Kyle Larson, and Ryan Newman

Just Missed: AJ Allmendinger, Brian Vickers, and Clint Bowyer

Honorable Mention: Marcus Ambrose and Aric Almirola

NASCAR Behind the Wall had about 25 votes on Twitter for this weekends race winner and not a single one picked Kurt Busch. So it looks like another week without congratulatory praise! Either we need better guesses, or more voters! I'm going with more voters because the driver I predicted didn't win either. NASCAR heads to Texas to get a view at the new jumbo screen, Big Haus. Check back for the preview and also new articles coming this week. 

Pit Road Week 5: Auto Club

Weekly Review and Power Rankings

Week 5

By Richard Tix

Last week at Bristol it was rain, this week at Auto Club Speedway it was tires that took the headline. Figuring out how to run the car and how long runs could be on the Good Years at Auto Club was the key in Sundays race. Cup drivers had a lot of problems figuring out a balance on Sunday and many drivers had tires go down which effected there day. Some drivers didn't even have a tire go down (and actually slowed down to conserve tires) and still was affected by them.

That driver was Jeff Gordon and the situation I am talking about was while he was leading with only laps to go. He had a big enough lead that he slowed his pace to make sure he didn't push the tires too far, but then all heck broke loose behind him. Driver after driver went down with tire issues, but NASCAR stayed green. Then Clint Bowyer's tire went down when he was on the high side of the track and he spun down to the apron.  

This caution brought us one last pit stop and a green white checker finish. Landon Cassill Stayed out and gave NASCAR fans a bit of drama in the front of the field. When we got back to racing Tony Stewart and Kurt Busch got out front and battled for a lap and then came Kyle Busch.  Kyle took the lead and kept it, but not before Kyle Larson made a run at him coming around turns 3 and 4 but it wasn't enough and Kyle Busch went to Victory Lane at Auto Club Speedway for the second straight year.

Full race results here

Pit Road: Power Rankings Week 5 (Week 4 Power Rankings)

1. Carl Edwards (LW-4)- This is a toss up spot this week, as you can make a case for a lot of drivers. I am going with consistency for my top spot. Last weeks winner (Bristol), Carl only has one race where he didn't finish top 10 (Daytona). Now Carl becomes our newest points leader heading into Martinsville.
2. Matt Kenseth (LW-5)- Kenseth led some laps on Sunday but overall he was quite, yet he finished 4th. With all the tired problems with tires driver were having I think Matt will take it. 
3. Jeff Gordon (LW-2)- He moves down, but just because of bad luck. I thought about not moving him, but I have been moving every driver down even when its bad luck. Gordon had the win wrapped up with a bow on top until a very late caution came out and ruined his day.
4. Dale Earnhardt Jr (LW-3)- What a day for Jr Nation. Up, down, and sideways, Jr brought home a banged up car and still finished 12th. He worked his way back up front after finding himself in back when he smacked the wall.
5. Jimmie Johnson (LW-6)- This could have been the week JJ moved up to a top spot again, but after leading the most laps in the race he had a tire go down and put a road block in his run. JJ came across 24th and will be tough to handle at Martinsville.
6. Brad Keselowski (LW-1)- Another car that had tire issues at the end of the race. BK ran well early, then they gambled and didn't take tires (fell from the front to the back in 9 laps), and then made it back up front. BK had a flat tire on the last few laps that brought him in at a 26th place finish, but this team still looked good most of the day.
7. Kyle Busch (LW-NR)- One more week and he will jump up this rankings, but for now the fact remains he hasn't been consistent. Great win for Rowdy, but it wouldn't have come without a late caution. He only lead 5 laps, but he lead the one that matters most. Kyle is now all but locked up for the Chase, so watch out he could go on a hot streak now.
8. Tony Stewart (LW-NR)- After a slow start and people asking "should he be in the car yet?" Smoke has turned it sround with back to back top 5's. Martinsville, like Bristol, will be fun to see how Smokes leg reacts.
9. Jamie McMurray (LW-NR)- Five races in and McMurray is still in position to make last years Chase (12th in points). He finished 6th on Sunday and his only bad finish was after a quality run at Bristol was brought up short by a wreck (38th). 
10. Austin Dillon (LW-NR)- Have you checked out who is 9th in points through 5 races? Most weeks you completely forget that Dillon and the #3 are out there, but then you look at the results and he is 11th. Running most of these tracks for the first time in Cup (he did run some last year) he is just getting adjusted.
11. Kyle Larson (LW-NR)- Check out his week bye week finish position. Yeah, each week he has finished better. Larson finished 2nd at Auto Club so you know what that means? Unfortunately a win at Martinsville for a rookie is a lot to ask, but either way this kid is showing he is the real deal.
12. Ryan Newman (LW-10)- Newman hangs onto the last spot after seeing so many people come and go. Again, Newman showed glimpses of having a good car and front running and then ran into trouble. He still finished 20th and is 8th in points.

Dropped Out: Denny Hamlin, Kasey Kahne, Joey Logano, Greg Biffle, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr

Just Missed: Brian Vickers and Paul Menard

Honorable Mention: AJ Allmendinger (8th place finish), Danica Partick (14th), Cole Whitt (18th), and Michael Annett (19th).

As always, NASCAR Behind the Wall's Winning Tweets (Fans who Tweeted me before the race who they thought would win, and picked the correct winner). This week we just have one:

Congrats Deborah on the right call!

Well that's it for Fontana. NASCAR heads out of CA and head to Martinsville to see which driver will win a Grandfather clock. Will it be there first? Or will they have to add another room to there house just to hold another clock (JJ, Gordon, etc)?

Pit Road Week 1: Daytona

Weekly Review and Power Rankings

Week One

By Richard Tix

Wow! My first reaction to the Daytona 500 to kick off the 2014 season. If you missed the race, thanks for coming to NASCAR Behind the Wall to check out a quick review with Power Rankings, but you missed one heck of a race. I would try and find it anywhere to watch the replay!

The 500 started like any other 500. We had a very good anthem sung by Aloe Blacc and a very energized "start your engines" call. Then the racing started. The Cup drivers stayed two wide to start, but then those damn rain clouds came in. We waited, and waited, and waited until they finally got us going in Prime Time.

When the race came back on fans who waited sure got what they waited for. As Gordon said, "it was like a switch flipped in peoples heads and everyone started driving like it was the last 5 laps with 150 laps to go." It was great action the whole way through.

Coming down the stretch we started seeing guys getting loose and caution flags flying (We also got to see a lot of commercials, in fact 10 in the last 65 laps. Thanks Fox). guys like Kahne, Truex, Bowyer, and Stewart never had a chance to make a mark because each had there own problems. But fans still had some heavy hitters up front.

Coming into the last lap Dale Earnhardt Jr was leading (I was a little outraged that some of Jr Nation were trying a rain dance earlier because he was leading, the same ones upset that rain had postponed the race). Matt Kenseth, Jimmie Johnson, Denny Hamlin, Jeff Gordon, and Brad Keselowski all up front trying to make there bid at the 500. But Jr came across to win his second Daytona 500 (first since 2004). This was sure to be one of the most exciting finishes of the season (and a Jr win like this is way more satisfying then calling it on rain, am I right Jr Nation?).

2014 Kicked off with a bang at Daytona. Next week we head to Phoenix for the first time in the year. Check out the full race results here. Next is the weekly Pit Road (or Power Rankings). This week it will get very messed up with many drivers having bad luck or getting involved in a wreck. After Phoenix it should even back out.

Week 1 Preview: Daytona

Previous Power Rankings

Pit Road: Power Rankings Week 1

1. Dale Earnhardt Jr (LW-8)- Well its a big jump up from 8th so soak it in Jr Nation. This might be the momentum that gets him and Letarte going int Letartes last season as his Crew Chief. Either way, its a great way for Jr to start 2014. Great weekend after one of his cars (Regan Smith) won in Nationwide and then Jr caps it off with the 500. He had a strong car all weekend.
2. Matt Kenseth (LW-2)-Kenseth finished 6th but he made his way up front towards the end of the race putting himself in reach but just not close enough. Overall he had a good weekend though.
3. Denny Hamlin (LW-5)- Hamlin started the week off winning the Unlimited and then his Duel. He was quiet on Sunday until the end when he charged up front. Reports are that DH lost radio communication for the last 150 laps so his 2nd place finish is pretty impressive.
4. Jimmie Johnson (LW-1)- 5th place finish and JJ falls? Well the early season Power Rankings are tough. JJ had a good showing in the 500 and finally stayed out of trouble. 
5. Kyle Busch (LW-3)- Kyle finished 19th, but he doesnt drop too far after he had a strong run all day Sunday. He led 19 laps and a last lap crash dropped him back farther then he would have finished if it started green.
6. Brad Keselowski (LW-10)- Another big mover, BK's #2 was strong all weekend. He just couldn't get enough push on the outside line after Jr's good jump on the last restart to get around Dale. BK finished 3rd in the 500 and hopes this starts his turnaround in 2014.
7. Jeff Gordon (LW-11)- In the post race interview it seemed like Gordon had a lot of fun on Sunday. Gordon ended up 4th himself, but seemed to be even happier for Jr after the race.
8. Kevin Harvick (LW-4)- Another guy who had a pretty good car, stayed up front most the day, but just didn't finish like he should of because of the last lap crash. 13th is better then how Harvicks 2013 season started so there is that.
9. Joey Logano (LW-9)- Not moving after finishing 11th, well the Rankings are tough what can I say. In no way does this take away from his finish though, he had a good day and will start his 2014 season out on a good note.
10. Kurt Busch (LW-7)- This was Daytona, so this happened to a lot of guys, but Kurt actually had a pretty good day. He did get clipped in a wreck that had his right rear quarter flapping in the wind for some closing laps and then he was also involved in the last lap wreck shoving him down to 21st.
11. Greg Biffle (LW- NR)- Considering Ford seemed a bit behind last year to start the season it was a pretty strong showing. Biffle was one of those Ford drivers who helped them look better to start this season. Biffle finished 8th but had a good run up front towards the end of the race.
12. Ricky Stenhouse Jr (LW-NR)- Last guy in, Stenhouse gets the nod here. He just hung around and ended up finishing 7th. Unfortunately, if he had more there he could have finished better while pushing BK around on the last lap. In his last 12 races he has 4 top 10's.

Dropped Out: Tony Stewart and Clint Bowyer

Just Missed: Carl Edwards and Austin Dillon

Honorary Mention: Reed Sorenson, Landon Cassill, and Casey Mears

As promised, here are some fans on Twitter that let me know before the Daytona 500 who would win!

ThisSportz Power Rankings if you need another view! Check'em out!

Onto Week 2 of the NASCAR Season! NASCAR heads to Phoenix to get the season going full steam. Check back for the Week 2 Preview: Phoenix later this week! As always, contact me on Twitter to talk NASCAR and let me know who you go this weekend!

Driver Spotlight: Jeff Gordon (Preseason Addition)

Jeff Gordon's 2014 Preview

By Richard Tix

A look at Previous Driver Spotlight's

20th, 9th, 25th, 34th, 11th, 3rd, and 38th. Those finishes don't scream 4-time Champion do they? Well that is exactly how Jeff Gordon started out his season in 2013. It was a rocky start to the season that seemed to spread through his year all the way up until he was chosen to be the first #13 Chase Driver ever.

So, is this the start of Gordon's decline or does he have more left in the tank? In 2007 Gordon had 6 wins and came close to getting his 5th title but Jimmie Johnson was just too good and Jeff finished runner up. Well, ever since that season Gordon has 7 wins in 6 seasons and has only finished top 5 in the Chase once (2009).

Jeff Gordon is still a huge fan favorite. He also still runs a Hendrick car so he always has a shot at getting a few wins but has the decline of his career already started? Gordon finished 2013 with his least amount of top 5's since 2005 and tied for his least amount of top 10's since 2005 but he did have a strong run in the Chase.

After getting the final Chase spot (13th) Gordon had a good showing and finished the season 6th in points.  Maybe Gordon will have a resurgence and make a push back at JJ for another Title after his good finish in 2013. Not only is he chasing another title but a huge topic has been who will get to 100 wins first, him or Jimmie.

Jeff Gordon is at 88 career wins to start the 2014 season, but if he continues the pace he has been on the last 6 seasons he will need to race full time another 11 years. That puts Gordon at 52 years old and it starts to seem even more unrealistic that he will ever reach 100. So if Gordon ever wants to get to 100 wins he needs to start having seasons where he steals a few races from other drivers. With that in mind, 2014 is a big year for Jeff Gordon if he wants to get back on the path of 100 and chase another title.

Let me know your thoughts on Twitter. Will Gordon ever win another Championship? Will he get to 100 wins? Will JJ get to 100 before Gordon? Has Gordon hit his decline? Let the Countdown to Daytona Continue!

Check out some other Hendrick Articles:

• Chasing History (On Jimmie Johnson)
• NASCAR Sprint Cup 2014 Headlines
• Driver Spotlight: Dale Earnhardt Jr (Preseason Addition)

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. 

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.

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 22

Watkins Glen 2013

Nascar takes its last Right turn of the year and Kyle Busch was the one left standing as the winner at Watkins Glen.  This past Sunday it really was all about clean air, or so it seemed. Marcus Ambrose took the Pole and stayed out front all day until an ill timed caution while he was about to pit had him starting back in traffic and he wasn't the same. Eventually Marcus mentioned he may have something broke on his car and not too much longer he was found spinning out.

Watkins Glen gave everyone the excitement that road courses tend to bring to the Sprint Cup and left some people asking again for more, including one in the Chase. The excitement came with 2 regulation laps to go with Kyle Busch leading and Brad Keselowski trailing and working as hard as he could to get around him. In the end BK didn't find a way without wrecking Kyle and took home second while Rowdy finished off his day with on of the better burnouts in a long time.

Take a look at the results here. Also take a look back at this weeks Watkins Glen Preview.


Rising:

• Brad Keselowski- BK Wanted the win, which would have made him a much safer bet at the very least a WC but he also didn't want to wreck himself trying and take away a good points day. Good move by BK to take home second and not push it too much, but at the same time giving fans an exciting finish.
• Martin Truex Jr- No one wanted Smoke to get hurt, but no one may have gained more out of it then Truex. After a 3rd places finish at the Glen he now holds the 10th spot in points.
• Carl Edwards- Carl leaves Watkins Glen with a 4th place finish and now goes to a track where he has run well at and won, Michigan.

Coasting:

• Jimmie Johnson- Yawn. He never contended but he also hung out near the top 10 most the second half the day. A 8th place finish at the Glen and onto the next race. Also to note, he clinched a Chase spot after this week. 

Falling:

• Jeff Gordon- Historically a great driver at the road courses, Gordon went down early when he got himself loose and spun into an inside wall. He did get back out to finish some laps but it really ruined his day and took a huge hit on his points standings and chances at the Chase.
• Tony Stewart- He didn't race, which is why he is here. I love that Smoke does what he loves and races all over, he is throwback like that, but that doesn't mean I wont put him on this list. He will not be able to make the Chase now though and will have to be a great team owner the rest of the way.
• Marcus Ambrose- He had one chance really at making a push at the Chase and it faded away late in the race when bad luck got the best of his team. With no win at the road courses this season, it doesn't look like he has any shot at the Chase.

Pit Road Week 22 Power Rankings

1. Jimmie Johnson (LW-1)- Well he has had this top spot on lock now for awhile and now he locks himself in the Chase. All he has to do now is dial back in and get hot for the only 10 races that matter.
2. Kyle Busch (LW-3)- Well he finally closed a race out for the first time in what seems like forever (13 races) and got a win. He was already safe for the Chase but what he really needs it to close out the season like he did this Sunday.
3. Carl Edwards (LW-10)- Well, 3rd on down is just a mix of guys and now one has got it going enough to take out JJ in the Chase. So the real story isn't the rankings but who can get hot and push him in the last 10. A 6th place finish defiantly doesn't hurt Carl.
4. Kevin Harvick (LW-7) He goes from 7th to 4th in a week he finished 13, can you tell the rankings are starting to get messed up?
5. Dale Earnhardt Jr (LW-2)- Knocked out after getting caught in a wreck, Jr had a nice run going in the races previous, plus we head back to the track he got his last Cup win at ine 2012.
6. Martin Truex Jr (LW-12)- He has looked good on the road courses this year, too bad there wont be one in the Chase, which after Sunday, he can seriously think about being a part of.
7. Clint Bowyer (LW-11)- Early season Mr. Consistent, Bowyer finished 6th but he really needs to challenge for some wins if he has any shot at JJ and the title.
8. Matt Kenseth (LW-5)- Another tough race for Kenseth who got banged and scrapped up but still finished out the race. He has been great at times but in other times he finds trouble.
9. Brad Keselowski (LW-NR)- Suddenly there is life in the defending champs camp and it could be just the spark he needs to challenge JJ again. He is this weeks big mover and up to 8th in the points.
10. Kasey Kahne (LW-6)- Just one week after winning Kahne finds himself in a wreck that slows down his day. He wound up 34th.
11. Ryan Newman (LW-8)- He had an alright Sunday and ended up finishing 14th, ironically he is also 14th in the points standings. He still has a shot at the Chase but its getting crowded with all these one time winners.
12. Joey Logano (LW-NR)- Man it was tough between he and Kurt, but JoLo has 3 straight finishes in the top 8 and has quietly looked pretty good. He is 16th in points so he really needs to find a way to win and soon.

Dropper Out: Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon
Just Missed: Kurt Busch

Next week Nascar (and myself) head to Michigan International Speedway for the second time this season.  Last time around Greg Biffle got his lone win this season and gave Roush Racing its 100 career win. The preview will be out early this week but the review maybe late next week. Do, however, follow me on Twitter for updates from MIS including a look into the garages, pit road, qualifying, and of course the race on Sunday!