2017 NASCAR Week 3: Las Vegas

Kobalt 400

Las Vegas Motor Speedway

By Richard Tix

Well hey would you look at that, it's NASCAR heading back West after a fun start to the 2017 season. Coincidentally rumors started swirling before Atlanta that Las Vegas might be getting a second date on the schedule soon. I'm not sure how I feel about a second date when I would like seeing places like Iowa Speedway and maybe a road course added, but I have always said NASCAR could move the Vegas race to later in the year to switch up the playoff schedule every few years. Really, if I were to choose a West Coast oval to get a second date it would be Auto Club Speedway, but the choice isn't up to me.

Anyways, enough talk about the make up of the schedule, when the time comes that can be talked about more. Lets get into the facts about the West Coast swing and which teams will come out winners before we come back to the south.

So far two Ford's have graced Victory Lane in two races -- both from different teams. Not only that but Fords make up six spots in the top ten in points early in the season. It's too early to make any conclusions, but the West Coast swing will be a big one for Chevy and Toyota as they try and gain back some lost ground. It won't be easy since Ford has won four of the last nine races here at Vegas and Kevin Harvick (now Ford) has had a strangle hold on Phoenix. Spotlight might be on Auto Club for a non Ford to make some noise.

So, my biggest storyline of the West Coast swing will be can guys like Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr, Kyle Busch, and Denny Hamlin bounce back? Or will Ford's continue to pave the way with Harvick, Ku. Busch, Keselowski, and Logano gaining more points to separate an early lead from the others?

**This section is just a quick look at some of Cup drivers latest finishes. This is not a tool for fantasy purposes and NBTW only is looking at end results. No deep statistic's are involved, but rather it is just a quick way to get ready for the race and get caught up on who has finished well at each track**

The Good

• Brad Keselowski- BK won last years LVMS Wind 500 brought to you by The Wind.. In all seriousness BK now has two wins in his last three Vegas races. He also has four straight top ten's and a pole to add to those stats.
• Dale Earnhardt Jr- Junior has six straight top ten finishes at LVMS and eight in his last nine starts here. The only thing missing is a win for the No. 88.
• Jimmie Johnson- Speaking of wins, JJ has four of them at Las Vegas. The last time he won here was 2011 but he does have four top tens (all four 6th or better) in six races since that last win.

The Middle

• Paul Menard- In the last seven races here Menard has six top 15's (the other was a 17th place finish in 2010) and three top ten's. He is often overlooked -- sometimes for good reason -- but at LVMS he is someone to keep an eye on for a strong run.

The Bad

• Aric Almirola- Eight career starts, zero top 15's, one top 20, and only four top 25's. A guy like Aric really should have a few more top 20's at a track if he wants to avoid the "Bad" list.
• Kurt Busch- "Home track." NASCAR really doesn't have any "home" track's or home track advantage, but it is always brought up when speaking about the Busch Brothers here in Vegas. Kurt only has four top ten's in 15 starts at his "home" track.
• Ricky Stenhouse Jr- It's only four career starts and last year went better (12th), but Ricky hasn't shown a ton of promise here yet with finishes of 18th, 27th, and 29th to go along with his career best 12th last year.

About the Track: Las Vegas

Track Stats

• In the last eight races we've have had 7 different winners (Keselowski twice). 
• In the last nine races Ford has won four, Chevy three, and Toyota two. 
• Ford has 9 total wins at Vegas. Leading Chevy (7), Toyota (2), and Dodge (1)
• Jimmie Johnson has the most track wins here with 4 (3 straight from 2005-07)
• Only one driver has won from the Pole in 18 races. Kyle Busch in 2009
• 19 total Cup races have been run at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
• Dale Jarrett won the inaugural Pole. Mark Martin Won the inaugural race.
• Jimmie Johnson (4), Matt Kenseth (3), Jeff Burton (2), Brad Keselowski (2), and Carl Edwards (2) are the only drivers to have multiple wins at LVMS. That's 13 wins of 19 races from only five drivers.

Track Info

• Surface - Asphalt
• Length - 1.5 miles
• Banking
• Turns- 12-20 degrees

2017 NASCAR Schedule: Las Vegas

Kobalt 400

By Richard Tix

All Times are Eastern Time Zone (ET)

Friday March 10, 2017

• 2-3:25 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice, FS1
• 4-4:55 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series practice, FS1
• 6-6:55 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series final practice, FS2
• 7:45 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying, FS2

Saturday March 11, 2017

• 12-12:55 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice, FS1
• 1:05 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying, FS1
• 2:30-3:20 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series final practice, FS1
• 4 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series Boyd Gaming 300 (200 laps, 300 miles), FS1

Sunday March 12, 2017

• 3:30 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Kobalt 400 (267 laps, 400.5 miles), FOX

2017 NASCAR Pit Road Week 2: Atlanta

Weekly Review and Power Rankings

Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500

By Richard Tix

To repave or not to repave? That was the big storyline all weekend at every NASCAR level, that was until a late caution mixed with a dominate car getting a speeding penalty made everyone forget about the surface of Atlanta Motor Speedway.

I am staying mum on the repave issue since I like the current surface and the fall off it gives, but also can see the side of wanting/needing a new surface. So, with that said I will move along and let social media hash that topic out.

As for the race, this years current old surface gave us ton's of comers and goers everywhere but in front. The pack had a bunch of passing and the few restarts we had lead to a bunch of three wide's and movers and shakers during those restarts. However, most of the day was headlined by Kevin Harvick having a dominate car up front, all alone, with a five plus second lead for much of it.

I heard every excuse and complaint trying to blame NASCAR for a race being dominated by one guy, however I want to tell you this: races being dominated by one guy have always happened and always will happen from time to time. I mean on Sunday that No. 4 was just hooked up and no one could touch him. Kevin Harvick was truly running his own race out there for 90% of the race.

The thing is in sports, you can't leave (or stop watching) until the very end because the unexpected will happen every time you count it out. Sunday it happened to be a late caution when Austin Dillon couldn't get it to pit road -- or didn't try hard enough, which ever you believe. On top of that, a guy who had been perfect ALL DAY LONG became imperfect in the most important moment and was caught speeding on pit road during the last stop. That driver was obviously Kevin Harvick and it eventually lead to him not winning a race he lead 292 laps in.

During that moment everyone starting up front on what became the final restart of the day knew they finally had a shot to win at Atlanta because Kevin Harvick wasn't up there with them. Kyle Larson grabbed the early lead after that restart but eventually Brad Keselowski put enough pressure on him and took the lead from him when Larson tried out the high line instead of hooking the bottom. Would it have played out different if he held the bottom? Maybe, but maybe not. One thing is for sure, both Kyle and Brad had great cars on Sunday and only got overlooked because Harvick was just that much better then the field.

At the end of the day it's who is leading the last lap that counts. BK got a trip to Victory Lane, five playoff points for winning the race, and Harvick still had a fantastic day in the points standings as well as collecting two playoff points for winning stages one and two. AMS showcased a stage format that rewarded the best drivers for the entire day as well as the winner when all was said in done. 

Pit Road Power Rankings: Week 2 (Week 1)

1. Kevin Harvick (LW-2)- He lead staged one and two and a total of 292 laps on Sunday, but it came down to a speeding penalty late in the race to determine his fate. It was the No. 4 teams to lose on Sunday and unfortunately for them that happen, yet they still lead NASCAR in points after two races.
2. Brad Keselowski (LW-12)- BK was a top five car early, had right front issues, rotated back into the lead, then out of the lead, then back to a top five car, and then the hunter when reeling in Larson late. BK and the No. 2 had one heck of a day and it ended in a trip to VL.
3. Kurt Busch (LW-3)- Not his day on Sunday, yet they hung up in the top ten most of the day and finished it off with a 7th place finish. SHR has shown a strong start to 2017.
4. Chase Elliott (LW-4)- His trip to Victory Lane is coming, and probably coming soon. He has been strong to start this season. Too bad he couldn't have locked in his first win at his home track of AMS.
5. Joey Logano (LW-1)- JoLo also had an up and down day like his Penske teammate. Joey rebounded with a 6th place finish after being a couple laps down earlier.
6. Kyle Larson (LW-8)- Chase may finally get his first win, but the way things are looking Larson may get his next win soon as well. He had the lead late before BK took it from him.
7. Kasey Kahne (LW-10)- Quietly Kahne is having a nice start to 2017. Sunday the No. 5 team fought from being lapped all the way back to a top five.
8. Kyle Busch (LW-5)- Not his day, the No. 18 tea, hasn't shown it's dominance like last season. However, they did fight back from being lapped and finished 16th and on the lead lap.
9. Martin Truex Jr (LW-11)- The 78 seemed quiet all day even though he had a running average of 7th and ran 323 of 325 laps in the top 15. Maybe they will make more noise next week after a good 8th place finish at AMS.
10. Ryan Blaney (LW-6)- Another day full of rough luck, this time an early tire issue. They fought all day to gain ground and eventually finished 18th and the first car a lap down. Better days should be coming for this No. 21 team.
11. Trevor Bayne (LW-NR)- Hey, RFR looks sporty so far this year and leading that crew is the No. 6. No, really. Bayne has a 10th and 11th place finish already this year and spent most of Sunday in the top ten.
12. Matt Kenseth (LW-NR)- Two speeding penalties in the first (I believe) stage, multiple laps down, and this team fought back to a 3rd place finish. Seriously. I couldn't leave a team that did that off this weeks top 12.

Dropped Out: Jimmie Johnson (LW-7) and Denny Hamlin (LW-9)

Just Missed: Clint Bowyer, Jamie McMurray, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

2017 NASCAR Stage Rules: Stage One

By Richard Tix

This season NASCAR decided to shake it up a bit an introduced "stages" to the weekly NASCAR race. Once again, us fans will have to adjust to another point's change in racing and have to decide if we like it or hate it -- or maybe we fall in between. So, Behind the Wall has decided to do a three part piece -- get it, because NASCAR has three stages? Yeah, I know I'm not very funny. These will 100% be opinion pieces so you may feel different at the end of the day. First up is initial judgment after Daytona, then we will take a look after the intermediates (AMS and LVMS), and finally after we get a shorter track in (PIR). At that point we should have an understanding how this stuff will work out.

Stage One:

Lets set the stage -- get it? Alright maybe I should leave the comedy act alone for awhile.... Anyways let's get on with the facts. Before the season NASCAR once again announced upcoming changes to the point structure for the new 2017 season. The change all revolved around these things called "stages." The press announcement was a bit awkward when Brian France handed it over to Steve O'Donnell almost immediately after he spoke into the mic and then it turned to confusion when Steve started "explaining" the changes.

Everything seemed to be laid out very quick leaving most fans asking, "what did he mean by -- ." Everything was explained using new terminology that has not previously been a part of NASCAR and that most fans were a bit taken back by and instead of dumbing it down, NASCAR just went on like everyone would get it without needing more explanation.

I understood most of what happened initially even with it coming fast an furious, but I couldn't even really grasp it fully until I did some reading up on the topic. So, NASCAR wasn't onto a great start and was even further behind because we all know how much this fan base loves change...

Basically, the races will be broken down into stages. Each race will have three stages and they will end around the same time at each track -- 25% of the race, 25% of the race, and 50% of the race makes up most segments/stages. At the end of stage one and two the top ten get points -- 10 for first, 9 for second, and so on. Those points go into the regular season points but will not carry into the Playoff. The big part in these changes is each segment winner gets one point for winning stages one and two and five points for winning the race (last stage). Those stage winning bonus points will carry into the Playoffs and follow the driver into each round until Miami where the last four are head to head and points go out the window.

What this all means? Well, winning stages will mean that your regular season success and consistency will mean more in the big picture because it will really help the best drivers all season long advance in the Playoff's.

My initial reaction when the changes were announced was shock, as would most anyone's because it was a big change. Off the bat I was open minded and willing to give it a shot which is how I handle many changes in NASCAR -- I mean, what would my outrage really change? Nothing. So, I headed into Daytona with an open mind about the new structure.

Daytona came with a bang, boom, and crash, literally. The Daytona 500 was littered with wrecks and many fans quickly blamed the new stages on social media. It was the easy thing to do for fans, but what they were looking past were a couple key takeaways.

First, it's Daytona... Plate racing has long now been a crap shoot. No one knows when or how a wreck will happen but it always does. This year we had a ton of run in's and a bunch the field was taken out. Heck, 35 of the 40 cars by race end were involved in a wreck! The 2017 Daytona 500 winner was one of those drivers involved in an incident and his winning Ford that is now sitting in the Hall of Fame has battle scares to prove it.

Second, almost none of these wreck's in the Cup race happened in the first two stages -- especially the closing of those said stages. We were pretty clean most of the day when one would expect stages to cause accidents -- meaning if stages caused them they should have come in the closing laps of the stage when guys were getting antsy.

In fact, most of the wreck's last Sunday can be attributed to common mistakes that happen every single year at plate racing. Guys pushing guys too hard, guys making moves they shouldn't, tires blowing out, and just aggressive racing by a few were the main factors in the carnage, not stages.

So, my initial thought on stages after Daytona is that plate tracks are a terrible place to judge this format and they always will. When you have a gimmicky style of racing (plate racing) that always leads to a crap shoot it will give you weird results. Within those results it leads you to almost no answer on if these stages will work or not. I can't sit here and tell you they won't work out and I also can't tell you they will even though I am in favor of them so far, its inconclusive after such an unpredictable style of racing.

Obviously, one race is never make or break when it comes to a change but many out there in the social media world have already given up on this new idea and to me that's plain crazy. We haven't even seen it played out like it's intended to be played out.

So, this is only stage one. Next up we get Atlanta and Las Vegas, two 1.5 mile tracks which dominate the NASCAR schedule to help us better mold an opinion. These two tracks will give fans a more basic and honest answer to how stages will work in 2017. The final stage will be after Phoenix where we get to judge it on a short track.

For now, the jury is still out on the new points format but I think we should all be giving it a chance since no one, including NASCAR, really know's how well or how poor it may work out in the long haul.