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Monday, March 23, 2015

2015 Pit Road Week 5: Auto Club

Weekly Review and Power Rankings

Week 5 Auto Club 400


By Richard Tix

Let's start with the good first. The Auto Club 400 was sold out on Sunday and for good reason. The past few years this warn out racing surface at Auto Club has given NASCAR fans some of the best racing and finishes of the season.

Once again this past Sunday didn't disappoint. Most of the weekend it was the Kurt Busch show. After returning to the track last week at Phoenix and impressing early he continued to do so by being the fastest in every practice, happy hour, and the Cup qualifying at Auto Club.

It all set up for a Kurt Busch dominating day at Fontana. He did lead a bunch on the day and was also a favorite most of the day while running the same car set up as teammate Kevin Harvick, but eventually some others got in on the deal, including Harvick himself. 

Denny Hamlin and Matt Kenseth from JGR both finally showed some life while running up front and challenged both SHR cars during the middle of the race. Denny did it by getting the lead and staying out front in "clean air." Meanwhile Kenseth held the lead several different times because of having a front pit stall and fast stops. 

Eventually it came down to the SHR show again during the closing laps while Kurt and Kevin fought for the lead. A few late cautions for debris packed the cars back up and fans got a bunch of wild restarts. I have to say the restarts at Auto Club have been some of the best in NASCAR lately.

Because of those cautions the gamble of four tires for Brad Keselowski on the first of the two (cautions) paid off. BK came out of no where on the last Green White Checker to pass Kurt Busch for the lead. Kurt tried to drive it in hard late, but couldn't get to BK. It eventually helped put Kurt in the wall and Harvick finished second (to extend his streak). 

It wasn't a race where the best car won, but that is racing sometimes. What id known is BK is pretty much in the Chase and SHR's #41 and #4 will have something strong week after week.

Now, onto the not as good part of this review. Let me start by saying we all have opinions and it should be this way, that's what makes us human. Not everyone's opinion will and should ever be the same. This all being said because many fans do not like Brad Keselowski. While I am a fan, I will respect others fans opinion of him.

Hate him, dislike him, think he is unintelligent, think he is ugly, or think he is a terrible driver, that's fine because its all your opinion. But, going on social media and spewing vulgar about him because you can sit behind your computer, smart phone, tablet, etc is pathetic. No one really wants to hear your crap except for those other "fans" that are so tough to sit behind a social media platform to cuss out drivers.

Dale Earnhardt would want to slap you in the face for your stupid comments. Social media is a gift for many fans who may never get a shot at meeting there favorite driver or celebrity and might get to interact with them, yet you go about calling people horse face and jacka$$ because you're stuck in second grade.

I just draw a line and can not respect anyone who has to do this. Many fans hate BK and I have had some great conversations with them because they do not have to stoop that low, I respect that. Down the road when you actually have something intelligent to say about the sport I automatically right it off because of how childish you act towards drivers and there livelihood. So stop hiding behind that screen and act like a human. 

BK isn't the only one either. Both Busch brothers get plenty of heat, as does Bowyer and many others. The second grade look really doesn't look good on you. The even better part is when a "fan" attacks a driver, the driver responds, and the "fan" immediately turns into a little tiny mouse the size of an ant. Saying "oh, I wasn't serious. I totally respect the way you drive" (or some total BS thing because a driver responded to them). These moves, when you get down to it, are a total call for attention. 

The sad thing is the ones who need the attention are the ones saying it. Look in a mirror and act like a human.

Now, back to your regularly scheduled power rankings. There is a whole lot of parity in the top 12 and guys can almost be placed anywhere (after Harvick). 




Pit Road Power Rankings Week 5 (Week 4)
  1. Kevin Harvick (LW-1)- He didn't win, but he was strong all day and looked like he would push Kurt for the win, that is until BK stole it. Harvick lead 34 laps on the day but seemed a bit more human this week even though he extended his streak. Finish: 2nd
  2. Kurt Busch (LW-NR)- This might be the first time in NBTW Power Rankings history that I jumped someone from "just missed" all the way to second. But the thing about Kurt is, he has been the only one to look as strong as Harvick since his return. Even though BK won and has been good, Kurts two race run has been impressive enough to make the leap. Finish: 3
  3. Brad Keselowski (LW-4)- Brad and Paul Wolfe took four tires on a late caution that looked to place them with a top 10 finish, but with how the race played out it actually put them in a spot with a huge advantage. Finish: 1st
  4. Martin Truex Jr (LW-3)- Truex's top 10 streak to start 2015 continues. After a season full of disappointing finishes in 2014 its refreshing to see the #78 team up front again. Finish: 8th
  5. Dale Earnhardt Jr (LW-8)- I know it was a harsh drop last week, but he gets a big jump back up this week. Jr has been good, but I haven't seen great just yet. If he keeps stringing up top 10's he will eventually get that win in 2015. Finish: 6th
  6. Joey Logano (LW-2)- First race of the season where JoLo didn't lead at least a lap. In fact, he had lead at least 31 laps in every race so far. It was a mediocre day but the team still finished inside the top 10. Finish: 7th
  7. Ryan Newman (LW-5)- All Newman does is sneak up on you and finish in the top 10. Since his rough outing at Daytona he has done that every race. He already has 3 top 5's after a season in which he totaled 5. Finish: 5th
  8. Jimmie Johnson (LW-8)- JJ already has a win, has been running pretty well, and is 8th? Ironically he is also 8th in points this week. It just shows how much parity is in NASCAR right now past Harvick. Finish: 9th
  9. Paul Menard (LW-11)- Before Auto Club Menard had four finishes in a row of 14th or better, but no top 10's. Paul left ACS with his first top 5 of the season. He has started out 2015 solid. Finish: 4th
  10. Matt Kenseth (LW-10)- The #20 pit crew really killed it on Sunday. Numerous times they put Kenseth up front with his great pit spot with no one in front of him. Kenseth had a good car but it just couldn't keep the lead from the 41 and 4 and eventually broke an axle during a pit. Finish: 31st
  11. Kasey Kahne (LW-6)- Pretty quiet day for Kahne overall. His average running position was 17th and thats right where he finished. Finish: 17th
  12. Jeff Gordon (LW-NR)- Back in the power rankings after being on the outside looking in for a few races, Gordon has put together quiet back to back top 10's. Sunday he was never really a front runner but still got a good finish. Finish: 10th
Dropped Out: AJ Allmendinger (LW-9) and Kyle Larson (LW-12)
Just Missed: Aric Almirola and Carl Edwards



Back to back for the first time in 2015
I'm giving Dave a pass here. He always votes BK and voted (almost) every week last year.


That's it for this week's review. Thanks for checking out NASCAR Behind the Wall!

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