2016 Week 25 Pit Road: Darlington

Weekly Review and Power Rankings

Darlington Raceway

PHOTO BY LAT PHOTOGRAPHIC

By Richard Tix

Darlington is towards the top of my must see races, yet almost every year I miss a good chunk of it. That's because Labor Day weekend always has been a family and friend camping outing. With Darlington making it's way back to it's traditional Labor Day weekend date, it means I have to hope we make it on a bike ride to a local bar, or to just catch some updates on Twitter while hanging around the campfire.

Even though I would love to see Darlington (especially because of the throwbacks), I wouldn't trade this family time with anything.

So, I missed a ton of the race but caught some on twitter and read a few updates throughout the night. With that said, I will have no review of the race and I also will spare you any opinion rant since I wasn't engaged enough to fully have one. Let's get to the rankings!

Pit Road Power Rankings Week 25 (Week 23)

1. Kevin Harvick (LW-1)- I'm not 100% sure where I stand on the Harvick rant after Darlington. On one side, he is frustrated and they need to know it. On the other, maybe it could have been behind closed doors because those team members are busting their butts and know they have screwed up. Its not very team member like to oust them in front of the NASCAR world. On the bright side, KH is still running well despite the poor pit stops. Finish: 2nd
2. Denny Hamlin (LW-4)- Hamlin hasn't really been winning goo often, but he has been very "consistent good." Seven straight top 10's for Hamlin heading into week 26. Finish: 4th
3. Joey Logano (LW-2)- JoLo has 11 top 10's in the past 13 races. He has been running well, but will it be well enough in the Chase? Finish: 5th
4. Brad Keselowski (LW-5)- In the last 17 races, BK has lead at least one lap in in 13 of those, 13! In nine of those races he lead ten or more laps. The No. 2 hasn't always been the fastest, but Paul Wolfe and BK make calls every week to give them a shot at a quality finish. Finish: 9th
5. Carl Edwards (LW-6)- Carl gives himself a shot every week by qualifying well. Nine times in the last twelve he has started top 5 with six of those being front row. Finish: 19th
6. Kyle Larson (LW-10)- Larson wins at Michigan and goes on a tear to win the 2016 Sprint Cup Championship... It's not actually as crazy as you think. Look back at how good he was in 2014 down the stretch and then remember he is a more well rounded driver now. It's a long shot, but you never know. Finish: 3rd
7. Chase Elliott (LW-9)- Chase has turned in some quality performances since he was under pressure of making the Chase. Great timing and it should be enough to get in. Finish: 10th
8. Martin Truex Jr (LW-NR)- Bad luck aside, Truex has been very good on 1.5 mile tracks the past two seasons. Take a look ahead and remember the Chase is full of 1.5's. Finish: 1st
9. Matt Kenseth (LW-8)- Where have all the top 5's gone? The big difference in Kenseth's 2016 compared to 2011-2015 is he has four top 5's currently. Finish: 6th
10. Kyle Busch (LW-3)- Dominant car at Bristol: Wreck. Good car at Michigan: Spin and lose track position. Rowdy almost got back on track at Darlington, but his focus should be the final ten races. Finsish: 11th
11. Jamie McMurray (LW-NR)- What a time to run well. McMurray needs all the points he can get just to squeeze in  (currently 16th in Chase points). Three straight eights and a fifteenth at Darlington helps, but he needs a good run at RIR this week. Finish: 15th
12. Jimme Johnson (LW-11)- Sunday evening was one to forget again for JJ. Before Sunday, he was starting to gain some momentum heading into the Chase. Finish: 33rd

Dropped Out: Tony Stewart (LW-7) and Kurt Busch (LW-12)

Just Missed: Austin Dillon and Kasey Kahne

2015 Pit Road Week 25: Darlington

Weekly Review and Power Rankings

Bogangles' Southern 500

By Richard Tix

I missed this weekends race which was more than disappointing, but sometimes life gets in the way (actually weather). Every Memorial and Labor Day I go camping with a bunch of family members. Normally on race day we bike into town and find a small local bar to watch the race at. Well, this weekend the rain hit hard and hit often. We would have drove there, but lets just say at that time of the day we ran out of sober drivers. So, I was banished to watching on my phone via twitter and other apps.

Therefore, the review will be short and almost non existent. What I did hear from social media was that most of the fans enjoyed the new low down force package and tires to match. I have been saying for awhile now NASCAR needs to continue going the way of the low down force package but they need to be track specific. One package does not fit all. I am also in favor of more short tracks (cut a few two stop 1.5's out) and any track with unique characteristics (like Darlington). 

Anyways, it was good to hear fans enjoy the product on the track. What I didn't enjoy was once again some fans going after drivers because of there physical looks. With school starting today almost everywhere, it was something you might here at a middle school. Comments about teeth or looking like a specific animal. It was downright embarrassing. 

I will not tell you how to run your twitter or life, but just take a minute to remember someone on the other side of that social media screen is also a human. I think it gets lost on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or Google + (among others) that we are all humans. The personal touch gets lost in cyber space and people think it is ok to go back to being a lost 13 year old who doesn't know any better.

Anyway's, lets move onto this weeks NASCAR Power Rankings.

2015 Bojangles' Souther 500 Full Results

Pit Road Power Rankings Week 25 (Week 24)

1. Kevin Harvick (LW-1)- Another race another top 5. Its pretty much the story of Harvick's 2015 season. Top 5's in the first 9 Chase races will lock him into a finale spot, so no worries there. Finish: 5th
2. Joey Logano (LW-2)- JoLo had a top 5 car all night and was in line to contend for the win. He came up short, but he has been on a great streak lately and just in time for the Chase. Finish: 4th
3. Brad Keselowski (LW-4)- BK had the car to beat Sunday night. He won the pole and then led 196 laps on the night, but a late caution and pits took his lead and he couldn't get it back. Finish: 2nd
4. Kyle Busch (LW-3)- Kyle is locked into the Chase and he has only run 14 races. He has 4 wins, 5 top 5's, and 8 top 10's in those 14 races. Finish: 7th
5. Dale Earnhardt Jr (LW-5)- Jr was the highest finisher to have not lead a lap (the top 7 all led at least 3 laps). He has been the consistency king lately, but just hasn't pushed for many wins. It is coming if HMS gets back on track and he continues to run like this. Finish: 8th
6. Carl Edwards (LW-7)- I won't lie, I am a bit disappointing a non retro paint scheme won on Sunday, but that's not to take anything away from getting to see a back flip. Carl now has 7 top 10's in his last 8 races. He and JGR are onto something. Finish: 1st
7. Denny Hamlin (LW-10)- Hamlin's 3rd place finish was his third top 5 in a row. Hamlin led the second most laps on the night (57) and had one of the better cars behind BK on the night. Finish: 3rd
8. Matt Kenseth (LW-6)- Two rough races in a row for Kenseth (42nd and 21st). It isn't a big deal as he locked himself into a top spot with 3 wins, but it finishes like this will hurt if they happen in the Chase. Finish: 21st
9. Jimmie Johnson (LW-8)- Once again, no one is talking about JJ and are talking about what is wrong with the #48? Well, he still has 4 wins and is fifth in points.... Yes, he is held to a high, high standard. He has hit some bumps, but HMS in general is in a rut, not just JJ. Finish: 19th
10. Kurt Busch (LW-12)- Kurt was very consistent upon his return, but lately it has been a roller coaster. Well, on Sunday he was towards one of the peaks with a top 10 finish and starting 2nd. Finish: 6th
11. Clint Bowyer (LW-9)- Bowyer could have used a better finish Sunday to feel even safer going into RIR. If no new winner behind him in the points wins, he should be in the Chase. Also worth mentioning, RIR is one of his better tracks so he could seal the deal with his own trip to Victory Lane. Finish: 17th
12. Kyle Larson (LW-NR)- This spot won't mean much if he doesn't win at RIR. He has been one of the biggest disappointments of 2015. Since Indy he has been much better, but its too little too late without a win. Finish: 10th

Dropped Out: Ryan Newman

Just Missed: Jamie McMurray and Aric Almirola

Another week and another no show on the predictions segment. No one picked Carl Edwards, though some (myself included with Hamlin), predicted other JGR teammates. Check back for the NASCAR TV Schedule and Entry List today, plus tomorrow the RIR preview will be ready! Thanks for Checking out Behind the Wall!

2015 NASCAR Darlington 1st Cup Practice Speeds

Bojangles Southern 500

By Richard Tix

Fridays first Cup practice times at Darlington Raceway. Don't miss the action, here is the weekend TV Schedule. Also, check out all the cool retro paint schemes for this weekend.

2015 Darlington Entry List

Bogangles's Southern 500

By Richard Tix

*Entry list is from Jayski.com

2015 Darlington Schedule

Bojangles' Southern 500

By Richard Tix

**All Times are Eastern**

Friday September 4, 2015

• 11 a.m.-12:55 p.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice- NBCSN
• 1-1:55 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series practice- NBCSN
• 3-4:25 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series final practice- NBCSN
• 4:30-6:25 p.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series final practice- NBCSN

Saturday September 5, 2015

• 11:45 a.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying- NBCSN
• 1:45 p.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying- NBCSN
• 3:30 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series VFW Sport Clips Help a Hero 200 (147 laps)- NBC

Sunday September 6, 2015

• 7 p.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bojangles' Southern 500 (367 laps)- NBC

2015 Week 25 Preview: Darlington

Bojangles' Southern 500

Darlington Raceway

By Richard Tix

This season NASCAR heads to "the Lady in Black" for it's second to last regular season race (Richmond being the last). Last year Darlington was at the front end of the schedule (race 8) and was a night dominated by Kevin Harvick.

Harvick used the 1.3 mile track to become the first multi time winner of 2014 which lead to his Chase birth and ultimately a Sprint Cup Championship. Now that the track known as "Too Tough to Tame" is back towards the end of the season it will mean a whole lot more to the victor. 

This year a winner could use the Darlington win to get into the Chase or to gain momentum, either way it seems like the prestige of winning here is back on the rise (if it ever even fell off). Darlington will be Labor Day weekend again for the first time in awhile, but it will feel like we never left. That's because loads of drivers and teams will be bringing some retro paint schemes back to the track. Lets move on to the rest of the Darlington Preview.

The Good

• Denny Hamlin- Hamlin now has 9 Darlington starts under his belt and he still holds a 6.9 average finish. Not bad right? Seven of those races he has finished in the top 10, Before last year's 19th place finish, his worst finish was 13th in 2009. Oh, and he also has a win from 2010.
• Jeff Gordon- Most of Gordon's damage was done from 1995-1999 here (5 of his 7 wins and an average finish of 1.625), but that doesn't mean he still doesn't know how to get it done. His last two finishes have both been top 10's and he has 9 top 10's in his last 11 races. 
• Jimmie Johnson- 3 wins, 9 top 5's, and 12 top 10's in 16 career starts at Darlington for JJ. He has three straight top 5's including his most recent win in 2012.

The Middle

• Brad Keselowski- You want a guy about mid pack, then BK has been your man at Darlington in his career so far. Until last year, he had never had an average running position better than 14th (7th last year). He has two top 10's, four top 15's, and five top 20's in six career races.

The Bad

• Paul Menard- 8 attempts and zero top 10 finishes for Paul Menard. Last year he wrecked, but even before that he has only two top 15's in those 8 races. 
• Sam Hornish Jr- Only three Darlington starts (2008-2010), but he only had one top 30 (30th in 2009) in those races. He has yet to finish on the lead lap and I wouldn't expect much different this weekend.
• Kurt Busch- Kurt has been in four different rides in the last four Darlington races, but non of them went well. His best finish in those four was in the #78 when he took the pole and finished 14th (2013). Overall in 18 starts he only has five top 10's and two top 5's.

About the Track: Darlington Raceway

Track Stats

• Before last season when Kevin Harvick won from the pole a race hadn't been won from the Pole since 1997, Dale Jarrett. That was 24 straight races.
• Ward Burton won after starting from the 37th spot. Johnny Mantz won after starting from the 43rd spot in the first ever race.
• Chevy or Toyota have won the past 8 races here. 5 Chevy and 3 Toyota.
• David Pearson has the most career Darlington wins (10 in 47 races).
• Jeff Gordon has the most career wins of active drivers (7 in 34 races).
• Richard Petty has the most career top 5's at Darlington (25 in 65 races)
• Bill Elliot has the most career top 10's at Darlington (35 in 52 races)

Track Info

• Surface: Asphalt
• Length: 1.366 miles
• Banking
• Turns 1 and 2: 25 degrees
• Turns 3 and 4: 23 degrees
• Front Stretch: 3 degrees
• Back Stretch: 2 degrees

Darlington Raceway
Race	Date	Cars	Winner(s)	St	Make / Model
1950-13	9/4/1950	75	Johnny Mantz	43	'50 Plymouth
1951-24	9/3/1951	82	Herb Thomas	2	'51 Hudson
1952-10	5/10/1952	24	Dick Rathman	4	'51 Hudson
1952-25	9/1/1952	66	Fonty Flock	1	'52 Oldsmobile
1953-30	9/7/1953	59	Buck Baker	7	'53 Oldsmobile
1954-31	9/6/1954	50	Herb Thomas	23	'54 Hudson
1955-35	9/5/1955	69	Herb Thomas	8	'55 Chevrolet
1956-44	9/3/1956	70	Curtis Turner	11	'56 Ford
1957-40	9/2/1957	50	Speedy Thompson	7	'57 Chevrolet
1958-41	9/1/1958	48	Fireball Roberts	2	'57 Chevrolet
1959-36	9/7/1959	50	Jim Reed	14	'57 Chevrolet
1960-16	5/14/1960	32	Joe Weatherly	2	'60 Ford
1960-35	9/5/1960	48	Buck Baker	2	'60 Pontiac
1961-19	5/6/1961	32	Fred Lorenzen	1	'61 Ford
1961-42	9/4/1961	43	Nelson Stacy	3	'61 Ford
1962-21	5/12/1962	32	Nelson Stacy	3	'62 Ford
1962-45	9/3/1962	44	Larry Frank	10	'62 Ford
1963-23	5/11/1963	31	Joe Weatherly	6	'63 Pontiac
1963-45	9/2/1963	41	Fireball Roberts	9	'63 Ford
1964-21	5/9/1964	32	Fred Lorenzen	1	'64 Ford
1964-51	9/7/1964	44	Buck Baker	6	'64 Dodge
1965-15	5/8/1965	31	Junior Johnson	3	'65 Ford
1965-45	9/6/1965	44	Ned Jarrett	10	'65 Ford
1966-15	4/30/1966	36	Richard Petty	1	'66 Plymouth
1966-42	9/5/1966	44	Darel Dieringer	3	'66 Mercury
1967-17	5/13/1967	36	Richard Petty	2	'67 Plymouth
1967-40	9/4/1967	44	Richard Petty	1	'67 Plymouth
1968-15	5/11/1968	34	David Pearson	2	'68 Ford
1968-39	9/2/1968	44	Cale Yarborough	2	'68 Mercury
1969-18	5/10/1969	36	LeeRoy Yarbrough	4	'69 Mercury
1969-41	9/1/1969	40	LeeRoy Yarbrough	4	'69 Ford
1970-13	5/9/1970	36	David Pearson	3	'69 Ford
1970-38	9/7/1970	40	Buddy Baker	2	'69 Dodge
1971-16	5/2/1971	36	Buddy Baker	5	'71 Dodge
1971-40	9/6/1971	40	Bobby Allison	1	'69 Mercury
1972-08	4/16/1972	36	David Pearson	1	'71 Mercury
1972-24	9/4/1972	40	Bobby Allison	1	'72 Chevrolet
1973-08	4/15/1973	40	David Pearson	1	'71 Mercury
1973-22	9/3/1973	40	Cale Yarborough	8	'73 Chevrolet
1974-07	4/7/1974	40	David Pearson	2	'73 Mercury
1974-23	9/2/1974	40	Cale Yarborough	4	'74 Chevrolet
1975-08	4/13/1975	36	Bobby Allison	5	'75 Matador
1975-21	9/1/1975	40	Bobby Allison	3	'75 Matador
1976-08	4/11/1976	36	David Pearson	1	Mercury
1976-22	9/6/1976	40	David Pearson	1	Mercury
1977-07	4/3/1977	36	Darrell Waltrip	4	Chevrolet
1977-22	9/5/1977	40	David Pearson	5	Mercury
1978-07	4/9/1978	36	Benny Parsons	8	Chevrolet
1978-22	9/4/1978	40	Cale Yarborough	6	Oldsmobile
1979-08	4/8/1979	36	Darrell Waltrip	2	Chevrolet
1979-23	9/3/1979	40	David Pearson	5	Chevrolet
1980-07	4/13/1980	36	David Pearson	2	Chevrolet
1980-23	9/1/1980	41	Terry Labonte	10	Chevrolet
1981-08	4/12/1981	36	Darrell Waltrip	3	Buick
1981-23	9/7/1981	40	Neil Bonnett	3	Ford
1982-06	4/4/1982	37	Dale Earnhardt	5	Ford
1982-22	9/6/1982	40	Cale Yarborough	9	Buick
1983-05	4/10/1983	36	Harry Gant	5	Buick
1983-22	9/5/1983	41	Bobby Allison	14	Buick
1984-07	4/15/1984	38	Darrell Waltrip	9	Chevrolet
1984-22	9/2/1984	41	Harry Gant	1	Chevrolet
1985-06	4/14/1985	40	Bill Elliott	1	Ford
1985-20	9/1/1985	40	Bill Elliott	1	Ford
1986-06	4/13/1986	40	Dale Earnhardt	4	Chevrolet
1986-21	8/31/1986	40	Tim Richmond	1	Chevrolet
1987-05	3/29/1987	41	Dale Earnhardt	2	Chevrolet
1987-21	9/6/1987	40	Dale Earnhardt	5	Chevrolet
1988-05	3/27/1988	41	Lake Speed	8	Oldsmobile
1988-21	9/4/1988	40	Bill Elliott	1	Ford
1989-05	4/2/1989	41	Harry Gant	10	Oldsmobile
1989-21	9/3/1989	39	Dale Earnhardt	10	Chevrolet
1990-05	4/1/1990	40	Dale Earnhardt	15	Chevrolet
1990-21	9/2/1990	40	Dale Earnhardt	1	Chevrolet
1991-05	4/7/1991	40	Ricky Rudd	13	Chevrolet
1991-21	9/1/1991	38	Harry Gant	5	Oldsmobile
1992-05	3/29/1992	39	Bill Elliott	2	Ford
1992-21	9/6/1992	38	Darrell Waltrip	5	Chevrolet
1993-05	3/28/1993	39	Dale Earnhardt	1	Chevrolet
1993-22	9/5/1993	39	Mark Martin	4	Ford
1994-05	3/27/1994	41	Dale Earnhardt	9	Chevrolet
1994-23	9/4/1994	42	Bill Elliott	9	Ford
1995-05	3/26/1995	42	Sterling Marlin	5	Chevrolet
1995-23	9/3/1995	42	Jeff Gordon	5	Chevrolet
1996-05	3/24/1996	41	Jeff Gordon	2	Chevrolet
1996-23	9/1/1996	42	Jeff Gordon	2	Chevrolet
1997-05	3/23/1997	43	Dale Jarrett	1	Ford
1997-23	8/31/1997	43	Jeff Gordon	7	Chevrolet
1998-05	3/22/1998	43	Dale Jarrett	3	Ford
1998-24	9/6/1998	43	Jeff Gordon	5	Chevrolet
1999-05	3/21/1999	43	Jeff Burton	9	Ford
1999-24	9/5/1999	43	Jeff Burton	15	Ford
2000-05	3/19/2000	43	Ward Burton	3	Pontiac
2000-24	9/3/2000	43	Bobby Labonte	37	Pontiac
2001-05	3/18/2001	43	Dale Jarrett	2	Ford
2001-25	9/2/2001	43	Ward Burton	37	Dodge
2002-05	3/17/2002	43	Sterling Marlin	11	Dodge
2002-25	9/1/2002	43	Jeff Gordon	3	Chevrolet
2003-05	3/16/2003	43	Ricky Craven	31	Pontiac
2003-25	8/31/2003	43	Terry Labonte	3	Chevrolet
2004-05	3/21/2004	43	Jimmie Johnson	11	Chevrolet
2004-35	11/14/2004	43	Jimmie Johnson	4	Chevrolet
2005-10	5/7/2005	43	Greg Biffle	3	Ford
2006-11	5/13/2006	43	Greg Biffle	9	Ford
2007-11	5/13/2007	43	Jeff Gordon	10	Chevrolet
2008-11	5/10/2008	43	Kyle Busch	6	Toyota
2009-11	5/9/2009	43	Mark Martin	12	Chevrolet
2010-11	5/8/2010	43	Denny Hamlin	8	Toyota
2011-10	5/7/2011	43	Regan Smith	23	Chevrolet
2012-11	5/12/2012	43	Jimmie Johnson	2	Chevrolet
2013-11	5/11/2013	43	Matt Kenseth	7	Toyota
2014-08	4/12/2014	43	Kevin Harvick	1	Chevrolet

2014 Bojangles' Southern 500 Photo Review

Darlington Weekend Articles:

• Entry List
• TV Schedule
• Power Rankings
• Chase Standings