Showing posts with label Driver Recommendations. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Driver Recommendations. Show all posts

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Week 29 Preview (Chase Race #3)

Dover International Speedway (Chase Race #3)


Well race 3 is a make or break race for guys like Kurt Busch, Jeff Gordon, and Kevin Harvick. For these guys things can go south very quick. Same goes for Kenseth, Johnson, and Kyle Busch. Each of these drivers have to make the pace and not fall off of it or the hill maybe too hard to climb. Lets take a look at the Chase drivers and who fares well at Dover.

The Good:

  • Jimmie Johnson- 4 times JJ has tamed the Monster Mile in his last 10 races here for a win. On top of that he has 8 top 10's in that same span. Yeah, he has been good at Dover International Speedway.
  • Carl Edwards- Well Dover is just what Carl wants to see. He is kind of teatering on the edge right now and could use a great finish. He has 7 top 10's in his last 10 here but no wins in that same time.
The Middle:
  • Kevin Harvick- Harvick has an average finish of 10th in his last 10 starts at Dover yet only one of those has been a top 5. Earlier this year he finished 8th here so maybe he will build on that.
The Bad:
  • Ryan Newman- Well in his last 5 races at Dover has one finish within the top 20 (15th) and the rest have been higher. Not good news for a guy needing a win to stay relevant in the Chase,
  • Kasey Kahne- Kahne has an average finish of 17.5 and only 4 top 10's in his last 10 races at Dover. So what I am saying is, the bad could get worse for Kasey this week. Either way, he is packing up and getting ready for 2014.

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Week 26 Preview

Richmond International Raceway: Federated Auto Parts 400
So Kyle Busch just won at Atlanta and Nascar heads to one of his best tracks, is this a sign that he may finally have a good run during the Chase? I'm not sure if he will turn this into a stretch run but it can't hurt his chance.

One thing is for sure at Richmond, a lot of drivers are going to be over aggressive and try and squeeze into a Chase spot. Guys like JoLo, Newman, Busch, Keselowski, Kahne, etc are all looking to get into the Chase and for most of them another win (or first win) would go a long way. We should have an exciting last regular season race this season to jump start the 10th ever Sprint Cup Chase. Take a look at this years results from he first trip to Richmond.


The Good:

  • Kyle Busch- One of his best tracks on the Nascar Schedule, Rowdy will be a front runner again this time around.
  • Jeff Gordon- In Gordon's career he has enjoyed a lot of success at Richmond International Raceway and this time around he could use a bit of the old magic he has had in the past. Gordon is winless in 2013 and is one of the drivers on the cusp of getting into the Chase. A win this weekend and he may just squeak in.
  • Kevin Harvick- Nascar's winner at RIR the first time around in 2013, Harvick has had 7 top 10's, 3 top 5's, and 2 Win's in his last 10 starts here.
The Middle:
  • Clint Bowyer- Well he has a track record as of late to be considered in the "Good" category, but this season it seems like Clint has been in the middle a lot. Top 5 finishes here, top 10's there, but always just short when it comes to wins.
The Bad:
  • Martin Truex Jr- One top 10 in the last 10 starts here at Richmond, the other Jr hasn't fared too well at RIS. Last time around he finished 17th which was his best finish in 6 races at RIR.
  • Greg Biffle- In his last 10 starts here he also only has 1 top 10. Earlier this year he finished the race 36th and 15 laps down. Biffle is on the edge but should still get into the Chase even with a poor finish here.
Need More?

Thursday, August 22, 2013

Week 24 Preview

Bristol Motor Speedway: Irwin Tools Night Race Summer 2013

Unfortunatley I am back from the race in Michigan and not going to be at the race at Bristol. On the bright side Nascar is at Bristol! This time we come to Bristol with so many drivers looking for some kind of security in there Chase hopes. Joey Logano just added his name to a long list of drivers trying to get into the top ten or at the very least get a WC spot.

Earlier this season Kasey Kahne got the win at Bristol but has been up and down since then. Maybe this is the week another driver adds his name to the first time winners in 2013? Or, maybe this is the week a guy gets another win to solidify his spot in the Chase? One things is for sure, some tempers will most likely heat up and boil over. Take a look at the race preview from earlier this year and also the race review from after. Also take a look at the full race results from the last race at Bristol.


The Good:
  • Kyle Busch- Well if its a sign of anything to come, Kyle just won the Truck race on Wednesday.  Kyle has a career average finish of 9.8 in 17 races at Bristol (of current drivers that is a best). He has 5 wins, 8 top 5's, and 12 top 10's in those 17 races.
  • Brad Keselowski- I want to change up some of the "good" drivers from last time, so for extra insight check out last races preview. BK finished 3rd last time here and also has 2 wins I n 7 career starts at Bristol. He needs a win bad so look for him to push the limit a bit if he finds himself up front.
  • Kurt Busch- The second Busch on this list, Kurt is well known to be good here at Bristol. Most of his domination came before being on small teams, but last time here earlier this year he finished 4th so he has a shot (plus he has been bad fast this year).
The Middle:
  • Ryan Newman- 7 top 10's in his last 10 starts at Bristol, if that doesn't scream middle of the road I don't know what does (none of them were top 5's).  He needs a strong, very strong run at Bristol to make a run at the Chase.
The Bad:
  • Joey Logano- A win one week and the next you find yourself on the wrong list. JoLo only has one top 10 in 9 career races at Bristol. He seems to start the race in a good position but can not close with all the traffic. Maybe this is the time at Bristol where his confidence helps him figure out how to navigate Bristol.
  • Juan Pablo Montoya- JPM only has 3 top 10's in his last 10 starts here. To top that off we all know he has no wins on ovals. He seems like he is the kind of the guy who could surprise at a track where beating and banging is accepted, but it hasn't clicked yet.
Need More?

Monday, August 12, 2013

Week 23 Preview

Michigan International Speedway: Pure Michigan 400


Last time in Michigan we saw Roush Racing continue its dominance at the track in Brooklyn, MI when Greg Biffle won for the 4th time in his career.  Biffle is second only to Mark Martin (5) in career wins for active drivers at MIS.  Now going back in August we will get to see if Roush and Biffle can keep it going and make it three in arow.

Also, as always, the story in Michigan will be can Nascar's most popular driver finally get back into the win column for the first time this season? Michigan has been a place that Jr has looked good at and had chances to win in his last 10 starts, so he will be looking to break out of the good category and enter the great with a win.  Take a look back at last years results from the August race here and also this years June race here.

Biffle won back to back. Last August and also this June.


*A look at last June's Week 15 Preview (Michigan)*

The Good:

  • Greg Biffle- Well he has to be mentioned right away. He has two straight wins, 4 career wins, and an average finish of 8.3 in his last 10 at MIS (best of any current driver in the last 10). Best Chance Forecast: He should be considered a contender again this weekend. Should find a way into the top 10 at the worst.
  • Carl Edwards- Edwards was the Pole winner here in June so he knows how to be fast around MIS.  In his last 10 starts here he has one (36th in 2011) time where he was worse then 12th. He also has 7 top 10's. Best Chance Forecast: Not normal to start this list with two Ford's, but this is the one track they have been good at. Another top 10 isn't out of the question.
  • Matt Kenseth- A former Ford car driver rounds out the list this week. Kenseth has 6 top 10's in his last 10 races at MIS including finishing 6th in June (4 of those top 5's). Best Chance Forecast: Well another guy taking a likely top 10 finish in this weeks Good category.
The Middle:
  • Clint Bowyer- What is more middle of the road and consistent then 7 top 10s in 10 races but no top 5's? Well in this addition of Week Preview for MIS nothing. He has three straight 7th place finishes and before that two straight 8th place finishes. 5 straight top 10's for Bowyer here and he needs it to get out of his two race slump.
The Bad:
  • Jimmie Johnson- Last time this was a reach in the Bad category, this time it gets a little more legit. He fiinished 28th in June and last August he finished 27th. That's back to back bad finishes and that doesn't seem to happen to JJ at any track.
  • Kasey Kahne- He seems to find bad luck a lot at MIS and it hasn't helped his average finish position in his last ten (19.7). MIS is the kind of track that Kahne can finish really well at because he is fast week by week. If he stays out of trouble he could find another win.
Looking for a Long Shot?
  • Joey Logano- I am on the JoLo bandwagon, but if you read NBTW regularly you may know that. I am still in the small group that thinks he will get a win this year, and at one point I thought it would be before the Chase started. Well I always like going out on a limb when picking my weekly winner so I'm taking Joey. He has been on a hot streak and he is due.

Need More?

Well that's it for this weeks preview. I am not sure how late the review will be back as I will be at this race and not back until Monday. Do, however, check out my Twitter for updates from the track. Also, you can check out June's Preview and Review from Nascar Behind the Wall earlier this year.  

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Week 22 Preview

Watkins Glen 2013


Well folks this upcoming weekend Nascar turns right -did you hear that Juan Pablo Montoya?- you have a chance. (Sorry JPM fans, but the fact is he hasn't won on a left turn only track in Nascar).  Weeks at road courses always seem to bring some excitement to the series. The excitement comes from the fact that Nascar fans only get to see these Gen 6 cars go right twice a year and also because road courses can bring unlikely winners.

Watkins Glen could end up effecting the Chase by giving a guy in the top 20 a chance to steal a victory and have a chance at a WC spot (especially with the unknown outcome of what Tony Stewart's season holds after he broke his leg on Monday). So take a look at last years Glen results here and notice that Marcus Ambrose is your back to back race winner.


The Good:

  • Marcus Ambrose- Well we have to start with the Australian on this list because 1) he doesn't find himself on it very often and 2) he has won the last 2 races here.  Also in 5 career starts at the Glen he has an average finish of 2, SECOND! On top of that he hasn't finished outside the top 3 yet. 
  • Brad Keselowski- This can be taken with a grain of salt because BK only has 3 starts here, but he has finished 2nd the last two times out. The first time he started 32nd and ended up finish 20th so he did improve and maybe showed he started his learning curve the first time out.
  • Kyle Busch- 8 Starts at the Glen and 7 top 10's. Similar to BK his only poor finish was his first career race here in which he finished 33rd. He also has a win here in 2008 when he started from the Pole.
The Middle
  • Carl Edwards- He has a career of quality finished at Watkins Glen and finished inside the top 14 7 of his 8 starts (the other was a 19th place finish in his first career start here). Problem is his last two here were the other two not top 10 finishes he has had (14th and 12th).
The Bad:
  • Kurt Busch- When you think of Kurt you think of a wheel man, a guy who gets after it and lays it all out there. That is Kurts problem at the Glen, he has been boom or bust. While he does seem to find his way to the front, at the end of many races he finds himself in the 30's with a beat up car half running. 
  • Dale Earnhart Jr- Jr just doesn't like to go right, that's all that's to it. He can, but stats show that he typically struggles. If he comes home with a top 15 he should be happy and move on to the thought of winning at Michigan.

More coverage:
Well hope you are ready to take some right turns at the Glenn this weekend! Check back early next week after the race for a Watkins Glen Review with Power Rankings. Also next week Nascar heads to Michigan and as do I. I should get a preview out early on and if you follow me on Twitter you can follow along while i'm at the track.

Sunday, August 4, 2013

Week 21 Preview

Pocono Raceway: Go Bowling.com 400

Hey haven't we been here before? Nascar heads back to Pocono again for the second time. Last time we left the "Party in the Pocono's" with Jimmie Johnson showing us again just how dominant he can be when everything is clicking.

Now coming back to the Raceway it comes with JJ still sitting solidly atop the standings and Ryan Newman getting his first win of the season at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Well lets take a look at the Good, Middle, and Bad drivers here at Pocono in the last starts. Also take a look back at the Preview before the race in June. You can also take a look at the Review after the last race and how the Power Rankings looked back then as well. Now lets get on with it!


The Good:

  • Tony Stewart- Well Smoke was on this list last time and he paid off. In June he finished 4th and his last ten finishing position average is now 6.2 (Best of any driver).
  • Jimmie Johnson- He really should be left off all my lists, because he almost always could be on the "Good" list. Second only to Smoke in average finish (6.5), he was also the June winner and he couldn't be touched.
  • Ryan Newman- He goes from getting his first win of the season to the track he had one of his better performances of the season at (June). He finished 5th last time around and is making a legitimate push for a Chase spot. In his last 10 races at Pocono he has finished inside the top 14 every time. 
The Middle:
  • Brad Keselowski- Well Bowyer is still the middle man, like he was last time around, but in the spirit of trying to switch it up BK's the man. He has never finished outside the top 23 but has 3 finishes in the 20's. At the same time he has also won at Pocono (2011) and another top 5 (4th, 2012).
The Bad:
  • Paul Menard- Coming into the June race he had a string of 10th, 9th, and then 11th place finishes but he ran into trouble last time out. His average finish position is down to 20 with only 2 top 10's in the last 10 races here.
  • Kasey Kahne- Lets say this, I don't think he will end up finishing too "Bad" this time around, but fact is he did in June and he only has 3 top 10's in the last 10 starts at Pocono (though 2 of those 3 were top 5's). He has a chance to break back out with a good finish which makes his spot in the "Bad" category intriguing. 
Need More?

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Week 20 Preview

Indianapolis Motor Speedway 2013

Nascar breaks from another bye week and heads to Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the 20th Sprint Cup running.  Last time here Jimmie Johnson crossed the fame bricks in first and also has 4 times in the last ten races at IMS. The two previous years at IMS has brought surprise winners in Paul Menard and Jamie McMurray. So the question is who will win in 2013, a favorite or a surprise winner?

With the race to get into the Chase heating up a surprise win could throw a huge curveball towards drivers on the edge of getting it, unless that is, the winner happens to be one of those guys already on the edge. Lets get right into the Good, Middle, and Bad drivers at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the last 10 races. If you need to take a peak at last years results look no further, IMS 2012.


The Good:

  • Tony Stewart- Well this is a track Smoke considers his home track and it always means a bit more to him when he wins here. For Smoke, he has had those special moments two times in the last ten races here. He also has 8 top 10's and 5 top 5's while finishing in 10th in 2012. Best Chance Forecast: A track favorite and a potential summer run, look for Smoke to finish top 5 if not compete for a win if he is fast in qualifying.
  • Jeff Gordon- This list could not leave off Gordon, who has one win in the last 10 (but 4 career wins here). He is tied with JJ for most wins at IMS. Best Chance Forecast: Looking for some consistancy I think Gordon can find a way into the top 10 and hang near the top 10 in points.
  • Greg Biffle- Biffle's last five finishes at IMS? 3rd, 7th, 3rd, 4th, and 8th. Not too Shabby for the Biff. Add in he has a 12.1 average finish position in the last 10 starts here and you have a quality start. Best Chance Forecast: I doubt he will win, but look for him to be up front and finish top 10.
The Middle:
  • Jimmie Johnson- Ok, ok, I know many people have them on there hot list, as is the smart choice and idea. But, I also want to point out his last three and bad luck that seems to follow him here. He does have a win in his last 3 but he also has finishes of 19th and 22nd, both races he finished on the lead lap. Also, in his last ten he has finishes of 39, 38, 36th all bad luck. With how good he has been you can bet he will be up front, and probably finish top 10, (and may deserve a spot in the Good category) but I also feel I have to inform the public JJ isn't transparent to bad luck.
The Bad:
  • Kurt Busch- Well Kurt's last 5 starts here go a little like this: 36, 21, 10, 27, and 40th. Not so hot for a driver trying to get the one car team into the Chase. If any year was the year to bounce out of that funk this would be the one.
  • Joey Logano- Well JoLo only has 4 starts here at IMS and they have brought mixed results. Normally you would think the first races would be learning curves and the next couple better. Well here are his finishes starting with his first in 2009: 12th, 9th, 25th, and 33rd last year. Last year he didn't finish on the lead lap but it still isn't the greatest stat line to have right now.
  • Martin Truex Jr- 8 starts and one top ten. The upside to Truex's stats? That top 10 came just last year with an 8th place finish. Maybe he is figuring it out here? If not he has a 21.5 average finish position in his last 10 races that says he may struggle.



Who I like for the win this weekend?
  • Tony Stewart. Its summer, he has to catch fire eventually right?
Dark Horse?
  • Greg Biffle. Yeah he is part of my Good section, but who is really picking the Biff to kiss the bricks?

Hope everyone enjoy/enjoyed Eldora (depending on when you read this). Lets get ready to cross the bricks.

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Week 18 Preview

Daytona International Speedway: Night Race 2013

Well we are fast approaching Fourth of July weekend and that means that Nascar is heading back to Daytona International Speedway for the second time. This time Nascar runs under the lights and its most resent winner of the July race was Tony Stewart. Smoke is once again back in a spot where he needs a win or good finish to get back on track as do many other drivers.

2012 July Daytona winner Tony Stewart
Restricter plate races can bring some big surprises and it could be a big week for someone to make a move that no one saw coming. Take a look at last years visit to Daytona in July here. Lets get on to our Good, Middle, and Bad drivers at DIS as of late.







The Good:
  • Matt Kenseth- Surprise, surprise Kenseth -last weeks winner- is back on the Good list. In the last 10 starts at DIS he is one of two drivers (Smoke) to have multiple wins. He also has 7 top 10's and 5 top 5's. Best Chance Forecast: Look for him to improve on his bad luck finish at the 500. Another top 10 is likely for Kenseth.
  •  Dale Earnhardt Jr- In Jr's last 3 races at Daytona he has an average finish of 6.3 with 2 top 5's (both of those were runner ups), Best Chance Forecast: Daytona is hard to call, but I will take a shot and say he is one of the top contenders to get a win.
The Middle:
  • Tony Stewart- The other guy to have multiple wins in the last 10 races, Smoke only has one other top 10 in that same 10 race stretch.
The Bad:
  • Kasey Kahne- This maybe a case of bad luck and I wont be picking him to finish poor, but the fact is he is in a weird every other slump (last finishes: 37, 7, 29, 4, 25, 2, and 30).  If you look at the bright side though, he is in for a good finish this time around.
  • Martin Truex Jr- One of the hotter drivers right now, Truex only has one top 10 in the last 10 races. In fact that top 10 was in 2010 and in the next 6 races he only has one top 15. Maybe the hot streak is what he needs to get out of a Daytona slump.
2013 Daytona 500 winner Jimmie Johnson

Who I like for the win this weekend?
  • Hasn't won in over a year, but I'll take those bad odds and put my money on Jr Nation.
Dark Horse I like for the win?
  • Ryan Newman. Back to back top 5's, thinking he has to bust out eventually
My top 5 (realistically and in no order):
  • Earnhardt Jr, Kenseth, Edwards, Hamlin, and Menard (yes a long shot)
Rounding out the top 10:
  • Johnson, Newman, Stewart, Gordon, and Bowyer
Where do I have Danica finishing this time around?
  • I will take 24th. I think an over/under 15 would be an interesting line (Considering it's Daytona)

Need more from Daytona International Speedway?

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Week 17 Preview

Kentucky Speedway

Well Nascar is going back to a track where drivers will only make left turns, a place where Nascar has only ran two times at, Kentucky. Well there is little data this week on this track as we have only had two winners, Brad Keselowski last year and Kyle Busch in Kentuckys inaugural race.

A few quick notes on Kentucky Speedway. In the two years since the Sprint Cup series started running here no driver has posted two top 5's and only 5 drivers have posted two top 10's (Keselowski, Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson, Matt Kenseth, and Jeff Gordon). Also only 5 guys have led double digit laps total in two races (Kyle, Keselowski, Johnson, Hamlin, and Kurt).  Well lets get into it and take everything with a grain of salt (Leaving out Best Chance Forecast this week with little data). Here is a look at 2012 and 2011 race results at Kentucky Speedway.

2012 winner Brad Keselowski

The Good:
  • Brad Keselowski- BK not only one here last year but in the 2 year history he has the best average finish of 4.0. BK has also lead 147 of 535 laps which is second only to Kyle. This is a track that really helped him get going for the Chase last year. Also note, he has won here in Nationwide with a 3.6 average finish in 5 races.
  • Kyle Busch- The only other winner at Kentucky also gets the second spot this week. Not just because he has won here but he has lead 243 of 535 laps here which is 45.5% of the career laps here.
  • Kasey Kahne- Lots of other guys can be listed on here, but my last guy I will highlight it Kahne because he loves tracks like this. He has been fast this year and I think he has a chance at a win this Saturday. He did finish 13th in 2011 and 2nd last year so he also has a good track record here as well.
The Middle:
  • Carl Edwards- Well with only two races here a lot of guy fit the mold of being in the middle, but I like Carl to stay on his good pace this season with another strong finish at Kentucky. He has only posted a 5th and 20th place finish (last year) so his two races were up and down.
The Bad:
  • Clint Bowyer- Do I think he will finish poor this Saturday? No. But in the only two races here has he had a top 15? No. I think he will improve his bad runs here but the fact is in little data he has a 25.5 average finish. I think top 12 is right where he will find a home.
  • Jamie McMurray- Same average finish as Bowyer but I think he could again finish outside the top 15. He has struggled to find consistency so it could be another rough day for Jamie.
Kyle Busch win's first Sprint Cup race at Kentucky in 2011
Its a short article with little stats so I will add in some thoughts:
  • Who I like for the win the weekend?
    • Kasey Kahne
  • Dark Horse who I like for the win?
    • Joey Logano- He has a good track record in Nationwide and is having a nice 2013.
  • Other top contenders?
    • Kyle Busch-If he can keep the car from spinning he should be up front
    • Brad Keselowski- Won here in both series.
    • Jimmie Johnson- Every week he can contend
  • Who needs it most?
    • Brad Keselowski- Needs his season to turn around, almost out of a Chase spot with no win.
    • Denny Hamlin- Honorable mention. DH needs a win this week otherwise he may pack it in soon so he doesn't risk it.
  • What big name guy do I think will struggle?
    • Tony Stewart- I don't know why, I just have a gut feeling he will struggle this week after a frustrating Sonoma race.
  • My top 5 in no order:
    • BK, Kyle, Kahne, Kenseth, and Kurt Busch
  • Rounding out the to 10:
    • Jimmie Johnson, Hamlin, Logano, Gordon, and Edwards
Alright folks that's it for this weeks Kentucky Speedway preview! Check back for updates on other articles and new posts. If I find time either this week or next week I will be writing a "halfway" article that will look at the last 9 or 10 races before we reach the Chase. Have a great week guys.

Saturday, June 22, 2013

Week 16 Preview

Sonoma Raceway 2013

It's Saturday and I am watching the Nascar Nationwide race at Race America, so whats a better time to finally get to this weeks Pocono Preview? Since this is such a late article this week I will make it short and sweet, kind of makes sense when Nascar only makes two trips to tracks with right turns.

Last year Sonoma brought a surprise winner in Clint Bowyer and in 2011 Kurt Busch notched a win, whats in common? Both are still looking for a win in 2013. It wont be easy though, in the last 11 races at Sonoma we have had 10 different winner's. The only repeat winner in that time frame is one of the guys who use to dominate this course, Jeff Gordon.

But it seems Nascar has taken more interest into running these road courses and guys have tried to become more well rounded which will make this week at Sonoma a good one, especially because anyone can get that all important win. So who will it be? Lets look at Good, Middle, and Bad Drivers at Sonoma in the last 10 races.


The Good:
  • Jeff Gordon- Lets just start with this stat, 20 career races at Sonoma and 16 top 10's. That means Gordon is almost a lock this weekend. He has 7 straight appearances in the top 10 and really the only thing that stops him is bad luck finishes of 37, 37, and 33rd. His other finish outside the top 10? 11th. Best Chance Forecast: Well heck, top 10. Gordon needs to get a win here and start getting hot, like Smoke just did.
  • Tony Stewart- Speaking of Smoke he is also pretty good at Sonoma. Last time around he finished runner up to Bowyer. Best Chance Forecast: Another top 10 to keep his hot streak alive.
  • Clint Bowyer- He may have been a surprise to win it, but his career finish position average in 7 races at Sonoma is 9.7 (2nd to Jeff Gordon) and he has 5 top 10's. Best Chance Forecast: He has been consistent this year so another top 10 looks likely.
  • Marcus Ambrose- The Aussie is known to excel on road courses and won the Pole last year, he ended up 8th. In his 5 races at Sonoma only his first start has he not finished in the top 10 (transmission problem). Best Chance Forecast: I would say we have another top 10 contender on Sunday, and needs a win to turn his season around.
The Middle:
  • Ryan Newman- Well Newman isn't amazing at Sonoma, but he finds ways to finish well. His Career Average finish position is 6th of current drivers yet he has zero wins, 2 top 5's and 5 top 10's (11 races). His problem, the last four races here his best finish is 16th. Could be trending down just like his season has.
The Bad:
  • Dale Earnhardt Jr- Well Jr Nation can take a break this week and not have to get all worked up, because he most likely will not fight for a win. Crazier things have happened but in his 13 starts at Sonoma not once has he finished in the top 10. All he needs to do is find a nice spot in the top 15 and call it a day til next week.
  • Matt Kenseth- With his feast or famine season this isn't where Kenseth would like to be. In 13 races he just one ups Jr with one top 10 finish. He is another guy who will be happy with a top 15 to not loose too much ground. At least he has just a few wins to fall back on (Sorry Jr Nation).

Better late then never right? Well lets get ready for right turns and a bunch of TNT commercials this weekend! I may miss some of Sundays race so the review may be short and sweet as well this week but I will be checking Twitter and Nascar online to stay tuned as much as possible! Lest have a good race.

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Week 15 Preview

Michigan International Speedway: Quicken Loans 400
Start of the 2011 Fall MIS race
Nascar leaves the Tricky Triangle and heads to Michigan International Speedway for the first time this season (the second one in August I will be attending and have since 2006). This track is still the only track I have been too and is always a good time. But, onto the product on the track.  Jimmie Johnson may have just won at Pocono and was also very good at Dover but he has never won in 22 tries at Michigan.

That leaves the door open for other drivers to get a win on this very fast 2 mile oval. This week I have articles on 2013 season win less drivers and who will get one this year and it seems that many of them will have a chance this weekend. Guys like Biffle, Gordon, Jr, Newman, and Kurt Busch all have multiple wins at MIS and non of them have a win in 2013.

I think this years race could bring a 2013 season first time winner and also some very fast racing with the new Gen 6 car. Take a look back at last years June results at MIS. Lets get on to the Good, Middle, and Bad Drivers in recent races at MIS.


The Good:
  • Greg Biffle- Lets start here, he drives for Roush. Now Fords have had a slow start to the 2013 season but if there was a time to get it going it would be a Jack Roush car at MIS speedway. In the Biff's last 10 he has 1 win, 5 top 5's and 6 top 10's. Best Chance Forecast: I like Biff to find another top 5, but until Ford shows they have figured it out I can't say he is a clear cut favorite to win.
  • Carl Edwards- Look above at what was said about Biffle, then apply to Carl. His stats look about the same, 1 win, 5 top 5's and 7 top 10's. Best Chance Forecast: Same as Biffle, top 5, but if Fords were to find another win, a Roush car at MIS is the place.
  • Dale Earnhardt Jr- Enough Ford's already. Jr's last Cup win was a year ago at MIS when he was in his last very long win less streak. This year he is trying to put together a run that will put him in good shape for his first title run. Best Chance Forecast: I don't know why but I think another average top 10 finish is in store for Jr. (I could be wrong, he is driving another movie aspired paint scheme this weekend like his MIS win last year)
The Middle
  • Denny Hamlin- The middle man this week is actually also a good bet to win at MIS. He does have 2 wins in the last 10 races here, but he also only has a average finish of 15. He has been a feast or famine driver at MIS as of late so he will either push for the win or have troubles. Look for the former this weekend.
The Bad
  • Jimmie Johnson- This is a reach, JJ isn't bad at MIS, but the fact that JJ has been so good at most tracks leave me wanting more. (So no mistake, he is a still a good option if you are looking at it for a fantasy option). JJ's average finish leaves something to be desired (15.7 in the last 10) and he only has 4 top 10's in the last 10 (2 top 5's). Also note, he has yet to win at MIS in his career.
  • Paul Menard- Lets get to a guy who really hasn't been good at all at MIS. Menard has two top 10's and 1 top 5 in his last 10 races here. Not only that his average finish is way down to 21.6. If he wants to hang around the Chase talks he will have to figure it out at MIS this Sunday.
  • Marcus Ambrose- He is a guy I just had to get in this article. He could also be considered in the "Laying Low" section with his teammate Almirola because his last two were finishes of 9th and 5th. Other then those two finishes Ambrose has struggled at MIS. Maybe he has figured it out though, so he could be a sleeper.
  • Kurt Busch- In Kurts last 10 races here he has run into some bad luck and it has resulted in an average finish of 21.6 with 2 top 10's and 1 top 5's. But Kurt has been fast this year and he does know how to go fast at MIS, in the last 10 he has 2 poles in his name.
Laying Low
  • Ryan Newman- His last 10 numbers do not look very overwhelming, actually they don't look good at all. But if you check out Newman's last 4 starts at MIS and there is hope (8, 15, 5, and 6). He could have a chance to sneak up on the field this weekend, hopefully he doesn't "run" into Gilliland though.
  • Aric Almirola- Aric only has two career starts at MIS but I think this is the kind of track that he could excel at the more and more he runs it. Last year he finished 17th and 20th and this he has a chance to improve on that. I think he can pull off a top 15 and maybe even get back in the top 10.

Need more?
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Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Week 14 Preview

Pocono Raceway: Party in the Poconos
Welcome Tony Stewart to Chase consideration. He spent 13 weeks in no mans land with everyone coming down on him and wondering what was going on. Then, suddenly, he won at Dover and everything changed, or it did for this one week at least.

This week Nascar heads to the tricky triangle for the first of two trips in 2013 season. I have to admit Pocono is not one of my favorite tracks but some drivers might disagree with me as will be revealed in the Good, Middle, and Bad section in the preview. If you want to check out Nascar's first trip results in 2012 to Pocono check it out here.


The Good:
  • Jeff Gordon- In the last 10 trips to Pocono Gordon is one of two drivers to have more then one win here. He also has 7 top 10's (second only to JJ) and 3 top 5's. He is also the win's leader of current drivers with 6 career trips to victory lane. Gordon was the last driver to win here. Best Chance Forecast: I think he can compete for a win and he will need it, but not as much as DH.
  • Denny Hamlin- The other driver to have multiple win's at Pocono in the last 10, DH. He also has 5 top 10's to add to that, all of which were top 5 finishes. Best Chance Forecast: Well he had some struggles last time at Pocono, but those wins and top 5's are hard to look past. He needs it the most, he could compete for a win.
  • Tony Stewart- Smoke has the second best average finish in the last 10 races here (9.3). To go along with that he also has a win, 6 top 5's, and 7 top 10's. After getting a slump busting win at Dover Pocono is just what he wants to see. Best Chance Forecast: I think Smoke can add a top 10 to his list after last weeks win, but last time I said that he finished poorly (take it with a grain of salt).
  • Also in the mix- Joey Logano (fast, 2 poles, 1 win in last 10), Carl Edwards, Jimmie Johnson
The Middle:
  • Clint Bowyer- Clint has 6 top 10's and 1 top 5 in the last 10 races at Pocono but no wins. In fact, in 14 career starts on the triangle he has no wins with 7 top 10's and 1 top 5. Last year though he did finish in the top 10 both times so he could be getting it going at Pocono.
The Bad:
  • Kyle Busch- Kyle does have 3 top 10's (which were 3 top 5's) in the last 10 races, but his average finish at Pocono in that span is 18.4. If he is not hot, he is way off at Pocono so it is a real toss up with him this week.
  • Jamie McMurray- Where has McMurray been the past few weeks? Well this week may not get better, in his last 10 he only has 2 top 10's at Pocono.
Laying Low:
  • Mark Martin- Well he has been very quiet as of late, and Pocono is just in time. Last season he finished runner up and 12th. He could maybe make a run towards the front.
  • Marcus Ambrose- Last season he turned in finishes of 13th and 10th at Pocono. This season he is in desperate need of a good finish so anywhere near the top 10 would be a good start.
  • Ryan Newman- His last four races at Pocono have been pretty good. Good enough to earn him a 8.0 average finish position. (6, 12, 5, and 9th).
Still need more Nascar heading up to Pocono?

Saturday, June 1, 2013

Week 13 Preview

Dover International Speedway

Well Nascar is heading to Dover, the Monster Mile, where many drivers are coming to a cross road. How will they handle the pressure as we get closer every week to the 10 race Chase? Is Tony Stewart going to make a push and find a win or two to get a Wild Card spot? Can Brad Keselowski end his bad luck string that has taken him from defending Champ to a driver on the verge of missing the Chase? Can Denny Hamlin miss part of the season, fall out of the top 20, and then come back and get a Chase berth? Well Dover will start to answer these question's and most likely bring up even more stories to follow in 2013.

As for last week, Kevin Harvick kept his hot streak going and notched his second win of the 2013 season. At the same time Kasey Kahne finished 2nd for the 3rd time on a 1.5 mile track this season. Last season Dover brought us winners of Jimmie Johnson (Fall) and Brad Keselowski (Spring). BK could definitely use the win and a shot of confidence that they can get through a race without something happening to them. Meanwhile Johnson has been unstoppable at Dover in the last 10 races and most of his career. Check out last years Fall results here.


Good, Middle, and Bad Drivers at Dover

The Good:
  • Jimmie Johnson- Surprise, Surprise JJ made the good list once again. But really, of current drivers, he has 7 Monster Mile Wins, the next closest is 4 (Gordon and Martin). Best Chance Forecast: He has been good here in the past. He did qualify poorly so there is a chance someone can steal one from him. Top 10 should still be easy.
  • Matt Kenseth- If it wasn't for Johnson Kenseth would be one of the most dominant drivers at Dover in the last 10 races. In the last 10 he has 8 top 10's and all of them were to 5's! He also has 1 win in the last 10 here. Best Chance Forecast: The way the last 10 have gone here and how good he has been this year it is hard to not say top 5.
  • Carl Edwards- Carl also has 8 top 10's in the last 10 starts at Dover but only 5 of those are top 10's. Pretty good numbers at the Monster Mile but in the last 10 he doesn't have a win, will he get his second of the season? Best Chance Forecast: I think he has a great shot at the top 5 and maybe he can contend for a win.
  • Notables: Kyle Busch and Mark Martin
The Middle:
  • Kevin Harvick- Lots of drivers to choose from in the middle at the Monster Mile in the last 10 races, but I'm highlighting Harvick. 5 top 10's, 1 top 5, and an average finish of 13th puts him towards the top drivers in the last 10 races in finishing position. So what's missing? Well he doesn't have a win, not only in the last 10 races, but in his career. So with his season on the uphill swing could he get his first at Dover?
The Bad:
  • Dale Earnhardt Jr- While his career at Dover hasn't been too bad, the last 10 starts here have been a different story. A fourth place finish is his only top 10 finish in the last 10 at Dover. Add that with the fact that in those 10 he has an average finish of 19.5 and it equals a lot of work to do on the Monster Mile.
  • Juan Pablo Montoya- Good news for Jr, he isn't JPM. Juan's loan top 10 in the last 10 races was also a fourth place finish but his average finish is even worse then Jr's (24.2). At least Jr has had a good season, Juan will need a lot of help to turn his around this weekend.
Laying Low:
  • Denny Hamlin- It is tough to say DH is ever laying low, but if you just looked at his last 10 at Dover he only has 3 top 10's and a top 5. His average finish is a dismal 21.2 in those 10 races. But he has been hot since returning to the track and if you look past those numbers you will see potential to break out. His last 6 here go like this (8, 18, 18, 16, 9, and 4).
  • Jeff Burton- Last year didn't go so well here for Burton, but in the last 10 he has 4 top 10's, 2 top 5's, and an average finish of 12.4. So was last year the start of his old age slump or can he find it one last time at Dover? I think the former may be the case, but either way keep an eye on him for one last run at glory.
  • Greg Biffle- This season has been so tough for the Biff he found his way on this list. In his last 10 he has 4 top 10's, 3 top 5's, 1 win, and the 4th best average finish among current drivers (11.8).
More on Dover?
Well late is better then never! Check out the review and some older Driver Spotlights while you are at it! Enjoy the race this Sunday and check back for a review sometime early next week!!

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Week 12 Preview

Charlotte Motor Speedway: Coca-Cola 600

Well Jimmie Johnson started the two week Charlotte visit with his forth All-Star win in his career. That fourth win is now a Nascar record which broke him away from Jeff Gordon (both had 3 All-Star wins before Saturday) and the late Dale Earnhardt. Now can Johnson get the win that really matters this next Saturday and catch back up to Matt Kensth in season wins, who was also this weeks driver in Driver Spotlight?

During the All-Star race is seemed like maybe Jimmie Johnson is finding his Charlotte groove that he had back in the mid 2000's (Won 5 of 6 races from 2003-2005). Unlike that run, the last 9 races at Charlotte have resulted in 9 different winners including Kasey Kahne (Spring) and Clint Bowyer (Fall) last year.

With that many different winners it seems that the chances of a repeat driver in the 10th race is likely, but who will it be? Johnson has 6 career wins, Jeff Gordon 5, and guys like Jeff Burton (3) and David Reutimann (1) even have recent wins. So lets get on with it, the Good, Middle, and Bad drivers at Charlotte Motor Speedway. If you need a look back, check out the Spring 2012 results here.


The Good:
  • Kyle Busch- I will take this even after he looked like he would win all night at the All-Star race. I will take this even though he has yet to win at Charlotte in 18 starts. In the last 10 races during a points race, Kyle has 9 top 10's and 7 top 5's. Best Chance Forecast: It isn't a long shot, yet it is because he hasn't won here yet, I'm taking him for the Win.
  • Kasey Kahne- 10 races here and only one driver has won more then one race, that's Kahne. Winning last year and in 2008 Kahne also has 7 top 10's and 5 top 5's in the last 10. Best Chance Forecast: As long as he and Kyle are not running one and two at the races end (never know who will spin out, always seems to be Kasey) then he should be looking at a top 5 with a shot at winning.
  • Joey Logano- Who has the best average finish position of current drivers here? Well of course Joey Logano. Though he only has 8 career starts at Charlotte his average finish of 10.1 give him 3rd best in the last 10 races. Best Chance Forecast: Sliced bread was runner up at the All-Star race and has had a pretty good season less the penalty, I think he can find another top 10 and might run top 5.
  • Runner ups- Matt Kenseth, Greg Biffle
The Middle:
  • Jimmie Johnson- Jimmie just won the All-Star race which is now a Nascar record 4th time, and he has 6 career wins at Charlotte Motor Speedway which is the most among current drivers yet he is in the middle class? Well his last 10 have produced a 17.5 average finish. He does have 4 top 10's with 3 of those being top 5's in his last 10. Johnson showed in the All-Star race he may have regained his grasp on the track.
The Bad:
  • Dale Earnhardt Jr- I know Jr Nation won't like this, but stats are stats. In his last 9 races (missed last years Chase race) he has an average finish 22.4. He also starts on average in 18.4 position which is part of the problem. Only 3 top 10's in those last 9 means Jr needs to turn it around here. Lucky for him he has had a good year of turning it around other then some bad luck here and there.
  • Paul Menard- Six drivers down that average finish position list is Menard (24.3). In his last he has only placed in the top 10 once and that was 2010. In those 10 races he has only finished better then 20th 3 times! Not a good sign for Paul this weekend.
Laying Low:
  • Kurt Busch- I am not sure he is every laying low anymore, but Kurt is one of 9 drivers to have a win in the last 10 races (2010). 4 top 10's and 3 top 5's in the past 10 races here he could find his first win on the 2013 season and make getting into the Chase that much closer. Also not he ran well in the All-Star race and has been hot this season just about everywhere.
  • Martin Truex Jr- This is a bit of a long shot when in his last 10 he has an average finish of 18.9 and only two top 10's but last season he finished 12th and 10th so I think he has it in him to find the top 10. Still probably wont be a factor to win though.
  • Tony Stewart- Yeah he has been demoted to the part of a "laying low" driver. His last 10 here do not look pretty (1 top 10) so this is a risky pick, but it's they laying low section so I can take as many long shots as I want. I feel like I need to tell myself again and again this is a past champion and he knows how to race. Anyways, if you take out the last 10, he has 18 races with 11 top 10's, 6 top 5's, and a win.

Still want more? Well check out some quick links to other articles:

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Week 11 Preview

Darlington Raceway: Bojangles Southern 500

Week 10 on the Nascar season is about to arrive at Darlington Raceway just one week after Talladega put a dent in some drivers spot in the standings. Darlington has the potential to do the same thing this Saturday.  After a crazy finish that brought Nascar fans two small car teams, that happened to be from the same team, finishing one and two can Darlington exceed that excitment? This Saturday night trip is the only stop at Darlington Raceway on the 2013 season. Last year none other than Jimmie Johnson got the win. In 2011 Darlington brought Regan Smith a win so anything is possible.

Lets get into this weeks Good, Middle, and Bad category drivers at Darlington. For results of last years race at Darlington Raceways look here.


The Good:
  • Jeff Gordon- Not only does Gordon have the most career wins at Darlington of current drivers, but he also has notched one in his last 6 races (plus 4 top 5's). Best Chance Forecast: If he doesn't add another Darlington Stripe he could have a real shot at a top 5 and helping out his Chase chances.
  • Jimmie Johnson- The second Hendrick driver on the list, JJ was not only the last winner at Darlington (2012) but also 2 other wins, 6 top 5's, and 7 top 10's in his last 10. Best Chance Forecast: JJ has a good track record here and in the Sprint Cup, I will take a for sure top 10.
  • Ryan Newman- Best Driver to not have a win at Darlington in the last 10 races? Newman. Ryan has 7 top 10's in the last 10, 5 of those top 5's. Best Chance Forecast: If I was taking a long shot this week for the win, Newman would be it. But look for a chance at the top 10 and continuing to be the best Stewart-Haas driver this season.
The Middle:
  • Dale Earnhardt Jr- Jr is going to be my spotlighted middle man. He has struggled in his last 4 races here, only getting one top 15. But if you just look at the last 10 as a whole he has 5 top 10's and 2 top 5's. Something has to give and maybe this time around he finds the top 10 again.
The Bad:
  • Paul Menard- Having a good season, but a bump in the road last week at Dega and now a place where his career average finish position is 24.5 isn't what Menard wants to see. If their is a bright side, in his past three starts he has finished better in each (including 13th last year).
  • Clint Bowyer- Last year Clint did finish 11th and he also had a Pole in 2007, but his average finish is 22.6 in 7 career starts (only 1 top 10).
  • Juan Pablo Montoya- I guess in a way finishing in the 20's isn't "bad" but it sure isn't good either. In 6 career starts he did finish 5th once, but his other 5 go like this, 24, 23, 20, 23, and 23. So id you are looking for a guy to finish in the mid 20's you have found the guy.
Laying Low:
  • Aric Almirola- Well he is a long shot. Aric only has one career start here and he finished 19th. Darlington is a tough track for young drivers but if he stays clean he has been hot so he could get lucky.
  • Martin Truex Jr- He has back to back top 10's at Darlington. He had a good run for a few weeks where it looked like he would break his win less streak but came up short. I don't know that he can win but another top 10 isn't out of the question.
Could we get another crazy week like we have come accustom to this 2013 season? Will Kenseth keep his hot streak going this season by figuring out another track he hasn't been dominate at? Can another small car team come out of no where for a win? Tune in this Saturday to find out! Need more, check out these links:

           JGR and Kenseth penalties reduced.
           Penske penalties reduced.
           Paint Scheme's for Darlington
           Air Titan at Talladega

Check back later for Tweets of the Week! Also, with a Saturday race, Pit Road Week 10 on Sunday with Power Rankings.

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Tweets of the Week: Talladega

Late addition of Tweets of the Week. A review on some last minute Talladega Statistics and a few Clint Bowyer late night Tweets!


















Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Week 10 Preview

Talladega Superspeedway

Nascar is officially through a Quarter of the 2013 season! 9 races into the season and Nascar heads to Talladega for the first of two times (the next during the Chase). As Nascar left Richmond International Raceway Kevin Harvick finally got hot and into the top 5 for the first time this year with a late race Win.

Some bad luck and bad nights hit some drivers hard in Richmond which could end up being a huge misstep in a Chase spot run with Dega next on the list (known for getting into trouble). Last year's Talladega winners come into this week on different terms. In the Spring race Brad Keselowski got his second career win at Talladega (the other his first ever career win in 2009) and needs to bounce back after he lost a cylinder late in the race at Richmond. On the other hand, Matt Kenseth who was the winner at Dega during the Chase has been on a hot streak again.

Yet both drivers need a good finish this week because both have faced the wrath of Nascar and run into penalties that make every misstep even larger. Here is a look at the Spring race results at Talladega.


The Good:
  • Brad Keselowski- BK needs a good week that is mistake free to get past all the bad luck he has been through. Every since Nascar came down on Penske he has seemed to have some bad luck but for the most part fight through it. In his 8 starts he has a 12.2 average finish (best of current drivers), 2 wins, 3 top 5's, and 6 top 10's. Best Chance Forecast: BK has to run into some good luck some where right? Top 5 with a good shot at getting his first win of the season.
  • Clint Bowyer- In the last 10 races at Talladega Bowyer has not only the most top 10s (7) but the best average finish (10.5). Add in two wins in his last 5 and you have the ingredients for a good track. Best Chance Forecast: Another top 10 should be a no brainer, a chance at a win is possible.
  • Dale Earnhardt Jr- Even though his last 10 races have been just average at Talladega (4 top 10's and no wins) Jr has a long history of great driving here. If you add up the fact he knows the track well and he has a hot start to the 2013 season I think it is safe to say he should have a good weekend. Best Chance Forecast: I'm thinking he will find his way to the top 10, and may find a top 5.
The Middle:
  • Matt Kenseth: The guy I will go with this week out of the many drivers to choose from, Kenseth. In the last 10 he has led the second most laps, has a win and 2 top 5's (both last year) but his average finish over those 10 is 21st. 2 of the races he didn't finish because of a crash but something has to give. Best Chance Forecast: the fact that last year he had two top 5's including a win here, plus he has been hot this season, makes me think he can turn around his mediocrity at Talladega.
The Bad:
  • Marcus Ambrose- All the way down there at 25.1 average finish position in the last 10 races it Ambrose. In 8 races he has 1 top 5 and that is it (first career start at Dega). He had a rough week last week and Dega will do him no favors, he will have to earn it.
  • Jamie McMurray- One driver who has a career win at Dega (in the last 10) who hasn't done well most of the time here is McMurray. He has an average finish of 22.5 in the last 10 with only two top 5's (win and runner up). If you exclude those 2 good races, he has only finished inside the top 16 once in the 8 other races.
  • Tony Stewart-Smoke is another driver who has a win in his last 10 races at Dega but overall hasn't had much luck. Only 2 top 10's in that span and an average finish position of 21.4. It doesn't look good for him heading into Dega cold in 2013, but maybe this is the kind of spot where he will surprise?
Laying Low:
  • David Ragan- In the last 10 races at Talladega David Ragan had 5 top 10's, yes I said 5. His average finish of 14.1 is 6th best of current drivers in the last 10 (4th best if you take out 1 race drivers Mike Bliss (10) and Kenny Wallace (12). Last year his finishes were 7th in Spring and 4th in the Fall. Not too bad for a guy running on a small team.
  • Jeff Burton- Right behind Ragan in average finish in the last 10 is Burton (14.2). He has 6 top 10's and 3 top 5's in those 10 races. He also has posted 3 straight top 10's (3rd, 10th, and 10th).
  • Travis Kvapil- Big time sleeper alert. Last year with BK racing Kvapil finished 16th in the Spring and 8th in the Fall. In his 7 career starts at Dega he has 2 top 10's and a pole so anything is possible.
You can be good or bad, hot or cold and it could all change in one lap when Nascar heads to Talladega. When will the big one happen? Who will be a part of it? Dega brings hope to drivers who need to get on a roll because if they stay in one piece and away from the big crash they could have a chance.

Need more? Check out these links and articles:

Friday, April 26, 2013

Tweets of the Week: Richmond

This week Tweets of the Week will focus on my stats for Richmond. Mixed in a few interesting Tweets from #NFB, Nascar drivers, and teams.