2015 Driver Spotlight Preview: Martin Truex Jr

Martin Truex Jr 2015 Preview

By Richard Tix

Let's just say 2014 was a rough year for Martin Truex Jr. Its been said a million times but his NASCAR career will now be defined and the turning point will be remembered as "spin gate." The race before the Chase at Richmond in 2013 has changed his career path.

If you ask Martin he will probably say something about it being a path that he is happy with, but he has to think every now and then about still being with a main team like Michael Waltrip Racing. 

Instead, Martin moved into the car that Kurt Busch helped compete with in 2013. It looked great for Martin because Furniture Row looked like they were on the right path, but it also put huge pressure on him after Kurt made it look easy.

2014 proved that it was not easy for Kurt to succeed in the #78. Martin stepped into his new team and struggled to start off the year. He finished the season with 1 top 5 and 5 top 10's, which was his worst season since 2009. There was a silver lining to end the year, as it seemed that he and the team finally found something. Just in the Chase he had 6 top 15's with two of those being top 10's. He also started in the top 15 four times during the Chase. 

Bold Predictions/2015 Season Expectations:

• It's and unfortunate thing but I don't think 2015 will be the season Martin turns it back around. I don't expect a dramatic decline, but I see a season close to that of 2014. I think he will be at about 1-2 top 5's, and 5-6 top 10's. I do think a drop in his average finish of 20.2 could happen in 2015, though. It's not all on Martin, but I just think some young guys in the sport will start stealing some top 10's which means someone has to lose them, right?

List of Previous Driver Spotlights

2015 Driver Spotlight Preview: Casey Mears

Casey Mears 2015 Season Preview

By Richard Tix

In 2014 Casey Mears did what Casey Mears does most seasons. That's not a bad thing, but it isn't a great thing either. Its just an ok thing, like his season went, ok. 

I always give Mears credit because he is one of the better drivers that is not part of a large competitive team. Instead he headlines the only car with Germain Racing and has helped the team takes significant steps int he right direction,

2014 Mears had his best average finish in five years (22.3) while notching 1 top 5, 3 top 10's, 9 top 15's and 15 top 20's. The top 5's and top 10 numbers were the best he has had since 2008 when he was with Hendrick Motorsports. So, with a successful 2014 season what will 2015 bring?

Bold Predictions/2015 Season Expectations:

• 2015 will be Mears fifth full season with Germain Racing (he raced part time in 2010 with Germain). The team truly has taken a step in the right direction almost every season. I think in 2015 Mears will stay close to the same average finish as he did in 2014 (22.3). I think many of his numbers may stay about the same (about 2-3 top 10's, 8-10 top 15's, and 13-17 top 20's) but the team will run consistently. Another points finish around 24th is what I am expecting for Casey Mears in 2015. 

List of Previous Driver Spotlights

2015 Driver Spotlight Preview: Justin Allgaier

Justin Allgaier 2015 Season Preview

By Richard Tix

2014 Season Review

2014 was Justin Allgaier's rookie season on the NASCAR Cup level. Most season's he would have had more attention come his way but he was in a class with Austin Dillon and Kyle Larson, two high praised rookies. 

JA may have been one of the most over looked drivers in the 2014 rookie class. But, JA was the next rookie in line after the two mentioned before. He ran 35 races in 2014 and didn't notch a top 10, but he did have 10 top 20 runs. 

The most impressive part of his 2014 season was that he ended the year with 8 top 20's in his last 15 races, including two top 15's. So, the season ended on a high note for a young driver with an under funded one car team.

I always use a three year progression when taking a look at new drivers. JA will enter into year two of three in 2015 and I will be looking to see if he can improve on his rookie campaign. What I would like to see in 2015 is JA running on average in the top 20 even more often. In 2014 he finished 8 races off with an average running position of 20th or better.

Bold Predictions/2015 Season Expectations:

• I think Justin Allgaier will get his first top 10 this season, actually I could see him getting a couple. I could see a state line of 0 wins, 0 top 5's, 2 top 10's, 5 top 15's, and 15 top 20's. If that happens he would have taken a big step in the right direction, but it wont be easy as he is still with a small team.

List of Previous Driver Spotlights

Week 21 Preview: Pocono (Race Two)

Pocono Raceway

GoBowling.com 400

By Richard Tix

Last time NASCAR was at Pocono Dale Earnhardt Jr stole a win late in the race from Brad Keselowski who was worried about his engine over heating. This is the second track that NASCAR revisits this season (Daytona was the first). Much of this review will be a lot like the last, because drivers career stats have only been increased by one race here. We will take into consideration how drivers ran last time around though, as it could lead to another good day.

Here is the Week 14 Preview of Pocono.

The Good, Middle, and Bad

(This is just a review of each drivers recent past performance, generally about 5-10 past races)

The Good

• Jeff Gordon- JG is a repeat driver on this list from earlier this year. He gets back on the good list after picking up an 8th place finish Week 14. With how well 2014 has gone for Gordon and after last weeks win I would expect him to compete for a win.
• Jimmie Johnson- Another repeat driver from Week 14, JJ finished 6th after starting 20th the first time around. In 2013 he swept the Pocono poles while finishing 1st and 13th. 
• Brad Keselowski- Last time he had arguably the best car but when the race was winding down he got trash on his grill. Dale Jr was in the right place at the right time and took advantage. BK has back to back top 10's and 3 top 10's in the last 4 races here (2 top 5's). He has also won at Pocono in 2011.
• Extra Credit- Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman

The Middle

• Kevin Harvick- Harvick was in this spot last time I previews Pocono and a 14th place finish didn't change that. From last preview," In his last 9 starts at Pocono he hasn't finished worse then 17th but also hasn't finished better then 4th. In his last 10 he has only led a lap in one race (2010) and it was only 5 laps. Harvick may have a decent finish here, but contending for the win maybe asking a bit much." Again, he didn't lead a lap last time here so that stat holds true.

The Bad

• Aric Almirola- Though not terrible, Aric has only two top 20's in his five starts at Pocono (18th and 20th). He may not be in line for a 30th place finish (hasn't finished worse then 28th) but he also may not find the top 15.
• Josh Wise- In his last 4 starts at Pocono Wise hasn't finished above 34th. With a few new sponsors on the season lets see if it can get him going for at least a top 30 performance.
• AJ Almlmendinger- His last 3 finishes: 21st, 33rd, and 33rd. He hasn't been consistent here but he is in the best ride he has had for a little while.

Track Stats

• Richard Petty won the first race at Pocono in 1974. He also won 2 of the first 3.
• Tim Richmond won three straight Pocono races (1986-1987). Won 4 career Pocono races.
• Carl Edwards won in 2005 from 29th position, the furthest spot back someone has won from.
• 6 straight different drivers have won at Pocono
• Chevrolet has won 4 straight Pocono races (Earnhardt, Kahne, Johnson, and Gordon)
• Most cautions was 13 in 1990 (winner Harry Gant) and 2005 (winner Kurt Busch)
• Race has been won from the Pole 6 times in the last 17 races.

Pocono Articles:

• TV/Race schedule
• Driver entry list
• Power Rankings
• This Week in NASCAR: 7/28
• Current Chase Standings Denny Hamlin points deduction included