Race For a Win: Part Two

In part one I looked at the win less drivers in 2013 who have a good chance to make the Chase with or without a win. In part two I will look at a few more drivers who have not found a win in 2013. These drivers however will most likely need at least one win this season to make the Chase. So lets get on with it and dive right in.

**If you missed it, check out Race For a Win: Part One here**

Denny Hamlin

Well Denny Hamlin finds himself in this situation by chance, bad luck, or whatever you want to call it. His back injury left him sitting on the sidelines being a cheerleader for part of the early season and it left him falling farther and farther back. DH needs to get into the top 20, stay there, and get a few wins to try and nab an WC spot.

A Look Ahead: Lucky for Denny he has won a bunch of races over the past few seasons. He has been racing pretty well since coming back from his injury but that will mean nothing if he doesn't finish first a few times. Nascar has two trips to Loudon (NH) that will be on DH's radar (2 wins, 7 top 5's, 10 top 10's in 14 career races). In fact, Hamlin only has one bad finish, 29th in 2011, at Loudon. The other 3 finishes not in the top 10 were 14th, 15th, and 15th. Unfortunately only the first trip can help his bid at the Chase. Keep an eye on Kentucky as well, as I think it will be a wild card for every driver since it will only be the third time Nascar has raced there.

Will he get a win in 2013?

• As strong as JGR has been, and the fact that DH has been very good when he is in the drivers seat leaves me saying yes. He will be a favorite at Loudon which is within the next 5 races and has a chance in 3 races at Kentucky. If he gets one in the next 5 he has a great chance at the Chase with ATL, Bristol, and Richmond all races he could get another late season win (before the Chase).

Kurt Busch

Kurt is in a place where he can drive all out every week, and that is exactly the style he likes. He has to get wins and he knows it. Kurt has been consistent enough to stay in the top 20 as of late but he will be a guy going for one of two WC spots.

A Look Ahead: Well Kurt has won at Sonoma and even had a 3rd place finish with Phoenix Racing last year. Sonoma is the huge wild card race because guys like Ambrose and JPM come into play there. But also guys like Gordon and past winners have a chance to steal one. Kurt doesn't have to rely on a road course though when he has places like Bristol and ATL in the future.

Will he get a win in 2013?

• I would love to say yes, and there is a chance, but so many guys will be pushing for one it will be very tough. If he has a shot look at either Atlanta or a late season win at Bristol where he use to be a top contender.

Aric Almirola

Here is a tough guy to call for the 2013 season. Its only Almirola's second full season but he has shown in stretches he can be consistent this season. I am not sure it will be enough to crack the top 10 though with so many guys in the middle of the pact fighting to get in. Almirola still doesn't have his first career win either, so its a tough road ahead.

A Look Ahead: This season has looked like the year he could get his first win though. Richmond and Daytona were good finishes for him this year and are both tracks Nascar will get back to before the Chase starts. He has had a short career so it is tough to point out spots, but I think he could make a good run at one of the Michigan races, if not both. He seems to run well at 1.5's as well so he will have some chances down the stretch.

Will he get a win in 2013?

• I predicted he would get one when he was on his top 10 run this season and I will stick by that. I am not sure when his first career win will come but other then Richmond and Daytona I would say watch out for him at the fast Michigan. He is still a long shot to get one though and an even farther long shot to get the WC spot.

Joey Logano

More top 5's (4) and half as many top 10's (6) as in 2012 (in less then half the races). JoLo has looked more comfortable with his new team and new teammate in 2013.  Joey has had some stretches this season where he has looked just as fast as guys like Kyle Busch and Jimmie Johnson, but he also had some stretched where he has struggled. Up and downs like that are not how you make or even win the Chase but JoLo still has a chance to get a WC.

A Look Ahead: Like I mentioned, he has been up front and looked tough in a few early season races this year, so in the back half he may have a chance to steal a few. The tough part is figuring out where? He has also been up and down at most the tracks in his career while trying to figure each one out. The next time Nascar visits Pocono or Charlotte JoLo will need to strike.

Will he get a win in 2013?

• Well he has been so good in a few races to think he wont get a win. Pocono, Charlotte, or possibly Daytona could be the remedy. I think he could find a win somewhere but I don't think he can steal a WC spot.

Ryan Newman

This has been quite the season for Newman. Last week at Dover he made no friends when getting impatient with Gilliland and they weren't even fighting for a top 15 spot. He also could be looking for a ride next year and has been dealing with the drama of Danica and a slumping Smoke.

A Look Ahead: Well it looks like Stewart-Hass may have turned a corner. Smoke seems to be out of his slump which takes all the talk about whether he can handle a 3 car team with Danica on it out of the question. This past week 2 SHR cars made the top 5. The past three seasons Newman has stolen a win, but just one win each year. Loudon is the track that you have to watch for him to get one, he has 3 career wins there.

Will he get one in 2013?

• He could be the driver that needs it the most. On a struggling team and the possibility of not having a major ride next year puts him the front runner to show what he has left. He has only finished in the top 10 in the standing twice since 2006 so he should be hungry. Unfortunately I don't think he will get one, but may come close.

Martin Truex Jr

Martin Truex Jr has not won a race since 6/4/07 at Dover so why is he on this list? Well because he is due and also because just a few short weeks ago he was 9th in points. Then he had an engine blow and followed that up with a weekend struggle at Pocono. He now finds himself a ways out looking in. That means breaking his win less streak is all the more important.

A Look Ahead: I will start with a look back first: He has 22 top 5's (6 of those 2nd place finishes) since his last win and 64 top 10's.  A place like Bristol could be what he needs. He can beat and bang to find a way to win his 2nd career race (His last 4: 12th, 11th, 3rd, and 2nd). Unfortunately for Truex the place he got his only career Nascar win will fall during the Chase so if he gets one it would have been too late for the #56 team.

Will he get one in 2013?

• I was pulling for him every week he was close early this year, but I just am not sure he has enough strong tracks left before the Chase. He could steal one during the Chase which would be bittersweet if he makes a run back in the point.

**Update 6/25/13: Well I have to say I was wrong about him pulling one out before the Chase, but in any case I will happily be wrong when I was pulling for the guy to snap out of it. It took 218 races but he finally got to taste sweet victory (In the form of wine this time). Now the question since he makes it off this list, will he get another one and will he make the Chase? The win makes it more and more likely but the last 10 races before the Chase will be heated.**

Well that gets a majority of the guys who will have a shot at a win in 2013. As statistic's go there are not enough races for all these guys to get wins. The guys like BK, Gordon, and Hamlin may steal more then one leaving guys like Almirola and Newman, and Truex left waiting for next year. Plus, wild cards like JPM (Sonoma, Watkins Glenn, Indianapolis), Marcus Ambrose (Road Courses), and Paul Menard (Indianapolis) all have a shot at a win in 2013. So who will get one in 2013 and better yet who will get a few and steal a WC spot and have a shot to get hot in the Chase?

Race For a Win: Part One

Well another week and another Jimmie Johnson win. Past that last statement, this article will not talk about Jimmie Johnson again. This article instead will take a look at all the drivers looking to find a win still in 2013 and with that a possible birth into the Chase.

Dover brought Tony Stewart back into the talks of the Chase after a dismal start to the season, the win didn't just give him a shot at the WC, but he is already in 13th place in the standings which means he has a great shot regardless.

So with Smoke leading the way, which other drivers haven't notched there first win of the 2013 season but need to? I will take a look at those drivers and when or if they will find a win in 2013.

**First part of a two part series. The first I take a look at the guys who have a good shot at getting into the Chase without a win. The second will be guys who almost HAVE to get a win or two to get a WC spot.**

Brad Keselowski

Well lets start out with the win less drivers with the guy who finished 2012 as Nascar's newest Champ. BK has been through it all this season but has yet to find his way back to Victory Lane, but he still sits 9th in the points just hanging on. If there is a list of who needs a win the most he would be on it.

A Look Ahead: Well this next week Nascar heads to BK's home track, Michigan International Speedway, where his last three starts have been promising (2nd, 13th, 3rd). He may have a chance to get going at Michigan but he has had better luck ever season in the August race. The newer Kentucky track is where BK needs to take advantage of the other drivers. He and Kyle Busch are the only two drivers to have a win at Kentucky (BK's other finish is 7th).

Will he get one in 2013?

• I think it is hard to bet against the former Champ. Tracks like Kentucky, Bristol, or even the second stop at Dover should all be places he runs strong.

Dale Earnhardt Jr

Second guy on the list is Jr, we get to him early in this list because his last win was in the June Michigan race in 2012. Last year he broke his long win less streak at this track and in the past has run well at MIS. He has been hot this season (not as hot as last year to this point) and is almost a lock for the Chase.

A Look Ahead: Well he does run well at MIS so this week should be a good week to watch and see if JR Nation gets to rejoice again like one year ago, but he also has a chance with the second trip to Daytona coming up. He has two runner up finished in the last 3 trips to Daytona including this years 500.

Will he get one in 2013?

• I hate to say in Jr Nation but I just am not sure he will. Last year he had a great season, even better then this one, and he managed one win. He does have the benefit of running for Hendrick so I wont count him out. Look out at the afore mentioned and also maybe the second trip to Martinsville.

Greg Biffle

Let's move on to Biff, the guy who came second to JJ at Pocono. He has not been on many peoples radar in 2013, as has been the case with a lot of Ford drivers. Luckily for Biffle he is heading to a track this next week that he has won at. Actually Biffle, along with Jr, won at Michigan last year (and has 3 career wins).

A Look Ahead: As mentioned, Michigan is a track Biffle could have a shot at if he is truly figuring out this new Ford. Last year he also finished 4th in the June race at MIS. Biffle also has 2 career wins at Kansas which is in the near future. Biffle most likely will have some strong runs at 1.5 mil tracks so he could bust out then.

Will he get one in 2013?

• If you look at the past 6 season Biffle has gone every other year notching 2 wins or no wins. This would be one of those years falling on a zero win year. Will he follow that pattern? I am not sure he will get one, but mostly because Ford's have just been a step behind the Chevys and Toyotas.
• **Update 6/16/13: Well the week the articles come out one driver checks his name off the board. Biffle and Ford get out of there 2013 slump at a Michigan track where Fords (namely Jack Roush Fords) have found good success. Now the question is, well Biffle find another win to makes sure he gets into the Chase?**

Clint Bowyer

A guy running as consistent as Bowyer doesn't need to worry about wins, but try telling a driver he doesn't need to win to get into the Chase. Bowyer is upset every week he doesn't get a win so 2013 hasn't been his year. In 2012 he finished the year having a very strong Chase and it has followed this season.

A Look Ahead: Well Sonoma is coming up soon and last year he snuck out a win there. In his 7 career starts at Sonoma he has 5 top 10's, 4 top 5's and a that win in 2012. I would say he will be a front runner or needs to be. In 2012 he also notched a win at Richmond and has a history of running well there.

Will he get one in 2013?

• Considering only once in the last 6 season Bowyer hasn't notched a win, 2009 being the year he didn't, I think its safe to say he will get one in 2013. I think he has a chance to get real hot and find a few wins this year like he did last year (3).

Jeff Gordon

Gordon is on the boarder of needing wins to get in the Chase or being able to without one (or more).  He made the first list because I have about 5 or 6 more drivers who almost certainly need the wins to get into the Chase. For Gordon, long gone are the days where he could strike for double diget wins in a single season.  Last season he had 2, Pocono which Nascar was just at and the last race of the 2012 season, Homestead.

A Look Ahead: Gordon was runner up 4 other times in 2012 and most of those came down the stretch. Places like the second trip to Dover, Pocono, and Richmond are all tracks I can see Gordon getting a win at. Also to add to that list a place like Atlanta where Nascar visits once and Gordon has finishes of 2nd (2012) and 1st (2011) in the last two could mean a visit to Victory Lane.

Will he get one in 2013?

• 87 career wins, 301 top 5's, 418 top 10's, and a Hendrick Motorsports car....It's tough to bet against Gordon. In the last four races Gordon does have two 3rd place finishes and has looked poised to be a front runner again. I think he gets at least one this season and will slip into the Chase, but it wont be easy.

Driver Spotlight: Mark Martin

Nascar Behind the Wall Driver spotlight: Mark Martin. This segment will be a short article about where each driver is right now during the 2013 season. At the end of the season I will review some of the more interesting stories from Driver Spotlight.

Last week I started this Driver Spotlight column with Tony Stewart. A lot of talk was surrounding Smoke after the Fontana race going into Martinsville so I thought why not start there. Well last week Mark Martin also had a lot of buzz around him as confusion set in after Denny Hamlin needed to find a replacement for about 6 weeks while he was out with an injured back.

First Mark Martin was in until Denny came back and then it was just for Martinsville, either way it caused a lot of confusion and Social Media blew up wondering if 50 Cent would be driving the #11 car this past Sunday. In the end we found Mark Martin back in the #11 and most likely listening to 50 Cent so it was a happy medium.

Mark started off Martinsville back in 35 place after slow qualifying and less then stellar practice times. This left many Denny Hamlin fans attacking the decision to have Martin as a replacement. But by the end of Martinsvill Martin found his way to a 10th place finish, one better than Brian Vickers who was running the Aarons #55. The 10th place finish was also Martins best finish since the first race of the season, Daytona (3rd).

PHOTO: What do you think of @55markmartin's look in the @fedex black? #NASCAR twitter.com/NASCAR/status/…
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) April 5, 2013

Mark Martin is one of the more interesting drivers in Nascar in that he is a very well respected driver and no one really has anything against him. Maybe that is because he could be one of the best drivers in Nascar History to never win a Nascar Championship. Time is running out for Martin and odds say he will never get one (He doesn't run ever race during the season so that doesn't help).

However, their is a chance that Mark Martin could break one of the longest streaks right now in Nascar, and that is his current win less streak which is over 100 races long.  Mark Martin has not won a race since New Hampshire in 2009 and was a part of the We're Going Streaking article which highlighted which drivers in Nascar have the longest win less streaks.

The 2013 season has fared some mixed results for Martin. He has three top 15's, two top 10's, a top 5, and a pole in 5 races so far this season. The downside of that is Martin hasn't been a threat to win any of those races and that has been the case over the past few seasons. Martin seems to have a strong start to race's but when it counts he falls off and just has a good finish.

Can Mark Martin break that mold and better yet,

can he break his streak and get one last trip downVictory Lane? Most Nascar fans that I know would agree that it would be a nice way for Mark Martin to go off (Whenever he finally hangs it up and just races a few here and there). But will it actually happen? Hopefully we revisit this Spotlight at the end of the season to talk about how he broke his win less streak in 2013.