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 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