After a week off, NASCAR racing resumes Saturday night at the Richmond International Speedway. After eight races we’ve already seen some surprising results, both good and bad. Let’s take a look at some of mine.
On the rise:
Joey Logano – The driver of the #22 Shell/Pennzoil car is off to a great start. Logano is currently 8th in points. He has one victory under his belt that ensures his place in this seasons Chase. He also has four top 5 finishes to go along with his victory at Texas Motor Speedway. The Middletown, Connecticut native is leading a revamped Penske Racing Team.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. – I know we all love Junior and he has more fans than anybody in the NASCAR circuit, but did anyone expect him to come out with such dominating performances as we’ve seen this season. Only a driver gaffe at Texas has kept him from a perfect season. The driver for the #88 Mountain Dew/National Guard Chevrolet currently sits 4th in points. The season opening victory at Daytona has cemented his place in the Chase but I don’t think we’ve seen the last of Junior in victory lane. Along with his Daytona 500 victory, Earnhardt also has five top 10 finishes.
Jeff Gordon – A lot of folks were prepared to throw dirt on the racing career of Gordon after a somewhat disappointing 2013 season. Hold that shovel. If not for a late race caution and his troubles with race restarts, Gordon very well may have been running away with the point lead. As it is his six top 10 finishes, three of those being top 5, have Gordon in the point lead. What’s more important is that Gordon has been the season’s most consistent performer.
Kevin Harvick – As consistent as Gordon has been, the exact opposite has been true for Harvick. One big difference though. Harvick has two victories sandwiched around some poor finishes of 42, 39 and 36. His two victories show the new “go for broke” standard NASCAR’s new Chase rules encourage. Maybe Happy Harvick should be renamed Go for Broke Harvick.
Watch out for:
Jimmie Johnson – So far the season has been a bit of a disappointment for the usually domininant Johnson. Last season’s champion is winless thus far this season but still sits 5th in the points. He has five top 10 finishes and is lurking to go on one of his runs. It’s probably just a matter of time before we see the all too familiar sight of the #48 Lowes Chevrolet in victory lane.
Matt Kenseth – Another no brain selection here. Kenseth sits comfortably in 2nd place in the points. His six top 10 finishes are typical of Kenseth’s consistent racing career. There is no reason not to expect the driver of the #20 Toyota to capture a checkered flag or two before the Chase begins.
Kyle Larson – We waited and waited for Juan Pablo Montoya to turn it around in the #42 Target Chevrolet. It never happened. It seems putting the 21-year-old driver from Sacramento, California behind the wheel of the #42 car is just what the Chip Ghanasisi team needed. He is one of NASCAR’s brightest up-and-coming young drivers seen in NASCAR since Jimmie Johnson. It’s just a matter of time before Larson drives his car to victory.
Disappointments:
Kasey Kahne – There isn’t a more disappointing driver in NASCAR this season. Given the vast resources of the Hendrick Racing Team, Kahne currently sits 23rd in the Spring Cup Standing. His two top 10 finishes are not enough to overcome finishes of 47, 37 and 31. He better step it up and soon. Of course with NASCAR’s new emphasis on victories he can easily turn his season around.
Danica Patrick – It’s time to start the conversation, isn’t it? She clearly is not ready to race these cars in NASCAR’s biggest circuit. She appears to be losing confidence in her abilities and just as important the confidence of her fellow drivers. A few more seasons in the Nationwide Series would have been better for her development. She currently sits 29th in points.
Martin Truex Jr, – Sitting just one spot ahead of Patrick in 28th place is Truex. His season got off to such an optimistic start with a front row start at the Daytona 500. That was the high water mark. Truex, in his first season for Furniture Row Racing has yet to finish in the top 10.
On to some Saturday night short track racing at Richmond International Speedway. My picks:
- Kyle Busch
- Clint Bowyer
- Tony Stewart
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