Any Given Sunday

 

They are the very best at what they do. The Superstars of their sport. A safe bet. A sure deal. On any given Sunday they can dominate under any circumstances. They are Mr. Consistent, and here he is again this year. 

The #17 has been nothing short of all those for over a year straight. Matt Kenseth is not only one of the best in the Nextel Cup; he is one of the best of the best. When Tony Stewart talks about the difference between the drivers that race in the middle of the pack every week, to the superior skills of the drivers that race out front every week; he is talking about Matt Kenseth.  

For the 2006 season, Kenseth had an average finish of 9.8. That is a .10 off last years Cup Champion, #48 Jimmie Johnson. Kenseth had 5 races he finished outside of the top 20, and an impressive 19 top ten finishes for the 2006 season. (14 of them were top 5.) One race was the difference between the Cup Champion of 2006, and #17 Matt Kenseth. 

Robbie Reiser has to get a ton of credit as well. A great driver is only as good as his Crew Chief. And there is nothing close to a Championship without both being huge stars, hard competitors, and having them at the top of their game. As of right now, in the Roush Racing Camp, the #17 car is all they got. They are really fast right now, and they have been for over a year.  

#17 Matt Kenseth continues his dominance and consistency into the 2007 season. With a sweep in this weekends two top series in NASCAR, he is poised to start quick, build momentum, stay fast, and finish strong. Just like last year, the #17 is been seen rubbing paint with Gordon, racing hard with Stewart, and standing tall in Victory Lane. Mr. Consistent just introduced himself to the 2007 Nextel Cup this weekend in California.

Chasing the Chase

We made it. It's been a pressure stresser. From the green in Daytona to the checkers in Homestead, we have seen it all. Some drivers had big hopes for 2006. Who would have thought we would see a season like Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle gave us? Has anyone seen Carl's driver this year, and his 'won't shave till Carl takes the checkers?' Poor guy. And The Bif! What happened? The #16 was never in one piece for very long this year. For a few, this season could not come to an end any faster then we race.

Others still have work to do. Mainly the one that has arguably worked harder then all the rest all year. #48 has seen it's share of tv time, and picture patient victory lanes. He's flirted with the Cup before, but never has he come on this strong. He had made a huge crush off the green in that small race to start the season, and had the moves to end in afternoon at the Brickyard with a kiss. Miami seems destine for perfection for #48. Mr. Perfect races for 3/3 in 2006.

 

The Chase. One Race. The season comes down to one chance. One moment to throw down and go home. Put this season in the rearview with some smoke. Leave it all on the track at Homestead. While there can only be one Championship crowned for the season, the last race holds so much for so many.

The Contenders

Jimmie Johnson #48 - (Rank: 1st) -300 odds for Cup

He has been the league leader for most of the year. He started off hot, winning the Daytona 500. He stayed hot for the first quarter of the season. He came up huge and won the Brickyard 400. The #48 turned it on again at the end. Pretty much every time it counted JJ ended the day in Victory Lane. The only track that he wasn't fast enough was Lowes. A small price to pay for the Cup. He has placed 2nd in the league for two of the last three years. Has always came close, but never brought home Homestead. Jimmie has won plenty of headlines, but will still race for one more. 

My Shine - "It's his championship to lose. Plus, he cheats. So he may be hard to beat." (I just quoted myself from midseason.) Crew Chief Chad Knaus is one of the best in the league. But that also means he is the best at bending the book. Everyone remembers the car they brought to race Daytona. It's not the same set-up they put on display for the year after he won it. The first set-up got Chad Knaus suspended for the first 4 races, including the Daytona 500. Before they even tried qualifying the car it was thrown out. #48 still won it after fixing their 'mistake.' Knaus will bring that same focus to Homestead. They will have a strong car, and a strong backup plan. It's his year. It's a perfect season.

---

Matt Kenseth #17 - (Rank: 2nd, -63 points behind) - 4/1 odds for Cup

The #17 never under performs anyone but themselves. They have such a high standard on that team. Even when they are struggling they always seem to stick around and race.  There Wisconsin boys, and we won't even hold that against them. Back in the day, Kenseth and crew chief Robbie Reiser were rivals. Now in the press, they are starting to look like that again. If the #48 takes the pressure drop, Kenseth will be there to catch the Cup. It wouldn't suprise anyone in the garage.

My Shine -

The Chase Curse has nothing between Reiser and Kenseth. It stems from Roush Racing. That team looks shaken up right now, and the #17 is the only thing close to together. I give Kenseth a good 40% shot at taking home Homestead. He needs a slip up from JJ to do it, but I can see Kenseth taking the title most any day of the week. 

---

Fortunate Few 

Kevin Harvick #29 - (Rank: 3rd, -90 points behind) - 20/1 odds for Cup

Harvick could have easily won both the Busch Series Championship, and the Nextel Cup Championship. He has come on strong when it counts, and if everyone had not done so well last week in Phoenix, it would have been a completely different story right now for the #29 team. With two cars in the Chase from RCR, this team has come back strong. Strong enough to make Harvick resign before his contract was up. Strong enough to bring Burton back into victory lane. The hats are off all around the garage for the job they have done.  

My Shine -

Let's think how they got there. Last year Harvick was found with a gas tank before qualifying that would appear to be full. When in fact it was to make the car lighter during qualifying. Happy was not happy about being caught. This year both the #29 and #31 were found with questionable rims. (Starting to see a pattern for success in NASCAR?) Hey, all the more power to them. If your not working for the slightest edge, your not doing your job. I expect RCR to be working a lot in the off-season. 

---

Denny Hamlin #11 - (Rank: 4th, -90 points behind) - 20/1 odds for Cup

Read that again. 4th place in the league, and 20/1 odds. Rookie. What more can you say about Game Boy? Maybe, 'welcome to the Chase.' Joe Gibbs Racing has been a power team in NASCAR. With Tony Stewart on your team, a top sponsor in your pocket, and a garage that is as dependable as Gibbs himself, you can only dream of all the good things this kid is going to bring for years to come.

My Shine -

If he can avoid the sophomore slump next season, he is going to take over the NASCAR nation quickly. In my opinion he has more natural talent as a driver, then anyone I can remember. He has arguably the best crew chief in the league, Mike Ford. Being a part of Joe Gibbs Racing, with his teammate Tony Stewart, has him learning fast. And no one in his rookie class can be compared to him. Game Boy could win the whole damn Cup this year, if his luck can continue. He is that much of a real deal.  Joe Gibbs has put together an incredible team, with the #11 Fed Ex Chevrolet. He still has some work to do to keep his spot on top, but someone is going to have to wreck him to take it. Game Boy is my Dark Horse pick to take the Cup! (This was an exact quote by me in midseason. It still sticks.)

---

Dale Earnhardt Jr. #8 - (Rank: 5th, -115 points behind) - 12/1 odds for Cup

No one can say anything about the year Junior has had. He has raced hard every week. He has overcame wrecks, engine failure, enemies, the flu, you name it, Junior has raced it. He has really been clutch for his team. Where most stars at Juniors level would have a big head about their weight in their sport, he still comes off as June Bug. The first to admit when they are slow, and the first to ask for a beer straight off the checkers. He got a win in Richmond, and made the Chase. A huge improvement from last year, but the team still is missing that edge. They are just a bit shy of being that threat they set out this year to be. But just like anyone with the name Earnhardt will be a favorite at Daytona, he will be considered a favorite for the Cup for that first race next year as well. next year.

My Shine -

It was almost like everyone was just holding their breath about the #8 in the Chase. All the drivers, fans, NASCAR officials, even the beer vendors. Everyone didn't really want to talk too much about him, because he was hanging in there. The #8 had just as bad of luck as the rest of the Chasers, but Junior has that incredible survivor factor to him. He is still the face of NASCAR, and as long as they race every week, there will be Junior fans to watch them. For myself, I had a blast watching him all year. When the day comes that Junior wins the Cup, everything will be right in the NASCAR Nation.

 

 

If there is anything that my mates take just as seriously as music and fast cars; it’s NASCAR on the X-Box. A Championship is won and lost on any given night, and the bragging rights are unprecedented. Sometimes when my backs against the wall, I always have my go-to, where I am indomitable. It’s called Hot-lanta!

It comes down to this. This is the race that separates the Fast from the Last. After this race, the list of Contenders gets shorter. With four races left till the Championship is crowned, we race at one of my personal favorites…, Calling it, Atlanta Motor Speedway doesn’t give it justice!!!!

Don’t even dare think this track is a cookie-cutter; she is as hot as she is fast. And take it from the Bear, ‘it can’t get any hotter.’

The dogleg is sharp, and comes at a bit of an up hill, making it more on the subject of instinct and gut, over experience. She is slick too, so only the au####ious survive. At a track that probably should, and will always be at debate on becoming a restrictor plate race, we drive fast. Fast in the straight, fast in the corners, fast through the front stretch. It’s not all about top speed, it’s about top average speed in Atlanta. And with nothing but the rulebook restricting horsepower, we drive very, very, very, very fast.

Make sure those seatbelts are strapped on tight. Welcome to Hot-Lanta, Ladies and Gentleman! No Blinking Allowed!

Racers Race: Hot-lanta!

2:30ET Sunday 10/29 NBC 

#9 Kasey Kahne – For anybody that can’t keep straight all of Kahne’s wins this year, Atlanta was one of them. Maybe you missed it, a lot of people did because of the rain delay. It was the only Monday race we have had this year. He came out with what was his new EMS-128 engine at the time, and got his first of five wins with that car. From the #9’s league high 6 wins this year, 5 of them are on this chassis he is racing this weekend. He will be a huge threat to win the pole, and he will be a huge threat to win the race. Kahne is –99 points off the Cup. If anyone remembers me telling them, that even after his terrible start to the Chase this year, Kasey will still make headlines as a threat by the end of it: I told you so. Just wait till Monday morning to remember that.

#11 Denny Hamlin – ‘Game Boy’ is in a league of his own. This year’s rookie class has nothing on him. Most veteran drivers come up short as well. The kid can race anything from a Go-Kart, to a stock car. Asked for his favorite past time for his bio, Hamlin answered racing on his X-Box. Asked why he is the only rookie that purchased his own private jet plane at the beginning of the season? He answered that his credit was good. When asked how he dominated this year at Pocono without ever racing the track before in his life? He answered that he dominates the track in his online league as well. When asked how it felt to be a huge threat to win the Championship his first year in the league, being only –47 points away from history, while also being Siddhartha’s Dark-Horse pick for this years Chase? He answered, ‘Good!’ He is full of answers. Atlanta is full of questions for the #11.

Anyone in the Chase can dominate here, and you can count on some huge moves by #48 Jimmie Johnson. JJ is coming on strong, and if he has another good week, his page is going to have to make some room for a huge exclamation mark on his astonishing year.

Don’t turn your back on #29 Kevin Harvick either. He is as sly as he is fast, and this track has his characteristics all over it. RCR racing has been working hard all week to put their bad luck behind them, and show up to the track prepared to dominate and eliminate. Both the #29 and the #31 want to be a blur in Atlanta, and both know a few things about streaks.

Then there is our league leader, Matt Kenseth. The #17 has to do what the #17 does best; Race for a Championship. Mr. Consistent: still is. He has had his share of bad luck in this years Chase, but the difference is he is still on top. The difference is he has been so damn strong all year. The difference is he has done it before. The difference is he’s Matt Kenseth. The difference is; this is Hot-lanta…,

 

Does it get any better then a Saturday night under the lights at Bristol? Attention people with a pulse, the Nextel Cup races at the most exciting half mile track on the circuit. You don't have to be a race fan, but you have to know Bristol! This #### is high banked, short track, traffic jam, wreck fest, temper tantrum, blood boiling, fast as hell, Bruising Bristol! This track is already a living legend, and it will go down in history as a Mecca for the Racing Gods. Bristol puts a smile on the face of all NASCAR fans this weekend. If you could see mine right now, you would ask to share my medication. It's Bristol Baby! Under the lights! Let's Go Racing!

160,000 seats, 100 sky boxes, .533 miles of concrete track, 36 degree turns, originally built in 1961, the present day track is nothing less then inspiring. Known as a favorite for both Driver and Fan. Bristol brings out the beast in everyone involved. Bristol is bumper cars. Bristol is what NASCAR is all about!

Racers Race: Bruising Bristol

Dime Edition

Saturday, 8/26 7:00ET TNT 

1. Kurt Busch #2, in the last 8 races at Bristol that Kurt drove in the Cup, he has won 5 of them. WOW! It would seem that one of the most hated drivers in NASCAR has this track down. By the way he looked in practice, and after winning the pole, everybody better keep a close eye on him this Saturday night.

2. Dale Earnhardt Jr #8 is currently in 10th place in the standings, and has only 49 points to protect him from falling out of the Chase. The good news is we are racing at Bristol. A track that Junior loves. Since 2004, #8 has not finished outside of the top 11. That is the good news. But the bad news is he has to start from 40th, and that makes for a ton of traffic to get through on a really small track. If his car is not where it needs to be come the drop of the green flag, it could result in June-Bug dropping out of the Chase.

3. Who everyone in the Junior camp will be watching is the #9 Kasey Kahne. He is the biggest threat from stealing a spot in the top ten then anyone else in the field. #9 will be starting in the 31st position. And this race could be the biggest in his short career. He hasn't had too much luck with Bristol, but he did get a 10th place finish here earlier this year. Kasey will driving on the defense for most of the night, and then get really aggressive with 50 laps left.

4. I'm not sure if there is anyone in the garage that is taking this race as seriously as #31 Jeff Burton. After a great season for this team, Burton slipped from 4th to 9th in the standings after last week's engine failure. Falling out of the Chase at this point for the #31 would be nothing short of heart breaking. He has an average finish of 19th at this track, that won't help him either. But it looks like the #31 isn't going to take any chances of wrecking their great season, because they came with a strong car that qualified for the outside of the pole.

5. Laughed at, I was, when I picked #43 Bobby Labonte to do well at this race, at the beginning of the year. Ok, I admit, I am not sure how he will do here Saturday night, but he did finish in 5th place here earlier this year, and he is tough as hell. When he rolled out on the track to qualify, I got a ton of glares my way from my peers. Those glares turned to smiles when he qualified for the 3rd starting position. Just for face, I will be cheering for the #43 all night.

6. Elliott Sadler made waves with his first appearance driving the #19 last week. After having a tough year at Yates, Sadler wanted a head start for next year with a new team. Now I am not going to argue whether it is the car or the driver that brings results, but the #19 with Mayfield driving, flat-out sucked this year.  Elliott gets behind the wheel last week, and finishes in 10th place. Sure, maybe Evernham wants to show Mayfield an example of a burned bridge he left behind, but you won't see Elliott complaining about it. #19 will be starting in 9th place.

7. Keep a close eye on #11 Denny Hamlin. This rookie cannot be judged by only racing this track once in a Cup car. He will start in 6th place for the race, and 8th place in the standings. I know Joe Gibbs is telling him to race conservatively, and Hamlin will play it smart Saturday night. But playing it smart is what has gotten him 2 wins thus far his rookie season, and Bristol is all about smart driving. I think he will get another win before the end of the year. Will it be this weekend, probably not, but a top ten for the #11, and they will be celebrating just as hard as they would be in Victory Lane.

8. Kevin Harvick #29 will start at the 7th position, and will more then likely stay up front for most of the evening. He is strong, and fearless, and will be one of the toughest drivers to pass at Bristol. Currently in 3rd place in the standings, he may want to play it safe. But that is not Harvicks style. Safe is never in his game plan. If you want to finish in the top ten Saturday night in Bristol, you will have to race with him at some point. #29 never makes it easy for anyone.

9. My pick for the biggest wreck of the night will be #5 Kyle Busch. He is a great driver, but he doesn't have too many friends. Currently in 7th place in the standings, he has a big bulls-eye on his back at this point. And no one is going to feel bad about putting him into the wall. You can bet to see Kyle make a huge scene when it happens. Maybe a repeat from Charlotte. Whatever it is, you can bet it will be funny as hell.

10. My dime is going right where it went last week, #17 Matt Kenseth. He almost won this race earlier this year, till #2 Kurt Busch spun him out in the last laps. He has an average finish of 11th place here in Bristol, but that stat doesn't even come close to how he performs here. In the last 9 races in the Cup at Bristol, he has only finished outside the top ten once. He won the Busch race here Friday night, and also won last weeks race in Michigan. That's a two-week win streak, also known as momentum. #17 will be starting from the 4th position.

Racers Race: The Sticky Six

We start off with a #### at Indy with the Brickyard 400, and then take a right turn into Watkins Glen for a road course. Then we make a go at Michigan, watch out for Bruising Bristol under the lights, then we travel west under the California Stars. Everyone will be really risking it by the time we get to Richmond, and then it's go or go home in the last race till the Chase in New Hampshire.

The Top ten drivers, or anyone within 400 points of the league leader, will race for the Cup. After these six races the Chase begins, and the remaining 10 races in the season after that are for the Cup. The Championship is the same distance away from all the drivers that make the Chase. The rest have 10 long races to prepare for next year.

At this point in the season we have two clear Contenders, it won't take more then showing up at the track to get them into the Chase. Then there are the Fortunate Few. These drivers need to defend the Kingdom; they have a strong hold over their spots in the standings, but need to work to stay there.  The Bubble is reserved for the dog fights, the drivers that will need to be strong, fight, and if need to, claw and crawl their way into the Chase. The Bubble can grow big, with plenty of room for a bunch of drivers, but could burst on any given weekend at the track. Then we got our Lucky Dogs. Those few that could catch hot, catch a few breaks, catch the Chase. The rest are just the Holla Boys.  Call them in for dinner, because they are done.

The Contenders

Jimmie Johnson #48 - (Rank: 1st) - 3/1 odds for Cup No doubt, Jimmie Johnson can drive. He has completely dominated this year, and has held the rest of the league at bay. He has three wins, and an incredible 16 top tens. Damn! When Tony Stewart was complaining about young drivers not knowing how to drive, because they never get to race up front with the big boys, he was talking about racing with Jimmie. He started the year dominating right off of his Daytona 500 win. That same win his crew chief Chad Knaus got suspended.

---

Matt Kenseth #17 - (Rank: 2nd, -97 points behind) - 7/2 odds for Cup

The only person that has been as consistent as the #48, is the #17. Matt Kenseth is my mate. Along with his crew chief Robbie Reiser, Matt Kenseth is a Wisconsin native. They both used to race each other on short tracks in Wisconsin. And hated each other. Robbie Reiser joined his father with Roush Racing in the Busch Series, till Robbie stepped down from driving duties, and began owner/crew chief duties on the Busch Series Team. When his next driver got hurt, he made a call to his former nemesis. Matt Kenseth has been answering that call ever since. In 2003 he won the last Winston Cup with Reiser as crew chief. He had 9 top tens at this time during his championship year. This year, he has 10 top five finishes, including two wins. My Dime Worth - He needs to keep it cool; he needs to stay away from Jeff Gordon, and not race anywhere around Smoke. And that's going to be his biggest problem. He has to. Actually, it won't be either of those two that take him out, but it will be someone like Kyle Busch that will ruin his chance at the title. Although I do have money on him from the start of the season, and this may be my way of trying to make him win it. I don't mind if I am wrong, because I get paid. And he is one hell o####uy, a great driver, with one of the best crew chiefs, and he is the number one driver on Roush Racing. He could will it all. But he is not my pick this year. Sorry buddy, it's all about the luck factor.

---

Fortunate Few 

Jeff Burton#18 - (Rank: 3rd, -318 points behind) - 18/1 odds for Cup Burton is having one hell of year! He can't be stopped, and is looking like a poised veteran with a perfect game plan coming into the Chase. He still hasn't gotten that much needed win, but with an average finish of 12th place this season, he doesn't have to. Since April, #31 has placed in the top ten for every race except three. The three races he finished outside the top ten, he placed in the top 15. Everyone says that there is no doubt that Jeff Burton will make the Chase, and many people are talking like he will win it all. No one has been as hot as Burton this summer, and he doesn't look like he is cooling off anytime soon. My Dimes Worth - Regardless of where he finishes this year, he looks like he did from 1997 to 2001.  If you told me at the beginning of the year that he was going to be racing for a Championship by the end of it, I would have fell off my chair and wondered what year it was. He has always been strong, but this year he has been as tough as anyone. Burton proved he is that driver we knew he has been in the past, and is still proving it. But can you really imagine Jeff Burton as the 2006 Nextel Cup Championship? I just don't see it.

---

Kyle Busch #5 - (Rank: 4th, -357 points behind) - 10/1 odds for Cup

Shrub has been streaky all year. The most important streak has been lately. Sitting in 4th place in the standings, Kyle hasn't had very much help getting there. He is still a Busch brother. But he has not placed less then 14th in the last 6 races. An incredible 10 races he has lead at least a lap. Being a part of Hendrick Motorsports has proved to be fruitful for the younger Busch. He has a great chance of making the Chase. Ever since he was put on probation (from one of my favorite scenes of this season,) we haven't felt too many waves from Shrub. Little Busch, keep your nose clean, you can't make enemies anytime soon. My Dimes Worth - If there is anyone that can go from 4th place in the standings this week, to sitting outside of the Chase in 6 races, it's Shrub. Granted he is really hot right now, and is coming off a win in New Hampshire, but how long can it last? How long before he gets put into a wall with all these tough drivers fighting for a spot in the top ten. If your on the Bubble, and want to make the Chase at this point, you need some strong finishes, and for someone to give up their spot in the top ten. Kyle has a bulls eye on his bumper. No one is going to need to make an excuse for wrecking him. Kyle has payback due from half the league.

---

Kevin Harvick #29 - (Rank: 5th, -376 points behind) - 15/1 odds for Cup

Harvick could easily win both the Busch Series Championship, and the Nextel Cup Championship. He got a win this year in Phoenix, and is coming off of 4 straight top tens, and 3 straight top five finishes. He has a strong chance at doing well in Indy this weekend. Richard Childress Racing has made a great comeback this year, and Harvick just extended his contract this season. The #29 team has proven that they are a strong contender, and Harvick has a great chance at the title. His average finish this year is 14th. His average finish for the last three years at the Brickyard this weekend is 6th. My Dimes Worth - He is really going to be tough to beat. Harvick can race with anyone in the league, and is going to come into Chase really strong. If he did win both Championships in Busch and Nextel, it would be quite the statement. But what are the odds of that happening? I'm not saying that it couldn't, and this year is looking like he has the Busch Series wrapped up. But even though Richard Childless Racing is looking great most every week this year, I still think there is a few more bugs to work out of the system before Harvick can take the Nextel Cup. He will be a contender, and he will be strong and mean. He will wreck someone soon. You can count on that!

---

The Bubble

Mark Martin #6 - (Rank: 6th, -382 points behind) - 8/1 odds for Cup

What a story this year is making for Mark Martin. In his last year as a full time Cup driver, he has been the example of consistent. His 7 top tens don't give his stats justice. He has 3, count them, 3 races this year that he has finished outside the top 20. That is amazing! And that is why he is a solid contender to make the Chase. He still has to fight off a few of the guns that are coming up hot, but anything less then a total turn around, and he will make the Chase. Roush Racing has had a great year with so many good drivers, and his crew chief Pat Tryson has given him great cars. He has never won a Championship, and will be a huge fan favorite to win it all. My Dime Worth - He doesn't have a chance. If he was racing like this a few years ago, he would have won a few Cups, but this year is just too tough of a field. Mark Martin doesn't need a championship to go down as a legend. He is one of my favorite driver stories of the bunch. Every single young driver gets the Mark Martin talk as a perfect example of how to succeed in this league.  And not a single one of them will argue any point. Man, I would absolutely love to see him win it. But that's destiny.

---

Kasey Kahne #9 - (Rank: 7th, -424 points behind) - 6/1 odds for Cup

Kasey 'The Rain' Kahne! I have been trying to make the knick name 'The Rain' stick to Kasey for 2 years straight now. Someday when you hear it on TV, you will understand my influence on NASCAR. No one can argue that he has been hot, I just think he is one cool cat. This kid is probably the smartest driver in the league. When Evernham Racing gives him a solid car, along with a solid set-up, he can't be beat. Kahne has won three races off the pole this year. That's called dominating the track weekends at a time. He has 4 total wins this year, and that's a league high. The Rain is a lock for making the Chase in my book. The only reason why I say that is because his 2 DNF's and some stupid garage errors may have put him in 7th place in the standings, but he is easily one of the top 5 drivers of the year. My Dime Worth - This is his third year in the league, and the 4th year is the charm in NASCAR. Yes, as soon as the last race of the year is over in Miami, I am putting money down on him in Vegas for 2007. Kasey is going to Reign, I mean Rain on NASCAR for years to come. A multiple Cup champion in the waiting. Evernham Racing has just a few kinks to work out before he can take his place in greatness. He is going to compete big time towards the end of the year, and everyone will be surprised at how much of a threat he will be. But sorry Rain, it's just not your year. Next Year!

---

Denny Hamlin #11 - (Rank: 8th, -425 points behind) - 30/1 odds for Cup

Game Boy, (another nick name I'm trying to stick,) is running away with the Rookie of the Year Award. At the beginning of his first year in the Cup, this kid purchased a private jet. Just like the big boys. He put a huge loan out on his future, that was unheard of by any driver his age and experience. A tall statement to everyone in the garage. Now, not a single person, or bank in the world would question his credit. He has 2 wins, 2 more top fives, and 4 additional top ten finishes. Add on to all of that, he won the Bud Shootout before the year got started. Since the All Star break, he has a single race finish outside of the top fifteen. A 17th place finish, sandwiched 2 races away from his 2 wins in Pocono. Everyone knows if you can do well in Pocono, it translates to Indy. He won two poles this year in Pocono, to match his two wins. The Brickyard 400 is this weekend. He is a favorite to take the checkers. My Dimes Worth - If he can avoid the sophomore slump next season, he is going to take over the NASCAR nation quickly. In my opinion he has more natural talent as a driver, then anyone I can remember. He has arguably the best crew chief in the league, Mike Ford. Being a part of Joe Gibbs Racing, with his teammate Tony Stewart, has him learning fast. And no one in his rookie class can be compared to him. Game Boy could win the whole damn Cup this year, if his luck can continue. He is that much of a real deal.  Joe Gibbs has put together an incredible team, with the #11 Fed Ex Chevrolet. He still has some work to do to keep his spot in the Chase, but someone is going to have to wreck him to take it. Game Boy is my Dark Horse pick to take the Cup!

---

Jeff Gordon #24 - (Rank: 9th, -427 points behind) - 8/1 odds for Cup

Gordon has been hot in the second half of the season. He proved he is the master of the road course, and we have Watkins Glen right around the corner. He also made that declaration at the beginning of the year that we were going to see a tougher side of him. That he was going to work on his image around the garage. Everybody has to admit that he has done that. He isn't backing down from anyone on the track. And he is not backing down from anyone off the track while he is wearing his helmet. He has taken his lickings, and got some people ticking. He has 7 top fives, with two wins. And he easily has to be the favorite for both Indy and Watkins Glen. If he can be strong for both of those races and get another top ten in the next four, he will make the Chase no matter what. My Dimes Worth - I believe he will make the Chase, and he has everything he needs to win a Championship. I just don't think that anyone is going to let him. He could possibly have 2 teammates to race against in the Chase. And you have got to figure he is the #2 driver in their garage. Gordon is not even close, when comparing him to Jimmy Johnson this year. Hendrick Motorsports is going to have to give priority on certain things. Not that Gordon needs priority to win, but the #48 team is not going to help his chances. I'm not sure anyone else around the league is going to help him either. He won't win another Cup this year, because it is just going to be too difficult for him. The odds are against him.

---

Tony Stewart #20 - (Rank: 10th, -462 points behind) - 8/1 odds for Cup

There is absolutely no doubt that Tony Stewart will make the Chase. He has been in it all year, and yes, he is that good. I can't tell you how many times I have seen Smoke charge through 20 cars in 10 short laps this year. He is the best driver in the league, and is on one of the best teams in the league. Joe Gibbs Racing is insanely tight. They have a handle on everything in that garage this year. From top to bottom. Even his over the wall crew is arguably the best. Smoke has 10 top tens, 8 of them were top fives, 2 of them were wins. He started the season scrapping with Kenseth, and then he chilled while he was racing well. Now he is easily the biggest league shaker of the group. It started with a rough streak of bad luck, and flipping his car in the Busch Series. Besides his win in Daytona for the Pepsi 400, he had not had a better finish then 28th in 5 races while he was injured. He had a cylinder go down on him in Sonoma, and wrecked in Michigan. Obviously it got to him, because he has made some serious mental meltdowns since. My Dime Worth - He has recovered from his injury! His crew chief Greg Zipadelli knows how to handle him. Joe Gibbs knows how to leave him alone. And everyone that thinks that he is just going to fold up, and sel####estruct, needs to come back down to earth. This is not a job for Tony Stewart; he would be at this racetrack if he didn't get paid a dime.  Do you honestly think he is losing any sleep over Carl Edwards wanting to kick his ####? He has already had his bad luck. There can't be any bad luck left for Stewart. He will win the 2006 NEXTEL CUP. Yes, he is my personal pick, (not my Dark Horse pick,) and not because I am a fan, but because he is the best driver in the league. Smoke will make an #### out of anyone for not picking him for the Cup. You don't have to root for him. He can do it all by himself. He doesn't need your help. He doesn't need anyone.

---

Dale Earnhardt Jr. #8 - (Rank: 11th, -477 points behind) - 6/1 odds for Cup

You don't have to be a fan of the #8, because they have enough fans already. But after you meet the guy, you can't help but like him. He is a class act! During this much needed off week for the league, Junior organized a party for his online NASCAR gaming league. Can you imagine playing your X-Box and wrecking the #8 in Bristol, and finding out it really was Junior? Since he beat out Denny Hamlin in Richmond, snapping his 27 race winless streak, the #8 team has been solid. That was till he had 2 DNF's, two straight last place finishes, the last two races. The Number One Draw in NASCAR is falling fast. From 3rd place in the standings to 11th, and 15 points outside the Chase in two short weeks. He has a road course to get through, along with this week at the Brickyard to test him. He should fair well in Richmond and Bristol, but he needs to really stay focused to make the Chase.  Focus, could be his biggest factor for the remaining 6 races to the chase. That, and getting along with his cousin, crew chief Tony Eury Jr. My Dimes Worth - June Bug, it's time to get. You really need to focus here. I can't tell you if I have ever seen Junior look better than this year. His stats would beg to differ, but he really has matured into a complete contender. He knows more then anybody that he gets over hyped by the fans and media; He really is humble about it. He knows he needs Championships to justify all the attention. This year he looks more like that full package. He is settling for good finishes, instead of driving the wheels off his ride. He is talking with his crew chief, helping with adjustments, and taking peoples advice around the garage. The #8 team has had some bad luck the last 2 weeks, but they will remain focused. They will make the Chase, and he can win the Cup this year. I'm not picking him, but I hope that this is his year. My favorite Junior moment this season was when he was leading and a caution came out. His crew had to come on the radio and tell him to slow down so the pace car can get ahead of him. He replied that he wasn't used to racing up there, and didn't know what he was doing. That's Little E!

---

Greg Biffle #16 - (Rank: 12th, -506 points behind) - 10/1 odds for Cup

Arguably having the worst luck of the year would be the #16 team. For every great finish this year, he has had his fair share of wrecks, and engine trouble. But there is not one person around the garage that is not keeping a close eye on him. Somewhat below everyone's radar he has picked up 10 top ten finishes, 5 of them top fives, and he has that win in Darlington. No one has forgot that he had 6 wins last year. That he was runner up for the Cup. He is going to be a huge threat for the Championship in just a few short weeks, and will make the Chase. My Dimes Worth - I have not forgotten how great of a driver he is. Roush Racing has certainly not forgotten how much of a threat he will be this year. We are coming up to his most consistent time of the year. The tracks he has performed well on are 4 out of the next 6 races. Greg Biffle's chances look really good, and I think he will end the year in the top 5 of the league. If he can stay off the wall, he will turn everyone's head. But the fact that he can't make it into the top 5 before the Chase, he will start from a hole. And we have too many strong drivers starting from the top.

---

Kurt Busch #2 - (Rank: 13th, -628 points behind) - 30/1 odds for Cup

Fresh off his wedding, Kurt should be all smiles. He has is girl, and has been hot for two months straight. Six of the last seven races he has placed in the top ten. A sign that Penske Racing may be turning around their luck. He has a ton of work to do to get into the Chase, but you can't call him out of it quite yet. He can do well in Indy, and I know he will be strong at Watkins Glen. Plus, we still have another race in Bristol before the Chase starts, and he won the first race this year on that short track. Of course you can't bring up his win at Bristol without the fact that he spun Kenseth out to get it. My Dimes Worth -

Yeah Right! Do you really think someone is going to let him into the Chase? Kurt has less of a chance at a title then his little brother, and I don't see it in the cards for either of them. He still needs to perform, because I am depending on him for my fantasy team. I may have lost a bit of faith with the Penske team this year, but I don't doubt that they will make up for it in the near future. Both Kurt Busch and #12 Ryan Newman are great drivers. But it's been a tough year for both teammates.

---

Carl Edwards #99 - (Rank: 14th, -697 points behind) - 20-1 odds for Cup

Carl is having a hard time staying consistent this year. He has had some great races with 6 top five finishes, but he can't find his way into victory lane. The #99 team hauler driver for Carl made a vow not to shave till Carl won a Cup race this year. By now, all it has become is a constant reminder that we have not seen a black flip from Carl on the big stage all year. After getting into it with Smoke this weekend, we saw evidence that the stress has gotten to him. Yes, that move by Smoke probably lost his chance of even making the Chase, but that's not the only reason. It may have just been the nail in the coffin. My Dimes Worth - Roush Racing has been messing him up all year. He changed crew chiefs, has had some pit trouble, engine failure, and a few wrecks. Roush Racing is a strong team, but they have a clear pecking order in their roster. It's the only reason why drivers do leave Roush Racing; they don't like being a 3rd, 4th, or 5th driver on the food chain. It's a problem with all big teams in NASCAR, but Roush is the biggest. Carl is a young driver, and he has a great head on his shoulders. This just didn't work out to be his year. Next year he will make the Chase, but he still will be a couple of years out from a Championship run. This year he will blame the #20 for missing the Chase.

---

Casey Mears #42 - (Rank: 15th, -754 points behind) - 150/1 odds for Cup

It has been in interesting year for Casey Mears. I really thought he was going to step it up this year, and team Ganassi was going to become a threat every week. The #42 started hot at the beginning of the year, but fell short quickly. He has 5 top ten finishes, but 3 of them were the first three races. Next year Juan Pablo Montoya will take over riding duties in the #42 ride, but it's not because they are kicking Casey to the curb. Mears seeked out greener pastures in Hendrick Motorsports for 2007. He will join Jimmy Johnson, Jeff Gordon, and his old enemy Kyle Busch. My Dimes Worth - I think the change is good for both parties involved. Ganassi gets to re-team with Montoya, and Casey gets a ride on an elite NASCAR team. He can catch hot in these closing races to the Chase, just for the fact that there is no pressure on him to perform. I think he will have a better chance next year with his new team. He will have a fresh start, and a head start on next year with the help of Hendrick Motorsports. This year, he just made the cut for not being a Holla Boy. 

---

Holla Boys

Brian Vickers #25 - (Rank: 16th, -805 points behind) - In his third full season, Hendrick Motorsports was expecting big things from Brian. As it turns out, Vickers was expecting the same thing from Hendrick Motorsports. Now he wants to try his luck next year in a Toyota and drive for Red Bull. He kind of turned out to be the last one in the order of his current team, and I think he wanted more attention. I think this is a smart move for this young kid. He has plenty of years left to try and build a new team from the ground up. There will be more tough times yet to come for Brian Vickers, but it will make him better in the long run.

Ryan Newman #12 - (Rank: 18th, -859 points behind) - Newman is having less then the year that he was expecting to have. Penske Racing has been on fire in the IRL, but have been struggling in NASCAR. I really don't have the answer for them, but I think they will come around in 2007. I'm sure in Ryan Newman's mind, it can't get any worse.

 

Elliott Sadler #38 - (Rank: 20th, -904 points behind) - Sadler story is the same that it was after the first ten races of the year. He needs a break. He found one in his opt out clause of his contract at the end of the year. He will be leaving Robert Yates Racing along with his teammate Dale Jerrett. Leaving Robert Yates without a single driver for the Cup. As it looks like now, David Gilliland will take one of them. Virtually a no name till he stunned the world by winning a Busch Series Race. I wish David, Dale, and Elliott the best of luck next year. It will be exciting for me if Sadler get's in with Evernham Racing. He would make a great addition to what is going to be a strong team next year.  

Dale Jarrett #88 - (Rank: 17th, -649 points behind) - Forget about him leaving for Toyota next year, forget about his first lap wreck in Charlotte, forget about Dale Jarrett for this year. Joining Michael Waltrip next year, and driving a Toyota is going to be make for some more tough times ahead of him. Jarrett is a strong driver. He has a strong fan base, and is well respected by everyone in the league. Both Jarrett and teammate Sadler had a tough time this year with Robert Yates Racing. They just didn't have any engineering help. That's why both drivers are leaving the team at the end of the year. I wish Robert Yates well, and I hope that he can turn his team around next year with some new drivers and a fresh start.

 The Nascar Nextel Cup Series is heating up. Some drivers are feeling the heat more then others. We have six races till the Chase begins! Sound off on a few drivers I missed, or get in a word about some of them I mentioned above. Gentleman, start your engines. Let's Go Racing!

Within every race, there are several races going on. Each driver has something or someone to race against. In this section I will highlight a few. The Racers Race.

New Hampshire International Speedway is a track that the Petty's have a hard time coming to every year. In 2000, Kyle Petty's son Adam lost his life in turn three while practicing for a Busch Series race in May. Adam, we will never forget you!

Loudon is a short, flat,one mile track that can make it really difficult to pass. You need to make your moves coming in and out of the corners. It's going to be hot, making the track really slick. Fresh tires will be on the mind of most drivers, and gambling with only pitting for 2 tires may gain you track position. Known as Martinsville on steroids, Loudon is a track that can make for plenty of physical racing. Pushing for position, the race off of pit row, and keeping your temper in check can make a difference. It can be a frustrating track. Lapped cars make it even harder to pass, so track position is the name of the game. A game we play really fast.

Sunday, 7/16 1:30 ET on TNT

Racers Race: Loudon

1. Matt Kenseth #17 vs. Jeff Gordon #24 - "I'm certainly going to let it go and just race as hard as we can." Kenseth stated about Gordon. "But, are we buddies, and is everything cool? Not really." You can't help but tune in to see if anything is going to happen this weekend with these two. Jeff Gordon will be starting at the 7th position. Matt Kenseth qualified for 24th. They both looked like they were pretty close to each other in speeds during the first practice, but it will be more then a few laps before we see them get a chance to trade paint. Kenseth has some traffic to work through. But you can bet he will know where the #24 car is all afternoon.

2. Jeff Burton #31 vs. Jimmie Johnson #48 - Both these drivers are great on this track. Jeff Burton has 4 wins at this track, compared to JJ's 2 wins here in Loudon. Both drivers are having consistent seasons this year. Jeff Burton is long over due for a win, and this may be his best chance this whole season, starting from the outside of the pole. Jimmy Johnson is still the league leader after last week. He has his teammate to thank for taking out Kenseth, who would have taken the number one spot in the standings. I'm sure Jimmy was the only friend Gordon had all week. JJ will start from the 6th position. I am not matching these two because they have anything to gain against each other. I just feel like if this is Burtons year to be a strong threat for the Cup, then he needs to be measured against the league leader.

3. Brian Vickers #25 vs. Kyle Busch #5 - These two were fighting over the pecking order of Hendrick Motorsports not more then 2 months ago. Kyle was winning. Since Vickers announced he is leaving for Red Bull next year, all the pressure has been lifted. #25 has started racing well. Kyle Busch is going to have to fight to stay in his 8th place in the standings. He is 10 points away from 9th place, and a wreck away from being out of the Chase. Being teammates for now is not going to stop him from running over Vickers for a chance to lead some laps at the top of the race, and grab some bonus points right away. These two will be racing each other right from the drop of the green flag. Little Busch will be starting at the 4th position, right next to Brian Vickers starting 3rd.

 

  

It doesn't matter if it's Gordon, Smoke, JJ, Junior, Kahne, or Busch. Four laps left in a race, and you have a chance for the ring, you reach for it. You race hard. You have no brake pedal, no shifting, just the steering wheel, and that checkered flag. You have no control over cars a lap down on the outside. You choose your line, and you race for the win. When Kenseth ran out of room in his lead, to a faster car behind him, and had a lapped car coming up on the outside high line, he had to either get out of the way, or get spun.

Does it sting when it's Gordon? YES! But Gordon had to race for the win. Was he supposed to settle for second place with clearly the faster car? Kenseth ran out of real estate. He knew that Casey was coming up on the outside, and he knew that Gordon had the faster car on the inside. He made the choice to get on the lower line, knowing that Gordon was right there and that Gordon had a run on him. When he made an attempt for the block, he knew that he was taking a chance of getting wrecked. Kenseth wanted Gordon to get off the throttle. Then Kenseth got loose, and had to come off his own throttle. Kenseth didn't try to check up, he just came out off the gas. Gordon was still on his same line, had the tires, and stayed on the throttle. Kennseth lost the air around him. He probably would have spun whether Gordon made contact or not.

The caution came out, and Kennseth proceeded to run out of gas anyway. He made the gamble for gas mileage, and a gamble with the block. He lost. Once we went back to green to finish the race, he got his car wrecked on top of it all. That's NASCAR racing. That is why we love this game. And that's why we get emotional. 

I personally would take Kenseth any day of the week over Gordon. Kenseth is one of my favorite drivers. But he knew that this was the last four laps of the race. He doesn't have a rookie stripe on his bumper. Kenseth knew what can happen if you take that gamble. You can get spun out, you can run out of gas, and you can get wrecked. Sometimes, all the above. You can go from 1st, to 21st place in four short laps. It's the nature of racing. A great day can turn into a tough day at the track. A really, really, really, really tough day at the track. But that's all it is. That's racing!

What Did Gordon Do Wrong?

Within every race, there are many separate races going on. Each driver has something, or someone to race against. In this section I will highlight a few races within this weeks race. The Racers Race.

We're in Michigan this week for the Motown Showdown. The 3M Performance 400 is Sunday at Michigan International Speedway, a 2 mile tri-oval with multiple grooves and high speeds. Expect to see some three wide racing, and the ability to pass anywhere on the track. It's a race for bragging rights for the car manufacture big wigs, since we are racing in the heartland of the American car.

Racers Race: Michigan

1. Bobby Labonte #43 - (starting position: 5th, bragging rights: Dodge) - Labonte has 3 wins, with an additional 6 top five finishes at Michigan. A total of 15 top ten finishes at this track makes Bobby Labonte a favorite amongst fans this weekend. He had a great race last week in Pocono till some late trouble. With an average finish this year of 22.2, Bobby may look like an underdog. But his average finish of 12.2 at Michigan International Speedway makes him a dark horse.

2. Dale Earnhardt Jr. #8 - (starting position: 6th, bragging rights: Chevrolet) - Dressed in his fathers day tribute paint scheme, expect to see and hear a ton about June-Bug during the 400 miles of Michigan. Although he is starting in 6th, history proves that might be as close has he will get to victory lane this Sunday. He has an average finish of 20.5 at the track, his best being 7th in 2003. After slipping 2 positions in the standings to 6th last week, Michigan may not look that inviting to the #8 team. With a 92-point lead over Jeff Burton in 7th place in the standings, there is really no need to panic. A top 15 finish would be a success.

3. Greg Biffle #16 - (starting position: 10th, bragging rights: Ford) - The Bif has raced six times on this track and has won twice. All the Roush Racers are the favorite in Motown; the owner has 8 wins at the track, leading all other current teams. Biffle is knocking on the door of the top ten in the standings, and I expect him to land there after Sunday. Probably at the expense of a second Hendrick Motorsports driver.

4. Jeff Gordon #24 - (starting position: 2nd, bragging rights: Chevrolet) - The good news is that the #24 car will be starting from outside of the pole. The bad news is Jeff Gordon will be driving the #24 car. Before all you Gordon fans rip into me, let's be fair. His season is at the breaking point, and this race is really important to his standings, chances for the chase, and reputation. He is struggling with the 1.5 to 2 mile tracks, (Rapid Roy can tell you why,) and is coming off the biggest wreck in his career last week. If he can capitalize on his starting position, he may get a jump on the momentum train that he is in desperate need of right now.

5. Matt Kenseth #17 - (starting position: 20th, bragging rights: Ford) - Kenseth is another big threat in the Roush Racing team to not only score well this weekend, but could likely bring home his second victory on this track. Amongst active drivers, he has the best average finish of 8.6 at Michigan. He has 9 top tens, in which 5 of them were within the top 5. In a season where Kenseth has shinned as one of the best drivers in the league, a top 5 finish is warranted.

Honorable Mention - Kasey Kahne #9 - (starting position 1st, bragging rights: Dodge) - Add another pole position to Kasey's stats this year. A huge example of how far Evernham Motorsports has taken Dodge's return to NASCAR in 7 short years. Although Kasey has only raced this track 4 times in his NASCAR career, (he didn't fair well during his sophomore slump,) that is not a measuring stick to tell how well he will do this weekend.  Winning two out of three races this year from the pole would have to make his chances good.

Most Deserving Mention - Carl Long #37 - (starting position: DNQ) - I was rooting for you, Carl. R&J Racing would have been in the race this Sunday if we were qualifying on speed alone. A victim of the owner's points, #37, and a huge group of some of the most loyal fans in racing, are left watching this fathers day in Michigan.

Let's Go Racing!