Regan Smith’s Win: Where To Begin…Pick a bullet, any bullet. There are many storylines blossoming from Regan Smith’s surprise NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory in Saturday night’s SHOWTIME Southern 500 at Darlington.
• With a career-first victory, Smith becomes the 179th driver to win at least one NSCS race.
• It’s the second win of 2011 by a single-car team. It just so happens that those victories came in two of NASCAR’s “Crown Jewel” events: the Daytona 500 (Wood Brothers and driver Trevor Bayne) and the SHOWTIME Southern 500 (Furniture Row Racing and Smith). An extension of that – the runner-up in each of those races was the points leader – Carl Edwards.
• Smith is now officially a contender for a Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup berth. After race No. 26 at Richmond, the top 10 in points will be locked into the Chase. Spots 11 and 12 will go to the two drivers outside the top 10 who have the most wins, provided they are in the top 20. Smith currently sits 27th in the standings, but only 29 points outside the top 20.
• Could the wins come in bunches? In the Daytona 500, Smith finished seventh, but had the best Driver Rating (116.3) that race. The second Daytona race is coming up shortly – July 2.
• At Dover International Speedway, Smith struggles. He has yet to crack the top 20 in any of his six starts. Then again, his finishes in the three Darlington starts prior to Saturday night’s win: 29th, 21st and 17th.
• Furniture Row Racing is based out of Denver, Colo., a rarity in a NASCAR world where most teams surround the Charlotte area – and hardly ever from west of the Mississippi. The team’s first win was also its first top-five finish.
• Any more surprises? A logical choice seems like Tommy Baldwin Racing, with driver Dave Blaney. Blaney just posted finishes of 13th (at Richmond) and 24th (at Darlington) – after starting 41st. And if not for a late-race spin at Talladega, Blaney may have won. He led 21 laps that event.
Feuds Aplenty In The NASCAR Sprint Cup SeriesThis was bound to happen. The tight competition, the different winners, the many lead changes, the jockeying for precious real estate – all of it had to come to a head.
So it shouldn’t be all that surprising that in the past two weeks, three different feuds have erupted.
Of course, there’s the biggest – the grudge match between Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick, two combatants unafraid to mix it up.
Busch spun Harvick out during a multi-car accident at Darlington, and post-race words were had. It escalated from there.
This feud’s heavyweight in nature, for a variety of reasons.
Harvick and Busch are both championship contenders. They are also the only drivers to win multiple races this season. And both have a long history of feuds (Harvick vs. Joey Logano, Carl Edwards, Juan Pablo Montoya, etc.; Busch vs. Keselowski, Hamlin, Burton, etc.). It’s just that this one’s the juiciest of the bunch.
Their next race together: the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on Friday. Harvick isn’t racing in Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series event, but his car is – with Clint Bowyer driving. Bowyer was also involved in the accident that started Harvick vs. Busch.
Their post-race actions – which involved a confrontation on pit road – landed each with a $25,000 fine and NASCAR probation for four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points races.
But there are more feuds, huge ones.
Two weeks ago at Richmond International Raceway, Juan Pablo Montoya and Ryan Newman got into it. The fuse was only lit there, and it’s doubtful we’ve seen the end of that grudge match.
And a week later, Montoya again ruffled fenders – this time those belonging to Jimmie Johnson. Montoya spun Johnson out at Darlington, possibly adding to the list of feuding partners. (Montoya immediately apologized.)
Mile High: Johnson The Concrete King At DoverSunday, May 15, 2011 will officially be Jimmie Johnson Day in the state of Delaware. Makes sense. Pretty much every NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race day at Dover International Speedway is Jimmie Johnson Day.
The five-time defending series champion truly is a monster at The Monster Mile.
His resume…
He has won three of the last four races at Dover, and six overall. One more and he’ll tie the all-time track record held by NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty and NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Bobby Allison.
In his last four Dover races, Johnson has these laps led totals: 298, 271, 225, 191. He has led a total of 1,622 laps in 13 career Dover races, which is fourth among active drivers and 10th all-time.
Johnson ranks first in Driver Rating at Dover, with a 116.3. Incredibly, that only makes Dover his fifth-best track in terms of the Loop Data statistic. Ranking ahead of Dover: Auto Club Speedway (123.1), Martinsville (121.9), Phoenix (121.8) and Kansas (118.7).
Wild Card Demands Top-20 RankingRegan Smith’s Southern 500 victory opened the possibility for his first Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup berth.
Ah, so close and yet so far.
Competitors with the most wins can qualify for two wild card spots – but only if they are ranked among the top 20 in points after the season’s first 26 races.
And there – for Smith and possibly Phoenix winner Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet) – is the rub.
Smith currently stands 27th, 29 points out of the top 20. Gordon, at the moment is in, ranked 17th. That’s the good news. Unfortunately, the four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion’s fortunes have headed in the wrong direction, having logged four finishes of 18th or worse since breaking his lengthy losing streak in February.
Gordon’s safe for now but his cushion over 21st – Jamie McMurray – is just 29 points.
• McMurray, among 2010 winners, has yet to visit Victory Lane and is 52 points out of 10th, making a wild card his best chance of making this year’s Chase.
• He isn’t alone. Seven past winners ranking 12th through 20th are winless through the season’s first 10 races.
• From 21st back, eight previous winners are within 46 points of the top 20.
• Included on that list are former NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Bobby Labonte, 21-time race winner Jeff Burton and last year’s Chicagoland Speedway winner David Reutimann.
As Smith ponders his situation, it’s obvious that despite a new points system, two things remain a constant. Winning is both good and necessary but consistency also matters – and in the case of those outside the top 20 -- consistency over the next 16 races would seem to be a priority.
Autism Speaks, A Charity Close To NASCAR DriversThis weekend’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Dover – the FedEx 400 Benefiting Autism Speaks – will promote awareness for autism, an affliction known all-too-well by a number of members of the NASCAR garage.
Said NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Jamie McMurray, whose niece Lauren has autism: “I am amazed at the awareness that has been raised to support autism research in NASCAR racing. Our community has stepped up and made an impact with fundraising efforts. There are so many families that are effected by autism, including my own. Dover race week is a special opportunity for me to show my support to my niece and others who have autism.”
Said NASCAR Nationwide driver Elliott Salder: “It hits really close to home because my niece, Halie, is autistic. The great autism related charities we’ve worked with over the years like Autism Speaks, offer many different programs and opportunities to help not only those suffering from this developmental disability, but also their families. It is a cause that I’ll do all I can to help raise money and awareness.”
Competition Director at Red Horse Racing Terry Cook, whose son Cody is autistic, said, “Being the parent of an autistic child, the topic of autism research hits close to home. My wife, Amy, and I feel that the most important thing for us is to educate other parents about the importance of early detection in their children. The earlier a child is diagnosed the better chance they have for therapy and treatment."
Said Trent Owens, crew chief for Reed Sorenson, “Having a son [Gray] with autism has affected my family in many different ways. The autism spectrum is so broad, and there are still so many things that are unknown about the disease that can present new challenges every day. My son has shown many improvements through therapies that are available today, and I am very thankful for the NASCAR community and their involvement with raising awareness.”
A number of other charity and awareness initiatives have been launched for this weekend. Click here for more info.
NSCS Etc. – DoverMilestones: Mayetta, N.J. native, Martin Truex Jr., will be making his 200th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start this weekend at home track Dover. Truex sat on the pole in this event last season and has made 10 starts at Dover posting one win (2007) and three top 10s. Kurt Busch will make his 375th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start at Dover. He has made 21 starts at Dover posting five top fives and seven top 10s.
• With a career-first victory, Smith becomes the 179th driver to win at least one NSCS race.
• It’s the second win of 2011 by a single-car team. It just so happens that those victories came in two of NASCAR’s “Crown Jewel” events: the Daytona 500 (Wood Brothers and driver Trevor Bayne) and the SHOWTIME Southern 500 (Furniture Row Racing and Smith). An extension of that – the runner-up in each of those races was the points leader – Carl Edwards.
• Smith is now officially a contender for a Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup berth. After race No. 26 at Richmond, the top 10 in points will be locked into the Chase. Spots 11 and 12 will go to the two drivers outside the top 10 who have the most wins, provided they are in the top 20. Smith currently sits 27th in the standings, but only 29 points outside the top 20.
• Could the wins come in bunches? In the Daytona 500, Smith finished seventh, but had the best Driver Rating (116.3) that race. The second Daytona race is coming up shortly – July 2.
• At Dover International Speedway, Smith struggles. He has yet to crack the top 20 in any of his six starts. Then again, his finishes in the three Darlington starts prior to Saturday night’s win: 29th, 21st and 17th.
• Furniture Row Racing is based out of Denver, Colo., a rarity in a NASCAR world where most teams surround the Charlotte area – and hardly ever from west of the Mississippi. The team’s first win was also its first top-five finish.
• Any more surprises? A logical choice seems like Tommy Baldwin Racing, with driver Dave Blaney. Blaney just posted finishes of 13th (at Richmond) and 24th (at Darlington) – after starting 41st. And if not for a late-race spin at Talladega, Blaney may have won. He led 21 laps that event.
Feuds Aplenty In The NASCAR Sprint Cup SeriesThis was bound to happen. The tight competition, the different winners, the many lead changes, the jockeying for precious real estate – all of it had to come to a head.
So it shouldn’t be all that surprising that in the past two weeks, three different feuds have erupted.
Of course, there’s the biggest – the grudge match between Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick, two combatants unafraid to mix it up.
Busch spun Harvick out during a multi-car accident at Darlington, and post-race words were had. It escalated from there.
This feud’s heavyweight in nature, for a variety of reasons.
Harvick and Busch are both championship contenders. They are also the only drivers to win multiple races this season. And both have a long history of feuds (Harvick vs. Joey Logano, Carl Edwards, Juan Pablo Montoya, etc.; Busch vs. Keselowski, Hamlin, Burton, etc.). It’s just that this one’s the juiciest of the bunch.
Their next race together: the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on Friday. Harvick isn’t racing in Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series event, but his car is – with Clint Bowyer driving. Bowyer was also involved in the accident that started Harvick vs. Busch.
Their post-race actions – which involved a confrontation on pit road – landed each with a $25,000 fine and NASCAR probation for four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points races.
But there are more feuds, huge ones.
Two weeks ago at Richmond International Raceway, Juan Pablo Montoya and Ryan Newman got into it. The fuse was only lit there, and it’s doubtful we’ve seen the end of that grudge match.
And a week later, Montoya again ruffled fenders – this time those belonging to Jimmie Johnson. Montoya spun Johnson out at Darlington, possibly adding to the list of feuding partners. (Montoya immediately apologized.)
Mile High: Johnson The Concrete King At DoverSunday, May 15, 2011 will officially be Jimmie Johnson Day in the state of Delaware. Makes sense. Pretty much every NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race day at Dover International Speedway is Jimmie Johnson Day.
The five-time defending series champion truly is a monster at The Monster Mile.
His resume…
He has won three of the last four races at Dover, and six overall. One more and he’ll tie the all-time track record held by NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty and NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Bobby Allison.
In his last four Dover races, Johnson has these laps led totals: 298, 271, 225, 191. He has led a total of 1,622 laps in 13 career Dover races, which is fourth among active drivers and 10th all-time.
Johnson ranks first in Driver Rating at Dover, with a 116.3. Incredibly, that only makes Dover his fifth-best track in terms of the Loop Data statistic. Ranking ahead of Dover: Auto Club Speedway (123.1), Martinsville (121.9), Phoenix (121.8) and Kansas (118.7).
Wild Card Demands Top-20 RankingRegan Smith’s Southern 500 victory opened the possibility for his first Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup berth.
Ah, so close and yet so far.
Competitors with the most wins can qualify for two wild card spots – but only if they are ranked among the top 20 in points after the season’s first 26 races.
And there – for Smith and possibly Phoenix winner Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet) – is the rub.
Smith currently stands 27th, 29 points out of the top 20. Gordon, at the moment is in, ranked 17th. That’s the good news. Unfortunately, the four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion’s fortunes have headed in the wrong direction, having logged four finishes of 18th or worse since breaking his lengthy losing streak in February.
Gordon’s safe for now but his cushion over 21st – Jamie McMurray – is just 29 points.
• McMurray, among 2010 winners, has yet to visit Victory Lane and is 52 points out of 10th, making a wild card his best chance of making this year’s Chase.
• He isn’t alone. Seven past winners ranking 12th through 20th are winless through the season’s first 10 races.
• From 21st back, eight previous winners are within 46 points of the top 20.
• Included on that list are former NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Bobby Labonte, 21-time race winner Jeff Burton and last year’s Chicagoland Speedway winner David Reutimann.
As Smith ponders his situation, it’s obvious that despite a new points system, two things remain a constant. Winning is both good and necessary but consistency also matters – and in the case of those outside the top 20 -- consistency over the next 16 races would seem to be a priority.
Autism Speaks, A Charity Close To NASCAR DriversThis weekend’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Dover – the FedEx 400 Benefiting Autism Speaks – will promote awareness for autism, an affliction known all-too-well by a number of members of the NASCAR garage.
Said NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Jamie McMurray, whose niece Lauren has autism: “I am amazed at the awareness that has been raised to support autism research in NASCAR racing. Our community has stepped up and made an impact with fundraising efforts. There are so many families that are effected by autism, including my own. Dover race week is a special opportunity for me to show my support to my niece and others who have autism.”
Said NASCAR Nationwide driver Elliott Salder: “It hits really close to home because my niece, Halie, is autistic. The great autism related charities we’ve worked with over the years like Autism Speaks, offer many different programs and opportunities to help not only those suffering from this developmental disability, but also their families. It is a cause that I’ll do all I can to help raise money and awareness.”
Competition Director at Red Horse Racing Terry Cook, whose son Cody is autistic, said, “Being the parent of an autistic child, the topic of autism research hits close to home. My wife, Amy, and I feel that the most important thing for us is to educate other parents about the importance of early detection in their children. The earlier a child is diagnosed the better chance they have for therapy and treatment."
Said Trent Owens, crew chief for Reed Sorenson, “Having a son [Gray] with autism has affected my family in many different ways. The autism spectrum is so broad, and there are still so many things that are unknown about the disease that can present new challenges every day. My son has shown many improvements through therapies that are available today, and I am very thankful for the NASCAR community and their involvement with raising awareness.”
A number of other charity and awareness initiatives have been launched for this weekend. Click here for more info.
NSCS Etc. – DoverMilestones: Mayetta, N.J. native, Martin Truex Jr., will be making his 200th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start this weekend at home track Dover. Truex sat on the pole in this event last season and has made 10 starts at Dover posting one win (2007) and three top 10s. Kurt Busch will make his 375th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start at Dover. He has made 21 starts at Dover posting five top fives and seven top 10s.
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