RACE DR ON THE RADIO
Check out the RACE DR throughout the year on SIRIUS-XM NASCAR RADIO CH 90.
RACE DR returns to the Two Guys Name Chris show (featuring Deidre) on ROCK 92, Monday & Friday in the 10 O’Clock hour, please start listening at 6 AM. Friday the Race DR will preview the weekend race and Monday he’ll review the race. If you don’t reside in the Triad Megaplex tune on online at www.ROCK92.COM.
SPRINT ALL STAR RACE & SPRINT SHOWDOWN
CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY
MAY 19, 7PM ET on SPEED TV
1.5 Miles, 24 Degrees of Banking
NASCAR’s All Star evening. Since we see the best 43 drivers every week why have an All Star evening? Because it is a throwback to old school: Saturday Night heat racing, where most of these drivers came from, done on an incredibly massive scale. First up on Saturday night we’ll see the Sprint Showdown, a race for all drivers who do not qualify for the following race, the Sprint All Star Race. (In other words the Sprint Showdown is for drivers who are in the top 50 in points that are not eligible for the Sprint All Star Race.) The Sprint Showdown will be run in two segments: Both 20 laps. The winner and 2nd place finisher will advance to the Sprint All Star Race along with a driver voted on by the fans. Along with the three drivers from the Sprint Showdown, the Sprint All Star Race is made up of drivers who won a race in 2011, drivers who have won so far in 2012, past winners of this race from the last 10 years, and past NASCAR Cup champions. The race will be run in four 20 laps segments and a final ten lap segment. The winners of each segment will be positioned 1-4 before the pit stop right before the final segment. The last 10 laps will be a crazy dash for cash. I have seen drivers do things on the track in this race they would never do in a points’ race. So why race at all? For the prestige of winning, for a piece of the over $3 million purse-($1 million to the winner) and because that’s what NASCAR drivers do: race to win and race just for the sake of racin’.
Tuesday look for our top team rankings.
BOJANGLES SOUTHERN 500 from DARLINGTON
My #5 driver to watch is the winning-est current driver at Darlington, #24 Jeff Gordon. Jeff has 31 starts with seven wins and 18 Tops 5’s. His last win at this track was in 2007. He has finished in the Top 5 in seven of the last eight races here and that is another reason he has #1 best average finish. Sitting 24th in points Jeff needs to turn his season around fast and this could be just the place to do it.
The #4 driver is another driver looking to turn things around, #14 Tony Stewart. Tony is coming off a really tough weekend at Talladega. This is one of the few tracks Tony has never won at, but he has finished in the Top 5 three times most recently in 2009. I have found the angry Tony is a powerful Tony, so he should have a great deal of power this weekend for his visit to the “Lady in Black”.
My #3 pick is the turnaround specialist, #18 Kyle Busch. Kyle got his season started on a tough note, then won at Richmond and finished in second place last week. He plans to keep things going here where he won in 2008. Kyle has 7 starts with that win.
The number #2 driver to watch has not exactly done great here, #17 Matt Kenseth. Matt has 18 starts here, no wins and only one Top 5 finish. But Matt is probably the best driver on these types of tracks and #2 hottest over the last six weeks.
My #1 driver was the winner here in 2010, #11 Denny Hamlin. Denny has just six starts, the win in ‘10 and a 2nd place finish in ’07 helping to make him the #2 best average finisher here at “the Track Too Tough to Tame”. Rookies don’t usually run well here, but from his first Darlington race Denny has been strong and this year should be no exception.
Monday we’ll preview the Sprint All Star Race and Showdown from Charlotte Motor Speedway.
BOJANGLES SOUTHERN 500 from DARLINGTON
1. DENNY HAMLIN #11
2. MATT KENSETH #17
3. KYLE BUSCH #18
4. TONY STEWART #14
5. JEFF GORDON #24
6. CARL EDWARDS #99
7. MARTIN TRUEX #56
8. JIMMIE JOHNSON #48
9. BRAD KESELOWSKI #2
10. DALE EARNHARDT JR #88
11. GREG BIFFLE #16
12. MARK MARTIN #55
13. KEVIN HARVICK #29
14. RYAN NEWMAN #39
15. JAMIE MCMURRAY #1
16. KASEY KAHNE #5
17. KURT BUSCH #51
18. JEFF BURTON #31
19. JUAN PABLO MONTOYA #42
20. JOEY LOGANO #20
21. MARCOS AMBROSE #9
22. A. J. ALLMENDINGER #22
23. CLINT BOWYER #15
24. REGAN SMITH #78
25. PAUL MENARD #27
26. DAVID REUTIMANN #93
27. DAVID RAGAN #34
28. BOBBY LABONTE #47
29. ARIC ALMIROLA #43
30. CASEY MEARS #13
*STILL MUST QUALIFY
Friday we break down the Top 5 drivers to watch.
TOP 10: INTERMEDIATE TRACKS
1. MATT KENSETH #17
2. KEVIN HARVICK #29
3. KURT BUSCH #51
4. JIMMIE JOHNSON #48
5. KYLE BUSCH #18
6. TONY STEWART #14
7. JEFF GORDON #24
8. DENNY HAMLIN #11
9. GREG BIFFLE #16
10. CARL EDWARDS #99
Top 10 on Intermediate tracks, tomorrow look for our Top 30 rankings for Saturday’s BOJANGLES SOUTHERN 500 from Darlington Raceway.
TOP 10 TEAMS POST TALLADEGA
1. ROUSH/FENWAY RACING
2. JOE GIBBS RACING
3. HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS
4. STEWART HAAS RACING
5. MICHAEL WALTRIP RACING
6. PENSKE RACING
7. RICHARD CHILDRESS RACING
8. EARNHARDT GANASSI RACING
9. RICHARD PETTY MOTORSPORTS
10. PHOENIX RACING
Roush/Fenway Racing stay at #1 for the tenth week. Joe Gibbs Racing make the move of the week moving #4 to #2. Hendrick Motorsports go back a place to #3. Stewart/Haas Racing also go back a place to #4. Michael Waltrip Racing rejoin the top 5 from #6. Penske Racing slid back a place to #6. The last for places all remain the same from last week.
These are the Top 10 Owner/Teams, Wednesday look for our Top10 drivers on intermediate tracks.
BOJANGLES SOUTHERN 500
DARLINGTON RACEWAY
MAY 12, 7:30 PM CHARLOTTE TIME FOX TV
1.366 MILES, 25 DEGREES of BANKING in TURNS 1 & 2, 23 DEGREES in TURNS 3 & 4.
Here is a track that could have just as easily gone the way of the North Carolina Motor Speedway (Rockingham) or the North Wilkesboro Speedway; both of which stopped running NASCAR sanctioned races. Once the home of two races a year, it now just hosts one. Gone is the venerable Southern 500 held every Labor Day weekend for 55 years. Four years ago they brought the name back on a different holiday weekend. When it went away I thought the days of thunder would be over for this incredible egg-shaped speedway. International Speedway Corp. decided to give this race on Mother’s Day weekend a chance. Lights were added and the last six years we’ve had big crowds even though they added more seats. Why? Better marketing? Lower prices? New amenities? Nope, just great close-up racing under the lights and old school Saturday night excitement at the ultimate old school track. Built in 1950 this track began the Speedway era in NASCAR. Called “the track too tough to tame” it could have also been called “the track with no turn the same” because of disproportionately different east and west turns. Add in a very tight racing groove and pavement that eats tires and you have “the track that is very tough to win at”. Most racers find it smarter to race the track than to race the other drivers. Hendrick Motorsports has won seven of the last 12 races and HMS driver, Jeff Gordon, comes in here with seven wins and seven of his last eight races being Top 5’s. Joe Gibbs Racing had a win here in ’08 with Kyle Busch and in ’10 with Denny Hamlin. Roush/Fenway’s Greg Biffle won back to back in 2005 and 06. Last year Furniture Row Racing shocked many with a win by Regan Smith. Will these guys or anyone else have anything for the HMS boys? We’ll find out Saturday night.
Tuesday look for our Top 10 Owner Teams.
AARONS 499 from TALLADEGA
The number #5 driver won here in 2010, #29 Kevin Harvick. Kevin has 22 starts, that win and six Top 5’s. Kevin is a Top 5 ranked restrictor plate driver and he is only getting better here, three of his last four races were Top 5 finishes.
My #4 pick is one of the best and most consistent restrictor plate drivers, #99 Carl Edwards. In 15 starts Carl has only had one Top 5, BUT in his last 12 plate races half were Top 10’s. Carl’s team, Roush Fenway Racing, is my #1 ranked team and has been for nine weeks.
My #3 driver to watch is a five-time former winner here, #88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. is off to a great start this year, he is currently second in points, third hottest over the last six weeks AND ranked #4 on plate tracks. Last year Jr. helped push Jimmie Johnson to a win here and I look for a little payback this year.
My #2 driver is a two-time former winner here, #15 Clint Bowyer. Clint got both of those wins while driving for Richard Childress. He now drives for Michael Waltrip Racing and while Clint has stumbled a bit in his first year with the new team I think this race will be the payoff he has been looking for.
My #1 driver to watch has never won here, #16 Greg Biffle. Not only has Greg never won here, but in 18 starts he only has one Top 5. So why give him my top spot? Because not only is Greg currently #1 in points, he is also a top plate track driver. He has been outperforming in every race so far this year and Sunday’s race at Talladega should be no exception.
Monday we’ll preview the Bojangles Southern 500 from Darlington.
Top 30 DRIVERS:AARON’S 499 fromTALLADEGA
1. GREG BIFFLE #16
2. CLINT BOWYER #15
3. DALE EARNHARDT JR #88
4. CARL EDWARDS #99
5. KEVIN HARVICK #29
6. DENNY HAMLIN #11
7. JIMMIE JOHNSON #48
8. JOEY LOGANO #20
9. MARTIN TRUEX JR. #56
10. JUAN PABLO MONTOYA #42
11. BRAD KESELOWSKI #2
12. MATT KENSETH #17
13. TONY STEWART #14
14. PAUL MENARD #27
15. JEFF BURTON #31
16. JEFF GORDON #24
17. KASEY KAHNE #5
18. KYLE BUSCH #18
19. DAVID REUTIMANN #10
20. KURT BUSCH #51
21. JAMIE MCMURRAY #1
22. DAVID RAGAN #34
23. RYAN NEWMAN #39
24. CASEY MEARS #13
25. A.J. ALLMENDINGER #22
26. MICHAEL WALTRIP #55
27. REGAN SMITH #78
28. MARCOS AMBROSE #9
29. BOBBY LABONTE #47
30. ARIC ALMIROLA #43
*STILL MUST QUALIFY
Friday we break down the Top 5 drivers for the Aaron’s 499 fromTalladega.
TOP 10: RESTRICTOR PLATE TRACKS
1. CARL EDWARDS #99
2. GREG BIFFLE #16
3. CLINT BOWYER #33
4. DALE EARNHARDT JR. #88
5. KEVIN HARVICK #29
6. DENNY HAMLIN #11
7. PAUL MENARD #27
8. JOEY LOGANO #20
9. JUAN MONTOYA #42
10. JEFF BURTON #31
Top 10 on Restrictor Plate tracks, tomorrow look for our Top 30 rankings for Sunday’s AARON’S 499 from Talladega Super Speedway.
TOP 10 TEAMS POSTRICHMOND
1. ROUSH/FENWAY RACING
2. HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS
3. STEWART HAAS RACING
4. JOE GIBBS RACING
5. PENSKE RACING
6. MICHAEL WALTRIP RACING
7. RICHARD CHILDRESS RACING
8. EARNHARDT GANASSI RACING
9. RICHARD PETTY MOTORSPORTS
10. PHOENIX RACING
Roush/Fenway Racing stay at #1 for the ninth week. HMS swaps places with SHR. Joe Gibbs Racing moves up a spot to 4th. Penske Racing jumps up three spots from 8th to 5th. Michael Waltrip Racing drop back two places to 6th. The slid at RCR continues this week to 7th. EGR drop back to 8th. RPM stay at 9th. Phoenix Racing debut this year in the top 10 at #10.
These are the Top 10 Owner/Teams, Wednesday look for our Top10 drivers on restrictor plate tracks.
