Sprint Cup Chase: Dover's Down - the Monster's Reward

The field contending for the 2012 Sprint Cup championship took a beating after today’s action at Dover’s “Monster Mile” after completing the AAA 400. Brad Keselowski saved fuel and won as other drivers struggled to reach the checkered flag to give the young driver a five point lead over the five time champ, Jimmie Johnson.

Meanwhile, some drivers are either out of the chase or face an unprecedented uphill climb to be  factor in this year’s championship chase.

Matt Kenseth’s 35^th place finish just above the garbage heap ended his run for the championship, looking at a 72 point deficit, the #17 car will not be celebrating at Homestead in November.

Greg Biffle (-51), Jeff Gordon (-48), Kevin Harvick (-46), and Martin Truex Jr. (-42) have more than a full race to make up with seven races left. It’s absolutely over for them too.

Current Chase Standings:

RANK		+/-		DRIVER		PTS		BEHIND
1		1		Brad Keselowski		2142		Leader
2		-1		Jimmie Johnson		2137		-5
3		--		Denny Hamlin		2126		-16
4		2		Clint Bowyer		2117		-25
5		-1		Tony Stewart		2110		-32
6		-1		Kasey Kahne		2110		-32
7		--		Dale Earnhardt Jr.		2103		-39
8		2		Martin Truex Jr.		2100		-42
9		-1		Kevin Harvick		2096		-46
10		2		Jeff Gordon		2094		-48
11		-2		Greg Biffle		2091		-51
12		-1		Matt Kenseth		2070		-72

Now looking at where the Chase contenders finished today, the results underscore just what a tough challenge lies head.

FIN		ST		CAR		DRIVER		MAKE		PTS/BNS
1		10		2		Brad Keselowski		Dodge		47/1
2		7		24		Jeff Gordon		Chevrolet		43/1
4		11		48		Jimmie Johnson		Chevrolet		41/1
6		3		56		Martin Truex Jr.		Toyota		38/0
8		1		11		Denny Hamlin		Toyota		37/1
9		2		15		Clint Bowyer		Toyota		36/1
11		25		88		Dale Earnhardt Jr.		Chevrolet		33/0
13		13		29		Kevin Harvick		Chevrolet		31/0
15		9		5		Kasey Kahne		Chevrolet		29/0
16		6		16		Greg Biffle		Ford		28/0
20		24		14		Tony Stewart		Chevrolet		24/0
35		12		17		Matt Kenseth		Ford		9/0

.

Right now, it’s a three car shootout for championship honors with Brad Keselowski leading Jimmie Johnson then Denny Hamlin within clear striking distance to take the lead. Tony Stewart and Kasey Kahne almost must win their way into the picture having 32 points between them and the top.

It’s too soon to stick the fork in Dale Earnhardt Jr. but at 39 points out of the top spot, he’ll need to pick up more than 5 ½ points a race with no setbacks to gain his first crown. It’s not just how well each driver does but which drivers he must over come to get to the promised land. Aside from Tony Stewart who does have three wins for the season, the remainder of the teams not yet out of the chase will have to show levels of performance not shown consistently to be a factor.

Talladega beckons next week as the 2 2/3’s mile long restrictor plate track will add its own brand of torture to endure in quest of championship glory. Keselowski is a proven Talladega winner. All is well with Team Penske for now.

Unsung Hero: The Missing Link from the O's of Old to Today

The Missing Link

The day after honoring Brooks Robinson, the fellow who personified the beginning of winning baseball in Baltimore the team on the verge of its first post season play since 1997, it’s hard to find much connection between the winning Orioles of old: the big six: Brooks, Frank Robinson, Jim Palmer, Earl Weaver, Eddie Murray, and Cal Ripken. With supporting players and great pitchers from Boog Powell, Paul Blair, and Dave McNally through a cast of many including Mike Cuellar, Davey Johnson, Bobby Grich, Mike Flanagan, Scott McGregor, Ken Singleton, Mike Mussina, B.J. Surhoff, and Raphael Palmeiro, one great’s career transitioned to another’s rise.

Only one player connects the O’s of old to today’s team, probably the loneliest fellow to be assigned an Orioles jersey in 2012 --- Brian Roberts.  He started his reign with the Orioles in 2001, Cal Ripken’s retirement year and labored through 17 games this season only connecting for 12 base hits making it three consecutive seasons unable to answer the call for most of the season – the fellow who was supposed to be the first piece in the team rebuilding into a contender once again.

It’s not all over for Brian Roberts. He could heal up and return to Spring Training in 2013 and finish his career with the Orioles as a winning team. It would only seem just. However, the sport makes no promises and after years of being a rare bright spot in a sea of frustration, he’s the fellow who took throws from both Cal Ripken and Matt Weiters (perhaps a future member of the statue club in Legend’s Park.)

The irony only runs deeper considering his close friend and teammate, Nick Markakis, one who answered the call during darkest hour in 2006 also sits on the sidelines, the victim of a C.C. Sabathia pitch in early September hoping the suddenly hot Orioles remain deep into the off season, so he can join the celebration contributing on the field.

In the team’s finest hour in 15 years, it’s time for a quiet thank you to Brian Roberts with high hopes for Nick Markakis as the Orioles team of today reaches out for its place among the Orioles teams that brought so much winning to Baltimore starting with a friendly third baseman who quickly became a city’s pride and joy. Time's getting short for Brian Roberts, a fellow who in better days might have found his place among the Orioles elite -- who could ever anticipate the burden of carrying the torch from the glory days of old to what could be a bright future ahead could be such a touch labor.

Sprint Cup 2012: Race 29 -- Dueling with the Monster

The qualifying order looks bright for the Toyotas in the chase for tomorrow’s AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway with Denny Hamlin, Clint Bowyer and Martin Truex Jr. taking the first three starting positions to lead the field. Greg Biffle in the #16 Ford in 6^th, Jeff Gordon in the #24 Chevy in 7^th are the next chasers in the lineup. Second round practice tells a much different tale with teammates Jeff Gordon in 1^st and Jimmie Johnson in 3^rd for the best practice results. Brad Keselowski in 6^th is the only other chase driver in the top 10 and no additional chasers check in until Kasey Kahne check in driving the #5 Chevy in 13^th and Greg Biffle in 14^th while pole sitter, Denny Hamlin’s practice results were only 17^th best.

Dover is one of the trickiest tracks on the circuit, but recent history certainly likes Jimmie Johnson who won the June race in Delaware. Johnson’s seven wins, 10 top 5’s and 15 top 10’s while posting an average 8.9 finish clearly show the five time champ’s affinity for the Monster Mile, a good stepping stone toward a possible 6^th championship.

Yen chase drivers start in the top 13 on a track where position is most important for good results with Kevin Harvick at the bottom of that pack. The burden is much tougher for Tony Stewart and Dale Earnhardt Jr. who lineup in 24^th and 25^th.

There is no way to put it politely, there is way too much garbage cluttering up the field that has no business running in the top series in NASCAR.  While having 48 cars entered to qualify for 43 starting positions, not a single of the five cars failing to make the field are ones that would not start and park. On top of that, far too many junk entries did make the field with the rolling free loaders starting as high as 23^rd for the#25 Ford drive by Josh Wise. Up to eight cars could be long gone when the checkered flag drops and at a track where accidents happen early, it would be disgraceful if a team racing for the championship could be buried beneath an entry with no intention to complete the race at all.

Trial by fire, Danica Patrick starts 38^th in one of her limited Sprint Cup starts for 2012. This will be a tough initiation into the big league world that awaits her. Having completed the entire 200 laps in Nationwide competition is only a hint of what a full day of cup racing has to offer. Another driver getting ready for full-time action, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. starts 17^th in the #6 Ford. 

Starting Lineup: (Chase drivers shown in CAPS)

POS		CAR		DRIVER		MAKE		SPONSOR		SPEED
1		11		DENNY HAMLIN		Toyota		FedEx Office		159.299
2		15		CLINT BOWYER		Toyota		5-hour Energy		159.264
3		56		MARTIN TRUEX JR.		Toyota		NAPA Auto Parts		159.201
4		22		Sam Hornish Jr.		Dodge		Shell / Pennzoil		158.758
5		18		Kyle Busch		Toyota		Interstate Batteries		158.667
6		16		GREG BIFFLE		Ford		Scotch-Brite		158.541
7		24		JEFF GORDON		Chevrolet		Drive to End Hunger		158.444
8		39		Ryan Newman		Chevrolet		U.S. Army		158.297
9		5		KASEY KAHNE		Chevrolet		Farmers Insurance		158.256
10		2		BRAD KESELOWSKI		Dodge		Miller Lite		158.151
11		48		JIMMIE JOHNSON		Chevrolet		Lowe's / Kobalt Tools		158.089
12		17		MATT KENSETH		Ford		Ford EcoBoost		157.992
13		29		KEVIN HARVICK		Chevrolet		Budweiser		157.971
14		20		Joey Logano		Toyota		The Home Depot		157.971
15		99		Carl Edwards		Ford		Fastenal		157.95
16		47		Bobby Labonte		Toyota		Kingsford		157.819
17		6		Ricky Stenhouse Jr.		Ford		Cargill		157.784
18		78		Regan Smith		Chevrolet		Furniture Row / Farm American		157.653
19		27		Paul Menard		Chevrolet		Menards / CertainTeed		157.604
20		1		Jamie McMurray		Chevrolet		McDonald's		156.958
21		43		Aric Almirola		Ford		Super 8		156.924
22		83		Landon Cassill		Toyota		Burger King / Dr Pepper		156.829
23		26		Josh Wise*		Ford		MDS Transport		156.631
24		14		TONY STEWART		Chevrolet		Office Depot / Mobil 1		156.597
25		88		DALE EARNHARDT JR.		Chevrolet		National Guard / Diet Mountain Dew		156.542
26		55		Mark Martin		Toyota		Aaron's 2000th Store / Bronx, NY		156.488
27		9		Marcos Ambrose		Ford		Dewalt		156.298
28		51		Kurt Busch		Chevrolet		Phoenix Construction		156.23
29		91		Reed Sorenson		Chevrolet		Plinker Tactical		156.223
30		13		Casey Mears		Ford		GEICO		156.182
31		34		David Ragan		Ford		Long John Silver's		156.02
32		98		Michael McDowell		Ford		Phil Parsons Racing		155.885
33		93		Travis Kvapil		Toyota		Burger King / Dr Pepper		155.709
34		95		Scott Speed		Ford		Jordan Truck Sales		155.44
35		42		Juan Montoya		Chevrolet		Target		155.38
36		23		Scott Riggs		Chevrolet		North Texas Pipe		155.253
37		87		Joe Nemechek		Toyota		AM / FM Energy Wood & Pellet Stoves		155.059
38		10		Danica Patrick		Chevrolet		GoDaddy.com		155.025
39		31		Jeff Burton		Chevrolet		Caterpillar		154.646
40		36		J.J. Yeley+		Chevrolet		Drive Sober, Drive Alive DE		154.553
41		32		T.J. Bell+		Ford		Greensmoke		154.182
42		38		David Gilliland+		Ford		Taco Bell		153.689
43		37		Dave Blaney		Chevrolet		MaxQworkforce		155.025
Did Not Qualify
44		30		David Stremme		Toyota		Inception Motorsports		154.759
45		19		Mike Bliss		Toyota		Plinker Tactical		154.639
46		49		Jason Leffler		Toyota		Robinson-Blakeney Racing		154.467
47		33		Cole Whitt		Chevrolet		Little Joes Autos		153.741
48		79		Kelly Bires		Ford		Bestway Disposal		153.682

NFL 2012: Week 4 -- No More Horsing Around: The Zebras Return

Thank god the real zebras are back tonight in Baltimore’s game hosting Cleveland tonight. The spray painted jack-asses proved to be an insufferable embarrassment for the whole nation to see in the botched call costing Green Bay the win they earned but in Baltimore, fans also saw a touchdown voided that would have them at 3-0 were it not for incompetent officiating. The number of calls overturned by replays told the story of total incompetence.  Thus ends a huge sham in the history of the NFL – not as bad as replacement players – but equally as misguided.

Cleveland @ Baltimore (-13)

The Baltimore Ravens will have to put in one heck of a good showing to beat the point spread on tonight’s game having had so little time to turn around from Sunday night’s dramatic showing. The Browns are still a terrible team, but no team can ever be taken for granted.

Carolina @ Atlanta (-7 ½)

Could this be the breakthrough season Atlanta QB, Matt Ryan has been looking for? Atlanta is the obvious favorite as Cam Newton needs to shake off some signs of the sophomore jinx.

New England (-3 ½) @ Buffalo

New England must be frisky as hell looking for a win giving they are 1-2 and though the camera showed they lost on a last second field goal, they dominated the Ravens and still lost after their embarrassing loss in week 2. New England SHOULD win this one, but Buffalo is often strong early in the season and cannot be ignored.

Minnesota @ Detroit (-5)

Only one Vegas odds maker weighed in on this contest. We should think Detroit should be the clear favorite; however, there’s something wobbly about Detroit’s performance so far. They are subject to a long history of failure which only winning can put in the past.

San Diego @ Kansas City (-1)

Norv Turner teams are notorious underachievers and that trait will likely do them in on an away field in this contest.

Seattle (-2 ½) @ St. Louis

St. Louis’s young talent hasn’t gelled yet. Seattle’s feeling “groovy” after being given a gift by the inept replacement officials.

San Francisco (-4) @ NY Jets

The 49ers haven’t gotten into top gear yet. Facing a sloppy and injured Jets team should be the right remedy for setting the tone for the rest of the season.

Tennessee @ Houston (-12)

This is the year Houston should show all they have arrived as one of the AFC’s current top teams. To do so, they must obliterate weak division rival, Tennessee.

Miami @ Arizona (-6 ½)

Arizona is one of the surprise teams so far this year and the hapless Dolphins are unlikely to stop them.

Cincinnati (-2) @ Jacksonville

Cincinnati gains an exhibition tune-up to secure an easy win and stay at the Ravens throats for now.

Oakland @ Denver (-6)

Is this the week the real Peyton Manning shows up?  Denver wins regardless.

New Orleans @ Green Bay (-7 ½)

Who wouldn’t hate to face Green Bay this week after being robbed at the last second for all the nation to see on Monday Night Football. It’s hard to believe in week four there could be a must win game for any team, but for the Cheese Disease, this is.

Washington @ Tampa Bay (-3)

The RGIII era hasn’t gotten rolling yet in DC. Tampa’s got the slight edge this weekend.

NY Giants @ Philadelphia (-2 ½)

This is a game that will have a direct bearing on the future in January. As a division rivalry game, the Giants, defending champs off to a mediocre start, will not want to see the Eagles put much more distance between them. Still, the Eagles, as sloppy as they can be appear to have the brute strength to win this one.

Chicago @ Dallas (-3 ½)

Every time Dallas wins, and they’ll win this one, the ESPN crew cranks up the band playing love songs to “America’s team” as if they are truly one of the sport’s top teams. What does the Tony Roma era Cowboys have to show for themselves? If they make the playoffs, they never go deep and that’s what can be expected this year.

Sprint Cup 2012: Race 28 -- The Chase, Race 2, New Hampshire

Who didn't count Jeff Gordon out after his dreadful performance with a mechanically unsound car last week?  To help stomp on that, guess whose on the pole, Jeff Gordon, side-by-side the fellow he edged out to make the chase.  Isn't this FUN? Tony Stewart, attempting to find some of last year's magic starts 3rd ready to strike with Brian Vickers making an infrequent appearance for Michael Waltrip's 3rd team in the 55 car.

Race two of the "Chase" cranks it up a little tigher. There's no room for failure as they line up for their 28th race of the season.

POS		CAR		DRIVER		MAKE		SPONSOR	SPEED
1		24		Jeff Gordon		Chevrolet		Drive to End Hunger	134.911
2		18		Kyle Busch		Toyota		M&M's	134.753
3		14		Tony Stewart		Chevrolet		Mobil 1 / Office Depot	134.568
4		55		Brian Vickers		Toyota		Freightliner / Jet Edge	134.482
5		99		Carl Edwards		Ford		Aflac	134.354
6		5		Kasey Kahne		Chevrolet		Farmers Insurance	134.179
7		27		Paul Menard		Chevrolet		Sylvania / Menards	134.098
8		39		Ryan Newman		Chevrolet		Aspen Dental	133.934
9		56		Martin Truex Jr.		Toyota		NAPA Auto Parts	133.872
10		22		Dave Blaney		Dodge		Shell / Pennzoil	133.863
11		31		Jeff Burton		Chevrolet		Wheaties	133.854
12		15		Clint Bowyer		Toyota		5-hour Energy	133.825
13		16		Greg Biffle		Ford		3M / GE Appliances	133.647
14		88		Dale Earnhardt Jr.		Chevrolet		AMP Energy / Diet Mtn. Dew / National Guard	133.637
15		2		Brad Keselowski		Dodge		Miller Lite	133.614
16		29		Kevin Harvick		Chevrolet		Budweiser	133.600
17		47		Bobby Labonte		Toyota		Bush's Baked Beans	133.567
18		20		Joey Logano		Toyota		The Home Depot	133.544
19		43		Aric Almirola		Ford		Trim Fit	133.301
20		48		Jimmie Johnson		Chevrolet		Lowe's	133.128
21		9		Marcos Ambrose		Ford		Stanley	133.110
22		78		Regan Smith		Chevrolet		Furniture Row / Farm American	133.021
23		51		Kurt Busch		Chevrolet		Phoenix Construction	132.966
24		42		Juan Montoya		Chevrolet		Energizer	132.850
25		17		Matt Kenseth		Ford		Zest	132.799
26		34		David Ragan		Ford		Shriner's Hospital for Children	132.720
27		95		Scott Speed		Ford		Jordan Truck Sales	132.595
28		83		Landon Cassill		Toyota		Burger King / Dr Pepper	132.558
29		1		Jamie McMurray		Chevrolet		LiftMaster	132.356
30		13		Casey Mears		Ford		GEICO	132.195
31		98		Michael McDowell		Ford		Phil Parsons Racing	131.929
32		11		Denny Hamlin		Toyota		FedEx Freight	131.633
33		93		Travis Kvapil		Toyota		Burger King / Dr Pepper	131.442
34		10		David Reutimann		Chevrolet		Tommy Baldwin Racing	131.180
35		191		Reed Sorenson		Chevrolet		Plinker Tactical	130.963
36		87		Joe Nemechek		Toyota		AM / FM Energy	130.837
37		38		David Gilliland		Ford		Taco Bell	130.792
38		79		Kelly Bires		Ford		BBI / Bestway	130.640
39		33		Stephen Leicht*		Chevrolet		Little Joes Autos.com	130.367
40		37		J.J. Yeley		Chevrolet		MaxQworkforce,com	130.229
41		36		Tony Raines+		Chevrolet		Tommy Baldwin Racing	128.359
42		32		Mike Olsen+		Ford		North Country Ford	126.153
43		30		David Stremme		Toyota		Inception Motorsports	129.882
Did Not Qualify
44		23		Scott Riggs		Chevrolet		North Texas Pipe	129.714
45		49		Jason Leffler		Toyota		Robinson-Blak-	129.701
46		19		Jeff Green		Toyota		Plinker Tactical	129.248
47		26		Josh Wise*		Ford		MDS Transport	131.306