The Carfax 400: When it's all over, some notable drivers might want to offer their rides in "cash for clunkers." Wait, isn't that why the "Park and Ride" fellows show up in the first place?
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The lineup for the Sprint Cup Series second trip to Michigan to do battle in the Carfax 400 sure provides some great questions to ask and good fodder for conversation, so let’s get started!
Brian Vickers secured another poll. What will be bring the Red Bull team its first win? We’ve watched this team go from a struggling first year operation to a serious threat in year three.
Mark Martin who won the fuel mileage battle in June lines up on the front row. He needs good finishes to secure his spot in the chase where if he makes it, his four wins put him in great shape.
Juan Montoya starts third. He’s become a weekly contender. Wins and greater rewards look close at hand.
Jimmie Johnson is the sports’ best money driver who hits his stride late in the season. He starts 4th.
Look at who starts in 5th, Martin Truex who leaves for team Mikey in 2010. This puts two Earnhardt/Ganassi rides in the top ten. They need a team boost like this.
Kurt Busch continues his comeback season in sixth. Could he be a real contender for the big prize at the end of the year?
Surprise, surprise, Stewart-Haas starts in 7th, but this time, it is Ryan Newman’s ride, #39. Here’s a guy who needs a little boost to regain momentum toward the Chase.
Eighth and ninth show two extremes. Joey Logano continues to grow now in the top ten starters. Next year, in November, want to bet he’ll be in the top ten finishers? Bill Elliot, an elder statesman and former champ, puts in another cameo performance for the “legendary” Wood Brothers. Isn’t it interesting how a guy with Roush/Yates engines keeps qualifying so well for the races he enters while the guys who race every week struggle.
Kasey Kahne is the most accomplished driver riding with the king starting in 10th. He’s one of the Dodge boys who could win this event.
Outside of the top ten, Tony Stewart starts in 18th, probably not a show stopper given his lead in the points. He can surely finish in the top five from there.
Just when we were ready to announce there was nothing left to say about Dale Earnhardt Jr. given his sad season where just finishing close to 20th seems like an accomplishment, he starts in 15th. If Junior stays away from the self-destruct button, this could be his first good shot at a much needed top 10 finish.
Our next issue is Ford futility. Aside from Bill Elliot’s guest performance here’s how the Ford regulars line up. Greg Biffle, 17th; Jamie McMurray, 19th; Matt Kenseth, 25th; Carl Edwards, 32nd; Bobby Labonte, 33rd; Paul Menard, 35th; and David Ragan, 37th. This is no way for Edwards to look good in the chase. Meanwhile, Biffle and Kenseth are hanging on in the top 12th with a very loose grip. Surely, Bobby Labonte would have been seen has a sure top 15 driver when the season opened. Furthermore, David Regan just missed the Chase last year. Roush has some of the best engineers in the business but they might have to become horse thieves to find the missing horses they can’t find on the track.
The other struggling operation is Richard Childress racing. Their top entry is Kevin Harvick in 22nd desperately looking for his snake bite kit with teammate Clint Bowyer, struggling to make the chase in 24th. Jeff Burton starts 27th while Casey Mears, who looks like a total embarrassment as an addition to this team, starts dead last.
Brad Kesolowski appears in one of his few rides with Hendricks, starting the #25 Go Daddy Chevy in 12th. Keep an eye on him.
Lots of folks were saying with Kyle Busch knocking on the door of the top 12 just a few points out, he should knock out one of the contenders, but he starts in 39th back where the “park and ride” field rapidly disappears.
Yes, those vanishing acts will appear for the green flag with Mike Bliss starting in 28th in the 09 Dodge for James Finch. C’mon, let him race!!! Meanwhile, we can only speculate on what the noted reason for bowing out will be for the following, #38 – Joe Nemechek; #41 – Dale Blaney; and #42 – Mike Skinner. If they’re going to be driving parade laps, it probably beats chauffeuring some blowhard politician waving to the crowd in a small town parade, but they could also perhaps get to drive the local beauty queen, Miss Corn Shucker, 2009 too. Hmm, that might be more rewarding than being a ghost in the Sprint Cup field.
“Start and Ride” demands attention, but what’s the solution. It just cheapens the sport, but the same could be said of the Pittsburgh Pirates, LA Clippers, and Detroit Lions in their sports too, right?
Traditionally, Michigan has been a good course for Roush, but this is now the Car of Tomorrow era, and today the Roush boys have qualified poorly. This could be Ryan Newman’s race. For other mild surprises, watch Martin Truex and Juan Montoya. If you’re a betting man, stick with Jimmie Johnson or Mark Martin. If you can’t handle a bow-tie Chevy, go with Kurt Busch if the new Dodge engine can play the gas mileage game.
Brian Vickers secured another poll. What will be bring the Red Bull team its first win? We’ve watched this team go from a struggling first year operation to a serious threat in year three.
Mark Martin who won the fuel mileage battle in June lines up on the front row. He needs good finishes to secure his spot in the chase where if he makes it, his four wins put him in great shape.
Juan Montoya starts third. He’s become a weekly contender. Wins and greater rewards look close at hand.
Jimmie Johnson is the sports’ best money driver who hits his stride late in the season. He starts 4th.
Look at who starts in 5th, Martin Truex who leaves for team Mikey in 2010. This puts two Earnhardt/Ganassi rides in the top ten. They need a team boost like this.
Kurt Busch continues his comeback season in sixth. Could he be a real contender for the big prize at the end of the year?
Surprise, surprise, Stewart-Haas starts in 7th, but this time, it is Ryan Newman’s ride, #39. Here’s a guy who needs a little boost to regain momentum toward the Chase.
Eighth and ninth show two extremes. Joey Logano continues to grow now in the top ten starters. Next year, in November, want to bet he’ll be in the top ten finishers? Bill Elliot, an elder statesman and former champ, puts in another cameo performance for the “legendary” Wood Brothers. Isn’t it interesting how a guy with Roush/Yates engines keeps qualifying so well for the races he enters while the guys who race every week struggle.
Kasey Kahne is the most accomplished driver riding with the king starting in 10th. He’s one of the Dodge boys who could win this event.
Outside of the top ten, Tony Stewart starts in 18th, probably not a show stopper given his lead in the points. He can surely finish in the top five from there.
Just when we were ready to announce there was nothing left to say about Dale Earnhardt Jr. given his sad season where just finishing close to 20th seems like an accomplishment, he starts in 15th. If Junior stays away from the self-destruct button, this could be his first good shot at a much needed top 10 finish.
Our next issue is Ford futility. Aside from Bill Elliot’s guest performance here’s how the Ford regulars line up. Greg Biffle, 17th; Jamie McMurray, 19th; Matt Kenseth, 25th; Carl Edwards, 32nd; Bobby Labonte, 33rd; Paul Menard, 35th; and David Ragan, 37th. This is no way for Edwards to look good in the chase. Meanwhile, Biffle and Kenseth are hanging on in the top 12th with a very loose grip. Surely, Bobby Labonte would have been seen has a sure top 15 driver when the season opened. Furthermore, David Regan just missed the Chase last year. Roush has some of the best engineers in the business but they might have to become horse thieves to find the missing horses they can’t find on the track.
The other struggling operation is Richard Childress racing. Their top entry is Kevin Harvick in 22nd desperately looking for his snake bite kit with teammate Clint Bowyer, struggling to make the chase in 24th. Jeff Burton starts 27th while Casey Mears, who looks like a total embarrassment as an addition to this team, starts dead last.
Brad Kesolowski appears in one of his few rides with Hendricks, starting the #25 Go Daddy Chevy in 12th. Keep an eye on him.
Lots of folks were saying with Kyle Busch knocking on the door of the top 12 just a few points out, he should knock out one of the contenders, but he starts in 39th back where the “park and ride” field rapidly disappears.
Yes, those vanishing acts will appear for the green flag with Mike Bliss starting in 28th in the 09 Dodge for James Finch. C’mon, let him race!!! Meanwhile, we can only speculate on what the noted reason for bowing out will be for the following, #38 – Joe Nemechek; #41 – Dale Blaney; and #42 – Mike Skinner. If they’re going to be driving parade laps, it probably beats chauffeuring some blowhard politician waving to the crowd in a small town parade, but they could also perhaps get to drive the local beauty queen, Miss Corn Shucker, 2009 too. Hmm, that might be more rewarding than being a ghost in the Sprint Cup field.
“Start and Ride” demands attention, but what’s the solution. It just cheapens the sport, but the same could be said of the Pittsburgh Pirates, LA Clippers, and Detroit Lions in their sports too, right?
Traditionally, Michigan has been a good course for Roush, but this is now the Car of Tomorrow era, and today the Roush boys have qualified poorly. This could be Ryan Newman’s race. For other mild surprises, watch Martin Truex and Juan Montoya. If you’re a betting man, stick with Jimmie Johnson or Mark Martin. If you can’t handle a bow-tie Chevy, go with Kurt Busch if the new Dodge engine can play the gas mileage game.
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