Sprint Cup 2012: Race 14 -- The New Improved Pocono

Throw history to the breeze when a track is resurfaced and where could that be more true than racing on one of the Sprint Cup Series’ most unconventional configurations than that of Pocono Raceway?  With its unique triangle shape where each of the three turns is curved and banked differently – both car setup and driver approach requires tremendous skill where no one size fits all strategy can prevail. Given a smoother, more consistent surface, speeds should be faster and approaching the curves will require much more skillful use of braking and handling. Over 400 miles, to say that practice results are meaningful imply does not follow.

Kurt Busch is suspended this week while his career hangs in balance as his boorish, hostile behavior simply has worn out its welcome. Drivers are an intense bunch and subject to flashing tempers – but Busch’s constant belittling his support crews and hostility toward reporters does not stand in such a very image conscious sport as NASCAR. Not only has his conduct been suspect, that he has destroyed a parade of 14 race cars (Pocono is race #14 on the schedule) for James Finch’s small budget operation does not argue favorably for his continued presence in the #51 Chevrolet. Further, his conduct certainly is not endearing when attempting to attract much needed sponsors. David Reutimann moves from the Tommy Baldwin #10 where his job was to keep the seat warm and maintain top 35 points for Danica Patrick while Dale Blaney will drive the #10. Cry no tears for Kurt Busch, where he will be next week is anybody’s guess being on a race-by-race deal with Finch whose patience is clearly run out. Kurt Busch doesn’t burn bridges, he bombs them having lost rides with Roush/Fenway after his championship run then stinking up the garage for the venerable Roger Penske. Who needs him? He’ll soon find out.

More on Busch’s situation: http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120609/SPORTS/206090319/-1/SITEMAP

Joey Logano won the poll for tomorrow’s race. Logano is in his contract year and certainly needs to show his career is growing after a horrible 2011 season. It’s time for the young driver to stop being the kid on the rise and be a true competitive veteran.  Today’s effort speaks well for him. He must also work to finish what he starts. Unlike Kurt Busch, this young man is very personable and public friendly. Who doesn’t want to see a kid like him do well while Busch is one of the ten least popular figures across all professional sports?

Another driver needing to show something though his contract situation is more stable is Paul Menard who starts 3^rd while Carl Edwards surely needs some success starts second and another smitten driver, Kyle Busch starts 4^th. Denny Hamlin, one of Pocono’s top competitors starts 5^th, but the ageless marvel, Mark Martin starts 6^th while another surprise, Reagan Smith check in at 7^th.

Okay, we’re guilty of harping on this issue, but tomorrow’s race could easily surpass the record for “start and park” entries. The garbage that is allowed to enter in the highest level of NASCAR competition shows a lack of commitment to the fans to put the best professionals on the track when quite frankly many of these drivers would probably still be marginal in the regional series. As horrible as the entry field is, one driver will go home, David Stremme, in the #30 Inception Motor Sports Toyota. Beneath #30, the only drivers who certainly have commitments to finish the race are 31^st, Brad Keselowski, #2 Dodge; 34^th, David Ragan, #34 Ford, 36^th, David Gilliand, #38 ford, and 37^th, Travis Kvapil, #93 Toyota.  Any of the remaining entries are likely to pull off the track and collect their NASCAR welfare. Additionally, more garbage lines up in the 28^th spot in the #19 Toyota driven b Mike Bliss. This shameful embarrassment to a sport that fancies itself a top tiered pro-sport must end. We say it again and again, reducing the starting field does not reduce or cheapen the competition on the track. If anything it enhances it.  If fans can’t cheer for a team to win, they should at least be able to cheer for teams that will place or improve. This isn’t complicated. It just shows a lack of commitment to quality and competition at the highest levels. How shameful it is to see a fellow who was once the model of sportsmanship, Joe Nemechek, to be hanging on as such a laughing stock for the sport where he once achieved so respectfully. The time is coming soon where Bill Elliot and Terry Labonte should be ready for Hall of Fame consideration; however, that they use their past champion provisional at times to support these fly-by-night losers certainly lessens this writer’s respect for their HOF credentials.

POS	CAR	DRIVER	MAKE	SPONSOR	SPEED
1	20	Joey Logano	Toyota	The Home Depot	179.598
2	99	Carl Edwards	Ford	Kellogg's / Cheez-it	178.866
3	27	Paul Menard	Chevrolet	Menards / Sylvania	178.582
4	18	Kyle Busch	Toyota	M&M's	178.575
5	11	Denny Hamlin	Toyota	FedEx Express	178.543
6	55	Mark Martin	Toyota	Aaron's Dream Machine	178.228
7	78	Regan Smith	Chevrolet	Furniture Row / Farm American	178.158
8	88	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	Chevrolet	National Guard / Diet Mtn Dew	177.939
9	9	Marcos Ambrose	Ford	DEWALT	177.862
10	5	Kasey Kahne	Chevrolet	Farmers Insurance	177.823
11	1	Jamie McMurray	Chevrolet	Banana Boat	177.658
12	24	Jeff Gordon	Chevrolet	DuPont	177.536
13	16	Greg Biffle	Ford	3M / Rite Aid / NextCare	177.518
14	17	Matt Kenseth	Ford	Ford EcoBoost	177.501
15	83	Landon Cassill	Toyota	Burger King Real Fruit Smoothies	177.204
16	15	Clint Bowyer	Toyota	5-hour Energy	177.026
17	42	Juan Montoya	Chevrolet	Target	176.988
18	39	Ryan Newman	Chevrolet	Haas Automation	176.852
19	22	AJ Allmendinger	Dodge	Shell / Pennzoil	176.803
20	31	Jeff Burton	Chevrolet	The Armed Forces Foundation	176.658
21	29	Kevin Harvick	Chevrolet	Rheem	176.543
22	14	Tony Stewart	Chevrolet	Mobil 1 / Office Depot	176.419
23	56	Martin Truex Jr.	Toyota	NAPA Auto Parts	176.16
24	48	Jimmie Johnson	Chevrolet	Lowe's / Kobalt Tools	176.149
25	51	David Reutimann	Chevrolet	Phoenix Construction Services	176.074
26	13	Casey Mears	Ford	GEICO	175.596
27	47	Bobby Labonte	Toyota	Bubba Burgers	175.576
28	119	Mike Bliss	Toyota	Humphrey Smith Racing	175.387
29	43	Aric Almirola	Ford	Transportatio-	175.159
				n Impact
30	98	Michael McDowell	Ford	Presbyterian Healthcare System	175.073
31	2	Brad Keselowski	Dodge	Miller Lite	174.88
32	249	J.J. Yeley	Toyota	America Israel Racing / JPO	173.943
33	87	Joe Nemechek	Toyota	AM / FM Energy Wood & Pellet	173.869
34	34	David Ragan	Ford	Taco Bell	173.853
35	26	Josh Wise*	Ford	MDS Transport	173.497
36	38	David Gilliland	Ford	ModSpace / TRG Motorsports	173.24
37	93	Travis Kvapil	Toyota	Burger King / Dr Pepper	171.854
38	23	Scott Riggs	Chevrolet	North Texas Pipe	171.52
39	74	Stacy Compton	Chevrolet	Turn One Racing / Country Suites	171.155
40	36	Tony Raines	Chevrolet	SealWrap.com	167.411
41	32	Reed Sorenson+	Ford	Herr Foods / Hero Energy Shot	-
42	10	Dave Blaney+	Chevrolet	Tommy Baldwin Racing	-
43	33	Stephen Leicht*	Chevrolet	Little Joes Auto	170.345

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