Tag Archives: NASCAR

NASCAR

Sports Oddities #4: Brett Bodine

This series of articles focuses on a bizzaro or oddball statistical anomaly that played in professional sports. I probably will run out of players to do this with eventually though. This is the 4th edition of Sports Oddities!

Brett Bodine was a journeyman NASCAR Winston Cup driver who was solidly in the middle of the pack week in and week out. He had finished in the Top 5 three times out of seventy-eight races in his career thus far. Then came the First Union 400 at North Wilkesboro in the spring of 1990.

Dale Earnhardt led late and Bodine, who was having a solid day and had a shot to earn a fourth career top five finish and even sneak into the Top 10 in the Winston Cup points standings. He pitted a little earlier than the leaders and since North Wilkesboro is a small race track, he ended up being lapped. A caution would come out a short time later and the pace car incorrectly picked up the wrong car as the leader. That was Bodine. Suddenly, Bodine had the lead spot and fresher tires than everyone else and was able to win his first (and it turns out only) career NASCAR Winston Cup race over Darrell Waltrip.

How could such a scoring error happen? In 1990 NASCAR didn’t have their electronic scoring loops like they do today. Hilariously, Bodine claimed he was the leader all along. Waltrip complained to NASCAR Chairman Bill France, who told him that “you’ll win tons more races but leave Bodine alone, this is his first one”. Crazy that something like that would stand.

Brett Bodine’s final career stat line: 480 starts, 61 top 10s, 16 top 5s.

And one win.

NASCAR

NASCAR Killed Its Regular Season

NASCAR has made its regular season mean nothing.

It’s unfortunate too. Before the elimination format I was perfectly fine with the Chase. Sure, the traditional points standings, the system used from the 1970s through 2003, probably determined the correct Sprint Cup Champion in regards to consistency and skill. But at least the Chase had a reasonable cut off, either the top 10 drivers or the top 10 and two other wildcards. Those wildcards kept the regular season exciting as drivers went for wins. And while the Chase would take away that consistency required to win the title as opposed to years prior, it still felt like the best driver was taking it each year (well, except for 2004 I guess and maybe 2011). And some of those wildcard races really felt like they mattered. Anyone remember when Jeff Gordon missed in 2005? Or when Tony Stewart missed in 2006? Adding the wildcard made it feel like there were real stakes every week at least.

But now with the Top 16 drivers getting in, NASCAR’s regular season means absolutely nothing. The biggest drama in 2014 was what? Aric Amirola’s silly Daytona Night victory or A.J. Allmendinger’s Road Course win to clinch a berth? Neither man was going to be a title threat. 2015 had the lucky story of whether or not Kyle Busch would get in because he missed the first quarter of the season with an injury. He got in with ease and ended up winning the title. Kyle got there because it’s all about the wins now to get in now (but ironically, not when it’s time to actually race for the title). Otherwise, why should I care about any of these races? Carl Edwards won Bristol today to clinch his Chase spot. Not like it mattered, even if he didn’t win all season he was getting in either way. Other winners so far this year? Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin and Brad Keselowski. All guys who most likely would have been in the Top 16 anyway. I remember my favorite driver winning the 2014 Daytona 500, then realizing that I didn’t need to really care about the next 25 races for him since he was in the playoffs already. Right now if I’m a Jimmie Johnson or Kyle Busch fan, why do I need to follow anything in NASCAR until the playoffs begin? There just isn’t a reason to.

Kyle Busch made a mockery of the regular season last year, and in a way so did Ryan Newman the year before. Now I understand that regular seasons in sports really don’t matter that much anyway, but with NASCAR each of their races is supposed to be an event (unlike the NFL, where there are 15 games going at once each weekend). Each race is supposed to be important and at this point it’s just not. When Kyle Busch won the title, he showed just how much the regular season meant despite missing 11 of the 26 regular season races, he killed NASCAR’s regular season for good. It simply doesn’t matter.

NASCAR

The 2015 NASCAR Chase For Cup Finale…and a Good Bye to Jeff Gordon

And then there were four. Four drivers, each with a tremendous storyline attached to them that makes the 2015 NASCAR season finale enthralling. Jeff Gordon, Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr., Kevin Harvick each have a legitimate chance at the Championship. Let’s look at these four Championship contenders and how they got here.

           Martin Truex Jr.: Truex is easily the least accomplished of the four. With only three career victories to his name, the idea of Truex being a Championship contender is surprising. Hell, no one really had him even in the Chase much less in the Final Four. Furniture Row racing was a low budget team that came to the forefront when Kurt Busch had nearly worn out his welcome with NASCAR. Busch was able to give Furniture Row a good season which got them on the map. Busch bolted, and an at the time disgraced Truex joined. Truex of course was involved in the Clint Bowyer-Jeff Gordon-Ryan Newman Chase dilemma where Bowyer purposely spun out to give Truex a spot (which was overturned). Truex had a bad year in 2014, finishing 24th in points. He shockingly started with 14 top 10s out of 15 races this year and won at Pocono. He got to the Chase with pure consistency: 13th, 8th, 11th in Round 1, 3rd, 15th and 7th in Round 2 and 6th, 8th, 14th in Round 3. Fortunately for Truex, he’s done quite well at Homestead in his career, with 3 Top 5s, 7 Top 10s (8 Top 11s) in 10 starts there. If things go wrong for the other contenders a solid 5th can win the title. I don’t think he will, but expect him to finish as a runner-up in the standings. If you like underdogs, Truex is your pick.

             Kyle Busch: What a wild ride for Kyle Busch. He started the season with a broken leg, came back 12 races later and had to manage to both get a top 30 points finish and win a race. He won 4 races and got in the top 30 with races to spare. Unlike in the past, Busch did well enough in the Chase to have a shot at the end. 9th, 37th and 2nd in Round 1. 20th, 5th and 11th in Round 2. Finally, a strong 5th, 4th and 4th in Round 3. Kyle’s never really run well at Homestead, he has one top 5 in 10 starts (a 4th in 2012). But, I think this is Kyle’s time. Expect Kyle to be in the hunt as he’s starting third. He should be up front almost all day and might even take the whole race down. There has been a lot of inconsistent frustration with Kyle, but he’s put it all together this time. He’s my pick to win the Championship.

            Kevin Harvick: Seemingly the favorite for sure. Harvick of course won Phoenix and then this race last year to win the title. Harvick’s been great all year; 27 Top 10s is a pretty great number, but I can’t help but feel that his Chase that been a bit disappointing. He had to win at Dover to get into Round 2 (42nd, 21st and 1st), he outright caused a wreck at Talladega that if it has been three seconds later he’d miss the next round (as Dale Earnhardt Jr. would have probably won and took Harvick’s spot) with a 2nd, 16th and 15th. He did have a strong last round with an 8th, 3rd and 2nd. Still, I like Kyle’s momentum better for whatever reason. Harvick has been consistently great at Homestead throughout his career. A win, five Top 3s, 6 Top 5s, 12 Top 10s in 14 starts. So maybe I’m crazy for not picking him. Anyway, if you like the start of a potentially new dynasty, Harvick is your guy.

            Jeff Gordon: Like him or hate him, it is absolutely incredible that the great Jeff Gordon’s last race allows him to race for a Championship. It hasn’t been Gordon’s greatest season (far from it really), but he’s pulled the rich man’s Ryan Newman from last year with a 14th, 7th and 12th, followed by an 8th, 10th and 3rd. He outright won Martinsville and followed that with a 9th and a 6th. So he’s running well. I think we’re getting an 8th place which probably doesn’t win the title though. Gordon does have some Homestead credentials though. He won here in 2012, has 7 Top 5s, and 12 Top 10s in 16 starts. He’s the sentimental favorite, and a Championship win to cap off an amazing career where he’s arguably a top 3 NASCAR driver of all time (I could see arguments for 1st honestly) would be incredible.

I think Kyle Busch finishes 2nd, Truex 4th,  Harvick 5th and Gordon 8th . Before the Chase I picked Harvick to win this race, but I don’t quite feel it. I think Jimmie Johnson makes a statement with a win here.

One more thing. All NASCAR fans, whether they loved or hated Jeff Gordon, has to thank and respect him for what he did. He did in the late 90s with Tiger Woods did for golf, what Magic, Bird and Jordan did for the NBA. NASCAR became a huge deal because of Jeff Gordon. Gordon’s late 90s run was up there with the most impressive dynasties in any professional sport (Gordon from 1994 through 2001: 58 victories, four Championships (’95, ’97, ’98, ’01), a runner up (’96), three Brickyard 400s (’94, ’98, ’01) and Two Daytona 500s (’97, ’99). He ended up with a staggering 93 victories, added the 2005 Daytona 500, 2004 and 2014 Brickyard 400s. And maybe, just maybe he adds the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup. I know I’ll be rooting for him. Thank you Jeff Gordon.

NASCAR

Predicting the 2015 Chase for the Cup

First let’s look at our sixteen Chase drivers.

1. Jimmie Johnson (4 W, 11 T5, 17 T10): It is impossible to ever count out Jimmie Johnson in any Chase scenario and to me, he’s probably the second favorite this year. Jimmie has 25 career Chase wins in the 11 years the Chase has been run. That’s more than double 2nd place (Tony Stewart, 11). Jimmie won at Texas, Dover and Kansas this year and all three are Chase races.

2. Kyle Busch (4 W, 6 T5, 9 T10): Kyle put up those statistics in merely 15 starts, so you can argue he’s in fact been the best driver on the circuit this year. Here’s why I’m not counting Kyle as a Championship contender just yet: He’s historically been a disappointment come Chase time. He has one victory in the Chase and that happened early in his career when he wasn’t a Chase participant. He’s had huge regular seasons before and came up way short (like in 2008). Prove it to me Kyle.

3. Matt Kenseth (4 W, 10 T5, 16 T10): The class of the Gibbs cars that on paper look to be dominating this season. Kenseth got hot late this season and is obviously a contender…but unlike Johnson all of his victories came at tracks that aren’t in the Chase. I wouldn’t count him out though.

4. Joey Logano (3 W, 16 T5, 20 T10): Sliced Bread just keeps getting better, posting a ridiculous a great 8.6 average finish this season. Logano is right up there with Johnson for me in terms of being the second favorite. He almost won this thing last year and won at New Hampshire and Kansas. Wouldn’t be surprised to see him in the final four again.

5. Kevin Harvick (2 W, 18 T5, 22 T10): Easily the favorite. Has twelve top 2 finishes this season, which is insane. Harvick’s season so far has reflected the poor man’s version of Jeff Gordon’s 1998 season. He had three wins in the Chase alone last year, including the last two races. Make no mistake, he’s the driver to beat.

6. Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2 W, 12 T5, 17 T10): A real dark horse to win it all this year. He has Talladega where he’s the favorite to win and is a cut off race. He won the Martinsville race after he was eliminated last year. He’s won at Texas and Phoenix in his career. I can’t say he’s a true contender though and he’s been historically subpar at Homestead though.

7. Kurt Busch (2 W, 8 T5, 14 T10): Probably a favorite to land somewhere in the 5th through 8th range. He’s had hot streaks in the late races before, but that was a long time ago.

8. Carl Edwards (2 W, 3 T5, 9 T10): Picked up a fuel mileage win at Charlotte that no one really took seriously, but then proved critics wrong with his win at Darlington. Nonetheless, he’ll need to be more consistent to have a shot at Homestead. I don’t see it.

9. Brad Keselowski (1 W, 6 T5, 18 T10): Keselowski seems like the guy who knows what he has to do in order to advance in this thing…I was probably the only fan who thought the way he drove last year was the right way to do it. He’s been more consistent this year, and perhaps maybe that’s his plan to get to the end? We’ll see.

10. Martin Truex Jr. (1 W, 7 T5, 17 T10): Kudos to Truex for having what seems to be the best season of his career. He peaked way too early with his top 10 streak and has fallen apart since then. My pick for the driver to have a Ryan Newman in 2014 type run.

11. Denny Hamlin (1 W, 9 T5, 13 T10): Another darkhorse to win it all. Hamlin’s had strong Chase runs before and was in the final four last year. As for his torn ACL, I recall him winning a few years ago with a broken leg or something, no? Always a threat at Martinsville (won there in the Spring), to which if he’s alive and wins there he’ll be in the final 4 again.

12. Jamie McMurray (2 T5, 7 T10): Finally! McMurray makes his first Chase. And while I’m counting him out as his resume is a good reason we need to slightly limit the Chase, McMurray does have an outside chance of doing something here. He absolutely can win Talladega (won there in 2009 and 2013). So we’ll see.

13. Jeff Gordon (3 T5, 13 T10): The sentimental favorite, and of course you can’t count out someone like Jeff Gordon, but it will be an uphill climb for him. Nonetheless he’s a threat to win everywhere and with solid finishes he could find himself at the end.

14. Ryan Newman (4 T5, 12 T10): Ultimately his big point penalty didn’t mean anything. I guess he could “Newman” the Chase again. He finished 2nd at Homestead last year so if he somehow gets there he has a legit shot to win it all.

15. Paul Menard (2 T5, 4 T10): Let’s be clear, if Menard wins the format needs to be revamped again.

16. Clint Bowyer ( 2 T5, 11 T10): Has the talent to make something happen in the Chase. Definitely a Talladega threat. Not sure how much his team has left though.

This is how I see the Chase breaking down.

Harvick makes a point and wins Chicagoland, Logano takes New Hampshire and Kurt Busch proves he’s a contender and wins Dover. He lose Menard, McMurray, Bowyer and Edwards. Jeff Gordon shows he’s not done and wins Charlotte, Kansas goes to Johnson and McMurray wins Talladega, although it’s too late for him. We lose Newman, Hamlin, Kyle Busch and Keselowski, who never got it going. Dale Jr. repeats at Martinsville, Johnson wins at Texas and Harvick takes Phoenix. Gordon, Kenseth, Kurt Busch and Truex Jr. go out. This leaves Dale Jr., Johnson, Logano and Harvick. Harvick outright wins again, taking home a 2nd straight title while Logano finishes in the top 5 (and 2nd in the standings), Johnson ends up about 10th and Dale Jr. ends up in the 20s.

It probably won’t shake out this way…but that’s how I’m calling it! Let’s hope we get an entertaining Chase!

NASCAR

This Day In Sports 4-29: Rusty Wallace wins on Dale Earnhardt’s Birthday (2001)

The 2001 Daytona 500 still goes down as the darkest race in NASCAR’s history. With the death of Dale Earnhardt, NASCAR had been changed forever.

Everyone remembers Dale Jr.’s emotional victory at the Pepsi 400 at Daytona. What’s less remembered is Rusty Wallace‘s 54th career victory at Fontana on what would have been Earnhardt’s 50th birthday.

Bitter rivals on the track and great friends off it, Earnhardt and Wallace battled throughout the late 80s and early 90s, competing for Winston Cups. Earnhardt ultimately won that battle, but Wallace more than held his own.

Rusty paid tribute to Earnhardt on his birthday with a polish victory lap while waving the famed #3.

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This Day in Sports 4-6: Jeff Burton Wins His First Sprint (Winston) Cup Race at Texas (1997)

Once he got the chance, Jeff Burton showed he could be a top driver in NASCAR’s top series as a part of Roush Racing. This was the first of his 21 career wins. The 1997 season was the first of four top five in the points seasons for Burton as well.

As a bonus, this was the inaugural race at Texas Motor Speedway as well. Burton’s victory proved that Texas was a Roush stronghold, as they would win five of the first ten races here (Burton in ’97, Mark Martin in ’98, Matt Kenseth in ’02, Greg Biffle, ’05, Carl Edwards in ’05).

Anyway, here is the race in it’s entirety!