|
 Here's a hint: The drivers of the two yellow cars in the Chase
have a number of their fellow competitors seeing red.
Matt Kenseth is the obvious first choice. Admitting later he made a
mistake in the yellow No. 20 Toyota, Kenseth spun on Lap 228 at
Martinsville, knocking Kevin Harvick into the wall and into the
cellar of the Chase standings.
"He won't win this championship," Harvick asserted after the race.
"If we don't, he won't."
Harvick has an excellent memory, and he's just as good at keeping
promises as he is at leading laps.
The driver of the other yellow car, Joey Logano, may have concerns
on more than one front. Though Logano says he and Danica Patrick
have settled their differences after a run-in at Charlotte, there
are those in Patrick's camp who aren't so sure that's the
case.
Patrick and Logano were never close together on the track at
Martinsville, but there are three races left.
Denny Hamlin, on the other hand, was close enough to give Logano a
few strategic bumps at Martinsville, but Logano repeatedly
frustrated Hamlin's efforts to pass.
No doubt Hamlin remembers the hard ride he took into the concrete at
Fontana after contact from Logano. That accident sidelined Hamlin
for four races.
So don't be shocked if Hamlin tries to sideline Logano's title
chances. Maybe as soon as this Sunday at Texas (3 p.m. ET on ESPN).
@nascarcasm
-- Jeff Gordon isn't upset at Dale Earnhardt Jr. for winning that
race. In fact, Jeff came by victory lane and kindly offered to clean
his clock for him.
--The leaves and Stewart-Hass Racing pit crews -- two things that
always change during the Fall.
--You'll hear TV announcers say "(Driver name) isn't making any
friends out on track today." Because so often drivers leave
Martinsville exchanging phone numbers and making plans to hang out
more.
--Kasey Kahne clearly still mad he didn't make the Eliminator Round
- probably because the Eliminator Round has a "MUST BE 21 OR OLDER
TO ENTER" sign hanging on it.
(Follow @nascarcasm on Twitter. His unique views on NASCAR are his
own - but chances are you have probably figured that out by now.)
NASCAR NUMBERS
33: Kevin Harvick's point deficit to Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup
leader Jeff Gordon after contact from Matt Kenseth rocketed Harvick
into the outside wall on Lap 228 at Martinsville. Last in the Chase
standings, Harvick likely faces a must-win scenario at Texas or
Phoenix to keep his title hopes alive.
10: The number of top-five finishes recorded by Chase driver Joey
Logano in the last 14 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races. During that
stretch, Logano has won twice in the Chase and earned four other top
fives in seven Chase races. His worst finish in the last 14 races
was 14th at Atlanta.
4: The number of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victories recorded this
season by Dale Earnhardt Jr., the first time Earnhardt has won more
than one race in a year since collecting a career-best six victories
in 2004. Earnhardt added to his stellar year on Sunday with his
first career win at Martinsville.
4: The finishing position of Tony Stewart in the Goody's Headache
Relief Shot 500 on Sunday at Martinsville. Staying out on old tires
for a restart with five laps left, Stewart surrendered the lead on
Lap 497 of 500 but held fourth at the finish for his best result
since March at Bristol.
5: The current number of consecutive top-10 finishes posted by Chase
driver Ryan Newman, who has remained in contention for the
championship with solid, consistent performances. Newman has run
eighth, sixth, seventh, fifth and third in the last five Chase
races.
NASCAR NOTES
Jeff Gordon (+7 points ahead of the cutoff) placed second at
Martinsville to lead all eight championship-qualifying drivers in
the first race of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup's Eliminator
Round. Chase contenders Ryan Newman (+4, third), Joey Logano (+3,
fifth), Matt Kenseth (+2, sixth) and Denny Hamlin (-2, eighth) each
posted top-10 finishes to begin the final stretch towards Homestead.
Carl Edwards (-15, 20th), Brad Keselowski (-26, 31st) and Kevin
Harvick (-28, 33rd) had tough-luck showings and essentially must win
one of the next two races to advance to the Championship Round. ...
Barring epic collapses from the drivers ahead of them, Brad
Keselowski, Kevin Harvick and Carl Edwards need to win at either
Texas or Phoenix to keep their championship hopes alive. Edwards
boasts three victories at Texas and two at Phoenix, while Harvick
has never won at Texas, but has taken the checkered flag in three of
the last four Phoenix races. Keselowski claims no wins at either
track, but leads the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with six victories
this season. ... A week after being eliminated from the Chase for
the NASCAR Sprint Cup, Dale Earnhardt Jr. took the checkered flag at
Martinsville to became the first non-championship-qualifying driver
to win a race in NASCAR's playoffs this season. The victory marked
his first Martinsville triumph in 30 starts, and his first win
during the Chase since November of 2004 at Phoenix. Earnhardt's four
wins this season are his most since 2004.
NASCAR On Television, Oct. 27 - Nov. 2
Monday, October 27
5 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FOX Sports 1
6:30 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub (re-air), FOX Sports 2
7 p.m., NASCAR America, NBC Sports Network
7:30 p.m., The 10: NASCAR's Most Bizarre Moments (re-air), FOX
Sports 2
Tuesday, October 28
7 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBC Sports Network
8 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBC Sports Network
5 p.m., NASCAR America, NBC Sports Network
5 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FOX Sports 1
6:30 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub (re-air), FOX Sports 2
7:30 p.m., The 10: Greatest Comebacks in NASCAR History (re-air),
FOX Sports 2
9 p.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race at Martinsville
(re-air), FOX Sports 1
3 a.m. (Wed.), NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race at
Martinsville (re-air), FOX Sports 1
Wednesday, October 29
7 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBC Sports Network
7:30 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBC Sports Network
8 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBC Sports Network
8:30 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBC Sports Network
5 p.m., NASCAR America, NBC Sports Network
5 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FOX Sports 1
6:30 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub (re-air), FOX Sports 2
Thursday, October 30
7 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBC Sports Network
7:30 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBC Sports Network
8 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBC Sports Network
8:30 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBC Sports Network
5 p.m., NASCAR America, NBC Sports Network
5 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FOX Sports 1
6:30 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub (re-air), FOX Sports 2
7:30 p.m., The 10: NASCAR's Wildest Throw-Downs (re-air), FOX Sports
2
Friday, October 31
7 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBC Sports Network
7:30 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBC Sports Network
8 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBC Sports Network
8:30 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBC Sports Network
10:30 a.m., The 10: Greatest Soundbites in NASCAR History (re-air),
FOX Sports 1
11 a.m., NASCAR Race Hub Special (re-air), FOX Sports 1
[to top of second column]
|
Noon, NASCAR Nationwide Series Practice, FOX Sports 1
1 p.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Practice, FOX Sports 1
2:30 p.m., NASCAR Live, FOX Sports 1
3 p.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Keystone Light Pole
Qualifying, FOX Sports 1
4:30 p.m., NASCAR Nationwide Series Practice, ESPN2
6:30 p.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying,
ESPN2
8 p.m., NCWTS SetUp, FOX Sports 1
8:30 p.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race at Texas, FOX
Sports 1
4 a.m. (Sat.), NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race at Texas
(re-air), FOX Sports 1
Saturday, November 1
6 a.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Practice (re-air), FOX Sports 2
7:30 a.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race at Texas (re-air),
FOX Sports 2
10 a.m., NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Race at Thompson, FOX Sports 1
11 a.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Practice, FOX Sports 1
Noon, NASCAR Nationwide Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying, FOX
Sports 2
1:30 p.m., NASCAR Live, FOX Sports 2
2 p.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Final Practice,FOX Sports 2
3:30 p.m., NASCAR Nationwide Series Race at Texas, ESPN2
10:30 p.m., The 10: NASCAR's Wildest Throw-Downs (re-air), FOX
Sports 2
11 p.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Practice (re-air),FOX Sports 2
Midnight (Sun.), NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Final Practice (re-air),
FOX Sports 2
1 a.m. (Sun.), NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Race at Thompson, FOX
Sports 2
Sunday, November 2
10 a.m., NSCS Practice (re-air), FOX Sports 2
11 a.m., NSCS Final Practice (re-air), FOX Sports 2
1 p.m., NASCAR RaceDay, FOX Sports 1
2 p.m., NSCS Countdown, ESPN
3 p.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race at Texas, ESPN
8:30 p.m., NASCAR Victory Lane, FOX Sports 1
1:30 a.m. (Mon.), NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race at Texas (re-air),
ESPN2
NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
The Next Race: AAA Texas 500
The Place: Texas Motor Speedway
The Date/Time: Sunday, Nov. 2, 3 p.m. (ET)
TV: ESPN
Radio: PRN, Sirius XM Channel 90
NASCAR NATIONWIDE SERIES
The Next Race: O'Reilly Auto Parts Challenge
The Place: Texas Motor Speedway
The Date/Time: Saturday, Nov. 1, 3:30 p.m. (ET)
TV: ESPN2
Radio: PRN, Sirius XM Channel 90
NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES
The Next Race: Winstar World Casino and Resort 350
The Place: Texas Motor Speedway
Date/Time: Friday, Oct. 31, 8:30 p.m. (ET)
TV: FOX Sports 1
Radio: MRN, Sirius XM Channel 90
NASCAR National Series Standings
The Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup field was trimmed down to eight
for the Contender Round, after the four winless drivers with the
lowest points totals following Talladega were eliminated.
Points for all championship-qualifying drivers, regardless of
Contender Round victories, were reset to 4,000.
This year, wins matter more than in any season in the 65-year
history of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Just like the previous
Chase segments, a victory in the three-race Eliminator Round
automatically advances a championship-qualifying driver into the
Championship Round event at Homestead.
At the conclusion of the Eliminator Round's third race (Phoenix),
the four winless drivers with the lowest points totals will again be
dropped from the Chase.
Chase Standings (points)
1. Jeff Gordon (4,044)
2. Ryan Newman (4,041)
3. Joey Logano (4,040)
4. Matt Kenseth (4,039)
5. Denny Hamlin (4,037)
6. Carl Edwards (4,024)
7. Brad Keselowski (4,013)
8. Kevin Harvick (4,011)
NASCAR Nationwide Series (Points)
1. Chase Elliott # (1,106)
2. Regan Smith (1,064)
3. Brian Scott (1,045)
4. Elliott Sadler (1,043)
5. Ty Dillon # (1,042)
6. Trevor Bayne (1,008)
7. Chris Buescher # (912)
8. Brendan Gaughan (875)
9. Ryan Reed # (820)
10. James Buescher (792)
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (Points)
1. Matt Crafton (716)
2. Ryan Blaney (698)
3. Darrell Wallace Jr. (694)
4. Johnny Sauter (676)
5. Timothy Peters (639)
6. German Quiroga Jr. (608)
7. Joey Coulter (607)
8. Ben Kennedy # (590)
9. Jeb Burton (587)
10. Ron Hornaday Jr. (494)
-----------------------------------------------
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