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FYI WIRZ: NASCAR’s top Chasers talk first championship race in Chicago

Author: Dwight Drum racetake.com

The players in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship are set. It’s go time for the top-12 and the top is not far from the bottom—just nine points. A total of 480 points in 10 races are available to the contenders.
The number spread looks slim under the new reduced points system, making each finishing position vital to a good run at the trophy.

A DNF (did not finish) owing to crash or equipment failure can be crown lethal because points are so hard to replace while competent others are collecting top finishes.

As in the past, expect several drivers to plunge to the bottom early in the battle for the top.
The action at the Geico 400 on the 1.5-mile tri-oval track at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois can be viewed this Sunday at 2 p.m. on ESPN.

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The Wonderful Pistachios 400 at Richmond International Raceway promised bumping and grinding on the 0.75-mile track as drivers raced for their last chance for a berth in Chase for the Sprint Cup championship Saturday night.

Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson, Carl Edwards, Jeff Gordon, Ryan Newman, Matt Kenseth, Kurt Busch and Brad Keselowski were locked into the Chase before the green flag. The final three spots were secured by Dale Earnhardt Jr., Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin. Earnhardt and Hamlin overcame wrecks to get in.

Author: Dwight Drum racetake.com

Wild-card spots were secured by Keselowski and Hamlin, but the real wildness seemed to be between Kurt Busch and Jimmie Johnson.

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FYI WIRZ: NASCAR’s Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson talk Michigan start and finish

Author: Dwight Drum racetake.com

Michigan International Speedway has sweeping 73-foot wide turns providing three and four grooves for drivers of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) to catch and pass one another.

The 2-mile tri-oval track with 18 degree banking did not disappoint during Sunday’s Pure Michigan 400 as numerous lead changes, bold pit road strategies and fast competition pleased the abundant crowd.

PHOTO CREDIT: NASCARMEDIA

Although cautions happened, the day of racing was surprisingly free of crashes. Some cars scrapped the wall. Some ran low on fuel, but it was a speedy event where equipment failed—not drivers or teams.

Race 23 of 36 in the Sprint Cup Series in Brooklyn, Mich., was important for all wanting a win or good result, but for Chase contenders on the bubble the finish became tense.

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Guest Column By Cathy Elliott

Anyone who was on the fence about the appeal of road course racing leading up to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at Watkins Glen International on August 15 must now have surely cold-shouldered the “road courses are boring” side in favor of the side simply known as “wow.”

Early on, the outlook was cloudy as the race, scheduled to be run on Sunday afternoon, was postponed until Monday morning due to wet weather.

In NASCAR, rain dampens more than the ground; it dampens the general spirit of things. Speedways rely heavily on volunteers and temporary workers to keep event weekends running smoothly, but many of those helpers must return to their “real” jobs on Monday. Fans have the same issue; some of them simply can’t stick around for a Monday race. And the teams lose a critical work day which would normally be spent getting ready for the next stop on the schedule.

Continue reading “Column: One for the Road Warriors”

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FYI WIRZ: NASCAR’s Marcos Ambrose, Brad Keselowski talk thrilling Watkins Glen

Author: Dwight Drum racetake.com

The Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at the Glen—at Watkins Glen International in Watkins Glen, N.Y—did not disappoint road course enthusiasts for the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR). Some drivers on the fast twisting turns were disappointed, but most crossed the finish line ready for the next race.

Photo credit: NASCARMEDIA

This event had Marcos Ambrose and Kyle Busch chasing one another up front and after a fierce final lap crash a physical confrontation between Boris Said and Greg Biffle. That feud will linger in story for many laps to come.

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