Dwight Drum

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2013 NASCAR Cup Series Car Goodyear Tire Test Texas Greg Biffleby Dwight Drum at Racetake.com

It’s no secret that NASCAR drivers are humans first. Not every driver has iron insides to approach each new drop of the green flag without feelings. Some get genuine butterflies; some welcome the jitters as a necessary part of the fast task at hand.

Some are unmoved by emotions even as they anticipate fast speeds on the edge. Like the population, NASCAR drivers possess a wide range of personalities. Some are easily excitable, some are stoic and steady; many react with emotions somewhere in between

Continue reading “FYI WIRZ: NASCAR’S Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch Talk Daytona Racing Emotions”

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FYI WIRZ: NASCAR’s top four Chasers hope for top results at Texas

The NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup is down to simple math: Three races remaining, 144 potential points with only one of the top four Chase leaders likely to take the prized No. 1 NSCS trophy. Two drivers are perched on peak, Jimmie Johnson and Brad Keselowski just two points apart.

by Dwight Drum at Racetake.com.

As with all great sports the math keeps adding up. This Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway drivers will wheel their stock cars at an average speed of 145 mph or more for 500 miles or 334 laps on the 1.5-mile quad-oval with 24 degree banking. Fans without tickets for one of the 122,377 seats can tune into ESPN at 2 p.m. ET.

Continue reading “FYI WIRZ: NASCAR’s top four Chasers hope for top results at Texas”

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 by Dwight Drum at Racetake.com

FYI WIRZ: NASCAR’s top Chase spots take math, experience and Talladega crashes

According to Wikipedia data, NASCAR driver appearances in the Chase for the Sprint Cup show that experience counts as top contenders tend to repeat—yet only three drivers have taken home the big prize at the Homestead-Miami finale.

The top 10 appearances go to Jimmie Johnson with nine, Tony Stewart, eight; Jeff Gordon, eight; Matt Kenseth, eight; Denny Hamlin, seven; Kurt Busch, six; Carl Edwards, six; Kevin Harvick, six; Greg Biffle, five and Dale Earnhardt Jr. with five.

Continue reading “FYI WIRZ: NASCAR’s Top Chase Spots Take Math, Experience And Talladega Crashes”

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by Dwight Drum at Racetake.com

The Chase for the Sprint Cup is getting hot for the Chasers as the season dwindles to just 384 potential points.

NASCAR’s eighth race of the Chase, the AAA 400, takes place on “The Monster Mile” at Dover International Speedway in Dover, Delaware this Sunday. Fans who don’t have a ticket for one of the 140,000 seats can view the fast intensity at 1 p.m. on ESPN.

Not all driving styles are suited to the 1.0-mile concrete oval with 24 degree banking, but current leader Jimmie Johnson with seven previous wins seems to be right at home in the bowl-like racetrack. Always a threat to cross the finish line first, Johnson will be even more scrutinized by his opponents as he seeks a six championship.

Chase contenders will be struggling to secure more points than Johnson if they are to be in contention at the finale in Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Continue reading “FYI WIRZ: Denny Hamlin, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Chasers look to Monster Dover”

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by Dwight Drum at Racetake.com

Fans like the excitement of playoffs and teams work all season to be there for them. That’s true in all sports and in NASCAR as well. The 36-race stock car racing season is months long and only the last 10 races determine the champion. Getting in the top 12 spots after 26 races is on the minds of drivers and teams at every event.

But results aren’t as crucial in the first 26 races as they are in the last 10.

Continue reading “FYI WIRZ: NASCAR’s Chase Competition Heats Up For All In Fall At Loudon”