by Dwight Drum at Racetake.com

It’s been a good week for Tony Stewart. The winner of the Coke Zero 400 in Daytona was also voted as “Best Driver” in the Espy Awards on ESPN.

Tony Stewart is rockin’ and rollin’ again after struggling during part of the 2012 NASCAR season and joins Brad Keselowski in the elite three-win club. Wins will weigh heavy after Richmond when selected contenders line up for the 10-race playoff.

Continue reading “FYI WIRZ: NASCAR’s Matt Kenseth Leads, Tony Stewart Leaps, Others Steady”

by Dwight Drum at Racetake.com

After NASCAR’s Sonoma road-course 16 of 36 races are in the books and 10 races remain before the final dozen contenders are set for the Chase for the Sprint Cup. Clint Bowyer is coming off a strong Infineon Raceway win that upped his chances to be among those who can grasp a championship.

Bowyer was already looking ahead even as he spoke during post-race media obligations about Sonoma. Daytona loomed in his mind.

“You hear us talk about the Chase, points are so valuable,” Bowyer said. “We have two of those wild-card races here almost within three weeks. Daytona coming up on the 4th, we all have our eyes on that, too, because we all know the consequences between a good run and a bad run there.”

Continue reading “FYI WIRZ: NASCAR’s Clint Bowyer And More Rock And Drop As Points Get Precious”

FYI WIRZ: NASCAR’s Dale Earnhardt Jr. takes big win into right turns at Sonoma

Junior Nation fans are likely to be still singing winning praises or at least humming occasionally after of the long drought of Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s visit to victory lane ended in Michigan last week. Now Earnhardt must take that huge wave of elation to the twisting left and right turns of the Sonoma road course at Infineon Raceway.

by Dwight Drum at Racetake.com

Bulky NASCAR Sprint Cup stock cars aren’t really suited to sports car tracks, but the challenge and the thrill creates drama for Infineon Raceway and Watkins Glen International races during the long NSCS season.

Continue reading “FYI WIRZ: NASCAR’S Dale Earnhardt Jr. Takes Big Win Into Right Turns At Sonoma”

by Dwight Drum at Racetake.com
Matt Kenseth’s consistent finishes boosted his team to the top spot in the NASCAR Sprint Cup standings this week with Dale Earnhardt Jr. in second, just 10 points behind.
The long Sprint Cup season continues with race 15 this Sunday with the Quicken Loans 400 on the 2.0-mile tri-oval track at Michigan International Speedway.
Fans not in the Brooklyn, Michigan stands on June 17 can view the action at 12 p.m. ET on TNT.
Newly repaved surfaces like Daytona, Pocono and now Michigan have produced smooth fast laps. The wide track with 18 degree banking at Michigan International Speedway gives new meaning to wicked fast as NSCS cars breached the 200 mph mark in testing this week.

FYI WIRZ: NASCAR’s Dale Earnhardt Jr. advances while Kyle Busch drops

by Dwight Drum at Racetake.com

After every point event, Sprint Cup drivers and teams move up as others slide. That’s normal in motorsports—but it’s worthy of a race-to-race focus.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Matt Kenseth have been relentlessly consistent this season. Kasey Kahne and Aric Almirola have overcome early poor results with Kayne’s recent win and Almirola’s pole. Kyle Busch has been getting top finishes recently but engine failure stopped that during the last race in Dover.

Mechanical woes have plagued Tony Stewart and Carl Edwards often. They struggle. Juan Montoya and Jamie McMurray haven’t shared the success that their Ganassi Racing mates in IndyCar racing have and dropped once again.

Continue reading “FYI WIRZ: NASCAR’s Dale Earnhardt Jr. Advances While Kyle Busch Drops”