NASCAR Podcast
SHOW #174 – Kyle Petty joins us on this weeks show, as always he offers up some great insight. We also recap Richmond, rundown the Top 12 drivers, and preview the first Chase Race at Chicagoland. Hosted by Kerry Murphey and Paul Northrop
(About 46 mins)
LISTEN HERE
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Continue reading “The Final Lap #174 – Guest Kyle Petty Makes Chase Picks”
14 Drivers, Three Spots, One Race
In no time at all, the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series regular season will be no more. Its ending will fit perfectly with its beginning, and everything in between.
What started with Trevor Bayne’s stirring victory in the Daytona 500, continued with a record-tying finish at Talladega Superspeedway, a mix of victories from usual suspects (Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson, etc.) and newbies (Regan Smith, Paul Menard, David Ragan and Marcos Ambrose) and Jeff Gordon’s historic 85th victory all ends this Saturday night at Richmond International Raceway.
CHASE SCENARIOS – LISTEN HERE
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At what many call the perfect track, we could all see the perfect ending.
So much is known about the makeup of the 2011 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Yet, so much can still happen. Nine of the 12 spots are locked up. The top eight drivers – Johnson, Busch, Carl Edwards, Matt Kenseth, Gordon, Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch and Ryan Newman – have each clinched at top-10 spot. Brad Keselowski, with three wins, has locked up at least a Wild Card berth.
After Saturday night’s race, the top 10 drivers make up the first part of the 12-driver Chase. Spots 11 and 12 go to those drivers outside the top 10 with the most wins, provided they are in the top 12. The
Wild Card tiebreaker is points position.
Only three spots remain. And thanks to the Wild Card factor – which is in its inaugural year – a whopping 14 drivers remain mathematically eligible.
In terms of drivers outside the top 10, positions 11-23 are all mathematically eligible for a Chase nod. In 2005, seven drivers outside the top 10 still had a mathematical chance, the previous high going into Richmond.
A tale of the tape of the 14…
Continue reading “Richmond, The Chase: 14 Drivers, 3 Spots Remain”
SHOW #173 – We recap Jeff Gordon’s 85th career win from Atlanta Motor Speedway. Plus we get you all set up for Richmond, and every possible Chase Scenario. Hosted by Kerry Murphey and Paul Northrop
(About 34 mins)
LISTEN HERE
[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/finallap/tfl_podcast_173_11.mp3]
Continue reading “The Final Lap #173 – Richmond NASCAR Chase Scenarios”
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Sept. 6, 2011) – With only one race remaining until the 12-driver Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup is set, eight drivers have clinched a top-10 spot – Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, Matt Kenseth, Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch and Ryan Newman. Brad Keselowski, with three victories, has clinched at least a Wild Card berth. He remains eligible to earn a top-10 spot.
Don’t feel like reading? LISTEN HERE
Heading into the final race of the regular season, here are the clinch scenarios for the remaining three Chase spots.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Earnhardt is currently 25 points ahead of 11th place. Regardless of any other driver’s finish, Earnhardt will clinch if he finishes:
· 20th or better
· 21st or better and leads at least one lap
· 22nd or better and leads the most laps
Continue reading “Clinch Scenarios for Richmond, Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup”
Sprint Summer Showdown Enters Finale
Sprint’s unique bonus program comes to an end this weekend, and it sets up to be an intriguing finale. The winners of Indianapolis (Paul Menard), Pocono (Brad Keselowski), Watkins Glen (Marcos Ambrose), Michigan (Kyle Busch) and Bristol (Keselowski again) are all eligible to win the $3 million bonus at Atlanta.
If one of those drivers wins Sunday’s race, a million dollars will be split evenly between the driver, the driver’s charity and one lucky fan. If Keselowski wins, the $1 million will be split evenly among two fans.
Wild Card And Bonus Points Up For Grabs
After race No. 26, the top-10 drivers will set up the first portion of the 12-driver Chase field. Spots 11 and 12 will go to those drivers with the most wins, provided they are inside the top 20.
Currently, Brad Keselowski (three wins) and Denny Hamlin (one win) reside in the two Wild Card spots.
After the Chase field is set, all drivers will have their points reset to 2,000, but only the top 10 will earn three bonus points for each regular season win. Currently, Kyle Busch leads with four wins – and 12 bonus points.
Only six bonus points – three per win – remain in this season.
Defending Winner Stewart Seeks Redemption
Atlanta comes at a nice time for Tony Stewart.
The two-time champion finished 28th at Bristol after starting 42nd. Clearly, it wasn’t one of Stewart’s best races. But last year’s race at Atlanta was – he ‘smoked’ the field, leading 176 laps.
Stewart, in 10th, enjoys a cushion of just 21 points over 11th-place Keselowski.
Newman: Milestone Pole Awaits
This weekend, a major track milestone will fall.
Newman, known for his qualifying prowess, is looking to win his eighth career pole. Currently, Newman is tied with NASCAR great Buddy Baker, a driver for whom Newman has great admiration.
The Final Lap Weekly 