NASCAR Martin Truex Jr

596 posts

Sprint Cup Chase Tracker – Bristol

ChaseTrackerBristol300x400This week’s Sprint Cup Chase Tracker after Bristol holds some interesting insight into the Race to the Chase with just one more race (Atlanta) before the series travels the Road to Richmond.

Bristol is a Wild Card race en route to qualifying to compete for the Sprint Cup championship trophy and interestingly, there are three previous champions on the outside still chasing a Wild Card ticket. An intriguing note, is that all three are winless this season.

It’s also worthy to note that last year at this time, the average-finish performance was at a higher level with eventual 2012 champion Brad Keselowski consistently running an average-finish in the top-five range. This year, with the new Gen 6 car, most are outside of top-ten performance, with only two drivers (neither is NASCAR’s five-time champion) at or slightly better than top-ten results since Kentucky. Reviewing the most recent five-races, there’s only one driver in the top-five average-finish range, and most will be amazed to discover which driver.

Similar to previous Chase Tracker analysis, this week’s review includes average-finish performance of top competitors from Kentucky through Bristol – Race to the Chase – as well as, the most recent five races from Indianapolis through Bristol. Also taken into consideration is the new point standings after all the action at Bristol. Continue reading

Kenseth Clinches Chase Berth with a Win at Bristol

Matt Kenseth, driver of the #20 Dollar General Toyota, races to the checkered flag to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 53rd Annual IRWIN Tools Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on August 24, 2013  Photo - Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images
Matt Kenseth, driver of the #20 Dollar General Toyota, races to the checkered flag to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 53rd Annual IRWIN Tools Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on August 24, 2013
Photo – Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images

A familiar end to a Sprint Cup race this season – Las Vegas in March. Kansas in April – and again, Saturday night under the lights at Bristol Motor Speedway, it was Matt Kenseth holding off Kasey Kahne in the closing laps.

Kenseth won a heated battle against Kahne to claim victory in Saturday’s Irwin Tools Night Race and he did it on worn tires with his fuel tank teetering on empty. Kahne took on the challenge after taking over second-place on lap 473 of 500.

His fifth win of the season guarantees Kenseth at least a Wild Card spot in the Chase for NASCAR’s Sprint Cup.   Continue reading

Sprint Cup Chase Tracker – Michigan

ChaseTrackerMichigan300x400Sprint Cup drivers were at one of the fastest tracks on the circuit this weekend at Michigan International Speedway and with lots of action throughout the race, results are mixed for the provisional Chase field.

Once again, Chase Tracker will analyze this week’s five-race average finish – Loudon through Michigan – and the Race to the Chase average finish – Kentucky through Michigan – in addition to changes within the point standings. There are some surprising and even shocking revelations from this week’s analysis.  

Continue reading

Joey Logano Part of Chase Conversation after Michigan Win

Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 44th Annual Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan International Speedway on August 18, 2013  Photo - Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 44th Annual Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan International Speedway on August 18, 2013
Photo – Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

Starting Sunday’s Pure Michigan 400 from the pole position, and with a full afternoon of complex strategy and racing incidents, it was Joey Logano crossing the finish line first, adding his name to the Chase conversation and declaring his intention to contend in the next three races and beyond. Continue reading