Down the Stretch

Yikes, it's been awhile.  Took a hiatus from the blog...again.  Well, I'm back, hopefully.

However, the 2017 NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Season has lived to the hype, and now heading to the front stretch on the regular season portion of the year.  3 races remain until the Playoffs begin.  13 drivers have locked in spots in the 2017 Playoffs and they are:

Martin Truex, Jr. (Las Vegas, Kansas, Kentucky, Watkins Glen)
Jimmie Johnson (Texas, Bristol, Dover)
Kyle Larson (Auto Club, both Michigan races)
Brad Keselowski (Atlanta, Martinsville)
Ricky Stenhouse (Talladega, July Daytona)
Kurt Busch (Daytona 500)
Ryan Newman (Phoenix)
Austin Dillon (Coke 600)
Ryan Blaney (June Pocono)
Kevin Harvick (Sonoma)
Denny Hamlin (New Hampshire)
Kasey Kahne (Brickyard 400)
Kyle Busch (July Pocono)

Look at the list and Truex, Jr. has 35 playoff points, and that also includes Stage wins.  Remember, 5 points for winning a race.  So, he really is cleared to head to Homestead, baring DNFs or bad finishes along the way in the Playoffs.  Although Kyle Busch has 1 win, he does have 14 playoff points and sits 3rd overall.  Well, that's just a little standing update, however there are 3 races left to fill spots.  Drivers like Matt Kenseth, Chase Elliott, Jamie McMurray & Clint Bowyer have yet to win a race in 2017.  Some have gotten close, some haven't had luck.  If another 1st time winner does not win in the last 3 races, drivers will be locked in based on points.  Right now, Elliott, McMurray & Kenseth would be in.

The races begin Saturday night at Bristol Motor Speedway, 500 laps of short track action.  After a week off, the series heads to famous Darlington Raceway and finally a short track showdown at Richmond Raceway.

Real quick, pretty clean Michigan race yesterday for the most part.  Keselowski won Stage 1, Truex Jr. won Stage 2.  Kasey Kahne & Daniel Suarez got into a wreck on Lap 138, which set up a pit strategy gamble among the leaders.  With 14 to go, Joey Logano (encumbered win at Richmond), cut a tire, which left debris on the track, set up a caution, a sprint to the finish.  However a wreck involving Michael McDowell & Paul Menard forced OT, it was Kyle Larson making an outside move on Truex, earning him a 3rd straight victory at Michigan.


SILLY SEASON
It's never too early to talk about 2018 rides.  With Dale Earnhardt, Jr. retiring at the end of 2017, it will be former substitute driver Alex Bowman to pilot the 88.  Kasey Kahne will part ways with Hendrick Motorsports, and taking over the 5 will be 3-time Xfinity race winner William Byron.  Erik Jones leaves Furniture Row to pilot the 20, leaving Matt Kenseth without a ride next year.  Kurt Busch's future is uncertain after Stewart-Haas Racing has made him a free agent.  Time will tell what happens in the coming weeks.


INDYCAR
When Summer Break ends next weekend, there will be a 4 races in 5 weeks sprint for the Championship.  Josef Newgarden had a dominating run at Toronto & Mid-Ohio with back-to-back wins, currently leading Helio Castroneves by 7 points and Scott Dixon by 8 points in the championship.  The top-6 drivers are only separated by 52 points and anything can happen in the final races.  The series returns to ovals Sunday at Pocono.