8 - THE DERRICK. / The News-Herald Wednesday, February 28, 2018 NASCAR THIS WEEK

SPEED FREAKS QUESTIONS & ATTITUDE A few questions we had to ask ourselves Compelling questions ... and maybe a few actual answers How much emphasis do you put ATLANTA on Harvick’s Atlanta dominance? We still know nothing? GODSPEAK: A bunch. This was THREE THINGS WE LEARNED nothing short of a statement win We know that and for the 42-year-old driver, who now have trophies in wants to bookend that 2014 Cup the case and tickets to the even- title. tual playoffs, but in terms of who KEN’S CALL: We already has it in gear for the rest of 2018, suspected he’d be in the cham- we’re still clueless in a kinda-sorta pionship mix this year, but a way. It’s obvious that a Daytona Saturday-Sunday sweep sets that plate race tells us nothing about tone early. I put a lot of emphasis the strength of the field, but even on it. Atlanta, everyone professes, is such a different animal — with its combination of and abrasive Are you OK with a 36-car field? asphalt — that you can’t lose sleep GODSPEAK: Oh, how I miss those over a bad showing there. days of the start-and-park driv- ers. Maybe NASCAR should offer up a few more charters if it wants So, now what? more car participation. KEN’S CALL: No, they should force It’s on to Vegas, where everyone people to spend tons to race for always shows their hand. Las Vegas ounces, in order to fill out the full Motor Speedway is the norm when field. On second thought, yes, I’m it comes to all those intermediate fine with it. I’d be fine with 26, It took Kevin Harvick 17 years to make his way back to Atlanta Motor Speedway’s Victory tracks. We’ll know a whole lot more actually, if they’re quality. Lane. [AP/JOHN BAZEMORE] after this weekend. By the way, that includes the situation with Martin 1. Harvick’s house Harvick got his second win at Atlanta. “It’s Truex’s No. 78 team, which had CUP STANDINGS just how it’s meant to be,” Harvick said. some interesting issues at Atlanta, Kevin Harvick has dominated Atlanta as noted nearby on this page. You 1. 89 Motor Speedway for five years, but scored 3. Fords rebound wonder if the boys back in the 2. 83 only his second career victory there Denver shop looked at each other 3. 77 Sunday. His first win there was a few Team Ford went to Daytona with high Monday morning and said, “They 4. Kevin Harvick 75 weeks after replacing early expectations, but left without the big found us out.” 5. 74 in the 2001 season. Sunday, he led 181 of trophy. At Atlanta, Ford drivers swept 6. Austin Dillon 70 325 laps, including the final 25. the top-three finishing positions and led — Ken Willis, ken.willis 7. Martin Truex Jr. 69 the most laps. “Yeah, we looked pretty @news-jrnl.com 8. 68 2. Earnhardt tribute good, but Atlanta is a unique beast,” Ford 9. 66 driver Joey Logano said. “There’s only one 9. 66 After winning Sunday, Harvick slow-rolled Atlanta.” FEUD OF THE WEEK 11. 61 his No. 4 Ford past the grandstand hold- 12. 58 ing three fingers out the window in tribute — Godwin Kelly, godwin. VS. DENNY 13. 54 to Earnhardt. The No. 3 (Earnhardt’s car [email protected] HAMLIN: The tiff from Daytona 14. Darrell Wallace Jr. 52 number) won the Daytona opener, and continues on — but off the track. 14. Michael McDowell 52 Hamlin removed Wallace from his golf league. Wallace quit Hamlin’s NASCAR basketball team. GODWIN’S PICKS GODWIN KELLY’S TAKE: This spat FOR LAS VEGAS is going to grow, ooze and fester, THREE THINGS TO WATCH so be on the lookout for a takeout WINNER: Martin Truex Jr. in the weeks to come. “I was like, REST OF TOP 5: Kevin Harvick, 1. Truex watch ‘Whatever, I guess I’m not coming Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, back.’ That’s OK,” Wallace said. Kyle Busch Not wanting to get too technical, but did FIRST ONE OUT: William Byron NASCAR somehow wipe away Martin DARK HORSE: Ryan Blaney Truex Jr.’s advantage he enjoyed in 2017? WHAT’S ON TAP DON’T BE SURPRISED IF: Truex Truex’s No. 78 Toyota failed inspection and had a “bad day” at Atlanta and did not qualify at Atlanta. His car chief CUP SERIES: Pennzoil 400 finished fifth, so an “OK” day was expelled from the garage last Friday. SITE: should bring a victory. Seven of Truex’s eight wins last year were (1.5-mile tri-oval) on 1.5-mile ovals, including the one Vegas Martin Truex Jr. won seven races last TV SCHEDULE: Friday, practice (Fox race last spring. Truex mentioned “these season on tracks that measured 1.5 Sports 1, 2 p.m.), qualifying (Fox M O T O R M O U T H S new rules” in passing at Atlanta. Keep an miles in length, including this race at Sports 1, 7 p.m.). Saturday, practice PODCAST eye on this. Charlotte during the playoffs. Has the (, noon and 2:30 p.m.). 2018 Cup Series rule book slowed the 2017 Sunday, (Fox, coverage begins at 3 Harvick’s sweep, Vegas on deck, 2. Vegas, Part 1 champion? [AP/MIKE MCCARN] p.m.; green flag, 3:30 p.m.) and whatever else comes to mind. Las Vegas Motor Speedway used to be a at the start of a Cup Series season. Take XFINITY: Boyd Gaming 300 one-and-done on the NASCAR Cup Series. the driver standings as an example. Joey SITE: Las Vegas Motor Speedway Tune in online at This year it has a second date, and that Logano is leading with 89 points followed TV SCHEDULE: Friday, practice www.news-journalonline.com/ race kicks off the Cup Series playoffs. Look by another 20-something driver, Ryan (Fox Sports 1, 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.). daytonamotormouths for race teams to gather as much data as Blaney, who has 83 points. Meanwhile, Saturday, qualifying (Fox Sports 1, possible on their first visit as a prep for the Toyota has not won in its first two outings. 1 p.m.), race (Fox Sports 1, 4 p.m.) more important second date in September. The highest finishing Toyota at Atlanta was Vegas got the date at the expense of sister fourth-place Denny Hamlin. Hamlin was CAMPING WORLD TRUCKS: Strato- track New Hampshire Motor Speedway. the only Toyota among Daytona’s top-10 sphere 200 finishers. SITE: Las Vegas Motor Speedway 3. Weird stuff TV SCHEDULE: Friday, qualifying — Godwin Kelly, godwin. (Fox Sports 1, 6 p.m.), race (Fox Everything always feels a little different [email protected] Sports 1, 9 p.m.)

2018 SCHEDULE AND WINNERS April 29: Geico 500 at Talladega Aug. 12: Pure Michigan 400 May 6: AAA 400 at Dover Aug. 18: Night Race at Bristol Feb. 11: Clash at Daytona (Brad Keselowski) May 12: Go Bowling 400 at Kansas Sept. 2: Southern 500 at Darlington Feb. 15: Can-Am Duel at Daytona (Ryan Blaney and Chase May 19: All Star Race at Charlotte Sept. 9: Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Elliott) May 27: Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Sept. 16: Las Vegas 400 Feb. 18: (Austin Dillon) June 3: Pocono 400 Sept. 22: Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond Feb. 25: Folds of Honor 500 at Atlanta (Kevin Harvick) June 10: FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan Sept. 30: Bank of America 500(k) at Charlotte road course March 4: Kobalt 400 at Las Vegas June 24: Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Oct. 7: Delaware 400 at Dover March 11: Camping World 500(k) at Phoenix July 1: Chicago 400 at Chicagoland Oct. 14: Alabama 500 at Talladega March 18: at Fontana July 7: Coke Zero 400 at Daytona Oct. 21: Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas March 25: STP 500 at Martinsville July 14: Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Oct. 28: First Data 500 at Martinsville April 8: O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Texas July 22: New Hampshire 301 Nov. 4: Texas 500 April 15: Food City 500 at Bristol July 29: Pennsylvania 400 at Pocono Nov. 11: Can-Am 500(k) at Phoenix April 21: Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond Aug. 5: 355 at the Glen, at Watkins Glen Nov. 18: Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead

KEN WILLIS’ TOP 10 NASCAR DRIVER RANKINGS

KEVIN MARTIN DENNY JOEY LOGANO RYAN BLANEY CLINT KYLE BUSCH BRAD KYLE HARVICK TRUEX JR. HAMLIN Points leader Sixth, seventh BOWYER A good KESELOWSKI Still trying to LARSON Early end Team to watch Two top- after two in past two Atlanta show- weekend Will finish escape the Vegas to stress of at Vegas, for fives to start races … yawn Vegas starts ing was a good ahead for the second at 2018 entrance runner-up playoff ticket other reasons the year sign, we hope No. 18 To fi nd a storeVegas nearest you and subscriberamp for email lastoffers, year visit www.countryfairstores.com 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10