8 – THE DERRICK. / The News-Herald Wednesday, June 24, 2015

QUESTIONS & ATTITUDE Compelling questions ... and maybe a few actual answers

SPEED FREAKS 3 questions we THINGS WE LEARNED had to ask — ourselves DURING THE OFF-WEEK Associated Press file/RONDA CHURCHILL 3 Time to panic? Junior Earnhardt What does Junior’s has hinted at retirement after engagement do to getting engaged to Amy Reimann. the fan base? Who’s riding higher, Amy or ROB’S RAMBLINGS: As Erik? long as he doesn’t take Flip a coin. Both are coming off the her name when they biggest weeks of their lives (call it marry, he should be fine. a hunch). The immediate headlines KEN’S CALL: Nothing at for both indicate great things for the all. His fan base wasn’t near and long term — Amy Reimann built on officially became engaged to NAS- matinee-idol looks, you CAR’s leading man, know. Jr.; , at 19, confirmed his “future star” label by sweeping the How long before Trucks and Xfinity Series races at follows Iowa and . In Junior’s lead? the aftermath, it’s hugs for Amy and backslaps for Erik. ROB’S RAMBLINGS: Don’t want to say he’s What’s it all mean? no spring chicken, but For Erik Jones, this validates the if the firesuit fits ... May faith had in him when be time to step up his Jones was hired (at age 17, by the game. way) to drive Kyle’s Truck Series en- KEN’S CALL: If he waits try. He’s in the stable and any longer, he’ll be do- is certainly pointed toward the Cup ing Singles Night at The Series. Problem is, there’s no room Villages. Associated Press/NAM Y. HUH in the main barn at Gibbs, where the Who do you like at What’s next for Erik Jones after sweeping the Trucks and Xfinity races last weekend? show ponies are Busch, Denny Ham- NASCAR fans are anxious to find out. lin, and . Sonoma? Then again, those things can change ROB’S RAMBLINGS: once the shadows start to grow long Sorry, Jeff, I’m jumping 1. Junior a romantic? 2. Dillon gets a makeover 3. Jones’ sweet sweep on existing contracts. ship. Defending win- Florence, Paris, Santorini, Starting this weekend, Austin Trucks and Xfinity success And for Amy? ner Carl Edwards has Venice ... there’s lots of ro- Dillon will drive under new doesn’t always mean Cup The engagement, while a long time finished in the top three mantic places in Europe. But crew chief Richard “Slugger” success, but you have to be in three of his past four coming, was no surprise. The bigger Germany? We’ll still give Dale Labbe. A former Xfinity Series thinking, “What’s up with this news, perhaps, was Junior actually starts here. Earnhardt Jr. some major and Trucks Series champion, Erik Jones guy?” After sweep- KEN’S CALL: I’m talking retirement last week, suggest- romance points, though. He Dillon is 23rd in the Sprint ing wins in both — and at dif- ing he might be looking for the exit sticking with AJ All- went all the way to Europe Cup Series points standings. ferent tracks — last weekend, mendinger, which will within a few years. No one pushed on a family roots fact-finding His best finish this season is and becoming the youngest the big panic button in NASCAR’s take away one more mission, found a little chapel 10th at Bristol. We’ll see how to do so, expectations for marketing department, but they ner- “points place” in the and asked Amy Reimann to this shake-up helps with his Jones are already soaring. vously cleared their throats and eye- Chase standings. marry him. She said yes. Chase chances dwindling. — Rob Ullery [email protected] balled it. Whether marriage changes Junior’s mind about the advantages of work weekends, we’ll see. ONLINE EXTRAS THINGS TO WATCH news-journalonline. FEUD OF THE WEEK NJ com/ 3 FOR AT SONOMA facebook.com/ nascardaytona 1. Track made for Tony We keep waiting for Tony Stewart to re-emerge @nascardaytona as one of the marquee drivers, and there’s no better place than Sonoma to make that move. He Questions? Contact Godwin owns two wins, five top-5s and nine top-10s. Kelly at godwin.kelly@news- jrnl.com or Ken Willis at ken. GIL “SLUGGER” [email protected] 2. Don’t be surprised if ... MARTIN LABBE This is the track where drivers you might not GIL MARTIN VS. “SLUGGER” LABBE: Rich- CUP POINTS choose in the office pool can wind up in Victory ard Childress taps Labbe to replace Lane. and Ryan Newman are among Martin as crew chief for the struggling 1. ...... 576 2. Martin Truex Jr...... 561 the leaders in driver ratings here. . 3. ...... 520 KEN WILLIS’ TAKE: “No outward hostility 4. Dale Earnhardt Jr...... 508 5. Jimmie Johnson ...... 506 here, because these moves are typical 6. ...... 480 when a big-money team is struggling.” 7. Jamie McMurray...... 464 3. Parity streak 8. Matt Kenseth ...... 456 Dating back to 2001, is the lone 9. ...... 447 NASCAR via Getty Images/JEFF GROSS 10. Jeff Gordon ...... 434 two-time winner at Sonoma. Is this the week he 11. ...... 426 breaks the skid in his farewell season? Might want to keep an eye on Clint WHAT’S ON TAP 12. ...... 421 Bowyer, who is no stranger to success 13. ...... 412 — Rob Ullery SPRINT CUP: -Save Mart 350 [email protected] 14. Carl Edwards ...... 401 at . SITE: Sonoma Raceway 15. ...... 401 16. Ryan Newman ...... 400 TV SCHEDULE: Friday, practice (Fox 17. Clint Bowyer ...... 388 Sports 2, 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.). Satur- 18. ...... 361 19. Danica Patrick ...... 357 day, qualifying (Fox Sports 1, 2 p.m.). 20. Greg Bif e ...... 351 WILLIS’ SONOMA PICKS Sunday, race (Fox Sports 1, 3 p.m.) 21. ...... 339 22. AJ Allmendinger ...... 321 23. Austin Dillon...... 314 Ken Willis has been cover- WINNER: AJ Allmendinger. DARK HORSE: Dale Earnhardt Jr. ARCA: Herr’s Chase The Taste 200 24. ...... 299 ing NASCAR for The Daytona REST OF TOP 5: Kevin Harvick, DON’T BE SURPRISED IF: Yes, Junior SITE: Winchester (Ind.) Speedway 25. Sam Hornish Jr...... 273 Beach News-Journal for more Jeff Gordon, Kasey Kahne, Kurt is a dark horse at a road course, 26. Tony Stewart ...... 269 than 30 years. Reach him at TV SCHEDULE: Sunday, race (CBS 27. ...... 263 [email protected] Busch. but also look for Tony Stewart to Sports Network, 2 p.m.) 28. Ricky Stenhouse Jr...... 262 FIRST ONE OUT: . finally make his presence known.

WEEKLY DRIVER RANKINGS — BASED ON BEHAVIOR AND PERFORMANCE JIMMIE KEVIN MARTIN KURT JOEY JUNIOR BRAD MATT JAMIE PAUL JOHNSON HARVICK TRUEX JR. BUSCH LOGANO EARNHARDT KESELOWSKI KENSETH MCMURRAY MENARD Not related to Sonoma actually And 44 hours Newest member Will likely get Will next big Will finish sixth ’s Can he finish A surprising fifth- Dustin Johnson five hours from from New Jersey of S. Nevada carded at news involve at Sonoma dad seventh for place last year Bakersfield Hall of Fame the winery a Junior Jr.? fourth straight at Sonoma race?

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