National Day of Prayer
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The Daytona Beach News-Journal’s Godwin Kelly & Ken Willis have covered NASCAR for nearly 60 years combined. godwin.kelly@ NASCAR THISTheVOLUMEWEEK 9, ISSUE 19 Sampsonnews-jrnl.com [email protected] Weekly www.thesampsonweekly.com SPEED FREAKS QUESTIONS Week of May 4-10, 2018 A few questions we & ATTITUDE had to ask ourselves INSIDE Compelling questions ... and TALLADEGA maybe a few actual answers Benefit for Mitchell Feel bad for Trevor? Any chance Joey Logano is next National Day of Prayer with a 3-race win streak? THREE THINGS WE LEARNED In a way.Being replaced during the West Against ALS GODSPEAK: Sorry to all those season, in such a high-profile way, Logano fans, but those 3-race carries a bit of public humiliation. streaks are over for now. But it’s Matt Kenseth, and the KEN'S CALL: Absolutely, team suggests there are monetary positively, no chance. That considerations with a new spon- trend ends with Harvick and Faith sor attached to Kenseth, so that Kyle. Until Kyle does it again, of Page 9 lessens the blow a bit. Oh, and course. this: In older times, drivers had no contractual legs to stand on, but Will Matt Kenseth win a race nowadays they know the legalities this year? of their contracts must be followed. GODSPEAK: Of course he will If you’re still getting paid, it prob- win. He is the 2003 Cup Series ably helps. champion Matt Kenseth. His experience will lead him to Hershel McGriff? You kidding? Victory Lane. Heck, maybe at Kansas. NASCAR Hopefully, we don’t end up wishing KEN'S CALL: Nope. But some Page 14 they were kidding. McGriff, a West top-10s will be considered a suc- Coast racing legend, is scheduled cess for the No. 6 team. Trevor to race this weekend at a K&N Bayne just got a little firecracker West event in Tucson. It will be his slipped into this back pocket for first race since 2012 … when he Dover, by the way. was 84. Yes, Hershel turned 90 last *WhatDecember, a Powerfulbut a few we Nameeks ago ithe is, the Name of Jesus FEUD OF THE WEEK practiced on the Tucson track and Joey Logano celebrates his first “legal win” since 2016. [AP/BRYNN ANDERSON] reportedly erased any concerns. CLINT BOWYER VS. JIMMIE Sports Thursday, an incredible movement unfolded across our country and on the courthouse JOHNSON: Bowyer was swept Page 16 For the record, Hershel’s first-ever Those that know him describe Mitchell West as an outdoor man out of the race when Johnson’s steps of Clinton, NC. NASCMillionsAR race ofwa sAmericansthe original across all 50 states gathered in churches, 1.Joey’s win 2. Streak broken 3. Little teamslocal businesses, the stepsSouthern of 500cityat halls,Darlington in …schools,in neighborhoods, and public gathering who loves working with his hands, being in wide open spaces, and No. 48 Chevy went sideways when not with family and friends, spending time discovering the in Turn 3 to ignite the “Big Joey Logano’s Talladega win Kyle Busch watched his Those little teamsplaceswith small for a day of public1950. prayer for the United States of America. In one voice, they lifted was his first victory “that well-crafted,WEATHERthree-race budgets did OK at Talladega. beauty of the American landscape. A Farmer by birthright and a One.” Fourteen cars were up single prayer request to God: Unity in America. involved. counted” since winning at winning streak come to a halt David Ragan led the charge —Ken Willis, ken.wil- long-haul trucker by choice, Mitchell has always revered indepen- GODWIN KELLY’S TAKE: Yes, it Phoenix in 2016. His last triumph at Talladega. He finished a against NASCAR’s goliaths with a [email protected] dence and freedom. A diagnosis of ALS is terrible for anyone, but is plate-racing at Talladega, but was almost one year to the day fitting 13th-place.Fri “OncePartlywe seventh-place finishEvenin thethoughNo. 38 the numbers in Clinton were not huge, the hearts present were, and they Mitchell West plans to fight against ALS as long as he can. at Richmond, but that win was got in that wreck (Lap 166), it Front Row Motorsports Ford. “We CUP STANDINGS Bowyer called Johnson out. “I Cloudy were prepared to pray for this nation and the community in a mighty way. deemed “encumbered” and was over, but we had a decent had a fast car all weekend,” he 1. Kyle Busch 415 don’t know if he got loose or was 10% Described as quiet and humble, generous and loving Mitchell West trying to get in a hole but the No. didn’t get him into the playoffs. car up until then,” said the said. Chris Buescher was 11th and 2. Joey Logano 359 48 wasn’t clear and wrecked a “It feels really good,” he said. driver of theHi:No. 86 º18 Lo:Toyota. 60 º Ty Dillon was 15th.Thursday, May 3, is the3. Clint NationalBowyer Day of Prayer.329 It was the 30th annual observance since is a man of great faith. Perhaps its his faith in God and belief in bunch of us,” he said. “Now we will make a run at a “But we just lack speedway — Godwin Kelly, godwin. 4. Kevin Harvick 324 PRAYER, see P. 4 prayer that carries him forward in his fight. He was diagnosed with championship.” speed.” Sat Sunny [email protected] 5. Brad Keselowski 303 GODWIN’S PICKS ALS in January of this year, and the disease has progressed inten- 10% 6. Denny Hamlin 286 sively. It all began with a balance issue and a dragging left foot. FOR ELLIOT 7. Martin Truex Jr. 284 8. Ryan Blaney 282 8. Kurt Busch 282 In December, Mitchell decided it would be best to give up driving WINNER: Chase Elliott Hi: 85 º Lo: 64 º Clinton High Educator REST OF TOP 5: Martin Truex 10. Kyle Larson 279 his rig for Salem Transportation because of safety concerns. Since 11. Aric Almirola 248 then, the progression has been fast according to family friend Mar- Jr., Jimmie Johnson, Brad THREE THINGSSun PMTO WATCH Keselowski, Kurt Busch 12. Erik Jones 233 riem Strickland, “From January to April he went from dragging T-Storms Runs in13. Alex BoBostonwman 209 Marathon FIRST ONE OUT: Kevin 80% his foot to totally dependent on a walker or wheelchair and assis- Harvick 1. Last chance That's how we got all 14. Austin Dillon 208 * Erasmo Ordonez hopes to run strung out, trying to be 15. Jimmie Johnson 200 tance with daily activities such as dressing, brushing teeth, getting DARK HORSE: Trevor Bayne Hi: 87 º Lo: 61 º again in 2019 a glass of water, etc. And of course, no driving.” DON’T BE SURPRISED IF: Trevor Bayne will get the one guy by himself.” WHAT’S ON TAP Elliott makes it five top-5 one more chance to put Roush Fenway Racing in Mon Sunny When asked about the impact to Mitchell, Strickland says it’s finishes in five starts at 3. And Chase says CUP SERIES: AAA 400 Drive for Autism On April 16, a total of 29,978 runners a quandary this Sunday 10% Dover, only this time he tops SITE: Dover International Speedway been hard. “He loved his job and he can no longer drive nor work. at Dover. If he wins Chase Elliott con- showed up to compete under miser- the field. (1-mile concrete oval) Mitchell is a lover of the outdoors, working on things, and driving the race, he would be tinues to chase his first able weather conditions during the TV SCHEDULE: Friday, practice (Fox his big rig which he can no longer do.” eligible for the playoffs. Hi: 81 º Lo: 54 º NASCAR Cup Series 122nd running of the Boston Mara- Sports 1, 10:30 a.m.), qualifying (Fox MOTOR MOUTHS He was hoping to nab victory. In his last two thon. PODCAST the win at Talladega, but Tues Sunny outings (Richmond, Sports 1, 3 p.m.). Saturday, practice (Fox Mitchell’s close friend, Amy Cox Watters, has been helping Mitch- No restrictor plates in the was crashed out on Lap 10% Talladega), he has Sports 1, 9:30 a.m. and noon). Sunday, ell and his family research the disease and treatment options. Wat- pod, but we’re still capable of 71. Matt Kenseth will scored top-3 finishes. race (Fox Sports 1, coverage begins at One of those athletes participating ters explains, “ALS is also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. A neu- endangering bystanders. wheel the No. 6 Ford at He never finished 12:30 p.m.; green flag, 2:15 p.m.) in the event was Union High School rodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the Kansas in two weeks. “It Hi: 77 º Lo: 54 º less than fifth in four graduate and current Clinton High spinal cord. This is when your motor neurons can no longer send Tune in online at stinks,” Bayne said. “It Dover starts. Elliott XFINITY: OneMain Financial 200 School teacher and track/cross coun- impulses to the muscles and the muscles waste away.” www.news-journalonline.com/ is frustrating because Wed Partly was frustrated by his SITE: Dover International Speedway daytonamotormouths Talladega is one of the Cloudy Ford rivals at Talla- SCHEDULE: Friday, practice (Fox Sports try coach, Erasmo Ordonez. ones you know you can Joey Logano celebrates his first dega. “I was trying to 1, 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.).