NASCAR THIS WEEK 8 - THE DERRICK. / The News-Herald Wednesday, October 2, 2019

SPEED FREAKS QUESTIONS & ATTITUDE

A few questions we Compelling questions ... and had to ask ourselves DOVER maybe a few actual answers Thoughts on the Ricky Sten- Did A.J. retire too soon? house Jr. release? THREE THINGS TO WATCH GODSPEAK: Two NASCAR With a cushy TV gig awaiting his Xfinity Series titles, seven departure from the cockpit, A.J. All- years in the Cup Series and mendinger hung up his helmet after ’s boyfriend for last season, just shy of his 37th birth- several years? That sounds day. But hanging it up isn’t the same like a pretty good career to as locking it away, and his fifth Xfinity me. start of 2019 produced a victory at KEN’S CALL: Ryan Newman’s the Roval last Saturday. He’s certainly decent season, on the same a road-course ringer, and at 37 he team, probably killed Ricky. should be available for many years to But the guy had several years come. It’s not the worst part-time job to overachieve and rarely did. out there.

Who’s the next four to exit Was Bubba out of line? playoffs after Round 2? Anger can overtake you and lead you GODSPEAK: William into unwanted actions. And some- Byron, , Ryan times silly ones. We don’t know what Blaney and, surprise, Brad (9) hit the wall in Turn 1 on a restart but rallied back to win at Charlotte’s Roval. would’ve happened if Alex Bowman Keselowski. Elliott is the driver to watch for the rest of the NASCAR playoffs. [AP/MIKE MCCARN] had been physically OK and stand- KEN’S CALL: Three of the ing when approached Killer B’s: Bowman, Blaney 1. Chase watch 2. Dazzlin’ dozen 3. High hopes Sunday. Bubba suggested a “bust in and Byron. But Bowyer the mouth.” He should’ve waited for a advances (thank goodness) If Martin Truex Jr. had a “spin The NASCAR Cup Series play- All the playoff drivers are later chance, because splashing water and Larson doesn’t. and win” at Richmond, then off field was cut to 12 drivers looking for the winner’s on a sitting man looks silly. Whatever, Chase Elliott invented the after another interesting trophy at Dover. A win gets given Bowman’s past two weeks of “crash and dash” at Char- Roval race. The points stand- a driver into Round 3. “I’m confrontation, he’ll want to make sure FEUD OF THE WEEK lotte’s Roval. Elliott crashed ings reset, and excited to reset and not be his mirrors are clean at Dover. his No. 9 head is back on top, followed by playing catch-up,” said Clint BUBBA WALLACE VS. ALEX on into the marshmallow- his team- Bowyer, who is 12th in the Ken Willis, ken.willis BOWMAN: Bowman and like Turn 1 wall, recovered, mates Martin Truex Jr. and playoff field. “I won’t put our- @news-jrnl.com Wallace made early Roval wrestled the lead from Kevin . Ford has the selves in a hole again. Dover contact, which Wallace Harvick and led the last six numbers advantage with five is a good track for me.” A thought was intentional. Wal- laps to win. With that sort of drivers left in postseason lot of drivers like Dover. “It’s NASCAR CUP STANDINGS lace flipped the bird several effort, you have to wonder if play. Chevrolet boasts four, going to be a harder round times before Bowman spun Elliott has title magic. “The while is represented for sure,” said of 1. Kyle Busch 3046 him out. guys just didn’t quit,” Elliott by the JGR drivers. The field Round 2. “You just have to be 2. Martin Truex Jr. 3041 GODWIN KELLY’S TAKE: Last said. “It was unbelievable.” has five former champs. on your game.” 3. Denny Hamlin 3030 week Bowman was intention- 4. 3029 ally spun by at Godwin Kelly, [email protected] 5. 3028 Richmond, so this behavior is 6. Chase Elliott 3024 part of NASCAR playoff fever. 6. 3024 “I’m just over it,” Bowman 8. Kyle Larson 3006 said of Wallace. 9. Alex Bowman 3005 10. 3004 CHARLOTTE 11. William Byron 3001 GODWIN’S PICKS 12. 3000 FOR DOVER 13. 2081 THREE THINGS WE LEARNED 14. Ryan Newman 2070 WINNER: Kyle Busch 15. 2056 REST OF TOP 5: Martin Truex 1. First cut 16. 2009 Jr., Kevin Harvick, Chase 17. Daniel Suarez 707 Elliott, Erik Jones “The first cut is the deep- 18. 701 FIRST ONE OUT: Alex Bowman est,” sings Sheryl Crow in 19. 631 DARK HORSE: Denny Hamlin a song by the same name, 20. 598 DON’T BE SURPRISED IF: and it applies to the drivers Busch gets back to his win- knocked out of the NASCAR ning ways in the heat of the playoffs at the Roval. We bid WHAT’S ON TAP playoffs. goodbye and good luck next (All times Eastern) season to Aric Almirola, Ryan Newman, Kurt Busch and CUP SERIES: M O T O R M O U T H S Erik Jones. SITE: Dover International Speedway PODCAST (1-mile concrete oval) 2. Almirola’s misery SCHEDULE: Friday, practice (NBC Guess who survived the first Sports Network, 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 playoff cut? Our two guys! Jones missed the cut by Erik Jones (20) was the first car out at the Roval and first driver p.m.). Saturday, qualifying (NBCSN, a wide margin. Almirola eliminated from the NASCAR playoffs. [AP/MIKE MCCARN] 1:30 p.m.). Sunday, race (NBCSN, Tune in online at missed the cut by just two coverage begins at 2 p.m., green flag, www.news-journalonline. points. “I can’t help but think 3. Early departure Busch, who had clinched a 2:30 p.m.) com/daytonamotormouths about 2017; the No. 22 (Joey Round 2 playoff spot, simply Logano) missed the playoffs Kyle Busch was three laps backed his No. 18 Toyota XFINITY: Drive Sober 200 and then comes back the down and, with seven laps into the garage and called it SITE: Dover International Speedway very next year and wins the to go and during a red flag quits. SCHEDULE: Friday, practice (NBCSN, championship,” Almirola stoppage (Lap 99 of 109), 2:30 p.m.). Saturday, qualifying said. “We can’t let this define decided to retire from the Godwin Kelly, godwin. (NBCSN, 12:30 p.m.), race (NBCSN, 3 us.” race at Charlotte’s Roval. [email protected] p.m.)

2019 CUP SERIES April 7: Food City 500 at Bristol (Kyle June 30: at Chicago- Jones) SCHEDULE AND WINNERS Busch) land (Alex Bowman) Sept. 8: Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Feb. 10: Clash at Daytona (Jimmie April 13: at Richmond July 7: Coke Zero 400 at Daytona (Justin (Kevin Harvick) Johnson) (Martin Truex Jr.) Haley) Sept. 15: at Las Vegas Feb. 17: (Denny Hamlin) April 28: Geico 500 at Talladega (Chase July 13: Quaker State 400 at Kentucky (Martin Truex Jr.) Feb. 24: Folds of Honor 500 at Atlanta Elliott) (Kurt Busch) Sept. 21: at (Brad Keselowski) May 5: (Martin Truex Jr.) July 21: Foxwoods 301 at New Hampshire Richmond (Martin Truex Jr.) March 3: at Las Vegas (Joey May 11: Kansas 400 (Brad Keselowski) (Kevin Harvick) Sept. 29: Bank of America 400 at Charlotte Logano) May 18: All-Star Race at Charlotte (Kyle July 28: Gander Outdoors 400 at Pocono (Chase Elliott) March 10: TicketGuardian 500 at Phoenix Larson) (Denny Hamlin) Oct. 6: Delaware 400 at Dover (Kyle Busch) May 26: Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Aug. 4: Go Bowling at Watkins Glen Oct. 13: 1000Bulbs.com 500 Talladega March 17: at Fontana (Kyle (Martin Truex Jr.) (Chase Elliott) Oct. 20: at Kansas Busch) June 2: Pocono 400 (Kyle Busch) Aug. 11: at Michi- Oct. 27: First Data 500 at Martinsville March 24: STP 500 at Martinsville (Brad June 9: FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michi- gan (Kevin Harvick) Nov. 3: AAA Keselowski) gan (Joey Logano) Aug. 17: Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race Nov. 10: Can-Am 500k at Phoenix March 31: O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Texas June 23: Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma at Bristol (Denny Hamlin) Nov. 17: Ford EcoBoost 400 at (Denny Hamlin) (Martin Truex Jr.) Sept. 1: at Darlington (Erik Homestead-Miami

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