NASCAR THIS WEEK 8 - THE DERRICK. / The News-Herald Wednesday, September 11, 2019

SPEED FREAKS QUESTIONS & ATTITUDE A few questions we had to ask ourselves Compelling questions ... and maybe a few actual answers Who’s your first four out of the ? THREE THINGS TO WATCH Rethinking your pecking order? GODSPEAK: William Byron, , Aric Almi- Gee, you think? For the longest rola and . They time, you basically knew the don’t have enough safety- eventual champ would be a Gibbs net playoff points. or Penske driver. Then the Penske KEN’S CALL: Alex Bowman, drivers (, Brad Kesel- William Byron, Ryan owski) began treading water, so Newman and . it was simply a Gibbs intramural But might sneak affair. And just when we had it into the exit portal. figured out again, the old warhorse comes galloping into the fray. Will ever make the playoffs again? Can Harvick do it? GODSPEAK: Yes, “Seven Time” will return to the He has three wins in the past seven postseason in what could races, with only one clanker in be next year’s farewell there (a forgivable 39th at Bris- tour. tol). With Martin Truex Jr. slightly KEN’S CALL: I say he sneaks limping into the playoffs, right now into next year’s playoffs, the momentum is owned by Kevin but I think his contending Harvick and , but Kyle days are over. The 16 drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs gather for a group photo at . Busch gets a mulligan for the Brick- [AP/DARRON CUMMINGS] yard and will obviously be a player. And by the way, did you notice that FEUD OF THE WEEK 1. Playoff drivers not, No. 48 Chevy fans, JJ is not giving up. “Sure Joey Logano resurfaced at Indy with we wanted it to continue on, but the goal is to a runner-up? Interesting timing. VS. will take 45 playoff points into the win a race,” Johnson said. “This team is getting INDY: Keselowski was not first round of the postseason, which means stronger each and every week … we’re ready to Ken Willis, ken.willis happy that his No. 2 Ford he is almost guaranteed to make it into the roll.” @news-jrnl.com was stuck on a pile of tires, second round. On the other end of the line, Clint which served as an inside- Bowyer and Ryan Newman took the final two 3. Worth noting wall safety barrier, after playoff berths. “We are doing the right things NASCAR CUP crashing out during the 400. and putting ourselves in the right situations to , who was Johnson’s crew chief from STANDINGS GODWIN KELLY’S TAKE: capitalize on other people’s mishaps instead of 2002-18, got his driver, William Byron, into the You will hear about this being the one that makes the mishap,” Bowyer NASCAR playoffs. Johnson and Byron are team- 1. Kyle Busch 2045 more from “Kez,” but for said. mates at , which put three 2. Denny Hamlin 2030 now he said, “This track drivers into postseason play — and 3. Martin Truex Jr. 2029 really was part of the 2. Out, not down Alex Bowman join Byron. The top three drivers 4. Joey Logano 2028 safety revolution about in the playoff standings wheel Racing 4. 2028 15-20 years ago, and I think For the first time since NASCAR introduced a . The next three are Ford drivers, while 6. Brad Keselowski 2024 it is time for another.” to the Cup Series in 2004, Jimmie the next three are from the camp. 7. Chase Elliott 2018 Johnson will not be competing in postseason 8. Kurt Busch 2011 play. He missed the cut at Indianapolis. But fear Godwin Kelly, [email protected] 9. 2005 GODWIN’S PICKS 9. Alex Bowman 2005 FOR LAS VEGAS 9. 2005 12. Ryan Blaney 2004 WINNER: Kyle Busch 13. William Byron 2001 REST OF TOP 5: Kyle 13. Aric Almirola 2001 Larson, Erik Jones, Aric 15. 2000 Almirola, Brad Keselowski INDIANAPOLIS 15. Ryan Newman 2000 FIRST ONE OUT: Corey 17. Daniel Suarez 648 LaJoie 18. Jimmie Johnson 609 DARK HORSE: Jimmie THREE THINGS WE LEARNED 19. 575 Johnson 20. 554 DON’T BE SURPRISED IF: 1. Harvick peak Kyle, the regular-season champion, takes the play- Kevin Harvick looks like his No. 4 Ford is peaking WHAT’S ON TAP offs by storm. at just the right time. Harvick has three regular- (All times Eastern) season wins, and they all happened since the July 21 race at New Hampshire. He now marches CUP SERIES: M O T O R M O U T H S into the 10-race playoffs with 28 playoff points SITE: PODCAST as a foundation for a title run. (1.5-mile oval) SCHEDULE: Sunday, race (NBC The podfathers slip into 2. The champ Sports Network, coverage begins at playoff mode. See if you One-year-old Piper Harvick looks on as her 6:30 p.m., green flag, 7 p.m.) notice the difference! Even though Kyle Busch watched the final laps father, Kevin Harvick, kisses the yard of bricks of the Brickyard 400 from the garage — his on the finish line after winning the Brickyard 400 XFINITY: Rhino Pro 300 Tune in online at motor blew up on Lap 90 — he was crowned at Indianapolis. [AP/AJ MAST] SITE: Las Vegas Motor Speedway www.news-journalonline. regular-season Cup champion. “It would be SCHEDULE: Saturday, race (NBCSN, com/daytonamotormouths nice to be headed into the playoffs with a little Newman battled Daniel Suarez for the final play- 7:30 p.m.) momentum on our side,” he said. “That’s not the off berth. Newman finished eighth, Suarez 11th. case.” “We just stuck our nose to the grindstone and GANDER OUTDOORS TRUCKS: the No. 41 got himself in a pickle there and we 3. No problem were able to hold him off,” Newman said. SITE: Las Vegas Motor Speedway TV SCHEDULE: Friday, race (Fox In the closing laps of the Brickyard 400, Ryan Godwin Kelly, [email protected] Sports 1, 9 p.m.)

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

KEN WILLIS’ TOP 10 NASCAR DRIVER RANKINGS

KEVIN DENNY KYLE BUSCH MARTIN KYLE BRAD CHASE CLINT RYAN JOEY LOGANO HARVICK HAMLIN Indy slowed TRUEX JR. LARSON KESELOWSKI ELLIOTT BOWYER BLANEY Did Indy Saddled Co-favorite? his building Um, might Could hang Add tire Three Happily Happy to be signal a aboard momentum want to find around walls to his crashes in regains here wake-up call? hottest steed the lost gear playoffs until current list five Vegas footing just at right time Homestead of issues starts in time 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10