The Daytona Beach News-Journal’s Godwin Kelly & Ken Willis have covered NASCAR for nearly 60 years combined. godwin.kelly@ NASCAR THIS WEEK news-jrnl.com [email protected] SPEED FREAKS QUESTIONS & ATTITUDE A few questions we had to ask ourselves Compelling questions ... and PHOENIX maybe a few actual answers Your knee-jerk review of Vegas and results of the “new THREE THINGS TO WATCH Is that a look of concern? package”? GODSPEAK: It’s a work in 1. Penske power Let’s call it a mix of mild concern, progress. Drivers have more car balanced by a hesitance to offer control, and there have been It sure looks like Team snap judgment. I tuned into Sun- fewer wrecks. Give it time. Penske has found the day’s race, saw a big pack of cars KEN’S CALL: If it seemed perfect secret key to the new slicing and dicing, and said, “See, at the start, the engineers NASCAR package — two that’s exactly what NASCAR was would eventually mess it up. But wins by two drivers on looking for with the new con- it seems imperfect at the start, consecutive weekends. figurations.” Then I looked in the so maybe the engineers will find Joey Logano credited corner of the screen and realized a way to tighten up the field. Ford’s engineers for solv- it was just the second lap of Reverse psychology, right there. ing the puzzle. “Everyone a green-flag run. By Lap 10, it is going through a learn- became the Urban Meyer 400 — Kez, then Joey. Is this going to ing curve right now, so everyone in spread formation. be a Penske year? if there’s a time to do it, GODSPEAK: You know how the now is the time because Now what? winds of fortune work, but right we had to redo every- now Team Penske enjoys a bel- thing we had anyway,” I always go back to the theory lowing jib. What? Logano said of the new proposed by former Nashville KEN’S CALL: Penske also has a Mustang. “That seems to Joey Logano won at Las Vegas a week after teammate Tennessean motorsports writer third wheel, Ryan Blaney, who be paying dividends for Brad Keselowski captured the flag at Atlanta. Team Larry Woody, who suggested has done no better than 22nd so us now.” Penske has seen early success with the new aero/motor tossing a rabid badger in every far. If they get him going, watch package. [AP/JOHN LOCHER] cockpit to liven things up. Given out. 2. NASCAR’s NASCAR’s reluctance to see the observation “But still work to do. It’s been happy with his car brilliance in that, I will instead early. Three different yet this season. “The last opt for patience and the insti- FEUD OF THE WEEK The Cup Series made its winners, three races; so two weeks we’ve been tutional knowledge that no full aero/engine package we’ll take this one and in right field at the start eventual landing spot, rules- DENNY HAMLIN VS. KURT debut at Las Vegas, with head to Phoenix.” of practice, and they just wise, will be universally loved BUSCH: Hamlin was not happy mixed reviews. NASCAR keep scrambling and by all. about having to play follow-the- is poking and prodding 3. Harvick watch taking big swings at it leader behind Busch, who was at the data gathered to to get us close,” he said. — Ken Willis, ken.willis a tick slower on older tires, but date. “I think it was good When the Cup Series “Hopefully, we can get @news-jrnl.com impassable because of the new to see directionally that circus hits Phoenix and that figured out.” Count aero/motor combo. guys (came) up through ISM Raceway, you have on it Sunday. GODWIN KELLY’S TAKE: This the pack and make to keep one eye on Kevin NASCAR CUP is something new in the Cup a pass for the lead,” Harvick. Harvick has — Godwin Kelly, The DaSTytonaANDINGBeach NewSs-Journal’s Godwin Series — faster cars that NASCAR Vice President piled up nine wins at the godwin.kelly@ Kelly & Ken Willis have covered NASCAR for can’t pass. “(When) he ran Steve O’Donnell said. 1-mile oval. He hasn’t news-jrnl.com nearly1.60JoeyyearsLocombined.gano godwin.kelly@133 the bottom (racing lane) then news-jrnl.com2. [email protected] there’s nothingNAanyone could do SCAR THIS WEEK 3. Denny Hamlin 127 about it,” Hamlin said. HealthHealth 4. Kyle Busch LocalLocal News 121News LocalLocal NewsNews Local News 5. Brad Keselowski Education115 Local News PagePagePage 85 8 6. Kyle Larson PagePagePage102 102 2 PagePagePage 2 66 7. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 99 GODWIN’S PICKS QUESTIONS & 8. Erik Jones 98 FOR PHOENIX ATTITUDE 8. Martin Truex Jr. 98 LAS VEGAS AMPSONSAMPSON COUNTY’SOUNTY’S COMMUNITYOMMUNITY NEWSPAPEREWSPAPER FREE WINNER: Kevin Harvick SSAMPSON C C10.OUNTY’SKurtCompellingBusch C CquestionsOMMUNITY... and ma95 ybeN NEWSPAPER FREE REST OF TOP 5: Chase Elliott, 11. Arica fewAlmiractualola answers 92 Kyle Busch, Joey Logano, Kurt THREE THINGS WE LEARNED 12. Alex Bowman 85 Busch 13. ClintIs itBoalrwyeadyer time for a tweak83 of FIRST ONE OUT: Ty Dillon 1. Two for Kyle 14. Chasethe iRacingElliott format? 81 DARK HORSE: Ricky Stenhouse 15. Ryan Blaney 69 Jr. Kyle Busch continued 16. WilliamEnoughByrquirkson remain to remind66 DON’T BE SURPRISED IF: The his assault on NASCAR’s VOLUMETheVOLUME 9, ISSUE9, ISSUE 50 50 Sampson17. Jimmie Johnson 65 Weekly TheVOLUME 10, ISSUE 10Sampson Weekly The Sampsonyou this is a racing simulation Weekly TheVOLUME 11, ISSUE 16 Sampson Weekly competition tightens up in the minor-league series 18. Danieland notSuartheezactual product.63 front pack because of the size of with two more wins, 19. RyButan Newmansome of us have ideas to62 this oval. but finished third in the www.thesampsonweekly.comwww.thesampsonweekly.comwww.thesampsonweekly.com 20. Pa“imprul Menarove”dthe experience, and61 in WeekWeekWeekWeek ofof of December December of April March 10-16, 7-13,8-14,7-13, 2020 201820192018 Cup race. “I think we that way iRacing is exactly like passed the most cars so the real deal. I think we were the most INSIDEINSIDEINSIDE MOTOR MOUTHS INSIDE WHAT’S ON TAP RoseboroIRSRoseboro issues warning ChristmasChristmas about PODCAST impressive,” he said, COVID-19MayorMayor Voices VoicesGive us Casesone. Citizen’s Citizen’s Rising And The Winners Are... “but that doesn’t matter 2019 ALIVECUP SERIES: AFTERTicketGuardian 500 FIVE Stay west, young man, stay because we don’t have a Kyle Busch carries the checkered flag after winning SITE: HoISMw Racewayabout two?(1-mile1. Someoneoval) Coronavirus-relatedParade-Parade- UnderUnder west. Horace Greeley didn’t trophy. Whatever.” the Xfinity Series race at Las Vegas. He wonFrustrationSEASONtheFrustrationTruck SCHEDULE: teachANNOUNCED aFriday,with fewwithof qualifyingthe old herDOT/24 DOT/24oes scams; watch out for exactly say that, but he wasn’t a Series race Friday, but finished third in Sunday’sinCup Sampson(Fox Sportshow to1,handle6 p.m.).a simulatorSaturday,Countyand thethe LightsLights NASCAR fan. 2. Top-5 for Kurt race. [AP/BENJAMIN HAGER] practiceget(FoxthemSportsin the seat.1, 11:30Nothinga.m. and 2againstp.m.). Sunday,Bobby Labonterace (Fox,and schemes tied to economic Faith Tune in online at Kurt Busch has taken a we know we’ve gotFaithEducationNASCARsome “If it’s entertaining for coverageGregbeingsBiffle, butat 3wop.m.,uldn’tracingit be PagePagePage 7 10 7 www.news-journalonline.com/ liking to the new pack- more work to do.”Page 16 people to watch, it really at 3:30funp.m.)to see King Richard, DW and impact payments daytonamotormouths age. At least that’s what does not matter to me a Handsome Harry mixing it up William Byron nabs the win at hisVirtualperformanceBristol MotorsheetSpeedway last3. PaSundackagy. NASCe reARactioniRacing is thebit.newWhatevracingerreitalityis,.it is, XFINITY:in simulatedXfinity 200versions of their [NASCAR GETTY IMAGES/CHRIS GRAYTHEN]shows — two top-five fin- the rules are the same SITE: oldISMcars?RacewayAnd 2. Hold a national ishes in a row. “I’m really NASCAR’s new Cup pack- for everybody.” SCHEDULE:tournamentFriday,forpracticeamateurs(Foxwith proud of everybody to age made its debut at Sportsfirst1, 3prizp.m.e beingand 5entryp.m.).into one of get a top-five,” he said. Las Vegas. “Yeah, I mean — Godwin Kelly, Saturday,the currqualifyingent Sunda(Foxy shoSportsws — Joe “Now we’ve got two I really don’t care,” driver godwin.kelly@ 1, 12:30Sixp.m.),Pack puttingrace (FoxtheSportsbumper1,to Jimmie Johnson or Junior Earn- top-fives this year, but Chase Elliott (ninth)Entertainmentsaid. news-jrnl.com 4 p.m.) EntertainmentSports hardt would be fun to watch. Page 9 PagePagePage 9 10 9 FauxNASCARracingDuringDuring Tuesday Tuesday night’s night’s City City Council CouncilDid meeting, Blue-Emumeeting, Mayor Mayorove rrLew eact?Lew Starling Starling voiced voiced many many of of the the concernsconcerns frustrating frustrating Clinton Clinton businesses businesses and and citizens citizens over over the the issue issue of of Hwy Hwy 24. 24. With With sever sever- - al membersal members of theof the Department Department of ofTransportation, Transportation,Yes, but it wo alongrk alonged. 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