NASCAR THIS WEEK 8 - THE DERRICK. / The News-Herald Wednesday, September 4, 2019 SPEED FREAKS QUESTIONS & ATTITUDE A few questions we INDIANAPOLIS Compelling questions ... and had to ask ourselves maybe a few actual answers If anyone can shock us at THREE THINGS TO WATCH A Brickyard shocker: Yes or no? Indy, who’s the best bet? GODSPEAK: Let’s go with You want to say no because, for so Jimmie Johnson pulling a many years, the Brickyard winner rabbit out of his hat and was either that season’s eventual making the playoffs. champion or certainly among the KEN’S CALL: Given his recent contenders. There’s a reason for good showings, it’d be that, of course. Indy makes every mildly shocking (at least) for available demand of a car (aside Matt DiBenedetto to get ‘er from right-hand turns, of course). done. You obviously need big-time horse- power for the long straightaways, Is young Erik Jones now a but also great handling for those championship contender? hard left turns on a relatively flat GODSPEAK: One win does track. You don’t bring your B-game not a champion make, but he to Indy. will likely make the first two cuts in the knockout format. But …? KEN’S CALL: I’d rank him All eyes will be on Jimmie Johnson’s No. 48 Chevy at Indy to see if he can somehow make the Yes, every now and then you’re at about fifth favorite, at best, playoff field. [AP/RICHARD SHIRO] least mildly surprised. Ricky Rudd but pretty good for a guy slipped into Victory Lane once with whose contractual near- 1. Clocking Johnson 2. Bubbalicious 3. Swap-out a fuel-mileage win. Paul Menard’s future was recently in doubt. 2011 win is still his only career vic- Seven-time NASCAR Cup Fourteen drivers have Indianapolis will host the tory. And just two years ago, Kasey Series champion Jimmie clinched playoff spots in the last regular-season race of Kahne limped into Indianapolis 22nd FEUD OF THE WEEK Johnson is optimistic about 16-driver postseason. Clint 2019. Next year Indy will in points and winless for three years. his chances of making the Bowyer, who was under the swap dates with Daytona He left with the trophy. So it can RYAN NEWMAN VS. DANIEL playoffs, despite being 18 cut line, is now eight points International Speedway. happen. Are you listening, Jimmie? SUAREZ: It appeared Suarez points under the cut line. to the good and sitting in Indy’s race will be con- Matty D? Clint? tapped Newman’s left-rear “Yeah, I mean we are run- 15th place. Daniel Suarez tested on the Fourth of July fender (Suarez denies it), ning out of days and if we and Ryan Newman are tied weekend while Daytona, Ken Willis, ken.willis causing Newman’s No. 6 miss it, it’s just going to be for 16th place atop the play- which has enjoyed that date @news-jrnl.com Ford to spin. Ironically, they by a few (points),” he said. off bubble. There is no love since 1959, will host the are tied for the last playoff “If I look back over the first lost between Suarez and regular-season finale. The position. half of the season, I see a Newman, especially after theory behind the switch is NASCAR CUP GODWIN KELLY’S TAKE: lot of races where we gave Newman believes Suarez did that Daytona is more likely STANDINGS Newman was not happy. away a few points.” John- him wrong. “We’re gonna to produce an upset winner, The rugged Indiana driver son has never missed the race extremely hard all the like Justin Haley in July. 1. Kyle Busch 983 said Suarez’s contact was playoffs. way to the end,” Suarez said. Justin who? 2. Joey Logano 919 “uncalled for.” And he 3. Denny Hamlin 877 added, “What goes around Godwin Kelly, [email protected] 4. Kevin Harvick 864 comes around.” Most likely 5. Martin Truex Jr. 862 Suarez’s No. 41 Ford. 6. Brad Keselowski 832 7. Kurt Busch 790 8. Chase Elliott 780 GODWIN’S 9. Kyle Larson 714 PICKS FOR 10. Ryan Blaney 710 INDIANAPOLIS DARLINGTON 11. Alex Bowman 694 11. Erik Jones 694 WINNER: Kyle Busch 13. William Byron 683 REST OF TOP 5: Denny THREE THINGS WE LEARNED 14. Aric Almirola 674 Hamlin, Brad Keselowski, 15. Clint Bowyer 625 Joey Logano, Kurt Busch 1. Showcase winner 16. Daniel Suarez 617 FIRST ONE OUT: David Ragan 16. Ryan Newman 617 DARK HORSE: Jimmie Erik Jones has five top-five 18. Jimmie Johnson 599 Johnson finishes (and could have 19. Paul Menard 548 DON’T BE SURPRISED IF: The won Bristol) in his last seven 20. Chris Buescher 531 cream rises to the top at starts, so his win at Darling- Indy and Kyle Busch scores ton was no fluke. The victory the win and is crowned came in his 100th Cup Series WHAT’S ON TAP regular-season champion. start. He now boasts wins at (All times Eastern) two historic tracks — Day- tona and Darlington. Not too CUP SERIES: Brickyard 400 MOTOR MOUTHS shabby. SITE: Indianapolis Motor Speedway PODCAST (2.5-mile rectangle) 2. Late race SCHEDULE: Saturday, practice (NBC No “yard of bricks” in the Erik Jones celebrates his late-night victory at Darlington after Sports Network, 11 a.m. and 1:30 Pod, just a pile of empties. The Darlington race had holding off Kyle Busch in the closing laps. [AP/RICHARD SHIRO] p.m.). Sunday, qualifying (NBCSN, a late start thanks to a 10:30 a.m.), race (NBCSN, coverage Tune in online at wandering rainstorm that 3. Darlington stripe salvage a third, just drag- begins at 1:30 p.m., green flag, 2 www.news-journalonline. passed over the track. ging the fence for the last p.m.) com/daytonamotormouths It was 1:54 a.m. Monday Kyle Busch blew his right two laps,” said Busch, who when NASCAR displayed front tire on the penultimate clinched the regular-season XFINITY: Indiana 250 the checkered flag to Jones. lap but was able to finish title. SITE: Indianapolis Motor Speedway “I’m wore out mentally and third in the race. He used SCHEDULE: Friday, practice (NBCSN, physically,” Jones said, the outside wall as a guide Godwin Kelly, godwin. 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.). Saturday, qualify- adding “I guarantee I ain’t to get him to the check- [email protected] ing (NBCSN, noon), race (NBCSN, 3 going to bed.” ered flag. “We were able to p.m.) 2019 CUP SERIES SCHEDULE April 7: Food City 500 at Bristol (Kyle (Martin Truex Jr.) Bristol (Denny Hamlin) AND WINNERS Busch) June 30: Camping World 400 at Chicago- Sept. 1: Southern 500 at Darlington (Erik Feb. 10: Clash at Daytona (Jimmie Johnson) April 13: Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond land (Alex Bowman) Jones) Feb. 17: Daytona 500 (Denny Hamlin) (Martin Truex Jr.) July 7: Coke Zero 400 at Daytona (Justin Sept. 8: Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Feb. 24: Folds of Honor 500 at Atlanta (Brad April 28: Geico 500 at Talladega (Chase Haley) Sept. 15: South Point 400 at Las Vegas Keselowski) Elliott) July 13: Quaker State 400 at Kentucky (Kurt Sept. 21: Federated Auto Parts 400 at March 3: Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas (Joey May 5: Dover 400 (Martin Truex Jr.) Busch) Richmond Logano) May 11: Kansas 400 (Brad Keselowski) July 21: Foxwoods 301 at New Hampshire Sept. 29: Bank of America 500k at Charlotte March 10: TicketGuardian 500 at Phoenix May 18: All-Star Race at Charlotte (Kyle (Kevin Harvick) Oct. 6: Delaware 400 at Dover (Kyle Busch) Larson) July 28: Gander Outdoors 400 at Pocono Oct. 13: 1000Bulbs.com 500 Talladega March 17: Auto Club 400 at Fontana (Kyle May 26: Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte (Martin (Denny Hamlin) Oct. 20: Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Busch) Truex Jr.) Aug. 4: Go Bowling at Watkins Glen (Chase Oct. 27: First Data 500 at Martinsville March 24: STP 500 at Martinsville (Brad June 2: Pocono 400 (Kyle Busch) Elliott) Nov. 3: AAA Texas 500 Keselowski) June 9: FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan Aug. 11: Consumers Energy 400 at Michi- Nov. 10: Can-Am 500k at Phoenix March 31: O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Texas (Joey Logano) gan (Kevin Harvick) Nov. 17: Ford EcoBoost 400 at (Denny Hamlin) June 23: Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Aug. 17: Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race at Homestead-Miami KEN WILLIS’ TOP 10 NASCAR DRIVER RANKINGS DENNY KYLE BUSCH MARTIN ERIK JONES KYLE KEVIN BRAD CHASE KURT BUSCH MATT HAMLIN Regaining his TRUEX JR. Darlington LARSON HARVICK KESELOWSKI ELLIOTT Kinda get- DIBENEDETTO Safe bet to roll at a good Feeling good win capped Getting his Will finish No Penske Three Indy ting his act Goes to contend at time about his good recent mail in the third at wins since Hooters to together Indy with a Indy Eagles this roll lead pack Brickyard early June choose from real chance season (really!) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10.