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, STANDINGS Series — faster cars that NASCAR Vice President piled up nine wins at the godwin.kelly@ can’t pass. “(When) he ran Steve O’Donnell said. 1-mile oval. He hasn’t news-jrnl.com 1. Joey Logano 133 the bottom (racing lane) then 2. Kevin Harvick 131 there’s nothing anyone could do 3. Denny Hamlin 127 “We are here to serve you!” about it,” Hamlin said. HealthHealth 105 Wall4. Kyle StreetBusch •Local DowntownLocal News 121News Clinton Holiday Hours: LocalLocal NewsNews Local News 5. Brad Keselowski Education115 Monday-Friday 910-592-5249Local News PagePagePage 85 8 [email protected]. Kyle Larson PagePagePage102 102 2 9 AM to 5:30 PM PagePagePage 2 Hablamos66 GODWIN’S PICKS 7. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 99 Saturday 9 AM to 1 PM FOR PHOENIX 8. Erik Jones 98 español ahora! 8. Martin Truex Jr. 98 LAS VEGASSAMPSONSAMPSON C COUNTY’SOUNTY’S C COMMUNITYOMMUNITY N NEWSPAPEREWSPAPER FREEFREE WINNER: Kevin Harvick SAMPSON C10.OUNTY’SKurt Busch COMMUNITY95 NEWSPAPER FREE REST OF TOP 5: Chase Elliott, S C11. Aric Almirola C 92 N Kyle Busch, Joey Logano, Kurt THREE THINGS WE LEARNED 12. Alex Bowman 85 Busch 13. Clint Bowyer 83 FIRST ONE OUT: Ty Dillon 1. Two for Kyle 14. Chase Elliott 81 DARK HORSE: Ricky Stenhouse 15. Ryan Blaney 69 Jr. Kyle Busch continued 16. William Byron 66 DON’T BE SURPRISED IF: The his assault on NASCAR’s VOLUMETheVOLUME 9, ISSUE9, ISSUE 50 50 Sampson17. Jimmie Johnson 65 Weekly TheTheVOLUME 10, ISSUE 10Sampson Sampson WeeklyWeekly TheVOLUME 11, ISSUE 50 Sampson Weekly competition tightens up in the minor-league series 18. Daniel Suarez 63 front pack because of the size of with two more wins, 19. Ryan Newman 62 this oval. but finished third in the www.thesampsonweekly.comwww.thesampsonweekly.comwww.thesampsonweekly.com 20. Paul Menard 61 WeekWeekWeek ofWeek ofDecemberof December Decemberof March 14-20, 7-13,8-14,7-13, 2020 201820192018 Cup race. “I think we passed the most cars so I think we were the most INSIDEINSIDEINSIDE MOTOR MOUTHS INSIDE Clinton PoliceWHA DepartmentT’S ON TAP Looking Tips RoseboroRoseboro ChristmasChristmas PODCAST impressive,” he said, MayorMayor Voices Voices Citizen’s Citizen’s AndSAMPSON The Winners COUNTY 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 winningon Drive BySITE: ISMShootingRaceway (1-mile Intooval) Vehicle BOARDParade-Parade- OF ELECTIONS UnderUnder west. Horace Greeley didn’t trophy. Whatever.” the Xfinity Series race at Las Vegas. He wonFrustrationSEASONtheFrustrationTruck SCHEDULE: ANNOUNCED Friday,with withqualifying DOT/24 DOT/24 exactly say that, but he wasn’t a Series race Friday, but finished third in Sunday’s Cup (Fox Sports 1, 6 p.m.). Saturday, thethe LightsLights NASCAR fan. 2. Top-5 for Kurt race. [AP/BENJAMIN HAGER] practice (Fox Sports 1, 11:30 a.m. NOMINATES NEW and 2 p.m.). Sunday, race (Fox, Faith Tune in online at Kurt Busch has taken a we know we’ve gotFaithLocalEducationsome News “If it’s entertaining for coverage beings at 3 p.m., racing PagePagePage 7 10 37 www.news-journalonline.com/ liking to the new pack- more work to do.” people to watch, it really at 3:30 p.m.) ELECTIONS DIRECTOR daytonamotormouths age. At least that’s what does not matter to me a his performance sheet 3. Package reaction bit. Whatever it is, it is, XFINITY: Xfinity 200 shows — two top-five fin- the rules are the same SITE: ISM Raceway ishes in a row. “I’m really NASCAR’s new Cup pack- for everybody.” SCHEDULE: Friday, practice (Fox proud of everybody to age made its debut at Sports 1, 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.). get a top-five,” he said. Las Vegas. “Yeah, I mean — Godwin Kelly, Saturday, qualifying (Fox Sports “Now we’ve got two I really don’t care,” driver godwin.kelly@ 1, 12:30 p.m.), race (Fox Sports 1, Faith top-fives this year, but Chase Elliott (ninth)Entertainmentsaid. news-jrnl.com 4 p.m.) EntertainmentPageSports 5 PagePage 9 9 DuringAccordingDuring Tuesday Tuesday to thenight’s night’sClinton City City Police Council Council Dept meeting, meeting,around Mayor 12:30Mayor Lew PMLew Starlingon Starling Saturday, voiced voiced Antrell many many Garner,of of the the concerns18,concerns and frustrating Tremetrius frustrating Clinton Carr,Clinton 21,businesses businesses of Clinton and and were citizens citizens traveling over over the on the issueNorth issue of Blvdof Hwy Hwy coming 24. 24. With With in towardsever sever- - al town.membersal members The ofinitial theof the investigationDepartment Department of indicates ofTransportation, Transportation, the men along werealong with passengers with representatives representatives in a vehicle from from andthe the Fredwere Fred Samantha DiPinto, Matthew Register, Lynn Webster SmithreportedlySmith Company Company shot and by and the suspects the NC NC Board Board in aof grey ofTransportation Transportation passenger on car. on hand hand to topresent present an an overview overview of of work work on onHwy Hwy 24, 24, Mayor Mayor Starling Starling rebuked rebuked the the DOT DOT and and it’s it’s handling handling of of Hwy Hwy 24 24 with with a asome some- - Sports SportsNASCARNascar times-bristlingBothtimes-bristling men were reproach. reproach. driven to Sampson Regional. Garner had a gunshot near the back of Chamber Awards Winners PagePagePagePage 11-12 11-12 16 KEN WILLIS’ TOP 10 NASCAR DRIVER RANKINGhis head.S He was listed in critical condition and flown out to another facility for treat- At Atissue issue for forStarling Starling and and his his constitutes constitutes was was the the length length of ofthe the project, project, the the safety safety of of travelers, travelers, at 49th Annual Banquet ment.