PAGE B8 FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 2014 S GILLETTE NEWS RECORD S GILLETTE, WYOMING QUESTIONS & ATTITUDE Compelling questions ... and maybe a few actual answers SPEED FREAKS HOT TOPICS: 3 ISSUES GENERATING A BUZZ A couple questions we had to ask — ourselves A gift for Junior Associated Press/REINHOLD MATAY This guy isn’t scared by any list of Dale Earnhardt Jr. was king of the mountain at HENDRICK LINEUP championship contenders. Pocono Raceway on Sunday, thanks, in part, to the Since the second Cup Series race at Pocono misfortune of Brad Keselowski. Can we now consider Junior a Raceway in 2012, Hendrick Motorsports has won all Keselowski was on his way to victory, but his No. legitimate Cup contender? four Cup Series races at the “Tricky Triangle.” Jeff 2 Team Penske Ford picked up debris on the grille, Unless there’s a defi nite loss of Gordon started the streak in 2012. Jimmie Johnson AP/MEL EVANS which caused his engine temperature to spike. mojo over the summer, Junior would and Kasey Kahne swept in 2013. Dale Earnhardt Can’t hear the rumors He tried to run up to Danica Patrick’s rear bum- certainly enter the Chase among the Jr.’s win Sunday means all four Hendrick drivers with those plugs. per to blow the debris off the front of his car, but favorites. But it’s a long summer. boast a Pocono win in the past three seasons. lost just enough momentum to allow Earnhardt’s Right now, there’s THE favorite — yes, Junior wins! Junior No. 88 Chevrolet to go zipping past for the lead WHAT DID HE SAY? the No. 48 car — and then there are wins! Is everything and eventual victory. the room-temperature favorites, a right with the world? “I was trying to make whatever move I could do Brian Vickers fi nished 19th at Pocono in the No. group currently populated by Junior, GODSPEAK: The to help clean it off, and I’mSample not sure I did enough to 55 Toyota and provided this head-scratching com- Kevin Harvick, Jeff Gordon and maybe world? I don’t know, but make a difference,” Keselowski said. “But I made ment after the race: “Not that great. We were OK a couple of others. everything is right with enough of a difference to lose the by ourselves, just had no speed in traffi c. Just kept that No. 88 Chevy and lead in the process. fl oating the nose and couldn’t get around guys.” In other words, too early to say? its driver. “I thought I had enough of Gee, you think? The Cup season KEN’S CALL: I fully a cushion, and when I got has sorta taken on the feel of a col- expect Mr. Dow’s arrow down in the corner and lege basketball campaign, with the to point north all week, the car in front of me got expanded playoffs now allowing you to Associated Press / MIKE GROLL and dogs and cats to sideways, I realized I had get to the “tournament” with less than picnic together. made a mistake. But it Junior, being congratulated by Jimmie your best stuff. And if you get your roll What’s up with the was too little, too late.” Johnson after winning the Pocono going at the right time, you’re a hero, Danica F1 rumors? The win was Earnhardt’s 400 on Sunday, knows enough and everyone forgets the springtime DNFs and those plate-race wrecks. GODSPEAK: Danica’s second of the season after about racing’s give-and-take nature best fi nishes have been opening 2014 with a tremen- to simply grin and accept a trophy dous triumph in the Daytona on ovals, not road without asking questions. What’s with Gene Haas hinting courses, so no F1. 500 at Daytona International that Danica might be worthy of KEN’S CALL: Gene Speedway. his future Formula One seat? Haas is trying to get his “Brad defi nitely had the better It was likely just Gene being polite fi nancial ducks in line. car, and I am defi nitely owning when asked about the possibility. Every bit of publicity up to that, but we won the race,” Either that or shade-tree genius, since helps. No chance. Earnhardt said. “We are mentioning her name brings added defi nitely going to enjoy attention. And when you’re a startup it. It goes into the team at the biggest level of worldwide ONLINE EXTRAS books.” motorsports, attention sometimes The way the equates to future horsepower. Assum- air fl ows at ing the right people are paying news-journalonline. Pocono, the com/nascar attention to your attention. lead car had a distinct Ken Willis has been covering NAS- CAR for The Daytona Beach News- facebook.com/ advantage nascardaytona Journal for 27 years. Reach him at Sunday. [email protected] When Earn- @nascardaytona hardt got to the front, FEEDBACK he knew FEUD OF THE WEEK the victory Do you have questions or comments about NASCAR was in the This Week? Contact Godwin bag — at the Kelly at godwin.kelly@news- expense of jrnl.com or Ken Willis at ken. Keselowski. [email protected] Earnhardt shrugged off Keselowski’s CUP POINTS misfortune. Earnhardt has KASEY KYLE 1. Jeff Gordon 498 2. Matt Kenseth 482 been on the KAHNE BUSCH 3. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 476 losing side of Kyle Busch vs. Kasey Kahne: Busch 4. Jimmie Johnson 475 that coin-fl ip 5. Brad Keselowski 448 raced Kahne side by side into Turn 6. Kyle Busch 443 several times 1 and knocked Kahne’s No. 5 Chevy 7. Carl Edwards 441 in recent years, hard into the wall. 8. Denny Hamlin 420 such as the 9. Joey Logano 418 Godwin Kelly gives his take: “There 10. Kyle Larson 417 Coca-Cola 600 at will never be fi sts thrown between 11. Ryan Newman 411 Charlotte two years these two drivers, but Busch better 12. Kevin Harvick 403 ago when he ran out watch his rear view mirror at Michigan.” 13. Brian Vickers 392 of gas on the last lap, T14. Greg Biffl e 385 T14. Austin Dillon 385 giving the victory to 16. Clint Bowyer 383 Kevin Harvick. 17. Paul Menard 380 “That is unfortunate WHAT’S ON TAP? 18. Tony Stewart 368 19. Aric Almirola 366 for him (Keselowski),” SPRINT CUP: Quicken Loans 400 20. AJ Allmendinger 360 Earnhardt said. “He had me SITE: Michigan International Speedway T21. Kasey Kahne 351 beat; I couldn’t get to him. T21. Marcos Ambrose 351 SCHEDULE: Friday, practice (Fox T21. Jamie McMurray 351 Just real hard to pass here. Sports 1, 11 a.m.), qualifying (Fox 24. Martin Truex Jr. 324 But I have lost some in some Sports 1, 3:40 p.m.). Saturday, prac- 25. Casey Mears 322 strange ways, so it feels good to tice (Fox Sports 2, 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 26. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 290 win one like that.” 27. Kurt Busch 283 p.m.). Sunday, race (TNT, coverage 28. Danica Patrick 246 starts at noon, green fl ag at 1:16 p.m.) 29. Justin Allgaier 241 NATIONWIDE: Ollie’s Bargain Outlet 250 30. Michael Annett 212 31. Cole Whitt 195 SITE: Michigan International Speedway 32. David Gilliland 191 SCHEDULE: Saturday, qualifying 33. David Ragan 184 (ESPN2, 10:30 a.m.), race (ESPN, 1:30 34. Reed Sorenson 175 35. Alex Bowman 169 GODWIN’S MICHIGAN PICKS p.m.) 36. Josh Wise 158 CAMPING WORLD TRUCKS: Drivin’ 37. Ryan Truex 108 Godwin Kelly is the Daytona Winner: Brad Keselowski Disappointment: Kyle Busch for Linemen 200 38. Travis Kvapil 97 Beach News-Journal’s 39. Michael McDowell 63 motorsports editor and has Rest of the top fi ve: Joey First one out: Casey Mears SITE: Gateway Motorsports Park 40. Parker Kligerman 54 covered NASCAR for 30 Logano, Denny Hamlin, Dale Don’t be surprised if: The Ford SCHEDULE: Saturday, qualifying (Fox 41. Terry Labonte 44 years. Reach him at godwin. Earnhardt Jr., Greg Biffl e camp dominates the entire Sports 2, 5 p.m.), race (Fox Sports 1, 42. David Reutimann 37 [email protected] 43. David Stremme 29 Dark horse: Brian Vickers day. 8:30 p.m.) ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■.