Section Spouts Off

Thought I would take a little time to blabber on for a while about things happening in NASCAR this year.

Toyota's Arrival: It would definitely seem that Toyota has figure things out this year. Kyle Busch has 4 wins, Denny has won, still waiting for Tony to get his stuff together. But it's not just JGR. MWR isn't relying on qualifying to make races this year, and Team Red Bull is performing much better than last year.

Fall of Hendrick: Casey Mears has only 2 top 10's for the whole year. Jr. still hasn't won, but is doing much better than last year. Unfortunately the better equipment has only led to better finishes, but still no wins. Jeff Gordon is having and up and down year. He isn't doing too bad in the standings, but has only 6 top 5's and only 7 top 10's, with 3 finishes of 35th or worse, and no wins. Last years defending champion has only one win this year in a fuel mileage race. They aren't out of contention for a championship with 3 drivers in the top 10, but the way they are performing right now it looks like the championship will be won by another organization.

Kyle Busch seems to have emerged as someone you like or hate. He still has some maturing to do, but I like him.

My boy Harvick has been disappointing me alot this year, but is still in the top 12, so there's always the chance he can win a championship, he just needs to be much more consistant at the different tracks.

Matt Kenseth had a very bad start to the year, that happens when you lose your long time crew chief I guess. The past few weeks, he has been doing much better so hopefully they have all that bad stuff behind them, and can make a run for the chase, although it may be a little too late now.

JPM has not had a good start, but he is on his third crew chief this year, and rumors are starting that he will be leaving Ganassi.

Here is something many people may not have noticed. Michael Waltrip so far this year has 1,012 points. He is currently 1,038 points behind the point leader. Not to pick on mikey only, Scott Riggs has only 981 points, and is 1,069 points behind the leader. Other drivers are worse, but they haven't been in all 13 races.

Well, that's enough for now.

Pretty good recap of the season so far. The Waltrip and Riggs stat is interesting. Riggs wouldn't be anywhere close to 36th in owners points if not for that penalty, but things like that happen sometimes. Waltrip has improved over last year, but that shows how far he still has to go. I'm just glad I don't have to say that Hornish is, pointswise, the worst of all drivers that have made every race anymore.

Speaking of Hornish, it appears in the last few weeks that the open wheel drivers are turning it around a bit. Franchitti has been hurt so he gets a pass, but Carpentier has been making races and getting seat time, Hornish has been having top 20 runs(3 of the last 6 races, with a 23rd and 2 races where he was fast but ran into trouble), and even A.J. Allmendinger has been turning it around. Maybe it's a fluke stretch and they'll end up like they were early, but I have to think that they are all beginning to get the hang of stock cars.

I'd also add in the Toyota part about Blaney. After struggling early he's come back with 2 top 10's in 3 weeks, and at Lowe's he was running in the top 15 all day before dropping a few spots in the fuel mileage deal at the end.

I also personally think it's a matter of time before Hendrick turns it around, but it is kind of nice to see a different team dominating.

mikeyfan1599 Reputation: 99 Level: Superstar Since: Aug 15, 2006	Posted on: June 4, 2008 1:56 pm Score: 96 Random NASCAR Thoughts Here is something many people may not have noticed. Michael Waltrip so far this year has 1,012 points. He is currently 1,038 points behind the point leader Section, thanks for the stats it brings the season in prospective and up to date. Now as for the comment above. I like to look at things a little different. This time last year Mikey had a total of 52 Driver Points and 321 owner Points. So he is currently 960 Driver points ahead of last season and 691 owner points ahead. Also, he is only 137 Points behind all the points he scored last season. And so far he has managed to keep himself from the go or go homers, although he is flirting with it at this moment. [ Reply to Comment ]
RoushFenwayGuy Reputation: 97 Level: Superstar Since: May 12, 2008	Posted on: June 4, 2008 3:02 pm Score: 41 Random NASCAR Thoughts Harvick has fallen, but he has been better than most years, I mean he was in 2nd place after Martinsville this season, he has never been in a posititon like that, or at least for a long time, Harvick isn't as amazing now, but I think he is better than last season, and may be a surprise top 10 this season Here if my ranks of 1-10 of who I think will win the season in what pos. 1. Kyle, 2. Edwards, 3. Denny, 4. Bowyer 5. Junior 6. Harvick 7. Burton 8. Gordon 9. Stewart 10. Johnson In my book he's not looking bad, and the only reason I put Burton there is because the Chase reset will affect him. And Henderick is getting better, Gordon is getting consistent top 5s now. As for Matt, he has plenty of time, hes 16th as this rate he will get up there, Kasey Khane will not, and I have a feeling it will be Ragan vs. Kenseth, teammates for the chase And Scott Riggs got that penalty, he was doing pretty good, 150 pts. is a lot though and Kyle is setting a new bar for pts. behind and many other things [ Reply to Comment ]
buckeye22 Reputation: 99 Level: Superstar Since: Oct 11, 2006	Posted on: June 4, 2008 3:32 pm Score: 94 Random NASCAR Thoughts Pretty good recap of the season so far. The Waltrip and Riggs stat is interesting. Riggs wouldn't be anywhere close to 36th in owners points if not for that penalty, but things like that happen sometimes. Waltrip has improved over last year, but that shows how far he still has to go. I'm just glad I don't have to say that Hornish is, pointswise, the worst of all drivers that have made every race anymore. Speaking of Hornish, it appears in the last few weeks that the open wheel drivers are turning it around a bit. Franchitti has been hurt so he gets a pass, but Carpentier has been making races and getting seat time, Hornish has been having top 20 runs(3 of the last 6 races, with a 23rd and 2 races where he was fast but ran into trouble), and even A.J. Allmendinger has been turning it around. Maybe it's a fluke stretch and they'll end up like they were early, but I have to think that they are all beginning to get the hang of stock cars. I'd also add in the Toyota part about Blaney. After struggling early he's come back with 2 top 10's in 3 weeks, and at Lowe's he was running in the top 15 all day before dropping a few spots in the fuel mileage deal at the end. I also personally think it's a matter of time before Hendrick turns it around, but it is kind of nice to see a different team dominating. [ Reply to Comment ]
Seminole24 Reputation: 59 Level: Pro Since: Jun 17, 2008	Posted on: June 17, 2008 9:26 am Score: 33 Random NASCAR Thoughts My random thoughts on the subject would be that there isn't any in between thoughts about Kyle Busch because the bottom line is that you either like him or hate him. I think Kyle Busch is what Nascar needed and that he is now known as the villain and thaere hasn't beeen anyone that has been hated in my eyes in Nascar period ever. I really enjoy the people that kill him verbally about being cocky & arrogant and that he only cares about himself and winning. Well yeah, isn't that is why they are all there to race & win. I don't agree with the fans that say he doesn't care about them because he really does. The only thing he doesn't care about is what they think about him. I think his success starts withb his attitude and his desire to win and that he really is proving

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Random NASCAR Thoughts

Random NASCAR Thoughts

Random NASCAR Thoughts

Random NASCAR Thoughts

Random NASCAR Thoughts