A week off, and some time to think. You have to know nothing good can come of that. Still, there are a few things worth observing.
For example, there are only two drivers in the battle for the year’s top rookie. That has always been the case in 2014. The top gun was going to be either Austin Dillon or Kyle Larson. They had the equipment, the others did not. It is sad that financial woes have messed with the cars of Cole Whitt and especially for the now parked Parker Kligerman, for I enjoyed the battle between the young drivers with the underfunded teams. Anyone notice that while Justin Allgaier is 27th in points, Harry Scott’s driver is ahead of both Martin Truex Jr and Danica Patrick?
So, what happened to Furniture Row Racing? I know Kurt Busch is gone, but Martin Truex Jr is not exactly hamburger helper. No Top Tens, a couple of Top 20’s, and the rest are way back in Danicaland. Thus far he has experienced a blown engine, suffered from a lack of grip, got bit by pit strategy, had to repair a cracked splitter, paid the price for speeding on pit row, lacked forward bite, and then got bit by the fence at Darlington. In short, most of their problems have been of their own making. Kevin Harvick and Kurt Busch have not had stellar results either, but their victories come with a lot of forgiveness. There are some who might make the Chase even without a win. Truex is not one of them.
Chase Elliott finished 15th at Daytona in the Nationwide opener, just behind Matt Kenseth. He finished 5th at Las Vegas, just behind Dale Earnhardt Jr. Elliott was 6th at Fontana, just ahead of Kenseth. He won at Texas, ahead of Kyle Busch, Larson, Harvick, Earnhardt, and Kenseth. When he won at Darlington, it was Elliott Sadler behind him, with the Cup regulars beyond that in the rear view. Some think Chase Elliott might be the next big deal. I think he already is.
Some are ringing their hands over the fact Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, and Kenseth have not won a race yet this season. Here is a news flash: of the 16 drivers who won during the 2013 campaign, only five have claimed the prize this season. Four of the 16 did not even win a single race until the start of the Chase. That might mean the point standings of Gordon, Kenseth, and Johnson might actually hold up on their own to provide a berth. Just eight races in, this isn’t a storyline worth following.
When will NASCAR adopt this system of awarding up to 70 points per win and dumping the Chase? Never. However, as we are seeking “the” driver of the year rather than a champion, it does not matter. So far, Carl Edwards, Gordon, Kenseth, Junior, and Kyle Busch have been our most dominant in 2014. As for Harvick, two wins gets him back in the conversation, but four finishes beyond 35th leaves him among the also rans to this point.
1-Carl Edwards – 300 pts (1 win)
2-Jeff Gordon – 297 pts
3-Matt Kenseth – 296 pts
4-Dale Earnhardt Jr – 293 pts (1 win)
5-Kyle Busch – 291 pts (1 win)
6-Jimmie Johnson – 270 pts
7-Brad Keselowski – 268 pts
8-Joey Logano – 267 pts
9-Ryan Newman – 236 pts
10-Austin Dillon – 235 pts
11-Kevin Harvick – 230 pts (2 wins)
12-Greg Biffle – 227 pts
13-Brian Vickers – 224 pts
13-Tony Stewart – 224 pts
15-Denny Hamlin – 223 pts
15-Kyle Larson – 223 pts
17- Clint Bowyer – 219 pts
18-Marcos Ambrose – 216 pts
19–Paul Menard – 206 pts
20–A.J. Allmendinger – 202 pts
