A full field. I may be a traditionalist in many ways, but a 40 car field seems about right to me now. It costs money to put a car on the track, to fit the templates, to run fast enough over a lap or two to qualify. That is even so when that auto is destined to simply start and park.
Three fewer starting spots means an entry that has no intention to try will soon enough whither and die. It becomes too much of a gamble, leaving it to teams like the Wood Brothers, Premium, and the Motorsports Group to fill up any void, to grow, to matter. The No. 55 Premium owned car of Reed Sorenson makes its season debut. The 39 others have all attempted every race, with the No. 30 of Josh Wise and the No. 98 of Cole Whitt only missing the start at Daytona.
If I were a strict traditionalist, I would love races decided by laps instead of inches, but I do not. A traditionalist would want a return to old stock cars, open masked helmets, a monkey in the cockpit or even concrete walls. I do not. What I want is to have Joe, Fireball, Tiny, Bobby, J.D., Clifford, John, Adam, Kenny, and Dale back.
A traditionalist would subscribe to the notion that a driver can drive where ever he damn well pleases. Still, I think Kyle Busch and other Cup drivers have made the XFINITY series irrelevant, which is a damn shame. It irks me how much it steals from the public spotlight that should belong to up and comers like Daniel Suarez, Erik Jones, Ty Dillon, and Darrell Wallace Jr. If NASCAR instituted a “powder puff” division for women, hell, Kyle would probably want to run there, too.
However, a traditionalist loves excellence. A traditionalist wants to see a king on top of the mountain and a field of challengers looking to knock him off the peak. There were some seasons it appeared that Richard Petty was competing against XFINITY drivers. Some might argue that, back in the day, he might have been. Some argue how bad it was for Jimmie Johnson to win five straight titles. I argue that it made it that much sweeter when someone came along good enough to take that title away.
Martinsville reminds me of that. The three hottest of our Hot 20 have, between them, claimed 14 victories at Martinsville. Kevin Harvick has one of them. Denny Hamlin has five. Johnson? He would be the guy with eight to his credit over the course of his career. As a traditionalist, I like that. It gives the rest of them something to go after, something that would be really meaningful if they can accomplish it. Still, Johnson needs another seven just to tie Petty’s career total on the circuit that has been hosting such events since 1948. A traditionalist would love to see him do it.
1 – JIMMIE JOHNSON – 2 WINS – 184 PTS
Most successful driver of the 21st century, the best active driver competing at Martinsville.
2 – KEVIN HARVICK – 1 WIN – 195 PTS
A former champion, the leader in points, and still feels he has something to prove on Sunday.
3 – DENNY HAMLIN – 1 WIN – 170 PTS
I bet his grandfather clock was too large for the shelf, so it stood the past year on the floor.
4 – BRAD KESELOWSKI – 1 WIN – 142 PTS
If the future President Keselowski has to wear a sponsor covered fire-suit, shouldn’t politicians?
5 – CARL EDWARDS – 171 PTS
Averaging a seventh place finish every week is not bad.
6T – KYLE BUSCH – 170 PTS
Ditto. Now with no XFINITY race to worry about this weekend, the trucks, the trucks are calling.
6T – JOEY LOGANO – 170 PTS
Ditto that ditto. Now, as long as Kenseth doesn’t get mad at him this weekend…
8 – KURT BUSCH – 148 PTS
Will not be in the Indianapolis 500 this year. So, I guess that also means Monaco is out.
9 – DALE EARNHARDT JR. – 145 PTS
Will donate his brain for concussion research…but they should expect a very long wait.
10 – AUSTIN DILLON – 139 PTS
How a guy looks in a cowboy hat may depend on his ability, and he is looking better all the time.
11 – MARTIN TRUEX JR. – 127 PTS
Just the latest member of the “Joey is a Jerk” club.
12 – JAMIE MCMURRAY – 125 PTS
No truth to the report that he has insured his dimples for a million dollars.
13 – ARIC ALMIROLA – 120 PTS
You would think the ole No. 43 would be a favorite to win the STP 500.
14 – RICKY STENHOUSE JR. – 119 PTS
Not everyone gets to escape from all his racing peers on a holiday, or wants to.
15 – MATT KENSETH – 113 PTS
If having a horrid season still has one sitting in a Chase place, just how horrid can it be?
16T – RYAN BLANEY – 110 PTS
When your son surpasses you, that is when a father knows just how great a job he has done.
16T – CHASE ELLIOTT – 110 PTS
If he used his given name, we would have yet another “Junior” on our hands.
18 – KASEY KAHNE – 109 PTS
I am guessing Ricky and Danica did not invite him over for Easter.
19 – A.J. ALLMENDINGER – 108 PTS
Might consider a return to IndyCar…once they put a roof on the auto and not before.
20T – TREVOR BAYNE – 95 PTS
Almost easy to dismiss the once promising rising star driving for Roush…but he is only 25.
20T – RYAN NEWMAN – 95 PTS
Wants more barrier protection for his pit crew…and on some tracks that shortfall is evident.
