Lower downforce in next season’s rule package is supposed to reduce grip and make the cars more maneuverable. In short, passing should be more commonplace in 2016. If that is how it works out, we shall be happy. However, forgive me for waiting until at least February before I start celebrating.
Considering the follow the leader kind of racing we saw at Charlotte, at least we have hope. Not sure how much we have for this season, but we can always…well….hope. By opening up the zone for the lead car to control the re-start. it seems to work just dandy up front, but it can cause accordion type mishaps further back. If that happens, oil and other fluids can spill out onto the track, and if it is not totally cleared up like some claim was not done last week, it causes even more problems. Of course, that was not true and we know this because…NASCAR denies that it was true.
Did I mention that we had single lane racing? That can be a real problem, not only for fans trying to keep awake and drivers hoping to pass but enough oil and fluid that is left in that lane kind of messes things up a bit more. That is if such a thing happened. Which, of course, was not the case, because NASCAR said so.
This Sunday, we are off to Kansas, where Matt Kenseth, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kyle Busch, and Ryan Newman have some clean up of their own to do after their respective Charlotte adventures. Considering he has a couple of wins there over the past three years, it could be redemption time for Kenseth.
1. JOEY LOGANO – ROUND WIN
Now Talladega is just another race.
2. KEVIN HARVICK – 3042 POINTS
Ill handling car was healthy enough to place second last week.
3. MARTIN TRUEX JR. – 3041
Truex…the other Junior.
4. DENNY HAMLIN – 3040
Now that Kyle was recovered, Denny’s the best one-legged driver in the sport.
5. CARL EDWARDS – 3039
Super sorry about your car, Matt.
6. KURT BUSCH – 3039
Sounds like the Panic Switch clothing people are…well…panicking.
7. JEFF GORDON – 3037
2015’s best damn winless driver in NASCAR.
8. BRAD KESELOWSKI – 3035
If Brad and Kyle got along as well as Scarlett and Brexton, what a wonderful world it would be.
9. RYAN NEWMAN – 3029
Rained on Kenseth’s parade, but got a bit damp himself.
10. KYLE BUSCH – 3025
If only Kyle and Brad got along as well as Samantha and Paige…
11. DALE EARNHARDT JR. – 3016
It is just a flesh wound…and Talladega is coming.
12. MATT KENSETH – 3003
Did not see Newman, but he sure saw the wall…a lot.
13. JAMIE MCMURRAY – 2130
Out of the Chase, but trying to stay in the weekly on-track conversation.
14. JIMMIE JOHNSON – 2092
It just does not matter anymore.
15. PAUL MENARD – 2083
Fixes got him back on the track but wrecked any hope of a decent finish at Charlotte.
16. CLINT BOWYER – 2082
One race closer to greener pastures.
17. ARIC ALMIROLA – 801
A Top Ten in Charlotte aids in dreams of greater things for 2016.
18. KASEY KAHNE – 771
Early crash left him dead last at Charlotte, but Tanner Lee’s arrival trumps everything.
19. KYLE LARSON – 742
One Kyle is good, two Kyles is a crash.
20. GREG BIFFLE – 726
Best Roush-Fenway driver of this season, but third best at Charlotte.
