Ron Thornton

617 POSTS
19 COMMENTS
A former radio and television broadcaster, newspaper columnist, Little League baseball coach, Ron Thornton has been following NASCAR on this site since 2004. While his focus may have changed over recent years, he continues to make periodic appearances only when he has something to say. That makes him a rather unique journalist.

The Final Word – The best little race car in Texas was not the one that won

Ron Thornton -
Watching NASCAR is very much akin to viewing a bunch of toddlers race each other. Little Johnny might take off early, get within a few feet of the finish line, then that damn butterfly takes all his attention and he swerves right and off the course. Saturday night in Texas was a lot like that.

Hot 20 – If you’re going to play in Texas, you got to have a Biffle in the band

Ron Thornton -
This Saturday night, the boys and girl head west. The way I hear it, if you are going to play in Texas, you got to have a Biffle in the band. That may be true, and it may be a fact this weekend, but sadly such edicts do not include our Hot 20. Greg sits 16 points shy. Maybe the following week.

The Final Word – It was a John Wayne kind of day for Mr. Busch at Martinsville

Ron Thornton -
Martinsville has been on the NASCAR calendar since 1948, the year before John Wayne truly hit it big in Hollywood. Both showcased a great cast of supporting characters over the years, and both have been synonymous with action. Sunday was no different.

Hot 20 of the 40 making their way to the truly traditional race at Martinsville

Ron Thornton -
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.

The Final Word – Kyle removes the Kryptonite as Superman wins at Fontana

Ron Thornton -
After the re-start, Johnson moved down to the line, hugged it tight, and came up to Harvick’s rear quarter-panel. A bit of side drafting tugged Luthor...ahem...Harvick...back enough to set Johnson sailing right by and into the lead.

Hot 20 – Johnson is again California dreaming while Harvick is staying with SHR…or is he?

Ron Thornton -
Best damn finishes ever. Well, for two of the four events to date, that has been the headline for NASCAR in 2016. Daytona and Phoenix were decided by gaps measurable with a ruler, and that has to be a good thing. Hell, a great thing.

The Final Word – Harvick rises like a phoenix at Phoenix from the tears of Edwards

Ron Thornton -
A phoenix rises from the ashes to be reborn. In Phoenix, Kevin Harvick rose from the tears of Carl Edwards to once again become the Cactus King, the driver to beat at Phoenix.

Hot 20 – The heat is on at Phoenix after an endorsement, poor ratings, and some poorer finishes

Ron Thornton -
A year ago, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. won at Phoenix. Five of the six before that, Kevin Harvick claimed the prize. Now, if anyone could use a win this weekend, Danica Patrick, Chase Elliott, and Clint Bowyer would be among them. They sure are not among the Hot 20 going into Sunday’s action.

The Final Word – Las Vegas came with some distractions, and not all of them were in Nevada

Ron Thornton -
It was a rainy, blowy kind of Sunday, and that was just in these parts where I live. With a few errands to run, we had Sirius Channel 90 on the car radio so we did not miss the action. Due to the rainy, blowy kind of Sunday at Las Vegas, we did not.

Hot 20 – If rules are meant to be broken, somebody forgot to tell NASCAR

Ron Thornton -
Rules be rules, and the book was tossed at a number of folks after Atlanta. The biggest hit was taken by Martin Truex Jr. after a roof flap issue meant the loss of 15 points.
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