Hot 20

Hot 20 – The season’s best driver does not always claim the Cup championship

There is something about having a single win and getting into the Chase. It gives everyone a chance, one that for some would have pretty much been gone in the wind. Kurt Busch is having about as much luck as Danica Patrick right now, but he has his win.

The Hot 20 – It ain’t over till Johnson wins again at Dover

Jimmie Johnson won last week. The odds are that Johnson will win again this week. Nothing is for sure, but a 33% winning rate anywhere is astronomical and Six Time has done it eight times in 24 attempts in Delaware.

Hot 20 – Upon reflection, I believe Wendell Scott is finally getting what he deserved

When we think of a Hall of Fame inductee, we usually think of outstanding performances and career achievements. There are champions, there are race winners, and there are legends. Few should be able to argue against the merits of one so honored, but we do.

The All-Star Hot 20 is led by its hottest driver; Mr. Johnson, I presume

When it comes to driving for a championship, nobody has done it better this past decade than Jimmie Johnson. Collecting six of the past eight season titles gives a fellow a certain reputation.

Hot 20 – The [place sponsor name here] 400 in Kansas is where the stars will shine Saturday night

Kansas is not as sexy as Talladega, I admit. It is not a Daytona, a Darlington, and it is no Indianapolis. I think having the race named after a series of sponsors instead of seeking a real identity might have something to do with that. Still, some big names have been among the 16 winners there since they first started up the engines back in 2001.

The Hot 20 – Get hot in NASCAR and it costs you $25,000, in the NHL it is 2 minutes

A guy grabs you and pushes you around. The universally accepted response is a punch to the other guy’s head. My dad taught me that, and so I taught my sons. It is a simple case of cause and effect, you push to start a confrontation and a punch usually will end it.

Hot 20 – The battle of the rookies was always going to be a two man battle

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.

Hot 20 – If baseball has the Mendoza Line, surely NASCAR can have the Danica Line

Mario Mendoza is a member of the Mexican Baseball League’s Hall of Fame, yet his legacy in the Major Leagues is not as illustrious. In fact, when one measures how competent a batsmen has been throughout a season and, indeed, his MLB career, the Mendoza Line is one players strive not to fall below. It began as a club house joke; hit below .200 and one has fallen below the Mendoza Line. Though he hit .215 over parts of nine Big League campaigns, in five of them Mendoza hit under .200.

Hot 20 – Ducks and guns and controversy, it must mean we’re going to Texas

Last year, it was the NRA. This year the Texas race is brought to you courtesy of Duck Commander, representing the first family of Duck Dynasty. While some might be a touch torqued to have another gun-endorsing group as a sponsor, I find it less offensive than, say, Chick-Fil-A.

Hot 20 – As Jeff Gordon experiences an interesting week, we remember Lynda Petty

I guess Jeff Gordon had reason to be somewhat hot this past week. Last Sunday, he came within a Clint Bowyer spin of taking the prize in California.

The Latest

Tyler Reddick achieves historic three-peat victory at COTA

The 2026 Daytona 500 champion from Corning, California, led a race-high 58 of 95 laps and became the first ever competitor to win the first three events in a Cup Series schedule following a dominant victory in Austin.

Alex Palou whoops field at St. Pete

Alex Palou picked up where he left off last season with a dominate victory on the streets of St. Petersburg.

RCR NCS Race Recap: Circuit of The Americas

Kyle Busch and the No. 8 Rebel Root Beer Whiskey Chevrolet Persevere Making Impactful Adjustments to Finish Inside the Top-15 at Circuit of The Americas

Rick Ware Racing: DuraMax Grand Prix from COTA

Cody Ware (Started 37th, Finished 30th / Running, completed 95 of 95 laps)

Wood Brothers Racing – Race Report: Circuit of The Americas

Thanks to a late surge in Sunday’s DuraMAX Texas Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas, Josh Berry and the No. 21 DEX team were in contention for a top-25 finish before ultimately coming home 26th.
- Advertisement -Play at the best $1 deposit casino NZ to win with minimal risk