Hot 20 – Four of the Season’s Top Eight Could be Eliminated after Talladega

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October 16, 2014

talladega_nscs_race_05.04.2014.NASCAAR.via.Getty.Images — Photo Credit: NASCAR via Getty Images

When the smoke clears at Talladega, and I mean that literally, four of our top eight drivers throughout the course of the season, might no longer be contenders for the championship. With four races to follow, five time winner Brad Keselowski could be toast, along with three time winners Dale Earnhardt Jr and Jimmie Johnson, as well as the winless yet resilient Matt Kenseth. If the 2007 New England Patriots and 1968 Baltimore Colts can fall short, if the 2001 New York Yankees can be denied, then why not? Welcome to the playoffs, where someone will get eliminated and voted off the island (for fans of the Amazing Race and Survivor).

For Junior to advance, he has to win. He has said so himself. Same goes for Johnson, while Keselowski has a bit more wiggle room, but do not expect him to have many friends out there, outside of teammate Joey Logano. Kenseth can do it, as he is just a point behind Kasey Kahne in those standings. However, this is Talladega, where a contender could kick open the door for someone else with a finish somewhere beyond 30th due to circumstances beyond his control.

Keselowski was a tad out of control at Kansas. His view that everyone else started it when they tried to pay him back was laughable. His observation of events was faulty, his hit on an unbuckled Kenseth and burn out in the garage after the race were both nothing short of reckless. His $50,000 fine was warranted. Tony Stewart’s $25,000 fine for bashing in the front of Brad’s car was warranted, too, but it was sure a joy to watch.

It might not be the same for those out on the track, but for you and me, Talladega should also be a joy to watch. If only every race could be like the one we will be viewing on Sunday.

*Race winners awarded 25 (rather than 3) bonus points
Bold = Current Chase contenders

Hot 20

1 – Jeff Gordon – 4 WINS – 1184 POINTS
2 – Joey Logano – 5 – 1154
3 – Brad Keselowski – 5 – 1106
4 – Dale Earnhardt Jr – 3 – 1075
5 – Kevin Harvick – 3 – 1052
6 – Jimmie Johnson – 3 – 1011
7 – Carl Edwards – 2 – 982
8 – Matt Kenseth – 0 – 950
9 – Ryan Newman – 0 – 950
10 – Kyle Larson – 0 – 940
11 – Kyle Busch – 1 – 899
12 – Kasey Kahne – 1 – 890
13 – Greg Biffle – 0 – 880
14 – Jamie McMurray – 0 – 867
15 – Austin Dillon – 0 – 847
16 – Clint Bowyer – 0 – 844
17 – Denny Hamlin – 1 – 832
18 – Paul Menard – 0 – 818
19 – Brian Vickers – 0 – 806
20 – Kurt Busch – 1 – 779

Corey LaJoie is ‘Taking One Leap of Faith at a Time’

By

Angie Campbell

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October 16, 2014

Corey.LaJoie.via.NASCAR — Photo Credit: NASCAR

Corey LaJoie is a third generation driver with one win in the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour series, three wins in the ARCA Racing Series and five wins in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East. In 2012 he was named as one of the NASCAR Next, “tomorrow’s stars, today.”

In June 2013, LaJoie took the next step in his career, signing a development deal with Richard Petty Motorsports. Since signing with RPM, however, he hasn’t seen as much on-track action as one might imagine.

His previous starts this year were a NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Kentucky in June where he placed 16th and two races in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series with a 17th at Kentucky (June) and a 10th at Bristol in August.

However, LaJoie is now poised to finish out the season on a high note, competing in four of the remaining five Nationwide Series races, as a result of a partnership agreement between RPM and Biagi-DenBenste Racing.

In his first race of the four race series, LaJoie finished 26th at Kansas Speedway in his No. 98 Medallion Financial Ford. The following week at Charlotte Motor Speedway, he completed the race in 24th, after getting caught up in a multi-car accident on the first lap of the race. He also made his second Sprint Cup Series start at Charlotte in the No. 77 Ford of Randy Humphrey Racing, finishing 35th.

After this weekend’s races, he tweeted, “It was great to race on my home track in front of family and friends. I learned a ton. Just taking one leap of faith at a time.”

I spoke to LaJoie in Charlotte and he expressed a similar sentiment of appreciation for the opportunities he’s been given at RPM.

“They’ve been working hard,” he said. “It’s tough to find the money right now but they felt the need to get me in some races before the year was over. They’re a great bunch of guys over there and I’ve learned a lot.”

Although this partnership is a one-time deal, he is hopeful that the alliance might extend into next year but for now, LaJoie is focused on this season.

“Hopefully we get some money rolling in and I’ll get a couple of good races in this year and we’ll see what the future holds but all that is for a later date,” he told me.

LaJoie is intent on using the crucial seat time to hone his skills behind the wheel.

“I need to learn how to slow down. In everything else I drove, I’ve had to make up for the lack of equipment,” he explained. “You can’t do that in the Nationwide Series. The drivers are too good and the cars you’re racing against are really good.

“The days of driving 110 percent and making up those extra couple of tenths are over,” LaJoie continued. “I’ve got to learn how to drive 95-100 percent within the boundaries of what the cars are giving me and try to work on that and get better.”

He’s looking forward to the two remaining races with Biagi-DenBenste Racing, “They’ve got some good cars and some really good people over there,” LaJoie emphasized, “so I’m excited to see what we can do.”

Next up for the 23-year-old LaJoie is the O’Reilly Auto Parts Challenge at Texas Motor Speedway on November 1 and the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 15.

NASCAR Legend Richard Petty Named Grand Marshal at Martinsville

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SM Archive

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October 16, 2014

Tyler Hawn finishes 11th in Autumn Colors Classic at Peterborough

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SM Archive

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October 16, 2014

Andrew Gresel wins OSCAAR Super Late Model Autumn Colors Classic 50 and championship

By

SM Staff

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October 16, 2014

On Sunday afternoon, Andrew Gresel would lead flag-to-flag en route to winning the OSCAAR Super Late Model Autumn Colors Classic 50 for the second straight year in a row. As a result of his solid season all year long with no finishes outside of the top six, he would be crowned the 2014 OSCAAR Super Late Model Champion.

Gresel got to start on pole alongside of Jesse Kennedy virtue of their one-two finish in the Chase for the Colors event during the summer. Kevin Cornelius would start third, followed by Corey Jones, Shawn Chenoweth, Mike Beyore, J.R. Fitzpatrick, Kelly Balson, John Owen, Jeff Dunford, Mark Dilley, Tyler Hawn, Dwayne Baker, Charlie Gallant, Kevin King, Brent McLean, Glenn Watson, Shane Gowan, Justin Jones, Gary Passer, Rob Bickle, Dave Doucette, Donny Varco, Craig Stevenson and Paul Harris. Before the green flag even dropped, there’d be problems for Cornelius as he would have to head down pit road to get the battery changed in his super late as a result of electrical problems. As a result, he would have to drop to scratch on the field.

Once the green flag fell, there’d be problems for the competitors as Beyore would get sideways off the corner, resulting in contact behind that sent both Corey Jones and Charlie Gallant around for the spin. There would then be a second caution at lap three for Cornelius getting into Bickle, sending Bickle down into the grass and collecting Justin Jones, Corey Jones and Doucette. With 47 laps to go, Gresel led Chenoweth, Fitzpatrick, Kennedy, Balson, Owen, Dilley and Baker.

The first attempt at a restart would bring forth the second caution as Stevenson would lose a tire, collecting Harris and Doucette in his mess. Cornelius would use the caution as an opportunity to try and diagnose his electrical issue. Fitzpatrick would be brought down pit road by officials to check whether he was leaking after some smoke was seen, but there’d no issues and he’d be allowed to return to the third spot. So now with 47 laps to go, Gresel led Chenoweth, Fitzpatrick, Kennedy, Balson, Owen, Dilley, Baker, Gallant, Watson, Gowan, Passer, Varco, King, Bickle, Beyore, Justin Jones, Hawn, Corey Jones, McLean, Dunford, Doucette and Cornelius.

Gresel would get a good restart to keep his advantage ahead of the field, while Cornelius would head down pit road at lap five, electrical issues still plagging the KDR Motorsports team. Chenoweth, Fitzpatrick and Kennedy would continues to run solid times, though Gresel would start to extend his lead ahead of the field a little. Behind them, Owen would begin his march towards the front, passing Balson for fourth before the caution flew at lap 17 for Justin Jones spinning, virtue of contact from Gowan. With 33 laps to go, Gresel led Chenoweth, Fitzpatrick, Kennedy, Owen, Balson, Dilley, Watson, Gallant, Gowan, Baker, Varco, Passer, Beyore, McLean, Corey Jones, Hawn, Bickle, Dunford, King and Doucette.

Gresel got another good restart, though it wouldn’t last for long as disaster would strike the entire field. Fitzpatrick’s super late would jump out of gear heading into turn one on lap 20, resulting in him slowly drastically. With some competitors not prepared for him slowing, contact would be made, with both Gallant and Varco catching some air in the process. In total, seven cars would get catch damage – Baker, Corey Jones, Varco, Passer, Gallant and McLean. With 31 laps to go, Gresel led Chenoweth, Kennedy, Owen, Dilley, Watson, Beyore, Gowan, Doucette, Bickle, Dunford, Corey Jones, Baker, Balson, King and Hawn.

Gresel would hold his advantage on the restart, staying in front of Chenoweth while Owen was able to get by Kennedy to move into third. Dilley would hold down fifth all the way till the caution flew at lap 26 for Hawn going flying off the turn one opening, as if he missed the turn. Hawn would get his car turned around, returning to the track. With 24 laps to go, Gresel led Chenoweth, Owen, Kennedy, Dilley, Watson, Beyore, Gowan, Doucette, Balson, Dunford, Bickel, Baker, King, Fitzpatrick and Hawn.

Another restart equaled another good job done by Gresel as he continued to hold the advantage over the field with Chenoweth and Owen keeping their spots, respectively. Kennedy’s car would start to fall off as he’d start to drop off the pace of the leaders, falling into the clutches of Beyore and Gowan. Meanwhile, both Baker and Fitzpatrick didn’t have the runs that they wanted as damage brought Baker to pit road at lap 33, with Fitzpatrick coming to pit road at lap 40 as a result of mechanical issues. The problems for competitors would continue with Doucette, King and Dunford getting tangled up together for a caution at lap 43. That’d be followed by a caution at lap 46 for Dunford going off the track in turn one. With four laps to go, Gresel led Owen, Chenoweth, Beyore, Gowan, Dilley, Watson, Kennedy, Balson, Bickel, Doucette, Hawn and Jones.

Andrew Gresel would get a good restart to claim his second straight Autumn Colors Classic victory. Shawn Chenoweth would get by John Owen in the late going to finish second, while Mike Beyore and Shane Gowan rounded the top five. Glenn Watson finished sixth, followed by Mark Dilley, Jesse Kennedy, Kelly Balson, Dave Doucette, Tyler Hawn and Rob Bickel.