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Marshall’s Madness: Debating Who’ll Drive The No. 20 For 2014

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SM Staff
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Credit: joegibbsracing.com

Rumors are boiling like stew in a pot about who will be the primary driver for the No. 20 Toyota in the NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) for Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) in 2014. The Dollar General machine was piloted by Brian Vickers until he suffered a season ending blood clot. Nevertheless, Vickers isn’t returning to Gibbs in 2014 because he’ll be promoted to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) with Michael Waltrip Racing (MWR)

Denny Hamlin and Drew Herring have shared seat time while Vickers has been dealing with his medial issue. Herring drove the car this past weekend where he clocked in a 16th place finish after starting 10th.

Herring has been one of JGR’s development drivers of the course of the 2014 season and is a contender to drive the No. 20 full-time throughout 2014, but I’ve came up with a top five candidates list of who Gibbs should consider.

5. Erik Jones: The 17-year-old was impressive at Phoenix International Raceway this past weekend where he wrote his name in the record books by becoming the youngest NASCAR Camping World Truck Series winner. Jones is still quite young and will need to be further developed before we consider him a legitimate contender to drive for JGR’s program in the NNS. Nevertheless, the young man has good things to come with a mentor in Kyle Busch and a possible CWTS ride with Kyle Busch Motorsports in future years.

4. Parker Kligerman: With the possibility of KBM cutting to just a truck program for 2014 it leaves Kligerman hanging out to dry. Recently he made his NSCS debut with Swan Racing where he racked up and impressive 18th finish at Texas. JGR and KBM are both partners at the NNS level and the No. 20 would be a great fit for Kligerman as he’d be staying inside the Toyota family.

3. Alex Bowman: The New Mexico driver has been astounding in his rookie season with RAB Racing in the Nationwide Series. Bowman recently racked up a pole at Texas Motor Speedway where he caught many owners and other competitors eyes. The 20-year-old has a lot going for him after preforming this well with not the best of teams like RAB. Like Kligerman, Bowman would be staying inside the Toyota family and in my mind he’s a serious contender for this No. 20 ride.

2. Darrell Wallace Jr: There’s no doubting the fire in Darrell Wallace Jr.’s eyes when he climbs behind a racecar. Wallace isn’t a normal racecar driver; he’s had to overcome adversity with the color of his skin. The young man recently won at Martinsville Speedway where he solidified himself as a future star in this sport. Even though he’s still developing I wouldn’t doubt that Gibbs is taking a serious look at Wallace and what he can offer to the team, but another year at the CWTS level wouldn’t hurt.

1. Drew Herring: It’s no surprise that Herring is at the top of the list, they’ve are letting him and crew chief Kevin Kidd build a relationship before seasons end and then throw him in the car for 2014 most likely. Herring’s driven for Kyle Busch’s No. 54 prior to the Vickers medial release and the icing on the cake to seal this possible deal in my mind was the fact he would be able to work with Kevin Kidd before the 2013 season is finishes.

Although, this is just another part of the rumor mill, shoot we could be discussing all these rookies and Jeff Burton end up in the car (I doubt that, but, you never know). That’s the beauty of NASCAR, rookies have a shot to make it in top notch equipment like Joe Gibbs and like these five men, they are all well deserving.

The sport needs more drivers like Busch, not Vanilla Ice Cream

By
Michelle Lippold
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Photo Credit: Gary Buchanan

The long time Dale Earnhardt Sr fan in me makes me reflect back on the good old days when there were racing rivalries and those rivalries were not just words that were shown on or even off the track.

Everyone tuned in to see what Darrell Waltrip, aka “Jaws,” or Earnhardt Sr., aka “The Intimidator,” would do.  Those drivers didn’t get these nicknames for no reason.  They were the kind of drivers you either loved or hated, but you had an opinion on them, one way or the other.

With that said, Kyle Busch stands out with that type of personality.  Busch may be cocky, but through his wife Samantha, we can see his softer side. We need more drivers like Busch to make this sport more interesting.  I now find myself partly watching to see Busch drive the wheels off the car, get into a track scuffle, or cause an “accident” with someone, because Busch is a “no holds barred” type of driver.  With Busch, what you see is what you get and I may never own up to it, but I like that.

Looking back, I like drivers with attitude.  I like drivers that push the envelope such as Kevin Harvick and Tony “Smoke” Stewart.  The sport needs more of what made the sport so popular years ago when everyone flocked to the tracks each weekend.

Both Jimmie Johnson and Matt Kenseth are good drivers, both deserve the 2013 championship, but they are like vanilla ice cream.  It’s okay, but not anything there.  Not that there is anything wrong with that, but for a sport to thrive you need flavor. You need some sprinkles on that ice cream. So yes, I am a closet Busch fan for being the type of driver NASCAR used to have.  This is something the sport needs more of.

I look at the “cookie cutter” tracks today and there are a lot of empty seats. Even the outcome of the race is predictable.  So why spend hard earned money to see what you already know is going to happen? NASCAR needs to take a look at what made them big because what they are doing now, is not working.

I like Busch because he is not predictable.  You love him or you hate him, but you feel something and I can’t say that about too many other drivers.

As I sit in my Dale Earnhardt Jr gear, watching the season wind down to a vanilla ending, in my pocket are a few M&M’s.

MIAMI VICTORY FOR GORDON WOULD BE SAVORED FOR MONTHS

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SM Archive
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RECORDING ARTIST AND ACTRESS ZENDAYA TO PRESENT ANTHEM AT FORD ECOBOOST 400

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SM Archive
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David Gravel Charges through the Field to Finish Sixth in the Finale of the World Finals

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SM Archive
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Johnson salvages third-place finish as Harvick repeats at Phoenix

By
SM Staff
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Photo Credit: Noel Lanier

Jimmie Johnson has been tested throughout his NASCAR career, but the five-time champion survived one of his toughest test yet today at the Advocare 500.

Johnson started the race on pole for today’s race, but nearly wrecked on the first lap when the 22 of Joey Logano tapped Johnson going into Turn 3, causing Johnson to fall backwards. Johnson said that he had to use “some of his dirt racing skills out in the desert in Arizona”, to earn a third-place finish. Johnson made those comments reflecting on the fact that races at Phoenix International Raceway are considered to be short races. “This is in no way a short race,” Johnson said.

That was not the only close call for the 48 this afternoon. Johnson was on the outside of Carl Edwards when eventual race-winner Kevin Harvick took it three-wide into Turn 1 and did not touch Edwards, but Edwards subsequently got loose under the 48, nearly causing him to crash. “There was a point in the middle of saving it that the tail-end was pointing towards the fence and I thought I was going to hit. I’m very thankful.”

Matt Kenseth struggled all afternoon, finishing a lap down in 23rd. When asked if Johnson was surprised at how badly Kenseth struggled this afternoon Johnson said, “I was very surprised, but I went through the same thing last year.” Kenseth said on his day, “I can’t say I was overly confident about what we had.” Kenseth wasn’t dazzling in practice. However, an average practice position of 6th isn’t bad, but Kenseth was not even close to that mark during the race. At times Kenseth didn’t even know what to fix on the race car. “I don’t even know how to fix it,” Kenseth said.

The race was marred with eight cautions, including a late debris call on lap 183 to set up a final dash to the finish with interesting strategies put into play. Carl Edwards appeared to be on his way to sweep the races here at Phoenix International Raceway this season, but ran out of fuel coming to the white flag, giving the win to Kevin Harvick. Harvick celebrates his fourth win of 2013 and as a repeat winner of the fall event here in Phoenix.

Jimmie Johnson enters Homestead with a commanding 28 point lead over Matt Kenseth, but it doesn’t mean that it’s all over. Johnson looked like he could pull off the incredible last season to defeat Brad Keselowski, but suffered a broken rear gear. The same can happen to any of the drivers still with a mathematical shot at earning the Sprint Cup Series championship. With that being said, it’s going to be an amazing champions week at the Homestead-Miami Speedway next weekend. For those fans that follow the old system, Jimmie Johnson would have clinched his third NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship today.

CHEVY NSCS AT PHOENIX TWO: Race Notes & Quotes

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SM Archive
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Lap by Lap: Avocare 500 won by Kevin Harvick

By
SM Staff
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Photo Credit: Noel Lanier

When Carl Edwards ran out of gas on the last lap, it was Kevin Harvick grabbing the win at Phoenix International Raceway for his second win of the 2013 Chase for the Championship.

 

Lap 1 Three-wide for the lead between Logano, Johnson and Hamlin for the lead. Hamlin grabs the lead as Logano nips the bumper but Johnson hangs on to it

Lap 4 Hamlin leads Gordon KuBusch Harvick Logano Johnson Kahne KyBusch Keselowski Earnhardt Jr.

Lap 5 Kenseth passes Bowyer for 11th

Lap 9 Earnhardt Jr. by Keselowski for ninth

Lap 16 Hamlin leads Gordon KuBusch Harvick Logano Johnson Kahne Earnhardt Jr. Keselowski KyBusch Kenseth

Lap 19 Gordon passes Hamlin for the lead

Lap 26 Johnson by Logano for fifth

Lap 28 Gordon leads Harvick Johnson Hamlin KuBusch Logano Kahne Earnhardt Jr. Keselowski KyBusch Kenseth

Lap 36 Gordon leads Harvick Johnson KuBusch Logano Earnhardt Jr. Kahne Keselowski Kenseth Bowyer

Lap 44 Logano and Earnhardt Jr. both by KuBusch

Lap 47 Gordon leads Harvick Johnson Logano Earnhardt Kahne KuBusch Keselowski Kenseth Bowyer

Caution lap 49 Hamlin goes around. Leaders head down pit road. Gordon leads Harvick Johnson KuBusch Earnhardt Logano Keselowski Kahne Kenseth and Menard off pit road

Restart lap 56 Harvick and Gordon side-by-side for the lead. Harvick grabs the lead off of corner four

Lap 57 Harvick leads Gordon Johnson KuBusch Logano Earnhardt Jr. Keselowski

Lap 59 Harvick leads Johnson Gordon KuBush Logano Earnhardt Jr. Keselowski Kahne Menard Montoya Kenseth

Lap 64 Earnhardt Jr. makes an unscheduled pit stop – loose wheel.

Lap 66 Harvick leads Johnson Gordon KuBusch Logano Kahne Keselowski Menard Montoya Kenseth

Lap 83 Harvick leads Johnson Gordon KuBusch Logano Kahne Keselowski Menard Montoya Truex Edwards Kenseth

Lap 96 Johnson by Gordon for second. Edwards by Truex for 10th

Lap 99 Logano by Kahne; Edwards by Montoya for ninth

Caution lap 100. Nemechek pancaked wall – or not; just scared the wall. Leaders head down pit road. Kahne leads Keselowski Edwards Menard Johnson Gordon off pit road.

Restart lap 106 Kahne and Keselowski side-by-side for the lead. Kahne clears Keselowski off of turn four.

Lap 109 Kahne leads Keselowski Edwards Menard Harvick Gordon Johnson Bowyer KuBusch Biffle

Lap 114 Harvick and Gordon by Menard. KuBusch, Biffle, Truex and Montoya round out the top 11

Lap 115 Johnson by Menard.

Caution lap 117 Timmy Hill into the wall. Hamlin gets the lucky dog. Back half of the field pits.

Restart lap 120 Keselowski grabs the lead

Lap 124 Keselowski leads Kahne Harvick Edwards KuBusch Johnson Truex KyBusch Menard

Lap 127 Harvick passes Kahne for second; Gordon and Montoya by Menard; Gordon by KyBusch

Lap 130 Keselowski leads Harvick Kahne Edwards Johnson KuBusch Truex Gordon KyBusch Montoya

Caution lap 131 Kvapil smoking as Blaney goes around. Earnhardt gets the lucky dog.

Restart lap 137. Keselowski to the point ahead of Harvick

Lap 140 Keselowski leads Harvick Edwards Johnson Kahne KuBusch Gordon Montoya Truex KyBusch

Lap 144 Gordon by KuBusch for sixth

Caution lap 145 Cole Witt wrecks in turn four along with Danica Patrick. Reuitmann got damage as well. Most of the leaders pit under the caution. Top 13 stayed out. Gordon leads McMurray and Newman.

Restart lap 158. McMurray and Gordon side-by-side for the lead

Lap 160 Gordon takes the lead.

Lap 162 Gordon leads McMurray Newman Logano Biffle Bowyer Gilliland Kenseth Hamlin Almirola…..Edwards with a slide into Johnson…..Johnson stays off the wall with a save. Yeley spins behind and the caution flies. Some people head down pit road.

Restart lap 166 Newman pulls ahead of Logano off of turn two

Lap 171 Newman leads Logano Biffle Bowyer Gilliland Ambrose Earnhardt Hamin Keselowski Harvick

Lap 175 Earnhardt by Ambrose; Harvick by Keselowski

Lap 176 Earnhardt by Gilliland

Lap 184 Newman leads Logano Biffle Bowyer Earnhardt Harvick Gilliland Ambrose KyBusch Hamlin

Lap 186 KyBusch by Ambrose for eighth; Montoya by Hamlin for 10th

Caution lap 190 Reuitmann shortens the car. Leaders head down pit road. Newman and Earnhardt the first two off pit road. Logano leads Kahne and Keselowski

Restart lap 200 Logano clears Keselowski in the first turn

Lap 201 Kahne by Keselowski for second

Lap 202 Johnson alongside Keselowski for third

Lap 204 Johnson clears Keselowski for third

Lap 206 Logano leads Kahne Johnson Edwards Keselowski Gordon Truex Martin Stenhouse Harvick

Lap 210 Gordon by Keselowski for fifth

93 to go Logano leads Kahne Johnson Edwards Gordon Keselowski Truex Martin Harvick Stenhouse

88 to go Kahne by Logano for the lead

85 to go Johnson moves to second as Logano heads down pit road for fuel and tires

84 to go Kahne leads Johnson Edwards Gordon Keselowski Truex Harvick Martin Stenhouse and Earnhardt

76 to go Harvick by Truex while Earnhardt runs eighth followed by KyBusch

74 to go Keselowski pits out of fifth for tires and fuel

73 to go Kahne leads Johnson Edwards Gordon Harvick Truex Earnhardt KyBusch Menard Bowyer

70 to go Kenseth makes his green flag pit stop

69 to go Truex pits, giving up sixth

67 to go Gordon pits

66 to go Kahne pits, handing the lead to Johnson

65 to go Johnson pits, handing the lead to Edwards

64 to go Edwards pits, handing the lead to Harvick

52 to go Bowyer pits

49 to go Hamlin pits – speeding

45 to go Harvick pits as he is out of gas. Earnhardt Jr. to the pits.

42 to go KuBusch and KyBusch pit……Earnhardt pits. Newman leads.

36 to go Newman runs out of gas and pits. Edwards cycles back to the lead.

Caution 32 to go debris in turn three. Top five stay out as Keselowski is first to pit

Restart 26 to go Edwards pulls out ahead of Kahne

22 to go Edwards leads Kahne Harvick Johnson Earnhardt KuBusch Montoya KyBusch Truex Newman

18 to go Harvick passes Kahne for second

13 to go Logano by Newman for 10th

2 to go Edwards runs out of gas on the last lap. Harvick takes the lead off of turn four.

Kevin Harvick wins. Kahne. Johnson. Earnhardt. KuBusch. Montoya. KyBusch. Truex. Logano. Newman.

Ford Phoenix Post-Race Cup Quotes

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SM Archive
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NASCAR National Series Championship Clinch Scenarios Set For Homestead

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SM Archive
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