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As NASCAR teams take on the Tricky Triangle at Pocono, time is running out for those that hope to make the Chase for 2010. It is almost too late for some and for others… well… it’s all about trying to make it into thirteenth place by the end of the season. The countdown to the Chase is now six races and counting.

No matter what you’ve heard and no matter what driver you listen to, Pocono in the heat of summer is one of the toughest tracks NASCAR teams face. If you pay attention to how the conversations go during practice (and of course those constant interviews) you will hardly find a driver that is consistently happy with his car all the way around the track. This is a track where the driver has to sacrifice feel in one or more of the corners for consistently fast lap times. Some will say they like the way their cars handle and some won’t; (almost all of them say they don’t at some point during the weekend) and the one that can run the fastest consistently throughout a fuel and tire run will be out front on Sunday.

So, why is Pocono such a difficult track? Well, if you’re new to NASCAR, the three completely different turns is a good place to start. Another would be the age of the  surface and the rough spots at different areas in the turns. Then you have to look at that front straight and the speed of entry into turn one (near 200 mph) and, of course, it’s hot.

In this fan’s unofficial, not-driving-in-the-race opinion, it is absolutely important to be fast coming out of three to set up for a good entry at the end of that long front straightaway into turn one. It will also help to be fast there if it is a trophy dash between two or more cars to the checkered flag at the end of the race.

So why is this race so important for those hoping to make the Chase? Because next week is Watkins Glen – a road course – and road courses are a place where several drivers just don’t perform well. With the way the points stand going into Pocono, those that are close to breaking into the top twelve need to finish as close to the front as they possibly can. (Of course, it wouldn’t hurt if those they are trying to get ahead of would finish near the back, too.) At least doing well at Pocono would help them stay close if they do have a bad race at Watkins Glen next week.

Pocono is a track that you need to qualify near the front if for no other reason than getting a good pit stall and then the qualifying times go out the window and we get back to normal – who can run the most laps faster than the rest.

It helps to have a good pit stall to help with the all important track position. However, there is one other thing a team will need to finish at, or near, the front and that is good fuel mileage. That’s because there is a good possibility this could become a fuel mileage race if we have those long green flag runs, especially near the end. Unfortunately, this is also a track that has a history of having cautions near the end of the race so the teams will have to be ready to make good calls for a short run near the end. If there is a caution near the end and no one has a strong speed advantage over the rest, look out! The possibility of the double file restart and the extra laps of up to three green-white-checkered finishes could be complete game changers.

When it comes to choosing the winner, I am really torn this week. Maybe that’s because there are those I would like to see win and those I hope don’t win. I won’t mention any names, but, rest assured, I do have favorites.

Once again, the Chevys are looking mighty strong. It doesn’t matter if you look at the Hendrick, Childress, or Earnhardt/Ganassi Chevys, they all looked fast in qualifying and practice. I’m not making this judgment based on fastest speed alone but on overall fast longer runs. That’s the group I think the winner will surface from, (unless we have a couple of restarts near the end…then, it’s anybody’s guess.)

There is always the possibility the winner could come from the Joe Gibb’s camp. Denny Hamlin has proven to be fast almost every time he has raced at Pocono. Kyle Bush usually shows up near the front at the end of a race, so, I guess I can’t count him out either.

When all is said and done I really think it will be a Chevy in victory lane. I wouldn’t put it past this being the place where Juan Pablo Montoya scores his first NASCAR victory on an oval track (if you can call this and oval track) and Jamie McMurray… well… he’s just gotta be considered, too.

Unless something really strange and unexpected happens, my choices come down to about three drivers. That would be Tony Stewart, Jeff Burton or Jeff Gordon, but I do have to throw in a long shot and say Mark Martin could win his first ever Pocono race. I mean, just how many times can you finish second without winning at least one?

See ya next time… Rusty

All views expressed are strictly the opinion of the writer

© July 31, 2010 – all rights reserved

Rusty Norman and NascarFansView.com

(All audio productions by www.podcastnorm.com and PCNProductions.com

The NASCAR race at Indy this last Sunday was another history making day for the Brickyard. Jamie McMurray became only the third driver to win both the Daytona 500 and the Brickyard 400 in the same season and his owner, Chip Ganassi, made history by his teams winning the Daytona 500, the Indy 500 and the Brickyard 400 in the same season.

That’s a big turn-around from where Ganassi was just a couple of years ago. Jamie McMurray had to leave Ganassi Racing a few years back and, now, it looks like the old magic is back for the two.

From this fan’s view, Chip Ganassi has made some good decisions over the last few years and those are beginning to pay dividends for him and his teams. Joining forces with Earnhardt Racing certainly has to figure in as one of those good decisions and will undoubtedly continue to make Earnhardt/Ganassi Racing a name we will be hearing talked about more and more often in the coming months and years.

As a fan, I find it fascinating how everyone thought Juan Pablo Montoya would be the one bringing the EGR teams the bigger headlines. As it has turned out, he has done his part but Jamie McMurray has won races and made bigger headlines, especially since returning to Ganassi this year. He is just another story of how a driver in NASCAR can go from relative obscurity because of lack-luster performance (which he had at Roush Racing) to someone looked at as a possible Cup Championship winner, if not this year, definitely in the years ahead; (Not bad for a guy born and raised from humble beginnings in Joplin, Missouri.)

See ya next time… Rusty

All views expressed are strictly the opinion of the writer

© July 29, 2010 – all rights reserved

Rusty Norman and NascarFansView.com

(All audio productions by www.podcastnorm.com and PCNProductions.com)

Everybody in NASCAR wants to win at Indianapolis. It is one of the few tracks having that recognizable heavy air of history surrounding everything that happens there. The Brickyard 400 is no different, although it is a relatively young race and even those that never had a chance at participating in the Indy 500 feel just as strongly about the 400 and think it is one of the more important races to have on their win list.

It is my opinion this year’s Brickyard 400 could be one of the most exciting NASCAR races at the historic track. That may sound like a bold statement but let me tell you why I think the way I do about this years race at Indy.

First of all, just look at the top ten qualifiers. Nine of the top ten cars are Chevys. So you say, how is that going to make it an interesting race? With all of those Chevys out front from the beginning, how can that make for any similarity to an interesting race?

For just a minute, take a look at these important facts. Not only are the Hendrick Chevys well represented in the top ten with Jimmie Johnson starting second, Mark Martin starting third and Jeff Gordon starting eighth, but the Richard Childress camp is also right there with Clint Bowyer, Kevin Harvick and Jeff Burton starting sixth, ninth and tenth. Those are two of the strongest teams over the last several weeks and should make the end of the race interesting. Add to those, the Earnhardt/Ganassi Chevys of Juan Pablo Montoya and Jamie McMurray starting first and fourth and you have one perfect Chevy storm building up  for Sunday’s race. (And let’s not forget the Stewart/Haas Chevy of Ryan Newman, starting fifth, also a piece of Hendrick equipment.)

The only Ford in the top ten was Greg Biffle’s #16 Jack Roush entry starting seventh and one has to think he could figure into the late race mix as well while his team-mate, Matt Kenseth is starting thirteenth.

I know that probably raises the question about he fact that I usually don’t put much stock in qualifying so why is this weekend any different? Once again, that is a great question and I am so glad someone asked it.

Indy is another one of the few tracks that NASCAR visits that has a history for track position being important and the best way to maintain a position near the front is to have a good pit stall. It will be imperative for the person that is out front to maintain his track position and it will most assuredly prove to be the case once again this weekend.

To be honest, I’m not even thinking about someone totally unexpected to win this race. It would be a complete shock to me if it was. I have to mention at this point that the Chip Ganassi teams look awfully tough, especially Juan Montoya. After his performance last year and the pit road speeding penalty that took him out of contention, I look for him to be leading a lot of laps on Sunday afternoon. He could be looking at going for his second win at the track in a stock car if it hadn’t been for the miscue on pit road last year. This year, it looks like they have brought an even better car and barring the complete unforeseen, I do expect to see the #42 Target Chevy to be right in there at the end, fighting for the victory, (or perhaps even worse, covering the field for extended green flag runs and making the prediction of an exciting race a very dim memory.)

I’m not quite ready to put all of my eggs in one basket at this point and declare that Juan Pablo Montoya will win, but I do have to admit he has proven to be very capable at this track. It’s just that there is at least one other strong Chevy starting on the front row, too. The driver of that car is Jimmie Johnson and I do completely expect the #48 Lowe’s Chevy to make a race of it.

I think it would be foolish of anyone to think those two drivers are the only ones capable of taking the checkers at Indy this Sunday. Although there are some strong cars starting in the middle of the pack, the ones qualifying and starting out front in the top ten have to figure very heavily in who will be around at the front for the final laps and it could be any one of them. (In fact, Jeff Gordon could very possibly come away with his fifth win at Indy.)

That brings to mind the old adage that says, “To finish first, you must first finish” and to use another one, “that is where the rubber meets the road.” Barring major equipment failures, I believe all of the top ten starters and possibly a few others will all be fighting it out at the end and one thing is certain… the best car and driver is going to win this one and you can take that to the bank… Just don’t expect to be surprised by some dark horse winner taking the trophy home and kissing the bricks when it is all over. That just wouldn’t be Indy or the Brickyard 400… (But then again, this is Nascar, isn’t it…)

See ya next time… Rusty

All views expressed are strictly the opinion of the writer

© July 25, 2010 – all rights reserved

Rusty Norman and NascarFansView.com

(All audio productions by www.podcastnorm.com and PCNProductions.com)

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The NASCAR teams wanting to make the Chase in 2010 have to perform well this weekend here at ChicagoLand and they have to do it… now! I hate to state the obvious, but, teams that are just in or just outside the top twelve must begin to perform consistently for the next 8 races or they can kiss their chances goodbye. In particular, those in 9^th to 15^th in the points are running out of time and the odds are beginning to turn against them unless they do.

As I stated a couple of weeks ago, it is definitely “crunch time” for all of the top teams and they cannot afford the luxury of taking it easy. Oh sure, there are teams that have a good cushion of points, but if they have three bad race weeks in a row, they could just as easily be on the outside looking in. Kevin Harvick is the one sitting with the largest cushion and for him to move from first place to outside the top twelve would take at least three race weekends, (not to mention he would probably have to finish last all three of those weeks.)

There is a strong bunch of drivers starting at the front of the lineup tonight. Once again Jamie McMurray sits on the pole and Jimmie Johnson is right next to him. Tony Stewart and Greg Biffle make up row two followed by Sam Hornish Jr and Jeff Gordon in row three.

It is this fan’s opinion that anyone in the top ten starting positions have a very good chance of taking the checkered flag for tonight’s race. That’s not to rule out anyone else, but barring the unforeseen this is a track that definitely favors the faster qualifiers if for no other reason than track position. It is also my opinion they must maintain their positions and not fall too far back or it could spell disaster for their hopes of finishing up front.

One thing about ChicagoLand that hardly changes is the fact it is a fast track that has a habit of making it hard for the teams to figure it out. So far, it has proved out hardly any  one driver or team dominates here. As the night progresses, it will be very important for the crew chiefs to keep up with the track conditions from the drop of the green flag to the possibilities of green-white-checkered finishes.

You may ask, why do they have to be “on it” from the drop of the green flag? I will just point out, first practice was in the heat of the day as was the second. Qualifying took place late afternoon and early evening and there was a noticeable increase in speed. The race tonight will start even later than qualifying finished. The crew chiefs first have to get their cars right for the start and they have to make absolutely sure they have a good plan for adjustments that take them to the end.

Sam Hornish Jr seems to be completely comfortable with both the ChicagoLand track  and his Penske Dodge. After all, he performed well at this track in open wheel racing and appears to be attacking it with confidence. Will that transfer into a visit to Victory Lane in a NASCAR stock car by the end of the night? I don’t know, but the possibility does have to be considered.

This could also be the week the Fords actually have good finishes and possibly even win. Greg Biffle, Kasey Kahne and Carl Edwards all seemed happy with their cars during practice in race trim. That could prove to be a good thing and could put one of them in Victory Lane at the end of the Lifelock.com 400. That is “if” they can keep up with the  Chevys.

See ya next time… Rusty

All views expressed are strictly the opinion of the writer

© July 10, 2010 – all rights reserved

Rusty Norman and NascarFansView.com

(All audio productions by www.podcastnorm.com and PCNProductions.com)

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The Coke Zero 400 start was delayed by rain, had lots of wrecks and plenty of fireworks during and after the race and ended up with a major shift in points for those trying to stay in (or get in) the top twelve for the Chase.

Kevin Harvick powered his way to victory at the Coke Zero 400 and proved he is a force to be reckoned with when it comes Chase time. All of the Childers’ teams once again looked strong Saturday night and continue to impress with their performances at almost every track NASCAR visits. Harvick is just plain consistent and almost always near the front at the end of a race and now has two victories on the year.

Just about any NASCAR fan will tell you consistently finishing in the top five and top ten is what it takes to win a Sprint Cup Championship and, so far, Kevin Harvick is proving that is at least what it takes to stay in first place in the point standings leading up to the Chase.

The Jeff Burton and Clint Bowyer RCR teams aren’t fairing quite as well as Harvick when it comes to finishes, but both are showing up almost every week with cars that could end up in victory lane. Jeff Burton has had his share of bad luck almost every race this year and in particular when it looks like he may have one of the cars to beat. It is a shame that his consistency seems to be finding his way into trouble, whether it is his fault or not, and although he is in the top twelve with no wins, he could have won at least a couple had things gone just slightly different during several races this season.

Listening to the buzz from the drivers during and after the race, I heard a lot of frustration being vented toward a few other drivers and the track being a lot more slippery than usual. More than one said they liked the character of the track and they were going to miss it, but this fan got the impression they were looking forward to the new surface they will see in February. I can’t blame them but I do know racing at Daytona won’t be the same as it has been for the last several years. I have the feeling it will be more like Talladega in many ways now that they will have a newer, smoother surface to race on. I’m not saying they will be the same… I’m just sayin’… the two will be similar, (at least for a while.)

As I expected, this race was full of some minor skirmishes that added up to a small “Big One” and one big, “Big One” near the end that took out almost half of the remaining field. The positions according to points had some important changes and this fan wonders if some of the teams affected the most will recover. Jeff Gordon moved into second place by doing something he hasn’t done in a while—avoid being caught up in that big “Big One.” He and Dale Jr. both missed it by just inches and it turned into a plus for both of them.

Probably one of the most disappointed driver’s Saturday night was Clint Bowyer. If the race had ended before the green-white-checker, he would have likely been sitting in 11^th place in points. As it turned out, he is in 14^th place.

Well, I don’t know about you, but I’m looking forward to the race this coming weekend at Chicagoland. I can’t wait to see if the race in Daytona was a turnaround for a couple of teams and they are now going to ride a wave of momentum or if we get back to what we experienced in the month of May with the Bush brothers and the JGR teams playing a more dominant role than in the last several weeks.

Any way it goes, NASCAR Sprint Cup teams get a weekend off before heading to Indianapolis and I know they will welcome the minimal lack of pressure for at least that one weekend; (notice I didn’t say they get a week off.)

There is enough to keep them busy just getting ready for the next seven weeks leading up to the Chase after Chicagoland…

See ya next time… Rusty

All views expressed are strictly the opinion of the writer

© July 7, 2010 – all rights reserved

Rusty Norman and NascarFansView.com

(All audio productions by www.podcastnorm.com and PCNProductions.com)