Show notes:

Recap: the STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway

• Clint Bowyer gets the win
  • Audio: (3:23): Clint Bowyer Press Conference
  • Breaks a 190-race winless streak
  • First win since Fall 2012 at Charlotte
  • Another from the “old guard” gets a win over the youngsters
• Kyle Busch finishes second for the 43rd time in his career
  • Matches his 43 wins
• Race was snowed out – first time since 1993
  • How did NASCAR do with that decision?
• Relatively mild Martinsville Race
  • Only one caution that wasn’t a pre-planned one
  • Fewest cautions at Martinsville since
  • Let’s talk about cautions

News Items:

• Monster Energy is expected to renew as title sponsor of the Cup series
  • No word yet on whether the extension would be for one or two years
  • https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/2018/03/27/Marketing-and-Sponsorship/Monster.aspx
• Stewart Haas says it expects Kurt Busch back in 2019
  • https://finance.yahoo.com/news/stewart-haas-racing-fully-expects-kurt-busch-back-team-2019-022240188.html
• BK Racing to be operated by trustee
  • http://www.espn.com/racing/nascar/story/_/id/22947059/bk-racing-operated-trustee-team-owner-ron-devine-loses-financial-control
• Brad Keselowski will pay tribute to Rusty Wallace’s 27 MGD car at Darlington
  • https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2018/03/29/brad-keselowskis-throwback-darlington-scheme-revealed-rusty-wallace/
• Zack Young, jackman for the 37 car, was injured at Martinsville
  • Was hit during pit stops
  • Will be out for “a few weeks”
  • https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2018/03/27/no-37-crew-member-injured-martinsville-released-from-hospital/

Preview: the O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Texas Motor Speedway

• Expectations?
• Picks
  • James: Brad Keselowski
  • Eric: Kyle Busch
• Dark Horse:
  • Eric: Alex Bowman
  • James: Daniel Suarez

• Shoutouts if any
  • Plug the fantasy league

Close show

• Where can we be found on social media?
• You can find me @TSuperSpeedway on Twitter
• James @jameskuch on Twitter
• Facebook @ TheSuperSpeedway

For more of the podcast:

• Website address: www.thesuperspeedway.com
• Podcasts will be found on there as well.
• Find us on iTunes, Google Play and Soundcloud

Show notes:

Recap the Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway:

• Martin Truex Jr. wins the weekend
  • Sat on the pole
  • Won all three stages
  • Led 125 of 200 laps
    • Only other leaders were Kyle Busch (62), Joey Logano (9), William Byron (1) and Kasey Kahne (1)
• Kevin Harvick was on his way to possibly another win
  • Accident with Larson
  • Was Harvick drafting or trying to take a shot at Larson?
  • Does this affect that team at all?
• Jimmie Johnson got his first top-10 of the year with a 9th-place finish.
  • Average finish of 20th this season
  • Named #4 on ESPN’s top 20 dominant athletes of the last 20 years
    • http://www.espn.com/espn/feature/story/_/id/22765432/tiger-woods-lebron-james-most-dominant-athletes-last-20-years
• Tech Inspection Woes https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nascar/2018/03/17/auto-club-400-fontana-qualifying-issues-rules-changes/435037002/
  • 13 out of 37 cars failed to qualify because they couldn’t pass tech.
  • Those drivers WOULD have had an advantage by starting the race with fresh tires, but NASCAR allowed the other teams to start on fresh tires too, which negated the advantage
    • Eric: Discussion on tire rule for qualifying
  • NASCAR also told drivers for the Xfinity race that teams that didn’t pass tech would start at the rear AND serve a pass-through penalty on the first lap after the green flag.
    • This rule is expected to be made permanent for all three series.
    • What do we think?
  • What about qualifying in general? Is it even necessary anymore?
• Any additional race discussion, winners and losers, etc?

News Items:

• • Kyle Busch providing some entertainment on Twitter post-race after fans accuse him of ducking out of post-race media obligations
    • NASCAR has apparently changed requirements so only the first and second place teams need to go to the media center.
  • Daniel Hemric will make his Cup debut at Richmond
    • Driving the #8 car

• Audio (1:29) Hemric talks about making his first start and driving the 8 car

• • • Do we care about the number?
• IndyCar going to NBC in 2019 and streaming package

Preview: the STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway

• Expectations?
• Weather could be a factor
  • 100 percent chance of rain Saturday
  • Chance of snow Sunday morning
• Picks
  • Eric: Chase Elliott
  • James: Brad Keselowski
• Dark Horse:
  • James: AJ Allmendinger
  • Eric: Darrell Wallace Jr.  

• Shoutouts if any
  • Plug the fantasy league

Close show

• Where can we be found on social media?
• You can find me @TSuperSpeedway on Twitter
• James @jameskuch on Twitter
• Facebook @ TheSuperSpeedway

For more of the podcast:

• Website address: www.thesuperspeedway.com
• Podcasts will be found on there as well.
• Find us on iTunes, Google Play and Soundcloud

Show Notes:

Recap the TicketGuardian 500 at ISM Raceway:

• Harvick makes it three in a row
  • Did not dominate this time, however.
  • Led the third most laps in the race with 38
  • Gets ‘revenge’ after the penalty last week.
• Kyle Busch leads the most laps with 128, finishes second
• Kyle Larson led 54 laps before handling issues caused him to spin and fall back.
• Denny Hamlin (33), Ryan Newman (23), William Byron (15), Brad Keselowski (12), Kurt Busch (6) and Martin Truex Jr. (3) all led laps.
  • Brad, Kurt and Martin were all on pit strategy.
  • Byron’s were his first laps led in Cup.
• Other winners and losers?
• Overall, boring or good race?
  • Lots of battling for the lead — at one point a four-car battle

News Items:

• Penalties
  • Only major penalty was to Chase Elliott’s car:
    • Violation: Section 20.14.2 Rear Suspension I-4 Truck Trailing Arm Spacers/Pinion Angle Shims e.
    • Notes: 6. Truck trailing arm spacer / pinion angle shim mating surfaces must be planar and must be in complete contact with corresponding mating surfaces at all points and at all times.
    • Rule 12.5.2.6.2(c) applied to race finish as a post-race L1 infraction.
    • Penalty: Crew chief (Alan Gustafson) has been fined $50,000. Car chief (Josh Kirk) has been suspended for the next two Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship Points Events. Team has been assessed with the loss of 25 owner points and 25 driver points.
    • Same violation as Joey Logano last year.
    • Loses 25 of the 39 points he earned for the finish, leaving him with 14.
  • Host of lugnut penalties
    • Denny Hamlin
    • Ryan Blaney
    • Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
    • Joey Logano
    • Martin Truex Jr.
• Lowes leaving NASCAR at the end of the year
  • They’ve been Jimmie’s ONLY sponsor since he started in Cup. Has never had another primary sponsor.
  • How big of a deal is this?
  • Jimmie says he is not leaving.
• No option tire at this year’s All Star Race
  • Not a dead issue
  • http://nascar.nbcsports.com/2018/03/13/option-tire-wont-be-used-in-all-star-race-idea-not-a-dead-issue/
• Busch Pole Award is back
  • Will return at Auto Club Speedway this weekend
  • Previous four pole winners this season may also be recognized
  • https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2018/03/14/anheuser-busch-returns-sponsor-busch-pole-award/
• Kurt Busch bringing back the Sharpie scheme for Throwback weekend
  • 15-year anniversary of the finish with Ricky Craven
  • https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2018/03/15/exclusive-kurt-busch-darlington-throwback-scheme-revealed/
• On Board camera streaming available on Twitter again this season
  • http://www.espn.com/jayski/cup/2018/story/_/id/22774275/nascar-expand-car-camera-live-streams-twitter-2018

Preview: Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway

• Expectations?
• Picks
  • James: Kevin Harvick
  • Eric: Kyle Larson
• Dark Horse:
  • Eric: Aric Almirola
  • James: Clint Bowyer

• Shoutouts if any
  • Plug the fantasy league
  • Note there is a summer and fall season as well.

Close show

• Where can we be found on social media?
• You can find me @TSuperSpeedway on Twitter
• James @jameskuch on Twitter
• Facebook @ TheSuperSpeedway

For more of the podcast:

• Website address: www.thesuperspeedway.com
• Podcasts will be found on there as well.
• Find us on iTunes, Google Play and Soundcloud

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
Next Race: Auto Club 400
The Place: Auto Club Speedway
The Date: Sunday, March 18
The Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
TV: FOX, 3 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 400 miles (200 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 60),
Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 120), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 200)

NASCAR Xfinity Series
Next Race: California 300
The Place: Auto Club Speedway
The Date: Saturday, March 17
The Time: 5 p.m. ET
TV: FS1, 4:30 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 300 miles (150 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 35),
Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 70), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 150)

Show Notes:

Recap the Pennzoil 400 Presented by Jiffy Lube @ Las Vegas Motor Speedway:

• Kevin Harvick Dominates for a second week in a row.
• Another boring race?
• Fords still looking pretty good
• Jimmie Johnson gets his best finish of the year — 12th
  • Asked last week, is this cause for concern?

• The Penalty:
  • Infraction Date: 3/4/2018 (post-race inspection)
    • Team: #4–Kevin Harvick
    • Violation: Sections 20.4.8.1 Rear Window Support and Structure b. & c.; 20.4.18 Rocker Panel Extensions .b
    • Note: Rear Window Support Braces must keep the rear window glass rigid in all directions at all times. The Right Side Rocker Panel Extension did not meet NASCAR rule specifications, extension was not aluminum.
    • Penalty: Crew chief (Rodney Childers) has been fined $50,000. Car chief (Robert Smith) has been suspended from the next two Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship Points Events. Team has been assessed with the loss of 20 driver points and 20 owner points
    • Lost all seven playoff points he earned at the race
  • Should the win have been taken away?
  • Was this intentional?
  • Why can’t NASCAR do this at the track? Why is it Wednesday night before the penalty is announced?

News Items:

• Cup Series has been an eye opener for William Byron
  • http://www.espn.com/jayski/cup/2018/story/_/id/22680522/step-class-eye-opener-william-byron
• Hall of Fame nominations
  • https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2018/03/06/nominees-announced-nascar-hall-fame-class-2019/

Preview: the TicketGuardian 500 at ISM Raceway

• Expectations?
• Picks
  • Eric: Chase Elliott
  • James: Kevin Harvick
• Dark Horse:
  • James: Daniel Suarez
  • Eric: Aric Almirola

• Shoutouts if any
  • Plug the fantasy league

Close show

• Where can we be found on social media?
• You can find me @TSuperSpeedway on Twitter
• James @jameskuch on Twitter
• Facebook @ TheSuperSpeedway

For more of the podcast:

• Website address: www.thesuperspeedway.com
• Podcasts will be found on there as well.
• Find us on iTunes, Google Play and Soundcloud

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series

Next Race: TicketGuardian 500

The Place: ISM Raceway (Phoenix)

The Date: Sunday, March 11

The Time: 3:30 p.m. ET

TV: FOX, 3 p.m. ET

Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Distance: 312 miles (312 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on lap 75),

Stage 2 (Ends on lap 150), Final Stage (Ends on lap 312)

NASCAR Xfinity Series

Next Race: DC Solar 200

The Place: ISM Raceway (Phoenix)

The Date: Saturday, March 10

The Time: 4 p.m. ET

TV: FOX, 3:30 p.m. ET

Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Distance: 200 miles (200 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on lap 45),

Stage 2 (Ends on lap 90), Final Stage (Ends on lap 200)

Show notes:

Recap the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 @ Atlanta Motor Speedway:

• Kevin Harvick Dominates Xfinity and Cup Series races
• All veterans up front
  • Have to go back to Kyle Larson in ninth before you start to find the younguns.
• Austin Dillon comes home with a 14th-place finish after winning the 500
• Darrell Wallace Jr. finishes a disappointing 32nd
• Jimmie Johnson spins on his own again.
  • Finishes 27th
  • What is the deal with Jimmie?
  • After two races he is 35th in points
    • People ahead of him in points include: DJ Kennington and Mark Thompson (they only have run one race), Matt DiBenedetto, Jeffrey Earnhardt
• Other than Jimmie, race was pretty incident-free
• Issues with pit guns on pit road. Harvick had an issue. Others did too. Concern?
• Post-race penalties: http://www.espn.com/jayski/cup/2018/story/_/id/22603621/atlanta-post-race-penalties-announced
  • Kyle Busch loses crew chief, jackman and tire carrier from next three truck series races
  • Previously suspensions have been across all three series? Do we like this single-series thing more or less?

News Items:

• Announcement of coverage plans for this season.
• F1 Streaming Service: https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/f1-launches-ad-free-streaming-service-for-races-1009599/

Preview: Pennzoil 400 Presented by Jiffy Lube @ Las Vegas Motor Speedway

• Expectations?
• Picks
  • James: Joey Logano
  • Eric: Martin Truex Jr.
• Dark Horse:
  • Eric: Wiliiam Byron
  • James: Ty Dillon

• Shoutouts if any
  • Plug the fantasy league

Close show

• Where can we be found on social media?
• You can find me @TSuperSpeedway on Twitter
• James @jameskuch on Twitter
• Facebook @ TheSuperSpeedway

For more of the podcast:

• Website address: www.thesuperspeedway.com
• Podcasts will be found on there as well.
• Find us on iTunes, Google Play and Soundcloud

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series

Next Race: Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube

The Place: Las Vegas Motor Speedway

The Date: Sunday, March 4

The Time: 3:30 p.m. ET

TV: FOX, 3 p.m. ET

Radio: PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Distance: 400.5 miles (267 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on lap 80),

Stage 2 (Ends on lap 160), Final Stage (Ends on lap 267)

NASCAR Xfinity Series

Next Race: Boyd Gaming 300

The Place: Las Vegas Motor Speedway

The Date: Saturday, March 3

The Time: 4 p.m. ET

TV: FS1, 3:30 p.m. ET

Radio: PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Distance: 300 miles (200 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on lap 45),

Stage 2 (Ends on lap 90), Final Stage (Ends on lap 200)

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series

Next Race: Stratosphere 200

The Place: Las Vegas Motor Speedway

The Date: Friday, March 2

The Time: 9 p.m. ET

TV: FS1, 8:30 p.m. ET

Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Distance: 201 miles (134 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on lap 30),

Stage 2 (Ends on lap 60), Final Stage (Ends on lap 134)