Podcast #80 — It’s Roval Time

Posted on September 26, 2018 by Eric Young

Show notes

Recap: Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond Raceway

Kyle Busch becomes “roval proof” with victory
Leads the second-most laps on the night at 92
Truex led the most laps with 163
Not the most exciting Richmond race after a crazy first race at Vegas
Playoff drivers take positions 1-12
- Outside of those, Joey Logano 14th, Denny Hamlin 16th, Kurt Busch 18th, Ryan Blaney 19th.
Points
- 9: Chase Elliott +10
- 10: Austin Dillon +10
- 11: Alex Bowman +5
- 12: Ryan Blaney +4
- 13: Clint Bowyer -4
- 14: Jimmie Johnson -6
- 15: Erik Jones -21
- 16: Denny Hamlin -29

News Items:

ISC duplicating SMI with its ticket and travel protection program
- http://www.internationalspeedwaycorporation.com/Vanity-Pages/Weather-FAQs.aspx
Jimmie Johnson will throw back his rookie paint scheme at Homestead
- Doesn’t this feel like a farewell year for Jimmie?
- Meanwhile, Lowes will NOT return next year
- http://www.hendrickmotorsports.com/news/articles/93580/johnsons-homestead-ride-revealed
- http://www.espn.com/jayski/cup/2018/story/_/id/24674482/hendrick-talking-lowe-possible-return-limited-role
NASCAR makes updates to its leadership structure
- Brent Dewar steps down as NASCAR president
- He is replaced by Steve Phelps
- Dewar is moving to a senior consulting and advisory role next year
- http://www.espn.com/jayski/cup/2018/story/_/id/24741100/president-brent-dewar-moves-new-role-phelps-named-president
Adam Stern says Cup teams voted to endorse 2019 rules package

Silly Season:

Daniel Suarez says he has options next year
- Changed his Twitter profile to remove mention of JGR
- Tells Bob Pockrass: “I don’t really have anything good to say. When you don’t have anything good to say, it’s better to not say anything.”
- http://www.espn.com/espn/now?nowId=1-24756607
Ryan Newman will drive the 6 next year
- http://www.espn.com/jayski/cup/2018/story/_/id/24761218/nascar-rocket-man-pilot-jack-roush-iconic-no-6-ford-2019
Kenseth wants to stay at Roush, not race full time
- https://nascar.nbcsports.com/2018/09/22/matt-kenseth-feels-comfortable-with-his-future-beyond-this-season/
Ty Dillon says he’s staying at Germain Racing in the 13 car
- http://www.espn.com/espn/now?nowId=1-24792025
SHR and RCR are both trying to get Suarez
- RCR may promote Daniel Hemric to the 31
- http://www.espn.com/espn/now?nowId=1-24792025
AJ Allmendinger will not return to JTG Daugherty Racing next season
- No word on where AJ will go, if anywhere, or who will fill that seat
- http://www.espn.com/espn/now?nowId=1-24792025

Preview: Bank of America Roval 400

AUDIO: (1:40) Marcus Smith on SiriusXM, how the Roval came about

Picks

- James: Jimmie Johnson
- Eric: Kyle Busch

Dark Horse

- Eric: Alex Bowman
- James: Regan Smith

Shoutouts if any

Close show

Where can we be found on social media?
James @jameskuch on Twitter
Eric @TSuperspeedway 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

Become a Patron at www.patreon.com/thesuperspeedway

Podcast #79 — Brad Keselowski onto Round of 12

Posted on September 18, 2018 by Eric Young

Show notes:

Recap: South Point Hotel and Casino 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

Brad Keselowski gets the win
- It’s his third win in a row
- 500th Win for Team Penske
- Is he solidly the fourth in the “big three?”
Bad day to be a playoff driver
- Kevin Harvick crashes, takes Erik Jones with him.
  - Harvick finishes 39th, Jones 40th
- Jamie McMurray crashes, takes Chase Elliott with him
  - Elliott finishes 36th
- Denny Hamlin spins and wrecks in the grass
  - Finishes 32nd
- Clint Bowyer, Jimmie Johnson, Kurt Busch, Alex Bowman, all in crashes.
- Kyle Busch had a spin
  - Recovers for a seventh-place finish
What in the world happened in Las Vegas?
What did we learn here that we should take with us the rest of the way into the playoffs?
It was hot. Not good for the fans. But is that what made the racing good?
Points
- Aric Almirola +12
- Austin Dillon +9
- Clint Bowyer +7
- Alex Bowman +6
- Jimmie Johnson -6
- Chase Elliott -9
- Erik Jones -19
- Denny Hamlin -20

News Items:

Hashtags aren’t NASCAR’s deal, they are the RTA
- That’s why Truex doesn’t have one. Furniture Row is not a member of the RTA
Brian France pleaded not guilty to DWI
- http://www.espn.com/racing/nascar/story/_/id/24724745/nascar-ceo-brian-france-pleads-not-guilty-dwi
Gene Haas is still looking for someone to drive the 41 car
- “We haven’t seen anybody that’s intrigued us enough to say, ‘OK, we’re willing to sign you at the moment. We’re kind of hoping there is an undertow … where a driver or sponsor, maybe that combination that didn’t exist a few weeks ago, maybe they come together and it’s something we can look at. But at the moment we don’t have anything.”
- Says as far as he knows, KB is with Ganassi.
- He also said it’s more beneficial financially to run the car than not to.
- “We have Ford money per car, and the 41 car gets prize money, and prize money is based on previous years. It wouldn’t be nearly as profitable not to run it as it would be to run it in some shape or form.”
- https://nascar.nbcsports.com/2018/09/16/shr-owner-gene-haas-says-no-driver-has-intrigued-us-enough-to-sign-yet/
Ryan Newman is leaving RCR
- http://www.espn.com/jayski/cup/2018/story/_/id/24689187/newman-announces-leaving-rcr

Preview: Federated Auto Parts 400 from Richmond Raceway

Picks

- Eric: Denny Hamlin
- James: Kyle Larson

Dark Horse

- James: William Byron
- Eric: Daniel Suarez

Shoutouts if any
- Plug the fantasy league
- Plug Patreon

Close show

Where can we be found on social media?
James @jameskuch on Twitter
Eric @TSuperspeedway 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

Become a Patron at www.patreon.com/thesuperspeedway

Podcast #78 — The Playoff Grid is Set

Posted on September 13, 2018 by Eric Young

Show notes:

Recap: Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard

Brad Keselowski wins

Xfinity race:

Review of the aero package?

News Items:

After we recorded last week it was announced Kasey Kahne would not run at Indy due to symptoms of exhaustion after Darlington.
- He’ll be out three more races
- Regan Smith is driving the car
Jamie McMurray will not be back at Ganasi next year
Trevor Bayne will not return to Roush next season
Matt D. not returning to GoFas racing

Do We Care?

NASCAR running driver logos and hashtags on the playoff contender cars during the playoffs

Brackets

Preview: South Point Hotel and Casino 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

Picks

- James: Ryan Blaney
- Eric: Kyle Busch

Dark Horse

- Eric: Austin Dillon
- James: Alex Bowman

Shoutouts if any
- Plug the fantasy league
- Plug Patreon

Close show

Where can we be found on social media?
James @jameskuch on Twitter
Eric @TSuperspeedway 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

Become a Patron at www.patreon.com/thesuperspeedway

Podcast #77 — Furniture Row Racing closing up shop

Posted on September 5, 2018 by Eric Young

Show notes:

Recap:

Southern 500
- Brad gets the job done!
  - What, if anything, does this mean for his title hopes?
- Larson appears to let another great run get away.
- The Bowyer wreck.
- How great is throwback weekend?
Xfinity
- Let’s chat about that Harvick/Chastain crash for a minute.