Author Archives: jameskuch

The SuperSpeedway Power Rankings – FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan

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Note: My apologies for not posting a Power Rankings before Pocono! As a working, new dad, sometimes things get in the way of my hobbies. For the record, after Dover, Jimmie Johnson would have been number one as promised. However! We’re headed to my home track this week, leaving Pocono in the rear-view. Here are your updated Power Rankings.

1 Martin Truex Jr. (LW 1)

Two solid weeks back-to-back. Martin holds down the first spot again. I have a feeling he’s going to be fast at MIS… Just a hunch.

2 Jimmie Johnson (LW 5)

I don’t care that Jimmie crashed at Pocono. I’m glad he’s OK! His win in Dover was so reminiscent of Homested in 2016 that it’s giving me nightmares. 

3 Kyle Larson (LW 3)

Am I starting to expect too much out of Larson? Yes. Do I expect him to win Michigan? Yes. Do I expect him to win every week? Well, yeah!

4 Kevin Harvick (LW 4)

Kyle Busch has been better. But Harv is stringing together results! Getting closer. 

5 Kyle Busch (LW 6)

Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming. Side note. Can you imagine if someone blocked him like he blocked Blaney? Tears would be shed. 

6 Brad Keselowski (LW 2)

Great interview by Brad and Blaney after Pocono. Again, I rather see the results and less TV.

7 Chase Elliott (LW 8)

Signs of life the last two weeks. His daddy was really good at MIS. Just FYI.

8 Jamie McMurray (LW 7)

Ouch.

9 Ryan Blaney (LW NR)

I’m so happy for this kid. He’s got a bright future. What a win!

10 Denny Hamlin (LW 10)

Blaney winning means that Denny might have this spot locked down for a little bit.

Also considered

Kurt Busch, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Roger Curtis

The SuperSpeedway Power Rankings – AAA 400 at Dover

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1 Martin Truex Jr. (LW 2)

Just like last year, he dominated the 600. Unlike last year he didn’t take the checker flag. This dude leads all drivers with 16 playoff points and is the current 1 seed in the playoff standings. Martin is not going away anytime soon. He’s got a nice little history with Dover too!

2 Brad Keselowski (LW 1)

It’s fun when Brad has a Facebook Live and feud with Kyle Busch in the same day. I just wish he would complete the full race first.

3 Kyle Larson (LW 3)

I’m so sorry. This week was all my fault, Kyle. I won’t pick you to win for awhile.

4 Kevin Harvick (LW 4)

Alright, Kevin. It’s time to become a first-time Ford race winner. That’s the only thing left on the 2017 resume.

5 Jimmie Johnson (LW 6)

If Jimmie wins Dover, he’s going to the top of the rankings. I’m just warning you. He is the real Dover Monster.

6 Kyle Busch (LW 7)

Rowdy is slowly climbing. His All-Star win was a nice escape but another close call at the 600 had KB bumming again. Wins are coming.

7 Jamie McMurray (LW 5)

I don’t feel good about moving Jamie Mac down two spots. This is not taking away from his great season. He needs a win but his consistency should be noted.

8 Chase Elliott (LW 8)

It was a rough week for the some of our Power Ranking main stays. The Brad/Chase crash really bummed out The SuperSpeedway team, as race fans. It’s too early in the race to lose two big hitters.

9 Joey Logano (LW 9)

Joey is sitting 14th in the playoff standings. The way the Penske cars seems to be sliding, that encumbered win could be really costly.

10 Denny Hamlin (LW NR)

Denny takes back the 10th spot from Ryan Blaney. The way these guys are going, they will be wrestling for this spot for awhile.

Also considered

Austin Dillon, Ryan Blaney, Kurt Busch, The Dover Monster

The SuperSpeedway Power Rankings – All-Star/Coke 600

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1 Brad Keselowski (LW 1)

Led zero laps in Kansas but walked away with another great run, finishing second. I don’t have the heart to bump him from the top spot. He’s just too good.

2 Martin Truex Jr. (LW 4)

From the Big One at Talladega to the Big Won in Kansas. Martin is no joke and that 78 team is no sleeper. They are a legit title contender. Let’s see if he stinks up the 600 again this year. You could call the four stages, in Charlotte, the “Martin Rule.”

3 Kyle Larson (LW 2)

The fire that was the start of 2017 has cooled for Kyle. But another top 10 at Kansas? He’ll take it. Look out for this guy in Charlotte.

4 Kevin Harvick (LW 8)

Here’s your big mover of the week! Not just because of his third place finish, but because everyone in front of him had issues and opened the door. I feel like the 4 team is oh so close to winning in that Ford.

5 Jamie McMurray (LW 7)

Ol Jamie Mac is not going away. He notched another top 10 in Kansas and has had some great success in Charlotte over the years. Is this the car to watch the next two weeks?

6 Jimmie Johnson (LW 3)

He’s not slumping. He’s not slumping. He’s not slumping… Sorry, I still need to remind myself because the 80+ wins and seven titles isn’t enough.

7 Kyle Busch (LW 9)

If he ever wins this year it won’t be soon enough. Sorry fans. It’s coming soon.

8 Chase Elliott (LW 5)

Kudos to Jeff Gordon for calling out the 24 team on the pit exit that ruined Chase’s day. You know he’s got some ties to the 24 car, right?

9 Joey Logano (LW 6)

Who would have thought his win in Richmond would be the start of a really hard slide? Side note: I’m really glad Aric is OK after that wreck. Wow.

10 Ryan Blaney (LW NR)

Ryan is going to be fighting for this 10th spot all season. I was really hoping he would seal the deal in Kansas. If this kid figures it out, look out.

Also considered

Clint Bowyer, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Denny Hamlin, Michael McDowell, The NASCAR Safety Team (Nice job guys)

The SuperSpeedway Power Rankings – Kansas

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1 +2 Brad Keselowski

Battled through the big one and survived with a top 10. He was also your stage one winner. Is Brad the best restrictor plate racer on the circuit?

2 -1 Kyle Larson

Finished 12th at Talladega after having issues early. He’s struggled at Kansas but has also reached a new level this year. This week will be a good test, much like the rest of the season to this point.

3 +3 Jimmie Johnson

Was in position to steal another win at Talladega before sliding to 8th. He’s good at Kansas. Who am I kidding? He’s good everywhere.

4 -2 Martin Truex Jr.

Big one victim.

5 -1 Chase Elliott

Ditto. Did you see the camera angle of him grinding the wall like Tony Hawk? Awesome.

6 -1 Joey Logano

Ditto again. Bonus bad luck. His Richmond win will no longer count for the playoffs.

7 +2 Jamie McMurray

I’m not ready to rank him higher than 7th,but his second place run at Talladega was a great reminder of how good he is on the plate tracks.

8 -1 Kevin Harvick

Was in the big one but stuck around till the end. I’m starting to get itchy waiting for the 4 car to get to victory lane.

9 NR Kyle Busch

KB had it in the bag! How often are we going to say that this year? By the way, he’s a world-beater at Kansas. Fantasy players take note.

10 NR Denny Hamlin

What a day for JGR! Led a ton of laps and didn’t get the win. Denny did get a stage win, however.

Also considered

Clint Bowyer, Kurt Busch, Spongebob Squarepants, Cole Whitt, Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

The SuperSpeedway Power Rankings – Talladega

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1. Kyle Larson

Larson leads the series in stage points, overall points and is among the leaders in laps led. He’s been racing up front all season, and it’s at the point where this is no longer and aberration. Larson is here to say as a legit contender.

2. Martin Truex Jr.

He’s not my favorite personality in the garage, but we’re going on two and a half seasons of Truex as a weekly contender. He’s dominating the series in stage wins and is second in laps led. There’s no denying it.

3. Brad Keselowski

He should have won on Sunday. You could argue that Brad should have four wins already this season. I’m having a hard time not putting him at the top of this list.

4. Chase Elliott

This dude needs to seal the deal and get a win. It’s going to happen, but I’m hoping sooner rather than later.

5. Joey Logano

My pick to win Richmond came through! I’ve never been happier to see that ridiculous grin. Joey has been pretty quiet this season, but he leads the series with eight top-10 finishes and six top-5s.

6. Jimmie Johnson

A week ago he was probably in the top spot. Weird to see him with two wins but only three top-10s. Also, he’s blind. I got your back Jr. Nation.

7. Kevin Harvick

Still waiting for that first Ford win. He’s been solid, but Ol’ Harv has got room to improve and plenty of time to do it. Is it a surprise that he leads the series in laps led?

8. Clint Bowyer

Compared to last season, Clint is a man on fire! He is yet to lead a lap in the 14 car, but things are surely better when CB is happy.

9. Jamie McMurray

Probably the biggest surprise in the rankings is J-Mac. No top 5s yet but he’s 7th in points and 6th in stage points this season. It’s good to see Chip Ganassi Racing battling up front every week.

10. Ryan Blaney

He struggled Sunday, and I struggled to put him 10th in the rankings. His two stage wins and seventh overall place in stage points helps him for this list, but he’s slipping.

Also considered
Someone from Joe Gibbs Racing, Ryan Newman, D.J. Kennington, Kurt Busch and Corey LaJoie’s dad.

Kyle Larson is single handedly saving my childhood

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November 20, 2016. A date I’ve been dreading since Tony Stewart announced 2016 would be his last season driving a NASCAR Cup Series racecar. After that race, at Homestead Miami Speedway, my favorite driver would be done. Sure, I’ll see him race again, on some dirt track in the middle of nowhere, USA, but the spotlights were being turned off.

You see, 2016 was a tough year for James the fan. First, Calvin Johnson, my favorite football player, retired. Then, Kobe Bryant, my favorite NBA player, went out in spectacular fashion in his last game, a thrilling 60 point performance. The last out the door? Smoke. And this one hurt the most. Just like that, my youth was forever sealed in the past.

I spent most of 2016 cherishing the final moments of my favorite stars. I went to two Laker games and even dragged my pregnant wife to a dirt track two hours from home. Just to tell Tony how much I appreciated his career. He wasn’t even racing. Just being the boss for his All-Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Car Show.

This past August I had one last chance to see Smoke race his Cup car at Michigan. I was fixated on the 14 car most of the day, especially when the final laps approached. But that day belonged to Kyle Larson, taking his first career Cup win. You could call it a transitional moment.

As much as I wanted to fight it off, Father Time always wins. As the sun set on Smoke’s career, the inferno that is Kyle Larson is just getting started. I’ve always admired Larson’s talent. Ever since I first saw him race he’s been my “number two” driver. Everyone asks me, “who’s your driver now that Tony is gone?” I could never get myself to say that Larson was it. I’d say how I like Chase or Blaney. “The young guys are excellent!” But I always drifted back to Larson.

As I think back to Smoke’s last race at Homestead I remember who I was cheering for as the laps wound down. It was Larson. The Daytona 500, as he ran out of gas. I was pulling for Larson. And on Sunday at Phoenix, I jumped off my chair when Larson took it sideways into turn one, trying to get that first win of the season. That childlike excitement, that’s the feeling I’ve been missing since November 20, 2016.