Rusty Reckons: Junior Thumbs his Nose at the Year 2011

I don't mean to only post on Junior, but I saw this today and it just stuck in my craw. Apparently, Junior sees it as too much work to connect with his fans.


Jeff Gordon does it (@JeffGordonWeb), Jimmie Johnson does it (@JimmieJohnson), Kevin Harvick does it (@KevinHarvick), and if you're on Twitter, I highly recommend following Kevin. He and his wife's antics are quite humorous and well documented. Kevin's also known around the garage for being a bit of a prankster, and many of this tom-foolery is also well documented via Twitter. It's a hoot.

Look, Rusty understands the pressures of being the most popular at anything. I regularly have to beat back a hoard of attention starved fans (Hi, mom!), myself. However, seems to me there are costs associated with being voted the Most Popular Driver in NASCAR year after year after year. Get on Twitter buddy. It ain't that hard. Give us a peak into what goes on in that head.

Follow us on Twitter@HHReynolds or Click Here to get HHR in your inbox.

Rusty Reckons: Power Rankings Part 2

Well, another six races have come and gone and we are now officially 1/3 of the way through the season. As I sat down to pen this installment of Rusty's power rankings, I began to think about the good ole days of the sport, when brawn seemed to reign over brains, and TV deals didn't matter as much. Lucky for me and some of the more traditional fans, though, there are a few peeks at some of those old traditions in NASCAR lately, and this power rankings reflects just that.

Photo: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images

1. Happy Harvick - Last time out, I highlighted the resurgence of the entire RCR team. Well, ole Happy must be reading HHR, cause he's gotten even better since then. At Talladega last month, he broke his two year winless streak, not having found victory lane since Daytona in 2007. In fact, since a 13th place at Phoenix, Harvick hasn't finished outside the top 10 and has led at every race except Texas and Dover. Harvick's contract at RCR is up at the end of the year, and after Shell/Penzoil announced it was moving to Penske just a few weeks ago it looked like he might be saying goodbye to the only team he's ever known at the Cup level. However, with his recent success on the track, a deal with RCR should be inked in the coming weeks.

Getty Images

2. Hamlin's knee surgery - The joke's always been that NASCAR is a backwards redneck sport, and maybe there's some truth to at least the first part of that. In most other sports, a torn ACL will sideline a player for months if not end a career. Not for Denny Hamlin. After winning at Martinsville, Hamlin had surgery to repair the ACL he tore playing pick-up basketball in January. He was right back in the car two shorts weeks later in Phoenix. That first race back was a struggle, and Hamlin wheeled the car home in 30th. Since then, though, he's been on a tear. The FedEx #11 found victory lane one week later in Texas, and has since rattled off a fourth and 11th place finish before finding completing the sweep at Darlington two weekends ago. It was the first sweep at Darlington in 17 years. Apparently, even with a recovering knee, the 'Lady in Black' is not 'too tough to tame' for the boy from Rusty's neck of the woods (Chesterfield, yee haw!).

3. The #3 back on the track - Well, we've been waiting for almost 10 years. Ever since the horrific tragedy at the Daytona 500 in 2001 where we lost Earnhardt, every fan has speculated about if/when we might see the #3 back on the track. The next week after the tragedy, Earnhardt's team and car were back on track, but with a new number and driver (the #29 piloted by Happy Harvick). Not having the 3 on the track is like college basketball without Dick Vitale. Yeah, it's a little more peaceful and quiet, but it just ain't right. But now, the 3's going to be back, even if for just one short race. Junior's going to get behind the wheel of a car with his daddy's number on the side, and even his old paint scheme on the hood. The Nationwide race at Daytona this summer will feature the legend's son driving the Wrangler #3 in a partnership with JR Motorsports, RCR, and Earnhardt Gnassi racing. And as far as this old purist is concerned, that's pretty dadgum awesome!

4. Talladega spring race - Dubbed "the most competitive race in NASCAR history", the boys in Alabama put on quite a show last month. After the asphalt debacle at Daytona, plate track fans like yours truly were hoping for a better race at Dega, and boy did the Aaron's 499 deliver. By the time the race was over, a series and track record 88 lead changes had been recorded, and those were just measured at the line. All across the track, the total probably approaches 200 over the course of the 499 mile race. To top it off, the race was won with the #29 using one of the most recognized moves in NASCAR, the sling-shot. Harvick kept tucked in behind race leader Jamie McMurray until just at the right moment, before pulling out and passing him for the win. A little shake . . . and bake! How's your mind? Blown!?! Ricky would be proud.

5. Sibling rivalry - The story of Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon is made for a Hallmark Channel special. A few years back, a little unknown guy named Jimmie went to one of the most winningest drivers in NASCAR to ask some advice. Instead of advice, he got an offer to come drive the 48 with Hendrick Motorsports. Since then, the 48 team has emerged as one of the most dominant in the history of the sport. During all this time, Gordon and Johnson have maintained one of the best friendships in the garage. However, with the 48 struggling since the re-introduction of the spoiler back to the car, things have gotten heated between these Hendrick brothers. A minor fracas at Texas turned into a downright hullabaloo at Talladega, when the 48 and 24 seemed to be playing bumper cars on the track. With Happy, Smoke, and Kurt Busch on their best behavior, NASCAR is in need of some 'drama' and feuding. Jimmie and Jeff are providing just that, and maybe even more.

The Rusty Old Jalopy award: And finally the award for what's been smelling up NASCAR like my daughter's stinky diapers, Stewart Hass Racing. Last year was the first year for Tony Stewart's newly formed team, and it was quite a success. Both cars made the Chase, and Smoke was able to find victory lane 4 times. While the #39 piloted by Ryan Newman was never the first to take the checkers, it wasn't due to the team's failure but rather a streak of some really rotten luck. Take note Earnhardt Jr. fans, he might not be the only one who needs a rabbit's foot from time to time. In 2010, though, both the #14 and #39 are struggling and currently sit outside the crucial top 12. Stewart has only had 4 top 10 finishes in the 14 car, and has finished 23rd or worse 5 out of the last 7 races. Newman's finishes have fared slightly better, and he's even won a race, but a very slow start has hampered the 39 team, and they are still 13th in points, out of the top 12.

Follow us on Twitter@HHReynolds or Click Here to get HHR in your inbox.

Rusty's Reckons: Power Rankings Part 1

Well, we are now officially six races into the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup season, and as NASCAR takes its annual Easter break, the brain-trust at HHR thought we'd bring you a new feature, Rusty's Power Rankings. Every so often, I'm going to reach back into my bag of tricks and pull out some gems as I ruminate and pontificate on the best and the brightest in NASCAR, and I won't be just discussing drivers in these rankings. As you'll see this week, this ranking is going to include all elements in the sport. So, sit back, relax and enjoy the first installment of Rusty's Power Rankings.

1. Jimmie Johnson & Chad Knaus - Sigh! Don't these guys ever take a day off? So far this season, the 48 team has won HALF of the races (3 of the 6)! As you might imagine, the 48 team finds itself in a familiar position, atop the points standings. Usually, Knaus and Johnson find their streak towards the end of the season. Just like in individual races, they make adjustments, and get hot coming down the home stretch, leaving the competition in a cloud of dust. This year, they seem to be hitting their stride early. Too early? Time well tell, but it's hard to imagine the dominant force that is the Lowe's team beginning to struggle after such a great start.


2. NASCAR - Rusty's going to tip his hat to some big changes this year from NASCAR, all of them so far working out great. First, they got rid of the restriction against bump drafting, like it did any good. A penalty for bump drafting was about as likely as getting a travel called on Kobe Bryant. It won't gonna happen, folks. Nevertheless, it was a rule that allowed them to wag their fingers at the drivers four times a year. Second, they are going to be getting rid of that ridiculous wing and going back to the more traditional spoiler. That stupid wing looked like something out of Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome. Stock cars were meant to have spoilers, and I'm glad they are coming back. Lastly, the new green-white-checkers rules. In the past, they only allowed one shot at a green flag finish with the green-white-checkers system, which is NASCAR's version of overtime. This year, they are going to give it 3 shots, a much better idea! I mean, just look at Martinsville. Jeff Gordon conspiracy theories aside, what an ending!

3. RCR - What a resurgence from the team who didn't field a single car in the Chase last year. Currently, all three drivers are in the top 12 (the top 12 make the Chase after Richmond in the fall). For Happy Harvick, this could be partially due to the fact that his contract's up at the end of this year with RCR. There's been rumors flying about where he might go, and whether or not he's going to stay with the team who brought him in to finish out the season after Dale Earnhardt's passing. He's cooled off over the past two weeks, but the 29 came out of the gate with four consecutive top 10 finishes, two of which were runner-up. Teammates Clint Bowyer and Jeff Burton are also sitting comfortably in the top 12. Bowyer amassed 3 top 10's before struggling with a 23rd and 40th place showing. He righted the ship somewhat this past week with a top 10 in Martinsville. While Burton hasn't had the finishes of his Childress teammates, he has been consistent, which has gotten him to where he is. Being in the top 12 after 5 races is a really good predictor for those who end up in the top 12 at Richmond. If this holds true, RCR would be ecstatic to have all 3 drivers in the Chase, after last year's drought.

4. Paul Menard - Who? Exactly! Menard pilots the 98 Ford Fusion for Richard Petty Motorsports. Prior to this year, his career had him bouncing around teams as a weekly also-ran. His highest career finish was 5th at Talladega in 2008. Last year, he finished 31st in points, his best finish being a 13th place at Texas. This year, driving for a new team, though, has lit a fire under the cheese-head from Eau Claire. Menard's already matched his career best with a 5th at Atlanta, and has consistently finished in the top 20 earning him a standing of 11th in points. While maybe not a serious championship contender, if he keeps this up, Menard could be a force to be reckoned with in the Chase. In the right equipment, he's shown an ability to handle a race car and wrack up consistently good finishes. A bit of a surprise to this point in the season, Menard may continue to fly under the radar and surprise some people.

5. Bump-n-run - One of Earnhardt Sr.'s favorite way around a short track like Bristol or Martinsville was the technique dubbed the bump-n-run. Earnhardt would put a fender on a car, get'em loose, and as he drifted up the track, shoot underneath for the pass. His use of this little move helped earn him the nickname The Intimidator. In fact, it got to the point where he wouldn't have to actually touch a guy. They see that #3 in their mirror, and just move over for him. Well, those who pine for those good old days got a good taste of it this past Monday at Martinsville. Jeff Gordon and Matt Kenseth showed us just what the bump-n-run was, and more importantly what it looks like after the race is over (read: The Real Housewives of NASCAR city). As noted above, NASCAR's made a real concerted effort to try and bring back some of the lost aspects of the sport. The bump-n-run is certainly one of those that's back in full effect, and kudos to that!


The Rusty Old Jalopy award: Track conditions - It seems like ages ago now, but that race in Daytona felt like it took ages to complete on account of two long stoppages to fix the asphalt. Sure, with all the snow we got here on the East Coast this winter, there's going to be a pot-hole festival in nearly every city, but that's no excuse for Daytona. The Daytona 500 is the Super Bowl of NASCAR. The track, therefore, has a responsibility to the sport and its fans to put on the best possible show it can. Not having a track that's up to snuff is like having a big dead spot in the outfield for the World Series or a loose board on the hardwood at the Final Four. The racing at the 500 this year was great. It's just unfortunate that it was great racing bookended by long periods of sheer boredom watching asphalt dry, literally.

Follow us on Twitter@HHReynolds or Click Here to get HHR in your inbox.

Rusty Reckons: New Year's Resolutions 2010

With a little over a week till the green flag drops on the 2010 NASCAR season, Rusty has emerged from his winter slumber to pontificate on the goings on and what's in store for the coming year. I've also emerged to shovel the nearly 2 feet of snow on the back deck! Tonight we'll get our first taste of racing this year with the preseason Bud Shootout. Even though the rumblings of NASCAR don't make national headlines, there are big changes already in store for stock car enthusiasts this year. So, without further adieu, let's begin to fill your heads with the ramblings of a true wanna-be redneck.


One of the biggest changes for this coming year is the addition of a pretty face. After having a bit of a mediocre career in IRL (let's be honest, she's only had 1 win in 5 seasons), racing's #1 sex symbol is coming to stock car. Danica's now going to really show what she's got behind the wheel of JR Motorsports #7 Chevrolet, owned by none other than Dale Earnhardt Jr. In her first year in NASCAR, Danica's only going to be running 13 races in the Nationwide series, but she'll be sure to turn the heads of a few beered up infield hooligans . . . including yours truly.

But, speaking of Junior . . . mark my words, Dale Jr will go winless again in 2010. Until NASCAR shortens the race or goes back to the old system, NASCAR's most popular driver is going to continue to struggle 'closing the deal'. Coffee and trophies go to closers, sorry June bug. Junior's got the talent and equipment, but for whatever reason, he's not found his groove or been able to keep up with the changes to the sport. A few years back in a different points system with the older car, I think he could have really been a perennial championship contender. Regardless, the stands will still be filled with more 88 fans at Daytona and Talladega this year than anything.


Chad Knaus gets jealous of Jimmie's new found fame and the 48 team finally shows they are human.

Over the last four years, Chad, Jimmie, and the 48 team have been heads above the rest of the competition. Watching the other 42 drivers try to compete against the 48 was like watching an arthritic one legged dog try to win a butt kicking contest. You rooted for that old mutt, but you just knew it wasn't going to happen. Well, this year the one legged dog's going to win. It took four years, but I think Jimmie's hit his peak. Even people outside of NASCAR are recognizing the soften spoken clean cut guy from California.

JJ wins AP's Man of the Year. This means he's only got one way to go, down. He won't slip far and he'll finish in the Top 5 in points, but no 5-peat for Jimmie.

That ugly wing stuck on the back of an otherwise sweet looking race car is going the way of the dodo.

Since going to the COT, fans and drivers alike have fussed about the tricked out looking rear wing on the back of the new race car. It's made the cars more squirrelly and thus, according to some people, made for less passing. So, the big boys up in the tower listened. NASCAR is working with a few teams next month to test a spoiler similar to the one used on the old car. The goal is to get a little more downforce on the cars and hopefully make for better racing. Rusty thinks this is a great idea, but we'll have to wait and see how it transpires.

Unlike previous years, I'm not going to be making any wild predictions on who's going to win the title. I think there are several strong contenders, including Carl Edwards and Tony Stewart. Carl's been close several times, and if it wasn't for the 48 team would have at least 1 title already if not two. Since I'm thinking the 48 isn't going to win it this year, I could easily see the 99 taking the crown. Don't count out Tony though. Stewart had an amazing year last year with his upstart race team. Many people thought he would struggle including yours truly, but he proved us all wrong. If he can avoid a sophomore slump of sorts, he should be at the front and challenging for his third career championship come November.

Last year was a good year, but this year's going to be great (as long as you aren't a Junior fan). So, stock the fridge, get some bean dip, and let's get ready for another season of the world's best stock car racing series.

Hammer down!!!!!

Follow us on Twitter@HHReynolds or Click Here to get HHR in your inbox.

Preserving History: Jimmie Wins Record 4

After each major sporting event, HHR takes a look at how it is portrayed in news print in some of the nation's leading dailies. Part out of curiosity, and part to preserve the dying medium.

While it might not have been huge news in the Northeast or West Coasts, JJ's record stetting Cup win was huge down South.

Follow us on Twitter@HHReynolds or Click Here to get HHR in your inbox.

Rusty Reckons: The Chase Rundown Part 5

Well, it's finally here. The Chase for the Nextel Cup, NASCAR's version of a playoff system. To help you prepare for the 10 week showdown, Rusty's going to give you a run down of each of the 12 drivers in the Chase, this week. Included in that ranking will be the Rusty's Power Ranking, my own personal index of who's got the best shot to win the title.

Today we look at the #4 and #3 positions, Denny Hamlin and Jimmie Johnson.











Denny Hamlin - No one in NASCAR is riding higher than Denny Hamlin right now. Denny won Richmond this past weekend in dominating fashion. If there's one race Denny's had circled on his calendar since coming to Cup it was Richmond. He hails from Chesterfield County, just across the river, so he grew up watching races at Richmond. To win there was like harpooning his white whale. This means coming into New Hampshire and the rest of the Chase, Denny's got a big shot of Uncle Mo on his side. In addition to a victory at Richmond, Denny also found victory lane after another rather dominating performance at Pocono. Add that to 9 top 5's and 14 top 10's, and Denny's going to be a tough car to beat. What does hurt Denny's chances, however, are the struggles at Joe Gibbs racing. Hamlin's the only Gibbs driver in the Chase this year, after all 3 drivers made it last year. While Denny doesn't need Kyle and Joey to win, it certainly doesn't hurt his case. This is why even with a strong team, I'm not predicting much of a chance for Denny to the win the trophy this year.

Position before Richmond: 4
Rusty's Power Ranking: 6











Jimmie Johnson - Make no mistake about it. Jimmie Johnson is my hands down favorite to win the championship. Since 2006, Jimmie's won three consecutive titles to tie Cale Yarborough's record. This year, he's going to break it. Why? Because Jimmie and Chad Knaus, his crew cheif, know how to run up front and win when they need to. This year, they've amassed 3 wins, 9 top 5's, 15 top 10's, and only 1 DNF. Even though Jimmie's had a few of his poorer showings lately, 36 in Atlanta, 33 in Michigan, I would be more apt to chalk that up to the experimentations of Knaus than a genuine struggle with the car. Knaus and Johnson have a formula for winning. They have an ability to adjust a race car throughout a race and get it to the front to win. Last year, Johnson had 4 wins going into the Chase, tallied another 3 and won the title. In 2007, 6 wins before the chase, and then 4 consecutive wins in October and November to win the title. The first year, it was 5 wins, with one more in the Chase in addition to 4 runner up finishes. Clearly, he knows when to turn it up a notch. So this year, I've seen nothing to indicate they aren't capable of doing it again. Tony and Mark are stiff competition, but I think this is Jimmie's championship to lose.

Position before Richmond: 3
Rusty's Power Ranking: 1

Next Up: #2 Tony Stewart

Follow us on Twitter@HHReynolds or Click Here to get HHR in your inbox.

Rusty Reckons: NASCAR Gets Presidential

Yesterday, President Obama welcomed a whole slew of driver's to the south lawn of the White House for a little celebration of NASCAR, "a uniquely American sport." Typically, the President hosts just the champion. However, Jimmie Johnson's won the Sprint Cup three years running. Rusty figures he was getting tired of as Forrest Gump says, "Going to the White House, again", so this year he brought a few friends. Included among his visitors was the #48 car and the much sought after Sprint Cup trophy.


When asked his secret for picking winners - the President has correctly picked both the NCAA men's basketball champion and Super Bowl champion in the past year - Obama offered real ground breaking advice, "You guys call me up right before the end of the race and I'll let you know who I think's going to come out on top." I reckon that's a method with a much better percentage for being right. With that in mind, Rusty will forgo a prediction for Bristol until about 10:30 on Saturday night. I want to see who's left standing, first.

Follow us on Twitter@HHReynolds or Click Here to get HHR in your inbox.

Rusty Reckons: The Full Range of Southern Experience

The first weekend in May has become an interesting day in the South. From the blue bloods and FFV's to the good ole boys and rednecks, nearly everyone circles this date on the calendar. The first Saturday of May is of course when the pinnacle of horse racing takes place, the Kentucky Derby. No doubt Rusty's co-horts here at HHR will be waxing poetic about the ponies in the bluegrass. Equally important at the other end of the spectrum for NASCAR fans is the race at Richmond. Located in the capital of the old Confederacy, RIR is one of the best and most popular tracks on the circuit.

RIR is a three quarter mile relatively flat tri-oval that makes for some amazing racing. Last week, fans saw cars screaming through over 30 degrees of banking topping 200 mph. This week, RIR presents barely 14 degrees of banking with speeds hitting around 150, but the racing will be no less exciting. The short track at RIR requires an ability to brake into the corner and then get good grip out. Turn 2 is where a lot of the action is, as the groove narrows getting out of the corner and onto the back stretch. It's also not the best place to sit, cause the cars hit the gas there, making the noise in the first few rows deafening (ask Mrs. Rusty if you don't believe me ).



There are three current drivers with 3 wins at Richmond, Stewart, Junior, and Jimmie. I expect to see them continue their success and they should be running near the front, Stewart especially. The driver of the #14 car has been on the cusp of getting his first win for his new team. Richmond might offer him his best shot. Tony typically warms up with the weather. Other drivers to watch include the shrub, hometown favorite Denny Hamlin (shout out to my fellow Chesterfield fella!), and defending race winner Clint Bowyer. While Kyle has yet to win at Richmond, he does have the best average finishing position at just under 7. Hamlin and Bowyer are 2nd and 3rd among active drivers respectively.



So, whether you are watching 20 some horses in Kentucky or over 37,000 in Virginia, it's going to be a fast and exciting weekend for race fans from all walks of life.

JR Prediction

He didn't win at 'Dega, but he sure as shoot came close. Now, he comes to his best track. Junior excells at the three quarter mile short track in Richmond. Last year, if it wasn't for the idiocy of the shrub, he'd would be leading all active drivers with four wins, but rubbin's racing. This week, I expect Junior to be back towards the front. He will lead some laps, a lot of them. Barring anymore unforeseen idiocy, he'll be in the hunt at the end. Last week was the start of something beautiful for the 88 team, and this week it continues.

Follow us on Twitter @HHReynolds or Click Here to get HHR in your inbox.

Have You Gotten Your BlogsWithBalls Tickets Yet?

Rusty Reckons: Viva Las Vegas

The fastest fellas in America return to one of the fastest cities, at least in terms of the people there. In terms of revenue, Vegas has been a boon to NASCAR. The race has been a sell-out recently, and with the big bucks on the strip, it's a good time for everyone involved. Then when they installed the progressive banking a few years ago, the racing started to get on par with the dollar signs.

For those newer fans, progressive banking is where the track is banked at different degrees vertically up the track. This creates multiple grooves of racing, which translates into more passing, running 2 wide etc. The COT has diffused some of the insanity that might have occurred with the older car, but we've still had some good racing of late.

Mr. Ed's the defending race winner, but Kyle Busch has been one of the highest rated drivers at Vegas in recent memory. The shrub also has the added advantage of starting the race from the pole, with his elder brother starting just to his outside. The Busch boys have done well at Vegas, possibly because it's their home track, but looking at the most recent speed charts they might have some serious competition. Jeff and Jimmie topped the speed charts on Saturday. Historically, Vegas has been one of Jimmie's worst tracks, but he might be feeling some pressure coming off a rather tepid start to the season. Might not see too many new faces up front this week, but Vegas should still give us some pretty exciting racing.

JR Prediction

Pure and simple, Junior needs a top 20 finish. After having engine issues at Fontana, and a weak Daytona, the 88 team is hanging precipitously onto the 35th position in points. After Bristol, NASCAR will revert to this year's points to determine who's locked in each week, meaning Junior will need to improve his position to avoid having to qualify on time. Can you imagine Junior not making a race? The stands might be empty. Lucky for Junior nation, though, all the prognosticators including yours truly is certain Junior will rebound. Vegas might not be a strong track for him, but Atlanta and Bristol certainly are. I said at the outset, Junior was going to be better on tracks he hadn't quite mastered in the past. With a little bit of pressure to perform, he might start to emerge in sin city this coming weekend.

Follow us on Twitter @HHReynolds or Click Here to get HHR in your inbox.

Rusty Reckons: 2008 in Review

Well, the long marathon of the 2008 NASCAR season has come to a close. As good ole Rusty predicted at the start of the chase, Jimmie's done the unthinkable and won a record tying third consecutive Nextel Cup. He now joins Cale Yarborough as the only driver to ever win three consecutive titles. Now, the sport has changed so much since the mid-70's, that it's hard to draw any real comparisons, but we can take note that none of the greats, not Earnhardt, not Gordon, not Pearson, not even Petty won 3 consecutive titles. Jimmie has. That, my friends, is a dynasty.

So, while Jimmie's down in Miami showering himself in champagne and lug-nuts, let's look back on some highlights and low lights from 2008.

Biggest Surprise: Kyle Busch. Ole shrub shocked the world with the uber-dominance of his race cars during the first 26 races. Once the heat was on, he seemed to pull a Tony Romo and choke up big time, though. I think I even saw his rear tire changer crying in the corner last week; "that's my driver, man, that's my driver." But for the regular season he did seem to be the car to beat every week, and I don't think anyone could have predicted that.

Sad to see ya go: Dale Jarrett. In 2008, DJ climbed out of the racecar and up into the zoo of the broadcast booth. Now, I've seen some cheesy commercials, some of which worked, some didn't. DJ's UPS farewell commercial was pretty sweet, though. What's even sweeter is I really doubt he's gonna Favre-it-up in 2008 and drive for some rink-dink team (sorry Jets fans). Classy guy, Rusty's gonna miss'em.

Biggest Disappointment: Jeff Gordon. Rusty thought Jeff was going to get his fifth title this year. He was hot at the end of 2007. He NEVER, before this year, went win-less in a season. Well, screwed that one. Don't reckon you'll be coming to Rusty for stock tips, either. BUY BUY BUY, boys!

Awesome-ist Race: It's a tie! Budweiser Shoot-Out & Smoke's win at 'Dega. Well, you had to know that Rusty was going to be a homer and pick a Junior moment, right? JR's win at the first race of the year, the non points paying Budweiser Shootout, was not so much a win as a statement. JR's move to Hendrick put a tremendous amount of pressure on the driver of the 88 car. He answered all those questions by coming out and winning the first time in an HMS seat, at Daytona, in prime-time! Smoke's win at 'Dega this fall equals it in awesomeness. Stewart seemed destined to always be a bridesmaid at Talladega, finishing second more times than I can count. In the last race in Alabama as the driver of the 20 car, he finally got that monkey off his back. Yeah, JR got caught up in the big one, but Tony won, and it was awesome!

Biggest Change for 2009: Tony Stewart. Smoke's leaving Joe Gibbs racing in 2009 to form his own team with Rocket Ryan Newman. Tony's been with his crew chief, Tony Zippersomethingorother, from the beginning. They've won 2 titles, and been in the hunt nearly every year. It'll be weird next year not having the two of them together. Kinda like Smokey with no Bandit, Luke with no Bo, or ham with no burger. Smoke, no Zippy. That's a tough ham bone to gnaw on.

And lastly,

Rusty's "throw your remote at the TV" moment: Richmond in May. JR's win-less streak stood at exactly 2 years, and with the same number of laps remaining, the shrub punted JR from the lead. Clint Bowyer won. Just a few days later, Rusty flew to Las Vegas and tried to jump in that big water fountain. Lucky for his fans on the inter-web and his momma, he was talked down by a Michigan fan. If only the Michigan fan would have known what awaited the trombones come fall . . . but I digress.

2008's been quite a season. In just a few short months, we'll be starting to get geared up for Daytona and the beginning of the 2009 season. Till then, y'all have fun with the football, and Rusty will see ya on the other side of Santa.

Rusty Reckons: Lowe's

Ugh, what a weekend at Talladega. First, that horse-toothed roid rager forgot that you can't bump-draft in the corners (it's actually against the rules, not to mention plain stupid). His stupidity not only wrecked his championship contending teammates of Biffle and Kenseth, but also took out a bunch of other guys including Dale Jr.

After the carnage was cleared up, we endured one of the most bizarre and controversial finishes this year. Tony Stewart was leading the field going through the tri-oval coming to the checkers. However, Regan Smith had a faster car at the moment. As he tried to pass Tony, he went below the yellow line which is out of bounds. He crossed the finish line first, but because of "passing below the yellow line", the victory was awarded to Smoke, and Smith was relegated to an 18th place finish (end of the lead lap due to a drive-thru penalty for the pass).

Now, usually Rusty's a purist and a traditionalist when it comes to sports, but I'm going to surprise you and agree with NASCAR on this one. I would have loved to see Regan get his first victory. I would have loved to see Tony's anger at coming in 2nd at 'Dega once again. I would have loved to see DEI win . . . okay, not really. The fact of the matter is that it's against the rules to do what Smith did, and they HAVE to be consistent with enforcing them. So, it sucks, but it was the right move. But enough about last week, let's talk about this week.

Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte is considered the home track of NASCAR, as most shops are in and around the greater Charlotte metro area. As such, it's a fitting place for the only primetime under the lights race during the 10 week Chase.

Lowe's is a 1.5 mile tri-oval where a good set-up and an ability to take advantage of downforce are absolutely critical to a good finish. On top of that, with 2 more tracks coming up with similar configurations, Lowe's will be a good barometer of where we stand in the Championship race, and who are the real contenders.

Rusty's momma always said, never change horses in mid-stride. Well, apply that lesson here. Jimmie Johnson has been the class of the field lately and Lowe's is by far his best track. Go figure since he's got Lowe's on the hood of his car. Ole Jimmie's rattled off 4 wins and 7 top 5's since mid-summer. At Lowe's the numbers get even better. In 14 starts, he's got 5 wins and an average finish of 9.1. Y'all, Jimmie tears up Lowe's better than Rusty on a bucket of KFC.

But he ain't the only driver hot in the pine state. Pretty boy Kahne's also had a hot hand of late, winning 3 of the last 5 races at Lowe's, including the race back in May. Having not finished in the top 10 since California, he's been a little shaky lately elsewhere, but with an average finish of 14 at Charlotte, he's got a real shot to rebound this coming weekend.

Paul Menard is coming off his career best 2nd place finish at Talladega. And while he's not finished better than 14 in 3 career starts at Charlotte (in Cup), he's not a bad gamble among the other list of also-rans, I mean, "C list guys."

A List
- J Johnson (48)
B List
- K Kahne (9)
C List
- P Menard (15)

Rusty Reckons: Kansas

Greg Biffle? Really? Rusty couldn't be more surprised if he woke up with his head stapled to the carpet (name that quote, movie buffs). Well, I don't want to jump the gun, but there's no way you can NOT pick the Biff for this week's race. He's hot, smoking hot, and with two consecutive victories is now coming to one of his better tracks. The bug-eyed-dummy has 3 top 3's in only 6 starts, including a win just last year. Biff also seems to like the cookie-cutter style tracks like Kansas. Of his 14 wins, 13 have come at intermediate tracks. So, don't change your B list, go with the Biff.

Now, what about the track? Like I said, Kansas is a cookie-cutter 1.5 mile speedway. Good set-ups that utilize the air to create downforce will help guys stay up front. The last two weeks, precision in the pits were absolute musts as track position mattered so much. Not that it doesn't matter this week, but passing is much easier and more likely, so track position doesn't play nearly as big a role. Hopefully, this means better racing, so let's go!!!!

Because Kansas is a cookie-cutter track similar to several other tracks in the Chase (Texas, Atlanta, Lowe's), a driver that runs well here will be a serious contender for the title. This means that since Rusty's predicted Jimmie's to win it all, it would only make sense that Jimmie should be this week's A list driver. With 3 top 10's in the last 5 races, he's a pretty solid pick according to the numbers too.

C list? Do we still have to pick a C list driver? It's the playoff guys, these guys have no chance of winning. Ugh . . . . Paul Menard? Sure, why not.

A List
- J Johnson (48)
B List
- G Biffle (16)
C List
- P Menard (15)

Rusty Reckons: Dover

Man, oh man, the first Chase race sure brought us some excitement, huh? First, as Rusty predicted, the wheels came off the 18 team, almost literally.

And a little sidebar for those who still whine about watching cars turn left for 3 hours. Kyle's car broke a bolt that helps racecars get through the corner, essentially making the 18 perform much more similar to our street cars at high speeds. Look at how his car turns over going through the corner in the video.



Compare that to what normal racecars look like going through the turns, and that gives you an idea about the intense G-forces at work, and the engineering behind making these cars go fast.

And then counter to what Rusty predicted, the Biff sure came out of nowhere to steal the win from Jimmie Johnson, huh? I don't reckon anyone saw that coming. So, the standings got a little mixed up going into Dover this Sunday, and it's pretty much still anyone's chase.

Dover is called the monster mile, and for several reasons. It's narrow, and the concrete surface tends to eat up tires, kinda like Rusty on a plate of barbeque. It's a monster to drive, it's even called "Bristol on steroids". Just this past June, an early race incident took out a whole slew of competitors. With Kenseth and Busch coming off horrible finishes at Loudon, and others wanting to establish themselves, look for this to be quite heated battle on those high banks.

Now, my sources are telling me that Dover's never been to friendly to the also-ran's, which might make it especially hard to put together a winning fantasy line-up this weekend. Nine of the 12 drivers in the Chase are in the A Grouping, so . . . . that means the A list pick could be a real crap shot, and the C list pick is nothing more than groping around in the dark.

Well, let's mix it up and start with the C List pick, since it's gonna really just be like throwing darts at the wall. Rusty's going back to Reutimann this week. Short tracks seem to treat him a little better than most, having got a 1/3 of his top 10 finishes from tracks a mile or shorter. Seems like as good a dart as any.

Of the three choices, our B list might be the simplest cause there's only 3 Chase drivers in the group (Shrub, June-bug, & the Biff). It's made simpler by the fact that Biffle is coming off a win, and hasn't finished outside of the top 10 at Dover since Fall 2005, racking up 3 top 5's in the process. He's also a previous winner at Dover, winning the Spring race in 2005, and with a 12.6 average finish in 12 starts, he's a solid solid choice . . . (Rusty still maintains he won't finish higher than 10th in the final standings, though).

And now the crap shoot. Carl and Jimmie are both still pretty daggum hot. To be honest, Jimmie should have won at New Hampshire, but whatever. Carl might be the better choice at Dover this coming weekend, though. Both have won there, but Carl more recently, having won the Spring race last year. Similar to his teammate Biffle, Mr. Ed's been tearing it up on the concrete lately. He's amassed 4 consecutive top 3 finishes. Barring an act of God (or Kyle), I imagine he'll be right up there in the thick of things again this weekend. So, roll those dice and take Cousin Carl!

A List
- C Edwards (99)
B List
- G Biffle (16)
C List
- D Reutimann (44)

Rusty Reckons: 2008 Cup Chase Preview and Predictions

The Chase is here! NASCAR's innovative playoff system. Seems to me that if NASCAR can figure out an equitable playoff system for stock car racing, the NCAA could come up with a solution, but we'll leave the Rev to stand on that soap box.

So, 12 drivers made the chase, and now Rusty will try and handicap the competition and give a few tips for our dedicated readers.

1. Kyle Busch (18) - The shrub has been hot all year. He's had 8 victories in just the Sprint Cup alone. Compiled with his 10 wins in Nationwide and Trucks, there's no way to argue he's not been the hottest driver this year. The Chase presents several tracks where the shrub's already won this year, 'Dega, Hot-Lanta, and Dover, but Rusty just does just not have a good feeling about his chances. When the shrub doesn't do well, he really doesn't do well. And when added together the Chase doesn't present a great overall picture for him. Kyle only averages a 20.5 average finishing position on the 10 tracks of the Chase. It ain't the worst, but it ain't the best. Rusty predicts a strong 10 races, but shrub will slip. Prediction: 4th

2. Carl Edwards (99) - Ole Carl has quietly snuck up to the 2nd position going into the chase. He's had 5 victories this year, and a few exciting battles with the shrub this summer. Mr. Ed averages a 14th place finish at the 10 upcoming tracks, giving him a little bit of an advantage over the shrub. The chase is also full of intermediate tracks, where Carl excels; places like Kansas, Lowe's, Atlanta, and Homestead. A trophy might be in Carl's future, but not sure it'll be the Sprint Cup. Mr. Roids just moved into 2nd place in the Nationwide series, only 207 points behind leader Clint Bowyer. That 2nd place might be an omen, cause that's where Rusty's predicting he'll finish here in Cup. Prediction: 2nd

3. Jimmie Johnson (48) - Ladies and Gentlemen, the 2008 Sprint Cup Champion! Jimmie is hot, pure and simple. WIth back to back victories in pretty dominant fashion, the driver of the 48 is peaking at the right time. Like Carl, Jimmie also excels at the intermediate tracks, including an almost uber-dominance at his sponsor's home track, Lowe's Motor; 5 victories in only 14 starts. That means he's won over a 1/3 of the time he's been on the track in Concord, NC. Jimmie also has one of the best average finishes at the 10 playoff tracks, a 10.4 After 2 consecutive years being the bridesmaid (2003, 2004), Jimmie is now knocking on the door of history. Jimmie is the two time defending champ (2006, 2007), and only 1 driver has ever won 3 consecutive championships; Cale Yarborough (1976 - 1978). Jimmie will join Cale, this year. You can count on it! Prediction: Champ

4. Dale Earnhardt Jr. (88) - What a comeback year. There were big questions for June-bug moving from his daddy's team to the powerhouse of Hendrick Motorsports, but with 3 wins and staying top 3 in the points throughout most of the year, Rusty's pretty sure most questions have been answered. Now, little E's been a little off these past few weeks. For whatever reason, he just doesn't do well throughout the summer. However, starting this past week with Richmond, Junior's got some stronger tracks coming up, including 'Dega, where he's recorded a series best 5 wins. Overall, he averages a 16th place finish for the Chase. Not too shabby, but as much as it may pain me to say it, I just don't see him offering a realistic challenge for the championship. He probably needs another year learning the Hendrick organization. He'll finish with at least another victory, though. Prediction: 3rd

5. Clint Bowyer (07) - Now, I'm not going to say that anyone doesn't belong in the Chase, but Clint's going to be the closest thing to not belonging. This Kansas boy's one victory comes from the shrub punting my boy from the lead at Richmond; Clint was just in the right place at the right time. So, I just don't know that Clint's a serious challenge for the title. He qualified for the chase 12th, but will jump to 5th because of his one victory. Now, I say all that, but we must remember last year. Clint qualified for the chase without a victory in 2007, only to lay down a dominant performance at New Hampshire to take his first checkered flag of the season. Clint found something in the chase, and finished a career high 3rd in the points, albeit 346 points behind champion Jimmie Johnson. Don't bet your biscuits on a repeat performance, this year, though. Clint will slip down in the standings, and fast. Prediction: 11th

6. Denny Hamlin (11) - The fellow Chesterfield-ian (not even sure if that's a word) is on a Earnhardt hot streak. He's posted 3 consecutive 3rd place finishes, and is on fire coming into the Chase. That's the problem, though . . . Denny's been streaking this year. There's not much middle ground for the driver of the FedEx Toyota. When Denny's not finishing in the top 10, he's typically been in the back half of the pack. Hamlin's got an average finish of 14.9 over the 10 upcoming tracks and 2 wins. He starts with his best track in New Hampshire, but follows that up with his two worst. Winning the Championship is all about consistency, and that just didn't seem to be Hamlins mantra through the first 26, and I don't reckon it will be through the next 10. Prediction: 7th

7. Jeff Burton (31) - What a nice guy. I mean, I just don't know if you can find a nicer guy than Jeff Burton in this collection of the 12 best. Unfortunately, niceness don't win championships. However, i just talked about how consistency does. Jeff might be the most consistent driver over these next set of tracks. He averages between an 11th and 19th place finish on the Chase tracks, that's pretty darn consistent. With a combined average of 15.5, though, not sure that consistency is good enough to cut the mustard. Add that to the fact that he's in a bit of a slump lately, only 2 top 10's and an equal number of DNF's in the last 10 races, and you get a guy not really in a position to mae a serious challenge for the Cup. Prediction: 8th

8. Tony Stewart (20) - Tony's one of two former champions in the Chase without a victory this year, although the current slump might be hitting Smoke a little harder than the other guy. Tony's had great cars, and gave us one heck of a show at Richmond this past weekend. However, a late pit stop left him in the 2nd spot and unable to catch Jimmie who took the checkers just ahead of Tony. To say Tony wasn't happy at the end of the race would be quite an understatement. Tony looked madder than the Ole Ball Coach after 4 picks in the season opener against Rusty's Wolfpack. Looking at the 10 upcoming races, Tony has to feel confident about finally getting into victory lane. He's had a win at every track except Talladega, though he's been there in the Nationwide series. So, look for Tony to get a victory . . . or two, but he'll also have a few slip-ups, and probably only move up a few spots. Not a serious title contender this year. Let's hope it doesn't take him too long to get going with his own team, next year. NASCAR won't be the same without Tony running up front. Prediction: 6th

9. Greg Biffle (16) - Bug eyed dummy!!!! Man, I miss Sterling Marlin. Yeah, Biffle will challenge at Dega, he might do well in Atlanta, and he'll probably even win at Homestead, but other than that, he ain't going to be near the front. If you're a betting man, and want a long shot, here's your boy. He's got the talent, and he's shown some flashes of brilliance, but just not long enough to really challenge for the Cup. He'll fall slightly from his current 9th place position. Prediction: 10th

10. Jeff Gordon (24) - Jeff's had some bad luck and some bad cars, and for a myriad of reasons, he's yet to take the checkered flag this year. That's not to say that he won't be mount a challenge for the Cup. With the points now reset, Jeff is only 80 points out of first place. That doesn't bode well for those above him, cause Jeff knows how to get to victory lane, and he knows how to win a championship. Jeff's really going to put up a fight. Take a look at the numbers. Jeff averages an amazing 12.17 place finish over the 10 Chase tracks, has recorded 32 wins, 107 top 5's, and 146 top 10's. When you average that out over his 233 starts, that's a win nearly 14% of the time, a top 5 over 45% of the time, and a top 10 nearly 2/3rd's of the time. Those are some stats. Jeff might not have found victory lane in the first 26 races, but he'll find it at least once, maybe twice over the next 10. The 24 team is going to be a tough bunch of guys to beat. Prediction: 5th

11. Kevin Harvick (29) - Happy Harvick started hot this year, and he's on a bit of a hot streak right now. In the first 5 races of the year, he had 4 top 10's and a 14th place finish in the 500. In the last 10 races, he's racked up 4 top 5's and 7 top 10's. Like ole Jimmie, Happy seems to be peaking at the right time. Now, all that being said, I just don't see a serious challenge from the driver of Dale Sr.'s former ride. He averages a top 10 finish on only one of the 10 chase tracks, Homestead, and figuring that's the last race, might be a little too late at that point to mount a serious challenge. To top that off, when the 29's been bad, this year, it's been really bad. Kevin will finish higher than he qualified, but he won't challenge for the Cup. Prediction: 9th

12. Matt Kenseth (17) - Yeah, not a chance. Matt has struggled with a crew chief change this year. Rusty's pretty darn amazed he's even been able to make it into the Chase, but again that shows what consistency can do for ya. Matt's not had any DNF's this year, although he's also not had any wins, either. He may do well at a few tracks, including getting off to a good start at New Hampshire, but he'll fade. Prediction: 12th

Rusty Reckons: Michigan

Sprint cup is back in Michigan this weekend. Now, it could be that Michigan was the track where JR won earlier this year. It could be that there are only 4 more races till the chase begins. It could be the thin mountain air here are the feet of Pike's Peak. Whatever the reason, Rusty's giddy as a school girl.

Michigan has emerged as a great race track in recent years. With the wide multiple grooves of racing it's become a drafting track. Drivers who know how to get speed out of their car and "see the air" as SR claimed to be able to do, will run well here. The trick is just having the horsepower under the hood, or as JR showed awhile back, the right pit strategy.

So, who to pick for your fantasy team. As can be expected Ole Jimmie has gotten hot coming into the chase. I don't know if he'll be able to pull off the championship or the 4 consecutive victories from last year, but you never know. Knaus has got that team peaking at the right point. So, it's not a bad pick for this week.

B List is going to be a gamble. The Biff has been relatively quiet this year, but I think he's due for another top 10. Besides, at Michigian you always want to include different manufacturer's. It's the race in the manufacturer's backyard, so everyone tries to impress the car makers. With a Chevy on the A list, seems to Rusty a Ford (yuck) would be appropriate for the B List.

The C List? Let's go with a Toyota. Vickers has been one of the better C listers this year, and he was hot towards the beginning of the year. His finishes are improving, so he's probably not a bad pick for Michigan

So, there's your picks for Michigan.

A List
- J Johnson (48)
B List
- G Biffle (16)
C List
- B Vickers (83)

Rusty Reckons: Pocono

Man, am I glad to be back in the Commonwealth. A few days in New York's retirement community (i.e. Florida) had ole Rusty singing "Carry Me Home to Ole Virginee". Let's just say coons, alligators, crazy birds, and Rusty don't mix.

Rusty's travels kept predictions for the Brickyard from materializing, but if you watched that debacle of a race, don't reckon it much mattered. Goodyear really screwed us on that deal, and it's a real shame NASCAR's taking the blame. Shame on you, tire boy!

Now, we're coming back to Pocono and the rolling hills of Pennsyl-tucky. This is perhaps the oddest shaped track on the circuit. There's only 3 turns, and the infamous "tunnel turn" seems to always reak havoc on drivers. Pocono is a flat track with very very long straightaways. To run well here, you've gotta have a lotta horses under the hood, and an ability to make the car turn through the corners very well.

After his 2nd win of the season, and a uber-dominant one at that, Ole Jimmie's starting to show his true championship caliber. He runs well at Pocono, so Rusty's going to get on the bandwagon and pick him for this week's A List.

The B list is a bit more of a crap shoot. There are several drivers in that list who would run well, but as we get later into the season, I'm using up my good drivers. So, this week, I'm going to pull a new pony out of the stable. David Regan, who took over the #6 Roush Ford for the elder statesman Mark Martin, a few years ago, is slowly improving week to week. I'm gonna go with a longshot and put him in the mix for this week.

C List is Travis Kvapil. Poor fellow is so ugly it's funny. Reckon that's not a bad reason to pick'em.
A List
- J Johnson (48)
B List
- D Regan (6)
C List
- T Kvapil. (28)

Rusty Reckons: California Speedway

I reckon this weekend should be another exciting race. The new car's never raced on an intermediate track like California, and if last week was any foreshadowing of this week, we could be in for some exciting racing.

That being said, I think HMS is due to come back to victory lane. Despite Roush's dominance on 2 mile tracks, HMS has been able to make the switch to the new car better than anyone. My fantasy pick for the week is the #48, but look for the #24 and #88 to be in contention as well.

And without further adieu, here is Rusty's fantasy NASCAR line-up for the weekend. I hope to make this a weekly post, so be sure to check back every Thursday (i'll get it out sooner in the future).

A List
- Jimmie Johnson (48)
B List
- Kyle Busch (18)
C List
- Dale Jarrett (44)