Monthly Archives: January 2012

Is Hamlin Ready For Redemption?

Posted on January 26, 2012 | Leave a comment

With two races to go in The 2010 Chase, Denny Hamlin was all over the news, known as ‘The Man Who May Dethrone Jimmie Johnson.’ If anybody could do it, it was definitely him; he won eight races that season, coming back from tearing his ACL while playing basketball. Adversity was a weak competitor for this driver. Yet, with a twelfth-place finish in the Phoenix race, it damaged his confidence, and he couldn’t close the deal at Homestead. So, when 2011 rolled around, many said Hamlin would return to his pre-Phoenix streak and contend for the title. However, he barely made it into this year’s Chase, and it turned out to be a dud. His one win paled in comparison to the eight he racked up before.

Eyebrows are being raised again in the months before the 2012 season begins, wondering how Denny will fair. On Twitter, he has used the hashtag ‘#Redemption2012,’ showing that he is prepared to take on the new season with determination and focus. Can it finally go in his favor?

If Denny’s championship hopes can come true, he is definitely in a position to go for it now. Going into Daytona, he has a new crew chief in Darian Grubb, the man who helped current-champ Tony Stewart win the title. Although Stewart-Haas let him go under confusing circumstances, Grubb seems ready to start from scratch. Hamlin will give everything he can to make their partnership click even sooner. In NASCAR, there is no time for fumbling around and figuring things out; fast cars don’t slow down for anyone. These two must hit the ground running if they want to pull of something spectacular this year.

Joe Gibbs Racing needs to alter their strategy at restrictor plate tracks, which will help Hamlin greatly, I believe. When NASCAR heads to some of the most competitive and exciting tracks on the circuit, two-car drafting usually takes place. This raises problems for three-car teams, leaving someone out. At JGR, that ‘someone’ is Denny. It doesn’t sound like a big deal, but something like that must damage your confidence after a while. A small, missing piece makes it impossible to finish a puzzle, and this could be it. We won’t know until changes are made, though.

When you are so close to glory and it suddenly fades away, your first reaction is to blame yourself. Hamlin went through the stage of self-pity, and it affected his 2011 performance. Mentally strong, he isn’t shaken easily, but the defeat hit him in a way that hurt him the most. Yet, with an off-season move to Arizona, which he calls his ‘Heaven,’ something has relaxed within the star. Being loose and comfortable shows us that he is content with where he is at personally.

With a new crew chief and an old outlook, Hamlin is looking to redeem himself from an almost-perfect 2010 and a shockingly disappointing 2011. I see him making The Chase with help from three or more wins and some consistency, and he will make noise in the final ten races. If anybody recover and make a powerful comeback, it is Denny Hamlin without question.

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Then and Now: Brad Keselowski

Posted on January 23, 2012 | Leave a comment

I remember the first time I heard of Brad Keselowski in April of 2009, when his big wreck with Carl Edwards happened at Talladega. When you wreck one of NASCAR’s most likable drivers, you’re going to get a lot of dirty looks. Yet, here we are in 2011, and Brad is one of the most popular drivers. With a laid-back attitude, outspoken demeanor, and an appreciation for alcohol, the driver of the Blue Deuce is a hit with the fans, especially on Twitter (@keselowski). However, even more importantly, this year was the first time he made it into The Chase, and his journey there was quite surprising.

Coming off winning the 2010 Nationwide Series championship, Keselowski brought over crew chief Paul Wolfe, hoping they could work magic on the Sprint Cup side. He switched cars with then-teammate Kurt Busch, placing him in the #2 with sponsorship from Miller Lite. He captured the pole for the Coca-Cola 600, and, a week later, he nursed his car to the checkered flag at Kansas Speedway. At that moment, I said to myself, “I think he could do something with this.”

Then, during a testing session at Road Atlanta, Brad had a violent wreck that broke his ankle (remember those Twitter pics? Ew). The car was totaled, and many wondered if he would race that weekend at Pocono. As always, the race was delayed because of rain, and the media was glued to the driver. Keselowski, making a statement in the spotlight, drove his car to the win. After two more top three finishes, he found himself in Victory Lane again under the lights at Bristol. This locked him into The Chase, where he was, mathematically, a threat until the Martinsville race. Although he fell short, he still surprised many with his resurgence.

Brad’s 2011 season is something to be impressed by, and not because he won while injured. I strongly believe he will be a chase contender this year, especially if he goes another season without getting into it with Carl Edwards or snapping a body part. There is something about Keselowski that tells me he’s going to make more waves. My honest prediction is that Brad wins at least three races, makes The Chase, and gets a shot at the title. Now, that sounds like a crazy projection, but, when you look at how much he has matured and strengthened, it’s closer than you think. He’s already won a championship in the second-tier series, and he has the crew chief that helped him achieve it. The only thing between him and The Sprint Cup is the other drivers, which he can overcome by driving as aggressively as he does now. Something that may throw him off a bit is having a new teammate in AJ Allmendinger. One other bump may be running Trucks races, but I doubt it will be a huge factor. Brad Keselowski is a great guy with obvious talent. His 2011 is a great resource to look to when making predictions for 2012. Now that he is the lead driver at Penske, he will sit in the spotlight, which he will use to his advantage.

Comparing the 2009 Brad and the 2011 Brad, I see major differences that make him stand out. He’s a far cry from the shunned driver he was at the end of that Talladega race, making fans laugh and appreciate his forceful driving style. Good thing, too, because he might be our next Sprint Cup Champion.

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Three Underrated Drivers You Should Look Out For

Posted on January 22, 2012 | 2 Comments

It’s hard to stand out in a field of 43 when there is so much talent in the pool. Some float to the top time and time again, always ready to break through the surface and outshine everyone else. Others sit at the bottom, hoping for a lucky break that will let them see the glimmer of the spotlight. The tougher thing is to classify who goes where; one week, a driver can be dead as a doornail, but, then, they’re getting drenched with Gatorade seven days later.

The overlooked drivers, however, rest in between the two groups. Silent yet powerful, three of them are gearing to have a breakout year:

1. Marcos Ambrose

Marcos Ambrose gained attention in the worse way back in 2010 when he shut off his car under caution at Sonoma, making people wonder if he really knew what he was doing. However, last year, he redeemed himself at Watkins Glen. It was his first win in the Sprint Cup Series, and I doubt it will be his last. With AJ Allmendinger gone from Richard Petty Motorsports’ stable, this Aussie is top dog, as he deserves to be. This year will be his chance to make a statement.

Prediction? Marcos Ambrose gets his first win on an oval but barely misses The Chase.

2. Paul Menard

Now that Clint Bowyer is driving for Michael Waltrip Racing, Paul Menard should get more attention. Richard Childress will most likely focus on helping Kevin Harvick clinch a championship, but Menard is worthy of some special care. Why? Because he won a small race called The Brickyard 400. That win got his name in the history books, even if it turned out to be a fuel mileage face. A win is a win, no matter how it comes your way, and it gave him a burst of momentum. In the last three races, a top twenty, top fifteen, and a top five topped off his year. Even after a controversial radio conversation that rose eyebrows, Menard showed that something good lies ahead for him at RCR.

Prediction? Paul Menard wins two races and is in The Chase because of the Wild Card.

3. Martin Truex Jr.

You know those guys who run really well, but something happens? Martin Truex Jr. is one of them. All season, he had great runs going for him, but problems plagued his efforts to get a win. Though there were issues, he finished the season with three top fives and twelve top tens, proving he can recover. The pressure is really on now, with Mark Martin and Clint Bowyer coming on board as new teammates. It will be interesting to see how Truex Jr. does as lead driver at MWR, but he needs better equipment. There is no doubt that he has the ability to become a top driver, and this is his year to do it. With new blood in the stable, Martin needs to rise to the top this season.

Prediction? Martin Truex Jr. comes close to winning races, and he may secure one, but it’s hard to tell.

The common factor in these drivers? Their 2011 teammates left. When something like that happens to an organization, it’s the perfect time for adjustments as a whole. Each one of these men probably took a step back, glanced at the season they had, and said, ‘Hey, I can do this. Next year will be better.’ Maybe all they need is self-confidence, and that’s hard to have when you’re in the pool, just waiting for your shot to bolt to the surface.

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The Rise of Kahne?

Posted on January 20, 2012 | 2 Comments

Kasey Kahne goes into this NASCAR season with millions of eyes locked in on him.

It is no surprise that the newest driver at HMS is in the spotlight; after jumping from team to team, Kahne finally landed a golden opportunity with Rick Hendrick’s organization and inked a four-year deal back in April of 2010. A one-year stint at Red Bull Racing eased the transition into what seems to be the driver’s first real chance at achieving a championship. Many of Kasey’s fans are anxious to see how the #5 team will do in the upcoming Daytona 500, the off-season seeming more torturous when waiting for your driver to debut with a new team.

For the first time, Kahne has a stable foundation at Hendrick Motorsports, where he has to focus on one thing: being a driver. His time at Richard Petty Motorsports brought some success, but money problems and tightening belts hurt his performance. This led to his release in late 2010. Then, he signed to Red Bull Racing for the rest of 2010 and 2011, but the team couldn’t find investors to keep it afloat. Despite being on shaky grounds, Kahne managed to win for both RPM and now-dormant Red Bull. If he can win for insecure teams, imagine what he can do for a solid group like Rick Hendrick’s.

To help Kahne find success in the new setting is crew chief Kenny Francis, who has stood beside his driver since 2006. Francis is often called ‘One of the smartest men in the garage,’ and his intelligence, combined with Kasey’s driving ability, has led to 11 wins together. The second-longest relationship between a driver and crew chief, these two have a friendship and chemistry than other pairs fail to refine. The only way I see these two splitting up is if Hendrick does more crew chief swapping, and, honestly, breaking this duo up would be a mistake. They are a good thing that shouldn’t be messed with.

The most important thing in all of this is to realize that Kasey Kahne is a quality driver. Full of perseverance and mental strength, he has proven himself time and time again that he has what it takes to win it all. Following an off-season media blitz that brought him into the spotlight for the wrong reasons, Kahne bounced back at Daytona Testing, topping the speed charts during the three-day session. Many people are confident he will be a contender in the 2012 Chase for the Sprint Cup, and some of his fellow drivers find him to be a threat.

With solid ground and relations to support him, Kahne can finally showcase his abilities and shine bright. Will he win the championship this year? Nobody knows for sure, but other drivers are hesitant to count him out. Why? Because he can now thrive in the spotlight.

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Why This Will Be One Of The Best Seasons Ever

Posted on January 20, 2012 | 5 Comments

It’s like Christmas and your birthday rolled into a roaring, screeching package. Just thinking about it makes your palms sweat and your heart race. It’s one of the most amazing things in the world.

The Daytona 500 is coming up hard on us, folks, and I can’t wait.

You never know how much you need something until it is rudely stolen from you, and NASCAR is no exception. Life got darker when I wasn’t sitting on the couch every Sunday afternoon, screaming at the television for my driver to go low. Good thing we installed a DVR before the last two races of the year; I recorded the Phoenix race and have watched it twice a week during this off-season. To say I’m suffering from withdraws is a complete understatement. It’s gotten so bad that I’ve raced my dad in Wal-Mart with shopping carts and put him into the wall in the shampoo aisle. Don’t say I’m crazy: you’ve done it, too, and it’s okay. We’re all going through this pain together.

But the wait has been extra hard this year. Why? Because this is going to be one of the best seasons NASCAR has ever had. Now, that’s a lot to say, since last season ended with a Chase to remember and a final race you can never forget, but there are four reasons why the 2012 NASCAR season will be crazy good (in no particular order):

1. Kurt Busch’s New Ride

The eldest Busch brother was abruptly released from Penske Racing following the 2011 NASCAR Awards Banquet in Las Vegas. This was after countless outbursts at his (now ex) crew chief Steve Addington and rants full of curse words. The final straw is believed to be after Busch’s DNF at Homestead, when he gave the finger to NASCAR officials and called reporter Dr. Jerry Punch a few choice words (it’s on YouTube if you are curious to see it). This cost Kurt a hefty fine and, well, his job. Yet, he rolled into Daytona Testing with a smile on his face and sponsors on his new firesuit, now driving the #51 for Phoenix Racing. Now, he will share the #54 Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota with his brother-slash-owner, Kyle. Is this a second chance for ole Kurt? Or is it a disaster waiting to happen? Time will only tell.

2. Hendrick Gets Stronger

At the end of 2011, three of the four Hendrick drivers finished sixth, seventh, and eighth in The Chase, the odd one out Mark Martin, who has left to drive for Michael Waltrip Racing. Jimmie Johnson didn’t finish in the Top Five in points for the first time in his career, Jeff Gordon won his 85th race, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. had his best season for the first time in a while. That seems like the polar opposite of where those three drivers were a year ago. Now, there is a new young gun in the seat of the #5, and Kasey Kahne is ready. Bringing over his long-term crew chief Kenny Francis, he is focused on using this opportunity to do something amazing for himself and the team. Off-season chatter has boasted that Kahne will be a Championship threat from the get-go, and testing sessions at Daytona has showed promise. His new teammates have said only good things about the duo coming in, and fans of Kasey Kahne are excited for what may be his best season yet. Like adding gasoline to a bonfire, Kahne and Francis will help Hendrick strengthen and burn even brighter.

3. Carl Edwards Goes For The Gold . . . Again

Carl Edwards is probably the most classy loser in the sports’ history. His natural charisma and sense of humor helped ease the pain of not winning the tiebreaker, and people felt for the driver. Consistency and perseverance got him into The Chase, yet it only got him so far. His problem? He didn’t win enough, only getting the checkered flag once last year, which coward in comparison to champion Tony Stewart’s five. But, there is no doubt that Edwards can win a championship, especially when Stewart says so himself. With an abundance of physical and metal toughness, the driver of the #99 will strive to show his worth once again. It will be interesting to see how he handles the ‘so-close-yet-so-far’ weight that has settled on his shoulder, but he is strong enough to take on the challenge and push himself to the limit.

4. Redemption

Many drivers are going into this season with one thing on their mind: if they don’t show up, something must change. Three drivers in particular are Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano, and Kevin Harvick. Last year was anticipated to be the year of Denny Hamlin, who was so close to winning the 2010 championship. Yet, it turned out to be a bust for the driver of the FedEx Toyota. He didn’t reach the standards placed on him, and he knows it well, proclaiming this year will be his redemption year. It is obvious Hamlin can come back from adversity, winning eight races after tearing his ACL back in 2010, and the wait makes us wonder what the driver has up his sleeve. Next, Joey Logano. When he became the youngest driver to win in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, many believed he would be The Next Best Thing. Things people didn’t expect, however, were blown engines and wrecks from the star. After a few rough seasons, Logano goes into 2012 with hope that he can make something happen and step into Victory Lane for the first time in three years. Kevin Harvick may have the opposite problem. In 2011, he gained the nickname The Closer because of his ability of coming from the back and winning the race. However, when it comes to The Chase, he has yet to win the title. He has been in contention in past seasons to win it all, but hasn’t been able to seal the deal, ironically enough. Nothing can be more sour than imagining The Sprint Cup in your trophy case, only to have the opportunity to make it real taken away from you time and time again. Something tells me Harvick will come back stronger than ever, what with the job of being a team owner gone. All three drivers have something to prove, and it will be exciting to watch.

With all the changes to the cars, teams, and equipment, 2012 is fixing to be an epic year in NASCAR, one where there will be surprises, letdowns, and, hopefully, good rivalries. As a dedicated fan, I’m hoping there will be many moments that will make me pull a Trevor Bayne and say: “Are you kidding me?!”

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