Written by Monte Dutton Sun, 2019-11-10 09:32
This is a week of penultimacy, leading me to ask …
… Is that a word?
NASCAR is in Avondale, Ariz., for its next-to-last race.
Virginia Military Institute is in Greenville for Furman’s next-to-last home game, but that’s likely more important to me than you.
Written by Monte Dutton Thu, 2019-11-07 08:43
It is said that a politician gives people what they want and a statesman gives them what they need. Thankfully, that’s all I’ve got on politics today.
NASCAR is giving fans what they want, but the ones with wants are dwindling. For the sport to regain its hold on hearts and minds, it has to analyze what they need. I don’t think minds bring the fans back to the grandstands. For the people willing to sacrifice their hard-earned money, risk bad weather and high costs, auto racing has to appeal to the hearts.
by Zachary Hinson Mon, 2019-11-04 10:55
Drivers are told every year to watch out for Kevin Harvick when the Playoffs make it Phoenix, and it seems that will change to Texas Motor Speedway after another strong victory at the AAA Texas 500. Harvick started the day winning the pole with Erik Jones starting beside him and, on the start, Jones was able to stick to Harvick’s side long enough to just lead the first lap until Harvick was given a push by Hamlin to get to the lead. The first caution of the day then came out only ten laps in as Playoff driver Chase Elliott got loose into the corner and spun into the wall. The damage wouldn’t end Chase’s day, but it would put him many laps down and in desperate need of a win going into Phoenix.
Sun, 2019-10-27 16:46
The easiest way to get to the NASCAR Final Four is to absolutely dominate the First Data 500 at Martinsville; something Martin Truex Jr easily did with leading 464 laps on his way to his seventh win of the season.
Hometown favorite, Denny Hamlin, won the pole while Chase Elliott got second but would have to start from the rear due to blowing a motor in the first practice; Aric Almirola then took over the spot. Hamlin easily got to the lead on the green while Truex kept along the bottom with him and moved to second. As drivers started to get aggressive early, the first caution of the day came out as Ross Chastain came up in front of Matt Crafton (Filling in for Matt Tifft after he had a health scare and had to go to the hospital earlier in the week. He would be discharged but was not cleared to race.) and tore off part of his splitter and knocked out the brake ducts from the right front. Truex was first off pit-road while Ryan Blaney got to second when Hamlin had a long stop. No issues on the restart as Truex and Blaney get away easily. After some long side-by-side racing and attitude between Clint Bowyer and Daniel Suarez, Suarez was able to get a fast run on the top to get fourth while Truex had lapped up to twentieth place. Truex went on to win the stage even with constantly having to deal with heavy traffic.
Written by Monte Dutton Sat, 2019-10-26 11:08
I don’t often see people who go to the race track a lot. Usually it’s when old friends and I meet. Al Pearce met me for lunch a couple weeks back, and I saw Mike Hembree at the Furman-Citadel football game on Oct. 19. About the only person I see regularly who goes often – other than Darlington – to watch NASCAR races anymore is an old high school football teammate.
He was at the Touchdown Club Thursday, so I asked him if he was going to Martinsville Sunday. He said it looked like rain, so he was going to make the call early Sunday morning. It occurred to me that this is one reason why the crowds aren’t bigger these days.
by Zachary Hinson Mon, 2019-10-21 16:58
Denny Hamlin really wants the championship this year, and he proved how badly he wants it with another win under his belt for the season to clinch into the Round of eight and put himself in prime position to possibly advance to the Championship four.
Sat, 2019-10-19 10:52
Relive the all the big wrecks and Ryan Blaney's .007 second win over Ryan Newman in this weeks Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series full race replay.
Written by Monte Dutton Sat, 2019-10-19 10:07
When I sit back in my recliner, hit the remote and settle in to watch a NASCAR race – whether it be day, night or occasional Monday – I just ask that it be a good one.
I don’t drive up and down the road or fly across the country and back anymore. I don’t have to write three stories a day. I don’t have to bury myself in the minutia because I don’t have to.
Tue, 2019-10-15 15:57
After a devasting, late race parts break at Dover, Ryan Blaney needed a grand showing at Talladega to have a shot at the next Playoff round. Even with nearly everything being thrown at him at some point, he would pull off the grand showing with a win at one of the toughest races of the year.
Written by Monte Dutton Mon, 2019-10-14 09:51
Talladega Superspeedway has always been tough. Winning has always been a crap shoot for all but the masters of its nuances. Dale Earnhardt was such a man. So was Buddy Baker.
Show me a newcomer to its perils, and I will show you a young man (or in rare instances, woman) whose initial impression is that winning is all car. Tony Stewart thought that, but after a few years, got the almost mystical hang of it.
When I started going to Talladega, it scared me because no writer and only a few weathermen (or women) likes to deal with tragedy, and it’s part of the job. The first race I ever wrote about there, a red Chevrolet driven by a driver named Jimmy Horton sailed out of the whole track.
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