2015 Edition of the Round Table discussion

It's that time of year again. Its' the fifth annual NASCAR round table, hosted by yours truly. I still can't blieve after five years, I'm still doing this AND I'm still getting help from some great people.With me since the beginning, Garrett and Steph rock stars. AND let's not forget about Jason, who is returning for the fourth year in a row. The four of us took to our usual spot about a month ago and brought up some pretty good topics. Go ahead and take a look for yourselves...

After two heartbreaking seasons, is Tony Stewart's career in danger?

Garrett 

Tony Stewart and his career aren't in danger because he is the owner of his own race team. He will decide when his time has come to hand the car to another driver. With the recent rumors of Clint Bowyer possibly joining in 2017 I feel as if it would be a great business move for SHR as a whole, but then I also feel like "what if he has a amazing season next year?"

Steph

i think as a driver, possibly. As an owner, not at all! But i think in a sport like nascar you can't be great at being a driver and an owner of 4 cars. The focus cant be divided.

Samantha

I think there might be something in the back of Tony's mind that's saying 'what if I'm never back to the way I was?'. I think his determination is still there, it's just been harder for him to find.

Garrett

I feel like he keeps putting everything on himself, a few weeks ago at Darlington he had a decent car and the pit crew screwed him, he takes the blame for 3/4 of the problems on that team.

Samantha

I think it's because Tony is their boss and he doesn't want to throw them under the bus. Especially now.

Jason

After two tough seasons, the three-time champion continues to struggle. A number of things contribute to this, including the current rules package and his age. The 2015 rules configuration doesn't seem to suit other veterans, including Jeff Gordon, showing that Stewart isn't alone. In addition, he's nearing the age where drivers begin retiring. With a successful team under his leadership and the potential to add Clint Bowyer in 2017, the time might be right for Stewart to step aside. If he decides to make 2016 his final full-time year, he'll be able to step away under his own terms and put all his effort into having one more great season.

Steph

i agree. it seems like the rules package is definitely more suited to the younger generation of drivers

Jason

I definitely agree with Steph on the divided attention factor. It's hard to put full effort towards both the ownership and driver sides.

Since we've mentioned rules package, lets talk about that. Thoughts on the rules package?

Jason

I am not a fan of the current rules package. The racing has lacked excitement throughout the season. I'm glad NASCAR decided to test out other rules packages during the year instead of waiting until 2016. The low-downforce package offered potential and I hope the sport goes in that direction when deciding on a rules package for next season.

Garrett

The current rules package is not very entertaining and makes races very boring, the new rules package is a great move for the sport Over the last few seasons, we have seen the struggle for drivers to pass one another which makes for boring races, declining TV ratings and declining attendance, if NASCAR wants the sport to thrive and have a larger viewership, the racing environment needs to change and we need more entertainment.

Samantha

There was one race that the it worked well, I just can't remember which one.

 Plus it seems a little harder to pass with these cars, even before the new rules package. It definitely needs some tweeking

Steph

the current package is lacking. there really hasnt been a "wow" moment or race this year... they have all been mediocre. But, with the new package, the excitement will be back. More side by side like there should be.

Garrett

The low-downforce package needs some more tweaking but it is a step in the right direction!

Samantha

Definitely in the right direction

Steph 

i agree! and with them testing in the wind tunnel, just shows NASCAR is dedicated to figuring it out!

Jason

This will be an evolving change and hopefully NASCAR won't settle until the racing is thrilling each week, on all types of tracks.

Garrett

Goodyear and NASCAR made a solid package for Darlington, they will both need to work hard if they want to use this package next season

Steph

Darlington was a good race imo lol

Samantha 

It seems like Darlington was one of the few good races this year

Garrett 

I also thought there was good racing when they used the low-downforce package at Kentucky a few months back

Let's talk about Clint's future. With MWR going belly up, what happens to Clint Bowyer? Where does he end up in 2016?

Garrett 

Clint Bowyer is in a tough spot right now, there are not any big teams looking for another driver and Clint wants a competitive team. He currently has a chase spot and is hoping to show what he can do, so hopefully MWR gives that #15 car everything they have.

Samantha 

The situation is pretty much exactly like Red Bull Racing a few years ago. Kasey had a place to go after 2011, but Brian was without a ride. It is definitely a tough spot Clint is in

Jason 

Clint Bowyer will compete for HScott Motorsports in 2016. The deal is all but signed and should be announced before the season concludes. This will be a one-year deal before heading to Stewart-Haas Racing in 2017 to take over for Stewart. The deal is similar to when Kurt Busch raced for Furniture Row Racing in 2013 and could yield similar results for HSM. It isn't an ideal situation for Bowyer, but could be beneficial for both parties going forward.

Samantha 

Then that leaves Justin Allgaier without a ride. HSCOTT Motor ports has been in the talks about resigning Justin and not adding a third team

Steph

He has the talent to do well in the Chase. A lesser known team for next year, and if Tony feels like it's time to hang up the helmet, Clint would fit right in! that would be quite a stable!

Garrett 

Maybe the 46 will be split with Allgaier and Annett? It isn't ideal, but Allgaier could go back to full time, along with Annett, in 2017 after Bowyer leaves

Jason 

Unless Harry Scott Jr. changes his mind about a third car, Allgaier won't be with the team in 2016. Annett will probably still be full-time like this season. The Bowyer deal

is some insider info I have 

As we all know, Chase will be taking over for Jeff in 2016. How will Chase's rookie season go?

Garrett 

It is almost a coin toss in my opinion, I believe it will be very similar to Kyle Larson's rookie season, where is starts off mediocre but by the end of the season he will be in the top 12 every week.

 Nobody ever transitions from the XFINITY Series to the Cup Series smoothly, it takes time and patience.

Samantha

There will definitely be a lot of pressure on Chase. It's the car that won 92 races and 4 championships. It's a lot to take in and big shoes to fill

Jason

I believe the 19-year old will have an average rookie season. He won't blow everyone out of the water, but will have some solid performances. As he gains more experience, expect him to compete for wins and a Chase spot. However, this will be a few years down the road.

Steph

He's struggled in the few cup races he's been in this year. He'll struggle until he gets that experience towards the end of the year. Don't think he'll get a win til middle of his sophomore year

Samantha

I think his rookie season might mirror Kasey's. Possible runner-up finishes. Leading some laps

Was it a good decision for Gordon to retire this year?

Garrett

Jeff Gordon's final season hasn't been ideal, like mentioned earlier, the current rules package doesn't really suit Gordon's style. I think if Jeff was going to retire in the next five years regardless.

 I think Jeff*

Samantha

Jeff has been racing in Cup since I was 2 years old (that's 1993 for you youngsters),  I think, at 44, it was a good decision for him to retire now. His back hasn't been 100% in the last couple seasons

Steph

this year definitely hasnt been up to Gordon's standards but everyone will remember him as a champion and a winner. I think for where he is in life, it was a good decision regardless of how this year went. He wants to be able to be there with his kids and watch them prosper into little Jeffs! 

Jason 

Gordon's decision to retire after 2015 had a lot of thought behind it. He wanted to go out on a competitive level, and while this season hasn't been ideal, he remains in contention each week. Making the Chase was a huge accomplishment for this season and with everything resetting for the final ten races, he could turn into a title contender. He admitted Hendrick Motorsports is lacking speed at the moment, but they will likely improve for the Chase and give the four-time champion a great farewell.

Samantha 

And he will stay with Hendrick as a mentor or something(like Mark was at RFR for a while), so he won't exactly be completely gone

We always talk about rising stars coming out of the Xfinity and the Truck swries. Who do you think has the brightest future?

Garrett 

Erik Jones is one that will definitely have a bright future, I also believe Ryan Blaney has some potential if he can get a full time cup ride with Penske

Samantha 

I always go back to Chris Buescher. He has been doing a pretty amazing job this year with leading the points for RFR. Eric Jones is another one I've been thinking about. He's been doing a great job with KBM in the truck series. Definitely two to think about

Jason

Chris Buescher seems to be a superstar in the making. He has been very impressive this season and has been in contention for many victories. By running up front with Sprint Cup regulars, he has gained valuable experience and earned respect. With no

clear driver leading Roush Fenway Racing into the future, he could assume this role and bring the organization back to prominence.

Garrett

The only good thing at Roush Fenway Racing right now is their XFINITY program, Chris Buescher and even his teammate Ryan Reed have been very impressive this season and also have bright futures

Steph

Erik is phenomenal no doubt! Blaney and Buescher round out my top 3!

Jason 

Jones is another driver to watch for. He impressed many with his planned Sprint Cup debut in Kansas and has shown how talented he is on numerous occasions. If he gets to the Sprint Cup level soon, he will succeed.

Thoughts on Kyle's miracle season?

Steph Piech

I think we all knew he was gonna come back and kick butt... but the shocker was how fast he did it!

Garrett

Kyle Busch is crazy good and it is amazing that he won four out of the five races starting with Sonoma. After coming off that injury and dominating at Sonoma, I knew that Kyle Busch wanted to get in the chase and to get in the top 30

Samantha

As much as a admire Kyle's determination, I am sick and tired of hearing about it every week. Nobody will be able to do what he did, you can quote me on this

Jason

The Joe Gibbs Racing driver's comeback has been incredible. It seemed as his season was over after his crash in Daytona. To bounce back so quickly and be so successful showcases how talented of a driver he is. Many didn't expect him to win or make the Chase. Now as he sits with four wins, tied for the most in the series, he is one of the favorites for the championship.

Samantha

As good as Kyle is, he never performs in the Chase like he does in the regular season. I don't see him as a favorite

Garrett

Joe Gibbs Racing is the only multi-car team to get all of their cars into the chase. It will definitely be a difficult task to focus equal effort on every team and give each team 100%

Jason

This year has been different for him. With  JGR being so strong and how well he has performed, it's hard not to say this is the best chance he has ever had at chasing a championship.

Following Austin Dillon's Daytona crash, NASCAR has discussed making format changes to plate races, possibly eliminating green-white-checkered finishes. Do you feel this is the correct reaction? 

Steph

i dont think so. The GWC finishes keep it interesting. Regardless of a GWC, the cars will still get airborne just like they will hit inside walls without safer barriers

Garrett

I think if anything, NASCAR needs to slow the cars down, I believe if they do that there will still be good racing and less of a chance for wrecks that would cause cars to go airborne. I don't believe the GWC is an issue.

Steph 

which we've seen plenty of this year

Samantha

I don't think it's the GWC that's the issue. Plate racing as always been that way

Jason

The biggest takeaway from Dillon's crash is that the safety equipment in place did its job. It was a freak accident and shouldn't be looked at as if this type of wreck happens during every plate race. I don't agree with doing away with the GWC finish. It might stack the field up when the tension mounts in a race, but it's part of what makes plate racing exciting. Continuing to improve safety should be what NASCAR looks at in response. If they make any competition changes, it should be to slow the cars down to prevent airborne crashes,

Samantha

It's definitely a safety thing. I think something needs to happen to the cars to help eliminate cars becoming airborne. It's all about aero. We don't see airborne cars anywhere else most of the time

It's been 9 years since NBC has aired a nascar race. Thoughts on their return?

Garrett

NBC has done a great job! Ken Squier and Ned Jarrett did great at Darlington! NBC has gone above and beyond with their coverage and Steve, Rick and Jeff are great individuals that call the race, they have good chemistry and I believe with a driver and crew chief in the booth it gives all the viewers great perspectives.

Samantha

NBC'S coverage has been way better than  FOX's this year. They made a great call bring in Ken and Ned for Darlington. Absolutely amazing. Top notch

Steph

I think NBC has done amazing! to have three different perspectives allows the fans to get so much more knowledge then just have 3 announcers up there! you actually have a former winner and a former winning crew chief giving the fans a more indepth look at ontrack situations! the Darlington segment with the absolute legends was a great idea! brought back memories for some and allowed the younger generation of fans to see and hear the people who have made the sport what it is today!

Steph

they are detailed, and sometimes too detailed, but if you're not an avid fan and watch an NBC broadcast, you understand what is going on because of the commentary

Jason

NBC has brought a refreshing change to the broadcast side of the sport. They are committed to bringing fans the best coverage possible and it's working. They try and tell the story of a race weekend and this approach adds depth to the broadcast.

Samantha

Quick to the next topic. Road course in the Chase: yes or no

Steph

it would make it a lot more interesting and i think if you want to test them and make it so the champion is the absolute best, i think it's almost necessary to have one in the chase

Jason

To determine a true champion, there needs to be a road course in the Chase. In order for a driver to capture a championship, they need to excel on all types of tracks. Adding one to the final ten races would make a thrilling playoffs even more fun to watch

Garrett

YES! I think every avid fan has been begging for a road course in the chase for the last three or four years. I believe it is truly needed because why have road courses in the regular season but not in the end when everyone is going for the championshp?

Samantha

I definitely think that there should be a road course in the chase. More deversity! Please!!

Steph 

bingo!!

cookie cutters dont cut it... literally and figuratively

Samantha

If they have to compete on every other type of race track, why not a road course. I vote Road America

Garrett 

I vote Watkins Glen

Samantha

Chase spoilers?

Garrett

I feel like Tony Stewart and Kasey Kahne are going to go out there and try to prove that they are still here. Both Stewart and Kahne need solid races and they both need speed and I think both of them can spoil a race in these final ten weeks.

Samantha 

My heart wants to say Kasey, but that team is so out of sorts. I say Larson and possibly David Ragan

The five team needs to pull themselves together nothing has really been the same since mid-July

Jason

Chase spoiler - I believe it's Kyle Larson's time to shine. Last season, he performed well throughout the Chase and could do the same this year. Capturing his first victory during the Chase would be impressive as he would have to beat the Chase drivers who all could win and advance. Keep your eye on Larson over the next ten weeks.

Steph Piech

i was thinking Larson!

Garrett

The only problem I have with both Larson and Ragan is I feel like their organizations will be focusing on their cars that are in the chase and not them. Not to put them down or anything, because they are both very capable of winning in the final ten races.

Samantha

Larson is so close to that first win.

Steph

but i think being a smaller organization, even a two car operation, maybe Larson can learn something from the 1 that could help him to a win

Steph

we see how well Penske works together

Samantha

THE CHASE. Favorites? Dark horses? Final four and the winner. We all knew it was coming

Garrett 

Favorites: Harvick, Johnson, Kenseth

Jason

This year's favorites are on Joe Gibbs Racing and Team Penske. Those drivers are strongest right now and will be the most competitive. Kevin Harvick will also be a favorite as he's been impressive throughout the year.

Samantha

I've got Johnson, Kenseth, and Harvick

Steph

my favorite to win is Joey.. no matter what track he's been at this year, he's been either up front or close to it. But i think the fan favorite is probably Kenseth or Harvick.

Samantha

Dark horses: Truex, Hamlin, and Logano

Steph

dark horse: Truex for sure!

Garrett

Dark Horses: Truex Jr, Newman, McMurray

Jason 

A dark horse could be Jamie McMurray. He's quietly consistent and could post top-five finishes weekly and be the Newman of last year's Chase.

Samantha

Final four: 48, 20, 78, 4. Winner: Matt Kenseth

Steph

I have Matt winning it too... even tho i want Joey to win.

Garrett

Final 4: Harvick, Johnson, Truex Jr, Ky. Busch

Champion: Johnson

Jason

A dark horse could be Jamie McMurray. He's quietly consistent and could post top-five finishes weekly and be the Newman of last year's Chase.

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As always, there is so much to talk about with this sport. We all hope you all enjoyed reading and we hope you all stay tuned for more from us!

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GET TO KNOW US!

Jason Schultz: Racing has been my passion ever since I was 7-years old. Now at 17, I aspire to work in the public relations field of NASCAR. I plan on attending college in the sport’s hub – Charlotte, NC – next year and move one step closer to achieving my dream. I have been writing about the sport I love for four seasons and have developed numerous connections along the way. You can find my work on Turn4RacingNews.com and PopularSpeed.com. It also has been featured on premiere NASCAR websites such as FOX Sports’ page and Jayski.com. My experience includes the social media realm as each May I travel to Wilmington, Delaware to be the social media correspondent for the Drive for Autism Celebrity Golf Tournament during Dover race weekend. Here, I interact with many of the sport’s biggest names including Danica Patrick, Clint Bowyer, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Denny Hamlin, Darrell Waltrip, Larry McReynolds, and more. I have attended many races over the years, including this past February’s Daytona 500. I have also visited Dover International Speedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Watkins Glen International, Bristol Motor Speedway, Darlington Raceway, Charlotte Motor Speedway. Martinsville Speedway, and Pocono Raceway. You can follow me on twitter @NASCARJason, on Instagram @JasonSchultz_ and find me on Facebook to stay up-to-date with travels, experiences, content and much more.

Stephanie Piech: I have been an avid race fan since the 2002 season. I graduated from a small university in Rhode Island with a degree in Communication and triple minors in business administration, sociology, and marketing. My ultimate goal is to find my career in the sports marketing department at NASCAR. I have attended 4 NASCAR races: two at Dover and two at Charlotte. I have made many friends through the sport and love finding people who are just as passionate about it as me. Follow me on twitter @heartslikeadrum and instagram @simplysteph22_ if you would like to chat.

Garrett Beisheim: I have been a fan of racing for as long as a I remember. I’d probably have to say around the age of six or seven. Now I’m 18 and attending a community college in upstate New York where I am studying Engineering Science. In two years I hope to find myself at a 4-year college studying mechanical engineering. My hope is that a degree in mechanical engineering will get me close to working for a race team so I can live the dream for 36+ weeks a year. I have attended a handful of NASCAR races at Watkins Glen, which is only an hour and a half from my home, and I have also been on a track tour at Charlotte Motor Speedway when I went down to visit a handful of race shops back in 2011. If I’m not at work or school, I’m probably doing something related to racing and you can follow me on twitter @Gman1439 or check out RacingToTheCheckered.com which I try to keep as updated as possible.

Samantha Rae:I'm a 24-year-old amateur sports writer. Been a NASCAR fan since the mid-1990's, during Earnhardt/Gordon years. Avid sports fan of the New York Giants and the Philadelphia Flyers. Still working hard on getting my dream job, hopefully a NASCAR writer or a part of a race team. I have now attended races at four different tracks, including Michigan International Speedway this past June. Have experience the behind-the-scenes look at a race team during my latest trip to Chicagoland Speedway, being a guest of Brad Keselowski Racing. You can find me on twitter at HurriKahne_5 and ryantruexjr. Follow me on instagram HurriKahne_5 and like my Facebook page NASCAR Racing IS a Sport!. And as always, keep reading my posts here at Racing To The Checkers.

2015 Predictions: Part Two

A few days ago, I pos5 NASCARo, I posted part one of a many part ted part one of a many part 2015 NASCAR prediction. I evaluated all four drivers at Hendrick Motorsports and gave my opinion and prediction of how they will fare this coming season. I had said that not all of the Hendrick drivers will fare well in 2015. Let’s see how Team Penske and Earnhardt Ganassi Racing look under my microscope.

First, Team Penske. Team Penske was a pleasant surprise during the 2014 season, especially with one young Joey Logano. Logano, who recently got married, finished 4^th in the standings, his best season to date. Keselowski, the 2012 champion, came fired up with talent and a little controversy. Now, who is first? Let’s go with Keselowski.

Brad Keselowski: 2014 was certainly an eventful one for Keselowski, who was involved in two major altercations that got physical. Keselowski was involved in an on-track incident with two Joe Gibbs Racing drivers Denny Hamlin and Matt Kenseth at Charlotte during the Chase. The altercation with Kenseth had gotten physical. You can watch it here. Just a few weeks after that, Keselowski got into another altercation with Jeff Gordon. You can watch that one here. 2014 certainly wasn’t Brad’s best year, but it wasn’t a bad one. Keselowski won a season-high six races, won 5 poles and a season-high 17 top five finishes. He finished 5^th in the standings after failing to advance to the championship round at Homestead. How will Brad fare in 2015? Brad will have a hiccup in 2015. With one win at Kansas in the October, Brad will miss The Chase.

Joey Logano: Logano is coming off his best year in Sprint Cup to date, racking up five wins and 16 top fives. Logano made it all the way to the Championship round, finishing fourth after two bad pit stops during the last race of the Chase, ultimately finishing 16^th in the race. Joey’s 2014 was less…exciting…than his teammate, staying pretty far under the radar. Logano’s best season by far was 2014, winning five races. 2014 was his first multi-race win season of his career and certainly not his last. How will 2015 treat Joey Logano? I think Joey will score two in the win column and make the Chase, BUT ultimately failing to advance from the second round of the Chase, leaving Joey mired in mid-pack.

Now that’s all for Team Penske. What about Earnhardt Ganassi? Let’s take a look at teammates Kyle Larson and Jamie McMurray. Let’s start with…McMurray.

Jamie McMurray: Jamie McMurray’s 204 season was yet another mediocre one, despite performing better than some Chase drivers. Jamie finished 2014 with 7 top 5’s and 13 top 10’s with no wins. McMurray failed to make the Chase and finished 18^th in the points. I think 2015 wouldn’t be much different than 2014 was. Jamie will perform well, but I don’t foresee any wins by the driver.

Kyle Larson: Also called ‘Yung Money’, Kyle Larson came off one hell of a rookie season. Although he didn’t find himself in Victory Lane in 2014, Larson certainly was very close to Victory Lane. Scoring 8 to 5’s and 17 top 10’s, by far better than any other rookie. Kyle Larson, 2014 Rookie Of The Year, will have NO sophomore slump. I predict Larson winning at least two races and making the Chase. I think he’ll be a big threat come Chase time.

So these guys certainly weren’t as detailed as Hendrick, but it gets the job done. Part three will be Joe Gibbs Racing drivers and Furniture Row Racing driver Martin Truex Jr.

2015 Predictions: Part 1

I’m trying something new this year. Sure, I’ve done predictions before, but nothing like this. Over the next week or so, I’m going to break down teams and their drivers. I’m going to cover: Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing, Roush Fenway Racing, Team Penske, Richard Petty Motorsports, Richard Childress Racing, Furniture Row Racing, Stewart Haas Racing, Earnhardt Ganassi Racing, and Michael Waltrip Racing. Every little detail will be done.

I’m going to start with Hendrick. Hendrick is always a threat to win the championship with all four of his drivers and I don’t think 2015 will be any different. With a powerhouse like Hendrick Motorsports, I don’t think anything less than the absolute best will do for the team. First up: Jimmie Johnson.

Jimmie Johnson: Jimmie is coming off his worst season yet. Despite winning four races, Jimmie failed to make it to round three of the Chase and finished 11^th in the standings. Despite all of that Jimmie is always a threat for the championship. He did win five in a row from 2006 to 2010 and won his sixth in 2013. 2015 will fare better for Jimmie, but I don’t think he’ll win another championship, maybe. I see Jimmie winning at least 2 races and making it to at least the final 8. With the competition that has been rising over the last two season, I think it will be a lot harder for Jimmie Johnson to win that coveted seventh championship that would tie him with Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt. Jimmie will still be paired with long-time crew chief Chad Knaus in 2015.

Jeff Gordon: Just a couple of weeks ago, Jeff Gordon announced that 2015 will be his last full season as a driver. This came as a surprise to everyone in the NASCAR world, reporters and fans alike. Looking into Gordon’s last season, I don’t expect anything less than the very best from Jeff. This is going to be his last chance to bring in that fifth championship, one that has been eluding him since he won his last one back in 2001. Gordon recorded 4 wins and made it to the third round of the Chase, finishing sixth in the final standings. I think Gordon is going to out with a bang. Four wins and possibly a final four spot in the final race at Homestead in November may be in Jeff’s future. Jeff will still be working with Alan Gustafson in his final season.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Junior is coming off his first multi-win season since 2004, winning four races including the Daytona 500. He finished eighth in the final standings. Junior has been getting better these last few seasons, but I don’t think 2015 will be the same. Pairing with new crew chief, Greg Ives, in 2015, it’s going to be hard for the two of them to mesh together right away. Junior will have a slow first half of the season, heating up around Daytona in July. I think he’ll barely make the Chase, winning at Richmond for his lone victory of the season. Dale will make it to the second round of the Chase before faltering at Kansas.

Kasey Kahne: Kasey is coming off of one of his worst seasons of his career, probably his worst at Hendrick. Despite winning at Atlanta and making the Chase, Kasey didn’t make any noise in the Chase. He missed the third round of the Chase by just a handful of points. Kasey finished 15^th. It was announced back on November 21^st that Kasey had resigned with Hendrick for another three season, making everyone question Hendrick’s thinking. I think 2015 will bring Kasey Kahne back to his true form. I think he’ll win a season high of 6 races and be a serious threat in the Chase, possibly winning the entire thing. Kasey got a new crew chief, but that’s not going to slow him down. Keith Rodden has worked with Kasey for the last ten year, not including 2014. I have a big feeling that 2015 is Kasey's year.

Hendrick will be the biggest threat in 2015. Stay tuned, next will be Team Penske and Earnhardt Ganassi Racing.

One Last Shot to Win it all: The Final Four

The Chase.  10 weeks. 10 races. 10 different tracks. 16 drivers from 8 different teams. This has probably been the most exciting Chase there has been since the beginning of the Chase in 2004. Going into Homestead this coming Sunday brings us to a point in the sport. The final four have NEVER won Sprint Cup championship. Sure, watching Kurt Busch lose a tire and come back to win the Championship that same race was exciting, but nothing compares to this year’s Chase. We will see a new champion crowned since Brad Keselowski in 2012.

Kevin Harvick, Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin, and Ryan Newman all enter Homestead on Sunday tied in the points. Whoever bests the rest is the Champion. These four drivers have to be the furthest from being similar. All of these guys have talent, but how far does talent get you until you need to start using luck? Or your front bumper. Let’s look at how these four got to the final round.

Harvick: 5^th, 3^rd, 13^th, win, 9^th, 33^rd, 2^nd,win

Logano: 4^th, win, 4^th, win, 4^th, 11^th, 5^th, 12^th, 6^th

Newman: 15^th, 18^th, 8^th, 6^th, 7^th, 5^th, 3^rd, 15^th, 11^th

Hamlin:6^th, 37^th, 12^th, 7^th, 9^th, 18^th, 8^th, 10^th, 5^th

Their driving style is so different from each other and so are their nicknames. Of course, Hamlin came up with his own, but I’ll count it. All four of these drivers have one thing in common though. They are the 2001, 2002, 2006, and 2009 Rookies of the Year. Let’s look further into the drivers’ seasons and let’s look at how they got there.

Denny Hamlin: Self-nicknamed The Deliverminator, Denny Hamlin won a thriller at Talladega in April, securing his spot in the 2014 Chase. So far, it’s been Hamlin’s only win on the season. Hamlin got to the final four with a 5^th place at PIR.

Harvick: Also known as ‘Happy’, ‘Mr. Where Did He Come From?’ or The Closer, Kevin Harvick won his ticket to the Chase all the way back to the second race of the season at PIR. Harvick went on to win one more race in the regular season before punching his ticket to the top 8 with his win at Charlotte. Harvick got into the final four with a win at PIR.

Joey Logano: Nicknamed ‘Sliced Bread’ (as in the greatest thing since) by two-time Busch Series Champion Randy LaJoie, Joey Logano punched his ticket to the Chase win a last lap pass on Jeff Gordon at Texas Motor Speedway. Logano went out to win two more races in the regular season at Richmond and Bristol. Logano won two races in the Chase at New Hampshire and Kansas Speedway. Joey is the first driver to open the Chase with 5 consecutive top 5 finishes. Logano got to the final four with a 6^th place finish at PIR.

Ryan Newman: Nicknamed ‘Rocket Man’, Ryan Newman was one of only two drivers to make the Chase on points, making him a consistent driver.  Newman was consistent with no finishes outside the top 20. Newman got to the final four by finishing 11th.

Harvick may be the favorite going into Homestead, but Joey is a worthy challenger. Denny Hamlin has to be the dark horse of the final four. I don’t think many people had him going this far in the Chase, I know I didn’t. I only have one of my pick left in the final four and that’s Logano. I’m still sticking with Mr. Challenger. Ryan Newman is definitely a wildcard. He’s been almost unpredictable the entire season, let alone the Chase. Homestead will definitely be a race for the history books.

Harvick and Logano both are chasing SHR and Team Penske’s second titles and their first as drivers. SHR won their first with driver/owner Tony Stewart in 2011 with a tie breaker with RFR’s Carl Edwards. It was Stewart’s third championship. Team Penske won their first with driver Brad Keselowski in 2012. It was Keselowski’s first championship. Hamlin is chasing Joe Gibbs Racing’s 4^th title. JGR won theirs in 2000, 2002, and 2005, one with Bobby Labonte (2000) and two with Tony Stewart (2002, 2005). This potentially be Hamlin’s first ever NASCAR Championship. Newman, who moved to RCR after last season, is chasing RCR’s seventh title. RCR won titles in 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, and 1994; all with the late Dale Earnhardt Sr. This may be Newman’s first NASCAR title. Despite all four of these drivers chasing their first Sprint Cup title, Kevin Harvick is the only driver of these four to have a championship in NASCAR’s top three touring series, winning Busch Series championships in 2001 and 2006.

One final thing. A tally of championship picks. Who is the fan favorite to win the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship? Well, the tally is in. Let’s take a look.

Kevin Harvick: IIIIIIIIIII (11)

Joey Logano: IIIIIIIIIII (11)

Denny Hamlin: IIIIII (6)

Ryan Newman: II (2)

And there is a tie. I’m not going to take my words away, Harvick is still the favorite going into Homestead this Sunday, but I think all four of them have a good chance of winning it all. There is only one way to find out who is going to win it all. Tune into ESPN on Sunday to watch the Ford Eco-boost 400 from Homestead-Miami Speedway! Catch you guys soon!

Tony Stewart will NOT face criminal charges for the death of Kevin Ward Jr.

It’s all over. A Grand Jury has made the decision. Tony Stewart will not face criminal charges in the death of 20-year-old Kevin Ward Jr. The incident happened almost two months ago when Ward was struck by Stewart’s car August 9^th, the night before the race at Watkins Glen. Stewart decided not to race, being replaced by Regan Smith. Stewart would miss the next two race, letting Jeff Burton race in his place. On August 30^th, Tony returned to the Sprint Cup series. Stewart also released a statement during a press conference the Friday before the Cup race at Atlanta.

"This is been one of the toughest tragedies I've ever had to deal with, both professionally and personally. This is something that will definitely affect my life forever. This is a sadness and a pain I hope no one ever has to experience in their life. That being said, I know that the pain and the mourning that Kevin Ward's family and friends are experiencing is something that I can't possibly imagine. I want Kevin's father, Kevin Sr., his mother Pam and his sisters Christi, Kayla and Katelyn to know that every day I'm thinking about and praying for them.

"The racing community is a large family. As you guys know and everyone is saddened with this tragedy. I want to thank all my friends and family for their support through this tough, emotional time. And the support from the NASCAR community, my partners, all of our employees has been overwhelming. I've taken the last couple weeks off out of respect for Kevin and his family and also to cope with the accident in my own way. It's given me the time to think about life and how easy it is to take it for granted. I miss my team, my teammates, and I miss being back in the race car. I think that being back in the car this week with my racing family will help me get through this difficult time."

Also with the tragedy, NASCAR made a changed in rules that requires a driver to remain inside their car and wait for a NASCAR official to approach the car except in an emergency situations.

On September 16^th, it was revealed that Tony’s case would be heard by a Grand Jury. On September 23^rd, witnesses were heard and the Grand Jury deliberated. Just this afternoon, The Grand Jury decided that there was no evidence to criminally charge Tony Stewart with the death if Kevin Ward Jr. The toxicology report was also revealed, showing that Ward had marijuana is his system at the time of his death, enough to impair judgment. What does this mean for Kevin’s family? Do they go ahead with a civil case against Tony after what the toxicology report revealed?

The whole entire NASCAR community stood behind Tony the last month and a half and we’re all glad this is finally over.