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September 04, 2008
Who Isn't Going To Make It?
By Mark Young
Well gang here we are, the weekend that NASCAR and the media have been waiting for since February, it is cut-off time for the dreaded Chase. This is the last weekend from now until Daytona that we will see any car other than one in the Chase on TV. For some reason the TV media people have this notion that the world only cheers for the guys who make it. But I digress, that isn't what I want to talk about on this post. What I want to know from you is who will be in the Chase and who won't.
David Regan is only 17 points out of 12th place and this kid is going to make it. I just think he will, no facts or stats to throw at you, I just think the kid has run too well this season to not make it.
I have been saying for weeks that Clint Bowyer is out and I still believe it. Too inconsistent during the second half of the year to gamble on him.
Kasey Kahne has a shot but he is going to need some help along the way. If Virginia wasn't Hamlin's home state and Richmond one of his favorite tracks I would be willing to bet Denny would choke but I just don't see it happening.
Someone in the bottom of the Chase contenders is going to have a horrible race and barely make it. With the inconsistency that Stewart and Gordon have had all year I wouldn't be surprised to see it be one of them.
So who do you think is in? Who is out? Or do you just not care?
September 4, 2008 | Permalink
Comments
Mark, I believe that I have to go with the third option. No matter who manages to make it their only real benefit from getting in will be for the sponsor. With as much good intentions the chase has, it only accomplished seperating the season into two parts that drivers need to be consistant in. Three drivers control this season. the only way to make any one of the others to have a remote chance is to have those three finish a race dead last. Even then JJ showed that thats not insurmountable. No matter what happens, Points racing is the only real action we are going to see this year.
Posted by: Bob | Sep 4, 2008 9:10:37 AM
Mark,
We could also title this, "Who Makes the Chase, but Doesn't Belong?"
Anyone without a hard "K" sound in their name, as in "K"yle and "K"arl doesn't belong racing for a title this season.
I suppose this Richmond race could be likened to "Wildcard Weekend," in that other sport NASCAR is now reluctant to compare itself to. I would rather see a Bowyer, Hamlin, Kahne or a Ragan in the Chase, than watch guys going in circles for a bigger paycheck. These guys have something to prove and nothing to lose.
Did I say the Chase sucks? We should be watching our drivers or the front. Instead they want us to focus on 12th. The guy in 12th has done nothing this season to justify a chance to be #1.
Posted by: Keith | Sep 4, 2008 9:46:22 AM
Well, I am pulling for Kahne as always not sure if its a lost cause or not cause he has pulled it out at the last moment before. Can he do this time around? Not sure but I would like to see him do it. If he doesn't I would like to see Ragan in it. The kid has showed he has what it takes to be there, Hamlin has put a bad taste in my mouth. By the upper management coaching him to encourage instead of bad mouth his crew makes me dislike him even more, that is something he should have come to on his own. Bowyer just gives the impression its owed to him as well I maybe wrong on these drivers but this is just the way I see it. Ragan seems to be the one with his feet still planted on ground, of course behind Kahne.
Posted by: Graceann | Sep 4, 2008 9:54:33 AM
Yeah, Richmond is just a bit too much of a wild card to say with any certainty. And I feel that the 18, 48 and 99 are the only ones with any real shot at the Cup. If Ragan can back up a Chase appearance with top 5 runs and maybe a win next year, he will justify his presence in NSCS, at least IMO.
Keith, you hunkering down for that storm?? Stay safe out there buddy.
Posted by: Joe | Sep 4, 2008 12:05:12 PM
Joe,
I live on the third floor of a brick building. Bring it on. One of the advantages of being an old salt, and living next to the worlds largest Navy base, is that ya get clues. If the fleet starts to pull out, it's a good time to invest in canned goods and stock up on water. That's not happening yet. Storm lines are doubled and checked, and in a 5 hr window, two Carriers some LHD's and assorted Cruisers, Destroyers and Subs can put out to sea. Just another day in your Navy.
Here's Norfolk's weather update. http://www.accuweather.com/forecast.asp?partner=vista4&traveler=0&zipChg=1&zipcode=23505&metric=0
Posted by: Keith | Sep 4, 2008 12:31:00 PM
Keith, Be safe down there.
Posted by: Graceann | Sep 4, 2008 2:21:45 PM
Graceann,
It's just weather. Just like NASCAR, it's all about the hype.
Posted by: Keith | Sep 4, 2008 3:18:36 PM
The chase sucks. Period. Anything I say begins with that statement.
Given that, I'm pulling for ragan. Just making the chase, like making the playoffs in any sport, is a good thing. This is a young guy with a future. Good for him.
This is not an endorsement of the chase, which sucks.
Posted by: Doug in CA | Sep 4, 2008 8:38:11 PM
How do you really feel Doug?
Posted by: Mark Young | Sep 4, 2008 9:10:38 PM
Kahne. That's the other hard K sound.
I don't want Bowyer or Ragan in, I want Kahne.
But we don't usually get what we want.
So I will follow Doug's eloquent commentary with the same: the chase sucks. Period.
Posted by: Doris | Sep 4, 2008 9:54:03 PM
I agree with Doris. HARD K SOUND KKKK. KAHNE
Posted by: Graceann | Sep 4, 2008 10:11:38 PM
I think I just stuttered a little bit above. LOL
Posted by: Graceann | Sep 4, 2008 10:12:41 PM
Offtopic notes: nice to see Stremme get the 12 ride. While Penske may not be Hendrick, Stremme seems like a nice kid and it's nice to see him get a better ride. Second, Ganassi and Penske dominate Indy car racing; why are they midpack in Nascar? Maybe that's unfair to Penske, who won over 50 races with Rusty Wallace. Maybe he's just down a bit right now.
Good piece about the end of the open wheel invasion. Hornish is still around, Montoya's doing OK, Speed is still very much on the horizon, and Allmendinger should get another year, but might not. Life's unfair if Allmendinger loses his ride to Speed. It's interesting that the guys with the best resumes are the ones who are gone: Villeneuve (former Indy 500 and F1 champ)and Franchitti (Indy 500 and series champ) are the primary disappointments.
Posted by: Doug in CA | Sep 5, 2008 11:36:35 AM
Doug - Glad to see that other fans agree with Penske's pick of Stremme for the #12. I hope this chance proves he's good enough to stay in Cup. It's reported that he signed a multi-year contract.
I love Allmendinger and will be really upset if TRB lets him go and puts Speed in the #84. A.J. has earned his spot in that car IMO.
Posted by: Diane | Sep 5, 2008 2:13:09 PM
Here is my wish list for this weekend:
1) Hanna stays away long enough to get the race completed.
2) We only see the points at the beginning of the night and at the end. None of this "If the race ends right now" crap.
3) Denny Hamlin is replaced in the Chase by David or Kasey. I would love to see both of these drivers in, but I don't know who else to kick out to let them in.
4) We have a safe and exciting race and not one car dominating the whole race!!
Posted by: Michelle | Sep 5, 2008 4:06:06 PM
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