|| *Comments on the 2017 AAA Texas 500:* View the most recent comment <#161> | Post a comment <#post> 1. JR-TV posted: 10.31.2017 - 11:30 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) The #7 should be listed as owned by Jay Robinson with Pat Tryson as the crew chief. The #7 has replaced the #55 at Premium Motorsports. 2. NewGuyOnTheBlock posted: 10.31.2017 - 11:45 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Dale Jr. will be sponsored by the Justice League Movie. 3. JR-TV posted: 10.31.2017 - 3:19 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) David Starr will drive the #66 with sponsorship from Moore Freight Services. 4. Anthony posted: 10.31.2017 - 3:33 pm Rate this comment: (0) (6) If Chase Elliott were to end his career today in the MENCS. What kind of reaction will people view him as? 5. 95McDowellFan posted: 10.31.2017 - 4:03 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Ray Black making his 2nd start 6. 1995z71 posted: 10.31.2017 - 7:24 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) RIP TBR, JR-TV is correct this week. 7. Sector posted: 10.31.2017 - 9:41 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) My prediction for choosing Brad Keselowski or Kyle Busch last week was correct. Let's see if I can go 2 for 2 in this round, choosing Martin Truex Jr. to win. 8. Anthony posted: 10.31.2017 - 10:03 pm Rate this comment: (1) (4) Well I got 4 thumbs down big deal. I just view Chase Elliott as the most disappointed cup driver I've ever seen to this point of my life. He reminds me a lot of how Dale Earnhardt tried so hard to win the Daytona 500. Chase is the same way trying to win his first race. 9. Damon posted: 10.31.2017 - 10:32 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Way to go out on a limb with that prediction, Sector lol 10. Damon posted: 10.31.2017 - 10:45 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) Anthony it's just way too early to use the word disappointing for Chase when it took Kyle Larson 99 starts to get his first Cup win and Chase is at 74 currently. For me, he's the guy that's going to take that Dale Jr. role being the face of NASCAR until he hangs it up and in that stretch he'll get his wins, Daytona 500 and championship.....it's just not his time now. 11. JSPorts posted: 11.01.2017 - 12:01 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) I do not think Truex will be that good at TMS. I think it will be the Kyle Busch show, because for some reason the 78 team doesn't perform as well at TMS as they do the other 1.5-mile tracks. Expect Busch to win this race, and probably Homestead as well. 12. Sector posted: 11.01.2017 - 12:52 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) "I do not think Truex will be that good at TMS. I think it will be the Kyle Busch show, because for some reason the 78 team doesn't perform as well at TMS as they do the other 1.5-mile tracks. Expect Busch to win this race, and probably Homestead as well." Still, Truex has led at least 49 laps the past two seasons at Texas. He doesn't have to dominate. And I'd like Kyle to get the 27 laps led out of the way before Homestead arrives, that way he doesn't get too greedy with that during the championship race. We shall see what happens. 13. Jason24 posted: 11.01.2017 - 2:11 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Truex wins this one. Calling it now. 2. Busch 3. Harvick 4. Johnson 5. Elliott Lets see how I do with that. 14. Altracing posted: 11.01.2017 - 7:27 am Rate this comment: (0) (1) Remember Truex doesn't have to win, as long as he stays 60 points above 5th place in points after this race he'll be locked in to the final four. 15. Talon64 posted: 11.01.2017 - 7:51 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) Martin Truex Jr. can clinch a spot at Homestead if he leaves Texas with a 60 point lead, since you can only gain a maximum of 59 points in one race. At a 67 point lead going into this weekend, he'll clinch a spot no matter what anyone else does if he scores 53 points. So anything between a 1-2 stage sweep and a 4th place finish, or scoring 18 stage points and finishing 2nd. Truex has scored 53+ points 6 times this year, and 50+ points 10 times. If that happens, then there could be only one spot at Homestead left up for grabs at Phoenix if any of the playoff drivers other than Truex or Kyle Busch wins Texas. 16. Mannoroth posted: 11.01.2017 - 7:51 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) 7. In our local guessing competition, I made it 3 in a row (guessed that Truex will win at Charlotte and Kansas and was really lucky at Talladega, because Keselowski won). And I could even make it 4 in a row, because I thought that Kyle Busch will win at Martinsville, but I never guess Kyle as a race winner, because I don't want to ruin his chances with my natural bad luck. Sounds strange, but when it's someone I like, I'm absolutely unable to guess it correctly... 17. Scott B posted: 11.01.2017 - 7:51 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) I'll go out on a limb and predict Ray Black, Jr. gets his best Cup finish to date this week. 18. John Lee Pettimore III posted: 11.01.2017 - 7:51 am Rate this comment: (2) (0) 8 - So, Dale Jr. wasn't supposed to "TRY" to win? Chase Elliott is not supposed to "TRY" to win? What are you talking about? You know all NASCAR drivers are "TRYING" to win, right? Dale Jr did win the Daytona 500, so I guess it worked out pretty good for him. 19. 95McDowellFan posted: 11.01.2017 - 7:51 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) StarCom had planned to attempt this race and Phoenix, but they are skipping this one and should run next weekend at Phoenix. 20. Anthony posted: 11.01.2017 - 8:20 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) But my point is: Compared to Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott has had more close calls to winning a race than Larson did before he won. That's my perspective is that Elliott has more bad luck than any other driver maybe more than what Jeff Gordon in his latter stage career, Dale, Sr. Struggling to win a 500 after 19 years before he won it in 1998, or Larson on his first 98 starts. But here's my next question: Does Sterling Martin's 279 career starts the most by any driver to win their first MENCS race? 21. Anthony posted: 11.01.2017 - 8:20 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) @10 & 18 I was referring to Dale, Sr. Not Junior. 22. Mile501 posted: 11.01.2017 - 8:46 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Following up on comment #15...I was just thinking, that if a playoff driver other than Truex or Kyle Busch had won both Martinsville and Texas, there would have been a possibility that we could have gone into Phoenix with all 4 championship slots already determined (unless a different playoff driver won at Phoenix). NASCAR surely wouldn't have been too happy if things had worked out that way! 23. JSPorts posted: 11.01.2017 - 9:18 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) I think Larson struggled more than Elliott did at the start. His first two season, Larson had 1 pole, 0 wins, 10 top 5s & 27 top 10s in 71 starts, with 168 laps led, an average finish of 16.8 and a best points finish of 17th. Elliott has 3 poles, 0 wins, 20 top 5s & 35 top 10s in 69 starts so far, with an average finish of 13.6, best points finish of 10th (though he's currently 8th) and 883 laps led. I agree that most of his lack of wins have been because of bad luck. If Larson had won, say, Fontana in his first year, people would still talk about him struggling because 2015 was bad for him. If Elliott had one win, people don't view him in that same way. 24. JeffGordon24FanForever posted: 11.01.2017 - 10:19 am Rate this comment: (2) (0) The record for most starts before the first win belongs to Michael Waltrip, at 463 starts. 25. Scott B posted: 11.01.2017 - 12:14 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) David Starr will be in the #66 at Texas. Carl Long was on the preliminary entry list as the driver. 26. Scott B posted: 11.01.2017 - 12:41 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) ^^^ Sorry, didn't see we'd already covered the Starr update at comment #3. 27. possum posted: 11.01.2017 - 5:29 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @20 - how could you forget Mikey? But to your point, I think most of what we're seeing here is difference of equipment. Take two talented but inexperienced drivers, put one in excellent equipment and one in average equipment, and the one in excellent equipment is going to have better finishes during the "learning curve" phase. Now, the guy I'd say is ahead of the curve is Blaney. Even as a de facto third Penske car, I don't think the Wood Bros equipment is any better than Ganassi's. But he got to the first win a year quicker. 28. TeamDCR fan posted: 11.01.2017 - 10:04 pm Rate this comment: (3) (0) And Hermie Sadlers first race since 2012 29. TeamDCR fan posted: 11.01.2017 - 10:05 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) The season of bizarre cup series returns continues with David Starr running his first race in 6 years. Cope: Atlanta was his first start since 2009 Long: Kansas was his first since 2006 Thompson, 25 years between starts and now David Starr. Still waiting for Norm Benning to make a cup return 30. John Lee Pettimore III posted: 11.01.2017 - 10:05 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Anthony - OK, Dale Sr. had nothing but bad luck in the 500 till he finally won it. Luck is a part of racing, a part of life really. As far as Chase Elliott - the only way to win is to run as hard as you can. I think that is what he is trying to do. 31. Jolly Mean Giant posted: 11.02.2017 - 12:00 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) "Still waiting for Norm Benning to make a cup return" I half-expect Bobby Gerhart to randomly attempt a plate race in 2018... 32. JR-TV posted: 11.03.2017 - 2:08 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) Daniel Hemric will practice and qualify the RCR #27 Chevrolet on Friday because of the birth of Paul Menard's second child. Menard will be at the track on Saturday. 33. JSPorts posted: 11.03.2017 - 4:31 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) I'll be curious to see how Hemric can do. Wouldn't surprise me if he gets more speed out of the car than Menard. 34. NewGuyOnTheBlock posted: 11.04.2017 - 5:40 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Kurt Busch on the pole with a lap of over 200 miles per hour! A new track record as well as the fastest qualifying speed ever recorded on a 1 1/2 mile track. Very impressive! 35. RaceFanX posted: 11.04.2017 - 5:44 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Kurt Busch claims his first pole position of 2017 as he becomes the first driver to take the pole at Texas with a lap averaging more than 200 miles per hour, setting a new track record with the fastest lap ever on any of NASCAR's 1.5-mile tracks. Holy cow. After the run Busch announced he and Stewart-Haas are negotiating for him to return to the team in 2018. The pole was a nice unexpected birthday gift for Busch's crew chief Tony Gibson. Daniel Hemric qualified Menard's car 21st. Playoff racer Chase Elliott shockingly didn't make a qualifying attempt after his Hooters #24 Chevrolet SS failed tech three times and they simply ran out of time to get out on track. Elliott wasn't alone as technical hangups also stopped several other cars from making attempts including Daytona 500 winners Matt Kenseth, Joey Logano, and Trevor Bayne. 36. Sector posted: 11.04.2017 - 9:59 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I just realized Jimmie Johnson is only 1,337 laps led away from the career mark 20,000 laps led altogether. To think around 5 years ago I was worried he'd catch Jeff Gordon in that aspect. Honestly? I would love for Jimmie to reach that so he can be part of that elite group of drivers to do so. It's either that or he joins Rusty Wallace in that next group, being so close yet so far (Rusty Wallace only has 19,951. Dang. At least Rusty has set the cutoff bar separating himself and those with lesser wins to the greats of Dale to Richard in not only wins but laps led). 37. Sector posted: 11.04.2017 - 10:05 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Also, didn't I mention that I wouldn't be surprise if Matt Kenseth hangs it up after the 2017 season during the Kansas race? Called it. This also means a strange case, Dale Earnhardt Jr and Matt Kenseth drove together as rivals in the then-Busch(now Xfinity) series and as rookies in 2000. They will depart as full time competitors in Cup together in 2017. Just as last year with Carl Edwards and Tony Stewart, after their amazing title fight in 2011. Seems Jeff Gordon's departure back in 2015 started a trend. What's next, 2018 Kevin Harvick and Kurt Busch surprisingly leaves after their 2001 rookie campaign together? Or Johnson/Newman? 38. RaceFanX posted: 11.04.2017 - 10:16 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) The "Big Hoss" TV is decorated with a big "88" this weekend in honor of Dale Earnhardt, Jr.'s last Cup race at Texas. Pretty fitting since this was the track where he scored both his first Busch/Xfinity and Cup series victories. 39. BuckshotJones posted: 11.05.2017 - 12:25 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Pretty surprised to see Matt without a ride for 2018, he's 45 but still pretty competitive, I thought he would at least get an offer in a decent car, maybe the 27. Menard has been terrible this season but I'm sure Kenseth would make this car run in the Top 10-12 easily and he could help the organization. 40. Scott B posted: 11.05.2017 - 7:08 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Fastest Chevy in qualifying was 2 mph off the pole speed. 41. Spen posted: 11.05.2017 - 11:02 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Sector: I'd worry more about Kyle Busch joining the 20000 lead lap club with way less wins than anyone else there. Buckshot: I expect that Childress remembers how well it worked out the last time he had a 46 year old driver. Granted, Matt is obviously better than Burton, but the clock is not on his side, unfortunately. 42. possum posted: 11.05.2017 - 11:15 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) @37 - I think it's just coincidence. You're always going to get a certain amount of that, given that drivers who come into Cup now-a-days tend to be pretty much the same age, so they reach retirement age together. #39 - I'd guess it's a money thing. Kenseth is a proven winner and past champion, and I don't think he'd be willing to take a huge pay cut just to stay on track. But every team owner in the sport is facing the problem that the sponsor dollars just aren't there like they used to be. That, as much as anything, is why Jones is in the #20 - I'm guessing his pay package is somewhere between 10% and 20% of what Kenseth got. I think we'll see more of this, where 40+ drivers with big salaries get pushed out for 20-somethings who'll race for comparative peanuts. Kahne going to the #95 is a bit of an exception, but he's still getting paid by Hendrick so there's no financial hit, and he's young enough to hope for a Kurt Busch scenario, where he does a year in purgatory and comes back to a top ride the year after. 43. Tide1732 posted: 11.05.2017 - 11:18 am Rate this comment: (0) (1) Buckshot Jones is a Analyst? 44. Sam posted: 11.05.2017 - 11:30 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) @43 no he isn't he's in real estate in Georgia 45. Scott B posted: 11.05.2017 - 12:11 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) #42- NASCAR may not have a spending cap, but each owner will have a self-imposed limit. It's going to be rare to see drivers in their late 40's or beyond hold onto competitive rides in Cup in the next decade. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. could have been a exception due to his fan base and likely ability to continue to draw sponsors, had he not retired on his own due to health concerns and family time. 46. Altracing posted: 11.05.2017 - 12:30 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) This probably won't be a popular choice but based off this weekend I'm gonna have to go with Hamlin to win 47. Sector posted: 11.05.2017 - 1:28 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "Sector: I'd worry more about Kyle Busch joining the 20000 lead lap club with way less wins than anyone else there." I mean, I think Kyle will end up in the 60-69 wins, but no way he catches Dale Earnhardt. 48. Altracing posted: 11.05.2017 - 2:19 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) We're green at Texas 49. Mannoroth posted: 11.05.2017 - 2:20 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 47. Never say never or no way - he can easily have some really good seasons with 5+ wins and if he keeps it that way, he can still catch up to him. However, I still think he'll end up between 60-70 wins just like you think. Such a good season like this doesn't have to come next year or in a future years... 50. Altracing posted: 11.05.2017 - 2:20 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Kyle Busch and Keselowski on pit road with flat tires after contact on the first lap 51. Altracing posted: 11.05.2017 - 2:21 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Hamlin took the lead on the start. Kyle is now two laps down Keselowski is one lap down 52. Altracing posted: 11.05.2017 - 2:42 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Larson to the lead 53. Altracing posted: 11.05.2017 - 2:45 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Truex is on pit road. Green flag pit stops may be starting 54. Altracing posted: 11.05.2017 - 2:50 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Pit stops have cycled through Larson continues to lead 55. Altracing posted: 11.05.2017 - 2:53 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Johnson is on pit road with a vibration 56. Altracing posted: 11.05.2017 - 2:54 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Johnson is now two laps down in 30th. Harvick to the lead 57. Altracing posted: 11.05.2017 - 3:02 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Harvick wins stage 1 58. Altracing posted: 11.05.2017 - 3:06 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Hamlin wins the race off pit road to regain the lead 59. Altracing posted: 11.05.2017 - 3:11 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Harvick quickly back to the lead 60. Altracing posted: 11.05.2017 - 3:11 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Suarez and Kahne spin caution is out 61. Altracing posted: 11.05.2017 - 3:12 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Keselowski will get the free pass 62. Altracing posted: 11.05.2017 - 3:20 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Larson back to the lead 63. Altracing posted: 11.05.2017 - 3:36 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Johnson is now 3 laps down 64. Greg24ChaseFan posted: 11.05.2017 - 3:37 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Chase, once again the only HMS car worth a damn. 65. RaceFanX posted: 11.05.2017 - 3:40 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Larson is cooking today. 66. Altracing posted: 11.05.2017 - 3:41 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Green flag pit stops starting again 67. Altracing posted: 11.05.2017 - 3:42 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Logano too fast entering pit road 68. Altracing posted: 11.05.2017 - 3:44 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Some teams taking two tires on their pit stops 69. RaceFanX posted: 11.05.2017 - 3:50 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Dale Earnhardt, Jr. received a unique gift during this race weekend as the Texas Motor Speedway staff presented him with the top first-place position section of its old dismantled scoring pylon; the same one that was in use at this track when the driver then known as "Little E" won his first Cup race here in 2000. They also presented him with a stroller themed to look like a miniature mid-1950s Chevrolet Bel Air in recognition that he and his wife are now expecting their first child. While they gave Jeff Gordon a couple of ponies when he retired this time they decided to present a full-grown horse to Earnhardt (Eddie Gossage even riding it into the media center during the ceremony) although he won't be keeping it; the equine will be donated in Earnhardt's name to the Victory Therapy Center, a horse ranch that does therapy to help veterans, first responders, and the disabled. Junebug has run a number of superhero themed paint jobs over the years, famously winning in a Batman car at M.I.S. in 2012 while promoting the release of the movie "The Dark Knight Rises." Today he has another Batman-themed paint scheme to promote the upcoming release of the live-action "Justice League" movie. 70. RaceFanX posted: 11.05.2017 - 3:51 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Texas Motor Speedway further marked Junior's retirement at this race through its concession stands, humorously selling soft pretzels shaped like his famous #88 car number. 71. Altracing posted: 11.05.2017 - 3:51 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Pit stops have cycled through again Larson still leads 72. Altracing posted: 11.05.2017 - 3:55 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Larson wins stage 2 73. Altracing posted: 11.05.2017 - 4:01 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Kenseth stays out and will be the new leader. Truex and Jones took two tires during their pit stops 74. Greg24ChaseFan posted: 11.05.2017 - 4:01 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 48 team has seemingly just quit today. 75. Altracing posted: 11.05.2017 - 4:07 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Cassill spins out caution is out 76. Altracing posted: 11.05.2017 - 4:08 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Kyle Busch will get the free pass. 77. Altracing posted: 11.05.2017 - 4:15 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Truex to the lead 78. Altracing posted: 11.05.2017 - 4:28 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Bowyer in the garage for an oil leak 79. Altracing posted: 11.05.2017 - 4:35 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Green flag pit stops starting again 80. Altracing posted: 11.05.2017 - 4:39 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Kurt Busch back on pit road with a loose wheel. McDowell spins caution is out 81. Altracing posted: 11.05.2017 - 4:40 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Kyle Busch and Logano had not pitted yet 82. Altracing posted: 11.05.2017 - 4:43 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Kyle and Logano pit Truex regains the lead 83. Altracing posted: 11.05.2017 - 4:47 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Kenseth back to the lead 84. Altracing posted: 11.05.2017 - 4:48 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Ray Black Jr spins caution is out 85. Altracing posted: 11.05.2017 - 4:49 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Few drivers on pit road led by Logano 86. RaceFanX posted: 11.05.2017 - 4:49 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Ray Black, Jr. goes for a spin to bring out caution number six. He got his old Truck and Nationwide/Xfinity sponsor to come aboard to sponsor his #51 Chevrolet today as he makes his second career Cup start. 87. Altracing posted: 11.05.2017 - 4:52 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Dale Jr's in the garage 88. Altracing posted: 11.05.2017 - 4:53 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Some sort of issue with the left front hub for Junior 89. RaceFanX posted: 11.05.2017 - 4:53 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) The Justice League #88 doesn't loo so heroic right now; he's got a right front hub issue (it burned up) that has in the garage for repairs. The team is trying to fix his Chevrolet so he can get back out on the track. 90. Altracing posted: 11.05.2017 - 4:54 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Truex back to the lead 91. Altracing posted: 11.05.2017 - 5:06 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Ray Black Jr and Jeffrey Earnhardt spin caution is out 92. RaceFanX posted: 11.05.2017 - 5:07 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Quickly becoming a rough day for Ray Black, Jr...and yet despite two spins I don't think he's put a scratch on the #51 Chevy yet. 93. Altracing posted: 11.05.2017 - 5:09 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Hamlin takes two tires and will be the leader again. Logano and Kahne also took two tires 94. Altracing posted: 11.05.2017 - 5:09 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Kurt Busch will get the free pass 95. Altracing posted: 11.05.2017 - 5:14 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Kyle Busch flat left rear tire 96. RaceFanX posted: 11.05.2017 - 5:14 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Kyle Busch with a flat and he has to pit. He's out of contention for today. 97. Altracing posted: 11.05.2017 - 5:17 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Larson crashes hard and is on fire 98. RaceFanX posted: 11.05.2017 - 5:17 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Kyle Larson crashes and the Credit One #42 is on fire! 99. RaceFanX posted: 11.05.2017 - 5:19 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Larson is out of the car as the safety crew extinguishes his burning Chevrolet. He hit the wall of turn 4 then crashed hard in turn 1 with the car igniting as he slid along the wall in turn 2. 100. Altracing posted: 11.05.2017 - 5:19 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Red flag is now out to clean up from the Larson wreck 101. Greg24ChaseFan posted: 11.05.2017 - 5:19 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) ANyone but the 11. Cmon! 102. RaceFanX posted: 11.05.2017 - 5:20 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Looks like the #42 blew a tire to set all that off. Red flag comes out for cleanup work. 103. Scott25 posted: 11.05.2017 - 5:22 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Is there a stat comparing starts and amount of times catching on fire? I believe Larson has the highest ratio of fire in the modern era, at least. Newman in the 12 had quite a few instances of fire as well, though. 104. Altracing posted: 11.05.2017 - 5:31 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Red flag has been lifted 105. Altracing posted: 11.05.2017 - 5:32 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Back of the field pits 106. Altracing posted: 11.05.2017 - 5:37 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Truex back to the lead 107. RaceFanX posted: 11.05.2017 - 5:46 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) A few of the teams actually have their Phoenix cars here at this race to load up and take directly to the next race without having to truck back to Charlotte. 108. RaceFanX posted: 11.05.2017 - 5:48 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) It's a two-horse race with 23 to go. Martin Truex, Jr. is out front with Kevin Harvick in pursuit. Can he catch him? 109. RaceFanX posted: 11.05.2017 - 5:50 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Harvick is on him now. 110. Altracing posted: 11.05.2017 - 5:55 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Harvick to the lead with 9 to go 111. RaceFanX posted: 11.05.2017 - 5:55 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Side-by-side with 10 to go and Harvick makes the pass on the outside down the backstretch! 112. RaceFanX posted: 11.05.2017 - 5:55 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) The #4 is out front and pulling away. 113. Altracing posted: 11.05.2017 - 5:58 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) McMurray might be blowing up 114. Raheem posted: 11.05.2017 - 5:58 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I hope Harvick wins. (I never thought I would ever say that!) 115. Altracing posted: 11.05.2017 - 6:00 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Harvick gets his first win at Texas and locks himself into the final 4. Truex finishes second and locks himself into the final 4 as well 116. RaceFanX posted: 11.05.2017 - 6:01 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Kevin Harvick pulls it off. The #4 Mobil 1 Ford wins and the 2014 champion will have a shot at his second title come Homestead. He finished twice at Texas before but this is his first win at this track. 117. RaceFanX posted: 11.05.2017 - 6:03 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) This is Harvick's second win in a Ford and first on an oval. His prior Cup win in the Fusion was at Sonoma earlier this year. 118. Raheem posted: 11.05.2017 - 6:08 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) So Pocono and Kentucky are the only tracks where Harvick hasn't won a Cup race? 119. Sector posted: 11.05.2017 - 6:10 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) "So Pocono and Kentucky are the only tracks where Harvick hasn't won a Cup race?" Yes, along with Rockingham so he can't perfect that list unfortunately. 120. Sector posted: 11.05.2017 - 6:11 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Who would have thought it after 2011, that Kevin Harvick AND Kyle Busch has a shot at their second championship, respectfully, 6 years later? (And Brad Keselowski, should he survive Phoenix). 121. racefangurl posted: 11.05.2017 - 6:37 pm Rate this comment: (1) (4) Looked a little Toyota flavored at one point. The top 2 were Toyotas. Rice burners, as some people call them. 122. NewGuyOnTheBlock posted: 11.05.2017 - 7:59 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) A good race with few incidents other than Larson's crash. Harvick's charge to the front in the closing laps was entertaining as hell to watch. 123. mowman posted: 11.05.2017 - 8:05 pm Rate this comment: (0) (2) 120 comments on here and 49 of them were by the same person on here. 124. Corey posted: 11.05.2017 - 8:09 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) In case anyone is wondering. The only person who can pass Truex on points is Keselowski. However, in order to do that, Keselowski would need to win the race and Truex finish dead last. A second place won't be enough. Keselowski would earn his way with the win giving the lone point spot to Truex. A fitting reward for a man who racked up a boatload of playoff points this year. 125. Nucl3ar Wa4le posted: 11.05.2017 - 8:13 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Sponsor updates #1 - Cessna / Textron Off-Road #3 - Dow / Winter in PyeongChang #17 - Loctite / Fastenal #19 - Arris High-Speed Modems #37 - Bush's Chili Beans / Tide / Clorox #47 - Kroger ClickList / Stouffer's / Suave Men 126. Nascar Lead Lap Points posted: 11.05.2017 - 10:45 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Harvick has Pocono and Kentucky left to win at now. He won't win at every track in his career, he never won at Rockingham in 7 starts. His best finish was 13th in 2004 127. John Lee Pettimore III posted: 11.05.2017 - 11:02 pm Rate this comment: (5) (0) 123 - Okay, so what. There are no rules or laws limiting the number of times you can comment on here. Don't like it, don't look at it on here. It's called freedom of speech on here. 128. Kevin posted: 11.05.2017 - 11:18 pm Rate this comment: (4) (1) For the second time in the last four weeks, Altracing does a great job keeping people who aren't watching the race updated. If you don't like it, find somewhere else to go and get your information. It's ridiculous that a guy who is simply trying to keep people updated is getting bashed. 129. JSPorts posted: 11.05.2017 - 11:53 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Final 4 prediction: Martin Truex, Jr., Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski Champion: Kevin Harvick 130. JSPorts posted: 11.06.2017 - 12:08 am Rate this comment: (2) (1) @128 I agree. Thank you Altracing for helping people keep up-to-date on the race when they can't see or hear it on TV or radio. 131. Sector posted: 11.06.2017 - 1:50 am Rate this comment: (2) (1) Ages ago I used to frequent a forum that did play-by-play updates for each of the three national series, and I did play-by-plays as a moderator there. This was around 13-14 years ago, gosh it seem like another life time now. Regardless, it's a lot of work to pay attention to the broadcast, type as it goes on and not lose track of it. Especially when it doesn't feel like anyone's paying attention. Props to Altracing for committing to it. On the side note, Kevin Harvick is returning to form. Homestead will be interesting now. If only Kyle Larson was the fourth, this would be the best final four to date and a wild Homestead race to come! 132. Mannoroth posted: 11.06.2017 - 4:21 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Kevin Harvick scored his 97th NASCAR win and broke a tie with Mark Martin, who also had 96 NASCAR wins. Just 3 wins to go and Harvick will be the 4th driver that scored 100 NASCAR wins. And, like many of your already mentioned, has now only 2 track left to win at (Pocono & Kentucky). Actually 3, because Charlotte Roval will make its debut next season... 133. Mannoroth posted: 11.06.2017 - 6:59 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) Well, I bet NASCAR is not too happy that 3 drivers made it to Homestead before the final race of this round... Kyle and Kevin are there thanks to their wins, MTJ made it on points and if Keselowski runs like today and Blaney, Hamlin, Elliott or Johnson don't win, he will do it as well. No drama = we have to change the rules to make some drama. Hopefully not... 134. Altracing posted: 11.06.2017 - 7:57 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) Thank you for those comments John Lee, Kevin, JSport and Sector and you're welcome 135. Greg24ChaseFan posted: 11.06.2017 - 8:45 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Really thought the 24 would be stronger yesterday. Just didn't quite have it. One more shot at Phoniex. 136. possum posted: 11.06.2017 - 8:52 am Rate this comment: (3) (0) @123 - a year from now when we're trying to remember how this race played out, we'll be glad for the detail in Altracing's posts. Don't forget, this site is called Racing Reference for a purpose. 137. possum posted: 11.06.2017 - 8:59 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) @107 - that used to be a common thing. Many of the top teams have two transporters, so one can haul out the Phoenix car while the other takes the Texas car back to Charlotte, but I think as sponsor dollars continue to decline we'll see more teams drop back to one transporter, and take two cars for the west coast tracks. Note that NASCAR now groups the Vegas/Phoenix/Fontana and Et Worth/Phoenix races so it's possible to stay out west that way (the other races, Ft Worth in the spring and Sonoma, usually have an open week after to make travel easier). 138. George posted: 11.06.2017 - 9:01 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) IMO the poster who "complained" about so many in-race posts coming from just one person was not ragging on that person, but was merely pointing out that pretty much nobody else besides Altracing and RacefanX saw fit to comment at all. As the expected level of excitement (or lack thereof) in Cup races declines and approaches that of Xfinity & Truck races, it was probably inevitable that interest in terms of commenters on this site would decline as well, so I appreciate those who make the effort to stick with it. 139. JSPorts posted: 11.06.2017 - 9:26 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) Most of the posters on this site left when the comment section began to fill up with some of the trolls who have been on here recently. The forum page had 572 comments on the race, so I don't think it has anything to do with the excitement of the race. 140. Corey posted: 11.06.2017 - 11:19 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) @133. I wouldn't call the drama out of it entirely yet. With stage points being awarded things are actually closer then they appear. With Keselowski's issues, Hamlin made up 15 points on him, despite finishing only 2 spots higher. Should Hamlin (or even Blaney) gain a chunk of stage points on Keselowski, then the finish may still have the drama NASCAR wants. 141. Damon posted: 11.06.2017 - 12:02 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "On the side note, Kevin Harvick is returning to form. Homestead will be interesting now." That's really the only takeaway from this race for me. Harvick and the 4 team found their mojo at the right time and could legimately challenge the 18/78 at Homstead in 2 weeks. 142. TeamDCR fan posted: 11.06.2017 - 12:25 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I wonder if the 66 will show in Phoenix since they have one wrecked car from Martinsville, and evidently David Starr smashed the front end in by ramming into another car. And with MBM being so small, i would assume it would be difficult to get a car fixed quickly given the lack of employees. 143. JSPorts posted: 11.06.2017 - 12:45 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) They aren't entered at Phoenix. Not surprising with the issues you just mentioned, plus the logistics of it. Sounds like most of the big teams brought 2 haulers for their Cup cars to Texas to go on to Phoenix after. Doubt they have that many haulers, plus 2 damaged cars now. 144. George posted: 11.06.2017 - 1:08 pm Rate this comment: (6) (5) @139 Seriously? There were snowflakes who couldn't handle posters with a different opinion than theirs so they ran off to some private echo chamber? What a hoot, but I suppose not overly surprising these days. They're probably the same ones who burst into tears if they got a thumbs down and demanded that feature be removed from the site. Besides, how many trolls are even here anymore? Danica10Fan is long gone as far as I can tell, there's Damon and Mannoroth who won't shut up until all of us share their creepy obsession with their favorite drivers, Tide for comic relief, and that one guy who claims every race is rigged. I don't agree with 90% of what they post, but how hard is it to ignore them and how thin-skinned does someone have to be to let a few comments ruin their day? I still think that since a decent race at any level can't be *anticipated* anymore -- sure, Martinsville eventually turned out to have fireworks -- interest across the board is still trending down, as has been more than well-documented. 145. JSPorts posted: 11.06.2017 - 2:10 pm Rate this comment: (1) (1) The race conversation is much better on the forum. Doesn't make anybody thin-skinned, it just means they chose to use the place where they didn't have to hear that stuff all day. 146. Stewart14Rocks posted: 11.06.2017 - 5:08 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Honestly Harvick has been alot faster then you'd think. He could easily have 4-5 wins if things went there way. 147. JSPorts posted: 11.06.2017 - 5:17 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) The amount of laps Harvick has led suggest 2-3 wins through the first 34 races. Other projected win totals based on laps led (laps led/total laps x races): Martin Truex, Jr. & Kyle Busch - 7 Kyle Larson - 4 Kevin Harvick & Brad Keselowski - 3 Chase Elliott & Denny Hamlin - 2 Joey Logano, Matt Kenseth, Erik Jones, Ryan Blaney & Jimmie Johnson - 1 148. Damon posted: 11.06.2017 - 6:12 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Disagree @146, with the possible exception of Atlanta, the 4 team has achieved what they should've wins-wise. Remember, this is the same team that led just 53 laps in the final 14 races before the playoffs. 149. Sean posted: 11.06.2017 - 7:15 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Laps led is biased toward drivers who lead on short tracks. I prefer using the statistic I invented, cumulative races led, which is the percent of race led, and for 2017, that statistic (expected wins adjusted based on race length) would run as follows: Martin Truex, Jr. - 7.4057 Kyle Busch - 6.9080 Kyle Larson - 3.5555 Brad Keselowski - 2.9047 Kevin Harvick - 2.8995 Denny Hamlin - 1.7846 Chase Elliott - 1.6437 Joey Logano - 1.1987 Matt Kenseth - 1.1081 Ryan Blaney - 1.0947 Erik Jones - 0.8173 Jimmie Johnson - 0.6423 Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. - 0.3094 Kasey Kahne - 0.2220 Ryan Newman - 0.1346 Jamie McMurray - 0.0946 Kurt Busch - 0.0570 Austin Dillon - 0.0555 Having said that, all my data still rounded to yours so I guess the number of laps in each Cup race doesn't diverge enough to make a big difference. 150. 1995z71 posted: 11.06.2017 - 10:41 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) It's not often you see a 2-team start at the last 2 spots and finish there thats not a start and park. Congrats BK Racing 151. possum posted: 11.07.2017 - 5:17 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @149 - I could argue laps led is biased towards drivers who lead on mile-and-a-half tracks, because of the tendency on those tracks for long green flag runs with the same car in front (in the clean air) for the entire run. But I think if you could somehow correct for that, you'd end up with much the same result. It's interesting tho, looking at your numbers, how much they show up the "fluky" wins - plate tracks for Stenhouse & Kurt Busch, Dillon's fuel mileage gamble...these show up as guys who weren't contending for wins in the normal run of things. 152. Damon posted: 11.07.2017 - 6:12 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 151, Ryan Newman at Phoenix earlier this year as well 153. JSPorts posted: 11.07.2017 - 6:25 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) There really is a huge disparity in laps led this year between Jimmie Johnson's 217 (12th-most) and Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.'s 56 (13th-most). I think this is the dividing line between the cars that have had winning speed at non-plate tracks and those that haven't. As for Harvick, I'd rather see Truex win the title, but Kevin kind of got cheated in 2010 and then also in 2015 & 2016, so I wouldn't mind seeing him win the title. 154. Damon posted: 11.07.2017 - 6:29 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) If you want to be transparent about it, Harvick was lucky he didn't get eliminated at Talladega in 2015 155. JSPorts posted: 11.07.2017 - 6:58 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I'm not talking about that obviously...I'm talking about the fact that he scored the most points in each of those seasons and didn't win the title because of gimmicky points systems. 156. Sector posted: 11.07.2017 - 10:40 pm Rate this comment: (1) (1) "As for Harvick, I'd rather see Truex win the title, but Kevin kind of got cheated in 2010 and then also in 2015 & 2016, so I wouldn't mind seeing him win the title." Honestly, any of the three I'd be okay with, I'd like to see Truex because he's been the best hands down. Kevin Harvick is most definitely a weaker version of being the all time greats alongside the 3 time champs in my opinion. He's definitely a unique case since his "freaky fast" domination with SHR. "If you want to be transparent about it, Harvick was lucky he didn't get eliminated at Talladega in 2015" Oh please. 157. JSPorts posted: 11.07.2017 - 10:46 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Of the 4 drivers currently in the final 4 picture, the order I'd like to see them win is Truex, Keselowski, Harvick then Busch. However, the order from most to least deserving is Truex, Busch, Harvick, then Keselowski based solely on this season. I'll be pulling for Truex regardless, but I bet Busch will win. 158. Evan posted: 11.07.2017 - 11:31 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) To me the most deserving is Truex because his Furniture Row team has been the best all year and it would be a tragedy if he did all that work and earned all those stage points to have nothing to show for it, the main thing for Truex is to close the deal. But at Texas it looks like their grip on things is beginning to loosen and his results at Homestead shows that the track has not been too kind to him, how they prepare for the next two weeks is crucial. Harvick has the most to gain and its all out there in front of him to take and he can swoop in there and take it right out from under those Toyotas. I wouldn't be surprised to see Harvick in the fight at Phoenix and at Homestead. Of course, we can't dismiss Kyle Busch who has had fast cars all year and has been able to win but has also had his fair share of wins slip through his fingers. I wouldn't be surprised to see Kyle Busch in the hunt and him winning the race and the championship. 159. Sector posted: 11.08.2017 - 1:10 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) "I wouldn't be surprised to see Kyle Busch in the hunt and him winning the race and the championship." Here's my prediction. Martin Truex Jr will be collected similar to Carl Edwards in 2016 after a dominate performance, then we'll have a 2015 deja vu with Kyle Busch vs Kevin Harvick with the fourth playoff driver (Brad Keselowski, Denny Hamlin or any of the other ones) sneaky in from behind in third but never quite had that speed. 160. cautionlitenews posted: 12.05.2017 - 2:42 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) On lap 157, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. led the final lap of his career. 161. Rich posted: 09.25.2020 - 11:11 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Rick Allen, Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte and Dale Jarrett were the commentators. Marty Snider, Dave Burns and Kelli Stavast were the pit road reporters. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *Post a comment:* Your comment may not appear immediately - all comments must be approved by the moderator. Name: Comment: