As NASCAR heads into the seasons second half, let’s look at
some of the drivers and the direction they are trending.
Trending up:
Kyle Busch - Kyle may
be the sports next superstar. The
defending Sprint Cup Champion already has three wins this seasons and has 9 top
ten finishes in his 12 starts. Week
after week the cornerstone of Joe Gibbs Racing is racing at or near the
front. NASCAR fans should get use to
this as there is no letup in sight.
Kevin Harvick - After
a week of persistent rumors of Harvick moving from the Stewart-Haas team he
announced late in the week that he has signed an extension to stay in the #4
car for an additional five years. That’s
good news for his fans and even better news for Stewart-Haas Racing. Now if he could just solve those pit stop
woes, watch out.
Carl Edwards – Another Joe Gibbs owned car who seemingly
runs up front every week. Carl’s 2 wins
and 8 top tens puts him among the series’ leaders. The Joe Gibbs team has been dominant this
season and Edwards is a big reason why.
I’m guessing we’ll see a few more celebratory back flips in our future.
Trending down:
Danica Patrick – Danica currently sits 23rd in
points and seems to be stuck there. Her
good days are now measured by if she finishes on the lead lap. Despite the success of her Stewart-Haas
teammates, Kurt Busch and Kevin Harvick, Patrick has not shown any potential to
turn her season and her career around.
Ryan Newman – We hardly ever notice Newman on the track
these days. That’s usually bad news for
a race driver. Out of the 12 races this
season, only 7 times has Newman finished on the lead lap. His average finish of 17 has to be a major
disappointment to him and the Richard Childress Racing team.
Kasey Kahne – Kahne, driving for the deep pocketed Hendrick
Motor Sports team has been a major disappointment. Although he’s shown some signs of late of
turning his season around his average finish of over 17 has to be causing some
concern. With teammates Johnson,
Earnhardt and the rookie Chase Elliott all showing flashes of brilliance, his
team flounders.
Kyle Larson – This young man might just be the most
entertaining driver to watch in the series.
He reminds me of a young Kyle Busch without the temperament. There are few drivers worth the price of
admission alone. He may be one of
them. What a future.
Chase Elliott – The racing at Dover as he and Larson were
side by side for 20 laps may have been the most exciting at that track we’ve
seen in years. He followed that up with
some tremendous racing in the Sprint Showdown.
The Larson/Elliott duels may become a fixture in NASCAR’s future.
Kurt Busch – Quietly the Stewart-Haas driver has crept his
way into the top portion of the Chase
point standings. Kurt has 10 top ten finishes in the seasons
12 races to sit 3rd in points.
The most consistent driver in the series thus far. A legitimate threat for this seasons Chase
Championship. Soon he’ll start visiting
victory lane.
Perhaps the greatest racing day in all of racing is set for
Sunday. Wake early and grab your coffee
for the F1 series race, he Monaco Grand Prix.
Then grab a sandwich and enjoy the Indianapolis 500. Grab a short nap and dinner then sit down for
NASCAR’s longest race, The Coco Cola 600 from Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Join Frank, Taylor and the gang of the Morning Show on WTBQ
at 845 am Monday as we break it all down for you.
