First, please let me thank all of my regular readers for all the e-mails I have received over the past 24 hours expressing condolences concerning the death of my uncle Thursday afternoon. I lost my father at the very tender age of two in and, very early in my life, my Uncle Woody was my surrogate father. For nearly 60 years, if I needed advice it was my Uncle Woody I turned to. At nearly 87 years, he lived a very long and fruitful life but I will think fondly of him every day the rest of my life.
After we completed the funeral arrangements Thursday afternoon, I decided that I needed to be alone to reflect and relieve the stress of the past 5 days. I decided that the best therapy would to take a shot at writing a short column for this week's race. So hear it goes….
Although I did not get a chance to watch last Sunday's race, I was able to listen to it while driving from NC to Florida Sunday afternoon. Very frankly, I was not overly surprised that “ Jr. ” won the race, especially since I predicted that outcome last week. Tony Stewart , my 2nd pick last week, threatened to lap everyone for the first 1/3 rd of the race before slipping somewhat at the end to finish 7th.
This weekend it's “ The Lady in Black ,” Darlington Motor Speeedway , which is now classified as a short track (1.25 miles), although in the early days of NASCAR it was the 1 st of the “super speedways.” Normally I would recommend that this would be a week to stick with the veterans but with the changes installed at Darlington I am not sure we shouldn't find a new name for the NASCAR classic. The change I am referring to is the installation of the SAFER walls.
The key word in the race Sunday will be “adapt.” Those teams that adapt the best will have the greatest chance at taking home the checkered flag. Personally, I believe the new SAFER walls, which extend the walls out some 30 inches into the old racing groove, will dramatically change the track, negating the veteran drivers experience. If my observations are correct my favorite drivers are the drivers I think will adapt the best.
At the top of that list I would have to put Jeff Gordon , Tony Stewart and Matt Kenseth .
Last week I pointed out that, at least in my opinion, Jeff Gordon and the #24 DuPont Chevy were not quite functioning on 8 cylinders. Even if that is the case, Gordon has been able to maintain 5th place in the Nextel Points Standings and if history tells us anything, the #24 team is probably the best team in NASCAR at keeping up with changes on the track during a race. They will probably need all those skills this Sunday.
Stewart and the # 20 Home Depot Chevy have, at least so far this year, avoided some of the early mistakes and DNFs that plagued the team in previous years, hence their #2 ranking in the overall standings. Additionally, Stewart is a “driver's driver” who I believe will adapt positively to the changes at “ The Rock ” and the main reason I make him one of my top three drivers for Sunday.
Speaking about adapting, Matt Kenseth and #17 Dewalt Ford have almost rewritten the definition of the word “adapt.” How many times have you seen the #17 team suffer some kind of misfortune during a race only to work at correcting it and end up finishing in the Top 5 or Top 10. A perfect example of that skill was Matt's 6th place finish last Sunday after being a lap down earlier.
Well that's about all the time I have this week so on to the stats. I hope you enjoy the race Sunday.
Darlington Driver Averages
|
# of |
Points |
|
Points/ |
Driver |
Races |
Average |
Cost |
$$$ |
Ryan Newman |
4 |
140.00 |
1.875 |
7.47 |
Jeff Gordon |
22 |
138.55 |
1.975 |
7.01 |
Jeff Burton |
20 |
138.25 |
1.430 |
9.67 |
Jimmie Johnson |
4 |
136.25 |
2.020 |
6.75 |
Gregg Biffle |
2 |
133.00 |
1.300 |
10.23 |
Dale Jarrett |
24 |
132.33 |
1.195 |
11.07 |
Tony Stewart |
10 |
131.30 |
1.955 |
6.72 |
Jamie McMurray |
2 |
131.00 |
1.395 |
9.39 |
Mark Martin |
24 |
128.25 |
1.565 |
8.19 |
Bobby Labonte |
22 |
121.73 |
1.695 |
7.18 |
Ricky Rudd |
24 |
118.29 |
1.155 |
10.24 |
Rusty Wallace |
24 |
118.08 |
1.615 |
7.31 |
Kevin Harvick |
6 |
116.83 |
2.125 |
5.50 |
Elliot Sadler |
10 |
116.50 |
1.385 |
8.41 |
Ward Burton |
20 |
116.50 |
1.220 |
9.55 |
Ken Schrader |
24 |
113.13 |
0.395 |
28.64 |
Terry Labonte |
24 |
112.13 |
1.545 |
7.26 |
Jeremy Mayfield |
19 |
111.37 |
1.135 |
9.81 |
Sterling Marlin |
24 |
110.71 |
1.305 |
8.48 |
Dale Earnhardt, Jr. |
8 |
109.88 |
2.215 |
4.96 |
Kurt Bush |
6 |
108.00 |
1.980 |
5.45 |
Kevin Lepage |
8 |
105.75 |
0.315 |
33.57 |
Matt Kenseth |
9 |
103.67 |
2.035 |
5.09 |
Michael Waltrip |
24 |
97.33 |
1.500 |
6.49 |
Kyle Petty |
23 |
96.61 |
0.385 |
25.09 |
Jeff Green |
7 |
94.00 |
0.300 |
31.33 |
Ricky Craven |
13 |
92.46 |
1.190 |
7.77 |
Joe Nemechek |
18 |
85.61 |
1.055 |
8.11 |
Robby Gordon |
8 |
81.13 |
1.395 |
5.82 |
Casey Mears |
2 |
59.50 |
0.475 |
12.53 |
Brendan Gaughan |
0 |
0.00 |
0.425 |
0.00 |
Brian Vickers |
0 |
0.00 |
0.360 |
0.00 |
Johnny Sauter |
0 |
0.00 |
0.440 |
0.00 |
Kasey Kahne |
0 |
0.00 |
0.445 |
0.00 |
Scott Riggs |
0 |
0.00 |
0.305 |
0.00 |
Scott Wimmer |
0 |
0.00 |
0.485 |
0.00 |
Darlington Driver Results
|
|
|
|
$$/Point |
|
Top |
Top |
Top |
Top 5s |
Top 10s |
Top 20s |
|
Average |
Races |
Cost |
Rating |
Wins |
5s |
10s |
20s |
% |
% |
% |
| Ryan Newman |
140.00 |
4 |
1.875 |
7.47 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
0.50 |
0.50 |
0.75 |
| Jeff Gordon |
138.55 |
22 |
1.975 |
7.02 |
6 |
11 |
14 |
15 |
0.27 |
0.64 |
0.68 |
| Jeff Burton |
138.25 |
20 |
1.430 |
9.67 |
2 |
8 |
12 |
18 |
0.10 |
0.60 |
0.90 |
| J Johnson |
136.25 |
4 |
2.020 |
6.75 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
0.00 |
0.75 |
0.75 |
| Gregg Biffle |
133.00 |
2 |
1.300 |
10.23 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
0.00 |
0.50 |
1.00 |
| Dale Jarrett |
132.33 |
24 |
1.195 |
11.07 |
3 |
10 |
12 |
17 |
0.13 |
0.50 |
0.71 |
| Tony Stewart |
131.30 |
10 |
1.955 |
6.72 |
0 |
2 |
6 |
9 |
0.00 |
0.60 |
0.90 |
| J McMurray |
131.00 |
2 |
1.395 |
9.39 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0.00 |
0.50 |
0.50 |
| Mark Martin |
128.25 |
24 |
1.565 |
8.19 |
1 |
9 |
13 |
16 |
0.04 |
0.54 |
0.67 |
| Bobby Labonte |
121.73 |
22 |
1.695 |
7.18 |
1 |
4 |
9 |
16 |
0.05 |
0.41 |
0.73 |
| Ricky Rudd |
118.29 |
24 |
1.155 |
10.24 |
0 |
3 |
11 |
17 |
0.13 |
0.46 |
0.71 |
| Rusty Wallace |
118.08 |
24 |
1.615 |
7.31 |
0 |
5 |
12 |
15 |
0.21 |
0.50 |
0.63 |
| Kevin Harvick |
116.83 |
6 |
2.125 |
5.50 |
0 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
0.33 |
0.50 |
0.67 |
| Elliot Sadler |
116.50 |
10 |
1.385 |
8.41 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
9 |
0.00 |
0.30 |
0.90 |
| Ward Burton |
116.50 |
20 |
1.220 |
9.55 |
2 |
4 |
7 |
12 |
0.10 |
0.35 |
0.60 |
| Ken Schrader |
113.13 |
24 |
0.395 |
28.64 |
0 |
2 |
8 |
16 |
0.08 |
0.33 |
0.67 |
| Terry Labonte |
112.13 |
24 |
1.545 |
7.26 |
1 |
2 |
7 |
15 |
0.04 |
0.29 |
0.63 |
| J Mayfield |
111.37 |
19 |
1.135 |
9.81 |
0 |
5 |
6 |
12 |
0.00 |
0.32 |
0.63 |
| Sterling Marlin |
110.71 |
24 |
1.305 |
8.48 |
2 |
5 |
8 |
13 |
0.08 |
0.33 |
0.54 |
| D Earnhardt Jr. |
109.88 |
8 |
2.215 |
4.96 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
5 |
0.00 |
0.25 |
0.63 |
| Kurt Bush |
108.00 |
6 |
1.980 |
5.45 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
0.17 |
0.33 |
0.50 |
| Kevin Lepage |
105.75 |
8 |
0.315 |
33.57 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
4 |
0.13 |
0.38 |
0.50 |
| Matt Kenseth |
103.67 |
9 |
2.035 |
5.09 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
5 |
0.00 |
0.33 |
0.56 |
| M Waltrip |
97.33 |
24 |
1.500 |
6.49 |
0 |
2 |
5 |
11 |
0.08 |
0.21 |
0.46 |
| Kyle Petty |
96.61 |
23 |
0.385 |
25.09 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
9 |
0.00 |
0.09 |
0.39 |
| Jeff Green |
94.00 |
7 |
0.300 |
31.33 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.57 |
| Ricky Craven |
92.46 |
13 |
1.190 |
7.77 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
7 |
0.08 |
0.23 |
0.54 |
| Joe Nemechek |
85.61 |
18 |
1.055 |
8.11 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
5 |
0.00 |
0.06 |
0.28 |
| Robby Gordon |
81.13 |
8 |
1.395 |
5.82 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.13 |
| Casey Mears |
59.50 |
2 |
0.475 |
12.53 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
| B Gaughan |
0.00 |
0 |
0.425 |
0.00 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
| Brian Vickers |
0.00 |
0 |
0.360 |
0.00 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
| Johnny Sauter |
0.00 |
0 |
0.440 |
0.00 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
| Kasey Kahne |
0.00 |
0 |
0.445 |
0.00 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
| Scott Riggs |
0.00 |
0 |
0.305 |
0.00 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
| Scott Wimmer |
0.00 |
0 |
0.485 |
0.00 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
"Who's Hot, Who's Not"
Who's Hot |
Daytona |
The Rock |
Vegas |
Atlanta |
# |
Average |
| Matt Kenseth |
143 |
190 |
190 |
150 |
4 |
168.25 |
| Tony Stewart |
180 |
85 |
170 |
156 |
4 |
147.75 |
| D Earnhardt Jr. |
185 |
155 |
58 |
185 |
4 |
145.75 |
| Kasey Kahne |
40 |
170 |
175 |
165 |
4 |
137.50 |
| Jeff Gordon |
147 |
139 |
118 |
139 |
4 |
135.75 |
| Kurt Bush |
115 |
142 |
143 |
127 |
4 |
131.75 |
| J Mayfield |
88 |
130 |
121 |
175 |
4 |
128.50 |
| Elliot Sadler |
146 |
109 |
150 |
76 |
4 |
120.25 |
| J Johnson |
160 |
40 |
120 |
160 |
4 |
120.00 |
| Bobby Labonte |
130 |
88 |
142 |
109 |
4 |
117.25 |
| Ryan Newman |
70 |
155 |
82 |
160 |
4 |
116.75 |
| Kevin Harvick |
165 |
129 |
105 |
67 |
4 |
116.50 |
| Joe Nemechek |
150 |
91 |
106 |
118 |
4 |
116.25 |
| Ward Burton |
112 |
138 |
85 |
124 |
4 |
114.75 |
| Dale Jarrett |
134 |
43 |
130 |
138 |
4 |
111.25 |
| J McMurray |
55 |
170 |
160 |
52 |
4 |
109.25 |
Who's Not |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| M Waltrip |
49 |
64 |
57 |
94 |
4 |
66.00 |
| Kevin Lepage |
67 |
97 |
55 |
55 |
4 |
68.50 |
| Ken Schrader |
43 |
82 |
67 |
85 |
4 |
69.25 |
| Scott Riggs |
61 |
70 |
81 |
88 |
4 |
75.00 |
| Robby Gordon |
58 |
60 |
73 |
117 |
4 |
77.00 |
| Jeff Green |
64 |
79 |
61 |
106 |
4 |
77.50 |
| Jeff Burton |
37 |
52 |
129 |
103 |
4 |
80.25 |
| Ricky Craven |
94 |
58 |
93 |
97 |
4 |
85.50 |
| Brian Vickers |
46 |
115 |
94 |
100 |
4 |
88.75 |
| Kyle Petty |
105 |
46 |
127 |
79 |
4 |
89.25 |
| Ricky Rudd |
109 |
106 |
79 |
70 |
4 |
91.00 |
| B Gaughan |
106 |
103 |
97 |
64 |
4 |
92.50 |
| Johnny Sauter |
85 |
121 |
91 |
73 |
4 |
92.50 |
| Gregg Biffle |
127 |
94 |
43 |
147 |
4 |
102.75 |
| Rusty Wallace |
76 |
146 |
134 |
58 |
4 |
103.50 |
Listed below are my favorite picks for this week's Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 at the Darlington Motor Speedway (Fantasy Cup Auto Racing Driver Salary Caps used: over 2.0 = "A", 1.6 to 2.0 = "B", 1.2 to 1.6 = "C", .800 to 1.2 = “D” and .300 to .800 = "E").
Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 Picks
| |
"A"” Drivers |
1 |
Jimmie Johnson |
2 |
Kevin Harvick |
3 |
Matt Kenseth |
4 |
Dale Earnhardt, Jr. |
5 |
No Pick |
| |
"B"” Drivers |
1 |
Jeff Gordon |
2 |
Tony Stewart |
3 |
Ryan Newman |
4 |
Rusty Wallace |
5 |
Kurt Busch |
|
"C"” Drivers |
1 |
Jamie McMurray |
2 |
Gregg Biffle |
3 |
Mark Martin |
4 |
Elliott Sadler |
5 |
Ward Burton |
|
"D"” Drivers |
1 |
Dale Jarrett |
2 |
Jeremy Mayfield |
3 |
Ricky Rudd |
4 |
No Pick |
5 |
No Pick |
|
"E"” Drivers |
1 |
Kasey Kahne |
2 |
Casey Mears |
3 |
Ken Schrader |
4 |
Jeff Green |
5 |
Brian Vickers |
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