THINGS WE LEARNED FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE

6 ? THE DERRICK. / The News-Herald Wednesday, July 20, 2016

SPEED FREAKS

A couple questions we had to ask -- ourselves

Does all the concussion talk shorten Junior's career? GODSPEAK: This is the third concussion we know about. It looks like he is hitting the rev limiter in this area. KEN'S CALL: Absolutely. If he's looking for a reason to hit the beach early, this is it.

How do you fail inspection and still win the race? GODSPEAK: NASCAR uses computers and lasers now in post-race inspection. The guess here, a minor infraction. KEN'S CALL: Ask Mild Matt. Once they brought scientific tools into the tech garage, the world changed. You now have technical infractions and technical victories.

If you're Jeff Gordon, do you ever consider putting on the uniform again? GODSPEAK: For a roll at Indianapolis? Absolutely. Go for it, man. What could go wrong? KEN'S CALL: Maybe for an oldtimers race at Go-Kart City. Brickyard, never!

ONLINE EXTRAS

news-journalonline. com/nascar

nascardaytona

@nascardaytona

Questions? Contact Godwin Kelly at godwin.kelly@ or Ken Willis at ken. willis@news-

SPRINT CUP POINTS

1. Kevin Harvick

636

2. Brad Keselowski

622

3. Kurt Busch

602

4. Carl Edwards

587

5. Joey Logano

571

6. Kyle Busch

556

7. Martin Truex Jr.

540

8. Matt Kenseth

521

9. Jimmie Johnson

514

10. Denny Hamlin

505

11. Chase Elliott

499

12. Ryan Newman

497

13. Austin Dillon

488

14. Jamie McMurray

474

15. Dale Earnhardt Jr.

461

16. Trevor Bayne

447

17. Ryan Blaney

445

18. Kasey Kahne

439

19. Kyle Larson

436

20. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 420

21. AJ Allmendinger

418

22. Greg Biffle

395

23. Paul Menard

366

24. Danica Patrick

354

25. Aric Almirola

347

26. Clint Bowyer

339

27. Casey Mears

293

28. Tony Stewart

287

29. Landon Cassill

284

30. David Ragan

274

3 THINGS WE LEARNED FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE

1. Junior surprise

Dale Earnhardt Jr. had to sit out Race 19 (of 36) after exhibiting concussionlike symptoms during a medical examination earlier in the week. The surprise was that he remained inside the cut line for the Chase playoffs. He now sits on the Chase bubble, 14 points ahead of Trevor Bayne.

2. Two-face race

Sunday's race in New Hampshire had two personalities. Over the first 219 (of 301) laps, there were two cautions. Over the last 82 laps, there were five more, which helped scramble the field and completely change the finish of the race. Greg Biffle finished fifth? See what we mean?

3. Mile master

There are three NASCAR Cup Series ovals that measure a mile or real close to it -- Phoenix, Dover and Loudon. Matt Kenseth has won two

Dale Earnhardt Jr. had to sit out the race at New Hampshire, but he stayed in the hunt for a Chase playoff berth. GETTY IMAGES/RAINIER

EHRHARDT

of those races this season. Each of those tracks has a Chase event, which puts Kenseth in a good position, at least on paper. His issue with NASCAR's post-race laser

inspection at New Hampshire might be a negative factor, however.

-- Godwin Kelly, godwin. kelly@news-

3 THINGS TO WATCH

1. The tell

Nine times since the inaugural Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1994, the race winner has gone on to win NASCAR Cup Series championship honors. The 160-lap race at Indy has become something of a title tell. Jeff Gordon was the first to do it in 1998, and Kyle Busch pulled it off last season. Other names on the list are Dale Jarrett, Bobby Labonte, Tony Stewart and Jimmie Johnson (three times).

2. 500 boost?

Back in May, Indianapolis Motor Speedway hosted the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500, and every seat in the house was sold. You have to wonder if some of that Indy magic will spill over to this

Kyle Busch celebrates his win at Indianapolis last year, which acted like a springboard to the 2015 NASCAR championship. GETTY IMAGES/MATT

SULLIVAN

Sunday's race. The Brickyard 400 lost luster, and fans, after a 2008 fiasco with tires that forced NASCAR to call cautions for tire changes every 10 laps. No matter to the drivers, who continue to list it as a stock-car major.

3. Chasing Chase

History may be on Chase Elliott's side when he races the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet at

Indianapolis. After all, Jeff Gordon won a record five Brickyard 400s in the No. 24 machine, including the '94 inaugural as a 22-year-old sophomore driver. Chase was born in 1995. Not only that, but Chase's dad, Bill Elliott, won the 2002 Brickyard and posted four other top-five finishes during his career.

-- Godwin Kelly, godwin. kelly@news-

GODWIN'S PICKS FOR INDIANAPOLIS

WINNER: Kevin Harvick REST OF TOP 5: Martin Truex Jr., Brad Keselowski, Tony Stewart, Matt Kenseth FIRST ONE OUT: Brian Scott

DARK HORSE: Chase Elliott DON'T BE SURPRISED IF:

Harvick busts out of his funk and wins his second Brickyard 400.

Godwin Kelly is the Daytona Beach News-Journal's motorsports editor and has covered NASCAR for 30 years. Reach him at godwin. kelly@news-

QUESTIONS & ATTITUDE

Compelling questions... and maybe a few actual answers

How big is this headache?

Technically, we don't know how the issue with Junior Earnhardt's concussion symptoms will play out. That's the thing about the brain -- it's a mystery and answers to no timetable. But without question, we know this: If Junior decides he doesn't want to risk further longterm effects, and retires either relatively soon, very soon or perhaps even immediately, NASCAR's movers and shakers will be reaching for the Tylenol.

It'd be that big of a blow?

Absolutely. Over the past decade-plus, plenty of lifelong fans have found reason to be upset with a sport they love. Many still hang in there, but some gave up. Undoubtedly, many of those who are still hanging in there are old Earnhardt fans (the No. 3) who continue hanging in there because of Junior. If Junior goes, some of them go, maybe along with some, or many, or most, of the younger fans Junior brought in on his own.

What if you were Junior?

I'd obviously be torn, assuming he still enjoys the racing aspect of his career. If this issue forces him into retirement sooner than he'd planned, it's not like he could occasionally scratch his racin' itch at some late-model track near home. He'd be done with it entirely. The good news is, he seems to have a rather full and fun life away from the track, so he'd be busy and happy. NASCAR's Boys in Marketing ... not so much.

Ken Willis has been covering NASCAR for The Daytona Beach News-Journal for 27 years. Reach him at ken. willis@news-

FEUD OF THE WEEK

Edwards

Newman

CARL EDWARDS VS. RYAN NEWMAN: "They checked up in front of me and I got (Edwards) and crossed him up and took about three other guys out," Newman said. "But, that was `racin,' I guess." GODWIN KELLY'S TAKE: That might have been Newman's view of the accordionlike incident late in the race, but Edwards made no comment after the event, and that's never a good sign.

WHAT'S ON TAP?

SPRINT CUP: Crown Royal Presents the Combat Wounded Coalition 400 SITE: Indianapolis Motor Speedway (2.5mile, rectangle-shaped) TV SCHEDULE: Friday, practice (NBC Sports Network, 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m.). Saturday, qualifying (NBCSN, 1:45 p.m.). Sunday, race (NBCSN, coverage begins at 2:30 p.m., green flag at 3:15 p.m.)

XFINITY: Lilly Diabetes 250 SITE: Indianapolis Motor Speedway TV SCHEDULE: Friday, practice (NBCSN, noon and 3 p.m.). Saturday, qualifying (NBCSN, 11:40 a.m.), race (NBCSN, 3:30 p.m.)

CAMPING WORLD TRUCKS: Aspen Dental Dirt Derby SITE: Eldora Speedway (half-mile, clay oval) TV SCHEDULE: Wednesday, race (Fox Sports 1, 9 p.m.)

BRAD KESELOWSKI Mr. Hunch likes him at

Brickyard

1

KEVIN HARVICK Angry at crew,

which is a good sign

KURT BUSCH Last week's hiccup was long overdue

23

KEN WILLIS' TOP 10 NASCAR DRIVER RANKINGS

MARTIN TRUEX JR. The gremlins have taken up residence

4

CARL EDWARDS Will finish fourth at

Indy

5

JOEY LOGANO Last year's Brickyard runner-up

6

KYLE BUSCH Last year's Brickyard

winner

7

MATT KENSETH Lost a round of NASCAR laser-tag

8

CHASE ELLIOTT Free fallin' ...

9

RYAN NEWMAN Remember

him? Finished third, seventh past two weeks

10

2016 SPRINT CUP SCHEDULE AND RESULTS

HUMES 3 day event 0% aPr FebM.o1n3.: &SpTrhinutrsU. n8l:i3m0-i8te:3d0at Daytona (Denny Hadmislicn)oun ts to June c2H6r:yTsLoeyr ocotarp/oSraATvieonM'saLArrtg3es5T0 at Sonowmead(Tony SteTwHaurrt)s

$9,000 FebT.u2e1s:.,DWayetdo.,nFari5.080:3(0D-e6nny Hamlin)

July 2: CokTrei-sZTeATreosu4p0e0rsaTotrDe aytona (Br8a:d30K-e6s:e0l0owsk8i):30-8:30

Oct.f1r6i: Hollywooond Cmaasninyo 400 at Kansas, 2:15 p.m., NBC O8:c3t.02-36::0A0labamvaec50h0icatLeTsalladega, 2 p.m., NBCSN

Feb. 28: FSoaldt.s, 8o:f30H-o2nor 500 at Atlanta (Jimmie Johnson)

July 9: Qu2ak7ervSetahteic40L0eatsKmentuucskty b(BeradsKoeLsedlobwsykif)rida yOct. 30: Goody's 500 at Martinsville, 1 p.m., NBCSN

March 6: Kobalt 400 at Las Vegas (Brad Keselowski)

Ma2rc0h1163: GroaodmSa1m55000kcatrPEhwoencixa(bKebviingHhaorvricnk)

Edit

July

ionJuly

17: 24:

New H2am0p1sh6ireJ3E0E1 P(Matt Kenseth) 2016 jeep Ncoov.m6: ApAaAs50s0 at Texa2s,02 1p.6m.,jNeBeCp cherokee CrorwEn nRoEyagl a40d0 aEt I4ndxia4napolis, 3 p.m., NBClSaNtitudNeov.413x: 4Can-Am 500k at Phoelnaix,t2i:t30upd.me., N4BxC4

March 20: Auto Club 400 at Fontana (Jimmie Johnson)

sav e to Ap?rRile3a:r BSaTcPk U5p0C0aamteMra artinsville (Kyle Busch)

$10,000 AApp???rrP8CiillrhWe91rmoa:7myi:DuePFmuooAcIwlonlkoetdeyrCrSWiCooerhiamtetysemls5a00ndaetrB5r0is0toalt

Texas (Kyle Busch) (Carl Edwards)

AJAuuulggy..3vcs271uoo0::vm :CtPNehepdiengaenh#czst1-tyIRtlva3ac5ne5iLaaaettg4eB0Wnr0diaasatrtktyoiPJln,eos8ecpGopTln.em roanc,.,t,1i2oN:n:3B300CpSp.N.mm???? RBHV..o,leeu,imacNeUtetoeoBtdSRoetCeSAhSceStoaagrtNsnt ition

Aug. 28: Pure Michigan 400, 2 p.m., NBCSN

Nov. 20: Ford 400 at Ho? RmemeotesSttaert ad-Miami, 2:30 p.m., NBC ? Heated Seats ? U-Connect Voice Command ? Satellite Radio

Ap?rNila2vi4g:atTioonyRoetaadyORwadnioers 400 at Richmond (Carl Edwards)

Sept. 4: Southern 500 at Darlington, 6 p.m., NBC

DID YOU KNOW?

$199/mo. $28,994 155/mo. 19,998 138/mo. 15,988 159/mo. 18,988 MMMMMJJR uuaaaaa??nnTyyyyy8Cee..h41712261r"::519o:21Tm:::GG:Ao9 3DSCFeueox9LcpiooAiBaemrhcrpvcae& looSoiptneasKnwaecther-5reta/Cel9 4r0f43eiAeaon1o000npn,lr750lgc0leMa0a-e.,0aSorcteP61W mstdtnoTa0aiilapLPm Caec0yrk.A olClaeamlaRae4casgsTtna0eoid.0e(nEeRorMehogaaRm4aaaat(0rF&KttK(l0tCoBO CuaoKtarrnhmtR atetpsaednaBM arsD (slussKHoMie2sceL(tu4tca?htKeshHmmehAriye)ougte)snll(8 im eastoenJhosnweTb1B/T2ersos4 0(urAy,Juks0nsod0A-ieLc0u)ee7Loxhmsye)Vg)9 ilcepm ALasAr6 o.LnsPisugrocaH-epae)t2 anx$oa6 34n--)d37846 p,,,,0097la00926 te0040sSOOSNSNeeeeccBBx?pppcttCCl..utttd...$28SSW e112::NNd805.BAT:::LW aoeAaCNFtansAeelhekdW fdoiwu4rceeo0oa$rf.En02agH LA,ny9tao9gm eU t74ld,aDei0M nnArco0liuLduv,cHH$edEeA2ueatu3somsS mr:0e35ie,ersP0b00ss2FTtoa0srampO pnAArotad.Lut.nmem eR sNstthVpc'.CeA4s.rC ,A,Li0pwhuscNNaH0eeA ayBBmHr$aCeR Cl2-aton-14S3tSm,,tR,S 54a0NtN08n0iepd080c.,sshC e7hmcuiO prroite.y$M mn,dde2.p,,LopeNs7?ai.st:,mBe3ifnP oC0c.r,luopA dne.Lym sIaN l.l,faTctoLrHH$ey& AuuinmsmceeeesBW CwwPbC snTotoihisrovilnhO AAnenlendLusa,Etve,esLtilw1VlerpaclAaLor6fiAcsiLoiotlusceI,oehHlteelS loDtftoy$,Kaowtw2I-blhyt-54dO y3o,,erle,77oge0ond53r0N e2080kcBtow2eanhuqnBaC nesuesdrcl2saEiht$ca.0TsN Bk0odt1ay2ysr2yLTeaeio-adeBvrsyEtoaeidraennfR iroscaagrh,pbkropaFtnyyr?ILhovoynavTeeredrodd5 dowyychrno4eiwadneLS 0tietHaHsin0$.AneuuST 'setsmnaiamehnrlA eeciebfi.srnseohaTeCrR ngsrn.sdeAAhDustdsLesw0oeetS B7vVcprd/irA2AreyngEL2iisaucc/sHe1hR eekk6,.a.y$wfV s2-ao-45h3rr,,I,09id0C l090e080 E

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