Competition caution on lap 30 for a night race at Kentucky. KyBu got the pole for both the Xfinity and Cup races. He won the Xfinity race. Let’s see how things go with the big boys though quite a number of them were in the Xfinity race including Kevin ‘Happy’ Harvick, Ryan ‘Son’ Blaney and Joey ‘Squinty-Douchey’ Logano. There’s been a re-pave, again, of the track. Apparently there were issues with the previous re-pave that needed correction. They dragged tires after the Xfinity race in an attempt to widen the groove. Matt Kenseth has said he will not be back at Joe Gibbs Racing in 2018. The rumor mill has him going to the 88 car and Erik ‘Da Brat’ Jones moving into the JGR 20 car. Brat’s place on the Furniture Row team was believed to be temporary – until a seat opened at JGR. I think everyone believed he was awaiting Kenseth’s retirement. Kenseth indicated he’s not retiring, yet the seat will be open. Pretty crappy move on JGR’s part. Reminds me of moves by Michael Waltrip Racing and look how that washed out.
Kentucky has traditionally been a boring race. They’ve changed it’s location in the schedule and, I think, start time. I’m not really expecting the change to improve the race. I’ve yet to see a race really improve by shifting to a night race.
BunnyD and I were talking earlier today and I posited that Kasey Kahne replacing Erik Jones in the 77 might be the best thing for his driving. We know he’s a fine driver and can win. I feel like the situation.
Competition caution is out. Stages are 80-80-107 for the race.
Restarting on lap 35 of 267.
12th stage win for Martin Truex Jr.
Caution on lap 89 of 267 for an incident Brad ‘It’ Keselowski getting loose and collecting Jimmie Johnson and Clint ‘Drunk Daddy’ Bowyer. Jimmie said something broke after he hit the 2 then he the wall.
Caution on lap 94 of 267 for Trevor Bayne and Kasey Kahne going around.
Caution on lap 111 of 267 for a spin by Trevor Bayne.
Caution on lap 138 of 267 for Joey Gase slamming the wall.
Kenseth said he’s known for about a month that he wouldn’t return and that it’s a relief to say it publicly. It appears as though Matt Kenseth’s honesty has become a liability at JGR.
Truex wins his 13th stage of the season.
caution for a smoking 41 of Kurt Busch just before Martin Truex Jr with a 15 second lead took the white flag. Kurt’s car is on fire as he heads to the garage.
There are 8 cars on the lead lap. Almost everybody but leader Martin Truex Jr came in for a pit stop.
We’re going into overtime.
Big wreck toward mid pack. involves Kenseth, Austin ‘Frankenstein’ Dillon, David Ragan and Daniel Suarez.
Martin wins as the caution flag waves.
The final restart was the only thing really worth watching of this race. Another boring Kentucky race overall. Martin frequently had a 12-15 second lead and he lapped the majority of the field. Sounds almost like one of those old school races that Richard Petty, Cale Yarborough, and David Pearson won – the races that some say weren’t very competitive.
Congratulations to Chase Elliott on a third place finish.
Congrats to Darrell ‘Bubba’ Wallace Jr on his eleventh place finish. Aric ‘Afterburner’ Almirola is testing in Charlotte next week to see if he’s ready to be back in the car next week thereby ending Bubba’s subbing. I hope something good comes of this time spent driving the 43 for Bubba. His Xfinity team ran out of funding, so once he’s out of the 43, he’s without a ride at this point.
Jimmie finished last for the second time in his career.
‘It’ said the car is a poorly designed car and blamed it for his bad driving and said the sport needs to redesign the car. I hope he expects a fine for comments detrimental to the sport.
Today is Keelan Harvick’s fifth birthday. Happy Birthday Keelan. Yesterday was Delana Harvick’s birthday. Happy belated birthday Delana.