Getting Honest - Martin Truex Jr

Let’s get honest about Martin Truex Jr., how good is he? The eight year Cup veteran doesn’t have much to his name, stats wise since his back to back Nationwide Championships in 2004 and 2005.

Many expected the two-time Nationwide Series champ to explode when he entered the Sprint Cup Series, yet Truex struggled to achieve decent finishes in his rookie season. Truex won his first Sprint Cup Series race during his 2007 sophomore season, and collected 14 top ten’s finishing eleventh in Sprint Cup Series points. However, in the following seasons Truex struggled to produce similar results. At the conclusion of the 2009 season, Truex moved over to Michael Waltrip Racing, where he could be a leader.

 Faith was reborn in Truex with Michael Waltrip Racing as he was the first potential threat for the team, yet the same old story was read until 2013. Truex showed us a new version, stepping up in leading his team and as a result his best season to date. Finally the Truex NASCAR had waited for appeared, in a way. He wasn’t setting the Sprint Cup Series a blaze, yet he was a contender. So how good is Martin Truex Jr.? Honestly he is good, dependable for solid finish, yet this could change soon. Prepare to see a Truex like never before during the next few seasons.

Stating the obvious Furniture Row Racing along with their drivers, have worked hard to achieve their current stature. After last season Truex needs to make a serious statement about his capabilities, and a powerful one car team is the correct location. Bluntly, this could be one of his final chances to show us what Martin Truex Jr. can do. Is Truex good? Yeah he’s good, but this season we’re about to find out how good.

-Stephen Appell

A Season of Contentment

            While NASCAR’s silly season receives a somewhat early start thanks to Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle piloting the rumor mill, are we really in for a “silly season”? After last year’s silly season which had us all taking notes attempting to remember who was going where and why, be ready for a season of contentment in the Cup series.

            Last year NASCAR had what seemed like an endless amount of shake ups. Michael Waltrip Racing, Stewart-Haas, and Kyle Larson just to name a few. We should expect nothing less than a simple season, but why? The reason we will not see a crazy rumor filled season is simple, a lot of teams and drivers are at a point where contracts are still in their early or mid-stages, and large Cup teams aren’t yet ready for their young Nationwide driver. Ryan Newman at Richard Childress, Matt Kenseth at Joe Gibbs have just begun. Ty Dillon along with Ryan Blaney need at least one more season in Nationwide before going full time in Cup. Needless to say things will get exciting once Edwards and Biffle start hinting towards where they are headed, this is possibly the high point of silly season. Now this doesn’t mean these two are the extent of silly season. What else is there to expect?  Maybe a sponsor or two leaves a team, or crew chiefs change, don’t expect any big news.

            The green flag has flown over silly season with excitement levels rising as questions are yet to be answered, but don’t expect many changes in the lead story. If and when Biffle and Edwards leave where do they go? What happens to Roush Fenway? After these are answered not much is left, so we might as well throw the checkered flag too. Although a lot of season is left and circumstances can change quickly; conditions don’t appear adequate for a drama packed silly season where our heads are left spinning.
 
-Stephen Appell 

A New Ganassi

Has Chip Ganassi Racing ever been a power house team within NASCAR? The Organization has won multiple IndyCar and Sports Car championships. The organization has won multiple IndyCar and Sports Car races and championships; yet the NASCAR side of his operation has only won a handful of races – big races mind you, the Daytona 500, the Brickyard 400 and the Sprint All-Star race, but still a limited number. What is lacking is a Sprint Cup Series championship trophy in Chip Ganassi Racing's resume to go along with the wins.

With the introduction of Kyle Larson, following the release of Juan Pablo Montoya, there has been a remarkable change in Ganassi's chances of securing a Sprint Cup title. It might now happen this year, or even next year, however Chip Ganassi Racing appears to have what it takes to be a serious challenger for the title by 2016.

            Chip Ganassi made a bold statement by tapping the young Kyle Larson to take over command of the 42 car. While many doubted his decision, my personal opinion is, it is the smartest move Ganassi could have ever made. The struggling team has needed youth and talent, to spread over the group. The change was immediate as Ganassi revamped the Target team, and added life back to the car with the flashy white wheels and blended paint scheme, but this won’t change everything. The unleashed talent will.

            When Chip announced Dylan Kwasniewski as there new development driver he was making another powerful statement. The statement simple yet strong, a new Ganassi is coming and everyone needs to be ready. There is no doubt in my mind Kwasniewski will be the next drive of the 1 car, and when this happens Ganassi will be at the forefront of youth and talent. Kwasniewski still has a lot to learn as his rookie season in the Nationwide Series hasn’t exactly gone to plan by the way of finishes and team. Kwasniewski has a unique opportunity driving both the 31 for Turner Scott Motorsports as well as the 42 TSM Chevy when Larson cannot make races. To me this is an advantage for the young rookie and it will pay off when he takes the next step.

            Chip Ganassi Racing is slowly becoming the most youthful and talented team in NASCAR. When the time comes for Larson and Kwasinewski to take to the cup series as teammates, the raw talent and skill will flourish. It may not be an instant change, but none the less watch out. 

-Stephen Appell

Kwasniewski’s Rough Start

Dylan Kwasniewski entered the 2014 NASCAR Nationwide Season as one of the highest regarded rookies. Kwasniewski, who made the move into the Nationwide Series after becoming the first driver to win NASCAR K&N Pro Series West and East Championship’s back to back, made a strong statement at Daytona by qualifying on pole and respectfully finishing eighth. But that’s where it stopped; Daytona has been his only top ten to date.

Kwasniewski stated at the beginning of the season he was not expecting to win races right away, but this probably wasn’t the young rookie's plan either. Despite strong qualifying efforts, he has just a handful of respectable finishes within the top twenty, and his three poor finishes resulted in wrecks and on-track conflicts. But Kwasniewski’s rookie season is far from ordinary; shortly after the start of the season he was tapped by Chip Ganassi Racing as their next development driver. Despite being the primary driver of the number 31 Rockstar Energy Chevy for Turner Scott Motorsport, he is also the secondary driver of the 42 TSM Chevy when Kyle Larson is not present for Nationwide events. As a rookie, he has bounced between two cars with two different crew chiefs. Though he is racing for the same team, each car's crew chief is different. This situation is a hard obstacle for a rookie to overcome. Kwasniewski made his debut in the 42 this past Sunday at Iowa and all he wanted was a good clean finish, which is what he got. Kwasniewski finished eleventh at Iowa, one of the few tracks he is familiar with. A finish like that is a confidence booster for any rookie needing to get back on rhythm. With his talent and skill there is no doubt Kwasniewski will be racking up the top tens soon. He has all the tools at his disposal, and has the guidance of two veteran crew chiefs such as Pat Tryson and Scott Zipadelli. With two crew chief’s like that, it is only a matter of time until he finds his groove and is back to making a statement.

Single Car Qualifying No More

        NASCAR makes a huge change to the qualifying format. The traditional single car qualifying we are all accustom to throughout NASCAR's top three series will be no more. NASCAR announced January 22nd a Formula 1 style knockout qualifying will be instituted at all tracks. With different formats for tracks under and over 1.25 miles in length. For tracks over 1.25mi The first qualifying elimination round will be 25 minutes in duration and includes all cars/trucks. The 24 cars/trucks that post the fastest single lap from the first qualifying round will advance to the second round. Remaining cars will be sorted based on time. The second qualifying elimination round will be 10 minutes in duration and the 12 cars/trucks that post the fastest single lap time will advance to the third and final round. The fastest remaining cars/trucks earn positions 13th through 24th based on their times posted in qualifying in descending order.The third and final qualifying round will be five minutes in duration and the fastest single lap time will determine positions 1st through 12th in descending order. There will be a 5 minuet break in between each round.
         For tracks under 1.25mi The first qualifying elimination round will be 30 minutes in duration and includes all cars/trucks. The 12 cars/trucks that post the fastest single lap time from the first qualifying round will advance to the second and final round. The second and final qualifying round will be 10 minutes in duration and the fastest single lap time posted will determine positions 1st through 12th in descending order. This format give a 10 minuet break between rounds. The second and final qualifying round will be 10 minutes in duration and the fastest single lap time posted will determine positions 1st through 12th in descending order. 
         The new format will not be in use for the Daytona 500 due to its historic qualifying events, it will also excluded the Camping World Truck Series race at Eldora and non-points Sprint Cup races. A clause in the move I see changing soon is teams will only be given one set of tires to qualify.
         This is another move by NASCAR to improve the fan experience but I'm not sure of the move, while yes it is different and will give excitement to qualifying, we are moving away from tradition. I am interested on how well this will go over at the first tracks of the season. 

Elliot Makes Big Step

Chase Elliot made a large announcement Monday January 6^th, announcing that he will be joining JR Motorsports with NAPA Auto Parts as main sponsor. This will be a huge step for the Hendrick Development Driver and son of Legend Bill Elliot. Elliot who ran 9 Camping World Truck races, where he collected seven top ten’s and one win. Elliot who has been competing full time in the K&N Pro Series East with Aarons as his sponsor but they parted ways at the end of the year. The Partnership with NAPA will be a good fit for the Young Elliot and the Experienced Rick Hendrick. NAPA likes to make long partnerships and this appears to be the start of a brand new one. Elliot comes to the very powerful JR Motorsports and will join Regan Smith, Kevin Harvick, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. as teammates.

Also announced was Earnhardt Jr. fill in testing driver since he cannot make the Nationwide test, he chose Chase’s Father Bill Elliot. This should be an extra boost of confidence for the young Chase Elliot as he makes his first laps.

-Stephen Appell

Gaughan's Time to Shine

The off season marks a new start and opportunity for Brendan Gaughan at Richard Childress Racing. Gaughan will compete full time in the Nationwide Series in the number 62 South Point Chevy, using the points from the 33 car. With this new “blessing” as he called it he is ready to succeed.

            No doubt Gaughan is a good driver but in his former opportunities he did not have strong showings. In 2007 Penske gave him a shot in the cup series, Gaughan recorded only four top ten’s and one top five, before being released. In 2009 Rusty Wallace Racing presented him with a ride for two years, where he had six top five’s and seventeen top ten’s total. From my point of view in these opportunities there appears to be a common factor, was it top notch equipment? Now given these teams had good cars, yet he may not of had that opportunity he could have with the cars he was in, He was the third car at Penske and the second at RWR.

            Now he does have the opportunity and he is ready to prove himself. Every RCR car has the capability to win at any track whether it is a part time car or full time. In Nationwide races this year he was a strong contender at times. Since his move to RCR in the tucks Gaughan has had very impressive runs and showed he still has it. In Phoenix Gaughan stated “He can’t wait to get next season started and to show Richard he will get it done.” From my perspective instead of bringing in a young shoe Richard Childress took a chance on the experienced Gaughan and presented him with the opportunity. Gaughan finally has the equipment to do what he needs to do to be a threat next season in the Nationwide series and he will be one. This will be a true point the team and equipment can hinder driver’s possibilities.

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-           -  Stephen Appell