Four races remain in the normal, then odd, and now fairly normal again season. Today, they have gathered to race once more. And someone is going to have a very good day.
Where It Is:
Kansas. No hate to the remaining tracks, but we don’t have any that are all that exciting from here on out. Kansas this week. Texas next week. (Should I go? Might depend on Joe Kelly’s schedule.) Martinsville the first day of November. Phoenix for the championship the eighth day of November.
As you may have guessed, nothing too noteworthy about Kansas. It’s a speedway. There’s pavement. It is the Kansas of racetracks.
When It Is:
Looks like the green flag’s scheduled for 1:45 PM local time, so 2:45 for all you Eastern Timers.
What It Is:
The opener of NASCAR’s Round of 8. The winner, if he’s among the eight remaining drivers, locks up a spot in the championship.
How to Watch:
NBC. So that’s too bad.
Standings Coming In:
The standings reset after the conclusion of the Round of 12, but playoff points continue to carry over, so…
1. Kevin Harvick (67 points, 40 ahead of Chase Elliott, who’s the last driver in as things stand)
2. Denny Hamlin (54 points, 27 ahead of Elliott)
3. Brad Keselowski (35 points, 8 ahead of Elliott)
4. Chase Elliott (27 points, 0 ahead of Elliott)
5. Joey Logano (22 points, 5 behind Elliott)
6. Martin Truex, Jr (17 points, 10 behind Elliott)
7. Alex Bowman (9 points, 18 behind Elliott)
8. Kurt Busch (6 points, 21 behind Elliott)
Who’s Under Pressure:
Everyone not named Hamlin or Harvick, both of whom probably just need to run three clean races to make the championship four.
Who’s the Favorite:
I’m seeing Hamlin listed at 4-to-1, narrowly ahead of Harvick at 9-to-2. Elliott’s at 11-to-2, with Truex next at 6-to-1 and Keselowski at 8-to-1. Logano’s back with a pair of non-playoff drivers at 14-to-1, and Bowman and Busch are each at 22-to-1. So, there’s a slow decline from Hamlin to Keselowski, then a big jump to Logano and another big jump to Busch and Bowman.
Any Beef?
Nothing new that I know of, though Alex Bowman might have some with the critics after struggling with anxiety-induced physical illness during last week’s race, a development which predictably led to a segment of the online crowd/media making fun of him while the majority defended him.
How Should NASCAR Rig It?
I mean, you’ve gotta have Bowman win. But maybe have either Hamlin or Harvick wreck early so there’s a bit more pressure on them the next two weeks.
