Kenseth adamant Logano wrecked him intentionally

From a NASCAR perspective, the way “The Chase” is now configured and having the standings looking the way they’re looking going into an elimination race in Talladega, it really doesn’t get a whole lot better.

Given that he’s tied with Jeff Gordon among active drivers for the most wins at Talladega with six, and that he’s won the last two restrictor plate races at Daytona and Talladega, Earnhardt Jr. may indeed be able to back up “a called shot”. If there’s a caution in the two-lap overtime period, the running order will be frozen, with the leader being declared the victor. A few of these predictions will be bolder than others.

Dale Jr. used to come here years ago with his daddy, and Dale would stick 100 bucks in his son’s pocket so he could go race go-karts with his friends.

Matt Kenseth is 25 points out of eighth place and has to still be fuming about an over-zealous Joey Logano wrecking him late at Kansas while he was leading. Matt Kenseth was fastest among Chase drivers.

“The biggest thing we’ve done there in the past that has worked out well has just been staying on the bottom and staying out of trouble and trying to stay up front and stay out of trouble”, Jones said.

Logano was racing like he had to win. A win Sunday would be big for Keselowski again as it could propel him to be one of the favorites to go all the way this year.

Joey Logano scoffed at the seemingly unwritten rule that you don’t spin someone when you’re already guaranteed of advancing in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship. After a disappointing run at Kansas Speedway in Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400, he’ll need to re-ascend to the throne next Sunday if he is to keep his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship hopes intact. “I don’t think either one of us is sorry about how it happened”.

“I got the auto”, he says. “Even over Daytona, I think we can go to Talladega and do the job”.

“It’s real intense, there’s no denying the intensity and the pressure it puts on drivers like myself to be in a cutoff situation where you’re eliminated if things don’t go perfectly on Sunday”, Earnhardt said Friday. He had a quip ready when asked about NASCAR Chairman Brian France saying that Logano’s move was “quintessential NASCAR” and whether that comment would force Kenseth to re-evaluate his code of how he races.

As the possibility of a GWC reduction became apparent in recent weeks, drivers seemed to welcome the change. It would be fitting that he earns his way into the Eliminator 8 with a strong performance in his last race here. (31st), and Ryan Newman (32nd). Each one of these drivers know what the circumstances are, and with that, they’re going to make the moves that are necessary to try to get ahead … that’s what’s going to be the pattern as we go for the next four or five races.

“Well”, Kenseth, a five-race victor this year, said, “I wouldn’t have done anything differently because I didn’t do anything wrong”.