By John Schutt –
NASCAR Monster Energy series, Consumers Energy 400, Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn, Mich., Sunday, Aug. 12.
Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch shared front row pole positions on the two-mile unrestricted oval. With no restrictions they reached speeds of more than 215 miles per hour during the race! Although Hamlin struggled, and finished in eighth place, Kevin Harvick stole the show and won all stages and won his seventh race of the season. Following Harvick were Brad Keselowski in second place, Kyle Busch in third, Austin Dillon in fourth, Ryan Blaney in fifth place.
The brothers Dillon, Austin and Ty, each had late race problems. Austin Dillon was in second place with only two laps to go when he had to slow down, due to a tire problem. Ty Dillon hit some debris late in the race which punctured the oil pan and the resulting slippery oil caused his Chevy to lose traction and hit the wall.
After the race Harvick’s six-year-old son, Keelan, was allowed to cross the track and wave the checkered flag. Then Keelan rode shotgun in his father’s No. 4 car and waved the flag while his dad drove a victory lap.
NASCAR Monster Energy series, GoBowling at the Glen, Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen, N.Y., Saturday, Aug. 4.
The race at Watkins Glen is what I call world-class road racing and more of these races may save NASCAR. It was exciting from start to finish with Chase Elliott in first place followed by Martin Truex, Jr. in second, Kyle Busch in third, Daniel Suarez in fourth, and Eric Jones in fifth.
The first stage was won by Truex, Jr. over Jimmie Johnson. Elliott won the second stage. Pit problems were evident in the final segment when Elliott hit his jackman, Hamlin got an air hose wrapped around a tire, and Kyle Busch had a bad pit stop and did not get full fuel. Many of the pit problems stem from cars entering the pit opposite of other race tracks with driver on the outside of the pit.
In the final few laps of the race Elliott was in the lead with defending champion, Truex, Jr., closing on him. However Truex, Jr. ran out of gas and Elliott took his first NASCAR Cup victory.
