Kyle Busch and Toyota have dominated, Dale Earnhardt Jr. is in the Chase picture and open-wheel drivers are struggling. Those are some of the story lines from the first 18 races of the NASCAR season.
Surprises
Toyota’s emergence
The manufacturer didn’t win a race in its first season in the series. It’s making up for lost time this year. Led by Kyle Busch and his six victories, Toyotas have won seven races, with Denny Hamlin grabbing the other victory. Camrys have also accounted for 38 top-10 finishes and have led more laps than any other manufacturer. After being shut out in the Chase last year, there would be three Toyotas in the Chase field if the season ended today.
Kyle Busch
The talent has always been there, but this year Busch seems to be harnessing it on the track. Whether he’s racing in the Craftsman Truck Series, the Nationwide Series or in Cup, Busch is just winning. He’s saving his best work for Sundays, where he has six wins. He’s won at restrictor-plate tracks (Daytona, Talladega) and road courses (Infineon). He hasn’t won on a short track this season, but he finished second at Richmond.
McDowell walks away
How many times did his car flip during qualifying for the Samsung 500? Eight, nine, 10? Whatever the number, it was a horrific sight watching the No. 00 Toyota hurtling down the track at Texas Motor Speedway. But Michael McDowell, who was making only his second Sprint Cup Series start, walked away from the accident. He raced two days later and finished 33rd.
Disappointments
Open struggles
Sam Hornish Jr., Dario Franchitti and Patrick Carpentier were supposed to follow Juan Pablo Montoya’s lead and make an impact on the Sprint Cup Series. It hasn’t happened. Franchitti has already lost his ride. Hornish has not finished in the top 10 and Carpentier has made the field just 15 times. Even Montoya is struggling, sitting 21st in points in a season in which many people expected him to make the Chase.
Casey Mears
He’s part of one of racing’s super teams with Hendrick Motorsports. That is, until this season ends. Hendrick has finally given up on the driver of the No. 5 Kellogg’s Chevrolet. Mears has led just two races this year, and has gone 42 races since his only win. He’s 24th in points and will lose his ride to Mark Martin next year.
Best moment
Dale Earnhardt Jr. finds Victory Lane
His new car might be ugly, but Dale Jr., above, seems to like life with Hendrick Motorsports. He got the season started by winning the Bud Shootout, but that was a non-points race. His first victory, which came in Michigan, might have been won because of fuel mileage but no one is complaining. And no one is complaining that the sport’s marquee name is squarely in the Chase picture. He’ll start the second half of the season second in points.
Story lines
1. Can Kyle Busch win people over? He’s the hottest driver and the most hated. Other drivers don’t like him. Fans don’t like him. But if you’re a fan of talent, there’s no denying that Busch has plenty.
2. How will Tony Stewart’s season finish? He’s leaving for his own team next season, but still has the team and the talent to win a title for Joe Gibbs Racing. Stewart could put all his energy into doing just that, or could look ahead to a team he’ll have a 50-percent interest in.
3. What’s going to happen with attendance during the Chase? Attendance numbers are down, even though television ratings are up. The economy has to be playing a role, as it costs nothing to watch a race at the house. With gas prices not going down anytime soon, it could take some creative camera work to cover the empty seats during the playoff season.
4. Can Jimmie Johnson make a push? The two-time defending champion sits in fifth place, and should have no problem making the Chase field. But Johnson hasn’t had the same kind of success this year he’s had in the past. He’s won only one race — which is one more than teammate Jeff Gordon — and has finished in the top five just three other times.
5. Will Jeff Gordon’s streak continue? The four-time champion is a likely Chase competitor, but that may be it. Gordon has still failed to win a race this year, putting in jeopardy a streak of 14 consecutive years with at least one win. He’s got 18 races to find a way to get the No. 24 Chevy back in Victory Lane to keep the streak alive.
