First Q&A with Truck Series driver Landon Huffman

 I wanted to kinda give you some backstory here behind my first Q&A. Just starting this blog and the twitter page a few weeks ago, I don't exactly have the "credibility" like some of the more seasoned reporters or writers. Which makes it hard close to almost impossible I thought to even get a driver to reply to my messages. Well, after a lot of shooting and missing I finally got a reply from one guy. Landon Huffman, who is a second generation driver from Claremont, North Carolina. 

Landon, is the son of five time NASCAR Goodies Dash champion; Robert Huffman. Who has at this point only made two truck series starts last season at Bristol and Martinsville with MB Motorsports and Mike Mittler. Which he respectively finished 20th and 17th. Landon is a self made driver which is something me and him discussed a little bit in our talk. With both me and Landon being busy people with out personal live I was able to PM him on twitter and ask him a total of six questions. So with that being said without anymore waiting here is the first of hopefully man Everything Nascar Q&A

Q: I know you made your debut in the truck series last year, at Bristol a pretty historic track. What was it like to finally after competing on the smaller circuit and local tracks to be in a premier series?

A:The opportunity i received from Mike Mittler in 2017 was a dream come true. Growing up watching my father compete and win at the likes of Daytona, Charlotte, and Bristol made it all the more special. I’ve raced at the local level for some time now and as many know, the money gene was not one i inherited, so on paper, the odds have been stacked against me from the beginning as they are for other drivers in my situation. So to walk into Bristol last August was a surreal moment. Those first laps around the great coliseum are always special. I think that statement holds true for anyone working hard at the local ranks who may get an opportunity like i did last year with Mr Mittler.

Q:Your a second generation driver your dad a pretty successful career needless to say How has it been trying to prove you are your own driver and not anything like your dad?

A:Dad has been by far the most influential person in my racing career. He has taught me everything i know about a racecar, and has always been my go to. He has guided me throughout my career and helped me grow as a driver, but has allowed me to develop in my own ways. I appreciate that and i think it’s helped me be more well rounded. I’ve had to learn the business side of the sport, whether that be public relations or sponsorship's. He knew from the beginning that if i was going to have a shot in this industry, i needed to learn those aspects and how to operate them.

Q:Your a local track racer at heart as are a lot of guys in the sport, but what in your mind makes competing at the local tracks so fun even once you've made it to the bigger series?

A:Local short track racing will always have a special place for me. Hickory motor speedway is where my career started, as did my dads, and my grandpas as well. I think part of the problem with our sport in this day and age comes from the disconnect between the grassroots level and the national ranks. Back in the day, NASCAR personalities originated from short tracks, and their ability carried them up the ladder. You do not see that in this era. Money is king and it affects the fan loyalty. There are not as many short track hero’s getting opportunities. I will always love grass roots racing, and if i do get fortunate enough to have a career as a driver, i will be one to revisit my roots and race often

Q:You just recently turned 22 this year if I am not mistaken, How do you balance being a student in college and your racing career? and do you have any advice for someone who might be struggling to do the same?

A:Going to school full time has definitely been a busy task over the past 4 years while shuffling my racing career. I’m not your normal show up and drive type of person either. I work on my personal late model (which is why i commute from an hour to UNC Charlotte (daily) and I’m heavily involved on the business side like I mentioned earlier. So creating time for everything has definitely been a challenge. I’m studying for my marketing degree which has helped me progress in my business savvy and moved me forward on the path of finding sponsors. If I had any advice to give young racers who are also looking at going to school while racing, it would be to put an equal amount of focus into each endeavor. At times i have gotten engulfed in the drive to race, and school has taken a back seat. In those times, my grades fell some and i had to regroup and go back at it. I would have been more successful if i spent more effort organizing my time.

Q: So a little less serious question, What is something about you that your fans might not know?

A:Something my fans may not know about me...

I am a huge fan of sneakers. I’ve been big into reselling and collecting for a while now and i enjoy sharing my collection. I also am a pretty avid NASCAR diecast collector. That passion definitely came from my childhood, traveling from track to track with Dad, i got my fair share of diecast along the way. I guess that’s kind of stuck with me even now. And it allows me to relate with fans on a personal level.

Q: Last question, you've been racing since you were younger and with your dad being a good racer out of anyone you've seen race, who do you think your driving style is closest too? Doesn't have to be just cup guys can be any series.

A: I’m not really sure who i compare to as far as driving style goes. I think i do a lot of things similar to my father, but i like to think I’m a little more forgiving than he was lol. He would move you in a heart beat, hence his nick name “The Blade” from his hickory days. I would say i tend to make smart decisions. I’m mindful of the equipment and I know how to take care of it. I’ve had to race that way my entire life and i believe it has forced me to race that way.

So, to wrap up this post I wanted to say. I personally as a fan think this young man once given some more opportunities will be able to be a successful driver in any series he chooses to race. Landon is a hard working driver who has had to earn every single thing he has gotten. Even with his dad being a crew chief for Brad Keselowski's truck team. You would think it would be easy for this young man to jump into a truck. The way he was raised made him work harder and compete way more for his dreams. I've attached Landon's twitter handle, Facebook, and Instagram pages. Seriously, go give this man a follow, like or anything because he deserves it and you wont be sorry!

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LandonHuffman

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/landonhuffmanracing/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/landonhuffman/

❆ Half mile of Chaos, Melted Away ❆

       Tell me if you've heard this before. Snow delayed race, and a ford in victory lane. If you said yes then you would be correct the whole race weekend was delayed due to a massive snow storm that covered the track. Then a site we are all starting to become familiar with this year, a ford in victory lane. 

       On Saturday the cup guys got to go through some practice laps, only to see qualifying cancelled. Due to an insane amount of snow that started to fall on the track. ❆❆❆While running the first practice we seen Toyota's and Ford's running fast laps and even though we went without qualifying nothing changed whenever the race started. The first stage of the race started with Martin Truex leading the first 4 laps only to see his JGR alliance partners go on to dominate the rest of the first stage. Kyle Bush took the lead from Truex, leading a total of twenty four laps. The to see his teammate Denny Hamlin take the lead from him and go into cruise mode, leading one hundred eleven laps and a stage one win. Toyota showed the dominance early one and made you think that maybe Hamlin was going to add another grandfather clock to his collection. Stage two would turn out to prove other wise.

Stage two would see young Ryan Blaney win the race off pit road at 3:02 PM, and twenty two short minutes later had opened up a solid cushion of almost two seconds on second place. Drivers started to become more antsy this stage, with the fight for positions. The 78 and 47 were seen making contact on a couple occasions. Along with multiple other drivers bumping and banging. As the old saying goes rubbing is racing right? Well, luckily for Blaney, and his crew he would check out from the pack for the most part of stage two. With that Menards Ford leading the whole stage and leaving just a whopping sixteen cars on the lead lap going into stage three. One of those sixteen would be seven time champion Jimmie Johnson. Who seemed to for the first time this year have some what of solid run cracking into the top ten. With that being said though what everyone was seeing as the stage ended is that one Clint Bowyer was closing the gap with a fast race car heading into stage three of the five hundred lap race. With a 190 race streak since his last trip to victory lane he was hungry and was bound to give Blaney a run.

The opening of stage three would begin much like stage two. The number twelve Menard's pit crew got Ryan back out in P1 coming outta the pits. Blaney would go onto lead a couple more laps in stage three giving everyone the idea that this race might be his for the taking. The "old dog" as Clint called himself decided it was time to kick it up a notch and at 4:01 PM took the lead. As the 1 car went into the wall around twenty five minutes later, Bowyer and his crew still did not look back. Winning the race off pit road and retaining the lead, but he had some very stiff competition closing in on him. With Kyle Bush who Bowyer later was quoted saying is "One of the best in the business" and reigning champion Martin Truex in P2 and P3. The 14 team held strong leading a race high 215 laps. At 5:20 PM for the first time in six years, Bowyer got to taste victory again.  Bowyer was quoted saying, "For whatever reason it felt right driving up here" like he almost knew that this was gonna be his weekend. Bowyer's young son Cash was in victory lane with him and it was only fitting consider he told his son "Damn it we got to get a picture in victory lane" and fulfill that request he did. After the race unfortunately for Kyle Bush he got another runner up finish, but seeing the disappointment in his face during the interview was even quoted saying "He (Bowyer) was able to kind of edge out there through the early laps of firing off each and every time and kinda get that gap, and then he'd just kinda hold that." Bowyer is a very fan oriented driver like a lot of the drivers are in the sport today, he was seen after celebrating with crew on the track walking up to the fans in the stands and asking for a beer. Most of his peers took to twitter to congratulate him and say they would drink one for him. Bowyer was able to just in six races claim his spot in the playoffs and now can look to build on this victory and set himself up to continue this strong run. 

This season has appeared to be a two manufacturer race for the championship through six races. Even at a track where historically they are dominant the highest finishing Camaro was Alex Bowman in seventh.  Even with a seventh place finish and his first top ten of the season Bowman said "It's frustrating to say we are looking for seventh.." Which honestly could be said for most of the Chevrolet drivers Aj Allmendinger was a surprising front runner for a majority of the race, and Bowman's teammate Chase Elliot said on twitter "Worked hard for 9th today, happy we could get it going a little better toward the end.." Most people were expecting a lot more outta the Chevrolet group as a whole, with only three in the top ten. Fans are still left wondering what needs to be done? Ladies and gents it may have took a little longer than we expected or wanted 

for that madder, but out first short track experience of the year is over and gone almost like all the snow that fell this weekend. Easter weekend is upon us and we have our first cup series break of the year. What will we all do while our drivers are enjoying a week off? I should have another entry about a young William Byron coming out this week guys and even a look forward to Texas. Hopefully I didn't disappoint with this entry and I can keep you guys coming back.  

Chase from the same place Elliott

The Next Chapter in the Dawsonville Gang

So tell me if this sounds familiar? A young man from small town in north Georgia, has come up the ranks in Nascar's major series. Well you would be right, one William Clyde Elliot II or Chase for short has followed in his hall of fame father's footsteps. I've decided as a new writer and fan to do an article over one driver's career and story as to how they are where they are once a week until I get all the full time cup series driver covered. As if you couldn't have guessed it this article is going to be over Chase Elliott and his rises, and falls. 

On November 28, 1995 one of the future premier drivers in the sport of Nascar was born. William Clyde Elliott II was born to William Clyde Elliott and Cindy Elliott. The full names may not be as familiar to some fans as it is to others so let me give you the notable names. Chase Elliott is the son to Hall of Fame Nascar driver Bill Elliott. The Elliott name has a huge pedigree in the sport of stock car racing with Chase looking to add on to it. Grandfather George, fielded a short track team in the early 1960's to also fielding some vehicles in the premier series from 1966 to 1974. Along the way three soon to be legends in the sport were born. Ernie Elliott had a knack for building engines, Dan could build transmissions and well Bill has a knack for driving the contraptions of the vehicles his brothers built. Bill and his brothers would go onto accomplish things such as series Champion in 1988, winners of the "Winston Million" and multiple victories throughout the series and years. Where does the next chapter in the "Dawsonville Gang" that contained the likes of drivers such as Gober Sosebee, Roy Hall, Llyod Seay, Benard Long. Well it lies with the youngster who is piloting the famous number nine Chevrolet; Chase Elliott. 

Chase began his journey to the premier series at the age of eight when he started racing go karts on short tracks in north Georgia. Later on after dominating at a young age he moved on up to late models and by age sixteen had dominated against some of the best short trackers in the nation. In 2011 Chase won seven races on his way to a National Championship title in the Champion Racing Associating which is a division of ARCA. In 2011 he signed a driver developmental deal with Hendrick Motorsports and made his full time debut in the K&N East Series. 

Chase began winning soon after signing his deal with Hendricks. Just a short year later he captured his first win at Iowa Speedway. 2013 would be the year his dominance really began to show. At Pocono, he became the youngest winner at just 17 year of age to win at the speedway. Chase never captured a championship in the K&N east series.  In 2013 it was announced he would also compete in the truck series, and then went on to capture his first pole in the series at the "Last Great Coliseum" Bristol. Along with that he was the youngest winner in history of the Nascar national series when he "bumped" fellow young gun Tye Dillon out the way to claim the inaugural race at the Canadian Tire Motorsports Park. Which caused Dillon to say the next time they raced each other "he wont finish the race."   

After his fun and competition in the truck series in 2014 it was announced once again the youngster from Dawsonville would be competing full time in the Xfinity series in the family number nine car with NAPA as the sponsor. In his rookie year alone he held off the likes of Kyle Bush and Kevin Harvick for three wins and two poles throughout the year. Later in the year the young Elliot would go onto clinch the series championship by fifty or so points over his JR motorsports teammate Regan Smith. That clinch of the title would make Chase the youngest series champion ever in the national series history. Later that year along with clinching the championship he would go onto receive the series most popular driver award. In his second year in the Xfinity series it was also announce that Hendrick motorsports would run the numer twenty five Chevrolet SS on a limited schedule so Chase could start to gather some experience racing with the best of the best. The first start in the premier series was very lack luster, with a 38th place finish at Martinsville. Chase finished his five race stint in the cup series with an average finish two positions less than his average starting position with a average 26th place finish. To add onto that Chases second full time year in the Xfinity series was almost as stellar as his first. He received his first DNF at Daytona and went onto battle Chris Buescher for the championship, but unfortunately finished second in the championship race. His year didn't end so horribly though 2015 was Chase's first year receiving the honor of being in Sports Pro Magazine as one of the top 50 most marketable athletes. After finishing the season Chase was off to take over arguably one of the most iconic numbers in Nascar history Jeff Gordon's #24 car.
The rookie campaigne started off as about as great as any rookie could want. With claiming the pole position in his very first Daytona 500. Unfortunately after getting loose on lap eighteen he slid into the front stretch grass and damaged the car, leading to a 38th position finishing spot. Later on in the year an unfortunate rookie mistake at Michigan would cost him the lead and the chance at the win. Chase was very hard on himself after the race saying he had missed a shift and it was all on him. Chase would go onto lead once again that season but a late race caution wiped out his lead over Martin Truex and caused him to finish 3rd. Chase went on to win two pole awards and lead 358 laps through out the year. In his rookie year, Chase made the playoffs and averaged a 14th place finishing spot. Chase was on pace to break through his second year after a very good start to career. Chase would receive the rookie of the year award for his efforts.
The start of the 2017 season once again started off as great as one driver could ask for with a second straight pole award at Daytona. Then not only that, but one of the Cam Am duels. Chase became the first driver since Dale Earnhardt in 1996 to accomplish that unfortunately his great start wouldnt hold up to the big race. Chase winded up finishing 14th with Kurt Bush winning the race. Chase would go onto finish second at Michigan for the third consecutive race in 2017. Along with two more very talked about races. Chase was leading at Dover with fifty laps to go and a four second lead, sadly once again his hopes were dashed by a veteran Kyle Bush, and would go onto finish second. The next was the fall race at Martinsville, after Kyle Bush got knocked outta the way Elliott won the second stage and then would go onto take the lead from Brad Keselowski late in the race. Some very unfortunate and possibly as some called "dirty" racing Chase lost another oppertunity because of Denny Hamlin driving straight into the back of the 24 car with three to go and causing Chase to wreck. Chase would go onto say after the race, "He's (Hamlin) not even worth my time...We had a good opportunity I can't control his decisions whatever and the hell that was onto Texas." Chase would then receive a public apology on twitter from Hamlin, but bad blood was still there for sure. The last race before the final four raced at Homestead was Phoenix were Chase was in a must win situation, and raced Hamlin a little to hard for Hamlin's likings causing him to cut a tire and hit the wall. Sadly, once again another Toyota driving veteran in Matt Keneseth would go onto dash the hopes of the hendricks driver taking the lead from him and never looking back. Chase would be elimated from the playoffs and would go onto finish fifth in the series standings for the year. After an unfortunate stent of luck late in the year, Chase once again finished second to someone else but rightfully to a legend in his own. Chase finished second in the most popular driver vote to one Dale Earnhardt Jr. Earlier this year in was announced that Chase would be switching numbers to start the 2018 season.
Chase was able finally after convincing Mr. Hendrick able to get himself back into the car that his dad made famous the number nine. Chase rolled the nine back onto the track at Daytona posting a ninth qualifying effort to begin with but after going onto win his second duel of the year he would start 4th. Chase unfortunately would be caught in the "big one" and defiantly wouldn't finish where he wanted to in 33rd. With the the new car being brought into the series, all Chevrolet drivers are struggling to adapt and learn to adjust the new cars. Chase has only finished in the top twenty three outta the five races so far. With the hopes of Martinsville being the race where Chase breaks threw in the new Camaro and gets his first career victory. Either way time will tell as the season goes on, with the sport growing ever younger with the likes of Bubba Wallace, William Byron and Alex Bowman coming into the sport. Chase has to show everyone all the talk about him wasn't just because of his last name. Rick Hendrick didnt sign the seventeen year old young man way back when because of his last name. He was signed due to his driving skill and wheel manship.  So guys before anyone has any worries just wait and see new "old" number, new car, refreshed and motivated Elliott will lead to many wins and who knows a Hall of Fame career like his dad Bill.
The best way to finish this is by saying this, the newest member of the Dawsonville racing gang will carry his membership with pride. He will do all he can to bring honor, respect, victories and most importantly the fear from other drivers to his team and hometown. Hope all you Chase fans enjoyed this one, because I enjoyed writing this about my favorite driver. STAY TUNED for more on other drivers that were requested!

Preview for the Half Mile of Mayhem;Martinsville Speedway

There is huge winter storm pounding the northeastern United States. Unfortunately for us the first short track of the season is right up in the middle of it almost. According to the official twitter page of the speedway was quoted saying on multiple replies to fans that racing conditions look good for Sunday. So lets take a pre-race look into the first short track of the year.

STP 500

 Martinsville give the drivers a test in ability and patience. Short track racing at Martinsville brings out the purest form of racing in a driver. There is no aero push and no drafting partners, well unless you count the endless amounts of collisions between front and rear bumpers through out the half mile short track. Take double digits cautions and sprinkle in short tempers and low patience with a handful of drivers and now we are back almost to where the sport got its start. With all that being said there are still some unanswered questions coming into the race. Will the Toyota camp be able to continue there dominance they showed last week? Will the Fords show up once again like they have done all season to this point? Might be the biggest question of all will any Chevrolet car be able to take home a win at a track that has been historically pretty good to them?

Toyota has amassed in a short time in the sport seven wins at the short track in Virginia. Denny Hamlin has been the driver behind five outta the seven wins for the manufacturer. The other two wins, come from his teammate Kyle Bush. In seven wins at the "paper clip" Toyota has led 572 laps combined. Martin Truex and FRR has come on as of late along with Kyle Bush, if it wasn't for a late race mistake on pit road arguable Bush could've won last week. Toyota, specifically JGR has showed dominance at Martinsville and there is no reason they can not come back and do it again. Hamlin could easily show up this weekend at his "home" track. Kyle could come back with a chip on his shoulder and capture his third grand father clock. Maybe we could even see a first time winner in Suarez who has not been historically good here but could shock some people. Then you've got the FRR guys and well we all know how once they start rolling its hard to slow em down. Toyota and all there cars have come on as of late and for the fans of all those driver it couldn't have come at a better time considering Ford has there run of dominance.

Speaking of the blue oval teams, all fords have a total of twenty seven wins at the half mile of chaos. Second only to one manufacturer and that would be Chevrolet, but we'll get to them shortly. Ford has shown to be a force to be reckoned with on the aero tracks and the slick older surfaced tracks. With that being said there numbers at Martinsville haven't exactly be extravagant in the last fifteen years. The blue oval has exactly one win in almost thirty races. Honestly you can even go back twenty five years and they have only amassed twelve total in that span. Ford just has not been historically good at the half mile short track in Virginia. Now with that being said; Ford has been on a path of vengeance this year obviously with Harvick, and even the Penske car having a solid time in Daytona. So this very well could be the year that Ford takes another track for there own. 

Well were do we start with the next group of cars here? Some might say the most dominant manufacturer at the half mile, low banked track. With a whopping fifty six wins, whether it be Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr. or Sr "the bowtie" has been historically dominate at this track. With the recent struggles from the Chevrolet camp as a whole, adapting to the new car multiple Hendricks drivers have been quoted about being excited coming to Martinsville. Jimmie Johnson was quoted saying on the track website saying "For me I just love that little race track, Martinsville has been a great place for me." For a team that is mostly dominated by youngsters they all realize what Rick Hendrick and that team bring to this track, but don't count out Kyle Larson, or Ryan Newman even. Newman is a savy veteran with a lot of laps at this track and could easily bring the second win home for RCR. Kyle Larson has the chance of winning at any race he comes too and this short track is no different. Martinsville could easily be the break that the new Chevrolet Camaro needed early in the season because this track is a great show of driver ability and patience. 

So lets conclude this entry with the weekend schedule for the cup guys. Weather permitting first practice will start Saturday the 24th at 10:05 on FS1. The second practice will be at 12:30 again on FS1, and knockout qualifying will start at 5:10 that evening. The 500 lap race once again weather permitting will start a 2:00 Sunday evening. There is a chance of snow and bad weather so of course as us fans know this could change but regardless of the time of the race this race is gonna be one you don't wanna miss. Stay tuned guys I will have a post race entry to talk about the events that transpired during and after the race. Thank you guys for once again reading my blog and I hope it kept you interested!

5 Races down, East Coast Here we Come

So guys and gals we are five races into this 2018 season. What do you guys think so far has been more shocking? The dominance of the Ford camp specifically Steward Haas, or maybe its the struggles of the new Chevrolet Camaro ZL1? Either way I'm gonna discuss every major headline through the first part of this season for the Monster Energy Cup Series. 

Daytona International Speedway:

Speed weeks started off and the big headlines where the recent comments by Kyle Bush about the youth movement in the sport, and that oh so beautiful new ZL1 the chevy camp was bringing to the track this year.  The Clash started off as a free for all as usual, its kind of expected since these guys are just racing for a trophy and the check. The Ford camp dominated the finish with an almost total sweep of the top 5 with Keselowski winning after leading the most laps (43). The second most laps led (17) coming from the newly re born #9 car with Elliot driving. A late race caution took most of the Chevrolet camp out of the clash. They would rebound nicely. 

Qualifying for the big race would see an oh to familiar site for most of the sport. A Chevrolet got the poll, but not just any Chevrolet a Hendricks car. Which has been the case for seven out of the last ten years. This year had one of the "youth movement" drivers that Hendricks has on board in Alex Bowman as your P1 starter. Veteran driver Denny Hamlin in his Joe Gibbs Toyota took P2 and your front row was set. Next up the duels to determine the lineup behind those two cars.

   Duel one had the pole sitter Alex Bowman leading them to the green flag, but after taking the green he dropped to the back to preserve his pole sitting car for the big race. The sixty three lap race was dominated by the ford camp:mainly Roger Penske's fords. With sixty two of the laps being led by Logano and Blaney your eventual winner. Ryan Blaney led the most important lap of all the last one and would go onto start P3 in the 500 for his efforts. Only one other car led a lap in duel one and that was Justin Marks #51 Chevrolet. Ford decided that they were gonna show everyone they were still here and ready to compete as they did in the clash also. 

Duel two was led to the green flag by Denny Hamlin and unlike Bowman, Hamlin wanted to win this and be competitive not just preserve his car, Hamlin lead eighteen of the 60 laps but finished ninth. The dominant car was once again one Chase Elliot and the Hendricks #9 leading thirty four laps. Chase and his crew decided to not set the car up for qualifying this year but instead go with race trim and it paid off for the duel. Chase would be rewarded with P4 starting position for the 500, and now the lineup was set. 

The Daytona 500, one of if not the most historic races in history of the sport. Winners of this race include the likes of Petty, Pearson, and Earnhardt. If you win this race you go down in history as a Daytona champion. The front four for this years rolled to the green flag with hopes of becoming the next name engraved onto the historic trophy. Little did they and everyone else know that out of forty cars only ten would finish on the lead lap. A string of wrecks took out contenders such as Johnson, Keselowski, Elliot and many more. Which if your familiar with the sport you know Daytona can take a no body and make them a somebody its always a toss up with the draft and the speeds it takes to race here. The fords would go on to dominate leading a combine 147 of the 207 laps. With Ryan Blaney leading the way with 118. All other manufactures lead a total of sixty laps. With the most important lap the last one being led by arguably the most iconic number in Nascar history the #3 car driven by Austin Dillon. On the last lap in a very Earnhardt Sr. like move put on Almirola, Dillon took the lead and went onto win the race in a very symbolic fashion. With it being the 20th anniversary of Earnhardts first 500 win it was only fitting that the car and number made famous by him be back in victory lane. So, lets wrap up arguably the biggest race of the season. Daytona. Chevrolet struggled to adapt in the draft with the new car, Ford dominated most laps led and two outta four races won. Daytona left fans and team with more questions than answers.

Atlanta Motor Speedway 

Folds of Honor Quiktrip 300, with Toyota looking to come into AMS and make a statement they did just that early on with Kyle Bush winning the pole. Unfortunately for them and Chevrolet it didn't last long with Ford coming on strong and dominating all of the race. Ford came on early and didn't let up at all leading 272 of 325 laps. The most astounding stat of all is that Stewart Hass teammates Kevin Harvick and Kurt Bush led 233 of those. With Mr. AMS himself Harvick absolutely dominating the race and said himself after the win "Its great getting into this race car and knowing that everybody knew they needed to beat our car." The Chevrolet camps were not so fortunate. With only one car the 31 leading 17 laps and only two cars finishing in the top ten. The only positive to that is they still led more laps than the Toyota camp at nine. The negatives are with only two cars in the top ten all of the chevrolet camp finished in the bottom half of the race either due to wrecks or struggles adapting. As all the the good winners and losers say onto the next one.

Las Vegas Motor Speedway

Penzoil 400, the first race of the west coast swing, and the beginning of a dominant performance thus far. The weekend once again started off almost right where the previous race left off with the blue ovals dominating qualifying and claiming three of the top five spots. With one of those being the west coast king himself "Happy Harvick." The number four Stewart Haas, Fusion took P2, and wouldn't stay there for long. Harvick went onto dominate leading 214 of 267 laps. In 592 total laps Harvick led a whopping 395 of those laps. Harvick was quoted saying after the race "Im fortunate to be riding the wave." Ford has come out with a vengeance this year to prove that no madder how dominant Toyota was last year with Truex, and no madder how the new ZL1 is they are still here and relevant. Chevrolet still struggled with just one car in the top ten and not a single lap led, fans are left wondering if maybe the manufacturers should've left a good thing alone. Teams are left with the thought of "whats next?" Toyota still hasn't really shown any competition for the Ford camp, Kyle Bush inched closer near the end of the race but never could put any pressure on Harvick and once again Harvick won his second race of the season, but wouldn't get to celebrate long. Shortly after the race all over multiple social media site where pictures of Harvicks car. The pictures showed the back glass and part of the car colapsed in the top right corner. Nascar didnt have any comment on the pictures and stuck with standard protocol and took the race winning car back for mandatory inspections. Less than five short days later penalties where given out to the four car team for two infractions. One penalty for a rear window brace broke, which is the reason for the pictures and while looking into that issue they found that the car had rocker panel extensions. Harvick will not have any points from the Vegas race. Crew Chief Childers fined $50,000 and car chief  Robert Smith suspended for two races. Harvick was very open about his displeasure in how social media got involved in the process. Nascar's first headlining penalties have been issues whats to come next?

ISM Raceway

Ticket Guardian 500, finally the Chevrolet and Toyota camp made an appearance. Last years series champ Martix Truex Jr. and FRR started off the weekend with grabbing the pole from the dominant Fords. Kyle Larson, Chase Elliot and Alex Bowman grabbed 3 or the remaining four positions in the top five in qualifying. Maybe the new car was coming around for the chevrolet guys or so they thought. Toyota decided it was there turn to dominate this week leading 164 of the 312 lap race. Kyle Bush leading most of those laps with Hamlin and Truex the pole sitter contributing to the talley. Chevrolet wasn't far behind with 92 laps led, and Kyle Larson slipping and sliding his way to the majority of those. Even with the dominance finally showing up for the opposing camps. Happy Harvick came back with a vengeance to show his season to this point wasn't due to an unfair advantage just pure dominance and driving ability. Harvick went onto lead 38 laps and one of those the most important the final one. Harvick got out after his victory celebration, and patted the back glass of the car to show everyone with or without the broken window brace he was taking what he wanted at a track where that is oh to familiar. Harvick has nine total victories at ISM raceway after the one this season and won back to back to back races for the first time in his career. The veteran is showing the youth movement a thing or two and is hoping to go on to Auto Club and win one more an just assert his dominance.

Auto Club Speedway

Auto Club 400, once again Toyota and Chevrolet showed up for qualifying but not even the whole field showed up. Due to pre qualifying inspection a whopping thirteen cars were not allowed to qualify. With a good bit of the contenders not able to qualify it looked like Kevin Harvick was gonna run away with this pole award just like the last three races. Harvick got tripped up and allowed Martin Truex to grab his second pole award of the season in the final round. Leading the way for Toyota to claim three of the top five starting positions, and chevrolet claiming the other two with Kyle Larson leading the way. Once again the strong showing in qualifying but could they continue it into the race. Harvick showed strong times in practice and had everyone shaking again that the 4 car would be in victory lane. An early lap wreck caused Harvick to sustain significant damage and took him outta contention early.  Kyle Larson the other car involved even said after the race he thought Harvick had a fast car. With the dominating man out Kyle Bush and Martin Truex battled all evening for control and with 39 laps remaining Kyle wiggled on the back stretch allowing Truex to take control and win his first of the season and sixteenth career victory. Kyle Bush's pit crew made a crucial mistake in taking wedge out of the car on the final pit stop and with Bush fighting a loose race car all day that only made it worse. None the less Toyota finally showed they were back in the game whether or not it was due to some good fortune or not they showed up and won. After the race, Kyle Bush received a lot of slack from fans for not interviewing with the fox crew. Kyle was quoted on twitter saying "Nascar parked me at the end of pit road due to loose lugs I then walked pit road the distance back to the turn into the garage and only MRN asked. TV was elsewhere. They had a shot skipped it" then proceeded to say that "There was even a NASCAR person who walked w my PR person and myself and we asked if we needed to go to media and we were told "all clear."  The fans love to hate "Rowdy" no madder how good or bad he is toward the fans. The west coast swing has come to an end and drivers and teams are headed back to the east coast for some short track racing at "the paperclip" Martinsville Motor Speedway. 

Conclusion

With Dayton and the west coast swing outta the way ford has showed to be dominant with Stewart Haas cars leading the way. Chevrolet is struggling to get a feel for the new car, Toyota has decided to get rolling at the right time. Well ladies and gents this post has took me a good bit to write feel free to let me know your opinion. Also STAY TUNED there is more to come now that I have got my computer back up and functioning.  

Ready to Begin!

So I have struggled on what to write my first entry and how it relates to the sport we all know and love. So I figured I would give you guys a little back story of the guy who will running the blog page and Twitter page. 

    First off my name is Christoper Prince, Chris for short. I’m 22 years old currently will be 23 in May of this year. I am from a small town in the north Georgia mountains, McCaysville. Which is located approximately around two or so hours north of Atlanta motor speedway in Fannin county. I graduated high school in 2013 from Copper Basin High, in Copperhill Tennessee. Which actually had around 69 or so students in my graduating class. I’m married and have one son, and another little future NASCAR fan on the way. Which I just recently found out about. I’m a huge family man and love my son and wife very much, but enough about my personal life. 

      Let’s talk about how I became a devoted fan. 

I was introduce to the sport at a super young age, 6 months old to be exact. Whether I knew what I was watching at that young age or not is another question. My dad was the person who sat me down on the couch and watched it with me and every Sunday or Saturday night since then I’ve always watched. As I got older around 5 or 6 years of age. I gravitated toward that early 2000’s McDonald’s 94 car, with Bill Elliot driving. I had no idea at the time Bill Elliot was from Dawsonville or even how close Dawsonville was to my hometown I just loved the McDonald’s car, and he became my driver and I stuck by him. Even when he went to work with Evernham Motorsports and started driving the #9 car again. I never got to really see Bill in his prime like he was in the 80’s. I got to witness him in 2002 have a successful year and that is the year I really remember the most. Bill won 4 poles Atlanta, Texas, Pocono and Loudon, and won two races at Pocono and the Brickyard. Bills last win at Rockingham in the fall was the final time I got to watch my first driver win. Starting fifth and leading a race high 140 laps he brought home the trophy for the final time in his career. When Bill left full time racing I said whoever took over for him in the 9 car would be my driver and fate had it be Kasey Kahne and man Kasey had a great start in the 9 car and then things fell off. I followed Kasey(still do) until I heard about this up and comer Chase Elliot, my favorite driver of all times son, winning in the truck series and ARCA series and it just so happen he had a very know backer in Hendrick Motorsports. Chase first year in the Xfinity series was really the first year I started watching the “amateur” series in the Camping world truck series and Xfinity series. I was impress by the man who is actually only six months younger than me. Racing with the best of the best and even going on to win two races at Dover and Texas. I had finally found someone I could follow with some passion again since Bill had quit racing full time. I now since watching Chase come up threw the ranks, every chance I get I try to watch the trucks and xfinity guys race. Especially since NASCAR has quit allowing the cup guys to dominate every week. I find them a lot more interesting watching the “nobody’s” prove themselves. 

So everyone may wonder, and this is were it gets interesting. Have you ever been to a race in person? Well, to answer that not yet. I’ve finally come to the point financially where I hope to attend one this season.  I was never able to race carts or dirt track my family just didn’t want to supplement that income for me but this sport is one I’ve followed my whole life and honestly have more of a passion for than football or baseball. I hope even though it’s a huge long shot that this blog and twitter page will maybe lead to a job that involves one of my passions stock car racing! Sorry to have rambled so long guys, so now that you have read about my love for the sport and about me let me say this. I plan on writing and editing this blog and twitter page as much as I am able, and seeing where it takes me in the sport. I know there are a lot of people like me in the sport already but who knows everyone has to start somewhere! Thank you if your still reading at this point!