Brickyard Wrap-up and Kentucky Picks
Big Machine Hand Sanitizer 400 aka Brickyard 400
Wrap-up and Results
July 4th has come and gone and like most everything in 2020 this one was new and different. Instead of 400 miles at Daytona as has been the custom in my life, it was 400 miles at Indy, as part of a racing weekend that included an Indy Car/Xfinity double header prelim on the Indy road course.
There was lots of excitement/interest/curiosity as to what this weekend would bring. Denny Hamlin and Kevin Harvick put on a 153-lap chess match that was eventually decided by a failed Goodyear that left Hamlin in the wall and Harvick kissing bricks. This delighted PattyKay Lilley, Vivian Simons, John Barnes and J. L. Steele who had selected Harvick as their pick this week and left Hal Ashburn who had picked Hamlin wondering what if as he was seven laps away from his third win in four races.
Congratulations to the winning foursome in a race that saw seven finish in the top ten. The final finishing order follows.
Wrap-up and Results
July 4th has come and gone and like most everything in 2020 this one was new and different. Instead of 400 miles at Daytona as has been the custom in my life, it was 400 miles at Indy, as part of a racing weekend that included an Indy Car/Xfinity double header prelim on the Indy road course.
There was lots of excitement/interest/curiosity as to what this weekend would bring. Denny Hamlin and Kevin Harvick put on a 153-lap chess match that was eventually decided by a failed Goodyear that left Hamlin in the wall and Harvick kissing bricks. This delighted PattyKay Lilley, Vivian Simons, John Barnes and J. L. Steele who had selected Harvick as their pick this week and left Hal Ashburn who had picked Hamlin wondering what if as he was seven laps away from his third win in four races.
Congratulations to the winning foursome in a race that saw seven finish in the top ten. The final finishing order follows.
Points leader Frank Buhrman had a disastrous weekend but with his huge points lead maintained his stranglehold atop the points standings. Hal was not quite as fortunate as his misfortune allowed Vivian and Berra Nordin to slip by. Here is the points standings after Indy.
So that’s a wrap from the historic Brickyard. Different point in the schedule. Different prelim. Same old Indy.
Quaker State 400 Kentucky
Last year’s race at My Old Kentucky Kookie Kutter had one of the best finishes of the season with the Brothers Busch beating and banging their way to the finish line under a bright Bluegrass moon. Kurt bested brother Kyle that night then left him on the tarmac to find his own way home. Can we expect a repeat and see Kyle’s 2020 winless streak continue?
The pandemic has thrown another curve and the Saturday night race has been moved to Sunday afternoon. The first day race, coupled with a weather forecast of hot and chance of rain makes this race another in a long series of crapshoots.
Every previous Cup winner will be in the field this Sunday with Brad Keselowski (3), Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr. (2), Matt Kenseth and Kurt Busch (1) taking the green. Other ones to watch include Kevin Harvick, Joey Logano and Ryan Newman. Clint Bowyer’s not bad there either.
Let’s see who our Fantasy Racers think will take the win in the Battle of the Bluegrass. Take it away PattyKay...
PattyKay Lilley
Kentucky... not exactly my favorite track, as it cost a race at Atlanta to make room for it on the schedule... just another cookie-cutter Charlotte Clone. Stats seem to say Truex or KyBu... in that case, I'll just stay put and ride another week with #4, Kevin Harvick.
Frank Buhrman
I'm not a gambler, so the first time I went to a horse track, I picked up a proven betting system from a friend (a priest - what could go wrong there?). Halfway through the afternoon, betting $2 on each race, I was up around $8. Then I decided I was smarter than any system - divinely inspired or otherwise - and I struck out on my own. Guess how that turned out? I feel like I did the same thing last week with my bet on Truex because "he's due." Yeah, due for engine trouble before fans in the sun broke out a sweat. No more of that, and no Truex this week, even though his record at Kentucky is good. My track record with giving a driver another shot after a bad week has been awful. So, we'll play it as safe as possible in this game and go with Kyle Busch.
Vivian Simons
Except for Martin Truex Jr, I have a block against picking any other JGR driver, even if it costs me points. However, Martin is on a bad luck steak and I am not sure it will change. Therefore, I am going with #9, Chase Elliot for the win!
Berra Nordin
I don't have any feel for who's going to win so with nothing better I in mind I'll take #19 Martin Truex Jr as my winner this week!!
Kelly Meiste
Brother Kurt knocked him out of the win here last year, but he won’t get close enough to do the same this year. #18 for the win!
Vicq Ruiz
Now on to Plan E. My pick for Kentucky is Aric Almirola, using a new idea.
Hal Ashburn
Well he almost got me another one (damn Goodyear) so I guess I'll stay on the Denny train. #11
Will Dossett
I think that since he has won at KY before, I will go with the #8, Tyler Reddick.
J. L. Steele
Denny Hamlin and Kevin Harvick are currently head and shoulders above everyone else. Out of those two, Harvick has been more consistent and nothing could prove that more than winning his second in a row and third out of the last four races. The 4 car is my pick for Kentucky.
John Barnes
I'll take the 2. No reason… just want to keep sliding back.
David Nance
I’ll try the 12 for the win this week.
Agree? Disagree? Play Along! Make your Picks in the Comments Below!
Quaker State 400 Kentucky
Last year’s race at My Old Kentucky Kookie Kutter had one of the best finishes of the season with the Brothers Busch beating and banging their way to the finish line under a bright Bluegrass moon. Kurt bested brother Kyle that night then left him on the tarmac to find his own way home. Can we expect a repeat and see Kyle’s 2020 winless streak continue?
The pandemic has thrown another curve and the Saturday night race has been moved to Sunday afternoon. The first day race, coupled with a weather forecast of hot and chance of rain makes this race another in a long series of crapshoots.
Every previous Cup winner will be in the field this Sunday with Brad Keselowski (3), Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr. (2), Matt Kenseth and Kurt Busch (1) taking the green. Other ones to watch include Kevin Harvick, Joey Logano and Ryan Newman. Clint Bowyer’s not bad there either.
Let’s see who our Fantasy Racers think will take the win in the Battle of the Bluegrass. Take it away PattyKay...
PattyKay Lilley
Kentucky... not exactly my favorite track, as it cost a race at Atlanta to make room for it on the schedule... just another cookie-cutter Charlotte Clone. Stats seem to say Truex or KyBu... in that case, I'll just stay put and ride another week with #4, Kevin Harvick.
Frank Buhrman
I'm not a gambler, so the first time I went to a horse track, I picked up a proven betting system from a friend (a priest - what could go wrong there?). Halfway through the afternoon, betting $2 on each race, I was up around $8. Then I decided I was smarter than any system - divinely inspired or otherwise - and I struck out on my own. Guess how that turned out? I feel like I did the same thing last week with my bet on Truex because "he's due." Yeah, due for engine trouble before fans in the sun broke out a sweat. No more of that, and no Truex this week, even though his record at Kentucky is good. My track record with giving a driver another shot after a bad week has been awful. So, we'll play it as safe as possible in this game and go with Kyle Busch.
Vivian Simons
Except for Martin Truex Jr, I have a block against picking any other JGR driver, even if it costs me points. However, Martin is on a bad luck steak and I am not sure it will change. Therefore, I am going with #9, Chase Elliot for the win!
Berra Nordin
I don't have any feel for who's going to win so with nothing better I in mind I'll take #19 Martin Truex Jr as my winner this week!!
Kelly Meiste
Brother Kurt knocked him out of the win here last year, but he won’t get close enough to do the same this year. #18 for the win!
Vicq Ruiz
Now on to Plan E. My pick for Kentucky is Aric Almirola, using a new idea.
Hal Ashburn
Well he almost got me another one (damn Goodyear) so I guess I'll stay on the Denny train. #11
Will Dossett
I think that since he has won at KY before, I will go with the #8, Tyler Reddick.
J. L. Steele
Denny Hamlin and Kevin Harvick are currently head and shoulders above everyone else. Out of those two, Harvick has been more consistent and nothing could prove that more than winning his second in a row and third out of the last four races. The 4 car is my pick for Kentucky.
John Barnes
I'll take the 2. No reason… just want to keep sliding back.
David Nance
I’ll try the 12 for the win this week.
Agree? Disagree? Play Along! Make your Picks in the Comments Below!