PixelatedPICK: Kevin Harvick Shooting for Tenth Phoenix Win, Plus… Stickin’ With Jimmie Johnson

Jimmie Johnson and # Kevin Harvick, during the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 17, 2019 in Daytona International Speedway. (Matthew T. Thacker/NKP/LAT Images)

By: Daniel Vining, Twitter: @danielvining

AVONDALE, Arizona (March 10, 2019) -- The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series rolls into Phoenix this week and is back to the 750hp configuration for its aero package. Kevin Harvick has an astounding nine wins in Phoenix, and looks to chalk up his tenth victory on Sunday.

“When we go to Phoenix, we are always going for the win,” Harvick told Racer Magazine. “That’s been a great racetrack for me,personally, and since I’ve been at SHR, it’s become statistically one of our best racetracks as far as win counts go. It’s definitely a racetrack that we circle every year where we think we should have an opportunity to win.”

To get to that tenth win, Harvick will have to get past another NASCAR great in Kyle Busch… who is looking to add to his total of 198 wins across NASCAR’s top three national series.

“As rough as our relationship was to start things off, there’s a mutual respect that we have found over the past several years that have created a healthy competitiveness instead of an unhealthy competitiveness,” Harvick told NASCAR.com Friday at ISM Raceway, site of Sunday’s TicketGuardian 500 (3:30 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

“Look, Kyle’s a great race car driver. Kyle and I have really not much in common off the race track, but I have an extreme amount of respect for what he does in the race car and the things that happen on the race track. There isn’t a guy in the garage that I want to beat more than Kyle just because of the fact that if you’ve beat him on the race track, you’ve had a really good day. Racing with him head-to-head is something that I enjoy. Definitely, he wants to beat me, I want to beat him, but I feel like I have a good relationship with Kyle.”

Should Harvick pull off the feat, he will become only the sixth driver in Cup Series history to win 10 or more races at one racetrack.

STICKIN’ WITH: Jimmie Johnson in Phoenix

After having an exciting, albeit controversial, start to the 2019 season with a win in The Clash at Daytona, Jimmie Johnson’s road to returning to victory lane in the NASCAR Cup Series has proven difficult. Johnson has had mediocre runs at Atlanta and Las Vegas, but at ISM Raceway in Phoenix, Arizona has shown signs of turn to the positive trend, with solid top five times during practice.

“We were very aggressive with the setup of our car,” Johnson said on Friday afternoon at ISM Raceway before qualifying 15th for Sunday’s TicketGuardian 500 (3:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). “I think once we took consistent air off the top of it, it just started bouncing and went haywire. That thing was bouncing all over the place once I got to like 15th or 20th on the track.”

Jimmie Johnson has the third best driver rating of all active drivers at Phoenix, and with the strong runs in practice, he could find himself with a solid result, and if the strategy plays out just right, a possible return to victory lane is not out of the question. A win on Sunday would be his fourth there.

“Atlanta (a 24th-place result), was pretty rough for us. Vegas we had a lot more speed in the car, but when I lost track position as the race wore on, my car was pretty evil to drive. We are learning each and every step. We have been off to a good start here in Phoenix. I know it’s way different than that other package, but we’re learning as we go, and we just have to do a better job and get better.”

PixelatedSPEED is a motorsports news and views website covering all things racing and has been “Bringing Pixels 2 Pavement Since 2018”. If you've made it this far into the post, thank you. Please consider sharing this content on the interwebs and following PixelatedSPEED on Facebook and Twitter and joining in on the conversation. http://facebook.com/PixelatedSPEED & http://twitter.com/PixelatedSPEED 

PixelatedPICK: Going for the Sweep in Vegas

With an astounding 197 wins across NASCAR national series competition, Kyle Busch is looking to achieve yet another triple win weekend, this time in Las Vegas. (Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)

By: Daniel Vining, Twitter @danielvining

LAS VEGAS, Nevada (March 3, 2019) -- When you combine the raw talent, overall success, the new aero package, and the pure results over the last few seasons, this week's PixelatedPICK is almost a given.

In my mind, and the minds of many bookies in Las Vegas, Kyle Busch is the odds on favorite to win the Pennzoil 400 on Sunday.

Last week, Busch scored a record setting victory at Atlanta, becoming the all time wins leader in the NASCAR Truck Series after securing his 52nd career win. On Friday, Busch continued to add to that total with a dominant performance at Las Vegas, sweeping both stages en route to winning the Strat 200, his 53rd career Truck Series victory.

“It’s cool to win here in your hometown, being in Las Vegas, starting off a triple weekend,” said Busch. Hopefully, we can keep it going.”

Busch would keep it going, continuing his push for the weekend sweep by winning the Boyd Gaming 300, his 93rd career win in the Xfinity Series.

Busch had to overcome being a lap down early after a loose wheel sent him to pit road. It took awhile for Busch to get his lap back, and find the top spot. Once in the lead, Busch battled hard with Christopher Bell and Tyler Reddick, then had to defend against multiple overtime attempts, before narrowly edging out John Hunter Nemechek to score his 197th NASCAR victory (across all three series)

“I thought this would be the toughest of the three,” Busch said from Victory Lane after Saturday’s Xfinity Series event. “We had a fast race car but we could never get the balance even in the race right there. I was either way too tight or way too loose, I could never find a happy medium. Overall, I feel like the Cup car is pretty good. The M&M’s Chocolate Bar Camry got some speed to it as well and we ran a lot out there in traffic and the pack. So it will be interesting tomorrow.”

The new aero package being used in the NASCAR Cup Series has produced what looks to be a combination of the styles of racing seen in both the Truck Series and Xfinity Series. On throttle time has increased, and the draft plays a greater role than ever before on intermediate race tracks. I think this style of racing really suits Kyle Busch’s style and will play a huge factor in his journey to sweeping the weekend.

Sweeping races in NASCAR weekends is nothing new. Busch won all three races at Bristol, twice… in 2010 and 2017, and has done the double sweep on several occasions, winning a combo of Truck/Xfinity, Truck/Cup, Xfinity/Cup. Now, Busch has the opportunity to pick up his third triple-sweep, this time at his hometrack, Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

“Overall, I feel like our Cup car is pretty good. The car has some speed. We ran a lot out there in the pack and in traffic, and it’s going to be an interesting race (on Sunday). Make sure everybody tunes in.”

The PixelatedPICK is a featured column of PixelatedSPEED showcasing the pick to win the race of the week. Usually centered on the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, the PixelatedPICK may also feature special events throughout the racing world. Readers are encouraged to share who they think will will the race in the comments section!

PixelatedSPEED is a motorsports news and views website covering all things racing and has been “Bringing Pixels 2 Pavement Since 2018”. If you've made it this far into the post, thank you. Please consider sharing this content on the interwebs and following PixelatedSPEED on Facebook and Twitter and joining in on the conversation. http://facebook.com/PixelatedSPEED & http://twitter.com/PixelatedSPEED 

PixelatedSPEED is a part of the Gravel Network. Copyright - 2018, 2019

PixeatedPICK: 61st Annual Daytona 500

Official 2019 hero portrait for Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver Paul Menard. (Chris Graythen/ Getty Images)

By: Daniel Vining, Twitter: @danielvining

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida (February 17, 2019) -- Once again the time has come to begin another Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season. Once again the motorsports world will place it’s focus on the “World’s Center of Racing,” the Daytona International Speedway. Also once again, I will place my pick to win the Super Bowl of stock car racing.

Going into Speedweeks I had only one word entering my head when the thought of a pick came to mind: Penske.

Over the past few seasons, Team Penske has been a very competitive force at Daytona. Leading laps and consistently putting themselves in a position for victory, it’s a real wonder as to how there have only been three wins by Penske drivers at Daytona.

In 2019, Team Penske got off to great start with a strong showing in the Advance Auto Parts Clash.

Joey Logano was poised for an excellent result but was relegated to third place after rain brought the race to a premature end. Logano is the highest rated driver at Daytona currently, with a driver rating of 84.4. He won the 2015 Daytona 500 and 2017 Clash at Daytona.

On Thursday, Logano won Duel number two after a dramatic pass on race leader Clint Bowyer on the last lap. Statistically, Logano should be the pick, but I’m not going with Logano this week.

Brad Keselowski, like Logano, has been very strong in recent years at Daytona. Unlike Logano, hei has found himself on the short end of the stick more times than not, and has not been able to capitalize on his performances. This year at Daytona, Keselowski has suffered from miscommunications on pit road, was a part of the Big One in the Clash, and lost his roof escape hatch in the Xfinity Series race. Keselowski will be strong on Sunday, but I’m not sure he is strong enough to win.

Ryan Blaney has been solid in his Daytona efforts. He ranks 10th statistically among active drivers with a rating of 90.3, but no wins. So far, his role has been that of support for his teammates, although he has led 129 laps, 66 more than Logano.

Ryan Blaney’s 118 laps led last year was the most prolific time out front in the race since Davey Allison led 127 laps en route to the 1992 winner’s trophy. Since then, Blaney is the only driver to lead 100 laps or more since Tony Stewart led 107 laps in 2005. Both Blaney and Stewart finished seventh in those races.

Blaney is sure to be strong in this year’s Daytona 500, but he’s not my pick either.

The pick instead comes from a Team Penske alliance teammate… Paul Menard, driving for Wood Brothers Racing.

Menard has had a stellar effort thus far in Speedweeks. He led the most laps in the Clash before being wiped out by eventual winner Jimmie Johnson.

He again showed tremendous strength by finishing third in the first Duel on Thursday, being edged out by Ricky Stenhouse on the final lap.

Menard has been impressive in the draft, and one of the fastest… topping the leaderboard in the next to last practice session (Menard did not participate in final practice).

Menard is driving for the famed Wood Brothers Racing team, and his carrying the heart of a racing community on his shoulders after the passing of Glenn Wood in late January.

The Wood Brothers, NASCAR’s longest operating team, have five wins in the Daytona 500 - second only to Petty Enterprises. Their latest win came in 2011 with rookie Trevor Bayne, who was the youngest Daytona 500 in history.

Menard moved over to Wood Brothers Racing in 2018, and while he and the team struggled throughout much of the season, they were always strong at the plate tracks.

In 2019, Menard seems to have an added confidence in interviews and demeanor. He has the speed, his team has the resources, and with the alliance, he has partners to draft with that have proven that when they stick together they are a true threat.

For those reasons, my pick to win the 61st Annual Daytona 500 is Wood Brothers Racing’s Paul Menard.

The PixelatedPICK is a featured column of PixelatedSPEED showcasing the pick to win the race of the week. Usually centered on the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, the PixelatedPICK may also feature special events throughout the racing world. Readers are encouraged to share who they think will will the race in the comments section!

PixelatedSPEED is a motorsports news and views website covering all things racing and has been “Bringing Pixels 2 Pavement Since 2018”. If you've made it this far into the post, thank you. Please consider sharing this content on the interwebs and following PixelatedSPEED on Facebook and Twitter and joining in on the conversation. http://facebook.com/PixelatedSPEED & http://twitter.com/PixelatedSPEED 

PixelatedSPEED is a part of the Gravel Network. Copyright - 2018, 2019

PixelatedRESULTS: Johnson Wins Rain Shortened 2019 Clash at Daytona After Big One

The "Big One" on lap 55 of the Advance Auto Parts Clash at Daytona on February 10, 2019. (Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida (February 10, 2019) -- After what Motorsport.com reporter Jim Utter proclaimed as the longest short race in NASCAR history, the Advance Auto Parts Clash at Daytona has concluded. The race saw three red flag periods for rain, the third resulting in the race being called 17 laps shy of the 75 lap scheduled distance. It wasn’t the rain, however, that will plastor the headlines following this race. It was the move Jimmie Johnson pulled on Paul Menard on the final lap of green flag racing, which led to the “Big One” and resulted in Jimmie Johnson walking into victory lane.

Paul Menard started from the pole, and very quickly he, in his Wood Brothers Racing machine, along with the trio of Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney from Team Penske, found themselves the dominant force in the race, with Menard leading the most laps in the event.

The race itself was a repeating cycle of side by side pack racing for a couple of laps, before the field would find its way into a topside train, running single file along the wall of the Daytona high banks. This would be followed by a shower, a red flag… and another restart.

On lap 55, Paul Menard was leading the freight train that is NASCAR plate racing down the backstretch. Second place Jimmie Johnson, with a feeling of urgency of impending rain, dove low. Both Menard and Johnson slightly drifted toward each other, resulting in contact and initiating the “Big One”.

Only Kurt Busch, Joey Logano, and Ryan Blaney found themselves unscathed in the crash, but Johnson found himself at the front of the field.

Soon thereafter, the skies opened up, and the track was lost -- ending the event.

“It was really just a racing thing,” Johnson said. “I was going down into Turn 1 and it was looking darker and darker. I saw my move and I had to take it.”

He added, “Just really happy about a great day for Hendrick Motorsports, for Chevrolet, for Ally coming on board and qualifying third for the Daytona 500 and then to win The Clash. Kevin Meendering leading this team. I’m extremely excited to win. It’s not a points race, but it’s a good start.

Paul Menard took some of the blame for the multi-car crash, but was not very happy with the level of aggressiveness by Johnson.

“I moved down a little bit and the next thing I knew, I was getting turned in the left rear,” Menard told Fox Sports 1. “We tore up the car for no good reason. … It sucks that aggressive side drafting caused that big crash.”

After the race was called, Fox Sports’ Bob Pockrass was the first to inform that Jimmie Johnson had been declared the winner.

“Jimmie’s a seven time champion,” said Menard. “I’ve got a lot of respect for him but we come to these plate tracks and he causes at least one wreck at every plate track. He got in July here last year and that’s unfortunate that he just did it again.”

PixelatedPICK Joey Logano was one of the few drivers to make it through without a scratch. After being shuffled back during the final stint, he was able to miss this chaos, and finished third.

“We worked our way up into maybe the fourth spot when they started crashing in front of us,” said Logano. “I’m proud that we were able to make the bottom work at least a little bit, but it’s just tough sledding down there.”

He added, “If you can get a few cars to commit with you, you can make it happen. It shows that we’ve got speed in our race cars. That’s a great thing, and then after that it’s a matter of getting people to work with you, which we did. They were our teammates, but I think we showed that we’ve got plenty of speed, which will help us in the 500.”

Unofficial Results - Advance Auto Parts Clash at Daytona:

1. Jimmie Johnson
2. Kurt Busch
3. Joey Logano
4. Ryan Blaney
5. Alex Bowman
6. Austin Dillon
7. Chase Elliott
8. Aric Almirola
9. Ryan Newman
10. Daniel Suarez
11. Jamie McMurray
12. Kevin Harvick
13. Paul Menard
14. Kyle Busch
15. Martin Truex Jr.
16. Clint Bowyer
17. Denny Hamlin
18. Brad Keselowski
19. Kyle Larson
20. Erik Jones

PixelatedSPEED is a motorsports news and views website covering all things racing and has been “Bringing Pixels 2 Pavement Since 2018”. If you've made it this far into the post, thank you. Please consider sharing this content on the interwebs and following PixelatedSPEED on Facebook and Twitter and joining in on the conversation. http://facebook.com/PixelatedSPEED & http://twitter.com/PixelatedSPEED 

PixelatedSPEED is a part of the Gravel Network. Copyright - 2018, 2019

PixelatedPICK: The 2019 Clash at Daytona

Team Penske driver Joey Logano during practice for the 59th Annual DAYTONA 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 24, 2017 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Chris Graythen/ Getty Images)

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida (February 10, 2019) -- NASCAR racing is back for the 2019 season. To kick off the season, a selection of some of the best in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series will take to battle in an exhibition shootout known as The Clash.

Officially the Advance Auto Parts Clash at Daytona, this race serves as the traditional start of the NASCAR racing season. There are no points up for grabs, only cash and prestige. So basically, bragging rights.

The format has varied over the years, however the basic premise it that The Clash is a shootout style race putting the pole winners from the previous year against each other. In recent years, the eligibility rules have been expanded to allow championship contenders to participate, providing a fuller field of competitors.

The 2017-2018 rules were slightly revised ahead of the 2019 Clash, allowing drivers who were 2018 Busch Pole Award winners, former Clash winners who competed full-time in 2018, former Daytona 500 champions who competed full-time in 2018, former Daytona 500 pole winners who competed full-time in 2018, and drivers who qualified for the 2018 Cup Series playoffs full-time to all be eligible to race in the Clash.

For this year’s incarnation, I’m sticking close to the current trends I’m seeing at Daytona. Last year, Brad Keselowski found his way to the top, winning in his Team Penske Ford. Keselowski, and the entire Team Penske ensemble proved to be very competitive throughout Speedweeks, and all four visits to restrictor plate events in the 2018 season.

Keeping it in the Team Penske family, the first PixelatedPICK of the 2019 season goes to 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Champion, Joey Logano.

Logano was fast in practice, posting a speed of 196.786 during the first session, topping the chart.

He won this race in 2017 and was runner-up in 2016 and 2017. To say that Logano has been really good in Daytona recently is an understatement. While the Chevy’s from Hendrick Motorsports dominated Daytona 500 qualifying, the new Ford Mustang’s have been very solid all weekend long and look to continue being strong as the start of the season kicks off.

Logano seems very focused on what lays ahead, and does not seem to be encumbered by his recent successes.

“As far as I’m concerned we are past champions now,” said Logano. “It’s cool to be a champion, but now we’re back to zero, just like everyone else. We’re looking to get back to work and have some fun.”

Logano starts seventh in this year’s Clash.

Starting Lineup for the 2019 Clash at Daytona:

1. Paul Menard
2. Kyle Busch
3. Brad Keselowski
4. Ryan Newman
5. Alex Bowman
6. Kevin Harvick
7. Joey Logano
8. Ryan Blaney
9. Austin Dillon
10. Daniel Suarez
11. Jamie McMurray
12. Martin Truex Jr.
13. Jimmie Johnson
14. Kyle Larson
15. Clint Bowyer
16. *Chase Elliott
17. *Denny Hamlin
18. Aric Almirola
19. Kurt Busch
20. Erik Jones

* Will go to the rear of the field in a backup car.

The PixelatedPICK is a featured column of PixelatedSPEED showcasing the pick to win the race of the week. Usually centered on the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, the PixelatedPICK may also feature special events throughout the racing world. Readers are encouraged to share who they think will will the race in the comments section!

PixelatedSPEED is a motorsports news and views website covering all things racing and has been “Bringing Pixels 2 Pavement Since 2018”. If you've made it this far into the post, thank you. Please consider sharing this content on the interwebs and following PixelatedSPEED on Facebook and Twitter and joining in on the conversation. http://facebook.com/PixelatedSPEED & http://twitter.com/PixelatedSPEED 

PixelatedSPEED is a part of the Gravel Network. Copyright - 2018, 2019

PixelatedPICK: 51st Annual Snowball Derby

Bubba Pollard zooms around turn three. (PixelatedSPEED Photo)

Bubba Pollard is one of the all-time greats at Five Flags Speedway, having won just about everything you can at the famed Pensacola half-mile. Everything, except the biggest show of them all, the Snowball Derby.

"It is a unique race,” Pollard said in a recent interview. “It’s hard to describe the feeling of competing in this race.”

"You have great drivers who have won this race and have become part of history and I'm hoping one day our name can be on it. This is what we work for and live for. But I also understand this one race can't define your career."

With 68 total starts at Five Flags, Pollard has scored 19 victories, and amassed 41 top five finishes after leading 1,242 laps. In 10 Snowball Derby starts, he has a pole in 2011 and after leading 157 laps in 2017, has a best finish of third.

In last year’s Derby, Pollard was the class of the field, and the class of the week. He dominated the practice sessions, won the Snowflake 100 Pro Late Model race, and led the most laps in the Snowball Derby itself.

“It’s a hard race to win and you never know how it’s going to play out,” Pollard told Short Track Scene. “We build the best car we can and take it to the race track. But that’s all we can control.

Pollard looks to achieve his first Snowball victory in a brand new Senneker chassis powered by Hamner Racing Engines.

In an interview with Speed51.com, Pollard talked about the confidence he has in his new racecar.

“I have a lot of confidence in the guys that help me put them together and the team,” Pollard told Speed51.com.

“I have a lot of confidence in the race cars,” he added. “You hear that a lot of people are scared of bringing new cars but there’s nothing better than a new piece of metal. That’s when they’re the best. That’s when they’re the fastest. We built one back in July and won the first four races with it.

Simply put, although Bubba Pollard has yet to reach victory lane, he is the odds on favorite, making him the PixelatedPICK for the 51st Annual Snowball Derby. While there is never any guarantees in this race, one sure fire bet that rans fans can make is that Bubba Pollard will be a heavy hitter, and if all goes according to plan, a factor at the end of this 300 lap contest among the very best in Super Late Model racing.

PixelatedPICK: 2018 Cup Series Championship; Homestead

The 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season is drawing to a close as the premiere series descends on the well-worn asphalt of Homestead Miami Speedway for the Ford 400. The Championship 4 of Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr. and Joey Logano have all earned their place in this final dance, but only only driver will emerge as the Champion.

Joey Logano is statistically number four of the group. He only has two wins on the season, one a Talladega and a thrilling finish using the bump-and-run on Martin Truex Jr. at Martinsville to secure his spot into the Championship 4. With 12 top fives and 25 top tens, Logano has had the consistency to make it through, and is more than capable of winning in any given weekend, including this weekend at Homestead. Logano has two previous appearances in the Championship 4, 2014 and 2016. I don’t think Logano will capture the Monster Energy Cup in his third visit to the Championship 4.

It’s not that I don’t think he’s capable so much as the competition is at such a high level. Also, I’m not sure if the NASCAR community at large is ready to have Joey Logano has their champion. While yes, he’s been in the series for 11 years (wow, that’s impressive) his break out didn’t happen until 2014, getting five wins on the season. Perhaps it’s his age, maybe that quirky smile, or something else. I can’t put my finger on it, but aside from the large Logano fan base, I just don’t think the NASCAR fan base is ready for Logano.

Martin Truex Jr. is the reigning Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Champion. He won last year’s title, capping off a storybook year that saw he, and the Denver, CO based team dominate the season. This year, Truex has again had impressive numbers with four wins, 19 top fives and 20 top tens. He has also had the smothering cloud of impending doom over his head, as his team, Furniture Row Racing, announced prior to the NASCAR Playoffs that due to the departure of sponsor 5 Hour Energy, that the team would be shutting down following the 2018 racing season.

The lame-duck status of the team, the fact that they are defending champions, and the pure raw talent of Truex and the team easily make a second MTJ/FRR championship the sure fire top sentimental storyline. I don’t think sentiment is going to be enough, however. Outside of the ROVAL, where Truex came within one corner of the victory but was taken out by Jimmie Johnson, Truex hasn’t been quite as strong as his competition in the 2018 NASCAR Playoffs. He hasn’t scored a victory since July at Kentucky and while always a threat at mile and half tracks, his performance at the mile and halfs in the Playoffs has just been a little off when compared to the other three. For that reason, while a truly awesome story, I don’t see Martin Truex Jr. winning the championship this year.

Kyle Busch, with eight wins in the season going into Homestead, has by all accounts had his most successful season in the Cup Series thus far. He is a threat at every race, and every track. He has had several races where he has been the outright favorite, but in addition to having the overall performance needed to win, Kyle Busch and the number 18 team have been benefactors on multiple occasions of opportunity. Looking back at Phoenix, for example. That was a race that looked to be Kevin Harvick’s race to lose… and he did. After a cut tire, and penalty for pitting too soon prior to a stage end, Harvick was in catch up mode for the remainder of the race, and by the time he made back to the front, Busch was solidly in control of his destiny, fending off a late charge by Brad Keselowski and Aric Almirola.

While Kyle Busch is without a doubt capable of winning on Sunday, I don’t see him picking up title number two. It is so difficult to have to choose just one driver for the championship, but only one can win. I think the fact that Kyle’s had so many opportunistic situations will be the deciding factor. Anything can happen, but I placing my championship eggs in the freaky fast basket of Kevin Harvick.

Kevin Harvick, with eight wins, has been dominant in the 2018 NASCAR Playoffs. He has led the most laps of any other driver and if not for some very huge missteps along the way, could have had even more wins tacked onto his total. He has had dominant cars in every round, but has had a ton of bad breaks along the way with cut tires, penalties and pit road mishaps. Oh yeah, let’s not forget the penalty after Texas for the unapproved spoiler. Throughout it all, Harvick has fought back and fought hard, always finding a way to remain in striking distance.

If Kevin Harvick and company can avoid the mishaps that have plagued their playoff run, then I think that Kevin Harvick can, and will emerge as the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Champion.

Upset: So far under the current playoff format, each champion has been crowned at Homestead after winning the race as well. Could 2018 be the first year to see a non-playoff driver win at Homestead under this format? If so, I think that Kyle Larson is the guy to do it. Larson is very strong at Homestead, and even stronger at tracks that feature the use of the highest, rim-riding groove. Plus, Larson has shown a knack for racing well at tracks that feature well-worn surfaces, Homestead falling into that category as well. If a Championship 4 driver doesn’t win this thing, it will be because Kyle Larson got to the finish line first.

Each week PixelatedSPEED will pick one driver, or team, as the PixelatedPICK. No fantasy rosters, leagues, budgets, or any of that other inflated fantasy stuff... just one driver... win or lose... for the fun of it!  If you've made it this far into the post, thank you. Please consider sharing this content on the interwebs and following PixelatedSPEED on Facebook and Twitter and joining in on the conversation. http://facebook.com/PixelatedSPEED & http://twitter.com/PixelatedSPEED

PixelatedPICK: Can Harvick Tame the Lady in Black?

This week’s PixelatedPICK goes to Kevin Harvick. He is a former winner of the Southern 500 and with seven wins this season, he is undoubtedly a contender. He may have some added motivation as well, after a heated contest versus Ross Chastain in the Saturday Xfinity Series race. 

Harvick has one win at Darlington Raceway, coming in April of 2014. In that race, he led 238 laps, beating Dale Earnhardt Jr. Yes, this technically a Southern 500 win, but most fans hold the April date in a different light compared to the traditional Labor Day timeframe.

Going back to Saturday, Harvick began the day with a 22nd place qualifying effort for this year’s running of the Southern 500. He has a way to go to get to the front, but he is known as the “Closer”, always finding a way to be in contention at the end of the race.

He continued his Saturday adventure attempting to claim his first Xfinity Series win at Darlington, and came very close to achieving that feat. Harvick battled lap after lap with Ross Chastain in the final stage of the Sport Clips 200. His day ended early, however, on lap 110 after contact with Chastain while trying to take the lead. The two collided, sending Chastain up the track and into the wall. Chastain then hooked Harvick on the back stretch and sent him into the wall head on, ending his day.

RELATED >> Chastain has Solid Debut; Leaves Harvick Pissed at Darlington

A furious Harvick emerged from the infield care center with choice words about Chastain and the incident.

“I tried to stay as low as I could and he just rode on my door,” Harvick said. “That’s just a really inexperienced racer and a really bad move there and got the air and got on beside me and just kept going up the race track. I couldn’t do anything with the wheel. So, you’ve got a really inexperienced guy in a really fast car and made a really bad move, and then wrecked me down the back straightaway and hooked me to the right. That’s probably the reason that he’ll never get to drive many of them again.”

It’s that fire that I think will motivate Harvick to victory in this year’s Southern 500. After all, it's been a whole two Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races since his last win in Michigan, so the Bakersfield driver is overdue.

Okay, in all seriousness, Kevin Harvick has nothing to prove by winning the race after the incident with Ross Chastain. Come race time, I’m sure that affair will be far from his thoughts as he focuses in on 500 miles around the sports toughest track. 

Simply put, there are three drivers that the NASCAR world is focused on. Kyle Busch is more than capable of pulling off the win, and is sure to be a threat after finishing second last year to teammate Denny Hamlin. Martin Truex Jr. led 76 laps in last year’s race, and is looking for a strong run amid the uncertainty of he and his team for next season.

In the end, however, I think that Kevin Harvick is in the groove right now, and will come out on top with his second Southern 500 trophy. 

Each week PixelatedSPEED will pick one driver, or team, as the PixelatedPICK. No fantasy rosters, leagues, budgets, or any of that other inflated fantasy stuff... just one driver... win or lose... for the fun of it!  If you've made it this far into the post, thank you. Please consider sharing this content on the interwebs and following PixelatedSPEED on Facebook and Twitter and joining in on the conversation. http://facebook.com/PixelatedSPEED & http://twitter.com/PixelatedSPEED

PixelatedPICK: Gragson Ready to Shift Some Gears in Canada

Noah Gragson is eager for a strong run in Canada.

Since the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series has the weekend off, I’ve split up the PixelatedPICK this weekend between the Xfinity Series and the Camping World Truck Series.

Awesome Bill from Dawsonville, Bill Elliott was my Saturday pick in the Xfinity Series race at Road America. Bill had an up and down day, including some significant contact midway through the race that affected the car’s performance. A late race spin sent him to the back, but he fought back and finished 20th.

Bill Elliott finished 20th at Road America on Saturday.

RELATED >> PixelatedPICK: Awesome Bill Rides Again

Moving to Sunday, the truckers head north of the border to race once again at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park. This race marks the first race in round one of the 2018 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Playoffs.

My PixelatedPICK for this race is Noah Gragson. The Las Vegas born racer competes for Kyle Busch Motorsports and is in this year’s playoffs thanks to his win at Kansas back in May. With the win, and 22 playoff points, Gragson is seeded third in the championship standings coming into the weekend. Kyle Busch Motorsports has previously won in Canada with driver Erik Jones during the 2015 campaign. Gragson is looking for a strong start into this season’s playoffs with a solid run in Canada.

“We’ve got some good tracks coming up. We have Canada and then Vegas. Those are two really good tracks for us — we led laps there last year and finished second and then went to Vegas earlier this year and had a pretty strong run — led some laps as well. Really pumped up to get to those first two tracks and then you have the wildcard — Talladega. That one — that’s an odd ball. The first two hopefully we can pick up a win and lock ourselves in. I feel really comfortable with my Kyle Busch Motorsports Safelite AutoGlass team going into the playoffs.”

Gragson has won twice at Miller Motorsports Park.

Although Gragson is more well known for his super late model prowess, he has three previous road course victories in the K&N Pro Series before making the jump up to trucks.

“I think I’m a regular racer — NASCAR driver — who really enjoys going to the road courses. Some guys they don’t like going to the road course because it’s different, but I love out braking people, downshifting, upshifting, going left and right and sawing on the wheel. It’s a lot of fun the road courses, I picked it up quick racing Legend Cars and have really enjoyed it ever since. Won three K&N road-course races – actually in a row, within eight days. So, I’ve run up front — finished second to Chase Elliott at Sonoma in the K&N race, he passed me with two to go. Really feel comfortable going into the road-course race, it’s a lot of fun and I’m ready to get out there and shift some gears.”

This weekend, Gragson has had solid speed. He topped the leaderboard in the first practice session, then followed that up with seventh in practice two. In qualifying, Gragson was within a half second of pole sitter Ben Rhodes and line up on the outside of row number one. In comparison, third place qualifier Myatt Snider was well over a second behind Rhodes.

Gragson crashes at Dover in May.

Gragson has been solid throughout the season, but notably has run into trouble in the late stages of races, most notably contact with outside wall after a failed attempt at side-drafting Johnny Sauter with two laps to go at Dover in May.

Dramatics aside, Gragson has been very consistent this year, scoring six top fives and twelve top tens in 15 of the 16 races run this season. He qualified, but was unable to compete in Pocono due to illness. Despite missing the race, his overall performance this year has shown him to be a contender week in and week out, making him a sure fire favorite this weekend.

Each week PixelatedSPEED will pick one driver, or team, as the PixelatedPICK. No fantasy rosters, leagues, budgets, or any of that other inflated fantasy stuff... just one driver... win or lose... for the fun of it!  If you've made it this far into the post, thank you. Please consider sharing this content on the interwebs and following PixelatedSPEED on Facebook and Twitter and joining in on the conversation. http://facebook.com/PixelatedSPEED & http://twitter.com/PixelatedSPEED

PixelatedPICK: Awesome Bill Rides Again

Bill Elliott will pilot the number 23 car at Road America.

In 1983, Bill Elliott scored his first NASCAR Cup Series victory, at the now defunct and long buried road course, Riverside International Raceway. It was the first of 44 wins in a career spanning over four decades.

He won the 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Championship and has two Daytona 500 victories plus a Brickyard 400 to his credit. Oh, by the way, he won the Winston Million in 1985 with victories at Daytona, Talladega and Darlington.

Awesome Bill from Dawsonville is also the fastest driver to ever qualify for a NASCAR race, after hitting over 212 mph at Talladega in 1987.

Elliott stepped away from full time racing following the 2003 season but has continued to dabble with part time entries in the Cup Series.

This weekend, the 16-Time Most Popular Driver straps into the number 23 IMS Connect Chevy for GMS Racing at Road America in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, only a couple of weeks after son Chase Elliott scored his first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series win at the road course in Watkins Glen, NY.

SEE ALSO >> THE DIGEST: Chase at the Glen, France DUI, Silly Season Rumors & More

In truth, Elliott does not have the pedigree in the Xfinity Series. He’s been out of NASCAR’s top three series for a number of years, and in 43 starts only has one win. But that doesn’t matter.

Having Bill Elliott entered into this weekend’s race is a boon for the sport. Building on the momentum of his son’s first win, the connections of both Elliott’s first wins being a road courses, the rise in popularity of NASCAR road course racing and the fact that this is an off week for the Cup Series all factor into making this a huge storyline to follow, even if his chances of winning are slim.

Elliott can have a great showing at the Wisconsin road course, however. GMS Racing has proven to produce quality race cars and has shown glimpses of success in the Xfinity Series while being the reigning Champions in the Truck Series and strong contenders to repeat. The team is in the midst of moving up to the Cup Series and has a multitude of talented employees lead by veteran racer Mike Beam.

Oh, and they’ve got Bill Elliott racing for them this week… who is pretty darn Awesome, indeed.

So, this week’s pick to win is an Xfinity Series special with Bill Elliott to win at Road America.



Each week PixelatedSPEED will pick one driver, or team, as the PixelatedPICK. No fantasy rosters, leagues, budgets, or any of that other inflated fantasy stuff... just one driver, win or loose... for the fun of it!  If you've made it this far into the post, thank you. Please consider sharing this content on the interwebs and following PixelatedSPEED on Facebook and Twitter and joining in on the conversation. http://facebook.com/PixelatedSPEED & http://twitter.com/PixelatedSPEED