Bad Brad and His Opinions

No question about it the newest Sprint Cup Champion is not afraid to tell it like he sees it. Many fans have come to admire that quality, while others have responded more negatively. With NASCAR in the social media revolution that includes Twitter Bad Brad Keselowski is truly seeing it from both sides.

A champion of Twitter himself he gained recognition after his famous tweet during last year’s Daytona 500 during the red flag. But as he entered this season it seemed the title of Sprint Cup Champion had everyone asking his opinion about anything, and Brad responding with his opinion. Sometimes not even being asked it seemed he offered up what he thought.

What bothered me at the outset of the year when teams were doing all of the media obligations for Fox cutaways and such Keselowski made the comment in one interview that he made it a point to ask the producer what the other drivers did because he wanted to do something different. At the surface that is fine, but for me it seems like he’s going out of his way to be different. Clint Bowyer is different, and he doesn’t ask what others are doing so he can be different.

Recently USA Today reporter Jeff Gluck had posted a link to a story about Jeff Gordon supporting lights at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and having the Brickyard 400 as a night race. Gluck made the comment on Twitter that the novelty might wear off. Bad Brad chimes in with “You mean, like double file restarts?” He continued after Gluck said the restarts are still interesting with, “depends on how you quantify interesting.”

Many of Bad Brad’s comments seem to be against NASCAR, such as the double file restarts. He felt after Texas that NASCAR was targeting Penske. Whether NASCAR was or was not targeting the Penske pair is a different debate. He has already taken a trip to the NASCAR hauler for comments made in a news article. For Brad to have an opinion is one thing, to constantly have to give it is another. As he grows as a driver and a champion I would think he would eventually learn to pick his spots.  Because the more you offer up your opinion, the more it will eventually become white noise to everyone. Eventually people will view it as ‘Oh that’s just Brad being Brad’ and move on, not really listening to his opinion.

But also as his opinions continue to go against NASCAR he will again find himself in trouble. And if they have not already delivered this message, certainly the message of ‘You need NASCAR more than NASCAR needs you’ will be delivered. 

Richmond Race Review

Short track Saturday nights usually don't leave you bored and tonight was no different. What looked like an interesting victory lane with a car sponsored by an adult diaper disappeared with a late caution that took away a sure victory for Juan Pablo Montoya who was holding off eventual winner Kevin Harvick.

What has become a nearly common occurrence this year is post race fireworks that don't include the actual pyrotechnics from the track. This time it was a three way rage between Kurt Busch, Matt Kenseth, and Tony Stewart. Busch unhappy with a bump from Kenseth that cost him a position. Stewart unhappy with Busch for nearly the same thing. However based on replays it appeared as though the 51 driven by AJ Allmendinger checked up in front of Stewart forcing him to check up, and leaving Busch no where to go but into the back of Stewart. The two did a bit of bumping and banging before retreating to pit road where they discussed the situation at their haulers, ironically parked next to each other.

Credit Busch, one who has let his mouth get away from him, he made sure to talk about his team, and the good night they had going and tried to downplay the incident with Stewart.

Quietly Dale Earnhardt Jr struggled all night and was an absolute non factor but eventually found himself leaving Richmond with a top ten. Constantly trying to work out a tight car the 88 team rarely was able to move up through the field until late in the race.

Harvick in the meantime proved this season is not a lame duck season with his second win for Richard Childress Racing since news broke last season that he would be leaving for Stewart-Haas Racing in 2014. Harvick was making his way up to Montoya before the caution had come out when Brian Vickers went into the wall. He was able to take advantage of Jeff Burton, Allmendinger, and Jaimie McMurray all staying out on old tires.

Kyle Busch had what could have been a good night go away from him after getting collected in a wreck with Tony Stewart and Jimmie Johnson. Not long before the incident Busch was the beneficiary of a reversed penalty after NASCAR had penalized him for missing the commitment box. After lobbying the officials to review it NASCAR came back and said Busch did indeed get both left side tires on the commitment box with the absence of a commitment cone.

As far a the standings go, Johnson saw his lead shrink a bit with Carl Edwards having a decent night that had him near the top most of the night. Brad Keselowski tumbled to sixth after losing a cylinder then being black flagged for not maintaining the minimum race speed. Aric Almirola's good year continued as he moved to 11th after his third top ten. Kenseth with his 50 point penalty currently reflected in the standings sits 13th, with one win counting enough to have him in a wild card spot along with Almirola.

No question that some of the fears many had after Daytona with the new car have gone away, but NASCAR will get a look at how teams have adapted with the new car as they roll into Talladega for their second run with restrictor plates with the Gen-6 car.

The Matt Kenseth Penalties

The bombshell was dropped this week that Matt Kenseth's winning car from Kansas failed its post race engine inspection when a connecting rod was found to be below NASCAR's required weight. The fact that an engine failed an inspection is jaw dropping. The resulting penalties may have been just as jaw dropping.

Consider all of the penalties are directed right at Joe Gibbs Racing. This is understanding since their car failed. But at the end of the day it is a situation they ultimately had no control over. TRD, the builder of the engines has taken full responsibility for the error, however in the eyes of all it is JGR that will take blame. Especially for the situation, the penalties rendered by NASCAR seem way over the top.

While it is understandable that NASCAR does not want teams messing with the bodies or the engines of these cars, the engines are the one part that teams usually will not have a way to mess with. To my understanding teams who buy engines from outside vendors are not allowed by the vendors to do anything with the engine outside of putting in, and taking it out of the car. So the idea that JGR did anything except put in a faulty engine is wrong.

According to some the issue that caused them to fail the inspection should have hindered their chances, and possibly caused a blown engine, much the same way Kyle Busch has had one blow in the past maybe. Without question JGR did not purposely alter this part that caused the failed inspection.

No matter how this ends JGR will suffer a penalty. In my opinion it will not be the one they were assessed. Joe Gibbs has already said they will appeal the penalties and not what caused the penalty.

I believe when all is said and done, and NASCAR looks at this subjectively and not like they're trying to make an example of the 20 team, the penalties will be reduced. I think it would be a surprise, as well as a shame if the harsh penalty for a situation that was out of pretty much everyone at JGR's hands is upheld after appeal.

The Case of Denny Hamlin Vs. NASCAR

Upon the completion of the race last week in Phoenix, Denny Hamlin was asked his opinion. He gave it.
"I don't want to be the pessimist, but it did not race as good as our Gen-5 cars. This is more like what the Generation 5 was at the beginning. The teams hadn't figured out how to get the aero balance right.

Right now, you just run single-file and you cannot get around the guy in front of you. You would have placed me in 20th place with 30 [laps] to go, I would have stayed there -- I wouldn't have moved up. It's just one of those things where track position is everything."

Upon reading that it appears fairly harmless, and it is. Never mind this is a driver that started at the rear of the field and finished third, including an awesome last lap that saw him take the Phoenix Apron short cut to get by Jimmie Johnson, only to have JJ edge him at the line in the end.  So it's hard to hear those words from Hamlin after that finish. 

But what he said regardless of his race really didn't seem that harsh. He offered his view on the new Gen-6 car, admitted that teams are still working on the areo balance, and stated he doesn't think it's easy to get by the guy in front of you. NASCAR took that as so outright negative they felt Denny Hamlin should be $25,000 lighter in the bank account.

I don't have a problem with Hamlin's comments as far as what NASCAR's problem is, though I do have a hard time hearing him complain after a 43rd to 3rd finish. However I am firmly behind Hamlin as it pertains to the fine. Recently Brad Keselowski was called into the NASCAR hauler to explain some comments he had made in a newspaper. He was never fined, but at least had the opportunity to explain those comments. NASCAR never gave Hamlin a chance to explain his comments and skipped straight to the fine. That's where my problem with the whole thing enters. Not giving the driver the opportunity, and straight fining him, while giving another driver the courtesy.

What NASCAR did may have put a muzzle on a number of drivers. For this sport that is a bad deal. It would have been one thing had Hamlin went off the handle and said the car is a piece of s@#, it'll never be good, and so on. But he didn't, and NASCAR needs to understand that while teams are figuring this car out, and struggling with making it better not everyone is going to have a rosy opinion on the car.  

Daytona Catch Up

It's been awhile, in fact the last time I blogged Danica/Ricky was the hot story. Now we have a race under our belts and much to discuss and review.

Danica Wins Pole

She arrived in Daytona fast, and she stayed fast. While she finished lower than where she was at the start of the final lap, Danica Patrick proved she could stay up front at Daytona. She put NASCAR on the front page of virtually every newspaper in the country. If anybody has a hard time understanding why GoDaddy.com remains her sponsor needs only to look back at the week before the Daytona 500, and during the race. They receive more value associating themselves with Patrick because of the curiosity of what she brings to racing.

Most impressive is the fact while some drivers found themselves wrecking every time they rolled a new car out during Speedweeks, Danica kept her Sprint Cup car damage free unlike a year ago when she was caught up in a wreck a race. 

Now while a great finish does not translate to guaranteed success the rest of the year, it does start her year off with a strong bit of confidence. Especially with a pair of NASCAR champions saying her moves toward the end of the 500 were the right ones. Unfortunately her first run on a track outside of Daytona has her starting near the end of the pack Sunday in Phoenix.

Looks Good, Races Like....

The overwhelming view from a variety of fans, and non-fans alike was the racing was boring. Anybody who entered last Sunday expecting the racing to be down and dirty with wrecks every 50 laps failed to pay attention during Speedweeks. The Sprint Unlimited gave us our first insight as to what we would see in the Daytona 500. The Budweiser Duels confirmed that. And while many thought the drivers were just being cautious in the Duels to save their cars for Sunday are correct, it's that same thinking that leads to the racing we saw on Sunday. Among several factors many teams I believe may have held back a little in some cases to keep their cars intact for the finish, and even then just to keep the cars intact period.

As well I think the majority of the reason we saw the one line, follow the leader racing we saw was the fact that no one knew if they dropped to the bottom of the race track to make a move, would they have drafting help come down and work with them. Many feared if they dropped down, no one would come with, and instead as they fell back to the back of the line, the car directly behind them would pick up a free spot. 

I've also heard some fellow Dale Earnhardt Jr. fans query as to why he waited so long to make his move. Obviously those fans did not have Junior's in-car radio. Junior and Spotter TJ Majors were planning and scheming for much of the last quarter of the race how they would gain spots on the track. At times Junior would send Majors off to talk with other spotters hoping to gain an ally to go to the bottom and make a move. Finally he got one in Mark Martin and almost won his second Daytona 500. 

In the end I viewed the race much like an Olympic 3200m run where the runners get off to a good start and kind of race each other just to get in line. Then draft off one another for much of the race with the leader changing several times to change the lead draft. Then in the final lap everyone kicks it in and we have our action. 

To me it was a good race because I enjoy seeing strategies play out on the track. Be it on pit road, or on the track. Seeing Jimmie Johnson overtake Brad Keselowski right before a caution, Junior's move at the end, mechanical failures for a pair of Joe Gibbs guys, and wondering if the last one standing was next. Unfortunately some fans call the racing boring if we don't have guys beating and banging from the drop of the green, and cars wrecking everywhere on the final lap in mass chaos. The last few years Daytona, and Talladega have been difficult to watch because I'm on edge scared that something bad could happen at any moment to the drivers, and teams I follow. While one team I follow took collateral damage from the Kasey Kahne wreck, at no point did I feel like anything could happen at the drop of a hat.

Bottom line, it was the first race with the Gen 6 car, it came with teams still trying to get parts to build more Gen-6 cars, as well as a day after one of the darker days for NASCAR. I don't anticipate the super speedway races remaining like this as time goes on. I also don't see it being perfected before they go to Talladega. What I do expect is small changes to gradually make the racing better.

The Wreck

What happened on the last lap of the Nationwide Series race is a black eye for the sport. Not from NASCAR fans, but outsiders who have a misunderstanding of NASCAR. It is unfortunate that we had fans hurt. But the catch fence did its job, it kept Kyle Larson's car out of the stands. It is a bad deal that parts made it into the grandstands. I've heard callers on SiriusXM Speedway with Dave Moody, and Angie Skinner give every possible solution they can think of. But Kyle Petty may have given the best solution, without giving one. Saying that NASCAR will diligently look at what happened, and will study everything from the fence to the car. 

What may upset fans however is NASCAR taking their time with this. I believe many fans will want a solution soon, and that's just not the way to go. You wouldn't want a contractor coming into your house to fix something so quick that it's a bad job. NASCAR would rather hear the fans complain they aren't reacting fast enough, than react so fast and have something else happen that could have been prevented and have bigger problems.

Another situation that has come of the accident is the injured individuals hiring a Daytona lawyer to represent them. The first reaction is to think these fans are setting up the option to drop a lawsuit on NASCAR. My hope is their intentions are to have legal representation in place to ensure what, and how NASCAR compensates them is fair. I have sat in seats in the relative same location at Texas Motor Speedway, and sat in those seats not long after the incident at Talladega with Carl Edwards. I knew while at TMS the likelihood of a situation like that is remote at best, it was still a possibility. Yet knowing the possibilities I still took on the liability of having those seats. While the hope is we never see another fan injured from parts coming off of a wrecked car, the fan has the option of where to sit, and should always understand the possible consequences no matter how remote they may be.

But to continue that thought one only look as far as baseball. A sport where sitting in the lower level of a stadium along the first and third base lines always means you are in harms way of a baseball, and in some cases a bat. It is easy to contend that attending a baseball game may be less safe than a NASCAR race based on that premise. And that's something to build on. Not that this is an incident that always happens, but one that is a once in so many year situation versus other sports.

Then there is Tony Stewart who won the race. But the way he came down pit road and began to get out of his car you would have thought someone else won. But instead it was as if he wanted no part of celebrating due to what had happened. While Smoke has had his run-ins with NASCAR, and probably has his fair share of non-fans he may have proved why he can be, and should be among the more likable drivers on the circuit. Following the Daytona 500 he made his way over to Halifax Medical Center to visit the injured fans who remained in the hospital. Understandably he initially wanted to keep his visit private, however when news of his visit broke Stewart-Haas Racing confirmed it.

So all of that said we have our first week of the NASCAR season in the books. Because it's Daytona we still have no idea how this season will shape up.

Love in the Garage

So the news was made official today by both Danica Patrick, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. that they are in fact a couple. While I consider myself well connected with NASCAR news by way of who I follow on Twitter, at no point did I ever hear even a rumor of this possibility until earlier this week when Stenhouse was asked about it. However, it's not a surprise considering they always appeared to be good friends at the track.

What has come of this announcement however is a debate about how this will affect what happens on the track. This may be the most ridiculous query, especially when it's being asked by credible NASCAR media members.

Well here's the easiest way to answer just about any, and every question that some have about how this will work on the track. Will either of them risk their sponsors, or seats just to help the other? Absolutely not! Ricky Stenhouse Jr is not going to risk his newly minted Sprint Cup ride in the #17 Ford Fusion in order to help out Danica Patrick in her #10 Go Daddy Chevy SS. To think otherwise would go against common sense.

Their relationship on the track will be no different than the numerous groups of brothers, and father/son drivers. Dale Earnhardt was not going to move over to let Dale Jr by for a win. And I'm pretty sure Kyle isn't going to help Kurt Busch win a race. Where you may see their relationship show up in regards to a race will come in the garage area. If Ricky feels someone did Danica wrong on the track he may have his say. But even then as a racing incident he may stay out of it out of respect for Danica.

It would also be unfair to think that a personal spat between the two would show up on the track. But all of this is not going to stop people from wondering and being curious when the 17, and 10 are next to each other on the track.

The best case for this being a non-issue is the way they handled the announcement. Ricky Stenhouse Jr could have easily said "yes" when asked if they were dating. Danica could have easily spilled the beans Monday when Stewart-Haas did their media obligations during the Sprint Media tour. Instead both agreed to keep the focus on their teams, cars, and sponsors and make the announcement today. What's more, and something brought up today on SiriusXM Speedway is the fact that now they don't have to worry about a photographer hiding out trying to get a story breaking picture of them sneaking a kiss or a hug. It's out for all the world to know, and get use to several weeks before everyone's focus will be elsewhere.

The Curious Case of Jeremy Mayfield

His name has come and gone numerous times since 2009. Every time his name returns to the news it is never linked to him being in a race car. And for the most part what comes out continues to move more and more to the strange side of the spectrum.

So should we be surprised that Jeremy Mayfield decided to call into an MRN radio show that had NASCAR Chairman Brian France. He did not call to berate France, or tear down the sport of NASCAR in retribution for his suspension for a failed drug test in 2009. In fact he called in to see what it would take to return to racing in a NASCAR series.

"Jeremy, you know the path back for you is the path back for anybody." That was the reply from France, who knew the upcoming call was from Mayfield, and agreed to take it.

Mayfield's case is even more interesting, not so much because of the further legal trouble he has found himself in, but because another driver, A.J. Allmendinger was suspended by NASCAR for failing a drug test in July. Allmendinger quickly went through the path France spoke about Tuesday night with Mayfield. The Road To Recovery program is simply what it says. An opportunity for a person failing a NASCAR drug test the ability and opportunity to end their suspension through a process that does not embarrass them, but helps them in the end.

Allmendinger's case was somewhat like Mayfield. Many were surprised at his failed drug test. But instead of challenging NASCAR, and making numerous accusations as Mayfield did, Allmendinger learned what the drug was retraced his actions and realized his mistake. Then entered the Road To Recovery program and finished it very quickly. While he had lost his ride at Penske, a set of circumstances happened that opened up the seat in the Phoenix Racing 51 car toward the end of the season, and allowed him back into the sport.

So why did Mayfield take a direction that saw him take NASCAR to court, only to have the case eventually thrown out due to the lack of evidence among other things. Why take a tough situation and make it that much harder on everybody. He constantly has denied that he took methamphetamine saying it was a combination of a prescription drug and an allergy medicine. A combination that doctors say is not possible. He has said he does not need rehabilitation, however the Road To Recovery program does not necessarily mean you go to rehab.

He had an opportunity, and still has that opportunity to enter the program. However while he still has that chance, his chances have probably been greatly reduced that he will ever find himself in a quality ride at any of NASCAR's top three series. Reduced not because he failed a drug test, but because he chose to drag his, as well as NASCAR's name through the mud.

The whole situation is unfortunate, however it was a path that Jeremy Mayfield chose to take and until he realizes that NASCAR is not going to just open their doors up for him because of past time it will be the wrong path.

NASCAR Gen-6

The idea of stock car racing to me has always been the basic car racing on the track looks similar to the model that is on the showroom floor at the dealership. I believe many NASCAR fans share the same thinking. So when the Nationwide cars made a body change a few years back to allow the cars to look more like what they are suppose to be it was a pleasant change even though what was running in the Sprint Cup Series was just a series of cars that looked the same, and the only thing to distinguish one manufacture from another was the stickers on the front that said 'Ford', 'Chevy' or otherwise.

However NASCAR fans got their wish when NASCAR rolled out the Generation 6 car though out the season. Each one was released to rave reviews to many who loved the looks of the cars. What is more impressive is the number of fans, who are brand loyal that have expressed positive comments about the other manufacturers entries.

I'm no different although I consider myself a Ford guy, I actually root for a couple of Chevy teams. But I like the look of all four models, Dodge included, even though they will not compete in 2013.

-Jayski.com/Todd Ice

As a Ford guy who recently bought a 2012 Ford Fusion, I wasn't impressed with the 2013 showroom model. It looked overly sedanish. But when the NASCAR version was rolled out I was more than impressed. It looks sleek, very sporty, and has me hoping Ford issues a sportier showroom model soon. The grill, and lights on the front have a somewhat intimidating look.

JRMotorsports Twitter

Jayski.com/Furniture Row Racing Facebook

Cheverolet was the last manufacture to introduce their 2013 model. The Cheverolet SS is a showroom model that has yet to be seen, but what will be seen on NASCAR tracks also has a sleek look to it. Many of the paint schemes that have been released hide some of the nice contours of the SS. The best one may be the Furniture Row 78 given the simplified scheme they run. Like the Ford it really shows off the sportiness of the SS.

Jayski.com/JGR Website

The Toyota Camry may be the one model that does not scream sporty like the Chevy, and Ford. But with the line-up of drivers running the Camry does it really matter.

Fox News

I will never be a 'Dodge Guy', however even I was impressed when Dodged rolled out the Charger for the 2013 season. The racing lines, and contours gave this car a very nice look. Unfortunately Dodge took it's first hit when Penske announced it was moving to Ford. Then after having several teams interested in moving to Dodge, opted to not run in 2013 after the offers they received were not to their liking. Many hope they will return in 2014, in part because of the car they would have rolled out.

While the styling of the 2013 cars have changed, fans will also have to get use to some other changes in the cars. Specifically some changes in where certain stickers will go, like he headlight number. No longer will it be on the headlight, but below it. The driver's last names will now be on top of the windshield. The other significant change is the addition of a sponsor logo on top of the car.

There are many reasons NASCAR fans are looking forward to the 2013 Daytona 500, on top of many of their lists is seeing these beautiful new cars running side by side, and easily being able to tell who's running a Ford, Chevy, or Toyota.

Mandatory Caution?

One thing NASCAR has shown is that they are willing to listen to their fans. Bruton Smith, and Bristol Motorspeedway listened to fans requests after the spring race and reconfigured the track to take it back to what it was prior to its latest repave. Not long after that Smith had an idea that should not be listened to by anyone.

The idea was a mandatory caution in the late stages of a race. The thinking was that it would make the races more exciting at the end, much like late time outs in stick-and-ball sports do. Problem is, he's wrong in that thinking. Just because a basketball team calls a time out late in game doesn't mean the score instantly changes and brings them back into a game.

The big issue I have with this idea isn't so much the thought it tricks up the racing, but that it essentially makes the previous laps run somewhat meaningless. Look at it this way, if we are watching Dale Earnhardt Jr. run away with the race at Michigan, and this so-called mandatory caution comes out is it fair to Dale Jr. that he has to relinquish that large lead? It is the same as saying that at the 2:00 warning of an NFL game never mind that the Patriots had a three touchdown lead, it's now a one field goal game.

A moot point really since most of NASCAR nation, and NASCAR themselves have dismissed this idea at the instant it was suggested. But it falls in line with a slew of ideas I hear listening to the NASCAR station on SiriusXM. Everyone wants to trick up the racing to make it exciting. Let's give championship points for leading halfway, give drivers "mulligans" in the Chase for bad races, and let's not get into the start-and-park debate.

When I watch a football game I know there is a chance it could be a great game, and a good chance it could be a blow out. Same with hockey, or baseball. I also know when I sit down to watch a race the winner may win without drama like Dale Jr did at Michigan. But I also know that there's a chance I might see what we saw at Watkins Glen with Brad Keselowski and Marcos Ambros.

While NASCAR is hoping for closer racing with the "Gen-6" car, it is naive to think that every race on the schedule needs to come down to two or three cars beating and banging to the finish line because it just doesn't happen. As well finishes should not be manufactured by trick rules. Just because Greg Biffle was running away with the spring Texas race doesn't mean there wasn't excitement coming from the rest of the field.

Many complain they get bored with the middle of the race. Their answer, shorten the races. Well there's still a middle of the race. And good fans know there are turning points in the middle of races. Points where you say, "remember that moment at the end".  Many times in 2012 I watched a driver have handling issues, make a mistake, or issues on pit road that put them back in the pack. A number of times I watched those drivers work their way back up through the field. Biggest example may be the fall Kansas race when Jimmie Johnson spun  and hit the wall mid-race. The work on pit road to get him back on the track, then his work to get into the top 10 would have been the focal point of his season had he won the championship. Everyone would have looked back on that race and pointed to that moment.

What has to be remembered is it's a race, no different to a marathon like the 100m dash is no different to an NHRA drag race. Just because we have blowouts in football we aren't begging the NFL to shorten the game, and trick it up. Why must we trick up NASCAR?

The 2012 That Was, and the 2013 That Will Be

There is no question the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup season started out with a bang. A rain out of the Daytona 500 forced the race to a Monday night prime time slot that would lead to a race that finished well into the night after Juan Pablo Montoya found a jet dryer.

The race was filled with story lines that began with the rain, punctuated by the jet dryer, and ended with Matt Kenseth in victory lane. Who knew that a few months later Kenseth would announce his plan to leave the team he had been with since he began his NASCAR career.

The season would only continue to see driver changes, tension, and some good racing. Top ten lists have been thrown around as the calendar has turned to 2013.

Possibly the biggest story was the all around year for Penske. From announcing they would change manufacturers, which led to their change in engines, to having to release AJ Allmindger after he failed a drug test. But the season would end like no other had for Roger Penske when Brad Keslowski piloted the Blue Deuce to the Sprint Cup Championship.

The stories didn't stop there. A brewing situation that began at Martinsville in the spring between Jeff Gordan and Clint Bowyer exploded when the two got together at the fall Phoenix race. The Phoenix race wasn't just relegated to the 24 and 15 smack down. Jimmie Johnson's championship hopes took a big hit after hitting the wall. Kevin Harvick began the week with a report he was going to Stewart-Haas in 2014, then finished the weekend with his single win of the year.

Marcos Ambros, and Keslowski dueled to the finish at Watkins Glen with controversy flying about oil on the track that helped take out Kyle Busch, and infuriated Gordan. However the last lap battle and weaving around the track between the 9 and 2 eventually overshadowed the rest. The final laps at Texas in November also provided some thrills when Keslowski and Johnson battled through a series of restarts that eventually saw Johnson in victory lane, and a seven point lead going to Phoenix.

Dale Earnhardt Jr experienced one of his best seasons that enveloped into a lost year. Leading the points for a short time, then after qualifying for the Chase, had to step out of the car for two races after a second concussion suffered in a last lap crash at Talladega. The initial concussion came in an innocent test session at Kansas when a tire blew out and sent Dale Jr. into the wall.

In a series of moves the 88 ride received an unlikely fill-in when Regan Smith became available. Smith's time at Furniture Row was cut short when the Denver Colorado based team brought in Kurt Busch for the final six races of the year. Smith worked his way up to the top 10 at Charlotte before the engine gave out, then followed that up with a top 10 at Kansas. It would lead to a 2013 ride in the JR Motorsports 5 car in the Nationwide Series.

Busch in the meantime had a year he'd like to forget, and remember. Starting with Phoenix Racing he had a chance to win a few races. However comments to a member of the media after a Nationwide race had him in the hot seat with NASCAR. He would eventually be suspended for a race and wondered if he would be welcomed back to the 51 ride. He was welcomed back before leaving for the 78 team where he finished the year with three straight top tens, the best stretch for Furniture Row.

Through the course of the year the biggest change coming to 2013 was introduced in stages as each manufacturer wheeled out the new 2013 cars starting with the Ford Fusion, and ending with the new Cheverolet SS. Dodge also had wheeled out a 2013 car before deciding it would not return for 2013.

While 2012 had its moments, 2013 may easily top it with the new car, a return to the older qualifying format, interesting driver changes, and the Camping World Truck series hitting the dirt. The questions will come for 2013, and some of those will be answered in the next few weeks as teams will be testing at Daytona, and Charlotte. But the excitement that is running through NASCAR nation continues to point toward the 2013 Daytona 500.