Keselowski and Logano specifically need to be in contention to win given how deep in the points they are.
Advertisement
For the longest time for Martin Truex Jr., it didn’t matter that his No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet team was ignored among the multi-car, big-budget teams in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. That scenario likely forces him to win at Texas Motor Speedway this weekend or at Phoenix global Raceway next week to advance to the winner-take-all finale for a second straight year. Kenseth figured to be one of his toughest competitors for the race, but someone else will be driving the No. 20 Toyota on Sunday. Here are a few drivers and storylines to keep an eye on Sunday in the AAA Texas 500 from the Texas Motor Speedway…
Kenseth’s two-race suspension begins Sunday after his appeals were rejected.
France warned the entire industry after the Richmond embarrassment that manipulating races would not be tolerated – and he indicated what Kenseth did at Martinsville fit that category, so the penalty was much stiffer than the one given to Patrick or drivers for other on-track incidents.
“Did we get the finish we felt like we deserved that day?”
Gordon starts 18th at Texas, where the top four qualifiers were Chase contenders Keselowski, Kevin Harvick, Kyle Bush and Logano, who slipped to last among the remaining eight contenders after Martinsville.
Although he lost in the appeals process in relation to his two-race suspension, Matt Kenseth had his probation period dropped from six months to two months.
With Logano qualifying fourth and Jones sixth, they will start nose-to-tail Sunday.
“I’m not convinced this is a bad thing”, Logano said Friday.
“We have just been focused on winning races and helping our teammates advance through the rounds”. Guys get mad all the time. I’ve got a rookie crew chief and we’re a single-car team in Denver. If Jimmy the team did a great job we’ve made huge huge changes on the race card today. It would be Logano’s second of three consecutive victories and essentially end Kenseth’s hopes in the Chase. “I don’t have a horse in that race”. I’m not going to change what I stand for. Kenseth would however return to the track nine laps down shortly thereafter seeking revenge.
Still, Logano has made tremendous strides since he left Joe Gibbs Racing – Kenseth took his ride – and went to drive for Roger Penske in 2013.
“Was I surprised to see the fans’ reaction after something like that happened last week? They have been through every situation that motorsports can present to them”, Logano said. “That is not what any racer would expect out of it”.
Last November at Texas, Keselowski was unapologetic after bumping past a leading Gordon on a restart at Lap 335, one more than the race’s scheduled length.
“The left rear tire came apart and shredded everything inside the vehicle”, Logano said while out of the auto during repairs in the garage.
Advertisement
“I saw this seven-year-old kid who was really, really fast”, Kanaan said. “That’s what I had coming to me. I don’t know if that risk is worth taking at this point of the game”. Earlier this season, Harvick was the driver to beat on the 1.5 mile tracks and while he only secured a win at Las Vegas, he led the most laps in numerous other races.
