8/22/2022
Postman 68
BLOG: Monday Thoughts -- August 22, 2022
1 – THAT IS WHY YOU RUN THE RACES: In all three stock car races at Watkins Glen – NASCAR Cup Series, Xfinity Series and ARCA Menards Series – the fastest car came up short at the finish.
Chase Elliott was the dominant car in the Go Bowling At The Glen NASCAR Cup Series. A late race restart allowed teammate Kyle Larson alongside, the two made contact exciting turn one with Larson coming out in front.
In Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race there were two dominant cars, William Byron and Ty Gibbs. Racing for the win late in the running they got together in the “bus stop” with both cars spinning off course, resulting in 25fh and 27th place finishes for the two. The third-place car was Kyle Larson who scored the win.
Sammy Smith led 39 of the 41 laps in the ARCA race on Friday. A restart with one lap remaining allowed Taylor Gray to get alongside as they slid wide off turn one Brandon Jones raced past them for the lead and the win.
If we are racing on paper it would have been Chase Elliott, William Byron or Ty Gibbs and Sammy Smith with wins; but on track it was Kyle Larson twice and Brandon Jones….that is why you run the races.
2 – NICK’s KNACK FOR RACING: Nick Sanchez has been impressive this year in the ARCA Menards Series. After a disappointing 20th place finish to kick the season off at Daytona, he has reeled off three wins, six top fives in 13 races, and no finish worse than 11th.
Sanchez leads a three-car battle for the point championship, this weekend he stretched it to 11 points ahead of Daniel Dye and 16 ahead of his teammate Rajah Caruth.
Sanchez has a pair of skill that will serve him well in the final six races of the season. The first is that he tends to stay out of trouble and “keep himself alive” in the early part of races. That allows him and crew chief Matt Bucher to fine tune the car and be better at the end.
The second is the “closer instinct” at the end. At Talladega it was a last lap pass for the win, his Kansas win came with a dominant second half performance in the race and the Michigan win was fining his way to the front and playing defense to perfection over the final 11 laps.
Friday at Watkins Glen he likely had a top-five car, but when things got crazy on the restart he snuck through to a second-place finish, and on the dirt at Springfield Sunday he led the trio of point contenders with a fifth-place finish.
“Staying alive” and a “Closer instinct” are to Championship winning traits, Sanchez will need to continue using those to win the crown.
Photo: Nick Sanchez
3 – HOME COOKING: Threre is something really special about the Super DIRTCar Series Modifieds on their home turf in Upstate New York. Thursday’s SummerFAST event at Land of Legends Raceway in Canandaigua was a wonderful night of modified racing.
When Matt Sheppard drew the pole position, one sensed that a race for the lead beyond restarts would not likely be in the cards. And Adam Pierson was so solid in second spot. Beyond that, the race for third was fantastic.
The outside lane was preferred on the restarts and with every restart it seems like a different driver got the upper hand for the third spot, and would have to fend of significant challenges. In the end it was 12th starting Jimmy Phelps getting the spot.
The modifieds never disappoint wherever they wander, but there is just something special watching them race on one of their home tracks.
-Postman
Submitted By: Steve Post
