Drivin' For Linemen 200 PREVIEW

By @GucciardoJoey

View image | gettyimages.com

This weekend, the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series heads to Gateway International Raceway for the American Ethanol Presents the Drivin' For Linemen 200.'

Right now, points standings wise, Matt Crafton has the lead with three wins. The 19-year-old Tyler Reddick is second in points with two wins. Erik Jones is third in points, Johnny Sauter is fourth, and John Wes Townley is fifth.

Last year, Darrell Wallace Jr.won this race.

There's your preview for the 2015 Drivin' For Linemen 200!

Great Clips 250 PREVIEW

By @GucciardoJoey

View image | gettyimages.com

This Saturday, at1:30 PM E.T., the NASCAR XFINITY Series heads to Michigan International Speedway for the Great Clips 250 benefiting Paralyzed Veterans of America.

As of right now, Chris Buescher is the best driver in the series, with two wins andleading the points standings. Ty Dillon sits secodn to Buescher in points, with Chase Elliott in third, with Elliott's teammate, Regan Smith in 4th, and Buescher's teammate, Darrell Wallace Jr. in 5th.

Paul Menard won this race last year.The race was under the name of "Ollies Bargain Outlet 250," but it was still at Michigan International Speedway.

Kyle Busch, a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series regular, will be competing in his first NASCAR XFINITY Series race since he crashed, and wasinjured in the 2015 NASCAR XFINITY Series opener at Daytona International Speedway. He will be driving his usual No. 54 Monster Energy Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing.

There's your preview for the 2015 Great Clips 250 benefiting Paralyzed Veteransof America.

Driver Ratings: Going into Michigan

UNB Sprint Cup Homepage: Driver Ratings: Going into Michigan: By @GucciardoJoey  | June 11th, 2015 



 Jimmie Johnson celebrates in victory lane at Dover International Speedway after winning the 2015 Fe...

Driver Ratings: Going into Michigan

By @GucciardoJoey | June 11th, 2015

Jimmie Johnson celebrates in victory lane at Dover International
Speedway after winning the 2015 FedEx 400 Benefitting Autism
Speaks.
(Photo CREDIT: Getty Images)

So, Pocono Raceway has come and gone, as we have just ran out first of two races there.

This weekend, the Sprint Cup heads to Michigan International Speedway for the Quicken Loans 400.

As we head into Michigan, let's take a look at the Top-5 drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series so far this season.

1.) Jimmie Johnson (#48): 4 wins? 5 Top-5's and 10 Top-10's? Johnson is having one of his best seasons ever. His best season to date is the 2007 season in this series, where he won 10 races, and he won his 2nd of currently 6 championships in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

2.) Kevin Harvick (#4): If the Sprint Cup Series points standings was based on wins, then "Happy" Harvick would be second to Jimmie Johnson. Harvick has two wins, Johnson has four. 14 races into this season, Harvick has 10 Top-5's, and 13 Top 10's. So only one race that he competed in this season, he finished outside the Top-10. That's pretty incredible.

3.) Martin Truex Jr. (#78): Even if Martin Truex Jr. didn't win this past weekend's race at Pocono Raceway, I still would have put him third on this list. Before his win, he definitely was one of the best drivers currently on the circuit that hadn't gotten a win. But, to go along with his win, he has some pretty good stats. 4 Top-5's and 13 Top-10's, that's pretty good. Just like Harvick, only one race that Truex Jr. competed in this season led to him finishing outside the Top-10. Only one race! That's amazing.

4.) Joey Logano (#22): Logano started his season off with a Daytona 500 victory. Even though that's his only win 14 races into this season, he has 4 poles to go along with it. He's got 7 Top-5's, and 10 Top-10's. Only four races he competed in this season led to him finishing outside the Top-10. Not as good as Harvick and Truex Jr., but still pretty good.

5.) Dale Earnhardt Jr. (#88): Jr. has always been a good driver to me. His Talladega win this season showed all of the NASCAR world that he is still capable of winning, even at the age of 40. His 7 Top-5's and 8 Top-10's are a little extra to add on to that win. Logan has two more Top-10's than Jr. does, so that's why Logano is ahead of Jr. But still, Dale Earnhardt Jr. is having one heck of a season.

Brian France hints at rules change.

Recently, I read an article today in regards to Brian France hinting at more changes to the rules package for 2016. In my opinion, it does need changed but to higher HP. Right now the HP is 750 HP. There isn't any reason why it should be 750 HP. The fans, drivers & sponsors aren't at all liking this rules package. Neither am I. There's hardly any passing or fights for the lead. I suspect there may be a little backlash if France does follow through with the new rules package.

Martin Truex Jr. Wins Axalta 'We Paint Winners' 400

By @GucciardoJoey

View image | gettyimages.com

LONG POND, PA--- Martin Truex Jr. was able to get it done today at Pocono Raceway.

This was Truex Jr.'s first victory of the 2015 season.

Kevin Harvick finished second, and Jimmie Johnson finished 3rd.

Johnson actually blew a tire during the middle of the race, but bounced back and rebounded for a 3rd place finish.

Danica Patrick spun with less than 10 laps to go, but no caution was thrown because she spun into an area (pit road) which put her out of harm's way.

Matt Crafton wins at Texas

By @GucciardoJoey

FORT WORTH, TX--- 0.569 seconds was all it took last night.

That was the distance that Matt Crafton beat Daniel Suarez to the finish line by to win last night's NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Texas Motor Speedway.

"The restarts were hairy. We got a pretty good start on that last one and ran side-by-side-by-side. We're happy for sure, but not satisfied," Crafton said in victory lane.

Crafton's third win of the season (which was last night) extended his points lead to 29 points over Tyler Reddick.

John Wes Townley finished 3rd, followed by Johnny Sauter in 4th, and Austin Theriault in 5th to round out the Top-5.

Harvick, Sellers, and Jo Cobb are among quite a few penalized due to Dover infractions.

By @GucciardoJoey

Well, Dover has come and gone, and we saw some incredible racing action.

Jimmie Johnson won the FedEx 400 Benefitting Autism Speaks, Chris Buescher won the Buckle Up 200, and Tyler Reddick won the Lucas Oil 200.

But, many drivers, spanning from all three of NASCAR's main series were penalized.

Sprint Cup PENALTIES

Kevin Harvick: Harvick received a penalty for receiving two written warnings in two consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events. What will happen to him, you ask? Well, he will recieve the last pit stall placement selection for this weekend's event at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, PA.

XFINITY Series PENALTIES

Peyton Sellers: Received a P3 penalty. Crew chief John Monsam was fined $15,000, and was suspended for the next points race in this respective series. Monism is on probation until December 31st, 2015. Car chief David Jones was suspended for the next points race in this respective series, and is also on probation until December 31st, 2015. Sellers will lose 15 driver points, while the car owner, Victor Obaika, loses 15 owners points.

Austin Dillon: Dillon's No. 33 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet failed post-race inspection. Nick Harrison, the crew chief of the No. 33, was fined $7,500, and was placed on probation until December 31st, 2015. Car owner Richard Childress loses 10 championship owner points for this level P2 penalty.

Truck Series PENALTIES

Jennifer Jo Cobb: Received a penalty for her actions during this past weekend's Truck Series race. Cobb was fined $5,000, and placed on probation until December 31st, 2015.

In case you don't know what Cobb did, I'll tell you. 12 laps into this past weekend's Lucas Oil 200, she was wrecked on the backstretch. It happened as Tyler Reddick was trying to put her a lap down. When the caution was thrown, Jo Cobb got out of her truck. When Reddick's truck came around Cobb's wrecked car, Cobb started to move up the track. When Reddick's truck came around again, Cobb began to make gestures. She wound up having to be restrained by NASCAR.

~ - ~ - ~

So, those were the penalties from this past weekend's racing events at Dover International Speedway.

Here we go again.

If you saw the incident at Dover on Friday between Tyler Reddick & Jennifer Jo Cobb you automatically thought about the sprint car accident last August that took the life of Kevin Ward Jr. NASCAR has a mandated rule in place that states you're not allowed to walk onto the racing surface to confront another driver. Even if she was mere inches away from his truck or, in this case, half the length of the frontstretch it still violated that rule. I expect that NASCAR will drop the hammer on Cobb. Underfunded team or not, it was still wrong & she'll have to pay the consequences.