Green, Yellow and Red Flags from Kansas Speedway
Green Flags:
Martin Truex Jr.
Martin Truex and his #78 Furniture Row team have been the best team for much of this season. Heck, you could make the argument that this bunch has been at the top of the NASCAR chart for two seasons. They have figured out the 1.5 mile tracks like no other team.
It’s going to take some major fete and perhaps a bit of track luck for anyone other than Truex to take home the trophy this season. Simply dominating.
Jimmie Johnson
We thought they had old 7 time on the ropes on Sunday. After spinning twice, it appeared that the Lowes Racing bunch just could not find the handle on their car. One thing I’ve learned, OK I’m a slow learner, is you never, never, never count out this team.
After coming into the pit twice, they improved the handle enough, raced mistake free from there on out and ended up with a decent 11th place finish. They live for another day.
Kyle Busch
For a while it sure looked like Busch was the team to beat Sunday. But this green flag is not for what he did on the track Sunday, even though he had a stellar day. No its for his along with his wife Samantha’s continued work with the Kyle Busch Foundation.
Busch is raffling off chances to win his special Halloween “Glow in the Dark” Helmet he used Sunday at Kansas and will be using next week at Martinsville Speedway. There were 2,00 tickets available and they sold out in 48 hours. All for a great cause.
Yellow Flags:
Kyle Larson
One of the season’s best drivers and cars was eliminated because of an engine failure. Sports is often decided by the luck of the draw. Sunday, bad luck smacked Kyle Larson right across the face.
Very often, the #42 car has treated fans to some outstanding racing. If Truex has been the series’ best driver, Larson has been the series’ most exciting. Fans have lost a potential best vs exciting Championship matchup.
Red Flags:
Matt Kenseth
You can’t have blood flowing through your viens if you didn’t feel the pain of Matt Kenseth. After getting caught with 7 crew members over pit road to repair some damage on his car, NASCAR disqualified the #20 team. Done for the day, and done for the Championship. Ouch.
The teams during the off season lobbied for this rule. The 5 minute clock and 6 men over the wall rules were implemented in hopes of cutting cost to the racing teams. I wonder if the punishment on Sunday was more severe than needed.
Thanks for reading. Listen to WTBQ radio on Monday and Friday mornings at 8:45 as I join Frank, Taylor and the Morning Show gang to discuss all the current happenings in NASCAR. 1110AM 93.5FM or online at WTBQ.COM. You can also follow me on twitter @JimLaplante
