When Cup drivers are requested about how essential it’s to open the Spherical of 12 with run, they’re often fast to say the observe after this weekend in Kansas.
The long-lasting 2.66-mile superspeedway known as Talladega has a well-earned repute of being the embodiment of chaos and unpredictability. Many title hopefuls are aiming to win this weekend in Kansas, or at the very least pad their factors complete earlier than heading to Talladega in seven days.
Amongst them is Kansas pole-sitter Christopher Bell, the one driver among the many last Championship 4 in each years of the Subsequent Gen period. That is his third consecutive pole at Kansas, however he has not but discovered Victory Lane on the 1.5-mile oval.
Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing, Rheem Toyota Camry
Picture by: John Harrelson / NKP / Motorsport Pictures
His plan to keep away from sweating at Talladega is easy: “Win this week … There actually isn’t any hiding, though it does really feel like the autumn Talladega race has been lots calmer than the spring race the final couple years. I don’t know. Superspeedway racing, I’ve been very vocal, it’s not my favourite fashion of racing and that places a variety of emphasis on this race tomorrow to attempt to get some stage factors. Clearly, profitable could be superb, however actually going to Talladega with an enormous cushion is our primary aim.”
There has already been one drafting observe within the playoffs, which Denny Hamlin approached with a novel technique. At Atlanta, he forfeited the chance to attain stage factors, as a substitute working within the again for almost all of the race, hoping to keep away from the wrecks. Sadly, the ‘huge one’ did not occur till the ultimate lap — and Hamlin himself was collected in it.
Regardless of this setback and a Lap 1 wreck at The Glen, Hamlin dragged himself again above the cut-line within the nick of time at Bristol. So, will he make use of the identical technique subsequent weekend? Very like his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate, Hamlin is hoping to keep away from that dialogue altogether.
“You could possibly nonetheless take the method, however honestly, we’re going to only attempt to win this weekend after which not have to fret about numbers,” mentioned Hamlin. “However actually, we’re going to method these three races and get all we are able to and stay with the end result it doesn’t matter what it’s. We will’t management the issues we are able to’t management, but when we simply do the most effective that we are able to we really feel fairly assured.”
Holding the underdog story alive
Chase Briscoe faces a distinct state of affairs, because it’s unlikely he can simply exit and win this weekend on uncooked velocity like a few of his title rivals.
He’s the underdog story, driving for a soon-to-be defunct group that few anticipated to make the playoffs — not to mention advance past the primary spherical. Briscoe is considering Talladega and the perilous nature of drafting tracks. Within the playoff-opener at Atlanta, he noticed his race finish abruptly when he was taken out in an early wreck, ending final. He additionally has expertise with Talladega crushing his title hopes earlier than.
“I undoubtedly have expertise with that, simply from Atlanta and even the Truck Collection — the explanation I did not make the Ultimate 4 (in 2017) was Talladega,” defined Briscoe. “So it is powerful, simply because there it’s out of your management to a sure extent, but in addition it is the identical for the opposite 11 guys I am racing. All of them should go to Talladega too. So it is the playing cards that you simply’re dealt and also you simply gotta determine what the most effective hand is and hopefully we are able to go there and have day.
“However no matter what the end is, it is gonna be what it’s, proper? You’ll be able to’t change it, so that you simply gotta transfer on from it and hopefully we are able to depart Talladega in a extremely great place going into the Roval, as a result of I undoubtedly really feel just like the Roval is our strongest observe out of the three on this spherical.”
Chase Briscoe, Stewart-Haas Racing, Rush Truck Facilities / Cummins Ford Mustang
Picture by: Rusty Jarrett / NKP / Motorsport Pictures
Issues are further troublesome for Briscoe, who already has to make up floor because the factors reset places him again within the backside 4 to start out the Spherical of 12. Regardless of struggling by way of follow, he maximized his qualifying effort and superior into the pole spherical, slotting into ninth on the grid.
“We have been speaking about it earlier this week and really feel like we undoubtedly have to attempt to maximize this race (Kansas) simply with Talladega and the Roval being unpredictable,” added Briscoe. “I do suppose if we are able to come out of right here twelfth or thirteenth, and get some stage factors, it ought to put you at the very least within the hunt. You are not going to start out at big depths such as you did at Atlanta. In order that’s for certain a spotlight. This has most likely not been our greatest racetrack, so we have some work to do, however I’m assured that we’ll be the most effective we have been right here in a very long time.”
