Tag: Brad Keselowski

NASCAR Cup Series race at Darlington odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Darlington Raceway, with NASCAR betting odds, picks and best bets.

Say goodbye to those virtual races, as the NASCAR Cup Series returns for real at Darlington Raceway Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze the betting odds and lines, with NASCAR picks and tips with odds from BetMGM sportsbook.

NASCAR changes: What you need to know

Sunday’s return to action after the pause due to COVID-19 will not have any practice sessions or qualifying. In fact, there will be no practice sessions for any May race, and qualifying will only be held for the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte May 24. Here is what we know:

  • Positions 1 through 12 to be determined by a random draw from charter teams in those positions in team owner points
  • Positions 13-24 to be determined by a random draw among charter teams in those positions in owner points
  • Positions 25-36 to be determined by a random draw among charter teams in those positions in owner points
  • Positions 37-40 to be filled out by open, non-chartered teams in order of owner points

NASCAR standings & Darlington odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday, May 13 at 1:25 a.m. ET.

A quick perusal of the current standings after four starts shows Stewart-Haas Racing’s (SHR’s) Kevin Harvick (+600 for Sunday’s Darlington race) sitting in first, one point ahead of Penske Racing’s Joey Logano (+750). Hendrick Motorsports teammates Chase Elliott (+850), Alex Bowman (+1300) and Jimmie Johnson (+2000) are in third through fifth, respectively, while Penske’s Ryan Blaney (+2200) sits sixth. SHR’s Aric Almirola (+5000) is tied for seventh with Kyle Larson (more on him below). Matt DiBenedetto (+5000) of Wood Brothers is ninth, while Penske’s Brad Keselowski (+850) rounds out the top 10.

As for Larson, he was released by Chip Ganassi Racing and indefinitely suspended by NASCAR for uttering a racial slur during a live virtual racing broadcast during the COVID-19 pause. While he has completed a mandated sensitivity training course, Matt Kenseth (+2000) is coming out of retirement to join CGR in the No. 42 car.

Who is going to win Sunday at Darlington Raceway?

Joe Gibbs Racing’s Kyle Busch (+500) is noticeably absent from the top 10 in the standings, but he is actually listed as the race favorite due to his recent run of success at the track. While he hasn’t won in the past 10 stops, he has been 11th or better in each of those starts.

Busch has finished seventh or better in eight of his past 10 starts at Darlington, posting a stellar 11.1 Average-Finish Position (AFP) in his 15 overall runs at the South Carolina track.

Johnson actually leads all active drivers with three wins at “The Lady In Black,” and he has a 12.1 AFP in 21 starts with nine finishes inside the top 5. He has also led 554 laps, fourth-most of any driver. Busch actually leads with 716 laps led, followed by Harvick (581) and Denny Hamlin (+700), another driver currently outside of the top 10 in standings. That could change in a hurry, however.

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Martin Truex Jr. (+800) is also flying a bit under the radar – he won this race in 2016, followed by his JGR teammate Hamlin in 2017. So, definitely do not base your wagering decisions on starting position alone. The past two winners have come from a starting position of 15th and 13th, and the last five winners have been from eighth or lower in the starting grid, so the pole hasn’t amounted to much lately.

Darlington Raceway long-shot bets

If you’re looking to back a long shot, why not Kenseth? He is a rather moderate underdog in his return to the track. Kenseth won at Darlington as recently as the 2013 season, and raced a Cup car in 2018, albeit a 25th-place fun. He has five top-10 starts in his past seven Darlington runs, including the 2013 win, so how amazing of a story would it be if he won Sunday?

SHR’s Clint Bowyer (+5000) has been a disaster at Darlington in recent years, posting a 40th-place run in 2017, a 36th-place finish in 2018 before running sixth last season. He is a great driver, but a long shot for a reason, as he has found the title “Track Too Tough To Tame” apropos. In 14 career Darlington starts, he has a dismal 21.6 AFP with just two top-10 showings and only 17 laps led. Still, a driver of his caliber at this price is worth a small-unit bet, especially with all of the chaos and uncertainty heading into the season restart.

Want action on this race? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

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Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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NASCAR Betting: Auto Club 400 odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Sunday’s Auto Club 400 sports betting odds and lines, with NASCAR analysis, picks and tips.

The NASCAR Cup Series heads to the Auto Club Speedway Sunday afternoon for the Auto Club 400 at 3:30 p.m. ET in Fontana, Calif. Below, we analyze the Auto Club 400 betting odds and lines, with NASCAR picks and tips.

Who is going to win the 2020 Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway?

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access them at USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated Saturday at 12:05 p.m. ET.

Joe Gibbs Racing driver Kyle Busch (+500) won last season’s Auto Club 400, and he has also picked up three checkered flags across his past six starts at the California track. The defending series champ is off to a rather uneven start through two starts this season, so perhaps a start at ACS is just what is needed to jump-start his season. In 21 career starts at the track he has four wins, 10 top-five finishes, 15 top-10 runs and 807 laps led with a 10.0 Average-Finish Position (AFP), too.

Hendrick Motorsports driver Chase Elliott (+800) has had some strong showings at this track in the past, but victory has eluded him thus far. In four starts he has a 10.8 AFP with a pair of top-10 finishes, five laps led and he has never finished lower than 16th. He’ll be one to watch. Elliott’s teammate Jimmie Johnson (+1600) is showing some signs of life early on, and he leads all active drivers with six California wins, 13 top-five finishes in 25 starts, 980 laps led and a 7.6 AFP.

New to sports betting? A successful $10 wager on Johnson to win would return a profit of $160.

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Penske Racing driver Joey Logano (+600) will be looking for checkers for the second consecutive weekend. He is seventh or better in each of his past five outings, including a runner-up finish last season. Logano has never won this race in 13 career starts, but he has 57 laps led and a 13.1 AFP, sixth-best among all active drivers.

Logano’s teammate Brad Keselowski (+800) won this race in 2015, and he has rattled off three straight top-five showings, and five top-10 finishes in a row. Kes has a 14.5 AFP in his 11 career starts with 81 laps led.

2020 Auto Club 400 longshot bets

Stewart-Haas Racing’s Kurt Busch (+2500) is worth a small-unit wager, as he enters Sunday’s race with the fourth-best AFP among active drivers. In 26 career starts he has a win, seven top-five finishes, 13 top-10 finishes and no DNFs with a 12.6 AFP and 298 laps led.

If you’re looking for a little bit more of a longshot, Erik Jones (+3300) fits the bill. He has finished 12th, seventh and 19th in three career starts at ACS with a solid 12.7 AFP, fifth among active drivers.

Want some action in this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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NASCAR Betting: Pennzoil 400 odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, with NASCAR betting odds, picks and best bets

The NASCAR Cup Series moves to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Sunday afternoon for the Pennzoil 400 at 3:30 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze the Pennzoil 400 betting odds and lines, with NASCAR picks and tips.

The weather won’t be a problem like it was in Daytona last weekend, when a surprise rain storm ended up pushing the race to Monday. The haulers had one less day to travel across the country, subsequently canceling the mid-week hauler parade down The Strip, but the cars and drivers will be ready to go Sunday with no interruptions.

Who is going to win the 2020 Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway?

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access them at USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated Friday at 3:30 p.m. ET.

The winner of the most recent Cup race at Vegas, Joe Gibbs Racing driver Martin Truex Jr. (+550), is among the favorites at this race. Only Vegas-born driver and teammate Kyle Busch (+500) and Stewart-Haas Racing’s Kevin Harvick (+500) have shorter odds.

MTJ has posted two wins in 16 career starts in Vegas, with five top-5 showings and eight top-10 finishes with a 10.9 Average-Finish Position (AFP). He’ll be a very popular selection this weekend. Truex also tops the charts with a 123.8 Driver Rating across the past five starts in Vegas, according to NASCAR’s Loop Data. Busch has a win in 17 career starts, posting nine top-10 showings and a 12.7 AFP.

New to sports betting? A successful $10 wager on Truex to win would return a profit of $55.

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Penske Racing driver Joey Logano (+700) will also be a pick many gravitate toward, as he has a 5.0 AFP and 116.8 Driver Rating across his past five starts at LVMS while running a circuit-best 95.4 percent of his laps inside the Top 15 during the impressive span. He also has eight consecutive top-10 showings at the track.

Logano’s teammate Brad Keselowski (+600) is also a solid play, as he has three straight finishes of third or best at Vegas, including a win. He is a nice selection to finish in the Top 3 (+150).

2020 Pennzoil 400 longshot bets

Keselowski and Logano’s teammate, Ryan Blaney (+2000), kicked off his 2020 campaign with a second-place run at Daytona. He heads into this one with a 95.6 Driver Rating over the past five Vegas starts while posting an 8.8 AFP. He has finished seventh or better in five of his past six starts at the track, too, including three top-5 showings in the previous four.

Hendrick Motorsports’ William Byron (+2500) and Alex Bowman (+3000) finished in the Top 10 in the second Vegas race last season, with Byron seventh and Bowman sixth. Those two are worth a small-unit bet with rather moderate odds. Tossing a little change on their veteran teammate, seven-time Cup champ Jimmie Johnson (+3000) is also worth a shot. He has four career wins at Vegas to lead all active drivers, and he is 12th or better in seven of his past 10 starts at the track.

Want some action in this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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What NASCAR drivers eat before 500-mile races — and how they avoid uncomfortable ‘gut bombs’

From a bucket of chicken to skyline chili, NASCAR drivers told us what the best and worst pre-race meals are.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Deciding what to eat before climbing into a race car for 500 miles is a delicate balance between guaranteeing you have enough energy to aggressively compete for several hours but ensuring you don’t have to relieve yourself in the middle of the race (without getting out of the car).

Sunday’s Daytona 500 — along with the rest of the NASCAR Cup Series’ schedule and so many other motor sports series — is as much about endurance as it is speed, especially when temperatures in the car can hit 130 degrees.

So what do NASCAR drivers say is the best pre-race meal to eat? And more importantly, what’s the worst thing, the dish you absolutely want to steer clear of?

For The Win spoke to several drivers at Daytona International Speedway this week about their food preferences before racing. Here’s what they had to say about how they keep their stomachs cool and avoid disasters.

Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 Chevrolet

“I would think a big Mexican meal would probably be one of the worst things to eat. Best would be a nice Italian, carb-loading pasta session.”

Joey Logano, No. 22 Ford

(Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

“The best thing you can have is something bland, normal. Chicken, unless I have some salmon or something like that. And I usually throw a lot of barbecue sauce on it because that’s my jam.”

Barbecue sauce on salmon?

“Yeah, barbecue sauce on everything. … I was having eggs this morning and I had barbecue sauce on my eggs because it’s good!

“Worst? Worst would be something that upsets your stomach, obviously, because you’re stuck in there. Spicy foods may not be a good one. … Raisins and grapes don’t really mesh well for me. But it’s different for everybody. Everybody’s got their thing.”

Clint Bowyer, No. 14 Ford

“I would not eat a bowl of chili before the race. I would say the answer to that is: Just imagine yourself in those gut bombs you have after whatever meal it is. Thats’s not the one I would eat before a four-hour [event] where you’re strapped in a race car and can’t move. You gotta have a little wiggle room when you eat something like that.

“Forever, I’ve always said khaki colors only, you know, meat, cheese and the bun. Don’t venture out anything. Just eat something clean. Winner, winner, chicken dinner’s never wrong. I always grew up around racers [who were] like, ‘Absolutely no chicken.’ I’m like, ‘Haven’t you ever heard winner, winner, chicken dinner?’

“We used to win all the time after eating a bucket of chicken on the way to the races.”

Brad Keselowski, No. 2 Ford

“Best: chicken. Worst: ice cream. Ice cream in a race car is going to make some things happen to your body that you don’t want to happen.”

(Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports)

Martin Truex Jr., No. 19 Toyota

“There’s a lot of things you probably shouldn’t [eat]. Anything spicy is probably a bad idea. I keep it simple: Chicken and rice, maybe steak and rice, a little salad. Nothing too heavy that’s going to upset your stomach, obviously.”

Kurt Busch, No. 1 Chevrolet

“The worst pre-race meal is something spicy. You don’t want that happening the wrong way during the race. I did some pasta back in the day trying to load up on some carbs, and, no pun intended, that just felt noodley.

“So I switched to a turkey sandwich, and I’ve been doing a turkey sandwich for the last 20 years.

Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Ford

“The best, for what I like, I’m a big chicken guy, rice, and corn. Corn’s pretty good, but mainly chicken and rice.

“Worst would be like Thai food or something. You don’t want something spicy that’s going to upset your stomach. The last thing you want in there when you’re on mile 250 out of 500 is your stomach starts rumbling because you ate some spicy food, and it’s not going to end well.”

Darrell “Bubba” Wallace Jr., No. 43 Chevrolet

(Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports)

“Probably nothing spicy for pre-race. The best stuff? Probably some pasta. We’ll do that or some grilled chicken. Bob Evans’ mashed potatoes, phenomenal if you haven’t had those.

Seems kind of heavy.

“Maybe that’s my problem. I need to change up my diet. But I like what I like, and I’m gonna keep doing it!”

Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Chevrolet

“I keep it safe a lot of times and go with grilled fish or chicken and rice and some vegetables. Worst thing: Probably some tacos. Any and all.”

Austin Dillon, No. 3 Chevrolet

“Man, the worst thing I ate was peanut butter and jelly one time. I had like, acid reflux or something and I was burping the whole race. I never use peanut butter before the race. I don’t know why. I like peanut butter. That was not fun.

“Best thing? Some type of bar. Something really stale and easy on your stomach. I do some wraps, but I’ve got to be careful with that too. I just keep it super light.

“I eat a big breakfast, and then hopefully that moves through my system. If you want to know my bowel movements, I can record them for you and give them to you.”

No thanks.

Erik Jones, No. 20 Toyota

“The best thing? Chicken and vegetables, salad maybe.

“The worst thing? I know a guy who ate skyline chili — I don’t know if everybody knows what that is, it’s a midwestern thing — ate some skyline chili before a race. Didn’t work very good for him. I stay away from that. I eat the light stuff.”

Ross Chastain, No. 77 Chevrolet

(Chris Trotman/Getty Images)

Well, the best is a watermelon. There’s just no way around that, OK? Goodness gracious. Everybody should know that.

Obviously, from a watermelon farmer.

“The worst for me is anything spicy. I’m a pretty bland guy, like ketchup is a spice to me. You put ketchup on something, that’s doing something. I’m very bland. I’m like baked chicken with barbecue sauce on it is an ideal spice palette for me.”

Tyler Reddick, No. 8 Chevrolet

“I love eating seafood. On top of that, I like eating sashimi. That could either be the best thing or worst thing before you get in the race car.”

Is that what you usually eat?

“I wish I had the ability to do that. I just keep it simple and light. A little bit of grilled chicken, a wrap or something like that. Maybe a salad. I like to eat — really eat good during the week, so I can get to the race weekend and then try and clean up what I eat so my body isn’t pissed off I ate too much of one thing.”

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From beach trips to the Super Bowl, here’s what 12 NASCAR drivers did in their offseasons

NASCAR’s offseason is famously short, but these drivers took advantage.

NASCAR’s offseason is famously short, lasting from mid-November until early February. And with the Busch Clash at Daytona International Speedway, an exhibition race, on Sunday, that offseason is officially over as drivers and their teams prepare for the season-opening Daytona 500 on February 16.

From traveling to the mountains to islands to the Super Bowl, drivers took advantage of what little time they had off to relax and have some fun with their friends and families. And, of course, plenty of them got back behind the wheel for a few offseason races.

So before the 2020 NASCAR season officially begins, here’s a look back at the highlights of how some drivers enjoyed their offseasons.

Kyle Busch

The reigning NASCAR Cup Series champ had a busy offseason because in addition to celebrating his second title, he and his family, Samantha and their son Brexton, took a trip to Cabo San Lucas, and he competed in the Rolex 24 At Daytona (also known as the 24 Hours of Daytona).

View this post on Instagram

I swear we actually have suits on 🙈😜 #cabo

A post shared by Samantha Busch (@samanthabusch) on

His team didn’t win, but he clearly enjoyed the experience in a sports car for the endurance race.

Clint Bowyer

Although it was a recent development, it’s possible nobody had a better weekend during the offseason than Clint Bowyer did over Super Bowl weekend. The diehard Kansas City Chiefs fan watched his team win the Super Bowl on Sunday over the San Francisco 49ers, and he documented his post-game celebrations on social media, thankfully.

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Happened folks!!!! #superbowl @chiefs

A post shared by Clint Bowyer (@clintbowyer) on

He even caught up with Andy Reid and fellow superfan Eric Stonestreet.

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Our coach is better! 💪 @chiefs #champs

A post shared by Clint Bowyer (@clintbowyer) on

View this post on Instagram

This shit happened. @chiefs

A post shared by Clint Bowyer (@clintbowyer) on

It also appears he had a rough next day.

Kyle and Samantha Busch also went to the Super Bowl:

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Dale Jr. actually curated an exhibit at the NASCAR Hall of Fame called “Dale Jr.: Glory Road Champions,” which opened in early January and features 18 championship cars.

Amy Earnhardt and their daughter, Isla, also got cars of their own. According to Amy’s Instagram, Dale Jr. surprised her with a 1966 El Camino for Christmas, and Isla, who will be two years old in April, showed off her driving skills too.

Dale Jr. and his XFINITY Series team, JR Motorsports, also announced his one race for 2020 will be at Homestead-Miami Speedway in March.

Jimmie Johnson

Almost immediately after the 2019 season ended, the seven-time Cup Series champion announced that the 2020 season will be his last full-time schedule. So really, this was his last offseason going into his 19 Cup season, but it doesn’t seem like he did anything differently.

He spent a lot of time in Aspen on the ski slopes, and he and his oldest daughter, 9-year-old Evie, competed together and were part of the winning team in an amateur skiing competition. Johnson said competing with her was “a highlight of 2019”.

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Thank you Santa! #PowderDay

A post shared by Jimmie Johnson (@jimmiejohnson) on

Of course, there was some more traditional racing too.

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It’s a family affair. #GirlsRule #ProudDad

A post shared by Jimmie Johnson (@jimmiejohnson) on

Chase Elliott

NASCAR’s most popular driver went to the SEC championship game in December, only to watch his Georgia Bulldogs get rocked by LSU.

Kyle Larson

Like any other NASCAR offseason, Larson spent his time away from the Cup Series racing, and he crossed off a major bucket list accomplishment, winning his first Chili Bowl Nationals last month. It’s no secret that this was a huge goal of Larson’s, and his victory came a year after he lost a heartbreaker on the last lap.

“I’m sorry NASCAR, I’m sorry Daytona, but this is the biggest (expletive) race I’ve ever won,” Larson said, via NBC Sports. “I hope to win Daytona in a few weeks but this is bad ass.”

Brad Keselowski

Brad and Paige Keselowski’s family grew this offseason as they welcomed their second daughter, Autumn, to the world in December. The couple also have a 4-year-old daughter, Scarlett.

View this post on Instagram

Love my girls. Welcome to the family, Autumn!

A post shared by Brad Keselowski (@bradkeselowski) on

Denny Hamlin

The defending Daytona 500 champ underwent successful arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder as soon as the 2019 season ended. Unsurprisingly after his recovery, he spent some time on the golf course.

Ryan Blaney

Blaney enjoyed the island life a little bit, jetting off to Turks And Caicos with friends, including Darrel “Bubba” Wallace Jr., William Byron and Daniel Hemric.

Daniel Suárez

Suárez finally locked down a full-time ride for the 2020 Cup Series season. After winning the 2016 XFINITY Series championship and splitting his first three Cup seasons between Joe Gibbs Racing and Stewart-Haas Racing, Suárez was replaced by Cole Custer in the No. 41 Ford. However, with only a few weeks remaining in the offseason, it was announced that he will drive the No. 96 Toyota for Gaunt Brothers Racing.

Austin Dillon

Austin and Whitney Dillon announced they’re expecting their first child in June this year.

Matt DiBenedetto

Ahead of his first season with Wood Brothers Racing, the No. 21 Ford driver got matching giraffe costumes with his brother for Christmas.

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NASCAR Superlatives 2019: We polled drivers to see what they think of each other

“His ability to link cuss words together is phenomenal,” Jimmie Johnson said about one driver.

There is only so much NASCAR fans can learn about drivers through social media and brief interviews at the race tracks.

Posting more than race or sponsorship information or making a sly on-camera joke helps. But it’s still challenging to get a sense of what they’re really like, unless you’re at the track regularly.

But many of the drivers know each other fairly well, and some are actually pretty good friends and hang out beyond NASCAR race weekends. So For The Win conducted its annual NASCAR Superlatives investigation to see what some of these drivers really think of each other.

“So Clint Bowyer wins goofball, again and again and again and again?” Brad Keselowski joked.

Answering these questions, 11 drivers shared some funny and quirky details about their peers and their personalities.

Answers have been lightly condensed and edited for clarity.

1. If you’re having a party, who’s the first driver you invite?

Darrell “Bubba” Wallace Jr. and Ryan Blaney (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Clint Bowyer: None. Wouldn’t be a very a good party if you invited my peers to it. That’s rude. None of ‘em know how to party! Most of them aren’t old enough to drink anymore, so it’s out of control.

Jimmie Johnson: Probably Clint, and then my teammates. [Alex Bowman] had a hell of a party after his first win.

Brad Keselowski: Ryan Blaney, he’s a good party dude. He brings in a good crowd.

Kyle Larson: Ricky Stenhouse. He’s one of my best friends, and he’s really wild right now.

Joey Logano: Typically — not that we’re partiers in any way — I’d invite Brad because our families are all friends, and [Corey] LaJoie because we grew up together, and we’re all friends.

Denny Hamlin: Kyle Larson.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr.: Larson, just because we’re great friends and have a lot of fun together.

Ryan Blaney: My buddies, Bubba [Wallace] and Chase [Elliott].

Landon Cassill: Corey LaJoie, we have fun.

Alex Bowman: I don’t have any friends. It’d be Clint Bowyer, but he probably wouldn’t come to my party. [Yells to Bowyer across the room.] We’re trying to decide if you would come to my party or not!

Bowyer: Hell yeah!

Bowman: Well, Clint’s coming to the party then.

Bowyer: Are you old enough to drink?

Bowman: Last week, I turned 21, so we’re good.

Bowyer: Oh my god. Are you really serious? Did you really just turn 21?

Bowman: No, I’m 26. Come on now.

2. Which driver is most likely to be cause “The Big One” at Daytona or Talladega?

Cars wreck during “The Big One” at the 2019 Daytona 500. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

Johnson: I think we’re all capable of it. I’ve caused plenty.

Bowyer: History would show, in recent years, it would be Ricky Stenhouse.

Larson: Ricky. Whatever, we’ll still party after.

Hamlin: I love him, but I’ve gotta say Ricky.

Stenhouse: We’ve all done it. I would always say Jamie McMurray back in the day.

Erik Jones: I’ve caused The Big One. We all have at some point.

Keselowski: That’s pretty easy for me, William Byron.

Bowman: Keselowski.

3. Which driver is most likely to apologize for wrecking you?

Hamlin: Probably Brad Keselowski.

Keselowski: Probably Clint Bowyer.

Bowyer: None of them. It’s not worth the breath. It’s something you just do because it’s the right thing to do. It means nothing. They’re still going to want you to have a bad day.

Larson: Ricky, just because we’re friends.

Jones: No one, to be honest.

Logano: Only saying this because it’s the freshest, but [Daniel] Suárez just did. He apologized pretty quickly, which, I knew it wasn’t on purpose. He’s was mature enough to admit fault.

Bowman: Byron.

Stenhouse: Blaney always apologizes. I’ll apologize if I’m in the wrong.

Cassill: None of them.

Johnson: Teammates obviously because of the relationship and dialogue. Over the years, I would say [Matt] Kenseth and I had a really good dialogue to work through issues. I had a dust-up with Blaney earlier this year, and it took a long time before we finally sat down and talked. And I just think the longer the relationship, the longer drivers have been around, the sooner that stuff happens.

4. Who’s definitely not going to apologize for wrecking you?

Kyle Busch (Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports)

Keselowski: Oh, Kyle Busch for sure.

Larson: Probably Joey Logano or Kyle Busch.

Logano: Kyle Busch.

Johnson: [Kevin] Harvick.

Bowman: Newman, I don’t think he really cares.

Stenhouse: Kurt Busch.

Cassill: All of them.

5. Which driver do you think is the worst driver on the street in a regular car?

Keselowski: Only because I’ve heard an account, Denny Hamlin. He admittedly texts and drives a lot. It’s not a talent thing; it’s a focus thing.

Hamlin: Maybe me.

Johnson: The one I’ve experienced is Brian Vickers. We were teammates for a long time, and I literally thought I was going to die riding shotgun with him.

Bowyer: Well, Kyle Busch got caught in his own neighborhood going like 80 miles an hour. That’s pretty dumb. [It was 128 miles per hour in a 45 zone.]

Stenhouse: Clint because I’m going to guess he doesn’t pay a lot of attention.

Larson: Probably Ryan Newman, but I’m not really sure how much time he spends on the road because I think he’s just on his farm. But when I have been on the road with him, he’s pretty crazy.

Jones: I don’t know. I’ve never gotten a ticket in my life.

Bowman: Definitely William Byron because he can’t see over the dash.

6. Which driver has the biggest personality difference between on and off the track?

Joey Logano (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Larson: Joey Logano, for sure. In the car, he’s extremely intense. Outside of the car, he’s extremely dorky.

Keselowski: Probably Joey.

Logano: Frickin’ me, that’s for sure. I am definitely that guy. … Brad said me? Hahaha.

Johnson: [Matt] DiBenedetto. He seems so calm, but I’ve heard some radio stuff where he just loses it and gets so emotional and melts down. His ability to link cuss words together is phenomenal. And then outside of the car, he’s so chill.

Bowman: Probably Byron, he’s pretty quiet and then pretty aggressive on the race track.

Blaney: Kyle Busch gets misconstrued a lot. Very fiery personality at the race track. But when he’s away from the race track, I don’t want to say he calms down, but he’s a different person. It’s hard to see personalities at the race track because people are passionate about what they do. It’s a whole different vibe when you’re away from the race track.

Cassill: Kurt Busch is a pretty nice guy off the track. Pretty aggressive on track.

7. Which driver is having the largest impact on the sport this season?

Jimmie Johnson and Chase Elliott (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Hamlin: Kyle Busch. He’s the guy that gets the most headlines. A lot of it is because of what he says, and he’s exciting on the race track. He’s our impact player right now.

Larson: Kyle Busch.

Jones: Chase Elliott, he’s the fan favorite right? Lot of fans of his dad and a lot of fans of his now that still come to the track to see him race.

Keselowski: Chase Elliott. Fans really like his last name because it brings back good memories of the past. [When asked if he thinks that draws fans in, he said, “Yes.”]

Logano: Maybe Denny. He’s pretty in-tune with what’s going on, and he’s pretty vocal and getting everyone’s opinions and communicating that [to NASCAR]. I would honestly say me, but Denny too.

Bowman: Jimmie Johnson, seven-time champion has a huge impact on the sport all the time. But at the same time, I feel like Chase Elliott’s the most popular guy right now, so there are a lot of eyes on him.

Blaney: There’s a lot of great personalities — Chase, Bubba, Kyle Busch is really good for the sport. Jimmie still being here is a really big personality for the sport. Those four guys are all really different, but they all impact it in different ways.

Stenhouse: I think Blaney does pretty good all around with fans, with kids, with the podcast he does.

Cassill: Dale Jr. or Kyle Busch.

Johnson: I just feel like Chase. When he’s running well and his victories, I feel like that moves the needle more than anyone with the fans.

Bowyer: It’s Chase Elliott, without a doubt. It beats the hell out of me. Damnedest thing I’ve ever seen.

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