After a off week and chance for teams to catch their breath after Speedweeks and the first trip out west; the NASCAR Sprint Cup series is back this weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway.
For a few drivers the weekend off couldn’t have come at a better time. Slow starts this season have seen these Chase potential drivers regrouping this week.
Jamie McMurray had a fantastic 2010 even though he did not make the Chase. Preseason predictions saw him as a pick to make the Chase in 2011.
Three races into the season and he is 29th in the standings and 38 points out of the top 10.
38 points might not seem like much but 18 drivers stand in between him and many of them are drivers who are more than likely to make the Chase.
McMurray ‘s best finish was 18th at Daytona International Speedway. He was involved in the multi car wreck at Phoenix and at Las Vegas Motor Speedway contact with the wall forced him onto pit road to make repairs. He ended up finishing 27th heading into the off week.
McMurray has work to do if they want to be in the Chase. This team has struggled with speed and then struggled to adjust the car during the race.
McMurray is not the only one caught up in wrecks early this season.
Jeff Burton’s first three finishes of the year are 36th, 26th and 21st. Burton was caught up in the Phoenix wreck, engine issues at DIS and handling issues at LVMS.
Burton sits 32nd in the points and three disappointing finishes he says doesn’t represent how hard his team is working.
"We are really disappointed with our finish. Everyone on the Caterpillar Chevrolet team works hard and this finish is not a reflection of our effort, but we certainly have to figure out what we were missing today. We'll put this behind us and look forward to getting to Bristol in a few weeks."
Regan Smith season started off with a seventh place finish at DIS. He was sitting sixth in the standings and carrying a lot of momentum heading into Phoenix.
Smith finished 34th at Phoenix and then engine issues at LVMS relegated him to a 39th. He has gone from sixth to 28th in the standings.
Not exactly the start he had envisioned after a solid run at DIS. For Smith his troubles weren’t self inflicted. He was caught up in the wreck at Phoenix and was able to finish the race. At LVMS engine troubles ended his day early.
Smith was also one of the drivers picked to make their charge at the Chase this season. His progress the last couple season has been steady with Furniture Row Racing.
The problem these drivers and many others face is Bristol Motor Speedway is next this weekend. The premier short track is known for its beating and bumping.
Another bad day here and making up valuable points will be harder and harder.
For the guys trying to climb back into this they need to finish the race. They can’t afford another finish of 20th or worse.
Especially while many of the drivers in front of them are earning points and wins another disappointing finish puts them further behind.
That being said it is a long season and the guys in front of them will have issues themselves. The early hole could make their climb up the standings all the more impressive.
These drivers’ early struggles have to have a turning point and it starts this weekend at BMS.
photo:jeffburton.com
quote: rcrracing.com
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