(WOMR file photo)

As the summer temperatures are now beginning to crank up on the ol thermometer, likewise, the racing is about to crank up on the intense-ometer!!  Last week it looked like, quite possibly “Smoke” has awakened from his L-O-N-G hybernation to add some heat to the competition for the Chase.

 

More Questions Than Answers

 

There are many questions that are starting to formulate in many of our minds.  Can Denny Hamlin make a run at the Chase, after his serious back injury suffered at Auto Club Speedway back in March?  Can Jeff Gordon mount an effort to make the Chase?  Will Kurt Busch, with his smaller Denver based team, Furniture Row Racing, author a Cinderella style finish to the 2013 season?  Will Kyle Busch orchestrate his annual fall collapse, kinda like the leaves falling off of the bushes!  Can Tony Stewart make a run at the Chase, or is it too late to mount the charge to the front?  Will Mr. Five-Time become Mr. Six-Time”?  Can Matt Kenseth, who is so very fast each and every weekend, stay hot and secoure his second championship?

As the 40’s radio show would say, “only the shadow knows”!

All of these questions, and many, many more are about to unfold before our very eyes, as the “dog days of summer” approach the NASCAR race season!

 

Tricky Triangle Picks

 

There are four drivers who have the confidence of two players each this week at Pocono.

Both Jim and Dawn are hoping that Jeff Gordon will have a breakout race this weekend.  Sue and Carole, however, are hoping that the former protege of Mr. Four-Time, that being Jimmie Johnson, continues to roll on with another victory at Pocono.  Jeremy and Bernie, on the other hand, think that Kyle Busch can take all his success on the Nationwide Series, and roll it over onto the Sprint Cup side of racing this Sunday.  Jason and Dan, think that Martin Truex, Jr. will put a good beginning, middle, and end together, in order to drive his car into Victory Circle Sunday.  And lastly, Marc and David are banking that Joey Logano can get his new ride, in the Penske Racing #22 Shell/Pennzoil Ford, into the winners circle Sunday.

And that leaves the other half of the players who are, you guessed it once again, in “bidnez” for themselves!

Good luck to all this weekend!

TIL NEXT TIME, PULL YOUR GLOVES UP, FLIP YOUR VISOR DOWN, AND LET’S GO RACIN”!