2018 NASCAR MID-SEASON REPORT


2018 Midseason Winners & Losers

Well, not technically the Official Midway Point of this 2018 NASCAR Season, I figured now is just as good as ever to talk about some of the Winners & Losers of this 2018 NASCAR season across the Top 3 Series.

CAMPING WORLD TRUCKS SERIES

WINNERS

·         Johnny Sauter is dominating the Truck Season so far and is looking to return as Series Champion at GMS Racing

·         Stewart Friesen had a stellar race at Texas and just came up short of the victory in a Team he Co-Owns

LOSERS

 The Fans.  Not a lot to cheer about in the Truck Series so far this season.

XFINITY SERIES

WINNERS

·         Tyler Reddick:  Following in the foot steps of Past Xfinity Series Champions Chase Elliot and William Byron and while being teammates with annual Championship contenders, Elliott Sadler and Justin Allgaier, Tyler Reddick shocked the NASCAR world with the closest finish in NASCAR history and continues to run consistently in the Top 10 weekly.  I have a feeling more wins will come to Tyler Reddick.

·         Kaz Grala/Fury Racing: After losing his Full-Time Ride with JGL Racing earlier this season (For Reasons beyond anyone's control), Grala managed to land on his feet and began the driving the following race for Fury Racing (a team partially owned by Grala's father Darius).  Fury Racing has managed to build cars that have helped Grala score Top 15's and Top 10 Finishes.  I can only hope that Grala and Fury Racing can keep up this pace.

·         Alex Labbe: I just have to give a shout out to Canadian Driver Alex Labbe.  His team has very limited resources, and are not as competitive as many other teams in the Xfinity Series, but I've been hearing the TV commentators talk about him a lot so far this season.

·         Ryan Truex/Kaulig Racing: What his brother Martin Truex Jr. did for Furniture Row Racing, I feel like Ryan Truex could possibly bring to Kaulig Racing.  Truex and Kaulig Racing have given each other some much needed rejuvenation.  

LOSERS

·         Christopher Bell: At the beginning of the Season I picked Christopher Bell to win this years Xfinity Series Title, and although he has already qualified for the playoffs, he's had a lot of lackluster results and I don't think he's living up to his full potential.

 Austin Cindric: ....Because F*ck Him that's why!  This kid is a joke, he doesn't belong on the track, he's a dirty driver, and that's why he can't get a Full-Time Ride with one team and has to drive for multiple teams.  I hope he leads the Xfinity Series in DNF's this year.
How Every Race should end for Austin Cindric!

·         Spencer Gallagher: I already expressed how I felt about Gallagher's suspension after his 1st career win.  I really hope his father puts him back in the car and continues to sponsor him.  It breaks my heart that his team no longer qualifies for the playoffs this year, and hope this story will eventually have a happy ending.


MONSTER ENERGY CUP SERIES

WINNERS

·         Clint Bowyer: Apparently the Karmic penalty for saying the R-Word on National TV is 190 race winless streak.  Clint Bowyer, has now won 2 races this season driving the #14 for Stewart-Haas racing and it's just really nice to see him finding success with a competitive team.

·         Stewart/Haas Racing: Bowyer's not the only person at Stewart-Haas Racing have success this season.  Kevin Harvick already has 5 wins this season and seems poised to take his 2nd Championship this year.

LOSERS

·         Bubba Wallace: After rooting for Denny Hamlin for the past 12 seasons, I decided to switch my allegiance to Bubba Wallace this year to give some support to a much deserving driver.  Wallace is always running towards the front of the field at the beginning of the race, but halfway through the race he ends up falling back mid-pack.  Wallace has two Top 10's this season, but he should be doing better. 


·         Chevrolet: I don't know what's up with Chevy this season?  After Daytona, they don't seem to have any answers for the SHR Fords and JGR/Furniture Row Toyota's.   Chevy is really sucking up at a storm this season so far.

·         Hendrick Motorsports: The Most Famous Chevy Team in NASCAR has really had some lackluster performances.  Which is a shame, and actually kind of surprising.   We've seen the young Hendrick drivers like Alex Bowman, Chase Elliot, and William Byron have success in the Xfinity series, but that success for whatever reason is not transferring over to the Cup Level.  Seven-Time Champion Jimmie Johnson hasn't had any success either this season.   Granted, I feel like Johnson typically has more success in the summer months than any other time, but he really needs to find a way to win a race and soon.
   
·         Stage Racing: I will say it till I'm blue in the face....STAGE. RACING. IS. DUMB!   The only positive thing I have to say about Stage Racing is that it makes it much easier for me to plan out my bathroom breaks.  Otherwise, it's completely unnecessary and slows down the races. 

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