NASCAR Fantasy Fusion: Pocono 400

By Carol D'Agostino

Drivers with Most Top 10s (Last 5 Years):

By Race
Kurt Busch -5
Kevin Harvick - 4

All with 3 - Kyle Larson, Brad Keselowski, Martin Truex Jr., Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch

By Track
All with 7 - Brad Keselowski, Kurt Busch and Kevin Harvick
Both with 6 - Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin
All with 4 - Kyle Larson and Ryan Newman 

Recent Pole Winners:  

2017 Kyle Busch
2016 Brad Keselowski

Last Year's Race Winner: Ryan Blaney

The Likely Suspects: The Tricky Triangle is one of those tracks where a driver is rarely good at all the turns. In this case, there is three. I know, weird, but challenging. These elite drivers usually have it figured out: Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski, Kurt Busch, Kyle Larson, Martin Truex Jr. and Denny Hamlin.

My 2 Cents: When picking this week, think drivers with road course experience. My no-brainer pick this week is Kurt Busch. My next picks are Brad Keselowski, Kyle Busch, Ryan Blaney, Erik Jones and Daniel Suarez. I will complete my team with Michael McDowell and David Ragan.

Second-Look Driver: This week's second-look driver is Denny Hamlin. Denny has a decent record at this track with four wins, 10 top 5s, 15 top 10s and three poles. Last weekend, the team and Denny did well avoiding penalties on pit road. Last week's second-look driver Erik Jones and the #20 team did not fare so well on pit road. Erik finished in 19th place after three bizarre incidents, including his front tire-changer losing his pit gun.

My Final Four: Brad Keselowski, Kurt Busch, Ryan Blaney and Michael McDowell.

Points to Ponder:

• The first starting position is the most proficient starting position in the field, producing more winners (16) than any other starting position at Pocono Raceway – a 20% winning percentage. 
•  Denny Hamlin leads all active series drivers in wins at Pocono with four (2006 sweep, 2009 and 2010). 
• Four active drivers have multiple wins at Pocono: Denny Hamlin (four), Jimmie Johnson (three), Kurt Busch (three) and Kasey Kahne (two). 
• Kurt Busch leads all active drivers in runner-up finishes at Pocono with five; followed by Kevin Harvick with four. Busch also leads all active Monster Energy Series drivers with 14 top fives; followed by Jimmie Johnson with 11. 
• Jimmie Johnson and Kurt Busch lead all active Monster Energy Series drivers with 19 top-10 finishes each.
• Erik Jones (two starts) leads the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in average finishing position at Pocono with a 5.5.

Remember, if you're playing Driver Group Game, make your picks by 8 a.m. EDT on Friday, June 1, and pick your starters by 2 p.m. EDT on race day, Sunday, June 3.

Enjoy the race! Post your comments here or follow me on Twitter @purplecatpr.

Right Sides Only: Notes from the Coca-Cola 600 Winning Crew Chief, Adam Stevens

by Stacey Owens

Crew chief Adam Stevens can't do a cartwheel or a back flip, but he was doing both of them on the inside on Sunday night.

After Kyle Busch won the Coca-Cola 600, Stevens discussed the team's domination at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

"Yeah, I mean, just for me, as a team here, we've been so close to getting Kyle a victory at Charlotte. I feel like we had the car to beat this race last year and got snookered on fuel mileage there, and today to come out in a dominant fashion and win all the stages from the pole and keep him out front and the pit crew to do such a good job and be able to keep up with the track and kind of close that gap maybe that we've been missing some speed here to some of our competitors, it felt really good. It's important for me to help Kyle accomplish his goals, and this was a big one for him and makes the victory a little bit... sweeter.

"I really don't know how to do cartwheels or back flips. On the inside I was. But part of it is we were so good all day, you know, you're constantly thinking of how -- what could go wrong or if the caution comes out how am I going to manage this pit strategy? A lot of times when you're that strong, it's more of a sense of a relief as it is celebration. It's more a sense of that. We'll do some celebrating later," Stevens said.

Because the Coca-Cola 600 is the longest race of the season, it presents unique challenges that other races don't. Specifically, drivers and crew chiefs must prepare for the transition from daylight to darkness. How did Busch and Stevens set up the No. 18 for that transition?

"I think this weekend what made it a little bit different than some other 600-mile races here were the clouds. We started green flag at 6:15, 6:20, and it was pretty cloudy. We didn't have the sun beating down on the racetrack all day with a major 30- or 35-degree track temperature swing. We only saw eight- or ten-degree difference, so that really lessened the transition into the evening. Made it more like the daytime I should say. On top of that, KB is one of the best if not the best of being able to put his car in different positions and find whatever grip is out there, and he's not scared to move off a line if it's not working for him anymore or just to do it to try something different so he knows what he's got when he has to, passing lap cars or racing somebody for the lead.

"A lot of things played into our favor, and I don't think it hurt that he ran the Xfinity race, too, just getting some more laps with the PJ-1 treatment and the upper grooves and knowing how many laps it takes for that to come in and how that changes with the life of the tire," Stevens explained.

Debbie Ross for Skirts and Scuffs

Busch started from the pole, won stages one and two, led the most laps, and won the race. Surely, Stevens thought that his driver would dominate from start to finish, right?

"No, that thought never, ever crosses your mind. You're just -- anything can go wrong. Hang a lug nut on a pit stop, we can make a bad adjustment, we could hit pit road under green and the caution could come out immediately. There's plenty of ways to lose track position or even lose a lap when you don't deserve it. There's plenty of ways for me to screw it up. I've done my fair share of that, too. You never feel like it's in the bag until -- the first sense of relief you have is when you see the white flag. But until the checkered falls, it's never done," Stevens said.

Busch led all but 23 laps on Sunday night. That's dominance by any standard. Stevens may have thought it wasn't done until the checkered flag fell, but everyone watching that race, including the drivers who fought to catch him all night, knew it long before that final flag waved.

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 Stacey Owens lives just outside Music City USA. She's always wanted to be a NASCAR writer, so working as a columnist and support editor for Skirts and Scuffs allows her to live that dream every single weekend.
     The sole NASCAR enthusiast in her home, she's hopeful that one of her three daughters might also harbor an appreciation for NASCAR, but it isn't looking good so far.

    This self-admitted grammar nerd also loves country music, though she can't carry a tune; Kentucky basketball, even though at 6' tall, she's never played a day in her life; and her husband who's supportive of her NASCAR obsession... as long as she allows him to obsess over college football every fall.

Fast Facts: NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2019

On Wednesday, May 23, the 2019 class for the NASCAR Hall of Fame was announced, featuring three former drivers and two current team owners. Here’s a quick look at the newest Hall of Famers (in alphabetical order).

Davey Allison
credit: ISC Images and Archives via Getty Images

Davey Allison –the Hueytown, AL native was part of the next generation of the famed “Alabama Gang,” the son of NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Allison. The 1987 Cup Series Rookie of the Year counted among his favorite racing moments finishing second to his father in the 1988 Daytona 500, the first and only one-two father-son finish in the race’s history. Allison died on July 13, 1993 from injuries suffered in a helicopter accident at Talladega Superspeedway.

Jeff Gordon
credit: Jerry Markland/Getty Images

Jeff Gordon – Gordon made his Cup Series debut in the final race of the 1992 season – Richard Petty’s final race. The California native – winner of the Cup Series Rookie of the Year title in 1993 – went on to become a four-time Cup Series champ (1995, 1997, 1998, 2001), winning 93 times in 805 starts and adding 81 poles; among those wins: three in the Daytona 500 and five in the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis.

Alan Kulwicki
credit: ISC Images and Archives via Getty Images

Alan Kulwicki – Kulwicki was an original: an engineer by degree, the Wisconsin native was stubborn, determined and talented, turning down numerous offers from established teams and choosing to drive for his own team. The 1986 Cup Series Rookie of the Year earned his first win in 1988 at Phoenix, and went on to win the Cup Series championship as an owner/driver in 1992. Kulwicki was killed less than six months after winning his title in a plane crash on April 1, 1993.

Roger Penske
credit: Jason Smith/Getty Images

Roger Penske – “the Captain” has had a five-decade-plus career in motorsports, encompassing NASCAR, IndyCar and sports car racing among other engine-driven avenues. As a NASCAR team owner, he has accumulated more than 100 Cup Series wins, a Cup Series championship with Brad Keselowski, and two Daytona 500 wins (Ryan Newman – 2008 and Joey Logano – 2015). His most recent racing accomplishment: winning the 2018 Indy 500 with driver Will Power.

Jack Roush
credit: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

Jack Roush – “the Cat in the Hat” has also been in the horsepower business for more than 50 years, moving through the ranks of drag racing and sports car racing, developing a successful aftermarket auto part company and settling into the role of NASCAR team owner. A mathematician by degree, Roush’s drivers have earned two Cup Series championships (Matt Kenseth – 2003 and Kurt Busch – 2004), five Xfinity Series championships (Greg Biffle – 2002, Carl Edwards – 2007, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. – 2011-2012, and Chris Buescher – 2015), and one Truck Series championship (Biffle – 2000).

Learn more about the inductees and the NASCAR Hall of Fame at www.nascarhall.com.

Travel Tips: Pocono Raceway – June 1-3, 2018

credit: NASCAR Media

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, Xfinity Series and ARCA Racing Series hit the track this weekend for the first of two Cup Series visits to the “The Tricky Triangle,” Pocono Raceway in Pennsylvania, Friday through Sunday, June 1-3 for the Pocono 400 weekend.

The annual NASCAR Hauler Parade takes a new turn on Thursday, May 31, as the haulers go through the Family Grandstand and Trackside campgrounds, through the gate between Turns 2 and 3 and through the infield road course to the exit of Turn 3. The Xfinity Series haulers begin their parade at 4:30 p.m. ET, followed by the Cup Series haulers at 6 p.m. ET. Find out about this and other fan events for the weekend here.

Friday, June 1 will be “Free Friday” at the track for fans recycling a Monster Energy can. Bring any size Monster Energy can to the Main Gate to claim your ticket and see the action. Find out more here. Admission on Friday without a can is just $10, and kids 12 and under are free.

Key on-track times:

Friday, June 1 –

• ARCA Racing Series practice – 10 a.m. ET
• Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice – 11:35 a.m. ET
• Xfinity Series practice – 1:05 and 3:05 p.m. ET
• ARCA Racing Series qualifying – 2 p.m. ET
• Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series qualifying – 4:15 p.m. ET
• ARCA Racing Series General Tire #AnywhereIsPossible 200 – 5:45 p.m. ET

Saturday, June 2 –

• Xfinity Series qualifying – 9:35 a.m. ET
• Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice –11:30 a.m. ET
• Xfinity Series Pocono Green 250 Recycled by JP Mascaro & Sons– 1 p.m. ET

Sunday, June 3 –

• Steve Moakler pre-race concert – 12 p.m. ET
• Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Pocono 400 – 2 p.m. ET

Find the complete weekend schedule here.

Find out more about the event and purchase tickets at www.poconoraceway.com.

Five Questions Before Charlotte

Kevin Harvick wins the 2018 All Star Race
credit: Debbie Ross/Skirts and Scuffs

by Lisa Janine Cloud

Memorial Day weekend. For many Americans it means the beach, barbecue, and beer, wrapped in the Stars and Stripes, never forgetting those men and women in uniform who gave their lives for our freedom to burn hot dogs, our skin and rubber.

Ohhh yeahhh. While the last Monday in May commemorates those who paid the ultimate price in defending our country, the last Sunday in May is the equivalent of a high holy day for motorsports fans. Engines will roar in the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600.

What better way to honor the memory of those who have passed on than to live life full throttle at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Charlotte Motor Speedway?

Some diehards will even start Sunday morning off with breakfast at the Monaco Grand Prix.

That’s 78 laps in Monaco, 200 laps at the Brickyard, and at least 400 laps at Charlotte. About 1260 miles. Will you be among those who try to catch every lap?

Those questions don’t count toward this week’s Five Questions, though, so don’t think you’re getting off that easily. It’s been a busy few weeks in the NASCAR world, and there are probably as many questions as there will be miles run on Sunday, so let’s get started.

Can the Xfinity Series momentum continue? The four weeks of the Dash 4 Cash contest gave fans some of the best racing in the series in recent memory. Whether it was the lack of Monster Energy NASCAR Cup drivers, the variety of tracks, or a combination of the two, the on-track product certainly satisfied. Will the trend continue at Charlotte Motor Speedway with five Cup drivers entered in the Alsco 300? Three of those five topped the charts in practice: Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski, and Chase Elliott. Can an Xfinity Series regular get past those three?

Has the Xfinity Series been infected with the penalty virus? After a thrilling race at Dover where Justin Allgaier beat teammate Elliott Sadler to win the race and the $100,000, Allgaier’s No. 7 Chevy incurred an L1-level penalty for a trailing arm violation found during teardown at the R&D Center. While he retains the prize money since it's considered part of his pay for the race, the victory does not qualify Allgaier for the Playoffs. The No. 3 of Jeb Burton had a splitter violation that cost crew chief Nick Harrison $10,000 and earned car chief Michael Searce a weekend off. Penalties have been plentiful this season in the Cup Series. Do the penalties at Dover indicate that the Xfinity Series is following suit?

Can anyone beat the “old guy” Kevin Harvick? The driver of the No. 4 Busch Ford is a self-professed old guy who takes pleasure in beating the young drivers who are getting so much air time and publicity. He’s won five of the 12 points-paying races this season plus the All Star Race. Even though one of those wins doesn’t count toward the Playoffs, it still counts as a “W” in the record books. Another one at Charlotte in the Coca-Cola 600 would give Harvick a second set of three wins in a row. With SHR firing on all cylinders, and with Rodney Childers making inspired race calls, it’s as sure a thing as you get in racing that Harvick will win again this season. Will it be at Charlotte?

Will the 2018 championship be powered by Roush-Yates engines? Currently, seven of the top 10 in Drivers Points are blue ovals, and just over half the races (plus the All Star Race) this season ended with Fords in Victory Lane. Although Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr. scored trophies for Toyota, and Austin Dillon holds the lone Chevrolet checkered flag, Fords have dominated this season the way Chevy and Hendrick Motorsports dominated in years past. Can Toyota and Chevy catch up?

Is Rob Kauffman right? On Monday, CGRT partner Rob Kauffman, formerly partner in the now-defunct Michael Waltrip Racing, reacted to a Bob Pockrass tweet announcing a 41st entry in the Coca-Cola 600, the No. 7 to be driven by JJ Yeley, owned by John Cohen.

Ridiculous. Devalues the sport -why give away $ to noncompetitive part time cars. Give to charity or create Driver retirement/disability fund @NASCAR https://t.co/026NYV3Hxx

— rob kauffman (@kauffmanrob) May 22, 2018

Kauffman’s tweet was widely criticized by those who defend NASCAR’s history of small teams growing into larger teams, but he held fast, stating that “at the at the Premier Level of @Nascar someone should have the resources to commit to the full season and help put on a great show all year. Nothing against small teams!”

You can read the exchange here, by Dustin Long of NBC Sports.

Personally, I look no farther than the No. 95 Leavine Family Racing team piloted this season by Kasey Kahne. Bob Leavine of Texas formulated a plan, running David Starr for four races in 2011, Scott Speed 15 races in 2012, working up to run a full season with Ty Dillon and Michael McDowell in 2016.

The sport has evolved over the last few years, but has it moved beyond providing opportunities for small teams with shoestring budgets? I hope not. I’m all for the team owners investments being protected, but not at the expense of the teams that are, in my opinion, the guts of NASCAR. They could do something else and make a living, but racing is in their blood, so they would rather scratch and claw at the big show than run in lower-tier series.

What’s your take? Leave your comments below, but please keep them respectful.

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NASCAR Fantasy Fusion: Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte

By Carol D'Agostino

Drivers with Most Top 10s (Last 5 Years):

By Race

Kevin Harvick - 5
All with 4 - Matt Kenseth, Martin Truex Jr., Denny Hamlin, Ryan Newman and Kurt Busch 

By Track

Kevin Harvick - 9
Denny Hamlin - 8
Ryan Newman - 7
All with 6 - Martin Truex Jr., Matt Kenseth and Kurt Busch
Both with 5 - Jimmie Johnson and Kyle Busch

Recent Pole Winners:  

2017 Kevin Harvick
2016 Martin Truex Jr.

Last Year's Race Winner: Austin Dillon

Likely Suspects: The Coca-Cola 600 is one long race made for drivers with will and endurance. My go-tos this weekend will be Kevin Harvick, Martin Truex Jr., Matt Kenseth, Denny Hamlin, Ryan Newman, Kurt Busch, Jimmie Johnson and Kyle Busch.

My 2 Cents: This week's no-brainer pick is Daniel Suarez. My next picks are Martin Truex Jr., Jimmie Johnson, Matt Kenseth, Ryan Newman and Erik Jones. I will complete my team with J.J. Yeley and Chris Buescher.

My Final Four: Martin Truex Jr., Ryan Newman, Daniel Suarez and Chris Buescher.

Second-Look Driver: This week's second-look driver is Erik Jones. Although Erik has only raced twice on this track as a Cup driver, he has one top 10 and an average finishing position of 12. This could be his breakout weekend, coming off a seventh-place finish at Kansas. Our last second-look driver (at Kansas) Daniel Suarez finished in 28th after starting 14th.

Points to Ponder:

• Hendrick Motorsports leads the series in wins at Charlotte in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series with 19.
• The second-place starting position is the most proficient starting position in the field, producing more winners (17) than any other starting position at Charlotte Motor Speedway. 
• Ryan Newman leads all active drivers in poles at CMS with nine; followed by Jimmie Johnson with four.
• Kevin Harvick is the most recent driver to post consecutive poles (2016 Playoffs, 2017 May race).
• 50 different drivers have won at Charlotte Motor Speedway, led by Jimmie Johnson with eight wins – 2003 summer, 2004 sweep, 2005 sweep, 2009 playoffs, 2014 summer, 2016 playoffs.
• Kevin Harvick and Matt Kenseth lead all active drivers in runner-up finishes with four each.
• Daniel Suarez (two starts) leads all active drivers in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in average finishing position at Charlotte with an 8.500.
• Jimmie Johnson leads all active drivers in the series in laps led at CMS with 1,930 laps led 33 starts.

Remember, if you're playing Driver Group Game, make your picks by 8 a.m. EDT on Thursday, May 24, and pick your starters by 6 p.m. EDT on race day, Sunday, May 27.

Enjoy the race! Post your comments here or follow me on Twitter @purplecatpr.

Travel Tips: Charlotte Motor Speedway – Coca Cola 600 edition - May 24-27, 2018

credit: NASCAR Media

It’s the second weekend the NASCAR folks will be spending “at home” in the Charlotte, NC area, where the action at Charlotte Motor Speedway includes this weekend’s big races, the Xfinity Series Alsco 300 and the longest race of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season, the Coca Cola 600, going green on Saturday, May 26 and Sunday, May 27, respectively. On Thursday, May 24, the Cup Series will qualify and the ARCA Racing Series will hit the track as well.

If you’re heading down to Charlotte for the action, here are a few things to check out:

• Tours brought to you by Charlotte Motor Speedway
• The NASCAR Hall of Fame
• Race shops
• Kannapolis, NC and The Dale Trail
• Cabarrus County Convention and Visitors Bureau
• Concord Mills Mall

Check out the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series on Friday night, May 25, at the neighboring Dirt Track at Charlotte Motor Speedway – find out more about the Outlaw Showdown here.

Key on-track times:

Thursday, May 24 –

• ARCA Racing Series practice – 11:30 a.m. ET
• Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice – 2:05 p.m. ET
• Xfinity Series practice – 4:05 and 6:05 p.m. ET
• ARCA Racing Series qualifying – 5 p.m. ET
• Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series qualifying – 7:15 p.m. ET
• ARCA Racing Series General Tire 1:50 – 9 p.m. ET

Friday, May 25 –

• World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series at The Dirt Track at Charlotte Motor Speedway – opening ceremonies begin at 7:40 p.m. ET

Saturday, May 26 –

• Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series – practice – 9 and 11:30 a.m. ET
• Xfinity Series qualifying – 10:10 a.m. ET
• Xfinity Series Alsco 300 – 1:15 p.m. ET

Sunday, May 27 –

• Eli Young Band pre-race concert – 3:30 p.m. ET
• Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 – 6 p.m. ET

Find out about different ticket packages and single-day tickets at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com.

Right Sides Only: Notes from the Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race Winning Crew Chief, Rodney Childers

by Stacey Owens

Stewart-Haas Racing is having the kind of year that other teams only dream about. Rodney Childers, crew chief for the No. 4 team, is the crew chief that those other teams wish they had. Even though it wasn't a points race, Childers led Kevin Harvick to yet another win this season on Saturday night. 

If you were to ask Childers who's responsible for the results the team is reaping, he'll tell you: everyone at Stewart-Haas Racing.

"I think it comes from just everybody involved. It doesn't matter who it is, it's Kevin, it's the race team, it's everybody at Stewart-Haas Racing, everybody at the engine shop, everybody at Ford Performance. Everybody is just focused right now, they're working hard. It doesn't matter what kind of racetrack it is, what kind of package it is, we're going to give it 100%, come out and try to win races. Everybody is doing a really good job of that," Childers said.

Childers is modest, of course. Ultimately, the crew chief everyone wishes they had calling the shots had to make a few calls to get Harvick to the front following a pit stop issue.

"I felt like we had a good car going into the race. We were able to lead a lot of that first stage. We had the tire get hung up in the fender on the left front on that first stop, lost some track position. It was hard to fight back from that. Just really wasn't going anywhere much at all. Felt like we had to do something different. That's when we chose to pit out of sequence, come from the back. 

"I really think that turned things around for us, put us in a better position to win the race," Childers explained.

The team would have likely been disappointed if they hadn't won since they arrived at the track with a good car.

"Yeah, I felt like our car was really good on Friday. Wasn't sure if I really wanted to practice this morning or not. We didn't bring a backup car over here at all. If we would have tore it up this morning, we probably wouldn't have raced tonight. 

"It was one of those deals where we just tried to go out there and practice this morning, play it really, really safe, but also try to figure out what the car was doing, what our tire wears looked like, how much tape we could have on the grille, all those things," Childers explained.

Debbie Ross for Skirts and Scuffs

Teams didn't get as much practice as they usually get, but Childers didn't mind.

"I think it ended up enough practice, to be honest. I think everybody at the racetrack and NASCAR did an awesome job of getting us out there. I think all of us sitting in the trailers probably thought we weren't going to qualify yesterday, thought we weren't going to practice any more either. 

"We were pretty nervous from a lot of different things, just not knowing what was going to happen if we didn't practice any more. 

"We just felt like our car was fast. We weren't sure if it was going to handle the best in the world. It was a little bit too tight in practice. Then we got it too loose, then got it too tight again. No matter the balance, it had a lot of speed. That was a big positive," Childers said.

How did Childers feel about the speed with the package they used on Saturday night and the impact it had on strategy and pit stops?

"When you look back at it, there's been a lot of work behind the scenes. I think Rex [Stump, technical director for SHR] blew his computer up about 10 times working on all this stuff trying to figure out this package. Is it going to be more about drag, more about downforce. Honestly, it ended up being different than what we thought. I told somebody in Victory Lane, I'm glad it wasn't 600 miles because we would have needed a different car. 

"It was all about trying to figure out what was the right thing. We brought what we thought was right.  I think the whole garage thought we were going to come over here and just run wide open for 80 laps. It didn't end up being that way. There was a lot of handling involved. Once we saw how much everybody was out of the gas in practice, we had to rethink what we were doing. He said it the same time I said it. We went out in practice 15 laps, put tires on it again, just drove through everybody.  Then the 42 put tires on and drove through everybody. We're like... our original thought was we were going to pit after the first stage, stay out the rest of the time. That wasn't going to happen. You are going to have to have tires. It was a lot different than what we thought it was going to be," Childers explained.

It was all about trying to figure out what was the right thing. After five wins, Childers has that figured out.

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Stacey Owens lives just outside Music City USA. She's always wanted to be a NASCAR writer, so working as a columnist and support editor for Skirts and Scuffs allows her to live that dream every single weekend.

    The sole NASCAR enthusiast in her home, she's hopeful that one of her three daughters might also harbor an appreciation for NASCAR, but it isn't looking good so far.

    This self-admitted grammar nerd also loves country music, though she can't carry a tune; Kentucky basketball, even though at 6' tall, she's never played a day in her life; and her husband who's supportive of her NASCAR obsession... as long as she allows him to obsess over college football every fall.