WINLESS DRIVERS SIZE UP SONOMA
Busch, Harvick among big names seeking to cement playoff status
When NASCAR debuted its win-and-you’re-almost-assuredly-in-the-postseason system in 2014, road-course races became immediate sources of intrigue.
A driver especially gifted in the rigorous discipline, so went the theory, could exploit one win from the non-ovals that dominate the schedule to emerge as an unlikely postseason qualifier.
In practice, that theory was tempered because Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers as a group have progressed greatly on road courses over the last decade. And the fabled road-course ringers sometimes employed as specialists were never as successful as legend suggested.
Then A.J. Allmendinger posted his only career Cup win at Watkins Glen International in 2014 to qualify for the playoffs. There’s a wrinkle. Even so, entering Sunday’s race at Sonoma Raceway, there is less of a chance of a surprise driver wresting away a win and playoff spot than there is an established all-around performer.
Part of the reason in this unusual season in which 10 drivers have won in 15 races is that numerous drivers who would historically have had multiple wins remain winless. But, of course, there are a few variables, here, too Kyle Busch: The 2015 series champion has not won since the Brickyard 400 last July. He has finished second twice in 2017. He has led the second-most laps. He has fumed and roiled and keeps getting close. Third in points, Busch won at Sonoma Raceway in his title season, and he would be no surprise to claim a first victory for himself and Joe Gibbs Racing this weekend (Sunday, 3 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1). Joey Logano (with an asterisk): The Team Penske driver won at Richmond International Raceway, but a postrace penalty prevents him from using the win to qualify for the playoffs, so his history at Sonoma is important. Both of his top-fives there came over the last two years; he was fifth in 2015 and third last season.
Kevin Harvick: Winless since Stewart-Haas Racing switched to Ford this season, the 2014 series champion has never won at Sonoma but has been close on numerous occasions. He finished third twice and second in 2007 and led 23 laps in 2014 before a wreck relegated him to 20th.
Kasey Kahne: He won at So- noma in 2009 and has posted four consecutive top-10s. Languishing at 21st in points and seemingly adrift competitively, having not won since 2014, Kahne could cloud the playoff picture with a win, eliminating another points transfer spot from deep in the standings.
Clint Bowyer: The StewartHaas Racing driver hasn’t won since 2012 — when one of his three victories was at Sonoma. In 2016, Tony Stewart, whom Bowyer replaced in the No. 14 this season, got his final Cup win at the expense of Denny Hamlin on the last lap. Bowyer has fallen from ninth to 12 in points by finishing 31st at Dover International Speedway, 17th at Pocono Raceway and 26th at Michigan International Speedway. A strong finish at Sonoma — where he has six top-fives in 11 starts — could re-establish a balance, and a win could change everything.