Beech Tree News Network

I haven’t discussed NASCAR in depth in one single column this year.  That ends here.  Sunday is a huge day for NASCAR fans.  It’s Championship Sunday.  We’ve gotten down to NASCAR’s equivalent of the Final Four: Martin Truex, Jr, Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch and Brad Kesoloswki. 
Busch is racing for his second championship.  Although, let’s face facts, his first one has an asterisk beside it. Dude missed over half the season due to injury.  His first title was, to steal a term from  Tony Reali a travesty, sham, mockery, a traveshamockery.  This shot he’s actually earned, as much as it pains me to admit.  In case you haven’t figured it out , I do not care for the #18 M & M’s driver.  He has five wins, pretty much the only one who has stayed close to the juggernaut who is Martin Truex, Jr. 
Kevin Harvick is also looking for his second championship.  The #4 from Bakersfield, California(cue “Streets of Bakersfield”) is far from the favorite.  That’s a switch from his 2014 championship run.  If Harvick pulls the upset, SHR(Stewart Haas Racing) would be the first to do so with a new manufacturer since Cale Yarborough in 1978.
Brad Keselowski is also looking for his second championship (the first was in 2012).  Should Keselowski win, Team Penske would sweep the major American racing series.  Penske already celebrated a title in IndyCar with Josef Newgarden.  Keselowski is also trying to become the first Ford driver to win the title since Kurt Busch in 2004.
Now here is my guy, my pick, my wish to win: Martin Truex, Jr.  He’s the favorite by everyone except for FOX broadcasters who slurp Kyle Busch constantly, Martin is the only driver of the four without a title, but he has raced in this format before.  As if he needs extra motivation(he doesn’t), he’ll likely be racing for his team owner Barney Visser, who’ll be home recovering from a heart attack and surgery. 
I watch the Dan Patrick Show every day and haven’t heard a word about NASCAR.  All they care about talking about is NBA, NFL(and more so politics than actual games lately) and NBA.  Not a word about NASCAR and not much about college basketball.  Although they did just discuss their precious Duke, as they’re apt to do from anywhere near 10-60 minutes or more.  And they hate Kentucky.  Man, do they hate Kentucky. 
I will not end with my paragraph of venting.  Sometimes, you have a backup if your guy doesn’t win.  Not so here.  In my opinion, it’s a Truex title or a wasted NASCAR season.  He’s clearly been the class of the field this entire year. 
Sunday also marks the end of Dale Earnhardt, Jr driving full seasons in NASCAR.  He’ll likely still race Daytona and Talladega but as far as competing full seasons, it’s a wrap Sunday.  In his 18 year Cup career, Jr has amassed 630 races, 26 wins, 149 top 5’s, 260 top 10’s, 15 poles(as of 11-14), 179,165 laps run, 8,234 laps led and $95,680,982 career earnings and a 14 year streak of being named Most Popular Driver(not to mention a massive fan base, including me).  Thank you, Dale! We haven’t seen the last of him, though.  Sunday should be fun.