Sunday, April 30, 2017

Logano Wins at Richmond in 300th Career Start

Originally written for CLNS Media.

Joey Logano won the Toyota Owners 400 from Richmond International Speedway on Sunday afternoon.

Logano took the lead on the final restart, and he pulled away from Kyle Larson over the final 20 laps.  Logano said he was able to use his car’s short-run speed to get to victory lane.
Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images

“We had a good enough restart to get enough cushion, but [Brad Keselowski] was catching me a couple tenths a lap there,” Logano said.  “We won with a car that may not have been the winning car.”

Logano was able to win in his 300th career start, and he said he was proud of his team for their hard work in getting him to victory for the first time in 2017.

“It’s nice to finally break through to get a win,” Logano said.  “I was driving my guts out.  Coming from the back…to bring this Shell-Pennzoil Ford into victory lane, man that feels really good.”

Logano’s teammate Keselowski had one of the fastest cars of the race, but a late-race restart trapped him behind a slower car.

“That last restart, there were about five or six cars that stayed out,” Keselowski said.  “We got behind one that was really slow and didn’t really go, and we lost two or three spots before we could get going.”

Keselowski said if the final run had been a bit longer he would have been able to catch Logano for the win.

“We had a ton of long-run speed,” Keselowski said.  “We weren’t good enough to pass cars on the short run, we just had to hold serve and go on the long run.  Just kept getting all those yellows at the end and couldn’t make anything of it.”

“What we needed was ten more laps; wish this was the Richmond 410.”

Unofficial results:
1. Joey Logano
2. Brad Keselowski
3. Denny Hamlin
4. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
5. Kevin Harvick
6. Jamie McMurray
7. Ryan Newman
8. Kurt Busch
9. Aric Almirola
10. Martin Truex Jr.
11. Jimmie Johnson
12. Daniel Suarez
13. Trevor Bayne
14. Kyle Larson
15. Clint Bowyer
16. Kyle Busch
17. Chris Buescher
18. Danica Patrick
19. David Ragan
20. Austin Dillon
21. Landon Cassill
22. Kasey Kahne
23. Matt Kenseth
24. Chase Elliott
25. Paul Menard
26. Ty Dillon
27. Cole Whitt
28. Matt DiBenedetto
29. Michael McDowell
30. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
31. Gray Gaulding
32. Corey LaJoie
33. Reed Sorenson
34. Timmy Hill
35. Jeffrey Earnhardt
36. Ryan Blaney
37. AJ Allmendinger
38. Erik Jones

Matt Sullivan/Getty Images

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Weekly Pull List: 4/26/2017

All the comics available this week can be found on ComicList, and any comic book news is on CBR.

IDW
D4VEocracy #3

Marvel
Ben Reilly The Scarlet Spider #1
Deadpool Vs. The Punisher #2
Rocket Raccoon #5
Star Wars Darth Maul #3
Thanos #6

Jimmie Johnson Wins Rain-Delayed Food City 500

Originally written for CLNS Radio.

Jimmie Johnson won the rain-delayed Food City 500 from Bristol Motor Speedway on Monday afternoon.

Photo courtesy Adam Niemeyer
Johnson took the lead late in the race, and led the final 21 laps on his way to victory lane for the second-straight race weekend.  Johnson said he was happy his car handled well late and that he didn’t have to fight anyone for the lead in the closing laps.

“I was happy to get away at the end and not have to worry about Clint [Bowyer] or anybody else behind me,” Johnson said.  “Our cars have been very capable of running up front, and it’s been nice these last two weeks to execute from the start of the race.”

Leading up to the race, Bristol Motor Speedway staff sprayed a sticky substance known as VHT on the bottom lane of the track to add grip.  The track staff wanted the track to return to the “old Bristol,” with single-file racing with drivers using their bumpers to move one another out of the way.

Johnson said the racing was fun, and that the VHT helped the bottom lane compete with the top line.

“There were so many competitive passes and so much racing going on over the course of the event,” Johnson said.  “I think the bulk of the race they did a nice job with the VHT on the bottom…second line finally came in and a very exciting race.”

Kyle Larson led a race-high 202 laps, but a speeding penalty late in the race caused him to restart in the back of the pack.  Larson was able to recover to finish sixth, but said he was disappointed he cost himself a shot at the victory.

“I knew I gave the race away there,” Larson said.  “Disappointed in myself.  I was surprised I was able to line up with an opportunity there at the end.”

“I think even if I was able to get to the lead, I don’t think I would have won because Jimmie and Clint were way faster than I was.”

Unofficial results:
1. Jimmie Johnson
2. Clint Bowyer
3. Kevin Harvick
4. Matt Kenseth
5. Joey Logano
6. Kyle Larson
7. Chase Elliott
8. Martin Truex Jr.
9. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
10. Denny Hamlin
11. Trevor Bayne
12. Jamie McMurray
13. Austin Dillon
14. Ryan Newman
15. Ty Dillon
16. Paul Menard
17. Erik Jones
18. Daniel Suarez
19. Matt DiBenedetto
20. Kasey Kahne
21. Cole Whitt
22. Aric Almirola
23. David Ragan
24. Corey LaJoie
25. Kurt Busch
26. Michael McDowell
27. Jeffrey Earnhardt
28. Reed Sorenson
29. Gray Gaulding
30. AJ Allmendinger
31. Derrike Cope
32. Landon Cassill
33. Ryan Blaney
34. Brad Keselowski
35. Kyle Busch
36. Danica Patrick
37. Timmy Hill
38. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
39. Chris Buescher

Photo courtesy Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images
Thanks to Adam Niemeyer for the photo of Jimmie Johnson on Monday.  Check out more of his work on his blog.

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Weekly Pull List: 4/19/2017

All the comics available this week can be found on ComicList, and any comic book news is on CBR.

BOOM! Studios
Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers #14

IDW
Back to the Future #18

Image
Sex Criminals #18

Marvel
Deadpool #29
Punisher #11
Secret Empire #0
Silk #19
Star Wars Poe Dameron #13
Star-Lord #6
Venom #6

Tuesday, April 11, 2017

Weekly Pull List: 4/12/2017

All the comics available this week can be found on ComicList, and any comic book news is on CBR.

Marvel
Amazing Spider-Man #26
Amazing Spider-Man Renew Your Vows #6
Deadpool and the Mercs for Money #10
Deadpool Vs. The Punisher #1
Guardians of the Galaxy #19
Gwenpool #14
Spider-Man 2099 #22
Star Wars Doctor Aphra #6

Sunday, April 9, 2017

Johnson Wins at Texas

Originally written for CLNS Radio.

Jimmie Johnson won the O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 on Sunday for his record seventh victory at Texas Motor Speedway.

Johnson came into the race on Sunday with only one top 10 in the first six races of the season.  Johnson said he was able to prove to his critics that he and his team weren’t worried about their slow start.
Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images

“Really in our wheelhouse and we were able to execute all day,” Johnson said.  “Guess I remembered how to drive and this team remembered how to do it.”

The win also came in the first race at the newly-repaved and reconfigured Texas Motor Speedway.  Johnson said the track surface was starting to come in at the end of the race.

“The way it finished now…I think we could run a race and put on a good show,” Johnson said.  “It’ll just take a little time for this track to age; nothing out of the ordinary.”

Kyle Larson had one of the fastest cars of the race, but he finished second after getting held up by Joey Logano in the closing laps.  Larson said his car was good enough to challenge Johnson for the victory.

“I wish I could have gotten by Joey a couple laps sooner, I think I could have had a shot at Jimmie,” Larson said.  “I had a better car than most…I could really stay low off of Turn 2 and could pass people in traffic.”

“Another second-place for us; extended our points lead a little.”

Unofficial results:
1. Jimmie Johnson
2. Kyle Larson
3. Joey Logano
4. Kevin Harvick
5. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
6. Brad Keselowski
7. Jamie McMurray
8. Martin Truex Jr.
9. Chase Elliott
10. Kurt Busch
11. Clint Bowyer
12. Ryan Blaney
13. Trevor Bayne
14. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
15. Kyle Busch
16. Matt Kenseth
17. Ty Dillon
18. Aric Almirola
19. Daniel Suarez
20. AJ Allmendinger
21. Chris Buescher
22. Erik Jones
23. Michael McDowell
24. Danica Patrick
25. Denny Hamlin
26. Ryan Newman
27. JJ Yeley
28. David Ragan
29. Landon Cassill
30. Cole Whitt
31. Matt DiBenedetto
32. Corey Lajoie
33. Austin Dillon
34. Gray Gaulding
35. Reed Sorenson
36. Paul Menard
37. Derrike Cope
38. Kasey Kahne
39. Timmy Hill
40. Jeffrey Earnhardt

Sarah Crabill/Getty Images

Tuesday, April 4, 2017

Weekly Pull List: 4/5/2017

All the comics available this week can be found on ComicList, and any comic book news is on CBR.

Marvel
Nova #5
Slapstick #5
Spider-Man #15
Spider-Man Deadpool #16
Spider-Man Homecoming Prelude #2
Star Wars #30
X-Men Gold #1

Sunday, April 2, 2017

Keselowski Wins at Martinsville

Originally written for CLNS Radio.

Brad Keselowski won the STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday afternoon.

Photo courtesy Getty Images
Keselowski had a strong car, but Kyle Busch looked to be the class of the field most of the day.  But as the race wound down, Keselowski was able to work his way around Busch to take the lead and head to victory lane.

Keselowski said he was happy to finally take home a grandfather clock as a race-winner at Martinsville.

“We’ve run so good here with the Miller Lite Ford, but something always happens,” Keselowski said.  “We were able to bring it home.”

Keselowski said joining the list of legends that has won at Martinsville is a career honor.

“A lot of legends have been able to win here, and it feels great to be able to join them,” Keselowski said.  “Martinsville is just one of those champion’s tracks, where the guys that run well everywhere run well here.”

Busch had a fast car all day, but he gave up the lead to Keselowski over the final green flag run.  Busch said his car didn’t react well to the last set of tires.

“All we did was put four tires on it and it went to junk,” Busch said.  “I hate it for our guys; they deserved better finishes than we’ve been able to produce and here’s another one today.”

“We were lights-out faster than those guys after 20 laps or so…we were really struggling; I was surprised we were able to hold off [Chase Elliott].”

Unofficial results:
1. Brad Keselowski
2. Kyle Busch
3. Chase Elliott
4. Joey Logano
5. Austin Dillon
6. AJ Allmendinger
7. Clint Bowyer
8. Ryan Newman
9. Matt Kenseth
10. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
11. Chris Buescher
12. Erik Jones
13. Trevor Bayne
14. Kasey Kahne
15. Jimmie Johnson
16. Martin Truex Jr.
17. Kyle Larson
18. Aric Almirola
19. Paul Menard
20. Kevin Harvick
21. Cole Whitt
22. Ty Dillon
23. Danica Patrick
24. David Ragan
25. Ryan Blaney
26. Michael McDowell
27. Landon Cassill
28. Corey Lajoie
29. Gray Gaulding
30. Denny Hamlin
31. Reed Sorenson
32. Daniel Suarez
33. Timmy Hill
34. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
35. Matt DiBenedetto
36. Jeffrey Earnhardt
37. Kurt Busch
38. Jamie McMurray


Photo courtesy Getty Images