Racing To The Flag: Motorsports Hot Topics – Edition No. 5

Each week Beyond the Flag will tackle the motorsports hot topics with Racing To The Flag. Each writer will give their opinions and open the floor for debate.

Like always, not every topic is going to have the same opinions from writer to writer. If your opinion differs from those of our writers, make sure that you share it with us. You can share your side of the debate by commenting below. You can also reach out to us and share your thoughts via our various social media platforms.

Now, let’s get on with edition No. 5.

Green Flag: Was the race at Sonoma Tony Stewart’s last Sprint Cup Series victory? What are the chances he contends in the Chase?

Mike Hutton: The good thing is that the way the Chase rounds are structured this year, there are races that play to Stewart’s strengths and are venues where he has won in the past and should be considered a threat to do so again in each round.  First round best shot is New Hampshire; second round, Talladega; and third round, Texas.  He certainly deserves a title shot at Homestead in his final season.

Martin Feigen: Do I think that Sonoma will be Tony’s last victory, yes sadly I do. If not for a perfectly timed caution I don’t think he could have pulled it out on Sunday. As much as I would love to see more of Stewart in contention for wins on Sunday, I just do not see that bunch strong enough week to week to get another win. As for being a contender in the Chase, I say the same, he is not posting good finishes consistently to give me any confidence. It would be a great story and would draw fans, but I just don’t think it’s in the cards for Smoke to go out racing for the final Sprint Cup.

Related Story: NASCAR: Stewart’s Win Pushes Hypocrisy Front And Center

Alex Herbst: Unfortunately, I believe that this will be Stewart’s final win of his career after the near perfect set of circumstances that propelled him to victory in Sonoma. While his performance was awe inspiring to many, the week to week strength is not there right now for his Stewart-Haas team. Certainly his performance is up slightly from last season, but I don’t believe it will be enough to get him another win, or beyond the first round of the Chase.

Matt Lovisa: I think this will be his last victory of his career but I don’t think this will be the last time he will contend for a race win. Stewart already has as many top-ten finishes this year after eight races than he did a season ago after 36. Stewart has progressively run better up to this point in the season so I see him contending in the Chase. Is a first round exit a possibility? It sure is. But I think Stewart,  crew chief Mike Bugarewicz and the rest of Stewart-Haas Racing find a way to make sure this team stays competitive the rest of the season.

Caution Flag: Did racing altercation between John Wes Townley and Spencer Gallagher warrant an on track physical altercation between the two? If you were NASCAR, how would you handle this situation?

MIke Hutton:  I can understand the frustration and emotions of such an incident, so nothing surprises me in these situations.  NASCAR is going to have to concern themselves with two elements in this instance — the first is exiting their trucks before safety personnel were there to assist them in doing so and therefore putting themselves on an active track and secondly, the physical altercation, which is unbecoming of any NASCAR member.  I would expect that penalties would be meaningful.  Points and fines for sure, suspensions maybe.  I just wish there was a Zaxby’s in the Chicago area!

Martin Feigen: As Mike said NASCAR has made it a point of emphasis about waiting for the safety crew and not going on the track. While JWT and Gallagher were auditioning for Dancing with the Stars or WWE Raw, they traveled down the track and on the racing surface. As for the incident itself there was not a clear enough replay to say how they were racing each other so I have no idea if it was fight worthy. I think Mike is underestimating what the punishments are going to be, I see a couple weeks out of the seat for both plus big fines.

Alex Herbst:  There is not enough clear evidence I would say in the tale of the tape to tell if the level of fighting we saw on Saturday night was warranted, from our perspective at least. Clearly, according to Townley and Gallagher, it was worth it in the heat of the moment. However, will they be more remorseful on Tuesday when NASCAR will likely hand down some harsh penalties for the two? I entirely expect suspensions for both drivers will be in the cards.

Matt Lovisa: I am not Townley or Gallagher so I am guessing the earlier incident on the track warranted the all out wrestle fest on the track. If it were me, I would have waited until there were no cameras around. It was nice that Spencer Gallagher apologized, but I don’t think that is going to make a difference at all when it comes to NASCAR’s decision on fines and suspensions. I agree with Alex here, I think suspensions are an almost definite but I don’t see where they can sit them for a couple of weeks in a series with only 23 races on the calendar.

White Flag: Simon Pagenaud has just one finish better than 13th in his last four starts. Should Pagenaud be worried about his IndyCar title chances?

Mike Hutton: He has a 74-point lead over 2nd place right now with 7 races to go and a season-ending double-points race at Sonoma.  Who is going to consistently out-point him by the 10.5 points per race to beat him?  

Martin Feigen: He does have the 74 point lead, but there are three ovals coming up and that is not Pagenaud’s strong suit. If anyone is going to come from behind him to get him I think Will Power is on a roll and will give his teammate everything he can handle until the final checkered flag in Sonoma. If I were betting on it though, Pagenaud is popping the champagne at season end.

Related Story: IndyCar: Power Wins Thriller at Road America

Alex Herbst:  Barring some unforeseen injury or suspension from racing in the series, Pagenaud’s lead appears insurmountable with the number of races that remain. 74 points is a huge buffer for him, and with no clear consistent challenger across all the races so far this season, I do not think anyone can topple him. Will Power has the best chance of doing so, but he will come up short in the end.

Matt Lovisa: I think Pagenaud should be worried. There are still three ovals left and a few tracks where Will Power could contend for race victories. I agree with Mike that I don’t think there is a driver who will out-point him on a consistent basis, but I do think Pagenaud is not immune to more mechanical failures and bad luck. When the calendar turns to August, we will have a better idea if Pagenaud should be worried or not.

Checkered Flag: IndyCar visited Road America for the first time since 2007. Did you enjoy the race at Road America and do you think it was a good move to go back?

Mike Hutton:  There is no such thing as a bad race at Road America.  The circuit always produces exciting racing, is fantastically fan-friendly and requires that competitors showcase many different technical aspects of driving.  In my opinion, NASCAR needs to add this to the schedule for the Cup series as well, perhaps even in the Chase.  Replace Chicago.  The weather in northern Wisconsin in mid-September is fantastic, too!

Martin Feigen: I agree with Mike and think that Road America is a great track for just about any racing series. It is so unique with its elevation changes, high speed sections and plenty of places to pass. I think it should be added to the IndyCar schedule, but on an every other year basis alternating with Road Atlanta. Not racing every year at a venue makes it more of a special event and helps build the excitement around it. It could grow the fan base in two markets while putting on great shows.

Alex Herbst:  Road America proved once again on Sunday to me that it deserves to be the next track added to the Sprint Cup Series schedule. The track not only deserves a permanent place on the IndyCar schedule, but as part of the NASCAR schedule too. Replace one of the New Hampshire or Pocono races and add it late in the year. It provides such a unique challenge for all kinds of drivers, and the best in stock car racing should be among them too.

Matt Lovisa: I knew nothing about Road America until the NASCAR Nationwide Series visited the track in 2010 and ever since then I have looked forward to both NASCAR and IndyCar at the track. This past weekend the racing and atmosphere were equally great. I would love to see the Sprint Cup Series visit Road America but I just don’t think that will happen soon, not even when the schedules are up for a change in 2020 based on NASCAR’s reluctance to add any track other than an intermediate to the calendar.