NASCAR: Who’s Hot And Who’s Not Heading Into Charlotte

Kevin Liles-USA TODAY Sports

NOT – Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Brad Keselowski

Kansas Speedway was shaping up to be a nice day for both Earnhardt Jr. and Keselowski, but then the tire issues came. Earnhardt Jr. was leading the race when his tire let go while he was getting into the corner. The result was quite the hard hit into the outside wall and his car heading back to the garage for some extensive repairs. Later on in the race Keselowski was running in 5th when he tire let go in almost the same spot that the tire of the No. 88 blew. Like Earnhardt Jr. did, Keselowski took his car to the garage for repairs. In the end both drivers finished outside of the top-35 and are now in a huge points hole with only two races left in the chase. Tire wear issues aside, both of these drivers need to focus on having a strong finish at Charlotte on Saturday night because neither of them wants to be in a situation where they need to win at Talladega in order to move on in the chase. Both of these teams will be tested over the next two races and if they are truly championship contenders you would have to imagine that they will rise to the challenge.