Cars, Criticism Flying at Fast Dover International Speedway

The speeds at Dover International Speedway were so fast during qualifying that even some of the NASCAR drivers were alarmed. That was because of the new rules package, that had cars running at 750 horsepower and having more downforce.

The most vocal was Kyle Busch, whose fastest qualifying lap was 4 mph faster than the track qualifying record of 164.444 mph set in June 2014 by Brad Keselowski.

But Busch wasn’t the only one. On Friday 22 other drivers had faster times than Keselowski’s mark. It was something Busch said NASCAR had to address.

“There’s no question that you feel you’re going really fast,” Busch said. “It’s really fast. It’s probably too fast. The faster we tend to go in the middle of the corners doesn’t always produce the best racing. It’s going to be big numbers obviously in qualifying. but we’ll see how that transfers to the race. I’m not overly excited about it.”

Busch didn’t let up on his criticism, saying: “It’s terrible,” Busch told frontstretch.com. “All I can do is bitch about it and fall on deaf ears and we’ll come back with the same thing in the fall.”

Other drivers and Leavine Family Racing owner Bob Leavine, echoed Busch’s comments, drawing the ire of NASCAR’s senior vice president Steve O’Donnell.

“It’s unfortunate, especially when a team owner does social media,” O’Donnell said on XM/Sirius NASCAR radio. “I don’t think that’s the right way to do it at all. It’s a choice that was made. We’re available every race and talk to every constituent we have. Jim France is at every race, which is phenomenal. The ability to say that you don’t have a chance to talk to us about your feedback is a bit questionable.”

Busch Streak Intact

Busch had finished in the top 10 in every race this season, and nearly had his streak snapped at the Miracle Mile. Busch battled back for a 10th place finish at Dover.

He has now tied the record for the most finishes inside the top 10, matching Morgan Shepard’s mark of 11. Shepard, though, didn’t have a victory during the run. Busch has three victories.

Hamlin Suffers Serious Condition

Denny Hamlin disclosed after Monday’s Cup series race that he experienced carbon monoxide poisoning, according to the Associated Press. Hamlin said that it happened during the final stretch of the Gander RV 400.

“That kind of hampered the very end of the race for us, but it certainly wasn’t the deciding factor if we raced good or bad,” Hamlin said. “It was just a tough race in general. It’s one of the more physically grueling racetracks we go to anyway. Then you do something like that, it makes it even worse.”

Hamlin was checked out by the medical staff after complaining of nausea and double vision, but didn’t require any further treatment.

This Week’s Odds, Pick

The drivers are at the Digital Ally 400 and Busch in the favorite at 3/1. We like Joey Logano at 7/1. He has finished in the top 5 in his last four appearances.