Ranking the 10 Most Fearless Drivers in NASCAR Today (BleacherReport.com)

BY 

JERRY BONKOWSKI

 (FEATURED COLUMNIST) ON MARCH 7, 2013

Trying to pick the most fearless drivers in NASCAR today is pretty easy: just look for the guys who don't take any crap from anyone else. They'll stand up for themselves, no matter who it is they're going up against.

At the same time, you'd think every full-time Cup driver is fearless, and to an extent, that's true. But there are some drivers that just stand head and shoulders above their competition, and they're the 10 drivers we pick here.

Because I am limited to make only 10 choices, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention three others who just missed this list by a sliver. They're the trio I call the honorable mentions: four-time Cup champ Jeff Gordon, 2003 Cup champ and two-time Daytona 500 winner Matt Kenseth and Kasey Kahne, none of whom has ever backed down from an on-track challenge. 

So without further ado, here's my list of the 10 most fearless drivers in NASCAR today:

To continue reading, click here:

Police and NASCAR officials try to restore order after the pit road brawl
 where Clint Bowyer's crew members attempted to attack driver
  Jeff Gordon after Gordon wrecked Bowyer, effectively ending his
 Chase championship chances.
(photo courtesy Getty Images).

Controversial Wreck Leads to Jeff Gordon Nearly Mugged by Clint Bowyer's Crew
(BleacherReport.com)

BY 

JERRY BONKOWSKI

 (FEATURED COLUMNIST) ON NOVEMBER 11, 2012

There is no other way to say it, no better way to describe what took place two laps from the finish Sunday at Phoenix International Raceway.

Jeff Gordon was nearly mugged, plain and simple.

The offenders weren't some scraggly thieves looking for Johnson's wallet for a quick cash score.

Rather, the offenders were nothing short of the kind of hooligans you'd find in the most egregious soccer matches in either Europe or South America.

Those offenders were disguised as members of the No. 15 Michael Waltrip Racing team, but in reality, they were nothing more than out and outright thugs.

Sure, 30 or 40 years ago, when drivers had a dust-up on the race track, they'd more often than not settle their differences man-to-man and fist-to-fist behind the nearest hauler. Who can forget the infield skirmish between Donny Allison and Cale Yarborough in the 1979 Daytona 500?

But this is modern day NASCAR. We've come a long way—or at least I'd like to hope we have—than from things like the Allison-Yarborough throwdown in the infield of Daytona International Speedway 33 years ago.

Yes, this is modern-day NASCAR. This is not the wild, wild West, this is not pro wrestling and this is certainly not what NASCAR is supposed to be about.

I get that Bowyer and his crew were upset. But at the same time, these are supposed to be grown men, individuals that are supposed to represent Michael Waltrip Racing and several key sponsors in the finest and most upstanding ways.

I can only imagine how officials from 5-Hour Energy, Bowyer's primary sponsor, must have reacted when Bowyer's crew rushed to try and attack Gordon.

To read more, click here:

Brad Keselowski may be ready to pick up where Tony Stewart left off last season (Photo: Getty Images).

NASCAR: Could Brad Keselowski Be This Season's Tony Stewart?


(From BleacherReport.com)

Plus seven. Minus two. Minus seven.

That equals a 14-point swing in the standings for Brad Keselowski over the last three Sprint Cup races, going from being No. 1 previously to falling to No. 2 the past two weeks.

And now, with Sunday's race at Texas in the books and Jimmie Johnson recording his fifth win of the season—equaling Keselowski and Denny Hamlin for most wins in 2012—just two races remain in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship.

To his credit, Keselowski did everything he could to beat Johnson Sunday.

But when Johnson took off after the final restart, he made Keselowski look like he was running in slow motion and easily finished his 500-mile cruise to the finish line and checkered flag.

Five-time Cup champions have a knack for doing those kinds of things—especially when they are bound and determined to win championship No. 6, which could potentially happen in less than two weeks.

While seven points is still a relatively easy hurdle to overcome—except, of course, if you're trying to overcome Johnson—Keselowski has nothing to be ashamed of for finishing second in Sunday's race, nor for dropping five more points in arrears to Johnson.

Keselowski did everything he could. He went into Sunday's race bound and determined to get a top-10 finish; he wound up with a runner-up showing. He wanted to stay within 10 points of Johnson leaving Texas; he's only seven back.

Most importantly, Keselowski kept his championship chances and his fighting spirit alive.

To continue reading, click here for the full story at BleacherReport.com:

Check out Harvick video, plus catching up with y'all

Yes, I know I've not updated this for quite a while again -- after promising I was going to be more astute at keeping up with things.

It's not to say I haven't been busy, because I have -- boy, have I ever.

I rejoined BleacherReport.com in late July as a NASCAR featured columnist/writer. I've been averaging about 3-5 columns per week. By reader response, we're doing very well. I hope to add all of the 30-some links of stories I've written here to this blog in the coming days.

Also, a couple of other things are in the works: I'm in discussions to write another NASCAR book. Talks are preliminary right now, but we have a couple of various things on the table -- including the possibility of making it an E-book (for simplicity and immediacy purposes, since conventional books often take 9 to 12 months to bring to edit, print and bring to market). More on that soon to come.

I also will be contributing a weekly column to the web site of a very good friend of mine -- and one of the biggest broadcasters in the business. We're about ready to announce that, perhaps as early as Friday,  so stay tuned.

Also, here's a video of my hosting a meet-and-greet between Kevin Harvick and fans at Chicagoland Speedway on the morning of the kickoff race in the Chase for the Sprint Cup. Kevin was very gracious and although it only lasted about 20 minutes, we had a large turnout and some great questions from the fans who attended. I'm looking forward to doing more meet-and-greets.

Last weekend, even though I was battling a severe sinus infection and nasty case of bronchitis (which I'm still fighting) -- I hope I didn't infect half the state of Kentucky LOL -- but had a great time covering the Trucks and Nationwide races at Kentucky Speedway. Tim Bray and all the folks there were very accommodating and great hosts. And the best part -- I didn't hit a deer on the way back, unlike after the June race. LOL

I'll be in Charlotte for next month's Cup race and look forward to getting caught up with lots of friends there. I'm also hoping to make it to Texas and Homestead ... and potentially Phoenix, if I can find someone to split a room.

Well, enjoy the Harvick video and I hope to post links to a number of my recent stories here in the coming days.

Also, follow me on Twitter @JerryBonkowski

Kevin Harvick at Chicagoland Speedway meet-and-greet

Jimmie Johnson Wins Brickyard 400 in Indy; Is a Sixth Sprint Cup Title Next? (BleacherReport.com)

By Jerry Bonkowski

INDIANAPOLIS—As if winning a record-tying fourth Brickyard 400 wasn't enough of a kick in the pants to his 42 other competitors, Jimmie Johnson saved the best—or worst, depending upon your perspective—for after Sunday's race.

With nearly a five-second margin of victory and having led 99 of the race's 160 laps, Johnson was so dominating that his finish gave the impression he's ready to go for a sixth Sprint Cup championship.

"I am," Johnson said without hesitation. "I wish the Chase would start right now. I feel this team is ready, I'm ready, I learned a lot last year from my mistakes last year, I think the team has as well, and I believe I'm stronger and better today than I've ever been in my career and I'm looking forward to this Chase."

Alright, that's it, it's official: Johnson is back in a big way. And if Sunday's performance was what we can expect in the remaining 16 races on the schedule—including the 10-race Chase for the Sprint Cup playoffs—we might as well concede him that sixth championship now.

That's right, let's not waste time. Let's just get it over with and let everyone go on vacation early.

Oh, by the way, should I mention that every other time Johnson has won the Brickyard 400—2006, 2008 and 2009—he went on to win a Cup championship. (Then again, he also has turned bad performances in the Brickyard 400—39th in 2007 and 22nd in 2010—into Cup titles in those seasons, as well.)

Will history repeat itself? Nothing is ever for certain, but it sure is starting to look that way.

(To read more, click here:)