Für unsere Gäste » Southwestern Conference in q

This field of 16 drivers represents the greatest balance our sport has ever witnessed for a Sprint Cup Series title. Picking a favorite is very difficult.Justifying one team over another is taxing, if not impossible in many cases. Ive decided to hit the high spots before this weeks Chase opener. Here it is:The favorite should be Kyle BuschI suppose the greatest value to being reigning Cup champion is not being preoccupied with the burden of can I finally do this?Busch has been a NASCAR prodigy from the moment he first climbed into a NASCAR race vehicle. With that came enormous expectations. The expectations were met in terms of winning, but fell short year after year when it mattered most, the last two and a half months of the season.I believe the burden to win a Cup title became a perpetual burden on him, until it didnt in 2015. Busch is in his prime, no driver has more wins this season. Enough said!The sleeper? Denny Hamlin.After winning the season opener, Hamlin lagged behind his Joe Gibbs Racing teammates for several months.What gets lost is the No. 11 teams amazing streak of qualifying every single week, 12th or better in all 26 regular-season races. Its remarkable, and a huge advantage in terms of pit-road selections and establishing momentum early each weekend.Hamlin has quietly assembled a very good season.If he can manage his pit-road mistakes, capitalize better on restarts, this perennial Chase driver will finally take home the ring.Who has the speed to win a title?Martin Truex Jr. has been in a class by himself this year on high-speed 1.5-mile tracks.I like Truex Jr.s chances because his frame of mind seems the best ever.Im talking life.He is happy, his team loves him, and he has last years final-round chase experience.But, he also has had several potential wins get away.If this team can avoid early-round casualties, they will become stronger the deeper we get into the Chase.Dark horse? Kyle Larson.There was a time where I thought this talented young man might not be ready for the bright lights and big stage.That no longer exists!Watching Larson close out this regular season with near perfection convinced me he has the composure to match his natural talent.Ive not seen a young driver effectively move around a racetrack to find grip as well as Larson does it. Not since Jeff Gordon That is a strong comparison, but Larson is worthy of it!First four out?Chris Buescher has been an inspiring story the second half of 2016.His improbable win at Pocono reignited the importance of the underdog in this Chase formula. Ive not discovered anyone not pulling for him.This is a common-man story, with a low-budget team set to do battle with the almighty of NASCAR.Its a great story, but the numbers are against him.Austin Dillon has shown moments of brilliance this year, enough straight-up speed to win.But lack of experience and no bonus points requires near perfection from the entire team for the next three races.Next year for Austin Dillon.Jamie McMurray is a quality race car driver, seldom makes a mistake behind the wheel, has a pure sense of where his cars limits are and operates there very well.The only reason I cant see Jamie advancing is there are 12 drivers I would put ahead of he and his team right now.Tony Stewart. I hope the three-time champ can prove me wrong. The Chase is far more entertaining with Tony in it, and a final-season push similar to Gordon last year would be a deserving retirement gift.Two things I cant get past. Stewarts average qualifying and his few laps led.Make no mistake about it, Stewart will empty the tank!My Miami Final FourDenny Hamlin Martin Truex Jr. Kyle Busch Kevin HarvickThe bottom lineWho will this years champ be?Kevin Harvick!In spite of Chevrolet occupying half the Chase field, few have demonstrated the muscle to match the Toyota brigade. Harvick is the exception.The key to this team being ready to acquire a second title in three years was much discussed. It was Harvick calling out his pit crew.Following his runner-up finish in the southern 500 at Darlington, Harvick made clear to the world that he had had enough.A few days later, a swap of two members was made on the No. 4 team.So I offer this ... Harvick was not going to win this years title with the status quo. He had allowed the pit-road deficiencies to get in his head, and he was or would be distracted by it.You have heard me say for so many years that distraction is poison for drivers.If a change hadnt been made, Harvick would have been at risk of speeding every time he hit pit road because of a self-imposed urgency to gain all he could, to minimize any deficit.Or he would have been critical of the team every time a stop resulted in lost spots.While I agree it was an uncomfortable position for his crew members to experience, his message seemed timely.Harvick is easily a final four favorite based on the speed he has had on the track all year. Even at age 41, Harvik is at peak talent behind the wheel.Rodney Childers is a brilliant crew chief, calm, cool and collected, which helps balance out a very determined and sometimes emotional driver.Perhaps most important, Harvick now has a very determined pit crew. Wholesale Custom Falcons Shirts . The 31-year-old Spain midfielder hasnt played since Madrid lost in the Copa del Rey final to Atletico Madrid in May due to back and foot injuries. Cheap Custom Falcons Jersey . Then the Pacers gave Oladipo and his Orlando teammates the cold shoulder. Paul Georges buzzer-beating 3-pointer at the end of the third quarter spurred a 21-4 run, finally sending Indiana past the Magic 97-87 in a tougher-than-expected opening night matchup. http://www.customfalconsjersey.com/ .S. hockey team after paying his dues as an NHL general manager for more than three decades and giving up a lot of his free time to help USA Hockey. Custom Falcons Jersey China .J. -- Josh Cribbs was in the Pro Bowl in February and out of a job six months later. Custom Falcons Jerseys . Patrice Bergeron and Daniel Paille scored 20 seconds apart a few minutes after Stamkos was taken off the ice on a stretcher with a broken right leg, and the Bruins beat the Lightning 3-0 on Monday afternoon. Former Texas A&M All-American linebacker Antonio Armstrong and his wife, Dawn, were shot and killed early Friday in their Houston home.Their 16-year-old son has been charged with capital murder in the deaths, the Harris County District Attorneys Office told KPRC in Houston.Officers discovered the wounded couple at approximately 2 a.m. Friday. Dawn Armstrong died at the scene, and Antonio Armstrong was pronounced dead at Memorial Hermann Hospital hours later with a gunshot wound to the head.Antonio Armstrong was a letterman who played for the Aggies from 1991 to 1994. In a statement Friday, Texas A&M described him as a cornerstone of the Wrecking Crew defense. He was named a semifinalist for the Butkus Award as a senior after leading the Southwestern Conference in quarterback sacks and tackles for loss, and was named a first-team Associated Press All-America linebacker in 1994.Armstrongg was selected in the sixth round of the 1995 NFL draft by the San Francisco 49ers.dddddddddddd. An ankle fracture in training camp led to his release that October. He then signed with the Miami Dolphins and played in four games that season, logging four solo tackles.Armstrong also played three seasons in the CFL.The Armstrongs owned and operated a small chain of fitness centers in the Houston area.R.C. Slocum, who coached Armstrong at Texas A&M, issued a statement on his death.Antonio was a special young man. He was an All-American and an outstanding player, but he was an even better person, Slocum said. He was such a positive influence on his teammates. He always had a great big smile and was a joy to coach.The Associated Press contributed to this report. ' ' '