Kritik und Lob » look good but theyre pretty cheap.- Zane Gonzalez of Ari

Our experts weigh in on four of the biggest questions in NASCAR.Turn 1: What did you think of the new Bristol?Ricky Craven, ESPN NASCAR analyst: The New Bristol was a success. Each event was entertaining, each race had drama, and the facility appeared well attended on Saturday night before the rain began. It also appears that this magic Racing Glue will add value at other tracks, perhaps New Hampshire, Phoenix, or any flat race track that needs help establishing a legitimate second groove.John Oreovicz, ESPN.com: Some of the drivers seem to think that putting down resin on the inside line helped the racing. But this kind of managed competition goes against my purist instincts and it shows how far NASCAR (and other sanctioning bodies) will sometimes go to create the perception of a better show. I suppose the Bristol precedent could open up additional opportunities for the future. Why not wet down the corners in the Brickyard 400 to spice things up? Or build a chicane on the Long Pond straight at Pocono if that will possibly help things? The moral of the story: Be careful what you wish for from a resurfaced track.Bob Pockrass, ESPN.com: Liked it, and it certainly is something to build on. Two grooves make for good racing. Pure Bristol fans might prefer a faster lower groove where drivers would need to do more a bump-and-run, but this marked a good first step. The key: Dont make changes until they get some idea on how the cars should race there with the proposed 2017 package that reduces downforce and sideforce.Marty Smith, ESPN.com: Just fantastic. The awesomeness of a legitimate bottom groove at Bristol lived in a remote nostalgic corner of my mind. I wondered if wed ever see it again. And suddenly, boom! It was back! And gracious was it awesome. It also sold about 30,000 tickets to the race next spring. Attendance this spring was downright depressing, and in that market -- especially with the Battle at Bristol added to the 2016 schedule -- folks had to choose wisely where to spend their ancillary dollars. The spring race lost out. Even despite the rain, the return of the bottom groove harkened some old school chrome bumper lovin. Hallelujah.Turn 2: Chris Buescher has had some impressive runs. Could he do something in the Chase?Craven: The fact Chris and his small underfunded team won, and will likely make the Chase is amazing enough. All sports enthusiasts live for the underdog story, its so easy to become engaged with. But I cant see this group getting beyond the second round, at best. Not this year.?Oreovicz: It would certainly be a cool story, but I dont see it happening. Stringing together a series of top-10s might advance a driver into the second round, but youve got to run in the top five and contend for wins to make it to Homestead. Bueschers competitiveness is on an upward arc, but I dont see him reaching the Elite Eight or Final Four this year.Pockrass: Doubtful. He might get out of the first round if other drivers have problems, but getting to the final eight requires more consistency than what this team has shown.Smith: Really talented young driver -- doing a lot with a little. Hell be out of the Chase after Round 1. Haves and have-nots, man.Turn 3: Jeff Gordon is out in the No. 88 this week due to a prior commitment. If Dale Earnhardt Jr. has to miss the rest of the season, whats the best plan for a replacement driver?Craven: Perhaps a consortium of drivers from JR Motorsports along with William Byron. This would help bridge the gap until more clarity exists for Dale Jr.s future, but this wont go a long way in helping the team. Gordon, even at 45, is the greatest choice for the team. He is dependable, predictable, and very wise. Gordon mentoring Hendricks (JR Motorsports) young drivers would be extremely valuable. If Gordon would be willing to do it is another story.Oreovicz: Tough one. Its probably time to end the Gordon experiment; hes already run more races than originally expected and it doesnt look like theres a miracle win in the making. Unless Gordon is toying with a semi-regular comeback, he should probably get back to the business of being retired. Alex Bowman isnt a bad choice, and Hendrick also has the opportunity to try out other young drivers the team might have an eye on in terms of developing for the future. Too bad William Byron isnt quite ready to make his Cup debut ...Pockrass: Bowmans performance at New Hampshire shows he deserves at least a few more chances in the car. If it is the rest of the season, putting Elliott Sadler in for Talladega wouldnt be a bad idea.Smith: Probably Gordon, though its clear hes only participating now because Rick Hendrick needs him, not because hes especially having the time of his life. I thought maybe Carlton Banks would be a good choice. He won that Toyota Celebrity Race. Or Jamie Little. She can wheel. McDreamy is available. All kidding aside, I just want Dale Jr. healthy and happy and fulfilled.Turn 4: Which team and driver gives the Toyota camp a run for their money in the Chase?Craven: Kevin Harvick, With Brad K a close second.Oreovicz: Another tough one, because I see four drivers in two teams as the strongest non-Toyota championship contenders: The Penske duo of Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski, and Harvick and Kurt Busch of Stewart-Haas. Busch is a risky pick; he could win five races and the title, or he could drop out in the first round. That leaves Harvick as the more logical SHR choice, and he should be there at the end if the No. 4 team performs like they did at Bristol. It would certainly be amazing if the Penske Racing 50th anniversary celebration ended with a championship at Homestead, and I like Keselowski as the man most capable of making it happen against very formidable opposition from Toyota.Pockrass: Stewart-Haas Racings Harvick appears as the main challenger. No other driver than him and those in the Toyota camp have led more than six percent of the laps this year. Keselowski and Logano? Maybe if NASCAR used the 2017 rules package in the Chase, but its not.Smith: Kevin Harvick.?Fake Nike Air Max For Sale . Note: The Calgary Flames announced Tuesday that Sean Monahan would not be made available to Canadas World Junior team. Fake Nike Air Max China . - After leading the Saints to a fourth playoff appearance in five seasons, Drew Brees expressed confidence in the direction of his team and, perhaps more importantly, showed a willingness to listen to contract proposals if the team needs his help getting under the NFLs salary cap. https://www.fakeairmaxwholesale.com/ . LOUIS -- Valtteri Filppula assisted on three of Tampa Bays four goals, and the Lightning beat the St. Nike Air Max Sale . 1, meaning problems for the doping controls at both major international sports events next year. The World Anti-Doping Agency provisionally suspended the Moscow Antidoping Center on Sunday, saying its operations must improve or a six-month ban on the facilitys accreditation will be imposed. Fake Nike Air Max . The Dutchmans tenure got off to a poor start when referee Guido Winkmann awarded a penalty within two minutes for Niklas Starks clumsy challenge on Alexandru Maxim.ATLANTA -- Lamar Jackson picked up another trophy for his marvelous season.The Louisville quarterback got a glimpse of the one he really wants.On a red-carpet night in Atlanta, Jackson captured the Maxwell Award as the nations top college player Thursday night and signaled himself as the clear favorite for the Heisman Trophy.Jackson already won the Walter Camp Award, also given to the best player.Im shocked. Ive got butterflies. I never had those before, the sophomore said, posing with his Maxwell Award after a ceremony at the College Football Hall of Fame, where eight other award winners were announced.In an interesting twist, Clemsons Deshaun Watson claimed the Davey OBrien award as the nations top quarterback for the second year in a row -- beating out Jackson.Now its on to New York, where theyre both finalists for college footballs most prestigious individual award.Hes a tremendous player himself. Hes done lot of great things, Jackson said of Watson. If he does (win the Heisman), oh well. Best man.Both quarterbacks got a look at a 25-pound Heisman Trophy on display in the Hall of Fame.Jackson was impressed by the size.Its a big trophy, he said. Im going to need to do some more push-ups.Maybe not.Watson hasnt given up on his dream of claiming the Heisman before he heads off to the NFL. He wont return for his senior season, having already earned his college degree in just three years.I have a lot of confidence in the way Ive played over the course of the season, said Watson, who finished third in the Heisman race a year ago behind winner Derrick Henry of Alabama and runner-up Christian McCaffrey of Stanford.While the Maxwell voting is a solid indication of how the Heisman race might go, its no guarantee. In fact, only two of the last five winners -- Henry and Marcus Mariota in 2014 -- went on to capture the more illustrious award.Watson is holding out hope that hell pull out a come-from-behind victory over Jackson, who had been considered the overwhelming favorite until the Cardinals lost their last two games.Even with that, Jacksons numbers are mind-boggling. He passed for 3,390 yards and 30 touchdowns, and rushed for 1,538 yards and 21 TDs.Watson guided Clemson to another Atlantic Coast Conference championship and a second straight appearance in the College Football Playoff. The Tigers will meet Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl semifinal on New Years Eve.As for his Heisman chances, Watson said confidently, Im expecting to win. I always expect to have success.Hes already a huge success -- on and off the field. Watson took his last final exam Wednesday in a political communnication class.ddddddddddddext Thursday at this time, I will have a degree in hand and be a graduate, he said. It feels great.Also during the awards ceremony televised by ESPN:- Top-ranked Alabama picked up a couple of honors leading into its Peach Bowl semifinal against Washington, which will be held at the nearby Georgia Dome. End Jonathan Allen claimed the Chuck Bednarik Award as the top defensive player, while offensive tackle Cam Robinson earned the Outland Trophy as the best interior lineman. Allens latest award -- he already won the Bronko Nagurski and Ted Hendricks -- further justified his decision to return to Tuscaloosa for his senior year. I couldnt imagine my senior season going better than this, he said.- DOnta Foreman provided a bright spot to Texas dismal season by winning the Doak Walker Award as the top college running back. He rushed for more than 2,000 yards and defied skeptics who said he would have to change position in college. With everything going on in our program, he said, referring to the firing of coach Charlie Strong, Im glad to bring this back to the Texas community.- Oklahomas Dede Westbrook claimed the Biletnikoff Award as the nations outstanding receiver after teaming with quarterback Baker Mayfield for 74 receptions, 1,465 yards and 16 touchdowns in a Big 12 championship season. Mayfield was a finalist for both the Maxwell and Davey OBrien but didnt win either.- Adoree Jackson of Southern Cal, decked out in a blue tux, picked up the Jim Thorpe Award as the nations best defensive back and doled out fashion tips afterward. One bit of advice: Dont spend a lot of money on the shoes. Im an H&M sort of guy, he said. They look good but theyre pretty cheap.- Zane Gonzalez of Arizona State received the Lou Groza trophy as the top kicker, while the Ray Guy Award for best punter went to Utahs Mitch Wishnowsky, the latest in a wave of Australians who have revolutionized the position.In addition, Colorados Mike MacIntyre was recognized as the previously announced winner of The Home Depot Coach of the Year Award, Pittsburgh running back James Connor earned with the Disney Spirit Award as most inspirational player for overcoming cancer, and retired coach Steve Spurrier received the Contributions to College Football Award.---Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963 . His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/paul-newberry .---For more AP college football coverage: www.collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '