Start your engines
The NASCAR report: Could Vegas test session mean more for Cole Custer than we assume?
Trey Campbell
Jan 30, 2018, 6:24 am
This week at Las Vegas Motor speedway, The NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series will hold a two-day test session. While there will be a number of drivers there including Kasey Kahne, Brad Keselowski and Darrell Wallace Jr, the name that brings the most intrigue is NASCAR Xfinity driver Cole Custer. He will be behind the wheel of the number 32 Can-Am Ford owned by long time Crew Chief Frank Stoddard and former Go Green Racing owner Archie St. Hillare. While it may seem like just another young driver getting a chance to get some extra laps in a cup car in preseason, this particular combination stands out more than the others. Could this paring mean that there is a new alliance forming between Go Fas racing and Stewart-Haas? Logistically, it makes sense seeing how Custer has been heavily touted as the next young driver to move up to Cup. (plus, his father Joe Custer is the executive Vice President for Stewart-Haas racing) If he is to move up to the Cup series this season more than likely he would be running a partial schedule until a car is available at Stewart-Haas (which is likely seeing how they signed Kurt Busch for only one year) Could this mean that Cole Custer could drive a few races in Cup this season and replace Kurt Busch in 2019? It all just seems to come together perfectly. While Go Fas racing already has two drivers lined up with Matt DiBenedetto and Joey Gase, if there is one thing I know about NASCAR it is that nothing is ever absolute and if a smaller team like this one can partner up with a powerhouse like Stewart-Haas, I think that they would show one of those two drivers the door in favor of Custer in a heartbeat. Overall, I think that it would be a shame to see another accomplished veteran lose his ride to another younger driver who brings more sponsorship dollars, but in the end, at least Custer has had success in both the Camping World Truck Series and the Xfinity Series. he has able to contend for wins each week. In fact he was one lap away from possibly making the championship four this year in the Xfinity series so it's a relief to see someone with a good bit of talent get to move up even if he does have connections within the Stewart-Haas racing team. It will be interesting to watch all of these possible storylines play out here in the coming days as race fans gear up for the Daytona 500 in mid-February.
Two first-place teams, identical records, and a weekend set with serious measuring-stick energy.
The Houston Astros and Chicago Cubs open a three-game series Friday night at Daikin Park, in what could quietly be one of the more telling matchups of the summer. Both teams enter at 48-33, each atop their respective divisions — but trending in slightly different directions.
The Astros have been red-hot, going 7-3 over their last 10 while outscoring opponents by 11 runs. They've done it behind one of the best pitching staffs in baseball, with a collective 3.41 ERA that ranks second in the American League. Houston has also been dominant at home, where they’ve compiled a 30-13 record — a stat that looms large heading into this weekend.
On the other side, the Cubs have held their ground in the NL Central but have shown some recent shakiness. They're 5-5 over their last 10 games and have given up 5.66 runs per game over that stretch. Still, the offense remains dangerous, ranking fifth in on-base percentage across the majors. Kyle Tucker leads the way with a .287 average, 16 homers, and 49 RBIs, while Michael Busch has been hot of late, collecting 12 hits in his last 37 at-bats.
Friday’s pitching matchup features Houston’s Brandon Walter (0-1, 3.80 ERA, 1.10 WHIP) and Chicago’s Cade Horton (3-1, 3.73 ERA, 1.29 WHIP), a promising young arm making one of his biggest starts of the season on the road. Horton will have his hands full with Isaac Paredes, who’s slugged 16 homers on the year, and Mauricio Dubón, who’s found a groove with four home runs over his last 10 games.
It’s the first meeting of the season between these two clubs — and if the trends continue, it may not be the last time they cross paths when it really counts.
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Astros -112, Cubs -107; over/under is 8 1/2 runs
Here's a preview of Joe Espada's Game 1 lineup.
The first thing that stands out is rookie Cam Smith is hitting cleanup, followed by Jake Meyers. Victor Caratini is the DH and is hitting sixth. Christian Walker is all the way down at seventh, followed by Yainer Diaz, and Taylor Trammell who is playing left field.
How the mighty have fallen.
Pretty wild to see Walker and Diaz hitting this low in the lineup. However, it's justified, based on performance. Walker is hitting a pathetic .214 and Diaz is slightly better sporting a .238 batting average.
Screenshot via: MLB.com
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