Tuesday, November 30, 2010
The numbers prove crew switch was right for Jimmie Johnson
It was the most significant NASCAR employment news since Richard Petty Motorsports severed ties with Kasey Kahne. When Chad Knaus sent the 48's over-the-wall pit crew packing and brought in the team of Jeff Gordon, the whispers began. This was either cold-blooded, win-at-all-costs mentality or a sign of panic. Jimmie Johnson and Knaus were ditching the dates who'd brought them this far, the conventional wisdom went, turning their backs on a loyal crew.Turns out that maybe Knaus knew exactly what he was doing. The 24 and 48 pitted in tandem four times on Sunday afternoon in Phoenix, and the results were definitive. According to NASCAR.com's RaceView, the in-pit times were as follows:Stop #1 (lap 60):Johnson: 13.6 secondsGordon: 13.6 secondsStop #2 (lap 102):Johnson: 13.6 secondsGordon: 16.0 secondsStop #3 (lap 162):Johnson: 14.2 secondsGordon: 16.8 secondsStop #4 (lap 232):Johnson: 13.6 secondsGordon: 15.6 secondsThat's three stops in favor of Johnson's team and one push. Tough to argue with those results. Gordon did pit once more, but Johnson didn't, leading to the dramatic final laps of the race where Johnson, Carl Edwards and others raced a fuel-mileage run. It could be the defining strategic move of the Chase if Johnson is to come back and win, and it underscored the gambling mentality of Knaus.Still, it's not like Johnson completely forgot about his old guys. "I went in the 24 truck to see my old boys [before the race]," Johnson said after the race, "they couldn't have been happier."If Johnson manages to win his fifth straight championship, both crews may indeed find a way to be happier.
U.S. Army to return to Stewart-Haas Racing, Ryan Newman for 15 races in 2011
The U.S. Army will sponsor Stewart-Haas Racing and driver Ryan Newman for a third consecutive year, serving as primary sponsor on Newman?s car for 15 Sprint Cup events in 2011 and as an associate for the remainder of the season.
Time for Team Orders at Red Bull Racing
Red Bull Racing is only in its sixth year of competition, yet they managed to slay the Ferrari and McLaren teams in Formula 1 this year, earning the coveted constructors’ championship with a round remaining in 19 contests. The way they’ve gone about it is what intrigues me, because, in a series where team orders are a way of life (no...
Indy Lights At The Milwaukee Mile
It's off to The Milwaukee Mile in West Allis, Wis., for the Firestone Indy Lights Series June 19 for an event on the one-mile oval.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Jeg Coughlin Jr.'s blog: Taking time to reflect
"I've always known that a big part of my racing success is directly attributable to my family. I strongly feel that I wouldn't have won as many races or championships, and I certainly wouldn't have enjoyed the journey as much, if not for my family."
F1 Czar Bernie Ecclestone: Danica Patrick Would Be Perfect For F1
Bernie Ecclestone has a thing for Danica Patrick, at least when she?s wearing Nomex. If Ecclestone had his say, she?d make the jump to F1 for the 2012 season. Is he impressed with her driving style? Her ability to make up for an imperfect race car? Her calm, easy going demeanor? No, he?s impressed with [...]
2010 BANQUET OF CHAMPIONS AT LEE USA SPEEDWAY
Manchester, NH - Lee USA Speedway honored the 2010 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series champions on Saturday night, with Wayne Helliwell, Jr. and car owner Bruce Bernhardt collecting the hardware for their second consecutive Late Model title. Miles Chipman took home second place and Most Improved in the Late Models, with Pat Floyd, Bryan Kruczek, Sportsmanship award winner Tom Fuller, Rookie of the Year Travis Canney, J.R. Baril, Moe Lattime, Jeremy Harclerode, and Hard Luck winner A.J. Panessiti recognized for finishing third through tenth.
Drivers warned that ?have at it? has limits, NASCAR officials meet with owners of title-contending teams
HOMESTEAD, Fla. ? Drivers were given a brief and slight warning about rough driving prior to the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway Sunday, but another warning about teammates might have come in a private meeting between NASCAR officials and the three team owners involved in the championship race.
Thousands cheer Vettel in German capital
Thousands of fans have cheered the return of Formula One world champion Sebastian Vettel to Berlin.
NASCAR does early inspection of title contenders' Homestead cars
AVONDALE, Ariz. - NASCAR officials on Thursday confirmed they required the three Sprint Cup teams still in the hunt for the series championship to submit the cars they plan to run in the season finale to pre-race inspection. Earlier this week, the teams of Denny Hamlin, Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick were required to take the cars they plan to use next week at Homestead, Fla., to NASCAR's research and development center in Concord, N.C., for a precautionary inspection. Officials confirmed all three cars met template measurements. NASCAR received a lot of criticism when it levied harsh penalties on driver Clint Bowyer after his car failed inspection at the R&D center days after his win in the opening race of the Chase for the Cup at New Hampshire. With two races left in the Chase, Hamlin holds a 33-point lead over Johnson and a 59-point advantage over Harvick. Johnson has won the last four Cup titles.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
LE Tonglet Is NHRA's Youngest Champion
The 2010 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series certainly had its share of excitement, particularly in the six-race Countdown to One playoffs. None of the four champions were crowned until the finale on the Auto Club Raceway at Pomona drag strip, and three new titleholders had to work through eliminations to earn their big championship Wally...
Hulkenberg headed for Force India?
Ousted Williams driver could move to its primary 2010 rival, European media report says
Massa denies 2011 is 'make or break'
Felipe Massa has denied that he is under any pressure to restore his reputation in 2011, despite his difficult 2010 season, and pointed out that he had held on to his Ferrari drive for five years despite regular rumours about his future.
Denny Hamlin will use 2010 disappointment as motivation for another championship run
Denny Hamlin came close to unseating Jimmie Johnson from the Sprint Cup Series throne.
And while he lost his chance and came up short in the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, his Joe Gibbs Racing team and the entire JGR organization will try to build on that to complete the task in 2011.
And while he lost his chance and came up short in the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, his Joe Gibbs Racing team and the entire JGR organization will try to build on that to complete the task in 2011.
With tight NASCAR race, some hope for a new champ
Kevin Harvick said it. A lot of other people, maybe even some in NASCAR's front office, are thinking it.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Repaved Daytona Will Have Goodyear Tire Test Dec. 15-16
Repaved Daytona Will Have Goodyear Tire Test Dec. 15-16 Filed under: Daytona Int’l Speedway , NASCAR Tracks , Sprint Cup , NASCAR Goodyear Tire Company will conduct a tire test on the freshly repaved 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway on Dec. 15-16, the speedway announced Saturday
Filed under: Daytona Int’l Speedway, NASCAR Tracks, Sprint Cup, NASCAR
Goodyear Tire Company will conduct a tire test on the freshly repaved 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway on Dec. 15-16, the speedway announced Saturday.
The NASCAR drivers who will participate in the test will be announced at a later date, the speedway said.
“This test is going to be important for Goodyear as they construct a tire for Speedweeks 2011 and the 53rd annual Daytona 500,” said speedway President Joie Chitwood III.
The Goodyear tire test will open to the public with free access to the Oldfield Grandstands through the lobby of the Daytona International Speedway ticket office.
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Filed under: Daytona Int’l Speedway, NASCAR Tracks, Sprint Cup, NASCAR
Goodyear Tire Company will conduct a tire test on the freshly repaved 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway on Dec. 15-16, the speedway announced Saturday.
The NASCAR drivers who will participate in the test will be announced at a later date, the speedway said.
“This test is going to be important for Goodyear as they construct a tire for Speedweeks 2011 and the 53rd annual Daytona 500,” said speedway President Joie Chitwood III.
The Goodyear tire test will open to the public with free access to the Oldfield Grandstands through the lobby of the Daytona International Speedway ticket office.
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F1 boss Ecclestone attacked outside London office
Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone suffered a minor head injury when he was attacked outside his London office this week and robbed of jewelry worth $314,000.
With tight NASCAR race, some hope for a new champ
Kevin Harvick said it. A lot of other people, maybe even some in NASCAR's front office, are thinking it.
INSIGHT: Gentlemen, start your chargers
EV racing is set for a jolt next year, with an incredible new electric track car called the iRacer.
Marc VDS tests Suter MotoGP bike
Leading Moto2 team Marc VDS has shaken down the Suter-BMW bike designed in preparation for MotoGP's 2012 rules.
K&N West Slate Set
The 2011 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West schedule, a 14-race package of events from February through November released by NASCAR
Friday, November 26, 2010
A look out the rear view mirror
-I know there is a going to be a lot of people who think that all of the drama that unfolded in Sunday?s AAA 500 at Texas Motor Speedway will do wonders for NASCAR and attract a lot of fans, or perhaps bring some back for another look. That may very well turn out to be true. However, what I think is puzzling, is a couple of the reasons people think Sunday was great ? one NASCAR driver showing flagrant disrespect to authority and two others getting involved in a fight on the track ? have not one thing to do with the actual sport of racing. Perhaps that doesn?t matter any more. Or maybe it never did. -Trevor Bayne is a 19-year-old development driver, now for Roush Fenway Racing, who was thrown into his first Cup start in a team he has never raced with previously and a team that doesn?t run fulltime. He finished 17th. Dale Earnhardt Jr., a driver in his 11th season in the series, running for arguably the strongest organization in the sport, was a complete non-factor and finished 25th. You figure it out because I can?t. -I see no difference in Richard Childress Racing?s decision to swap Kevin Harvick?s pit crew with Clint Bowyer?s and the decision Sunday to swap out Jimmie Johnson?s pit crew with Jeff Gordon?s. Yes, the Johnson swap was made mid-race, but it was also made with Gordon out of the race for all practical purposes. If it was done with Gordon still in contention for a race win, that would have been different.
Scott Speed Drives A Taxi To Supplement His Income
Scott Speed Drives A Taxi To Supplement His Income Times are tough in the racing world, and even teams with big budgets are having to face cutbacks in salaries and operating costs. Take Scott Speed, for example: the former Scuderia Toro Rosso F1 driver has apparently been reduced to driving a taxi in Chicago to [...]
Tomczyk tops DTM practice in Shanghai
Martin Tomczyk topped the first DTM free practice of the weekend on the streets of Shanghai, while a massive accident for Maro Engel brought the session to an early finish.
Let's get NASCAR fans' attention again
Let?s try to get some people?s attention. I?m a history buff and certainly appreciate tradition, particularly in NASCAR. The importance of tradition ranks as high among racing fans as those in baseball in my opinion. But there is also a time for a change. And for NASCAR a big one needs to be made now. It?s time to shorten the NASCAR Sprint Cup season and shorten the races. Yes, that?s right. Cut the season and cut the race lengths. I compliment NASCAR on the changes it has made in recent seasons to cater to fans? desires, in making the racing safer and better, in trying to enhance excitement through rule changes. I?ve never been a proponent of the Chase format, but I give NASCAR credit for at least trying something. Let?s face it. Even with the Chase enjoying its closest points race since its inception, TV ratings are still dropping week after week. The racing product is good ? last week?s Talladega race was one of the better ones I?ve seen from start to finish in my 13 seasons and the race still lost almost a fourth of its audience from last season. Is it football? Maybe so, but if it is, then something has changed because NASCAR and the NFL have shared Sundays for decades. What I think has changed are fans? attention spans. In an Internet, Twitter, Facebook, photo-phone world, four-plus hour events are taxing people?s patience. Everyone who has watched races have heard drivers saying things like, ?We were riding around biding our time,? or talking about ?staying out of trouble until we could race for it at the end.? Fans ? and media ? rate Truck and Nationwide series races typically better than Cup and that?s in large part to their shorter length. Cup races have become in large part endurance events rather than a race to see who is truly fastest or has the best car. My solution? Cut the Cup schedule by six races so the season ends as the NFL season starts. Every race in Cup should be 400 miles/laps or less except for the Daytona 500 and Coca-Cola 600. There are two choices here: Give up and wait the situation out and hope it gets better on its own or try again with a big swing at big change. You want to produce better racing? Create more of it by removing all the riding around.
Richard Petty Motorsports Callin it Quits?
RPM may not run past Martinsville. The house of cards is finally falling for George Gillett’s Richard Petty Motorsports. The assembly line from Roush Fenway Racing and Roush Yates engines has stopped running to RPM. Engines have been picked up, cars have been repossessed, and sources on both sides — RPM and RFR — say [...]
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Jeffrey Earnhardt lands full-time ride in Truck Series for 2011
HOMESTEAD, Fla. ? Jeffrey Earnhardt, grandson of Dale Earnhardt Sr. and son of Kerry Earnhardt, will drive full time for Rick Ware Racing in the Camping World Truck Series in 2011 with sponsorship from Fuel Doctor.
The 21-year-old Earnhardt and team owner Rick Ware confirmed the deal Friday at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
The 21-year-old Earnhardt and team owner Rick Ware confirmed the deal Friday at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Denny Hamlin Already Looking Toward 2011
Denny Hamlin Already Looking Toward 2011 Filed under: Denny Hamlin , Chase for the Sprint Cup , NASCAR HOMESTEAD, Fla. — Only 25 laps into Sunday’s Ford 400 NASCAR season finale, Denny Hamlin realized his day was going to be long, and his hopes of holding off his two championship challengers diminished as the hot South Florida afternoon wore on
Filed under: Denny Hamlin, Chase for the Sprint Cup, NASCAR
HOMESTEAD, Fla. — Only 25 laps into Sunday’s Ford 400
Filed under: Denny Hamlin, Chase for the Sprint Cup, NASCAR
HOMESTEAD, Fla. — Only 25 laps into Sunday’s Ford 400
Everything is better when twins are involved? ESPECIALLY Nascar!
Let’s see now, they’re blond, they’re twins, they’re hot and they race cars. Yep, that sounds like every Nascar fans fantasy if you ask me. Meet Amber and Angela Cope, twin 27-year-old sisters who completed their first Nascar race this past weekend in the Camping World Truck Series race. The sisters are the nieces of [...]
Cory McClenathan Looking For Top Fuel Work
He may be fighting for supremacy in NHRA’s Top Fuel Full Throttle Drag Racing Series class, but Cory McClenathan is also fighting, at the end of this 2010 season, for his ability to drive next year. Released by Don Schumacher Racing right after the 10th annual fall race on the Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Cory Mac currently lies in...
2010 Nissan 370Z: Still A Sports Coupe Powerhouse
Ever since it first appeared in the late ‘60s and early 1970s, the Nissan Z sports coupe has been fascinating drivers with its enviable power, handling and accessibility. Always ahead of the curve with regard to each of these named attributes, the Z car is still – more than 40 years on – one of the best sports car buys on the...
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Someone at ESPN needs a spelling refresher [updated]
Oh, ESPN. We try to defend you, we do, against many of the chattering hordes here that find fault with everything and everyone associated with your NASCAR coverage. We're pretty satisfied with your broadcast work, and we understand that you have people on your payroll who are deeply interested and invested in NASCAR. We don't hate you just because we're told we're supposed to hate you. But then we see something like this from "SportsCenter": Come on, folks. That's basic stuff. You invested millions in this sport; don't make yourself look foolish with a mistake like this. [Hat tip: @DonRohr via @jeff_gluck] Update: Oh, and before you go calling us out for this: That's an automatically generated trend string from what people are typing into the search box. Learn to spell, people! It's not "Danny Hamlin," it's "First Loser!"
And Then There Were Three: Lotus Rejoins IndyCar
And then there were three. For an IZOD IndyCar Series that looked like it was going to house another “spec” situation when the new 2012 regulations came onboard, the playing field has changed dramatically over the past month. First Chevrolet, the largest GM division that has 103 Indy car victories in its past incarnations to go with...
Jimmie Johnson place in NASCAR's best-ever discussion
Rank 'em how you want. Keep Richard Petty as The King. Put Dale Earnhardt on top for winning across two very different NASCAR eras. Put Junior Johnson as No. 1. for being the ultimate ``win, wreck or blow'' driver in unreliable equipment.
Kasey Kahne wins Sprint Cup pole at Homestead; Jimmie Johnson to start sixth in season finale
HOMESTEAD, Fla. ? Kasey Kahne, running just his fifth race with Red Bull Racing, won the pole for Sunday?s Ford 400 season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Kahne, who confirmed Friday that he is having knee surgery after the season, ran a lap of 176.904 mph. Roush Fenway Racing?s Carl Edwards, who won last week?s race from the pole at Phoenix, was second at 176.725 mph.
Four-time defending champion Jimmie Johnson, who is racing for his fifth consecutive Sprint Cup championship Sunday, was sixth-fastest while title contenders Kevin Harvick and Denny Hamlin both struggled.
Kahne, who confirmed Friday that he is having knee surgery after the season, ran a lap of 176.904 mph. Roush Fenway Racing?s Carl Edwards, who won last week?s race from the pole at Phoenix, was second at 176.725 mph.
Four-time defending champion Jimmie Johnson, who is racing for his fifth consecutive Sprint Cup championship Sunday, was sixth-fastest while title contenders Kevin Harvick and Denny Hamlin both struggled.
Phoenix International Raceway to be reconfigured?
Local newspaper reports that the unique mile could be redesigned to make it a better stock car racing venue.
Austin Coil resigns from John Force Racing
Austin Coil has been John Force's head tuner in the NHRA Funny Car Series since 1986. That accounts for all of Force's 132 victories and all 15 championships. But Coil won't be around for win No. 133, as he announced his resignation from John Force Racing Wednesday. In NASCAR terms, this is like when Ray Evernham and Jeff Gordon split and if Chad Knaus ever left Jimmie Johnson.Combined.From Racin' Today:“I had not been happy with the financial situation since the reorganization because of the economy,”
Coil said during a phone interview on Wednesday, three days after Force
won his record-setting 15th National Hot Rod Association world
championship at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, Calif.Coil said team-owner Force instituted across-the-board pay cuts
following the 2009 season, one that saw son-in-law Robert Hight and crew
chief Jimmy Prock win the organization’s 17th NHRA Funny Car
championship in 21 years. But Force went winless in ‘09 during a Full
Throttle Drag Racing Series season for the first time since 1986 – first
year of the Force-Coil collaboration.“There were a lot of hard feelings over 2009 because our performance
was suffering,” said Coil, 65, who has tuned Force to all of his
championships and 132 national event victories. “The end result created
some animosities that won’t go away. I’m too old to be sat down and told
‘how it is’ every other day. Overall, there’s no real terrible issues
going on. It was just time to go. Kind of like when you’ve been married
for 26 years and heard all the (bull manure).”
In his post-championship press conference, Force talked about he and Coil winning again in the future, and on Wednesday admitted that he didn't see Coil's resignation coming. “I know the rumor mills are going crazy, and I have to address it. But
it’s part of what John Force does. My heart’s pounding today over some
things that have hurt me real bad, and I don’t understand. I’ve got to
go find out.”
Coil said during a phone interview on Wednesday, three days after Force
won his record-setting 15th National Hot Rod Association world
championship at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, Calif.Coil said team-owner Force instituted across-the-board pay cuts
following the 2009 season, one that saw son-in-law Robert Hight and crew
chief Jimmy Prock win the organization’s 17th NHRA Funny Car
championship in 21 years. But Force went winless in ‘09 during a Full
Throttle Drag Racing Series season for the first time since 1986 – first
year of the Force-Coil collaboration.“There were a lot of hard feelings over 2009 because our performance
was suffering,” said Coil, 65, who has tuned Force to all of his
championships and 132 national event victories. “The end result created
some animosities that won’t go away. I’m too old to be sat down and told
‘how it is’ every other day. Overall, there’s no real terrible issues
going on. It was just time to go. Kind of like when you’ve been married
for 26 years and heard all the (bull manure).”
In his post-championship press conference, Force talked about he and Coil winning again in the future, and on Wednesday admitted that he didn't see Coil's resignation coming. “I know the rumor mills are going crazy, and I have to address it. But
it’s part of what John Force does. My heart’s pounding today over some
things that have hurt me real bad, and I don’t understand. I’ve got to
go find out.”
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Carl Edwards finishes season on a high note
After a slow start to his season, Ford 400 winner Carl Edwards was pleased to end the year with momentum.
Chevy joins forces with Penske in the IndyCar Series in 2012
Chevrolet announced Friday that it would enter the Izod IndyCar Series in 2012, ending Honda's reign as the exclusive engine supplier to the series.The Chevy engines will be turbocharged V6s powered by E85 fuel and developed by GM and Ilmor Engineering. Honda will still continue to make engines for the series, and it's possible that other manufacturers will enter IndyCar in 2012 as well. It had been speculated that Chevrolet would pick Target Chip Ganassi Racing to be its partner for the IndyCar Series after Ganassi re-signed with Chevrolet in the Sprint Cup Series after reportedly considering Ford, but Chevrolet is partnering with Ganassi's main rival, Team Penske.Penske and Chevrolet have won 31 open-wheel races and four Indianapolis 500s.Penske uses Dodge cars and engines in the Sprint Cup Series, and will be the only full-time fully funded team in 2011 that uses Dodge.
Angry Joey Logano retaliates against Juan Pablo Montoya, wrecks him under caution at Homestead
HOMESTEAD, Fla. ? An angry Joey Logano retaliated against Juan Pablo Montoya Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway, intentionally wrecking him under caution with 64 laps left in the Ford 400. Montoya and Logano made contact on lap 140, sending Logano slamming into the wall and damaging the front end of his car. It took 40 laps to repair his car in the garage. About 25 laps after his return to the track, Logano wrecked Montoya under caution.
Huge Purse Announced For Ricky?s Race At Canaan in 2011
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W.Springfield, MA. ? In a joint announcement last night, Valenti Modified Racing Series
President and founder, Jack Bateman, and retired racing great Donnie Miller Sr, disclosed, the annual event, Ricky?s Race For Kids, will carry a purse of $36,350, the largest payoff in the eight year history of New England?s premier modified racing series. The race is scheduled for July 16 at Canaan Fair Speedway, Canaan, NH.
The announcement was made at the 7th annual Valenti Modified Racing Series awards banquet held at the Clarion Hotel, W. Springfield, MA.
W.Springfield, MA. ? In a joint announcement last night, Valenti Modified Racing Series
President and founder, Jack Bateman, and retired racing great Donnie Miller Sr, disclosed, the annual event, Ricky?s Race For Kids, will carry a purse of $36,350, the largest payoff in the eight year history of New England?s premier modified racing series. The race is scheduled for July 16 at Canaan Fair Speedway, Canaan, NH.
The announcement was made at the 7th annual Valenti Modified Racing Series awards banquet held at the Clarion Hotel, W. Springfield, MA.
Richard Petty Motorsports to field 2 cars in 2011
Richard Petty finished financially restructuring his race team and will field two fewer cars in 2011.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Jimmie Johnson wins unprecedented fifth Sprint Cup title in a row
Jimmie Johnson staged the first comeback victory in the history of NASCAR's Chase for the Cup and won his unprecedented fifth title in a row.
Robert Hight's blog: Two strikes and we'll be back in it
"It's great to have the opportunity to give you some insight into the Auto Club Ford Mustang Funny Car team, and John Force Racing as a whole."
One on one with NASCAR Hall of Famer Ned Jarrett
Thanks to Ford Racing which provided the transcript of this interview with Ned Jarrett, one of five members of the 2011 NASCAR Hall of Fame class. Jarrett won Ford?s firstCup Series driver's championship in 1965. Jarrett, who won two championships overall, is Ford?s all-time winningest driver with 43 victories and is part of only two father-son duos to win NASCAR?s most-coveted championship. Q: IT?S BEEN A COUPLE OF DAYS SINCE YOU WERE VOTED INTO THE NASCAR HALL OF FAME. HAS IT SUNK IN YET? It?s beginning to sink in more each day as each day goes by. When it happened, I was almost in shock. I am one of the three retired drivers that was asked to serve on the voting committee long before any nominee was ever announced, so going into the meeting on Wednesday I didn?t think I had a chance. But after some of the discussion and I saw I had a lot of support in there, I began to have a better feeling about it. Still, I tried to not let my hopes get too high because I didn?t want too big of a letdown in case I wasn?t voted in. I was prepared for that, but it?s sinking in and I?m realizing what a great thing it is. Of course, I knew when they announced the NASCAR Hall of Fame that it would be something very special and special to be a part of, and to be able to get in this early is very rewarding. Q: YOU WON FORD?S FIRST DRIVER?S CHAMPIONSHIP AND REMAIN FORD?S ALL-TIME WINNINGEST DRIVER. WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR MEMORIES OF THOSE DAYS? My relationship with Ford Motor Company over the years has been great and something that I really appreciate. Having won the most races in a Ford race car in NASCAR history is very important to me and to have won the first championship for Ford in 1965 is very meaningful to me as well. I certainly appreciate all that Ford has done for the sport of auto racing over the years. It?s much more than many fans realize and I appreciate my association with them, too. They?ve always been a great company to be associated with. I grew up in a Ford family on the farm. My dad had a Ford car. We only had one car and that was a Ford, and then when they came out with a Ford tractor, he bought a Ford tractor for the farm. He had a Ford truck that hauled the lumber from the sawmill that we had, so I grew up in a Ford family and then for one day to be able to race Ford cars and have some success in them is very meaningful to me. Q: HAVING YOU AND DALE WIN CHAMPIONSHIPS IN A FORD MUST BE EVEN MORE MEANINGFUL THEN. That is very special, too. Having Dale go along and win a championship in a Ford car, and now is one of the largest Ford dealers in the country, means a lot to our whole family. Q: I UNDERSTAND YOU PLAYED GOLF THE DAY AFTER YOUR SELECTION. HOW DID THAT GO? It was one of the worst rounds of golf I?ve ever had on the golf course. I told my buddies that I wish they wouldn?t have inducted me into that Hall of Fame because it just tore my golf game up (laughing). But it was fun to just get out there and relax a little bit. Q: WAS THERE A LOT OF STRESS? It certainly had taken its toll as far as my physical and mental being. I didn?t sleep much that night, so I was tired. That didn?t help my golf game any, but, nevertheless, it was nice to be able to go. Our group tees off at 10:30 in the morning and when we make the turn we stop and have a sit down lunch, and then we go out and play the other nine holes. When I walked into the lunch room at Catawba Country Club, there was a good crowd inside and they all stood and gave me a standing ovation. I really appreciated that and it made me feel real good.
2011 Lexus CT 200h Is A Sporting Hybrid
Almost six months before it’s scheduled to hit American streets, Lexus wants you to know about its new 2011 CT 200h hybrid, the smallest such vehicle produced by Toyota’s upscale luxury line. A five-door hatchback, the Lexus CT 200h has a good-size footprint in the automotive universe, looking slightly larger than the Toyota Prius and...
Is Kevin Harvick being overlooked?
Much has been written and said - even by Kevin Harvick himself - about whether he has been overlooked in this year's Sprint Cup championship race. Harvick's crew chief, Gil Martin was asked about this on Wednesday and here was his response: "I can't explain to you why he doesn't (get respect he deserves), but I can talk to you about why he should. I mean, you just go back and look. Again, I know it doesn't matter to nothing, but everybody talks about stats all week long. That's all you see all week long. When you go back and look where we would be in traditional points, where we are on top 10s, where we are on points gained, where we are on top 5s, I think if you go back and look, it's almost been one of the best seasons that RCR has ever had in its history. "Obviously if we don't win the championship, it's not going to be where we want to be, but it's a championship run that we've had all year long. And in order for that to have happened, he had to do a lot of things right this year, and I think a lot of those things have gone a little bit unnoticed because a lot of emphasis has been put on that we haven't qualified very well. But because we haven't qualified very well, the amount of cars that we've passed this year coming from I'll say not even mid-pack, three-quarter pack, through most of the season, I don't know the number of those cars, and I'm sure y'all have the stats on that, but the amount of cars that we've passed this season is probably astronomical compared to a lot of them. "And it's a shame that we had the little problem we did in the pits this weekend because I really think when we were running third and had to come back in, if we would have got to see some clean air, our car was going to be very fast out front or in the top two or three this weekend. But he's done a great job, and I think he deserves a lot more credit probably than he is getting." A couple things: First, I believe Harvick has as good a chance to win this title as either Jimmie Johnson or Denny Hamlin, given the circumstances with one race remaining. Second, given that, I don't think it's unreasonable to consider Harvick an upset winner should he do so. Harvick may have led the series points standings most of the first 26 weeks of the season but that feat in an off itself doesn't mean much - or anything - when it comes to the Chase. It's wins that matter, and that's how you get seeded to start the Chase. A driver can have a 1,000 point lead after 26 races but if he doesn't have a win, he'll start dead last in the Chase. That's the system. Given that, and the fact Johnson has won four straight championships and has a better than average shot at a fifth, Harvick is right where he should be: knocking on the door, with a chance to kick it in.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Bass Pro Shops extends sponsorship of RCR?s Austin Dillon
Outdoor retailer Bass Pro Shops has renewed its partnership with Richard Childress Racing as the primary sponsor for Austin Dillon in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.
Denny Hamlin: Jimmie's not in my head, I'm in his
In Thursday's press conference, Jimmie Johnson pursued what was, for him, the equivalent of a pro wrestling psych-out, trying to get into Denny Hamlin's head by saying that Hamlin was the nervous one. And indeed, Hamlin did appear a bit nervous, bracketed as he was by the cool confidence of Johnson and the needling of Kevin Harvick.Johnson followed that up in his Friday morning media session with another shot, noting that he slept just fine, but that Hamlin probably didn't. When informed of that comment, Hamlin, who's apparently had about enough, replied, "If he keeps bringing up my name, then he's pretty much worried
about me."Maybe yes, maybe no. What's obvious is that all three drivers are doing their best to get at each other, and Johnson and Harvick are clearly landing the most shots. Harvick has gone after Hamlin's car and setup, while Johnson has attacked his frame of mind.Perhaps it's a coincidence that Hamlin qualified 37th. Perhaps not.Regardless, Hamlin on Friday tried to clarify what he meant by feeling "awkward" on the dais during Thursday's conference. "What I meant by awkward was that they had all the videos, the drivers' spats back and forth, this that and the other right at the beginning," he told Yahoo! Sports. "And you're looking out, you can't see anyone out with the lights on you, and you're sitting next to your competitors on either side. So, that part was the small awkward part. It took about five minutes to get over. But I thought it went good. I thought you got a sense of where everyone's head was at." So Hamlin now knows -- he's all in Harvick and Johnson's heads. But is he a threat or a target?
about me."Maybe yes, maybe no. What's obvious is that all three drivers are doing their best to get at each other, and Johnson and Harvick are clearly landing the most shots. Harvick has gone after Hamlin's car and setup, while Johnson has attacked his frame of mind.Perhaps it's a coincidence that Hamlin qualified 37th. Perhaps not.Regardless, Hamlin on Friday tried to clarify what he meant by feeling "awkward" on the dais during Thursday's conference. "What I meant by awkward was that they had all the videos, the drivers' spats back and forth, this that and the other right at the beginning," he told Yahoo! Sports. "And you're looking out, you can't see anyone out with the lights on you, and you're sitting next to your competitors on either side. So, that part was the small awkward part. It took about five minutes to get over. But I thought it went good. I thought you got a sense of where everyone's head was at." So Hamlin now knows -- he's all in Harvick and Johnson's heads. But is he a threat or a target?
Mike Skinner not happy with his Truck Series season, looking for more leadership from Randy Moss team
The 2010 Camping World Truck Series season hasn't gone to Mike Skinner's liking.
And that's putting it mildly.
And that's putting it mildly.
NASCAR issues warning against shenanigans
During Sunday's drivers' meeting at Phoenix International Raceway, Robin Pemberton issued a not-so-subtle warning to all the drivers, but primarily it was aimed at Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Burton. "We've got a tight points battle. Let's let it unfold as naturally as you can on the race track, and that includes pit road," said Pemberton, NASCAR's vice president of competition.Take particular note of the "pit road" part. When Denny Hamlin pits Sunday, he will have Earnhardt in front of him, Burton behind him. That's notable because they are the teammates of the two drivers chasing Hamlin in the standings. Jimmie Johnson, Earnhardt's Hendrick Motorsports teammate, trails Hamlin by 33, while Kevin Harvick, Burton's Richard Childress Racing teammate, trails by 59. If they want to, Earnhardt and Burton can make Hamlin's pit stall very, very small, and potentially force him into a mistake that could turn the outcome of the race and the Chase.Rarely does the NASCAR brass make notable comments during drivers meetings. This one was clear — Earnhardt and Burton should think twice about stopping short or long in their pit stalls.
Harvick finally comfortable with Earnhardt legacy
Now that the ordeal has been in his rearview mirror for nearly a decade, Kevin Harvick acknowledges there was a time when he didn't want anything to do with Dale Earnhardt's legacy.
Mike Skinner not happy with his Truck Series season, looking for more leadership from Randy Moss team
The 2010 Camping World Truck Series season hasn't gone to Mike Skinner's liking.
And that's putting it mildly.
And that's putting it mildly.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Ron Capps' blog: How time flies
Another NHRA Full Throttle drag racing season is winding down. It causes you to sit back and reflect on how time flies.
Edwards makes it 2 straight with win at Phoenix
Carl Edwards won the Nationwide Series race Saturday at Phoenix International Raceway, setting himself up for a big weekend for Roush-Fenway Racing.
Super DIRTcar Series Florida DIRTcar Nationals
The Super DIRTcar Series joins the World of Outlaws sprints at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla., February 16-19 during the 40th annual Florida DIRTcar Nationals presented by UNOH.
Vettel wins, Button avoids ambush at Brazil F1 race
Sebastian Vettel won Sunday's Formula 1 race at Brazil, setting up a four-way (yes, Chaseless) battle for the championship at the season's final race at Abu Dhabi.Vettel's win pulled him within 15 points of points leader Fernando Alonso, who finished third. Vettel entered Brazil trailing by 25 points, but also still trails Red Bull Renault teammate Mark Webber by seven points in the standings. Webber and Vettel were in the midst of controversy earlier in the year after Vettel got Webber's new front wing after crashing in practice.Lewis Hamilton is in fourth, 24 points behind Alonso but needs a lot to happen to win the championship. Hamilton can only win if Alonso finishes lower than 10th and out of the points, Webber finishes fifth or lower and Vettel finishes third or lower. Probably not happening.Defending champion Jenson Button was officially eliminated from title contention Sunday, but given what went on before the race, that was probably the least of his concerns. Button was in a car outside of the track when men with machine guns approached the car. An attack that Brazilian driver Rubens Barrichello called an "embarrassment" for the country, which is hosting the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympics. From Yahoo! Eurosport:As Button returned from the circuit back to his São Paulo hotel in company with his father John, manager Richard Goddard and trainer Mike Collier, the bulletproof Mercedes B-Class in which the four men were travelling was stuck in stationary traffic as it passed through a favela (shanty town), when they were approached by a group of up to six gun-wielding assailants. The quartet were saved by the quick-thinking reactions of their specially-trained police driver Daniel Toni, who Button praised as ‘an absolute legend’ for rescuing him and his entourage from potentially ‘some big problems.’ However, the attempt to rob Button's car wasn't the only incident. Three Sauber employees were robbed at a traffic light. That makes the infield at Talladega seem downright calm, doesn't it?
Denny Hamlin following game plan to a tee
Jimmie Johnson sported a full beard, not uncommon for him. A grizzled look appeared out of place on Kevin Harvick, whose wife, DeLana, wondered if the rare growth might be itchy and irritating.
What if NASCAR had the Formula 1 points system?
Alright Chase-haters, this post is for you.Before the Chase started, we talked about what the Chase would look like if it was on a 12-1 point scale, giving points to only the Chase drivers. (Through eight races of this season's Chase, Denny Hamlin would have 73 points to Kevin Harvick's 72 and Jimmie Johnson's 71)Four drivers are alive for the Formula 1 title as the series heads to Abu Dhabi for the final race of the season. If the F1 points system was in place for the Sprint Cup Series, very little would change at the top of the standings. The Formula 1 point system awards points on a sliding scale from first to 10th (25-18-15-12-10-8-6-4-2-1). If a driver finishes 11th or lower, he doesn't get points.Just like if the old points system was still in place, Harvick would be leading the points with 307 points. Johnson would be six points back with 301 points and Hamlin would be 13 back with 294. No other driver would be within striking distance. Harvick's been the most consistent of the bunch over the season, with four second-place and four third-place finishes to go along with his three wins. 261 of Johnson's 301 points have come from top three finishes -- he has five third place finishes, but the most extreme points split may be Hamlin's. Thanks to his eight wins, Hamlin has 200 points from victories and has just 10 other top 10 finishes in 2010.
Friday, November 19, 2010
How much attention should be paid to drivers not in contention?
In case you hadn't noticed, NASCAR is in the midst of a great three-way battle for the championship. And that means that there are nine drivers in the Chase and 31 others who didn't qualify who are out of contention. How much should they be talked about?One of the arguments made against the Chase by fans is that the coverage centers around those going after the title and that their driver — if he's out of contention or out of the Chase entirely — gets ignored. And this piece from Jim Utter, along with quotes from Tony Stewart, support that notion.But how much attention should guys not in contention be given? Yes, NASCAR is different because every team competes at the same time every week, unlike in other sports such as baseball where the Kansas City Royals are mostly ignored by mid-April. Quite honestly, that's the way that it should be.Yes, the sports media like to focus on storylines and certain subjects way too much at times — hello, Brett Favre — but for the most part, media attention is earned. There's a reason that Jimmie Johnson is the focal point of Chase coverage. Think back a little bit to when Johnson was title-less. (It was just four years ago!) He was just one of 10 drivers going for the championship.In an interview with From the Marbles earlier in the year, ESPN's Marty Reid used AJ Allmendinger as an example of someone who had gotten a lot of coverage in the first two races of the Chase. Why? Because Allmendinger was running well.On the other hand, Joey Logano's running well now, too — with finishes of seventh, sixth, fifth, fourth and third over the last five races — but he's been overshadowed by the championship battle. (Not to mention Carl Edwards, whose win at Phoenix was, well, largely ignored.) This could be the stretch where Logano turns himself into a legitimate Chase threat for the foreseeable future. Still, there is just one race to go and the four-time defending champion is on the ropes. What's the bigger storyline here? (And let's be honest, if Logano had run well enough to make the Chase in the first 26 races, you can be damn sure that he'd be a major topic right now)Sit back and enjoy the last race of 2010. And if you feel your driver is being ignored — and one of those in contention even thinks he's being disrespected — then you better hope that he picks up the pace in 2011. You don't get noticed for being average. There's a reason guys who consistently finish 20th don't sell tons of merchandise.OK, maybe that's not the best example. But you get the point.
2011 Lexus CT 200h Is A Sporting Hybrid
Almost six months before it’s scheduled to hit American streets, Lexus wants you to know about its new 2011 CT 200h hybrid, the smallest such vehicle produced by Toyota’s upscale luxury line. A five-door hatchback, the Lexus CT 200h has a good-size footprint in the automotive universe, looking slightly larger than the Toyota Prius and...
Quarterly reports reveal grim times for track operators
Track owners bear a large share of the criticism for lackluster attendance — cut the ticket prices, the thinking goes, and the people will show up — but the latest financial reports indicate that the tracks are facing an environment even more dire than expected.Three entities — International Speedway Corp., Speedway Motorsports Inc., and Dover Motorsports Inc. — have different track holdings but similar stories. Even with cuts in ticket prices — 11 percent, according to ISC officials — the tracks are struggling because of reductions in sponsorships and corporate spending, as well as commensurate drops in souvenirs and refreshments while fans are at the track.The tracks are dependent on television revenue, which increases at an annual rate of 3 percent per year — nice, but nothing compared to the 17 percent per year under the previous contract. And when this contract runs out in 2014, it's a safe bet that the guaranteed revenue will be far smaller, if indeed it is guaranteed at all.Here are some specific breakdowns per operator for the first nine months of the year:• Speedway Motorsports saw losses in ticket sales ($118 million, down from $140 million) and event-related revenue ($125 million down from $143 million). As a result, the company has lowered its earnings forecast for the year.• ISC is seeking to try to reduce expenses by up to $30 million, and has done so by shuttering the Daytona 500 Experience and continuing to keep ticket prices low, perhaps artificially low.• Dover Motorsports saw declines in ticket revenue from $23 million to $19 million, and event revenue fell from $16.3 million to $14.4 million.In short: everybody's hurting. And as bad as it is now, if things don't turn around soon, there will be some serious pain once the TV contract runs out after 2014.
FEUD OF THE WEEK: Denny Hamlin vs. Jimmie Johnson vs. Kevin Harvick
There is no shortage of confidence among the three Sprint Cup championship contenders and their teams heading into the season finale this weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Denny Hamlin leads the standings, so all he has to do is beat his two competitors at a track where he won last year?s race.
Will the next driver to "save" NASCAR come on down ...
Here we go again. Another ?popular? driver successful in some other form of motorsports decides to make a foray into NASCAR competition and suddenly that person is the answer to NASCAR?s attendance and TV ratings woes. This time, it?s Travis Pastrana, who has won numerous titles in supercross, motocross, freestyle motocross and rally racing. He plans to drive seven races in 2011 in the Nationwide Series with a team co-owned by himself and Michael Waltrip. Why is it when someone outside NASCAR decides to give it a try it necessarily most follow that we get a litany of reasons how that move will transform the sport? Haven?t we learned our lesson yet? IndyCar star Danica Patrick made her much-publicized debut in NASCAR this season with the same expectations (or more) and her performance on the track has been at best underwhelming. She likely got more people to tune in when she first arrived, and she likely sold a lot of T-shirts. That?s all well and good for Patrick, but what has it done for NASCAR? If people are tuning in to see Patrick and then tune out when her adventure is over, what has NASCAR gained? The same goes for Pastrana. He may be the ?next big thing? to come to NASCAR, but unless he actually makes a mark in the sport competition-wise, I don?t know how that improves the NASCAR product. I have no doubt that if Patrick or Pastrana were to come into NASCAR and found the success ? or even some of it ? they have experienced in their other respective racing disciplines, NASCAR would benefit. But other sports? stars coming over to ?give NASCAR a try,? who aren?t in contention to win races or plan to run a schedule to contend for a championship, smacks as nothing more than a marketing ploy. That?s all well and good, too. Just please call it for what it is. I?m not going to make a judgment on what Pastrana can do for NASCAR until I actually see him compete in a Nationwide race. The honest truth is I don?t know what he will do. And neither does anyone else until he gets here.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
The Johnson, er, Hamlin Inevitability Watch: Down to two
With Jimmie Johnson's Drive for Five now in a bit of jeopardy, we broaden our look this weekend to include all the past Chases. And lo and behold, it's rarely been closer after 34 races than it is right now. Let's look onward, shall we? 2010: As you know, Denny Hamlin leads, with Jimmie Johnson 33 behind and Kevin Harvick 59 back. Which would you rather be right now, hunter or hunted? 2009: After the infamous Texas wreck where he stayed in his car and willed his team to keep him in the race, Johnson held a 73-point lead over Mark Martin heading into the final two races. 2008: Despite a charge from the 99, Johnson was 106 points ahead of Carl Edwards, and 143 in front of Greg Biffle. It was all just about sewn up by this point. 2007: With the charge nearly finished, Johnson was 30 up on regular-season dominator Jeff Gordon. The writing was on the wall.2006: Another tight Chase; after 34 races, Johnson was 17 ahead of Matt Kenseth, 78 up on Dale Earnhardt Jr., and 80 up on some kid named Denny Hamlin. 2005: In the closest parallel to 2010, numerically speaking, eventual champion Tony Stewart was 38 up on Johnson and 77 on Edwards.2004: In the first Chase, Kurt Busch led at this point, with Jeff Gordon 41 points, Earnhardt 47 back, Johnson 48 (ha!) behind, and Martin 102 back. And it turned out to be a race that came down to the final lap at Homestead. We can hope, can't we?There you go. The past seems to indicate that Hamlin will hold on, but we know not to rely too much on that. Your take?
Hamlin let Johnson in his head, and Jimmie's setting up camp
For about 10 minutes Sunday night, the Chase was hinging on the edge of being completely over. Denny Hamlin had pitted and was working his way back up through the field, and Jimmie Johnson was apparently on wisps of fuel. With Kevin Harvick far back in the standings, if Johnson were to run out of fuel, Hamlin would have gone to Homestead with a near-insurmountable points lead.As we know now, it didn't quite work out that way. Hamlin pitted early and splashed fuel, but it was enough to leave him 12th in the race and surrendering half his prerace lead over Johnson. (Were it not for the laps-led bonus, Hamlin would be a scant five points ahead of Johnson.) After the race, Hamlin was despondent while Johnson was confident, smoothly at ease and thrilled to have risen from the freshly-dug grave.Put it this way: if you'd told Hamlin six months ago, one month ago, even two weeks ago that he'd have a 15-point lead over Johnson heading into Homestead, you'd have to imagine Hamlin was riding high, right? Only he's not, not at all. A 15-point differential is, for all practical purposes, a wash. And one needed to only look at the differing expressions on Hamlin's and Johnson's faces to see who's now got the upper hand, momentum-wise."It’s tough not to be happy with a lead going into the last race," Hamlin said after the race, and then after a long pause, added, "but I was sitting pretty." Shortly afterward, he and crew chief Mike Ford clearly weren't on the same page in the postrace press conference; Hamlin felt betrayed by the lack of guidance to save fuel from Ford, while Ford tried to assure Hamlin and the world that the 11 car wasn't getting good enough fuel mileage to survive a long green run.Johnson, meanwhile, rode a wave of confidence. He didn't listen to what Hamlin had to say in the postrace press conference, and Hamlin fans better hope he doesn't read Johnson's comments. "I know how bad he wants to win a championship," Johnson said. "I remember my first ... He wants to win this championship bad. He's
dedicated his life to it.
I also know that this week is going to be a tough week for him because
I've been there. I hope he can't handle it as well as I did in '06. I
want it to work out for me. Selfishly for me, I want him to not do the
right things. We'll just see how the week works out."So the big question all week will be, can Hamlin leave Phoenix in Phoenix? He's absolutely got the skill and the car to beat Johnson straight up in Homestead. But can he control the toughest battle of all -- that of the proverbial six inches between the ears? Put another way, would you rather bet the farm on the guy who's good but faltering, or the guy who's four-time champ and charging? Hamlin's tweet from just before midnight Sunday night was telling: "I told u once, ill tell u again.. It aint over." Hate to say it, but if you have to reassure your fans and yourself that it's not over ... it might just be over.
dedicated his life to it.
I also know that this week is going to be a tough week for him because
I've been there. I hope he can't handle it as well as I did in '06. I
want it to work out for me. Selfishly for me, I want him to not do the
right things. We'll just see how the week works out."So the big question all week will be, can Hamlin leave Phoenix in Phoenix? He's absolutely got the skill and the car to beat Johnson straight up in Homestead. But can he control the toughest battle of all -- that of the proverbial six inches between the ears? Put another way, would you rather bet the farm on the guy who's good but faltering, or the guy who's four-time champ and charging? Hamlin's tweet from just before midnight Sunday night was telling: "I told u once, ill tell u again.. It aint over." Hate to say it, but if you have to reassure your fans and yourself that it's not over ... it might just be over.
USAC National Champ To Get Indy Lights Oval Scholarship
Ever since the Indy Racing League was formed, we’ve heard about the “Road to Indy.” Supposedly, the USAC feeder series were going to get opportunities in what was once an all-oval market, but that never materialized. Suddenly, however, everything has changed, with new management in both USAC (Kevin Miller) and with Randy...
News from the track: Kobalt Tools 500 at PIR
The Chase for the Sprint Cup championship rolls on to Phoenix International Raceway, where Jimmie Johnson has won the last THREE Chase races. Is this a must-win race for Johnson, who trails Denny Hamlin by 33 points? We'll find out, as long as everything else that's happening at the track. Here are a few notes to get us started:• First practice begins at 2 p.m. ET• Qualifying is at 5:30 p.m. ETIs it a two-man race?Kevin Harvick's not worried about that."I'm really excited just because the worst we can finish in the points is third. Nothing to lose, everything to gain. No-pressure, no lose situation for us. I like coming from behind."Harvick says it's all offense from here on out, and that he probably needs to win a race to come back."Just seems like this Chase is about taking those wins, and that's the one thing we haven't done."War of wordsDenny Hamlin's crew chief started the war of words last weekend when he said 1) that Jimmie Johnson's crew swap was an act of desperation and 2) that the 11 team is better than the four-time defending champion's team.Kevin Harvick has a lot to say about this:"Mike should take his own advice," Harvick said, referring to Ford saying Hamlin needs to keep his focus after Hamlin got into a war of words with Richard Childress Racing at Dover."When you're trying to intimidate the guy who's won four championships in a row, you might want to rethink your strategy," Harvick said.When a reporter said, "Not to pick on Mike Ford," Harvick interrupted, saying, "It's so easy, though.""He's a crew chief, for God sake," Harvick said later. "I just don't understand this."Stay tuned for what Hamlin has to say about this.Is Kyle Busch going to have to tip-toe around NASCAR officials?"I don't think so, Busch said. "I feel real comfortable with NASCAR officials." He said he has a great "repertoire" with those guys. Busch said he did have a meeting with J.D. and Joe Gibbs this weekend, though he wouldn't offer up any details on what went on behind closed doors.Is Kyle Busch in talks with Tony Kanaan to drive in the Truck Series?Yes."I had a conversation with Tony about it, whether he's interested, he's yet to come back to me about it."The two have become friends doing the same sponsor events.Why is the chase so close?Jeff Burton says after getting in the wreck with Jeff Gordon last week at Texas, he went to his trailer and watched the race. The thing that struck him was that the top 18 cars were separated by a tenth of a second. He says that can be attributed to multi-car teams, the tight box they're in and how competitive the sport has become.Comment of the Day (so far)Jeff Burton, on if he was surprised Jeff Gordon came after him after their incident at Texas: "I could tell by the gait in his walk and the look in his eye that he wasn't coming down to talk."Is this a must-win for Johnson?He says no, but he has to finish ahead of Hamlin, which is pretty obvious.Johnson says just because this is the first time he's trailed coming into the penultimate race in the Chase, he insists he is in familiar territory because it's still about performance.Mind games continuedJohnson isn't taking the bait, refusing to trade barbs with Mike Ford or Denny Hamlin. "We are Hendrick Motorsports. That 24-48 shop is one unit."He left it at that."I'm not smart enough to play mind games.""I just get in the car, do my thing and go. The fact that people think so much about what we're trying to do, ends up being a mind game in itself. So they're almost Jedi mind-tricking themselves."Teammates helping teammatesIf Kevin Harvick and Clint Bowyer were racing for the win at Homstead, and if Harvick winning the race meant the difference between winning and losing the championship, Bowyer said he'd have to consider allowing Harvick to win.Next up: Sprint Cup practice• Carl Edwards tops the speed chart in the early going. Other notables: Jimmie Johnson — sixth; Denny Hamlin — 18th; Kevin Harvick — 30th.• The speed chart hasn't changed much as the practice rolls on. One more notable driver — Dale Earnhardt Jr. is third.• Hamlin has jumped up the speed chart, sitting seventh now as they are presumably in qualifying trim. Johnson sits 12th, Harvick 20th.• First practice is over. Here is how the top 10 looked: Edwards, Regan Smith, Tony Stewart, Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski, Juan Pablo Montoya, Kurt Busch, AJ Allmendinger, Ryan Newman and Kevin Harvick.Jimmie Johnson was 12th, Denny Hamlin 28th.What does this mean? Likely that Harvick and Johnson will qualify better than Hamlin.Denny Hamlin subduedThere were no fireworks coming from the mouth of Denny Hamlin, who was understated in his media session.Of note, Hamlin said they are missing some speed in the car right now, possibly an result of not having much to work with from the spring race at Phoenix, when Hamlin was still recovering from knee surgery.Hamlin is a little under the weather, having gotten sick after getting doused with champagne at victory lane in Texas.
Thunder Road Announces 2011 Schedule
Waterbury, VT ? Barre, Vermont?s Thunder Road has announced its schedule for their 52nd season. The famed high-banked � mile will feature 18 shows, including two American Canadian Tour (ACT) events.
The 2011 Thunder Road season will commence with the 13th Annual Merchants Bank 150 ACT event on Sunday, May 1. The second Tour event is scheduled for Sunday, September 4 with the 33rd running of the 200 lap Bond Auto Labor Day Classic.
The 2011 Thunder Road season will commence with the 13th Annual Merchants Bank 150 ACT event on Sunday, May 1. The second Tour event is scheduled for Sunday, September 4 with the 33rd running of the 200 lap Bond Auto Labor Day Classic.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
NASCAR issues warning against shenanigans
During Sunday's drivers' meeting at Phoenix International Raceway, Robin Pemberton issued a not-so-subtle warning to all the drivers, but primarily it was aimed at Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Burton. "We've got a tight points battle. Let's let it unfold as naturally as you can on the race track, and that includes pit road," said Pemberton, NASCAR's vice president of competition.Take particular note of the "pit road" part. When Denny Hamlin pits Sunday, he will have Earnhardt in front of him, Burton behind him. That's notable because they are the teammates of the two drivers chasing Hamlin in the standings. Jimmie Johnson, Earnhardt's Hendrick Motorsports teammate, trails Hamlin by 33, while Kevin Harvick, Burton's Richard Childress Racing teammate, trails by 59. If they want to, Earnhardt and Burton can make Hamlin's pit stall very, very small, and potentially force him into a mistake that could turn the outcome of the race and the Chase.Rarely does the NASCAR brass make notable comments during drivers meetings. This one was clear — Earnhardt and Burton should think twice about stopping short or long in their pit stalls.
Renault engine still a disadvantage, says Newey
Red Bull Racing's technical chief Adrian Newey believes the team is still losing out because F1's engine freeze rules leave its Renault V8 at a disadvantage, even though the squad swept to this year's championship.
Furniture Row hauler and coach drivers escape injury in chain-reaction accident
The Furniture Row Racing team transporter and motorhome were heavily damaged as part of a 34-vehicle chain-reaction pileup on black ice and snow Monday morning in Colorado, but team General Manager Joe Garone was just thankful that none of his personnel were seriously hurt. Garone said Gary Miller, driver of the motorhome, could have run into the back of cars but opted instead to run into the back of the team hauler. Miller suffered some bumps and bruises, according to Garone.
Prodrive Madness Is Good for You
Has anyone out there really paid any attention to Prodrive in the last few years? Probably not, unless you are a hard core motorsport freak. They started from scratch, first building rally cars for Porsche, MG (of all companies) and BMW back in the mid eighties. In just four short years, became champions in 1989-90 after expanding into the BTCC...
Jeff Owens: Maybe it?s time for more big changes at Hendrick Motorsports
Hendrick Motorsports made a compelling and shocking crew swap at Texas Motor Speedway last week, replacing Jimmie Johnson?s No. 48 pit crew with Jeff Gordon?s team in the middle of the race. The gutsy, risky move was made to help Johnson in a tight battle in the Chase For The Sprint Cup. It was a gamble that may well decide whether he wins his fifth straight Sprint Cup title. Rick Hendrick doesn?t need to stop there.
NASCAR Racing: Taladega Superspeedway
Welcome NASCAR race fans to my NASCAR blog. This week the NASCAR Sprint Cup series and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series are at the Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama. Since this is also Halloween weekend, it’s called Hallodega. And the 2.66 mile track is indeed scary. They race very close together with little room for [...]
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Pastrana?s Final Run With Subaru.
Yep, it’s true. Travis Pastrana has signed a deal with Michael Waltrip?s NASCAR team to drive in the Nationwide Series. It’s a bold move for this do-it-all competitor, but one that should surprise no one. Before hanging up his Subaru rally uniform though, Pastrana competed in rounds 3 and 4 of the U.S. Rallycross Championship [...]
Kyle Busch knows he has some growing up to do
Kyle Busch's latest brush with NASCAR cost him $25,000, and proved he's still a work in progress when it comes to maturity.
Sam Hornish Jr., Kasey Kahne among Nationwide entries
The Nationwide Series season-ending Ford 300 has 46 entries for the race Saturday at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Howladega Baby! Talladega Trip Report: Update 2
UPDATE 2 Beautiful weather, beautiful track and a day filled with NASCAR racing at Talladega, what else could you ask for?� Today I saw the speedway for the first time and let me say I was more than impressed on many accounts.� If I could describe Talladega to you in one word it would have [...]
James Takes Wild North-South Shootout 125
Concord, NC (November 6, 2010) ? The CRA Super Series North-South Shootout 125 presented by WearCrete Diamond Concrete Polishing at Concord Speedway had a little of everything ? a car on its top on the second lap and another on lap 106, the leader running out of fuel during a caution with only 14 laps left and a first time CRA Super Series winner, Colt James.
Bobby Measmer, Jr. WearCrete Racing with Jeff Fultz Fast Qualifier set fast time during qualifying on Friday evening with a time of 15.688 seconds, just ahead of Jimmy Weller who turned a lap of 15.700, putting Measmer on the pole for the start. The heat races used to set the lineup for 10th through 20th for the North/South Shootout 125 were cancelled due to inclement weather when rain settled in for the evening. The lineups were then set using qualifying times only.
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Bobby Measmer, Jr. WearCrete Racing with Jeff Fultz Fast Qualifier set fast time during qualifying on Friday evening with a time of 15.688 seconds, just ahead of Jimmy Weller who turned a lap of 15.700, putting Measmer on the pole for the start. The heat races used to set the lineup for 10th through 20th for the North/South Shootout 125 were cancelled due to inclement weather when rain settled in for the evening. The lineups were then set using qualifying times only.
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Monday, November 15, 2010
Track don't lie: What the Phoenix numbers hold for the Big 3
We're down to the final two races of the season, and the past may or may not be precedent for what will happen this next weekend. Let's take a closer look at the past six Phoenix International Raceway numbers for our three remaining competitors and see what the future may hold, shall we? Those of you hoping for a close Homestead finish may be in luck.Jimmie Johnson (average finish 1.83): It's tough to imagine how anyone could have a more dominating stretch at any track than Johnson has had at Phoenix. Check this: over the last six races, his finishes have been 3, 1, 4, 1, 1, 1. That's astounding, and that's part of the reason he's been able to put a hammerlock on the Chase at this point every season. Thing is, he's now working from behind. How's that going to work?Denny Hamlin (average finish 10.5): Hamlin's numbers are inflated by an unfortunate 30th-place finish this spring, a race he ran with a knee on which he'd just had surgery, a race where he said he was in more pain "than I can tell you." Before that, he'd run off four straight top-six finishes. So while he's not as dominant as Johnson, he's by no means a chump at Phoenix either.Kevin Harvick (average finish 16.5): Harvick has two victories at Phoenix, but they both came in 2006. Since then, he hasn't distinguished himself. But then, as this year has shown, Harvick is a different cat. He needs to beat either Johnson or Hamlin to give himself a fighting chance in Homestead, but the way those two guys are running, this is the most critical race of the season for the 29 team.So there you have it, one definitive contender, one solid pick and one better-step-it-up challenger. Who's your pick for this weekend?
The Johnson Inevitability Watch after seven races
So this whole "Jimmie's destined for a fifth Cup championship" thing doesn't seem quite such a sure thing any longer. It may happen, though he's going to have to earn it. As you'll see below, this is the tightest Chase of any that Johnson's managed to win since 2005. The past may or may not be prelude: 2010: Johnson extended his lead over Denny Hamlin to a full 14 points, but Kevin Harvick tightened it up to get within only 38 points. Johnson has now pulled off six straight top-10s, an impressive feat. But how long can it continue? (FYI: Without the Chase, Harvick would be 288 points up on Johnson, the same spot he's been in since the spring. Still want that full-season, no-Chase championship hunt?) 2009: Mark Martin was 184 points back of Johnson, and Gordon was 192 points back. This lead allowed Johnson to survive an early wreck at Texas that could have turned the entire Chase upside down. But it didn't. 2008: In a near-duplicate of 2009, Carl Edwards was 183 points down, and Greg Biffle was 185 points back. Edwards was in the midst of a late charge that saw him win three of the last four races, but Johnson was so far ahead that it didn't matter.2007: The rundown was afoot. Johnson was just 9 points behind Gordon, and the drums were sounding. Clint Bowyer was 111 points down, but nobody much cared. This was setting up well for a teammate-vs.-teammate drama, and we know how it all turned out. 2006: The Chase was tight, but the ending was becoming clear. Matt Kenseth still led, with Johnson just 26 points back. Denny Hamlin was 65 down, and both Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Burton were 84 points down. And since Johnson hadn't yet won one Cup, much less four, everybody was cool with the 48 charging. There you have it. You've got to like Johnson's chances here, as he's the only championship-tested one of the three, but even the slightest misstep and he slides back in the pack. If he wins this one, he'll have earned it.
NASCAR Racing: Talladega Superspeedway
Welcome NASCAR race fans to my NASCAR blog. This week NASCAR racing takes place at the Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, AL. Practice took place today for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series as well as the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series on this 2.66 mile giant track. The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will be racing in [...]
Clean sweep: Carl Edwards leads final practice at Phoenix
AVONDALE, Ariz. ? Kobalt Tools 500 polesitter Carl Edwards turned the best lap in final practice Saturday as the Roush Fenway Racing driver posted a speed of 132.343 mph on the 1-mile Phoenix International Raceway oval. Edwards also led Friday's practice as well as Saturday's first session.
Chase Race Preview: Can Jimmie Johnson?s former pit crew salvage some self respect with Jeff Gordon?s team at Phoenix?
After a thrilling and compelling race at Texas, it?s another Chase Showdown at Phoenix International Raceway.
Points leader Denny Hamlin vs. four-time championship Jimmie Johnson, with third-place Kevin Harvick still lurking in the weeds.
Points leader Denny Hamlin vs. four-time championship Jimmie Johnson, with third-place Kevin Harvick still lurking in the weeds.
Edwards dominates Nationwide race at Phoenix
Carl Edwards continued his dominant weekend at Phoenix International Raceway, winning Saturday's Wypall 200 Nationwide Series race in a cakewalk over runner-up Kevin Harvick.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Alonso: 2010 still a satisfying year
Fernando Alonso says his 2010 campaign will stand out in his memory, despite being beaten to the world championship by Sebastian Vettel in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.
Put the Zamboni in the wall, Junior!
Friday night, Dale Earnhardt Jr. debuted the new paint scheme for the 88 at, of all places, a Phoenix Coyotes hockey game. Designed by Jason Corino, the scheme was selected from about 10,000 entries in a Diet Mountain Dew "Paint the 88" contest. (Program note: we talked to Junior about the paint scheme, as well as fantasy football and other stuff, for a podcast that'll be live early next week.) For more info, check out Mountain Dew on Facebook, and see below for a full view of the car without that guy standing in the way.
Prodrive Madness Is Good for You
Has anyone out there really paid any attention to Prodrive in the last few years? Probably not, unless you are a hard core motorsport freak. They started from scratch, first building rally cars for Porsche, MG (of all companies) and BMW back in the mid eighties. In just four short years, became champions in 1989-90 after expanding into the BTCC...
NASCAR Race Review: AMP Energy Juice 500
Welcome NASCAR race fans to my NASCAR blog. This week the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is at the Talladega Superspeedway for the AMP Energy Juice 500, the thirty-third race of the season and the seventh race in the chase for the Sprint Cup. 26 is former champion Bill Elliott, who had to use a provisional [...]
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Nationwide Series has 48 entries for Phoenix
With the Nationwide Series champion already crowned, the series has 48 entries for its next-to-last race of the season, the Wypall 200 scheduled for this weekend at Phoenix International Raceway, including 10 Sprint Cup Series regulars.
What would happen if the Chase ended in a tie?
As you've probably heard by now, the Chase is the closest it's ever been between three drivers with three races remaining. Four-time defending champion Jimmie Johnson leads Denny Hamlin by 14 points and Kevin Harvick by 38. So at this point, a tie isn't completely far-fetched. So what would happen if we had a tie in the final standings?Here's how NASCAR's tiebreaking system works: Start with whoever has the most wins. If there's a tie there, it goes to seconds, then thirds and so forth.There is no scenario for Harvick to be a part of a tiebreaker. With three wins, he'd have to win the final three races to match Johnson's six. If that were to happen, there is no way for those two to be tied in points and there's no way for Harvick to match Hamlin's seven wins.However, there is still the possibility that Johnson and Hamlin could be tied.Here is how the tiebreaker stacks up as of now:Wins: Hamlin (7), Johnson (6)Seconds: Johnson (2), Hamlin (2)Thirds: Johnson (5), Hamlin (0)What this means is if Johnson doesn't win another race and he and Hamlin are tied in points at the end of the season, Hamlin holds the edge as of now.The last major racing series to have to go to a tiebreaker was the 2006 Izod IndyCar Series championship, where Sam Hornish beat out Dan Wheldon because Hornish had four victories to Wheldon's two. Would you want to see the Sprint Cup title decided on a tiebreaker? And what if Johnson won his fifth straight championship because he had more third-place finishes than Hamlin?
FEUD OF THE WEEK: Jeff Gordon vs. Jeff Burton
Now Jeff Burton knows what it?s like to be Matt Kenseth. Burton raised the ire of Jeff Gordon and now has Gordon?s paw prints on him. A little more than halfway through the AAA Texas 500, Burton nearly ran into Gordon?s door. When the caution came out, Gordon pulled alongside the Richard Childress Racing driver to voice his displeasure, and then Burton turned Gordon.
Jeff Gordon believes new pit crew has a lot to prove but will rebound
AVONDALE, Ariz. ? Jeff Gordon believes his new over-the-wall crewmen will feel as if they have something to prove Sunday when they pit his car in the Kobalt Tools 500 at Phoenix International Raceway. The crew Gordon has used all season will pit the car of championship contender Jimmie Johnson, whose pit crew struggled so mightily that Gordon?s crew replaced them during the race last Sunday after Gordon had crashed.
Hulkenberg shockingly wins pole for Brazilian GP
Nico Hulkenberg from Williams claimed his first career Formula One pole in a stunning upset in Saturday's qualifying for the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Friday, November 12, 2010
Second-place truck team seeks sponsorship for 2011
Billy Ballew Motorsports? driver is second in the Camping World Truck Series standings, but the team doesn?t have a sponsor for 2011. The team would like to continue with Aric Almirola behind the wheel next season, team owner Billy Ballew said. Almirola has signed to drive for JR Motorsports in 2011 in the NASCAR Nationwide Series but likely could start all but two of the truck races next year based on the schedules for the two series.
INSIGHT: The fastest place on Earth?
In 2012, a dry South African lake bed will host the 1,000mph Land Speed Record bid by the Thrust SSC.
NHRA US MAC Tools Nationals Photos Best of the Best
What an awesome weekend for the NHRA US MAC Tools Nationals here in Indy at O’Reilly Raceway Park. You couldn’t have asked for better weather or a better race. The event was absolutely amazing and one of the best I’ve attended in a long time. If you’ve never been to an NHRA event then these [...]
Carl Edwards and Jeff Gordon grill Travis Pastrana on this years Race of Champions.
We here at Ridelust are big fans of Travis Pastrana and have been following him for quite some time. First off the guy is a complete nut when it comes to piloting anything on two wheels, and now with his entrance into the four wheeled genre, well lets just say that Travis is beginning to [...]
Thursday, November 11, 2010
WINNERS & LOSERS: Denny Hamlin scores big in Texas as Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick slip
Texas Motor Speedway billed it?s AAA Texas 500 race weekend ?No Limits,? and that certainly was the case for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. It was a race that saw a new points leader emerge, two veterans in the Chase For The Sprint Cup come to blows and a third dealt a two-lap penalty for conduct issues. It was ?No Limits? and a whole lot more.
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