Friday night, Richie Evans, Dale Inman, Darrell Waltrip, Glen Wood and Cale Yarborough were the third class inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Did you miss the tape delayed broadcast of the 2012 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductions on Sunday evening or simply want to watch the speeches again? We've got you covered.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Kyle Busch talks NASCAR Trucks
While Kyle Busch will run from 13 to 15 Nationwide Series races this season, he will no longer complete in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series - the first time he hasn't made a series start since the 2003 season. During Monday's first day of the Sprint Media Tour hosted by Charlotte Motor Speedway, Busch talked more in-depth about the decision not to compete in the series and how it may affect his quest to win 200 races in NASCAR's three national series. Q: Do you see any situations where you may start competing in the NCWTS again in the future? Busch: ?To me, I think we?ll cross that bridge when we get there. Truthfully, I don?t have to run Truck races. My fans love it and I love racing Truck races for them, but, like I said, I would love to see Kyle Busch Motorsports be able to sustain itself on its own and not have to have me in the seat every single week in a Truck race or Nationwide Series race.? Q: Does this make your 200 wins goal more difficult and eliminate something you find fun? Busch: ?We?ll see. There?s no telling. Certainly, I wish that we could win eight races a year in Cup and eight races a year in Nationwide and right there you?re at 16 wins a year, so that?s not that bad. Granted, you run Truck races you can probably win five or six, so that puts you at 21 or 22 races a year. The focal point now is -- and has been -- although I want the 200 wins someday, the focal point needs to be on the Cup deal and trying to win a championship there, of course, and put my primary focus into that.? Q: Is the goal of cutting the NCWTS races to be stronger in the Chase? Busch: ?Certainly, it all relates to one another. It?s all circumstantial upon something else. I think running less races is also a conditioning tool. I?ve been working really hard in the off-season in doing some things and running less races will also help that, but just being more focused and just trying to operate more on a level field with Dave (Rogers, crew chief) and how much he works and how hard he works and I?ve got to do the same.? Q: Do you think cutting back on your Nationwide and Truck schedule will be beneficial? Busch: ?It?s certainly a possibility, but you know in 2008 and 2009 I ran the most races that I?ve ever run in a season and didn?t have any issues. Things went pretty well those couple of years. I think it?s been most frustrating for me because I?m getting more and more into my Cup Series career and I have yet to win a championship. For me, you get down to the end of the season and the first 26 races go well and then you start the Chase and you kind of fumble a little bit and you?re chasing a ball sometimes. We still had a shot -- we were running fourth or fifth in points at Talladega and then got crashed out there. Then we?re fifth in points or something like that in Martinsville and we get crashed out there. Your whole season?s shot. It?s not like one week?s gone -- like you didn?t win that race or something. You?ve got to wait all the way until next February to start a whole new year in order to get down to November. Think about it -- when you throw a whole year of your life away, it?s like, ?Damn, this sucks.?
Allmendinger hails "drive of my life"
AJ Allmendinger believes that he produced the best drive of his life to anchor Michael Shank Racing to victory in the Rolex 24 at Daytona.
Dover working to increase fans ? The News Journal
Dover working to increase fans – The News Journal
Dover working to increase fansThe News JournalDOVER — Phil Winston leaned against his motorhome, parked in the shadows of the Earnhardt Grandstand behind the frontstretch of Dover International Speedway, and smiled at his first NASCAR memory. "I used to see my buddies in front of the TV on …NASCAR At Dover International Speedway: 2011 Start Time, Starting Lineup, TV …SB Nation
all 3 news articles »
Dover working to increase fansThe News JournalDOVER — Phil Winston leaned against his motorhome, parked in the shadows of the Earnhardt Grandstand behind the frontstretch of Dover International Speedway, and smiled at his first NASCAR memory. "I used to see my buddies in front of the TV on …NASCAR At Dover International Speedway: 2011 Start Time, Starting Lineup, TV …SB Nation
all 3 news articles »
Monday, January 30, 2012
Sutil: I tried everything to settle court fight
Adrian Sutil has told the German courts that he did everything he could to try and settle a dispute with Lotus (then Renault) team co-owner Eric Lux after their fight in a Chinese night club last year.
Trevor Bayne talks Tim Tebow
Last season's surprise Daytona 500 winner, Trevor Bayne, was asked on Friday why he thought Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow's publicly professed religious beliefs were so polarizing to some people. Bayne is also very public in professing the role his religious beliefs play in his life, including his profession as a race car driver. Here was Bayne's answer: "Well, it's polarizing to me because it's something different that I think our world needs and I think it desires, and so when you look at somebody and you see something different, you wonder what that is, then I think Tim Tebow has made that very clear what that is, and I think that's our mission is to make it very clear. If we look different from the world, it's because of Jesus. "I think he's done a lot in my life. I can't speak for Jamie. I've seen some things that he's seen the same way. It's what we're here for. I started racing for me, I started racing because I wanted to be a driver and I wanted to be successful and I wanted to win races and I wanted to have the most followers on Twitter or the most fans or whatever it is. "But I think that's changed over the past few years. I got to go to something that was really incredible this year called Passion, which is for 18 to 25 year olds, and it really got me fired up to see what this is all about, that it's not about me, it never has been. It's not about what I do here, but it's about what happens for the kingdom. I think this year I'm a lot more fired up about storing my treasures in heaven instead of here. "I think it's a really great thing that Tim Tebow is staying firm in what he believes in. He's not letting that change him. I read an article today in USA Today that talked about that, and I can see how that would be really hard when you have that much flak that you're catching, whether it's good or it's bad, if people are talking about it so much, it would be easy to change and waver, but I think the reason he doesn't is because it's real. I think Jesus is something that can really change lives, and I think that if we believe all that he says he is and we believe like we say we do, then we'll look different just like he does and like we're trying to do here."
Bayne back in the No. 21
Trevor Bayne will be back in the Wood Brothers' No. 21 Ford this Sprint Cup Series season and will attempt to defend his surprising Daytona 500 victory of a year ago. Bayne, who delivered the Woods their fifth Daytona 500 triumph in just his second start in the No. 21 Ford , said he?s pleased to be putting any off-season uncertainty behind him. ?I?m excited,? he said. ?It?s a big deal for me. It?s what I had hoped for. We?re all excited to be back together.? Team co-owner Eddie Wood said he too is pleased to have Bayne back behind the wheel. "We all wanted to do what was best for Ford Motor Company and its young drivers, and to be sure everybody had a place to race," he said. The team will be sponsored in 12 races and is expected to enter about 17 to 18 events.
Preview the 2012 NASCAR season
More than 50 drivers from the NASCAR Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck series will appear at the inaugural NASCAR Preview 2012 Presented by Sprint, scheduled for Jan. 21 at the Charlotte (N.C.) Convention Center. NASCAR Preview 2012 will offer a festival-like experience for fans that features driver autograph and question-and-answer sessions, show car appearances, simulators, games and more. The fan event is one of several events that comprise NASCAR Acceleration Weekend, which begins Jan. 20 with the NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony for Class of 2012 inductees Richie Evans, Dale Inman, Darrell Waltrip, Glen Wood and Cale Yarborough. Following Saturday?s NASCAR Preview 2012 Presented by Sprint event will be the unveiling of the Class of 2012 exhibits in the Hall of Fame on Jan. 22. 2011 champions Tony Stewart, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and Austin Dillon plus other drivers from the Cup, Nationwide and Truck series will sign autographs in the Ballroom and the Exhibit Hall at the Charlotte Convention Center starting at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 21. Driver Appearance Times (Ballroom) 9:15 a.m. ? 11:15 a.m. ? Kyle Busch, Matt Kenseth 10:15 a.m. ? 12:15 p.m. ? Jeff Gordon, Denny Hamlin, Jimmie Johnson 11:45 a.m. ? 1:45 p.m. ? Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski 12:15 p.m. ? 2:15 p.m. ? Greg Biffle 12:30 p.m. ? 2:30 p.m. ? Kasey Kahne, Ryan Newman 2:45 p.m. ? 4:45 p.m. ? Dale Earnhardt Jr., Juan Pablo Montoya 3:15 p.m. ? 5:15 p.m. ? Kurt Busch, Carl Edwards, Tony Stewart Driver Appearance Times (Exhibit Hall) 9 a.m. ? 11 a.m. ? AJ Allmendinger, Jeff Burton, Bobby Labonte, Joey Logano, Mark Martin, Jamie McMurray, Casey Mears, David Ragan, Justin Allgaier, Jeffrey Earnhardt, Timmy Hill, Blake Koch, Travis Pastrana, Timothy Peters 11 a.m. ? 1 p.m. ? Marcos Ambrose, Clint Bowyer, Paul Menard, Regan Smith, Brian Vickers, Aric Almirola, Trevor Bayne, Brian Scott, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Brad Sweet, Cale Gale, Justin Lofton, Todd Peck 12:30 p.m. ? 2:30 p.m. ? Michael Annett, Elliott Sadler, Mike Wallace, Dakoda Armstrong, Johnny Sauter, Parker Kligerman, Brian Keselowski, Michael Waltrip, Jason Leffler, Todd Bodine 2:30 p.m. ? 4:30 p.m. ? Danica Patrick, Martin Truex Jr., Austin Dillon, Morgan Shepherd, Kenny Wallace, Joey Coulter, Ty Dillon, Brendan Gaughan, Tim George Jr., Max Gresham Beginning Saturday at 7 a.m. in the Charlotte Convention Center Ballroom, wristbands will be distributed to a limited number of fans to get into the Ballroom where several of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers will be signing autographs. Recipients must have an event ticket to be eligible to receive a wristband. Tickets to NASCAR Preview 2012 Presented by Sprint are available now starting at $10 for individual event admission at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000. Tickets will also be available the day of the event for $15. A discounted $20 combo ticket includes admission to both the Preview event and the NASCAR Hall of Fame, while a $299 VIP weekend package includes all NASCAR Acceleration Weekend events, including the NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. For additional information and updates on driver appearances, visit www.NASCARAcceleration2012.com.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
New Lexus LX Coming To Detroit Auto Show
If you like your go-anywhere SUVs on the large side, we’ve got good news and bad news for you. On the positive side, Lexus has confirmed that it will debut a refreshed version of the LX 570 SUV in Detroit. The bad news, though, is that the LX and the Toyota Land Cruiser will take a year off in 2012, victims of declining sales or excess...
Dodge Awards New Challenger to NASCAR?s Brad Keselowski.
Being a race car driver definitely comes with some stellar perks. For one, it’s a dream job as you make your living ripping around the best race tracks in the country. Then there’s the fame, the money and the girls, which also help lend to the jobs appeal. It’s a pretty good gig if you [...]
Starworks, Ganassi dicing for Rolex 24 lead near halfway
Ganassi hadn't had its cars up front yet, but led most of the last couple hours before a recent restart.
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Testing At Daytona
Welcome NASCAR race fans to my NASCAR blog. Although the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series does not officially begin until February, we NASCAR race fans are getting treated to three days of testing at Daytona International Speedway. Testing began on Thursday and will continue on Friday and Saturday. Many changes have been put into place this [...]
F1?s Lewis Hamilton To NASCAR?
In a bizarre twist of fate, Lewis Hamilton, the F1 wunderkind and star driver for McLaren Mercedes, will jump ship and head to NASCAR. Conveniently, Tony Stewart will give up his NASCAR ride and take Hamilton?s seat in last year?s McLaren MP4-25. The catch? Both are exhibition drives, courtesy of NASCAR and F1 sponsor Mobil [...]
Earnhardt to Letarte: "Keep pushing me"
"I just told him this off-season, 'I worry that you're going to relax a little on that, the more we're together, the more we become friends, the more you might let me off the hook - and I don't want that to happen," Dale Earnhardt Jr. says of crew chief Steve Letarte.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Ricky Stenhouse to run Daytona 500 in No. 6 car
Roush Fenway Racing will be a four-car team again, at least for the Daytona 500, as Nationwide champ Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will run the 500 in the No. 6 car.
From Scene Daily:
The team does not expect to run the unsponsored car for the full season but is locked into the first five races based on owners points from 2011 when the car was driven by David Ragan. The only race confirmed for now is the Daytona 500. The team currently does not have a sponsor for the race, team spokesman Kevin Woods said.
Ragan was let go from Roush Fenway when UPS moved to Carl Edwards as an associate sponsor and there was no funding for the car. The car is guaranteed a spot in the Daytona 500, so Stenhouse will not have to worry about qualifying on time.
The move also means that there is now one fewer set of owner points available for the Great American Race. According to NASCAR, teams don't officially "buy" owner's points, but points swapping has become a common occurrence to make sure that teams have a guaranteed starting spot for the 500 (and the next four races after that.)
With Roush's intentions to run the No. 6 in the 500, there are now three guaranteed spots stilll available via the No. 33 at Richard Childress Racing (Clint Bowyer moved to Michael Waltrip Racing) and the two Red Bull Racing cars. Because of the move to MWR, Bowyer's team is looking for owner points ? discussions between MWR and Red Bull have been reported�? and Stewart-Haas Racing is looking for points for Danica Patrick. However, that's an easy internal switch for the team, as Tony Stewart is guaranteed into the first five races as a past champion.
From Scene Daily:
The team does not expect to run the unsponsored car for the full season but is locked into the first five races based on owners points from 2011 when the car was driven by David Ragan. The only race confirmed for now is the Daytona 500. The team currently does not have a sponsor for the race, team spokesman Kevin Woods said.
Ragan was let go from Roush Fenway when UPS moved to Carl Edwards as an associate sponsor and there was no funding for the car. The car is guaranteed a spot in the Daytona 500, so Stenhouse will not have to worry about qualifying on time.
The move also means that there is now one fewer set of owner points available for the Great American Race. According to NASCAR, teams don't officially "buy" owner's points, but points swapping has become a common occurrence to make sure that teams have a guaranteed starting spot for the 500 (and the next four races after that.)
With Roush's intentions to run the No. 6 in the 500, there are now three guaranteed spots stilll available via the No. 33 at Richard Childress Racing (Clint Bowyer moved to Michael Waltrip Racing) and the two Red Bull Racing cars. Because of the move to MWR, Bowyer's team is looking for owner points ? discussions between MWR and Red Bull have been reported�? and Stewart-Haas Racing is looking for points for Danica Patrick. However, that's an easy internal switch for the team, as Tony Stewart is guaranteed into the first five races as a past champion.
Trevor Bayne tours CNN, duels with Dominique Wilkins
Trevor Bayne's one year of fame as the Daytona 500 winner is fast coming to a close ? if he doesn't win again this year, of course ? and so he's taking full advantage, touring Atlanta's CNN Center, Turner Broadcasting and Philips Arena. Best part? The way Bayne remembers the cartoons at Cartoon Network like he saw 'em yesterday. Which he probably did.
1969 Dodge Charger 500: A True Nascar Legend
The 1969 Dodge Charger 500 is probably one of the most recognizable NASCAR racers ever to run on the banked ovals. At almost 18-feet long, 6-feet wide and two tons, the Dodge Chargers that were built between 1968 and 1970 were not only some of the biggest Nascar’s ever, but some of the most beautiful. [...]
Bayne back in the No. 21
Trevor Bayne will be back in the Wood Brothers' No. 21 Ford this Sprint Cup Series season and will attempt to defend his surprising Daytona 500 victory of a year ago. Bayne, who delivered the Woods their fifth Daytona 500 triumph in just his second start in the No. 21 Ford , said he?s pleased to be putting any off-season uncertainty behind him. ?I?m excited,? he said. ?It?s a big deal for me. It?s what I had hoped for. We?re all excited to be back together.? Team co-owner Eddie Wood said he too is pleased to have Bayne back behind the wheel. "We all wanted to do what was best for Ford Motor Company and its young drivers, and to be sure everybody had a place to race," he said. The team will be sponsored in 12 races and is expected to enter about 17 to 18 events.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Busch brothers sharing Nationwide driving duties at KBM
Kyle Busch Motorsports announced on Thursday that brothers Kyle and Kurt Busch will share driving duties in the No.54 Toyota during the 2012 Nationwide Series season.
Danica Patrick To Quit IndyCar For NASCAR?s Nationwide Series
In a move that will surprise absolutely no one, underachieving IndyCar driver Danica Patrick will switch to a full time ride in the NASCAR Nationwide Series for 2012. Patrick will race a full schedule for Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his JR Motorsports team next year, although she?s expressed interest in competing in the Indy 500 [...]
Loeb extends lead on 3rd day of Monte Carlo Rally
Eight-time world champion Sebastien Loeb has extended his lead on the third day of the season-opening Monte Carlo Rally, with Daniel Sordo pulling ahead of Petter Solberg for second.
Roush Fenway already planning to expand back to four Cup teams, still looking for Nationwide sponsors
CONCORD, N.C. ? Roush Fenway Racing had to contract from four to three Sprint Cup teams this season, but already is working on finding sponsors to expand back to four teams next season.
It also is still looking for sponsors for its two Nationwide Series teams, including one that would allow Trevor Bayne to run the full Nationwide schedule this season.
It also is still looking for sponsors for its two Nationwide Series teams, including one that would allow Trevor Bayne to run the full Nationwide schedule this season.
NEMST in Final Preparation for Northeast Motorsports Expo
The North East Mini Stock Tour will be attending the 23rd annual Northeast Motorsports Expo presented by Mainely Motorsports in Augusta on January 7,8, and 9. The NEMST will have Emerson Cayer?s Ford Mustang on display. Cayer was the inaugural champion for the NEMST in 2009 with a runner up finish in the 2010 season.
Plenty of merchandise, information materials, and registration forms will be on hand for the show. The NEMST will also release its final schedule for the 2011 season. NEMST promoter Bob Guptill will be at the show all weekend to answer any questions about the upcoming season anyone may have.
Plenty of merchandise, information materials, and registration forms will be on hand for the show. The NEMST will also release its final schedule for the 2011 season. NEMST promoter Bob Guptill will be at the show all weekend to answer any questions about the upcoming season anyone may have.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Why Danica Patrick?s decision to run Charlotte over Indy makes sense
On Monday, Danica Patrick announced that she would run the Sprint Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 on May 27 instead of the Izod IndyCar Series Indianapolis 500 in 2012.
As Patrick has transitioned over to the stock car world -- 2012 will be her first full season in NASCAR -- the door to Indy has always publicly been left open a smidge. It's a race that she, like her car owner Tony Stewart, grew up dreaming about, and a race that she's participated in the last seven years -- and been pretty damn good too. In those seven races, she's only finished outside the top 10 once, and that was because of a crash on pit road.
And that door still may be open in the future. But Patrick shut it for the present on Monday, a smart decision for her NASCAR career.
Since she dipped her toes into the stock car waters in 2010, her full-time transition to the full-bodied machines has seemed inevitable, an inevitability that was a reality as early as January 2011, as Michael Andretti told Brant James last week that Patrick informed him of her departure -- per her contract -- at the beginning of last year.
That gave Andretti a full year to find Patrick's replacement. And gave the Coca-Cola 600 more short-term relevance to Patrick than Indy did. Sure, Danica could have attempted the 500-600 double like Stewart did in his rookie year in 1999 and in 2001, but with limited seat time in a stock car, it likely would be an exercise in futility this year. (Not to mention logistics with Patrick likely driving a car in the Coca-Cola 600 that will need to qualify on owner's points unless an arrangement is worked out.)
"I hope to do it in the future, the Indy 500 that is," Patrick said. "Maybe it'll be a double."
When she makes her Sprint Cup debut at Daytona next month, the Sprint Cup car will be the third type of stock car that Patrick has driven in NASCAR in only her 26th race. We've seen drivers with eight times the amount of races talk about the stark differences in cars between the new and the old and the Sprint Cup and the Nationwide Series. Imagine finding a sense of predictability with that variety. (Not to mention that the Cup Series will have a new car in 2013, when Patrick moves full-time into the Series.)
Plus, the IndyCar Series is transitioning to a new chassis and engine package for 2013, a car that's significantly different from the Honda powered Dallaras that Patrick has driven the past five seasons. Jumping in a car to practice and qualify for the Indianapolis 500 wouldn't be like putting on an old pair of sneakers, it'd be like breaking in a pair of cowboy boots without the benefit of trying them on.
And we haven't even talked about the logistics of running both the Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series and the 500.
Practice begins Monday, May 14 for the Indianapolis 500. On May 11 and 12, Patrick will be participating in the Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series races at Darlington. (How about that for a transition?) Pole Day is May 19, the same day as the Sprint All-Star race, a race that Patrick could participate in by winning the fan vote -- not a completely farfetched proposition. The Nationwide Series races at Iowa the next day, May 20, which is also Bump Day.
While it might have been fun to see Patrick drop in at Indianapolis to run the 500, 2012 is all about preparation for that full-time Cup move in 2013. A move that wouldn't be helped by running the Indianapolis 500.
As Patrick has transitioned over to the stock car world -- 2012 will be her first full season in NASCAR -- the door to Indy has always publicly been left open a smidge. It's a race that she, like her car owner Tony Stewart, grew up dreaming about, and a race that she's participated in the last seven years -- and been pretty damn good too. In those seven races, she's only finished outside the top 10 once, and that was because of a crash on pit road.
And that door still may be open in the future. But Patrick shut it for the present on Monday, a smart decision for her NASCAR career.
Since she dipped her toes into the stock car waters in 2010, her full-time transition to the full-bodied machines has seemed inevitable, an inevitability that was a reality as early as January 2011, as Michael Andretti told Brant James last week that Patrick informed him of her departure -- per her contract -- at the beginning of last year.
That gave Andretti a full year to find Patrick's replacement. And gave the Coca-Cola 600 more short-term relevance to Patrick than Indy did. Sure, Danica could have attempted the 500-600 double like Stewart did in his rookie year in 1999 and in 2001, but with limited seat time in a stock car, it likely would be an exercise in futility this year. (Not to mention logistics with Patrick likely driving a car in the Coca-Cola 600 that will need to qualify on owner's points unless an arrangement is worked out.)
"I hope to do it in the future, the Indy 500 that is," Patrick said. "Maybe it'll be a double."
When she makes her Sprint Cup debut at Daytona next month, the Sprint Cup car will be the third type of stock car that Patrick has driven in NASCAR in only her 26th race. We've seen drivers with eight times the amount of races talk about the stark differences in cars between the new and the old and the Sprint Cup and the Nationwide Series. Imagine finding a sense of predictability with that variety. (Not to mention that the Cup Series will have a new car in 2013, when Patrick moves full-time into the Series.)
Plus, the IndyCar Series is transitioning to a new chassis and engine package for 2013, a car that's significantly different from the Honda powered Dallaras that Patrick has driven the past five seasons. Jumping in a car to practice and qualify for the Indianapolis 500 wouldn't be like putting on an old pair of sneakers, it'd be like breaking in a pair of cowboy boots without the benefit of trying them on.
And we haven't even talked about the logistics of running both the Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series and the 500.
Practice begins Monday, May 14 for the Indianapolis 500. On May 11 and 12, Patrick will be participating in the Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series races at Darlington. (How about that for a transition?) Pole Day is May 19, the same day as the Sprint All-Star race, a race that Patrick could participate in by winning the fan vote -- not a completely farfetched proposition. The Nationwide Series races at Iowa the next day, May 20, which is also Bump Day.
While it might have been fun to see Patrick drop in at Indianapolis to run the 500, 2012 is all about preparation for that full-time Cup move in 2013. A move that wouldn't be helped by running the Indianapolis 500.
Happy Hour: Will Danica Patrick be NASCAR?s most popular driver?
Welcome to the latest Happy Hour mailbag! You know how these work: You write us with your best rant/ joke/one-liner at happyhournascar@yahoogroups.com (note new address) or on Twitter at @jaybusbee, we respond to your messages, everyone goes away with a smile on their face.
What did you do for New Year's? Me, I went to an art exhibit in the afternoon (dork!) and holed up in my house that night with a bottle of bourbon and the Peach Bowl while my family slept upstairs. Please tell me you had a better story than that.
Now, to your letters. And let's start with a good one to rile up the masses ...
2011 ? Jimmie Johnson does not win the Championship.
2012 ? With Danica Patrick moving to NASCAR and driving in 10 Cup races, is this the year that Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be replaced as the "Most Popular" driver in NASCAR?
Jack
Kannapolis, N.C.
Our first Danica question of the new year! It's like hearing the first bird of spring. Anyway, to answer your question: no, Danica will not replace Junior as the most popular driver in NASCAR. But she'll instantly rocket into the Junior-Gordon-Stewart-Johnson quartet of popularity. (Edwards is headed there too, but Danica will pass him.)
Yes, I know my inbox will be filled for the next 11 months with "Danica doesn't deserve all the attention she's getting," but you know what? She does. No, she's not as good a driver as many of her competitors, but if you think NASCAR is all about driving, you're just being willfully naive. Danica draws attention, which draws money, which keeps the series going for all those other lesser-known drivers.
Now, I do get the frustration with coverage of Danica. I know that it can get annoying for the broadcast teams to focus on a driver running in 15th place all race long. But with any luck, we'll move closer to multiple broadcast streams in coming years, so that we can all get exactly the race we want. (All Dinger, all the time!) Till then ... well, sorry, friends. It's the way it is.
Thanks, Jack. And now all we need is our first "Dale Jr. sucks" letter of the year. Say, guess what's next?
____________________
Dale Jr.'s last two wins were Michigan in June '08 and Richmond in May '06. That means Dale has exactly 1 win in his last 208 cup races or 1 win in the last 5.77 years. At 37 years of age, do you think Dale is finished as a top-line driver? And is there any other driver, other than Danica, who could keep their job with those stats?
Larry
Wow, that was so trolly it could have come from under a bridge. For a guy who just made the Chase, Junior is looking awfully spry for a "finished top-line driver." And I do think he will get a win this year. (Yes, I say that every year. One of these years, I'm going to be right.) Junior's fine, everybody. Tony Stewart just proved that a driver's wheelhouse years are 30 to 40. Plus, Junior made more money for Hendrick Motorsports since you started reading this paragraph than both of us make in a year, so, you know, that helps too.
I do think his chances of matching his dad's run of championships are dimming, though. Sorry, Junior Nation.
____________________
I have a new way to pass time between the seasons: Collective Bargaining Agreement. We put in a drivers' union, revenue sharing, salary cap, and trade deadlines. Revenue sharing helps the midpack teams be more competitive by focusing on racing and not searching for dollars. The cap would include the drivers, crew, and shop personnel, but be separate across each series unless that driver is employed by the same team for multiple series. The cap also scales down from Cup to Truck.
The union and trade deadline just make things more interesting. Imagine a Kasey Kahne deal: Hendrick gets Kahne via Red Bull from RPM in a sign & trade three-team deal that sends cash from Red Bull and a full pit crew from Hendrick along with two of the 48 team's winning cars, without engines, to Petty ... [Scenarios that make my head hurt redacted. -JB]
I know that sponsorship gets in the way but I have mucked that up too. For this I am considering sponsorship that covers the car. Sponsors are tied directly to drivers with each driver only allowed 2 primary and 3 secondary sponsors. A primary must sponsor at least 15 races and a secondary no more than 6. A driver is not required to have a primary sponsor if they only have a secondary or no sponorship so start and parkers, you are safe. How quick do you think NASCAR can get this put in? (Based on their rule book a printing of this email taped to the rest of the cocktail napkins may suffice.) Anything you would like to add? Have a Happy New Year.
Cody Milam
Thanks, Cody! Biggest problem? Big Bill France basically ran off unionizing drivers with a shotgun back in the day. (Of course, that's how Richard Childress got his start.) The problem with such an arrangement is that it would require the autonomous teams to give up their autonomy and submit to a larger organizing authority (NASCAR) and would require NASCAR to put the unionized drivers on an equal footing. In short, neither one of those events is happening any time soon.
I do like the idea of swapping pit crews and equipment for drivers, though. Perhaps, as an exercise, you could decide what equipment each driver is worth in the comments below.
____________________
The NASCAR season is way too long, and it's very fixable. I've been saying it since about 2007, go to an F1 style schedule. Run just 25 points races, Daytona and Charlotte are the only tracks to get a second race since those second dates would be special events. Daytona is ISC-owned and Charlotte is SMI-owned, so both should be happy there. Run all other tracks on the current schedule just once for 23 races then add two more tracks. Montreal is an option for one of those two spots, and possibly Rockingham?
For the actual season itself, 25 points events. Run 10 races and take a week off, run the next 10 and take another week off to prep for the final five races. Those final five races would be the Chase. With the two special events you would only have a season that spreads over 29 weeks instead of the current 40+ with off weeks mixed in. Not only is the season being shortened by three months, but you could then feasibly move back the start of the season a couple of weeks. At the same time you could still end right as football is starting up instead of halfway through the football schedule.
Jason Kurtz
A lot going on in this letter that I like. A lot that I don't think will ever happen, though, starting with getting rid of races. We're too far down that road already for tracks to willingly surrender dates. I do like the five-race Chase, though. And if I had a nickel for every fan who wanted to bring back Rockingham, I could actually bring back Rockingham all by myself.
____________________
I've been thinking about the Chase and what happens to a driver if they have bad luck, whether it be from a non-Chase driver wrecking or car problems. What if the Chase drivers had their own points system where the points would be awarded from 12 on down to 1 based on where they finish in relation to each other? Keep bonus points the same. This way i think you would have many more contenders at the end of the season and a driver won't be out of contention because of something that happened out of their control.
Ed Rucinski
I've heard of this system a lot, and I like the idea. It does give you room for several mulligans, since a last-place Chase finish plus a race win averages out to two top-five Chase finishes. It also provides incentive to lead laps and win. The down side is that you're now implementing two different points systems at once, which is going to confuse some people. But wouldn't those people be confused by things like microwaves and manual-shift transmissions anyway? I'm sure there's a downside to this kind of system, but I'm not seeing it. What am I missing?
Also, if some enterprising reader would like to take that task on, I'd be interested to see its results; I'm fairly certain Edwards would beat Stewart but I'm not sure.
____________________
Hey Jay, you idiot! Why didn't you rank my driver higher... Oh, wrong subject. [awkward silence] ... so, how 'bout dem Raiders? Yeah, so, since you and the rest of the Yahoo NASCAR staff writers are sittin' around in your tighty whities and diggin' for gold in the left nostril shaft waiting for February, maybe you could stir up a little controversy and re-rank the season ending standings according to the old (last year's) point system. If you already did that, I missed it. Did Kasey Kahne come out on top?
Rusty
We didn't do that because, well, it would be kind of pointless. But Racing Reference shows us what would have happened if there was no Chase, and the results shouldn't surprise you: Edwards first, followed by Harvick, Stewart, Johnson and Kenseth. Nobody else was within 100 points. And Kasey was 13th.
In other words: let's not worry too much about hypothetical and what-used-to-be points systems. Your high school boyfriend/girlfriend isn't going to go out with you again, either. Live in the now, everybody! It's 2012! We're all gonna die soon!
On that uplifting note, we're out. Thanks to all our writers this week. You want in? Fire up the computer and hit us with whatever's on your mind, NASCAR-wise, at happyhournascar@yahoogroups.com. You can find Yahoo! Sports' NASCAR coverage on Facebook right here, and you can follow me on Twitter at @jaybusbee and on Facebook here.� Make sure to tell us where you're from. We'll make you famous!
Other popular stories on Yahoo! Sports:
? Golf season preview: Can Phil Mickelson bounce back?
? LeBron James rejects his $3,000 birthday cake
? Dolphins have upper hand in Jeff Fisher sweepstakes
What did you do for New Year's? Me, I went to an art exhibit in the afternoon (dork!) and holed up in my house that night with a bottle of bourbon and the Peach Bowl while my family slept upstairs. Please tell me you had a better story than that.
Now, to your letters. And let's start with a good one to rile up the masses ...
2011 ? Jimmie Johnson does not win the Championship.
2012 ? With Danica Patrick moving to NASCAR and driving in 10 Cup races, is this the year that Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be replaced as the "Most Popular" driver in NASCAR?
Jack
Kannapolis, N.C.
Our first Danica question of the new year! It's like hearing the first bird of spring. Anyway, to answer your question: no, Danica will not replace Junior as the most popular driver in NASCAR. But she'll instantly rocket into the Junior-Gordon-Stewart-Johnson quartet of popularity. (Edwards is headed there too, but Danica will pass him.)
Yes, I know my inbox will be filled for the next 11 months with "Danica doesn't deserve all the attention she's getting," but you know what? She does. No, she's not as good a driver as many of her competitors, but if you think NASCAR is all about driving, you're just being willfully naive. Danica draws attention, which draws money, which keeps the series going for all those other lesser-known drivers.
Now, I do get the frustration with coverage of Danica. I know that it can get annoying for the broadcast teams to focus on a driver running in 15th place all race long. But with any luck, we'll move closer to multiple broadcast streams in coming years, so that we can all get exactly the race we want. (All Dinger, all the time!) Till then ... well, sorry, friends. It's the way it is.
Thanks, Jack. And now all we need is our first "Dale Jr. sucks" letter of the year. Say, guess what's next?
____________________
Dale Jr.'s last two wins were Michigan in June '08 and Richmond in May '06. That means Dale has exactly 1 win in his last 208 cup races or 1 win in the last 5.77 years. At 37 years of age, do you think Dale is finished as a top-line driver? And is there any other driver, other than Danica, who could keep their job with those stats?
Larry
Wow, that was so trolly it could have come from under a bridge. For a guy who just made the Chase, Junior is looking awfully spry for a "finished top-line driver." And I do think he will get a win this year. (Yes, I say that every year. One of these years, I'm going to be right.) Junior's fine, everybody. Tony Stewart just proved that a driver's wheelhouse years are 30 to 40. Plus, Junior made more money for Hendrick Motorsports since you started reading this paragraph than both of us make in a year, so, you know, that helps too.
I do think his chances of matching his dad's run of championships are dimming, though. Sorry, Junior Nation.
____________________
I have a new way to pass time between the seasons: Collective Bargaining Agreement. We put in a drivers' union, revenue sharing, salary cap, and trade deadlines. Revenue sharing helps the midpack teams be more competitive by focusing on racing and not searching for dollars. The cap would include the drivers, crew, and shop personnel, but be separate across each series unless that driver is employed by the same team for multiple series. The cap also scales down from Cup to Truck.
The union and trade deadline just make things more interesting. Imagine a Kasey Kahne deal: Hendrick gets Kahne via Red Bull from RPM in a sign & trade three-team deal that sends cash from Red Bull and a full pit crew from Hendrick along with two of the 48 team's winning cars, without engines, to Petty ... [Scenarios that make my head hurt redacted. -JB]
I know that sponsorship gets in the way but I have mucked that up too. For this I am considering sponsorship that covers the car. Sponsors are tied directly to drivers with each driver only allowed 2 primary and 3 secondary sponsors. A primary must sponsor at least 15 races and a secondary no more than 6. A driver is not required to have a primary sponsor if they only have a secondary or no sponorship so start and parkers, you are safe. How quick do you think NASCAR can get this put in? (Based on their rule book a printing of this email taped to the rest of the cocktail napkins may suffice.) Anything you would like to add? Have a Happy New Year.
Cody Milam
Thanks, Cody! Biggest problem? Big Bill France basically ran off unionizing drivers with a shotgun back in the day. (Of course, that's how Richard Childress got his start.) The problem with such an arrangement is that it would require the autonomous teams to give up their autonomy and submit to a larger organizing authority (NASCAR) and would require NASCAR to put the unionized drivers on an equal footing. In short, neither one of those events is happening any time soon.
I do like the idea of swapping pit crews and equipment for drivers, though. Perhaps, as an exercise, you could decide what equipment each driver is worth in the comments below.
____________________
The NASCAR season is way too long, and it's very fixable. I've been saying it since about 2007, go to an F1 style schedule. Run just 25 points races, Daytona and Charlotte are the only tracks to get a second race since those second dates would be special events. Daytona is ISC-owned and Charlotte is SMI-owned, so both should be happy there. Run all other tracks on the current schedule just once for 23 races then add two more tracks. Montreal is an option for one of those two spots, and possibly Rockingham?
For the actual season itself, 25 points events. Run 10 races and take a week off, run the next 10 and take another week off to prep for the final five races. Those final five races would be the Chase. With the two special events you would only have a season that spreads over 29 weeks instead of the current 40+ with off weeks mixed in. Not only is the season being shortened by three months, but you could then feasibly move back the start of the season a couple of weeks. At the same time you could still end right as football is starting up instead of halfway through the football schedule.
Jason Kurtz
A lot going on in this letter that I like. A lot that I don't think will ever happen, though, starting with getting rid of races. We're too far down that road already for tracks to willingly surrender dates. I do like the five-race Chase, though. And if I had a nickel for every fan who wanted to bring back Rockingham, I could actually bring back Rockingham all by myself.
____________________
I've been thinking about the Chase and what happens to a driver if they have bad luck, whether it be from a non-Chase driver wrecking or car problems. What if the Chase drivers had their own points system where the points would be awarded from 12 on down to 1 based on where they finish in relation to each other? Keep bonus points the same. This way i think you would have many more contenders at the end of the season and a driver won't be out of contention because of something that happened out of their control.
Ed Rucinski
I've heard of this system a lot, and I like the idea. It does give you room for several mulligans, since a last-place Chase finish plus a race win averages out to two top-five Chase finishes. It also provides incentive to lead laps and win. The down side is that you're now implementing two different points systems at once, which is going to confuse some people. But wouldn't those people be confused by things like microwaves and manual-shift transmissions anyway? I'm sure there's a downside to this kind of system, but I'm not seeing it. What am I missing?
Also, if some enterprising reader would like to take that task on, I'd be interested to see its results; I'm fairly certain Edwards would beat Stewart but I'm not sure.
____________________
Hey Jay, you idiot! Why didn't you rank my driver higher... Oh, wrong subject. [awkward silence] ... so, how 'bout dem Raiders? Yeah, so, since you and the rest of the Yahoo NASCAR staff writers are sittin' around in your tighty whities and diggin' for gold in the left nostril shaft waiting for February, maybe you could stir up a little controversy and re-rank the season ending standings according to the old (last year's) point system. If you already did that, I missed it. Did Kasey Kahne come out on top?
Rusty
We didn't do that because, well, it would be kind of pointless. But Racing Reference shows us what would have happened if there was no Chase, and the results shouldn't surprise you: Edwards first, followed by Harvick, Stewart, Johnson and Kenseth. Nobody else was within 100 points. And Kasey was 13th.
In other words: let's not worry too much about hypothetical and what-used-to-be points systems. Your high school boyfriend/girlfriend isn't going to go out with you again, either. Live in the now, everybody! It's 2012! We're all gonna die soon!
On that uplifting note, we're out. Thanks to all our writers this week. You want in? Fire up the computer and hit us with whatever's on your mind, NASCAR-wise, at happyhournascar@yahoogroups.com. You can find Yahoo! Sports' NASCAR coverage on Facebook right here, and you can follow me on Twitter at @jaybusbee and on Facebook here.� Make sure to tell us where you're from. We'll make you famous!
Other popular stories on Yahoo! Sports:
? Golf season preview: Can Phil Mickelson bounce back?
? LeBron James rejects his $3,000 birthday cake
? Dolphins have upper hand in Jeff Fisher sweepstakes
Danica Patrick wants to be like? the honey badger?
Danica Patrick knows that she'll be under an even bigger spotlight when she makes her Sprint Cup debut Feb. 26 at the Daytona 500.
So how is she going to react? By going all honey badger, of course.
"And the honey badger, it was last year, I think, somebody showed me this video of the honey badger, and the commentator on it was very, very funny," Patrick said between test sessions at Daytona International Speedway on Thursday. "Anyway, the honey badger, he doesn't give a crap, he takes what he wants.�And that's how I'm going to be this year, like a honey badger.�But I feel like it's a little diluted with the football player that has the honey badger nickname, too.�He's No.�7, as well."
[Check out more pictures of Danica Patrick]
The football player she's referring to, of course, is LSU cornerback Tyrann Mathieu. LSU lost 21-0 to Alabama in Monday night's BCS title game.
"I bet he's not feeling like a honey badger.�I bet -- anyway, the video is great," Patrick said. "He eats a poisonous snake and he falls asleep and wakes right back up.�The video is funny, so I encourage you all to watch that.�I think Randall something is the commentator or the name on the YouTube video.
"I don't know, it's a mindset.�I even have a honey badger picture on my screen saver on my phone to inspire me.�It takes what it wants."
[Related: Daytona 500 Day 2 testing results]
Patrick may want to harness the honey badger in her a little bit during the Daytona 500 if Thursday's test session was any indication. NASCAR has introduced rules designed to inhibit the two-car tandem drafting that has become prevalent at restrictor plate tracks Daytona and Talladega, but teams were still experimenting with the tandems anyway.
After transitioning from the Izod IndyCar Series, Patrick is scheduled to race 10 times in the Sprint Cup Series and run a full schedule in the Nationwide Series. She had success in the July Nationwide race at Daytona, leading laps and finishing 10th while she crashed crossing the finish line.
Other popular content on the Yahoo! network:
? Richard Petty: NASCAR sponsors leery of Kurt Busch
? Video: The man who 'Tebowed' long before Tim
? Y! Finance: College degrees that earn the most money
So how is she going to react? By going all honey badger, of course.
"And the honey badger, it was last year, I think, somebody showed me this video of the honey badger, and the commentator on it was very, very funny," Patrick said between test sessions at Daytona International Speedway on Thursday. "Anyway, the honey badger, he doesn't give a crap, he takes what he wants.�And that's how I'm going to be this year, like a honey badger.�But I feel like it's a little diluted with the football player that has the honey badger nickname, too.�He's No.�7, as well."
[Check out more pictures of Danica Patrick]
The football player she's referring to, of course, is LSU cornerback Tyrann Mathieu. LSU lost 21-0 to Alabama in Monday night's BCS title game.
"I bet he's not feeling like a honey badger.�I bet -- anyway, the video is great," Patrick said. "He eats a poisonous snake and he falls asleep and wakes right back up.�The video is funny, so I encourage you all to watch that.�I think Randall something is the commentator or the name on the YouTube video.
"I don't know, it's a mindset.�I even have a honey badger picture on my screen saver on my phone to inspire me.�It takes what it wants."
[Related: Daytona 500 Day 2 testing results]
Patrick may want to harness the honey badger in her a little bit during the Daytona 500 if Thursday's test session was any indication. NASCAR has introduced rules designed to inhibit the two-car tandem drafting that has become prevalent at restrictor plate tracks Daytona and Talladega, but teams were still experimenting with the tandems anyway.
After transitioning from the Izod IndyCar Series, Patrick is scheduled to race 10 times in the Sprint Cup Series and run a full schedule in the Nationwide Series. She had success in the July Nationwide race at Daytona, leading laps and finishing 10th while she crashed crossing the finish line.
Other popular content on the Yahoo! network:
? Richard Petty: NASCAR sponsors leery of Kurt Busch
? Video: The man who 'Tebowed' long before Tim
? Y! Finance: College degrees that earn the most money
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Corvette Z06 eBay Buyer Thwarted Despite Winning Bid, But Is Dealer Wrong?
In what has become an all too common scenario, yet another eBay sports car buyer has met with a dealer's refusal to sell a car bought in a no-reserve auction. The matter is more complex than it might seem--or than some might make it out to be--and we have the inside story, from both the buyer and the dealership. First, the situation, as related to...
Danica Patrick wants to be like? the honey badger?
Danica Patrick knows that she'll be under an even bigger spotlight when she makes her Sprint Cup debut Feb. 26 at the Daytona 500.
So how is she going to react? By going all honey badger, of course.
"And the honey badger, it was last year, I think, somebody showed me this video of the honey badger, and the commentator on it was very, very funny," Patrick said between test sessions at Daytona International Speedway on Thursday. "Anyway, the honey badger, he doesn't give a crap, he takes what he wants.�And that's how I'm going to be this year, like a honey badger.�But I feel like it's a little diluted with the football player that has the honey badger nickname, too.�He's No.�7, as well."
[Check out more pictures of Danica Patrick]
The football player she's referring to, of course, is LSU cornerback Tyrann Mathieu. LSU lost 21-0 to Alabama in Monday night's BCS title game.
"I bet he's not feeling like a honey badger.�I bet -- anyway, the video is great," Patrick said. "He eats a poisonous snake and he falls asleep and wakes right back up.�The video is funny, so I encourage you all to watch that.�I think Randall something is the commentator or the name on the YouTube video.
"I don't know, it's a mindset.�I even have a honey badger picture on my screen saver on my phone to inspire me.�It takes what it wants."
[Related: Daytona 500 Day 2 testing results]
Patrick may want to harness the honey badger in her a little bit during the Daytona 500 if Thursday's test session was any indication. NASCAR has introduced rules designed to inhibit the two-car tandem drafting that has become prevalent at restrictor plate tracks Daytona and Talladega, but teams were still experimenting with the tandems anyway.
After transitioning from the Izod IndyCar Series, Patrick is scheduled to race 10 times in the Sprint Cup Series and run a full schedule in the Nationwide Series. She had success in the July Nationwide race at Daytona, leading laps and finishing 10th while she crashed crossing the finish line.
Other popular content on the Yahoo! network:
? Richard Petty: NASCAR sponsors leery of Kurt Busch
? Video: The man who 'Tebowed' long before Tim
? Y! Finance: College degrees that earn the most money
So how is she going to react? By going all honey badger, of course.
"And the honey badger, it was last year, I think, somebody showed me this video of the honey badger, and the commentator on it was very, very funny," Patrick said between test sessions at Daytona International Speedway on Thursday. "Anyway, the honey badger, he doesn't give a crap, he takes what he wants.�And that's how I'm going to be this year, like a honey badger.�But I feel like it's a little diluted with the football player that has the honey badger nickname, too.�He's No.�7, as well."
[Check out more pictures of Danica Patrick]
The football player she's referring to, of course, is LSU cornerback Tyrann Mathieu. LSU lost 21-0 to Alabama in Monday night's BCS title game.
"I bet he's not feeling like a honey badger.�I bet -- anyway, the video is great," Patrick said. "He eats a poisonous snake and he falls asleep and wakes right back up.�The video is funny, so I encourage you all to watch that.�I think Randall something is the commentator or the name on the YouTube video.
"I don't know, it's a mindset.�I even have a honey badger picture on my screen saver on my phone to inspire me.�It takes what it wants."
[Related: Daytona 500 Day 2 testing results]
Patrick may want to harness the honey badger in her a little bit during the Daytona 500 if Thursday's test session was any indication. NASCAR has introduced rules designed to inhibit the two-car tandem drafting that has become prevalent at restrictor plate tracks Daytona and Talladega, but teams were still experimenting with the tandems anyway.
After transitioning from the Izod IndyCar Series, Patrick is scheduled to race 10 times in the Sprint Cup Series and run a full schedule in the Nationwide Series. She had success in the July Nationwide race at Daytona, leading laps and finishing 10th while she crashed crossing the finish line.
Other popular content on the Yahoo! network:
? Richard Petty: NASCAR sponsors leery of Kurt Busch
? Video: The man who 'Tebowed' long before Tim
? Y! Finance: College degrees that earn the most money
Milwaukee Mile wants IndyCar race in June
The owners of the Milwaukee Mile are in discussions with IndyCar to race at the track in June.
In which we forecast the future of the 2012 NASCAR season
The NASCAR season is almost upon us, so it's time to begin peering into that old crystal ball and seeing what might take place. Your Yahoo! Sports/From The Marbles crew offers up these predictions, which should not be used as a basis for wagering. Unless, of course, we're right, in which case you owe us a cut.
Someone is going to have a "Carl Edwards 2011" ? and it's going to end in a championship. The fact that Edwards lost in the closest finish in NASCAR history is quite possibly one of the cruelest blows in all of sports, and it's only because Tony Stewart is such a fan favorite (and we're all so glad to have had a fascinating season) that we kind of glossed over how amazing Edwards' run really was. He broke through as an elite driver last year, and this year, someone else will do the same thing: running so well you can never count them out until the final lap at Homestead. Best guess? This is the year Kevin Harvick becomes a name in non-NASCAR households. ? Jay Busbee
Danica Patrick wins a Nationwide race. Yeah, this may not be too bold of a prediction, but Patrick will have the equipment to do it and the week-to-week consistency of simply being in a stock car will be the best thing for her improvement in NASCAR. It may not be in the first 10 races and it may be a standalone race with no Cup drivers, but she'll get a win. ? Nick Bromberg
This will be Joey Logano's final year at Joe Gibbs Racing in the Sprint Cup Series. The loss of Greg Zipadelli as crew chief combined with an intense focus to right the ship for Denny Hamlin will leave Logano in the dust, and sponsors looking elsewhere in 2013. Don't be surprised if he stays with Gibbs, though, in a full-time Nationwide Series role for 2013. ? Geoffrey Miller
The Busch bros will get their acts together. I know, this one's a crap shoot ... but something's telling me that these two have hit bottom and are clawing at ways to get back up. There's too much on the line here for both of these guys, who have the potential to become one of NASCAR's all-time great families. But, right now, only the potential. ? Jay Busbee
Carl Edwards will host a talk show. Wait... that's actually happening. ? Nick Bromberg
Races at road courses, short tracks, Darlington and Atlanta will continue to be the most noteworthy events of the season for the Sprint Cup gang. That's thanks to their unique character and ways of bringing out the best of a driver's temper and pure racing ability. It won't matter, though, to NASCAR's 2013 schedule-makers who remain�cruelly�indebted to the 1.5-mile cookie-cutter way of life.� ? Geoffrey Miller
NASCAR will continue its recovery both in the stands and in the ratings. Sponsors will start to trickle back in, not as rapidly as teams would like, but not in the will-they-or-won't-they guessing game of years past, either. The Jimmie Johnson Era may or may not be over, but it's certainly on hold, and that'll help keep the door wide open for many more fans to hope that this is The Year for their guy ... and more interest translates across the board. ? Jay Busbee
A driver in Hendrick equipment will "struggle." This doesn't count Kurt Busch, who has the virtue of being fairly expectation-less at Phoenix Racing, but there seems to always be a straggler at Hendrick. For the sake of the restless masses and tired storylines, let's hope it's not Junior. ? Nick Bromberg
AJ Allmendinger will get his first and probably second NASCAR wins. Dinger, now in the best ride of his NASCAR life with Penske Racing, will take at least one road course race (as long as former teammate Marcos Ambrose doesn't sweep) and maybe snag a win at a 1.5-mile oval. I may have chosen AJ to win at least a race had he remained at Richard Petty Motorsports, but now it's got to be a lock. The Chase, however, will remain an outside-looking-in affair. ? Geoffrey Miller
Dale Earnhardt Jr. is going to win a race. Hey, if I keep saying it, one day it might come true. ? Jay Busbee
Someone is going to have a "Carl Edwards 2011" ? and it's going to end in a championship. The fact that Edwards lost in the closest finish in NASCAR history is quite possibly one of the cruelest blows in all of sports, and it's only because Tony Stewart is such a fan favorite (and we're all so glad to have had a fascinating season) that we kind of glossed over how amazing Edwards' run really was. He broke through as an elite driver last year, and this year, someone else will do the same thing: running so well you can never count them out until the final lap at Homestead. Best guess? This is the year Kevin Harvick becomes a name in non-NASCAR households. ? Jay Busbee
Danica Patrick wins a Nationwide race. Yeah, this may not be too bold of a prediction, but Patrick will have the equipment to do it and the week-to-week consistency of simply being in a stock car will be the best thing for her improvement in NASCAR. It may not be in the first 10 races and it may be a standalone race with no Cup drivers, but she'll get a win. ? Nick Bromberg
This will be Joey Logano's final year at Joe Gibbs Racing in the Sprint Cup Series. The loss of Greg Zipadelli as crew chief combined with an intense focus to right the ship for Denny Hamlin will leave Logano in the dust, and sponsors looking elsewhere in 2013. Don't be surprised if he stays with Gibbs, though, in a full-time Nationwide Series role for 2013. ? Geoffrey Miller
The Busch bros will get their acts together. I know, this one's a crap shoot ... but something's telling me that these two have hit bottom and are clawing at ways to get back up. There's too much on the line here for both of these guys, who have the potential to become one of NASCAR's all-time great families. But, right now, only the potential. ? Jay Busbee
Carl Edwards will host a talk show. Wait... that's actually happening. ? Nick Bromberg
Races at road courses, short tracks, Darlington and Atlanta will continue to be the most noteworthy events of the season for the Sprint Cup gang. That's thanks to their unique character and ways of bringing out the best of a driver's temper and pure racing ability. It won't matter, though, to NASCAR's 2013 schedule-makers who remain�cruelly�indebted to the 1.5-mile cookie-cutter way of life.� ? Geoffrey Miller
NASCAR will continue its recovery both in the stands and in the ratings. Sponsors will start to trickle back in, not as rapidly as teams would like, but not in the will-they-or-won't-they guessing game of years past, either. The Jimmie Johnson Era may or may not be over, but it's certainly on hold, and that'll help keep the door wide open for many more fans to hope that this is The Year for their guy ... and more interest translates across the board. ? Jay Busbee
A driver in Hendrick equipment will "struggle." This doesn't count Kurt Busch, who has the virtue of being fairly expectation-less at Phoenix Racing, but there seems to always be a straggler at Hendrick. For the sake of the restless masses and tired storylines, let's hope it's not Junior. ? Nick Bromberg
AJ Allmendinger will get his first and probably second NASCAR wins. Dinger, now in the best ride of his NASCAR life with Penske Racing, will take at least one road course race (as long as former teammate Marcos Ambrose doesn't sweep) and maybe snag a win at a 1.5-mile oval. I may have chosen AJ to win at least a race had he remained at Richard Petty Motorsports, but now it's got to be a lock. The Chase, however, will remain an outside-looking-in affair. ? Geoffrey Miller
Dale Earnhardt Jr. is going to win a race. Hey, if I keep saying it, one day it might come true. ? Jay Busbee
Monday, January 23, 2012
Servia lands ride for 2012
Oriol Servia will drive for Dreyer & Reinbold during the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series season, the team announced on Tuesday.
Scanning what's in store for iRacing with Tony Gardner
The president of iRacing.com offers some insights to the process of how the company decided on laser-scanning, the process of signing tracks, what goes into the decision on what tracks are brought into the service for the members and the status of tracks signed, along with what could be coming down the road.
Daytona testing underway, Danica begins prep for 500
Thirty-one Sprint Cup Series teams checked in at Daytona International Speedway on Thursday to begin a three-day test session in preparation for the February 26 season-opening Daytona 500.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Ryan Newman adds a sponsor
Stewart-Haas Racing has added another primary sponsor for its No. 39 Chevrolet team in the Sprint Cup Series driven by Ryan Newman. Aspen Dental, one of the largest and fastest-growing networks of dental care providers in the United States, has reached a multi-year agreement to serve as primary sponsor on Newman's car for two races and as associate sponsor for all remaining races, sources confirmed on Sunday. The addition of Aspen Dental is the third new sponsor SHR has landed for its No. 39 car for 2012. Only six races remain to be sold on the car. The Nos. 14 and 10 teams of 2011 Cup champion Tony Stewart and Danica Patrick, respectively, are sold out. Since Stewart joined the organization as co-owner and driver beginning with the 2009 season, this is the best position SHR has been in with primary sponsorship entering a season.
Kurt Busch will be doing plenty of NASCAR racing in 2012
By Jim Utter jutter@charlotteobserver.com Kurt Busch will be doing plenty of racing in the 2012 NASCAR season. On Friday, Phoenix Racing announced it had hired the 2004 Sprint Cup Series champion to drive for its No. 51 Chevrolet team next season. The No. 51 entered every Cup race in 2011 with several different drivers. The news release announcing Busch?s move said he would drive a ?full schedule? with the team. Busch is also expected to join forces with his younger brother, Kyle, and drive for Kyle?s Nationwide series team in 2012, the Observer and ThatsRacin.com have learned. One option being considered is for Kurt Busch to run the full Nationwide schedule and compete for the series championship, multiple sources said. Under NASCAR?s current system, Busch will only be able to earn driver points in only one series. It remains unclear what effect Friday?s Cup announcement will have on the Nationwide plans. A spokesman for Kyle Busch Motorsports said Friday the team was still finalizing its driver lineup and would not have any official announcements until after Jan. 1. Kurt Busch parted ways with Penske Racing earlier this month, ending his six-year tenure with the organization. He has won 24 Cup races and the 2004 series championship in his career. Busch?s first race with Finch will be the Feb. 18 Budweiser Shootout, which he won last season. ?It?s going to be old-school racing, where we show up, race hard and go for the win,? Kurt said of his new Cup ride with Phoenix. ?And if we don?t win, we?ll go back to the shop, work hard and do it all over again next week. ?That?s the way we all started racing, and it?s great to get back to that.? James Finch, owner of Phoenix Racing, celebrated his 20th year as a team owner in 2011. His Spartanburg, S.C.-based team has won 13 NASCAR races, the most prominent being the April 2009 Cup race at Talladega, Ala., with then-driver Brad Keselowski. ?All we want to do is win,? Finch said. ?Winning is why I?ve been in racing for as long as I have, but NASCAR is a very competitive sport, and winning ? especially at the Sprint Cup level ? is hard. ?But now with Kurt Busch as our driver, we have a shot to win every week.?
Wheldon auction raises more than $600,000 for fund
An auction dedicated to the late Dan Wheldon raised more than $600,000 that will go to his wife and two young sons.
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Talladega Superspeedway Fan Appreciation Day
Talladega Superspeedway Fan Appreciation Day Is Sept. 26th: Talladega Superspeedway will welcome race fans to the track on Sept. 26 for the second annual Fan Appreciation Day. This event is open to the public and free of charge. Best of all, ticket buyers to either of the two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events at Talladega, [...]
Mike Brudenell: NASCAR Chase should shift gears, hit the road in 2013 ? Detroit Free Press
Mike Brudenell: NASCAR Chase should shift gears, hit the road in 2013 – Detroit Free Press
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Mike Brudenell: NASCAR Chase should shift gears, hit the road in 2013Detroit Free PressI swear I mentioned a season or two back that the NASCAR Chase for the Championship should include a road course, perhaps even a triathlon event. With NASCAR's release of the 2012 Sprint Cup Series schedule last week, some folks in higher places than …FOX Sports ExclusiveFOXSports.com
NASCAR unveils 2012 schedule, no mention of Danica Patrick: A fan's reactionYahoo! SportsNASCAR fans can view Phoenix International Raceway's revamped track TuesdayAZ Central.comHNN Huntingtonnews.net -WhoWon.com -Bleacher Reportall 13 news articles »
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Mike Brudenell: NASCAR Chase should shift gears, hit the road in 2013Detroit Free PressI swear I mentioned a season or two back that the NASCAR Chase for the Championship should include a road course, perhaps even a triathlon event. With NASCAR's release of the 2012 Sprint Cup Series schedule last week, some folks in higher places than …FOX Sports ExclusiveFOXSports.com
NASCAR unveils 2012 schedule, no mention of Danica Patrick: A fan's reactionYahoo! SportsNASCAR fans can view Phoenix International Raceway's revamped track TuesdayAZ Central.comHNN Huntingtonnews.net -WhoWon.com -Bleacher Reportall 13 news articles »
Recession-Proof Your Projects at Auto Parts Swap ?n Sell
Vernon, CT (December 31, 2010): Whether your passion is for custom cars, imports, hot rods, or race cars, the annual Autoparts Swap ?n Sell provides viable and affordable options to all automotive enthusiasts even in this difficult economic climate. On Saturday, January 22 and Sunday, January 23, 2011, Start/Finish Production will host the annual Autoparts Swap ?n Sell at the Eastern States Exposition ?Home of the Big E? in West Springfield, MA.
This indoor, all-automotive swap meet and flea market provides affordable alternatives to help keep automotive projects on track. With a host of private vendors offering pre-owned merchandise and regional wholesalers and retailers offering affordable pricing, the event is sure to meet the needs of all gear heads. Vendors will occupy over three-acres of exhibit space and will feature everything from common to hard-to-find parts and accessories, tools, safety equipment and much more. The variety of goods available at the annual Autoparts Swap ?n Sell is unrivaled; making this event a must for any automotive enthusiast.
This indoor, all-automotive swap meet and flea market provides affordable alternatives to help keep automotive projects on track. With a host of private vendors offering pre-owned merchandise and regional wholesalers and retailers offering affordable pricing, the event is sure to meet the needs of all gear heads. Vendors will occupy over three-acres of exhibit space and will feature everything from common to hard-to-find parts and accessories, tools, safety equipment and much more. The variety of goods available at the annual Autoparts Swap ?n Sell is unrivaled; making this event a must for any automotive enthusiast.
NASCAR Hall of Fame welcomes diverse class
The NASCAR Hall of Fame welcomed its most diverse class to date Friday night, when Dale Inman opened the ceremony as the first crew chief to be inducted.
Friday, January 20, 2012
Ferrari V-8 Powered Quad Is The Ultimate Holiday Gift: Video
Lazareth is a French builder of wheeled exotica that seems to specialize in the bizarre. Take its Lazareth Wazuma, for example; while the world may not need a 500 horsepower quad, powered by a supercharged BMW V-12, we’re fairly certain it’s a better place because of it. Lazareth has built other quads, too, all of which have the...
Busch brothers sharing Nationwide driving duties at KBM
Kyle Busch Motorsports announced on Thursday that brothers Kyle and Kurt Busch will share driving duties in the No.54 Toyota during the 2012 Nationwide Series season.
Wheldon auction raises more than $600,000 for fund
An auction dedicated to the late Dan Wheldon raised more than $600,000 that will go to his wife and two young sons.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Michael Andretti to be on ?Celebrity Apprentice?
Michael Andretti has signed on to be one of the contestants on Donald Trump's 'Celebrity Apprentice' this spring on NBC.
Andretti, the son of Mario Andretti, is a former IndyCar driver and owner of Andretti Autosport in the Izod IndyCar Series. He won 42 races in CART and Champ Car.
Last year, Andretti Autosport fielded four cars in the IndyCar Series for Danica Patrick, Mike Conway, Ryan Hunter-Reay and Marco Andretti, Michael's son. Patrick's now in NASCAR full-time and Conway is with AJ Foyt, so as of now, Andretti Autosport is set to only field two cars.
Michael said that Marco was to be on the show, but passed after Dan Wheldon died October 16 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Wheldon reportedly had agreed to a deal with Andretti Autosport to drive a GoDaddy sponsored car shortly before his death.
While Andretti's appearance on the show may seem a little odd on the surface, it may be a great move for sponsorship exposure. If Andretti can stay on the show for a prolonged period -- and not throw any crazy temper tantrums as some on the show are wont to do -- he could attract a sponsor who wouldn't have normally thought to invest in the IndyCar Series.
Will it pay off as the IndyCar moves into its Danica-less era with a new car? We'll find out. 'Celebrity Apprentice' premieres February 12.
Andretti, the son of Mario Andretti, is a former IndyCar driver and owner of Andretti Autosport in the Izod IndyCar Series. He won 42 races in CART and Champ Car.
Last year, Andretti Autosport fielded four cars in the IndyCar Series for Danica Patrick, Mike Conway, Ryan Hunter-Reay and Marco Andretti, Michael's son. Patrick's now in NASCAR full-time and Conway is with AJ Foyt, so as of now, Andretti Autosport is set to only field two cars.
Michael said that Marco was to be on the show, but passed after Dan Wheldon died October 16 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Wheldon reportedly had agreed to a deal with Andretti Autosport to drive a GoDaddy sponsored car shortly before his death.
While Andretti's appearance on the show may seem a little odd on the surface, it may be a great move for sponsorship exposure. If Andretti can stay on the show for a prolonged period -- and not throw any crazy temper tantrums as some on the show are wont to do -- he could attract a sponsor who wouldn't have normally thought to invest in the IndyCar Series.
Will it pay off as the IndyCar moves into its Danica-less era with a new car? We'll find out. 'Celebrity Apprentice' premieres February 12.
Power Rankings: Who?s the best team in NASCAR right now?
Welcome to Power Rankings! Sure, it's the offseason, but that doesn't mean we can't kick around some arbitrary rankings like we were at an infield tailgate. Today, we're talking teams. And for the purposes of this discussion, we're going to go with the strict definition of teams, despite the many equipment/personnel/financial agreements that exist amongst many of these members. These rankings aren't based on how they ended the season, but how they stand right this very moment, given their current personnel ...
1. Roush Fenway Racing. RFR gets the top spot here because of consistency, not necessarily wins. Both Carl Edwards and Matt Kenseth are running at the absolute top of their game right now, and were it not for a once-in-a-lifetime run by Tony Stewart, RFR would be holding another Sprint Cup right now. They should get one very soon, perhaps as soon as 2012.
2. Hendrick Motorsports. Hendrick is like the New York Yankees and Tom Cruise movies, popular whether you like it or not. Sure, this was a "down" year for Hendrick, but they've simply reloaded, swapping Mark Martin for Kasey Kahne, and there's no reason to expect they won't put four drivers back in the Chase next year.
3. Stewart-Haas Racing. Yes, you could roll this into No. 2, but let's preserve the fiction of independence. Tony Stewart has made all the right moves as owner in his first three years. And while Danica Patrick will add little in terms of on-track performance in 2012, she'll continue to raise the profile of a team that boasts five Chase appearances and a Cup in its first six driver-seasons. Not bad.
4. Richard Childress Racing. A year that began with much promise fizzled somewhat down the stretch, but Childress remains one of the top teams in racing, largely because of the success of Kevin Harvick. Happy always seems this close to breaking through on a major scale but can't quite sustain for all 36 races. The departure of Clint Bowyer will hurt, but Childress is likely just a year or two from running out another young, dominating lineup of drivers.
5. Joe Gibbs Racing. A definite step back for JGR this year, as neither Denny Hamlin nor Kyle Busch delivered on their prior results, and Joey Logano continued to struggle. There's no reason to expect this state of affairs will continue, but Busch and Hamlin have to stop being good regular-season/on-paper drivers and start winning when it really counts.
6. Penske Racing. The departure of Kurt Busch knocks this team down a couple pegs, but the arrival of AJ Allmendinger keeps them right here without falling farther. Penske has the greatest potential upside of any team in NASCAR right now; they'll be a team to watch in 2012.
7. Michael Waltrip Racing. Trading out David Reutimann for Bowyer and a few Mark Martin runs is good news for everyone but Reutimann. It's now time for MWR's close-up. And we all know how the team's namesake loves the camera. Like Penske, this is going to be a fun team to watch next season.
8. Earnhardt Ganassi Racing. The heady days of multiple-win seasons and Chases seem a memory now for EGR. Both Jamie McMurray and Juan Pablo Montoya are incredibly talented drivers, but talent alone doesn't translate to team success, and for whatever reason, EGR hasn't been able to hit on any kind of consistent formula for winning the last two years. It's there, it's right there, but it's still elusive.
9. Richard Petty Motorsports. Absolutely reeling. The team lost both Allmendinger and his sponsor, and now needs to find a quality driver to run alongside Marcos Ambrose. Will that be David Ragan? Brian Vickers? Reutimann? No matter who, it'll likely be at least a slight downgrade from Allmendinger. Perhaps The King himself ought to get back behind the wheel.
10. Pick 'em. The departure of Red Bull leaves NASCAR without its 10th top-flight team, so there are now plenty of contenders for this spot. Early guess is that Phoenix Racing will take it; not often you have a former Cup champion still in his prime drop into your seat, and Kurt Busch will keep Phoenix competitive if he's got the right equipment.
All right, your turn. Who's your favorite team right about now? Have your say!
1. Roush Fenway Racing. RFR gets the top spot here because of consistency, not necessarily wins. Both Carl Edwards and Matt Kenseth are running at the absolute top of their game right now, and were it not for a once-in-a-lifetime run by Tony Stewart, RFR would be holding another Sprint Cup right now. They should get one very soon, perhaps as soon as 2012.
2. Hendrick Motorsports. Hendrick is like the New York Yankees and Tom Cruise movies, popular whether you like it or not. Sure, this was a "down" year for Hendrick, but they've simply reloaded, swapping Mark Martin for Kasey Kahne, and there's no reason to expect they won't put four drivers back in the Chase next year.
3. Stewart-Haas Racing. Yes, you could roll this into No. 2, but let's preserve the fiction of independence. Tony Stewart has made all the right moves as owner in his first three years. And while Danica Patrick will add little in terms of on-track performance in 2012, she'll continue to raise the profile of a team that boasts five Chase appearances and a Cup in its first six driver-seasons. Not bad.
4. Richard Childress Racing. A year that began with much promise fizzled somewhat down the stretch, but Childress remains one of the top teams in racing, largely because of the success of Kevin Harvick. Happy always seems this close to breaking through on a major scale but can't quite sustain for all 36 races. The departure of Clint Bowyer will hurt, but Childress is likely just a year or two from running out another young, dominating lineup of drivers.
5. Joe Gibbs Racing. A definite step back for JGR this year, as neither Denny Hamlin nor Kyle Busch delivered on their prior results, and Joey Logano continued to struggle. There's no reason to expect this state of affairs will continue, but Busch and Hamlin have to stop being good regular-season/on-paper drivers and start winning when it really counts.
6. Penske Racing. The departure of Kurt Busch knocks this team down a couple pegs, but the arrival of AJ Allmendinger keeps them right here without falling farther. Penske has the greatest potential upside of any team in NASCAR right now; they'll be a team to watch in 2012.
7. Michael Waltrip Racing. Trading out David Reutimann for Bowyer and a few Mark Martin runs is good news for everyone but Reutimann. It's now time for MWR's close-up. And we all know how the team's namesake loves the camera. Like Penske, this is going to be a fun team to watch next season.
8. Earnhardt Ganassi Racing. The heady days of multiple-win seasons and Chases seem a memory now for EGR. Both Jamie McMurray and Juan Pablo Montoya are incredibly talented drivers, but talent alone doesn't translate to team success, and for whatever reason, EGR hasn't been able to hit on any kind of consistent formula for winning the last two years. It's there, it's right there, but it's still elusive.
9. Richard Petty Motorsports. Absolutely reeling. The team lost both Allmendinger and his sponsor, and now needs to find a quality driver to run alongside Marcos Ambrose. Will that be David Ragan? Brian Vickers? Reutimann? No matter who, it'll likely be at least a slight downgrade from Allmendinger. Perhaps The King himself ought to get back behind the wheel.
10. Pick 'em. The departure of Red Bull leaves NASCAR without its 10th top-flight team, so there are now plenty of contenders for this spot. Early guess is that Phoenix Racing will take it; not often you have a former Cup champion still in his prime drop into your seat, and Kurt Busch will keep Phoenix competitive if he's got the right equipment.
All right, your turn. Who's your favorite team right about now? Have your say!
Denny Hamlin hoping for reversal of fortune with new crew chief Darian Grubb calling the shots
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. ? Of all the surprises that unfolded during NASCAR?s 2011 Sprint Cup season, Denny Hamlin?s struggles were among the most unexpected. After winning a career-best eight races in 2010 and heading into the final race of the season with the points lead (a lead that would eventually vanish to leave him second in the final standings), the Joe Gibbs Racing driver and his No. 11 team couldn?t rediscover the magic in 2011.
NASCAR Announces 2011 Schedules
NASCAR announced the 2011 schedule for its three national series, highlighted by several key changes for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. One of those changes comes early, as the second race of the season will be held at Phoenix International Raceway on Feb. 27, a week after the season-opening Daytona 500. PIR replaces Auto Club [...]
Stewart 10th; Swindell wins Chili Bowl
NASCAR star Tony Stewart returned from two days of testing at Daytona to finish 10th in the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals, while Kevin Swindell led wire-to-wire in the 55-lap main event en route to his third consecutive title Saturday night.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Joey Logano ready to hit reset button in contract year at Joe Gibbs Racing
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. ? Joey Logano believes that his Joe Gibbs Racing team needed a change for 2012.
He won?t say that a change at crew chief was necessary ? that?s up to team owner, Joe Gibbs. But he felt his team needed a new direction after its miserable 2011 season.
He won?t say that a change at crew chief was necessary ? that?s up to team owner, Joe Gibbs. But he felt his team needed a new direction after its miserable 2011 season.
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 [...]
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Dale Earnhardt Jr. involved in wreck, drives teammate Jimmie Johnson?s car during Daytona test
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. ? Dale Earnhardt Jr. had his practice session at Daytona cut short by a wreck Saturday afternoon, but left Daytona International Speedway feeling good about what transpired over the three-day test.
Earnhardt Jr. had an eventful final hour of practice as he was involved in an accident and then got into the car of Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson.
Earnhardt Jr. had an eventful final hour of practice as he was involved in an accident and then got into the car of Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson.
What offseason? Tony Stewart assembles Chili Bowl champ team
Now this is just getting silly. Weeks after winning the Sprint Cup championship and then taking down Indy Car drivers at the Indy Carting Classic, Tony Stewart is mounting an assault to take down his third Golden Driller Trophy at the 26th annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Midget Nationals.
The festivities begin Jan. 10, and Stewart will be part of a four-man team that includes Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Bryan Clauson and Jake Blackhurst. All four are reigning champions in their various divisions and fields.
The Chili Bowl goes down at the QuikTrip Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Stewart hasn't raced there since 2008; that year, he finished 8th in the finals. But he's bringing the above ride, dubbed "Back in Black," to the race thanks to some sponsorship from Chevrolet Performance Parts. (We're thinking Stewart doesn't have to do a whole lot of begging for money right about now.)
For more info, check out ChiliBowl.com. And if you go, by all means, reach out to us here. We want photos. Cotton candy. Souvenirs. Perhaps even some chili.
The festivities begin Jan. 10, and Stewart will be part of a four-man team that includes Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Bryan Clauson and Jake Blackhurst. All four are reigning champions in their various divisions and fields.
The Chili Bowl goes down at the QuikTrip Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Stewart hasn't raced there since 2008; that year, he finished 8th in the finals. But he's bringing the above ride, dubbed "Back in Black," to the race thanks to some sponsorship from Chevrolet Performance Parts. (We're thinking Stewart doesn't have to do a whole lot of begging for money right about now.)
For more info, check out ChiliBowl.com. And if you go, by all means, reach out to us here. We want photos. Cotton candy. Souvenirs. Perhaps even some chili.
Monday, January 16, 2012
2012 NASCAR Speedweeks schedule
Thursday, Feb. 16 1-5 p.m. ARCA practice Friday, Feb. 17 2 p.m. ARCA qualifying 5-5:45 p.m. Budweiser Shootout practice 6:30-7:30 p.m. Final Budweiser Shootout practice Saturday, Feb. 18 10-10:45 a.m. final ARCA practice 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Sprint Cup practice 2-3:45 p.m. Cup practice 4:30 p.m. ARCA race 8:10 p.m. Budweiser Shootout Sunday, Feb. 19 1:05 p.m. Daytona 500 pole qualifying Monday, Feb. 20 No track activity Tuesday, Feb. 21 No track activity Wednesday, Feb. 22 noon-1:30 p.m. Cup practice 2:30-4 p.m. Cup practice Thursday, Feb. 23 9-9:50 a.m. Nationwide practice 12:10-1 p.m. Truck practice 2 p.m. Gatorade 150-mile qualifying races 6-7:20 p.m. Final Truck practice Friday, Feb. 24 11 a.m.-noon Cup practice 2:05 p.m. Nationwide qualifying 4:05 p.m. Truck qualifying 7:30 p.m. Truck series race Saturday, Feb. 25 10:30 a.m.-noon Final practice for Daytona 500 1:15 p.m. Nationwide Series race Sunday, Feb. 26 1 p.m. 2012 Daytona 500
Is Aric Almirola a better fit for the 43 than David Ragan?
Aric Almirola is taking over the Richard Petty Motorsports No. 43 following the departure of AJ Allmendinger, a move that raised a few eyebrows given the number of high-profile drivers still without a ride. Specifically, the move marks another disappointment for David Ragan, who has now missed out on both the No. 22 and No. 43 seats.
Here's the question, though: did RPM err in picking Almirola over Ragan? Let's consider the stats. Almirola has run less than a full season, all told, in Sprint Cup (35 races over four seasons from 2007 to 2010) and notched only one top 5 (fourth place at Homestead in 2010) and two top 10s during that span.
Ragan, on the other hand, is at age 26 almost two years younger than Almirola. He's run 182 races in the Sprint Cup series, and has one win (last July at Daytona), 12 top 5s and 30 top 10s. Almost half of those numbers came in the 2008 season, but Ragan has struggled for much of the rest of his career.
By all accounts, Ragan is a good guy and a solid teammate. But clearly, Roush Fenway ran out of patience with him, and even a near-win at the Daytona 500 and a victory at the same track a few months later weren't enough to instill confidence in either RFR or sponsor UPS. So this seems to be a case of potential over performance, with RPM clearly hoping that Almirola has untapped possibilities.
Almirola better be ready; even though Richard Petty Motorsports isn't an elite team, the iconic number and owner mean he'll always draw notice. And Ragan? Odds are very good that he'll be back in a Sprint Cup ride, perhaps even sometime this season. But for the short term, the frustration continues for the Thrilla from Unadilla.
Other popular Y! Sports content:
? Video: Jon Gruden's goofy gaffe during the Orange Bowl
? Trade gives Carlos Zambrano another shot at happiness
? Lavish athlete retreats: Where do stars get away from it all?
Here's the question, though: did RPM err in picking Almirola over Ragan? Let's consider the stats. Almirola has run less than a full season, all told, in Sprint Cup (35 races over four seasons from 2007 to 2010) and notched only one top 5 (fourth place at Homestead in 2010) and two top 10s during that span.
Ragan, on the other hand, is at age 26 almost two years younger than Almirola. He's run 182 races in the Sprint Cup series, and has one win (last July at Daytona), 12 top 5s and 30 top 10s. Almost half of those numbers came in the 2008 season, but Ragan has struggled for much of the rest of his career.
By all accounts, Ragan is a good guy and a solid teammate. But clearly, Roush Fenway ran out of patience with him, and even a near-win at the Daytona 500 and a victory at the same track a few months later weren't enough to instill confidence in either RFR or sponsor UPS. So this seems to be a case of potential over performance, with RPM clearly hoping that Almirola has untapped possibilities.
Almirola better be ready; even though Richard Petty Motorsports isn't an elite team, the iconic number and owner mean he'll always draw notice. And Ragan? Odds are very good that he'll be back in a Sprint Cup ride, perhaps even sometime this season. But for the short term, the frustration continues for the Thrilla from Unadilla.
Other popular Y! Sports content:
? Video: Jon Gruden's goofy gaffe during the Orange Bowl
? Trade gives Carlos Zambrano another shot at happiness
? Lavish athlete retreats: Where do stars get away from it all?
Jeff Owens: Is NASCAR tampering with a good thing by trying to break up the two-car draft?
NASCAR officials are keeping their collective fingers crossed as preseason testing begins this week at Daytona.
They desperately hope that new restrictor-plate rules they?ve developed break up the two-car drafts at Daytona and Talladega and help bring back pack racing to the circuit?s two most exciting tracks.
They desperately hope that new restrictor-plate rules they?ve developed break up the two-car drafts at Daytona and Talladega and help bring back pack racing to the circuit?s two most exciting tracks.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Look back at the 2011 seasons of Bowyer and the Busch bros
As the 2012 season nears, one last look back at the year that was for your favorite drivers. We continue on with the last of the non-Chasers, and two guys who made more news off the track than on.
First off, Clint Bowyer finished off his career at Richard Childress Racing in solid style; no Chase berth, but not a terrible year, either:
Next up, Kyle Busch, who really didn't do much of note this year:
Finally, Kurt Busch, who apparently doesn't know that he's about to sever ties with Penske. Nobody tell him!
Other popular Y! Sports content:
? Video: Jon Gruden's goofy gaffe during the Orange Bowl
? Trade gives Carlos Zambrano another shot at happiness
? Lavish athlete retreats: Where do stars get away from it all?
First off, Clint Bowyer finished off his career at Richard Childress Racing in solid style; no Chase berth, but not a terrible year, either:
Next up, Kyle Busch, who really didn't do much of note this year:
Finally, Kurt Busch, who apparently doesn't know that he's about to sever ties with Penske. Nobody tell him!
Other popular Y! Sports content:
? Video: Jon Gruden's goofy gaffe during the Orange Bowl
? Trade gives Carlos Zambrano another shot at happiness
? Lavish athlete retreats: Where do stars get away from it all?
Peterhansel on brink of Dakar win
Stephane Peterhansel is on the verge of a 10th Dakar Rally victory, his fourth in the car categoryaft, r winning the penultimate stage of the 2012 event and stretching his overall lead to 42 minutes with just Sunday's short finale stage to go.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Darlington Aims to Please NASCAR Fans
Darlington Raceway hopes to bring more families back to NASCAR by expanding youth discounts for next year’s racing season. Darlington will offer half-price seating for youths 17 and under at the Showtime Southern 500 in May and free tickets to its Nationwide and Camping World Truck series events, track spokesman Jake Harris told The Associated [...]
Peterhansel leads despite dune scare
Stephane Peterhansel remains in a comfortable Dakar Rally lead despite losing a lot of time when his X-raid Mini became stuck in sand dunes on today's Arequipa to Nasca stage.
David Reutimann joins Baldwin Racing sans sponsor
It's a good-news, bad-news kind of day for David Reutimann. Good news: he's got a ride for 2012, with Tommy Baldwin Racing. Bad news? There's no sponsor yet.
Reutimann and Dave Blaney will make up Baldwin's 2012 lineup, although there are no details yet as to sponsors, car numbers or crew members. So we'll just have to wait on that. Anybody got any spare coin?
Reutimann, now 41, was one of the higher-profile drivers left without a ride in the wake of 2011's seat-shifting fiesta; he was replaced, in effect, by Clint Bowyer and part of Mark Martin at Michael Waltrip Racing. While at MWR,�Reutimann notched two wins in the Sprint Cup Series and brings instant credibility to the Baldwin organization.
"One of the things I like about Tommy and what's refreshing about him is that he is just a racer," Reutimann said in a statement. "There are lots of things he could be doing but instead he is at the shop every day working hard to build the organization from the ground up. There are not a lot of true racers in the garage, and he is one of them. It's the way I was raised with my dad, so we are on the same page. I'm just really looking forward to the season and see what we can do."
Tommy Baldwin Racing did run in all 36 events in 2011, and even notched a third-place finish with Blaney at Talladega in October. That led to an infamous "kids across the country eat free" at Golden Corral the next week thanks to Blaney's high finish; in (perhaps) unrelated news, Golden Corral is no longer on board with TBR. Still, the team reached the top 35 in owner's points, which means it's guaranteed a spot�in the first five races of the season, a nice way to begin.
Reutimann and Dave Blaney will make up Baldwin's 2012 lineup, although there are no details yet as to sponsors, car numbers or crew members. So we'll just have to wait on that. Anybody got any spare coin?
Reutimann, now 41, was one of the higher-profile drivers left without a ride in the wake of 2011's seat-shifting fiesta; he was replaced, in effect, by Clint Bowyer and part of Mark Martin at Michael Waltrip Racing. While at MWR,�Reutimann notched two wins in the Sprint Cup Series and brings instant credibility to the Baldwin organization.
"One of the things I like about Tommy and what's refreshing about him is that he is just a racer," Reutimann said in a statement. "There are lots of things he could be doing but instead he is at the shop every day working hard to build the organization from the ground up. There are not a lot of true racers in the garage, and he is one of them. It's the way I was raised with my dad, so we are on the same page. I'm just really looking forward to the season and see what we can do."
Tommy Baldwin Racing did run in all 36 events in 2011, and even notched a third-place finish with Blaney at Talladega in October. That led to an infamous "kids across the country eat free" at Golden Corral the next week thanks to Blaney's high finish; in (perhaps) unrelated news, Golden Corral is no longer on board with TBR. Still, the team reached the top 35 in owner's points, which means it's guaranteed a spot�in the first five races of the season, a nice way to begin.
Friday, January 13, 2012
Kasey Kahne to Hendrick, bevy of new crew chiefs highlight list of best offseason moves
After a busy offseason, most of the big driver and team moves for 2012 are finally over. Amazingly, the moves started in April 2010 and didn?t end until January 2012.
Wheldon auction raises more than $600,000 for fund
An auction dedicated to the late Dan Wheldon raised more than $600,000 that will go to his wife and two young sons.
Sahara Force India Formula 1 Team Keeps Di Resta, Promotes Hulkenberg
The Sahara Force India Formula 1 team waited until after the 2011 season to anoint its driver lineup for the coming year. The team confirmed it's keeping Paul Di Resta, who had an excellent rookie season driving the team's Mercedes-powered car. Di Resta's new teammate for the coming year is Nico Hulkenberg, stepping up from his role as reserve...
F1?s Lewis Hamilton To NASCAR?
In a bizarre twist of fate, Lewis Hamilton, the F1 wunderkind and star driver for McLaren Mercedes, will jump ship and head to NASCAR. Conveniently, Tony Stewart will give up his NASCAR ride and take Hamilton?s seat in last year?s McLaren MP4-25. The catch? Both are exhibition drives, courtesy of NASCAR and F1 sponsor Mobil [...]
Thursday, January 12, 2012
2010 Michigan International Speedway Nascar Photos
The 2nd and final visit for NASCAR at MIS in 2010.
Eyes in the sky: Kyle Busch, Jeff Gordon, Denny Hamlin among drivers with new spotters for 2012
In addition to getting adjusted to new personnel on their teams, several drivers will be working with new spotters when testing opens Thursday at Daytona International Speedway.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Officials call off sixth leg of Dakar Rally
Officials called off the sixth leg of the Dakar Rally on Thursday due to dangerous, snowy weather conditions in the Andes, where drivers were to cross Friday from Argentina to the Chilean city of Copiapo.
Is Aric Almirola a better fit for the 43 than David Ragan?
Aric Almirola is taking over the Richard Petty Motorsports No. 43 following the departure of AJ Allmendinger, a move that raised a few eyebrows given the number of high-profile drivers still without a ride. Specifically, the move marks another disappointment for David Ragan, who has now missed out on both the No. 22 and No. 43 seats.
Here's the question, though: did RPM err in picking Almirola over Ragan? Let's consider the stats. Almirola has run less than a full season, all told, in Sprint Cup (35 races over four seasons from 2007 to 2010) and notched only one top 5 (fourth place at Homestead in 2010) and two top 10s during that span.
Ragan, on the other hand, is at age 26 almost two years younger than Almirola. He's run 182 races in the Sprint Cup series, and has one win (last July at Daytona), 12 top 5s and 30 top 10s. Almost half of those numbers came in the 2008 season, but Ragan has struggled for much of the rest of his career.
By all accounts, Ragan is a good guy and a solid teammate. But clearly, Roush Fenway ran out of patience with him, and even a near-win at the Daytona 500 and a victory at the same track a few months later weren't enough to instill confidence in either RFR or sponsor UPS. So this seems to be a case of potential over performance, with RPM clearly hoping that Almirola has untapped possibilities.
Almirola better be ready; even though Richard Petty Motorsports isn't an elite team, the iconic number and owner mean he'll always draw notice. And Ragan? Odds are very good that he'll be back in a Sprint Cup ride, perhaps even sometime this season. But for the short term, the frustration continues for the Thrilla from Unadilla.
Other popular Y! Sports content:
? Video: Jon Gruden's goofy gaffe during the Orange Bowl
? Trade gives Carlos Zambrano another shot at happiness
? Lavish athlete retreats: Where do stars get away from it all?
Here's the question, though: did RPM err in picking Almirola over Ragan? Let's consider the stats. Almirola has run less than a full season, all told, in Sprint Cup (35 races over four seasons from 2007 to 2010) and notched only one top 5 (fourth place at Homestead in 2010) and two top 10s during that span.
Ragan, on the other hand, is at age 26 almost two years younger than Almirola. He's run 182 races in the Sprint Cup series, and has one win (last July at Daytona), 12 top 5s and 30 top 10s. Almost half of those numbers came in the 2008 season, but Ragan has struggled for much of the rest of his career.
By all accounts, Ragan is a good guy and a solid teammate. But clearly, Roush Fenway ran out of patience with him, and even a near-win at the Daytona 500 and a victory at the same track a few months later weren't enough to instill confidence in either RFR or sponsor UPS. So this seems to be a case of potential over performance, with RPM clearly hoping that Almirola has untapped possibilities.
Almirola better be ready; even though Richard Petty Motorsports isn't an elite team, the iconic number and owner mean he'll always draw notice. And Ragan? Odds are very good that he'll be back in a Sprint Cup ride, perhaps even sometime this season. But for the short term, the frustration continues for the Thrilla from Unadilla.
Other popular Y! Sports content:
? Video: Jon Gruden's goofy gaffe during the Orange Bowl
? Trade gives Carlos Zambrano another shot at happiness
? Lavish athlete retreats: Where do stars get away from it all?
Kurt Busch to drive for Phoenix Racing
Kurt Busch will drive in the Sprint Cup Series in 2012 after all, as he signed on with Phoenix Racing on Thursday.
Rusty Wallace Racing closes shop, doesn?t plan to race in 2012
Rusty Wallace Racing has shut down its day-to-day racing operations as it continues to look for sponsorship for it?s two car operation.
Steve Wallace and Michael Annett were expected to compete in the Nationwide Series this season, and now both are looking for rides as the organization, which opened in 2004, doesn?t plan to field cars in 2012.
Steve Wallace and Michael Annett were expected to compete in the Nationwide Series this season, and now both are looking for rides as the organization, which opened in 2004, doesn?t plan to field cars in 2012.
NASCAR digital media outlets to grow
NASCAR coverage on digital media platforms is looking to expand, perhaps as soon as the 2012 season. Sports Business Daily reported Monday that NASCAR is close to reaching an agreement to buy its digital rights back from Turner Sports, a move that could see the sanctioning body manage its own digital business as soon as 2013. Specific terms of the pending agreement were not available. Some changes could be seen in 2012, the Observer and ThatsRacin.com have learned. They include Sirius Satellite Radio being able to stream its content on-line to subscribers and MRN and PRN - which own the radio broadcasts rights to NASCAR races - being able to stream their race coverage online. When these changes could take effect remains unclear. There was no immediate comment from officials at Sirius. NASCAR spokesman Scott Warfield would not confirm any specifics but did offer the following statement: ?As is the case with all of our partners, we are in constant dialogue with Turner Sports. While we don?t publicly comment on the nature of those discussions, it is fair to say we are exploring various options as it relates to the future of our long-standing partnership.? In any case, it seems NASCAR offerings in digital media should be on the rise in the near future.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
NASCAR Race Review: Kobalt Tools 500K
Welcome NASCAR race fans to my NASCAR blog. The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series held their Kobalt Tools 500K race at the Phoenix International Raceway on Sunday. This race was touted as the wild card in the chase for the Sprint Cup. Phoenix International Raceway, in Avondale Arizona, has a new look to this one mile [...]
From Daytona to Homestead, a look back at 2011 at The Marbles
Here we are at the end of 2011, one of the best NASCAR seasons in recent memory. And your pals here at the Marbles were on board for every single lap, win, fight and postrace tantrum. Join us, won't you, as we take one final look back at the glory that was the 2011 NASCAR season here at From The Marbles:
January: We started out by asking if 2011 would mark Year VI of King Jimmie's reign. (Spoiler: no.) ... Kyle Busch rang in the new year a newly married man. He'd have more adventures as 2011 went on ... Tony Stewart got into a fight in Australia and was apparently held for questioning. His year would get better ... NASCAR began kicking around a new points system ... Travis Pastrana announced plans to run the Nationwide series. Unplanned: catastrophic injury beforehand ... The media got criticized for being too negative; was it a fair complaint? ... Richard Childress predicted a Cup championship for his boys. Missed it by just a touch.
February: Uh, what the heck was Kyle Busch thinking letting this photo be taken? ... This year marked the 10th anniversary of Dale Earnhardt's passing at Daytona, and we listened to your reflections ... ESPN yapper Tony Kornheiser tried to assert that NASCAR is "fixed," and later recanted ... Some kid named Trevor Bayne won the Daytona 500, and the NASCAR world said, "Who?"
March: Two races in, were Jeff Burton and Greg Biffle already out of the hunt? (Spoiler: yes.) ... Robby Gordon got into a fight in Las Vegas with Kevin Conway, and ended up on probation for the rest of the year ... Brian Vickers wrestled with cheetahs in Saudi Arabia? What the hell? ... Jennifer Jo Cobb struck a blow for drivers everywhere when she refused to start-and-park at Bristol in the Nationwide race ... Bristol attendance in the spring? Yeah, it stunk on ice.
April: Kimi Raikkonen announced plans for a long and prosperous career in NASCAR, plans that apparently changed ... Junior wins! Junior wins! There's no way Kevin Harvick is going to catch him at Martinsville, right...? ... Say what you will about the two-car drafting at Talladega, it gave us the closest finish in NASCAR history.
May: Ryan Newman and Juan Pablo Montoya got into it at Richmond, and may well have thrown some fists in the NASCAR hauler. Awesome, but the fights got even better ... In the throwdown of the year, Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch brawled after the Darlington race, with Harvick throwing punches and Busch driving right through Harvick's unmanned car ... Jimmie Johnson brought planking to NASCAR, but thankfully the phase passed pretty quickly ... Everybody welcome the 2011 NASCAR Hall of Fame class! ... Kyle Busch got tagged going 128 mph in a 45-mph zone. Whoops ... Memorial Day featured two of the most heartbreaking (which is not the same as "tragic") finishes, as both J.R. Hildebrand and Dale Earnhardt Jr. surrendered last-lap leads.
June: Brian Vickers skydove into Daytona International Speedway ... Jamie McMurray's childhood home was destroyed by tornadoes; this was a sobering picture of that ... Kyle Busch fought with Richard Childress? Wait, that can't be right ... More secret fines? Nice work, NASCAR ... Is Dale Earnhardt Jr. a future Hall of Famer? Stop laughing and think about it ... This was our biggest post of the year, and it wasn't even about NASCAR: Two cycles got hooked up and danced a dance of death! ... Jeff Gordon cameo'd in Cars 2, and we picked the greatest athlete cameos in movie history ... Kurt Busch berated his crew on the radio but won at Infineon. And surely there would be no negative blowback.
July: The Kentucky race was a decent one, as long as you weren't one of the 20,000 who didn't even get in or the thousands more who got stuck trying to get out ... NASCAR showed up to help save the world in Transformers 3 ... Jeff Gordon spent the off-week in the Congo. Of course he did ... Kyle Busch won his 100th NASCAR national series race, and the recognition of that drove quite a few folks a bit insane ... Simply the best NASCAR prerace invocation you'll ever see: Boogity, boogity, boogity, amen.
August: Brad Keselowski had a hard wreck in testing, but that was OK, because he was ranked in the 20s and not really much of a factor this season ... The best postrace interview of the year belonged to road-course ringer Boris Said, who teed off on Greg Biffle with an epic rant ... Matt Kenseth: funniest driver on Twitter. No kidding ... Danica Patrick prepared to jump to NASCAR full-time, and the earth briefly stopped spinning on its axis ... We would advise against eating anything you caught in the Bristol parking lot.
September: Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be at Hendrick through 2017 ... Several drivers declined a White House invitation, which instantly became a huge political issue ... The most horrifying picture you'll see all year, guaranteed ... Tony Stewart criticized the media for asking the same old questions. No big deal, as it looked like he wasn't going to be much of a factor in the Chase ... The last race of the regular season, Richmond, featured the most bizarre press conference in NASCAR history, capped by Kurt Busch ripping a transcript in half ... Oh, and Paul Menard might just have spun on team orders to give Kevin Harvick the Richmond win, leading to a new catchphrase: "Go to Channel 2."
October: Clint Bowyer closed one of the wilder free-agent bonanzas in recent memory by announcing he'd be driving for Michael Waltrip Racing in 2012 ... Charlotte Motor Speedway created the "funnel bacakonator," the most unhealthy food in human history ... Horrible tragedy: Indy 500 winner Dan Wheldon was killed in a Las Vegas IndyCar crash ... Check out the greatest Hot Wheels track in human history... More "team orders" drama with Jeff Gordon and Trevor Bayne at Talladega.
November: Jeremy Mayfield arrested for meth possession. But he really was innocent all those other times ... Kyle Busch crashed Ron Hornaday Jr. in a trucks race, and got himself parked for the Sprint Cup race for his trouble ... And then came the piling-on, as sponsors sought to distance themselves from Busch ... Coonskin Cap Man gives us a philosophy for life: get it, dig it like Dale Junior ... Carl Edwards and Tony Stewart starred in an epic pre-Homestead press conference ... In the end, it was Tony Stewart, winning on a tiebreaker, to take the 2011 Sprint Cup in one of the greatest races in the sport's history ... Stewart responded by firing winning crew chief Darian Grubb. Alas.
December: Champions Week in Vegas featured a fun "Newlywed Game" won by, of course, Tony Stewart ... Yes, Dale Earnhardt Jr. does have a girlfriend ... Kurt Busch and Penske Racing have parted ways, much to almost nobody's chagrin ... Crew chiefs and drivers switched seats and boxes like their old spots were infested with bees ... And the year ended with Kasey Kahne getting into a fight over breastfeeding. Of course it did.
And that was that! Thanks to all of you for joining us this year, and we'll all gather again for 2012, won't we?
January: We started out by asking if 2011 would mark Year VI of King Jimmie's reign. (Spoiler: no.) ... Kyle Busch rang in the new year a newly married man. He'd have more adventures as 2011 went on ... Tony Stewart got into a fight in Australia and was apparently held for questioning. His year would get better ... NASCAR began kicking around a new points system ... Travis Pastrana announced plans to run the Nationwide series. Unplanned: catastrophic injury beforehand ... The media got criticized for being too negative; was it a fair complaint? ... Richard Childress predicted a Cup championship for his boys. Missed it by just a touch.
February: Uh, what the heck was Kyle Busch thinking letting this photo be taken? ... This year marked the 10th anniversary of Dale Earnhardt's passing at Daytona, and we listened to your reflections ... ESPN yapper Tony Kornheiser tried to assert that NASCAR is "fixed," and later recanted ... Some kid named Trevor Bayne won the Daytona 500, and the NASCAR world said, "Who?"
March: Two races in, were Jeff Burton and Greg Biffle already out of the hunt? (Spoiler: yes.) ... Robby Gordon got into a fight in Las Vegas with Kevin Conway, and ended up on probation for the rest of the year ... Brian Vickers wrestled with cheetahs in Saudi Arabia? What the hell? ... Jennifer Jo Cobb struck a blow for drivers everywhere when she refused to start-and-park at Bristol in the Nationwide race ... Bristol attendance in the spring? Yeah, it stunk on ice.
April: Kimi Raikkonen announced plans for a long and prosperous career in NASCAR, plans that apparently changed ... Junior wins! Junior wins! There's no way Kevin Harvick is going to catch him at Martinsville, right...? ... Say what you will about the two-car drafting at Talladega, it gave us the closest finish in NASCAR history.
May: Ryan Newman and Juan Pablo Montoya got into it at Richmond, and may well have thrown some fists in the NASCAR hauler. Awesome, but the fights got even better ... In the throwdown of the year, Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch brawled after the Darlington race, with Harvick throwing punches and Busch driving right through Harvick's unmanned car ... Jimmie Johnson brought planking to NASCAR, but thankfully the phase passed pretty quickly ... Everybody welcome the 2011 NASCAR Hall of Fame class! ... Kyle Busch got tagged going 128 mph in a 45-mph zone. Whoops ... Memorial Day featured two of the most heartbreaking (which is not the same as "tragic") finishes, as both J.R. Hildebrand and Dale Earnhardt Jr. surrendered last-lap leads.
June: Brian Vickers skydove into Daytona International Speedway ... Jamie McMurray's childhood home was destroyed by tornadoes; this was a sobering picture of that ... Kyle Busch fought with Richard Childress? Wait, that can't be right ... More secret fines? Nice work, NASCAR ... Is Dale Earnhardt Jr. a future Hall of Famer? Stop laughing and think about it ... This was our biggest post of the year, and it wasn't even about NASCAR: Two cycles got hooked up and danced a dance of death! ... Jeff Gordon cameo'd in Cars 2, and we picked the greatest athlete cameos in movie history ... Kurt Busch berated his crew on the radio but won at Infineon. And surely there would be no negative blowback.
July: The Kentucky race was a decent one, as long as you weren't one of the 20,000 who didn't even get in or the thousands more who got stuck trying to get out ... NASCAR showed up to help save the world in Transformers 3 ... Jeff Gordon spent the off-week in the Congo. Of course he did ... Kyle Busch won his 100th NASCAR national series race, and the recognition of that drove quite a few folks a bit insane ... Simply the best NASCAR prerace invocation you'll ever see: Boogity, boogity, boogity, amen.
August: Brad Keselowski had a hard wreck in testing, but that was OK, because he was ranked in the 20s and not really much of a factor this season ... The best postrace interview of the year belonged to road-course ringer Boris Said, who teed off on Greg Biffle with an epic rant ... Matt Kenseth: funniest driver on Twitter. No kidding ... Danica Patrick prepared to jump to NASCAR full-time, and the earth briefly stopped spinning on its axis ... We would advise against eating anything you caught in the Bristol parking lot.
September: Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be at Hendrick through 2017 ... Several drivers declined a White House invitation, which instantly became a huge political issue ... The most horrifying picture you'll see all year, guaranteed ... Tony Stewart criticized the media for asking the same old questions. No big deal, as it looked like he wasn't going to be much of a factor in the Chase ... The last race of the regular season, Richmond, featured the most bizarre press conference in NASCAR history, capped by Kurt Busch ripping a transcript in half ... Oh, and Paul Menard might just have spun on team orders to give Kevin Harvick the Richmond win, leading to a new catchphrase: "Go to Channel 2."
October: Clint Bowyer closed one of the wilder free-agent bonanzas in recent memory by announcing he'd be driving for Michael Waltrip Racing in 2012 ... Charlotte Motor Speedway created the "funnel bacakonator," the most unhealthy food in human history ... Horrible tragedy: Indy 500 winner Dan Wheldon was killed in a Las Vegas IndyCar crash ... Check out the greatest Hot Wheels track in human history... More "team orders" drama with Jeff Gordon and Trevor Bayne at Talladega.
November: Jeremy Mayfield arrested for meth possession. But he really was innocent all those other times ... Kyle Busch crashed Ron Hornaday Jr. in a trucks race, and got himself parked for the Sprint Cup race for his trouble ... And then came the piling-on, as sponsors sought to distance themselves from Busch ... Coonskin Cap Man gives us a philosophy for life: get it, dig it like Dale Junior ... Carl Edwards and Tony Stewart starred in an epic pre-Homestead press conference ... In the end, it was Tony Stewart, winning on a tiebreaker, to take the 2011 Sprint Cup in one of the greatest races in the sport's history ... Stewart responded by firing winning crew chief Darian Grubb. Alas.
December: Champions Week in Vegas featured a fun "Newlywed Game" won by, of course, Tony Stewart ... Yes, Dale Earnhardt Jr. does have a girlfriend ... Kurt Busch and Penske Racing have parted ways, much to almost nobody's chagrin ... Crew chiefs and drivers switched seats and boxes like their old spots were infested with bees ... And the year ended with Kasey Kahne getting into a fight over breastfeeding. Of course it did.
And that was that! Thanks to all of you for joining us this year, and we'll all gather again for 2012, won't we?
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