Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Dale Junior on what it means to win the Daytona 500
Dale Earnhardt Jr. was well aware of how long it took his father to win his first and only Daytona 500. But he said he still never realized what it meant to win NASCAR's biggest race until he did himself. ?I had no idea what winning that race would feel like until I won it. I didn?t know what to compare that to. When you win that race it is really hard to explain. It?s just really hard to explain. All the things that you want out of life and all the pressures you put on yourself or you feel from other people all the things you want to accomplish; everybody sort of has this mountain in front of them that they put in front of themselves that they want to climb," Earnhardt said. ?For a moment or for a day you are at the top of that mountain. Nothing matters, all your wants and needs, all the problems you have little petty things that bother you everything goes away. You just feel like you have realized your full potential. Everything is sort of just maxed out for the day. All the things that you wanted to achieve. Obviously you set a lot of goals for yourself and that is just one of the goals. But just for a moment, just for that one day whether it is thirty minutes or an hour after you cross that finish line you feel like it can?t get any better than this. It is a pretty incredible emotion. I feel so lucky to have had that opportunity to experience it. It is such a special moment." Earnhardt said all the memories and feeling come flashing back any time he sees a replay of his 2004 500 victory. "Every time I see that I just think about how fortunate I feel to have won that race. Some of the greatest drivers come through this sport and don?t win it. It just doesn?t seem right, but only certain ones get that opportunity," he said.
Valsecchi fastest on opening day of GP2 testing
Former GP2 Asia champion Davide Valsecchi topped the opening GP2 test of the year at Jerez on Tuesday.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Did NASCAR wave caution flag too late in Nationwide race?
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. ? NASCAR?s hesitation to throw a caution flag on the final lap of the Nationwide Series race at Daytona Saturday came into question after the race. The yellow flag eventually came out before leader James Buescher made it to the finish line as the amount of debris and crumpled cars forced NASCAR?s hand.
Weather pushes Daytona 500 to Monday night
Inclement weather has again delayed the start of the Daytona 500.
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, [...]
NASCAR update on rain delay
NASCAR President Mike Helton provided Fox Sports an update on Sunday's rain-delayed 500: Q: The cars cannot race in the rain. We have been rain-shortened, we have been rain-delayed but we've never rained out. With all of the information available to you, what are we looking at? What is the contingency right now? It's one of those days here in Daytona where it pops up and falls off and pops up and falls off. But as the day progresses, we think the chances of the pop-ups diminish quite a bit. Hopefully this will be the last big cell we see and things will start falling apart and we can get the track dry and go on and get finish and run the Daytona 500 today. Q: I understand your crew has an unprecedented amount of equipment, jet dryers and other machinery to get the track as raceable as quickly as possible once the rain stops. HELTON: That is it needsto stop before we can begin the process of drying. So we areequipped. The International Speedway, the Daytona International Speedway, has every drying piece of machinery they got across the country here today, because we know that the fans at home and the fans here in Daytona want to see the race run, and we do, too. The sooner, the better.
Monday, February 27, 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, [...]
NHRA US MAC Tools Nationals ? O?Reilly Raceway Park
Wanted to throw these videos up real quick of John Force, and Ashley Force running qualifying night at ORP.
Starting lineup for Daytona 500
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. ? The Daytona 500 lineup is set.
Roush Fenway Racing captured the front row starting spots in Sunday?s qualifying session with Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle, respectively. Teammate Matt Kenseth will start fourth by virtue of winning today?s second Gatorade Duel with Stewart-Haas Racing?s Tony Stewart ? winner of the opening Duel ? in third position.
Roush Fenway Racing captured the front row starting spots in Sunday?s qualifying session with Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle, respectively. Teammate Matt Kenseth will start fourth by virtue of winning today?s second Gatorade Duel with Stewart-Haas Racing?s Tony Stewart ? winner of the opening Duel ? in third position.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Budweiser's role at Daytona grows
Budweiser and Daytona International Speedway announced on Friday the beer brand will take on an enhanced role in NASCAR?s season opening festivities. Beginning with the 2013 season, Budweiser will become the official title sponsor of Speedweeks ? the 10-day stretch of stock-car races from the Shootout to the Daytona 500. Budweiser also will secure entitlement of the Budweiser Duel at Daytona, the two 150-mile qualifying races that determine the starting lineup for the Daytona 500. These enhancements to Budweiser?s partnership with DIS will replace the brand?s existing entitlement of the season-opening, non-points Shootout, which concluded this season. ?Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway marks the official start of the NASCAR season, and the opportunity to expand our presence throughout the ten-day event puts Budweiser even more in the thick of it all,? said Brad Brown, vice president of sports & entertainment marketing, Anheuser-Busch. ?The Shootout has been an important element of our NASCAR program for 34 years, but this opportunity to enhance our partnership makes Budweiser even more relevant to our consumers as well as the fans of the Daytona 500.? As part of the sponsorship, Budweiser will also receive the presenting sponsorship of the Daytona 500 pre-race broadcast show. The brand will also receive increased access for consumer hospitality events, including naming rights to the 5th Turn hospitality area throughout Speedweeks.
James Buescher dodges wreck to win Daytona race
James Buescher was the surprise winner of the Nationwide Series opener at Daytona International Speedway, dodging a huge 11-car accident that wiped out the leaders on the final lap of Saturday's race.
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. [...]
Provisional for past champions unfair, Gordon says
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. ? Robby Gordon finished the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season 38th in the owner standings, three spots and 160 points from 35th. It was a critical miss for Gordon's underfunded, self-owned effort, as the top 35 teams are given guaranteed starting spots for the first five races of 2012.
That meant Gordon wasn't a lock for the 54th Daytona 500 ? and could miss the race for the first time since the year he opened his own NASCAR team in 2005.
But Gordon avoided that in Thursday's Gatorade Duels at Daytona ? the qualifying races that set the grid for the 500 ? and raced his No. 7 in to the field thanks to a ninth-place finish in the first race. He picked up one of four spots open to previously unqualified drivers in the qualifying races, and then railed on how another driver ? Terry Labonte ? joined the field.
"Obviously I [have] a lot of respect for Terry," Gordon began. "This is not a Terry Labonte thing. There's only eight cars that make the Daytona 500. He takes one of those spots, now seven guys make the Daytona 500. Four make it on qualifying races, three make it on speed. We're a small team, too. I guess I should hire [past champion] Kurt Busch and I could put my other car in the show, too. It's just not right."
Labonte, the 1996 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion, was locked in to the Daytona 500 by virtue of being the most recent series champion not already in. Despite having just the 31st-fastest speed in qualifying, Labonte was able to bank on a 16-year-old accomplishment to lock his way into the Daytona 500. The lock was so sure that Labonte, driving an underfunded Ford, was a start-and-park in Gordon's same qualifying race. Labonte completed just 12 of the 60 laps in the first Gatorade Duel, with the team announcing "vibration" as his reason for not continuing.
Of course, "vibration" couldn't be further from the truth. Labonte and his FAS Lane Racing team, used one of NASCAR's old-as-time rules that guarantees a spot in a race for the most recent past series champion not already qualified. Labonte, who won his second NASCAR Sprint Cup title in 1996, was that guy and made a decision knowing that the small team he drove for couldn't afford to wreck their Ford before Sunday's race.
Gordon understands that logic ? he played the start-and-park game in 2011 ? but that didn't change his ill will toward the champion's provisional rule.
"I think that should be based if you were with that team when you win the championship, not just because you win a championship, because that takes a spot from the teams that are working really hard to get in to the Daytona 500," Gordon said.
"Why take a free ride when the rest of us have to bust our butts to get in to the 500? It is what it is. It's the rules."
That meant Gordon wasn't a lock for the 54th Daytona 500 ? and could miss the race for the first time since the year he opened his own NASCAR team in 2005.
But Gordon avoided that in Thursday's Gatorade Duels at Daytona ? the qualifying races that set the grid for the 500 ? and raced his No. 7 in to the field thanks to a ninth-place finish in the first race. He picked up one of four spots open to previously unqualified drivers in the qualifying races, and then railed on how another driver ? Terry Labonte ? joined the field.
"Obviously I [have] a lot of respect for Terry," Gordon began. "This is not a Terry Labonte thing. There's only eight cars that make the Daytona 500. He takes one of those spots, now seven guys make the Daytona 500. Four make it on qualifying races, three make it on speed. We're a small team, too. I guess I should hire [past champion] Kurt Busch and I could put my other car in the show, too. It's just not right."
Labonte, the 1996 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion, was locked in to the Daytona 500 by virtue of being the most recent series champion not already in. Despite having just the 31st-fastest speed in qualifying, Labonte was able to bank on a 16-year-old accomplishment to lock his way into the Daytona 500. The lock was so sure that Labonte, driving an underfunded Ford, was a start-and-park in Gordon's same qualifying race. Labonte completed just 12 of the 60 laps in the first Gatorade Duel, with the team announcing "vibration" as his reason for not continuing.
Of course, "vibration" couldn't be further from the truth. Labonte and his FAS Lane Racing team, used one of NASCAR's old-as-time rules that guarantees a spot in a race for the most recent past series champion not already qualified. Labonte, who won his second NASCAR Sprint Cup title in 1996, was that guy and made a decision knowing that the small team he drove for couldn't afford to wreck their Ford before Sunday's race.
Gordon understands that logic ? he played the start-and-park game in 2011 ? but that didn't change his ill will toward the champion's provisional rule.
"I think that should be based if you were with that team when you win the championship, not just because you win a championship, because that takes a spot from the teams that are working really hard to get in to the Daytona 500," Gordon said.
"Why take a free ride when the rest of us have to bust our butts to get in to the 500? It is what it is. It's the rules."
Saturday, February 25, 2012
The 24 Best Car Pictures Of 2011
We've always disliked the word "snapshot." A picture isn't an instant in time. It's the tail end of a lot of talent and preparation, a good measure of luck, and a little bit of magic. It can raise pulses and change minds. It even can turn some awkward-looking rides from the real world into mythic, gorgeous machines. Pictures aren't always worth a...
DT Promotions, Whats Happening!
By Travis Dunbar
There is a lot happening in the next few weeks. Next week is the Annual Northeast Motorsports Expo show in Augusta, ME. DT Promotions will have Travis Dunbar there signing autographs and giving out informational brochures on Autism Spectrum Disorders and the Autism Society of Maine. Also, Travis Poulliot, Dunbar's Crew Cheif will also be in attendance to chat with folks about the team and it's equipment.
Next week the 2011 DT Promotions' season is underway. There is a limited time to get everything done and up and running for DT Promotions. The autograph session will take place at the Augusta Civic Center on Friday, January 7, 2011 from 6-8 p.m. So don't miss the session and your opportunity to speak with Travis Dunbar and Travis Poulliot personally.
There is a lot happening in the next few weeks. Next week is the Annual Northeast Motorsports Expo show in Augusta, ME. DT Promotions will have Travis Dunbar there signing autographs and giving out informational brochures on Autism Spectrum Disorders and the Autism Society of Maine. Also, Travis Poulliot, Dunbar's Crew Cheif will also be in attendance to chat with folks about the team and it's equipment.
Next week the 2011 DT Promotions' season is underway. There is a limited time to get everything done and up and running for DT Promotions. The autograph session will take place at the Augusta Civic Center on Friday, January 7, 2011 from 6-8 p.m. So don't miss the session and your opportunity to speak with Travis Dunbar and Travis Poulliot personally.
Duke denial: Bubba Watson can?t drive the General Lee at Phoenix track
The Confederate flag dots every NASCAR infield, but at least in one location, it's not welcome on the track.
PGA Tour golfer Bubba Watson -- stick with us here, we know where we're going -- owns one of the original General Lee cars, which he won at auction last month. Watson's also a close enough friend of driver Denny Hamlin that he's invited Hamlin to caddy for him at Augusta in April. And Watson, a Phoenix resident, wants to drive his new purchase around Phoenix International Raceway when Hamlin and the rest of NASCAR head there next month.
Alas, it's not to be. Watson, the honorary grand marshal, won't be permitted to drive the General Lee on the track. In other words, NASCAR did what Boss Hogg couldn't:
"NASCAR, International Speedway Corp. and Phoenix International Raceway officials discussed this and decided it was not in the best interest of our sport,'' NASCAR said in a statement. "The image of the Confederate flag is not something that should play an official role in our sport as we continue to reach out to new fans and make NASCAR more inclusive." Watson acknowledged the news without comment on Twitter.
This is going to rile up hardcore fans, but so be it. NASCAR has to play to a larger fanbase now; when your marquee event (the Daytona 500) draws 30 million viewers, you can't afford to appear attached to, shall we say, controversial symbols like the Confederate flag.
Score one for The Man. But we have a feeling Bubba will be back. Him n' the Duke boys are just cookin' somethin' up, we can feel it.
PGA Tour golfer Bubba Watson -- stick with us here, we know where we're going -- owns one of the original General Lee cars, which he won at auction last month. Watson's also a close enough friend of driver Denny Hamlin that he's invited Hamlin to caddy for him at Augusta in April. And Watson, a Phoenix resident, wants to drive his new purchase around Phoenix International Raceway when Hamlin and the rest of NASCAR head there next month.
Alas, it's not to be. Watson, the honorary grand marshal, won't be permitted to drive the General Lee on the track. In other words, NASCAR did what Boss Hogg couldn't:
"NASCAR, International Speedway Corp. and Phoenix International Raceway officials discussed this and decided it was not in the best interest of our sport,'' NASCAR said in a statement. "The image of the Confederate flag is not something that should play an official role in our sport as we continue to reach out to new fans and make NASCAR more inclusive." Watson acknowledged the news without comment on Twitter.
This is going to rile up hardcore fans, but so be it. NASCAR has to play to a larger fanbase now; when your marquee event (the Daytona 500) draws 30 million viewers, you can't afford to appear attached to, shall we say, controversial symbols like the Confederate flag.
Score one for The Man. But we have a feeling Bubba will be back. Him n' the Duke boys are just cookin' somethin' up, we can feel it.
Travis Pastrana Learns To Drive A Stock Car
By now you?ve heard that Travis Pastrana has given up on rallying for a career driving stock cars. He?s partnered with Michael Waltrip racing to campaign a Toyota in NASCAR?s Nationwide series, the same series that IndyCar?s Danica Patrick failed to make progress in last year. Pastrana bought his way into the team, so he [...]
Friday, February 24, 2012
22 Worst Crashes Of 2011, Bentley Crash, 2012 NACTOY: Today's Car News
The 2012 North American Car and Truck of the Year awards (NACTOY) are nearing completion, with the finalists named ahead of the announcement of the winners at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show. A Bentley driver went a bit haywire, crashing into a police car and seven others. And, if you can stomach it, we have 22 of the worst crashes of 2011 all in one...
Trevor Bayne's help gets friend into 500
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — A few years ago, when Trevor Bayne organized a Bible study group that eventually attracted a slew of NASCAR's youngest drivers, Michael McDowell was one of the first to join.
NASCAR officials confident in concussion policy
Since the death of Dale Earnhardt in 2001, NASCAR has taken sweeping steps to reduce the risk of head injuries. And when a driver does get hurt, NASCAR officials have established more comprehensive protocols to identify, track and treat concussions.
Tony Stewart's excellent explanation
Three-time Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart wasn't always a fan of the big pack racing at Daytona and Talladega, but given the choice between that and the two-car tandem racing which has dominated those tracks the past two seasons, he prefers the former. Saturday night after finishing second in the Budweiser Shootout, Stewart offered a very comprehensive explanation as to why he would rather run in the packs and why Saturday night's race may have been a lot more wild than what will take place in next Sunday's Daytona 500. "My point is this is better than having to sit there and stare at the back of a spoiler for 500 miles and not be able to see where you're going half the race. We had control of what lane we got to run in. We got to move whenever we wanted. You didn't have to not move because you had a guy behind you that you had to rely on making your decision on what he had to do also. We had more control as drivers today," Stewart said. "Look at the history of this race. They always crash here. Go to Talladega, they crash cars there. It's a yard sale every time we go to a restrictor "It's not that bad. It's the Bud Shootout. Everybody pushes the envelope. Everybody tries to see what that limit is, what that boundary is. When it comes to Sunday, you have to race 500 miles, you have to make it last till the end. It's not that they're not conscious of the fact you have to make it to lap 75 tonight, but you have the flexibility of not worrying about points standings and not worrying about the 500 title, losing it if you make a mistake tonight. "The competition is so tight, you have to try things tonight. If you don't, somebody else is and they're going to learn from it whether it's right, wrong or indifferent. You had to be aggressive tonight and you had to see what you can get away with. You have to try things. It's a great opportunity for trial and error. "As you saw tonight, it worked out sometimes and it didn't work out a lot of times. The guys that crashed, it didn't work out, there's something they took away from it and said, That didn't work out so well. Just like last night when I crashed Kurt (Busch), that wasn't even close to what I had in mind for practice, but that's what happened. It's part of the trial and error process. You have to go through that. "Forty-three cars can win this race a week from tomorrow. If you don't push yourself into figuring out what you can or can't do, I would rather do it with my Shootout car than I would with my 500 car."
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...
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Wreck ends Waltrip's Daytona 500 streak at 25
Michael Waltrip sat in a golf cart just outside the care center, stared at the ground and sheepishly placed both hands on his head.
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, [...]
Son of Fox Sports NASCAR host Chris Myers killed in auto accident
John Roberts will replace Chris Myers as host of Fox Sports? NASCAR coverage from Daytona International Speedway following the death of Myer?s son.
Dion von Moltke's blog: New car, new opportunity
"We certainly didn't get the result we had hoped for, but we have left Daytona with an incredible amount of race data and other information that will help us become much more competitive for the upcoming races."
NASCAR Race Season Comes To An End
Welcome NASCAR race fans to my NASCAR blog. The NASCAR Season has come to an end. For this fan, it was an exciting year. There were 18 different winners, 5 of them being first time winners. Although I think crowning a Champion based on the ten races of the chase is just manufactured excitement, what [...]
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Force India says F1 costs still too high
Formula 1 must do much more to bring down costs in the future, says Force India's deputy team principal Robert Fernley, if the sport is to remain sustainable.
NHRA US MAC Tools Nationals ? O?Reilly Raceway Park
Wanted to throw these videos up real quick of John Force, and Ashley Force running qualifying night at ORP.
2010 Michigan International Speedway Nascar Photos
The 2nd and final visit for NASCAR at MIS in 2010.
Chevy Performance Tests Its COPO Camaro Concept: Video
We last saw the Chevrolet Performance COPO Camaro concept in the parking lot of the 2011 SEMA show. Aside from the fact that it was built for NHRA Stock Eliminator competition and appeared to be (loosely) based on the upcoming ZL1 Camaro, we couldn’t provide you with many details. We still can’t give you numbers, since those behind the...
Ganassi team signs open wheel standout Larson
Earnhardt Ganassi Racing has signed 19-year-old racing standout Kyle Larson to a developmental contract, putting him on the path to a potential future in the Sprint Cup Series.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
ACT CANADIAN STARS TO INVADE NEW SMYRNA SPEEDWAY IN FEBRUARY
Waterbury, VT ? Quebec City racer Donald Theetge might have been the first Canadian to enter the American Canadian Tour (ACT) Goodyear Speedweek Cup event to be held at the New Smyrna Speedway in Florida, but the Canadian competitor list continues to lead the way toward the first-ever ACT events to be held during the World Series of Asphalt Short Track Racing in New Smyrna. The two 100-lap main events will be held on Sunday, February 13th and Monday, February 14th.
While many head to Daytona during Speedweeks in February, most asphalt short track fans can be found each night from February 10th-19th during the 10 days that is the World Series of Short Track racing in nearby New Smyrna, FL. The tradition of northern competitors heading to Florida from the days of Richie Evans, Jerry Cook, Bugsy Stevens and a host of the greatest from the Northeast Modified division to Late Model Canadian great Jr. Hanley--- New Smyrna has always been the place to be during the heart of the northern winters.
While many head to Daytona during Speedweeks in February, most asphalt short track fans can be found each night from February 10th-19th during the 10 days that is the World Series of Short Track racing in nearby New Smyrna, FL. The tradition of northern competitors heading to Florida from the days of Richie Evans, Jerry Cook, Bugsy Stevens and a host of the greatest from the Northeast Modified division to Late Model Canadian great Jr. Hanley--- New Smyrna has always been the place to be during the heart of the northern winters.
Daytona 500 Qualifying
Welcome NASCAR race fans to my NASCAR blog. The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series has begun with festivities leading up to the Daytona 500. The Budweiser Shootout has been run with Kyle Busch beating Tony Stewart to the Line. Sunday was the Coors Light Pole Qualifying. Coors Light Pole Qualifying is normally based on speeds in [...]
Lenny Kravitz to perform at the 2012 Daytona 500
Rock superstar Lenny Kravitz will perform the Daytona 500 Pre-Race Show, the pre-race extravaganza leading up to the start of ?The Great American Race? at Daytona International Speedway on Sunday, Feb. 26. Kravitz, who has sold more than 35 million albums and is the only musician in history to win the Grammy for best male vocals in rock music four times consecutively, will perform three songs prior to the start of the 54th annual Daytona 500 ? the season-opening event to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Allfans that purchase a Pre-Race/Sprint FANZONE access pass for the Daytona 500 will be able to view Kravitz?s Daytona 500 Pre-Race Show, as well as driver introductions, from the grass tri-oval area. "Lenny Kravitz is an iconic performer and multi-talented musician - he will deliver a rousing performance prior to the start of the 54th Daytona 500,? Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood III said. ?Race fans will experience a first-class, heart-pounding pre-race show that will serve as the perfect prelude to what will be an historic and thrilling afternoon of NASCAR racing on the high banks of Daytona.? In addition to his Daytona 500 Pre-Race Concert, a special ticket package designed around Kravitz has been created that includes a Daytona 500 ticket, Pre-Race/Sprint FANZONE access and VIP area access to Kravitz?s performance. Packages start at $164. For more information on tickets for the 54th annual Daytona 500 and Sprint FANZONE/Pre-Race access, race fans can go online at http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or call 1-800-PITSHOP.
Clip n? save: Danica Patrick?s 2012 NASCAR schedule
Heard about this young lady making her Sprint Cup debut in the Daytona 500? Name of Danica Patrick. Criminally underpublicized, but we'll do our best here to let you know about her. Hey, if Tony Stewart thinks she has the talent to win the Daytona 500, that's good enough for us.
[Dan Wetzel: Danica Patrick's foray into NASCAR is not a PR stunt]
Patrick will be running 10 Sprint Cup events this year, and you can bet that each one will have a torrent of publicity and hype ... hype that, lest we forget, would not be present without her presence. So if you're near one of these tracks, get ready for the Neon Green Tide:
Feb. 26: Daytona (Daytona 500)
May 12: Darlington
May 27: Charlotte (Coca-Cola 600)
Aug. 25: Bristol
Sept. 2: Atlanta
Sept. 16: Chicagoland
Sept. 30: Dover
Nov. 4: Texas
Nov. 11: Phoenix
Patrick will race one more as-yet-undetermined Sprint Cup race, depending on her level of development and needs. The Brickyard 400 at Indy in late July or a road course would appear to be a reasonable bet, though perhaps Stewart wants her to work at tracks where she has less experience.
Patrick will also run a complete Nationwide schedule, which you can see here. And if you miss a race, don't worry; chances are it might get covered somewhere on the Internet.
Other popular content on the Yahoo! network:
? The Lakers' Kobe Bryant is sick and tired of the Pau Gasol trade rumors
? Iona is one of five true mid-majors to fear in the NCAA tournament
? Jeff Passan: Baseball's top stories in 2012 won't overshadow the game
? Shine: Check out the most outlandish food-shaped automobiles in the nation
[Dan Wetzel: Danica Patrick's foray into NASCAR is not a PR stunt]
Patrick will be running 10 Sprint Cup events this year, and you can bet that each one will have a torrent of publicity and hype ... hype that, lest we forget, would not be present without her presence. So if you're near one of these tracks, get ready for the Neon Green Tide:
Feb. 26: Daytona (Daytona 500)
May 12: Darlington
May 27: Charlotte (Coca-Cola 600)
Aug. 25: Bristol
Sept. 2: Atlanta
Sept. 16: Chicagoland
Sept. 30: Dover
Nov. 4: Texas
Nov. 11: Phoenix
Patrick will race one more as-yet-undetermined Sprint Cup race, depending on her level of development and needs. The Brickyard 400 at Indy in late July or a road course would appear to be a reasonable bet, though perhaps Stewart wants her to work at tracks where she has less experience.
Patrick will also run a complete Nationwide schedule, which you can see here. And if you miss a race, don't worry; chances are it might get covered somewhere on the Internet.
Other popular content on the Yahoo! network:
? The Lakers' Kobe Bryant is sick and tired of the Pau Gasol trade rumors
? Iona is one of five true mid-majors to fear in the NCAA tournament
? Jeff Passan: Baseball's top stories in 2012 won't overshadow the game
? Shine: Check out the most outlandish food-shaped automobiles in the nation
Happy Hour: Why isn?t anyone picking Smoke to repeat?
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.
As you read this, I'm prepping for a trip to Daytona for Media Day, which is a big scrum where every single driver comes into a tent set up just outside Turn 4 and sits patiently for photos and questions. The big names have reporters three-deep; the lesser-knowns sit alone like the one drooling guy at a speed-date meetup. It's great fun, and we'll have updates for you all throughout Thursday.
For now, though, let's do battle with our readers.
Jay, you have Tony Stewart ranked 7th. 7TH! Come on, man!
? GG (via chat)
GG is referring to Yahoo!'s preseason predictions, which have been spooling out for a couple weeks now. On Monday, we dropped our Tony Stewart profile, which has Smoke ranked 5th overall. And none of us ranked Stewart higher than 4th. Which tracks pretty well across all publications; most observers are picking Carl Edwards, Jimmie Johnson or Kevin Harvick as the odds-on favorites.
[ Related: Top 20 countdown: No. 5 Tony Stewart ]
So why's nobody picking Tony Stewart? Didn't the guy just prove he's got what it takes to win a championship? Well ... sort of. Stewart got hot at exactly the right time, which seems to be the trend among champions these days, but that's not exactly the safe-money bet. Yes, Stewart COULD win with a new crew chief, but will he? I say no. Sorry, Smoke Nation. Don't hate me.
____________________
This may be the first of your "why is my driver ranked so low this pre-season?" questions! [Editor's note: Nope.] And here it is.
Yahoo! has Junior at 12th, and Kyle Busch at 6th. And public perception is that the Busch is the better driver. What is it the Brits say? Bollocks!
Over the course of their careers, Junior and Busch have average standings finishes (full seasons only) of 12.33 and 11.14 respectively. To be fair, since Busch became a full-time driver in 2005, Junior's average standing finish is 15th. However, if you look at the first seven seasons of Junior's career (Busch has raced seven full seasons), Junior's average standings finish was 9.57.
Moreover, Junior's average start and finish positions in races is 16.3 and 17.1 respectively. Not impressive? Busch's are 16.4 and 17.6, even less impressive. I believe in this case, perception is not reality. Who is the better driver now? It's hard to say now isn't it? You're only as good as your last race, or season.
Verdict: Junior.
? Jeff "Sarge" Smith
Statesboro, GA
This is some first-rate bravado by a Junior fan, I'll give you that. It's also a pretty cunning enemy-of-my-enemy thing; most Junior Haters would be hard-pressed to admit they liked Kyle Busch more than ol' Junebug.
That said: Sarge, you're insane. The statistics are skewed by Busch's tendency to tap out of races where he's not winning, as well as by Junior's exceptional pre-Car of Tomorrow run. Head to head, all else being equal, Kyle Busch is a better driver than Dale Earnhardt Jr. BUT Busch's tendency to self-destruct gives Junior an opening ... one he needs to seize this year.
____________________
Regarding the Kansas road course, I really like the idea of taking one of the races away from the oval, because once a year around that is quite enough. I also wholeheartedly agree with having a road race in the Chase, but with that being said, Kansas' road course doesn't sound like a prestigious setting for a road race, especially in the chase. Can you picture any driver bragging about winning there? Wouldn't you think Tony Stewart or Jeff Gordon would brag a whole lot more about winning at Road America or Laguna Seca? Seriously, how cool do these words sound together: "stock car" and "Corkscrew." I rest my case.
? Derek Jorde
Derek, I hope you're never within three states of Kansas; some of those Midwestern folk might not take kindly to your disparagement of their fine track. However, for the record, I agree with you; a Laguna Seca race would be amazing. Imagine the gang trying to navigate the Corkscrew:
Aside from schedule logistics, is there a real reason why NASCAR hasn't gone to Laguna Seca? Would the Corkscrew just dump everybody out like they'd tried to pass Juan Pablo Montoya? Help me out here.
____________________
Start the season with the top 35 guaranteed spots in the grid at Daytona. At Phoenix, only the top 34 are guaranteed spots. Las Vegas, only the top 33. Continue each race dropping one guaranteed spot [with two mulligans]. By the second race at Richmond, the guaranteed qualifying spots are down to 12...same as in the Chase. Then the following season, it's ALL "go-fast-or-go-home" qualifying...just like it used to be in the "good ol' days" of NASCAR.
Now...here's one MORE twist I'd like to see thrown in: only qualify 42 spots for the Cup regulars. For the 43rd spot, make it an option for the winner of that week's Nationwide Series race to have an automatic berth, or at least the highest-placing Nationwide Series regular. If the specified Nationwide driver declines, then the spot goes to the 43rd fastest qualifier. I realize it'd be tough as hell to implement, but I think it would help the Cup fans begin to relate to the second-tier series' drivers a lot better than they currently do.
? Mark "Buzz" Knight
New Salisbury, IN
I haven't found anyone against making qualifying harder, with the exception of people who, you know, actually invest money in NASCAR. Much as I love the idea above ? or one that Geoffrey Miller suggested on Twitter this week, heat races to determine starting slots ? we're looking at more of the same. Sorry, folks.
____________________
Is Kasey Kahne the first driver to drive for all 4 manufacturers? I can't think of anyone else that has done that. Now he could become the first to win in each of the manufactures.
? Jack Clark
He's actually not; as this article from last fall notes, Bobby and Terry Labonte, Michael Waltrip, Ken Schrader, Joe Nemechek, David Gilliland, Dave Blaney, Robby Gordon and J.J. Yeley have all done the Manufacturer Grand Slam. Interestingly, Bobby Labonte drove for six manufacturers (also Pontiac and Oldsmobile) and Buck Baker drover for 13 back in the day.
Another note: at Hendrick, Kahne joins three guys who likely will end their careers driving for only one manufacturer. Which explains Kasey's new nickname: "Tramp."
And finally, we close out the offseason on a note of grace and tenderness ...
____________________
Go away Jay. People don't give a [flip] about nasty car ... it [censored]s everyone;s [hindquarters]. It'll die soon enough.
? Mr. NASCAR [censored]s my [hindquarters]
Incest, Alabama
Incest, Alabama. Great place to raise a family.
And on that 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 content on Yahoo! Sports:
? Video: Kentucky's Anthony Davis has competition for player of the year
? Analyst Ron Jaworski removed from 'Monday Night Football'
? Athletes bare skin in Sports Illustrated's Swimsuit issue | Photos: Cover girl Kate Upton
As you read this, I'm prepping for a trip to Daytona for Media Day, which is a big scrum where every single driver comes into a tent set up just outside Turn 4 and sits patiently for photos and questions. The big names have reporters three-deep; the lesser-knowns sit alone like the one drooling guy at a speed-date meetup. It's great fun, and we'll have updates for you all throughout Thursday.
For now, though, let's do battle with our readers.
Jay, you have Tony Stewart ranked 7th. 7TH! Come on, man!
? GG (via chat)
GG is referring to Yahoo!'s preseason predictions, which have been spooling out for a couple weeks now. On Monday, we dropped our Tony Stewart profile, which has Smoke ranked 5th overall. And none of us ranked Stewart higher than 4th. Which tracks pretty well across all publications; most observers are picking Carl Edwards, Jimmie Johnson or Kevin Harvick as the odds-on favorites.
[ Related: Top 20 countdown: No. 5 Tony Stewart ]
So why's nobody picking Tony Stewart? Didn't the guy just prove he's got what it takes to win a championship? Well ... sort of. Stewart got hot at exactly the right time, which seems to be the trend among champions these days, but that's not exactly the safe-money bet. Yes, Stewart COULD win with a new crew chief, but will he? I say no. Sorry, Smoke Nation. Don't hate me.
____________________
This may be the first of your "why is my driver ranked so low this pre-season?" questions! [Editor's note: Nope.] And here it is.
Yahoo! has Junior at 12th, and Kyle Busch at 6th. And public perception is that the Busch is the better driver. What is it the Brits say? Bollocks!
Over the course of their careers, Junior and Busch have average standings finishes (full seasons only) of 12.33 and 11.14 respectively. To be fair, since Busch became a full-time driver in 2005, Junior's average standing finish is 15th. However, if you look at the first seven seasons of Junior's career (Busch has raced seven full seasons), Junior's average standings finish was 9.57.
Moreover, Junior's average start and finish positions in races is 16.3 and 17.1 respectively. Not impressive? Busch's are 16.4 and 17.6, even less impressive. I believe in this case, perception is not reality. Who is the better driver now? It's hard to say now isn't it? You're only as good as your last race, or season.
Verdict: Junior.
? Jeff "Sarge" Smith
Statesboro, GA
This is some first-rate bravado by a Junior fan, I'll give you that. It's also a pretty cunning enemy-of-my-enemy thing; most Junior Haters would be hard-pressed to admit they liked Kyle Busch more than ol' Junebug.
That said: Sarge, you're insane. The statistics are skewed by Busch's tendency to tap out of races where he's not winning, as well as by Junior's exceptional pre-Car of Tomorrow run. Head to head, all else being equal, Kyle Busch is a better driver than Dale Earnhardt Jr. BUT Busch's tendency to self-destruct gives Junior an opening ... one he needs to seize this year.
____________________
Regarding the Kansas road course, I really like the idea of taking one of the races away from the oval, because once a year around that is quite enough. I also wholeheartedly agree with having a road race in the Chase, but with that being said, Kansas' road course doesn't sound like a prestigious setting for a road race, especially in the chase. Can you picture any driver bragging about winning there? Wouldn't you think Tony Stewart or Jeff Gordon would brag a whole lot more about winning at Road America or Laguna Seca? Seriously, how cool do these words sound together: "stock car" and "Corkscrew." I rest my case.
? Derek Jorde
Derek, I hope you're never within three states of Kansas; some of those Midwestern folk might not take kindly to your disparagement of their fine track. However, for the record, I agree with you; a Laguna Seca race would be amazing. Imagine the gang trying to navigate the Corkscrew:
Aside from schedule logistics, is there a real reason why NASCAR hasn't gone to Laguna Seca? Would the Corkscrew just dump everybody out like they'd tried to pass Juan Pablo Montoya? Help me out here.
____________________
Start the season with the top 35 guaranteed spots in the grid at Daytona. At Phoenix, only the top 34 are guaranteed spots. Las Vegas, only the top 33. Continue each race dropping one guaranteed spot [with two mulligans]. By the second race at Richmond, the guaranteed qualifying spots are down to 12...same as in the Chase. Then the following season, it's ALL "go-fast-or-go-home" qualifying...just like it used to be in the "good ol' days" of NASCAR.
Now...here's one MORE twist I'd like to see thrown in: only qualify 42 spots for the Cup regulars. For the 43rd spot, make it an option for the winner of that week's Nationwide Series race to have an automatic berth, or at least the highest-placing Nationwide Series regular. If the specified Nationwide driver declines, then the spot goes to the 43rd fastest qualifier. I realize it'd be tough as hell to implement, but I think it would help the Cup fans begin to relate to the second-tier series' drivers a lot better than they currently do.
? Mark "Buzz" Knight
New Salisbury, IN
I haven't found anyone against making qualifying harder, with the exception of people who, you know, actually invest money in NASCAR. Much as I love the idea above ? or one that Geoffrey Miller suggested on Twitter this week, heat races to determine starting slots ? we're looking at more of the same. Sorry, folks.
____________________
Is Kasey Kahne the first driver to drive for all 4 manufacturers? I can't think of anyone else that has done that. Now he could become the first to win in each of the manufactures.
? Jack Clark
He's actually not; as this article from last fall notes, Bobby and Terry Labonte, Michael Waltrip, Ken Schrader, Joe Nemechek, David Gilliland, Dave Blaney, Robby Gordon and J.J. Yeley have all done the Manufacturer Grand Slam. Interestingly, Bobby Labonte drove for six manufacturers (also Pontiac and Oldsmobile) and Buck Baker drover for 13 back in the day.
Another note: at Hendrick, Kahne joins three guys who likely will end their careers driving for only one manufacturer. Which explains Kasey's new nickname: "Tramp."
And finally, we close out the offseason on a note of grace and tenderness ...
____________________
Go away Jay. People don't give a [flip] about nasty car ... it [censored]s everyone;s [hindquarters]. It'll die soon enough.
? Mr. NASCAR [censored]s my [hindquarters]
Incest, Alabama
Incest, Alabama. Great place to raise a family.
And on that 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 content on Yahoo! Sports:
? Video: Kentucky's Anthony Davis has competition for player of the year
? Analyst Ron Jaworski removed from 'Monday Night Football'
? Athletes bare skin in Sports Illustrated's Swimsuit issue | Photos: Cover girl Kate Upton
Monday, February 20, 2012
Daytona 500 Qualifying
Welcome NASCAR race fans to my NASCAR blog. The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series has begun with festivities leading up to the Daytona 500. The Budweiser Shootout has been run with Kyle Busch beating Tony Stewart to the Line. Sunday was the Coors Light Pole Qualifying. Coors Light Pole Qualifying is normally based on speeds in [...]
NASCAR Race Review: Ford 200
Welcome NASCAR race fans to my NASCAR blog. This is Ford Champion Weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The first of the Ford races was the Ford 200 race to determine the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Champion. Three drivers are still in the running for the championship as the race begins. Rain canceled the qualifying for [...]
Points deal guarantees Danica Patrick entry into Daytona 500
Rest easy, Danica Patrick fans: your lady is going to be driving in the Daytona 500 no matter what.
[ NASCAR preseason countdown: No. 14 AJ Allmendinger]
Stewart-Haas Racing, Patrick's team, has arranged to transfer necessary points from Dave Blaney's No. 36 of Tommy Baldwin Racing, meaning Patrick won't have to qualify on speed but Blaney will. Blaney finished inside the top 35 in owner's points last year, 32nd to be exact, which means he's guaranteed entry into the first five races. Blaney does have good experience with qualifying, and fewer race teams on the track (thanks to the departure of Red Bull and the contraction of Roush Fenway, among other moves) means the opportunity to get in on speed isn't quite as difficult as it might have been.
Here's how the deal shakes out: Stewart-Haas Racing has "entered into a collaborative partnership" with Tommy Baldwin Racing so that, technically speaking, TBR is now fielding Patrick's No. 10 GoDaddy.com Chevy Impala, not just for the Daytona 500 but for all 10 of the races Patrick will run at the Sprint Cup level. TBR is thus now a two-car team, and SHR goes back to being a two-car team. Makes perfect sense, right?
[ThePostGame: NASCAR's Dale Earnhardt Jr. opens up about girlfriend]
If all this leaves a bit of an unsavory taste in your mouth, you're not alone; points-swapping is one of the more oily aspects of the NASCAR race experience. It's common, it's done every single year, but that doesn't make the wheeling-and-dealing, not racing for position, sit any easier.
Patrick already has enough problems with the perception that she's been handed opportunities at turn after turn, and this latest move, leapfrogging into the Great American Race, will do nothing to stem that perception. Yes, it's a marketing necessity, given the investment in Patrick, and yes, she's a talented driver in her own right, but the stakes are growing higher with every benefit she receives. Going to be one hell of an interesting race to watch.
Patrick locked into Daytona 500, thanks to TBR [NASCAR.com]
Other popular content on Yahoo! Sports:
? ThePostGame: Bishop asks Manny Pacquaio to be like Tim Tebow
? Big League Stew: Why Mark Cuban didn't buy the Los Angeles Dodgers
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[ NASCAR preseason countdown: No. 14 AJ Allmendinger]
Stewart-Haas Racing, Patrick's team, has arranged to transfer necessary points from Dave Blaney's No. 36 of Tommy Baldwin Racing, meaning Patrick won't have to qualify on speed but Blaney will. Blaney finished inside the top 35 in owner's points last year, 32nd to be exact, which means he's guaranteed entry into the first five races. Blaney does have good experience with qualifying, and fewer race teams on the track (thanks to the departure of Red Bull and the contraction of Roush Fenway, among other moves) means the opportunity to get in on speed isn't quite as difficult as it might have been.
Here's how the deal shakes out: Stewart-Haas Racing has "entered into a collaborative partnership" with Tommy Baldwin Racing so that, technically speaking, TBR is now fielding Patrick's No. 10 GoDaddy.com Chevy Impala, not just for the Daytona 500 but for all 10 of the races Patrick will run at the Sprint Cup level. TBR is thus now a two-car team, and SHR goes back to being a two-car team. Makes perfect sense, right?
[ThePostGame: NASCAR's Dale Earnhardt Jr. opens up about girlfriend]
If all this leaves a bit of an unsavory taste in your mouth, you're not alone; points-swapping is one of the more oily aspects of the NASCAR race experience. It's common, it's done every single year, but that doesn't make the wheeling-and-dealing, not racing for position, sit any easier.
Patrick already has enough problems with the perception that she's been handed opportunities at turn after turn, and this latest move, leapfrogging into the Great American Race, will do nothing to stem that perception. Yes, it's a marketing necessity, given the investment in Patrick, and yes, she's a talented driver in her own right, but the stakes are growing higher with every benefit she receives. Going to be one hell of an interesting race to watch.
Patrick locked into Daytona 500, thanks to TBR [NASCAR.com]
Other popular content on Yahoo! Sports:
? ThePostGame: Bishop asks Manny Pacquaio to be like Tim Tebow
? Big League Stew: Why Mark Cuban didn't buy the Los Angeles Dodgers
? Lakers show interest in Cavaliers' Ramon Sessions | Video: Look for their groove
DT Promotions, Whats Happening!
By Travis Dunbar
There is a lot happening in the next few weeks. Next week is the Annual Northeast Motorsports Expo show in Augusta, ME. DT Promotions will have Travis Dunbar there signing autographs and giving out informational brochures on Autism Spectrum Disorders and the Autism Society of Maine. Also, Travis Poulliot, Dunbar's Crew Cheif will also be in attendance to chat with folks about the team and it's equipment.
Next week the 2011 DT Promotions' season is underway. There is a limited time to get everything done and up and running for DT Promotions. The autograph session will take place at the Augusta Civic Center on Friday, January 7, 2011 from 6-8 p.m. So don't miss the session and your opportunity to speak with Travis Dunbar and Travis Poulliot personally.
There is a lot happening in the next few weeks. Next week is the Annual Northeast Motorsports Expo show in Augusta, ME. DT Promotions will have Travis Dunbar there signing autographs and giving out informational brochures on Autism Spectrum Disorders and the Autism Society of Maine. Also, Travis Poulliot, Dunbar's Crew Cheif will also be in attendance to chat with folks about the team and it's equipment.
Next week the 2011 DT Promotions' season is underway. There is a limited time to get everything done and up and running for DT Promotions. The autograph session will take place at the Augusta Civic Center on Friday, January 7, 2011 from 6-8 p.m. So don't miss the session and your opportunity to speak with Travis Dunbar and Travis Poulliot personally.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Cole Whitt, JR Motorsports to have sponsorship from Ingersoll Rand
JR Motorsports driver Cole Whitt will have associate sponsorship from Ingersoll Rand for the 2012 season, with the tools company also serving as primary sponsor for the Nationwide race in May at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Busch edges Stewart in wild Bud Shootout at Daytona
In what turned out to be a frantic night of racing at Daytona International Speedway, Kyle Busch bounced back from two near wrecks and then beat reigning Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart to the finish line by inches to win Saturday's Budweiser Shootout at Daytona.
Saturday, February 18, 2012
NASCAR Race Review: Ford 300
Welcome NASCAR race fans to my NASCAR blog. NASCAR Ford Champion Weekend is at the Homestead-Miami Speedway in southern Florida. Friday was the Ford 200 for the Camping World Trucks and Johnny Sauter did all he could by leading the most laps and winning the race. But Austin Dillon won the Championship, the youngest driver [...]
Jimmie Johnson on 2011: No depression, plenty of regrets
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. ? Losing sucks.
For the first time since 2006, Jimmie Johnson arrives in Daytona as an also-ran, and for a guy who's spent the last half-decade carving his name into NASCAR bedrock, that burns.
Showing up for customary crack-of-dawn Media Day slot looking fit and relaxed, Johnson nonetheless seethes at how 2011 turned out: the "6" attached to his name turned out to be his season finish, not his championship number. And although Johnson didn't say it in so many words, there was plenty of blame to go around. "It's on all our shoulders," he delicately put it.
This time last year, Johnson and crew chief Chad Knaus were holding the equivalent of American Idol-style rotating pit crew auditions, with every team member's job only as secure as the next fumbled tire or lug nut. But Johnson enters 2012 with an established crew and a sense of purpose: to remind people that his run at immortality isn't over, just perhaps on temporary pause.
Over the offseason, Johnson and Knaus realized that they recognized too late a truth about all empires: what gets you there can't keep you there. The tricks and techniques that put the 48 team on top and kept them there for half a decade wore thin; other teams watched and learned. Johnson could hold off Carl Edwards in 2008 and Mark Martin in 2009, but he needed all the way until Homestead to run down Hamlin in 2010.
"Over the six years, we didn't change as much as we needed to, or evolve," Johnson said. "Chad and I were good at trying to reinvent ourselves, but now looking back at ourselves, we've gone to different depths, different levels."
And it wasn't just the 48 team falling short; it was others stepping up. "At the same time, the garage area has been extremely focused on what we've been doing," he added. "They caught us, and we got beat."
What changed? What kept the 48 team from Cup No. 6? For Johnson's part, the issue was communication. While he takes pride in his ability to diagnose a car from behind the wheel, he acknowledged that it's a skill you can't ever take for granted, and can't ever stop refining.
"How I provide information, what I'm looking at ... I felt like I was one of the most in-depth drivers out there [in terms of sizing up a car's needs]," Johnson said. "But because of the loss, I've been able to dig deeper and get away from the road map that we've built."
Combine that with the kind of drive that fuels champions when they get their butts handed to them ? relatively speaking, of course ? and you've got a serious threat Cup in 2012, so much so that the NASCAR media picked Johnson to edge Carl Edwards for the championship.
The only question that threw Johnson? Whether he was as nervous as he'd ever been last year when he realized the championship streak was slipping through his fingers. He paused for a long moment, acknowledging that he was probably more nervous his first year when he was trying to establish himself. But there was no doubt in his eyes ... he's every bit as hungry as he was back then. The message: don't ever count him out.
For the first time since 2006, Jimmie Johnson arrives in Daytona as an also-ran, and for a guy who's spent the last half-decade carving his name into NASCAR bedrock, that burns.
Showing up for customary crack-of-dawn Media Day slot looking fit and relaxed, Johnson nonetheless seethes at how 2011 turned out: the "6" attached to his name turned out to be his season finish, not his championship number. And although Johnson didn't say it in so many words, there was plenty of blame to go around. "It's on all our shoulders," he delicately put it.
This time last year, Johnson and crew chief Chad Knaus were holding the equivalent of American Idol-style rotating pit crew auditions, with every team member's job only as secure as the next fumbled tire or lug nut. But Johnson enters 2012 with an established crew and a sense of purpose: to remind people that his run at immortality isn't over, just perhaps on temporary pause.
Over the offseason, Johnson and Knaus realized that they recognized too late a truth about all empires: what gets you there can't keep you there. The tricks and techniques that put the 48 team on top and kept them there for half a decade wore thin; other teams watched and learned. Johnson could hold off Carl Edwards in 2008 and Mark Martin in 2009, but he needed all the way until Homestead to run down Hamlin in 2010.
"Over the six years, we didn't change as much as we needed to, or evolve," Johnson said. "Chad and I were good at trying to reinvent ourselves, but now looking back at ourselves, we've gone to different depths, different levels."
And it wasn't just the 48 team falling short; it was others stepping up. "At the same time, the garage area has been extremely focused on what we've been doing," he added. "They caught us, and we got beat."
What changed? What kept the 48 team from Cup No. 6? For Johnson's part, the issue was communication. While he takes pride in his ability to diagnose a car from behind the wheel, he acknowledged that it's a skill you can't ever take for granted, and can't ever stop refining.
"How I provide information, what I'm looking at ... I felt like I was one of the most in-depth drivers out there [in terms of sizing up a car's needs]," Johnson said. "But because of the loss, I've been able to dig deeper and get away from the road map that we've built."
Combine that with the kind of drive that fuels champions when they get their butts handed to them ? relatively speaking, of course ? and you've got a serious threat Cup in 2012, so much so that the NASCAR media picked Johnson to edge Carl Edwards for the championship.
The only question that threw Johnson? Whether he was as nervous as he'd ever been last year when he realized the championship streak was slipping through his fingers. He paused for a long moment, acknowledging that he was probably more nervous his first year when he was trying to establish himself. But there was no doubt in his eyes ... he's every bit as hungry as he was back then. The message: don't ever count him out.
Stewart goes into 2012 with new crew chief
Over the closing weeks of last season, Steve Addington had been led to believe he would be Tony Stewart's crew chief in 2012.
Friday, February 17, 2012
Homestead-Miami: Championship Weekend
Welcome NASCAR race fans to my NASCAR blog. The NASCAR season is coming to an end with the final races in all three top NASCAR Series’ at the Homestead-Miami Speedway. In all three Series’, no driver has clinched the title yet. The season will come down to crowning a Champion based on the final race. [...]
PASS will be well represented at Northeast Motorsports Expo
NAPLES ME (January 4) This weekend the 23rd annual Northeast Motorsports Expo will provide racers and race fans some welcome relief from the winter doldrums and as always the Pro All Stars Series will be out in force. The grand daddy of Maine racing shows is slated for Friday, Saturday and Sunday January 7, 8 and 9 and the list of exhibitors and vendors for 2011 is long and varied
PASS fans will have the opportunity to meet and greet the 2010 Champions in all three PASS North touring series. 2010 PASS North super late model champion Johnny Clark, PASS Mod titlist Andy Shaw, and PASS Sportsman champ Dan McKeage will all be at the autograph table throughout the weekend.
PASS fans will have the opportunity to meet and greet the 2010 Champions in all three PASS North touring series. 2010 PASS North super late model champion Johnny Clark, PASS Mod titlist Andy Shaw, and PASS Sportsman champ Dan McKeage will all be at the autograph table throughout the weekend.
IndyCar eliminates double-file restarts at 3 ovals
IndyCar officials will eliminate double-file restarts this season at three ovals - Indianapolis, Texas and Fontana.
NI Top 25: Jimmie Johnson goes from being hunted to being the hunter
Jimmie Johnson and his No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports team will play the role of hunter instead of the hunted for the first time in six years.
While it?s an unusual position for them to be in, Johnson believes it comes with some advantages.
While it?s an unusual position for them to be in, Johnson believes it comes with some advantages.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Happy Hour: Should NASCAR distance itself from wrestling?
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.
Dig this! It's our last non-racing week until Thanksgiving! So let's get rolling with some discussion of non-racing racing topics, shall we? Take it away, readers ...
If Daytona is going to get John Cena as the starter, why not go all in? Get Grave Digger as pace car. Let Newt, Mitt and Obama debate whether the halfway purse is really a government handout. Bigfoot can run out on the track with 10 laps left and cause the phantom "bunch the field" late race caution. Have Snooki and Kim Kardashian act as Sprint Cup Girls and get Larry the Cable Guy and Jeff Foxworthy to commentate the race. Heck, Let Maury Povich do postrace interviews with the Busch brothers, and Dr. Phil can interview the runner up.
Can't NASCAR stand on its own two feet? It already has to fight misguided stereotypes. Why add more?
? Brian Hay
@hay_brian
Orange County, Calif.
I get what you're saying here, but let's remember that the Super Bowl just featured an aging glamour icon as its centerpiece ... oh, and Madonna too, who made almost as many headlines as Tom Brady did. Point being: it's not about sports anymore, especially in these big-time events; it's about the spectacle. I don't have a problem with Cena being a part of the festivities, though I get that people want to distance NASCAR from the "fake wrestling" image. (Conspiracy theorists take note: which driver compared NASCAR to the WWE? The same one who just won the championship! They totally co-opted Tony Stewart!)
Now, I will say that I'm with you on the obvious pandering, like Snooki last year at Richmond. But as long as they don't start putting gimmicks behind the wheel, I'm good. (And ... cue the Danica Patrick haters!)
____________________
Sorry to say but I have always (since 1984) belonged to the group that did NOT love Dale Earnhardt. But since Dale Earnhardt Jr. started in Cup, he's seemed to be more his mother's son. A little softer around the edges, so to speak. He had the drive but none of the arrogant "get out of the way, I'm coming through" mentality. That being said, am I the only one to notice that he hasn't been the same since his concussion in Texas (which he covered up) and his flaming crash in the Corvette which he claimed to have had help from his Dad to escape? I do belong to Junior Nation but I'm just saying...
? Concerned Mary in Indiana
Take heart, Mary; I don't believe that Junior's wrecks have damaged him beyond repair. I've heard the "fiery Corvette wreck" story before, but that strikes me as more after-the-fact justification than cause-and-effect. What I think we're seeing is that Junior's "softness around the edges," which I don't mean as a criticism, may be part of the difference between him and a championship driver.
Still, check out video from the wreck, from 2004. Pay attention to what the cockpit looks like at about the 1:15 mark:
Sweet heaven. I think I'd walk everywhere in my life after that.
____________________
As a fan of NASCAR for almost 60 years what I would love to see is a race with "stock cars." Have NASCAR buy eight stock cars from the four different manufactures that race in NASCAR and have them basically stock except safety equipment. Assign drivers at random to the cars and race them for a hundred miles and see what happens. It would be even more fun if they were made to race with stock tires, and stock transmissions. And run the infield course like they do in the 24hrs. just before the 500. No pit stops, the car stops it's out of the race. I think the stock tires would really give the fans something great to watch. I don't think any car would last 100 miles today. Could prove me wrong, though.
? Dan
I'll do you one better. Give the drivers one hour to go to the nearest dealership, make a deal, get back with the car and drive. Or, hell, have fans volunteer their cars for their favorite driver. Who wouldn't want to see Tony Stewart tooling a minivan around the track, trying to hold off Carl Edwards in a Ford Fiesta?
____________________
With the news that Kansas will be adding a road course in time for the 2013 season, there is now an easy fix to getting a road course in the Chase. At Kansas NASCAR can now run the oval in the Spring and the road course in the Fall. No schedule shuffling or another track losing one of its weekends, and many fans will be happy that there is finally a road course in the Chase. The racing at Kansas has never been that great, so now you have 2 races at the same track but 2 different racing configurations. This would also challenge the drivers as the cars/setups would be completely different. What do you think?
? Jim
Sterling, Va.
Works for me. Kansas is already angling for a night race for that second race. Now, the idea of throwing a completely new track into the mix in the Chase would probably make drivers mad enough to throw kittens.
For a more on-the-ground perspective, I asked our Nick Bromberg, a Kansas aficionado, what he thought. "I actually LOVE the idea because I love road racing," he said. (Yes, I can get a quote from Nick in instants. Jealous?) "However, and this is just me thinking out loud, would the Cup cars have an issue going from banking and a couple of banked turns to a bunch of flat ones within the course of a lap? It doesn't seem like much of a road course for a Cup car, honestly ... five to seven turns, depending on what counts as a corner."
Next, in response to my idea from last week of a consolation race for the drivers who didn't make it into the week's race on speed or points ...
____________________
I love the idea, Jay, but I think it would be better taking it one step further. Say 42 cars qualify for the race like the current system, then have the 10-lap opening act, with the winner transferring the main event, kinda like our small local short track racing. I would tune in for the pre-race coverage for once, and maybe watch it live instead of DVR'd. NASCAR needs to do something to spice it up a little, and make fans believe they're not as biased as they seem.
? Greg LeJeune
Gladstone, Mich.
Boom. That's it. That's your idea. The only problem I see is logistically; the track is a mess on race day with people going to and fro, hanging out on the pavement to watch the musical act, signing the finish line with Sharpies, or wearing all white and sitting veeeery still against the SAFER barriers. ("This is gonna be the best seat EVER!") Maybe just a foot race? Potato sack? Three-legged with the driver and his crew chief? There's gotta be a way to make this happen.
____________________
I find it amusing that we're talking about Danica using her looks to get into NASCAR. I can't think of a single one of the male drivers who isn't good looking, too. It's what sponsors want. Danica stands out simply because she's the most visible woman at this level. All of the rest of them are selling sex appeal, too, just in a more subtle way. Ask any female fan.
? Alex Sargeant
Seattle
Hmm. In the interest of preserving future access and not getting my clock cleaned at Media Day, I'll refrain from providing a rebuttal to your "all the male drivers are good looking" thesis. I will say that while a guy like Carl Edwards doesn't embarrass himself when he runs around shirtless and greased up for magazine shoots (and probably summons up a few confused feelings in some fans while he does so), there are many more drivers whom I'm very happy to see in full-body firesuits, and ONLY full-body firesuits.
Finally, today in spam:
____________________
?? ???????? ??????????? ??????????? ?????? ???? ????? ?? ??????
???????? ????? ??????????? ????? ???????.
???????? ?????!!!
? ????????? ??????
Somebody keep Ward Burton away from the computer, please.
And on that 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!
Dig this! It's our last non-racing week until Thanksgiving! So let's get rolling with some discussion of non-racing racing topics, shall we? Take it away, readers ...
If Daytona is going to get John Cena as the starter, why not go all in? Get Grave Digger as pace car. Let Newt, Mitt and Obama debate whether the halfway purse is really a government handout. Bigfoot can run out on the track with 10 laps left and cause the phantom "bunch the field" late race caution. Have Snooki and Kim Kardashian act as Sprint Cup Girls and get Larry the Cable Guy and Jeff Foxworthy to commentate the race. Heck, Let Maury Povich do postrace interviews with the Busch brothers, and Dr. Phil can interview the runner up.
Can't NASCAR stand on its own two feet? It already has to fight misguided stereotypes. Why add more?
? Brian Hay
@hay_brian
Orange County, Calif.
I get what you're saying here, but let's remember that the Super Bowl just featured an aging glamour icon as its centerpiece ... oh, and Madonna too, who made almost as many headlines as Tom Brady did. Point being: it's not about sports anymore, especially in these big-time events; it's about the spectacle. I don't have a problem with Cena being a part of the festivities, though I get that people want to distance NASCAR from the "fake wrestling" image. (Conspiracy theorists take note: which driver compared NASCAR to the WWE? The same one who just won the championship! They totally co-opted Tony Stewart!)
Now, I will say that I'm with you on the obvious pandering, like Snooki last year at Richmond. But as long as they don't start putting gimmicks behind the wheel, I'm good. (And ... cue the Danica Patrick haters!)
____________________
Sorry to say but I have always (since 1984) belonged to the group that did NOT love Dale Earnhardt. But since Dale Earnhardt Jr. started in Cup, he's seemed to be more his mother's son. A little softer around the edges, so to speak. He had the drive but none of the arrogant "get out of the way, I'm coming through" mentality. That being said, am I the only one to notice that he hasn't been the same since his concussion in Texas (which he covered up) and his flaming crash in the Corvette which he claimed to have had help from his Dad to escape? I do belong to Junior Nation but I'm just saying...
? Concerned Mary in Indiana
Take heart, Mary; I don't believe that Junior's wrecks have damaged him beyond repair. I've heard the "fiery Corvette wreck" story before, but that strikes me as more after-the-fact justification than cause-and-effect. What I think we're seeing is that Junior's "softness around the edges," which I don't mean as a criticism, may be part of the difference between him and a championship driver.
Still, check out video from the wreck, from 2004. Pay attention to what the cockpit looks like at about the 1:15 mark:
Sweet heaven. I think I'd walk everywhere in my life after that.
____________________
As a fan of NASCAR for almost 60 years what I would love to see is a race with "stock cars." Have NASCAR buy eight stock cars from the four different manufactures that race in NASCAR and have them basically stock except safety equipment. Assign drivers at random to the cars and race them for a hundred miles and see what happens. It would be even more fun if they were made to race with stock tires, and stock transmissions. And run the infield course like they do in the 24hrs. just before the 500. No pit stops, the car stops it's out of the race. I think the stock tires would really give the fans something great to watch. I don't think any car would last 100 miles today. Could prove me wrong, though.
? Dan
I'll do you one better. Give the drivers one hour to go to the nearest dealership, make a deal, get back with the car and drive. Or, hell, have fans volunteer their cars for their favorite driver. Who wouldn't want to see Tony Stewart tooling a minivan around the track, trying to hold off Carl Edwards in a Ford Fiesta?
____________________
With the news that Kansas will be adding a road course in time for the 2013 season, there is now an easy fix to getting a road course in the Chase. At Kansas NASCAR can now run the oval in the Spring and the road course in the Fall. No schedule shuffling or another track losing one of its weekends, and many fans will be happy that there is finally a road course in the Chase. The racing at Kansas has never been that great, so now you have 2 races at the same track but 2 different racing configurations. This would also challenge the drivers as the cars/setups would be completely different. What do you think?
? Jim
Sterling, Va.
Works for me. Kansas is already angling for a night race for that second race. Now, the idea of throwing a completely new track into the mix in the Chase would probably make drivers mad enough to throw kittens.
For a more on-the-ground perspective, I asked our Nick Bromberg, a Kansas aficionado, what he thought. "I actually LOVE the idea because I love road racing," he said. (Yes, I can get a quote from Nick in instants. Jealous?) "However, and this is just me thinking out loud, would the Cup cars have an issue going from banking and a couple of banked turns to a bunch of flat ones within the course of a lap? It doesn't seem like much of a road course for a Cup car, honestly ... five to seven turns, depending on what counts as a corner."
Next, in response to my idea from last week of a consolation race for the drivers who didn't make it into the week's race on speed or points ...
____________________
I love the idea, Jay, but I think it would be better taking it one step further. Say 42 cars qualify for the race like the current system, then have the 10-lap opening act, with the winner transferring the main event, kinda like our small local short track racing. I would tune in for the pre-race coverage for once, and maybe watch it live instead of DVR'd. NASCAR needs to do something to spice it up a little, and make fans believe they're not as biased as they seem.
? Greg LeJeune
Gladstone, Mich.
Boom. That's it. That's your idea. The only problem I see is logistically; the track is a mess on race day with people going to and fro, hanging out on the pavement to watch the musical act, signing the finish line with Sharpies, or wearing all white and sitting veeeery still against the SAFER barriers. ("This is gonna be the best seat EVER!") Maybe just a foot race? Potato sack? Three-legged with the driver and his crew chief? There's gotta be a way to make this happen.
____________________
I find it amusing that we're talking about Danica using her looks to get into NASCAR. I can't think of a single one of the male drivers who isn't good looking, too. It's what sponsors want. Danica stands out simply because she's the most visible woman at this level. All of the rest of them are selling sex appeal, too, just in a more subtle way. Ask any female fan.
? Alex Sargeant
Seattle
Hmm. In the interest of preserving future access and not getting my clock cleaned at Media Day, I'll refrain from providing a rebuttal to your "all the male drivers are good looking" thesis. I will say that while a guy like Carl Edwards doesn't embarrass himself when he runs around shirtless and greased up for magazine shoots (and probably summons up a few confused feelings in some fans while he does so), there are many more drivers whom I'm very happy to see in full-body firesuits, and ONLY full-body firesuits.
Finally, today in spam:
____________________
?? ???????? ??????????? ??????????? ?????? ???? ????? ?? ??????
???????? ????? ??????????? ????? ???????.
???????? ?????!!!
? ????????? ??????
Somebody keep Ward Burton away from the computer, please.
And on that 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!
Looking for a job in NASCAR?
This press release came in today about jobs with a NASCAR team: TMG Offering Motorsports Opportunities In Preparation of 2012 NASCAR Nationwide Season Mooresville, NC (January 17, 2012) The Motorsports Group (TMG), located at 222 Pitt Road in Mooresville, North Carolina, announced Tuesday the availability of several positions as the team prepares for the rapidly approaching 2012 NASCAR Nationwide Series season. The four-car operation will race in all thirty-three scheduled events with drivers Josh Wise, Chase Miller, Erik Darnell and Scott Speed piloting Chevrolet Impala?s. Veteran NASCAR crew chief Gary Showalter is overseeing day to day activities of the organization and is seeking qualified mechanics, fabricators and truck drivers who are ready to start work immediately. Showalter says the company will hire at least 10 additional people during the next few days. ?We have about five more weeks before we leave for Daytona with quite a bit still to be accomplished,? said Showalter. ?TMG has a great opportunity for 10 to 15 serious people who want to make a difference this year. It is a good thing to be able to offer these positions in this economy and we look forward to working with the highest quality individuals we can find.? Showalter requests any interested parties to send a current resume via fax 704-663-2929.
Ray Evernham returning to ESPN for 2012 season
After a year away from ESPN, three-time championship crew chief and former team owner Ray Evernham has rejoined the network as part of its NASCAR coverage team.
Evernham will be part of the NASCAR prerace show and also appear on the network?s daily NASCAR show and SportsCenter. He also will work as an analyst for several Nationwide Series events.
Evernham will be part of the NASCAR prerace show and also appear on the network?s daily NASCAR show and SportsCenter. He also will work as an analyst for several Nationwide Series events.
Duo wants to promote Israel support through Cup sponsorship of JJ Yeley
Rich Shirey and Mark MacCaull aren?t political activists. But they have a belief in a cause, and they?re willing to put some of their money behind it in one of the more unique places ? the hood of a Sprint Cup car. Shirey and MacCaull started American Israel Racing to generate support for Israel. It will advertise its website on the hood of the Robinson-Blakeney Racing car of driver JJ Yeley for the first three Cup races this year with hopes of continuing it throughout the season through people donating to the cause.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series: AAA 400 at Dover ? Race Line-Up ? Auto Racing Daily
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series: AAA 400 at Dover – Race Line-Up – Auto Racing Daily
Auto Racing Daily
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series: AAA 400 at Dover – Race Line-UpAuto Racing DailyTruex, a non-Chase driver, became the 17th different pole winner in NASCAR's premier series this season. His first and only Sprint Cup race win so far came in June 2007 at Dover. MiamiHerald.com Chase drivers will make up four of the five spots behind …NASCAR: Dover a vital stopThe Virginian-Pilot
Truex crashes NASCAR Chase party by taking pole at DoverKansas City StarStewart digs hole in Dover qualifyingAtlanta Journal ConstitutionUSA Today -New York Times -AutoWeekall 360 news articles »
Auto Racing Daily
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series: AAA 400 at Dover – Race Line-UpAuto Racing DailyTruex, a non-Chase driver, became the 17th different pole winner in NASCAR's premier series this season. His first and only Sprint Cup race win so far came in June 2007 at Dover. MiamiHerald.com Chase drivers will make up four of the five spots behind …NASCAR: Dover a vital stopThe Virginian-Pilot
Truex crashes NASCAR Chase party by taking pole at DoverKansas City StarStewart digs hole in Dover qualifyingAtlanta Journal ConstitutionUSA Today -New York Times -AutoWeekall 360 news articles »
2012 Miss Sprint Cup lineup unveiled
The 2012 Miss Sprint Cup lineup was unveiled during Saturday's NASCAR Preview. Sprint announced returning members Kim Coon (Orlando, Fla.) and Jaclyn Roney (Ann Arbor, Mich.) have been joined by newcomer Kristen Beat of El Cajon, Calif. ?The Miss Sprint Cup platform has evolved to become an integral part of our NASCAR Sprint Cup Series sponsorship,? said Tim Considine, director of sports marketing at Sprint. ?We?ve found three incredibly intelligent, talented young women who love the sport, technology and directly interacting with NASCAR fans. With more than 1 million followers on Facebook and Twitter and crowds of fans lining up each weekend for pictures and autographs, the platform?s celebrity has exceeded our wildest expectations.? Miss Sprint Cup represents the Sprint brand around the track and in Victory Lane wherever the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competes. The three representatives also serve as the fans? ?friend on the inside,? delivering via Facebook and Twitter behind-the-scenes updates, pictures and video, while highlighting Sprint products and offers. To follow Miss Sprint Cup, visit: Facebook.com/MissSprintCup Twitter.com/MissSprintCup
2010 Michigan International Speedway Nascar Photos
The 2nd and final visit for NASCAR at MIS in 2010.
NASCAR Race Season Comes To An End
Welcome NASCAR race fans to my NASCAR blog. The NASCAR Season has come to an end. For this fan, it was an exciting year. There were 18 different winners, 5 of them being first time winners. Although I think crowning a Champion based on the ten races of the chase is just manufactured excitement, what [...]
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Mark Martin locked into Daytona 500 with owner points from FAS Lane Racing
Michael Waltrip Racing has struck a deal with FAS Lane Racing to get the points from the team, which placed 34th in the 2011 owner standings, in order to lock Mark Martin into the Daytona 500. NASCAR does not allow teams to sell points but does allow for a transfer if the original owner still keeps a minority interest in the team. The points are valuable because the top 35 from the previous year?s owner points are locked into the first five races of the upcoming season.
Racing?s back! The NHRA season kicks off at Pomona
Yeah, the Daytona 500 is still two weeks away, and the Budweiser Shootout is next weekend, but the 2012 American racing season kicks off this weekend with the NHRA season opener at Pomona.
However, Larry Dixon, the 2010 Top Fuel champion and Del Worsham, the 2011 Top Fuel winner, isn't there. Dixon parted ways with Al-Anabi Racing at the end of 2011 and Worsham, who also drove for Al-Anabi Racing, retired from driving. Al-Anabi's two 2012 drivers will be Shawn Langdon and� Khalid al Balooshi, who is making his Top Fuel debut.
Other things to watch:
Can Tony Schumacher get back to victory lane? The seven-time champion was winless in 2011. He and teammate Antron Brown will be viewed by many as the title favorites after the departures of Dixon and Worsham.
How will Courtney Force do? John Force's middle daughter jumps into one of his Funny Cars for a full-season run. Will she follow (or surpass) sister Ashley Force Hood and reach a final round in her first Funny Car season? And can dad make another title run?
Will Erica Enders get a tournament win? Enders was oh-so-close in the extremely competitive Pro Stock division in 2011, reaching three final rounds and getting two pole positions. Just how close was the field in Pro Stock? In last year's final event, the field was separated by .077 in qualifying.
However, Larry Dixon, the 2010 Top Fuel champion and Del Worsham, the 2011 Top Fuel winner, isn't there. Dixon parted ways with Al-Anabi Racing at the end of 2011 and Worsham, who also drove for Al-Anabi Racing, retired from driving. Al-Anabi's two 2012 drivers will be Shawn Langdon and� Khalid al Balooshi, who is making his Top Fuel debut.
Other things to watch:
Can Tony Schumacher get back to victory lane? The seven-time champion was winless in 2011. He and teammate Antron Brown will be viewed by many as the title favorites after the departures of Dixon and Worsham.
How will Courtney Force do? John Force's middle daughter jumps into one of his Funny Cars for a full-season run. Will she follow (or surpass) sister Ashley Force Hood and reach a final round in her first Funny Car season? And can dad make another title run?
Will Erica Enders get a tournament win? Enders was oh-so-close in the extremely competitive Pro Stock division in 2011, reaching three final rounds and getting two pole positions. Just how close was the field in Pro Stock? In last year's final event, the field was separated by .077 in qualifying.
Happy Hour: Should NASCAR distance itself from wrestling?
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.
Dig this! It's our last non-racing week until Thanksgiving! So let's get rolling with some discussion of non-racing racing topics, shall we? Take it away, readers ...
If Daytona is going to get John Cena as the starter, why not go all in? Get Grave Digger as pace car. Let Newt, Mitt and Obama debate whether the halfway purse is really a government handout. Bigfoot can run out on the track with 10 laps left and cause the phantom "bunch the field" late race caution. Have Snooki and Kim Kardashian act as Sprint Cup Girls and get Larry the Cable Guy and Jeff Foxworthy to commentate the race. Heck, Let Maury Povich do postrace interviews with the Busch brothers, and Dr. Phil can interview the runner up.
Can't NASCAR stand on its own two feet? It already has to fight misguided stereotypes. Why add more?
? Brian Hay
@hay_brian
Orange County, Calif.
I get what you're saying here, but let's remember that the Super Bowl just featured an aging glamour icon as its centerpiece ... oh, and Madonna too, who made almost as many headlines as Tom Brady did. Point being: it's not about sports anymore, especially in these big-time events; it's about the spectacle. I don't have a problem with Cena being a part of the festivities, though I get that people want to distance NASCAR from the "fake wrestling" image. (Conspiracy theorists take note: which driver compared NASCAR to the WWE? The same one who just won the championship! They totally co-opted Tony Stewart!)
Now, I will say that I'm with you on the obvious pandering, like Snooki last year at Richmond. But as long as they don't start putting gimmicks behind the wheel, I'm good. (And ... cue the Danica Patrick haters!)
____________________
Sorry to say but I have always (since 1984) belonged to the group that did NOT love Dale Earnhardt. But since Dale Earnhardt Jr. started in Cup, he's seemed to be more his mother's son. A little softer around the edges, so to speak. He had the drive but none of the arrogant "get out of the way, I'm coming through" mentality. That being said, am I the only one to notice that he hasn't been the same since his concussion in Texas (which he covered up) and his flaming crash in the Corvette which he claimed to have had help from his Dad to escape? I do belong to Junior Nation but I'm just saying...
? Concerned Mary in Indiana
Take heart, Mary; I don't believe that Junior's wrecks have damaged him beyond repair. I've heard the "fiery Corvette wreck" story before, but that strikes me as more after-the-fact justification than cause-and-effect. What I think we're seeing is that Junior's "softness around the edges," which I don't mean as a criticism, may be part of the difference between him and a championship driver.
Still, check out video from the wreck, from 2004. Pay attention to what the cockpit looks like at about the 1:15 mark:
Sweet heaven. I think I'd walk everywhere in my life after that.
____________________
As a fan of NASCAR for almost 60 years what I would love to see is a race with "stock cars." Have NASCAR buy eight stock cars from the four different manufactures that race in NASCAR and have them basically stock except safety equipment. Assign drivers at random to the cars and race them for a hundred miles and see what happens. It would be even more fun if they were made to race with stock tires, and stock transmissions. And run the infield course like they do in the 24hrs. just before the 500. No pit stops, the car stops it's out of the race. I think the stock tires would really give the fans something great to watch. I don't think any car would last 100 miles today. Could prove me wrong, though.
? Dan
I'll do you one better. Give the drivers one hour to go to the nearest dealership, make a deal, get back with the car and drive. Or, hell, have fans volunteer their cars for their favorite driver. Who wouldn't want to see Tony Stewart tooling a minivan around the track, trying to hold off Carl Edwards in a Ford Fiesta?
____________________
With the news that Kansas will be adding a road course in time for the 2013 season, there is now an easy fix to getting a road course in the Chase. At Kansas NASCAR can now run the oval in the Spring and the road course in the Fall. No schedule shuffling or another track losing one of its weekends, and many fans will be happy that there is finally a road course in the Chase. The racing at Kansas has never been that great, so now you have 2 races at the same track but 2 different racing configurations. This would also challenge the drivers as the cars/setups would be completely different. What do you think?
? Jim
Sterling, Va.
Works for me. Kansas is already angling for a night race for that second race. Now, the idea of throwing a completely new track into the mix in the Chase would probably make drivers mad enough to throw kittens.
For a more on-the-ground perspective, I asked our Nick Bromberg, a Kansas aficionado, what he thought. "I actually LOVE the idea because I love road racing," he said. (Yes, I can get a quote from Nick in instants. Jealous?) "However, and this is just me thinking out loud, would the Cup cars have an issue going from banking and a couple of banked turns to a bunch of flat ones within the course of a lap? It doesn't seem like much of a road course for a Cup car, honestly ... five to seven turns, depending on what counts as a corner."
Next, in response to my idea from last week of a consolation race for the drivers who didn't make it into the week's race on speed or points ...
____________________
I love the idea, Jay, but I think it would be better taking it one step further. Say 42 cars qualify for the race like the current system, then have the 10-lap opening act, with the winner transferring the main event, kinda like our small local short track racing. I would tune in for the pre-race coverage for once, and maybe watch it live instead of DVR'd. NASCAR needs to do something to spice it up a little, and make fans believe they're not as biased as they seem.
? Greg LeJeune
Gladstone, Mich.
Boom. That's it. That's your idea. The only problem I see is logistically; the track is a mess on race day with people going to and fro, hanging out on the pavement to watch the musical act, signing the finish line with Sharpies, or wearing all white and sitting veeeery still against the SAFER barriers. ("This is gonna be the best seat EVER!") Maybe just a foot race? Potato sack? Three-legged with the driver and his crew chief? There's gotta be a way to make this happen.
____________________
I find it amusing that we're talking about Danica using her looks to get into NASCAR. I can't think of a single one of the male drivers who isn't good looking, too. It's what sponsors want. Danica stands out simply because she's the most visible woman at this level. All of the rest of them are selling sex appeal, too, just in a more subtle way. Ask any female fan.
? Alex Sargeant
Seattle
Hmm. In the interest of preserving future access and not getting my clock cleaned at Media Day, I'll refrain from providing a rebuttal to your "all the male drivers are good looking" thesis. I will say that while a guy like Carl Edwards doesn't embarrass himself when he runs around shirtless and greased up for magazine shoots (and probably summons up a few confused feelings in some fans while he does so), there are many more drivers whom I'm very happy to see in full-body firesuits, and ONLY full-body firesuits.
Finally, today in spam:
____________________
?? ???????? ??????????? ??????????? ?????? ???? ????? ?? ??????
???????? ????? ??????????? ????? ???????.
???????? ?????!!!
? ????????? ??????
Somebody keep Ward Burton away from the computer, please.
And on that 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!
Dig this! It's our last non-racing week until Thanksgiving! So let's get rolling with some discussion of non-racing racing topics, shall we? Take it away, readers ...
If Daytona is going to get John Cena as the starter, why not go all in? Get Grave Digger as pace car. Let Newt, Mitt and Obama debate whether the halfway purse is really a government handout. Bigfoot can run out on the track with 10 laps left and cause the phantom "bunch the field" late race caution. Have Snooki and Kim Kardashian act as Sprint Cup Girls and get Larry the Cable Guy and Jeff Foxworthy to commentate the race. Heck, Let Maury Povich do postrace interviews with the Busch brothers, and Dr. Phil can interview the runner up.
Can't NASCAR stand on its own two feet? It already has to fight misguided stereotypes. Why add more?
? Brian Hay
@hay_brian
Orange County, Calif.
I get what you're saying here, but let's remember that the Super Bowl just featured an aging glamour icon as its centerpiece ... oh, and Madonna too, who made almost as many headlines as Tom Brady did. Point being: it's not about sports anymore, especially in these big-time events; it's about the spectacle. I don't have a problem with Cena being a part of the festivities, though I get that people want to distance NASCAR from the "fake wrestling" image. (Conspiracy theorists take note: which driver compared NASCAR to the WWE? The same one who just won the championship! They totally co-opted Tony Stewart!)
Now, I will say that I'm with you on the obvious pandering, like Snooki last year at Richmond. But as long as they don't start putting gimmicks behind the wheel, I'm good. (And ... cue the Danica Patrick haters!)
____________________
Sorry to say but I have always (since 1984) belonged to the group that did NOT love Dale Earnhardt. But since Dale Earnhardt Jr. started in Cup, he's seemed to be more his mother's son. A little softer around the edges, so to speak. He had the drive but none of the arrogant "get out of the way, I'm coming through" mentality. That being said, am I the only one to notice that he hasn't been the same since his concussion in Texas (which he covered up) and his flaming crash in the Corvette which he claimed to have had help from his Dad to escape? I do belong to Junior Nation but I'm just saying...
? Concerned Mary in Indiana
Take heart, Mary; I don't believe that Junior's wrecks have damaged him beyond repair. I've heard the "fiery Corvette wreck" story before, but that strikes me as more after-the-fact justification than cause-and-effect. What I think we're seeing is that Junior's "softness around the edges," which I don't mean as a criticism, may be part of the difference between him and a championship driver.
Still, check out video from the wreck, from 2004. Pay attention to what the cockpit looks like at about the 1:15 mark:
Sweet heaven. I think I'd walk everywhere in my life after that.
____________________
As a fan of NASCAR for almost 60 years what I would love to see is a race with "stock cars." Have NASCAR buy eight stock cars from the four different manufactures that race in NASCAR and have them basically stock except safety equipment. Assign drivers at random to the cars and race them for a hundred miles and see what happens. It would be even more fun if they were made to race with stock tires, and stock transmissions. And run the infield course like they do in the 24hrs. just before the 500. No pit stops, the car stops it's out of the race. I think the stock tires would really give the fans something great to watch. I don't think any car would last 100 miles today. Could prove me wrong, though.
? Dan
I'll do you one better. Give the drivers one hour to go to the nearest dealership, make a deal, get back with the car and drive. Or, hell, have fans volunteer their cars for their favorite driver. Who wouldn't want to see Tony Stewart tooling a minivan around the track, trying to hold off Carl Edwards in a Ford Fiesta?
____________________
With the news that Kansas will be adding a road course in time for the 2013 season, there is now an easy fix to getting a road course in the Chase. At Kansas NASCAR can now run the oval in the Spring and the road course in the Fall. No schedule shuffling or another track losing one of its weekends, and many fans will be happy that there is finally a road course in the Chase. The racing at Kansas has never been that great, so now you have 2 races at the same track but 2 different racing configurations. This would also challenge the drivers as the cars/setups would be completely different. What do you think?
? Jim
Sterling, Va.
Works for me. Kansas is already angling for a night race for that second race. Now, the idea of throwing a completely new track into the mix in the Chase would probably make drivers mad enough to throw kittens.
For a more on-the-ground perspective, I asked our Nick Bromberg, a Kansas aficionado, what he thought. "I actually LOVE the idea because I love road racing," he said. (Yes, I can get a quote from Nick in instants. Jealous?) "However, and this is just me thinking out loud, would the Cup cars have an issue going from banking and a couple of banked turns to a bunch of flat ones within the course of a lap? It doesn't seem like much of a road course for a Cup car, honestly ... five to seven turns, depending on what counts as a corner."
Next, in response to my idea from last week of a consolation race for the drivers who didn't make it into the week's race on speed or points ...
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I love the idea, Jay, but I think it would be better taking it one step further. Say 42 cars qualify for the race like the current system, then have the 10-lap opening act, with the winner transferring the main event, kinda like our small local short track racing. I would tune in for the pre-race coverage for once, and maybe watch it live instead of DVR'd. NASCAR needs to do something to spice it up a little, and make fans believe they're not as biased as they seem.
? Greg LeJeune
Gladstone, Mich.
Boom. That's it. That's your idea. The only problem I see is logistically; the track is a mess on race day with people going to and fro, hanging out on the pavement to watch the musical act, signing the finish line with Sharpies, or wearing all white and sitting veeeery still against the SAFER barriers. ("This is gonna be the best seat EVER!") Maybe just a foot race? Potato sack? Three-legged with the driver and his crew chief? There's gotta be a way to make this happen.
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I find it amusing that we're talking about Danica using her looks to get into NASCAR. I can't think of a single one of the male drivers who isn't good looking, too. It's what sponsors want. Danica stands out simply because she's the most visible woman at this level. All of the rest of them are selling sex appeal, too, just in a more subtle way. Ask any female fan.
? Alex Sargeant
Seattle
Hmm. In the interest of preserving future access and not getting my clock cleaned at Media Day, I'll refrain from providing a rebuttal to your "all the male drivers are good looking" thesis. I will say that while a guy like Carl Edwards doesn't embarrass himself when he runs around shirtless and greased up for magazine shoots (and probably summons up a few confused feelings in some fans while he does so), there are many more drivers whom I'm very happy to see in full-body firesuits, and ONLY full-body firesuits.
Finally, today in spam:
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?? ???????? ??????????? ??????????? ?????? ???? ????? ?? ??????
???????? ????? ??????????? ????? ???????.
???????? ?????!!!
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Somebody keep Ward Burton away from the computer, please.
And on that 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!
IndyCar puts Carpenter, Penske in Leaders Circle
One car each from Ed Carpenter Racing and Jay Penske's Lotus Dragon Racing team have been selected as the final two members of the IndyCar Leaders Circle program.
Pocono Raceway founder dies
Dr. Joseph Mattioli, Pocono Raceway Founder and Chairman of the Board, passed away today at the Lehigh Valley Hospital Center, surrounded by his loving family, following a lengthy illness. He was 86. ?Doc? as he was known to friends and associates, was one of the most respected and admired men in automobile racing. He founded Pocono Raceway in the early 1960?s and has been at the helm of Pocono ever since. Under his leadership, the track grew in stature and has hosted 68 very successful NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Events. His passion and drive helped Pocono Raceway succeed when other tracks fell by the wayside. Pocono Raceway is the only remaining family owned and run track on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule. He was always concerned that race fans and race car drivers and their families were treated with the upmost respect and constantly upgraded procedures and Raceway facilities to meet that goal. He kept his fingers on the pulse of stock car racing and read everything printed concerning the sport. He was in the office daily, until last fall, and oversaw all aspects of the Pocono Raceway operations. At age 83, Dr. Mattioli spearheaded an ambitious solar energy project. He built a three megawatt photovoltaic solar energy system on 25 acres at Pocono Raceway. It is the world?s largest solar-powered sports facility, making Pocono Raceway a leader in the renewable energy and environmental fields. Dr. Mattioli was also well respected in the community. In 2009, he received the Philanthropic Lifetime Achievement Award presented by the Association of Fundraising Professionals for his generous and continuous contributions to local civic organizations, hospitals, schools and charities. He served on the board of directors of numerous organizations and was dedicated to improving the quality of life in Northeastern Pennsylvania. He served in the Pacific during World War Two as a Navy medic. Using the G.I. bill, he enrolled in the dentistry program at Temple University (where he met his soon to be wife, Rose.) Upon graduation, he developed his dental practice into a very lucrative business by working 12 to 14 hour days, six and sometimes seven days a week. He then began investing in and developing properties in Philadelphia and Northeastern Pennsylvania where he became involved in the start up of Pocono Raceway. Dr. Mattioli is survived by his wife of 63 years, Dr. Rose, daughters Louie and Michele and son Joseph Mattioli III, seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Service Arrangements for Dr. Joseph Mattioli are incomplete at this time.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Subaru Repeats Its 'Subaru Challenge Award' For 2012
The FIA’s Production Car World Rally Championship (PWRC) can often be a stepping stone to bigger and better things in the world of motorsports. Run under FIA Group N rules, the series pits production cars with few allowed modifications against one another, emphasizing the capabilities of both car and driver. In 2012, Subaru will again offer...
Tony Stewart plays himself on Tim Allen?s new show
Hey, did you know Tim Allen had a new show? Yeah, me neither. But it's called "Last Man Standing," and it's apparently got enough juice to have landed one Tony Stewart for a cameo. Good for a chuckle, if nothing else. Nice move to get the CHEVY OFFICE DEPOT NO. 14 right out there in front, yes?
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
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Daytona 500 purse a record $19 million
The Daytona 500 will boast a record purse of more than $19 million, and the winner of NASCAR's biggest race is guaranteed a minimum $1.4 million.
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 [...]
Dale Junior talks about his new hire, Cole Whitt
Dale Earnhardt Jr. was asked Thursday at Daytona International Speedway about the process that led him and his JR Motorsports organization to pick upstart Cole Whitt as the new driver for the No. 88 Chevrolet. The team's previous driver, Aric Almirola, was hired by Richard Petty Motorsports earlier this month to drive its legendary No. 43 car. Q. How did you to pick Cole Whitt over the other drivers who are out there and what you think he brings to your team? Earnhardt: Well, I thought that, no disrespect to any of the guys that we didn't choose, they know who they are, but we considered a lot of different people. I just felt like Cole had some potential that was untapped, that we hadn't ?? he had potential and ability that we hadn't been able to ?? he hadn't even discovered yet, and I feel like in the guys that we looked at, we sort of know what kind of hand and cars they had and what kind of talent they had and where they would take us. And I think it's more exciting, a lot more risky but more exciting to go with a guy who you don't really know what he's capable of and could be big things, but you've just got to take that risk. And that's really why I do it. I don't do it to make money. I don't have a whole lot of other reasons to be in the Nationwide Series other than just to help somebody. When I'm able to do that ?? I enjoy seeing what happened to Brad and seeing Eric get a deal like he's got now. That's why I do it, you know. It's funner to help the new guy than it is to help the guy that's kind of been through the ringer a few times. Everybody deserves their opportunity, and I just feel like that was going to be Cole's only shot. Q. You had watched Brad Keselowski and seen him on the track and kind of had him on the radar screen. Did you have that same kind of interest with Cole because this really came together very quickly with Aric leaving. Earnhardt: I didn't really watch Cole like I did Brad. I knew Brad before I even thought about hiring him as a driver. I just knew him, knew his family and stuff and would see him and watch him drive and watch him do stuff. And he impressed me, but I didn't have the opportunity to sort of ?? I didn't have the opportunity to watch Cole. The only time I really got to see Cole race was at Phoenix in the Cup car when I was out on the track with him. I never watched any of his truck races, never seen him drive before then. But everybody who works in that garage in there that has my phone number called me and told me Cole was the guy. Every one of them. People I don't even talk to, people that I don't really have relationships with took time out of their day to call me and say, that's the guy you need to hire. They had no other ?? other than interest in seeing Cole do well and get an opportunity. I thought it said a lot for people to do that. And the ones that I reached out to, that was the first guy on their list. I trusted all these people, and I feel like the guy ?? from what I can tell, what I can see, that he deserves an opportunity. This might be his only opportunity, so I wanted to be the one to give it to him.
New NASCAR Rules Intended To Inhibit Tandem Drafts
NASCAR doesn't want to see repeats of 2011's tandem running on the two restrictor plate racetracks it uses--Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway, both long tracks built for high speeds. Those generated high speeds have forced NASCAR to impose restrictor plates on the engines to slow them down below the 200-mph mark and have...
Q & A: Randy Bernard on the eve of 2012 State of IndyCar address
IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard on the news, challenges and goals for the 2012 season in an interview with RACER Editor David Malsher.
Saturday, February 11, 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...
Here?s a look at David Gilliland?s ride for Front Row Motorsports
Front Row Motorsports has become the Duel of the Davids, with David Gilliland and David Ragan taking the No. 38 and 34 Fords, respectively. And now, they'll share a sponsor too, with ModSpace agreeing to come on board for both cars. ModSpace will serve as primary sponsor for Gilliland on several races, starting with Texas in the spring. It'll be the associate sponsor for the remainder, and will also be an associate sponsor for Ragan for the entire season.
ModSpace is a construction services company and is working with Front Row Motorsports owner Bob Jenkins in constructing new Taco Bell and Long John Silver's locations. Perhaps they could slap a temporary one up in the Talladega infield. They'd make a killing.
ModSpace is a construction services company and is working with Front Row Motorsports owner Bob Jenkins in constructing new Taco Bell and Long John Silver's locations. Perhaps they could slap a temporary one up in the Talladega infield. They'd make a killing.
Peugeot withdraws from 24 Hours of Le Mans
Peugeot, a major player in sports car endurance racing, has announced that it has pulled out of racing this season for financial reasons.
The French company is Europe's second biggest carmaker.
From Reuters via Yahoo! Eurosport:
"This decision has been taken in the context of a difficult economic environment in Europe," the French carmaker said in a statement on the company website. "Peugeot has chosen to concentrate resources on its sales performance in 2012."
Peugeot last won Le Mans in 2009, with their diesel cars finishing second, third, fourth and fifth behind the number two Audi last year.
Yes, Audi has been dominant at the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans, winning 10 of the last 12, but in NASCAR terms, this is as impactful as Chevy, Ford or Toyota pulling out of the sport. (Toyota is actually returning to the 24 Hours this year.)
Peugeot had returned to the series in 2007 and its departure leaves Audi as the main automaker in the renewed World Endurance Championship, as the two were set to be main rivals for the WEC title. Peugeot saw sales decrease by 6.1 percent in 2011
The French company is Europe's second biggest carmaker.
From Reuters via Yahoo! Eurosport:
"This decision has been taken in the context of a difficult economic environment in Europe," the French carmaker said in a statement on the company website. "Peugeot has chosen to concentrate resources on its sales performance in 2012."
Peugeot last won Le Mans in 2009, with their diesel cars finishing second, third, fourth and fifth behind the number two Audi last year.
Yes, Audi has been dominant at the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans, winning 10 of the last 12, but in NASCAR terms, this is as impactful as Chevy, Ford or Toyota pulling out of the sport. (Toyota is actually returning to the 24 Hours this year.)
Peugeot had returned to the series in 2007 and its departure leaves Audi as the main automaker in the renewed World Endurance Championship, as the two were set to be main rivals for the WEC title. Peugeot saw sales decrease by 6.1 percent in 2011
Big Daytona payout includes bonus for leader at halfway
NASCAR has announced that the Daytona 500 will have a largest-ever payout of $19 million, with the winner getting at least $1.4 million. That's nice and all, even though you and I probably won't see a nickel of it.
However, here's the cool element: there will be a $200,000 bonus for the leader at halfway, Lap 100. The idea is that it'll reward drivers who actually race rather than running in the back of the pack until there are 20 laps remaining. This should add another element of life into the traditional ride-around portion of the race, particularly if NASCAR's efforts to disrupt tandem driving don't work as well as hoped.
Conspiracy-defusing note: If Lap 100 is under caution, the bonus will be deferred until the race goes green, and it'll then go to the driver who's leading the fifth lap after the race goes green.
The "Daytona 500 Mid-Race Leader Award" doesn't yet have a sponsor, but you can bet it will by race day. That would be February 26, for those of you keeping score.
However, here's the cool element: there will be a $200,000 bonus for the leader at halfway, Lap 100. The idea is that it'll reward drivers who actually race rather than running in the back of the pack until there are 20 laps remaining. This should add another element of life into the traditional ride-around portion of the race, particularly if NASCAR's efforts to disrupt tandem driving don't work as well as hoped.
Conspiracy-defusing note: If Lap 100 is under caution, the bonus will be deferred until the race goes green, and it'll then go to the driver who's leading the fifth lap after the race goes green.
The "Daytona 500 Mid-Race Leader Award" doesn't yet have a sponsor, but you can bet it will by race day. That would be February 26, for those of you keeping score.
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