November 16th - November 20th, 2009
Don't miss this week's edition!
Frontstretch Podcast: Just how good is Jimmie Johnson?
Check in with Matt and Jay on their site at CareyandCoffey.com.
- 2008 Driver Review Schedule
Miss out on your favorite driver's report card / season preview? Just click the link above and you can find them all archived together! - This week on the Frontstretch!
Looking to see when and where your favorite columns (and columnists) pop up every week? Click here to find out all the details! - Advertise With Us!
Want your products and services to be a part of one of the fastest growing racing website on the net? Get all your questions answered about advertising here. - Write for Us
Think you have what it takes to write for the Frontstretch? Follow this link for more information on how you can become a weekly columnist for the site! - Driver Diary Schedule
Want to know when your favorite drivers are telling their latest stories to the Frontstretch? Check out the schedule link to figure out when Scott Speed, David Starr, James Buescher, and Kenny Wallace are stopping by.
|
| Subscribe to The Frontstretch Newsletter |
| Visit this group |
Each week, Frontstretch Staff Writer Becca Gladden looks at the prior weekend’s Nextel Cup race from a reporter’s point of view, covering the “Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How” of the race, the drivers, the TV coverage, even the commercials. Check back every Wednesday for Becca’s fun and thought-provoking commentary.
Who: Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
All the post-race attention was on Brian Vickers’ uber-controversial last lap punt of Chase contenders Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr.— and understandably so. But Gordon and Earnhardt lit a few fireworks of their own when Jeff accused Junior of excessively rough bumpdrafting. Replied Earnhardt: “I pushed Jeff Gordon into the lead five times, and every time I do that, he complains that I’m bumpdrafting him in the corners and blah, blah, blah. So I’m just not going to push him anymore. Besides, every time I help him out, he never gives it back in return. That’s why he doesn’t have too many friends out there. I was trying to be his only friend besides his teammates, who are kind of paid to draft with him.” Ouch.
What: A new surface and smaller plates.
There were lots of questions about how the newly resurfaced Talladega track would affect racing, and that question was answered on Friday when Jeff Gordon posted a 198.689 mile-per-hour practice lap. At 6:30 AM Saturday morning, NASCAR officials called a crew chief meeting to hand out smaller restrictor plates in order to bring down speeds, which they considered borderline unsafe. Many teams were upset by the move, particularly during an impound race like Talladega, where there are no practice sessions after qualifying…but the quality of racing Sunday was high, showing that the new restrictor plate did what it was supposed to do despite the craziness surrounding the change.
When:Â On lap 137.
You knew it was coming, and despite a very surprising 72 caution-free laps at the start of the race, the Talladega “Big One” was inevitable. Ten drivers were involved, including Chasers Jeff Gordon, Denny Hamlin and Kevin Harvick, along with Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards, Jamie McMurray, Casey Mears, Martin Truex, Jr., Kyle Petty and Sterling Marlin. Hamlin had other problems as well and took the biggest points hit among Chase
contenders, finishing 21st to fall from second to fifth in the standings.
Where: At Lowe’s Motor Speedway.
That’s the location of this weekend’s race, where track chairman Bruton Smith has had to resort to providing extra security for Brian Vickers, stating, “We want to make sure Brian has an uninterrupted weekend here and that he is able focus on his driving duties. We will offer security escorts in and out of the Speedway and anywhere he feels he needs our assistance.” Come on, race fans – passion is one thing, but let’s keep it under control.
Why: Because of really bad race coverage.
Can there be any other explanation for the ongoing low TV ratings in the second half of the season? NBC/TNT’s race coverage is substandard at best and intolerable at worst. Even Talladega couldn’t beef up the sagging numbers, scoring an overnight rating of 4.3 and a 9 market share – 6.5% lower than last year’s Fall race.
How:Â By setting a good example.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. demonstrated an admirable level of sportsmanship on Sunday after being spun out on the final lap of the race. While Earnhardt was philosophical about the loss, many NASCAR fans were not. Involved in a verbal confrontation with Carl Edwards just six weeks prior, Junior is to be commended for maintaining his composure when it counted. A more hostile response from him could have stirred fans into an even greater post-race frenzy than the one that took place; thankfully, he is aware of the power that his words possess.
*Question For Readers (comment below) : What is your opinion of the fan behavior following Sunday’s race?*Â
DON’T LET THE FINAL WEEKEND OF SILLY SEASON PASS YOU BY!
The Frontstretch Newsletter’s got you covered all weekend long as Managing Editor Tom Bowles gives you all the latest news from Homestead. And if you don’t get the Newsletter… now’s your chance to sign up. It’s action-packed with the latest in breaking news, commentary, and driver features from your favorite writers … and it gets sent FREE right into your email inbox! Click here to jump on board with content you won’t see anywhere else on the site.
©2000 - 2008 Becca Gladden and Frontstetch.com. Thanks for visiting the Frontstretch!
