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Kyle Busch wins the North Carolina Education Lottery 200
posted by Mike Neff
Friday May 17, 2013
‘Rowdy’ Busch was back in his familiar No. 51 truck at his favorite track on the Truck schedule. Busch led 80 laps and thought he should have led more but had a fuel issue on pit road that resulted in him having to battle back through the field. The race was slowed by eight cautions that helped him work his way back through the field. Busch beat Brendan Gaughan to the finish by .488 seconds, while Max Gresham chased them both to the line for his first top three finish of his Truck career. Matt Crafton came home in fourth place after having to battle through a couple of tire mishaps during the event. Ty Dillon rounded out the top 5 for his first finish that high this season. Busch led the race three times for his 80 laps. Miguel Paludo was second on the laps led board with 33. Gaughan, Gresham and Dillon also scored bonus points for leading laps. There were two cautions in the first 72 laps of the race while 29 of the last 62 laps were completed under the yellow flag. Jeb Burton started the race on the pole but did not lead a lap. He did however end the race as the Rookie of the Race for his 13th place finish. Matt Crafton leads Burton by 22 points in the season standings after five races this season.
Matt Kenseth Snatches Victory from the Jaws of Defeat at Darlington
posted by Mike Neff
Sunday May 12, 2013
Kyle Busch appeared to be headed for another weekend sweep after winning the Nationwide race at Darlington on Friday night. However, a funny thing happened as they were bringing out the dustpan. Matt Kenseth chased down the dominant car of the night, passed him with relative ease and then strolled away to a 3.165 second victory. Kenseth led the final 13 laps after Busch had held the point for 265 of the 354 laps leading up to Kenseth’s race winning pass. After Kenseth worked around Busch, the No. 18 slid rapidly backwards over the final eight laps to fall from second to sixth place. Joe Gibbs Racing did manage a 1-2 finish after sweeping the podium in Friday night’s Nationwide tilt. Denny Hamlin, in his first full race back in the car since his vertebrae fracture at California, soldiered through the pain of his arms, neck and shoulders more than his recovered back to wrestle a second place finish away from the Lady in Black. Coming home in third was Jeff Gordon, who turned his 700th career start into a top 3 finish. Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick rounded out the top 5 in the Bojangles Southern 500. Kurt Busch started the race on the pole and led the first 51 laps before coming to the pits for a green flag stop. After the stops cycled through Busch was back at the point for 18 more laps before his brother began his domination. The race went green for the first 302 laps save a seven lap caution stint from lap 125 to lap 131. The final 65 laps saw four more cautions that flew for accidents involving Regan Smith, Brad Keselowski, Casey Mears, Kurt Busch, Josh Wise, David Reutimann and Kasey Kahne. The race saw four leaders including Jeff Gordon in addition to the Busch brothers and Kenseth. The win is Kenseth’s 27th of his career and breaks a tie between himself and his teammate Kyle Busch. The win is Kenseth’s third this season which is the most among all of the competitors in the Cup series. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was the Rookie of the Race. Jeff Gordon’s top 5 finish was his 300th of his career. He joins Richard Petty, David Pearson and Bobby Allison as the only four drivers in the history of the sport to accomplish such a feat.
Busch Dominates at Darlington as JGR Sets Nationwide Series Record
posted by Amy Henderson
Friday May 10, 2013
Kyle Busch dominated the VFW Sport Clips Help a Hero 200 on Friday night en route to his 56th career Nationwide Series victory and fifth series win of 2013. Joe Gibbs Racing in general was the class of the field all night at Darlington Raceway, claiming four of the top 5 finishing spots, with only fourth-place Joey Logano keeping them from sweeping the top four spots. It was a historic night for JGR, as no team has ever before placed four cars in the top 5. Elliott Sadler finished second to Busch and Brian Vickers third, with Logano and Matt Kenseth rounding out the top 5. Busch led 107 of 147 laps on the way to the win. Sadler was the best among the Nationwide Regulars, finishing second despite an early spin in Turn 2, and gained points on leader Regan Smith, who finished seventh. Kyle Larson continued to impress at the Lady in Black, posting a sixth-place finish in his first Darlington start as he runs for rookie honors. Sam Hornish, Jr., who remained second in points, finished eighth while Kasey Kahne and Justin Allgaier filled the top 10. Smith now leads Nationwide Series points by 28 over Hornish. Sadler jumps two spots to third on his second-place run as Justin Allgaier fell one place to fourth. Vickers gained three sports and is now fifth, 49 behind Smith. Austin Dillon, Parker Kligerman, Brian Scott, Alex Bowman, and Kyle Larson round out the top 10.
Joe Gibbs Racing Penalties Reduced Following Appeal
posted by Summer Bedgood
Wednesday May 8, 2013
Joe Gibbs Racing had many of their penalties for the No. 20 team reduced during the appeal process on Wednesday. Driver Matt Kenseth and owner Joe Gibbs had their points penalties reduced from 50 to 12 points. Crew chief Jason Ratcliff’s suspension has also been dropped from seven races to one, though he will still be forced to pay the $200,000 fine. Not all of the penalties were reduced, however. Toyota Racing’s manufacturer points penalty was increased from five points to seven. All other penalties were dropped, including the suspension of Joe Gibbs’ owners license, the loss of bonus points for the Chase earned at Kansas Speedway, and the loss of eligibility into the Sprint Unlimited garnered from the pole at Kansas Speedway. JGR has accepted the penalties and will not appeal further. Following a dominant win at Kansas Speedway a few weeks ago, Kenseth’s car failed post-race inspection when it was found that a connecting rod was 2.7 grams below the minimum weight. Toyota Racing Development accepted the blame for the incident. The reduction moves Kenseth up to fourth in points, 66 points behind leader Jimmie Johnson. JGR has not announced who will replace Ratcliff this weekend in Darlington. The appeal was heard by Mark Arute, Dennis McGlynn, and Jack Housby. NASCAR cannot appeal the revised penalties.
Penske Has Suspensions Reduced On Appeal
posted by Thomas Bowles
Wednesday May 8, 2013
Roger Penske’s team got some relief Tuesday from NASCAR’s Chief Appellate Officer John Middlebrook, as he chose to reduce penalties assessed to that organization at Texas Motor Speedway in early April. Middlebrook, after hearing the evidence from both sides Tuesday chose to reduce all suspensions in the case from six to two weeks, plus NASCAR’s All-Star Race on May 18th. That means the final consequences for both teams are the following: No. 2 car No. 22 car Other Middlebrook’s official statement was short, simply stating, “After looking at all the facts, data, and interpretations from the rule book, I have decided to uphold the original fines and points penalties. However, I have decided to reduce the suspensions of the seven team members involved from six points races and the All-Star race to two points races and the All-Star Race.” However, it seemed both sides, after presenting their cases were far more pleased with how the case was handled during this portion of the appeal. “We were able to talk about areas we worked in,” said Roger Penske, referring to the “gray area” of the NASCAR rulebook officials ultimately felt stepped over the line. “I’m very happy with the outcome. This sport has been built on innovation. All of us have tried to innovate in areas not defined in the rulebook. We were in that area.” In conversations with the parties involved, it was clear the controversy surrounded parts designed to increase the rear-end angle at the back of both cars. In past years, with innovation limited through the Car of Tomorrow templates teams have played around with suspension systems designed to make the rear end of the car easier to “move.” The more the car skews in the corner, the easier it can be to handle and gain extra speed. However, NASCAR had made rules designed to curb those types of innovations this year and made the determination Penske parts to build the rear suspension were unapproved. Why they had gone undetected in previous inspections was never addressed, along with claims someone else in the garage had alerted officials to possible inappropriate car construction. One thing Penske did admit, though is had this decision been issued by the initial appeals panel, he would not have pressed his luck with Middlebrook. “All of us,” he said. “Have lost points for certain infractions over the years. The key thing is to have people back at the racetrack operating in full control.” The end results leave Logano 18th in points, 146 behind championship leader Jimmie Johnson and 43 outside a Chase position. Keselowski is far more stable; fifth in points, he’s 69 behind and 45 ahead of 11th-place Matt Kenseth. Neither of the Penske cars have won a race this season. “Moved on from last few weeks,” Keselowski tweeted Wednesday morning. “And ready to focus on @TooToughToTame (Darlington Raceway).” The next round of NASCAR penalty appeals, focusing on Joe Gibbs Racing and Matt Kenseth will be heard on Wednesday morning. Connect with Tom!
Penske Racing LOSES Penalty Case, Will Appeal To NSCRC John Middlebrook
posted by Thomas Bowles
Wednesday May 1, 2013
A three-member panel Wednesday unanimously upheld penalties assessed to Penske Racing after pre-race inspection at Texas Motor Speedway. Comprised of Pocono President Brandon Igdalsky, Bowman-Gray President Dale Pinilis and former NASCAR VP Paul Brooks, the trio determined the sanctioning body’s evidence was enough to “convict” Penske to the tune of points lost, suspensions given and $200,000 in fines. Roger Penske, in response has pledged to send a final appeal to National Stock Car Racing Commissioner John Middlebrook. That hearing will occur Tuesday, May 7th at NASCAR’s Research and Development Center. Here’s a quick list of what penalties are pending (everything but the points deductions will be deferred, pending Middlebrook’s approval until after the final appeal): No. 2 team No. 22 team Both teams NASCAR’s representation included Sprint Cup Director John Darby but not Vice President Robin Pemberton, who was whisked away to Florida on jury duty. Owner Roger Penske was in attendance to defend the allegations along with Team Manager Travis Geisler, Tim Cindric, Walt Czarnecki, Joey Logano’s crew chief Todd Gordon along with several other key principles. UPDATE: The National Stock Car Racing Commission issued a brief statement, reviewing the penalties and then explaining the following. “Upon hearing the testimony and carefully reviewing the facts, it was a unanimous decision by the National Stock Car Racing Appeals Panel to uphold the original penalties assessed by NASCAR.” “The Appellants have the right under Section 15 of the rule book to appeal this decision to the National Stock Car Racing Chief Appellate Officer.” Connect with Tom!
Kyle Busch Wins Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown
posted by Thomas Bowles
Friday April 26, 2013
Who says Joe Gibbs Racing teammates don’t get along? Kyle Busch is certainly receiving gifts, from Denny Hamlin in the form of shiny trophies from winning the latter’s annual charity event. Rowdy was romping through the field again at Richmond Thursday night, taking control at the race’s midpoint and cruising during the latter stages to win the Showdown for the third time in the past six years. In a race that benefits the Denny Hamlin Foundation, created to help those with cystic fibrosis Busch had his late model hitting on all cyilnders down the stretch. Pulling away from fellow Cup driver David Ragan, in the final segment of the 75-lap race the outcome was simply never in doubt following a 5-minute break for pit stops prior to Lap 47. Ben Rhodes, Ronnie Bassett, Jr., and Garrett Campbell rounded out the top-5 finishers. Other Cup drivers, including defending race champion Tony Stewart were in the field but never a factor up front. Smoke, actually extending his slumping start to 2013 into this race got wrecked before the halfway point and wound up 28th. Matt Kenseth, still distraught after a midweek penalty virtually negated his win at Kansas was never truly competitive, either; he finished 22nd. Also on Thursday night, African-American driver Ryan Gifford won the first K&N Pro Series East race of his young career. Surviving a five-lap shootout, following a red flag he cruised home over Brandon Gdovic. Connect with Tom!
Matt Kenseth, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota Penalized As Engine Fails Kansas Post-Race Inspection
posted by Thomas Bowles
Wednesday April 24, 2013
Until the end of time, Matt Kenseth can say he crossed the finish line first at Kansas Sunday. NASCAR Record Books will say the same. But after a harsh series of penalties announced on Wednesday, should they stand that’s about the only thing Kenseth can hang his hat on after a successful weekend turned sour. According to multiple reports, officials at the NASCAR R & D Center in North Carolina discovered a connecting rod on Kenseth’s engine, brought in for Kansas post-race inspection weighed three grams less than the minimum weight of 525g. The consequences, announced today are crippling for both driver and team. Kenseth, along with car owner Joe Gibbs have been docked 50 driver and owner points, actually reducing their overall totals heading into Kansas even though the No. 20 car won the race. That lost chunk of points drops Kenseth from eighth to 14th in the standings. More importantly, the win “won’t count” for either bonus points in the Chase or determine postseason eligibility; that means the driver, now in “Wild Card” position is considered to have one win so far this season instead of two. That’s just the tip of the iceberg on these consequences. Crew chief Jason Radcliffe, fined $200,000 based on the infraction has also been suspended for the next six Sprint Cup points events, along with the All-Star Race. Toyota, whose TRD engine department ultimately supplies the JGR powerplants has had five points deducted from its total in the manufacturer’s championship. And finally, Joe Gibbs himself, already docked 50 owner points has had his license suspended by NASCAR, which means he’s ineligible to accrue owner points for the No. 20 until the next six Sprint Cup Series points races are completed. Gibbs, NASCAR has clarified will still be able to travel to the racetrack despite a suspended license. In a tersely worded statement, the owner says he’ll appeal the ruling, which violated three parts of the series rulebook. The one most pertinent is Section 20-5.5.3(E) which states only magnetic steel connecting rods, with a minimum weight of 525.0 grams will be permitted. Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 12-4J, which gives officials the right to penalize for parts they claim do not conform to NASCAR rules were also cited in the sport’s official release. Toyota Racing Development’s Lee White, in a statement released early this afternoon took responsibility for the violation. During NASCAR’s routine post-race tear down of Matt Kenseth’s race-winning car and engine from Kansas Speedway,” he stated, “One of our engine connecting rods weighed in approximately three grams under the legal minimum weight of 525 grams. None of the other seven connecting rods were found to be under the minimum weight. We take full responsibility for this issue with the engine used by the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) team this past Sunday in Kansas — JGR is not involved in the process of selecting parts or assembling the Cup Series engines. It was a simple oversight on TRD’s part and there was no intent to deceive, or to gain any type of competitive advantage. Toyota is a company that was built on integrity, and that remains one of the guiding principles of the company. The goal of TRD has always been — and will continue to be — to build high-performance engines that are reliable, durable and powerful, and within the guidelines established by NASCAR.” Kenseth, who has led 482 laps this season, two higher than his total last year has been one of the strongest competitiors on the Sprint Cup track in 2013. His engines have also passed several previous inspections.
Johnny Sauter Penalized For Fuel Cell Infraction At Kansas
posted by Thomas Bowles
Wednesday April 24, 2013
Thorsport Racing, along with former Truck Series point leader Johnny Sauter are reeling this Wednesday after a major penalty involving their No. 98 Toyota. On Wednesday, NASCAR announced the team was fined $10,000, crew chief Joel Shear has been suspended for four races and 25 owner points were taken away as a result of a faulty fuel cell, confiscated during pre-race inspection at Kansas. Driver Sauter was also hit was a loss of 25 points, completely reshaping the championship Chase heading into the next race of the season at Charlotte May 17th. According to NASCAR officials, the team violated multiple sections of the rulebook. The key ones involve Section 20B-16 and 20B-16.1B, regarding the proper size and functioning of fuel cells. “Once a fuel cell or fuel cell components have been certified,” the rules say, “Modifications of any kind will not be permitted.” The 16.1B portion refers to black safety foam, with a minimum height of eight inches that must be used as a safety mechanism when putting together the fuel cell itself. By violating that rule, NASCAR is insinuating the team modified or enhanced the cell in some way by cutting back / replacing that foam. Section 12-1, actions detrimental to stock car racing was also listed as a rules violation along with 12-4K, which gives NASCAR Officials the leeway to penalize teams when they feel previously legal equipment was modified, in any manner after being initially inspected. Thorsport, as of yet has not said whether they plan to appeal. The penalties mean Matt Crafton becomes the new Truck Series point leader, by 13 over Jeb Burton while Sauter gets pushed back into a tie for second place.
What To Watch In NASCAR: Tuesday 4/23/13
posted by Thomas Bowles
Tuesday April 23, 2013
- As usual, it’s penalty day in NASCAR and the biggest bulls-eye lies on the No. 98 Truck driven by Johnny Sauter. The current series point leader, Sauter’s fuel cell was confiscated following pre-race inspection in Kansas, a move that’s led to fines, penalties, and crew chief suspensions in the past. Sauter is currently 12 points in front of teammate Matt Crafton in the championship chase. - Clint Bowyer of Michael Waltrip Racing will hold a national teleconference with reporters. Bowyer, ninth in the series standings has gotten his 2013 season back together after a rough start. Fifth at Kansas, his hometown track he’s now got three top-5 results in his last five Sprint Cup events. - Denny Hamlin is expected to meet with doctors, following X-Rays to determine if he has medical clearance to race at Richmond. Hamlin has been out for about a month, since a last-lap crash into a non-SAFER, inside wall at Fontana resulted in an L1 Compression Fracture of his lower back March 24th. - Charlotte Motor Speedway will have a series of announcements concerning the Coca-Cola 600 race the Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend. Among the items on the docket: a special set of pre-race ceremonies, plans for a unique “Welcome Home” presentation for U.S. Military returning from overseas and additional news regarding partner Coca-Cola. Joey Logano and Charlotte Motor Speedway President Marcus Smith will be among those on hand for reporters. |
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Kyle Busch was up to his old tricks in NASCAR’s minor leagues Sunday, taking his 11th victory in the Nationwide Series to break a record in that division held for 27 years – even though he’s only racing part-time there in 2010.
Kyle Busch led 192 of 200 laps on Saturday en route to scoring his 11th victory in the Nationwide Series this year. Coming in just his 23rd start, he broke the previous mark for wins in a season set by Sam Ard in 1983. There. He did it. Enough about it. It’s not like the guy proved anything.
Busch was the class of the field from the drop of the green and was never seriously challenged, part of another 1-2 punch by the Joe Gibbs Racing Toyotas. However, the margin of victory did close to three tenths of a second by race’s end after the No. 18 team reported a vibration with eight laps to go. That allowed teammate Joey Logano to close the gap, but it was too little, too late for the driver of the No. 20. Logano, Carl Edwards, Reed Sorenson, and Kevin Harvick rounded out the top-5 finishers, while Trevor Bayne was the highest full-time Nationwide Series regular in sixth.
The race was marred by a 10-minute red flag on lap 136 after a vicious accident that saw Elliott Sadler get broadsided by Drew Herring. Sadler, who spun after getting loose under Erik Darnell in turn 4, slid back down the high concrete banks and right into the path of Herring, who connected with the No. 88 at nearly full speed. Fortunately, both drivers were treated and released at the track’s infield care center.
Carl Edwards’ third-place result allowed him to make up 53 points on Brad Keselowski, who suffered a spin and right front damage on lap 162 after making contact with Steve Wallace in turn 1. The No. 22 team managed to stay on the lead lap, but limped home 17th, their worst finish since Chicago back in July. Keselowski remains in a league of his own, though, still 320 markers ahead of Edwards with seven races remaining. Justin Allgaier rallied from early handling woes to finish ninth, remaining fourth in points – the highest-ranked NNS regular.
Worth Noting
The Good
Trevor Bayne’s Out! Pet Care sponsorship was highly visible all over the grounds of Dover Downs on Saturday, and reps were treated to a stellar run of their No. 99 entry. Bayne not only banked a top-10 qualifying effort, he stayed there all afternoon and finished sixth, the highest position for any driver in the field who isn’t also racing on Sunday. Bayne’s result was also his fourth top-10 run in the last five races, also his best ever on a concrete race track. That’s exactly what the driver currently considered the hottest prospect on NASCAR’s AAA tour needs right now; with sponsorship in question for Diamond-Waltrip Racing in 2011 and Jack Roush reportedly interested in Bayne should be become available, it’s go time for the 19-year-old. Of note, Bayne outran every Roush Fenway Racing driver in the field not named Carl Edwards.
Justin Allgaier’s ninth-place finish was unlike Bayne’s in that it was not the continuation of a hot streak, but it was also just what the doctor ordered for this development prospect. With Allgaier’s 2011 future also cloudy now that Verizon Wireless will be ending their sponsorship – plus, Penske veteran Sam Hornish, Jr. may be looking at a move to the Nationwide Series next season – Allgaier is another youngster simply hoping to stick around another year. The difference is, unlike Bayne, he’s been in a bit of a regression since winning at Bristol back in March, pulling off one top-5 finish in the last fifteen races after starting the year 5-for-13.
But performances like Saturday’s will work wonders to keep his name around. Allgaier dropped like a rock from his seventh place starting position, falling well out of the top 10 and nearly wrecking on several occasions throughout the first run of the race, a 72-lap, green-flag marathon. The No. 12 team recovered, though, adjusting well the rest of the afternoon and delivering just their third top-10 finish inside the last two months. Saturday ended with Allgaier far better than where he started, a theme he hopes to carry on well into next season.
The Bad
Derrike Cope and the Stratus Racing No. 73 team showed up to Dover with a new sponsor in RagingBid.com and plans to go the distance, the first time the team would have done so since Daytona back in July. Running a full 200 miles at the Monster Mile, however, was simply not in the cards. Replays were inconclusive as to whether Cope blew a right front tire or simply lost his car on the exit of turn 2, but the results were the same; the No. 73 slammed both the inner and exterior retaining walls of Dover’s backstretch, leaving its driver 34th in the final running order.
For Danica Patrick, her crash was conclusively the result of a blown right-front tire, but her Saturday was a wreck long before that. After a promising Friday saw the open-wheeler post a top-15 practice speed and a top-10 finish in the East Series race, Patrick qualified 44th of the 48 cars to take to the track Saturday morning, then spent the next five minutes on the radio not breaking down her lap, but throwing a tantrum over the radio because she couldn’t figure out how to return her car to the garage (despite instructions from Tony Eury, Jr. to take her car down pit road and turn left like they did in practice. What a concept). Before bringing out the yellow on lap 72 after her blown tire, Patrick was on the verge of going three laps down and was struggling to keep up with even the backmarkers in the field. She wound up 35th, yet still earned the distinction of being a 35th-place finisher interviewed post-race on ESPN.
MacDonald Motorsports had at least one entry finish better than 35th, but it was still a terrible Saturday for the team. Driver Michael McDowell scraped into the field by the skin of his teeth in the No. 81, qualifying dead last and suffering through suspension issues to bring home a 28th-place finish, four laps off the pace. As for the team’s second car, Matt Carter was nearly four laps down by the end of his qualifying attempt on Saturday; though the driver reported that his Dodge wasn’t handling that poorly, a flat motor made it impossible for the machine to make any sort of speed on the straightaways, resulting in a DNQ for the team’s second car.
Kyle Busch may have dominated the Nationwide race on Saturday, but the lasting images’ in fans’ minds clearly circled around a vicious wreck between Elliott Sadler and Drew Herring in which both drivers were lucky to walk away unhurt.
The Ugly
The wreck between Drew Herring and Elliott Sadler was the epitome of ugly, especially considering the wicked impacts Sadler has already endured in 2010. Herring, who actually laid down a surprisingly fast first qualifying lap Saturday morning while running the lowest line of any driver during his attempt, got greedy the second time around and lost his No. 27 car entering turn 2. The resulting spin sent his No. 27 backing into the wall, and the team to a backup car. That backup was then destroyed in his lap 136 wreck with Sadler, one that occurred at nearly full throttle more than a few seconds after Sadler had spun. Replays showed a trio of bad coincidences coming together: Sadler seemed to let off the brakes late into his spin, Herring did not let off the gas, and Herring’s spotter may have been late to the draw. The only conclusion to be drawn was that mistakes were made on lap 136, and a harrowing wreck was the result.
Underdog Perfomer of the Race: Willie Allen. To think that the No. 05 team just two seasons ago was running start-and-park almost weekly, their development has been substantial in a 2010 filled with promising performances. Listening over the radio this Saturday was a night-and-day comparison to 2008; Allen has infused this team with both an enthusiasm and a conviction that they can run well. This weekend proved the latest example, with Allen scoring a 20th-place result that was the best ever for Wayne Day’s operation on the Monster Mile (keep in mind Day’s entered NNS cars on at least a part-time basis since 1991). It’s amazing to hear just how far this operation has come, especially considering Allen has a rep through the garage for being both an underrated talent and a positive presence. Both of those have shone in the No. 05 team, scoring top-15 runs throughout the year, and a top 20 at Dover is nothing to be ashamed of, either, for an underfunded operation.
The Final Word
- Read about Justin Allgaier and Trevor Bayne above, two of the faces of the Nationwide Series. Both of them might not be back in 2011 due to sponsorship woes. These are guys running top 10 frequently, running with the Cup regulars as best they can, and are clearly the class of developing stock car drivers – yet NASCAR’s supposedly top driver development division may not even have a home for them next year. See a slight problem with that picture?
- Interesting statistic to look at from pit road. Take the Cup regulars out of the picture, and that leaves 33 cars. Take out the seven additional start-and-parkers, that’s 26 cars. Out of those 26 Nationwide Series entries, only 15 of them actually had a full allotment of tires this weekend. If only a tick over half of the non-Cup teams in the field can afford a full allotment of race tires (and that includes Cup-backed NNS entries), how, exactly, are they supposed to be keeping up and making themselves attractive to sponsors? And this problem comes in a series where they actually limit the tires allowed in a weekend…
- Willie Allen’s continued string of solid performances in the No. 05 car has that team within 100 markers of overtaking the No. 70 joint entry of ML Motorsports and Jay Robinson Racing – even with Mark Green now running the distance on weekends Shelby Howard isn’t competing – for a top 30 “locked in” spot in owner points. For those looking for a Nationwide Series points fix, here’s one that doesn’t involve Brad Keselowski running away from everyone and hiding.
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Friday on the Frontstretch:
Four Burning Questions: All-Star Analysis and The New Kyle Busch
Has NASCAR’s All-Star Night Lost Its Shine?
Frontstretch Foto Funnies: Get Me A Bunny
Voices From the Cheap Seats: It’s Not Nice To Fool Mother NASCAR!
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