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Jimmie Johnson wins the Sprint All-Star race.....again
posted by Mike Neff
Sunday May 19, 2013
Five-time is now four-time when it comes to the Sprint All-Star race. Coming into Saturday night’s race, Johnson was tied with Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt for most wins in the annual event with three wins. Johnson bided his time, restarted the last segment in the second spot, dueled Kasey Kahne for two laps to secure the lead and pulled away to a convincing win. Joey Logano started the last segment in the seventh position, took advantage of a slip up by Kyle Busch on the start of the final segment, and ultimately came home in the runner-up spot. Kyle Busch rebounded from his slip up to muscle his way back to third. Kahne started the final segment on the pole but couldn’t hold off Johnson on the first few laps of the restart and ended up fourth. Kurt Busch won two segments, was the first on pit road for the money pit stop, but finished the event in fifth place. Jimmie Johnson summed up his results in two words, “we’re lucky”. It was tongue in cheek but Johnson was poking fun at the people who continue to accuse the No. 48 of preferential treatment, fixed races, and a blind eye to cheating. Johnson has one of the highest winning percentages in NASCAR history and it comes from natural talent and chemistry with his crew. This race also now ties Johnson with Davey Allison as the only two drivers to win the race in back-to-back years. Logano and Busch visited with the media after the race to speak about their runs. Logano was understandably upbeat about his second while Busch was quite dejected, having another All-Star race slip out of his grasp. Kahne spoke about the elephant in the room that is the length of the segments in the race during his post race availability on pit road. He noted that the inherent problem with the format is that the car is designed with downforce, on a track that is cool and has a bunch of grip. The only way to make the races exciting after the first couple of laps of racing would be to extend the segments to the The first 20 lap segment was won by Kurt Busch. Segment two went to his brother Kyle. That segment win allowed Bruton Smith to breathe more easily since he put up a $1,000,000 bonus to anyone who won all four of the segments. Segment three also went to the younger Busch, while the fourth segment win was tallied in brother Kurt’ s account.
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. |
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Bryan Davis Keith · Tuesday October 5, 2010
ONE: Nationwide Rookie of the Year Crown Becoming a Kiss of Death
Back in 2005, Carl Edwards upstaged Kyle Busch’s 2004 Rookie of the Year title in NASCAR’s AAA ranks, winning the award in that series while he was busy contending for a Sprint Cup title the same year. Both Busch and Edwards have gone on to join the elite ranks of the best in stock car racing ever since, exactly what one would expect from men that proved to be at the head of their class in the development ranks.
Winning’s a big deal… unless you’re a Nationwide driver. These days, Justin Allgaier needs more than a trophy to seal his future.
Since that 2005 season, though, what many would consider to be an enormous honor has become the equivalent of a career killer, a rookie trophy rendered meaningless in the face of dwindling opportunities that even sterling resumes can’t overcome. 2006 ROTY Danny O’Quinn is a full-time start and parker for Riley/D’Hondt Motorsports, while Landon Cassill is doing the same dirty deed for TRG. Only David Ragan made it to the Cup ranks with an actual chance to race, but hasn’t been heard from since (much to the chagrin of UPS). Out of all the ROTYs since 2005, only Justin Allgaier has won a race at any NASCAR national level in 2010, and his future now sits in limbo with sponsor Verizon Wireless departing at the close of this year.
2010’s ROTY battle doesn’t look any brighter for the contenders. Colin Braun has endured a brutal season, one that’s seen what was supposed to be a full-time ride with Roush Fenway Racing turn into a revolving door. Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.’s first full year in NNS racing has been anything but pretty, and he alongside Braun now must wonder about 2011, as RFR has spent 2010 bringing in even more development drivers in Brian Ickler and now Trevor Bayne. It appears they’ve been searching for a magic bullet to be the next Denny Hamlin or Joey Logano, a youngster that can win straight out of the box.
As for Brian Scott, his financial backing secured him a new ride at RAB Racing after leaving former owner Todd Braun, but that can hardly be considered a step forward for a driver who as recently as last year was a weekly contender for wins at the Truck Series level.
Looking at that list of drivers, there isn’t one that’s devoid of talent. What they all seem to be missing is time. Nationwide Series racing has become a sort of one-and-done for most drivers out there. Just look at the graveyard of development prospects over at Roush Fenway Racing. In addition to O’Quinn and the seemingly cast aside Braun and Stenhouse, there’s also Todd Kluever, Erik Darnell, Michel Jourdain, Jr…. the list goes on.
It’s also not hard to understand why such an honor as ROTY has become, well, irrelevant. With Cup regulars winning 34 of 35 races a year and averaging 70-80% of the top-10 finishing positions over the course of a season, the only way a team can keep a sponsor happy with a development driver is to land the next phenomenon. Driver development has become a Where’s Waldo discovery, a rapid, hit-or-miss game of trial and error instead of a process.
Besides, with Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski carrying on their weekly dick-swinging competitions on Saturdays instead of dedicating themselves to topping Jimmie Johnson on Sundays, when will ESPN find the time to discuss the next big thing? The current “big things” are busy compensating on track, after all.
TWO: Kyle Busch Finds a Boot on the Other Foot
Debate the circumstances all you want, but Brad Keselowski came into the 2010 season with the perception of a rogue. Here was a driver that flipped Carl Edwards to win at Talladega, then showed no remorse for dumping Denny Hamlin at Dover, only to do it again… twice… at Phoenix a few races later. Right or wrong, Keselowski came into his first full Sprint Cup season saddled with a daunting reputation on his shoulders. Trouble was expected wherever his Dodges loomed.
Hey, Kyle … remember this wreck? Brad Keselowski certainly does, tops among a long list of contenders unafraid to cash in the revenge David Reutimann just pulled Sunday under NASCAR’s ‘Have At It, Boys’ 2010 policy.
And not once, but three times this season, Keselowski has paid a high price for this perception that both his driving and his on-track persona have helped cement. Carl Edwards returned to the track over 100 laps down at Atlanta to flip the No. 12 car on the frontstretch. Four months later, as impossible as it seemed he topped that scary wreck with a harrowing hook move that sent Keselowski into perhaps the most violent crash of this year racing to the checkers at Gateway. Kyle Busch also wasted no time dumping the No. 22 in a Nationwide race at Bristol just as soon as Keselowski put a bump-and-run to him.
Keselowski’s learned the hard way that while racing the way he does brings with it trophies, fans, and big-time rides, it also comes packaged with danger. And though Kyle Busch had no issues reminding Brad of that fact at Bristol back in August, apparently he’s unaware that his own mammoth attitude has made him his share of enemies. Because Busch seemed utterly shocked on Sunday when, after having dumped David Reutimann (unintentionally or not) at Kansas that the Franchise would have the nerve to come after him, a Chaser, and end his chances at a top-5 run with a hard hit on the backstretch that ruined the rear end of Busch’s Toyota.
Right or wrong, Busch, like Brad, has himself quite the rep on track for being overly-aggressive, for being immature, for being a rogue. And it came back to bite in a big way on Sunday.
Busch sounded utterly pathetic in his reactions after the episode. Suddenly NASCAR’s “bad boy” was wondering when officials were going to step down and penalize a non-Chaser for going after a Chaser. And even after both JGR’s PR machine, working overtime after Hamlin’s big mouth nearly brought the team to war with RCR, was able to calm Busch for post-race comments, and Busch was able to reflect and realize there is no driver in the field less deserving than he of an officiating favor, he dared pose the question as to why Reutimann couldn’t have wrecked him next year after the Chase is over.
Kyle’s built a name for himself in the sport with incredible talent.. and an utter disregard for his fellow competitors. Well, that latter point came back to bite him in a big way on Sunday, and he deserved every bit of it. Intentional or not, Busch ended Reutimann’s chances at victory at Kansas. Reutimann returned the favor. Is anyone really surprised other than Kyle?
Chaser or not, Busch reaped what he’s spent years sowing on Sunday.
THREE: This Episode Again Reveals the Farce of the Chase
Take away the fact that one of the most reserved guys in the Cup garage stood up to one of its most bullying personalities for a minute. David Reutimann’s shot at Kyle Busch was also a stern reminder of the Chase’s biggest oversight in trying to bring a playoff to NASCAR; there are still 31 other teams out there trying for the same race win.
Some playoff. Imagine if Alabama and Boise State were battling for the national championship, and suddenly the outcome of the game was changed because an angry Florida player charged the field, blindsiding ‘Bama’s quarterback in retribution for a cheap shot the Tide took on him earlier in the season. As right as David Reutimann was to go after Busch on Sunday, the Chase had no way to account for the fact that a competitor not part of a segregated title fight all but took someone out of it.
The reality of racing is that from Daytona to Homestead, all 43 competitors are going to impact every driver, every lap of every race … no matter what the point system says. David Reutimann’s victim (and I use the term very loosely) may have been Busch, but damn if he didn’t expose the Chase for being completely incompatible with the sport whose champ it’s deciding.
FOUR: No Chase, and a Tight Points Battle?
That’s what race fans in North Carolina have to look forward to on Saturday. The ARCA Racing Series returns to Rockingham, with Craig Goess, Tom Hessert and Patrick Sheltra all within 20 points of the lead… and the series’ championship.
To say ARCA’s points battle has been epic in 2010 is an understatement, with incredible performances by each of the three frontrunners. Be it Hessert spanking the ARCA field at Iowa, Goess stealing a win at Pocono from Mikey Kile’s dominant car or Sheltra’s banzai move on a late restart that saw him go from sixth to first on the frontstretch at Springfield en route to his first ARCA win on dirt, the three have emerged from a relentless title fight that has seen contenders such as Kile, Justin Marks and nine-time ARCA champion Frank Kimmel fall to the wayside.
All without a Chase.
FIVE: ESPN Looking at Every Factor Impacting Chase Ratings…And Still Not Listening to the Fans
It’s no secret just how far TV ratings have slumped both since the Chase started and since football returned to the scene. To fix that, ESPN is analyzing whether to start races at 2 PM, to avoid beginning and ending races alongside early NFL games.
Hello?! Race fans didn’t spend years screaming for earlier start times to suddenly have 1 PM turn to 2 PM again. Instead of this asinine talk of going back to 2 PM green flags (well, 2:19 PM, let’s be realistic) which would have races ending in the five and six o’clock range, how about going back to noon green flags instead? Have the races start before football, then have them start early enough that fans at home can watch the NFL afterwards while the fans at the track can get a jump on going home.
Unless, of course, people are just sick of ESPN’s excuse for race broadcasts in the first place. Boy, that Dover ad gaffe was huge, wasn’t it?
Tuesday on the Frontstretch:
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Desperate Times Call ‘4’ Desperate Measures: The 4-Car Rule Needs To Go
No Bull: What Constitutes Bad NASCAR Attendance? How Capacity Changes Perception
Talking NASCAR TV: Did ESPN Recover At Kansas? And VERSUS’ On-Air Implosion
Who’s Hot / Who’s Not In NASCAR: Kansas-Fontana Edition
Wednesday on the Frontstretch:
Did You Notice? … The Evolution Of An Ending, Double Duty’s Drought And Charlotte Controversy
Side by Side: Daytona Or Indy — Which Race Is More Important?
Life at the 55: How Engineering and Technology Brought Billy Scott into NASCAR
Top Ten Ways Drivers Entertain Themselves During A 600-Mile Race
Open-Wheel Wednesday: The History of the Indianapolis 500
A Good Friend Mourns: Dick Trickle Remembered
Happiness Is… Racing, Racing, Racing
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