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Edwards Placed On Probation For Three Races
posted by Jay Pennell
Tuesday March 9, 2010
NASCAR President Mike Helton addressed the media Tuesday afternoon following Sunday’s late-race incident between Carl Edwards and Brad Keselowski at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. Well over 100 laps down, Edwards intentionally spun Keselowski through the tri-oval while Keselowski was running sixth. The No. 12 car lifted in the air and slammed the outside wall with the driver’s side window. NASCAR parked Edwards for his actions and ordered him to the NASCAR hauler for further discussion on the matter. Tuesday, Helton explained Edwards would be placed on probation for the next three races and the drivers and their teams would meet with NASCAR about the situation. “Following that incident we asked the driver of the 99 to visit us in the hauler, and we made it very clear to him that these actions were not acceptable and did go beyond what we said back in January about putting the driving back in the hands of the drivers,” Helton said. “We believe the driver of the 99 understands our position at this point.” For NASCAR, the biggest issue emerging from Sunday’s incident was the fact the No. 12 car lifted into the air. “But the bigger topic is the 12 car getting airborne at a mile-and-a-half track which we typically don’t see,” Helton said. “It’s been years since we’ve seen that. So a lot of our effort yesterday, today and until we find resolve to it is figuring out how it happened, why it happened and what we can do to prevent it from happening in the future.”
Keyed Up and Key Motorsports split
posted by Doug Turnbull
Saturday March 6, 2010
If missing the first three races to date was not enough drama for the No. 90 Keyed Up Motorsports Chevy team and Casey Mears, organizational upheaval may tip the scales. A member with the team tells Frontstretch.com that Raymond Key’s Cup operation, originally formed with ties to Curtis Key’s teams in the Nationwide and Truck Series, has become its own entity. As of Monday, the team began a move into Tommy Baldwin Racing’s old shop while planning to continue trying to qualify on Cup races. However, if sponsorship for the team fails to pan out, Keyed-Up may vie for a partial schedule similar to that of the Wood Brothers and only run about 12 races the rest of the year.
Wood Brothers running FR9 for now, Roush says no big problems with new motor
posted by Doug Turnbull
Saturday March 6, 2010
Ford’s new FR9 motor has not made a speedy entrance to the Sprint Cup Series, mainly because the Ford teams need adequate supplies from the engine parts vendors and not because of performance problems, says team owner Jack Roush. Claiming the engine will perform well over the long-term, he still expects the new design to be “the Ford engine of the future” and fully in use by the end of 2010. While his four Ford teams are not running the revamped engine, Roush revealed that the Wood Brothers Ford team will run the FR9 this weekend at Atlanta and in April at Texas. Beyond that, either Roush nor Ford officials have announced a set schedule for full or future implementation of the power plants.
Crawford says truck team is 'close' on sponsorship
posted by Doug Turnbull
Saturday March 6, 2010
While never a standout in the Camping World Truck Series, Rick Crawford has experienced moderate success over his long career in NASCAR’s third-tier. After losing sponsorship at the end of 2009, his Circle Bar Racing team finds itself on the ropes, wondering how many races the future may hold. The veteran Crawford, though, remains optimistic a deal is imminent. “I would say we’re pretty close on signing a sponsor for the 2010 season and 2011 and beyond. [Not starting 2010 with a sponsor] was a matter of losing a sponsor late last year and [the prospective sponsor] getting its marketing efforts done. We’ve got the contracts ready; we’re waiting to get that signed.” Crawford started 2010 with a DNF at Daytona, placing 28th.
Justin Marks Wins The ARCA Race!
posted by Thomas Bowles
Saturday February 27, 2010
Justin Marks won a rain-shortened event at Palm Beach Saturday, collecting his first ever win in the series. Robb Brent, Blake Koch, Tom Hessert III, and Steve Arpin rounds out the top 5. Stay tuned to Frontstretch.com for plenty of post-race coverage on both the website and our Newsletter.
Looking For ARCA Coverage? We Got It!
posted by Thomas Bowles
Saturday February 27, 2010
While the ARCA race at Palm Beach may not be televised … we’ve got you covered. Our own Bryan Davis Keith is at Palm Beach all weekend and will be posting news, commentary, and features from the Florida road course both on the website and in our newsletter. Don’t miss out! And don’t forget, our own Tom Bowles is spending the weekend in Vegas, too … so we’ve got you covered from all angles. Just another reason why we’re the best seat at the track and the best view on the ‘net!
Carter Simo still plans 2010 Cup races
posted by Doug Turnbull
Friday February 19, 2010
One story lost in the shadow of Speedweeks in Daytona was the absence of Carter Simo Racing’s No. 08 car. Much of the team’s equipment was put up for auction Tuesday; however, a source tells Frontstretch.com the operation still plans to field a car in 2010, with a limited schedule of races TBD. CSR may also try and field a car for the Talladega ARCA race in April; until then, most of the team’s employees have been temporarily released and are working for other teams in the sport. In mid-2009, team owner John Carter bought the assets of beleaguered owner/driver Jeremy Mayfield, using the newly purchased equipment and Toyotas to field entries in five races with two-time champion driver Terry Labonte. Equipment issues kept the team from cracking the top 30 in those races. Road course ringer Boris Said also wielded No. 08 Fords last year at both road course races, scoring the team’s season-best finish of 24th at Infineon. Later on that season, Said and longtime partner Mark Simo split, creating the newly-named Carter Simo racing with Labonte behind the wheel. On Tuesday, CSR only placed the equipment purchased from Mayfield on the block, including five Toyotas, a race hauler, and other pit equipment and tools. However, the source says that the team still owns three old Yates chassis and an old Ganassi piece (all of which they converted to Dodges last year) in the shop, with plans on returning to the track midseason pending sponsorship. The move is similar to what happened with Carter Simo last year, in which they took a four-month break between Daytona and Infineon while preparing to race at specific tracks. CSR, which still splits its time between its shops in Charlotte and in Toccoa, Georgia, just has to modify the top of the noses on their cars before returning to the track, due to a minor, lightly-discussed rules change before the season. As for CSR’s 2009 drivers and whether they will return to the team, Boris Said currently is driving the No. 26 for Bill Jenkins’ Latitude 43 Motorsports, and is working on a long-term deal that should remove him as an option. Terry Labonte is also out of the running; he and former owner Bill Stavola formed Stavola Labonte Racing in 2009, but are currently sidelined due to a lack of sponsorship. According to sources, Labonte was offered but initially turned down a return to the No. 08. A John Carter-owned car did participate in the ARCA race at Daytona on February 6th. Former CSR driver James Hylton borrowed a car from Carter, then leased it to driver Jill George for the race. But George infamously crashed the No. 48 roof-first into the wall just 25 laps into the 80-lap Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200, finishing 31st in the 43 car field.
Parrott In As Crew Chief For Kenseth
posted by Jay Pennell
Wednesday February 17, 2010
Less than a week into the 2010 season and Roush Fenway Racing has already made a switch at the crew chief position. News broke on Wednesday that Todd Parrott would take over atop the pit box for the No. 17 team with driver Matt Kenseth, replacing Drew Blickensderfer. The Kenseth-Blickensderfer combination won last year’s Daytona 500 and backed it up by winning the next weekend at the Auto Club Speedway. Despite their strong start out of the box, the No. 17 team failed to live up to expectations in 2009, scoring seven top-5s, 12 top-10s and failing to make, along with missing the Chase. Now after an 8th place finish in Sunday’s Daytona 500, Blickensderfer is headed to the Roush Fenway Racing R&D Department and Parrott is taking over as crew chief.
Danica Out in Daytona
posted by Mike Lovecchio
Saturday February 13, 2010
A lap 79 crash abruptly ended Danica Patrick’s first career NASCAR start Saturday in Daytona. Patrick went a lap down early in the race and later got back on the lead lap on lap 55 via the “Lucky Dog” rule. As she began moving through the field, she was collected in an incident that involved 12 cars. “I’m just going to take away the fact that I know what it’s going to be like out there come next year,” she said. “I felt we would’ve finished strong if we would’ve finished, but as you can see it’s easier said than done.”
Truck Series Race Postponed Until 7:00 PM Saturday
posted by Thomas Bowles
Friday February 12, 2010
It’s official – Friday track activities were washed out by the weather. Not only was Nationwide qualifying pushed back, but the Truck race was postponed, too – they’ll run at 7:00 PM Saturday night. Be sure to come back tomorrow for the latest news ‘n’ notes from the track! |
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Editor’s Note: Jay Pennell is filling in for Bowles-Eye View this week. Tom Bowles’ commentary can be found on his regular gig over at SI.com’s Racing section.
He may not be the most popular driver and he may seem a bit “vanilla” to some, but Jimmie Johnson is without question one of the best to ever strap into a race car. Earning his fourth straight NASCAR title Sunday night, Johnson separated himself from some of the greatest in the 61-year history of the sport.
Johnson is now one of only four drivers to win four championships (the others being Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt and Jeff Gordon), but among those NASCAR greats, Johnson is the only driver to win them all in a row. Last year’s hoopla was Johnson’s chance to tie Cale Yarborough by winning three straight titles; but this year, the attention is all squarely on him for breaking the record.
This team has set the bar since joining the Cup Series ranks full-time in 2002. In each of their eight years, the No. 48 organization has finished in the top-5 in the season-ending standings, maturing along with NASCAR’s new playoff format that came into existence during his third year. Working together with crew chief Chad Knaus, he has more wins (18) and top 10s (55) then anyone in the 60-race history of the Chase.
One of the biggest contributors and advantages the No. 48 team has had during its championship run is the man calling the shots atop the pit box. Chad Knaus came up through the Hendrick organization learning from one of the greatest crew chiefs in the business, Ray Evernham. Since taking over as crew chief for Johnson, Knaus has set himself apart from his competition. One of the most methodical and calculated guys in the garage area, winning is a way of life for him, and he conducts his team accordingly.
The road to history has not always been easy, though. Struggles on the track and Knaus’ suspensions over the years for rules violations have made this team dig deep to get the job done. BUt whenever they hit a string of bad luck and were behind the eight ball, everyone in the organization stepped up and performed to the best of their ability.
“Just when you think you’ve seen everything, a guy goes out and finishes four in a row and Hendrick finishes 1-2-3 in the points,” Jeff Gordon said. “As a competitor, that Johnson ticks me off. As a friend, a teammate, and sort of car owner they’re amazing. I’m really happy for [Johnson], Chad and the entire 48 team…I really never thought I’d see in my career or my lifetime somebody win four in a row.”
Yet despite his success on the track, Johnson has become a guy fans love to hate. The dislike for Johnson is not exactly at say, Kyle Busch levels, but boos ring loud when Johnson is introduced each week. The general idea is that he is a polished driver that has the best equipment. A clean cut native of California, Johnson has not always related to the blue collar fans … but while that may be the feeling amongst some, the drivers themselves know better.
“I know the garage really respects what they have done and really realizes how hard it is for that happen,” Kevin Harvick said. “To win a championship in this sport four times in a row is something pretty remarkable. I think it’s time for the fans to give the credit that he deserves. That is the most dominant team we have sitting in this garage, and they deserve that respect.”
“I will say that as much as he wins and everything happens, Jimmie’s one of those guys you want to hate, but he’s one of the best guys out here,” Jamie McMurray added. “I think that he is very deserving of what he has.”
And what he and the Hendrick organization now have is their own page in the history books of NASCAR.
“I think that’s got to say how impressive this Lowe’s team is and what a great, fantastic driver Jimmie Johnson is,” Knaus said after the race. “Jimmie is an incredible, incredible talent. He is the most underrated driver in this garage from a perspective of media recognition and stuff like that. He can do things with a race car that I’ve never seen done before, and I hope this proves it to everybody.”
When asked where he ranks among the sport’s best drivers, Johnson admitted this accomplishment puts him up there. He has earned his fourth title quicker than Petty, Earnhardt, and Gordon. Over the last eight years, Johnson has 47 wins, 117 top-5s, and 180 top-10s in 291 races.
“I have a lot of racing ahead of me, so it is tough to really say at this point,” Johnson said. “We’ve have covered some territory in a short period of time, and I feel the years ahead of us we can even get higher in the record books.”
The scariest thing for the competition is the No. 48 team shows no signs of slowing. Come next year, they’ll once again be the team to beat. Knaus even admitted they have been working on 2010 for the last two months.
So congratulations to Jimmie Johnson, Chad Knaus, Rick Hendrick, and the entire No. 48 team. There are rare moments in sports in which history of this magnitude is made, and witnessing it is something every competitor, media member, and fan should be appreciative of.
Jay W. Pennell is a freelance writer. He can be contacted through his blog at http://jaywpennell.blogspot.com or through the Contact Us form on the main page of our site.
THE FREE FRONTSTRETCH PODCAST IS BACK – WITH CAREY AND COFFEY!
LATEST EDITION – FANS SOUNDING OFF ON CARL AND BRAD
Jay Coffey and Matt Carey are back in action for Frontstretch, contributing a second season’s worth of weekly podcasts you can’t find anywhere else. Click here to hear the latest edition from the hosts of the Carey and Coffey show, where they take a look back at the Carl-Brad feud through your comments and Tweets about the incident. It seems like everyone has something to say about it all, so C&C take the best of the best while making their own opinions heard on the wreck that sparked a national furor.
So click on the link, sit back, and relax. Once you’re done, if you like what you hear be sure to visit Careyandcoffey.com to get the latest news and information about their show that’s on-air every Sunday morning both online and with ESPN Radio in Southern CT.
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