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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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Here Beside the Rising Tide…
Come hear Uncle John’s Band by the riverside,
Got some things to talk about,
Here beside the rising tide…
-The Dead
I’m not sure how many writers we have now at Frontstretch. I know we’ve got writers like Disney’s got Dalmatians, and maybe more. What you on the other side of that CRT don’t see is the weekly Sunday night scramble. Everyone is supposed to post their story ideas for the coming week, first come first serve. Of course, as one of the older dogs in the pack, I’m typically still banging out my Race Recap while everyone else grabs the good or easy story ideas. After finishing and submitting my recap, I tend to enjoy a long overdue libation and nap. And as one of the more seasoned (elderly) members of this Dog and Pony show I get to do the weekly twofer, as in I’m expected to bang something out for Thursday as well – when the only story idea left is the economic impact of raising paper towel costs on hot dog vendors at the track.
It gets ugly out there sometimes. There have been challenges to pistol duels, insults hurled about one another’s mothers, chainsaw battles in our newly-constructed Thunderdome, and such egregious behavior amongst colleagues that I am constantly forced to dip to new lows, exceeding even my past efforts to get my way. If forced to, I will claim that I “called” an idea a month ago. Imagine 50 kids “calling shotgun” for the ride to the Piggly Wiggly all trying to muscle their way into the front seat.
Given the recent lack of noteworthy events in the sport, the infighting has gotten particularly brutish. Naturally, this week everyone wanted to jump on the slam dunk story of the week, the Chase. I am gratified that most of my colleagues consider it the same unholy insipid insanity that I do, leaving the senior editor begging some one of us to come up with a column saying something nice about the whole boondoggle concept. Sorry, Thomas, you are shopping at the wrong five and dime. That topic will remain up for grabs. Thus, this evening I am left with two unalterable facts. A) The Chase topics are locked up. B) It’s supposed to be perfect riding weather every afternoon this week.
It’s time to get this done.
So, staring at a blank CRT chewing a pencil, I am forced to consider what to write about if I can’t do a Hate the Chase piece… to add to my already thick resume on the same topic. But remember, gentle readers, I was the first to hate the Chase, after Jimmy Spencer inadvertently leaked the concept on the final episode of RaceDay that season, an episode watched by hundreds if not tens of stalwarts. You can claim you hate the idea more than me, but I hated it first. I’d say I owed Mr. Spencer a few brews for being such a blabbermouth, but he looks like he could put away a considerable sum of suds and I am a man of modest means – so I’ll just offer to be the designated driver to get him home for free (If he promises not to bite me.) You ever seen Spencer’s teeth? They look like he ate rocks growing up.
So, what am I going to write about? Everything else. Trust me, there’s not much else going on. This won’t take long. (Which is what an ex-girlfriend claims is the most romantic thing I ever said to her…)
DuPont — one of the sponsors synonymous with Jeff Gordon and NASCAR — could be gone as primary sponsor of the No. 24 in 2011.
Let’s start with the troubling fact that Rick Hendrick is still shopping for a primary sponsor for Jeff Gordon and the No. 24 team. The relationship between Gordon and DuPont spans his entire career, from the kid with the cheesy mustache competing at Atlanta in 1992 for the first time through four titles. But apparently, the price of admission is too high for DuPont now. There were prolonged negotiations with Wal-Mart to take over as title sponsor, but they fell apart. Apparently, the price tag was too high, and that creepy yellow smiley face couldn’t roll them back despite the fact Wal-Mart has banked billions on their associates’ underpaid wages, child labor in Red China, and the wholesale sacking of small-town, family-owned businesses in the twenty-mile fallout zone that is a new Wal-Mart store. Hendrick now says DuPont might be back in play, though presumably at a much lower price tag than originally requested.
It’s the same situation for Tony Stewart, as he’s still looking for more sponsorship money for next season this late in the game. Old Spice is leaving the team at the end of the year. Rumors are Stewart is in play for the Mobil 1 sponsorship, leaving the Penske organization after Roger signed as primary sponsor for Kurt Busch next year. Still, nothing is set in ink. If Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon, with six combined titles, are still chumming the waters for sponsorship dollars despite the constant love-fest of camera time and mentions the networks give them, what chances do the smaller teams that routinely finish in the high teens and twenties have at getting financial backing in this economy?
It would seem that Stewart should have no trouble getting sponsorship dollars. He is one of the few and proud NASCAR drivers still out there that is decidedly overweight, a demographic well represented in NASCAR fandom. I’m not being cruel. As a nation, we are overweight. But sometimes in the grandstands, you see folks and just want to gasp (usually because you are trying to occupy the seat between them, leaving you only three inches to sit and gasping is the only way you can breathe). I see some of these folks and think to myself, who told you lycra bicycle shorts and going topless with D cup boobs that saggy was a good idea?… and that’s just the guys. Any purveyor of fattening food without an ounce of nutritional value ought to be clamoring to get aboard the Tony Stewart bandwagon to join the Mothership of Junk Calories, Burger King.
Moving on, NASCAR officials say they are in serious discussions to revamp the Nationwide Series, so it is less of a turkey shoot for the Cup drivers and teams. They promise they will come up with the new rules soon (have we heard this song and dance before?). Of course, when announced, the new rules are likely to be unwieldy, ineffective, and ultimately futile; it’s just NASCAR’s way in the Brian France era, which I like to call the Age of Unenlightenment and Capricious Greed.
Here’s what we know already. Nationwide teams next year will have to deal with the horrific costs of that series’ “Car of Tomorrow.” Race purses will be cut by 20 percent across the board. That’s not a good combination. The Nationwide teams best able to make up that financial shortfall are the Cup teams and their satellite organizations like JR Motorsports. The full-time Nationwide independents? They’re prepared for yet another kick to the teeth with Brian France’s steel-tipped boots. Some folks are already seeing the writing on the wall: Todd Braun, who runs the largest “AAA” team on the circuit, has apparently put his up for sale.
But promoters are screaming they don’t want to see NASCAR exclude the full-time Cup competitors like Edwards, Busch, and Keselowski from the mix. Nor do they want to see draws that have Earnhardt, Fat Tony, McMurray, Biffle, Harvick and the rest of the occasional Nationwide competitors out of the series. Those names put some fannies in the seats in an era of already dwindling attendance that, at some tracks, makes it look like fans on hand wandered in by accident.
Here’s my take.
Matt’s proposed Nationwide Series changes would take Carl Edwards and Kyle Busch from title contenders to driver development coaches of sorts – their sponsors helping bring new drivers along while they only participate in a limited schedule.
The Cup drivers can keep competing in the Nationwide Series. But for every start they make, their team must provide another competitive entry for an up-and-coming driver with no more than two Cup starts. That second team must share sponsorship dollars with the Cup driver using the same sponsor. Cup drivers currently in the top 20 in Cup points would receive no prize money in the Nationwide Series, either, for themselves or their team owners. That money would trickle down to the best-finishing, full-time Nationwide teams. Cup drivers in the top 20 in Cup points would also receive no points for their finishes, eliminating them from title competition in the “AAA” series.
Cup drivers in the top 20 in that series’ points would have a separate qualifying round and would start at the rear of the field, with any driver choosing to skip qualifying starting the race in the pits and being held one lap before being able to join the race. Any Cup driver who was judged to have purposely wrecked a full-time Nationwide entry to make a pass would be held personally responsible for the cost of repairing or replacing the damage he caused. Such damage claims could be disputed before series officials, but the driver disputing the incident would be ineligible for Nationwide competition until such a hearing was held.
Finally, I’d like to see the Nationwide Series re-emphasize the short tracks, possibly adding a few dirt track races as well. Let’s face it; the races aren’t going to draw a big crowd, anyway. As it is, twenty thousand folks at North Wilkesboro or Eldora are going to look better than the same size crowd at Fontana or any of the other McSuperspeedways cluttering the schedule.
Now on to the TV program Kyle Busch: All Access.
I intended to watch this show, detailing Kyle Busch’s every move between finishing second at Richmond and starting at New Hampshire. To a degree, I had a perverse curiosity to see if he actually set kittens on fire, stole change from a blind man’s cup, or polished his cloven hooves before bed. I wanted to see if he could got booed at the drive thru window whilst ordering a burger for lunch. I was going to write a review of the show, and thought I’d have a good deal of fun lampooning young Master Busch. I dutifully set my DV-R to record Episode One. What I got was some tennis tournament apparently in rain delay. I’m still trying to figure out why those two guys playing were grunting and groaning like something out of a gay porn flick lobbing the ball back and forth.
I should note I hate tennis. I grew up in the sort of yuppie neighborhood where my mom wanted me to learn to play tennis and golf because the other kids played tennis and golf. I raced dirt bikes instead. While they worked on their forehands, I worked on my Cobra Jet. I started smoking weed entirely too early because I grew up in a neighborhood where the parents of a girl you were taking out on a first date wanted to know what your “handicap” was, which has something to do with golf. I’d usually respond my handicap was being left-handed. My revenge is sweet; all the kids I grew up with who played golf and tennis now have bad knees and torn rotator cuffs. And they told me motocross was dangerous?
But anyway, ESPN’s great experiment with the live Busch show, much touted and hyped, went up in smoke when the first episode aired at 1 A.M. Tuesday morning. If you’re one of the two people who saw it, I’d love to know what you thought of the show. NASCAR fans are used to being disrespected with the NFL, college football, and even a horse race taking precedence over races, but tennis? I don’t think ESPN loves us anymore.
One final ironic note. In declaring NASCAR’s intent to promote the Nationwide Series as a stepping stone to Cup, Mike Helton mentioned specifically Justin Allgaier as one of the personable new breed of drivers of the sort the Nationwide Series should help bring along. Only it appears “Little Gator” (gag… but the waitress is cute) may just be out a ride in the Nationwide Series next year despite some success. His sponsor Verizon is frustrated by their inability to do at-track promotions and the like because “Sprint/Nextel” is NASCAR’s corporate sponsor for the Cup Series. So in this instance (as in so many others before) NASCAR’s choosing to sign a corporate deal to line their own pockets is costing one of the few Nationwide teams with a high-profile sponsor and a promising young driver a chance to grow – in the nurturing new environment, of course, NASCAR says it wants the Nationwide Series to be.
Just remember the official slogan of the organization: NASCAR uber all! Remarkably, NASCAR’s network sponsors are not prohibited from airing ads for cell phone and insurance companies by the sport’s “exclusivity” deals.
So there it is. 2,000 words with nary a mention of the damned Chase. It can be done, but it’s getting lonely out here on this high wire. There’s this long open stretch of 282 west of Glenmoore where this time of year, with the sun to your back aboard a Harley you cast a shadow seventy foot long ahead of you. If the sun is just right, you can even make out the reflection of circle of chrome on your engineer boots as you take her up through the gears hitting 85 before gearing down for the stop sign at 82. I’m thinking lately this might just be the last Chase I don’t write about.
Well those drifter days are past me now,
I’ve got so much more to think about,
Deadlines and commitments,
What to leave in and what to leave out,
Against the wind, still running against the wind…
Bob Seger
- MPM
Thursday on the Frontstretch:
FREE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER! SENT RIGHT TO YOUR EMAIL INBOX! CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP
Making A Mockery Of How The Chase Makes A Mockery Of Racing
Fanning The Flames: Richmond Reaction, Fantasy Talk, And A Junior Fan’s Last Stand
Driven To The Past: Thinking Outside ‘The Box…’
Fantasy Insider: Two Former Champs A Trendy Pick To Start Strong At NHMS
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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