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NASCAR Will Use New Spoiler At Martinsville
posted by Jay Pennell
Wednesday March 17, 2010
During a press conference for the Sprint All-Star Race in Charlotte, N.C. today, NASCAR vice president of competition Robin Pemberton confirmed the Sprint Cup Series would officially make the transition to the rear spoiler beginning with the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 at the Martinsville Speedway. Pemberton said 83 spoilers had been sent to the teams on Monday. Teams tested the new rear spoiler on Tuesday at the Talladega Superspeedway, where the cars reached speeds well over 200mph in the draft. Throughout the test, NASCAR tried different combinations of spoiler height and restrictor plate size. Next week there is a two-day (Tuesday and Wednesday) test planned at the Charlotte Motor Speedway, where over 50 teams are scheduled to participate. Along with the return of the rear spoiler, Pemberton explained NASCAR is still working on other changes to the aero package on the Sprint Cup cars that will go into effect at all the tracks, possibly starting as soon as Texas in April.
High speeds in Talladega at first CoT spoiler test
posted by Doug Turnbull
Tuesday March 16, 2010
The highly anticipated first official spoiler test for the Car of Tomorrow may be noteworthy for other reasons. In an attempt to break up the large packs of cars, a notorious characteristic for restrictor plate tracks like Talladega, NASCAR allowed teams to try plates with larger holes – they started with a record size plate of 66/64th of an inch before shortening to 62/64ths of an inch after speeds were listed as too high. Just how high did those speeds go? Sources tell Frontstretch.com that this change, combined with the replacement of the rear wing with the traditional spoiler and the lowering of the front edge of the rear quarterpanels on both sides of the race car, allowed cars to approach straightaway speeds of up to 208 mph and average laps over the 200 mph mark. To set a mark for comparison, Juan Pablo Montoya’s April 2009 Talladega pole speed was 188.171 mph. Since speeds were in the 200 mph range, the same source says that NASCAR may consider having teams change the gear ratios on the cars, instead of decreasing the plate holes going forward, so the packs will remain broken up. Interestingly enough, the higher speeds come in light of the infamous Brad Keselowski-Carl Edwards race car flipping episode at Atlanta Motor Speedway two weeks ago, Ryan Newman’s incredible end-over-end flip at Talladega last October, and Keselowski turning Edwards airborne into the Talladega frontstretch catchfence last April. Read Wednesday’s Frontstretch.com Newsletter for more details on the Talladega spoiler test.
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. |
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Beyond The Cockpit : Bill Elliott On NASCAR's Future And His Present Challenges
Mike Neff · Thursday October 23, 2008
At 53, the NASCAR legend most know simply as “Awesome Bill” is getting ready to call it a career … sort of. While Bill Elliott told our Mike Neff he’d retire at the end of the season, he claimed just days later he might return for a race or two in ’09 if the Wood Brothers ask him to come back. But if this IS the final month, he’ll leave a stat line worthy of a Hall of Fame nomination on the first ballot: 44 Wins, 55 Poles, and 320 career Top 10s in 720 starts to date. Add in the 1988 Cup championship and the 1985 Winston Million — one of two drivers ever to receive that prestigious award — and it’s clear the Dawsonville, GA native will be remembered as one of the best men ever to slip behind the wheel of a stock car.
At one time, Elliott was so well liked he won NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver Award a record sixteen times; the honor will actually be named after him when he finally hangs it up for good. But in the past five years, he’s fallen under the radar screen, scaling back and going part-time in rides that haven’t been as competitive as he would have liked. Elliott’s best run this season came Sunday at Martinsville, placing 16th in the No. 21 Wood Brothers Ford, and his last Top 10 was at Indianapolis way back in the summer of 2004.
Prior to the TUMS QuikPak 500, Mike Neff of The Frontstretch sat down (technically stood in the hauler) with Elliott to discuss the challenges of driving for a single car team, his past success, and what the future holds following his retirement.
Mike Neff: You recently announced that you are retiring. Is it really going to be for good this time?
Bill Elliott: I never said I was quitting last time. But this time, I think I’m pretty much done. I might be like Brett Favre, Mark Martin, or Terry Labonte, though…
Mike Neff: Once you’re done with driving, will you stay involved in the sport, either consulting or maybe even helping out Brian France with things that might help NASCAR as a whole?
Bill Elliott will run the final four races of the season for the Wood Brothers. Beyond that … who knows?
Bill Elliott: I wouldn’t touch that with a 10 foot pole. I’m planning on trying to help [son] Chase with his career. I might do some other forms of racing, maybe run some more dirt. I’ll tell you the truth, the problem right now is there is absolutely no money available out there. We’ve been trying to do a driver development deal for him, and every door you try and open is slammed in your face. And the bad thing is, you go to a race track and 30 years ago, they were paying $800 to win, maybe $1,000. They’re still paying that today. Maybe if you get lucky, you can get $1,200.
But I’ve enjoyed it. I’ve had a great career. I’ve had good times and I’ve had bad times.
Mike Neff: You’ve already kind of answered it, but are you going to keep racing dirt?
Bill Elliott: I’d like to, if I can get a little bit of funding. It’s just so expensive. Every aspect of racing has just gotten so expensive.
Mike Neff: You were voted Most Popular Driver 10 times in a row. How much did that mean to you?
Bill Elliott: I had a great fan following. You go to a race and have a bad day and you meet someone who tells you they’re still a fan no matter how you run. That says a lot. Regardless of who you are in this garage area, you cannot stay on top your entire career. That’s evolution; that’s just a part of life. It’s easy to be a fair weather fan. You jump on the hot guy; but as soon as times get tough, you drop him for the next guy. But I was blessed with fans who stuck with me through my entire career.
Mike Neff: You’ve been at this for 33 years. Is there a specific memory that stands out from all of the rest?
Bill Elliott: You can’t really single out one thing. There are some special moments. My first win, my first Daytona 500, my win at Darlington for the Million. You look back at all of the things that happened, the good and the bad, and it’s all just great memories. It was a wild ride.
The thing that I am the most proud of, though, is that we didn’t go to Joe Gibbs and buy our way in. We didn’t go to Junior Johnson and buy our way in. We did it with our guys, in our shop in Dawsonville, GA. Can you tell me the last time a team from outside of the state of North Carolina won a championship? I can’t think of one. That’s the thing I don’t think people make enough of a point about. I’m giving credit to the guys who worked their guts out to bring that championship to us. I think that is the most understated fact about our career.
Mike Neff: Do you have any regrets? Is there anything you wish you’d have done different, or anything you wanted to do that you didn’t get to do?
Bill Elliott: I don’t have any regrets at all.
Mike Neff: If you hadn’t been a race car driver, what would you have done?
Bill Elliott: I’d have been a heck of a ditch digger. I worked for my dad in the building supply industry. I worked for my brother. And we had a Ford dealership.
Mike Neff: You’ve seen a lot of changes in this sport. What changes did you like the most, and which change did you like the least?
Bill Elliott: I think the most important change we’ve had has been the safety aspect. The sad thing is it took Dale Earnhardt’s death to really get that rolling. But I will say this; NASCAR has stepped up to the plate on that. The things they have implemented at the tracks, and everyone has pulled together on — I think that is the biggest thing I’ve seen over the years.
The negative thing, I would say, is they’re driving the little guy out of the sport. When I was doing my deal in the early ’90s there, we started out and the owner / driver was a viable entity. By the end of the ’90s, it wasn’t a viable option. So when that rumor spread through the garage, you might as well stick a cross in ya because you’re done. You can’t get funding for a one car team, you’re done. If you’re a single car team, you just can’t compete. You look at Hendrick or Roush or Gibbs or Childress. You look at the win column this year, and they all come from those kind of teams. A lot of things are perception. We have this perception that everything is the way it should be. It gets away from that, and you suffer for it.
I guess the thing that I don’t like is the people it has run out of the business. Bud Moore and Junior Johnson, guys who sacrificed a lot to be in the business. Granted, they made some money, but they made NASCAR a lot more money. They’ve talked about franchising and all that, but it’s never going to happen.
I’ll tell you what, you can take a group of guys and run with these teams for awhile, but they’re going to swallow you up. You can make a change that helps, but they’re going to be six changes ahead of you. You may have a day in the sun and shine once or twice, but year in and year out, they’re going to kick your butt. They’ve got the army. Its like that movie with the 300 Spartans. You can do it for awhile — you can fight them — but you ain’t going to fight them forever. Those other teams have the manpower. You’re going to kill your people. You can keep up for awhile, but you’re going to kill your people.
Mike Neff: Last question. The rumor is going around that since you’re calling it quits, Ray Evernham would like to make good on his statement from 2003 that he’d put you in the No. 9 car for your last race. Do you think you two can get together and make that happen?
Bill Elliott: That’s the first I’ve heard of that. From what I’ve heard about Ray and Gillett, that ain’t going to happen, though.
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