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Rolex 24 Standings Through 21.5 Hours (1pm EST)
posted by Phil Allaway
Sunday January 29, 2012
DP: GT:
Rolex 24 Standings Through 18.5 Hours
posted by Phil Allaway
Sunday January 29, 2012
DP: GT:
Rolex 24 Standings Through 11 Hours
posted by Phil Allaway
Sunday January 29, 2012
DP: GT:
Standings after 5 Hours 50 minutes
posted by Phil Allaway
Saturday January 28, 2012
DP: GT:
Standings After Regulation Sprint Race Distance (2 hours, 45 minutes)
posted by Phil Allaway
Saturday January 28, 2012
DP: GT:
Grand-Am to Add B-Spec Events Later in 2012
posted by Phil Allaway
Saturday January 28, 2012
On Saturday, Grand-Am Road Racing officially announced the creation of a new series that will act as the teritary division for the organization. The series will simply be referred to as “B-Spec.” The new B-Spec class is designed to be a very inexpensive way for brand new organizations to get involved with racing, and for existing organizations to cultivate new talent at a minimal cost. No professional drivers from any series will be allowed to participate in any B-Spec races. The B-Spec series will race four cylinder subcompact automobiles. Five manufacturers have already signed on to provide vehicles for the series. Those are Mazda with their 2, Honda with their Fit, Ford with their Fiesta, Mini with their Cooper and Kia with their brand-new Rio. As for how expensive these cars will be, Mazda would have prospective teams purchase a new Mazda 2. These start at roughly $15,000. From there, there would be a $2600 package that teams would have to buy from Mazdaspeed Motorsports. Finally, there would the all-important safety equipment (roll cage, racing seat, safety harness, fire extinguisher, etc.). The total cost per new car would be somewhere between $20,000-$30,000. Grand-Am brass are quite confident that the series will be a great fit in the organization. “This new form of Grand-Am racing will attract new racers and in the process, new fans,” said Mark Raffauf, Grand-Am’s Managing Director of Racing Operations. “The cars are cool and the competition will be door-to-door, which should be a lot of fun for everyone – a nice fit with what Grand-Am already has happening at every event.” The B-Spec class will race at six tracks later this season starting with Homestead at the end of April. Subsequent rounds would be held at New Jersey Motorsports Park, Mid-Ohio, Watkins Glen (during the Six Hour weekend), Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and Lime Rock Park. Events will be 30-45 minutes in length with no pit stops. The new series has been likened to the Renault Cup, a spec-series of Renault Le Car’s (and later Renault Alliances) back in the 1980’s. However, it more closely resembles IMSA’s International Sedan Series, which featured Acura Integras, Plymouth Horizons, Volkswagen Golfs, and the 1980’s version of the Dodge Charger, amongst others.
Ryan Dalziel Wins Overall Pole for Rolex 24, Brumos Racing on GT Pole
posted by Phil Allaway
Friday January 27, 2012
One of the sport’s legendary racetrack owners, spearheading the last independently-owned Sprint Cup facility has died. Dr. Joe Mattioli, 86, passed away Thursday afternoon at the Lehigh Valley Hospital Center after a lengthy illness. A dentist by trade, the patriarch of one of the most influential NASCAR families staked the biggest portion of his reputation on racing, constructing the 2.5-mile Pocono Raceway in Northeast Pennsylvania and convincing the most popular series in the country to stage races there. Constructed in the early 1960’s, the “Tricky Triangle” as it’s become known has hosted a total of 68 Cup Series events, beginning in 1974. Pocono Raceway is also home to a successful driving experience, a mainstay for the ARCA Series (two races per year) and has recently hosted one Camping World Truck Series event per season. Open-wheel cars also once graced the asphalt at a facility that has grown to hold over 100,000 fans. But Mattioli’s legacy reaches far beyond the racetrack. His land in Northeast PA is now home to a 25-acre solar energy system, made up of 40,000 American-made photovoltaic modules that will produce more than 72 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of energy over the next 20 years. Opened in 2010, it makes the raceway the largest solar-powered sports facility in the country, spearheading NASCAR’s push towards protecting the environment and renewable energy. A Navy medic during World War II, Mattioli went to Temple University in Philadelphia, PA through the G.I. Bill and established a successful dental practice in the area. Investing in real estate during the ensuing decades allowed him to accumulate wealth and establish the funding necessary to build the racetrack, which now has expanded to include nearby lodging year-round among other projects, past, present and future which have helped boost the economy in the Pocono Mountain Region. “‘Doc’ was a true leader in every sense of the word,” said the Mattioli family in a statement. “As a visionary, he brought an unknown sport into an alien place, where he along with his unstoppable will and undeniable tenacity built one of the biggest monuments of sports. His passion for his projects was only overshadowed by his deep love for his family, which he gave to all of us hand over fist.” For years, other corporations have looked to buy the speedway and the surrounding land but Mattioli would never sell. That leaves Pocono one of just three tracks on the NASCAR schedule not owned by NASCAR-linked International Speedway Corporation or Bruton Smith’s Speedway Motorsports, Inc. (Indianapolis and Dover are the other two). Mattioli also steadfastly clung to the track’s 500-mile distances, a tradition that was only recently changed for 2012. The good doctor leaves behind his wife Rose – the couple was married 63 years – three children, seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. In August, 2011 he had retired from his role as President of the Raceway and left the day-to-day operations in the hands of grandchildren Brandon, Nick, and Ashley Igdalsky. There are no plans to sell the facility in the wake of his death; in fact, it was left in a trust so the track will remain in family hands for generations to come. “They can’t touch it,” he said last year in a conversation recounted by Brendan Gaughan Thursday on SiriusXM’s NASCAR channel. “They’re going to learn how to run it or starve.” Chances are, with the great teacher the grandkids had to learn from success, not starvation will be the modus operandi for years to come.
Statement On Dr. Joe Mattioli's Passing
posted by Thomas Bowles
Friday January 27, 2012
From the family of former Pocono Raceway owner and president, Dr. Joseph Mattioli… It is with the upmost remorse that we announce that Dr. Joseph Mattioli passed away this afternoon. His loss has left with each of us an unbearable sadness, which we’ll bear with us for the rest of our lives. “Doc” was a true leader in every sense of the word. As a visionary, he brought an unknown sport into an alien place, where he along with his unstoppable will and undeniable tenacity built one of the biggest monuments of sports. His passion for his projects was only overshadowed by his deep love for his family, which he gave to all of us hand over fist. Beyond our family, he had a true love and admiration for the wonderful members of his North Eastern Pennsylvania Community. He had a great respect for all of the great people that laid the foundations of prosperity before him, and an even greater hope for the future of our area, which he believed lies in its youth. He leaves not only his family, but also everyone he’s ever met with an insatiable desire to take life by the horns. He always lived life on his own terms He did it his way. “Every man’s life ends the same way. It is only the details of how he lived and how he died that distinguish one man from another.” – Ernest Hemingway He died loved, respected, and admired.
SunTrust Racing, TRG fastest in Opening Practice for Rolex 24
posted by Phil Allaway
Thursday January 26, 2012
When the track opened up for practice at 10am Thursday morning, the teams were ready and raring to go. Many of the teams had new equipment to come to grips with, while others were using older, proven machinery. Unfortunately for Starworks Motorsport, their new equipment let them down before they even got onto the track. A failure in the Ford powerplant was found on pit road before the car even saw the track. As a result, they were forced to miss the first session while they changed the engine. The other 13 Daytona Prototypes managed to make their way onto the track and set times. The results more or less kept in line with the Roar Before the 24 test. The SunTrust Racing No. 10 Chevrolet Corvette DP driven by Max Angelelli turned in the fastest lap with a time of 1:41.952 (125.706 mph). This is about six-tenths of a second slower than the fastest test times. However, temperatures are just about 80 degrees at the track. Second was the No. 01 BMW Riley DPG3 for Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates. The car, driven by Graham Rahal, posted a lap at 1:42.086 (125.541 mph), a tenth and a half slower than the Corvette. Third was the No. 99 Gainsco/Bob Stallings Racing Chevrolet Corvette DP driven by Alex Gurney with a 1:42.199 (125.402 mph). Juan Pablo Montoya in Ganassi’s No. 02 and John Pew in the Michael Shank Racing No. 60 Ford Riley DPG3 rounded out the top-5. In GT, Spencer Pumpelly in the No. 67 TRG Porsche 911 GT3 Cup set down the fastest lap of the session right at the end of the session. His lap of 1:49.867 (116.650 mph) was less than two-hundredths of a second faster than Dirk Muller in the No. 94 BMW M3 for Turner Motorsport. Third in class was the Paul Miller Racing No. 48 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup driven by former Porsche factory driver Sascha Maassen with a 1:50.078 (116.426 mph). Sebastian Asch in the No. 17 Burtin Racing with Goldcrest Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 Cup was fourth fastest, while Emil Assentato in the No. 69 FXDD Ferrari 458 Italia rounded out the top-5.
Ford Racing unveils 2013 Ford Fusion
posted by Mike Neff
Tuesday January 24, 2012
In the biggest announcement so far of the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Media Tour hosted by Charlotte Motor Speedway, Ford Racing took the wraps off of their 2013 Ford Fusion. The car incorporates common areas agreed upon by all manufacturers with style components unique to the 2013 production car to give fans a race car that truly resembles the street version of the Fusion. While there are most likely going to be some tweaks to the design the car is definitely a much needed change from the current race car and a vast improvement toward bringing the STOCK back to stock car racing. The car was a collaborative effort across many different parts of the Ford organization. One of the key members of the project was Garen Nicoghosian, design manager for specialty vehicles. He was oozing with pride over the car as the assembled members of the media commented on the great looks. He’s a fan of the cars that used to race in the old Trans Am series and it shows in the end product. “I am a big fan of the flared fenders” Nicoghosian said. “The body style and the proportions we came up with lent itself to the flared fenders and the planted look that it gives to the car. It reminds you a lot of a Porsche 911 in how it just looks planted into the track.” While the other manufacturers have not yet unveiled their proposed cars for 2013, Ford has certainly set the bar high with their Ford Fusion. |
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Tracking The Top 35 In Sprint Cup Owner Points · Mike Ravesi · Monday October 6, 2008
Not only is Talladega Superspeedway the “wild card” in the Chase for the Cup, it’s also the wildcard in the Chase for the Top 35. ‘Dega has been defined by the big wreck that everyone knows is coming at some point, and a bubble team can make up an enormous amount of points by missing the Big One that eats up a large number of their competitors.
Add in the fact that this is an impound race, and it makes for a sleepless weekend for a team’s crew chief. Teams outside the Top 35 set their cars up to qualify, not race, resulting in many bubble teams starting up front. That does not, however, mean they’re gonna finish there. So, in order to see which teams were able to translate good starting positions into top finishes, read on for this week’s edition of the Bubble Breakdown:
Biggest Winner:
While Ryan Newman finished 43rd at ‘Dega this weekend, all was not lost for the driver from Indiana. Scott Riggs piloted the car that Ryan will presumably drive next year to a great Top 10 finish. Scott qualified his No. 66 Haas CNC Chevrolet in the 11th position, avoided two big wrecks, and even led the race on two occasions. Throw in solid pit stops and strategy throughout the race, and you get a season high 7th place finish for Riggs. As the season winds down, Scott has been able to overcome a big penalty handed down from NASCAR and is putting his team solidly into the Top 35 in the owner standings. He moves the No. 66 up one spot as a result, and has extended their cushion over the cutoff to over 100 points. However, he’s still looking for the decent ride he deserves for 2009.
Looking at the bright side, Sam Hornish, Jr. got his bad luck out of the way early this weekend. On the bad side, it was a DNQ — and cracking the Top 35 is even a more daunting task now.
Biggest Loser:
Sam Hornish, Jr. and the Mobil 1 Dodge team once again land in the loser column this week. If it wasn’t bad enough he failed to qualify for the race while sitting in the 37th spot in the owner standings, Robby Gordon, who sat in 35th heading into the race, finished in the Top 10. As a result, Roger Penske’s No. 77 team now sits 177 points out of 35th with just a handful of races remaining. While mathematically still alive, the team’s inconsistency would lead one to believe this is probably the straw that breaks the camel’s back as far as getting a “locked in” spot for next year’s Daytona 500.
Bubble Spotlight:
Robby Gordon, driver and owner of Robby Gordon Motorsports, has gone from road course ringer to restrictor plate ace. While struggling at the road courses where he normally challenges for the win, Robby had posted Top 15 finishes at each of the first three restrictor plate races, and went into this weekend attempting a NASCAR grand slam of four Top 15 finishes at the plate tracks.
Robby was fast right off the truck, posting the fourth fastest time with a 48.980, over 195 miles per hour. However, during the second practice, when the team set up for qualifying runs, they managed only a 51.900 — placing them 36th on the speed charts and causing much concern amongst the team. Their fears were realized Saturday afternoon during qualifying, as Robby’s slow time earned them the 42nd starting spot on a provisional. RGM was now faced with the prospect of having to drive through the Big One that everyone knows is coming, while many of his fellow bubble drivers were in the front of the field, hopefully putting themselves ahead of the big wreck.
When the race began on Sunday, Robby took the green flag and ran around the back of the pack. Losing the draft early, he fell a lap behind but was saved by a timely caution that got him back on the tail end of the lead lap through the Lucky Dog. At the quarter race mark, he was still running back in the 40th position. But during this time, Robby radioed to his crew chief that the car felt good, and if they could hang around until the end, they would be in line for a strong finish. By lap 100, Robby was running up in the second position, desperately looking to lead a lap to pick up those five additional bonus points. He never did manage to lead, but what he did do though was work his way up through the field and stay there. Robby scooted through both multi-car wrecks unscathed, and by lap 170 was inside the Top 10. His car was fast in the draft, as it was in the first practice, and when the checkered flag flew, Robby had another Top 10 finish in a restrictor plate race — finishing in the 9th spot. Shortly after the race, NASCAR ruled Regan Smith gained a position by passing under the yellow line, moving Robby up into 8th. All in all, it was a much needed successful weekend for a team struggling through both racing and legal problems.
A Look Ahead:
NASCAR heads to Lowe’s Motor Speedway, and no one’s happier about that than Sam Hornish, Jr. Team Penske’s No. 77 Dodge team had one of its most successful weekends of the season on their last trip to North Carolina. The team qualified 13th, ran well all night, and finished in the 20th position. Having missed the race at Talladega, Roger Penske’s Mobil 1 Dodge needs a great run if they don’t want to be heading to Daytona in February having to qualify on time.
Another bubble team who was able to taste success at Lowe’s back in May was Bill Davis Racing’s No. 22 Caterpillar team, led by driver Dave Blaney. In an up and down year for the Caterpillar team, Lowe’s Motor Speedway was an up for them. Fast right off the truck, Blaney put his car on the inside of row six to start the race. He then followed it up by running a rather clean, albeit anonymous race and finished 17th. It’s finishes like this — solid and consistent — that will keep the Cat team in the Top 35 for the rest of 2008. Look for Blaney to finish in the Top 25 once again at Charlotte.
A team not looking forward to the trip back home is Robby Gordon Motorsports. In his last two trips to Charlotte, Robby has finished 40th and 43rd, respectively. Gordon’s No. 7 Dodge team does have some momentum after a good finish at Dega, but he has yet to establish any consistency this year, and will struggle again at Lowe’s.
That’s it for this week’s edition of the Bubble Breakdown. So until next Monday, so long from the bubble!
Breaking Down The Bubble:
| Pos | Owner | Car # | Driver | Points | Points +/- of 35th Place |
| 31 | Michael Waltrip Racing | 55 | Michael Waltrip | 2,410 | +86 |
| 32 | Bill Davis Racing | 22 | Dave Blaney | 2,387 | +63 |
| 33 | Haas CNC Racing | 66 | Scott Riggs | 2,383 | +59 |
| 34 | Team Red Bull | 84 | Mike Skinner | 2,341 | +17 |
| 35 | Robby Gordon Motorsports | 7 | Robby Gordon | 2,324 | 0 |
| 36 | Michael Waltrip Racing | 00 | Kenny Wallace | 2,285 | -39 |
| 37 | Penske Racing | 77 | Sam Hornish, Jr. | 2,147 | -177 |
| 38 | Hall Of Fame Racing | 96 | Ken Schrader | 1,996 | -328 |
| 39 | Gillett Evernham Motorsports | 10 | Patrick Carpentier | 1,986 | -338 |
| 40 | Petty Enterprises | 45 | Terry Labonte | 1,935 | -389 |
| 41 | Furniture Row Racing | 78 | Joe Nemechek | 1,834 | -490 |
| 42 | Wood Brothers | 21 | Various Drivers | 1,780 | -544 |
| 43 | Haas CNC Racing | 70 | Tony Raines | 1,733 | -591 |
This Week on the Frontstretch:
Mirror Driving: Rebuilding Denny Hamlin, Kurt Busch, Penske, And The NASCAR Banquet’s Future
The Only Thing Mutual? Penske, Kurt Busch Both Stand to Lose Big
Who Gets An Early Christmas Gift? Sorting Through Potential Busch Replacements
Burned At The YouTube Stake: How Technology Brought Busch Down
2011 NASCAR Driver Review: Justin Allgaier
2011 NASCAR Driver Review: A.J. Allmendinger
2011 NASCAR Driver Review: Aric Almirola
2011 NASCAR Driver Review: Marcos Ambrose
2011 NASCAR Driver Review: Michael Annett
2011 NASCAR Driver Review: Greg Biffle
2011 Driver Review Schedule
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