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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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Side By Side : Is Fan Voting For The All Star Race Fair?
Doug Turnbull and Phil Allaway · Thursday May 15, 2008
Editor’s Note : The following is a special edition of Frontstretch’s Side-By-Side. Occasionally throughout the season, two of your favorite Frontstretch writers will duke it out in a debate concerning one of NASCAR’s biggest stories. Don’t let us be the only ones to speak our minds, though…be sure to read both sides and let us know what you think about the situation in the comment section below!
Today’s Question : The past few years in the All-Star Race, the series has used a fan vote to select one driver not previously eligible to participate in the main event. Do you think that’s a fair way to do it, or should each driver qualify based on his or her own merit?
Fan Vote Is Fine By Me
Doug Turnbull
On Saturday night, drivers not yet locked into the evening’s Sprint All-Star Race will learn whether or not the fans love them enough to have spent time voting one of them into a race in which they really do not deserve to be in. Since NASCAR began allowing fans to vote in drivers a couple of years ago, they have not voted in a driver that has won a Cup race within a decade of that All-Star race. When fan voting began in 2005, Martin Truex, Jr., who was not yet even racing full-time in the Cup Series, won a spot in the night’s feature race. The next year, fans voted in Kyle Petty, who had not won since 1995 (and still has not). Then, Kenny Wallace, because his position as a commentator on SPEED Channel, successfully campaigned his way into the event.
But with all that being said, there is no harm in letting fans vote for who gets to bring up the rear of the All-Star pack of cars. The race has no bearing on the season standings, and is simply supposed to be a fun competition for the million dollar winner’s check. It usually turns into exactly that; so why shouldn’t the fans have some say over which people they’re going to see do battle?
The drivers that most likely will contend for the win are those who have won recent races and championships with their top-tier race teams. Does anyone really have a problem with the Furniture Row Chevy parading around the track two laps down? Sure, a non-deserving driver could take out good cars at the beginning of the race; but that is a danger in any event, points-paying or exhibition.
Kenny Wallace reacts after fans voted him into last year’s All-Star Challenge.
Another reason that the fan vote should stay in place is the good that can come out of the drivers’ campaigns for the votes. In 2006, Coca-Cola offered to pay $1,000,000 to Kyle Petty’s Victory Junction Gang Camp — if the fans voted him into the All-Star race. It worked. Petty got to race, meaning he could promote the camp, Coca-Cola, and the other sponsors for his struggling team — as well as netting Victory Junction some much needed funds. The fans also got to see a driver that they love compete in a race that he normally would not be in. Since All-Star races can be crashfests, if a driver like Petty sticks with the lead pack, the seas could part and allow him or another underdog to trot to Victory Lane. That would be one of the top surprises of the year, and definitely a feel good story that would be told from fan to fan for generations. The All Star event also gives sponsors another method to promote their product; and with sponsorship at a premium in NASCAR, this is a perfect chance for a company of a smaller team to get the most out of their financial commitment.
Finally — and this cannot be said enough — the All-Star weekend is about the fans. From the pit crew competition, to the burnout contest, to qualifying with a pit stop, to the Sprint Showdown race, to the main event, the whole 48 hour period is about a show for the people that fuel NASCAR’s success. The fans should continue to have a say in the event that is made for them. They used to vote on how many people in the past All-Star races would be inverted in the final segment, and few complained. That’s gone, but at least the fan vote remains, allowing them to stay involved in some small way. It’s a good addition to the event for many reasons; there’s no need for someone to come along and be impeached.
The Fan Vote Must be Changed
Phil Allaway
This year will be the fifth year that fans have been allowed to vote one individual driver from the Sprint Showdown (formerly Nextel Open) into the Sprint All-Star Race (formerly Nextel All-Star Challenge). In order to be eligible for the vote in, drivers must finish outside of the Top 2 in the Sprint Showdown and on the lead lap. This rule allowed (in order of year chosen) Ken Schrader, Martin Truex, Jr. (as a part-time driver), Kyle Petty, and Kenny Wallace to race in the main event in years past. Kerry Earnhardt was the first driver to win the fan vote back in 2004 (driving the No. 33 owned by RCR), but failed to finish the Nextel Open, disqualifying himself from the event.
Now, I am generally all for more drivers getting a chance to race in the All-Star Race; however, I would prefer that the drivers that transfer out of the Sprint Showdown (or “B Main”) be the best possible cars and drivers, just like the typical short-track Saturday night program. I would personally rather see the third place car from the Sprint Showdown in the All-Star Race starting lineup; that way, the fans would know that the last participant in the starting lineup would have a legitimate chance of being competitive.
Kenny Wallace, last year’s fan vote winner by a substantial margin, finished 18th in the Nextel Open. He was the second to last car on the lead lap at the end of the 40 lap event. For Wallace, earning the fan vote transfer was the culmination of a rather large scale campaign, complete with a website and hood space on the No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet during the Darlington race weekend to publicize it. That does not even begin to mention the constant referencing of the campaign on the SPEED Channel, where Kenny is a personality. But once he got in the Nextel All-Star Challenge — finally accomplishing his goal — Wallace dawdled around at the back at the field for nearly the entire 80 lap distance before finishing 16th. The only people that Wallace was ahead of at the end of the event were the five guys (Denny Hamlin, Casey Mears, the Busch brothers, and Bobby Labonte) who crashed out. There’s no way around it; Wallace simply was not competitive.
Now, this is nothing against Kenny Wallace’s talent level, or Furniture Row Racing in general, but they simply did not have the night’s setup right. And that’s a shame; for the main idea of transferring cars from the Sprint Showdown to the All-Star Race is to help make the show better. It just doesn’t happen, though; of the previous four beneficiaries from the fan vote, Kyle Petty’s eighth place finish in 2006 is the best of them — and that was in a car that was actually slightly dented up in a wreck earlier (and subsequently repaired). The others either ran in the middle to back of the pack, or (in Truex’s case) got wrecked. The fan vote, in its current form, does not guarantee that all the cars that transfer into the All-Star Race will be competitive with the rest of the field.
Now, the fans have had some type of involvement with the inner workings of the All-Star Race for about 12 years now, be it with voting on field inversions or this driver vote. The fans, if this vote were taken away, would likely want something on a similar scale to replace it — a result of “fan entitlement,” something that I’ve been seeing in Sprint Cup fans since at least 2002, if not further back than that. So, NASCAR should look into making certain changes in the fan vote for next year’s All-Star Race. This doesn’t necessarily mean that it should be abolished — like I proposed earlier — but that it should be retooled. For example, you could allow only the Top 25% of finishers in the Sprint Showdown (outside of the Top 2) to be considered for the fan vote (this year that would make finishers 3-9 eligible, with 29 entries as of right now). After the Sprint Showdown ends, allow only 35 minutes or so for fan voting online at nascar.com, via text messaging (likely Sprint only), or even with phone lines like what American Idol or Dancing with the Stars does. That way, the fans would still have a say in who gets to advance to the All-Star Race, but also guarantees that whoever gets voted in has a great chance of being competitive and giving those already in a race for their money.
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