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Todays News
(7/22/08)
Courteousy of CBS Sportsline.com :
" Tight racing"
Tight racing
Courteousy of FOX Sports :
" RACE OF CHAMPIONS"
The Brickyard 400 has always been good to past champs, says Darrell Waltrip. Hmm, maybe
Ol' DW oughta unretire for a day. Full Story ...
 |
Where they belong
NASCAR wasn't always accepted at Indy. Now, they can't wait for the good ole' boys to kiss the bricks, Larry McReynolds
says. |
" NO TIME TO WASTE"
" PUT 'EM UP "
" THE ONLY SHOW "
 |
Scene Daily Dish: Martin remains bold
Mark Martin surprised many people when he predicted in June that he would win at Indianapolis. Gues what? He's sticking
by it. Get headlines from NASCAR Scene. |
Courteousy of ESPN.com :
Gamblin' Man
Coverage: Sunday, 1 ET on ESPNAllstate 400 at the Brickyard
Mark J. Rebilas/US Presswire
George wasn't sure NASCAR would be more than a novelty at Indy.
Tony George wasn't sure what to expect when he broke an American racing taboo and allowed NASCAR
on the hallowed grounds of his speedway. What he has now is electrifying. Ed Hinton | Watch
Landon Cassill's confidence grows each time he buckles into the Hendrick Motorsports No. 5. If only he didn't have to
share seat time with the likes of Dale Earnhardt Jr., Mark Martin and Jimmie Johnson, writes Mark Ashenfelter. N'wide Notes
Courteousy of Yahoo Sports :
" Advantage Toyota ? "
Getty
Is Kyle Busch that good or do the Joe Gibbs Racing Toyotas have a horsepower advantage over the rest of the
field?
Margolis story
Craven: How to make better racing
GM cutting back on spending
Frustrated Inc.
Upset with TV coverage of NASCAR? What would you do to fix it? If I could ...
Courteousy of NASCAR.com :
Joe Custer says he's getting to know his new business partner better every day. Is the general manager worried about making
decisions with the sometimes outspoken Tony Stewart? Custer laughs and says not at all. More
Stewart-Haas: Stewart pairs with Haas | About Haas CNC | The other side of Tony
You gotta like the law of probabilities, especially when it comes to the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard. This race, writes
Dave Rodman, has revealed six of the last 10 Cup Series champions. Will it happen again? Looking at the top of the standings
and who often runs well at Indy, there's a pretty good chance.More
Race fan's final wish comes to pass -- in Victory Lane
At the Track
Cup Series Entry List
Nationwide Entry List
Truck Series Entry List
Courteousy of Jayski :
No third team for Stewart Hass in 2009: From Tony Stewart Live Monday night:
Question: "There are rumors
of a third Cup car joining Stewart-Haas Racing for 2009. Is that true?"
Stewart: "That is not true. One of the guys
asked if we were ever going to grow it to a four car team. And that is exactly what the plan will be eventually but right
now we're going to concentrate on getting these two Cup cars exactly where they need to be, contenders to win a championship
each year before we expand."(Sirius NASCAR Radio)(7-22-2008) Comment here
Stewart Expected to Name Car Number, Sponsors on Friday: UPDATE: Tony Stewart has finalized his car number
and sponsors for next season, his first as co-owner of Stewart HAAS racing. Stewart will drive the #14 car the number once
campaigned by his racing hero, A.J. Foyt. Old Spice and Office Depot will sponsor the Chevys. Old Spice is a long-time Stewart
sponsor in Nationwide Series. Office Depot will be moving to Stewart from Carl Edwards' Roush Fenway car. An official announcement
will be made Friday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.(Cup Scene Daily)(7-22-2008)
UPDATE: Haas CNC Racing general manager Joe Custer has applied for his team to trademark the #14, which
is expected to be the number next season for Tony Stewart, who will co-own and drive for Stewart-Haas Racing beginning in
2009. The trademark application covers a variety of products – everything from paper goods to luggage, knives, air fresheners,
video featuring racing themes and several other items. The application was filed July 2, according in the U.S. Patent and
Trademark Office database.(SceneDaily.com)(7-22-2008) Comment here
Sorenson 'working on' contract negotiations with Ganassi: Reed Sorenson is in the final year of his contract
with Chip Ganassi Racing, though he could return to the #41 Sprint Cup team next year. Sorenson raced in the Nationwide Series
last weekend at Gateway International Raceway and was asked what the status of his contract negotiations with Ganassi is.
"We're working on it right now," Sorenson said. "Working on it." Driver David Reutimann, who joined Sorenson at the news conference,
interjected: "How's it going?" "Working on it," Sorenson said with a smile. Sorenson didn't disclose any further details.(SceneDaily.com)(7-22-2008) Comment here
Threee drivers participate in day one of Goodyear Tire Test at Atlanta: #18-Kyle Busch, along with #66-Scott
Riggs and #28-Travis Kvapil, hit the pavement Monday to test combinations of tire compounds and set ups for Goodyear. With
two full days of testing, Goodyear is working to ensure the ideal tire for October's race. "I think it will be a lot better
direction than what Goodyear had here in the spring. They came here and tried to be cautious with the tire," said Steve Addington,
crew chief for the #18 team, referring to noted tire shortcomings during the Kobalt Tools 500. "Now, they've seen what they
needed to see and that's the reason we're down here, to try to help them get the tire to where fans will see better racing.(Atlanta Motor Speedway PR)(7-22-2008) Comment here
Harvick rain delayed at Oxford: UPDATE: he wins The TD Banknorth 250 featuring Kevin Harvick against a field
of top local and regional drivers was postponed Sunday because of rain. Race officials said qualifying heats would resume
Monday afternoon, weather permitting. Rain remained in the forecast and there was a flash flood watch in effect through Monday
evening. Taking advantage of an off week for Sprint Cup drivers, Harvick chose to spend the weekend at Oxford Plains Speedway.
He finished second in his qualifying heat to earn a spot in the feature race.(Associated Press)(7-21-2008)
UPDATE: Monday Kevin Harvick added the winner's trophy from the Super Bowl of short track racing to
his collection. The Bakersfield, Cal. native drove away from the field in the late stages to w in the TD Banknorth Oxford
250 Monday at Oxford Plains Speedway in Oxford, Me.(Hartford Courant)(7-22-2008) Comment here
Testing at Kentucky this week: Sprint Cup teams are scheduled to test this week at Kentucky Speedway. On Monday,
7/21 the Penske R& D team will be at the track. On Tuesday, 7/22 it's R&D teams for Hendrick Motorsports, Penske,
and Dale Earnhardt, Inc. On Wednesday, 7/23, Hendrick Motorsports continues. Fans can watch from the Turn 3 Fan Center at
no charge. Schedule subject to change daily. Test times vary.(Kentucky Speedway)(7-21-2008)
UPDATE: Also testing on Wednesday, 7/23 will be the Michael Waltrip Racing R&D team.(Kentucky Speedway)(7-22-2008)
Associated Press:
In the Pits: Driver movement should heat up by Jenna Fryer
At the Track: Gater News
I Just Won the $380 Million Lottery, Here's What I am Changing in NASCAR by Ed Coombs
Columbia Daily Tribune:
Edwards enjoys the ride by Steve Walentik
Cup Scene Daily
Stewart To Drive No. 14 With Old Spice And Office Depot as Sponsors in 2009 and
Is DEI ready To Collapse? by Greg Engle
Daly Planet:
NASCAR Reporters Mix It Up On ESPN2 by John Daly
Girls Garage:
New Jersey Motorsports Park: Driving Excitement Closer by Arianne Hegeman;
Backseat Drivers Volume 50: Tony Stewart by Girls Garage Staff
Green-White-Checker:
Kevin Harvick wins Oxford 250 and
Harvick, Wilson win one the old-fashioned way by Travis Barrett
Hartford Courant:
Suds Induced Idea Lands Kevin Harvick In Oxford 250 Victory Lane;
Oxford Regular Gets A Birdy Delivered By Kevin Harvick After On Track Tussle;
Kevin Harvick Gives Crowd A Genuine Treat At Oxford Plains and
Kevin Harvick Adds Another Crown Jewel Victory; Wins In Oxford 250 Debut by Shawn Courchesne
Insider Racing News:
Racer Profile: Tim Brewer by Allen Madding
Lexington Dispatch:
NFL star Moss a surprise addition to NASCAR by Ben White
Madison Courier:
Benson steals show from history-seeking Busch, takes over Trucks points lead with Kentucky win by David Campbell
Nationwide.com:
Edwards wins at home by more than six seconds
Race Talk Radio:
SOZ says: It's the "Soft Pass" driving fans away from NASCAR by Mike Harper;
Making the Grade - Midterm Report Card and
Free the 20 by Dennis Michelsen
RacingOne:
Crew Profile: Charles Barraclough;
Summer Breeze and;
Bowyer Baffled by Problems by Pete Pistone
Racing With Rich:
Get ready for plenty of Kyle and Junior by Jayson D.Henry
Roanoke Times:< /B>
Fighting, boasting and an electric idea. It's all here by Dustin Long
SceneDaily.com:
NASCAR at Indy - years in the making by Steve Waid
SPEEDtv.com:
Can Busch Be Stopped? and
Truex Chase Hopes Gone? by Tom Jensen
Speedway Media:
The Dreaded Off Week by Ron Fleshman
Sports Illustrated:
The decline of the Brickyard and more racing notes by Bruce Martin
Va lvoline.com:
Kahne Comeback Good for NASCAR by I.N. Sider
Winston-Salem Journal:
Nationwide tour is struggling to find its identity by Mike Mulhern
Track News
Martinsville Speedway Offering Special Ticket Prices For Military: To pay tribute to members of the United States
Armed Forces, Martinsville Speedway is offering a special Military Promotion for the TUMS QuikPak 500 Sprint Cup race at Martinsville
Speedway on October 19. Any active member or veteran of the United States military can purchase tickets in the Clay Earles
Tower, the Sprint Tower or the South Annex for $50 each. Any child's ticket, 12 and under, bought by military personnel can
be purchased for $10. The Military Promotion is also good for the Kroger 200 Craftsman Truck Series race on October 18. With
the Military Promotion, general admission tickets to the Kroger 200 are just $30 while tickets for children 12 and under are
only $5. Tickets for the TUMS QuikPak 500, the sixth race in the Chase For The Sprint Cup, are on sale and may be purchased
by calling 877.RACE.TIX or online at www.martinsvillespeedway.com. (Martinsville Speedway PR)(7-22-2008)
Nationwide Series News
ML Motorsports planning special guest at ORP: As if racing in its home state wasn't special enough for #70-ML Motorsports,
the Warsaw, Indiana-based stock car team will have an honorary Crew Member for this weekend's Nationwide Series race at O'Reilly
Raceway Park in Indianapolis. A.J. Stringer was released from Riley Children's Hospital on Monday, July 21st and will be at
the race providing his doctors give him the go ahead on Thursday. A.J., the son of Tom and Deb Stinger, was diagnosed with
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in December of 2007. Since his diagnosis, A.J. has been undergoing treatments at Riley Children's
Hospital in Indianapolis. This week, A.J. will be finishing up the series of devastating treatments and begin the maintenance
portion of the treatment.(ML Motorsports PR)(7-22-2008)
Braun to make double-duty first starts at ORP: Colin Braun will make a first time start in both
the Nationwide and Truck Seri es at O'Reilly Raceway Park this weekend. Braun will be driving the #6-Con-way Freight Ford
on Friday night, and on Saturday will attempt to qualify for the Nationwide race in the #16 CitiFinancial Ford for Roush Fenway
Racing.(Roush Fenway Racing PR)(7-22-2008)
Stewart could run some NNS races for JR Motorsports in 09: From Tony Stewart Live Monday night:
On
the possibility of running in Nationwide Series races in 2009:
Question: "Will you be running in any Nationwide
races in 2009 and, if so, for whom will you be driving?"
Stewart: "I'm sure that we'll be running some. I don't
know exactly who it's going to be for yet. Obviously, with the support we get from Hendrick Motorsports there's a possibility
that we could maybe run a JR Motorsports car or possibly the #5 car in the Nationwide Series some races but haven't got that
far yet. Still trying to get everything organized and get acclimated to the new race team over there and still doing my full
time job with the Home Depot team at Joe Gibbs Racing this summer. I'm sure we'll run some next year. Just don't know how
many and what car we're going to be in yet."(Sirius NASCAR Radio)(7-22-2008)
Racing Resources Says:
* Carl Edwards won the Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 250. It was his second Gateway
win (2006) in his fifth race there. Edwards has four top-10 results in his five Gateway races, and four top-six finishes in
his past four races there. Edwards became the fourth driver to have two victories in 12 Gateway events. It was his second
win in 2008, and both have come in the past five races.
* The victory was the third for Ford this season; Edwards has two
and Matt Kenseth has one.
* Edwards recorded his 15th series win in his 127th race. He led the most laps, 79, including
the final 49.
* Pole winner Jamie McMurray finished 27th.
* Joey Logano finished second, his fourth top-six finish in
five series races. He led 42 laps.
* Jason Keller finished third, his best finish since 2004 at Chicagoland when he finished
second.
* Jason Leffler finished fourth, equaling his season-best at Talladega.
* Brad Keselowski finished fifth for
his n inth straight top-10 finish.
* Points leader Clint Bowyer finished eighth, his 11th straight top-10 result and 18th
in 21 races in 2008. Bowyer retained the points lead for the 16th straight race. Keselowski gained 13 points on Bowyer to
close to within 170 points.
* James Buescher started at the rear but finished seventh, his first series top-10 in just
his fourth race.(ESPN.com)(7-22-2008)
Rookie Notes for ORP:
Landon Cassill was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the Missouri-Illinois
Dodge Dealers 250 at Gateway . Cassill scored a sixth-place finish, his second consecutive top-10 and third in 17 Nationwide
Series starts. He grabbed Raybestos Rookie of the Race honors for the third time in 11 starts this season.
Bryan Clauson
has an 18-point lead (139-121) over Dario Franchitti in the overall Raybestos Rookie standings entering the July Kroger 200
at O'Reilly Rac eway Park.
A Raybestos Rookie has won two pole positions in the Nationwide Series this season. Clauson
grabbed the top starting spot for the Winn-Dixie 250 at Daytona while Cassill claimed the top starting position at the Camping
World RV Sales 200 at New Hampshire.
Brad Keselowski was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the 2007 Kroger 200 at O'Reilly
Raceway Park, scoring a 10th-place finish.(Raybestos PR)(7-22-2008)
CTS Updates
Back-back racing for East: Bobby East will be running both Thursday Friday nights at O'Reilly Raceway Park. East
is slated to run the #09-Zaxby's Ford for Roush Fenway Racing in the Truck Series on Friday, night's Power Stroke Diesel 200,
and will also be racing Thursday night at ORP. He will compete in both the USAC Midget & Silver Crown races.(Roush Fenway Racing PR)(7-22-2008)
Racing Resources says….
….Johnny Benson won the Built Ford Tough 225 at Kentucky
Speedway. He scored his 11th NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series victory in his 113th career start and his second victory of the
2008 season. His previous victory came at Milwaukee two races ago. Benson scored his first win at Kentucky in his fourth attempt.
Benson became the ninth different race winner in nine races at Kentucky.
….Bill Davis Racing won for the third time
in 2008 and 20th in series history.
….Toyota scored its sixth victory in 2008. Chev rolet has five, and Ford and
Dodge have one apiece.
….Benson won the race from the fourth-place starting position, the eighth race won from the
top 10 at Kentucky.
….Benson unofficially took the points lead by one point over Matt Crafton. Ron Hornaday Jr. is
only five points behind Benson in third.
….Marc Mitchell (ninth) was the highest-finishing rookie of the year contender.
It was his best career finish.
….Pole winner Mike Skinner finished seventh, his ninth consecutive top-10 finish.
….Michael
Annett finished a career-best second in his third career start.
….Seven of the top nine finishers were Toyotas. The
top 10 was rounded out with two Chevys and one Dodge.
….The #81 truck of Randy Moss Motorsports with driver Willie
Allen finished 15th in the team's debut.
….Hornaday, the points leader coming into the race, finished 10th. He pitted
under green on Lap 80 for a loose wheel. He went a lap down and received the free pass on caution #7.(ESPN.com)(7-22-2008)
Lucas Oil partners with PIR for NCTS event: Phoenix International Raceway President Bryan R. Sperber has announced
Lucas Oil Products as title sponsor for PIR's November 7 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race - the Lucas Oil 150. The race
entitlement is the first with PIR in NASCAR for the California-based company, and will highlight the second day of racing
action in PIR's Semi-Final weekend.(Phoenix Int'l Raceway PR)(7-22-2008)
Courteousy of Stock Car Gazette (stockcargazette@motorsportsnews.net) :
TV Times - TNT Sprint Cup Ratings Basically Flat >From ‘07 To ‘08
by:
Lou Modestino
The TNT TV ratings match last year’s numbers. Final Nielsen Media Research numbers show that TNT’s
coverage of six NASCAR Sprint Cup races this season matched its ratings from 2007 with one big gain and one big loss, Street
& Smith’s Sports Business Daily reports. Read the rest at http://motorsportsnews.net/archives/1407
www.Catchfence.com
That's Racin' http://www.thatsracin.com
Five things you may have missed this weekend
It appears that the IndyCar series learned its lesson.
At the Indy 500, officials cut Danica Patrick off as she strode through the pits looking for Ryan Briscoe. Saturday, Patrick
went looking for Milka Duno after the two nearly tangled in practice
http://www.thatsracin.com/topstories/story/16711.html
Stewart's car number, sponsors decided
Tony Stewart will drive the No. 14 Chevrolet in his debut
next season with his own Sprint Cup Series team, Stewart-Haas Racing, and will share sponsorship from Office Depot and Old
Spice, the Observer has learned.
http://www.thatsracin.com/topstories/story/16736.html
www.Valvoline.com
Yes, He REALLY Said That
Greg Zipadelli, No. 20 Toyota crew chief, on challenges Tony Stewart will
face as owner-driver next season. "He likes to be backed up against the wall and that's when he usually does his best."
The Hot Lap http://www.TheHotLap.com
True Hoosiers are coming home to ORP with momentum. David Stremme, from South Bend, Ind., is ninth in
the standings and like Keller, has been quiet but solid for Rusty Wallace Racing this season. Including his ninth-place finish
last week at Gateway, Stremme has four top 10s in his last eight races, including top fives at Dover and Nashville. Bryan
Clauson was born in California but his family moved to Noblesville, Ind. when he was 10. One of the young up-and-coming drivers
in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, he's shown his biggest improvement in his last three races heading to his series track debut
at ORP. In his last four races, he posted his career-best finish – fifth at Kentucky – and also secured his first
pole (Daytona). Clauson, 19, also leads the series Raybestos Rookie of the Year standings over his Chip Ganassi Racing teammate
Dario Franchitti.Then there's the onlymother /daughter-owned team in NASCAR's national series, ML Motorsports. Mary Louis
Miller and daughter Stephany Mullen are Indiana natives and base their shop out of Warsaw, Ind. All team and crew members
are from Indiana with their driver, veteran Mark Green the only non-Hoosier in the organization (Kentucky). The team is running
a part-time schedule this year and has been improving as the season has progressed. Green has had to qualify on time
in each of the 12 races the team has run this year and he's delivered. His fifth-place finish at Talladega tied his career-best
result and his fourth-place start at Richmond was the second-best of his career. He's posted three top-15 finishes for the
team in the last six races(NASCAR) (07-21-08)
A return to O'Reilly Raceway Park is more like a second homecoming for drivers Jason Leffler and Jason
Keller. Leffler, the defending winner of the Kroger 200, may be a Long Beach, Calif. native but considers ORP a second home.
In addition to his win there last year, Leffler has seven wins at the track, tying him with Parnelli Jones for seventh on
ORP's overall win list. Leffler also has won four National Midget and two Silver Crown races there. In five NASCAR Nationwide
Series starts at ORP, Leffler has one win, one pole and five top-five finishes. He made his series debut at the track in 1999
for Joe Gibbs Racing. A visit to ORP comes at a perfect time for Keller, who comes off a season-best third-place finish last
week at Gateway. That result was also his best since a runner-up finish at Chicagoland in 2004. Keller calls ORP one of his
favorite tracks, and his results there show why. In 14 starts, the South Carolina-natve has two wins – including his
first-career victory in 1995 – one pole, seven top fives and nine top 10s. Keller is 10th in the standings, and has
three top-10 finishes -- including that first top-five -- in his last six races for his single-owner team, CJM Racing.(NASCAR)
(07-21-08)
The all-time series winner at ORP, Morgan Shepherd, is still running strong at age 66. Shepherd, who
has started 18 of the 20 races he's entered this year – having to qualify on time for each of them – for his own
team, is entered at ORP where he has three wins, including the first race run at the track in 1982. Those three wins are tied
with the trio of victories he's posted in series competition at Bristol for his most wins at one track. Shepherd finished
13th earlier this year at Talladega, his best finish since 2003 when he was 11th, also at Talladega. He led three laps last
week at Gateway.The track is one of seven that have been on the NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule since the series' inception
in 1982. … Kroger is the longest-running race sponsorship in motorsports. … There have been 11 different winners
in the last 11 races at ORP and seven of those drivers went on to win the series championship in the year they won at ORP.(NASCAR)
(07-21-08)
Clauson is a member of arguably one of the strongest groups of young drivers the series has ever showcased.
Four other teenagers with stout series credentials will be making their series track debuts at ORP and a win isn't out of
the question. Joey Logano, 18, has a win, two poles, three top fives and four top 10s in his five races. Landon Cassill, 19,
has a pole and two top 10s in his last two races including his career-best finish of sixth at Gateway last week. James Buescher,
18, was seventh at Gateway, his best finish in only four career races. His other three efforts resulted in top-20 finishes.
Also Colin Braun, 19, has yet to start outside the top 10 in his four series starts and claimed his first pole earlier this
year at Mexico City. Those drivers, coupled with "seasoned" young drivers such as Brad Keselowski (24), Steve Wallace (20),
Kelly Bires (23), Brad Coleman (20), David Ragan (22), Cale Gale (23), Chase Miller (21) and Josh Wise (25) show the series
at its developmental best.(NASCAR) (07-21-08)
TruckSeries.Com http://www.truckseries.com Fierce Point Battle Rages On 07-21-2008 | Tom Jensen, TruckSeries.com Saturday night’s Built Ford
Tough 225 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Kentucky Speedway was a great way to kick off the second half of the season
for the truckers. Not because it was the very best race of the season — it wasn’t — but because of what
it set up for the stretch run. The truth is, Johnny Benson handily dominated the Kentucky proceedings, leading 94 of 150 laps
in his Toyota Certified Used Vehicles Tundra to best his Bill Davis Racing teammate, Michael Annett and the Pilot Travel Centers
Toyota. No, the finish wasn’t an edge-of-your-seat thriller like Michigan or Mansfield. But the title race certainly
seems as though it will be. Check this out: With 13 of 25 NCTS races in the books for 2008, Benson leads Matt Crafton by just
one point and Ron Hornaday Jr. by five points. With Rick Crawford 92 points back in fourth, followed by Mike Skinner (-101)
and Todd Bodine (-111), it truly is a six-way fight for the championship. That’s pretty remarkable, given that the season
is past the midpoint. http://www.truckseries.com/cgi-script/NCTS_08/articles/000012/001281.htm
Thomson outduels Steckly at SunValley
By admin
Steckly was in position to collect his third straight
NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Sirius Satellite Radio win before Thomson made the pass for his first win of the
2008 season and his third overall in the series. ...
http://www.flagworld.com/news/?p=2246
I.N. Sider says Kasey Kahne's return to victory lane is good for NASCAR in the new Behind [Closed] Garage Doors column,
now posted at www.Valvoline.com.
The Nascar Insiders
How to Follow The Insiders
We here at The NASCAR Insiders know
that blogging is still a very new medium. Heck, we’ve only been doing it for like four months now. We are
learning new stuff everyday about how all this works, and we thought maybe we’d lay a little knowledge on our awesome,
and growing group of readers.
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheNascarInsiders/~3/342142333/
Courteousy of Carolyn SS Hastings "Jeff Gordon #24 News " :
Indianapolis begins stretch run for Chase candidates
Focus rests on Pos. 7-15 as regular-season nears end
Now it's time to get serious about racing. The scene is set. With only seven races remaining in the Sprint
Cup Series "regular season," this Sunday's Allstate 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the perfect place
to kick off the stretch run that leads into the season-ending Chase for the Sprint Cup championship. No one has to remind
Jeff Gordon of all this. A native of California, he moved to Indiana when he was 5 years old -- initially with the idea of someday racing
open-wheel cars in the Indianapolis 500 at the famed venue. For a variety of reasons, that never transpired. Gordon ended
up climbing into stock cars instead, and soon was off on what has become one of the finest Cup careers in the history of the
sport. Once the NASCAR boys started coming to Indy to race in 1994, it seemed only natural that Gordon would quickly establish
himself as the most successful stock-car driver at the track. He has done so, winning the inaugural event there and eventually
a total of four times. No one else has won at Indy more than twice "Every time you go around there," said Gordon, a gleam
in his eye, "there is just something about it that gets you fired up."
The decline of the Brickyard and more racing notes
INDIANAPOLIS -- When NASCAR arrived at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Inaugural
Brickyard 400 on Aug. 6, 1994, it was an event of epic proportions. Not only was it the first time since 1918 that a race
other than the Indianapolis 500 had been staged on the "hallowed grounds," but also the event helped launch NASCAR on its
meteoric rise to national acceptance. Sure, the 1979 Daytona 500 is regarded as the race that brought NASCAR into the national
consciousness. But the first NASCAR race at Indianapolis proved that stock cars were just as worthy of racing at Indy as "the
cars and stars" of the IndyCar racing. The race was a huge success. Ticket demand was so high that it was estimated the first
race could have been sold-out two-times over. In true NASCAR fashion, a young Jeff Gordon -- who spent his formative
racing years in nearby Pittsboro, Ind. -- won the race for his second career victory. It helped make him a true legend and
helped the Brickyard attain iconic status, leading some to predict that it would be bigger than the Daytona 500. With the
late Dale Earnhardt winning in 1995 and Dale Jarrett in 1996, it was a race where the "big names" of the sport
would triumph.
NASCAR midseason report cards
(For all report cards click below....I thought it would be interesting to see where the top 12
driver's stand report card wise.....Carolyn)
With the half of the season complete, it's time for a little midseason review of each driver on the Sprint
Cup circuit. Here's a look at how each of the full-time competitors has fared this season -- note that to be included on this
list, a driver had to have started at least eight of eighteen races on the year:
1st - Kyle Busch: Awesome ... simply awesome.
What else can you say about a year in which Busch has won a total of twelve times throughout each of NASCAR's top three series?
His six wins on the Sprint Cup circuit are a series high, and so are totals in Laps Led (900), top 5s (11), and points (up
by 182 over Dale Earnhardt Jr.). When Busch moved over to powerhouse Joe Gibbs Racing after being dumped by Hendrick,
most pundits figured the 23 year old would be out for revenge ... but no one expected a season quite like this.
Grade:
A+.
2nd - Dale Earnhardt Jr.: February was a whirlwind
month for Junior, who validated his move to Hendrick with wins in the Bud Shootout and a Daytona 150-mile qualifier. But the
team finished 9th in the 500, and it took another four months for Junior to win again through a fuel mileage gamble at Michigan
this June. Still, the driver's consistency (12 top-10 finishes and no DNFs) have left him a surprising top dog in the Hendrick
stable, second in points and improving faster than anyone expected. If Earnhardt can cut down on his occasional miscommunication
with crew chief Tony Eury Jr., a Busch-Earnhardt battle for the season title will have the fans on their feet all Chase
long.
Grade: A.
3rd - Jeff Burton: While Kyle Busch's aggression
has earned him the most trophies, Burton's consistency has kept him in the same time zone. Through the first 17 races, the
No. 31 team completed all but one lap on the schedule -- including a win at Bristol -- in a streak that kept their first or
second in point standings through all of April, May and June. But the longer the season's wore on, the more this team appears
off their game just a little bit. With one top-5 finish and just two laps led since the end of March, Burton needs to step
it up a notch if he's to be a serious title contender during the Chase.
Grade: A-.
4th - Carl Edwards: One of three drivers to win
more than one race this season, Edwards has emerged as the king of the "cookie cutter" oval while emerging as the new King
at Roush Fenway Racing. All three of his wins this season have come at tracks 1.5 to 2 miles in length, and if not for a faulty
engine at Atlanta, he'd have win number four under his belt. His 13 top 10 finishes are also one more than points leader Kyle
Busch, but a 100-point penalty for a faulty oil cover has handicapped him in the championship Chase. It would serve Edwards
well to beat Busch on a one-on-one battle on the racetrack; he's 0-for-3 when the drivers finish the race first and second.
Grade: A.
5th - Jimmie Johnson: Johnson's bid for a third
straight title has been more rough than refined. With just one win in eighteen starts, he's struggled in the face of experimental
setups to end the first half just fifth in points. It hasn't helped that every time prized crew chief Chad Knaus has
rolled the dice this season, it's come up snake eyes and the No. 48 has suffered for it -- at least two more wins were lost
on the heels of those poor calls. Knaus claims their early struggles will help them down the road in the Chase; for Johnson
to have a legitmate chance come November, he'll need to put his money where his mouth is.
Grade: B.
6th - Jeff Gordon: It's been a bizarre year for
the four-time champ, who had as many top-5 finishes as DNFs (three) through the first two months of the season. But as spring
has turned to summer, the DuPont Chevrolet has slowly shown signs of life, surging to sixth in points to all but secure a
slot in the Chase. Still, what's worrisome for Gordon's Drive For Five is his almost continual complaining about his car's
handling, as well as an ability to knock off that zero in the win column. The way Kyle Busch is running, they're going to
need a miracle to kick it up to his level between now and the end of the season.
Grade: B.
7th - Greg Biffle: From speeding through pit lane
to poor pit stops to mechanical failures, Biffle's been let down by more crew problems than we can count on one hand. But
two poles and five top-5 finishes have left him in Chase contention for the first time since 2005, and these issues listed
above didn't stop The Biff from signing a three-year extension to stay at Roush. That stability should serve him well as he
battles to make the playoffs over the season's second half.
Grade: B.
8th - Matt Kenseth: Everyone knew Kenseth would
miss former crew chief Robbie Reiser, but the transition to new head wrench Chip Bolin went far from smoothly.
By the beginning of May, three straight weeks of 38th or worse had the team well outside the top 20 in points, and it looked
like a lost season for the No. 17. But the team found something during a sixth place finish at Darlington the next week, and
since then they've run off seven top 10s in eight starts to rise to ninth in points. Edwards may rule the roost at Roush these
days, but don't call the old king dead quite yet.
Grade: B+.
9th - Kevin Harvick: At the beginning of the year,
I maintained that the Kevin Harvick-Todd Berrier relationship was the number one driver/crew chief pairing that had
run its course. So far, they've done nothing to prove me wrong, as Harvick's winless season has included thirteen consecutive
races without a top 5 finish. Now down to 13th in points, the big question is whether Childress will make a major move to
try and kickstart this program now, or wait until the fall -- when it'll already be too late.
Grade: C+.
10th - Tony Stewart: Stewart's final year
at Joe Gibbs Racing hasn't turned out the way he expected. Still winless, he's been the victim of other peoples' wrecks, physical
sickness, poor pit calls, and flat tires en route to 12th in the season standings. If he stays there, it'll be the worst point
finish he's ever had in his 10-year career with Joe Gibbs Racing. The question will be that now that the team knows he's leaving
for Haas CNC, will they give the 110% needed to keep him in the Chase?
Grade: B-.
11th - Kasey Kahne: Who knew the Fan Vote for
the All-Star race was really that important? Using that support to transfer into the night's main event, Kahne won going away
and used the momentum to light his season on fire. Victories at Lowe's and Pocono leave him in an elite group (Edwards, Busch)
to win more than one race this season, and at eighth in points he's the sole Dodge with a real shot at the title. To get there,
he'll need to reduce some inconsistency; in the last seven races, three top 2 finishes have been mixed in with three of 30th
or worse.
Grade: A-.
12th - Denny Hamlin: The turning point of Hamlin's
season came at Richmond. Leading 381 of the first 382 laps, he was romping to a win in his home state before a flat tire derailed
his chances at the finish. It was a major blow for everyone involved, and this team has dropped a notch from great to good
ever since. In the last two months, they've got just one top 5 and three top 10s while slipping to eighth in points.
Grade:
B.
The next 30 days may change DEI forever
In case you missed it, the National Stock Car Racing Commission announced that it has denied
Dale Earnhardt Inc.'s appeal of the penalties issued after Daytona against Martin Truex Jr. Before we look at what this means,
let's go back to the infraction itself so we can understand the thought process by NASCAR and the commission. If you will
recall, during opening day inspection at Daytona International Speedway, NASCAR confiscated the No. 1 Chevrolet after it did
not fit the roof template. After further analysis at its R&D Center in Concord, N.C., NASCAR issued heavy penalties —
including a 150-point penalty. What was the message? Simply put, don't mess with this car. NASCAR gave teams all the measurements,
the inspection grid, all the chassis and body plates and the opportunity to request areas to work with in case there were
questions with this new car. Now, they are driving home the point — hopefully for the last time — that no leniency
will be given if you mess with the integrity of the Car of Tomorrow. Since the inception of this car, every "lesson" NASCAR
has doled out was with the intent of teaching teams not to mess with the gray areas anymore. Teams by now should know not
to take that chance because if they are found to be in the wrong, they are going to pay a price and won't be able to negotiate
their way out.
Stewart may be ready to revive Haas team, but is he willing?
A few years ago I flew with Tony Stewart from Martinsville, Va., to Eldora Speedway,
a tiny dirt track he owns in Rossburg, Ohio. Once we strolled through the main entrance at Eldora, where there was going to
be a sprint car race later that evening, Stewart went to work. He changed light bulbs. He checked supplies. He inspected the
catch-fence. He examined the quality of the dirt on the track. He noted where fresh paint needed to be added. And, of course,
he greeted fans, shaking hands and even kissing a few babies. That night in Ohio, Stewart was in charge, in total command
of every facet of his facility. Stewart has always done things his own way -- those in his inner-circle live on "Tony time,"
which is the phrase they use to describe both his habitual tardiness and his penchant for doing things at the spur of the
moment like flying across several states to attend a race -- and this is why his announcement this week that he's leaving
Joe Gibbs Racing to become part owner of Stewart-Haas Racing isn't surprising. Stewart already owns open-wheel teams, tracks
and a PR firm, so this moves seems like a natural step for him. It's also a lucrative one, as Stewart will reportedly become
the highest-paid driver in NASCAR next season.
Stewart/Haas Racing Up Date!!!!
Stewart's car number, sponsors decided
(We'll have to wait and see how Tony does without Zippy on that pit box and Home Depot
plus that Orange #20....Oh and let us not forget his TEMPER.....Carolyn)
Tony Stewart will drive the No. 14 Chevrolet in his debut next season with his own Sprint
Cup Series team, Stewart-Haas Racing, and will share sponsorship from Office Depot and Old Spice, the Observer has learned.
A formal announcement of Stewart's car number and sponsorship plans will be made this weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway,
multiple sources said Monday. There has been a lot of speculation Stewart could announce his new teammate for next season
this weekend but sources said Stewart-Haas Racing would have no announcement about teammates at Indianapolis. The leading
candidate for the second SHR ride is Ryan Newman, who announced last week he was leaving Penske Racing at the end of this
season. However, while he may end up with Stewart's team, Newman is still considering other offers, sources said, including
a late offer from a fellow Dodge organization, Gillett Evernham Motorsports.
Sorenson 'working on' contract negotiations with Ganassi
(This kid could win if he had a car to do with it...I know some have heard this
sotry bebfore but back in Reed's midget days he raced my grandson...whom he never beat over seven years...and Wesley
beat him out for the National title in Las Vegas...I think Reed would be good in the seat of the #20 replacing Tony...not
an 18 year old with just a few races under his belt.....Carolyn)
Reed Sorenson is in the final year of his contract with Chip Ganassi Racing, though he could
return to the No. 41 NASCAR Sprint Cup team next year. Sorenson has been with Ganassi his entire NASCAR career, making
his Busch Series debut with the team in 2004 as an 18-year-old. He moved full time to the Cup series in 2006 and has posted
five top-five and 13 top-10 finishes in 92 career races. Sorenson raced in the Nationwide Series last weekend at Gateway International
Raceway and was asked what the status of his contract negotiations with Ganassi is. “We’re working on it right
now,” Sorenson said. “Working on it.” Driver David Reutimann, who joined Sorenson at the news conference,
interjected: “How’s it going?”
“Working on it,” Sorenson said with a smile
Harvick wins rain-delayed 250 in Maine
OXFORD, Maine -- Kevin Harvick stayed an extra day and then raced to victory in the rain-delayed TD Banknorth 250 on Monday night. Harvick built a comfortable
lead before turning back a late challenge by Glen Luce of Turner as he upstaged the field of local and regional drivers at
Oxford Plains Speedway. Heavy rain on Sunday postponed the race for only the third time in 35-year history of the race.
Racing finally got under way Monday night after more rain. Harvick, ninth in the Sprint Cup standings, took advantage
of NASCAR's weekend off to race at Oxford Plains Speedway. His idea of a vacation is racing. "It's got to be fun," Harvick
said before the race. "It's an off weekend from my normal job. That's the first priority, to have fun."
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Courteousy of The Frontstretch ( Frontstretch.com) :
Shelby Howard to attempt double-duty at IRP
Shelby Howard is listed
on the entry list for Saturday night's Kroger 200, driving for his Craftsman Truck Series team, ThorSport Racing. According
to the entry list, the car will carry the No. 13 and have Bobcat as a sponsor, like the truck that Howard usually drives.
If he is able to qualify for Saturday's race, it will be the tenth career start in the Nationwide Series for the 22-year-old.
However, this is far from a given, since 50 cars are listed on the entry list for this week.
Today's Featured Commentary
When the Lights Went Out on NASCAR
In
The Stands : A Fan's View
by S.D. GradyIt's unnerving, I tell you. I am living in a world devoid
of noise, action, and annoying TV commentators. My somewhat dated, but still functional, 36" Sony Wega is sitting in
my living room -- but its screen is black, and the speakers silent. Oh, the little green light comes on when I push
the power button on the remote. That is not the problem: the problem is the connection to the wider world. And
in short, my DirecTV dish is no longer providing signal. What am I supposed to do? Crisis does not begin to describe
the feelings of panic and desperation that are fluttering through my stomach. I haven't seen a stock car spinning on
a track in days! My hands are shaking. I have this interminable headache. I've even gone to such lengths
as searching for tidbits on the NASCAR scene in the Boston newspapers -- which, since the Beantown press thinks stock car
racing is the ugly child of the sports world, means reading about Tony Stewart in the Northeast is near impossible.
Furthermore, in this region we don't even receive PRN or MRN stations, so I can't simply listen to the latest on-track action.
Things are so bad, I've thought about unboxing some of the 1/64th scale diecasts and putting on my own mini 500. I am
going nuts. Like many of you, I am not fortunate enough to be able to attend each race. My weekly dose of high-octane
excitement comes to me through the wonders of satellite TV. And this has worked for over the last decade. Yeah...
a whole ten years. Did you know your neighbors' trees can grow an awful lot in ten years? Well, it appears that those
lovely maples have managed to block my signal…MY signal. That's right; it's the one that brings Jeff Gordon and
Dale Jr. straight to my La-Z-Boy. This is not fair and extremely stressful. We thought to fix the problem last
Thursday, on our day off. The dish was repositioned with what we thought was a clear shot at the southern sky (yes,
just like the ad). Since we often take our dish with us on visits to the track, aiming it should not have taken more
than a few minutes. We're good at this. But needless to say, after many hours of switching out parts, receivers,
running new cable, aiming the damn thing in sixty-eight different directions and swearing at the one I love the most -- there
was still no pretty picture on the tube. I sat in my living room that night staring at the blank screen, and
only one thought raced through my mind: <em>I am going to miss the race</em>. It kept repeating over and
over. The long weekend ahead of me loomed, without any hope or glimmer of cheer. My live-in fix-it man snarled
at his computer while he downloaded manuals, checked the angles, shook the compass, moved the dish again and stared out the
window. I dared to mention calling a service technician. He glared. I should have known better. I
suppose there are some benefits to not watching the races…wait, I'm sure I can think of one. How about…nope.
Uh…well…my headache is coming back. I want my NASCAR! I have been assured that with the removal of
certain branches on a certain tree, my signal will return. But I can't help but look out the window at the pile of coaxial
cable and assorted hand tools and wonder, is it true? Will my DirecTV return? Will it be fixed in time?
Will they ever invent a signal that can go through maple trees? Or am I doomed to fall victim to the local cable company,
without my HotPass? I can hear the violins playing for me. I know I'm being slightly pathetic. I just can't
seem to think my way out of this! Maybe if I blow up some of our photos from Darlington and New Hampshire, then tape
them to the television set, I'd feel better. I doubt it…but all I know is if I don't do something, I'm likely
to starting running laps through the supermarket parking lot in my Impala. SPEED TV! I miss you!
S.D.
Grady is a Senior Writer for Frontstretch.com; her Fan's View column appears every Tuesday in the Frontstretch Newsletter. She can be contacted at sonya.grady@frontstretch.com.
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