Wednesday, March 30, 2016
Derek White Named As Part Of Canadian Smuggling Ring
Bloomberg BusinessWeek
reported today that part-time NASCAR XFINITY Series driver Derek White is being sought as part of the largest tobacco-smuggling bust in North American
history.
White was among approximately 60 people named
by authorities in Quebec and Ontario who are alleged to have purchased leaf tobacco
in the United States and smuggled it into Canada for sale on the Kahnawake and
Six Nations reserves, without paying the required taxes. The tobacco was then
processed into cigarettes, which were then sold at a discount on the native
reserves. Profits from those cigarette sales were allegedly used to purchase
cocaine.
Officials say more than 52,800 kilograms of
tobacco were seized in a series of raids Wednesday, accounting for more than 409ドル
million in lost tax revenue. In
addition, 836 kilos of cocaine, 21 kilos of methamphetamine, 100 grams of
fentanyl and 35 pounds of marijuana were also seized.
Surete de Quebec – the Quebec provincial police
force – has not confirmed that the Derek White they are seeking is, in fact,
the NASCAR driver. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, other officials say
the NASCAR driver is among those being sought, accused of being a top-ranking member of the
smuggling ring.
The 45-year old White, a resident of the Kahnawake
reserve, entered a Dodge owned by veteran campaigner Carl Long in a pair of
NASCAR XFINITY Series races this season, failing to qualify for the
season-opener at Daytona and finishing 36th at Las Vegas Motor
Speedway. Last July, he qualified 42nd and finished 39th
in a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway; his only
career start in that series.
Long whose MBM (Motorsports Business
Management) team supplied the cars driven by White, declined to comment to CATCHFENCE.com until more details become
available. A spokesperson for NASCAR said the sanctioning body is also gathering
information.
Melissa Joan Hart To Drive Pace Car At Martinsville
Melissa
Joan Hart, star of God’s Not Dead 2 will lead the field to green as the
Honorary Pace Car Driver in Sunday’s STP 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at
Martinsville Speedway.
“I
am beyond excited to be the Honorary Pace Car Driver for STP 500 at
Martinsville,” said Hart. “I’ve done some racing in the past, but this
will be the first time that I’ve had the chance to drive on a NASCAR track. To
be leading the field to green is really going to be awesome.
“I
have been a huge NASCAR fan for years and being able to participate in a
race on this level is an honor.”
Having
made her first national commercial at age four, Hart is now a veteran of
television, film and theater. She is best known for her starring roles in Sabrina
the Teenage Witch, Clarissa Explains It All, and Melissa & Joey.
On the big screen, Hart starred in the romantic comedy Drive Me Crazy,
for which she won a Nickelodeon Kids Choice Award and she made a memorable
appearance in the graduation night comedy Can’t Hardly Wait.
In March 2016, Hart and husband Mark Wilkerson announced
the launch of a new girls’ clothing line called Queen of Harts, available now
on their web site, kingofharts.com. Their new girls’ line will
join its American-inspired “brother” line, King of Harts, which came to market
in 2014 for boys. The debut collection of Queen of Harts focuses on graphic
tees designed by talented artists.
It
was recently announced that Melissa and Paula Hart’s Hartbreak Films will be
collaborating with 44 Blue Productions to develop the docuseries, Sweet
Harts. The docuseries will follow the Hart family and its journey as they
open their dream dessert shop.
“To
be able to have Melissa drive the pace car is a no-brainer for us,”
Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell said. “Not only will many of our
fans recognize her, but she is also a big NASCAR fan. It’s great anytime you
can have both of those come together.”
The
weekend starts with Virginia Lottery Pole Day on Friday and continues with the
Alpha Energy Solutions 250 Camping World Truck Series race on Saturday. The STP
500 is set for this Sunday. Tickets start at 55,ドル and are on sale now and can
be purchased by calling 877.RACE.TIX or online at www.martinsvillespeedway.com.
Texas Motor Speedway Unveils Its Own Beer
Texas Motor Speedway unveiled
its own beer; No Limits Checkered Past craft beer, during today's
annual Media Day at Gilley's Dallas.
Audacity Brew House in nearby
Denton, Texas created the No Limits Checkered Past session craft beer
that will be sold at all major events at the Fort Worth speedway, as well as
through retailers in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. No Limits Checkered Past
will make its official debut during the April 7-9 Duck Commander 500 weekend at
Texas Motor Speedway.
Named after the track’s "No
Limits, Texas" marketing campaign, the new brew is described as “a light-bodied
Texas steam beer that provides low bitterness and a character that revolves
into a toasty, rustic finish that remains perfect for year-round consumption.”
Texas Motor Speedway President
Eddie Gossage and Audacity Brew House co-owner Scott Lindsey unveiled No
Limits Checkered Past by "opening" an oversized, 55-gallon mock
can during Media Day festivities. Guests also had an opportunity to sample the
craft beer as a sneak preview.
"It's a beer that we can
all enjoy," Lindsey said. "Everyone from the most experienced craft
beer drinker to first-time tasters will appreciate the flavor. Once fans have
tasted it, I know they will be coming back for more."
The beer is carefully crafted
with pale barley and lager yeast to provide a light, malt character that is
aged for three weeks and cold filtered before being transferred into the
signature No Limits Checkered Past can. The 12-ounce can features a
diamond-plated look with the iconic No Limits, Texas skull logo adorned at the
top with the No Limits Checkered Past logo across a race tire and
pistons.
"We could have named any
number of brands 'The official beer of Texas Motor Speedway,' but we decided to
produce our own with the folks at Audacity Brew House," Gossage said.
"We have a certain reputation here in 'No Limits, Texas,' and felt we could
best develop a craft beer to represent us. We didn't license some beer brand,
we created it. The fans will love it, too."
Beginning with the upcoming
Duck Commander 500, No Limits Checkered Past will be sold throughout
Texas Motor Speedway. Following the race weekend, No Limits Checkered Past
will be available at various local retailers.
No Limits Checkered Past will
become the 12th beer on Audacity Brew House's lineup of popular craft beers.
Audacity Brew House, which began operation nearly a year and a half ago, has
exploded onto the popular craft beer scene after becoming Denton's first
brewery when it opened in 2014. The company, which operates out of a
5,000-square foot warehouse with adjacent taproom, will expand to include an
8,000-square foot venue later this year called Audacity Brew House at
Travelstead. The new facility, located near the historic downtown Denton
Square, will include a restaurant and outdoor entertainment area. The increased
space will allow brew master and co-owner Doug Smith to brew up to 10,000
barrels annually.
For more information on
Audacity Brew House, visit www.audacitybrewhouse.com.
Tuesday, March 29, 2016
Big & Rich, Cowboy Troy Headline Talladega Saturday Concert
Big & Rich are coming to `Dega
Talladega
Superspeedway announced today that the iconic country duo Big & Rich,
featuring Cowboy Troy, will perform at Talladega Superspeedway’s
traditional Saturday Night Concert on April 30 as part of the track’s GEICO 500
race weekend.
After
a day of epic racing with the Talladega 300 NASCAR XFINITY Series, the ‘Dega
faithful will be treated to a grand time with Big & Rich for one of the most
anticipated Saturday Night Concerts ever at NASCAR’s Most Competitive track.
John,
Big Kenny and Troy will play a host of all-time favorites, as well as their
highly successful album titled “Gravity” that has had back-to-back top ten hits
- “Look at You” and “Run Away With You.”
These
hit songs and many more will have NASCAR’s Party Capital reveling well into the
night as Big
& Rich will dazzle and impress fans of all genres with their own
forms of rock, country, and rap. How does one go about witnessing this mega
event? The concert is free to anyone who has a ticket to Sunday’s GEICO 500
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, in which Dale Earnhardt, Jr. is the defending
champion.
Cowboy Troy
“Big & Rich
have such a huge following and having them here at Talladega is going to be
something special for our fans,” said Talladega Superspeedway Chairman Grant
Lynch. “What a day we have in store for Saturday here at Talladega: NASCAR
Sprint Cup and XFINITY Series qualifying and the Talladega 300, then that
evening, we have Big & Rich. Incredible slate of activities, and to top it
off, our fans get to see this epic group for FREE if they have a GEICO 500
ticket.”
America's
Technicolor cowboys, John Rich and Big Kenny Alphin are first-rate musicians,
songwriters, producers and entertainers. Together, they are one of the most
original musical forces ever unleashed on the industry. Exploding into the
public consciousness in 2003 as true country music game changers, they released
epic songs like "Comin to Your City," and "Save a Horse (Ride a
Cowboy)” that elevated the group to superstar status. Their music displays
incomparable range, with well-crafted songs about love, loss, patriotism and
social issues that have impacted many people all across the world.
Their
partner in crime, Cowboy Troy, will be right there as well, as the
self-proclaimed “hick-hop” artist continues to amaze the masses with his own
brand of southern, country-fried rap that has turned heads for years.
The
Talladega weekend kicks Friday with a full slate of on-track activity which
includes practice sessions for the Talladega 300 and GEICO 500 plus practice,
qualifying and the drop of the green flag of the General Tire 200 for the ARCA
Racing Series Presented by Menards. The General Tire 200 is set for a 5:00 pm.
(CDT) start. Friday night the track will host its fifth “Big One on the Blvd”
parade, featuring NASCAR drivers and loads of fun, at 7:30 pm.
Saturday’s
activities kick off at 9:30 am (CDT) with NASCAR XFINITY and Sprint Cup Series
qualifying, followed by the start of the Talladega 300 at 2:00 pm. Later in the
evening, the Saturday Night Infield Concert featuring Big & Rich will take place at 7:00
pm. Sunday’s GEICO 500 gets underway at 12:00 pm.
For
ticket information for all three days of activities, log onto
talladegasuperspeedway.com or call 1-877-Go2-DEGA.
Custer To Run 5 Xfinity Series Races For JR Motorsports
Cole Custer will
compete in five NASCAR Xfinity Series events this season for JR Motorsports, driving
the No. 5 Chevrolet. Haas Automation will sponsor Custer in four of the five
races, with Cessna receiving primary branding at Kentucky Speedway.
The
18-year-old Californian will make his debut in the No. 5 Chevrolet next month
at Richmond International Raceway (April 23) in a fourth entry for JRM.
Custer then transitions to the No. 88 Chevrolet at Charlotte Motor Speedway
(May 28) and Kentucky Speedway (July 8). He’ll return to the seat of the No. 5
at Charlotte Motor Speedway (Oct. 7) and Homestead-Miami Speedway (Nov.
19).
“Cole
is a driver who has shown a lot of potential,” said team owner Dale Earnhardt
Jr. “He is fast and tenacious, he leads laps and wins races; everything you
want out of a driver no matter how much experience they have. We take a lot of
pride in helping guys advance their careers towards their ultimate goal of
racing in the Cup Series. Cole is on that path and I’m happy that we’re able to
put him in our cars to help in that process.”
After
spending 2015 competing part-time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series with
JRM, Custer embarked on his first full-time season in 2016. In 12 starts
for the team, Custer has amassed one win at Gateway Motorsports Park, two Top-5
and four Top-10 finishes.
“Seat
time is critical to development as a driver, and the more I can get, especially
with a team like JRM, the faster that development will go,” said Custer, who
will graduate from high school in May. “This is a great opportunity for
me to get more laps, get used to the equipment, and compete at another level.”
With
two career NCWTS victories to his credit, Custer stands as the youngest winner
in NASCAR national tour series history, accomplishing the feat in 2014 at New
Hampshire Motor Speedway. By virtue of a pole in the NCWTS race at
Martinsville Speedway last fall with JRM, he became the youngest pole winner in
the track’s history.
Larson Set For Martinsville Truck Race
Kyle Larson will do double duty this weekend at Martinsville Speedway,
wheeling a McDonald’s-sponsored Chevrolet for GMS Racing in Saturday’s Alpha Energy
Resources 250, in addition to his regular Chip Ganassi Racing ride in Sunday’s
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series STP 500.
"I'm looking
forward to my first Truck Series start at Martinsville,” said Larson this week.
“It's great to have McDonald's on board. They are a great partner with Chip
Ganassi Racing and they have some really cool ties to GMS Racing. I've done
pretty good in the few Truck Series races I've run, so I'm excited to see what
we accomplish this weekend."
Larson will drive one of
four GMS Racing Chevrolets in Saturday’s race, teaming with Johnny Sauter,
Spencer Gallagher and newcomer Kaz Grala. This is the first time the Statesville,
NC-based team has fielded four Trucks in the same race.
Monday, March 28, 2016
Earnhardt Will Donate Brain To CTE Research
Dale Earnhardt Jr. revealed Saturday that he will donate his brain for concussion research.
The 41-year old Earnhardt is no stranger to concussions, having sustained two in a six-week span during a 2012 tire test at Kansas Speedway, followed by a major crash at Talladega Superspeedway that sidelined him from competition for two weeks in the postseason Chase. He also sustained a concussion at Auto Club Speedway in 2002, but continued to race without disclosing the injury.
Earnhardt has
shown no ill effects from his concussions, but in light of recent revelations surrounding
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy in athletes involved in high-impact sports,
Earnhardt says he will donate his brain for post-mortem examination.
What use is it to you at that point? I'm gonna donate mine. What use is it
to you at that point? I'm gonna donate mine. What use is it to you at that
point? I'm gonna donate mine.”What use
is it to you at that point?” he wrote via Twitter. “I’m donating mine. I’m
donating everything, one way or another.”
Last week, former Oakland
Raiders George Atkinson, George Buehler and Art Thoms announced that they would
also donate their brains to the Concussion Legacy Foundation in honor of Hall Of
Fame teammate, Ken Stabler, whose autopsy showed evidence of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy.
CTE
– which can cause memory loss, depression, mood swings and issues with
anger-management -- can only be diagnosed posthumously. Research into the possible link between concussions and degenerative
brain diseases like CTE is still in its infancy.
Thursday, March 24, 2016
Motor Racing Network Rolling With Online Lineup
With
the 2016 NASCAR season off and running, Motor
Racing Network is keeping pace with a full lineup of exclusive digital
content streamed weekly at MRN.com.
Whether
it’s weekends at the track or weekdays at www.MRN.com, the network provides one
of the most complete sources of motor sports news with a comprehensive schedule
of online programming covering NASCAR, NHRA drag racing, short-track
competition and the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series.
Each
week begins with “MRN Motorsports Monday.” The one-hour show, which
streams from 12 to 1 p.m. (ET), recaps the weekend’s NASCAR competition. Co-hosts are MRN’s Woody Cain and Joey Meier, race spotter and pilot for 2012
Sprint Cup Series champion Brad Keselowski.
Tuesday’s
mid-day time slot at MRN.com is occupied by “Winged Nation” featuring co-hosts
Steve Post and Kendra Jacobs. It’s an in-depth look at winged sprint car
racing – delivering news, race results, behind-the-scenes information,
interviews and feature stories with the top drivers from some of the most
legendary dirt tracks in the country.
“Winged
Nation” also can be seen each Saturday on MAV-TV, at 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
(ET).
Dirt-track
action remains the focus of Tuesday’s MRN.com schedule with “Slingin’ Dirt,”
streaming from 1-2 p.m. with hosts David and Ashley Stremme. They update
listeners on all the action in Dirt Late Models, Big Blocks and Modifieds; and
preview the biggest races coming up on the schedule.
“Our
digital platform has evolved into one of the most complete sources of motor
sports programming on the web,” said MRN Director of New Media Tony
Rizzuti. “From dirt to Daytona, we have a diverse menu that satisfies all
segments of the North American fan base. There’s a big appetite for
racing news and MRN.com helps satisfy that.”
Each
Tuesday evening, veteran MRN anchor Eli Gold hosts “NASCAR Live,” a weekly
conversation with the top drivers and biggest newsmakers from NASCAR’s three
top national series: Sprint Cup, XFINITY and Camping World Trucks. It
airs from 7-8 p.m., and streams live at MRN.com and on the MRN App.
“NASCAR
Coast to Coast,” streams each Wednesday from 12 to 1 p.m. (ET). Hosted by
Kyle Rickey and Buddy Long, the focus here is on the K&N Pro Series, one of
NASCAR’s top developmental tours for the stars of tomorrow, and the NASCAR Whelen Modified and Southern Modified Tours.
Veteran
MRN producer Marty Hough teams up with Top Fuel driver Doug Herbert to host
“Straight Line” each Thursday from 12 to 1 p.m. It’s a weekly pass
through the National Hot Rod
Association’s Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.
And
if you’re “hungry for history,” then Thursday is your day at MRN.com.
“Throwback Thursday” takes the green flag at 1 p.m. with a classic race
broadcast from the Motor Racing
Network archives.
MRN’s
online content is produced by Craig Moore and Darrell Smith, and is available
for download at www.MRN.com upon the conclusion of each week’s live
stream. The network’s complete schedule of exclusive online programming
also can be heard live on the MRN App.
In
addition to its award-winning coverage of NASCAR races, Motor Racing Network streams live coverage of Sprint Cup Series
practice and qualifying from 12 International Speedway Corporation-owned
tracks, Pocono Raceway and Dover International Speedway. MRN’s 2016 slate
of over-the-air race broadcasts features 71 live events from 27 venues.
The schedule opened last month with Speedweeks from Daytona International Raceway.
It will conclude in December with coverage of the annual Sprint Cup Series
Awards in Las Vegas.
Patrick, Busch Fined For Auto Club Violations
Danica Patrick out 20,000ドル
NASCAR
Sprint Cup Series drivers Danica Patrick and Kyle Busch were fined and placed
on NASCAR probation today, for behavioral violations last weekend at Auto Club
Speedway in Fontana, Cal.
Patrick
was fined 20,000,ドル placed on NASCAR probation for the next four Sprint Cup
Series point-counting races for approaching the hot race track in the aftermath
of a crash during Sunday’s Auto Club 400. Patrick climbed from her heavily
damaged racer and walked onto the apron of the track to gesture at Kasey Kahne,
after Kahne turned her into the outside retaining wall.
Patrick’s
penalty was identical to the one assessed to Trevor Bayne for violating the same
rule last season at Dover.
Busch,
meanwhile, was fined 10,000ドル and placed on NASCAR probation for the next four
Sprint Cup Series races for failing to honor mandatory post-race pit road and
Media Center obligations following Saturday’s Xfinity Series race.
Kyle Busch docked 10,000ドル
The
Joe Gibbs Racing driver was angry over a non-call on the final lap of the race,
when his No. 18 Toyota blew a left-front tire while leading. Race officials
chose not to throw a caution flag – which would have ended the race with Busch
the winner – prompting his to decline all post-race media interviews.
Busch
also made a series of comments critical of NASCAR on his in-car radio
immediately following the checkered flag, saying, “Debris all over the race track and they don’t throw a yellow. I’m just
so pleased with you NASCAR. Thanks. Y’all are awesome. Fixing races.” He
was not sanctioned by NASCAR for those comments, despite a section in NASCAR’s new
2016 Code of Conduct that calls for fines of 10,000ドル to 50,000ドル and/or
probation for comments disparaging the sport and/or NASCAR's leadership.
Busch’s fine is the first
assessed by NASCAR for failing to honor media commitments since 2007, when
former series champion Tony Stewart was sanctioned for a similar post-race violation.
In addition to the Patrick and
Busch penalties, NASCAR assessed written warnings to six Sprint Cup Series
teams. The No. 19 and No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing teams, along with the No. 3 and
No. 27 teams fielded by Richard Childress Racing and the No. 21 Wood Brother
Racing team received warnings for various pre-qualifying and pre-race body template
and Laser Inspection Station violations. The No. 95 Circle Sport/Leavine Family
Racing entry received a written warning for a rear trailing arm that did not
meet specifications.
Tuesday, March 22, 2016
COMMENTARY: No Player Is Bigger Than The Game
Kyle Busch is
unhappy with NASCAR today, roughly 72 hours after a no-call by the sanctioning
body at California’s Auto Club Speedway deprived the Joe Gibbs Racing driver of
what could have been his fourth consecutive NASCAR Xfinity Series victory of
2016.
For those who
missed it, Busch dominated Saturday’s race, until an exploding left-front tire
on the final lap forced him to limp his way home, losing the lead (and the win)
to Austin Dillon, literally within sight of the checkered flag. Busch was upset
with NASCAR after the race, believing officials should have displayed the
yellow flag for debris from his exploding tire, thereby ending the race with
him as the winner.
NASCAR saw it
differently, prompting Busch to unleash a brief, post-race verbal tirade over
his in-car radio, during which he declared (among other things) that the sanctioning
body is guilty of “fixing races.”
Those are
fightin’ words in the world of sports, where the 1919 Chicago Black Sox scandal
threatened to destroy “America’s Game” and allegations of betting impropriety
continue to make the great Pete Rose persona non grata at the Baseball Hall of
Fame. It’s one thing to say the umpire blew the call, and quite another to
accuse the referee of intentionally manipulating the outcome of games. Busch’s
allegations were clearly a case of the latter, and will almost certainly result
in a substantial fine when NASCAR makes its weekly penalty
announcement on Wednesday afternoon.
NASCAR made a
judgment call on the final lap of Saturday’s race, just as they did during Busch’s
three consecutive NXS victories in Atlanta, Las Vegas and Phoenix. Why, then,
did Busch wait for his first loss of the 2016 campaign to air his race-fixing
laundry?
The answer is simple.
Busch’s comments were made because he was angry about losing a race that should
have been his.
The 2015 Sprint
Cup Series champion has a ferocious, competitive nature that is well-known, both
in and out of the sport. His refusal to accept anything less than first place has
helped make him a champion in NASCAR’s premier division, and the all-time
winner in the Xfinity ranks. Unfortunately, it has also manifested itself in
periodic outbursts of boorish post-race behavior.
Anger and
disappointment are powerful motivators. They are not, however, good excuses.
NASCAR didn’t
blow Kyle Busch’s tire Saturday. It just happened, as it happens to racers all
across the nation, every single week. NASCAR responded to that exploding tire by
doing what they always do; making an instantaneous decision about whether the
race should continue uninterrupted, or be ended prematurely with a yellow flag.
You may agree or disagree with the decision NASCAR made Saturday. Kyle Busch clearly
disagreed. But disagreeing with a call does not give Busch – or anyone else --
the right to impugn the umpire and slander the integrity of the sport.
Like the rest
of us, Kyle Busch can say and do anything he wants, if he’s willing to face the
consequences. Call your boss a jibbering idiot if you like. Cuss out that
Highway Patrolman when he pulls you over for speeding. Just be prepared for the
consequences that almost certainly will follow.
On this matter,
NASCAR’s rulebook is plainly written, in black and white. Its 2016
Code of Conduct calls for fines of between 10,000ドル and 50,000ドル and/or probation
for “comments disparaging the sport and/or NASCAR's leadership.” Busch’s
comments were clearly disparaging of both the sport and those who run it, which
explains the five-figure check he will almost certainly be cutting in the next
few days.
That’s called
personal accountability, and it’s the price you pay for venting your spleen in a
flickering moment of anger.
Words have
power. And if you say it, you own it.
NASCAR is not
Kyle Busch’s sport. It belongs to all of us; you, me, every driver, owner, crew
chief and fan. And when someone says or does something that damages our sport, we
all suffer. Freedom of expression is a wonderful thing, but your right to swing
your arms ends at the tip of my nose. We deserved to spend this week reveling
in a spectacular Fontana Sprint Cup Series finish. Instead, we’ve spent much of
the last two days listening to an endless series of light-thinkers tell
us how NASCAR manages to “fix” races, while somehow keeping it secret.
They know it’s
true. The champion of the sport told them so. And that’s a crying shame, for
all of us.
Great racers
come and go with time. They retire from the sport and eventually pass away. NASCAR,
though, lives on, just as it did without Red Byron, the Flock Brothers or
Raymond Parks, without Tim Richmond, Davey Allison, Dale Earnhardt or Buddy
Baker.
The late Bill
France, Sr. had a way of bringing racers back to reality after they became overly
enamored with themselves. “We’re going to be here next week,” he’d say. “But you
might not.” It’s a valuable lesson that we would all do well to keep in mind.
No single
player is more important than the game, and it is our duty – all of ours – to hand
the sport off to the next generation in better shape than we received it.
Comments like Busch’s damage the sport, and seem to place the player far ahead
of the game.
Yes, Kyle Busch
is angry at NASCAR today. He’ll probably be even angrier tomorrow, when the
sanctioning body hands down that five-digit fine for his poorly chosen words. But
Busch is not the biggest loser in all this.
Not by a long
shot.Monday, March 21, 2016
Busch, Patrick Face Possible Penalties For Fontana Incidents
Kyle
Busch and Danica Patrick could be in line for NASCAR penalties this week, in
the aftermath of a pair of incidents at Auto Club Speedway.
Busch declined to honor
mandatory post-race media obligations following Saturday’s Xfinity Series race,
where he suffered a blown left-front tire on the final lap, losing the race to
Austin Dillon. The defending NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion was upset with
NASCAR's decision not to throw a caution flag for the incident; a decision that
would have frozen the field and awarded him the win. In addition to refusing to
take part in post-race media sessions, Busch reacted angrily on his
in-car radio after the event, accusing the sanctioning body of “fixing races."
NASCAR's new 2016 Code of Conduct
prescribes fines of 10,000ドル to 50,000ドル and/or probation for comments
disparaging the sport and/or NASCAR's leadership.
Officials said after the race
that they elected to "let (the race) play out,” since Busch continued to
race on the exploded tire and they saw nothing that posed an imminent safety
risk.
Patrick,
meanwhile, faces possible sanctions for approaching the racing surface under
caution, following a crash with Kasey Kahne on Lap 121 of Sunday’s Auto Club
400.
Kahne,
running a lap down after an unscheduled pit stop, appeared to hook the
right-rear corner of Patrick’s Chevrolet after being passed, sending Patrick
hard into the outside retaining wall. Patrick climbed quickly from her damaged
machine and walked to within four feet of the racing surface before gesturing
at Kahne as he rolled past under caution.
Her
response was a violation of Section 10.4.2.1 of the
NASCAR Rulebook, which states "At no time should a driver or crew
member(s) approach any portion of the racing surface or apron. At no time
should a driver or crew member(s) approach another moving vehicle."
NASCAR Executive Vice President and chief racing
development officer Steve
O’Donnell told Sirius/XM NASCAR Radio’s The
Morning Drive today that the sanctioning body is examining what happened,
to determine whether a penalty is justified.
"That's one of the things we will be reviewing,” he
said. “That's part of having all the video tape. We want to take some time ...
there's a lot going on during a race. Coming back from the West Coast, we've
got to take the time to evaluate all that.
"We do have a rule in place and want to make sure… what
the circumstances (were) around that. Rules are in place to keep the drivers
safe, and we want to review everything that took place there and see if there's
anything we need to react to this week.”
Kahne was summoned to the NASCAR transporter after the event
to give his view of the crash.He took
blame for the incident, but insisted it was unintentional.
“I
just got too close,” he said. “The car was moving around and we hit and she had
a bad wreck. I felt really bad because it was (nothing but) trying to hold my
position. I’ve never had an issue with Danica at all. It was an avoidable
accident in the middle of the straightaway.”
For her part, Patrick said, “I saw him chase me down the track, then the next thing I
know I was getting spun up the track. I was passing him. He was behind me in
the right rear. I don’t know what kind of day he was having… if he felt
like he was put in a position to have to be that desperate a lap down. I was
running good race laps and on the lead lap (in) the Top 20 from a bad starting
position.”
Thursday, March 17, 2016
Harrison Burton Tabbed For October Truck Series Debut
Second-generation driver
Harrison Burton will make his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut for Kyle
Busch Motorsports on Oct. 29 at Martinsville Speedway, driving the No. 18 DEX
Imaging/Konica Minolta Toyota in the Alpha Energy Solutions 200.
Burton, the son of 21-time
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series winner and current NBC Sports broadcaster Jeff Burton,
is currently competing for Rookie of the Year honors in the NASCAR K&N Pro
Series East. He was a three-time USAC Quarter Midget national champion before
moving into Late Models, where at the age of 11 he captured his first pole in
the Limited Late Model division at Ace Speedway in Elon, N.C. A year
later,, he graduated to Pro-Late Models and won two races at Dillon (S.C.)
Motor Speedway.
At age 14, Burton became the
youngest driver to win a NASCAR Whelen Super Late Model event, when he visited
Victory Lane twice during the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing at New
Smyrna (Fla.) last February. In May, he picked up his first Southern Super
Series win at Mobile (Ala.) International Speedway, and in October, he became
the youngest driver to compete in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West, at All
American Speedway in Roseville, Calif.
In addition to his full-time
schedule in the K&N Pro Series East this season, Burton will compete in
numerous Super Late Model events around the country for his family-operated
team. The 15-year-old driver returned to the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car
Racing at New Smyrna this year and finished second in the Super Late Model point
standings, after collecting two wins and three Top-3 finishes in six races. He
also posted a runner-up finish at Crisp Motorsports Park in Cordele, Ga., in
January, against a field that included KBM owner-driver Kyle Busch and KBM
Truck Series driver William Byron.
"Harrison is mature
beyond his age on the track and it's impressive the resume he has already put
together at the age of 15," Busch said. "He comes from a racing
family and doesn't have to look very far to find a role model that can show him
what it takes to be successful both on and off the track. We've been fortunate
the last few seasons to get KBM to the point where we can provide young drivers
an opportunity to grow in the sport and we're excited to be a part of
Harrison's continued development. It wouldn't be possible without sponsors like
DEX Imaging and Konica Minolta who see the value in getting involved with a
young driver and growing alongside him as he moves up the racing ladder."
"I am proud to have
Konica Minolta join our DEX Imaging team for my Truck Series debut with Kyle
Busch Motorsports," Burton said. "It means a lot to have these
sponsors onboard for the next step in my racing career and making it possible for
me to be able to race for the marquee team in the series. It's a big step, but
we have been working really hard to prepare ourselves for everything that's to
come this year and we're ready."
"We are excited to
welcome Konica Minolta to our racing team as we continue our long standing
partnership with Harrison," said Dan Doyle, Jr., President and CEO of DEX
Imaging, a loyal sponsor of Burton since 2013 and the nation's largest
independent dealer of Konica Minolta document management solutions. "He is
a wonderful complement to our company. Our team is thrilled to be on board as
he makes his debut into the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series later this
year."
Monday, March 14, 2016
COMMENTARY: It's A Kyle Busch Problem
Kyle Busch did it again
Sunday at Phoenix International Raceway, leading 175 of 200 laps on
his way to victory in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Axalta 200. Busch has made a cottage industry out of
thumping the Xfinity Series regulars in recent seasons. Saturday’s win was his ninth
in 20 career PIR starts and the record 79th of his career.
In
three starts this season, Busch has now led 493 of 563 laps, and some people
are not at all happy about it. You see, in addition to being the all-time leader in career Xfinity Series
wins, “Rowdy Busch” is also a full-time competitor in NASCAR’s headline Sprint
Cup Series. The defending series champion, in fact.
Some people don’t like
that. And honestly, some people just don’t like Kyle Busch. So in an effort to
balance the competitive scales, a growing chorus of fans and media members are suggesting
that Cup drivers be banned – or at least severely restricted – from the Xfinity
and Truck Series garages, leaving Victory Lane vacant for younger drivers and
less-established teams.
Track operators are
against the idea, fearing that the absence of Sprint Cup drivers will adversely
affect their Saturday ticket sales. Take the star out of the movie, they say,
and fewer people will watch the movie.
Team owners seem split
on the idea. Some would love a chance to race closer to the front of the pack without
Busch, Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski to hinder their efforts. Others,
however, sell established Cup stars to their sponsors, allowing them to remain
in business and field additional cars for those young, up-and-coming talents.
Drivers have strong
opinions on the topic, as well. Guys like Busch enjoy racing on Saturday
afternoons. They enjoy winning, and often use the knowledge gained from their
Xfinity Series outings to better prepare for Sunday’s headline Sprint Cup
event.
Not long ago, drivers
were allowed to compete simultaneously for multiple series championships. Kevin
Harvick and Carl Edwards won the Nationwide (now Xfinity) title in 2006 and
2007, while also competing full-time in Cup; a practice that prompted NASCAR to
put a stop to so-called “double dipping.” But while they are no longer eligible
for title consideration, Sprint Cup Series drivers continue to raid the Xfinity
and Truck Series vaults, seemingly at will.
Despite what you may
be hearing, that’s not a new phenomenon.
Sprint Cup drivers have
competed – and won prolifically – in what is now the NASCAR Xfinity Series for
decades. In the 1980s and `90s, the late Dale Earnhardt, Sr., was the man to
beat in Busch Series action at Daytona. He won the season opener in 1986, then
reeled off five consecutive victories from 1990 through 1994. “Big E” actually
swept the first two races of the season in `86, following his Daytona win with
a checkered flag at Rockingham Speedway the next weekend.
More recently, Tony
Stewart and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. have dominated Xfinity Series Victory Lane at
Daytona. Stewart has seven career Speedweeks Xfinity victories, while Earnhardt,
Jr. prevailed in three consecutive seasons; 2002-2004.
In
all, Earnhardt, Sr. accumulated 21 Busch Series wins in 136 career starts,
running between five and 14 events each season from 1982 to 1994. He won at
least one Busch Series race in 11 of those 13 years, while simultaneously
ranking as the most dominant Cup Series driver of his (or arguably any) era.
And somehow, nobody
seemed to mind.
Maybe
that’s because it was Earnhardt. Or perhaps it was because his fellow Winston Cup
drivers were diverting fan focus by winning dozens of Busch Series races of
their own.
Mark
Martin’s resume includes 49 Busch Series wins in 236 career starts. He ran at
least one (and often as many as 15 or 16) races each season for a couple of
decades, while simultaneously ranking as a perennial title contender in the Cup
ranks.
Harry
Gant won 21 times in 128 career Busch starts; also while a full-time Cup
driver. “Handsome Harry” padded his schedule with 13-17 Busch races each season
(roughly half the annual schedule) from 1987 to 1994, without ever drawing the
ire of the grandstand faithful.
Cup Series invaders like
Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski, Jamie McMurray, Matt Kenseth, Greg Biffle, Jeff
Burton, Joe Nemechek, Terry Labonte, Geoff Bodine, Michael Waltrip and Bobby
Allison have all purloined Xfinity Series purses over the years, without ever
seeming to tick anyone off.
I get it. Kyle Busch
wins a lot.
His 25.2% Xfinity Series
winning percentage is far better than that of Earnhardt Sr. (15.4%), Martin
(20.8%) or Gant (16.4). Waltrip and Earnhardt are already enshrined in the NASCAR
Hall Of Fame, with both Martin and Gant sure to join them in due time.
This is not a “Cup
drivers in the Xfinity Series” problem. It is a “Kyle Busch problem,” as
evidenced by the fact that nobody complains when Austin Dillon or Landon
Cassill double-dip in NASCAR’s secondary series. Apparently, Sprint Cup drivers
competing in the Xfinity Series is acceptable to the vast majority of NASCAR
fans. Winning, however, must be done sparingly, lest we grow tired of
your success.
Solutions to this
problem are difficult to pinpoint, and even more difficult to implement.
Cup drivers competing in the Xfinity Series is acceptable to the vast majority of NASCAR fans. Winning, however, must be done sparingly, lest we grow tired of your success.
Limiting the number of
lower-division starts a Sprint Cup driver can make may not have the desired
effect. Joe Gibbs is a savvy team owner, and if Busch is allowed to run only 10
Xfinity Series races next season, Gibbs will almost certainly slide Denny Hamlin
or Matt Kenseth into the seat, in his place. JGR will continue to run the
entire Nationwide schedule, they will continue to win more races than they
lose, and fans will continue to bemoan the fact that the Xfinity Series
regulars can’t keep up.
Handicapping Cup drivers
– technologically or through procedural means – goes against the spirit of fair
play and sportsmanship. Every competitor deserves to have the rules fairly and
evenly applied, and “different rules for different players” crosses the line between
sport and hucksterism.
Banning owners like
Gibbs, Richard Childress and Roger Penske from the Xfinity Series garage seems short-sighted,
as well. They have pumped years of hard work and millions of dollars into the
series, and deserve better than to be sent packing, simply for being too good
at what they do. We also cannot afford to remove a half-dozen of the most
competitive cars from the starting grid.
The Xfinity Series is
much more than the motorized equivalent of AAA baseball. It is North America’s
No. Two form of motorsport, ahead of IndyCar, NHRA, IHRA, IMSA Sports Cars and
SCCA. Its in-person attendance and television ratings are the envy of every
motorsports entity this side of Sprint Cup, and those who see it as nothing
more than “Cup Lite” are simply not paying attention.
The people entrusted
with charting the future of the Xfinity Series have important decisions to make
in the months to come. Job One in that process is to determine whether there
really is a problem, and if so, what the specific problem is.
“Kyle Busch wins too
much” is not an issue that needs addressing. Great drivers and great teams win
races. Lots and lots of races. That’s what they’re paid to do, and stinking up
the show with a dominant performance like Busch delivered Saturday in Phoenix
should be applauded, not outlawed.
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