Monday, August 29, 2016
Larson's Win Scrambles Chase Field
Kyle Larson grabbed the brass
ring Sunday at Michigan International Speedway, winning the Pure Michigan 400 and securing a
guaranteed spot in the 16-driver Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.
The Chip Ganassi Racing driver
came to Michigan’s Irish Hills with his back to the proverbial wall, after
losing a whopping 59 points to the Chase cutoff in the previous two weeks. A 29th-place
finish on the Watkins Glen road course and a 24th the following week at Bristol
put Larson on the hot seat, with many railbirds pointing to Michigan as his
last realistic chance to earn a berth in the 2016 Chase.
Sunday’s win – his first in 99
career Sprint Cup Series starts -- secured that coveted playoff berth, making the
Target Chevrolet driver the 13th different winner of the 2016 Sprint
Cup Series season.
“I was teared-up the last few laps,” admitted Larson in Victory
Lane. “I could just feel it. This was finally going to be it.”
"This
means a lot for me and it means a lot for Kyle," said crew chief Chad
Johnston afterward. "We didn't start out this year the way we wanted, but
we've found speed throughout the year and the kid's got a ton of talent. I
think you'll see more to come from Kyle Larson."
In addition to punching his
ticket to the Chase, Larson’s Michigan victory also left a maximum of just three
Chase spots available for non-winners, based on points. When Larson jumped off
the hot seat Sunday afternoon, at least four other drivers saw their Chase
hopes pushed to the brink.
Michigan runner-up Chase Elliott
is now 14th on the Chase grid, after losing five spots in the last eight weeks.
“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t (frustrated),” admitted Elliott, who was in
position to win Sunday’s race after a stellar final pit stop, only to surrender
the lead to Larson when the green flag flew with just eight laps remaining.
“If I wasn’t, that would mean
I didn’t care. I just have to try to take the positives out of it.”
Behind Elliott, Austin Dillon
and Jamie McMurray now own the final two spots in the 2016 Chase. McMurray holds
a 27-point edge over Ryan Newman, whose 17th-place showing at MIS
dropped him out of Chase eligibility for the first time since Dover in mid-May.
The Richard Childress Racing driver has a knack for playing the “Winless Chase
Qualifier” card, falling just a car length short of an unprecedented Sprint Cup
Series championship at Homestead Miami Speedway two years ago, without the
benefit of a single checkered flag.
Now, however, Newman is even
more of an underdog. With rumors swirling of a post-season departure from RCR
in favor of youngster Ty Dillon, the “Rocket Man” needs to recoup half a race-worth
of lost championship points in the final two starts of the regular season at
Darlington and Richmond.
That’s a tough row to hoe,
even for a driver used to making the Chase through the back door.
For Newman, McMurray, Dillon
and Elliott, the next 14 days provide absolutely no room for error. One
mistake, one botched restart, one mechanical failure will bring an
unceremonious end to their 2016 championship hopes.
And another first-time winner
at either Darlington or Richmond will throw an already tumultuous Chase grid
into absolute turmoil.
There are sleepless nights ahead
in the Elliott, Dillon, McMurray and Newman households.
Wednesday, August 24, 2016
Junior Sidelined For At Least Two More Weeks
Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the
No. 88 Chevrolet SS for Hendrick Motorsports, has not been cleared by
physicians to compete in at least the next two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events,
as he continues to recover from a concussion.
Earnhardt, who will miss the races
at Michigan International Speedway (Aug. 28) and Darlington Raceway (Sept. 4),
underwent further evaluation today at the University of Pittsburgh Medical
Center Sports Medicine Concussion Program.
“We know how hard Dale is working to
get back,” said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. “He’s following
what the doctors are saying, to the letter, and doing exactly what he needs to
do. Everyone wants to see him in a race car, but his health is first and
foremost. We’re behind him.”
Alex Bowman, who drove the No. 88
Chevrolet in Earnhardt’s absence July 17 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, will
be the team’s substitute driver this weekend at Michigan. He has four career
Sprint Cup starts at the track.
Four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion
Jeff Gordon will return to the No. 88 team at Darlington, where his seven wins
lead all active drivers. Gordon has driven the last four races for Earnhardt --
at Indianapolis, Pocono, Watkins Glen and Bristol.
JGL Racing Unveils Davey Allison Throwback Car
JGL Racing is the latest team
to join the “Throwback Party” during Bojangles Southern 500 Weekend at
Darlington Raceway, unveiling a special tribute to legendary driver Davey
Allison and his historic rookie season of 1987.
Dakoda Armstrong will pilot
the No. 28 "Davey Allison Tribute" Toyota in next Saturday’s VFW
Sport Clips Help A Hero 200 on Saturday. In addition to Allison’s familiar
colors, a special Davey Allison Tribute logo will adorn the hood of the No. 28
Toyota, with season-long sponsor Winfield displayed on the upper rear quarter
panels.
"It is with great
pleasure that we pay tribute to one of the legends of our sport," said
James Whitener, owner of JGL Racing. "We had so much success with our
throwback scheme last year and we are looking for this years to be even better. I
am a fan of this sport as well as a team owner and being able to run the 1987
Rookie of the Year paint scheme of Davey Allison is super special for all of us
at JGL Racing. We look forward to representing Davey and his legacy
in a first class and professional manner."
The 1987 season was a special
one for Allison and his Harry Ranier-led team. After losing the Hardee’s sponsorship
from the previous season, Ranier negotiated a deal with Texaco's Havoline motor
oil brand, signing the deal during Speedweeks at Daytona International
Speedway. On qualifying day, Allison signaled that he was in Winston Cup to
stay, qualifying the Texaco-Havoline Thunderbird second for the 1987 Daytona
500; the first rookie ever to start on the front row for NASCAR's most
prestigious event.
The pole was the first of five
he garnered during his rookie campaign, along with two wins, nine Top-5 and 10
Top-10 finishes.
"Robbie, Krista and I are
honored that Davey's 1987 Rookie Paint Scheme will be a part of such a special
weekend of throwbacks at Darlington,” said Liz Allison, Davey’s widow. "Having
the No. 28 on the track in the XFINITY Series with JGL Racing and Dakoda behind
the wheel means so much to our family. This paint scheme is what fans remember
most of all of Davey's cars. We are truly grateful to have Davey remembered in
this way."
One Main Returns With Sadler In 2017, After All
Just days after announcing
that they would withdraw from the sport at season’s end, OneMain has reversed
course, signing a multi-year extension to continue its sponsorship of Elliott
Sadler and the No. 1 JR Motorsports race team in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
JRM General Manager Kelley
Earnhardt Miller confirmed today that OneMain will receive primary branding on
Sadler’s No. 1 Chevrolet for 20 races in 2017, marking the seventh year of their
partnership with Sadler, the current Xfinity Series points leader.
“We are thrilled to continue
our partnership with Elliott Sadler and JR Motorsports,” said OneMain Executive
Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Bob Hurzeler. “After further
evaluation of the program, we felt this relationship was a perfect fit for our
company. Elliott has been an outstanding ambassador for OneMain and we look
forward to our continued success with Elliott and JRM, on and off the
track.”
The announcement virtually
finalizes JR Motorsports’ driver line-up for 2017. The team will compete for a
championship with three full-time entries for Sadler, Justin Allgaier and
William Byron, with a fourth “All-Star Car” fielded in approximately six events
next season.
“Elliott and OneMain are
integral pieces to the make-up of our company,” said Earnhardt Miller.
“Elliott’s talent speaks for itself, but what’s more, his experience and
leadership is completely necessary for our younger guys. He brings a
professionalism and charisma that permeates our entire organization, and I
think he brings it to OneMain as well. I’m glad they have decided to come
back with their sponsorship. We’ve got many things to accomplish
together.”
Sadler has undergone a
resurgence in his first year at JR Motorsports. He currently leads the NXS
point standings and is preparing to compete in the first-ever NXS Chase format.
This year Sadler has one win (Talladega), seven Top-5 and a series-leading 19 Top-10
finishes in 22 starts. He has been an NXS regular since 2011, with a pair of
runner-up finishes in the championship point standings (2011-12).
“This is a dream come true for
me,” said Sadler, 41, from Emporia, Virginia. “OneMain is a great partner and
we're fortunate to have this stability moving forward to compete for race wins
and championships for years to come. I'm as energized as I've ever been."
Monday, August 22, 2016
COMMENTARY: On A Soggy Weekend, A Phoenix Rises From The Ashes
On a weekend
filled with story lines and plot twists, perhaps the biggest story of the annual
Bass Pro Shops NRA Night
Race weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway was the
racing surface itself.
In an effort
to recapture the competitive fervor of the “old” Bristol, NASCAR and track
officials took a page out of the NHRA Drag Racing play book, laying down an
18-inch strip of resin-based traction enhancer in the lower groove of the
legendary Tennessee oval. They then dragged tires to lay down rubber in the
challenging low lane, further increasing grip and traction.
Drag racers
have long utilized traction-boosting compounds and the aptly named “Tire Dragon”
in an effort to glue their fire-breathing, nitromethane guzzling, 10,000-horsepower
dragsters to the race track. It works for the straight liners, and last
weekend, the unprecedented approach worked for NASCAR, producing a dramatic
uptick in two and three-wide racing, despite torrential rain storms that
repeatedly attempted to wash the track clean.
Once a guaranteed
sellout, Bristol’s “Last Great Coliseum” had fallen out of favor with NASCAR
fans in recent years, following a 2007 reconfiguration that changed the face of
NASCAR’s wildest short track. Once a contentious, hot-tempered venue that
featured almost as much action after the checkered flag as before it, Bristol was
transformed into a genteel joint where helmets were used only as protection, rather
than as projectiles.
A 2012 decision to grind
away some of the track’s progressive banking backfired, as well, reducing
Thunder Valley – in the minds of many -- to just another NASCAR track. Tickets that were once contested in divorce settlements and
left to family members in wills suddenly became easy to come by, with empty
seats all too common.
Something had
to be done, and fast.
“We evaluated after the (April) Food City 500,” admitted BMS general manager Jerry Caldwell last week.
“Following that evaluation and some internal conversations which involved
Marcus Smith and Bruton Smith, we all said, `Let’s give it a shot and see what
happens.’
“We polished the lower groove in the turns and coming out on the
straightaways,” he said. “We also applied a substance that helps rubber stick
to the track.And then we brought in a
tire machine… to get rubber down and give drivers some grip… so they can hang
with that upper groove.”
Wednesday night’s Camping
World Truck Series race was the best seen at Bristol in half a decade – maybe ever
– and raised expectations for the remainder of the weekend. An additional application
of traction aid prior to Friday’s Xfinity Series
run paid similar dividends, and a third coat in advance of Saturday night’s
main event also yielded impressive results, despite repeated hosedowns from
Mother Nature.
Bristol’s pumped-up lower
groove generated a substantial increase in the
kind of full-contact “rooting and gouging” that made Thunder Valley a can’t-miss
stop on the Sprint Cup Series for so many seasons. On a weekend otherwise characterized
by torrential rain, Bristol rose like a Phoenix from the ashes, giving the
people what they want and raising the optimism bar, sky high.
Yes, it’s
only one weekend.
And yes, it
remains to be seen whether a full-blown return to glory is in the offing at Thunder
Valley.
But if the
events of last weekend are any indication, it appears that Bristol’s unfortunate
“chardonnay era” may be over, replaced by the old school, shot-and-a-beer
mentality that previously made a weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway the most
anticipated event in all of NASCAR.
Other competitively challenged
tracks would do well to get Jerry Caldwell on the horn this morning, inquiring as
to where they might acquire an 18-wheeled tanker or two, filled with that
magical mystery liquid that brought Bristol’s bottom groove back from the dead.
And while we’re at it, can we
borrow that tire machine?
Thursday, August 18, 2016
Cheap Trick To Headline New Hampshire Pre-Race Show
Newly inducted Rock and Roll
Hall of Fame band Cheap Trick will headline the New Hampshire Motor Speedway
frontstretch stage prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Sunday, Sept.
25. Cheap Trick will perform a 45-minute pre-race concert at 11 a.m. prior to
the New England 300, the second race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup
Series championship.
“It goes without saying that I can’t wait for the green flag to fly on September 25, but I am also incredibly excited to host Cheap Trick, one of the most iconic bands in American rock history, perform on our pre-race stage,” said DavidMcGrath, executive vice president and general manager of NHMS. “Having Cheap Trick perform is a great addition to an exciting weekend of racing and entertainment for our fans and a great way to kick off our Chase race.”
The band is expected to play
some of its biggest hits on Sept. 25, including “Surrender”, “I Want You to
Want Me”, “Dream Police”, and “The Flame.”
The concert is free for anyone
who has purchased a ticket to the New England 300. For stage-front access,Pre-Race
Pit Passesare
available for fans looking to rev up their race-day experience.
Ranked 25th on VH1’s list of
the 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock, Cheap Trick has more than 5,000
performances under their belts, with more than 20 million records sold. Their
songs have been featured on 29 movie soundtracks and they have won 40 gold and
platinum recording awards.
The Hall of Fame band is made
of four musicians: Robin Zander (vocals, rhythm guitar), Rick Nielsen (lead
guitar), Tom Petersson (bass guitar) and Daxx Nielsen (drums). Cheap Trick was
recently inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on Friday, April 8.
Now through Sept. 6, New
Hampshire Motor Speedway will select three different winners for
once-in-a-lifetime experiences at the New England 300 on Sept. 25, 2016.
Winners will be selected from current New England 300 ticket holders at the
time of the drawing, so the sooner you buy, the more chances you’ll have to
win. Anyone that has already purchased tickets will be automatically entered
each week. Tickets start as low as 35ドル.
To see Cheap Trick perform and
for more details and ticket information on events at New Hampshire Motor
Speedway, or to purchase tickets to the September New England 300 NASCAR Sprint
Cup Series weekend, please stop by our ticket office, visit the speedway
website atwww.nhms.com , or call the Ticket Hotline at (603) 783-4931.
AmeriCarna LIVE Car Show Returns Nov. 26
On Saturday, Nov. 26, more
than 3,000 car lovers are expected to attend the fourth annual AmeriCarna LIVE
Car Show presented by MSC Industrial Supply Co. and Autogeek.com in Davidson,
NC. The event will raise funds to benefit IGNITE, the Autism Society of North
Carolina’s community center for young adults with high-functioning autism or
Asperger’s Syndrome.
Former NASCAR championship
crew chief Ray Evernham, star of the “AmeriCarna” television series on
Velocity, will host AmeriCarna LIVE, along with MSC Industrial Supply Co. and
Autogeek.com. The event will feature celebrity cars as well as classic, custom,
and collector cars on the Ingersoll Rand North American Headquarters and
Corporate Center.
A special display of cars from
Ray Evernham’s television series AmeriCarna will be on hand, along with cars
from the personal collections of NASCAR’s biggest stars -- like Dale Earnhardt
Jr.'s Chevy Impala shown at right.
The show is open to the public
for 5ドル per person and kids under 10 are free. Car owners can pre-register their
vehicles before Nov. 1 for 25ドル or register after that or at the gate on event
day for 30ドル. Go tohttp://www.americarnalive.comto
register your car. A variety of food vendors will be available.
All proceeds from AmeriCarna
LIVE will be donated to the Evernham Family Racing for a Reason Foundation and
go to support the IGNITE Community Center in Davidson, N.C. for young adults
with high-functioning autism or Asperger’s Syndrome.
The event will be located at Ingersoll
Rand’s North American Headquarters and Corporate Center on 800 Beaty Street in
Davidson, NC; 28036, located on the edge of Lake Davidson adjacent to Lake
Norman. Parking is available on the Ingersoll Rand campus. Gates open for car
entrants at 7 a.m. and for spectators at 10 a.m.
Yarborough Named Honorary Pace Car Driver For Southern 500
Cale Yarborough is set to
return to the legendary high banks of Darlington Raceway.
On Sunday, Sept. 4, the South
Carolina native and NASCAR Hall of Famer will pace the field as the honorary
pace car driver for the 67th running of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bojangles’
Southern 500.
“This is quite an honor and I’m
really looking forward to being the honorary pace car driver for the Bojangles’
Southern 500,” Yarborough said. “The Southern 500 is the reason I got into
racing. When I saw my first one, I knew that’s what I wanted to do. Darlington
is a tough, ol’ race track that can give you fits. When I was racing, I wanted
to win the Southern 500 more than any other race. I still get goose bumps when
I drive by the race track. I just may have to run a few laps and show those
young folks how it’s done.”
Yarborough has five career
wins at his hometown track, all coming in the Southern 500 on Labor Day weekend
(1968, 1973, 1974, 1978 and 1982). He won three consecutive NASCAR premier
series championships from 1976-78. He also won four Daytona 500 races and posted
83 career NASCAR Cup Series victories with 69 pole awards.
Yarborough also will be
honored by Darlington Raceway with a special ceremony during the Bojangles’
Southern 500 race weekend for his contributions to the sport. Details on the
ceremony will be announced at a later date. He is also set to participate in
the Bojangles’ Legends Breakfast on Sunday morning, along with other NASCAR
Hall of Fame members. He was elected to the NASCAR Hall of Fame as part of the
Class of 2012.
Hendrick Motorsports Inks Byron To Multi-Year Deal
Rick Hendrick (L) lands William Byron
Hendrick Motorsports
secured its future today, signing NASCAR Camping World Truck Series point
leader William Byron to a multi-year driver agreement. Byron, whose five Truck
Series win this season is already a series record, will race full-time in the
NASCAR XFINITY Series for Hendrick Motorsports affiliate JR Motorsports,
beginning in 2017.
“William is a special
person and a special talent,” said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick
Motorsports. “It’s been impressive to watch him come up through the ranks and
have success at every level. What he’s already accomplished this season has
been remarkable. On top of all his ability, he’s a terrific young man from a
great family, and we think he has a very bright future with our organization.”
Byron, 18, won the
NASCAR K&N Pro Series East championship in 2015,and through 13 races of his
rookie Truck series campaign driving for Kyle Busch Motorsports, already owns
victories at Kansas, Texas, Iowa, Kentucky and Pocono.
“Even before I started
racing, it was a dream of mine to drive for Hendrick Motorsports,” Byron said.
“I have so much respect for the way Mr. Hendrick supports his people and
encourages everyone to work together. This is the biggest announcement and
biggest opportunity of my life, and I will do everything I can to make the most
of it. I’m proud to be part of this team.”
Byron has past ties
with JR Motorsports, after winning two races with JRM’s Late Model program in
2014 and 2015; his first seasons in full-sized stock cars.
“I owe so much to Dale
Jr. and everyone at JRM for taking a chance on me in 2014,” Byron said.
“Looking back, I know none of this would’ve happened without that opportunity.
I was there during Chase Elliott’s [XFINITY Series] championship season and got
to learn a lot. I know what they’re capable of, and I’m going to work really
hard for them.”
Tuesday, August 16, 2016
"Tide Ride" Returns At Bojangles Southern 500
Tide and Joe Gibbs Racing will
bring back one of the most iconic brands in the history of NASCAR for the
Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on Sunday, September 4. Tide’s
unforgettable orange and yellow paint scheme was reborn today as the Tide PODS
Toyota Camry, to be driven by Matt Kenseth in the Labor Day Weekend classic.
For 20 years, an entire generation of racing fans cheered
for the iconic “Tide Ride.” Driven by some of the sport’s legendary figures,
including Darrell Waltrip, Ricky Rudd and Ricky Craven, the car amassed 20
total wins from 1987 to 2006. Each driver contributed a fabled chapter to the
Tide Ride story— Waltrip’s famous victory lane dance following his Daytona 500
win in 1989; Rudd gutting out a win at the 1997 Brickyard 400; and Craven
capturing the closest win in the sport’s history (.002 seconds) at Darlington
in 2003.
“With Tide celebrating its 70th anniversary as a brand,
there’s no better time to return to our roots in NASCAR for the Southern 500,
and introduce a new generation of fans to the powerful new Tide PODS car,” said
Amy Krehbiel, Brand Manager for Tide. “Matt Kenseth’s track record has proven
him to be the type of commanding talent that we’re proud to align with the Tide
PODS brand.”
As the newest driver to compete for Tide, Matt Kenseth
brings nearly 20 years of experience in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, including
38 wins and the 2003 series championship.
“Tide has such a rich history in this sport,” said Kenseth.
“I can’t think of a better race to make their return to NASCAR than for the
Southern 500. I’m looking forward to being a part of the second annual
throwback weekend, and am proud to represent such an iconic brand. There have
been many great moments associated with Tide and its former talented drivers;
I’m honored to continue the legacy with Tide PODS at Darlington.”
Tide will also serve as an associate sponsor on the
remaining three Joe Gibbs Racing Toyotas of Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch and Carl
Edwards for the Labor Day weekend event. Additionally, the Nos. 18, 19 and 20
entries will carry Tide as an associate for the following two events at
Chicagoland Speedway and Richmond International Raceway.
“This is a thrill for us,” said Joe Gibbs, owner of Joe
Gibbs Racing. “Not only is this a throwback paint scheme that we know the fans
will be excited for, but it is with a sponsor that has a tremendous history in
our sport. This is our 25thAnniversary season at Joe Gibbs Racing
and I know it is the 70thAnniversary of Tide. They really are a
historic brand in our country and their new partnership with Joe Gibbs Racing
for Darlington is a real honor.”
Bubba To Wheel Mark Martin Throwback At Darlington
Bubba Wallace’s
No. 6 Ford Mustang will carry a Retro 1990-91 throwback scheme that mirrors the
colors of NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Mark Martin’s No. 6 Ford Thunderbird. The
paint scheme also pays homage to Ford Motor Company, who has provided
manufacturing support to Roush Fenway since it launched its NASCAR operation in
1988 and has worked hand-in-hand with iconic team owner Jack Roush since the
late 1960s.
“I’m really
excited to run this paint scheme at Darlington,” said Wallace. “I think it will
be one of the best looking schemes on the track that weekend. Everybody knows
about Mark Martin’s accomplishments in NASCAR and his importance to the legacy
of Roush Fenway. He’s going into the Hall of Fame this year and it’s really an
honor to run this scheme on our car at Darlington.”
Martin led 1,111 laps, won four races and
posted 40 Top-10 finishes during the 1990 and 1991 seasons, with sponsorship
from Folger’s Coffee. He finished second in the Sprint Cup point standings
during the 1990 season and sixth in 1991.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing that
car back out on the track,” said Martin, who won 35 Cup races driving for Roush
Fenway. “We really started to hit our stride during that time and it was great
to go to the race track every week knowing that we had a chance to win and that
we were competing for championships at the highest level.”
Monday, August 15, 2016
Stenhouse Unveils Clauson Tribute Paint Scheme
Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
will pay tribute to his friend, the late Bryan Clauson, this weekend at Bristol
Motor Speedway by running the Fastenal scheme that Clauson raced during the
2008 NASCAR XFINITY Series season.
“It will be a huge
honor to run the same Fastenal scheme that Bryan raced in 2008,” Stenhouse
said. “This past week has been difficult for many but it has been great to see
the racing community join together to support Bryan’s family, friends and
Lauren. Bryan was one of my best friends and hopefully we can ‘parked it’ in
victory lane on Saturday for Bryan.”
In 2008, Fastenal
served as the primary partner for Clauson’s No. 40 Chip Ganassi machine. In his
21 starts, he scored one pole award at Daytona International Speedway and one
top-five and two top-10 finishes.
“Ricky
approached us last week about the opportunity to honor Bryan at Bristol by
running the paint scheme we ran with him in 2008,” said Brooke Misna, vice
president of marketing. “We thought it was an admirable tribute to someone we
looked at as a valued member of the Blue Team.”
In
seven starts at the World’s Fastest Half-Mile, the two-time NXS champion has
scored two Top-5 and three Top-10 finishes. Stenhouse earned his best career
finish at Bristol Motor Speedway in 2014 finishing second behind former Roush
Fenway teammate Carl Edwards, after an unexpected caution flag flew with two
laps remaining, followed by a rain shower.
COMMENTARY: NASCAR Backed Into A New Corner
For the second
time this season, NASCAR may be on the verge of instituting a new rule,
mandating nothing more than common sense.
NASCAR executive
vice president and chief racing development officer Steve O’Donnell said last
week that the sanctioning body is considering a new addition to its already
voluminous rule book, outlawing (or at least reining-in) post-race victory
celebrations. O’Donnell’s comments came less than 24 hours after Watkins Glen
winner Denny Hamlin appeared to intentionally destroy the rear end of his
winning Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, smoking the rear tires until they exploded and
tore away much of the car’s rear bodywork.
O’Donnell called Hamlin’s exuberance “a trend we don’t like to
see,’’ acknowledging widespread speculation that recent incidents of
tire blowing and body shredding are less about happiness and more about the
desire to mask subtle rule violations.
“We want to see a celebration,
and we think that drivers can celebrate without doing that,” said O’Donnell. “So
you’ll probably see us -- sooner than later -- put something in place that
covers us for that. We’re talking to a lot of the teams about it, and I think
everybody is on board with the direction we want to go in.’’
Unfortunately,
this is familiar territory for NASCAR. Just a few weeks ago, the sanctioning
body was strong-armed back into the lug nut enforcement business, after drivers
Tony Stewart and Greg Biffle publicly accused them of being soft on driver and
fan safety. The end result was cockamamie – and largely unenforceable -- rule
requiring all teams to have 20 lug nuts installed and secure, at all times.
Currently, section
8.5.2.1.c of the Sprint Cup Rule Book reads; “the first-place vehicle may engage in appropriate celebratory activity
(such as a victory lap, burn-out(s) or donuts) prior to reporting to victory
circle.” Now, it appears that additional, more specific language may need to
be crafted, prohibiting the winning jockey from entering Victory Lane at the
Kentucky Derby, then shooting Secretariat in celebration.
Despite O’Donnell’s assertion
that everyone in the Sprint Cup Series garage is “on board” with the proposed
new decree, an informal survey of drivers and crew chiefs at Watkins Glen
International revealed that most actually oppose the proposed rule change. This,
despite veiled admissions that post-race victory celebrations do indeed include
a healthy dose of evidence tampering.
Last October, after Kevin
Harvick buzzed his tires to the point of failure at Dover, Hamlin spoke openly about the tactic, saying, “We all know
what we’re doing. Nothing we do is without merit. As drivers, we know when a
tire is about to blow and sometimes, we continue to put the throttle to it. The
winner is the only one that’s able to damage his car after the race, without it
being too obvious.”
Former series champion
Brad Keselowski sang a similar
tune, saying, ‘I’ve definitely blown tires out (on purpose). I think every
driver has done something to do some kind of damage to their car.’’
Clearly, there’s more happening
here than simple celebration. And the longer NASCAR declines to act, the more
exaggerated the post-race donuts will become. As they always do, teams will
continue to push the competitive envelope until the sanctioning body steps in
to pull back on the reins.
It’s really quite silly.
At the risk of sounding like
Walter Matthau in the movie “Grumpy Old Men,” I remember the days when
post-race victory celebrations included a lap with the checkered flag in hand,
followed by some champagne spraying and the kissing of a Trophy Queen in the
Winner’s Circle. Everyone seemed happy, but none felt the need to express their
joy by destroying the winning car.
Today, however, when the
difference between victory and defeat is often measured in 10,000ths of an
inch, self-restraint has become passe’. Now, it’s all about “burning them down”
and backing the car into the nearest concrete wall, in an effort to mask the
subtle (and probably illegal) modifications that brought it to Victory Lane in
the first place.
With the 2016 Chase
for the NASCAR Sprint Cup just a few short weeks away, NASCAR appears ready to
act, joining the NFL – dubbed the “No Fun League” for its hard line on all
things celebratory – by outlawing post-race hijinks and mandating simple common
sense.
Soon enough, they’ll
be taking undamaged cars to the NASCAR Research and Development Center for
Monday morning inspection, and Secretariat will live to run another day.
Friday, August 12, 2016
Penske Expands Xfinity Program For 2017
Team Penske will return its NASCAR
Xfinity Series operation to a two-car Ford Mustang effort in 2017. The second
Team Penske entry will serve as a Ford Performance driver development program
as both organizations continue to build for the future.
“Our NASCAR XFINITY Series
program has been one of the best in the series since we started running
full-time in 2009,” said team owner Roger Penske. “For several years, we
ran it as a two-car operation and then decided to focus primarily on the No. 22
for the last few years. Along the way, we developed a lot of people that
have moved into our Cup programs, including all of our current NASCAR Sprint
Cup crew chiefs. We want to win another XFINITY Series Championship while
continuing to utilize our program to build human capital.”
Team Penske’s NXS program ran
sparingly between 2001 and 2008, winning nine races with drivers Ryan Newman
and Kurt Busch. The team began competing full-time in 2009 and earned the
NXS Driver’s Championship with Brad Keselowski in 2010. Since joining
Ford in 2013, Team Penske has earned 29 XFINITY Series wins and has won
back-to-back-to-back NXS Owners’ Championships.
“Obviously, we’ve really
enjoyed our relationship with Team Penske and the success that they’ve brought
to the Ford family in the NASCAR XFINITY Series,” said Dave Pericak, Director
of Ford Performance. “The addition of a second Team Penske XFINITY Series car
will allow all of us to work on developing talent behind the wheel and across
the board.
A driver and sponsorship for
the team’s second Ford entry will be announced at a later date.
Wednesday, August 10, 2016
Johnson Unveils Darlington Throwback, Honoring Earnhardt and Pearson
Hendrick Motorsports and
driver Jimmie Johnson will salute NASCAR Hall Of Famers David Pearson and Dale
Earnhardt, Sr., in this year’s Bojangles Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on
Labor Day Weekend.
Johnson will campaign a throwback paint scheme that pays tribute to the No. 2
Chevrolet driven by the pair in 1979.
Earnhardt was a rookie that season,
driving for car owner Rod Osterlund. When he suffered an injury during the
season, Pearson replaced him and drove a Lowe’s-sponsored car to a runner-up
finish at Talladega Superspeedway on August
5.
Pearson made three additional starts in the car as Earnhardt convalesced, winning
the Southern 500 in his final start.
Tuesday, August 09, 2016
Moffitt Gets Three More Races With Red Horse Racing
Brett Moffitt will
return to the No. 11 Red Horse Racing Toyota Tundra for the next three NASCAR
Camping World Truck Series events at Bristol Motor Speedway, Michigan
International Speedway and Canadian Tire Motorsports Park.
"Brett has done a
great job in the No. 11 so far and we're glad to welcome him back to the team
for the next three races," said team owner Tom DeLoach. "Hopefully we
can continue to ride the momentum that Scott Zipadelli and the team have built
and get to Victory Lane."
Moffitt has driven the
No. 11 Tundra twice this season, once at Kentucky Speedway where an engine
failure ended his day early after a strong run, and also at Pocono Raceway,
where the 24-year-old finished third.
"I'm excited to
get back in the No. 11 Tundra," said Moffitt. "I feel like this is a
great opportunity and we're on the right track to keep improving and get some
strong finishes."
The 2015 NASCAR
Sprint Cup Series Rookie of the Year has 38 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts,
one XFINITY Series start and four in the Camping World Truck Series.
Kock, Kaulig Racing To Honor Waltrip At Darlington
Joining the celebration to
honor history at Darlington Raceway, Kaulig Racing will don its usual
LeafFilter green with a special twist, paying tribute to Darrell Waltrip's
1981-82 No. 11 Mountain Dew Buick Regal during the NASCAR XFINITY Series VFW Sport
Clips Help a Hero 200 on September 3rd.
Of Waltrip's 84 career NASCAR Cup
Series wins, 24 came with the Mountain Dew paint scheme, including the CRC
Chemicals Rebel 500 at Darlington in 1981. Waltrip went on to win his first
series championship in 1981 and defended the crown in `82, both with Mountain
Dew onboard his Buick.
"Running this paint
scheme at Darlington is a huge honor for us at Kaulig Racing as well as those of
us at LeafFilter," Matt Kaulig, Owner of Kaulig Racing says. "Darrell
Waltrip is a true icon in the sport of NASCAR, and his success in the Mountain
Dew paint scheme makes it extremely recognizable to both those in the
racing industry and fans new and old. In 2015, Darlington Raceway
delivered on its first 'throwback' themed Labor Day weekend, and we're
excited to be apart of this year's celebration that's guaranteed to be even
bigger."
Waltrip is tied for fifth with
Bobby Allison, Bill Elliott and Cale Yarborough on the track's all-time win
list, and Koch hopes the luck of the No. 11 helps to add his name to the list
of first time winners at the "Track Too Tough to Tame."
"It is an awesome feeling
to be a part of something as cool as the throwback weekend at Darlington,"
Koch says. "It's even cooler to be able to run a Darrell Waltrip paint
scheme, a driver who is a legend in our sport. He had a ton of success during
his career in the No.11, hopefully we can continue that trend."
Wednesday, August 03, 2016
Stewart Salutes Allison With Darlington Paint Scheme
Stewart Haas Racing announced today that former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart will salute legendary Hall Of Famer Bobby Allison in the Bojangles Southern 500 at Darlington (SC) Raceway on Labor Day Weekend.
Stewart and SHR unveiled a special red-and-gold Allison tribute car today, which Stewart will drive in this year's race.
The 1971 and 1972 Southern 500s were owned by Bobby Allison. The Hueytown, Alabama native proved to be “The Real Thing” at Darlington, driving his red-and-gold Coca-Cola machine to back-to-back victories at the tough and gritty South Carolina track.
Allison dominated from start-to-finish in both races on the 1.366-mile oval, starting from the pole and leading 558 of 734 total laps (76 percent). He paced the field for all but 38 laps in the 1971 Southern 500 and led a race-high 229 laps in the 1972 Southern 500. The victories were the first of five premiere series wins Allison earned at Darlington.
Stewart will try to emulate Allison’s 1971 and 1972 performances when he competes at Darlington on Sept. 4, in his final Southern 500. Driving a No. 14 Coca-Cola Chevrolet SS that will match the paint scheme Allison drove to those epic wins, Stewart will certainly look the part. With Coca-Cola’s tagline of that era, “The Real Thing”, emblazoned on the car, the authentic look from Allison’s race-winning cars has been recreated on Stewart’s Chevrolet, right down to the gold wheels and cubic-inch displacement boast on the hood.
“I’ve been a member of the Coca-Cola Racing Family for my entire NASCAR career and been a part of some pretty cool and unique promotions, but this one is definitely my favorite,” said Stewart, who will retire following the season finale Nov. 20 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. “The throwback weekend Darlington has created makes it the perfect place to run a scheme that has a ton of history with Bobby Allison and Coca-Cola.”
Stewart is a three-time NASCAR premiere series champion with 49 career victories. Allison is the 1983 NASCAR premiere series champion with 85 career victories. Allison is in the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Stewart is a first-ballot lock for the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
“Those red-and-gold Coca-Cola cars were very good to me,” said Allison, who was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2011, the same year Stewart won his third premiere series championship. “From 1970 through 1975, Coca-Cola was on my car and we won a lot of races. We won 11 races in ‘71, the most I ever had in a single season, and then we came back to win 10 more in ‘72. And that first win at Darlington – it was such a tough track and such a long race – it meant so much.
“Tony Stewart is a real racer who would’ve fit right in during the time I raced in NASCAR. He’s a perfect fit for this Coca-Cola Chevy. I know what car I’ll be watching in the Southern 500.”
Darlington is one of only two venues where Stewart is winless in NASCAR’s top division. In 23 career premier series starts at the track, Stewart’s best finish is a third in the 2009 and 2012 Southern 500s.
“Races at Darlington have been pretty tough for me,” Stewart said. “We’ve had some decent runs there, but it just seems like you really have to put everything together the whole day. If you can say you won a race at Darlington – that’s a feather in your cap because you conquered something that’s very hard to obtain. That’s something to be proud of, knowing that you’re in a group of drivers with names like Allison and Pearson and Petty – the pioneers of our sport.”
Coca-Cola, with a NASCAR lineage that goes back more than 50 years, has been a part of Stewart’s NASCAR career since his rookie season in 1999.
“We are humbled by moments like today when two of NASCAR’s most respected drivers come together over an iconic car emblazoned with our brand,” said Ben Reiling, director, sports marketing, Coca-Cola North America. “Together, we commemorate Coca-Cola's role within NASCAR and honor and celebrate Bobby Allison and Tony Stewart for what they stand for in the history of motorsports."
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