Jay Beasley Sees D4D Opportunity as Dream Come True
For 21 year old Jay Beasley, himself a track champion in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Super Late Model at The Bullring at Las Vegas, being chosen for the 2014 Drive for Diversity Class is nothing short of a dream come true.
“It’s amazing and I’ve been thinking about this my whole life being in NASCAR,” Beasley said. “For NASCAR to look at me and want me to be in this D4D family is a huge recognition.”
“It feels really amazing and it’s a blessing.”
Beasley was born and raised in Las Vegas and loves racing in the area. In addition to his home town track championship, he has also won the Series Nevada championship with eight victories in 14 starts. In addition, the young up and comer was the recipient of the 2013 Wendell Scott Trailblazer Award due to his early successes on the track.
“I love Las Vegas,” Beasley said. “It’s really cool racing out on the west coast.”
“The Bull Ring is a really tough track,” Beasley continued. “It seems like having that track under my belt helps me out at every other track that I go to.”
While Beasley is perfectly at home and has had great success at the Vegas Bull Ring, he will now be challenged to race in the K&N Pro Series East for Rev Racing on tracks where he has never been before in his life.
“I’ve only been on one track back east and that’s Langley for the combine,” Beasley said. “So, I’m really, really green. Everything is new to me.”
“This year, I’m really excited to be going to these different tracks and to be racing in the K&N East Series,” Beasley continued. “Everything is going to be different and I actually get a kick out of that and it fires me up even more.”
“I have to adapt quickly and be on the ball, because if I’m not, I’m going to struggle.”
Beasley is also looking to adapt to his team and is already hard at work on establishing that critical relationship with them, as well as crew chief Eddie Dickerson.
“My crew chief has been in the sport for a really long time, has worked for Hendrick, and has built a whole bunch of chasses,” Beasley said. “Everyone that is in the Rev Racing program has been in the NASCAR family for quite some time. So, when you get picked, it’s truly an honor to be working with these people because they have so much knowledge.”
“Coming into the shop and working with the guys, you are learning and gaining a relationship every day,” Beasley continued. “It’s really amazing.”
While Beasley admits that there are many racing idols that he looks up to, he is also committed to being his own individual on the track, as well as creating his own unique style and brand.
“I look at a lot of drivers and there are just things about drivers that make them who they are,” Beasley said. “Like Jimmie Johnson, he has won so many championships and he is so level-headed. Clint Bowyer is really a crazy guy but he’s himself and is not trying to put on a façade. Then you have the Busch boys and they are bad and then they are good and trying to be better and they’re fast.”
“I’m excited to change the sport and put some Jay Beasley into it and to make a name for myself and to put my brand out there.”
“My brand is going to be the Michael Jordan of NASCAR,” Beasley continued. “That means that I can have any age kid want to be like me. Or I can give them a good way to look at life, not just racing.”
“I just want to open people’s minds about racing and the passion for it,” Beasley said. “It’s not about the money or the fame because when you get into that race car, you are in bliss. You’re happy and you do it because you love to do it.”
“You’re not there to make it into the fame but to do it because it feels good in your heart,” Beasley continued. “That’s how I feel. Being in that race car is like that oxygen. For me to survive and for me to live, I need to be in that race car or I’m not living.”
“That’s just the way it is.”
Beasley has clear goals for 2014, as well as bringing balance to what he knows will be a challenging season.
“My goals for 2014 would be to finish every race and not get wrecked out,” Beasley said. “To get top-10s and top-5s and to even win a couple races would be amazing. To adapt and to be in the shop every day with my guys working on the car and working out are all goals to write down and keep digging on.”
“This is going to be more exciting to me,” Beasley continued. “I will have to take one day at a time, have fun and enjoy what’s going on.”
“I will have to really stop and smell the roses because this doesn’t happen every day,” Beasley said. “I’m just really excited and I need to thank NASCAR and everyone getting ready for the season so we can do what we love to do.”
The Final Word – Did Matt Kenseth’s 2003 title run ruin NASCAR?
Matt Kenseth ruined NASCAR. He did not mean to do it, and we did not know at the time that he did, but it would seem his single win 2003 championship changed everything. Maybe if his personality was more like a Busch, a Harvick, or a Stewart, who would answer such criticism with a simple “kiss my ass” it might have been different. It was also the season Ryan Newman won eight races, but was a distant sixth in the standings.
Of course, the Chase was supposed to be the remedy. That was before we discovered that NASCAR had no interest in determining who was the best over the course of the season, but rather sought a gimmick to keep people watching to the end. A final four with winner take all, with wins being the determining factor, is now supposed to be the answer. This ignores the fact that a driver can still go winless, make the final four, and finish third at Homestead and win it all. So, the season crown could wind up being meaningless, no matter what legend might come out and parrot the company line.
Maybe a three race playoff, featuring the three track configurations (short, long, and road) and only those 16 drivers (or whatever cut off line they determine) taking part might be a more legitimate solution. Then again, one driver could win the first two and then we are back to a meaningless season finale.
Still, 2003’s result started the changes. What if we had a system at that time which rewarded wins, Top Fives, and Top Tens more? Might that have changed things? The new points system was a good start, so rather than reinvent the wheel let us start with that. I thought giving up 70 or 75 points for a win, extra for Top Fives and Top Tens might do the trick. I mean, close to 40 points between first and 11th should have altered the landscape somewhat, at least enough to close the gap back in 2003.
Actually, it would not. Kenseth, who lost an engine and was dead last at Homestead that year, would have finished well ahead of Jimmie Johnson and Newman. Kenseth was just too consistent, consistently high that is, to be caught as this system would have rewarded the eventual champion for his 25 Top Tens that year. So, what if we only gave the steroid treatment for wins, and leave everything else the same?
Just how many points should a win be worth? 65…70…75…more? In doing so, might we also be able to see at least one contender within 30 or so points from the leader going into the final race of the season? Hey, if it ticks all the boxes, including the “game seven” moment desired by Mr. France, so much the better, but with no gimmicks and no Chase.
Here are what the standings would have looked like going into Homestead for the season finale based on those numbers for 2003, 2011, 2012, and 2013. Do any of them tickle your own fancy? Do any of them identify a champion you would recognize as the very best on that particular season?
| 2003 | Wins | 65 pts | 70 pts | 75 pts |
| Newman | 8 | 1263 | 1303 | 1343 |
| Kenseth | 1 | 1252 | 1257 | 1262 |
| Johnson | 3 | 1214 | 1229 | 1244 |
Awarding the winner a maximum 65 points, 2003 would have seen Ryan Newman entering Homestead with an 11 point lead over Matt Kenseth. Increase the winner’s total to 70, and Newman’s eight win season would have jumped him 46 points ahead. At 75, he would have had it already won, going in 81 points on top.
| 2011 | Wins | 65 pts | 70 pts | 75 pts |
| Edwards | 1 | 1251 | 1256 | 1261 |
| Harvick | 4 | 1231 | 1251 | 1271 |
| Stewart | 4 | 1212 | 1232 | 1252 |
In 2011, Tony Stewart beat Carl Edwards in the Chase by win totals (5-to-1). Had they awarded up to 65 points for a win, Edwards would have entered Homestead 20 points up on Kevin Harvick, with Stewart 39 behind. At 70, the gap narrows to just 5 points, with Smoke 24 in arrears, while at 75, Harvick is up by ten and Stewart within 19 of the leader. Stewart’s Homestead win could have given him the title over Edwards by 1, 6, or 11 points.
| 2012 | Wins | 65 pts | 70 pts | 75 pts |
| Keselowski | 5 | 1315 | 1340 | 1365 |
| Johnson | 5 | 1307 | 1332 | 1357 |
2012 was claimed by Brad Keselowski via the Chase, but as both he and Johnson were tied in wins, Keselowski would have entered Homestead up by eight points regardless.
| 2013 | Wins | 65 pts | 70 pts | 75 pts |
| Johnson | 6 | 1315 | 1345 | 1375 |
| Kenseth | 7 | 1267 | 1302 | 1337 |
That brings us to last season when Johnson went into Homestead with the advantage but with Kenseth having one more win to his credit. Award up to 65 points per win, and Johnson leads by 48 points. By 70, and the lead is cut to 43. Award the victor up to 75 points, and we have a 38 point gap.
If wins mean almost everything, then as long as the challenger has a hope for the title with a win at Homestead, we should be satisfied. By awarding the winner 69 or 70 points for victory, the gap between first and second would be between 25 and 28 points, depending on race bonuses. In 2003, Kenseth would still have claimed the crown with a victory as long as Newman finished no better than 22nd. In 2011, Stewart would have won the title with a win, no matter what Edwards did that day. The same goes for Johnson in 2012 against Keselowski. Last season, a Kenseth win and a Johnson finish of no better than 18th would have given Matt his second championship.
No gimmicks. No Chase. Sometimes game seven moments are not to be. Win 27 races, like Richard Petty did in 1967, and you just hand the sceptre to the King. No other result would have been acceptable.
What do you think?
NOTES FROM THE NASCAR NATION: An Edict From King Richard
Richard Petty comes from a generation that believes honesty is always the best policy. This generation is famous for saying what they mean and meaning what they say. If you ask the King of stock car racing any question in the world his response may not necessarily be what you expected to hear, but you can count on the fact that it will be double dipped in honesty.
Such was the case back on February 10th when Richard Petty was making a personal appearance, north of our border, at the Canadian Motorsports Expo in Toronto.
During a scheduled Q & A session, covered by the “Toronto Star Wheels.ca” and “Raceline Radio,” the King was asked if he thought driver Danica Patrick was capable of winning a NASCAR Sprint Cup race. Without a seconds worth of hesitation Petty quipped, “Only if everybody else stayed home.”
Anyone who has ever met Richard Petty already knows that this comment was not intended to be mean spirited. It was an honest answer to an honest question as well as another moment from the say what you mean and mean what you say generation.
Taking the issue to a more positive light, Petty did concede that Patrick’s presence in NASCAR Sprint Cup racing has created a positive impact on the sport and further commented.
“If she had been a male, nobody would ever know if she’d showed up at a race track. This is a female thing that’s driving her. There’s nothing wrong with that because it’s good public relations. More fans come out; people are more interested in it. She has helped draw attention to the sport, which helps everybody in the sport.”
Petty also conceded that the sport has changed tremendously over the years and NASCAR is no longer just about the racing. From NASCAR’s inception, back in the late 1940’s, to the early 1970’s, the racing was absolutely at the forefront. It was a proverbial case of man and machine being pushed to the limit to earn the right to visit victory lane. It was also a time when many of the top tier NASCAR teams, such as Petty Enterprises, were financially supported by America’s big three automakers.
However, the wind of change blew in the 1970’s and the concept of placing a corporate logo on the hood of a race car became mandatory. With that came the necessary process of the driver becoming involved with sponsor promotions, team public relations and personal appearances at race tracks to help ticket sales, along with the endless stream of press interviews.
The fact of the matter was that all of a sudden NASCAR driver’s commitments out of the car had practically overtaken their commitment to performance levels while inside of the car.
During his appearance in Toronto, Petty pointed out that the element of promoting the sports has moved to the forefront and said “the first thing you know is that the race is secondary, because all the rest of it is build up, build up, build up.”
The King even compared modern day NASCAR Sprint Cup racing to the NFL’s Super Bowl saying “it was a little more exciting watching the buildup than watching the game. The game just happened to break out in the middle of a good party. We’re not quite that far along but in order for us to do what we need to do on race day, the sponsorship and the fan stuff, we have to do all this other stuff.”
As many NASCAR fans are aware, this is not the first time someone named Petty publicly questioned Danica Patrick’s ability to win a race. Kyle Petty, former Sprint Cup driver turned television analyst, took the lady driver to task on national television in June of last year. Kyle Petty, like his famous father, is someone else who will always give an honest answer to any question.
Kyle Petty conceded that Danica Patrick is one of the most recognizable names in NASCAR racing and referred to her as a “marketing machine, someone who’s a hot commodity and rightfully so. I have to problem with that-more power to her,” he said.
Then, he tackled the issue of Patrick’s win potential in the Sprint Cup Series by saying, “Danica Patrick has been the perfect example of somebody who can qualify better than what she runs. She can go fast, but she can’t race. I think she’s come a long way, but she’s still not a race car driver and I don’t think she’s ever going to be a race car driver.”
Responding to that criticism, Patrick at first said she didn’t care what Kyle Petty thinks and then later thanked him for providing her with some additional “personal motivation.”
That now brings the question full circle. Can Danica Patrick win in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series? Many observers of the sport will say the Petty’s are correct and we should not expect to see her parking a race car in victory lane.
Yet, you almost have to at least concede to the possibility. After all, NASCAR racing is a sport that often provides late race surprises. The upcoming Daytona 500 is a perfect example.
Last year, at Daytona, Danica Patrick made NASCAR history by becoming the first female to win a Sprint Cup pole. She spent much of the great American race running in the top ten and finished eighth.
Pessimists will be quick to point out that the 2013 Daytona 500 was the only top ten finish that Patrick scored during her rookie Cup season. Optimists will say that she clearly displayed a flair for Daytona style restrictor plate racing and is more than capable of being the next driver to pull off a last lap Daytona surprise.
If that unexpected win comes to pass, then expect to see King Richard Petty, complete with his famous grin, arriving at victory lane to shake her hand.
Gary McLean reflects back on his second OSCAAR Modified Championship
The 2012 season marked the inaugural season of the OSCAAR Hanover Holiday Modifieds and Gary McLean went out and flat out dominated on his way to winning the championship. Last season, McLean once again went out with the same goal in mind and succeeded – scoring five wins and 11 top fives – for his second straight OSCAAR Championship.
In reflecting back on the championship run at the Canadian Motorsports Expo, McLean said that this past year was certainly tougher than 2012.
“But that’s what you expect,” McLean added. “You help the kids and get them better because you want to race the best guys.”
The Conn native kicked last season off like he kicked last year by winning the season opener at Sunset Speedway after leading all 30 laps. He’d then back the win up with a second at Barrie Speedway, followed by a third at Delaware Speedway. A return trip to Sunset Speedway brought forth McLean a solid fourth place finish, followed by an 11th place finish the next night after suffering damage in an early race incident.
The only DNF of McLean’s season would come at Flamboro Speedway when a mid-race wreck saw McLean’s modified sustain heavy front end damage.
