NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Talladega

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October 9, 2012

[media-credit name=”Credit: Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR” align=”alignright” width=”225″][/media-credit]Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

1. Brad Keselowski: Keselowski survived the last-lap pileup at Talladega intact and finished seventh. He remained on top of the Sprint Cup point standings and leads Jimmie Johnson by 14.

“It appears Lady Luck is on my side,” Keselowski said. “How else can you explain how I emerged from that mess with a seventh-place finish? So what you will, but I’ll never again complain about ‘women’ drivers.”

2. Jimmie Johnson: Johnson’s No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet was one of several cars damaged in Talladega’s “Big One,” triggered by Tony Stewart on the final lap. Johnson is still second in the point standings, and now trails Brad Keselowski by 14.

“My car was so damaged,” Johnson said, “I had to hitch a ride back to the pits with Dale Earnhardt, Jr. That was the first time a champion’s been in that car.”

3. Denny Hamlin: Hamlin finished 11^th in the Good Sam Roadside Assistance 500, one of the few cars that escaped the final lap melee unscathed. He held on to the third spot in the point standings, and is 20 behind Brad Keselwoski.

“I lost my rear view mirror about midway through Sunday’s race,” Hamlin said. “Luckily, it was replaceable, because I couldn’t see myself winning without it.

4. Jeff Gordon: Gordon led seven laps at Talladega and finished second, after navigating through the carnage that ensued when Tony Stewart was clipped by Michael Waltrip. Gordon now has three runner-up finishes in the Chase, but has made little ground in the point standings.

“It appears that, despite solid finishes,” Gordon said, “I won’t be able to make up much ground in the Chase. I’m sure some will argue that the Chase format needs more tweaking to reward cases such as mine. And I would be the first to ‘second’ that emotion.”

5. Matt Kenseth: Kenseth won in a wild finish at Talladega, pulling away for the victory as chaos reigned behind him. It was his second win of the season following his triumph at Daytona in February.

“That’s two superspeedway wins for me in which I persevered despite major incidents,” Kenseth said. “First it was Juan Montoya starting a fire, then it was Tony Stewart starting a wreck. Just call me the ‘Master Of Disaster.’

“It was shaping up to be a close finish, but after the crash, I ended up winning easily. With respect to my contract with Joe Gibbs Racing, you could say I won ‘going away.’”

6. Clint Bowyer: Bowyer was in position to compete for the win in the closing moments at Talladega, but was collected in the “Big One,” triggered when Tony Stewart was turned while trying to move in front of Michael Waltrip.

“A win was in our sights,” Bowyer said, “and would have been a big lift to our championship hopes. As it was, Tony Stewart got a ‘lift,’ in the air and on my hood.

7. Tony Stewart: Stewart was leading on the final lap at Talladega, but with Michael Waltrip fast approaching, Stewart tried to move in front of the No. 55. It didn’t work, Stewart spun, and much of the field was affected in the pileup. Stewart finished 22^nd, and is now 43 out of first in the point standings.

“I take full responsibility for the wreck,” Stewart said. “I said as much when I took to social media to explain on my new Twitter account, ‘@fault.’

“As you have heard, I’ve secure sponsorship from Bass Pro Shops for 18 races in 2013. I’m thrilled. I can’t wait until next year, when I can qualify first for a race and proudly proclaim it a ‘fishing pole.’”

8. Kasey Kahne: Kahne started on the pole and finished 13^th after a wild, last-lap crash that saw Tony Stewart’s No. 14 Chevy on the hood of Kahne’s No. 5 Chevy. Kahne moved up two spots to fourth in the point standings, and is 37 out of first.

“Aric Almirola handed out 600 pounds of bacon to celebrate Gwaltney’s sponsorship of the No. 43 car,” Kahne said. “Interestingly enough, I later gave Stewart a ‘piggy-back’ ride on Sunday.”

9. Kevin Harvick: Harvick was battling up front, with a good chance to win, when the inevitable struck at Talladega. When the dust had cleared, Harvick had an 11^th-place finish.

“The Good Sam Roadside Assistance 500 certainly lived up to his name,” Harvick said. “At least the ‘Roadside Assistance” part. Kurt Busch lived up to the name, as well, at least the ‘Roadside Ass’ part.”

10. Dale Earnhardt, Jr.: Earnhardt finished 21^st after order was restored in the aftermath of a massive final-lap crash that left much of the field in wrecked cars. Earnhardt is now 11^th in the point standings, 58 out of first.

“Despite the damage to my car,” Earnhardt said, “I was still able to give Jimmie Johnson a ride back to the pits. It felt good to be able to return the favor, because Jimmie’s ‘carried’ this team for so long.

“Drivers may not like it, but fans love racing at Talladega. And I’m all about giving the fans what they want, as long as it’s overpriced merchandise bearing my likeness and not wins.”

CHEVY NSCS AT CHARLOTTE TWO: Team Chevy Advance

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SM Archive

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October 9, 2012

PROFOX Introduces Lightweight Nomex Race Suit with Certified SFI-15 Protection

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SM Staff

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October 9, 2012

As a leader in fire resistant race gear, PROFOX has always positioned safety and satisfaction at the top of their priorities. Living by the motto “He who races and walks away, lives to race another day” has inspired PROFOX to provide their customers with cutting-edge enhancements in safety, style and comfort. The latest addition to their product line is another shining example of this pursuit of perfection.

The PROFOX 15 Two Piece SFI 15 Race Suit was designed with the challenge of providing superior burn protection while offering maximum comfort and mobility. Made with 100% soft knit multi-layer Nomex fiber and bound with box quilt stitching, the PROFOX 15 actually exceeds the Thermal Protection Performance (TPP) required by the SFI Foundation for 3.2A/15 certification.

The SFI Foundation is a nonprofit organization that issues performance standards for the majority of racing safety apparel used throughout the world. The TPP values on SFI race gear indicate the estimated amount of time a driver has until second degree burns develop in a gasoline fire situation. The minimum TPP for 3.2A/15 suits is 60, which is equivalent to 30 seconds of escape time. The PROFOX 15 suit features a TPP of 68, providing drivers with 34 seconds of escape time. This additional 4 seconds can make a big difference in “walking away” from a fiery crash.

Beyond safety, comfort is often the next important consideration for those exploring racing suit options. Here is another category where the PROFOX 15 shines. The soft Nomex fabric creases easily, allowing it to bend in all the right areas, and the expandable rear waistband delivers a customized fit. The innovative 360 degree shoulder gussets provide racers with increased flexibility and airflow in the shoulder region, while the boot cut pants and concealed Nomex cuffs keep legs comfortably mobile.

Of course price is always a concern with racing gear, and many drivers don’t feel they can’t afford a racing suit with premium features like the PROFOX 15. But compared to the largest brands in the industry, PROFOX’s selection is surprisingly affordable, even for the weekend racer. PROFOX tirelessly manages their production and supply logistics to keep costs down for their customers. The result is a collection of Genuine SFI Certified Racing Suits at prices that are best-in-class.

Now is the time to upgrade your safety apparel and experience the comfort and performance of PROFOX Premium Race Gear. For more information visit http://www.profoxracing.com or follow them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/profoxracing .

About PROFOX Racing:

Based in Toluca Lake, California, PROFOX Racing Inc. is a leading supplier of Genuine SFI Certified racing suits and other racing apparel such as gloves, underwear and shoes. For nearly 10 years, PROFOX has outfitted racers of dirt tracks, paved tracks, drag strips, and karting with high performance race gear that exceeds SFI requirements. For more information please visit http://www.profoxracing.com/about.html

About SFI:

The SFI Foundation, Inc. (SFI) is a non-profit organization established to issue and administer standards for performance automotive and racing equipment. The SFI specification for driver uniforms, spec 3.2A, rates how long a racing suit offers protection from second degree burns in an approximation of a fully involved gasoline fire between 1800 and 2100 degrees. For more information please visit http://www.sfifoundation.com

PROFOX Racing Inc.
Toluca Lake, CA 91602

1-888-776-3695

www.profoxracing.com

Kligerman finally gets to lay claim to a CWTS Victory Lane

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SM Staff

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October 9, 2012

[media-credit name=”Credit: Chris Graythen/Getty Images for NASCAR” align=”alignright” width=”230″][/media-credit]By taking the checkered flag and firmly planting it in the Talladega infield on Saturday afternoon, Parker Kligerman put to rest two worries he’s been carrying around for quite a while.

Kligerman won’t be going anywhere, anytime soon. The last few months he’s feared that his time in NASCAR was going to be over. Thanks to conquering his second worry, winning a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) race. Saturday at Talladega he was finally in the right place at the right time, earning the win as the caution fell on the final lap when a wreck broke out on the backstretch.

“It’s been a long road to get to this victory. Two different teams and a lot of adversity, but today I was put with some of the best people I’ve ever worked with and some of the best people I’ve ever raced with,” said Kligerman after the Freds 250 presented by Coca-Cola.

“It starts at the top with Tom DeLoach [team owner] and this whole Red Horse Racing team. My crew Chad Kendrick and this entire team that we assembled mid-season to go after this championship when my situation changed. From there we’ve been on fire I feel like.

“It was just a matter of time before we’d get that first win and I probably never dreamed that it would happen here just because I haven’t finished a superspeedway race without incident in about three years.”

Talladega might have been far from Kligerman’s mind but winning wasn’t. Entering Saturday he had led 153 laps on the season; he’d dominated races, won poles and consistently put himself in position for good things to happen.

Instead he’s been the bridesmaid five times – three occasions this season. So on Saturday he did it the hard way, starting ninth but fighting adversity. He wasn’t up front very much because of a slew of problems: a faulty battery, a vibration then a bad alternator.

“We were sitting back there and we had trouble all day and I said, ‘What the hell – let’s go for it.’ Jason [White] was the faster truck, pushed him up to the front and all of a sudden got that caution and were looking for five to go and thank you Timothy [Peters] and then eventually thank you to Johnny Sauter to make that possible.”

Sauter pushed Kligerman to the lead, where he led the final two laps. The victory was the first of his career, one that he’s been waiting for three years. One he thought would have come a lot sooner before things changed and he was soon in a different place. Gone from Brad Keselowski Racing and welcomed with open arms at Red Horse Racing.

Saturday was a long time coming for the driver, but for Red Horse it was their fifth win of the season in their 300th career CWTS start.

“When you get close to something so many times and don’t achieve it you can pick two paths. You can doubt yourself, you can doubt the situation you’re in,” said Kligerman about the journey. “You can doubt everything around you or you can keep yourself believing and keep your self-confidence and look at the positives of what you did to get yourself in that position each and every time and say, ‘Hey, if I can do that, it’s just a matter of time.’

“And, I feel like switching teams and all of the things that’s happened, this team gave me a ton of confidence.”

Kligerman and his Red Horse team quickly hit if off. Their first three races were three straight top four finishes. Followed by a pole the following week then another runner-up finish. Talladega was a big breakthrough.

Now the group moves towards trying to capture the championship, two of their drivers sit third – Timothy Peters – and fourth in points, Kligerman.

With four races remaining he believes he still has a shot at the championship, he’s only 34 points out of the lead. What a difference from a few months ago, when he was sitting top five in points but had yet to win a race, thought his team wasn’t on par with the competition and says his career path was going exactly as he thought it would.

Doubt starting to creep into his mind. Now Kligerman can say goodbye to that doubt, goodbye to that terrible statistic he once mentioned about finishing second. And instead, try to get used to saying hello to Victory Lane.

“I felt like my career was looking at a position where I was probably not going to be a part of NASCAR for much longer,” Kligerman revealed. “To come over here to Red Horse and have a reinvigoration of my career, I just can’t thank these guys enough and I can’t thank everyone else here enough for giving me that confidence.

“There is vindication because we won. Winning fixes everything you like to say and it’s fixing everything right here.”

Talladega Doesn’t Tighten Up Point Lead Battle, Does Condense Rest of Chase Field

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SM Staff

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October 9, 2012

Talladega Final Lap Wreck — A 25 car pileup takes place on the final lap of the Good Sam Roadside Assistance 500 at Talladega Superspeedway.

Talladega Superspeedway is always known as the wild card race in the Chase for the Sprint Cup schedule. Known as a nightmare for many teams, including those competing for the Sprint Cup championship, Talladega can shake up the standings quite a bit. Simply put, the fourth and final restrictor plate event can do one of two things: it can close the battle for the point lead or it can separate it.

Sunday, after 500 miles around the 2.66 mile superspeedway, the latter occurred.

Perhaps not to the liking of the folks in the NASCAR Daytona Beach offices, or to those looking for a tight championship battle, Talladega did not squeeze the battle for the points lead. In fact, it parted it.

With Brad Keselowski opening up a 14 point lead over Jimmie Johnson and Denny Hamlin sitting third in points, 23 points back, a close championship fight is not taking form – yet.

However, with Talladega falling earlier on the Chase schedule this season, more time is left on the schedule for the championship standings to tighten back up – and there is a good chance of this happening. With this is mind, perhaps the closest and tightest battle will not be for the championship, but for those who are arguably out of it.

Looking at the standings with six races remaining, it is clear that there are some gaps among the top three or four in the standings. However, following this gap, the point battle is quite close – and has some meaning and purpose.

Kasey Kahne, who is fourth in points, is on the bubble for his championship hopes with many already eliminating him from contention. That being a whole other issue, Kahne sits 36 points behind the leader. Thanks to NASCAR’s new point system, this is basically 36 positions behind the leader on track, 36 positions that need to be made up– obviously bonus points can make a difference and change this math slightly. Matt Kenseth, who currently finds himself 12th in the standings, is 62 points behind the leader. In relation to Kahne – fourth place in the standings – there is only a 26 point difference between the two. Dale Earnhardt Jr., who is 11th in points, is only 15 points behind fourth. The simple point is that while the point lead battle may not be close, the rest of the Chase field is stacked on top of each other.

With six races remaining, much is on the line for many of these teams. For some, it is the chance to redeem a bad start to the Chase, regain magic from earlier in the season, or end a long relationship with a team on a high note. It’s also about the bragging rights of the order in which speeches are made at the post-season banquet – or even earning a spot in the banquet lineup to begin with. Perhaps most importantly, it’s knowing that as long as there is a mathematical way of winning the championship, there is still a chance and still hope.

Regardless of how one looks at it, the battle for the point lead, while holding the most attention and deservingly so, is not the only storyline relating to points.

Besides, who knows? Maybe the 2012 Sprint Cup champion will come from one of “the rest.”