Race No. 7: Velocity Prairie Thunder presented by Bayer Crop Science at Auto Clearing Motor Speedway
The seventh race of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series schedule brings the series to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan to run the Velocity Prairie Thunder presented by Bayer Crop Science at Auto Clearing Motor Speedway.
It marks the only race of the schedule that’s not on a Saturday or Sunday, as the race will be run on Wednesday night. It’s scheduled mid-week to make the series’ west coast swing easier for the teams as most are based in Central Canada.
The last four races – including three ovals and one road course – have gone perfectly for D.J. Kennington as he won each of those races, becoming the first to win four races in a row in series history. As a result, the 2010 series champion currently lead the standings, 35 points over last year’s champion Scott Steckly. The likelihood of the streak continuing in Saskatoon is likely as Kennington, finished third in 2009, won in 2010, and finished runner-up last year to Pete Shepherd III. The 15-time race winner has a current streak going of eight straight top-five finishes and nine consecutive top 10s.
If Kennington can pull off his 16th career victory on Wedneday, he will break the tie between him and Andrew Ranger for the most wins in the series.
The only other past-race winner that will be running this year’s event is defending series champion Scott Steckly, who currently sits second in points to Kennington. The Milverton, Ontario driver is looking to get his first win of the 2012 season on Wednesday night.
“We want to win races and haven’t been able to get that done this year – yet,” says the pilot of the No. 22 Canadian Tire Dodge.
If he is going to have a chance at going back-to-back, he is going to catch Kennington and right now, Kennington is on a roll.
“That (Kennington) car has something figured out this year and we haven’t found it yet,” he says. “That’s how this sport goes, though. Someone finds something and we all chase it for a while. Then, we move on to the next thing.”
Last Sunday, Steckly dominated the race at Edmonton, though contact with J.R. Fitzpatrick took him out of the race late in the going.
“It was a disappointing end to the race. We had the best car on the track,” he says.
It was Saskatoon that put a damper in Steckly’s championship run last year after he finished 20th last year after suffering radiator damage early in the event. Before that, he won the race in 2009 and finished fourth in 2010. The two-time series champion has seven top-five finishes in his last eight starts dating back to last season.
“We’re not frustrated at all. We’ve had great finishes for the most part,” he says. “We just want to win.”
Winning is something that J.R. Fitzpatrick has been able to do as he won the opening race of the 2012 season at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park. However, having some poor finishes has him sitting fourth in points, 43 points behind Kennington. In his two starts in Saskatoon, Fitzpatrick has a second and a ninth.
Meanwhile, Andrew Ranger, who sits third in points, has only made one start in Saskatoon. That start came in 2009, when he finished eighth. Though Ranger seems to be solid everywhere as he has a top 10 finish in eight of his last nine starts. The two-time series champion has also finished inside the top 10 in 27 of his last 29 series starts, dating back to 2008.
A.J. Allmendinger Suspended Indefinitely From NASCAR After Sample B Comes Out Positive
A.J. Allmendinger prepared for the worst and he didn’t get the news he wanted and that is that he tested positive on his B sample following his original suspension from NASCAR.
According to the press release just released a short time ago, Allmendinger will be offered a chance to be reinstated into the sport through the Road to Recovery Program. If Allmendinger partakes in this assignment, he will be allowed to come back into the sport.
Sam Hornish Jr. will now be the permanent replacement in the #22 Shell/Pennzoil Dodge for Penske Racing.
Official Announcement:
AJ Allmendinger Indefinitely Suspended From NASCAR Competition
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 24, 2012) – AJ Allmendinger, driver of the No. 22 car in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, has been suspended indefinitely from NASCAR for violating the sanctioning body’s substance abuse policy.
On July 24, Allmendinger was found to have violated Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 19 (NASCAR’s substance abuse policy) of the 2012 NASCAR rule book.
As outlined in the rule book, NASCAR next will provide Allmendinger a letter outlining a process for reinstatement. By agreeing to the letter, he will be allowed to participate in the Road to Recovery Program.
The following statement should be attributed to Penske Racing:
In accordance with NASCAR’s Substance Abuse Policy, Penske Racing was notified today of AJ Allmendinger’s positive B sample test. We respect NASCAR’s policy and the process they have taken with this matter.
Penske Racing is very disappointed with the result of the B sample test and will evaluate its course of action as it pertains to AJ over the coming week.
Sam Hornish Jr., will drive the No. 22 Dodge Charger this weekend at Indianapolis and next weekend at Pocono.
Allmendinger Fails Second Test -Suspended Indefinitely
NASCAR has said that suspended Penske Racing driver A.J. Allmendinger has failed his second urinalysis test and will remain suspended indefinitely. In messages on Twitter NASCAR said, “AJ Allmendinger has been suspended indefinitely from #NASCAR for violating the sanctioning body’s substance abuse policy. As outlined in rule book, #NASCAR will provide Allmendinger a letter outlining a process for reinstatement. By agreeing to the letter, he will be allowed to participate in the Road to Recovery Program.”
Allmendinger was suspended hours before the Coke Zero 400 in Daytona two weeks ago and replaced by Sam Hornish Jr.
More to come as reports are filed.
Penske Racing Statement on B Sample Results
July 24, 2012
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The following statement should be attributed to Penske Racing:In accordance with NASCAR’s Substance Abuse Policy, Penske Racing was notified today of AJ Allmendinger’s positive B sample test. We respect NASCAR’s policy and the process they have taken with this matter.
Penske Racing is very disappointed with the result of the B sample test and will evaluate its course of action as it pertains to AJ over the coming week.
Sam Hornish Jr., will drive the No. 22 Dodge Charger this weekend at Indianapolis and next weekend at Pocono.
Statement from Tara Ragan, Vice President, Walldinger Racing Inc.
Charlotte, NC (July 24, 2012)- Aegis Analytical Laboratories in Nashville has delivered the results of the “B” sample test for Penske Racing driver AJ Allmendinger, which confirmed the results of the “A” test.
“This was not the news we wanted to hear and we will work to get to the source of what may have caused this. To that end, we have secured the services of an independent lab to conduct thorough testing on every product within AJ’s home and motor coach to find what might collaborate with his test, which created results that were within nanograms of accepted standards. We are working closely with NASCAR and Penske Racing to identify the next action steps in this process. We continue to be extremely grateful by the breadth and scope of support for AJ from his fans and partners. We would like to again thank NASCAR, Penske Racing and all our sponsor partners for the open communication, and for helping us at every step in this process. We expect to have further updates in the upcoming days.”
J.J Yeley: A True Racer
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[/media-credit]J.J Yeley has experienced highs and lows in his NASCAR career. He has been with big teams like Joe Gibbs Racing and on small teams like he is now with car owner Jay Robinson. Yeley was thrown into our sport. At the time when Gibbs signed him, Yeley hadn’t driven a car with fenders. That put him at a disadvantage but Yeley still attempted to do his best each weekend.
He had driven in the ARCA Series, Nationwide Series and Sprint Cup Series in his rookie year. Yeley had little experience but that didn’t stop him from going out and doing well. Now Yeley is driving for an underfunded team and is having difficulties showing his talent due to the lack of good equipment. Yeley wants a chance to succeed again and show all of his talent.
Recently I was able to interview JJ about his racing career and his family life.
How did you get your start in racing?
“I received my start in racing from my Dad, Cactus Jack Yeley. He raced himself and is a 7 time Arizona midget champion. I had spent every day of my life around racing or at a race track, I was brought in an environment that racing was everything and to be successful you had to give it 100% all the time.”
Who was your racing role-model growing up?
“My racing role models growing up were A J Foyt and Dale Earnhardt Sr. They were driver that showed all kinds of emotion on and off the track. They did whatever it was going to take to try and win the race. It wasn’t until later in my career that I realized that my Dad was my biggest racing role model because he sacrificed whatever it was going to take for me to be a good race car driver.”
What was your first NASCAR job?
“My first job in NASCAR was driving for Joe Gibbs Racing; it was a fast start in an area that I didn’t have much experience. I ran a select number of ARCA, Nationwide and Cup races my first year. It was my first time racing anything with fenders!”
What was it like driving the No.18 Interstate Batteries Car for Joe Gibbs Racing with all the history in that car?
“It was a dream come true to get the opportunity to pilot the car that was the original flagship car for JGR. I enjoyed my time with Gibbs driving the Interstate Battery #18 car. Everyone from Interstate accepted me and being a rookie driver, that help tremendously with my confidence.”
What are the difficulties driving for an underfunded team?
“Some of the biggest obstacles to overcome in an underfunded team are trying to compete against cubic dollars. The new cars, fuel injection take time to figure out, with the sport evolving as fast as it does it takes testing, time and money to find the short cuts to perfection. The larger teams are able to figure these things out before they ever get to the race track; this allows them to work on their setups. An underfunded team has to figure everything out at the race track, with limited time on the track for practice a smaller team will almost always be at a disadvantage.”
Is there anything you enjoy driving for an underfunded team?
“There aren’t any advantages to being with a small team. The crew is usually very small and do three times the work that larger teams do at the track. The biggest satisfaction for me and my team is out qualifying larger teams with better equipment and much larger budgets. It reminds us that we are still able to do great things with just enough to get by because we are hungry for success.”
What are your favorite and least favorite tracks to race on?
“My favorite track on the schedule would have to be Chicago. I love the shape of the track; it is a fast 1.5 mile race track that races kind of like a flat track. There are usually multiple grooves to race and pass on. I don’t really have a least favorite track. Bristol was one of those tracks I didn’t look forward to going to, but after they went back and redid the surface and it became a track that you could run any groove you wanted, it became a track that I like.”
What is one race you’ve dreamed of winning?
“I think winning the Brickyard would be one of my dream come true wins. I spent a good portion of my career racing around Indiana dirt and pavement tracks, ultimately giving my opportunity to move to NASCAR.”
Where do you see yourself five years from now?
“I hope that in my next few years in NASCAR that I can reestablish myself with a larger team that has the ability to be competitive on a weekly basis. Having driven for smaller teams my past few seasons has given me a different outlook on the sport and my career. I want another chance at proving that I belong in Cup Series and that I can win races.”
What do you enjoy doing off the track?
“I enjoy spending time with my family when I am away from the track. My family doesn’t travel as much now that my daughter is in school. As a NASCAR driver, I spend half of every race week away from my girls so when I am home I try to dedicate all of my spare time to them. I do try to squeeze a round of golf in every now and then; it’s usually on a Saturday after practice or qualifying.”
Be sure to follow J.J Yeley on twitter at @jjyeley1!
