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NASCAR Hall of Fame Announces 2011 Inductees

By
Angie Campbell
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The voting is over and the highly anticipated results are in.  The 2011 class of inductees into the NASCAR Hall of Fame were announced Wednesday afternoon, ending months of speculation.

David Pearson, with an impressive 105 victories, was the first name announced. As he stood to acknowledge the honor he was rewarded with a chorus of cheers and a standing ovation.

As his image and accomplishments flashed across the video screen, we heard Richard Petty say “He was the best driver I ever drove against.”

Bobby Allison, with 84 wins and a championship in 1983 was the second name announced.  It was hard to miss the big grin on his face as he was congratulated by those around him.

Lee Petty, the winner of the first Daytona 500 in 1959 and a three-time champion, was the third inductee to be announced. His son Richard simply said, “He was my hero.”

Next up was two-time champ Ned Jarrett who won 50 races in a career shortened by his early retirement at age 33. In a touching moment, his son Dale, went to this father’s side and gave him a congratulatory hug.

The final name added to the class of 2011 was one of NASCAR’s most successful car owners, Bud Moore. His career included 63 wins and two Sprint Cup titles.

These five legends will join the inaugural class of 2010 which was comprised of drivers Dale Earnhardt, Junior Johnson and Richard Petty, along with Bill France Sr. and Bill France Jr.

The second class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame will be inducted in a ceremony scheduled for May 2011.


American Muscle

The Chase Not The Only Battle Left; Try the Top 35!

By
SM Staff
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With six races left in the NASCAR Sprint Cup season, the race for the NASCAR championship is heating up. However, that’s not the only battle that is left in the Cup Series.

The top 35 is another battle, between four teams as they try and guarantee themselves into the 53rd Daytona 500 in February and the first five races of the 2011 season.

For those of you unclear about the NASCAR rule, the top 35 teams in owner points at the end of 2010, will race in the first five races of 2011, guaranteed. That gives them a big jump start on the season.

Let’s take a look at those cars fighting to get or stay into the top 35. Right now the No. 71 TRG Motorsports Chevrolet is sitting 34th in the standings, just 53 points to the good. The No. 7 Robby Gordon Motorsports Toyota sits 35th just 25 points ahead of The #38 Front Row Motorsports Ford who sits 36th. Lagging back in 37th, with still a shot however, is the No. 26 Latitude 43 Motorsports Ford, just 170 points back with six races remaining.

Don’t think these guys are taking it seriously? Think again.

Front Row Motorsports has made many crew chief changes on their team to try and get themselves into the top 35. Just recently y it was announced that veteran crew chief Peter Sospenzo would take over the 38 team for the rest of the year.

Robby Gordon Motorsports even decided to bring down their No. 07 Toyota this weekend in an effort to try and knock out the No. 38 team from this weekends Bank of America 500.

Latitude Motorsports has hired veteran Ken Schrader to run at Martinsville and Talladega for them, as they try and claw their way into the top 35. Think they would have hired him had they had just given up? Me neither!

Some people say that some teams will be bumped into the top 35 because Richard Petty Motorsports is losing a team. However, that is not something you want to bet on for next year.

I understand Richard Childress Racing is expanding its organization with Paul Menard. I understand they will need to get points from somewhere, somehow. But who will it come from? The only theory to me is that the No. 71 team gives up their points to Richard Childress. However, I don’t see TRG Motorsports doing that. Still, leaves the No. 98 points out and no clue where they will go for 2011. Rumors are the No. 19 car might come back next season, so they may try and use those points.

Yet, when you are talking to a sponsor it’s easier to say, “Yes we are in” than “Well we may be in,” especially in this economy.

All four teams fighting to stay in the top 35 do not have full-time sponsorship for 2011. Not only that, it’s been announced that a few more teams will try and run full time making it even tougher to get into the field come next February.

So when you say the racing in the back of the field isn’t good and they don’t care. That is absolutely false. They do care and for many teams the top 35 is the difference between racing next year and packing it in.


American Muscle

Why is Viewership and Attendance Down? Ask The Core Fan

By
SM Staff
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Sunday night in California. The NASCAR Sprint Cup cars are growling around the track and the racing is three, four, and even five wide at times. Tony Stewart won the race and nearly 2 million less viewers watched. The attendance was estimated at 70,000 (21,000 less than capacity), the same as the last couple of races there. This is not an indictment of Auto Club Speedway; rather it is a symptom of what the average NASCAR fan is thinking in the year 2010.

Listening to fan comments this week, it may be a combination of things. Witness this scene as described to me by a fan that had a little race watching get-together at his home Sunday night. As he described it, there were seven fans gathered in his family room watching the big screen television.   

Most were in the 50-60 year old age group. There were fans of every brand and every driver. His recollection was that the minute that Jimmie Johnson took the lead, the discontent started. Then, as the race went on, the lack of cautions caused more discontent among the group. Half the crowd left before the race ended. The final four stayed until the end and none were happy. Why?

As much as NASCAR has tried to expand the sport to younger fans, they are in the minority. NASCAR has a base of fans in the age group mentioned earlier that seriously want their NASCAR back. More often than not, I hear fans wish for the days of Dale Earnhardt, Richard Petty and David Pearson. Go to any track, and the No. 3 flag is dominant in the campgrounds, an area I consider to be the core fans. They come to the track early and stay late. These campers spend more money and are more rabid than any other. And their numbers are shrinking. As we head to Charlotte for another race, last May there were spots empty for the first time in memory.  Many would say it’s the economy, but it’s much more. I contend that it is boredom.

A few years ago, NASCAR started to police the sport. Don’t touch was the rule. How many times were drivers “warned” during a race to watch what they were doing? The result was that drivers were not taking the chance because they knew the trip to the NASCAR trailer was the next step. When things started going south, NASCAR decided to let them race. I give credit to Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, and others who continued on with what they do best, but they are in the minority. On top of that was the emphasis on the championship. The creation of the Chase has made drivers more tentative and more cautious. The result has been that the core fan is simply turned off. A man I know who attended every race at Bristol Motor Speedway from 1994-2006 summed it up best. “They ruined my track and they ruined my sport. I’m done.”

Yes, the racing was good at Fontana, but it didn’t feed the core fan. A long discussion happened on NASCAR radio today whereby the question was asked if the lack of “wrecking” was the reason for the lack of viewers and attendance. There are varying opinions on this. Racing incidents have always been a part of this sport, and we don’t see so many these days. Also, there is the feeling among racing purists that if the competition is good throughout the field, it’s a good race. Unfortunately, there are many of us who understand, but the majority of fans want to see rubbing and action. That was sorely missing at Fontana and many races throughout the season.

Then there’s Jimmie Johnson. Among many fans, it is a conceded fact that he will be the champion for another year. Who wants to watch the same story over and over? Outside of the usual Christmas specials and “Blazing Saddles” (remember, I’m talking NASCAR fans here), no one does.   People turn the race off or leave when Johnson seems to be winning another championship. It’s not Johnson’s nor the Lowes team’s fault, but it has become very old to many NASCAR fans. If there was ever a time the multitudes wish for a new champion, it’s this year. And many realize that it’s not going to happen. 

So they turn the race off, watch the NFL, and ratings and attendance suffers. So what’s the answer? Handicap the field? Scrap the Chase? Do away with the monetary advantage that the championship brings? I do not know. I just think that something needs to be done. Television ratings and attendance is important to the sport. And unless this slide is stopped soon, we may not have racing on the tube every week. That would be a tragedy.


American Muscle

NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: California

By
Jeffrey Boswell
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Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

1. Jimmie Johnson: Johnson increased his points lead over second-place Deny Hamlin with a third in the AutoMax 500 at California. Johnson started the day with an eight point edge over Hamlin; J.J. left with a 36 point cushion.

“I increased my points lead by 28 points,” Johnson said. “In NASCAR speak, that’s a SAFER barrier.”

But, there’s a reason they call this the ‘Chase.’ And that’s because the eleven other drivers come ‘after’ me.”

2. Denny Hamlin: Hamlin finished eighth at California, losing ground to points leader Jimmie Johnson, who finished third. Hamlin trails Johnson by 36 with six races left in the Chase, with a pivotal race at Charlotte Motor Speedway next on the schedule.

“Engine failures have taken their toll on Joe Gibbs Racing cars,” said Hamlin. “Not only this year, but in years past. Apparently, JGR engines come with an expiration date, with that date being ‘during the Chase.’”

3. Jeff Gordon: Gordon overcame a pit lane speeding penalty late in Sunday’s race which ruined his shot at an elusive win. But he recovered to post a solid ninth-place finish, and moved up to fourth in the Sprint Cup point standings. Gordon now trails Jimmie Johnson by 85.

“Once again,” Gordon said, “a mistake cost us a chance at winning. It seems that we’ve often been fast, but we’re always slowed down by a mistake, whether by me or my crew. If you’re looking for words to describe this season, I think ‘Whoa is me’ works just fine.”

4. Tony Stewart: Stewart battled Jimmie Johnson on the final restart in the AutoMax 500, holding the No. 48 at bay while collecting his second win of the year, and one that salvaged his Sprint Cup title hopes. Stewart now trails Johnson by 107 in the point standings.

“There was ‘Smoke’ in California,” Stewart said, “and, for once, it’s not from a wildfire. We’re hot right now; I just wish our misfortune at New Hampshire hadn’t prevented us from adding fuel to the fire.”

5. Kevin Harvick: Like Gordon, Harvick’s day was offset by a pit road speeding penalty, but he still managed to finish seventh and keep Johnson in view. Harvick is 54 points behind Johnson with six races remaining.

“A pit road speeding penalty,” Harvick said. “A failed inspection. A denied appeal. A phantom debris caution. NASCAR obviously has a problem with Richard Childress Racing. And NASCAR obviously doesn’t like their decisions questioned. NASCAR touts its insistence that everyone follow the rules, but we here at RCR have found ourselves asking ‘Are they playing fair?’”

6. Carl Edwards: Edwards No. 99 Aflac Ford suffered an ignition problem on lap 58 at California and stalled on the track, requiring a push to return to the pits. He finished 13 laps down in 34th, and now trails points leader Jimmie Johnson by 162.

“Let me tell you,” said Edwards, “ignition problems are a real ‘turn off.’ I’ve heard of ‘start and parkers,’ but we might as well have been a ‘starter and parker’ in California.”

And our chances to win the Sprint Cup are practically gone. They call me ‘Cousin Carl,’ and after the race in California, I’m ready to say ‘uncle.’”

7. Kurt Busch: Busch was running 14th when David Ragan drifted up the track, pinching the No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge to the outside wall and causing left-front fender damage and a blown tire. Busch limped to the pits and restarted 29th, and moved up to 21st by races end. Busch is sixth in the point standings, 140 out of first.

“The No. 6 UPS car left me nowhere to go,” Busch said. “To say I was ‘UPS-et’ would be an understatement. It seems that, whether accidental or on purpose, other drivers can’t stay away from the Busch brothers.

And speaking of ‘odd attractions,’ can someone explain why Kyle and I have fan clubs?”

8. Kyle Busch: Busch’s engine blew on lap 155 and immediately declared his championship hopes over, ending what earlier had looked like a promising day in the AutoMax 500. He tumbled two spots places in the Sprint Cup point standings, and now faces a 187 point deficit to Jimmie Johnson.

“Hey, my engine isn’t the only thing that quits,” said Busch.

9. Clint Bowyer: Bowyer edged by Jimmie Johnson on the final lap at California, taking the runner-up spot in the AutoMax 500. Bowyer was leading with ten laps remaining, but NASCAR spotted debris on the track and through a caution, bunching the field.

“Just another example,” Bowyer said, “of NASCAR seeing something that wasn’t there. I insist there was no debris on the track, so NASCAR had no right to throw a caution. For that reason, I’d like to file an appeal to ‘reason.’”

10. Greg Biffle: Biffle, who won last week at Kansas, saw his chances of back-to-back wins vanish when his engine blew on lap 40, becoming the first of several Chasers to face trouble at California.

“It was a disastrous day for Roush Fenway Racing,” Biffle said. “There were so many engines letting go, I thought a Cheech and Chong movie might break out.”


American Muscle

TUMS-TASTIC MOMENTS IN MARTINSVILLE HISTORY: MARTINSVILLE’S CLAY CAMPBELL REMEMBERS TWO NASCAR LEGENDS

By
Official Release
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(This is the third in a series of memorable moments in the 63-year history of Martinsville Speedway.  For track President Clay Campbell, two events stand at the track his grandfather built).

 

MARTINSVILLE’S CLAY CAMPBELL REMEMBERS TWO NASCAR LEGENDS

 

            MARTINSVILLE, Va. (Oct. 13, 2010) – Unlike many race track executives, Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell had the pleasure of growing up around the facility he now oversees.

 

NOTE:  TUMS is the sponsor of the TUMS Fast Relief 500, the sixth race in the Chase for the Sprint Cup, at Martinsville Speedway on Oct. 24.

            Campbell’s grandfather, H. Clay Earles, founded the family-oriented short track more than 60 years ago. It is not only the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series’ shortest track, but also the only speedway remaining on the schedule that was with the sanctioning body when it began. Campbell’s long-time relationship with the track has often led people to question him about his special memories surrounding the facility. There are two events that stand out in Campbell’s mind. One involves seven-time NASCAR champion Dale Earnhardt, the other former NASCAR President Bill France Jr.

            The Earnhardt saga began during a test session. At the time, there was a fairly large pond outside turn four, across the street from the speedway’s office. Earnhardt and his Richard Childress Racing team were testing at the 0.526-mile track. Earnhardt walked into the office and asked if there were any fish in the pond.

            “I told him there were bass in it,” Campbell recalled. “He asked if I thought he could go fishing in it. I told him he could if he wanted to. The next day he drives up in his pickup truck and he has all of his fishing rods in the back of it. They tested for half a day and then we went out there and fished for half a day.”

            Campbell’s other special memory came in 1988 when he was elected the track’s president.

            “People thought I got the presidency because my grandfather ran the place, but that wasn’t the case. The France family owned half of it,” Campbell said. “It was in the 1950s when my grandfather and Bill France Sr. partnered up when the other two partners bowed out. The France family has been partners in the track ever since. That’s why when International Speedway Corp. took full ownership, it was not that big of a change. It was like living with someone for many years and then finally marrying them.

            “At a board meeting in 1988, Bill France Jr. nominated me for president of the track. That was very special to me, that he thought enough of me to nominate me for that job.”

            Campbell has served in that position ever since.

            For more information on TUMS, visit www.TUMS.com.                                           

About TUMS®
For more than 75 years, TUMS® has been a fast, effective treatment for heartburn and acid indigestion, neutralizing stomach acid on contact. Today, TUMS is the number one antacid in America, used by more people than any other brand to treat heartburn.
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GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare is one of the world’s largest over-the-counter consumer healthcare products companies. Its more than 30 well-known brands include the leading smoking cessation products, Nicorette(R)and NicoDerm(R)CQ(R), and Commit(R), as well as many medicine cabinet staples– alli(R), Aquafresh(R), Sensodyne(R), and TUMS(R) — which are trademarks owned by and/or licensed to GlaxoSmithKline Group of Companies.


American Muscle

Fewer ServiceMaster Cautions In 2010

By
Official Release
-

47 fewer Sprint Cup cautions in 2010 compared to 2009 after 30 races

21 fewer Nationwide Series cautions in 2010 compared to 2009 after 30 races

SERVICEMASTER CLEAN ‘BY THE NUMBERS’ FOR CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY

1 – fewest ServiceMaster Clean cautions for a race at Charlotte Motor Speedway (10/14/62)

6 – number of ServiceMaster Clean jet dryers available at CMS this weekend for track drying

4 of the 12 drivers in the Chase for the Sprint Cup have yet to win in 2010 (Jeff Gordon, Carl Edwards, Jeff Burton and Matt Kenseth)

7 of the 30 Sprint Cup races this season have been extended beyond the scheduled distance following a late ServiceMaster Clean caution

8 – number of drivers that have swept both Sprint Cup regular-season races at CMS in the same year; no driver has swept both races and the Sprint All Star Race (Kurt Busch has a chance to become the first Saturday night)

12 different Sprint Cup race winners in 2010

13 – most ServiceMaster Clean cautions for a Sprint Cup race this season (Martinsville)

14 of the 103 races at CMS have been won from the pole; 30 of 103 have been won from the front row

16 different Sprint Cup pole winners in 2010

22 – most ServiceMaster Clean cautions for a Sprint Cup race at CMS (5/29/05)

107 points separate the top five in the Chase point standings after the first four races

105 minutes – approximate time it takes for the ServiceMaster Clean jets to dry the 1.5-mile track

4,500 ServiceMaster Clean franchise locations around the world

Sprint Cup

111 of the 211 ServiceMaster Clean cautions in the first 30 Sprint Cup races this season were for accidents, 40 for debris and 27 for spins

211 ServiceMaster Clean cautions in the first 30 Sprint Cup events this season; 258 after 30 races last year

1,071 of 8,843 laps completed in the first 30 Sprint Cup races this year have been under a ServiceMaster Clean caution; 1,225 of 6,955 after 30 races last year

1,536.630 of 12,059.928 miles completed this season in the 30 Sprint Cup races have been under a ServiceMaster Clean caution; 1,719.388 of 11,621.305 after 30 races last year

Nationwide Series

187 ServiceMaster Clean cautions in the first 30 Nationwide Series events this season; 208 after 30 races last year

112 of the 187 ServiceMaster Clean cautions in the first 30 Nationwide events this season have been for accidents, 31 for debris and 26 for spins

875 of 5,484 laps completed in the first 30 Nationwide Series races this season have been under a ServiceMaster Clean caution; 964 of 5,661 after 30 races last year

1,193.611 of 7,342.931 miles completed this season in the 30 Nationwide Series races have been under a ServiceMaster Clean caution; 1,285.233 of 7,353.464 after 30 races last year


American Muscle

Crafton Still Set on Top Five Result in 2010 Truck Series Championship Standings

By
Official Release
-

Sandusky, Oh. (October 11, 2010) – Matt Crafton has had to readjust his goals for the 2010 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season. Leaving Daytona with his first ever top-five finish had Crafton in the frame of mind that a championship wasn’t out of the question. After all, he’d been a solid contender for the top spot in 2009.

But disappointing finishes for the No. 88 Menards/SealBest Chevrolet at Atlanta (27th), Kansas (25th), Texas (18th), and Michigan (27th) left Crafton thinking it might be a stretch to crack the top ten in the standings at the end of the season. Despite the disjointed first third of the season, Crafton is not only solidly among the top ten but sitting fifth with five races to go. And he has a realistic chance at staying in the top five for the third consecutive season.

“I said then that the start of our season was the worst we’ve ever had,” Crafton said. “We just had terrible luck and got caught up in some situations that took us out of a chance to not only finish well but to win. It was frustrating because we tore up a lot of good equipment and our guys had to spend a lot of time getting caught up. It’s hard to look forward when you’re sitting on a pile of wrecked stuff. But once we did get caught up we got focused and have been really steady ever since.”

Steady is an understatement: Crafton hasn’t finished outside the top ten since June. His eleven-race top-ten streak is the longest this season in the NCWTS, and during that time he’s also collected six top-five finishes and moved from tenth to fifth in the standings.

“We knew we didn’t have a realistic chance at the championship when we left Michigan,” Crafton said. “It’s not that we gave up on it but we were 350 points out and that’s tough to make up. So we focused on getting the best results we could, winning races and scoring points. We’ve had eleven top tens in a row. We’ve got our consistency back and we’re not just in the top ten we’re in the top five. We think we can get a win before the season is over.”

Consistency has been Crafton’s trademark. Over his 242-race Truck Series career Crafton has rung up 124 top-tens, with 40 of them in the top-five.

“We’ve grown as a team together,” Crafton said. “We’ve all been together for five or six years. We know each other inside and out and that’s what makes this such a great team. Bud (Haefele, crew chief) knows what I am going to say before I say it and he knows what a little tight or a little loose means and exactly how to fix it.”

The longevity of the Crafton-Haefele combination, in place since the start of the 2006 season, is only overshadowed by the longevity of the team itself. ThorSport Racing has fielded at least one entry in each series race since the first race of the 1998 season at Walt Disney World Speedway. The team’s relationship with primary sponsor Menards has endured since the start of the 2002 season, the longest team/sponsor relationship in series history. All told, the team has had 468 entries in 335 races.

“Duke and Rhonda Thorson are absolutely the type of owners NASCAR needs,” Crafton said. “They are committed to building a strong team and they haven’t ever wavered in their support. They give us everything we need. They treat us like family and it’s been an honor to drive for them. We’d like to get them a win before the season is over and get ourselves in a position to fight for the championship again next year. That’s the ultimate goal, getting to sit at the head table in December.”


American Muscle

FEDEX RACING EXPRESS FACTS – CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY

By
Official Release
-

RACE INFO:

Event: Bank of America 500

Date/Time: Oct. 16, 2010/3 p.m. EST

2009 winner: Jimmie Johnson

2009 polesitter: Jimmie Johnson

Distance: 334 laps/501 miles

Track Length: 1.5 miles

Banking: 24 degrees

Track Shape: Quad Oval

EXPRESS NOTES:

Hamlin, FedEx Racing Eighth at Auto Club: Denny Hamlin marched forward from the back of the field to claim an eighth-place finish at Auto Club Speedway last weekend and keep his Championship hopes very much alive through four Chase for the Sprint Cup races. Hamlin battled into the top-ten by the halfway point of the race and looked poised to challenge for the win before late restarts shuffled him back ahead of taking the checkered flag in eighth. Hamlin and team head home to Charlotte trailing current points leader Jimmie Johnson by 36 points.

Hamlin at Charlotte Motor Speedway: This weekend will mark Hamlin’s 11th Cup start at Charlotte and his 182nd career Cup start. Earlier this season, Hamlin and the #11 team endured early damage to the FedEx Office Camry, making a long race longer as they were forced to work through significant repairs on their way to a 18th place finish in the Coca-Cola 600. As the race moved from day to night, Hamlin maintained his position in the top five, but a spin by Jimmie Johnson on lap 274 forced Hamlin low on the track to avoid contact and, in doing so, he clipped the edge of the infield grass, causing significant damage to the front splitter. The team took advantage of several pit stops to repair what they could on pit road but the damage was enough to keep Hamlin from challenging the leaders at the end. Lucky dog passes kept the #11 on the lead lap and Hamlin charged forward before the checkered flag waved to claim 18th spot on the night. Last fall, Hamlin led 54 laps and looked ready to challenge for the win. Unfortunately, an engine part failure that forced Hamlin from the race and the FedEx Toyota on the transporter on lap 192 saw the team scored 42nd on the night. In the summer of 2009, during a weekend full of weather-interrupted racing, Hamlin posted a well-deserved 11th-place finish in the rain-shortened Coca-Cola 600. The #11 team ran in the top-ten throughout the race, only falling outside at the end when pit stops decided the final order. Fall races at Charlotte have been a mixed bag for Hamlin and team. In 2008, Hamlin ran comfortably in the top-ten before a lap 233 incident caused damage to the car and left Hamlin unable to regain the performance he enjoyed up to that point. In 2007, just as Hamlin appeared poised to bring home a top-five finish, transmission issues that had been threatening for much of the race finally crippled the #11 under caution. The ensuing repairs forced Hamlin to ride out the remainder of the race in fourth gear while mired back in the pack. He would ultimately take the checkered flag in 20th place. In 2006, a lap one multi-car wreck caught Hamlin and the ensuing damage sent him immediately to the garage for significant repairs. He returned to the track but wasn’t able to improve beyond a 28th-place finish. Hamlin made his debut at Lowe’s in 2005. In only his second-ever Cup start, Hamlin pushed the #11 forward from a starting position of 39th to claim his first-ever top-ten finish.

Race Series Date Start Finish Laps (Led)

Coca-Cola 600 Sprint Cup May 30, 2010 7 18 400/400 3

NASCAR Banking 500 Sprint Cup Oct. 17, 2009 17 42 192/334 54

Coca-Cola 600 Sprint Cup May. 25, 2009 13 11 227/227

Bank of America 500 Sprint Cup Oct. 11, 2008 12 16 334/334

Coca-Cola 600 Sprint Cup May 25, 2008 16 24 399/400 1

Bank of America 500 Nextel Cup Oct. 13, 2007 11 20 337/337

Coca-Cola 600 Nextel Cup May 27, 2007 6 9 400/400 1

Bank of America 500 Nextel Cup Oct. 14, 2006 22 28 265/334

Coca-Cola 600 Nextel Cup May 28, 2006 8 9 400/400 25

UAW-GM Quality 500 Nextel Cup Oct. 15, 2005 39 8 336/336 1

Averages/Totals 15.1 18.5 93.2% 85

Charlotte Chassis – JGR 279 and 288: The team will unload JGR 279 at Charlotte this weekend. This car recorded a ninth-place finish at Dover two weeks ago. Chassis JGR 288 will serve as the backup.

FedEx Ground Ohio Valley District Along for the Ride in Charlotte: The #11 FedEx Ground Camry will carry the letters OHVL on the B-posts this weekend in recognition of the Ohio Valley District team. The team is being recognized for their consistently strong performance in package care. The Ohio Valley district encompasses the Northern Kentucky hub and its satellite facilities in southwestern Ohio, eastern Indiana, and northern Kentucky.

HAMLIN CONVERSATION – Charlotte:

You have talked a lot about the importance of staying in the middle of the fight through the first half of the Chase, are you comfortable with your position?: “We knew we that we couldn’t beat ourselves through these first races and we haven’t so we feel pretty good. We would have liked better finishes at a couple of tracks and to be in the lead in points but we’re in good shape heading to some tracks where we think we’ll be competitive. We just want to be racing our races and not worrying about anyone else – if we can do that, it gives us our best chance of success.”

What has experience here at Charlotte, both in the 600 and in the fall race, taught you?: “For one it really helps to qualify good here. We always feel good about our equipment here but we’ve had some cases where we’ve been caught in traffic and had contact or something happen that has hurt us early. And then we just can’t beat ourselves at this track. We’ve been really good here but we need to make the end and that means good changes, good stops and a smart drive by me.”

A year ago you had one of the dominant cars before being knocked out of the race – is this a place you’ve improved as much as any other track?: “I would say it is. This is a place I struggled with early on but a place where I have really benefitted from Kyle (Busch). Everyone knows how strong he is on these types of tracks and he’s shared a lot of information with me – I know it’s made me better here and with the improvement in our intermediate program it means we can come to big tracks like this and be right there with any car.”

2010 FEDEX RACING – TEAM ROSTER

Crew Chief: Mike Ford – Morristown, Tenn.

Car Chief: Chris “Spider” Gillin – Smithtown, NY

Shocks: Tim Sparkman – St. Louis, Mo.

Engineer: Mike Wheeler – Southholt, NY

Tire Specialist: Patrick Mullen – Brick, N.J.

Windshield: Bobby “Spike” Christenson – Spokane, Wash.

Mechanic: Rick Bray – Placerville, Calif.

Hauler Driver: Jerry Hess – Lancaster, Pa.

Mechanic: John Furino – Long Island, NY

Hauler Driver: Frank Hodel – Blythe, Calif.

Spotter: Curtis Markham – Fredericksburg, Va.

Front Tire Changer: Jonathan Sherman – Monroe, La.

Rear Tire Changer: Mike Hicks – Salisbury, N.C.

Rear Tire Carrier: Heath Cherry – Belmont, N.C.

Front Tire Carrier: Brandon Pegram – Statesville, N.C.

Jackman: Nate Bolling – Swanton, Ohio

Motor Specialist: Chris Woodward – Franklin, NH

Gas can: Scott Wood – Liberty, S.C.

Catch Can: John Eicher – London, Ky..

JGR Athletic Director: Michael Lepp – Charlotte, N.C.


American Muscle

Scott Miller Named WYPALL* Wipers Crew Chief of the Race in Fontana

By
Official Release
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Roswell, Ga. (October 12, 2010) – Scott Miller, interim crew chief for the No. 33 Hartford Chevy and driver Clint Bowyer, has been named the WYPALL Wipers Crew Chief of the Race following Sunday’s Pepsi Max 400 at Auto Club Speedway.
 
Coming into Kansas, Bowyer and team were a bit distraught following the past couple of weeks where they have been under deep scrutiny. While crew chief Shane Wilson is on a four-race suspension, Richard Childress appointed former crew chief and existing Director of Competition for Richard Childress Racing, Scott Miller to the job.
 
Miller came with the desire to turn this team around. Although Bowyer remains 12th in the points’ standings, Miller made a critical call towards the end of the race that put them in a position to win.
 
Leading for 27 laps, Bowyer seemed to be on his way to victory, but the caution flag flew on lap 184, and Miller summoned his driver to pit road for four fresh tires and fuel. Bowyer returned to the track in third, while others chose to only take two tires.  But with fresh rubber, Bowyer was able to slingshot past Jimmie Johnson to take home the 2nd place finish behind winner Tony Stewart.
 
“Scott called a pretty impressive race after not being in the crew chief’s seat for over a year,” said WYPALL Wipers crew chief representative Jeff Hammond. “To come in and take over the No. 33 team and finish 2nd is remarkable. Despite all of the controversy and stress, he managed to make good calls throughout the weekend and during the race.”
 
WYPALL* Wipers Crew Chief Results
Jeff Burton and the No. 31 Caterpillar Chevy led by Todd Berrier finished 23rd after wrestling with loose-handling conditions, racing between 17th and 28th spots for the better half of the race.
 
Unfortunately most of the adjustments made in the pits didn’t improve the No. 31 machine resulting in a below par finish.
 
Marcos Ambrose and the No. 47 Little Debbie Toyota Camry, led by Frank Kerr, finished a disappointing 33rd position after enduring grip issues along with high oil and water temperatures.

“It just was not our day,” said Ambrose, who completed 193 of 200 and started the race from the 26th position. “We spun out a few times during the race. It was a tough day for us. Fortunately, we were able to soldier on to finish the race.”

WYPALL* Wipers Crew Chief Team
Berrier, Kerr and Hammond, along with representatives from the WYPALL Wipers brand, serve as the panel for the WYPALL Wipers Crew Chief Challenge and vote for the weekly crew chief winners. In addition to the $500 check, the winning crew chief will receive signage to announce the win on their pit box the following week.  The crew chief with the most weekly wins will be honored as the WYPALL Wipers Crew Chief of the Year and will be presented a $20,000 check at season’s end.
 
Former winners of the WYPALL Wipers Crew Chief Challenge include Tony Eury, Sr. (Dale Earnhardt, Jr.), Robbie Reiser (Matt Kenseth), Doug Richert (Greg Biffle), Mike Ford (Denny Hamlin) and Chad Knaus (Johnson).

About WYPALL Wipers
WYPALL is a brand of Kimberly-Clark Professional. Since 2004, WYPALL Wipers has been affiliated with some of racing’s top teams. Offering heavy-duty to versatile light-duty towels, WYPALL Wipers provide race teams with a number of products that demonstrate strength and durability. Defeating the toughest of challenges, from absorbing tough grease and oil to wiping down windshields without leaving residue behind, WYPALL Wipers continue to offer performance and versatility. 
 
The WYPALL Wipers Crew Chief Challenge will continue throughout the 2010 season and spotlight the men behind the machines. For more information, log onto www.wypall.com.


American Muscle

Roush Fenway Advance – Charlotte

By
Official Release
-

Bank of America 500

Sat. 10.16.10, 7:00 p.m. EDT

ABC TV, PRN, Sirius 128

David Ragan, No. 6 UPS Ford

Greg Biffle, No. 16 3M Ford

Matt Kenseth, No. 17 Crown Royal Black Ford

Carl Edwards, No. 99 Aflac Ford

Dollar General 300

Fri. 10.15.10, 7:30 p.m. EDT

ESPN 2 TV, PRN, Sirius 128

Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 6 Citi Financial Ford

Colin Braun No. 16 Con-way Freight Ford

Trevor Bayne, No. 17 Roush Fenway Ford

Carl Edwards, No. 60 Copart Ford

Paul Menard, No. 98 Menard’s Ford

Tough Week Out West, Roush Fenway Returns Home to Charlotte

After one of the toughest outings in recent history, Roush Fenway hopes to rebound this week at the friendly confines of Charlotte Motor Speedway. They will look to do it at a track where Roush Fenway has won seven times in the Sprint Cup Series and 10 times on the Nationwide Side.

In the Chase

Despite occupying one fourth of the field in the 2010 Chase for the Sprint Cup, Roush Fenway’s championship hopes were dealt a tough blow last weekend in California; with all three teams in the Chase falling victim to mechanical and electrical issues. Still all three remain mathematically eligible for the championship and each will look to bounce back this weekend at one of Roush Fenway’s strongest venues.

Roush Fenway Best the ‘The Beast’

Roush Fenway has won seven Cup races at Charlotte, while leading 1,996 laps and bringing home 37 top fives, 62 top 10s and two poles at the ‘Beast of the Southeast.’

RFR Charlotte Wins

1992-2 Martin Cup

1995-2 Martin Cup

1998-2 Martin Cup

1999 Burton Cup

2000 Kenseth Cup

2001 Burton Cup

2002 Martin Cup

1993-2 Martin NNS

1995-2 Martin NNS

1996-1 Martin NNS

1996-2 Martin NNS

1998-1 Martin NNS

1999-1 Martin NNS

2000-1 Burton NNS

2001-2 Biffle NNS

2002-2 Burton NNS

2006-1 Edwards NNS

In the Nationwide Series at Charlotte

In 79 starts, Roush Fenway Racing has won 10 times in the Nationwide Series at Charlotte, the second most at any track. Roush Fenway Nationwide Fords have accumulated 27 top-five and 42 top-10 finishes, while running to a company best 12 poles at the 1.5-mile track. Mark Martin earned Roush Fenway’s first Nationwide win at Charlotte in the fall of ‘93. He then went on to win three straight, fall ‘95 and a sweep in ‘96, followed by wins in the spring of ‘98 and ‘99. Jeff Burton, Greg Biffle and Carl Edwards have also won in Roush Fenway Fords at Charlotte in the NNS Series.

On the Pole

Roush Fenway swept all four Nationwide poles in 2006 and 2007 between Kenseth, Biffle and Edwards. Roush Fenway’s 11 Nationwide poles break down as follows – Mark Martin (fall ’94, spring ’97), Jeff Burton (fall ’01), Greg Biffle (spring ’04, fall ’07), Matt Kenseth (spring ’06, ’07), Carl Edwards (fall ’06), and Jamie McMurray (fall ’08).

Overall

Overall, Roush Fenway Racing has posted 17 NASCAR wins at Charlotte, while earning 66 top-five finishes, 109 top-10 finishes, 13 poles and leading 4,362 laps.

Chase Races at Charlotte

This will be the 18th race for Roush Fenway Chase-eligible drivers. During that span Roush Fenway has scored four top-five finishes and seven top 10s, including the 2005 race when four of the five Chase eligible Roush Fenway cars finished top 10, including three in the top five. Roush Fenway Chase cars have also led 91 laps in those races, leading at least one lap in eight of the 17 events.


American Muscle
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