Kasey Kahne Fastest In Nationwide Practice; Patrick Laughs About TV Anchor

By

-

March 2, 2012

[media-credit name=”Brad Keppel” align=”alignright” width=”208″][/media-credit]Kasey Kahne led NASCAR Nationwide Series practice at the end of their afternoon session. Kahne has never won in the Nationwide Series in Phoenix. He has not ran a race in a Nationwide Series car here since 2007 while driving for Ray Evernham and he finished 6th.

Joey Logano was second quickest as the young twenty-one year old is coming up a top ten finish in the Daytona 500. Sam Hornish Jr. was third quickest and last season celebrated his first win in NASCAR here in Phoenix in November. Hornish has a great car. Can he repeat?

Rounding out the rest of the top ten were: Elliott Sadler, Austin Dillon, Brad Keselowski, Kevin Harvick, Justin Allgaier, Cole Whitt, and Trevor Bayne. Kyle Busch was 16th quickest in his #54 Monster Energy Drink Toyota followed by Danica Patrick who was 18th quickest.

Earlier during the day, Danica Patrick was asked a question about the San Diego Sports TV Anchor that was suspended for implying that Danica was the B-word. Patrick said that she had just found out about it and thought it was “really funny how someone could feel that strong over me, but I don’t think you’re supposed to imply swear words especially while on air.”

Ford Phoenix 1 Friday Advance (Carl Edwards)

By

SM Archive

-

March 2, 2012

Newman and McDowell Going To Backup Cars

By

SM Staff

-

March 2, 2012

[media-credit name=”CIA Stock Photography, Inc.” align=”alignright” width=”234″][/media-credit]Ryan Newman had the fourth quickest car during the first practice session of the day here at the Phoenix International Raceway, but he won’t be using that same car for Sunday. Newman got loose near the end of the session going into turn 3 and slapped the wall pretty hard.

“I opened my entry up a little too far. I got a little aggressive and just got loose getting in, and that was it. Our WIX Filters Chevrolet is really good. I see that (Tony) Stewart is on top of the board now. We’ll just plug-in the same game (to the back-up car), and we’ll be alright.” Newman said.

Shortly before Newman’s accident, Michael McDowell also had trouble going into Turn 3, but he had cut a right-front tire. McDowell will also be going to a backup car.

CHEVY NSCS AT PHOENIX ONE — Tony Stewart Press Conf. Transcript

By

SM Archive

-

March 2, 2012

Stewart Fastest In First Practice Session In Phoenix; Johnson Focused On Phoenix

By

SM Staff

-

March 2, 2012

[media-credit name=”David Yeazell” align=”alignright” width=”266″][/media-credit]Defending NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion Tony Stewart was the fastest man during the first practice session here at the Phoenix International Raceway earlier today. Stewart, who comes into this race after a disappointing 16th place finish at the Daytona 500, has one victory at this track which he claimed during his rookie season back in 1999. Stewart also has three runner-up finishes at Phoenix where he finished behind Kevin Harvick, Jeff Gordon, and Mark Martin respectively.

Speaking of Mark Martin he was our surprise of the day. Martin was second quickest in his #55 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota. It looked like Martin would leave on top of the sheets, but Tony Stewart unloaded his fastest lap just before the red flag flew to end Session 1. Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson are both coming off disappointing finishes during the season-opening Daytona 500. They led 1-2 at the beginning of the session for about ten laps, but the two Hendrick Motorsports teammates ended up 17th and 24th fastest.

Daytona 500 champion Matt Kenseth was tenth quickest just behind his Roush-Fenway teammate Greg Biffle who had the fastest car for the majority of the practice but ended up in third position.

Other notables include: Newman (4th), Kahne (5th), Montoya (6th), Kyle Busch (7th), Logano (8th), McMurray (9th), Edwards (16th), Jr. (31st).

Greg Biffle will be a man to watch on Sunday. Teammate Carl Edwards was just in the media center and noted that Biffle looks like he has a really great car for Sunday. “It looks like Biffle is extremely fast in practice, so we’ll lean on him a little bit.”

Jimmie Johnson knew this was coming, but he got a question from me regarding the penalties. “How much did Knaus’ previous infractions have on the current penalty? His answer: That’d require me to speculate. Take that question to NASCAR.