IZOD IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard Looks Towards Bright Future
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[/media-credit]16 months ago, Randy Bernard took over the reins of the IZOD IndyCar Series, ready to get the series back in the spotlight.
Bernard got started in sports marketing back in 1984 with professional bull-riding. In the mass of 15 years, he turned the sport around from being worth $2000 to $22 million. Though once he did that, he decided he was ready for a new challenge, which was when the IZOD IndyCar Series was brought forth to his attention. Bernard met with officials for three hours to discuss being a consultant; though 24 hours later, he was offered the position of CEO.
“I was very intrigued with the opportunity, but I also wanted to do my homework,” he said of that moment during the media luncheon in Toronto. “I felt it was very important for me to fly out and meet with all the big names of the sport. I wanted to meet with Penske, with Ganassi, with Dario (Franchitti) and Danica (Patrick), with IZOD – I just needed to make sure that they’d give me the opportunity to work for ‘em and respect me as a promoter and marketer because I wasn’t going to go somewhere there wasn’t a trust level there. I’ve been on the job now 16 months; I absolutely love it.”
Since taking over the reins, Bernard has made many changes to the series that have brought it back to the spotlight, learning lessons along the way.
“It’s been a whirlwind,” he said. “It’s been like drinking water from a fountain. I’ve always said you’re always good as your last day of work. I learned that in this sport you’re only as good as your last hour of work. It changes so quickly and one day you think you’re on top of the world and the next day, you have the rug pulled out from under your feet. So if there’s one sport that can make you very humble, it’s this sport.”
In his time of being in charge, Bernard has instituted quite a few changes that people have debated, including the double-file restarts. Most fans like the drama that plays out as a result, however drivers and some fans say that it’s brought some unnecessary wrecks into play.
“I look at it as how our ratings are doing,” he said. “If our ratings were to decrease, I would say it’s probably it’s been an important factor to the amount it’s costing. With the fact that were up 24% on network and 14% on cable and that the blogs have been dominated with talk about double-file restarts; it was the number two story of this entire month of May in Indy. I think it shows that it is important and I think fans want to see IndyCar showcased at its very best and if we’re going to say we have the very best drivers in the world, the best drivers in the world need to showcase their skills and learn to deal with double-file restarts.”
Bernard spoke on Wednesday in Toronto of the future of the sport and what he had planned in further promoting it to more people. One of the keys to that promoting includes the title sponsor of the series, IZOD.
“IZOD has been remarkably great with us from several different aspects,” he said. “First, they are not an endemic sponsor so they’re reaching to a non-endemic crowd, which isn’t a motorsports enthusiast, and what IZOD stands for is very important to us. The fact that they’re a lifestyle, they’re pop-culture and they’re reaching youth, they’re very important to IndyCar. I think if we can use that and educate our fans and use them to bring new fans, a more of a mainstream fan, and use the Hondas, Sonocos, Shell Oils and Verizons of the world and help maintain and create more of a motorsports fan, I think that’ll be our strategy going forward.”
Bernard plans on reaching youth through making partnerships with the go-karting leagues and with the Boy Scout clubs to get the kids to the track via field trips and racing events. He also made a drastic move changing the minimum age of entry to the garage area from 18 to nine this year. They’ve also brought forth a new driver introduction stage, so therefore fans can see their drivers introduced in big style.
They’ve also brought forth the Road to Indy with their own ladder for drivers to climb to become involved in IndyCar Racing, unlike most series out there, as starts right up at the karting left to the top. Currently, Bryan Clauson is one of the drivers on the ladder as after winning the USAC Championship, he was given five free races in a Firestone Indy Lights Car to see if he could impress team owners.
As they try to attract more drivers and fans to the series, Bernard has made huge announcements towards the final Championship race in Las Vegas. Any fan who buys a ticket for any race during the season can get a free ticket to the championship as Bernard says it’s a way to build loyalty between the series and the fans. They’ve also released a challenge to drivers around the world that can award them $5 million.
“We think we’ve got the best drivers in the world – well, we’re putting our money where our mouth is,” he said. “We’ve challenged any race car driver in the world that thinks they can compete with ours and we’ve put up $5 million. All you have to do is come qualify for that race, win the race and we’ll write you a cheque for $5 million.”
The other big change that Bernard has made that has brought forth more promotion for the series is the brand new car, which is set to debut next year.
“It’s going to be a much more innovative car, relevant to technology,” Bernard spoke of during the presentation. “We decided to cut our engines from a V8 to a V6, take it from a 3.5 maximum displacement to a 2.2 maximum displacement. We’re going to be a turbo charge; we’re going to direct injected. We’re going from 630 horsepower up to 700 horsepower and we will be able to improve our fuel – we’re going from an E85 to an E90. The other big thing here on the cars is our aero kits. I’m not sure if we’re going to announce this this year or next year, but every car will have its own identity. Very important to our series – just not sure because of the cost and complexity of it if we’re see this in 2012 and 2013.”
In doing the promoting and bringing forth the new car in 2012, Bernard spoke critically of attracting fans to the sport and making the series its own, separate from other racing divisions.
“We need to define ourselves in the form of our motorsports – different and separate us from everyone else – F1 and NASCAR,” he said. “We are the fastest, more versatile series in the world; no one can deny that. The fact that we race ovals, road course, and street courses at the speeds that we do is what separates us. We’re going to be 40-50 mph faster than NASCAR. F1 doesn’t do ovals. Matter of fact, most of those drivers are afraid to get into an IndyCar to do an oval because of the danger element. The other thing I think that is very important is that we need to go back to our roots.”
He went on to add that the promoting is needed as during the Champ Camp-Indy Racing League split in 1996, they lost 15 million fans. His goal is to attract those fans as he knows that they’re out there and they still do support the series.
With the all the promoting that’s going on to grow the series, a lot of people are wondering what will happen if Danica Patrick chooses to go full-time NASCAR in 2012 and what effect that will have on IndyCar. To that, Bernard says the series is in a good state and he’s more worried about keeping Go Daddy on board.
“I think the world of Danica,” he commented. “I think she’s going to make the right decision for her and I will wish her well whichever decision she makes. She’s done a lot for our sport and that’s what we need to remember. I think that she’ll probably go where the money is the best and I think that’s what I would do, you would do as well, and I think it’s more important right now I focus my attention to Go Daddy and make sure that I can keep Go Daddy apart of our series. I think without Go Daddy, Danica Patrick wouldn’t have the fame that she has and I’m looking out for the long term of our sport.
“It’s not any different when Mario left our sport or when Jordan or Shaq just left NBA. I think there will always be drivers or athletes that leave their sport and we’ve got a great pipeline of great new talent. We just Marco win his second race, first one in five years; we see great drivers like Graham Rahal, Charlie Kimball, J.R. Hildebrand – he’s an American who almost won the 500 in his rookie year. I mean, we’ve got a great pipeline right now and I’m glad it was next year instead of this year. I think we’ll be more prepared for it, as well as the new car with Chevy, Honda, Lotus.”
Next weekend, the IZOD IndyCar Series will be center stage in Toronto, Ontario, Canada for the Honda Indy, July 8th through the 10th.
“We’re going to celebrate our 25th Anniversary here this year,” Bernard said of the event during his presentation. “With one year it didn’t take place, and if it hadn’t been for Honda, Toronto and Savoree Green making sure there’d be something here, it could’ve gone away. The fact that they believed in it, we’re back on course. If there’s one message I hope you get out of here today, IndyCar is back.”
This year, Green Savoree Toronto invested millions into the track in updating the track barriers to the latest technology and to clean the facility up to present the best possible event as Bernard stated that he doesn’t want “to take IndyCar outside the country (United States) unless it’s going to be a big event.”
“I think Toronto, being one of the largest cities in North America, will always be a very important city for IndyCar,” he added later. “IndyCar is on the rise and we want to showcase our sport in great cities and that’s what Toronto does. I like to see the promoter here investing millions of dollars in his race because it’s only makes the racing that much bigger and better.”
To help with promoting the event, Honda Dealers Canada has created “Free Friday” where fans can get into the grounds and access the Paddocks (where the teams work on the cars), which has been used a good promotional tool to get fans to come back Saturday and Sunday.
“I think that what we need to do is continue to educate fans on what we’re trying to do,” he said. “I think the Honda Day out here is huge. Anybody can get a free ticket from Honda and come out to the track and see what’s going on, I think they’ll be blown away to see these cars go at the speed their going and have a beer and relax in the sun. How does it get any better in the beautiful city of Toronto?”
With all the hype going into the event, there are three Canadian drivers entered who each have the pedigree and ability to take the checkered flag.
“I think that James Hinchcliffe, Paul Tracy or Alex Tagliani – any three of those – could win this event and I think if it happens, it just sets the race up for the following year to be that much better,” Bernard commented. “But I think all three of them have a great shot this year. This year, with what we’ve seen halfway through the season, is that we have seven different team owners out of the top 10 and I think that’s remarkable. That shows you how deep our racing is going now.”
One of the big stories for Canadians going into this year’s event would be Tagliani, who won the pole for the Indianapolis 500, which is a highlight in Bernard’s book.
“Last year, he fought and fought to have that team and this year, he was able to partner Sam Schmidt – here’s a guy that was paralyzed in a car – and the fact that they’ve come together and been very successful,” Bernard said during the presentation. “They won the pole at Indy this year, which is no small feat at all. To me, in my sixteen months I’ve been here, I will say that’s in the top three highlights of my career here so far. The fact that I was sitting up in the grandstands and here’s a small team, not a Penske or Ganassi that just took the pole for the Indy 500, was a pretty amazing event. The fact that we’ll have these three Canadians compete here is big for us.”
The competition promises to be strong in Toronto as it has been all year with seven different team owners out of the top 10 cars. Bernard also put forth the promise that it’d be strong competition, especially with the double-file restarts.
“Going to the double-file (restarts), it’s created a lot of carnage and wrecks, which the drivers hate, and allowed us to see a lot more passing and overtake and see guys like last weekend, like Scott Dixon, going from 28th to 3rd, so you’ll see a lot more passing than you’ve ever seen before in Toronto and that’s a promise.”
IndyCar Suspends O2 Racing Technology and Team Owner Mark Olson
IndyCar, the governing body of the Firestone Indy Lights, announced yesterday that they have suspended the entrant license/membership of O2 Racing Technology and the individual membership of team owner Mark Olson until December 31, 2012, for actions during The Milwaukee Mile event June 18-19.
Officials said that Olson attempted to effect the conduct of the David Hobbs 100 as he encouraged others to breach their contracts with officials and withdraw from the event. The only entries to withdraw from the event were the O2 Racing Technology No. 36 and No. 63 entries.
“The mere act of attempting to impede the conduct of the event is something we will not tolerate,” Roger Bailey, Executive Director of Firestone Indy Lights, said. “We believe we have a great championship with Firestone Indy Lights that will help develop drivers and teams to prepare to move to the top level of open-wheel racing in North America, and we must maintain the integrity of our series.”
The actions were in violation of multiple rules as listed in the Firestone Indy Lights rulebook:
· Rule 1.1: Actions threatening the integrity of INDYCAR, Firestone Indy Lights and/or orderly conduct of an event.
· Rule 2.11 (C): Conduct creating adverse notoriety with respect to INDYCAR, Firestone Indy Lights or an event.
· Rule 9.3 (A): Attempting to or engaging in unsportsmanlike conduct or conduct detrimental to racing, INDYCAR and/or Firestone Indy Lights.
· Section 14 of the Event Entry Form: Engaging in tactics which would disrupt or delay the events.
The penalized parties may protest/appeal as prescribed in the Firestone Indy Lights rulebook. A protest/appeal may result in an increase, decrease or no change to the penalty.
Will Power Cleared To Drive After Wreck at Iowa, Tests at Mid-Ohio
Following a hard hit in the Turn 2 SAFER Barrier on June 25th at Iowa Speedway during Iowa Corn Indy 250 presented by Pioneer, Will Power was back at it behind the wheel, testing the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske car at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
Following the wreck, Power suffered a minor concussion and in which per IndyCar rules, Power took the ImPACT (Immediate Post-concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing) test and was re-evaluated.
“It’s good to be back out there in the Verizon car,” Power said, who enters Toronto second in the championship standings, 20 points behind Dario Franchitti. “It was a hard hit at Iowa, but I didn’t actually get knocked out or anything. I just had a headache for the first night and some neck soreness. I needed to get checked out by the INDYCAR officials and it was more precautionary than anything, but that’s good, because you can never be too careful.
“Every driver does a test, called an ImPACT test, at the beginning of every season. It basically tests your reflexes, your memory and so on. Then you have to go back and do that test again if you have an incident like what we had in Iowa. I took the test (June 28) and the doctors cleared me to drive.”
As a result of being cleared on July 28th, Power was on hand testing with Team Penske teammates Helio Castroneves and Ryan Briscoe, along with Dale Cyone Racing’s James Jakes. The IZOD IndyCar Series visits the 2.258-mile on August 7th for the 50th Anniversary Honda Indy 200.
The next race for the IZOD IndyCar Series is the Honda Indy Toronto, July 8th-10th, which Will Power won last year.
“I’m glad we got the chance to test here at Mid-Ohio to get ready for the road courses coming up,” Power said. “Now I’m looking forward to going back to Toronto next week and trying to defend our win there with Verizon Team Penske.”
Before racing in Toronto, Power will also participate in another test New Hampshire Motor Speedway with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s driver Pippa Mann.
IZOD IndyCar Series officials require drivers to take the ImPACT test at teh beginning of the year to set a baseline test as drivers are suspectiable to concussions and other head and neck injuries during crashess. Before a driver is allowed to enter an event, they are required to establish their baseline data by performing the 30-minute, computerized ImPACT test, which measures a range of neurocognitive functions including memory, reaction time, attention span and more. The test measures a driver’s cognitive abilities under normal, healthy conditions. If a driver suffers a head injryy, they are required to take the test and the doctors will compare the results with the baseline to determine the severity of the injury and best possible treatment.
Honda Canada VP Jerry Chenkin Addresses Media About IndyCar Series
As part of the IZOD IndyCar Series Media Lunchon in Toronto, Honda Canada Vice President Jerry Chenkin was on hand to discuss Honda’s involvement and his thoughts on Randy Bernard so far during Bernard’s 16 months of being the CEO of the IZOD IndyCar Series. Here is the full statement from Chenkin at the luncheon:
In just a little more than one year behind the IndyCar wheel, Randy Bernard has already initiated some fantastic things for the series making more interesting, I think you will all agree, and more fan friendly, with a new focus on a younger age bracket.
At Honda Canada, we know and share similar challenges that Randy has tackled. First, our organizations are both proud leaders in increasingly competitive markets that are undergoing dramatic changes, which require a more proactive approach with more brand recognition than ever before. Second, we both faced with battling two complete different groups with unique needs – those that are loyal to our brands through consistency and familiar value and those within the younger demographic, seeking things that are new and unique to them.
Three years ago, Honda Canada met with Kevin Savoree and his partners at that time – Michael Andretti was involved – and saw an opportunity to address both of these challenges by aligning ourselves with the premiere event in Canada, the Honda Indy. Now as sure as you all know, Honda’s racing and engine heritage speaks for itself so when the opportunity came to support IndyCar racing and remind our customers that Honda is not just any car company, we felt it was too good to ignore. After all, its fierce competition continues to drive our organization not only to create not only the best engines in the world, but the best cars, trucks, motorcycles, marine and power equipment as well.
Today, we are exceptionally proud to see our name on the event that has the world’s best engines, fastest cars and the greatest drivers to drive.
We’re also excited to see what Randy has in store for the IZOD IndyCar Series. In his previous role, Randy managed to take the brand of professional bull riders business from just $2000 to more than $20 million in just 10 years. In February of last year, Randy was named the CEO of the IZOD IndyCar Series.
We presented him with a new set of challenges in a new arena, so to speak. He was drawn to the opportunity after recognizing the sport’s raw potential, a potential driven to its great competition and entertainment value that it provides for its fan. Since climbing behind the wheel for IndyCar, Randy has taken steps to set IndyCar apart from its competitors and reunite it with its heritage, with its IndyCar name and statistics dating back to its first Indy 500 in 1911.
NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Sonoma
Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.
1. Carl Edwards: Edwards, who skipped Saturday’s Nationwide race in Wisconsin, finished third in the Toyota/Save Mart 350, posting his best ever finish at Sonoma. Edwards increased his lead in the point standings, and now leads Kevin Harvick by 25.
“I knew it would be wise to stay and concentrate on Sonoma,” Edwards said. “And Jack Roush was in agreement. In fact, he’s been begging me to ‘stay’ for weeks now. I’m in my final year of my contract with Roush Fenway Racing. If I don’t get the money I deserve, then Roush Fenway will hear me say what you’d expect the guy who’s led the points standings nearly all year say: ‘Watch me go.’”
2. Kevin Harvick: Harvick started 26th at Sonoma and recovered from a mid-race accident before fighting his way to a finish of ninth, taking his ninth top-10 finish of the year. He remained second in the point standings, and trails Carl Edwards by 25.
“First of all,” Harvick said, “I’d like to thank our sponsor, Rheem Tankless Water Heaters. We surely don’t want them called ‘Rheem Thankless Water Heaters.
“But the No. 29 Richard Childress Chevrolet wasn’t the only thing ‘reamed’ at Sonoma. There was lot of ‘bad blood’ out there, and I’m not talking about the bonds of kinship that link those blasted Busch brothers. Tony Stewart and Brian Vickers smacked each other around, leaving the rear of Stewart’s No. 14 elevated on a tire barrier. Vickers may hear from NASCAR about that. If so, it will be the first time a driver will be fined for another car’s rear end being too high.”
3. Kyle Busch: Busch finished a solid 11th in the Toyota/Save Mart 350 as big brother Kurt drove to a decisive victory. Kyle fell one spot to fifth in the point standings, 37 behind Carl Edwards.
“For once this year,” Busch said, “Kurt drove like a maniac instead of acting like one. The No. 22 Penske Dodge was unstoppable out front. I’m sure Kurt appreciated the clean air on the track as much as his team appreciated the ‘clean air’ on their radio frequency. Understandably, the ‘curse’ of Kurt Busch can only be lifted by a win.
“As for my finish, I’m satisfied. Or, to put it in terms that are rarely spoken by either of the Busch brothers, ‘I can’t complain.’”
4. Jimmie Johnson: Johnson joined Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon in the top 10 at Sonoma, finishing seventh to Gordon’s runner-up result. Johnson, who won last year at Sonoma, jumped two places in the Sprint Cup point standings to third, and trails Carl Edwards by 33.
“I enjoy racing in ‘Wine Country,’” Johnson said. “Someday, like Jeff Gordon, I hope to offer my own brand of fine wines, produced at my winery that will be called ‘Wynasty.’
5. Dale Earnhardt, Jr.: Earnhardt was one of seven cars collected in a lap 37 pile-up started when Tony Stewart spun Brian Vickers in Turn 11. The damage left a hole in the radiator of the No. 88 Amp Energy/National Guard Chevrolet was serious, and Earnhardt limped home with his first DNF of the year, finishing 41st.
“What caused our downfall?” Earnhardt asked. “Was it a hole, or a-holes? Hopefully, that’s the end of my involvement in the Tony Stewart-Brian Vickers feud. I though Red Bull was leaving NASCAR. Apparently, not without a fight.”
6. Kurt Busch: Busch led 76 of 110 laps in the Toyota/Save Mart 350, scoring his first career road course victory with a dominating performance at Sonoma. Busch beat Jeff Gordon by four seconds, and improved three spots in the Sprint Cup point standings to fourth, and now trails Carl Edwards by 34.
“That was a major butt-whupping,” Busch said, “and I agree with everyone who’s been saying that’s exactly what I’ve needed this year. Hopefully, this will be a harbinger of more good things to come. We’ve been wildly inconsistent this year. It’s been either tirade or parade.
“I’d like to thank my team for their hard work and perseverance. I believe they wanted this even more than I did. Not a win, mind you, but something that would finally shut me up.”
7. Jeff Gordon: Gordon stayed on the track during a caution with 20 laps to go, going from 20th to 8th before a dash to the checkers that gave him the runner-up finish at Sonoma. It was Gordon’s third top-5 finish in the last five races, and boosted him three spots in the point standings to ninth.
“I’m pleased with our finish here,” Gordon said. “But I have to admit, I had a lot more fun racing Kurt Busch last year as opposed to Sunday. I got a big kick, as well as a big punt, from being behind Kurt last year.”
8. Matt Kenseth: Kenseth was running 13th, up from his qualifying position of 26th, on lap 65 when he was tagged from behind by Joey Logano in the No. 20 Home Depot car. The spin dropped Kenseth back to 35th, and he gamely battled back to finish 14th. He remained sixth in the Sprint Cup point standings, 52 out of first.
“Not only was Logano’s move childish,” Kenseth said, “it was also child-ish. As such, and given my non-confrontational style, I shall handle the situation with ‘kid gloves.’”
9. Denny Hamlin: Hamlin was rear-ended by A.J. Allmendinger’s No. 43 Ford on lap 43, the contact from which was later determined to have damaged the track bar on Hamlin’s No. 11 Fed Ex Freight Toyota. Hamlin resigned to the garage for repairs and finished 37th, completing only 99 of 110 laps.
“We had the car to challenge Kurt Busch,” Hamlin said. “That is, until the bottom fell out, so to speak. Allmendinger may drive for Richard Petty, but his actions on Sunday surely weren’t fit for a king. In fact, A.J. is ‘STuPid.’ There was a lot of talk about road course ringers, but no one warned me about road course ‘Dingers.’ So Allmendinger gets the road course finger.”
10. Clint Bowyer: Bowyer finished fourth at Sonoma, posting his third top-5 finish this year. It was Bowyer’s best result this year, and he improved two places in the Sprint Cup point standings to eight.
“As you know,” Bowyer said, “my RCR teammate Jeff Burton will be taking NFL star Chad Ochocinco for some laps around Atlanta Motor Speedway on Thursday. Hopefully, this ride will last more than the 1.5 second bull ride Ochocinco took earlier this year. I think Jeff is really looking forward to this, and I expect he’ll get a lot from the experience, but not a word in edgewise.”
Notes From The NASCAR Nation: Crunching the Coke Zero 400 Numbers
After last weekend’s road course adventure featuring left and right turns and some road rage in between, the NASCAR Sprint Cup teams moves on another daunting challenge, superspeedway restrictor plate racing at the Daytona International Speedway. Saturday night’s Coke Zero 400 already has the making of a potential barn burner in a racing environment that could turn up some genuine surprises by the time the checkers fly through the air.
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[/media-credit]Because this is a restrictor plate race, fans can expect to see a return of the two car draft sequence recently established at both the Daytona and Talladega super speedways. It will literally be a case of two cars bumper to bumper trying to push each other past other racing tandems and into the lead. While it’s only natural to assume that Sprint Cup team mates will want to work with each other, it may not necessarily be the case. You will see plenty examples of unexpected dance partners based on how the two cars perform together. The partnerships could feature a Chevrolet pushing a Ford or a Dodge pushing a Toyota.
The in car radio transmissions will also be quite interesting Saturday night. Drivers have already made a list of who they want to communicate and work with and the radio frequencies of these potential dance partners have already been placed on a special in car dial up switch for quick access. Once contact and a partnership has been made, then the role of the spotters will increase. The driver doing the pushing are going to have difficulty seeing the track and the traffic front of him. It will be up to the spotter from the front car to guide both drivers while they’re hooked together. Then there’s the matter of race strategy. Will a duo try to maintain a position at the front of the field, or will they choose to stay at the back of the pack most of the evening and make their charge to the front at the end of the race?
Let’s not forget about “the big one.” The slightest miscalculated move could easily, and quickly, trigger a multi-car crash that could easily change the outcome of the race. “The big one” is always going to be a major factor in restrictor plate racing.
The Coke Zero 400 is going to have a lot of dramatic elements to it and will be well worth your Saturday night viewing time.
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The Las Vegas Breakdown
To take an accurate look at some of the Coke Zero 400 pre race favorites, we again turn to the experts from the Las Vegas based World Sports Exchange, (WSE).
The WSE has placed two huge potential winners right at the top of their list this week and has backed drivers Kevin Harvick and Dale Earnhardt Jr with 8 to 1 odds. First off, Harvick is the defending race champion from last year. He understands what it takes to win at Daytona and has backed that up with some impressive stats that includes two wins, five top five finishes, eight top tens and an average finish ratio, (AFR), of 15.8. He’s currently second in the championship standings, only 25 points behind leader Carl Edwards, and will be looking to improve those numbers as well Saturday night. This is a rock solid wager consideration.
So is Dale Earnhardt Jr. The excitement of this driver’s fan club, aka “The Junior Nation”, has hit a fever pitch over the past several weeks. The fact that the WSE has rated this driver at 8 to 1 indicates that they also believe that the combination of Earnhardt and crew chief Steve Letarte are going to be 2011 Chase contenders. However, Earnhardt will have to do some make up work to counteract last weekend’s disappointing 41st place finish at Infineon. He was a victim of someone else’s road course road rage that created a free fall from third to seventh in the championship rankings. The good news is the fact that Earnhardt is extremely good at this form of racing based on lessons well learned from his famous father. There could be some good news for the Junior Nation this Saturday night.
In the 12 to 1 group is a trio of drivers who could also become huge players in the outcome of this race. Tony Stewart is well versed in restrictor plate racing and has three Daytona wins and six overall super speedway wins. However his big concern Saturday night will be making the top ten in points to insure a berth in the 2011 Chase. Roller coaster performance levels this year has left Stewart 12th in the standings. Last Sunday’s road rage adventure with Brian Vickers didn’t exactly help that cause either. Stewart, after the Infineon race, defiantly proclaimed that anyone who intentionally blocked him was going to get dumped and he would keep doing that until NASCAR came up with a new rule to make him stop. One has to assume that those statements were made out of anger and frustration and a driver/team owner is not going to be interested in wadding up another race car this weekend. Making the Chase is by far too important.
Also at 12 to 1 is Jimmie Johnson, a previous Daytona winner and a six time super speedway winner. Johnson goes into Saturday night third in the points, 33 from the lead, and appears to be poised to launch a major offensive towards that sixth, consecutive, Sprint Cup championship.
Completing the 12 to 1 trio is the red hot Kurt Busch and his Penske Racing Dodge. A week ago it was pointed out that the elder Busch brother had never won a road course race. He took care of that deficiency last weekend with a dominant win at Infineon. Now we’re being reminded that Busch has never won a super speedway restrictor plate race. With the performance levels this team is displaying that issue could be resolved this Saturday night.
At 13 to 1 odds you will find the trio of Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards and Jeff Gordon. Busch is a former Daytona winner and a two time super speedway winner. Whatever you may think of this driver, his NASCAR numbers do not lie. He’s a genuine threat to win a race every time he straps himself in the driver’s seat.
Carl Edwards will be the first to tell you that restrictor plate racing is not exactly his strong suit. In fact he’s still searching for his first ever super speedway win. That stat aside, Edwards is having a wonderful racing season. He’s currently the points leader and this Roush Fenway Racing team is more and more looking like Sprint Cup champions.
Jeff Gordon is the driver with all of the positive Daytona stats. He holds the series record, among active drivers, with wins at six, the most top fives at 12 and he shares the record with Mark Martin for most top tens at 18. His second place finish at Infineon last Sunday moved him to ninth in the points. Daytona is an excellent place for Gordon to improve on that ranking.
The above WSE ranking are considered to be rock solid wager considerations. Now let’s take a look at some potential long shots. All by himself, at 14 to 1 odds, is Jamie McMurray. Granted, this team is not exactly having the season everyone thought they would. They are mired down in 27th in the points and their 2011 season has become a matter of trying to collect wins and aiming for 2012. The long shot consideration lies in the fact that McMurray is very good at this form of racing. He has two Daytona wins and four overall super speedway wins.
At 15 to 1 you will find Denny Hamlin and Clint Bowyer, two drivers who will be seeking their first Daytona wins this Saturday night. Hamlin, a pre season championship favorite, has endured a roller coaster season such as last week’s mechanical failure at Infineon that dropped him to 11th in the standings. Despite the occasional bouts with bad racing luck, this team could pull off a surprise win Saturday night.
The same goes for Bowyer who is actually very good at restrictor plate racing. He’s still trying to find Daytona’s victory lane, but he understands the process of this form of racing and proved it with a win at Talladega. His overall consistent levels this season has him ranked eighth in the points standings.
In the lower tier, of this week’s WSE rankings, you will find Jeff Burton, Juan Pablo Montoya and David Ragan at 25 to 1. Burton is a former Daytona winner and knows how to get the job done. Unfortunately, the inconsistent performance levels of the team, combined with some horrible racing luck, has left him 24th in the standings.
You may want to avoid putting some cash on Montoya this weekend. Plate racing is clearly not his thing. There may also be the element of some payback from last Sunday’s race at Infineon.
David Ragan is the most interesting of this group. Although he has a contract extension with Roush Fenway Racing in his hip pocket, he has some serious sponsorship issues to consider. Long time primary sponsor United Parcel Service is in the final year of their contract with the team. Considered to be one of the most lucrative sponsorship packages in NASCAR, the delivery company is reported to be examining other options. Ragan has showed some strength this year and even created a few moments for the television highlight reels. But this is a driver who seriously needs a win. If the team is going to resign UPS then they need to hand them a great reason for staying.
In the WSE’s 30 to 1 ranking you will find a quintet of drivers featuring Ryan Newman, Kasey Kahne, Greg Biffle, Mark Martin and Matt Kenseth. Newman is a Daytona winner currently tenth in the points and could be worthy of a long shot consideration.
Kahne has endured a season’s worth of up and down performance levels with Red Bull Racing. He’s of course finishing out the year with the team while waiting to join his new ride at Hendrick Motorsports. However, Kahne has made it clear that he would like to help Red Bull get a win especially in light of recent news that the energy drink company is pulling out of team ownership this year and investors are being sought to keep the operation going.
Biffle’s 2011 season is just plan frustrating to watch. A team expected to make the 2011 Chase roster is just mired down. However he’s a former Daytona winner and Saturday night could be the time for him to get that bad luck monkey off of his back.
Believe it or not, Daytona is one of the few tracks on the Sprint Cup schedule that has never hosted Mark Martin in its victory lane despite the fact he has four super speedway wins at Talladega. Despite Daytona luck that often has him finding “the big one”, Martin has a very healthy 14.1 finish ratio there in 52 starts.
Kenseth is also a former Daytona winner and a three time super speedway winner as well. For those of you who don’t mind long shot wagers, Kenseth could be your man Saturday night. But bear in mind that the team just got handed a major distraction in recent days with the announcement that Crown Royal will not be returning as their sponsor next year.
Concluding this week’s WSE rankings, at 35 to 1, are David Reutimann, Brad Keselowski, Trevor Bayne, Joey Logano and Brian Vickers. The one interesting stand out here is Bayne who of course pulled off that huge win last February in the Daytona 500. Could this youngster pull off another another miracle win, especially after being out of the car several weeks due to illness? I think Frank Sinatra probably put it best when he sang “fairy tales can come true, they can happen to you, if you’re young at heart.”
Remember this is plate racing at Daytona. Anything could happen and often has over the years.
Now for the disclaimer: NASCAR wants to remind you that these odds numbers are for informational and entertainment purposes only. They neither encourage nor condone the placing of wagers on their races. But if you’re going to do it anyway, and many of you will, then you at least have the professional advice from the professionals at the World Sports Exchange. Remember: “fairy tales can come true, they can happen to you”….etc.
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The Race Breakdown
The Coke Zero 400 is 160 laps/400 miles around the Daytona International Speedway’s mammoth 2.5 mile oval.
The race has 46 entries vying for the 43 starting berths. 11 of those entries are on the go or go home list. These teams are not guaranteed a starting berth because they are currently outside of the top 35 in NASCAR owner’s points. These teams will have to rely on qualifying speed to make the race.
The top 35 in owner’s points is going to be an interesting focal point during this race. Robby Gordon currently holds down the 35th position but he’s only three points ahead of Trevor Bayne with Andy Lally in 37th just 17 points away.
Pre race track position is extremely important at Daytona and that will place a special emphasis on the Friday qualifying session. Out of 128 races at Daytona, 25 of them, 19.53%, have been won from the pole position, 69 races, 53.91%, were won from a top five starting berth and 100 race winners, 78.13%, started within the top ten.
Never forget that Daytona has a habit of last minute hard chargers making their way to the front during the final laps to steal a win while we all yell “where did he come from?” A prime example of this is Jamie McMurray who only needed to lead two laps to win last year’s Daytona 500.
The big concern here may be the weather forecast for the Daytona Beach area. There are two common denominators here. The first is partly sunny skies and 91 degrees during the day. The second factor is the possibility of evening rain, along with isolated thunder storms, all weekend long. The 40% chance of rain on Friday alone could cancel qualifying and that same forecast also applies to Saturday race day. Even if the race has to be postponed to Sunday, there’s still a 20% chance of rain.
The Coke Zero 400 will be broadcast live by the TNT Network beginning at 630 pm eastern time. The race re air will be on Wednesday, July 6th, at 12 pm eastern on SPEED.
