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NOTES FROM THE NASCAR NATION: It’s time to return to ‘regular’ racing

By
SM Staff
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Remember last Sunday when 15.6 million television viewers, and 182,000 spectators, watched the Daytona 500 in awe stuck wonder over a form of NASCAR Sprint Cup racing we had never seen before? We all marveled at the two car drafts, the elaborate radio communications to set up driver partnerships and the changes NASCAR had to implement to keep their Sprint Cup cars under the 200 MPH zone.

[media-credit name=”David Yeazell” align=”alignright” width=”225″][/media-credit]Forget about that for the time being. It’s time to return to regular racing. The elite of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will be doing some good old fashioned flat track racing at the Phoenix International Raceway this Sunday with the running of the Subway Fresh Fit 500 (K). Sunday’s race is going to be about which team has the best handling, and the best car balance, while negotiating a one mile oval that basically has no banking at all. There’s also the element of passing for position at Phoenix: it’s not that easy and has to be carefully negotiated.

THE STORY BREAKDOWN

One of the more obvious story lines will involve the element of redemption. There are a lot of high profile Sprint Cup teams who left Daytona last weekend with disappointing finishes which in turn placed them between a rock and hard place in the early season championship standings. This is especially true of the teams who found themselves caught up in the early race, 17 car, “big one.” It also applies to Richard Childress Racing drivers Kevin Harvick and Jeff Burton. Both were considered pre season Chase contenders and both exited the Daytona 500 with uncharacteristic blown engines.

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Then there’s the matter of Daytona 500 champion Trevor Bayne. With winning the great American race comes a media and public relations blitz that would wear out even a healthy 20 year old. Bayne literally spent this week criss crossing the country while doing telephone interviews in between personal appearances.

Bayne also had a big decision to make this week regarding which NASCAR championship he would be running for in 2011. Recent changes in NASCAR policy states that a driver can only declare to seek just one of their big three national touring titles. Bayne, scheduled to race the full time NASCAR Nationwide Series for Roush Fenway Racing, had originally declared to run for that title. But after the Daytona Cup win he was presented with an offer to change his option for the Chase title.

In what is considered to be a very wise move, Bayne chose to stick to his original option and seek the Nationwide title. While the sponsorship profile for his Roush Fenway Ford is still rather tentative at this point, the effort is being backed by one of the more powerful teams in NASCAR who will insure the car is entered in every one of the events on the Nationwide schedule.

On the Sprint Cup side, Bayne’s tenure with Wood Brothers Racing was originally set for a part time schedule of 17 sponsored races. That number was bumped to 18 events after the team decided to use a portion of the Daytona winnings to add the Martinsville race to their schedule. While it’s extremely possible that the team’s Daytona performance could attract new sponsorships, there is no real guarantee the offers will be enough to cover the expenses of all 36 races.

Again, Bayne made a wise choice that was likely aided by some sage advice from the likes of Jack Roush.

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Also this weekend you will hear a lot about the lawsuit issued by former NASCAR Sprint Cup team owner Ray Evernham against his former partner George Gillette Jr. The suit is seeking damages of $19.3 million and was filed this past Tuesday at the North Carolina Superior Court in Mecklenburg County. The specific defendants are the Gillette owned Booth Creek Management and Gillette GEMS LLC.

Evernham, who created the team, that is now known as Richard Petty Motorsports, sold the majority interest to Gillette back in 2007. After some extreme problems in his financial profile, Gillette sold the operation to a group of businessmen, including Richard Petty, late last year. Evernham claims that he was never paid for his former 20% interest in the team and Gillette is in breach of their contract.

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A God bless and welcome goes to the newest member of the NASCAR nation. Sprint Cup driver Matt Kenseth and his wife Katie welcomed the arrival of their new baby daughter this week. Grace Katherine Kenseth arrived at 3:49 am Tuesday morning weighing seven pounds eight ounces. Mom and daughter are reported to be doing just fine. The new baby joins her sister Kaylin and brother Ross.

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Over the past several years we’ve all witnessed Sprint Cup driver Carl Edwards do his signature back flip off of his car after winning a race. I’ve often wondered if team owner Jack Roush was a little nervous over this maneuver due to the high possibility of a bad landing and driver injury.

If a back flip worries Roush then you have to wonder about his feelings regarding what his dare devil driver did on Thursday in Las Vegas. Edwards was in town to help promote the March 6th Sprint Cup race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Apparently he thought it would really cool to visit the Stratosphere Hotel and Casino and take in their “Sky Jump Las Vegas.” This is a controlled free fall plummet of 885 feet at approximately 40 MPH.

The good news is the fall offers a breath taking, panoramic, view of the Las Vegas Strip. The bad news is it’s a little nerve racking for NASCAR team owners to learn that their driver is the one doing the free fall.

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THE VEGAS BREAKDOWN

The Las Vegas based World Sports Exchange, (WSE), has placed driver Denny Hamlin on top of their list to win Sunday’s race and they’re backing it with 5 to 1 odds. This is a most interesting proposition. Hamlin is still seeking his first win at Phoenix, but he does have a previous track record of five top five finishes, six top tens along with an average finish of 11.6 at the track.

Second on the WSE list this week is a wager that makes a lot more sense. It’s Jimmie Johnson who practically rules the important categories at the Phoenix International Raceway. Johnson has a series high four wins there along with ten top five finishes and 13 top tens. He also has a series high average finish ratio of 4.9.

Next in line, at 13 to 2, is Carl Edwards which is another worthy consideration. Edwards won the second Phoenix event last November in a very dominating fashion. Also bear in mind that there is a huge momentum swing at Roush Fenway Racing and the Roush Yates Engines program, with the Ford FR9 engines, seems to be running at full strength.

At seven to one you will find former Phoenix winner Kyle Busch who is always a threat to find victory lane on any given weekend. Next is a trio of drivers, led by two time race winner Kevin Harvick, at 12 to 1. Harvick is joined by former Phoenix winners Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon in this category.

At 18 to 1 you will find drivers Kurt Busch and Greg Biffle. Busch is a former Phoenix winner. You also have to factor the Penske Racing operation’s strong presence during Daytona Speedweeks. Biffle is another driver from the Roush Fenway Ford stable and, at 18 to 1, is a wager well worth considering.

Clint Bowyer, and his Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, is rated 20 to 1 this week followed by Roush Fenway Ford driver Matt Kenseth at 21 to 1 odds. But it’s the driver at 22 to 1 odds that could be the strongest consideration for those of you who don’t mind long shot wagers. That would be Mark Martin whose Phoenix stats includes two wins, a series high 12 top fives and 19 top ten finishes. Martin also has a very healthy average finish ratio of 8.5 at Phoenix.

Also a worthy long shot consideration is two time Phoenix winner Jeff Burton along with Ryan Newman, who won last year’s April race. Both drivers are listed at 23 to 1 odds this week.

At the bottom half of the WSE listing this week you will find Juan Pablo Montoya at 30 to 1. At 40 to 1 is a quartet of drivers featuring Dale Earnhardt Jr, Joey Logano, Martin Truex Jr and David Reutimann. Finally the WSE doesn’t seem to have a lot of faith in the Red Bull Racing Toyotas this week. They have their drivers, Kasey Kahne and Brian Vickers, listed at 50 and 55 to 1.

Now for the disclaimer. NASCAR wants us to remind you that these numbers are for information and entertainment purposes. They neither encourage nor condone the placing of wagers on their races. For those of you who may feel guilty about going against their wishes, then send the money to me and I’ll place the bet for you. (Yeah Right !)

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THE RACE BREAKDOWN

The Subway Fresh Fit 500 (K) is 312 laps, 312 miles/500 km, around the Phoenix International Raceway’s one mile oval.

The race has 45 entries vying for the 43 starting berths. Ten of those entries are on the go or go home list. This means these teams do not have a guaranteed start 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.

That could pose a problem for the go or go home teams due to the weather. The Saturday forecast calls for rain in the Phoenix area which could wash out qualifying. It could also hamper the running of the NASCAR Nationwide Series scheduled for Saturday evening. Sunday’s forecast calls for clearing skies with some variable high clouds and a daytime high of 65 degrees.

Opened in 1964, the Phoenix International Raceway complex features a one mile oval connected to a 2.5 mile road course. The track is a prominent challenge to drivers because of its flat nature. There are only 11 degrees banking in turns one and two and nine degrees in turns three and four. The frontstretch, 1,179 feet, only has three degrees banking while the backstretch, 1,551 feet, is banked nine degrees. The pit road speed is 45 MPH. The speedway presently has seating for 76,812 fans.

The late Alan Kulwicki won the first NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Phoenix back in 1988. Since that time the series has raced there 29 times with 21 different drivers parking their cars in victory lane.

Carl Edwards holds the track qualifying record, 136.389 MPH, set in November of last year.

The Subway Fresh Fit 500 (K) will be broadcast live by Fox Sports with the pre race show beginning at 230 pm eastern time. The replay will be broadcast by the SPEED Channel on Wednesday, March 2nd, beginning at 12 pm eastern.

StopRepairBills.com Teams Up with Josh Wise and Go Green Racing

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SM Archive
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Landon Cassill Tests For Jimmie Johnson At GMP

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Fan Picks Race Winner Correctly in 1st Week of Richmond International Raceway’s $100,000 Contest

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Celebrity Poker Tournament to Raise Money for Victory Junction

By
Barry Albert
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NASCAR DRIVERS, CELEBRITIES AND PROFESSIONAL POKER PLAYERS JOIN FORCES TO RAISE MONEY FOR VICTORY JUNCTION  

Celebrity Poker Tournament to Raise Money for Kids with Chronic Illnesses   Denver, CO – Black Ace Clothing is pleased to announce a celebrity charity poker tournament hosted by poker star Tiffany Michelle featuring special NASCAR guests Kyle Petty and Ryan Newman.  Net proceeds from the Black Ace tournament will raise money for Victory Junction, a camp that serves children with chronic medical conditions and serious illness. The tournament will be held March 3, 2011 at 7:30pm at the Hard Rock Casino. This event will be a No Limit Texas Hold’em event with a buy in of $250 and $100 rebuys and is open to the public. 

An autograph session for fans will be held from 6:30 – 7:15pm.  Players will compete for cash and prizes awarded to the top finishing positions. To participate in the tournament players can register onsite at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino anytime the day of the event.   “We are thrilled that Black Ace Clothing recognizes the value of Victory Junction to children across the country and was willing to create this event to ensure we see as many kids as we can in 2011”, said Kyle Petty co-founder of Victory Junction.

Scheduled to appear at the tournament are a growing list of NASCAR stars, professional Poker Pros and Hollywood personalities including: Richard Petty, Tiffany Michelle, Kyle Petty, Layne Flack, Vanessa Rousso, David Williams, Antonio Esfandiari, Maria Ho, Ryan Newman, Penn Jillette, David Alen Grier, Shaun Sipos, Bob Guiney, Dave Stewart (MLB), C Thomas Howell, Jennifer Cox, Trishelle Cannatella and more.

  “Black Ace Clothing is very proud to be working with Victory Junction to help make a difference in the lives of these kids,” said Brad McCullough of Black Ace.

“Bringing together the exhilaration of live poker on the same weekend as the NASCAR race will be a winning formula for both fans and players alike. Tiffany Michelle is one of today’s most exciting poker stars and fans of both the poker and NASCAR worlds can now meet and play with their favorite personalities while supporting this unique and life-changing place.”  

Check the website at www.blackaceclothing.com for more updates.   About Victory Junction: Victory Junction is a year-round camping environment for children ages six to 16 with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses. Founded by Kyle and Pattie Petty in honor of their son Adam, the camp is located in Randleman, NC, with a second location opening soon in Kansas City, KS. Victory Junction offers programs for a range of disease groups and maintains strong relationships with more than 30 partner hospitals. Victory Junction’s mission is to provide life-changing camping experiences that are exciting, fun and empowering, in a safe and medically-sound environment. As a not-for-profit organization, the camp operates solely through the support of generous individuals, groups and corporations to provide this experience at no charge to children and their families. For more information or to donate, visit www.victoryjunction.org.

Donnie Wingo Presented With The WYPALL* Wipers Crew Chief of the Race Award At 53rd Running Of The Daytona 500

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SM Archive
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BOB TASCA AND MOTORCRAFT / QUICK LANE MUSTANG PRIMED FOR CHAMPIONSHIP CHASE AS 2011 FUNNY CAR SEASON OPENS

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SM Archive
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Trevor Bayne’s Bandwagon: Custom Made or Mass Produced?

By
SM Staff
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Bandwagons are illus ional mysteries.

There are no definitive pictures, sketches or photos. Anyone can be a part of the bandwagon.

The only requirement is that you must jump on.

During a race weekend the Sprint Cup garage is truly where the action is.

At any given moment you can stop, look around, and be treated to a panorama of today’s NASCAR.

A simple check of visual acuity will tell you who the reigning Sprint Cup Champion is, where each driver stacks up in points, and which drivers carry the burden of go-or-go home.

During speed weeks at Daytona, a trip through the back side of the Sprint Cup garage is where you would find the go-or-go home rides of Derrick Cope, Joe Nemechek, Michael Waltrip, Casey Mears and the car of a young kid named Trevor Bayne.

Bayne made it clear during qualifying that he wasn’t going home. Running a fast lap of 185.445 mph secured the outside of row 1, until Dale Earnhardt Jr. bumped him to third.

After finishing 19th because of a last lap crash in his Gatorade Duel, Bayne would settle for a 32nd starting position in the Daytona 500.

By now just about everyone around the world has heard the news about the outcome of the Great American Race.

Winning the Daytona 500 is the difference between I am here and here I am!

Construction of the Trevor Bayne bandwagon began right about the time the checkered flag waved.

It’s quite possible the shape and size was determined by the amount of space occupied by friends, media, sponsors and fans.

Who, or what, drives the bandwagon can also be considered an anomaly. Those entities driving the positive side are almost certainly jockeying for position with those driving the negative side. For Trevor Bayne, both carriages will carry many occupants.

No matter which bandwagon carries the majority, it doesn’t mean it’s the right one for the bandwagon namesake.

In this case, Trevor Bayne, his handlers, or advisors, have many options and many decisions to make in the coming weeks. Those decisions have to be what’s best for him, and may not be what’s popular with the bandwagon construction crew.

Being thrust into a career change because of one successful event can be very costly and damaging, especially if the one being thrust is not ready, or even worse, not capable of handling it.

Previous Daytona 500 winner Derrick Cope, and Sprint Cup single event winner Brad Kezelowski had similar bandwagons constructed for them.

Bandwagons are a dime a dozen, made of opinionated materials and painted with water colors.

Unfortunately, bandwagons also come without warranties.

[media-credit id=22 align=”alignright” width=”133″][/media-credit]Winning a single race only proves you can win; it doesn’t make you a proven winner.

NASCAR will head out to Phoenix in a few short days. Construction on the next bandwagon begins soon.

Hot 20 over the past 10 as they race at Phoenix

By
Ron Thornton
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So, who is the hottest driver thus far this season? Well, that would be 20-year old Trevor Bayne. The kid wins the Daytona 500 his first time out, but he is slated to be a Nationwide driver this season, so he got the win but no points. Is that fair? Is it fair to have Kevin Harvick, Carl Edwards, Clint Bowyer, Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski the junior series champs these past five years? No, so let the young man and those like him have a shot at attaining glory amongst their peers before reaching for the brass ring. Of course, one of them already has one sitting in his pocket.

As for the hottest driver over the past ten events run in Cup, that would remain five-time champ Jimmie Johnson. As they move on to Phoenix for this Sunday’s event, each driver would need to match his efforts of ten races ago, in Dover, to maintain their pace. For Johnson, that would mean winning.

Pos – Driver – Points – (Pts at Dover in Sept)

1 (1) Jimmie Johnson 385 pts (48 at Dover)
“I am the champion, my friends, and I’ll keep on fighting til the end.”

2 (3) Denny Hamlin -25 (35 at Dover)
Always a Chaser, never a Champ.

3 (2) Kevin Harvick -34 (29 at Dover)
Had one of the best damn engines out there…for 20 laps.

4 (5) Mark Martin -36 (32 at Dover)
Has a decent start to his final year with Hendrick

5 (4) Carl Edwards -39 (40 at Dover)
With Bayne still in diapers, it is Cousin Carl who leads the standings

6 (6) Joey Logano -59 (42 at Dover)
Now has company at the kiddie’s table

7 (7) Matt Kenseth -82 (29 at Dover)
Not miffed that he got Biffed at Daytona

8 (11) Tony Stewart -89 (23 at Dover)
Where, oh where, can his Junior be?

9 (9) Jamie McMurray -92 (31 at Dover)
Eight cylinders beat seven every time.

10 (14) Paul Menard -95 (37 at Dover)
Daddy has some money, Sonny has some momentum

11 (12) A.J. Allmendinger -97 (36 at Dover)
Sitting in a car fit for a King.

12 (9) Ryan Newman -104 (36 at Dover)
Adequate start, unfortunate Daytona finish

13 (10) Greg Biffle -111 (25 at Dover)
Daytona? He thought it was Demo Derby.

14 (16) Kurt Busch -111 (41 at Dover)
Brother, where art thou?

15 (15) Kyle Busch -116 (39 at Dover)
The driver was stable, the car was not.

16 (18) Juan Pablo Montoya -116 (30 at Dover)
The march to the top has begun.

17 (17) Clint Bowyer -121 (19 at Dover)
Second in the Nationwide race, no points. Knows how Bayne feels.

18 (13) Jeff Gordon -128 (33 at Dover)
Winning five titles apparently aint easy.

19 (19) David Ragan -131 (20 at Dover)
When you re-start to the right, you need to stay to the right

20 (20) Regan Smith -132 (18 at Dover)
The folks at Furniture Row are riding their own Rocky Mountain high.

Race Talk Radio’s Dennis Michelsen and Lori Munro host a weekly poll of the top 20 drivers, as selected by pundits that include yours truly, Bob Dillner, Monte Dutton, Tom Bowles and a host of others.  Check it out at racetalkradio.com

NASCAR’s Savior. Is it Trevor Bayne? Or Is That a Dream?

By
SM Staff
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As Trevor Bayne makes his victory tour this week, the question remains. Is he the savior of NASCAR or will the throngs be disappointed as he struggles through the next few races finding his way? Truth is, Daytona (and Talladega—both restrictor plate tracks) seem to create different kinds of winners. You can go down the list—Cope, Hamilton, Lund, Michael Waltrip, and many others. Guys who are competent drivers, but who didn’t do much outside of the two plate tracks. Yes, there is evidence that Bayne is the real deal, but is he?

[media-credit name=”CIA Stock Photo” align=”alignright” width=”300″][/media-credit]Another factor to consider is the Wood Brothers, or in this case, the Wood cousins. Eddie Wood and Len Wood are the sons of Glen and Leonard Wood. They are old school and as much as I want them to dominate the series once again, that is not likely for various reasons. I listened to Buddy Baker talk about the Woods tonight on Sirius radio. His comment that an owner with a wrench in his pocket (speaking of Eddie Wood) is admirable and what I think the sport is, or at least was, all about may not be realistic in 2011. With all my being, I hope it is relevant, but I have my doubts. And I hate that I have doubts.

The first hurdle that the Woods have to jump is that Trevor Bayne is contracted to Roush-Fenway Racing. There is no doubt that at some point that Bayne will appear in a RFR car at some point, leaving the Woods high and dry. The agreement the Woods have is similar to the one Richard Petty Motorsports have with RFR. Roush supplies the chassis and engines for their cars and prepare the cars. Part of the deal for 2011 included Bayne for as many races as the Woods could get sponsorship (and you have to wonder what part Roush had in getting those points for the first five races had to do with RFR’s alliance with Richard Petty Motorsports). That said, with David Ragan on shaky ground at RFR and contract negotiations ongoing with Greg Biffle and Carl Edwards, who’s to say that Bayne could end up in one of those cars sooner than later? And that would leave the Woods to sign Ragan or another has-been driver. I shudder at the thought.

The best case scenario is that Bayne continues his brilliance at Phoenix, Las Vegas, Bristol, and Martinsville, and the Woods get enough sponsorship to continue. The Wood Brothers deserve it and the Sprint Cup series could reach a new level.

For so long I’ve heard the rumbling from fans. Yes, many adore Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Mark Martin, and certainly Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Others like Jeff Burton, Kevin Harvick, and Clint Bowyer. The same could be said for Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, and Joey Logano, as well as Jamie McMurray, but for so long, while Hendrick Motorsports fans, Richard Childress Racing fans, and Joe Gibbs Racing fans have been happy, the great silent majority wants to see someone else win. Trevor Bayne gave everyone a chance to cheer on February 20th, much like Jamie McMurray did in 2010, but it has to continue. If the sport is to flourish like it did in days past, it must happen beyond Roush-Fenway Racing, Richard Childress Racing, Hendrick Motorsports, and Joe Gibbs Racing. The future of NASCAR depends on it.

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