THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
May 27th, 2012
Volume VI, Edition XCV
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FRONTSTRETCH AT THE TRACK: A number of your favorite Frontstretch writers are live at Charlotte Motor Speedway for this evening's Coca-Cola 600. Follow along on Facebook and Twitter (@TheFrontstretch, @NASCARBowles, @MNeffShortTrack and @Writer_Amy) for everything you need to know from pre-race all the way up to the checkered flag.
Also, we at Frontstretch would like to congratulate one of our fine young writers, Summer Dreyer, on her wedding to Allen Bedgood! Best wishes for a bright and happy future together. If you'd like to congratulate Summer, send her an email at summer.dreyer@frontstretch.com.
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Nationwide Series Race Recap: Keselowski Stretches Fuel To Win History 300 at Charlotte
by Amy Henderson
There wasn't a question of whether Brad Keselowski was fast enough to win the History 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, but as the laps ticked away and Keselowski held a solid lead over first Kyle Busch and then Denny Hamlin, there was still a question on his mind. Was there enough fuel in the tank of the No. 22 Dodge to make it to lap 200? As it turns out, there was, and Keselowski held on to win by 0.838 seconds over Hamlin, running 73 laps without stopping for fuel. Busch, Kevin Harvick, and Elliott Sadler rounded out the top-5. The rest of the top-10 included Joey Logano, James Buescher, Justin Allgaier, Sam Hornish, Jr., and Joey Coulter, who made his Nationwide debut this week.
While Keselowski and Hamlin were among seven drivers to lead the race, a points battle was brewing behind them. But at first, that didn't look like it would be the case. Joey Logano led the field to green on Saturday afternoon. Point leader Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. almost immediately took the field three-wide in Logano's rear view mirror as he fought for position, and second-place Elliott Sadler slid back in the early laps.
The green flag didn't fly for long, though, as Travis Pastrana, who had started in 42nd spot due to a spin in qualifying, turned it around again in turn 4, bringing out the first of seven caution flags for the afternoon. With limited tires for the race, nobody came to pit road. When the action got back underway, Logano got a smooth restart over Sam Hornish, Jr. and Stenhouse, as the field battled two-wide behind him.
Just as everyone was getting a good rhythm going, the engine let go on the No. 23 of Robert Richardson, dropping fluids on the track and bringing out caution number two. Richardson wasn't the only driver facing engine problems early-Denny Hamlin came to pit road under the yellow so his team could change the carburetor on the No. 18, and afterward, Hamlin reported that his engine still didn't feel right, and at that point, his team made the decision to run as far as they could and see if they could learn anything. It turned out to be the right decision as the problem resolved and Hamlin was in contention for the win when all was said and done.
When the race went back to green on lap 22, it was Kevin Harvick who wasted no time in taking the lead and running with it. Harvick stretched out to as much as four seconds over second-place at one point, and led four times for a race-high 92 laps. Logano faded a bit along with several others, including Danica Patrick, who started third but fell to 11th by lap 29 and wound up finishing 13th.
As the quarter mark of the race came and went, point leader Ricky Stenhouse, Jr was on the move, moving up to second spot, despite angering Brad Keselowski, who noted that the reigning champ was "driving over his head again." But all was not well for Stenhouse, who would end up spending 22 laps in the garage for repairs after running over a piece of debris that broke the drivetrain in the No. 6 Ford, and opening up the door for Sadler to gain on him in the race.
The afternoon's third caution was for the No. 00 of Angela Cope and an engine gone south. A few drivers, including Hornish, Patrick, and Mike Bliss, had already come to pit road for service, and lost a lap, which they were all able to regain by taking the wave-around. Harvick was almost trapped as well, but was able to avoid the commitment line at the last second. The leaders came to pit road under yellow for tires and fuel, while Jason Bowles stayed out to lead and get his team a bonus point.
But it was all Harvick when the race went back to green. Unfortunately for the Richard Childress Racing driver, that lasted just four laps before Pastrana spun for a second time in turn 4, bringing out the fourth caution. Pastrana again avoided hitting anything, and the caution lasted just three laps. Harvick held the point on the restart, but Keselowski began to show his hand, moving up to second as Kasey Kahne faded a little.
A round of green flag pit stops began at lap 112, allowing both Justin Allgaier and Mike Wallace to lead laps for bonus points, as Harvick held on through the cycle to lead when everyone had stopped. With 80 to go, Harvick looked to be the man to beat as he led Keselowski and Logano easily, but the yellow flags weren't done yet, and the next one flew at lap 125 after Tayler Malsam slapped the wall. The damage to Malsam's car was fairly minimal, but there was enough debris to cause the slowdown. This time it was Logano who led the field off pit road after a two-tire stop for the top five. When the race went back to green, Logano got a solid start from the outside lane, clearing Kahne and leaving him to fight Harvick and Kyle Busch instead. But the two-tire strategy didn't work for Logano's car for long, and both Kahne and Harvick worked him over and Kahne took the lead for a pair of laps before handing it over to Keselowski.
From then on, it was clear that Keselowski had the car to beat. He led until the sixth caution flew on lap 139 for a two-car accident between Bowles and Josh Richards. Keselowski and crew chief Jeremy Bullins made the decision to stay out despite being three to five laps short on fuel, banking on there being enough caution laps to make up the difference. Kahne and Allgaier also gambled while the other leaders came to pit road for fuel.
This time the green flag lasted just two laps before fluid on the track from the wreck caused several cars to slide, and Brian Scott couldn't hang onto the No. 11, spinning in the fluid and collecting Cole Whitt. This time the track was cleaned thoroughly, and the green flag would stay out until the white replaced it.
And it was all the Brad Keselowski Show, as Keselowski left Busch, Hamlin, and Harvick to battle for second. Busch took it until inside 15 to go, trading gains of a tenth or two with Keselowski until Hamlin caught Busch and passed him for the spot, his engine woes long gone. Hamlin was able to close within a second of Keselowski, and the question as the laps ticked by was whether Keselowski's fuel could last the 73 laps required for the win. In the end, it did, with enough left over for a celebratory burnout in honor of Bullins' first career win as a crew chief.
Stenhouse's drivetrain issue cost him 21 of the 34 point cushion he had entering the weekend. Sadler sits 13 back in second, and rookie Austin Dillon is third, 28 behind Stenhouse. Hornish and Cole Whitt round out the top-5.
Editor's Note: For a more in-depth look at the History 300, be sure to check out Nationwide Series Breakdown.
Amy Henderson is a Senior Writer for Frontstretch.com. She can be reached via e-mail at amy.henderson@frontstretch.com.
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Keselowski Fastest in Sprint Cup Series Happy Hour
by Mike Neff
The Coca-Cola 600 is a race that runs from evening into night. Practicing in the middle of the day is not necessarily beneficial to teams and several of them realized that fact, running a handful of laps and then parking their cars. One of those teams was the No. 2 Penske Dodge of Brad Keselowski. They turned five laps with the second one taking 29.397 seconds for a speed of 183.692 mph. Runner-up to Keselowski was Carl Edwards who turned 22 laps but was quickest on his third with a time of 29.452 seconds at a speed of 183.349 mph. Third and fourth fastest in the session was a tie between Mark Martin and Jimmie Johnson who both turned a lap of 29.471 seconds which is equal to a speed of 183.231 mph. Rounding out the top five in the final practice was Joey Logano with a time of 29.521 seconds which translates to a speed of 182.291 mph.
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Big Six: The History 300
by Amy Henderson
Looking for the Who, What, When, Where, Why and How behind Saturday's race? Amy Henderson has you covered with each week with the answers to six race day questions, covering all five W's and even the H…the Big Six.
Who…gets my shoutout of the race?
After struggling with handling early, Elliott Sadler was able to make the most of it when points rival Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., spent more than 20 laps in the garage with drivetrain problems. Sadler was able to finish fifth in the History 300, but even more importantly, he cut 21 points off of Stenhouse's lead and now heads to Dover just 13 points behind the top spot. Sadler also put a little more distance between himself and rookie teammate Austin Dillon in the standings. After a six-point penalty after failing post-race inspection last week, this week was a much needed shot in the arm for Sadler and the No. 2 outfit.
What… was THAT?
It's one thing to be assertive and let the competition know where you stand. It's another thing to hold up a driver who is racing for position when you're more than 20 laps in arrears. Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. crossed that line on Saturday, when, despite being 21 laps down after repairing the drivetrain in his car, Stenhouse made a point of holding up Austin Dillon. Dillon reacted by radioing his spotter and saying angrily, "If I get to the [No.] 6, tell him I'll hit him as soon as he messes with me!"
Stenhouse defended his move after the race, saying, "I just wanted to let them know we're here to win," he said. "Obviously, we pulled away by more than a straightaway so … they didn't have a very good day. That's just part of it."
Had Stenhouse been on the lead lap, his racing would have been completely acceptable, but from 21 laps down, it was disrespectful-and in this sport, where drivers have long memories and give the respect they're given, don't expect Dillon to be lenient if Stenhouse pushes the issue again.
Where…did the polesitter wind up?
If there was a prize for the best firesuit, Joey Logano would have it hands down after sporting a suit styled to look like…well, a suit, complete with jacket and tie. Logano, who was also strong in Sprint Cup practice on Saturday, looked to have the car to beat early, but a two-tire strategy later in the race proved to be the wrong one, and Logano was never able to claw his way back to the front. Instead, he was forced to settle for sixth, but if his early run is any indication, Logano could be looking at a much-needed top-10 in the Cup race.
When…will I be loved?
For Brian Scott, his tenure at Joe Gibbs Racing has been quite disappointing. With the drive to succeed that the Idaho native possesses, he likely expected to have won at least won in the No. 11 by this point. However, he could not do better than his best efforts in the No. 11 for Braun Racing in 2010 last season. Yes, he finished a career-best eighth in points, but the season was only marginally better.
2012 appears to be playing out a lot like a good chunk of 2011 did, so far. He has generally qualified his Dollar General Toyota quite well, but something seems to happen in the race to saddle him with a bad finish. Saturday was no different. Scott qualified in ninth and ran up in the top-10 for much of the race before crashing on the backstretch shortly after a late restart. The general belief is that there was some fluid still on the track from a previous crash involving Josh Richards and Jason Bowles that the race had just restarted from. Unable to continue, Scott was credited with a 31st-place finish and dropped to 13th in points.
Why…was Richard Childress smiling after the race?
After resurrecting his Nationwide program this year, purchasing Kevin Harvick's operation, Richard Childress proved Saturday that there was no rust on this team. All four RCR cars finished in the top-11 in the History 300, including Joey Coulter, who made his Natiowide Series debut in the race. In addition, Elliott Sadler and Austin Dillon sit second and third in points, and Kevin Harvick took the field to school for much of the race on Saturday, leading a race-high 92 laps en route to a fourth-place finish. Sadler came home fifth, while Coulter and Dillon finished tenth and eleventh, respectively. It's good to be at the top of your game, and Childress certainly earned that feeling Saturday.
How…disappointing was Travis Pastrana's showing?
On one hand, while Pastrana spun the No. 99 three times on Saturday-once in qualifying and twice during the History 300- the rally car and X-Games champ managed not to hit anything and finished 24th, five laps down. On the other hand, the goal for a rookie driver is to complete laps without incident, and Pastrana was unable to do that on Saturday. Given that the car he was driving was a top-10 finisher in its last race (it finished seventh at Fontana with Kenny Wallace driving), had he been able to keep the car going straight, Pastrana could have had a much more successful day. If he had logged laps without incident and finished 24th, it would have been a solid, if unspectacular day. Instead, Pastrana made it spectacular…in all the wrong ways. If Pastrana wants to succeed in NASCAR, he'll need to learn the adage "to finish first, first you must finish." And while he finished Saturday in his proven top-10 car, it could have been much better.
Like what you saw in The Big Six? Check it out every Monday on Frontstretch.com, where Amy breaks down the weekend's Sprint Cup race into five W's and one big H.
Amy Henderson is a Senior Writer for Frontstretch.com. She can be reached via e-mail at amy.henderson@frontstretch.com.
Sounds from the Media Center
Numerous drivers were paraded through the David Poole Media Center at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Thursday. There were canned answers, witty comments, moments of hilarity and some statements that left those in attendance scratching their heads. A few of those moments are captured below.
Travis Pastrana was asked if he focuses on beating Danica Patrick during the Nationwide races.
"I probably get about 20 texts from all of my friends every time. There's been at least one girl that's beaten me at every round so far. Definitely, I haven't heard the end of it. For me, the biggest focus right now—I just want to learn how to drive these cars competitively. One time I don't want to get lapped by this guy sitting to my right (Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.)--that would be great. We finished on the lead lap at Darlington, but only because there were so many cautions that came out the last couple of laps. We're not far off where we want to be, but I'd really like to get up there, get a little quicker, get qualified a little better—this last weekend we qualified better than we did the first two weekends. Definitely a goal is always to avoid criticism from my friends, but there's a lot of really good drivers. Danica—as much as people give her a hard time or this and that, she's better than I am so I'm working on it."
Danica Patrick was questioned about her feeling of comfort in the NASCAR environment and how content she is to be here.
"Yeah, that is probably right. That is right. The reason why I came to race NASCAR was to do all of these things. I was ready to leave IndyCar. I wanted to be here. When you are not missing something, longing for something you don't really think about it that much. Its like that girlfriend you didn't want to have anymore. You don't think about her anymore. Or ex-husband, we all seem old enough to be of that point. You just don't. Indy, I have lots of great memories from there and probably the part of me that doesn't feel quite as longing for it is that there is still a chance that I could do it again. Its not gone. I'm excited about this weekend."
Denny Hamlin was asked if he'd heard of anyone eating anything strange during races.
"Not that I've heard and not that I know of. You see constantly throughout pit stops when we come off of pit road, you'll see snacks and what not being thrown out and wrappers and things like that. I've never heard any crazy stories of anything. No peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or anything."
Matt Kenseth was asked about what he remembered from his first win at Charlotte.
"The race was pretty cool. There were a few things. Dale Jr. and I moved up together to race for Rookie of the Year and he had already won at Texas, and I think he won the All-Star Race the week before. We didn't even make the All-Star Race. To come back for the 600 and all the work we did on that car during the week – we actually brought the same car back and was able to be pretty competitive. We were probably gonna have a second-to-fourth-place night. Dale Jr. dominated again and they got off on their last set of tires or pit stop and then I remember it was a long night with the rain delay in the middle and all that, and then I just remember running down Bobby Labonte and racing him really hard for that win. That was a really special night. Whenever you get your first win in any series, especially in this series, it's always big – especially at the 600. Its a special event, so it was a pretty exciting night."
Greg Biffle was questioned about the mental and physical aspect of going 600 miles.
"Typically, our sport starts with the physical part inside the car. Its gonna be 88 or 89 degrees on Sunday, the hottest day. We've gotten lucky all season, that hasn't been the case, but we lost this week with it being the longest race and it's gonna be very hot, so staying hydrated and staying cool inside the car, which then it turns into concentration. Being hot and dehydrated, it's hard to stay hydrated for that many hours – five and a half hours. Your body can only hold so much liquid, so then the concentration level for that amount of time gets tiring. You run a 90-lap race and going home you're mentally exhausted because you're constantly thinking every corner, every lap, looking in the mirror, 'what am I gonna change,' on the gas, go as hard as I can and it's just intense. The 600-mile race is really no different, so you're mentally exhausted and dehydrated. There's a lot involved in it."
Kasey Kahne talked about his 300th Sprint Cup start.
"It's a lot of Sprint Cup races and we've got some pretty good success in the series, not near enough, but things have went pretty well for us at times. Its pretty awesome to make the 300th start at the Coca-Cola 600. A race that we have won a couple of times and driving for Hendrick Motorsports a company who is as strong as anyone every year. I feel like Hendrick [Motorsports] is really good right now hitting on some things. The No. 48 car has proven that. I think our car is getting closer as well. Just looking forward to the weekend, it should be a lot of fun. The weather looks great and hopefully we can have a good show."
Jimmie Johnson spoke about the 200th win, the All-Star win and how it has taken some pressure off of Rick Hendrick.
"No, [Hendrick's] intensity is there. I'm really proud of him to sit and enjoy the 200th win and savor it and spend some time in the moment. Its not like him to do that type of thing. As a company we are all so proud to be there on Tuesday night that we had Brad Paisley playing. Rick [Hendrick] had a great time on stage. Just a cool, cool, night, this week we are back to business and that high will linger. But, Rick is Rick and he will be focused on winning more races and trying to win a championship. His first goal is to get all four cars in the Chase and then go for the championship. I'm sure we will be reminded of that here before long."
Brad Keselowski was asked about being at the Penske race shops this time of year.
"Well I mean, the month of May is certainly a big month for Penske Racing. Obviously, they're having a lot of success over there at the Brickyard and that's great to see and really important for Roger, but we want to have a lot of success over here, too. Its not an easy thing to do. I don't know if anyone has ever pulled off the weekend sweep. I know [Jamie] McMurray was close one year but I think we've got a shot at it for sure. But you don't take anything for granted. I know how much it would mean to Roger to be able to pull that off. I think it's a great opportunity; that's the key word that I want to use. I'm just happy that I have fast enough race cars to be a legitimate opportunity. You know, obviously, it takes a lot of time out of Roger's schedule but he clears time on his schedule this month to make sure that he can be a part of it all. And it was great to see him fly out Saturday for the All-Star race after qualifying over there at the Brickyard. I think that just shows that he cares about both programs. He wants to win. Its good. Like I said, I feel very lucky to have an owner that engaged."
Jeff Gordon analyzed how he remains upbeat with the amount of bad luck he's had this year.
"What are you going to do other than just keep your head up and work hard and go to the next race and try to change it? We've got too good of a team and too good of race cars to try to get down on the way things have been going. Its tough. Its challenging because every one of those races where you get out of the car and you see the dejection on the team's face. You know what you're going through and they feel it from you as well. To me, I think the All-Star race was way tougher on us than Darlington was. At the All-Star race, we just didn't perform well enough. That's way tougher to go through than this having bad luck because we've been running really good this year. And I keep saying that, but if we don't get the results too, it is going to really be tough to get out of this hole and get ourselves back to where we need to be."
"So, the timing gets tougher and tougher all the time and the more races that go by that we don't get the results, the harder and harder that mountain is to climb. But we're just relying on our team and keeping the communication open and stay positive with all the guys and just say hey, this is our week; this is our week. And you can only do that for so long, but we're still doing it. S o, hopefully we'll see the results."
"I'm excited about this weekend. I feel like we really learned a lot at that All-Star race. Obviously the No. 48 (Jimmie Johnson) dominated and they were really strong, so we could learn something from that as well. But, we learned a lot as a team on what we can do to be really, really good this weekend."
Martin Truex, Jr. on his own strategy Eating During the Race
"I usually have a granola bar or a little protein-type thing in my -- I have a little pouch on my door pad that I keep stuff in. I usually eat a granola bar at one point during the race most weeks. I get hungry. There's a cup holder too for the drink bottle. We get those every once in awhile during a pit stop."
How are you able to eat during the race? "I don't know -- you just eat it under caution. Its not that difficult. You just peel open the wrapper. The hardest part is that we have a head sock in our helmets so it's tricky to get it up under the head sock. You have to put your knee on the wheel to hold it straight. You use one hand to pull the helmet sock up and then you use your other hand to stick the granola bar up in there. It only takes a few seconds. Multi-tasking."
Newman on the Future of Military Sponsorship
"No, I'll let Dale Earnhardt, Jr. do the political work. I'll do the engineering work when it comes down to it. I have read some of the things that he has said and I've read some of the things that the senators have talked about. In the end, there is a reason why the Army and National Guard and everybody else is doing what they are doing. They are raising awareness, we are raising education, we are helping them recruitment-wise. F rom a financial standpoint, we can argue until we are blue in the eyes about the price of gasoline and everything else. From my standpoint, I'm proud to represent them. I'm proud to do what we are doing and have the relationship and to represent the soldiers. I think Dale Jr. feels the same way. Its special. Its a special sponsorship for us. I think it is a nice outlet for the soldiers to be able to come and enjoy what we do. There is a bunch of them that are race fans, too. Obviously, some senators aren't, but that is OK."
Carl Edwards on his Fitness Regimen before the 600
"I work with Dean Golich, my trainer from Carmichael Training Systems, and this week particularly, he's had some specific instructions and things to do. It looks like it's gonna be hot, a long race, and I'm not gonna tell you what I do, but I do prepare for it. But all of these races are tough and sometimes the ones you think are gonna be tough aren't as bad. There are some days you just don't feel as good and some of my hardest races have been ones that I didn't think were gonna be that hard, I just wasn't feeling that good or maybe I didn't have enough fluids in me, or I hadn't eaten enough or ate too much and I felt pretty bad. So, we've tried to tune that in over time and I think its been really good for me. I feel at the end of these races that I usually feel like I could start the race again and go run. They used to have a little snack box in my car, but I don't do that anymore. This race is one that maybe if you had something to eat in the middle of the race it would be good, but you've got to be careful about eating something when you're under that much stress and you've got the belts tight and everything. I've learned that you've got to be careful about what you eat during a race, even if it seems really simple, so I just don't eat during the race."
Dale Earnhardt, Jr. on Keeping the Momentum Rolling
"I think we're confident. We're bringing back the same car, so we know what kind of race car we've got. We know what kind of potential we've got I guess and we're all kind of expecting to improve on some of the things we did last week. We had some things that we learned and we think that we improve on that and even be better than we were last week."
"So, that's (crew chief) Steve's (Letarte) job and his group's job to get together and try to squeeze a little more speed out of the car and I'll just try to have to communicate the best I can to give them information. But, I don't need to get complacent with how we ran last week. We need to try to work harder to go better and go faster."
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TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:
Stenhouse's Hard Racing Strikes A Nerve
by Tom Bowles
Nationwide Series Breakdown: The History 300
by Tom Bowles
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FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Q: In 1992, Al Unser, Sr. finished third in the Indianapolis 500 in a substitute role with Team Menard in their No. 27 Conseco-sponsored Lola Buick. The Buick engine in Unser's No. 27 was rather unique in that it had a butterfly cylinder. What does this mean?
Check back Monday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
Frontstretch Trivia Guarantee: Take the shirt off our backs! If we've provided an incorrect answer to the Frontstretch Trivia question, be the first to email the corrected trivia answer to trivia@frontstretch.com and we'll send you a Frontstretch T-Shirt ... FREE!
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Coming Monday in the Frontstretch Newsletter:
-- Coca-Cola 600 Race Recap by Jeff Wolfe
-- Secret Star and Stat of the Race by Tom Bowles
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, and more!
Monday on the Frontstretch:
Matt McLaughlin's Thinkin' Out Loud: Coca-Cola 600 by Matt McLaughlin
Matt will be here with his overall thoughts about the action from Sunday night's action from Charlotte.
Indy 500 Race Recap by Toni Montgomery
Toni will break down the 96th running of open-wheel's greatest race, making sure you don't miss a major storyline from Sunday.
Monday Morning Teardown by Ron Lemasters
Ron returns for a website look at one of the big stories from Sunday's race from Charlotte.
Bowles-Eye View by Tom Bowles
Tom brings back his weekly post-race commentary with all of the insight you need from a weekend of racing at Charlotte.
Big Six: Coca-Cola 600 by Amy Henderson
Looking for all you need to know leaving Sunday's event at Charlotte? Amy has your who, what, when, where, why and how from a weekend of racing.
Pace Laps: Sweetest Race Weekend of the Year by the Frontstretch Staff
In our newest column this season, we'll take a look at the biggest stories to keep an eye on in each series after a busy Memorial Day weekend full of racing.
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The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
May 27th, 2012
Volume VI, Edition XCV
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FRONTSTRETCH AT THE TRACK: A number of your favorite Frontstretch writers are live at Charlotte Motor Speedway for this evening's Coca-Cola 600. Follow along on Facebook and Twitter (@TheFrontstretch, @NASCARBowles, @MNeffShortTrack and @Writer_Amy) for everything you need to know from pre-race all the way up to the checkered flag.
Also, we at Frontstretch would like to congratulate one of our fine young writers, Summer Dreyer, on her wedding to Allen Bedgood! Best wishes for a bright and happy future together. If you'd like to congratulate Summer, send her an email at summer.dreyer@frontstretch.com.
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Nationwide Series Race Recap: Keselowski Stretches Fuel To Win History 300 at Charlotte
by Amy Henderson
There wasn't a question of whether Brad Keselowski was fast enough to win the History 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, but as the laps ticked away and Keselowski held a solid lead over first Kyle Busch and then Denny Hamlin, there was still a question on his mind. Was there enough fuel in the tank of the No. 22 Dodge to make it to lap 200? As it turns out, there was, and Keselowski held on to win by 0.838 seconds over Hamlin, running 73 laps without stopping for fuel. Busch, Kevin Harvick, and Elliott Sadler rounded out the top-5. The rest of the top-10 included Joey Logano, James Buescher, Justin Allgaier, Sam Hornish, Jr., and Joey Coulter, who made his Nationwide debut this week.
While Keselowski and Hamlin were among seven drivers to lead the race, a points battle was brewing behind them. But at first, that didn't look like it would be the case. Joey Logano led the field to green on Saturday afternoon. Point leader Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. almost immediately took the field three-wide in Logano's rear view mirror as he fought for position, and second-place Elliott Sadler slid back in the early laps.
The green flag didn't fly for long, though, as Travis Pastrana, who had started in 42nd spot due to a spin in qualifying, turned it around again in turn 4, bringing out the first of seven caution flags for the afternoon. With limited tires for the race, nobody came to pit road. When the action got back underway, Logano got a smooth restart over Sam Hornish, Jr. and Stenhouse, as the field battled two-wide behind him.
Just as everyone was getting a good rhythm going, the engine let go on the No. 23 of Robert Richardson, dropping fluids on the track and bringing out caution number two. Richardson wasn't the only driver facing engine problems early-Denny Hamlin came to pit road under the yellow so his team could change the carburetor on the No. 18, and afterward, Hamlin reported that his engine still didn't feel right, and at that point, his team made the decision to run as far as they could and see if they could learn anything. It turned out to be the right decision as the problem resolved and Hamlin was in contention for the win when all was said and done.
When the race went back to green on lap 22, it was Kevin Harvick who wasted no time in taking the lead and running with it. Harvick stretched out to as much as four seconds over second-place at one point, and led four times for a race-high 92 laps. Logano faded a bit along with several others, including Danica Patrick, who started third but fell to 11th by lap 29 and wound up finishing 13th.
As the quarter mark of the race came and went, point leader Ricky Stenhouse, Jr was on the move, moving up to second spot, despite angering Brad Keselowski, who noted that the reigning champ was "driving over his head again." But all was not well for Stenhouse, who would end up spending 22 laps in the garage for repairs after running over a piece of debris that broke the drivetrain in the No. 6 Ford, and opening up the door for Sadler to gain on him in the race.
The afternoon's third caution was for the No. 00 of Angela Cope and an engine gone south. A few drivers, including Hornish, Patrick, and Mike Bliss, had already come to pit road for service, and lost a lap, which they were all able to regain by taking the wave-around. Harvick was almost trapped as well, but was able to avoid the commitment line at the last second. The leaders came to pit road under yellow for tires and fuel, while Jason Bowles stayed out to lead and get his team a bonus point.
But it was all Harvick when the race went back to green. Unfortunately for the Richard Childress Racing driver, that lasted just four laps before Pastrana spun for a second time in turn 4, bringing out the fourth caution. Pastrana again avoided hitting anything, and the caution lasted just three laps. Harvick held the point on the restart, but Keselowski began to show his hand, moving up to second as Kasey Kahne faded a little.
A round of green flag pit stops began at lap 112, allowing both Justin Allgaier and Mike Wallace to lead laps for bonus points, as Harvick held on through the cycle to lead when everyone had stopped. With 80 to go, Harvick looked to be the man to beat as he led Keselowski and Logano easily, but the yellow flags weren't done yet, and the next one flew at lap 125 after Tayler Malsam slapped the wall. The damage to Malsam's car was fairly minimal, but there was enough debris to cause the slowdown. This time it was Logano who led the field off pit road after a two-tire stop for the top five. When the race went back to green, Logano got a solid start from the outside lane, clearing Kahne and leaving him to fight Harvick and Kyle Busch instead. But the two-tire strategy didn't work for Logano's car for long, and both Kahne and Harvick worked him over and Kahne took the lead for a pair of laps before handing it over to Keselowski.
From then on, it was clear that Keselowski had the car to beat. He led until the sixth caution flew on lap 139 for a two-car accident between Bowles and Josh Richards. Keselowski and crew chief Jeremy Bullins made the decision to stay out despite being three to five laps short on fuel, banking on there being enough caution laps to make up the difference. Kahne and Allgaier also gambled while the other leaders came to pit road for fuel.
This time the green flag lasted just two laps before fluid on the track from the wreck caused several cars to slide, and Brian Scott couldn't hang onto the No. 11, spinning in the fluid and collecting Cole Whitt. This time the track was cleaned thoroughly, and the green flag would stay out until the white replaced it.
And it was all the Brad Keselowski Show, as Keselowski left Busch, Hamlin, and Harvick to battle for second. Busch took it until inside 15 to go, trading gains of a tenth or two with Keselowski until Hamlin caught Busch and passed him for the spot, his engine woes long gone. Hamlin was able to close within a second of Keselowski, and the question as the laps ticked by was whether Keselowski's fuel could last the 73 laps required for the win. In the end, it did, with enough left over for a celebratory burnout in honor of Bullins' first career win as a crew chief.
Stenhouse's drivetrain issue cost him 21 of the 34 point cushion he had entering the weekend. Sadler sits 13 back in second, and rookie Austin Dillon is third, 28 behind Stenhouse. Hornish and Cole Whitt round out the top-5.
Editor's Note: For a more in-depth look at the History 300, be sure to check out Nationwide Series Breakdown.
Amy Henderson is a Senior Writer for Frontstretch.com. She can be reached via e-mail at amy.henderson@frontstretch.com.
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Keselowski Fastest in Sprint Cup Series Happy Hour
by Mike Neff
The Coca-Cola 600 is a race that runs from evening into night. Practicing in the middle of the day is not necessarily beneficial to teams and several of them realized that fact, running a handful of laps and then parking their cars. One of those teams was the No. 2 Penske Dodge of Brad Keselowski. They turned five laps with the second one taking 29.397 seconds for a speed of 183.692 mph. Runner-up to Keselowski was Carl Edwards who turned 22 laps but was quickest on his third with a time of 29.452 seconds at a speed of 183.349 mph. Third and fourth fastest in the session was a tie between Mark Martin and Jimmie Johnson who both turned a lap of 29.471 seconds which is equal to a speed of 183.231 mph. Rounding out the top five in the final practice was Joey Logano with a time of 29.521 seconds which translates to a speed of 182.291 mph.
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Big Six: The History 300
by Amy Henderson
Looking for the Who, What, When, Where, Why and How behind Saturday's race? Amy Henderson has you covered with each week with the answers to six race day questions, covering all five W's and even the H…the Big Six.
Who…gets my shoutout of the race?
After struggling with handling early, Elliott Sadler was able to make the most of it when points rival Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., spent more than 20 laps in the garage with drivetrain problems. Sadler was able to finish fifth in the History 300, but even more importantly, he cut 21 points off of Stenhouse's lead and now heads to Dover just 13 points behind the top spot. Sadler also put a little more distance between himself and rookie teammate Austin Dillon in the standings. After a six-point penalty after failing post-race inspection last week, this week was a much needed shot in the arm for Sadler and the No. 2 outfit.
What… was THAT?
It's one thing to be assertive and let the competition know where you stand. It's another thing to hold up a driver who is racing for position when you're more than 20 laps in arrears. Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. crossed that line on Saturday, when, despite being 21 laps down after repairing the drivetrain in his car, Stenhouse made a point of holding up Austin Dillon. Dillon reacted by radioing his spotter and saying angrily, "If I get to the [No.] 6, tell him I'll hit him as soon as he messes with me!"
Stenhouse defended his move after the race, saying, "I just wanted to let them know we're here to win," he said. "Obviously, we pulled away by more than a straightaway so … they didn't have a very good day. That's just part of it."
Had Stenhouse been on the lead lap, his racing would have been completely acceptable, but from 21 laps down, it was disrespectful-and in this sport, where drivers have long memories and give the respect they're given, don't expect Dillon to be lenient if Stenhouse pushes the issue again.
Where…did the polesitter wind up?
If there was a prize for the best firesuit, Joey Logano would have it hands down after sporting a suit styled to look like…well, a suit, complete with jacket and tie. Logano, who was also strong in Sprint Cup practice on Saturday, looked to have the car to beat early, but a two-tire strategy later in the race proved to be the wrong one, and Logano was never able to claw his way back to the front. Instead, he was forced to settle for sixth, but if his early run is any indication, Logano could be looking at a much-needed top-10 in the Cup race.
When…will I be loved?
For Brian Scott, his tenure at Joe Gibbs Racing has been quite disappointing. With the drive to succeed that the Idaho native possesses, he likely expected to have won at least won in the No. 11 by this point. However, he could not do better than his best efforts in the No. 11 for Braun Racing in 2010 last season. Yes, he finished a career-best eighth in points, but the season was only marginally better.
2012 appears to be playing out a lot like a good chunk of 2011 did, so far. He has generally qualified his Dollar General Toyota quite well, but something seems to happen in the race to saddle him with a bad finish. Saturday was no different. Scott qualified in ninth and ran up in the top-10 for much of the race before crashing on the backstretch shortly after a late restart. The general belief is that there was some fluid still on the track from a previous crash involving Josh Richards and Jason Bowles that the race had just restarted from. Unable to continue, Scott was credited with a 31st-place finish and dropped to 13th in points.
Why…was Richard Childress smiling after the race?
After resurrecting his Nationwide program this year, purchasing Kevin Harvick's operation, Richard Childress proved Saturday that there was no rust on this team. All four RCR cars finished in the top-11 in the History 300, including Joey Coulter, who made his Natiowide Series debut in the race. In addition, Elliott Sadler and Austin Dillon sit second and third in points, and Kevin Harvick took the field to school for much of the race on Saturday, leading a race-high 92 laps en route to a fourth-place finish. Sadler came home fifth, while Coulter and Dillon finished tenth and eleventh, respectively. It's good to be at the top of your game, and Childress certainly earned that feeling Saturday.
How…disappointing was Travis Pastrana's showing?
On one hand, while Pastrana spun the No. 99 three times on Saturday-once in qualifying and twice during the History 300- the rally car and X-Games champ managed not to hit anything and finished 24th, five laps down. On the other hand, the goal for a rookie driver is to complete laps without incident, and Pastrana was unable to do that on Saturday. Given that the car he was driving was a top-10 finisher in its last race (it finished seventh at Fontana with Kenny Wallace driving), had he been able to keep the car going straight, Pastrana could have had a much more successful day. If he had logged laps without incident and finished 24th, it would have been a solid, if unspectacular day. Instead, Pastrana made it spectacular…in all the wrong ways. If Pastrana wants to succeed in NASCAR, he'll need to learn the adage "to finish first, first you must finish." And while he finished Saturday in his proven top-10 car, it could have been much better.
Like what you saw in The Big Six? Check it out every Monday on Frontstretch.com, where Amy breaks down the weekend's Sprint Cup race into five W's and one big H.
Amy Henderson is a Senior Writer for Frontstretch.com. She can be reached via e-mail at amy.henderson@frontstretch.com.
Sounds from the Media Center
Numerous drivers were paraded through the David Poole Media Center at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Thursday. There were canned answers, witty comments, moments of hilarity and some statements that left those in attendance scratching their heads. A few of those moments are captured below.
Travis Pastrana was asked if he focuses on beating Danica Patrick during the Nationwide races.
"I probably get about 20 texts from all of my friends every time. There's been at least one girl that's beaten me at every round so far. Definitely, I haven't heard the end of it. For me, the biggest focus right now—I just want to learn how to drive these cars competitively. One time I don't want to get lapped by this guy sitting to my right (Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.)--that would be great. We finished on the lead lap at Darlington, but only because there were so many cautions that came out the last couple of laps. We're not far off where we want to be, but I'd really like to get up there, get a little quicker, get qualified a little better—this last weekend we qualified better than we did the first two weekends. Definitely a goal is always to avoid criticism from my friends, but there's a lot of really good drivers. Danica—as much as people give her a hard time or this and that, she's better than I am so I'm working on it."
Danica Patrick was questioned about her feeling of comfort in the NASCAR environment and how content she is to be here.
"Yeah, that is probably right. That is right. The reason why I came to race NASCAR was to do all of these things. I was ready to leave IndyCar. I wanted to be here. When you are not missing something, longing for something you don't really think about it that much. Its like that girlfriend you didn't want to have anymore. You don't think about her anymore. Or ex-husband, we all seem old enough to be of that point. You just don't. Indy, I have lots of great memories from there and probably the part of me that doesn't feel quite as longing for it is that there is still a chance that I could do it again. Its not gone. I'm excited about this weekend."
Denny Hamlin was asked if he'd heard of anyone eating anything strange during races.
"Not that I've heard and not that I know of. You see constantly throughout pit stops when we come off of pit road, you'll see snacks and what not being thrown out and wrappers and things like that. I've never heard any crazy stories of anything. No peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or anything."
Matt Kenseth was asked about what he remembered from his first win at Charlotte.
"The race was pretty cool. There were a few things. Dale Jr. and I moved up together to race for Rookie of the Year and he had already won at Texas, and I think he won the All-Star Race the week before. We didn't even make the All-Star Race. To come back for the 600 and all the work we did on that car during the week – we actually brought the same car back and was able to be pretty competitive. We were probably gonna have a second-to-fourth-place night. Dale Jr. dominated again and they got off on their last set of tires or pit stop and then I remember it was a long night with the rain delay in the middle and all that, and then I just remember running down Bobby Labonte and racing him really hard for that win. That was a really special night. Whenever you get your first win in any series, especially in this series, it's always big – especially at the 600. Its a special event, so it was a pretty exciting night."
Greg Biffle was questioned about the mental and physical aspect of going 600 miles.
"Typically, our sport starts with the physical part inside the car. Its gonna be 88 or 89 degrees on Sunday, the hottest day. We've gotten lucky all season, that hasn't been the case, but we lost this week with it being the longest race and it's gonna be very hot, so staying hydrated and staying cool inside the car, which then it turns into concentration. Being hot and dehydrated, it's hard to stay hydrated for that many hours – five and a half hours. Your body can only hold so much liquid, so then the concentration level for that amount of time gets tiring. You run a 90-lap race and going home you're mentally exhausted because you're constantly thinking every corner, every lap, looking in the mirror, 'what am I gonna change,' on the gas, go as hard as I can and it's just intense. The 600-mile race is really no different, so you're mentally exhausted and dehydrated. There's a lot involved in it."
Kasey Kahne talked about his 300th Sprint Cup start.
"It's a lot of Sprint Cup races and we've got some pretty good success in the series, not near enough, but things have went pretty well for us at times. Its pretty awesome to make the 300th start at the Coca-Cola 600. A race that we have won a couple of times and driving for Hendrick Motorsports a company who is as strong as anyone every year. I feel like Hendrick [Motorsports] is really good right now hitting on some things. The No. 48 car has proven that. I think our car is getting closer as well. Just looking forward to the weekend, it should be a lot of fun. The weather looks great and hopefully we can have a good show."
Jimmie Johnson spoke about the 200th win, the All-Star win and how it has taken some pressure off of Rick Hendrick.
"No, [Hendrick's] intensity is there. I'm really proud of him to sit and enjoy the 200th win and savor it and spend some time in the moment. Its not like him to do that type of thing. As a company we are all so proud to be there on Tuesday night that we had Brad Paisley playing. Rick [Hendrick] had a great time on stage. Just a cool, cool, night, this week we are back to business and that high will linger. But, Rick is Rick and he will be focused on winning more races and trying to win a championship. His first goal is to get all four cars in the Chase and then go for the championship. I'm sure we will be reminded of that here before long."
Brad Keselowski was asked about being at the Penske race shops this time of year.
"Well I mean, the month of May is certainly a big month for Penske Racing. Obviously, they're having a lot of success over there at the Brickyard and that's great to see and really important for Roger, but we want to have a lot of success over here, too. Its not an easy thing to do. I don't know if anyone has ever pulled off the weekend sweep. I know [Jamie] McMurray was close one year but I think we've got a shot at it for sure. But you don't take anything for granted. I know how much it would mean to Roger to be able to pull that off. I think it's a great opportunity; that's the key word that I want to use. I'm just happy that I have fast enough race cars to be a legitimate opportunity. You know, obviously, it takes a lot of time out of Roger's schedule but he clears time on his schedule this month to make sure that he can be a part of it all. And it was great to see him fly out Saturday for the All-Star race after qualifying over there at the Brickyard. I think that just shows that he cares about both programs. He wants to win. Its good. Like I said, I feel very lucky to have an owner that engaged."
Jeff Gordon analyzed how he remains upbeat with the amount of bad luck he's had this year.
"What are you going to do other than just keep your head up and work hard and go to the next race and try to change it? We've got too good of a team and too good of race cars to try to get down on the way things have been going. Its tough. Its challenging because every one of those races where you get out of the car and you see the dejection on the team's face. You know what you're going through and they feel it from you as well. To me, I think the All-Star race was way tougher on us than Darlington was. At the All-Star race, we just didn't perform well enough. That's way tougher to go through than this having bad luck because we've been running really good this year. And I keep saying that, but if we don't get the results too, it is going to really be tough to get out of this hole and get ourselves back to where we need to be."
"So, the timing gets tougher and tougher all the time and the more races that go by that we don't get the results, the harder and harder that mountain is to climb. But we're just relying on our team and keeping the communication open and stay positive with all the guys and just say hey, this is our week; this is our week. And you can only do that for so long, but we're still doing it. S o, hopefully we'll see the results."
"I'm excited about this weekend. I feel like we really learned a lot at that All-Star race. Obviously the No. 48 (Jimmie Johnson) dominated and they were really strong, so we could learn something from that as well. But, we learned a lot as a team on what we can do to be really, really good this weekend."
Martin Truex, Jr. on his own strategy Eating During the Race
"I usually have a granola bar or a little protein-type thing in my -- I have a little pouch on my door pad that I keep stuff in. I usually eat a granola bar at one point during the race most weeks. I get hungry. There's a cup holder too for the drink bottle. We get those every once in awhile during a pit stop."
How are you able to eat during the race? "I don't know -- you just eat it under caution. Its not that difficult. You just peel open the wrapper. The hardest part is that we have a head sock in our helmets so it's tricky to get it up under the head sock. You have to put your knee on the wheel to hold it straight. You use one hand to pull the helmet sock up and then you use your other hand to stick the granola bar up in there. It only takes a few seconds. Multi-tasking."
Newman on the Future of Military Sponsorship
"No, I'll let Dale Earnhardt, Jr. do the political work. I'll do the engineering work when it comes down to it. I have read some of the things that he has said and I've read some of the things that the senators have talked about. In the end, there is a reason why the Army and National Guard and everybody else is doing what they are doing. They are raising awareness, we are raising education, we are helping them recruitment-wise. F rom a financial standpoint, we can argue until we are blue in the eyes about the price of gasoline and everything else. From my standpoint, I'm proud to represent them. I'm proud to do what we are doing and have the relationship and to represent the soldiers. I think Dale Jr. feels the same way. Its special. Its a special sponsorship for us. I think it is a nice outlet for the soldiers to be able to come and enjoy what we do. There is a bunch of them that are race fans, too. Obviously, some senators aren't, but that is OK."
Carl Edwards on his Fitness Regimen before the 600
"I work with Dean Golich, my trainer from Carmichael Training Systems, and this week particularly, he's had some specific instructions and things to do. It looks like it's gonna be hot, a long race, and I'm not gonna tell you what I do, but I do prepare for it. But all of these races are tough and sometimes the ones you think are gonna be tough aren't as bad. There are some days you just don't feel as good and some of my hardest races have been ones that I didn't think were gonna be that hard, I just wasn't feeling that good or maybe I didn't have enough fluids in me, or I hadn't eaten enough or ate too much and I felt pretty bad. So, we've tried to tune that in over time and I think its been really good for me. I feel at the end of these races that I usually feel like I could start the race again and go run. They used to have a little snack box in my car, but I don't do that anymore. This race is one that maybe if you had something to eat in the middle of the race it would be good, but you've got to be careful about eating something when you're under that much stress and you've got the belts tight and everything. I've learned that you've got to be careful about what you eat during a race, even if it seems really simple, so I just don't eat during the race."
Dale Earnhardt, Jr. on Keeping the Momentum Rolling
"I think we're confident. We're bringing back the same car, so we know what kind of race car we've got. We know what kind of potential we've got I guess and we're all kind of expecting to improve on some of the things we did last week. We had some things that we learned and we think that we improve on that and even be better than we were last week."
"So, that's (crew chief) Steve's (Letarte) job and his group's job to get together and try to squeeze a little more speed out of the car and I'll just try to have to communicate the best I can to give them information. But, I don't need to get complacent with how we ran last week. We need to try to work harder to go better and go faster."
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TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:
Stenhouse's Hard Racing Strikes A Nerve
by Tom Bowles
Nationwide Series Breakdown: The History 300
by Tom Bowles
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FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Q: In 1992, Al Unser, Sr. finished third in the Indianapolis 500 in a substitute role with Team Menard in their No. 27 Conseco-sponsored Lola Buick. The Buick engine in Unser's No. 27 was rather unique in that it had a butterfly cylinder. What does this mean?
Check back Monday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
Frontstretch Trivia Guarantee: Take the shirt off our backs! If we've provided an incorrect answer to the Frontstretch Trivia question, be the first to email the corrected trivia answer to trivia@frontstretch.com and we'll send you a Frontstretch T-Shirt ... FREE!
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Coming Monday in the Frontstretch Newsletter:
-- Coca-Cola 600 Race Recap by Jeff Wolfe
-- Secret Star and Stat of the Race by Tom Bowles
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, and more!
Monday on the Frontstretch:
Matt McLaughlin's Thinkin' Out Loud: Coca-Cola 600 by Matt McLaughlin
Matt will be here with his overall thoughts about the action from Sunday night's action from Charlotte.
Indy 500 Race Recap by Toni Montgomery
Toni will break down the 96th running of open-wheel's greatest race, making sure you don't miss a major storyline from Sunday.
Monday Morning Teardown by Ron Lemasters
Ron returns for a website look at one of the big stories from Sunday's race from Charlotte.
Bowles-Eye View by Tom Bowles
Tom brings back his weekly post-race commentary with all of the insight you need from a weekend of racing at Charlotte.
Big Six: Coca-Cola 600 by Amy Henderson
Looking for all you need to know leaving Sunday's event at Charlotte? Amy has your who, what, when, where, why and how from a weekend of racing.
Pace Laps: Sweetest Race Weekend of the Year by the Frontstretch Staff
In our newest column this season, we'll take a look at the biggest stories to keep an eye on in each series after a busy Memorial Day weekend full of racing.
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