THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
May 11th, 2011
Volume V, Edition LXXXV
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
May 11th, 2011
Volume V, Edition LXXXV
~~~~~~~~~~
Top News
by Tom Bowles
Harvick, Busch Fined For Darlington Confrontation
Two of NASCAR's Bad Boys received a slap on the wrist Tuesday, with Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch penalized for their various scuffles at Darlington. Officials fined them $25,000 apiece and placed each driver on four races probation in points-paying events (the All-Star Race is not included), a punishment that carries through the 500-mile race at Pocono June 12th.
Busch and Harvick traded paint during the closing laps at the Lady In Black, their back-and-forth contact eventually leaing to a three-abreast battle off turn 4 with Clint Bowyer. While Bowyer lost control and spun, Busch was unhappy with the way Harvick was racing him and turned the No. 29 in the wall after the incident. However, the majority of discipline occurred from how both drivers handled themselves after the race. After playing a cat-and-mouse game on the cooldown lap, both cars tried to spin each other out only to end up back-to-back in the pits, with Harvick's No. 29 in front. After a few seconds, Harvick exited his Chevy and walked towards Busch's car with the intent to punch him out; Busch's response was to gun the accelerator (he had no reverse in his transmission), slam Harvick's unmanned car out of the way and drive away, endangering the safety of others milling about in the area.
"These penalties are a result of what occurred on pit road after the race was over," Kerry Tharp of NASCAR Public Relations said in a Tuesday statement. "They are about maintaining a safe environment on pit road."
For Harvick's reaction to the penalty, see our Tweet 'N' Greet feature below. Kyle Busch has yet to officially respond to the penalties, issued under Section 12-1 of the NASCAR rulebook (actions detrimental to stock car racing). Interestingly, Juan Pablo Montoya and Ryan Newman, reported to have a physical confrontation in the NASCAR hauler Friday avoided any discipline from the sanctioning body.
Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Apologizes To His Pit Crew
2011 has been a year of rebuilding for Dale Earnhardt, Jr. at Hendrick Motorsports. And what's one of the first things any recovering athlete learns to do?
Apologize. An "I'm sorry" was on the agenda for Earnhardt Tuesday, admitting to multiple reporters he used a crew meeting to take the blame for a Saturday night snafu that cost the No. 88 a top-5 finish. Heading into his final green-flag stop, Earnhardt locked up the brakes getting onto pit road and hit the commitment cone, a NASCAR violation that required a pass-through penalty. That cost him a lap, one he wouldn't make up until less than ten laps to go en route to a 14th-place finish.
Sources say the apology, as expected received a positive response and there are no rifts within the team heading into Dover this weekend. Earnhardt remains in solid position to make the Chase; ten races into the season, he's fourth in points and just 47 behind leader Carl Edwards.
JTG Daugherty Racing, Bobby Labonte Win First Quarter NMPA Spirit Award
The NMPA honored 2000 Cup Series champ Bobby Labonte and his team, JTG Daugherty Racing this week by selecting them as the First Quarter recipient of the Spirit Award. The honor, which recognizes character and achievement in the face of adversity, is for Labonte's work with patients seeking bone marrow transplants, including JTG's work with a six-year-old girl named Jordan Jemsek. Before the Bud Shootout, Labonte visited Jemsek in the hospital while the organization posted her photo and website for potential donors on their car for the race.
Jeff Gordon reportedly finished runner-up for this quarter; Labonte/JTG will join a list of four nominees to be considered for the year-end award in December.
Top News
by Tom Bowles
Harvick, Busch Fined For Darlington Confrontation
Two of NASCAR's Bad Boys received a slap on the wrist Tuesday, with Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch penalized for their various scuffles at Darlington. Officials fined them $25,000 apiece and placed each driver on four races probation in points-paying events (the All-Star Race is not included), a punishment that carries through the 500-mile race at Pocono June 12th.
Busch and Harvick traded paint during the closing laps at the Lady In Black, their back-and-forth contact eventually leaing to a three-abreast battle off turn 4 with Clint Bowyer. While Bowyer lost control and spun, Busch was unhappy with the way Harvick was racing him and turned the No. 29 in the wall after the incident. However, the majority of discipline occurred from how both drivers handled themselves after the race. After playing a cat-and-mouse game on the cooldown lap, both cars tried to spin each other out only to end up back-to-back in the pits, with Harvick's No. 29 in front. After a few seconds, Harvick exited his Chevy and walked towards Busch's car with the intent to punch him out; Busch's response was to gun the accelerator (he had no reverse in his transmission), slam Harvick's unmanned car out of the way and drive away, endangering the safety of others milling about in the area.
"These penalties are a result of what occurred on pit road after the race was over," Kerry Tharp of NASCAR Public Relations said in a Tuesday statement. "They are about maintaining a safe environment on pit road."
For Harvick's reaction to the penalty, see our Tweet 'N' Greet feature below. Kyle Busch has yet to officially respond to the penalties, issued under Section 12-1 of the NASCAR rulebook (actions detrimental to stock car racing). Interestingly, Juan Pablo Montoya and Ryan Newman, reported to have a physical confrontation in the NASCAR hauler Friday avoided any discipline from the sanctioning body.
Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Apologizes To His Pit Crew
2011 has been a year of rebuilding for Dale Earnhardt, Jr. at Hendrick Motorsports. And what's one of the first things any recovering athlete learns to do?
Apologize. An "I'm sorry" was on the agenda for Earnhardt Tuesday, admitting to multiple reporters he used a crew meeting to take the blame for a Saturday night snafu that cost the No. 88 a top-5 finish. Heading into his final green-flag stop, Earnhardt locked up the brakes getting onto pit road and hit the commitment cone, a NASCAR violation that required a pass-through penalty. That cost him a lap, one he wouldn't make up until less than ten laps to go en route to a 14th-place finish.
"We hold team meetings every day in the hauler and before the races," Earnhardt said to a pack of reporters at Charlotte, where he was holding a special iRacing demonstration Tuesday. "Steve does all the talking and I really don't talk that much. So I felt like I needed to get vocal right there for a second.
"I made a mistake getting on pit road and I wanted to tell the guys that my focus was strong, it wasn't because there was a lack of focus or lack of concentration, [and] that I'll try to minimize my mistakes going forward and to continue working hard and loading up great race cars."
The reaction is a far cry from past transgressions for Earnhardt at Hendrick, including a long list of gaffes to start the 2010 season on pit road. Back then, cousin Tony Eury, Jr. was on top of the pit box instead of current head wrench Steve Letarte.Sources say the apology, as expected received a positive response and there are no rifts within the team heading into Dover this weekend. Earnhardt remains in solid position to make the Chase; ten races into the season, he's fourth in points and just 47 behind leader Carl Edwards.
JTG Daugherty Racing, Bobby Labonte Win First Quarter NMPA Spirit Award
The NMPA honored 2000 Cup Series champ Bobby Labonte and his team, JTG Daugherty Racing this week by selecting them as the First Quarter recipient of the Spirit Award. The honor, which recognizes character and achievement in the face of adversity, is for Labonte's work with patients seeking bone marrow transplants, including JTG's work with a six-year-old girl named Jordan Jemsek. Before the Bud Shootout, Labonte visited Jemsek in the hospital while the organization posted her photo and website for potential donors on their car for the race.
Jeff Gordon reportedly finished runner-up for this quarter; Labonte/JTG will join a list of four nominees to be considered for the year-end award in December.
Have news for Tom and the Frontstretch? Don't hesitate to let us know; email us at ashland10@mail.com with a promising lead or tip.
~~~~~~~~~~
Got NASCAR-related questions or comments?
Send them John Potts' way at john.potts@frontstretch.com; and if you're lucky, you'll get your name in print when he does his weekly column answering back to you – the fans that keep Frontstretch afloat. Potts' Shots will run on Thursdays with a whole new set of Fan Questions and Answers!
~~~~~~~~~~
Today's Featured Commentary
"Race Fan Heaven" Unveils Its Latest Upgrade
Full Throttle
by Mike Neff
The two weeks at the end of May in the Charlotte/Concord area are referred to by Marcus Smith as Racer's Heaven. And this year, there's a little extra Guardian Angel on hand to give the fans even better coverage of the 1.5-mile oval he runs than ever before. The top guy at Charlotte Motor Speedway was on hand Tuesday to show off his newest toy built on the backstretch, the world's largest HDTV screen. The race track that is known for innovation has done it once again, putting a 200 feet long by 80 feet high television screen within sight of the majority of the seats in the facility.
The new HDTV screen added to Charlotte Motor Speedway is the largest video display screen in the world. It has an impressive number of statistics that reinforce its impressive stature:
• The screen is a total of 16,000 square feet.
• There are 158 panels that make up the face of the screen.
• More than nine million LED lamps will illuminate the Panasonic video board.
• The screen weighs 165,000 pounds.
• The steel frame that supports the screen weighs 500,000 pounds.
• The total structure weighs 332-and-a-half tons or 665,000 pounds.
• The structure rises 11 stories tall, or 110 feet above the track.
• Thirteen companies were involved in the construction of the world's largest HDTV including Panasonic North America of Secaucus, N.J. (board manufacturer/project management); Eastern Sign Tech of Burlington, N.J. (site contractor); Arp Engineering of Monroe, N.C. (structural engineer); and CESI Land Development Services from Concord, N.C. (geotechnical/ surveyor/inspections).
• It took up to 57 workers a day, working more than 11,000 man hours, more than four months to construct the board.
• Crews removed 900 cubic yards of dirt by drilling 12 holes, each 54 inches in diameter, more than 50 feet deep to bedrock level. They then installed concrete piers in the holes to support the massive steel frame.
• Crews used 108,750 pounds of concrete, 547,000 pounds of steel, 120 pounds of rebar and 216 anchor bolts weighing 22,500 pounds to complete the structure.
Charlotte has always been one of the most innovative race tracks in the world and the new HDTV screen is another addition to the long list of firsts. They were the first to light a race track over a mile in length and the first track to install condominiums for permanent living use at the track. They also upgraded their garage areas to allow greater space and accessibility while still managing to have one of the largest media centers in racing. Additionally, they're one of the first tracks to put in a parking area of RVs to view the track from the outside, and they've always had some of the most innovative pre-race events on the schedule.
If that isn't enough, the greater Charlotte area has plenty to keep fans busy during the All-Star / Coca-Cola 600 race weeks. Starting on Wednesday, May 18th there is a Gary Allan and Josh Kelley concert at the NASCAR Hall of Fame. The following night the best pit crews in NASCAR will compete to determine which is the fastest at changing tires, dumping gas, jacking a car and pushing it a pre-defined distance.
Friday night, the Motor Speedway will host qualifying for the All-Star race and the Camping World Truck Series will run the North Carolina Education Lottery 200. The following night will feature a Dierks Bentley Concert, the Pennzoil Ultra Victory Challenge, and NASCAR's two main "special" events: the Sprint Showdown and Sprint All-Star race.
But the action doesn't stop there. Monday, May 23rd the 2011 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place to welcome the next five members to the Hall. Then, Thursday night the pole position and remaining starting positions for the Coca-Cola 600 will be determined during Windstream Pole Night. Friday will see the Coca-Cola Family Cook Out and Track Walk along the World of Outlaws race at the Dirt Track. Saturday, the Nationwide Series hits the track at Charlotte Motor Speedway before the entire experience wraps up on Sunday night when the Cup Series takes to the high banks for the 52nd Annual Coca-Cola 600.
While the organized events are more than enough to keep people who come into town for the races busy for nearly two weeks, the location of Charlotte in relation to the race shops for the majority of the teams in the sport allows fans to visit their operations and tour their facilities, usually for little or no expense. Along with the NASCAR Hall of Fame there is the Victory Lane Museum, the Sam Bass Gallery, the North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame and multiple racing schools to give fans plenty of different options.
Race fans have hundreds of options over the calendar year to use for their destination, but there's no question that the two weeks around the races at the end of May every year are truly a race fan's heaven.
Mike Neff is a Senior Writer for Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via e-mail at mike.neff@frontstretch.com.
~~~~~~~~~~
Hey, Frontstretch Readers!
We know you love the roar of raw horsepower under the hood that powers 43 of the best drivers in the world every weekend, but did you ever wonder how the sponsor on top of that hood also contributes to keeping the sport moving? What about the contributions of official NASCAR companies? If you think they are simply writing checks, think again. Check out our newest feature - Sunday Money. This weekly Frontstretch exclusive provides you with a behind the scenes look at how NASCAR, its affiliates and team sponsors approach the daunting task of keeping fans interested and excited about the sport for 38 weeks of the year.
~~~~~~~~~~
Tweet 'N' Greet
by Jay Pennell
Editor's Note: With the NASCAR Twitter community expanding by leaps and bounds, it remains a place for instantaneous news, reactions, and a whole lot of inside jokes. We understand if you don't want to join the Twitter community - but as a fan, it's important to know the news and info you're missing out on! That's why, every week, Jay Pennell will sort through the thousands of messages and give us a little taste of what's going on each Wednesday.
So, without further ado, here's a look at what those in NASCAR were thinking over the past seven days...
@NascarHall (NASCAR Hall of Fame): Join @NASCARHall for our first birthday celebration tomorrow with a special discounted admission! $5.11 on 5-11! www.nascarhall.com
@KevinHarvick: 4 weeks probation and $25,000 fine... I understand because of the car on pit road.
@AndyLally: OK, lesson learned for everyone, if you're going to brawl at a NASCAR race make sure to stop & do it on track & not in pit lane #SafetyThird
@31n2Spotter (Brett Griffin): Good job @NASCAR boys have @ it should be on the track where safety equipment is protecting those involved. IMO Kyle shoulda been fined more.
@KevinHarvick: I didn't say it was over...RT @kmgriner: @KevinHarvick don't be pc Kevin, you didn't do anything wrong....candy boy did.:))
@KevinHarvick: awfully quiet in candyland.......
@Kenny_Wallace: Damn!.. I am Jealous, any driver in the NNS want to fight me this week in Dover after the race??..ha ha ha!
@StenhouseJr (Ricky Stenhouse Jr.): @Kenny_Wallace haha lets do it
@Kenny_Wallace: Hello @StenhouseJr What did you say to me?..I will kick your ass....ha ha ha ha ha!...this is FUN:)
@StenhouseJr: @Kenny_Wallace haha i know ur down to ur fighting weight now I better keep my mouth shut hahaha
@KevinHarvick: Enthusiasm is through the roof for team 29 this is a badass group of people!
@Kenny_Wallace: My take on the Harvick and Busch fun is this:..I Love it and I enjoy it and its GREAT for the sport!..Back to the Good Ole Days:)
@31n2Spotter: The Lakers getting swept may be the equivalent of @JimmieJohnson doing a start and park 1st race of the chase. #nascar
@31n2Spotter: Kyle Busch fans are retaliating for me saying he shouldn't have wrecked a car with no driver! Best SMDH moment of my SMH career!! #nascar
@Regan_Smith_: Also thank you again to everybody for all the kind comments after last night. I am still in a bit of a state of shock, not that we won but that we won at Darlington, and the way we did it! Such a special place to race at and so much history there. Couldn't be prouder today.
@keselowski (Brad Keselowski): Intentional wrecking = not cool NASCAR equivalent of a late hit in NFL. Takes no skill and no talent! #disturbing #needs2bestopped
@Regan_Smith_: Wow what a night! So proud of Furniture Row Racing! Thanks for all the kind comments, this is the greatest feeling ever!
@kaseykahne: My car was so fast tonight it was crazy. Then I hit the wall. Team Redbull was great tonight. Thanks everyone
@kaseykahne: Fumes had me scrambled for a minute. Got some oxygen. Feeling better now.
@KevinHarvick: Great car and it got a little exciting at the end..I love racing!
@JimmieJohnson: Wow, that was a long night... The end was plenty entertaining, I wonder how the talk went in the truck?
@Tjmajors: Congrats to @Regan_Smith_ on his 2nd cup win.
@DeLanaHarvick: Hum, @KyleBusch walks into the trailer with a smirk on his face. Nothing funny about possibly hurting somebody....
@Brendan62 (Brendan Gaughan): Anyone else notice that Kevin's guys were running down put road to support him... But where were the 18's guys??? Hmmmm
@Brendan62: So happy for Regan Smith, that's a way better story than Daytona to me! Happy for Trevor, but way to buck the system Furniture Row!
@scottspeed: Super cool the 78 won! God I wish I could see KH and KB go at it! That's the next step in entertainment.. Racing then Fighting.. ;)
@bobpockrass: Harvick told me Kyle ran into him twice and he wanted to knock piss out of Kyle. #nascar
@Mc_Driver (Michael McDowell): That is awesome for Regan Smith I am really pumped for him. Makes it seem possible again. #feelgoodstory #NASCAR #DreamsHappen
@arparker89 (Adrian Parker): Lots of revenge in need of doling out in #NASCAR right now. Good thing a no-points, $1-mil-to-win shootout is just around the corner.
@CandiceSpencer (Lee Spencer): Carl Edwards leaves the Media Center with "Happy Mother's Day to all you muthas"
@NASCARBowles (Tom Bowles): Consider this irony: @Regan_Smith_ 's victory at Darlington is the first for a single-car team apart from Daytona/Talladega since... #NASCAR
@NASCARBowles: Ricky Craven, Darlington, 2003. Who knew the Track Too Tough To Tame had a soft spot for underdogs. #NASCAR
@jjyeley1: Now on the road to Darlington.I will spend more time on hwy 151 today than I will on the track in Darlington. It sucks not getting to race.
Jay Pennell is an Assistant Editor to Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via e-mail at jaywpennell@yahoo.com, and you can also check out his work at allleftturns.com or jaywpennell.blogspot.com.
~~~~~~~~~~
TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:
Penalty Day: A Slap on the Wrist That Means Nothing
by Beth Lunkenheimer
Mirror Driving: Regan's Win, Kevin vs. Kyle and Fuel Injection
by the Frontstretch Staff
Beyond the Cockpit: TJ Bell On His Cup Series Debut and His Truck Series Future
by Mike Neff
Underdogs: Four Drivers That Are the Opposite of Regan Smith
by Summer Dreyer
Top Ten Things Discussed in the NASCAR Hauler After Saturday's Race
by Jeff Meyer
Sprint Cup Power Rankings: Top 15 After Darlington
compiled by Mike Neff
~~~~~~~~~~
FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
~~~~~~~~~~
Got NASCAR-related questions or comments?
Send them John Potts' way at john.potts@frontstretch.com; and if you're lucky, you'll get your name in print when he does his weekly column answering back to you – the fans that keep Frontstretch afloat. Potts' Shots will run on Thursdays with a whole new set of Fan Questions and Answers!
~~~~~~~~~~
Today's Featured Commentary
"Race Fan Heaven" Unveils Its Latest Upgrade
Full Throttle
by Mike Neff
The two weeks at the end of May in the Charlotte/Concord area are referred to by Marcus Smith as Racer's Heaven. And this year, there's a little extra Guardian Angel on hand to give the fans even better coverage of the 1.5-mile oval he runs than ever before. The top guy at Charlotte Motor Speedway was on hand Tuesday to show off his newest toy built on the backstretch, the world's largest HDTV screen. The race track that is known for innovation has done it once again, putting a 200 feet long by 80 feet high television screen within sight of the majority of the seats in the facility.
The new HDTV screen added to Charlotte Motor Speedway is the largest video display screen in the world. It has an impressive number of statistics that reinforce its impressive stature:
• The screen is a total of 16,000 square feet.
• There are 158 panels that make up the face of the screen.
• More than nine million LED lamps will illuminate the Panasonic video board.
• The screen weighs 165,000 pounds.
• The steel frame that supports the screen weighs 500,000 pounds.
• The total structure weighs 332-and-a-half tons or 665,000 pounds.
• The structure rises 11 stories tall, or 110 feet above the track.
• Thirteen companies were involved in the construction of the world's largest HDTV including Panasonic North America of Secaucus, N.J. (board manufacturer/project management); Eastern Sign Tech of Burlington, N.J. (site contractor); Arp Engineering of Monroe, N.C. (structural engineer); and CESI Land Development Services from Concord, N.C. (geotechnical/ surveyor/inspections).
• It took up to 57 workers a day, working more than 11,000 man hours, more than four months to construct the board.
• Crews removed 900 cubic yards of dirt by drilling 12 holes, each 54 inches in diameter, more than 50 feet deep to bedrock level. They then installed concrete piers in the holes to support the massive steel frame.
• Crews used 108,750 pounds of concrete, 547,000 pounds of steel, 120 pounds of rebar and 216 anchor bolts weighing 22,500 pounds to complete the structure.
Charlotte has always been one of the most innovative race tracks in the world and the new HDTV screen is another addition to the long list of firsts. They were the first to light a race track over a mile in length and the first track to install condominiums for permanent living use at the track. They also upgraded their garage areas to allow greater space and accessibility while still managing to have one of the largest media centers in racing. Additionally, they're one of the first tracks to put in a parking area of RVs to view the track from the outside, and they've always had some of the most innovative pre-race events on the schedule.
If that isn't enough, the greater Charlotte area has plenty to keep fans busy during the All-Star / Coca-Cola 600 race weeks. Starting on Wednesday, May 18th there is a Gary Allan and Josh Kelley concert at the NASCAR Hall of Fame. The following night the best pit crews in NASCAR will compete to determine which is the fastest at changing tires, dumping gas, jacking a car and pushing it a pre-defined distance.
Friday night, the Motor Speedway will host qualifying for the All-Star race and the Camping World Truck Series will run the North Carolina Education Lottery 200. The following night will feature a Dierks Bentley Concert, the Pennzoil Ultra Victory Challenge, and NASCAR's two main "special" events: the Sprint Showdown and Sprint All-Star race.
But the action doesn't stop there. Monday, May 23rd the 2011 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place to welcome the next five members to the Hall. Then, Thursday night the pole position and remaining starting positions for the Coca-Cola 600 will be determined during Windstream Pole Night. Friday will see the Coca-Cola Family Cook Out and Track Walk along the World of Outlaws race at the Dirt Track. Saturday, the Nationwide Series hits the track at Charlotte Motor Speedway before the entire experience wraps up on Sunday night when the Cup Series takes to the high banks for the 52nd Annual Coca-Cola 600.
While the organized events are more than enough to keep people who come into town for the races busy for nearly two weeks, the location of Charlotte in relation to the race shops for the majority of the teams in the sport allows fans to visit their operations and tour their facilities, usually for little or no expense. Along with the NASCAR Hall of Fame there is the Victory Lane Museum, the Sam Bass Gallery, the North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame and multiple racing schools to give fans plenty of different options.
Race fans have hundreds of options over the calendar year to use for their destination, but there's no question that the two weeks around the races at the end of May every year are truly a race fan's heaven.
Mike Neff is a Senior Writer for Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via e-mail at mike.neff@frontstretch.com.
~~~~~~~~~~
Hey, Frontstretch Readers!
We know you love the roar of raw horsepower under the hood that powers 43 of the best drivers in the world every weekend, but did you ever wonder how the sponsor on top of that hood also contributes to keeping the sport moving? What about the contributions of official NASCAR companies? If you think they are simply writing checks, think again. Check out our newest feature - Sunday Money. This weekly Frontstretch exclusive provides you with a behind the scenes look at how NASCAR, its affiliates and team sponsors approach the daunting task of keeping fans interested and excited about the sport for 38 weeks of the year.
~~~~~~~~~~
Tweet 'N' Greet
by Jay Pennell
Editor's Note: With the NASCAR Twitter community expanding by leaps and bounds, it remains a place for instantaneous news, reactions, and a whole lot of inside jokes. We understand if you don't want to join the Twitter community - but as a fan, it's important to know the news and info you're missing out on! That's why, every week, Jay Pennell will sort through the thousands of messages and give us a little taste of what's going on each Wednesday.
So, without further ado, here's a look at what those in NASCAR were thinking over the past seven days...
@NascarHall (NASCAR Hall of Fame): Join @NASCARHall for our first birthday celebration tomorrow with a special discounted admission! $5.11 on 5-11! www.nascarhall.com
@KevinHarvick: 4 weeks probation and $25,000 fine... I understand because of the car on pit road.
@AndyLally: OK, lesson learned for everyone, if you're going to brawl at a NASCAR race make sure to stop & do it on track & not in pit lane #SafetyThird
@31n2Spotter (Brett Griffin): Good job @NASCAR boys have @ it should be on the track where safety equipment is protecting those involved. IMO Kyle shoulda been fined more.
@KevinHarvick: I didn't say it was over...RT @kmgriner: @KevinHarvick don't be pc Kevin, you didn't do anything wrong....candy boy did.:))
@KevinHarvick: awfully quiet in candyland.......
@Kenny_Wallace: Damn!.. I am Jealous, any driver in the NNS want to fight me this week in Dover after the race??..ha ha ha!
@StenhouseJr (Ricky Stenhouse Jr.): @Kenny_Wallace haha lets do it
@Kenny_Wallace: Hello @StenhouseJr What did you say to me?..I will kick your ass....ha ha ha ha ha!...this is FUN:)
@StenhouseJr: @Kenny_Wallace haha i know ur down to ur fighting weight now I better keep my mouth shut hahaha
@KevinHarvick: Enthusiasm is through the roof for team 29 this is a badass group of people!
@Kenny_Wallace: My take on the Harvick and Busch fun is this:..I Love it and I enjoy it and its GREAT for the sport!..Back to the Good Ole Days:)
@31n2Spotter: The Lakers getting swept may be the equivalent of @JimmieJohnson doing a start and park 1st race of the chase. #nascar
@31n2Spotter: Kyle Busch fans are retaliating for me saying he shouldn't have wrecked a car with no driver! Best SMDH moment of my SMH career!! #nascar
@Regan_Smith_: Also thank you again to everybody for all the kind comments after last night. I am still in a bit of a state of shock, not that we won but that we won at Darlington, and the way we did it! Such a special place to race at and so much history there. Couldn't be prouder today.
@keselowski (Brad Keselowski): Intentional wrecking = not cool NASCAR equivalent of a late hit in NFL. Takes no skill and no talent! #disturbing #needs2bestopped
@Regan_Smith_: Wow what a night! So proud of Furniture Row Racing! Thanks for all the kind comments, this is the greatest feeling ever!
@kaseykahne: My car was so fast tonight it was crazy. Then I hit the wall. Team Redbull was great tonight. Thanks everyone
@kaseykahne: Fumes had me scrambled for a minute. Got some oxygen. Feeling better now.
@KevinHarvick: Great car and it got a little exciting at the end..I love racing!
@JimmieJohnson: Wow, that was a long night... The end was plenty entertaining, I wonder how the talk went in the truck?
@Tjmajors: Congrats to @Regan_Smith_ on his 2nd cup win.
@DeLanaHarvick: Hum, @KyleBusch walks into the trailer with a smirk on his face. Nothing funny about possibly hurting somebody....
@Brendan62 (Brendan Gaughan): Anyone else notice that Kevin's guys were running down put road to support him... But where were the 18's guys??? Hmmmm
@Brendan62: So happy for Regan Smith, that's a way better story than Daytona to me! Happy for Trevor, but way to buck the system Furniture Row!
@scottspeed: Super cool the 78 won! God I wish I could see KH and KB go at it! That's the next step in entertainment.. Racing then Fighting.. ;)
@bobpockrass: Harvick told me Kyle ran into him twice and he wanted to knock piss out of Kyle. #nascar
@Mc_Driver (Michael McDowell): That is awesome for Regan Smith I am really pumped for him. Makes it seem possible again. #feelgoodstory #NASCAR #DreamsHappen
@arparker89 (Adrian Parker): Lots of revenge in need of doling out in #NASCAR right now. Good thing a no-points, $1-mil-to-win shootout is just around the corner.
@CandiceSpencer (Lee Spencer): Carl Edwards leaves the Media Center with "Happy Mother's Day to all you muthas"
@NASCARBowles (Tom Bowles): Consider this irony: @Regan_Smith_ 's victory at Darlington is the first for a single-car team apart from Daytona/Talladega since... #NASCAR
@NASCARBowles: Ricky Craven, Darlington, 2003. Who knew the Track Too Tough To Tame had a soft spot for underdogs. #NASCAR
@jjyeley1: Now on the road to Darlington.I will spend more time on hwy 151 today than I will on the track in Darlington. It sucks not getting to race.
Jay Pennell is an Assistant Editor to Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via e-mail at jaywpennell@yahoo.com, and you can also check out his work at allleftturns.com or jaywpennell.blogspot.com.
~~~~~~~~~~
TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:
Penalty Day: A Slap on the Wrist That Means Nothing
by Beth Lunkenheimer
Mirror Driving: Regan's Win, Kevin vs. Kyle and Fuel Injection
by the Frontstretch Staff
Beyond the Cockpit: TJ Bell On His Cup Series Debut and His Truck Series Future
by Mike Neff
Underdogs: Four Drivers That Are the Opposite of Regan Smith
by Summer Dreyer
Top Ten Things Discussed in the NASCAR Hauler After Saturday's Race
by Jeff Meyer
Sprint Cup Power Rankings: Top 15 After Darlington
compiled by Mike Neff
~~~~~~~~~~
FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Q: During the 1990 Budweiser 200 Busch Grand National race in Dover, eventual series champion Chuck Bown finished eighth and expanded his points lead from 20 to 34 points. However, it wasn't easy. What did Bown run over during the event?
Check back Thursday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
Tuesday's Answer:
Tuesday's Answer:
Q: The 1995 Miller Genuine Draft 500 at Dover is best known for three things. It was the first race for the Cup Series on the then-new concrete surface, dubbed "White Lightning." Kyle Petty came from 37th to claim his eighth and final victory. However, it is also well-known for a huge crash just a couple of laps into the race. What happened to start the melee?
A: On lap 2, John Andretti was trapped on the outside line in Turns 3 and 4 by Sterling Marlin. Marlin took a position away from Andretti and allowed rookie Ricky Craven to make an attempt at the position. No contact was made between the two cars, but Andretti's No. 37 KMart/Little Ceasars Ford got loose and spun in front of the field. Andretti hit Craven's right front, spinning the No. 41 as well. From that point, it was on.
Andretti's car took a nasty right turn after hitting Craven and went hard into the wall, while Craven spun and threw up a smokescreen. 19 cars in all were involved in the crash, which can be viewed here. However, only four drivers (Andretti, Bobby Hillin, Jr., Dale Jarrett, and Elton Sawyer) were eliminated from the race due to the incident.
Frontstretch Trivia Guarantee: If we mess up, you get 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!
~~~~~~~~~~
Coming tomorrow in the Frontstretch Newsletter:
-- Top News from Phil Allaway
-- Shakedown Session by Brody Jones
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, and more!
~~~~~~~~~~
Tomorrow on the Frontstretch:
MPM2Nite by Matt McLaughlin
Matt is back again this season with his sarcastic sense of humor.
Voices From the Heartland by Jeff Meyer
Your favorite midwestern writer is back for another season of making you want to laugh, cry and even pull your hair out. Wanna know what he's writing about? So do we! Check in tomorrow to find out!
Potts' Shots by John Potts
Fanning the Flames has become Potts' Shots, and John Potts is here to answer your questions in our weekly Fan Q & A. Do you have something you'd like to ask John? Don't sit on the sidelines! Send it to john.potts@frontstretch.com, and you just may see your question in print next week!
Fantasy Insider by Brett Poirier
Did your fantasy racing team take a hit at Darlington? Well, Brett has just what you need to know to turn things around when choosing your teams for Dover Sunday afternoon.
5th Column TBA
------------------------------Andretti's car took a nasty right turn after hitting Craven and went hard into the wall, while Craven spun and threw up a smokescreen. 19 cars in all were involved in the crash, which can be viewed here. However, only four drivers (Andretti, Bobby Hillin, Jr., Dale Jarrett, and Elton Sawyer) were eliminated from the race due to the incident.
Frontstretch Trivia Guarantee: If we mess up, you get 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!
~~~~~~~~~~
Coming tomorrow in the Frontstretch Newsletter:
-- Top News from Phil Allaway
-- Shakedown Session by Brody Jones
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, and more!
~~~~~~~~~~
Tomorrow on the Frontstretch:
MPM2Nite by Matt McLaughlin
Matt is back again this season with his sarcastic sense of humor.
Voices From the Heartland by Jeff Meyer
Your favorite midwestern writer is back for another season of making you want to laugh, cry and even pull your hair out. Wanna know what he's writing about? So do we! Check in tomorrow to find out!
Potts' Shots by John Potts
Fanning the Flames has become Potts' Shots, and John Potts is here to answer your questions in our weekly Fan Q & A. Do you have something you'd like to ask John? Don't sit on the sidelines! Send it to john.potts@frontstretch.com, and you just may see your question in print next week!
Fantasy Insider by Brett Poirier
Did your fantasy racing team take a hit at Darlington? Well, Brett has just what you need to know to turn things around when choosing your teams for Dover Sunday afternoon.
5th Column TBA
Talk back to the Frontstretch Newsletter!
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