THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
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The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
May 23rd, 2011
Volume V, Edition XCV
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
May 23rd, 2011
Volume V, Edition XCV
Sprint Cup Race Recaps
David Ragan Wins Sprint Showdown
by Jay Pennell
With one of the fastest cars all weekend, David Ragan was finally able to seal the deal and capture the Sprint Showdown from the pole. Battling with Brad Keselowski, Ragan was able to make the move for the lead exiting the second turn with two laps to go.
"There for a few laps I thought that we were just going to have to run second," Ragan said. "Everything is a lot easier if you have a fast race car. I just tried not to make any mistakes those last few runs."
Fast from the drop of the green flag, Ragan led the field to the end of the first segment. As the majority of the field headed to pit road, Ragan, Paul Menard, Keselowski and four others opted to stay out during the caution separating the two 20-lap segments.
As the second segment got underway, Keselowski got a great jump on the bottom to go three-wide for the lead into Turn 1. With the rest of the field battling behind them, Keselowski and Ragan pulled away in clean air. Getting a great run as the laps clicked away, Ragan made his move with two laps to go.
"Clean air was everything," Ragan said. "I felt like those restarts was going to determine who was going to win and who wasn't. If you would have threw a guy running sixth and seventh in the lead, I think they would have had the speed to stay up there.
"Just fortunate we were able to get through the restarts, not lose a lot of ground," he added. "Our car was pretty good there at the end. So it was cool to get the win."
Missing out on the win, Keselowski was pleased with racing his way into the night's main event.
"I certainly didn't let him go, I can tell you that," Keselowski said. "I saw him coming and tried to not let him go (by). I didn't want to lose the race, but I wasn't going to wreck myself trying to win when I knew I could transfer from second. I certainly didn't let him go. His car was just that strong. He went right by me, dirty air and all."
Finishing in the sixth spot, Dale Earnhardt Jr. also transferred into the Sprint All-Star Race by securing the Sprint Fan Vote.
"I see it a whole lot different from this side of the fence than a lot of people do," Earnhardt Jr. said. "I didn't take it for granted. I knew my fans were working really hard. They've done a great job over the last several years of locking up the Most Popular Driver Award. All the credit goes to them. They do all the work, support us so much, really believe in what we're trying to accomplish.
"It makes going out there and working harder and harder to try to get where you want to be, be more successful, be a better competitor when you got that many people behind you."
The racing action was slowed for three on-track incidents, the first of which came in the opening laps. After cutting a left rear tire, the No. 09 of Landon Cassill slid up the banking into Turn 1. Narrowly missing Joe Nemechek and David Stremme, Cassill was plowed into by the No. 64 of Derrike Cope. Despite the vicious hit, both drivers were able to walk away.
Carl Edwards Dominates the Sprint All-Star Race
Carl Edwards Dominates the Sprint All-Star Race
by Jay Pennell
The annual Sprint All-Star Race is always hyped as a race that is "checkers or wreckers" and Saturday night at Charlotte Motor Speedway Carl Edwards took the checkered flag and needed a wrecker to get to Victory Lane.
Attempting to slide through the frontstretch grass in celebration, Edwards' No. 99 Aflac Ford hit the grass, dug in and tore the front end off of the car, nearly getting airborne. Unfortunately for the fans, that was highlight of the night as the race billed as a "gloves come off" anything goes event was a bit of a dud.
Edwards had the strongest car throughout the four-segment race, having to fend off challenges from Kyle Busch and teammate Greg Biffle - who won the night's first segment.
"The key to winning this race are the guys behind me," Edwards said. "Bob Osborne and my guys, especially the guys on pit road, I mean they could have dropped the ball. That's all the pressure in the world on those guys and they performed a flawless pit stop and got us out in front of Kyle. He was a bear on those restarts. If we would have restarted behind him I think it would have been really tough.
"I feel so bad for tearing up the car," he added, "but Bob says he has a faster one for next week."
Although he led three times for 19 laps, Busch accomplished something he had struggled to do in years past – finish the All-Star Race with a clean car. Despite his incident free race, Busch was disappointed in missing the $1 million prize, but encouraged by their strong showing.
"The most frustrating part is when you have a shot to win or when you feel like you have a shot to win and something happens to you," Busch said. "Those are really frustrating because you never know how it would turn out.
"Tonight we flat out got beat," he added. "There's nothing to hang our heads about, there's nothing to be frustrated on tonight. We just didn't quite have enough when we needed it."
Coming to life in the final 10-lap segment, David Reutimann simply ran out of time as he was closing on the leaders when the checkered flag flew. Making his second appearance in the Sprint All-Star Race, Reutimann was forced to settle for a third place finish.
"It was a good car the whole race," Reutimann said. "We just got the track position we needed and be able to run up toward the front. It came down to the pit stop. The guys did a good job. If they hadn't gotten me that pit stop, we would have run seventh or eighth probably. My pit crew gets the credit for tonight."
Tony Stewart, Biffle, Matt Kenseth, Denny Hamlin, Sprint Showdown winner David Ragan, Kevin Harvick and Ryan Newman rounded out the top-10.
Juan Pablo Montoya, Kurt Busch, Sprint Fan Vote winner Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Clint Bowyer, Jamie McMurray, Sprint Showdown runner-up Brad Keselowski, Mark Martin, Regan Smith and Kasey Kahne made up the rest of the field.
Despite being hyped as one of the most exciting events of the year, Saturday night's All-Star Race was fairly tame. Slowed only twice for on-track incidents – Kahne hitting the wall in second segment and Smith spinning in the third segment – Edwards' post-race fireworks through the grass was the only real highlight.
Jay Pennell is a Website Contributor for Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via e-mail at jay.pennell@frontstretch.com.
Got NASCAR-related questions or comments about 2011? John's got answers!
A new year means a new columnist to answer all your pressing questions about the sport! Our legendary flagman John Potts is taking over our Fan Q & A, so be sure to stack his inbox with plenty of queries and comments for the New Year! Send them his 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!
Secret Star of the Race: The Race You Never Saw
Jay Pennell is a Website Contributor for Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via e-mail at jay.pennell@frontstretch.com.
Got NASCAR-related questions or comments about 2011? John's got answers!
A new year means a new columnist to answer all your pressing questions about the sport! Our legendary flagman John Potts is taking over our Fan Q & A, so be sure to stack his inbox with plenty of queries and comments for the New Year! Send them his 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!
Secret Star of the Race: The Race You Never Saw
To say this season has been a nightmare for David Reutimann is putting it mildly; everything from mechanical failures to handling gremlins have cropped up in 2011, leaving him 26th in points and without a top-10 finish that counts early on. Certainly, the race is an exhibition - Carl Edwards just had 'em covered today - but for Reutimann, momentum gained from putting the pieces together here could linger at exactly the right time; he's Charlotte's 600 champ from the 2009 seaon- – Tom Bowles
STAT OF THE WEEK: 4 of 26. Bad news for David Ragan; that's the number of Sprint Showdown winners who have gone on to win a points-paying race in the same calendar year. It hasn't happened since Steve Park in 2000... - Tom Bowles
Big Six: Sprint Showdown
by Amy Henderson
Who…gets my shoutout of the race?
If there had been a few more laps, Brad Keselowski might have watched the All-Star Race on TV, because Marcos Ambrose was driving it like he stole it in the closing laps, gaining like a freight train overtaking a tortoise. He ran out of time, finishing third, but Ambrose showed that once again, his Richard Petty motorsports team could indeed be there at the end. Teammate AJ Allmendinger finished fourth to cap off a great night for the organization.
What… was THAT?
Not that it's obvious or anything, but NASCAR really, really wanted Dale Earnhardt, Jr. in the All-Star Race. So much so, in fact that there was a last-minute rules change making the fan vote winner have to finish the race only with a car in "raceable condition" when formerly that driver also had to be on the lead lap. This rule came about after Junior had a midpack run in practice. We have the Petty Rule in the past champion's provisional. Call this one the Junior Rule.
Where…did the polesitter wind up?
Everywhere he wanted to be: In victory lane and in the All-Star Race. David Ragan stalked Brad Keselowski in the closing laps to take over the top spot and then run away with it on the white flag lap. It was Ragan's first win in a Cup car, and much needed-his sponsor's contract is up after this year, and any positive runs are vital, even in a non-points event.
When…will I be loved?
It was partly the product of unfortunate timing, tires given up just when there was a pair of late-race restarts, but whatever the reason, Paul Menard just could not get going on the restarts with 13 laps left. The field stacked up behind, and ended up with Brian Vickers turned around. The second time Menard was a moving chicane, forcing several drivers to make evasive maneuvers to avoid him. It clearly wasn't intentional, but it sure wasn't pretty, either.
Why…was Bobby Labonte even in this race?
Cup champions used to have a lifetime pass into the All-Star event, until NASCAR made another rule change that makes little sense. It's understandable that NASCAR didn't want the main event filled with part-time past champs, but what should have happened was a rule to make only full-time past champs eligible, which would have put Labonte in the field. It's not like you're adding a lot of cars to the feature here. There are just six active champions running full time in the series (the other five are already in the All-Star event).
How…the heck does the burnout contest work?
Beats me. Also beats the competitors and judges, though, so at least I have company. Oh well, it's a bit of good, clean fun for the fans, and most of the drivers, with the notable exception of Kurt Busch, did not disappoint. Personally, I was a bigger fan of the crew chief race-now that was entertaining!
Big Six: Sprint All-Star Race
Who…gets my shoutout of the race?
Most of the top-5 was completely predictable, but the driver who finished third was a bit of a surprise. David Reutimann looked like he might have something for Carl Edwards, after a charge off the final restart, but could advance no further in the closing laps of what was one of the least exciting All-Star events in recent memory. Darrell Waltrip got a little carried away during the charge, calling Reutimann "Rooty Tooty Fresh and Fruity," which was an advertising slogan from International House of Pancakes. Here's hoping that one won't stick…
What… was THAT?
The All-Star race is usually a throwback race-a race where caution is thrown to the wind in a no-holds-barred brawl for a million bucks. But not this time. Instead a healthy crowd was treated to one of the least exciting contests this event has produced in years. There was a little beating, a smidgen of banging…and that was it. There were no fireworks, no "boys, have at it," no-well, no excitement. The event has gone downhill since Sprint came on board and made changes that eliminates staples of races past, like late-race field inversions and eliminations.
Where…did the polesitter wind up?
Kyle Busch had to be the odds-on favorite to win after qualifying on the pole and winning Friday night's Camping World Truck Series race at Charlotte, but he could only watch Carl Edwards drive away with the million-dollar payday while Busch was left to settle for second.
When…will I be loved?
In a race so tame, it's hard to spot a villain, and there was none to be seen in this one. Pin the blame for that on Sprint and the other corporate sponsors who have caused the race to become a watered-down facsimile of it's former spectacle. No inversions, no eliminations, because heaven forbid a sponsor have to endure an early exit (then make sure your driver goes faster next time…) or see something as unseemly as a bump and run. Instead, it was a politically correct shell of its former self.
Why…was the No. 48 the 5 and the No.5 the 25?
Anyone who looked at the rundown and couldn't find the No. 48, that's because Jimmie Johnson was running the No. 5 in the All-Star Race while teammate Mark Martin took over the No. 25. The reason for the switch? Lowe's is advertising 5% off purchases made with a Lowe's credit card, so the sponsor requested the number change. Johnson and Martin will be back with their usual numbers next week for the Coca-Cola 600. It definitely made looking at the running order interesting: "Where the heck is Johnson…oh, wait."
How…bad were the Penske entries early on Saturday night before a small late-race rally?
Brad Keselowski finished second in the Showdown to make the big race, but that was about where the fun stopped, as the No. 2 had brake issues in the first segment and lost six laps, and the No. 22 didn't even have that excuse. Even though he got the lap he lost on a pit road penalty in the first segment back, Kurt Busch was vocally unhappy with the way his Dodge was handling, at one point telling his crew, "I don't care. I just want it backed in the fence," when asked about possible adjustments. Both drivers did improve. Keselowski gained back four of his six laps and Busch, despite his despondent radio chatter, was able to salvage something on the night-he ran in the top-10 for much of the second half before finishing 13th. But have you ever seen the movie Cars? Remember the scene where Lightning McQueen berates his pit crew so badly they up and quit on him? That has to be how Busch's guys feel on a weekly basis, and in a sport where chemistry is huge, you have to wonder if things will unravel further as the summer heats up.
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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TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:
Matt McLaughlin's Thinkin' Out Loud: 2011 All-Star Race Recap
by Brody Jones
by Amy Henderson
by Amy Henderson
by Beth Lunkenheimer
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FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Q: In 1993, Dale Earnhardt won the Coca-Cola 600 to take his second straight win on Memorial Day weekend. However, the race wasn't all easy for Earnhardt, who had to come back through the field after a penalty. What caused Earnhardt to be penalized?
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Get THE ANNUAL, 2011 Racing Preview for your mobile device.
Go to Frontstretch.com and click on "The Annual" link on the right side to order and download this special issue that includes: Track Information, Driver profiles and In-Depth Features.
FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Q: In 1993, Dale Earnhardt won the Coca-Cola 600 to take his second straight win on Memorial Day weekend. However, the race wasn't all easy for Earnhardt, who had to come back through the field after a penalty. What caused Earnhardt to be penalized?
Check back Tuesday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
Friday's Answer:
Q: In 1998, Hendrick Motorsports brought a very strong car for Jeff Gordon to The Winston. Gordon dominated the event, only to run out of fuel on the last lap of Segment No. 3, allowing Mark Martin to win. What was notable about the scheme Gordon was running that night?
A: Gordon ran a special paint scheme showing off DuPont's then-new Chromallusion paint. This paint, which cost approximately $199 a pint, could make the car appear to be a different color dependent on how light hit it. At first glance, the car was a golden color, but if the light hit it right, it could appear red, blue, or purple. In a TNN Tech Fact at the 9:15 mark of this clip, Ray Evernham briefly describes the special scheme while talking about the setup for The Winston.
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!
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Coming Tuesday in the Frontstretch Newsletter:
-- Top News from TBA
-- Sitting In The Stands: A Fans' View by S.D. Grady
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, and more!
Tomorrow on the Frontstretch:
The Yellow Stripe by Danny Peters
Danny is back with another captivating commentary. The topic this week: The sweetest weekend of the year for race fans. Charlotte, Indianapolis and Monaco on the same day.
What's Hot / What's Not in Sprint Cup: All-Star-Charlotte Edition by Summer Dreyer
Summer takes a look at post-All-Star numbers to see who's got the most momentum heading into the Coca-Cola 600... and beyond.
Five Points To Ponder by Bryan Davis Keith
Bryan's back with his weekly edition of talking points to get you set for the Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Talking NASCAR TV by Phil Allaway
Last weekend, the Sprint Cup Series tossed out the points in favor of the All-Star Race. The Camping World Truck Series served as main support. Meanwhile, the Nationwide Series held their first Spring race at Iowa Speedway. Were these telecasts up to snuff, or did they leave something to be desired? Check out our weekly TV critique to find out.
Fact or Fiction by Tom Bowles
Tom looks at some conclusions that could be made after the Sprint All-Star Race and determines whether they're true or not.
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