THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
June 2nd, 2011
Volume V, Edition CIV
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Frontstretch sends its well wishes, prayers, and support to all our Southern U.S., Joplin, MO and Western Massachusetts fans affected by the swath of tornadoes over the past few weeks. To help out recovery efforts, text "GIVE" to 80888 to donate $10 towards disaster relief efforts in Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Massachusetts and Missouri through the Salvation Army.
Today's Top News
by Phil Allaway
Elliott Sadler Sues RPM
Today's Top News
by Phil Allaway
Elliott Sadler Sues RPM
SceneDaily.com is reporting that Elliott Sadler has filed his second lawsuit against his former employers, Richard Petty Motorsports (RPM). In the suit filed in North Carolina Superior Court, Sadler alleges breach of contract and unfair/deceptive trade practice. Specifically, Sadler alleges that the team is withholding payments due to him because of Hunt Brothers Pizza moving over to Kevin Harvick, Inc. (KHI) to sponsor the team's No. 2 vehicles in the Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series.
When Sadler left RPM at the end of last season, he signed a separation agreement with the team. Effectively, it means that RPM is paying Sadler to stay away. Part of the deal was a non-solicitation agreement in which Sadler promised not to compromise RPM's financial backing. RPM is alleging that Hunt Brothers Pizza moving over to KHI is a violation of that agreement, even though the company sponsored KHI's No. 2 in the Camping World Truck Series in selected races last year.
Sadler's legal counsel strongly disputes RPM's claims.
"What they allege is the Hunt Brothers sponsorship came to KHI as a direct result of Elliott negotiating that, or words to that effect. … Elliott had absolutely no involvement in that," said John Buric, Sadler's attorney. "Hunt Brothers [Pizza] sent out requests for [sponsorship] proposals, requests for bids to many race teams and it just so happens that KHI was awarded the sponsorship."
The legal proceedings will have no bearing on Hunt Brothers Pizza continuing their sponsorship of KHI. As for RPM, they have not released a statement about the proceedings.
Sadler was originally released from RPM back in 2009 and sued the team at that point, alleging wrongful termination. The team decided to keep him on at the last minute and moving his replacement, A.J. Allmendinger, to the No. 43. At that point, Sadler withdrew his lawsuit.
Goodyear Holds Tire Test At Kentucky Speedway
On Wednesday, Goodyear hosted a tire test at the 1.5 mile Kentucky Speedway in order to lock down the proper tire compound to use for the inaugural Quaker State 400, scheduled to be held on July 9th. As is usually the case, teams representing the different manufacturers were invited to the tri-oval to try out the compounds. Those teams were:
Chevrolet: No. 5- Mark Martin for Hendrick Motorsports, No. 29- Kevin Harvick for Richard Childress Racing
Dodge: No. 2- Brad Keselowski for Penske Racing
Ford: No. 16- Greg Biffle for Roush Fenway Racing, No. 38- Travis Kvapil for Front Row Motorsports
Toyota: No. 00- David Reutimann for Michael Waltrip Racing, No. 20- Joey Logano for Joe Gibbs Racing
Goodyear appears to have already been pretty sure of what they wanted to run in July. Because of that, only one compound was at the track. However, the teams present at the track were more than happy to have some rare test time at a track on the actual schedule.
"Goodyear brought one tire here, basically reassuring themselves that this is the tire they want," Joey Logano said. "They've never had tire issues here before with the Nationwide Series, so I don't see this one being a problem. The tire isn't putting too much rubber down and I feel like it has decent grip."
"Goodyear brought one tire here, basically reassuring themselves that this is the tire they want," Joey Logano said. "They've never had tire issues here before with the Nationwide Series, so I don't see this one being a problem. The tire isn't putting too much rubber down and I feel like it has decent grip."
Greg Biffle is also pleased with the product that Goodyear provided.
"The track is taking rubber perfect," Biffle said. "It's turning color and you can see the groove coming in. When we're through, you'll be able to stand in the grandstands and see the distinct black line around the racetrack where the cars are running."
As is the norm for Goodyear tire tests, no times were released.
Joe Gibbs Racing Withdraws No. 20 from Chicagoland
In another sign of the times in the Nationwide Series, Joe Gibbs Racing announced on Wednesday that the team is withdrawing the No. 20 Toyota and driver Joey Logano from Saturday night's STP 300 at Chicagoland Speedway. The reason is quite simply that the team does not have any primary sponsorship for the race. The move is quite shocking since the No. 20, shared so far this season by Logano, Denny Hamlin and Drew Herring, is currently leading the owners' points by 15 entering the event.
The No. 20 team came quite close to withdrawing from Nashville in April for similar reasons before Logano's grandfather stepped up to back the team with his own company, Harvest Investments. In that race, Logano qualified on the pole and finished fourth.
In addition, Go Green Racing made two announcements on Wednesday. First off, Josh Wise has been named the driver of the team's flagship No. 39 Ford for Chicagoland. Wise, currently tenth in points, was without a ride for the weekend due to Danica Patrick previously being scheduled to drive Wise's No. 7 for JR Motorsports. Go Green's second car, the No. 04, has been withdrawn.
Entry List Update
Note: These entries are accurate as of Wednesday night. However, they are still subject to change.
Sprint Cup Series STP 400: 45 cars entered
Number Change: Phoenix Racing switches from No. 09 back to No. 51. They have not used the number in the Cup Series since 2001.
Drivers Ineligible to Earn Points:
No. 38- Travis Kvapil for Front Row Motorsports
No. 50- T.J. Bell for MAKE Motorsports
No. 51- Landon Cassill for Phoenix Racing
No. 60- Mike Skinner for Germain Racing
No. 81- Scott Riggs for Whitney Motorsports
No. 87- Joe Nemechek for NEMCO Motorsports
Driver Changes:
No. 7- Johnny Sauter is in the seat, replacing Robby Gordon. Gordon is running the Baja 500 this weekend. The team is technically 36th in owners' points and thus outside of the locked in group, but the team is locked in for Kansas because the Wood Brothers Racing No. 21 (35th in owners points) is not attempting the race.
No. 32- Patrick Carpentier is in the seat, replacing Mike Bliss.
No. 32- Patrick Carpentier is in the seat, replacing Mike Bliss.
Drivers who must qualify on speed:
No. 30- David Stremme for Inception Motorsports*
No. 37- Tony Raines for Front Row Motorsports/MaxQ Motorsports
No. 38- Travis Kvapil for Front Row Motorsports
No. 46- J.J. Yeley for Whitney Motorsports*
No. 50- T.J. Bell for MAKE Motorsports
No. 60- Mike Skinner for Germain Racing*
No. 66- Michael McDowell for HP Racing, LLC*
No. 71- Andy Lally for TRG Motorsports
No. 81- Scott Riggs for Whitney Motorsports*
No. 87- Joe Nemechek for NEMCO Motorsports*
Nationwide Series STP 300: 42 cars entered
Drivers Originally Entered, but who have already withdrawn:
No. 04- An unknown driver for Go Green Racing
No. 20- Joey Logano for Joe Gibbs Racing
Drivers Ineligible to Earn Points:
No. 13- Rick Crawford for JJC Racing
No. 22- Brad Keselowski for Penske Racing
No. 33- Kevin Harvick for Kevin Harvick, Inc.
No. 60- Carl Edwards for Roush Fenway Racing
Driver Changes:
No. 7- Danica Patrick returns to the seat, replacing Josh Wise.
No. 13- Rick Crawford is in the seat, replacing Jennifer Jo Cobb. If he qualifies, it will be Crawford's first career Nationwide Series start.
No. 16- Trevor Bayne returns to the seat, replacing Matt Kenseth.
No. 18- Kelly Bires returns to the seat, replacing Kyle Busch.
No. 30- Mikey Kile returns to the seat, replacing Kasey Kahne.
No. 39- Josh Wise returns to the seat, replacing Danny Efland.
No. 41- Carl Long returns to the seat, replacing Jeffrey Earnhardt.
No. 49- Dennis Setzer returns to the seat, replacing David Green.
No. 70- Scott Wimmer returns to the seat, replacing Dennis Setzer.
No. 75- Johnny Chapman returns to the seat, replacing Carl Long.
No. 87- Joe Nemechek returns to the seat, replacing Kimi Raikkonen.
Since there are only 42 cars entered, no one will go home. However, these teams still must qualify on speed:
No. 13- Rick Crawford for JJC Racing
No. 16- Trevor Bayne for Roush Fenway Racing
No. 40- Charles Lewandoski for Key Motorsports*
No. 41- Carl Long for Rick Ware Racing*
No. 44- Jeff Green for TriStar Motorsports (Guaranteed to start via the Past Champions' Provisional)*
No. 46- Chase Miller for Key Motorsports*
No. 49- Dennis Setzer for Jay Robinson Racing*
No. 52- Kevin Lepage for Means Motorsports
No. 55- Brett Rowe for Faith Motorsports*
No. 68- Matt Carter for Fleur-de-Lis Motorsports/Rick Ware Racing*
No. 74- Mike Harmon for Harmon Motorsports*
No. 75- Johnny Chapman for Rick Ware Racing*
No. 79- Tim Andrews for 2nd Chance Motorsports*
Camping World Truck Series O'Reilly Auto Parts 250: 36 trucks entered
Drivers Ineligible to Earn Points:
No. 07- Scott Riggs for SS-Green Light Racing
No. 2- Clint Bowyer for Kevin Harvick, Inc.
No. 10- Jennifer Jo Cobb for JJC Racing
No. 18- Kyle Busch for Kyle Busch Motorsports
No. 73- J.J. Yeley for Tagsby Racing
No. 99- Bryan Silas for Chase Mattioli Racing
Driver Changes:
No. 07- Scott Riggs is in the seat, replacing Butch Miller.
No. 73- J.J. Yeley is in the seat, replacing Rick Crawford.
Since there are 36 trucks entered, no one will miss the field. However, these trucks must still qualify on speed:
No. 07- Scott Riggs for SS-Green Light Racing
No. 5- Travis Kvapil for Randy Moss Motorsports
No. 7- Miguel Paludo for Red Horse Racing
No. 10- Jennifer Jo Cobb for JJC Racing
No. 20- Johanna Long for Panhandle Motorsports
No. 38- Mike Garvey for SES Motorsports
No. 57- Norm Benning for Norm Benning Racing
No. 63- Nick Hoffman for Mittler Brothers Racing
No. 65- Stephen McCurley for Tagsby Racing
No. 73- J.J. Yeley for Tagsby Racing
No. 99- Bryan Silas for Chase Mattioli Racing
No. 07- Scott Riggs for SS-Green Light Racing
No. 5- Travis Kvapil for Randy Moss Motorsports
No. 7- Miguel Paludo for Red Horse Racing
No. 10- Jennifer Jo Cobb for JJC Racing
No. 20- Johanna Long for Panhandle Motorsports
No. 38- Mike Garvey for SES Motorsports
No. 57- Norm Benning for Norm Benning Racing
No. 63- Nick Hoffman for Mittler Brothers Racing
No. 65- Stephen McCurley for Tagsby Racing
No. 73- J.J. Yeley for Tagsby Racing
No. 99- Bryan Silas for Chase Mattioli Racing
*- Expected to Start-and-Park
Have news for Phil and The Frontstretch? Don't hesitate to let us know; email us at phil.allaway@frontstretch.com with a promising lead or tip.
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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 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.
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Editor's Note: What's Vexing Vito is on hiatus ... but don't worry fans, Vito is still with us. He's on an official leave of absence and is expected to return on Thursday, June 16th.
Today's Featured Commentary
NASCAR: The Next Generation
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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 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.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Editor's Note: What's Vexing Vito is on hiatus ... but don't worry fans, Vito is still with us. He's on an official leave of absence and is expected to return on Thursday, June 16th.
Today's Featured Commentary
NASCAR: The Next Generation
Shakedown Session
by Brody Jones
by Brody Jones
Much ado is made about the current crop of NASCAR's best drivers. The names of Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Carl Edwards, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., and so many others are almost synonymous with today's NASCAR. But, in this week's edition of the "Shakedown Session," we'll be taking a look at ten drivers who might not be household names yet, but in three to five years down the road, could be very well held to the same standard as the names above.
There are the obvious names that could be penciled in to this category such as Trevor Bayne, Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., Austin Dillon, and an argument could be made for Justin Allgaier as well, but these ten drivers that will be covered today are names that don't immediately come to mind yet in this category but, as the stock market term states, they're on an "upward trend."
Number ten on this list is Johanna Long. The 19-year old Pensacola, Florida native has had an admittedly bumpy flight in her inaugural Camping World Truck Series campaign, but she has been, slowly but surely, improving her skills a bit more each week. She cut her teeth on the Florida Late Model scene. But, her greatest claim to fame so far has been winning the 43rd Annual Snowball Derby at her home track, Five Flags Speedway, in Pensacola last year. She was only the second female to ever win the race, following the footsteps of Tammy Jo Kirk and she beat out such drivers as Steven Wallace and David Ragan en route to the victory. While her current results haven't necessarily turned heads, give her some time and she will be a consistent competitor for victories in NASCAR, not to mention a homegrown female star that NASCAR so desperately needs.
Next on the list is Timmy Hill. The 18-year old wunderkind was placed in Rick Ware Racing's #15 Ford with little to no hype whatsoever and almost one-third of the way through the season, Hill is actually leading Ryan Truex in the current Rookie of the Year battle in the Nationwide Series. While some would argue that the contest really isn't a fair fight with Truex having less starts than Hill, the fact remains that this unheralded kid has turned some heads with his performance for Rick Ware Racing, a team that isn't exactly in the upper echelon of NASCAR teams. While Hill likely will need some type of corporate backing long-term to keep from being the next Ken Bouchard, one cannot help but be impressed at what he has achieved so far early in his NASCAR career.
Taking the number eight spot on this list is Joey Coulter. Coulter is another product of the USARacing Inc. Pro Cup Series, a touring group that launched the careers of such drivers as Joey Logano, Regan Smith, Bayne, Brian Vickers, and countless others. Richard Childress took a chance on Coulter when not many owners would have, and despite the fact his results aren't as eye-catching as the Dillon Brothers have been, Coulter has made Richard Childress once again look like a genius with top-10s at Dover and Phoenix this season, two of the toughest tracks on the Truck Series slate. Coulter's long-term future likely will depend on if Childress can find suitable backing for him, but he's definitely proven he has the talent to succeed in NASCAR with his consistent competitiveness in top-of-the-line equipment.
The number seven driver has a last name many fans should be familiar with in Chase Elliott. The second generation driver and son of Bill Elliott has definitely made an impact in his short time in NASCAR. He's already won a race this year in the USARacing Inc. Pro Cup Series at Rockingham in the Carolina 200 and he's currently in the Hendrick driver development system. The last driver that had this much hoopla surrounding him in his teenage years was Logano and while it's too soon to say if Chase will be a better than Joey, both have had comparable stats at this age, winning many late model races and each driver had a Pro Cup win at the age of fifteen. Time will tell if Chase will make the great leap forward, but he's definitely off to a promising start.
Claiming the sixth spot is a driver who has had a brief flirtation with the NASCAR Nationwide Series already in Coleman Pressley. The third generation racer, grandson of Bob Pressley and son of former NASCAR driver Robert Pressley, turned a few heads in his sporadic appearances last year in the Nationwide Series with R3 Motorsports and JR Motorsports, claiming a best finish of 12th at Nashville Superspeedway in Nationwide Series starts last year. While he has gone to the K&N Pro Series East for X-Team Racing for the 2011 campaign in the No. 14 Kingsford Toyota, there is little reason to believe that we have seen the last of Coleman Pressley in NASCAR. The 2010 UARA-STARS champion has the pedigree and necessary skills to make it back to NASCAR and make a name for himself.
In the fifth spot is the two-time defending K&N Pro Series East Champion and Nationwide Series rookie Ryan Truex. The younger brother of Martin Truex, Jr. has been attempting to forge his own identity in NASCAR and not solely be viewed as "Martin's little brother." So far, Ryan's rookie season has been a baptism by fire, but he has shown signs of competitiveness with a top-10 at Richmond. However, Ryan's career following Chicagoland will go on a temporary hiatus as Pastrana-Waltrip has decided to only participate in races that they have sponsorship lined up for. But, with the credentials that Ryan has, don't expect him to be on the sidelines for too long.
Number four on this list is Parker Kligerman. The Westport, Connecticut native seemingly came out of nowhere in 2009 in the ARCA Series, nearly winning the series championship for Cunningham Motorsports and capturing a pole position for Roger Penske in his first career Nationwide Series start. He had a bit of an up-and-down 2010 season, starting the year with DNQ's at Daytona and Bristol, but late in the year, he rebounded to capture a couple of top-10 finishes, one for Team 42 Racing at Bristol and one for Penske Racing (using the No. 26 from K-Automotive Motorsports) at the Circuit Gillies Villeneuve in Montreal. Brad Keselowski was so impressed by Kligerman's skills, he signed Kligerman to drive for his Camping World Truck Series team for at least the first 15 races and so far, Kligerman, while not putting up the most flashy results, has been remarkably consistent, earning three top-10's in eight career Camping World Truck Series starts and is currently sitting ninth in points.
Which brings us to the third spot on this list, Darrell Wallace, Jr. Most NASCAR fans have likely not heard the name Darrell Wallace, Jr., but for a sport in dire need of diversity, Wallace, Jr. could very well be something of a godsend. The Joe Gibbs Racing development driver has been breaking records and barriers, respectively, as he became the first African-American driver in NASCAR history to win a K&N Pro Series race, winning at Greenville-Pickens Speedway in 2010. Sponsors have been taking notice as well with the U.S. Army now sponsoring his K&N Pro East efforts. Two more victories, including the recent Blue Ox 100 at Richmond International Raceway, have followed, proving that Wallace, Jr. is for real. The sport has needed someone like this for 40 years to fill the void of Wendell Scott and Wallace, Jr., with his marketability and talent, could be the guy to change the face of NASCAR and usher in a new era of diversity.
Taking the second position is the brother of NASCAR Camping World Truck Series star Austin Dillon, and a third generation athlete, in Ty Dillon. The grandson of Richard Childress and son of former NASCAR Busch Series veteran Mike Dillon, like his brother before him, cut his teeth in dirt late model and open wheel modified racing in the Southeast and in the K&N Pro Series East, with a win at Gresham Motorsports Park in 2010 along with two top-5's and six top-10's in 11 starts. But his ARCA stats have made many within the racing community stand up and take notice, with four wins, six top-5's and seven top-10's in eight starts! That's basically, in baseball terms, a hitting percentage of .500! Dillon's wins haven't just come at NASCAR-staples such as Kansas and Talladega, but he's won at Rockingham and Toledo as well, proving his versatility. One thing is for certain, the Dillon brothers could very well become NASCAR's answer to a kinder, more down to earth version of the Busch brothers.
And taking the top spot on this list is Cole Whitt. Let's face it, race fans. Rookies are not supposed to be leading the points in a major NASCAR touring series, especially with a team that struggled to crack the top-15 last year. Its just not done! But Cole Whitt has managed to toss conventional NASCAR wisdom right out the window with his amazing performance so far in 2011. The former USAC standout had a solid 2010 season in the K&N Pro Series East, with two poles, six top-5's, and seven top-10's in ten starts en route to a fourth-place points finish.
Whitt failed to qualify for the season opening race at Daytona, but managed to rent a ride for the race in SES Motorsports' No. 93, normally driven by Shane Sieg. Whitt was able to finish a decent 14th that evening. Back in his Red Bull-sponsored No. 60 after Daytona, he has finished no worse than 12th since and now finds himself in the top spot in points. While Whitt's points lead likely will not last long, it still stands to reason that he's done something no other rookie has ever done in a major NASCAR touring series and that cannot be ignored. Red Bull is already accelerating his learning curve by trying to work out some more Nationwide races for Whitt. But Red Bull has had a bad habit of moving drivers up too soon, such as AJ Allmendinger and Scott Speed. Let's hope Whitt doesn't fall into that trap.
In closing, these ten drivers are just some of the many future faces of NASCAR that are going to be future stars in this sport. Sure, they're not household names yet, but each of these ten drivers has the necessary ingredients to be a part of the sport for a very long time and with names and credentials such as these, NASCAR's future is looking brighter than ever!
Brody Jones is a Website Contributor to Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via e-mail at brody.jones@frontstretch.com.
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The Critic's Annex: Firestone Freedom 100
by Phil Allaway
Hello, race fans. Welcome back to the Critic's Annex, where I take an additional look at motorsports-related programming available to the masses. As you know, Memorial Day weekend is just about the most tiring weekend of the year for a TV Critic such as myself. Heck, I fully admit to concocting a project for class in sixth grade that was literally nothing more than a way to watch 12 hours of racing on the last Sunday of May for a grade.
Hello, race fans. Welcome back to the Critic's Annex, where I take an additional look at motorsports-related programming available to the masses. As you know, Memorial Day weekend is just about the most tiring weekend of the year for a TV Critic such as myself. Heck, I fully admit to concocting a project for class in sixth grade that was literally nothing more than a way to watch 12 hours of racing on the last Sunday of May for a grade.
Now, with the Grand Prix of Monaco also running on the same day as the Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600, its a never-ending parade of sweet, sweet action. And I couldn't be happier, as long as nothing gets in the way of my viewing. However, for this week's auxiliary critique, we're going back to Friday afternoon and Versus' coverage of Carburetion Day, the traditional final day of on-track action before the Indianapolis 500. Hey, I promised that I'd do it when I critiqued IndyCar Open Wheel Weekly.
Speaking of IndyCar Open Wheel Weekly, co-host Kevin Lee tweeted on Tuesday that the show has been put onto hiatus until further notice. As far as he knows, the hiatus has nothing to do with ratings (then again, airing live at 4pm on Tuesdays isn't exactly the greatest time to get big ratings). Apparently, it has to do with lack of sponsors. Its a shame that the show might never have a chance to come into its own. Hopefully, Versus (and the Izod IndyCar Series, as CEO Randy Bernard is definitely behind the show and wants it to be successful) can get the backing required to put the show back on air.
Also of note, Versus recently named Indianapolis 500 winner Dan Wheldon as the substitute analyst for Wally Dallenbach, Jr. during the network's coverage of the Firestone Twin 275's at Texas Motor Speedway on June 11. Dallenbach (along with pit reporter Marty Snider) is scheduled to be in Pennsylvania for TNT's coverage of the Pocono 500. Now, onto the critique.
Once Versus' coverage of the final IndyCar practice session ended, there was some wrap-up interviews, then Versus got right into their coverage of the Firestone Freedom 100 for the Firestone Indy Lights. Due to rain washing out qualifying, the field was basically set on practice times. Moisture wasn't the only problem, however.
Temperature was a huge issue. During Carb Day activities, it was about 55 degrees at the track and very cloudy. These conditions meant that there were a series of incidents (including one in practice before the race) directly attributable to the lack of grip. As a result, there were a bunch of comparisons to the 1992 Indianapolis 500, a race in similar weather conditions (perhaps, even a little colder) where there were a series of wrecks due to drivers being unable to get tires up to temperature.
Granted, the Firestone Indy Lights were nowhere near as fast as the Lolas, Galmers, and Penskes were in 1992. Since qualifying was scrubbed and past results for the series are very hard to come by, I'm unsure of what a likely pole speed would have been for the race. We'll use 194 mph for the heck of it. Lap speeds in the race were in the 188-191 range. In 1992, the pole speed for the Indianapolis 500 was over 232 mph. The fastest lap during the actual race was turned in by Michael Andretti at over 229 mph and average pace was somewhere between 214-225 mph, dependent on the driver. Regardless of the speeds, the cars were still wildly out of control at times. Like in 1992, when Roberto Guerrero and Philippe Gache spun out under yellow, two separate drivers (Anders Krohn and Peter Dempsey) spun out on their own at reduced speed.
Prior to the race, Versus (via their pit reporter, Jake Query), aired interviews with pole-sitter (and former Ganassi development driver in NASCAR) Bryan Clauson, Conor Daly (the driver Clauson was technically replacing for the race), and team owner Sam Schmidt. Based on those listed interviews (both drivers drive for Schmidt), it could have been assumed that the broadcast would have been focused on Schmidt's team. Granted, Schmidt was fielding four of the 18 cars in the starting field, but that was not the case. The other teams got what amounted to equal treatment on the broadcast.
Also, the aforementioned Wheldon joined Mike King and Willy T. Ribbs in the booth to commentate on the race. The move could be considered a form of practice for the soon to be two-time Indianapolis 500 winner. However, if you remember my critique of Versus' Firestone Indy Lights coverage from Long Beach in April, you might recall that Dallenbach basically showed up unannounced in the booth to supplement Ribbs. Not cool.
Ribbs was definitely more useful Friday than he was at Long Beach. He has a definite love for the 2.5 mile rectangle and displayed a slightly more cheerful mood on air. However, his input on the broadcast itself was still quite muted. Wheldon seemed to get more airtime during the actual race itself than Ribbs did, suggesting that Ribbs is still too green to work in a two man booth. Ribbs seemed to be unsure of what he wants to say. He has plenty of knowledge in his head, but he just can't figure out how to espouse that information. And, that is a shame.
Also when I critiqued IndyCar Open Wheel Weekly, I referenced the fact that Ribbs was going to field a car in the race for Chase Austin. That came to pass and Austin finished ninth, keeping his No. 75 out of trouble for all 100 miles. I mentioned that I would be monitoring the telecast to check for bias. There was some discussion of Ribbs' effort for Austin, and Ribbs did admit that he was proud of Austin for keeping himself out of trouble after the race ended. However, there was no cheerleading for Austin during the race itself.
The action seen on track was substantially different than what was seen on Sunday during the actual Indianapolis 500. Especially early on in the race, there was a lot of side-by-side racing for position. King definitely came prepared to handle the fast-paced action, and Wheldon was as well. Unfortunately, that means that Ribbs was once again the laggard.
The big moment in this race ended up being the huge crash that took out Krohn and Jorge Goncalvez, causing the race to finish under caution. Thankfully, both drivers (especially Goncalvez) were uninjured in the crash. It should be noted that Goncalvez was put on a stretcher for precautionary reasons. There was the usual praise of the chassis for being as safe as it is. The series has come quite a long way from when Jason Priestley got seriously hurt at Kentucky Speedway years ago.
However, there was also a fair amount of conjecture about what actually happened. Calling a race is a high energy profession. Sometimes, commentators in the booth need to take a step back and maybe not just jump to conclusions. In high pressure situations, I would suggest taking the first replay of a major crash and just sit back and gather your thoughts. Don't jump to conclusions. Many of my readers don't realize this, but that is something Darrell Waltrip actually does very well. Unfortunately, people confuse that with trying to protect specific individuals.
I only say that because the commentators were completely convinced that contact caused that wreck. In reality, there was no contact. Krohn simply got loose and spun himself out underneath Goncalvez. Goncalvez never touched Clauson either, although it was quite close. It was a racing accident, exacerbated due to the cool weather and overall lack of grip.
Post-race coverage was relatively short. There were post-race interviews with winner Josef Newgarden and Clauson. There were also checks of the unofficial results and the Firestone Indy Lights point standings before changing gears towards the Indianapolis 500 Pit Crew Competition.
Overall, the coverage was ok. King is clearly in charge and has to more or less support Ribbs along the way. I think Ribbs is slowly becoming more comfortable in his analyst's role, but its still a work in progress. Makes me wonder how many screen tests (if any) they gave him before the season began. Perhaps they watched the Trans-Am race from Long Beach in 2002 (aired on SPEED) and decided "Why the heck not?" At least he's showing some improvement. Heck, it couldn't have gotten worse than Long Beach.
Thanks for checking out this critique on the Firestone Freedom 100 on Versus. Next week, the ARCA Racing Series will be critiqued once again from Chicagoland. Until then, have a great weekend.
Phil Allaway is a Senior Writer and the Newsletter Manager for Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via e-mail at phil.allaway@frontstretch.com.
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Frontstretch Line of the Week
"Secure a dual sponsorship, combining Perky Jerky and ExtenZe so people will REALLY love his meat."- Yep, that is quite the zinger. Essentially, such a relationship would definitely be a boon for Biotab Nutraceuticals, the company behind ExtenZe and the sleep aid Alteril. However, such a partnership is highly unlikely.
Have a nominee for Line of the Week? Email Phil Allaway at phil.allaway@frontstretch.com and you may see yourself in this space next week!
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TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:
MPM2Nite: Thirty-Three and a Third
by John Potts
Choosing Your Battlesby Mark Howell
by Brett Poirier
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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.
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FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Q: In 1993, the American Speed Association added two new road races to their schedule. One was a 300-kilometer race at Brainerd International Raceway in Minnesota, while the other was the Mello Yello 300k at Heartland Park Topeka on their 1.8-mile layout. A couple of Winston Cup drivers decided to cherry pick the Heartland Park Topeka event, and one of them won the pole for the race. Who was it, and what were they driving?
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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.
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FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Q: In 1993, the American Speed Association added two new road races to their schedule. One was a 300-kilometer race at Brainerd International Raceway in Minnesota, while the other was the Mello Yello 300k at Heartland Park Topeka on their 1.8-mile layout. A couple of Winston Cup drivers decided to cherry pick the Heartland Park Topeka event, and one of them won the pole for the race. Who was it, and what were they driving?
Check back Friday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
Wednesday's Answer:
Q: In recent years, Heartland Park Topeka has hosted a couple of major events. One is a World of Outlaws Sprint Car event held first on a temporary circuit built using part of the dragstrip, then on a permanent circuit. The other is the SCCA Runoffs, the traditional National Championships for club racing. How did Heartland Park land the Runoffs?
Wednesday's Answer:
Q: In recent years, Heartland Park Topeka has hosted a couple of major events. One is a World of Outlaws Sprint Car event held first on a temporary circuit built using part of the dragstrip, then on a permanent circuit. The other is the SCCA Runoffs, the traditional National Championships for club racing. How did Heartland Park land the Runoffs?
A: Basically, location. The SCCA (Sports Car Club of America) is based in Topeka and decided to centralize their National Championships in order to situate them close to their headquarters. The National Championship Runoffs have since been relocated to Road America.
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 tomorrow in the Frontstretch Newsletter:
-- Top News by Summer Dreyer
-- Keepin' It Short by Mike Neff
-- In Case You Missed It by Brett Poirier
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, and more!
Tomorrow on the Frontstretch:
Four Burning Questions: Kansas by TBA
We'll give you a look at important things to look forward to at Kansas Speedway this weekend in our racing preview.
Holding A Pretty Wheel by Amy Henderson
Holding A Pretty Wheel by Amy Henderson
Amy returns with another intriguing commentary heading into Kansas.
Goin' Green by Garrett Horton
Garrett returns with more commentary and insight.
Driver Diary: Casey Mears as told to Amy Henderson
Garrett returns with more commentary and insight.
Driver Diary: Casey Mears as told to Amy Henderson
Casey returns to talk about the past few weeks on and off the track.
Tearing Apart The Trucks by Beth Lunkenheimer
Beth returns to take a look inside the Camping World Truck Series ahead of Saturday's O'Reilly Auto Parts 250 at Kansas Speedway.
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©2011 Frontstretch.com
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Talk back to the Frontstretch Newsletter!
Got something to say about an article you've seen in the newsletter? It's as easy as replying directly to this message or sending an email to editors@frontstretch.com. We'll take the best comments and publish them here!
©2011 Frontstretch.com
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