THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
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The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
July 19th, 2011
Volume V, Edition CXLI
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Today's Top News
by Tom Bowles
A.J. Allmendinger Gets New Crew Chief
After four years as Greg Biffle's crew chief, it took just one week for Greg Erwin to find a new gig. Reassigned last Monday, Erwin has left Roush Fenway Racing to become the head wrench for A.J. Allmendinger at fellow Ford operation Richard Petty Motorsports. Replacing Mike Shiplett, Erwin hopes to bring the famed No. 43 into Chase contention; currently, Allmendinger sits 16th in points with one top-5 and four top-10 finishes through 19 races. Just one victory, under the current system would vault him in position to gain a "wild-card" spot.
The move is considered a mild surprise, considering team and driver have four top-15 finishes in the last five Sprint Cup events. However, Erwin brings a wealth of past success to the program; making the Chase with Biffle five times, he led the No. 16 team to 36 top-5 and 66 top-10 finishes during his tenure.
Shiplett had led the No. 43 team since August of 2009; his new role with the program was not immediately made clear.
Yeley to Front Row Motorsports: Official
After a year-plus of mostly start-and-park efforts, J.J. Yeley is jumping at the chance to occasionally run the full distance. Signed by Front Row Motorsports Monday, Yeley will split time between a new, No. 55 Ford and the No. 38 currently driven by Travis Kvapil for the rest of the 2011 season. It's unclear how the duo will split the No. 38 car after Kvapil's release from his Truck Series ride last week, but assuming he lands elsewhere in Trucks Yeley would take over the No. 38 car for any conflicts.
Yeley had been driving for Whitney Motorsports and the No. 46 car this season, failing to finish all 15 events he entered (14 through start-and-park). He was 23rd in a one-time, fill-in effort for Kvapil at New Hampshire last week.
It's unclear at press time how often the No. 55 will go the distance, if at all; Jeff Green start-and-parked that Ford at New Hampshire this past Sunday.
TV Ratings Improve For New Hampshire
TNT finished out its six-race NASCAR coverage on a strong note this Sunday. Nielsen ratings for the Sprint Cup race at New Hampshire clocked in with a 2.9 overnight, up 11.5 percent from last year's 2.6 when the race was held in June. The network has had mixed results overall; two of its other races (Infineon, Kentucky vs Chicagoland in '10) posted increases, two posted decreases (Pocono, Daytona) while Michigan maintained its rating from the previous year.
Overall, based on a strong boost from Infineon (3.2 vs. 2.7) TNT has posted a 7% increase year-to-year pending final numbers from Loudon.
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.
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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!
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Numbers Game: Lenox Industrial Tools 301
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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!
~~~~~~~~~~
Numbers Game: Lenox Industrial Tools 301
by Brett Poirier
0
The number of top-10 finishes for Jeff Burton in 19 starts this season. He is the only driver in the top-30 in the standings who hasn't recorded a top-10 finish.
1
The number of 1-2 finishes in Stewart-Haas Racing's history. Ryan Newman and Tony Stewart finished first and second on Sunday in the Sprint Cup race.
1
The number of drivers in the top-10 in points who are yet to record a victory this season. Dale Earnhardt Jr. is the only driver.
2
The number of drivers to win from the pole this season in Sprint Cup. Ryan Newman became the second pole-sitter in a row to win on Sunday (but, the first one to win from the pole when there was an official qualifying session).
2
The number of top-10 finishes for Sprint Cup point leader Carl Edwards in 14 career starts at New Hampshire. Edwards was 13th on Sunday.
3
The number of free passes issued to Hendrick Motorsports drivers at New Hampshire. Jeff Gordon received one and Mark Martin got it twice. Gordon ended up 11th and Martin was 22nd.
4
The number of victories for Ryan Newman in 47 starts from the pole in the Sprint Cup series.
4
The number of top-30 finishes this season for rookie Andy Lally. He was 28th at New Hampshire.
5
The number of Sprint Cup races this season in which Kyle Busch has not led a lap. He failed to lead a lap Sunday after blowing a tire and finished 36th.
5
The consecutive number of races in which Dale Earnhardt, Jr. has finished outside the top-10. He was 15th on Sunday.
8
The number of top-10 finishes for Denny Hamlin in 11 career starts at the Magic Mile.
13
The number of different winners after 19 Sprint Cup races in 2011. There were 13 different winners all of last season.
13
The number of top-10 finishes for Ryan Newman in 19 career starts at New Hampshire.
15
The number of top-10 finishes for Tony Stewart at New Hampshire in 25 starts.
18th
Greg Biffle's finishing position on Sunday in Matt Puccia's debut on the pit box. Biffle has finished outside the top-10 in eight of the last nine races.
19.6
The average finishing position of Sprint Cup drivers following a win in the previous Sprint Cup race in 2011. After winning at Kentucky, Kyle Busch finished 36th at New Hampshire.
47
The length of Ryan Newman's losing streak before winning at New Hampshire on Sunday.
124
The number of races since Ryan Newman won at a track not one mile in length. His last two victories, Phoenix in 2010 and New Hampshire in 2011 are one mile tracks.
830
Laps completed this season by Joe Nemechek through 19 Sprint Cup races. He ran 37 laps at New Hampshire on his way to a 41st-place finish.
Brett Poirier is a Website Contributor for Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via e-mail at brett.poirier@frontstretch.com.
Today's Featured Commentary
Looking for a Little Luck in the Whelen Modified Series
0
The number of top-10 finishes for Jeff Burton in 19 starts this season. He is the only driver in the top-30 in the standings who hasn't recorded a top-10 finish.
1
The number of 1-2 finishes in Stewart-Haas Racing's history. Ryan Newman and Tony Stewart finished first and second on Sunday in the Sprint Cup race.
1
The number of drivers in the top-10 in points who are yet to record a victory this season. Dale Earnhardt Jr. is the only driver.
2
The number of drivers to win from the pole this season in Sprint Cup. Ryan Newman became the second pole-sitter in a row to win on Sunday (but, the first one to win from the pole when there was an official qualifying session).
2
The number of top-10 finishes for Sprint Cup point leader Carl Edwards in 14 career starts at New Hampshire. Edwards was 13th on Sunday.
3
The number of free passes issued to Hendrick Motorsports drivers at New Hampshire. Jeff Gordon received one and Mark Martin got it twice. Gordon ended up 11th and Martin was 22nd.
4
The number of victories for Ryan Newman in 47 starts from the pole in the Sprint Cup series.
4
The number of top-30 finishes this season for rookie Andy Lally. He was 28th at New Hampshire.
5
The number of Sprint Cup races this season in which Kyle Busch has not led a lap. He failed to lead a lap Sunday after blowing a tire and finished 36th.
5
The consecutive number of races in which Dale Earnhardt, Jr. has finished outside the top-10. He was 15th on Sunday.
8
The number of top-10 finishes for Denny Hamlin in 11 career starts at the Magic Mile.
13
The number of different winners after 19 Sprint Cup races in 2011. There were 13 different winners all of last season.
13
The number of top-10 finishes for Ryan Newman in 19 career starts at New Hampshire.
15
The number of top-10 finishes for Tony Stewart at New Hampshire in 25 starts.
18th
Greg Biffle's finishing position on Sunday in Matt Puccia's debut on the pit box. Biffle has finished outside the top-10 in eight of the last nine races.
19.6
The average finishing position of Sprint Cup drivers following a win in the previous Sprint Cup race in 2011. After winning at Kentucky, Kyle Busch finished 36th at New Hampshire.
47
The length of Ryan Newman's losing streak before winning at New Hampshire on Sunday.
124
The number of races since Ryan Newman won at a track not one mile in length. His last two victories, Phoenix in 2010 and New Hampshire in 2011 are one mile tracks.
830
Laps completed this season by Joe Nemechek through 19 Sprint Cup races. He ran 37 laps at New Hampshire on his way to a 41st-place finish.
Brett Poirier is a Website Contributor for Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via e-mail at brett.poirier@frontstretch.com.
Today's Featured Commentary
Looking for a Little Luck in the Whelen Modified Series
Sitting In The Stands: A Fan's View
by S.D. Grady
Sometimes things are meant to be; the stars align, the gods are in a great mood, it's a full moon…positive energy flows your way.
One might think such good luck is what landed Ryan Newman in Victory Lane twice this past weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway—once in the No. 7 Whelen Modified machine owned by Kevin Manion and again in that snazzy No. 39 Sprint Cup car owned by Stewart-Haas Racing. I'm a great one for believing in luck when it comes to racing. Far too many variables exist in this sport to say that it is only through superior driving ability and equipment that you will take the checkered flag home with you on any given weekend. There's always a bit of magic involved.
But which was it for Mr. Newman this week? A bit of luck or superior fire power when it came down to the final battle?
My answer: depends on which race you watched.
There's no doubt in my mind that there was a bit of divine intervention regarding the outcome of Sunday's Lenox Industrial Tools 301. Yes, the No. 39 and No. 14 started the race exactly the way they finished: One-Two. But getting there wasn't exactly a straight—or rather circular—line. A savvy game of tires, fuel and handling were the headlines of the afternoon. Two tire changes served as well as four, much of the time. Corrections to the chassis would help, but didn't make enough of an impact to chase down whoever managed to grab hold of the lead. Track position held sway when crews climbed over the walls during the ten cautions. And with more than a handful of competitive vehicles giving up the gas mileage ghost in the final laps of the race, you understood that this wasn't a race about dominance—but smart, lucky racing.
Three cheers for the Stewart-Haas Racing teams! This was truly the type of story that NASCAR thrives on. A successful driver turns owner turns race winner turns…Champion? We keep seeing glimpses of greatness come out of this two-car stable. Wouldn't it be something if the near impossible in this era of monster racing stables could come true? Yes it would…
Ah, but if the 301 was the race that everybody's happy with the outcome, what of the other? Where Newman just might have been the pilot of a car that was built far better than any other on the track? Where competition didn't seem to be the mark of the afternoon, rather a second race put on for the rest of the field that came to compete for points and purse (and need them far more than a driver who already puts millions in his pockets each year.)
Welcome to the Whelen Modified Series. Up until a couple years ago, you could easily argue that these over-powered machines with missing fenders gave the folks up at NHMS the best racing of the weekend. Bumpdrafting, three and four wide racing in the corners, swaps for the lead every lap…these races were often what the fans would talk about for weeks after, ignoring the more predictable parade that Sunday afternoons would bring.
This was not so on Saturday. 88 laps of green flag racing in the 100 lap event, which is absolutely unheard of in this series, that lives most of its life on smaller ovals in the Northeast. 61 of those laps had Newman's No. 7 as little more than a dot to the pursuing field. In fact, when the checkers fell, you could take more than a breath waiting for the second-place car driven by Todd Szegedy to cross the Granite Stripe.
So, did Kevin Manion (crew chief to the No. 7) and Ryan Newman borrow a car from a successful Modified team? Uh, no. This pair have notched up four wins in their last four appearances—three at NHMS and one at Bristol. They simply have a bullet proof car, one built in their own shop as a little hobby. It runs like a rocket; so much so that NASCAR felt compelled to pack it off to the R&D center, to take a better look at its restrictor plate package and airflow around the engine. This duo has something happening the rest of the series wishes they did.
Clearly, time, money and superior ability have driven that No. 7 to Victory Lane time and again. If Newman and Manion chose to compete for the entire Whelen Modified season, I have little doubt that they'd take the championship. No luck involved there. It would be simple economics.
But is that how racing should be?
No. And it never has.
Those that run at the highest echelon of the auto racing world live in a rarified existence. They compete against others who have the resources to put up a battle, Goliath vs. Goliath, if you will. The Sprint Cup simply doesn't wait for those with smaller budgets and a slower learning curve to catch up. Swim in the deep end or die. That's fine. It takes a bit of luck to win such competitions, which makes for some fine Sunday afternoons.
On the good side, should I visit Riverhead Raceway on July 30th, the balance of power will have been restored to the Whelen series. No interloper with an over-engineered restrictor plate will be stealing the thunder of Christopher, Szegedy, Preece, Silk and Blewett. Newman will have returned to his world in his No. 39 stock car, leaving the mere mortals to their own destiny, hewn from their own choices and yes, even a little luck.
by S.D. Grady
Sometimes things are meant to be; the stars align, the gods are in a great mood, it's a full moon…positive energy flows your way.
One might think such good luck is what landed Ryan Newman in Victory Lane twice this past weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway—once in the No. 7 Whelen Modified machine owned by Kevin Manion and again in that snazzy No. 39 Sprint Cup car owned by Stewart-Haas Racing. I'm a great one for believing in luck when it comes to racing. Far too many variables exist in this sport to say that it is only through superior driving ability and equipment that you will take the checkered flag home with you on any given weekend. There's always a bit of magic involved.
But which was it for Mr. Newman this week? A bit of luck or superior fire power when it came down to the final battle?
My answer: depends on which race you watched.
There's no doubt in my mind that there was a bit of divine intervention regarding the outcome of Sunday's Lenox Industrial Tools 301. Yes, the No. 39 and No. 14 started the race exactly the way they finished: One-Two. But getting there wasn't exactly a straight—or rather circular—line. A savvy game of tires, fuel and handling were the headlines of the afternoon. Two tire changes served as well as four, much of the time. Corrections to the chassis would help, but didn't make enough of an impact to chase down whoever managed to grab hold of the lead. Track position held sway when crews climbed over the walls during the ten cautions. And with more than a handful of competitive vehicles giving up the gas mileage ghost in the final laps of the race, you understood that this wasn't a race about dominance—but smart, lucky racing.
Three cheers for the Stewart-Haas Racing teams! This was truly the type of story that NASCAR thrives on. A successful driver turns owner turns race winner turns…Champion? We keep seeing glimpses of greatness come out of this two-car stable. Wouldn't it be something if the near impossible in this era of monster racing stables could come true? Yes it would…
Ah, but if the 301 was the race that everybody's happy with the outcome, what of the other? Where Newman just might have been the pilot of a car that was built far better than any other on the track? Where competition didn't seem to be the mark of the afternoon, rather a second race put on for the rest of the field that came to compete for points and purse (and need them far more than a driver who already puts millions in his pockets each year.)
Welcome to the Whelen Modified Series. Up until a couple years ago, you could easily argue that these over-powered machines with missing fenders gave the folks up at NHMS the best racing of the weekend. Bumpdrafting, three and four wide racing in the corners, swaps for the lead every lap…these races were often what the fans would talk about for weeks after, ignoring the more predictable parade that Sunday afternoons would bring.
This was not so on Saturday. 88 laps of green flag racing in the 100 lap event, which is absolutely unheard of in this series, that lives most of its life on smaller ovals in the Northeast. 61 of those laps had Newman's No. 7 as little more than a dot to the pursuing field. In fact, when the checkers fell, you could take more than a breath waiting for the second-place car driven by Todd Szegedy to cross the Granite Stripe.
So, did Kevin Manion (crew chief to the No. 7) and Ryan Newman borrow a car from a successful Modified team? Uh, no. This pair have notched up four wins in their last four appearances—three at NHMS and one at Bristol. They simply have a bullet proof car, one built in their own shop as a little hobby. It runs like a rocket; so much so that NASCAR felt compelled to pack it off to the R&D center, to take a better look at its restrictor plate package and airflow around the engine. This duo has something happening the rest of the series wishes they did.
Clearly, time, money and superior ability have driven that No. 7 to Victory Lane time and again. If Newman and Manion chose to compete for the entire Whelen Modified season, I have little doubt that they'd take the championship. No luck involved there. It would be simple economics.
But is that how racing should be?
No. And it never has.
Those that run at the highest echelon of the auto racing world live in a rarified existence. They compete against others who have the resources to put up a battle, Goliath vs. Goliath, if you will. The Sprint Cup simply doesn't wait for those with smaller budgets and a slower learning curve to catch up. Swim in the deep end or die. That's fine. It takes a bit of luck to win such competitions, which makes for some fine Sunday afternoons.
On the good side, should I visit Riverhead Raceway on July 30th, the balance of power will have been restored to the Whelen series. No interloper with an over-engineered restrictor plate will be stealing the thunder of Christopher, Szegedy, Preece, Silk and Blewett. Newman will have returned to his world in his No. 39 stock car, leaving the mere mortals to their own destiny, hewn from their own choices and yes, even a little luck.
S.D. Grady is an Assistant Editor for Frontstretch.com. She can be reached via e-mail at sonya.grady@frontstretch.com. Follow her on Twitter at @laregna.
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TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:
Five Points to Ponder: 100 Wins, the One-Two Punch, and an Empty Brickyard
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ADVERTISEMENT
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~~~~~~~~~~~
TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:
Five Points to Ponder: 100 Wins, the One-Two Punch, and an Empty Brickyard
by Danny Peters
by Summer Dreyer
Talking NASCAR TV: Favoritism Kills ESPN at Loudon
by Phil Allaway
Pit Crew Struggles Nothing New for Johnson and No. 48 Team
by Bryan Davis Keith
Look Out NASCAR, the IZOD IndyCar Series Might Be Gaining On You
by Kyle Ocker
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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: The now-Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway has featured many debuts in NASCAR over the years. In 1996, a new prospect made his Craftsman Truck Series debut in Nashville. Who was this driver, and what happened to him in the race?
Talking NASCAR TV: Favoritism Kills ESPN at Loudon
by Phil Allaway
Pit Crew Struggles Nothing New for Johnson and No. 48 Team
by Bryan Davis Keith
Look Out NASCAR, the IZOD IndyCar Series Might Be Gaining On You
by Kyle Ocker
~~~~~~~~~~~
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: The now-Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway has featured many debuts in NASCAR over the years. In 1996, a new prospect made his Craftsman Truck Series debut in Nashville. Who was this driver, and what happened to him in the race?
Check back Wednesday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
Monday's Answer:
Q: The Nationwide Series racing in the Nashville Metro Area precedes the construction of Nashville Superspeedway with a series of races at then-Nashville Speedway USA. What was one of the issues that the short track faced with NASCAR's AAA series, especially after 1998?
A: Nashville's huge problem was the fact that the track, even after an expansion of pit road, only had 34 pit stalls. Once the field was expanded to 43 on the .596 mile short track, it posed serious issues during the race. 18 teams were forced to share pit stalls during the race, a number high enough that it was never really likely that those teams would ever get to move to a better stall.
There was another option that could have been used, but NASCAR was likely not open to it. Nashville has a shorter track inside of the main track that is mainly used today for Legends racing. In past events, that track was also used for pit stalls during major events (like the All-American 400). However, NASCAR was actively trying to get away from that type of setup and towards more uniformity.
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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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.
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Coming tomorrow in the Frontstretch Newsletter:
-- Top News from Summer Dreyer
-- Full Throttle by Mike Neff
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, and more!
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Tomorrow on the Frontstretch:
Did You Notice? ... by Tom Bowles
Mirror Driving by the Frontstretch Staff
The Mirror crew is at it again with more talking points to debate. Topics include Jimmie Johnson's pit crew woes, Kevin Harvick's warning from NASCAR about conduct on-track around Kyle Busch, Matt Crafton's chances at the Camping World Truck Series title, and more.
Frontstretch Top Ten by the Frontstretch Staff
Our weekly list based on the latest NASCAR controversy will start your morning off with a laugh -- guaranteed.
Top 15 Power Rankings by the Frontstretch Staff
Which driver came out of Loudon on top of our 2011 Power Rankings chart? Jimmie Johnson? Carl Edwards? Kevin Harvick? Someone else? Find out who our select Frontstretch experts have labeled as this week's favorite heading into the off-week.
Foto Funnies: Lenox Industrial Tools 301 Edition by Kurt Smith
Kurt's back to leave you laughing with the best photos you didn't see in the papers from New Hampshire.
Voice Of Vito by Vito Pugliese
Vito back with an interesting commentary. The topic: Jimmie Johnson's team, and how they keep shooting themselves in the foot constantly/
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