THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
August 26th, 2011
Volume V, Edition CLIX
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NEW PODCAST! Don't forget our new FREE weekly audio segments hosted by Doug Turnbull. Click here for the August 26th edition that features Justin Allgaier as our main racing guest.
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News and Notes from Wednesday at Bristol Motor Speedway
by Mike Neff
* Kevin Harvick, during his media availability on Wednesday, said the landscape at Kevin Harvick, Inc. will be markedly different next year, but was unable to comment about how that statement would impact his current list of drivers. Sources say that in 2012, the No. 33 Truck will go away with only a one-truck team running out of the KHI shop; no word how that would affect current full-time driver Ron Hornaday, Jr. Hornaday has struggled on-track this season, with just one win and is ninth in points - that would be his worst showing since rejoining the KHI program in 2004.
* Rookie Todd Peck, who failed to even attempt Bristol in the No. 96 Arthritis.com after wrecking in practice is planning to run Martinsville and New Hampshire with his family-owned, Pennsylvania-based team. The former Busch Series organization, who ran full-time in the late 1980s and 1990s is dipping its feet in NASCAR again with a limited schedule in the Truck Series.
* Rookie Johanna Long isn't running full-time anymore in the Truck Series - but don't expect her to go away completely. She's planning to run Atlanta, Texas, Martinsville, Talladega, Vegas and Homestead before the Snowball Derby in her late model the end of the year. However, that's the only late model race she's scheduled to run at this time, searching for funding in that arena and in the Truck Series to continue for 2012.
* Jennifer Jo Cobb is planning to run the rest of the Nationwide Series races in her self-owned No. 13 but has no idea what is going to happen on the Truck side of things; that team will go race-by-race as sponsorship allows. A full-time Truck driver last year, she scaled back to a limited schedule while moving up the NASCAR ladder to Nationwide.
* Jake Crum doesn't have any plans for additional Truck races unless Bandit Chippers or another sponsor jumps on board the No. 01 Truck. He is going to run the Martinsville Late Model race, however.
* Mike Stefanik was asked if he ever considered racing at Bowman-Gray Stadium. He said... "I watched Madhouse, that was enough to let me know I didn't need to race there."
Editor's Note: Mike Neff will be at Bristol Motor Speedway covering all of the action this weekend. Be sure to stay tuned to Frontstretch.com and your inbox for all of the latest, breaking stories.
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Top News
by Summer Dreyer
It's Official! Danica Patrick Makes Full-time Move to NASCAR
In an official news conference on Thursday, IZOD IndyCar Series star Danica Patrick and CEO and founder of GoDaddy.com Bob Parsons announced that Patrick will be moving to the NASCAR Nationwide Series full-time in 2012 to drive the No. 7 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet for JR Motorsports. In addition to her Nationwide Series efforts, Patrick will also compete in 8-10 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races for Stewart-Haas Racing. She hopes to move to the Sprint Cup Series full-time in 2013.
"Danica has done a great job in a short amount of time for JR Motorsports," said Dale Earnhardt Jr., team owner for JR Motorsports. "Her work ethic is probably the best of anyone in the sport. People don't understand how difficult it is to do what she did – racing two totally different cars at the same time. I'm glad she gets the opportunity to devote all of her attention to this car, because I think she's going to continue getting better. Danica has earned her place on the track, and I look forward to having her and Go Daddy back in the No. 7 car next year."
While Patrick says her Sprint Cup Series schedule has yet to be determined, the Charlotte Observer is reporting that she will make her debut with SHR in the 2012 Daytona 500.
"We're very excited to have Danica Patrick and Go Daddy join Stewart-Haas Racing in 2012 for a limited NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule with the intention of us running her full-time in Sprint Cup in 2013," said SHR co-owner Tony Stewart. "We're proud of the fact she wants to come and be a part of Stewart-Haas Racing and what we've built with Ryan Newman and myself and all of our partners. Having Danica and Go Daddy as a combination at SHR is something we're really looking forward to."
"The thing you see in Danica right away is how determined she is to be good at what she does. She's very dedicated to taking the time and effort to make the transition from Indy cars to stock cars. She has talent, she has the right mindset and she has the proper drive and determination. It doesn't matter who it is you're looking for, those are the key attributes that you look for in a driver, and Danica's got them."
Patrick has made a total of 20 starts in the Nationwide Series with JR Motorsports over the past two seasons, with her highest finish of fourth coming at Las Vegas Motor Speedway earlier this season. Her fourth-place result is currently the highest finishing position ever recorded by a female in any of NASCAR's three national series.
Elliott Sadler, RPM Settle Lawsuits
After filing a lawsuit against former team Richard Petty Motorsports in May, Elliott Sadler and the team have settled with the terms remaining confidential according to SceneDaily.com. Sadler accused the team of withholding payment after RPM accused him of violating the non-solicitation clause in his contract.
Sadler currently drives for Kevin Harvick, Inc. in the Nationwide Series and has also made handful of starts for KHI and Joe Denette Motorsports.
Snooki Waving Green Flag at Richmond
Richmond International Raceway sent out a tweet on Thursday that MTV's Jersey Shore star "Snooki" will wave the green flag for the Wonderful Pistachios 400 at the track on September 10th.
The Saturday night event will be the final race for drivers to make the Chase for the Sprint Cup.
Have news for Summer 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 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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In Case You Missed It
by Brett Poirier
Michigan Begins Repaving Process
Michigan International Speedway wasted little time after Sunday's Pure Michigan 400 to get the next chapter started at the track. On Monday morning, crews began taking down the SAFER barriers all the way around the track to prep for the repaving process. On Tuesday, asphalt removal began over the 646,000 square feet that cover the speedway.
Ajax Paving Industries is expected lay down 22,000 tons of new asphalt in September. The company also paved Phoenix International Raceway. The job is expected to cost around $7 million, and the new track surface will feature variable banking, allowing cars to keep momentum even at the highest point of the track. Michigan was also repaved in 1977, 1986 and 1995.
Michigan Honors Family on Sunday
At each Sprint Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway, a Fan Trophy is awarded to a fan or group of fans that show their dedication to racing at the speedway. On Sunday, The Smith family from Miramichi, New Brunswick, Canada traveled approximately 1,200 miles to watch their first career Sprint Cup Series race.
Ron and Paulette Smith, along with son, Colby, were selected by Track President Roger Curtis to present Sunday's race winner Kyle Busch with the Fan Trophy in Victory Lane. The family met Curtis on a tram ride at the track.
"I've chosen long-time fans, and I've chosen fans with great stories," Curtis said. "But there was something about that family's travel and the wonderful smile Colby had on his face throughout our tram ride. He smiled the entire time; you couldn't wipe the smile off his face."
The Fan Trophy program has been around for two years as part of the speedway's Fan Appreciation Program.
"It's incredible that we were able to do this," Ron Smith said after the race. "I can't believe I'm in Victory Lane at Michigan International Speedway."
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Road Racing: A Short Track Mixed With Restrictor Plate Danger
by Garrett Horton
In my early days as a race fan, there were two types of tracks on the NASCAR schedule that got me extra excited – short tracks and restrictor plate tracks. The beating and banging of fenders at Bristol, Martinsville, and Richmond along with the heated tempers that came with it always kept me entertained. On the flip side of the coin, it was the high speed and danger at Talladega and Daytona that had my heart rate elevated for the entire afternoon. While I still look forward to these types of races, various factors, whether it is the new style car, track reconfigurations, or the new form of two by two drafting, my level of enthusiasm is nowhere near as high as it used to be.
These days, the two races I look forward to watching on television the most are the two road courses at Sonoma and Watkins Glen. In the Nationwide Series, the same can be said for the non-ovals they run at. Ironically, these were the tracks I looked least forward to just several years ago - it was always dominated by one or two guys and it seemed so easy to run away with the lead. They were always so uneventful.
In recent years, my mind has changed about these unorthodox venues for stock cars. Not only do I now appreciate road course racing, but it is currently by far the best type of racing on the NASCAR schedule. Don't get me wrong; the Sprint Cup schedule doesn't need to consist of 18 road races, but it is time NASCAR seriously considers adding a couple more of them to the Cup tour.
<div style="float:right; width:275px; margin: 20px; border: black solid 1px; padding: 3px;">
<img src="http://www.frontstretch.com/images/10311.jpg" width="275" height="183"/><p style="margin: 3px; text-align: left; font-weight:bold;">Boris Said's eventful day at the Glen made for entertainment both on and off the race track, just the latest example of road course drama.</p></div>
All of those traits that made me fall in love with the superspeedways and short tracks have slowly made their way over to the road courses. Post race tempers have become the norm; we saw a pit road scuffle between Greg Biffle and Boris Said in which Said threatened to pay a visit to Biffle's house later in the week. It capped off a terrific race that saw Marcos Ambrose pick up his first career win. Just last week on the Nationwide side at Montreal, crew chief Jerry Baxter was caught trying to yank Steve Wallace's hair out. Where else does that happen? (Admittedly, that was probably more of a product of Wallace's driving style than anything else.)
There was more of the same earlier in the year at Sonoma. Kurt Busch won pretty much unchallenged, which happens from time to time, but there were some good feuds between Brian Vickers and Tony Stewart along with Juan Montoya and the rest of the field. If the race up front can't be a photo finish, it is always nice to have some good controversy to talk about, and road courses have provided just that.
On the last lap of the Watkins Glen race a week and a half ago, there was a horrific accident between David Ragan and David Reutimann. Reutimann went airborne after smacking the wall hard on the driver's side. Everyone watching was stunned and concerned for his well being. Thankfully, both drivers were able to walk away (Ragan hit pretty hard as well), but it sent a reminder to the viewers at home that accidents like Reutimann's aren't limited to restrictor plate races. Am I saying that that wreck is a reason we need more road races? Absolutely not. However, it caused anxiety, and in the world of motorsports, having that feeling of anxiousness is part of what makes watching so appealing. You don't want a wreck like that to occur, but you know that close, side by side racing can produce an accident at any second.
Even qualifying is so much more fun to watch when these guys turn right. Watching the best of the group like Ambrose, Stewart, and Juan Montoya drive their cars through the corner with such finesse is an art to watch.
Road racing has become more entertaining, and it's time to add two more tracks to the schedule. Drop two of the cookie cutters to keep the schedule at 36 races. While it won't happen next year, this happening in the next five to ten years doesn't seem like an unreasonable possibility. If Montreal could somehow keep their current Nationwide race, NASCAR should take a hard look at giving them a Cup date. They have very loyal and passionate fans up there, a crowd that is definitely better than at many of the tracks currently on the schedule. The other track that would be nice to see would be Road America, but I recently wrote about that in a previous article and would be going off on a tangent to explain it again.
The next step would be to add one of them in the Chase. Quite frankly, this should have happened back in 2004. Nowadays, with all the drivers saying that the cars are all the same speed, making it extremely difficult to pass, there needs to be a road course in the Chase more than ever. Strategy is just as important here as it is anywhere else, probably even more, but the best always find a way to win. If there is one track where the drivers can make a difference, it would be where they aren't turning left all the time.
Recently, there was a press conference where the subject was brought up to Mike Helton, who made it seem like it's not happening in the near future. Mr. Helton, it needs to be done now. It would mean at least one race in the Chase where it's not about who is going to put on two tires or who has the best car. We can be treated to one race where the driver can really make the difference. With the all the short track and restrictor plate type of excitement it has created, it is time for some more road races, and one deserves to be in the Chase.
Garrett Horton is a Senior Writer for Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via email at garrett.horton@frontstretch.com
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Hey Frontstretch Readers!
Did you know The Frontstretch has a weekly podcast? Hosted by Doug Turnbull, the latest podcast comes out every Friday. This week, Doug and columnist Vito Pugliese talk about Michigan, Bristol, the Chase and much more! Check it out here!
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Keepin' It Short: Racing Must Sometimes Take a Back Seat to Weather
by Mike Neff
The calendar is winding down to the end of the racing season. Tracks across the country are about to crown their season champions and many of them are hosting critical events this weekend. Unfortunately for many of them on the East Coast, Mother Nature has a different plan in place. Hurricane Irene is going to run up the coast this Friday and Saturday and several of the tracks and series with events near her path are being proactive to prevent putting their competitors in harm's way.
The Rolling Thunder Modifieds might have set a new record for preemptive event cancellation when they called off their Old Dominion Event on Monday in anticipation of the possibility that the hurricane would impact the event. Langley Speedway has also called off their race for Saturday night. Florida, South Carolina and Eastern North Carolina tracks have not made any announcements at this point in time, preferring to see where the track of the storm ultimately goes.
One additional cancellation that is a shame for Late Model racers across the country is the announcement that the All-Star Showdown, which has taken place at the Irwindale Speedway over the last few years will not take place in 2012. NASCAR has announced that the "elements" are not right to hold the event this coming January and they wanted to give teams enough advance warning to minimize the wasted effort and resources for them. The race has been a showcase for local racers over the last few years, allowing some of them to display their talents before potential owners and sponsors. With the loss of this race that chance has been taken away.
At this point NASCAR is said to be pursuing other potential special event opportunities. Here's hoping that they can find some other ways to give local drivers some national exposure.
Whelen All-American National Championship Update
The National Championship lead changed once again this past weekend as Philip Morris scored two maximum point wins which allowed him to leap frog Keith Rocco and assume the top spot in the standings by three points. Rocco scored another win this week but only increased his point total by three points from 769 to 772. Morris' wins in twin features at South Boston allowed him to gain 22 points, raising his season total to 775. Lee Pulliam, sitting third in points still, also notched two victories in twin features at Motor Mile Speedway which added 16 points to his season total, ramping it up to 753. C.E. Falk wasn't to be outdone as he scored victories in twin features at his home track of Langley Speedway in Hampton Virginia which added 16 points to his total as well.
This weekend was setting up to be a great opportunity for fans to see a rare event as Morris and Pulliam both were planning on making the trip to Langley Saturday night to run head-to-head-to-head on Falk's track. Unfortunately the speedway cancelled the race due to the forecast of Hurricane Irene making landfall not far from Hampton. As it sits Pulliam is planning on running at Caraway Speedway Friday night while Philip Morris is heading to Ace Speedway Friday. Frontstretch has not heard where or if they are planning on running on Saturday.
Bill Leighton maintained his impressive pace, finishing in the top five in every race that he has run this season. Frank Deiny continues with only one win but jumped over Burt Myers who was busy driving conservatively at Bowman-Gray Stadium to secure the season championship. Brandon Davis broke back into the top 10 with nine wins on the season and 573 points, only two out of ninth place. There are only four weeks left for drivers to score points toward the national title.
1) Philip Morris – 26 races – 18 wins – 21 top 5s – 23 top 10s – 775 points
2) Keith Rocco – 44 races – 23 wins – 35 top 5s – 41 top 10s – 772 points
3) Lee Pulliam – 28 races – 17 wins – 24 top 5s – 26 top 10s – 753 points
4) C E Falk, III – 23 races – 11 wins – 20 top 5s – 22 top 10s – 713 points
5) Bill Leighton, Jr – 22 races – 8 wins – 22 top 5s – 22 top 10s – 672 points
6) Ryan Preece – 29 races – 6 wins – 23 top 5s – 26 top 10s – 592 points
7) Frank Deiny, Jr. – 22 races – 1 win – 16 top 5s – 20 top 10s – 591 points
8) Burt Myers – 18 races – 4 wins – 13 top 5s – 16 top 10s – 588 points
9) Nate Monteith – 23 races – 9 wins – 20 top 5s – 20 top 10s – 575 points
10) Brandon Davis – 15 races – 9 wins – 14 top 5s – 14 top 10s – 573 points
**Under the points structure for the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series, the race winner receives two points for every car in the event up to 20. Second place receives two fewer points, and so-on through the field. Race winners receive an additional five bonus points. For example, if there are 20 cars, the winner receives 45 points, second gets 38 and third 36. If there are 15 cars, the winner received 35 points, second gets 28 and third 26. The top 18 races count towards the National Championship for a driver. A perfect season for a driver would be 18 race wins with 20 car fields which equates to 810 points. The first driver to reach 810 points is declared the National Champion in the event of a tie.**
Upcoming Short Track Schedule
Fri: Aug. 26th - Castrol Raceway ; Edmonton : Alberta – World of Outlaw Sprint Cars
Fri: Aug. 26th - Beebe Speedway ; Beebe : AR - Mid-South Racing Association
Fri: Aug. 26th – Beebe Speedway ; Beebe : AR – Comp Cam Late Models
Fri: Aug. 26th - Cedar County Speedway ; Tipton : IA - USMTS Modifieds
Fri: Aug. 26th - Jacksonville Speedway ; Jacksonville : IL - Sprint Invaders
Fri: Aug. 26th - Lawrenceburg Speedway ; Lawrenceburg : IN - Lucas Oil Dirt Late Models
Fri: Aug. 26th - Paducah Internationa Raceway ; Paducah : KY - MARS DIRTcars
Fri: Aug. 26th - Otsego County Fairgrounds ; Gaylord : MI - Unique Bump and Run
Fri: Aug. 26th - Tri-City Motor Speedway ; Auburn : MI - ASCS / Sprints on Dirt
Fri: Aug. 26th - Callaway Raceways ; Fulton : MO - United Late Models
Fri: Aug. 26th - US 36 Speedway ; Cameron : MO - ASCS / Midwest Series
Fri: Aug. 26th - US 36 Speedway ; Cameron : MO - ASCS / Warriors Region
Fri: Aug. 26th - Albany-Saratoga Speedway ; Malta : NY - Senior Tour Auto Racers
Fri: Aug. 26th – Ace Speedway ; Altamahaw : NC – Late Models
Fri: Aug. 26th – Ace Speedway ; Altamahaw : NC – Limited Late Models
Fri: Aug. 26th - Caraway Speedway ; Asheboro : NC – Late Models
Fri: Aug. 26th - Caraway Speedway ; Asheboro : NC - NASCAR Southern Modified Tour
Fri: Aug. 26th – Carolina Speedway ; Gastonia : NC - NDRA
Fri: Aug. 26th – Wake County Speedway ; Raleigh : NC – Limited Late Models
Fri: Aug. 26th – Wake County Speedway ; Raleigh : NC – Super Late Models
Fri: Aug. 26th - Limaland Motorsports Park ; Lima : OH - NRA SprintInvaders
Fri: Aug. 26th – Salinas High Banks ; Salinas : OK – Midwest Dirt Car Late Models
Fri: Aug. 26th - Thunderbird Speedway ; Muskogee : OK - Oil Capital Racing Series
Fri: Aug. 26th - Clinton County Raceway ; Lock Haven : PA - PA Sprints
Fri: Aug. 26th - Williams Grove Speedway ; Mechanicsburg : PA - United Racing Company
Fri: Aug. 26th - Greenville-Pickens Speedway ; Greenville : SC – Late Models
Fri: Aug. 26th - Grays Harbor Raceway ; Elma : WA - ASCS / Northwest Tour
Fri: Aug. 26th - Grays Harbor Raceway ; Elma : WA - Northwest Wingless Sprint Tour
Fri: Aug. 26th - Grays Harbor Raceway ; Elma : WA - West Coast Vintage Racers
Fri: Aug. 26th - Spokane County Raceway ; Spokane : WA - Inland NW Sprint Cars
Fri: Aug. 26th - Kopellah Speedway ; St Croix Falls : WI - Upper Midwest Sprint Series
Fri: Aug. 26th - Madison International Speedway ; Oregon : WI - ARCA Late Models
Fri: Aug. 26th - Oshkosh Speed Zone Speedway ; Oshkosh : WI - Interstate Racing
Sat: Aug. 27th - Castrol Raceway ; Edmonton : Alberta – World of Outlaws Sprint Cars
Sat: Aug. 27th - Drew County Speedway ; Monticello : AR - Mid-South Racing
Sat: Aug. 27th - I-30 Speedway ; Benton : AR - Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Car Series
Sat: Aug. 27th – All American Speedway ; Roseville : CA – Airport Auto Brokers Late Models
Sat: Aug. 27th - All American Speedway ; Roseville : CA - NCMA Sprints
Sat: Aug. 27th - Antioch Speedway ; Antioch : CA - West Coast Nationals
Sat: Aug. 27th - Chowchilla Speedway ; Chowchilla : CA - BCRA Midget Lites
Sat: Aug. 27th - Marysville Raceway Park ; Marysville : CA - BCRA Midgets
Sat: Aug. 27th - Ocean Speedway ; Watsonville : CA - Taco Bravo Ocean Sprints
Sat: Aug. 27th - Santa Maria Speedway ; Santa Maria : CA - California Lightning Sprints
Sat: Aug. 27th - Santa Maria Speedway ; Santa Maria : CA - USAC 360 Sprint Series
Sat: Aug. 27th - Toyota Speedway at Irwindale ; Irwindale : CA - USAC Western Sprints
Sat: Aug. 27th - Colorado National Speedway ; Erie : CO - Englewood Racing Association
Sat: Aug. 27th - Hayden Speedway ; Hayden : CO - United Rebel Sprint Series
Sat: Aug. 27th - Ocala Micro Speedway ; Ocala : FL - Sunshine
Sat: Aug. 27th - Adams County Speedway ; Corning : IA - USMTS Modifieds
Sat: Aug. 27th - Mid America MotorPlex ; Pacific Junction : IA - 24 Hours of LeMons
Sat: Aug. 27th - Stateline Stadium ; Post Falls : ID - MMRA - Baby Grands
Sat: Aug. 27th - Avcom Park ; Avon : IL - IMRA TQ Series
Sat: Aug. 27th - Brownstown Speedway ; Brownstown : IN - Indiana Late Models
Sat: Aug. 27th - Brownstown Speedway ; Brownstown : IN - Midwest Mini-Sprints
Sat: Aug. 27th - Indianapolis Speedrome ; Indianapolis : IN - 100 lap Figure 8 Special
Sat: Aug. 27th - Mount Lawn Speedway ; New Castle : IN - UMRA TQ Midgets
Sat: Aug. 27th - Shelby County Speedway ; Shelbyville : IN - Midwest TQ Racing League
Sat: Aug. 27th - Great American Dirt Track ; Jetmore : KS - NCRA / 360 Sprints
Sat: Aug. 27th - Great American Dirt Track ; Jetmore : KS - United Rebel Sprint Series
Sat: Aug. 27th - Bluegrass Speedway ; Bardstown : KY - Lucas Oil Dirt Late Models
Sat: Aug. 27th - Sabine Motor Speedway ; Many : LA - Ark-La-Tex Winged Modifieds
Sat: Aug. 27th - Seekonk Speedway ; Seekonk : MA - NEMA Lites
Sat: Aug. 27th - Seekonk Speedway ; Seekonk : MA - NEMA Midgets
Sat: Aug. 27th - Manistee County Fairgrounds ; Onekema : MI - Unique Figure 8s
Sat: Aug. 27th - Otsego County Fairgrounds ; Gaylord : MI - Unique Bump and Run
Sat: Aug. 27th - Owendale Speedway ; Owendale : MI - ASCS / Sprints on Dirt
Sat: Aug. 27th – Greenbush Racepark ; Greenbush : MN – Northen Late Models
Sat: Aug. 27th - Central Missouri Speedway ; Warrensburg : MO - United Late Models
Sat: Aug. 27th - I-55 Raceway ; Pevely : MO - MARS DIRTcar Series
Sat: Aug. 27th - Lucas Oil Speedway ; Wheatland : MO - United Late Models
Sat: Aug. 27th – Malden Speedway ; Malden : MO – Comp Cam Late Models
Sat: Aug. 27th - Scotland County Speedway ; Memphis : MO - United Late Models
Sat: Aug. 27th - Petty Raceway ; Moncton : New Brunswick - Parts For Trucks Pro Stock Tour
Sat: Aug. 27th - Wall Speedway ; Belmar : NJ - ATQMRA TQ Midgets
Sat: Aug. 27th - Five Mile Point Speedway ; Kirkwood : NY - Capitol Region Sprintcars
Sat: Aug. 27th – Orange County Speedway ; Rougemont : NC – Late Models
Sat: Aug. 27th – Riverside Speedway ; Antigonish : Nova Scotia – Castrol Late Models
Sat: Aug. 27th - K-C Raceway ; Chillicothe : OH - American Mini Sprints
Sat: Aug. 27th - Kil-Kare Speedway ; Xenia : OH - Mo-Power Events
Sat: Aug. 27th - Sandusky Speedway ; Sandusky : OH - Buckeye Super Sprints
Sat: Aug. 27th - Sauble Speedway ; Sauble Beach : Ontario - Canadian Vintage Modifieds
Sat: Aug. 27th - Cottage Grove Speedway ; Cottage Grove : OR - Washington Midget Racing
Sat: Aug. 27th - Sunset Speedway ; Banks : OR - Washington Econo Sprint Car Organization
Sat: Aug. 27th - Lincoln Speedway ; Hanover : PA - Central Pennsylvania LegendCars
Sat: Aug. 27th - Mercer Raceway Park ; Mercer : PA - All Star Sprint Cars
Sat: Aug. 27th - Port Royal Speedway ; Port Royal : PA - United Racing Company
Sat: Aug. 27th - Circuit Riverside Speedway ; Ste-Croix : Quebec - ACT US Tour
Sat: Aug. 27th - Dillon Motor Speedway ; Dillon : SC - Allison Legacy Race Series
Sat: Aug. 27th - Dillon Motor Speedway ; Dillon : SC – Super Trucks
Sat: Aug. 27th – Florence Motor Speedway ; Timmonsville : SC – Limited Late Models
Sat: Aug. 27th - Highland Rim Speedway ; Ridgetop : TN - Southern Superstock Series
Sat: Aug. 27th - Thunderhill Raceway ; Summertown : TN - Southern All Star Racing
Sat: Aug. 27th – Battleground Speedway ; Highlands : TX – SUPR Late Models
Sat: Aug. 27th - Cowtown Speedway ; Kennedale : TX - ASCS / Lone Star Region
Sat: Aug. 27th - Lone Star Speedway ; Kilgore : TX - Southern Thunder Sprints
Sat: Aug. 27th - Thunderhill Raceway ; Kyle : TX - Dwarf Car Series of Texas
Sat: Aug. 27th – Franklin County Speedway ; Callaway : VA – Late Models
Sat: Aug. 27th – Langley Speedway ; Langley : VA – Late Models x2
Sat: Aug. 27th – Winchester Speedway ; Winchester : VA – Late Models
Sat: Aug. 27th - Bear Ridge Speedway ; Bradford : VT - Granite State Mini-Sprints
Sat: Aug. 27th - Grays Harbor Raceway ; Elma : WA - Northwest Wingless Sprint Tour
Sat: Aug. 27th - Grays Harbor Raceway ; Elma : WA - West Coast Vintage Racers
Sat: Aug. 27th - Plymouth Dirt Track ; Plymouth : WI - Midwest Sprintcars
Sat: Aug. 27th - Plymouth Dirt Track ; Plymouth : WI - Wisconsin Dirt Late Models
Sat: Aug. 27th - Rice Lake Speedway ; Rice Lake : WI - Upper Midwest Sprint Series
Sun: Aug. 28th - Merced Speedway ; Merced : CA - West Coast Nationals
Sun: Aug. 28th - Mid America MotorPlex ; Pacific Junction : IA - 24 Hours of LeMons
Sun: Aug. 28th - ALH Motor Speedway ; Morden : Manitoba - Northern LateModels
Sun: Aug. 28th - White Mountain Motorsports Park ; North Woodstock : NH - PASS Modifieds
Sun: Aug. 28th - White Mountain Motorsports Park ; North Woodstock : NH - PASS North Late Model Series
Sun: Aug. 28th - White Mountain Motorsports Park ; North Woodstock : NH - PASS Sportsman
Sun: Aug. 28th - Kil-Kare Speedway ; Xenia : OH - Mo-Power Events
Sun: Aug. 28th – Kingsport Speedway ; Kingsport : TN – Late Models
Mike Neff is a Senior Writer for Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via email at mike.neff@frontstretch.com.
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Hey Frontstretch Readers!
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 Folio: Irwin Tools Night Race
by Summer Dreyer
This weekend, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series heads to Bristol Motor Speedway for the Irwin Tools Night Race. Saturday night's race will be the 24th of 36 races this season and will be broadcast live Saturday, August 27th at 7:30PM ET on ABC. Drivers will compete for 500 laps (266.5 miles) before taking the checkered flag.
Records and Facts
Ryan Newman holds the track qualifying record with a lap of 14.908 sec at 128.709 mph during qualifying for the 2003 Food City 500. Newman finished 22nd in the race, four laps off the pace, and was unable to lead any laps after starting up front. Newman won 11 poles in 36 starts during the 2003 season.
Charlie Glotzbach holds the record for the fastest race run at Bristol Motor Speedway at a speed of 101.074 mph in the 1971 Volunteer 500, leading 411 of the 500 laps. Glotzbach had a three-lap margin of victory over second-place Bobby Allison when he took the checkered flag to win the race. Richard Petty, Cecil Gordon, and James Hylton rounded out the top 5.
Kyle Busch is the defending race winner of this event, after he swept the weekend last year winning the Camping World Truck Series, Nationwide Series, and Sprint Cup Series races all in one weekend. He remains the only driver to ever do so.
Track Facts
Track/Race Length: 0.533-mile concrete oval, 500 laps (266.5 miles)
Pit Road Speed: 30 mph
Degree of Banking: 24 to 30 degrees in the corners
Straight-aways: 650 ft., banked 4 to 9 degrees
Grandstand Seating: 160,000
Pre-race Schedule
Practice: Friday, August 26, 12:00 – 2:00 PM ET on SPEED
Happy Hour: Friday, August 26, 2:45 – 3:30 PM ET on SPEED
Qualifying: Friday, August 26, 5:10 PM ET on SPEED
VIPs
Grand Marshal: CEO of Newell Rubbermaid Mike Polk and 250 professional tradesmen
Honorary Starter: Ace Hardware's Ken Goodgame
Invocation: Joe Gibbs
National Anthem: Motor Racing Outreach Children
Flyover: 4 T-38 Talons, Randolph AFB San Antonio, TX
Race Day Forecast
Saturday: Partly cloudy, 20% chance of rain
High: 85
Low: 62
Say What?!
"I really do love the Bristol night race. Honestly, I think it is the coolest race on the NASCAR calendar. You get everybody stacked in there with the crowd and it is a night race. It has that Saturday night short track feel except there are 150,000 people in the grandstands watching. To me it is a fun race to go to but our stats aren't very good there in the past. It has been a place that over the last couple years I have lost some confidence in figuring out how to get around that place." -A.J. Allmendinger
"It's just a great racetrack and a great short track. I've always liked the banked racetracks, in general, over the flatter racetracks. So, I guess in some ways you could say I'm more comfortable at Bristol. I think Bristol has always been one of those short tracks that everybody loves. And, obviously, that's changed with the different surface and the way they have changed it a little bit. But, ultimately, it's still a great short track." -Ryan Newman
"The Bristol night race is always a race you circle on your calendar. It reminds me of Friday-night, Saturday-night, short-track racing at your local speedway - times a hundred. There's 150,000 people there and it's packed. You're in a tiny, little half-mile track with 43 cars. It's loud, you see sparks flying, and the cars look really cool at night - they look faster." -Travis Kvapil
Summer Dreyer is a Senior Writer for Frontstretch.com. She can be reached via email at summer.dreyer@frontstretch.com.
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TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:
Danica Patrick is Good for NASCAR; Danicamania? Not So Much
by Amy Henderson
Four Burning Questions: Busch, Brad, and Bristol
by Mike Lovecchio
Beyond the Cockpit: Andy Hillenburg – Restoring a Race Track and Fulfilling a Dream
by Mike Neff
Casey Mears Driver Diary: Learning and Looking Forward
as told to Amy Henderson
Tearing Apart the Trucks: A Bristol Breakdown
by Beth Lunkenheimer
Frontstretch Podcast: August 26th Edition
hosted by Doug Turnbull
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FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Q: The 1999 Goody's Headache Powders is infamous for Dale Earnhardt "rattling Terry Labonte's cage" right out of the lead and creating a road block on the last lap. However, what happened to set up that situation?
Check back Monday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
Thursday's Answer:
Q: 1997 saw a fairly substantial rivalry play out on-track in the Busch Grand National Series between Champion Randy LaJoie and Buckshot Jones. This rivalry hit it's peak during the Food City 250 at Bristol. What happened?
A: With about 13 laps to go, Buckshot Jones overtook Randy LaJoie for the fourth position using a bump and run tactic. LaJoie didn't take too kindly to that move, so half a lap later, LaJoie got in the back of Jones' Aquafresh Pontiac. Jones spun around and backed into the wall in Turn 1.
Jones, very angry after the crash, waited on the backstretch for LaJoie to come back around. When LaJoie passed Jones on the outside, Jones attempted to wreck LaJoie under caution. Jones hit LaJoie's left rear corner and proceeded to only damage his own car even more. The wreck, and Jones' failed retribution, can be seen starting at the 45 second mark of this clip.
LaJoie was able to hold on to finish in fourth, while Jones was parked for his actions and credited with 26th.
Frontstretch Trivia Guarantee: Take the shirt off our backs! If we've provided an incorrect answer to the Frontstretch Trivia question, be the first to email the corrected trivia answer to trivia@frontstretch.com and we'll send you a Frontstretch T-Shirt ... FREE!
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Coming Monday in the Frontstretch Newsletter:
-- Irwin Tools Night Race Race Recap by TBA
-- Mouthing Off: Irwin Tools Night Race by Brody Jones
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, and more!
Monday on the Frontstretch:
Matt McLaughlin's Thinkin' Out Loud: Irwin Tools Night Race by Matt McLaughlin
Matt will be here with his overall thoughts about the action from Saturday night's action from Bristol.
Bubble Breakdown by Bryan Davis Keith
Who's hot and who's not towards the back end of the owner points battle? Bryan brings the stories you didn't hear about into print from Saturday's race from Bristol.
Special Commentary by Ron Lemasters
Ron returns for a website look at one of the big stories from Saturday's race from Bristol.
Bowles-Eye View by Tom Bowles
Tom brings back his weekly post-race commentary with all of the insight you need from a weekend of racing from Bristol.
Big Six: Pure Irwin Tools Night Race by Amy Henderson
Amy has your who, what, when, where, why and how from a weekend of racing at Bristol.
Nationwide Series Breakdown: Food City 250 by Bryan Davis Keith
Bryan has all the post-race analysis you need after Friday night's Nationwide Series race from Bristol.
-----------------------------
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
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
August 26th, 2011
Volume V, Edition CLIX
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NEW PODCAST! Don't forget our new FREE weekly audio segments hosted by Doug Turnbull. Click here for the August 26th edition that features Justin Allgaier as our main racing guest.
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News and Notes from Wednesday at Bristol Motor Speedway
by Mike Neff
* Kevin Harvick, during his media availability on Wednesday, said the landscape at Kevin Harvick, Inc. will be markedly different next year, but was unable to comment about how that statement would impact his current list of drivers. Sources say that in 2012, the No. 33 Truck will go away with only a one-truck team running out of the KHI shop; no word how that would affect current full-time driver Ron Hornaday, Jr. Hornaday has struggled on-track this season, with just one win and is ninth in points - that would be his worst showing since rejoining the KHI program in 2004.
* Rookie Todd Peck, who failed to even attempt Bristol in the No. 96 Arthritis.com after wrecking in practice is planning to run Martinsville and New Hampshire with his family-owned, Pennsylvania-based team. The former Busch Series organization, who ran full-time in the late 1980s and 1990s is dipping its feet in NASCAR again with a limited schedule in the Truck Series.
* Rookie Johanna Long isn't running full-time anymore in the Truck Series - but don't expect her to go away completely. She's planning to run Atlanta, Texas, Martinsville, Talladega, Vegas and Homestead before the Snowball Derby in her late model the end of the year. However, that's the only late model race she's scheduled to run at this time, searching for funding in that arena and in the Truck Series to continue for 2012.
* Jennifer Jo Cobb is planning to run the rest of the Nationwide Series races in her self-owned No. 13 but has no idea what is going to happen on the Truck side of things; that team will go race-by-race as sponsorship allows. A full-time Truck driver last year, she scaled back to a limited schedule while moving up the NASCAR ladder to Nationwide.
* Jake Crum doesn't have any plans for additional Truck races unless Bandit Chippers or another sponsor jumps on board the No. 01 Truck. He is going to run the Martinsville Late Model race, however.
* Mike Stefanik was asked if he ever considered racing at Bowman-Gray Stadium. He said... "I watched Madhouse, that was enough to let me know I didn't need to race there."
Editor's Note: Mike Neff will be at Bristol Motor Speedway covering all of the action this weekend. Be sure to stay tuned to Frontstretch.com and your inbox for all of the latest, breaking stories.
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Top News
by Summer Dreyer
It's Official! Danica Patrick Makes Full-time Move to NASCAR
In an official news conference on Thursday, IZOD IndyCar Series star Danica Patrick and CEO and founder of GoDaddy.com Bob Parsons announced that Patrick will be moving to the NASCAR Nationwide Series full-time in 2012 to drive the No. 7 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet for JR Motorsports. In addition to her Nationwide Series efforts, Patrick will also compete in 8-10 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races for Stewart-Haas Racing. She hopes to move to the Sprint Cup Series full-time in 2013.
"Danica has done a great job in a short amount of time for JR Motorsports," said Dale Earnhardt Jr., team owner for JR Motorsports. "Her work ethic is probably the best of anyone in the sport. People don't understand how difficult it is to do what she did – racing two totally different cars at the same time. I'm glad she gets the opportunity to devote all of her attention to this car, because I think she's going to continue getting better. Danica has earned her place on the track, and I look forward to having her and Go Daddy back in the No. 7 car next year."
While Patrick says her Sprint Cup Series schedule has yet to be determined, the Charlotte Observer is reporting that she will make her debut with SHR in the 2012 Daytona 500.
"We're very excited to have Danica Patrick and Go Daddy join Stewart-Haas Racing in 2012 for a limited NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule with the intention of us running her full-time in Sprint Cup in 2013," said SHR co-owner Tony Stewart. "We're proud of the fact she wants to come and be a part of Stewart-Haas Racing and what we've built with Ryan Newman and myself and all of our partners. Having Danica and Go Daddy as a combination at SHR is something we're really looking forward to."
"The thing you see in Danica right away is how determined she is to be good at what she does. She's very dedicated to taking the time and effort to make the transition from Indy cars to stock cars. She has talent, she has the right mindset and she has the proper drive and determination. It doesn't matter who it is you're looking for, those are the key attributes that you look for in a driver, and Danica's got them."
Patrick has made a total of 20 starts in the Nationwide Series with JR Motorsports over the past two seasons, with her highest finish of fourth coming at Las Vegas Motor Speedway earlier this season. Her fourth-place result is currently the highest finishing position ever recorded by a female in any of NASCAR's three national series.
Elliott Sadler, RPM Settle Lawsuits
After filing a lawsuit against former team Richard Petty Motorsports in May, Elliott Sadler and the team have settled with the terms remaining confidential according to SceneDaily.com. Sadler accused the team of withholding payment after RPM accused him of violating the non-solicitation clause in his contract.
Sadler currently drives for Kevin Harvick, Inc. in the Nationwide Series and has also made handful of starts for KHI and Joe Denette Motorsports.
Snooki Waving Green Flag at Richmond
Richmond International Raceway sent out a tweet on Thursday that MTV's Jersey Shore star "Snooki" will wave the green flag for the Wonderful Pistachios 400 at the track on September 10th.
The Saturday night event will be the final race for drivers to make the Chase for the Sprint Cup.
Have news for Summer 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 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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In Case You Missed It
by Brett Poirier
Michigan Begins Repaving Process
Michigan International Speedway wasted little time after Sunday's Pure Michigan 400 to get the next chapter started at the track. On Monday morning, crews began taking down the SAFER barriers all the way around the track to prep for the repaving process. On Tuesday, asphalt removal began over the 646,000 square feet that cover the speedway.
Ajax Paving Industries is expected lay down 22,000 tons of new asphalt in September. The company also paved Phoenix International Raceway. The job is expected to cost around $7 million, and the new track surface will feature variable banking, allowing cars to keep momentum even at the highest point of the track. Michigan was also repaved in 1977, 1986 and 1995.
Michigan Honors Family on Sunday
At each Sprint Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway, a Fan Trophy is awarded to a fan or group of fans that show their dedication to racing at the speedway. On Sunday, The Smith family from Miramichi, New Brunswick, Canada traveled approximately 1,200 miles to watch their first career Sprint Cup Series race.
Ron and Paulette Smith, along with son, Colby, were selected by Track President Roger Curtis to present Sunday's race winner Kyle Busch with the Fan Trophy in Victory Lane. The family met Curtis on a tram ride at the track.
"I've chosen long-time fans, and I've chosen fans with great stories," Curtis said. "But there was something about that family's travel and the wonderful smile Colby had on his face throughout our tram ride. He smiled the entire time; you couldn't wipe the smile off his face."
The Fan Trophy program has been around for two years as part of the speedway's Fan Appreciation Program.
"It's incredible that we were able to do this," Ron Smith said after the race. "I can't believe I'm in Victory Lane at Michigan International Speedway."
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Road Racing: A Short Track Mixed With Restrictor Plate Danger
by Garrett Horton
In my early days as a race fan, there were two types of tracks on the NASCAR schedule that got me extra excited – short tracks and restrictor plate tracks. The beating and banging of fenders at Bristol, Martinsville, and Richmond along with the heated tempers that came with it always kept me entertained. On the flip side of the coin, it was the high speed and danger at Talladega and Daytona that had my heart rate elevated for the entire afternoon. While I still look forward to these types of races, various factors, whether it is the new style car, track reconfigurations, or the new form of two by two drafting, my level of enthusiasm is nowhere near as high as it used to be.
These days, the two races I look forward to watching on television the most are the two road courses at Sonoma and Watkins Glen. In the Nationwide Series, the same can be said for the non-ovals they run at. Ironically, these were the tracks I looked least forward to just several years ago - it was always dominated by one or two guys and it seemed so easy to run away with the lead. They were always so uneventful.
In recent years, my mind has changed about these unorthodox venues for stock cars. Not only do I now appreciate road course racing, but it is currently by far the best type of racing on the NASCAR schedule. Don't get me wrong; the Sprint Cup schedule doesn't need to consist of 18 road races, but it is time NASCAR seriously considers adding a couple more of them to the Cup tour.
<div style="float:right; width:275px; margin: 20px; border: black solid 1px; padding: 3px;">
<img src="http://www.frontstretch.com/images/10311.jpg" width="275" height="183"/><p style="margin: 3px; text-align: left; font-weight:bold;">Boris Said's eventful day at the Glen made for entertainment both on and off the race track, just the latest example of road course drama.</p></div>
All of those traits that made me fall in love with the superspeedways and short tracks have slowly made their way over to the road courses. Post race tempers have become the norm; we saw a pit road scuffle between Greg Biffle and Boris Said in which Said threatened to pay a visit to Biffle's house later in the week. It capped off a terrific race that saw Marcos Ambrose pick up his first career win. Just last week on the Nationwide side at Montreal, crew chief Jerry Baxter was caught trying to yank Steve Wallace's hair out. Where else does that happen? (Admittedly, that was probably more of a product of Wallace's driving style than anything else.)
There was more of the same earlier in the year at Sonoma. Kurt Busch won pretty much unchallenged, which happens from time to time, but there were some good feuds between Brian Vickers and Tony Stewart along with Juan Montoya and the rest of the field. If the race up front can't be a photo finish, it is always nice to have some good controversy to talk about, and road courses have provided just that.
On the last lap of the Watkins Glen race a week and a half ago, there was a horrific accident between David Ragan and David Reutimann. Reutimann went airborne after smacking the wall hard on the driver's side. Everyone watching was stunned and concerned for his well being. Thankfully, both drivers were able to walk away (Ragan hit pretty hard as well), but it sent a reminder to the viewers at home that accidents like Reutimann's aren't limited to restrictor plate races. Am I saying that that wreck is a reason we need more road races? Absolutely not. However, it caused anxiety, and in the world of motorsports, having that feeling of anxiousness is part of what makes watching so appealing. You don't want a wreck like that to occur, but you know that close, side by side racing can produce an accident at any second.
Even qualifying is so much more fun to watch when these guys turn right. Watching the best of the group like Ambrose, Stewart, and Juan Montoya drive their cars through the corner with such finesse is an art to watch.
Road racing has become more entertaining, and it's time to add two more tracks to the schedule. Drop two of the cookie cutters to keep the schedule at 36 races. While it won't happen next year, this happening in the next five to ten years doesn't seem like an unreasonable possibility. If Montreal could somehow keep their current Nationwide race, NASCAR should take a hard look at giving them a Cup date. They have very loyal and passionate fans up there, a crowd that is definitely better than at many of the tracks currently on the schedule. The other track that would be nice to see would be Road America, but I recently wrote about that in a previous article and would be going off on a tangent to explain it again.
The next step would be to add one of them in the Chase. Quite frankly, this should have happened back in 2004. Nowadays, with all the drivers saying that the cars are all the same speed, making it extremely difficult to pass, there needs to be a road course in the Chase more than ever. Strategy is just as important here as it is anywhere else, probably even more, but the best always find a way to win. If there is one track where the drivers can make a difference, it would be where they aren't turning left all the time.
Recently, there was a press conference where the subject was brought up to Mike Helton, who made it seem like it's not happening in the near future. Mr. Helton, it needs to be done now. It would mean at least one race in the Chase where it's not about who is going to put on two tires or who has the best car. We can be treated to one race where the driver can really make the difference. With the all the short track and restrictor plate type of excitement it has created, it is time for some more road races, and one deserves to be in the Chase.
Garrett Horton is a Senior Writer for Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via email at garrett.horton@frontstretch.com
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Hey Frontstretch Readers!
Did you know The Frontstretch has a weekly podcast? Hosted by Doug Turnbull, the latest podcast comes out every Friday. This week, Doug and columnist Vito Pugliese talk about Michigan, Bristol, the Chase and much more! Check it out here!
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Keepin' It Short: Racing Must Sometimes Take a Back Seat to Weather
by Mike Neff
The calendar is winding down to the end of the racing season. Tracks across the country are about to crown their season champions and many of them are hosting critical events this weekend. Unfortunately for many of them on the East Coast, Mother Nature has a different plan in place. Hurricane Irene is going to run up the coast this Friday and Saturday and several of the tracks and series with events near her path are being proactive to prevent putting their competitors in harm's way.
The Rolling Thunder Modifieds might have set a new record for preemptive event cancellation when they called off their Old Dominion Event on Monday in anticipation of the possibility that the hurricane would impact the event. Langley Speedway has also called off their race for Saturday night. Florida, South Carolina and Eastern North Carolina tracks have not made any announcements at this point in time, preferring to see where the track of the storm ultimately goes.
One additional cancellation that is a shame for Late Model racers across the country is the announcement that the All-Star Showdown, which has taken place at the Irwindale Speedway over the last few years will not take place in 2012. NASCAR has announced that the "elements" are not right to hold the event this coming January and they wanted to give teams enough advance warning to minimize the wasted effort and resources for them. The race has been a showcase for local racers over the last few years, allowing some of them to display their talents before potential owners and sponsors. With the loss of this race that chance has been taken away.
At this point NASCAR is said to be pursuing other potential special event opportunities. Here's hoping that they can find some other ways to give local drivers some national exposure.
Whelen All-American National Championship Update
The National Championship lead changed once again this past weekend as Philip Morris scored two maximum point wins which allowed him to leap frog Keith Rocco and assume the top spot in the standings by three points. Rocco scored another win this week but only increased his point total by three points from 769 to 772. Morris' wins in twin features at South Boston allowed him to gain 22 points, raising his season total to 775. Lee Pulliam, sitting third in points still, also notched two victories in twin features at Motor Mile Speedway which added 16 points to his season total, ramping it up to 753. C.E. Falk wasn't to be outdone as he scored victories in twin features at his home track of Langley Speedway in Hampton Virginia which added 16 points to his total as well.
This weekend was setting up to be a great opportunity for fans to see a rare event as Morris and Pulliam both were planning on making the trip to Langley Saturday night to run head-to-head-to-head on Falk's track. Unfortunately the speedway cancelled the race due to the forecast of Hurricane Irene making landfall not far from Hampton. As it sits Pulliam is planning on running at Caraway Speedway Friday night while Philip Morris is heading to Ace Speedway Friday. Frontstretch has not heard where or if they are planning on running on Saturday.
Bill Leighton maintained his impressive pace, finishing in the top five in every race that he has run this season. Frank Deiny continues with only one win but jumped over Burt Myers who was busy driving conservatively at Bowman-Gray Stadium to secure the season championship. Brandon Davis broke back into the top 10 with nine wins on the season and 573 points, only two out of ninth place. There are only four weeks left for drivers to score points toward the national title.
1) Philip Morris – 26 races – 18 wins – 21 top 5s – 23 top 10s – 775 points
2) Keith Rocco – 44 races – 23 wins – 35 top 5s – 41 top 10s – 772 points
3) Lee Pulliam – 28 races – 17 wins – 24 top 5s – 26 top 10s – 753 points
4) C E Falk, III – 23 races – 11 wins – 20 top 5s – 22 top 10s – 713 points
5) Bill Leighton, Jr – 22 races – 8 wins – 22 top 5s – 22 top 10s – 672 points
6) Ryan Preece – 29 races – 6 wins – 23 top 5s – 26 top 10s – 592 points
7) Frank Deiny, Jr. – 22 races – 1 win – 16 top 5s – 20 top 10s – 591 points
8) Burt Myers – 18 races – 4 wins – 13 top 5s – 16 top 10s – 588 points
9) Nate Monteith – 23 races – 9 wins – 20 top 5s – 20 top 10s – 575 points
10) Brandon Davis – 15 races – 9 wins – 14 top 5s – 14 top 10s – 573 points
**Under the points structure for the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series, the race winner receives two points for every car in the event up to 20. Second place receives two fewer points, and so-on through the field. Race winners receive an additional five bonus points. For example, if there are 20 cars, the winner receives 45 points, second gets 38 and third 36. If there are 15 cars, the winner received 35 points, second gets 28 and third 26. The top 18 races count towards the National Championship for a driver. A perfect season for a driver would be 18 race wins with 20 car fields which equates to 810 points. The first driver to reach 810 points is declared the National Champion in the event of a tie.**
Upcoming Short Track Schedule
Fri: Aug. 26th - Castrol Raceway ; Edmonton : Alberta – World of Outlaw Sprint Cars
Fri: Aug. 26th - Beebe Speedway ; Beebe : AR - Mid-South Racing Association
Fri: Aug. 26th – Beebe Speedway ; Beebe : AR – Comp Cam Late Models
Fri: Aug. 26th - Cedar County Speedway ; Tipton : IA - USMTS Modifieds
Fri: Aug. 26th - Jacksonville Speedway ; Jacksonville : IL - Sprint Invaders
Fri: Aug. 26th - Lawrenceburg Speedway ; Lawrenceburg : IN - Lucas Oil Dirt Late Models
Fri: Aug. 26th - Paducah Internationa Raceway ; Paducah : KY - MARS DIRTcars
Fri: Aug. 26th - Otsego County Fairgrounds ; Gaylord : MI - Unique Bump and Run
Fri: Aug. 26th - Tri-City Motor Speedway ; Auburn : MI - ASCS / Sprints on Dirt
Fri: Aug. 26th - Callaway Raceways ; Fulton : MO - United Late Models
Fri: Aug. 26th - US 36 Speedway ; Cameron : MO - ASCS / Midwest Series
Fri: Aug. 26th - US 36 Speedway ; Cameron : MO - ASCS / Warriors Region
Fri: Aug. 26th - Albany-Saratoga Speedway ; Malta : NY - Senior Tour Auto Racers
Fri: Aug. 26th – Ace Speedway ; Altamahaw : NC – Late Models
Fri: Aug. 26th – Ace Speedway ; Altamahaw : NC – Limited Late Models
Fri: Aug. 26th - Caraway Speedway ; Asheboro : NC – Late Models
Fri: Aug. 26th - Caraway Speedway ; Asheboro : NC - NASCAR Southern Modified Tour
Fri: Aug. 26th – Carolina Speedway ; Gastonia : NC - NDRA
Fri: Aug. 26th – Wake County Speedway ; Raleigh : NC – Limited Late Models
Fri: Aug. 26th – Wake County Speedway ; Raleigh : NC – Super Late Models
Fri: Aug. 26th - Limaland Motorsports Park ; Lima : OH - NRA SprintInvaders
Fri: Aug. 26th – Salinas High Banks ; Salinas : OK – Midwest Dirt Car Late Models
Fri: Aug. 26th - Thunderbird Speedway ; Muskogee : OK - Oil Capital Racing Series
Fri: Aug. 26th - Clinton County Raceway ; Lock Haven : PA - PA Sprints
Fri: Aug. 26th - Williams Grove Speedway ; Mechanicsburg : PA - United Racing Company
Fri: Aug. 26th - Greenville-Pickens Speedway ; Greenville : SC – Late Models
Fri: Aug. 26th - Grays Harbor Raceway ; Elma : WA - ASCS / Northwest Tour
Fri: Aug. 26th - Grays Harbor Raceway ; Elma : WA - Northwest Wingless Sprint Tour
Fri: Aug. 26th - Grays Harbor Raceway ; Elma : WA - West Coast Vintage Racers
Fri: Aug. 26th - Spokane County Raceway ; Spokane : WA - Inland NW Sprint Cars
Fri: Aug. 26th - Kopellah Speedway ; St Croix Falls : WI - Upper Midwest Sprint Series
Fri: Aug. 26th - Madison International Speedway ; Oregon : WI - ARCA Late Models
Fri: Aug. 26th - Oshkosh Speed Zone Speedway ; Oshkosh : WI - Interstate Racing
Sat: Aug. 27th - Castrol Raceway ; Edmonton : Alberta – World of Outlaws Sprint Cars
Sat: Aug. 27th - Drew County Speedway ; Monticello : AR - Mid-South Racing
Sat: Aug. 27th - I-30 Speedway ; Benton : AR - Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Car Series
Sat: Aug. 27th – All American Speedway ; Roseville : CA – Airport Auto Brokers Late Models
Sat: Aug. 27th - All American Speedway ; Roseville : CA - NCMA Sprints
Sat: Aug. 27th - Antioch Speedway ; Antioch : CA - West Coast Nationals
Sat: Aug. 27th - Chowchilla Speedway ; Chowchilla : CA - BCRA Midget Lites
Sat: Aug. 27th - Marysville Raceway Park ; Marysville : CA - BCRA Midgets
Sat: Aug. 27th - Ocean Speedway ; Watsonville : CA - Taco Bravo Ocean Sprints
Sat: Aug. 27th - Santa Maria Speedway ; Santa Maria : CA - California Lightning Sprints
Sat: Aug. 27th - Santa Maria Speedway ; Santa Maria : CA - USAC 360 Sprint Series
Sat: Aug. 27th - Toyota Speedway at Irwindale ; Irwindale : CA - USAC Western Sprints
Sat: Aug. 27th - Colorado National Speedway ; Erie : CO - Englewood Racing Association
Sat: Aug. 27th - Hayden Speedway ; Hayden : CO - United Rebel Sprint Series
Sat: Aug. 27th - Ocala Micro Speedway ; Ocala : FL - Sunshine
Sat: Aug. 27th - Adams County Speedway ; Corning : IA - USMTS Modifieds
Sat: Aug. 27th - Mid America MotorPlex ; Pacific Junction : IA - 24 Hours of LeMons
Sat: Aug. 27th - Stateline Stadium ; Post Falls : ID - MMRA - Baby Grands
Sat: Aug. 27th - Avcom Park ; Avon : IL - IMRA TQ Series
Sat: Aug. 27th - Brownstown Speedway ; Brownstown : IN - Indiana Late Models
Sat: Aug. 27th - Brownstown Speedway ; Brownstown : IN - Midwest Mini-Sprints
Sat: Aug. 27th - Indianapolis Speedrome ; Indianapolis : IN - 100 lap Figure 8 Special
Sat: Aug. 27th - Mount Lawn Speedway ; New Castle : IN - UMRA TQ Midgets
Sat: Aug. 27th - Shelby County Speedway ; Shelbyville : IN - Midwest TQ Racing League
Sat: Aug. 27th - Great American Dirt Track ; Jetmore : KS - NCRA / 360 Sprints
Sat: Aug. 27th - Great American Dirt Track ; Jetmore : KS - United Rebel Sprint Series
Sat: Aug. 27th - Bluegrass Speedway ; Bardstown : KY - Lucas Oil Dirt Late Models
Sat: Aug. 27th - Sabine Motor Speedway ; Many : LA - Ark-La-Tex Winged Modifieds
Sat: Aug. 27th - Seekonk Speedway ; Seekonk : MA - NEMA Lites
Sat: Aug. 27th - Seekonk Speedway ; Seekonk : MA - NEMA Midgets
Sat: Aug. 27th - Manistee County Fairgrounds ; Onekema : MI - Unique Figure 8s
Sat: Aug. 27th - Otsego County Fairgrounds ; Gaylord : MI - Unique Bump and Run
Sat: Aug. 27th - Owendale Speedway ; Owendale : MI - ASCS / Sprints on Dirt
Sat: Aug. 27th – Greenbush Racepark ; Greenbush : MN – Northen Late Models
Sat: Aug. 27th - Central Missouri Speedway ; Warrensburg : MO - United Late Models
Sat: Aug. 27th - I-55 Raceway ; Pevely : MO - MARS DIRTcar Series
Sat: Aug. 27th - Lucas Oil Speedway ; Wheatland : MO - United Late Models
Sat: Aug. 27th – Malden Speedway ; Malden : MO – Comp Cam Late Models
Sat: Aug. 27th - Scotland County Speedway ; Memphis : MO - United Late Models
Sat: Aug. 27th - Petty Raceway ; Moncton : New Brunswick - Parts For Trucks Pro Stock Tour
Sat: Aug. 27th - Wall Speedway ; Belmar : NJ - ATQMRA TQ Midgets
Sat: Aug. 27th - Five Mile Point Speedway ; Kirkwood : NY - Capitol Region Sprintcars
Sat: Aug. 27th – Orange County Speedway ; Rougemont : NC – Late Models
Sat: Aug. 27th – Riverside Speedway ; Antigonish : Nova Scotia – Castrol Late Models
Sat: Aug. 27th - K-C Raceway ; Chillicothe : OH - American Mini Sprints
Sat: Aug. 27th - Kil-Kare Speedway ; Xenia : OH - Mo-Power Events
Sat: Aug. 27th - Sandusky Speedway ; Sandusky : OH - Buckeye Super Sprints
Sat: Aug. 27th - Sauble Speedway ; Sauble Beach : Ontario - Canadian Vintage Modifieds
Sat: Aug. 27th - Cottage Grove Speedway ; Cottage Grove : OR - Washington Midget Racing
Sat: Aug. 27th - Sunset Speedway ; Banks : OR - Washington Econo Sprint Car Organization
Sat: Aug. 27th - Lincoln Speedway ; Hanover : PA - Central Pennsylvania LegendCars
Sat: Aug. 27th - Mercer Raceway Park ; Mercer : PA - All Star Sprint Cars
Sat: Aug. 27th - Port Royal Speedway ; Port Royal : PA - United Racing Company
Sat: Aug. 27th - Circuit Riverside Speedway ; Ste-Croix : Quebec - ACT US Tour
Sat: Aug. 27th - Dillon Motor Speedway ; Dillon : SC - Allison Legacy Race Series
Sat: Aug. 27th - Dillon Motor Speedway ; Dillon : SC – Super Trucks
Sat: Aug. 27th – Florence Motor Speedway ; Timmonsville : SC – Limited Late Models
Sat: Aug. 27th - Highland Rim Speedway ; Ridgetop : TN - Southern Superstock Series
Sat: Aug. 27th - Thunderhill Raceway ; Summertown : TN - Southern All Star Racing
Sat: Aug. 27th – Battleground Speedway ; Highlands : TX – SUPR Late Models
Sat: Aug. 27th - Cowtown Speedway ; Kennedale : TX - ASCS / Lone Star Region
Sat: Aug. 27th - Lone Star Speedway ; Kilgore : TX - Southern Thunder Sprints
Sat: Aug. 27th - Thunderhill Raceway ; Kyle : TX - Dwarf Car Series of Texas
Sat: Aug. 27th – Franklin County Speedway ; Callaway : VA – Late Models
Sat: Aug. 27th – Langley Speedway ; Langley : VA – Late Models x2
Sat: Aug. 27th – Winchester Speedway ; Winchester : VA – Late Models
Sat: Aug. 27th - Bear Ridge Speedway ; Bradford : VT - Granite State Mini-Sprints
Sat: Aug. 27th - Grays Harbor Raceway ; Elma : WA - Northwest Wingless Sprint Tour
Sat: Aug. 27th - Grays Harbor Raceway ; Elma : WA - West Coast Vintage Racers
Sat: Aug. 27th - Plymouth Dirt Track ; Plymouth : WI - Midwest Sprintcars
Sat: Aug. 27th - Plymouth Dirt Track ; Plymouth : WI - Wisconsin Dirt Late Models
Sat: Aug. 27th - Rice Lake Speedway ; Rice Lake : WI - Upper Midwest Sprint Series
Sun: Aug. 28th - Merced Speedway ; Merced : CA - West Coast Nationals
Sun: Aug. 28th - Mid America MotorPlex ; Pacific Junction : IA - 24 Hours of LeMons
Sun: Aug. 28th - ALH Motor Speedway ; Morden : Manitoba - Northern LateModels
Sun: Aug. 28th - White Mountain Motorsports Park ; North Woodstock : NH - PASS Modifieds
Sun: Aug. 28th - White Mountain Motorsports Park ; North Woodstock : NH - PASS North Late Model Series
Sun: Aug. 28th - White Mountain Motorsports Park ; North Woodstock : NH - PASS Sportsman
Sun: Aug. 28th - Kil-Kare Speedway ; Xenia : OH - Mo-Power Events
Sun: Aug. 28th – Kingsport Speedway ; Kingsport : TN – Late Models
Mike Neff is a Senior Writer for Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via email at mike.neff@frontstretch.com.
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Hey Frontstretch Readers!
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 Folio: Irwin Tools Night Race
by Summer Dreyer
This weekend, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series heads to Bristol Motor Speedway for the Irwin Tools Night Race. Saturday night's race will be the 24th of 36 races this season and will be broadcast live Saturday, August 27th at 7:30PM ET on ABC. Drivers will compete for 500 laps (266.5 miles) before taking the checkered flag.
Records and Facts
Ryan Newman holds the track qualifying record with a lap of 14.908 sec at 128.709 mph during qualifying for the 2003 Food City 500. Newman finished 22nd in the race, four laps off the pace, and was unable to lead any laps after starting up front. Newman won 11 poles in 36 starts during the 2003 season.
Charlie Glotzbach holds the record for the fastest race run at Bristol Motor Speedway at a speed of 101.074 mph in the 1971 Volunteer 500, leading 411 of the 500 laps. Glotzbach had a three-lap margin of victory over second-place Bobby Allison when he took the checkered flag to win the race. Richard Petty, Cecil Gordon, and James Hylton rounded out the top 5.
Kyle Busch is the defending race winner of this event, after he swept the weekend last year winning the Camping World Truck Series, Nationwide Series, and Sprint Cup Series races all in one weekend. He remains the only driver to ever do so.
Track Facts
Track/Race Length: 0.533-mile concrete oval, 500 laps (266.5 miles)
Pit Road Speed: 30 mph
Degree of Banking: 24 to 30 degrees in the corners
Straight-aways: 650 ft., banked 4 to 9 degrees
Grandstand Seating: 160,000
Pre-race Schedule
Practice: Friday, August 26, 12:00 – 2:00 PM ET on SPEED
Happy Hour: Friday, August 26, 2:45 – 3:30 PM ET on SPEED
Qualifying: Friday, August 26, 5:10 PM ET on SPEED
VIPs
Grand Marshal: CEO of Newell Rubbermaid Mike Polk and 250 professional tradesmen
Honorary Starter: Ace Hardware's Ken Goodgame
Invocation: Joe Gibbs
National Anthem: Motor Racing Outreach Children
Flyover: 4 T-38 Talons, Randolph AFB San Antonio, TX
Race Day Forecast
Saturday: Partly cloudy, 20% chance of rain
High: 85
Low: 62
Say What?!
"I really do love the Bristol night race. Honestly, I think it is the coolest race on the NASCAR calendar. You get everybody stacked in there with the crowd and it is a night race. It has that Saturday night short track feel except there are 150,000 people in the grandstands watching. To me it is a fun race to go to but our stats aren't very good there in the past. It has been a place that over the last couple years I have lost some confidence in figuring out how to get around that place." -A.J. Allmendinger
"It's just a great racetrack and a great short track. I've always liked the banked racetracks, in general, over the flatter racetracks. So, I guess in some ways you could say I'm more comfortable at Bristol. I think Bristol has always been one of those short tracks that everybody loves. And, obviously, that's changed with the different surface and the way they have changed it a little bit. But, ultimately, it's still a great short track." -Ryan Newman
"The Bristol night race is always a race you circle on your calendar. It reminds me of Friday-night, Saturday-night, short-track racing at your local speedway - times a hundred. There's 150,000 people there and it's packed. You're in a tiny, little half-mile track with 43 cars. It's loud, you see sparks flying, and the cars look really cool at night - they look faster." -Travis Kvapil
Summer Dreyer is a Senior Writer for Frontstretch.com. She can be reached via email at summer.dreyer@frontstretch.com.
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TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:
Danica Patrick is Good for NASCAR; Danicamania? Not So Much
by Amy Henderson
Four Burning Questions: Busch, Brad, and Bristol
by Mike Lovecchio
Beyond the Cockpit: Andy Hillenburg – Restoring a Race Track and Fulfilling a Dream
by Mike Neff
Casey Mears Driver Diary: Learning and Looking Forward
as told to Amy Henderson
Tearing Apart the Trucks: A Bristol Breakdown
by Beth Lunkenheimer
Frontstretch Podcast: August 26th Edition
hosted by Doug Turnbull
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FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Q: The 1999 Goody's Headache Powders is infamous for Dale Earnhardt "rattling Terry Labonte's cage" right out of the lead and creating a road block on the last lap. However, what happened to set up that situation?
Check back Monday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
Thursday's Answer:
Q: 1997 saw a fairly substantial rivalry play out on-track in the Busch Grand National Series between Champion Randy LaJoie and Buckshot Jones. This rivalry hit it's peak during the Food City 250 at Bristol. What happened?
A: With about 13 laps to go, Buckshot Jones overtook Randy LaJoie for the fourth position using a bump and run tactic. LaJoie didn't take too kindly to that move, so half a lap later, LaJoie got in the back of Jones' Aquafresh Pontiac. Jones spun around and backed into the wall in Turn 1.
Jones, very angry after the crash, waited on the backstretch for LaJoie to come back around. When LaJoie passed Jones on the outside, Jones attempted to wreck LaJoie under caution. Jones hit LaJoie's left rear corner and proceeded to only damage his own car even more. The wreck, and Jones' failed retribution, can be seen starting at the 45 second mark of this clip.
LaJoie was able to hold on to finish in fourth, while Jones was parked for his actions and credited with 26th.
Frontstretch Trivia Guarantee: Take the shirt off our backs! If we've provided an incorrect answer to the Frontstretch Trivia question, be the first to email the corrected trivia answer to trivia@frontstretch.com and we'll send you a Frontstretch T-Shirt ... FREE!
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Coming Monday in the Frontstretch Newsletter:
-- Irwin Tools Night Race Race Recap by TBA
-- Mouthing Off: Irwin Tools Night Race by Brody Jones
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, and more!
Monday on the Frontstretch:
Matt McLaughlin's Thinkin' Out Loud: Irwin Tools Night Race by Matt McLaughlin
Matt will be here with his overall thoughts about the action from Saturday night's action from Bristol.
Bubble Breakdown by Bryan Davis Keith
Who's hot and who's not towards the back end of the owner points battle? Bryan brings the stories you didn't hear about into print from Saturday's race from Bristol.
Special Commentary by Ron Lemasters
Ron returns for a website look at one of the big stories from Saturday's race from Bristol.
Bowles-Eye View by Tom Bowles
Tom brings back his weekly post-race commentary with all of the insight you need from a weekend of racing from Bristol.
Big Six: Pure Irwin Tools Night Race by Amy Henderson
Amy has your who, what, when, where, why and how from a weekend of racing at Bristol.
Nationwide Series Breakdown: Food City 250 by Bryan Davis Keith
Bryan has all the post-race analysis you need after Friday night's Nationwide Series race from Bristol.
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