THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
August 3rd, 2011
Volume V, Edition CLII
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
August 3rd, 2011
Volume V, Edition CLII
~~~~~~~~~~
Top News
by Tom Bowles
Reese Towpower To Sponsor No. 47 Team, Labonte In Two Races
JTG Daugherty continued their patchwork primary sponsor system Tuesday, putting a deal in place for driver Bobby Labonte at Pocono and Homestead. Reese Towpower will back the 2000 Sprint Cup champion, putting their logos on the No. 47 Toyota for the third and fourth times this season.
"Reese Towpower sponsored us in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway, which was the first race of the year and now they are sponsoring us in the last race of the season at Homestead-Miami Speedway," explained Labonte; the "new" company also rented space on his car for the All-Star Race. "We are all charged up about what they were doing and excited about the new products they have coming out. We have a good relationship with Reese Towpower that we hope will last for a very long time."
The company, which is a leading manufacturer of towing products is a brand of Cequent Consumer Products, Inc. Boasting 85 years experience in the industry, they also serve as a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of innovative accessories for light trucks, sport utility and recreation vehicles, passenger cars and trailers.
Jimmie Johnson To Run Nationwide Race
NASCAR's five-time reigning Sprint Cup champion is double-dipping in the Nationwide Series for a change. Jimmie Johnson announced Tuesday he'll officially run at Watkins Glen for JR Motorsports, driving the No. 7 normally piloted by Danica Patrick and a handful of other up-and-comers. His sponsor will be rather unique; himself, with the driver's new video game Jimmie Johnson: Anything With An Engine across the hood and quarterpanels. Published by Autumn Games and developed by Isopad Labs, it's slated for an October 2011 release in national markets.
The race will be Johnson's first in the Nationwide Series since October, 2008 at Charlotte. In 91 career starts within NASCAR's second-tier division, he has just one win and eight top-5 finishes.
TV Ratings For Brickyard 400 Up
NASCAR's Sprint Cup debut with ESPN this season was a rousing success, at least in the Nielsens. Sunday's coverage of the Brickyard 400 drew a 4.6 rating, up nearly 10 percent from last season with approximately 6.377 million viewers tuning in. Armed with new technology, a new play-by-play man in Allen Bestwick and the momentum of a TNT ratings increase the network continued the upward audience trend seen at several different races this season, although the numbers still registered 4 percent lower than 2009. In particular, ratings for the male 18-34 demographic proved highly encouraging; they're up 20 percent over 2010.
ESPN and ABC will now go on to cover the final 16 Sprint Cup races of the season.
News Bites
- News continues to leak out about Danica Patrick's NASCAR deal. On Tuesday, a loophole in the contract was reported that would allow her to keep running the Indy 500 during her transition; there's no word on whether JR Motorsports, Stewart-Haas Racing or any NASCAR connections would be the one maintaining the IndyCar program for the month of May. Patrick still hasn't commented on the situation, with sources claiming a release from Andretti Autosports is needed before any type of official announcement is made.
- Mark Martin has been slated to drive the Turner Motorsports No. 32 Truck for Pocono, one of just 29 trucks on the initial entry list for the race. It's the smallest announced field of the season for the Truck Series.
Have news for Tom and the Frontstretch? Don't hesitate to let us know; email us at phil.allaway@frontstretch.com with a promising lead or tip.
~~~~~~~~~~
Got NASCAR-related questions or comments?
Send them John Potts' way at john.potts@frontstretch.com; and if you're lucky, you'll get your name in print when he does his weekly column answering back to you – the fans that keep Frontstretch afloat. Potts' Shots will run on Thursdays with a whole new set of Fan Questions and Answers!
~~~~~~~~~~
Today's Featured Commentary
Don't Write Off Raceway Park Just Yet
Full Throttle
by Mike Neff
The mood around Raceway Park this weekend was understandably muted considering most everyone in attendance was of the opinion that this would be the last time they'd see the Camping World Trucks and the Nationwide series at the venue. While it is true that the two series will not be returning to race on this specific weekend in the future, there have been talks of setting up a different weekend in the season. It is also true that there will still be racing at Lucas Oil Raceway next year during the Brickyard weekend, it is just not set at this point what races will be taking place. It is certainly sad to see the Truck and Nationwide cars bid adieu to the oval at Lucas Oil Raceway, but don't give up on the track. Regardless of whether it hosts the two series, it will be back next year putting on another good show no matter what kind of cars are on the track.
The rumors had been circulating for several years that Nationwide would leave Raceway Park but nothing had come of them until this year the story with the announcement that the Nationwide cars will compete at Indianapolis Motor Speedway starting in 2012. Once the word came out that the move was official, General Manager Wes Collier was inundated with phone calls and emails--and they haven't stopped yet. There are numerous sanctioning bodies who would love to have their cars on the surface of LOR for the Brickyard weekend next season. Collier has not reached an agreement with any of them yet because he was focused on getting this weekend in the books and putting on a great show for the fans. Now that the weekend has finished, Collier will begin negotiating with any number of sanctioning bodies to plan out who will be on the track next year for the Kroger Speedfest, assuming Kroger continues to sponsor the event.
The sentiment echoed by just about every competitor who climbed behind the wheel at LOR this weekend was that the track is a great place to race. And they're also interested to see whether the folks at NASCAR can see the benefits of racing at the short track and bring the Trucks and Nationwide back on a different weekend during the year. While fans were bemoaning the loss of both series several people noted that the Truck Series never stated they were going anywhere. Most of the Truck drivers who spoke with Frontstretch voiced the opinion that they were confident the Trucks would be able to run a stand alone event and have plenty of fans show up to see the great racing. Emotions are obviously a little raw right now after 30 years of hosting the Nationwide series but cooler heads will prevail and that will hopefully mean that at least the Trucks can have a weekend at LOR next season.
Raceway Park has been an important race track in the development of many different drivers in the history of auto racing. The Thursday Night Thunder Series that used to be live on ESPN is coming back to the track this year and will hopefully get some time on television again. There are many different racing series in the U.S. that would love to have the chance to run at Raceway Park and whoever Collier decides to bring in for next year's Speedfest will undoubtedly put on a great show for the Indianapolis fans.
The folks from ARCA came back to LOR for the first time in 25 years this past weekend and put on a fantastic show. The USAR Pro Cup series is really trying to reestablish itself as a relevant racing series and a showcase weekend in Indianapolis would go a long way in restoring the Pro Cup series in the minds of race fans. The ASA has a couple of different series that would have the potential to put on a show for fans and the history of that sport would certainly enhance their offering. The CRA series already runs at tracks throughout the Midwest and includes some drivers whose names are already familiar to stock car racing fans. The PASS series would also offer a great menu of racing for LORI with both their Super Late Models and Modified divisions. The possibilities, while not endless, are surely numerous for Raceway Park and whichever option they choose will offer some great racing for the fans who have been so dedicated to the track for years.
Losing the Trucks and Nationwide is certainly a sad development for the Brickyard weekend but it is not the death knell for Raceway Park. The track has hosted thousands of races and has one great factor working in its favor--the racing is tremendous. Unlike Martinsville, where there is one predominant groove to get through the corners and the only real way to get around someone is to bump them out of the way, LOR offers grooves from the bottom to the top and drivers can utilize any of them to make their car work better and to pass cars rather than move them out of the way. It is a short track for sure, and there is close quarter racing with some contact being unavoidable, but the races are not demolition derbies and drivers who learn to race there learn to set up cars and execute passes rather than running over the top of them.
Raceway Park has been running races since 1960 and hosting events on the oval track since 1961. They've seen the likes of AJ Foyt, Mario Andretti, Jeff Gordon and Ryan Newman turn laps in anger to the delight of fans. Sanctioning bodies have come and gone and the venerable track has persevered through all of the changes to continue putting on some of the best racing events anywhere. Tracks that offer great racing tend to attract people who like to race and LOR most definitely provides great racing.
Whatever Wes Collier and his folks decide to do next year will undoubtedly be a great show for fans so don't start shoveling dirt over Raceway Park just yet. She's held her own for 50 years and will figure out a way to keep on doing it without the NASCAR national touring series if she has to.
Mike Neff is a Senior Writer for Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via e-mail at mike.neff@frontstretch.com.
~~~~~~~~~~
Hey, Frontstretch Readers!
We know you love the roar of raw horsepower under the hood that powers 43 of the best drivers in the world every weekend, but did you ever wonder how the sponsor on top of that hood also contributes to keeping the sport moving? What about the contributions of official NASCAR companies? If you think they are simply writing checks, think again. Check out our newest feature - Sunday Money. This weekly Frontstretch exclusive provides you with a behind the scenes look at how NASCAR, its affiliates and team sponsors approach the daunting task of keeping fans interested and excited about the sport for 38 weeks of the year.
~~~~~~~~~~
Tweet 'N' Greet
by Jay Pennell
Editor's Note: With the NASCAR Twitter community expanding by leaps and bounds, it remains a place for instantaneous news, reactions, and a whole lot of inside jokes. We understand if you don't want to join the Twitter community - but as a fan, it's important to know the news and info you're missing out on! That's why, every week, Jay Pennell will sort through the thousands of messages and give us a little taste of what's going on each Wednesday.
So, without further ado, here's a look at what those in NASCAR were thinking over the past seven days...
@AndyLally: How Rad is it that after so many drivers have tried 2 win Indy for John Menard that he finally achieves his dream & his son is at the wheel?
@JimmieJohnson: A huge congrats to Paul Menard, this win will be a life changer!
@matt_kenseth17: @JimmieJohnson I had fun racing you today, you had that thing hung out that first run! Seeing [the] smoke off [your] rr made me smile!
@matt_kenseth17: Great car today, felt like 24 was best then us. Thought we were going to have a chance at it today. Congrats to Paul Menard!
@JeffGordonWeb (Jeff Gordon): Just getting home. Great performance for our @Drive2EndHunger @chevrolet today. So close! Our team is rolling right now. Loving it! #JG
@KevinHarvick: Long day hard to pass and really hot... guys had good strategy but we are all disappointed we didn't run better regroup and go back at it
@KevinHarvick: But a great day for RCR Menards Paul Menard and the whole 27 team!!! Long time coming!
@31n2Spotter (Brett Griffin): Congrats to Paul! Big props to Stevie Reeves, his spotter. He's from Indy! Raced open-wheel and stock cars. Great dude. #RCR
@2Spotter (Joey Meier): Races are won and lost thru various means... rain, fuel mileage, pit stops, fastest car, mechanical issues... a lot of variables. CONT...
@2Spotter: It's called racing... the whole ball of wax... I've been fortunate to be a part of many wins won many ways. The crew chief's job is hard... cont
@2Spotter: The one constant about all the wins, no matter how they are won, the trophy or rings says "WINNER"... They can't take it from you.
@2Spotter: And ANY team will go to Victory Lane no matter how it was won....PERIOD.....
@2Spotter: Before a race starts, all teams can choose their strategy...fuel mileage is one choice. It's no different than taking 2, 4,or no tires.....
@KevinHamlin: Really cool to see Paul on @SportsCenter this morning. Wonder if he slept last night?
@31n2Spotter: @KevinHamlin have u seen how hot his gf is?! I'd say not! Haha
@31n2Spotter: Crew chiefs these days need more balls than a McDonalds Playplace. #FuelStrategy
@keithrodden (RBR Engineer): @31n2Spotter engine shops too...takes balls to get good mileage without hurting power and durability.
@JimmieJohnson: It was confirmed this morning I clipped the 47's jackman. @Bobby_Labonte gave me his # and I shot him a call. Mike is hurt but doing well.
@keselowski (Brad Keselowski): Just leaving Brickyard, can't help but think of what might have happened if last yellow wouldn't have happened...
@keselowski: Last yellow cost us top-3 or better. 24&17 were slightly better. It woulda been a damn good race if we came out in front of them after pit.
@31n2Spotter: "@mikemulhern: Indy: Time to fix the Brickyard 400: maybe three-abreast starts and restarts?" ~~ dumbest tweet I've ever read
@31n2Spotter: Brad Kesolowski received $30,925 4 his teams win n Indy Sat night. LPGA golfer Stacy Lewis received $300,000 when she won n Chicago n Apr
@31n2Spotter: Been trying to tell y'all we need a ladies racing league. See how much more money there is with women's sports?! SMH
@31n2Spotter: NASCAR Menard won $320,000 for winning the Brickyard. PGA Greenbrier Classic n WV paid $1,000,000 2 win. 4 those who said NNS is 1 day show
@31n2Spotter: RT @nateryan Sunday's Women's British Open (second LPGA major) drew a 0.3 rating. Nationwide Series races usually between a 1.0 to a 2.5.
@JimmieJohnson: I just checked in on @travispastrana, that boy is beat up from his freestyle crash. #ballsofsteel
Jay Pennell is an Assistant Editor to Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via e-mail at jaywpennell@yahoo.com, and you can also check out his work at allleftturns.com or jaywpennell.blogspot.com.
~~~~~~~~~~
TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:
Did You Notice? ... NASCAR's Real Silly Season Story: Not Carl, Contraction
by Tom Bowles
Mirror Driving: Menard's Win, Edwards' Contract, A Silly Rule, More
by the Frontstretch Staff
Time's Up: NASCAR Drivers Nearing The End of The Line
by Vito Pugliese
Top Ten Reasons Paul Menard REALLY Won the Brickyard 400
by the Frontstretch Staff
compiled by Mike Neff
~~~~~~~~~~
FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Top News
by Tom Bowles
Reese Towpower To Sponsor No. 47 Team, Labonte In Two Races
JTG Daugherty continued their patchwork primary sponsor system Tuesday, putting a deal in place for driver Bobby Labonte at Pocono and Homestead. Reese Towpower will back the 2000 Sprint Cup champion, putting their logos on the No. 47 Toyota for the third and fourth times this season.
"Reese Towpower sponsored us in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway, which was the first race of the year and now they are sponsoring us in the last race of the season at Homestead-Miami Speedway," explained Labonte; the "new" company also rented space on his car for the All-Star Race. "We are all charged up about what they were doing and excited about the new products they have coming out. We have a good relationship with Reese Towpower that we hope will last for a very long time."
The company, which is a leading manufacturer of towing products is a brand of Cequent Consumer Products, Inc. Boasting 85 years experience in the industry, they also serve as a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of innovative accessories for light trucks, sport utility and recreation vehicles, passenger cars and trailers.
Jimmie Johnson To Run Nationwide Race
NASCAR's five-time reigning Sprint Cup champion is double-dipping in the Nationwide Series for a change. Jimmie Johnson announced Tuesday he'll officially run at Watkins Glen for JR Motorsports, driving the No. 7 normally piloted by Danica Patrick and a handful of other up-and-comers. His sponsor will be rather unique; himself, with the driver's new video game Jimmie Johnson: Anything With An Engine across the hood and quarterpanels. Published by Autumn Games and developed by Isopad Labs, it's slated for an October 2011 release in national markets.
The race will be Johnson's first in the Nationwide Series since October, 2008 at Charlotte. In 91 career starts within NASCAR's second-tier division, he has just one win and eight top-5 finishes.
TV Ratings For Brickyard 400 Up
NASCAR's Sprint Cup debut with ESPN this season was a rousing success, at least in the Nielsens. Sunday's coverage of the Brickyard 400 drew a 4.6 rating, up nearly 10 percent from last season with approximately 6.377 million viewers tuning in. Armed with new technology, a new play-by-play man in Allen Bestwick and the momentum of a TNT ratings increase the network continued the upward audience trend seen at several different races this season, although the numbers still registered 4 percent lower than 2009. In particular, ratings for the male 18-34 demographic proved highly encouraging; they're up 20 percent over 2010.
ESPN and ABC will now go on to cover the final 16 Sprint Cup races of the season.
News Bites
- News continues to leak out about Danica Patrick's NASCAR deal. On Tuesday, a loophole in the contract was reported that would allow her to keep running the Indy 500 during her transition; there's no word on whether JR Motorsports, Stewart-Haas Racing or any NASCAR connections would be the one maintaining the IndyCar program for the month of May. Patrick still hasn't commented on the situation, with sources claiming a release from Andretti Autosports is needed before any type of official announcement is made.
- Mark Martin has been slated to drive the Turner Motorsports No. 32 Truck for Pocono, one of just 29 trucks on the initial entry list for the race. It's the smallest announced field of the season for the Truck Series.
Have news for Tom and the Frontstretch? Don't hesitate to let us know; email us at phil.allaway@frontstretch.com with a promising lead or tip.
~~~~~~~~~~
Got NASCAR-related questions or comments?
Send them John Potts' way at john.potts@frontstretch.com; and if you're lucky, you'll get your name in print when he does his weekly column answering back to you – the fans that keep Frontstretch afloat. Potts' Shots will run on Thursdays with a whole new set of Fan Questions and Answers!
~~~~~~~~~~
Today's Featured Commentary
Don't Write Off Raceway Park Just Yet
Full Throttle
by Mike Neff
The mood around Raceway Park this weekend was understandably muted considering most everyone in attendance was of the opinion that this would be the last time they'd see the Camping World Trucks and the Nationwide series at the venue. While it is true that the two series will not be returning to race on this specific weekend in the future, there have been talks of setting up a different weekend in the season. It is also true that there will still be racing at Lucas Oil Raceway next year during the Brickyard weekend, it is just not set at this point what races will be taking place. It is certainly sad to see the Truck and Nationwide cars bid adieu to the oval at Lucas Oil Raceway, but don't give up on the track. Regardless of whether it hosts the two series, it will be back next year putting on another good show no matter what kind of cars are on the track.
The rumors had been circulating for several years that Nationwide would leave Raceway Park but nothing had come of them until this year the story with the announcement that the Nationwide cars will compete at Indianapolis Motor Speedway starting in 2012. Once the word came out that the move was official, General Manager Wes Collier was inundated with phone calls and emails--and they haven't stopped yet. There are numerous sanctioning bodies who would love to have their cars on the surface of LOR for the Brickyard weekend next season. Collier has not reached an agreement with any of them yet because he was focused on getting this weekend in the books and putting on a great show for the fans. Now that the weekend has finished, Collier will begin negotiating with any number of sanctioning bodies to plan out who will be on the track next year for the Kroger Speedfest, assuming Kroger continues to sponsor the event.
The sentiment echoed by just about every competitor who climbed behind the wheel at LOR this weekend was that the track is a great place to race. And they're also interested to see whether the folks at NASCAR can see the benefits of racing at the short track and bring the Trucks and Nationwide back on a different weekend during the year. While fans were bemoaning the loss of both series several people noted that the Truck Series never stated they were going anywhere. Most of the Truck drivers who spoke with Frontstretch voiced the opinion that they were confident the Trucks would be able to run a stand alone event and have plenty of fans show up to see the great racing. Emotions are obviously a little raw right now after 30 years of hosting the Nationwide series but cooler heads will prevail and that will hopefully mean that at least the Trucks can have a weekend at LOR next season.
Raceway Park has been an important race track in the development of many different drivers in the history of auto racing. The Thursday Night Thunder Series that used to be live on ESPN is coming back to the track this year and will hopefully get some time on television again. There are many different racing series in the U.S. that would love to have the chance to run at Raceway Park and whoever Collier decides to bring in for next year's Speedfest will undoubtedly put on a great show for the Indianapolis fans.
The folks from ARCA came back to LOR for the first time in 25 years this past weekend and put on a fantastic show. The USAR Pro Cup series is really trying to reestablish itself as a relevant racing series and a showcase weekend in Indianapolis would go a long way in restoring the Pro Cup series in the minds of race fans. The ASA has a couple of different series that would have the potential to put on a show for fans and the history of that sport would certainly enhance their offering. The CRA series already runs at tracks throughout the Midwest and includes some drivers whose names are already familiar to stock car racing fans. The PASS series would also offer a great menu of racing for LORI with both their Super Late Models and Modified divisions. The possibilities, while not endless, are surely numerous for Raceway Park and whichever option they choose will offer some great racing for the fans who have been so dedicated to the track for years.
Losing the Trucks and Nationwide is certainly a sad development for the Brickyard weekend but it is not the death knell for Raceway Park. The track has hosted thousands of races and has one great factor working in its favor--the racing is tremendous. Unlike Martinsville, where there is one predominant groove to get through the corners and the only real way to get around someone is to bump them out of the way, LOR offers grooves from the bottom to the top and drivers can utilize any of them to make their car work better and to pass cars rather than move them out of the way. It is a short track for sure, and there is close quarter racing with some contact being unavoidable, but the races are not demolition derbies and drivers who learn to race there learn to set up cars and execute passes rather than running over the top of them.
Raceway Park has been running races since 1960 and hosting events on the oval track since 1961. They've seen the likes of AJ Foyt, Mario Andretti, Jeff Gordon and Ryan Newman turn laps in anger to the delight of fans. Sanctioning bodies have come and gone and the venerable track has persevered through all of the changes to continue putting on some of the best racing events anywhere. Tracks that offer great racing tend to attract people who like to race and LOR most definitely provides great racing.
Whatever Wes Collier and his folks decide to do next year will undoubtedly be a great show for fans so don't start shoveling dirt over Raceway Park just yet. She's held her own for 50 years and will figure out a way to keep on doing it without the NASCAR national touring series if she has to.
Mike Neff is a Senior Writer for Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via e-mail at mike.neff@frontstretch.com.
~~~~~~~~~~
Hey, Frontstretch Readers!
We know you love the roar of raw horsepower under the hood that powers 43 of the best drivers in the world every weekend, but did you ever wonder how the sponsor on top of that hood also contributes to keeping the sport moving? What about the contributions of official NASCAR companies? If you think they are simply writing checks, think again. Check out our newest feature - Sunday Money. This weekly Frontstretch exclusive provides you with a behind the scenes look at how NASCAR, its affiliates and team sponsors approach the daunting task of keeping fans interested and excited about the sport for 38 weeks of the year.
~~~~~~~~~~
Tweet 'N' Greet
by Jay Pennell
Editor's Note: With the NASCAR Twitter community expanding by leaps and bounds, it remains a place for instantaneous news, reactions, and a whole lot of inside jokes. We understand if you don't want to join the Twitter community - but as a fan, it's important to know the news and info you're missing out on! That's why, every week, Jay Pennell will sort through the thousands of messages and give us a little taste of what's going on each Wednesday.
So, without further ado, here's a look at what those in NASCAR were thinking over the past seven days...
@AndyLally: How Rad is it that after so many drivers have tried 2 win Indy for John Menard that he finally achieves his dream & his son is at the wheel?
@JimmieJohnson: A huge congrats to Paul Menard, this win will be a life changer!
@matt_kenseth17: @JimmieJohnson I had fun racing you today, you had that thing hung out that first run! Seeing [the] smoke off [your] rr made me smile!
@matt_kenseth17: Great car today, felt like 24 was best then us. Thought we were going to have a chance at it today. Congrats to Paul Menard!
@JeffGordonWeb (Jeff Gordon): Just getting home. Great performance for our @Drive2EndHunger @chevrolet today. So close! Our team is rolling right now. Loving it! #JG
@KevinHarvick: Long day hard to pass and really hot... guys had good strategy but we are all disappointed we didn't run better regroup and go back at it
@KevinHarvick: But a great day for RCR Menards Paul Menard and the whole 27 team!!! Long time coming!
@31n2Spotter (Brett Griffin): Congrats to Paul! Big props to Stevie Reeves, his spotter. He's from Indy! Raced open-wheel and stock cars. Great dude. #RCR
@2Spotter (Joey Meier): Races are won and lost thru various means... rain, fuel mileage, pit stops, fastest car, mechanical issues... a lot of variables. CONT...
@2Spotter: It's called racing... the whole ball of wax... I've been fortunate to be a part of many wins won many ways. The crew chief's job is hard... cont
@2Spotter: The one constant about all the wins, no matter how they are won, the trophy or rings says "WINNER"... They can't take it from you.
@2Spotter: And ANY team will go to Victory Lane no matter how it was won....PERIOD.....
@2Spotter: Before a race starts, all teams can choose their strategy...fuel mileage is one choice. It's no different than taking 2, 4,or no tires.....
@KevinHamlin: Really cool to see Paul on @SportsCenter this morning. Wonder if he slept last night?
@31n2Spotter: @KevinHamlin have u seen how hot his gf is?! I'd say not! Haha
@31n2Spotter: Crew chiefs these days need more balls than a McDonalds Playplace. #FuelStrategy
@keithrodden (RBR Engineer): @31n2Spotter engine shops too...takes balls to get good mileage without hurting power and durability.
@JimmieJohnson: It was confirmed this morning I clipped the 47's jackman. @Bobby_Labonte gave me his # and I shot him a call. Mike is hurt but doing well.
@keselowski (Brad Keselowski): Just leaving Brickyard, can't help but think of what might have happened if last yellow wouldn't have happened...
@keselowski: Last yellow cost us top-3 or better. 24&17 were slightly better. It woulda been a damn good race if we came out in front of them after pit.
@31n2Spotter: "@mikemulhern: Indy: Time to fix the Brickyard 400: maybe three-abreast starts and restarts?" ~~ dumbest tweet I've ever read
@31n2Spotter: Brad Kesolowski received $30,925 4 his teams win n Indy Sat night. LPGA golfer Stacy Lewis received $300,000 when she won n Chicago n Apr
@31n2Spotter: Been trying to tell y'all we need a ladies racing league. See how much more money there is with women's sports?! SMH
@31n2Spotter: NASCAR Menard won $320,000 for winning the Brickyard. PGA Greenbrier Classic n WV paid $1,000,000 2 win. 4 those who said NNS is 1 day show
@31n2Spotter: RT @nateryan Sunday's Women's British Open (second LPGA major) drew a 0.3 rating. Nationwide Series races usually between a 1.0 to a 2.5.
@JimmieJohnson: I just checked in on @travispastrana, that boy is beat up from his freestyle crash. #ballsofsteel
Jay Pennell is an Assistant Editor to Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via e-mail at jaywpennell@yahoo.com, and you can also check out his work at allleftturns.com or jaywpennell.blogspot.com.
~~~~~~~~~~
TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:
Did You Notice? ... NASCAR's Real Silly Season Story: Not Carl, Contraction
by Tom Bowles
Mirror Driving: Menard's Win, Edwards' Contract, A Silly Rule, More
by the Frontstretch Staff
Time's Up: NASCAR Drivers Nearing The End of The Line
by Vito Pugliese
Top Ten Reasons Paul Menard REALLY Won the Brickyard 400
by the Frontstretch Staff
compiled by Mike Neff
~~~~~~~~~~
FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Q: In 1990, Harry Gant won the Miller Genuine Draft 500 at Pocono Raceway. At the time, something about this race set an all-time Winston Cup record. What was it?
Check back Thursday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
Tuesday's Answer:
Tuesday's Answer:
Q: In 1995, Dale Jarrett had the best of both worlds at Pocono Raceway. In July, he was able to hold off Jeff Gordon to win the Miller Genuine Draft 500. However, in June, he suffered a far different fate. What happened?
Frontstretch Trivia Guarantee: If we mess up, you get the shirt off our backs! If we've provided an incorrect answer to the Frontstretch Trivia question, be the first to email the corrected trivia answer to trivia@frontstretch.com and we'll send you a Frontstretch T-Shirt ... FREE!
~~~~~~~~~~
Coming tomorrow in the Frontstretch Newsletter:
-- Top News from Phil Allaway
-- Shakedown Session by Brody Jones
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, and more!
~~~~~~~~~~
Tomorrow on the Frontstretch:
MPM2Nite by Matt McLaughlin
Matt is back again this season with his sarcastic sense of humor ... and incomparable NASCAR insight.
Voices From the Heartland by Jeff Meyer
Your favorite midwestern writer is back for another season of making you want to laugh, cry and even pull your hair out. Wanna know what Jeff is writing about this week? So do we! Be sure to tune in tomorrow to find out!
Potts' Shots by John Potts
Fanning the Flames has become Potts' Shots, and John Potts is here to answer your questions in our weekly Fan Q & A. Do you have something you'd like to ask John? Don't sit on the sidelines! Send it to john.potts@frontstretch.com, and you just may see your question in print next week!
Fantasy Insider by Brett Poirier
Did your fantasy racing team take a hit at The Brickyard? Well, Brett has just what you need to know to turn things around when choosing your teams for the Good Sam RV Insurance 500 at Pocono Raceway.
5th Column TBA by Mark Powell
Our professor of racing history "has at it" with another column pertinent to the sport at large. This week, Mark takes a look at some of the common--and usually mistaken--assumptions people make about Paul Menard and Pocono Raceway.
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