THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
September 8th, 2011
Volume V, Edition CLXXXVIII
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CORRECTION: As reader Todd Priest pointed out, earlier this week we indicated Jeff Gordon had clinched a "top 10 in points" Chase spot after Atlanta. The four-time champ, as it turned out due to a complicated scenario had already clinched a Chase spot after Bristol as a "wild card" entry. We apologize for the oversight.
Today's Top News
by Tom Bowles & Mike Neff
Rockingham Gets Truck Series Date
After an eight-year absence, NASCAR National Touring Series racing will once again attack the high banked corners of Rockingham Speedway when the Camping World Truck Series will host an event on April 15th, 2012. The Good Sam Roadside Assistance 200 will be the first Truck race to take place at the 46-year-old racetrack, a groundbreaking move announced at a press conference attended by North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue, Rockingham Mayor Gene McLaurin, town council members, several Camping World Truck Series drivers and many more official dignitaries excited about the partnership.
"In 2007, we set a goal to return Rockingham Speedway to its roots," stated Andy Hillenburg, president of the one-mile oval. "The introduction of the Truck series to Rockingham Speedway is representative of years of hard work and the support of the country, city and state government officials, who understood the positive economic impact a NASCAR-sanctioned race could offer to the Piedmont region. We are very excited about this news and know our supporters are just as proud to have Rockingham's national racing roots become a reality once again."
Officials stated the addition of the race to the local economy could provide as much as a $10 million boost, with additional temporary and full-time jobs that will help a state saddled by unemployment. Meanwhile, SAFER Barriers will be installed in the facility, upgrading it to NASCAR safety standards in time for the April, 2012 race weekend. No Nationwide Series event was announced at the press conference; for now, it's only one top-tier Series making its return.
For more on this exciting news story, be sure to read Mike Neff's Full Throttle coverage further down the Newsletter.
Five championships into a record-setting reign, visiting the President never gets old for Jimmie Johnson. The Sprint Cup champ met President Obama at the White House again Wednesday, joining Denny Hamlin, Matt Kenseth, Kyle Busch, Jeff Gordon, Clint Bowyer, Kurt Busch and Jeff Burton as 2010 Chase participants accepting the invitation to meet with the Commander-In-Chief. No stranger to Johnson's success, having met the driver multiple times under title-winning circumstances the U.S. President praised his extraordinary run at the top of NASCAR's Sprint Cup charts.
"Jimmie is not just one of the best drivers of all time -- he's up there with some of the great sports dynasties," Obama claimed. "If you think about it, only the Boston Celtics, the Yankees and the Canadiens have ever won more than four titles in a row. And now, Jimmie is breathing down the necks of Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty for the most NASCAR titles ever, which is not bad for the son of a machine operator and a school bus driver who still has plenty of seasons ahead of him. Jimmie's talent has been to make a very difficult, demanding sport look easy. But [in 2010], the Number 48 team also showed its toughness. They entered the last race of the Chase trailing, and ended up pulling off an extraordinary comeback."
"What an honor today in DC, said Jimmie Johnson on his Twitter feed. "It was surreal standing on stage next to POTUS while he spoke about my family & what I've accomplished in racing."
Denny Hamlin, in an article written by USA Today was also very praiseworthy of not just the event, but what it means to the growth of NASCAR overall.
"You see the championship teams from different sports that come each and every year," he said, "And I think that just puts us in that spotlight where we belong."
Obama, who spoke for several minutes also took time to praise the way stock car racing has joined together in partnership with the nation's military. The government, whose U.S. Army sponsorship keeps Ryan Newman's No. 39 afloat recently discussed cutting NASCAR funding through a Minnesota Congresswoman's dedicated protests; however, that proposal was voted down and it looks like financial support will continue into the future.
"What makes NASCAR special is the difference that it makes in the lives of so many people, especially our troops and their families," the President claimed. "I personally thanked all these guys for what they've been doing on behalf of military families, who are obviously huge fans of NASCAR. Last month, the drivers and staff toured Walter Reed hospital, served dinner to 400 wounded warriors and their loved ones. NASCAR has been a huge supporter of the Joining Forces program that Michelle and Dr. Jill Biden have set up to support military families. And later this week, NASCAR will be honoring our military and first responders again in Richmond the night before the anniversary of 9/11. So I want to congratulate Jimmie. I want to congratulate all the drivers who are on the stage for their extraordinary success, for the success of NASCAR, and for everything that they do for our country."
Not present for the ceremony were 2010 Chasers Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards, Kevin Harvick, and Tony Stewart, each citing scheduing conflicts in their inability to make the trip.
Kevin Harvick, Inc. & Richard Childress Racing To Merge Nationwide Operations In 2012
Kevin Harvick, Inc. and Richard Childress Racing are becoming even more intertwined. The two companies announced a full-scale merger of their Nationwide Programs for next season, a move designed to benefit both sides as they search for additional sponsorship to boost their growth. The partnership allows for KHI to tap into RCR's sponsor base, allowing for greater business-to-business opportunities as teams struggle to cope with slashing budgets in this tight economy.
"KHI and RCR have worked together very closely over the last several years," said Kevin Harvick. "DeLana and I are fortunate that Richard has always been supportive of KHI over the last 10 years. We feel like this merger will benefit our on-track performance as well as provide our sponsors with more opportunity off track. We will still be very involved and are excited about the Nationwide team's new direction."
KHI will still be actively involved from the competition side; in fact, Elliott Sadler is expected to remain driver of the No. 2 car with sponsorship continuing from OneMain Financial. As for the No. 33, RCR's Sprint Cup drivers are expected to rotate in and out of the seat next season.
"A few years ago, Richard Childress Racing moved its NASCAR Nationwide Series efforts to Kevin Harvick Incorporated to assist KHI in strengthening its overall program," said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. "When Kevin and DeLana decided they were interested in consolidating operations, it made sense to merge our efforts. RCR is committed to the Nationwide Series as part of our overall team and driver development efforts. This move will continue the close collaborative effort RCR and KHI have enjoyed for the past 10 years."
The move makes no mention of Austin Dillon, the Truck Series sophomore expected to move up to the Nationwide Series next season with RCR. A third team may be announced at a later date; however, the organization may have an opening on the Cup level with Clint Bowyer's departure, leaving the possibility Dillon may jump a step and run for Rookie of the Year next season.
There's no word also on Harvick's Truck program; sources confirm Ron Hornaday has been told there is no sponsorship in place for him to return to KHI in 2012. Harvick also runs the No. 8 truck for Nelson Piquet, Jr. and a No. 2 truck for a merry-go-round of different drivers.
Quick Bites
- Ollie's Bargain Outlet will be the primary sponsor for Matt Kenseth's No. 17 Ford at Richmond. The company has previously appeared on such teams as Kevin Harvick's No. 33 Nationwide Series Chevrolet.
- SceneDaily is reporting NASCAR will have four fuel injection tests the month of October, beginning with the open test at Phoenix Raceway on the 4th and 5th. Other test dates include Oct. 18 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Oct. 20 at Talladega Superspeedway and Oct. 30 at Martinsville Speedway.
Entry List Update
Note: These entries are accurate as of Thursday AM. However, they can be subject to change once teams finally enter the racetrack.
Sprint Cup Series Wonderful Pistachios 400: 46 cars entered
Drivers Ineligible to Earn Points:
No. 32 - Mike Bliss, driving for FAS Lane Racing
No. 38 - Travis Kvapil, driving for Front Row Motorsports
No. 51 - Landon Cassill, driving for Phoenix Racing (James Finch)
No. 60 - Mike Skinner, driving for Germain Racing
No. 87 - Joe Nemechek, driving for NEMCO Motorsports
(Remember, even though a driver is ineligible they DO score owner points for their team)
Driver Changes:
No. 35 - Dave Blaney moves into this seat for Tommy Baldwin Racing in a one-race deal. Blaney, the full-time TBR driver replaces Geoffrey Bodine; he's moving into the "must qualify on speed" car to give the team a better shot of putting two cars in the race.
No. 36 - Rookie Stephen Leicht slides into a seat for a one-race deal with Tommy Baldwin Racing. The car will be sponsored by Pepsi Max and Golden Corral; for Leicht, if he makes the field it would be his first Cup Series event since Pocono in July, 2006 for what was Robert Yates Racing.
No. 38 - Travis Kvapil returns to the "go the distance" car at Front Row Motorsports, replacing J.J. Yeley.
No. 55 - J.J. Yeley returns to the "start-and-park" car at Front Row Motorsports, replacing Travis Kvapil. Yeley was unable to secure additional sponsorship to keep the No. 38 seat.
Not Here:
No. 95 - David Starr, Leavine Family Racing (Team is running a limited schedule)
Drivers who must qualify on speed (the top 35 cars are "locked in"):
11 for 8 spots
No. 7 - Robby Gordon, Robby Gordon Motorsports*
No. 30 - David Stremme, Inception Motorsports*
No. 35 - Dave Blaney, Tommy Baldwin Racing
No. 37 - TBA (likely Tony Raines), MaxQ Motorsports*
No. 38 - Travis Kvapil, Front Row Motorsports
No. 46 - Scott Speed, Whitney Motorsports*
No. 50 - T.J. Bell, LTD Powersports / Joe Falk*
No. 55 - J.J. Yeley, Front Row Motorsports*
No. 60 - Mike Skinner, Germain Racing*
No. 66 - Michael McDowell, HP Racing*
No. 87 - Joe Nemechek, NEMCO Motorsports*
* - Entry expected to start and park
Top 35 Entries expected to start and park: None
Maximum number of cars that can qualify and will "go the distance:" 37 of 43
Nationwide Series Virginia 529 College Savings 250: 49 cars entered
Drivers Ineligible to Earn Points:
No. 1 - Jamie McMurray, driving for Phoenix Racing
No. 18 - Kyle Busch, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing
No. 22 - Brad Keselowski, driving for Penske Racing
No. 30 - Ricky Carmichael, driving for Turner Motorsports
No. 33 - Kevin Harvick, driving for Kevin Harvick, Inc.
No. 47 - Brian Keselowski, driving for Key Motorsports
No. 50 - T.J. Bell, driving for MAKE Motorsports
No. 60 - Carl Edwards, driving for Roush Fenway Racing
No. 70 - David Stremme, driving for ML Motorsports
(Remember, even though a driver is ineligible they DO score owner points for their team)
Driver Changes / New Additions:
No. 1 - Phoenix Racing returns to the racetrack with Jamie McMurray as driver. The full-time Cup team has only been running a limited Nationwide Series schedule this season.
No. 04 - Rookie Fain Skinner returns to the racetrack in a second, Go Green Racing entry. The former Florida Go Kart Racing champion expects to run a limited schedule the rest of the year.
No. 7 - Danica Patrick returns to her JR Motorsports seat, replacing Jamie McMurray. Patrick is running a limited schedule to prepare for a 2012, full-time entry into the Nationwide Series.
No. 08 - Rookie Casey Roderick moves to a new team, Randy Hill Racing, that plans a limited schedule the rest of the year. The effort is unsponsored for Richmond.
No. 30 - Ricky Carmichael returns to the seat, replacing Jason Leffler. Carmichael runs the Truck Series full-time for Turner Motorsports.
No. 38 - Jason Leffler returns to the seat, replacing Kasey Kahne. This car is usually Leffler's full-time ride in the series.
No. 39 - Rookie Luis Martinez, Jr. will drive, replacing Matthew Carter. Martinez, a 21-year-old from Long Beach, CA is looking to make his third series start. He's got one career win in the K&N Pro West Series to his credit.
No. 47 - Brian Keselowski returns to the seat, replacing Charles Lewandowski. This entry is expected to start and park.
No. 48 - Jay Robinson Racing is fielding a new, start-and-park effort for off-again, on-again driver Dennis Setzer.
No. 49 - Mark Green returns to the seat, replacing Dennis Setzer. This car is also expected to start and park.
No. 71 - Matthew Carter will drive, replacing Clay Greenfield. This entry is expected to start and park.
Drivers who must qualify on speed:
19 for 13 spots
No. 1 - Jamie McMurray, Phoenix Racing
No. 03 - Scott Riggs, R3 Motorsports*
No. 04 - Fain Skinner, Go Green Racing
No. 08 - Casey Roderick, Randy Hill Racing
No. 13 - Jennifer Jo Cobb, JJC Racing
No. 16 - Trevor Bayne, Roush Fenway Racing
No. 20 - Ryan Truex, Joe Gibbs Racing
No. 41 - Johnny Chapman, Rick Ware Racing*
No. 42 - Tim Andrews, Key Motorsports*
No. 44 - Jeff Green, TriStar Motorsports*^
No. 46 - Chase Miller, Key Motorsports*
No. 47 - Brian Keselowski, Key Motorsports*
No. 48 - Dennis Setzer, Jay Robinson Racing*
No. 49 - Mark Green, Jay Robinson Racing*
No. 50 - T.J. Bell, MAKE Motorsports
No. 71 - Matthew Carter, Rick Ware Racing*
No. 72 - John Jackson, owned by James Carter
No. 74 - Mike Harmon, Mike Harmon Motorsports*
No. 75 - Carl Long, Rick Ware Racing*
* - Entry expected to start and park
^ - "Locked in" through the Past Champion's Provisional
Top 30 Entries expected to start and park: None (Morgan Shepherd, uncertain status)
Maximum number of cars that can qualify and will "go the distance:" 38 of 43
The Camping World Truck Series is off this week.
Have news for Tom, Mike and The Frontstretch? Don't hesitate to let us know; email us at phil.allaway@frontstretch.com with a promising lead or tip.
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Hey Frontstretch Readers!
We know you love the roar of raw horsepower under the hood that powers 43 of the best drivers in the world every weekend, but did you ever wonder how the sponsor on top of that hood also contributes to keeping the sport moving? What about the contributions of official NASCAR companies? If you think they are simply writing checks, think again. Check out our newest feature - Sunday Money. This weekly Frontstretch exclusive provides you with a behind the scenes look how NASCAR, its affiliates and team sponsors approach the daunting task of keeping fans interested and excited about the sport for 38 weeks of the year.
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Full Throttle: Raising A Rock From The Ashes
by Mike Neff
The story is familiar to most NASCAR fans. Rockingham Speedway opened in 1965 and hosted Cup series events for 39 years before the track was shuttered as part of the agreement between NASCAR and Speedway Motorsports, one which resulted in its final race date being moved to Texas Motor Speedway following the 2004 season. Racer Andy Hillenburg, with the impossible dream in mind purchased the speedway in 2007 at an auction, vowing to return the Rock to prominence in racing circles. Few, if any, believed it would happen.
But Wednesday, September 7th, 2011 will forever be known as the day Hillenburg's longshot dream came true. In an announcement that featured the Governor of North Carolina, the Mayor of Rockingham, the town council, county managers and members of the North Carolina Government, the Camping World Truck Series revealed they would be coming back to the historic track in the Sandhills of North Carolina in 2012. The event, held in mid-April will not only feature the Trucks but the UARA Late Model series and the Frank Kimmel Street Stocks, both organizations that have supported the track since it came back to life in 2008.
The changes in NASCAR over its history, especially during the boom years of the late 1990s and early 2000s, have always been difficult for hardcore race fans to swallow. The resulting loss of sentimental venues causes hard feelings and bitter dislike on their behalf directed two ways: towards NASCAR officials and multi-track owners (that's you, Bruton Smith) who have a history of taking dates away. Such disgust rang true with the fans of Rockingham, who felt like their track was never given a fair shake. The one-mile oval always offered fantastic racing, from its humble beginnings in the 1960s to even its final Cup race, one that saw Matt Kenseth beat Kasey Kahne to the finish by one hundredth of a second in February, 2004. Unfortunately, the track was never given a race date during a time of year when the weather was comfortable for the fans; cold weather was common, along with rain which would always keep crowds and revenue from realizing their full potential. In the end, the track's race dates were treated like numbers on a page and utilized to settle a lawsuit and give those "well-attending race fans" out in California another event.
The track appeared doomed after that; however, Hillenburg brought racing back to Rockingham before it was allowed to fall into disrepair like another SMI property in Wilkes County. The track was still viable, although it did need infrastructure upgrades that were never done even before it was closed. Hillenburg begged, borrowed, and cajoled his way to getting everything he needed to make the facility on par with other NASCAR National Touring series host tracks in terms of safety. The final piece of that puzzle was the installation of SAFER barriers, fixes which will take place in two phases during the Fall of this year and will be completed well before the Good Sam's Roadside Assistance 200 on April 15th, 2012.
For this miracle to happen, you must understand two things: Rockingham is a special race track and Andy Hillenburg is a special track owner. Location alone would seemingly make a return to this rural venue virtually impossible: it's located roughly an hour and a half to two hours from every city of significant size without much from an entertainment standpoint anywhere close by besides Pinehurst Golf Resort. The economic downturn has taken a heavy toll on the region, with unemployment rates running from 12 to 17 percent, and the result has been a difficult environment for a racetrack owner to put butts in the stands. However, Hillenburg has persevered and managed to put on some great, competitive events: from ARCA making the initial race start under Hillenburg's ownership to UARA and Pro Cup this Spring, the car counts at the track have been top notch. Hillenburg has been working diligently to make the track safer for competitors and, as mentioned above has finally secured the financing to install the SAFER barrier system. That was one of the two pieces left that had to be ironed out for a national touring series event to take place at the track.
The other hurdle was financial: Rockingham's revenue is directly linked to the testing that is generated at the facility. Both Rockingham and its cousin "Little Rock" host test sessions for teams in a multitude of racing series, especially Sprint Cup, as it's a cheap alternative to other options which would force teams to leave the state. A significant portion of the revenue for the facility has come from that testing in the past and, pursuant to NASCAR's rules, testing is not allowed at a track that is holding a NASCAR-sanctioned race. But, with the announcement of the Truck event in 2012, officials say the testing ban will apply to Rockingham Speedway only - not its "Little Rock" little brother. The tracks are being treated as two separate race facilities, so the half-mile oval behind the main speedway will still be allowed to host testing sessions free of the limitation imposed on the big track.
So now, the obstacles are removed; and let everyone, from state officials down to local citizens rejoice. Richmond County, North Carolina and the surrounding areas are in dire need of some economic good news. The arrival of a Camping World Truck race is going to be a huge boon to the area, not only from direct spending at the race track but from the influx of people purchasing gas, staying at area hotels, and eating at local restaurants. The true impact is always debatable based on which economist you tend to believe, but there is no doubt that the numbers, if this Truck race is marketed right will be in the millions of dollars. Provided the fans in and around the speedway, even across the country make the effort to support the track, causing attendance numbers to maintain over the years, Rockingham Speedway is going to make a huge impact for years to come on the hard-hit area.
Now that the Truck Series has been confirmed at Rockingham, the speculation has naturally turned to the Nationwide Series. So will the second-tier division follow suit in 2012? It depends on who you ask. Frontstretch inquired with several different people involved with the process and the facility; no one, from series officials to track management would confirm that Nationwide discussions were even underway. A well connected source said, "Let's get this Truck race established for more than one year to make sure it will be supported before we venture into multiple NASCAR races." However, there is a rumor persisting that negotiations are well along for one of the open Nationwide dates (two from Nashville Superspeedway) to come to Rockingham, with a possible race date the Fall of 2012. At this time, they are nothing more than rumors although it's notable the 2012 Cup & Nationwide schedules have yet to be released.
But that talk, as positive as it may be is for another day. Right now, let's all sit back and celebrate the long, hard road for Rockingham's return actually reaching its destination after an outstanding effort. There are hundreds of racetrack owners all around the United States and they all approach the business with a slightly different tact; some succeed, but many fail, especially in this down economy. Well, there is something special about this former race car driver Hillenburg, a longtime racer and hard-nosed competitor who tries to make it work as an owner. People like him are the best of both worlds in track management: they know what racers want and they know how to make the fans happy. Todd Bodine said it best after the press conference yesterday: "Andy is a racer and knows what it takes to make good racing."
So when it comes to Rockingham in 2012, expect nothing but the best from Hillenburg. Andy also has a deep rooted love for Richmond County and Rockingham Speedway that transcends the racetrack; that love will hopefully continue to help the region by keeping the Speedway active and profitable for years to come.
Today is September 8th, 2011 and Rockingham is now a part of NASCAR's family again. Mr. Hillenburg, welcome to your "happily ever after."
Mike Neff is a Senior Writer for Frontstretch.com. He can be reached at mike.neff@frontstretch.com.
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What's Vexing Vito: Weekly Ramblings On The NASCAR World
by Vito Pugliese
- Anybody else find it ironic that Lee did just as much damage storming through Atlanta as both Sherman and Grant?
While some may have been puzzled as to why the race was postponed until Tuesday rather than Monday, the tornadoes – not those zesty gas station cheese snacks Ryan Newman plows down – that reared their ugly heads on Labor Day were justification enough. The sights of college football and baseball games being e-vac-u-ated because of weather and lightning this weekend were bad enough - to have 100,000 people among swirling debris and flying sheets of aluminum would be worse.
As for why NASCAR stuck around trying to dry the track Sunday night for five hours, did you see how many people showed up Tuesday? God bless those fans (both of you), because that was the type of attendance usually reserved for an ARCA race at Berlin Raceway in Marne, Michigan. NASCAR and Atlanta Motor Speedway had to do something to help keep the vendors from going broke this weekend, particularly since Atlanta got been jobbed out of its second date for another "cookie cutter" suck track.
- The last few laps at AMS Tuesday were reason again to question the following:
A. Why is any racetrack ever repaved
B. What is so great about Kentucky besides their chicken
AND
C. Can we just have Ford Championship Weekend back in the ATL like we did during our heyday instead of Homestead?
Two good races every 12 years isn't cutting it, Miami. We'll take Bo and Luke over Crockett and Tubbs any day.
- How perfect was it that for Jeff Gordon's 85th win (good for 3rd all-time in NASCAR history), the guy who represented the official changing of the guard and moving NASCAR mainstream emerged out of the car… TALKING ON A CELL PHONE. What the heck was that?! What's next, toss the keys to Alan Gustafson and tell him, "Take it easy on the brakes, chief…"
The video montage that followed showing that beautiful mullet and macho mustache from 1993 almost made me want to start construction on a time machine. Why? I'd go back in time and tell him that, in 18 years, this very look would serve as a catalyst for world peace, acting as a beacon of hope and bridge of healing with other cultures and that he must never, EVER, change it. I would also tell him to make sure that he kept a gas can to keep from running out of fuel and marrying Brooke.
All joking aside, congrats on the 85th win, Champ – glad you're still part of the sport and relevant once again! (Now, to figure out if he needs No. 86 to break that "virtual tie" with Bobby Allison)...
- If he ever gets tired of the crew chief gig, Alan Gustafson should probably just go back to school for a couple of years and become an ER doctor. Seriously... he is responsible for giving birth and reviving more top drivers in NASCAR than just about anybody. Even Lazarus thinks this guy is something special when you check out his record. First, he had the unenviable task of keeping Kyle Busch from ripping out radio wires for three years and four wins; then, he helped shepherd Mark Martin back to Victory Lane and another down-to-the-bitter-end championship chase two years ago; and now, he has thrust Jeff Gordon back into the racing consciousness with his third win in 2011.
Gordon had been one for 109 before teaming with Gustafson's former No. 5 team, and is now three for 25 this season, just one win shy of matching Kyle Busch before the Chase begins. If Busch stumbles Saturday in Richmond, plus Gordon wins it would be the 40-year-old who would tie him for the Chase's top seed. So while crew chiefs are often the ones who shoulder the blame, especially when a driver doesn't deliver, Alan has been making it rain with the No. 24 team this year more than any weather system to roll through the Southeast.
- Speaking of which, 2011 should have been a fun year for Gustafson's former driver Mark Martin. His last (presumably) full-time season with Hendrick Motorsports prior to his next chapter in racing should have seen him go out with a bang.
Unfortunately, that "bang" has been the No. 5 getting caught up in more wrecks this season than recent memory can muster. The Daytona 500, Phoenix, Texas, Charlotte, Richmond, and Charlotte the first half of this year all saw the No. 5 backwards, sideways, or stuck into something not of its own doing. Daytona in July, Bristol, and now Atlanta have seen three similar incidents – the No. 5 car trying to slide in behind the car in front, only to not quite clear it, resulting in an accident.
What has been the cause of this anomaly? Poor spotting? These massive new cocoon seats obscuring vision? Let's be honest, Clint Bowyer and Kyle Busch have also had similar incidents the last two weeks as well. After 25 years of holding it in and being the bigger person has Martin finally snapped, went Falling Down and gone postal?
Nobody's perfect, but Martin isn't exactly prone to mistakes. Yeah, yeah, I know, he parked it a lap early while leading at that Busch race at Bristol, and he did drive into the end of pit wall at Martinsville once under caution in 1998. Big deal; Dale Earnhardt fell asleep and got lost during the first lap once at Darlington, too! Things happen.
He's also managed to steer it straight backwards through a wreck at Richmond earlier this season and did the same to miss another one to make The Chase at the final race before the cutoff in 2004. And if you think Harvick had bees in the car during that mid-race restart Tuesday, see how to properly avoid a nine-car pile up at 2:45.
I think what you're seeing is the culmination of why Dale Earnhardt, Jr. looked like a suicidal Joaquin Phoenix the previous two seasons. Martin wants desperately to do something special with what was the former No. 88 team – namely helping them to get a win for their first time since 2008 at Michigan, but the equipment just won't match the passion. He had similar struggles during the miserable seasons of 2001 and 2003 when he was forced to carry cars that simply weren't that good on his surgically fused back; well, the same has held true thus far in 2011.
Save your e-mails that say he should retire or that age has finally caught up with him; I'm just going to start cussing, make Notre Dame leprechaun fists and scowl at my computer monitor if you do. That's hogwash and little more than wishful thinking from crusty Rusty Wallace fans who are mad Martin didn't use that rocking chair FOX gave them both at Sonoma in 2005. Simply put, had the team swap between the 24, 88, and 5 at Hendrick Motorsports never taken place this season, we very well could have seen Martin celebrating a win at the start-finish line Tuesday – minus the silly burnout and cell phone shenanigans. Give him his cars back and it would be '09 all over again.
Vito Pugliese is a Senior Writer for Frontstretch. He can be reached via e-mail at vito.pugliese@frontstretch.com.
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Editor's Note: Shakedown Session has been moved to tomorrow's Newsletter.~~~~~~~~~~
Hey Frontstretch Readers!
We know you love the roar of raw horsepower under the hood that powers 43 of the best drivers in the world every weekend, but did you ever wonder how the sponsor on top of that hood also contributes to keeping the sport moving? What about the contributions of official NASCAR companies? If you think they are simply writing checks, think again. Check out our newest feature - Sunday Money. This weekly Frontstretch exclusive provides you with a behind the scenes look how NASCAR, its affiliates and team sponsors approach the daunting task of keeping fans interested and excited about the sport for 38 weeks of the year.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Full Throttle: Raising A Rock From The Ashes
by Mike Neff
The story is familiar to most NASCAR fans. Rockingham Speedway opened in 1965 and hosted Cup series events for 39 years before the track was shuttered as part of the agreement between NASCAR and Speedway Motorsports, one which resulted in its final race date being moved to Texas Motor Speedway following the 2004 season. Racer Andy Hillenburg, with the impossible dream in mind purchased the speedway in 2007 at an auction, vowing to return the Rock to prominence in racing circles. Few, if any, believed it would happen.
But Wednesday, September 7th, 2011 will forever be known as the day Hillenburg's longshot dream came true. In an announcement that featured the Governor of North Carolina, the Mayor of Rockingham, the town council, county managers and members of the North Carolina Government, the Camping World Truck Series revealed they would be coming back to the historic track in the Sandhills of North Carolina in 2012. The event, held in mid-April will not only feature the Trucks but the UARA Late Model series and the Frank Kimmel Street Stocks, both organizations that have supported the track since it came back to life in 2008.
The changes in NASCAR over its history, especially during the boom years of the late 1990s and early 2000s, have always been difficult for hardcore race fans to swallow. The resulting loss of sentimental venues causes hard feelings and bitter dislike on their behalf directed two ways: towards NASCAR officials and multi-track owners (that's you, Bruton Smith) who have a history of taking dates away. Such disgust rang true with the fans of Rockingham, who felt like their track was never given a fair shake. The one-mile oval always offered fantastic racing, from its humble beginnings in the 1960s to even its final Cup race, one that saw Matt Kenseth beat Kasey Kahne to the finish by one hundredth of a second in February, 2004. Unfortunately, the track was never given a race date during a time of year when the weather was comfortable for the fans; cold weather was common, along with rain which would always keep crowds and revenue from realizing their full potential. In the end, the track's race dates were treated like numbers on a page and utilized to settle a lawsuit and give those "well-attending race fans" out in California another event.
The track appeared doomed after that; however, Hillenburg brought racing back to Rockingham before it was allowed to fall into disrepair like another SMI property in Wilkes County. The track was still viable, although it did need infrastructure upgrades that were never done even before it was closed. Hillenburg begged, borrowed, and cajoled his way to getting everything he needed to make the facility on par with other NASCAR National Touring series host tracks in terms of safety. The final piece of that puzzle was the installation of SAFER barriers, fixes which will take place in two phases during the Fall of this year and will be completed well before the Good Sam's Roadside Assistance 200 on April 15th, 2012.
For this miracle to happen, you must understand two things: Rockingham is a special race track and Andy Hillenburg is a special track owner. Location alone would seemingly make a return to this rural venue virtually impossible: it's located roughly an hour and a half to two hours from every city of significant size without much from an entertainment standpoint anywhere close by besides Pinehurst Golf Resort. The economic downturn has taken a heavy toll on the region, with unemployment rates running from 12 to 17 percent, and the result has been a difficult environment for a racetrack owner to put butts in the stands. However, Hillenburg has persevered and managed to put on some great, competitive events: from ARCA making the initial race start under Hillenburg's ownership to UARA and Pro Cup this Spring, the car counts at the track have been top notch. Hillenburg has been working diligently to make the track safer for competitors and, as mentioned above has finally secured the financing to install the SAFER barrier system. That was one of the two pieces left that had to be ironed out for a national touring series event to take place at the track.
The other hurdle was financial: Rockingham's revenue is directly linked to the testing that is generated at the facility. Both Rockingham and its cousin "Little Rock" host test sessions for teams in a multitude of racing series, especially Sprint Cup, as it's a cheap alternative to other options which would force teams to leave the state. A significant portion of the revenue for the facility has come from that testing in the past and, pursuant to NASCAR's rules, testing is not allowed at a track that is holding a NASCAR-sanctioned race. But, with the announcement of the Truck event in 2012, officials say the testing ban will apply to Rockingham Speedway only - not its "Little Rock" little brother. The tracks are being treated as two separate race facilities, so the half-mile oval behind the main speedway will still be allowed to host testing sessions free of the limitation imposed on the big track.
So now, the obstacles are removed; and let everyone, from state officials down to local citizens rejoice. Richmond County, North Carolina and the surrounding areas are in dire need of some economic good news. The arrival of a Camping World Truck race is going to be a huge boon to the area, not only from direct spending at the race track but from the influx of people purchasing gas, staying at area hotels, and eating at local restaurants. The true impact is always debatable based on which economist you tend to believe, but there is no doubt that the numbers, if this Truck race is marketed right will be in the millions of dollars. Provided the fans in and around the speedway, even across the country make the effort to support the track, causing attendance numbers to maintain over the years, Rockingham Speedway is going to make a huge impact for years to come on the hard-hit area.
Now that the Truck Series has been confirmed at Rockingham, the speculation has naturally turned to the Nationwide Series. So will the second-tier division follow suit in 2012? It depends on who you ask. Frontstretch inquired with several different people involved with the process and the facility; no one, from series officials to track management would confirm that Nationwide discussions were even underway. A well connected source said, "Let's get this Truck race established for more than one year to make sure it will be supported before we venture into multiple NASCAR races." However, there is a rumor persisting that negotiations are well along for one of the open Nationwide dates (two from Nashville Superspeedway) to come to Rockingham, with a possible race date the Fall of 2012. At this time, they are nothing more than rumors although it's notable the 2012 Cup & Nationwide schedules have yet to be released.
But that talk, as positive as it may be is for another day. Right now, let's all sit back and celebrate the long, hard road for Rockingham's return actually reaching its destination after an outstanding effort. There are hundreds of racetrack owners all around the United States and they all approach the business with a slightly different tact; some succeed, but many fail, especially in this down economy. Well, there is something special about this former race car driver Hillenburg, a longtime racer and hard-nosed competitor who tries to make it work as an owner. People like him are the best of both worlds in track management: they know what racers want and they know how to make the fans happy. Todd Bodine said it best after the press conference yesterday: "Andy is a racer and knows what it takes to make good racing."
So when it comes to Rockingham in 2012, expect nothing but the best from Hillenburg. Andy also has a deep rooted love for Richmond County and Rockingham Speedway that transcends the racetrack; that love will hopefully continue to help the region by keeping the Speedway active and profitable for years to come.
Today is September 8th, 2011 and Rockingham is now a part of NASCAR's family again. Mr. Hillenburg, welcome to your "happily ever after."
Mike Neff is a Senior Writer for Frontstretch.com. He can be reached at mike.neff@frontstretch.com.
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What's Vexing Vito: Weekly Ramblings On The NASCAR World
by Vito Pugliese
- Anybody else find it ironic that Lee did just as much damage storming through Atlanta as both Sherman and Grant?
While some may have been puzzled as to why the race was postponed until Tuesday rather than Monday, the tornadoes – not those zesty gas station cheese snacks Ryan Newman plows down – that reared their ugly heads on Labor Day were justification enough. The sights of college football and baseball games being e-vac-u-ated because of weather and lightning this weekend were bad enough - to have 100,000 people among swirling debris and flying sheets of aluminum would be worse.
As for why NASCAR stuck around trying to dry the track Sunday night for five hours, did you see how many people showed up Tuesday? God bless those fans (both of you), because that was the type of attendance usually reserved for an ARCA race at Berlin Raceway in Marne, Michigan. NASCAR and Atlanta Motor Speedway had to do something to help keep the vendors from going broke this weekend, particularly since Atlanta got been jobbed out of its second date for another "cookie cutter" suck track.
- The last few laps at AMS Tuesday were reason again to question the following:
A. Why is any racetrack ever repaved
B. What is so great about Kentucky besides their chicken
AND
C. Can we just have Ford Championship Weekend back in the ATL like we did during our heyday instead of Homestead?
Two good races every 12 years isn't cutting it, Miami. We'll take Bo and Luke over Crockett and Tubbs any day.
- How perfect was it that for Jeff Gordon's 85th win (good for 3rd all-time in NASCAR history), the guy who represented the official changing of the guard and moving NASCAR mainstream emerged out of the car… TALKING ON A CELL PHONE. What the heck was that?! What's next, toss the keys to Alan Gustafson and tell him, "Take it easy on the brakes, chief…"
The video montage that followed showing that beautiful mullet and macho mustache from 1993 almost made me want to start construction on a time machine. Why? I'd go back in time and tell him that, in 18 years, this very look would serve as a catalyst for world peace, acting as a beacon of hope and bridge of healing with other cultures and that he must never, EVER, change it. I would also tell him to make sure that he kept a gas can to keep from running out of fuel and marrying Brooke.
All joking aside, congrats on the 85th win, Champ – glad you're still part of the sport and relevant once again! (Now, to figure out if he needs No. 86 to break that "virtual tie" with Bobby Allison)...
- If he ever gets tired of the crew chief gig, Alan Gustafson should probably just go back to school for a couple of years and become an ER doctor. Seriously... he is responsible for giving birth and reviving more top drivers in NASCAR than just about anybody. Even Lazarus thinks this guy is something special when you check out his record. First, he had the unenviable task of keeping Kyle Busch from ripping out radio wires for three years and four wins; then, he helped shepherd Mark Martin back to Victory Lane and another down-to-the-bitter-end championship chase two years ago; and now, he has thrust Jeff Gordon back into the racing consciousness with his third win in 2011.
Gordon had been one for 109 before teaming with Gustafson's former No. 5 team, and is now three for 25 this season, just one win shy of matching Kyle Busch before the Chase begins. If Busch stumbles Saturday in Richmond, plus Gordon wins it would be the 40-year-old who would tie him for the Chase's top seed. So while crew chiefs are often the ones who shoulder the blame, especially when a driver doesn't deliver, Alan has been making it rain with the No. 24 team this year more than any weather system to roll through the Southeast.
- Speaking of which, 2011 should have been a fun year for Gustafson's former driver Mark Martin. His last (presumably) full-time season with Hendrick Motorsports prior to his next chapter in racing should have seen him go out with a bang.
Unfortunately, that "bang" has been the No. 5 getting caught up in more wrecks this season than recent memory can muster. The Daytona 500, Phoenix, Texas, Charlotte, Richmond, and Charlotte the first half of this year all saw the No. 5 backwards, sideways, or stuck into something not of its own doing. Daytona in July, Bristol, and now Atlanta have seen three similar incidents – the No. 5 car trying to slide in behind the car in front, only to not quite clear it, resulting in an accident.
What has been the cause of this anomaly? Poor spotting? These massive new cocoon seats obscuring vision? Let's be honest, Clint Bowyer and Kyle Busch have also had similar incidents the last two weeks as well. After 25 years of holding it in and being the bigger person has Martin finally snapped, went Falling Down and gone postal?
Nobody's perfect, but Martin isn't exactly prone to mistakes. Yeah, yeah, I know, he parked it a lap early while leading at that Busch race at Bristol, and he did drive into the end of pit wall at Martinsville once under caution in 1998. Big deal; Dale Earnhardt fell asleep and got lost during the first lap once at Darlington, too! Things happen.
He's also managed to steer it straight backwards through a wreck at Richmond earlier this season and did the same to miss another one to make The Chase at the final race before the cutoff in 2004. And if you think Harvick had bees in the car during that mid-race restart Tuesday, see how to properly avoid a nine-car pile up at 2:45.
I think what you're seeing is the culmination of why Dale Earnhardt, Jr. looked like a suicidal Joaquin Phoenix the previous two seasons. Martin wants desperately to do something special with what was the former No. 88 team – namely helping them to get a win for their first time since 2008 at Michigan, but the equipment just won't match the passion. He had similar struggles during the miserable seasons of 2001 and 2003 when he was forced to carry cars that simply weren't that good on his surgically fused back; well, the same has held true thus far in 2011.
Save your e-mails that say he should retire or that age has finally caught up with him; I'm just going to start cussing, make Notre Dame leprechaun fists and scowl at my computer monitor if you do. That's hogwash and little more than wishful thinking from crusty Rusty Wallace fans who are mad Martin didn't use that rocking chair FOX gave them both at Sonoma in 2005. Simply put, had the team swap between the 24, 88, and 5 at Hendrick Motorsports never taken place this season, we very well could have seen Martin celebrating a win at the start-finish line Tuesday – minus the silly burnout and cell phone shenanigans. Give him his cars back and it would be '09 all over again.
Vito Pugliese is a Senior Writer for Frontstretch. He can be reached via e-mail at vito.pugliese@frontstretch.com.
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The Critic's Annex: Atlanta Cup Race & More
by Phil Allaway
Hello, race fans. Welcome back to the Critic's Annex, where I normally take an additional look at individual TV shows, random specials, video games, South Park episodes, etc. that peak my interest but cannot fit in the regular Tuesday critique. However, this week has been far from a typical one; since rains from the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee drenched the Hampton, Georgia area and moved the race to Tuesday morning, a critique of the Cup race simply could not run in its regular place. However, just because the Cup race couldn't make the regular critique doesn't mean I'm not writing about it. The Advocare 500 will be covered right here, right now with the bonus of Sunday's rainout coverage included.The Critic's Annex: Atlanta Cup Race & More
by Phil Allaway
That evening, ESPN came on-air hoping that they would be able to go racing. Obviously, we now know that they didn't, but NASCAR still had every intention of drying the track and for the first hour of their coverage, they were focused on it.
There was a fairly substantial amount of time spent on the Sprint Summer Showdown and the four eligible drivers for the three million big bucks (Brad Keselowski, Paul Menard, Kyle Busch and Marcos Ambrose). Those drivers got the first interviews and each had montage clips. In addition, before going to a commercial break, ESPN asked a bunch of fans in the stands what they would do with a million bucks if they were to win. The answers ran the gamut from paying off debts, bills, going to multiple races, all the way to buying a bunch of cars, and even a little kid talking about buying a cell phone. (For that much money, you could buy a store full of them.) In most cases, that would sound like overkill but due to the magnitude of the competition - the first of its kind from Sprint - I think such coverage was justified in this case. During the race itself on Tuesday, ESPN even interviewed a couple of the fans paired up with the drivers, creating some interesting additional storylines. For example, Menard's fan was planning to donate her share to a Pennsauken, New Jersey-based charity, while one of Brad Keselowski's fans was unemployed with something like five kids. She stated that the money would be "life-changing.")
Now, Sunday was pretty much a worst-case scenario for ESPN. Their 3:30 PM College Football game was the Marshall-West Virginia rivalry game from Morgantown, West Virginia. That game was delayed late in the third quarter due to severe thunderstorms and an on-site lightning strike that injured a fan in the upper deck. During NASCAR Countdown, there were a couple of cutbacks to Morgantown for updates.
Once the opening ceremonies came and went with a wet track, ESPN segued into their rain strategy, which was essentially to track down as many drivers as they could for interviews. By the time they went off the air Sunday, 24 of the 43 drivers had been interviewed on-air, a couple of them multiple times. Brad Keselowski, Marcos Ambrose and Tony Stewart joined Briscoe, Wallace and Daugherty in the Pit Studio for separate stints - it's an impressive number.
Before the race was actually postponed, ESPN left Atlanta Motor Speedway and returned to Morgantown, where the Marshall-West Virginia game finally resumed. Unfortunately, the T-Storms moved back in and forced another stoppage following a touchdown 24 seconds into the fourth quarter. Both events ended for the night within minutes of each other. The football was called off and West Virginia declared the winner, while the race was pushed back to Tuesday. ESPN did well to get Mike Helton to make the announcement on-air and give his reasoning; overall, the coverage was well-presented with plenty of in-depth, one-on-one conversations with drivers to keep fans entertained.
On Tuesday morning, there was basically no pre-race. Bestwick introduced the broadcast and talked a little bit about the still cloudy, but dry weather. Then, they cut to the rather quirky command to start engines. ESPN did a great job in covering the race. There was a lot of side-by-side action for position all over the field and the network showed a good amount of it. Lots more than in the Nationwide race Saturday night, and a positive change compared to recent weeks.
However, I did have a couple of issues with the broadcast. There was an inexplicable technical gaffe during the sixth caution where all of a sudden, a commercial was cued, cutting Jarrett off mid-sentence. Granted, the commercial was taken away about 20 seconds later, but it still gave the sense of a low rent setup. However, knowing just how much goes into ESPN's telecasts, I can probably say that it was not the fault of anyone at the track. Someone probably screwed up in Bristol, Connecticut. Made me think of NASCAR Countdown back at Pocono with the commercials inserted at random - you might remember just how much of a travesty that was.
Also, while the last ten laps featured an epic duel for the lead between Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson, Tony Stewart was on a charge of his own. Viewers never saw it, though; Jarrett basically added in that Stewart finished third at the finish atfer gaining five, maybe more spots in just the last handful of laps. In fact, the last we saw of Stewart was with 12 laps to go when he was eighth. I know that the race for the win was important, but wouldn't it have been possible for ESPN to make use of the split-screen? It's not like they weren't making prodigious use of the split-screen throughout the race; this omission made the coverage itself end on a downer.
Due to the 24-minute red flag and the long yellows, ESPN's telecast ran long by what I think was an hour. I only say that because on my on-screen guide, the original time slot for Tuesday's telecast was 11 AM - 2:30 PM. A few hours later, that was expanded from 11 AM - 3 PM (all times in Eastern Daylight Time). Under normal circumstances, this would mean a barebones post-race. However, considering the rain-delay timeslot ESPN provided an expanded post-race with seven driver interviews and one with the winning crew chief (Alan Gustafson).
What really surprised viewers was an impromptu feature on Jeff Gordon winning his 85th career Cup race. It featured sound bites from the retired columnist Tom Higgins (for those of you not from the Charlotte area, he's a former writer for The Charlotte Observer who used to contribute to the weekday edition of rpm2nite every so often back in the 1990's), along with David Pearson, Richard Petty, Jeff Burton and others. I would have loved to sit in on the making of that feature, knowing that it would have had to be done ahead of time. The feature also contained classic clips of Gordon's successes. Most of these clips were re-used in the feature that aired on SportsCenter after the race (and narrated by Marty Smith). I liked it, although it was a little obvious that the segment was banked just so that they could pounce whenever Gordon won No. 85.
The idea of having a feature air during post-race is not necessarily unprecedented. However, it is very rare. I can only think of one or two other examples, but those occurred when races ended very early. For example, ESPN aired an excerpt (the "Cosmopolitan Man" clip) from Tim Richmond: To The Limit last fall following the Nationwide race at Charlotte. However, under these circumstances (a joyful, record-setting moment), it was unprecedented.
Prior to the event, there was a plan to do a NASCAR NonStop test at some point. However, likely due to the long telecast on Tuesday (five hours in length), ESPN decided to nix it. Oh well. However, we did get the entire final green flag run (72 laps) under green commercial free. The last commercial under green was with 125 laps to go. That is a substantial amount of green-flag action, likely due to the fact that ESPN had (basically) satisfied their advertiser obligations.
Overall, the broadcast was pretty good on Tuesday. The enthusiasm was right where we needed it to be from all three men in the booth. We didn't see any instances of confusion, like what Marty Reid did with the caution on Saturday night. It was just a different feel in general. I guess Bestwick is far more authoritarian in the booth than Reid is, and it shows in the final product.
I hope you enjoyed this look at Tuesday's long-awaited Advocare 500. I'll be back in this space next week with another interesting critique. Until then, enjoy this weekend's action in Richmond and Monza.
---
Early Thursday Addendum: David Newton of ESPN was one of several media sources reporting on Twitter that the TV network will be silent for Laps 9-11 Saturday night. It's a moment of silence designed for the 9/11 victims, honoring their memory on the 10th anniversary of this major national tragedy. I'm assuming that would be in addition to the (likely) planned moment of silence during pre-race ceremonies. It's a nice gesture to make; however, it might be redundant.
Also, SPEED and V8 Supercars Australia announced Wednesday that they will be televising the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 and the Gold Coast 600 live this October for the very first time. In addition, SPEED is sending down their own commentators and production staff to Bathurst and Surfer's Paradise for the races. Apparently, this is the first time that Bathurst and Surfer's Paradise will be in HD. The press release from V8 Supercars Australia linked above does not give any idea as to who will be sent down for SPEED, but I think I could venture some guesses. Leigh Diffey, SPEED's play-by-play man for Grand-Am, is an absolute definite. He is a former V8 Supercars play-by-play man for Network Ten prior to coming to the United States and is very knowledgeable about the series. Plus, Diffey's already mentioned that he's going to be at both races. I think Dorsey Schroeder will also make the trip; the third man, as far as I'm concerned, is a bit of a toss-up. Sending Calvin Fish down to complete the normal Grand-Am lineup is possible, however, SPEED might want to get a native that has actually driven a V8 Supercar (or an Australian Touring Car from the pre-V8 Supercar era) to help out. Who that would be is anyone's guess; Marcos Ambrose is unavailable as he'll be racing in the Sprint Cup Series that weekend.
I am very enthusiastic about this agreement, as Bathurst has never aired live on television in the United States. For much of the past decade, SPEED has provided tape-delayed coverage, cut to heck and back-highlighted coverage of the event... typically in the off-season. I've never been able to see a full V8 Supercar race before. As you may remember, I've critiqued the two-hour telecasts that SPEED shows multiple times in the past, but I'd imagine that it's just not the same as seeing the full broadcast. I can't wait. I don't know if all of you share my enthusiasm, but believe me, it's going to be good.
Phil Allaway is a Senior Writer and the Newsletter Manager for Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via e-mail at phil.allaway@frontstretch.com. Follow him on Twitter at @Critic84.
~~~~~~
Frontstretch Line of the Week
5. Carl Edwards: "As per my new contract, I cannot enter any Oval Office that is not blue and sponsored by Ford."
Have a nominee for Line of the Week? Email Phil Allaway at phil.allaway@frontstretch.com and you may see yourself in this space next week!
~~~~~~
TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:
The Day Rockingham's Been Waiting For: Now, Will Fans Follow Through?
by Amy Henderson
Potts' Shots: A Fan-Proposed 2012 Cup Series Schedule
by John Potts
5 Pts To Ponder: Atlanta Loses To... Kansas?, Even Champs Get Shaky & "Chase Time"
by Danny Peters
Is It May Or December? The Teaming Of Danica Patrick And Mark Martin
by Mark Howell
Fantasy Insider: Can Kyle Busch Lead You To The Promised Land Of Your Chase?
by Brett Poirier
Top Ten NASCAR Excuses For Declining An Invitation From President Obama
by Jeff Meyer
~~~~~~
TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:
The Day Rockingham's Been Waiting For: Now, Will Fans Follow Through?
by Amy Henderson
Potts' Shots: A Fan-Proposed 2012 Cup Series Schedule
by John Potts
5 Pts To Ponder: Atlanta Loses To... Kansas?, Even Champs Get Shaky & "Chase Time"
by Danny Peters
Is It May Or December? The Teaming Of Danica Patrick And Mark Martin
by Mark Howell
Fantasy Insider: Can Kyle Busch Lead You To The Promised Land Of Your Chase?
by Brett Poirier
Top Ten NASCAR Excuses For Declining An Invitation From President Obama
by Jeff Meyer
~~~~~~
Get THE ANNUAL, 2011 Racing Preview for your mobile device.
Go to Frontstretch.com and click on "The Annual" link on the right side to order and download this special issue that includes: Track Information, Driver profiles and In-Depth Features.
~~~~~~
FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Q: Richmond's Spring race has been televised live almost every year since 1982. However, the September race took much longer to get traction on live television. Who would have televised those races back in the 1980s?
Check back Friday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
Wednesday's Answer:
Q: Richmond's Spring race has been televised live almost every year since 1982. However, the September race took much longer to get traction on live television. Who would have televised those races back in the 1980s?
A: The September event at Richmond, much like some of the races at Rockingham and Martinsville, were fodder for some of the regional outlets to cover. For example, the 1986 Wrangler Indigo 400 at Richmond was covered by SETN, the Special Events Television Network. This company would shoot races, then cut them down into highlight packages (half-hour or an hour, max), then sell them to local affiliates to air on weekends. YouTube gives us the perfect example, that very race broken up in three parts...
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Eli Gold and Benny Parsons (racing part-time for the Jackson Brothers at the time) have the call in the broadcast booth.
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!
~~~~~~~
Coming tomorrow in the Frontstretch Newsletter:
-- Top News by Summer Dreyer
-- Keepin' It Short by Mike Neff
-- Frontstretch Folio: Richmond Race Weekend by Summer Dreyer
-- In Case You Missed It by Brett Poirier
-- Shakedown Session by Brody Jones (pushed back due to the Atlanta rain delay)
-- Tweet 'N' Greet (ditto)
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, and more!
Tomorrow on the Frontstretch:
Did You Notice ... ? by Tom Bowles
Pushed back from yesterday, Tom is back with a list of small but important observations as the NASCAR regular season winds down. Among them: tying up Chase loose ends, spreading out sponsorship and a few "quick hits" heading into another possible bout with Mother Nature at Richmond.
Four Burning Questions: Richmond by Mike Lovecchio
On the eve of NASCAR's Chase, Mike tackles the tough questions surrounding this three-quarter mile oval as the Sprint Cup regular season races towards its 400-lap conclusion.
-- Frontstretch Folio: Richmond Race Weekend by Summer Dreyer
-- In Case You Missed It by Brett Poirier
-- Shakedown Session by Brody Jones (pushed back due to the Atlanta rain delay)
-- Tweet 'N' Greet (ditto)
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, and more!
Tomorrow on the Frontstretch:
Did You Notice ... ? by Tom Bowles
Pushed back from yesterday, Tom is back with a list of small but important observations as the NASCAR regular season winds down. Among them: tying up Chase loose ends, spreading out sponsorship and a few "quick hits" heading into another possible bout with Mother Nature at Richmond.
Four Burning Questions: Richmond by Mike Lovecchio
On the eve of NASCAR's Chase, Mike tackles the tough questions surrounding this three-quarter mile oval as the Sprint Cup regular season races towards its 400-lap conclusion.
Goin' Green by Garrett Horton
The Atlanta race produced a fantastic finish for NASCAR's national audience. The problem? Only a fraction got to watch it live, both on TV and at the track as the race was rescheduled for a Tuesday. Our Garrett Horton, sensing fans' frustration searches for better options when Mother Nature spoils the weekend schedule.
Driver Diary: Kenny Wallace by Amy Henderson
One of the sport's most outspoken drivers, who doubles as a SPEED analyst catches us up on life on and off the track driving the No. 09 RAB Racing Toyota in the Nationwide Series.
Mirror Driving by the Frontstretch Staff
In this special, Friday edition the staff tackles everything from a possible Richmond upset, to raceday flexibility, to even a little teammate tiff in the Nationwide Series. Will Reed Sorenson and Justin Allgaier make up or make their rivalry the one thing that keeps them from capturing the season title?
Possible 6th Column TBA
-----------------------------
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
Possible 6th Column TBA
-----------------------------
Talk back to the Frontstretch Newsletter!
Got something to say about an article you've seen in the newsletter? It's as easy as replying directly to this message or sending an email to editors@frontstretch.com. We'll take the best comments and publish them here!
©2011 Frontstretch.com
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