THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
September 28th, 2011
Volume V, Edition CCIII
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
September 28th, 2011
Volume V, Edition CCIII
~~~~~~~~~~
What To Watch: Wednesday
After weeks of anticipation, 2012 NASCAR schedules for the top three series will be announced starting tomorrow at noon. The sanctioning body is introducing a new, innovative way to release this type of relevant information, as VP Steve O'Donnell will begin a series of Tweets from the @NASCAR account that will group races by month. Comprising ten Tweets in total, officials will be gauging fan reaction during the process while spacing each piece of new information five minutes apart.
On the Sprint Cup side, no major changes in the schedule are expected as most individual tracks have already announced their 2012 dates. But in the Nationwide Series, some anticipation remains as to whether the Montreal race date will return, what events will replace Nashville (closing its doors for 2012) on the schedule and exactly how many races will be run. Major changes to the Truck calendar will also be in play, as Darlington, Nashville, and Lucas Oil Raceway are among up to a half-dozen dates that have sprung open.
- 500 lucky high schoolers in the Charlotte area will get a taste of racing at the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Bank of America is hosting career day Wednesday morning, with driver Kasey Kahne from Red Bull Racing as the featured speaker at 10:15 AM. Marcus Smith, the President of Charlotte Motor Speedway will also be in attendance as the event provides the kids an opportunity to learn about a variety of racing disciplines: from engineering, to marketing, to even safety and competition. Networking opportunities will also be provided as those interested in joining the stock car community have their chance to establish connections that can blossom down the road.
Bank of America is also sponsoring the 500-mile race at Charlotte Motor Speedway October 15th, part of its $6 billion contribution it claims goes into the North Carolina economy each year.
Top News
by Tom Bowles
Hamlin Confirms He Wants Ford To Stay On As Crew Chief
In the midst of a disappointing season, Denny Hamlin can't help but feel disgusted by what's become the worst performance of his career. Struggling early in this Chase, posting finishes of 31st and 29th to start has left him a distant 12th in the standings, 66 points off the pace of leader Tony Stewart.
But if you're expecting the six-year veteran to take his frustration out on crew chief Mike Ford, whose ultimate decision to stay out on fuel mileage caused the No. 11 to run out of gas last Sunday – think again.
"I feel like Mike is the guy for me," Hamlin said during a video teleconference Tuesday, confirming he'd like the head wrench on top of the pit box for the rest of the season – and beyond. "Some of the things that we've had go wrong this year are crew chief related, some of them are not. Most of them are not. Some of them are driver related. It weighs on all of our shoulders equally, and I feel like he's kind of received a bit of a bad rap because of that."
"But I feel like he's the reason -- kind of the backbone of this race team, and obviously if you made a change, it would take a long time to get back to where I feel like we're capable of running at this point right now."
Hamlin later stated he feels he could "win a championship," with Ford, acknowledging communication issues but claiming they've markedly improved over the last four to five weeks. Instead, he believes the biggest hurdle for the team to overcome might be as simple as racing's Lady Luck.
"We've ran out of fuel, we've gotten in wrecks, we've cut tires, things like that," he claimed. "We've blown engines, we've had mechanical parts that have failed, had so many different things that's bitten us this year. I can't pinpoint one reason why those things have happened."
Those issues, culminating with a failed fuel gamble at New Hampshire have left Hamlin's chances for the championship a longshot at best. But the veteran, understanding the odds, feels the situation can be turned around to his advantage going forward – without a crew chief change as part of the process.
"In the position I'm in at this point, we're going out there and we're trying to win," he said. "And that's what we need to do to get back on track for 2012 is to win a few races before the season is over, and I feel like a no-points-pressure situation is just what we need."
TV Ratings Up Sharply For NASCAR At New Hampshire
Two races into NASCAR's Chase, there's hope the postseason audience could post a bit of a recovery after a dismal 2010. New Hampshire ratings were up sharply, from a 2.3 to a 2.7 U.S. Rating for a year-to-year increase of 17 percent. Viewership increased by over half-a-million, to 4,235,000 and the race finished in the top 10 in Cable TV programming for the week.
It's an encouraging boost to the postseason, after Chicagoland's rain-delayed event earned a paltry 1.8 to start. Even more encouraging were audience numbers within the key, males ages 18-34 category that experienced a dramatic, 28 percent increase in the Nielsens. These viewership numbers would have ranked fifth overall in the 2010 Chase, behind Homestead, Charlotte, Talladega, and Texas.
However, looking at the landscape overall stock car's audience still has plenty of room for improvement. New Hampshire's 2011 numbers are still well off the pace of 2009, when 5.04 million watched the Chase race debut in New Hampshire and far behind the NFL's 13.2 rating for, say, Sunday Night Football. Even MTV's Jersey Shore outperformed New Hampshire this Sunday, scoring 6.2 million viewers for its latest episode and a rating of 4.2.
Overall this season, ESPN's NASCAR ratings are up 2 percent over 2010.
Katie Kenseth In Recovery After Crash; Husband Says "Racing Days Are Over"
It's the most frightening moment in racing: watching a spouse hit the outside wall with nothing to stop the car but cold, hard concrete.
For years, Katie Kenseth has had to endure the agony of wondering if husband Matt was OK. But on Monday night, after a bad incident in testing for a charity race involving NASCAR wives, the shoe was on the other foot.
"She was aimed head-on into the wall going really fast and it was going to be really, really, really bad," Matt said to SceneDaily.com and others during a NASCAR Hall of Fame appearance Tuesday.
"When she crashed, I was ... 90 percent sure she was hurt. I have never seen a little car like that crash that hard. I was really thankful the car turned around backwards because I had a sick feeling in my gut when it was going head-on in there that she was going to be hurt really bad."
There's no way to confirm top speed at the time of the crash, but Bandoleros can typically max out anywhere from 50 to 65 mph depending on engine horsepower, driver experience and track conditions. Luckily, Mrs. Kenseth escaped from the wreckage with nothing more than a broken shoulder blade. Matt said the prognosis was good, telling reporters she was sore but that the pain was expected to subside sharply after just a couple of days.
Just don't expect a husband-wife friendly stock car competition. Matt confirmed his wife's racing career was over, although the pair is thankful for a tremendous outpouring of support through electronic media. Filming the Roush Fenway show for NESN, Kenseth took time out to thank everyone publicly at NASCAR's Hall and even joked about his wife's condition through Twitter.
Katie is feeling pretty good today," he said. "And I got to learn something new... how to put a bra ON!"
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
-- What's Vexing Vito by Vito Pugliese
-- Shakedown Session by Brody Jones
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, the Line of the Week and more!
~~~~~~~~~~
Tomorrow on the Frontstretch:
MPM2Nite by TBA
Matt's knee is still ailing a bit, so someone else will fill this Thursday with their sarcastic sense of humor ... and incomparable NASCAR insight.
Going Green by TBA
Garrett has this week off, but we'll have a sub in place with the same great commentary you've come to know and love.
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 New Hampshire? Well, Brett has just what you need to know to turn things around when choosing your teams for the AAA 400 at Dover.
5th Column TBA by Mark Powell
Our professor of racing history "has at it" with another column pertinent to the sport at large.
What To Watch: Wednesday
After weeks of anticipation, 2012 NASCAR schedules for the top three series will be announced starting tomorrow at noon. The sanctioning body is introducing a new, innovative way to release this type of relevant information, as VP Steve O'Donnell will begin a series of Tweets from the @NASCAR account that will group races by month. Comprising ten Tweets in total, officials will be gauging fan reaction during the process while spacing each piece of new information five minutes apart.
On the Sprint Cup side, no major changes in the schedule are expected as most individual tracks have already announced their 2012 dates. But in the Nationwide Series, some anticipation remains as to whether the Montreal race date will return, what events will replace Nashville (closing its doors for 2012) on the schedule and exactly how many races will be run. Major changes to the Truck calendar will also be in play, as Darlington, Nashville, and Lucas Oil Raceway are among up to a half-dozen dates that have sprung open.
- 500 lucky high schoolers in the Charlotte area will get a taste of racing at the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Bank of America is hosting career day Wednesday morning, with driver Kasey Kahne from Red Bull Racing as the featured speaker at 10:15 AM. Marcus Smith, the President of Charlotte Motor Speedway will also be in attendance as the event provides the kids an opportunity to learn about a variety of racing disciplines: from engineering, to marketing, to even safety and competition. Networking opportunities will also be provided as those interested in joining the stock car community have their chance to establish connections that can blossom down the road.
Bank of America is also sponsoring the 500-mile race at Charlotte Motor Speedway October 15th, part of its $6 billion contribution it claims goes into the North Carolina economy each year.
Top News
by Tom Bowles
Hamlin Confirms He Wants Ford To Stay On As Crew Chief
In the midst of a disappointing season, Denny Hamlin can't help but feel disgusted by what's become the worst performance of his career. Struggling early in this Chase, posting finishes of 31st and 29th to start has left him a distant 12th in the standings, 66 points off the pace of leader Tony Stewart.
But if you're expecting the six-year veteran to take his frustration out on crew chief Mike Ford, whose ultimate decision to stay out on fuel mileage caused the No. 11 to run out of gas last Sunday – think again.
"I feel like Mike is the guy for me," Hamlin said during a video teleconference Tuesday, confirming he'd like the head wrench on top of the pit box for the rest of the season – and beyond. "Some of the things that we've had go wrong this year are crew chief related, some of them are not. Most of them are not. Some of them are driver related. It weighs on all of our shoulders equally, and I feel like he's kind of received a bit of a bad rap because of that."
"But I feel like he's the reason -- kind of the backbone of this race team, and obviously if you made a change, it would take a long time to get back to where I feel like we're capable of running at this point right now."
Hamlin later stated he feels he could "win a championship," with Ford, acknowledging communication issues but claiming they've markedly improved over the last four to five weeks. Instead, he believes the biggest hurdle for the team to overcome might be as simple as racing's Lady Luck.
"We've ran out of fuel, we've gotten in wrecks, we've cut tires, things like that," he claimed. "We've blown engines, we've had mechanical parts that have failed, had so many different things that's bitten us this year. I can't pinpoint one reason why those things have happened."
Those issues, culminating with a failed fuel gamble at New Hampshire have left Hamlin's chances for the championship a longshot at best. But the veteran, understanding the odds, feels the situation can be turned around to his advantage going forward – without a crew chief change as part of the process.
"In the position I'm in at this point, we're going out there and we're trying to win," he said. "And that's what we need to do to get back on track for 2012 is to win a few races before the season is over, and I feel like a no-points-pressure situation is just what we need."
TV Ratings Up Sharply For NASCAR At New Hampshire
Two races into NASCAR's Chase, there's hope the postseason audience could post a bit of a recovery after a dismal 2010. New Hampshire ratings were up sharply, from a 2.3 to a 2.7 U.S. Rating for a year-to-year increase of 17 percent. Viewership increased by over half-a-million, to 4,235,000 and the race finished in the top 10 in Cable TV programming for the week.
It's an encouraging boost to the postseason, after Chicagoland's rain-delayed event earned a paltry 1.8 to start. Even more encouraging were audience numbers within the key, males ages 18-34 category that experienced a dramatic, 28 percent increase in the Nielsens. These viewership numbers would have ranked fifth overall in the 2010 Chase, behind Homestead, Charlotte, Talladega, and Texas.
However, looking at the landscape overall stock car's audience still has plenty of room for improvement. New Hampshire's 2011 numbers are still well off the pace of 2009, when 5.04 million watched the Chase race debut in New Hampshire and far behind the NFL's 13.2 rating for, say, Sunday Night Football. Even MTV's Jersey Shore outperformed New Hampshire this Sunday, scoring 6.2 million viewers for its latest episode and a rating of 4.2.
Overall this season, ESPN's NASCAR ratings are up 2 percent over 2010.
Katie Kenseth In Recovery After Crash; Husband Says "Racing Days Are Over"
It's the most frightening moment in racing: watching a spouse hit the outside wall with nothing to stop the car but cold, hard concrete.
For years, Katie Kenseth has had to endure the agony of wondering if husband Matt was OK. But on Monday night, after a bad incident in testing for a charity race involving NASCAR wives, the shoe was on the other foot.
"She was aimed head-on into the wall going really fast and it was going to be really, really, really bad," Matt said to SceneDaily.com and others during a NASCAR Hall of Fame appearance Tuesday.
"When she crashed, I was ... 90 percent sure she was hurt. I have never seen a little car like that crash that hard. I was really thankful the car turned around backwards because I had a sick feeling in my gut when it was going head-on in there that she was going to be hurt really bad."
There's no way to confirm top speed at the time of the crash, but Bandoleros can typically max out anywhere from 50 to 65 mph depending on engine horsepower, driver experience and track conditions. Luckily, Mrs. Kenseth escaped from the wreckage with nothing more than a broken shoulder blade. Matt said the prognosis was good, telling reporters she was sore but that the pain was expected to subside sharply after just a couple of days.
Just don't expect a husband-wife friendly stock car competition. Matt confirmed his wife's racing career was over, although the pair is thankful for a tremendous outpouring of support through electronic media. Filming the Roush Fenway show for NESN, Kenseth took time out to thank everyone publicly at NASCAR's Hall and even joked about his wife's condition through Twitter.
Katie is feeling pretty good today," he said. "And I got to learn something new... how to put a bra ON!"
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
News Flash: Racing is Dangerous
Full Throttle
by Mike Neff
Since Dale Earnhardt's passing, the dramatic safety increases in the sport of stock car racing have resulted in a bit of complacency amongst fans toward the inherent danger a driver puts themselves in week after week. HANS devices, SAFER barriers, door foam and many other advances have allowed people to walk away from horrendous crashes that, in the past, would have at least required a visit to the hospital for a few days, if not a trip to the morgue. The progress in safety is a fantastic step forward for the sport and the lives that have been saved in the last 10 years; all of them are worth every dime that has been spent. However, it's important to remember that racing is still risky business, at best; something can go wrong at any time that will result in serious injuries or worse.
During the race weekend at Atlanta, PR folks from Charlotte Motor Speedway announced an event that will take place during the pre-race activites for the Bank of America 500 in October. The Better Half Dash is a charity competition between the wives and girlfriends of several drivers across NASCAR that will be held in Bandolero race cars on the quarter-mile oval, which is in the infield of the front straight at CMS. A 25-lap race, with a competition caution on Lap 15, the winner gets $5,000 to use towards her charity of choice while proceeds from the event will go to help out Speedway Children's Charities and Motor Racing Outreach.
Any kind of charitable activity is admirable, especially one that allows fans to become familiar with the women behind the men they cheer for every weekend. No question, publicizing these drivers' "other halfs" should be a great step towards drawing more spectators into the sport. The Bandolero cars put out by U.S. Legends Cars International are very safe vehicles and there is no doubt that the husbands and boyfriends will make sure that the ladies in the race will have all of the safety amenities possible at their disposal -- but it's not a foolproof guarantee that injuries won't happen.
Monday night, during the first practice session for the race, Katie Kenseth was painfully reminded of the dangers when she made hard contact with the outside wall on the backstretch. The result was not just a torn up race car, but a trip out of the racetrack on a stretcher. Kenseth was transported to a local hospital, where X-Rays revealed a broken scapula (that's a shoulder blade, for those of you who aren't anatomy majors) along with several bumps and bruises. She was released from the hospital and sent home with Matt to rest; sadly, she won't be competing next month.
The Bandoleros that these ladies will be driving are powered by a 30 horsepower Briggs and Stratton engine which can propel the small cars at speeds approaching 60 miles per hour. They are real race cars with coil over suspensions, disc brakes, a full tube frame with a roll cage, and seven-inch wide racing slicks. They are not rapid accelerating machines because they use a centrifugal clutch, but they can stop very quickly.
While this charity event is going to be a lot of fun and there will be plenty of cutting up by everyone involved, when they drop the rag you can bet these women will be just like anyone else behind the wheel of a race car and they're going to want to win. Beating and banging is going to occur, whether intentional or not, and the end result very well could be another accident like the one that injured Katie Kenseth on Monday evening. Safety advances have done everything possible to prevent a worst-case scenario should contact occur; but, like we saw during testing even the best protection is no guarantee of escaping injury-free.
Whether racing in the Cup series, Bandoleros in a charity race or a Late Model on a Friday night, racing is a dangerous sport. Cars running on the edge of control can lose it at any time, causing not just torn up sheet metal and car parts but occasionally injuries to the driver themselves. When cars that are moving at a rapid rate of speed come into contact with an immovable object, risks remain, no matter what safety equipment the drivers are wearing. Innovation in that area has come a very long way in the last 10 years and it is great that we almost never lose a driver's life anymore during a racing accident. However, any effort to take safety to a higher level should always be at the forefront of everyone's minds - not complacency. We were just reminded of how racing is still a dangerous sport, and there needs to be continued vigilance to keep tragedy to a bare minimum on our racetracks.
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...
@CrossmanMatt (Matt Crossman): To steal a line from P.J. O'Rourke, NASCAR fans should love fuel mileage races for the same reason Republicans should love Jimmy Carter...
@CrossmanMatt: Carter gave us Ronald Reagan. Fuel mileage races will give NASCAR fans a new champion.
@tomjensen100 (Tom Jensen): These people are in @cltmotorspdwy right now: bit.ly/pWows8@speed
@jaywpennell: Harvick to #NASCAR youtube family: "This must be a pretty intense household."
@AndyHallESPN: #ESPN's #NASCAR Sprint Cup ratings for New Hampshire race up 19% from last year, M18-34 demos up 28%
@keselowski (Brad Keselowski): I think ratings are up cuz it doesn't look like JJ will win it again.@jeff_gluck #YeahISaidIt
@keselowski: doesnt hurt :) "@jeff_gluck: @keselowski You don't think it has anything to do with your neighbor making the Chase this year?" (Editor's Note: Neighbor = Dale Earnhardt, Jr.)
@RyanMcGeeESPN: Fan: "Would you put Kurt Busch into the wall for $100?" Hamlin (grinning): "I'd do it for free." #NASCAR
@keselowski: Feeling really good about Dover this weekend. It's kinda like a bigger concrete, high bank version of Bristol. And I LOVE Bristol.
@matt_kenseth17: Getting ready for better half dash test....looking all over but no sign of Danica's husband.. twitpic.com/6r3s0k
@AshleyAllgaier: Here at Charlotte Motor Speedway practicing for the #betterhalfdash- bout to get in the car, I feel like I'm gonna puke! Haha
@matt_kenseth17: That didn't turn out so well. Katie and I are home, she has a broken scapula and some bumps and bruises. Thanks for all the well wishes.
@matt_kenseth17: She said that was the shortest racing career in history!
@matt_kenseth17: Katie is feeling pretty good today, and I got to learn something new....how to put a bra ON!
@Regan_Smith_: Bristol sure is different looking without haulers and cars inside... Tire testing for the next couple days.
@AndyLally: Wow, just heard a rumor that I owned 50% of TRG. THIS IS NOT TRUE AT ALL. Just for the record, I dont have that kind of $. #PoAsPhuk
@jeff_gluck: A cryptic Stewart says he got some dead weight off shoulders this week, "Sometimes you've got to make changes in life."
@NASCARBowles (Tom Bowles): Stewart: "he got some dead weight off his shoulders this week. Got to make changes in life." Hmm... still weighs the same. What could it be?
@bobpockrass: Fyi, Stewart doesn't look any lighter weight wise. #nascar
@mforde (Mike Forde): Figured it out. He meant dead WAIT. It was KILLING him that he had to WAIT so long for his first win of 2011. #homonym
@NASCARBowles: Re: Tony Stewart Dead Weight, Presented without comment:tinyurl.com/3jfpqon #NASCAR (hit like if you can't see recent comments)
@NASCARBowles: Again, to be very clear... no knowledge if that's it but just posting what some fans are buzzing about.
@bobpockrass: No word if Facebook will come out with a new choice of "status" - "no longer in a dead weight relationship." #nascar
@bobpockrass: John Darby said no penalties for the 22 for inspection issue. Said Penske characterization message sent [about] being late to tech was accurate.
@SummerDreyer: This has been such a fantastic season.... You seriously never know what is going to happen. #NASCAR
@JimmieJohnson: That sucked... on to Dover.
@landoncassill: We blew 3 right front tires today! Not good, ill be at the shop bright and early to see what it was. Nick and the guys worked hard this week
@kaseykahne: Had a top two car all day. Just wasn't able to make the mileage. 4 car is fast! will finish some off soon.
@dennyhamlin: Tough day for our Fedex team. We took a shot at it and came up short. It will get better.
@DanicaPatrick: How about my man smoke?!!!! Congrats on the win @Stewarthaasracing
@KevinHarvick: Fuel mileage was absolutely horrible today... run top 5 all day then finish 12th...
@pkligerman (Parker Kligerman): This is the most amazing year of NASCAR in awhile. Such close competition and so many ways to win/lose. Great to watch! #lovingit
@Tjmajors: Not the day we wanted but showed speed. Plenty of racing left!
@DeLanaHarvick: all i know [is] we're going to need a shit pot full of 'em to run out to make anything out of this day right now...
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?... Ratings Up, Johnson Down And Anything But Tandems
~~~~~~~~~~
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
News Flash: Racing is Dangerous
Full Throttle
by Mike Neff
Since Dale Earnhardt's passing, the dramatic safety increases in the sport of stock car racing have resulted in a bit of complacency amongst fans toward the inherent danger a driver puts themselves in week after week. HANS devices, SAFER barriers, door foam and many other advances have allowed people to walk away from horrendous crashes that, in the past, would have at least required a visit to the hospital for a few days, if not a trip to the morgue. The progress in safety is a fantastic step forward for the sport and the lives that have been saved in the last 10 years; all of them are worth every dime that has been spent. However, it's important to remember that racing is still risky business, at best; something can go wrong at any time that will result in serious injuries or worse.
During the race weekend at Atlanta, PR folks from Charlotte Motor Speedway announced an event that will take place during the pre-race activites for the Bank of America 500 in October. The Better Half Dash is a charity competition between the wives and girlfriends of several drivers across NASCAR that will be held in Bandolero race cars on the quarter-mile oval, which is in the infield of the front straight at CMS. A 25-lap race, with a competition caution on Lap 15, the winner gets $5,000 to use towards her charity of choice while proceeds from the event will go to help out Speedway Children's Charities and Motor Racing Outreach.
Any kind of charitable activity is admirable, especially one that allows fans to become familiar with the women behind the men they cheer for every weekend. No question, publicizing these drivers' "other halfs" should be a great step towards drawing more spectators into the sport. The Bandolero cars put out by U.S. Legends Cars International are very safe vehicles and there is no doubt that the husbands and boyfriends will make sure that the ladies in the race will have all of the safety amenities possible at their disposal -- but it's not a foolproof guarantee that injuries won't happen.
Monday night, during the first practice session for the race, Katie Kenseth was painfully reminded of the dangers when she made hard contact with the outside wall on the backstretch. The result was not just a torn up race car, but a trip out of the racetrack on a stretcher. Kenseth was transported to a local hospital, where X-Rays revealed a broken scapula (that's a shoulder blade, for those of you who aren't anatomy majors) along with several bumps and bruises. She was released from the hospital and sent home with Matt to rest; sadly, she won't be competing next month.
The Bandoleros that these ladies will be driving are powered by a 30 horsepower Briggs and Stratton engine which can propel the small cars at speeds approaching 60 miles per hour. They are real race cars with coil over suspensions, disc brakes, a full tube frame with a roll cage, and seven-inch wide racing slicks. They are not rapid accelerating machines because they use a centrifugal clutch, but they can stop very quickly.
While this charity event is going to be a lot of fun and there will be plenty of cutting up by everyone involved, when they drop the rag you can bet these women will be just like anyone else behind the wheel of a race car and they're going to want to win. Beating and banging is going to occur, whether intentional or not, and the end result very well could be another accident like the one that injured Katie Kenseth on Monday evening. Safety advances have done everything possible to prevent a worst-case scenario should contact occur; but, like we saw during testing even the best protection is no guarantee of escaping injury-free.
Whether racing in the Cup series, Bandoleros in a charity race or a Late Model on a Friday night, racing is a dangerous sport. Cars running on the edge of control can lose it at any time, causing not just torn up sheet metal and car parts but occasionally injuries to the driver themselves. When cars that are moving at a rapid rate of speed come into contact with an immovable object, risks remain, no matter what safety equipment the drivers are wearing. Innovation in that area has come a very long way in the last 10 years and it is great that we almost never lose a driver's life anymore during a racing accident. However, any effort to take safety to a higher level should always be at the forefront of everyone's minds - not complacency. We were just reminded of how racing is still a dangerous sport, and there needs to be continued vigilance to keep tragedy to a bare minimum on our racetracks.
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...
@CrossmanMatt (Matt Crossman): To steal a line from P.J. O'Rourke, NASCAR fans should love fuel mileage races for the same reason Republicans should love Jimmy Carter...
@CrossmanMatt: Carter gave us Ronald Reagan. Fuel mileage races will give NASCAR fans a new champion.
@tomjensen100 (Tom Jensen): These people are in @cltmotorspdwy right now: bit.ly/pWows8@speed
@jaywpennell: Harvick to #NASCAR youtube family: "This must be a pretty intense household."
@AndyHallESPN: #ESPN's #NASCAR Sprint Cup ratings for New Hampshire race up 19% from last year, M18-34 demos up 28%
@keselowski (Brad Keselowski): I think ratings are up cuz it doesn't look like JJ will win it again.@jeff_gluck #YeahISaidIt
@keselowski: doesnt hurt :) "@jeff_gluck: @keselowski You don't think it has anything to do with your neighbor making the Chase this year?" (Editor's Note: Neighbor = Dale Earnhardt, Jr.)
@RyanMcGeeESPN: Fan: "Would you put Kurt Busch into the wall for $100?" Hamlin (grinning): "I'd do it for free." #NASCAR
@keselowski: Feeling really good about Dover this weekend. It's kinda like a bigger concrete, high bank version of Bristol. And I LOVE Bristol.
@matt_kenseth17: Getting ready for better half dash test....looking all over but no sign of Danica's husband.. twitpic.com/6r3s0k
@AshleyAllgaier: Here at Charlotte Motor Speedway practicing for the #betterhalfdash- bout to get in the car, I feel like I'm gonna puke! Haha
@matt_kenseth17: That didn't turn out so well. Katie and I are home, she has a broken scapula and some bumps and bruises. Thanks for all the well wishes.
@matt_kenseth17: She said that was the shortest racing career in history!
@matt_kenseth17: Katie is feeling pretty good today, and I got to learn something new....how to put a bra ON!
@Regan_Smith_: Bristol sure is different looking without haulers and cars inside... Tire testing for the next couple days.
@AndyLally: Wow, just heard a rumor that I owned 50% of TRG. THIS IS NOT TRUE AT ALL. Just for the record, I dont have that kind of $. #PoAsPhuk
@jeff_gluck: A cryptic Stewart says he got some dead weight off shoulders this week, "Sometimes you've got to make changes in life."
@NASCARBowles (Tom Bowles): Stewart: "he got some dead weight off his shoulders this week. Got to make changes in life." Hmm... still weighs the same. What could it be?
@bobpockrass: Fyi, Stewart doesn't look any lighter weight wise. #nascar
@mforde (Mike Forde): Figured it out. He meant dead WAIT. It was KILLING him that he had to WAIT so long for his first win of 2011. #homonym
@NASCARBowles: Re: Tony Stewart Dead Weight, Presented without comment:tinyurl.com/3jfpqon #NASCAR (hit like if you can't see recent comments)
@NASCARBowles: Again, to be very clear... no knowledge if that's it but just posting what some fans are buzzing about.
@bobpockrass: No word if Facebook will come out with a new choice of "status" - "no longer in a dead weight relationship." #nascar
@bobpockrass: John Darby said no penalties for the 22 for inspection issue. Said Penske characterization message sent [about] being late to tech was accurate.
@SummerDreyer: This has been such a fantastic season.... You seriously never know what is going to happen. #NASCAR
@JimmieJohnson: That sucked... on to Dover.
@landoncassill: We blew 3 right front tires today! Not good, ill be at the shop bright and early to see what it was. Nick and the guys worked hard this week
@kaseykahne: Had a top two car all day. Just wasn't able to make the mileage. 4 car is fast! will finish some off soon.
@dennyhamlin: Tough day for our Fedex team. We took a shot at it and came up short. It will get better.
@DanicaPatrick: How about my man smoke?!!!! Congrats on the win @Stewarthaasracing
@KevinHarvick: Fuel mileage was absolutely horrible today... run top 5 all day then finish 12th...
@pkligerman (Parker Kligerman): This is the most amazing year of NASCAR in awhile. Such close competition and so many ways to win/lose. Great to watch! #lovingit
@Tjmajors: Not the day we wanted but showed speed. Plenty of racing left!
@DeLanaHarvick: all i know [is] we're going to need a shit pot full of 'em to run out to make anything out of this day right now...
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
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TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:
Did You Notice?... Ratings Up, Johnson Down And Anything But Tandems
by Bryan Davis Keith
Mirror Driving: Cinderella Stories, Talladega Trials, And Agitating Adjustments
Mirror Driving: Cinderella Stories, Talladega Trials, And Agitating Adjustments
by the Frontstretch Staff
Get The "Point?" How NASCAR's New System Has Evolved... In A Good Way
by Summer Dreyer
After Trying Start, 2011 Reaping Benefits for Eric McClure On, Off Track
by Bryan Davis Keith
Top Ten Reasons Kurt Busch's Car Is Always Late For Pre-Race Inspection
by the Frontstretch Staff
Sprint Cup Power Rankings: Top 15 After New Hampshire-2
compiled by Mike Neff
The Frontstretch Foto Funnies! Loudon, September 2011
by Kurt Smith
~~~~~~~~~~
FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Get The "Point?" How NASCAR's New System Has Evolved... In A Good Way
by Summer Dreyer
After Trying Start, 2011 Reaping Benefits for Eric McClure On, Off Track
by Bryan Davis Keith
Top Ten Reasons Kurt Busch's Car Is Always Late For Pre-Race Inspection
by the Frontstretch Staff
Sprint Cup Power Rankings: Top 15 After New Hampshire-2
compiled by Mike Neff
The Frontstretch Foto Funnies! Loudon, September 2011
by Kurt Smith
~~~~~~~~~~
FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Q: The 1996 MBNA 500 was the final 500-mile fall race at then-Dover Downs International Speedway and turned out to be an epic event that lasted well over four hours. However, Chad Little didn't even make it past the five-lap mark in a race that Jeff Gordon won in dominating fashion. What happened?
Check back Thursday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
Tuesday's Answer:
Tuesday's Answer:
Q: In 1991, NASCAR was facing a short field for the Budweiser 500 at then-Dover Downs International Speedway. As a result, drivers like J.D. McDuffie were called in to help fill out the 35-car field. Unfortunately, he could not finish the race due to a crash. 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
-- What's Vexing Vito by Vito Pugliese
-- Shakedown Session by Brody Jones
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, the Line of the Week and more!
~~~~~~~~~~
Tomorrow on the Frontstretch:
MPM2Nite by TBA
Matt's knee is still ailing a bit, so someone else will fill this Thursday with their sarcastic sense of humor ... and incomparable NASCAR insight.
Going Green by TBA
Garrett has this week off, but we'll have a sub in place with the same great commentary you've come to know and love.
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 New Hampshire? Well, Brett has just what you need to know to turn things around when choosing your teams for the AAA 400 at Dover.
5th Column TBA by Mark Powell
Our professor of racing history "has at it" with another column pertinent to the sport at large.
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©2011 Frontstretch.com
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