THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
October 5th, 2011
Volume V, Edition CCIX
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
October 5th, 2011
Volume V, Edition CCIX
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What To Watch: Wednesday
- The Sprint Cup Series concludes their two-day test at newly-repaved Phoenix International Raceway. While drivers feel out the 1.017-mile oval, fuel injection experimentation will continue with Aric Almirola (Hendrick), Sam Hornish, Jr. (Penske) and Mike Skinner (TRD).
What To Watch: Wednesday
- The Sprint Cup Series concludes their two-day test at newly-repaved Phoenix International Raceway. While drivers feel out the 1.017-mile oval, fuel injection experimentation will continue with Aric Almirola (Hendrick), Sam Hornish, Jr. (Penske) and Mike Skinner (TRD).
- Carl Edwards, fresh off a third-place performance at Dover that left him tied for the points lead is expected to meet with the media. Edwards, in the best position to challenge for the championship since 2008 is returning to his hometown track, Kansas, this weekend, where he finished fifth in the Spring.
Top News
by Beth Lunkenheimer and Tom Bowles
Top News
by Beth Lunkenheimer and Tom Bowles
Sorenson Fired From Turner Motorsports; Chaos, Uncertainty Over Future At Facility
by Beth Lunkenheimer
Tuesday saw confusion run wild when Turner Motorsports sent out two separate releases, going from a team with a realistic chance at winning both the Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series championships to one that appears to be on the verge of collapse in the process. In its first release, the company sent out a statement in reference to warning employees about "potential downsizing as the team continues to work with potential marketing partners for their Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series teams." The announcement coincides with reports Frontstretch has received for several weeks, that Dollar General will be moving to a joint Nationwide effort with Joe Gibbs Racing and Kyle Busch Motorsports next season with a high-profile driver at the helm. That leaves the No. 32 car sponsorless, while the No. 30 within the four-car operation has been running with patchwork, one-race deals for months.
After the statement, Frontstretch spoke with a Turner Motorsports employee, wishing to remain anonymous who confirmed the potential layoffs.
"Yesterday, we all had to go in and sign a piece of paper saying that we understood Turner would lay off 33% of their workforce," he said while confirming their 401K program had been discontinued recently among other cost-cutting moves - like keeping employees from reporting hours on their paycheck. "They have you work 50 hours a week, then 30 hours the next," he continued. "And they're not paying overtime as they should be."
As if that wasn't enough, Reed Sorenson, who currently sits third in the Nationwide Series standings, just 49 points behind the leader with five races remaining, has been released from his No. 32 Chevrolet effective immediately. In his place, Brian Vickers will wheel the car, presumably in an effort to keep his Nationwide eligibility alive as a contingency plan should Red Bull Racing fail to find investors to keep the team afloat. "I'm not really sure what's going on," Sorenson told NASCAR.com's David Caraviello Tuesday. "It's not good, though." According to our sources, Sorenson hasn't been paid for several races so far this season, and an email to Turner Motorsports requesting comment wasn't returned as of press time. It's unclear how much money Vickers is taking for the ride, but in an interview with Sporting News Vickers indicated he wants to keep eligibility for the 2012 Nationwide Past Champion's Provisional intact. Clearly interested in running a handful of races for future employment, along with making a full-time Cup salary it's within reason to speculate the deal was done with less, possibly even no money exchanging hands (financial terms were not disclosed).
As for Sorenson, he's out of a ride less than a year after Turner purchased Braun Racing, the team he had scored 21 top 10s with in 28 starts that season. Along with the purchase came a promise to be a hands-on owner involved in day-to-day operations of the team.
"Lead by example is my philosophy. If I show up and I'm clean-shaven and I'm worried about this and we're on top of things, my people know they have to follow that," Turner said in a December interview with SceneDaily's Bob Pockrass. "We keep our bar set pretty high. I'm a firm believer not to ask them to do anything that I can't or will not do."
"I didn't just show up with a checkbook. I have no intention of being that kind of owner. We're here to work, enjoy, and learn and earn everyone's respect."
An absentee owner is something Turner promised he wouldn't be, but the team employee Frontstretch spoke with tells the story differently.
"Turner was coming in, made the acquisition ... promised quarterly reviews, all this stuff," said the employee. "I have not "seen" Turner since that day. [I've] seen him blow by three times; [he] sneaks into his offices and then leaves. We haven't talked to him, haven't seen him -- not one performance review since he bought this company out."
Founded in 1999 as a grassroots operation to field legends cars for his children, Steve Turner brought the team to the Camping World Truck Series in 2010 with two trucks fielded by James Buescher and Ricky Carmichael, who was fresh off of his rookie season with Kevin Harvick, Inc. After scoring a combined 19 top-10 finishes in 47 starts, Buescher and Carmichael finished 11th and 13th, respectively in the standings. But before his entrance into the upper echelons of NASCAR, Turner had plenty going on behind the scenes. In early November, 2009, he sold his company Xxtreme Group, LLC -- a collective Houston, TX-based trust that overlooked Xxtreme Pipe Services, LLC, Xxtreme Pipe Storage, LLC, Xxtreme Tubular Processors, LLC and Wolf Pack Rentals, LLC -- to RedHawk Energy Corporation for a cool $66 million. And just eight days later, Turner, who boasted a nearly 35-year career in the oil field, was named the President and Chief Operating Officer of RedHawk as a result of that sale.
Fast forward to 2010 when the company sold off its Texas-based operations for $66 million, the same amount Turner had been paid just a year earlier. As a result, former CEO and founder G. Darcy Klug resumed his position at Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, presumably ending Turner's time with the company. There's no clear idea what employment, if any Turner has been engaged in since. Which brings it full circle to 2011 with a major sponsor leaving at the end of the season, a new driver behind the wheel Saturday and a lot of uncertainty. One thing is for certain, though -- fans have expressed their displeasure with Sorenson's firing by taking to Facebook and Twitter. Early Tuesday evening, negative comments removed almost as soon as they were entered from a photo on their Facebook profile.
Here's a cross-section of fan reaction we caught:
"What's frustrating about this move is that when Vickers fell ill and had to miss the rest of the season last year, who was there to replace him in both Cup AND Nationwide? Sorenson. And he did a great fill in job in both series ... You could have waited five races before making this decision."
"Wow! I didn't like the Reed dismissal, but I was still supportive and they still deleted my comments. Pretty sad!"
"Turner is just like Ginn Motorsports. After a year, they will be bankrupt."
With so many more questions than answers at this point, the driver who's scored 18 top 10s in 29 starts has no idea which team -- if any -- he'll spend the remaining five races this season with as of this morning.
(Editor's Note: For more information on Sorenson's release and the goings-on at Turner Motorsports, check out Full Throttle below and Bryan Davis Keith's Middle-Class Meltdown: Sorenson, Turner Latest Victims Of Growing NASCAR Epidemic. We'll have all of the latest breaking news as it comes out at Frontstretch.com and on Twitter--@thefrontstretch and @NASCARBowles.)
Burton Paces Field In Day 1 Of Phoenix Testing
Jeff Burton has had a nightmarish season for Richard Childress Racing this season, with just one top-10 finish recorded in 29 starts. So while some may simply shrug off a surge to the top of the practice charts... Burton?
He'll take any small victory he can get.
The No. 31 Chevy posted the top speed during Phoenix testing Tuesday, clocking in with a speed of 134.590 miles an hour after turning 125 laps on the 1.017-mile oval. That's nearly three miles an hour slower than Jeff Gordon's pole run this Spring as drivers get a feel for the changes, including an expanded front straightaway and revamped dogleg that have changed the way they'll drive around the track.
Graduated banking was also added to Turns 1-2 and 3-4, giving drivers more opportunity to test new grooves and find more grip. The adjustments, along with the full repaving are expected to add more side-by-side competition to the track when the Cup Series returns in November.
"It's cool with the new banking," added David Ragan, who posted the 22nd-fastest time. "There is a little bit more speed. Anytime you repave a race track you always have that 6-8 month period where the asphalt is wearing. It is curing and it is coming into its own. It gives us a hard time to figure it out, but the track will only get better with time. I think it is going to be a good race."
Ryan Newman, Paul Menard, Martin Truex, Jr. and Mark Martin rounded out the top-5 speeds on Day 1. Kevin Harvick, in 7th was the highest-running Chaser while Kasey Kahne (17th) led all drivers with 137 laps run. For a full list of testing results, click here or check out our main page later in the day.
Pocono Raceway Getting A Facelift For 2012
Speaking of repaving, one of NASCAR's independent tracks is also aiming for a new look in 2012. On Tuesday, Pocono Raceway announced it will repave the entire 2.5-mile triangle, along with adding a new outer pit wall, concrete pit stalls, and examining places where SAFER Barriers can be added as the second phase of their long-term renovation project kicks off.
It's the first time the entire facility has been repaved since the 1995 season. All work is expected to be completed in time for Sprint Cup's return to the Tricky Triangle in June 2012.
Under the aggregate time rules, the race would be run in two heats and the winner would be the driver with the lowest time for the race. Damon Hill ended up winning, despite being roughly three seconds behind Michael Schumacher on track at the finish. Attrition was high, with only 13 of the 26 starters finishing the race, and 11 of those 13 drivers that DNF'd dropped out before the red flag.
Frontstretch Trivia Guarantee: If we mess up, you get the shirt off our backs! If we've provided an incorrect answer to the Frontstretch Trivia question, be the first to email the corrected trivia answer to trivia@frontstretch.com and we'll send you a Frontstretch T-Shirt ... FREE!
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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!
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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 Garrett Horton
Garrett's column has moved to Thursdays now, but it's still the same great commentary it has always been! This week, Garrett takes a look at the impact of Carl Edwards' third-place comeback after a pit road penalty on his championship run.
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 Dover? Well, Brett has just what you need to know to turn things around when choosing your teams for the Hollywood Casino 400 in Kansas.
5th Column TBA by Mark Powell
Our professor of racing history "has at it" with another column pertinent to the sport at large.This week, Mark takes a look at the new points structure and its necessity in today's auto racing world to maintain excitement.
Dover TV Ratings Up
For the second straight week in the Chase, NASCAR had something to celebrate in the Nielsens. The Dover Sprint Cup event scored a 3.0 household rating, posting a 7 percent increase over last year's 2.8. Viewership also pushed up a bit, going from 3.966 million at this race last year to 4.093. But there's still a long way to go when it comes to bringing the sport's audience up to previous levels; these numbers are still the second-worst for any televised Dover event since 2003.
So far this Chase, the two events run on time (without a rain delay) are up 13 percent ratings-wise over 2010. With the new points system, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. in the Chase for the first time since 2008, and nine drivers within nineteen points heading to Kansas it's likely all of those factors, plus ESPN's NASCAR NonStop commercial format may have contributed to bump up the final tally.
Have news for Beth, Tom 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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Got NASCAR-related questions or comments?
Send them John Potts' way at john.potts@frontstretch.com; and if you're lucky, you'll get your name in print when he does his weekly column answering back to you – the fans that keep Frontstretch afloat. Potts' Shots will run on Thursdays with a whole new set of Fan Questions and Answers!
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Today's Featured Commentary
Bad News for Sorenson: Sometimes Talent Just Isn't Enough
Full Throttle
by Amy Henderson and Mike Neff
Imagine being 19 years old, having just been running in Legends cars and ASA Late Models and now you're going to start a Sprint Cup race. You went from winning 84 races in the Inex Legends and finishing fourth in the national ASA points to running in the top series of NASCAR in just two years. Sound like fiction? That is where Reed Sorenson was in the Fall of 2005 when he started his first race in a Cup car in Atlanta. Sorenson was the poster child for the NASCAR dream.
Fast forward six years, 162 Cup races and 160 Nationwide Series starts. At age 25, Sorenson is a NASCAR veteran...and, with five races left in the 2011 Nationwide season, despite being third in that series' driver points, he is looking for a job -- any job -- to simply survive somewhere within the upper echelon of a sport he was supposed to dominate.
2005 was when the youth movement was in full swing in NASCAR, and Chip Ganassi Racing was at the forefront. Sterling Marlin was being ousted from his Ganassi-owned ride because Coors Light wanted a younger spokesperson for their brand; David Stremme was sliding into that seat. Casey Mears moved over to fill in the No. 42 car that Jamie McMurray was leaving to head over to Roush Racing, opening up a spot to fill in the No. 41 Target ride. As a result, Ganassi had tabbed Reed Sorenson, his full-time Nationwide driver to take over the ride full-time in 2006. Sorenson was 19 years old, just over the new minimum age for NASCAR's Cup Series and was still adjusting to limited experience in stock cars. A soft-spoken Georgian, barely able to buy a lottery ticket had seemingly pulled one out of his hat.
Except it never quite worked out for Sorenson in the Cup Series (in 162 starts, Sorenson had just five top-5 and 15 top-10 finishes) and so, in 2011, Sorenson moved full-time to the No. 32 in the Nationwide Series for the brand-new Turner Motorsports organization. He had run for the No. 32 in the past, picked up in 2010 on a part-time basis when the team was still under the Braun Racing banner. As the year began, it looked as though Sorenson was getting the confidence build he missed out on by jumping straight into the Cup Series, a move which rarely works. Just ask Casey Atwood, who dropped off the NASCAR map completely after a 75-race stint in the Cup ranks which brought Atwood a pole, a top 5 and four top 10's in just over two full seasons. Atwood hasn't competed for a full season in a NASCAR national touring division since 2002.
Unlike Atwood, though, Sorenson was being given a second chance, and as 2011 kicked off, he appeared to be making the most of it, scoring a win and 18 top-10 finishes in 29 races, leading the points for several weeks early on before slipping to a solid third. It looked as though Sorenson was finally going to put up numbers to match the talent that his car owners all saw in him.
But behind the scenes at Turner Motorsports, it appears that things were not so rosy. According to sources exclusive to the Frontstretch, Sorenson has not been paid for several races this year as per his contract. It's the second time in three years the driver has gone through it; at Richard Petty Motorsports, in 2009 reports ran rampant he ran much of the second half of the season there for free rather than face a pink slip. As for Turner, who pledged in December, "I didn't just show up with a checkbook. I have no intention of being that kind of owner. We're here to work, enjoy, and learn and earn everyone's respect," he is rarely in the race shop these days, and deep cuts have been slowly gouging away at the team, culminating in Sorenson's immediate release from the No. 32.
"Turner was coming in, made the acquisition… promised quarterly reviews, all this stuff. I haven't seen Turner since that day. Seen him blow by three times, sneaks into his office and then leaves," says that same employee, who did not wish to be identified. "We haven't talked to him, haven't seen him, not one performance review since he bought this company out."
"Yesterday, we all had to go in and sign a piece of paper saying that we understood Turner would lay off 33% of their workforce. [I have] been getting paid, but they have eliminated the 401K; when [I] get paid, they don't list the hours on [my] paycheck. They have you work 50 hours a week, then 30 hours the next and they're not paying overtime as it should be."
It seems that things haven't been as they seemed for several months at Turner, who began 2011 with high hopes for four Nationwide and three Camping World Truck Series teams. Although Sorenson was third in Nationwide points, with teammates Justin Allgaier and Jason Leffler in fifth and sixth, respectively, money was becoming tight. Leffler was given his release following this season as sponsor Great Clips will be reassigned (most likely to Allgaier's team) in 2012, and Sorenson got his release this week, to be replaced for the immediate future by former series champion Brian Vickers. The sponsor of the No. 32, Dollar General will also leave the team, lured away by Kyle Busch Motorsports and the promise of a Cup-funded program and a high-profile driver, spelling even more bad news for the series' largest independent organization.
Another storm brewing under the surface at Turner Motorsports may have been the straw that broke the camel's back for Sorenson. The driver has been quite vocal about the quality of the equipment he's been receiving, openly criticizing his cars at times. While that may have been an attempt at motivating his team, word is that Turner and other higher-ups didn't appreciate it. Sorenson and Allgaier have also had a running rivalry bordering on an open feud for much of the year between the two, which culminated in some on-track incidents, mangled racecars and hard feelings. Perhaps this led to Turner's ultimate decision to let Sorenson go, though it doesn't seem to account for the paychecks that were not forthcoming.
The real reason for Sorenson's termination is ultimately between him and Turner. Was it because Turner couldn't afford to or didn't want to pay his young driver? Was it because of Sorenson's criticism of the team or his rivalry with his teammate? Was it a last-ditch effort to impress the sponsor that is already leaving? Was it that Sorenson has the reputation for sometimes sitting on his laurels in a race and stroking for points? That he lost the points lead? Those are all theories, but in the end, it was probably the perfect storm of events that cut short what could have been Sorenson's last chance at NASCAR redemption.
Sorenson was obviously a talented driver in quarter midgets, Legends and even ASA Late Models. But once he made it to the Cup Series a lack of focus, feedback, and mental fortitude to handle the transition to "superstardom" led to his eventual demise. After turning his career around for the first part of 2011, Sorenson might be lucky enough to catch on with another Nationwide team for the rest of the year and, if he does well for them, maybe get a ride for a year or two. If not, there is a very good chance that we've seen the last of Sorenson on the national touring series of NASCAR because, even at 25, sometimes talent just isn't enough.
Amy Henderson is a Senior Editor for Frontstretch.com. She can be reached via email at amy.henderson@frontstretch.com. Mike Neff is a Senior Writer for Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via e-mail at mike.neff@frontstretch.com.
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Hey, Frontstretch Readers!
We know you love the roar of raw horsepower under the hood that powers 43 of the best drivers in the world every weekend, but did you ever wonder how the sponsor on top of that hood also contributes to keeping the sport moving? What about the contributions of official NASCAR companies? If you think they are simply writing checks, think again. Check out our newest feature - Sunday Money. This weekly Frontstretch exclusive provides you with a behind the scenes look at how NASCAR, its affiliates and team sponsors approach the daunting task of keeping fans interested and excited about the sport for 38 weeks of the year.
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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...
@jimmiejohnson: Hey @KevinHarvick, your sponsor and a baseball game go really well together.
@bobpockrass: Turner Motorsports announces Brian Vickers replacing Reed Sorenson in No. 32 car for next 2 races. No reason given for Reed release. #nascar
@dcaraviello (David Caraviello): Sorenson seems shocked. "I'm not really sure what's going on. It's not good, though," he said. He's third, 49 pts behind leader Stenhouse.
@NASCARBowles (Tom Bowles): More on this whole Sorenson firing. Check out this @bobpockrass article about owner Steve Turner last December #NASCAR http://tinyurl.com/69ghvz6
@NASCARBowles: Quotes from Turner I find interesting in this #NASCAR article... "They will all get their money's worth," (cont) http://tl.gd/df6sgp
@NASCARBowles: #NASCAR ... From current Turner Motorsports employee (anonymous for obvious reasons) "When Turner came in, made (cont) tl.gd/df78os
@mforde (Mike Forde): Ya know who has the best Driver Rating over the first 3 Chase races? Jimmie Johnson! Yay! (He's at 111.7. 2nd-best is KuBu, 108.3). #NASCAR
@keselowski (Brad Keselowski): If I said there are more fans here @PhoenixRaceway sprint cup test than Sunday's indycar race, how many angry replies would I get? :)
@CandiceSpencer (Lee Spencer): Changes to @phoenixraceway include 4100 ft of SAFER barrier and longer (32ft) pit boxes. Traditionally, PIR had one of the tightest pitroads
@keselowski: Ready to start testing here @PhoenixRaceway Big day, first time driving fuel injection on a race car and a brand new chassis to sort out.
@Regan_Smith_: Seeing all these cars here at PIR makes me think maybe we should line em up and run a weds night special...
@2Spotter (Joey Meier): just found out @Keselowski has completed the trifecta...Won Kansas..NEW TIRE. Won Bristol ...NEW TIRE... Won Pocono... THEY REPAVED IT!
@kaseykahne: Looking forward to testing phoenix raceway today. Should be interesting with the fresh pavement and banking changes
@TheOrangeCone: During mtg with Rusty yesterday, I tried to get him to pronounce @aric_almirola's name properly. Best I could get: Earache Armadillo. #sorry
@TheOrangeCone: Just called Rusty. Asked how he says "Steven Wallace". Response: "bottomless money pit". Fairly accurate on that one!
@mw55 (Michael Waltrip): Big announcement Friday. Guess what it is and win 2 hot passes for Kansas. I will draw from correct answers.
@HermieSadler: Thanks to everyone in NASCAR and the NFL for creating awareness for breast cancer. Early detection is key!!
@keselowski: Road Atlanta Hands down "@JenniferLynn_13 I can think of three bad wrecks you had, which one was the scariest #Cali #Atlanta or #RdAmerica?"
@KevinHamlin: Kurt said Jimmie was his arch-nemesis? Who uses that term? Is he talking about He-Man vs. Skeletor?
@2Spotter: Gave up roughly 10-15 points ....but saved close to 20....so...take good over bad. Move on to race 4 of chase. Kansas here we come.
@JimmieJohnson: A great day today. My guys were on it!! My bad on the restarts...
@keselowski: So to explain power steering issues. Piece of debris flew up there. Knocked the belt off. Cot cars r impossible to drive w/o Power Steer.
@Tjmajors: Rough day. Hard to break a sway bar arm and then have a loose wheel and recover.
@NASCARBowles: Weird stat. There were nine pit road infractions today - and five of them went to @jjyeley1. And he hit the wall. #NASCAR #baddaytimes1000
@keselowski: After today's race. It's obvious the chase winner will be decided on the last lap at homestead. Everyone is so close.
@KurtBusch22: Had Dover Air Force Mortuary Affairs as our guests today. Tnks for the luck guys! @ArmedForcesDC they have a tough job http://yfrog.com/o0m3xkj
@KurtBusch22: Victory!!! @ArmedForcesDC @penskeracing @shellracingus http://yfrog.com/nzpd7fqj
@JimmieJohnson: Congrats @RonHornaday for winning your 50th truck series race! #huge
@JoelEdmonds: somebody please tell me who this @GrahamRahal is and what he does for a living...
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:
Middle-Class Meltdown: Sorenson, Turner Latest Victims Of Growing NASCAR Epidemic
by Bryan Keith
Surefire Bets The Next Seven Weeks
by Vito Pugliese
Did You Notice? ... As The Turner Disintegrates, Pit Stall Shenanigans & NASCAR Nasty
by Tom Bowles
Mirror Driving: Let's Hear It For The Non-Chasers! Official Embarrassment & More
by the Frontstretch Staff
Sprint Cup Power Rankings: Top 15 After Dover-2
compiled by Mike Neff
Top Ten Possible Sponsors For RWI And Steven Wallace In 2012
by Jeff Meyer
The Frontstretch Foto Funnies! Dover, October 2011
by Kurt Smith
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FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
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Got NASCAR-related questions or comments?
Send them John Potts' way at john.potts@frontstretch.com; and if you're lucky, you'll get your name in print when he does his weekly column answering back to you – the fans that keep Frontstretch afloat. Potts' Shots will run on Thursdays with a whole new set of Fan Questions and Answers!
~~~~~~~~~~
Today's Featured Commentary
Bad News for Sorenson: Sometimes Talent Just Isn't Enough
Full Throttle
by Amy Henderson and Mike Neff
Imagine being 19 years old, having just been running in Legends cars and ASA Late Models and now you're going to start a Sprint Cup race. You went from winning 84 races in the Inex Legends and finishing fourth in the national ASA points to running in the top series of NASCAR in just two years. Sound like fiction? That is where Reed Sorenson was in the Fall of 2005 when he started his first race in a Cup car in Atlanta. Sorenson was the poster child for the NASCAR dream.
Fast forward six years, 162 Cup races and 160 Nationwide Series starts. At age 25, Sorenson is a NASCAR veteran...and, with five races left in the 2011 Nationwide season, despite being third in that series' driver points, he is looking for a job -- any job -- to simply survive somewhere within the upper echelon of a sport he was supposed to dominate.
2005 was when the youth movement was in full swing in NASCAR, and Chip Ganassi Racing was at the forefront. Sterling Marlin was being ousted from his Ganassi-owned ride because Coors Light wanted a younger spokesperson for their brand; David Stremme was sliding into that seat. Casey Mears moved over to fill in the No. 42 car that Jamie McMurray was leaving to head over to Roush Racing, opening up a spot to fill in the No. 41 Target ride. As a result, Ganassi had tabbed Reed Sorenson, his full-time Nationwide driver to take over the ride full-time in 2006. Sorenson was 19 years old, just over the new minimum age for NASCAR's Cup Series and was still adjusting to limited experience in stock cars. A soft-spoken Georgian, barely able to buy a lottery ticket had seemingly pulled one out of his hat.
Except it never quite worked out for Sorenson in the Cup Series (in 162 starts, Sorenson had just five top-5 and 15 top-10 finishes) and so, in 2011, Sorenson moved full-time to the No. 32 in the Nationwide Series for the brand-new Turner Motorsports organization. He had run for the No. 32 in the past, picked up in 2010 on a part-time basis when the team was still under the Braun Racing banner. As the year began, it looked as though Sorenson was getting the confidence build he missed out on by jumping straight into the Cup Series, a move which rarely works. Just ask Casey Atwood, who dropped off the NASCAR map completely after a 75-race stint in the Cup ranks which brought Atwood a pole, a top 5 and four top 10's in just over two full seasons. Atwood hasn't competed for a full season in a NASCAR national touring division since 2002.
Unlike Atwood, though, Sorenson was being given a second chance, and as 2011 kicked off, he appeared to be making the most of it, scoring a win and 18 top-10 finishes in 29 races, leading the points for several weeks early on before slipping to a solid third. It looked as though Sorenson was finally going to put up numbers to match the talent that his car owners all saw in him.
But behind the scenes at Turner Motorsports, it appears that things were not so rosy. According to sources exclusive to the Frontstretch, Sorenson has not been paid for several races this year as per his contract. It's the second time in three years the driver has gone through it; at Richard Petty Motorsports, in 2009 reports ran rampant he ran much of the second half of the season there for free rather than face a pink slip. As for Turner, who pledged in December, "I didn't just show up with a checkbook. I have no intention of being that kind of owner. We're here to work, enjoy, and learn and earn everyone's respect," he is rarely in the race shop these days, and deep cuts have been slowly gouging away at the team, culminating in Sorenson's immediate release from the No. 32.
"Turner was coming in, made the acquisition… promised quarterly reviews, all this stuff. I haven't seen Turner since that day. Seen him blow by three times, sneaks into his office and then leaves," says that same employee, who did not wish to be identified. "We haven't talked to him, haven't seen him, not one performance review since he bought this company out."
"Yesterday, we all had to go in and sign a piece of paper saying that we understood Turner would lay off 33% of their workforce. [I have] been getting paid, but they have eliminated the 401K; when [I] get paid, they don't list the hours on [my] paycheck. They have you work 50 hours a week, then 30 hours the next and they're not paying overtime as it should be."
It seems that things haven't been as they seemed for several months at Turner, who began 2011 with high hopes for four Nationwide and three Camping World Truck Series teams. Although Sorenson was third in Nationwide points, with teammates Justin Allgaier and Jason Leffler in fifth and sixth, respectively, money was becoming tight. Leffler was given his release following this season as sponsor Great Clips will be reassigned (most likely to Allgaier's team) in 2012, and Sorenson got his release this week, to be replaced for the immediate future by former series champion Brian Vickers. The sponsor of the No. 32, Dollar General will also leave the team, lured away by Kyle Busch Motorsports and the promise of a Cup-funded program and a high-profile driver, spelling even more bad news for the series' largest independent organization.
Another storm brewing under the surface at Turner Motorsports may have been the straw that broke the camel's back for Sorenson. The driver has been quite vocal about the quality of the equipment he's been receiving, openly criticizing his cars at times. While that may have been an attempt at motivating his team, word is that Turner and other higher-ups didn't appreciate it. Sorenson and Allgaier have also had a running rivalry bordering on an open feud for much of the year between the two, which culminated in some on-track incidents, mangled racecars and hard feelings. Perhaps this led to Turner's ultimate decision to let Sorenson go, though it doesn't seem to account for the paychecks that were not forthcoming.
The real reason for Sorenson's termination is ultimately between him and Turner. Was it because Turner couldn't afford to or didn't want to pay his young driver? Was it because of Sorenson's criticism of the team or his rivalry with his teammate? Was it a last-ditch effort to impress the sponsor that is already leaving? Was it that Sorenson has the reputation for sometimes sitting on his laurels in a race and stroking for points? That he lost the points lead? Those are all theories, but in the end, it was probably the perfect storm of events that cut short what could have been Sorenson's last chance at NASCAR redemption.
Sorenson was obviously a talented driver in quarter midgets, Legends and even ASA Late Models. But once he made it to the Cup Series a lack of focus, feedback, and mental fortitude to handle the transition to "superstardom" led to his eventual demise. After turning his career around for the first part of 2011, Sorenson might be lucky enough to catch on with another Nationwide team for the rest of the year and, if he does well for them, maybe get a ride for a year or two. If not, there is a very good chance that we've seen the last of Sorenson on the national touring series of NASCAR because, even at 25, sometimes talent just isn't enough.
Amy Henderson is a Senior Editor for Frontstretch.com. She can be reached via email at amy.henderson@frontstretch.com. Mike Neff is a Senior Writer for Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via e-mail at mike.neff@frontstretch.com.
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Hey, Frontstretch Readers!
We know you love the roar of raw horsepower under the hood that powers 43 of the best drivers in the world every weekend, but did you ever wonder how the sponsor on top of that hood also contributes to keeping the sport moving? What about the contributions of official NASCAR companies? If you think they are simply writing checks, think again. Check out our newest feature - Sunday Money. This weekly Frontstretch exclusive provides you with a behind the scenes look at how NASCAR, its affiliates and team sponsors approach the daunting task of keeping fans interested and excited about the sport for 38 weeks of the year.
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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...
@jimmiejohnson: Hey @KevinHarvick, your sponsor and a baseball game go really well together.
@bobpockrass: Turner Motorsports announces Brian Vickers replacing Reed Sorenson in No. 32 car for next 2 races. No reason given for Reed release. #nascar
@dcaraviello (David Caraviello): Sorenson seems shocked. "I'm not really sure what's going on. It's not good, though," he said. He's third, 49 pts behind leader Stenhouse.
@NASCARBowles (Tom Bowles): More on this whole Sorenson firing. Check out this @bobpockrass article about owner Steve Turner last December #NASCAR http://tinyurl.com/69ghvz6
@NASCARBowles: Quotes from Turner I find interesting in this #NASCAR article... "They will all get their money's worth," (cont) http://tl.gd/df6sgp
@NASCARBowles: #NASCAR ... From current Turner Motorsports employee (anonymous for obvious reasons) "When Turner came in, made (cont) tl.gd/df78os
@mforde (Mike Forde): Ya know who has the best Driver Rating over the first 3 Chase races? Jimmie Johnson! Yay! (He's at 111.7. 2nd-best is KuBu, 108.3). #NASCAR
@keselowski (Brad Keselowski): If I said there are more fans here @PhoenixRaceway sprint cup test than Sunday's indycar race, how many angry replies would I get? :)
@CandiceSpencer (Lee Spencer): Changes to @phoenixraceway include 4100 ft of SAFER barrier and longer (32ft) pit boxes. Traditionally, PIR had one of the tightest pitroads
@keselowski: Ready to start testing here @PhoenixRaceway Big day, first time driving fuel injection on a race car and a brand new chassis to sort out.
@Regan_Smith_: Seeing all these cars here at PIR makes me think maybe we should line em up and run a weds night special...
@2Spotter (Joey Meier): just found out @Keselowski has completed the trifecta...Won Kansas..NEW TIRE. Won Bristol ...NEW TIRE... Won Pocono... THEY REPAVED IT!
@kaseykahne: Looking forward to testing phoenix raceway today. Should be interesting with the fresh pavement and banking changes
@TheOrangeCone: During mtg with Rusty yesterday, I tried to get him to pronounce @aric_almirola's name properly. Best I could get: Earache Armadillo. #sorry
@TheOrangeCone: Just called Rusty. Asked how he says "Steven Wallace". Response: "bottomless money pit". Fairly accurate on that one!
@mw55 (Michael Waltrip): Big announcement Friday. Guess what it is and win 2 hot passes for Kansas. I will draw from correct answers.
@HermieSadler: Thanks to everyone in NASCAR and the NFL for creating awareness for breast cancer. Early detection is key!!
@keselowski: Road Atlanta Hands down "@JenniferLynn_13 I can think of three bad wrecks you had, which one was the scariest #Cali #Atlanta or #RdAmerica?"
@KevinHamlin: Kurt said Jimmie was his arch-nemesis? Who uses that term? Is he talking about He-Man vs. Skeletor?
@2Spotter: Gave up roughly 10-15 points ....but saved close to 20....so...take good over bad. Move on to race 4 of chase. Kansas here we come.
@JimmieJohnson: A great day today. My guys were on it!! My bad on the restarts...
@keselowski: So to explain power steering issues. Piece of debris flew up there. Knocked the belt off. Cot cars r impossible to drive w/o Power Steer.
@Tjmajors: Rough day. Hard to break a sway bar arm and then have a loose wheel and recover.
@NASCARBowles: Weird stat. There were nine pit road infractions today - and five of them went to @jjyeley1. And he hit the wall. #NASCAR #baddaytimes1000
@keselowski: After today's race. It's obvious the chase winner will be decided on the last lap at homestead. Everyone is so close.
@KurtBusch22: Had Dover Air Force Mortuary Affairs as our guests today. Tnks for the luck guys! @ArmedForcesDC they have a tough job http://yfrog.com/o0m3xkj
@KurtBusch22: Victory!!! @ArmedForcesDC @penskeracing @shellracingus http://yfrog.com/nzpd7fqj
@JimmieJohnson: Congrats @RonHornaday for winning your 50th truck series race! #huge
@JoelEdmonds: somebody please tell me who this @GrahamRahal is and what he does for a living...
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:
Middle-Class Meltdown: Sorenson, Turner Latest Victims Of Growing NASCAR Epidemic
by Bryan Keith
Surefire Bets The Next Seven Weeks
by Vito Pugliese
Did You Notice? ... As The Turner Disintegrates, Pit Stall Shenanigans & NASCAR Nasty
by Tom Bowles
Mirror Driving: Let's Hear It For The Non-Chasers! Official Embarrassment & More
by the Frontstretch Staff
Sprint Cup Power Rankings: Top 15 After Dover-2
compiled by Mike Neff
Top Ten Possible Sponsors For RWI And Steven Wallace In 2012
by Jeff Meyer
The Frontstretch Foto Funnies! Dover, October 2011
by Kurt Smith
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FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Q: Saturday night is the 50th running of the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000. The late Peter Brock is the all-time winningest driver at Bathurst with nine victories in the race. However, the most recent win (1987) was kinda quirky. Why is this so?
Check back Thursday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
Tuesday's Answer:
Tuesday's Answer:
Q: The 1994 Grand Prix of Japan, officially referred as the Ayrton Senna Grand Prix in honor of the late three-time World Champion, was the final time that a special rule was used in Formula One. What was that rule?
Under the aggregate time rules, the race would be run in two heats and the winner would be the driver with the lowest time for the race. Damon Hill ended up winning, despite being roughly three seconds behind Michael Schumacher on track at the finish. Attrition was high, with only 13 of the 26 starters finishing the race, and 11 of those 13 drivers that DNF'd dropped out before the red flag.
Frontstretch Trivia Guarantee: If we mess up, you get the shirt off our backs! If we've provided an incorrect answer to the Frontstretch Trivia question, be the first to email the corrected trivia answer to trivia@frontstretch.com and we'll send you a Frontstretch T-Shirt ... FREE!
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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!
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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 Garrett Horton
Garrett's column has moved to Thursdays now, but it's still the same great commentary it has always been! This week, Garrett takes a look at the impact of Carl Edwards' third-place comeback after a pit road penalty on his championship run.
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 Dover? Well, Brett has just what you need to know to turn things around when choosing your teams for the Hollywood Casino 400 in Kansas.
5th Column TBA by Mark Powell
Our professor of racing history "has at it" with another column pertinent to the sport at large.This week, Mark takes a look at the new points structure and its necessity in today's auto racing world to maintain excitement.
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Talk back to the Frontstretch Newsletter!
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©2011 Frontstretch.com
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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