THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
October 26th, 2011
Volume V, Edition CCXXV
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
October 26th, 2011
Volume V, Edition CCXXV
~~~~~~~~~~
Top News
by Summer Dreyer
by Summer Dreyer
After NASCAR discovered unapproved modifications to the windshields on the cars of David Reutimann (00), Bobby Labonte (47), and Martin Truex Jr. (56) on Friday at Talladega, penalties were announced against all three teams on Tuesday.
The crew chiefs and car chiefs of all three teams were suspended for the remaining four races of the season, and 25 driver points were docked from Reutimann, Truex, and Labonte. Michael Waltrip Racing and JTG-Daugherty Racing also received a 25-point deduction of owner points for each team involved. In addition, Michael Waltrip Racing's ( which owns the No. 56 and No. 00 cars and supplies parts and engines for the No. 47) director of competition Bobby Kennedy was placed on NASCAR probation until December 31st.
JTG Daugherty Racing, who owns Labonte's No. 47 Toyota, released this statement from co-owner Brad Daugherty:
"We are very disappointed in this entire situation and we will not appeal NASCAR's ruling. We look forward to racing at Martinsville Speedway this weekend and getting ready for next season."
As a result of the suspensions handed out, the teams were forced to shuffle their personnel. At MWR, Pat Tryson and Bobby Kennedy will serve as interim crew chiefs for Truex and Reutimann, respectively. And at JTG Daugherty, engineer Brian Burns will be atop Labonte's pit box for the remainder of the season.
Jack Roush Denies Team Orders Allegations
Following accusations of team orders after Trevor Bayne ditched Jeff Gordon on the final lap of last Sunday's Good Sam Club 500 in favor of fellow Ford Racing driver and Roush Fenway Racing teammate Matt Kenseth, team owner Jack Roush released a statement denying that team orders were given and that Bayne made his own decisions on who to work with.
"At Roush Fenway Racing, we expect our individual drivers to make decisions that put themselves in the best position to win each and every race. That is a philosophy that we have lived by for over two decades, and one that we will continue to abide by going forward," Roush said. "Of course, as in any team, we would prefer for our drivers to work together when possible. However, to be clear, we did not micromanage or dictate to any of our drivers, nor any other Ford drivers, how to race with other drivers at Talladega last Sunday."
"I've spoken with Trevor (Bayne) and understand that he was put in a situation requiring a split-second decision on the track and in his response to questions justifying his actions afterwards, where it was almost certain that not everyone was going to be satisfied," Roush continued. "Trevor is extremely talented, but it is still very early in his career. Over time he will grow to understand that in such a high-paced, competitive and hostile environment it is unlikely that all of his decisions will make everyone happy. I'm confident in his decision making, his ability and actions on the track, and I'm excited as we continue to move forward with his development."
Bayne publicly expressed that he felt he was forced to make such a decision, and even apologized to Gordon over the scanner on the cool-down lap.
Gordon was also none too happy about the situation.
"I just think it could have been handled better. If somebody is going to screw you, you'd like them to say it to your face, you know? Or, at least on the radio. I would have been fine with that but I'm sorry; I would have been totally fine with that and understood," said Gordon after the race.
Gordon finished 27th while Bayne finished 15th.
Motocross Superstar Eyeing NASCAR
After announcing his move to Joe Gibbs Racing (JGRMX) to race Yamahas through 2014, five time AMA Supercross / Motocross champion James Stewart expressed interest in one day competing and NASCAR and cited the team's involvement in the sport as a reason for moving to the team.
"I gel with everybody, but I felt like the situation to go racing and not have to worry about anything ... this was the best place to do that," Stewart told ESPN. "I could up their racing program and they can support my future of eventually going into NASCAR. I felt like that was a strong package."
Stewart will be testing in a late model in the next few weeks.
Have news for Summer and the Frontstretch? Don't hesitate to let us know; email us at phil.allaway@frontstretch.com with a promising lead or tip.
~~~~~~~~~~
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 Thursday with a whole new set of Fan Questions and Answers!
~~~~~~~~~~
Today's Featured Commentary
If You Ain't Cheatin' You Ain't Tryin'
Full Throttle
by Mike Neff
Tuesday is generally fine day in NASCAR and this week was no exception. The hammer that is the the sanctioning body's fine machine was swift and forceful on the heads of Michael Waltrip racing and JTG-Daugherty racing. The crew chiefs and car chiefs for David Reutimann's No. 00, Martin Truex, Jr.'s No. 56 and Bobby Labonte's No. 47 were all fined and suspended for the rest of the Sprint Cup season (although it is technically four races until Nov. 23rd) and the car owners and drivers were each docked 25 points. All of this fuss was over windshields that were confiscated in pre-practice technical inspection before Friday's practice at Talladega.
There has been a long and storied history of bending rules and finding gray areas in the NASCAR rule book. Smokey Yunick ran enough fuel line through his car that he was able to drive six miles to his shop with an empty fuel cell in his racecar. Chad Knaus developed shocks that actually made the back of the car get higher as they did their job. Richard Petty drove a car with a drastically oversized engine that allowed him to win a race, although he was eventually fined and docked points. Junior Johnson was fined routinely for pushing the envelope on the ends of the rulebook but most of the time it seemed as though Johnson did it out of disdain for the sport's sanctioning body.
The history of skirting the rules goes back to the very first race sanctioned by NASCAR at Charlotte Speedway, a three-quarter-mile dirt track on the west side of the city. Glenn Dunnaway, a moonshiner by trade, brought his '47 Ford that he used during the completion of his daily duties and raced it to the win. However, in the post race inspection, NASCAR's first chief inspector Al Crisler said his rear springs were not stock, primarily because moonshiners used beefed up springs or extra springs due to the extra weight they'd carry in their cars when they were filled with moonshine. As a result the win was awarded to Jim Roper and Dunnaway was scored last.
In the current world of Sprint Cup racing there isn't a whole heck of a lot that teams can monkey with on the cars so the efforts they make can be very subtle. The MWR teams, along with the JTG Daugherty team all prepare their cars in the MWR shops and apparently all had the same technique applied to their windshields. The NASCAR rulebook says that windshields have to be a uniform thickness. During the pre-practice inspection it was discovered that all three of the cars had windshields whose edges were beveled, apparently in an effort to improve the aerodynamic flow over the cars. The windshields were removed before the cars ever hit the track so they never were allowed to receive any benefit from the modification.
In an interesting twist, with no real explanation at all, team owner Michael Waltrip, who also ran in the race in a one-off effort to honor his brother's Hall of Fame induction, wasn't busted for an illegal windshield.
Pushing the rules to the limit has been a longstanding tradition in NASCAR. The beauty of it is reading between the lines. When Yunick installed the 40 foot long fuel line in his car there was no real about how long the line could be, just how big it could be. When Ray Evernham charged his engineers with building a car from the ground up they came up with T-Rex that Gordon ran in the All-Star race in 1997 and blew away the competition. The car, while perfectly legal, was banned from racing after that event because it would cost all of the other teams too much money to catch up to what Hendrick had done. When Knaus made his shocks for Dover that actually raised the rear end as they worked, giving the car more exposure for its spoiler, there was no rule that said shocks couldn't do that, because no one had ever thought about doing that with them.
The beauty of racing which, unfortunately, has been lost over the last few years was the never ending ballet between crew chiefs and inspectors as one group tried to work in the gray areas and loopholes while the other group tried to paint them black and white and close them up. In the end, while it doesn't happen nearly as much anymore, the guys who were able to find those cracks in the rulebook often rode those advantages all of the way to championships. If you aren't trying to find those cracks, you aren't really trying to win.
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...
~~~~~~~~~~
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 Thursday with a whole new set of Fan Questions and Answers!
~~~~~~~~~~
Today's Featured Commentary
If You Ain't Cheatin' You Ain't Tryin'
Full Throttle
by Mike Neff
Tuesday is generally fine day in NASCAR and this week was no exception. The hammer that is the the sanctioning body's fine machine was swift and forceful on the heads of Michael Waltrip racing and JTG-Daugherty racing. The crew chiefs and car chiefs for David Reutimann's No. 00, Martin Truex, Jr.'s No. 56 and Bobby Labonte's No. 47 were all fined and suspended for the rest of the Sprint Cup season (although it is technically four races until Nov. 23rd) and the car owners and drivers were each docked 25 points. All of this fuss was over windshields that were confiscated in pre-practice technical inspection before Friday's practice at Talladega.
There has been a long and storied history of bending rules and finding gray areas in the NASCAR rule book. Smokey Yunick ran enough fuel line through his car that he was able to drive six miles to his shop with an empty fuel cell in his racecar. Chad Knaus developed shocks that actually made the back of the car get higher as they did their job. Richard Petty drove a car with a drastically oversized engine that allowed him to win a race, although he was eventually fined and docked points. Junior Johnson was fined routinely for pushing the envelope on the ends of the rulebook but most of the time it seemed as though Johnson did it out of disdain for the sport's sanctioning body.
The history of skirting the rules goes back to the very first race sanctioned by NASCAR at Charlotte Speedway, a three-quarter-mile dirt track on the west side of the city. Glenn Dunnaway, a moonshiner by trade, brought his '47 Ford that he used during the completion of his daily duties and raced it to the win. However, in the post race inspection, NASCAR's first chief inspector Al Crisler said his rear springs were not stock, primarily because moonshiners used beefed up springs or extra springs due to the extra weight they'd carry in their cars when they were filled with moonshine. As a result the win was awarded to Jim Roper and Dunnaway was scored last.
In the current world of Sprint Cup racing there isn't a whole heck of a lot that teams can monkey with on the cars so the efforts they make can be very subtle. The MWR teams, along with the JTG Daugherty team all prepare their cars in the MWR shops and apparently all had the same technique applied to their windshields. The NASCAR rulebook says that windshields have to be a uniform thickness. During the pre-practice inspection it was discovered that all three of the cars had windshields whose edges were beveled, apparently in an effort to improve the aerodynamic flow over the cars. The windshields were removed before the cars ever hit the track so they never were allowed to receive any benefit from the modification.
In an interesting twist, with no real explanation at all, team owner Michael Waltrip, who also ran in the race in a one-off effort to honor his brother's Hall of Fame induction, wasn't busted for an illegal windshield.
Pushing the rules to the limit has been a longstanding tradition in NASCAR. The beauty of it is reading between the lines. When Yunick installed the 40 foot long fuel line in his car there was no real about how long the line could be, just how big it could be. When Ray Evernham charged his engineers with building a car from the ground up they came up with T-Rex that Gordon ran in the All-Star race in 1997 and blew away the competition. The car, while perfectly legal, was banned from racing after that event because it would cost all of the other teams too much money to catch up to what Hendrick had done. When Knaus made his shocks for Dover that actually raised the rear end as they worked, giving the car more exposure for its spoiler, there was no rule that said shocks couldn't do that, because no one had ever thought about doing that with them.
The beauty of racing which, unfortunately, has been lost over the last few years was the never ending ballet between crew chiefs and inspectors as one group tried to work in the gray areas and loopholes while the other group tried to paint them black and white and close them up. In the end, while it doesn't happen nearly as much anymore, the guys who were able to find those cracks in the rulebook often rode those advantages all of the way to championships. If you aren't trying to find those cracks, you aren't really trying to win.
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...
@mw55 (Michael Waltrip): I respect #NASCAR. We broke a rule. I am sorry. We will learn from it, and make sure a mistake like this never happens again. Thank you
@Bobby_Labonte: JTG DAUGHERTY RACING STATEMENT IN RESPONSE TO PENALTIES ASSESSED BY NASCAR eepurl.com/gFtpr #NASCAR
@31n2Spotter (Brett Griffin): I'm sorry but suspending car chiefs for windshields.... #smh
@31n2Spotter: When is the last time the NFL has suspended a player for four games?? Plaxico shot himself in the leg they didn't suspend Eli Manning.
@31n2Spotter: Whatever. No protocol for this type of thing... just don't see point of guilt or penalty to that position on the team.
@JimmieJohnson: F1 to race in the New York area in 2013... #RAD
@KendraTeam5 (Kendra Jacobs): I love that you just said "RAD". RT @JimmieJohnson: F1 to race in the New York area in 2013... #RAD
@AndyJGraves: Single largest influence on my career was Randy Dorton. I will forever miss your friendship and your counsel. #RAD
@maxpapis: It fills my heart with love to see all the support for @DWheldonAuction ..wait for my helmet fire suite shoes and gloves from Talladega
@RTruex00 (Ryan Truex): Just saw ROTY standings and im only 3 points out. Need a good run at phoenix and i might have a shot at it!
@31n2Spotter: Goin out on a limb & sayin if u complained about yesterdays race your favorite driver musta had a bad day... #nascar
@KurtBusch22: Yesterday was a disappointing end to what was turning out to be a great race for @penskeracing @shellracingus & @Regan_Smith_
@KurtBusch22: So many good cars & good guys caught up in wrecks yesterday. This is a track where you'd rather be lucky than good.
@Regan_Smith_: "@SlicedSmoke14: Quick question, how much damage did the fire do to the 78 hauler?" most the damage was done 2 the tractor as far as I know
@31n2Spotter: Looking forward to Daytona... Don't expect big teams to show up with an odd number of cars! #tandem 11 lost draft because of it at Dega.
@Tjmajors: I was amazed at how well the 20 car ran missing the whole left front fender! Pushed tony to the front!
@Regan_Smith_: Just saw the NASCAR.com video of the wreck yesterday and the caption says "regan smith starts a big one"... Are they f-ing blind?
@2Spotter (Joey Meier): So NOW the "Jimmie's done " mantra has to start? Why....can we just wait and watch the next 4 races? What's to gain? Lets buy ENRON stock
@keselowski (Brad Keselowski): martinsville "@abarnett11: @keselowski out of the 4 races left which one r u most looking forward to?"
@31n2Spotter: S/O to the cop who pulled me over last night... and let me go! #whew 3 wide. 2 wide. Clear. Blue Light. #SMH
@JeffGordonWeb: Hated to lose drafting partner Mark Martin. We were looking good. Should have known that would happen with #21. My bad 4 thinking different #JG
@JeffGordonWeb: On @TalladegaSuperS - ow.ly/77iO3 - "If somebody is going to screw you, you'd like them to say it to your face you know?"
@Tbayne21 (Trevor Bayne): I want to thank everyone who has stood behind me through this! And the ones who are beginning to understand!
@AndyJGraves: Seriously? People actually question if what Bayne did was right or wrong? It's his decision and he shouldn't even have to defend his choice.
@43Spotter (Tony Hirschman): "@PuckStoppin34: How much does it suck being a spotter in tandem racing?" Honestly-got a bit more control this way vs pack racing
@dennyhamlin: Everyone be patient with NASCAR on these plate tracks. Finding the happy medium between speed and safety tough.
@dennyhamlin: 2 car drafts come from cars being too slow.. If we speed them up in single car runs we wouldn't have to push.. It's coming soon..
@jeff_gluck: Denny Hamlin on 'Dega: "The best I can describe it is we were stuck without a date to the prom, so I was just hitting on everyone's mom."
@RyanMcGeeESPN: The continuing dismay over the lack of a utopian, gentlemanly, promises-kept last lap at Talladega makes me laugh. #NASCAR
@RyanMcGeeESPN: It's the last lap at Talladega! It's not a time for trust falls & friendship bracelets. Never has been, never will be.
@keselowski: I have 2 observations watching jaguars on MNF. 1. Attendance at live sporting events everywhere are effected by the economy. And...
@keselowski: And 2. Did anyone else see the scenery when the camera passed by the back of the end zone? #GoodLord
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? ... Roush's Damage Control, Cale Gale's Swan Song, And Schedule Shenanigans
by Bryan Davis Keith
Mirror Driving: Championship Stroking, Martinsville Strategies and Feel-Good Stories
by Summer Dreyer
Beyond the Cockpit: Brian Scott on Growing Up, Branching Out, and Having Fun
by Mike Neff
Sprint Cup Power Rankings: Top 15 After Talladega-2
compiled by Mike Neff
Top Ten Things Overheard On the Drivers' Radios at Talladega
by the Frontstretch Staff
~~~~~~~~~~
FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Beyond the Cockpit: Brian Scott on Growing Up, Branching Out, and Having Fun
by Mike Neff
Sprint Cup Power Rankings: Top 15 After Talladega-2
compiled by Mike Neff
Top Ten Things Overheard On the Drivers' Radios at Talladega
by the Frontstretch Staff
~~~~~~~~~~
FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Q: Jeff Gordon held off a charging Dale Earnhardt to win the 1999 NAPA AutoCare 500 at Martinsville Speedway. Although it was Gordon's third win at the paperclip, it was a first for Gordon. What was this first?
Check back Thursday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
Tuesday's Answer:
Tuesday's Answer:
Q: In 1997, Rusty Wallace dominated much of the Hanes 500 at Martinsville, leading 226 laps. However, he finished a distant 15th that Monday afternoon. Why?
A: Wallace was leading the race until the final restart with under 25 laps to go when he was judged to have started too early. The led NASCAR to black flag Wallace right out of the lead for jumping the restart, and as a result, Jeff Burton inherited the lead on Lap 479 when Wallace pitted to serve his penalty and held on to win.
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 Matt McLaughlin
Matt McLaughlin is back again this season with his usual sarcastic sense of humor ... and incomparable insight.
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 Matt McLaughlin
Matt McLaughlin is back again this season with his usual sarcastic sense of humor ... and incomparable 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 Kasey Kahne's quiet performance improvement and why it makes him an early favorite for the 2012 Chase.
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 Talladega? Well, Brett has just what you need to know to turn things around when choosing your teams for the Tums Fast Relief 500 from Martinsville.
Professor Of Speed by Mark Howell
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 "company man" and how professional loyalties mean more than personal ones in NASCAR.
-----------------------------
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
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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