The Frontstretch Newsletter: October 4th, 2011

THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
October 4th, 2011
Volume V, Edition CCVIII
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What To Watch For: Tuesday
by Tom Bowles

NASCAR Nation is about to get their thirst for action quenched in the desert. Today and tomorrow, out in Phoenix Sprint Cup teams will be testing at the newly-repaved and reconfigured Phoenix International Raceway. The 1.017-mile oval, set to host the ninth Chase race in November is open to all organizations and most full-time participants are taking advantage of the opportunity. Goodyear's tire selection for the event is already complete; teams will use a combination of left-side tires used at Indianapolis along with right-sides specially molded to adhere to the newly configured speedway.

Besides the repave, Phoenix rebuilt its "dogleg" corner, the slight left turn dividing the backstretch between Turns 2 and 3. Pushed out 95 feet, making the corner 55 feet wide the radius has been shortened from 800 to 500 feet. That's going to force drivers to arc in a little sharper to the left, affecting their driving style all the way through Turns 3 and 4. Some variable banking was also added in those turns, from 8 to 9 degrees along with a 10 to 11 degree arc in Turns 1 and 2. Finally, the front straightaway was widened out, with the goal to bring more side-by-side competition to the track as cars will have more "space" to run.

Testing will run from 10 AM to 4 PM PST (not televised) and will also feature a trio of drivers working on fuel injection testing for 2012. Aric Almirola for Hendrick Motorsports, Sam Hornish, Jr. for Penske Racing, and Mike Skinner for TRD are expected to roll out the next-generation equipment for development.
 
Today's Top News
by Tom Bowles

Goodyear, NASCAR Extend Agreement

The Eagles have landed in NASCAR, with no plans to move elsewhere anytime soon. Goodyear, who has served as the exclusive tire provider for the sport since 1997, signed an agreement Monday that will continue that partnership through the conclusion of the 2017 season.

"This extension is the continuation of a relationship between experts," said Pierre Jambon, Vice President of Goodyear's Off-Highway Business in a release announcing the contract. "NASCAR is clearly the expert in stock car racing, and it has chosen Goodyear because of our expertise in delivering outstanding performance. Our tire performance on the track validates our brand, inspires confidence for drivers and helps create exciting racing for fans. We are proud to continue to be an integral part of NASCAR."

The tire and rubber company, whose previous agreement was set to expire after 2012 has come under fire in recent years for compounds that struggle when paired with NASCAR's Car of Tomorrow. In particular, a July 2008 race in Indianapolis, where disintegrating tires caused pit stops and mandatory caution flags every 10-12 laps caused the sport particular embarrassment, leading to a sharp downturn in yearly attendance at the facility. But quotes made by stock car officials Monday made it clear any weekly dissatisfaction with Goodyear, created from random "bad races" is water under the bridge.

"To get ahead of the curve and announce this extension is a welcomed event," said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR Vice President of Competition. "Goodyear is one of the longest standing partners we have in NASCAR, and we have a great relationship. Goodyear tires are one of the main reasons we are currently having some of the greatest competition in the history of NASCAR."

"Every week the Goodyear guys work with us to make sure the tires perform well and are safe," added driver Carl Edwards. "I'm proud that they're coming back. Goodyear not only does a great job on the race track, they do a great job with all the tires they make. I have Goodyears on my motorhome, my airplane and all my cars at home, and I wouldn't want it any other way."

There's no indication other tire companies were ever in the running to partner with NASCAR; in fact, the last challenge to Goodyear came from Hoosier, ARCA's official supplier in the mid-1990s. Involved in the sport at least part-time since the 1950s, Goodyear's involvement in NASCAR will be well over six decades by the conclusion of this contract extension.

"This season marks the 57th consecutive year of Goodyear's involvement with NASCAR," said Stu Grant, the company's General Manager of Worldwide Racing. "And I can't imagine our racing program without that alliance. We've been able to grow the exposure of the Goodyear brand through the phenomenal growth of NASCAR over the years, and it's been a very exciting process. The race cars have evolved and I think that together, Goodyear and NASCAR have delivered a racing product that is second to none. We've been able to continually move forward on all fronts due to the tremendous communication and trust that we have with NASCAR at all levels, and I'm very pleased and very proud that this relationship will continue."

Financial terms of the deal for both sides were not disclosed.

Las Vegas Champion's Banquet Details Announced - After The Lap Tickets On Sale For Fans

Sin City will be the site of NASCAR's postseason celebration once more. The schedule for the sport's Champion's Week was announced on Monday, detailing a week-long series of events in Las Vegas that culminates in a banquet Friday, December 2nd for the top-10 finishers in the 2011 Sprint Cup standings. Highlights include...

- A NASCAR Pit Stop Tour, running from Tuesday, November 29th through Saturday, December 3rd and featuring Official Partner show cars in special places throughout Las Vegas' "downtown strip." Planned locations include the Welcome to Las Vegas sign, Bally's casino, and the Fashion Show Mall.

- A Newlywed Game featuring the sport's 2011 Chase participants, the official Champion's week "kickoff event" to be run on Wednesday, November 30th at 2:15 PM on Fremont Street. The drivers will be paired together in groups of two, then asked to answer questions about each other to score points for their team. One lucky fan, paired with the winning effort will receive suite passes to next year's Champion's banquet in Las Vegas.

- The NMPA / Myers Brothers Awards Luncheon, set for Thursday, December 1st at 11:00 AM in the Bellagio Ballroom and open to the public. It's where honors like the Sunoco Rookie of the Year and NASCAR's Most Popular Driver are given out.

- NASCAR's Victory Lap, Thursday, December 1st at 3:30 PM where the 2011 Chase participants will drive down the famed Las Vegas Strip, with burnout locations along the route and experience an actual pit stop before winding up at the famous Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

- NASCAR After The Lap, scheduled for 4:30 PM Thursday, December 1st at the Hard Rock which features an unfiltered, "tell-all" question-and-answer session for the 2011 Chase participants. Fans can buy tickets to this event for $20 at NASCARafterthelap.com; all proceeds benefit the NASCAR Foundation, the sport's non-profit organization that works to benefit charities and community initiatives throughout the United States.

- The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Ceremony, starting at 6:00 PM PST at the Wynn Las Vegas on Friday, December 2nd and honoring the top-10 finishers in the 2011 Sprint Cup standings. SPEED will once again carry tape-delayed coverage of the event beginning at 9:00 EST.

This marks the third consecutive year the sport has held its season-ending celebration in Las Vegas. The banquet was previously held in New York from 1981-2008.

"Our goal from the outset was to bring fans closer to the action, and have them engage with our drivers in a personal way," said NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France. "Las Vegas has done just that. As the home to NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion's Week, Las Vegas has upped the excitement level, and has embraced the sport during one of its signature weeks."

 

Rusty Wallace, Inc. Not Shutting Down After All

Looks like the rumors of RWI's departure from the Nationwide Series are greatly exaggerated. In a phone interview Monday with Scene Daily's Bob Pockrass, owner Rusty Wallace denied a FoxSports.com report, sparked by his own comments days earlier he's ready to put the two-car organization on the shelf until the sponsorship climate improves.

"We've got about five of our sponsors under contract," Wallace said. "I don't plan on shutting my team down at all … I might have to slow down a little bit. I can't put any of my personal money into this thing.

"I've already put personal money into this thing, more than I'm feeling comfortable with to keep it going. With that said, I'm not sitting here feeling sorry for myself because 90 percent of the garage area has this problem and my situation is no different."

The organization currently fields the No. 62 for Michael Annett and the No. 66 for Rusty's son Stephen, which is losing primary sponsor 5-Hour Energy after the season. Annett brings his own sponsorship to the team, through Pilot Travel Centers and Wallace expects that relationship to continue in 2012. As for Stephen, a limited schedule is being considered of about 15-20 Nationwide Series races in a "worst-case scenario;" Wallace also indicated the team would be willing to run Cup part-time with the right sponsorship opportunity.

Steven Wallace, who has just six top-5 finishes in 186 starts has struggled this season, running eighth in the Nationwide Series standings but seemingly stalled in a development program that's lasted seven years. But his father, impressed with Steven's performance believes he can run competitively in Cup under the right circumstances.

"Believe it or not, I think [Steven] is in pretty decent shape to get in a Cup car and run in the top 20 with fair ease," Rusty Wallace claimed, "From what I see week after week watching from our [ESPN] pit studio."

The organization, which has even run a third car in select races this season will likely slim down to just two in 2012.

News Bites

- Clint Bowyer's deal with Michael Waltrip Racing appears to be finalized for 2012. A press conference has been scheduled for Friday at Kansas Speedway, where multiple sources confirm the duo is expected to announce their long-term partnership with new sponsor 5-Hour Energy jumping on board. The team, an expansion of the MWR effort will be an as-yet-unnumbered third car running out of their shop. JTG Daugherty Racing, while likely to continue their affiliation with the program will move into their own facility while still receiving chassis and information assistance.

- Is Travis Pastrana done with the X Games? Pastrana told the Sporting News his July, 2011 appearance will be his last in the extreme sports competition, turning his focus to NASCAR exclusively for 2012. Breaking his right foot and ankle while performing a trick at the X Games, that injury ended any chance for a 2011 debut in the Nationwide Series. Right now, he's preparing for a 2012 schedule of up to 20 races depending on sponsorship.

"Not to say my action sports career is done, but as far as anything taking risks," Pastrana said. "I'm definitely going to be in this car and trying to do the best that I can to put my best foot forward."

- Over the weekend, Earnhardt Ganassi Racing welcomed a new Technical Director in John Probst. Probst, leaving his post at soon-to-be-defunct Red Bull Racing will assist in managing the struggling two-car effort of Juan Pablo Montoya and Jamie McMurray, who remain winless this season. Red Bull's Jayme Christianson, formerly public relations for Brian Vickers has taken a job with NASCAR's Integrated Marketing Communications department, as RBR staff members seek other employment before the expected layoffs of 150 personnel this December.

Have news for Tom and the Frontstretch? Don't hesitate to let us know; email us at ashland10@mail.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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Numbers Game: AAA 400
by Brett Poirier

3
Chase victories for Kurt Busch since 2004.  Busch picked up his 24th career victory on Sunday.

3
Tracks left on the circuit that Kasey Kahne has not scored a top-5 finish at.  Kahne crossed Dover off of the list with a fourth-place finish on Sunday. The others? Kansas, Kentucky, and Watkins Glen.
 
3
11th-place finishes for Jeff Burton in 2011. Burton has one top-10 result, but finished 11th in both Dover races this season.

3
Races in which both Richard Petty Motorsports cars have finished in the top 10 in 2011.  A.J. Allmendinger tied his best career finish at Dover by placing seventh on Sunday. Marcos Ambrose was ninth.  They also both recorded top 10s at Charlotte in the spring and Watkins Glen in the summer.

4
Lucky dogs or free passes given to drivers participating in The Chase on Sunday at Dover.  Carl Edwards and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. each received the free pass once and Brad Keselowski used it twice.

4th
Kurt Busch's previous best finish at Dover.  Busch led 90 laps for his first win in 23 starts at the Monster Mile on Sunday.

6
Consecutive races at Dover in which Jimmie Johnson has led the most laps.  Johnson led 157 laps on Sunday. It was the fewest laps led by Johnson at the track since the fall of 2008.

8
Chase races at Dover won by Chase-eligible drivers.  Kurt Busch became the eighth Chase driver to win the race in as many attempts.

10
The combined number of laps down Tony Stewart has finished in the last three races at Dover. He was two laps down on Sunday, six laps down in the spring and two laps down in the fall race of 2010. His best finish in those races was 21st in the fall of 2010. He was 25th on Sunday.

12
Races since Kasey Kahne's last top-5 finish before a fourth-place run at Dover on Sunday. Kahne last scored a top-5 at Daytona in July.

12
Top-5 finishes for Matt Kenseth in 26 starts at Dover. He finished fifth on Sunday and has more top 5s at Dover in his career than at any other track.

14
Top 10s for Jimmie Johnson in 20 starts at Dover. He was second on Sunday.

15
The point differential from first-place Carl Edwards and Kevin Harvick to eighth-place Kyle Busch.

16.3
Average finishing position of Sprint Cup drivers following a win in the previous Sprint Cup race in 2011. After winning at New Hampshire, Tony Stewart placed 25th at Dover.

56
Top-10 finishes for Jimmie Johnson in 73 career races in The Chase. He finished second at Dover.

1,120
Laps completed this season by Joe Nemechek through 29 Sprint Cup races.  He ran 49 laps at Dover and finished 39th.

1,189
Laps led this season by Kyle Busch in the Sprint Cup Series, a number that leads all drivers. He paced the field for one lap and finished sixth Sunday at Dover, meaning Busch has led in 21 of the 29 races. 

Brett Poirier is a Contributor to Frontstretch.com.  He can be reached via e-mail at brett.poirier@frontstretch.com.

Today's Featured Commentary
An Angry Kurt Busch Might Be Just What NASCAR Needs

Sitting In The Stands: A Fan's View
by S.D. Grady

Much has been said of late regarding the effectiveness of a certain team's ability to put a fast car under its driver without quitting on the spot.  The whispers have grown into shock, fan disbelief and disgust especially when somebody named Kurt Busch was speaking.  And yet, look at who pulled into Victory Lane this Sunday.  That No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Dodge managed to snare the checkers in the AAA 400 at Dover, putting to bed all the anger and uncertainty that arose after Busch's oft-discussed radio transmissions from the weeks prior.

Now, with two 2011 wins under their belt, this team which has underachieved for much of the past five years is suddenly well in reach of ending "archnemesis" Five-Time's reign.  What an odd thought—and exciting.

Yes, Kurt Busch is a former champion, lending some credence to the idea of him hoisting the Cup in Homestead, but believing in a second title seems almost impossible considering his history of verbal abuse.  And yet, with a bevy of teams in the Chase seemingly trading paint and misfortune on a weekly basis, the possibility — however improbable — must be considered.  So, we are left pondering what life in NASCAR would be like if Kurt Busch, the master of sarcasm and the brutal putdown, were to reign once again.  Would this change be a good thing for the sport?

For five long years, we have been subjected to Jimmie Johnson's pleasant smiling face, his perfectly-delivered ads and a suspicious lack of drama from within his garage.  Even as he notched one win after another and seemed bent on breaking a few records along the way, he and Mr. Knaus haven't exactly gone about rewriting the rules of political correctness.  Instead, their mastery over the paved oval has had all the excitement found in buttered bread, almost plebian in its consistency.  While I'm sure more than one corporate executive has reveled in having such a nice boy as spokesman for the sport, hocking his numerous products, you can't help but wonder if the constant downturn in attendance at races isn't due in part to simple disinterest in its champion.  Maybe a more abrasive personality leading the way just might put some butts back in those blindingly vacant stands.

Let's think back on life before Jimmie, when Standing Room Only tickets were all that remained at many tracks.  There was Tony Stewart, a driver never known for his polite tongue, and the year before that a wholly unedited Kurt Busch graced the headlines.  Perhaps he wasn't ripping apart his own team on a weekly basis, but yes, through Maricopa and mood swings du jour he still managed to rattle your nerves on many an occasion.  Not one person remained stymied when his younger brother followed so well in those steps, the elder Busch working so hard to pave the way in perfecting the approach to being obnoxious.  And even before then, there were the years of Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt, Sr.  We did not watch for the polite struggle between this pair, but for the inevitable clashes of skill and will that define our attachment to this sport. 

Perhaps the much-beleaguered Kurt Busch is not a current favorite, or even wildly hated, but with the return of his anger has come a certain amount of fan aversion toward the elder Busch.  We're not surprised at the vitriol spilling from his mouth, but it doesn't leave a pleasant aftertaste in ours.  We want his crew chief Steve Addington to yell back through the headset, or his over-the-wall to gang to go on strike.  Like any train wreck, though we're unable to stop watching the inevitable carnage.  Our emotions have been engaged, for better or worse, at how this treatment somehow produces teamwork and success.

Should Busch manage to poke and prod the No. 22 to the pinnacle of stock car racing this year, I have little doubt that he would provide far more soundbites in the ensuing 365 days than Johnson has in half a decade.  We'd all have something to talk about, although those execs might cringe a little more often.

So compelling NASCAR sometimes isn't about a fast car, lightning fast reflexes or even a bulletproof team.  It's about what grabs our attention, compels us to turn on the TV or, heaven forbid, actually fork over the cash to head out to the track.  NASCAR is more than auto racing.  It is a form of entertainment and the cast of drivers are what gives a faceless competition character. Undoubtedly, we will always be told the winning team strives for perfection.  But being perfect, for an extended length of time can sometimes reach a level of boredom rather than record-setting entertainment.  Hypnotized and dizzy, sick of the "same ol' story" hordes of fans have been staggering away in search of more stimulating competition.

Not only has the return of Kurt Busch's politically incorrect mouth lit a fire under the hood of that Penske Dodge, it has the potential to do the same to NASCAR as a whole. Should we be blessed with a champ who focuses not on smiling at the camera week after week, but rather on getting what he hasn't got, the fans will react.  We'll start talking, chattering, cheering and yes, giving Mr. Busch the good ol' raspberry.  And after five years of stands that have grown quieter with each event, fan reaction of any kind can only be one great big positive for NASCAR.

S.D. Grady is a Senior Editor for Frontstretch.com.  She can be reached via e-mail at sonya.grady@frontstretch.com.
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TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:

Bowyer's Proposed Move To MWR Fraught With Personal Peril
by Danny Peters

Who's Hot / Who's Not In Sprint Cup: Dover-Kansas Edition
by Summer Dreyer

5 Points To Ponder: Ill-Advised Debuts, Hires And Tire Contracts
by Bryan Davis Keith

Talking NASCAR TV: Hollywood Hotel's Switch Combines With ESPN's "Switched Up" Show
by Phil Allaway

Fact Or Fiction: Cup's Next First-Time Winner, Make Or Break Moments, Tire Trials
by Tom Bowles
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Get THE ANNUAL, 2011 Racing Preview for your mobile device.
Go to Frontstretch.com and click on "The Annual" link on the right side to order and download this special issue that includes: Track Information, Driver profiles and In-Depth Features.
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FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
 
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?

 
Check back Wednesday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
 
Monday's Answer:

Q:  This upcoming weekend, Sebastien Vettel has a chance to clinch the World Drivers' Championship in Japan at Suzuka Circuit.  The track has a long history of notable instances in its time on the Formula One calendar.  However, the 1993 running of the Grand Prix of Japan ended with a confrontation between winner Ayrton Senna and upstart newcomer Eddie Irvine.  What happened?

A:  Towards the end of the Grand Prix, Senna was well out in front and had the race in hand.  Irvine, driving a Jordan, was an upstart who was making his World Championship debut.  Late in the race, Irvine was running sixth, in position to score one point on debut when Senna was held up by the slower Williams-Renault of Damon Hill.  Irvine, sick of being stuck behind Hill and Senna, chose to overtake Senna to unlap himself, then hold up Senna himself while he tried unsuccessfully to pass Hill.  Naturally, Senna did not take kindly to this move and punched Irvine square in the face after the race.

 
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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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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Coming tomorrow in the Frontstretch Newsletter:
-- Top News from Tom Bowles
-- Full Throttle by Mike Neff
-- Tweet 'N' Greet by Jay Pennell
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, and more!
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Tomorrow on the Frontstretch:
Did You Notice? ... by Tom Bowles
Did You Notice... the way every Chase team is reaching out to gain an advantage? Tom Bowles explains why their desperation extends to pit selection, what may happen with Dollar General in 2012 and more in his weekly look around the NASCAR Sprint Cup circuit.

Mirror Driving by the Frontstretch Staff
Follow our writer roundtable this week as they enter into a heated debate about Jimmie Johnson and Carl Edwards' chances at the championship, NASCAR's penalty screw-up during the Nationwide race, and much more as we cover all the bases during a busy racing newsweek.
 
Top 15 Power Rankings by the Frontstretch Staff
Which driver came out of Dover on top of our 2011 Power Rankings chart? Jimmie Johnson? Carl Edwards? Kyle Busch? Someone else? Find out who our select Frontstretch experts have labeled as this week's favorite heading into Kansas.

Voice Of Vito by Vito Pugliese
Vito returns to talk about the latest and greatest controversies affecting the stock car circuit.

Beyond The Cockpit: Max Gresham as told to Doug Turnbull
The K&N East Series champ spills the beans on what it's like to be a champion in NASCAR as we preview his full-scale interview on Friday's Frontstretch Podcast.

Frontstretch Top Ten by Jeff Meyer
Jeff's weekly list based on the latest NASCAR controversy will start your morning off with a laugh -- guaranteed.

Foto Funnies: AAA 400 Edition by Kurt Smith
Kurt's back to leave you laughing with the best photos you didn't see in the papers from NASCAR recently.

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©2011 Frontstretch.com

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