The Frontstretch Newsletter: November 10th, 2011

THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
November 10th, 2011
Volume V, Edition CCXL
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Frontstretch sends its well wishes, prayers, and support to all our fans affected by the swath of horrible storms over the past few months. To help out recovery efforts, text "GIVE" to 80888 to donate $10 towards disaster relief efforts in Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Virginia, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Missouri and Vermont through the Salvation Army.

Today's Top News

by Phil Allaway

NASCAR to host EFI Test at Daytona

ESPN.com's David Newton is reporting that NASCAR will hold an Electronic Fuel Injection test at Daytona International Speedway on November 15th.  The track session, one of over a half-dozen to help teams with EFI before 2012 will serve two purposes.  The first one is obvious: adjusting settings for NASCAR's newly mandated engine, adapting it to the four restrictor plate races on the 2012 Sprint Cup schedule which will require a different type of fine-tuning compared to other tracks. 

But the second, more intriguing portion of the test is designed to figure out how to eliminate the two-car drafts that have been a hallmark of restrictor plate races for the last year and change.  At Talladega this Fall, a growing number of fans and drivers were critical of the practice, which forces a driver to "team up" with someone else in order to have any shot to potentially win the race. Six to eight teams are expected to be in Daytona for the "Elimi-Speed Dating" test.  Most of the teams have yet to be revealed publicly, but Dale Earnhardt, Jr. has acknowledged that his No. 88 team will be in Daytona, along with an unnamed additional driver for Hendrick Motorsports.

NASCAR's Most Popular Driver, who enjoyed the pack style racing that was a hallmark of restrictor plates until 2010, is looking forward to the apparently impromptu test session.

"We'll go down [to Daytona] and [NASCAR] will let us know exactly what they're wanting to do, what they're trying to accomplish, [and] what they're trying to try," Earnhardt, Jr. said.  "I want to be able to give them the best feedback I can to give them the solutions they're looking for so that we can, with confidence, go into Daytona in February and expect to put together a great show for the fans that will be there and that will be watching on TV."

It is officially unclear how NASCAR plans to break up the two-car drafts, but it is a given that smaller spoilers will be tested.  These setups were used to varying degrees of success at a recent test at Talladega.

Entry List Update:
Note: These entries are accurate as of Wednesday night.  However, they are still subject to change.

Sprint Cup Series Kobalt Tools 500k: 46 cars entered

Drivers Ineligible to Earn Points:
No. 23 - Scott Riggs for R3 Motorsports
No. 32 - Mike Bliss for FAS Lane Racing
No. 46 - Scott Speed for Whitney Motorsports
No. 51 - Landon Cassill for Phoenix Racing
No. 55 - Travis Kvapil for Front Row Motorsports
No. 84 - Cole Whitt for Red Bull Racing
No. 87 - Joe Nemechek for NEMCO Motorsports

Driver Changes:
No. 7 - Robby Gordon returns to the seat, replacing Reed Sorenson. It is unclear at press time whether the team will go the distance; they haven't finished a race since Watkins Glen in August.
No. 18 - As of now, Kyle Busch returns to his Joe Gibbs Racing car after being parked last weekend in Texas. However, we have yet to receive official word from JGR or sponsor M&M's confirming their approval for him to race.
No. 37 - An unknown driver will be in the seat, replacing Mike Skinner. This team will continue to start and park.
No. 38 - J.J. Yeley returns to the seat, replacing Travis Kvapil. Yeley brings sponsorship from Vampt for this event.
No. 55 - Travis Kvapil returns to the seat, replacing J.J. Yeley. This continues to be a third, start-and-park car for Front Row Motorsports.
No. 66 - Michael McDowell returns to the seat, replacing Josh Wise. This team will continue to start and park.

Drivers who must qualify on speed:
No. 7 - Robby Gordon for Robby Gordon Motorsports*
No. 23 - Scott Riggs for R3 Motorsports (First attempt of 2011)
No. 30 - David Stremme for Inception Motorsports*
No. 35 - Dave Blaney for Tommy Baldwin Racing
No. 37 - Unknown driver for Front Row Motorsports*
No. 46 - Scott Speed for Whitney Motorsports*
No. 55 - Travis Kvapil for Front Row Motorsports*
No. 66 - Michael McDowell for HP Racing, LLC*
No. 71 - Andy Lally for TRG Motorsports
No. 84 - Cole Whitt for Red Bull Racing Team (First career attempt)
No. 87 - Joe Nemechek for NEMCO Motorsports*

Nationwide Series Wypall 200: 48 cars entered

Drivers Ineligible to Earn Points:
No. 18 - Joey Logano for Joe Gibbs Racing
No. 22 - Brad Keselowski for Penske Racing
No. 30 - James Buescher for Turner Motorsports
No. 32 - Ron Hornaday for Turner Motorsports
No. 33 - Clint Bowyer for Kevin Harvick, Inc.
No. 34 - Ricky Carmichael for Turner Motorsports
No. 42 - Erik Darnell for Key Motorsports
No. 60 - Carl Edwards for Roush Fenway Racing
No. 70 - David Stremme for ML Motorsports

Driver Changes:
No. 18 - Joey Logano returns to the seat, replacing Denny Hamlin. This race was not one Kyle Busch was ever scheduled to run for Joe Gibbs Racing.
No. 20 - Ryan Truex returns to the seat, replacing Joey Logano. Truex continues his limited schedule with the team.
No. 32 - Ron Hornaday is in the seat, replacing Brian Vickers. It's the first Nationwide start for Hornaday since Lucas Oil Raceway in the summer of 2010.
No. 34 - Ricky Carmichael is in the seat, replacing James Buescher. This is only the No. 34's second attempt of the season, the other being in Bristol back in March.
No. 39 - Matt Frahm returns to the seat, replacing Joey Gase.
No. 52 - Kevin Lepage returns to the seat, replacing Jamie Dick.

Drivers who must qualify on speed:
No. 02 - Daryl Harr for WestWorld Racing
No. 04 - Tim Andrews for Go Green Racing*
No. 12 - Sam Hornish, Jr. for Penske Racing
No. 13 - Jennifer Jo Cobb for JJC Racing
No. 16 - Trevor Bayne for Roush Fenway Racing
No. 20 - Ryan Truex for Joe Gibbs Racing
No. 34 - Ricky Carmichael for Turner Motorsports
No. 41 - Johnny Chapman for Rick Ware Racing*
No. 42 - Erik Darnell for Key Motorsports*
No. 44 - Jeff Green for TriStar Motorsports*
No. 46 - Chase Miller for Key Motorsports*
No. 47 - Scott Speed for Key Motorsports*
No. 48 - Dennis Setzer for Jay Robinson Racing*
No. 49 - Mark Green for Jay Robinson Racing*
No. 71 - Matt Carter for Rick Ware Racing*
No. 75 - Carl Long for Rick Ware Racing*
No. 80 - D.J. Kennington for MacDonald Motorsports
No. 82 - Reed Sorenson for MacDonald Motorsports

* - Start And Park

News Bites:

- As you saw above, Kyle Busch is officially listed as the driver of the No. 18 for Joe Gibbs Racing for this weekend's Kobalt Tools 500k.  However, rumors persist that Busch may be the recipient of additional punishment internally from Joe Gibbs Racing.  As of Wednesday night, the team still has not sent out a PR advance for the No. 18.  If Busch is not in the car, Michael McDowell would likely get another go in the seat.

- Jayski reported on Wednesday that Rusty Wallace Racing is having a "temporary mass layoff" of employees starting on Sunday, November 20th, the day after the season-ending Ford 300.  This layoff would last until at least January 2nd, depending on sponsorship.  The team still has Michael Annett's backing from Pilot Travel Centers, Flying J Travel Plazas and Northland Oil for 2012.  However, 5-Hour Energy is gone, leaving Steve Wallace without a primary sponsor.

- MacDonald Motorsports will be fielding a third car, the No. 80, this weekend in Phoenix.  Former MacDonald Motorsports driver D.J. Kennington will be behind the wheel.  Longtime sponsor Northern Provinical Pipelines will serve as Kennington's primary sponsor.  Meanwhile, Burtin Polymer Laboratories, which sponsored Reed Sorenson's No. 82 at Texas with their Bullet Liner products, will back the No. 82 for the remaining two races on the schedule.

Have news for Phil and The Frontstretch?  Don't hesitate to let us know; email us at phil.allaway@frontstretch.com with a promising lead or tip.
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Hey Frontstretch Readers!
We know you love the roar of raw horsepower under the hood that powers 43 of the best drivers in the world every weekend, but did you ever wonder how the sponsor on top of that hood also contributes to keeping the sport moving? What about the contributions of official NASCAR companies? If you think they are simply writing checks, think again. Check out our newest feature - Sunday Money. This weekly Frontstretch exclusive provides you with a behind the scenes look how NASCAR, its affiliates and team sponsors approach the daunting task of keeping fans interested and excited about the sport for 38 weeks of the year.
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Editor's Note: What's Vexing Vito Will Return Next Week.

Today's Featured Commentary
Be Careful What You Wish For
Shakedown Session
by Brody Jones

Depending on how one feels about the No. 48 Lowe's team, the last five years have been highly irritating or an absolute thrill watching Jimmie Johnson dominate the Sprint Cup landscape.  For the last five years, the very vocal anti-Jimmie contingent has long since been clamoring for new blood to enter the championship fray.  Well NASCAR fans, be careful what one wishes for because now… it's likely going to happen.

Going into Phoenix this weekend, it's all but a given that either Carl Edwards or Tony Stewart will be hoisting the championship trophy at Homestead in ten short days.  Johnson, 55 points back with two races left would need an absolute miracle to get back in contention. So what we're left with are two challengers, the last pre-Johnson champ in 2005 and one of his fiercest opponents in recent years. In one corner, there is Carl Edwards, living proof of the old saying "always a bridesmaid, but never a bride," having been overshadowed over the last half-decade with the dominance of Jimmie Johnson.  Consistency had been an issue for the Columbia, Missouri native in years past where his team would fall apart late in the season, but this year, that reliability has put Edwards in the catbird's seat at Phoenix.  Through eight races, Edwards has no finish lower than 11th although he has registered a win back at Las Vegas in March.

On the other side of the ledger is Tony Stewart.  The Columbus, Indiana native is the only driver to date that has won a Chase and a championship in the old points system; he's now seeking his third title in a most improbable fashion.  After more or less limping into the Chase this year, the No. 14 Mobil 1/Office Depot Chevrolet Impala driver has put together one heck of a stretch run, winning four out of eight playoff races.  Not bad for a guy who this summer felt he was wasting a postseason spot, eh?  Basically, Stewart has become this year's version of Jimmie Johnson, performing so-so in the first 26 races, yet turning up the heat in the last ten events of the season. Bit by bit, piece by piece, Stewart has put together a magnificent Chase and now is in a good position to snatch victory away from Edwards - just like Eric Reid snatched victory for LSU from the jaws of defeat on his crucial interception this past Saturday night against Alabama.

Regardless of which driver hoists the championship trophy at Homestead in a week and a half, it's definitely been a wild and exciting Chase.  But the real question posed is for NASCAR fans, the majority of whom have gotten what they want: Can they be truly happy about a great Chase or, as some fans are want to do, will they nitpick the playoff and find another way to complain? Truth be told, fans should be grateful for the exciting season that 2011 has been.  Oh sure, there were a great deal of fuel mileage races and controversy along the way, but looking at the realization that Edwards and Stewart are separated by just three points, with only two races to go in the 2011 campaign, how can NASCAR fans not enjoy this type of drama?

Brody Jones is a Contributor to Frontstretch.com.  He can be reached via e-mail at brody.jones@frontstretch.com.

The Critic's Annex:  Lowes Foods World Finals
by Phil Allaway

Hello, race fans.  Welcome back to the Critic's Annex, where we provide our loyal readers with an additional look into the telecasts we have at our disposal during the week.  Last weekend, the Dirt Track at Charlotte hosted the second annual Lowes Foods World Finals, a marathon of racing that closed out the 2011 season for World Racing Group's three biggest series.  Those divisions are the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series, the World of Outlaws Late Models, and the Super DirtCar Series for Big Block Modifieds.

Since we covered this event here in the Critic's Annex last year, we're going to do a little compare and contrast between last year and this year's telecasts on SPEED in order to see how they measured up.

Many of the same personalities were in play as last year.  Brad Doty and Shane Andrews were back, along with Bobby Gerould in the pits.  Dave DeSpain was back at his usual perch; however, Ralph Sheheen, who did play-on-play on the action from Syracuse, was in the booth.  Also, Dick Berggren was out and Roger Slack was brought in to replace him.  Slack is the new promoter at Eldora Speedway (under Tony Stewart ownership) although he spent Super Dirt Week as the grandmaster of track operations (he was in charge of preparing the one mile track's surface).  Slack was a little too willing to plug Eldora throughout the broadcast; I'm sure Stewart didn't mind.

Unlike last year, the series was able to (just barely) get Friday's card in, so they showed highlights of Friday night's action.  Last year, Friday night was a complete and total washout, requiring two full days of racing to be done in one long, ten-plus hour event.   If you remember, the first half or so of last year's telecast was chopped to heck and back so that they could cover most of the action.  Even then, they were skipping multiple heat races and B-Mains.

Now, it should be noted that this telecast was not live.  The broadcast started at 8 PM EDT and the sun was still out.  There is simply no way that would be possible in a live telecast this time of year.  Even so, SPEED still did not show all of the preliminary competition.  They managed to cut out one of the Super DirtCar Series Heat races (the one that Jimmy Phelps won).  In addition, at least one Sprint Car heat race was cut out so that SPEED could air an interview with Matt Sheppard and Billy Decker.  Viewers could see cars coming off the track from a heat race behind the two racers and DeSpain.  Finally, very brief highlights were shown of the fourth Late Model heat (basically just to highlight Tim McCreadie's adventures).  They also talked about the sixth and final Late Model heat, only to go to commercial (following an interview with Jason Meyers) and skip it entirely.

Like last year, Jimmy Owens' heat race was cut out of the broadcast.  That stuff is just irritating.  C'mon now.  Also, SPEED only aired the B-Main that Rick Eckert was in and skipped the other two.  The Sprint Cars had D, C, and B-Mains prior to their feature, but only the B-Main was shown.

It looks like the preliminary coverage was focused on star power.  If you weren't in a heat race with notable drivers, your race wasn't televised.  It's bush league.  In order to prevent this stupidity, SPEED should expand this show to six hours or so and push SPEED Center into the overnight hours.  It's the only way to do this event justice.  Also, it is being held during a time of year where there is little else on SPEED.  Even if they started coverage at 6 PM EDT or even 5 PM EDT, it would not have gotten in the way of the Nationwide race on ESPN2 since that was over by 3:30.  Perhaps it's just not possible to provide legitimate live coverage of an event like this one.  Last year's race day must have been a horrifically tiring experience for everyone involved.

Finally, we get to the A-Mains.  We'll start with the Super DirtCar Series and their 40-lap feature.  This event had to be an outright sprint for these competitors after two straight 200-lap races (Syracuse and Orange County Fair Speedway in Middletown, NY).  The main focus was the point battle between Sheppard and Decker, who were separated by ten points entering the feature (Note: I don't understand their point system at all.  The earning of points for winning features, I can understand, but not getting 1,000 bonus points.  I guess there's a bonus for winning a track championship?).

I expected the race to be completely focused on those two drivers, and it was.  That is, until McCreadie came up from behind and stole the show.  Found it interesting that Victory Lane was on the other side of the catchfence in front of the grandstands (and also took note of the music from "Days of Thunder" blaring on the loudspeakers).  Never seen a setup like that before.  After the race, SPEED provided interviews with McCreadie, Sheppard and Decker.  Of note, Decker came off as cordial during his interview, but according to our own Mike Neff (who just happened to be at the track Saturday night), he was a very angry man.

Then, we had the Sprint Car feature.  No championship battle to worry about here since Jason Meyers clinched the title basically by showing up.  Most of the action was focused on the Madsen brothers (Kerry and Ian) and Donny Schatz.  There were a number of notable drivers, full and part-time, that basically didn't even get a mention all night.  Jessica Zemken wouldn't have gotten a mention at all had she not blown an engine with nine laps to go in the A-main.  Tim Shaffer, last year's winner of the Knoxville Nationals, broke and got nary a mention (yes, SPEED showed his No. 83 being shoved by a push truck in the infield, but there was no mention of what happened to him).  After the race, SPEED brought viewers interviews with Schatz, Steve Kinser and Craig Dollansky.

Also, a random note.  Justin Barger, who was in the first Sprint Car heat, was thrown out of the Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints for the season after a ludicrous incident at Lebanon Valley Speedway on June 18.  To make a long story short, Barger and his team tried to intentionally run the rest of the field out of fuel by intentionally prolonging cautions, then refusing to leave the track after Barger was disqualified.  Then, the team was involved in an incident where the track's pit steward was hit by their race car.

Finally, the Late Models came out for a 50-lap feature.  The main story here was the battle between Rick Eckert and Josh Richards for the championship.  Since neither driver had an exquisite time in the preliminaries (Eckert had to win the Last Chance Qualifier just to get into the A-Main, while Richards finished third in Heat No. 5 and started 17th).

In the feature, there were two groups of people that got coverage.  One was Richards and Eckert in their championship battle.  That was nothing short of a street fight for 50 laps.  The other group was whoever happened to be up front at the time (Jonathan Davenport, Scott Bloomquist, etc.).  SPEED would zoom in their cameras on the duel between Richards and Eckert at times.  If you've read my regular critiques at Frontstretch, you probably know where this point is going.

That's right, with 13 laps to go, there was a big wreck right in front of the championship duo that we couldn't even see because SPEED was zoomed in so much.  That is wrong.  I know you want to showcase that battle, but good lord.  It would have looked real bad if one of the two got taken out in what amounted to a "mystery crash" because your cameras were zoomed in like that.  As it stands, Richards did get a piece, while a few other cars (Darrell Lanigan, McCreadie, Chub Frank, Dale McDowell, etc.) were also involved. 

There was a fair amount of discussion based around tire compounds.  Based on what was said on the telecast, the Sprint Car teams were running on some of the softest tire compounds available (at least based on Goodyear's website).  Meanwhile, the Super DirtCar Series teams were racing on some of the hardest Hoosier tires available.  The Late Model teams typically ran medium compound tires.  There was a left rear blowout on Ian Madsen's car during the Sprint Car feature, while some of the Super DirtCar Series teams had to deal with chunking from the tires being too hard for the track.  The only major tire issue in the Late Models was Richards' flat on the last lap of the feature that gave Eckert the title.  That wasn't due to anything other than contact, though.

After the Late Model race, Sheheen, Doty and Andrews recapped the three features and wrapped up the evening. Post-race coverage included a check of the unofficial results and interviews with winner Jimmy Owens and Eckert.

Last year, I closed out my critique of the Lowes Foods World Finals with this statement:  "In the future, SPEED needs to figure out what they want to do with this event.  Do they want it to be a event that they simply show highlighted coverage of, or are they going to do it justice and just show the whole thing 'live live,' regardless of how long it actually takes to do it?  There is an audience out there for these series."

My thoughts on this years' telecast basically mirrors last year's.  The cuts are irritating to put up and hurt the overall quality of SPEED's production.  DeSpain's interviews should not be taking away actual racing from the telecast, but they did.  Having said that, they did announce during the telecast that World Racing Group has reached a multi-year deal with Speedway Motorsports, Inc. to continue to hold the World Finals at the Dirt Track at Charlotte, and a deal for SPEED to continue to televise it.  Perhaps the event will get a much longer timeslot next year.

I hope you liked this critique of SPEED's telecast of the Lowes Foods World Finals.  Check back next week for more critiquing.  Until then, enjoy this weekend's racing from Phoenix and Abu Dhabi.

Phil Allaway is a Senior Writer and the Newsletter Manager for Frontstretch.com.  He can be reached via e-mail at phil.allaway@frontstretch.com.  Follow him on Twitter at @Critic84.
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Frontstretch Line of the Week

From Mirror Driving: Chase Games, Brainless Kyle And Sponsorship Loyalty

"So, going back to his attitude—you guys are basically saying that Kyle Busch is Robby Gordon?" - While reading some of the points being made during Mirror Driving, Phil Allaway came to this consensus.  Kyle Busch might end up putting himself in a situation where he could be too much of a risk for anyone to take on in the future, forcing himself to drive for himself in order to race at all.  Whether that is possible is anyone's guess at this point.

 

Have a nominee for Line of the Week? Email Phil Allaway at phil.allaway@frontstretch.com and you may see yourself in this space next week!
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TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:

MPM2Nite: When Busch Comes To Shove
by Matt McLaughlin

Going Green: JGR's "Bad Boy" Revolution... From Jarrett, To Labonte... To Busch?
by Garrett Horton

 

Potts' Shots: Can Kyle Busch Mature?

by John Potts
  
Professor of Speed: Men Behaving Badly

by Mark Howell
 
Fantasy Insider: Phoenix's Surface Has Changed, But Leaderboard Shouldn't

by Brett Poirier
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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:  In the 1994 Slick 50 200 for CART at Phoenix, the Marlboro-sponsored Penskes dominated the proceedings, leading a combined 172 of the 200 laps.  Emerson Fittipaldi won by 13.5 seconds over teammate Al Unser, Jr., the only other driver on the lead lap.  Third driver Paul Tracy was also a strong contender from pole before being eliminated in a big crash.  What happened?

 
Check back Friday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
 
Wednesday's Answer:
 
Q:  The 2002 Grand-Am United Auto 200 at Phoenix International Raceway's infield road course was the scene of a "last" in the Rolex Sports Car Series. What was it?

 
A:  That "last" was the last time that a driver soloed to victory in a Grand-Am event.  That driver was Boris Said, who drove the No. 54 BMW M3 for Bell Motorsports to a fifth-place overall finish and the GT-class victory.  Today, it is actually against the rules to drive the full length of a sprint race by yourself, so such a feat cannot be attempted today, unless unusual circumstances intervene (Ex: The race is stopped before halfway due to unraceable conditions, and flagged complete).

Frontstretch Trivia Guarantee:  Take the shirt off our backs!  If we've provided an incorrect answer to the Frontstretch Trivia question, be the first to email the corrected trivia answer to trivia@frontstretch.com and we'll send you a Frontstretch T-Shirt ... FREE!
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Coming tomorrow in the Frontstretch Newsletter:
-- Top News & Frontstretch Folio: Phoenix by Summer Dreyer

-- Keepin' It Short by Mike Neff
-- In Case You Missed It by Brett Poirier
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, and more!
 
Tomorrow on the Frontstretch:
  
Four Burning Questions: Phoenix by Brody Jones
We'll have a preview of the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series races this weekend at Phoenix International Raceway.

Holding A Pretty Wheel by Amy Henderson

Amy's back with another interesting commentary.

 

Tearing Apart the Trucks by Beth Lunkenheimer

Beth returns with an intriguing commentary ahead of next Friday's season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Beyond the Cockpit: Sean Corr by Bryan Keith
The ARCA driver stops by to talk 2012 plans, the state of the series and so much more.

Frontstretch Driver Diary: Regan Smith by Tony Lumbis
Regan takes the helm for one final time this season in our monthly driver diaries. Learn what the No. 78 Furniture Row Chevy driver has been doing on and off the track!

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