THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
November 4th, 2011
Volume V, Edition CCXXXIV
~~~~~~~~~~
What to Watch For: Friday
- The Frontstretch is live at Texas Motor Speedway all weekend! Keep an eye on the breaking news box on our main page, on Twitter (@thefrontstretch, and @writer_amy) and Facebook for everything you need to know all weekend long!
- Michael Waltrip Racing is set to make an announcement at 10:30 AM from Texas Motor Speedway. With the release of David Reutimann, the rumors of Mark Martin joining the team to run a part-time schedule in 2012 could become reality.
- Richard Childress Racing and driver Austin Dillon have a press conference scheduled for 11:15 AM at Texas Motor Speedway to reveal their 2012 plans that include sponsorship from a Dallas area company. Previous news from the team has Dillon running a full-time schedule in the Nationwide Series next season with their ultimate goal being to land in the Sprint Cup Series.
- Stewart-Haas Racing owner Tony Stewart and driver Danica Patrick will announce Patrick's Sprint Cup Series schedule for the 2011 season Friday afternoon (2:30 PM) at Texas Motor Speedway. The team will also unveil the car number chosen (rumors are floating it'll be the No. 77 in honor of Dan Wheldon) as well as the paint scheme she will be driving.
Top News
by Beth Lunkenheimer
Buescher Snags Texas Pole
After leading the final practice session, Plano, Texas native James Buescher captured the pole for the WinStar World Casino 350K during Thursday's Dallas Morning News qualifying days at Texas Motor Speedway. With a speed of 181.062 mph, Buescher was the only driver to top the 181 mph mark and lapped the 1.5-mile oval in just under 30 seconds. Points leader Austin Dillon starts alongside with a speed of 180.783 mph. Blake Feese, Kyle Busch and Ricky Carmichael round out the top 5.
"The Exide Chevy was fast from the time we unloaded it. We didn't have to make very many changes. I'm fortunate to have good equipment and have fast trucks but to have them twice in the same year at the same race track is pretty good," Buescher said. "The racetrack has a lot of grip in it from the colder weather. Qualifying at night here is pretty different than what we do at a lot of other places."
The pole was Buescher third in his career and the fifth for Turner Motorsports. With 39 trucks on the entry list, Tim Andrews, Norm Benning and Derek White missed the field.
The race will be broadcast on SPEED beginning at 7:30 PM local time (8:30 ET).
Sauter, Buescher Pace Truck Series Practice Sessions
Johnny Sauter led the first round of practice Thursday afternoon at Texas Motor Speedway. He turned a lap of 181.391 mph and was the only driver to break the 181 mph barrier. Parker Kligerman ran second followed by Kyle Busch, back behind the wheel of the No. 18 Tundra this weekend. Matt Crafton and Ron Hornaday, Jr. rounded out the top 5.
Not to be outdone by his fellow championship contender, James Buescher paced the second and final round of practice later Thursday afternoon with a speed of 180.626. Rookie Nelson Piquet, Jr. ran second with Matt Crafton in third. Brothers Ty and Austin Dillon rounded out the top 5.
Cale Gale to Eddie Sharp Racing in 2012
Eddie Sharp Racing and sponsor Rheem Manufacturing Company will serve as the primary sponsor of the No. 33 Chevrolet Silverado for the full 2012 season with driver Cale Gale behind the wheel. The team will also receive support from Chevrolet and RCR Engines after entering into a technical alliance with Richard Childress Racing.
"I am looking forward to 2012 and being a part of the Rheem racing family," Team Owner Eddie Sharp said in a release. "Rheem has become synonymous with winners for many years, and to have their support as we move forward with Cale is really special."
Rheem also signed a multi-year agreement with Richard Childress Racing to serve as primary sponsor on Kevin Harvick's No. 29 Chevrolet for ten Sprint races along with serving as a co-primary sponsor with Budweiser for the All-Star race. The manufacturing company will also continue its co-sponsorship with Menards on Paul Menard's No. 33 Nationwide ride for 12 races next season.
Reutimann Released From MWR
Michael Waltrip Racing announced Thursday that David Reutimann has been released, effective at the conclusion of the 2011 season. Reutimann, who owns the only two victories in MWR's resume was notified earlier this week that he would not return to the team for the 2012 season.
"David has been a significant part of Michael Waltrip Racing since the very beginning and will forever be a part of our heritage," Team Co-Owner Michael Waltrip said in a statement. "We want to thank David for his contribution to our growth and success over the past five years and wish him well in the future.
In 168 Cup Series starts, the driver of the Aaron's Camry scored two victories, 12 top 5s and 25 top-10 finishes.
Have news for Beth and The Frontstretch? Don't hesitate to let us know; email us at phil.allaway@frontstretch.com with a promising lead or tip.
~~~~~~~~~~
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 special 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.
~~~~~~~~~~
In Case You Missed It
by Brett Poirier
Arrangements made for the late Russ Wallace
The Wallace family will receive friends of Russell "Russ" Wallace at Grace Covenant Church in Cornelius N.C. from 4-8 PM on Monday. Russ, 77, died on Oct. 30 at Carolinas Medical Center from complications from a stroke he suffered days earlier. The family will also receive friends at Schrader's Funeral Home in Ballwin, Mo. A burial will be held at 4 PM on Tuesday at Sunset Memorial in St. Louis.
Russ is the father of NASCAR drivers Mike, Kenny and retired Sprint-Cup champion and current ESPN analyst Rusty. He was an accomplished dirt-track racer in Missouri, winning more than 200 feature races from 1974-78. The family is asking that en lieu of flowers that donations are made to the USO (uso.org/Wallace) or to the Victory Junction Camp (4500 Adam's Way, Randleman, NC 27317).
Reba McEntire to host Sprint Cup Awards Ceremony
NASCAR officials have announced that country music artist and actress Reba McEntire has been named the host of the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Ceremony on Dec. 2 at Wynn Las Vegas. The event, which will be broadcast on SPEED, honors the champion, as well as other top-10 finishers in the standings.
McEntire will perform the song, "Turn on the Radio" off of her latest album, "All the Women I am." She will also perform in other segments. More announcements about the awards ceremony are expected in the coming weeks.
Mears will be on HGTV show
On Saturday, HGTV's cameras will visit Texas Motor Speedway to tour Casey Mears' personal motor home for an episode of "Celebrity Coaches." The film crew will also follow Mears around for a portion of the weekend to see how he lives at the track. There has been no news on when the episode will air yet.
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
November 4th, 2011
Volume V, Edition CCXXXIV
~~~~~~~~~~
What to Watch For: Friday
- The Frontstretch is live at Texas Motor Speedway all weekend! Keep an eye on the breaking news box on our main page, on Twitter (@thefrontstretch, and @writer_amy) and Facebook for everything you need to know all weekend long!
- Michael Waltrip Racing is set to make an announcement at 10:30 AM from Texas Motor Speedway. With the release of David Reutimann, the rumors of Mark Martin joining the team to run a part-time schedule in 2012 could become reality.
- Richard Childress Racing and driver Austin Dillon have a press conference scheduled for 11:15 AM at Texas Motor Speedway to reveal their 2012 plans that include sponsorship from a Dallas area company. Previous news from the team has Dillon running a full-time schedule in the Nationwide Series next season with their ultimate goal being to land in the Sprint Cup Series.
- Stewart-Haas Racing owner Tony Stewart and driver Danica Patrick will announce Patrick's Sprint Cup Series schedule for the 2011 season Friday afternoon (2:30 PM) at Texas Motor Speedway. The team will also unveil the car number chosen (rumors are floating it'll be the No. 77 in honor of Dan Wheldon) as well as the paint scheme she will be driving.
Top News
by Beth Lunkenheimer
Buescher Snags Texas Pole
After leading the final practice session, Plano, Texas native James Buescher captured the pole for the WinStar World Casino 350K during Thursday's Dallas Morning News qualifying days at Texas Motor Speedway. With a speed of 181.062 mph, Buescher was the only driver to top the 181 mph mark and lapped the 1.5-mile oval in just under 30 seconds. Points leader Austin Dillon starts alongside with a speed of 180.783 mph. Blake Feese, Kyle Busch and Ricky Carmichael round out the top 5.
"The Exide Chevy was fast from the time we unloaded it. We didn't have to make very many changes. I'm fortunate to have good equipment and have fast trucks but to have them twice in the same year at the same race track is pretty good," Buescher said. "The racetrack has a lot of grip in it from the colder weather. Qualifying at night here is pretty different than what we do at a lot of other places."
The pole was Buescher third in his career and the fifth for Turner Motorsports. With 39 trucks on the entry list, Tim Andrews, Norm Benning and Derek White missed the field.
The race will be broadcast on SPEED beginning at 7:30 PM local time (8:30 ET).
Sauter, Buescher Pace Truck Series Practice Sessions
Johnny Sauter led the first round of practice Thursday afternoon at Texas Motor Speedway. He turned a lap of 181.391 mph and was the only driver to break the 181 mph barrier. Parker Kligerman ran second followed by Kyle Busch, back behind the wheel of the No. 18 Tundra this weekend. Matt Crafton and Ron Hornaday, Jr. rounded out the top 5.
Not to be outdone by his fellow championship contender, James Buescher paced the second and final round of practice later Thursday afternoon with a speed of 180.626. Rookie Nelson Piquet, Jr. ran second with Matt Crafton in third. Brothers Ty and Austin Dillon rounded out the top 5.
Cale Gale to Eddie Sharp Racing in 2012
Eddie Sharp Racing and sponsor Rheem Manufacturing Company will serve as the primary sponsor of the No. 33 Chevrolet Silverado for the full 2012 season with driver Cale Gale behind the wheel. The team will also receive support from Chevrolet and RCR Engines after entering into a technical alliance with Richard Childress Racing.
"I am looking forward to 2012 and being a part of the Rheem racing family," Team Owner Eddie Sharp said in a release. "Rheem has become synonymous with winners for many years, and to have their support as we move forward with Cale is really special."
Rheem also signed a multi-year agreement with Richard Childress Racing to serve as primary sponsor on Kevin Harvick's No. 29 Chevrolet for ten Sprint races along with serving as a co-primary sponsor with Budweiser for the All-Star race. The manufacturing company will also continue its co-sponsorship with Menards on Paul Menard's No. 33 Nationwide ride for 12 races next season.
Reutimann Released From MWR
Michael Waltrip Racing announced Thursday that David Reutimann has been released, effective at the conclusion of the 2011 season. Reutimann, who owns the only two victories in MWR's resume was notified earlier this week that he would not return to the team for the 2012 season.
"David has been a significant part of Michael Waltrip Racing since the very beginning and will forever be a part of our heritage," Team Co-Owner Michael Waltrip said in a statement. "We want to thank David for his contribution to our growth and success over the past five years and wish him well in the future.
In 168 Cup Series starts, the driver of the Aaron's Camry scored two victories, 12 top 5s and 25 top-10 finishes.
Have news for Beth and The Frontstretch? Don't hesitate to let us know; email us at phil.allaway@frontstretch.com with a promising lead or tip.
~~~~~~~~~~
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 special 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.
~~~~~~~~~~
In Case You Missed It
by Brett Poirier
Arrangements made for the late Russ Wallace
The Wallace family will receive friends of Russell "Russ" Wallace at Grace Covenant Church in Cornelius N.C. from 4-8 PM on Monday. Russ, 77, died on Oct. 30 at Carolinas Medical Center from complications from a stroke he suffered days earlier. The family will also receive friends at Schrader's Funeral Home in Ballwin, Mo. A burial will be held at 4 PM on Tuesday at Sunset Memorial in St. Louis.
Russ is the father of NASCAR drivers Mike, Kenny and retired Sprint-Cup champion and current ESPN analyst Rusty. He was an accomplished dirt-track racer in Missouri, winning more than 200 feature races from 1974-78. The family is asking that en lieu of flowers that donations are made to the USO (uso.org/Wallace) or to the Victory Junction Camp (4500 Adam's Way, Randleman, NC 27317).
Reba McEntire to host Sprint Cup Awards Ceremony
NASCAR officials have announced that country music artist and actress Reba McEntire has been named the host of the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Ceremony on Dec. 2 at Wynn Las Vegas. The event, which will be broadcast on SPEED, honors the champion, as well as other top-10 finishers in the standings.
McEntire will perform the song, "Turn on the Radio" off of her latest album, "All the Women I am." She will also perform in other segments. More announcements about the awards ceremony are expected in the coming weeks.
Mears will be on HGTV show
On Saturday, HGTV's cameras will visit Texas Motor Speedway to tour Casey Mears' personal motor home for an episode of "Celebrity Coaches." The film crew will also follow Mears around for a portion of the weekend to see how he lives at the track. There has been no news on when the episode will air yet.
~~~~~~~~~~
Hey Frontstretch Readers!
Did you know The Frontstretch has a weekly podcast? Hosted by Doug Turnbull, the latest podcast comes out every Friday. This week, Doug and columnist Bryan Davis Keith discuss David Reutimann, Jeremy Mayfield's legal troubles and much more! Check it out here!
~~~~~~~~~~
Keepin' It Short: We Need More Short Tracks
by Mike Neff
Keepin' it Short is normally for all of the local short track fans in the country, but we're going to diverge from our normal angle briefly this week thanks to the tremendous action in Martinsville, Virginia last weekend. The Cup race at the shortest track on the schedule had just about everything a short track racing fan could ask for. Brian Vickers hit everything but the ambulance, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. was playing bumper cars for most of the race, Jimmie Johnson had the race in the bag until a late race restart when Tony Stewart made the outside lane work to take the lead and ultimately the win. 18 caution flags flew and not a single one of them was for debris, at least not initially. The longest green flag run was 99 laps and that was the only run over 56 laps in length. Simply stated, the race is what we want to see more of.
There are only three race tracks on the schedule that are less than a mile in length--Richmond, Bristol and Martinsville--and each track has its own personality. Richmond is a mini-Intermediate with moderate banking, featuring a dogleg in the front straight and plenty of side-by-side racing. Bristol is a high banked half-mile that used to be single file but, thanks to the variable banking, is now providing side-by-side racing as well. Meanwhile there is Martinsville, two drag strips connected by very tight corners and supposed banking of 12 degrees which leads to single file racing and bump-and-runs to pass.
After watching last weekend's race, there is no question that we need more tracks under a mile in length and it should not be all that hard to accomplish. There are seven race tracks on the current Cup schedule that are 1.5-mile tri or quad-ovals, Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Kansas, Kentucky, Vegas and Texas. Of those, four of them have seats on the back straight or turn three, although Texas and Las Vegas only have minor seating areas in those locations. Chicago, Kansas and Kentucky do not have any seating on the back straight. It would be relatively easy (in major construction terms) to take those tracks, alter the corners to a tighter radius, move the back straight closer to the stands, and have a track that is somewhere in the 7/8 to ¾-mile length. It will obviously require some adjusting in the infields and garage areas, but in the end, it will provide far greater racing and ultimately result in more fans at the track and watching on television.
It isn't just fans who want to see more short track racing. "I'll admit that when we went through this big building process," Jeff Gordon said, "of all these mile-and-a-halfs, nobody considered building something more like a Bristol or a Richmond or something like that. I think that we need one or two more tracks like that on the circuit."
And Gordon wasn't alone in his thoughts.
"Please build some more short tracks," begged Dale Earnhardt, Jr after Martinsville. "We need some more short tracks. All these 1.5-mile tracks…I know you can get more seats or whatever, but they just don't really turn everybody on, y'know?"
NASCAR was built on short track racing and unfortunately, over the last 20 years, has truly abandoned those roots. Sunday's race saw a more than 25% increase in television ratings. The fans are clamoring for more close quarter racing where drivers can pass for the lead some time after the first five laps after a green flag flies. The short tracks give that kind of racing to the fans and it would not be that costly to the ISC and / or SMI folks to yank up some asphalt and put it down a little closer to the fans. Every year the best races of the season take place at Bristol, Richmond and Martinsville. Hopefully the track owners will realize that and give us more of them.
This Weekend's Racing Schedule
Fri : Nov. 4th – Deep South Speedway ; Loxley : AL – Crate Late Models
Fri : Nov. 4th – Canyon Speedway ; Peoria : AZ – Total Seal Late Models
Fri : Nov. 4th – Canyon Speedway ; Peoria : AZ – West Coast Late Models
Fri : Nov. 4th - Perris Auto Speedway ; Perris : CA - California Lightning Sprints
Fri : Nov. 4th - Perris Auto Speedway ; Perris : CA - USAC/CRA 410
Fri : Nov. 4th - Perris Auto Speedway ; Perris : CA - USAC National Sprint Cars
Fri : Nov. 4th - Five Flags Speedway ; Pensacola : FL - Tampa Bay Auto Racing Association
Fri : Nov. 4th – Dixie Speedway ; Woodstock : GA – Super Late Models
Fri : Nov. 4th – Greenville Speedway ; Greenville : MS – NeSmith Late Models
Fri : Nov. 4th – Greenville Speedway ; Greenville : MS – Promoters Racing Organization Dirt Car Series
Fri : Nov. 4th – County Line Raceway ; Elm City : NC – Late Models
Fri : Nov. 4th – County Line Raceway ; Elm City : NC – Modifieds
Fri : Nov. 4th - Dirt Track @ Charlotte ; Concord : NC - Super DIRTcar Big Block Series
Fri : Nov. 4th - Dirt Track @ Charlotte ; Concord : NC – World of Outlaws Late Models
Fri : Nov. 4th - Dirt Track @ Charlotte ; Concord : NC – World of Outlaws Sprint Cars
Sat : Nov. 5th – Deep South Speedway ; Loxley : AL – Crate Late Models
Sat : Nov. 5th - Mobile International Speedway ; Mobile : AL - Tampa Bay Auto Racing Association
Sat : Nov. 5th - Canyon Speedway Park ; Peoria : AZ - Total Seal Late Model Dirt Series
Sat : Nov. 5th - Canyon Speedway Park ; Peoria : AZ – West Coast Late Models
Sat : Nov. 5th - Perris Auto Speedway ; Perris : CA - California Lightning Sprints
Sat : Nov. 5th - Perris Auto Speedway ; Perris : CA - USAC/CRA 410
Sat : Nov. 5th - Perris Auto Speedway ; Perris : CA - USAC National Sprint Cars
Sat : Nov. 5th - Citrus County Speedway ; Inverness : FL - Florida United Promoters Late Models
Sat : Nov. 5th – Dixie Speedway ; Woodstock : GA – Super Late Models
Sat : Nov. 5th – Waycross Motor Speedway ; Waycross : GA – United Dirt Late Models
Sat : Nov. 5th – Greenville Speedway ; Greenville : MS – NeSmith Late Models
Sat : Nov. 5th – Greenville Speedway ; Greenville : MS – Promoters Racing Organization Dirt Car Series
Sat : Nov. 5th – Ace Speedway ; Altamahaw : NC – Fall Out Invitational
Sat : Nov. 5th – Caraway Speedway ; Asheboro : NC – North/South Shootout - SK Modifieds
Sat : Nov. 5th – Caraway Speedway ; Asheboro : NC – North/South Shootout - Super Late Models
Sat : Nov. 5th – Caraway Speedway ; Asheboro : NC – North/South Shootout Tour-Type Modifieds
Sat : Nov. 5th – County Line Raceway ; Elm City : NC – Late Models
Sat : Nov. 5th – County Line Raceway ; Elm City : NC – Modifieds
Sat : Nov. 5th - Dirt Track @ Charlotte ; Concord : NC - Super DIRTcar Big Blocks
Sat : Nov. 5th - Dirt Track @ Charlotte ; Concord : NC – World of Outlaws Late Models
Sat : Nov. 5th - Dirt Track @ Charlotte ; Concord : NC – World of Outlaws Sprint Cars
Sat : Nov. 5th - Rockingham Raceway Park ; Rockingham : NC - United Auto Racing Association
Sat : Nov. 5th - Rockingham Raceway Park ; Rockingham : NC - USARacing Late Models
Sat : Nov. 5th – Atomic Speedway ; Alma : OH – AMRA Late Models
Sun : Nov. 6th - Florence Motor Speedway ; Florence : SC - Allison Legacy Race Series
Sun : Nov. 6th - Florence Motor Speedway ; Florence : SC – Southeast Limited Late Models
Mike Neff is a Senior Writer for Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via email at mike.neff@frontstretch.com.
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Hey Frontstretch Readers!
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 Folio: AAA 500
by Summer Dreyer
This weekend, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series heads to Texas Motor Speedway for the AAA Texas 500. Sunday's race will be the 34th race of the season and eight in the Chase for the Sprint Cup. The race will be broadcast live Sunday, November 6th, at 3 PM ET on ESPN. Drivers will compete for 334 laps (501 miles) before taking the checkered flag.
Records and Facts
Brian Vickers holds the track qualifying record, with a lap of 27.518 sec at 196.235 mph during qualifying for the 2006 Dickies 500. Vickers finished 27th, one lap down, after leading five laps while Tony Stewart went on to win the race. The pole position was Vickers' only one of the season, and he went on to win one race, five top 5s, and 10 top 10s to finish 15th in points.
Carl Edwards holds the record for the fastest race run at Texas Motor Speedway, with a speed of 151.055 mph in the 2005 Dickies 500. Edwards led 82 of the 334 laps to win by 0.584 sec over second-place Mark Martin. Roush Fenway Racing teammate Matt Kenseth finished third, followed by Casey Mears and Jimmie Johnson. Edwards won a total of four races in 2005 and scored 18 top-10 finishes in 36 starts.
Denny Hamlin is the defending race winner of this event, leading 31 of the 334 laps to win by 0.488 sec over second-place Matt Kenseth. Mark Martin finished third, followed by Joey Logano and Greg Biffle. Hamlin won a total of eight races in 2010, finishing second in points to Jimmie Johnson.
Track Facts
Track/Race Length: 1.5-mile quad oval, 334 laps (501 miles)
Pit Road Speed: 45 mph
Degree of Banking: 24 degrees in the corners
Frontstretch: 2,250 ft., banked 5 degrees
Backstretch: 1,330 ft., banked 5 degrees
Grandstand Seating: 122,377
Pre-race Schedule
Practice: Friday, November 4th, 1:00 – 2:30 PM ET on ESPN2
Qualifying: Friday, November 4th, 4:40 PM ET on ESPN2
2nd Practice: Saturday, November 5th, 9:45 – 10:30 AM ET on SPEED
Happy Hour: Saturday, November 5th, 11:00AM – 12:00 PM ET on ESPN2
Race Day Forecast
Sunday: Scattered Thunderstorms, 40% chance of rain
High: 70
Low: 61
Say What?!
"I don't think there's a specific strategy other than to go to Texas and try to build on the success we've had with our Aflac team. We've run really well there. There could not be a better racetrack for us to be going to. I feel like we made it through the first seven races of the Chase better than we expected. Now we just go these last three races and go for broke." -Carl Edwards
"Texas has always been a strong track for us, even though our record doesn't show it. Our average finish position there is like an eighth, but it really should be even better than that. We just missed winning a race there last season and we've finished fourth a bunch. But we had better cars than those fourth- place runs were. Pit strategy and other problems have kept us from a couple of wins at the track I think. So going into the weekend, I know this is a place we should be able to run up front at. And after our run at Charlotte, which is similar in size and shape to Texas, I feel even more confident. I'm looking for a good weekend in Texas." -Joey Logano
"This place has really turned into a fantastic track. When we first came here, it was a really, really challenging racetrack. It was fast and the transitions were really abrupt. It was hard to just stay out of the wall. But as the surface has worn and as we've gotten the cars handling better, it's become one of the premier tracks. It's always been one of the premier facilities, but the racetrack itself has really come into its own and made great racing, as well." -Jeff Gordon
Summer Dreyer is a Senior Writer for Frontstretch.com. She can be reached via email at summer.dreyer@frontstretch.com.
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TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:
Who's Carrying Whom? The Question Behind the No. 48
by Amy Henderson
Four Burning Questions: Mind Games, Payback, and Who's Still In It?
by Brody Jones
Voices From the Heartland; BSNews! Martinsville to be reconfigured
by Jeff Meyer
Now What? 2012 Looking Ambiguous, Ominous for the Nationwide Series
by Bryan Davis Keith
Frontstretch Podcast: November 4th Edition
hosted by Doug Turnbull
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FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Q: The 2002 Boomtown Casino 500k was not the best time for Sam Hornish, Jr. when he failed to finish after colliding with Eddie Cheever in Turn 3 and crashing. However, he had other issues earlier in the race under caution. What happened?
Check back Monday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
Thursday's Answer:
Q: Until 2004, the WinStar World Casino 350k race at Texas Motor Speedway was paired up with a second Izod IndyCar Series race. The 2003 Chevy 500 was unfortunately marred by a horrible crash that ended the race five laps short of it's prescribed distance. What happened?
A: Towards the end of the race, Kenny Brack and Tomas Scheckter were racing for position on the backstretch when Brack appeared to hit Scheckter's right rear wheel. The impact spun out Scheckter and caused Brack's car to get airborne, fly into the catchfence and disintigrate on impact. Or, as Brack described it in this clip, "I got thrown into the post for the gate." Brack was seriously injured in the crash, suffering two broken legs, a broken sternum, a shattered back, crushed ankles, broken ribs. The injuries were described at the time as typical of an airplane crash.
Considered at the time to be a career-ending crash, Brack recovered from his injuries, made it back into the driver's seat and raced one last time in the 2005 Indianapolis 500 for Rahal-Letterman Racing as a teammate to Danica Patrick. He failed to finish due to suspension failure.
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 Monday in the Frontstretch Newsletter:
-- AAA 500 Race Recap by Amy Henderson
-- Running Their Mouth: AAA 500 by Brody Jones
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, and more!
Monday on the Frontstretch:
Matt McLaughlin's Thinkin' Out Loud: AAA 500 by Matt McLaughlin
Matt will be here with his overall thoughts about the action from Sunday afternoon's action from the Texas.
David vs. Goliath by Beth Lunkenheimer
Who's hot and who's not towards the back end of the owner points battle? Beth brings the stories you didn't hear about into print from Sunday's race from Texas.
Monday Morning Teardown by Ron Lemasters
Ron returns for a website look at one of the big stories from Sunday's race from Texas.
Bowles-Eye View by Tom Bowles
Tom brings back his weekly post-race commentary with all of the insight you need from a weekend of racing from Texas.
Big Six: AAA 500 by Amy Henderson
Looking for all you need to know leaving the eighth race in the Chase for the Sprint Cup? Amy has your who, what, when, where, why and how from a weekend of racing at Texas.
-----------------------------
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
Hey Frontstretch Readers!
Did you know The Frontstretch has a weekly podcast? Hosted by Doug Turnbull, the latest podcast comes out every Friday. This week, Doug and columnist Bryan Davis Keith discuss David Reutimann, Jeremy Mayfield's legal troubles and much more! Check it out here!
~~~~~~~~~~
Keepin' It Short: We Need More Short Tracks
by Mike Neff
Keepin' it Short is normally for all of the local short track fans in the country, but we're going to diverge from our normal angle briefly this week thanks to the tremendous action in Martinsville, Virginia last weekend. The Cup race at the shortest track on the schedule had just about everything a short track racing fan could ask for. Brian Vickers hit everything but the ambulance, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. was playing bumper cars for most of the race, Jimmie Johnson had the race in the bag until a late race restart when Tony Stewart made the outside lane work to take the lead and ultimately the win. 18 caution flags flew and not a single one of them was for debris, at least not initially. The longest green flag run was 99 laps and that was the only run over 56 laps in length. Simply stated, the race is what we want to see more of.
There are only three race tracks on the schedule that are less than a mile in length--Richmond, Bristol and Martinsville--and each track has its own personality. Richmond is a mini-Intermediate with moderate banking, featuring a dogleg in the front straight and plenty of side-by-side racing. Bristol is a high banked half-mile that used to be single file but, thanks to the variable banking, is now providing side-by-side racing as well. Meanwhile there is Martinsville, two drag strips connected by very tight corners and supposed banking of 12 degrees which leads to single file racing and bump-and-runs to pass.
After watching last weekend's race, there is no question that we need more tracks under a mile in length and it should not be all that hard to accomplish. There are seven race tracks on the current Cup schedule that are 1.5-mile tri or quad-ovals, Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Kansas, Kentucky, Vegas and Texas. Of those, four of them have seats on the back straight or turn three, although Texas and Las Vegas only have minor seating areas in those locations. Chicago, Kansas and Kentucky do not have any seating on the back straight. It would be relatively easy (in major construction terms) to take those tracks, alter the corners to a tighter radius, move the back straight closer to the stands, and have a track that is somewhere in the 7/8 to ¾-mile length. It will obviously require some adjusting in the infields and garage areas, but in the end, it will provide far greater racing and ultimately result in more fans at the track and watching on television.
It isn't just fans who want to see more short track racing. "I'll admit that when we went through this big building process," Jeff Gordon said, "of all these mile-and-a-halfs, nobody considered building something more like a Bristol or a Richmond or something like that. I think that we need one or two more tracks like that on the circuit."
And Gordon wasn't alone in his thoughts.
"Please build some more short tracks," begged Dale Earnhardt, Jr after Martinsville. "We need some more short tracks. All these 1.5-mile tracks…I know you can get more seats or whatever, but they just don't really turn everybody on, y'know?"
NASCAR was built on short track racing and unfortunately, over the last 20 years, has truly abandoned those roots. Sunday's race saw a more than 25% increase in television ratings. The fans are clamoring for more close quarter racing where drivers can pass for the lead some time after the first five laps after a green flag flies. The short tracks give that kind of racing to the fans and it would not be that costly to the ISC and / or SMI folks to yank up some asphalt and put it down a little closer to the fans. Every year the best races of the season take place at Bristol, Richmond and Martinsville. Hopefully the track owners will realize that and give us more of them.
This Weekend's Racing Schedule
Fri : Nov. 4th – Deep South Speedway ; Loxley : AL – Crate Late Models
Fri : Nov. 4th – Canyon Speedway ; Peoria : AZ – Total Seal Late Models
Fri : Nov. 4th – Canyon Speedway ; Peoria : AZ – West Coast Late Models
Fri : Nov. 4th - Perris Auto Speedway ; Perris : CA - California Lightning Sprints
Fri : Nov. 4th - Perris Auto Speedway ; Perris : CA - USAC/CRA 410
Fri : Nov. 4th - Perris Auto Speedway ; Perris : CA - USAC National Sprint Cars
Fri : Nov. 4th - Five Flags Speedway ; Pensacola : FL - Tampa Bay Auto Racing Association
Fri : Nov. 4th – Dixie Speedway ; Woodstock : GA – Super Late Models
Fri : Nov. 4th – Greenville Speedway ; Greenville : MS – NeSmith Late Models
Fri : Nov. 4th – Greenville Speedway ; Greenville : MS – Promoters Racing Organization Dirt Car Series
Fri : Nov. 4th – County Line Raceway ; Elm City : NC – Late Models
Fri : Nov. 4th – County Line Raceway ; Elm City : NC – Modifieds
Fri : Nov. 4th - Dirt Track @ Charlotte ; Concord : NC - Super DIRTcar Big Block Series
Fri : Nov. 4th - Dirt Track @ Charlotte ; Concord : NC – World of Outlaws Late Models
Fri : Nov. 4th - Dirt Track @ Charlotte ; Concord : NC – World of Outlaws Sprint Cars
Sat : Nov. 5th – Deep South Speedway ; Loxley : AL – Crate Late Models
Sat : Nov. 5th - Mobile International Speedway ; Mobile : AL - Tampa Bay Auto Racing Association
Sat : Nov. 5th - Canyon Speedway Park ; Peoria : AZ - Total Seal Late Model Dirt Series
Sat : Nov. 5th - Canyon Speedway Park ; Peoria : AZ – West Coast Late Models
Sat : Nov. 5th - Perris Auto Speedway ; Perris : CA - California Lightning Sprints
Sat : Nov. 5th - Perris Auto Speedway ; Perris : CA - USAC/CRA 410
Sat : Nov. 5th - Perris Auto Speedway ; Perris : CA - USAC National Sprint Cars
Sat : Nov. 5th - Citrus County Speedway ; Inverness : FL - Florida United Promoters Late Models
Sat : Nov. 5th – Dixie Speedway ; Woodstock : GA – Super Late Models
Sat : Nov. 5th – Waycross Motor Speedway ; Waycross : GA – United Dirt Late Models
Sat : Nov. 5th – Greenville Speedway ; Greenville : MS – NeSmith Late Models
Sat : Nov. 5th – Greenville Speedway ; Greenville : MS – Promoters Racing Organization Dirt Car Series
Sat : Nov. 5th – Ace Speedway ; Altamahaw : NC – Fall Out Invitational
Sat : Nov. 5th – Caraway Speedway ; Asheboro : NC – North/South Shootout - SK Modifieds
Sat : Nov. 5th – Caraway Speedway ; Asheboro : NC – North/South Shootout - Super Late Models
Sat : Nov. 5th – Caraway Speedway ; Asheboro : NC – North/South Shootout Tour-Type Modifieds
Sat : Nov. 5th – County Line Raceway ; Elm City : NC – Late Models
Sat : Nov. 5th – County Line Raceway ; Elm City : NC – Modifieds
Sat : Nov. 5th - Dirt Track @ Charlotte ; Concord : NC - Super DIRTcar Big Blocks
Sat : Nov. 5th - Dirt Track @ Charlotte ; Concord : NC – World of Outlaws Late Models
Sat : Nov. 5th - Dirt Track @ Charlotte ; Concord : NC – World of Outlaws Sprint Cars
Sat : Nov. 5th - Rockingham Raceway Park ; Rockingham : NC - United Auto Racing Association
Sat : Nov. 5th - Rockingham Raceway Park ; Rockingham : NC - USARacing Late Models
Sat : Nov. 5th – Atomic Speedway ; Alma : OH – AMRA Late Models
Sun : Nov. 6th - Florence Motor Speedway ; Florence : SC - Allison Legacy Race Series
Sun : Nov. 6th - Florence Motor Speedway ; Florence : SC – Southeast Limited Late Models
Mike Neff is a Senior Writer for Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via email at mike.neff@frontstretch.com.
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Hey Frontstretch Readers!
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 Folio: AAA 500
by Summer Dreyer
This weekend, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series heads to Texas Motor Speedway for the AAA Texas 500. Sunday's race will be the 34th race of the season and eight in the Chase for the Sprint Cup. The race will be broadcast live Sunday, November 6th, at 3 PM ET on ESPN. Drivers will compete for 334 laps (501 miles) before taking the checkered flag.
Records and Facts
Brian Vickers holds the track qualifying record, with a lap of 27.518 sec at 196.235 mph during qualifying for the 2006 Dickies 500. Vickers finished 27th, one lap down, after leading five laps while Tony Stewart went on to win the race. The pole position was Vickers' only one of the season, and he went on to win one race, five top 5s, and 10 top 10s to finish 15th in points.
Carl Edwards holds the record for the fastest race run at Texas Motor Speedway, with a speed of 151.055 mph in the 2005 Dickies 500. Edwards led 82 of the 334 laps to win by 0.584 sec over second-place Mark Martin. Roush Fenway Racing teammate Matt Kenseth finished third, followed by Casey Mears and Jimmie Johnson. Edwards won a total of four races in 2005 and scored 18 top-10 finishes in 36 starts.
Denny Hamlin is the defending race winner of this event, leading 31 of the 334 laps to win by 0.488 sec over second-place Matt Kenseth. Mark Martin finished third, followed by Joey Logano and Greg Biffle. Hamlin won a total of eight races in 2010, finishing second in points to Jimmie Johnson.
Track Facts
Track/Race Length: 1.5-mile quad oval, 334 laps (501 miles)
Pit Road Speed: 45 mph
Degree of Banking: 24 degrees in the corners
Frontstretch: 2,250 ft., banked 5 degrees
Backstretch: 1,330 ft., banked 5 degrees
Grandstand Seating: 122,377
Pre-race Schedule
Practice: Friday, November 4th, 1:00 – 2:30 PM ET on ESPN2
Qualifying: Friday, November 4th, 4:40 PM ET on ESPN2
2nd Practice: Saturday, November 5th, 9:45 – 10:30 AM ET on SPEED
Happy Hour: Saturday, November 5th, 11:00AM – 12:00 PM ET on ESPN2
Race Day Forecast
Sunday: Scattered Thunderstorms, 40% chance of rain
High: 70
Low: 61
Say What?!
"I don't think there's a specific strategy other than to go to Texas and try to build on the success we've had with our Aflac team. We've run really well there. There could not be a better racetrack for us to be going to. I feel like we made it through the first seven races of the Chase better than we expected. Now we just go these last three races and go for broke." -Carl Edwards
"Texas has always been a strong track for us, even though our record doesn't show it. Our average finish position there is like an eighth, but it really should be even better than that. We just missed winning a race there last season and we've finished fourth a bunch. But we had better cars than those fourth- place runs were. Pit strategy and other problems have kept us from a couple of wins at the track I think. So going into the weekend, I know this is a place we should be able to run up front at. And after our run at Charlotte, which is similar in size and shape to Texas, I feel even more confident. I'm looking for a good weekend in Texas." -Joey Logano
"This place has really turned into a fantastic track. When we first came here, it was a really, really challenging racetrack. It was fast and the transitions were really abrupt. It was hard to just stay out of the wall. But as the surface has worn and as we've gotten the cars handling better, it's become one of the premier tracks. It's always been one of the premier facilities, but the racetrack itself has really come into its own and made great racing, as well." -Jeff Gordon
Summer Dreyer is a Senior Writer for Frontstretch.com. She can be reached via email at summer.dreyer@frontstretch.com.
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TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:
Who's Carrying Whom? The Question Behind the No. 48
by Amy Henderson
Four Burning Questions: Mind Games, Payback, and Who's Still In It?
by Brody Jones
Voices From the Heartland; BSNews! Martinsville to be reconfigured
by Jeff Meyer
Now What? 2012 Looking Ambiguous, Ominous for the Nationwide Series
by Bryan Davis Keith
Frontstretch Podcast: November 4th Edition
hosted by Doug Turnbull
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FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Q: The 2002 Boomtown Casino 500k was not the best time for Sam Hornish, Jr. when he failed to finish after colliding with Eddie Cheever in Turn 3 and crashing. However, he had other issues earlier in the race under caution. What happened?
Check back Monday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
Thursday's Answer:
Q: Until 2004, the WinStar World Casino 350k race at Texas Motor Speedway was paired up with a second Izod IndyCar Series race. The 2003 Chevy 500 was unfortunately marred by a horrible crash that ended the race five laps short of it's prescribed distance. What happened?
A: Towards the end of the race, Kenny Brack and Tomas Scheckter were racing for position on the backstretch when Brack appeared to hit Scheckter's right rear wheel. The impact spun out Scheckter and caused Brack's car to get airborne, fly into the catchfence and disintigrate on impact. Or, as Brack described it in this clip, "I got thrown into the post for the gate." Brack was seriously injured in the crash, suffering two broken legs, a broken sternum, a shattered back, crushed ankles, broken ribs. The injuries were described at the time as typical of an airplane crash.
Considered at the time to be a career-ending crash, Brack recovered from his injuries, made it back into the driver's seat and raced one last time in the 2005 Indianapolis 500 for Rahal-Letterman Racing as a teammate to Danica Patrick. He failed to finish due to suspension failure.
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 Monday in the Frontstretch Newsletter:
-- AAA 500 Race Recap by Amy Henderson
-- Running Their Mouth: AAA 500 by Brody Jones
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, and more!
Monday on the Frontstretch:
Matt McLaughlin's Thinkin' Out Loud: AAA 500 by Matt McLaughlin
Matt will be here with his overall thoughts about the action from Sunday afternoon's action from the Texas.
David vs. Goliath by Beth Lunkenheimer
Who's hot and who's not towards the back end of the owner points battle? Beth brings the stories you didn't hear about into print from Sunday's race from Texas.
Monday Morning Teardown by Ron Lemasters
Ron returns for a website look at one of the big stories from Sunday's race from Texas.
Bowles-Eye View by Tom Bowles
Tom brings back his weekly post-race commentary with all of the insight you need from a weekend of racing from Texas.
Big Six: AAA 500 by Amy Henderson
Looking for all you need to know leaving the eighth race in the Chase for the Sprint Cup? Amy has your who, what, when, where, why and how from a weekend of racing at Texas.
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