[visual-media:373] A History of the Woodburytype

A great book on a great technique for (re)producing great 'photographs'

‘A History of the Woodburytype’

 

 

Dear list members,

 

With some delay I announce Barret Oliver’s ‘A History of the Woodburytype’.

See the url below for more information on this book by Carl Mautz Publishing.

http://www.visual-media.eu/publications_books_photo.html

 

 

Thomas

www.visual-media.eu

 

The Frontstretch Newsletter: December 27th, 2011

THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
December 27th, 2011
Volume IV, Edition CCLV

Editor's Note: Remember, the Frontstretch Newsletter has scaled back to a weekly version over the offseason! The next scheduled edition will run on Tuesday, January 3rd after the New Year's holiday.

Top News From The Past Week

by Phil Allaway

Allmendinger To Drive No. 22 Dodge For Penske Racing

After Kurt Busch was released from Penske Racing, following his now-infamous tirade at ESPN's Dr. Jerry Punch at Homestead in November, there was substantial discussion about who would take Busch's place in the marquee ride.  Every notable free agent available at the time was at some point linked to the seat; at one point, former Roush Fenway Racing driver David Ragan was believed to be a lock. 

Instead, it was one driver surprisingly unlocked from his contract that now has the opportunity of a lifetime. A.J. Allmendinger was named to take over the team's No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Dodge on Wednesday, quickly regrouping after losing sponsorship at Richard Petty Motorsports.  Ironically, the 'Dinger's chance came as a result of Busch, who last week talked about potentially taking over his No. 43 in 2012 in what turned out to be an unsuccessful attempt to convince Best Buy to stay with RPM.

Soon after, the electronics company aligned itself with Roush Fenway Racing instead, leaving 'Dinger with an unsponsored car and an uncertain future. So the 30-year-old Californian now comes to Penske, an open-wheel convert bringing five years of Sprint Cup experience to the strongest cars that he's had the chance to wheel.

"I am really excited about the opportunity to join Penske Racing and drive the No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Dodge in 2012," he said in a release.  "I have always admired Roger Penske and the way his teams compete and win in every series where they race. It is a privilege for me to represent such iconic and respected brands as Shell and Pennzoil, AAA and Dodge. I am honored to join Penske Racing and I will do my very best to continue to build on the standard of excellence established across the organization."

Team owner Roger Penske is also pleased to have Allmendinger aboard for 2012.

"A.J. is a very talented and motivated driver and we believe he will be a terrific fit with our team," said Penske.  "He has shown great promise and consistent results on the track over the last few seasons, and working with Todd and the Shell-Pennzoil Dodge team will allow him to take the next step and compete for race wins and a spot in the Chase in 2012."

Allmendinger is coming off his best season yet in the Sprint Cup Series.  He finished a career-best 15th in points, collecting one top-5 and ten top-10 finishes while serving as the unofficial team leader for RPM. Combining with teammate Marcos Ambrose, he literally brought the organization back from the dead after a series of financial problems threatened to derail them at the end of 2010.

As for RPM, it appears that a somewhat unexpected choice has emerged as the team's likely replacement for Allmendinger.  According to the Charlotte Observer's Jim Utter, Aric Almirola is now the frontrunner to take over the No. 43 Ford full-time.  The deal is believed to be all but complete, although the team plans to wait until after the New Year to announce it, along with a new sponsor for the No. 43 to replace the now-departed Best Buy.  If the deal comes to pass, it will not be the first time that Almirola will have driven for RPM.  The driver was tapped to replace Kasey Kahne in the No. 9 Ford towards the end of 2010, putting up a career-best, fourth-place finish in the Homestead season finale.  Almirola handled distractions well at the time, dealing with the team's severe monetary issues (most notably when the team's haulers were not allowed to leave Texas Motor Speedway to travel to Phoenix until a check to Roush Fenway Racing cleared).

There is no word at press time who would replace Almirola, if anyone behind the wheel of the No. 88 at JR Motorsports.

Kurt Busch To Phoenix Racing

For former Penske Racing driver Kurt Busch, he spent much of the offseason in limbo, unsure if he would even drive in Sprint Cup at all in 2012.  Rumors had Busch linked to a series of small teams and/or potentially leaving NASCAR to race in the NHRA's Pro Stock division.  However, Busch was rumored to take over one ride more than any other.  On Thursday, he officially signed with that team.

Thursday, Phoenix Racing announced that they have signed Busch to a one-year deal to drive the No. 51 Chevrolet for the 2012 season.  The whole deal was put together very quickly, at least by today's standards and was finalized within one week.  Busch reportedly went to the Phoenix Racing shop to meet with team owner James Finch to sign the deal, where the Christmas Tree at the shop had a sign that read "Dear Santa, All I want for Christmas is a great driver!"

Busch is very happy to find a competitive ride for the 2012 season in Sprint Cup.

"I'm very happy to join Phoenix Racing and after entertaining a lot of quality offers, there's no better place for me," Busch said.  "We're going to run the full schedule together, and we're going to have fun doing it. It's going to be old-school racing, where we show up, race hard and go for the win. And if we don't win, we'll go back to the shop, work hard and do it all over again next week. That's the way we all started racing, and it's great to get back to that."

Switching from the near-unlimited resources of Penske Racing to the much smaller Phoenix outfit will likely be a big change for Busch.  The veteran has been able to take advantage of near unlimited funds to improve his team ever since entering the then-Craftsman Truck Series in 2000.  That will not necessarily be the case with Phoenix Racing.  However, Busch is still confident that he can produce, comparing the upcoming season to his time driving the Star Nursery-sponsored No. 70 in the Featherlite Southwest Tour.

Team owner Finch is very pleased to have Busch on board for 2012.

"All we want to do is win.  Winning is why I've been in racing for as long as I have, but NASCAR is a very competitive sport, and winning especially at the Sprint Cup level is hard," Finch said.  "But now with Kurt Busch as our driver, we have a shot to win every week. He's a past champion and he's proven he can win everywhere.  Our sponsors are looking forward to Kurt representing their brands.  We have excellent equipment and a hard-working group of guys who want that trophy at the end of every race.  Kurt's the guy who can deliver it to them."

Busch will be able to take advantage of a couple of perks with Phoenix Racing that he otherwise would not have been able to use with other squads.  First of all, Finch has an alliance with Hendrick Motorsports that dates back to at least 2006.  This partnership provides the team with decent equipment and engines, keeping the car competitive at most speedways.  Busch will also inherit Nick Harrison as his crew chief, so he will have a voice in his ear with intimate knowledge of the equipment already.

Also, according to ESPN.com, Finch has made it quite clear to the driver that he will not tolerate the angry tirades that marked much of his 2011 season.  Busch will have to show that he has changed in order to keep his ride.  However, Phoenix Racing General Manager Steve Barkdoll doesn't believe that it will be an issue.

"I talked to Kurt a few times," Barkdoll said.  "He just wants to get back to where he's having fun again and earn his respect back again. If you ask anybody in the garage where you can have the most fun, it's racing for James Finch."

Best Buy To Roush Fenway Racing

Last week, we reported about how Richard Petty Motorsports was trying everything they could to convince Best Buy to continue their primary sponsorship of the No. 43 Ford, even attempting to bring in Kurt Busch in an attempt to appease the company.  Unfortunately, it just was not enough.  Best Buy chose to basically shop their funding to many different teams in an attempt to achieve maximum value.

After being briefly linked to Michael Waltrip Racing, Best Buy announced Tuesday that they have signed a contract with Roush Fenway Racing to serve as a primary sponsor for 11 races on two of the team's three cars.  Under the terms of the deal, Best Buy will be the primary sponsor of Matt Kenseth's No. 17 for nine races and on Carl Edwards' No. 99 for an additional two.  In addition, Best Buy will serve as a full season associate sponsor on both cars for those races that they are not serving as a primary.

Roush Fenway Racing owner Jack Roush is very pleased to have additional funding on board for 2012.

"We are extremely pleased to announce this partnership with Best Buy," Roush said on Tuesday.  "Best Buy is an industry leader and a top brand globally.  They do a great deal to market and support their teams and we are pleased to be working with an organization that is as enthusiastic about racing as Best Buy.  We feel it is a great fit with our organization and we look forward to a great partnership together."

2012 will be Best Buy's eighth season in Sprint Cup as a primary sponsor.  In 2005, they entered the series as a backer on then-Haas CNC Racing's No. 0 Chevrolet, becoming a second primary sponsor in addition to NetZero.  They became the team's sole primary sponsor after NetZero chose to leave at the end of the season.  The sponsorship moved from HaasCNC's No. 66 to the then-Gillett Evernham Motorsports' No. 19 for 2008.  Then, A team decision moved the backing to the No. 43 for 2010 and beyond.

Have news for Phil and the Frontstretch? Don't hesitate to let us know; email us at ashland10@mail.com with a promising lead or tip.

 

Just in case you missed them, we have completed our annual Driver Reviews. If you'd like to review them, JUST HEAD HERE AND YOU'LL FIND THEM ALL LISTED FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE.

TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:

At The Heart Of It All, It's Not About NASCAR; It's About Racing
by Amy Henderson

 
FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Q:  In 1988, NASCAR staged two exhibition races at the Calder Park Thunderdome, a 1.098-mile high banked tri-oval near Melbourne, Australia.  Neil Bonnett won the first one (the Goodyear 500k), held in between the Richmond and Rockingham races in early March.  The second exhibition race was after the season ended around Christmastime.  Who went to Victory Lane in that second race?

 
Check back next Monday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
 
Wednesday's Answer:
Q. In 1999, the then-Winston Cup Series made their first visit to Homestead-Miami Speedway for the Pennzoil 400.  Joe Gibbs Racing dominated the day and Tony Stewart went to Victory Lane.  However, the race also saw a multi-team promotional campaign for a new cartoon series.  What was this series called and what channel did it air on?
 
A. That show was NASCAR Racers, a futuristic animated series that aired on FOX's FOX Kids starting in the fall of 1999.  The show lasted two seasons, but was pulled off the air roughly a month after FOX showed their first Cup Series telecast.  The drivers who ran the special schemes were Jeff Gordon, Kenny Wallace, and both of the Labonte brothers.  Bobby Labonte finished second, highest of the four drivers.

 
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!
 
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.
 
Coming Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012 in the Frontstretch Newsletter:
-- Top News from Phil Allaway
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, and more!

This Week On The Frontstretch:
Best Of 2011: NMPA Award-Winning Columns by Amy Henderson
Reread Amy's award-winning work that earned Frontstretch its first ever award from the National Motorsports Press Association.

------------------------------
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

--
Feel free to forward this newsletter if you have any friends who loves
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Re: [visual-media:372] Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Feliz Navidad, desde Puerto Rico!

--

-----------------------------------------------

Rose Marí Bernier Rodríguez

Conozca la ciudad, caminándola!

Cines del Viejo San Juan: Del Sepulcro a la memoria- articulo de Carlos Enrique Lugo Lorenzo

http://www.dialogodigital.com/index.php/Cines-del-Viejo-San-Juan-del-sepulcro-a-la-

memoria.html

Cines en San Juan - 'WKAQ Analiza' - 9-26-2011 Lcdos Pabón Roca & Díaz Olivo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07W-6ylVaRM 

Blog de Alex Serrano:

http://www.vocero.com/opinion-es/blogs/a-redescubrir-los-cines-del-viejo-san-juan   

Esos viejos cines que no pudieron sobrevivir a la modernidad, Articulo del Dr. Jaime Giordano, Chileno residente en Puerto Rico donde relata nuestro recorrido  a su vez haciendo un viaje mental por las salas de cine de su natal Concepción.  San Juan y Concepción unidos por la cultura Cinematográfica.  http://www.w5.cl/2011/10/05/esos-viejos-cines-que-no-pudieron-sobrevivir-a-la-modernidad/
Visite Facebuk: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cines-San-Juan-Recorridos-guiados/292174820808203

Síganos en Twitter: CinesSan Juan

On Sat, Dec 24, 2011 at 8:56 AM, Thomas Weynants - Media Archaeology - <thomas.weynants@telenet.be> wrote:

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Thomas

 

--
Visual Media displays a very wide field of wondrous devices which opens a lot of opportunities for research and discovering in the field of Media Archeology.
To find out, visit the online Archeological Media_Museum of Early Visual Media.
http://www.visual-media.eu
 
All requests are welcome via this group.
 
Thomas Weynants
thomas@visual-media.eu

--
Visual Media displays a very wide field of wondrous devices which opens a lot of opportunities for research and discovering in the field of Media Archeology.
To find out, visit the online Archeological Media_Museum of Early Visual Media.
http://www.visual-media.eu
 
All requests are welcome via this group.
 
Thomas Weynants
thomas@visual-media.eu

[visual-media:370] Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Thomas

 

Personalized Stickers For Success

How often do you contact your customers? If you operate a store where people come in on a regular basis, it gives you the opportunity to be able to have one on one contact with them each time they enter the door. On the other hand, you may have a business which only makes a single sale to your customers and they may not visit your store regularly. How can you show customer appreciation when your business operates in that way? One of the ways that you can do so is to make sure that you are contacting customers in other ways, not only show your appreciation but to remind them that you exist and may have something else that they are interested in purchasing as well at some point in the future.

To be certain, this can be done at anytime of the year but holiday stickers tend to be a favorite among many businesses. This is especially true when you’re able to get a sticker with a personalized message so that it not only lets them know that you are thinking about them, it lets them know what you have been up to as well. You can add these to invoices that you are sending out as well as to postcards, which make an excellent means of contacting your customers regularly. You can even add these stickers to the sales receipt which is a nice touch, particularly when you are shipping the item from a different location, such as if you have an Internet business. Yes, there are many uses for stickers and when they are used in your business properly, they will help you to find additional success.

The Frontstretch Newsletter: December 19th, 2011

THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
December 19th, 2011
Volume IV, Edition CCLIV

Editor's Note: Remember, the Frontstretch Newsletter has scaled back to a weekly edition over the offseason! The next scheduled edition will run on Monday, December 26th.

Top News From The Past Week

by Phil Allaway

Zipadelli to Serve as Competition Director at Stewart-Haas Racing

On Friday, longtime crew chief Greg Zipadelli left his post at Joe Gibbs Racing in order to move over to Stewart-Haas Racing.  There, Zipadelli will serve as the team's Competition Director, working underneath Matt Borland, SHR's Vice President of Competition as the organization revamps after a championship run in 2011.

In his new role, Zipadelli will oversee the company's full-time Nos. 14 and 39 cars.  In addition, he will launch the new part-time No. 10 team that Danica Patrick is scheduled to make her Sprint Cup debut for in 2012.  That team, laden with primary sponsorship from GoDaddy, is currently scheduled to run approximately ten races in preparation for a full season in 2013.

Zipadelli is excited for his brand new job opportunity after over a decade of serving on top of the No. 20 pit box at Gibbs.

"I trust and believe in [Stewart] as much as I do anybody on this earth," Zipadelli said on Friday.  He continued on to say that Stewart was the only person that could have convinced him to leave JGR.

Tony Stewart is thrilled to have his former crew chief and longtime friend join his organization.

"Greg and I have a long and successful history together," Stewart said.  "I know him and he knows me, and we both know what it takes to build race teams.  We took our time in searching for a Competition Director because its an important role with a lot of responsibility.  Greg knows all that goes into the job, understands the importance of teamwork and communication across all levels of the organization, and is ultimately someone I have a great deal of trust in."

Zipadelli's former employer, Joe Gibbs, is sad to see his star mechanic go but understands the significance of the opportunity he had.

"We appreciate everything Greg [Zipadelli] has done for us here at Joe Gibbs Racing," said the owner.  "He has been a big part of our success, but we felt the timing was right to make this transition for our race team which allows Greg the opportunity to pursue a Director of Competition position with Tony [Stewart]."

Replacing Zipadelli atop the pit box for Joey Logano and the No. 20 team will be Jason Ratcliff.  Ratcliff has served as the crew chief of Joe Gibbs Racing's No. 18 team in the Nationwide Series for the past seven seasons.  In that time, Ratcliff has won 44 races (Kyle Busch accounts for 39, Denny Hamlin had four and an additional win was credited to Aric Almirola at Milwaukee in 2007, but Almirola was removed from the car 59 laps in and Hamlin drove the car to victory).

Prior to making the move to SHR, Zipadelli served as the only crew chief that Joe Gibbs Racing had ever had on the No. 20 Home Depot-sponsored Toyota.  In 13 seasons at the helm, Zipadelli won 34 races (33 of those with Stewart at the wheel) and was the crew chief of record for Stewart's first two championships.

NASCAR Announces Rule Changes for Daytona

Also on Friday, NASCAR announced a series of rule changes that are designed to alter the type of racing that will be seen during Speedweeks in February.  Many of these changes were tested at Daytona during a closed session back in October.

The new rules cover adjustments to both the internals of race cars and their aerodynamics.  First, the restrictor plate hole size has been increased to 29/32nds of an inch, which is 1/64th larger than back in February.  This measurement is considered to only be a baseline and may be changed again as speeds warrant.  Also, the move to fuel injection for 2012 means that the restrictor plate will be moved to a new location on the engine.

The radiators will have a maximum capacity of two gallons of water, down 60 percent from five gallons.  In addition, the overflow tank capacity has been cut down to a simple half-gallon tank, a 50 percent reduction.  The grille opening will remain approximately the same size, but will be moved up in order to further disrupt airflow into the radiators.

Finally, there will be a reduction in the size of the rear spoiler and a softening of springs.  It is currently unclear just how much of a change that these will be, or how such adjustments will alter the handling of each race car.

The end result of these moves should mean fans will not see cars stuck together in tandem drafts for the entire race, like all four restrictor plate events in 2011.  However, they likely will still be able to link together for a lap or two in order to make moves up through the field.

Kurt Busch to RPM to replace Allmendinger?

After driver A.J. Allmendinger had his best season in the Sprint Cup Series, finishing 15th in points and running very well during much of the season, Richard Petty Motorsports was apparently unable to convince Best Buy to stay on as the No. 43 team's primary sponsor for a third season.

However, last Tuesday, news broke that the team made a last ditch attempt to keep Best Buy in the fold.  That revolved around replacing driver A.J. Allmendinger, who had been with the team since late in the 2008 season with Kurt Busch, who recently was fired from Penske Racing after his expletive-laden tirade towards ESPN's Dr. Jerry Punch.

Despite the fact that Busch would bring significant baggage to the team, RPM was willing to risk the potential bad PR in order to save their relationship with Best Buy.  However, it does not appear to have worked.  Best Buy has spent much of the last week effectively shopping their backing to other teams in need of sponsorship and it appears that RPM is out of the running.

As of Monday, there is no word on what will happen with Allmendinger now that the Best Buy sponsorship appears to be lost.  Busch also remains in limbo, although he continues to talk with smaller organizations about potential rides.

According to SceneDaily.com, Roush Fenway Racing is currently considered to be the frontrunner for the Best Buy sponsorship.  If obtained, it would go to the team's No. 17 team and driver Matt Kenseth.  That car currently does not have a primary sponsor after Crown Royal left at the end of the 2011 season.

Speed Gets A Part-Time Ride For 2012

On Tuesday, Leavine Family Racing announced that Scott Speed will drive the team's No. 95 Fords for a limited, 15-race schedule in the Sprint Cup Series in 2012.  Speed will replace David Starr, who was released from the team at the end of the 2011 season.

Team owner Bob Leavine is very pleased to have the former Red Bull Racing Team driver join his organization.

"We are pleased to have Scott Speed join our team," Leavine said.  "We, as a team, want to give Scott the equipment and resources he needs to win - and that is what I believe he will do for us in return.  Scott is a proven driver.  He was the first American to race in Formula One since Michael Andretti [in 1993] and has a lot to offer our program as a teammate and competitor."

For Speed, the move to Leavine Family Racing is one that guarantees him the chance to race full Sprint Cup events.  Last season, after he was dumped from the Red Bull Racing Team in favor of Kasey Kahne, he spent much of the year on the sidelines.  Speed attempted 16 races in 2011, qualifying for 13 of them.  However, he failed to finish all but two of those starts, most of them being start-and-parks.  His best finish was a 33rd at Chicagoland Speedway with Whitney Motorsports.

In the Nationwide Series, Speed also mainly did S&P runs for Key Motorsports.  However, he did race at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal in Kevin Harvick, Inc.'s No. 33.  There, he finished a strong sixth after starting fourth. Speed's lawsuit with Team Red Bull is still pending.

Have news for Phil and the Frontstretch? Don't hesitate to let us know; email us at ashland10@mail.com with a promising lead or tip.

 

TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:
 
2011 NASCAR Driver Review:  Trevor Bayne

by Doug Turnbull

2011 NASCAR Driver Review:  David Ragan
by Doug Turnbull

2011 NASCAR Driver Review:  Timothy Peters
by Beth Lunkenheimer

AND DON'T MISS OUR CHASER DRIVER REVIEWS FROM THE PAST WEEK! JUST HEAD HERE AND YOU'LL FIND THEM ALL LISTED FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE.

 
FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Q:  In 1999, the then-Winston Cup Series made their first visit to Homestead-Miami Speedway for the Pennzoil 400.  Joe Gibbs Racing dominated the day and Tony Stewart went to Victory Lane.  However, the race also saw a multi-team promotional campaign for a new cartoon series.  What was this series called and what channel did it air on?

 
Check back next Monday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
 
Wednesday's Answer:
Q. In 1987, Bobby Allison came from a lap down to win the 1987 Pepsi Firecracker 400 at Daytona International Speedway.  However, he was not originally considered to be the winner on ABC's Wide World of Sports telecast.  Why?
 
A. ABC's booth commentators for the race actually missed when Allison got his lap back with just a few laps to go by beating Dave Marcis back to the start-finish line.  As a result, they thought that Allison was getting back on the lead lap when he actually made the pass for the win.  The graphics team knew all along, though.  Because of the obvious screw-up, plus the fact that the telecast was going to be tape-delayed, they re-recorded the call of the last ten laps of the race for the broadcast later on in the afternoon.  It is interesting to note that Bobby's own brother Donnie was in the booth for ABC along with Keith Jackson that day.

 
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!
 
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.
 
Coming Monday, December 26th in the Frontstretch Newsletter:
-- Top News from Phil Allaway
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, and more ... including our 2011 Driver Reviews!
 
All this week on the Frontstretch:
2011 Driver Reviews by the Frontstretch Staff
Now that we've covered the 12 Chasers, and the champions from the Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series, we're going to cover the remaining drivers in alphabetical order, starting with the A's.  Note that Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series drivers will be lumped in with the Sprint Cup drivers, instead of separately.

Check out the full Driver Review Schedule here.

 

Schedule:
Today: Trevor Bayne, David Ragan and Timothy Peters

Tuesday: David Reutimann, Robby Gordon, Jamie McMurray and Elliott Sadler

Wednesday: Johnny Sauter, Brian Scott and Regan Smith

Thursday: Reed Sorenson and Martin Truex, Jr.

Friday: Brian Vickers, Kenny and Steve Wallace

------------------------------
Talk back to the Frontstretch Newsletter!
Got something to say about an article you've seen in the newsletter? It's as easy as replying directly to this message or sending an email to editors@frontstretch.com. We'll take the best comments and publish them here!
©2011 Frontstretch.com

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web site hosting

If you ever heard about making money from the internet and want to immediately kick-in into the business, then the first thing you should go is to create a website or blog. There are many free resources and applications around the web that allows you to easily create a free blog/website in less than 5 minutes, but if you really want to go serious with the internet business, then go for a paid service is far better than relying on freebies.

We decided that he would come over to my place later that day. Well, I just had the basic idea about the webhosting industry and so, we searched in Google for more information. And sure enough, we found what we were looking for. It is a great blog with a goldmine of information – http://www.webhostingfan.com/.

Web Hosting is not so confused or techie term from now. You will find offers of best web hosting services with their price plan on the website. The plan details of best web hosting service providers are given in detail along with the web hosting reviews, which is really excellent way for you to choose the good one. Of course we look for reviews on Internet before buying any products. The same way you pay here for the best one you get. But the sweetest part is that you pay negligible or less amount for the great business. The surprising news you see here is unlimited plans are provided for very less amount of monthly subscription.Internet is vast and unsecured, so we need to be careful on web security when it comes to our personal or business web hosting. Most of us may not aware of the different types of malicious software and the techniques to avoid them destructing our personal information. You will find news about security protection and software here. Another most important trend with web hosting is CMS(content management system), that makes your website grow more. Webhostingfan has all necessary information about CMS. The website not only provides information about web hosting and its trend but also provides sources for developing e-commerce business. So, now its very easy to get everything you needed about web hosting and its development one a single website.

The Frontstretch Newsletter: December 12th, 2011

THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
December 12th, 2011
Volume IV, Edition CCLIII

Today's Top News

by Phil Allaway

Mike Ford Out at Joe Gibbs Racing, Darian Grubb In

On Tuesday, Joe Gibbs Racing announced that Mike Ford, the crew chief for Denny Hamlin's No. 11 FedEx Toyota, had been released from his position with the team.  The move was somewhat expected due to Hamlin's substantial regression during the 2011 season.  However, at the time, Joe Gibbs Racing did not announce a replacement.

On Friday, the replacement finally signed on the dotted line.  That man will be 2011 Sprint Cup championship-winning Crew Chief Darian Grubb, who reportedly told that he would not be back as Tony Stewart's head wrench in 2012 following the Bank of America 500 at Charlotte in October.

Team owner Joe Gibbs is thrilled with the prospects of having such an accomplished engineer and mechanic on top of Denny Hamlin's pit box.

"Darian is a great addition to our organization and person to lead our No. 11 team," Gibbs said.  "Obviously, he has proven the ability to guide a team to a championship and we are excited to have him working with Denny [Hamlin] towards achieving that goal here at Joe Gibbs Racing."

Grubb is also excited to start this new chapter in his life.

"I'm thrilled to join Joe Gibbs Racing," Grubb said.  "The chance to work with Denny is something that I'm excited about.  When you sit down with Joe and J.D. Gibbs, you can't help but be excited about this opportunity and the team aspects of Joe Gibbs Racing.  There is no question about the level of support you get here and I'm looking forward to working with everyone across the organization."

During Grubb's time working as Tony Stewart's crew chief at Stewart-Haas Racing, Stewart amassed 11 wins, 33 top-5 and 59 top-10 finishes.  Prior to his time as Stewart's crew chief, he won the 2006 Daytona 500 with Jimmie Johnson in a substitute role after Chad Knaus was booted out of Speedweeks due to an illegal modification to the rear window.  He also crew chiefed Casey Mears to his one and only victory in the 2007 Coca-Cola 600.

Red Bull Racing Closes Its Doors

On Thursday, the Red Bull Racing Team closed their doors for good, unable to find an outside investor willing to come in and buy the team for a reported $40 million.  152 full-time employees, including founding driver Brian Vickers, were laid off.  All of the former Red Bull Racing Team employees were eligible for severance pay and gifts from a large raffle held Thursday afternoon at the shop.  Many of the employees affected have already found replacement work either with other teams or outside of the industry.

Red Bull's teams finished 14th and 25th in owners' points in 2011.  If any investor were able to come forward at this point and buy the team's assets, they would still have access to those points.  If not, the owners of Red Bull would have the opportunity to sell their points to whoever needs them in order to lock themselves into the Daytona 500.

IndyCar to not return to Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2012

On Thursday, IndyCar announced that they will not return to Las Vegas Motor Speedway during the 2012 season.  This negates a previous announcement that indicated a commitment to return to Las Vegas in October 2012 to end the season once again.  However, the horrific crash that occurred early in the Izod IndyCar World Championships has spurred an ongoing evaluation of the series on ovals.  Partly because of the research, IndyCar has still not released their schedule for 2012 as of yet.

IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard was fairly brief in his reasoning for the cancellation.

"We feel we need to give our technical team ample time to conduct thorough testing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway once we complete our ongoing investigation into the 15-car accident during the Oct. 16 race at the track," Bernard said.

Meanwhile, testing for the new Dallara DW12 IndyCar is ongoing.  Chevrolet and Lotus-powered cars spent much of the last week testing at Homestead-Miami Speedway.  However, these cars are simply test mules.  The first chassis are scheduled to be delivered to the teams from Dallara on Thursday.

Leavine Family Racing to Attempt 15 Races in 2012; In Search of New Driver

Leavine Family Racing announced on Wednesday that they plan to expand their Sprint Cup schedule in 2012 with at least 15 attempts.  The schedule will start at Bristol with the Food City 500 in March, mainly focusing on intermediate tracks.  The press release denotes 13 ovals that the team will attempt races at.

Crew chief Wally Rogers and the team's entire staff is set to return for 2012.  However, driver David Starr, who competed in the team's No. 95 Ford in 2011 while also racing full-time in the Camping World Truck Series, will not be back behind the wheel.  A search for a replacement driver is ongoing.

"We are currently interviewing potential drivers," team owner Bob Leavine said.  "We are looking for a driver that will fit into our program."

Leavine claims that the team has "promising leads" on potential drivers for the 2012 season, and a number of loyal sponsors that will be back for the 2012 season (the release doesn't go into detail about which sponsors will be back).  However, the team is still searching for additional sponsorship that would allow them to attempt additional races.

Have news for Phil and the Frontstretch? Don't hesitate to let us know; email us at ashland10@mail.com with a promising lead or tip.

 

TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:
 
2011 NASCAR Driver Review:  Ron Hornaday, Jr.

by Beth Lunkenheimer

AND DON'T MISS OUR CHASER DRIVER REVIEWS FROM THE PAST WEEK! JUST HEAD HERE AND YOU'LL FIND THEM ALL LISTED FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE.

 
FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Q:  In 1987, Bobby Allison came from a lap down to win the 1987 Pepsi Firecracker 400 at Daytona International Speedway.  However, he was not originally considered to be the winner on ABC's Wide World of Sports telecast.  Why?

 
Check back next Monday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
 
Wednesday's Answer:
Q. For 1985, new rules in touring car racing saw the introduction of new "Group A" rules for the Australian Touring Car Championship (now the V8 Supercar Championship Series) and the Australian Endurance Championship.  What was the aim of these new rules?
 
A. Effectively, the move was undertaken to cut down on the amount of squabbling that had come to embody the previous era, Group C.  In Group C, the cars, referred to by locals as "Big Bangers," were heavily modified from the original cars.  Mazda, who ran their RX-7 at the time, substituted their 13b engine for the 12b in order to get more power.  Problem is that the 13b engine was not available for street cars in Australia at the time.

Also, the rules were designed to make the race cars look more like street cars, which saved money.  Group C entries from the manufacturers all had huge fender flares for big tires and only looked slightly like the cars they were based off of.  Mazda dropped out at the end of 1984, while Nissan took a year off.  Ford didn't homologate a Group A version of the Falcon.  As a result, Ford teams either switched to another manufacturer, or imported a car from overseas.  Dick Johnson imported a Mustang and raced that for two years.  Ford did not have an Australian-built car in the series until the 1993 season.  Holden had already built a Group A Commodore, so they raced that.

The result of the move was that an increased number of manufacturer took part in the series during the Group A era (1985-1992).  Teams running Volvos entered the series, while BMW entered as well with their 635 first, then the M3.  The-then James Hardie 1000 became a real international affair with the world's best touring car racers coming down to challenge the mountain.  In 1987, the race was held as part of the short-lived World Touring Car Championship (held only in 1987, and holds no relation to the current WTCC).

 
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!
 
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.
 
Coming Monday, December 5th in the Frontstretch Newsletter:
-- Top News from Phil Allaway
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, and more ... including our 2011 Driver Reviews!
 
All this week on the Frontstretch:
2011 Driver Reviews by the Frontstretch Staff
Now that we've covered the 12 Chasers, and the champions from the Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series, we're going to cover the remaining drivers in alphabetical order, starting with the A's.  Note that Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series drivers will be lumped in with the Sprint Cup drivers, instead of separately.

Check out the full Driver Review Schedule here.

 

Schedule:
Today: Ron Hornaday, Jr.

Tuesday: Kasey Kahne and Bobby Labonte

Wednesday: Andy Lally, Jason Leffler and Joey Logano

Thursday: Trevor Bayne, Mark Martin and Jamie McMurray

Friday: Casey Mears, Paul Menard and Juan Pablo Montoya
Floater: Robby Gordon

------------------------------
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

--
Feel free to forward this newsletter if you have any friends who loves
NASCAR and great NASCAR commentary. They can subscribe to the Frontstetch by visiting http://www.frontstretch.com/notice/9557/.
 
If you want to stop your Frontstretch Newsletter subscription, we're sorry
to see you go. Just send an email to
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Re: [visual-media:367] miniature recreation of a naval battle

Dear Stef,

There was certainly a relatively recent theatrical tradition of scaled-down naval battles and other nautical spectacles being staged in water tanks at the time of this film-- the Sadlers Wells Theatre in London in the early 19th century, and the Arènes Nautiques in Paris during the late 19th and early 20th century being suitably equipped. Likely there would have been smaller scale versions of these kind of spectacles in smaller venues and travelling shows etc, but I don't have any information on them. There is a short chapter (and with few illustrations) on "The Nautical Arena", in Albert Hopkins' "Magic, Stage Illusions, Special Effects and Trick Photography" (1898).

The backdrop in your clip is intriguing and the painted structure does appear, bizarrely, to be based on Tower Bridge in London. Do you have any photographs of the site of the original battle, or the nearby coast, which might help to determine if the backdrop is an attempt at verisimilitude or just a stock piece of scenery?

Best wishes for the research.

paul

----- Original Message -----

From: Stef Franck

To: visual-media@googlegroups.com

Sent: Friday, December 09, 2011 3:41 PM

Subject: [visual-media:366] miniature recreation of a naval battle

dear group members,

i am currently working on the 'red lantern' publication (dvd+book) by vdfc/cinematek of the nazimova/capellani movie (1919) which deals (amongst lots other things) with the boxer rebellion in 1900 China...
among the extras on the dvd will figure a miniature recreation of a naval battle dating from 1901 or 1902 - you can see a version of it at
http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675040577_Taku-Forts_alliedfleets_battleships_explosion_water-thrown-up
as you can see in the footage the action develops in front of a painted set with alp-like mountains, a port (do i recognize the tower bridge?) that was probably developed to be some sort of universal-fits-all decor

was it just a universal backdrop for some film company specialized in miniature reconstructions of naval battles in general?

i found the set photo in attachment in fielding's 'the american newsreel' of a similar recreation but here the backdrop is much more neutral, which makes much more sense in terms of film production

i wondered whether this kind of spectacle may also have featured as a fairground attraction or some sort of reconstruction of naval battles in theaters? in that case it would make more sense of having a hybrid landscape as a backdrop

is someone familiar with this kind of attraction (live or in movies)?

any kind of information or pictorial documentation would be most welcome !

thanks

stefF

--
Visual Media displays a very wide field of wondrous devices which opens a lot of opportunities for research and discovering in the field of Media Archeology.
To find out, visit the online Archeological Media_Museum of Early Visual Media.
http://www.visual-media.eu

All requests are welcome via this group.

Thomas Weynants
thomas@visual-media.eu

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Re: [visual-media:367] miniature recreation of a naval battle

Stef,

I may be wrong, but the set doesn't look complete enough to have featured in a live/fair setting. There were definitely similar shows in places like Coney Island, but from what I can gather, they were probably more elaborate in term of their setup.

Whether any did double duty as film sets is a great question I'd also like to hear more about.

Aaron

--------
Aaron Beebe

Museum Director

Coney Island USA

On Dec 9, 2011, at 10:41 AM, Stef Franck <steffranck.vdfc@gmail.com> wrote:

dear group members,

i am currently working on the 'red lantern' publication (dvd+book) by vdfc/cinematek of the nazimova/capellani movie (1919) which deals (amongst lots other things) with the boxer rebellion in 1900 China...
among the extras on the dvd will figure a miniature recreation of a naval battle dating from 1901 or 1902 - you can see a version of it at
http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675040577_Taku-Forts_alliedfleets_battleships_explosion_water-thrown-up
as you can see in the footage the action develops in front of a painted set with alp-like mountains, a port (do i recognize the tower bridge?) that was probably developed to be some sort of universal-fits-all decor

was it just a universal backdrop for some film company specialized in miniature reconstructions of naval battles in general?

i found the set photo in attachment in fielding's 'the american newsreel' of a similar recreation but here the backdrop is much more neutral, which makes much more sense in terms of film production

i wondered whether this kind of spectacle may also have featured as a fairground attraction or some sort of reconstruction of naval battles in theaters? in that case it would make more sense of having a hybrid landscape  as a backdrop

is someone familiar with this kind of attraction (live or in movies)?

any kind of information or pictorial documentation would be most welcome !

thanks

stefF

--
Visual Media displays a very wide field of wondrous devices which opens a lot of opportunities for research and discovering in the field of Media Archeology.
To find out, visit the online Archeological Media_Museum of Early Visual Media.
http://www.visual-media.eu
 
All requests are welcome via this group.
 
Thomas Weynants
thomas@visual-media.eu

<EH_Amet_sinking_of_cervera_fleet_in_santiago_bay_cuba.jpg>

[visual-media:366] miniature recreation of a naval battle

dear group members,

i am currently working on the 'red lantern' publication (dvd+book) by vdfc/cinematek of the nazimova/capellani movie (1919) which deals (amongst lots other things) with the boxer rebellion in 1900 China...
among the extras on the dvd will figure a miniature recreation of a naval battle dating from 1901 or 1902 - you can see a version of it at
http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675040577_Taku-Forts_alliedfleets_battleships_explosion_water-thrown-up
as you can see in the footage the action develops in front of a painted set with alp-like mountains, a port (do i recognize the tower bridge?) that was probably developed to be some sort of universal-fits-all decor

was it just a universal backdrop for some film company specialized in miniature reconstructions of naval battles in general?

i found the set photo in attachment in fielding's 'the american newsreel' of a similar recreation but here the backdrop is much more neutral, which makes much more sense in terms of film production

i wondered whether this kind of spectacle may also have featured as a fairground attraction or some sort of reconstruction of naval battles in theaters? in that case it would make more sense of having a hybrid landscape  as a backdrop

is someone familiar with this kind of attraction (live or in movies)?

any kind of information or pictorial documentation would be most welcome !

thanks

stefF

--
Visual Media displays a very wide field of wondrous devices which opens a lot of opportunities for research and discovering in the field of Media Archeology.
To find out, visit the online Archeological Media_Museum of Early Visual Media.
http://www.visual-media.eu
 
All requests are welcome via this group.
 
Thomas Weynants
thomas@visual-media.eu

Special Frontstretch Newsletter: Kurt Busch Fallout

THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
December 6th, 2011
Volume IV, Edition CCLII

Today's Top News

by Tom Bowles

Busch, Penske Mutually Agree To Part Ways

The six-year NASCAR marriage between Kurt Busch and Roger Penske is over. The duo agreed to part ways Monday, ending an internal review began two weeks prior when a confrontation between Busch and ESPN's Dr. Jerry Punch was captured on YouTube. That video, combined with a separate, obscene hand gesture captured on camera drew a $50,000 fine from NASCAR and became the final straw in a year defined by the driver angrily lashing out both on and off the track.

"I appreciate the victories that Kurt has brought Penske Racing and our sponsors over the past six years," said Roger Penske in a statement. "While I am disappointed that Kurt will not be racing for our team in the future, both Kurt and I felt that separating at this time was best for all parties, including our team and sponsors. I wish Kurt the best in his future racing endeavors."

"I am grateful to Penske Racing for six very productive years," was Busch's company line. "Together we won a lot of races - 16 in all. Leaving a great organization and a lucrative contract is not easy, but it's an important step for me and allows me to take a deep breath to work on things that can make me a better driver and a better person. I want to personally thank Roger Penske for the opportunity that he has given me."

Busch, who is seeing a sports psychologist had made a habit of verbally abusing his Penske crew weekly over the radio, behavior sources say helped convince former crew chief Steve Addington to move on following the season. He had also caused several confrontations with the media in 2011, once following his divorce going public in July and twice at Richmond in September, where he tried to physically fight one reporter while tearing a transcript in half out of the hands of another.

Also on Monday, Busch took to his personal website where he released an additional statement focused on recovery from his anger problems.
 
"I never want to take for granted that it's a privilege to earn a living as a NASCAR driver," he said, claiming the fun for him had been taken out of racing in the past year. "As I begin this new chapter in my career, I'm excited about the future and committed to making the changes necessary for me to enjoy racing again, to compete for championships and to better represent NASCAR, my sponsors, my team and my fans."

The driver was signed for several more years at the No. 22 Dodge, but neither side would confirm if additional money changed hands to finalize the divorce and if so, how much. The future for both sides is cloudy at this point; for Busch, there's no top-tier rides available and little funding at this point in the Silly Season process. Penske, meanwhile, has received several inquiries about the open seat and while David Ragan remains the frontrunner, according to sources several other candidates are in play. Brian Vickers, Casey Mears, and Sam Hornish, Jr. are among those expected to get a serious look before a final decision is made by the team and approved by Shell/Pennzoil.

As for Penske himself, beyond his statement was out of the country and unavailable for additional comment. Teammate Brad Keselowski did offer this statement via his Twitter feed: "Kurt has been a great teammate and friend to me over the last 2 seasons. I truly do wish him the best, wherever and whatever he does."

Brian Pattie Named Crew Chief For Clint Bowyer

In other news this busy NASCAR offseason, Juan Pablo Montoya's former crew chief has a home. Brian Pattie was name to head up Clint Bowyer's new No. 15 Toyota at Michael Waltrip Racing Monday; the head wrench had been seeking work ever since Earnhardt Ganassi Racing let him go this past July.

"Brian is someone whose been on our radar for a very long time," said team owner Waltrip in a release. "He brings a strong technical background, along with great leadership and Chase experience. We have high hopes for Brian, Clint and the 5-Hour Energy team heading into 2012 and we think this is the perfect mix of talent, experience and leadership."

"Michael Waltrip Racing is an up-and-coming team making improvements every day," added Pattie. "I know how close it is to joining the upper echelon of the Sprint Cup Series. When I started talking with Michael about opportunities at MWR I really did my research and was impressed by their commitment to getting to the top of the sport. I feel like this is a great opportunity to join a new team with a new driver and start building something special. Clint's proven how good he is and I know that will get even better in 2012."

Pattie, who had one career victory with Montoya, at Watkins Glen was widely praised for the Colombian's 2009 season where the driver toned down his aggression and made the Chase. He also has 18 career Nationwide Series victories to his credit.

 
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.

What do you think of the Kurt Busch firing? Send us your opinion and we'll put your feedback in the next edition of the Newsletter on Monday!

 

TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:
The Only Thing Mutual? Penske, Kurt Busch Both Stand to Lose Big
by Bryan Keith

Who Gets An Early Christmas Gift? Sorting Through Potential Busch Replacements
by Tom Bowles

Burned At The YouTube Stake: How Technology Brought Busch Down
by Mike Neff

DON'T FORGET OUR DRIVER REVIEWS! STOP ON BY IF YOU DIDN'T SEE THEM YESTERDAY... TODAY'S SCHEDULED REVIEWS, OF MARCOS AMBROSE AND ARIC ALMIROLA HAVE BEEN PUSHED BACK A DAY DUE TO BUSCH COVERAGE.
2011 NASCAR Driver Review:  Justin Allgaier

by Mike Neff

 

2011 NASCAR Driver Review:  A.J. Allmendinger

by Toni Montgomery

AND DON'T MISS OUR CHASER DRIVER REVIEWS FROM THE PAST WEEK! JUST HEAD HERE AND YOU'LL FIND THEM ALL LISTED FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE.

 
FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Q:  For 1985, new rules in touring car racing saw the introduction of new "Group A" rules for the Australian Touring Car Championship (now the V8 Supercar Championship Series) and the Australian Endurance Championship.  What was the aim of these new rules?

 
Check back next Monday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
 
Wednesday's Answer:
Q. This weekend is the Sydney Telstra 500, the season finale for the V8 Supercar Championship Series on a street course in the Homebush section of Sydney near Olympic Park.  What track did this relatively new venue replace on the schedule?
 
A. The Homebush Street Circuit replaced Oran Park Raceway, a 1.62-mile road course near Sydney on the schedule.  Oran Park was unique in that the track crossed over itself using a bridge.  Like many racetracks here in the United States, Oran Park fell victim to development and was forced to close.  As a result, the race was moved to the area surrounding Olympic Park in Sydney in order to keep a race on the V8 Supercar schedule near Sydney.

The final V8 Supercar round at Oran Park was in 2008.  The track itself closed in January of last year, having been sold to the government of New South Wales for redevelopment as a housing project.

 
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!
 
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.
 
Coming Monday, December 5th in the Frontstretch Newsletter:
-- Top News from Phil Allaway
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, and more ... including our 2011 Driver Reviews!
 
All this week on the Frontstretch:
2011 Driver Reviews by the Frontstretch Staff
Now that we've covered the 12 Chasers, and the champions from the Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series, we're going to cover the remaining drivers in alphabetical order, starting with the A's.  Note that Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series drivers will be lumped in with the Sprint Cup drivers, instead of separately.

Check out the full Driver Review Schedule here.

 

Schedule:
Today: Justin Allgaier and A.J. Allmendinger

Tuesday: Aric Almirola and Marcos Ambrose (pushed back to Wednesday due to Busch coverage)

Wednesday: Michael Annett, Trevor Bayne and Greg Biffle (plus our Mirror Driving roundtable)

Thursday: Dave Blaney, Clint Bowyer and James Buescher.

Friday: Jeff Burton and David Gilliland

------------------------------
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

--
Feel free to forward this newsletter if you have any friends who loves
NASCAR and great NASCAR commentary. They can subscribe to the Frontstetch by visiting http://www.frontstretch.com/notice/9557/.
 
If you want to stop your Frontstretch Newsletter subscription, we're sorry
to see you go. Just send an email to
TheFrontstretch+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com from the address that you
recieve the Frontstretch Newsletter.

The Frontstretch Newsletter: December 5th, 2011

THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
December 5th, 2011
Volume IV, Edition CCLI

Today's Top News

by Phil Allaway

Report: Kurt Busch Fired

Kurt Busch will not return to Penske Racing in 2012.  According to a Charlotte Observer report, Busch has been released from the No. 22 Penske Dodge, and a formal announcement from Penske racing is expected on Monday.

After The Charlotte Observer's Jim Utter reported the news on Sunday night, speculation ran rampant over who would replace Busch in the No. 22.  FoxSports.com is reporting that David Ragan appears to be the main contender for Busch's old seat.  Such a grab would be a major coup for the Roush Fenway Racing driver who is currently looking at starting the 2012 season on the sidelines.  As of last week, Frontstretch sources had Ragan in a part-time, investor-funded Ford Cup ride for 2012 that was being negotiated but with the Busch scenario unfolding, that could change. David Reutimann, Sam Hornish, Jr., Casey Mears and Brian Vickers are also said to be possibilities.

The release comes on the heels of a $50,000 fine from NASCAR for an obscene gesture and an obscenity-laced tirade at ESPN pit reporter Dr. Jerry Punch, who was attempting to interview Busch following a transmission failure at Homestead-Miami Speedway.  The scene was caught on video and has almost a million views on YouTube.  Penske Racing issued a statement last week that they were reviewing the situation internally, adding that Busch's behavior was not representative of the organization.

It is unclear where Busch could end up in 2012, especially without sponsorship.  Several Cup drivers are looking for jobs for 2012.  Busch, who acknowledged that he is seeing a sports psychologist, is a former champion, but with most teams' driver lineups set for 2012, there are no guarantees.

Sprint Signs Three-Year Extension With Cup Series

While in Las Vegas for Champions' Week, NASCAR announced that they have reached a multi-year agreement that will see Sprint Nextel Corporation continue their primary sponsorship of the Sprint Cup Series through the end of the 2016 season.  The cell phone carrier had just completed their eighth season as primary sponsor of the series.  Prior to merging with Sprint, Nextel Communications signed a ten-year, $700 million deal to serve as the series' primary sponsor (replacing Winston) starting with the 2004 season.  That deal was lumped into the new Sprint Nextel Corporation created by the merger of Sprint and Nextel, which was finalized in 2005.

Representatives from Sprint Nextel are very pleased to continue their association with NASCAR.

"NASCAR fans are great customers who reward us with their loyalty," said Sprint Nextel CEO Dan Hesse.  "We're very pleased to continue to have our brand associated with the most competitive and exciting form of racing in the world."

NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France is also very happy to maintain the crucial relationship with the cellular company.

"Sprint has been very successful in using our sport as a platform to enhance our brand and drive their business," France said.  "They have been a fantastic partner and we are immensely pleased to continue with Sprint as the entitlement partner for our premier series.  This new agreement aligns perfectly with our aggressive five-year plan, which is laser-focused on continuing to improve our product, keep[ing] our existing fans engaged, and reach[ing] new fans."

During their eight years of series sponsorship, Sprint has associated their brand with the Sprint Experience, a traveling interactive display featuring a Sprint show car, Q&A sessions with Sprint Cup drivers and games for fans to play.  In addition, Sprint instituted the Miss Sprint Cup program, the effective equivalent of R.J. Reynolds' Miss Winston program.  The two or three (depending on the year) women chosen to serve as Miss Sprint Cup worked as ambassadors for Sprint and the sport at large.  Sprint also provides portable cell phone towers at each event and provides Sprint FanView in cooperation with Kangaroo TV for rent at all Cup races.

Tony Stewart Celebrates at Sprint Cup Series Banquet

On Friday night, NASCAR culminated their annual Champion's Week in Las Vegas with the Sprint Cup Series Banquet.  Tony Stewart's third championship was celebrated in a four-hour extravaganza with Reba McIntyre serving as the emcee and performances by Kid Rock and the Jersey Boys.  The top-10 finishers in the Chase were honored on stage, and 2011 Sprint Cup Rookie of the Year Andy Lally was also recognized.

Stewart spent all of Friday with a gigantic smile on his face.

"This is by far the most fun from start to finish of any championship week I've ever been a part of," Stewart said.  "I love Vegas a lot.  There's just so much you can do, so much to see."

Of course, Champions' Week was much more than just a banquet.  The festivities included the annual NMPA Myers Brothers Luncheon, where year-end awards are given out.  There, Stewart took home four yearly contingency awards: the Mobil 1 Driver of the Year Award, the O'Reilly Auto Parts Points Improvement Award, the Sunoco Diamond Performance Award and the Goodyear Tires Award.  No other driver won more than one award.

Dale Earnhardt, Jr. won the Wheaties Fuel Most Popular Driver Award, his ninth consecutive win.  Kyle Busch won the Goodyear Gatorback Belts & Hoses Fastest Lap Award, while Carl Edwards won the Coors Light Pole Award and Matt Kenseth won the Growth Energy American Ethanol Green Flag Restart Award.

Drs. Joe and Rose Mattioli, the retiring operators of Pocono Raceway, were presented with the NMPA Myers Brothers Award for their nearly 40 years of contributions to NASCAR.

In addition, there was a special NASCAR Victory Lap where a portion of the Las Vegas Strip was shut down so that the top-10 drivers could drive their cars and do donuts in front of a large walk-up crowd.  Following that parade, there was "After The Lap," an irreverent time where drivers could let their hair down.  This was notable when Jeff Gordon was goaded into a brief break dancing interlude.

Champions' Week was a big success for NASCAR in Las Vegas.  The Victory Lap had huge crowds and After the Lap was sold out well in advance.  However, this past week was the final year of NASCAR's three-year deal with the City of Las Vegas to host Champions' Week.  There is not currently a deal for the banquet and surrounding activities to return to Las Vegas for 2012, but NASCAR does want to return.

"We certainly have a desire to come back.  There's a desire I think from them to have us back," said Steve Phelps, NASCAR's Chief Marketing Officer.  "I think we're just trying to figure out what are the right assets that work for them?  What's the best way to engage with the fan base and bring as many people to the city as possible?  But, we're excited about the possibilities of getting something renewed.  We don't have anything right now.  There are discussions that are going on."

 
Have news for Phil and the Frontstretch? Don't hesitate to let us know; email us at ashland10@mail.com with a promising lead or tip.

 

TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:
 
2011 NASCAR Driver Review:  Justin Allgaier

by Mike Neff

 

2011 NASCAR Driver Review:  A.J. Allmendinger

by Toni Montgomery

AND DON'T MISS OUR CHASER DRIVER REVIEWS FROM THE PAST WEEK! JUST HEAD HERE AND YOU'LL FIND THEM ALL LISTED FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE.

 
FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Q:  For 1985, new rules in touring car racing saw the introduction of new "Group A" rules for the Australian Touring Car Championship (now the V8 Supercar Championship Series) and the Australian Endurance Championship.  What was the aim of these new rules?

 
Check back next Monday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
 
Wednesday's Answer:
Q. This weekend is the Sydney Telstra 500, the season finale for the V8 Supercar Championship Series on a street course in the Homebush section of Sydney near Olympic Park.  What track did this relatively new venue replace on the schedule?
 
A. The Homebush Street Circuit replaced Oran Park Raceway, a 1.62-mile road course near Sydney on the schedule.  Oran Park was unique in that the track crossed over itself using a bridge.  Like many racetracks here in the United States, Oran Park fell victim to development and was forced to close.  As a result, the race was moved to the area surrounding Olympic Park in Sydney in order to keep a race on the V8 Supercar schedule near Sydney.

The final V8 Supercar round at Oran Park was in 2008.  The track itself closed in January of last year, having been sold to the government of New South Wales for redevelopment as a housing project.

 
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!
 
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.
 
Coming Monday, December 5th in the Frontstretch Newsletter:
-- Top News from Phil Allaway
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, and more ... including our 2011 Driver Reviews!
 
All this week on the Frontstretch:
2011 Driver Reviews by the Frontstretch Staff
Now that we've covered the 12 Chasers, and the champions from the Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series, we're going to cover the remaining drivers in alphabetical order, starting with the A's.  Note that Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series drivers will be lumped in with the Sprint Cup drivers, instead of separately.

Check out the full Driver Review Schedule here.

 

Schedule:
Today: Justin Allgaier and A.J. Allmendinger

Tuesday: Aric Almirola and Marcos Ambrose

Wednesday: Michael Annett, Trevor Bayne and Greg Biffle

Thursday: Dave Blaney, Clint Bowyer and James Buescher.

Friday: Jeff Burton and David Gilliland

------------------------------
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©2011 Frontstretch.com

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