The Frontstretch Newsletter: February 16th, 2012

THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
February 16th, 2012
Volume VI, Edition XIV

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Today's Top News
by Phil Allaway

Rick Ware Racing to Operate MaxQ Motorsports No. 37, Mike Wallace to Drive at Daytona, Timmy Hill to Run for Sprint Cup Rookie of the Year

On Wednesday, Rick Ware Racing announced an alliance between themselves and Larry Gunselman's MaxQ Motorsports.  As a result, Poynt will serve as the primary sponsor of the No. 37 Ford Fusion, which Rick Ware Racing will now field.  Mike Wallace has been named as the team's driver for Speedweeks.  However, later this season, 2011 Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year Timmy Hill will take over behind the wheel and run for 2012 Sprint Cup Series Rookie of the Year.

Bill Henderson will serve as the team's crew chief, while Gunselman will be the team's General Manager.  Hill, who will not take over the No. 37 until either Fontana or Texas, will still drive in the Nationwide Series' Drive4COPD 300 on February 25th, but has no plans in the series beyond Daytona.

Bill Elliott to Drive for NEMCO Motorsports during Speedweeks

NEMCO Motorsports announced on Wednesday that 1988 Winston Cup Series Champion Bill Elliott will drive the No. 97 Chevrolet as a teammate to team owner Joe Nemechek during Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway.  Elliott will have his Past Champions' Provisional available to him during Speedweeks, but he will be second in line to use it.

Elliott is pleased at the opportunity to give Daytona another whirl.

"I am really excited to be racing with NEMCO Motorsports and Joe Nemechek, who has been a friend and respected competitor through the years," Elliott said.  "This will be a great way to start off the 2012 NASCAR season in Daytona."

Nemechek is also happy to have Elliott onboard.

"This is a great and fun moment in racing for us at NEMCO Motorsports," Nemechek said.  "We believe the talent and skill of Bill [Elliott] will steer the No. 97 car to a great showing for us and I am excited to be racing right along with him, this time on the same team."

This will be the third year in a row that NEMCO Motorsports has entered two cars for the Daytona 500.  Last year, Nemechek brought 2010 Sprint Cup Rookie of the Year Kevin Conway onboard for Daytona with his ExtenZe sponsorship.  Unfortunately, Conway was unable to race his way into the field (although, he did come close).  In 2010, Jeff Fuller was entered in the No. 97, but the team pulled in after only four laps in their Gatorade Duel and failed to qualify.

Terry Labonte to Drive for FAS Lane Racing

Another past champion that announced a ride for the Daytona 500 on Wednesday is Terry Labonte.  Labonte will return to FAS Lane Racing to drive their No. 32 Ford during Speedweeks.  Sponsorship will be provided by C&J Energy Services.

FAS Lane Racing owner Frank Stoddard is pleased to have Labonte back in the fold for Daytona.

"It is a great privilege for our FAS Lane Racing team to be heading to Daytona once again with Terry Labonte and have C&J Energy join us again this season," Labonte said.  "We had a solid top-15 run last year [in] the Daytona 500 with Terry and that really set the tone for our whole season.  The entire organization has worked hard during the off-season to improve and grow our team and another great performance to start the season is expected."

Like Stoddard said, Labonte finished 15th in last year's Daytona 500, leading two laps along the way.  That run was actually the team's best finish all season (not to mention their sole finish in the top-20).  Labonte brings access to his Past Champions' Provisional to the team.  This is important since FAS Lane Racing sold off their owners' points from 2011 (they finished 34th) to Michael Waltrip Racing so that they could lock their No. 55 and driver Mark Martin into the Daytona 500.  Since Labonte is the most recent past champion not already locked into the race, he is guaranteed to start the race regardless of what happens in qualifying and the Gatorade Duels.

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

Budweiser Shootout:  25 cars entered

Entries:
No. 1- Jamie McMurray for Earnhardt Ganassi Racing
No. 2- Brad Keselowski for Penske Racing
No. 5- Kasey Kahne for Hendrick Motorsports
No. 9- Marcos Ambrose for Richard Petty Motorsports
No. 11- Denny Hamlin for Joe Gibbs Racing
No. 14- Tony Stewart for Stewart-Haas Racing
No. 15- Clint Bowyer for Michael Waltrip Racing
No. 16- Greg Biffle for Roush Fenway Racing
No. 17- Matt Kenseth for Roush Fenway Racing
No. 18- Kyle Busch for Joe Gibbs Racing
No. 20- Joey Logano for Joe Gibbs Racing
No. 22- AJ Allmendinger for Penske Racing
No. 24- Jeff Gordon for Hendrick Motorsports
No. 27- Paul Menard for Richard Childress Racing
No. 29- Kevin Harvick for Richard Childress Racing
No. 31- Jeff Burton for Richard Childress Racing
No. 34- David Ragan for Front Row Motorsports
No. 39- Ryan Newman for Stewart-Haas Racing
No. 42- Juan Pablo Montoya for Earnhardt Ganassi Racing
No. 48- Jimmie Johnson for Hendrick Motorsports
No. 51- Kurt Busch for Phoenix Racing
No. 55- Michael Waltrip for Michael Waltrip Racing
No. 56- Martin Truex, Jr. for Michael Waltrip Racing
No. 88- Dale Earnhardt, Jr. for Hendrick Motorsports
No. 99- Carl Edwards for Roush Fenway Racing

Eligible Drivers who are not entered:
Trevor Bayne (2011 Daytona 500 winner, will drive No. 21 part-time)
Geoff Bodine (1986 Daytona 500 winner)
Derrike Cope (1990 Daytona 500 winner)
Bill Elliott (1985 and 1987 Daytona 500 winner, 1988 and 1991 Pepsi 400 winner, scheduled to drive No. 50 in Coke Zero 400)
Mark Martin (Top-25 in 2011 points, will drive No. 55 part-time)
Terry Labonte (1985 Busch Clash winner)
Ken Schrader (1990 Busch Clash winner, will drive No. 32 part-time)
Brian Vickers (Top-25 in 2011 points)

ARCA Racing Series Presented by Menards Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200: 59 cars entered

Notables:
No. 4- Brandon McReynolds for Turner Motorsports
No. 5- Bobby Gerhart for Bobby Gerhart Racing
No. 6- Cale Gale for Eddie Sharp Racing
No. 9- Max Gresham for Joe Denette Racing
No. 12- Leilani Munter for Tony Marks Racing
No. 16- Matt Lofton for Coulter Racing
No. 17- Chris Buescher for Roulo Brothers Racing
No. 25- Brennan Poole for Venturini Motorsports
No. 29- Sloan Henderson for K-Automotive Motorsports
No. 33- Milka Duno for Eddie Sharp Racing
No. 39- Fain Skinner for Roulo Brothers Racing
No. 44- Frank Kimmel for ThorSport Racing
No. 48- James Hylton for Hylton Racing
No. 52- Tom Hessert III for Ken Schrader Racing
No. 55- Paulie Harraka for Venturini Motorsports
No. 58- Chad Hackenbracht for CGH Motorsports
No. 61- Joey Coulter for Coulter Racing
No. 66- Mark Thompson for Venturini Motorsports

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.

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Got NASCAR-related questions or comments?
Send them John Potts' way at john.potts@frontstretch.com; and if you're lucky, you'll get your name in print when he does his weekly column answering back to you – the fans that keep Frontstretch afloat. Potts' Shots will run on Thursdays with a whole new set of Fan Questions and Answers!

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TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:
Part IV Of Our NASCAR Season Preview: Danica Hype Versus Reality
by the Frontstretch Staff

Potts' Shots: NASCAR Fan Q&A Returns For 2012 With A Trip Down Memory Lane
by John Potts

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FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
 
Q:  The infamous roof spoilers were introduced to the Cup Series on restrictor plate tracks back in October, 2000.  However, two other rules packages preceded the use of the roof spoilers (and 70 degree rear spoilers) that season.  What were the teams forced to do for the 2000 Daytona 500?

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

Q:  Back when the Budweiser Shootout was a 20-lap race known as the Busch Clash (split into two segments), multi-car incidents were quite rare.  However, in 1995, the race got off to an auspicious start.  What happened?

A: On the first lap of the race, Mark Martin and Greg Sacks were side-by-side entering Turn 3.  Ricky Rudd tried to fit his Tide Ford in between Martin and Sacks to make it three-wide.  This rarely works.  Rudd ended up hooking Sacks in the left rear, turning Sacks' No. 40 into Martin.  Sacks' Pontiac then hung a right and went hard into the outside wall.  Meanwhile, Martin also spun his Valvoline Ford further down the track.  Sacks and Martin were both ok, but they were both done for the day (Martin's damage was repairable, but not really worth it in a 20-lap race.  Meanwhile, Sacks' car was thrashed).  The crash can be seen at the 5:25 mark of this clip.  Ken Squier, Ned Jarrett and Darrell Waltrip have the call for CBS.

Frontstretch Trivia Guarantee:  If we mess up, you get the shirt off our backs!  If we've provided an incorrect answer to the Frontstretch Trivia question, be the first to email the corrected trivia answer to trivia@frontstretch.com and we'll send you a Frontstretch T-Shirt ... FREE! 

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Coming tomorrow in the Frontstretch Newsletter:
-- Top News from TBD
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, and more!

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Tomorrow on the Frontstretch:

Four Burning Questions: Bud Shootout by Summer Dreyer
Summer returns to the Frontstretch with her four-part look at what we should expect from this weekend's exhibition race out at Daytona.

Season Preview: Part V by the Frontstretch Staff
In the final part of our season preview articles, our writers take a look at the Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series.  In each series, there will be a minimal amount of "whacking" from Sprint Cup regulars.  How will that affect the series and who will walk away with the hardware?  Check out Friday's previews to find out.
 
2012 Sprint Cup Predictions by the Frontstretch Staff
We'll have predictions for the upcoming season from the entire roster here at Frontstretch, just in time for the opening of Budweiser Shootout Practice.

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