THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
February 22nd, 2012
Volume VI, Edition XVIII
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
February 22nd, 2012
Volume VI, Edition XVIII
~~~~~~~~~~
What to Watch For: Wednesday
by Tom Bowles
- After two dark days, NASCAR returns to action at Daytona with two Sprint Cup practices. The cars will get on-track from 12:00 – 1:30 PM, then again from 2:30 – 4:00 on the 2.5-mile track as fine-tuning begins for Thursday's Gatorade Duels. Both the Camping World Truck Series and Nationwide Series garages open as well.
- ESPN and a handful of its 2012 analysts, along with Coordinating Producer Rich Feinberg will have a media session to discuss their coverage for the upcoming season. NASCAR drivers with official press visits include A.J. Allmendinger, Tony Stewart, Carl Edwards, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Denny Hamlin.
Top News
by Tom Bowles
Vickers Makes Facebook Video, Says "I'll Be Back" In 2012
For the first time since 2003, Brian Vickers will not attempt to compete in NASCAR's Daytona 500. The free agent is gone from Speedweeks but not forgotten, officially sending a Facebook video to fans this week to update them on his status for 2012.
"Unfortunately, Red Bull decided to get out of the sport," the drivers explained, reminding fans how his last, five-year Cup job came to an end. "Myself, some people and some other groups tried to buy those assets but unfortunately, we were not able to do that. Towards the end of 2011, that left me exploring some other options."
"I had some [opportunities] presented, but unfortunately for me none of them were the right fit. It has to be a situation where I can be happy, but most importantly compete at a level to win races and contend for championships. Unfortunately, I was not able to find that fit so I'm sticking to my guns."
That means, for now Vickers will stay on the sidelines, refusing a lesser ride or a start-and-park car until the proper funding or a top-tier opportunity comes along. And the 28-year-old veteran, who has two Cup Series victories and a Chase appearance to his credit seems OK with that short-term decision.
"I'm excited about what the future holds," he continued. "I've got some great ideas I'm very excited about. I'm talking to several sponsors and I plan on being in a race car in 2012, but it's got to be a car where I can win with, and contend for championships."
The former minority partners of TRG Motorsports, Ron Devine and Wayne Press eventually purchased the Red Bull Racing team. Rebranded BK Racing, they'll run in 2012 as a two-car outfit with Landon Cassill and Travis Kvapil as their main drivers.
Cobb Officially Announces Truck Return, Continues Driven2Honor Program
Danica Patrick won't be the only female racing full-time within NASCAR's top three series this season. After scaling back in 2011, Jennifer Jo Cobb confirmed her intent to run full-time in the 2012 Truck Series season Wednesday. Primary sponsorship has not been secured, but Cobb has hired three new crew members and expects to be more competitive than her rookie effort in 2010.
"I'm so excited about how all of our changes are shaping up," said the 38-year-old in a press release hyping her program. "We are already seeing dividends. The new shop has more equipment and resources. Our new crew members have brought lots of fresh ideas and perspectives to our organization. Our crew chief, Steve Kuykendall, is able to dial in his efforts on one program and focus on our truck team. We're definitely more prepared and more organized heading into this season. Things are off to a great start."
Cobb expects to run a combination of Fords and Dodges in the Camping World Truck Series, keeping the No. 10. She'll also continue the popular Driven2Honor program, in which a female member of the military is hosted by the team at every CWTS race.
"We aim to honor the women of armed services with our race team," she said. "It's our way of saying 'thank you' for all that they've sacrificed and contributed to our country. The program is very important to me and will always be part of our team, even if a primary sponsor takes over its space on the truck."
The team also plans a limited Nationwide Series schedule, with number and manufacturer to be announced. Last season, Cobb's full-time attempt in that series went awry, the team she associated with running out of funding and she cobbled together just 18 events. Her best finish was a 26th at Iowa, 12 laps behind race winner Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.
Bud Shootout TV Ratings
NASCAR's first race of the season, at first glance appears to have continued last year's popularity boost. The Bud Shootout scored a 4.0 overnight in the Nielsens, up 3% from last year's race and enough to make FOX the most popular Primetime network Saturday evening over NBC, CBS, ABC and the CW. At-track attendance also increased, as a total of 2.5 percent as 82,000 paid to see Kyle Busch squeak out a narrow victory Daytona.
Overall, historically the rating still lags behind FOX's record for the event, a 5.1 recorded back in 2003.
What to Watch For: Wednesday
by Tom Bowles
- After two dark days, NASCAR returns to action at Daytona with two Sprint Cup practices. The cars will get on-track from 12:00 – 1:30 PM, then again from 2:30 – 4:00 on the 2.5-mile track as fine-tuning begins for Thursday's Gatorade Duels. Both the Camping World Truck Series and Nationwide Series garages open as well.
- ESPN and a handful of its 2012 analysts, along with Coordinating Producer Rich Feinberg will have a media session to discuss their coverage for the upcoming season. NASCAR drivers with official press visits include A.J. Allmendinger, Tony Stewart, Carl Edwards, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Denny Hamlin.
Top News
by Tom Bowles
Vickers Makes Facebook Video, Says "I'll Be Back" In 2012
For the first time since 2003, Brian Vickers will not attempt to compete in NASCAR's Daytona 500. The free agent is gone from Speedweeks but not forgotten, officially sending a Facebook video to fans this week to update them on his status for 2012.
"Unfortunately, Red Bull decided to get out of the sport," the drivers explained, reminding fans how his last, five-year Cup job came to an end. "Myself, some people and some other groups tried to buy those assets but unfortunately, we were not able to do that. Towards the end of 2011, that left me exploring some other options."
"I had some [opportunities] presented, but unfortunately for me none of them were the right fit. It has to be a situation where I can be happy, but most importantly compete at a level to win races and contend for championships. Unfortunately, I was not able to find that fit so I'm sticking to my guns."
That means, for now Vickers will stay on the sidelines, refusing a lesser ride or a start-and-park car until the proper funding or a top-tier opportunity comes along. And the 28-year-old veteran, who has two Cup Series victories and a Chase appearance to his credit seems OK with that short-term decision.
"I'm excited about what the future holds," he continued. "I've got some great ideas I'm very excited about. I'm talking to several sponsors and I plan on being in a race car in 2012, but it's got to be a car where I can win with, and contend for championships."
The former minority partners of TRG Motorsports, Ron Devine and Wayne Press eventually purchased the Red Bull Racing team. Rebranded BK Racing, they'll run in 2012 as a two-car outfit with Landon Cassill and Travis Kvapil as their main drivers.
Cobb Officially Announces Truck Return, Continues Driven2Honor Program
Danica Patrick won't be the only female racing full-time within NASCAR's top three series this season. After scaling back in 2011, Jennifer Jo Cobb confirmed her intent to run full-time in the 2012 Truck Series season Wednesday. Primary sponsorship has not been secured, but Cobb has hired three new crew members and expects to be more competitive than her rookie effort in 2010.
"I'm so excited about how all of our changes are shaping up," said the 38-year-old in a press release hyping her program. "We are already seeing dividends. The new shop has more equipment and resources. Our new crew members have brought lots of fresh ideas and perspectives to our organization. Our crew chief, Steve Kuykendall, is able to dial in his efforts on one program and focus on our truck team. We're definitely more prepared and more organized heading into this season. Things are off to a great start."
Cobb expects to run a combination of Fords and Dodges in the Camping World Truck Series, keeping the No. 10. She'll also continue the popular Driven2Honor program, in which a female member of the military is hosted by the team at every CWTS race.
"We aim to honor the women of armed services with our race team," she said. "It's our way of saying 'thank you' for all that they've sacrificed and contributed to our country. The program is very important to me and will always be part of our team, even if a primary sponsor takes over its space on the truck."
The team also plans a limited Nationwide Series schedule, with number and manufacturer to be announced. Last season, Cobb's full-time attempt in that series went awry, the team she associated with running out of funding and she cobbled together just 18 events. Her best finish was a 26th at Iowa, 12 laps behind race winner Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.
Bud Shootout TV Ratings
NASCAR's first race of the season, at first glance appears to have continued last year's popularity boost. The Bud Shootout scored a 4.0 overnight in the Nielsens, up 3% from last year's race and enough to make FOX the most popular Primetime network Saturday evening over NBC, CBS, ABC and the CW. At-track attendance also increased, as a total of 2.5 percent as 82,000 paid to see Kyle Busch squeak out a narrow victory Daytona.
Overall, historically the rating still lags behind FOX's record for the event, a 5.1 recorded back in 2003.
Have news for Tom and the Frontstretch? Don't hesitate to let us know; email us at phil.allaway@frontstretch.com with a promising lead or tip.
~~~~~~~~~~
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 Thursday with a whole new set of Fan Questions and Answers!
~~~~~~~~~~
Today's Featured Commentary
Chad Knaus' Message to the Field
Full Throttle
by Mike Neff
The 2011 season brought a break in the pattern that the No. 48 team had grown accustomed to over the last five years. While they were in contention for the championship, they never really seemed to be a factor and found themselves completely eliminated from the running long before they arrived at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Many fans were of the opinion that Chad Knaus, often credited with being the reason for Jimmie Johnson's success, had lost his magic touch and was outstrategized over the course of the postseason. Well, whether that was true or not, the recent troubles the team had during technical inspection at Daytona International Speedway to start 2012 are sending the opposite message to the rest of the garage: Old Chad is back.
Knaus has run afoul of NASCAR technical inspectors multiple times in his career, like most of the other crew chiefs in the garage, but it has been a few years since his last run-in with the law. The last major violation came when the crew chief was penalized at Infineon Raceway, in 2007 when officials claimed fender panels fell into the sanctioning body's "gray area" despite the car fitting the template. That miscalculation resulted in a six-week suspension for Knaus, accompanied by a points and monetary fine.
Friday's violation at Daytona, found in the opening technical inspection for the event, is a similar instance. The C-post fit the templates where it is supposed to touch, but the area between those points "didn't look right," according to technical inspectors. While Knaus and the Hendrick organization maintain that the posts haven't changed since Daytona last season, officials who confiscated the parts claimed they were "too far out of tolerance to fix," according to Sprint Cup Director John Darby.
Whether the posts are the same as they were last season or something completely different for this year, there is no question that Knaus has gone to work. The C-posts were fabricated in an attempt to keep the air off of the rear spoiler because, to put it simply, the less drag there is on the rear spoiler, the faster the car will run. Knaus studied under Ray Evernham and has long been known for thinking outside of the box: this is just another example of how he tries to make the No. 48 the best it can be by massaging the areas the ever-tightening rule book leaves room for him to massage.
For the teams and fans that were of the mindset that Knaus had lost his edge, think again: this violation is a clear shot across the bow. If the posts had not been considered illegal, the No. 48 would certainly have been faster. Would it have been fast enough to win? No one knows for sure if the aerodynamic advantage would have been enough to push the former champ's car to the front for the checkered flag, or if it will be fast enough now that it has been corrected, but a strong performance would have been enough to get the garage talking. Now that the posts were declared illegal, the garage is still talking; only this time, it's about Knaus being busted again, albeit the first time in almost five years.
There is no question that Knaus is not afraid to push the envelope. He will always pursue what few gray areas there are in the rule book, sometimes with damaging consequences. Getting thrown out during technical inspection not only risks hurting his team on several fronts, but it also can end up costing Knaus money, his driver and owner championship points, and his owner even more money. However, there are benefits to pushing the rules to the limit and potentially being found illegal. Knaus, along with Johnson, are quite well known for playing mind games and getting in the heads of the other drivers.
There is no question that they crawled into Denny Hamlin's melon at Homestead at the end of the 2010 season, a mental maneuver which resulted in the driver of the No. 11 knocking himself out of the title chase early in the event by self-inflicted wreck. The same technique, while in a different environment could easily be applied here. Being found in violation during tech gets the rest of the garage thinking about what Knaus is doing -- again. The questions about competitive fire, in a heartbeat are now replaced by wonder about what Chad has figured out now that other teams have not. If Johnson can manage to get into Victory Lane once or twice early in the season, the mind games will only intensify.
Knaus has always been considered one of the best -- if not the best -- mechanics in the garage area today, possibly one of the best of all time. However, as in any sport, when the champion team is dethroned, people begin to question if they have lost something. Knaus answered that in the negative when he changed things up during the offseason and took an actual vacation. Now, he's been busted by the NASCAR cops for pushing the limits.
What comes next? I'm not sure, but I can tell you the edge for this team appears as sharp as it has ever been. No short-term penalty now will change the long-term truth: the Old Chad is back.
Competitors, beware.
Mike Neff is a Senior Writer for Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via e-mail at mike.neff@frontstretch.com.
~~~~~~~~~~
COME JOIN THE FRONTSTRETCH FAMILY!
Tweet 'N' Greet
by Summer Dreyer
Editor's Note: With the NASCAR Twitter community expanding by leaps and bounds, it remains a place for instantaneous news, reactions, and a whole lot of inside jokes. We understand if you don't want to join the Twitter community - but as a fan, it's important to know the news and info you're missing out on! That's why, every week, Summer Dreyer will sort through the thousands of messages and give us a little taste of what's going on each Wednesday.
So, without further ado, here's a look at what those in NASCAR were thinking over the past seven days...
~~~~~~~~~~
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 Thursday with a whole new set of Fan Questions and Answers!
~~~~~~~~~~
Today's Featured Commentary
Chad Knaus' Message to the Field
Full Throttle
by Mike Neff
The 2011 season brought a break in the pattern that the No. 48 team had grown accustomed to over the last five years. While they were in contention for the championship, they never really seemed to be a factor and found themselves completely eliminated from the running long before they arrived at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Many fans were of the opinion that Chad Knaus, often credited with being the reason for Jimmie Johnson's success, had lost his magic touch and was outstrategized over the course of the postseason. Well, whether that was true or not, the recent troubles the team had during technical inspection at Daytona International Speedway to start 2012 are sending the opposite message to the rest of the garage: Old Chad is back.
Knaus has run afoul of NASCAR technical inspectors multiple times in his career, like most of the other crew chiefs in the garage, but it has been a few years since his last run-in with the law. The last major violation came when the crew chief was penalized at Infineon Raceway, in 2007 when officials claimed fender panels fell into the sanctioning body's "gray area" despite the car fitting the template. That miscalculation resulted in a six-week suspension for Knaus, accompanied by a points and monetary fine.
Friday's violation at Daytona, found in the opening technical inspection for the event, is a similar instance. The C-post fit the templates where it is supposed to touch, but the area between those points "didn't look right," according to technical inspectors. While Knaus and the Hendrick organization maintain that the posts haven't changed since Daytona last season, officials who confiscated the parts claimed they were "too far out of tolerance to fix," according to Sprint Cup Director John Darby.
Whether the posts are the same as they were last season or something completely different for this year, there is no question that Knaus has gone to work. The C-posts were fabricated in an attempt to keep the air off of the rear spoiler because, to put it simply, the less drag there is on the rear spoiler, the faster the car will run. Knaus studied under Ray Evernham and has long been known for thinking outside of the box: this is just another example of how he tries to make the No. 48 the best it can be by massaging the areas the ever-tightening rule book leaves room for him to massage.
For the teams and fans that were of the mindset that Knaus had lost his edge, think again: this violation is a clear shot across the bow. If the posts had not been considered illegal, the No. 48 would certainly have been faster. Would it have been fast enough to win? No one knows for sure if the aerodynamic advantage would have been enough to push the former champ's car to the front for the checkered flag, or if it will be fast enough now that it has been corrected, but a strong performance would have been enough to get the garage talking. Now that the posts were declared illegal, the garage is still talking; only this time, it's about Knaus being busted again, albeit the first time in almost five years.
There is no question that Knaus is not afraid to push the envelope. He will always pursue what few gray areas there are in the rule book, sometimes with damaging consequences. Getting thrown out during technical inspection not only risks hurting his team on several fronts, but it also can end up costing Knaus money, his driver and owner championship points, and his owner even more money. However, there are benefits to pushing the rules to the limit and potentially being found illegal. Knaus, along with Johnson, are quite well known for playing mind games and getting in the heads of the other drivers.
There is no question that they crawled into Denny Hamlin's melon at Homestead at the end of the 2010 season, a mental maneuver which resulted in the driver of the No. 11 knocking himself out of the title chase early in the event by self-inflicted wreck. The same technique, while in a different environment could easily be applied here. Being found in violation during tech gets the rest of the garage thinking about what Knaus is doing -- again. The questions about competitive fire, in a heartbeat are now replaced by wonder about what Chad has figured out now that other teams have not. If Johnson can manage to get into Victory Lane once or twice early in the season, the mind games will only intensify.
Knaus has always been considered one of the best -- if not the best -- mechanics in the garage area today, possibly one of the best of all time. However, as in any sport, when the champion team is dethroned, people begin to question if they have lost something. Knaus answered that in the negative when he changed things up during the offseason and took an actual vacation. Now, he's been busted by the NASCAR cops for pushing the limits.
What comes next? I'm not sure, but I can tell you the edge for this team appears as sharp as it has ever been. No short-term penalty now will change the long-term truth: the Old Chad is back.
Competitors, beware.
Mike Neff is a Senior Writer for Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via e-mail at mike.neff@frontstretch.com.
~~~~~~~~~~
COME JOIN THE FRONTSTRETCH FAMILY!
Hey Frontstretch Readers,
We are looking for someone who shares our enthusiasm for NASCAR and has an experienced background in web design. Specifically, we are looking for someone who can help maintain and enhance our website, increase our SEO, and upgrade our publishing platform while producing a limited amount of content throughout the season. This job presents a perfect opportunity for someone with a technical background, a person who wants their work to gain national exposure.
If you are interested, contact frontstretcheditors@googlegroups.com. Please include references to your past work in your e-mail.
~~~~~~~~~~Tweet 'N' Greet
by Summer Dreyer
Editor's Note: With the NASCAR Twitter community expanding by leaps and bounds, it remains a place for instantaneous news, reactions, and a whole lot of inside jokes. We understand if you don't want to join the Twitter community - but as a fan, it's important to know the news and info you're missing out on! That's why, every week, Summer Dreyer will sort through the thousands of messages and give us a little taste of what's going on each Wednesday.
So, without further ado, here's a look at what those in NASCAR were thinking over the past seven days...
@KevinHarvick: Great finish!
@AndyLally: Say what you want,, THAT KID CAN WHEEL ANYTHING!!!!! @NASCAR @KyleBusch
@HermieSadler: Congrats to @kylebusch. That car should have been on the hook at least 3 times and he wins. That boy is pretty good.
@Kenny_Wallace: That was eXciting! Wrecks and your Favorite Driver Won by a foot! What else can you ask for @SPEED #Daytona500
@KevinHarvick: Proud of my boys for bringing a fast car now on to trying to win the 500! #onegoal
@AndyLally: Jeff dumped him tonight, Jimmie dumped him tonight & then he payed back Tony for the Nationwide race a couple of years ago. Unreal.
@31n2Spotter (Brett Griffin): I may not deserve a cold beer but ima drink one anway! What a race!
@Regan_Smith_: I'm gonna go out on a limb and say we're going to wreck a lot of cars over the next week down here.
@DanicaPatrick: Other than being afraid of heights, it was a great place to watch the race. Tony was so close! http://img.ly/e7LP
@KyleBusch: Yep, that just happened. #KBshow
@JimmieJohnson: I had a blast tonight and I hope all of you did! Big ups to the whole @LowesRacing team. #6pack #Daytona500 @NASCAR
@mw55 (Michael Waltrip): I went to say thanks for the show. @KyleBusch #daytona500 http://pic.twitter.com/m8H9Vrwb
@31n2Spotter: Had a @danicapatrick encounter on the elevator after the race. We talked about how crazy it was tonight!! Very nice and HOT!
@aric_almirola: Well... If you guys didn't think that was exciting then you don't like racing. Only thing better for me would have been to be a part of it.
@dennyhamlin: Good finish but not the way we wanted it.. Couldn't race all night because of engine temp. Next week we will be strong
@AJDinger (AJ Allmendinger): Budweiser Shootout was crazy. Shell/Pennzoil Dodge was fast. JMAC & I had the top rolling and were going to the lead when the wreck happened.
@MikeCalinoff (Matt Kenseth's Spotter): It's the craziest racing ever. The cars are faster and the drivers are accustomed to contact. I'm glad somebody got to win. #fb
@AJDinger: That will happen. Excited for the 500. Really glad that Jeff Gordon is ok after that nasty flip.
@JLogano (Joey Logano): That sucked I had a car that could win. I still got plenty of races left this week to win.
@JeffGordonWeb (Jeff Gordon): Tough way 2 start '12. Great race car. Not exactly highlight I was hoping 4 but being a worldwide trending topic is cool. Thx 4 ure support.
@BrianLVickers: Here is a video update for you all from me. Hope it answers some of your questions/concerns: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=3101296524280
@BrianLVickers: I just wanted to give everyone an update of what's been going [on]. Many of you have been asking. So- hopefully that helps shed some light. Thanks.
@KevinHamlin (Ty Dillon / Brendan Gaughan Spotter): Crazy race. Going to be busy next week, but I'm looking forward to it.
@EddieDHondt: We had a very fast race car tonight. Our driver (Jeff Gordon) did an outstanding job. He is fine and we all look forward to the 500.
@keselowski (Brad Keselowski): That was interesting, Thought we were in a great spot to finish first or second. The 18-14 combo was just too strong to hold off. #4thItIs
@keithrodden: From the not-so-glamorous part of the job...today was Emmie's 6 month birthday and I never got to see her on FaceTime.
@keithrodden (No. 5 Team Race Engineer): Just walking out of track. Will walk back in in 7 hours. Got to find some speed in our 500 car for qualifying.
@JLogano: Just watched the replay of the race. We still learned a lot for the 500. And working with the new spotter and crew chief was very valuable.
@kaseykahne: Tough night for the 5. Got caught in first wreck. See how qualifying goes tomorrow. 1pm
@KurtBusch: Just heading to bed. Up late with @Patricia_AFF reviewing tonight's race. My guys did a great job. Proud of the #51 team
@Rchildress3 (Richard Childress): Long nite !! Better days a head on the way 2 the track Q day hope it don't rain !!!
@mattkenseth: Restrictor plate racing has always been controversial, no matter what the rules have been. It's a different kind of racing, but fun to watch.
@AllWaltrip (Darrell Waltrip): I don't expect NASCAR to make any rule changes, the drivers on the other hand may want to consider how they race each other!
@mattkenseth: I am not a fan of two car team racing. At least now we can make our own decisions on the fly and let the race play out.
@mw55: Holy cow. It had it all! 2 amazing saves complete w/a shower of sparks! And he won. That's not the top 10 play of the day? [on ESPN] #comeonman
@JeffGordonWeb: Feeling pretty good after my 1st roll in @NASCAR. Thankful 4 safe race cars. Wind is crazy here @DISupdates. Qualifying will be interesting.
@KevinHarvick: Headed home. No one is to happy with qualifying but we will race just fine.
@Regan_Smith_: Well that was a s@/&$y lap... Gotta find some speed by thurs. verry disappointed with that.
@StenhouseJr (Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.): Awesome job @roushyates engines and everyone at the@roushfenway shop!!! RFR front row! We ended up 8th in our Eco boost fusion #RFR25
@David_Ragan: Proud of our team for a top 15 qual effort. All the @FordRacing cars are fast. @FrontRowNASCAR team will be fast on Sunday. #Daytona500
@jjyeley1 (J.J. Yeley): Well we didn't have the speed we needed, looks like the Toyotas are struggling a bit. We will have to wait and see how things go on Wed.
@JLogano: Alright the first part of Speedweeks is over I'm going home for a couple days then I'm back down in Daytona for the big race.
@Mc_Driver (Michael McDowell): Well now we will just have to race our way in on Thursday. It is gonna be exciting. #Daytona500
@mattkenseth: At Disney for a couple days, one hour drive, Kaylin asked made it yet daddy? 37 times, give or take. We were both excited to get here!
@Eliott_Sadler: Looking forward to Thurs... Sure would be cool to add another Duel trophy to the case!!! #3rdtimeacharm
Summer Dreyer is a Senior Writer for Frontstretch.com. She can be reached via email at summer.dreyer@frontstretch.com.
~~~~~~~~~~
ADVERTISEMENT
Are you looking to advertise your website, product or brand? A good way to get your name out there is via direct advertising here in the Frontstretch Newsletter! Interested parties can contact us at frontstretcheditors@googlegroups.com for details.
~~~~~~~~~~
TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:
Did You Notice? ... Playing Cinderella, Buying Super Bowls And Keeping It Real
by Tom Bowles
Mirror Driving: Two-Pack Racing, Penalties at Daytona and Political Correctness
by Mike Neff
Sprint Cup's New Rookie: Everyone, Say Hello to Timmy Hill
by Phil Allaway
Sprint Cup Power Rankings: Top 15 After the Bud Shootout
compiled by Summer Dreyer
Top 10 Wishes For the 2012 NASCAR Season
by Jeff Meyer
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FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Sprint Cup's New Rookie: Everyone, Say Hello to Timmy Hill
by Phil Allaway
Sprint Cup Power Rankings: Top 15 After the Bud Shootout
compiled by Summer Dreyer
Top 10 Wishes For the 2012 NASCAR Season
by Jeff Meyer
~~~~~~~~~~
FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Q: The 1992 Busch Grand National season turned out to be an epic duel for the title that literally came down to one position on the track, in The Pantry 500 at Hickory to close out the year. However, for eventual championship contenders Joe Nemechek and Bobby Labonte, the season started out with DNF's. What happened?
Check back Thursday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
Tuesday's Answer:
Tuesday's Answer:
Q: In 1997, the battle just to qualify for the Daytona 500 was quite fierce. Joe Nemechek, who had just sold his NEMCO Motorsports Cup team to SABCO Racing in the offseason, failed to qualify for the 500 for the second time. However, he was able to start the race, anyway. How did this come to pass?
A: Nemechek was able to race in the Daytona 500 back in 1997 only because SABCO Racing owner Felix Sabates purchased the entry of Phil Barkdoll. Barkdoll qualified 25th fastest in his No. 73 X-1R Chevrolet and was the final driver to get in the race after falling back on his time from qualifying. A substantial sum of money likely passed from Sabates to Barkdoll to facilitate the transfer. However, unlike recent spot purchases, Nemechek raced a No. 73 BellSouth Chevrolet instead of his normal No. 42.
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 Phil Allaway
-- What's Vexing Vito by Vito Pugliese
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, the Line of the Week and more!
~~~~~~~~~~
Tomorrow on the Frontstretch:
Going Green by Garrett Horton
Garrett is back this season, and he starts off swinging with a column surrounding the three-time reigning champ, Tony Stewart.
Professor Of Speed by Mark Howell
Our professor of racing history "has at it" with another column pertinent to the sport at large. This week, Mark takes a look at NASCAR's current identity crisis as he considers who the sanctioning body really wants to build its fan base and how they can attract those people in today's short attention span world.
Potts' Shots by John Potts
Potts' Shots is back for another great season, and John Potts is here to answer your questions in our weekly Fan Q & A. Do you have something you'd like to ask John? Don't sit on the sidelines! Send it to john.potts@frontstretch.com and you just may see your question in print next week!
Truckin' Thursdays by Beth Lunkenheimer
Beth is back this year on a new night, but it's the same great commentary you've come to enjoy! This week, Beth previews the Camping World Truck Series season as everyone shakes off the cobwebs of an usually warm winter for most.
Fifth Column TBD
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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!
©2012 Frontstretch.com
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Coming tomorrow in the Frontstretch Newsletter:
-- Top News from Phil Allaway
-- What's Vexing Vito by Vito Pugliese
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, the Line of the Week and more!
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Tomorrow on the Frontstretch:
Going Green by Garrett Horton
Garrett is back this season, and he starts off swinging with a column surrounding the three-time reigning champ, Tony Stewart.
Professor Of Speed by Mark Howell
Our professor of racing history "has at it" with another column pertinent to the sport at large. This week, Mark takes a look at NASCAR's current identity crisis as he considers who the sanctioning body really wants to build its fan base and how they can attract those people in today's short attention span world.
Potts' Shots by John Potts
Potts' Shots is back for another great season, and John Potts is here to answer your questions in our weekly Fan Q & A. Do you have something you'd like to ask John? Don't sit on the sidelines! Send it to john.potts@frontstretch.com and you just may see your question in print next week!
Truckin' Thursdays by Beth Lunkenheimer
Beth is back this year on a new night, but it's the same great commentary you've come to enjoy! This week, Beth previews the Camping World Truck Series season as everyone shakes off the cobwebs of an usually warm winter for most.
Fifth Column TBD
-----------------------------
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!
©2012 Frontstretch.com
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