THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
March 1st, 2012
Volume VI, Edition XXIX
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Today's Top Newsby Phil Allaway
NASCAR Drops the Hammer on Chad Knaus
Back on opening day during Speedweeks, NASCAR officials eyeballed a violation of the C-Pillars on Jimmie Johnson's No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet (the one destined to race in the Daytona 500 and which was crashed less than three miles into the race). At the time, the officials ordered the No. 48 team to cut the pillars off of the car and replace them with new ones, which had to be flown in from North Carolina. After that was done, the car was put through inspection again and allowed on track.
At the time, NASCAR stated that they were going to wait until after Speedweeks were over before determining what type of punishment could be levied on the No. 48 team for the infraction. On Wednesday, that decision was made, and the penalties?
Severe.
Crew chief Chad Knaus and car chief Ron Malec have both been suspended for six Sprint Cup races, as well as from NASCAR in general until April 18. In addition, both have been placed on probation until May 9. Knaus will also have to pay a $100,000 fine.
Driver Jimmie Johnson has been penalized 25 driver points, while listed owner Jeff Gordon has also been docked 25 owner points. (That's important.... Gordon's driver points or anything involved the No. 24 are obviously not affected). As a result, the team is currently in a hole in the standings with -23 points. They are considered to be ranked 49th right now, behind the six teams that failed to qualify for the Daytona 500.
In their official statement, NASCAR indicated that the No. 48 was determined to be in violation of multiple sections of the 2012 Sprint Cup Series Rule Book. These included Section 12-1 (Actions Detrimental to Stock Car Racing), 12-4-j (Determination by NASCAR officials that race equipment does not conform to rules, or has not been approved by NASCAR), and 20-2.1E (Judgment by NASCAR officials that parts have been installed in order to illegally enhance aerodynamic performance).
In a very brief official statement, Hendrick Motorsports indicated that they will appeal NASCAR's ruling. Owner Rick Hendrick stated that "in this case, the system broke down" in relation to the inspection process in Daytona.
Crew chief Chad Knaus and car chief Ron Malec have both been suspended for six Sprint Cup races, as well as from NASCAR in general until April 18. In addition, both have been placed on probation until May 9. Knaus will also have to pay a $100,000 fine.
Driver Jimmie Johnson has been penalized 25 driver points, while listed owner Jeff Gordon has also been docked 25 owner points. (That's important.... Gordon's driver points or anything involved the No. 24 are obviously not affected). As a result, the team is currently in a hole in the standings with -23 points. They are considered to be ranked 49th right now, behind the six teams that failed to qualify for the Daytona 500.
In their official statement, NASCAR indicated that the No. 48 was determined to be in violation of multiple sections of the 2012 Sprint Cup Series Rule Book. These included Section 12-1 (Actions Detrimental to Stock Car Racing), 12-4-j (Determination by NASCAR officials that race equipment does not conform to rules, or has not been approved by NASCAR), and 20-2.1E (Judgment by NASCAR officials that parts have been installed in order to illegally enhance aerodynamic performance).
In a very brief official statement, Hendrick Motorsports indicated that they will appeal NASCAR's ruling. Owner Rick Hendrick stated that "in this case, the system broke down" in relation to the inspection process in Daytona.
For a the full (albeit brief) Hendrick statement, click here.
Ollie's Bargain Outlet to Sponsor Blaney in Phoenix
After a 15th-place finish in Monday night's Daytona 500, Dave Blaney has earned himself a second race of sponsorship support. Following a substantial amount of exposure that came as a result of Blaney being in the lead during the two-hour "jet dryer" red flag, Ollie's Bargain Outlet announced on Wednesday that they have signed on to return as the primary sponsor on Blaney's No. 36 Chevrolet this weekend in Phoenix.
Mark Butler, President and CEO of Ollie's Bargain Outlet is very happy to be back with TBR.
"Dave Blaney and the TBR team did a great job at Daytona, and the Ollie's car looked sharp out on the track," Butler said. "Not to mention the incredible coverage we got at the race and the outpouring of support from both our customers and Blaney fans. We're happy to sponsor Dave and TBR again in Phoenix and get a second chance at Victory Lane."
Team owner Tommy Baldwin, Jr. is very honest about what precipitated Ollie's to re-up for Phoenix.
"The coverage we received on FOX during the Daytona 500 broadcast was great for our company and Ollie's," Baldwin said. "It made our partnership with Ollie's much more lucrative. They decided to come back onboard for Phoenix and our team couldn't be happier. Ollie's is a great brand, and we are thrilled that we helped them get exposure to the millions of viewers that tuned into Monday night's broadcast."
BK Racing Signs Licensing Agreement
On Wednesday, Burger King Corp., the parent company of Burger King Restaurants, signed a licensing agreement with new Sprint Cup team BK Racing, LLC. This will allow Burger King to license the primary paint schemes being used on the team's Nos. 83 and 93 Toyotas. Such a deal will allow Burger King to promote the team's racing activities throughout the various restaurants and on the internet (Ex: Using the cars on cups).
Team co-owner Scott Gunderson is very pleased to officially have the fast food company on board.
"I'm extremely happy to welcome Burger King Corp. to the team and really proud to be associated with such a great brand," Gunderson said. "This demonstrates another important step in getting the BK Racing team ready for the season. As a longtime franchisee, I look forward to a successful racing season and know firsthand the benefits of a partnership with a winning team."
According to Quick Service Restaurant News, Burger King will officially leverage their sponsorship through regional marketing programs and promotions on and off the track. What those initiatives entail are unknown at the moment, but they will come to light later this year.
Entry List Update:
Note: These entries are accurate as of Wednesday night. However, they are still subject to change.
Sprint Cup Series Subway Fresh Fit 500k: 44 cars entered
Point Swaps:
FAS Lane Racing No. 32 acquires points from Roush Fenway Racing No. 6.
Inception Motorsports No. 30 acquires points from TRG Motorsports No. 71.
Drivers Ineligible to Earn Points:
No. 87 - Joe Nemechek for NEMCO Motorsports
Driver Changes:
No. 10 - David Reutimann is in the seat, replacing Danica Patrick. The sponsorship from GoDaddy.com will not be on the car for this race, one of Reutimann's 26 to keep the Chevy (hopefully) inside the top 35 of owner points.
No. 23 - Scott Riggs is in the seat, replacing Robert Richardson, Jr. Riggs will be running a limited schedule with the new, full-time Cup effort for R3 Motorsports this season.
No. 26 - Rookie Josh Wise is in the seat, replacing Tony Raines. After Front Row Motorsports experienced extensive crash damage to their Daytona fleet, Wise's entry is expected to start and park.
No. 33 - Brendan Gaughan is in the seat, replacing Elliott Sadler. This race marks the first of four Gaughan will run Cup with Richard Childress Racing.
No. 37 - Timmy Hill is in the seat (a little bit early), replacing Mike Wallace. If Hill qualifies, he will make his Sprint Cup debut as a rookie on the circuit.
No. 93 - Travis Kvapil is in the seat, replacing David Reutimann. Kvapil will be driving this car full-time throughout 2012.
Drivers who must qualify on speed:
No. 7 - Robby Gordon for Robby Gordon Motorsports*
No. 23 - Scott Riggs for R3 Motorsports
No. 26 - Josh Wise for Front Row Motorsports*
No. 30 - David Stremme for Inception Motorsports*
No. 36 - Dave Blaney for Tommy Baldwin Racing
No. 37 - Timmy Hill for MaxQ Motorsports/Rick Ware Racing
No. 49 - J.J. Yeley for Robinson-Blakeney Racing
No. 87 - Joe Nemechek for NEMCO Motorsports*
No. 98 - Michael McDowell for Phil Parsons Racing
Ollie's Bargain Outlet to Sponsor Blaney in Phoenix
After a 15th-place finish in Monday night's Daytona 500, Dave Blaney has earned himself a second race of sponsorship support. Following a substantial amount of exposure that came as a result of Blaney being in the lead during the two-hour "jet dryer" red flag, Ollie's Bargain Outlet announced on Wednesday that they have signed on to return as the primary sponsor on Blaney's No. 36 Chevrolet this weekend in Phoenix.
Mark Butler, President and CEO of Ollie's Bargain Outlet is very happy to be back with TBR.
"Dave Blaney and the TBR team did a great job at Daytona, and the Ollie's car looked sharp out on the track," Butler said. "Not to mention the incredible coverage we got at the race and the outpouring of support from both our customers and Blaney fans. We're happy to sponsor Dave and TBR again in Phoenix and get a second chance at Victory Lane."
Team owner Tommy Baldwin, Jr. is very honest about what precipitated Ollie's to re-up for Phoenix.
"The coverage we received on FOX during the Daytona 500 broadcast was great for our company and Ollie's," Baldwin said. "It made our partnership with Ollie's much more lucrative. They decided to come back onboard for Phoenix and our team couldn't be happier. Ollie's is a great brand, and we are thrilled that we helped them get exposure to the millions of viewers that tuned into Monday night's broadcast."
BK Racing Signs Licensing Agreement
On Wednesday, Burger King Corp., the parent company of Burger King Restaurants, signed a licensing agreement with new Sprint Cup team BK Racing, LLC. This will allow Burger King to license the primary paint schemes being used on the team's Nos. 83 and 93 Toyotas. Such a deal will allow Burger King to promote the team's racing activities throughout the various restaurants and on the internet (Ex: Using the cars on cups).
Team co-owner Scott Gunderson is very pleased to officially have the fast food company on board.
"I'm extremely happy to welcome Burger King Corp. to the team and really proud to be associated with such a great brand," Gunderson said. "This demonstrates another important step in getting the BK Racing team ready for the season. As a longtime franchisee, I look forward to a successful racing season and know firsthand the benefits of a partnership with a winning team."
According to Quick Service Restaurant News, Burger King will officially leverage their sponsorship through regional marketing programs and promotions on and off the track. What those initiatives entail are unknown at the moment, but they will come to light later this year.
Entry List Update:
Note: These entries are accurate as of Wednesday night. However, they are still subject to change.
Sprint Cup Series Subway Fresh Fit 500k: 44 cars entered
Point Swaps:
FAS Lane Racing No. 32 acquires points from Roush Fenway Racing No. 6.
Inception Motorsports No. 30 acquires points from TRG Motorsports No. 71.
Drivers Ineligible to Earn Points:
No. 87 - Joe Nemechek for NEMCO Motorsports
Driver Changes:
No. 10 - David Reutimann is in the seat, replacing Danica Patrick. The sponsorship from GoDaddy.com will not be on the car for this race, one of Reutimann's 26 to keep the Chevy (hopefully) inside the top 35 of owner points.
No. 23 - Scott Riggs is in the seat, replacing Robert Richardson, Jr. Riggs will be running a limited schedule with the new, full-time Cup effort for R3 Motorsports this season.
No. 26 - Rookie Josh Wise is in the seat, replacing Tony Raines. After Front Row Motorsports experienced extensive crash damage to their Daytona fleet, Wise's entry is expected to start and park.
No. 33 - Brendan Gaughan is in the seat, replacing Elliott Sadler. This race marks the first of four Gaughan will run Cup with Richard Childress Racing.
No. 37 - Timmy Hill is in the seat (a little bit early), replacing Mike Wallace. If Hill qualifies, he will make his Sprint Cup debut as a rookie on the circuit.
No. 93 - Travis Kvapil is in the seat, replacing David Reutimann. Kvapil will be driving this car full-time throughout 2012.
Drivers who must qualify on speed:
No. 7 - Robby Gordon for Robby Gordon Motorsports*
No. 23 - Scott Riggs for R3 Motorsports
No. 26 - Josh Wise for Front Row Motorsports*
No. 30 - David Stremme for Inception Motorsports*
No. 36 - Dave Blaney for Tommy Baldwin Racing
No. 37 - Timmy Hill for MaxQ Motorsports/Rick Ware Racing
No. 49 - J.J. Yeley for Robinson-Blakeney Racing
No. 87 - Joe Nemechek for NEMCO Motorsports*
No. 98 - Michael McDowell for Phil Parsons Racing
* - Expected to start and park
Not Entered:
No. 09 - Kenny Wallace for RAB Racing with Brack Maggard
No. 6 - Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. for Roush Fenway Racing
No. 21 - Trevor Bayne for Wood Brothers Racing
No. 40 - Michael Waltrip for Hillman Racing
No. 97 - Bill Elliott for NEMCO Motorsports
Nationwide Series Bashas' Supermarkets 200: 45 cars entered
Drivers Ineligible to Earn Points:
No. 13 - Jennifer Jo Cobb for JJC Racing
No. 15 - Timmy Hill for Rick Ware Racing
No. 18 - Denny Hamlin for Joe Gibbs Racing
No. 20 - Joey Logano for Joe Gibbs Racing
No. 22 - Brad Keselowski for Penske Racing
No. 27 - J.J. Yeley for GC Motorsports International
No. 30 - James Buescher for Turner Motorsports
No. 33 - Kevin Harvick for Richard Childress Racing
No. 38 - Kasey Kahne for Turner Motorsports
No. 40 - Josh Wise for Key Motorsports
No. 47 - Scott Speed for Key Motorsports
No. 54 - Kyle Busch for Kyle Busch Motorsports
Driver Changes:
No. 4 - Darryl Harr is in the seat, replacing Danny Efland. No word on whether the West Coast driver will run the distance.
No. 23 - Jamie Dick is in the seat, replacing Robert Richardson, Jr. This is the first of many races in which Stott Classic Racing (formerly the No. 02) will operate R3 Motorsports' entry.
No. 27 - J.J. Yeley returns to the seat, replacing David Ragan.
No. 28 - David Green is in the seat, replacing J.J. Yeley.
No. 33 - Kevin Harvick returns to the seat, replacing Tony Stewart.
No. 52 - Tim Schendel returns to the seat, replacing Reed Sorenson.
Drivers who must qualify on speed:
No. 08 - Casey Roderick for Randy Hill Racing
No. 10 - Jeff Green for TriStar Motorsports
No. 13 - Jennifer Jo Cobb for JJC Racing
No. 20 - Joey Logano for Joe Gibbs Racing
No. 22 - Brad Keselowski for Penske Racing (Guaranteed to start via the Past Champions' Provisional)
No. 24 - Benny Gordon for SR2 Motorsports
No. 27 - J.J. Yeley for GC Motorsports International
No. 41 - Blake Koch for Rick Ware Racing
No. 42 - Erik Darnell for Key Motorsports
No. 44 - Mike Bliss for TriStar Motorsports
No. 46 - Chase Miller for Key Motorsports
No. 47 - Scott Speed for Key Motorsports
No. 54 - Kyle Busch for Kyle Busch Motorsports (Has second crack at the Past Champions' Provisional)
No. 73 - Derrike Cope for CFK Motorsports
No. 74 - Mike Harmon for Mike Harmon Racing
No. 89 - Morgan Shepherd for Faith Motorsports
Originally Entered, but Already Withdrawn:
No. 73 - Derrike Cope for CFK Motorsports
Not Entered:
No. 1 - Kurt Busch for Phoenix Racing
No. 5 - Dale Earnhardt, Jr. for JR Motorsports
No. 36 - Ryan Truex for Tommy Baldwin Racing
No. 76 - Donnie Neuenberger for Ray Hackett Racing
No. 97 - Johnny Sauter for NEMCO 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.
Probably the most interesting revelation made in the first segment of the show is that Wallace drove the 2011 season in the No. 09 for free. Granted, he has multiple other income streams (personal sponsorships and most notably, the on-air work for SPEED, which likely pays him a pretty penny (I'm not privy to the details of Wallace's contract, so I can't help you there)), but that's really something worth noting. He did it because he felt he needed to, not because Robby Benton asked him to.
Equally interesting was the admission that he had wasted the previous four years (2007-2010) of his driving career driving for teams that he claimed either "didn't want to race, or were in it just for the money." For reference purposes, in that time, Wallace drove for Furniture Row Motorsports in Sprint Cup (22 starts, 11 DNQs), a short stint in 2008 with Fitz Motorsports, then three years with Jay Robinson Racing (we're going to exclude Wallace's sub role for Yates Racing while Ricky Rudd was recovering from injuries suffered in Fontana). Apparently, there are quite a few stories from Wallace's stint in the No. 78 that really showed the somewhat amateur status of the team at that time. As for the Jay Robinson No. 28, that organization has always been small time. They were at their absolute best right before NASCAR nixed testing. Since then, they've been effectively bottom feeders.
As a result of all of the struggles, along with the constant attempts to attract sponsorship, Wallace had become run down. However, signing on with RAB Racing has reinvigorated Wallace's career. Heck, Wallace seemed like a different person on Twitter about a month before it was announced that he was going to the No. 09 for 2011.
We learned quite a few interesting things during the show. For example, NASCAR, in their infinite wisdom, thought that 2012 was a good time to increase license fees for drivers in the Nationwide Series by 167 percent (from apparently $3,000 to $8,000). Wallace was definitely not pleased about it, but you gots to pay if you want to race.
Another fact that just how difficult it was for the RAB Racing team to acquire a car that could be used to even attempt the Daytona 500 with. According to the show, they originally planned to get one from the Red Bull Racing Team. Unfortunately, they decided not to sell at that time. It wasn't stated outright on the show, but the likely reason why this initial sale fell through was due to the ownership group now known as BK Racing coming together to purchase the operation. Regardless, they eventually did get a car, but it was just a couple of weeks before Speedweeks. Since they had roughly 16 days to prep the car once they got it before leaving for Daytona, it was a thrash at best.
A third interesting point was the fact that the team went to Speedweeks with just that one car (and apparently, the steering wheel out of Wallace's Nationwide car). That practice was similar to what MacDonald Motorsports did with Blake Koch at Daytona last July for the Nationwide Series Subway Jalapeno 250. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised, knowing just how long it took just to get the one car.
Away from racing, Wallace appeared to be quite the family man. He is clearly in love with his wife, Kim. His daughter cuts his hair on a regular basis (She's a licensed cosmetologist. That's her livelihood) and he loves to spend time with the extended family. Of course, even then, racing intervenes. His schedule could be best described as "insane," but he tries to be as grounded as possible. Wallace spends time in what appeared to be the unfinished basement of his house working out. He touts the benefits of oatmeal for breakfast (apparently, Mark Martin turned him on to it).
Even away from the track, the nutty side of Kenny still comes out from time to time. Someone thought it'd be a good idea to show him showering and singing while in there. That was ridiculous. Other times, he was just acting goofy.
At the end of the show, Wallace was feeling very confident that he could get the No. 09 into the Daytona 500. The car the team bought was apparently the same car that Brian Vickers ran at Talladega last year. The show made it sound like it was the car Vickers raced at Talladega in October. However, the information presented made it sound like it was the car Vickers raced there in April. That event didn't end well for Vickers. He finished 38th after wrecking early in the race and was 73 laps down at the end.
Regardless of inaccuracies or incongruities, this documentary was a decent show to watch. I was concerned about this show at first only because its SPEED and Kenny Wallace. I knew they were going to do something to chronicle Wallace's Daytona 500 attempt as soon as it was announced. What I didn't expect was all the extra stuff. I feel like I came out of this show knowing a little bit more about the man called "Herman" than I did before. And that isn't necessarily a bad thing.
I hope you enjoyed this look at Chasing Daytona: Kenny Wallace. Next week, I'm going to stray a bit from TV and take a look at Darrell Waltrip's new book, Sundays Will Never Be The Same. Until then, enjoy this weekend's action in Phoenix!
Phil Allaway is the Newsletter Manager and a Senior Writer for Frontstretch. He can be reached via e-mail at phil.allaway@frontstretch.com.
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TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:
Your Cheating Art: Analyzing The Knaus/Hendrick Penalty
by Matt McLaughlin
Potts' Shots: Where Did The Checkered Flag Come From?
by John Potts
Darian 1, Stewart 0: Can The New Crew Chief Jumpstart Denny's Season?
by Garrett Horton
Professor of Speed: Just One of Them Weeks
by Mark Howell
Truckin' Thursdays: Can The King Keep His Crown? And Other Daytona Lessons
by Beth Lunkenheimer
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FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Q: In 1993, Phoenix International Raceway was the first short oval on the IndyCar schedule. However, the series' biggest "get" in the offseason, Nigel Mansell, failed to start the race. What happened?
Check back Wednesday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
Tuesday's Answer:
Q: In 1997, Phoenix International Raceway hosted the first 200-mile race for the then-recently introduced production-based IRL engines (Note: Disney World was the first race of the season, but it was rain-shortened). Underdog Jim Guthrie broke through to claim his one and only IRL victory. What was notable about the win?
A: Guthrie had literally mortgaged his and his family's entire future on his racing dreams. In order to afford one of the new generation cars and an Aurora V8 engine, he put his house up as collateral. Even after winning in Phoenix, he was still $85,000 in debt. Luckily, the win and publicity from his story resulted in a sponsorship deal for the Indianapolis 500. Unfortunately, Guthrie's racing career ended as a result of injuries suffered in this big crash in the 1998 Indianapolis 500. Guthrie, driving a black and white car for ISM Racing (yes, the same organization that owned the Tabasco No. 35 in Winston Cup that year until they merged with TylerJet Motorsports), is in the car that goes through the grass, runs over debris and spears into the wall.
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 Nick Schwartz
-- In Case You Missed It by Nick Schwartz
-- Keepin' It Short by Mike Neff
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, and more!
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Tomorrow on the Frontstretch:
Four Burning Questions: Phoenix by Summer Dreyer
Summer returns with her four-part look at what we should expect from this weekend's Subway Fresh Fit 500k in Phoenix.
The Yellow Stripe by Danny Peters
The Daytona 500 is obviously a big deal. However, for decades, it has existed as something unto itself. Danny explains why this weekend's race in Phoenix and next weekend's action in Las Vegas are far more important in showing the keys to the 2012 championship Chase.
Holding A Pretty Wheel by Amy Henderson
On Wednesday, NASCAR threw the book at Chad Knaus. Amy is here to tell you that the penalty is unjust.
Driver Diary: Regan Smith as told to Tony Lumbis
Regan Smith returns for another season of interesting insights into his life on and off the track.
Friday Fast Forward Into NASCAR's Future by Bryan Davis Keith
Bryan returns with another interesting commentary piece. This week, the focus turns to independent Nationwide Series driver Jeremy Clements.
Voices From the Heartland by Jeff Meyer
Jeff may no longer live in Iowa, but he's still back with his own particular brand of writing.
Not Entered:
No. 09 - Kenny Wallace for RAB Racing with Brack Maggard
No. 6 - Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. for Roush Fenway Racing
No. 21 - Trevor Bayne for Wood Brothers Racing
No. 40 - Michael Waltrip for Hillman Racing
No. 97 - Bill Elliott for NEMCO Motorsports
Nationwide Series Bashas' Supermarkets 200: 45 cars entered
Drivers Ineligible to Earn Points:
No. 13 - Jennifer Jo Cobb for JJC Racing
No. 15 - Timmy Hill for Rick Ware Racing
No. 18 - Denny Hamlin for Joe Gibbs Racing
No. 20 - Joey Logano for Joe Gibbs Racing
No. 22 - Brad Keselowski for Penske Racing
No. 27 - J.J. Yeley for GC Motorsports International
No. 30 - James Buescher for Turner Motorsports
No. 33 - Kevin Harvick for Richard Childress Racing
No. 38 - Kasey Kahne for Turner Motorsports
No. 40 - Josh Wise for Key Motorsports
No. 47 - Scott Speed for Key Motorsports
No. 54 - Kyle Busch for Kyle Busch Motorsports
Driver Changes:
No. 4 - Darryl Harr is in the seat, replacing Danny Efland. No word on whether the West Coast driver will run the distance.
No. 23 - Jamie Dick is in the seat, replacing Robert Richardson, Jr. This is the first of many races in which Stott Classic Racing (formerly the No. 02) will operate R3 Motorsports' entry.
No. 27 - J.J. Yeley returns to the seat, replacing David Ragan.
No. 28 - David Green is in the seat, replacing J.J. Yeley.
No. 33 - Kevin Harvick returns to the seat, replacing Tony Stewart.
No. 52 - Tim Schendel returns to the seat, replacing Reed Sorenson.
Drivers who must qualify on speed:
No. 08 - Casey Roderick for Randy Hill Racing
No. 10 - Jeff Green for TriStar Motorsports
No. 13 - Jennifer Jo Cobb for JJC Racing
No. 20 - Joey Logano for Joe Gibbs Racing
No. 22 - Brad Keselowski for Penske Racing (Guaranteed to start via the Past Champions' Provisional)
No. 24 - Benny Gordon for SR2 Motorsports
No. 27 - J.J. Yeley for GC Motorsports International
No. 41 - Blake Koch for Rick Ware Racing
No. 42 - Erik Darnell for Key Motorsports
No. 44 - Mike Bliss for TriStar Motorsports
No. 46 - Chase Miller for Key Motorsports
No. 47 - Scott Speed for Key Motorsports
No. 54 - Kyle Busch for Kyle Busch Motorsports (Has second crack at the Past Champions' Provisional)
No. 73 - Derrike Cope for CFK Motorsports
No. 74 - Mike Harmon for Mike Harmon Racing
No. 89 - Morgan Shepherd for Faith Motorsports
Originally Entered, but Already Withdrawn:
No. 73 - Derrike Cope for CFK Motorsports
Not Entered:
No. 1 - Kurt Busch for Phoenix Racing
No. 5 - Dale Earnhardt, Jr. for JR Motorsports
No. 36 - Ryan Truex for Tommy Baldwin Racing
No. 76 - Donnie Neuenberger for Ray Hackett Racing
No. 97 - Johnny Sauter for NEMCO 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's Featured Commentary
Hung Out To Dry - Drastic Measures Needed To Get The Wet Out
What's Vexing Vito
by Vito Pugliese
Having been in a holding pattern since the rains rolled in Sunday morning, I have had ample time to ponder what changes NASCAR could implement to help alleviate these weather maladies that have done much to dampen the spirit – and credit card balance – of thousands of race fans. While not exactly the 1979 Daytona 500 (albeit in reverse), this has been a historic 54th running of the event. The first weather-delayed Daytona 500 in history, though there have been two rain shortened races in the last decade, with the 2003 and 2009 races being called before the end of 500 miles. What then could be done to help prevent this from happening in the future?
My first thought was – and always has been, a giant awning. No, not the Sun Setter Awning that the guy who looks like former Vice Presidential candidate John Edwards is still hocking on TV, but one that at least covers the turns. It doesn't need to be metal; there are plenty of high strength polymers that could be employed. They make up the majority of popular pistol frames today, and would do just as well keeping water off the racetrack. The Formula 1 course in Singapore is a prime example of this phenomenon – and this for a series that runs rain tires. Perhaps there is a way to make them retractable? After all, there are several MLB ballparks that have retractable roofs. Sure a race track is larger than an entire ball field, and with as many tracks as there are in tornado country, maybe this one might not work. Just thinking out loud here, trying to get the juices flowing...
Thinking along the more cost-effective side of things, we've all watched Major League Baseball games when as the rains begin to fall faster than the players can wipe off the ball, bat, and gloves, the army of groundskeepers that roll out the massive blue tarps to cover the field. Looking like big, blue bails of nylon, the tarps help to preserve the integrity of the playing surface, preventing outdoor stadiums from turning into soggy mud bogs for when play resumes. Often the delay is only as long as the rain showers, and once the tarps are recalled, it's business as usual.
Why not engineer the same thing at a race track? Sure, it might be a bit far fetched for someplace like Daytona (which everybody said could not be lighted to race at night), but at a short track like Martinsville or Bristol, the tarps could be neatly concealed within the walls to cover the corners, while the front stretch could be the focus of the familiar jet dryers and guy-wielding-a-broom.
Living in Michigan, one of the familiar sights on the roadway six months a year, are the familiar green MDOT plow trucks. Tasked with clearing the roadway of water that has turned solid and piled up two feet high, this same cutting edge technology could be also applied to the task of drying off a racing surface. The bottom edge of the angled blade (or better yet, an awesome V-plow) could be fitted with a squeegee – i.e., a giant windshield wiper – to help move the water down off the banking and any standing water on the track. The heat generated from the friction of the blade would help dry the track as well. These same trucks have dump truck boxes in the rear that would make a happy home for a TF-30 jet engine, which is currently used to dry the tracks. There is plenty of real estate on those big machines with which to fasten water dispersing mechanicals; let's maximize it.
As I sat resembling the Gorton's Fisherman in my slicker, perched in the Keech Tower following the Lenny Kravitz pre-race concert, the familiar jet blowers took to the banking in Turns 1 and 2, in an effort to help keep from losing the track completely to moisture. While their efforts were admirable, much like the Czech military in 1939, there was not much the small band of machines could muster. The first thing that came to mind right after, "I should probably get out of the 30 mph blowing water" was, why for what is billed as "The Super Bowl of Stockcar Racing," are there as many trucks on hand to dry Daytona as there are at any other track we go to? Wouldn't NASCAR invest in more than what looked like seven of the jet blowers out on the track? There should be at minimum 20 for an event of this magnitude – and for as much as tickets command for the event.
Considering we're down one courtesy of something broken in the rear drive line of the No. 42 of Juan Pablo Montoya, they're going to need more anyway, so why not double down and make it happen? Sure they're pricey, but with all of the attention ServiceMaster received – as well as Tide after the supernova in Turn 3, perhaps both companies would be willing to help sponsor some more trucks on the track with their name on them.
But at what cost you ask? The jet blowers consume upwards of 300 gallons per hour of fuel. Multiply that by 20 and the cost of aviation fuel, as well as the crewmen who run them, and the bill tends to go up mighty quick; say at the same rate as getting involved in multiple green-white-checker restrictor plate wrecks. That being said, how about combining them into one massive jet-dried apparatus? Take a semi truck with a flat bed trailer, and mount 10 of them on the trailer, pointed in different directions. That way you can maximize the man hours, getting more of the track dried faster in certain areas. But please note: if one of these tumbles down the banking at Talladega, I will not be held responsible. Probably best to keep it to the flatter tracks of the front/backstretch.
Not all of these ideas are the answer to everything. Heck, they might not even be feasible. Not to sound cliched, but if we can put a man on the moon, we should be able to find a way to dry off pavement, and not inconvenience a slew of fans, teams, and network programming.
That's all I've come up with for now. Call it the ramblings of a madman, held in hotel confinement for 36 hours, followed by driving 20 hours on two hours sleep – after having been up 21 hours the day before. At least I didn't come down with the food poisoning that Buddy Baker did on Thursday this week. And my rental Dodge Durango did not explode. I would love to hear some of your ideas as to what NASCAR could do better to help dry the tracks off and get things going quicker. Please feel free to save your "hot air/journalist" blasts however.
Vito Pugliese is a Senior Writer for Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via e-mail at vito.pugliese@frontstretch.com.
The Critic's Annex: Chasing Daytona: Kenny Wallace
by Phil Allaway
Hello, race fans. Welcome back to the Critic's Annex. This secondary critique is back for its third season as a companion to the primary critique I write on the website, Couch Potato Tuesdays. Unlike that column, I'm keeping the title for this one (that I created) intact.
The beginning of the season often brings on special programming and special gambits for television. You might remember ESPN basically "adopting" Shane Doles back in 1996 and chronicling his travails in Daytona (he basically gave everything up for a chance at the big time, for lack of better words) in and around the ARCA race.
This year, two of SPEED's on-air personalities (Kenny Wallace and Michael Waltrip) both attempted the Daytona 500. Neither made it. As you remember, Waltrip screwed up while getting up to speed after a pit stop and wrecked. Meanwhile, Wallace fell victim to the new electronic fuel injection system acting up. However, before the EFI put a boot in Wallace's Daytona 500 hopes, SPEED spent some time chronicling Wallace and RAB Racing's Daytona 500 effort.
The introduction to the show made Kenny Wallace out to be some kind of vanquished hero, sort of like Cole Trickle in "Days of Thunder" after he had his huge flip in the Pepsi 400 at Daytona. That was a little weird. The program then starts off just after the 2011 season ended at Kenny's house (with, for some reason, a shirtless Kenny in bed). Effectively, the show chronicled Kenny's entire offseason and how his Daytona 500 deal came together.
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!
~~~~~~~~~~
Today's Featured Commentary
Hung Out To Dry - Drastic Measures Needed To Get The Wet Out
What's Vexing Vito
by Vito Pugliese
Having been in a holding pattern since the rains rolled in Sunday morning, I have had ample time to ponder what changes NASCAR could implement to help alleviate these weather maladies that have done much to dampen the spirit – and credit card balance – of thousands of race fans. While not exactly the 1979 Daytona 500 (albeit in reverse), this has been a historic 54th running of the event. The first weather-delayed Daytona 500 in history, though there have been two rain shortened races in the last decade, with the 2003 and 2009 races being called before the end of 500 miles. What then could be done to help prevent this from happening in the future?
My first thought was – and always has been, a giant awning. No, not the Sun Setter Awning that the guy who looks like former Vice Presidential candidate John Edwards is still hocking on TV, but one that at least covers the turns. It doesn't need to be metal; there are plenty of high strength polymers that could be employed. They make up the majority of popular pistol frames today, and would do just as well keeping water off the racetrack. The Formula 1 course in Singapore is a prime example of this phenomenon – and this for a series that runs rain tires. Perhaps there is a way to make them retractable? After all, there are several MLB ballparks that have retractable roofs. Sure a race track is larger than an entire ball field, and with as many tracks as there are in tornado country, maybe this one might not work. Just thinking out loud here, trying to get the juices flowing...
Thinking along the more cost-effective side of things, we've all watched Major League Baseball games when as the rains begin to fall faster than the players can wipe off the ball, bat, and gloves, the army of groundskeepers that roll out the massive blue tarps to cover the field. Looking like big, blue bails of nylon, the tarps help to preserve the integrity of the playing surface, preventing outdoor stadiums from turning into soggy mud bogs for when play resumes. Often the delay is only as long as the rain showers, and once the tarps are recalled, it's business as usual.
Why not engineer the same thing at a race track? Sure, it might be a bit far fetched for someplace like Daytona (which everybody said could not be lighted to race at night), but at a short track like Martinsville or Bristol, the tarps could be neatly concealed within the walls to cover the corners, while the front stretch could be the focus of the familiar jet dryers and guy-wielding-a-broom.
Living in Michigan, one of the familiar sights on the roadway six months a year, are the familiar green MDOT plow trucks. Tasked with clearing the roadway of water that has turned solid and piled up two feet high, this same cutting edge technology could be also applied to the task of drying off a racing surface. The bottom edge of the angled blade (or better yet, an awesome V-plow) could be fitted with a squeegee – i.e., a giant windshield wiper – to help move the water down off the banking and any standing water on the track. The heat generated from the friction of the blade would help dry the track as well. These same trucks have dump truck boxes in the rear that would make a happy home for a TF-30 jet engine, which is currently used to dry the tracks. There is plenty of real estate on those big machines with which to fasten water dispersing mechanicals; let's maximize it.
As I sat resembling the Gorton's Fisherman in my slicker, perched in the Keech Tower following the Lenny Kravitz pre-race concert, the familiar jet blowers took to the banking in Turns 1 and 2, in an effort to help keep from losing the track completely to moisture. While their efforts were admirable, much like the Czech military in 1939, there was not much the small band of machines could muster. The first thing that came to mind right after, "I should probably get out of the 30 mph blowing water" was, why for what is billed as "The Super Bowl of Stockcar Racing," are there as many trucks on hand to dry Daytona as there are at any other track we go to? Wouldn't NASCAR invest in more than what looked like seven of the jet blowers out on the track? There should be at minimum 20 for an event of this magnitude – and for as much as tickets command for the event.
Considering we're down one courtesy of something broken in the rear drive line of the No. 42 of Juan Pablo Montoya, they're going to need more anyway, so why not double down and make it happen? Sure they're pricey, but with all of the attention ServiceMaster received – as well as Tide after the supernova in Turn 3, perhaps both companies would be willing to help sponsor some more trucks on the track with their name on them.
But at what cost you ask? The jet blowers consume upwards of 300 gallons per hour of fuel. Multiply that by 20 and the cost of aviation fuel, as well as the crewmen who run them, and the bill tends to go up mighty quick; say at the same rate as getting involved in multiple green-white-checker restrictor plate wrecks. That being said, how about combining them into one massive jet-dried apparatus? Take a semi truck with a flat bed trailer, and mount 10 of them on the trailer, pointed in different directions. That way you can maximize the man hours, getting more of the track dried faster in certain areas. But please note: if one of these tumbles down the banking at Talladega, I will not be held responsible. Probably best to keep it to the flatter tracks of the front/backstretch.
Not all of these ideas are the answer to everything. Heck, they might not even be feasible. Not to sound cliched, but if we can put a man on the moon, we should be able to find a way to dry off pavement, and not inconvenience a slew of fans, teams, and network programming.
That's all I've come up with for now. Call it the ramblings of a madman, held in hotel confinement for 36 hours, followed by driving 20 hours on two hours sleep – after having been up 21 hours the day before. At least I didn't come down with the food poisoning that Buddy Baker did on Thursday this week. And my rental Dodge Durango did not explode. I would love to hear some of your ideas as to what NASCAR could do better to help dry the tracks off and get things going quicker. Please feel free to save your "hot air/journalist" blasts however.
Vito Pugliese is a Senior Writer for Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via e-mail at vito.pugliese@frontstretch.com.
The Critic's Annex: Chasing Daytona: Kenny Wallace
by Phil Allaway
Hello, race fans. Welcome back to the Critic's Annex. This secondary critique is back for its third season as a companion to the primary critique I write on the website, Couch Potato Tuesdays. Unlike that column, I'm keeping the title for this one (that I created) intact.
The beginning of the season often brings on special programming and special gambits for television. You might remember ESPN basically "adopting" Shane Doles back in 1996 and chronicling his travails in Daytona (he basically gave everything up for a chance at the big time, for lack of better words) in and around the ARCA race.
This year, two of SPEED's on-air personalities (Kenny Wallace and Michael Waltrip) both attempted the Daytona 500. Neither made it. As you remember, Waltrip screwed up while getting up to speed after a pit stop and wrecked. Meanwhile, Wallace fell victim to the new electronic fuel injection system acting up. However, before the EFI put a boot in Wallace's Daytona 500 hopes, SPEED spent some time chronicling Wallace and RAB Racing's Daytona 500 effort.
The introduction to the show made Kenny Wallace out to be some kind of vanquished hero, sort of like Cole Trickle in "Days of Thunder" after he had his huge flip in the Pepsi 400 at Daytona. That was a little weird. The program then starts off just after the 2011 season ended at Kenny's house (with, for some reason, a shirtless Kenny in bed). Effectively, the show chronicled Kenny's entire offseason and how his Daytona 500 deal came together.
Probably the most interesting revelation made in the first segment of the show is that Wallace drove the 2011 season in the No. 09 for free. Granted, he has multiple other income streams (personal sponsorships and most notably, the on-air work for SPEED, which likely pays him a pretty penny (I'm not privy to the details of Wallace's contract, so I can't help you there)), but that's really something worth noting. He did it because he felt he needed to, not because Robby Benton asked him to.
Equally interesting was the admission that he had wasted the previous four years (2007-2010) of his driving career driving for teams that he claimed either "didn't want to race, or were in it just for the money." For reference purposes, in that time, Wallace drove for Furniture Row Motorsports in Sprint Cup (22 starts, 11 DNQs), a short stint in 2008 with Fitz Motorsports, then three years with Jay Robinson Racing (we're going to exclude Wallace's sub role for Yates Racing while Ricky Rudd was recovering from injuries suffered in Fontana). Apparently, there are quite a few stories from Wallace's stint in the No. 78 that really showed the somewhat amateur status of the team at that time. As for the Jay Robinson No. 28, that organization has always been small time. They were at their absolute best right before NASCAR nixed testing. Since then, they've been effectively bottom feeders.
As a result of all of the struggles, along with the constant attempts to attract sponsorship, Wallace had become run down. However, signing on with RAB Racing has reinvigorated Wallace's career. Heck, Wallace seemed like a different person on Twitter about a month before it was announced that he was going to the No. 09 for 2011.
We learned quite a few interesting things during the show. For example, NASCAR, in their infinite wisdom, thought that 2012 was a good time to increase license fees for drivers in the Nationwide Series by 167 percent (from apparently $3,000 to $8,000). Wallace was definitely not pleased about it, but you gots to pay if you want to race.
Another fact that just how difficult it was for the RAB Racing team to acquire a car that could be used to even attempt the Daytona 500 with. According to the show, they originally planned to get one from the Red Bull Racing Team. Unfortunately, they decided not to sell at that time. It wasn't stated outright on the show, but the likely reason why this initial sale fell through was due to the ownership group now known as BK Racing coming together to purchase the operation. Regardless, they eventually did get a car, but it was just a couple of weeks before Speedweeks. Since they had roughly 16 days to prep the car once they got it before leaving for Daytona, it was a thrash at best.
A third interesting point was the fact that the team went to Speedweeks with just that one car (and apparently, the steering wheel out of Wallace's Nationwide car). That practice was similar to what MacDonald Motorsports did with Blake Koch at Daytona last July for the Nationwide Series Subway Jalapeno 250. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised, knowing just how long it took just to get the one car.
Away from racing, Wallace appeared to be quite the family man. He is clearly in love with his wife, Kim. His daughter cuts his hair on a regular basis (She's a licensed cosmetologist. That's her livelihood) and he loves to spend time with the extended family. Of course, even then, racing intervenes. His schedule could be best described as "insane," but he tries to be as grounded as possible. Wallace spends time in what appeared to be the unfinished basement of his house working out. He touts the benefits of oatmeal for breakfast (apparently, Mark Martin turned him on to it).
Even away from the track, the nutty side of Kenny still comes out from time to time. Someone thought it'd be a good idea to show him showering and singing while in there. That was ridiculous. Other times, he was just acting goofy.
At the end of the show, Wallace was feeling very confident that he could get the No. 09 into the Daytona 500. The car the team bought was apparently the same car that Brian Vickers ran at Talladega last year. The show made it sound like it was the car Vickers raced at Talladega in October. However, the information presented made it sound like it was the car Vickers raced there in April. That event didn't end well for Vickers. He finished 38th after wrecking early in the race and was 73 laps down at the end.
Regardless of inaccuracies or incongruities, this documentary was a decent show to watch. I was concerned about this show at first only because its SPEED and Kenny Wallace. I knew they were going to do something to chronicle Wallace's Daytona 500 attempt as soon as it was announced. What I didn't expect was all the extra stuff. I feel like I came out of this show knowing a little bit more about the man called "Herman" than I did before. And that isn't necessarily a bad thing.
I hope you enjoyed this look at Chasing Daytona: Kenny Wallace. Next week, I'm going to stray a bit from TV and take a look at Darrell Waltrip's new book, Sundays Will Never Be The Same. Until then, enjoy this weekend's action in Phoenix!
Phil Allaway is the Newsletter Manager and a Senior Writer for Frontstretch. He can be reached via e-mail at phil.allaway@frontstretch.com.
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~~~~~~~~~~~
TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:
Your Cheating Art: Analyzing The Knaus/Hendrick Penalty
by Matt McLaughlin
Potts' Shots: Where Did The Checkered Flag Come From?
by John Potts
Darian 1, Stewart 0: Can The New Crew Chief Jumpstart Denny's Season?
by Garrett Horton
Professor of Speed: Just One of Them Weeks
by Mark Howell
Truckin' Thursdays: Can The King Keep His Crown? And Other Daytona Lessons
by Beth Lunkenheimer
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FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Q: In 1993, Phoenix International Raceway was the first short oval on the IndyCar schedule. However, the series' biggest "get" in the offseason, Nigel Mansell, failed to start the race. What happened?
Check back Wednesday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
Tuesday's Answer:
Q: In 1997, Phoenix International Raceway hosted the first 200-mile race for the then-recently introduced production-based IRL engines (Note: Disney World was the first race of the season, but it was rain-shortened). Underdog Jim Guthrie broke through to claim his one and only IRL victory. What was notable about the win?
A: Guthrie had literally mortgaged his and his family's entire future on his racing dreams. In order to afford one of the new generation cars and an Aurora V8 engine, he put his house up as collateral. Even after winning in Phoenix, he was still $85,000 in debt. Luckily, the win and publicity from his story resulted in a sponsorship deal for the Indianapolis 500. Unfortunately, Guthrie's racing career ended as a result of injuries suffered in this big crash in the 1998 Indianapolis 500. Guthrie, driving a black and white car for ISM Racing (yes, the same organization that owned the Tabasco No. 35 in Winston Cup that year until they merged with TylerJet Motorsports), is in the car that goes through the grass, runs over debris and spears into the wall.
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!
~~~~~~~~~~
Coming tomorrow in the Frontstretch Newsletter:
-- Top News from Nick Schwartz
-- In Case You Missed It by Nick Schwartz
-- Keepin' It Short by Mike Neff
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, and more!
~~~~~~~~~~
Tomorrow on the Frontstretch:
Four Burning Questions: Phoenix by Summer Dreyer
Summer returns with her four-part look at what we should expect from this weekend's Subway Fresh Fit 500k in Phoenix.
The Yellow Stripe by Danny Peters
The Daytona 500 is obviously a big deal. However, for decades, it has existed as something unto itself. Danny explains why this weekend's race in Phoenix and next weekend's action in Las Vegas are far more important in showing the keys to the 2012 championship Chase.
Holding A Pretty Wheel by Amy Henderson
On Wednesday, NASCAR threw the book at Chad Knaus. Amy is here to tell you that the penalty is unjust.
Driver Diary: Regan Smith as told to Tony Lumbis
Regan Smith returns for another season of interesting insights into his life on and off the track.
Friday Fast Forward Into NASCAR's Future by Bryan Davis Keith
Bryan returns with another interesting commentary piece. This week, the focus turns to independent Nationwide Series driver Jeremy Clements.
Voices From the Heartland by Jeff Meyer
Jeff may no longer live in Iowa, but he's still back with his own particular brand of writing.
-----------------------------
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©2012 Frontstretch.com
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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