Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
March 2nd, 2012
Volume VI, Edition XXX
~~~~~~~~~~
Top News
by Jeff Wolfe
Penske to Ford in 2013
Penske Racing announced Thursday it will return to Ford Racing as part of a multi-year agreement that will begin with the 2013 NASCAR season, a move that is the first manufacturer change for the organization since 2003. Thursday's announcement leaves no major team aligned with Dodge for 2013--Robby Gordon is the only other driver currently aligned with Dodge.
Since their relationship with Dodge began in 2003, Penske Racing has racked up 48 wins (26 Cup, 22 Nationwide) and one championship (Brad Keselowski--Nationwide 2010), and Team Owner Roger Penske remains committed to the manufacturer through the end of this season.
"Penske Racing has had and continues to have a terrific relationship with Dodge and we thank them for their partnership and their support over the past 10 years," Owner Roger Penske said. "Our organizations have experience many great memories together and our teams are committed to produce wins and championships with Dodge this season. We look forward to rejoining the Ford Racing NASCAR program beginning in 2013. We appreciate the long-term commitment that Ford has made to Penske Racing and for their continued support of the sport."
Penske raced with Ford in 1976 and 1977 and again from 1994-2002. With Ford, Penske Racing teams earned 28 victories and 42 pole positions combined in the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series.
Fire Suits, Helmets in Place for Jet Dryer Operators at Phoenix
This weekend, jet dryer drivers at Phoenix International Raceway will have a little extra hardware, thanks to some added safety features the track has put into the place. Following the fireball that resulted from Juan Pablo Montoya crashing into the jet dryer at Daytona, SceneDaily.com is reporting all jet dryer personnel will wear firesuits and helmets, a move that Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage intends to follow.
"My guys will [wear them] because, if nothing else, I like them and they're good guys. I want firesuits and helmets for those guys," Gossage said. " I want at least four-point [seat belt] harnesses. I want to look at roll bars. I want to look at the right kind of fire extinguishers in the truck."
"To me the amazing miracle is the guy didn't die from the collision alone."
Barnes was uninjured in Monday night's wreck and made it back to the track to catch the end of the Daytona 500 thanks to the two-hour red flag to clean up and repair the track.
Have news for 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 Thursdays with a whole new set of Fan Questions and Answers!
~~~~~~~~~~
In Case You Missed It
by Nick Schwartz
Truck Series Crew Member Suspended Indefinitely
Keith Wolfe, Crew Chief for the part-time No. 0 Dodge with Jennifer Jo Cobb Racing has been indefinitely suspended by NASCAR for violations found at Daytona International Speedway on February 24th. Wolfe was found in violation of sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing), 2-11 (failure to notify of felony and / or substance abuse related law violations) and 19 (violation of the NASCAR Substance Abuse Policy). Jake Crum was behind the wheel of the No. 0 at Daytona but failed to qualify for the race.
TV Sports Anchor Suspended for Danica Slur
Ross Shimabuku, a sports anchor at Fox 5 San Diego, has been suspended without pay for a week after appearing to call Danica Patrick a derogatory name before stopping himself and referring to Patrick as a "pretty girl."
After a short video clip of Danica speaking to reporters at Daytona about her displeasure with being referred to as "sexy," Shimabuku retorted: "I've got a few words… It starts with a 'B' and it's not 'beautiful.'"
Shimabuku has since apologized for the incident.
Formula 1 Regular Rubens Barrichello Headed to IndyCar
Fans of Formula 1 racing are all too familiar with mainstay Rubens Barrichello, who has raced in the world's most popular racing series for 19 years, but the Brazilian winner of 11 Grands Prix has announced after a tumultuous 2011 he will be taking his talents to the IZOD IndyCar series. Barrichello, who tested an IndyCar at Sebring International Raceway in January, announced Thursday he has signed a one-year contract with KV Racing Technology and will participate in all 16 IndyCar races in 2012, beginning at St. Petersburg later this month.
"I am thrilled; it is something very new to me," Barrichello said. "I'm very competitive and I'm not doing this just for fun, but I'll keep my feet on the ground in the beginning because I'll be a rookie despite all of my previous racing experience."
Barrichello has driven in a world record 325 Formula 1 races, but never managed to win the World Championship, twice finishing second to Michael Schumacher.
~~~~~~~~~~
COME JOIN THE FRONTSTRETCH FAMILY!
If you are interested, contact frontstretcheditors@googlegroups.com. Please include references to your past work in your e-mail.
~~~~~~~~~~
Fantasy Friday: Subway Fresh Fit 500
by Jeff Wolfe
Editor's Note: Welcome to the newest feature in the Frontstretch Newsletter where Jeff Wolfe takes a look at your best bets when it comes to picking your fantasy racing teams. Each week, Jeff will have your top 5 best bets along with a bonus pick just in time to finalize your lineup and settle in for a weekend full of action.
Now that Daytona is at long last behind us, it's time to get on with the rest of the season. That can be difficult to do at times because of what Daytona means to the sport and especially this year with all of the bizarre happenings--rain delays, jet dryer fires and tweets--becoming intricate parts of that Monday night/Tuesday morning in Daytona.
So on to the desert we go to Phoenix at 3 PM Sunday afternoon on FOX. The last time we were there in the next to last Chase for the Championship race, all the buzz was about Tony Stewart and Carl Edwards as well as it should have been. One thing when making picks for Phoenix, is that last fall's race was the first on a completely refurbished track, so how drivers did then may be more of an indication of future success than what they did in previous years there.
Top 5 Picks
Kasey Kahne - Yes, he's on a different and presumably better team, so it's hard not to pick the winner of last fall's race again. Then, there's that part where he just plain needs to shake off the dismal 29th-place finish from last week at Daytona.
Carl Edwards - He avoided disaster at Daytona to finish eighth and can now get on with business. He was second in the fall race here last year, and in 2010, he head to victory lane.
Tony Stewart - He has always raced well at Phoenix and was third in the fall race here last year. I would not be surprised to see him in Victory Lane this week, especially after nearly surviving the chaos that was Daytona without a scratch on his car.
Jimmie Johnson - Ok, Ok, I know the track is different but Johnson's numbers at Phoenix just can't be ignored. He's got four wins here and an average finish of 5.4. To paraphrase the late Dale Earnhardt, it doesn't matter who's crew chiefin' ... this guy can still drive. Plus, when Knaus was suspended prior to the Daytona 500 back in 2006, Johnson not only won that race, but two of the first three events with Darian Grubb as his interim crew chief.
Kyle Busch - He's got one win here and has run 3,601 laps in the top 15 at Phoenix, the second most to Johnson. He seemed to hold his cool at Daytona, so let's go for two weeks in a row.
Shoulda, woulda coulda but didn't pick - Kevin Harvick. He's got a knack for not running in the top 10 and then all of sudden, there he is with 20 to go challenging for the lead. I wouldn't be surprised if that happens this week, but I can't pick the whole field to win here.
ACCOUNTABILITY GROUP
We're all about accountability, so here's a look at how my Daytona picks worked out. My hindsight grade is C for Daytona.
Tony Stewart - Finished 16th. Avoided the big wrecks and managed to run around the top 15 for much of the race before being caught up in the ninth caution.
Dale Earnhardt, Jr. - Finished second. He still hasn't won in 130 races (for those of you snoring at home), but he manged to squeeze in between Roush Fenway teammates Matt Kenseth and Greg Biffle for that runner-up spot.
Kyle Busch - Finished 17th. Much like Stewart, Busch manged to avoid the big wrecks at the 2.5-mile tri-oval but a combination of being shuffled out of the draft and a late-race penalty for removing a tear-off under the red flag doomed the younger Busch brother to finish outside the top 15.
Jimmie Johnson - Finished 42nd. He got caught in a wreck on the second lap and hopped on a plane well before the checkers flew. In fact, he had no idea about the jet dryer fire until after he was home.
Carl Edwards - Finished eighth. He rallied late after being sent to the rear of the field following the red flag for removing a tear-off.
Stats for the Season:
0 wins
1 top 5
1 top 10
Jeff Wolfe is a Contributor for Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via email at jeff.wolfe@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 tony.lumbis@frontstretch.com for details.
~~~~~~~~~~
Frontstretch Folio: Subway Fresh Fit 500
by Nick Schwartz
With just a short week to prepare after the rain-delayed Daytona 500 pushed into Tuesday morning, NASCAR teams are quickly heading to Phoenix International Raceway for the second race of the 2012 Sprint Cup season. The Subway Fresh Fit 500 will be broadcast Sunday, March 4th, at 2:30 PM EST and on MRN Radio
starting at 2:00 PM EST. The race will be 312 laps in duration for a total of 312 miles (500km).
Records and Facts
Jeff Gordon took the checkered flag in the 2011 Subway Fresh Fit 500, and will be looking to rebound from a disappointing engine failure in Daytona. Phoenix has been kind to Gordon in the past, however--the four-time champion won at the track for the first time in his career in 2007, then snapped a career-worst 66 race winless streak four years later in the same event, tying Cale Yarborough on the all-time wins list in the process.
The Spring race marks just the second Sprint Cup race to be run on the newly configured layout at Phoenix International Raceway. Following the 2011 Fresh Fit 500, work commenced on repaving the track, installing progressive banking and altering the radius of the dogleg. While drivers complained that the backstretch felt like a rollercoaster with its dips, the average speed in the Fall 2011 race was two miles per hour faster than in previous years.
Matt Kenseth broke the track record in qualifying last Fall when he won the pole for the Kobalt Tools 500, setting a time of 26.258 seconds. Kasey Kahne, the eventual race winner, shattered the record for overall race time, completing the scheduled 312 miles in just 2 hours and 45 minutes.
Track Facts
Track/Race Length: 1.0 mile oval, 312 laps (312 miles / 500km)
Pit Road Speed: 45mph
Degree of Banking: Progressive banking runs from 9-11 degrees
Frontstretch Length: 1,179 feet, banked 3 degrees
Backstretch Length: 1,551, banked 9 degrees
Grandstand Seating: 67,000
Pre-race Schedule
Practice: Friday, March 2, 2:30-4:00 PM EST on SPEED
Happy Hour: Friday, March 2, 5:30-7:00 PM EST on SPEED
Qualifying: Saturday, March 3, 2:30 PM EST on SPEED
VIPs
Grand Marshal / Command: Detroit Lions All-Pro Defensive Tackle Ndamukong Suh
National Anthem: Singer Brian McKnight
Honorary Pace Car Driver: UFC Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz
They Said It
"Getting that win was a huge boost for our team last year. I think the track was probably the best I can remember a brand-new race surface being in the first race. It started slippery and got better as the rubber built up. We made the adjustments we needed to put ourselves up front at the end. I'm excited to get back there with the Farmers Insurance guys this week." –Kasey Kahne
"Although Daytona is our biggest race," Newman said, "I think most people will tell you the season really starts with the second race, just because it seems to be a better gauge in determining what you have compared to other teams." –Ryan Newman
"When we were at Phoenix last year, the track was too smooth. Hopefully it has aged some over the winter, but we'll go to Phoenix with a good attitude. We feel like we can go to Phoenix and run well, so we'll see how it goes." –Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Nick Schwartz is a Contributor for Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via email at nick.schwartz@frontstretch.com.
~~~~~~~~~~
TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:
Crime and Punishment 101: Why NASCAR Needs a Refresher
by Amy Henderson
Penske to Ford? Whoopity Dodgety Doo!
by Jeff Meyer
More of the Same for Jeremy Clements, No. 51 Team in 2012
by Bryan Davis Keith
Four Burning Questions: Tweeting, Fire Safety, Prime Time and Flying Under the Radar
by Summer Dreyer
Regan Smith Driver Diary: Daytona Delays, Acceptable Tweeting Times, and Saving Lives
by Regan Smith
Phoenix (Hopefully) Without the Flames
by Danny Peters
Mirror Driving: What to Take to Phoenix, NASCAR's Weeknight Future and "Minor" Support
by the Frontstretch Staff
~~~~~~~~~~
This Weekend on the Frontstretch:
Nationwide Series Breakdown: Bashas' Supermarkets 200 by Bryan Davis Keith
Bryan has all the post-race analysis you need after Saturday afternoon's Nationwide Series race from Phoenix.
~~~~~~~~~~
FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Q: Especially prior to the CART / IRL war, Phoenix International Raceway was a great place for open wheel racing. In the early 1980's, CART held two 150 mile races a year on the desert tri-oval. In the Miller High Life 150 in the fall of 1982, the leaders (Rick Mears, Mario Andretti, Gordon Johncock and Tom Sneva) were racing each other hard for position early in the race. However, one false move and out went Johncock. What happened?
Check back Monday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
Thursday's Answer:
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?
A: During practice, Mansell spun his Lola-Ford Cosworth in Turn 2 and backed hard into the outside wall. The hit injured Mansell's back and forced him to sit out the 200 mile event. The injury ultimately did not hurt Mansell's 1993 season all that much. After winning on debut in Surfer's Paradise, Mansell drove masterfully on his way to winning the PPG Cup. In the Phoenix event, Mario Andretti took advantage of incidents eliminating the Penske threat to win his final career race.
Frontstretch Trivia Guarantee: Take the shirt off our backs! If we've provided an incorrect answer to the Frontstretch Trivia question, be the first to email the corrected trivia answer to trivia@frontstretch.com and we'll send you a Frontstretch T-Shirt ... FREE!
~~~~~~~~~~
Coming Monday in the Frontstretch Newsletter:
-- Subway Fresh Fit 500 Race Recap by Jeff Wolfe
-- Secret Star and Stat of the Race by Tom Bowles
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, and more!
Monday on the Frontstretch:
Matt McLaughlin's Thinkin' Out Loud: Subway Fresh Fit 500 by Matt McLaughlin
Matt will be here with his overall thoughts about the action from Sunday afternoon's action from the Phoenix.
Monday Morning Teardown by Ron Lemasters
Ron returns for a website look at one of the big stories from Sunday's race from Phoenix.
Bowles-Eye View by Tom Bowles
Tom brings back his weekly post-race commentary with all of the insight you need from a weekend of racing at Phoenix.
Big Six: Subway Fresh Fit 500 by Amy Henderson
Looking for all you need to know leaving the season opener? Amy has your who, what, when, where, why and how from a weekend of racing at Daytona.
Pace Laps: Phoenix Weekend by the Frontstretch Staff
In our newest column this season, we'll take a look at the biggest stories to keep an eye on in each series after a weekend at Phoenix.
-----------------------------
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
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
March 2nd, 2012
Volume VI, Edition XXX
~~~~~~~~~~
Top News
by Jeff Wolfe
Penske to Ford in 2013
Penske Racing announced Thursday it will return to Ford Racing as part of a multi-year agreement that will begin with the 2013 NASCAR season, a move that is the first manufacturer change for the organization since 2003. Thursday's announcement leaves no major team aligned with Dodge for 2013--Robby Gordon is the only other driver currently aligned with Dodge.
Since their relationship with Dodge began in 2003, Penske Racing has racked up 48 wins (26 Cup, 22 Nationwide) and one championship (Brad Keselowski--Nationwide 2010), and Team Owner Roger Penske remains committed to the manufacturer through the end of this season.
"Penske Racing has had and continues to have a terrific relationship with Dodge and we thank them for their partnership and their support over the past 10 years," Owner Roger Penske said. "Our organizations have experience many great memories together and our teams are committed to produce wins and championships with Dodge this season. We look forward to rejoining the Ford Racing NASCAR program beginning in 2013. We appreciate the long-term commitment that Ford has made to Penske Racing and for their continued support of the sport."
Penske raced with Ford in 1976 and 1977 and again from 1994-2002. With Ford, Penske Racing teams earned 28 victories and 42 pole positions combined in the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series.
Fire Suits, Helmets in Place for Jet Dryer Operators at Phoenix
This weekend, jet dryer drivers at Phoenix International Raceway will have a little extra hardware, thanks to some added safety features the track has put into the place. Following the fireball that resulted from Juan Pablo Montoya crashing into the jet dryer at Daytona, SceneDaily.com is reporting all jet dryer personnel will wear firesuits and helmets, a move that Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage intends to follow.
"My guys will [wear them] because, if nothing else, I like them and they're good guys. I want firesuits and helmets for those guys," Gossage said. " I want at least four-point [seat belt] harnesses. I want to look at roll bars. I want to look at the right kind of fire extinguishers in the truck."
"To me the amazing miracle is the guy didn't die from the collision alone."
Barnes was uninjured in Monday night's wreck and made it back to the track to catch the end of the Daytona 500 thanks to the two-hour red flag to clean up and repair the track.
Have news for 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 Thursdays with a whole new set of Fan Questions and Answers!
~~~~~~~~~~
In Case You Missed It
by Nick Schwartz
Truck Series Crew Member Suspended Indefinitely
Keith Wolfe, Crew Chief for the part-time No. 0 Dodge with Jennifer Jo Cobb Racing has been indefinitely suspended by NASCAR for violations found at Daytona International Speedway on February 24th. Wolfe was found in violation of sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing), 2-11 (failure to notify of felony and / or substance abuse related law violations) and 19 (violation of the NASCAR Substance Abuse Policy). Jake Crum was behind the wheel of the No. 0 at Daytona but failed to qualify for the race.
TV Sports Anchor Suspended for Danica Slur
Ross Shimabuku, a sports anchor at Fox 5 San Diego, has been suspended without pay for a week after appearing to call Danica Patrick a derogatory name before stopping himself and referring to Patrick as a "pretty girl."
After a short video clip of Danica speaking to reporters at Daytona about her displeasure with being referred to as "sexy," Shimabuku retorted: "I've got a few words… It starts with a 'B' and it's not 'beautiful.'"
Shimabuku has since apologized for the incident.
Formula 1 Regular Rubens Barrichello Headed to IndyCar
Fans of Formula 1 racing are all too familiar with mainstay Rubens Barrichello, who has raced in the world's most popular racing series for 19 years, but the Brazilian winner of 11 Grands Prix has announced after a tumultuous 2011 he will be taking his talents to the IZOD IndyCar series. Barrichello, who tested an IndyCar at Sebring International Raceway in January, announced Thursday he has signed a one-year contract with KV Racing Technology and will participate in all 16 IndyCar races in 2012, beginning at St. Petersburg later this month.
"I am thrilled; it is something very new to me," Barrichello said. "I'm very competitive and I'm not doing this just for fun, but I'll keep my feet on the ground in the beginning because I'll be a rookie despite all of my previous racing experience."
Barrichello has driven in a world record 325 Formula 1 races, but never managed to win the World Championship, twice finishing second to Michael Schumacher.
~~~~~~~~~~
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.
~~~~~~~~~~
Fantasy Friday: Subway Fresh Fit 500
by Jeff Wolfe
Editor's Note: Welcome to the newest feature in the Frontstretch Newsletter where Jeff Wolfe takes a look at your best bets when it comes to picking your fantasy racing teams. Each week, Jeff will have your top 5 best bets along with a bonus pick just in time to finalize your lineup and settle in for a weekend full of action.
Now that Daytona is at long last behind us, it's time to get on with the rest of the season. That can be difficult to do at times because of what Daytona means to the sport and especially this year with all of the bizarre happenings--rain delays, jet dryer fires and tweets--becoming intricate parts of that Monday night/Tuesday morning in Daytona.
So on to the desert we go to Phoenix at 3 PM Sunday afternoon on FOX. The last time we were there in the next to last Chase for the Championship race, all the buzz was about Tony Stewart and Carl Edwards as well as it should have been. One thing when making picks for Phoenix, is that last fall's race was the first on a completely refurbished track, so how drivers did then may be more of an indication of future success than what they did in previous years there.
Top 5 Picks
Kasey Kahne - Yes, he's on a different and presumably better team, so it's hard not to pick the winner of last fall's race again. Then, there's that part where he just plain needs to shake off the dismal 29th-place finish from last week at Daytona.
Carl Edwards - He avoided disaster at Daytona to finish eighth and can now get on with business. He was second in the fall race here last year, and in 2010, he head to victory lane.
Tony Stewart - He has always raced well at Phoenix and was third in the fall race here last year. I would not be surprised to see him in Victory Lane this week, especially after nearly surviving the chaos that was Daytona without a scratch on his car.
Jimmie Johnson - Ok, Ok, I know the track is different but Johnson's numbers at Phoenix just can't be ignored. He's got four wins here and an average finish of 5.4. To paraphrase the late Dale Earnhardt, it doesn't matter who's crew chiefin' ... this guy can still drive. Plus, when Knaus was suspended prior to the Daytona 500 back in 2006, Johnson not only won that race, but two of the first three events with Darian Grubb as his interim crew chief.
Kyle Busch - He's got one win here and has run 3,601 laps in the top 15 at Phoenix, the second most to Johnson. He seemed to hold his cool at Daytona, so let's go for two weeks in a row.
Shoulda, woulda coulda but didn't pick - Kevin Harvick. He's got a knack for not running in the top 10 and then all of sudden, there he is with 20 to go challenging for the lead. I wouldn't be surprised if that happens this week, but I can't pick the whole field to win here.
ACCOUNTABILITY GROUP
We're all about accountability, so here's a look at how my Daytona picks worked out. My hindsight grade is C for Daytona.
Tony Stewart - Finished 16th. Avoided the big wrecks and managed to run around the top 15 for much of the race before being caught up in the ninth caution.
Dale Earnhardt, Jr. - Finished second. He still hasn't won in 130 races (for those of you snoring at home), but he manged to squeeze in between Roush Fenway teammates Matt Kenseth and Greg Biffle for that runner-up spot.
Kyle Busch - Finished 17th. Much like Stewart, Busch manged to avoid the big wrecks at the 2.5-mile tri-oval but a combination of being shuffled out of the draft and a late-race penalty for removing a tear-off under the red flag doomed the younger Busch brother to finish outside the top 15.
Jimmie Johnson - Finished 42nd. He got caught in a wreck on the second lap and hopped on a plane well before the checkers flew. In fact, he had no idea about the jet dryer fire until after he was home.
Carl Edwards - Finished eighth. He rallied late after being sent to the rear of the field following the red flag for removing a tear-off.
Stats for the Season:
0 wins
1 top 5
1 top 10
Jeff Wolfe is a Contributor for Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via email at jeff.wolfe@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 tony.lumbis@frontstretch.com for details.
~~~~~~~~~~
Frontstretch Folio: Subway Fresh Fit 500
by Nick Schwartz
With just a short week to prepare after the rain-delayed Daytona 500 pushed into Tuesday morning, NASCAR teams are quickly heading to Phoenix International Raceway for the second race of the 2012 Sprint Cup season. The Subway Fresh Fit 500 will be broadcast Sunday, March 4th, at 2:30 PM EST and on MRN Radio
starting at 2:00 PM EST. The race will be 312 laps in duration for a total of 312 miles (500km).
Records and Facts
Jeff Gordon took the checkered flag in the 2011 Subway Fresh Fit 500, and will be looking to rebound from a disappointing engine failure in Daytona. Phoenix has been kind to Gordon in the past, however--the four-time champion won at the track for the first time in his career in 2007, then snapped a career-worst 66 race winless streak four years later in the same event, tying Cale Yarborough on the all-time wins list in the process.
The Spring race marks just the second Sprint Cup race to be run on the newly configured layout at Phoenix International Raceway. Following the 2011 Fresh Fit 500, work commenced on repaving the track, installing progressive banking and altering the radius of the dogleg. While drivers complained that the backstretch felt like a rollercoaster with its dips, the average speed in the Fall 2011 race was two miles per hour faster than in previous years.
Matt Kenseth broke the track record in qualifying last Fall when he won the pole for the Kobalt Tools 500, setting a time of 26.258 seconds. Kasey Kahne, the eventual race winner, shattered the record for overall race time, completing the scheduled 312 miles in just 2 hours and 45 minutes.
Track Facts
Track/Race Length: 1.0 mile oval, 312 laps (312 miles / 500km)
Pit Road Speed: 45mph
Degree of Banking: Progressive banking runs from 9-11 degrees
Frontstretch Length: 1,179 feet, banked 3 degrees
Backstretch Length: 1,551, banked 9 degrees
Grandstand Seating: 67,000
Pre-race Schedule
Practice: Friday, March 2, 2:30-4:00 PM EST on SPEED
Happy Hour: Friday, March 2, 5:30-7:00 PM EST on SPEED
Qualifying: Saturday, March 3, 2:30 PM EST on SPEED
VIPs
Grand Marshal / Command: Detroit Lions All-Pro Defensive Tackle Ndamukong Suh
National Anthem: Singer Brian McKnight
Honorary Pace Car Driver: UFC Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz
They Said It
"Getting that win was a huge boost for our team last year. I think the track was probably the best I can remember a brand-new race surface being in the first race. It started slippery and got better as the rubber built up. We made the adjustments we needed to put ourselves up front at the end. I'm excited to get back there with the Farmers Insurance guys this week." –Kasey Kahne
"Although Daytona is our biggest race," Newman said, "I think most people will tell you the season really starts with the second race, just because it seems to be a better gauge in determining what you have compared to other teams." –Ryan Newman
"When we were at Phoenix last year, the track was too smooth. Hopefully it has aged some over the winter, but we'll go to Phoenix with a good attitude. We feel like we can go to Phoenix and run well, so we'll see how it goes." –Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Nick Schwartz is a Contributor for Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via email at nick.schwartz@frontstretch.com.
~~~~~~~~~~
TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:
Crime and Punishment 101: Why NASCAR Needs a Refresher
by Amy Henderson
Penske to Ford? Whoopity Dodgety Doo!
by Jeff Meyer
More of the Same for Jeremy Clements, No. 51 Team in 2012
by Bryan Davis Keith
Four Burning Questions: Tweeting, Fire Safety, Prime Time and Flying Under the Radar
by Summer Dreyer
Regan Smith Driver Diary: Daytona Delays, Acceptable Tweeting Times, and Saving Lives
by Regan Smith
Phoenix (Hopefully) Without the Flames
by Danny Peters
Mirror Driving: What to Take to Phoenix, NASCAR's Weeknight Future and "Minor" Support
by the Frontstretch Staff
~~~~~~~~~~
This Weekend on the Frontstretch:
Nationwide Series Breakdown: Bashas' Supermarkets 200 by Bryan Davis Keith
Bryan has all the post-race analysis you need after Saturday afternoon's Nationwide Series race from Phoenix.
~~~~~~~~~~
FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Q: Especially prior to the CART / IRL war, Phoenix International Raceway was a great place for open wheel racing. In the early 1980's, CART held two 150 mile races a year on the desert tri-oval. In the Miller High Life 150 in the fall of 1982, the leaders (Rick Mears, Mario Andretti, Gordon Johncock and Tom Sneva) were racing each other hard for position early in the race. However, one false move and out went Johncock. What happened?
Check back Monday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
Thursday's Answer:
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?
A: During practice, Mansell spun his Lola-Ford Cosworth in Turn 2 and backed hard into the outside wall. The hit injured Mansell's back and forced him to sit out the 200 mile event. The injury ultimately did not hurt Mansell's 1993 season all that much. After winning on debut in Surfer's Paradise, Mansell drove masterfully on his way to winning the PPG Cup. In the Phoenix event, Mario Andretti took advantage of incidents eliminating the Penske threat to win his final career race.
Frontstretch Trivia Guarantee: Take the shirt off our backs! If we've provided an incorrect answer to the Frontstretch Trivia question, be the first to email the corrected trivia answer to trivia@frontstretch.com and we'll send you a Frontstretch T-Shirt ... FREE!
~~~~~~~~~~
Coming Monday in the Frontstretch Newsletter:
-- Subway Fresh Fit 500 Race Recap by Jeff Wolfe
-- Secret Star and Stat of the Race by Tom Bowles
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, and more!
Monday on the Frontstretch:
Matt McLaughlin's Thinkin' Out Loud: Subway Fresh Fit 500 by Matt McLaughlin
Matt will be here with his overall thoughts about the action from Sunday afternoon's action from the Phoenix.
Monday Morning Teardown by Ron Lemasters
Ron returns for a website look at one of the big stories from Sunday's race from Phoenix.
Bowles-Eye View by Tom Bowles
Tom brings back his weekly post-race commentary with all of the insight you need from a weekend of racing at Phoenix.
Big Six: Subway Fresh Fit 500 by Amy Henderson
Looking for all you need to know leaving the season opener? Amy has your who, what, when, where, why and how from a weekend of racing at Daytona.
Pace Laps: Phoenix Weekend by the Frontstretch Staff
In our newest column this season, we'll take a look at the biggest stories to keep an eye on in each series after a weekend at Phoenix.
-----------------------------
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
Feel free to forward this newsletter if you have any friends who loves
NASCAR and great NASCAR commentary. They can subscribe to the Frontstetch by visiting http://www.frontstretch.com/notice/9557/.
If you want to stop your Frontstretch Newsletter subscription, we're sorry
to see you go. Just send an email to
TheFrontstretch+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com from the address that you
recieve the Frontstretch Newsletter.
No comments:
Post a Comment