THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
April 10th, 2012
Volume VI, Edition LIX
by Kevin Rutherford
NASCAR Foundation Announces Summer "NASCAR Unites" Program
A bevy of special paint schemes will be on track at various upcoming NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series events as part of the NASCAR Foundation's "NASCAR Unites: An American Salute" program, which aims to promote patriotism and support U.S. military families.
Among the drivers participating in the promotion are Sprint Cup drivers Brad Keselowski, Bobby Labonte, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Carl Edwards, Tony Stewart, Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson, Mark Martin, Martin Truex, Jr. and Greg Biffle. Nationwide Series teammates Cole Whitt and Danica Patrick will also participate in the program, which will feature cars with special red, white and blue paint schemes.
Starting at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May, multiple activities and promotions will be found at NASCAR events, culminating in the July event at Daytona International Speedway. Foundation representatives will also work with various charities supporting military families.
Nominations Being Accepted For Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award
The NASCAR Foundation announced yesterday that it is accepting nominations for the 2012 Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award, named for the foundation's chairwoman.
One fan will be recognized for an exceptional commitment to his or her community with the award, which will be given during NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series Champion's Week in Las Vegas this December.
Individuals can be nominated by visiting the foundation's website (foundation.nascar.com). Nominees must be at least 18 years old and legal residents of the United States. The pool of nominees will be narrowed down to four finalists, with an online and mobile vote campaign selecting the overall winner.
The deadline for nominations is May 31.
Harraka, Wauters Motorsports Support Rockingham Soldier Campaign
Camping World Truck Series team Wauters Motorsports and driver Paulie Harraka will carry a special logo on the team's No. 5 truck at this weekend's Good Sam Roadside Assistance 200 presented by Cheerwine at Rockingham Speedway supporting the track's "Send a Soldier to the Rock" campaign.
As part of the program, fans are encouraged to purchase a $20 general admission ticket to Sunday's race, which will go toward bringing a soldier stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C.'s U.S. Army Airborne and Special Operations Command to the event.
"The Armed Forces of the United States of America work tirelessly to protect our nation, our freedoms, and us as individuals," said Harraka, a rookie in the Truck Series with the first-year team. "With Fort Bragg so close to Rockingham, we want to honor the men and women of the Army and think that dedicating the truck's livery to them is a fitting way for us to say, on behalf of our team and our partners, a heartfelt 'thank you' to those who serve or have served."
Tickets purchased in support of the campaign will be held at will call for the included soldiers.
Have news for Kevin and the Frontstretch? Don't hesitate to let us know; email us at ashland10@mail.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!
~~~~~~~~~~
Today's Featured Commentary
Not NASCAR TV: Top Gear UK vs. USA
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
Not NASCAR TV: Top Gear UK vs. USA
Sitting In The Stands: A Fan's View
by S.D. Grady
There's something quite poetic about blowing up a building to see if the Toyota truck perched on the roof can survive the 20 story fall. I mean, who wouldn't be cheering for the complete demolition of one of the foreign interlopers in the automotive market? And who had to admit utter defeat to the Japanese car makers when that little red truck continued to run after the final horrific attempt on its life? I did.
Now, what does that story have to do with NASCAR? Not a thing. Let's face it, NASCAR Nation has been veritably silent over the holiday week, leaving us with very little to talk about. So, I thought I'd take a detour to another of my favorite fast machine past times: Top Gear. In particular, to take a moment and compare the aging show produced in the UK against America's relative newcomer to the game with the same name. Is there a comparable amount of fun to be had on both sides of the pond?
The show appears very similar in both versions. Three presenters--middlish aged men--spend sixty minutes showcasing supercars and trying to demolish some of the lesser members of the automotive breed in truly juvenile fashion. Nothing is sacred. If it's possible to make a Prius look foolish, Top Gear won't pass up the opportunity. And for those of us who love our cars with more than four cylinders (preferably eight), this show feeds into the mantra of "put the pedal down and don't let up."
But like all things that try to mirror each other across the Atlantic Ocean, there are the not so subtle differences that keep my finger on the remote as I try to decide which form is more addicting.
The L.A. version stars Tanner Foust of X Games fame, the familiar face of NASCAR's Rutledge Wood and their purported "wrecker," comedian Adam Ferrara. Tanner provides believability behind the wheel as he takes Ferraris and Lamborghinis out for sedate spins around the Top Gear track. Rutledge remains much the loveable goof he portrays so well at NASCAR tracks across America, but backs it up with real car know-how, and Adam does his best to be the guy who just likes cars. This trio follows their script well enough. I ended up laughing as their trucks tried to cross the wilds of Alaska or as they escorted various TV celebs in make-shift limos.
However, it is scripted. Over almost two full seasons, the only time I really believe the script has been tossed out the window in favor of sheer exuberance is when Tanner has been challenged to execute an improbable stunt in any given vehicle. Otherwise, the voices of the producers and insurance agencies can be heard far too well in the background. Yes, trying to elude a Cobra attack helicopter in a Dodge Viper is quite possibly one of the coolest scenarios ever dreamed up for a car show...but it wasn't dreamed up in Hollywood. The BBC thought of it first.
Which brings us to the Top Gear set in England. Now syndicated in eight different nations worldwide, England boasts the original mish-mash of car show and frat house toga party. Clearly the writers living in London spent a bit too much time at the pub while they conjured up 1,001 ways to squash a vehicle. Or which European road would appear the most luxurious as the backdrop to a speeding Lotus.
Yes, you can run a quarter mile in a Porsche on an abandoned airfield in California, but it doesn't look at home--more like somebody trying to escape a post apocalyptic city. Take the same high-end car and cross the Alps or cruise along the Riviera and it appears much more...yummy. This is part of the charm of the British version. Not only are we treated to the dry wit of Jeremy Clarkson and company, but the supercars are permitted to run the roads they were designed for. It all comes together in a much more organic manner, from Richard Hammond's boyish charm to Captain Slow's phlegmatic technical explanations. The BBC presenters own that elusive combination of on-set chemistry which transports you into their world of, "How can we make James May look stupid this week?"
Joie de vivre permeates the British show, where their American counterparts seem to struggle to piece the various segments into something that resembles the original. The History Channel could raise our version to the heights the Brits have achieved...but it would require a belief in the presenters' immortality that allows Clarkson, Hammond and May to run Minis off a ski-jump, drive through brick walls and sail a small pick-up across the English Channel.
So far I've yet to see an episode starring Rutledge where I gasped, "They did not!" Because, well, their tricks just aren't that unbelievable. In an uncharacteristic twist, the Americans seem to be trying to duplicate the original instead of following our customary creed of, "Anything they can do, we can do better!"
Simply, Top Gear already approaches the ordinary car guy and tosses him off the cliff. The new incarnation requires a Texan attitude; bigger, badder and without any apologies for unforeseen collateral damage. That may well require an adjustment in cast. I have no doubt that Foust would be willing to slalom his car down the Rockies, but would Adam or Rutledge? Doubt remains.
So, if you are looking for an enjoyable, not entirely useful hour of car TV when there's no racing to be had to hand, try tuning into BBCAmerica for a bit of the real Top Gear. You'll be laughing at the same time your eyes are treated to some of the best photography framed around a McLaren MP4-12C. Just make sure to keep a dictionary nearby. I never knew my Impala sedan was in all actuality a saloon...
Top Gear can be found on the History Channel in America. Check your listings for future show times.
The British version runs on BBC America. Season 18 will be premiering April 16th at 8PM Eastern.
Sonya's Weekly Danica Stat:
Status Quo: She returns to the track this week in Texas.
by S.D. Grady
There's something quite poetic about blowing up a building to see if the Toyota truck perched on the roof can survive the 20 story fall. I mean, who wouldn't be cheering for the complete demolition of one of the foreign interlopers in the automotive market? And who had to admit utter defeat to the Japanese car makers when that little red truck continued to run after the final horrific attempt on its life? I did.
Now, what does that story have to do with NASCAR? Not a thing. Let's face it, NASCAR Nation has been veritably silent over the holiday week, leaving us with very little to talk about. So, I thought I'd take a detour to another of my favorite fast machine past times: Top Gear. In particular, to take a moment and compare the aging show produced in the UK against America's relative newcomer to the game with the same name. Is there a comparable amount of fun to be had on both sides of the pond?
The show appears very similar in both versions. Three presenters--middlish aged men--spend sixty minutes showcasing supercars and trying to demolish some of the lesser members of the automotive breed in truly juvenile fashion. Nothing is sacred. If it's possible to make a Prius look foolish, Top Gear won't pass up the opportunity. And for those of us who love our cars with more than four cylinders (preferably eight), this show feeds into the mantra of "put the pedal down and don't let up."
But like all things that try to mirror each other across the Atlantic Ocean, there are the not so subtle differences that keep my finger on the remote as I try to decide which form is more addicting.
The L.A. version stars Tanner Foust of X Games fame, the familiar face of NASCAR's Rutledge Wood and their purported "wrecker," comedian Adam Ferrara. Tanner provides believability behind the wheel as he takes Ferraris and Lamborghinis out for sedate spins around the Top Gear track. Rutledge remains much the loveable goof he portrays so well at NASCAR tracks across America, but backs it up with real car know-how, and Adam does his best to be the guy who just likes cars. This trio follows their script well enough. I ended up laughing as their trucks tried to cross the wilds of Alaska or as they escorted various TV celebs in make-shift limos.
However, it is scripted. Over almost two full seasons, the only time I really believe the script has been tossed out the window in favor of sheer exuberance is when Tanner has been challenged to execute an improbable stunt in any given vehicle. Otherwise, the voices of the producers and insurance agencies can be heard far too well in the background. Yes, trying to elude a Cobra attack helicopter in a Dodge Viper is quite possibly one of the coolest scenarios ever dreamed up for a car show...but it wasn't dreamed up in Hollywood. The BBC thought of it first.
Which brings us to the Top Gear set in England. Now syndicated in eight different nations worldwide, England boasts the original mish-mash of car show and frat house toga party. Clearly the writers living in London spent a bit too much time at the pub while they conjured up 1,001 ways to squash a vehicle. Or which European road would appear the most luxurious as the backdrop to a speeding Lotus.
Yes, you can run a quarter mile in a Porsche on an abandoned airfield in California, but it doesn't look at home--more like somebody trying to escape a post apocalyptic city. Take the same high-end car and cross the Alps or cruise along the Riviera and it appears much more...yummy. This is part of the charm of the British version. Not only are we treated to the dry wit of Jeremy Clarkson and company, but the supercars are permitted to run the roads they were designed for. It all comes together in a much more organic manner, from Richard Hammond's boyish charm to Captain Slow's phlegmatic technical explanations. The BBC presenters own that elusive combination of on-set chemistry which transports you into their world of, "How can we make James May look stupid this week?"
Joie de vivre permeates the British show, where their American counterparts seem to struggle to piece the various segments into something that resembles the original. The History Channel could raise our version to the heights the Brits have achieved...but it would require a belief in the presenters' immortality that allows Clarkson, Hammond and May to run Minis off a ski-jump, drive through brick walls and sail a small pick-up across the English Channel.
So far I've yet to see an episode starring Rutledge where I gasped, "They did not!" Because, well, their tricks just aren't that unbelievable. In an uncharacteristic twist, the Americans seem to be trying to duplicate the original instead of following our customary creed of, "Anything they can do, we can do better!"
Simply, Top Gear already approaches the ordinary car guy and tosses him off the cliff. The new incarnation requires a Texan attitude; bigger, badder and without any apologies for unforeseen collateral damage. That may well require an adjustment in cast. I have no doubt that Foust would be willing to slalom his car down the Rockies, but would Adam or Rutledge? Doubt remains.
So, if you are looking for an enjoyable, not entirely useful hour of car TV when there's no racing to be had to hand, try tuning into BBCAmerica for a bit of the real Top Gear. You'll be laughing at the same time your eyes are treated to some of the best photography framed around a McLaren MP4-12C. Just make sure to keep a dictionary nearby. I never knew my Impala sedan was in all actuality a saloon...
Top Gear can be found on the History Channel in America. Check your listings for future show times.
The British version runs on BBC America. Season 18 will be premiering April 16th at 8PM Eastern.
Sonya's Weekly Danica Stat:
Status Quo: She returns to the track this week in Texas.
S.D. Grady is a Senior Editor for Frontstretch.com. She can be reached via e-mail at sonya.grady@frontstretch.com. Follow her on Twitter at @laregna.
~~~~~~~~~~
Numbers Game: Off Week Edition
by Garrett Horton
0
Excluding the exhibition race in the Bud Shootout, Kyle Busch has failed to win any NASCAR sanctioned event in 2012. Since joining Joe Gibbs Racing in 2008, the talented yet unstable driver has averaged almost 21 combined victories in the Cup, Nationwide, and Truck series each year.
1
The Cup series has been visiting the Texas Motor Speedway for 15 years now, and only once has the pole sitter gone on to win the race. Kasey Kahne, driving for Evernham Motorsports at the time, took his No. 9 Dodge to victory lane after starting P1 in the 2006 event.
3
Wins for Chevrolet, all by Stewart-Haas Racing. Toyota, Ford, and Dodge have each made one trip to the winners circle in 2012.
5
The fewest cautions in a Cup race at Texas, occurring four different times, including both events last year. The other two occasions happened in the fall races in 2008 and 2009, which were won by Carl Edwards and Kurt Busch, respectively.
13th
It seems like we hear it every year, but it is especially true for 2012 – track position is more important than ever. Through six races, 13th has been the worst starting spot for a race winner, when Denny Hamlin won Phoenix after starting outside the top-10. Every other race winner so far has started ninth or higher.
14
There were 14 Sprint Cup races run at TMS before the facility had a repeat winner. Carl Edwards became the first man to visit victory lane at the speedway more than once, when he picked up win number two in the spring race of 2008. His first win at the track came three years earlier in 2005, his first full season in the Cup series. In the four years since Edwards became the first two-time winner, Denny Hamlin, Matt Kenseth, and Tony Stewart have joined the ranks of winning at TMS on more than one occasion.
17.8
The average number of lead changes so far in 2012 has been 17.8. Daytona and Phoenix both hold the season high of 25 while the rain-shortened race at Fontana had only nine. This number is far off last years average after six races, which was 31.5.
31st
The deepest starting position for any winner at Sprint Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway. This has now been a track record for ten years, when Matt Kenseth won the 2002 running after starting back there.
Garrett Horton is a Contributor for Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via e-mail at garrrett.horton@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:
Five Points to Ponder: Odds-On for Hendrick and Mayfield's Improbable Return
by Danny Peters
Couch Potato Tuesday: SPEED does well with CTSCC, Seven Network Not Inclusive Enough
by Phil Allaway
Tech Talk with Steve Addington: The Benefit of Testing at Texas
by Mike Neff
~~~~~~~~~~~
FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Q: Texas Motor Speedway has hosted a number of different series on the 1.5 mile quad-oval, from Sprint Cup to the Izod IndyCar Series and beyond. However, the track also has an infield road course that hosted the American Le Mans Series in 2000. That course used roughly 90 percent of the quad-oval in addition to the infield, but one additional wrinkle was added. What was it?
~~~~~~~~~~
Numbers Game: Off Week Edition
by Garrett Horton
0
Excluding the exhibition race in the Bud Shootout, Kyle Busch has failed to win any NASCAR sanctioned event in 2012. Since joining Joe Gibbs Racing in 2008, the talented yet unstable driver has averaged almost 21 combined victories in the Cup, Nationwide, and Truck series each year.
1
The Cup series has been visiting the Texas Motor Speedway for 15 years now, and only once has the pole sitter gone on to win the race. Kasey Kahne, driving for Evernham Motorsports at the time, took his No. 9 Dodge to victory lane after starting P1 in the 2006 event.
3
Wins for Chevrolet, all by Stewart-Haas Racing. Toyota, Ford, and Dodge have each made one trip to the winners circle in 2012.
5
The fewest cautions in a Cup race at Texas, occurring four different times, including both events last year. The other two occasions happened in the fall races in 2008 and 2009, which were won by Carl Edwards and Kurt Busch, respectively.
13th
It seems like we hear it every year, but it is especially true for 2012 – track position is more important than ever. Through six races, 13th has been the worst starting spot for a race winner, when Denny Hamlin won Phoenix after starting outside the top-10. Every other race winner so far has started ninth or higher.
14
There were 14 Sprint Cup races run at TMS before the facility had a repeat winner. Carl Edwards became the first man to visit victory lane at the speedway more than once, when he picked up win number two in the spring race of 2008. His first win at the track came three years earlier in 2005, his first full season in the Cup series. In the four years since Edwards became the first two-time winner, Denny Hamlin, Matt Kenseth, and Tony Stewart have joined the ranks of winning at TMS on more than one occasion.
17.8
The average number of lead changes so far in 2012 has been 17.8. Daytona and Phoenix both hold the season high of 25 while the rain-shortened race at Fontana had only nine. This number is far off last years average after six races, which was 31.5.
31st
The deepest starting position for any winner at Sprint Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway. This has now been a track record for ten years, when Matt Kenseth won the 2002 running after starting back there.
Garrett Horton is a Contributor for Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via e-mail at garrrett.horton@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:
Five Points to Ponder: Odds-On for Hendrick and Mayfield's Improbable Return
by Danny Peters
Couch Potato Tuesday: SPEED does well with CTSCC, Seven Network Not Inclusive Enough
by Phil Allaway
Tech Talk with Steve Addington: The Benefit of Testing at Texas
by Mike Neff
~~~~~~~~~~~
FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Q: Texas Motor Speedway has hosted a number of different series on the 1.5 mile quad-oval, from Sprint Cup to the Izod IndyCar Series and beyond. However, the track also has an infield road course that hosted the American Le Mans Series in 2000. That course used roughly 90 percent of the quad-oval in addition to the infield, but one additional wrinkle was added. What was it?
Check back Wednesday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
Monday's Answer:
Q: Texas Motor Speedway's inaugural race for the now-Izod IndyCar Series was for lack of a better word, a quagmire. Yes, there were wrecks, just like when the Cup Series raced there a couple of months earlier. However, additional issues outside of the control of the track caused big problems. What happened?
A: First off, there were still the problems with the 4.0 liter production-based engines that had plagued the first three races of 1997 (Disney World, Phoenix and Indianapolis). The track itself was a bit dicey as well. However, there were significant issues with timing and scoring that resulted in Billy Boat incorrectly being flagged as the winner of the race. In reality, Arie Luyendyk won. Luyendyk, along with his team (Treadway Racing) protested the result and Luyendyk went to Victory Lane to publicly voice his sentiment. Boat's car owner, A.J. Foyt, was none too pleased with Luyendyk and smacked him upside the head. The "slap heard 'round the world" can be seen in this clip.
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 Brad Morgan
-- Full Throttle by Mike Neff
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, and more!
~~~~~~~~~~
Tomorrow on the Frontstretch:
Did You Notice? ... by Tom Bowles
Tom returns with his list of small but important observations around the NASCAR circuit.
Frontstretch Top Ten by the Frontstretch Staff
Get laughing to start your day with another hilarious edition of our NASCAR staff top 10 list.
Mirror Driving by the Frontstretch Staff
Who is the next driver to break a long winless streak? Also, can the Nationwide Series break away from the Sprint Cup Series and hold more standalone race weekends? Find out in our weekly writer roundtable.
Special Commentary by Summer Dreyer
Since we had last weekend off, there will be no edition of Power Rankings on Wednesday. However, Summer will be back with an interesting commentary of her own.
Going Green by Garrett Horton
Garrett returns to his usual Wednesday slot with another thought-provoking NASCAR commentary.
-----------------------------
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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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