THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
April 13th, 2012
Volume VI, Edition LXII
~~~~~~~~~~
Editor's Note: Due to an internet connectivity issue, our website did not post columns correctly until shortly after 10:00 this morning. As a result, early morning readers of the Newsletter may not have been able to access the content they were looking for. For your convenience, we've relisted those columns in today's Newsletter. We apologize for the technical issues and thank you for being such a dedicated reader of our site.
~~~~~~~~~~
Top News
by Jeff Wolfe
Hamlin to Lend a Helping Hand to March of Dimes
Denny Hamlin won't just be racing for a Sprint Cup win at Texas this weekend, he'll be racing for a cause. Hamlin's No. 11 FedEx Office Toyota will have a special March of Dimes paint scheme. FedEx is continuing its tradition of helping March of Dimes by donating a paint scheme to the charity for the fifth straight Hamlin will also have a special guest at the track in 6-year-old Kieran Wittstruck, the March of Dimes National Ambassador who was born two months premature but is now a healthy boy with help from the March of Dimes.
"I'm so proud to help support the effort of the March of Dimes again this weekend," said Hamlin, a two-time Texas race winner. "This is the fifth time we have had their logo on the hood of our race car, and each year it gives our FedEx team the extra boost it needs to try to get to victory lane."
Kieran was born at 31 weeks, weighing just three pounds, one ounce. Thanks to March of Dimes-funded treatments and the medical care Kieran received, he's thriving today and traveling the country with his parents.
"Kieran, his family and FedEx are long-time supporters of our mission to give all babies a healthy start in life," said Dr. Jennifer L. Howse, President of the March of Dimes. "We are grateful to FedEx for their help to fund our research and programs that give children like Kieran a chance for a healthy, productive life."
Hamlin has one victory this season and is seventh in the point standings, 16 markers behind leader Greg Biffle, going into Saturday night's race at Texas.
Stewart and Mobil 1 to "Go Green" at Texas
Tony Stewart's Mobil 1 car will promote going green with a special paint scheme this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway. The No. 14 Chevrolet will have a green stripe across its hood and rear bumper to promote the Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy Saturday night.
According to Mobil 1, the Advanced Fuel Economy brand is a fully synthetic oil that puts less stress on an engine which helps produce better gas mileage. And as an added bonus, the oil saves about eight cents per gallon when fuel is at $4 per gallon price.
Stewart is currently third in the point standings, 12 markers behind leader Greg Biffle. He also has two victories this year and won the fall race at Texas last year as well as in 2006.
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
Tony Stewart to be honored at the White House
As reigning champion of the Sprint Cup Series, Tony Stewart will be honored by President Barack Obama at the White House. The driver / owner of the No. 14 Chevrolet is scheduled to travel to the White House on Tuesday, April 17th, and will be joined by each participant in the 2011 Chase for the Sprint Cup, and NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France. Fans can watch the ceremony live online around 4:20 PM EDT here.
Foreigner raises almost $30,000 for Speedway Children's Charities
Iconic rock band Foreigner auctioned off four items to benefit the Texas branch of Speedway Children's Charities ahead of the Samsung Mobile 500 in Fort Worth, Texas, and raised nearly $30,000 dollars. The highest bid was for a serenade by Foreigner lead singer Kelly Hansen, who sang the band's hit single "Waiting for a Girl Like You" to the winner of the auction. Foreigner will also perform during a pre-race concert Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway Saturday night.
Donnie Allison to Serve as Honorary Starter at Rockingham
Donnie Allison has long been a name intertwined in NASCAR's illustrious history, and that will only continue this weekend at Rockingham Speedway. Allison, one of only four drivers to win on both configurations of the one-mile oval (the track was rebuilt in 1969 just four years after it opened) will wave the green flag over Sunday's Good Sam Roadside Assistance 200 presented by cheerwine. In 24 starts at Rockingham, Allison boasts two victories and and 12 top-10 finishes.
~~~~~~~~~~
FRONTSTRETCH IS EXPANDING... INTO OPEN-WHEEL!
Have an itch for the IndyCars? Looking for a part-time writing gig? Well, then Frontstretch may be the place for you. We're looking for one fill-in IndyCar writer to handle about ten preview and recap columns over the course of the 2012 season. Deadlines will be on Thursday and Sunday nights; if interested, going through the Frontstretch audition process (with an emphasis on open-wheel instead of NASCAR) is required. Questions? Concerns? Or simply ready to send your pieces in? Contact us at frontstretcheditors@googlegroups.com.
~~~~~~~~~~
Keepin' It Short: Crowing an Unlikely Winner
by Mike Neff
Three weeks after it was scheduled to run, the Carolina Crown finally went off at Lancaster Speedway last Saturday night. A field of 23 cars took the green chasing the $20,000 top prize. The stands were packed with over 2,500 fans and the track was lightning fast after several days of rain leading up to the event. Perhaps it was the full moon or just the prize money, but the drivers attacked the track like every circuit was the last of a 10 lap dash for cash. In the end it was Scott Autry, a long time short track racer from Fayetteville, NC who took the checkers and the big check.
Autry was the 2002 Carolina Clash Series champion, a touring series for Super Late Model dirt cars that runs throughout the Carolinas and Virginia. Some time after that championship, Autry learned he had gout arthritis. That ailment resulted in his racing schedule being reduced and Autry personally reevaluating his health and eating habits. He now has the arthritis under control and feels that he's in some of the best health that he's been in for years. With his body treating him much better, he's reinvigorated about his racing career and is planning to do quite a bit of racing this year.
The Crown didn't start out like it was going to be a successful event for Autry. In fact, during qualifying he hit the front straight wall, which resulted in his starting position being in the last row of the grid. The team planned to start the race and park until it was rained out on the initial night. The three week break gave his crew a chance to fix the car and he headed into this weekend's event thinking it might be a better car than he tried to qualify. Autry still felt like he didn't have a chance to win due to his starting position and the speed of the track, but his car owner suggested he go ahead and let the race play out.
The race started out like a house afire with the cars at the front of the field beating and banging and driving like every lap was the last. The result was cars spinning and cutting tires, cars being damaged too much to continue, one car actually going over the retaining wall, and Autry simply biding his time and slowly working his way toward the front. By the time the race got to the 50 lap mark, just two thirds of the way through the event, Autry was knocking on the top 5 and several of the top contenders had already dropped out of the event. When Chris Ferguson had an engine problem and Jared Landers had a rear tire go down with 12 laps to go in the race, Autry found himself in the top spot with Landers, Dennis Franklin and Donald Bradsher as the only drivers left on the lead lap.
After the mandatory caution with 10 laps to go, Autry realized that he had a real chance to win the event. The race went back to green and it took Landers a few laps to figure out how to make his new rear tires work with his worn out front tires. He started working over Franklin and worked past him shortly after the restart. As Landers set his sights on Autry, Bradsher passed Franklin and the Gaffney, SC driver pulled his car into the pits a few laps later as it ran out of gas. Bradsher was a distant third so it was down to Landers and Autry for the win. With four laps to go, Autry tried to diamond off turns 1 and 2 while Landers made a move to his inside. The two cars made contact coming out of turn two and Landers gave Autry a second to regain control. As the leaders raced into turn three Landers made an amazing drive into the corner to take the lead from Autry, but the momentum took him very high in the corner. Autry pointed his nose to the bottom of the track and got his nose back in front of the Clint Bowyer Racing driver and beat him to turn one. At that point, Landers' engine stumbled as he started to run low on fuel as well.
From there on it was all a matter of whether Autry had the gas to make it to the end. Landers was able to hold off Bradsher but couldn't push his car and risk running out of go juice, so he settled for second. Autry crossed the finish line and scored one of the most improbable wins in the history of dirt track racing. Autry was impressed by the move that Landers was able to pull off.
"He drove it in there about four car lengths further than anyone ever should," said Autry. "I expected him to go over the wall but when I saw him get it turned I knew I had to take it to the bottom and try and beat him to turn one."
There are Cinderella stories in every kind of sport, and motor racing is no exception. Regan Smith snagged the win at Darlington last season. David Gilliland shocked the Nationwide world by taking the victory at Kentucky in an underfunded ride. Scott Autry beating the likes of Jonathan Davenport, Landers and Steve Francis is easily on par with those wins. If the opportunity presents itself, head to your local short track when you get a chance. You just might get to see something happen that you'll never believe.
This Weekend's Racing Calendar
Fri : Apr 13th – Batesville Motor Speedway ; Locust Grove : AR – Comp Cams Super Late Models
Fri : Apr 13th – Ocean Speedway ; Watsonville : CA – Taco Bravo Ocean Sprints
Fri : Apr 13th – Five Flags Speedway ; Pensacola : FL – Must See Racing Xtreme Sprints
Fri : Apr 13th – Orlando Speedworld ; Orlando : FL – Brighthouse Challenge Super Late Models
Fri : Apr 13th – Tri-City Speedway ; Pontoon Beach : IL – MARS Dirtcar Series Late Models
Fri : Apr 13th – Davenport Speedway ; Davenport : IA – Cornbelt Clash Late Models
Fri : Apr 13th – Heartland Park ; Topeka : KS – Midwest Late Model Racing Association
Fri : Apr 13th – Paducha International Raceway ; Paducah : KY – World of Outlaw Sprint Cars
Fri : Apr 13th – Chateau Raceway ; Lansing : MN – USRA Modifieds
Fri : Apr 13th – Chateau Raceway ; Lansing : MN – IMCA Stock Cars
Fri : Apr 13th – Chateau Raceway ; Lansing : MN – WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds
Fri : Apr 13th – Chateau Raceway ; Lansing : MN – WISSOTA Street Stocks
Fri : Apr 13th – Malden Speedway ; Malden : MO – Late Models
Fri : Apr 13th – Malden Speedway ; Malden : MO – Modifieds
Fri : Apr 13th – Malden Speedway ; Malden : MO – Street Stocks
Fri : Apr 13th – Magnolia Motor Speedway ; Columbus : MS – Super Late Models
Fri : Apr 13th – Magnolia Motor Speedway ; Columbus : MS – NeSmith Late Models
Fri : Apr 13th – Magnolia Motor Speedway ; Columbus : MS – Street Stocks
Fri : Apr 13th – Ace Speedway ; Altamahaw : NC – Late Models
Fri : Apr 13th – Ace Speedway ; Altamahaw : NC – Modifieds x2
Fri : Apr 13th – Carolina Speedway ; Gastonia : NC – USCS 600 Sprint Cars
Fri : Apr 13th – Carolina Speedway ; Gastonia : NC – USCS Outlaw Thunder Sprint Cars
Fri : Apr 13th – Jackson County Speedway ; Jackson : OH – Steel Block Late Models
Fri : Apr 13th – Jackson County Speedway ; Jackson : OH – Modifieds
Fri : Apr 13th – Jackson County Speedway ; Jackson : OH – Street Stocks
Fri : Apr 13th – Trail-Ways Speedway ; Hanover : PA – Sidewinder Sprints
Fri : Apr 13th – Golden Triangle Raceway Park ; Beaumont : TX – Lucas Oil ASCS Sprints
Fri : Apr 13th – Mountain Creek Speedway ; Grand Prairie : TX – IMCA Modifieds
Fri ; Apr 13th – Mountain Creek Speedway ; Grand Prairie : TX – IMCA Sport Modifieds
Fri : Apr 13th – Mountain Creek Speedway ; Grand Prairie : TX – IMCA Stock
Fri : Apr 13th – Mountain Creek Speedway ; Grand Prairie : TX – Street Stock
Fri : Apr 13th – Virginia Motor Speedway ; Saluda : VA – Commonwealth 100 Lucas Oil Late Models
Sat : Apr 14th – Mobile International Speedway ; Irvington : AL – Must See Xtreme Sprint Cars
Sat : Apr 14th – Mobile International Speedway ; Irvington : AL – Modifieds
Sat : Apr 14th – South Alabama Speedway ; Kinston : AL – Viper Pro Late Models
Sat : Apr 14th – Havasu 95 Speedway ; Lake Havasu City : AZ – NASCAR K&N Pro West Series
Sat : Apr 14th – Diamond Park Speedway ; Nashville : AR – Comp Cams Super Late Models
Sat : Apr 14th – Bakersfield Speedway ; Oildale : CA – California Lightning Sprints
Sat : Apr 14th – Madera Speedway ; Madera : CA – Late Models
Sat : Apr 14th – Madera Speedway ; Madera : CA – Sport Modifieds
Sat : Apr 14th – Madera Speedway ; Madera : CA – Hobby Stocks
Sat : Apr 14th – Thunderbowl Raceway ; Tulare : CA – USAC 360 Sprints
Sat : Apr 14th – Desoto Speedway ; Bradenton : FL – TBARA Winged Sprints
Sat : Apr 14th – Desoto Speedway ; Bradenton : FL – Sportsman
Sat : Apr 14th – North Florida Speedway ; Lake City : FL – Florida Mini-Sprint Association
Sat : Apr 14th – New Smyrna Speedway ; New Smyrna Beach : FL – 5th Annual Billie Harvey Memorial Super Late Models
Sat : Apr 14th – New Smyrna Speedway ; New Smyrna Beach : FL – Modifieds
Sat : Apr 14th – New Smyrna Speedway ; New Smyrna Beach : FL – Sportsman
Sat : Apr 14th – Punta Gorda Speedway ; Punta Gorda : FL – Open Wheel Modified
Sat : Apr 14th – Gresham Motorsports Park ; Jefferson : GA – Outlaws
Sat : Apr 14th – Gresham Motorsports Park ; Jefferson : GA – Pro Late Models
Sat : Apr 14th – Gresham Motorsports Park ; Jefferson : GA – Trucks
Sat : Apr 14th – New Senoia Raceway ; Senoia : GA – Season Points Opener Late Models
Sat : Apr 14th – Waycross Motor Speedway ; Waycross : GA – Late Models
Sat : Apr 14th – Peoria Speedway ; Peoria : IL – Cornbelt Clash Late Models
Sat : Apr 14th – Peoria Speedway ; Peoria : IL – 5th Annual Don Bohlander Tribute Late Models
Sat : Apr 14th – Peoria Speedway ; Peoria : IL – Modifieds
Sat : Apr 14th – Peoria Speedway ; Peoria : IL – Limited Late Models
Sat : Apr 14th – Anderson Speedway ; Anderson : IN – CRA Super Series
Sat : Apr 14th – Lawrenceburg Speedway ; Lawrenceburg : IN – AMSOIL USAC National Sprint Cars
Sat : Apr 14th – Speedrome ; Indianapolis : IN – Late Models
Sat : Apr 14th – Speedrome ; Indianapolis : IN – Stock
Sat : Apr 14th – Speedrome ; Indianapolis : IN – Spring Fling Roadrunners
Sat : Apr 14th – Speedrome ; Indianapolis : IN – Spring Fling Hornets
Sat : Apr 14th – Speedrome ; Indianapolis : IN – Spring Fling Legends
Sat : Apr 14th – Twin Cities Raceway Park ; North Vernon : IN – Midwest Mini-Sprint Association
Sat : Apr 14th – Hamilton County Speedway ; Webster City : IA – Deery Brothers Summer Series IMCA Late Models
Sat : Apr 14th – Corbin Speedway ; Corbin : KY – Late Models
Sat : Apr 14th – Corbin Speedway ; Corbin : KY – Sportsman
Sat : Apr 14th – Corbin Speedway ; Corbin : KY – Pure Street
Sat : Apr 14th – Corbin Speedway ; Corbin : KY – Mini Stock
Sat : Apr 14th – Corbin Speedway ; Corbin : KY – Outlaw Mini Cup
Sat : Apr 14th – Corbin Speedway ; Corbin : KY – Baby Grand
Sat : Apr 14th – Corbin Speedway ; Corbin : KY – Pro Challenge
Sat : Apr 14th – Hagerstown Speedway ; Hagerstown : MD – Late Model Sportsman
Sat : Apr 14th – Hagerstown Speedway ; Hagerstown : MD – Pure Stocks
Sat : Apr 14th – Berlin Raceway ; Marne : MI – Ice Breaker 100 Outlaw Late Models
Sat : Apr 14th – Deer Creek Speedway ; Spring Valley : MN – Wissota Late Models
Sat : Apr 14th – Deer Creek Speedway ; Spring Valley : MN – Wissota Midwest Modifieds
Sat : Apr 14th – Deer Creek Speedway ; Spring Valley : MN – Wissota Street Stocks
Sat : Apr 14th – Deer Creek Speedway ; Spring Valley : MN – Wissota Super Stocks
Sat : Apr 14th – Deer Creek Speedway ; Spring Valley : MN – USRA Modifieds
Sat : Apr 14th – Magnolia Motor Speedway ; Columbus : MS – Super Late Models
Sat : Apr 14th – Magnolia Motor Speedway ; Columbus : MS – NeSmith Late Models
Sat : Apr 14th – Magnolia Motor Speedway ; Columbus : MS – Street Stocks
Sat : Apr 14th – I-55 Raceway ; Peavely : MO – World of Outlaws Sprint Cars
Sat : Apr 14th – Lucas Oil Speedway ; Wheatland : MO – Spring Thunder MLRA Dirt Late Models
Sat : Apr 14th – Lucas Oil Speedway ; Wheatland : MO – A-Modifieds
Sat : Apr 14th – Lucas Oil Speedway ; Wheatland : MO – Factory Stocks
Sat : Apr 14th – New Jersey Motorsports Park ; Millville : NJ – 24 Hours of Lemons
Sat : Apr 14th – Caraway Speedway ; Asheboro : NC – Late Models Trucks
Sat : Apr 14th – Caraway Speedway ; Asheboro : NC – Street Stocks
Sat : Apr 14th – Concord Motorsports Park ; Concord : NC – Late Models Twin 50s
Sat : Apr 14th – Hickory Motor Speedway ; Newton : NC – Late Models
Sat : Apr 14th – Hickory Motor Speedway ; Newton : NC – Limited Late Models
Sat : Apr 14th – Hickory Motor Speedway ; Newton : NC – Street Stock
Sat : Apr 14th – Rockingham Speedway ; Rockingham : NC – UARA Stars Late Models
Sat : Apr 14th – Columbus Motor Speedway ; Columbus : OH – Buckeye Super Sprints
Sat : Apr 14th – Big Diamond Speedway ; Minersville : PA – Sprint Cars
Sat : Apr 14th – Big Diamond Speedway ; Minersville : PA – ARDC Midgets
Sat : Apr 14th – Big Diamond Speedway ; Minersville : PA – Keystone Legend Car Tour
Sat : Apr 14th – Big Diamond Speedway ; Minersville : PA – Super Sportsman
Sat : Apr 14th – Lincoln Speedway ; Abbottstown : PA – 410 Sprints
Sat : Apr 14th – Lincoln Speedway ; Abbottstown : PA – 358 Sprints
Sat : Apr 14th – Lincoln Speedway ; Abbottstown : PA – 358 Late Models
Sat : Apr 14th – Mountain Speedway ; St. John's : PA – Sport Modifieds – Pole Day
Sat : Apr 14th – Mountain Speedway ; St. John's : PA – Late Models – Pole Day
Sat : Apr 14th – Mountain Speedway ; St. John's : PA – Factory Stocks – Pole Day
Sat : Apr 14th – Newport Speedway ; Newport : TN – ISCARS Dash Series
Sat : Apr 14th – Smoky Mountain Speedway ; Maryville : TN – Southern All Star Dirt Super Late Models
Sat : Apr 14th – Battleground Speedway ; Highlands : TX – Lucas Oil ASCS Sprints
Sat : Apr 14th – Motor Mile Speedway ; Radford : VA – Late Models
Sat : Apr 14th – Motor Mile Speedway ; Radford : VA – Limited Sportsman
Sat : Apr 14th – Motor Mile Speedway ; Radford : VA – Street Stock
Sat : Apr 14th – South Boston Speedway ; South Boston : VA – NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour
Sat : Apr 14th – Virginia Motor Speedway ; Saluda : VA – Commonwealth 100 Lucas Oil Late Models
Sat : Apr 14th – Cedar Lake Speedway ; New Richmond : WI – Late Models
Sat : Apr 14th – Cedar Lake Speedway ; New Richmond : WI – Modifieds
Sat : Apr 14th – Cedar Lake Speedway ; New Richmond : WI – Midwest Modifieds
Sun : Apr 15th – Thompson International Speedway ; Thompson : CT – NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour
Sun : Apr 15th – Rockford Speedway ; Rockford : IL – Big 8 Series Late Models
Sun : Apr 15th – Lee USA Speedway ; Lee : NH – Governor's Cup 150 ACT Late Models
Sun : Apr 15th – New Jersey Motorsports Park ; Millville : NJ – 24 Hours of Lemons
Sun : Apr 15th – Wall Speedway ; Wall : NJ – North East Enduro Tour
Sun : Apr 15th – Big Diamond Speedway ; Minersville : PA – 358 Modifieds
Sun : Apr 15th – Big Diamond Speedway ; Minersville : PA – Sportsman
Sun : Apr 15th – Mountain Speedway ; St. John's : PA – Sport Modifieds
Sun : Apr 15th – Mountain Speedway ; St. John's : PA – Late Models
Sun : Apr 15th – Mountain Speedway ; St. John's : PA – Factory Stocks
Wed : Apr 18th – Millbridge Speedway ; Salisbury : NC – Mini Outlaws – Millbridge Mutt Night to benefit the Humane Society of Iredell County
Mike Neff is a Senior Writer for Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via email at mike.neff@frontstretch.com.
~~~~~~~~~~
Editor's Note: Frontstretch has a brand new, redesigned Facebook page. Click Here to "Like" Us and get a direct connect to all your Frontstretch favorites along with polls, interaction with fans and so much more.
~~~~~~~~~~
Fantasy Friday: Samsung Mobile 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.
The NASCAR Sprint Cup series moves into Texas for its first scheduled night race of the season (Daytona eventually became a night race) at 7:30 Saturday on FOX. There's no doubt that racing at night affects the surface and how the cars handle. Texas is a fast track, so the teams able to make adjustments depending on the temperature of track will likely find success.
There's no doubt that the Roushkateers have found their share of success at Texas. Roush cars have won eight times in the Lone Star State, including the night race there last spring. So there will likely be a theme in the picks this week, but there are also a few who could interrupt the Roush/Ford party, too.
Top 5 Picks
Matt Kenseth - Yes, he won the last night race here last year and has been generally strong this spring. He also won under the lights on the fast track at Daytona, so it's hard not to pick him here where he has an average finish of 8.7.
Greg Biffle - He's hanging on to the points lead, six ahead of Dale Earnhardt, Jr, but he needs a strong showing at Texas, something that's quite possible. He has one win and six top 5s at the 1.5-mile quad-oval, but his average finish is 17.2, so it's kind of an all or nothing deal for him as he also has four DNFs.
Tony Stewart - He won the fall race at Texas and has two wins already this season. He, along with a few others, are just 12 points out of the series points lead. It's difficult not to pick him these days.
Denny Hamlin - He's got two wins at Texas and five top 5s in his 13 starts there. And with Darian Grubb as he crew chief, there's no doubt will be able to make key in-race adjustments that can ultimately lead to a solid finish, if not a trip to victory lane.
Dale Earnhardt, Jr. - He's got to get a win sometime and Texas has been good to him. He has one win in 19 starts and has been competitive this season with four top 10s in six starts, including back-to-back third-place finishes at Fontana and Martinsville. He actually may be ready to break through and end that 135-race winless streak.
Shoulda, woulda, coulda - Carl Edwards. He's had plenty of success at Texas, with three wins and a runner-up finish to Stewart in the fall race last year. And while this season has not been a disaster (see Kasey Kahne as exhibit A for that), he still has not led a lap, which is a bit alarming for someone who's accustomed to running up front. So that's why I couldn't quite pull the trigger on Edwards wearing the six-shooters in victory lane this week.
ACCOUNTABILITY GROUP
Here's a review of the picks from two weeks ago at Martinsville and how they finished:
Tony Stewart - 7th. Never was a serious contender to win and late wreck by others helped his finish.
Denny Hamlin - 6th. He was in the mix for a while, but didn't have as fast of car as Jimmie Johnson or Jeff Gordon.
Jimmie Johnson - 12th. He very well could have won the race as he was battling Gordon in the final laps before the big wreck took him out of the picture. Not as disastrous of a finish as it could have been for him.
Kevin Harvick - 19th. He was somewhat strong early, leading 21 laps, but clearly didn't make the adjustments to stay with the frontrunners.
Brian Vickers - 18th. He had looked so good on the concrete at Bristol, finishing fifth, but it didn't translate into a contending kind of day on the mixed surface at Martinsville.
Season Stats
30 Picks
1 win
8 top 5s
9 top 10s
Grade for this week: B-. Had it not been for the late yellow, Johnson would have won or finished second. Harvick was the big disappointment here.
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: Samsung Mobile 500
by Nick Schwartz
After an extended break and time for drivers to rest and rejuvenate, the Sprint Cup Series returns this week, with NASCAR descending on Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas. The Samsung Mobile 500 is the first of two races at Texas this year, and is the seventh race of the 2012 season. It will be broadcast live Saturday, April 15th on FOX at 7:00 PM EDT and PRN Radio at 6:30 PM EDT.
Records and Facts
Matt Kenseth is the defending race winner of the Samsung Mobile 500. In April of 2011, Kenseth broke a winless streak of more than two years when he cruised to his second career victory in Texas, taking the checkered flag 8.3 seconds ahead of second-place Clint Bowyer. Kenseth is off to a strong start to the Sprint Cup season, with a win at Daytona and two other top 5s under his belt already. The driver of the No. 17 Ford currently sits in fourth in the point standings, just 12 points behind leader and teammate Greg Biffle.
Carl Edwards holds the record for most wins at Texas Motor Speedway with three. The first of his trio came in the Fall of 2005 and he swept Texas in 2008. He nearly repeated that feat last season, with finishes of third in the spring and second last fall. Edwards' Roush-Fenway Racing teammate, Matt Kenseth, has the best average finish of all drivers at 8.7. Unsurprisingly, Kenseth also leads all drivers with 10 top-5 finishes and 13 top 10s.
Track Facts
Track/Race Length: 1.5-mile quad oval, 334 laps (501 miles)
Pit Road Speed: 45 mph
Degree of Banking: 24 degrees
Frontstretch: 2250 ft., 5 degrees of banking
Backstretch: 1330 ft., 5 degrees of banking
Grandstand Seating: 122,377
Pre-race Schedule
Happy Hour: Thursday, April 13, 3:00 – 4:30 PM EST on SPEED
Qualifying: Friday, April 13, 6:30 PM EST on SPEED
VIPs
Grand Marshal / Command: Travis Pastrana
Race Day Forecast
Saturday: Partly Cloudy, Windy; Chance of Precipitation 20%
High: 81
Low: 69
They Said It
"You have to be comfortable or you're not going to go fast. The more comfortable I am, the faster we go. This track, the grooves have moved around, especially in the last couple of years. We've seen the track get wider and it's made it to where you can move around on the racetrack and where you can run the top side or the bottom side. It's nice from a driver's perspective to be able to have that flexibility behind the steering wheel, knowing that if your car's not driving exactly the way you want it to, you can move around the racetrack and find a spot the car likes better." -Tony Stewart
"Well, Texas hasn't been one of our best tracks but it's actually a track I really enjoy going to. It's bumpy and you slide a lot but it's good racing. Especially in turns three and four, you can make up a lot of ground there and run high. I've always ran better at the tracks where you can get up into the high groove. We're hoping for a good day. The Target team tested last week and I really think things are starting to come together."-Juan Pablo Montoya
"Texas is my favorite track we go to by far. The place is really, really fast. Overall, it is a cool racetrack and a place where I have had some good runs. Hopefully, we can turn things around this weekend and get back into the top-35 with a solid finish." -David Reutimann
Nick Schwartz is a Contributor for Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via email at nick.schwartz@frontstretch.com.
~~~~~~~~~~
TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:
NASCAR Hall of Fame at a Critical Crossroads
by Amy Henderson
Whaddahyado When You're Losing the Faith? On NASCAR Overload
by Jeff Meyer
Landon Cassill Driver Diary: Getting a New Team Going and Easter Break
by Landon Cassill
Four Burning Questions: Night Racing, Hall of Fame, and Rockingham
by Summer Dreyer
Keeping Perspective on the Return to Rockingham
by Bryan Davis Keith
From Thursday:
Preaching to Non-Believers
by Mark Howell
Potts' Shots: How Bill France Doubled Down on Daytona
by John Potts
Dollars And Sense: Will NASCAR Ratings Rise Following An Off Weekend?
by Jesse Medford
What's Vexing Vito: NASCAR Hall of Fame Nominations Need Some Tweaking
by Vito Pugliese
Truckin' Thursdays: Inside NASCAR's Return to The Rock
by Beth Lunkenheimer
~~~~~~~~~~
This Weekend on the Frontstretch:
IZOD IndyCar Preview: Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach by Danny Peters
Danny has everything you need to know going into Sunday afternoon's IndyCar race from Long Beach, California.
Nationwide Series Breakdown: O'Reilly Auto Parts 300 by Bryan Davis Keith
Bryan has all of the post race analysis you need after Friday night's Nationwide Series race from Texas
~~~~~~~~~~
FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Q: Building upon the questions from the last two days, the Texas 500 in 1998 proved to be a very painful race for Mike Skinner. What happened that ultimately put him out of action for three weeks?
Check back Monday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
Thursday's Answer:
Q: Speaking of the 1998 Texas 500, there were issues during First Round Qualifying for the race. What happened?
A: During the late afternoon qualifying session, water seeped up through the surface in Turns 1 and 2 roughly where a bump exists today because of the tunnel. This water caused a couple of wrecks during the session.
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:
-- Samsung Mobile 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: Samsung Mobile 500 by Matt McLaughlin
Matt will be here with his overall thoughts about the action from Saturday night's action from Texas.
Monday Morning Teardown by Ron Lemasters
Ron returns for a website look at one of the big stories from Saturday's race from Texas.
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 Texas.
Big Six: Samsung Mobile 500 by Amy Henderson
Looking for all you need to know leaving Saturday's event at Texas? Amy has your who, what, when, where, why and how from a weekend of racing.
Pace Laps: Texas / Rockingham 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 Texas and Rockingham.
Tracking the Trucks: Good Sam Roadside Assistance 200 presented by Cheerwine by Nick Schwartz
Nick has all of the post race analysis you need following Sunday afternoon's Camping World Truck Series race at Rockingham Speedway.
IZOD IndyCar Breakdown: Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach by Phil Allaway
Phil has all of the post race analysis you need following Sunday afternoon's IZOD IndyCar Series race from Long Beach, California.
-----------------------------
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!
April 13th, 2012
Volume VI, Edition LXII
~~~~~~~~~~
Editor's Note: Due to an internet connectivity issue, our website did not post columns correctly until shortly after 10:00 this morning. As a result, early morning readers of the Newsletter may not have been able to access the content they were looking for. For your convenience, we've relisted those columns in today's Newsletter. We apologize for the technical issues and thank you for being such a dedicated reader of our site.
~~~~~~~~~~
Top News
by Jeff Wolfe
Hamlin to Lend a Helping Hand to March of Dimes
Denny Hamlin won't just be racing for a Sprint Cup win at Texas this weekend, he'll be racing for a cause. Hamlin's No. 11 FedEx Office Toyota will have a special March of Dimes paint scheme. FedEx is continuing its tradition of helping March of Dimes by donating a paint scheme to the charity for the fifth straight Hamlin will also have a special guest at the track in 6-year-old Kieran Wittstruck, the March of Dimes National Ambassador who was born two months premature but is now a healthy boy with help from the March of Dimes.
"I'm so proud to help support the effort of the March of Dimes again this weekend," said Hamlin, a two-time Texas race winner. "This is the fifth time we have had their logo on the hood of our race car, and each year it gives our FedEx team the extra boost it needs to try to get to victory lane."
Kieran was born at 31 weeks, weighing just three pounds, one ounce. Thanks to March of Dimes-funded treatments and the medical care Kieran received, he's thriving today and traveling the country with his parents.
"Kieran, his family and FedEx are long-time supporters of our mission to give all babies a healthy start in life," said Dr. Jennifer L. Howse, President of the March of Dimes. "We are grateful to FedEx for their help to fund our research and programs that give children like Kieran a chance for a healthy, productive life."
Hamlin has one victory this season and is seventh in the point standings, 16 markers behind leader Greg Biffle, going into Saturday night's race at Texas.
Stewart and Mobil 1 to "Go Green" at Texas
Tony Stewart's Mobil 1 car will promote going green with a special paint scheme this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway. The No. 14 Chevrolet will have a green stripe across its hood and rear bumper to promote the Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy Saturday night.
According to Mobil 1, the Advanced Fuel Economy brand is a fully synthetic oil that puts less stress on an engine which helps produce better gas mileage. And as an added bonus, the oil saves about eight cents per gallon when fuel is at $4 per gallon price.
Stewart is currently third in the point standings, 12 markers behind leader Greg Biffle. He also has two victories this year and won the fall race at Texas last year as well as in 2006.
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
Tony Stewart to be honored at the White House
As reigning champion of the Sprint Cup Series, Tony Stewart will be honored by President Barack Obama at the White House. The driver / owner of the No. 14 Chevrolet is scheduled to travel to the White House on Tuesday, April 17th, and will be joined by each participant in the 2011 Chase for the Sprint Cup, and NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France. Fans can watch the ceremony live online around 4:20 PM EDT here.
Foreigner raises almost $30,000 for Speedway Children's Charities
Iconic rock band Foreigner auctioned off four items to benefit the Texas branch of Speedway Children's Charities ahead of the Samsung Mobile 500 in Fort Worth, Texas, and raised nearly $30,000 dollars. The highest bid was for a serenade by Foreigner lead singer Kelly Hansen, who sang the band's hit single "Waiting for a Girl Like You" to the winner of the auction. Foreigner will also perform during a pre-race concert Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway Saturday night.
Donnie Allison to Serve as Honorary Starter at Rockingham
Donnie Allison has long been a name intertwined in NASCAR's illustrious history, and that will only continue this weekend at Rockingham Speedway. Allison, one of only four drivers to win on both configurations of the one-mile oval (the track was rebuilt in 1969 just four years after it opened) will wave the green flag over Sunday's Good Sam Roadside Assistance 200 presented by cheerwine. In 24 starts at Rockingham, Allison boasts two victories and and 12 top-10 finishes.
~~~~~~~~~~
FRONTSTRETCH IS EXPANDING... INTO OPEN-WHEEL!
Have an itch for the IndyCars? Looking for a part-time writing gig? Well, then Frontstretch may be the place for you. We're looking for one fill-in IndyCar writer to handle about ten preview and recap columns over the course of the 2012 season. Deadlines will be on Thursday and Sunday nights; if interested, going through the Frontstretch audition process (with an emphasis on open-wheel instead of NASCAR) is required. Questions? Concerns? Or simply ready to send your pieces in? Contact us at frontstretcheditors@googlegroups.com.
~~~~~~~~~~
Keepin' It Short: Crowing an Unlikely Winner
by Mike Neff
Three weeks after it was scheduled to run, the Carolina Crown finally went off at Lancaster Speedway last Saturday night. A field of 23 cars took the green chasing the $20,000 top prize. The stands were packed with over 2,500 fans and the track was lightning fast after several days of rain leading up to the event. Perhaps it was the full moon or just the prize money, but the drivers attacked the track like every circuit was the last of a 10 lap dash for cash. In the end it was Scott Autry, a long time short track racer from Fayetteville, NC who took the checkers and the big check.
Autry was the 2002 Carolina Clash Series champion, a touring series for Super Late Model dirt cars that runs throughout the Carolinas and Virginia. Some time after that championship, Autry learned he had gout arthritis. That ailment resulted in his racing schedule being reduced and Autry personally reevaluating his health and eating habits. He now has the arthritis under control and feels that he's in some of the best health that he's been in for years. With his body treating him much better, he's reinvigorated about his racing career and is planning to do quite a bit of racing this year.
The Crown didn't start out like it was going to be a successful event for Autry. In fact, during qualifying he hit the front straight wall, which resulted in his starting position being in the last row of the grid. The team planned to start the race and park until it was rained out on the initial night. The three week break gave his crew a chance to fix the car and he headed into this weekend's event thinking it might be a better car than he tried to qualify. Autry still felt like he didn't have a chance to win due to his starting position and the speed of the track, but his car owner suggested he go ahead and let the race play out.
The race started out like a house afire with the cars at the front of the field beating and banging and driving like every lap was the last. The result was cars spinning and cutting tires, cars being damaged too much to continue, one car actually going over the retaining wall, and Autry simply biding his time and slowly working his way toward the front. By the time the race got to the 50 lap mark, just two thirds of the way through the event, Autry was knocking on the top 5 and several of the top contenders had already dropped out of the event. When Chris Ferguson had an engine problem and Jared Landers had a rear tire go down with 12 laps to go in the race, Autry found himself in the top spot with Landers, Dennis Franklin and Donald Bradsher as the only drivers left on the lead lap.
After the mandatory caution with 10 laps to go, Autry realized that he had a real chance to win the event. The race went back to green and it took Landers a few laps to figure out how to make his new rear tires work with his worn out front tires. He started working over Franklin and worked past him shortly after the restart. As Landers set his sights on Autry, Bradsher passed Franklin and the Gaffney, SC driver pulled his car into the pits a few laps later as it ran out of gas. Bradsher was a distant third so it was down to Landers and Autry for the win. With four laps to go, Autry tried to diamond off turns 1 and 2 while Landers made a move to his inside. The two cars made contact coming out of turn two and Landers gave Autry a second to regain control. As the leaders raced into turn three Landers made an amazing drive into the corner to take the lead from Autry, but the momentum took him very high in the corner. Autry pointed his nose to the bottom of the track and got his nose back in front of the Clint Bowyer Racing driver and beat him to turn one. At that point, Landers' engine stumbled as he started to run low on fuel as well.
From there on it was all a matter of whether Autry had the gas to make it to the end. Landers was able to hold off Bradsher but couldn't push his car and risk running out of go juice, so he settled for second. Autry crossed the finish line and scored one of the most improbable wins in the history of dirt track racing. Autry was impressed by the move that Landers was able to pull off.
"He drove it in there about four car lengths further than anyone ever should," said Autry. "I expected him to go over the wall but when I saw him get it turned I knew I had to take it to the bottom and try and beat him to turn one."
There are Cinderella stories in every kind of sport, and motor racing is no exception. Regan Smith snagged the win at Darlington last season. David Gilliland shocked the Nationwide world by taking the victory at Kentucky in an underfunded ride. Scott Autry beating the likes of Jonathan Davenport, Landers and Steve Francis is easily on par with those wins. If the opportunity presents itself, head to your local short track when you get a chance. You just might get to see something happen that you'll never believe.
This Weekend's Racing Calendar
Fri : Apr 13th – Batesville Motor Speedway ; Locust Grove : AR – Comp Cams Super Late Models
Fri : Apr 13th – Ocean Speedway ; Watsonville : CA – Taco Bravo Ocean Sprints
Fri : Apr 13th – Five Flags Speedway ; Pensacola : FL – Must See Racing Xtreme Sprints
Fri : Apr 13th – Orlando Speedworld ; Orlando : FL – Brighthouse Challenge Super Late Models
Fri : Apr 13th – Tri-City Speedway ; Pontoon Beach : IL – MARS Dirtcar Series Late Models
Fri : Apr 13th – Davenport Speedway ; Davenport : IA – Cornbelt Clash Late Models
Fri : Apr 13th – Heartland Park ; Topeka : KS – Midwest Late Model Racing Association
Fri : Apr 13th – Paducha International Raceway ; Paducah : KY – World of Outlaw Sprint Cars
Fri : Apr 13th – Chateau Raceway ; Lansing : MN – USRA Modifieds
Fri : Apr 13th – Chateau Raceway ; Lansing : MN – IMCA Stock Cars
Fri : Apr 13th – Chateau Raceway ; Lansing : MN – WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds
Fri : Apr 13th – Chateau Raceway ; Lansing : MN – WISSOTA Street Stocks
Fri : Apr 13th – Malden Speedway ; Malden : MO – Late Models
Fri : Apr 13th – Malden Speedway ; Malden : MO – Modifieds
Fri : Apr 13th – Malden Speedway ; Malden : MO – Street Stocks
Fri : Apr 13th – Magnolia Motor Speedway ; Columbus : MS – Super Late Models
Fri : Apr 13th – Magnolia Motor Speedway ; Columbus : MS – NeSmith Late Models
Fri : Apr 13th – Magnolia Motor Speedway ; Columbus : MS – Street Stocks
Fri : Apr 13th – Ace Speedway ; Altamahaw : NC – Late Models
Fri : Apr 13th – Ace Speedway ; Altamahaw : NC – Modifieds x2
Fri : Apr 13th – Carolina Speedway ; Gastonia : NC – USCS 600 Sprint Cars
Fri : Apr 13th – Carolina Speedway ; Gastonia : NC – USCS Outlaw Thunder Sprint Cars
Fri : Apr 13th – Jackson County Speedway ; Jackson : OH – Steel Block Late Models
Fri : Apr 13th – Jackson County Speedway ; Jackson : OH – Modifieds
Fri : Apr 13th – Jackson County Speedway ; Jackson : OH – Street Stocks
Fri : Apr 13th – Trail-Ways Speedway ; Hanover : PA – Sidewinder Sprints
Fri : Apr 13th – Golden Triangle Raceway Park ; Beaumont : TX – Lucas Oil ASCS Sprints
Fri : Apr 13th – Mountain Creek Speedway ; Grand Prairie : TX – IMCA Modifieds
Fri ; Apr 13th – Mountain Creek Speedway ; Grand Prairie : TX – IMCA Sport Modifieds
Fri : Apr 13th – Mountain Creek Speedway ; Grand Prairie : TX – IMCA Stock
Fri : Apr 13th – Mountain Creek Speedway ; Grand Prairie : TX – Street Stock
Fri : Apr 13th – Virginia Motor Speedway ; Saluda : VA – Commonwealth 100 Lucas Oil Late Models
Sat : Apr 14th – Mobile International Speedway ; Irvington : AL – Must See Xtreme Sprint Cars
Sat : Apr 14th – Mobile International Speedway ; Irvington : AL – Modifieds
Sat : Apr 14th – South Alabama Speedway ; Kinston : AL – Viper Pro Late Models
Sat : Apr 14th – Havasu 95 Speedway ; Lake Havasu City : AZ – NASCAR K&N Pro West Series
Sat : Apr 14th – Diamond Park Speedway ; Nashville : AR – Comp Cams Super Late Models
Sat : Apr 14th – Bakersfield Speedway ; Oildale : CA – California Lightning Sprints
Sat : Apr 14th – Madera Speedway ; Madera : CA – Late Models
Sat : Apr 14th – Madera Speedway ; Madera : CA – Sport Modifieds
Sat : Apr 14th – Madera Speedway ; Madera : CA – Hobby Stocks
Sat : Apr 14th – Thunderbowl Raceway ; Tulare : CA – USAC 360 Sprints
Sat : Apr 14th – Desoto Speedway ; Bradenton : FL – TBARA Winged Sprints
Sat : Apr 14th – Desoto Speedway ; Bradenton : FL – Sportsman
Sat : Apr 14th – North Florida Speedway ; Lake City : FL – Florida Mini-Sprint Association
Sat : Apr 14th – New Smyrna Speedway ; New Smyrna Beach : FL – 5th Annual Billie Harvey Memorial Super Late Models
Sat : Apr 14th – New Smyrna Speedway ; New Smyrna Beach : FL – Modifieds
Sat : Apr 14th – New Smyrna Speedway ; New Smyrna Beach : FL – Sportsman
Sat : Apr 14th – Punta Gorda Speedway ; Punta Gorda : FL – Open Wheel Modified
Sat : Apr 14th – Gresham Motorsports Park ; Jefferson : GA – Outlaws
Sat : Apr 14th – Gresham Motorsports Park ; Jefferson : GA – Pro Late Models
Sat : Apr 14th – Gresham Motorsports Park ; Jefferson : GA – Trucks
Sat : Apr 14th – New Senoia Raceway ; Senoia : GA – Season Points Opener Late Models
Sat : Apr 14th – Waycross Motor Speedway ; Waycross : GA – Late Models
Sat : Apr 14th – Peoria Speedway ; Peoria : IL – Cornbelt Clash Late Models
Sat : Apr 14th – Peoria Speedway ; Peoria : IL – 5th Annual Don Bohlander Tribute Late Models
Sat : Apr 14th – Peoria Speedway ; Peoria : IL – Modifieds
Sat : Apr 14th – Peoria Speedway ; Peoria : IL – Limited Late Models
Sat : Apr 14th – Anderson Speedway ; Anderson : IN – CRA Super Series
Sat : Apr 14th – Lawrenceburg Speedway ; Lawrenceburg : IN – AMSOIL USAC National Sprint Cars
Sat : Apr 14th – Speedrome ; Indianapolis : IN – Late Models
Sat : Apr 14th – Speedrome ; Indianapolis : IN – Stock
Sat : Apr 14th – Speedrome ; Indianapolis : IN – Spring Fling Roadrunners
Sat : Apr 14th – Speedrome ; Indianapolis : IN – Spring Fling Hornets
Sat : Apr 14th – Speedrome ; Indianapolis : IN – Spring Fling Legends
Sat : Apr 14th – Twin Cities Raceway Park ; North Vernon : IN – Midwest Mini-Sprint Association
Sat : Apr 14th – Hamilton County Speedway ; Webster City : IA – Deery Brothers Summer Series IMCA Late Models
Sat : Apr 14th – Corbin Speedway ; Corbin : KY – Late Models
Sat : Apr 14th – Corbin Speedway ; Corbin : KY – Sportsman
Sat : Apr 14th – Corbin Speedway ; Corbin : KY – Pure Street
Sat : Apr 14th – Corbin Speedway ; Corbin : KY – Mini Stock
Sat : Apr 14th – Corbin Speedway ; Corbin : KY – Outlaw Mini Cup
Sat : Apr 14th – Corbin Speedway ; Corbin : KY – Baby Grand
Sat : Apr 14th – Corbin Speedway ; Corbin : KY – Pro Challenge
Sat : Apr 14th – Hagerstown Speedway ; Hagerstown : MD – Late Model Sportsman
Sat : Apr 14th – Hagerstown Speedway ; Hagerstown : MD – Pure Stocks
Sat : Apr 14th – Berlin Raceway ; Marne : MI – Ice Breaker 100 Outlaw Late Models
Sat : Apr 14th – Deer Creek Speedway ; Spring Valley : MN – Wissota Late Models
Sat : Apr 14th – Deer Creek Speedway ; Spring Valley : MN – Wissota Midwest Modifieds
Sat : Apr 14th – Deer Creek Speedway ; Spring Valley : MN – Wissota Street Stocks
Sat : Apr 14th – Deer Creek Speedway ; Spring Valley : MN – Wissota Super Stocks
Sat : Apr 14th – Deer Creek Speedway ; Spring Valley : MN – USRA Modifieds
Sat : Apr 14th – Magnolia Motor Speedway ; Columbus : MS – Super Late Models
Sat : Apr 14th – Magnolia Motor Speedway ; Columbus : MS – NeSmith Late Models
Sat : Apr 14th – Magnolia Motor Speedway ; Columbus : MS – Street Stocks
Sat : Apr 14th – I-55 Raceway ; Peavely : MO – World of Outlaws Sprint Cars
Sat : Apr 14th – Lucas Oil Speedway ; Wheatland : MO – Spring Thunder MLRA Dirt Late Models
Sat : Apr 14th – Lucas Oil Speedway ; Wheatland : MO – A-Modifieds
Sat : Apr 14th – Lucas Oil Speedway ; Wheatland : MO – Factory Stocks
Sat : Apr 14th – New Jersey Motorsports Park ; Millville : NJ – 24 Hours of Lemons
Sat : Apr 14th – Caraway Speedway ; Asheboro : NC – Late Models Trucks
Sat : Apr 14th – Caraway Speedway ; Asheboro : NC – Street Stocks
Sat : Apr 14th – Concord Motorsports Park ; Concord : NC – Late Models Twin 50s
Sat : Apr 14th – Hickory Motor Speedway ; Newton : NC – Late Models
Sat : Apr 14th – Hickory Motor Speedway ; Newton : NC – Limited Late Models
Sat : Apr 14th – Hickory Motor Speedway ; Newton : NC – Street Stock
Sat : Apr 14th – Rockingham Speedway ; Rockingham : NC – UARA Stars Late Models
Sat : Apr 14th – Columbus Motor Speedway ; Columbus : OH – Buckeye Super Sprints
Sat : Apr 14th – Big Diamond Speedway ; Minersville : PA – Sprint Cars
Sat : Apr 14th – Big Diamond Speedway ; Minersville : PA – ARDC Midgets
Sat : Apr 14th – Big Diamond Speedway ; Minersville : PA – Keystone Legend Car Tour
Sat : Apr 14th – Big Diamond Speedway ; Minersville : PA – Super Sportsman
Sat : Apr 14th – Lincoln Speedway ; Abbottstown : PA – 410 Sprints
Sat : Apr 14th – Lincoln Speedway ; Abbottstown : PA – 358 Sprints
Sat : Apr 14th – Lincoln Speedway ; Abbottstown : PA – 358 Late Models
Sat : Apr 14th – Mountain Speedway ; St. John's : PA – Sport Modifieds – Pole Day
Sat : Apr 14th – Mountain Speedway ; St. John's : PA – Late Models – Pole Day
Sat : Apr 14th – Mountain Speedway ; St. John's : PA – Factory Stocks – Pole Day
Sat : Apr 14th – Newport Speedway ; Newport : TN – ISCARS Dash Series
Sat : Apr 14th – Smoky Mountain Speedway ; Maryville : TN – Southern All Star Dirt Super Late Models
Sat : Apr 14th – Battleground Speedway ; Highlands : TX – Lucas Oil ASCS Sprints
Sat : Apr 14th – Motor Mile Speedway ; Radford : VA – Late Models
Sat : Apr 14th – Motor Mile Speedway ; Radford : VA – Limited Sportsman
Sat : Apr 14th – Motor Mile Speedway ; Radford : VA – Street Stock
Sat : Apr 14th – South Boston Speedway ; South Boston : VA – NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour
Sat : Apr 14th – Virginia Motor Speedway ; Saluda : VA – Commonwealth 100 Lucas Oil Late Models
Sat : Apr 14th – Cedar Lake Speedway ; New Richmond : WI – Late Models
Sat : Apr 14th – Cedar Lake Speedway ; New Richmond : WI – Modifieds
Sat : Apr 14th – Cedar Lake Speedway ; New Richmond : WI – Midwest Modifieds
Sun : Apr 15th – Thompson International Speedway ; Thompson : CT – NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour
Sun : Apr 15th – Rockford Speedway ; Rockford : IL – Big 8 Series Late Models
Sun : Apr 15th – Lee USA Speedway ; Lee : NH – Governor's Cup 150 ACT Late Models
Sun : Apr 15th – New Jersey Motorsports Park ; Millville : NJ – 24 Hours of Lemons
Sun : Apr 15th – Wall Speedway ; Wall : NJ – North East Enduro Tour
Sun : Apr 15th – Big Diamond Speedway ; Minersville : PA – 358 Modifieds
Sun : Apr 15th – Big Diamond Speedway ; Minersville : PA – Sportsman
Sun : Apr 15th – Mountain Speedway ; St. John's : PA – Sport Modifieds
Sun : Apr 15th – Mountain Speedway ; St. John's : PA – Late Models
Sun : Apr 15th – Mountain Speedway ; St. John's : PA – Factory Stocks
Wed : Apr 18th – Millbridge Speedway ; Salisbury : NC – Mini Outlaws – Millbridge Mutt Night to benefit the Humane Society of Iredell County
Mike Neff is a Senior Writer for Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via email at mike.neff@frontstretch.com.
~~~~~~~~~~
Editor's Note: Frontstretch has a brand new, redesigned Facebook page. Click Here to "Like" Us and get a direct connect to all your Frontstretch favorites along with polls, interaction with fans and so much more.
~~~~~~~~~~
Fantasy Friday: Samsung Mobile 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.
The NASCAR Sprint Cup series moves into Texas for its first scheduled night race of the season (Daytona eventually became a night race) at 7:30 Saturday on FOX. There's no doubt that racing at night affects the surface and how the cars handle. Texas is a fast track, so the teams able to make adjustments depending on the temperature of track will likely find success.
There's no doubt that the Roushkateers have found their share of success at Texas. Roush cars have won eight times in the Lone Star State, including the night race there last spring. So there will likely be a theme in the picks this week, but there are also a few who could interrupt the Roush/Ford party, too.
Top 5 Picks
Matt Kenseth - Yes, he won the last night race here last year and has been generally strong this spring. He also won under the lights on the fast track at Daytona, so it's hard not to pick him here where he has an average finish of 8.7.
Greg Biffle - He's hanging on to the points lead, six ahead of Dale Earnhardt, Jr, but he needs a strong showing at Texas, something that's quite possible. He has one win and six top 5s at the 1.5-mile quad-oval, but his average finish is 17.2, so it's kind of an all or nothing deal for him as he also has four DNFs.
Tony Stewart - He won the fall race at Texas and has two wins already this season. He, along with a few others, are just 12 points out of the series points lead. It's difficult not to pick him these days.
Denny Hamlin - He's got two wins at Texas and five top 5s in his 13 starts there. And with Darian Grubb as he crew chief, there's no doubt will be able to make key in-race adjustments that can ultimately lead to a solid finish, if not a trip to victory lane.
Dale Earnhardt, Jr. - He's got to get a win sometime and Texas has been good to him. He has one win in 19 starts and has been competitive this season with four top 10s in six starts, including back-to-back third-place finishes at Fontana and Martinsville. He actually may be ready to break through and end that 135-race winless streak.
Shoulda, woulda, coulda - Carl Edwards. He's had plenty of success at Texas, with three wins and a runner-up finish to Stewart in the fall race last year. And while this season has not been a disaster (see Kasey Kahne as exhibit A for that), he still has not led a lap, which is a bit alarming for someone who's accustomed to running up front. So that's why I couldn't quite pull the trigger on Edwards wearing the six-shooters in victory lane this week.
ACCOUNTABILITY GROUP
Here's a review of the picks from two weeks ago at Martinsville and how they finished:
Tony Stewart - 7th. Never was a serious contender to win and late wreck by others helped his finish.
Denny Hamlin - 6th. He was in the mix for a while, but didn't have as fast of car as Jimmie Johnson or Jeff Gordon.
Jimmie Johnson - 12th. He very well could have won the race as he was battling Gordon in the final laps before the big wreck took him out of the picture. Not as disastrous of a finish as it could have been for him.
Kevin Harvick - 19th. He was somewhat strong early, leading 21 laps, but clearly didn't make the adjustments to stay with the frontrunners.
Brian Vickers - 18th. He had looked so good on the concrete at Bristol, finishing fifth, but it didn't translate into a contending kind of day on the mixed surface at Martinsville.
Season Stats
30 Picks
1 win
8 top 5s
9 top 10s
Grade for this week: B-. Had it not been for the late yellow, Johnson would have won or finished second. Harvick was the big disappointment here.
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: Samsung Mobile 500
by Nick Schwartz
After an extended break and time for drivers to rest and rejuvenate, the Sprint Cup Series returns this week, with NASCAR descending on Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas. The Samsung Mobile 500 is the first of two races at Texas this year, and is the seventh race of the 2012 season. It will be broadcast live Saturday, April 15th on FOX at 7:00 PM EDT and PRN Radio at 6:30 PM EDT.
Records and Facts
Matt Kenseth is the defending race winner of the Samsung Mobile 500. In April of 2011, Kenseth broke a winless streak of more than two years when he cruised to his second career victory in Texas, taking the checkered flag 8.3 seconds ahead of second-place Clint Bowyer. Kenseth is off to a strong start to the Sprint Cup season, with a win at Daytona and two other top 5s under his belt already. The driver of the No. 17 Ford currently sits in fourth in the point standings, just 12 points behind leader and teammate Greg Biffle.
Carl Edwards holds the record for most wins at Texas Motor Speedway with three. The first of his trio came in the Fall of 2005 and he swept Texas in 2008. He nearly repeated that feat last season, with finishes of third in the spring and second last fall. Edwards' Roush-Fenway Racing teammate, Matt Kenseth, has the best average finish of all drivers at 8.7. Unsurprisingly, Kenseth also leads all drivers with 10 top-5 finishes and 13 top 10s.
Track Facts
Track/Race Length: 1.5-mile quad oval, 334 laps (501 miles)
Pit Road Speed: 45 mph
Degree of Banking: 24 degrees
Frontstretch: 2250 ft., 5 degrees of banking
Backstretch: 1330 ft., 5 degrees of banking
Grandstand Seating: 122,377
Pre-race Schedule
Happy Hour: Thursday, April 13, 3:00 – 4:30 PM EST on SPEED
Qualifying: Friday, April 13, 6:30 PM EST on SPEED
VIPs
Grand Marshal / Command: Travis Pastrana
Race Day Forecast
Saturday: Partly Cloudy, Windy; Chance of Precipitation 20%
High: 81
Low: 69
They Said It
"You have to be comfortable or you're not going to go fast. The more comfortable I am, the faster we go. This track, the grooves have moved around, especially in the last couple of years. We've seen the track get wider and it's made it to where you can move around on the racetrack and where you can run the top side or the bottom side. It's nice from a driver's perspective to be able to have that flexibility behind the steering wheel, knowing that if your car's not driving exactly the way you want it to, you can move around the racetrack and find a spot the car likes better." -Tony Stewart
"Well, Texas hasn't been one of our best tracks but it's actually a track I really enjoy going to. It's bumpy and you slide a lot but it's good racing. Especially in turns three and four, you can make up a lot of ground there and run high. I've always ran better at the tracks where you can get up into the high groove. We're hoping for a good day. The Target team tested last week and I really think things are starting to come together."-Juan Pablo Montoya
"Texas is my favorite track we go to by far. The place is really, really fast. Overall, it is a cool racetrack and a place where I have had some good runs. Hopefully, we can turn things around this weekend and get back into the top-35 with a solid finish." -David Reutimann
Nick Schwartz is a Contributor for Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via email at nick.schwartz@frontstretch.com.
~~~~~~~~~~
TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:
NASCAR Hall of Fame at a Critical Crossroads
by Amy Henderson
Whaddahyado When You're Losing the Faith? On NASCAR Overload
by Jeff Meyer
Landon Cassill Driver Diary: Getting a New Team Going and Easter Break
by Landon Cassill
Four Burning Questions: Night Racing, Hall of Fame, and Rockingham
by Summer Dreyer
Keeping Perspective on the Return to Rockingham
by Bryan Davis Keith
From Thursday:
Preaching to Non-Believers
by Mark Howell
Potts' Shots: How Bill France Doubled Down on Daytona
by John Potts
Dollars And Sense: Will NASCAR Ratings Rise Following An Off Weekend?
by Jesse Medford
What's Vexing Vito: NASCAR Hall of Fame Nominations Need Some Tweaking
by Vito Pugliese
Truckin' Thursdays: Inside NASCAR's Return to The Rock
by Beth Lunkenheimer
~~~~~~~~~~
This Weekend on the Frontstretch:
IZOD IndyCar Preview: Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach by Danny Peters
Danny has everything you need to know going into Sunday afternoon's IndyCar race from Long Beach, California.
Nationwide Series Breakdown: O'Reilly Auto Parts 300 by Bryan Davis Keith
Bryan has all of the post race analysis you need after Friday night's Nationwide Series race from Texas
~~~~~~~~~~
FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Q: Building upon the questions from the last two days, the Texas 500 in 1998 proved to be a very painful race for Mike Skinner. What happened that ultimately put him out of action for three weeks?
Check back Monday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
Thursday's Answer:
Q: Speaking of the 1998 Texas 500, there were issues during First Round Qualifying for the race. What happened?
A: During the late afternoon qualifying session, water seeped up through the surface in Turns 1 and 2 roughly where a bump exists today because of the tunnel. This water caused a couple of wrecks during the session.
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:
-- Samsung Mobile 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: Samsung Mobile 500 by Matt McLaughlin
Matt will be here with his overall thoughts about the action from Saturday night's action from Texas.
Monday Morning Teardown by Ron Lemasters
Ron returns for a website look at one of the big stories from Saturday's race from Texas.
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 Texas.
Big Six: Samsung Mobile 500 by Amy Henderson
Looking for all you need to know leaving Saturday's event at Texas? Amy has your who, what, when, where, why and how from a weekend of racing.
Pace Laps: Texas / Rockingham 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 Texas and Rockingham.
Tracking the Trucks: Good Sam Roadside Assistance 200 presented by Cheerwine by Nick Schwartz
Nick has all of the post race analysis you need following Sunday afternoon's Camping World Truck Series race at Rockingham Speedway.
IZOD IndyCar Breakdown: Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach by Phil Allaway
Phil has all of the post race analysis you need following Sunday afternoon's IZOD IndyCar Series race from Long Beach, California.
-----------------------------
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