THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
April 25th, 2012
Volume VI, Edition LXV
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
April 25th, 2012
Volume VI, Edition LXV
~~~~~~~~~~
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.
~~~~~~~~~~
Top News
by Brad Morgan
Virginia is for Lovers and Richmond Team Up
When NASCAR returns to Richmond International Raceway (RIR) this weekend, one of Virginia's most prominent advertising brands will accompany the racing action. Saturday night's Capital City 400 will be presented by Virginia is for Lovers as Richmond celebrates its 60th year of NASCAR competition.
The "Capital City" name was the primary sponsor for Sprint Cup events at RIR from 1962 to 1980, and Virginia is for Lovers is the oldest active state tourism slogan in the country, which will make April 28 a nostalgic evening in Richmond.
"Tourism is an instant revenue generator that creates jobs and tax revenue for Virginia," said Governor Bob McDonnell. "Virginia hosts four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races each year that draw thousands of fans to tracks throughout the state."
With four Sprint Cup races held in the state annually and a healthy relationship with the Virginia Tourism Corporation, NASCAR consistently retains its position as a major contributor to the state's economy by drawing more than 300,000 people to the Richmond and Martinsville areas each year. According to Governor McDonnell, tourism generated $18.9 billion for the state in 2010 and supported 204,000 jobs, while providing more than $1.3 billion in taxes.
"The Commonwealth of Virginia is delighted to be the presenting sponsor of the Capital City 400. NASCAR is not just great fun, but it is also big business having a huge economic impact on the metro Richmond area each year," said Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling. "We love to have folks visit Richmond for our annual NASCAR races and take advantage of the many other tourism opportunities our state has to offer."
Trial Date Set for Rodriguez Case
NASCAR's fear of possible legal trouble stemming from the case of a young driver who was denied the ability to compete in the 2005 and 2006 Drive For Diversity combines was affirmed on Tuesday after a trial date was set for June 4 in Charlotte. Michael Rodriguez, who allegedly was not allowed to participate in NASCAR's diversity program because he was deemed "too Caucasian" despite his Latino heritage, filed the suit against NASCAR and Access Communications (operators of the program from 2004 to 2008) with the U.S. District Court on grounds that he was racially discriminated against when he didn't receive track time.
The Pennsylvania native claims that the former diversity program's officials prevented him from competing in the on-track portion of the program because of his physical features – including his light skin tone and blue eyes.
NASCAR's attorneys argued that Rodriguez's denial from further involvement had nothing to do with his looks, and instead said that he was suffering from headaches and therefore not permitted behind the wheel. According to an article by SportingNews writer Bob Pockrass, those attorneys stated that the aspiring driver's civil rights weren't violated because he wasn't under contract with NASCAR to race and because there were other ways for aspiring drivers to showcase their talents outside of Drive For Diversity. Officials said that skin color was never a determining factor for eligibility in the program and that they relied more on the selection process of the program as a reason for rejection.
The Drive For Diversity is a developmental program that gives minority drivers the chance to showcase their abilities and drive for teams in feeder series such as the Whelen All-American Series, K & N Pro Series East Series, and K & N Pro Series West Series.
VeriFone to Sponsor Almirola at Talladega
The No. 43 car has added another livery to its growing collection after an announcement on Tuesday. VeriFone will join forces with Richard Petty Motorsports to sponsor Aric Almirola for the May 6 Sprint Cup race at Talladega Superspeedway.
"Talladega is a great race to have a new sponsor because all the action has fans' non-stop attention," said Almirola. "Everyone is glued to their seat watching to see what's going to happen next, whether you're sitting in the stands or at home in front of the TV. We hope everyone's eyes will be on the No. 43 VeriFone Ford leading the pack and taking the checkered flag first."
The event will mark VeriFone's first appearance in Sprint Cup. VeriFone, a company based in California that specializes in the production of consumer-facing and self-service payment systems for a variety of industries, will have a chance to showcase itself to a wide racing fan base with a good on-track performance at one of NASCAR's most popular tracks.
"The NASCAR fan base, especially at Talladega, is some of the most passionate of all sports," said, Paul Rasori, senior vice president of marketing at VeriFone. "We feel this is a great opportunity to be a part of the excitement and also educate the fans about our products and services. We're proud to announce this partnership with Aric and the rest of the Richard Petty Motorsports team."
Almirola, who joined RPM when AJ Allmendinger moved to Penske Racing's No. 22 Dodge, has just one top-10 finish in eight starts this season.
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Got NASCAR-related questions or comments?
Send them John Potts' way at john.potts@frontstretch.com; and, if you're lucky, you'll get your name in print when he does his weekly column answering back to you – the fans that keep Frontstretch afloat. Potts' Shots will run on Thursday with a whole new set of Fan Questions and Answers!
~~~~~~~~~~
Today's Featured Commentary
For Love And Money
Full Throttle
by Mike Neff
Adam Petty was killed in a practice accident at New Hampshire Speedway on May 12, 2000 at the age of nineteen. Five months after that fateful day,his parents, Kyle and Pattie Petty partnered with Paul Newman and his Hole in the Wall Gang Camp organization to begin the Victory Junction Gang Camp in Randleman, North Carolina. The camp was the culmination of Adam's dream to help kids less fortunate than he had been, and it specifically focuses on children with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses. The biggest driving force behind the camp throughout its 12 years of existence has been Pattie Petty, Adam's mother. Sadly, she will not be the driving force any longer as she has been removed from her position as Chairman and CEO. She will retain Chairwoman Emeritus status and act as a goodwill ambassador for Victory Junction. The details of her removal are not totally clear, as there are still some negotiations involved, but it would appear as though the chase for the almighty dollar has overridden the innocent vision of the camp.
From published reports, it appears that Mrs. Petty organized a Valentine's Day fundraiser for the still-being-planned Victory Junction Gang Camp Midwest. The headline act of the event was Wynonna Judd who had agreed to perform for a reduced rate of $100,000. Apparently a donor, who had agreed to cover half of Ms. Judd's fee, backed out at the last minute and the charity was forced to cover the $50,000 shortfall. Ms. Petty was reportedly relieved of her duties less than a week after the event. She says she was not allowed to explain the events that led to the shortfall, nor given the opportunity to reveal that Ms. Judd had agreed to return $50,000 of her fee and also perform a concert for free in North Carolina to raise more funds.
Mrs. Petty is suffering from Parkinson's disease and is in a difficult position due to her need for health insurance. She recently began receiving a minimal salary from the charity in order to be eligible for health insurance and, as part of her negotiation for leaving her position, asked for lifetime health insurance. The organization is countering with an offer of two years.
The point where this whole sad situation takes a very strange twist is when Kyle Petty and his son, Austin issued statements about the developments. Austin is the Chief Operating Officer of the North Carolina camp and a member of the Board of Directors while Kyle is the Vice Chairman and is still on the board. Austin's statement reads like someone who is toeing the corporate line and has zero feelings for his mother, who has poured her heart and soul into making her late son's dream a reality.
"Victory Junction has extremely high ethical standards and only decisions that benefit the sustainability and longevity of camp are made by our well-respected Board Of Directors," Austin said. "I can confirm my mom accepted a goodwill ambassador position as Chairwoman Emeritus from our Board, but that is all I can confirm at this point, given that this involves ongoing negotiations between an employee and employer."
"While public figures are involved, this situation is no different from a regulatory perspective and personnel matters are private and confidential per the law and human resource policies. Because of this, we will not have any further comment on this or any other personnel issues at this time," he continued. "Seriously ill children are the motivation of Victory Junction and we are as committed as ever to enriching the lives of chronically ill kids at our existing facility in Randleman, NC, as well as pushing forward the successes of a second camp serving the Midwest."
Kyle's statements do not have much more compassion in them than Austin's do.
"It doesn't impact anything, it really doesn't. Basically, the board had decided to ask Pattie to take an emeritus role and just be a spokesperson. I have no concerns with the direction of the camp at all. Period," Kyle said. "We're always going to be involved in the camp. The camp was founded in memory of Adam, and we have worked incredibly hard to build the camp. But the camp is about the kids that come, and it's all about what's best for the kids. It's a bigger story because she's Pattie and the work she put in the camp and founding the camp and stuff."
Neither Kyle nor his father, seven-time Cup champion Richard Petty, are purported to have participated in the board discussions about the role of Mrs. Petty going forward with the camp. It seems very odd that the Pettys, who have always been such a close knit, dedicated family, are now seeming so distant and callous toward Adam's mother. It is true that business is business, but charity should have a little more leeway. It would seem that there has to be more to the story than just the failed fundraiser. Having no knowledge of what other items are playing behind the scenes in this whole disappointing tale, one can only hope that something can be worked out where Pattie Petty plays a more pivotal role in the Victory Junction Gang Camp than merely as a spokesperson. After all, there are far too many beats of her heart intertwined through every fabric of that camp and the organization for her to be so unceremoniously removed.
Mike Neff is a Senior Writer for Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via e-mail at mike.neff@frontstretch.com.
~~~~~~~~~~
COME JOIN THE FRONTSTRETCH FAMILY!
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.
~~~~~~~~~~
Top News
by Brad Morgan
Virginia is for Lovers and Richmond Team Up
When NASCAR returns to Richmond International Raceway (RIR) this weekend, one of Virginia's most prominent advertising brands will accompany the racing action. Saturday night's Capital City 400 will be presented by Virginia is for Lovers as Richmond celebrates its 60th year of NASCAR competition.
The "Capital City" name was the primary sponsor for Sprint Cup events at RIR from 1962 to 1980, and Virginia is for Lovers is the oldest active state tourism slogan in the country, which will make April 28 a nostalgic evening in Richmond.
"Tourism is an instant revenue generator that creates jobs and tax revenue for Virginia," said Governor Bob McDonnell. "Virginia hosts four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races each year that draw thousands of fans to tracks throughout the state."
With four Sprint Cup races held in the state annually and a healthy relationship with the Virginia Tourism Corporation, NASCAR consistently retains its position as a major contributor to the state's economy by drawing more than 300,000 people to the Richmond and Martinsville areas each year. According to Governor McDonnell, tourism generated $18.9 billion for the state in 2010 and supported 204,000 jobs, while providing more than $1.3 billion in taxes.
"The Commonwealth of Virginia is delighted to be the presenting sponsor of the Capital City 400. NASCAR is not just great fun, but it is also big business having a huge economic impact on the metro Richmond area each year," said Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling. "We love to have folks visit Richmond for our annual NASCAR races and take advantage of the many other tourism opportunities our state has to offer."
Trial Date Set for Rodriguez Case
NASCAR's fear of possible legal trouble stemming from the case of a young driver who was denied the ability to compete in the 2005 and 2006 Drive For Diversity combines was affirmed on Tuesday after a trial date was set for June 4 in Charlotte. Michael Rodriguez, who allegedly was not allowed to participate in NASCAR's diversity program because he was deemed "too Caucasian" despite his Latino heritage, filed the suit against NASCAR and Access Communications (operators of the program from 2004 to 2008) with the U.S. District Court on grounds that he was racially discriminated against when he didn't receive track time.
The Pennsylvania native claims that the former diversity program's officials prevented him from competing in the on-track portion of the program because of his physical features – including his light skin tone and blue eyes.
NASCAR's attorneys argued that Rodriguez's denial from further involvement had nothing to do with his looks, and instead said that he was suffering from headaches and therefore not permitted behind the wheel. According to an article by SportingNews writer Bob Pockrass, those attorneys stated that the aspiring driver's civil rights weren't violated because he wasn't under contract with NASCAR to race and because there were other ways for aspiring drivers to showcase their talents outside of Drive For Diversity. Officials said that skin color was never a determining factor for eligibility in the program and that they relied more on the selection process of the program as a reason for rejection.
The Drive For Diversity is a developmental program that gives minority drivers the chance to showcase their abilities and drive for teams in feeder series such as the Whelen All-American Series, K & N Pro Series East Series, and K & N Pro Series West Series.
VeriFone to Sponsor Almirola at Talladega
The No. 43 car has added another livery to its growing collection after an announcement on Tuesday. VeriFone will join forces with Richard Petty Motorsports to sponsor Aric Almirola for the May 6 Sprint Cup race at Talladega Superspeedway.
"Talladega is a great race to have a new sponsor because all the action has fans' non-stop attention," said Almirola. "Everyone is glued to their seat watching to see what's going to happen next, whether you're sitting in the stands or at home in front of the TV. We hope everyone's eyes will be on the No. 43 VeriFone Ford leading the pack and taking the checkered flag first."
The event will mark VeriFone's first appearance in Sprint Cup. VeriFone, a company based in California that specializes in the production of consumer-facing and self-service payment systems for a variety of industries, will have a chance to showcase itself to a wide racing fan base with a good on-track performance at one of NASCAR's most popular tracks.
"The NASCAR fan base, especially at Talladega, is some of the most passionate of all sports," said, Paul Rasori, senior vice president of marketing at VeriFone. "We feel this is a great opportunity to be a part of the excitement and also educate the fans about our products and services. We're proud to announce this partnership with Aric and the rest of the Richard Petty Motorsports team."
Almirola, who joined RPM when AJ Allmendinger moved to Penske Racing's No. 22 Dodge, has just one top-10 finish in eight starts this season.
Have news for Brad and the Frontstretch? Don't hesitate to let us know; email us at phil.allaway@frontstretch.com with a promising lead or tip.
~~~~~~~~~~
Got NASCAR-related questions or comments?
Send them John Potts' way at john.potts@frontstretch.com; and, if you're lucky, you'll get your name in print when he does his weekly column answering back to you – the fans that keep Frontstretch afloat. Potts' Shots will run on Thursday with a whole new set of Fan Questions and Answers!
~~~~~~~~~~
Today's Featured Commentary
For Love And Money
Full Throttle
by Mike Neff
Adam Petty was killed in a practice accident at New Hampshire Speedway on May 12, 2000 at the age of nineteen. Five months after that fateful day,his parents, Kyle and Pattie Petty partnered with Paul Newman and his Hole in the Wall Gang Camp organization to begin the Victory Junction Gang Camp in Randleman, North Carolina. The camp was the culmination of Adam's dream to help kids less fortunate than he had been, and it specifically focuses on children with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses. The biggest driving force behind the camp throughout its 12 years of existence has been Pattie Petty, Adam's mother. Sadly, she will not be the driving force any longer as she has been removed from her position as Chairman and CEO. She will retain Chairwoman Emeritus status and act as a goodwill ambassador for Victory Junction. The details of her removal are not totally clear, as there are still some negotiations involved, but it would appear as though the chase for the almighty dollar has overridden the innocent vision of the camp.
From published reports, it appears that Mrs. Petty organized a Valentine's Day fundraiser for the still-being-planned Victory Junction Gang Camp Midwest. The headline act of the event was Wynonna Judd who had agreed to perform for a reduced rate of $100,000. Apparently a donor, who had agreed to cover half of Ms. Judd's fee, backed out at the last minute and the charity was forced to cover the $50,000 shortfall. Ms. Petty was reportedly relieved of her duties less than a week after the event. She says she was not allowed to explain the events that led to the shortfall, nor given the opportunity to reveal that Ms. Judd had agreed to return $50,000 of her fee and also perform a concert for free in North Carolina to raise more funds.
Mrs. Petty is suffering from Parkinson's disease and is in a difficult position due to her need for health insurance. She recently began receiving a minimal salary from the charity in order to be eligible for health insurance and, as part of her negotiation for leaving her position, asked for lifetime health insurance. The organization is countering with an offer of two years.
The point where this whole sad situation takes a very strange twist is when Kyle Petty and his son, Austin issued statements about the developments. Austin is the Chief Operating Officer of the North Carolina camp and a member of the Board of Directors while Kyle is the Vice Chairman and is still on the board. Austin's statement reads like someone who is toeing the corporate line and has zero feelings for his mother, who has poured her heart and soul into making her late son's dream a reality.
"Victory Junction has extremely high ethical standards and only decisions that benefit the sustainability and longevity of camp are made by our well-respected Board Of Directors," Austin said. "I can confirm my mom accepted a goodwill ambassador position as Chairwoman Emeritus from our Board, but that is all I can confirm at this point, given that this involves ongoing negotiations between an employee and employer."
"While public figures are involved, this situation is no different from a regulatory perspective and personnel matters are private and confidential per the law and human resource policies. Because of this, we will not have any further comment on this or any other personnel issues at this time," he continued. "Seriously ill children are the motivation of Victory Junction and we are as committed as ever to enriching the lives of chronically ill kids at our existing facility in Randleman, NC, as well as pushing forward the successes of a second camp serving the Midwest."
Kyle's statements do not have much more compassion in them than Austin's do.
"It doesn't impact anything, it really doesn't. Basically, the board had decided to ask Pattie to take an emeritus role and just be a spokesperson. I have no concerns with the direction of the camp at all. Period," Kyle said. "We're always going to be involved in the camp. The camp was founded in memory of Adam, and we have worked incredibly hard to build the camp. But the camp is about the kids that come, and it's all about what's best for the kids. It's a bigger story because she's Pattie and the work she put in the camp and founding the camp and stuff."
Neither Kyle nor his father, seven-time Cup champion Richard Petty, are purported to have participated in the board discussions about the role of Mrs. Petty going forward with the camp. It seems very odd that the Pettys, who have always been such a close knit, dedicated family, are now seeming so distant and callous toward Adam's mother. It is true that business is business, but charity should have a little more leeway. It would seem that there has to be more to the story than just the failed fundraiser. Having no knowledge of what other items are playing behind the scenes in this whole disappointing tale, one can only hope that something can be worked out where Pattie Petty plays a more pivotal role in the Victory Junction Gang Camp than merely as a spokesperson. After all, there are far too many beats of her heart intertwined through every fabric of that camp and the organization for her to be so unceremoniously removed.
Mike Neff is a Senior Writer for Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via e-mail at mike.neff@frontstretch.com.
~~~~~~~~~~
COME JOIN THE FRONTSTRETCH FAMILY!
Hey Frontstretch Readers,
We are looking for someone who shares our enthusiasm for NASCAR and has an experienced background in web design. Specifically, we are looking for someone who can help maintain and enhance our website, increase our SEO, and upgrade our publishing platform while producing a limited amount of content throughout the season. This job presents a perfect opportunity for someone with a technical background, a person who wants their work to gain national exposure.
If you are interested, contact frontstretcheditors@googlegroups.com. Please include references to your past work in your e-mail.
~~~~~~~~~~
Tweet 'N' Greet
by Summer Dreyer
Editor's Note: With the NASCAR Twitter community expanding by leaps and bounds, it remains a place for instantaneous news, reactions, and a whole lot of inside jokes. We understand if you don't want to join the Twitter community - but as a fan, it's important to know the news and info you're missing out on! That's why, every week, Summer Dreyer will sort through the thousands of messages and give us a little taste of what's going on each Wednesday.
So, without further ado, here's a look at what those in NASCAR were thinking over the past seven days...
@jim_utter: Not a bad sight line from Hollywood Casino http://twitpic.com/9br46q
@Matt_Crafton: Just landed in Kansas. Ready to get on track again.
@Matt_Crafton: Just walked back in and got a new rental car because the first one was green. Ashley said I'm strange.
@KevinHarvick: Well our plane took a crap so we are hitching a ride with@MartinTruexJr56 and some girl named hairy Sherry!!@SherryPollex
@jpmontoya (Juan Pablo Montoya): made it to Kansas speedway. having dinner with my dad just outside the track.
@keselowski (Brad Keselowski): Got back to the bus and watching a movie. One thing for certain, no-one plays a crazy ex-girlfriend as well as Amanda Peet...
@KyleBusch: So this is the way @Samantha_Busch looks during turbulence. ROFLMAO #terrified http://t.co/iyQ9Bdvo
@DeLanaHarvick: OH MY.....felt a foot roll for the first time and it was freaky!!!!! Wasn't expecting that at all. I'd much rather get a punch or a kick...
@MartinTruexJr56: Well the wind has followed us to kansas. My lord the motorhome is rockin!!!
@RickAllenRacing: It's going to be a little chilly in Kansas this morning. Btw when did morning news start at 4:30 am? Is anyone else up?
@Amanda_Speed: What's going on on 77 towards Charlotte??? Every bridge has people with American flags looking down over 77 South...
@Amanda_Speed: Here's a shot of one of the bridges... http://t.co/85IgnGXq
@Amanda_Speed: Found out... Welcome home Corporal Garrett Carnes!!!!!! http://t.co/t0iwrnte
@ClintBowyer: Good day today, announced 5-hour on the car for remainder races! Car was a little off in the 1st prac but got a lot better in 2nd.
@ClintBowyer: Now on to the Royals game, throwing out the 1st pitch to CC Brian Pattie. What should I throw him?
@johnkingracing: Rough day at the office today, had to roll out the backup. My guys worked their butts of though and got us back goin.@RedHorseRacing
@KevinHamlin: Rental car escapades w/ @31n2Spotter. I shoulda brought my GoPro for this shiz.
@DNewtonESPN: Why so few wrecks in '12?@Keselowski "Aerodynamics are taking over the sport & we can't get close enough to each other to wreck each other.''
@JoeyLogano: We made some good progress today need just a little more. Going to have to start in the rear for the race because of the motor change
@mattkenseth: Yo @JimmieJohnson that car you're driving makes my toilet car from Charlotte look good!
@keselowski: Been summoned to nascar trailer for Random drug test on 4/20. Hard to keep a straight face...
@jeff_gluck: They know how you "roll." RT @keselowski: Been summoned to nascar trailer for Random drug test on 4/20. Hard to keep a straight face...
@JimmieJohnson: After looking at the data, I over drive turn 1 by 150 feet (3 semi trailers basically). Oops... #OverCommitted
@RCR31JeffBurton: I would like to apologize to all of our fans. I know it's hard to watch. We will improve
@JimmieJohnson: Another solid day. #6pack
@KevinHarvick: Made some mistakes today but everyone kept it together for a solid finish! Cars are fast just have to keep pushing forward!
@gbiffle (Greg Biffle): Hard Day at the office, finished 5th not bad but we wanted to run better on the track
@JoeyLogano: Congrats to my team mate @dennyhamlin
@MartinTruexJr56: What a day. Disappointed in 2nd but what an awesome race car we had. Our last set of tires were real loose for no reason at all.
@MartinTruexJr56: Very proud of chad and the whole team. We are going to win some races soon. @napaknowhow @MWRteam thank you so much.
@nascarcasm: Hey @keselowski - u know that tweeting-pics-from-the-track thing u do? I hear you're about to destroy the track in a tank. SNAP AWAY, dude.
@jim_utter: I hope I don't meet any of the folks trotting around with huge pieces of the track in the TSA line at airport
@nateryan: Brad Keselowski going about 30 mph - in a tank - at Kansas. #nascar http://t.co/FMNQOf1Y
@2Spotter (Joey Meier): Next time @keselowski tells Paul,"this thing drives like a tank"....he will NOW know what he's talking about.
@KristineC48 (Kristine Curley): Don't see this very often on pit road http://t.co/gskEl0V4
@keselowski: Just riding in this tank http://t.co/vNiBKvMC
@T_Hosh (Tony Hirschman): Congrats 2 my roomie & good bud @3widemiddle on the big win today! U got me 2-1-and I thought u were high maintenance before! #oneweekbreak
@3WideMiddle (Chris Lambert): Well...THAT. WAS. FUN!! #STP400 #winnerwinner #NASCAR
@dennyhamlin: "@mw55: My golfing bud edged my driver bud" sorry man.. I know it would have meant a lot to ya
@dennyhamlin: Great win for our FedEx team! Hung around until it counted at the end. Good battle with @MartinTruexJr56 the last 40 laps. Proud of everyone
@scottspeed: Today was a great day! @Amanda_Speed and I are so excited!!! But@BostonReid said I couldn't talk about it till tomorrow ;) he he
@SherryPollex: Thank you guys for all the kind messages!!! It means a lot to @MartinTruexJr56 and I. He has the best fans...thanks for sticking by him!
@JeffGordonWeb: Still can't believe what happened today. Hard to believe the way our season is going also. Looking forward to Richmond though.
@ClintBowyer: When it rains it pours!!! Headed down to MWR for comp meeting and just broke down. #FML
@kaseykahne: "@JimmieJohnson: It seems like crashing to most is more important then racing... #sucks" They should have just watched me early in the year
@GZipadelli (Greg Zippadelli): I am packing now headed to Nashville in the am to do some testing with @DanicaPatrick looking forward to it.
@nascarcasm: Anyone else receive a rather impressive reassurance mailer from Kentucky Speedway? http://t.co/zTZu1IdO
@nascarcasm: The Kentucky Speedway mailers were actually mailed in January - it just took the USPS driver forever to get out of there... #kidding
@JimmieJohnson: Influential... Sweet! Thanks for the honor @forbes.
@keselowski: The easiest way to tell where the most talent exists in any form, is to look at the desire of the elite talent to stay where they are at.
@keselowski: Elite qbs don't quit super bowl winning teams & elite championship NASCAR drivers don't go to F1 for a reason They compete against the best
@2Spotter: I have cell phone numbers, address, texting, home phone numbers....Yet the easiest place to get a hold of my boss is on Twitter...
@keselowski: One more point on nascar vs F1 I strongly believe that if Marcos Ambrose got a quality ride in F1, he'd clean house.
@PPistone (Pete Pistone): A bit startling that even a five-time champion is lobbing out ideas on how to make the sport better in his opinion #nascar
@joeylogano: My view for the next couple days http://t.co/h32TlenV
~~~~~~~~~~
Tweet 'N' Greet
by Summer Dreyer
Editor's Note: With the NASCAR Twitter community expanding by leaps and bounds, it remains a place for instantaneous news, reactions, and a whole lot of inside jokes. We understand if you don't want to join the Twitter community - but as a fan, it's important to know the news and info you're missing out on! That's why, every week, Summer Dreyer will sort through the thousands of messages and give us a little taste of what's going on each Wednesday.
So, without further ado, here's a look at what those in NASCAR were thinking over the past seven days...
@jim_utter: Not a bad sight line from Hollywood Casino http://twitpic.com/9br46q
@Matt_Crafton: Just landed in Kansas. Ready to get on track again.
@Matt_Crafton: Just walked back in and got a new rental car because the first one was green. Ashley said I'm strange.
@KevinHarvick: Well our plane took a crap so we are hitching a ride with@MartinTruexJr56 and some girl named hairy Sherry!!@SherryPollex
@jpmontoya (Juan Pablo Montoya): made it to Kansas speedway. having dinner with my dad just outside the track.
@keselowski (Brad Keselowski): Got back to the bus and watching a movie. One thing for certain, no-one plays a crazy ex-girlfriend as well as Amanda Peet...
@KyleBusch: So this is the way @Samantha_Busch looks during turbulence. ROFLMAO #terrified http://t.co/iyQ9Bdvo
@DeLanaHarvick: OH MY.....felt a foot roll for the first time and it was freaky!!!!! Wasn't expecting that at all. I'd much rather get a punch or a kick...
@MartinTruexJr56: Well the wind has followed us to kansas. My lord the motorhome is rockin!!!
@RickAllenRacing: It's going to be a little chilly in Kansas this morning. Btw when did morning news start at 4:30 am? Is anyone else up?
@Amanda_Speed: What's going on on 77 towards Charlotte??? Every bridge has people with American flags looking down over 77 South...
@Amanda_Speed: Here's a shot of one of the bridges... http://t.co/85IgnGXq
@Amanda_Speed: Found out... Welcome home Corporal Garrett Carnes!!!!!! http://t.co/t0iwrnte
@ClintBowyer: Good day today, announced 5-hour on the car for remainder races! Car was a little off in the 1st prac but got a lot better in 2nd.
@ClintBowyer: Now on to the Royals game, throwing out the 1st pitch to CC Brian Pattie. What should I throw him?
@johnkingracing: Rough day at the office today, had to roll out the backup. My guys worked their butts of though and got us back goin.@RedHorseRacing
@KevinHamlin: Rental car escapades w/ @31n2Spotter. I shoulda brought my GoPro for this shiz.
@DNewtonESPN: Why so few wrecks in '12?@Keselowski "Aerodynamics are taking over the sport & we can't get close enough to each other to wreck each other.''
@JoeyLogano: We made some good progress today need just a little more. Going to have to start in the rear for the race because of the motor change
@mattkenseth: Yo @JimmieJohnson that car you're driving makes my toilet car from Charlotte look good!
@keselowski: Been summoned to nascar trailer for Random drug test on 4/20. Hard to keep a straight face...
@jeff_gluck: They know how you "roll." RT @keselowski: Been summoned to nascar trailer for Random drug test on 4/20. Hard to keep a straight face...
@JimmieJohnson: After looking at the data, I over drive turn 1 by 150 feet (3 semi trailers basically). Oops... #OverCommitted
@RCR31JeffBurton: I would like to apologize to all of our fans. I know it's hard to watch. We will improve
@JimmieJohnson: Another solid day. #6pack
@KevinHarvick: Made some mistakes today but everyone kept it together for a solid finish! Cars are fast just have to keep pushing forward!
@gbiffle (Greg Biffle): Hard Day at the office, finished 5th not bad but we wanted to run better on the track
@JoeyLogano: Congrats to my team mate @dennyhamlin
@MartinTruexJr56: What a day. Disappointed in 2nd but what an awesome race car we had. Our last set of tires were real loose for no reason at all.
@MartinTruexJr56: Very proud of chad and the whole team. We are going to win some races soon. @napaknowhow @MWRteam thank you so much.
@nascarcasm: Hey @keselowski - u know that tweeting-pics-from-the-track thing u do? I hear you're about to destroy the track in a tank. SNAP AWAY, dude.
@jim_utter: I hope I don't meet any of the folks trotting around with huge pieces of the track in the TSA line at airport
@nateryan: Brad Keselowski going about 30 mph - in a tank - at Kansas. #nascar http://t.co/FMNQOf1Y
@2Spotter (Joey Meier): Next time @keselowski tells Paul,"this thing drives like a tank"....he will NOW know what he's talking about.
@KristineC48 (Kristine Curley): Don't see this very often on pit road http://t.co/gskEl0V4
@keselowski: Just riding in this tank http://t.co/vNiBKvMC
@T_Hosh (Tony Hirschman): Congrats 2 my roomie & good bud @3widemiddle on the big win today! U got me 2-1-and I thought u were high maintenance before! #oneweekbreak
@3WideMiddle (Chris Lambert): Well...THAT. WAS. FUN!! #STP400 #winnerwinner #NASCAR
@dennyhamlin: "@mw55: My golfing bud edged my driver bud" sorry man.. I know it would have meant a lot to ya
@dennyhamlin: Great win for our FedEx team! Hung around until it counted at the end. Good battle with @MartinTruexJr56 the last 40 laps. Proud of everyone
@scottspeed: Today was a great day! @Amanda_Speed and I are so excited!!! But@BostonReid said I couldn't talk about it till tomorrow ;) he he
@SherryPollex: Thank you guys for all the kind messages!!! It means a lot to @MartinTruexJr56 and I. He has the best fans...thanks for sticking by him!
@JeffGordonWeb: Still can't believe what happened today. Hard to believe the way our season is going also. Looking forward to Richmond though.
@ClintBowyer: When it rains it pours!!! Headed down to MWR for comp meeting and just broke down. #FML
@kaseykahne: "@JimmieJohnson: It seems like crashing to most is more important then racing... #sucks" They should have just watched me early in the year
@GZipadelli (Greg Zippadelli): I am packing now headed to Nashville in the am to do some testing with @DanicaPatrick looking forward to it.
@nascarcasm: Anyone else receive a rather impressive reassurance mailer from Kentucky Speedway? http://t.co/zTZu1IdO
@nascarcasm: The Kentucky Speedway mailers were actually mailed in January - it just took the USPS driver forever to get out of there... #kidding
@JimmieJohnson: Influential... Sweet! Thanks for the honor @forbes.
@keselowski: The easiest way to tell where the most talent exists in any form, is to look at the desire of the elite talent to stay where they are at.
@keselowski: Elite qbs don't quit super bowl winning teams & elite championship NASCAR drivers don't go to F1 for a reason They compete against the best
@2Spotter: I have cell phone numbers, address, texting, home phone numbers....Yet the easiest place to get a hold of my boss is on Twitter...
@keselowski: One more point on nascar vs F1 I strongly believe that if Marcos Ambrose got a quality ride in F1, he'd clean house.
@PPistone (Pete Pistone): A bit startling that even a five-time champion is lobbing out ideas on how to make the sport better in his opinion #nascar
@joeylogano: My view for the next couple days http://t.co/h32TlenV
Summer Dreyer is a Senior Writer for Frontstretch.com. She can be reached via email at summer.dreyer@frontstretch.com.
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TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:
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TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:
Did You Notice? ... Parity's Pluses And Minuses, Rough "Starts" And Puzzling Pettys
by Tom Bowles
Mirror Driving: The Rights Of A Lapped Car, Pastrana's Debut And 5-Hour... What?
by the Frontstretch Staff
Biffle Looks To Reverse Regular Season Curse
by Garrett Horton
Beyond the Cockpit: Timothy Peters On Whoopin' Cup Butt... And Burger Heaven
by Summer Dreyer
NASCAR Sprint Cup Power Rankings: Top 15 After Kansas
compiled by Summer Dreyer
Top 10 Reasons for the Lack of Cautions in 2012
by the Frontstretch Staff
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FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Q: The 1988 Pontiac Excitement 400, held on another chilly February afternoon, is most notable for being the final race run on the original 0.538-mile Fairgrounds Raceway. However, the race ended in controversy. Why?
Check back Thursday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
Tuesday's Answer:
Tuesday's Answer:
Q: In Richmond, cold weather eventually resulted in the first of their two Cup races getting pushed back until later in the season in order to make it more hospitable for fans. The 1996 Pontiac Excitement 400 is just one example of this type of cold weather. Just how cold was it that day?
A: Interestingly enough, the Old Farmer's Almanac website has historical data from the National Weather Service dating back to 1973. According to the site, the low temperature was just under 31 degrees and the high was 49. However, it was also a windy day with average sustained winds of 15 mph and gusts over 30 at times. Definitely not the greatest day to be sitting outside on cold metal, regardless of the sunshine.
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 Phil Allaway
-- What's Vexing Vito by Vito Pugliese
-- Critic's Annex by Phil Allaway
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, the Line of the Week and more!
~~~~~~~~~~
Tomorrow on the Frontstretch:
MPM2Nite by Matt McLaughlin
Matt McLaughlin is back again this season with his usual sarcastic sense of humor ... and incomparable insight. This week, Matt ponders whether NASCAR's problems, seemingly compounded in 2012 are too deep to dig out of not just in the short-term but ever.
Professor Of Speed by Mark Howell
Our professor of racing history "has at it" with another column pertinent to the sport at large. This week, Mark takes a look back at a last minute trip to Auburn University to see the future of motorsports at the 2012 SAE Mini Baja events.
Dollars and Sense by Jesse Medford
The newest addition to the Frontstretch family will take a look at the business side of NASCAR.
Truckin' Thursdays by Beth Lunkenheimer
Beth is back this year on a new night, but it's the same great commentary you've come to enjoy!
Special Interview TBD... plus Pocono Testing Coverage
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 Phil Allaway
-- What's Vexing Vito by Vito Pugliese
-- Critic's Annex by Phil Allaway
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, the Line of the Week and more!
~~~~~~~~~~
Tomorrow on the Frontstretch:
MPM2Nite by Matt McLaughlin
Matt McLaughlin is back again this season with his usual sarcastic sense of humor ... and incomparable insight. This week, Matt ponders whether NASCAR's problems, seemingly compounded in 2012 are too deep to dig out of not just in the short-term but ever.
Professor Of Speed by Mark Howell
Our professor of racing history "has at it" with another column pertinent to the sport at large. This week, Mark takes a look back at a last minute trip to Auburn University to see the future of motorsports at the 2012 SAE Mini Baja events.
Dollars and Sense by Jesse Medford
The newest addition to the Frontstretch family will take a look at the business side of NASCAR.
Truckin' Thursdays by Beth Lunkenheimer
Beth is back this year on a new night, but it's the same great commentary you've come to enjoy!
Special Interview TBD... plus Pocono Testing Coverage
-----------------------------
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©2012 Frontstretch.com
-- Talk back to the Frontstretch Newsletter!
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©2012 Frontstretch.com
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