THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
April 4th, 2012
Volume VI, Edition LV
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
April 4th, 2012
Volume VI, Edition LV
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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
Jeremy Mayfield Talks With ARCA Team
Following up on yesterday's Newsletter story, Jeremy Mayfield might be appearing at a racetrack near you sooner than expected -- if he can avoid serious jail time on nine felony charges that stem from drug possession and alleged theft crimes. The now-tarnished former NASCAR driver has been connected with rumors involving a potential new racing opportunity with ARCA series owner Roger Carter's team.
Carter hopes that Mayfield will be available to drive later this season in an ARCA race at Pocono Raceway. According to Sporting News writer Bob Pockrass, the two talked about an opening in one of Carter's two cars for the July race after Mayfield's recent court appearance on Monday. The NASCAR veteran would have to submit the results of a drug test to series officials and participate in future screenings administered by the team as a part of his potential reinstatement; but, the most challenging obstacle in the way of Mayfield's return is the possibility of incarceration. His battles in court aren't expected to be resolved until later this year, and even then, there is no guarantee that the series will allow Mayfield to compete because of his reputation.
NASCAR's current ban on Mayfield doesn't affect the former driver's ability to participate in other racing series, including ARCA. Before being prohibited from competing in NASCAR-sanctioned events, Mayfield accumulated five wins, 48 top 5s, and 96 top-10 finishes in 17 years of Sprint Cup action.
Timmy Hill Returns To Nationwide Series at Texas
Take one Sprint Cup freshman out of this year's Rookie of the Year race. Timmy Hill announced Tuesday that, after just four attempts he will step back to the Nationwide Series full-time with Rick Ware Racing going forward. The 2011 Rookie of the Year in that series will attempt to run in the O'Reilly Auto Parts 300 at Texas Motor Speedway, on April 13th then finish out the season driving RWR's No. 15 even though he's ineligible for points. Hill ran in 33 of 34 Nationwide Series races in 2011 and completed the year ranked 17th in the standings.
Hill, just 19 hopes that gaining more racing experience will help him be more competitive in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in the future. Luckily, the RWR organization is sticking with him, choosing to put their Cup program on hold until the youngster is ready for that level of competition.
"Rick Ware Racing has been awesome to me throughout my entire racing career. We as a team took a chance to compete in the Sprint Cup Series and move this team to the next level," Hill explained about the organization. "We learned a lot from this experience, but it's time to take a step back and regroup on what we learned for the future."
Hill qualified for just one event, the Sprint Cup race at Las Vegas this season, where he crashed out after 42 laps. He failed to qualify for three other races before being temporarily replaced by Tony Raines at Martinsville; Raines had the speed to make the field, but lost a spot on the grid after failing post-qualifying inspection.
More On Joe Falk's Purchase From RCR
The No. 33 Sprint Cup car has gone through several changes in a short time after being driven by Clint Bowyer during the '11 season. After receiving several new sponsors and a fresh cast of drivers, these Chevys will now change hands completely when Joe Falk buys the team from Richard Childress Racing before the upcoming race at Texas Motor Speedway.
According to DailyPress.com's Marty O'Brien, the new organization will serve as a launching platform for current Nationwide Series driver Austin Dillon and possibly C.E. Falk, while Elliott Sadler could also see seat time as mentioned in our Newsletter yesterday. Hermie Sadler drove the car to a 31st-place finish in the team's final race under Richard Childress at Martinsville and will also be considered for future events.
Falk purchased the team from RCR after agreeing to compete as a developmental team for the six-time Sprint Cup championship organization. Dillon, Childress' nephew, has shown potential in NASCAR, capturing the 2011 Camping World Truck Series championship and placing well thus far in his Nationwide Series rookie campaign.
C.E. Falk, a relative unknown in the NASCAR realm, has shown great promise while competing in other forms of racing. He has collected 38 wins in Late Model races and has won three consecutive championships at Langley Speedway in Virginia.
The team will use equipment and receive engines from RCR, Hermie Sadler said during an interview on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio with Dave Moody. The No. 33 will share the same Mooresville, NC racing shop that houses the No. 27 Hillman Racing Camping World Truck Series team. While Falk and Hillman racing work together in that series, the Cup Series car will be managed strictly by Falk.
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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!
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Today's Featured Commentary
Stewart-Haas Hitting Full Stride in 2012
Full Throttle
by Mike Neff
The beauty of having "racers" throughout a Sprint Cup organization is that they have a sole focus: winning, not riding. They'll sacrifice anything and everything to put the car in Victory Lane, Chase be damned and it has never been more evident that it works than the beginning of this season. With the way Stewart-Haas Racing has been running over the first six race weekends of 2012, they could very well run away and hide from the rest of the series by the time the checkered flag waves in Homestead.
Stewart-Haas Racing was formed in 2009 with Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman taking the wheels for the race team that was formerly Haas CNC Racing. Stewart was enticed into the organization with a major ownership stake, splitting the team with former owner Gene Haas and infusing his experience to bring them nearly instant success. The first year of competition under the new SHR banner saw the owner notch four wins; the two teams also combined for 20 top 5s and 38 top 10s, along with two poles and led the points for an extended period during the "regular season." While the next two years saw similar success, the end of 2011 was a shining accomplishment for the organization when Stewart won the series championship. With only six races in the book this season, the company looks as though they picked up right where they left off.
Tony Stewart has been a notorious slow starter, with only a couple of wins prior to May on his resume before this season. However, he's already notched two victories in the first six races this year. Now, with Newman's victory Sunday, SHR has won 50% of the events (3 of 6) so far in 2012. So much for that. While it has been a very fast road to the top for this organization, their outstanding performance in the first races of this year officially puts them in the league with the other heavyweights of the sport. Hendrick Motorsports, Roush Fenway Racing, Joe Gibbs Racing and Richard Childress Racing are considered by most everyone to be the big four organizations. But with SHR putting 16 victories in the books in just over three years of competition, and eight of the last 16 races in the Cup series, they've now moved into that upper echelon of teams.
The one thing that sets SHR apart from the other "Big Guns" is that they do not construct their own chassis or engines. Fortunately, they do receive their equipment from Hendrick and, as evidenced by Stewart's title last season, the technology sharing between the organizations is very open and this gives the teams under the SHR umbrella just as good of an opportunity to win as any other in the series. The "X factor" on the SHR side of the ledger that is setting them apart from everyone else is personnel and chemistry. Stewart has brought together some of his old cronies from JGR, along with some of the best mechanical talent from throughout the garage, and put together a group of racers that are in the sport because they love it. Stewart routinely touts the benefits of the fact that the guys in his company are racers, not just in the sport for a paycheck.
The latest additions to the roster of racers at SHR are Greg Zipadelli and Steve Addington, added during the 2011 offseason. Zipadelli has taken over as Competition Director while Addington has moved on top of the pit box for Stewart, replacing Darian Grubb despite the latter's role in pushing Stewart to the 2011 Sprint Cup title. Zipadelli, meanwhile knows a thing or two about championships; he was the crew chief for the first two title runs that Stewart made while driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, the only crew chief Smoke ever had before leaving for the SHR opportunity at the end of 2008. Addington also spent quite a bit of time in the trenches at JGR, starting as crew chief for Bobby Labonte before topping the box for J.J. Yeley and Kyle Busch. His most recent stint was at Penske Racing, where he was crew chief for Kurt Busch. Additionally, Addington paid his dues in the Nationwide series for 15 years before he was tabbed to head up Labonte's team.
Chemistry is a crucial element of successful racing teams and having all of the members of the organization sharing a similar brain will do nothing but translate into success on the racetrack. NASCAR has become a haven for engineers and computer simulators, but the brains at SHR are showing there are still some places in the sport for good ol' fashioned gear heads. There's no question that the engineers and computer geeks are helping advance the cause for the Nos. 14 and 39, but having guys around the shop and in the pits who have turned wrenches since they were little kids allows the teams to make the crucial decisions during race time that the computer and engineer types can't.
Newman and Stewart are off to a great start this season and have the potential to post consecutive titles for SHR if they can keep the momentum up for an entire season. Six races into the year is certainly premature for title talk, but knowing that Stewart only gets better as the season wears on, and he's already notched two victories, there is a real chance he could win double digit races this year. Newman is refocused after a disappointing 2011 season, and scoring a win, even if it wasn't in dominating fashion, it is still a win and sets him up to make the Chase even if he isn't in the top 10 in points. The teams at SHR are in a great position and are living proof that racers can get it done in the modern, high-tech world of NASCAR in 2012.
Mike Neff is a Senior Writer for Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via e-mail at mike.neff@frontstretch.com.
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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.
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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...
@David_Ragan: Gonna stop by and get a few Mega Millions tickets on the way home. I think I am going to pick my own numbers this time. #couldbebig
@AndyLally: How is it 8:15am & I am just finding out that it's National Cleavage Day? I've wasted 8hrs and 15mins of celebrating. #PostPicsToShowAwareness
@keselowski (Brad Keselowski): Seems like nowadays, we're in such a hurry to get angry with each other, that we forget who & for what reason we're upset...
@EmmaBlaney: Kind of nervous that @buckeyebullet10 is following me now... HI DAD!!!!
@RCR31JeffBurton: A picture is worth a thousand words http://pic.twitter.com/iBNmQDHk
@2spotter (Joey Meier): Wonder how many "friends" I will have tomorrow after winning the Powerball....
@nascarcasm: Juan Pablo Montoya hoping he wins tonight's $640 million #MegaMillions jackpot - says he'd like some money to burn. #nascar
@aric_almirola: Martinsville. Enough said!
@31n2Spotter (Brett Griffin): Now hiring: maid, nanny, limo driver. Employment may terminate at 11:01pm EST. #megamillions
@ClintBowyer: So who do u call first? The cops, the news, the prez, where the hell do u go cash a 600,000,000 lotto ticket???
@mattkenseth: @ClintBowyer Call me, I will come and get it to verify its the winner, it will take me a day or two..
@ClintBowyer: Hey @mw55 chrome is apparently no longer in. We need to get some of these babies!!! #WTF http://t.co/qm0vqiHa
@Elliott_Sadler: I wonder if the government bought a few tix... They really need the money to put little bit on deficit... Haha... Put some on it...
@ClintBowyer: Damn it...see you guys tomorrow!
@pkligerman (Parker Kligerman): Well I didn't win #MegaMillions ... Shocker. Then again I'd rather win a clock ;)... Time to attempt this tomorrow in the @CooperStandardram!
@aric_almirola: Ahhh. I didn't want 640 million anyways. Mo money mo problems
@RB_Mrs: Guess I'm still going to Bristol Sunday night. No dice on the #megamillions.
@keselowski: Kinda wishing I bought lottery tix, then remembered, I get to drive a racecar for a living. #LotteryWinner
@JimmieJohnson: Close is good I guess. In the pit box per the @nascar rule book though... http://t.co/z4x9WCkn
@Amanda_Speed: Well the only good part to this is that @scottspeed gets to come home to this tonight... http://t.co/3O2bLORm
@DNewtonESPN (Dave Newton): Was ready to set @JeffGordonWeb up with a #NASCAR has found a C-post violation pre-April Fool's joke if he won the pole. #nascar
@ClintBowyer: Hot damn!!! The @5HourEnergyGuy is starting 4th tom. Great job by the guys.
@55MarkMartin: Samuel Martin. 1732 to 1836. Born in Ireland and died in Gaston County NC. My 6th Great Grandfather and Matt's 7th http://yfrog.com/hw9aodvj
@BuckeyeBullet10 (Dave Blaney): My 1st tweet will be in honor of OSU Buckeyes, hoping they can get it done! Don't think Sullinger is going to let them lose. Go Bucks!!!!!!
@RCR31JeffBurton: My view for @JebBurtonRacing today http://t.co/rEH53mcd
@Clint Bowyer: Who the hell let this one in??? http://t.co/5mTqbSzK
@jjyeley1: Bad luck turned to good luck in just hours! The track was very slippery after the 19 car oiled down the track.
@JLogano (Joey Logano): Watching the truck race in the hauler. I can't wait to see these things race at @rockinghamspeed
@RickAllenracing: I was sneezing before we came on the air so I was hoping @kristavoda would buy me some time!
@austindillon3: Great job #RCR @tydillon you already beat my 3rd at martinsville you stink good job bro way to turn the weekend around #NeverQuit
@KevinHamlin: I'll take that any day of the week! That Dillon kid is pretty okay...
@ClintBowyer: @NASCARonSPEED Hey @KevinHarvick, I thought Tide was supposed to clean up the show... not ruin it. #nascar
@RCR31JeffBurton: @JebBurtonRacing did a really nice job today. 13th in first truck race on a very tough track. Good work!
@nateryan: For those poor souls who must traverse I-85 on the 30-mile stretch near Charlotte Motor Speedway & northward, a question: How do you do it?
@Elliott_Sadler: Congrats to my RCR teammates @KevinHarvick and @tydillon for a great run today in Martinsville... Very impressed by Ty on first trip there
@55MarkMartin: I heard Barney Hall today on the radio broadcast for the truck race. You don't know how good that sounded to me. Felt like old times.
@KyleBusch: Good run 4 the @KBMteam today. Looking forward 2 the race tomorrow, really want 2 drive out of here w/ that Grandfather clock.
@KevinHarvick: Wow that was one of the most dominant vehicles I have ever driven!! Thanks to everyone from RCR for all of their effort!
@JLogano: @David_Ragan and @JacquelynButler are taking me to dinner tonight http://t.co/M2eTnxVn
@EmmaBlaney: We love Travis Pastrana!! Thanks for the awful picture Ryan! http://t.co/1IvbIS3q
@jim_utter: The 'Ville will not go away !
@TheOrangeCone: @jim_utter Or, if you live there, the VULL.
@nascarcasm: Kentucky needs to pull over and let Louisville lead a few possessions here. #nascar #FinalFour
@Rchildress3: Great day for RCR !! Great win for @KevinHarvick and 2nd for @tydillon !! Congrats to Marcus for 1st win with RCR.
@Matt_Crafton: What a day had a good truck and had an alternator go bad. That's out of our control.
@tydillon: Great day for the @Bass_Pro_Shops @TeamChevy today couldn't be more proud great weekend for the #FlashandtheSuperFreaks #championshipstyle
@SteveLetarte: Just back from a great dinner with the whole family. Also had @JimmieJohnson @cjmearsgang and Alan Gustafson with their families. #goodtimes
@JimmieJohnson: That pizza place was awesome @SteveLetarte, I had one slice too many though. I believe @CJMearsGang won the eating contest.
@WhitePhoenix48: @Amanda_Speed You and @scottspeed working on the next Speed young'n?
@Amanda_Speed: @WhitePhoenix48 end of the year :)
@TravisKvapil: This is what happens when your 15 1/2 year old is driving and gives you a 3 mile warning! http://t.co/9dgbLtKT
@nascarcasm: Remember, during a severe lightning storm, it is always important to seek shelter after making sure Kasey Kahne isn't standing next to you.
@kaseykahne: I can't believe this. HMS by far had the best cars at Martinsville until that.
@Kenny_Wallace: Whooooooooooo!...Water cooler talk this week :)
@AndyLally: From Outback to Outfront. #Martinsville #SHR
@nascarcasm: Raise your hand if with 10 laps to go, you thought it would be a better day for Penske Racing than HMS... anyone... anyone? #nascar
@2Spotter: ABSOLUTELY INEXCUSABLE TO RIDE AROUND FOR 3 LAPS BROKE DOWN AND THEN STOP ON TRACK. CHANGED OUTCOME OF RACE THANKS!!!!!
@31n2Spotter: S/O to Clint for trying to win the race. If he hit the curb the 24 shoulda gave him room. He was "inside." If not, at least he tried!
@jeff_gluck: Just talked to Tommy Baldwin. He says the car broke a part in the steering (he showed me) and had motor troubles.
@Tjmajors: You can't fix stupid. Not even with duct tape! #10
@bobpockrass: Just talked with Reutimann in his hauler. He was gracious with time and said he feels awful. Said motor just shut down. #nascar
@JimmieJohnson: Well damn... They knew we were here!
@JeffGordonWeb: Frustrating way to end 1 of the best races this team has ever put together. So proud of them. But that's short track racing, I guess.
@KrisJohnson_NI: Agree with Waltrip's opinion on situation with Bowyer at end of race. Don't agree with a team owner stating it in national TV role. #nascar
@DeLanaHarvick: @KrisJohnson_NI agree. Too hard to be objective. Current owners shouldn't be in booth period
@KevinHarvick: Awe even though @KevinHarvick had a crappy day he's still singing Lee Brice's "a woman like you" to me on the way home ❤❤❤
@ClintBowyer: Well that sucked, I was wanting to pass off of 2 but when they spun their tires... if I didn't go, the 39 was. Hate it for everyone! #sh*t
@keselowski: Got back to the bus slightly disappointed about our finish. Then remembered @JeffGordonWeb finish and thought how glad I am to not be his dog
@dennyhamlin: Why is everyone so pissed at Reutimann? His car was broke. Wasn't the 5 broke too and knew it but stayed out till it blew up anyway?
@mw55 (Michael Waltrip): Don't be mad at @DavidReutimann We are all told to go as far as it will go. Like @kaseykahne did. It's his job
@jim_utter: The 5 WENT to the garage ON HIS OWN to make repairs. Came back out and still blew up. There is a difference
@dennyhamlin: Heck u know what's coming anyway... 36 will exchange points with 10 to make sure they are good anyway... Poor Blaney
@kaseykahne: @dennyhamlin don't be confused I was running a second faster than minimum speed and wasn't getting black flagged
@dennyhamlin: @kaseykahne neither one bothered me, but they weren't that much different. How long did u think it would last? That thing sounded nasty!
@dennyhamlin: Not sure about a lot of things but very sure about one thing... Free Blooming Onion at outback is kickass
@TheOrangeCone: So we've all learned today that @keselowski and @kaseykahne will pull off the track at the first sign of trouble from here on out.
@HermieSadler: At least we had a finish that the fans said after Bristol that they wanted.
@3widemiddle (Chris Lambert): What's everybody mad at? I thought you wanted beating, banging, rubbing & wrecks. U got it & a show there at the end. That's racing...
@ClintBowyer: #RockChalk http://pic.twitter.com/oLmpwkmI
@mw55: There's the dome! http://t.co/EOMCile1
@jpmontoya (Juan Pablo Montoya): it's pouring here in Michigan and we need a jet dryer. I know they used to have one but somebody blew it up.
@JLogano: Don't worry @KyleBusch I got a box for you http://pic.twitter.com/ySKfr03O
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
Jeremy Mayfield Talks With ARCA Team
Following up on yesterday's Newsletter story, Jeremy Mayfield might be appearing at a racetrack near you sooner than expected -- if he can avoid serious jail time on nine felony charges that stem from drug possession and alleged theft crimes. The now-tarnished former NASCAR driver has been connected with rumors involving a potential new racing opportunity with ARCA series owner Roger Carter's team.
Carter hopes that Mayfield will be available to drive later this season in an ARCA race at Pocono Raceway. According to Sporting News writer Bob Pockrass, the two talked about an opening in one of Carter's two cars for the July race after Mayfield's recent court appearance on Monday. The NASCAR veteran would have to submit the results of a drug test to series officials and participate in future screenings administered by the team as a part of his potential reinstatement; but, the most challenging obstacle in the way of Mayfield's return is the possibility of incarceration. His battles in court aren't expected to be resolved until later this year, and even then, there is no guarantee that the series will allow Mayfield to compete because of his reputation.
NASCAR's current ban on Mayfield doesn't affect the former driver's ability to participate in other racing series, including ARCA. Before being prohibited from competing in NASCAR-sanctioned events, Mayfield accumulated five wins, 48 top 5s, and 96 top-10 finishes in 17 years of Sprint Cup action.
Timmy Hill Returns To Nationwide Series at Texas
Take one Sprint Cup freshman out of this year's Rookie of the Year race. Timmy Hill announced Tuesday that, after just four attempts he will step back to the Nationwide Series full-time with Rick Ware Racing going forward. The 2011 Rookie of the Year in that series will attempt to run in the O'Reilly Auto Parts 300 at Texas Motor Speedway, on April 13th then finish out the season driving RWR's No. 15 even though he's ineligible for points. Hill ran in 33 of 34 Nationwide Series races in 2011 and completed the year ranked 17th in the standings.
Hill, just 19 hopes that gaining more racing experience will help him be more competitive in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in the future. Luckily, the RWR organization is sticking with him, choosing to put their Cup program on hold until the youngster is ready for that level of competition.
"Rick Ware Racing has been awesome to me throughout my entire racing career. We as a team took a chance to compete in the Sprint Cup Series and move this team to the next level," Hill explained about the organization. "We learned a lot from this experience, but it's time to take a step back and regroup on what we learned for the future."
Hill qualified for just one event, the Sprint Cup race at Las Vegas this season, where he crashed out after 42 laps. He failed to qualify for three other races before being temporarily replaced by Tony Raines at Martinsville; Raines had the speed to make the field, but lost a spot on the grid after failing post-qualifying inspection.
More On Joe Falk's Purchase From RCR
The No. 33 Sprint Cup car has gone through several changes in a short time after being driven by Clint Bowyer during the '11 season. After receiving several new sponsors and a fresh cast of drivers, these Chevys will now change hands completely when Joe Falk buys the team from Richard Childress Racing before the upcoming race at Texas Motor Speedway.
According to DailyPress.com's Marty O'Brien, the new organization will serve as a launching platform for current Nationwide Series driver Austin Dillon and possibly C.E. Falk, while Elliott Sadler could also see seat time as mentioned in our Newsletter yesterday. Hermie Sadler drove the car to a 31st-place finish in the team's final race under Richard Childress at Martinsville and will also be considered for future events.
Falk purchased the team from RCR after agreeing to compete as a developmental team for the six-time Sprint Cup championship organization. Dillon, Childress' nephew, has shown potential in NASCAR, capturing the 2011 Camping World Truck Series championship and placing well thus far in his Nationwide Series rookie campaign.
C.E. Falk, a relative unknown in the NASCAR realm, has shown great promise while competing in other forms of racing. He has collected 38 wins in Late Model races and has won three consecutive championships at Langley Speedway in Virginia.
The team will use equipment and receive engines from RCR, Hermie Sadler said during an interview on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio with Dave Moody. The No. 33 will share the same Mooresville, NC racing shop that houses the No. 27 Hillman Racing Camping World Truck Series team. While Falk and Hillman racing work together in that series, the Cup Series car will be managed strictly by Falk.
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.
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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
Stewart-Haas Hitting Full Stride in 2012
Full Throttle
by Mike Neff
The beauty of having "racers" throughout a Sprint Cup organization is that they have a sole focus: winning, not riding. They'll sacrifice anything and everything to put the car in Victory Lane, Chase be damned and it has never been more evident that it works than the beginning of this season. With the way Stewart-Haas Racing has been running over the first six race weekends of 2012, they could very well run away and hide from the rest of the series by the time the checkered flag waves in Homestead.
Stewart-Haas Racing was formed in 2009 with Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman taking the wheels for the race team that was formerly Haas CNC Racing. Stewart was enticed into the organization with a major ownership stake, splitting the team with former owner Gene Haas and infusing his experience to bring them nearly instant success. The first year of competition under the new SHR banner saw the owner notch four wins; the two teams also combined for 20 top 5s and 38 top 10s, along with two poles and led the points for an extended period during the "regular season." While the next two years saw similar success, the end of 2011 was a shining accomplishment for the organization when Stewart won the series championship. With only six races in the book this season, the company looks as though they picked up right where they left off.
Tony Stewart has been a notorious slow starter, with only a couple of wins prior to May on his resume before this season. However, he's already notched two victories in the first six races this year. Now, with Newman's victory Sunday, SHR has won 50% of the events (3 of 6) so far in 2012. So much for that. While it has been a very fast road to the top for this organization, their outstanding performance in the first races of this year officially puts them in the league with the other heavyweights of the sport. Hendrick Motorsports, Roush Fenway Racing, Joe Gibbs Racing and Richard Childress Racing are considered by most everyone to be the big four organizations. But with SHR putting 16 victories in the books in just over three years of competition, and eight of the last 16 races in the Cup series, they've now moved into that upper echelon of teams.
The one thing that sets SHR apart from the other "Big Guns" is that they do not construct their own chassis or engines. Fortunately, they do receive their equipment from Hendrick and, as evidenced by Stewart's title last season, the technology sharing between the organizations is very open and this gives the teams under the SHR umbrella just as good of an opportunity to win as any other in the series. The "X factor" on the SHR side of the ledger that is setting them apart from everyone else is personnel and chemistry. Stewart has brought together some of his old cronies from JGR, along with some of the best mechanical talent from throughout the garage, and put together a group of racers that are in the sport because they love it. Stewart routinely touts the benefits of the fact that the guys in his company are racers, not just in the sport for a paycheck.
The latest additions to the roster of racers at SHR are Greg Zipadelli and Steve Addington, added during the 2011 offseason. Zipadelli has taken over as Competition Director while Addington has moved on top of the pit box for Stewart, replacing Darian Grubb despite the latter's role in pushing Stewart to the 2011 Sprint Cup title. Zipadelli, meanwhile knows a thing or two about championships; he was the crew chief for the first two title runs that Stewart made while driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, the only crew chief Smoke ever had before leaving for the SHR opportunity at the end of 2008. Addington also spent quite a bit of time in the trenches at JGR, starting as crew chief for Bobby Labonte before topping the box for J.J. Yeley and Kyle Busch. His most recent stint was at Penske Racing, where he was crew chief for Kurt Busch. Additionally, Addington paid his dues in the Nationwide series for 15 years before he was tabbed to head up Labonte's team.
Chemistry is a crucial element of successful racing teams and having all of the members of the organization sharing a similar brain will do nothing but translate into success on the racetrack. NASCAR has become a haven for engineers and computer simulators, but the brains at SHR are showing there are still some places in the sport for good ol' fashioned gear heads. There's no question that the engineers and computer geeks are helping advance the cause for the Nos. 14 and 39, but having guys around the shop and in the pits who have turned wrenches since they were little kids allows the teams to make the crucial decisions during race time that the computer and engineer types can't.
Newman and Stewart are off to a great start this season and have the potential to post consecutive titles for SHR if they can keep the momentum up for an entire season. Six races into the year is certainly premature for title talk, but knowing that Stewart only gets better as the season wears on, and he's already notched two victories, there is a real chance he could win double digit races this year. Newman is refocused after a disappointing 2011 season, and scoring a win, even if it wasn't in dominating fashion, it is still a win and sets him up to make the Chase even if he isn't in the top 10 in points. The teams at SHR are in a great position and are living proof that racers can get it done in the modern, high-tech world of NASCAR in 2012.
Mike Neff is a Senior Writer for Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via e-mail at mike.neff@frontstretch.com.
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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.
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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...
@David_Ragan: Gonna stop by and get a few Mega Millions tickets on the way home. I think I am going to pick my own numbers this time. #couldbebig
@AndyLally: How is it 8:15am & I am just finding out that it's National Cleavage Day? I've wasted 8hrs and 15mins of celebrating. #PostPicsToShowAwareness
@keselowski (Brad Keselowski): Seems like nowadays, we're in such a hurry to get angry with each other, that we forget who & for what reason we're upset...
@EmmaBlaney: Kind of nervous that @buckeyebullet10 is following me now... HI DAD!!!!
@RCR31JeffBurton: A picture is worth a thousand words http://pic.twitter.com/iBNmQDHk
@2spotter (Joey Meier): Wonder how many "friends" I will have tomorrow after winning the Powerball....
@nascarcasm: Juan Pablo Montoya hoping he wins tonight's $640 million #MegaMillions jackpot - says he'd like some money to burn. #nascar
@aric_almirola: Martinsville. Enough said!
@31n2Spotter (Brett Griffin): Now hiring: maid, nanny, limo driver. Employment may terminate at 11:01pm EST. #megamillions
@ClintBowyer: So who do u call first? The cops, the news, the prez, where the hell do u go cash a 600,000,000 lotto ticket???
@mattkenseth: @ClintBowyer Call me, I will come and get it to verify its the winner, it will take me a day or two..
@ClintBowyer: Hey @mw55 chrome is apparently no longer in. We need to get some of these babies!!! #WTF http://t.co/qm0vqiHa
@Elliott_Sadler: I wonder if the government bought a few tix... They really need the money to put little bit on deficit... Haha... Put some on it...
@ClintBowyer: Damn it...see you guys tomorrow!
@pkligerman (Parker Kligerman): Well I didn't win #MegaMillions ... Shocker. Then again I'd rather win a clock ;)... Time to attempt this tomorrow in the @CooperStandardram!
@aric_almirola: Ahhh. I didn't want 640 million anyways. Mo money mo problems
@RB_Mrs: Guess I'm still going to Bristol Sunday night. No dice on the #megamillions.
@keselowski: Kinda wishing I bought lottery tix, then remembered, I get to drive a racecar for a living. #LotteryWinner
@JimmieJohnson: Close is good I guess. In the pit box per the @nascar rule book though... http://t.co/z4x9WCkn
@Amanda_Speed: Well the only good part to this is that @scottspeed gets to come home to this tonight... http://t.co/3O2bLORm
@DNewtonESPN (Dave Newton): Was ready to set @JeffGordonWeb up with a #NASCAR has found a C-post violation pre-April Fool's joke if he won the pole. #nascar
@ClintBowyer: Hot damn!!! The @5HourEnergyGuy is starting 4th tom. Great job by the guys.
@55MarkMartin: Samuel Martin. 1732 to 1836. Born in Ireland and died in Gaston County NC. My 6th Great Grandfather and Matt's 7th http://yfrog.com/hw9aodvj
@BuckeyeBullet10 (Dave Blaney): My 1st tweet will be in honor of OSU Buckeyes, hoping they can get it done! Don't think Sullinger is going to let them lose. Go Bucks!!!!!!
@RCR31JeffBurton: My view for @JebBurtonRacing today http://t.co/rEH53mcd
@Clint Bowyer: Who the hell let this one in??? http://t.co/5mTqbSzK
@jjyeley1: Bad luck turned to good luck in just hours! The track was very slippery after the 19 car oiled down the track.
@JLogano (Joey Logano): Watching the truck race in the hauler. I can't wait to see these things race at @rockinghamspeed
@RickAllenracing: I was sneezing before we came on the air so I was hoping @kristavoda would buy me some time!
@austindillon3: Great job #RCR @tydillon you already beat my 3rd at martinsville you stink good job bro way to turn the weekend around #NeverQuit
@KevinHamlin: I'll take that any day of the week! That Dillon kid is pretty okay...
@ClintBowyer: @NASCARonSPEED Hey @KevinHarvick, I thought Tide was supposed to clean up the show... not ruin it. #nascar
@RCR31JeffBurton: @JebBurtonRacing did a really nice job today. 13th in first truck race on a very tough track. Good work!
@nateryan: For those poor souls who must traverse I-85 on the 30-mile stretch near Charlotte Motor Speedway & northward, a question: How do you do it?
@Elliott_Sadler: Congrats to my RCR teammates @KevinHarvick and @tydillon for a great run today in Martinsville... Very impressed by Ty on first trip there
@55MarkMartin: I heard Barney Hall today on the radio broadcast for the truck race. You don't know how good that sounded to me. Felt like old times.
@KyleBusch: Good run 4 the @KBMteam today. Looking forward 2 the race tomorrow, really want 2 drive out of here w/ that Grandfather clock.
@KevinHarvick: Wow that was one of the most dominant vehicles I have ever driven!! Thanks to everyone from RCR for all of their effort!
@JLogano: @David_Ragan and @JacquelynButler are taking me to dinner tonight http://t.co/M2eTnxVn
@EmmaBlaney: We love Travis Pastrana!! Thanks for the awful picture Ryan! http://t.co/1IvbIS3q
@jim_utter: The 'Ville will not go away !
@TheOrangeCone: @jim_utter Or, if you live there, the VULL.
@nascarcasm: Kentucky needs to pull over and let Louisville lead a few possessions here. #nascar #FinalFour
@Rchildress3: Great day for RCR !! Great win for @KevinHarvick and 2nd for @tydillon !! Congrats to Marcus for 1st win with RCR.
@Matt_Crafton: What a day had a good truck and had an alternator go bad. That's out of our control.
@tydillon: Great day for the @Bass_Pro_Shops @TeamChevy today couldn't be more proud great weekend for the #FlashandtheSuperFreaks #championshipstyle
@SteveLetarte: Just back from a great dinner with the whole family. Also had @JimmieJohnson @cjmearsgang and Alan Gustafson with their families. #goodtimes
@JimmieJohnson: That pizza place was awesome @SteveLetarte, I had one slice too many though. I believe @CJMearsGang won the eating contest.
@WhitePhoenix48: @Amanda_Speed You and @scottspeed working on the next Speed young'n?
@Amanda_Speed: @WhitePhoenix48 end of the year :)
@TravisKvapil: This is what happens when your 15 1/2 year old is driving and gives you a 3 mile warning! http://t.co/9dgbLtKT
@nascarcasm: Remember, during a severe lightning storm, it is always important to seek shelter after making sure Kasey Kahne isn't standing next to you.
@kaseykahne: I can't believe this. HMS by far had the best cars at Martinsville until that.
@Kenny_Wallace: Whooooooooooo!...Water cooler talk this week :)
@AndyLally: From Outback to Outfront. #Martinsville #SHR
@nascarcasm: Raise your hand if with 10 laps to go, you thought it would be a better day for Penske Racing than HMS... anyone... anyone? #nascar
@2Spotter: ABSOLUTELY INEXCUSABLE TO RIDE AROUND FOR 3 LAPS BROKE DOWN AND THEN STOP ON TRACK. CHANGED OUTCOME OF RACE THANKS!!!!!
@31n2Spotter: S/O to Clint for trying to win the race. If he hit the curb the 24 shoulda gave him room. He was "inside." If not, at least he tried!
@jeff_gluck: Just talked to Tommy Baldwin. He says the car broke a part in the steering (he showed me) and had motor troubles.
@Tjmajors: You can't fix stupid. Not even with duct tape! #10
@bobpockrass: Just talked with Reutimann in his hauler. He was gracious with time and said he feels awful. Said motor just shut down. #nascar
@JimmieJohnson: Well damn... They knew we were here!
@JeffGordonWeb: Frustrating way to end 1 of the best races this team has ever put together. So proud of them. But that's short track racing, I guess.
@KrisJohnson_NI: Agree with Waltrip's opinion on situation with Bowyer at end of race. Don't agree with a team owner stating it in national TV role. #nascar
@DeLanaHarvick: @KrisJohnson_NI agree. Too hard to be objective. Current owners shouldn't be in booth period
@KevinHarvick: Awe even though @KevinHarvick had a crappy day he's still singing Lee Brice's "a woman like you" to me on the way home ❤❤❤
@ClintBowyer: Well that sucked, I was wanting to pass off of 2 but when they spun their tires... if I didn't go, the 39 was. Hate it for everyone! #sh*t
@keselowski: Got back to the bus slightly disappointed about our finish. Then remembered @JeffGordonWeb finish and thought how glad I am to not be his dog
@dennyhamlin: Why is everyone so pissed at Reutimann? His car was broke. Wasn't the 5 broke too and knew it but stayed out till it blew up anyway?
@mw55 (Michael Waltrip): Don't be mad at @DavidReutimann We are all told to go as far as it will go. Like @kaseykahne did. It's his job
@jim_utter: The 5 WENT to the garage ON HIS OWN to make repairs. Came back out and still blew up. There is a difference
@dennyhamlin: Heck u know what's coming anyway... 36 will exchange points with 10 to make sure they are good anyway... Poor Blaney
@kaseykahne: @dennyhamlin don't be confused I was running a second faster than minimum speed and wasn't getting black flagged
@dennyhamlin: @kaseykahne neither one bothered me, but they weren't that much different. How long did u think it would last? That thing sounded nasty!
@dennyhamlin: Not sure about a lot of things but very sure about one thing... Free Blooming Onion at outback is kickass
@TheOrangeCone: So we've all learned today that @keselowski and @kaseykahne will pull off the track at the first sign of trouble from here on out.
@HermieSadler: At least we had a finish that the fans said after Bristol that they wanted.
@3widemiddle (Chris Lambert): What's everybody mad at? I thought you wanted beating, banging, rubbing & wrecks. U got it & a show there at the end. That's racing...
@ClintBowyer: #RockChalk http://pic.twitter.com/oLmpwkmI
@mw55: There's the dome! http://t.co/EOMCile1
@jpmontoya (Juan Pablo Montoya): it's pouring here in Michigan and we need a jet dryer. I know they used to have one but somebody blew it up.
@JLogano: Don't worry @KyleBusch I got a box for you http://pic.twitter.com/ySKfr03O
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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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.
~~~~~~~~~~
TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:
Did You Notice? ... NASCAR's Chronic Underachiever, No Laps Up Front & Quick Hits
by Tom Bowles
Second Chances, Feel-Good Stories: One NASCAR Team Experiencing Both In 2012
by Garrett Horton
Beyond the Cockpit: David Reutimann on Contracts, Tracks, and What Really Makes Him Nervous
by Amy Henderson
Mirror Driving: An Overlooked Rule, NASCAR Hendrick Trivia, And Bowyer's Role
by the Frontstretch Staff
Sprint Cup Power Rankings: Top 15 After Martinsville
compiled by Summer Dreyer
Top Ten Plans NASCAR Had For The World's Largest Lottery Jackpot
by Jeff Meyer
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FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Q: Hickory's final Busch race in 1998 was an interesting event with perfect weather and a surprise winner in Ed Berrier, driving the No. 77 Lear Ford for Jimmy Means. However, a number of unusual things happened during the race. What were these unusual instances?
Check back Thursday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
Tuesday's Answer:
Tuesday's Answer:
Q: For a number of years, Hickory Motor Speedway had one very short pit road. However, in the mid-1990's, an addition was added in. Where was this pit addition?
A: In an attempt to make pit road just slightly less insane at Hickory, a short auxiliary road was added connecting the end of the original pit road to Turn 2. This more or less allowed the 30 or 31 cars that qualified for the race to have their own pit stalls. Previously, pit road held roughly 20 stalls and teams had to coordinate with each other to figure out when they were going to make stops. Unfortunately, this setup was also not really conducive to live pit stops, so Competition Cautions were instituted on Laps 100 and 200 until the series' last trip to Hickory in 1998.
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 ties Blake Koch, ESPN, politics and religion all into one piece that's sure to make you think.
Potts' Shots by John Potts
Fanning the Flames has become Potts' Shots, and John Potts is here to answer your questions in our weekly Fan Q & A. Do you have something you'd like to ask John? Don't sit on the sidelines! Send it to john.potts@frontstretch.com and you just may see your question in print next week!.
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 reflects on his first visit to Martinsville Speedway 20 years ago this month.
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!
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 ties Blake Koch, ESPN, politics and religion all into one piece that's sure to make you think.
Potts' Shots by John Potts
Fanning the Flames has become Potts' Shots, and John Potts is here to answer your questions in our weekly Fan Q & A. Do you have something you'd like to ask John? Don't sit on the sidelines! Send it to john.potts@frontstretch.com and you just may see your question in print next week!.
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 reflects on his first visit to Martinsville Speedway 20 years ago this month.
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!
-----------------------------
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
Talk back to the Frontstretch Newsletter!
Got something to say about an article you've seen in the newsletter? It's as easy as replying directly to this message or sending an email to editors@frontstretch.com. We'll take the best comments and publish them here!
©2012 Frontstretch.com
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