THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
May 22nd, 2012
Volume VI, Edition XCI
Today's Top News
by Kevin Rutherford
After running largely unsponsored and resorting to starting-and-parking for the first part of the season, Michael McDowell and his Phil Parsons-owned No. 98 team have picked up a sponsor for the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Presbyterian Healthcare will adorn McDowell's car as part of its drive toward promoting the importance of regular health screenings. Along with Presbyterian logos on the blue, green and white Ford Fusion, the back of the car will feature www.HealthPitStop.org, which provides more information on health screenings and can help visitors to find a nearby doctor.
"Michael... believes in what Presbyterian Healthcare is doing to help make our communities healthier," said Mark Billings, president and CEO of Presbyterian Healthcare. "He has used Presbyterian Hospital Huntersville for care several times so this partnership is more personal for him."
Bell Returns to Cup With Green Smoke, FAS Lane
So far in 2012, T.J. Bell's main focus has been the Nationwide Series, where he and Make Motorsports have made all ten races so far and currently sits 18th in the overall point standings. At Charlotte this weekend, he will get his first opportunity of the season to pull double duty.
Bell and occasional sponsor Green Smoke, a brand of electronic cigarette, will team up to run the Coca-Cola 600 in the Sprint Cup Series, driving the No. 32 for FAS Lane Racing -- a team for which he drove in the season-ending race at Homestead in 2011.
The Nevada native has competed in five races in NASCAR's premier circuit -- all coming in 2011 -- with his best finish coming with FAS Lane at Homestead, when he finished 29th, two laps off the pace.
BK Racing Fielding Third Car for Reutimann
As expected after the No. 73's debut at Darlington with Travis Kvapil, BK Racing announced today their intent to field the team's third car in eight races for David Reutimann, starting at this weekend's Coca-Cola 600.
Reutimann, who drove the new organization's No. 93 entry at Daytona and Darlington, will be competing in the car at races when he is not piloting the No. 10 for Tommy Baldwin Racing in Danica Patrick's absence.
"Everyone at BK Racing is excited to solidify a third car on our team for David Reutimann," said Scott Gunderson, president of BK Racing. "I know that he will strengthen our organization with the talent and experience that he brings to the table."
Added Reutimann: "The 73 team has already proven to be a contender," Reutimann said. "BK Racing has great equipment and personnel. They've shown that they can get the job done and I'm really excited to continue racing with them. We're already off to a good start and the team is continuing to improve. Travis and Landon are terrific teammates and I think having a third car among us will give us better information and more resources to keep strengthening."
Coulter Making Nationwide Debut at Charlotte
Joey Coulter, driver of the No. 22 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing in the Camping World Truck Series, will make his Nationwide Series debut in the History 300 this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Coulter will drive the No. 21, formerly a full-time car for Childress' team in the series, with sponsorship from Sherwin-Williams.
The 22-year-old Florida native currently sits 10th in Truck points, after finishing seventh in 2011 with five top-5s and 13 top-10 finishes.
Have news for Kevin and the Frontstretch? Don't hesitate to let us know; email us at ashland10@mail.com with a promising lead or tip.
~~~~~~~~~~
Got NASCAR-related questions or comments?
Send them John Potts' way at john.potts@frontstretch.com; and if you're lucky, you'll get your name in print when he does his weekly column answering back to you – the fans that keep Frontstretch afloat. Potts' Shots will run on Thursdays with a whole new set of Fan Questions and Answers!
~~~~~~~~~~
Today's Featured Commentary
Looking Down in Victory Lane: A Confusing State of Affairs
Got NASCAR-related questions or comments?
Send them John Potts' way at john.potts@frontstretch.com; and if you're lucky, you'll get your name in print when he does his weekly column answering back to you – the fans that keep Frontstretch afloat. Potts' Shots will run on Thursdays with a whole new set of Fan Questions and Answers!
~~~~~~~~~~
Today's Featured Commentary
Looking Down in Victory Lane: A Confusing State of Affairs
Sitting In The Stands: A Fan's View
by S.D. Grady
My alarm screams at me with fair regularity. I go to work. Try to keep my grass short enough so neighbors won't lose their toys in it. I enjoy country music, spaghetti, Mythbusters, my two cats and...NASCAR. Of late, I've been informed by parties high and low that all I want from my favorite sport are wrecks, rude drivers, apparently Dale Jr. in Victory Lane and the ability to complain about the state of the sport as often as my fingers connect with the keyboard. Well, I'm here to disabuse certain drivers (Mr. Stewart and Mr. Busch, are you listening?) and more than a single member of the media they've got it all wrong.
There are lots of things I love about this sport. Waking up in my RV at the track to the roar of unfettered horsepower running on the track. The smell of unburned fuel and shredded rubber. The drop of the green flag. The feel of sunshine on my face after sitting in the stands for twelve hours, already.
I thrill to the sight of cars piling three-wide into the corner, when I know that can't possibly work. The sound of airguns spinning up to speed just before the car slides into the pit stop. 80,000 Americans standing up to pray and sing together. All the shades under the rainbow poured over the fenders of 43 machines ready to battle. The stink of shredded metal as a wounded car drives down the frontstretch. The gritty sensation of rolling a marble I picked up between my fingers.
My heart pounds in fear as two drivers beat on each others' fenders in an attempt to snare the next position on track. And then the surge of adrenaline when my chosen hero of the day finds the clean air and pulls away. There's the capricious changes in fortune while the afternoon progresses, condemning a superstar to mediocrity and raising a young gun into the light of victory. Then just when the rookie readies himself to hoist that trophy for the very first time, a much revered veteran of the sport arrives to shake his hand. Or better yet, the moment they share during practice when both sides of the conversation realize there's something to be learned from one another.
I've witnessed joy in winning, anger frustration, disappointment and unbreakable concentration. Anticipation that fills your entire body, only to vanish in a split second as a tire blows. Pain. Teamwork. Unfiltered reactions to any given moment dancing across the competitors' and fans' faces as the day unfolds.
Besides all these positive thoughts, sometimes I will surrender to the darker moments. The entire point of racing--be it on foot, a horse, bicycle, boat or a car--is to be the first. And that means figuring out a way to leave the rest of the world in the dust. So, bringing a slightly shady piece of automotive engineering to inspection doesn't earn my derision, but usually my respect. Testing out a new engine, and having it fail, this too is fun. And yes, should somebody decide they've been wronged and decide to explain the situation to the purported villain, I am happy to see the fireworks.
Yes, there are innumerable things I adore about this sport. Racing is a moment where I get to sit down with family and friends and simply enjoy the afternoon. It's entertainment. It's eminently surprising and sometimes a bit too predictable. And do I expect all my friends and family to react the same as I when Danica Patrick takes to the track? No.
No I don't. For I am one NASCAR fan. Perhaps the entire conclave of fans is comprised of millions of men and women decked out in officially licensed gear, but no two of us are alike. We cheer for many different drivers and boo a fair number, too. Some of us watch the drama from our living rooms, while others actually pour cash into the racing venues. Some will sip wine in their logoed polos. I will pull on a worn out t-shirt from far too many years ago. All shapes, sizes, ages and backgrounds, our individual appreciation of the sport is as varied as our names.
So, it absolutely ticks me off when blanket statements such as, "We didn't wreck enough today. The fans deserve [more wrecks]," are spouted by the sport's reigning champ. I have never sat next to a fellow fan and had them jump up with glee when a car barreled into the wall. Never.
Likewise, if a driver is being particularly idiotic in a WWE manner, the fans are not making all that noise because they are happy. I can guarantee you the vast amount of discussion post-race around the campfire focuses on a certain person's lack of self-control, not how awesome it was to witness such an embarrassing example of manhood.
And last of all, we are not all Junior fans. The sport would not be saved by the prodigal son arriving in Victory Lane. We're not dumb enough to believe that. Are you?
Overall, the NASCAR fan's voice is loud--even overwhelming at times. But it is not a single voice. We are not one with each other and oft times not with the sport. Like the paint jobs on the machines we glorify each and every week, we are unique. And will remain so as long as we are permitted the ability to voice our own opinions.
It's a simple thing I ask of frustrated drivers and condescending media members, don't speak for others unless you have taken the time to actually speak to those you wish to lump into a single demographic. Otherwise, you're the ones that end up looking and sounding like the mythical group you chose to denigrate without basis.
Sonya's Weekly Danica Stat
Iowa: NNS in the No. 7 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet
Qualified: 9th
Finished: 30th (crash, 137 laps down)
Points Position: 14th
by S.D. Grady
My alarm screams at me with fair regularity. I go to work. Try to keep my grass short enough so neighbors won't lose their toys in it. I enjoy country music, spaghetti, Mythbusters, my two cats and...NASCAR. Of late, I've been informed by parties high and low that all I want from my favorite sport are wrecks, rude drivers, apparently Dale Jr. in Victory Lane and the ability to complain about the state of the sport as often as my fingers connect with the keyboard. Well, I'm here to disabuse certain drivers (Mr. Stewart and Mr. Busch, are you listening?) and more than a single member of the media they've got it all wrong.
There are lots of things I love about this sport. Waking up in my RV at the track to the roar of unfettered horsepower running on the track. The smell of unburned fuel and shredded rubber. The drop of the green flag. The feel of sunshine on my face after sitting in the stands for twelve hours, already.
I thrill to the sight of cars piling three-wide into the corner, when I know that can't possibly work. The sound of airguns spinning up to speed just before the car slides into the pit stop. 80,000 Americans standing up to pray and sing together. All the shades under the rainbow poured over the fenders of 43 machines ready to battle. The stink of shredded metal as a wounded car drives down the frontstretch. The gritty sensation of rolling a marble I picked up between my fingers.
My heart pounds in fear as two drivers beat on each others' fenders in an attempt to snare the next position on track. And then the surge of adrenaline when my chosen hero of the day finds the clean air and pulls away. There's the capricious changes in fortune while the afternoon progresses, condemning a superstar to mediocrity and raising a young gun into the light of victory. Then just when the rookie readies himself to hoist that trophy for the very first time, a much revered veteran of the sport arrives to shake his hand. Or better yet, the moment they share during practice when both sides of the conversation realize there's something to be learned from one another.
I've witnessed joy in winning, anger frustration, disappointment and unbreakable concentration. Anticipation that fills your entire body, only to vanish in a split second as a tire blows. Pain. Teamwork. Unfiltered reactions to any given moment dancing across the competitors' and fans' faces as the day unfolds.
Besides all these positive thoughts, sometimes I will surrender to the darker moments. The entire point of racing--be it on foot, a horse, bicycle, boat or a car--is to be the first. And that means figuring out a way to leave the rest of the world in the dust. So, bringing a slightly shady piece of automotive engineering to inspection doesn't earn my derision, but usually my respect. Testing out a new engine, and having it fail, this too is fun. And yes, should somebody decide they've been wronged and decide to explain the situation to the purported villain, I am happy to see the fireworks.
Yes, there are innumerable things I adore about this sport. Racing is a moment where I get to sit down with family and friends and simply enjoy the afternoon. It's entertainment. It's eminently surprising and sometimes a bit too predictable. And do I expect all my friends and family to react the same as I when Danica Patrick takes to the track? No.
No I don't. For I am one NASCAR fan. Perhaps the entire conclave of fans is comprised of millions of men and women decked out in officially licensed gear, but no two of us are alike. We cheer for many different drivers and boo a fair number, too. Some of us watch the drama from our living rooms, while others actually pour cash into the racing venues. Some will sip wine in their logoed polos. I will pull on a worn out t-shirt from far too many years ago. All shapes, sizes, ages and backgrounds, our individual appreciation of the sport is as varied as our names.
So, it absolutely ticks me off when blanket statements such as, "We didn't wreck enough today. The fans deserve [more wrecks]," are spouted by the sport's reigning champ. I have never sat next to a fellow fan and had them jump up with glee when a car barreled into the wall. Never.
Likewise, if a driver is being particularly idiotic in a WWE manner, the fans are not making all that noise because they are happy. I can guarantee you the vast amount of discussion post-race around the campfire focuses on a certain person's lack of self-control, not how awesome it was to witness such an embarrassing example of manhood.
And last of all, we are not all Junior fans. The sport would not be saved by the prodigal son arriving in Victory Lane. We're not dumb enough to believe that. Are you?
Overall, the NASCAR fan's voice is loud--even overwhelming at times. But it is not a single voice. We are not one with each other and oft times not with the sport. Like the paint jobs on the machines we glorify each and every week, we are unique. And will remain so as long as we are permitted the ability to voice our own opinions.
It's a simple thing I ask of frustrated drivers and condescending media members, don't speak for others unless you have taken the time to actually speak to those you wish to lump into a single demographic. Otherwise, you're the ones that end up looking and sounding like the mythical group you chose to denigrate without basis.
Sonya's Weekly Danica Stat
Iowa: NNS in the No. 7 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet
Qualified: 9th
Finished: 30th (crash, 137 laps down)
Points Position: 14th
S.D. Grady is a Senior Editor for Frontstretch.com. She can be reached via e-mail at sonya.grady@frontstretch.com. Follow her on Twitter at @laregna.
~~~~~~~~~~
Numbers Game: All-Star Weekend and Iowa
by Garrett Horton
.841
Jimmie Johnson's margin of victory, in seconds, over second place finisher Brad Keselowski.
1
With his victory Saturday night, Johnson has become the only driver to have won NASCAR's All-Star race under its three different names: The Winston, the Nextel All-Star Challenge, and the Sprint All-Star Race.
2
Excluding the pre-planned cautions for the end of each segment, there were two caution flags in Saturday's race, both for the blown engines of Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle.
3
Jimmie Johnson now has three All-Star victories, tying him with Dale Earnhardt and Jeff Gordon for most all-time.
4
Dale Earnhardt, Jr. won Saturday night's Sprint Showdown, but that hasn't exactly produced good things for previous winners. Since 2004, the winners of NASCAR's preliminary running of the All Star race have combined for FOUR wins in the following weeks and years. 2005 winner Brian Vickers has scored two victories since, while Martin Truex, Jr. has posted just one win since his 07 triumph and last year's victor David Ragan's lone trip to victory lane come months later at Daytona.
5
Defending Nationwide series champion Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. scored his fifth career victory by winning in Iowa on Sunday. Three of his five wins have come at the .875 mile speedway.
6
Matt Kenseth has finished eighth of better in the last six race All-Star events.
7
There were seven lead changes amongst seven different drivers Saturday night.
7.3
Through ten races this season, rookie Austin Dillon's average finish has been a 7.3 in his rookie year in the Nationwide series.
12th
If Kurt Busch choose to be eligible for Nationwide points instead of Cup points this year, he would be sitting 12th in the standings despite competing in only six of the ten events run. Instead, he is sitting 25th in the Cup series standings having run every race.
13
With the exception of Johnson, there has been a different All-Star winner going back to the 1999 season, 13 years ago. Mark Martin, the 2005 victor, won his first All Star event back in 1998.
20
Brad Keselowski led a race high 20 laps in Saturday night's Sprint All-Star Race.
23rd
Last year's Sprint All-Star Race winner Carl Edwards finished 23rd after losing an engine on lap 25, finishing in last place. Ironically, Edwards also finished last in this race two years ago, finishing 21st.
Garrett Horton is a Contributor for Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via e-mail at garrrett.horton@frontstretch.com.
~~~~~~~~~~
ADVERTISEMENT
Are you looking to advertise your website, product or brand? A good way to get your name out there is via direct advertising here in the Frontstretch Newsletter! Interested parties can contact us at frontstretcheditors@googlegroups.com for details.
~~~~~~~~~~~
TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:
The Greatest Sunday in Motor Racing
by Bryan Davis Keith
Five Points to Ponder: All-Star Flaws, All Hail the (Burger) King and Defense Dollars at Risk
by Danny Peters
Couch Potato Tuesday: SPEED Showcased with Mixed Results on All-Star Weekend
by Phil Allaway
NASCAR Tech Talk: From Day to Night, 600 Miles on Hard Goodyears
by Mike Neff
~~~~~~~~~~~
FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Q: In 1981, CBS provided partial live coverage of what was then the World 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Bobby Allison won the race to take his second 600 victory. However, one of the main stories that day was the fate of Bobby's brother Donnie. What happened to Donnie Allison?
~~~~~~~~~~
Numbers Game: All-Star Weekend and Iowa
by Garrett Horton
.841
Jimmie Johnson's margin of victory, in seconds, over second place finisher Brad Keselowski.
1
With his victory Saturday night, Johnson has become the only driver to have won NASCAR's All-Star race under its three different names: The Winston, the Nextel All-Star Challenge, and the Sprint All-Star Race.
2
Excluding the pre-planned cautions for the end of each segment, there were two caution flags in Saturday's race, both for the blown engines of Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle.
3
Jimmie Johnson now has three All-Star victories, tying him with Dale Earnhardt and Jeff Gordon for most all-time.
4
Dale Earnhardt, Jr. won Saturday night's Sprint Showdown, but that hasn't exactly produced good things for previous winners. Since 2004, the winners of NASCAR's preliminary running of the All Star race have combined for FOUR wins in the following weeks and years. 2005 winner Brian Vickers has scored two victories since, while Martin Truex, Jr. has posted just one win since his 07 triumph and last year's victor David Ragan's lone trip to victory lane come months later at Daytona.
5
Defending Nationwide series champion Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. scored his fifth career victory by winning in Iowa on Sunday. Three of his five wins have come at the .875 mile speedway.
6
Matt Kenseth has finished eighth of better in the last six race All-Star events.
7
There were seven lead changes amongst seven different drivers Saturday night.
7.3
Through ten races this season, rookie Austin Dillon's average finish has been a 7.3 in his rookie year in the Nationwide series.
12th
If Kurt Busch choose to be eligible for Nationwide points instead of Cup points this year, he would be sitting 12th in the standings despite competing in only six of the ten events run. Instead, he is sitting 25th in the Cup series standings having run every race.
13
With the exception of Johnson, there has been a different All-Star winner going back to the 1999 season, 13 years ago. Mark Martin, the 2005 victor, won his first All Star event back in 1998.
20
Brad Keselowski led a race high 20 laps in Saturday night's Sprint All-Star Race.
23rd
Last year's Sprint All-Star Race winner Carl Edwards finished 23rd after losing an engine on lap 25, finishing in last place. Ironically, Edwards also finished last in this race two years ago, finishing 21st.
Garrett Horton is a Contributor for Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via e-mail at garrrett.horton@frontstretch.com.
~~~~~~~~~~
ADVERTISEMENT
Are you looking to advertise your website, product or brand? A good way to get your name out there is via direct advertising here in the Frontstretch Newsletter! Interested parties can contact us at frontstretcheditors@googlegroups.com for details.
~~~~~~~~~~~
TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:
The Greatest Sunday in Motor Racing
by Bryan Davis Keith
Five Points to Ponder: All-Star Flaws, All Hail the (Burger) King and Defense Dollars at Risk
by Danny Peters
Couch Potato Tuesday: SPEED Showcased with Mixed Results on All-Star Weekend
by Phil Allaway
NASCAR Tech Talk: From Day to Night, 600 Miles on Hard Goodyears
by Mike Neff
~~~~~~~~~~~
FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Q: In 1981, CBS provided partial live coverage of what was then the World 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Bobby Allison won the race to take his second 600 victory. However, one of the main stories that day was the fate of Bobby's brother Donnie. What happened to Donnie Allison?
Check back Wednesday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
Monday's Answer:
Q: In 1986, Richard Petty was unable to race his No. 43 STP Pontiac and was forced to buy D.K. Ulrich's No. 6 Chevrolet for the Coca-Cola World 600. Why did that happen?
A: Petty managed to crash his primary car in practice. Back then, it was not necessarily a given that each team would have an identical car waiting to go in their transporter. Wrecking in practice often meant having to buy someone else's car. In that year's Daytona 500, the Race Hill Farm team (No. 47) had to buy a Chevrolet that Randy LaJoie failed to qualify for the race in after Morgan Shepherd crashed in practice. Ken Ragan's team (No. 77) had to buy Grant Adcox's Chevrolet after suffering a similar fate.
Frontstretch Trivia Guarantee: If we mess up, you get the shirt off our backs! If we've provided an incorrect answer to the Frontstretch Trivia question, be the first to email the corrected trivia answer to trivia@frontstretch.com and we'll send you a Frontstretch T-Shirt ... FREE!
~~~~~~~~~~
Coming tomorrow in the Frontstretch Newsletter:
-- Top News from Brad Morgan
-- Full Throttle by Mike Neff
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, and more!
~~~~~~~~~~
Tomorrow on the Frontstretch:
Did You Notice?... by Tom Bowles
Tom is back with his series of quick hits after Darlington.
Going Green by Garrett Horton
This week, Garrett takes a look at what he believes that the ideal All-Star Race format would look like.
Mirror Driving by the Frontstretch Staff
Your favorite Frontstretch writers are back to discuss a variety of different topics, including the the new format for the Sprint All-Star Race that premiered Saturday night, whether Justin Lofton is a real contender for the Camping World Truck Series title, NASCAR's new relationship with Twitter and more.
Frontstretch Top Ten by the Frontstretch Staff
We'll have a top ten list that will tickle your funny bone.
Sprint Cup Power Rankings compiled by Summer Dreyer
Even though Saturday night's Sprint All-Star Race was a non-points event, it was still an event, more than enough to potentially sway rankings. Did Biffle manage to keep himself at the top of the rankings? See who your favorite NASCAR experts from around the web voted to the top of our power rankings poll prior to the Coca-Cola 600.
Beyond The Cockpit: TBA
-----------------------------
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
Feel free to forward this newsletter if you have any friends who loves
NASCAR and great NASCAR commentary. They can subscribe to the Frontstetch by visiting http://www.frontstretch.com/notice/9557/.
If you want to stop your Frontstretch Newsletter subscription, we're sorry
to see you go. Just send an email to
TheFrontstretch+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com from the address that you
recieve the Frontstretch Newsletter.
No comments:
Post a Comment