The Frontstretch Newsletter: June 29th, 2012

THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
June 29th, 2012
Volume VI, Edition CXXVI

~~~~~~~~~~

James Buescher Dominates in UNOH 225 Victory
by Bryan Davis Keith

This one was almost over before it started. Though much of the talk pre-race circulated around Turner Motorsports' most recent winner in Nelson Piquet, Jr after he qualified second, it was clear early that James Buescher was the class of the field on Thursday. Leading 119 of the 150 laps run, Buescher blasted to the front on a lap 108 restart past Ty Dillon and Timothy Peters and never looked back, scoring his second win of the season. The victory made Buescher the first repeat winner of the 2012 Truck Series season. Brad Keselowski, Dillon, pole sitter Matt Crafton and Peters rounded out the top 5.

The extreme heat and bumpy racing surface made for treacherous conditions early, as John Wes Townley, Todd Bodine and Jeff Agnew all were involved in individual spins in Turn 3 early. The most notable wreck of the evening came on lap 69; entering Turn 1, Bodine tried to squeeze himself under Justin Lofton and the two made contact, spinning out and collecting Nelson Piquet as well. The resulting damage to the passenger side of Lofton's truck left the No. 6 team to finish 14th, a result that cost them the points lead to Peters and Red Horse Racing.

Perhaps the most notable story off the track was the crowd...or lack thereof. The grandstands were sparse and the infield quiet for the rare weeknight race, a dismal first indicator of how the Kentucky Speedway is set to rebound from its ugly traffic snafu in 2011.

For more details on Thursday's event, check out Beth Lunkenheimer's Tracking the Trucks feature Saturday on the Frontstretch.

Bryan Davis Keith is a Senior Editor for Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via email at bryan.keith@frontstretch.com.

~~~~~~~~~~

Top News
by Jeff Wolfe

Hamlin Close to Contract Extension with JGR

While the focus surrounds the possibility of Matt Kenseth signing with Joe Gibbs Racing, another driver looks to extend his contract with the organization. According to USA Today, Denny Hamlin in the final stages of negotiating a contract extension with the only team he's raced for in the Sprint Cup Series.

"I think I'm up at the end of next year, but I know where my future is, and that's at Gibbs. FedEx knows who they want driving their car. We typically try to do our deals together as a partnership, because that's what it is between the three of us," Hamlin said. "As long as FedEx likes me, I know I want to be with Gibbs. We're to all working together to solidify that for years to come.  I think it'll be done within a week. Everything but the ink on the paper is pretty much done. Everything is pretty much locked in, and we know where we're going to be for the foreseeable future."

Hamlin, who drives the No. 11 Toyota, continues to have a strong relationship with his sponsor, FedEx, and earlier this week spent time at a FedEx Hub in Anchorage, Alaska.

"My relationship with FedEx has been amazing. I'm very, very blessed, and I never take it for granted how good of a sponsor I have, especially as economically tight as sponsorship is now," he said. "It is very cool the things I get to do with them. Visiting the hubs and the employees is what gets me going the most, because they're the ones that have your back no matter what.

"Just look at all the championship drivers having trouble getting sponsorship and filling sponsorship for their race cars. It has been good to be branded as the FedEx guy. As long as I can keep the sponsor happy, I feel I have a job in the sport for years to come."

Hamlin is still trying to win his first Sprint Cup championship. After finishing second in the standings to Jimmie Johnson two years ago, he slumped to ninth last season. This season he is eighth in the standings and  two victories, making him a virtual lock to qualify for NASCAR's Chase for the Championship.

Mayfield Case Against NASCAR Officially Over

According to Sporting News' Bob Pockrass, former NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Jeremy Mayfield didn't file an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court by Wednesday's deadline, essentially ending Mayfield's long-standing lawsuit to fight his 2009 suspension for a failed drug test for methamphetamines.

A U.S. District Court judge ruled in favor of NASCAR in 2010 and a U.S. Court of Appeals upheld that ruling in March, citing that Mayfield signed a waiver regarding the implementation of NASCAR's substance-abuse policy.

"We're pleased that this case is behind us," NASCAR spokesman David Higdon said. "The courts supported our position that NASCAR can establish reasonable rules and requirements to help us regulate our sport."

While NASCAR may be finished with its role in the court case, Mayfield has more legal issues remaining. He faces 19 felony charges in three North Carolina counties, mostly on stolen goods related charges and one methamphetmine charge. Mayfield is currently free on bond and faces three court dates in September.  The 43-year-old last raced in a NASCAR Sprint Cup series in 2009.
 
UPS Delivers One-Race Sponsorship For Edwards in Kentucky

The United Parcel Service will return to the NASCAR Sprint Cup series for one race this weekend in Kentucky, where it will sponsor the No. 99 Roush Fenway car of Carl Edwards. UPS was a regular NASCAR sponsor for years, before pulling out this season. UPS had been the primary sponsor for Dale Jarrett in the 1990s and early 2000s and then for David Regan.

UPS is back on the track at Kentucky Speedway this week largely because the track is located about 90 miles from its UPS Worldport hub in Louisville, Ky., the largest fully automated package handling facility in the world. It services 130 aircraft each day and processes more than 1.6 million packages per day.

Edwards currently sits 11th in points, just 11 markers behind 10th place Brad Keselowski and is searching for that elusive win. In the first 16 races this season, Edwards has just two top-5 and five top-10 finishes. He did finish fifth last year at Kentucky, the first Sprint Cup race at that track.

Have news for The Frontstretch?  Don't hesitate to let us know; email us at phil.allaway@frontstretch.com with a promising lead or tip.

~~~~~~~~~~

Got NASCAR-related questions or comments?
Send them John Potts' way at john.potts@frontstretch.com; and if you're lucky, you'll get your name in print when he does his weekly column answering back to you – the fans that keep Frontstretch afloat. Potts' Shots will run on Thursdays with a whole new set of Fan Questions and Answers!

~~~~~~~~~~

In Case You Missed It
by Nick Schwartz and Beth Lunkenheimer

Phoenix Racing to honor military members in special paint schemes

In an effort to honor our nation's military members, Phoenix Racing will begin displaying certain individuals on the No. 51 Phoenix Racing Chevrolet. This weekend at Kentucky Speedway, 1st Lieutenant Ashley White Stumpf, late member of the Army Rangers, will adorn the No. 51. Stumpf was killed in October of 2011 in Khandahar, Afghanistan. She had volunteered to work with Special Operations Forces, and worked extensively with Afghan women and children.

Wimmer Working on Nationwide Deal

According to WAOW ABC 9, Scott Wimmer is close to inking a Nationwide Series deal that would put him back behind the wheel later this season. With an expected return at Rockingham, the partnership would include a full-time commitment for next season as well. Wimmer believes the deal would allow him to be competitive week after week. The 36-year-old ran just 21 Nationwide events last year with a variety of teams, including a best finish of 12th at Talladega behind the wheel of the No. 40 Key Motorsports Chevrolet.

~~~~~~~~~~

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.

~~~~~~~~~~

Keepin' It Short: Racing For America's Birthday
by Mike Neff

While Summer has only been officially here for a week, July 4th unofficially marks the mid point of the season. The holiday is famous for picnics and parties, but it is also one of the biggest race weekends of the year. Daytona used to host the Firecracker 400 on the 4th of July, although now it is just a weekend close to the 4th. However, at short tracks around the country, there will be races and fireworks displays galore between Sunday and Wednesday, culminating in the huge night of the same on the 4th of July.

The World Crown will take place at Gresham Motorsports Park. For 29 years Gresham has hosted one of the biggest Super Late Model races of the Summer and all of the biggest names in Super racing will once again descend on the Jefferson, Georgia race track to try and take home the crown. In the Midwest, the Hell Tour continues to roll as Late Models and UMP Modifieds will cruise through Peoria, Alexander, LaSalle and Macon, Illinois from Monday through Thursday. The competitors on the Hell Tour have had an unprecedented run of fortunate weather with 15 straight race days without a single rain out.

Caraway Speedway will be running the annual Rusty Harpe Memorial as they have every year for the last six years in honor of one of the most popular drivers to ever race at the track. Pennsylvania Speedweek for 410 Sprint Cars is opening up on Saturday with races on consecutive nights at Lincoln, Big Diamond, Grandview, Hagerstown, Williams Grove, Port Royal and Selinsgrove. Ohio Sprint Week continues to ramble around the state before concluding Saturday night at Fremont Speedway.

Attending local short track events is more of an experience than just a destination. Tailgating and cooking out are always part of the experience but they are even more a part of the race day when it is the 4th of July. Socializing with fellow Americans, who are also race fans, while cheering for favorite friends and drivers on the track will be a huge part of the day. As the economy continues to turn around and more people are beginning to have some disposable income, visiting local tracks, especially on a week night, will go a long way toward promoting auto racing and ensuring that the tracks will be there for years to come.

America will be 236 years old on Wednesday while auto racing is just over 100 years old. Everyone should go out and support their local race track and celebrate the fact that we live in the greatest country in the world where we are allowed to watch races, burn meat, drink malted beverages and blow up things without fear of our freedoms being wrested away from us. God Bless America!!

Whelen All-American National Championship Points

Anthony Anders has been leading the points race since the first week that points were released in May. It has been primarily a preponderance of races, as Anders has logged more events than anyone else in the top 10. Unfortunately for Anders, the points only take into account the top 18 points races. As a result, the point battle is tightening up at the top of the standings. Nate Monteith continues to benefit from the resurgence of Kingsport Speedway and their large fields, as he's cut Anders lead down to 15 points.

C.E. Falk will be a little tired if he races this weekend thanks to his participation in the Camping World Truck race at Kentucky Speedway Thursday night. The two drivers to keep an eye on are still Lee Pulliam and Duane Howard. Pulliam has been winning consistently since returning from his suspension and Howard is winning against full fields. Pulliam just needs to have enough cars show up at the races he's running while Howard has to hope that he doesn't have any slipups during the limited Summer schedule at Grandview.

Pos. Name Races Wins Top 5s Top 10s Total Points

1.    Anthony Anders 31 2 19 29 565
2.    Nate Monteith 18 6 13 15 550
3.    Ted Christopher 20 4 15 16 538
4.    Deac McCaskill 16 11 15 16 531
5.    C.E. Falk III 17 9 13 15 521
6.    Ryan Preece 19 5 12 16 519
7.    Keith Rocco 20 6 11 14 512
8.    Matt Bowling 18 1 13 16 493
9.    Lee Pulliam 14 7 11 12 477
10.    Duane Howard 11 7 10 11 447

**Under the points structure for the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series, the
race winner receives two points for every car in the event up to 20. Second
place receives two fewer points, and so-on through the field. Race winners
receive an additional five bonus points. For example, if there are 20 cars,
the winner receives 45 points, second gets 38 and third 36. If there are 15
cars, the winner received 35 points, second gets 28 and third 26. The top 18
races count towards the National Championship for a driver. A perfect season
for a driver would be 18 race wins with 20 car fields which equates to 810
points. The first driver to reach 810 points is declared the National
Champion in the event of a tie.**

ASA National Points

The ASA National Points race continues to get more and more interesting as Shelby Stroebel continues on an amazing tear of 12 straight victories in Modifieds at Meridian Speedway. While Stroebel and Mike Slone are the top two in the West Region and the top two in the National race, Barry Beggarly, last year's champion and Speedy Faucette are right on their tales. This battle is going to go down to the very end.

East Region Point Leaders
1.    Barry Beggarly 1.9367
2.    Dustin Rumley 1.9340
3.    Speedy Faucette 1.9255
4.    Rodney Cook 1.7500
5.    Dean Fogleman 1.7201

West Region Point Leaders
1.    Shelby Stroebel 2.4192
2.    Mike Slone 2.0279
3.    Rus Ward 1.9011
4.    Matt Wallace 1.8440
5.    Roger Wilson 1.7971

Throughout the season, drivers competing in the premiere divisions at eligible ASA Member Tracks are in the running for the 2012 ASA Member Track National Championship.  In order to have a chance for the national title, a driver must first win their 2012 track championship.
 
Speednetdirect.com, for the fifth year in a row, will tabulate the National Championship standings.  Using a proprietary formula that creates an average based on wins, finishing positions, number of cars passed, car counts and events.  The driver who wins their track championship and has the highest average over the other ASA Member Track champions will win the 2012 ASA Member Track National Championship. Full standings are available at www.speednetdirect.com. Click on the ASA Member Track logo at the top of the page.

This Week's Race Schedule

Fri : June 29th – Ocean Speedway ; Watsonville : CA – Taco Bravo Ocean Sprints
Fri : June 29th – Stockton 99 Speedway ; Stockton : CA – NCMA Sprints
Fri : June 29th – Stafford Speedway ; Stafford Springs : CT – Late Models
Fri : June 29th – Stafford Speedway ; Stafford Springs : CT – Limited Late Models
Fri : June 29th  – Stafford Speedway ; Stafford Springs : CT – SK Lights
Fri : June 29th  – Stafford Speedway ; Stafford Springs : CT – SK Modifieds
Fri : June 29th – Orlando Speedworld ; Orlando : FL – Brighthouse Challenge Super Late Models
Fri : June 29th – Boyd's Speedway ; Ringgold : GA – Southern Regional Racing Series
Fri : June 29th – Speedrome ; Indianapolis : IN – Hornets
Fri : June 29th – Speedrome ; Indianapolis : IN – Legends
Fri : June 29th – Speedrome ; Indianapolis : IN – Mel Kenyon Midgets
Fri : June 29th – Highway 3 Raceway ; Allison : IA – USMTS National Championship Series Modifieds
Fri : June 29th – Belleville Highbanks ; Belleville : KS – World of Outlaws Sprint Cars
Fri : June 29th – Paducah International Raceway ; Paducah : KY – Hell Tour DIRTCar Late Models Summer Nationals
Fri : June 29th – Paducah International Raceway ; Paducah : KY – DIRTCar Summit UMP Modified Nationals
Fri : June 29th – Winston Speedway ; Rothbury : MI – Michigan Dirt Cup Late Models
Fri : June 29th – Chateau Raceway ; Lansing : MN – USRA Modifieds
Fri : June 29th – Chateau Raceway ; Lansing : MN – IMCA Stock Cars
Fri : June 29th – Chateau Raceway ; Lansing : MN – WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds
Fri : June 29th – Chateau Raceway ; Lansing : MN – WISSOTA Street Stocks
Fri : June 29th – Malden Speedway ; Malden : MO – Fireworks 150 USCS 600 Sprint Cars
Fri : June 29th – Malden Speedway ; Malden : MO – Fireworks 150 USCS Outlaw Thunder Sprint Cars
Fri : June 29th – Malden Speedway ; Malden : MO – Late Models
Fri : June 29th – Malden Speedway ; Malden : MO – Modifieds
Fri : June 29th – Malden Speedway ; Malden : MO – Street Stocks
Fri : June 29th – Valley Speedway ; Grain Valley : MO – United Late Model Association Late Models
Fri : June 29th – I-80 Speedway ; Greenwood : NE – Cornbelt Clash Late Models
Fri : June 29th – I-80 Speedway ; Greenwood : NE – Midwest Late Model Racing Association
Fri : June 29th – I-80 Speedway ; Greenwood : NE – MARS Dirtcar Series Late Models
Fri : June 29th – Lee USA Speedway ; Lee : NH – MRS Modifieds
Fri : June 29th – Carolina Speedway ; Gastonia : NC – NDRA Road Show
Fri : June 29th – Jackson County Speedway ; Jackson : OH – Jackson 50 Late Models
Fri : June 29th – Jackson County Speedway ; Jackson : OH – Street Stocks
Fri : June 29th – Toledo Speedway ; Toledo : OH – USAC MOPAR National Midgets
Fri : June 29th – Toledo Speedway ; Toledo : OH – USAC Silver Crown
Fri : June 29th – Van Wert Fairgrounds ; Van Wert : OH – Antique Auto Racing Association
Fri : June 29th – Coos Bay International Speedway ; Coos Bay : OR – West Coast Vintage Racers
Fri : June 29th – Big Diamond Speedway ; Minersville : PA – 358 Modifieds
Fri : June 29th – Big Diamond Speedway ; Minersville : PA – Sportsman
Fri : June 29th – Lernerville Speedway ; Sarver : PA – World of Outlaws Late Models
Fri : June 29th – Estevan Motor Speedway ; Estevan : Saskatchewan – IMCA Modifieds
Fri : June 29th – Estevan Motor Speedway ; Estevan : Saskatchewan – IMCA Street Stocks
Fri : June 29th – Black Hills Speedway ; Rapid City : SD – Sprint Cars
Fri : June 29th – Black Hills Speedway ; Rapid City : SD – Street Stocks
Fri : June 29th – Black Hills Speedway ; Rapid City : SD – Super Stocks
Fri : June 29th – Mountain Creek Speedway ; Grand Prairie : TX – IMCA Modifieds
Fri : June 29th – Mountain Creek Speedway ; Grand Prairie : TX – IMCA Sport Modifieds
Fri : June 29th – Mountain Creek Speedway ; Grand Prairie : TX – IMCA Stock
Fri : June 29th – Mountain Creek Speedway ; Grand Prairie : TX – Street Stock
Fri : June 29th – Mountain Creek Speedway ; Grand Prairie : TX – Winged Modifieds
Fri : June 29th – Manitowoc County Fairgrounds ; Manitowoc : WI – Wisconsin Dirt Late Models
Fri : June 29th – Manitowoc County Fairgrounds ; Manitowoc : WI – Sprint Cars
Fri : June 29th – Manitowoc County Fairgrounds ; Manitowoc : WI – Street Stock
Fri : June 29th – Oshkosh Speedzone Winnebago County Fairgrounds ; Oshkosh : WI – IMCA Modifieds
Fri : June 29th – Oshkosh Speedzone Winnebago County Fairgrounds ; Oshkosh : WI – IMCA Sport Modifieds
Fri : June 29th – Oshkosh Speedzone Winnebago County Fairgrounds ; Oshkosh : WI – Street Stocks
Fri : June 29th – St. Croix Valley Raceway ; St. Croix Falls : WI – Upper Midwest Sprints
Fri : June 29th – Sweetwater Speedway ; Sweetwater : WY – Championship Late Models
Sat : June 30th – NEA Speedway ; Harrisburg : AR – USCS 600 Sprint Cars
Sat : June 30th – NEA Speedway ; Harrisburg : AR – USCS Outlaw Thunder Sprint Cars
Sat : June 30th – Riverside International Speedway ; West Memphis : AR – 305 Winged Sprints
Sat : June 30th – Riverside International Speedway ; West Memphis : AR – 600 Mini Sprints
Sat : June 30th – Riverside International Speedway ; West Memphis : AR – Late Models
Sat : June 30th – Riverside International Speedway ; West Memphis : AR – Modifieds
Sat : June 30th – Buttonwillow Raceway Park ; Buttonwillow : CA – 24 Hours of LeMons
Sat : June 30th – Madera Speedway ; Madera : CA – SRL Southwest Tour Late Models
Sat : June 30th – Madera Speedway ; Madera : CA – Late Models
Sat : June 30th – Madera Speedway ; Madera : CA – Hobby Stocks
Sat : June 30th – Placerville Speedway ; Placerville : CA – BCRA Midgets
Sat : June 30th – Stafford Speedway ; Stafford Springs : CT – 9th Annual Carquest Super Saturday ISMA Supermodifieds
Sat : June 30th – Stafford Speedway ; Stafford Springs : CT – 9th Annual Carquest Super Saturday NEMA Midgets
Sat : June 30th – Stafford Speedway ; Stafford Springs : CT – 9th Annual Carquest Super Saturday Pro-4 Mods
Sat : June 30th – New Smyrna Speedway ; New Smyrna Beach : FL – Pro Late Models
Sat : June 30th – New Smyrna Speedway ; New Smyrna Beach : FL – E-Modifieds
Sat : June 30th – New Smyrna Speedway ; New Smyrna Beach : FL – Sportsman
Sat : June 30th – Punta Gorda Speedway ; Punta Gorda : FL – Mid Season Championship Late Model Sportsman
Sat : June 30th – Punta Gorda Speedway ; Punta Gorda : FL – Mid Season Championship Open Wheel Modifieds
Sat : June 30th – New Senoia Raceway ; Senoia : GA – Late Models
Sat : June 30th – Watermelon Capital Speedway ; Cordele : GA – Super Streets
Sat : June 30th – Grundy County Speedway ; Morris : IL – USAC Midwest Focus Midgets
Sat : June 30th – Grundy County Speedway ; Morris : IL – USAC Mopar D1 Stars
Sat : June 30th – Grundy County Speedway ; Morris : IL – USAC MOPAR National Midgets
Sat : June 30th – Route 66 Raceway ; Joliet : IL – Jeg's All-Stars Pro Late Models
Sat : June 30th – Paragon Speedway ; Paragon : IN – King of Indiana Sprint Car Series
Sat : June 30th – Twin Cities Raceway Park ; North Vernon : IN – Midwest Mini-Sprint Association
Sat : June 30th – South Bend Speedway ; South Bend : IN - $1,500 to win Mini Stock
Sat : June 30th – South Bend Speedway ; South Bend : IN – Late Models
Sat : June 30th – South Bend Speedway ; South Bend : IN – Sportsman
Sat : June 30th – South Bend Speedway ; South Bend : IN – Street Stocks
Sat : June 30th – Speedrome ; Indianapolis : IN – 66th Annual Family Fireworks Late Model Firecracker
Sat : June 30th – Speedrome ; Indianapolis : IN – Hornets Figure 8
Sat : June 30th – Adams County Speedway ; Corning : IA – MARS Dirtcar Series Late Models
Sat : June 30th – Adams County Speedway ; Corning : IA – Cornbelt Clash Late Models
Sat : June 30th – Adams County Speedway ; Corning : IA – Midwest Late Model Racing Association
Sat : June 30th – Hardin County Fairgrounds ; Eldora : IA – Henrick Racing Figure 8s
Sat : June 30th – Independence Motor Speedway ; Independence : IA – IMCA Late Models
Sat : June 30th – Independence Motor Speedway ; Independence : IA – IMCA Modifieds
Sat : June 30th – Independence Motor Speedway ; Independence : IA – IMCA Stock Cars
Sat : June 30th – Independence Motor Speedway ; Independence : IA – IMCA Sport Mods
Sat : June 30th – Southern Iowa Speedway ; Oskaloosa : IA – Iowa Sportsman Series
Sat : June 30th – Upper Iowa Speedway ; Decorah : IA – USMTS National Championship Series Modifieds
Sat : June 30th – Lakeside Speedway ; Kansas City : KS – World of Outlaws Sprint Cars
Sat : June 30th– Corbin Speedway ; Corbin : KY – Late Models
Sat : June 30th– Corbin Speedway ; Corbin : KY – Sportsman
Sat : June 30th – Corbin Speedway ; Corbin : KY – Pure Street
Sat : June 30th – Corbin Speedway ; Corbin : KY – Mini Stock
Sat : June 30th – Corbin Speedway ; Corbin : KY – Outlaw Mini Cup
Sat : June 30th – Corbin Speedway ; Corbin : KY – Baby Grand
Sat : June 30th – Corbin Speedway ; Corbin : KY – Pro Challenge
Sat : June 30th – Oxford Plains Speedway ; Oxford Plains : ME – Late Models
Sat : June 30th – Oxford Plains Speedway ; Oxford Plains : ME – Outlaws
Sat : June 30th – Oxford Plains Speedway ; Oxford Plains : ME – Strictly Stock
Sat : June 30th – Hagerstown Speedway ; Hagerstown : MD – 47th Annual Johnny Roberts Memorial Late Models
Sat : June 30th – Hagerstown Speedway ; Hagerstown : MD – Late Model Sportsman
Sat : June 30th – Hagerstown Speedway ; Hagerstown : MD – Pure Stocks
Sat : June 30th – I-96 Speedway ; Lake Odessa : MI – Michigan Dirt Cup Late Models
Sat : June 30th – Kalamazoo Speedway ; Kalamazoo : MI – Outlaw Super Late Models
Sat : June 30th – Kalamazoo Speedway ; Kalamazoo : MI – Super Stocks
Sat : June 30th – Kalamazoo Speedway ; Kalamazoo : MI – Pro Stocks
Sat : June 30th – Springport Motor Speedway ; Springport : MI – Modifieds
Sat : June 30th – Springport Motor Speedway ; Springport : MI – Super Late Models
Sat : June 30th – Deer Creek Speedway ; Spring Valley : MN – Firecracker Wissota Late Models
Sat : June 30th – Deer Creek Speedway ; Spring Valley : MN – Firecracker Wissota Midwest Modifieds
Sat : June 30th – Deer Creek Speedway ; Spring Valley : MN – Firecracker Wissota Street Stocks
Sat : June 30th – Deer Creek Speedway ; Spring Valley : MN – Firecracker Wissota Super Stocks
Sat : June 30th – Deer Creek Speedway ; Spring Valley : MN – Firecracker USRA Modifieds
Sat : June 30th – North Central Speedway ; Brainerd : MN – Wissota Modifieds
Sat : June 30th – North Central Speedway ; Brainerd : MN – Wissota Midwest Modifieds
Sat : June 30th – North Central Speedway ; Brainerd : MN – Wissota Street Stocks
Sat : June 30th – North Central Speedway ; Brainerd : MN – Wissota Super Stocks
Sat : June 30th – Magnolia Motor Speedway ; Columbus : MS – Super Late Models
Sat : June 30th – Magnolia Motor Speedway ; Columbus : MS – NeSmith Late Models
Sat : June 30th – Magnolia Motor Speedway ; Columbus : MS – Street Stocks
Sat : June 30th – Whynot Motorsports Park ; Meridian : MS – Cajun Sprinters Association
Sat : June 30th – I-44 Speedway ; Lebanon : MO – Salute to America Firecracker 50 ASA Late Models
Sat : June 30th – I-44 Speedway ; Lebanon : MO – Salute to America Modifieds
Sat : June 30th – I-44 Speedway ; Lebanon : MO – Salute to America Sportsman
Sat : June 30th – I-44 Speedway ; Lebanon : MO – Salute to America Road Warriors
Sat : June 30th – I-44 Speedway ; Lebanon : MO – Salute to America Chargers
Sat : June 30th – I-55 Raceway ; Pevely : MO – Hell Tour DIRTCar Late Models Summer Nationals
Sat : June 30th – I-55 Raceway ; Pevely : MO – DIRTCar Summit UMP Modified Nationals
Sat : June 30th – Lucas Oil Speedway ; Wheatland : MO – American Patriot Night Factory Stocks
Sat : June 30th – Lucas Oil Speedway ; Wheatland : MO – American Patriot Night A-Mods
Sat : June 30th – Lucas Oil Speedway ; Wheatland : MO – American Patriot Night B-Mods
Sat : June 30th – Lucas Oil Speedway ; Wheatland : MO – American Patriot Night United Late Model Association Late Models
Sat : June 30th – Canaan Fair Speedway ; Canaan : NH – PASS North Super Late Models
Sat : June 30th – Monadnock Speedway ; Winchester : NH – New England Truck Series
Sat : June 30th – Riverside Speedway ; Groveton : NH – Senior Tour Auto Racers
Sat : June 30th – Holland Speedway ; Holland : NY – Race of Champions Modifieds
Sat : June 30th – Hickory Motor Speedway ; Newton : NC – Late Models
Sat : June 30th – Hickory Motor Speedway ; Newton : NC – Limited Late Models
Sat : June 30th – Hickory Motor Speedway ; Newton : NC – Street Stock
Sat : June 30th – Red River Valley Speedway ; West Fargo : ND – Modifieds
Sat : June 30th – Red River Valley Speedway ; West Fargo : ND – Super Stocks
Sat : June 30th – Southwest Speedway ; Dickinson : ND – IMCA Modifieds
Sat : June 30th – Southwest Speedway ; Dickinson : ND – Wissota Street Stocks
Sat : June 30th – Sandusky Speedway ; Sandusky : OH – Midwest Supermodifieds
Sat : June 30th – Southern Oklahoma Speedway ; Ardmore : OK – Oil Capital Racing Series
Sat : June 30th – Emo Speedway ; Emo : Ontario – Wissota Midwest Modifieds
Sat : June 30th – Emo Speedway ; Emo : Ontario – Wissota Modifieds
Sat : June 30th – Emo Speedway ; Emo : Ontario – Street Stocks
Sat : June 30th – Sunset Speedway ; Innisfil : Ontario – OSCAAR Super Late Models
Sat : June 30th – Big Diamond Speedway ; Minersville : PA – ARDC Midgets
Sat : June 30th – Big Diamond Speedway ; Minersville : PA – Xcel 600 CCs
Sat : June 30th – Lernerville Speedway ; Sarver : PA – World of Outlaws Late Models
Sat : June 30th – Lincoln Speedway ; Abbottstown : PA – Pennsylvania Speedweek Opener/13th Annual Kevin Gobrecht Memorial 410 Sprints
Sat : June 30th – Mountain Speedway ; St. John's : PA – Modifieds
Sat : June 30th – Mountain Speedway ; St. John's : PA – Street Stocks
Sat : June 30th – Path Valley Speedway ; Spring Run : PA – Sidewinder Sprints
Sat : June 30th – Williams Grove Speedway ; Mechanicsburg : PA – Super Sportsman
Sat : June 30th – Oyster Bed Speedway ; Oyster Bed Bridge : Prince Edward Island – Parts for Trucks Pro Stocks
Sat : June 30th – Autodrome Montmagny ; Montmagny : Quebec – ACT Castrol Late Models
Sat : June 30th – Dillon Motor Speedway ; Dillon : SC – Southeast Limited Late Models
Sat : June 30th – Smoky Mountain Speedway ; Maryville : TN – Southern Regional Racing Series
Sat : June 30th – C C Speedway ; Corpus Christi : TX – Dwarf Car Series of Texas
Sat : June 30th – Shenandoah Speedway ; Shenandoah : VA – Late Models
Sat : June 30th – Shenandoah Speedway ; Shenandoah : VA – Sportsman
Sat : June 30th – Evergreen Speedway ; Monroe : WA – Northwest Pro 4 Alliance
Sat : June 30th – Evergreen Speedway ; Monroe : WA – Northwest Pro 4 Trucks
Sat : June 30th – Cedar Lake Speedway ; New Richmond : WI – Midwest Modifieds
Sat : June 30th – Marshfield Motor Speedway ; Marshfield : WI – ASA Midwest Tour
Sat : June 30th – TNT Speedway ; Three Lakes : WI – Wissota Midwest Modifieds
Sat : June 30th – TNT Speedway ; Three Lakes : WI – Wissota Street Stocks
Sat : June 30th – Sweetwater Speedway ; Sweetwater : WY – Championship Late Models
Sun : July 1st – Buttonwillow Raceway Park ; Buttonwillow : CA – 24 Hours of LeMons
Sun : July 1st – Lincoln Speedway ; Lincoln : IL – Hell Tour DIRTCar Late Models Summer Nationals
Sun : July 1st – Lincoln Speedway ; Lincoln : IL – DIRTCar Summit UMP Modified Nationals
Sun : July 1st – Oxford Plains Speedway ; Oxford Plains : ME – 4 & 8 Cylinder Obstacle Course
Sun : July 1st – Springport Motor Speedway ; Springport : MI – Jeg's All Star Pro Late Models
Sun : July 1st – Springport Motor Speedway ; Springport : MI – USAC Midwest Focus Midgets
Sun : July 1st – Wall Speedway ; Wall : NJ – North East Enduro Tour
Sun : July 1st – Portsmouth Raceway Park ; Portsmouth : OH – Lucas Oil Late Models
Sun : July 1st – Cornwall Motor Speedway ; Cornwall : Ontario – DIRTCar Big-Block Modifieds
Sun : July 1st – Varney Motor Speedway ; Varney : Ontario – Can-Am TQ Midgets
Sun : July 1st – Big Diamond Speedway ; Minersville : PA – Pennsylvania Speedweek 410 Sprints
Sun : July 1st – Big Diamond Speedway ; Minersville : PA – Keystone Legend Car Tour
Sun : July 1st – Seymour Speedway ; Seymour : WI – Wisconsin Dirt Late Models
Mon : July 2nd – Peoria Speedway ; Peoria : IL – Hell Tour DIRTCar Late Models Summer Nationals
Mon : July 2nd – Peoria Speedway ; Peoria : IL – DIRTCar Summit UMP Modified Nationals
Mon : July 2nd – Peoria Speedway ; Peoria : IL – Limited Late Models
Mon : July 2nd – Independence Motor Speedway ; Independence : IA – Deery Brothers Late Models
Mon : July 2nd – Rolling Wheels Raceway ; Elbridge : NY – DIRTCar Big-Block Modifieds
Tue : July 3rd – Huntsville Speedway ; Huntsville : AL – Southern Superstars Super Late Models
Tue : July 3rd – Huntsville Speedway ; Huntsville : AL – Modifieds
Tue : July 3rd – Crowley's Ridge Raceway ; Paragould : AR – USCS 600 Sprint Cars
Tue : July 3rd – Crowley's Ridge Raceway ; Paragould : AR – USCS Outlaw Thunder Sprint Cars
Tue : July 3rd – Gresham Motorsports Park ; Jefferson : GA – World Crown 300 Super Late Models
Tue : July 3rd – Shepp's Speedway ; Alexander : IL – Hell Tour DIRTCar Late Models Summer Nationals
Tue : July 3rd – Shepp's Speedway ; Alexander : IL – DIRTCar Summit UMP Modified Nationals
Tue : July 3rd – Kalamazoo Speedway ; Kalamazoo : MI – FWD Enduro Race #2
Tue : July 3rd – Columbus Speedway ; Columbus : MS – Super Late Models
Tue : July 3rd – Columbus Speedway ; Columbus : MS – NeSmith Late Models
Tue : July 3rd – Columbus Speedway ; Columbus : MS – Street Stocks
Tue : July 3rd – Monett Speedway ; Monett : MO – MARS Dirtcar Series Late Models
Tue : July 3rd – U.S. 36 Raceway ; Cameron : MO – 1st Annual Nationals Lucas Oil ASCS Sprints
Tue : July 3rd – U.S. 36 Raceway ; Cameron : MO – A Mods
Tue : July 3rd – U.S. 36 Raceway ; Cameron : MO – Sport Mods
Tue : July 3rd – Midvale Speedway ; Midvale : OH – Main Event Super Late Models
Tue : July 3rd – Muskingum County Speedway ; Zanesville : OH – Lucas Oil Late Models
Tue : July 3rd – Anderson Motor Speedway ; Anderson : SC – PASS South
Tue : July 3rd – Huset's Speedway ; Brandon : SD – World of Outlaws Sprint Cars
Tue : July 3rd – South Boston Speedway ; South Boston : VA – Late Models
Tue : July 3rd – South Boston Speedway ; South Boston : VA – Limited Late Models
Wed : July 4th – East Alabama Motor Speedway ; Phenix City : AL – Nesmith Dirt Late Models
Wed : July 4th – Perris Auto Speedway ; Perris : CA – USAC/CRA Sprint Cars
Wed : July 4th – Placerville Speedway ; Placerville : CA – 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular California Civil War Series Sprint Cars
Wed : July 4th – Gresham Motorsports Park ; Jefferson : GA – Outlaws
Wed : July 4th – Gresham Motorsports Park ; Jefferson : GA – World Crown 300 Super Late Models
Wed : July 4th – Gresham Motorsports Park ; Jefferson : GA – Trucks
Wed : July 4th – Lasalle Speedway ; LaSalle : IL – Hell Tour DIRTCar Late Models Summer Nationals
Wed : July 4th – Lasalle Speedway ; LaSalle : IL – DIRTCar Summit UMP Modified Summer Nationals
Wed : July 4th – Corbin Speedway ; Corbin : KY – Late Models
Wed : July 4th – Corbin Speedway ; Corbin : KY – Baby Grand
Wed : July 4th – Corbin Speedway ; Corbin : KY – Pro Challenge
Wed : July 4th – Oxford Plains Speedway ; Oxford Plains : ME – Late Models
Wed : July 4th – Oxford Plains Speedway ; Oxford Plains : ME – Rebels
Wed : July 4th – Oxford Plains Speedway ; Oxford Plains : ME – Strictly Stock
Wed : July 4th – Hagerstown Speedway ; Hagerstown : MD – Pennsylvania Speedweek 410 Sprints
Wed : July 4th – Caraway Speedway ; Asheboro : NC – Rusty Harpe Memorial Late Models
Wed : July 4th – Caraway Speedway ; Asheboro : NC – Late Model Trucks
Wed : July 4th – Caraway Speedway ; Asheboro : NC – Limited Late Models
Wed : July 4th – Wagner Speedway ; Wagner : SD – Super Late Model Racing Series
Wed : July 4th – Langlade County Speedway ; Antigo : WI – Cornbelt Clash Late Models
Wed : July 4th – Langlade Speedway ; Antigo : WI – Late Models
Wed : July 4th – Langlade Speedway ; Antigo : WI – Modifieds
Thu : July 5th – Macon Speedway ; Macon : IL – Hell Tour DIRTCar Late Models Summer Nationals
Thu : July 5th – Macon Speedway ; Macon : IL – DIRTCar Summit UMP Modified Nationals
Thu : July 5th – US 30 Speedway ; Columbus : NE – Super Late Model Racing Series

Mike Neff is a Senior Writer for Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via email at mike.neff@frontstretch.com.

~~~~~~~~~~

Editor's Note: Frontstretch has a brand new, redesigned Facebook page. Click Here to "Like" Us and get a direct connect to all your Frontstretch favorites along with polls, interaction with fans and so much more.

~~~~~~~~~~

Fantasy Friday: Quaker State 400
by Jeff Wolfe

The time is now for Matt Kenseth ... and for a lot of reasons.

It was announced earlier this week that Kenseth was parting ways after this season with the team he's made all but six of his NASCAR Sprint Cup starts with, Roush Fenway Racing. It seemed a bit odd that Kenseth would go elsewhere considering that he is leading the point standings going into Saturday's race.

That Kenseth will be changing teams next year, isn't good news for his competition. Last year's champion, Tony Stewart, proved that a team with big changes coming, can indeed win the title. That was the case when Stewart and crew chief Darian Grubb split.

He has already said he has a deal in place for 2013, so he's also racing without the extra pressure to win for himself, but the motivation to win for others on his team.
Whatever team that has apparently already signed him, heavily rumored to be Joe Gibbs Racing, knows they will be getting a quality person with no extra-curricular issues to deal with as Kenseth is one of NASCAR's good guys. So maybe that will help his odds of winning again.

The Sprint Cup series makes its second trip to Kentucky Speedway and apparently the track has made significant improvements in its traffic flow patterns (mainly by adding more parking space) so more fans can actually get into their seats to watch the race instead of listening to it on the radio while they sit in long lines.

This is a bit of a difficult week to predict, since there is only one race to go off, but here we go.

Top 5 Picks

Kyle Busch - He won here last year, but whether his engine can last an entire race will be the big question.

Jimmie Johnson - He's king of the 1.5-mile tracks and he's driving with a special paint scheme to commemorate classic Chevys from the 1960s. He and Dale Earnhardt Jr. each won with special paint schemes at Dover and Michigan, so why not again?

Tony Stewart - Kentucky and Darlington are the two active Sprint Cup tracks he has not won on, and other than Indianapolis, this is as close to home as Stewart will race this year. He did finish 12th at Kentucky last year.

Brad Keselowski - He finished seventh last year, but had 31 of the fastest laps run during the race, the second most behind Busch.

Matt Kenseth - Wouldn't it be dramatic to see him in Victory Lane after this week's news and he did finish sixth last year.

Shoulda, woulda, coulda - Clint Bowyer won last week, but that was a road course, which is, of course, much different than the usual ovals that NASCAR runs on. While Bowyer has been improving as the season has gone on, it's hard to pick him at Kentucky.

ACCOUNTABILITY GROUP
Here's a look at how last week's picks fared at Sonoma.

Jeff Gordon: 5th. Overcame running out of gas to rally for a good finish.

Tony Stewart: 2nd. A nice drive, coming from 24th with only two cautions all day

Juan Pablo Montoya: 34th. Sort of ironic that his ex-crew chief was celebrating in Victory Lane at the end of the day

Marcos Ambrose: 8th. He led 11 laps early, but was disappointed he didn't contend for the win.

Boris Said: 29th. Disappointed here, too, but yes, I'll pick him again at Watkins Glen.

Season Stats

80 Predictions
8 Wins
30 Top 5s
38 Top 10s

Grade for the week: B-. No victory this week, and Montoya's effort was the killer here. Took a shot with Boris Said, but maybe not enough Said Head karma was going on Sunday. Where are the Said Heads when I need them? Stewart methodically went through the field all day. Four or five more laps, maybe he would have caught eventual winner Clint Bowyer.

One Last Thing:  This is no surprise, but in case you were wondering, Jimmie Johnson leads all active drivers with wins at 1.5 mile tracks with 16.

Jeff Wolfe is a Contributor for Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via email at jeff.wolfe@frontstretch.com.

~~~~~~~~~~

ADVERTISEMENT
Are you looking to advertise your website, product or brand?  A good way to get your name out there is via direct advertising here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!  Interested parties can contact us at tony.lumbis@frontstretch.com for details.

~~~~~~~~~~

Frontstretch Folio: Quaker State 400
by Nick Schwartz

This weekend, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series returns to Kentucky Speedway for the Quaker State 400—the 17th race of the season. Saturday's race will be broadcast live June 30th, at 6:30 PM EST on TNT and 6:00 PM EST on PRN Radio. Drivers will compete for 267 laps (400.5 miles) before taking the checkered flag.

Records and Facts

This will be the second Sprint Cup Series visit to Kentucky Speedway, but there still isn't a record for fast qualifying lap. Qualifying was rained out in 2011, and the field was set by practice speeds; Kyle Busch started on the pole.

Kyle Busch is also the defending winner of the Quaker State 400, having won from the pole in 2011. David Reutimann, Jimmie Johnson, Ryan Newman and Carl Edwards rounded out the top 5. The victory gave Busch a four-point lead over Carl Edwards in the Sprint Cup Series point standings at the time. 

Track Facts

Track/Race Length: 1.5-mile tri-oval; 267 laps (400.5 miles)
Degree of Banking: Turns 14 degrees
Frontstretch: Length: 1,662 feet, banked eight degrees
Backstretch: Length: 1,600 feet, banked four degrees
Grandstand Seating: 66,089

VIPs

Grand Marshal / Command: Steve Reindl, Vice President of North America key accounts, Quaker State
Honorary Starter / Wave Green Flag: Kyle Klingenberg, President, Major Brands Oil Co.
National Anthem: Country Singer Laura Bell Bundy
Flyover: T-45's from the U.S. Naval Air Station, Meridian, Mississippi
Invocation: Pastor John Roberts, Raceway Ministries

Pre-race Schedule

Practice: Friday, June 29 11:30 AM EST - 12:30 PM EST on SPEED
Happy Hour: Friday, June 29 1:30 PM EST - 3:00PM EST on SPEED
Qualifying: Friday, June 29 5:00 PM EST on SPEED

Race Day Forecast

Saturday: Sunny
High: 101
Low: 74

They Said It

"If you can get your car where it's comfortable over the bumps in Turns 1 and 2, that's obviously going to be the fast way around Kentucky.  Sometimes that is easier said than done so some drivers will choose to enter a bit higher to avoid the bumps.  Usually that will establish a second groove around the middle of the race, which can lead to some great side-by-side racing over the final laps.  It's definitely a place with a lot of character, despite the fact that it looks like a lot of the other intermediate tracks that we visit." -Brad Keselowski

"Kentucky is another one of the tough mile-and-a-half tracks.  The Sprint Cup Series had never raced there until last year, but I had tested on the track about three years before.  We saw just how tough Kentucky Speedway can be last season during our inaugural race there.  With qualifying getting rained out last year, we started way back in 23rd.   We fought a loose condition just about all race long and never could get a handle on it.  We wound up finishing 28th.  It certainly wasn't what we were hoping to put into the record book for the first-ever Cup race there.  Our Shell-Pennzoil Dodge team has shown a lot of strength on the intermediate tracks this season.  We've had some fast race cars and have been able to qualify really well.  But we've had all kinds of problems – like the fuel system issues and mechanical trouble – that have prevented us getting the good finishes." -AJ Allmendinger

"The fans last year looked very enthused. Kentucky (Speedway) is one of those places that we've been racing at for a long time. I was fortunate to be a part of the first Nationwide Series race there. I've never really raced a race there when the stand haven't been full, so it's one of those places that just really supports everything that we do." -Kevin Harvick

Nick Schwartz is a Contributor for Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via email at nick.schwartz@frontstretch.com.

~~~~~~~~~~

TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:

The Green Flag Flies on NASCAR Silly Season 2012
by Amy Henderson

Four Burning Questions: Traffic Troubles and Busch's Benevolence
by Summer Bedgood

BSNews!: Phoenix Racing Welcomes Matt Kenseth
by Jeff Meyer

Buescher Returns to Top of Truck Series, Turner Motorsports
by Bryan Davis Keith

Tearing Apart the Trucks: Kentucky's Championship Effect
by Beth Lunkenheimer

~~~~~~~~~~

Saturday on the Frontstretch:

Nationwide Breakdown: Feed the Children 300 by Bryan Davis Keith
Bryan has all the post-race analysis you need following Friday night's Nationwide Series race from Kentucky.

Tracking the Trucks: UNOH 225 by Beth Lunkenheimer
Beth has all the post-race analysis you need following Thursday night's Camping World Truck Series race from Kentucky

Landon Cassill Driver Diary as told to Summer Dreyer
The driver of the No. 83 BK Racing Chevrolet is back to dish on Sonoma, Dale Earnhardt, Jr.'s win at Michigan and so much more!

~~~~~~~~~~
 
FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
 
Q: In the 2002 Kroger 300 at Kentucky Speedway, Larry Foyt equaled his best career starting position in the Busch Series with a fifth-place qualifying effort in his Harrah's Chevrolet. However, he couldn't convert that position into a good finish. What happened?

Check back Monday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
 
Thursday's Answer:
 
Q: The first major race held at Kentucky Speedway was the Kroger 225 for the then-Craftsman Truck Series. This race was won by Greg Biffle for Roush Racing, however, Roush's other squad suffered a nasty crash during the event. What happened?

A: This is relatively similar in tone to some of the incidents that have occurred in Sprint Cup this year. Kurt Busch was at the helm of the No. 99 Exide/Tractor Supply Co. Ford for Roush Racing and had a knack for overdriving at times. During this particular race, Busch got very loose on Lap 112 in Turn 3 and instead of just spinning out in a lazy fashion and minimizing damage, Busch overcorrected in an unsuccessful attempt to save the truck. The result was a nasty head-on impact into the concrete wall. Busch was OK, but the truck was thrashed.

Frontstretch Trivia Guarantee: Take the shirt off our backs! If we've provided an incorrect answer to the Frontstretch Trivia question, be the first to email the corrected trivia answer to trivia@frontstretch.com and we'll send you a Frontstretch T-Shirt ... FREE!

~~~~~~~~~~

Coming Monday in the Frontstretch Newsletter:
-- Quaker State 400 Race Recap by Jeff Wolfe
-- Secret Star and Stat of the Race by Tom Bowles
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, and more!
 
Monday on the Frontstretch:

Matt McLaughlin's Thinkin' Out Loud: Quaker State 400 by Matt McLaughlin
Matt will be here with his overall thoughts about the action from Saturday night's race from Kentucky.

Monday Morning Teardown by TBA
A website look at one of the big stories from Saturday's race from Kentucky.

Bowles-Eye View by Tom Bowles
Tom brings back his weekly post-race commentary with all of the insight you need from a weekend of racing at Kentucky.

Big Six: Quaker State 400 by Amy Henderson
Looking for all you need to know leaving Saturday's event at Kentucky? Amy has your who, what, when, where, why and how from a weekend of racing.

Pace Laps: Kentucky Weekend by the Frontstretch Staff
In our newest column this season, we'll take a look at the biggest stories to keep an eye on in each series after a weekend at Kentucky.

-----------------------------
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.

The Frontstretch Newsletter: June 28th, 2012

*THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
*June 28th, 2012
Volume VI, Edition CXX

*Editor's Note: We apologize for the late delivery of today's Newsletter.
This occurred due to circumstances beyond our control. Also, the
Newsletter may contain incorrect bolding. This is because there were
no computers available with an up-to-date internet browser. As a
result, we could not perform some of the basic tasks that you have
likely come to expect from e-mail. *
*
*
*What to Watch: Thursday

*The race weekend starts today with action for the Camping World Truck and
Nationwide Series. Two truck practice sessions will be held from
10:30-11:30am and 12:00pm-1:30pm. These sessions will not be televised.
Qualifying will be televised live on SPEED starting at 5:00pm. In-between
Camping World Truck Qualifying and the race is the opening practice session
for Nationwide teams from 6:30-7:25. Pre-race coverage starts with NCWTS
Setup at 7:30pm, with live coverage of the UNOH 225 starting at 8:00pm.
All times listed are in Eastern Daylight Time. Adjust your time based upon
where you live. Also of note, the projected high temperature in Sparta,
Kentucky (where the track is located) is 102 degrees with a fair amount of
humidity. That will make the task at hand just that much tougher.
*
Top News*
*by Phil Allaway*

*Andretti Autosport to Enter NASCAR in 2013?

*Andretti Autosport is currently a three-car operation in the Izod IndyCar
Series, fielding entries for Marco Andretti, James Hinchcliffe and Ryan
Hunter-Reay. However, could the team possibly be starting a Sprint Cup
operation for next year? Possibly.

SI.com's Bruce Martin<http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/racing/news/20120627/michael-andretti-nascar/>is
reporting that Andretti Autosport is considering starting a Sprint Cup
team for the 2013 season. This is something that the car owner and former
IndyCar racer has been toying with for the past several years.

"We were looking at NASCAR real close last year, too, but it fell apart,"
Andretti told Martin. "We were looking at it just as hard last year and
the year before."

According to sources, Andretti could get a great deal of support from Dodge
if he decided to be the factory team (replacing the outgoing Penske Racing)
for Chrysler Group, LLC in NASCAR. Apparently, this would cost roughly
$5-6 million.

However, Andretti is not limiting himself to just Dodge.

"I'm always looking at all options," Andretti exclaimed. "I'd be stupid
not to listen to Dodge or any other manufacturers. It doesn't matter that
we are a [Chevrolet] IndyCar team. It might be nice if it was all under
one roof, but in our contract, we're a [Chevrolet] IndyCar team."

If Andretti were able to get their operation going, the first task that
would be necessary is to procure a shop. If they went with Dodge, they
could race out of the former Gillett-Evernham Motorsports shop in
Statesville, North Carolina. If not, then they would have to look for
another place to base operations. Regardless, it would create an
additional seat for an available driver to seek.*

Sam's Club to Sponsor Stenhouse for 3 races

*Roush Fenway Racing announced on Wednesday that they have reached a deal
with Sam's Club, the member's only warehouse division of Wal-Mart, to
sponsor the team's No. 6 Ford Mustang in the Nationwide Series for three
races. In those events, the No. 6 will be promoting the Member's Mark
Angus Beef and Castlewood Reserve. The sponsorship is a partnership
between Sam's Club and existing team sponsor Cargill Beef, who has a
12-race deal to sponsor the team.

Stenhouse is very happy to have Sam's Club onboard his Mustang.

"I am thrilled to have Sam's Club back on our Mustang this year," Stenhouse
said. "Cargill has been a huge supporter of our NO. 6 team the past two
years. We hope to bring recognition to Sam's exclusive brands of Member's
Mark Angus Beef and Castlewood Reserve by putting them in Victory Lane."

Sam's Club colors will return to the No. 6 starting in Friday night's Feed
the Children 300 at Kentucky Speedway. Additional races include the
inaugural race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in July and the first
Nationwide race at the reconfigured Kansas Speedway in October.
*
Entry List Update:
Note: These entries are accurate as of Wednesday night. However, they are
still subject to change.

Sprint Cup Series Quaker State 400: 46 cars entered

Drivers Ineligible to Earn Points:
No. 19- *Mike Bliss for Humphrey-Smith Racing*
No. 87- *Joe Nemechek for NEMCO Motorsports*

Driver Changes:
No. 10- *David Reutimann returns to the seat, replacing Tomy Drissi.*
No. 19- *Mike Bliss returns to the seat, replacing Chris Cook.*
No. 30- *David Stremme returns to the seat, replacing Brian Simo.*
No. 32- *Ken Schrader returns to the seat, replacing Boris Said.*
No. 55- *Michael Waltrip returns to the seat, replacing Brian Vickers.*
No. 98- *Michael McDowell returns to the seat, replacing David Mayhew.*

Drivers who must qualify on speed:
No. 19- *Mike Bliss for Humphrey-Smith Racing**
No. 23- *Scott Riggs for R3 Motorsports**
No. 26- *Josh Wise for Front Row Motorsports**
No. 30- *David Stremme for Inception Motorsports*
No. 33- *Stephen Leicht for LJ Racing*
No. 49- *J.J. Yeley for Robinson-Blakeney Racing*
No. 52- *Mike Skinner for Hamilton-Means Racing**
No. 74- *Stacy Compton for Turn One Racing**
No. 87- *Joe Nemechek for NEMCO Motorsports**
No. 95- *Scott Speed for Leavine Family Racing*
No. 98- *Michael McDowell for Phil Parsons Racing*

Nationwide Series Feed the Children 300: 46 cars entered

Drivers Ineligible to Earn Points:
No. 18- *Denny Hamlin for Joe Gibbs Racing*
No. 22- *Brad Keselowski for Penske Racing*
No. 30- *James Buescher for Turner Motorsports*
No. 33- *Kevin Harvick for Richard Childress Racing*
No. 42- *Josh Wise for Team Motorsports Group*
No. 54- *Kurt Busch for Kyle Busch Motorsports*
No. 75- *Scott Riggs for Rick Ware Racing*

Driver Changes:
No. 08- *Tim Andrews returns to the seat, replacing Matt Frahm.**
No. 4- *Danny Efland returns to the seat, replacing Matt Bell.*
No. 17- *Tanner Berryhill returns to the seat, replacing J.J. Yeley.*
No. 18- *Denny Hamlin returns to the seat, replacing Michael McDowell.*
No. 20- *Joey Logano returns to the seat, replacing Ryan Truex.*
No. 22- *Brad Keselowski returns to the seat, replacing Jacques Villeneuve.*
No. 23- *Jamie Dick returns to the seat, replacing Bill Prietzel.*
No. 24- *Jamie Mosley is in the seat, replacing Casey Roderick. Benny
Gordon was originally listed as the team's driver, but was officially
replaced on Tuesday. This will be Mosley's first Nationwide Series start
since 2007.*
No. 30-* James Buescher returns to the seat, replacing Nelson Piquet, Jr.*
No. 33- *Kevin Harvick returns to the seat, replacing Max Papis.*
No. 52- *An unknown driver will be in the seat, replacing Ryan Ellis.*
No. 70- *Johanna Long returns to the seat, replacing Tony Raines.*
No. 87- *Joe Nemechek returns to the seat, replacing Alex Kennedy.*
No. 99- *Kenny Wallace returns to the seat, replacing Victor Gonzalez, Jr.*

Drivers who must qualify on speed:
No. 10- *Jeff Green for TriStar Motorsports (Guaranteed to start via the
Past Champions' Provisional)**
No. 15- *Blake Koch for Rick Ware Racing**
No. 17- *Tanner Berryhill for Berryhill Racing*
No. 20- *Joey Logano for Joe Gibbs Racing**
No. 36- *Ryan Blaney for Tommy Baldwin Racing*
No. 39- *Josh Richards for Go Green Racing*
No. 42- *Josh Wise for Team Motorsports Group**
No. 41- *Timmy Hill for Rick Ware Racing*
No. 42- *Josh Wise for Team Motorsports Group**
No. 46- *Chase Miller for Team Motorsports Group**
No. 47- *Matt DiBenedetto for Team Motorsports Group**
No. 50- *T.J. Bell for MAKE Motorsports**
No. 52- *Unknown driver for Means Motorsports**
No. 72- *John Jackson for Carter Racing**
No. 74- *Mike Harmon for Mike Harmon Racing**
No. 75- *Scott Riggs for Rick Ware Racing**
No. 89- *Morgan Shepherd for Shepherd Motor Ventures*
No. 98- *Reed Sorenson for Biagi-DenBeste Racing*

Entered, but Already Withdrawn:
No. 20- *Joey Logano for Joe Gibbs Racing (No sponsorship)*

Not Entered:
No. 26- *John Young for Young Motorsports*
No. 32- *Miguel Paludo for Turner Motorsports*
No. 59- *Kyle Kelley for Kelley Motorsports*
No. 75- *Kenny Habul for SunEnergy1 Racing, LLC*

Camping World Truck Series UNOH 225: 40 trucks entered

Drivers Ineligible to Earn Points:
No. 19- *Brad Keselowski for Brad Keselowski Racing*
No. 74- *Mike Harmon for Mike Harmon Racing*
No. 86- *Scott Riggs for Clay Greenfield Motorsports*

Driver Changes:
No. 07- *Jeff Agnew is in the seat, replacing Johnny Chapman.*
No. 2- *Tim George, Jr. returns to the seat, replacing Brendan Gaughan.*
No. 4- *Kyle Larson is in the seat, replacing Kasey Kahne. If Larson
qualifies, he will be making his Camping World Truck Series debut.*
No. 14- *Brennan Newberry returns to the seat, replacing Brandon Miller.*
No. 27- *C.E. Falk is in the seat, replacing Brandon Knupp.*
No. 38- Johnny Chapman is *in the seat, replacing Dennis Setzer.*
No. 84- *Chris Fontaine returns to the seat, replacing B.J. McLeod.*
No. 93- *Dennis Setzer is in the seat, replacing Brent Raymer.*

Drivers who must qualify on speed:
No. 0- *Chris Lafferty for JJC Racing*
No. 01- *Jake Crum for Jake Crum Racing*
No. 02- *Tyler Young for Young's Motorsports*
No. 07- *Jeff Agnew for SS-Green Light Racing*
No. 10- *Jennifer Jo Cobb for JJC Racing*
No. 14- *Brennan Newberry for NTS Motorsports*
No. 19- *Brad Keselowski for Brad Keselowski Racing*
No. 38- Johnny Chapman for RSS Racing**
No. 39- *Ryan Sieg for RSS Racing*
No. 57- *Norm Benning for Norm Benning Racing*
No. 68- *Clay Greenfield for Clay Greenfield Motorsports**
No. 75- *Caleb Holman for Henderson Racing*
No. 84- *Chris Fontaine for Chris Fontaine, Inc.*
No. 86- *Scott Riggs for Clay Greenfield Motorsports**
No. 93- *Dennis Setzer for RSS Racing*

Entered, but Already Withdrawn:
No. 74- Mike Harmon for Mike Harmon Racing
No. 83- B.J. McLeod for Chris Fontaine, Inc.
No. 92- David Reutimann for RBR Enterprises

*Not Entered:*
*No. 65- *Scott Stenzel for MB Motorsports*
No. 73- *Rick Crawford for Tagsby Racing*
*- Expected to Start-and-Park

Rolex Sports Car Series Sahlen's Six Hours of the Glen: 34 cars entered (11
Daytona Prototypes, 23 Grand Tourers)
Note: This race also marks Race No. 2 of the North American Endurance
Championship

DP Entries:
No. 01- *Memo Rojas/Scott Pruett for Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates*
No. 2- *Lucas Luhr/Alex Popow for Starworks Motorsport*
No. 5- *Terry Borcheller/David Donohue for Action Express Racing*
No. 7- *Scott Mayer/Colin Braun? for Starworks Motorsport*
No. 8- *Ryan Dalziel/Enzo Potolicchio/Sebastien Bourdais for Starworks
Motorsport*
No. 9- *Joao Barbosa/JC France/Darren Law for Action Express Racing
*No. 10- *Max Angelelli/Ricky Taylor for SunTrust Racing
*No. 60- *Oswaldo "Ozz" Negri, Jr./John Pew for Michael Shank Racing with
Curb-Agajanian
*No. 77- *Dr. Jim Lowe/Paul Tracy for Doran Racing
*No. 90- *Antonio Garcia/Oliver Gavin/Richard Westbrook for Spirit of
Daytona Racing
*No. 99- *Jon Fogarty/Alex Gurney for GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing

*GT Entries:
No. 03- *Guy Cosmo/Mike Hedlund/Johannes van Overbeek for Extreme Speed
Motorsports*
No. 17- *Claudio Burtin/Martin Ragginger for Burtin Racing*
No. 31- *Eric Curran/Boris Said for Marsh Racing*
No. 40- *Patrick Dempsey/Joe Foster for Dempsey Racing*
No. 41- *Charles Espenlaub/Charles Putman for Dempsey Racing*
No. 42- *Dane Cameron/Wayne Nonnamaker for Team Sahlen*
No. 43- *Joe Nonnamaker/Will Nonnamaker/Joe Sahlen for Team Sahlen*
No. 44- *Andy Lally/Patrick Long/John Potter for Magnus Racing*
No. 51- *Dr. Jim Norman/Dion von Moltke for APR Motorsport*
No. 52- *Marc Basseng/Frank Stippler for APR Motorsport*
No. 56- *Rui Aguas/Robert Kauffman for AF-Waltrip*
No. 57- *John Edwards/Robin Liddell for Stevenson Motorsports*
No. 59- *Andrew Davis/Leh Keen for Brumos Racing*
No. 61- *Madison Snow/Melanie Snow for Snow Racing/Wright Motorsports*
No. 64- *Eduardo Costabal/Santiago Orjuela/Eliseo Salazar for TRG*
No. 66- *Damien Faulkner/Ben Keating/Bryan Sellers for TRG*
No. 67- *Steven Bertheau/Wolf Henzler/Spencer Pumpelly for TRG*
No. 69- *Emil Assentato/Jeff Segal for AIM Autosport Team FXDD with Ferrari*
No. 70- *Jonathan Bomarito/Sylvain Tremblay for SpeedSource*
No. 73- *Eric Foss/Patrick Lindsey for Horton Autosport*
No. 75- *Matt Bell/Ronnie Bremer for Stevenson Motrosports*
No. 88- *Paul Edwards/Jordan Taylor for Autohaus Motorsports*
No. 94- *Bill Auberlen/Paul Dalla Lana for Turner Motorsport*
**
**Have news for Phil 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
Quick Shots for June 28, 2012
What's Vexing Vito
**by Vito Pugliese

*- Matt Kenseth sent shockwaves through the Sprint Cup Series this week
when it was revealed he would not be back with the No. 17 team in 2013.
Kenseth, the 2000 Rookie of The Year, 2003 Winston Cup Champion (the last
non-Chase champion), and two-time Daytona 500 winner will be racing
elsewhere for the first time since 1999 next year.

The popular notion has Kenseth headed to Joe Gibbs Racing for 2013 – no
word on if it is to replace Joey Logano in the No. 20 Home Depot machine,
or the long-rumored fourth team at JGR. With Matt McLaughlin's piece this
week touting the number of interviews, minutes of interviews, and mentions
during a race that other drivers who have accomplished less this season, is
it little wonder that Matt Kenseth talks a mile a minute like the Micro
Machines and FedEx guy in those ads from the 1980s? *Editor's Note: It was
John Moschitta, Jr. who was known for his fast talking. This
clip<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJfT8_RV7Lo3t=1m25s>shows
Moschitta guest starring on an episode of Garfield and Friends
*.

Kenseth's departure also echoes a couple of disturbing trends as of late.
First off, the last two Daytona 500 winners apparently are incapable of
attracting any sort of sponsorship. Trevor Bayne, probably the nicest,
cleanest cut and living driver in the garage area, has had blank quarter
panels for over a year and a half now in the Nationwide Series, and still
competes only sparingly in the Cup Series when the Wood Brothers have
funding from Ford and their Motorcraft brand. Kenseth won this year's
prime-time jet fire fueled Daytona 500, his second in three years, and is
leading the points – but can't land a sponsor.

Wasn't the whole point of Fenway Sports Group buying into Roush Racing to
help them secure sponsorship into the future and during this troubled and
challenging economic times? If it wasn't for Ford Motor Company and Jamie
Allison opening up the checkbook and bankrolling half of their cars, would
the lights be shut off in Livonia? Explain to me how winning the biggest
race in the world two years running nets you part-time sponsorship, one of
them from an electronics super store that is boarding up half of their
locations and teetering on the brink of Circuit City-dom.

If Roush Fenway isn't losing sponsorship, it's also losing drivers left and
right. Where else than besides the company that he carried on his
surgically fused back for nearly a decade, would Mark Martin be told they
didn't have use for him in a Cup car, after he made a mockery of the Truck
Series races in competed in part time in 2006? Johnny Benson, Jr. was
dismissed after just two years *Editor's Note: Then-Roush Racing and Benson
agreed to "mutually split" at the end of the 1999 season prior to the
infamous Goody's Headache Powders 500 at Bristol in August that year*. and
nearly shocked the world by nearly winning the 2000 Daytona 500 in a
Pontiac that might as well been unsponsored (it had an eleventh hour
sponsorship from Lycos, but it turned out that they failed to pay for their
sponsorship, putting the team in dire straits by mid-season).

Jeff Burton jumped ship halfway through 2004, went to RCR, and helped to
resurrect an organization and his own career in the process. Kenseth's
abrupt departure makes one wonder just how involved Roush remains in the
decisions of who stays, who goes, and what sponsorship opportunities are
being pursued or rejected. After Martin's unceremonious release in 2006,
Roush blamed himself for not being more aware or involved in the process.

Given his brushes with mortality the past few years, one can forgive the
Cat in The Hat if he has had his attention drawn elsewhere.

While Kenseth will surely land on his feet, and Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. is a
very capable and Cup-ready young driver, this is a move that goes beyond
the "economy sucks/racecars are expensive" argument. The foundation of
what was originally Roush Racing has all but crumbled or left the building.

Since Roush Racing became Roush Fenway Racing, it has been one misstep
after another, from losing its core and backbone, and losing over a year of
relevance running flawed simulation software in 2009-2010, the lone bright
spots have been Matt Kenseth's Daytona 500 triumphs, and Stenhouse, Jr.'s
2011 Nationwide championship. Sure Carl Edwards nearly won the 2011 Sprint
Cup, but he lost on a tie breaker to a guy in a Chevrolet, who won five
times as many races, and had a chunk of Kurt Busch's bell housing in his
radiator in the process.

While it's sack-cloth and ashes at Roush Fenway Racing, there is cause for
rejoicing and celebration for the Danimaniacs following her performance
this past weekend at Road America. Finally, for the first time in her
brief fendered career, she looked like a real stockcar driver. Not racecar
driver – stockcar driver.

She drove from tenth to second, and then took the lead for a couple of
corners…before she biffed it and nearly parked it in the gravel trap.
Danica was door to door with the best drivers in the past 25 years of road
racing, including Ron Fellows and Jacques Villeneuve, yielding to nobody,
making them earn it, and none of the "Panica" moments we've come to hear
over the radio sometimes on ovals. She was running a smart race,
preserving her equipment, exercising patience, and waiting for the end of
the race to use up what was left. Everything was going swimmingly until she
got Jacqued-up from behind.

Th

--
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.

The Frontstretch Newsletter: Kenseth Leaves Roush Edition

THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
June 27th, 2012
Volume VI, Edition CXXIV

~~~~~~~~~~

Hey Frontstretch Readers! - Want a chance to win a free Sprint Cup weekend with NASCAR's newest fan interaction device - FanVision? Make sure you read this Thursday's column on how FanVision now plays an important role in the jobs of NASCAR participants. One lucky reader who correctly answers a question about the article will win a weekend of FanVision, which provides updated stats, points, lap times, replays, video, audio and much more!

~~~~~~~~~~

Top News
by Brad Morgan

Stenhouse, Jr. to Replace Kenseth Next Season

With Matt Kenseth currently shopping for a new ride for 2013, Jack Roush has already found a replacement for the former Sprint Cup Champion in youngster Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., the team announced Tuesday.  Stenhouse plans to run the full Sprint Cup schedule next year.

The 24-year-old has already written a storied Nationwide Series career for himself in a short time.  Following a championship season in 2011 where everything seemed to fall into place for the driver of the No. 6 Ford, Stenhouse's success has only built this year as he finds himself third in points with three wins, seven top 5s, and nine top 10s through 14 races.

"Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. has more than proved his abilities on the race track," said team co-owner Jack Roush. "We feel that he is not only a key piece of our team's future, but a key piece of the future of the sport. Roush Fenway is an organization with a wonderful past and present, as well as an extremely promising future, and I can't think of a better candidate than Ricky to usher in the next era of success for the team."

Stenhouse, Jr. will have huge shoes to fill when he steps into the No. 17 Ford in preparation for the '13 season following the departure of perhaps the organization's most storied driver.  Kenseth captured Roush's first Cup series championship in 2003 and has won the Great American Race, the Daytona 500, twice in four years while employed by the team.

"I'd like to thank Matt Kenseth for his many years of loyal service," added Roush. "Matt has been an integral part of this organization for well over a decade, and we are extremely appreciative of his accomplishments and contributions to the team, and will always consider him a part of the Roush Fenway family.

"We're fortunate that we were able to tap into Matt's potential and bring him on board many years ago, and I'm proud that together we were able to combine the tools and the resources of Roush Fenway with his talent and determination to forge a partnership that yielded a championship at the Cup level and all of his 22 Cup victories, including two Daytona 500 wins," continued Roush. "The No. 17 is positioned extremely well this season, and I'm committed to providing the team the best resources to continue their run for the 2012 championship. I have no doubt that Matt will do his part."

Kenseth, who is in the final year of his contract at RFR, spent much of the weekend at Sonoma dodging questions regarding his future with the organization he's spent the last 12 years driving for. Among the teams that are rumored as possible destinations for the 40-year-old are Joe Gibbs Racing and Penske Racing. JGR President J.D. Gibbs declined to comment about any discussions with Kenseth while Penske Corp. Senior Vice President Bud Denker stated the team intends to maintain its relationship with AJ Allmendinger and crew chief Todd Gordon.

NASCAR Close to Approving New Models

Now that each of NASCAR's four major manufacturers have unveiled their plans concerning the next generation of stock cars, the automakers now have an opportunity to put their updated models to the test on the road to approval.

Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, and Toyota will have the opportunity to showcase their new cars during a wind tunnel test scheduled for July 2-3 in Mooresville, N.C.  According to Fox Sports writer Lee Spencer, each make's body will be placed over a uniform chassis and tested for the correct levels of downforce and drag, which could result in the approval of the 2013 models in the very near future.

There's no word yet on where and when the new cars will hit the track, but an official test is rumored for as early as August.

Throwback Scheme for Johnson at Kentucky

Jimmie Johnson's No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet has been the canvas of numerous different paint schemes this season and at Kentucky Motor Speedway his team will shed light on yet another. To commemorate the history of the Chevrolet brand, Johnson will drive a primarily white car during the Quaker State 400.

The hue of Johnson's car, deemed "Ermine White", was a color used on Chevrolet vehicles from 1960 to 1968, specifically on models like Chevelle, Chevy II, Camaro, Corvette, and Corvair.  Buick, Cadillac, Oldsmobile and Pontiac also offered the color on a variety of models during the same time period.

Waltrip Sporting Special Scheme for Kentucky

When Michael Waltrip makes his first non-restrictor plate start since 2010 this weekend, he'll bring a scheme that will likely be a favorite of fans from within the Bluegrass State. The veteran driver and his No. 55 Toyota will don the familiar blue-and-white colors of the 2012 NCAA basketball champion Kentucky Wildcats.

"This might be my all-time favorite paint scheme," said Waltrip "I'm so proud of all the people in Kentucky for not only their world class race track, but we have the best college basketball team in the country again.  To race in Kentucky and wear the UK uniform will be a heck of an honor for me."

Michael Waltrip Racing isn't new to supporting college athletics.  The organization's No. 15 car driven by Clint Bowyer sponsored the University of Alabama at Talladega earlier this season in celebration of the school's National Championship in football.

 

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
Jack Roush Runs Off Another Champion
Full Throttle
by Mike Neff

Kurt Busch won the 2004 Cup championship, the second in the history of Roush Fenway Racing, having spent his entire career coming up through the ranks with the organization. Less than 12 months later, Busch signed with Penske Racing more than a year before his contract was up and left the team he'd begun his NASCAR career with and taken to the highest peak. Now, Matt Kenseth, the 2003 Cup Champion, two-time Daytona 500 winner and current Sprint Cup points leader is looking for work at the end of this season. Jack Roush announced Tuesday that Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. will be running the Cup series in 2013 in Roush Fenway's third car, while Kenseth will be leaving the organization. While Kenseth did briefly run for his former crew chief Robbie Reiser's self-owned team, in what was then known as the Busch Series for the vast majority of his NASCAR career he's been paired with Roush. In fact, on the Cup circuit today just one driver - Jeff Gordon (1993) - has a longer tenure than Kenseth's 13 straight seasons on the Cup level driving the No. 17.

Now, just a little over four months since wining the Daytona 500, Kenseth has been given his walking papers.

Matt Kenseth is atop the Cup Series points after 16 races and is looking like he'll be a strong contender for the championship this season. Unfortunately for Kenseth and most of the Roush Fenway drivers, this year has been a struggle on the sponsorship front for the No. 17. There have been no less than six different backers on Kenseth's car during the first 16 races of the season. The company that has been represented more than any other has been Ford, with their EcoBoost and EcoBoost Fusion schemes. That is more of a favor to Kenseth and Roush to keep them from running a blank hood than it is actual sponsorship. It is hard to believe that finding funding for a series champion and the defending Daytona 500 winner is that difficult but, just as with Trevor Bayne last season, getting companies to put their name on the hood has been particularly tough for RFR.

Racing is expensive, whether running go-karts at local 1/7th-mile tracks or the Cup Series, and figuring out how to pay for it is difficult. However, RFR seems to have struggled more than most. While having never been privy to contract negotiations with RFR, from the outside, and hearing various reports in the garage, their organization seems to be more inflexible about the price of deals than other teams. There can't be much more of an explanation when sponsors leave Roush Fenway to go to other teams to share hood space while Roush's cars are struggling to get anyone to pay.

To their credit, Jack Roush has kept 3M on Greg Biffle's hood for years and, while it is pieced together from several sponsors, Carl Edwards' hood has been filled for most of the season. But not that long ago, Office Depot was on Edwards' hood before leaving to join Stewart-Haas Racing. Crown Royal, who backed Kenseth last year, decided to pull out of the car sponsorship business after last season, and Sharpie, who backed Kurt Busch for much of his time at Roush Fenway, also pulled out of the deal. UPS, who had been in the business of sponsoring cars for some time, left after last year, which cost David Ragan his job and parked the flagship No. 6 for Roush.

The only common denominator through all of this mess has been Jack Roush. Again, having never been involved in negotiating a sponsor contract with RFR, this view is from the outside, but Roush's pricing structure and inflexibility, reported by sources inside the organization appears to sit at the heart of the sponsorship woes that have plagued the organization. The car owner has mentioned in the past that he doesn't drop prices because it would be unfair to the companies who have already signed on the dotted line, but it would seem like a smarter move to consider giving them a little more to equal out the deal rather than refuse a sponsor who cannot meet the high price of being on a Roush Cup car. That rigidity forces the type of move we're seeing this week, where finances play a large role in Kenseth's departure. Stenhouse, as a young driver can make a pittance of what Kenseth earns at the Cup level; that helps the team stay solvent while searching for the top-shelf sponsorship they demand.

Don't forget, it isn't just Cup cars falling victim to funding woes. Roush has been running blank hoods and quarterpanels on Nationwide cars for a while, parking Trevor Bayne's planned full-time Nationwide effort this year due to monetary concerns. While the Nationwide Series has seen more and more teams being mothballed, it is interesting that the defending series champion owner cannot get a sponsor to put their logo on his hood for the entire season.

It is quite ironic, actually, that not that long ago, Jack Roush had five Cup teams and put all of them in the Chase. As a result, the sanctioning body passed a rule that limited team ownership to no more than four for a given owner. Now, Roush is struggling to put three cars on the track.

Even with the sponsorship issues, it is still surprising to see Kenseth packing his bags at the end of the season. While recent additions to the fan base of NASCAR might think that Carl Edwards is the face of Roush, in reality it has been Kenseth for more than half a decade. Mark Martin was the face of the organization before leaving at the end of 2006. While Edwards started racing full-time in Cup in 2005, Kenseth had already been in the top series for five years and won a championship, and he was largely considered the face of the team, especially only being three years removed from his title. Kenseth has been a stalwart in the Ford camp and on the Roush payroll, backing his owner and supporting him through 15 years of racing even when his longtime sponsor DeWalt was chased away, re-emerging with a step-cousin Richard Petty Motorsports organization due to the high cost at RFR.

Loyalty is a rare thing in business these days, and Jack Roush has long treated his race team like a business. He is a great racing mind but it has long been rumored that his people skills are somewhat lacking. This latest instance, announcing that the leader in the point standings over halfway to the Chase is going to be out of a ride next season so that a Nationwide driver who is under a long-term contract to the organization can race in the Cup Series next year, is just proof again. It took 15 years for Roush to win a title in the Cup Series, and then he won two in a row. But it has been eight years since that second title was secured and now, at the end of this season, the driver who was able to garner the first of the two for Roush will be joining the second titleholder, Kurt Busch, in driving elsewhere.

Who will leave RFR next? To use a twist on an old cliché, don't let the door hit you when it swings back in through your empty doorway.

Mike Neff is a Senior Writer for Frontstretch.com.  He can be reached via e-mail at mike.neff@frontstretch.com

~~~~~~~~~~

Tweet 'N' Greet
by Summer Bedgood

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 Bedgood 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...

‏@StewartHaasRcng: Hey ladies, good news! Shorter skirts approved by #NASCAR! Sprint Cup tech bulletin: side skirt ground clearance increased by ½ inch. Yesss.

@StewartHaasRcng: To make sure dimensions are correct: Right side skirt min 4.5/max 5; Left side skirts min 5/max 5.5.

‏@StewartHaasRcng: But wait, there's more! Those short skirts gotta complement your rear sway bar...

@StewartHaasRcng: Rear sway bar connecting link must be perpendicular to ground at any angle at ride height; changes effective 6/27. Kentucky's gonna be HOT!

‏@RCRracing: This week's Photo Vault: @Elliott_Sadler, '95 SoBo track champ & son Wyatt. Same car, 17 years apart. http://twitpic.com/9ym43o #nascar

@Arlene_Martin: Not necessary, just keep being his fan :) RT @PaulCampanella: Can you tell me what would be a nice gift for Mark? I'd like to get him something. He's given me the greatest gift since 1994

@SamanthaBusch: Now that's a burnout!! http://twitpic.com/9yeuu5

@SamanthaBusch: Victory lane!! http://twitpic.com/9yeviv

@SteveLetarte: Winning was fun and Victory Lane was a blast BUT nothing beats shaking hands with the men and women who make it happen THANKS @TeamHendrick

@TheOrangeCone: Why is it so hard to find a story on @DaleJr's win and what it means for #nascar? Anyone know where I can find one?

@MikeDavis88: Had been 4 yrs since #DaleJr's last win, but 7.5 yrs since last dominating win (most laps led). That was on 11/7/04 at Phoenix.

@SluggerLabbe: Yet another @NASCAR rules bulletin out today, keeping it all even I guess, I'm heading out to bush hog my fields now and take it all in

@TheOrangeCone: Love #nascar's new philosophy. Short skirts rule! Before too long they'll be gone altogether!

@keselowski (Brad Keselowski): Haven't tweeted as much as normal & over 2k followers have joined in last 4 days. Thinking I'm liked more when Not tweeting so much...

@dennyhamlin: Nothing to hang your head about @DanicaPatrick. You drove your ass off today. Best race I've seen you drive yet. ‪#Nascar‬

@maxpapis: Drove a gr8 race we wr always in contention until last pit stop after that it was elbow up and no mercy brought home best we could #proud

@RB_Mrs (Nicole Briscoe): Dear @BeccyGordon & @RyanHunterReay, was happy for you last week but damn...2 weeks in a row?! Congrats :-) But seriously. Slow down!!

@AndyLally: Early flight back to Atlanta. 80% of this plane is a combo of Grand Am and NASCAR teams and officials.

@AllenBestwick: So one airline cancels my flight. Rebook on another. Flight delayed. If you see me on your plane run away, fast! #notravelluck

@NewmanKrissie (Krissie Newman): Traffic....lovely!

@ClintBowyer: I can't handle traffic...Blood pressure through the roof!!!!!!

@Regan_Smith_: Nervous about making the drivers meeting… traffic is nuts. On the bright side we didn't qualify good so won't have to go far back

@KyleBusch: Made it to the track, here's something u don't c at every place! #baaaa http://twitpic.com/a02nok

@AllenBestwick: So after the cancelled flight, changing airlines and delayed replacement flight, there's a "maintenance" problem with plane. Fun in PHL!

@DavidGilliland: I'm afraid I'm gonna miss the drivers meeting. Been in traffic for 1 1/2 hrs

@JimmieJohnson: What traffic problems? http://instagr.am/p/MQ00RvkpbL/

@Brendan62 (Brendan Gaughan): Excuse me, but did anyone else notice that mad @maxpapis gained 20 positions in 5 laps!?!? Who does that!! Pretty sure only Max

@DeLanaHarvick: i thought it was pretty shitty RT @chad24knight: @DeLanaHarvick what'd you think of 22 booting DP out of the way yesterday?

@KurtBusch: Sitting here in the drivers meeting. Want to congratulate my buddy @NelsonPiquet on his win. It was awesome! Proud of you

@Ryan_Truex: Hey everyone did you know Dale Jr won last weekend?

@jeff_gluck: This might be the smallest drivers meeting room in #nascar. Looks like @keselowski doesn't have a seat.

@bobpockrass: As he thought he would as he is stuck in traffic, David Gilliland has missed the driver meeting. #nascar

@landoncassill: Alons, Raik, and Schuey on the podium?? What is this? 1999?

@jeff_gluck: Jeff Gordon gets mobbed by autograph-seekers... while coming out of bathroom. #nascar http://instagr.am/p/MRE9jDtXiG/

@ClaireBLang: Wow and check out the fans here 4 race this is onto track towards driver intros http://twitpic.com/a04e0r

@jeff_gluck: Lots of smiles down here on pit road. Everyone seems to be in a good mood… at least until the green flag. #NASCAR

@odsteve (Steve O'Donnell): View out from race control #NASCAR http://pic.twitter.com/c1kngl5k

@DeLanaHarvick: glad you guys liked our @twitter commercial!!! #nascar

@PPistone (Pete Pistone): Cup team fabricators just breathed a sigh of relief when some found out Jacques Villenueve is not in Sonoma

@PPistone: Gotta say between yesterday at Road America and today at Sonoma attendance should not be a topic of conversation this week

@jeff_gluck: Hard to believe TNT never showed replay of spin in Turn 11 that happened in commercial. Unless I missed it? #NASCAR

@PPistone: Admit I've never seen this many commercials on a TV broadcast before - and that includes the infomercial channel 255 on DirecTV

@nascarcasm: Well, this week's competition meeting at JGR might just be as enjoyable as last week's was. #denny #logano #busch #NASCAR

@queers4gears: Just imagine how Kurt would race Bowyer if he weren't on probation

@blakeshelton: Congrats to @ClintBowyer for his badass win today!!!! I've taught you well my friend....

@ClintBowyer: Wow, what a weekend. Thanks to all that made this happen. Never thought in a million years they'd get my ass in VL on a road course!

@ClintBowyer: Still the coolest thing about winning is all the congrats messages from family, friends, peers, and fans! That's what its all about...

@LorraP (Lorra Podsiadlo, Bowyer's Girlfriend): Thanks for all the kind messages! It was an awesome day, so proud of @ClintBowyer and the #15 team!!! http://pic.twitter.com/tK9h7a2X

@SherryPollex: Happy for @ClintBowyer, @LorraP and @MWRteam. Sad for MT. He got a flat on the last lap bc Joey Logano is an idiot. Sucks. :(

@SluggerLabbe: Oh no @RCR27PMenard transporter has broken down, not looking good might be back by Wednesday am at best. #sorry truckers get some rest men

@keselowski: Just got off the phone with @dennyhamlin & @JennaFryer They say some1 tried to wreck him in a dog race. How dare he? That's so 2009...

@Matt_Crafton: It's going to be a little hot for Thursday's truck race. http://instagr.am/p/MVVXCYgTj1/

@jim_utter: Week and half later, Junior wins Michigan story still most read on http://www.ThatsRacin.com. People just learning? Reliving memories? #NASCAR

@nascarcasm: "BREAKING: Matt Kenseth changing his number. Like, really. We mean it this time." #nascar #allstarrace

@ESPNMcGee (Ryan McGee): Not gonna lie. Totally thought Kenseth would stay put with Roush. Wrong. #NASCAR

@55MarkMartin: I'm a huge @mattkenseth fan and support him where ever he goes. RT @SS_24: @55MarkMartin What do you think about Matt leaving Roush?

@mattkenseth: I'm very thankful to Jack Roush for the opportunities he's given me over the past 14 years. Together we have enjoyed a lot of success....

@mattkenseth: And as a team we are committed as ever to the remainder of the 2012 season and chasing a 3rd sprint cup title for Jack and RFR

@mattkenseth: Although I have nothing to announce regarding 2013, I feel the timing of this announcement gives RFR ample time to get things lined up...

@mattkenseth: Darien and Tony proved to us last year there is no such thing as a "lame duck" team or season. We will continue to go to work and race hard.

@JeffGordonWeb: Pics from Ella's 5th birthday party: http://bit.ly/JGFamily2012. Leo: "Anything for my sister." #Team24 http://instagr.am/p/MV7izuMdP3/

@MikeCalinoff: My focus is on doing my part to win championships with Matt, Ricky and Nelson. I'm not going to discuss anything else until it's appropriate

@Tjmajors: Madelynns day is going great! Much better than the JGR competition meeting I bet.

@MartySmithESPN: Guys from the 17 team weighing in via Twitter that they're already tired of the speculation about how MK leaving will impact them.

@StenhouseJr (Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.): What a unbelievable day it's been. Glad I'm in Mississippi and able to spend it with my family and friends. Thank you all for the congrats..

@SluggerLabbe: Good news @RCR27PMenard transporter is back on the road and be here in am for a quick turn around for Kentucky. #good service #it happens

@DGodfatherMoody (Dave Moody): A lot of people are assuming it was Jack Roush's decision not to retain Matt Kenseth for 2013. It could have been Matt's call. Just sayin'.

@JimmieJohnson: "@BrianLVickers"... Man with a giant red cock. pic.twitter.com/JxUcnHop

@BrianLVickers: @JimmieJohnson technically it's not mine, I'm just holding onto it...

@BrianLVickers: Man with a big Pinot... @JimmieJohnson http://pic.twitter.com/Aoj2VdnY

@JimmieJohnson: Share some wisdom sir instagr.am/p/MT1RLbkpQ1/

@KristineC48 (Kristine Curley): "@JimmieJohnson: Share some wisdom sir instagr.am/p/MT1RLbkpQ1/" Remember 3 drink rule while wine tasting :)

@AndyLally: It'd be cool to have a train.

@CJMearsGang: Good morning from wine country. Not a bad way to wake up. instagr.am/p/MTqH56hKqp/

@MissSprintCup: Gotta love a good blooper reel :) Check out @JimmieJohnson's outtakes on the set of the latest Sprint TV shoot! –KC bit.ly/LmoDCN

@pkligerman: Some times you just GOTTA GO! This was at Texas. I'm thinking new avatar.. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/lAAgSmLr

Summer Bedgood is a Senior Writer for Frontstretch.com. She can be reached via email at summer.bedgood@frontstretch.com.

~~~~~~~~~~

ADVERTISEMENT
Are you looking to advertise your website, product or brand?  A good way to get your name out there is via direct advertising here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!  Interested parties can contact us at tony.lumbis@frontstretch.com for details.

~~~~~~~~~~

TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:

Did You Notice? ... Kenseth's Championship Problem, Keeping Earnhardt In Line And Quick Hits
by Tom Bowles

Mirror Driving: Maneuvering Through Kentucky Traffic, Roadkill And Silly Season Dominoes
by the Frontstretch Staff

Kenseth Leaving Roush Fenway: Thoughts, Rumors and Possibilities
by Kevin Rutherford

IndyCar Round Table: Season Grades, Schedule Tweaks, And Possible Title Upsets
by the Frontstretch Staff

NASCAR Sprint Cup Power Rankings: Top 15 After Sonoma
compiled by Summer Bedgood

Top Ten Sponsors Currently Courting Kurt Busch and Phoenix Racing
by Jeff Meyer

~~~~~~~~~~

FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:

Q: In 2000, the now-Izod IndyCar Series made their very first trip to Kentucky Speedway for the Belterra Resort Indy 300. However, for a number of drivers, it was a very short race. What happened?

Check back Thursday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
 
Tuesday's Answer:

Q: The 2006 Meijer 300 is best known as the race in which David Gilliland pulled the upset of the decade in pulling out his first career Busch victory.  However, Jeff Fuller had a nasty crash early in the race.  What happened?

A:  Jason Leffler spun and hit the wall exiting Turn 2. The Great Clips Chevrolet then came to a halt in the middle of the track, causing drivers to have to take evasive action. Jeff Fuller, driving for Frank Cicci, spun to the inside while trying to avoid Leffler and took a nasty passenger side hit. The car was completely demolished, but Fuller suffered only minor injuries.  The crash can be seen in this clip. As you could expect, Fuller was out on the spot. Leffler's team fixed their Monte Carlo SS, but he only ran a few more laps before pulling out and getting credited with a 40th-place finish.

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.

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 is cleaning out his thoughts on a myriad of topics.

Truckin' Thursdays by Beth Lunkenheimer
With a Thursday night Camping World Truck Series race, Beth is back to take a look at a few different observations she's made during the extended break including diversity on the track, Brazilian success and more!

Dollars And Sense by Tony Lumbis
We have a special column in store about Sprint Cup's newest at-the-track product: FanVision. Read for a chance to win a free opportunity to use it!

-----------------------------
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.