THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
July 17th, 2012
Volume VI, Edition CXXXIV
- We're still on Allmendinger watch here at Frontstretch. If, by chance, anything breaks on the case, we'll bring it to you in our Breaking News box.
Today's Top News
by the Frontstretch Staff
New Crew Chief For Edwards
Carl Edwards is getting a new head wrench. Bob Osborne, after nine total years working with the Cup Series driver is transitioning into another role at Roush-Fenway Racing, the team announced on Tuesday after concerns about his health - not performance - necessitated a change. In a statement, RFR announced Osborne would move into a senior management role, away from the track while crew chief veteran Chad Norris would replace him on top of the No. 99 pit box.
"At this time in my life, however, concerns with my health have necessitated that I change my role within the organization," Osborne explained in a statement. "This transition is not an easy one, but I'm thankful to have the full support of Jack, Carl and the entire organization. I also have every confidence in Chad Norris, and I look forward to working with him as we continue to pursue a championship in 2012. I also appreciate the privacy and respect that the community will give me and my family during this difficult time."
Osborne has been one of only two crew chiefs Edwards has had on the Cup level, paired with the driver for all but half a season during a tumultuous 2006. He's the winning crew chief for each of Edwards' 19 victories and has helped guide the No. 99 team to five consecutive Chase appearances.
"I cannot say enough good things about Bob Osborne," Edwards said on Tuesday. "I'm so thankful for what he's done for me as a driver, and he is without a doubt one of the smartest guys in the sport. I'm also appreciative of the fact that he'll continue to be a resource for me and our team as we focus on these final races. We're very fortunate to have Chad Norris as part of our organization to take over for the No. 99. I've known Chad for a long time and he is a fierce competitor. We've got our work cut out for us over the next seven races, and I've got every confidence Chad can lead our team to where we need to be."
Norris has been a crew chief in the RFR organization for several seasons, most recently with Trevor Bayne in that driver's limited Nationwide Series schedule. A research and development man as of late, his last win came with Bayne at Texas, in November 2011 as part of a distinguished RFR resume that's seen him take multiple teams on that level to Victory Lane.
However, the task Norris inherits, with seven races remaining in the regular season will be difficult. Edwards has a 52-race winless streak, dating back to Las Vegas in March, 2011 and sits 11th in series points, outside on the Chase looking in. The gap between he and Brad Keselowski, 10th in the standings is 46 points - almost a full race's worth - while Edwards has gone without a top-5 finish since the Fontana race at the end of March.
Minority Investor At RCR Looking To Sell
Chartwell Investments, Richard Childress' minority partner in his racing business since 2003 is looking to sell their stake in the team. Apparently, the company feels like its stake has been maximized and has contacted the Raine Group to help its quest to exit the NASCAR organization.
"RCR is one of the elite NASCAR organizations and we are honored to be a part of the RCR family and partners with racing icon Richard Childress for close to ten years," said Michael Shein, Managing Partner of Chartwell Investments in a statement. "During this period, RCR has continued to prosper, more than doubling the size of its business. We are equally optimistic about RCR's future performance both on and off the track, remaining confident in NASCAR's long-term potential."
Childress claims the sale will not affect his Cup, Nationwide, or Truck Series operation or result in the layoffs of any crew members.
"Like any private equity business, Chartwell has a duty to its investors to return capital and maximize profits in a reasonable timeframe," he said. "With my support, they have determined that now is an appropriate time to exit their investment in RCR. Chartwell has been a great partner and I will always be appreciative of our partnership. We will remain good friends."
RCR is in contention for the Nationwide and Truck Series championships, respectively but has struggled on the Sprint Cup level this year. Its three full-time teams remain winless and only one driver (Kevin Harvick, sixth in points) appears in position to make the Chase.
News Bites
- Sprint Cup racing on TNT posted a 2.9/7 overnight for Sunday's race in New Hampshire. That's even with last year's Nielsen number, leading to a season of mixed reviews for the network's overall coverage. Three of the six events TNT had were flat or posted declines from 2011; however, Daytona's "Wide Open" coverage, which jumped to a 3.8 from a 3.4 the previous year means the network will end up with an overall ratings bump for 2012.
- NASCAR has joined other sports leagues in writing a letter to Republican House Speaker John Boehner, asking him to block a proposal on Capitol Hill that would block military spending in racing. The bill, co-sponsored by Democrat Betty McCollum (MN) and Republican Jack Kingston (GA), is part of a $608 billion Department Of Defense Appropriations Bill for 2013. Dale Earnhardt, Jr.'s National Guard sponsorship, among others rides on the outcome of that legislation.
Have news for Tom and the Frontstretch? Don't hesitate to let us know; email us at ashland10@mail.com with a promising lead or tip.
~~~~~~~~~~
Got NASCAR-related questions or comments?
Send them John Potts' way at john.potts@frontstretch.com; and if you're lucky, you'll get your name in print when he does his weekly column answering back to you – the fans that keep Frontstretch afloat. Potts' Shots will run on Thursdays with a whole new set of Fan Questions and Answers!
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Today's Featured Commentary
Finding the Fun in NASCAR--Just Go to a Race!
Got NASCAR-related questions or comments?
Send them John Potts' way at john.potts@frontstretch.com; and if you're lucky, you'll get your name in print when he does his weekly column answering back to you – the fans that keep Frontstretch afloat. Potts' Shots will run on Thursdays with a whole new set of Fan Questions and Answers!
~~~~~~~~~~
Today's Featured Commentary
Finding the Fun in NASCAR--Just Go to a Race!
Sitting In The Stands: A Fan's View
by S.D. Grady
As I unpack from my weekend at the track, there's a single lingering thought that remains--I had fun. Oh fine, the Lenox Industrial Tools 301 was not the most entertaining of races run this year. But I'm not really talking about the specific event; instead, it's the overall reason I and thousands of other race fans fill their coolers, program the scanners and feast on questionable cuisine at tracks across America. There is something valuable to be found in the experience of "being there" beyond seeing the polished white smiles of the weekly network broadcasts from the comfort of your living room.
There's the stunned wonder of a new race fan, paired with the experienced nod as you pass another with the aged T-Shirt and ticket lanyard. Crews weave their way through pedestrian traffic towards the tunnel. Vendors hawk their overpriced wares. Helicopters arrive with a wealthy regularity. The entire facility hums in a constant state of anticipation from Monday morning right on through the moment those Cup engines rev up coming to the green. However, it's not all about the big show.
On Thursday night we wandered through the Global Rally Cross garage and chatted with some of the crews and drivers. Those little cars might sing a tad higher and actually have doors--but they are still race cars. A shared vocabulary exists between the stock car world and these tiny tuners. The NASCAR crowd is willing to learn about new rules, specs and grudgingly admit that a Dodge Dart is a worthy machine of the label of "racer". And the X-Gamers looked around at the jam-packed infield and want to see what else might be happening today. But that's just in the garage...
Later, when the rally cars took to the track--and the air--that gleeful feeling you discovered the first time you went to your local quarter-miler was found again. OMG. And apparently I wasn't alone in my stunned revelation. Juan Pablo Montoya wandered in the GRC pits during Saturday night's meet seeing what it would take to get involved in the sport. Casey Mears and Jimmie Johnson were also spotted glorying in this latest addition to a racing weekend.
Once again, I spied that shared moment between the multi-millionaires and those of us who can barely afford the $35 to come see our heroes in person. At the heart of it all you recognize one common value shared among the officials, teams, spectators and media; racing is fun. And not fun as in I spent an afternoon playing Monopoly fun. But heart stopping, jaw dropping, intense, focused and I'd do it again in a second excitement. Whether it's buying a ticket, a team or climbing behind the wheel of car, the racer in each of us finds a way to be a part of the wonder. That was what I considered on Saturday.
However, as the Sunday afternoon wound on under the blistering July sun, I pondered the existence of the now waning sensation of happiness. And, it would seem, so were the drivers. Jeff Gordon wasn't terribly happy with his pit calls, Kyle Busch grumbled about his speeding penalty and a certain lap down driver swore he could see a massive amount of debris in Turn 3. Besides these predictable utterances, there were two other voices that brought it all home to me.
On the grumpy side of the scanner, everybody's favorite snarky driver Kurt Busch couldn't find one nice thing to say. Any car within sight was an impediment, those on his inside were ruining his day and those behind him had no business being on the track. He very much sounded like the guy in the grocery store who is busy shoving a spoiled gallon of milk down the manager's throat and most everybody else wants to run away. Kurt was not having a good day... I don't know if Busch ever does.
But the track is not eternally full of gloom. On the parade laps, never was I so happy to hear the distinctive twang of veteran driver Kenny Schrader pipe up in my scanner. And it seemed he was pretty happy to be there. Besides the frank discussions of what needed to get repaired to keep his Federated Auto Parts No. 32 on the track for the entire race, there were also lighthearted remarks about the No. 42 team and their multi-million dollar budgets. It wasn't a bitter comment, but one that indicated Kenny was just pleased to be in a Cup car and going the distance. If somebody else had the millions, good for them. Kenny was racing today!
No, not every minute of a race weekend is full of rainbows. But the primary reason we race is for the love of the sport--all of the sport. For the dirt on the windshield, steamy summer nights and unleashed horses. It's easy to identify somebody who has been bitten by the bug when walking around the pits... just look for the ear-to-ear smile. They most assuredly are having the most fun to be found in the world.
Well, maybe except for Mr. Busch. There's just no explaining that.
Sonya's Weekly Danica Stat
New Hampshire: NNS in the No. 7 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet
Qualified: 18th
Finished: 14th (running, lead lap)
Points Position: 9th
by S.D. Grady
As I unpack from my weekend at the track, there's a single lingering thought that remains--I had fun. Oh fine, the Lenox Industrial Tools 301 was not the most entertaining of races run this year. But I'm not really talking about the specific event; instead, it's the overall reason I and thousands of other race fans fill their coolers, program the scanners and feast on questionable cuisine at tracks across America. There is something valuable to be found in the experience of "being there" beyond seeing the polished white smiles of the weekly network broadcasts from the comfort of your living room.
There's the stunned wonder of a new race fan, paired with the experienced nod as you pass another with the aged T-Shirt and ticket lanyard. Crews weave their way through pedestrian traffic towards the tunnel. Vendors hawk their overpriced wares. Helicopters arrive with a wealthy regularity. The entire facility hums in a constant state of anticipation from Monday morning right on through the moment those Cup engines rev up coming to the green. However, it's not all about the big show.
On Thursday night we wandered through the Global Rally Cross garage and chatted with some of the crews and drivers. Those little cars might sing a tad higher and actually have doors--but they are still race cars. A shared vocabulary exists between the stock car world and these tiny tuners. The NASCAR crowd is willing to learn about new rules, specs and grudgingly admit that a Dodge Dart is a worthy machine of the label of "racer". And the X-Gamers looked around at the jam-packed infield and want to see what else might be happening today. But that's just in the garage...
Later, when the rally cars took to the track--and the air--that gleeful feeling you discovered the first time you went to your local quarter-miler was found again. OMG. And apparently I wasn't alone in my stunned revelation. Juan Pablo Montoya wandered in the GRC pits during Saturday night's meet seeing what it would take to get involved in the sport. Casey Mears and Jimmie Johnson were also spotted glorying in this latest addition to a racing weekend.
Once again, I spied that shared moment between the multi-millionaires and those of us who can barely afford the $35 to come see our heroes in person. At the heart of it all you recognize one common value shared among the officials, teams, spectators and media; racing is fun. And not fun as in I spent an afternoon playing Monopoly fun. But heart stopping, jaw dropping, intense, focused and I'd do it again in a second excitement. Whether it's buying a ticket, a team or climbing behind the wheel of car, the racer in each of us finds a way to be a part of the wonder. That was what I considered on Saturday.
However, as the Sunday afternoon wound on under the blistering July sun, I pondered the existence of the now waning sensation of happiness. And, it would seem, so were the drivers. Jeff Gordon wasn't terribly happy with his pit calls, Kyle Busch grumbled about his speeding penalty and a certain lap down driver swore he could see a massive amount of debris in Turn 3. Besides these predictable utterances, there were two other voices that brought it all home to me.
On the grumpy side of the scanner, everybody's favorite snarky driver Kurt Busch couldn't find one nice thing to say. Any car within sight was an impediment, those on his inside were ruining his day and those behind him had no business being on the track. He very much sounded like the guy in the grocery store who is busy shoving a spoiled gallon of milk down the manager's throat and most everybody else wants to run away. Kurt was not having a good day... I don't know if Busch ever does.
But the track is not eternally full of gloom. On the parade laps, never was I so happy to hear the distinctive twang of veteran driver Kenny Schrader pipe up in my scanner. And it seemed he was pretty happy to be there. Besides the frank discussions of what needed to get repaired to keep his Federated Auto Parts No. 32 on the track for the entire race, there were also lighthearted remarks about the No. 42 team and their multi-million dollar budgets. It wasn't a bitter comment, but one that indicated Kenny was just pleased to be in a Cup car and going the distance. If somebody else had the millions, good for them. Kenny was racing today!
No, not every minute of a race weekend is full of rainbows. But the primary reason we race is for the love of the sport--all of the sport. For the dirt on the windshield, steamy summer nights and unleashed horses. It's easy to identify somebody who has been bitten by the bug when walking around the pits... just look for the ear-to-ear smile. They most assuredly are having the most fun to be found in the world.
Well, maybe except for Mr. Busch. There's just no explaining that.
Sonya's Weekly Danica Stat
New Hampshire: NNS in the No. 7 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet
Qualified: 18th
Finished: 14th (running, lead lap)
Points Position: 9th
S.D. Grady is a Senior Editor for Frontstretch.com. She can be reached via e-mail at sonya.grady@frontstretch.com. Follow her on Twitter at @laregna.
~~~~~~~~~~
Numbers Game: Lenox Industrial Tools 301
by Garrett Horton
0
There were zero cautions due to accidents in Sunday's running of the Lenox Industrial Tools 301.
1.7
Darian Grubb's average finish as crew chief for the last three Loudon races. He led Denny Hamlin to a second-place finish on Sunday after guiding his driver from last year, Tony Stewart, to a runner-up finish in July followed by a victory in September.
2 hours, 44 minutes, 24 seconds
The length of Sunday's running of the Lenox Industrial Tools 301, the fifth straight race under three hours and eleventh on the season.
3
Despite having two wins at New Hampshire, Clint Bowyer's third-place finish on Sunday marked his only other top-5 result in 13 starts at the 1-mile speedway.
4
Kasey Kahne has now won multiple races in a season for the fourth time in his career. Only once has he won more than twice, which came back in the 2006 season when Kahne made a series-high six trips to Victory Lane.
5
After being stuck on career win 199 for eight months, Rick Hendrick Motorsports has won five races since May.
7
Seven of the cars that qualified in the top-10 were able to finish there, including all four Hendrick cars. Of the three that failed to finish inside the top-10 included pole-sitter Kyle Busch, whose 16th-place result was the lowest of all the top-10 starters.
8
Brad Keselowski hasn't finished worse than eighth in the last three weeks, the first time has finished in the top 10 three consecutive races all year.
9
Despite coming up just short after leading the most laps on Sunday, Denny Hamlin posted his 9th top-5 results in 2012, moving him into a tie with Jimmie Johnson and Matt Kenseth for most on the year.
14
Kasey Kahne now has 14 career wins, tying him with Dick Hutcherson and LeeRoy Yarbrough for 51st most all time.
19
Kasey Kahne and Ryan Newman have started inside the top 20 in all 19 races run this year.
20
Denny Hamlin recorded his 20th podium result since 2008, the fourth-highest total behind Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch, and Tony Stewart.
21
21 races ago was the last time Dale Earnhardt, Jr. failed to finish on the lead lap. It was the November event at Phoenix, where he ran 24th, two laps off the pace.
150
Denny Hamlin led a race-high 150 laps, the most he has led in a Cup event since race 35 at Phoenix in 2010, where he led 190 laps before having to pit for fuel late in the going and finished 12th. This is the race many people point to in costing him the 2010 Sprint Cup championship.
Garrett Horton is a Contributor to Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via e-mail at garrett.horton@frontstretch.com. Follow him on Twitter at @Garrett_Horton.
~~~~~~~~~~
ADVERTISEMENT
Are you looking to advertise your website, product or brand? A good way to get your name out there is via direct advertising here in the Frontstretch Newsletter! Interested parties can contact us at frontstretcheditors@googlegroups.com for details.
~~~~~~~~~~~
TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:
Five Points to Ponder: Talking NASCAR Trash, Tires and Track
by Bryan Davis Keith
Getting a NNS Car to Stick to Chicago's Old Asphalt with Jimmy Elledge
by Mike Neff
Who's Hot/Who's Not in NASCAR: New Hampshire/Indianapolis Edition
by Brett Poirier
Couch Potato Tuesday: How Do TNT's Commercials and Peter Griffin Compare?
by Phil Allaway
~~~~~~~~~~~
FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Q: Prior to the 2010 Izod IndyCar Series race in Edmonton, Milka Duno, who was driving for Dale Coyne Racing at the time, was placed on probation. Why did this occur?
~~~~~~~~~~
Numbers Game: Lenox Industrial Tools 301
by Garrett Horton
0
There were zero cautions due to accidents in Sunday's running of the Lenox Industrial Tools 301.
1.7
Darian Grubb's average finish as crew chief for the last three Loudon races. He led Denny Hamlin to a second-place finish on Sunday after guiding his driver from last year, Tony Stewart, to a runner-up finish in July followed by a victory in September.
2 hours, 44 minutes, 24 seconds
The length of Sunday's running of the Lenox Industrial Tools 301, the fifth straight race under three hours and eleventh on the season.
3
Despite having two wins at New Hampshire, Clint Bowyer's third-place finish on Sunday marked his only other top-5 result in 13 starts at the 1-mile speedway.
4
Kasey Kahne has now won multiple races in a season for the fourth time in his career. Only once has he won more than twice, which came back in the 2006 season when Kahne made a series-high six trips to Victory Lane.
5
After being stuck on career win 199 for eight months, Rick Hendrick Motorsports has won five races since May.
7
Seven of the cars that qualified in the top-10 were able to finish there, including all four Hendrick cars. Of the three that failed to finish inside the top-10 included pole-sitter Kyle Busch, whose 16th-place result was the lowest of all the top-10 starters.
8
Brad Keselowski hasn't finished worse than eighth in the last three weeks, the first time has finished in the top 10 three consecutive races all year.
9
Despite coming up just short after leading the most laps on Sunday, Denny Hamlin posted his 9th top-5 results in 2012, moving him into a tie with Jimmie Johnson and Matt Kenseth for most on the year.
14
Kasey Kahne now has 14 career wins, tying him with Dick Hutcherson and LeeRoy Yarbrough for 51st most all time.
19
Kasey Kahne and Ryan Newman have started inside the top 20 in all 19 races run this year.
20
Denny Hamlin recorded his 20th podium result since 2008, the fourth-highest total behind Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch, and Tony Stewart.
21
21 races ago was the last time Dale Earnhardt, Jr. failed to finish on the lead lap. It was the November event at Phoenix, where he ran 24th, two laps off the pace.
150
Denny Hamlin led a race-high 150 laps, the most he has led in a Cup event since race 35 at Phoenix in 2010, where he led 190 laps before having to pit for fuel late in the going and finished 12th. This is the race many people point to in costing him the 2010 Sprint Cup championship.
Garrett Horton is a Contributor to Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via e-mail at garrett.horton@frontstretch.com. Follow him on Twitter at @Garrett_Horton.
~~~~~~~~~~
ADVERTISEMENT
Are you looking to advertise your website, product or brand? A good way to get your name out there is via direct advertising here in the Frontstretch Newsletter! Interested parties can contact us at frontstretcheditors@googlegroups.com for details.
~~~~~~~~~~~
TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:
Five Points to Ponder: Talking NASCAR Trash, Tires and Track
by Bryan Davis Keith
Getting a NNS Car to Stick to Chicago's Old Asphalt with Jimmy Elledge
by Mike Neff
Who's Hot/Who's Not in NASCAR: New Hampshire/Indianapolis Edition
by Brett Poirier
Couch Potato Tuesday: How Do TNT's Commercials and Peter Griffin Compare?
by Phil Allaway
~~~~~~~~~~~
FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Q: Prior to the 2010 Izod IndyCar Series race in Edmonton, Milka Duno, who was driving for Dale Coyne Racing at the time, was placed on probation. Why did this occur?
Check back Wednesday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
Monday's Answer:
Q: This weekend is the Izod IndyCar Series' annual trek to Edmonton to race at City Centre Airport. However, two years ago, the race turned into the poster child for former Race Director Brian Barnhart's unusual rules. What happened?
A: On the final restart with three laps to go, Helio Castroneves took what could be considered a defensive line down the inside of the pit straight in an attempt to hold off teammate Will Power while fighting for the lead. This decision was not a reactionary move. However, it did fall afoul of Barnhart's imaginary line rule. Yes, you heard that right. The rules at that time put an imaginary line down the middle of the track and drivers were not allowed to cross that line for any reason (unless their car broke or something). It basically meant that you couldn't really defend positions.
Barnhart's unusual rules led to Castroneves being assessed a stop-and-go penalty with two laps to go while he was leading for blocking. Castroneves refused to serve the penalty and was dropped to tenth, the last car on the lead lap at the finish (which is probably where he would have finished anyway if he took the drive-through penalty). The scenario can be seen here (Note: Link contains profanity, viewer discretion is advised, you've been warned). Although some of ESPN's graphics are used, the NBC Sports Network (then Versus) crew did this race. Afterwards, Castroneves was very displeased with the ruling and angrily confronted officials with profanity and grabbed Charles Burns, the Izod IndyCar Series' head of security. For grabbing Burns (mainly), Castroneves was fined $60,000 for his actions by the series and placed on probation for the remainder of 2010.
Frontstretch Trivia Guarantee: If we mess up, you get the shirt off our backs! If we've provided an incorrect answer to the Frontstretch Trivia question, be the first to email the corrected trivia answer to trivia@frontstretch.com and we'll send you a Frontstretch T-Shirt ... FREE!
~~~~~~~~~~
Coming tomorrow in the Frontstretch Newsletter:
-- Top News from Brad Morgan
-- Full Throttle by Mike Neff
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, and more!
~~~~~~~~~~
Tomorrow on the Frontstretch:
Did You Notice?... by Tom Bowles
Did You Notice? ... what teams should consider making changes this off week? Tom has a list as well as some small but important observations concerning the sport.
Mirror Driving by the Frontstretch Staff
Your favorite Frontstretch writers are back to discuss a variety of different topics, including whether A.J. Allmendinger can actually come back from and thrive after his positive test, the best of the smaller outfits and more.
Frontstretch Top Ten by the Frontstretch Staff
We'll have a top ten list that will tickle your funny bone, guaranteed.
Sprint Cup Power Rankings compiled by Summer Bedgood
Did Sunday's action significantly shake up our Power Rankings? You'll have to check it out in order to see where the drivers stand going into the off-week.
Beyond The Cockpit: Brad Keselowski as told to Amy Henderson
The driver of the Miller Lite Dodge sat down with Amy this past weekend in Loudon to discuss his season thus far, his aggressive reputation on the track, and more.
Open-Wheel Wednesday by Toni Montgomery
This week, Toni takes a look at current points leader Ryan Hunter-Reay's season up to this point and how big it would be for both Hunter-Reay and the series if he could pull off the title this season.
-----------------------------
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©2012 Frontstretch.com
Talk back to the Frontstretch Newsletter!
Got something to say about an article you've seen in the newsletter? It's as easy as replying directly to this message or sending an email to editors@frontstretch.com. We'll take the best comments and publish them here!
©2012 Frontstretch.com
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