Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
September 25th, 2012
Volume VI, Edition CLXCI
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Hey Race Fans! Do you think you can predict the finishing order of this year's Chase? If you can, we'll give you our shirt! If you want a chance to win a Frontstretch T-Shirt and a free FanVision rental for a race weekend in 2013, now is your chance. Simply submit a list of the 12 Chase drivers in the order you think they will finish. You have until the end of the race at Dover to make your picks - but after the checkered flag flies on that race, we will not accept any more submissions. Then, we'll hang on to all of your predictions until after the final race in Homestead and tally them up. If you can correctly place all 12, you win the T-Shirt and the FanVision rental! If nobody places all 12 correctly, we'll give the prize to whomever can get the most drivers in their correct points positions at the end of the year. Please submit your entries to FrontstretchEditors@googlegroups.com by the moment of the checkered flag at Dover! We will accept only one entry per person (if you submit more than one list, we will only take the FIRST one you submitted!) Good luck!
What To Watch: Tuesday
- Today, NASCAR is holding two teleconferences. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. is scheduled to speak at 2:55pm EDT. Earnhardt Jr. is currently seventh in points, 26 out of the lead after finishing 13th on Sunday. He will be followed up by Sunday's winner Denny Hamlin at 4:05pm EDT.
Top News
by Tom Bowles
Kurt Busch To Furniture Row Racing For 2013
Kurt Busch's comeback towards the top echelon of Sprint Cup competition will continue in 2013, with a new ride and a new outlook on his future. The 2004 Cup Series champion signed with Furniture Row Racing Monday, a deal that comes with family-owned sponsorship, an alliance with RCR and a small, dedicated program that's looking to make a significant jump from the series' "middle class" into the Chase mix next season.
"Though we have made strides as a resourceful single-car Sprint Cup team, we are not where we want to be, which led us to the difficult decision of making a driver change as we move forward," said Furniture Row Racing's general manager Joe Garone in a press release announcing the move. "Kurt's exceptional driving talent has the capacity to take a team to another level. We look forward to having Kurt join our Denver-based organization and feel his racing experience will play an important role as we plan ahead to 2013."
"Furniture Row Racing has the commitment, talent and resources to compete at a high level in the Sprint Cup Series," added Busch. "I have watched with admiration on how this team has grown over the years and that is why I am excited about the opportunity as I eagerly look forward to a new chapter in my racing career."Busch, nearly a year removed from Penske Racing has struggled in 2012 driving for the underfunded, single-car Phoenix Racing program. Collecting just two top-10 finishes, a career low, he sits 25th in the standings and has led only 13 laps. The owner of that No. 51 car, James Finch, has indicated the team will close down in the offseason without proper sponsorship which spurred Busch to look elsewhere in free agency. Richard Petty Motorsports and Richard Childress Racing were others in the mix before Busch chose FRR, an RCR-aligned program which has a virtual "open book" policy with the three-car Sprint Cup team based outside of Charlotte.
At the same time, Furniture Row and its No. 78 team is enduring a letdown season after a banner year in 2011 with Regan Smith. Smith, who has driven the car since February of 2009 has just two top-10 finishes himself, sitting a mediocre 23rd in the standings with just nine lead-lap finishes and three DNFs. Known for his Southern 500 upset, in May of 2011 that put this Colorado-based operation on the map Smith will have to use that success to tout his talent in the free agent market; Busch's arrival means the team is going to let Smith go rather than explore an expansion into a two-car program for 2013.
"As our team driver the past four years, Regan has represented Furniture Row Racing with both class and competitiveness," Garone claimed Monday. "His win at Darlington in 2011 – the first for Furniture Row Racing – will be a memory forever etched in our organization's history. He is a friend, and will always be a friend of Furniture Row Racing. We wish him all the best."
There's no word on plans for Smith next season, with few available funded options on the Cup level. Crew chief Todd Berrier, brought aboard midseason is expected to remain with the program and Busch in 2013.3rd Quarter Driver Of The Year Goes To...
Turns out the best way to win 3rd Quarter Driver of the Year is to go out and take the championship within your own national series. That's exactly what Ryan Hunter-Reay did, the IndyCar titlist using his vault over Will Power in Fontana's season finale to woo onlookers and win the latest round of voting for the 46th Driver of the Year award. Earning a majority of support among the panel of 21 broadcasters and journalists, Hunter-Reay edged NASCAR's Brad Keselowski by a vote count of 138-105. Keselowski, who briefly led the Chase after Round 1 at Chicagoland has emerged as a favorite to keep Jimmie Johnson from earning a sixth Sprint Cup title in the last seven seasons under the current format.
Hunter-Reay, for winning this round earns a trophy and a Tissot wristwatch. The Driver of The Year will be picked from among the four quarterly winners at the conclusion of the 2012 racing season.
News Bites
- Travis Pastrana's NASCAR development will continue with a special opportunity out in Las Vegas. He'll make his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut this Saturday, driving a Toyota-backed No. 98 with sponsorship support from AM/PM.
- Cllovo Company announced a one-race sponsorship deal with Rick Ware Racing driver Timmy Hill in the Nationwide Series. The clothing company, with its yo3dot stylish trademark will adorn the hood of Hill's No. 41 car at Dover this weekend.
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.
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GOT A NASCAR QUESTION OR COMMENT? WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
That's right; our Fan Q & A column has a new sheriff in town. Send your question Summer Bedgood's way at summer.bedgood@frontstretch.com and if you're lucky, you'll get your name in print on Thursday when she does her weekly column. It's all part of our daily mission to give back to you – the fans that keep Frontstretch afloat!
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Today's Featured Commentary
NASCAR's Biggest Stars Are Not the Only Reason to Visit the Track
Sitting In The Stands: A Fan's View
by S.D. Grady
Long, long ago when all I knew were the Cup boys, I labored under a misconception about a race weekend at the track. My friends would tell me, "On Saturday, we can go watch Happy Hour and there's a race!"
Happy Hour! Awesome! That final 45 minute scramble of cars, crew chiefs and drivers to set the car up for the big show on Sunday. It is a thrilling moment to watch first hand. And way back when, the crowds did show up for Happy Hour. I can recall afternoons spent at then-NHIS where we filled up the stands to watch the big boys take a few practice spins about the track, and then a great many would depart before the local ranks would take a green. I understood, I mean the whole point of the Cup weekend was to see the legendary stars of our sport up close and personal.
However, like much of our sport, times have changed. And so has the appeal of Happy Hour Saturday. Perhaps it is due to an unending supply of practice coverage of Sprint Cup on the television. Perhaps we have finally learned that it really is just practice. If you've come to snap a few photos of your favorite driver and wander the merchandise haulers without the insane crowds of Sunday, Saturday is your chance. If you're looking for action on the track...
This past Saturday, I found my seats around 11:00am for a day of automotive entertainment. I had already missed some practice, but that was okay. And so it seemed the rest of the multitudes already encamped at NHMS for the Sylvania 300 thought the same. Single fans spotted the frontstretch while the big boys worked through their paces in Happy Hour. A few more people carried coolers up the steps to pick out the premium spot for...what would come after.
That's right. The Cup garage would shut down after Happy Hour. This was our last chance to see them on the track before pre-race ceremonies the following morning. And it appeared we just didn't care.
Come high noon the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour was scheduled to take to the track. Some interloper bearing the name Newman likes to roll his personal machine onto the grid for these races, but it isn't for the big name that the stands fill up to the point that you might expect a series like the Nationwide or Camping World to be present. No, it's for Coby, Stefanik, Christopher, Lia, Blewitt and a host of other regional racing stars.
The red and black flags flew for the Cup garage, and still the little red wagons arrived to be chained to the fence outside the gate. More and more people came in. And maybe some fans sitting around us had never watched a Modified race, that isn't so unusual. But they had heard the legend that they were about to watch the best racing of the weekend.
The racing. The side by side, lead swapping, bumping and grinding and payback's a bitch racing. It's the kind of competition that brings the crowd to their feet, not because they have the driver's picture plastered to their bedroom wall, but because you can't stop yourself. The crowd didn't shell out the cash just to see something shiny and bright, they came because they're race fans, no matter who might be on the track.
Sunday also boasted an elbow room-only crowd, but then again we are talking about the actual race day. There's an opportunity for glory and anguish. It's the moment when taking the car onto the track really matters. The fans have figured this out.
Yes, the Sprint Cup garners all the big sponsor dollars--though at times it boggles the mind how much moolah it takes to run this sport--but it takes race day to generate a return on their investment. It's nice to hand out wristbands for a coveted autograph, but it's becoming increasingly obvious that we're really only willing to pay those sponsors for action.
It doesn't have to do with winning. It's about competing.
The millions of dollars will earn somebody a shiny bus, a massive hauler for the backup car, a team of a hundred people to turn specific wrenches on any given day, but if you remove all the $500 sunglasses and vetted PR releases, we are left with a humble and exciting thing. An infield crammed with men and women who came to run a race, and a grandstand nicely filled with those raring to watch one.
That, my friends, is the best of days spent at the track, no matter how many horsepower you've got under the hood.
Sonya's Weekly Danica Stat
Kentucky: NNS in the No. 7 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet
Qualified: 11th
Finished: 14th (running, two laps down)
Points Position: 11th
Author's Note: I've finally made it to Facebook! Come visit with me at http://facebook.com/Author.SDGrady
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.
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Numbers Game: Sylvania 300
by Garrett Horton
0
There were no DNF's due to accidents on Sunday, the second time in the last three races that has occurred.
2
It was noted during ESPN's broadcast of the Sylvania 300 that the winner of the second Chase race has gone on to win the championship the last three years. However, winning at Loudon in the Chase hasn't been a good omen. When Kurt Busch won the inaugural Chase race here in 2004 and Tony Stewart took the checkered flag in last year's event, it marked the only two times a Loudon winner in the Chase went on to win the championship.
3.1
Jimmie Johnson's average finish at Dover for races where he finished on the lead lap.
4
Clint Bowyer picked up his fourth career top-5 five at Loudon on Sunday, joining Talladega, Sonoma, and Bristol as the most top-5's he has at one track.
5
Denny Hamlin scored his fifth victory of the season on Sunday, the second time in his career he has scored five or more wins in a season driving for Joe Gibbs. The only other driver to do so for JGR was Tony Stewart, who won at least five times in a season on three occasions. Should Hamlin win once more in these final eight races, he will become the first JGR driver to go to Victory Lane at least six times in a season more than once.
9
Kasey Kahne has nine top-5's this year, the most he's had since 2006 when he had 12. He needs four more this year to match his personal best, which was his rookie year when he had 13 top-5's.
10
Jimmie Johnson has ten podium finishes this year, more than any other driver.
22
Denny Hamlin now has 22 career victories, placing him in a tie with current driver Matt Kenseth, and two-time champion Terry Labonte for 30th most all-time.
100
With Hamlin's victory at New Hampshire, it now gives Joe Gibbs Racing a total of 100 wins in the Sprint Cup Series. Tony Stewart has delivered the most wins for Gibbs with 33. The current trio of Hamlin, Kyle Busch and Joey Logano have added 22, 20, and two, respectively. Former JGR driver Bobby Labonte won for the organization 21 times, and Dale Jarrett, who gave Gibbs his first win as owner back in the 1993 at the Daytona 500, won twice for JGR.
419
After leading 38 laps on Sunday, Tony Stewart's number of laps led for the season increased to 419. He has led at least 400 laps every year since coming to the Sprint Cup series in 1999.
571
Denny Hamlin has led 571 laps in the last five races, more than double anyone else in that span (Jimmie Johnson has the next highest total at 228).
845
The pole sitter of each race has accumulated 845 points this season. If you compare that to the actual point standings, it would be out of the Chase, currently 13th in points. Pole sitter's this year have won just one race (Joey Logano at Pocono), and perhaps more surprising, only four top-5 finishes, two of which have come in the last two weeks.
Garrett Horton is a Contributor to Frontstretch. He can be reached via e-mail at garrett.horton@frontstretch.com. Follow him on Twitter at @Garrett_Horton.
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TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:
Five Points to Ponder: Debris, Double Duty and Detonations
by Bryan Davis Keith
Who's Hot/Who's Not in NASCAR: New Hampshire/Dover Edition
by Brett Poirier
Couch Potato Tuesday: Points Burnout after Two Weeks? Huh Boy
by Phil Allaway
Bold Brad and Determined Denny Primed to Put the Six Pack on Ice
by Danny Peters
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FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Q: The 1993 SplitFire Spark Plugs 500 marked Geoff Bodine's first race driving for the team formerly owned by the late Alan Kulwicki (he had purchased the operation from Kulwicki's estate (administered by Felix Sabates) a month earlier). However, his race ended on Lap 360 when he crashed exiting Turn 2. What was notable about the car that Bodine crashed?
Check back Wednesday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
Monday's Answer:
Q: In 1985, Bill Elliott was by far the fastest driver at then-Dover Downs International Speedway. He led over 300 laps and lapped the field to win in the Spring. He then led 173 laps and appeared likely to lap the field again in September. However, it was not to be. What took Elliott out of contention for a decent finish?
A: Elliott had just lost the lead to Ricky Rudd when his Coors Ford suddenly slowed and began smoking on the backstretch. After a cursory check on pit road by the crew, Elliott attempted to drive away from his stall, but was unable to do so. It was a broken axle that put Elliott behind the wall and cost him 70 laps. This can be seen at the 2:30 mark of this clip. It is taken from a highlighted version of Mizlou's telecast of the race. Mike Hogewood and Dick Brooks have the call. Note the loud cheers for Elliott's misfortune.
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!
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Coming tomorrow in the Frontstretch Newsletter:
-- Top News from Brad Morgan
-- Beth's Brief by Beth Lunkenheimer
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, and more!
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Tomorrow on the Frontstretch:
Did You Notice?... by Tom Bowles
Tom returns with a series of "quick hit" discussion points.
Mirror Driving by the Frontstretch Staff
Your favorite Frontstretch writers are back to discuss a variety of different subjects. This week's topics include whether Kyle Busch's comments about a lack of interviews recently is valid, whether Jimmie Johnson can win the championship without winning a number of Chase races, Kurt Busch's move to Furniture Row for 2013 and more.
Sprint Cup Power Rankings compiled by Summer Bedgood
Did Sunday's action in Loudon significantly shake up our Power Rankings? You'll have to check it out in order to see where the drivers stand going into Sunday's AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway
Kevin's Corner by Kevin Rutherford
Kevin's back with another interesting commentary.
Frontstretch Top Ten by Jeff Meyer
We'll have a top ten list that will tickle your funny bone, guaranteed.
Open-Wheel Wednesday: 2012 Driver Reviews Part 1 by the Frontstretch Staff
With the season now complete and Ryan Hunter-Reay crowned as champion, our staff convenes to take a look at individual drivers' seasons.
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