The Frontstretch Newsletter: September 11th, 2012

THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
September 11th, 2012
Volume VI, Edition CLXXXI

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The 11-year anniversary of September 11th is today. Never forget... the Frontstretch Staff sends our best to all those affected by the 2001 tragedy in New York City, Washington, D.C. and elsewhere.

Top News
by Tom Bowles

Paul Menard's Team Loses Appeal On Penalty

One of Richard Childress Racing's teams stays a little lighter staffed this Tuesday Tuesday after their appeal of a midsummer penalty was denied by the National Stock Car Racing Commission. The three-member panel upheld the consequences handed down August 21st, at the NASCAR Research and Development Center following a race at Michigan International Speedway. RCR lost 25 owner points, Menard 25 driver points, and crew chief Slugger Labbe was fined $100,000 as a result of the infractions, which violated Section 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 14-K: If, in the judgment of NASCAR Officials, race equipment that has been previously certified or previously approved by NASCAR for use in an event, pursuant to sub-section 8-12, has been altered, modified, repaired or changed in any matter (that is deemed illegal).

The matter was deemed serious enough to also suspend Labbe for six weeks along with car chief Craig Smokstad and crew member Grant Hutchens. All those men are on probation until December 31st. RCR acknowledged the failure of post-race inspection but did argue the suspensions of Smokstad and Hutchens; however, the panel found any argument to reduce suspensions of specific crew members unconvincing.

Menard missed the Chase and remains without a top-3 finish since winning last year's Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis.

RPM Switches Crew Chiefs

One team that missed the Chase is getting their start on 2013 a little early. Richard Petty Motorsports made a crew chief swap Monday, assigning Todd Parrott to the No. 43 Ford of Aric Almirola while Mike Ford goes over to work with Marcos Ambrose on the No. 9. The decision was made following a disappointing Richmond race in which Ambrose was officially locked out of the Chase after failing to win for the second time in 2012.

"We're continuing to make improvements at Richard Petty Motorsports and we've added talented people to our organization this season," said Sammy Johns, Director of Competition in announcing the changes. "This move is to make sure that we are using that talent to the fullest to get the best results for our teams each weekend. We feel this adjustment will strengthen the organization, allow us to continue to compete for wins and ultimately challenge for championships."

Several crew members that worked with Parrott and Ford will also go ahead and switch teams in time for Sunday's race at Chicagoland. RPM, which does not have a manufacturer lined up for 2013 is looking to up their performance with their drivers 15th and 22nd in Cup points. While Ambrose, who was in Chase contention has won a race within the last month (Watkins Glen) Almirola is without a top-5 finish this season and hasn't finished inside the top 15 since Dover in June.

News Bites

- Jeff Gordon is going retro this weekend at Chicagoland ... with his facial hair. Gordon plans to grow back the infamous mustache during the Chase he had during the early years of his Cup career in the 1990s. He's hoping it'll change his roller coaster luck as the No. 24 team looks to win their fifth championship - and first since 2001.

- Ron Hornaday, Jr. has picked up a primary sponsor for multiple Truck Series races. Smokey Mountain Snuff, a tobacco-free smokeless brand is scheduled to be on the car for three races between now and the end of the 2012 season.

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 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
A Refresher Course for the Race to the Chase
Sitting In The Stands: A Fan's View
by S.D. Grady

It's time for the Chase!  Aren't you thrilled?  Oh.  Well, actually neither am I.  The fact is the haze of summer has given way to September blue skies and the children have returned to class.  Life takes on a calmer pace and I look forward to quiet afternoons devoid of screaming children and angry parents.

But then arrives the Chase, NASCAR's version of the playoff's and the ensuing ten week marathon driving toward the awards ceremonies in Las Vegas.  We get hype, new commercials, excessive extra TV content, special Chase issues from your favorite racing sites; its sort of like Christmas without trees and lights.  All the excitement makes you wonder if there was something you missed during the regular season that necessitates this avalanche of a media blitz.  Was there?

Actually, no.  It's not so much that we missed the big stories as much as they've sort of settled into distant memory.  So, here's a refresher of the big storylines for each race, and some little ones.

Daytona 500:  NASCAR discovers Twitter and Tide gets free adspace.  It all came about from Montoya's random right turn into the jet dryer, resulting in the infamous explosion.  Kenseth wins during prime time on a Monday night.

Phoenix:  The No. 11 team verifies the genius in snapping up the Sprint Cup Champion Crew Chief from 2011 with a win, and we all got a gander at the new racing surface. 

Las Vegas:  Tony Stewart's No. 14 takes an eon to refire, leading to a chorus of "I told you the EFI was a problem!" from the Media Center, and proceeded to take his new crew chief Steve Addington to Victory Lane.  Take that, Darian Grubb!

Bristol:  Matt Kenseth appeared at the front of the radar for the fourth race in a row, without making much noise.  But it was @keselowski who stole the trophy.

Fontana:  Uh...well, the final appeal for those funky "C" pillars on the No. 48 was heard and penalties reduced to the laughable limit.  Other than that, Stewart notched another one for his victory belt.

Martinsville:  Short track racing at its best.  Newman and the 'Dinger took this one down to the last foot before the trophy was handed to the No. 39 team.  And right about now we began to wonder who upstairs Jeff Gordon ticked off this season.

Texas:  Those cookie cutter tracks are really awesome!  At least Greg Biffle thought so since he got a pair of new six-shooters.  Otherwise, the now infamous No. 48 "C" pillar car was sent to the show car circuit, never to be seen again on a plate track.

Kansas:  Somebody named Hamlin won for the second time this season, setting up what the season would look like well into the summer.  Otherwise, this is Kansas.  What did you expect?

Richmond:  While Kyle Busch took his bow, Carl Edwards and Tony Stewart still couldn't figure out where they were supposed to have lined up for the fourth restart.  Between that and some random water bottles creating driving hazards, it was a rather mild evening.  In fact, nine races into the season fans were wondering whether NASCAR excitement would ever return...

Talladega:  All year FOX had been trotting out a lovely Hendrick Motorsports 100th Win Any Minute Now piece...and were once again disappointed when Brad Keselowski grabbed his second victory of the season.  Otherwise, the much touted pack racing really devolved into more tandem racing.  Seems like no matter how hard you try, there ain't no fixing plate racing.

Darlington:  Oh wait!  It happened!  100 Cup wins for HMS.  Mr. Five-time did the job himself.  And just because we really thought Kurt Busch was "just having fun" in his No. 51 ride this year, it stunned the stands when he played bumper cars in the pits with Newman post-race. 

Coke 600:  Kasey Kahne added to the Hendrick trophy case in a rather sedate version of this race.

Dover:  Jimmie Johnson sported a circus afro in Victory Lane and Kurt Busch added another chapter to his embarrassingly long list of "I'm an idiot days" when he threatened a member of the media--resulting in a one-race suspension. 

Pocono:  Something bizarre happened, the season perked up.  In a classic confrontation, young gun Joey Logano moved veteran Mark Martin out of the way to snare the win at a competitive and exciting 400 mile Pocono event.  Most everybody agreed, this was a fun race to watch.  And yes, Jeff Gordon's year was officially sucking.

Michigan:  Didn't you hear the angels singing?  Dale Earnhardt, Jr. won.  In the Dark Knight car.  Nevermind the new track surface that resulted in scary fast speeds, the tire change and a deluge right before the green flag, NASCAR Nation celebrated their chosen son's win.

Sonoma:  It was rather quiet and little unexciting, but somehow in the end Clint Bowyer won fair and square.   Also, TV viewers were wondering whatever happened to the sterling Summer Six Pack broadcasts TNT used to put on.

Kentucky:  There wasn't any major traffic snafu.  BK benefited from pit strategy to win race No. 3 and the usual pack of suspects tried to make an otherwise snoozefest something to watch.  And rumors started to circulate about Matt Kenseth heading to the No. 20 for 2013, despite lots of denials on all parts.

Daytona:  The Dinger was suspended for failing a drug test, and a bizarre sequence of events eventually had him losing the No. 22 ride and entering into the Road to Recovery program.  NASCAR Nation still awaits the next installment in this sad saga.  Meanwhile, Stewart beat out Kahne, Kenseth and Biffle at the latest dance. 

New Hampshire:  Kasey Kahne won.  Denny Hamlin suffered a miscommunication in the pits.  That was about it.

Indy:  In which many things happened in other series for the first time at the storied track, but really not much at all when we were watching the Cup race.  Jimmie Johnon won again in his typical manner--the one where its just his race.  All his.  All the time.

Pocono:  Jeff Gordon finally brought his winless streak to an end, thanks to rain.  At the same time, several fans were struck by lightning and Brian Zimmerman died during the severe thunderstorm that ended the race.  So now all the tracks reviewed their severe weather procedures.  Never take Mother Nature for granted.

Watkins Glen:  Its a road course!  We never have great races at road courses.  Wrong!  Brad Keselowski was a grinning fool during his second-place media appearance, because the beatin' and bangin' between him and Ambrose on the final lap was epic.  I believe I was jumping up and down, maybe yelling at that time.  Epic, I say.

Michigan:  Jimmie Johnson ruled the day, but Greg Biffle won.  Mark Martin's meeting with pit wall, and the splicing of his car in two, resulted in further safety revisions for those on pit road during races and revisiting the design of openings in the wall.

Bristol:  It was Bristol baby!  Not the Old Bristol, but more like a smaller Darlington.  Drivers rode the rim, beat on their neighbors, threw a helmet and generally a great time was had by all.  Oh, and don't forget Denny Hamlin's Wobble during intros.  He may have danced a bit more in Victory Lane.

Atlanta:  Hamlin won.  And yes, it seems like the names of Kenseth, Stewart, Hamlin and Johnson are the ones we can't stop talking about, as they have remained at the front of the field all year long.  But don't forget Biffle and Keselowski.  Its getting interesting folks. 

Richmond:  Yes, Clint Bowyer finished off the regular season with a statement issued while hoisting the trophy.  But from the rear of the field a certain Jeff Gordon drove like a madman to edge out Kyle Busch for the last coveted Wild Card spot into the Chase.

And here we are, heading off to Chicago where the 12 Chasers will have at it.  Who will be the big winner?  Well, nothing's ever certain but it's a good shot that those names who appeared in Victory Lane more than twice over the season will be on the short list when we're pulling into Homestead. 

My personal pick?  My head says Mr. Johnson is gonna do it again--Chad's been up to some pretty sneaky stuff of late.  But my heart is cheering for Brad Keselowski, that Tweeting fiend and all his polarizing opinions. 

What's your pick to win the Chase of 2012?  I'm looking forward to hearing from you and watching every last race to find out.

Sonya's Weekly Danica Stat
Richmond: NNS in the No. 7 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet
Qualified: 24th
Finished: 29th (running, 32 laps down after crashing on Lap 143)
Points Position: 11th

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: Federated Auto Parts 400
by Garrett Horton

0
The number of times Kyle Busch has finished higher than eighth in the standings during his tenure with Joe Gibbs.  In fact, with 13th the highest he can possibly finish in this year's final points standings, he will have finished outside the top-10 in points more than he has finished inside in his five seasons with Gibbs.

1
When Tony Stewart won the championship last year, it marked the one and only time that a winless driver going into the Chase managed to win the Cup title.

2
The number of times the number one seed in the Chase went on to win the championship (Tony Stewart in 2005 and Jimmie Johnson in 2007).

3
The number two seed historically has had the most success in the Chase, going on to win a total of three times, all by Jimmie Johnson (2006, 2009, 2010).

4
With Denny Hamlin going into this year's Chase as the number one seed, it marked the fourth time in the last five years a Joe Gibbs Racing driver has been at the top of the standings going into the final ten races.

5
Of Clint Bowyer's seven career victories, five of them have come from a starting position of fourth or better.

7
Bowyer's seventh victory moved him into a six-way tie for 62nd most all-time.

8
With his fifth-place finish at Richmond, Matt Kenseth scored his first top-5 since Daytona eight races ago.

9.7
Greg Biffle, who has scored the most points this year, has an average finish of 9.7 through 26 races in 2012, easily on track to eclipse his previous best of 11.9 in 2005.

10
Tony Stewart picked up his tenth top-5 of the season on Saturday, already more than his total in 2010 and his championship winning campaign last year.

12
Most consecutive top-10's going into the Chase by any eventual champion since NASCAR implemented it's version of the playoffs in 2004.  This was accomplished by Tony Stewart in 2005; however, no other Chase winner has posted more than two consecutive top-10's going into the final ten races, so momentum doesn't necessarily mean a whole lot.

16
Tony Stewart ranks only 16th highest in points scored over the last ten races, fewer than any other Chaser.

17
Dale Earnhardt, Jr. has 17 top-10 finishes in 2012.  He needs only five in the last ten races to break his personal best of 21 set in 2003 and 2004.

39
Despite Jeff Gordon's amazing mid-season turnaround, going from 22nd in points after the first race at Pocono in June to qualifying for the second wild card spot 12 races later, he has led only 39 laps in that span.

377
Denny Hamlin has led 377 laps in the last three races, more than double the amount of the driver with the most in that span (teammate Joey Logano with 139).

1992
This year's class of Chasers include two drivers who have never finished in top-5 in points – Kasey Kahne, who is in his ninth full season and Martin Truex, Jr., currently in his seventh full season.  The last time a driver won the championship who had never ended the year in the top-5 in points with at least six years of full-time Cup experience was Alan Kulwicki in 1992.

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: A Chase-tastic Edition: Ready, Set, Chase
by Danny Peters

Who's Hot/Who's Not in NASCAR: Richmond/Chicago Edition
by Brett Poirier

Tech Talk with Matt Puccia: Starting Off Biffle's Chase on the Right Foot
by Mike Neff

What's Next for Kyle Busch, No. 18 Team?
by Bryan Davis Keith

ESPN Reintroduces Fans to Johanna Long; Hypes Wild Cards Repeatedly
by Phil Allaway
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FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
 
Q:  In the 2002 Tropicana Twister 300 at Chicagoland Speedway, Scott Riggs started from the outside pole and led 50 laps.  However, his day ended in the garage a little past halfway.  What happened?
 
Check back Wednesday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
 
Monday's Answer:

Q:  This weekend's MavTV American Real 500 at Auto Club Speedway is the first open-wheeled 500 mile race outside of Indianapolis since 2002.  What was the most notable fact about that race?

A:  The 2002 event featured a mere 18 starters, which was sadly par for the course in late-2002 with Penske having already defected to the IRL and many of the other teams following after the 2002 season ended.  However, what is also notable is that this is the fastest race in CART history.  The event was run at an average speed of nearly 198 mph, thanks to a low amount of cautions.  However, this meant that only nine of the 18 starters managed to finish the 500 mile distance due to attrition.

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.  Topics include who the favorites are in the Chase, who's the best of the rest, whether the Nationwide or Camping World Truck Series championship battles will be more intriguing, and more.

Sprint Cup Power Rankings compiled by Summer Bedgood
Did Saturday night'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 Sunday's GEICO 400 at Chicagoland 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 by P. Huston Ladner
Huston's back with another look inside the Izod IndyCar Series as the teams prepare for this weekend's season finale.
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