THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
October 5th, 2012
Volume VI, Edition CCI
~~~~~~~~~~
What to Watch: Friday
- Tony Stewart will hold a press conference today at 11:30 AM CDT at Talladega Superspeedway to discuss the sponsorship structure of his No. 14 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet for the 2013 season.
- The Camping World Truck Series takes to Talladega Superspeedway Friday for its lone practice session at 9:30 AM CDT. Qualifying for Saturday's Fred's 250 powered by Coca-Cola will be held at 4:00 PM CDT.
- The Sprint Cup Series will host two practice sessions at Talladega in preparation for the Good Sam Roadside Assistance 500. The first session will run at 1:30 PM CDT and the second takes to the track at 3:00 PM CDT.
~~~~~~~~~~
Top News
by Jeff Wolfe and Beth Lunkenheimer
It's Official: Bass Pro Shops to Sponsor Tony Stewart in 2013Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
October 5th, 2012
Volume VI, Edition CCI
~~~~~~~~~~
What to Watch: Friday
- Tony Stewart will hold a press conference today at 11:30 AM CDT at Talladega Superspeedway to discuss the sponsorship structure of his No. 14 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet for the 2013 season.
- The Camping World Truck Series takes to Talladega Superspeedway Friday for its lone practice session at 9:30 AM CDT. Qualifying for Saturday's Fred's 250 powered by Coca-Cola will be held at 4:00 PM CDT.
- The Sprint Cup Series will host two practice sessions at Talladega in preparation for the Good Sam Roadside Assistance 500. The first session will run at 1:30 PM CDT and the second takes to the track at 3:00 PM CDT.
~~~~~~~~~~
Top News
by Jeff Wolfe and Beth Lunkenheimer
In light of Stewart-Haas Racing's press conference scheduled for this morning at Talladega Superspeedway, rumors have swirled that owner / driver Tony Stewart would be announcing a partnership with Bass Pro Shops for the 2013 season. And at an appearance at the Springfield, Missouri-based company Thursday evening the defending champion "let the car out of the bag a day early" according to MSU Sports Central (http://blogs.news-leader.com/msu/2012/10/04/when-smoke-clears-stewart-and-bass-pro-team-up/). Details on how extensive the partnersship is will likely be announced at the press conference.
"This is a very natural partnership and I think we're going to have a lot of fun," Stewart said.To get this done where it helps Bass Pro and helps us at the same time, it's something we've dreamed about for a long time"
Stewart was in the market for a new primary sponsor after Office Depot announced its departure at the end of the 2012 season earlier this year. The evolution of the partnership took a less-than traditional route.
"Most companies we've worked with, it's a partnership first. This is a whole different deal. This is a friendship that's grown into a partnership also," Stewart said. "Johnny's (Morris, Bass Pro Shops Founder) been a friend first and now a business partner. It's fun to work with something that I'm passionate about and I'm passionate about what he does and what Bass Pro Shops does."
Morris stated that the new partnership would no affect their commitment to brothers Austin and Ty Dillon in the Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series.
Melon 1 On Board With Chastain
After being forced to start and park in the last two events, Rookie of the Year contender Ross Chastain has backing from Melon 1, one of the largest watermelon shippers in the United States, this weekend at Talladega and will be able to race the full distance. The No. 08 Toyota is one of many trucks that will feature pink somewhere in their paint schemes. The traditional lime green trim will be pink this weekend.
"I'm really happy to have Melon 1 on board this week and to be able to go out and race hard for them," Chastain said. "We are still looking for more help with the Texas and Phoenix races."
Chastain ran well in the season opening restrictor plate race at Daytona before being crashed out late in the going.
"We had a really good truck in the draft at Daytona; the truck did what we needed it to do. I'm really looking forward to get to Talladega," Chastain said. "Bobby (Dotter, Team Owner) said that Talladega will drive a lot different than Daytona and I just need to put it to the floor. It should be fun!"
In 17 races this year, Chastain has one top 5, three top 10s and a best finish of third at Bristol.
ISC Officials Positive About Upcoming TV Negotiations
International Speedway Corporation Chief Financial Officer Dan Houser likes NASCAR's prospects when it comes time to negotiate a new TV deal, according to a report on sportingnews.com. The eight-year deal NASCAR has with FOX ends in 2014 and is worth $4.48 billion with tracks getting about 65 percent of that. The reason for Houser's encouragement is that ESPN, FOX and Turner recently agreed on an eight year $12.4 billion deal with Major League Baseball that was nearly double the previous deal.
"We have a lot of content and have a very long season so that bodes well for us," Houser said Wednesday. "We feel cautiously optimistic where the NASCAR rights deal will end up. We think it will be mid- or late-2013 when we'll have something (signed). We just hope the broadcasters have some money left. They've been spending pretty big. But we continue to feel good about it."
While TV ratings overall have been down slightly for NASCAR this season, there is optimism because most people watch live sports on television.
"Despite headwinds in ratings—the Olympics definitely impacted NASCAR's ratings over the summer—we believe NASCAR remains in a strong negotiating position for the next broadcasting media rights agreement," ISC President John Saunders said.
ISC said that admissions are down 6.3 percent, partly due to two less truck races and not promoting the Nationwide Series race in Montreal. They also said that sales for Sprint Cup races has been at 81 percent capacity, about the same as last year. ISC reported a profit of $29.84 million through Aug. 31, down 31 percent from that time last year.
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.
~~~~~~~~~~
In Case You Missed It
by Beth Lunkenheimer
Road America Announces 2013 Schedule
Earlier this week, Road America in Elkhart Lake Wisconsin announced its 2013 schedule. The Nationwide Series will visit the four-mile road course with the ARCA Racing Series the weekend of June 20-22nd.
"Road America has the most active and diverse schedule of any road race circuit in the U.S. and we look forward to hosting the AMA, NASCAR Nationwide Series, SCCA and three separate vintage events again in 2013. We also look forward to being the first circuit to have the opportunity to show the world what the new race format of the recently announced Grand0Am and ALMS merger will look like," Road America President and General Manager George Bruggenthies said. "This is a tremendous opportunity for sports car racing fans to withness the future of the sport. We will finish out the season with the 50th Anniversary of the SCCA National Championship Runoffs--the largest sports car racing event in the country, making Road America the premier motorsports destination in 2013."
Tickets for the 2013 season will go on sale December 1st.
Red Horse Racing Celebrates 300th Truck Series Start
Saturday afternoon's Fred's 250 will feature Red Horse Racing's 300th start in the Camping World Truck Series with its No. 7, No. 11 and No. 17 entries driven by Parker Kligerman, Todd Bodine and Timothy Peters, respectively. Four of the organization's nine victories have come this season--John King at Daytona, Todd Bodine at Dover and Timothy Peters at Iowa and Bristol. Owned by Tom DeLoach, Red Horse Racing was founded in 2005 and their trio of drivers have combined for 19 top 5s this season alone.
Edwards to Make 600th NASCAR Start
This weekend, Carl Edwards will become the 40th driver to have made 600 career starts in NASCAR. The driver of the No. 99 Roush Fenway Racing Ford has 294 Sprint Cup Series starts, 245 in the Nationwide Series and 60 in the Camping World Truck Series. In all three series combined, Edwards boasts 63 wins, 246 top 5s and 365 top-10 finishes.
~~~~~~~~~~
Got NASCAR-related questions or comments?
Send them Summer Bedgood's way at summer.bedgood@frontstretch.com; and, if you're lucky, you'll get your name in print when she does her weekly column answering back to you – the fans that keep Frontstretch afloat. Frontstretch Fan Q & A will run on Thursdays with a whole new set of Fan Questions and Answers!
~~~~~~~~~~
Keepin' It Short: 400 Laps For Short Track Glory
by Mike Neff
For most of the last 31 years, the biggest Short Track race of the year has been a battle at the Nashville Fairgrounds called the All American 400. Drivers from the North and the South have converged on the legendary track to decide who is the best short track racer in the country. Drivers like Rusty Wallace, Darrell Waltrip, Jeff Purvis, Bobby Gill and Johnny Van Doorn have all taken home the trophy from the historic Nashville track.
This weekend the race returns to its true length of 400 laps for the first time in seven years, and is being sanctioned by the Pro All Star Series (PASS). There are drivers from the Northern and Southern division of PASS competing along with some well known drivers who don't compete regularly in either series. Among the interlopers who are going to be attempting to make the race this weekend are Sterling Marlin and Kyle Busch. Busch has won the race as a car owner, having fielded the car for the most recent 400 winner TJ Reaid, who scored the victory in 2010.
The schedule of events started on Thursday with practice and some racing on the quarter-mile track. Friday will see qualifying for all 5/8-mile divisions, heats for the 400 and feature races for the local 5/8-mile divisions. Saturday will see practice, a last chance race for the 400 and a 125 lap feature race for the Pro Late Models before the main event starts at 6:00 PM.
For those fans who are anywhere near Nashville this weekend, make the trip to the fairgrounds to see the track that spawned so many great racing careers and crowned the best of short track late model racers for the last 31 years.
ASA National Champion Announced
While strange things can happen within the vagaries of a point system that tries to account for number of cars per race and passing points, the ASA National Champ was pretty well assured to be Shelby Stroebel. An undefeated season and a winning streak of 17 races that actually stretches back to the end of 2011 is a pretty remarkable feat. Stroebel took 14 green flags at Meridian Speedway in Idaho this year in the Modified division and was the first car to the checkered flag in all 14 events. The ASA point system awards points for several different things so the possibility existed that someone might sneak up and steal the title from Stroebel, but he received the phone call from Dennis Huth this week that made it official.
"I had an idea, but until you get the phone call that you are the next National Champion, you never count your chickens before they hatch," Stroebel said after receiving the phone call from ASA President Dennis Huth. "I am super proud to be where we are at, we had a great year. I have to thank all of the people that helped us. I can't really even think right now."
Meridian Speedway is a quarter-mile asphalt track in Meridian, Idaho. This is the first National Title for a driver from the short track that has been in the ASA fold since 2003.
Stroebel's dad wasn't there to see his title run, but he dedicated it to his father who succumbed to Leukemia last year. "This is for my dad," Stroebel said. "He had worked on another driver's race car and he got pure enjoyment out of doing that. When he got diagnosed, he was really bummed out. My whole thing with sickness is that you need to stay positive, strive forward and have something to live for every day. About six years ago, we went and bought a racecar and at that time didn't realize the position we would be in today. That is why we started racing, we did it for him."
Finishing behind Stroebel was Lance Gatlin from Lonesome Pine Raceway. Gatlin made his own run at perfection early in the season, but lost in his 10th start. Gatlin ended the season with 10 wins and a worst finish of sixth. Michael Hale from Rocky Mountain Raceways was third, Dustin Rumley from Ace Speedway, the home of last year's National Champion was fourth and Mike Slone out of I-44 Speedway rounded out the top five.
The final season point standings:
1. Shelby Stroebel (Meridian Speedway) 5.6121
2. Lance Gatlin (Lonesome Pine Raceway) 4.9374
3. Michael Hale (Rocky Mountain Raceways) 4.5876
4. Dustin Rumley (Ace Speedway) 4.5325
5. Mike Slone (Lebanon I-44 Speedway) 4.2885
6. Dennis Queen (Newport Motor Speedway) 3.8978
7. Mark Eswein (State Park Speedway) 3.7939
8. Kyle Borden (Shasta Speedway) 1.3704
Upcoming Race Schedule
Fri : Oct 5th – Tri-City Speedway ; Pontoon Beach : IL – USAC MOPAR National Midgets
Fri : Oct 5th – Greenville Speedway ; Greenville : MS – Nesmith Dirt Late Models
Fri : Oct 5th – Malden Speedway ; Malden : MO – Cotton Boll Cup Late Models
Fri : Oct 5th – Malden Speedway ; Malden : MO – Cotton Boll Cup Modifieds
Fri : Oct 5th – Malden Speedway ; Malden : MO – Cotton Boll Cup Street Stocks
Fri : Oct 5th – New York State Fairgrounds ; Syracuse : NY – DIRTCar Big-Block Modifieds
Fri : Oct 5th – Southwest Speedway ; Dickinson : ND – Frost Bite IMCA Modifieds
Fri : Oct 5th – Southwest Speedway ; Dickinson : ND – Frost Bite Wissota Street Stocks
Fri : Oct 5th – Mountain Creek Speedway ; Grand Prairie : TX – IMCA Modifieds
Fri : Oct 5th – Mountain Creek Speedway ; Grand Prairie : TX – IMCA Sport Modifieds
Fri : Oct 5th – Mountain Creek Speedway ; Grand Prairie : TX – IMCA Stock
Fri : Oct 5th – Mountain Creek Speedway ; Grand Prairie : TX – Street Stock
Fri : Oct 5th – Mountain Creek Speedway ; Grand Prairie : TX – NorthTex Racing Series
Sat : Oct 6th – Talladega Short Track ; Eastaboga : AL – Southern All Star Dirt Super Late Models
Sat : Oct 6th – Green Valley Speedway ; Glencoe : AL – David Hare Memorial Crate Late Models
Sat : Oct 6th – Green Valley Speedway ; Glencoe : AL – David Hare Memorial KMSA
Sat : Oct 6th – Green Valley Speedway ; Glencoe : AL – David Hare Memorial Outlaw Thunder
Sat : Oct 6th – Green Valley Speedway ; Glencoe : AL – David Hare Memorial Sportsman
Sat : Oct 6th – Green Valley Speedway ; Glencoe : AL – David Hare Memorial Street Stock
Sat : Oct 6th – Green Valley Speedway ; Glencoe : AL – David Hare Memorial Super Late Models
Sat : Oct 6th – I-30 Speedway ; Little Rock : AR – Comp Cams Super Late Models
Sat : Oct 6th – Riverside International Speedway ; West Memphis : AR – Fall Nationals 360 Winged Sprints
Sat : Oct 6th – Riverside International Speedway ; West Memphis : AR – Fall Nationals 600 Mini Sprints
Sat : Oct 6th – Riverside International Speedway ; West Memphis : AR – Fall Nationals Late Models
Sat : Oct 6th – Riverside International Speedway ; West Memphis : AR – Fall Nationals Modifieds
Sat : Oct 6th – Perris Auto Speedway ; Perris : CA – USAC/CRA Sprint Cars
Sat : Oct 6th – Desoto Speedway ; Bradenton : FL – Florida United Promoters Late Models
Sat : Oct 6th – New Smyrna Speedway ; New Smyrna Beach : FL – Super Late Models
Sat : Oct 6th – New Smyrna Speedway ; New Smyrna Beach : FL – Modifieds
Sat : Oct 6th – New Smyrna Speedway ; New Smyrna Beach : FL – Sportsman
Sat : Oct 6th – Dixie Speedway ; Woodstock : GA – Lucas Oil Dixie Shootout Lucas Oil Late Models
Sat : Oct 6th – Watermelon Capital Speedway ; Cordele : GA – Outlaw Late Models
Sat : Oct 6th – Waycross Motor Speedway ; Waycross : GA – Late Models
Sat : Oct 6th – Tri-City Speedway ; Pontoon Beach : IL – USAC MOPAR National Midgets
Sat : Oct 6th – Speedrome ; Indianapolis : IN – World Figure 8 100
Sat : Oct 6th – Speedrome ; Indianapolis : IN – Hornets 36
Sat : Oct 6th – Seekonk Speedway ; Seekonk : MA – MRS Modifieds
Sat : Oct 6th – Greenville Speedway ; Greenville : MS – Nesmith Dirt Late Models
Sat : Oct 6th – Malden Speedway ; Malden : MO – Cotton Boll Cup Late Models
Sat : Oct 6th – Malden Speedway ; Malden : MO – Cotton Boll Cup Modifieds
Sat : Oct 6th – Malden Speedway ; Malden : MO – Cotton Boll Cup Street Stocks
Sat : Oct 6th – Airborne Park Speedway ; Plattsburgh : NY – ACT Late Models
Sat : Oct 6th – New York State Fairgrounds ; Syracuse : NY – DIRTCar Big-Block Modifieds
Sat : Oct 6th – Rolling Wheels Raceway ; Elbridge : NY – World of Outlaws Sprint Cars
Sat : Oct 6th – Hickory Motor Speedway ; Newton : NC – Dwight Huffman Memorial Late Models
Sat : Oct 6th – Hickory Motor Speedway ; Newton : NC – Limited Late Models
Sat : Oct 6th – Southwest Speedway ; Dickinson : ND – Frost Bite IMCA Modifieds
Sat : Oct 6th – Southwest Speedway ; Dickinson : ND – Frost Bite Wissota Street Stocks
Sat : Oct 6th – Jackson County Speedway ; Jackson : OH – Late Models
Sat : Oct 6th – Jackson County Speedway ; Jackson : OH – Modifieds
Sat : Oct 6th – Jackson County Speedway ; Jackson : OH – Street Stocks
Sat : Oct 6th – Lincoln Speedway ; Abbottstown : PA – Hank Gentzler Memorial 410 Sprints
Sat : Oct 6th – Lincoln Speedway ; Abbottstown : PA – Hank Gentzler Memorial 358 Sprints
Sat : Oct 6th – Mountain Speedway ; St. John's : PA – King of the Mountain Sport Modifieds
Sat : Oct 6th – Anderson Motor Speedway ; Anderson : SC – UARA Stars Late Models
Sat : Oct 6th – Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway ; Nashville : TN – All American 400 PASS South Super Late Models
Sat : Oct 6th – La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway ; West Salem : WI – ASA Midwest Tour Oktoberfest 100
Sat : Oct 6th – La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway ; West Salem : WI – Big 8 Series Late Models
Sat : Oct 6th – Langlade Speedway ; Antigo : WI – Late Models
Sat : Oct 6th – Langlade Speedway ; Antigo : WI – Modifieds
Sun : Oct 7th – Rome Speedway ; Rome : GA – Rome Rumble Lucas Oil Late Models
Sun : Oct 7th – Seekonk Speedway ; Seekonk : MA – MRS Modifieds
Sun : Oct 7th – New York State Fairgrounds ; Syracuse : NY – DIRTCar Big-Block Modifieds
Sun : Oct 7th – Mountain Speedway ; St. John's : PA – King of the Mountain Modifieds
Sun : Oct 7th – Peterborough Speedway ; Peterborough : Ontario – OSCAAR Super Late Models
Sun : Oct 7th – La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway ; West Salem : WI – ASA Midwest Tour Oktoberfest 100
Sun : Oct 7th – Langlade Speedway ; Antigo : WI – Late Models
Sun : Oct 7th – Langlade Speedway ; Antigo : WI – Modifieds
Wed : Oct 10th – Millbridge Speedway ; Salisbury : NC – Breast Cancer Awareness Night Mini Outlaws
Wed : Oct 10th – The Dirt Track at Charlotte ; Concord : NC – Late Model Showdown - World of Outlaws Late Models
Thu : Oct 11th – Charlotte Motor Speedway ; Concord : NC – NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour
Mike Neff is a Senior Writer for Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via email at mike.neff@frontstretch.com. Follow him on Twitter @MNeffShortTrack.
~~~~~~~~~~
COME JOIN THE FRONTSTRETCH FAMILY!
If you are interested, contact frontstretcheditors@googlegroups.com. Please include references to your past work in your e-mail.
~~~~~~~~~~
Frontstretch Folio: Good Sam Roadside Assistance 500
by Rick Lunkenheimer
This Sunday the Sprint Cup Series returns to Talladega for race number four in the Chase for the championship. The Good Sam Roadside Assistance 500 will be broadcast live Sunday afternoon at 2:00 PM ET on ESPN, with the green flag scheduled to fly around 2:20 PM ET. Drivers will compete for 188 laps (500.08 miles).
Records and Facts
Bill Elliott set the qualifying record on April 30, 1987 with a speed of 212.809 mph (44.998 sec.). Elliot led for 48 laps in his No. 9 Coors Ford before an engine failure left him relegated to a 22nd-place finish. Davey Allison, who led a race-high 101 laps went on to win the Winston 500 that was shortened due to darkness.
Mark Martin holds the race record speed of 188.354 mph (2:39:18) which he set back on May 10, 1997. Martin started 18th in his No. 6 Valvoline Ford and worked his way up through the field to lead for 47 laps en route to a 0.146 second victory over Dale Earnhardt. Bobby Labonte, John Andretti and Jeff Gordon rounded out the top 5. It was one of four victories for Martin that year.
Clint Bowyer is the defending winner of this race. He led just 25 laps before edging teammate Jeff Burton by a slim 0.018-second margin. Dave Blaney, Brad Keselowski and Brian Vickers rounded out the top 5.
Track Facts
Track / Race Length: 2.66 mile quad oval; 188 laps, 500.08 miles
Turns: Banking: 33° Length: 3,750 feet Radius: 1,100 feet
Trioval: Banking: 18°
Pit Road Speed: 55mph
Pace Car Speed: 70mph
Grandstand Seating: 143,231
Track last paved: Summer 2006
Opened: 1969
VIPs
Grand Marshal: Actor Kevin James
Honorary Starter / Wave Green Flag: TJ Smith, Vice President of Camping World
National Anthem: RaeLynn
Pre-race Schedule
Practice: Friday, October 5, 2:30 - 3:15 PM ET on SPEED
Happy Hour: Friday, October 4, 4:00 - 5:00 PM ET on SPEED
Qualifying: Saturday, October 6 at 12:15 PM ET on SPEED
Say What?!?
"For the first time in my career I'm really looking forward to going to Talladega. Our restrictor plate stuff has been extremely strong this year and I think we've led a lot of laps at all three plate races. We were leading all three green-white-checker finishes at the superspeedways this year, but unfortunately we lost the last two. I messed up both of them and didn't do the right things, but we've had really fast cars. The No.16 and us have been really fast. We've been able to work together and stayed up front the whole time. Hopefully we can do that again and, if there is some trouble, take advantage of that for Greg (Biffle) and I to gain some points." -Matt Kenseth
"I'm definitely looking forward to Talladega because our restrictor-plate program has been on fire for the last two and a half years. It's unbelievable how good our engines have been. I know it's going to be a wild race and there is a lot on the line. It takes a lot of luck to win at Talladega, but I feel like we can do it this weekend. First thing you have to do is miss the big one, then have a good drafting partner and you need to be in the right place, at the right time, to win at Talladega." -Greg Biffle
"This package seems to make it a little harder to bunch up and partner up. It will keep us, I think, in a big group. I am torn on that. It is worse because you have a better chance of being involved in somebody else's wreck but it is more fun and I guess fun is why we do this anyway. I think it is going to be as good as Talladega can be. I haven't won a restrictor-plate race in the Cup series yet so this would be a great place to do it." -Carl Edwards
Rick Lunkenheimer is a contributor for Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via email at rick.lunkenheimer@frontstrech.com. Follow him on Twitter @FrntstretchRick.
~~~~~~~~~~
COME JOIN THE FRONTSTRETCH FAMILY!
Hey Frontstretch Readers! Are you looking for a fast-growing website that can give you an opportunity to not only share your thoughts on racing, but have FUN doing it with a group of laid-back, dedicated personnel? Well, we have the place for you. Frontstretch is actively seeking 1-3 additional writers for both our newsletter and website to add to our dedicated staff. Follow this link for more information on how you can become a weekly columnist for the site and / or newsletter!
~~~~~~~~~~
Fantasy Friday: Good Sam Roadside Assistance 500
by Jeff Wolfe
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series heads to Talladega Sunday afternoon and it could stand as a make or break race for many title contenders. At the moment, it's a three-driver race for the title with Brad Keselowski leading Jimmie Johnson by five points and Denny Hamlin by 16. As for the rest of the field, they will need at least a top-5 finish, or for Keselowski, Johnson and Hamlin to get wiped out in accidents, for things to change. And that's certainly not an impossibility at a restrictor plate track like Talladega.
There are two schools of thought on how and where to run at Talladega, where cars go at about 200 mph in a tight packs with no need to slow down for the corners.
Some choose to sit in the back of the pack to try and avoid the so-called "big one" accident; others choose to run up front for the same reason. That means if you subtract lets say the front four, and then maybe the back four, there are about 30 other drivers in the middle (yes, we're throwing out the start-and-parkers). And that's where trouble usually starts because no one likes the feeling of being stuck in traffic, even if it going nearly 200 mph.
If you hear drivers talking about avoiding trouble this weekend there's a good reason for it. They've all pretty much been bit by accidents at restrictor plate tracks that were out of everyone's control at one point or another in their careers.
That brings us to the drivers sitting in the fourth through seventh positions in the standings. This is their chance to get back into the title hunt and be legitimate threats for the crown.
In recent retstrictor plate races Clint Bowyer has been on top, with an average finish of 11.9, which includes two wins at Talladega. Having success on restrictor plate tracks is a bit tricky and a driver has to have a kind of sixth sense of where and when to go in tight traffic at high speeds.. Bowyer seems to have discovered that. Meanwhile, Tony Stewart hasn't been good in recent restrictor races recently, but his history tells us he can be a factor, too. He has five wins on restrictor plate tracks in his career (four at Daytona, one at Talladega) and nine top-5 finishes in 27 races at Talladega. He's always a potential winner at plate races.
The same cannot be said about Kasey Kahne. In 35 restrictor plate races, he has no wins and just five top-5 results. If he wants to contend for the title, Sunday would be a good time for him to break through. And that, of course, brings us to Dale Earnhardt, Jr. There may be no better place for him to win than Talladega. Once considered the master of restrictor plate tracks just like his late father, Junior has two wins at Daytona and five Talladega. But since the 2010 season, he has an average finish of 18th at Talladega and his last win there came in the fall race in 2004. So, if Junior wants to be a contender, he's going to have to recapture some of the early 2000s magic.
Keselowski, Johnson and Hamlin don't need magical runs to stay in contention. They can play it a bit conservatively, hang around until the end, and try to get a top-10 finish, but for Bowyer, Stewart, Kahne and Earnhardt, Jr., it's go time. There's no waiting around to see how things work out. They need to show and know they are contenders to win early in Sunday's race. They simply can't afford to get stuck in the middle of a traffic jam and find themselves as victims in the "big one."
And Sunday may well be their last one big chance at the title for 2012.
THIS WEEK'S PICKS
1. Clint Bowyer. He's won the last two fall races at Talladega and he's under pressure to get a win to get back into the title hunt.
2. Brad Keselowski. The bad news for the rest of the Chasers is that Keselowski, and the soon-be-extinct Penske Dodge's have been strong at Talladega for a while, including Keselowski winning the spring race there this year.
3. Tony Stewart. He's usually good at the plate tracks and if the defending champion wants to add a fourth title to his resume, he'll likely need a win Sunday to get back in the race.
4. Kevin Harvick. It's almost forgotten that he is in the Chase, but he shouldn't be forgotten at Talladega. In his last five races there, he has a win and an average finish of 13th.
5. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. OK, I'l make this pick, even if takes some proverbial arm twisting. Junior has had a nice year, but now he needs to learn to win again. And while he does have fives wins at Talledaga, he last went to Victory Lane there eight years ago. It would be a great confidence boost for him and his team to win Sunday.
Shoulda, woulda, coulda: Trevor Bayne. OK, i understand all the factors against him, mainly youth and only running a partial schedule this year. But just have a pure gut feeling that the 2011 Daytona 500 champion will do well Sunday.
ACCOUNTABILITY GROUP
Here's a look at how last week's picks fared in Week 3 of the Chase at Dover.
Jimmie Johnson - 4th. He was strong all day and may have had the best car at the end, but had to go to into fuel conservation mode in the final 30 laps.
Matt Kenseth - 35th. He was struggling a bit when a broken suspension part doomed him.
Greg Biffle - 16th. Despite going two laps down early, he was hanging in there, but an unscheduled stop for a loose wheel under green resulted in Biffle berating crew chief Matt Puccia on the radio. Needless to say, his day was shot after that.
Kyle Busch - 7th. Not to defend all of his misgivings over the years, but if there was anybody who deserved to be mad for not winning Sunday it was Busch. He led 302 laps, then had to come in for a late fuel stop that put him a lap down.
Jeff Gordon - 2nd. He was solid all day, then had enough fuel to make it to the end and almost steal a win.
Season Stats
145 Predictions
15 Wins
48 Top 5s
68 Top 10s
Grade for the week: B. OK, I know, no winner here, but either Busch or Johnson would have won if not for fuel issues, so really, felt good about these picks after the fact.
One last thing: With his win at Dover last week, Brad Keselowski is the third Penske driver to win at least five races in a season. Rusty Wallace did it three times--ten in 1993, eight in 1994 and five in 1996. Ryan Newman won visited victory lane eight times during the 2003 season.
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.
~~~~~~~~~~
TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:
Possible 2013 Changes Could Be Step In the Right Direction for NASCAR
by Amy Henderson
Four Burning Questions: How Will Talladega Shake Up the Chase?
by Matt Stallknecht
The Psychology of Picking Your Favorite Driver (and MORE!)
by Jeff Meyer
Looking Forward on a Bye Weekend: The 2013 Nationwide Series
by Bryan Davis Keith
~~~~~~~~~~
In Case You Missed It
by Beth Lunkenheimer
Road America Announces 2013 Schedule
Earlier this week, Road America in Elkhart Lake Wisconsin announced its 2013 schedule. The Nationwide Series will visit the four-mile road course with the ARCA Racing Series the weekend of June 20-22nd.
"Road America has the most active and diverse schedule of any road race circuit in the U.S. and we look forward to hosting the AMA, NASCAR Nationwide Series, SCCA and three separate vintage events again in 2013. We also look forward to being the first circuit to have the opportunity to show the world what the new race format of the recently announced Grand0Am and ALMS merger will look like," Road America President and General Manager George Bruggenthies said. "This is a tremendous opportunity for sports car racing fans to withness the future of the sport. We will finish out the season with the 50th Anniversary of the SCCA National Championship Runoffs--the largest sports car racing event in the country, making Road America the premier motorsports destination in 2013."
Tickets for the 2013 season will go on sale December 1st.
Red Horse Racing Celebrates 300th Truck Series Start
Saturday afternoon's Fred's 250 will feature Red Horse Racing's 300th start in the Camping World Truck Series with its No. 7, No. 11 and No. 17 entries driven by Parker Kligerman, Todd Bodine and Timothy Peters, respectively. Four of the organization's nine victories have come this season--John King at Daytona, Todd Bodine at Dover and Timothy Peters at Iowa and Bristol. Owned by Tom DeLoach, Red Horse Racing was founded in 2005 and their trio of drivers have combined for 19 top 5s this season alone.
Edwards to Make 600th NASCAR Start
This weekend, Carl Edwards will become the 40th driver to have made 600 career starts in NASCAR. The driver of the No. 99 Roush Fenway Racing Ford has 294 Sprint Cup Series starts, 245 in the Nationwide Series and 60 in the Camping World Truck Series. In all three series combined, Edwards boasts 63 wins, 246 top 5s and 365 top-10 finishes.
~~~~~~~~~~
Got NASCAR-related questions or comments?
Send them Summer Bedgood's way at summer.bedgood@frontstretch.com; and, if you're lucky, you'll get your name in print when she does her weekly column answering back to you – the fans that keep Frontstretch afloat. Frontstretch Fan Q & A will run on Thursdays with a whole new set of Fan Questions and Answers!
~~~~~~~~~~
Keepin' It Short: 400 Laps For Short Track Glory
by Mike Neff
For most of the last 31 years, the biggest Short Track race of the year has been a battle at the Nashville Fairgrounds called the All American 400. Drivers from the North and the South have converged on the legendary track to decide who is the best short track racer in the country. Drivers like Rusty Wallace, Darrell Waltrip, Jeff Purvis, Bobby Gill and Johnny Van Doorn have all taken home the trophy from the historic Nashville track.
This weekend the race returns to its true length of 400 laps for the first time in seven years, and is being sanctioned by the Pro All Star Series (PASS). There are drivers from the Northern and Southern division of PASS competing along with some well known drivers who don't compete regularly in either series. Among the interlopers who are going to be attempting to make the race this weekend are Sterling Marlin and Kyle Busch. Busch has won the race as a car owner, having fielded the car for the most recent 400 winner TJ Reaid, who scored the victory in 2010.
The schedule of events started on Thursday with practice and some racing on the quarter-mile track. Friday will see qualifying for all 5/8-mile divisions, heats for the 400 and feature races for the local 5/8-mile divisions. Saturday will see practice, a last chance race for the 400 and a 125 lap feature race for the Pro Late Models before the main event starts at 6:00 PM.
For those fans who are anywhere near Nashville this weekend, make the trip to the fairgrounds to see the track that spawned so many great racing careers and crowned the best of short track late model racers for the last 31 years.
ASA National Champion Announced
While strange things can happen within the vagaries of a point system that tries to account for number of cars per race and passing points, the ASA National Champ was pretty well assured to be Shelby Stroebel. An undefeated season and a winning streak of 17 races that actually stretches back to the end of 2011 is a pretty remarkable feat. Stroebel took 14 green flags at Meridian Speedway in Idaho this year in the Modified division and was the first car to the checkered flag in all 14 events. The ASA point system awards points for several different things so the possibility existed that someone might sneak up and steal the title from Stroebel, but he received the phone call from Dennis Huth this week that made it official.
"I had an idea, but until you get the phone call that you are the next National Champion, you never count your chickens before they hatch," Stroebel said after receiving the phone call from ASA President Dennis Huth. "I am super proud to be where we are at, we had a great year. I have to thank all of the people that helped us. I can't really even think right now."
Meridian Speedway is a quarter-mile asphalt track in Meridian, Idaho. This is the first National Title for a driver from the short track that has been in the ASA fold since 2003.
Stroebel's dad wasn't there to see his title run, but he dedicated it to his father who succumbed to Leukemia last year. "This is for my dad," Stroebel said. "He had worked on another driver's race car and he got pure enjoyment out of doing that. When he got diagnosed, he was really bummed out. My whole thing with sickness is that you need to stay positive, strive forward and have something to live for every day. About six years ago, we went and bought a racecar and at that time didn't realize the position we would be in today. That is why we started racing, we did it for him."
Finishing behind Stroebel was Lance Gatlin from Lonesome Pine Raceway. Gatlin made his own run at perfection early in the season, but lost in his 10th start. Gatlin ended the season with 10 wins and a worst finish of sixth. Michael Hale from Rocky Mountain Raceways was third, Dustin Rumley from Ace Speedway, the home of last year's National Champion was fourth and Mike Slone out of I-44 Speedway rounded out the top five.
The final season point standings:
1. Shelby Stroebel (Meridian Speedway) 5.6121
2. Lance Gatlin (Lonesome Pine Raceway) 4.9374
3. Michael Hale (Rocky Mountain Raceways) 4.5876
4. Dustin Rumley (Ace Speedway) 4.5325
5. Mike Slone (Lebanon I-44 Speedway) 4.2885
6. Dennis Queen (Newport Motor Speedway) 3.8978
7. Mark Eswein (State Park Speedway) 3.7939
8. Kyle Borden (Shasta Speedway) 1.3704
Upcoming Race Schedule
Fri : Oct 5th – Tri-City Speedway ; Pontoon Beach : IL – USAC MOPAR National Midgets
Fri : Oct 5th – Greenville Speedway ; Greenville : MS – Nesmith Dirt Late Models
Fri : Oct 5th – Malden Speedway ; Malden : MO – Cotton Boll Cup Late Models
Fri : Oct 5th – Malden Speedway ; Malden : MO – Cotton Boll Cup Modifieds
Fri : Oct 5th – Malden Speedway ; Malden : MO – Cotton Boll Cup Street Stocks
Fri : Oct 5th – New York State Fairgrounds ; Syracuse : NY – DIRTCar Big-Block Modifieds
Fri : Oct 5th – Southwest Speedway ; Dickinson : ND – Frost Bite IMCA Modifieds
Fri : Oct 5th – Southwest Speedway ; Dickinson : ND – Frost Bite Wissota Street Stocks
Fri : Oct 5th – Mountain Creek Speedway ; Grand Prairie : TX – IMCA Modifieds
Fri : Oct 5th – Mountain Creek Speedway ; Grand Prairie : TX – IMCA Sport Modifieds
Fri : Oct 5th – Mountain Creek Speedway ; Grand Prairie : TX – IMCA Stock
Fri : Oct 5th – Mountain Creek Speedway ; Grand Prairie : TX – Street Stock
Fri : Oct 5th – Mountain Creek Speedway ; Grand Prairie : TX – NorthTex Racing Series
Sat : Oct 6th – Talladega Short Track ; Eastaboga : AL – Southern All Star Dirt Super Late Models
Sat : Oct 6th – Green Valley Speedway ; Glencoe : AL – David Hare Memorial Crate Late Models
Sat : Oct 6th – Green Valley Speedway ; Glencoe : AL – David Hare Memorial KMSA
Sat : Oct 6th – Green Valley Speedway ; Glencoe : AL – David Hare Memorial Outlaw Thunder
Sat : Oct 6th – Green Valley Speedway ; Glencoe : AL – David Hare Memorial Sportsman
Sat : Oct 6th – Green Valley Speedway ; Glencoe : AL – David Hare Memorial Street Stock
Sat : Oct 6th – Green Valley Speedway ; Glencoe : AL – David Hare Memorial Super Late Models
Sat : Oct 6th – I-30 Speedway ; Little Rock : AR – Comp Cams Super Late Models
Sat : Oct 6th – Riverside International Speedway ; West Memphis : AR – Fall Nationals 360 Winged Sprints
Sat : Oct 6th – Riverside International Speedway ; West Memphis : AR – Fall Nationals 600 Mini Sprints
Sat : Oct 6th – Riverside International Speedway ; West Memphis : AR – Fall Nationals Late Models
Sat : Oct 6th – Riverside International Speedway ; West Memphis : AR – Fall Nationals Modifieds
Sat : Oct 6th – Perris Auto Speedway ; Perris : CA – USAC/CRA Sprint Cars
Sat : Oct 6th – Desoto Speedway ; Bradenton : FL – Florida United Promoters Late Models
Sat : Oct 6th – New Smyrna Speedway ; New Smyrna Beach : FL – Super Late Models
Sat : Oct 6th – New Smyrna Speedway ; New Smyrna Beach : FL – Modifieds
Sat : Oct 6th – New Smyrna Speedway ; New Smyrna Beach : FL – Sportsman
Sat : Oct 6th – Dixie Speedway ; Woodstock : GA – Lucas Oil Dixie Shootout Lucas Oil Late Models
Sat : Oct 6th – Watermelon Capital Speedway ; Cordele : GA – Outlaw Late Models
Sat : Oct 6th – Waycross Motor Speedway ; Waycross : GA – Late Models
Sat : Oct 6th – Tri-City Speedway ; Pontoon Beach : IL – USAC MOPAR National Midgets
Sat : Oct 6th – Speedrome ; Indianapolis : IN – World Figure 8 100
Sat : Oct 6th – Speedrome ; Indianapolis : IN – Hornets 36
Sat : Oct 6th – Seekonk Speedway ; Seekonk : MA – MRS Modifieds
Sat : Oct 6th – Greenville Speedway ; Greenville : MS – Nesmith Dirt Late Models
Sat : Oct 6th – Malden Speedway ; Malden : MO – Cotton Boll Cup Late Models
Sat : Oct 6th – Malden Speedway ; Malden : MO – Cotton Boll Cup Modifieds
Sat : Oct 6th – Malden Speedway ; Malden : MO – Cotton Boll Cup Street Stocks
Sat : Oct 6th – Airborne Park Speedway ; Plattsburgh : NY – ACT Late Models
Sat : Oct 6th – New York State Fairgrounds ; Syracuse : NY – DIRTCar Big-Block Modifieds
Sat : Oct 6th – Rolling Wheels Raceway ; Elbridge : NY – World of Outlaws Sprint Cars
Sat : Oct 6th – Hickory Motor Speedway ; Newton : NC – Dwight Huffman Memorial Late Models
Sat : Oct 6th – Hickory Motor Speedway ; Newton : NC – Limited Late Models
Sat : Oct 6th – Southwest Speedway ; Dickinson : ND – Frost Bite IMCA Modifieds
Sat : Oct 6th – Southwest Speedway ; Dickinson : ND – Frost Bite Wissota Street Stocks
Sat : Oct 6th – Jackson County Speedway ; Jackson : OH – Late Models
Sat : Oct 6th – Jackson County Speedway ; Jackson : OH – Modifieds
Sat : Oct 6th – Jackson County Speedway ; Jackson : OH – Street Stocks
Sat : Oct 6th – Lincoln Speedway ; Abbottstown : PA – Hank Gentzler Memorial 410 Sprints
Sat : Oct 6th – Lincoln Speedway ; Abbottstown : PA – Hank Gentzler Memorial 358 Sprints
Sat : Oct 6th – Mountain Speedway ; St. John's : PA – King of the Mountain Sport Modifieds
Sat : Oct 6th – Anderson Motor Speedway ; Anderson : SC – UARA Stars Late Models
Sat : Oct 6th – Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway ; Nashville : TN – All American 400 PASS South Super Late Models
Sat : Oct 6th – La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway ; West Salem : WI – ASA Midwest Tour Oktoberfest 100
Sat : Oct 6th – La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway ; West Salem : WI – Big 8 Series Late Models
Sat : Oct 6th – Langlade Speedway ; Antigo : WI – Late Models
Sat : Oct 6th – Langlade Speedway ; Antigo : WI – Modifieds
Sun : Oct 7th – Rome Speedway ; Rome : GA – Rome Rumble Lucas Oil Late Models
Sun : Oct 7th – Seekonk Speedway ; Seekonk : MA – MRS Modifieds
Sun : Oct 7th – New York State Fairgrounds ; Syracuse : NY – DIRTCar Big-Block Modifieds
Sun : Oct 7th – Mountain Speedway ; St. John's : PA – King of the Mountain Modifieds
Sun : Oct 7th – Peterborough Speedway ; Peterborough : Ontario – OSCAAR Super Late Models
Sun : Oct 7th – La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway ; West Salem : WI – ASA Midwest Tour Oktoberfest 100
Sun : Oct 7th – Langlade Speedway ; Antigo : WI – Late Models
Sun : Oct 7th – Langlade Speedway ; Antigo : WI – Modifieds
Wed : Oct 10th – Millbridge Speedway ; Salisbury : NC – Breast Cancer Awareness Night Mini Outlaws
Wed : Oct 10th – The Dirt Track at Charlotte ; Concord : NC – Late Model Showdown - World of Outlaws Late Models
Thu : Oct 11th – Charlotte Motor Speedway ; Concord : NC – NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour
Mike Neff is a Senior Writer for Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via email at mike.neff@frontstretch.com. Follow him on Twitter @MNeffShortTrack.
~~~~~~~~~~
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.
~~~~~~~~~~
Frontstretch Folio: Good Sam Roadside Assistance 500
by Rick Lunkenheimer
This Sunday the Sprint Cup Series returns to Talladega for race number four in the Chase for the championship. The Good Sam Roadside Assistance 500 will be broadcast live Sunday afternoon at 2:00 PM ET on ESPN, with the green flag scheduled to fly around 2:20 PM ET. Drivers will compete for 188 laps (500.08 miles).
Records and Facts
Bill Elliott set the qualifying record on April 30, 1987 with a speed of 212.809 mph (44.998 sec.). Elliot led for 48 laps in his No. 9 Coors Ford before an engine failure left him relegated to a 22nd-place finish. Davey Allison, who led a race-high 101 laps went on to win the Winston 500 that was shortened due to darkness.
Mark Martin holds the race record speed of 188.354 mph (2:39:18) which he set back on May 10, 1997. Martin started 18th in his No. 6 Valvoline Ford and worked his way up through the field to lead for 47 laps en route to a 0.146 second victory over Dale Earnhardt. Bobby Labonte, John Andretti and Jeff Gordon rounded out the top 5. It was one of four victories for Martin that year.
Clint Bowyer is the defending winner of this race. He led just 25 laps before edging teammate Jeff Burton by a slim 0.018-second margin. Dave Blaney, Brad Keselowski and Brian Vickers rounded out the top 5.
Track Facts
Track / Race Length: 2.66 mile quad oval; 188 laps, 500.08 miles
Turns: Banking: 33° Length: 3,750 feet Radius: 1,100 feet
Trioval: Banking: 18°
Pit Road Speed: 55mph
Pace Car Speed: 70mph
Grandstand Seating: 143,231
Track last paved: Summer 2006
Opened: 1969
VIPs
Grand Marshal: Actor Kevin James
Honorary Starter / Wave Green Flag: TJ Smith, Vice President of Camping World
National Anthem: RaeLynn
Pre-race Schedule
Practice: Friday, October 5, 2:30 - 3:15 PM ET on SPEED
Happy Hour: Friday, October 4, 4:00 - 5:00 PM ET on SPEED
Qualifying: Saturday, October 6 at 12:15 PM ET on SPEED
Say What?!?
"For the first time in my career I'm really looking forward to going to Talladega. Our restrictor plate stuff has been extremely strong this year and I think we've led a lot of laps at all three plate races. We were leading all three green-white-checker finishes at the superspeedways this year, but unfortunately we lost the last two. I messed up both of them and didn't do the right things, but we've had really fast cars. The No.16 and us have been really fast. We've been able to work together and stayed up front the whole time. Hopefully we can do that again and, if there is some trouble, take advantage of that for Greg (Biffle) and I to gain some points." -Matt Kenseth
"I'm definitely looking forward to Talladega because our restrictor-plate program has been on fire for the last two and a half years. It's unbelievable how good our engines have been. I know it's going to be a wild race and there is a lot on the line. It takes a lot of luck to win at Talladega, but I feel like we can do it this weekend. First thing you have to do is miss the big one, then have a good drafting partner and you need to be in the right place, at the right time, to win at Talladega." -Greg Biffle
"This package seems to make it a little harder to bunch up and partner up. It will keep us, I think, in a big group. I am torn on that. It is worse because you have a better chance of being involved in somebody else's wreck but it is more fun and I guess fun is why we do this anyway. I think it is going to be as good as Talladega can be. I haven't won a restrictor-plate race in the Cup series yet so this would be a great place to do it." -Carl Edwards
Rick Lunkenheimer is a contributor for Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via email at rick.lunkenheimer@frontstrech.com. Follow him on Twitter @FrntstretchRick.
~~~~~~~~~~
COME JOIN THE FRONTSTRETCH FAMILY!
~~~~~~~~~~
Fantasy Friday: Good Sam Roadside Assistance 500
by Jeff Wolfe
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series heads to Talladega Sunday afternoon and it could stand as a make or break race for many title contenders. At the moment, it's a three-driver race for the title with Brad Keselowski leading Jimmie Johnson by five points and Denny Hamlin by 16. As for the rest of the field, they will need at least a top-5 finish, or for Keselowski, Johnson and Hamlin to get wiped out in accidents, for things to change. And that's certainly not an impossibility at a restrictor plate track like Talladega.
There are two schools of thought on how and where to run at Talladega, where cars go at about 200 mph in a tight packs with no need to slow down for the corners.
Some choose to sit in the back of the pack to try and avoid the so-called "big one" accident; others choose to run up front for the same reason. That means if you subtract lets say the front four, and then maybe the back four, there are about 30 other drivers in the middle (yes, we're throwing out the start-and-parkers). And that's where trouble usually starts because no one likes the feeling of being stuck in traffic, even if it going nearly 200 mph.
If you hear drivers talking about avoiding trouble this weekend there's a good reason for it. They've all pretty much been bit by accidents at restrictor plate tracks that were out of everyone's control at one point or another in their careers.
That brings us to the drivers sitting in the fourth through seventh positions in the standings. This is their chance to get back into the title hunt and be legitimate threats for the crown.
In recent retstrictor plate races Clint Bowyer has been on top, with an average finish of 11.9, which includes two wins at Talladega. Having success on restrictor plate tracks is a bit tricky and a driver has to have a kind of sixth sense of where and when to go in tight traffic at high speeds.. Bowyer seems to have discovered that. Meanwhile, Tony Stewart hasn't been good in recent restrictor races recently, but his history tells us he can be a factor, too. He has five wins on restrictor plate tracks in his career (four at Daytona, one at Talladega) and nine top-5 finishes in 27 races at Talladega. He's always a potential winner at plate races.
The same cannot be said about Kasey Kahne. In 35 restrictor plate races, he has no wins and just five top-5 results. If he wants to contend for the title, Sunday would be a good time for him to break through. And that, of course, brings us to Dale Earnhardt, Jr. There may be no better place for him to win than Talladega. Once considered the master of restrictor plate tracks just like his late father, Junior has two wins at Daytona and five Talladega. But since the 2010 season, he has an average finish of 18th at Talladega and his last win there came in the fall race in 2004. So, if Junior wants to be a contender, he's going to have to recapture some of the early 2000s magic.
Keselowski, Johnson and Hamlin don't need magical runs to stay in contention. They can play it a bit conservatively, hang around until the end, and try to get a top-10 finish, but for Bowyer, Stewart, Kahne and Earnhardt, Jr., it's go time. There's no waiting around to see how things work out. They need to show and know they are contenders to win early in Sunday's race. They simply can't afford to get stuck in the middle of a traffic jam and find themselves as victims in the "big one."
And Sunday may well be their last one big chance at the title for 2012.
THIS WEEK'S PICKS
1. Clint Bowyer. He's won the last two fall races at Talladega and he's under pressure to get a win to get back into the title hunt.
2. Brad Keselowski. The bad news for the rest of the Chasers is that Keselowski, and the soon-be-extinct Penske Dodge's have been strong at Talladega for a while, including Keselowski winning the spring race there this year.
3. Tony Stewart. He's usually good at the plate tracks and if the defending champion wants to add a fourth title to his resume, he'll likely need a win Sunday to get back in the race.
4. Kevin Harvick. It's almost forgotten that he is in the Chase, but he shouldn't be forgotten at Talladega. In his last five races there, he has a win and an average finish of 13th.
5. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. OK, I'l make this pick, even if takes some proverbial arm twisting. Junior has had a nice year, but now he needs to learn to win again. And while he does have fives wins at Talledaga, he last went to Victory Lane there eight years ago. It would be a great confidence boost for him and his team to win Sunday.
Shoulda, woulda, coulda: Trevor Bayne. OK, i understand all the factors against him, mainly youth and only running a partial schedule this year. But just have a pure gut feeling that the 2011 Daytona 500 champion will do well Sunday.
ACCOUNTABILITY GROUP
Here's a look at how last week's picks fared in Week 3 of the Chase at Dover.
Jimmie Johnson - 4th. He was strong all day and may have had the best car at the end, but had to go to into fuel conservation mode in the final 30 laps.
Matt Kenseth - 35th. He was struggling a bit when a broken suspension part doomed him.
Greg Biffle - 16th. Despite going two laps down early, he was hanging in there, but an unscheduled stop for a loose wheel under green resulted in Biffle berating crew chief Matt Puccia on the radio. Needless to say, his day was shot after that.
Kyle Busch - 7th. Not to defend all of his misgivings over the years, but if there was anybody who deserved to be mad for not winning Sunday it was Busch. He led 302 laps, then had to come in for a late fuel stop that put him a lap down.
Jeff Gordon - 2nd. He was solid all day, then had enough fuel to make it to the end and almost steal a win.
Season Stats
145 Predictions
15 Wins
48 Top 5s
68 Top 10s
Grade for the week: B. OK, I know, no winner here, but either Busch or Johnson would have won if not for fuel issues, so really, felt good about these picks after the fact.
One last thing: With his win at Dover last week, Brad Keselowski is the third Penske driver to win at least five races in a season. Rusty Wallace did it three times--ten in 1993, eight in 1994 and five in 1996. Ryan Newman won visited victory lane eight times during the 2003 season.
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.
~~~~~~~~~~
TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:
by Amy Henderson
Four Burning Questions: How Will Talladega Shake Up the Chase?
by Matt Stallknecht
The Psychology of Picking Your Favorite Driver (and MORE!)
by Jeff Meyer
Looking Forward on a Bye Weekend: The 2013 Nationwide Series
by Bryan Davis Keith
~~~~~~~~~~
FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Q: The 1989 Talladega DieHard 500 was the third restrictor plate race run with the smaller 15/16ths of an inch plates. Terry Labonte won, but eventual 1989 Champion Rusty Wallace was eliminated early on in a crash. What happened?
Check back Monday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
Thursday's Answer:
Q: Later on during the 1998 Winston 500, there was a huge crash in Turn 1 involving Ernie Irvan that forced him to miss the last three races of the season. What happened?
A: Irvan, who was running 16th at the time, had just gotten lapped by the leaders. Entering Turn 1, Irvan got bumped from behind by Sterling Marlin, spinning Irvan's Wildberry Skittles Pontiac and putting him hard into the wall. The car came back across the track and was hit hard by Dick Trickle. The crash can be seen at the 6:00 mark of this clip.
Dale Earnhardt, Wally Dallenbach, Jr., Johnny Benson, Geoff Bodine, Bobby Hamilton, Michael Waltrip, and Ward Burton were also swept into this wreck. Irvan, Trickle and Dallenbach were eliminated on the spot. Earnhardt stayed on the lead lap after the crash but had mechanical issues put him out of the race later on. Most of the others lost significant time on pit road. Only Waltrip, who finished ninth, completed the 188 lap distance. Irvan felt well enough to start the Pepsi 400 six days later before Jerry Nadeau relieved him. After that, he voluntarily chose to sit out the rest of the year.
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:
-- Good Sam Roadside Assistance 500 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:
Thinkin' Out Loud: AAA 400 by Mike Neff
Mike is back with his overall thoughts about the action from Sunday afternoon's race from Talladega.
Bowles' Eye View by Tom Bowles
Tom is back with a commentary about one of the biggest stories leaving the fourth Chase race from Talladega.
Commentary by TBA
A commentary about the hottest topic leaving Talladega.
Big Six: Good Sam Roadside Assistance 500 by Amy Henderson
Looking for all you need to know leaving the fourth Chase race at Talladega? Amy has your who, what, when, where, why and how from a weekend of racing.
Pace Laps: Talladega 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 the races at Talladega.
Tracking the Trucks: Fred's 250 powered by Coca-Cola by Beth Lunkenheimer
Beth has all the post-race analysis you need following Saturday afternoon's Camping World Truck Series race from Talladega.
-----------------------------
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
FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Q: The 1989 Talladega DieHard 500 was the third restrictor plate race run with the smaller 15/16ths of an inch plates. Terry Labonte won, but eventual 1989 Champion Rusty Wallace was eliminated early on in a crash. What happened?
Check back Monday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
Thursday's Answer:
Q: Later on during the 1998 Winston 500, there was a huge crash in Turn 1 involving Ernie Irvan that forced him to miss the last three races of the season. What happened?
A: Irvan, who was running 16th at the time, had just gotten lapped by the leaders. Entering Turn 1, Irvan got bumped from behind by Sterling Marlin, spinning Irvan's Wildberry Skittles Pontiac and putting him hard into the wall. The car came back across the track and was hit hard by Dick Trickle. The crash can be seen at the 6:00 mark of this clip.
Dale Earnhardt, Wally Dallenbach, Jr., Johnny Benson, Geoff Bodine, Bobby Hamilton, Michael Waltrip, and Ward Burton were also swept into this wreck. Irvan, Trickle and Dallenbach were eliminated on the spot. Earnhardt stayed on the lead lap after the crash but had mechanical issues put him out of the race later on. Most of the others lost significant time on pit road. Only Waltrip, who finished ninth, completed the 188 lap distance. Irvan felt well enough to start the Pepsi 400 six days later before Jerry Nadeau relieved him. After that, he voluntarily chose to sit out the rest of the year.
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:
-- Good Sam Roadside Assistance 500 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:
Thinkin' Out Loud: AAA 400 by Mike Neff
Mike is back with his overall thoughts about the action from Sunday afternoon's race from Talladega.
Bowles' Eye View by Tom Bowles
Tom is back with a commentary about one of the biggest stories leaving the fourth Chase race from Talladega.
Commentary by TBA
A commentary about the hottest topic leaving Talladega.
Big Six: Good Sam Roadside Assistance 500 by Amy Henderson
Looking for all you need to know leaving the fourth Chase race at Talladega? Amy has your who, what, when, where, why and how from a weekend of racing.
Pace Laps: Talladega 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 the races at Talladega.
Tracking the Trucks: Fred's 250 powered by Coca-Cola by Beth Lunkenheimer
Beth has all the post-race analysis you need following Saturday afternoon's Camping World Truck Series race from Talladega.
-----------------------------
Talk back to the Frontstretch Newsletter!
Got something to say about an article you've seen in the newsletter? It's as easy as replying directly to this message or sending an email to editors@frontstretch.com. We'll take the best comments and publish them here!
©2012 Frontstretch.com
Feel free to forward this newsletter if you have any friends who loves
NASCAR and great NASCAR commentary. They can subscribe to the Frontstetch by visiting http://www.frontstretch.com/notice/9557/.
If you want to stop your Frontstretch Newsletter subscription, we're sorry
to see you go. Just send an email to
TheFrontstretch+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com from the address that you
recieve the Frontstretch Newsletter.
No comments:
Post a Comment