Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
October 17th, 2012
Volume VI, Edition CCIX
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Top News
by Brad Morgan
NASCAR Announces Competition Changes for 2013
NASCAR announced on Tuesday several changes to the current competition format that will take effect when the green flag is waved on the 2013 season.
The most noticeable modification is a new qualification system that will be present in the Sprint Cup Series. With only seven cars now locked into every race, qualifying will become an all-important aspect of every team's championship hopes.
Under the new system, after all drivers are randomly drawn and have completed their qualifying runs, only the fastest 36 times will be placed into the field based off speed alone. The next six positions will be rewarded in order to the remaining cars that have accumulated the most owners points and who were granted entry to the race before the deadline. Lastly, the final spot will be given to the most recent past champion, or if necessary, the team with the next most owner points.
Provisional positions for the Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series, and Camping World Truck Series will be determined by the previous season's owners points for the first three races.
"This is a big win for our fans," said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president of competition. "They'll see the fastest cars earn their starting spots. This change adds intrigue, drama and excitement to qualifying."
The heightened importance of speed during qualifying will place more pressure on powerhouse organizations, while smaller operations scramble to eek out extra horsepower; fortunately, a more lenient testing policy will assist teams of every circumstance.
In addition, every NASCAR Sprint Cup organization will be allowed four tests at tracks listed on the series schedule. This testing policy is more open compared to the current setup which permits practice sessions only at tracks that don't hold NASCAR sanctioned events.
"We feel like it's time to open that up and allow the teams to manage their testing and get back to facilities that host our events," said Pemberton. "We made the decision at the end of 2008 to restrict testing, primarily for economic reasons. Now we believe it will be best for the garage and for the tracks to have some testing return in 2013."
Changes for the Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series will mean that organizations are allowed two tests at tracks on which the series compete.
Another major modification to the Nationwide Series is the introduction of a smaller field size. Starting next season, a maximum of 40 cars will be permitted to compete in each race conducted by NASCAR's second most prestigious series.
RCR Introduces Warren as Competition Director
Richard Childress announced Tuesday the hire of Dr. Eric Warren as the organization's new director of competition for his organization.
According to Fox Sports' Lee Spencer, Warren has had plenty of experience in auto racing, his most recent venture being a technical director position with Richard Petty Motorsports (RPM), an engineering position held since 2010.
The former RPM employee's expertise will be put to the test as he'll be challenged to right the ship at his new home.
The Childress organization has encountered numerous struggles at the Sprint Cup level this season after downsizing to three full-time teams, with only Kevin Harvick qualifying for a coveted Chase spot. While Harvick sits near the bottom of the Chase standings, currently 10th, RCR as a whole finds itself without a win for the first time since the '09 season.
GEICO Sponsoring Mears for Kansas and Homestead
Casey Mears will be able to join his fellow Sprint Cup drivers for each race remaining on the schedule thanks to a little help from his current sponsor. GEICO announced Tuesday that it will serve as the primary backer on the No. 13 Ford Fusion when the Cup Series travels to Kansas and later Homestead-Miami, the only dates that Mears hadn't previously secured a sponsorship for.
"We really appreciate GEICO stepping up to make sure we were able to run Kansas and Homestead," team owner Bob Germain said. "Their partnership is important to us and we appreciate the support they offer, as well as how much they engage the program. We have all hands on deck and we're certainly looking to finish out the 2012 season in strong fashion."
Thanks in part to Mears, Germain's single car team has managed to stay in the top 35 in owner points this season, making 31 of 31 possible starts with only five races remaining. Currently, the 34-year-old veteran has led 41 laps and sits 30th in points in his second full season with the organization.
"One of the things I like most about this race team is that we all work really hard to grow the program and it makes it easier when you have a great partner in GEICO and team owner Bob Germain," Mears said.
In his 31 starts this year, Mears boasts a best finish of 15th at Sonoma, though he did lead 26 laps at Bristol in August after starting on the pole. He finished 21st that night, one lap down after a late-race spin.
Have news for Brad and the Frontstretch? Don't hesitate to let us know; email us at phil.allaway@frontstretch.com with a promising lead or tip.
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WRITE FOR US!
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!
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Today's Featured Commentary
Beth's Brief
The Damage of Start and Park Teams
by Beth Lunkenheimer
Start-and-park teams ... it's a phrase that makes fans and media alike groan. They're those drivers that typically run less than 50 to 60 laps before dropping out, citing a variety of reasons from fuel pump to vibration and even ignition problems. And sadly, it's a growing phenomenon that continues to plague all three of NASCAR's touring series. In fact, our own Tom Bowles compared it to a baseball team packing it in before even completing the first inning in a column a few years ago.
Let's just use the AAA 400 at Dover a few weeks ago as an example. In a field of 43 cars, seven had parked before completing the first 25 percent of the race. They range from Reed Sorenson pulling off the track after just 18 circuits all the way up to Josh Wise who completed 92 laps before calling it a day. But while the percentage of cars pulling in is concerning -- nearly 15 percent of the field -- race officials have said in the past that it's not something they really worry about.
"NASCAR doesn't perceive this to be an issue," the sanctioning body said back in April, 2009. "It doesn't impact the quality of competition whatsoever. NASCAR has always been about teams having the opportunity to participate in our sport; some teams might not have the full complement of resources to compete at the same level as others, but it's all about having an opportunity."
That's the point, though -- start and park teams are a problem that has continued to grow since that statement nearly three and a half years ago. It's gotten to the point where I start to guess before the green flag flies over the field which driver will call it quits first. And now there are team owners -- James Finch of Phoenix Racing, in particular -- who are starting to speak up, claiming those drivers earn too much money without all of the wear and tear on their equipment.
So what's the solution? Finch seems to have a pretty good idea as he told Bob Pockrass of Sporting News.
"I'm trying to get NASCAR to move some of the money up that the start-and-park guys are getting so we can race (for it) from 35th to 25th," he said a couple weeks ago at Talladega Superspeedway. "I'm getting (as little as) $2,000 more to run 500 miles than they do to play. Move it up and if they want it, let them race or it. That's not racing."
Finch may be onto something here. Let's continue with the look at the AAA 400. Sorenson's completion of just 18 laps was worth $67,329, and Wise's 92 circuits got him just a little over three grand more at $70,530. Compare those figures to that of David Gilliland, who finished 32nd, nine laps down, but ran the whole race -- he brought home a paltry $71,360. What's wrong with that picture?
Consider that a team who arrives at the track intent on running the whole race will need to pay for things like team members, lodging, tires, wear and tear on the motor and possible damage on their equipment, yet they're still bringing home just four grand more than those who simply run quick enough in practice to make the race and park to preserve their piece to do the same thing the following week.
Looking a little more closely at Finch's proposal to move more purse money to those teams that run the whole race, we'll take 25 percent of the funds earned by those that parked early in the AAA 400. The eight drivers who failed to complete the race took home a little over $475,000, and if you take just 25 percent of that to redistribute among those teams that run to completion, it's another nearly $120,000 that could go into the pockets of owners whose costs are sky high compared to start-and-park organizations.
With all of that said, I do understand that some teams can only survive by employing at least one start-and-park driver because they can't afford all of those extra costs. However, it's not really a viable long-term business model, and it does a disservice to fans when nearly 20 percent of a field is done long before the halfway point. NASCAR would be wise to take a closer look at why teams choose to go the route of the start-and-park week after week rather than running to completion and find a solution that would reduce -- or even better, eliminate -- that choice.
Beth Lunkenheimer is a Managing Editor for Frontstretch.com. She can be reached via email at beth.lunkenheimer@frontstretch.com. Follow her on Twitter @Beth_Frntstrtch.
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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. It will run on Thursday with a whole new set of Fan Questions and Answers!
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Tweet 'N' Greet
by Summer Bedgood
Editor's Note: With the NASCAR Twitter community expanding by leaps and bounds, it remains a place for instantaneous news, reactions, and a whole lot of inside jokes. We understand if you don't want to join the Twitter community - but as a fan, it's important to know the news and info you're missing out on! That's why, every week, Summer Bedgood will sort through the thousands of messages and give us a little taste of what's going on each Wednesday.
So, without further ado, here's a look at what those in NASCAR were thinking over the past seven days...
@KevinHarvick: Not only does @SherylCrow like NASCAR but she was very nice! https://twitter.com/KevinHarvick/status/256062742090375168/photo/1
@CitizenKBA: NASCAR believed Kurt Busch's story about wanting to get that car back on the track? I wish NASCAR had been my parents when I was a teenager.
@Kenny_Wallace: This car is a Cake made by "Duff" at Ace of Cakes! http://twitter.yfrog.com/ob722eeej
@SummerBedgood: Kasey Kahne's life size cake is making me wish that the next family birthday would hurry up. #NASCAR
@PPistone: Speaking with several experts and listening to others it appears a return at all this year by Junior would be a surprise to many #nascar
@jeff_gluck: It appears the last #NASCAR race without an Earnhardt in it was Aug. 5, 1979 at Talladega.
@BrianLVickers: Hate it for Dale. I know 1st hand how it feels how to be taken out of the car by something that's out of your control. Hope he recovers fast.
@jim_utter: Sounds like Regan Smith will be running for #NASCAR Nationwide championship at JR Motorsports next season in No. 88
@Ryan_Truex: Found this when I was home. That's me and @MartinTruexJr56 LOL http://instagr.am/p/QprY-1JghD/
@AJDinger (A.J. Allmendinger): Really happy to be back in a car. Been a crazy morning getting everything ready. Cant thank Phoenix Racing enough for this chance.
@JenJoCobb (Jennifer Jo Cobb): Scary hearing Dr. Jerry Punch talk about brain squishing back & forth during wrecks. Drivers respect the danger but believe in #NASCAR safety.
@MartySmithESPN: Whoa. Rusty Wallace says he had aftereffects of concussions for 15 years, said every time he shook his head in the shower he got dizzy.
@jeff_gluck: Kurt Busch says he wasn't surprised NASCAR didn't penalize him further. Says it's hard to penalize someone for showing desire to keep racing
@JennaFryer: 51 crew thrashing to reset the pedals. AJ got in car today and couldn't reach them. #NASCAR
@Kristen_Beat: Found a lost dog driving down Catawba, called his owners & turns out they are at the track! haha babysitting until they get back #puppytime
@bobpockrass: Regan Smith said he got a text message at 7 this morning from Steve Letarte about possibly driving the car. #nascar
@PPistone: Phoenix Racing with a message to Kurt Busch this week? pic.twitter.com/kEaOutNJ #nascar
@PPistone: Hearing reports of some campers leaving Charlotte Motor Speedway in the aftermath of Earnhardt Jr. news? Wow.
@jeff_gluck: Damn... Brian Pattie's wife just flipped in the Better Half Dash after contact from Ashley Allgaier. Looks like she's OK though.
@jim_utter: Regan Smith on #NASCAR Nwide deal at JRM: "If Mr. H said it, usually what Mr. H says is the gospel, so we've had some talks."
@Writer_Amy (Amy Henderson): Looks like @JeffGordonWeb got some new crew members this weekend... http://twitpic.com/b38576
@ashley_crafton: First flip of the #betterhalfdash. Thank goodness everyone was ok. http://instagr.am/p/QqGCoJus0g/
@jim_utter: If championship on the line, Jeff Gordon says "no" he would not say anything to a doctor. "That's competitor in me." #NASCAR
@SamanthaBusch: Congrats to @lynzskate on winning @JacquelynButler on finishing 2nd! Awesome job by all the girls racing for the #MRO!
@pkligerman (Parker Kligerman): Not that it matters much but IMO It would take ALOT for me to take myself out of a championship hunt.. Kudos to Dale Jr 4 his decision.
@ashley_crafton: That's one heck of a trophy for @lynzskate! http://instagr.am/p/QqIhw5us3W/
@tomjense100: Safety has come a long way in #NASCAR. I was at Darlington in the 1990s talking with Ernie Irvan. His vertigo was so bad he had to keep ...
@tomjensen100: ... his head completely still and tilted at an angle to keep from getting dizzy. And he was racing that weekend.
@ClintBowyer: WOW! The better half dash was a wild one as always. My crew chief's wife @AdrienePattie flipped, she's ok!!!! Crazy women drivers...
@DavidGilliland: So proud of @MrsDGilly. She did awesome. Passed a ton of cars and got spun out running second (catching the leader) :). #impressed!
@Writer_Amy: I think we need one of these for the @TheFrontstretch Mirror Driving champion. http://twitpic.com/b38cin
@AshleyStremme: 1 staple in my head and finally headed home from the track. Thanks to all the awesome folks at the CLT Spdwy Infield Care Center #goodpeople
@AshleyStremme: Do not jump from lounge in trailer use the 2 steps especially w sunglasses on your head RT @nascarcasm @AshleyStremme What happened?!
@AshleyStremme: Nose piece on sunglasses got the best of my head when I hit the top of trailer. Good news: sunglasses are not broken. Bad news: my head is!
@DeLanaHarvick: Finally got mr. fussy pants to go to sleep... Only took me 250 laps! He's a stubborn little guy...wonder where he got that from????
@Ryan_Truex: What a joke.. Martin would be better off getting out and changing his own tires on pit road
@SamanthaBusch: Congrats @LorraP n Clint! Lorra we were pitted next to u n I was watching u looked so nervous, can't blame u! Glad u all made it on fuel!
@PPistone: #NASCAR and FOX have finalized an 8-year TV deal worth more than $2.4 billion
@PPistone: Bottom line on the FOX-#NASCAR deal is more money per year and trucks locked in as well #nascar
@ClintBowyer: Just saw @toyotaracing was 6 of the top 10...Not a bad week there boys!!!!
@rchilders55 (Rodney Childers): No one probably cares. But, I re-signed with @MWRteam today to be on the 55 car next year.. I'm very excited and looking fwd to it!!
@SamanthaBusch: People ask whats 1 of the best parts of being a drivers wife, this pic w her smile sums it up! Facebook
@DavidGilliland: Just got home and wanted to lay down in bed. Hmmmm...looks like @MrsDGilly might need help folding clothes first. pic.twitter.com/BQBpB84J
@KurtBusch: Long day of testing in Ohio with my #78 guys to get ready for Martinsville. Car felt pretty good.
@JMorris_NP (John Morris): New #NASCAR qualifying format for 2013 should be cool. Only a max of 7 cars will be locked into the race. The rest "speed" it out.
@nascarcasm: Nationwide fields reduced from 43 to 40, which is something that typically happened after the first lap anyways. #nascar #nns #startandpark
@DanicaPatrick: It's hard to believe a year has gone by since Dan died. I miss him and I know so many others do too.
@Reid_Spencer: IMO, the next thing NASCAR needs to tackle is purse structure, weighting payoffs more heavily toward higher finishing positions, like golf.
@bobpockrass: According to ESPN, Sprint Cup race from Saturday drew a 3.2 rating. Just as in 2011. Just as in 2010. 5.095 million viewers. #nascar
@Kenny_Wallace: I really like what #NASCAR is doing! Cleaning the sport up and adjusting to NEW economics and making Qualifying mean something.
@PPistone: Totally love the Top 35 going away-even if a "star" misses the show so be it - it's a sport - sad Junior's out but the show went on didn't it?
@TheOrangeCone: I still remember Marty Reid's farewell from the ABC telecast. "Goodbye is always so final. Goodbye Dan Wheldon." #UntilWeMeetAgain
Summer Bedgood is a Senior Writer for Frontstretch.com. She can be reached via email at summer.bedgood@frontstretch.com. Follow her on Twitter @SummerBedgood.
~~~~~~~~~~
TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:
IndyCar Year in Review: Teams, Part 2
by Toni Montgomery, Huston Ladner and Matt Stallknecht
Top Ten Things Regan Smith Was Thinking When He Got the Call From Hendrick Motorsports
by the Frontstretch Staff
NASCAR Sprint Cup Power Rankings: Top 15 After Charlotte-II
compiled by Summer Bedgood
Mirror Driving: Evaluating Allmendinger, Concussion Testing & Clint's Title Chances
by the Frontstretch Staff
A Quick Rundown of NASCAR's New Qualifying and Testing Changes
by Kevin Rutherford
~~~~~~~~~~
FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Q: In 2001, the then-Craftsman Truck Series and the then-Indy Racing Northern Light Series shared the first major race weekend at Kansas Speedway. The truck race was won by the late Ricky Hendrick, while Eddie Cheever won the Indy race. Scott Sharp also claimed the first Indy pole at Kansas, and ran very well before dropping out. What happened?
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Coming tomorrow in the Frontstretch Newsletter:
-- Top News from Phil Allaway
-- What's Vexing Vito by Vito Pugliese
-- Critic's Annex by Phil Allaway
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, the Line of the Week and more!
~~~~~~~~~~
Tomorrow on the Frontstretch:
Professor Of Speed by Mark Howell
Our professor of racing history "has at it" with another column pertinent to the sport at large. This week, Mark takes a look at NASCAR's laid back attitude when it came to concussions ... at least until the NFL started paying more attention.
Frontstretch Fan Q&A by Summer Bedgood
Summer takes on your questions and answers them to the best of her ability. Be sure to send your questions in if there's something that's been nagging at you and you might see your name in print.
Beyond the Cockpit: James Buescher by Amy Henderson
Camping World Truck Series championship contender James Buescher has four wins this season and sits just one marker behind leader Ty Dillon in the standings. Buescher sat down with Amy Henderson at Charlotte to talk about his breakout season and much more.
Truckin' Thursdays by Beth Lunkenheimer
Beth is back this year on a new night, but it's the same great commentary you've come to enjoy on NASCAR's Truck Series! This week, Beth has another collection of off-week thoughts and observations with the series in its final extended break before the season ends.
Did You Notice? by Tom Bowles
DYN gets pushed back to Thursday this week with a litany of new observations about the sport of stock car racing we all love.
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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
-- @CitizenKBA: NASCAR believed Kurt Busch's story about wanting to get that car back on the track? I wish NASCAR had been my parents when I was a teenager.
@Kenny_Wallace: This car is a Cake made by "Duff" at Ace of Cakes! http://twitter.yfrog.com/ob722eeej
@SummerBedgood: Kasey Kahne's life size cake is making me wish that the next family birthday would hurry up. #NASCAR
@PPistone: Speaking with several experts and listening to others it appears a return at all this year by Junior would be a surprise to many #nascar
@jeff_gluck: It appears the last #NASCAR race without an Earnhardt in it was Aug. 5, 1979 at Talladega.
@BrianLVickers: Hate it for Dale. I know 1st hand how it feels how to be taken out of the car by something that's out of your control. Hope he recovers fast.
@jim_utter: Sounds like Regan Smith will be running for #NASCAR Nationwide championship at JR Motorsports next season in No. 88
@Ryan_Truex: Found this when I was home. That's me and @MartinTruexJr56 LOL http://instagr.am/p/QprY-1JghD/
@AJDinger (A.J. Allmendinger): Really happy to be back in a car. Been a crazy morning getting everything ready. Cant thank Phoenix Racing enough for this chance.
@JenJoCobb (Jennifer Jo Cobb): Scary hearing Dr. Jerry Punch talk about brain squishing back & forth during wrecks. Drivers respect the danger but believe in #NASCAR safety.
@MartySmithESPN: Whoa. Rusty Wallace says he had aftereffects of concussions for 15 years, said every time he shook his head in the shower he got dizzy.
@jeff_gluck: Kurt Busch says he wasn't surprised NASCAR didn't penalize him further. Says it's hard to penalize someone for showing desire to keep racing
@JennaFryer: 51 crew thrashing to reset the pedals. AJ got in car today and couldn't reach them. #NASCAR
@Kristen_Beat: Found a lost dog driving down Catawba, called his owners & turns out they are at the track! haha babysitting until they get back #puppytime
@bobpockrass: Regan Smith said he got a text message at 7 this morning from Steve Letarte about possibly driving the car. #nascar
@PPistone: Phoenix Racing with a message to Kurt Busch this week? pic.twitter.com/kEaOutNJ #nascar
@PPistone: Hearing reports of some campers leaving Charlotte Motor Speedway in the aftermath of Earnhardt Jr. news? Wow.
@jeff_gluck: Damn... Brian Pattie's wife just flipped in the Better Half Dash after contact from Ashley Allgaier. Looks like she's OK though.
@jim_utter: Regan Smith on #NASCAR Nwide deal at JRM: "If Mr. H said it, usually what Mr. H says is the gospel, so we've had some talks."
@Writer_Amy (Amy Henderson): Looks like @JeffGordonWeb got some new crew members this weekend... http://twitpic.com/b38576
@ashley_crafton: First flip of the #betterhalfdash. Thank goodness everyone was ok. http://instagr.am/p/QqGCoJus0g/
@jim_utter: If championship on the line, Jeff Gordon says "no" he would not say anything to a doctor. "That's competitor in me." #NASCAR
@SamanthaBusch: Congrats to @lynzskate on winning @JacquelynButler on finishing 2nd! Awesome job by all the girls racing for the #MRO!
@pkligerman (Parker Kligerman): Not that it matters much but IMO It would take ALOT for me to take myself out of a championship hunt.. Kudos to Dale Jr 4 his decision.
@ashley_crafton: That's one heck of a trophy for @lynzskate! http://instagr.am/p/QqIhw5us3W/
@tomjense100: Safety has come a long way in #NASCAR. I was at Darlington in the 1990s talking with Ernie Irvan. His vertigo was so bad he had to keep ...
@tomjensen100: ... his head completely still and tilted at an angle to keep from getting dizzy. And he was racing that weekend.
@ClintBowyer: WOW! The better half dash was a wild one as always. My crew chief's wife @AdrienePattie flipped, she's ok!!!! Crazy women drivers...
@DavidGilliland: So proud of @MrsDGilly. She did awesome. Passed a ton of cars and got spun out running second (catching the leader) :). #impressed!
@Writer_Amy: I think we need one of these for the @TheFrontstretch Mirror Driving champion. http://twitpic.com/b38cin
@AshleyStremme: 1 staple in my head and finally headed home from the track. Thanks to all the awesome folks at the CLT Spdwy Infield Care Center #goodpeople
@AshleyStremme: Do not jump from lounge in trailer use the 2 steps especially w sunglasses on your head RT @nascarcasm @AshleyStremme What happened?!
@AshleyStremme: Nose piece on sunglasses got the best of my head when I hit the top of trailer. Good news: sunglasses are not broken. Bad news: my head is!
@DeLanaHarvick: Finally got mr. fussy pants to go to sleep... Only took me 250 laps! He's a stubborn little guy...wonder where he got that from????
@Ryan_Truex: What a joke.. Martin would be better off getting out and changing his own tires on pit road
@SamanthaBusch: Congrats @LorraP n Clint! Lorra we were pitted next to u n I was watching u looked so nervous, can't blame u! Glad u all made it on fuel!
@PPistone: #NASCAR and FOX have finalized an 8-year TV deal worth more than $2.4 billion
@PPistone: Bottom line on the FOX-#NASCAR deal is more money per year and trucks locked in as well #nascar
@ClintBowyer: Just saw @toyotaracing was 6 of the top 10...Not a bad week there boys!!!!
@rchilders55 (Rodney Childers): No one probably cares. But, I re-signed with @MWRteam today to be on the 55 car next year.. I'm very excited and looking fwd to it!!
@SamanthaBusch: People ask whats 1 of the best parts of being a drivers wife, this pic w her smile sums it up! Facebook
@DavidGilliland: Just got home and wanted to lay down in bed. Hmmmm...looks like @MrsDGilly might need help folding clothes first. pic.twitter.com/BQBpB84J
@KurtBusch: Long day of testing in Ohio with my #78 guys to get ready for Martinsville. Car felt pretty good.
@JMorris_NP (John Morris): New #NASCAR qualifying format for 2013 should be cool. Only a max of 7 cars will be locked into the race. The rest "speed" it out.
@nascarcasm: Nationwide fields reduced from 43 to 40, which is something that typically happened after the first lap anyways. #nascar #nns #startandpark
@DanicaPatrick: It's hard to believe a year has gone by since Dan died. I miss him and I know so many others do too.
@Reid_Spencer: IMO, the next thing NASCAR needs to tackle is purse structure, weighting payoffs more heavily toward higher finishing positions, like golf.
@bobpockrass: According to ESPN, Sprint Cup race from Saturday drew a 3.2 rating. Just as in 2011. Just as in 2010. 5.095 million viewers. #nascar
@Kenny_Wallace: I really like what #NASCAR is doing! Cleaning the sport up and adjusting to NEW economics and making Qualifying mean something.
@PPistone: Totally love the Top 35 going away-even if a "star" misses the show so be it - it's a sport - sad Junior's out but the show went on didn't it?
@TheOrangeCone: I still remember Marty Reid's farewell from the ABC telecast. "Goodbye is always so final. Goodbye Dan Wheldon." #UntilWeMeetAgain
Summer Bedgood is a Senior Writer for Frontstretch.com. She can be reached via email at summer.bedgood@frontstretch.com. Follow her on Twitter @SummerBedgood.
~~~~~~~~~~
TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:
IndyCar Year in Review: Teams, Part 2
by Toni Montgomery, Huston Ladner and Matt Stallknecht
Top Ten Things Regan Smith Was Thinking When He Got the Call From Hendrick Motorsports
by the Frontstretch Staff
NASCAR Sprint Cup Power Rankings: Top 15 After Charlotte-II
compiled by Summer Bedgood
Mirror Driving: Evaluating Allmendinger, Concussion Testing & Clint's Title Chances
by the Frontstretch Staff
A Quick Rundown of NASCAR's New Qualifying and Testing Changes
by Kevin Rutherford
~~~~~~~~~~
FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Q: In 2001, the then-Craftsman Truck Series and the then-Indy Racing Northern Light Series shared the first major race weekend at Kansas Speedway. The truck race was won by the late Ricky Hendrick, while Eddie Cheever won the Indy race. Scott Sharp also claimed the first Indy pole at Kansas, and ran very well before dropping out. What happened?
Check back Thursday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
Tuesday's Answer:
Q: In the inaugural Protection One 400 at Kansas Speedway, rookie Casey Atwood qualified an excellent fifth in his No. 19 Dodge. However, his race was over before the first commercial break. What happened?
A: Entering Turn 1 on the very first lap, Atwood and Stacy Compton rubbed up against each other. Atwood then spun in front of the whole field before he was then hit by John Andretti and hit the wall as well. Meanwhile, Ricky Craven was spun from behind by Rusty Wallace while trying to avoid the crash. During the spin, Craven's car was hit by Jimmy Spencer in the rear end, causing minor damage. The crash can be seen at the 14:45 mark of the race telecast here. Atwood's car was out of the race on the spot with zero laps completed while Andretti went behind the wall for repairs and eventually returned to the race. He finished in 39th, 121 laps down. Craven ended up continuing after some attention on pit road and finished two laps down in 21st.
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!
Tuesday's Answer:
Q: In the inaugural Protection One 400 at Kansas Speedway, rookie Casey Atwood qualified an excellent fifth in his No. 19 Dodge. However, his race was over before the first commercial break. What happened?
A: Entering Turn 1 on the very first lap, Atwood and Stacy Compton rubbed up against each other. Atwood then spun in front of the whole field before he was then hit by John Andretti and hit the wall as well. Meanwhile, Ricky Craven was spun from behind by Rusty Wallace while trying to avoid the crash. During the spin, Craven's car was hit by Jimmy Spencer in the rear end, causing minor damage. The crash can be seen at the 14:45 mark of the race telecast here. Atwood's car was out of the race on the spot with zero laps completed while Andretti went behind the wall for repairs and eventually returned to the race. He finished in 39th, 121 laps down. Craven ended up continuing after some attention on pit road and finished two laps down in 21st.
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 Phil Allaway
-- What's Vexing Vito by Vito Pugliese
-- Critic's Annex by Phil Allaway
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, the Line of the Week and more!
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Tomorrow on the Frontstretch:
Professor Of Speed by Mark Howell
Our professor of racing history "has at it" with another column pertinent to the sport at large. This week, Mark takes a look at NASCAR's laid back attitude when it came to concussions ... at least until the NFL started paying more attention.
Frontstretch Fan Q&A by Summer Bedgood
Summer takes on your questions and answers them to the best of her ability. Be sure to send your questions in if there's something that's been nagging at you and you might see your name in print.
Beyond the Cockpit: James Buescher by Amy Henderson
Camping World Truck Series championship contender James Buescher has four wins this season and sits just one marker behind leader Ty Dillon in the standings. Buescher sat down with Amy Henderson at Charlotte to talk about his breakout season and much more.
Truckin' Thursdays by Beth Lunkenheimer
Beth is back this year on a new night, but it's the same great commentary you've come to enjoy on NASCAR's Truck Series! This week, Beth has another collection of off-week thoughts and observations with the series in its final extended break before the season ends.
Did You Notice? by Tom Bowles
DYN gets pushed back to Thursday this week with a litany of new observations about the sport of stock car racing we all love.
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