Wednesday, November 07, 2012

The Frontstretch Newsletter: A Busch Brother Turns Heads... For...

THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com

The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
November 7th, 2012
Volume VI, Edition CCXXIV

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DONATE TO HELP HURRICANE SANDY VICTIMS
Millions are grappling with the effects from one of the more devastating hurricanes to hit the United States. If you're in an unaffected area, please consider donating to help others who will spend months rebuilding their lives and their homes after Sandy whipped onshore with winds of 80 miles an hour.  Call 1-800-RED-CROSS, visit redcross.org or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation today. Every little bit helps.

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Top News
by Brad Morgan

Correction: In Tuesday's Newsletter, we mistakenly reported that Joe Gibbs Racing would field a full-time Nationwide Series car to be split between Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano, and Darrell Wallace, Jr. The three drivers of the expected team are Hamlin, Matt Kenseth, and Wallace, Jr. We apologize for the mistake and for any confusion it may have caused.

Chevrolet Wins Three Manufacturers' Championships


With Nelson Piquet, Jr.'s third-place run in the Camping World Truck Series WinStar World Casino 350 at Texas Motor Speedway, Chevrolet officially locked up the Manufacturers' Championships in each of NASCAR's three most prolific series. It marks the fourth time that Chevrolet has achieved three titles in the same year, joining 1996, 1998 and 2005.
   
"Chevrolet is proud to win all three NASCAR national series Manufacturers' Championships," said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet's U.S. Vice President, Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. "These three titles are a tribute to the passion and commitment of all of our team owners, crew chiefs, crews, drivers and technical partners."

Chevrolet was powered to the top by elite organizations Hendrick Motorsports and Stewart-Haas Racing in Sprint Cup this season, while strong efforts from Richard Childress Racing drivers Elliott Sadler and Austin Dillon helped the manufacturer in the Nationwide Series.

"Congratulations and thank you to all of our teams in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series who worked tirelessly to capture these prestigious championships for Chevrolet," said Mark Kent, Director of Chevrolet Racing. "These championships were made possible by an extraordinary level of cooperation among all of our teams, technical partners and Chevrolet engineers. We are now focused on a strong finish to the 2012 NASCAR season in NASCAR."

Now, with two races remaining on the NASCAR schedule, Chevrolet has a chance to add to its trophy case by winning driver's championships in each series.

Xxxtreme Motorsport to Debut with Reutimann

Xxxtreme Motorsport will officially make its Sprint Cup Series debut at Phoenix International Raceway this weekend. Team owner John Cohen announced that veteran driver David Reutimann will pilot the team's No. 44 Ford and Frank Kerr will serve as crew chief during qualifying for the AdvoCare 500.

According to the team's Twitter feed, Motorsport has secured sponsorship from No Label Watches and will use Roush Yates engines for the remainder of the season. The Mooresville, North Carolina based organization also plans to run the entire '13 Sprint Cup schedule with Ford. Previously a Nationwide Series program, in 2009-10 the car ran with Chase Austin, among others in a minority-based opportunity with sponsorship from Cavi Clothing and Macy's.

The team is based out of the former TRG shop in Mooresville. Reutimann, for now is expected to start and park the car as the team accumulates data they can use to race effectively in 2013.

Kyle Busch Motorsports Signs Coulter for 2013

Kyle Busch Motorsports announced Tuesday that Joey Coulter will serve as the team's driver in the Camping World Truck Series for the entire 2013 season.

Currently driving the No. 22 Chevrolet Silverado for Richard Childress Racing, Coulter sits fifth in the driver's standings after 20 races. The talented 22-year-old has one win, 11 top 5s, and 26 top 10s in two Truck Series seasons.

"To say that I am excited about the opportunity to drive for KBM would be an understatement," Coulter expressed. "Kyle Busch is a driver that I have always had a lot of respect for and looked up to because of his raw talent. Since I was 8 years old, winning races and championships in one of NASCAR's top three series has been a dream and a goal of mine -- I feel that joining KBM gives me a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to accomplish those goals. They are a team that has a winning attitude and have proven numerous times that they are capable of getting to Victory Lane. It is an honor to be given the chance to bring them their first driver championship."

After a successful '11 campaign, KBM has scored only one victory this season. The organization has employed several drivers this year in the Truck Series, including Kurt Busch, Denny Hamlin, Drew Herring, Jason Leffler, David Mayhew, German Quiroga, Brian Scott, and team owner Kyle Busch only to endure inconsistent results.

"With the addition of Joey Coulter to KBM's Truck Series program for the 2013 season we have accomplished our goal of having a talented young driver competing full-time for a driver's championship," owner Kyle Busch said. "Joey has been running up front, competing for wins this year and we feel like he is ready to have a breakout year. With the personnel we have in place at KBM and the support we receive from Toyota, we're going to do everything possible to make sure that he is in a position to bring home a championship next season."

News Bites

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NASCAR's ratings decline for the Chase continued with a lower audience for the Sprint Cup race at Texas. Pulling just a 2.9HH in the Nielsens, down 15 percent from last year's 3.4 the event also had an estimated television audience of 3.943 million. That means this Chase is the first ever with six of its first eight races watched by less than four million people. It also marked the lowest-rated, same-day Texas audience since the sport added a second, Fall race to the schedule in 2005.

The official, U.S. Rating for the Nielsens (when adjusted from cable to broadcast) was 2.5.

- Austin Dillon and Denny Hamlin avoided penalties Tuesday for their confrontation following Saturday's Texas Nationwide Series event. There was some concern at least probation would be handed down following their swapping of sheet metal, then words at the conclusion of the checkered flag. Instead, Dillon can sit back and celebrate full-time backing for the 2013 season; sponsor Advocare recently announced they'll re-sign as a primary sponsor for every race on the Nationwide schedule.

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
Kurt Busch Settling In With Furniture Row

by Beth Lunkenheimer

As the 2012 season quickly winds to a close, all eyes are on Jimmie Johnson and Brad Keselowski as their rivals have been "counted out" of the championship battle. Many of those Cup teams are already turning their attention to 2013, the new car and the promise that always lies ahead; Chasers now chase the dream of trying again the following year. But among that group, not heavily covered there has been a non-Chaser flying under the radar, one who has silently made a significant amount of progression in what has been a less than stellar season -- Kurt Busch.

Just four races ago, Busch moved into his 2013 ride early to finish out the rest of this season behind the wheel of the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet. And the 34-year-old entered with optimism and a renewed pep in his step, much like he did after joining Phoenix Racing to begin the year.

"This weekend begins a new chapter in my racing career and also a new chapter for Furniture Row Racing," Busch said before his debut with the team at Charlotte last month. "The excitement level about driving the No. 78 Furniture Row / Farm American Chevrolet is at a high pitch and I can't wait to get started. This is a team that is committed and it's also a team with plenty of potential. The guys are ready, I'm ready and we all look forward to having a positive debut."

So let's take a look at Busch's results since then: 21st, 25th, 15th and 8th -- not exactly stellar performances.

But do those numbers really tell the whole story? Not exactly.

Let's look back at Charlotte first. No one really expected the older Busch brother and his new organization to gel right from the start. It's simple, really: chemistry between a team and driver takes time no matter the talent on either side. But after qualifying 21st, the driver of the No. 78 charged up to nearly the top 10, making his presence felt before that "getting to know you" concern took a bit of a toll. Struggling to keep up with the track, handling problems eventually put Busch a lap down which is where he would finish in 21st. Still, we had a glimpse of what was to come.

Move forward to Kansas, where Busch became the innocent victim in a tangle between Ryan Newman and Kyle Busch while he was running ninth. The contact caused significant damage to the right front, frayed sheet metal that likely resulted in the late-race blown tire while running 12th. He was credited with a 25th-place finish, two laps down. Much of the same can be said about Martinsville, where Busch was running sixth when contact from Kevin Harvick sent him spinning, but he still managed to pull out a respectable 15th-place result. And that's not bad at a track where a spin like the one Busch suffered typically results in a torn up race car.

That brings us to Texas Motor Speedway last weekend. After starting in the mid-teens, that's where he ran for much of the day before crew chief Todd Berrier finally hit on an adjustment -- one of many, actually -- that finally brought the car to life. Suddenly, Busch had gotten into the top 10 and that's where he ended up staying. Luck had gone his way and he finally had the finish to show for it.

"All in all a good day for Furniture Row Racing. Considering we had a top 5 or top 10 car at the last two races but got nailed in accidents, it was important to come away with a solid finish [Sunday]," Busch said. "We've made a lot of progress as a team in a short period of time, which gives us plenty of optimism for 2013. We still have some handling issues to work out, but we're getting there. I am really proud of how we came back today after struggling for a good portion of the race."

And he has every reason to be proud of their progress. Let's look back at when he first joined Penske Racing in 2006. In those first four races behind the wheel of the No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge, Busch posted finishes of 38th, 16th, 16th and 37th (26.75 avg. finish). The numbers were much of the same in his first four events with Phoenix Racing earlier this year: 39th, 15th, 25th and 18th (26.75 avg. finish). But what's his average so far with FRR? 17.25.

Clearly, Busch has found success more quickly with Furniture Row than he did with Penske or Phoenix Racing. While there are other factors to consider, long-term when looking at the overall picture -- equipment, budget, pit crew, crew chief experience, etc. -- you get the idea. Whether it's the equipment, his attitude or a little of both, Busch has every right to have high hopes for next year. Texas, in just his fourth race with the team produced the highest finish for owner Barney Visser on a 1.5-mile oval since the team first started competing on the Cup circuit in 2005.

While there is still plenty of room to grow, Busch and the No. 78 team are headed in a positive direction. And with a solid crew chief like Berrier, who served as head wrench for Kevin Harvick during his five-win season in 2006, there's reason for Busch to remain hopeful for next year. With 17 years of experience atop the pit box, Berrier will likely lead the No. 78 team to Victory Lane -- and it could even be the first multiple-win season for FRR if he and Busch can come out at Daytona rested and ready to continue the progress they've made in such a short time.

I'm not here to say FRR will come out in 2013 and become a championship contender. In fact, I'm not even willing to guarantee they'll make the Chase next year ... yet. But what I am saying is that there is definitely a solid chemistry building between Busch and an organization, one that just might lead to the home he has been looking for since leaving Roush Fenway Racing years ago.

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...

@RossChastain: Sitting on the plane to Texas & it dawned on me. We are traveling over 6,000 miles to s&p at two races so we can race in Homestead. #nascar

@JamieLittleESPN: Happy Halloween!!!! pic.twitter.com/YKiRcFE5

@CandiceSpencer (Lee Spencer): Congratulations to @RCR31JeffBurton for reviving the Cheerios sponsorship in 2013 #NASCAR

@SamanthaBusch: Happy Halloween every1! On behalf of Kyle n myself if u send a pic of ur lil 1 in a Kyle halloween costume we will send u a lil something ;)

@ClintBowyer: Got up early this morning, played a little blackjack. Saw a guy pass out mid shoe. #priceless And no it wasn't me!

@NewmanKrissie: Mooooo http://instagr.am/p/Rc9aXYLb23/

@TimCindric:
Hey @joeylogano, when are you going to tell us who your crew chief is going to be next year??

@joeylogano: I'm excited to announce that Todd Gordon will be the crew chief of the Shell/Pennzoil 22 car next year.

@JennaFryer: 2 corrections on Nur Ali: He said he withdrew from Texas Nationwide (I had typo and said Kansas). #NASCAR says he was not approved.

@dcaraviello (David Caraviello):
Ali: "It is no secret I struggled a bit in my debut in Kansas. Step up to NASCAR is quite large and I'm faced with a steep learning curve."

@dcaraviello: At Kansas, Ali became first driver of Pakistani descent to race in NASCAR. Before that, last start had been an ARCA event at Texas in 2010.

@bobpockrass: I assume because they re-assessed his ability after Kansas struggle RT @Cody2488: @WildAngel6 Why did NASCAR not allow him to race at Texas?

@KevinHarvick: Keelan the little monkey! pic.twitter.com/Eyu9D8iO

@EarnhardtKelley: Our little monkey http://lockerz.com/s/257874325

@aric_almirola: Lots of trick or treaters coming by the house tonight. Alex is having fun passing out candy.... I think. (he's not crying)

@aric_almirola: So 2 boys (6 or 7 yrs old?) walk up to the door. We let them grab 2 handfuls of candy. As they walk away... Continued

@aric_almirola:
1 says to other "see... told u that's the house that gives away good candy!" We are officially "that house"

@MissJFish:
Nananananana.. Batman! pic.twitter.com/PNiICzlN

@Elliott_Sadler:
I thought being a kid was fun on Halloween but nothing like being a parent... Most fun I ever had... Thanks for the lift @HermieSadler

@JimmieJohnson: Tonight was so much fun. Watching Evie grasp Halloween was priceless!

@rchilders55 (Rodney Childers):
Not sure why our kids didn't like my new look.. They flipped out for some reason.. pic.twitter.com/oj71SKUx

@RB_Mrs (Nicole Briscoe):
We were "that house" in the hood tonite. Kid told her friend, "Told you they had the good stuff." Hahaha!!!! #missionaccomplished

@TJmajors: Madelynn, @toferallen and me! @buffalobills cheerleader. Starting her early @KelsiReich! pic.twitter.com/8g7GbgHb

@Andy__Rock (Andy Hillenburg): Today is the 5th anniversary of me having the keys to The Rock. I think we will celebrate with about 100 cars racing on Saturday #classic3

@Andy__Rock: Standing in a pretty good spot at the moment :) pic.twitter.com/fcL7u6IC

@Mc_Driver (Michael McDowell): This was my little guy last night. He had a great time right up to the point of sugar crash. pic.twitter.com/BHUh6uMx

@DakodaArmstrong: Hey guys I have some exciting news! I will be racing for @TurnerMotorspts in the @NationwideNNS series at @HomesteadMiami #blessed

@ivandebosch (Ingrid Vandebosch):
Ella was Lalaloopsy pic.twitter.com/GZqio8cF

@ivandebosch: Leo the Shark pic.twitter.com/G0KqT7p3

@Brett_Griff (Brett Griffin):
Went to @55MarkMartin museum in Arkansas. It's amazing how far racecars and hair styles have come in such a short time #NASCAR

@DeLanaHarvick:
Keelan's screamed the loudest 4 @DierksBentley & @eliyoungband. May have a country music fan on our hands #whatabthiphop http://img.ly/pdmo

@dennyhamlin:
Me and my buddy pic.twitter.com/E2cHVZ2V

@WendyVenturini: Really cool to watch a husband & wife both take home #CMAawards. Otherwise, that'd be awkward at the breakfast table tomorrow.

@MStall41 (Matt Stalknecht): Trois Rivieres Circuit officially announced today that they are in the process of securing a #NASCAR race, gov't will be bankrolling project

@keselowski: Word to the wise - when attending to demands after watching a movie on Cinemax, Remember to either close shades or turn off the TV. #NSFW

@TimmyHillRacer: This is what @TXMotorSpeedway looks like before the traffic rolls in! :p pic.twitter.com/KNW5SAOI

@bobpockrass:
Jimmie Johnson said the Manhattan building he has an apartment (in) has its bottom 2 floors and lobby still flooded. #nascar

@jeff_gluck: Here's a wow: Earnhardt Ganassi Racing will switch to Hendrick Motorsports engines starting next season.

@mikemulhern: TEXAS: hearing NASCAR has push on to put a Nationwide race back on the Myrtle Beach Speedway calendar in 2013, if soft walls can be installed.

@AllWaltrip: To me the "blind obvious" is the lack of short tracks for trucks and #nationwide for sure, backbone of the sport, where you learn to race!

@jim_utter:
Hearing SPEED changes over to Fox Sports One in August 2013 #NASCAR

@ReganSmith:
2nd week in a row I've had a view from the top of a hauler instead of behind a wheel… Phoenix and Homestead can't come soon enough!

@bobpockrass:
Asked Tony Stewart if talks had progressed at all as far as Eldora and Trucks and he shook his head no. #nascar

@LindyHornaday: They have a carnival here at the track at Texas, brilliant!! pic.twitter.com/XIZyyykh

@jeff_gluck:
A gorilla, a banana and a chicken raced on a bike at Texas Motor Speedway...no, that's not the setup to a joke...that's real!!

@WendyVenturini:
Always love when a helicopter is about to land on my head #justanotherdayatwork pic.twitter.com/aOBWw1S0

@mattkenseth: Hey @JimmieJohnson I'm not sure if you're still in your car or not, but if you're getting hungry I could run a sandwich or something out to you

@RyanBlaney22:
"@jim_utter: Ryan Blaney hasn't finished worse than 11th since taking over Brad @Keselowski truck. #stout" You jinxed us. Thanks

@SummerBedgood: Did we just get through a Truck Series race without everyone pissed off at each other? That's rare even for intermediate races. #NASCAR

@CandiceSpencer:
@NelsonPiquet on whether he's ready to move to Cup: If I got an offer with a good Cup team..it would be difficult to turn down #NASCAR

@KevinHamlin: Dear Texas, you have really nice towns, and sweet boots. But your roads are shit. Love, Hamlin.

@keselowski:
Sounds like there may be a rave going on in the Texas Motor Speedway infield #NASCAR

@pkligerman (Parker Kligerman): Could feel that cowboy hat... Gave it all we had. We're gaining and we've got nothing to lose... #NASCAR #NCWTS #championship

@Brendan62 (Brendan Gaughan):
Sorry everyone but that sucked... absolutely guarantee we will be better next week in Phoenix!

@JohannaLong: I sure hope Texas is better to me today. Anything that could've went wrong yesterday, did. #NewDay #HaveFaith

@JamieLittleESPN: The new man on campus at JR Motorsports @regansmith. Decked out, watching practice. @NASCARESPN pic.twitter.com/AWJjPYpQ

@BrianLVickers:
Thankful to have the freedom to live in a country where we can vote but I have a feeling this is going to take a while! pic.twitter.com/uuzmShvs

@Brett_Griff: Doesn't get much better than racing and college football all on the same day!

@MartinTruexJr56: We very thankful for all the donations for #sandy so far. NASCAR fans are the best, we're working on more things for #sandy relief as well.

@MartinTruexJr56: For all that have donated for #sandy relief @MTJFoundation and @MWRteam will be matching donations. Keep them coming and thank you

@Kenny_Wallace: OUR bosses in #NASCAR, on left Joe Balash middle Mike Helton on right Robin Pemberton. http://yfrog.com/odec7dpj

@BrianLVickers:
:-) Disney here we come! pic.twitter.com/twuTDSfl

@KyleLarsonRacin: Got another Christmas present and won the championship today! Thanks to @RevRacin @toyotaracing @NASCARDiversity and the whole team!

@KevinHamlin:
.@kimberlygoneraw is singing the heck outta some Journey in the Sprint Experience! (Yes, we can hear you from the spotters' stand)

@ClaireBLang:
Helluva Flyover oh my gosh http://twitpic.com/ba3cnp

@SamanthaBusch: By far the coolest fly over ever!!!! Engines fired and cars rolling off pit road. 200 laps tonight!

@CandiceSpencer:
If there's a silver lining to Johanna Long's premature exit from the Nationwide race, she can now tune into the Alabama game #NASCAR

@SherryPollex: You guys are SO amazing. We've been humbled by your stories & generous donations to our #Sandy fund. We WILL make a diff in MT's home state!

@DeLanaHarvick: OMG! Keelan held his bottle and fed himself most of his bottle! http://img.ly/piFC

@DeLanaHarvick: Yeeeeaaaaahhhh! #godadgo

@NASCAR_Wonka: In a few years, Ryan Blaney will be a Cup champion. #NASCAR

@RossKenseth: Great job by @RyanBlaney22 tonight, woulda been pretty cool to see him get that w

@NewmanKrissie:
Congrats @KevinHarvick @DeLanaHarvick on tonight's NNS win! Great run by Ryan Blaney as well

@EmmaBlaney: RYAN!!!!!!

@pkligerman: And that's why I believe you are looking at a track that will be like Atlanta in 2 years. Tires are everything ... Love it :) #NASCAR #NNS

@DeLanaHarvick: Winning in Texas on this particular weekend always holds a special place in my heart.... #jpl

@Writer_Amy (Amy Henderson): I also love how close this points battle is... WITHOUT a stupid Chase. Imagine that... #NASCAR

@keselowski: Things that make you go hmmmm

@Writer_Amy:
Somebody had to say it - just because you drive the 3 & everyone thinks you're the 2nd coming doesn't mean respect goes out the window #NASCAR

@MikeMassaroESPN:
Wow! @dennyhamlin didn't hold back did he?

@Ryan_Truex:
Good job @RyanBlaney22 Here's to more teams giving us young guys opportunities to win them races

@PPistone (Pete Pistone): I asked for rivalries and I'll take Hamlin-Dillon any day over Patrick-Cassill #nascar

@kaseykahne: Great interview by @dennyhamlin after the race. He explained the whole situation perfectly.

@jeff_gluck:
Stenhouse, Jr. and Sadler are tied in the Nationwide Series point standings with two races to go. #theydontneedaChase

@AllWaltrip: @dennyhamlin is not someone you want to mess with right now, got some pent up emotion built up and might want to release it, listen to me!

@keselowski: Agreed Poor guy @jim_utter: Wow TV didn't interview @ryanblaney22? Ridiculous."

@Brett_Griff: Happy OneMain won. Last yellow hurt us. Got a call after race my sis was in a wreck and broke her legs. Please pray for @sheliagriffin

@bobpockrass: Dillon response: "My last name is Dillon. If you look back in the books, there isn't really anybody named Dillon that ran real well ...

@bobpockrass: ... My dad hit the wall a lot so I'm going to blame it on him. No. That's a good comment for him (Hamlin) if he wants to think that way."

@Riceman61 (Doug Rice): PRN did talk with @RyanBlaney22 in post race, this kid is super talented, he will be interviewed a lot in the future

@KevinHarvick: Never good when the day starts with a parachute weight hitting our car... Welcome to 2012.... pic.twitter.com/eZF5Mc5z

@DeLanaHarvick:
Seriously you cant make s&%t like this up! Story of our year! RT @NASCARonSPEED parachutist damaged @KevinHarvick's car at @TXMotorSpeedway

@WendyVenturini: Here's the most famous skydiver in #NASCAR ever lol pic.twitter.com/cIpAgYXS

@MissJFish: Gabriella @dariangrubb n Yolanda's daughter. Good practice! "@godenny11: @MissJFish everybody's wanting to know whose baby u were holding!"

@nascarcasm: Folks, please cease with the Hendrick black helicopter theories. Because when they land, they may hit the #29 car somehow. #nascar

@tomjensen100: 2 made an incredible move to hold onto lead. Roughed up the 48 to get there.

@NASCAR_Realtime: Caution is out. Mark Martin. Oh my my... #nascar

@KeselowskiBrian: nooooooooooooooooooooooooo

@ReganSmith: Well if I had to pick a race to watch… THIS IS THE ONE!

@Kenny_Wallace: This is INCREDIBLE racing by Brad and Jimmie, WOW!!!!! The Best Drivers in #NASCAR

@ReganSmith: We are seeing right now why these two are contending for the championship… great racing by both

@Kenny_Wallace: EPIC Battle, NO One can ask for anything else!!!!!! Awesome! Unreal, WOW!!!!!

@JaritJohnson: Haha. Hell ya. Choking on a Johnson Brad??

@tomjensen100: RACING determined the outcome. Two GREAT drivers going balls-to-the-wall for the victory. That's how it should be settled. #boyshaveatit

@NASCAR_Realtime: They just showed the replay here at the track. The 48 beat him to the s/f line by about 2-3 feet. That is illegal. #nascar

@KristineC48 (Kristine Curley): Fire in VL pic.twitter.com/BFJUvnmT

@SamanthaBusch:
O man so close!!! The 18 crew has been awesome these past few weeks so proud of all them!! Off for a few days of R&R w the hubby ;)

@KeselowskiBrian: Just for the record, I think JJ won fair and square. It's racing not the playground. It's rough and tumble, and what I want to see. You?

@Bubba Wallace (Darrell Wallace, Jr.): 3 things I want in my career... if it continues 1. The success of Jimmie 2. The attitude of Brad 3. At least 1/4 of the fan base of JR.

@jeff_gluck: Keselowski didn't bite on a question about JJ beating him to the line on the final restart. "Just one of them deals," he said.

@KeselowskiBrian: How can people complain about restarts either way. The both got away with small infractions and they both raced hard. I'm glad no penalties

@2spotter (Joey Meier): Well..That was pretty (yawn) boring...... 2 to go!! #NASCAR

@WendyVenturini: "@9Steph_Johnson9: @wendyventurini interview Kurt Busch! or someone should! Top 10!" I tried!!!!!

@KurtBusch: @WendyVenturini @gmberrier @fr78racing sorry Wendy - last flight out is @8p. Had to catch the plane! Speaking 2 kids tom & didn't want 2 cancel

@PPistone: Truly believe had the 48 not been involved this restart "controversy" would be less of a deal to some fans #nascar

@KevinHarvick: Still in Texas but as I look out the window not many campers have left... The race is over people go home! Ha!

@2Spotter: BREAKING NEWS: @keselowski and @penskeracing OFFICIALLY remove 3 words from Webster's dictionary ....Quit & Give Up ..That is all. Carry on

@bobpockrass: Pemberton said cant use transponders because don't want leader to lift for split second and cause penalty for 2nd place car. #NASCAR

@RCR31JeffBurton: This Texas restart talk is stupid. No advantage was gained and the 2 car had forward momentum at and just past the line. Next subject!

@bscottracing: Headed to vote, I hope everyone votes! #justvote #romneyryan2012

@bobpockrass: Howie Mandel to host the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Banquet. #nascar

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.

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TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:

Did You Notice? ... Too Much Time, Vickers Breaking Ground And Chasing Stats
by Tom Bowles

A List For A New Leader: Seeking Hope And Change
by Matt Stallknecht

Top Ten Things That ALSO Dropped Out Of the Sky at Texas
by Jeff Meyer

NASCAR Sprint Cup Power Rankings: Top 15 After Texas-2
compiled by Summer Bedgood


Mirror Driving: Rating The Restart, Dillon vs. Hamlin And Tough Times At EGR
by the Frontstretch Staff

A Few Modest Proposals For Future NASCAR Banquet Hosts
by Kevin Rutherford

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FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:

Q: The 1996 Dura Lube 500k is most notable for being the race in which Bobby Hamilton picked up his first career victory and put Petty Enterprises back in Victory Lane for the first time since 1983 (remember, Petty's last wins as a driver came with Curb Motorsports). However, points leader Terry Labonte had strange issues in practice early in the weekend. What happened?

Check back Thursday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
 
Tuesday's Answer:

Q:
Phoenix's fall race has often been run on Halloween weekend in the past. The 1995 Dura Lube 500k was no exception. Kyle Petty's Coors Light Pontiac ran a special black and orange paint scheme with a pumpkin on the hood designed by his daughter, Montgomery Lee. However, that wasn't the original plan for the hood. What was originally supposed to be on the hood of Petty's Pontiac?

A:
Apparently, there was supposed to be a decal of actress Cassandra Peterson on the hood. Peterson is best known by her alias, "Elvira, Mistress of the Dark." Said decal would have depicted Peterson in the typical Elvira costume, complete with plunging neckline that showed off her cleavage. NASCAR would not have approved of such a display, so they told the team to remove the decal.

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 an upcoming milestone -- 50 years since Tiny Lund won the Daytona 500.

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.

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, Miguel Paludo checks in with his last diary of the season. Topics this time around include World Diabetes Day, his 50th career start and so much more!

Two Special Columns TBD

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©2012 Frontstretch.com

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