THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
January 22nd, 2013
Volume VII, Edition V
TODAY'S POLL: What grade would you give the changes to the Sprint Unlimited? Click here to vote!
NOTE: Look for some special Newsletter editions this week with the NASCAR Sprint Media Tour. Amy Henderson and Mike Neff will be there with full coverage, along with reports from Tom Bowles and several of your Frontstretch favorites. Keep an eye on the website this week, because we're slowly coming out of "hibernation" with 2013 almost upon us!
Twitter: @TheFrontstretch
Amy's Twitter: @Writer_Amy
Mike's Twitter: @MNeffShortTrack
Top News From The Media Tour
by Tom Bowles, Amy Henderson and Mike Neff
Fans Decide Format Of Sprint Unlimited At Daytona
Sprint, who will take over sponsorship of NASCAR's season-opening exhibition race at Daytona this year from Anheuser-Busch, announced changes to the invitation-only event on Monday during the Sprint Media Tour Hosted by Charlotte Motor Speedway. The event, which was previously known as the Budweiser Shootout, will now be called the Sprint Unlimited. The field will be comprised of pole winners from the previous season and past winners of the event.
The biggest change, though, is the process by which the race's format will be chosen. Fans will select the length of the segments, whether teams will perform a mandatory two or four-tire pit stop after the first, whether cars will be eliminated after the second, and the design of the firesuits that will be worn in Victory Lane by the Sprint trophy girls. In addition, fans at the track on the day of the race will vote on how the field will be set for the event.
Fans can vote at NASCAR's website or using the new 2013 NASCAR mobile app, which is now available. Sprint customers with the carrier's unlimited plan can vote as often as they wish for free.
Fans can choose one of three options for the race format between now and February 13. The options for the 75-lap race are a 40-lap, 20-lap, 15-lap split, a 35-lap, 30-lap, 10-lap breakdown, or a 30-lap, 25-lap and 20-lap separation.
The other options will be revealed on the day of the race. Voting for pit stops is open until the green flag waves for the first segment. Fans can also decide if there should be a mandatory pit stop for two tires, four tires, or none at all. If they choose the final option, teams will not be allowed to pit between the first and second segments and will have to make a stop under the green flag in segment two.
Fans can vote to eliminate a number of drivers after the second segment until the green flag for that segment. The choices are to eliminate no drivers or two, four, or six after the segment. If eliminations are voted in, the last two, four, or six finishers will not continue. If six cars are eliminated, a maximum of 16 cars will start the final segment.
Finally, fans can choose between three different styles of firesuit to be worn by Miss Sprint Cup in Victory Lane. That vote is open until the green flag on the final segment. In addition, fans at Daytona on the day of the race will select the starting lineup. Options include setting the field in numerical order by car number (which would put Kasey Kahne on the pole), by their 2012 points finish (Jimmie Johnson on pole), or by their speeds in practice for the event.
Drivers eligible for the event include:
AJ Allmendinger
Aric Almirola
Marcos Ambrose
Greg Biffle
Kurt Busch
Kyle Busch
Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
Carl Edwards
Bill Elliott
Jeff Gordon
Denny Hamlin
Kevin Harvick
Jimmie Johnson
Kasey Kahne
Matt Kenseth
Terry Labonte
Joey Logano
Mark Martin
Juan Pablo Montoya
Ken Schrader
Tony Stewart
Martin Truex, Jr.
Harvick Leaving RCR, Effective 2014 Confirmed By Childress
Kevin Harvick's pending move to Stewart-Haas Racing, widely reported since November has now been acknowledged by his current employer. Owner Richard Childress, at the Media Tour Monday night acknowledged Harvick will not be a part of the organization beyond the 2013 season. While the driver himself refuses to talk 2014, Childress was open about the wheelman's impending move to SHR and what it could mean for his program.
According to Childress, he knew about the move prior to the Phoenix weekend where it was reported but was hoping to keep the information under wraps until after the Sprint Cup banquet. All sides, despite their impending divorce did stress Monday night they'll be looking to put their best foot forward as the No. 29 looks to compete for a championship. During their time together, Childress and Harvick have won a Daytona 500, made four Chase appearances in the last five years and finished first in a total of 19 Cup events.
Other notes from the RCR Media Tour event:
- Austin Dillon, while preparing for a 2014 move to the Cup level will run a limited schedule with various organizations. Phoenix Racing has partnered up to run the young driver, beginning at Las Vegas (with TAG Heuer sponsorship) while Circle Sport's No. 33 will also run him in several events. However, races where the No. 33 is run will be equivalent to an RCR fourth car, with Circle Sport owning the entry in name only while accumulating the owner points. For example, Dillon will run a Honey Nut Cheerios sponsored car in the upcoming Daytona 500, under the RCR banner, running No. 33 with the team providing chassis, engine and crew support.
- Jeff Burton is back with crew chief Luke Lambert, excited after their pairing in 2011 nearly produced multiple wins during the closing races of that season. Kevin Harvick will be paired with Gil Martin in his final year, while "Slugger" Labbe remains crew chief for Paul Menard.
- All three cars for Childress are fully sponsored for 2013.
Stewart-Haas Racing Still Seeking Funding
Tony Stewart, Ryan Newman, and Danica Patrick have all the tools necessary for success: an alliance with Hendrick Motorsports, numerous publicity endorsements and an "A" list of mechanics manning their machines. But what they don't have, as of yet is the funding necessary for all 36 events. In a surprising announcement, SHR's Media Tour train came with a "sponsors wanted" sign for each one of their three cars. The following primary sponsor holes exist for each team:
No. 14 (Tony Stewart): 9 of 36 races with no primary sponsor (25%)
No. 39 (Ryan Newman): 8-9 of 36 with no primary
No. 10 (Danica Patrick): 3 of 36 with no primary
Those numbers, in particular are startling for Stewart, who poached Bass Pro Shops from Earnhardt Ganassi Racing after losing longtime sponsor Office Depot. Each one of the cars has the backing of Haas Automation, parent company of co-owner Gene Haas to use "in case of emergency." However, 21 events with H.A. on the hood would be the most that company was used since Stewart came on board prior to the 2009 season.
In other news, Patrick will start her rookie campaign without the guarantee of top-level owner points to back her. After a one-year agreement with Tommy Baldwin Racing, designed to ensure Patrick was "locked in" for all 10 Cup starts during the 2012 campaign she'll start the 2013 season from scratch with the No. 10. Those points, with the agreement no longer in effect go to TBR and Dave Blaney (they'll run the No. 7) meaning Patrick will be so far down the ladder on the list she'll have to qualify for each of the first three 2013 races on speed. Stewart, who claims Patrick should have no problem cracking the top 36 speeds each weekend with NASCAR's new provisional system is trying to save money with the move -- it's a low-risk gamble, as it's expected the Cup Series will struggle to get to 43 cars each week after Daytona.
Driver / Crew Chief Pairings
Stewart / Steve Addington
Newman / Matt Borland
Patrick / Tony Gibson
News And Notes
From Tuesday Morning: Kurt Busch was insistent, during the Furniture Row stop on the media tour he could align himself with the No. 78 team beyond 2013. Busch, who's on a one-year deal has been rumored to go directly to Childress in 2014, pending his success with FRR and sponsorship to replace Harvick at the No. 29.
From Tuesday Morning: No major changes expected at Michael Waltrip Racing in 2013. More to come, but news out of the tour stop was scarce and expected.
- Goody's Headache Powder, the longtime sponsor of the Fall race at Martinsville Speedway has added a new driver to their list of those endorsing the medicine. Dale Earnhardt, Jr., the sport's reigning Most Popular Driver will team up with Richard Petty as the duo will come together in a multi-media campaign to connect Goody's and NASCAR.
"This partnership is unprecedented," said Joe Juliano, Brand Director of Goody's. "It is the first time these two NASCAR legends have worked together. Goody's is all about speed, and nobody personifies the idea of speed better than Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt, Jr."
Have news for Phil and the Frontstretch? Don't hesitate to let us know; email us at ashland10@mail.com with a promising lead or tip.
The Eyes Have It!
In this Facebook feature, we post a photo of a driver inside a helmet, and ask you to identify which driver it is based only on his or her eyes. We posted two new mystery drivers recently. The first, posted on January 8th, was five-time Sprint Cup champ Jimmie Johnson.
Congratulations to Elaine Jarrell, the first reader to correctly identify Johnson in the photo.
Other readers with the correct answer include: Karri Banham, Connie Johnson, Tina Brown, Betsy Ware, Melissa Johnson, Son Vol, Rogers Andrea, and Michelle Sprague.
Other guesses included Danica Patrick and Denny Hamlin.
The January 16th photo was NASCAR Nationwide Series champion Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. Congratulations to Toni Teel-Hopper for being the first to recognize Stenhouse and to Ryan O'Hara, the only other reader with a correct guess!
Other guesses for the Stenhouse photo included Tony Stewart, Brendan Gaughan, Kurt Busch, Mike Bliss, Rusty Wallace, Austin Dillon, Timothy Peters, Jimmie Johnson, Marcos Ambrose, Kerry Earnhardt, Joe Nemechek, and Frontstretch editor Vito Pugliese.
We will run a new photo periodically throughout the offseason, and list the readers with the correct answer here in our newsletter (Facebook rules prohibit us giving a prize, but hey—at least you'll get your name in lights!). Go to our Facebook page to join the fun!
FRONTSTRETCH LINKS:
DRIVER REVIEWS -- A FULL SCHEDULE IS UP! FIND THE ONES YOU MISSED AND GIVE US YOUR TAKE ON YOUR DRIVER'S FAVORITE SEASON.
From the Media Tour:
Sprint's Limits Mean Unlimited Falls Just Short
by Amy Henderson
2013: A Season of Redemption for Richard Childress Racing?
by Mike Neff
Fans Decide Format Of Sprint Unlimited At Daytona
Sprint, who will take over sponsorship of NASCAR's season-opening exhibition race at Daytona this year from Anheuser-Busch, announced changes to the invitation-only event on Monday during the Sprint Media Tour Hosted by Charlotte Motor Speedway. The event, which was previously known as the Budweiser Shootout, will now be called the Sprint Unlimited. The field will be comprised of pole winners from the previous season and past winners of the event.
The biggest change, though, is the process by which the race's format will be chosen. Fans will select the length of the segments, whether teams will perform a mandatory two or four-tire pit stop after the first, whether cars will be eliminated after the second, and the design of the firesuits that will be worn in Victory Lane by the Sprint trophy girls. In addition, fans at the track on the day of the race will vote on how the field will be set for the event.
Fans can vote at NASCAR's website or using the new 2013 NASCAR mobile app, which is now available. Sprint customers with the carrier's unlimited plan can vote as often as they wish for free.
Fans can choose one of three options for the race format between now and February 13. The options for the 75-lap race are a 40-lap, 20-lap, 15-lap split, a 35-lap, 30-lap, 10-lap breakdown, or a 30-lap, 25-lap and 20-lap separation.
The other options will be revealed on the day of the race. Voting for pit stops is open until the green flag waves for the first segment. Fans can also decide if there should be a mandatory pit stop for two tires, four tires, or none at all. If they choose the final option, teams will not be allowed to pit between the first and second segments and will have to make a stop under the green flag in segment two.
Fans can vote to eliminate a number of drivers after the second segment until the green flag for that segment. The choices are to eliminate no drivers or two, four, or six after the segment. If eliminations are voted in, the last two, four, or six finishers will not continue. If six cars are eliminated, a maximum of 16 cars will start the final segment.
Finally, fans can choose between three different styles of firesuit to be worn by Miss Sprint Cup in Victory Lane. That vote is open until the green flag on the final segment. In addition, fans at Daytona on the day of the race will select the starting lineup. Options include setting the field in numerical order by car number (which would put Kasey Kahne on the pole), by their 2012 points finish (Jimmie Johnson on pole), or by their speeds in practice for the event.
Drivers eligible for the event include:
AJ Allmendinger
Aric Almirola
Marcos Ambrose
Greg Biffle
Kurt Busch
Kyle Busch
Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
Carl Edwards
Bill Elliott
Jeff Gordon
Denny Hamlin
Kevin Harvick
Jimmie Johnson
Kasey Kahne
Matt Kenseth
Terry Labonte
Joey Logano
Mark Martin
Juan Pablo Montoya
Ken Schrader
Tony Stewart
Martin Truex, Jr.
Harvick Leaving RCR, Effective 2014 Confirmed By Childress
Kevin Harvick's pending move to Stewart-Haas Racing, widely reported since November has now been acknowledged by his current employer. Owner Richard Childress, at the Media Tour Monday night acknowledged Harvick will not be a part of the organization beyond the 2013 season. While the driver himself refuses to talk 2014, Childress was open about the wheelman's impending move to SHR and what it could mean for his program.
According to Childress, he knew about the move prior to the Phoenix weekend where it was reported but was hoping to keep the information under wraps until after the Sprint Cup banquet. All sides, despite their impending divorce did stress Monday night they'll be looking to put their best foot forward as the No. 29 looks to compete for a championship. During their time together, Childress and Harvick have won a Daytona 500, made four Chase appearances in the last five years and finished first in a total of 19 Cup events.
Other notes from the RCR Media Tour event:
- Austin Dillon, while preparing for a 2014 move to the Cup level will run a limited schedule with various organizations. Phoenix Racing has partnered up to run the young driver, beginning at Las Vegas (with TAG Heuer sponsorship) while Circle Sport's No. 33 will also run him in several events. However, races where the No. 33 is run will be equivalent to an RCR fourth car, with Circle Sport owning the entry in name only while accumulating the owner points. For example, Dillon will run a Honey Nut Cheerios sponsored car in the upcoming Daytona 500, under the RCR banner, running No. 33 with the team providing chassis, engine and crew support.
- Jeff Burton is back with crew chief Luke Lambert, excited after their pairing in 2011 nearly produced multiple wins during the closing races of that season. Kevin Harvick will be paired with Gil Martin in his final year, while "Slugger" Labbe remains crew chief for Paul Menard.
- All three cars for Childress are fully sponsored for 2013.
Stewart-Haas Racing Still Seeking Funding
Tony Stewart, Ryan Newman, and Danica Patrick have all the tools necessary for success: an alliance with Hendrick Motorsports, numerous publicity endorsements and an "A" list of mechanics manning their machines. But what they don't have, as of yet is the funding necessary for all 36 events. In a surprising announcement, SHR's Media Tour train came with a "sponsors wanted" sign for each one of their three cars. The following primary sponsor holes exist for each team:
No. 14 (Tony Stewart): 9 of 36 races with no primary sponsor (25%)
No. 39 (Ryan Newman): 8-9 of 36 with no primary
No. 10 (Danica Patrick): 3 of 36 with no primary
Those numbers, in particular are startling for Stewart, who poached Bass Pro Shops from Earnhardt Ganassi Racing after losing longtime sponsor Office Depot. Each one of the cars has the backing of Haas Automation, parent company of co-owner Gene Haas to use "in case of emergency." However, 21 events with H.A. on the hood would be the most that company was used since Stewart came on board prior to the 2009 season.
In other news, Patrick will start her rookie campaign without the guarantee of top-level owner points to back her. After a one-year agreement with Tommy Baldwin Racing, designed to ensure Patrick was "locked in" for all 10 Cup starts during the 2012 campaign she'll start the 2013 season from scratch with the No. 10. Those points, with the agreement no longer in effect go to TBR and Dave Blaney (they'll run the No. 7) meaning Patrick will be so far down the ladder on the list she'll have to qualify for each of the first three 2013 races on speed. Stewart, who claims Patrick should have no problem cracking the top 36 speeds each weekend with NASCAR's new provisional system is trying to save money with the move -- it's a low-risk gamble, as it's expected the Cup Series will struggle to get to 43 cars each week after Daytona.
Driver / Crew Chief Pairings
Stewart / Steve Addington
Newman / Matt Borland
Patrick / Tony Gibson
News And Notes
From Tuesday Morning: Kurt Busch was insistent, during the Furniture Row stop on the media tour he could align himself with the No. 78 team beyond 2013. Busch, who's on a one-year deal has been rumored to go directly to Childress in 2014, pending his success with FRR and sponsorship to replace Harvick at the No. 29.
From Tuesday Morning: No major changes expected at Michael Waltrip Racing in 2013. More to come, but news out of the tour stop was scarce and expected.
- Goody's Headache Powder, the longtime sponsor of the Fall race at Martinsville Speedway has added a new driver to their list of those endorsing the medicine. Dale Earnhardt, Jr., the sport's reigning Most Popular Driver will team up with Richard Petty as the duo will come together in a multi-media campaign to connect Goody's and NASCAR.
"This partnership is unprecedented," said Joe Juliano, Brand Director of Goody's. "It is the first time these two NASCAR legends have worked together. Goody's is all about speed, and nobody personifies the idea of speed better than Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt, Jr."
Have news for Phil and the Frontstretch? Don't hesitate to let us know; email us at ashland10@mail.com with a promising lead or tip.
The Eyes Have It!
In this Facebook feature, we post a photo of a driver inside a helmet, and ask you to identify which driver it is based only on his or her eyes. We posted two new mystery drivers recently. The first, posted on January 8th, was five-time Sprint Cup champ Jimmie Johnson.
Congratulations to Elaine Jarrell, the first reader to correctly identify Johnson in the photo.
Other readers with the correct answer include: Karri Banham, Connie Johnson, Tina Brown, Betsy Ware, Melissa Johnson, Son Vol, Rogers Andrea, and Michelle Sprague.
Other guesses included Danica Patrick and Denny Hamlin.
The January 16th photo was NASCAR Nationwide Series champion Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. Congratulations to Toni Teel-Hopper for being the first to recognize Stenhouse and to Ryan O'Hara, the only other reader with a correct guess!
Other guesses for the Stenhouse photo included Tony Stewart, Brendan Gaughan, Kurt Busch, Mike Bliss, Rusty Wallace, Austin Dillon, Timothy Peters, Jimmie Johnson, Marcos Ambrose, Kerry Earnhardt, Joe Nemechek, and Frontstretch editor Vito Pugliese.
We will run a new photo periodically throughout the offseason, and list the readers with the correct answer here in our newsletter (Facebook rules prohibit us giving a prize, but hey—at least you'll get your name in lights!). Go to our Facebook page to join the fun!
FRONTSTRETCH LINKS:
DRIVER REVIEWS -- A FULL SCHEDULE IS UP! FIND THE ONES YOU MISSED AND GIVE US YOUR TAKE ON YOUR DRIVER'S FAVORITE SEASON.
From the Media Tour:
Sprint's Limits Mean Unlimited Falls Just Short
by Amy Henderson
2013: A Season of Redemption for Richard Childress Racing?
by Mike Neff
FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Q: In 1986, Roush Racing came within an hour of claiming class victories at both Daytona and Sebring in the GTO class. Two of those drivers were in the top Roush Mustang in both races. Scott Pruett was one of those drivers. Who was the other?
Check back next Monday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
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!
Coming tomorrow on the Frontstretch:
Mirror Driving by the Frontstretch Staff
Every Wednesday throughout the offseason your favorite experts will convene to discuss some major NASCAR issues of 2012 -- and what the series faces heading into 2013.
Did You Notice? by Tom Bowles
Tom chimes in with his thoughts on the media tour two days in, sponsorship concerns and "relief" for Kurt Busch at Furniture Row.
------------------------------
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-- Talk back to the Frontstretch Newsletter!
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©2013 Frontstretch.com
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