THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
February 4th, 2013
Volume VII, Edition IX
Editor's Note: This Newsletter is the last "weekly" edition before the offseason schedule returns back to full-time status. The Newsletter will return to your inboxes, Monday through Friday beginning Monday, February 11th.
What to Watch This Week:
- On Friday, the NASCAR Hall of Fame will hold their Induction Ceremony. Buck Baker, Cotton Owens, Herb Thomas, Rusty Wallace and Leonard Wood are the Class of 2013 who will take their place among racing's elite. SPEED will provide live coverage of the ceremony at the NASCAR Hall of Fame from 7:30 - 9:30 PM ET.
- In addition, ESPN is bringing back NASCAR Now for its seventh season starting on Friday. However, it will still air at 3:00 PM ET.
Top News From The Past Week
by Tom Bowles and Phil Allaway
Former NASCAR Racer Tyler Walker Arrested after High Speed Chase
Back in 2007, Tyler Walker was suspended indefinitely from NASCAR after failing a drug test. This punishment was back when NASCAR had the "Reasonable Suspicion" drug policy, which meant that if someone thought another person was under the influence, they could be tested at any time. Walker was never reinstated by the sanctioning body.
Last week's actions show that Walker still has unresolved issues with drugs.
On Wednesday, Walker was driving a BMW 750Li on Interstate 15 when he refused to pull over for state troopers in Nevada. According to The Spectrum, the troopers were only going to stop Walker for speeding. What followed was a high speed pursuit on Interstate 15 through Southern Nevada, Northwestern Arizona and into Utah that reached upwards of 150 mph.
The former driver was only stopped after Utah Highway Patrol officers laid spike strips and blew all four of the 7-series' tires. Walker then drove for 1.5 miles before stopping, and restarting again. Finally, after driving a total of four miles on flat tires, Walker stopped and attempted a "foot bail" before being apprehended.
Upon stopping, both Walker and his companion, Raelle Hann McDonald were placed under arrest. Police found marijuana, methamphetamines, drug paraphernalia and alcohol. In addition, both Walker and McDonald were under the influence at the time of arrest.
Walker was charged with third-degree felony evasion of Police, DUI, third-degree felony marijuana possession, third-degree felony cannabis possession, drug paraphernalia possession, possession of methamphetamine, driving with an open container and illegal transport of alcohol across state lines. McDonald was charged similarly. However, since she was not driving, she was not charged with evading police or DUI, and she was charged with carrying an open container instead of driving with it. (Note: normally, marijuana and cannabis are interchangeable terms. However, some states do distinguish between the two in courts.)
According to Utah State Law, Walker could be facing anywhere from zero to 15 years in prison for the felonies, while McDonald could be facing up to ten. Those charges are just what they were charged with in Utah, of course; additional charges may be pending in both Nevada and Arizona.
Bail was set at $18,020 for Walker and $11,072 for McDonald. Both posted bail shortly after arriving at the Purgatory Correctional Facility. They will be in court tomorrow in St. George, Utah.
Tommy Baldwin Racing Makes "7 in 7"
Last week, Tommy Baldwin Racing made a series of announcements to set up their 2013 season. These were collected together under the title of "7in7," a Twitter-friendly slogan meant to denote seven announcements over a period of seven days.
The team will run two cars full-time in the Sprint Cup Series in 2013. Dave Blaney, who drove the No. 36 last season, will move over to what used to be the No. 10. That car, as previously announced, will run the No. 7 in honor of team owner Tommy Baldwin, Jr.'s father, Tom Sr. Baldwin, Jr. will serve as the team's crew chief. In a conference call Monday, the team confirmed the plan is for that car to run the distance in all 36 events this season; Blaney claimed primary sponsorship is nearly sold out on that car.
The team also announced a 14-race primary sponsorship with SANY America, a company that manufactures heavy machinery such as cranes. They will serve as an associate sponsor for the remainder of the season. The team will also have a three-race primary sponsorship from the Florida Lottery for the three point races (both Daytona races, plus Homestead) held in the state of Florida. This sponsorship is an extension of the deal that saw the Florida Lottery sponsor the No. 36 last November at Homestead.
The No. 36 Chevrolet will have J.J. Yeley in the driver's seat. On a Monday talk with reporters, it was confirmed that car is only scheduled to run the distance in 24 of 36 events this season, start-and-parking the rest (sponsorship has yet to be sold on some of those 24 events). On the positive side, Golden Corral will be back to sponsor the team in the four restrictor plate races for the third straight year. In addition, the restaurant's Kids Eat Free promotion if Yeley can finish inside the top-10 is back as well. Accell Construction will be back as a primary sponsor on the car for six races, and new sponsor United Mining Equipment will sponsor the team for three.
Finally, the team is continuing an alliance formed late last year with TeamSLR (or Scott Lagasse Racing) in the Nationwide Series. Via this alliance, Corey LaJoie will make his Nationwide Series debut later this year at Dover and drive two additional races: New Hampshire in July and Atlanta Labor Day Weekend. The team currently plans to attempt 15 races this season with the No. 8 Chevrolet Camaro.
The team no longer has any alliances with any team, ending their Stewart-Haas partnership at the conclusion of 2012. Baldwin now has 4-5 engineers in-house and the team is working off old RCR chassis, modifying them with their own personal touch.
Hill to drive for FAS Lane Racing, Declares for Rookie of the Year
On Wednesday, Timmy Hill announced that he has declared his entry in the 2013 Sprint Cup Rookie of the Year race. He will drive the No. 32 Fords for FAS Lane Racing in 18-20 races, sharing the seat with Terry Labonte and Ken Schrader. Hill technically declared for Rookie of the Year in 2012 driving the Poynt-sponsored No. 37 for a joint venture of Rick Ware Racing and Larry Gunselman's MaxQ Motorsports. However, Hill only qualified for one race before deciding to step back to the Nationwide Series.
Hill is happy to return to NASCAR's top level on a regular basis in 2013.
"I am very excited to compete in the Sprint Cup Series again this year," Hill said. "FAS Lane has built themselves a great team and the guys in the shop have been working hard getting the cars ready for this season. Terry Labonte and Ken Schrader bring a wealth of knowledge to the program and will be great mentors to me while I attempt to earn Rookie of the Year. Danica Patrick and Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. are great race car drivers, and I am looking forward to battling with them on the track for that title."
Last year, Hill started five Sprint Cup races for three different teams. His best finish came at Kansas, where he finished on the lead lap in 22nd. Kansas was one of only four races in which the No. 32 finished on the lead lap all season. In addition, Hill ran 28 races in the Nationwide Series, earning two top-10 finishes at Daytona.
Romanowski Buys into Swan Racing
On Thursday, Swan Racing announced that former NFL Linebacker Bill Romanowski has bought into the race team and will serve as a minority owner of the No. 30 Toyota. Romanowski brings sponsorship to the team from Nutrition53, a health supplement company that he owns. Nutrition53 will serve as the team's primary sponsor for ten races and an associate for the remaining 26.
Romanowski is very happy to be involved with Swan Racing.
"I am thrilled to jump into the NASCAR world as a part owner and as a sponsor," Romanowski said. "Brandon [Davis] has a vision for how to build a championship contender and I'm eager to be part of it. I'm also excited about the integration of Nutrition53 products with NASCAR Nation. As Americans are relentlessly attempting to embrace healthier lifestyles, Nutrition53 can help NASCAR fans, drivers, crew and media promote weight loss, memory improvement and rejuvenation through better sleep."
Team owner Brandon Davis is very happy to have Romanowski aboard.
"Bill Romanowski understands what it takes to win, which makes him a perfect fit at Swan Racing," Davis said. "Bill is the only linebacker to start in five Super Bowls, and he did it playing for four different teams. His leadership skills and approach to successful competition will help Swan Racing become a championship contender."
Romanowski's company, Nutrition53 (he is the founder and CEO), sells a line of supplemental health drinks and vitamins. They are Lean1 (for weight loss), Multi1 (a daily multi-vitamin), Neuro1 (a shake that improves blood circulation for increased brainpower) and Sleep1 (a "natural sleep aid").
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.
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.
TODAY:
2013 Staff NASCAR Preview, Part I: Is The Gen-6 A Great Solution?
by the Frontstretch Staff
Pace Laps: Baldwin's Boost, NASCAR Family Traditions And Eldora Excellence
by the Frontstretch Staff
From Last Week:
Did You Notice? ... Awesome Bill's NASCAR Family Dream, Family Fraud And Quick Hits
by Tom Bowles
What To Know Heading Into 2013: NASCAR's Media Tour Hits And Misses
by Mike Neff
Too Much of a Good Thing? How Social Media Has Changed NASCAR
by Amy Henderson
Former NASCAR Racer Tyler Walker Arrested after High Speed Chase
Back in 2007, Tyler Walker was suspended indefinitely from NASCAR after failing a drug test. This punishment was back when NASCAR had the "Reasonable Suspicion" drug policy, which meant that if someone thought another person was under the influence, they could be tested at any time. Walker was never reinstated by the sanctioning body.
Last week's actions show that Walker still has unresolved issues with drugs.
On Wednesday, Walker was driving a BMW 750Li on Interstate 15 when he refused to pull over for state troopers in Nevada. According to The Spectrum, the troopers were only going to stop Walker for speeding. What followed was a high speed pursuit on Interstate 15 through Southern Nevada, Northwestern Arizona and into Utah that reached upwards of 150 mph.
The former driver was only stopped after Utah Highway Patrol officers laid spike strips and blew all four of the 7-series' tires. Walker then drove for 1.5 miles before stopping, and restarting again. Finally, after driving a total of four miles on flat tires, Walker stopped and attempted a "foot bail" before being apprehended.
Upon stopping, both Walker and his companion, Raelle Hann McDonald were placed under arrest. Police found marijuana, methamphetamines, drug paraphernalia and alcohol. In addition, both Walker and McDonald were under the influence at the time of arrest.
Walker was charged with third-degree felony evasion of Police, DUI, third-degree felony marijuana possession, third-degree felony cannabis possession, drug paraphernalia possession, possession of methamphetamine, driving with an open container and illegal transport of alcohol across state lines. McDonald was charged similarly. However, since she was not driving, she was not charged with evading police or DUI, and she was charged with carrying an open container instead of driving with it. (Note: normally, marijuana and cannabis are interchangeable terms. However, some states do distinguish between the two in courts.)
According to Utah State Law, Walker could be facing anywhere from zero to 15 years in prison for the felonies, while McDonald could be facing up to ten. Those charges are just what they were charged with in Utah, of course; additional charges may be pending in both Nevada and Arizona.
Bail was set at $18,020 for Walker and $11,072 for McDonald. Both posted bail shortly after arriving at the Purgatory Correctional Facility. They will be in court tomorrow in St. George, Utah.
Tommy Baldwin Racing Makes "7 in 7"
Last week, Tommy Baldwin Racing made a series of announcements to set up their 2013 season. These were collected together under the title of "7in7," a Twitter-friendly slogan meant to denote seven announcements over a period of seven days.
The team will run two cars full-time in the Sprint Cup Series in 2013. Dave Blaney, who drove the No. 36 last season, will move over to what used to be the No. 10. That car, as previously announced, will run the No. 7 in honor of team owner Tommy Baldwin, Jr.'s father, Tom Sr. Baldwin, Jr. will serve as the team's crew chief. In a conference call Monday, the team confirmed the plan is for that car to run the distance in all 36 events this season; Blaney claimed primary sponsorship is nearly sold out on that car.
The team also announced a 14-race primary sponsorship with SANY America, a company that manufactures heavy machinery such as cranes. They will serve as an associate sponsor for the remainder of the season. The team will also have a three-race primary sponsorship from the Florida Lottery for the three point races (both Daytona races, plus Homestead) held in the state of Florida. This sponsorship is an extension of the deal that saw the Florida Lottery sponsor the No. 36 last November at Homestead.
The No. 36 Chevrolet will have J.J. Yeley in the driver's seat. On a Monday talk with reporters, it was confirmed that car is only scheduled to run the distance in 24 of 36 events this season, start-and-parking the rest (sponsorship has yet to be sold on some of those 24 events). On the positive side, Golden Corral will be back to sponsor the team in the four restrictor plate races for the third straight year. In addition, the restaurant's Kids Eat Free promotion if Yeley can finish inside the top-10 is back as well. Accell Construction will be back as a primary sponsor on the car for six races, and new sponsor United Mining Equipment will sponsor the team for three.
Finally, the team is continuing an alliance formed late last year with TeamSLR (or Scott Lagasse Racing) in the Nationwide Series. Via this alliance, Corey LaJoie will make his Nationwide Series debut later this year at Dover and drive two additional races: New Hampshire in July and Atlanta Labor Day Weekend. The team currently plans to attempt 15 races this season with the No. 8 Chevrolet Camaro.
The team no longer has any alliances with any team, ending their Stewart-Haas partnership at the conclusion of 2012. Baldwin now has 4-5 engineers in-house and the team is working off old RCR chassis, modifying them with their own personal touch.
Hill to drive for FAS Lane Racing, Declares for Rookie of the Year
On Wednesday, Timmy Hill announced that he has declared his entry in the 2013 Sprint Cup Rookie of the Year race. He will drive the No. 32 Fords for FAS Lane Racing in 18-20 races, sharing the seat with Terry Labonte and Ken Schrader. Hill technically declared for Rookie of the Year in 2012 driving the Poynt-sponsored No. 37 for a joint venture of Rick Ware Racing and Larry Gunselman's MaxQ Motorsports. However, Hill only qualified for one race before deciding to step back to the Nationwide Series.
Hill is happy to return to NASCAR's top level on a regular basis in 2013.
"I am very excited to compete in the Sprint Cup Series again this year," Hill said. "FAS Lane has built themselves a great team and the guys in the shop have been working hard getting the cars ready for this season. Terry Labonte and Ken Schrader bring a wealth of knowledge to the program and will be great mentors to me while I attempt to earn Rookie of the Year. Danica Patrick and Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. are great race car drivers, and I am looking forward to battling with them on the track for that title."
Last year, Hill started five Sprint Cup races for three different teams. His best finish came at Kansas, where he finished on the lead lap in 22nd. Kansas was one of only four races in which the No. 32 finished on the lead lap all season. In addition, Hill ran 28 races in the Nationwide Series, earning two top-10 finishes at Daytona.
Romanowski Buys into Swan Racing
On Thursday, Swan Racing announced that former NFL Linebacker Bill Romanowski has bought into the race team and will serve as a minority owner of the No. 30 Toyota. Romanowski brings sponsorship to the team from Nutrition53, a health supplement company that he owns. Nutrition53 will serve as the team's primary sponsor for ten races and an associate for the remaining 26.
Romanowski is very happy to be involved with Swan Racing.
"I am thrilled to jump into the NASCAR world as a part owner and as a sponsor," Romanowski said. "Brandon [Davis] has a vision for how to build a championship contender and I'm eager to be part of it. I'm also excited about the integration of Nutrition53 products with NASCAR Nation. As Americans are relentlessly attempting to embrace healthier lifestyles, Nutrition53 can help NASCAR fans, drivers, crew and media promote weight loss, memory improvement and rejuvenation through better sleep."
Team owner Brandon Davis is very happy to have Romanowski aboard.
"Bill Romanowski understands what it takes to win, which makes him a perfect fit at Swan Racing," Davis said. "Bill is the only linebacker to start in five Super Bowls, and he did it playing for four different teams. His leadership skills and approach to successful competition will help Swan Racing become a championship contender."
Romanowski's company, Nutrition53 (he is the founder and CEO), sells a line of supplemental health drinks and vitamins. They are Lean1 (for weight loss), Multi1 (a daily multi-vitamin), Neuro1 (a shake that improves blood circulation for increased brainpower) and Sleep1 (a "natural sleep aid").
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.
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.
TODAY:
2013 Staff NASCAR Preview, Part I: Is The Gen-6 A Great Solution?
by the Frontstretch Staff
Pace Laps: Baldwin's Boost, NASCAR Family Traditions And Eldora Excellence
by the Frontstretch Staff
From Last Week:
Did You Notice? ... Awesome Bill's NASCAR Family Dream, Family Fraud And Quick Hits
by Tom Bowles
What To Know Heading Into 2013: NASCAR's Media Tour Hits And Misses
by Mike Neff
Too Much of a Good Thing? How Social Media Has Changed NASCAR
by Amy Henderson
FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Q: In 1998, Kenny Irwin, Jr. won the ARCA FirstPlus Financial 200 at Daytona International Speedway in what turned out to be his only career start in the series. Where did the car he was driving come from?
Check back next Monday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
Last Monday's Answer:
Q. In 1983, Darrell Waltrip ran sponsorship from Pepsi on his No. 11 Chevrolet advertising the Pepsi Challenge, the well-known double-blind taste test between Pepsi and Coca-Cola. However, Waltrip premiered his new sponsorship in the 24 Hours of Daytona, which Pepsi was the primary sponsor of at the time (it was officially known as the 24-Hour Pepsi Challenge). What car was Waltrip driving?
A. Waltrip was driving the No. 11 Nimrod NRA/C2, a GTP-class prototype powered by an Aston Martin V8 engine. A.J. Foyt, Guillermo Maldonado and Tiff Needell were Waltrip's co-drivers. However, early engine issues took the No. 11 out of the race and allowed Foyt to jump into the eventual race-winning No. 6 Porsche 935L for Preston Henn's Swap Shop team.
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 this week at Frontstretch:
2013 Season Preview by the Frontstretch Staff
Our six-part preview, with your favorite staff members covers everything from Gen-6, to Bruton Smith, to (gulp) that girl Danica. Be sure to read on and discover the inside info we've dug up with Daytona approaching!
Foto Funnies by the Frontstretch Staff
It's baaaack!!! After a year on the sidelines, your favorite "comic" returns with hilarious one-liners about NASCAR pictures that showcase your favorites in less-than-ideal situations. Join in the fun and add your own comments!
25 Questions For 2013 by Brett Poirier
With NASCAR season revving up, Brett takes a look at each one of Sprint Cup's top 25 drivers and answers the biggest question surrounding them for 2013. Check it out!
Mirror Driving by the Frontstretch Staff
Every Thursday throughout the offseason your favorite experts will convene to discuss some major NASCAR issues of 2012 -- and what the series faces heading into 2013.
Plus Tom Bowles' DYN (Wednesday), a special Social Media column and so much more...
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©2013 Frontstretch.com
-- 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!
©2013 Frontstretch.com
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