Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
February 23rd, 2013
Volume VII, Edition XX
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WHAT TO WATCH: SATURDAY
- Everything from Sprint Cup Happy Hour, to the Nationwide race, to as many Daytona previews under the sun as you can stomach! There's so much going on in racing, we've copied our friend Phil Allaway's TV listings from Couch Potato Tuesday for your convenience...
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM Sprint Cup Series Happy Hour SPEED - GOING ON RIGHT NOW
12:00 - 1:15 PM NASCAR Countdown ESPN
1:15 - 4:00 PM Nationwide Series DRIVE4COPD 300 ESPN
3:00 - 4:00 PM Ferrari Challenge: Daytona SPEED
5:30 - 6:30 PM Trackside SPEED
6:30 - 7:30 PM SPEED Center SPEED
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Frontstretch Live: Don't miss out on our at-the-track coverage of Daytona Speedweeks! Tom Bowles is here, from now through Sunday and will be reporting on all the action from the sport's top three series. Follow along on Twitter at @TheFrontstretch and @NASCARBowles for everything you need to know!
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EDITOR'S NOTE: NASCAR has clarified the provisional situation for 2013. Once a car has determined to be eligible for a provisional, in positions 37-43 through their owner points position they will be sorted by how fast they qualified. For example, Michael McDowell's team was 39th in owner points last season, worse than any other driver eligible for a provisional but he outqualified all but one of those seven cars. So McDowell, instead of starting 43rd on Sunday will start 38th.
Here's the corrected starting lineup for the 500 (Rows 19-22 only):
Row 19
56 - Martin Truex, Jr., Toyota
98 - Michael McDowell, Ford
Row 20
32 - Terry Labonte, Ford
51 - Regan Smith, Chevrolet
Row 21
36 - J.J. Yeley, Chevrolet
83 - David Reutimann, Toyota
Row 22
93 - Travis Kvapil, Toyota
Top News
NextEra Energy Resources 250 Recap
by Tom Bowles
Johnny Sauter's used to being the wreck at Daytona as his history here, in the Truck Series looks like a Demolition Derby. Entering Friday night, his four starts were DNF, wreck; DNF, wreck; 17th after a late spin; DNF, wreck. It's the type of disastrous start that'll kill your confidence.
Until, of course, you put a different type of "w" on that resume: win. Sauter pushed through the field at the right time, taking control on lap 85 and holding it when a last-lap wreck behind him ended the race on its white-flag lap. That gave him the unexpected victory, his first at Daytona in what's a huge boost for his Thorsport Racing program.
"The Truck Series has been a tough road to hoe for me here," he said. "We came down here a couple years ago and crashed before the first half lap was over. Couple guys got together and we were in it. Last year, we were leading coming to the white, we got wrecked."
"It's a lot harder to win a restrictor race than you think. So proud of our effort. So proud of everybody. We were just in the right spot at the right time."
Sauter's teammate, Todd Bodine was running second until the race's final laps when a freight train led by Kyle Busch shuffled him back. It appeared Busch, along with third-place Ron Hornaday, Jr. was preparing to make a move before the race-ending caution came out for a wreck involving Jeff Agnew, Joey Coulter, and others.
Justin Lofton was fourth in the race, while Jeb Burton was a career-best fifth driving the No. 4 Turner Scott Motorsports machine. Defending race winner John King was 18th while reigning champ James Buescher, after contact with rookie Darrell Wallace, Jr. on pit road struggled to a 13th-place finish. For more on this event, please check out Tom Bowles' Tracking The Trucks column on the website.
NextEra Energy Resources 250: Unofficial Results
1) 98 - Johnny Sauter, Chevrolet
2) 51- Kyle Busch, Toyota
3) 9 - Ron Hornaday, Jr., Chevrolet
4) 6 - Justin Lofton, Chevrolet
5) 4 - Jeb Burton, Chevrolet
6) 3 - Ty Dillon, Chevrolet
7) 32 - Miguel Paludo, Chvrolet
8) 29 - Ryan Blaney, Ford
9) 88 - Matt Crafton, Chevrolet
10) 39 - Ryan Sieg, Chevrolet
11) 13 - Todd Bodine, Toyota
12) 54 - Darrell Wallace, Jr., Toyota
13) 31 - James Buescher, Chevrolet
14) 19 - Ross Chastain, Ford
15) 07 - Chris Cockrum, Toyota
16) 5 - Tim George, Jr., Ford
17) 57 - Norm Benning, Chevy
18) 33 - John King, Chevy
19) 60 - Dakoda Armstrong, Chevy
20) 1 - Dusty Davis, Chevy
21) 7 - John Wes Townley, Toyota
22) 18 - Joey Coulter, Toyota
23) 27 - Jeff Agnew, Chevy, -1, DNF, crash
24) 8 - Max Gresham, Chevy, -1, DNF, crash
25) 77 - German Quiroga, Jr., Toyota, -3
26) 68 - Clay Greenfield, Dodge, -5
27) 17 - Timothy Peters, Toyota, -8, DNF, crash
28) 30 - Ryan Truex, Toyota, -9, DNF, crash
29) 62 - Brendan Gaughan, Chevy, -26
30) 93 - Jason White, -36, DNF, crash
31) 81 - David Starr, -42, DNF, suspension
32) 99 - Bryan Silas, -46, DNF, crash
33) 14 - Brennan Newberry, -46, DNF, crash
34) 84 - Chris Fontaine, -47, DNF, crash
35) 10 - Jennifer Jo Cobb, -63, DNF, engine
36) 92 - Scott Riggs, -75, DNF, engine
News 'N' Notes
by Tom Bowles
Ray Lewis Honorary Starter For 500
From Super Bowl champ to NASCAR's Super Bowl, Ray Lewis is living life large this February. Just a few weeks after helping capture victory, in the NFL's biggest game down in New Orleans Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis will come in and be honorary starter for the 55th annual Daytona 500. Lewis, who retired from football following the game is the team's all-time leader in tackles, a 13-time Pro Bowler who's a virtual lock for the Hall of Fame.
"It doesn't get any bigger than Ray Lewis -- the leader of the Super Bowl-winning team," Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood III said. "We can't wait to see him on the flag stand waving the green flag to start 'The Great American Race' and the new NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season."
Among other celebrities expected to be in attendance Sunday include rapper 50 Cent.
Stewart Adds Primary Sponsor
Tony Stewart pulled in some much-needed primary sponsorship Friday when Rush Truck Centers announced an agreement to sponsor his No. 14. The three-race deal, for Fontana and March, then Martinsville and Richmond in April was brokered by Gene Haas, co-owner of Stewart-Haas Racing who's had a connection to the company since entering the sport a decade ago.
"We've been doing business with Rush Truck Centers for years," Haas said in a press release announcing the move. "It's an established relationship that will now have a much higher profile thanks to their decision to become a primary sponsor with the No. 14 team. "Rush Truck Centers keeps our trucks and transporters in great condition, and you could argue those are the most important parts of our race team. Without them, our cars never get to the racetrack. The employees of Rush Truck Centers are as detail-oriented as we are, and they play a critical role in the success of our race team."
The sponsorship decreases the amount of "open races" on the No. 14 Chevy to six. Bass Pro Shops (18 events) and Mobil 1 (11) have long-term, part-time deals as primary backers.
Quote Of The Day
Danica, on being a role model for women looking to become racecar drivers down the road
"It's funny because a couple of nights before that Carl Edwards came over with his daughter. I have known since last year she was a huge fan of mine. She was over at the bus and Carl was saying that it's good that she sees me in real life and in person because he's like 'because to her you are like some mythical creature that doesn't exist'. She had green shoes on, green GoDaddy shoes on. She is a big fan. After qualifying Jimmie Johnson brought his little girl over because she wanted to meet me. I mean that is three pretty big drivers that have little girls that wanted to meet me that is very flattering.
Practice Results - Daytona No. 5 (Sprint Cup)
Most teams took practice off Friday at Daytona, preferring to preserve equipment instead of trying to risk it in the draft. Keep that in mind when checking out these results...
1) 43 - Aric Almirola
2) 31 - Jeff Burton
3) 88 - Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
4) 47 - Bobby Labonte
5) 98 - Michael McDowell
14 drivers in total practiced
Practice No. 6
1) 14 - Tony Stewart
2) 24 - Jeff Gordon
3) 10 - Danica Patrick
4) 5 - Kasey Kahne
5) 20 - Matt Kenseth
22 Drivers in total finished
Bayne Starts Nationwide Season Off Right With Daytona Pole
Trevor Bayne has waited several years for a full-time, Nationwide Series opportunity with Roush Fenway Racing.
He showed on Friday he's certainly not going to waste it. Bayne charged to the pole, clocking in with a time of 177.162 miles an hour while teammate Travis Pastrana was fourth. It was an impressive performance by RFR as Bayne looks to pick up where former driver Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., now promoted to the Cup Series driving the No. 17 Ford left off.
"Every time I come to Daytona," joked Bayne, "It seems like I get the best car out of our fleet - the best engine, etc. I'm happy to take that on."
Sam Hornish, Jr. came in right behind him followed by Parker Kligerman. Championship contender Austin Dillon rounded out the top-5 qualifiers.
Four drivers failed to qualify for the event: Bobby Gerhart (No. 85), Morgan Shepherd (No. 89), Dexter Stacey (No. 92) and Joey Gase (No. 52).
Have news for Tom 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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FRONTSTRETCH FANTASY: GET IN THE GAME. SIGNUP ENDS SUNDAY!!!
Want to compete against some of your favorite Frontstretch writers this season? Our fantasy guru, Jeff Wolfe has created a Yahoo! league and wants you, our faithful readers to join in the fun with us. All you need is a Yahoo! ID and an internet connection. You then go through the following steps...
1) Sign in to Yahoo!, then go to http://racing.fantasysports.yahoo.com/auto
2) Create Your Team
3) Join our Group!
ID: 18909
Password: rickybobby2
NOTE: Demand has been so strong we've made a second Frontstretch group!
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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. Frontstretch Fan Q & A will run on Thursdays with a whole new set of Fan Questions and Answers!
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TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:
Tracking The Trucks: NextEra Energy Resources 250
by Tom Bowles
Kyle Larson Driver Diary: Racing Around The World In The Offseason
by Kyle Larson
Send them Summer Bedgood's way at summer.bedgood@frontstretch.com; and, if you're lucky, you'll get your name in print when she does her weekly column answering back to you – the fans that keep Frontstretch afloat. Frontstretch Fan Q & A will run on Thursdays with a whole new set of Fan Questions and Answers!
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TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:
Tracking The Trucks: NextEra Energy Resources 250
by Tom Bowles
Kyle Larson Driver Diary: Racing Around The World In The Offseason
by Kyle Larson
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FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Q: As you may remember, Davey Allison had an unusual crash early on in the 1989 Daytona 500 where he spun into the earthen bank separating the track from Lake Lloyd and performed one slow roll. During the caution after Allison's crash, another unusual incident occurred. What happened?
Check back 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!
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Coming Monday in the Frontstretch Newsletter:
-- Daytona 500 Race Recap by Tom Bowles
-- Daytona 500 News 'N' Notes, Quotes To Remember, Stat Of The Week & More by Phil Allaway
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, trivia, and more!
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This Weekend on the Frontstretch:
Nationwide Series Recap by Tom Bowles
Tom, at Daytona will give you all the info you need to know about the major races for NASCAR's other top three series.
Monday on the Frontstretch:
Thinkin' Out Loud: Daytona 500 by Matt McLaughlin
Our popular, longtime columnist, now semi-retired comes back to tell you everything you needed to know about the 500 miles of action from Daytona this Sunday.
Commentary by Summer Bedgood
Summer takes a look at one of the biggest stories to come out of the 55th running of the Great American Race.
Big Six: Daytona 500 by Amy Henderson
As NASCAR's Super Bowl concludes, get in-depth with the 500 by finding out Who, When, What, Where, Why and How things happened during the race weekend.
Pace Laps: Post-Daytona by the Frontstretch Staff
Get yourself set for the week ahead, major racing series by series, with the biggest news story you should be focused on that spins forward from Speedweeks.
Full Throttle by Mike Neff
Fresh off a week at Daytona, Mike will use his inside knowledge to wrap up one of Speedweek's sidebar stories that developed before and through the 500.
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