Thursday, February 28, 2013

The Frontstretch Newsletter: March 1st, 2013

THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!

March 1st, 2013
Volume VII, Edition XXVI

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Editors' Note: Thursday's Frontstretch Newsletter was mistakenly sent out before it was complete. There were only a few errors, most notably in the "What To Watch" section so no second Newsletter was sent; however, we apologize for any inconvenience the error may have caused.

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What To Watch: Friday
- MTV News (see below) is expected to release Marty Beckerman's side of the story on the Jeremy Clements NASCAR suspension. Beckerman was the reporter in question who heard Clements say a racial slur and then confirmed to the sanctioning body what was said.

- NASCAR gets back on-track for the second race weekend of its season. Here's your TV schedule (all times ET), courtesy our Couch Potato Tuesday column...
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM Nationwide Series Practice SPEED
2:00 - 3:30 PM Sprint Cup Series Practice No. 1 SPEED
3:30 - 4:30 PM Nationwide Series Happy Hour SPEED
6:00 - 7:30 PM Sprint Cup Series Qualifying SPEED
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Jeremy Clements Said... What? We're Still Not Completely Sure
by Tom Bowles

As word of Jeremy Clements' NASCAR suspension spread on Thursday, for violating the sport's Code Of Conduct policy, the natural question resulting from it remained unanswered.

Just what did he say?

Clements certainly isn't telling, at least not yet. During a Thursday morning interview, with ESPN's Marty Smith Clements acknowledged a racial slur was uttered in the presence of a NASCAR official and a reporter from MTV. The driver, at first was simply playing the role of giving directions, showing the reporter where Johanna Long's transporter was so he could meet up with her for a story.

"And while we're walking they started, he [the MTV reporter] started, asking me questions," Clements said to Smith. "And it wasn't recorded. We were just talking. So I said one remark about how I wouldn't ..."

"I can't say that part."

What remains unsaid is what NASCAR is calling an "intolerable and insensitive" remark that will warrant, according to sources a minimum two-week suspension (it is currently listed as "indefinite") along with some form of sensitivity training.

What we do know is the MTV reporter, confirmed as Marty Beckerman had some role in verifying those statements. Beckerman, who told the Frontstretch directly earlier today a statement would be released "soon" still has not spoken on the record about the incident at press time. The closest anyone's gotten from him is this eerie Tweet, sent Wednesday from his Twitter account.

"Ignoring your conscience when the stakes are low creates situations where it's difficult to follow your conscience when the stakes are high."

A late-night connection with Beckerman was followed by no further comment and a referral to MTV's Senior Communications Staff; through a spokesman, they said MTV News would be publishing a story on the controversy by tomorrow morning (watch our Twitter feed for it!). As for the NASCAR official in question, the sanctioning body will not release the name but David Higdon, the sport's Managing Director Of Integrated Marketing Communications did have the following Tweet on the date of the incident, issuing a warm welcome to a number of new reporters at the track - MTV's Beckerman among them.

A big #NASCAR welcome also to @kimberlynatasha, @martybeckerman, @johnlewinski, @trojae. Follow these folks all weekend!

Charles Lewandoski, a longtime friend of Clement's is now on the entry list in the No. 51 car. The 27-year-old Lewandoski, who has 26 career starts to his credit attempted five Nationwide races in 2012, finishing none in mostly start-and-park equipment.

Top News
by Justin Tucker

Five Fans Leave Hospital After Terrifying Wreck

Those injured by Saturday's horrifying, last-lap Daytona wreck in the Nationwide Series in which parts of Kyle Larson's car went over the catchfence continue to improve. Five of the seven patients sent to Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach have been released, according to the most recent update Thursday morning. The two that remain in the hospital are in stable condition according to a hospital spokesman; the other 21 fans, of the 28 confirmed by NASCAR who were injured and sent to different hospitals have all gone home.

Three of the injured race fans have retained a Florida-based law firm to represent them in personal injury suits; however, no official court filings have been made. Meanwhile, NASCAR is conducting its own investigation into the wreck, which will be headed by Tom Gideon, the director for safety at NASCAR's R&D Center. NASCAR Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton said on Tuesday that Larson's car had been impounded but not yet inspected by NASCAR. Pemberton said there is no timetable for when the investigation might be completed.

Editor's Note: At press time, several of these fans - and their lawyer - have begun sharing their stories with reporters. Here are two we recommend:
Fan Whitney Turner Talks To David Newton (ESPN)
Lawyer For Fans Says Cases Will Be Settled Out Of Court (Yahoo!)

Annett Begins Recovery; Out Six to Eight Weeks

Richard Petty Motorsports driver Michael Annett continues to recover Thursday after being involved in one of Daytona's terrible multi-car wrecks.

Expect him to be healing a long time. While there has been no timetable set for his return, RPM officials announced they're making preparations for him to be out for as many as eight weeks. The 26-year-old Des Moines, IA native was injured in an accident with four laps to go during Saturday's Drive4COPD 300 at Daytona International Speedway. RPM Director of Competition Sammy Johns stated that Annett had surgery on Wednesday for a fractured sternum and to have a plate put in his chest, making it far too risky for him to drive over the short-term.

RPM Sprint Cup Series driver Aric Almirola will sub for Annett in this weekend's Dollar General 200 Nationwide Series race at Phoenix. A lineup of additional drivers will be announced in the coming days, although RPM hopes not all of them will have to be used.

"[Annett is] a young man, he's in good shape, and he takes good care of himself," Johns said from Phoenix on Thursday. "We're hoping for a little quicker [healing time] than what they're thinking."

Annett finished fifth in last year's Nationwide Series standings and was expected to be a frontrunner for this year's championship.

Mexico Series Ready to Make U.S. Debut

Mexico's most popular motorsports series will make its debut on U.S. soil today. The Mexico Toyota Series will take the green flag in its season-opening race at Phoenix International Raceway immediately following Sprint Cup Series Qualifying. The 75-lap event serves as a support race to the Subway Fresh Fit 500K which will be run on Sunday afternoon.

The series began back in 2004, then moved under the NASCAR banner three years later and has been a part of the American stock car organization ever since. NASCAR Mexico's schedule consists of 14 races on eight different different tracks in V8 stock cars. 13 of the 14 events will be contested on oval race tracks, while its lone road course will be contested at the Nuevo Autodromo de Queretaro in April.

Featured drivers in the series include Daniel Suarez from Monterrey, Mexico who is the championship favorite after finishing third in the 2012 standings. Also scheduled to compete on Friday is the highly talented young 16-year-old Ruben Garcia, Jr. who won series Rookie of the Year honors in 2012. Garcia has joined the highly acclaimed Canels race team for 2013 and is expected to be a title contender. The defending champion in the series is Jorge Goeters, who is a veteran of many different disciplines of motorsports and has made appearances in both the Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series.

Have news for Justin 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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In Case You Missed It
by Rick Lunkenheimer

Travis Pastrana and Wife Lyn-Z Expecting

Nationwide Series driver Travis Pastrana and wife Lyn-Z announced earlier this week that they are expecting their first child. The duo took to Facebook to share the news with their nearly 4.5 million combined fans.

"Looks like Lyn-Z Adams Hawkins Pastrana and I have a baby Pastrana on the way," Travis posted. "Thumbs up!"

The post was accompanied by a photo of three custom jerseys: No. 199 for himself, Mrs. Pastrana No. 129 and a onesie with Pastrana No. 199 1/2.

Meanwhile, wife Lyn-Z posted a photo from the knees down of her standing on a skateboard with Travis alongside her. In front of the skateboard sat a "Baby Pastrana on Board" sign with a tiny pair of DC Shoes.

The pair married in October, 2011 just four months after Travis proposed on the Megaramp at a Nitro Circus event in Las Vegas after one of Lyn-Z's runs. Pastrana finished 10th in the Nationwide Series opener at Daytona International Speedway last weekend.

Iowa Governor Honors Rusty Wallace

In a special ceremony on Wednesday, Iowa Governor Terry Branstad honored NASCAR Hall of Famer Rusty Wallace as an "Honorary Iowan" at the state Capitol building in Des Moines.

"As Governor of Iowa, I am very proud to honor Rusty Wallace with this Proclamation today," Branstad said. "His many contributions to NASCAR racing have earned him a well-deserved induction to NASCAR's Hall of Fame, and his forward-thinking design of Iowa Speedway helped to created a destination in central Iowa that benefits every Iowan. Rusty may have been born in Missouri, but we will always claim him as one of our own."

Among his other duties, including his role as stock car analyst for ESPN Wallace always manages to find plenty of time to promote Iowa Speedway whenever he can.

"I am humbled and honored that Governor Branstad made time to recognize me today with an official Proclamation," Wallace said. "As an 'Honorary Iowan,' I couldn't be more proud of this great state, or of the racetrack we have in Newton, and I look forward to being here for as many Iowa Speedway events as possible."

Season tickets, along with weekend passes and single-event tickets are available for the speedway's 2013 season that kicks off with the first of two Nationwide Series weekends June 7-8.

Derek White Becomes Minority Owner in SR2 Motorsports

Derek White has joined SR2 Motorsports as a minority owner, the team announced on Wednesday. The Camping World Truck Series, Nationwide Series and Canadian Tire Series driver brings along with him a multi-race partnership with HEADRUSH apparel that will adorn the No. 00 Toyota in select races, beginning at this weekend's event in Phoenix with driver Jason White.

"I'm very excited to continue my relationship with SR2 Motorsports," White said in a release. "I enjoyed working with them last year and was very impressed with what they achieved in their first season. They've made several improvements in the offseason and I'm glad that I can continue to be a part of the organization as it goes forward."

The organization joined the Nationwide Series last season and expanded to a three-car team after acquiring MacDonald Motorsports.

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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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Keepin' It Short: Kicking Off the K&N West Season
by Mike Neff

The K&N drivers were the last feature during the Battle at the Beach at Daytona International Speedway last week. Now, the time for exhibitions are over; this coming Saturday will be the start of their points-paying season. This will be the 60th year of the K&N West Series, formerly the Winston West Series and the competition is just as good as ever. Many of the biggest names in NASCAR's history have competed at Phoenix, in this series with Ken Schrader taking the most checkered flags at the tricky track with four of them. It is one of the few tracks where Richard Petty takes a back seat to anyone, having three career victories in the series at Phoenix himself.

As of this writing, Greg Pursley is the only former series champion scheduled to run at Phoenix in the K&N West race. While he is one of the senior members on the circuit, several up-and-coming drivers will be chasing the trophy on Saturday including Battle at the Beach winner Cameron Hayley. Michael Self, the driver who was spun out off the second corner of the last lap at Daytona, from the lead will also be there. Derek Thorn, David Mayhew, and Carl and Daryl Harr are also scheduled to race, along with Canadian Tire Series Champion D.J. Kennington.

This weekend will be the 31st standalone K&N West series race at Phoenix. Along with Schrader and Petty, Pursley and Scott Lynch are the only other two drivers with multiple wins at the track, each visiting Victory Lane twice. That leaves 19 drivers with one win each at Phoenix in the series, including Neil Bonnett, David Gilliland, Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano, Cale Yarborough, Mike Wallace and Bobby Allison.

Mike Duncan has won four pole positions at Phoenix. Greg Pursley, Mike David and Allison are tied with the most top-5 finishes at six apiece. Austin Cameron has run 12 races at Phoenix, scoring nine top-10 results, the most by any driver. Jack Sellers has started the most races at Phoenix in the series with 17 standalone events and five combined. Seven races have been won from the pole while three drivers have won the event from outside the top 10.

Phoenix not only starts the season for the K&N Series but also will wrap it up at the end of their 15-event schedule in November. This race will be 60 laps in length, which will be the first time the series has run a race of that length at Phoenix. So if you're lucky enough to find yourself in the desert Southwest this weekend, take a ride to the odd-shaped track by rattlesnake hill and watch some of the future stars of NASCAR.

This Weekend's Race Schedule

Friday    03/01/13    Green Valley Speedway    Glencoe    AL    Crate Late Models
Friday    03/01/13    Green Valley Speedway    Glencoe    AL    Enduros
Friday    03/01/13    Green Valley Speedway    Glencoe    AL    Hobby Stocks
Friday    03/01/13    Green Valley Speedway    Glencoe    AL    KMSA Mini Stocks
Friday    03/01/13    Green Valley Speedway    Glencoe    AL    Pure Pony
Friday    03/01/13    Green Valley Speedway    Glencoe    AL    Sportsman
Friday    03/01/13    Green Valley Speedway    Glencoe    AL    Street Stocks
Friday    03/01/13    Green Valley Speedway    Glencoe    AL    Super Late Models
Friday    03/01/13    Canyon Speedway Park    Peoria    AZ    IMCA Modifieds
Friday    03/01/13    Canyon Speedway Park    Peoria    AZ    SWDRA Late Models
Friday    03/01/13    Canyon Speedway Park    Peoria    AZ    USAC Western States Midgets
Friday    03/01/13    Canyon Speedway Park    Peoria    AZ    USAC/CRA Sprint Cars
Friday    03/01/13    Canyon Speedway Park    Peoria    AZ    West Coast Late Models
Friday    03/01/13    Cocopah Speedway    Yuma    AZ    ASCS Winged Sprints
Friday    03/01/13    Southern New Mexico Speedway    Las Cruces    NM    Legends
Friday    03/01/13    Southern New Mexico Speedway    Las Cruces    NM    USRA Modifieds
Friday    03/01/13    Southern New Mexico Speedway    Las Cruces    NM    USRA Street Stocks
Friday    03/01/13    Golden Triangle Raceway Park    Beaumont    TX    ASCS Winged Sprints
Saturday    03/02/13    Dixieland Dirt Track    Cottonwood    AL    Jackie Hughes Memorial 4-Cylinders
Saturday    03/02/13    Dixieland Dirt Track    Cottonwood    AL    Jackie Hughes Memorial Bombers
Saturday    03/02/13    Dixieland Dirt Track    Cottonwood    AL    Jackie Hughes Memorial Late Models
Saturday    03/02/13    Dixieland Dirt Track    Cottonwood    AL    Jackie Hughes Memorial Limited Late Models
Saturday    03/02/13    Dixieland Dirt Track    Cottonwood    AL    Jackie Hughes Memorial Open Wheel Modifieds
Saturday    03/02/13    Dixieland Dirt Track    Cottonwood    AL    Jackie Hughes Memorial Stockers
Saturday    03/02/13    Dixieland Dirt Track    Cottonwood    AL    Jackie Hughes Memorial Vintage
Saturday    03/02/13    Green Valley Speedway    Glencoe    AL    Crate Late Models
Saturday    03/02/13    Green Valley Speedway    Glencoe    AL    Enduros
Saturday    03/02/13    Green Valley Speedway    Glencoe    AL    Hobby Stocks
Saturday    03/02/13    Green Valley Speedway    Glencoe    AL    KMSA Mini Stocks
Saturday    03/02/13    Green Valley Speedway    Glencoe    AL    Pure Pony
Saturday    03/02/13    Green Valley Speedway    Glencoe    AL    Sportsman
Saturday    03/02/13    Green Valley Speedway    Glencoe    AL    Street Stocks
Saturday    03/02/13    Green Valley Speedway    Glencoe    AL    Super Late Models
Saturday    03/02/13    Canyon Speedway Park    Peoria    AZ    IMCA Modifieds
Saturday    03/02/13    Canyon Speedway Park    Peoria    AZ    SWDRA Late Models
Saturday    03/02/13    Canyon Speedway Park    Peoria    AZ    USAC Western States Midgets
Saturday    03/02/13    Canyon Speedway Park    Peoria    AZ    USAC/CRA Sprint Cars
Saturday    03/02/13    Canyon Speedway Park    Peoria    AZ    West Coast Late Models
Saturday    03/02/13    Cocopah Speedway    Yuma    AZ    ASCS Winged Sprints
Saturday    03/02/13    Phoenix International Raceway    Avondale    AZ    K&N Pro Series West
Saturday    03/02/13    Tucson International Raceway    Tucson    AZ    Factory Stocks
Saturday    03/02/13    Tucson International Raceway    Tucson    AZ    Hornets
Saturday    03/02/13    Tucson International Raceway    Tucson    AZ    Late Models
Saturday    03/02/13    Tucson International Raceway    Tucson    AZ    Mod Lites
Saturday    03/02/13    Tucson International Raceway    Tucson    AZ    X-Mods
Saturday    03/02/13    Bakersfield Speedway    Bakersfield    CA    American Stocks
Saturday    03/02/13    Bakersfield Speedway    Bakersfield    CA    Hobby Stocks
Saturday    03/02/13    Bakersfield Speedway    Bakersfield    CA    Mini Stocks
Saturday    03/02/13    Bakersfield Speedway    Bakersfield    CA    Modifieds
Saturday    03/02/13    Southern New Mexico Speedway    Las Cruces    NM    Legends
Saturday    03/02/13    Southern New Mexico Speedway    Las Cruces    NM    Super Trucks
Saturday    03/02/13    Southern New Mexico Speedway    Las Cruces    NM    USRA Modifieds
Saturday    03/02/13    Southern New Mexico Speedway    Las Cruces    NM    USRA Street Stocks
Saturday    03/02/13    Duck River Raceway Park    Wheel    TN    Modified Street Bomber
Saturday    03/02/13    Duck River Raceway Park    Wheel    TN    Openwheel
Saturday    03/02/13    Duck River Raceway Park    Wheel    TN    Outlaw Pony
Saturday    03/02/13    Duck River Raceway Park    Wheel    TN    Pure Pony
Saturday    03/02/13    Duck River Raceway Park    Wheel    TN    Rookie Pony
Saturday    03/02/13    Duck River Raceway Park    Wheel    TN    Street Stock Bomber
Saturday    03/02/13    Duck River Raceway Park    Wheel    TN    Super Late Models
Saturday    03/02/13    Duck River Raceway Park    Wheel    TN    Two Barrel Late Models
Saturday    03/02/13    Battleground Speedway    Highlands    TX    ASCS Winged Sprints
Saturday    03/02/13    Houston Motorsports Park    Houston    TX    Bandoleros
Saturday    03/02/13    Houston Motorsports Park    Houston    TX    Ecostocks
Saturday    03/02/13    Houston Motorsports Park    Houston    TX    Legends
Saturday    03/02/13    Houston Motorsports Park    Houston    TX    NASCAR BWFS Coke Trucks
Saturday    03/02/13    Houston Motorsports Park    Houston    TX    NASCAR Fiesta Modifieds
Saturday    03/02/13    Houston Motorsports Park    Houston    TX    NASCAR Stock Cars
Sunday    03/03/13    Southern New Mexico Speedway    Las Cruces    NM    Legends
Sunday    03/03/13    Southern New Mexico Speedway    Las Cruces    NM    Super Trucks
Sunday    03/03/13    Southern New Mexico Speedway    Las Cruces    NM    USRA Modifieds
Sunday    03/03/13    Southern New Mexico Speedway    Las Cruces    NM    USRA Street Stocks
Sunday    03/03/13    Cherokee Speedway    Gaffney    SC    Southern All Stars Late Models
Wednesday    03/06/13    The Dirt Track Las Vegas    Las Vegas    NV    World of Outlaw Sprint Cars
Thursday    03/07/13    The Dirt Track Las Vegas    Las Vegas    NV    USAC Southwest Sprint Cars
Thursday    03/07/13    The Dirt Track Las Vegas    Las Vegas    NV    USAC West Coast Sprints
Thursday    03/07/13    The Dirt Track Las Vegas    Las Vegas    NV    World of Outlaw Sprint Cars

Mike Neff is a Senior Writer and the Short Track Reporter for Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via email at mike.neff@frontstretch.com. Follow him on Twitter at @MNeffShortTrack.

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Frontstretch Folio: Subway Fresh Fit 500(k)
by Rick Lunkenheimer

The second race of the season takes the Sprint Cup Series to Phoenix International Raceway for the first of two events at the track.  Some drivers will look to build up their points advantage, early in the season while some will be playing catch up after wrecks at Daytona. This Sunday's race will be broadcast on FOX at 3:00 PM ET,  If you can't watch the race on TV, live it will also be broadcast on MRN and SiriusXM radio channel 90. The race will also be re-broadcast Wednesday, March 6th at 12:00 PM ET on SPEED.

Records and Facts

Kyle Busch holds the track qualifying record with a speed of 138.766 mph (25.943 sec.), set on Nov. 9, 2012 for the AdvoCare 500. Busch went on to lead 267 laps before settling for a third-place finish behind Kevin Harvick and teammate Denny Hamlin.

Tony Stewart holds the race record with a speed of 118.132 mph (2:38:28), a speed set way back on Nov. 7, 1999 when Stewart drove the No. 20 Pontiac. He led 154 laps and finished a little more than two seconds ahead of Mark Martin. Bobby Labonte, Jeff Burton and Ricky Rudd rounded out the top-5 finishers.

The defending winner for this race is Denny Hamlin, who won the race by nearly eight seconds over Kevin Harvick last year. Greg Biffle, Jimmie Johnson and eventual champion Brad Keselowski rounded out the top 5.

Track Facts

Track / Race Length:
1.0-mile tri-oval; 312 laps / 312 miles / 500 kilometers)
Frontstretch: 1,179 feet
Backstretch: 1,551 feet
Grandstand Seating Capacity: 50,000
First Race: Nov. 6, 1988 – Checker 500 (won by Alan Kulwicki)

Pre-Race Schedule

Practices: Friday, March 1, 2:00 - 3:25 PM ET on SPEED
Saturday, March 2, 12:00 - 12:55 PM ET on SPEED
Happy Hour: Saturday, March 2, 3:05 – 3:55 PM ET on SPEED
Qualifying: Friday, March 1 at 6:10 PM ET on SPEED, re-air scheduled at 9:30 PM ET and 12:00 AM ET.

VIPs

Grand Marshal / Command:
Actor Brian Baumgartner
Honorary Starter / Wave Green Flag: TBA
Invocation: TBA
National Anthem: TBA
Military Flyover: TBA

Say What?!?

"I love going to the desert, I love the Phoenix area and Vegas.  We are looking forward to another good run out there.  We struggled a little last year in the Chase, but kind of got our car going in the middle of the race and at the end.  So we are going to try to take that knowledge back and run better the entire race.  I know we ended up in front there in the fall, but we are certainly looking forward to trying to pick up a win there this weekend." -Greg Biffle

"I'm excited to go to Phoenix this weekend. We had a decent finish in the 500, but felt like we could have done better. Still, we're not in a bad position. If you look at some other guys, they have a big hill to climb to move up, and we just need to get this No. 43 Ford up one spot and then stay in the top 12 until The Chase. It's going to be important for us to be consistent." - Aric Almirola

"Phoenix is also a place where you can see multiple strategies play out. A two-tire stop could be left sides. You're going to have to adapt to the conditions and situation and probably will have to call a few audibles along the way." -Kurt Busch

Rick Lunkenheimer is a Contributing Writer and Photographer for Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via email at rick.lunkenheimer@frontstretch.com. Follow him on Twitter at @FrntstretchRick.

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ADVERTISEMENT
Are you looking to advertise your website, product or brand?  A good way to get your name out there is via direct advertising here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!  Interested parties can contact us at tony.lumbis@frontstretch.com for details.

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TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:


Four Burning Questions: Johnson's Momentum And The First Real Gen-6 Test
by Matt Stallknecht

NASCAR And Clements: When Nobody Is Right, Everyone Is Wronged
by Amy Henderson

Voices From The Cheap Seats: Fans That Sue Are No Fans At All!
by Jeff Meyer

Nuts For Nationwide: Annett's Anguish, Plus Seven Part-Timers To Watch In 2013
by Kevin Rutherford

Jeb Burton Driver Diary: Daytona Success, Goals And Extended Breaks
as told to Beth Lunkenheimer

Frontstretch Foto Funnies: Anyone Know Where We Can Buy This In Bulk?
by the Fronstretch Staff

Mirror Driving: Picking Up The Plate Pieces, Drivers In Trouble And Gen-6, The Next Step
by the Frontstretch Staff

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FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:

Q: The 1991 Pyroil 500k was the first Cup Series at Phoenix broadcast on TNN (and only the fourth Cup race there overall). Richard Petty, who was one of the most experienced Cup drivers at Phoenix, was eliminated from the event before Lap 100. What happened?

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

Q: For Michael Andretti, the first few races of the 2003 IRL season served as the swan song to his illustrious career. In Phoenix, he led 23 laps, but left the one-mile tri-oval with nothing to show for his effort. What happened?

A: Andretti was racing for fifth with Gil de Ferran, approaching 14 laps to go when the two drivers collided entering Turn 1.  The wheel-to-wheel contact put both drivers hard into the wall.  Immediately, a flash fire erupted from de Ferran's No. 6 Dallara upon hitting the unprotected concrete (no SAFER Barriers there just yet).  The crash can be seen in this clip.

Andretti walked away from the crash, but appeared to be a little banged up.  De Ferran was already nursing an injury that he suffered the previous fall at Chicagoland Speedway prior to the wreck.  This crash aggravated that injury and forced him to sit out the Indy Japan 300 at the Twin Ring Motegi two weeks later.

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:
-- Subway Fresh Fit 500 Race Recap by Justin Tucker
--
Weekend News by Phil Allaway
--
Quotes To Remember, Letter Of The Week, Underdog Central by the Frontstretch Staff
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, trivia, and more!


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Monday on the Frontstretch:


Thinkin' Out Loud: Subway Fresh Fit 500k by Matt McLaughlin
Our popular, longtime columnist, now semi-retired comes back to tell you everything you needed to know about the action from Phoenix this Sunday.

Commentary
by Summer Bedgood
Summer takes a look at one of the biggest stories to come out of the second race of the year at Phoenix.

Full Throttle by Mike Neff
Mike has one of the biggest stories coming out of a weekend of racing at Phoenix.

Big Six: Subway Fresh Fit 500 by Amy Henderson
Amy's back for 2013, returning for a weekly look at the Who, Where, What, When, Why, and How from the Phoenix weekend that was.

Pace Laps: Phoenix Weekend by the Frontstretch Staff
It's back again this season! The staff gets together to help you catch up on the latest and greatest going on in each series coming out of a weekend at Phoenix.

Nationwide Series Breakdown by Kevin Rutherford
Kevin has all the post-race analysis you need following Saturday's main event for the sport's second-tier division.

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