The Frontstretch Newsletter: New Daytona 500 Qualifying Unveiled

THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
February 12th, 2013
Volume VII, Edition XI

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FRONTSTRETCH APPEARANCES TONIGHT!
Mike Neff will be on SIRIUS XM, Channel 90's "Late Shift" at 9:00 PM ET with Jim Noble and Buddy Baker to talk about this year's Battle of the Beach, down in Daytona and other pertinent NASCAR topics. Don't forget to follow Mike at @MNeffShortTrack on Twitter and catch the show!

FRONTSTRETCH FANTASY: GET IN THE GAME
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... 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: 11132
Password: rickybobby

Come back every Thursday, to the website to get Jeff's advice on who to pick for your team, all season long and see if you can beat your favorite staff members! More special announcements about this league to come.

Top News
by Tom Bowles

Todd Bodine Snags Truck Series Ride For Daytona

Like many of Todd Bodine's previous seasons, his goal to run full-time in the Truck Series is starting off with a one-race deal. The former two-time champ of the series signed with Thorsport Monday, slotted into the No. 13 Toyota with sponsorship from Mattei Air Compressors for Daytona. He'll team up with longtime drivers Matt Crafton (No. 88) and Johnny Sauter (newly renumbered 98) in hopes of completing a 1-2-3 finish at the 2.5-mile oval.

"Obviously, we're really excited to have Todd Bodine join ThorSport Racing for Daytona, because he gives us a third legitimate shot at winning this race," ThorSport general manager David Pepper said in a release announcing the move. "Teaming Todd with Matt and Johnny gives us three of the best drivers in the field. Running and finishing at the front is a big deal for our two guys that are running the full season for the championship because it's always important to get off to a good start."

Bodine will work with crew chief Jerrod Prince, double-dipping for the season opener after running the ARCA program of Frank Kimmel's No. 44 Thorsport Racing entry the previous weekend. As of now, the deal is for this race only but Bodine has been through this scenario before; last season, with Red Horse Racing he started with a similar contract and wound up running the whole season behind the wheel of the No. 11 Toyota.

"It's definitely a good opportunity, with an established team with a season of running Toyotas behind them," says the driver, who's made a total of 778 starts in NASCAR's top three series. "They've been there and done that and they know how to get it done."

Duels Qualifying Procedure Set

For this year's Daytona 500, the 150-mile Duel qualifying races will have a whole new look -- and it looks remarkably similar to the old one. After scrapping the top-35 owner points rule, locking 35 cars into the field for the previous eight versions of the Great American Race the way to get into the Daytona 500 looks remarkably similar to how it was in 2004 and prior. Here's the "new" procedure:

Starting Grid Positions 1-2: Determined by qualifying speed, through pole position qualifying Sunday (2 laps)

NASCAR will then set the Duel lineups based on each car's qualifying speed. Odd-numbered positions in that order (Fastest speed, 3rd, etc.) will race in the first qualifier while even-numbered positions (2nd-fastest speed, 4th, etc.) will run in the second qualifier. The key to securing the spot in the race, then will be to finish inside the top 15 in your Duel. The top 15 finishers (excluding the polesitter or second-place qualifier) in each of these events will earn a spot on the grid.

Positions 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31: Filled by finishers 1-15 in the first Duel (excluding the 500 polesitter)
Positions 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32: Filled by finishers 1-15 in the second Duel (excluding the 500 outside polesitter)

For example, the first-place finisher in the first Duel will start third, while the first-place finisher in the second Duel will start fourth. This procedure will continue throughout the top 15 performers in each event. After that, positions 33 through 36 will be filled by qualifying speed, slotting in the fastest cars that haven't already made the race. Positions 37 through 42 get set by owner points, along with the final starter unless a past Cup Series champion (Terry Labonte, Bobby Labonte, etc.) has not already made the lineup. In the case of two past champions getting shut out, the most recent titlist gets the spot.

Positions 33-36: Filled by the fastest qualifying speed of drivers who haven't already made their way into the race
Positions 37-42: Filled by owner points provisionals, for cars not already qualified
Position 43: Past series driving champion or owner points provisional (if all champions have already made the field)

The new procedure should allow greater leeway for underdog entries, such as Brian Keselowski's No. 52 to make the starting lineup. In the past, only eight spots were available to teams that did not finish inside the top 35 in owner points for the 500; also, those positions could be "bought" by bigger teams that had the money to spend, purchasing those positions from others who had little money or who had closed up shop the previous year. Stewart-Haas Racing was one such example, using their cash to ensure Danica Patrick had a guaranteed spot in the field for last year's Great American Race. This season, the only ones fully guaranteed to make the field are those manning cars that finished the top 6 positions in last year's owner points (Brad Keselowski, Clint Bowyer, Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Greg Biffle, and Denny Hamlin) along with Tony Stewart, the 2011 series champ.

News 'N' Notes

- GameStop, which has been a longtime backer of Joe Gibbs Racing's Nationwide Series efforts announced Tuesday they'll sponsor newcomer Matt Kenseth in 10 events. Kenseth, driving the No. 20 full-time for the team in Cup will moonlight in the Nationwide No. 18.

- Kyle Busch Motorsports' Parker Kligerman has a sponsor for the Nationwide Series at Daytona... and beyond. Bandit Chippers announced they'll back the driver in the series' first race of the year, the division's 300-mile event and a number of additional races to be determined throughout the season.

- Fans at Daytona, not NASCAR or a random draw will determine the starting lineup for Saturday night's Sprint Unlimited. Ticketholders will vote among three options to set the field of 19 drivers for the exhibition race: by career wins, their position in the 2012 final point standings or in the order of which they won a pole throughout the season. The stock car sanctioning body is attempting a number of fan-driven initiatives for this weekend, in hopes involving them directly will increase interest and viewership in the race.

Have news for Tom and the Frontstretch? Don't hesitate to let us know; email us at ashland10@mail.com with a promising lead or tip.

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GOT A NASCAR QUESTION OR COMMENT? WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
That's right; our Fan Q & A column is back once again in 2013. Send your question Summer Bedgood's way at summer.bedgood@frontstretch.com and if you're lucky, you'll get your name in print on Thursday when she does her weekly column. It's all part of our daily mission to give back to you – the fans that keep Frontstretch afloat!
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Today's Featured Commentary
Sonya Stat, 2013 Edition: Will It Be A Lucky Year For Kyle Larson?
Sitting In The Stands: A Fan's View
by S.D. Grady

Are there really only 12 days left until the drop of the green flag for the Daytona 500?  Where did the winter go?  Our Twitter feeds and favorite racing news sources are already abuzz with the anticipation that arrives with every new NASCAR season.  We are about to go racing; it's coming.  Time to get the die-cast lined up on the shelves and our notebooks sorted!

Last season, this column followed Ms. Patrick through her Nationwide season and few attempts at the Cup Series.  But instead of opinions, of which there continue to be countless ones for NASCAR's most marketed female, I gave you the stats, and just the stats, ma'am.  I waited until the end of year to tell you just how I thought she did.

Well, we're about to make the Sonya Stat a tradition.  It's returning this year and will follow somebody you may not have heard of yet, Kyle Larson.  Larson was just signed to a full year deal in the Nationwide Series driving the Clorox No. 32 Chevrolet with Turner Scott Motorsports.

Why would I want to follow a nobody?  One who hasn't even had a start in the Nationwide Series yet?  Well, it's my hunch that this young man from Elk Grove, CA won't remain just another rookie for long.  I'm keeping my eyes focused on the K&N Pro Series East 2012 Champion because I think he's about to bust out as only a few other drivers have upon their arrival in the upper echelons of NASCAR.  I watch him muscling his car around the track and think of a young Jeff Gordon, the wild Kyle Busch, Tony Stewart and to a lesser extent, Jimmie Johnson.  Change is coming to our sport -- and it's coming with this young man.

Now, you're thinking, he's got to be cute.  Or maybe he makes great TV ads for some sponsor you might've been unaware of.  Right?  How else would he garner a fan club before even stepping one foot on the hallowed ground of Daytona International Speedway?

Well, he is one hell of a race car driver.  And he can't seem to do anything but pilot any kind of car, any chance he can get.  Larson ran 123 races in 2012 and won 30 of them.  If he wasn't winning, he wasn't far from it.  USAC, WoO, K&N Pro Series East and even a couple Camping World Truck appearances comprised his worldwide tour of four-wheeled dominance.   OK, that's all well and good; but you're thinking those 30 wins all came at some fly-by-night local track, right?  Well, let's take a look at what the headlines said in 2012:

In the K&N Pro Series East, he won the Slack Auto Parts 150 at Gresham Motorsports Park and the G-Oil 100 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.  In the World of Outlaws, he won the Gold Cup Race of Champions at Silver Dollar Speedway, finishing a mere six seconds ahead of Donny Schatz. Last February, he made sure his Super Late Model debut came paired with a trophy at New Smyrna Beach Speedway.  In the USAC Midgets, he took the Turkey Night Grand Prix.  There's another win listed at Wayne County Speedway, along with a picture of him in Victory Lane at U.S. 36 Raceway -- that was apparently a repeat of his appearance in 2011.  And the trucks?  Well, out of four starts, he accrued three top 10s, nearly going four-for-four until a wreck in the closing laps of Homestead.

Even when second, Larson sparkles.  If you've only heard that Kevin Swindell won the Chili Bowl Nationals, you missed out on this incredible closing laps battle between Larson and the Swindells. 

Those headlines are only a small selection of his epic year.  Yes, you will notice there's an awful lot of open-wheel action crowding out Larson's wild 2012.  But also notice it didn't include massive promotional campaigns for the 20-year-old sensation.  He did what we like our NASCAR heroes to do: he just plain raced.

That's not to say this youngster hasn't been quietly building his career.  He climbed into his first competitive vehicle at the age of seven, and just hasn't turned back, moving forward with near perfection.  In 2012, Earnhardt Ganassi Racing signed him on as a development driver, a teenager turned future talent in the making.  He's also the first in the Driver Development Program to win a championship in NASCAR.  That's all taking advantage of the opportunities available on the ladder up the racing career.  However, we haven't been subjected to an avalanche of silly ads, press conferences where he discussed his next appearance or even autograph sessions.  He's just done lots and lots and lots of turning left and hoisting trophies. 

What about the upcoming year?  Is Larson going to go down the "I'm a superhero!" path before he's even done his first burnout?  That's doubtful.  While pursuing a full season in the NNS car, he's made it clear to his fans he's looking for as many open wheel appearances as are humanly possible.  He'll be driving in the UNOH Battle at the Beach, on Daytona's brand new short track carved out of the Superstretch.  We'll be able to catch that live next Monday and Tuesday.

Now, after all this enthusiastic jumping and down welcoming Kyle Larson into the NASCAR spotlight, what if something goes wrong and this change becomes a big disappointment?  It's happened before... Sliced Bread, anyone?

Well, that is really what the Sonya Stat is all about.  I shall do my very best to keep my mouth shut for the duration of the season and just list the stats -- even other open-wheel races.  Come November, we'll review Larson's wins and losses, how he handled the media and NASCAR Nation, and what the rest of the garage seems to be thinking regarding his future.  It's then, after he's had his chance to prove his mettle, that I'll make a judgment. 

We've got a long season in front of us.  I, for one, am psyched beyond belief this year.  There are so many opportunities for so much talent that I can't decide which direction to focus on first...save for the new Kyle in town. That's one I can be proud of for keeping an eye on. 

Want to follow Kyle Larson yourself?

Twitter: @KyleLarsonRacin
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KyleLarsonRacing
Website (under construction): http://kylelarsonracing.com/
Looking for a little history? Try: http://kylelarsonracing.net/

Author's Note:  I've finally made it to Facebook!  Come visit with me at http://facebook.com/Author.SDGrady

S.D. Grady is a Senior Editor for Frontstretch.com.  She can be reached via e-mail at sonya.grady@frontstretch.com.  Follow her on Twitter at @laregna.

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TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:

Fool's Gold? Foolish Decision? Gambles Of NASCAR Superstar 2nd Chances
by Brett Poirier

Couch Potato Tuesday: A Brief 2013 NASCAR TV Season Preview
by Phil Allaway

Mirror Driving: Daytona 500 Or Indy 500... Which Is Bigger Now?
by the Frontstretch Staff

Who's Hot / Who's Not In NASCAR: 2013 Offseason Edition
by Brad Morgan
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FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
 
Q:  The 1991 Busch Clash was essentially a 20-lap benefit for Dale Earnhardt, who won and led all but two laps, even after starting the second segment at the rear of the field (14th).  However, there was an incident during the second segment of the race.  What happened?
 
Check back Wednesday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
 
Monday's Answer:

Q:  Recently, Mark Thompson has raced part-time in ARCA for Venturini Motorsports.  Back in the 1990s, though, Thompson drove on a full-time basis and was a threat to win on a regular basis despite a near career-ending moment at Daytona in 1994.  What happened that day?

A:  Michael Dokken got loose exiting Turn 2, brushed the outside wall and spun towards the inside.  Thompson was running behind Dokken and tried to avoid Dokken's No. 64, but got clipped in the right rear corner.  The contact turned Thompson onto his roof.  Once Thompson's car slid into the grass, it started a series of violent rolls before landing hard on all fours.  Thompson suffered broken ribs and a concussion in the crash.  Although Thompson was back in the car at Talladega for the next race, almost three months later, he was not 100 percent.  He suffered significant memory loss as a result of the crash that took a couple years for him to fully recover from.  The crash can be seen in this clip, where Bob Jenkins and Ned Jarrett have the call for ESPN.  It should be noted that ESPN never showed a replay of the crash on-air due to its seriousness.  Instead, the lone clip of the crash comes from the old syndicated George Michael Sports Machine.

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 Tom Bowles
-- Beth's Brief by Beth Lunkenheimer
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, and more!

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Tomorrow on the Frontstretch:

Did You Notice?... by Tom Bowles
Tom returns with a series of "quick hit" discussion points. Among them: up-and-coming drivers to watch for 2013 and shooting to make sense of the Shootout.

Tech Talk by Mike Neff
Our weekly feature for our readers where we'll have a special guest stop by on a weekly basis to discuss the technical aspects of the sport is back for 2013. First up: Tony Gibson to talk about all the offseason changes teams had to make mechanically, the art of drafting and what type of race you should expect to see at Daytona.

Side by Side: Driver Dating by the Frontstretch Staff
An old standby column returns, our weekly staff debate on a major NASCAR topic facing the sport. This week's edition involves driver dating, the taboo topic of Ricky & Danica. Is this a good situation for the sport... or opening up a Pandora's Box of something no one wants to hear about anyway?

Beyond the Cockpit: Dion von Moltke as told to Phil Allaway
We sat down with the up-and-coming sports car racer in Daytona and talked his opportunity with Alex Job Racing, the Audi R8, fitness and other topics.

Frontstretch Top Ten by the Frontstretch Staff
We'll have a top ten list that will tickle your funny bone, guaranteed.
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