THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
March 29th, 2013
Volume VII, Edition XLVI
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Top News
by Justin Tucker
Mark Martin Tabbed As Sub for Denny Hamlin
Joe Gibbs Racing announced Thursday evening that Mark Martin will pilot Denny Hamlin's No. 11 FedEx Toyota while he recovers from an L1 Compression Fracture suffered at Auto Club Speedway last weekend. Martin had originally been scheduled to pilot the Michael Waltrip Racing No. 55 Toyota for four of the next six races; instead, he'll do all six, perhaps more while moving over to a team that contended for the championship last season.
"I'm happy to have this opportunity to help out JGR, FedEx and Denny," said Martin. "Hopefully I can keep those guys up front and compete for wins while Denny heals up."
JGR President J.D. Gibbs expressed his confidence in the part-time Sprint Cup driver.
"We've been real fortunate to have never been in this situation with the need to find someone to fill in for an injured driver," Gibbs said. "A lot goes into a decision like this [one] but we are really pleased to have someone of the character and caliber of Mark Martin to fill in while Denny is out. Obviously, we're not exactly sure how long that is going to take, but Mark's career speaks for itself and our team knows it will have the opportunity to compete for a win every week."
Martin's record in the Sprint Cup Series, extending over three decades is stellar. In 858 career starts, he has 40 wins, 271 top 5s, and 449 top 10s. Since scaling back to a part-time schedule, with MWR's No. 55 Martin has led over 250 laps and scored five poles, five top 5s and 15 top 10s in 28 starts.
While he hates being sidelined, Denny Hamlin also voiced his support for the 54-year-old, who's trying to become the oldest driver in NASCAR history to win a Cup Series race.
"I really appreciate Mark being able to fill in for me," said Hamlin. "Like everyone in NASCAR, I have a tremendous amount of respect for Mark, and I know he will keep that FedEx Camry up front until I get back behind the wheel."
According to a report from USA Today, Rodney Childers, crew chief for the No. 55 MWR Toyota, tweeted -- and deleted -- his thoughts on Martin's temporary move to JGR.
"This will be like me loaning my girlfriend to my best friend for 4 weeks to see if I like this other girl moving fwd," he said. "It will be very hard."
"But overall, this will show a lot of people that we work a lot closer with JGR than most people think we do."
As of press time, MWR had not announced their plans to replace Martin. It's widely expected, however that Brian Vickers will fill the seat in the No. 55, an extended audition of sorts as the company looks for a full-time replacement for Martin in 2014.
Frontstretch had initially reported, from several sources Elliott Sadler was the primary sub for Hamlin, but input from sponsor Fed Ex, as well as the surprising last minute willingness for Martin to swap for all dates - not just a few - turned things in a different direction. Sadler, who was originally scheduled to run a fourth Cup car in a limited schedule with Joe Gibbs Racing will continue in that role, racing at Kansas and Talladega coming up.
Jack Roush To Be Inducted In Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame
Jack Roush's achievements in motorsports are long and illustrious: two-time championship car owner in the Sprint Cup Series, four-time championship owner in the Nationwide Series, one Camping World Truck Series title, and 312 wins across NASCAR's top three touring series. Now, you can add Texas Motorsports Hall of Famer to that list. Roush will become the 15th inductee into the Texas Motorsports HOF on April 11th joining the likes of A.J. Foyt,Terry Labonte, Kenny Bernstein, Mark Martin, Bruton Smith, Joe Gibbs, and Bobby Labonte.
Roush's success in the state of Texas is unmatched, and Texas Motor Speedway has been dubbed the "House of Roush." Roush's teams have accounted for nine Sprint Cup Series wins and 18 victories total among the top three series at that 1.5-mile oval. In fact, his Sprint Cup Series wins total at TMS is more than double his next closest competitor, Rick Hendrick, with four. Roush's most recent win at the speedway come in last April's Samsung Mobile 500 with Greg Biffle.
Jimmie Johnson and Kurt Busch will also be honored at the gala on April 11th. Johnson will be championed as the Racer of the Year while Kurt Busch will be presented the Major General Thomas Sadler Award. The NASCAR trio will also be joined by IndyCar Series driver Graham Rahal (TMS Sportsman Award) and late journalist Chris Economaki (Bruton Smith Legend Award).
NTS Motorsports Adds Joey Licata to K&N Pro Series East Stable
NTS Motorsports announced the addition of Joey Licata to its NASCAR K&N Pro Series East team on Thursday. The 21-year-old from from Lake Balboa, California started his career in karting where he earned six International Karting Federation Grand National championships. Licata's resume doesn't end there, though, as he has amassed over 90 victories and two ASA Speed Truck championships.
"I'm really looking forward to driving for such a great up and coming team like NTS Motorsports," Licata said in a release on the team's website. "I am confident that we can run strong and win races. That's what this year is all about; building momentum that will take us into next year, where we can go after a championship. I would like to sincerely thank NTS for this opportunity."
The plan currently is for Licata to run 3 K&N Pro Series East races in 2013 with a full schedule in 2014 contending for series Rookie of the Year honors as well as the championship. NTS also currently has Truck Series Rookie of the Year Brennan Newberry and four-time Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday, Jr. in its stable of drivers.
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 Beth Lunkenheimer
Eldora Rules Package Still A Work In Progress
Camping World Truck Series director Chad Little spoke during a media teleconference on Tuesday and updated information on the series' visit to Eldora Speedway later this season. Unfortunately, what he had to give in terms of answers was little more than "stay tuned."
"We are getting very close to finalizing all of the details for Eldora, from the procedural changes for that race to the rules package," Little said. "We've bounced around several ideas internally here and we're visiting with the teams. We'll probably finish our final visits at Martinsville, and then I expect that we'll have an announcement very shortly after that race."
In his first year as series director, Little has been handed the task of determining the structure of the race, heights of the trucks and so much more in preparation for the July 24th event. The Truck Series visit to the Rossburg, Ohio track will be the first dirt race in the history of the series.
Warriors-4-Warriors Joins Brian Silas, T3R2
Brian Silas and T3R2 Racing announced earlier this week that they had partnered with Warriors-4-Warriors for the remainder of the 2013 season. The sophomore driver represented the charity that "strives to help veterans with the challenges they face when returning home" at Daytona in February.
"We were honored to promote and support Warriors-4-Warriors at Daytona," Silas said. "Now, we have the privilege to continue to support their cause and help make a difference. It's an indescribable thing."
The pair will be at World of Beer-Wellington tonight to share the charity's message and promote the Truck Series' upcoming visit to Martinsville Speedway from 6:00 to 9:00 PM.
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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: Hop, Hop, Hoppin', to Victory Lane on Easter Saturday
by Mike Neff
The Pro All-Star Series expanded into the South, in 2006 and the Easter Bunny 150 at Hickory Motor Speedway quickly became one of the crown jewels on their schedule. Mike Rowe, the legendary Super Late Model racer from New England was the winner of the inaugural event that year, one that's grown in stature ever since. Kyle Grissom, the 2012 PASS South champion and also the 2012 Easter Bunny, hopes to ride the momentum from a win at Myrtle Beach in the Bash at the Beach to a repeat in the annual Easter Weekend event. 32 drivers are pre-entered for the race, promising an impressive field will compete for the coveted Springtime trophy from the "Birthplace of NASCAR Stars."
Austin Theriault leads Grissom by 10 points after two races on the Southern PASS schedule. Theriault and Grissom have each scored a win in the first two races, but Theriault has two top-5 finishes while Grissom has posted two top 10s. Jay Fogleman, the 2012 PASS National Champion is sitting third in South points and is hoping to add an Easter Bunny trophy to his mantle. Brandon Ward is fourth in heading into Hickory while Brandon Lynn rounds out the top five in the standings.
There are some other, well-known names hitting the banking at the .363-mile oval this Saturday. Clay Rogers, who has won numerous short track races around the Southeast, including a win at Rockingham Speedway last fall, will be trying for a Bunny trophy. Grissom isn't the only driver chasing a second Bunny title. Ben Rowe, who won the event in 2009 is entered again this year, trying to become the first repeat winner of the event. Jared Irvan, the son of former Cup Series driver Ernie Irvan, continues to expand his racing resume this season as he runs a Super Late Model in the Bunny.
Former Snowball Derby winner, Johanna Long, is taking advantage of a week off for the Nationwide Series to compete at the historic race track that is actually located in Newton, NC. There are drivers from 10 states making the trip to Hickory to chase the Bunny trophy. Mark Beard from Michigan, Clete Caywood from South Carolina, Kyle DeSouze from Rhode Island, Joey Doiron from Maine, Trey Gibson from Colorado, Zak Hausler from Texas, and DJ Shaw from New Hampshire are just a few traveling many miles to hopefully bring back home a holiday gift.
The Easter Bunny has become a staple of racing in the Southeast over the last seven years and each event has had a personality of its own. It is hard to say what the race will look like this year but the odds are there will be an exciting finish. Hickory Motor Speedway and its tight confines seem to naturally lend itself to incredibly close results, from its days on the then-Busch Series schedule to its weekly short track barnburners. So if you're in the Tar Heel state for Easter and want to see some great competition, head over to the little track in Newton, NC and see who takes home the trophy in the Easter Bunny 150.
This Weekend's Race Schedule
Friday 03/29/13 Green Valley Speedway Glencoe AL Crate Late Models
Friday 03/29/13 Green Valley Speedway Glencoe AL Enduros
Friday 03/29/13 Green Valley Speedway Glencoe AL Hobby Stocks
Friday 03/29/13 Green Valley Speedway Glencoe AL KMSA Mini Stocks
Friday 03/29/13 Green Valley Speedway Glencoe AL Pure Pony
Friday 03/29/13 Green Valley Speedway Glencoe AL Sportsman
Friday 03/29/13 Green Valley Speedway Glencoe AL Street Stocks
Friday 03/29/13 LaSalle Speedway LaSalle IL Hornets
Friday 03/29/13 LaSalle Speedway LaSalle IL Late Models
Friday 03/29/13 LaSalle Speedway LaSalle IL Street Stocks
Friday 03/29/13 LaSalle Speedway LaSalle IL UMP Modifieds
Friday 03/29/13 Tri-City Speedway Pontoon Beach IL UMP Factory Stocks
Friday 03/29/13 Tri-City Speedway Pontoon Beach IL UMP Late Models
Friday 03/29/13 Tri-City Speedway Pontoon Beach IL UMP Modifieds
Friday 03/29/13 Tri-City Speedway Pontoon Beach IL UMP Pro-Crate Late Models
Friday 03/29/13 Tri-City Speedway Pontoon Beach IL UMP Sport Compacts
Friday 03/29/13 LA Raceway La Monte MO USMTS Modifieds
Friday 03/29/13 Ace Speedway Altamahaw NC USAC Eastern Ignite Midgets
Friday 03/29/13 Lancaster Speedway Lancaster SC Pro Late Models
Friday 03/29/13 Golden Triangle Raceway Park Beaumont TX ASCS Winged Sprints
Friday 03/29/13 Houston Motorsports Park Houston TX 7th Annual Fiesta's Speedfest Ecostocks
Friday 03/29/13 Houston Motorsports Park Houston TX 7th Annual Fiesta's Speedfest NASCAR BWFS Coke Trucks
Friday 03/29/13 Houston Motorsports Park Houston TX 7th Annual Fiesta's Speedfest NASCAR Fiesta Modifieds
Friday 03/29/13 Houston Motorsports Park Houston TX 7th Annual Fiesta's Speedfest NASCAR Stock Cars
Friday 03/29/13 RPM Speedway Crandall TX Factory Stocks
Friday 03/29/13 RPM Speedway Crandall TX Limited Modifieds
Friday 03/29/13 RPM Speedway Crandall TX Sprint Cars
Friday 03/29/13 RPM Speedway Crandall TX Street Stocks
Friday 03/29/13 RPM Speedway Crandall TX USRA Modifieds
Saturday 03/30/13 Green Valley Speedway Glencoe AL Crate Late Models
Saturday 03/30/13 Green Valley Speedway Glencoe AL Enduros
Saturday 03/30/13 Green Valley Speedway Glencoe AL Hobby Stocks
Saturday 03/30/13 Green Valley Speedway Glencoe AL KMSA Mini Stocks
Saturday 03/30/13 Green Valley Speedway Glencoe AL Pure Pony
Saturday 03/30/13 Green Valley Speedway Glencoe AL Sportsman
Saturday 03/30/13 Green Valley Speedway Glencoe AL Street Stocks
Saturday 03/30/13 Riverside International Speedway West Memphis AR 305 Winged Sprints
Saturday 03/30/13 Riverside International Speedway West Memphis AR 360 Winged Sprints
Saturday 03/30/13 Riverside International Speedway West Memphis AR Late Models
Saturday 03/30/13 Riverside International Speedway West Memphis AR Modifieds
Saturday 03/30/13 Riverside International Speedway West Memphis AR Stock Cars
Saturday 03/30/13 Arizona Speedway Queen Creek AZ ASCS Winged Sprints
Saturday 03/30/13 Central Arizona Raceway Casa Grande AZ Dwarf Cars
Saturday 03/30/13 Central Arizona Raceway Casa Grande AZ IMCA Modifieds
Saturday 03/30/13 Central Arizona Raceway Casa Grande AZ Super Stocks
Saturday 03/30/13 Central Arizona Raceway Casa Grande AZ X-Mods
Saturday 03/30/13 Cocopah Speedway Yuma AZ Factory Stocks
Saturday 03/30/13 Cocopah Speedway Yuma AZ Street Stocks
Saturday 03/30/13 Cocopah Speedway Yuma AZ IMCA Sport Mods
Saturday 03/30/13 Cocopah Speedway Yuma AZ Pro Stocks
Saturday 03/30/13 Cocopah Speedway Yuma AZ IMCA Modifieds
Saturday 03/30/13 Bakersfield Speedway Bakersfield CA Mini Stocks
Saturday 03/30/13 Bakersfield Speedway Bakersfield CA NMRA Midgets
Saturday 03/30/13 Bakersfield Speedway Bakersfield CA Sport Mods
Saturday 03/30/13 Bakersfield Speedway Bakersfield CA USAC Midgets
Saturday 03/30/13 Bakersfield Speedway Bakersfield CA USAC Western States Midgets
Saturday 03/30/13 Madera Speedway Madera CA 4-Cylinders
Saturday 03/30/13 Madera Speedway Madera CA Hobby Stocks
Saturday 03/30/13 Madera Speedway Madera CA MST
Saturday 03/30/13 Madera Speedway Madera CA Open Late Models
Saturday 03/30/13 Madera Speedway Madera CA Sport Mods
Saturday 03/30/13 Madera Speedway Madera CA Toyota Sedans
Saturday 03/30/13 34 Raceway Burlington IA 360 Sprint Invaders
Saturday 03/30/13 34 Raceway Burlington IA IMCA Modifieds
Saturday 03/30/13 34 Raceway Burlington IA IMCA Stock Cars
Saturday 03/30/13 34 Raceway Burlington IA Mod Lites
Saturday 03/30/13 Highland Speedway Highland IL Outlaw Micros
Saturday 03/30/13 Highland Speedway Highland IL UMP Late Models
Saturday 03/30/13 Highland Speedway Highland IL UMP Modifieds
Saturday 03/30/13 Highland Speedway Highland IL UMP Sport Mods
Saturday 03/30/13 Highland Speedway Highland IL UMP Street Stocks
Saturday 03/30/13 LaSalle Speedway LaSalle IL Hornets
Saturday 03/30/13 LaSalle Speedway LaSalle IL Street Stocks
Saturday 03/30/13 LaSalle Speedway LaSalle IL Sunoco American Late Models
Saturday 03/30/13 LaSalle Speedway LaSalle IL UMP Modifieds
Saturday 03/30/13 I-35 Speedway Winston MO USMTS Modifieds
Saturday 03/30/13 Ace Speedway Altamahaw NC USAC Eastern Ignite Midgets
Saturday 03/30/13 Caraway Speedway Asheboro NC Late Models
Saturday 03/30/13 Caraway Speedway Asheboro NC Southern Modified Lights
Saturday 03/30/13 Caraway Speedway Asheboro NC Limited Late Models
Saturday 03/30/13 Caraway Speedway Asheboro NC Mini Stocks
Saturday 03/30/13 Caraway Speedway Asheboro NC Carolina Street Stock Big 10 Series
Saturday 03/30/13 Caraway Speedway Asheboro NC Legends
Saturday 03/30/13 Caraway Speedway Asheboro NC Hornets
Saturday 03/30/13 Caraway Speedway Asheboro NC U-Cars
Saturday 03/30/13 East Lincoln Speedway Stanley NC Limited Sportsman
Saturday 03/30/13 East Lincoln Speedway Stanley NC Micro Sprints
Saturday 03/30/13 East Lincoln Speedway Stanley NC Raceiver Sprint Cars
Saturday 03/30/13 East Lincoln Speedway Stanley NC Renegades
Saturday 03/30/13 East Lincoln Speedway Stanley NC Stock 4
Saturday 03/30/13 East Lincoln Speedway Stanley NC Super Stock 4 Cylinders
Saturday 03/30/13 Hickory Motor Speedway Hickory NC PASS Pro Late Models
Saturday 03/30/13 Hickory Motor Speedway Hickory NC PASS South Super Late Models
Saturday 03/30/13 Lancaster Speedway Lancaster SC Super Late Models
Saturday 03/30/13 Music City Quarter Midget Racing Association Hermitage TN Jr. Honda Quarter Midget
Saturday 03/30/13 Music City Quarter Midget Racing Association Hermitage TN Sr. Honda Quarter Midget
Saturday 03/30/13 Music City Quarter Midget Racing Association Hermitage TN Light 160 Quarter Midget
Saturday 03/30/13 Houston Motorsports Park Houston TX 7th Annual Fiesta's Speedfest Ecostocks
Saturday 03/30/13 Houston Motorsports Park Houston TX 7th Annual Fiesta's Speedfest NASCAR BWFS Coke Trucks
Saturday 03/30/13 Houston Motorsports Park Houston TX 7th Annual Fiesta's Speedfest NASCAR Fiesta Modifieds
Saturday 03/30/13 Houston Motorsports Park Houston TX 7th Annual Fiesta's Speedfest NASCAR Stock Cars
Saturday 03/30/13 Texana Raceway Park Edna TX Dwarf/Mod Lites
Saturday 03/30/13 Texana Raceway Park Edna TX Hot Stock Trucks
Saturday 03/30/13 Texana Raceway Park Edna TX Mini Stocks
Saturday 03/30/13 Texana Raceway Park Edna TX Pure Stocks
Saturday 03/30/13 Texana Raceway Park Edna TX Sport Mods
Saturday 03/30/13 Texana Raceway Park Edna TX Street Stocks
Saturday 03/30/13 South Boston Speedway South Boston VA Late Models
Saturday 03/30/13 South Boston Speedway South Boston VA Limited Late Models
Saturday 03/30/13 South Boston Speedway South Boston VA Pure Stock
Monday 04/01/13 Tucson International Raceway Tucson AZ Green Racing Spring Nationals Chevy Volt
Monday 04/01/13 Tucson International Raceway Tucson AZ Green Racing Spring Nationals Nissan Leaf
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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Today's Featured Commentary
Joey Logano At A Crossroad
What's Vexing Vito
by Vito Pugliese
Much has been made of Joey Logano's actions at Auto Club Speedway this past Sunday. From his "take no prisoners" dive into Turn Three on the final lap, to going Ivan Drago with his "that's what he gets" blast after Denny Hamlin went careening into the inside wall – and out of the Series for the next six weeks, Sliced Bread has sliced right into the center of NASCAR attention. Granted, Logano didn't know the extent of Hamlin's injuries. However, as of Wednesday afternoon he had yet to reach out to Hamlin to discuss the incident - or wish him well. That changed Wednesday afternoon, finally although Hamlin said that while Logano had reached out to him, and they had exchanged texts, things "didn't go well. It was unproductive."
We all know the knock on Joey thus far; he hasn't lived up to the hype ever since Joe Gibbs Racing snatched him out from under Roush's nose, being glossed "Sliced Bread" due to the hoopla surrounding him. He's fought an uphill battle, having to replace a quasi-legend in Tony Stewart, taking over the reins of a driver and team what won two titles prior to his arrival. Home Depot even built an ad campaign around the transition in 2008, heightening the pressure that never did seem to pop while he was there.
Logano's won two races – albeit a rain-delayed one at New Hampshire, in 2009, and last year at Pocono, moving former mentor Mark Martin out of the way during the final laps, but has ruffled his share of feathers along the way. Greg Biffle, Kevin Harvick, Ryan Newman, Denny Hamlin, and now Tony Stewart have all had their run-ins with the driver, with the last two weeks those conflicts extending to scuffles with crewmen. Sure, he has been an easy target: a young kid, not particularly physically imposing or intimidating (besides threatening to punch Kevin Harvick in the nose over the radio, or poking Ryan Newman), and now the latest barb is a "rich kid" smack. Tony Stewart referred to him as a rich kid who never had to work for anything, while Kurt Busch's girlfriend hit him with #TrustFundRacer hash tag on Twitter.
So Logano is at a bit of a crossroads. He's five races in with a new team, and Roger Penske's operation has always been the definition of professionalism; these guys don't even wear jeans the morning before the race. It's slacks, dress shoes, and a sponsor shirt with a button-down collar. Over the course of the last couple of years, the Captain has had to deal with Kurt's craziness, A.J.'s Adderall, and now Joey turning into a stone cold killa. So considering the circumstances, it might be time for Logano to drop the "tough guy" act and exercise some humility. He's teetering on the brink of success in the No. 22 car, showing speed and consistency without the frustrations of living up to the history of the No. 20 car when he was 18 years old. Just because you were wronged at Bristol and were going for the win in California doesn't mean things are going to be all right.
The last two weeks have seen him getting into fights on pit road, which sponsors aren't going to like – particularly Shell, who for the last five years with Harvick, Allmendinger, and now Logano have seen themselves aligned with drivers cussing out their teams, other drivers, fighting people, or suspended for failed drug tests. In a way, he's following in the footsteps of Brad Keselowski – who is about the furthest thing from a TrustFundRacer or rich kid that you could think of. But Keselowski knew how to balance it all, piling success on top of these situations and now is the time to mentor his teammate to do the same.
Logano also reminds me of another driver of a yellow car who got off to a bit of a rocky start himself: Ernie Irvan. Discovered by Dale Earnhardt, Irvan won early in his career once he got aligned with Morgan-McClure racing and the iconic No. 4 Kodak machine. In 1991, Irvan was involved in a number of incidents and run-ins with drivers, becoming a bit polarizing with fans and competitors alike. The kicker came during a midsummer wreck at Pocono, where contact wiped out half the field just several months after a Talladega incident knocked Kyle Petty out for an extended period of time with a leg injury. Finally, before the start of the August race at Talladega, Ernie chose to address the drivers during a pre-race meeting apologizing for his actions and asked for the respect back of his peers. Things weren't perfect, after that, but over time he grew to be one of the better, more likable wheelmen inside the garage.
Will we be seeing the same from Logano sometime soon? Now, I'm not suggesting that Joey has to kow-tow to people he's had run-ins with, but it might not hurt to dial down the rhetoric a tick, show some genuine concern for somebody who suffered a broken back that you go to work with 36 weeks a year, and not be so concerned with trying to be a hard ass at every opportunity in an effort to demand respect.
And as far as his beef with Tony is concerned? Just buy him a few hot dogs next weekend at Martinsville and he should be fine.
Vito Pugliese is an Assistant Editor for Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via email at vito.pugliese@frontstretch.com.
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TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:
Four Burning Questions: Hamlin's Replacement and Dale Jr's Dream Season
by Matt Stallknecht
Voices From the Cheap Seats: A Waltrip Makes Sense While France…Not So Much
by Jeff Meyer
Around the Block: Stewart Called This One Wrong
by Amy Henderson
Kyle Larson Driver Diary: Daytona's Finish, Busy Schedules and Nationwide Racing
as told to Mike Neff
Nuts for Nationwide: The Highs and Lows of 2013 (So Far)
by Kevin Rutherford
Frontstretch Foto Funnies: Holy $#!&, Slow Down!
by the Fronstretch Staff
Formula 1 Friday: The Champ Starts a War
by Andy Hollis
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:
-- Weekend News by Phil Allaway
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, trivia, and more!
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Monday on the Frontstretch:
Full Throttle by Mike Neff
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The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
March 29th, 2013
Volume VII, Edition XLVI
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Top News
by Justin Tucker
Mark Martin Tabbed As Sub for Denny Hamlin
Joe Gibbs Racing announced Thursday evening that Mark Martin will pilot Denny Hamlin's No. 11 FedEx Toyota while he recovers from an L1 Compression Fracture suffered at Auto Club Speedway last weekend. Martin had originally been scheduled to pilot the Michael Waltrip Racing No. 55 Toyota for four of the next six races; instead, he'll do all six, perhaps more while moving over to a team that contended for the championship last season.
"I'm happy to have this opportunity to help out JGR, FedEx and Denny," said Martin. "Hopefully I can keep those guys up front and compete for wins while Denny heals up."
JGR President J.D. Gibbs expressed his confidence in the part-time Sprint Cup driver.
"We've been real fortunate to have never been in this situation with the need to find someone to fill in for an injured driver," Gibbs said. "A lot goes into a decision like this [one] but we are really pleased to have someone of the character and caliber of Mark Martin to fill in while Denny is out. Obviously, we're not exactly sure how long that is going to take, but Mark's career speaks for itself and our team knows it will have the opportunity to compete for a win every week."
Martin's record in the Sprint Cup Series, extending over three decades is stellar. In 858 career starts, he has 40 wins, 271 top 5s, and 449 top 10s. Since scaling back to a part-time schedule, with MWR's No. 55 Martin has led over 250 laps and scored five poles, five top 5s and 15 top 10s in 28 starts.
While he hates being sidelined, Denny Hamlin also voiced his support for the 54-year-old, who's trying to become the oldest driver in NASCAR history to win a Cup Series race.
"I really appreciate Mark being able to fill in for me," said Hamlin. "Like everyone in NASCAR, I have a tremendous amount of respect for Mark, and I know he will keep that FedEx Camry up front until I get back behind the wheel."
According to a report from USA Today, Rodney Childers, crew chief for the No. 55 MWR Toyota, tweeted -- and deleted -- his thoughts on Martin's temporary move to JGR.
"This will be like me loaning my girlfriend to my best friend for 4 weeks to see if I like this other girl moving fwd," he said. "It will be very hard."
"But overall, this will show a lot of people that we work a lot closer with JGR than most people think we do."
As of press time, MWR had not announced their plans to replace Martin. It's widely expected, however that Brian Vickers will fill the seat in the No. 55, an extended audition of sorts as the company looks for a full-time replacement for Martin in 2014.
Frontstretch had initially reported, from several sources Elliott Sadler was the primary sub for Hamlin, but input from sponsor Fed Ex, as well as the surprising last minute willingness for Martin to swap for all dates - not just a few - turned things in a different direction. Sadler, who was originally scheduled to run a fourth Cup car in a limited schedule with Joe Gibbs Racing will continue in that role, racing at Kansas and Talladega coming up.
Jack Roush To Be Inducted In Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame
Jack Roush's achievements in motorsports are long and illustrious: two-time championship car owner in the Sprint Cup Series, four-time championship owner in the Nationwide Series, one Camping World Truck Series title, and 312 wins across NASCAR's top three touring series. Now, you can add Texas Motorsports Hall of Famer to that list. Roush will become the 15th inductee into the Texas Motorsports HOF on April 11th joining the likes of A.J. Foyt,Terry Labonte, Kenny Bernstein, Mark Martin, Bruton Smith, Joe Gibbs, and Bobby Labonte.
Roush's success in the state of Texas is unmatched, and Texas Motor Speedway has been dubbed the "House of Roush." Roush's teams have accounted for nine Sprint Cup Series wins and 18 victories total among the top three series at that 1.5-mile oval. In fact, his Sprint Cup Series wins total at TMS is more than double his next closest competitor, Rick Hendrick, with four. Roush's most recent win at the speedway come in last April's Samsung Mobile 500 with Greg Biffle.
Jimmie Johnson and Kurt Busch will also be honored at the gala on April 11th. Johnson will be championed as the Racer of the Year while Kurt Busch will be presented the Major General Thomas Sadler Award. The NASCAR trio will also be joined by IndyCar Series driver Graham Rahal (TMS Sportsman Award) and late journalist Chris Economaki (Bruton Smith Legend Award).
NTS Motorsports Adds Joey Licata to K&N Pro Series East Stable
NTS Motorsports announced the addition of Joey Licata to its NASCAR K&N Pro Series East team on Thursday. The 21-year-old from from Lake Balboa, California started his career in karting where he earned six International Karting Federation Grand National championships. Licata's resume doesn't end there, though, as he has amassed over 90 victories and two ASA Speed Truck championships.
"I'm really looking forward to driving for such a great up and coming team like NTS Motorsports," Licata said in a release on the team's website. "I am confident that we can run strong and win races. That's what this year is all about; building momentum that will take us into next year, where we can go after a championship. I would like to sincerely thank NTS for this opportunity."
The plan currently is for Licata to run 3 K&N Pro Series East races in 2013 with a full schedule in 2014 contending for series Rookie of the Year honors as well as the championship. NTS also currently has Truck Series Rookie of the Year Brennan Newberry and four-time Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday, Jr. in its stable of drivers.
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 Beth Lunkenheimer
Eldora Rules Package Still A Work In Progress
Camping World Truck Series director Chad Little spoke during a media teleconference on Tuesday and updated information on the series' visit to Eldora Speedway later this season. Unfortunately, what he had to give in terms of answers was little more than "stay tuned."
"We are getting very close to finalizing all of the details for Eldora, from the procedural changes for that race to the rules package," Little said. "We've bounced around several ideas internally here and we're visiting with the teams. We'll probably finish our final visits at Martinsville, and then I expect that we'll have an announcement very shortly after that race."
In his first year as series director, Little has been handed the task of determining the structure of the race, heights of the trucks and so much more in preparation for the July 24th event. The Truck Series visit to the Rossburg, Ohio track will be the first dirt race in the history of the series.
Warriors-4-Warriors Joins Brian Silas, T3R2
Brian Silas and T3R2 Racing announced earlier this week that they had partnered with Warriors-4-Warriors for the remainder of the 2013 season. The sophomore driver represented the charity that "strives to help veterans with the challenges they face when returning home" at Daytona in February.
"We were honored to promote and support Warriors-4-Warriors at Daytona," Silas said. "Now, we have the privilege to continue to support their cause and help make a difference. It's an indescribable thing."
The pair will be at World of Beer-Wellington tonight to share the charity's message and promote the Truck Series' upcoming visit to Martinsville Speedway from 6:00 to 9:00 PM.
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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: Hop, Hop, Hoppin', to Victory Lane on Easter Saturday
by Mike Neff
The Pro All-Star Series expanded into the South, in 2006 and the Easter Bunny 150 at Hickory Motor Speedway quickly became one of the crown jewels on their schedule. Mike Rowe, the legendary Super Late Model racer from New England was the winner of the inaugural event that year, one that's grown in stature ever since. Kyle Grissom, the 2012 PASS South champion and also the 2012 Easter Bunny, hopes to ride the momentum from a win at Myrtle Beach in the Bash at the Beach to a repeat in the annual Easter Weekend event. 32 drivers are pre-entered for the race, promising an impressive field will compete for the coveted Springtime trophy from the "Birthplace of NASCAR Stars."
Austin Theriault leads Grissom by 10 points after two races on the Southern PASS schedule. Theriault and Grissom have each scored a win in the first two races, but Theriault has two top-5 finishes while Grissom has posted two top 10s. Jay Fogleman, the 2012 PASS National Champion is sitting third in South points and is hoping to add an Easter Bunny trophy to his mantle. Brandon Ward is fourth in heading into Hickory while Brandon Lynn rounds out the top five in the standings.
There are some other, well-known names hitting the banking at the .363-mile oval this Saturday. Clay Rogers, who has won numerous short track races around the Southeast, including a win at Rockingham Speedway last fall, will be trying for a Bunny trophy. Grissom isn't the only driver chasing a second Bunny title. Ben Rowe, who won the event in 2009 is entered again this year, trying to become the first repeat winner of the event. Jared Irvan, the son of former Cup Series driver Ernie Irvan, continues to expand his racing resume this season as he runs a Super Late Model in the Bunny.
Former Snowball Derby winner, Johanna Long, is taking advantage of a week off for the Nationwide Series to compete at the historic race track that is actually located in Newton, NC. There are drivers from 10 states making the trip to Hickory to chase the Bunny trophy. Mark Beard from Michigan, Clete Caywood from South Carolina, Kyle DeSouze from Rhode Island, Joey Doiron from Maine, Trey Gibson from Colorado, Zak Hausler from Texas, and DJ Shaw from New Hampshire are just a few traveling many miles to hopefully bring back home a holiday gift.
The Easter Bunny has become a staple of racing in the Southeast over the last seven years and each event has had a personality of its own. It is hard to say what the race will look like this year but the odds are there will be an exciting finish. Hickory Motor Speedway and its tight confines seem to naturally lend itself to incredibly close results, from its days on the then-Busch Series schedule to its weekly short track barnburners. So if you're in the Tar Heel state for Easter and want to see some great competition, head over to the little track in Newton, NC and see who takes home the trophy in the Easter Bunny 150.
This Weekend's Race Schedule
Friday 03/29/13 Green Valley Speedway Glencoe AL Crate Late Models
Friday 03/29/13 Green Valley Speedway Glencoe AL Enduros
Friday 03/29/13 Green Valley Speedway Glencoe AL Hobby Stocks
Friday 03/29/13 Green Valley Speedway Glencoe AL KMSA Mini Stocks
Friday 03/29/13 Green Valley Speedway Glencoe AL Pure Pony
Friday 03/29/13 Green Valley Speedway Glencoe AL Sportsman
Friday 03/29/13 Green Valley Speedway Glencoe AL Street Stocks
Friday 03/29/13 LaSalle Speedway LaSalle IL Hornets
Friday 03/29/13 LaSalle Speedway LaSalle IL Late Models
Friday 03/29/13 LaSalle Speedway LaSalle IL Street Stocks
Friday 03/29/13 LaSalle Speedway LaSalle IL UMP Modifieds
Friday 03/29/13 Tri-City Speedway Pontoon Beach IL UMP Factory Stocks
Friday 03/29/13 Tri-City Speedway Pontoon Beach IL UMP Late Models
Friday 03/29/13 Tri-City Speedway Pontoon Beach IL UMP Modifieds
Friday 03/29/13 Tri-City Speedway Pontoon Beach IL UMP Pro-Crate Late Models
Friday 03/29/13 Tri-City Speedway Pontoon Beach IL UMP Sport Compacts
Friday 03/29/13 LA Raceway La Monte MO USMTS Modifieds
Friday 03/29/13 Ace Speedway Altamahaw NC USAC Eastern Ignite Midgets
Friday 03/29/13 Lancaster Speedway Lancaster SC Pro Late Models
Friday 03/29/13 Golden Triangle Raceway Park Beaumont TX ASCS Winged Sprints
Friday 03/29/13 Houston Motorsports Park Houston TX 7th Annual Fiesta's Speedfest Ecostocks
Friday 03/29/13 Houston Motorsports Park Houston TX 7th Annual Fiesta's Speedfest NASCAR BWFS Coke Trucks
Friday 03/29/13 Houston Motorsports Park Houston TX 7th Annual Fiesta's Speedfest NASCAR Fiesta Modifieds
Friday 03/29/13 Houston Motorsports Park Houston TX 7th Annual Fiesta's Speedfest NASCAR Stock Cars
Friday 03/29/13 RPM Speedway Crandall TX Factory Stocks
Friday 03/29/13 RPM Speedway Crandall TX Limited Modifieds
Friday 03/29/13 RPM Speedway Crandall TX Sprint Cars
Friday 03/29/13 RPM Speedway Crandall TX Street Stocks
Friday 03/29/13 RPM Speedway Crandall TX USRA Modifieds
Saturday 03/30/13 Green Valley Speedway Glencoe AL Crate Late Models
Saturday 03/30/13 Green Valley Speedway Glencoe AL Enduros
Saturday 03/30/13 Green Valley Speedway Glencoe AL Hobby Stocks
Saturday 03/30/13 Green Valley Speedway Glencoe AL KMSA Mini Stocks
Saturday 03/30/13 Green Valley Speedway Glencoe AL Pure Pony
Saturday 03/30/13 Green Valley Speedway Glencoe AL Sportsman
Saturday 03/30/13 Green Valley Speedway Glencoe AL Street Stocks
Saturday 03/30/13 Riverside International Speedway West Memphis AR 305 Winged Sprints
Saturday 03/30/13 Riverside International Speedway West Memphis AR 360 Winged Sprints
Saturday 03/30/13 Riverside International Speedway West Memphis AR Late Models
Saturday 03/30/13 Riverside International Speedway West Memphis AR Modifieds
Saturday 03/30/13 Riverside International Speedway West Memphis AR Stock Cars
Saturday 03/30/13 Arizona Speedway Queen Creek AZ ASCS Winged Sprints
Saturday 03/30/13 Central Arizona Raceway Casa Grande AZ Dwarf Cars
Saturday 03/30/13 Central Arizona Raceway Casa Grande AZ IMCA Modifieds
Saturday 03/30/13 Central Arizona Raceway Casa Grande AZ Super Stocks
Saturday 03/30/13 Central Arizona Raceway Casa Grande AZ X-Mods
Saturday 03/30/13 Cocopah Speedway Yuma AZ Factory Stocks
Saturday 03/30/13 Cocopah Speedway Yuma AZ Street Stocks
Saturday 03/30/13 Cocopah Speedway Yuma AZ IMCA Sport Mods
Saturday 03/30/13 Cocopah Speedway Yuma AZ Pro Stocks
Saturday 03/30/13 Cocopah Speedway Yuma AZ IMCA Modifieds
Saturday 03/30/13 Bakersfield Speedway Bakersfield CA Mini Stocks
Saturday 03/30/13 Bakersfield Speedway Bakersfield CA NMRA Midgets
Saturday 03/30/13 Bakersfield Speedway Bakersfield CA Sport Mods
Saturday 03/30/13 Bakersfield Speedway Bakersfield CA USAC Midgets
Saturday 03/30/13 Bakersfield Speedway Bakersfield CA USAC Western States Midgets
Saturday 03/30/13 Madera Speedway Madera CA 4-Cylinders
Saturday 03/30/13 Madera Speedway Madera CA Hobby Stocks
Saturday 03/30/13 Madera Speedway Madera CA MST
Saturday 03/30/13 Madera Speedway Madera CA Open Late Models
Saturday 03/30/13 Madera Speedway Madera CA Sport Mods
Saturday 03/30/13 Madera Speedway Madera CA Toyota Sedans
Saturday 03/30/13 34 Raceway Burlington IA 360 Sprint Invaders
Saturday 03/30/13 34 Raceway Burlington IA IMCA Modifieds
Saturday 03/30/13 34 Raceway Burlington IA IMCA Stock Cars
Saturday 03/30/13 34 Raceway Burlington IA Mod Lites
Saturday 03/30/13 Highland Speedway Highland IL Outlaw Micros
Saturday 03/30/13 Highland Speedway Highland IL UMP Late Models
Saturday 03/30/13 Highland Speedway Highland IL UMP Modifieds
Saturday 03/30/13 Highland Speedway Highland IL UMP Sport Mods
Saturday 03/30/13 Highland Speedway Highland IL UMP Street Stocks
Saturday 03/30/13 LaSalle Speedway LaSalle IL Hornets
Saturday 03/30/13 LaSalle Speedway LaSalle IL Street Stocks
Saturday 03/30/13 LaSalle Speedway LaSalle IL Sunoco American Late Models
Saturday 03/30/13 LaSalle Speedway LaSalle IL UMP Modifieds
Saturday 03/30/13 I-35 Speedway Winston MO USMTS Modifieds
Saturday 03/30/13 Ace Speedway Altamahaw NC USAC Eastern Ignite Midgets
Saturday 03/30/13 Caraway Speedway Asheboro NC Late Models
Saturday 03/30/13 Caraway Speedway Asheboro NC Southern Modified Lights
Saturday 03/30/13 Caraway Speedway Asheboro NC Limited Late Models
Saturday 03/30/13 Caraway Speedway Asheboro NC Mini Stocks
Saturday 03/30/13 Caraway Speedway Asheboro NC Carolina Street Stock Big 10 Series
Saturday 03/30/13 Caraway Speedway Asheboro NC Legends
Saturday 03/30/13 Caraway Speedway Asheboro NC Hornets
Saturday 03/30/13 Caraway Speedway Asheboro NC U-Cars
Saturday 03/30/13 East Lincoln Speedway Stanley NC Limited Sportsman
Saturday 03/30/13 East Lincoln Speedway Stanley NC Micro Sprints
Saturday 03/30/13 East Lincoln Speedway Stanley NC Raceiver Sprint Cars
Saturday 03/30/13 East Lincoln Speedway Stanley NC Renegades
Saturday 03/30/13 East Lincoln Speedway Stanley NC Stock 4
Saturday 03/30/13 East Lincoln Speedway Stanley NC Super Stock 4 Cylinders
Saturday 03/30/13 Hickory Motor Speedway Hickory NC PASS Pro Late Models
Saturday 03/30/13 Hickory Motor Speedway Hickory NC PASS South Super Late Models
Saturday 03/30/13 Lancaster Speedway Lancaster SC Super Late Models
Saturday 03/30/13 Music City Quarter Midget Racing Association Hermitage TN Jr. Honda Quarter Midget
Saturday 03/30/13 Music City Quarter Midget Racing Association Hermitage TN Sr. Honda Quarter Midget
Saturday 03/30/13 Music City Quarter Midget Racing Association Hermitage TN Light 160 Quarter Midget
Saturday 03/30/13 Houston Motorsports Park Houston TX 7th Annual Fiesta's Speedfest Ecostocks
Saturday 03/30/13 Houston Motorsports Park Houston TX 7th Annual Fiesta's Speedfest NASCAR BWFS Coke Trucks
Saturday 03/30/13 Houston Motorsports Park Houston TX 7th Annual Fiesta's Speedfest NASCAR Fiesta Modifieds
Saturday 03/30/13 Houston Motorsports Park Houston TX 7th Annual Fiesta's Speedfest NASCAR Stock Cars
Saturday 03/30/13 Texana Raceway Park Edna TX Dwarf/Mod Lites
Saturday 03/30/13 Texana Raceway Park Edna TX Hot Stock Trucks
Saturday 03/30/13 Texana Raceway Park Edna TX Mini Stocks
Saturday 03/30/13 Texana Raceway Park Edna TX Pure Stocks
Saturday 03/30/13 Texana Raceway Park Edna TX Sport Mods
Saturday 03/30/13 Texana Raceway Park Edna TX Street Stocks
Saturday 03/30/13 South Boston Speedway South Boston VA Late Models
Saturday 03/30/13 South Boston Speedway South Boston VA Limited Late Models
Saturday 03/30/13 South Boston Speedway South Boston VA Pure Stock
Monday 04/01/13 Tucson International Raceway Tucson AZ Green Racing Spring Nationals Chevy Volt
Monday 04/01/13 Tucson International Raceway Tucson AZ Green Racing Spring Nationals Nissan Leaf
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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Today's Featured Commentary
Editor's Note: The wrong commentary was posted yesterday in Vito Pugliese's slot. We apologize for the error (although February's column was great!) and give you this week's edition on a special day.
Joey Logano At A Crossroad
What's Vexing Vito
by Vito Pugliese
Much has been made of Joey Logano's actions at Auto Club Speedway this past Sunday. From his "take no prisoners" dive into Turn Three on the final lap, to going Ivan Drago with his "that's what he gets" blast after Denny Hamlin went careening into the inside wall – and out of the Series for the next six weeks, Sliced Bread has sliced right into the center of NASCAR attention. Granted, Logano didn't know the extent of Hamlin's injuries. However, as of Wednesday afternoon he had yet to reach out to Hamlin to discuss the incident - or wish him well. That changed Wednesday afternoon, finally although Hamlin said that while Logano had reached out to him, and they had exchanged texts, things "didn't go well. It was unproductive."
We all know the knock on Joey thus far; he hasn't lived up to the hype ever since Joe Gibbs Racing snatched him out from under Roush's nose, being glossed "Sliced Bread" due to the hoopla surrounding him. He's fought an uphill battle, having to replace a quasi-legend in Tony Stewart, taking over the reins of a driver and team what won two titles prior to his arrival. Home Depot even built an ad campaign around the transition in 2008, heightening the pressure that never did seem to pop while he was there.
Logano's won two races – albeit a rain-delayed one at New Hampshire, in 2009, and last year at Pocono, moving former mentor Mark Martin out of the way during the final laps, but has ruffled his share of feathers along the way. Greg Biffle, Kevin Harvick, Ryan Newman, Denny Hamlin, and now Tony Stewart have all had their run-ins with the driver, with the last two weeks those conflicts extending to scuffles with crewmen. Sure, he has been an easy target: a young kid, not particularly physically imposing or intimidating (besides threatening to punch Kevin Harvick in the nose over the radio, or poking Ryan Newman), and now the latest barb is a "rich kid" smack. Tony Stewart referred to him as a rich kid who never had to work for anything, while Kurt Busch's girlfriend hit him with #TrustFundRacer hash tag on Twitter.
So Logano is at a bit of a crossroads. He's five races in with a new team, and Roger Penske's operation has always been the definition of professionalism; these guys don't even wear jeans the morning before the race. It's slacks, dress shoes, and a sponsor shirt with a button-down collar. Over the course of the last couple of years, the Captain has had to deal with Kurt's craziness, A.J.'s Adderall, and now Joey turning into a stone cold killa. So considering the circumstances, it might be time for Logano to drop the "tough guy" act and exercise some humility. He's teetering on the brink of success in the No. 22 car, showing speed and consistency without the frustrations of living up to the history of the No. 20 car when he was 18 years old. Just because you were wronged at Bristol and were going for the win in California doesn't mean things are going to be all right.
The last two weeks have seen him getting into fights on pit road, which sponsors aren't going to like – particularly Shell, who for the last five years with Harvick, Allmendinger, and now Logano have seen themselves aligned with drivers cussing out their teams, other drivers, fighting people, or suspended for failed drug tests. In a way, he's following in the footsteps of Brad Keselowski – who is about the furthest thing from a TrustFundRacer or rich kid that you could think of. But Keselowski knew how to balance it all, piling success on top of these situations and now is the time to mentor his teammate to do the same.
Logano also reminds me of another driver of a yellow car who got off to a bit of a rocky start himself: Ernie Irvan. Discovered by Dale Earnhardt, Irvan won early in his career once he got aligned with Morgan-McClure racing and the iconic No. 4 Kodak machine. In 1991, Irvan was involved in a number of incidents and run-ins with drivers, becoming a bit polarizing with fans and competitors alike. The kicker came during a midsummer wreck at Pocono, where contact wiped out half the field just several months after a Talladega incident knocked Kyle Petty out for an extended period of time with a leg injury. Finally, before the start of the August race at Talladega, Ernie chose to address the drivers during a pre-race meeting apologizing for his actions and asked for the respect back of his peers. Things weren't perfect, after that, but over time he grew to be one of the better, more likable wheelmen inside the garage.
Will we be seeing the same from Logano sometime soon? Now, I'm not suggesting that Joey has to kow-tow to people he's had run-ins with, but it might not hurt to dial down the rhetoric a tick, show some genuine concern for somebody who suffered a broken back that you go to work with 36 weeks a year, and not be so concerned with trying to be a hard ass at every opportunity in an effort to demand respect.
And as far as his beef with Tony is concerned? Just buy him a few hot dogs next weekend at Martinsville and he should be fine.
Vito Pugliese is an Assistant Editor for Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via email at vito.pugliese@frontstretch.com.
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TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:
Four Burning Questions: Hamlin's Replacement and Dale Jr's Dream Season
by Matt Stallknecht
Voices From the Cheap Seats: A Waltrip Makes Sense While France…Not So Much
by Jeff Meyer
Around the Block: Stewart Called This One Wrong
by Amy Henderson
Kyle Larson Driver Diary: Daytona's Finish, Busy Schedules and Nationwide Racing
as told to Mike Neff
Nuts for Nationwide: The Highs and Lows of 2013 (So Far)
by Kevin Rutherford
Frontstretch Foto Funnies: Holy $#!&, Slow Down!
by the Fronstretch Staff
Formula 1 Friday: The Champ Starts a War
by Andy Hollis
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FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Q: About the only aspect of the Busch Series' second stint at Nashville Speedway that stayed the same from 1995-2000 was the fact that the race was 320 laps in length. During that time, the track was repaved, the race was moved to the evening from the afternoon and back again. What major change came along in 1999 for the event?
Check back Monday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
Thursday's Answer:
Thursday's Answer:
Q: In the rough and tumble 1996 BellSouth Mobility Opryland USA 320 at Nashville Speedway, Todd Bodine was in position to pick up the first victory for ProMotion Motorsports. However, Bodine's potential winning run came to an end with 25 laps to go. What happened?
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:
-- Weekend News by Phil Allaway
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, trivia, and more!
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Monday on the Frontstretch:
Full Throttle by Mike Neff
Mike takes a look at the upcoming Truck race at Rockingham -- and the statement he feels NASCAR fans must make along with it.
Speeding Through Summer by Summer Bedgood
Summer takes a deeper look at NASCAR's off week and its timing. Was it good or bad for the sport in the long run?
Bowles-Eye View by Tom Bowles
Tom pops up with a commentary that will make you think.
Pace Laps: All Series by the Frontstretch Staff
After a quiet Easter weekend, get yourself pumped and ready for the racing week ahead with top storylines from all your major racing series.
5th Column TBA
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