Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
March 27th, 2013
Volume VII, Edition XLIV
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Top News
by the Frontstretch Staff
Sadler To Replace Hamlin
Sources have told the Frontstretch Elliott Sadler has been chosen as the primary sub for Denny Hamlin. All that's preventing an official announcement, at this point is a few details to work out with sponsor Fed Ex. Sadler, who was long pegged as the likely choice is driving full-time for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Nationwide Series and was scheduled to drive a fourth Cup car in a limited schedule later this season. That Cup announcement has been put on hold due to Hamlin's injury; ironically, Sadler's expected fill-in role will serve as an extended audition.
Sadler has been runner-up in the Nationwide Series championship the last two seasons after taking a step down from Cup competition. In 430 career Cup starts, beginning in 1998 he's won three times, collected 19 top-5 finishes, 69 top 10s and eight pole positions. His last start was in the 2012 Daytona 500, running 27th after being at the epicenter of a multi-car wreck early on that wiped out several contenders. Michael Waltrip Racing had hired him for a limited schedule after that, but Richard Childress and Chevrolet, his employers at the time blocked that due to manufacturer conflicts. That put current teammate Brian Vickers in that seat, which now opens the door for Sadler on this side (Vickers will drive for MWR in Martinsville in two weeks).
There are no conflicts on the Nationwide schedule that would affect Sadler until early June.
Hamlin Out At Least 6 Weeks With Back Fracture
Denny Hamlin's Sprint Cup season will be officially interrupted. After an evaluation by Dr. Jerry Petty, in North Carolina Tuesday Joe Gibbs Racing announced Hamlin will be on the sidelines for at least six weeks with an L1 compression fracture of his back. While the driver won't require surgery, the risks involved with racing with this type of injury were too high for him to be medically cleared.
"I wish I got good news today," he tweeted. "I didn't. If me getting back in a car was based on pain tolerance then I would be in the car next week. There's just more to it that I can't control."
Hamlin will miss at least five races: Martinsville, Texas, Kansas, Richmond and Talladega before making a potential return at Darlington May 11th. If he adheres to that schedule, based on the way points have been scored in 2013 to date he'll be an estimated 137 points outside the top 10 upon his return. That would put Hamlin in the position of winning multiple times just to contend for a postseason spot he's made every year since entering the Cup Series in 2006. Still, he'll be an estimated 91 points behind the top 20 which would make even that avenue almost impossible.
Joey Logano, who has been silent on Twitter since Sunday's race expressed regret about postrace comments in which he said "That's what he gets" without knowing Hamlin was seriously hurt. "The last thing I wanted to hear was that [Hamlin] was in the hospital," he told USA Today Sports. "[I'm] hoping for a speedy recovery."
No Fines Issued For Post-Race Incidents In California
Joey Logano and Tony Stewart escaped any consequences from NASCAR Tuesday after their post-race incident at Fontana. Stewart, who went charging at Logano on pit road after he felt the driver blocked him on a restart also went off during a post-race interview, swearing multiple times before claiming he planned to physically fight the driver. The sanctioning body, though chose not to get involved in their spat, citing a "Boys, Have At It" philosophy verified by Sprint Cup Director John Darby.
"That's just another example of the state of competition in NASCAR racing," he claimed in a Tuesday teleconference. "And the disappointments that come sometimes when you don't win the race. I don't see any foul there at all."
"A few years ago, we backed away from micromanaging drivers' emotions. You would hope in today's world that if somebody didn't win a race, they would be upset about it for whatever reason. That's what our drivers do is they try to win races."
As for the last-lap crash, between Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano NASCAR looked at the replays and determined no additional penalties were warranted. Darby also praised the crews, in each situation which kept the post-race emotions from boiling over into a bigger brawl after Sunday's event.
News 'N' Notes
- Brian France, in an interview with ESPN took responsibility for fining Denny Hamlin earlier this season after a series of criticisms on NASCAR's Gen-6. It's a ruling he also stood by. "We give more latitude than any professional sport to criticize, speak their mind and say whatever they want," he said. "We encourage it, actually, including criticism that gets directed at us. But when the driver . . . begins to call out the quality of the racing or the rules packages, we have to make that call or opinions will shape what may not be reality..."
- JD Motorsports and Nationwide Series driver Danny Efland have parted ways. Efland, who was running a limited schedule for the organization in 2013 failed to qualify at Bristol after becoming involved in a season-opening Daytona wreck. 39 of his 58 career starts have come with the JD Motorsports organization, resulting in a best finish of 13th. No replacement was announced at press time, although Daryl Harr is running the West Coast races already for the team's second car, the No. 4.
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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Today's Featured Commentary
NASCAR Rivalries: Ongoing Feuds Keep Fans Watching
by Ellen Richardson
by Ellen Richardson
Although competition in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series has continued to improve this season, the true heat was found on Sunday in the final laps of the Auto Club 400. Watching Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano share sheet metal until one or the other wound up in the wall, on the last lap of this race, I knew that this rivalry had gone from a war of words to the kind of NASCAR rivalry that fans will continue to remember.
The funny thing is, I never expected another rivalry to emerge at the end of this race. So, I was somewhat surprised when Tony Stewart climbed from his No. 14 Chevrolet and started wailing on Logano for blocking him on the final restart. In fact, the buzz among both NASCAR fans and media following Sunday's race has been centered on Smoke's attempt to make Sliced Bread into burnt toast, followed by Stewart's post-race rant and Hamlin's injury, regardless of Kyle Busch's weekend sweep.
Feeling the excitement in the air following Sunday's wild finish, I was interested to see how active both Facebook and Twitter would be with fan comments. One of these comments came straight from a fan who works directly within the sport:
"I think Tony Stewart is one heck of a race car driver, but I don't feel that Joey really did anything wrong. It was a restart and he was holding his position trying to win the race. Stewart has and would've done the same thing. However I do feel like Stewart was correct on speaking his mind on how he felt about the situation. Instead of holding his feelings and true emotions back he said what he felt. I also do not like what Logano said about Hamlin getting what he deserved. Their racing was good for the sport because it was a lot of battling for position, but I feel that Logano used up Hamlin and it cost both of them a chance to win. This battling is good for our sport. However drivers getting hurt is not, I do feel that if Hamlin wouldn't have tried to get Logano back he wouldn't have hit the wall quite as hard as he did. Just my two cents worth!!!"
Call it "Boys Have It" or what you will, NASCAR's rivalries are what keep us all tuning in, filling the stands and talking. Whether you choose to deny it or not, this has been the case since the early days of this sport when Cale Yarborough and the Allison brothers brought national publicity to NASCAR following their unforgettable on-track and off-track battle at the end of the 1979 Daytona 500.
As well-known pit road reporter, Dick Berggren stated, "Nobody knew it then, but that was the race that got everything going. It was the first 'water cooler' race, the first time people stood around water coolers on Monday and talked about seeing a race on TV the day before."
This would be one of many NASCAR rivalries that would keep fans standing around the proverbial water cooler, or what we might all now refer to social media, talking about. Some of my favorite rivalries include:
• Darrell Waltrip vs. Rusty Wallace – The battle that ensued following Rusty Wallace's last lap spin of Darrell Waltrip in the 1989 All Star Race is one that long-time NASCAR fans continue to talk about. In fact, hearing Tony's rant on Sunday was very reminiscent of Darrell's comment following this race, "I hope he chokes on the $200,000, that's all I can tell him."
• Dale Earnhardt vs. Jeff Gordon – This rivalry went on from Gordon's initial start in the sport. Earnhardt called Gordon "Wonder Boy" throughout their time racing together just to mess with his head. This rivalry actually led to a large fan split, similar to that of Carolina and Duke basketball fans.
• Kevin Harvick vs. Joey Logano – Here's yet another feud that Logano had himself mixed up in. After Harvick spun Logano on the last lap of Pocono Raceway's Gillette Fusion ProGlide 500 in June 2010, Logano jumped out of his car and went straight to Harvick's to begin yelling at both Harvick and his team. The post-race interview with Logano led to one of the most memorable marketing phrases that fans everywhere will long remember: "It's probably not Harvick's fault, his wife wears the firesuit in the family."
• Clint Bowyer vs. Jeff Gordon – This was the race that everyone was talking about last year. After a season's worth of ongoing tension exploded into pandemonium in the pits at Phoenix International Raceway, following Bowyer and Gordon colliding with seven laps lap to in the AdvoCare 500 and Gordon retaliating by wrecking Bowyer three laps later. The battle royale that ensued between Bowyer's and Gordon's crews kept fans talking far into the offseason.
Witnessing the rivalries that have already formed this early in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, I will be "tuning in" to see who will be next to make rivalry history.
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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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Tweet 'N' Greet
by Kevin Rutherford
Editor's Note: With the NASCAR Twitter community expanding by leaps and bounds, it remains a place for instantaneous news, reactions, and a whole lot of inside jokes. We understand if you don't want to join the Twitter community - but as a fan, it's important to know the news and info you're missing out on! That's why, every week, Kevin Rutherford will sort through the thousands of messages and give us a little taste of what's going on each Wednesday.
So, without further ado, here's a look at what those in NASCAR were thinking over the past seven days...
@dennyhamlin: All good pic.twitter.com/3Ou1XkAAtL
@BubbaWallace (Darrell Wallace, Jr.): The perfect example of never giving up and it ain't over til the checkered flag is out. Best race of all time!
@mw55 (Michael Waltrip): Let's celebrate safety and not ridicule our league. We learn from every wreck.
@KyleBusch: Finally gettin 2 my phone after an awesome time in VL n celebration dinner. Great job by my guys n thx 4 the congrats. Speedy recovery denny!
@kaseykahne: Just listened to an awesome interview by Tony Stewart. I think he said it all!
@BlakeFeese: To those fussing about Tony's reaction, watch golf. That's what it is there for.
@tydillon: I think today what made our sport is back great racing and fighting #gameon
@Drew_Herring: I think the racing we watched today is proof to calm down the the track re-paving. Amazing race, kudos to NASCAR and manufacturers #NASCAR
@RyanBlaney22: NASCAR is back everyone. From the amazing racing to the passion of the drivers. Big year for us.
@PeytonSellers: These kind of finishes are every weekend at @NASCARHomeTrack across the country. Find your local short track Sat night
@55MarkMartin: I went broke in 1982 doing my own team. Won't do it again RT @MTNVG: @55MarkMartin Hey Mark, did you ever plan on starting your own race team
@DannyEfland: @JDMotorsports01 and I have parted ways.
@Kenny_Wallace: I had this picture of @kylepetty from yesterday. Ha ha! pic.twitter.com/lpVxFJueF6
@AndyLally: I refuse to iron clothes, I just keep putting the dryer on cycle over & over until I remember to come back to it while it is still turning.
@DavidRagan: Really hate to hear Sonoma PR man John Cardinale passed away today. He was a good guy and truly loved racing. Keep his family n your prayers
@RossChastain: Hey @TeamBKR how's the budget looking?? I'm formally recommending heated seats in the banos! #coldmornings
@tannerberryhill: Hey @mattdracing! Bet you didn't know you get to drive the "love machine!" pic.twitter.com/2NChsGx9ko
@aric_almirola: Went for a hike to the top of Mount Baldy today with Marcos after practice. Ended up climbing around 4,000 ft. One hell of a workout
@claygreenfield: Grandmother- Do you realize you haven't called me since Daytona? Me- I've been busy I haven't even had time to tweet. She didn't laugh
@paulieharraka: Is it just me, or does it look like @joeylogano is getting ready to throw his Coke @ Smoke on this display?? pic.twitter.com/sxDJOUS8bL
Kevin Rutherford is a Senior Writer for Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via email at kevin.rutherford@frontstretch.com. Follow him on Twitter at @Surfwax83.
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TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:
Did You Notice? ... Back-Breaking Maneuvers, The Perfect Combination And A Secret Success
by Tom Bowles
NASCAR Writer Power Rankings: Top 15 After Fontana
compiled by Michael Mehedin
Top Ten Ways NASCAR Could Make Drivers Settle Their Differences Off the Track
by the Frontstretch Staff
Open Wheel Wednesday: Season Opener Round Table
by Huston Ladner, Toni Montgomery and Matt Stallknecht
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FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Q: If you've seen the movie Smokey and the Bandit Part II, then you've seen footage of a race between a bunch of trucks at then-Atlanta International Raceway. That one-off race in 1979 that was filmed for the movie resulted in the creation of the Great American Truck Race for 1980. However, what was the main problem with racing eight ton trucks at superspeedways?
Check back Thursday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
Tuesday's Answer:
Q: For many years, the spring race at Martinsville was scheduled for the same weekend as the NFL Draft, an event that ESPN built up from simple beginnings to be an all-conquering behemoth. As a result, it was the last race on the Sprint Cup schedule to get a live, flag-to-flag telecast. When was the first live, flag-to-flag telecast of the then-Hanes 500?
A: 1996 was the first year that the Hanes 500 received a pre-planned live, flag-to-flag telecast on ESPN. The previous year, rains delayed the race so that once coverage of the NFL Draft was complete, ESPN went to Martinsville to air the delayed telecast, but the actual race wasn't over yet. ESPN then aired that portion of the race as part of an unplanned live telecast. Later that year, rains delayed the start of the DieHard 500 at Talladega to beyond the end of CBS' timeslot. As a result, that telecast ended up airing six days later as an unplanned tape delayed broadcast. It also allowed a local TV station to embargo the footage of the big crash that broke Dale Earnhardt's collarbone and sternum.
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 Phil Allaway
-- What's Vexing Vito by Vito Pugliese
-- Critic's Annex by Phil Allaway
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, the Line of the Week and more!
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Tomorrow on the Frontstretch:
Mirror Driving by the Frontstretch Staff
Your favorite Frontstretch writers are back to discuss a variety of different subjects. This week's topics include the NASCAR's lack of Tuesday penalties, the best and worst of the Nationwide Series thus far and so much more!
Frontstretch Fan Q&A by Summer Bedgood
Summer takes on your questions and answers them to the best of her ability. Be sure to send your questions in if there's something that's been nagging at you and you might see your name in print.
Tech Talk by Mike Neff
Mike has a Sprint Cup Series crew chief stop by to talk about the technical side of NASCAR. This week, "Bono" Manion stops by to talk about the progression of NASCAR's Gen-6 so far this season.
Truckin' Thursdays by Beth Lunkenheimer
Beth is back with all of the latest and greatest to come out of the Truck Series as the series continues on an extended break. This week, Miguel Paludo stops by with his latest driver diary entry. Topics include testing at Martinsville and what he's been filling his time off with.
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