Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
March 6th, 2013
Volume VII, Edition XXIX
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What To Watch: Wednesday
- Carl Edwards will hold a national teleconference with the media three days after breaking his 70-race winless streak. Edwards, 11th in series points has now broken the same drought twice at Phoenix International Raceway (November 2010 & March '13).
Top News
by Amy Henderson and Beth Lunkenheimer
It's Official: SPEED to become FOX Sports 1 August 17th
FOX made official what race fans have known was coming for some time: the current SPEED channel will become FOX Sports 1 on August 17th of this year. FOX hopes that the new channel, which will carry a variety of sports programming, including soccer, college football and basketball in addition to NASCAR (and, starting in 2014, Major League Baseball) will eventually compete for market share with ESPN. The announcement was made on Tuesday by FOX Sports Management Group Co-Presidents and COOs Randy Freer and Eric Shanks.
NASCAR fans will see changes in race programming, including broadcasts of Sprint Cup races on FS1 beginning in 2015. The exact number of crossover races is undetermined; however, the announcement assured the Daytona 500 would remain on network television. NASCAR coverage on FS1 will include Speedweeks (including the Sprint Unlimited, Daytona 500 qualifying and the Duels at Daytona), the Sprint All-Star race, Camping World Truck Series competition, and Cup Series practice and qualifying sessions.
"Our 'secret,' admittedly a very poorly kept one, is now revealed," Shanks said during FOX's Press Conference on Tuesday. "Fans are ready for an alternative to the establishment, and our goal for FS1 is to provide the best in-game experience possible, complemented by informative news, entertaining studio shows and provocative original programming."
In addition, two of SPEED's staple shows, Race Day and Victory Lane will still air on the day of every Sprint Cup race, and Race Hub will air Monday-Friday. Other racing programs, such as Wind Tunnel, are likely to be cancelled in favor of other sports.
Cup events have been shown on FOX since 2001.
NASCAR, SMI Retain Legal Counsel
NASCAR and its sister company, Speedway Motorsports, Inc. have retained the services of Cole, Scott, & Kissane, P.A., a Miami-based firm, in the wake of the Nationwide Series crash at Daytona International Speedway in which nearly 30 fans were injured after pieces of Kyle Larson's race car flew into the stands, according to an ESPN report on Tuesday.
Matt Morgan, the Orlando attorney who has been hired by four of the injured fans, reports that the two firms are "working diligently" to settle the claims out of court. Morgan added that if a settlement cannot be reached, the case would go to trial.
Two fans remain hospitalized a week and a half after the last-lap incident on February 23. Neither of them are at this time among those who have hired Morgan. Both fans are reportedly in stable condition at Halifax Health.
Hornaday Joins 2013 West Coast Hall of Fame Inductees
Ron Hornaday, Jr. has been chosen for the 2013 class of the West Coast Hall of Fame. Camping World Truck Series director Chad Little and Derrike Cope are also among those that will be inducted later this year. He joins his late father and two-time K&N Pro Series champion, Ron Hornaday, Sr., who was inducted in 2002.
"Honestly, I'm honored but [I] don't know what to think as I feel I am not done [driving] yet and working on more records," Hornaday said. I think getting voted into the Hall of Fame is a neat deal knowing that my dad is a member too. It would just be a little sweeter if he was alive to enjoy this with me."
The 54-year-old raced in the Nationwide Series for Dale Earnhardt and Richard Childress, scoring four wins and also ran for A.J. Foyt in the Sprint Cup Series. Hornaday also currently holds several Camping World Truck Series records, including the most championships at four. In 323 career Truck Series starts, the Joe Denette Motorsports driver boasts 51 victories, 149 top 5s, 215 top-10 results and 27 poles.
Induction ceremonies are scheduled for June 20th at the Meritage Resort and Spa in Napa, California.
News 'N' Notes
- A handful of Camping World Truck Series drivers will test next week at Martinsville Speedway in preparation for the series' next event, which will be held at the 0.533-mile paperclip on April 6th. Rookie Chase Elliott, Caleb Holman and three Turner Scott Motorsports drivers -- James Buescher, Jeb Burton, and Miguel Paludo -- will participate in the two-day test next Tuesday and Wednesday, March 12th and 13th.
- WESCO International, a wholesale distributor of electrical, industrial, utility and communications products, renewed its primary sponsorship with Richard Childress Racing. The Pittsburgh-based company will adorn Ty Dillon's No. 33 Nationwide Series ride as primary sponsor for Las Vegas, Talladega, Dover (June), Bristol (August), Texas (November) and Homestead. The company also served as primary sponsor for Dillon in two races last season.
Have news for Amy, Beth 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
NASCAR Sprint Cup Continues on a Televised Hot Streak
Will Growth Continue After Sunday's Kobalt 400?
by Ellen Richardson
Will Growth Continue After Sunday's Kobalt 400?
by Ellen Richardson
NASCAR continued to receive some rather positive news this week. Sunday's Subway Fresh Fit 500k was the top-rated televised sports event of the weekend; outpacing two top-tier NBA matchups. These numbers continued to increase following the major viewership spike that occurred after the Daytona 500, where FOX celebrated a 30 percent ratings increase (the highest seen in seven years).
What Has Caused All This Excitement?
Although I felt both the NASCAR Nationwide and Sprint Cup races were not as eventful as I had hoped this past weekend in Phoenix, much like many other fans I tuned in to "find out what would happen next." Let's face it, NASCAR is the sports fan's ultimate soap opera and with this year's season-opening races at Daytona, who wouldn't want to tune in to find out what would happen at the first unrestricted race of the season?
Starting with Danicamania.
While many female fans were wowed when Danica Patrick roared to the pole for the Daytona 500, Patrick was just one of the victims who experienced tire issues on Sunday in Phoenix, which resulted in a trashed No. 10 Chevrolet and a 39th-place finish. Not exactly the debut follow-up this rising NASCAR star wanted coming out of Daytona.
Oh, Those Goodyears
Tires also continued to feel the wrath of Phoenix International Raceway this weekend, another reasons to keep fans glued to the television. Although a flat one-mile oval, Phoenix International Raceway is known as one of the trickier race tracks on the Sprint Cup Circuit. In fact, this track has continued to be hard on tires no matter its repaving in 2011, which has fans guessing who is most likely to survive and pull off the win?
The debut of the Gen-6
The debut of the new Gen-6 car at NASCAR's first unrestricted race of the season was sure to have fans on the edge of their seats. Unfortunately, this excitement fizzled away fast when drivers continued to have trouble getting close to each other. Just one of the complaints after Sunday's race came from five-time champion Jimmie Johnson, who said, "Racing-wise, it was tough to pass all day and track position and strategy on pit road seemed to be the big deal." From the looks of things, Johnson was right.
Closing laps continue to keep eyes glued to the screen
While I was hoping that the opening laps of these races would begin to become as exciting as the final lap or laps of the race, the last lap of Sunday's Subway Fresh Fit 500k didn't fail to keep my attention. Seeing Carl Edwards jump to the lead following Keselowski's push on a lap 315 restart, I knew that this Subway driver's dramatic 70-race winless streak was over. The after-race rant from Jimmie Johnson, regarding Edwards' final restart even ended the day with a cliffhanger that provides a perfect promotion to get fans tuning in this Sunday at Las Vegas.
Will The Spike In Television Ratings Continue?
While it is obvious that there were some dramatic moments that kept viewers tuned in during the race weekend in Phoenix, will NASCAR's television ratings continue to soar following this weekend's racing action at Las Vegas Motor Speedway? With drama only continuing to build in this sport in the early months of this NASCAR season, who wouldn't want to tune into racing at Sin City to see "what will happen next"?
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Tweet 'N' Greet
by Beth Lunkenheimer and 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...
@keselowski (Brad Keselowski): #MultiTasker : And he is still tweeting @keselowski pic.twitter.com/nVrAa5MDHf"
@Just_AP (Ashley Parlett): Here's why I think whatever Jeremy said should NOT be released: 1) we do NOT need anyone personally offended 2) hes a good kid and the..
@Just_AP: ..loss of everything he has worked for is enough 3) every hypocritical asshole will land blast him and forget that they too..
@Just_AP: ..have made an inappropriate statement at some point. The people who patrol these things have taken action. Now focus on something else
@Just_AP: And for everyone saying they have the RIGHT to know. You are wrong, sit down. #lynchmob
@Just_AP: Furthermore. I don't blame NASCAR for policing such things. It sucks, its ridiculous but its their sandbox & they have sponsors to answer to
@DGodfatherMoody (Dave Moody): So you're angry at the reporter, but not Clements? Interesting @DonRohr SOMEONE ratted him out vs being adult and discuss it with him
@KristineC48 (Kristine Curley): I'm so glad @JimmieJohnson is enjoying mocking me & the fact that I fell UP an escalator. Me and my new bruises & broken phone- not so much
@MichaelAnnett: I think I could set up a fruit stand on the side of the road with all these Edible Arrangements I've received. #chocolatedippedstrawberries
@NASCARBowles (Tom Bowles): Me to @Beth_Frntstrtch 2nite: "@MRNRadio did a Harlem Shake video? Why can't we?" Silence. Then.."I don't know about all that." Haha #NASCAR
@JohnnySauter: My son just ran 50 laps around our house and then stopped and told me that he has to take a break because @Matt_Crafton put him in the wall.
@StacyStenhouse: Love waking up to this precious face! http://instagr.am/p/WcEc1HKg8-/
@Mother_Function: Nice q-run for @kevinharvick today. Must have brought out his "Big Guns" http://twitpic.com/c7w5kp
@55MarkMartin: Thanks @rchilders55 @aaronssports @toyotaracing cool starting 1st Sun. http://yfrog.com/oborttej http://yfrog.com/hswfqybbj http://yfrog.com/obc43dej
@KyleBusch: What an awesome day, great 2 get @MonsterEnergy to VL. This burn out was 4 all u fans! Thanks 4 the support. pic.twitter.com/96NtlvFspK
@KyleBusch: Great way to cool down after a win w ice cold @MonsterEnergy!! All jacked up for today ready to do it again!! http://twitpic.com/c8eekc
@KurtBusch: Don't get in any moving vehicle w/ my mom. She was involved in a crash in the tunnel b4 the end of the race. A little banged up
@SamanthaBusch: Dear @NASCAR this sandwich bag floating on the track looks VERY dangerous! Quick throw a caution, Pretty please ;) pic.twitter.com/Nz341tAxad
@roushfenway (Roush Fenway Racing): A #Backflip into Victory Lane #CarlEdwards #rfrdriven http://tmblr.co/ZT-1vsfSV6eU
@KurtBusch: Thx again for all the nice comments about mom. She's here at the track & in great spirits. She was touched by all the concern
@landoncassill: We didn't expect to run the full race this week but we did! Car isn't too bad, when we get some sponsors to make a full effort we'll be good
@DavidRagan: Well you have days like today....I wish I could have missed the wreck..... Again we will move on to Vegas. It was a good race 4 us last year
@StenhouseJr: Long day fly to Texas this mornin. And jus landed back in Phoenix waitin on my chauffeur @DanicaPatrick well not waitin she's waitin on me
@scottspeed: We laid it down!! Missed half of practice!! No matter.. So proud of everyone, made real good decisions on setup!! Love out q'ing huge teams
@DavidStremme: I'm sorry to all the Dave Blaney fans. I had brakes issues and it was totally my fault that he got wrecked. Week was not the way we wanted
@travispastrana: Never know what to expect when I walk into a nascar race... pic.twitter.com/60WKCmHKCg
@JimmieJohnson: What a start to the season for @LowesRacing. I'm so proud of@TeamHendrick, the hard work and endless hours of work is paying off. #6pack
@Brendan62 (Brendan Gaughan): Definition of happiness: Climbing into bed w @Taterztotz and my son with the baby in the crib next to us. I missed my babies!
@DeLanaHarvick: Don't go ninjin nobody that don't need ninjin! RT @KevinHarvick Stay away from this guy... He's dangerous!!! pic.twitter.com/0XvaH0Et7B
@DakodaArmstrong: Well got 2 speeding tickets within 12 months so have to do a 4 hour driver defense test now #awesome #goodtime
@11mommalou (Mary Lou Hamlin): Had a BEAUTIFUL drive 2day to Utah! 1st time in State. Look what's across the street of hotel! Zion Nat'l Park 2morrowpic.twitter.com/PgDOQVPkZS
@David_Starr_81: Baby Vance Starr! #fb pic.twitter.com/eILfWNO1rV
@kennywallace: Kenny Wallace "Harlem Shake" St. Louis Style! http://youtu.be/JFeqtqw1bjE "
@keselowski (Brad Keselowski): I have a strange un-diagnosed phobia that makes me want to uncontrollably cry on tax day.
@J_Allgaier (Justin Allgaier): Well, I mean how else would you describe a dog? Haha. Sign @starbucks this am http://instagr.am/p/WUd46aIRQm/
@AndyLally: Martin is on the pole today, get it... on...the...pole... Oh, wait, that's not funny this week? #Good #ThatGotOldQuick
@ReedSorenson7: So thankful to get an opportunity to drive the 43 while @MichaelAnnett recovers. Very exciting and can't wait to get started this weekend
@MichaelAnnett: Really excited for my buddy @ReedSorenson7 getting behind the wheel of my #43 car. He'll bring home the finishes we need.
@Elliott_Sadler: Glad to see Reed get tabbed to fill in for Annett... He deserves this opportunity.. Good luck to him.... As well as Mike on speedy recovery
@JennaFryer: Just attempted to fix the washing machine with google, YouTube and an 8 year old. #MacGruber
@JennaFryer: Awaiting the results of attempt 3 to fix washing machine. We are down 3 beach towels, a roll of paper towels and borrowed the frying pan.
@pkligerman (Parker Kligerman): @JennaFryer honestly. I resort to the BIG HAMMER option in situations like that. After that it won't be a question if it works or not!
@JennaFryer: @pkligerman That's next. I also have a power drill and some bits.
@JennaFryer: P.S. the frying pan was what the 8-year-old raced to grab to collect the water because the hose was so low to the ground.
Beth Lunkenheimer is a Managing Editor for Frontstretch.com. She can be reached via email at beth.lunkenheimer@frontstretch.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Beth_Frntstrtch. 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? ... NASCAR's New TV Challenge, Record Droughts & Six Shooters
by Tom Bowles and Kevin Rutherford
NASCAR Writer Power Rankings: Top 15 After Phoenix I
compiled by Michael Mehedin
Side By Side: Should NASCAR Award Bonus Points Throughout Races?
by S.D. Grady and Mike Neff
Tech Talk: Comparing Loop Data to Analyze the Gen-6
by Mike Neff
The Offseason Might Never Be the Same
by Toni Montgomery
Top Ten Things Ryan Newman Was Thinking As He Walked Away From His Phoenix Crash
by the Frontstretch Staff
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FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Q: Matt Kenseth started from pole and led early in the Sam's Town 300 at Las Vegas, back in 2001. However, he wasn't in contention at the finish. What happened to take him out of the running?
Check back Thursday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
Tuesday's Answer:
Q: In 1998, Jack Sprague did everything in his power to try to claim the Craftsman Truck Series Championship, including winning the season finale at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. However, it was not enough as Ron Hornaday, Jr.'s second-place finish was enough to claim the title. What happened after the race?
A: Hornaday's second-place finish was enough to give him the championship by just three points. Following the race, the two drivers, who combined to win 11 of the 27 races, joined each other in the tri-oval grass / dirt, and celebrated together. This celebration consisted of both drivers parking their trucks next to each other, shaking hands, then doing donuts. The final couple of laps of the race and the celebration can be seen here. Marty Reid and Dorsey Schroeder have the call for ESPN2. Also of note, this race was run on the same day as the NAPA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway for Winston Cup. However, due to a near record (for length in one day) rain delay, this race was run in full during the delay.
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 Nationwide Series underdogs, what to expect from the Gen-6 in its first cookie-cutter race 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.
Fantasy Racing by Jeff Wolfe
Jeff brings fantasy racing back to Frontstretch this season. This week, he takes a look at your best bets for racing out in Las Vegas.
Truckin' Thursdays by Beth Lunkenheimer
Beth is back with all of the latest and greatest to come out of the Truck Series. This week, Beth takes a closer look at this year's rookie class.
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