Tuesday, May 28, 2013

The Frontstretch Newsletter: May 29th, 2013

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

May 29th, 2013
Volume VII, Edition XCII

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Congratulations to Gary Boucher, winner of our Dover Speedway and FanVision Contest. Gary was the first to correctly identify Earnhardt Ganassi Racing as the team Matt referred to in his Friday column, and that Juan Pablo Montoya and Jamie McMurray finished in 18th and 19th place, respectively.
 
Thank you Gary for your support of the Frontstretch and enjoy your weekend at Dover with your FanVision Device!

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Top News
by Tom Bowles

Tony Stewart Speaks Out Against Blocking

One of NASCAR's veterans is admonishing the way younger drivers are racing in Sprint Cup competition for the second time in less than three months. Tony Stewart, in the midst of his own 2013 struggles, went off on how blocking is affecting the sport Sunday despite one of his better performances of the year, a seventh in Charlotte's Coca-Cola 600.

"Ricky Stenhouse, I'd choke him right now if I could get to him," Stewart told Sirius XM Radio after the race. "One more lap of having to mess around with him... "

Stewart went on to say, on the radio program, today's style of racing is radically different from when he was a rookie in Cup. Claiming the practice is now readily accepted, he doesn't want to move drivers out of the way but may feel like it's a necessary evil going forward if things don't change.

"Everybody that thinks this crap of blocking is productive, they don't know honestly what racing is all about," Stewart said. "And the guys that do it who think it's acceptable, I lose respect for them every day."

Stewart also was critical of Joey Logano, specifically following a Fontana restart in March where the young driver blocked Stewart's inside bid for the lead. In that race, Stewart faded to well outside the top 20 and the incident caused a physical confrontation afterwards. While never openly retaliating, the bitterness between the two has continued, as there's stubbornness to both sides changing the way they compete.

"I always said I'd choke those (IndyCar) guys if I raced with them, but that was the most respectful race I saw and probably the best Indy 500 I ever saw," Stewart claimed, using Sunday's record-setting open-wheel race as a comparison and future compromise. "It shows when those guys, no matter what series it is, if you race each other with respect and actually race each other, it can put on a good show. You don't have to sit there and block and gouge everybody to get a good race."

National Guard Sponsorship Study Confirms NASCAR Link To Recruiting

The armed forces' lone remaining full-time sponsor in the sport now has proof its advertising works. The Alan Newman Research program of Richmond, VA concluded a study, released to the public this week where the National Guard is boasting a three-to-one return on its NASCAR program. Since backing Dale Earnhardt, Jr., in 2007 the branch of the U.S. Military has added some 400,000 recruits, some 90% of which were exposed to their benefits through NASCAR-related brochures, events, drivers, or cars.

Additionally, the research group found that among those 18 to 34, fans of NASCAR are twice as likely to consider the military a career option than those who don't care about the sport. They're also "very likely" to support a loved one's military career by an increased rate of 20 percent.

The news is important considering attempts in recent years to ban military sponsorships at sporting events. That bill, which was defeated last year has not been proposed to Congress so far in 2013. Earnhardt, meanwhile, is still searching for additional sponsorship as the National Guard is only backing roughly half the events on the driver's schedule.

Truck Series Crew Member Suspended Indefinitely

NASCAR announced on Tuesday that Beau Wilkes, a tire specialist for Eddie Sharp Racing in the Camping World Truck Series, was suspended indefinitely for violating the sanctioning body's substance abusy policy. Wilkes was found in violation of Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 19 (violation of the NASCAR Substance Abuse Policy) on May 23rd. ESR issued a statement from team owner Eddie Sharp.

"ESR supports all NASCAR rules and mandates zero tolerance with any violations, especially concerning NASCAR's and ESR's own substance abuse policy," Sharp said. "Upon learning that one of our team members violated NASCAR's substance abuse policy, we immediately released him from the team. That said, we support his Road to Recovery efforts and wish good health for him and his family."

The organization fields two full-time entries in the Truck Series including one for Max Gresham and another that has had a myriad of drivers behind the wheel.

News 'N' Notes

- Early indications are that Coca-Cola 600 viewership is on par with one year ago. The race earned a 4.1 Nielsen overnight rating, flat with 2012 and outpacing this year's Indy 500 by seven percent. That number also blew away the Grand Prix of Monaco, which scored a 1.3 on NBC even though that's the highest rating for a live F-1 race in six years.

The numbers are disappointing, however, when compared to their heights of just a short time ago. The Coke 600, back in 2005 posted a 6.1 rating while the Indy 500 drew a 6.6. That year was the peak of NASCAR's popularity, combined with Danica Patrick's near-win in open-wheel's biggest race.

- AJ Allmendinger, just two days removed from a seventh-place finish in the Indy 500 spent Tuesday testing a Penske Racing Nationwide Series car at Virginia International Raceway. There's been no official announcement as to his schedule, other than racing open-wheel for the team at Belle Isle this weekend but the test raised speculation as to whether he'll run on the road courses of Road America, Mid-Ohio, and Watkins Glen for the No. 22 car. The latter two events have no conflict with the IndyCar schedule; Penske is trying to find funding to run the Californian in more events on that side of the fence, as well.

- The early entry lists for Nationwide and Trucks find NASCAR scrambling to fill the field for both series. Only 38 cars are listed for the second-tier division, for an available 40 spots on the grid while the Truck Series is one short (35 entries for 36 spots). The Cup cars, with a bare minimum 43 are the only ones "set" for this weekend's activities.

Have news for Tom 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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Today's Featured Commentary
Shame on You, INDYCAR
WTF Wednesdays
by Ellen Richardson

After being excited about tuning into the Indy 500 (the one IndyCar race that I generally tune into each year) I was, once again, disappointed by this series' Superbowl race ending under caution.  Not to take anything away from race winner, Tony Kanaan but how can fans be asked to continue to tune into this race when all they can expect is a dull ending?

As the Izod IndyCar Series has continued to struggle for both fans and television ratings over the last few years, fellow Frontstretch writer, Toni Montgomery wrote "the one debate that will likely arise for Sunday's Indy 500 is whether or not this series needs to use some method to ensure races end under green flag conditions," in her Indy 500 Breakdown: One For the Ages.

Let the debate begin, because it is time for the IndyCar Series to do everything that they can to give fans the most exciting race possible while giving drivers and teams the chance to prove they are top performers.

I can't say that this race wasn't exciting, with the record-setting 68 lead changes and consistent competition throughout.  Also, who wouldn't want to root for Tony Kanaan, on his 12th try for the one race that has eluded him throughout the years, especially with the wonderful story about the lucky medallion that he had with him throughout this race? 

I just can't help but wonder that if INDYCAR were to adopt NASCAR's green-white-checkered finish rule, though that the finish of Sunday's Indy 500 would have been as legendary as ones we have continued to see in NASCAR over the last few years.  Instead, fans not only viewing this race from home but who also stood in line for hours at Indianapolis Motor Speedway were treated to a hum drum ending, single-file behind the pace car for not the first, no not even the second, but the fourth year in a row.  I just have to say it early in this column folks, WTF?

Being a typical writer who loves research, my continued disbelief and disappointment took me to the Internet to find out what kind of buzz was going on regarding this debate.  One of the best references that I read was within Los Angeles Times article Indy 500 Postscript: An Outcry Over Ending the Race Under Caution where third-place finisher Ryan Hunter-Reay gave his opinion on bringing this world-renowned race into overtime.

"This is Indy, there's a certain way things are done."  Hunter-Reay also mentioned that the green-white-checkered format "can be a bit gimmicky."

Gimmicky! Are you kidding me?  If this type of finish were, quote, "gimmicky" why does almost every small track racing series use the same type of "gimmicky" finish that NASCAR adopted so many years ago? 

The funny thing is Hunter-Reay has also said that he is willing to do "what the fans want."  I am glad that he is willing to recognize that while it is important that these drivers be happy with the competition, without fans tuning in or sitting in the stands this series will see its days come to an end. 

Even if Sunday's race winner can see a valid reason to reconsider a change in the rules, I think it is time that new series President, Derrick Walker and his fellow cohorts consider some changes.  Maybe the thought is, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.  The problem is, there are so many things that are falling apart in the IZOD IndyCar Series that if it isn't broken yet, it sure will be soon.  Time for a change guys!

Ellen Richardson is a Newsletter Contributor for Frontstretch.com.  She can be reached via e-mail at frontstretcheditors@googlegroups.com. Follow her on Twitter @EllenNRich.

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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 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...

@Writer_Amy: Ouch! Hey, @CJMearsGang what did that poor gecko do to y'all? pic.twitter.com/kHVcOxsn3I

@MountaineerMama: @TheFrontstretch @surfwax83 When Kyle dominates, I turn the TV off. Where's the fun in watching him lap these young drivers?

@Writer_Amy: Three new #nascar Hall of Famers: Dale Jarrett, Jack Ingram and Maurice Petty pic.twitter.com/FpSt6Q2Fue

@jeff_gluck: Frustrating as a viewer to think about the finish that might have been at Indy 500. Need a GWC rule. It's a gimmick, yeah, but for the fans!

@jeff_gluck: Getting crushed by IndyCar fans on Twitter right now. How dare I suggest IndyCar make its races more entertaining. Sorry?

@ReganSmith: @jeff_gluck gotta say I agree with them, as anti-climatic as that finish was for as good as the race was, it's good to stick with tradition.

@LewisFranck:
Some people kiss the yard of bricks. I think I just saw Tony Kanaan try to make love to that yard of bricks.

@nateryan: Perhaps it's just me ... but this race has been run 97 times, and it hasn't gone more than 500 miles yet. Hard to argue with that. #indycar

@nateryan: With respect to colleague @jeff_gluck and others, fans didn't litter Indianapolis with debris because race ended under yellow ... #IndyCar

@nateryan: ... nor did they shower the field with boos. Will take that as a tacit endorsement of the way the race ended by 200,000 or so here. #indycar

@DeLanaHarvick: Yeah kinda wanted to push him down :( MT @kcav917: @DeLanaHarvick must b awesome 2 c @KeelanHarvick walking, but heartbreak 2 see him grow up

@NickBromberg: After one of the best Indy 500s ever, the GWC debate going on right now proves that race fans and many around sport are never happy.

@NickBromberg: And, the worst thing the @IndyCar Series could do right now would be to institute GWC finishes anytime soon. Let the rules be different.

@IndyCar: KISS THE BRICKS! #Indy500orBust #IndyCar @TonyKanaan @kvracing pic.twitter.com/d1DqX7ZP30

@GrahamRahal: Heard the race today was awesome. I hope people are noticing how great the product is in @indycar. Don't think any series has what we do

@KevinHarvick: Waking up at the track on a Monday morning with the trophy and a hangover is always a good thing!!!

@KevinHarvick:
@KeelanHarvick has a new toy! pic.twitter.com/g8KOZnr8vD

@MikeCWheeler: Here's a pic @KyleBusch snapped w/ my phone. Lot of damage. But 18 team patched it up quickly and effectively. #team pic.twitter.com/dnhAEdUyUP

@Elliott_Sadler: Congrats to @TonyKanaan ... Great guy.. Always puts on a great show at Indy... Well deserved my friend

@AJDinger (AJ Allmendinger):
Yesterday was one the coolest moments of my racing career. Will never forget it thank u @penskeracing @IZOD @TeamChevy making it happen

@keselowski (Brad Keselowski): So after indy500, what do you prefer fans, great racing or great finish? Seems we can't have both.

@Beth_Frntstrtch (Beth Lunkenheimer): @keselowski It's possible to have both, but a great race holds your attention through 500 miles. A great finish? A handful of laps.

@TimGeorgeJr: Wow that cable is nuts! #coke600 #NASCAR wonder if that's it for that camera view for good ... It was a cool view

@mw55 (Michael Waltrip): I'm thankful today for those who stood in harm's way and gave all. And to the men and women who continue to keep us free. #remember

@bscottracing (Brian Scott):
God bless all our past and present service men & women. Thank you 4 ur commitment to this great country! Hope all our troops come home safe!

@AlexBRacing (Alex Bowman): Well not a good day but a bad day at the race track is better than no day at the race track

@JimmieJohnson: I wonder if this guy is still in the dog house??? https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=KC1cfgbowUg

@pkligerman (Parker Kligerman): Oh glad to know after 3 years break from road course racing, the talent didn't fall out of my ear, haha... Always a fear! #FastoffTheTruck

@Ryan_Truex: Thanks to everyone asking how I'm doing, looks like I won't be able to make Dover. But I have some very big news coming soon #hired

@NelsonPiquet:
Happy 21st bday johannalong ! We had a great time! http://instagram.com/p/Zw-0diE8ig/

@JoeyLogano: Hard day of testing at VIR, @keselowski is apparently wore out pic.twitter.com/9i4WHgWKxJ

@AndyLally: Yo momma so stupid, she sits on the TV and watches the couch.

@scottspeed: Juliet just counted to 10 by herself!!!! Holly shit! So crazy!!!! #ProudDaddy

@MaxGresham: Priuses do not belong in the left lane. Move over! #sorrynotsorry #moooooooooove

@Tbayne21 (Trevor Bayne): In 1 week I will be married to @ashtonshelby_!! #gotthegirl

@BubbaWallace: Only if only, red lobster biscuits were at every restaurant....

@SluggerLabbe: So great to see all the service men & woman @CLTMotorSpdwy supporting @nascar teams  thanks for defending our freedom #proudtobeanamerican

@RyanHunterReay:
So so close to winning the big one... Congrats to @TonyKanaan on a much deserved #Indy500 win. Great racing, lots of action. Usual @IndyCar

@nateryan: Remember how upset everyone was when Dale Earnhardt won the 1998 Daytona 500 because it ended under caution? Oh, wait ... #nascar #indycar

@TheOrangeCone: I love how the "no one will remember TK's win, only that he won under caution" people blatantly ignore the 1998 Daytona 500.

@Jordan_Bianchi: On the scale of Juan Pablo Montoya hitting a jet dryer, how weird is this? #NASCAR

@SummerBedgood: Why is everyone eating those PB&J's??? Does someone have a stash somewhere? I'm jealous. #NASCAR

@queers4gears: WOW,  that's amazing, Fox just told us the red flag they caused will make the race better.  <-- see #delusional in Webster's

@Just_AP (Ashley Parlett): Me. To nearly everything DW says pic.twitter.com/fYlACMnTDW

@dcaraviello (David Caraviello): Chris Myers on the Coca-Cola 600 television broadcast: "We at Fox Sports do apologize for this delay." #CableGate

@NASCAR_Wonka: Somewhere right now, Sterling Marlin is saying, "WTH?! You're allowed to work on your car during a red flag now?!"

@JakeSnakeCrum (Jake Crum): If I could go to a race and the only damage I receive is from a camera cable, I would be happy!

@TonyKanaan: Yesssssssss http://instagram.com/p/Zy2TKNkFhR/

@jaywpennell: Chad Knaus tells @JimmieJohnson the guys ahead of them are just better, says the Toyotas have an advantage & they're behind.

@bigdalsky (Brandon Igdalsky): Fan on @NASCARONFOX might be best hula hooping shadow boxer ever! I love this sport. Just when you've seen it all!  #nascar

@jeff_gluck: Kyle Busch says his engine is blowing and adds, "I've got more f-------- blowups than I do wins!" #NASCAR

@jeff_gluck: Team wants to fix it but Kyle says: "There's nothing to fix! It's f-------- broke! It's pointless."

@SummerBedgood: So Kyle's engine went out, Dale Jr.'s engine blew, and two cars crashed ... at the exact same time. This race is one big acid trip. #NASCAR

@Just_AP: This race sucks. THERE. I SAID IT.

@SummerBedgood: I hate to say it, but all of these cautions are helping make the race more tolerable. Those long green flag runs can be brutal. #NASCAR

@Beth_Frntstrtch: @SummerBedgood Sad state when @IndyCar can run more than 100 green flag laps and still be interesting but #NASCAR can't do the same.
 
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? ... 2013 Driver Report Cards
by Tom Bowles

IndyCar Round Table: What Did We Really Think of the Indy 500?
by Toni Montgomery, Huston Ladner and Matt Stallknecht

by the Frontstretch Staff

Happiness Is... The Next Morning
by Huston Ladner
by Amy Henderson

compiled by Michael Mehedin

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FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
 
Q: The 1987 Budweiser 500 at Dover, won by Davey Allison, was plagued by a number of engine failures.  Why was this so?
 
Check back Thursday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
 
Tuesday's Answer:

Q: In Matt Stallknecht's Four Burning Questions, Charlotte edition, that appeared on the Frontstretch last Friday, question No. 3 was about whether or not a certain team would shine during the Coca-Cola 600 based on their season to date.
 
What team was Matt talking about and how did each driver on that team perform during Sunday's race?

A: Matt was talking about Earnhardt Ganassi Racing's drivers, Jamie McMurray and Juan Pablo Montoya.  During the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday night, Montoya finished three laps down in 18th after getting caught up in a crash with Jimmie Johnson and Matt Kenseth.  Jamie McMurray finished four laps down in 19th.

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: Indianapolis 500 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.

Frontstretch Fan Q&A by Summer Bedgood
Summer takes on your NASCAR 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, Shane Wilson stops by with a few thoughts as the series heads off to Dover.

Fantasy Racing by Jeff Wolfe
Jeff brings fantasy racing back to Frontstretch this season. The week, he has your best bets as you fill out your roster for Dover.

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 look at the drivers that scored their first career victory at Dover and who has the best shot of doing the same this weekend.
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Talk back to the Frontstretch Newsletter!
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©2013 Frontstretch.com

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