Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
May 14th, 2013
Volume VII, Edition LXXV
What To Watch: Tuesday
"I know I'm not going to please everybody every day," Walker said to the Associated Press. "There are going to be some days when some people will think I'm a jerk and there will be some days where I probably will be a jerk. I just hope there's more good days than jerk days."
"I have no doubt we will be more stitched together as a team," said Miles on the hire. "I think we'll be a higher performing team under his (Walker's) leadership."
Penske Racing Tuner Injured In Motorcycle Accident
Both men's injuries, while serious are not believed to be life-threatening; they're recovering at VCU Medical Center. Anyone who witnessed the crash or has additional information is being urged to call Virginia state police at (804) 553-3445.
Have news for Tom and the Frontstretch? Don't hesitate to let us know; email us at ashland10@mail.com with a promising lead or tip.
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GOT A NASCAR QUESTION OR COMMENT? WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
That's right; our Fan Q & A column is back once again in 2013. Send your question Summer Bedgood's way at summer.bedgood@frontstretch.com and if you're lucky, you'll get your name in print on Thursday when she does her weekly column. It's all part of our daily mission to give back to you – the fans that keep Frontstretch afloat!
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Today's Featured Commentary
Jeff Gordon posted one heck of a stat on Saturday night when he took the green flag for the Bojangles' Southern 500: 700 consecutive starts in the Sprint Cup Series. In case you were wondering, that represents over 20 years of showing up to work every single week. During those two decades, he's become the No. 3 all-time race winner in NASCAR history, proud owner of four Cups and three-time Daytona 500 champion. I'm a little chuffed to say I've watched him, week in and week out achieve these stellar feats.
Then I paused and realized, 20 years? I've been a devout follower of NASCAR for all that time? It might actually be a bit longer, but Gordon's entrance into the Cup Series is one of the hallmarks I place my stock car nuttiness next to. However, it wasn't really Gordon that won me over -- not entirely. After all, he spent much of the 1993 season bumping into walls and other assorted moving objects. 14th in points that year, with 11 DNFs he was in all possible ways a rookie. There had to be somebody else out there that got me tuning in.
To satisfy my lagging memory, I pulled up the results for the 1993 Mountain Dew Southern 500 and found my answer, memories jumping off the page describing the glory days of NASCAR in the '90s. Besides running on an assortment of aging, cracking short tracks that have since been removed from our schedule, we had one of the best rivalries running in the sport. Those were the days of Rusty Wallace and Dale Earnhardt, Sr., single-car efforts battling for total supremacy atop the standings. Neither was ever "my" driver, but I was guaranteed an exciting Sunday whenever the cars in black cranked their engines. Besides the drivers' wisecracking ways, I loved watching them aim for one another's bumpers and drive the wheels off their cars.
However, two drivers does not a lifetime fan make. Mark Martin won that day driving his signature No. 6 Valvoline Ford. Even then, the wiry little guy was always in the hunt, offering up thrills here and there (Editor's Note: Martin's victory was his fourth consecutive, tying a modern-day NASCAR record). Brett Bodine, Rusty Wallace, Earnhardt, Ernie Irvan (in his first race driving the once-famous No. 28), Ricky Rudd, Harry Gant, Morgan Shepherd, Kenny Schrader and Kenny Wallace rounded out the top 10. The list of names conjured memories of classic wrecks, a little name-calling in the pits, a green car and personalities that became the face of NASCAR as they vacated their rides. Jeff Gordon, in case you're wondering, finished 22nd five laps down -- barely a blip on the day's radar.
We had just instituted electronic scoring. The networks were getting more interested in what happened in North Wilkesboro and the stands were jam packed. Beer, tobacco and auto parts still reigned supreme on the hoods of the machines we felt we could actually buy on Monday. All in all, I was sold on the dust, dirt, and mayhem.
But what about today? With drivers like Stenhouse Jr. taking their virgin flights on the cookie cutters, is NASCAR able to garner the interest of a new fan? Do we have the rivalries, veterans and stories needed to continue to build the allegiance of that random sports enthusiast who just clicked on FOX? What would they see?
They would learn of a five-time champion still seeking his sixth, the reigning one who loves to tweet and one hot chick rolling around in the back of the pack. Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin stare at one another across pit road, frustration evident before decorating the other's door with rubber. Mark Martin talks to the camera, wrinkles and enduring smile still included. A few faces from 1993 chatter in the booth, giving depth to the telecast for those who didn't know the brakes glow in the corners. And on the random occasion, NASCAR will visit a short track where it won't be all aero and engine. Instead, it's guts and determination that takes the winner to Victory Lane.
We've got a new car and technologies. Meanwhile, crew chiefs listen to their drivers through a headset that belongs to the '80s. The tracks are a network of sensors and yet, the teams can't mount one on their car. NASCAR remains a mix of throwback and testing the barriers of speed. It offers an intriguing option to the international auto racing scene, one that features high octane computers aimed down the middle of the road by a human.
Yes, the new guy might notice empty seats in the grandstands. But if they are a "car guy," they will be enamored by the roar of the engines and non-stop action that a four-hour marathon provides. If they're really lucky, the resident bad boys will mouth off at the TV cameras, call their competitors names on the radio and maybe hunt down a rival on the cool-down lap.
All in all, NASCAR in 2013 has all the ingredients 1993 had which resulted in millions of fans following a sport that once belonged to the back roads of the Deep South. Over the decades, we've managed to retain that curious generational mix of drivers, sponsors, locations, and competition that remains unique to this form of auto racing.
With all the negative press that NASCAR fans heap upon their favorite pastime, it might seem inconceivable that we still have that magical mix of drama and competition that existed 20 years ago, drawing this fan into a life devoted to 43 teams taking to the track every week. But we do.
Those 700 starts certainly flew by. Twenty years have passed without a blink. And after careful consideration, I can gladly say I'm looking forward to 700 more.
Kyle Larson Stat
Series: Nationwide Series
Track: Darlington Raceway
Car: No. 32 Cessna Chevrolet
Qualified: 7th
Finished: 6th
Points Standings: 10th
Twitter: @KyleLarsonRacin
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KyleLarsonRacing
Website (under construction): http://kylelarsonracing.com/
Looking for a little history? Try... http://kylelarsonracing.net/
S.D. Grady is a Senior Editor for Frontstretch. She can be reached via e-mail at sonya.grady@frontstretch.com. Follow him on Twitter at @laregna.
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Numbers Game: Bojangles' Southern 500
0
1
The starting spot for Kurt Busch at Darlington, his first time winning a pole position since leaving Penske Racing. He last started up front June, 2011 at Michigan, a span of 67 Cup races.
1
Driver within a full points race of Jimmie Johnson after eleven events. Carl Edwards is the only one who could "catch" Johnson after the Coca-Cola 600 depending on where the two finish.
2nd
Finishing position for Denny Hamlin Saturday night, his best run of the year despite missing four-plus races after Fontana due to an L1 Compression Fracture injury in his lower back.
3
Consecutive top-10 finishes for Carl Edwards, including a seventh on Saturday night to keep him second in points.
3.155 seconds
The margin of victory for Matt Kenseth in the Southern 500, the highest for any race at Darlington since Sterling Marlin "edged" Elliott Sadler by 3.5 seconds in the Spring of 2002.
4
The number of drivers to lead the race Saturday night. All of them led at least 16 laps: winner Matt Kenseth, third-place Jeff Gordon, sixth-place Kyle Busch (who led the most, with 265) and fourteenth-place Kurt Busch.
5
The number of cautions at Darlington, which tied a season low. It was also the least amount of yellow flags thrown during a 500-mile race there in fifteen years (two, 1998).
6
The number of DNFs suffered, combined within BK Racing in their debut NASCAR season of 2012.
7
The number of DNFs suffered, combined within BK Racing through eleven races so far in 2013. David Reutimann was the latest victim, crashing out with less than 100 laps to go Saturday night.
9
The number of lead changes Saturday night, the fewest for any Sprint Cup race this season. (Previous low: 12, Phoenix & Martinsville.)
18
The number of races since Brad Keselowski last won, at Dover in the Fall of 2012. It's his longest victory drought since he stepped foot behind the wheel of the No. 2 car.
21.2
Average finishing position of Joey Logano since tangling with Denny Hamlin at Fontana. He was 22nd at Darlington Saturday night, never a factor.
34.0
Average finish this season for rookie Timmy Hill, in his first year driving for FAS Lane Racing. Hill was a distant 33rd, nine laps off the pace in his first Darlington start as the team struggles to find its place in the Cup Series.
35
Total number of laps completed by Mike Bliss in the last two races he's qualified for. Driving for Tri-Star Motorsports, he's collected $105,886 during that stretch, leaving his "salary" at $3,025.31 per lap.
48
$293,423
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TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:
Racing To The Point: Just Who Is Making The Decisions In NASCAR?
by Brett Poirier
Who's Hot / Who's Not In Sprint Cup: Darlington-All Star Edition
by Brad Morgan
Going By The Numbers: Which NASCAR Team Is Off To Their Best Start Ever?
by Kevin Rutherford
Five Points To Ponder: Titanic Teams And The Deaththroes Of A Network
by P. Huston Ladner
Couch Potato Tuesday: The Darrell Waltrip Effect On Kyle Busch
by Phil Allaway
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FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Q: The 1992 Winston was the first All-Star Race in primetime. To mark the occasion, TNN did something very rare during the Winston Open. What was it?
Check back Wednesday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
Monday's Answer:
Q: The Winston, despite being the sport's race for the fans was not always the most accessible event for them to watch on television. The sole year that it was held someplace other than Charlotte (1986, at Atlanta Motor Speedway) was the year in which the race made its cable debut (on ESPN). Who televised the first Winston back in 1985?
A: The first running of The Winston was aired flag-to-flag on Jefferson Pilot, a regional sports network that was best known for college football and college basketball. They also did a highlighted telecast of the Coca-Cola 600 as well. Note that The Winston was held immediately after the Busch Grand National race, the day before the 600. Here's part No. 1 of the event. Mike Joy, Kyle Petty and Neil Bonnett are in the booth for Jefferson Pilot.
Frontstretch Trivia Guarantee: If we mess up, you get the shirt off our backs! If we've provided an incorrect answer to the Frontstretch Trivia question, be the first to email the corrected trivia answer to trivia@frontstretch.com and we'll send you a Frontstretch T-Shirt ... FREE!
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Coming tomorrow in the Frontstretch Newsletter:
-- Top News from Tom Bowles
-- WTF Wednesday by Ellen Richardson
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, and more!
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Tomorrow on the Frontstretch:
Did You Notice? by Tom Bowles
Did You Notice? … Some missing faces in places they should be for the All-Star Race? Tom Bowles on how a few missing names, while not famous yet shed some light into how this event may be losing its luster. Plus, a look at IndyCar's recent "punch back" towards NASCAR and more in this list of small but important observations on the world of racing.
Open-Wheel Wednesday by P. Huston Ladner
Huston returns with another look at the Izod IndyCar Series as the teams prepare to qualify for the Indianapolis 500.
Side By Side: Cup Drivers in the Nationwide Series by Jeff Meyer and Ellen Richardson
With Sprint Cup regulars winning seven of nine races in the Nationwide Series so far in 2013, does NASCAR need to place further limits on their participation... or it is fine the way it is? We'll have both viewpoints for your reading pleasure.
Frontstretch Top 10 by the Frontstretch Staff
Our weekly list of NASCAR humor will have you giggling from your cubicle Wednesday morning.
NASCAR Power Rankings: Top 15 After Darlington compiled by Michael Mehedin
Jimmie Johnson's still king of the point standings, up by 44 over Carl Edwards in second. But did he maintain number one on our power rankings list? Experts you love from across the web, not just Frontstretch rank the drivers heading into the Sprint All-Star Race as our weekly top 15 poll comes up for a vote once again.
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