THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
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S.D. Grady is a Senior Editor for Frontstretch and runs a NASCAR blog called the S-Curves. She can be reached via e-mail at sonya.grady@frontstretch.com. Follow her on Twitter at @laregna and on her Facebook page (she's an author, too!) at https://www.facebook.com/Author.SDGrady.
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ADVERTISEMENT
Race fans, do you love Frontstretch.com's coverage of NASCAR's top 3 series, IndyCar, Formula One and Short Track Racing? Do you want to read even more about your favorite sport? Then check out the industry's newest racing publication, Motorsport Illustrated News!, which is available both in print and in digital format! As one of our loyal readers, you'll receive 15% off any subscription when you use the coupon code fs2013.
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Numbers Game: Coke Zero 400
8.5
115
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!
Coming tomorrow in the Frontstretch Newsletter:
-- Top News from Tom Bowles
-- WTF Wednesday by Ellen Richardson
Side By Side: Should the No. 3 Race in Sprint Cup? by Jeff Wolfe and Beth Lunkenheimer
Frontstretch Top 10 by the Frontstretch Staff
Your favorite writers are back with their Wednesday dose of NASCAR humor that leaves you laughing. Don't miss out!
Open-Wheel Wednesday by Toni Montgomery
Matt returns with a special look at the Izod IndyCar Series ahead of the Izod IndyCar Series' annual visit to soggy Toronto.
NASCAR Power Rankings: Top 15 After Daytona compiled by Michael Mehedin
Jimmie Johnson continues to impress this season after his fourth win of the year at Daytona. However, 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 Kentucky as our weekly top 15 poll comes up for a vote once again.
-- Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
July 9th, 2013
Volume VII, Edition CXXIV
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
July 9th, 2013
Volume VII, Edition CXXIV
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What to Watch For: Tuesday
- Frontstretch's own Tom Bowles is hosting The Morning Drive on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio all this week in place of Mike Bagley, who is dealing with some family issues. Tune in to The Morning Drive on SiriusXM Channel 90, from 7-11 am ET and check him out, along with co-host Pete Pistone! Follow Pete at @PPistone, Tom @NASCARBowles and the Frontstretch @TheFrontstretch.
- Penalties for the 16 Cup and 15 Nationwide Series teams caught with improper roof flap spacers could be announced as early as this afternoon. Speculation is rampant on what type of penalties they will be -- everything from a zero-point to a 25-point deduction for offenders has been rumored.
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Top News
by Tom Bowles
Morgan Shepherd To Become Oldest Driver In Sprint Cup History
A driver who has been a part of the sport for six decades is set to make history this Sunday in New Hampshire. Morgan Shepherd, at 71 will become the oldest person to start a Sprint Cup event, climbing behind the wheel of the No. 52 Keselowski Motorsports Toyota for his first appearance in NASCAR's top series in seven years.
"This is truly a milestone, great opportunity and I thank all who are involved to help make this happen," he said in a release announcing the move. "Plus, I love racing at New Hampshire."
"This is truly a milestone, great opportunity and I thank all who are involved to help make this happen," he said in a release announcing the move. "Plus, I love racing at New Hampshire."
Shepherd will break the mark of Jim Fitzgerald, who was 65 years, six months and 20 days old when he ran at Riverside in June 1987. It'll be the first start for the veteran since this same racetrack, in the Fall of 2006 when he start-and-parked in his self-owned, No. 89 Dodge.
Shepherd has since dropped down to running the Nationwide Series, cutting his team back to a part-time schedule this season due to lack of funds and a series of DNQs. With BKR, though he'll be guaranteed to make the race; just 43 cars are on the entry list to fill the field for Sunday's main event.
New Hampshire Honoring Boston Marathon First Responders
In a heartwarming story, New Hampshire Motor Speedway is giving back to those who gave so much in a time of national crisis. Due to some generous support, from several unnamed corporate partners the facility is planning to host thousands of first responders at this year's Boston Marathon - for free. The tragic bombing at that finish line, which killed three and injured hundreds could have been worse without the heroic efforts of these men and women.
"So far, we have delivered 2,000 tickets," said Speedway Vice President Jerry Gappens. "The program will run right up to race weekend. We are using the platform of the largest sporting event to get this message out; to say thanks."
"So far, we have delivered 2,000 tickets," said Speedway Vice President Jerry Gappens. "The program will run right up to race weekend. We are using the platform of the largest sporting event to get this message out; to say thanks."
A special T-Shirt, with the "Boston Strong" motto made so popular after the incident will also be on sale within the speedway. Proceeds will go to help those Marathon survivors in need after the bombing.
News 'N' Notes
- Daytona's ratings were disappointing Saturday night. Posting a 3.2 Nielsen rating, viewership was down, dropping from 6.2 to 5.7 million viewers. The actual rating itself is hard to compare, year-to-year considering last season's Wide Open Coverage Simulcast happened on two networks: TNT and TruTV.
Through five races, TNT's posted just one official audience increase, at Kentucky and has seen a double-digit ratings decline.
Through five races, TNT's posted just one official audience increase, at Kentucky and has seen a double-digit ratings decline.
- Steve Wallace is hoping to take a step back to move forward. He's entered in the Truck Series this week, driving the No. 97 owned by Gary Adrian as Rusty's son looks to jumpstart his NASCAR career. It'll be the first start in that division for the former Nationwide Series veteran since 2010; and with 35 Trucks entered, he's guaranteed to make the starting lineup.
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
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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!
~~~~~~~~~~
Today's Featured Commentary
Racing To The Checkers: What Makes A NASCAR Fan Happy
Sitting In The Stands: A Fan's View
by S.D. Grady
The most remarkable thing happened Saturday night. It wasn't that Jimmie Johnson won, or even dominated the race. Nor that we had a green-white-wreckers. Or that cars piled into walls at frightening speeds. In fact, the Coke Zero 400 was very much like many other races we've seen at Daytona International Speedway. Except one.
When the white flag flew, the pack flew into Turn One, three wide and hungry for an exciting finish. As they approached Turn Two, it happened. Somebody wiggled, bumped his neighbor and the wreck was on. I lay my head back on the couch and said, "It's over." Of course, the caution would fly.
But it didn't. Much to my disbelief, with machines littering the track, the No. 48 continued on his way to the first Daytona sweep since 1982. Yes, we had one more car-munching experience before he reached the finish line, but that first wreck in Turn Two didn't have anything to do with it. The second incident was just more people anxious to reach the end before the eight other cars around them.
I'm not upset about the lack of a caution flag--far from it. I'm actually pleased. For once, Sprint Cup officials let the race play out without throwing an inconvenient yellow just to make everybody feel better.
We do lots of things in the NSCS to make people happy. We'll run 20 parade laps in the rain just so the sponsors get their little bit of TV coverage when everybody and their two-year-old knew the race was never going to run that day. There are competition cautions supposedly to permit teams to make adjustments for a green track, but when the pit stops are live and you still lose position to somebody who made fewer adjustments, the reason for the caution doesn't really play out. And what about those other cautions? The debris versions.
Sometimes we'll be shown the hot dog wrapper, but there are plenty of times when it seems like it just might be a good time for everybody to take a long breath right about now; it gives those jet dryers a chance to burn some fuel.
Finally, it has been determined in the interest of driver safety that the caution will be thrown when somebody spins out. The field is basically frozen and the benefit of racing back to the line, as in olden days, is no longer done so safety crews can get to the wounded vehicle and its driver. For years now, this rule has been followed to the letter. Time after time we witnessed the yellow drop on the last lap when a car wrecked behind the leaders. The field was frozen and we were then deprived of that "anything can happen" moment.
On short tracks, I'm all good with this practice. It takes no time at all for the field to run a lap, and it's less than easy for the leaders to slow down when coming back upon the wreck. Leaving the field to go green is a recipe designed for further carnage.
But at the big tracks, like Daytona, I have often wondered at NASCAR's unwillingness to bend the rules a little bit. It made no sense to halt the field and end the race if the wreck didn't affect the leaders or their ability to continue on. Meanwhile, we all know that even though NASCAR says things like, "We want the race to finish green," it doesn't always seem like they mean it. Consistency has never been their middle name.
In fact, I've watched so many Camping World Truck Series races where the yellow flag was held back, and Nationwide, and even local events, that I was thoroughly convinced chickening out on the last lap was something Sprint Cup was willing to do in favor of running more commercials, or some other equally stupid reason.
Thus, you can understand I was completely taken by surprise Saturday night. No flag was thrown. The field was allowed to race to the checkers and nothing bad happened. It worked out...like it was supposed to!
I don't know what random alignment of the stars occurred that permitted it to happen. I have no faith that we might be treated to a repeat. However, NASCAR Nation was shown that we can race to the finish and we're a whole lot happier for that.
Happy fans? Who would've thunk.
Kyle Larson Stat
Series: Nationwide Series
Track: Daytona
Car: No. 32 Clorox Chevrolet Camaro
Qualified: 13th
Finished: 6th
Points Position: 6th
Want to follow Kyle Larson yourself?
Twitter: @KyleLarsonRacin
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KyleLarsonRacing
Website (under construction): http://kylelarsonracing.com/
Looking for a little history? Try... http://kylelarsonracing.net/
The most remarkable thing happened Saturday night. It wasn't that Jimmie Johnson won, or even dominated the race. Nor that we had a green-white-wreckers. Or that cars piled into walls at frightening speeds. In fact, the Coke Zero 400 was very much like many other races we've seen at Daytona International Speedway. Except one.
When the white flag flew, the pack flew into Turn One, three wide and hungry for an exciting finish. As they approached Turn Two, it happened. Somebody wiggled, bumped his neighbor and the wreck was on. I lay my head back on the couch and said, "It's over." Of course, the caution would fly.
But it didn't. Much to my disbelief, with machines littering the track, the No. 48 continued on his way to the first Daytona sweep since 1982. Yes, we had one more car-munching experience before he reached the finish line, but that first wreck in Turn Two didn't have anything to do with it. The second incident was just more people anxious to reach the end before the eight other cars around them.
I'm not upset about the lack of a caution flag--far from it. I'm actually pleased. For once, Sprint Cup officials let the race play out without throwing an inconvenient yellow just to make everybody feel better.
We do lots of things in the NSCS to make people happy. We'll run 20 parade laps in the rain just so the sponsors get their little bit of TV coverage when everybody and their two-year-old knew the race was never going to run that day. There are competition cautions supposedly to permit teams to make adjustments for a green track, but when the pit stops are live and you still lose position to somebody who made fewer adjustments, the reason for the caution doesn't really play out. And what about those other cautions? The debris versions.
Sometimes we'll be shown the hot dog wrapper, but there are plenty of times when it seems like it just might be a good time for everybody to take a long breath right about now; it gives those jet dryers a chance to burn some fuel.
Finally, it has been determined in the interest of driver safety that the caution will be thrown when somebody spins out. The field is basically frozen and the benefit of racing back to the line, as in olden days, is no longer done so safety crews can get to the wounded vehicle and its driver. For years now, this rule has been followed to the letter. Time after time we witnessed the yellow drop on the last lap when a car wrecked behind the leaders. The field was frozen and we were then deprived of that "anything can happen" moment.
On short tracks, I'm all good with this practice. It takes no time at all for the field to run a lap, and it's less than easy for the leaders to slow down when coming back upon the wreck. Leaving the field to go green is a recipe designed for further carnage.
But at the big tracks, like Daytona, I have often wondered at NASCAR's unwillingness to bend the rules a little bit. It made no sense to halt the field and end the race if the wreck didn't affect the leaders or their ability to continue on. Meanwhile, we all know that even though NASCAR says things like, "We want the race to finish green," it doesn't always seem like they mean it. Consistency has never been their middle name.
In fact, I've watched so many Camping World Truck Series races where the yellow flag was held back, and Nationwide, and even local events, that I was thoroughly convinced chickening out on the last lap was something Sprint Cup was willing to do in favor of running more commercials, or some other equally stupid reason.
Thus, you can understand I was completely taken by surprise Saturday night. No flag was thrown. The field was allowed to race to the checkers and nothing bad happened. It worked out...like it was supposed to!
I don't know what random alignment of the stars occurred that permitted it to happen. I have no faith that we might be treated to a repeat. However, NASCAR Nation was shown that we can race to the finish and we're a whole lot happier for that.
Happy fans? Who would've thunk.
Kyle Larson Stat
Series: Nationwide Series
Track: Daytona
Car: No. 32 Clorox Chevrolet Camaro
Qualified: 13th
Finished: 6th
Points Position: 6th
Want to follow Kyle Larson yourself?
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 and runs a NASCAR blog called the S-Curves. She can be reached via e-mail at sonya.grady@frontstretch.com. Follow her on Twitter at @laregna and on her Facebook page (she's an author, too!) at https://www.facebook.com/Author.SDGrady.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ADVERTISEMENT
Race fans, do you love Frontstretch.com's coverage of NASCAR's top 3 series, IndyCar, Formula One and Short Track Racing? Do you want to read even more about your favorite sport? Then check out the industry's newest racing publication, Motorsport Illustrated News!, which is available both in print and in digital format! As one of our loyal readers, you'll receive 15% off any subscription when you use the coupon code fs2013.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Numbers Game: Coke Zero 400
by Tom Bowles
0
0
Laps led by Roush Fenway all season long at Daytona. Their three-car team has only led seven laps overall at plate tracks this season (Carl Edwards led five and Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. two at Talladega).
1
1
Lap led apiece by each of the Front Row Motorsports cars (driven by David Ragan, David Gilliland, and Josh Wise) in their first plate race since winning Talladega. Those were the only drivers to lead for Ford on Saturday night.
2
2
Wins by Jimmie Johnson, at plate races this season after four straight finishes outside the top 15 in 2012.
3
3
Straight races Denny Hamlin has been involved in an accident. The driver is still racing despite recovering from an L1 Compression Fracture in his lower back.
4
4
Straight top-7 finishes for second-place point man Clint Bowyer.
6
6
Top-15 finishes for Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. this season, including Saturday night's 11th-place run. However, the rookie has yet to finish inside the top 10 in his Cup career.
8.5
Years since Dale Earnhardt, Jr. won a plate race. He was last victorious in the Fall 2004 Sprint Cup event at Talladega.
30
30
The number of lead changes, combined in the last two Daytona July races.
57
57
The number of lead changes at Daytona, in July 2011 when David Ragan won in the peak of the "tandem drafting" era.
115
Races since Casey Mears last scored a top-10 finish prior to Saturday night. He was seventh, driving a Richard Childress Racing car in the Fall 2009 race at Charlotte.
$141,365
$141,365
Money won by Michael Waltrip Saturday night for finishing fifth.
$152,746
$152,746
Money won by Brad Keselowski Saturday night for finishing 21st.
Tom Bowles is the Editor-In-Chief of Frontstretch. He can be reached via e-mail at tom.bowles@frontstretch.com.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ADVERTISEMENT
Are you looking to advertise your website, product or brand? A good way to get your name out there is via direct advertising here in the Frontstretch Newsletter! Interested parties can contact us at frontstretcheditors@googlegroups.com for details.
~~~~~~~~~~~
TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:
Racing to the Point: How Long Will Hamlin Work As A Crash Test Dummy?
by Brett Poirier
Who's Hot / Who's Not In Sprint Cup: Daytona-Loudon Edition
by Brad Morgan
Going By the Numbers: A Look at the 2013 Cup Season, So Far
by Kevin Rutherford
Five Points To Ponder: The Pains and Gains of Plate Racing
by Danny Peters
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FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Q: In the 1998 Jiffy Lube 300, Jeremy Mayfield got involved in a late incident and was credited with a 30th-place finish. However, there was no yellow. What happened?
Check back Wednesday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
Monday's Answer:
Q: In the 1994 New England Chevy Dealers 250, Derrike Cope picked up his first and only career win in the Busch Grand National (now Nationwide) Series, despite seemingly being out of the hunt in the last ten laps. What happened?
A: Cope was destined to finish in a strong second when leader Hermie Sadler slowed exiting Turn 2 with seven laps to go, apparently out of fuel. Sadler could not make it back to the pits, stalling in Turn 3 and bringing out a caution. From there, Cope held on for the win.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ADVERTISEMENT
Are you looking to advertise your website, product or brand? A good way to get your name out there is via direct advertising here in the Frontstretch Newsletter! Interested parties can contact us at frontstretcheditors@googlegroups.com for details.
~~~~~~~~~~~
TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:
Racing to the Point: How Long Will Hamlin Work As A Crash Test Dummy?
by Brett Poirier
Who's Hot / Who's Not In Sprint Cup: Daytona-Loudon Edition
by Brad Morgan
Going By the Numbers: A Look at the 2013 Cup Season, So Far
by Kevin Rutherford
Five Points To Ponder: The Pains and Gains of Plate Racing
by Danny Peters
~~~~~~~~~~
FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Q: In the 1998 Jiffy Lube 300, Jeremy Mayfield got involved in a late incident and was credited with a 30th-place finish. However, there was no yellow. What happened?
Check back Wednesday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
Monday's Answer:
Q: In the 1994 New England Chevy Dealers 250, Derrike Cope picked up his first and only career win in the Busch Grand National (now Nationwide) Series, despite seemingly being out of the hunt in the last ten laps. What happened?
A: Cope was destined to finish in a strong second when leader Hermie Sadler slowed exiting Turn 2 with seven laps to go, apparently out of fuel. Sadler could not make it back to the pits, stalling in Turn 3 and bringing out a caution. From there, Cope held on for the win.
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!
Coming tomorrow in the Frontstretch Newsletter:
-- Top News from Tom Bowles
-- WTF Wednesday by Ellen Richardson
-- Tweet 'N' Greet by Kevin Rutherford
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, and more!
~~~~~~~~~~
Tomorrow on the Frontstretch:
Did You Notice? by Tom Bowles
Did You Notice... the Wild Card shuffle has hit high gear? Tom revisits the battle in the back half of the Chase standings, figuring out who's got the edge while reacting to possible NASCAR penalties and more.
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, and more!
~~~~~~~~~~
Tomorrow on the Frontstretch:
Did You Notice? by Tom Bowles
Did You Notice... the Wild Card shuffle has hit high gear? Tom revisits the battle in the back half of the Chase standings, figuring out who's got the edge while reacting to possible NASCAR penalties and more.
Side By Side: Should the No. 3 Race in Sprint Cup? by Jeff Wolfe and Beth Lunkenheimer
This week, we discuss the No. 3. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. mentioned in a recent press conference that he would be okay with the No. 3 returning to the track with Austin Dillon. Should RCR bring the number back with Dillon's move to full-time in the Sprint Cup Series?
Frontstretch Top 10 by the Frontstretch Staff
Your favorite writers are back with their Wednesday dose of NASCAR humor that leaves you laughing. Don't miss out!
Open-Wheel Wednesday by Toni Montgomery
Matt returns with a special look at the Izod IndyCar Series ahead of the Izod IndyCar Series' annual visit to soggy Toronto.
NASCAR Power Rankings: Top 15 After Daytona compiled by Michael Mehedin
Jimmie Johnson continues to impress this season after his fourth win of the year at Daytona. However, 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 Kentucky as our weekly top 15 poll comes up for a vote once again.
Happiness Is... by P. Huston Ladner
Don't let your life sink into the pits. Huston looks at the bright side of racing stories we've seen in the past seven days.-----------------------------
Talk back to the Frontstretch Newsletter!
Got something to say about an article you've seen in the newsletter? It's as easy as replying directly to this message or sending an email to editors@frontstretch.com. We'll take the best comments and publish them here!
©2013 Frontstretch.com
Talk back to the Frontstretch Newsletter!
Got something to say about an article you've seen in the newsletter? It's as easy as replying directly to this message or sending an email to editors@frontstretch.com. We'll take the best comments and publish them here!
©2013 Frontstretch.com
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