The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
July 2nd, 2013
Volume VII, Edition CXVIII
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Hamlin Cleared To Test, Plans To Run Full Season
Less than two days after a hard hit at Kentucky, NASCAR's Denny Hamlin appears well on the road to recovery. After an extended stay at the infield care center Sunday, following a blown tire that sent his car slamming into the outside wall, there were concerns the driver had aggravated a compression fracture in his lower back from Fontana in March. That injury had kept him out of four races, putting him 104 points outside the top 20 and left his Chase chances on life support.
But it turns out there was little, if anything to worry about. Doctors in Indianapolis cleared Hamlin to test Monday and all indications are the driver will be 100 percent for Daytona on Saturday night. The eight-year veteran, who has said previously he's had extensive back issues that should require further surgery insists he'll finish the season in the No. 11 Toyota, a move his organization fully supports.
"I think Denny, he's had one back issue, he's kind of had that for a long time," said car owner Joe Gibbs Sunday night. "I think he's kind of used to dealing with that. I think Denny wants to stay after it and we have a chance to get some wins for FedEx."
The driver had also complained of headaches after the Kentucky crash but doctors found no reason to diagnose a concussion Monday. Hamlin then turned laps above 200 miles an hour in a testing session preparing for the Brickyard 400 the end of this month.
"We're just going to try to win races," he said after exiting the race Sunday. "That's my job for the rest of the year – to try to win races and do the best I can for my sponsors and my team."
Currently 25th in the season standings, Hamlin has four top-10 finishes in 13 starts this season.
Successful First Day At The Brickyard
One day into a two-day test at Indianapolis, drivers are raving about how NASCAR's Gen-6 car could finally improve racing at the much-maligned 2.5-mile oval. After several boring events the last few years, combined with tire compounds that struggled to last at the track drivers from both Earnhardt Ganassi Racing and Hendrick Motorsports were raving about the new rubber Goodyear provided.
"They figured it out," claimed Juan Pablo Montoya, one of several drivers who turned laps above 200 miles an hour. "The grip level is really good."
"The testing has been pretty good today," added Jamie McMurray. "It's our first time here with this car, and it seems like some of the setup stuff is a little different from what we've been doing here the last couple of years."
Those comments echo several other drivers, who tested this Spring and had nothing but positive things to say about how the Gen-6, combined with better tires should lead to improved racing the end of the month. Both EGR and Hendrick were using one of their four NASCAR-sanctioned tests at the facility.
News 'N' Notes
- Camping World has signed on to be the title sponsor of the Sprint Cup Series race at New Hampshire in two weeks. The event will be known, from this point on as the Camping World RV Sales 301. "This is a natural, tailor-made partnership," NHMS Vice President Jerry Gappens said in announcing the move. "We have one of the strongest RV camping bases of any NASCAR track, located in a major market and a strong platform to help market the Camping World brand and its products."
- Speedway Motorsports, Inc., according to an article in the Las Vegas Review Journal is seeing their revenue continue to fall. Revenues for the first three months of 2013 were down to $84.2 million, a slight drop from $84.8 million a year ago. But over a five-year period, from 2008 to 2012 was where the numbers were really eye-catching. Revenue from racetrack admission, a key part of overall profit dropped from $188 million to $116 million, a drop of 38.2 percent as the company struggles to bring fans to the racetrack.
"Management believes many of our revenue categories continue to be negatively impacted by declines in consumer and corporate spending from the recession," claimed the annual report filed with these figures. "Including high unemployment, high fuel, food and health-care costs, difficult housing markets and other economic factors."
The company owns about a dozen Sprint Cup race dates, with tracks that include Kentucky, New Hampshire, Las Vegas, Texas and Charlotte.
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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
In the past few days, since Kyle Petty expounded his opinion that Danica Patrick can go fast, but she can't race, much has been bandied about regarding her actual talent and value as a driver for NASCAR. While scrolling through chat rooms, I read statements by fans such as she's only a pretty face, isn't very competitive, continues to struggle even after several years behind the wheel of a stock car... we've heard it all before.
That includes the bit about how all she brings to the sport is sponsor dollars, a marketer that shouldn't be who NASCAR encourages to enter into our multi-billion dollar enterprise. Who needs a personable young woman, who is attractive, can speak to the camera without stuttering and is able to keep her car on the track -- more or less -- while she runs 180 mph into the corner?
A question, indeed.
Then Sunday afternoon arrived. The field of 43 cars roared to life and rolled off, ready to take the green. It was a day late, but we had waited for the best drivers in the world to battle once again under the Kentucky sun. Early on, we did have a good race. Restarts brought us three-wide battles. It appeared maybe the big boys would provide the kind of excitement the Nationwide race lacked.
That was, until Kurt Busch decided it was a really good idea to dive down onto the skirt in order to try and pass Brad Keselowski. There was a huge impact, cars spinning, crunching and erupting into flame. Kurt Busch forgot what patience was, that there was a huge bump down on the transition, and drove without thought for an instant. Severe repercussions to fellow competitors ensued.
It was a stupid move. One made in the heat of battle. One made by a driver who is willing to sacrifice his bumper in order to get ahead. It's called the competitive edge. The desire to win at all costs, whether that affects him or others. Busch will do anything in hopes of snaring the checkers. It is what helped him win a Cup. It is what many say is a result of a lack of character.
Kurt Busch has in his 14-year career won 24 Sprint Cup races, one championship, been arrested for a DUI, annoyed a police officer, assaulted and harassed media, been hired and fired, and generally become known as the driver you don't want to work with. Interviews with the elder Busch brother have become something of a mine field. Will we get the usual platitudes expected of a professional driver or the caustic diatribe Kurt is better known for? Sponsors know he's wildly talented, and still would rather not touch him with a 12-foot pole.
Yet despite all that, he does keep the small, underfunded No. 78 team within camera shot every week. Busch can wheel a stock car as few ever have. He is one of the chosen few.
There we have it; an untried, commercially successful rookie that has yet to prove herself on track and a world-weary veteran who has difficulty playing by the rules. Still, the question remains: What is it we want in a NASCAR superstar?
If we don't want a sparkling pony, capable of drawing oohs and aahs out of every car crazy girl -- and more than a few men -- as our Most Popular Driver, what do we want? Wildly talented ones who are incapable of generating loyalty in the vast viewing public due to a complete lack of self-control? Is NASCAR a sport or just a massive marketing machine?
It seems the racing fan base can't come up with a real answer to this question. Jimmie Johnson wins too much, is as bland as vanilla pudding and looks nice on a billboard. Matt Kenseth, even with sarcastic responses couldn't elicit a fan following through a camera even if he wore JJ's infamous "circus afro." Jeff Gordon won too much, drove for the wrong guy and runs an international charity like he has all the time in the world. Brad Keselowski lacks a filter on his mouth and his tweeting fingers. Joey Logano wishes he had the brawn and ability to back up his words.
As quick as we are to blindly follow a winner, we are just as fast to condemn a driver for erring in judgment one too many times in a day.
The fact is, we want a hero. A driver who wins, is gracious, gritty, strong, sympathetic, media savvy, friendly to animals, quirky, and on the very rare occasion, outright blunt. It's an elusive mix that is yet to be found among the human population. Many fans hoped Danica Patrick might be the magic bullet. It is perhaps their disillusionment that has resulted in such a vocal trashing of her on-track abilities.
Ultimately, NASCAR (the marketing machine) wants the entire cast filled: the pretty boy, the prodigal son, the sexy heroine, the politician, the villain and the champion. They already exist, for the most part, in the cast of characters we know as NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers. Whether they will all raise the Cup one day, or continue to pursue the elusive win for their entire career, fleshing out the storyline that the sanctioning body hungers for and needs in order to run another installment of "As NASCAR Turns" is what makes the sport tick so continuously.
Does NASCAR need drivers like Danica and Busch? Yes, they do. Are these drivers good for the sport?
As long as NASCAR cashes checks written by some of the largest corporations in America, absolutely. In a 43-car field, each week everybody plays a part in competition. Without mediocrity, and devilish trash talking, the shattering talent of the true leaders in this sport wouldn't shine quite so brightly.
Kyle Larson Stat
Series: Nationwide Series
Track: Kentucky
Car: No. 32 Clear Men Chevrolet
Qualified: 21st
Finished: 7th
Points Standings: 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.
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Numbers Game: Quaker State 400
0
Laps led by Kasey Kahne Sunday at Kentucky. He's led 289 on intermediates this season, collecting two runner-up finishes on 1.5-mile ovals but could do no better than 11th in the Bluegrass State.
0
Top-5 finishes for Marcos Ambrose this season. He was in contention late during the race at Kentucky but faded to 13th down the stretch… he's led just a single lap on an oval in 2013 (Martinsville).
1
Top-5 finish for Jamie McMurray in the last two seasons after his runner-up performance at Kentucky. It was his first top 5 since Bristol, in August of 2011 and his best result since winning Charlotte in the Fall of 2010.
2
Races in the last five where Jimmie Johnson has led more than 140 laps and failed to win. There was Dover (143 – 17th) and Kentucky on Sunday, where spinning out on a late restart had him fading to ninth after leading 182 of 267 laps.
3
Straight finishes outside the top 10 for Dale Earnhardt, Jr., tying a season high. Earnhardt won the pole at Kentucky but running over debris early left him needing repairs to the grille; he finished 12th.
4
Victories by Matt Kenseth this season, tying his most on the Cup circuit since 2006.
6
Consecutive top-11 finishes for Joey Logano, moving him up to 10th in the series standings. Logano now has five top-5 results this season, just two off his career high and more than double what he had last year for Joe Gibbs Racing.
7
Straight top-10 finishes for Kevin Harvick, a streak that includes a win and has launched him to fourth in points, 66 above the Chase cutoff of 11th place.
10
Number of top-10 finishes for Clint Bowyer without collecting a win, the most of any driver. Despite being third in points, he's led just two events all year: Daytona (one lap in the 500) and Richmond (113 laps before finishing second).
10
Cautions at Kentucky Sunday, just two off the season high of 12 set at Martinsville. The first two races at Kentucky caused ten cautions combined.
16
Races since the only top 10 scored by a rookie candidate this season. Danica Patrick was 23rd at Kentucky; her eighth-place run at Daytona is the best for a rookie to date. Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. and Timmy Hill have yet to score a top-10 finish.
182
Laps completed in six starts by Scott Riggs this season. That's an average of 30 laps per event; he's start-and-parked each time he's made the field for Xxxtreme Motorsports and their No. 44 Ford. In fact, Riggs has not finished a Sprint Cup event since April 2010, running 28th for now-defunct Keyed Up Motorsports and their No. 90 Ford.
$131,101
Money won by Brad Keselowski after crashing early in Sunday's Kentucky event and finishing 33rd.
$130,338
Money won by teammate Joey Logano after running the whole race at Kentucky and finishing fourth.
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TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:
Petty Bashing Patrick Is The Pot Calling The Kettle Black
by Brett Poirier
Who's Hot / Who's Not In Sprint Cup: Kentucky-Daytona Edition
by Brad Morgan
Going By the Numbers: Don't Look Now, But Kyle Larson's Comin'
by Kevin Rutherford
Five Points To Ponder: Who Is Making Noise Halfway Through The Year?
by P. Huston Ladner
Couch Potato Tuesday: Telecasts Struggling With NASCAR Rules
by Phil Allaway
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FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Q: Prior to the 1990 Pepsi 400, a huge crash in practice resulted in leg injuries to both Darrell Waltrip and Dave Marcis. Marcis' team did not have a backup car for the race. Where did they get a backup car from?
Check back Wednesday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
Monday's Answer:
Q: The Nationwide Series added a second race at Daytona International Speedway for the 2002 season. Joe Nemechek won the race from pole and led 76 laps. However, he had to hold off a snarling pack for the final three laps after a big wreck. What happened?
A: On lap 96, Jack Sprague and Todd Bodine rubbed up against each other in Turn 2. Sprague got loose, rubbed against Bodine again, then went hard into the wall. Bodine hit the wall as well. From there, Sprague came down the track and hit Kasey Kahne... causing the incident to spread. The crash can be seen here.
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
-- 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... how radically different plate races really are? Tom tackles that, the plight of winless drivers and more in his latest list of small but important observations surrounding the sport.
Side By Side: Surgery or No Surgery? by Amy Henderson and Summer Bedgood
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 Matt Stallknecht
Matt returns with a special look at the Izod IndyCar Series ahead of open-wheel racing's return to Pocono Raceway.
NASCAR Power Rankings: Top 15 After Kentucky compiled by Michael Mehedin
Despite a late spin, Jimmie Johnson was able to add to his points lead on Sunday at Kentucky. 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.
Talk back to the Frontstretch Newsletter!
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©2013 Frontstretch.com
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