THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
- Hendrick Motorsports, Michael Waltrip Racing, Joe Gibbs Racing, and Roush Fenway Racing will continue their three-day test at Texas Motor Speedway, rescheduled from last week due to rain. Nine of the 13 Chase drivers are there working on setups for the next intermediate track race on the schedule November 3rd.
Top News
Aric Almirola Gets Interim Crew Chief -- Parrott Released
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The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
October 22nd, 2013
Volume VII, Edition CXCVII
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
October 22nd, 2013
Volume VII, Edition CXCVII
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What To Watch: Tuesday- Hendrick Motorsports, Michael Waltrip Racing, Joe Gibbs Racing, and Roush Fenway Racing will continue their three-day test at Texas Motor Speedway, rescheduled from last week due to rain. Nine of the 13 Chase drivers are there working on setups for the next intermediate track race on the schedule November 3rd.
- Tuesday is also teleconference day and NASCAR is providing a Chase driver once again this week for the national media. Joey Logano will talk to reporters at 3:15 this afternoon.
- Richard Petty Motorsports has an announcement scheduled, at Martinsville Speedway this afternoon in which they're expected to announce a special paint scheme this weekend in honor of 2014 NASCAR Hall of Fame Inductee Maurice Petty.
Top News
by Tom Bowles
The No. 43 team will finish the year with a new crew chief, albeit a familiar face with Richard Petty Motorsports. Car chief Greg Ebert has been named to the role of head wrench, promoted to temporarily replace Todd Parrott beginning this weekend at Martinsville. Parrott has entered NASCAR's Road To Recovery program after failing a drug test, causing an indefinite suspension last week and has officially been released from the team. Ebert has four races to earn the job and will be reevaluated after the season.
Driver Aric Almirola has already worked extensively with Ebert; he's been car chief, the past two seasons for RPM's No. 43 and has been with the organization since its inception. Beginning his career with Roush Fenway Racing, back in 2001 he has over a decade of Sprint Cup experience but will be crew chiefing for the first time this Sunday.
"We are confident in Greg's leadership abilities and we will give him the resources he needs to be successful," explained Sammy Johns, RPM's Vice President of Operations and Competition in a statement. "He is very familiar with our race program and gives us a more seamless transition. More importantly, he gives Aric the best opportunity to finish the season strong."
Almirola, currently a career-best 18th in the standings has one top-5 and six top-10 finishes this season. He'd been working with Parrott over the last year-plus, one of the sport's most successful crew chiefs. Holding a championship to his name, paired with Dale Jarrett in 1999 Parrott spent his most successful years at the helm of the No. 88 car and Robert Yates Racing. From 1996-2001, the duo won 24 times, captured two Daytona 500s and finished in the top 5 in points all six years. Recently, he'd bounced around the Ford camp before landing with RPM.
Sauter Extends With Thorsport, Gets New Primary Sponsor
Truck Series veteran Johnny Sauter, a three-time winner with Thorsport Racing this season is sticking with his program over the long-term. Extending his contract through 2015, his No. 98 Toyota team Monday announced they'd picked up a new major sponsor. Nextant Aerospace, a world leader in business aircraft remanufacturing, announced they'll back the team for 12 races a year as primary in a two-year deal that starts this coming February at Daytona.
"Sponsoring ThorSport is more than just a business tie-up: we're both passionate about innovative technology - and about keeping ahead of the competition," said Nextant President Sean McGeough in announcing the partnership. "Now, we're backing them on the racetrack just as we back their new Nextant 400XTi jet wherever they fly."
"Sponsoring ThorSport is more than just a business tie-up: we're both passionate about innovative technology - and about keeping ahead of the competition," said Nextant President Sean McGeough in announcing the partnership. "Now, we're backing them on the racetrack just as we back their new Nextant 400XTi jet wherever they fly."
Thorsport, based in Ohio is thrilled to partner with an Ohio-based company to help boost their race program over the long-term. With the paint scheme unveiled yesterday in Las Vegas, part of the Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition it's clear Nextant is serious about hitting the ground running with their NASCAR marketing.
"It makes perfect sense," added Duke Thorson, Thorsport Racing owner in a statement. "Two Ohio-based companies both focused on building their businesses, selling aircraft, and winning in their respective industries. Together, we will build brand identity for Nextant Aerospace in the motorsports world while continuing to run for championships."
"It makes perfect sense," added Duke Thorson, Thorsport Racing owner in a statement. "Two Ohio-based companies both focused on building their businesses, selling aircraft, and winning in their respective industries. Together, we will build brand identity for Nextant Aerospace in the motorsports world while continuing to run for championships."
Thorsport is in strong position to win the title this year, with Matt Crafton in their No. 88 Toyota as he leads the points with four races remaining. Sauter, sixth in the standings this year holds victories at Daytona, Talladega, and Martinsville while totaling 11 top-10 finishes in 18 starts.
News 'N' Notes
- Talladega became the first race in the Chase for the Sprint Cup to post a year-to-year decline in viewership. Posting a 3.1 U.S. Nielsen rating, it's three percent below last year's 3.2 and the least-watched 'Dega event since NASCAR's TV contracts went fully national, in 2001. 4.9 million viewers tuned in to see Jamie McMurray lead a mostly single-file finish to the checkered flag.
- A number of teams went through the paces in Day 1 of a three-day test at Texas Motor Speedway. Cup drivers attending include Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., Jeff Burton, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Clint Bowyer, Martin Truex, Jr., Jeff Gordon, Kyle Busch, Matt Kenseth, Greg Biffle, Kasey Kahne, Carl Edwards, Denny Hamlin, Paul Menard and Kevin Harvick. 10 of the 13 Chase drivers are here participating; only Ryan Newman, Joey Logano, and Kurt Busch are not at the track. No speeds were released from the first round of testing.
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
Sorting Out The Stats: How Does Kyle Larson Stack Up Against Danica Patrick?
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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
Sorting Out The Stats: How Does Kyle Larson Stack Up Against Danica Patrick?
Sitting In The Stands: A Fan's View
by S.D. Grady
Word has it that there was a race in Talladega this past weekend. When the event is described in the media by who and what broke bones, cars and walls, it's not a race. Enough said.
Instead of a weekend in review, I thought we'd take a look at a year in review; specifically, Kyle Larson's. He's yet another "young gun" skyrocketing his way to the top, having been signed to the No. 42 Earnhardt-Ganassi Sprint Cup machine for the 2014 season. Did he earn that Cup rookie stripe with his performance in the Nationwide Series this year? Or is this another case of teams and NASCAR desperate to capture the younger generation by putting pilots in the cockpit to whom they can relate?
Last year, this column followed Danica Patrick during her first full-time season in NASCAR. Since her on-screen presence has finally dwindled to the level it ought, especially for a driver who consistently performs in 20th or so, I thought it would be intriguing to prop Larson's stats up against hers. After all, this was his first full-time year, too, and he's also got a Cup ride waiting for him in Daytona.
Let's start with the Nationwide points standings: Danica finished the season in tenth, while Kyle has been sitting on ninth for what seems like an eternity. About halfway through the season, they found their place in the standings and stayed there. Granted, Larson has three more attempts left to snare a win; however, neither managed the feat in their rookie NNS year. They both have an average starting position of 14.9, while each sported a 6 in the DNF column. So far, the two seem like a match made in heaven. Maybe she's dating the wrong guy... but, no. That's where the similarities end.
When Kyle Larson finishes, he's fairly likely to do pretty damn good. He's earned an average finish of 13.7, a solid improvement over Danica's 18.8. But what's even more impressive is the Top 5/Top 10 grid. Remember, prior to 2013 Kyle Larson spent the vast amount of his time wheeling a winged sprint car around dirt tracks. Manhandling these heavy stock cars was a new venture altogether. Yet when he's running against the likes of Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski and other Cup invaders, he has snared 15 top 10s and eight top 5s. Patrick managed a measly four top 10s.
Has he been leading? Well, not so much. 48 laps have been logged at the front of the field for Larson. It's a comparable number to Danica's.
Has he been improving over the season? Actually, if you just live on stats, no. The past six weeks have been something of an agony for the No. 32 Chevy. He actually retired from Kansas due to "handling," something I usually only hear attributed to start-and-park teams. That's a bad day for them.
However, if it's a good day, he does usually finish on the lead lap; he's done so in 23 out of 30 attempts. Patrick finished her rookie season with just 17 out of 33.
What it all boils down to is that I was getting very concerned that Kyle Larson was just going to be another pretty face joining the Cup ranks, with some shaky street cred to his name. Instead? He's doing better than that. I wouldn't open any sandwich shops, quite yet although I'd maybe start crafting a new sub.
Larson isn't afraid to run up front with the Big Boys, is willing to shove his car in the middle of the mess, and will muscle the machine out of a slide. He gets results; it's clear the boy has got some skills. However, the question of pushing young drivers too fast, too soon lingers. While Larson will be looking forward to an established Cup car, it's not a Hendrick or Roush team. The Nos. 1 and 42 have shown moments of brilliance, but never the kind of consistency you have to have under a champion. If Juan Pablo Montoya couldn't figure out how to win regularly in a Cup car, driving for EGR why do we think this young man can? Hmmm... good question.
I'm still excited to see Larson move up in 2014. Is it too soon? Yes, I think so. Will this move ultimately kill his career, taking a ride that isn't quite up to his potential? It's a good chance. Should he wait for a better opportunity? No. I always believe that you'll never feel the sun if you don't spread your wings.
It's time for Kyle Larson to fly. How high? That's yet to be determined. The one thing we know for sure, when all is said and done is he'll be soaring a lot higher than Danica Patrick.
Word has it that there was a race in Talladega this past weekend. When the event is described in the media by who and what broke bones, cars and walls, it's not a race. Enough said.
Instead of a weekend in review, I thought we'd take a look at a year in review; specifically, Kyle Larson's. He's yet another "young gun" skyrocketing his way to the top, having been signed to the No. 42 Earnhardt-Ganassi Sprint Cup machine for the 2014 season. Did he earn that Cup rookie stripe with his performance in the Nationwide Series this year? Or is this another case of teams and NASCAR desperate to capture the younger generation by putting pilots in the cockpit to whom they can relate?
Last year, this column followed Danica Patrick during her first full-time season in NASCAR. Since her on-screen presence has finally dwindled to the level it ought, especially for a driver who consistently performs in 20th or so, I thought it would be intriguing to prop Larson's stats up against hers. After all, this was his first full-time year, too, and he's also got a Cup ride waiting for him in Daytona.
Let's start with the Nationwide points standings: Danica finished the season in tenth, while Kyle has been sitting on ninth for what seems like an eternity. About halfway through the season, they found their place in the standings and stayed there. Granted, Larson has three more attempts left to snare a win; however, neither managed the feat in their rookie NNS year. They both have an average starting position of 14.9, while each sported a 6 in the DNF column. So far, the two seem like a match made in heaven. Maybe she's dating the wrong guy... but, no. That's where the similarities end.
When Kyle Larson finishes, he's fairly likely to do pretty damn good. He's earned an average finish of 13.7, a solid improvement over Danica's 18.8. But what's even more impressive is the Top 5/Top 10 grid. Remember, prior to 2013 Kyle Larson spent the vast amount of his time wheeling a winged sprint car around dirt tracks. Manhandling these heavy stock cars was a new venture altogether. Yet when he's running against the likes of Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski and other Cup invaders, he has snared 15 top 10s and eight top 5s. Patrick managed a measly four top 10s.
Has he been leading? Well, not so much. 48 laps have been logged at the front of the field for Larson. It's a comparable number to Danica's.
Has he been improving over the season? Actually, if you just live on stats, no. The past six weeks have been something of an agony for the No. 32 Chevy. He actually retired from Kansas due to "handling," something I usually only hear attributed to start-and-park teams. That's a bad day for them.
However, if it's a good day, he does usually finish on the lead lap; he's done so in 23 out of 30 attempts. Patrick finished her rookie season with just 17 out of 33.
What it all boils down to is that I was getting very concerned that Kyle Larson was just going to be another pretty face joining the Cup ranks, with some shaky street cred to his name. Instead? He's doing better than that. I wouldn't open any sandwich shops, quite yet although I'd maybe start crafting a new sub.
Larson isn't afraid to run up front with the Big Boys, is willing to shove his car in the middle of the mess, and will muscle the machine out of a slide. He gets results; it's clear the boy has got some skills. However, the question of pushing young drivers too fast, too soon lingers. While Larson will be looking forward to an established Cup car, it's not a Hendrick or Roush team. The Nos. 1 and 42 have shown moments of brilliance, but never the kind of consistency you have to have under a champion. If Juan Pablo Montoya couldn't figure out how to win regularly in a Cup car, driving for EGR why do we think this young man can? Hmmm... good question.
I'm still excited to see Larson move up in 2014. Is it too soon? Yes, I think so. Will this move ultimately kill his career, taking a ride that isn't quite up to his potential? It's a good chance. Should he wait for a better opportunity? No. I always believe that you'll never feel the sun if you don't spread your wings.
It's time for Kyle Larson to fly. How high? That's yet to be determined. The one thing we know for sure, when all is said and done is he'll be soaring a lot higher than Danica Patrick.
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: Camping World RV Sales 500
by Tom Bowles
0
Laps led by Front Row Motorsports' David Gilliland at Talladega this season. He still managed a 4.5 average finish, combined over two events (2nd and 7th).
1
Race won from the pole this century at Talladega. Jeff Gordon, in the Spring of 2007 is the only Cup driver to accomplish the feat; Aric Almirola, Sunday's pole sitter wound up 22nd.
2
Consecutive races won by non-Chase drivers. That's the first time it's happened in NASCAR since Tony Stewart, who missed the postseason as reigning Cup champion won two in a row back in 2006.
3
Cautions for just 10 laps at 'Dega. It's the fewest laps run under yellow (and total number) at the track since the Fall 2002 event, won by Dale Earnhardt, Jr. went caution free.
4
Plate race wins for Jamie McMurray since the start of the 2007 Cup Series season. No other driver on the circuit has more during that stretch.
4.8
Average finish for Kyle Busch (fifth at Talladega) with Kansas' 34th-place debacle expunged from his record.
5
Seconds back Kevin Harvick was from the lead draft with less than 20 laps remaining in the race. Running virtually by himself, he caught the pack and gained 13 spots, from 25th to 12th in what could be a championship-saving performance.
6
Laps led by third-place finisher and rookie Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. Sunday. It's the first time he's led since Talladega way back in the Spring (22 races).
7
Drivers who didn't finish the race Sunday at Talladega. It's the fewest number of DNFs the track has seen in the Cup Series since the Fall of 2010.
8
Point swing between Jimmie Johnson and Matt Kenseth at Talladega. Johnson was 13th, leading the most laps while Kenseth got a laps led bonus and wound up 20th. The results left Johnson back in front of the points by four.
36
Plate races since Dale Earnhardt, Jr. went to Cup Series Victory Lane at Daytona or Talladega. He last broke through during the Fall, 2004 race at 'Dega made famous for his on-air swearing in Victory Lane.
52
Lead changes during this Cup race, the most for the Gen-6 chassis so far at a restrictor plate track.
178.795
Average speed Sunday at Talladega. It's the fastest a Cup race has been run at the track in 11 years, and the sixth fastest all-time.
$122,193
Money earned by David Gilliland for finishing seventh.
$133,651
Money earned by Brad Keselowski for finishing 29th.
Tom Bowles is the Editor-In-Chief of Frontstretch. He can be reached via e-mail at tom.bowles@frontstretch.com.
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TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:
Racing To The Point: Talladega Features A Refreshing Finish
by Brett Poirier
by Brad Morgan
by Phil Allaway
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FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Q: In the 1987 Goody's 500, Darrell Waltrip, Dale Earnhardt and Terry Labonte combined to lead 427 of the 500 laps. A late-race caution when Ken Schrader and Bobby Allison spun in Turn 4 tightened the three leaders (who just so happened to be the only drivers on the lead lap) for a three-lap dash to the finish. Earnhardt led on the restart, but he did not claim the Martinsville season sweep. What happened?
Check back Wednesday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
Monday's Answer:
Q: Geoff Bodine won the 1990 Goody's 500 at Martinsville, holding off Dale Earnhardt. However, he was not exempt from the typical crunching that comprises a 500-lap race at the paperclip. What happened to set Bodine back in the second half of the race?
FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Q: In the 1987 Goody's 500, Darrell Waltrip, Dale Earnhardt and Terry Labonte combined to lead 427 of the 500 laps. A late-race caution when Ken Schrader and Bobby Allison spun in Turn 4 tightened the three leaders (who just so happened to be the only drivers on the lead lap) for a three-lap dash to the finish. Earnhardt led on the restart, but he did not claim the Martinsville season sweep. What happened?
Check back Wednesday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
Monday's Answer:
Q: Geoff Bodine won the 1990 Goody's 500 at Martinsville, holding off Dale Earnhardt. However, he was not exempt from the typical crunching that comprises a 500-lap race at the paperclip. What happened to set Bodine back in the second half of the race?
A: Bodine was leading the race on Lap 319 when he collided with Terry Labonte in Turn 2. Labonte spun out and a slight tap from second-place Bill Elliott sent Bodine into the grass, but not before sliding into Labonte's Oldsmobile one more time and bashing in his right side door. The incident 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
-- Tweet 'N' Greet by Kevin Rutherford
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, and more!
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Tomorrow on the Frontstretch:
Did You Notice? by Tom Bowles-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, and more!
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Tomorrow on the Frontstretch:
There's four races left for five 2012 winners to extend their yearly trips to Cup Series Victory Lane. Who's got the best chance to end their drought? Tom takes a closer look at that, how the 2013 Chase might play out through past history and much more in his list of small but important observations about the sport.
Beyond The Cockpit: Tommy Baldwin by Amy Henderson
How has the Gen-6 changed the game for one of NASCAR's David vs. Goliath organizations? Amy talks shop with Tommy Baldwin, owner of a two-car Cup team that includes the No. 7 of Dave Blaney and the No. 36 of J.J. Yeley to find out.
Sprint Cup Power Rankings: Top 15 After Talladega by Michael Mehedin
Jimmie Johnson took over the point lead for the first time this Chase. But was his Talladega triumph to, umm, 13th enough for him to climb to number one on our list? Johnson led the most laps; he'll need the most votes from our panel of web experts to take charge of our weekly top 15 poll.
Open-Wheel Wednesday by Matt Stallknecht
With the 2013 IndyCar season officially wrapped up, Matt takes a look back to Fontana - and a look ahead to 2014 - in our weekly open-wheel commentary.
Side By Side: How Many Still In Title Contention? by TBA
Is this Chase officially a two-man race? Our experts debate and YOU vote as to which side wins in our weekly feature.
Frontstretch Top Ten by the Frontstretch Staff
Tickle your funny bone with this weekly racing list that gets you laughing every Wednesday.
Happiness Is... by Huston Ladner
Don't let your life sink into the pits. Huston takes a look at the racing stories from the last seven days that should leave you smiling.
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©2013 Frontstretch.com
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