Wednesday, October 23, 2013

The Frontstretch Newsletter: Settle In With A Little Evening News

THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
October 23rd, 2013
Volume VII, Edition CXCVIII

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Top News
by Tom Bowles

Quickie News 'N' Notes

- Todd Parrott, while not admitting which drug he took said "he made a mistake" when questioned about his indefinite suspension from NASCAR. Parrott, who appeared on Eli Gold's MRN Radio show said he'll work through the Road To Recovery Program after being released from his job as crew chief for Aric Almirola at Richard Petty Motorsports. The 49-year-old, who has been a head wrench for almost two decades hopes to be back at work and reinstated in time for February's Daytona 500.

- Kelly Admiraal, an 18-year-old from Canada's Edmonton province will make his Nationwide Series debut next month at Phoenix. Admiraal, who will drive for newly-formed Kapusta Racing brings sponsorship from Western Camp Services to the team. Running in three K&N West Series races this year, he posted one top-10 finish - a seventh out at Sonoma Raceway.

- Aric Almirola will run a special paint scheme and number this weekend in honor of 2014 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Maurice Petty. The blue-colored Ford will switch to No. 41, the number Maurice used while running in several short track races during the early 1960s. It's the first time the No. 43 won't be run, in a NASCAR race since Jeff Green failed to qualify at Atlanta back in late 2003.

Look for a full slate, an extra large news brief smack in the middle of tomorrow's Newsletter! We apologize for the shorter than normal length of news today.

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
Short Tracking Could Make All The Difference
WTF Wednesdays
by Ellen Richardson

The week is half over. Some NASCAR fans may still be caught up in a somewhat lackluster Sprint Cup race, held at one of this sport's most famous superspeedways -- the first race in the Chase for the Sprint Cup to post a year-to-year decline in televised viewership.  But I'm actually looking forward.  This weekend, I will be celebrating the return to what I truly call racing – short-tracking at half-mile Martinsville Speedway.

What I like to call the paperclip in the hills, this oval is one of the oldest and most memorable tracks on the NASCAR circuit, one that has historically produced some of the best racing the Sprint Cup Series has to offer.  In fact, I will never forget sitting in the stands and watching legends Rusty Wallace and Bobby Labonte battle for the win on the final lap of the 2004 Advance Auto Parts 500. It's the type of competition that gets fans sampling NASCAR, for the first time turned into fans that will always want to come back.

If you are a true, die-hard NASCAR supporter you won't forget the first time that you bit into that one of a kind "Mart dog," either.  Still stays with me to this day!  While my mouth waters, let me get back to the best part about Martinsville – the competition.  Like many of the home tracks across the nation, those competing at there can't play follow the leader for long, which makes for some exciting racing that many fans actually say they prefer over the long, green-flag runs seen at tracks like Talladega.

As my good buddy and fellow sports columnist, Matt Weaver put it, "short track racing represents everything that is right about stock car racing. We've become too fixated on speed in NASCAR and forgotten that the sport was founded on close-quarters combat. I personally can't wait for the day that old becomes new and we're spending a good portion of our weekends on half-miles."

Throw in the added bonus of the Chase for the Sprint Cup and we could see the somewhat lackluster racing heat up the track again. With a little hope, we could assure fans a race that they can't stop talking about. That's right; we are only four races away from finding out if "Five-Time" can add a sixth cup to his mantle, or if those drivers who have continued to give this championship team a run for their money could foil these plans for good.  The best part? A little short track racing could make all the difference. 

Speaking of memorable races that make a difference, I am also honored and excited to be heading to another popular short track race, which I am sure will have fans not only talking about the on-track battle, but the important one that some fans in attendance continue to face on a daily basis.  The second annual Mischa Sell Memorial 174, featuring some of the Southeast's best limited Late Model drivers, will roar into Burlington, NC's Ace Speedway on Saturday.  This race, which honors the memory of breast cancer warrior Mischa Sell, is one of the premier limited Late Model races that not only assures an action filled battle between those who are trying to make a name for themselves in this sport, but also raises money for families who are trying to find a positive break from the cancer that they battle on a daily basis.

Limited late model driver, longtime NASCAR fan and husband of this strong cancer warrior David Sell, founded this race in 2012 in an effort to remember his wife while featuring those who have a passion for not only racing, but competing at exciting short tracks like that of Ace and Martinsville Speedway.

"I started this event after my wife's passing in 2012 because I didn't want her to fade away from people's memory, so I decided I would start a memorial event to give her name a legacy," Sell said. "But not just any event. I wanted from the start for this to be the premier short track racing limited Late Model event anywhere to give the best show for the short track drivers and the fans that make this possible."

For more information about this memorial race visit http://www.subtekshirts.com/174.htm. So whether you will be making the trek to the hills of Martinsville or joining me in a making an added motorsports memory, at Ace Speedway, here's a salute to the memorable short track racing weekend ahead.  Have a great one that I hope will leave you saying, "Wow, That's Fantastic!"

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 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...

@jamiemcmurray: Can't thank my guys enough for their hard work. I'm really happy we were able to win for @Cessna, @McDonalds & all our partners #TeamGanassi

@austindillon3: That was fun who needs SkyDiving

@keselowski (Brad Keselowski): Feel bad for the #2crew I sped down pit road and we never got a yellow to recover. #mybad

@joeylogano: That was frustrating. Tried to go at the end. 20 came with us but no one really wanted to go. Seemed like everyone wanted to ride at end.

@aric_almirola: Man I would have bet the world we were gonna have a big wreck inside 20 to go. I feel really bad. My guys gave me a great car.

@KyleLarsonRacin: Hell yeah! Good job @jamiemcmurray. What a weekend for all of @CGRTeams @EGRTeams.

@jpmontoya (Juan Pablo Montoya): Great job to everybody in the @EGRTeams. Well deserved win. The luck in the 42 car doesn't seem to change.4 more races and I'm not giving up

@miguelpaludo: Well, it was a wild ride. Glad all the drivers are ok. Thanks to @claygreenfield and for all of you checking on me, means a lot.

@claygreenfield: Appreciate y'all giving me credit for checking on @miguelpaludo but I didnt do anything anyone else wouldnt do.Just worried about my friend

@Kenny_Wallace: My Opinion after reading many tweets; "The people that complain about @NASCAR races NEVER quit complaining"

@AndyLally: Best #NASCAR Truck commentating everrrrrrr! http://www.wqmf.com/pages/bigrig.html?article=11755130 …

@JohnnySauter: Very excited to represent Nextant Aerospace in 2014 and beyond! What an awesome couple days for us at @ThorSportRacing @NextantAero

@DanielHemric: So honored to make my @NASCAR_Trucks debut at @MartinsvilleSwy with @SGRracing_ !! Thank you to everyone for believing in me! #haveFAITH

@markmartin: #respect 👍 RT @JennaFryer: Aric Almirola to run 41 at Martinsville to honor Maurice "Chief" Petty #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/2MMnN06vH1

@Ryan_Truex: Gotta stay positive and keep working at it "@rpmfan43: @Ryan_Truex don't sound promising if RPM don't have nothing by now for you."

@maxpapis: Remembering the one and only @danwheldon love u and all your family

@KurtBusch: Sitting at carpool and I realize I might have one of the only cars that doesn't have the "mi familia" stickers in the back window

@KevinHarvick: I learned yesterday this wasn't near as funny in the house... http://instagram.com/p/fleTI0xkC_/

@Mc_driver (Michael McDowell): These are my children. I love them especially when they behave like this. FYI I am parked at my house. #NotDriving pic.twitter.com/LaHM4tufvc

@ClintBowyer: This guy has prepared for some serious road rage! pic.twitter.com/yS6U2yUucd

Kevin Rutherford is an Assistant Editor 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:

by Tom Bowles
by Matt Stallknecht

by Mike Neff
by Amy Henderson

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FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:

Q: Rusty Wallace led 53 laps and earned a third-place in the 1995 Goody's 500 at Martinsville.  However, it wasn't all that easy for the veteran.  What happened to knock him out of the lead early in the race?

Check back Thursday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!

Tuesday's Answer:

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?

A: On the final lap, Labonte attempted to pass Earnhardt on the outside.  Earnhardt defended the move by basically forcing Labonte into the wall exiting Turn 2.  Labonte was none too pleased with those tactics, so he went hard into Turn 3 and got in the back of Earnhardt.  Labonte succeeded in spinning himself and forcing Earnhardt up the track.  Waltrip was able to waltz past the both of them and take his first win for Hendrick Motorsports.  The final restart 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!

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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 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 weekly storylines. 

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.

Fantasy Insider 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 Martinsville.

Tech Talk by Mike Neff
Mike has a Sprint Cup Series crew chief stop by to talk about the technical side of NASCAR.

Truckin' Thursdays by Beth Lunkenheimer
Beth is back with all of the latest and greatest storylines to come out of the Truck Series. This week, Beth takes a look at the biggest winners and losers coming out of Talladega and what it could mean for them moving forward.

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©2013 Frontstretch.com

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