THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
January 6th, 2014Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
Volume VIII, Edition I
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- TV Schedule for January 6-January 12, 2014:
Monday, January 6
Time Telecast Network
4:00pm-5:00pm NASCAR RaceHub FOX Sports 1
5:00-5:30pm 2014 Dakar Rally Stage 1 NBC Sports Network*/
Tuesday, January 7
Tuesday, January 7
Time Telecast Network
4:00-5:00pm NASCAR RaceHub FOX Sports 1
5:00-6:00pm 2014 Dakar Rally Stage 2 NBC Sports Network*/
Wednesday, January 8
Time Telecast Network
5:00-5:30pm 2014 Dakar Rally Stage 3 NBC Sports Network*/
Thursday, January 9
Time Telecast Network
Time Telecast Network
12:00pm-1:00pm NASCAR RaceHub FOX Sports 1
1:00-5:00pm NASCAR Preseason Thunder: Day 1 FOX Sports 1
5:00-5:30pm 2014 Dakar Rally Stage 4 NBC Sports Network*/
Friday, January 10
Time Telecast Network
1:00pm-5:00pm NASCAR Preseason Thunder: Day 2 FOX Sports 1
5:00-5:30pm 2014 Dakar Rally Stage 5 NBC Sports Network*/
Saturday, January 11
Time Telecast Network
3:00pm-7:00pm NASCAR Preseason Thunder: Day 3 FOX Sports 1
5:30-6:00pm 2014 Dakar Rally Stage 6 NBC Sports Network*/
9:30pm-12:30am AMA Monster Energy Supercross: Phoenix FOX Sports 1
Sunday, January 12
Time Telecast Network
10:00pm-10:30pm 2014 Dakar Rally Stage 7 NBC Sports Network*/
*- Tape Delayed
/- Highlighted coverage
What to Watch: December 30-January 5
- Later this week, NASCAR returns to the track for Preseason Thunder, three days of testing at Daytona International Speedway ahead of Speedweeks. FOX Sports 1 will be at Daytona this week to provide afternoon coverage of two days of Sprint Cup testing, along with Saturday coverage of Nationwide testing. The coverage will also be available on the FOX Sports Go app. We'll have a write-up on the testing for next week's Newsletter.
Top News
by Phil Allaway
by Phil Allaway
Chase Elliott to JR Motorsports with NAPA Auto Parts
On Monday, JR Motorsports announced the signing of 18-year old Chase Elliott to drive full-time in the Nationwide Series in 2014. Elliott will drive the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro with NAPA Auto Parts serving as the primary sponsor for all 33 races. Elliott will compete as a teammate to Regan Smith.
Elliott, who has yet to make a start in the Nationwide Series, is very happy to get the opportunity to compete full-time in the series.
"This is the opportunity of a lifetime," Elliott said. "My family and I are still trying to believe it all. I couldn't ask to be partnered with anyone better than Dale Jr., Kelley and Mr. Hendrick, along with all of the people at their organizations who have put in countless hours to pull this together."
JR Motorsports co-owner Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Is very excited to have Elliott in the car.
"Chase has been extremely successful, and I think the Nationwide Series is only a short step for him," Earnhardt Jr. said. "With the infrastructure we have at JR Motorsports and our close-working partnership with Hendrick Motorsports, we have every opportunity to continue Chase's development as a driver while contending for a championship. He's that good."
NAPA Auto Parts is very happy to be onboard with Elliott.
"NAPA is pleased to continue its long standing involvement in NASCAR, the most popular form of motorsports in the United States supported by its many loyal and passionate fans," said Dan Askey, President of NAPA Auto Parts. "Equally, we are proud to form this new partnership with JR Motorsports. Kelley Earnhardt Miller, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Rick Hendrick and its many employees have developed one of the premier teams in the Nationwide Series. Chase Elliott is a young and talented, future star in the sport and will represent NAPA well both on and off the track. We welcome Chase and the entire JR Motorsports organization to the NAPA Family."
Since the No. 9 is a new team, it would not have any points to fall back on. Normally, this would force Elliott to qualify on speed at Tate beginning of the season. However, the No. 5 team has dropped down to part-time status. This will allow JR Motorsports to swap the owners' points between the teams, locking Elliott in.
As of right now, neither one of BK Racing's two full-time seats are filled for the 2014 Sprint Cup Series season. With two days of testing at Daytona coming up on Thursday, BK Racing's brass want to use the test to try out potential new hires.
As a result, Alex Bowman and Ryan Truex have been tapped to drive the Nos. 83 and 93, respectively this week in Daytona. For Bowman, this is the second consecutive test that he has driven the No. 83 in (he also drove the No. 83 in Charlotte during the intermediate test in December). Truex is technically under contract with Richard Petty Motorsports, but has received permission to run the Toyota.
As a result, Alex Bowman and Ryan Truex have been tapped to drive the Nos. 83 and 93, respectively this week in Daytona. For Bowman, this is the second consecutive test that he has driven the No. 83 in (he also drove the No. 83 in Charlotte during the intermediate test in December). Truex is technically under contract with Richard Petty Motorsports, but has received permission to run the Toyota.
BK Racing co-owner Ron Devine was matter-of-fact when referring to the rookies testing this week.
"We're going to test [Bowman and Truex] to keep our options open," Devine told FOXSports.com's Lee Spencer.
"We're going to test [Bowman and Truex] to keep our options open," Devine told FOXSports.com's Lee Spencer.
BK Racing is coming off of a trying season. David Reutimann struggled to be competitive at times while finishing 33rd in points. Travis Kvapil was a little better (31st), but his season was marred by an arrest for misdemeanor assault in October. Kvapil has a scheduled court date next Friday.
Hornish to JGR in Part-Time Nationwide Deal
On Monday, Joe Gibbs Racing announced that Sam Hornish, Jr. will join the team on a part-time basis during the 2014 Nationwide Series season. Under this deal, Hornish would split the No. 54 Monster Energy Toyota with Kyle Busch, focusing mainly on the standalone races.
The seven races Hornish will drive in start with Talladega on May 3. Hornish will then make additional starts at Iowa (both races), Road America, Chicagoland (July), Mid-Ohio and Kentucky (September).
Hornish is pleased to have a ride set for 2014.
"I'm excited about driving the No. 54 Monster Energy car this year," Hornish said in the team's press release. "It's the best possible situation for me to jump into great equipment and have the opportunity to go right out and win. After working with Penske for 10 years and now to have the opportunity to partner with Joe Gibbs Racing, I couldn't have asked for anything better."
Joe Gibbs Racing President J.D. Gibbs is very pleased to have a proven winner in the No. 54 in addition to Kyle Busch to help the team claim the owner's championship.
"We're excited to have someone of Sam's caliber joining Kyle behind the wheel of the Monster Energy Camry this year," Gibbs said. "We lost out on the owner's championship by just one point last year so our focus will be on trying to get that title back in 2014."
Busch, who won 12 races in the No. 54 last season in 26 starts, will once again drive the No. 54 in a 26 race limited schedule.
Corvette DP's Pace Roar Before the 24
The previous tests for the upcoming Tudor United SportsCar Championship have shown one notable trend. That trend being that the Chevrolet Corvette DP Evo's with their new aerodynamics are the fastest cars out there. That continued to be the case this past weekend in Daytona, but the other cars in the Prototype class have closed the gap.
DP's made up the six fastest prototypes. The fastest P2 prototype was the No. 1 HPD ARX-03b for Extreme Speed Motorsports with a 1:39.750, a full second off the pace.
Unlike the December test, there were no major tire issues, which was a big relief to teams. However, the three Prototype teams running the 3.5 liter Ford EcoBoost engine (Chip Ganassi's two cars, plus the Michael Shank Racing No. 60) left the test after Saturday night due to header issues. While the cars were not always up to the pace of the Corvette DP's, Jamie McMurray did set the fastest time in one of the Saturday sessions behind the wheel of the No. 01 Ford Riley DPG3.
In Prototype Challenge, the No. 8 fielded by Starworks Motorsport was quickest in the test with a lap of 1:42.010. The sanctioning body is said to be aiming for a 1:41 lap time for the PC cars, so this could be considered right on target. The No. 54 from CORE autosport was second fastest in class, but a full four-tenths of a second slower. Only seven cars in the class participated in the test. RSR Racing (Rocketsports), which will field two cars full-time, skipped the test.
The brand-new Chevrolet Corvette C7.R appears to be very fast, spending most of the weekend on top of the charts in GT Le Mans. However, the CORE autosport-run No. 911 Porsche 911 RSR was quickest for the weekend with a lap of 1:45.564. The Corvettes were second and third. Also, make note that the Corvettes tested in a camouflage livery. This is because the car has not been unveiled yet. That is scheduled to occur at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit next Monday.
GT Daytona is poised to be quite the duel. Flying Lizard Motorsports' No. 45 Audi R8 LMS was quickest with a 1:47.981. Snow Racing's No. 58 Porsche was second in class. However, the car made an appointment with the tire wall late in Sunday's session, resulting in cosmetic damage. The No. 71 Porsche from Park Place Motorsports was third fastest. To give you an idea of just how close the class is, the top 21 cars all posted laps within one second of the No. 45 Audi's best at some time during the test.
The Rolex 24 at Daytona is scheduled to start at 2:30pm EST on January 25. Coverage will be provided by FOX Sports 1 and 2.
Bestwick to the IndyCar Booth
The Charlotte Observer's Jim Utter reported on Thursday that ESPN has tapped Allen Bestwick as the play-by-play commentator on the network's IndyCar broadcasts, effective immediately. Bestwick replaces Marty Reid, who was fired from ESPN back in the fall.
For 2014, Bestwick will split time between NASCAR and IndyCar work. ESPN's IndyCar schedule is frontloaded. As a result, there will be no clashes with Sprint Cup telecasts. However, there may be clashes early on in the season during ESPN's Nationwide-only portion of the schedule.
In 2015, Bestwick will remain with ESPN. The IndyCar events will be the only races that he will cover. Bestwick will also commentate on other sports, like College Football during his deal.
Representatives from ESPN refused to comment when reached.
Have news for Phil 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 AT THE FRONTSTRETCH:
by Dr. Mark Howell
by Danny Peters
by Matt Stallknecht
by Brad Morgan
FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Q: Earlier in today's Newsletter, we reported that Action Express Racing's No. 5 Chevrolet Corvette DP Evo turned in a lap of 1:38.630 to top the charts at last weekend's Roar Before the 24. While this is a very fast lap, it is not the fastest ever set at Daytona. When was the fastest lap on Daytona's infield road course set, and what car did it?
Check back next Monday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
Last Monday's Answer:
Last Monday's Answer:
Q: Bristol Motor Speedway converted their racing surface from asphalt to concrete in time for the 1992 Bud 500. Why was this move made?
A: The half-mile oval was actually repaved with asphalt for the Food City 500 in 1992. However, the track came up during the race, resulting in the surface becoming a mess with potholes and gouges. The track was converted to concrete over the summer in order to prevent this from happening in the future.
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 Monday, January 13th, 2014 in the Frontstretch Newsletter:
-- Top News from Phil Allaway
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles and more!
This week at Frontstretch:
2013 NASCAR Driver Reviews by the Frontstretch Staff
After a break for Christmas and New Year's, we're back with more driver reviews.
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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