The Frontstretch Newsletter: January 13th, 2014

THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!

January 13th, 2014
Volume VIII, Edition II

~~~~~~~~~~

For a full schedule of our driver reviews, click here.

- TV Schedule for January 13-January 19, 2014:

Monday, January 13

Time                                 Telecast                                                                 Network

4:00pm-5:00pm               NASCAR RaceHub                                              FOX Sports 1

6:30-7:00pm                    2014 Dakar Rally Stage 7                                   NBC Sports Network*/ (from January 12)

Tuesday, January 14

Time                                  Telecast                                           Network

4:00-5:00pm                    NASCAR RaceHub                        FOX Sports 1

5:00-6:00pm                    2014 Dakar Rally Stage 8             NBC Sports Network*/ (from January 13)

Wednesday, January 15

Time                                    Telecast                                               Network

4:00pm-5:00pm            NASCAR RaceHub                                 FOX Sports 2

5:00-5:30pm                 2014 Dakar Rally Stage 9                      NBC Sports Network*/ (from January 14)

Thursday, January 16
Time                                   Telecast                                                                 Network

4:00pm-5:00pm               NASCAR RaceHub                                               FOX Sports 1

5:00-5:30pm                      2014 Dakar Rally Stage 10                                    NBC Sports Network*/ (from January 15)

Friday, January 17

Time                                   Telecast                                                               Network

5:00-5:30pm                       2014 Dakar Rally Stage 11                                 NBC Sports Network*/ (from January 16)

Saturday, January 18

Time                                   Telecast                                                            Network

10:30pm-1:30am                AMA Monster Energy Supercross: Anaheim 2      FOX Sports 1

*- Tape Delayed

/- Highlighted coverage

What to Watch: January 13-19

- Last week, we had the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series teams testing in Daytona as part of Preseason Thunder.  Today starts a two-day test in Daytona for Camping World Truck Series teams.  Only 19 teams have entered the test and there will be no TV coverage.  Regardless, we will have coverage in next week's Newsletter.

- Also, Chevrolet is unveiling the new Corvette Z06/Z07 and the new C7.R race car today at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.  It will be the first look at the new race car in its official paint scheme (Corvette Racing did the Roar Before the 24 in camo paint).

Top News
by Phil Allaway

Sprint Cup and Nationwide Teams Test at Daytona

Last Thursday, Sprint Cup teams were scheduled to hold their first day of testing in Daytona.  However, persistent rains completely washed out Day No. 1.  As a result, the entire Cup test was condensed into Friday.

Even then, the weather delayed the start of Friday's on-track action until nearly noon.  When drivers did finally get out on the track, essentially all the activity was limited to single-car runs, much to the disappointment of gathered fans.

In the single-car runs, rookie Austin Dillon turned in the fastest lap with a time of 46.128 seconds (195.109 mph).  Dillon was closely followed by Nationwide Series regular Brian Scott with a time of 46.253 seconds (194.582 mph).  Matt Crafton, testing the No. 27 Menards Chevrolet, was third quickest to create an RCR 1-2-3.

Aric Almirola was the fastest Ford driver in fourth with a lap of 46.433 seconds (193.828 mph), while Kyle Larson rounded out the top-5.  Denny Hamlin was the fastest Toyota in ninth.

Crafton was in Daytona to test the No. 27 because regular driver Paul Menard had a catastrophe at his house.  Due to the recent cold weather, a pipe burst in Menard's attic, creating a leak that eventually flooded much of his house.

Current ESPN NASCAR Analyst Rusty Wallace returned to the seat of a Sprint Cup car for the first time in many years of Friday, splitting time  with 2012 Sprint Cup Champion Brad Keselowski in the No. 2 Miller Lite Ford for the newly renamed Team Penske.  Wallace appeared to have a lot of fun out on the track.

"I gotta tell you. I just want to thank everyone back at the shop that made this happen," Wallace said during a press conference."   "I really wanted to get back into the car and get a good feel of this Gen-6 car here at Daytona. Not only did they let me run a couple of times, but they let me run most of the day today and the car is fantastic. It is real smooth and nice and the crew was so kind. I hope I helped them out some. I gave them a lot of feedback. This guy here next to me has been really good to me all week long and I really appreciate it."

For Nationwide Series teams, there were no such issues with wet weather.  Instead, teams dealt with near record warmth on the second day of their test. 

In addition, a number of rule changes have been announced.  Teams are no longer allowed to run the detachable spoiler tabs in order to cut down on downforce.  The air intake opening at the front of the car has been cut in size by 20 percent.  Finally, NASCAR recently announced a new rule change that bans tandem drafting in the Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series.  Bump drafting, however, is still legal.  As a result of these changes, plus a still unknown change to the qualifying procedure that may involve draft session, teams needed to get out on the track and see how the cars will work together.

Both days saw a healthy amount of draft sessions with two and three-wide racing, but no incidents.  On Saturday, drafting was very limited in the morning session, but the packs came together in the afternoon for a couple of long stretches.  In that period of time, JR Motorsports' Chase Elliott turned the fastest lap with a 47.874 second (187.993 mph) lap.  Chase's father, Bill, testing another car that Dale Earnhardt, Jr. will likely drive during Speedweeks, was second quickest and Regan Smith completed a JR Motorsports 1-2-3.

Sunday saw Dylan Kwasniewski, driving the No. 31 for Turner Scott Motorsports, turn in the sole lap of the test at over 190 mph.  Chase Elliott was second quickest, followed by James Buescher for RAB Racing with Brack Maggard, Bill Elliott and Brendan Gaughan.

In single-car runs, Elliott Sadler was quickest on both days with laps at over 179 mph.  Sadler refused to run in the draft for the entire test.  Ty Dillon was second quickest.

Nationwide Series Teams Make Driver Announcements

Last week, a number of Nationwide Series teams shored up their driving lineups for 2014.  Firstly, JD Motorsports made a change in their plans.  Originally, they were planning on having Landon Cassill return to the No. 4 full-time, while the No. 01 would be a part-time car.  However, the team announced on Friday that they have signed Jeffrey Earnhardt to drive the No. 4 full-time.  Cassill will move over to the No. 01, replacing the departed Mike Wallace.

TriStar Motorsports announced on Friday that they have signed Blake Koch to a deal to drive for the team full-time.  The press release did not specify which car that Koch would drive, but since the release did state that Eric McClure and Mike Bliss are returning to the team as well, it could be assumed that Koch will be in the No. 44, which was shared by a number of drivers last season including Cole Whitt.

Biagi-DenBeste Racing announced recently that David Ragan, who tested for the team last weekend in Daytona, will drive the No. 98 Ford in a limited schedule in the Nationwide Series.  On FOX Sports' coverage from Daytona Saturday, Ragan stated that he planned on doing roughly ten races in the car.  Kevin Swindell will also race in selected events.

NBC Adds At Least One, Potentially Three to On-Air Crew for 2015

On Friday, NBC Sports Group announced the signing of Steve Letarte, currently the crew chief of Dale Earnhardt, Jr.'s National Guard/Diet Mountain Dew Chevrolet, to serve as the technical analyst for NASCAR on NBC when it returns in July, 2015.  The news had actually broken during the rain delay on Thursday in Daytona.  It was quickly confirmed, and NBC put out their release Friday morning.  Letarte will continue in his role as Earnhardt Jr.'s crew chief for all of 2014 before leaving to join NBC.

Letarte is very excited for his change of career.

"As soon as I met with Sam Flood and his team at NBC Sports it became obvious to me how excited they are to be covering NASCAR in 2015 and beyond.  Their excitement, along with my love for racing, solidified my decision to move away from the pit box and into the broadcast booth," Letarte said.  "I want to thank Rick Hendrick and everyone at Hendrick Motorsports for the opportunities they have given me over the last 18 years, and I want to reaffirm my commitment to Dale Jr. and the entire 88 team to go win races and challenge for the championship in 2014."

Sam Flood, NBC and NBC Sports Network's Executive Producer, believes that he has acquired a slam dunk in Letarte for their NASCAR coverage.

"I've always been impressed with Steve Letarte's interviews, and feel smarter after hearing him break down the crucial elements of each race," Flood said.  "It wasn't long into our first meeting about this potential role on our broadcast team when I realized that Steve is going to be 'Must See TV.'"

Letarte does not have a whole lot of TV experience.  Much of it was actually for fun.  Letarte would help out with pit reporting for the Pay-Per-View broadcasts of the Prelude to the Dream from Eldora Speedway.  In addition, Letarte has contributed to MRN Radio in the past.

In addition to the official announcement, The Charlotte Observer's Jim Utter is reporting that NBC will bring Dave Burns and Mike Massaro from ESPN onboard as well.  Burns would continue on as a pit reporter, while Mike Massaro would have a studio role.

For Burns, this would be a return for him.  When NBC had shared NASCAR rights with Turner Sports from 2001-2006, Burns served as a pit reporter for both networks.  Previous to 2001, Burns mainly worked for TNN with their ASA coverage.  For Massaro, he has been with ESPN since the late 1990's.  During the 2001-2006 period, Massaro was ESPN's only full-time reporter covering the Cup Series.  For much of that time, he was barred from the track by the sanctioning body and was forced to conduct interviews across the street from the track, or at airports.

Representatives of both ESPN and NBC refused comment on the report.

Sprint Unlimted Voting Parameters Unveiled

On Thursday, NASCAR and Sprint announced the voting parameters for the upcoming Sprint Unlimited during Speedweeks in Daytona.  Like last year, fans will be able to vote on a number of different aspects of the event.

Through 6pm EST on February 15, fans will be able to vote on the format of the race.  The race will be three segments, but fans can decide the segment length.  The options are:

1) 30 laps/35 laps/10 laps

2) 30 laps/30 laps/15 laps

3) 30 laps/25 laps/20 laps

Through 7:30pm EST on February 15, fans will be able to vote on how the eligible drivers will lineup for the 75-lap race.  The options are:

1) Most Career Poles (most starts on pole)

2) 2013 Sprint Cup Driver Point Standings

3) Speeds from Final Practice (fastest practice speed claims pole)

Until the end of the second segment of the race, fans will be able to vote on how the field will start the third and final segment.  The options are:

1) Fastest Lap in the Race (times from both segments are eligible)

2) Most Laps Lead (from both segments)

3) Drivers Line Up How They Exit Pit Road From Mandatory Pit Stop

The Sprint Unlimited will be held on February 15 starting at 8:00pm EST.  The race will air on FOX Sports 1 for the first time.

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.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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.

~~~~~~~~~~

FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:

Q:  In 1983, A.J. Foyt claimed overall victory in the 24 Hour Pepsi Challenge at Daytona with teammates Bob Wollek and Claude Ballot-Lena in a Porsche 935.  However, he was not originally entered in that car. What was he originally entered in for the race?

Check back next Monday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!

Last Monday's Answer:

Q:  In last Monday'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 the 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?

A: The fastest lap ever turned on Daytona's road course was set during qualifying for the 1993 Rolex 24 at Daytona.  P.J. Jones, driving the No. 98 Toyota Eagle Mk III for Dan Gurney's All American Racers, turned in a lap of 1:33.875 (136.522 mph).  In the race, the No. 98, shared by Jones, Mark Dismore and Rocky Moran, took the overall victory by ten laps over the second place Ford Mustang from Roush Racing.

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 Monday, January 20th, 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

We'll have the final remaining driver reviews for your pleasure this week.

-----------------------------
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