The Frontstretch Newsletter: February 28th, 2014

THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
February 28th, 2014
Volume VIII, Edition XVII
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This Weekend's TV Schedule

Friday, February 28
Time                    Telecast                                           Network
1:30am - 2:00am    NASCAR Now                                   ESPN2
1:00pm - 2:00pm    Nationwide Series Practice No. 1        FOX Sports 1
2:00 - 3:30pm        Sprint Cup Series Practice No. 1         FOX Sports 1
4:00 - 5:00pm        NASCAR RaceHub                            FOX Sports 1
5:00 - 5:30pm        NASCAR America                             NBC Sports Network
5:00 - 6:30pm        Nationwide Series Happy Hour            FOX Sports 1
6:30 - 8:00pm        Sprint Cup Series Qualifying               FOX Sports 1
9:00 - 11:00pm       NASCAR Mexico Series Toyota 120   Mun2

Saturday, March 1
Time                       Telecast                                                          Network
11:00am - 12:00pm   Sprint Cup Series Practice No. 2                        FOX Sports 1
12:00 - 1:30pm         Nationwide Series Qualifying                              FOX Sports 2
1:30 - 2:00pm           NASCAR Live                                                   FOX Sports 2
2:00 - 3:00pm           Sprint Cup Series Happy Hour                           FOX Sports 2
3:30 - 3:45pm           NASCAR Countdown                                        ABC
3:45 - 6:00pm           Nationwide Series Blue Jeans Go Green 200      ABC
7:30 - 10:30pm         AMA Monster Energy Supercross: Indianapolis   FOX Sports 1

Sunday, March 2
Time                    Telecast                                                   Network
1:30pm - 2:30pm    NASCAR RaceDay                                    FOX Sports 1
2:30 - 3:00pm         FOX Pre-Race                                           FOX
3:00 - 6:00pm         Sprint Cup Series The Profit on CNBC 500   FOX
8:00 - 8:30pm         NASCAR Victory Lane                               FOX Sports 2

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Top News
by Justin Tucker

Hamliton to Drive for Carter Motorsports

A familiar face to many NASCAR fans is ready to charge back up the ranks of major league stock car racing.

It was announced Thursday (Feb. 27) that Bobby Hamilton, Jr., son of the late Bobby Hamilton, will drive for Carter 2 Motorsports full time during the 2014 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards season.

Hamilton, Jr. will make his season debut at the Mobile International Speedway in the Mobile ARCA 200 on March 22, piloting the No. 40 Dodge Charger for longtime ARCA car owner Roger Carter.

Hamilton, a 36-year-old native of Nashville, Tenn., has competed at all three levels of NASCAR-sanctioned competition, but looks at this opportunity with Carter 2 Motorsports as a chance to go "old school racing."

"I've always liked running in ARCA," he said. "Plus, I love the old school car that's run in the series. I'm also thrilled to be going back to some of the historic short tracks that ARCA runs on."

During his career at NASCAR's top levels, Hamilton has competed in 64 Sprint Cup Series races, 253 Nationwide Series races and 37 Camping World Truck Series races -- with five career wins in the Nationwide Series. He made his ARCA debut in 1998.

The Tennessee native is looking to make the ARCA Series his permanent home. "It's a great series with a bunch of competitive teams," he said. "I would love to finish in the top 10 in driver points for 2014. I want to run the series until I retire and hopefully score a bunch of victories along the way.

"ARCA brings my career full-circle. It's sort of like going back home."

Dale Jr.'s 500 Die Cast Makes History

There is no denying the popularity of Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Just hours after capturing his second Daytona 500 win, the die-cast version of his National Guard Chevrolet is predicted to the best selling die cast since Lionel Racing became the official die cast creator of NASCAR in 2010.

"When Dale Jr. crossed the finish line at Daytona, we had no doubt this car would be one of the biggest sellers of the year," Lionel Racing SVP and general manager Howard Hitchcock said. "We are now predicting this win car to be the biggest seller in our company's history."

The day after the Daytona 500, Lionel Racing was selling Earnhardt, Jr.'s cars at a rate of more than 100 per hour. The company's distributor and dealer orders are also trending at record levels.

The die-cast car is now available for pre-order at www.lionelracing.com and also is available through the NASCAR.com Superstore and other authorized dealers.

The die cast replicates how the No. 88 looked in victory lane -- complete with confetti, tire scuffs, scratches and the piece of bare bond tape across the nose.

Lionel says that this die cast will be a part of its "golden ticket promotion." More than 700 golden tickets will be randomly inserted in the company's 2014 edition 1:24 die casts through out the season, with the grand prize winner getting a ride along experience with Earnhardt, Jr.

Have news for Justin 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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Keepin' It Short: Time to Mine for Some Copper in the Dirt
by Mike Neff

The Copper World Classic was first run at Phoenix International Raceway in 1976 as an open competition. It had a long and distinguished run that ended in 2011. Fortunately, before the elite open wheeled competition came to an end, it spawned another race on dirt at the famous Manzanita Speedway. For three years, from 2007 through 2009, the race ran at the extremely fast half mile track. When Manzanita closed in 2009 the race moved to USA Raceway for two years. After a year off, the race has now been reborn at Canyon Speedway Park.

The two-day event will take place this weekend, Feb. 28 and March 1. It will include four different race vehicles: USAC Sprint Cars, USAC Midgets, IMCA Modifieds and Late Models sanctioned by CDM and West Coast. Friday night is the preliminary night, while Saturday night will have the championship features. The 7th Annual Copper on Dirt will kick off the seasons of the USAC Sprint Cars and Midgets along with the CRA Sprints. It also continues the seasons of the CDM Late Models, West Coast Late Models and IMCA Modifieds.

For fans in the Phoenix International Speedway area that are looking to get a little dirt on their seat cushions, they should head to Peoria on Friday or Saturday night, to Canyon Speedway Park. The gates open at 4:00 with racing starting at 7 p.m. Tickets for Friday at $20 while Saturday admission is $25. An advance two-day pass is $40. Children 7-12 get in for $10. Under seven get in for free. VIP Suites are $30 and $35, or $60 for both days while All Access passes are $35 for Friday, $40 for Saturday and $70 for both.


Former Copper on Dirt Winners:

USAC/CRA Sprint Cars
2007 – Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
2008 – Shane Cottle
2009 – Darren Hagen
2010 – Levi Jones
2013 – R.J. Johnson

USAC Midgets
2007 – Cory Kruseman
2008 – Darren Hagen
2009 – Brad Sweet
2010 – Brad Sweet
2011 – Kyle Larson
2013 – Bryan Clauson

IMCA Modifieds
2013 – George Fronsman

USRA Modifieds
2011 – R.C. Whitwell

Late Models
2011 – Steve Drake
2013 – Garrett Alberson

ASCS Sprint Cars
2011 – Shane Stewart

USAC Silver Crown
2007 – Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
2008 – Jerry Coons Jr.
2009 – Bud Kaeding
2010 – Levi Jones


This Weekend's Race Schedule

Friday 02/28/14 East Alabama Motor Speedway Phenix City AL Bombers
Friday 02/28/14 East Alabama Motor Speedway Phenix City AL Cruisers
Friday 02/28/14 East Alabama Motor Speedway Phenix City AL Hobby Stocks
Friday 02/28/14 East Alabama Motor Speedway Phenix City AL NDRL Kings of Dirt Super Late Models – Time Trials and Heats
Friday 02/28/14 East Alabama Motor Speedway Phenix City AL Super Street
Friday 02/28/14 Canyon Speedway Park Peoria AZ Copper on Dirt – CDM Super Late Models
Friday 02/28/14 Canyon Speedway Park Peoria AZ Copper on Dirt – IMCA Modifieds
Friday 02/28/14 Canyon Speedway Park Peoria AZ Copper on Dirt – USAC Western Dirt Midgets
Friday 02/28/14 Canyon Speedway Park Peoria AZ Copper on Dirt – USAC/CRA Sprints
Friday 02/28/14 Canyon Speedway Park Peoria AZ Copper on Dirt – West Coast Late Models
Friday 02/28/14 Cocopah Speedway Somerton AZ ASCS Southwest 305 Sprint Cars
Friday 02/28/14 Cocopah Speedway Somerton AZ ASCS Touring Winged Sprint Cars
Friday 02/28/14 Cocopah Speedway Somerton AZ Street Stocks
Friday 02/28/14 Magnolia Motor Speedway Columbus MS USCS Outlaw Thunder Sprint Cars
Friday 02/28/14 Southern New Mexico Speedway Las Cruces NM Mini Sprints
Friday 02/28/14 Southern New Mexico Speedway Las Cruces NM Street Stocks
Friday 02/28/14 Southern New Mexico Speedway Las Cruces NM USMTS Modifieds – Casey's Cup Series
Friday 02/28/14 Southern New Mexico Speedway Las Cruces NM USMTS Modifieds – Gulf Coast Border Region
Friday 02/28/14 Southern New Mexico Speedway Las Cruces NM X-Mods
Friday 02/28/14 Clarksville Speedway Clarksville TN MARS (Mid America Racing Series) DIRTCar Super Late Models
Friday 02/28/14 Cotton Bowl Speedway Paige TX ECO Stocks
Friday 02/28/14 Cotton Bowl Speedway Paige TX IMCA Hobby Stocks
Friday 02/28/14 Cotton Bowl Speedway Paige TX IMCA Modifieds
Friday 02/28/14 Cotton Bowl Speedway Paige TX IMCA Sport Mods
Friday 02/28/14 Cotton Bowl Speedway Paige TX IMCA Stock Cars
Friday 02/28/14 Cotton Bowl Speedway Paige TX Racesaver Sprints
Friday 02/28/14 Cotton Bowl Speedway Paige TX Stock Cars
Friday 02/28/14 Cotton Bowl Speedway Paige TX Street Stocks
Saturday 03/01/14 East Alabama Motor Speedway Phenix City AL Bombers
Saturday 03/01/14 East Alabama Motor Speedway Phenix City AL Crate Late Models
Saturday 03/01/14 East Alabama Motor Speedway Phenix City AL Cruisers
Saturday 03/01/14 East Alabama Motor Speedway Phenix City AL Hobby Stocks
Saturday 03/01/14 East Alabama Motor Speedway Phenix City AL Late Model Sportsman
Saturday 03/01/14 East Alabama Motor Speedway Phenix City AL NDRL Kings of Dirt Super Late Models
Saturday 03/01/14 East Alabama Motor Speedway Phenix City AL Super Street
Saturday 03/01/14 Havasu 95 Speedway Lake Havasu AZ Lucas Oil Modifieds
Saturday 03/01/14 Havasu 95 Speedway Lake Havasu City AZ ASA Street Stocks
Saturday 03/01/14 Havasu 95 Speedway Lake Havasu City AZ Bandoleros
Saturday 03/01/14 Havasu 95 Speedway Lake Havasu City AZ Factory Stocks
Saturday 03/01/14 Havasu 95 Speedway Lake Havasu City AZ Legends
Saturday 03/01/14 Canyon Speedway Park Peoria AZ Copper on Dirt – CDM Super Late Models
Saturday 03/01/14 Canyon Speedway Park Peoria AZ Copper on Dirt – IMCA Modifieds
Saturday 03/01/14 Canyon Speedway Park Peoria AZ Copper on Dirt – USAC Western Dirt Midgets
Saturday 03/01/14 Canyon Speedway Park Peoria AZ Copper on Dirt – USAC/CRA Sprints
Saturday 03/01/14 Canyon Speedway Park Peoria AZ Copper on Dirt – West Coast Late Models
Saturday 03/01/14 Cocopah Speedway Somerton AZ ASCS Southwest 305 Sprint Cars
Saturday 03/01/14 Cocopah Speedway Somerton AZ ASCS Touring Winged Sprint Cars
Saturday 03/01/14 Cocopah Speedway Somerton AZ Go-Karts
Saturday 03/01/14 Cocopah Speedway Somerton AZ Mini-Dwarf Cars
Saturday 03/01/14 Cocopah Speedway Somerton AZ Quarter midgets
Saturday 03/01/14 Cocopah Speedway Somerton AZ Street Stocks
Saturday 03/01/14 Western Speedway Victoria BC Go-Karts
Saturday 03/01/14 Bakersfield Speedway Bakersfield CA American Stocks
Saturday 03/01/14 Bakersfield Speedway Bakersfield CA Hobby Stocks
Saturday 03/01/14 Bakersfield Speedway Bakersfield CA Modifieds
Saturday 03/01/14 Bakersfield Speedway Bakersfield CA Sport Mods
Saturday 03/01/14 Marysville Raceway Park Marysville CA Pacific 360 Sprints
Saturday 03/01/14 Marysville Raceway Park Marysville CA Wingless Sprints
Saturday 03/01/14 Hendry County Motorsports Park Clewiston FL Top Gun Sprints
Saturday 03/01/14 Bubba Raceway Park Ocala FL Dirt Late Models
Saturday 03/01/14 Bubba Raceway Park Ocala FL Dirt Modifieds
Saturday 03/01/14 Bubba Raceway Park Ocala FL Gladiators
Saturday 03/01/14 Bubba Raceway Park Ocala FL Hobby Stocks
Saturday 03/01/14 Bubba Raceway Park Ocala FL V-8 Thunder Stocks
Saturday 03/01/14 Showtime Speedway Pinellas Park FL Enduro
Saturday 03/01/14 Showtime Speedway Pinellas Park FL Kids Fast 4
Saturday 03/01/14 Showtime Speedway Pinellas Park FL Mini Stocks
Saturday 03/01/14 Showtime Speedway Pinellas Park FL Outlaw Winged Sprints
Saturday 03/01/14 Showtime Speedway Pinellas Park FL Pro Figure-8
Saturday 03/01/14 Showtime Speedway Pinellas Park FL Racecars of Yesteryear
Saturday 03/01/14 Showtime Speedway Pinellas Park FL Street Stocks
Saturday 03/01/14 Showtime Speedway Pinellas Park FL Winged Outlaw Figure-8 Series
Saturday 03/01/14 East Bay Raceway Park Tampa FL 4-Cylinder Bombers
Saturday 03/01/14 East Bay Raceway Park Tampa FL Late Models
Saturday 03/01/14 East Bay Raceway Park Tampa FL Limited Late Models
Saturday 03/01/14 East Bay Raceway Park Tampa FL Street Stocks
Saturday 03/01/14 East Bay Raceway Park Tampa FL V8 Warriors
Saturday 03/01/14 Waycross Motor Speedway Waycross GA E-Mods
Saturday 03/01/14 Waycross Motor Speedway Waycross GA Enduro
Saturday 03/01/14 Waycross Motor Speedway Waycross GA Limited Late Models
Saturday 03/01/14 Waycross Motor Speedway Waycross GA Pure Stocks
Saturday 03/01/14 Waycross Motor Speedway Waycross GA Super Street
Saturday 03/01/14 Magnolia Motor Speedway Columbus MS USCS Outlaw Thunder Sprint Cars
Saturday 03/01/14 Southern National Motorsports Park Kenly NC Chargers
Saturday 03/01/14 Southern National Motorsports Park Kenly NC Late Models
Saturday 03/01/14 Southern National Motorsports Park Kenly NC UCARs
Saturday 03/01/14 New Egypt Speedway New Egypt NJ Dirt Modifieds
Saturday 03/01/14 New Egypt Speedway New Egypt NJ Sportsman  
Saturday 03/01/14 Southern New Mexico Speedway Las Cruces NM Mini Sprints
Saturday 03/01/14 Southern New Mexico Speedway Las Cruces NM Street Stocks
Saturday 03/01/14 Southern New Mexico Speedway Las Cruces NM USMTS Modifieds – Casey's Cup Series
Saturday 03/01/14 Southern New Mexico Speedway Las Cruces NM USMTS Modifieds – Gulf Coast Border Region
Saturday 03/01/14 Southern New Mexico Speedway Las Cruces NM X-Mods
Saturday 03/01/14 Lincoln Speedway Abbottstown PA 410 Winged Sprints
Saturday 03/01/14 Shippensburg Speedway Shippensburg PA 125 Sprints
Saturday 03/01/14 Shippensburg Speedway Shippensburg PA 270 Sprints
Saturday 03/01/14 Shippensburg Speedway Shippensburg PA 600 Sprints
Saturday 03/01/14 Shippensburg Speedway Shippensburg PA Go-Karts
Saturday 03/01/14 Shippensburg Speedway Shippensburg PA Mini Stocks
Saturday 03/01/14 Shippensburg Speedway Shippensburg PA Strictly Stocks
Saturday 03/01/14 Shippensburg Speedway Shippensburg PA Thunder Cars
Saturday 03/01/14 Shippensburg Speedway Shippensburg PA Truck Enduros
Saturday 03/01/14 Greenville-Pickens Speedway Easley SC PASS Pro Late Models
Saturday 03/01/14 Greenville-Pickens Speedway Easley SC PASS Super Late Model
Saturday 03/01/14 Cherokee Speedway Gaffney SC Southern Nationals Bonus Races Dirt Super Late Models
Saturday 03/01/14 Clarksville Speedway Clarksville TN MARS (Mid America Racing Series) DIRTCar Super Late Models
Saturday 03/01/14 Clarksville Speedway Clarksville TN Quick Car Dirt Late Models
Saturday 03/01/14 Clarksville Speedway   Clarksville TN American Modified Series Modifieds
Saturday 03/01/14 Royal Purple Raceway Baytown TX Dwarf Cars
Saturday 03/01/14 Royal Purple Raceway Baytown TX Hobby Stocks
Saturday 03/01/14 Royal Purple Raceway Baytown TX Limited Modifieds
Saturday 03/01/14 Royal Purple Raceway Baytown TX Mod Lites
Saturday 03/01/14 Royal Purple Raceway Baytown TX Modifieds
Saturday 03/01/14 Royal Purple Raceway Baytown TX Pure Stocks
Saturday 03/01/14 Bronco Raceway Park Cleveland TX 360 Sprint Cars
Saturday 03/01/14 Bronco Raceway Park Cleveland TX Limited Modifieds
Saturday 03/01/14 Bronco Raceway Park Cleveland TX OEM Pro Stocks
Saturday 03/01/14 Timberline Speedway Corley TX Factory Stocks
Saturday 03/01/14 Timberline Speedway Corley TX Limited Modifieds
Saturday 03/01/14 Timberline Speedway Corley TX Modifieds
Saturday 03/01/14 Timberline Speedway Corley TX Super Stocks
Saturday 03/01/14 Battleground Speedway Highlands TX Dwarf Cars
Saturday 03/01/14 Battleground Speedway Highlands TX Hobby Stocks
Saturday 03/01/14 Battleground Speedway Highlands TX Late Models
Saturday 03/01/14 Battleground Speedway Highlands TX Limited Modifieds
Saturday 03/01/14 Battleground Speedway Highlands TX Mod Lites
Saturday 03/01/14 Battleground Speedway Highlands TX Pure Stocks
Saturday 03/01/14 Kennedale Speedway Park Kennedale TX Factory Stocks
Saturday 03/01/14 Kennedale Speedway Park Kennedale TX IMCA Modifieds
Saturday 03/01/14 Kennedale Speedway Park Kennedale TX IMCA Southern Sport Mods
Saturday 03/01/14 Kennedale Speedway Park Kennedale TX IMCA Stock Cars
Saturday 03/01/14 Kennedale Speedway Park Kennedale TX Racesaver 305 Sprints
Saturday 03/01/14 Kennedale Speedway Park Kennedale TX Street Stocks
Saturday 03/01/14 Cotton Bowl Speedway Paige TX ECO Stocks
Saturday 03/01/14 Cotton Bowl Speedway Paige TX IMCA Hobby Stocks
Saturday 03/01/14 Cotton Bowl Speedway Paige TX IMCA Modifieds
Saturday 03/01/14 Cotton Bowl Speedway Paige TX IMCA Sport Mods
Saturday 03/01/14 Cotton Bowl Speedway Paige TX IMCA Stock Cars
Saturday 03/01/14 Cotton Bowl Speedway Paige TX Racesaver Sprints
Saturday 03/01/14 Cotton Bowl Speedway Paige TX Stock Cars
Saturday 03/01/14 Cotton Bowl Speedway Paige TX Street Stocks
Saturday 03/01/14 Gator Motorplex Willis TX Eighth Mile Sprint Association Sprints (Wings)
Saturday 03/01/14 Gator Motorplex Willis TX Hobby Stocks
Saturday 03/01/14 Gator Motorplex Willis TX Jr. Sprints
Saturday 03/01/14 Gator Motorplex Willis TX Limited Modifieds
Saturday 03/01/14 Gator Motorplex Willis TX Pure Stocks
Saturday 03/01/14 Gator Motorplex Willis TX Restrictor Sprints
Saturday 03/01/14 Gator Motorplex Willis TX Street Stocks
Saturday 03/01/14 Gator Motorplex Willis TX Winged Micro Sprints
Sunday 03/02/14 Indianapolis Speedrome Indianapolis IN Hornets
Sunday 03/02/14 Indianapolis Speedrome Indianapolis IN Jr. Faskarts
Sunday 03/02/14 Indianapolis Speedrome Indianapolis IN Jr. Hornets
Sunday 03/02/14 Indianapolis Speedrome Indianapolis IN Roadrunners
Sunday 03/02/14 Cherokee Speedway Gaffney SC Southern Nationals Bonus Races Dirt Super Late Models
Sunday 03/02/14 Kennedale Speedway Park Kennedale TX Factory Stocks
Sunday 03/02/14 Kennedale Speedway Park Kennedale TX IMCA Modifieds
Sunday 03/02/14 Kennedale Speedway Park Kennedale TX IMCA Southern Sport Mods
Sunday 03/02/14 Kennedale Speedway Park Kennedale TX IMCA Stock Cars
Sunday 03/02/14 Kennedale Speedway Park Kennedale TX Street Stocks
Wednesday 03/05/14 The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Las Vegas NV CDM Super Late Models
Wednesday 03/05/14 The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Las Vegas NV West Coast Late Models
Wednesday 03/05/14 The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Las Vegas NV World of Outlaws Sprint Cars
Thursday 03/06/14 Batesville Motor Speedway Batesville AR Mid-America Modified Championships IMCA Modifieds
Thursday 03/06/14 The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Las Vegas NV USAC Southwest Sprint Cars
Thursday 03/06/14 The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Las Vegas NV USAC West Coast Sprint Cars
Thursday 03/06/14 The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Las Vegas NV World of Outlaws Sprint Cars

Mike Neff is a senior writer for The Frontstretch. He can be reached via email at mike.neff@frontstretch.com

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Frontstretch Folio: The Profit on CNBC 500(k)
by Brad Morgan

The Sprint Cup Series travels to Phoenix International Raceway for the second race of the 2014 season on Sunday (March 2).  Television coverage of The Profit on CNBC 500(k) begins at 3 p.m. ET on FOX, or tune into your local MRN affiliate or SiriusXM Channel 90 for the radio broadcast. Drivers will compete for at least 312 laps (312 miles) before the checkered flag waves.

Records and Facts

Carl Edwards won this event in dominant fashion last season, leading a race-high 122 laps.  After the race went into overtime because of a Ken Schrader wreck, Edwards quickly separated himself from a group of drivers headed by Johnson.

The NSCS began racing at PIR in 1988, but the series waited until 2005 to grant the track multiple dates.  Kurt Busch won the inaugural spring race in his final season partnered with Jack Roush.  Busch beat Michael Waltrip to the line by 2.315 seconds for his only victory of the year.

Track Facts

Track Length: 1.0-mile "D"-shaped tri-oval
Pit Road Speed: 45 mph
Degree of Banking: 11 degrees in Turns 1-2, 9 degrees in Turns 3-4
Frontstretch: 1,179 ft., 3 degrees of banking
Backstretch: 1,551 ft., 9 degrees of banking
Grandstand Seating: 55,000
Website: http://www.phoenixraceway.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhoenixRaceway
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PhoenixRaceway

Pre-race Schedule

Practices: Friday, February 28, 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. on FOX Sports 1
Saturday, March 1, 11:00 - 11:55 a.m. on FOX Sports 1
Happy Hour: Saturday, March 1, 2:00 - 2:50 p.m. on FOX Sports 2
Qualifying: Friday, February 28, 6:35 p.m. on FOX Sports 1

VIPs

Grand Marshal/Command/Honorary Starter/Wave Green Flag: Marcus Lemonis
Honorary pace car driver: Chael Sonnen
National Anthem: Jesse Maguire
Flyover: TBA

Race Day Forecast

Sunday: Partly Cloudy
High: 72
Low: 52

They Said It:

"Phoenix is a good indicator of who has their stuff together to start the season. Daytona is sort of its own deal. The next few weeks we will see who some of the contenders will be." – Clint Bowyer

"Tire management will be the key [to qualifying]. A set of sticker tires versus scuffs can be three-tenths (of a second). Three-tenths on the stopwatch in normal qualifying is first to 25th. It will be interesting to see how that is balanced out. You cannot cool the cars down during qualifying runs, so we'll have to let the rough edges drag in the beginning of qualifying sessions to see what patterns develop." – Kurt Busch

"Phoenix International Raceway is a track I have been looking forward to for several weeks. I am a rookie and I have a lot to learn - I know I will have a lot to learn all season. I feel like I showed my rookie stripes quite a bit during the Daytona 500, but Phoenix is a track where I have made a ton of laps as a driver." – Austin Dillon

"We ran well [at Phoenix] in November 2012, my first race with [Tony] Gibson. Unfortunately, we have not left there without a torn-up race car. We got caught up in accidents in November 2012 and then again in November 2013. We cut a tire and crashed last spring, so it would be nice to have a good clean run with the GoDaddy car." – Danica Patrick

"Phoenix is a difficult racetrack because the turns are so much different. Turns three and four are kind of a flat, big-wide sweeping corners like New Hampshire; turns one and two are a little tighter with more banking like Richmond. So trying to balance out the banking differences and the radius differences makes it hard to get the car working good in the corners." – Martin Truex, Jr.

Brad Morgan is a staff writer for The Frontstretch. He can be reached via email at brad.morgan@frontstretch.com.

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In Case You Missed It
by Ashley McCubbin

Neat Traditions for Victories

When it comes to winning races, some teams have special traditions for how they celebrate the victory. JR Motorsports is one of those teams.

Last Saturday, Regan Smith took the victory in the DRIVE4COPD 300 at Daytona International Speedway to kick off the Nationwide Series season. The following Monday at the shop, JR Motorsports hosted a beer toast for their employees, with each employee was allowed one beer to toast to the victory. It continued a tradition that JR Motorsports started a couple years ago.

Along with the beer toast, Smith and team got to ring the Hendrick Motorsports victory bell at the JR Motorsports shop; each time a Hendrick Motorsports team wins, they get to ring the bell. A photo from the toast can be seen on the JR Motorsports Facebook page.

Smith, along with Chase Elliott and Kevin Harvick, will try to take JR Motorsports to victory lane for the second straight weekend at Phoenix International Raceway.

Pepsi Max Test Drive -- Pt. 2

Last year, Pepsi Max released an advertisement with Jeff Gordon that had him pranking a sales representative at a dealership with a wild test drive. Pepsi Max had stated that it was real -- however, it was quickly proven that its claims were false -- with Travis Okulski of Jalopnik among those refuting the statement.

Pepsi Max and Gordon got their revenge this year with "Test Drive 2," as they pranked the journalist with a special taxi cab ride. The full prank can be viewed on YouTube.

David Ragan Heads to Pizza Hut as NASCAR Takes Social Media By Storm

When drivers are hanging out during the rain delay, sometimes they get hungry and want some food. That was the case for David Ragan, as the Sprint Cup Series driver made a trip to the local Pizza Hut during the Daytona 500 rain delay to get food for the race team -- in his firesuit.

@JacquelynRagan: @DavidRagan made a pit stop at @pizzahut during the rain delay. The @FrontRowNASCAR r getting hungry. #Daytona500 pic.twitter.com/qNzKY7ke1v

Ragan finished 34th in the Daytona 500 after being involved in one of the wrecks during the Daytona 500.

Ragan's tweet was just one of many that helped propel NASCAR to record social media heights during and after the Daytona 500. Per NASCAR statistics, the race marked the highest volume of social media interaction (twitter, facebook, Instagram) in one day that NASCAR has seen.

"The 2014 Daytona 500 generated more than 86,000 social posts for the 15 minutes around the checkered flag, which was the highest peak volume seen so far by FMEC – and up 76% YOY (year-over-year) during the same period of last year's Daytona 500," NASCAR announced in a release. "According to Nielsen SocialGuide, a total of 6.55 million people saw 623,000 tweets about the 2014 Daytona 500. On average, each person in the Twitter TV audience saw 10.65 tweets about the race, which is the highest per person average for any sporting event on the same day. The 2014 Daytona 500 was the No. 2 daytime sports event for the month of February ranked by Twitter TV audience and had more tweets than any episode of the 2014 Winter Olympics except the opening ceremony."

NASCAR has also seen a lot of activity since the Daytona 500 on Twitter, with the sport's most popular driver, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. joining Twitter. As of Sunday night, the 2014 Daytona 500 winner had approximately 200,000 followers when he tweeted for the first time. As of Thursday night, with 121 tweets in the books, Earnhardt, Jr. now has 524,000 followers.

One of Earnhardt's most memorable tweets of the week that generated 43,000 favourites and 28,000 retweets: Look who I ran into at the Daytona Experience. Dad's Happy! #2XDaytona500Champ pic.twitter.com/I0zf5PLfr5.

Ashley McCubbin is a newsletter contributor and one of The Frontstretch's new writers for the 2014 season. She can be reached via email at ashley.mccubbin@frontstretch.com.

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Got NASCAR-related questions or comments?
Send them Summer Bedgood's way at summer.bedgood@frontstretch.com; and, if you're lucky, you'll get your name in print when she does her weekly column answering back to you – the fans that keep Frontstretch afloat. Frontstretch Fan Q & A will run on Thursdays with a whole new set of Fan Questions and Answers!

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ADVERTISEMENT
Are you looking to advertise your website, product or brand?  A good way to get your name out there is via direct advertising here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!  Interested parties can contact us at tony.lumbis@frontstretch.com for details.

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TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:

Can NASCAR Carry Daytona Momentum Forward? Yes, If It's Done Right
by Amy Henderson

Happiness Is... NASCAR Fans, FOX, Kasey Kahne and Phoenix
by Huston Ladner

Frontstretch Foto Funnies: He's Got X-Ray Vision
by Frontstretch Staff

Mirror Driving: Championship Potential, Botched Calls and Double Dipping
by Frontstretch Staff

Nuts for Nationwide: Judging Your 2014 Title Contenders
by Tom Bowles

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FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:

Q: The 2008 Lucas Oil 150 was the site of a crazy incident at the beginning of the race that could have decided the Camping World Truck Series championship (ultimately, it didn't).  What happened?

Check back Monday for the answer here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
 
Thursday's Answer:

Q:  In 1996, Kevin Harvick's NASCAR career was in its infancy.  Driving for his father Mike at Phoenix in the Chevy Desert Star Classic, Harvick qualified a decent 21st, but got taken out early.  What happened?

A:  Exiting Turn 4, Bob Keselowski rubbed up against the No. 12 of Dave Smith and spun in front of traffic.  From there, it was on.  Harvick, Walker Evans, Terry McCarthy and Mike Chase piled in.  Kenny Irwin, Jr., who was making his Camping World Truck Series debut for the Mittler Brothers, got booted from behind by Butch Gilliland and spun out as well.  The crash can be seen here.

Harvick, Evans, Keselowski and McCarthy were all out on the spot.  Gilliland, who spun out in Turn 1 in fluids that he dropped after hitting Irwin, continued after repairs and finished 24th.

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 totrivia@frontstretch.com and we'll send you a Frontstretch T-Shirt ... FREE!  

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Coming Monday in the Frontstretch Newsletter:
-- The Profit on CNBC 500 Recap by Justin Tucker
-- Never Fear, the Underdogs Are Here by Amy Henderson
-- Sidebar Stories: Daytona by Phil Allaway
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, trivia, and more!

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This Weekend on the Frontstretch:

Four Burning Questions: Phoenix by Matt Stallknecht

Matt will be here to give readers a few things to look forward to in Sunday's The Profit on CNBC 500k.

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