THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
April 16th, 2014
Volume VIII, Edition XL
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
April 16th, 2014
Volume VIII, Edition XL
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Today's TV Schedule
Time Telecast Network
6:00 PM - 6:30 PM NASCAR America NBC Sports Network
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by David Ifeguni
Without the men and women in the Unites States Army, life in America would not be the same. To honor the brave men and women of the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard, Talladega Superspeedway has created a very unique piece of hardware.
Named the Freedom Trophy, it will be given to each winner of a Talladega race in the Sprint Cup series, beginning with the Aaron's 499 next month. The trophy displays all five branches of the military as well as their individual logos and will be presented in victory lane by military personnel from a specific branch after each race.
"Winning a Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega just got extra special," Talladega Chairman Grant Lynch said. "With the Freedom Trophy, we pay tribute to our race winners, as well as our servicemen and women who make so many things possible for us on a daily basis."
Additionally, the speedway is offering deeply discounted tickets for military personnel. The Aaron's 499 will run Sunday, May 4th.
Goodyear Holds Tire Test at Kansas Speedway
Tires have been a topic of conversation throughout the 2014 NASCAR season, and on Tuesday, Goodyear held their second tire test in the last seven days, this time at Kansas Speedway. Less than a month before the inaugural Sprint Cup Series night race at the recently repaved track, Goodyear held what they called a "confirmation" test to ensure that the tire they plan to bring to Kansas will run well in race conditions.
According to a report from nascar.com, more than a dozen teams participated in the test at the 1.5-mile oval. Rodney Childers, crew chief for Kevin Harvick, one of 15 drivers that converged on the facility on Tuesday, commented on Twitter that "no one needs to wonder if the track record will get broken when we come back."
Last October, Goodyear brought a multi-zone tread tire that several drivers struggled with at first. A different multi-zone tire has been used at Texas and Atlanta, along with plans to use it at Richmond next weekend.
"It seems like they hold up better, which is good," Martin Truex Jr. said of the tires on Tuesday. "They worked good at Atlanta when we ran them, they worked good here last year. It's just all about the teams trying to get everything they can out of the race car, and they use these tires up. So hopefully they'll hold up good enough, and we'll be able to go fast all day long."
The Kansas 400 will be held Saturday, May 10th at 7:00 PM ET.
Sage Fruit Company Signs With JR Motorsports
Sage Fruit Company has announced a new partnership with JR Motorsports in the Nationwide Series. According to a report on PerishableNews.com, the company that grows and ships apples, pears and cherries will serve as an associated sponsor for Chase Elliott's No. 9 car, along with Kasey Kahne's No. 5 at Talladega (May 4th) and Daytona (July 4th).
"Sage Fruit is excited to be a part of such a great organization," said Chuck Sinks, President of Sales and Marketing at Sage Fruit. "Dale Earnhardt, Jr. has been voted the most popular driver in NASCAR for the last 11 years running and to be a part of this organization will help us in many ways. With cross promotions and social media opportunities, this is sure to be a great partnership."
Sage Fruit has sponsored Kasey Kahne Racing for some time. Rookie Chase Elliott heads into the off weekend with back-to-back Nationwide victories at Texas Motor Speedway and Darlington Raceway.
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Today's Featured Commentary
Facing a Fading Future
by Mark Howell
by Mark Howell
NASCAR is suffering from an identity crisis. For all the efforts being made to keep stock car racing relevant in American society, there are forces at work that seem to be steering the sport toward even more dismal levels of attendance and acceptance. And the blame sits squarely atop the shoulders of the demographic Brian France so desperately wants to attract.
A 2012 survey of 1039 teens between the ages of 18 and 20, done by the American Automobile Association (AAA), discovered that fewer young people are obtaining their drivers licenses once they reach driving age. Their reasons varied from not being able to afford the privilege (36% said both cars and gasoline were too expensive) to not taking the time needed to get their license (35% said they never got around to it).
Money seemed to be the primary factor regarding teens getting their licenses (25% of teens from homes earning $20,000 or less annually had their licenses by the age of 18), but there was also evidence of a societal shift when it came to overall acceptance of the automobile. Of the teenagers surveyed by the AAA, 44% said they could get around easily without having (or driving) a car.
If this is the demographic that is so vital to NASCAR's future, perhaps we should not be surprised to learn that this population's disinterest in cars seems to match the on-going decrease in television ratings and spectator attendance for events all along the racing schedule. NASCAR has made great strides in embracing social media and trying to reach young people where they reside in today's tech-heavy society, but it looks as though the sport is facing apathetic years ahead. A lack of money will always be a central issue, but without apparent interest, there's no need to explore the situation any deeper.
One of the conclusions to come from the AAA survey was that teenagers put off getting their drivers' licenses "due to …lack of opportunity or interest." As many of my college students concur, young people today simply don't see an automobile as anything special, necessary, or all-that-attractive. Most students I hear from say they actually consider cars to be a contemporary evil: the cause of greenhouse gases, global warming, diminishing natural resources, urban crowding, and suburban sprawl.
To paraphrase one commentator when the AAA survey was released: today's teens care more about Smartphones than cars. These are strange days, indeed….
Maybe cars today go unnoticed by young people because the vehicles are simply too reliable. The days of having to pay close regular attention to your personal ride are long gone. Today's automobiles – even low-priced ones – run for many tens of thousands of miles before they need even the slightest tune-up.
And it doesn't help that contemporary cars are almost impossible to work on at home. Most modern engine components are of the remove-and-replace / plug-and-play variety. Even if a repair needed to be made, doing s would require scan tools, schematics, and a direct line to the manufacturer. Unlike the old days, even locating and / or changing the spark plugs on a motor would be a challenge for most teenagers (provided they even knew what spark plugs were in the first place!).
And here's another problem: Today's automobiles all tend to look alike. The lack of designs coming off assembly lines has turned identifiable shapes and styles into generic duplicates based on eco-friendly concepts. Sure, a Ford Fusion or Toyota Camry has aerodynamics covered, but neither looks nearly as cool as a Plymouth Superbird or Pontiac GTO….
People my age who were teenagers oh-so-long-ago cannot relate to today's auto-apathetic generation. Growing up in a rural, car-crazy community, both cars and driving were hard-wired into my DNA. I clearly remember being about four years old and sitting on my father's lap behind the wheel of our family's 1964 Ford Galaxie 500. Dad would let me steer as we drove the often-deserted back roads near our home.
That all changed to full-out driving once I was able to reach the pedals and see over the steering wheel; being a pretty big kid for my age, that occurred when I was around nine or ten years old. Dad would sit beside me as I drove the dirt roads around our house, and he'd let me take the wheel whenever we visited my uncle's cabin near Forkston, Pennsylvania. The road to the cabin was a ten-mile journey on a dirt road off the main highway, and I couldn't wait to make the turn, swap seats with my dad, and mash the throttle.
On the day I turned sixteen, I hauled my dad to the state police barracks and took my drivers' test. By 10:00 AM, I had my license in hand and my 1974 Ford LTD on the road. We celebrated the occasion by me driving us the sixty miles north to what was then Shangri-La (now Tioga) Speedway for a Saturday night of NASCAR Modified racing.
Now I flash-forward from those memories of my youth to my life today circa 2014. My soon-to-be-18-year old daughter (the one who's headed off to college this fall) has yet to obtain her license, and her kid brother who's nearing seven says that he (and his friends at school) find automobile racing "kind of boring" because it's "just cars going in circles".
This overall lack of interest and desire has been hurting NASCAR's ability to snare young viewers and/or fans for years now. As long as young people struggle to see the relevance of stock car racing and how it connects the vital relationship between sports and American automobile culture, the population of NASCAR Nation will only grow older and grayer.
Granted, the other day my six-year old son asked if he could race a go-kart "like the car at Target." He meant the IndyCar sponsored by Target that we so often see on signs posted around the store, but at least it was a step in what I see as the "right" and necessary direction. "I might go fast and hit the wall," he said, "but at least I'll have a helmet."
As I heard it: at least he'll want to get behind the wheel and drive….
Dr. Mark Howell is a Senior Writer for Frontstretch.com. Feedback can be sent to mark.howell@frontstretch.com.
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Tweet 'N' GreetA 2012 survey of 1039 teens between the ages of 18 and 20, done by the American Automobile Association (AAA), discovered that fewer young people are obtaining their drivers licenses once they reach driving age. Their reasons varied from not being able to afford the privilege (36% said both cars and gasoline were too expensive) to not taking the time needed to get their license (35% said they never got around to it).
Money seemed to be the primary factor regarding teens getting their licenses (25% of teens from homes earning $20,000 or less annually had their licenses by the age of 18), but there was also evidence of a societal shift when it came to overall acceptance of the automobile. Of the teenagers surveyed by the AAA, 44% said they could get around easily without having (or driving) a car.
If this is the demographic that is so vital to NASCAR's future, perhaps we should not be surprised to learn that this population's disinterest in cars seems to match the on-going decrease in television ratings and spectator attendance for events all along the racing schedule. NASCAR has made great strides in embracing social media and trying to reach young people where they reside in today's tech-heavy society, but it looks as though the sport is facing apathetic years ahead. A lack of money will always be a central issue, but without apparent interest, there's no need to explore the situation any deeper.
One of the conclusions to come from the AAA survey was that teenagers put off getting their drivers' licenses "due to …lack of opportunity or interest." As many of my college students concur, young people today simply don't see an automobile as anything special, necessary, or all-that-attractive. Most students I hear from say they actually consider cars to be a contemporary evil: the cause of greenhouse gases, global warming, diminishing natural resources, urban crowding, and suburban sprawl.
To paraphrase one commentator when the AAA survey was released: today's teens care more about Smartphones than cars. These are strange days, indeed….
Maybe cars today go unnoticed by young people because the vehicles are simply too reliable. The days of having to pay close regular attention to your personal ride are long gone. Today's automobiles – even low-priced ones – run for many tens of thousands of miles before they need even the slightest tune-up.
And it doesn't help that contemporary cars are almost impossible to work on at home. Most modern engine components are of the remove-and-replace / plug-and-play variety. Even if a repair needed to be made, doing s would require scan tools, schematics, and a direct line to the manufacturer. Unlike the old days, even locating and / or changing the spark plugs on a motor would be a challenge for most teenagers (provided they even knew what spark plugs were in the first place!).
And here's another problem: Today's automobiles all tend to look alike. The lack of designs coming off assembly lines has turned identifiable shapes and styles into generic duplicates based on eco-friendly concepts. Sure, a Ford Fusion or Toyota Camry has aerodynamics covered, but neither looks nearly as cool as a Plymouth Superbird or Pontiac GTO….
People my age who were teenagers oh-so-long-ago cannot relate to today's auto-apathetic generation. Growing up in a rural, car-crazy community, both cars and driving were hard-wired into my DNA. I clearly remember being about four years old and sitting on my father's lap behind the wheel of our family's 1964 Ford Galaxie 500. Dad would let me steer as we drove the often-deserted back roads near our home.
That all changed to full-out driving once I was able to reach the pedals and see over the steering wheel; being a pretty big kid for my age, that occurred when I was around nine or ten years old. Dad would sit beside me as I drove the dirt roads around our house, and he'd let me take the wheel whenever we visited my uncle's cabin near Forkston, Pennsylvania. The road to the cabin was a ten-mile journey on a dirt road off the main highway, and I couldn't wait to make the turn, swap seats with my dad, and mash the throttle.
On the day I turned sixteen, I hauled my dad to the state police barracks and took my drivers' test. By 10:00 AM, I had my license in hand and my 1974 Ford LTD on the road. We celebrated the occasion by me driving us the sixty miles north to what was then Shangri-La (now Tioga) Speedway for a Saturday night of NASCAR Modified racing.
Now I flash-forward from those memories of my youth to my life today circa 2014. My soon-to-be-18-year old daughter (the one who's headed off to college this fall) has yet to obtain her license, and her kid brother who's nearing seven says that he (and his friends at school) find automobile racing "kind of boring" because it's "just cars going in circles".
This overall lack of interest and desire has been hurting NASCAR's ability to snare young viewers and/or fans for years now. As long as young people struggle to see the relevance of stock car racing and how it connects the vital relationship between sports and American automobile culture, the population of NASCAR Nation will only grow older and grayer.
Granted, the other day my six-year old son asked if he could race a go-kart "like the car at Target." He meant the IndyCar sponsored by Target that we so often see on signs posted around the store, but at least it was a step in what I see as the "right" and necessary direction. "I might go fast and hit the wall," he said, "but at least I'll have a helmet."
As I heard it: at least he'll want to get behind the wheel and drive….
Dr. Mark Howell is a Senior Writer for Frontstretch.com. Feedback can be sent to mark.howell@frontstretch.com.
~~~~~~~~~~
by Allen Bedgood
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, Allen Bedgood 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...
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, Allen Bedgood 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...
@NASCAR_Wonka -- What 217mph looks like pic.twitter.com/SpbavknGnV
@EarnhardtKelley -- Watching @karsynelledge3 do an interview from my car bc she won't let me watch but I can still hear her. She impresses me at 13. Speaks well
@DeLanaHarvick -- Slowly but surely... pic.twitter.com/Qck3vi2QXn
(Author's Note: Kevin & DeLana are finally moving back into their home 5 months after a fire caused major damage.)
@joeylogano -- Texas burnout pic http://instagram.com/p/mkp63PIlJE/
@Team_Penske -- This sticker fits nicely on the @shellracingus 22 @FordRacing Fusion, don't you think @joeylogano? pic.twitter.com/ENlyJBMRCN
@nascarcasm -- First Dillon, now Larson. The Lady In Black is a total cougar. #nascar #darlington
@NASCARIllustr8d -- Greg Biffle says he feels like a contract extension with Roush Fenway Racing is close.
@DustinLong -- #NASCAR … Gene Haas confirms he has been granted a Formula One license by the FIA. "We're extremely pleased,'' he said. "#AskMRN @MRNRadio
@LowesRacing -- Car chief @ronmalec appreciates @JimmieJohnson's efforts to help scale the #kobalt Chevy. #lowes48 pic.twitter.com/76MohVvVQ7
@PR42TSM -- Talk about Darlington stripes! Larson and the No. 42 #Cartwheel Chevy score a 6th place finish at @TooToughToTame. pic.twitter.com/70qDYjTpaz
@Reed16Team -- Reed finishes 13th at the track @TooToughToTame pic.twitter.com/2HcVrukUip
@jfcassidy -- Winner, winner! @chaseelliott @JRMotorsports @NAPAKnowHow @TooToughToTame @NASCAR_NNS pic.twitter.com/WAWR76som5
@KyleLarsonRacin - Just got asked if I was @chaseelliott. After the last couple of weeks I wish I was!
@BudweiserRacing -- Countdown to the green flag at Darlington is on. A look at your pole-winning No. 4 @Budweiser team this afternoon... pic.twitter.com/rpQOT3fVWy
@LowesRacing -- ...as the #lowes48 pit crew preps tires at the pit box.
pic.twitter.com/6DJSXAT0xx
@KevinHarvick -- Wow the southern 500!!! Unbelievable!!!
@DavidRagan -- I know our guys and their families will enjoy the much needed off weekend. Then off to one of my favorite tracks...@RIRInsider
@jeff_gluck -- Quiet Track, Darlington. #NASCAR @ Darlington Raceway http://instagram.com/p/mt7MXEtXtU/
@dustinlong -- #NASCAR … Kevin Harvick collects $328,708 for win … last-place finisher Dave Blaney collects $58,785. #AskMRN @MRNRadio
@ClaireBLang -- @KevinHarvick car getting ready to go to #NASCAR R&D #winner @SiriusXMNASCAR pic.twitter.com/uWcbM2FjuP
@DaleJr -- Great job by the @NationalGuard team & HMS. 2nd at @TooToughToTame is fantastic. They earned it 2nite. So glad 2 b a part of this group!
@PPR98 -- A couple Darlington stripes for @Josh_Wise :) pic.twitter.com/VsTajpzA6g
@RIRPrez -- The winning @TooToughToTame car. Can @KevinHarvick get a third win @RIRInsider ? pic.twitter.com/EBRpgKrRPS
@MissSprintCup -- .@KevinHarvick is the first driver to add a 2nd @NASCAR winner's sticker in 2014! -KC pic.twitter.com/Rq2BcxV2b5
@KevinHarvick -- Kevin Harvick's first 17 races at Darlington: 63 laps led. Kevin Harvick tonight at Darlington: 238 laps led. #NASCAR
@kaitlynvincie -- This is the first win at Darlington for @KevinHarvick in 18 starts. Previous best @TooToughToTame was second in August of '03. #nascar
@nascarcasm -- "How did Harvick do yesterday?" "I dunno. [DIALS PHONE] Hello, @outback? How long is your wait. 7 hours? Thanks. [HANGS UP] He did good."
@EmilyKozel -- Happy birthday to one of my favorite Marylander's, @SteveByrnes12!! Hope you have a wonderful day!
Allen Bedgood is a Newsletter Contributor for Frontstretch. He can be reached via email at allen.bedgood@frontstretch.com. Follow him on Twitter @AllenBedgood.
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by Tom Bowles
The Frontstretch Five: Flaws Exposed In the New Chase So Far
by Amy Henderson
Beyond the Cockpit: Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. on Growing Up Racing and Owner Loyalties
by Mike Neff
NASCAR Writer Power Rankings: Top 15 After Darlington
by Summer Bedgood
by Toni Montgomery
FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA
Q: Alex Zanardi picked up his second consecutive win at Long Beach in 1998, but in order to do it, he had to once again overcome Team Rahal's Bryan Herta. How did he get past Shell-sponsored racer to take the victory?
Check back Thursday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
Tuesday's Answer:
Q: In 1991, Michael Andretti won the pole at Long Beach and ran at the front for most of the race. However, his race ended under bizarre circumstances. What happened?
A: Michael's cousin John crashed his Pennzoil-sponsored No. 4 Lola, bringing out a full course caution. This brought the leaders in for pit stops. Michael got his four tires and fuel and left his stall quickly. Ahead of him, Emerson Fittipaldi was being serviced by the Penske crew. Penske released Fittipaldi directly into Michael's path, resulting in a collision that launched Michael's No. 2 into the air. The incident can be seen here.
Michael was out on the spot. However, Fittipaldi drove a full lap around the track before retiring, despite having a hole in his left sidepod and leaking fluid. That resulted in the bizarre instance of the pace car hitting the tires.
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 Phil Allaway
-- Critic's Annex by Phil Allaway
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, and more!
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Tomorrow on the Frontstretch:
Voice of Vito by Vito Pugliese
Vito returns to the website this year with his unique views on everything racing.
Going by the Numbers by Kevin Rutherford
Kevin returns with a look at the statistical side of NASCAR.
Tech Talk by Mike Neff
Mike is back with your look at the technical side of NASCAR. This week, Jason Ratcliff returns right before a rare off-weekend for Easter.
Fantasy Insider by Jeff Wolfe
Jeff is back with your look at the best bets to fill your fantasy roster.
Truckin' Thursdays by Beth Lunkenheimer
Beth is back with your weekly look at the state of the Camping World Truck Series.
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