THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
April 24th, 2014
Volume VIII, Edition LVI
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Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
April 24th, 2014
Volume VIII, Edition LVI
----------------
What to Watch: Thursday
- Today, the Nationwide Series gets settled in at Richmond International Raceway ahead of tomorrow night's ToyotaCare 250. Once again, both of the series' practice sessions will be held today. The first will be from 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM, while Happy Hour will be from 2:30 PM - 4:00 PM. There will be no TV coverage of these practices.
Today's TV Schedule
Today's TV Schedule
Time Telecast Network
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM NASCAR RaceHub FOX Sports 1
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM NASCAR RaceHub FOX Sports 2*#DVR Theater (Late Thursday Night / Early Friday Morning)
1:30 AM - 3:00 AM Pirelli World Challenge Roar at the Shore NBC Sports Network*# (from April 13)
2:30 AM - 3:00 AM NASCAR Now ESPN2
*- Tape-Delayed
#- Repeat Telecast
Top News
by Phil Allaway
Swan Racing Restructuresby Phil Allaway
On Wednesday, Swan Racing announced major changes in response to their recent financial struggles. The team describes it as a restructuring; in reality, it's more of a partial sale and merger which will keep most former employees around, albeit with different organizations.
Anthony Marlowe, an existing co-owner of Swan Racing, has merged his ownership of the No. 26 with BK Racing. The team will race for the rest of the season as a third BK entry now with Cole Whitt still driving the car. The No. 30 team, meanwhile has been sold to Jonathan Cohen, owner of Xxxtreme Motorsport(s). Cohen plans on continuing to operate the team using the No. 30's points, but with JJ Yeley (the team's existing driver) behind the wheel.
Parker Kligerman, still under contract to Swan Racing, will end up without a ride as a result of the deals. However, he will remain first in line to drive the team's No. 30 as they continue to seek sponsorship that would allow them to resume racing.
Swan Racing owner Brandon Davis released a statement when the news was announced.
"As previously stated, the team is restructuring due to a lack of additional funding," Davis wrote. "However, over the past couple weeks, we worked tirelessly to find an alternative to ending operations. Fortunately, we were able to find a home for the No. 26 team and the No. 30 thanks to Anthony Marlowe and Jonathan Cohen, respectively.
Anthony [Marlowe] and Jonathan [Cohen] are both young and ambitious NASCAR enthusiasts. It is important to keep them in the sport for the long term. I am very relieved to know that the Nos. 26 and 30 teams will be in good hands and will continue to compete the remainder of the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. Most importantly, most of the team members have the opportunity to continue their employment in the sport and to support their families. This was critically important to me.
Swan Racing is exploring any and all options to keep Parker Kligerman on track throughout the season. We are encouraged by the response we have received from interested parties. Parker continues to be one of the most talented young drivers in NASCAR. He brought this racing team one of its strongest results in his first race with us, and we are certain of his success in the future. We will provide updates as new information and facts are established."
Despite the situation, rookie Whitt, who will continue competing each week is very happy that he will be able to continue without too much of an interruption.
"I'm grateful for the opportunity Anthony Marlowe is giving me to continue the NASCAR Sprint Cup season," he said. "I want to thank Brandon Davis and everyone at Swan Racing for the opportunity they gave me to race for the team."
Kligerman is naturally bummed out about being unable to run in Cup for the time being. However, he is still thankful for the chance.
"Although it's unfortunate we are having to scale back, I look forward to the future and the exciting things that I'm confident we will accomplish at Swan Racing or with another team," Kligerman said. "I value the relationship that I've had with Brandon Davis and am very grateful for him giving me an opportunity to compete in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Whether I continue to race with Brandon and Swan Racing or end up with another team, I will always give it my all on and off track to be the best I can be."
Xxxtreme Motorsport has announced they only plan to use their existing Chevrolets with the No. 30 this weekend in Richmond. In subsequent weeks, they plan to switch back to their No. 44 while continuing to use points from the No. 30.
Darrell Wallace, Jr. to Drive for Joe Gibbs Racing in Aaron's 312
On Wednesday, Joe Gibbs Racing announced that Camping World Truck Series regular Darrell Wallace, Jr. will drive the No. 20 Toyota in the Nationwide Series' Aaron's 312 at Talladega Superspeedway May 3rd. For Wallace, it will be his fifth career start in the Nationwide Series, but the first since 2012. Sponsorship will be provided by ToyotaCare.
Wallace is very happy to be back in NASCAR's second-tier division.
"It's good to be back behind the wheel of a Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Nationwide Series," Wallace said. "I'm excited to work with Kevin Kidd and all the guys on this Nationwide Series team. I know they have a good Toyota Camry and Matt (Kenseth) has been running it all season long and posted good finishes. Hopefully, we can go out there, stay out of harm's way and add to that by posting a good, strong finish at Talladega for the No. 20 ToyotaCare team."
For now, it appears that Wallace only has a one-race deal to drive the No. 20. In four previous Nationwide starts, he has three top-10 finishes with a best of seventh at Iowa in August 2012. He also has one pole at Dover.
Entry List Update:
Note: These entries are accurate as of Wednesday. However, they are still subject to change.
Sprint Cup Series Toyota Owners 400: 45 cars entered
Ownership Changes:
- Swan Racing's No. 26 is now part of BK Racing.
- Swan Racing's No. 30 has been sold to Johnathan Cohen and will be operated by Xxxtreme Motorsport(s).
Drivers Ineligible to Earn Points:
No. 30 - J.J. Yeley for Swan Racing/Xxxtreme Motorsport(s)
No. 40 - Landon Cassill for Hillman Racing
No. 66 - Joe Nemechek for Michael Waltrip Racing/Identity Ventures Racing
Driver Changes:
No. 30 - J.J. Yeley is in the seat, replacing Parker Kligerman. J.J. is the full-time driver for Xxxtreme, which has now taken over the owner points from the former Swan Racing No. 30.
Drivers who must qualify on speed (top-36):
No. 35 - David Reutimann for Front Row Motorsports (46th in points, 8 attempts)
No. 77 - Dave Blaney for Randy Humphrey Racing (47th in points, 8 attempts)
Drivers who have provisionals, but could fail to qualify:
No. 7 - Michael Annett for Tommy Baldwin Racing (35th in points, 8 attempts)
No. 23 - Alex Bowman for BK Racing (36th in points, 8 attempts)
No. 26 - Cole Whitt for Swan Racing/BK Racing (34th in points, 8 attempts)
No. 30 - JJ Yeley for Swan Racing/Xxxtreme Motorsports (42nd in points, 8 attempts)
No. 32 - Travis Kvapil for Go FAS Racing (38th in points, 8 attempts)
No. 33 - David Stremme for Circle Sport, LLC (41st in points, 8 attempts)
No. 34 - David Ragan for Front Row Motorsports (33rd in points, 8 attempts)
No. 66 - Joe Nemechek for Michael Waltrip Racing/Identity Ventures Racing (39th in points, 8 attempts)
No. 83 - Ryan Truex for BK Racing (43rd in points, 8 attempts)
No. 95 - Michael McDowell for Leavine Family Racing (44th in points, 6 attempts)
No. 98 - Josh Wise for Phil Parsons Racing (37th in points, 8 attempts)
Nationwide Series ToyotaCare 250: 40 cars entered
Drivers Ineligible to Earn Points:
No. 5 - Kevin Harvick for JR Motorsports
No. 22 - Ryan Blaney for Team Penske
No. 33 - Cale Conley for Richard Childress Racing
No. 40 - Josh Wise for The Motorsports Group
No. 42 - Kyle Larson for Turner Scott Motorsports
No. 54 - Kyle Busch for Joe Gibbs Racing
No. 55 - Jimmy Weller for Viva Motorsports with Frank Cicci/SS-Green Light Racing
No. 86 - Joe Nemechek for DRG Motorsports
Driver Changes:
No. 10 - Jeff Green returns to the seat, replacing Blake Koch. Green will start-and-park for this organization.
No. 20 - Daniel Suarez is in the seat, replacing Matt Kenseth. This will be Suarez's Nationwide Series debut.
No. 22 - Ryan Blaney returns to the seat, replacing Joey Logano. Blaney will run the next three races in the second Penske Racing Nationwide Series car.
No. 23 - Josh Reaume in the seat, replacing Carlos Contreras. Reaume will be making his Nationwide Series debut for Rick Ware.
No. 44 - Blake Koch returns to the seat, replacing David Starr. Koch will run the full distance in the No. 44.
No. 55 - Jimmy Weller is in the seat, replacing Todd Bodine. This will be Weller's Nationwide Series debut.
No. 86 - Joe Nemechek will be in the seat, replacing Ricky Ehrgott. Nemechek has sponsorship from Bubba Burger that will allow him to compete the full distance.
Since there are only 40 cars entered, no one will fail to qualify. However, these drivers must still qualify on speed:
No. 10 - Jeff Green for TriStar Motorsports*
No. 13 - Matt Carter for JGL Racing*
No. 17 - Tanner Berryhill for Vision Racing
No. 23 - Josh Reaume for R3 Motorsports/Rick Ware Racing
No. 33 - Cale Conley for Richard Childress Racing
No. 46 - Matt DiBenedetto for The Motorsports Group*
No. 70 - Derrike Cope for Creation-Cope Racing
No. 74 - Mike Harmon for Mike Harmon Racing
No. 76 - Tommy Joe Martins for Martins Motorsports*
No. 86 - Joe Nemechek for DRG Motorsports
*- Expected to Start-and-Park
Not Entered:
No. 91 - TriStar Motorsports
Verizon IndyCar Series Honda Grand Prix of Alabama: 23 cars entered
Driver Changes: None
Entries:
No. 2 - Juan Pablo Montoya for Team Penske
No. 3 - Helio Castroneves for Team Penske
No. 7 - Mikhail Aleshin for Schmidt Peterson Racing
No. 8 - Ryan Briscoe for NTT Data Chip Ganassi Racing
No. 9 - Scott Dixon for Target Chip Ganassi Racing
No. 10 - Tony Kanaan for Target Chip Ganassi Racing
No. 11 - Sebastien Bourdais for KV Racing/SH Racing
No. 12 - Will Power for Team Penske
No. 14 - Takuma Sato for A.J. Foyt Enterprises
No. 15 - Graham Rahal for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing
No. 16 - Oriol Servia for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing
No. 17 - Sebastian Saavedra for KV Racing/AFS Racing
No. 18 - Carlos Huertas for Dale Coyne Racing
No. 19 - Justin Wilson for Dale Coyne Racing
No. 20 - Mike Conway for Ed Carpenter Racing
No. 25 - Marco Andretti for Andretti Autosport
No. 27 - James Hinchcliffe for Andretti Autosport
No. 28 - Ryan Hunter-Reay for Andretti Autosport
No. 34 - Carlos Munoz for Andretti Autosport/Conquest Racing
No. 67 - Josef Newgarden for Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing
No. 77 - Simon Pagenaud for Schmidt Peterson Hamilton Motorsports
No. 83 - Charlie Kimball for Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing
No. 98 - Jack Hawksworth for Bryan Herta Autosport
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. Comments can also be sent to frontstretcheditors@googlegroups.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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The Critic's Annex: Pirelli World Challenge Roar at the Shore
by Phil Allaway
Hello, race fans. Welcome back to another edition of the Critic's Annex, where we take an additional look at motorsports-related programming. While many of you were spending time with family on Easter Sunday, the NBC Sports Network was airing their coverage of the Pirelli World Challenge's Roar at the Shore presented by KIA. This was Round 2 of the Pirelli World Challenge (originally supposed to be Round 3, but the original Round 1 at St. Petersburg was cancelled due to heavy rains).
This particular race was originally streamed live at world-challengetv.com on April 13, immediately after the Verizon IndyCar Series' Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. That coverage is not too different than what ultimately aired on Sunday. Also, for those of you who would like to watch this particular race, World Challenge has made it available on YouTube for viewing here.
NBC Sports Network doesn't provide on-air personalities for Pirelli World Challenge; instead, they're provided by the series. As a result, Greg Creamer and Calvin Fish were in the booth on this day. In those two, you get veterans who generally know what they're doing and can make races quite exciting. For the most part, they did a decent job during this 32-lapper.
Since the race was a support event for the Verizon IndyCar Series and NBC Sports Network aired that race as well, they did provide the exterior cameras (at St. Petersburg, the race did eventually air on NBC Sports Network, but ABC televised the IndyCar event). The Pirelli series, however, appears to be responsible for their own in-car cameras. Instead of using in-car cameras from a company like BSI, Pirelli World Challenge has a deal with GoPro where they stick GoPro cameras in roughly a dozen cars. It's a cheaper option for the series, but they don't tell the viewers everyone that has them. Here, they pointed out just five drivers that had cameras installed on the pace lap. Maybe one of them got used during the race. The rest of the in-car shots were from drivers not mentioned.
Since the race was a support event for the Verizon IndyCar Series and NBC Sports Network aired that race as well, they did provide the exterior cameras (at St. Petersburg, the race did eventually air on NBC Sports Network, but ABC televised the IndyCar event). The Pirelli series, however, appears to be responsible for their own in-car cameras. Instead of using in-car cameras from a company like BSI, Pirelli World Challenge has a deal with GoPro where they stick GoPro cameras in roughly a dozen cars. It's a cheaper option for the series, but they don't tell the viewers everyone that has them. Here, they pointed out just five drivers that had cameras installed on the pace lap. Maybe one of them got used during the race. The rest of the in-car shots were from drivers not mentioned.
There were no pre-race interviews. Pre-race coverage consisted of a recap of the very busy race in St. Petersburg (random thought, a full grid at St. Petersburg was 51 cars, while a full grid in Long Beach was 41 on a longer, wider track). The start of the race was jumped to rather quickly.
Why is that interesting? It should be noted that Pirelli World Challenge races are 50 minutes in length, while this race aired in a 90-minute timeslot. That meant even with the commercial breaks added in, there was still some stop tape moments during the event.
Having said that, the race was not commentated on in post-production like what Rick Benjamin used to do with USAR Hooters ProCup races on SPEED. Instead, the commentary is live-to-tape. That leads to silly mistakes making it onto a telecast that premieres a week after the race is run. For example, Creamer mistook the No. 6 of Robert Thorne for his K-Pax Racing teammate Alex Figge. Yes, the cars look alike (they're both metallic blue and yellow), but they shouldn't be making those mistakes. Later, K-Pax's McLaren MP4-12C's (the only ones in the field) were mistaken for Lamborghinis. While a Lamborghini driven by Tomas Enge did win the season opener at St. Petersburg, there weren't any in the field in Long Beach. Whoops.
Having said that, the race was not commentated on in post-production like what Rick Benjamin used to do with USAR Hooters ProCup races on SPEED. Instead, the commentary is live-to-tape. That leads to silly mistakes making it onto a telecast that premieres a week after the race is run. For example, Creamer mistook the No. 6 of Robert Thorne for his K-Pax Racing teammate Alex Figge. Yes, the cars look alike (they're both metallic blue and yellow), but they shouldn't be making those mistakes. Later, K-Pax's McLaren MP4-12C's (the only ones in the field) were mistaken for Lamborghinis. While a Lamborghini driven by Tomas Enge did win the season opener at St. Petersburg, there weren't any in the field in Long Beach. Whoops.
Replays of the first lap crash were slow in coming. It seemed like Creamer and Fish had a number of other things they had to do before they could get to the replays three laps into the full-course caution. That included a check of who gained the most positions from the standing start; did we really need that before the biggest incident so far in the race?
There were a couple of manufacturer-centered pieces that ran during the telecast. One was for Kia's Optimas, which ran during pre-race. Another one was for Cadillac, while a third featured Black Dog Speed Shop's Chevrolet Camaros. Those things did not need to air during actual race time. Then again, NBCSN probably needed content in order to stretch out the slot.
There were quite a few minor incidents that occurred during the race, but we didn't really see them. We saw the aftermath of a spin involving Dan Knox's SRT Viper GT3-R, but not what happened. Also, there really wasn't all that much racing for position shown during the event. We saw a lot of Johnny O'Connell not really being threatened and Nic Jonsson pulling away from the rest of the GTS class. I'm sure that there was other stuff going on.
Post-race coverage was deceptively busy. There were interviews with the three class winners, one of whom (Michael Mills, the GT-A winner) all but hadn't been mentioned the whole race. There were checks of the unofficial results and point standings in all three classes.
In another example of viewers missing things, a montage of clips right before the sign-off showed two separate wrecks that occurred during the race, both of which weren't mentioned at all, paired with a replay of the Knox spin that we never got. What gives? NBC Sports Network has to do a better job of being more inclusive on the telecast. They're leaving people in the dark as to what really went on.
I hope you enjoyed this look at the Roar at the Shore. Next week, we'll be back with another telecast. Until then, enjoy this weekend's action in Richmond and Alabama.
Phil Allaway is the Newsletter Manager and a Senior Writer for Frontstretch. He can be reached via e-mail at phil.allaway@frontstretch.com. Follow him on Twitter at @Critic84. Comments can also be sent to frontstretcheditors@googlegroups.com.
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Frontstretch Line of the Week
From Beyond the Cockpit: Tony "The Sarge" Schumacher
"You know all the fans back here… Jimmie Johnson will be here either Sunday or Monday hanging out with me. You announce all those guys and this place will be packed. NASCAR drivers are heroes because we've separated them from everybody else, as messed up as that sounds. You overpay someone and you make them a hero. Michael Schumacher makes 120 million a year. I want to meet the guy and I don't even care what he drives. There's a certain aura about these guys and we've built them into that. We try to keep it that we're regular guys." - Tony Schumacher, on how NASCAR has isolated fans from their heroes
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TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:
by Vito Pugliese
Going By the Numbers: Top-10 NASCAR Variety Hard To Come By In...
by Kevin Rutherford
as told to Mike Neff
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FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Q: In the 2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo 400, Jeff Gordon claimed the pole and led early on in another strong run for the DuPont Chevrolet. However, he didn't get very far into the race before disaster struck. What happened?
Check back Friday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
Wednesday's Answer:
Wednesday's Answer:
Q: In the 1994 Pontiac Excitement 400, Dick Trickle qualified 20th, a reasonable effort given over 40 full-time entries at the time. However, Trickle's effort was over shortly after it started. What happened?
A: Replays were a little inconclusive, but it appeared that Trickle and Geoff Bodine collided entering Turn 1 and spun up the track, incurring minimal damage. However, Trickle slid down the track and broadsided Harry Gant's Skoal Bandit Chevrolet. The impact sheared the entire passenger side door off Gant's car, while totaling the front end of Trickle's No. 32. The crash can be seen in this clip.Trickle was out on the spot as a result of the crash. Gant continued after extensive repairs and picked up a couple of spots before parking for the day in 34th. Bodine continued after some repairs on pit road, but later blew the first of eight engines during the 1994 season (and the first of three in a row), finishing 32nd.
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 Justin Tucker
-- In Case You Missed It by Ashley McCubbin
-- Keepin' It Short by Mike Neff
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, trivia, and more!
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Tomorrow on the Frontstretch:
Mirror Driving by the Frontstretch Staff
A collection of your favorite writers are back to discuss a number of pertinent issues in NASCAR. Topics include the ongoing Swan Racing issues, surprises in the first couple of months of the season, and much more.
IndyCar Preview: Barber Motorsports Park by Toni Montgomery
We'll have a preview of Sunday's Honda Grand Prix of Alabama.
Holding A Pretty Wheel by Amy Henderson
Amy returns this week with another intriguing Friday commentary. This week, she speaks about the positive side of the sport entering one of its most iconic tracks.
Frontstretch Foto Funnies by the Frontstretch Staff
Pictures can lead to a thousand laughs; join us in our weekly dose of humor that comes from those candid moments at the track.
Pictures can lead to a thousand laughs; join us in our weekly dose of humor that comes from those candid moments at the track.
Nuts For Nationwide by Kelly Crandall
Kelly returns to bring us up-to-date on NASCAR's second-tier series as they make their first trip of the season to Richmond. This week, Kelly looks back at past Richmond races to analyze why she thinks Friday night should be another nail-biting finish.
Happiness Is... by P. Huston Ladner
Don't let your life sink into the pits. Huston takes a look at the racing stories from the last seven days that should leave you smiling.
Don't let your life sink into the pits. Huston takes a look at the racing stories from the last seven days that should leave you smiling.
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©2014 Frontstretch.com
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!
©2014 Frontstretch.com
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