Friday, August 29, 2014

The Frontstretch Newsletter: Stewart Returns

THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
August 29th, 2014
Volume VIII, Edition CXLVII
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Editor's Note: While we do not have anyone at Atlanta Motor Speedway this weekend, we will have Mike Neff live-tweeting the upcoming Tony Stewart press conference at 1 p.m. EDT.  Just go to our Twitter page (http://twitter.com/Frontstretch) to follow along.  In addition, Amy Henderson will be live-tweeting as well on her own Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/Writer_Amy).

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This Weekend's TV Schedule

Friday, August 29

Time                                        Telecast                                                                                                       Network
1:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m               The 10: Earnhardt Moments                                                                        FOX Sports 1#!
1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m               NASCAR RaceHub Special                                                                          FOX Sports 1!
2:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.              Sprint Cup Series Practice No. 1                                                                 FOX Sports 1
4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.              Nationwide Series Practice No. 1                                                                FOX Sports 1
5:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.              NASCAR America                                                                                        NBC Sports Network
5:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.              NASCAR Live                                                                                              FOX Sports 1
5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.              Nationwide Series Happy Hour                                                                    FOX Sports 1
6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.              NHRA Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals First Round Qualifying          ESPN3$
7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.              Verizon IndyCar Series Qualifying                                                               NBC Sports Network
7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.              Sprint Cup Series Qualifying                                                                       FOX Sports 1

Saturday, August 30

Time                                       Telecast                                                                                                        Network
4:30 a.m. - 6:00 a.m.             Sprint Cup Series Qualifying                                                                         FOX Sports 1*# (from August 29)
6:00 a.m. - 6:30 a.m.             The 10: Greatest Drivers in NASCAR History                                                  FOX Sports 1#
10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.         Sprint Cup Series Qualifying                                                                         FOX Sports 1*# (from August 29)
12:30 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.           NASCAR America: Scan All 43                                                                     NBC Sports Network#
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.             Whelen Southern Modified Tour Practice                                                      FansChoice.tv^
1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.             Pirelli World Challenge: Sonoma                                                                  NBC Sports Network* (from August 23-24)
1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.             Southern National Motorsports Park Practice                                                 FansChoice.tv^
2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.             Langley Speedway Practice                                                                          FansChoice.tv^
3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.             Sprint Cup Series Practice No. 2                                                                   FOX Sports 2
3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.             Lake County Speedway Hot Laps                                                                  FansChoice.tv^
4:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.             Whelen Southern Modified Tour Qualifying                                                 FansChoice.tv^
4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.             Nationwide Series Qualifying                                                                        FOX Sports 2
4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.             Langley Speedway Qualifying                                                                      FansChoice.tv^
5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.             Southern National Motorsports Park Qualifying                                             FansChoice.tv^
5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.             Evergreen Speedway Practice                                                                      FansChoice.tv^
5:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.             Empty Cup: Quest for the 1992 NASCAR Championship                              FOX Sports 2#
5:55 p.m. - 9:55 p.m.             Lake County Speedway Browns vs. Steelers Night                                        FansChoice.tv^
6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.             Sprint Cup Series Happy Hour                                                                       FOX Sports 2
6:45 p.m. - 10:45 p.m.           Southern National Motorsports Park Labor Day 260                                      FansChoice.tv^
6:50 p.m. - 8:20 p.m.             Langley Speedway Bayport Credit Union Night, Part 1                                 FansChoice.tv^
7:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.             NASCAR Countdown                                                                                    ESPN 2
7:15 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.             Evergreen Speedway Qualifying                                                                  FansChoice.tv^
7:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.           Nationwide Series Great Clips 300                                                               ESPN 2
8:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.             Whelen Southern Modified Tour Bayport 150                                              FansChoice.tv^
8:55 p.m. - 9:45 p.m.             Evergreen Speedway Heat Races                                                                 FansChoice.tv^
9:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m.             Verizon IndyCar Series MavTV 500                                                              NBC Sports Network
9:30 p.m. - 11:00 a.m.           Langley Speedway Bayport Credit Union Night, Part 2                                 FansChoice.tv^
10:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.         Evergreen Speedway Rory Price Memorial                                                  FansChoice.tv^

Sunday, August 31

Time                                       Telecast                                                                                                       Network
8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.            motoGP World Championship Grand Prix of Great Britain                           FOX Sports 1
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.          IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge: VIR                                        FOX Sports 1*/ (from August 23)
11:00 a.m. - 3:00 a.m.            NHRA Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals Qualifying, Part 1                  ESPN 2
11:15 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.            AMA Pro Flat Track: The Springfield Mile, Timed Practice                          FansChoice.tv^
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.           Whelen Modified Tour/Whelen Southern Modified Tour Bush's Beans 150   FOX Sports 1*/ (from August 20)
1:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.              NCWTS Setup                                                                                              FOX Sports 1
1:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.              Camping World Truck Series Chevrolet Silverado 250k                                FOX Sports 1
2:00 p.m. - 5:45 p.m.              AMA Pro Flat Track: The Springfield Mile, Main Events                              FansChoice.tv^
5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.              Rally America New England Forest Rally                                                     NBC Sports Network*/ (from July 18-19)
5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.              NHRA Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals Qualifying, Part 2                  ESPN 2
5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.              NASCAR RaceDay                                                                                       FOX Sports 1
7:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.              NASCAR Countdown                                                                                    ESPN
7:30 p.m - 11:30 p.m.             Sprint Cup Series Oral-B USA 500                                                                ESPN
8:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.              Moto2: Great Britain                                                                                     FOX Sports 2*
9:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.            Moto3: Great Britain                                                                                     FOX Sports 2*

* - Tape Delayed
/ - Highlighted Coverage
# - Repeat Coverage
^ - Available via free online streaming
$ - Available via password-protected online streaming.  Check with your internet and/or programming provider for availability
! - Telecast will be interrupted for a live press conference.  The 10 will be interrupted for Tony Stewart's press conference, while RaceHub will be interrupted for Mike Helton's press conference.
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Top News
by Justin Tucker

Tony Stewart to Return to Racing This Weekend

Tony Stewart hasn't been at or near a race track following an Aug. 9 sprint car racing accident that claimed the life of Kevin Ward, Jr., but all that's set to change this weekend. Stewart-Haas Racing announced today (Aug. 28) that the three-time Cup Series champion will return to competition this weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Read more
 
Comcast Xfinity to Become Title Sponsor of NASCAR's Second-Tier Series: Report

The Nationwide Series looks to finally have its new name. According to Sports Business Journal, NASCAR and Comcast plan to announce next Wednesday (Sept. 3) a 10-year agreement that will see what is currently known as the Nationwide Series transformed into the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Read more
 
Harry Scott Files Notice of Suit Against Steve Turner Over Race Team

In what has already been a chaotic situation this week for Turner Scott Motorsports, more fuel was added to the fire on Thursday as reports surfaced that Harry Scott has threatened to sue Steve Turner over management of the organization. Sporting News reports that Scott has filed a notice of suit in North Carolina Superior Court, with 20 days given to file said suit. Read more

Have news for Justin and the Frontstretch? Don't hesitate to let us know; email us at phil.allaway@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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Frontstretch Folio: Oral-B USA 500
by Brad Morgan

The Sprint Cup Series travels to Atlanta Motor Speedway for the 25th race of the 2014 season Sunday, Aug. 31. Television coverage of the Oral-B USA 500 begins at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN; your local Performance Racing Network (PRN) affiliate and SiriusXM Radio Channel 90 will have the radio broadcast. Drivers will compete for at least 325 laps (500.5 miles) before the checkered flag waves.

Records and Facts

Kyle Busch led the final 36 laps and beat out Joey Logano for the win last year at AMS, it was Busch's second win there in 16 career starts.

Bobby Labonte leads all active drivers with six AMS wins but he isn't entered in Sunday's race. Jeff Gordon, with five wins, has more victories than any other driver currently on the entry list.

Track Facts

Track Length: 1.5-mile quad oval
Pit Road Speed: 45 mph
Degree of Banking: 24 degrees
Frontstretch: 2,332 ft., five degrees of banking
Backstretch: 1,800 ft., five degrees of banking
Grandstand Seating: 99,000
Website: http://www.atlantamotorspeedway.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/atlmotorspeedway
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/amsupdates

Pre-race Schedule

Practices: Friday, Aug. 29, 2:30 - 4 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1
Saturday, Aug. 30, 3 - 3:50 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 2

Happy Hour: Saturday, Aug. 30, 6 - 6:50 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 2

Qualifying: Friday, Aug. 29, 7:10 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1

VIPs

Grand Marshal: TBA
Command to start engines: TBA
Honorary Starter/Wave Green Flag: TBA
Invocation: TBA
National Anthem: Will Chase
Flyover: TBA

Race Day Forecast

Sunday: Chance of Storm
Precipitation: 20 percent
High: 88
Low: 70

They Said It:

"We are in the position now where winning is all that matters to get into The Chase for us. We aren't going to leave anything on the table. The focus is to win this weekend or at Richmond and leave nothing else to chance. Our fate is in our hands, and we know the challenge. It's just time to go out and execute." - Marcos Ambrose

"Atlanta is a unique track because it's one of the more worn out 1.5-mile tracks that we go to on the circuit. It's also very bumpy, so getting a compromise of balance of being able to get through the bumps is important." - Greg Biffle

"Obviously, the Hendrick engines are the best right now, but Atlanta is such big handling. I would say the power comes more into play in qualifying than what it will in the race. You spend so much of the race in Atlanta sliding around that I think a good handling car will overcome horsepower. I think, if you could pick one or the other, you would take the car that handles really well versus the car with the most power. I don't know that the engines, once we get through qualifying, are going to be as big of an advantage as what they are at a place like Michigan or Charlotte, tracks that you can use a lot of throttle throughout the run." - Jamie McMurray

"Yeah, if you took a poll of all the drivers, the number one track to race at is going to be Atlanta for everyone's vote. It's abrasive, it wears out tires and we slide around the track. It's really fast for one lap, then it progressively gets worse from there. All of these factors make it really fun for drivers." - Paul Menard

"I don't see it as the final tune-up [for the Chase]. I see it as another opportunity. It is such a different animal of a race track because of the way the tires fall off. You really don't see that as much with the track's coming up, except for a place like Texas. I see Atlanta as its own kind of animal because of the tire-track combination. But it is important. It does build confidence, which is probably more important than the actual balance of the car." - Ryan Newman

Brad Morgan is a senior writer for Frontstretch. Email him at brad.morgan@frontstretch.com.

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Have a keen eye for racing news and want to show off your chops in front of an international audience? Frontstretch is looking for news writers to join our staff! We're looking for writers who can help us break and report on news from inside the racing community, from fielding press releases to going out and getting the story yourself. Interested applicants should email frontstretcheditors@googlegroups.com with your name, contact info and three audition pieces -- two news stories taken from the day's breaking stories and one column/commentary piece. Please email Frontstretch with any questions.

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Keepin' It Short: It's Time for the Biggest of the Big
by Mike Neff

Keepin' it Short always likes to look for the big events - whether it is the Chili Bowl, the Snowball Derby, the World 100 or the Super DIRT Week, the big races are highlights of the racing season.

This coming week in Boone, Iowa, is the biggest of them all. The Super Nationals at Boone Speedway draw in more competitors and put on more races in a six-day period than any other event in racing. In 2013 there were 824 competitors who raced during the Super Nationals. They run races in Hobby Stocks, Sport Compacts, SportMods, Stock Cars, Northern SportMods and the signature division Modifieds.

The racing begins on Monday Deery Brothers Late Models, Hobby Stocks and Northern SportMods. Tuesday features Sport Compacts, Hobby Stocks, Northern SportMods and SportMods. Wednesday has Stock Cars and more Hobby Stocks, SportMods and Northern SportMods. Thursday will see the Stock Cars, SportMods and the beginning of Modified action. Friday will showcase the Stock Cars, SportMods and the All-Star Invitational. The Invitational will feature a field of 30 Modified drivers selected by fans. Saturday is the big day with SportMods, Stock Cars, Hobby Stocks, and Modifieds.

The racing is obviously the focal point of the week but it is not the entire experience. The manufacturer's row will have over 40 vendors showcasing their wares to the fans and competitors. There is a party on Sunday before the week begins that features live music and sets the tone for the whole week. The whole week is a family camping extravaganza with thousands of people on the grounds enthralled by racing and the general camaraderie of socializing with people with a similar love for racing.

One highlight of the week that is truly unique to Boone is the track preparation. The art of preparing a race track is part science, part brute force and part voodoo. The people at Boone have turned it into a choreographed dance of farm equipment like no one has seen anywhere else. In less than 15 minutes the track crew tills up the track, waters it and repacks it for more races. This action doesn't take place once a night. Depending on weather conditions and the races that have taken place the track will be prepped as quickly as every six races or as long as every 15 races. The average is about every 10.

For those folks who can't make it to Boone, the opportunity to watch the Nationals is available online through XSAN, which will have a free preview from the Sprint Car Nationals at Eagle Raceway in Nebraska on Saturday. The entire Super Nationals can be seen, at least 10 hours of racing per day for six days, for $150. If you are in the Midwest and you want to head to Boone the ticket prices for the grandstand seats are $20 on Monday and Friday, $15 Tuesday through Thursday and then $25 on Saturday.

There are big races all season long and some are bigger than others. The Super Nationals in Boone are the biggest and you don't want to miss them.

Whelen All-American National Championship

The available days to score points toward the national title are running out quickly. Anthony Anders holds a 10-point lead over Lee Pulliam and with Greenville-Pickens allowiing Anders to start 10th for feature races while Pulliam is racing at tracks that require him to start last if he doesn't want to start where he qualifies, it looks like Anders has the title all but locked up. As the K&N Series prepares to head to Greenville next weekend the track is quiet this week. Anders had said earlier this season that he'd head to South Boston at some point this season to race. This weekend would be the ideal time for him to do so.

Third in points is still Keith Rocco, who ran twice this past week and picked up a win and two top-5 finishes. Rocco is 18 points behind Pulliam, who scored two wins this past week but did not pick up any additional points.

Dillon Bassett had a huge week, racing four times and winning all four events including two wins at Hickory Motor Speedway over Anders, who finished fifth and eighth in those two events. Bassett jumped over Ryan Preece to reclaim fourth in the standings. Preece ran two races over the week and scored a win and two top 5s. He is 12 points behind Bassett after the youngster's great weekend.

Peyton Sellers and Kres Vandyke did not race but maintain sixth and seventh in points, respectively. Tommy Lemons, Jr. ran two races, scoring a top 5 and two top 10s and adding four points to his season total. Chad Finchum did not race but stays in ninth, while Matt Bowling fell out of the top 10, being replaced by Stewart Friesen.

Place Name Tracks Races Wins Top 5s Top 10s Points

1 Anthony Anders Anderson, Myrtle, Hickory, Greenville 46 27 40 44 718
2 Lee Pulliam Caraway, S Boston, Greenville, Motor Mile, Southern Natl 40 21 35 36 708
3 Keith Rocco Waterford, Stafford, Thompson 38 13 30 33 690
4 Dillon Bassett East Carolina, Caraway, Motor Mile, Langley, Anderson, Greenville, Southern Natl, Hickory 31 12 26 30 649
5 Ryan Preece Riverhead, Thompson, Stafford, Waterford 39 12 32 36 637
6 Peyton Sellers Langley, Motor Mile, Caraway, S Boston 29 5 24 29 629
7 Kres Vandyke Kingsport, Motor Mile, L Pine 28 8 24 26 620
8 Tommy Lemons, Jr Southern Natl, Caraway, Motor Mile, S Boston 36 6 22 29 611
9 Chad Finchum L Pine, Kingsport 26 12 22 23 601
10 Stewart Friesen Utica Rome, Grandview 19 7 18 18 599

The Whelen All-American Series features an "inverted" point format. Car count determines the points competitors can receive. Points are awarded in ascending order from last place at a rate of two points per position. Last place receives two points, next-to-last scores four and on up through the field to the winner. The maximum number of cars awarded points in a single event is 18. The winner of the event receives three bonus points if they start the race in position one through nine. If they start in 10th or further back they will receive five bonus points. Drivers can collect points for their 18 best finishes recorded before September 22nd. The maximum number of points a driver can receive is 738.

This week's racing schedule can be found here.

Mike Neff is a senior writer for Frontstretch.com. Feedback can be sent to mike.neff@frontstretch.com.

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FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA
 
Q: In 1997, the ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series competed in the Reese's 400k, the first race at Atlanta Motor Speedway since the reconfiguration from a 1.522-mile true oval to a 1.54 mile quad-oval.  Benny Parsons made a rather famous (and hilarious) exclamation coming to the white flag.  Name the exclamation.

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

Thursday's Answer:

Q: Bill Elliott's third of four consecutive wins early in the 1992 Winston Cup season came at Atlanta Motor Speedway by the substantial margin of 18 seconds.  How did Elliott pull such a victory off?

A: Elliott was actually having a mediocre day when Mike Wallace crashed to bring out a caution with 44 laps to go, during the final round of pit stops.  Elliott had not stopped yet and was able to beat Harry Gant to the start-finish line to keep himself on a lap of his own.  Elliott was able to pit, get four tires, and drive to victory unmolested as the rest of the drivers on the lead lap had to start directly in front of Elliott and chase him down.  Also of note, the race was plagued by rain, so much so that ABC left the telecast during a red flag after 51 laps and never returned.

Frontstretch Trivia Guarantee: If we mess up, you get the shirt off our backs! If we've provided an incorrect answer to the Frontstretch Trivia question, be the first to email the corrected trivia answer to trivia@frontstretch.com and we'll send you a Frontstretch T-Shirt ... FREE!


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Coming Monday in the Frontstretch Newsletter:
-- Oral-B USA 500 Race Recap by Justin Tucker
-- Never Fear, The Underdogs Are Here by Amy Henderson
-- Sidebar Stories: Atlanta by Phil Allaway
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch Columns and More!

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This Weekend on the Frontstretch:

Four Burning Questions: Atlanta by Matt Stallknecht
Matt covers all the big stories and questions in Atlanta.

Nationwide Breakdown: Nationwide Great Clips 300 by Joseph Wolkin
We'll have all the post-race analysis you need following this weekend's action at Atlanta.

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Monday on the Frontstretch:

Thinkin' Out Loud: Oral-B USA 500 by Mike Neff
Mike covers all the details and post-race analysis from Atlanta.

Big Six: Oral-B USA 500 by Amy Henderson
Amy tackles the who, what, when, where, how and why from Atlanta.

Pace Laps: All Racing Series by the Frontstretch Staff
Our staff keeps you posted on all the racing action that occurred over the weekend.

Bowles-Eye View by Tom Bowles
Tom returns to tackle one of the most important storylines post-Atlanta.

Cracking the Case by Aaron Creed
Aaron has his take on a developing story from the weekend.

Tracking the Trucks: Chevrolet Silverado 250 by Beth Lunkenheimer
The Truck Series makes its only trip to Canada and Beth has all the stories from a weekend north of the border.
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