THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
September 9, 2014
Volume VIII, Edition CLIV
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
September 9, 2014
Volume VIII, Edition CLIV
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What to Watch: Tuesday
- Tuesday in NASCAR is often penalty day and we may have a big one this week in the Nationwide Series. After Kyle Busch led flag-to-flag, winning Friday night's Virginia 529 College Savings 250, the rear gear out of his car was taken back to the NASCAR R&D Center in Concord, North Carolina for extra scrutiny. If any penalties are levied on the No. 54 team, we'll have a breaking news article later today on our website.
- NASCAR's 16 Chasers embark on a 16-driver, 16 media market tour that will take each one to a different spot in the country. It's part of NASCAR's effort to highlight the new postseason format, debuting Sunday afternoon at Chicagoland. Kevin Harvick will be making perhaps the most notable stop, assigned to appear on ESPN's family of shows based in Bristol, Ct.
Today's TV Schedule
Time Telecast Network
4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. NASCAR America NBC Sports Network
5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. NASCAR RaceHub FOX Sports 1
6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. NASCAR RaceHub FOX Sports 2*#
7:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. The 10: NASCAR's Greatest Finishes FOX Sports 2#
* - Tape Delayed
# - Repeat Coverage
Top News
by Greg Davis
Richmond Catchfence Climber Did It To Fulfill Birthday Wish?
The Richmond Times-Dispatch is reporting Saturday night's catchfence climber was doing it as part of his "birthday celebration." James Richard Dennis, 53, of Henrico, Va. continues to face charges of disorderly conduct and being drunk in public. Read more at Frontstretch.
Stanley Tools Leaving RPM For Gibbs?
Motorsport.com's Lee Spencer is reporting that Stanley Tools announced within the company they will be leaving Richard Petty Motorsports' No. 9 at the end of the 2014 Sprint Cup season. In order to both save money and maximize exposure, the longtime NASCAR supporter will be moving their primary sponsorship over to the new, No. 19 Toyota that Carl Edwards will drive for Joe Gibbs Racing starting in 2015. Read more at Frontstretch.
NASCAR America Expands To An Hour On Mondays During Chase
NBC Sports recently announced that their daily NASCAR studio show, NASCAR America, will expand to a full hour on Mondays during the Chase For The Sprint Cup. Yesterday, the one-hour edition started at 4:30 p.m. but the timeslot is expected to move around a bit. Read more at Frontstretch.
Have news for Greg and the Frontstretch? Don't hesitate to let us know; email us at ashland10@mail.com with a promising lead or tip. And be sure to visit the website for more news, delivered 24/7!
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GOT A NASCAR QUESTION OR COMMENT? WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
That's right; our Fan Q & A column is back once again in 2014. Send your question Summer Bedgood's way at summer.bedgood@frontstretch.com and if you're lucky, you'll get your name in print on Thursday when she does her weekly column. It's all part of our daily mission to give back to you – the fans that keep Frontstretch afloat!
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GOT A NASCAR QUESTION OR COMMENT? WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
That's right; our Fan Q & A column is back once again in 2014. Send your question Summer Bedgood's way at summer.bedgood@frontstretch.com and if you're lucky, you'll get your name in print on Thursday when she does her weekly column. It's all part of our daily mission to give back to you – the fans that keep Frontstretch afloat!
~~~~~~~~~~
Today's Featured Commentary
16 Teams Eligible to Win the Sprint Cup! Don't You Believe It
16 Teams Eligible to Win the Sprint Cup! Don't You Believe It
Sitting in the Stands: A Fan's View
by S.D. Grady
The Chase is on! We've got 16 teams who have the opportunity to snare the Sprint Cup just 10 weeks from now. They've all enjoyed a certain level of success throughout the season, and now must capitalize on the swell of media and fan insanity to ride the wave all the way to Homestead-Miami. However, to get there, they've got to maintain the same high level of competitiveness that got them the nifty hats and additional photo-ops post-Richmond.
Who thinks they have what it takes? For if you're about to undertake a massive mission in life, there is one philosophy you must have in order to attain your dreams: You gotta believe. Which of the 16 pictures themselves riding into Homestead as part of the Final Four?
It's a pretty good bet that Brad Keselowski, Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jimmie Johnson, Joey Logano and Kevin Harvick are all feeling pretty solid regarding their teams right now. None of them have been stumbling through the summer. Between logging consistent wins and finishes, it's more than apparent they've got the magic combination of setup, pit crew and driver focus required to take their machine to the front each and every week -- including at Homestead. However, they only represent six of the 16 drivers sporting Chase logos on their uniforms.
The No. 20 of Matt Kenseth really ought to be part of the elite. There's no question that the only variable keeping this Gibbs' crew out of Victory Lane has been bad luck -- but not terrible luck. Not the sort that leaves one thinking they'd be better off just riding around for the rest of the year and to try again in 2015. A halo simply hasn't settled over their Toyota machine this year. It's always attempting to land, and misses by "that much." Kenseth could put on the afterburners and cruise into Homestead if those little gremlins would just behave.
Both Kyle and Kurt Busch are truly lacking in the belief department at the moment. Kyle didn't have a whole lot of words for the media, post-race at Richmond but his body language said it all. He doesn't own the amorphous issues with his car that seem to always leave him just outside that top-10 world. He doesn't fancy that there is a solution. He is checked out.
Kurt, on the other hand, is more stunned than anything that they snatched one of the coveted Chase spots. "We weren't ready," he told the cameras regarding his one win at Martinsville. He still has that, "How did we get here?" smile going. So, making it to that Final Four? Not going to happen this year.
Carl Edwards, Denny Hamlin and Kasey Kahne all know how this game works. However, the No. 99, No. 11 and No. 5 have all suffered from the "here now but gone again" problems this year. It's not having bad teams, or inexperience, or poor attitudes. It's simply a lack of, "I got this." Those teams have never seen the trip to Disney as part of their daily mantra, and it translates into their on-track performances. "We had a good car today," does not get you a trophy. You gotta be believing in, "We had a great car today!"
What about those final four? Look, Aric Almirola and the 'Dinger are just plain thrilled to be in the sandbox, but their realistic approach to riding the rainbow is apt. Their teams just aren't at the top of their game. Greg Biffle and Ryan Newman, while visitors to the Chase in years past, also can't believe a magic wand has been passed over their cars -- sending them straight to victory lane at any of the next three events.
So yes, there are six races before the field will officially be whittled down to a probable eight. However, in all reality, the Chase is already at this diminutive state. Seven teams are ready for the battle, leaving one more spot for an adrenaline rush into fantasy land for some lucky car. It's going to be an agonizing September and October while ESPN will beg you to believe the No. 43 could take it all. However, that's just window dressing, until we pull into Martinsville. That's when this postseason will finally "get real." That's when we can all believe the Chase is the magical playoff format we've been promised all year long.
The Chase is on! We've got 16 teams who have the opportunity to snare the Sprint Cup just 10 weeks from now. They've all enjoyed a certain level of success throughout the season, and now must capitalize on the swell of media and fan insanity to ride the wave all the way to Homestead-Miami. However, to get there, they've got to maintain the same high level of competitiveness that got them the nifty hats and additional photo-ops post-Richmond.
Who thinks they have what it takes? For if you're about to undertake a massive mission in life, there is one philosophy you must have in order to attain your dreams: You gotta believe. Which of the 16 pictures themselves riding into Homestead as part of the Final Four?
It's a pretty good bet that Brad Keselowski, Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jimmie Johnson, Joey Logano and Kevin Harvick are all feeling pretty solid regarding their teams right now. None of them have been stumbling through the summer. Between logging consistent wins and finishes, it's more than apparent they've got the magic combination of setup, pit crew and driver focus required to take their machine to the front each and every week -- including at Homestead. However, they only represent six of the 16 drivers sporting Chase logos on their uniforms.
The No. 20 of Matt Kenseth really ought to be part of the elite. There's no question that the only variable keeping this Gibbs' crew out of Victory Lane has been bad luck -- but not terrible luck. Not the sort that leaves one thinking they'd be better off just riding around for the rest of the year and to try again in 2015. A halo simply hasn't settled over their Toyota machine this year. It's always attempting to land, and misses by "that much." Kenseth could put on the afterburners and cruise into Homestead if those little gremlins would just behave.
Both Kyle and Kurt Busch are truly lacking in the belief department at the moment. Kyle didn't have a whole lot of words for the media, post-race at Richmond but his body language said it all. He doesn't own the amorphous issues with his car that seem to always leave him just outside that top-10 world. He doesn't fancy that there is a solution. He is checked out.
Kurt, on the other hand, is more stunned than anything that they snatched one of the coveted Chase spots. "We weren't ready," he told the cameras regarding his one win at Martinsville. He still has that, "How did we get here?" smile going. So, making it to that Final Four? Not going to happen this year.
Carl Edwards, Denny Hamlin and Kasey Kahne all know how this game works. However, the No. 99, No. 11 and No. 5 have all suffered from the "here now but gone again" problems this year. It's not having bad teams, or inexperience, or poor attitudes. It's simply a lack of, "I got this." Those teams have never seen the trip to Disney as part of their daily mantra, and it translates into their on-track performances. "We had a good car today," does not get you a trophy. You gotta be believing in, "We had a great car today!"
What about those final four? Look, Aric Almirola and the 'Dinger are just plain thrilled to be in the sandbox, but their realistic approach to riding the rainbow is apt. Their teams just aren't at the top of their game. Greg Biffle and Ryan Newman, while visitors to the Chase in years past, also can't believe a magic wand has been passed over their cars -- sending them straight to victory lane at any of the next three events.
So yes, there are six races before the field will officially be whittled down to a probable eight. However, in all reality, the Chase is already at this diminutive state. Seven teams are ready for the battle, leaving one more spot for an adrenaline rush into fantasy land for some lucky car. It's going to be an agonizing September and October while ESPN will beg you to believe the No. 43 could take it all. However, that's just window dressing, until we pull into Martinsville. That's when this postseason will finally "get real." That's when we can all believe the Chase is the magical playoff format we've been promised all year long.
2014 Sonya Strictly by the Stats
Top Three Rookies for 2014 Federated Auto Parts 400
1.) No. 42 Kyle Larson - Started 8th, Finished 11th (1st in RoTY standings)
2.) No. 3 Austin Dillon - Started 28th, Finished 20th (2nd in RoTY standings)
3.) No. 26 Cole Whitt - Started 35th, Finished 30th (5th in RoTY standings)
S.D. Grady is a Senior Editor for Frontstretch and runs a NASCAR blog called the S-Curves. She can be reached via e-mail atsonya.grady@frontstretch.com. Follow her on Twitter at @laregna and on her Facebook page (she's an author, too!) athttps://www.facebook.com/Author.SDGrady.
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Numbers Game: Federated Auto Parts 400
by Tom Bowles
0
0
Laps led for any team Saturday night on the "bubble" of making the Chase or missing it. None of the "win to get in" drivers could even get a lap up front.
1
1
Driver who made the Chase in 2013 who failed to make it in this season: Clint Bowyer. Michael Waltrip Racing actually has no representatives, inside the Chase for the first time since 2011.
1
Car who hit the wall at Richmond Saturday night, along with only one DNF. Matt Kenseth was the only car who nailed the concrete, spending extensive time behind the wall while J.J. Yeley start-and-parked for BK Racing. Kenseth marked the only major contact within NASCAR's "most competitive short track."
2
2
Total leaders Saturday night at Richmond. Brad Keselowski paced the field for 383 laps while Kevin Harvick led for 17.
3
3
Drivers out of 16 in this year's Chase who haven't won a race. Matt Kenseth, Ryan Newman, and Greg Biffle all officially made it in the postseason on points.
3
3
Toyotas in this year's Chase, all from Joe Gibbs Racing. It's the least of any manufacturer.
4
Cautions at Richmond, none of which were for accidents. One was a competition caution, two were for debris and the fourth was for security after a drunken fan climbed atop the catchfence.
4
4
Lead changes at Richmond, the fewest for any Sprint Cup race held there since the spring of 2008.
5
Ford drivers in the Chase, including two from Roush Fenway Racing, one from Richard Petty Motorsports and Penske Racing's favored duo of Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano.
6
6
Chevrolets in the top 10 Saturday night, the most of any manufacturer.
8
8
Chevrolets in the Chase, the most of any manufacturer. Hendrick Motorsports' four cars join two from Stewart-Haas Racing, one from Richard Childress Racing and one from JTG-Daugherty Racing.
6.25
Average finish for Jimmie Johnson in the four races before the Chase, second only to Joey Logano during that stretch. Johnson is seeking his record-tying seventh championship in this Chase.
383
Laps led Saturday night by Brad Keselowski, the most for any driver at any race this season.
$96,915
Money won by Kurt Busch for finishing seventh Saturday night.
$107,841
$107,841
Money won by Matt Kenseth for smacking the wall and winding up in 41st position at Richmond.
Tom Bowles is the Editor-in-Chief of Frontstretch. He can be reached via e-mail at tom.bowles@frontstretch.com.
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TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:
ADVERTISEMENT
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TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:
by Brett Poirier
by Amy Henderson
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FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Q: After a couple of years running a second car on a part-time basis, Richard Childress began running their second car, the No. 31, full-time in Winston Cup in 1997 with former Truck Series Champion Mike Skinner driving. While Skinner never reached Victory Lane in a points race, Skinner was consistent in the car despite the fact (revealed in Jade Gurss' In The Red: The 2001 Season With Dale Earnhardt, Jr.) that he wasn't exactly winning over people in the garage. However, the inaugural Tropicana 400 at Chicagoland Speedway marked the beginning of the end of Skinner's tenure in the No. 31, through no fault of his own. What happened?
Check back Wednesday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
Monday's Answer:
Q: The inaugural Hills Bros. 300 at Chicagoland Speedway is best known for Jimmie Johnson earning his one and only Nationwide Series win. For Cup regular Steve Park, the day was over before it really got going. What happened?
FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Q: After a couple of years running a second car on a part-time basis, Richard Childress began running their second car, the No. 31, full-time in Winston Cup in 1997 with former Truck Series Champion Mike Skinner driving. While Skinner never reached Victory Lane in a points race, Skinner was consistent in the car despite the fact (revealed in Jade Gurss' In The Red: The 2001 Season With Dale Earnhardt, Jr.) that he wasn't exactly winning over people in the garage. However, the inaugural Tropicana 400 at Chicagoland Speedway marked the beginning of the end of Skinner's tenure in the No. 31, through no fault of his own. What happened?
Check back Wednesday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
Monday's Answer:
Q: The inaugural Hills Bros. 300 at Chicagoland Speedway is best known for Jimmie Johnson earning his one and only Nationwide Series win. For Cup regular Steve Park, the day was over before it really got going. What happened?
A: The crash was the result of a brand-new race track and a chain reaction. Derrike Cope ran into the back of Park in turn 1. Cope's contact pushed Park into the back of Ashton Lewis, Jr. Lewis got loose and went up the track to catch his car. Park tried to go to the outside of Lewis and ran into the back of the No. 46 once again, resulting in both cars hitting the wall in turn 2. The crash can be seen here.
The crash saw Park's car wedge under the rear end of Lewis' Chevrolet. Both cars were significantly damaged and out on the spot.
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 triviaanswers@frontstretch.com and we'll send you a Frontstretch T-Shirt ... FREE!
Coming tomorrow in the Frontstretch Newsletter:
-- Top News from Ashley McCubbin
Coming tomorrow in the Frontstretch Newsletter:
-- Top News from Ashley McCubbin
-- Professor of Speed by Mark Howell
-- Tweet 'N' Greet by Allen Bedgood
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, and more!
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Tomorrow on the Frontstretch:
Open-Wheel Wednesday by the Frontstretch Staff
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, and more!
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Tomorrow on the Frontstretch:
Open-Wheel Wednesday by the Frontstretch Staff
We'll take another look inside the Verizon IndyCar Series as the teams begin the offseason.
Did You Notice?... by Tom Bowles
Tom returns with his weekly collection of quick hits. Among them: Reaction to Kyle Busch's Nationwide Series penalty and another look at NASCAR's rookie race.
Voices From The Heartland by Jeff Meyer
Jeff returns with his weekly take on the NASCAR world... a day later than usual. :)
NASCAR Mailbox by Summer Bedgood
Summer's ready to once again answer questions from you, our loyal fans. Do you have a question or comment for Summer? Don't be shy. Just send her an email (summer.bedgood@frontstretch.com) and you might just see your name in print!
NASCAR Power Rankings: Top 15 after Richmond compiled by Michael Mehedin
The Chase is here and Brad Keselowski earned the post-reset points lead after the most dominant race of the series-wide TV contract era. Does that mean he tops the rankings, too? Find out how your favorite experts voted in the latest edition of our weekly poll.
Beyond The Cockpit: TBA
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