THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
Sept. 3, 2014
Volume VIII, Edition CL
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Xfinity Series To Be The Official Name of NASCAR's Secondary Series in 2015
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
Sept. 3, 2014
Volume VIII, Edition CL
~~~~~~~~~~
Xfinity Series To Be The Official Name of NASCAR's Secondary Series in 2015
by Summer Bedgood
Nationwide is on your side?
Not anymore.
Say good-bye to the NASCAR Nationwide Series and look ahead to 2015 for a new title sponsorship for NASCAR's secondary series: The NASCAR XFINITY Series. Read more.
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Today's TV Listings
Time Telecast Network
5 - 5:30 p.m. NASCAR America NBC Sports Network
5 - 6:00 p.m. NASCAR RaceHub FOX Sports 1
6:30 7:30 p.m. NASCAR RaceHub FOX Sports 2*#
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Top News
by Ashley McCubbin
Editor's Note: With the new website, we'll provide only a PARTIAL read of the news in the Newsletter with a link to the top story on our website. With the "new" Frontstretch, there will be far more times the website is updated 24/7 so be sure to check the website for all the latest news and information on NASCAR!
Turner Scott Motorsports Shuts Down No. 30 Team
Turner Scott Motorsports announced Tuesday that it has officially shut down the operations of its No. 30 Camping World Truck Series team. As a result, 18 employees were laid off. Driver Ron Hornaday, Jr., who was fourth in points entering the series' race at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park last week, is also without a ride. Read more.
Friedman Law Firm to Sponsor Joe Nemechek at Richmond
Jay Robinson Racing announced on Tuesday that Joe Nemchek's No. 66 will have sponsorship from the Richmond-based Friedman Law Firm in Saturday night's Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway. Read more.
Clay Rogers and Beard Motorsports Looking to Debut at Richmond
Beard Motorsports announced Tuesday on Facebook that they will attempt to qualify for their first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race this weekend at Richmond International Speedway. Fielding the No. 75 Chevrolet, they will have Clay Rogers behind the wheel as he hopes to make his Sprint Cup Series debut. Rogers was set for his debut earlier this year for New Hampshire, however the team withdrew before the weekend. Read more.
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NHRA Caps Off Big Weekend at Lucas Oil Raceway
NHRA wrapped up their biggest event of the year, the 60th annual Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals from Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis, by crowning four first time U.S. Nationals winners on Monday.
Rookie Top Fuel driver Richie Crampton faced off against Steve Torrence, who had also never won at the U.S. Nationals, insuring a first time victor. Give it to Crampton, with a run of 3.766 seconds at 327.98 mph to Torrence's 3.799 seconds at 327.82 mph.
In Funny Car, Alexis DeJoria scored her third win on the season when she defeated John Force in the final round with a run of 4.038 seconds at 310.34 mph to Force's 4.039 at 319.67 mph. She also beat Cruz Pedregon, Blake Alexander,and Courtney Force en route to the final.
"It's huge [to win the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals]," said DeJoria. "I was just happy to make it to another semifinal; that was four in a row. To make it past the semifinals, that was huge, but to win this race just builds our confidence even more and in me especially."
DeJoria became the fourth female winner of the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals and also the first female Funny Car driver to win three races in a single season. It was also the record setting 10th season victory for female racers.
Gray Motorsports teammates Shane Gray and Dave Connolly lined up for the final in the Pro Stock division. Connolly had won the last three times he'd run at the U.S. Nationals, but couldn't make it a fourth. Mechanical issues struck and Gray drove off to the win with a run of 6.641 seconds at 208.42 mph.
In Pro Stock Motorcyle, it was Eddie Krawiec scoring his first U.S. Nationals victory with a run of 6.941 seconds at 192.63 mph over Jerry Savoie at 6.987 seconds at 192.58 mph.
"I've been fortunate to win three championships and 25 races now and I've finally got an Indy win," said Krawiec. "I was joking that I could just step off the bike now, announce my retirement, and not run the Countdown [to the Championship]. I think I'll stick around, though."
The U.S. Nationals were also the final event of the regular season, with the six race Countdown to the Championship beginning with the next race, the Carolina Nationals in two weeks. Only the top ten drivers in each division are eligible to compete for the championship so for some, it was the last chance to secure a spot. In some notable misses, former Funny Car champion Jack Beckman and former Pro Stock champion Greg Anderson both found themselves on the outside looking in after Indy. Toni Montgomery
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Today's Featured Commentary
All the News That's Fit to Print?
Professor of Speed
by Mark Howell
For a moment, I thought she'd won….
It was Monday morning, and I logged onto USA Today's iPad application for a quick update of news and sports (okay, it was pretty much all about the sports). Atop the sports page, there was a photo of Danica Patrick and a headline about Sunday night's Sprint Cup race at Atlanta. At first glance, seeing Patrick's photo and a headline containing the word Atlanta, I immediately thought the Stewart-Haas Racing driver had stolen the spotlight from her grieving car owner, whose race ended with a blown tire and a hard ride into the fence.
Boy, was I wrong.
It turns out that USA Today was trumpeting Patrick's career-best Sprint Cup finish, a sixth-place effort where she out-ran the likes of Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Jeff Gordon, and 37 others in the field. Patrick improved on her previous-best Sprint Cup showing of seventh at Kansas earlier this season, which was certainly worthy of some media buzz. But an entire story, complete with a detailed breakdown of race specifics regarding Sunday night's accomplishments of the GoDaddy No. 10 Chevrolet? Even though the column was credited to USA Today Sports, it read more like a public relations representative's dream: a puff piece disguised as news.
The headline made for a great hook: Danica Patrick Scores Career-Best Sprint Cup Finish at Atlanta. What followed was an organized synopsis of Patrick's ups and downs during her historic performance, which – granted – was quite deserving of acknowledgement and celebration. Patrick became the highest-finishing woman at Atlanta, her 2014 success improving on Janet Guthrie's tenth-place run there back in 1978, but such acclaim seems sort of irrelevant to me.
Since Patrick is one of just a few women to compete in Sprint Cup competition – and one of only a handful to enjoy a steady ride with consistent sponsorship over multiple seasons – is she not pretty much snagging "career-best finishes for a woman" at virtually every track on the Cup calendar?
Even when she finishes in the top 20 at an event, she's quite likely already the highest-finishing woman in a Cup car at that particular speedway. While such an achievement is honorable, does such an achievement call for a stand-alone story in a nationally-recognized newspaper?
Granted, USA Today made it a point many, many years ago to endear itself with NASCAR Nation. The newspaper made sure it covered NASCAR races and saw the potential to gain a famously-loyal audience, much as ESPN did with its early coverage of NASCAR events back in the network's infancy. USA Today may have been a "McPaper" when compared to other publications twenty-plus years ago, but it earned a warm, fuzzy place in the hearts of NASCAR fans with its attention to stock car racing during what was then the meteoric rise of the sport. Perhaps USA Today's affinity for NASCAR even helped make the sport a national phenomenon.
So when I logged on to the newspaper on my iPad come Monday morning, I was not surprised to see the face of the most famous name (circa 2014) in NASCAR before my tired and blurry eyes. What shocked me into a Monday state of mind was the notion that Patrick's sixth-place finish actually trumped Kasey Kahne's victory in the same event. While there was no mention of Kahne's win (one that earned him a place in the Chase), there were plenty of bits and bytes devoted to Danica's hard-fought accomplishment.
I actually had to read the Patrick piece in order to locate a headline (with a link) to the USA Today story covering the Cup race itself. Certainly, coverage of events at Atlanta focused on the return of Tony Stewart, but news about Smoke faded only to be replaced by another big story involving SHR.
Maybe it was all about reading good news, for a change….
But it sure took a while to find Patrick's good news about her run at Atlanta. I got to read about her dropping a lap early thanks to the strength of teammate Kevin Harvick, and I also got to read about how being named a "lucky dog" gave her the chance to get said lost lap back.
The good news seemed to come once Patrick made it back to the lead lap. A tight race car improved over time, some solid pit work from the No. 10 crew put her back into contention, and a smart decision about track position for the final restart sealed the deal, putting Patrick in the right place to make history and earn some very individualized attention from USA Today.
So…. was the separate story all because Patrick bested Guthrie's record at Atlanta, or was it because Patrick finished sixth and allowed USA Today to showcase NASCAR's currently-most-recognized name (complete with a slideshow of forty – count 'em! 40! – photographs!)?
Such is the dilemma faced by newspaper editors and publishers every day (and I used to be one back-in-the-day, so I know the drill); do you run the obvious story that covers the basics, or do you run the story that draws more audience attention and gets a reader to pause a little bit longer than they would (or should) for a more-conventional news item?
If Kahne's victory was the news, Patrick's top 10 got the notice.
After reading the story about Patrick (and yes, you are correct; I read the column and learned about her big finish…. Guilty as charged!), I received an e-mail with my son's U-8 coed soccer team schedule for the fall season. What I like about both NASCAR and my son's coed soccer league is the fact that women / girls play even up against their male / boy counterparts; the rules are exactly the same, regardless of the athlete's gender.
But then I saw the final event listed on the schedule: the annual "Romp n' Stomp" tournament for all teams in all divisions. Championships are determined and teams get one last chance to compete before the snow flies. This is also the event where each player – regardless of skill level, accomplishment, or success – receives the obligatory shiny medal. Even minor achievements qualify for league attention, no matter if the team-in-question wins the championship or fails horrifically. If you play, you win a medal. Everyone is rewarded, regardless of their performance.
That analogy arose from the USA Today story heralding Patrick's career-best finish at Atlanta. While a notable accomplishment worth mentioning, it seemed to be placed on par with Kasey winning his way into the Sprint Cup post-season. On the newspaper's iPad edition, it seemed to mean even more. The "everybody's a winner" approach might be okay for kids learning new sports, but should such an approach be extended to big time racing with big time pressure for media coverage and sponsor shout-outs?
If Kahne was okay with USA Today's iPad approach, I guess I should be, too….
Dr. Mark Howell is a Contributor for Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via e-mail at mark.howell@frontstretch.com.
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Tweet 'N' Greet
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.
@JenJoCobb: I met @marcspringer of @shippingwars w @ArrowTruckSales at #GATS last week! pic.twitter.com/5XwEOdsGWO
@DeLanaHarvick: Keelan got his first hair wash at the salon today! pic.twitter.com/TVSZfCR77D
@EddieDHondt: Ahhhhhhhhh .. NO !! - Capital "N" Capital "O" No freggin way, Negatory Batman & lastly...Are u outta ur effin mind ?pic.twitter.com/aDT8awC0HV
@Jeff_Gluck: .@ClintBowyer had some pretty funny answers to the 12 Questions this week. Check 'em out -->http://usat.ly/1q4H2pP #NASCAR
@NorrisScott1: The#airtitan display at the Toyota Dealer convention. Fan just called it a racesaver. @toyotaracing @Toyota #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/8gCOfDSrWP
@SpotterBrett: Well we might as well drink and take selfies pic.twitter.com/AfgCw7FJHT
@RIRPrez (Dennis Bickmeier): @NASCAR Paint the Town is under way in #RVA. Pace Car at RIC. Thnx @Flack4RIC for Welcoming fans and industry pic.twitter.com/rDloJmZUJY
@Jeff_Gluck: Holy crap. @dennyhamlin lip-syncing to @taylorswift13 is the funniest thing you'll see today —> https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3J-gYq7ynRg&feature=youtu.be
@HawkSMI (Donald Hawk): sssshhhh @amsupdates is sleeping now but in the am this GIANT WAKES UP & we begin a weekend of SPEED & Great Racing pic.twitter.com/XqvYbFee4j
@Reid_Spencer: Tony Stewart reading an emotional statement at the Atlanta Motor Speedway press conference. pic.twitter.com/rZNdp1VW85
@KurtBusch: Glad to have my friend, team mate, & boss back in the car this weekend
@Jeff_Gluck: Interesting read on the business side of Tony Stewart's decision to return —> http://usat.ly/1vvpir3 (by @nateryan) #NASCAR
@BudweiserRacing: @KevinHarvick celebrates the #4 team's 6th pole award of the season. #NASCAR #FreakyFast http://instagram.com/p/sTau-fw5S2/
@nascarcasm: #atlanta #OralBUSA500 #nascar #qualifying pic.twitter.com/oHn5fz9pWC
@KurtsTemper: I've got the Monster if you've got the Energy. pic.twitter.com/9wm87AfOwf
@EdClarkAMS: Just hanging out with a big ol' @OralB toothbrush... pic.twitter.com/IvvzKXxJua
@BradParrott: I got this shit covered . Kayla says it's her turn to sleep on the couch #doglovers pic.twitter.com/nB5UZl1rRl
@JamesBuescher: Watching cartoons this morning! They are growing soo fast! pic.twitter.com/gxStD2Imh4
@JimmieJohnson: U're a little early... @leeamyfowler1: @amsupdates were ready for our last night race lets go @JimmieJohnson #se7en pic.twitter.com/btDq6xWFq5
@ClintBowyer: They do an awesome job with College football. Great coverage..great commercials...great entertainment.
@bobpockrass: Gil Martin has heavy heart today as his sister has died. He plans to crew chief Austin Dillon today. Gil visited sister in hospice Friday.
@DeLanaHarvick: Mother function!!!!!!!!
@SherryPollex: You know that old saying if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. Yea I'm trying hard. #asshole
@TroyShear: I hope ESPN holds off from going to SportsCenter long enough to talk to the guys involved in the drama! #NASCAR
@KaseyKahne: What it's all about! Atlanta win... Chase bound! http://instagram.com/p/sZJLjFhVYw/
@KrisJohnson_NI: That moment where Kenseth-Kahne were side-by-side. We need more of that. #NASCAR
@dcaraviello (David Caraviello): This just in from the United Nations ... Peacekeepers are being dispatched to prevent hostilities between Busch Nation and Truex Nation ....
@Pat_DeCola: It's 1:20 a.m. and race-winner @kaseykahne is outside the media center posing for pics with fans. How do you not root for a guy like that?
@amsupdates: #QuietTrack pic. Thanks for a great weekend, everyone! See you next year! #OralBUSA500 pic.twitter.com/2hKQgXq0AJ
@EddieDHondt: There's many reasons why I love working @TeamHendrick - Here's one. Class drivers take the time 2 share the moment. pic.twitter.com/OWMBHQkZQP
@TeamHendrick: #VictorySelfie pic.twitter.com/Pc6wMzIGlf
@matthumphreycar: Some little ones are up way past their bedtimes to get autographs from @kaseykahne #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/1yzKEG3A3f
@kaseykahne: What it's all about! Atlanta win... Chase bound! http://instagram.com/p/sZJLjFhVYw/
@MattWeaverSBN: Kasey Kahne left his first 'signature' of the season at Atlanta. pic.twitter.com/M1MI9pqwrj
@SherryPollex: This. Can't buy class no matter how rich you are. ☺️ "@FR78Racing: We truly have a standup driver @MartinTruex_Jr. #NASCAR #FurnitureRow"
@patisouzapaludo: Grandma going back to Brazil.. Oli was crying but did and smiled 😥😊 http://instagram.com/p/sa-qjJPcDM/
@BillyVenturini: Aww.. Aren't they cute? Guess it's been a long day at the track! pic.twitter.com/t2v7cSRlBx
Justin Boston and Brennan Poole
@BenKennedy31: We were proud of our organic banana nut bread until someone got into them. Thanks Bud.... pic.twitter.com/8lhgkygQAq
@TeamHSM51 (HScott Motorsports): NEWS: @PlanBSales die-cast distributor joins @TeamHSM51 and @J_Allgaier for the Sylvania 300 @NHMS. Read here -> http://bit.ly/Y8Krtx
@Just_AP (Ashley Parlett): Don't call me. I'll call you. 😜 pic.twitter.com/G5jCj9pZDE
@Josh_Wise: I get to drive this beauty for @ProvidentMetals this week @RIRInsider pic.twitter.com/DgE28o0wjl
Allen Bedgood is a Photographer and Newsletter Contributor for Frontstretch. He can be reached via email at allen.bedgood@frontstretch.com. Follow him on Twitter @AllenBedgood.
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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 Wednesday 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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TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:
Did You Notice?... Sprint Cup's Largest Pre-Chase Disappointments
NASCAR Mailbox: The Lack of Negativity Surrounding Tony Stewart's Return Was Refreshing
by Summer Bedgood
The Frontstretch Five: Reasons To Give Small Teams Another Look
by Amy Henderson
NASCAR Sprint Cup Power Rankings: Top 15 After Atlanta
compiled by Mike Mehedin
Beyond the Cockpit: Darrell Wallace, Jr. on Photography, a Legend in a Legend and Busting Out the Xbox
by Mike Neff
Open Wheel Wednesday: Andretti Amiss, Ganassi Strong, Power Prevails
by Toni Montgomery, Huston Ladner and Matt Stallknecht
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FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA
Q: The 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo 400 is probably best known as the race where Sterling Marlin lost his points lead due to an early crash. Terry Labonte had a very good lap in qualifying to place fifth on the grid, but his race did not last long. What happened?
Check back Thursday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
Tuesday's Answer:
Q: Jeff Gordon started the 2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo from the pole in the Fall Richmond race running his Chromillusion Bugs Bunny scheme. However, it didn't take long for his night to go right in the toilet. What happened?
A: Gordon led early on, but dropped back into the clutches of Sterling Marlin, who was running fourth. The two drivers had contact entering Turn 3, resulting in Gordon spinning and backing hard into the wall. The crash can be seen here. Gordon's DuPont Chevrolet was heavily damaged and had to go behind the wall for significant repairs. He eventually returned to the race and finished 117 laps down in 36th.
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 triviaanswer@frontstretch.com and we'll send you a Frontstretch T-Shirt ... FREE!
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Coming tomorrow in the Frontstretch Newsletter:
-- Top News by Phil Allaway
-- Critic's Annex by Phil Allaway
-- Potts' Shots by John Potts
-- 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 week 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, Mike talks to Kevin 'Bono' Manion heading into Richmond.
Fantasy Insider by Jeff Wolfe
Jeff is back with your look at the best bets to fill your fantasy roster. This week, he sets you up for success as we head into Richmond.
Truckin' Thursdays by Beth Lunkenheimer
Beth returns with your weekly look at the state of the Camping World Truck Series.
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