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The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
June 10, 2015
Volume IX, Edition XCIV
Wednesday's TV Schedule can be found in Couch Potato Tuesday here.
by the Frontstretch Staff
Appeals Panel Rescinds No. 48, Jimmie Johnson Penalty
Entry List: Sprint Cup Series Stars Prepare for NASCAR's Fastest Track
Today's Featured Commentary
Martin Truex, Jr.'s victory at Pocono Raceway Sunday was a popular one throughout the NASCAR garage area. His story, both on and off the track has been well documented over the last two days. After a tough departure from Michael Waltrip Racing, part of the fallout from the team's Spingate scandal he struggled badly during the 2014 season, finishing a dismal 24th in points with just five top-10 finishes.
To top it off, Truex's longtime girlfriend Sherry Pollex was diagnosed with ovarian cancer; she was forced to fight the disease through surgery and chemotherapy. Add in the rough road with Furniture Row Racing, culminating in crew chief Todd Berrier getting axed and it was easily the most difficult year of the driver's career. However, through it all Truex remained a center of positivity, keeping his head up and gained additional respect within the NASCAR community. Several drivers, including former owner and teammate Dale Earnhardt, Jr. congratulated him in Victory Lane.
As popular as the win was, though not everyone was smiling ear-to-ear. Take Sprint Cup car owner Richard Childress as an example. It's not that Childress isn't a nice guy; he's viewed as one of the nicest guys in the garage area. But while Childress could be happy on a personal level, on a professional one he had to be busy scratching his head.
Truex's Furniture Row Racing team has a technical alliance with RCR, a deal where the bigger operation provides them with engines and chassis. One would think that FRR's success would translate to the "mother ship," but that hasn't been happening so far this season. Of Childress' three-car operation, Paul Menard's No. 27 is the highest placed in points, running 11th while championship runner-up from last year Ryan Newman sits 15th. Meanwhile, grandson Austin Dillon down to a disappointing tie for 23rd in the standings, the classic example of a "sophomore slump." RCR's teams have been able to log 15 top-10 finishes, combined; compare that to Truex's single-car operation having 13.
RCR has struggled over the past several seasons and hasn't won a championship since 1994, which was Dale Earnhardt's seventh and final title. To put into perspective how long it's been, Hendrick Motorsports has 11 championships since then. Joe Gibbs Racing has won three, Stewart-Haas Racing and Roush Fenway Racing each have two and even the now defunct Robert Yates Racing has a championship more recently than RCR.
Sunday's win proves RCR equipment is good enough to win in 2015. So it must keep Childress up at night as to what the problem is with his organization, causing him to wonder how a self-sponsored, single-car operation can go out and win while his own multi-car giant lags behind. The team hasn't won a race since November 2013 at Phoenix and 2014 was just the fourth season since 1983 they've been shut out of Victory Lane. RCR as a whole led just 86 laps in 2014, by far the lowest for them since '83.
It's hard to figure out what the problem is. Through the years, the team has gone through countless crew chiefs and drivers, yet the struggles continue. Now, their equipment, along with their horsepower can no longer be used as an excuse. Sunday's win proves that the engines and chassis RCR is producing on a weekly basis are capable of quality performances.
So with all the struggles the team has had in recent years, no wonder why Childress could only be so happy for Truex. His own program still has a lot of work to do.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TODAY AT FRONTSTRETCH:
FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Tuesday's Answer:
Q: With the 24 Hours of Le Mans this weekend, we've got a Le Mans question for you. When was the Mulsanne Straight split up by chicanes, and why?
COMING TOMORROW
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