Friday, July 31, 2015

The Frontstretch Newsletter: Bowyer - "Change Is On The Horizon"

THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
Jul. 31, 2015
Volume IX, Edition CXXXI
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What to Watch: Friday

- Today, Sprint Cup teams are scheduled to practice and qualify for Sunday's Windows 10 400.  Meanwhile, the XFINITY Series has both of their practice sessions at Iowa Speedway, one of which will be exclusive to NBC Sports Live Extra.

FOLLOW THE FRONTSTRETCH THIS WEEKEND IN POCONO FROM OUR COLLEAGUES:
Tom Bowles (@NASCARBowles)
Joseph Wolkin (@JosephNASCAR)
 
and our own Twitter page, @Frontstretch as well for updates!

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This weekend's TV Schedule can be found in Couch Potato
Tuesday here.
 
Top News
by The Frontstretch Staff

Bowyer: "Change Is On The Horizon"

Clint Bowyer hastily called a press conference Friday to respond to rumors he's headed to Chip Ganassi Racing with current co-owner Rob Kauffman in 2016. Bowyer, making a short statement emphasized patience, claimed that his Michael Waltrip Racing team was focused on the rest of the season and "as soon as I can tell you guys [reporters] something, I will." Bowyer, along with primary sponsor 5-Hour Energy and his No. 15 car are expected to join CGR as a teammate to Jamie McMurray and Kyle Larson in 2016. Will it happen? Let's just say the driver had a giant smirk on his face as he referenced the fact that change was on the horizon.

Keselowski Paces Field In Opening Practice

Team Penske led the charge at Pocono Friday as Brad Keselowski's No. 2 Ford led opening Sprint Cup practice. Keselowski's time of 50.961 seconds edged Matt Kenseth with Denny Hamlin, Austin Dillon and Kevin Harvick rounding out the top-5 speeds. All 43 cars practiced and will make the race. Read more

Derrick Walker Resigns From IndyCar Competition Post

Derrick Walker, after finishing up this season has chosen to leave his role as President of Competition and Operations for IndyCar. Walker, 70, has held the position for the sanctioning body since May 2013. No replacement was immediately named. Read more

Johanna Long Scores Iowa XFINITY Series Ride

Thursday, Obaika Racing announced that Johanna Long will drive the team's No. 97 Chevrolet in this weekend's U.S. Cellular 250 at Iowa Speedway, replacing Peyton Sellers.  Read more

Have news for The Frontstretch?  Don't hesitate to let us know; email us at phil.allaway@frontstretch.com with a promising lead or tip.

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Frontstretch Folio: Windows 10 400
by Phil Allaway

The Sprint Cup Series returns to Pennsylvania for their second visit of the year to Pocono Raceway.  The race can be seen at 1:30 p.m. Sunday afternoon on NBCSN; the race can also be heard on your local MRN affiliate or SiriusXM Channel 90. Drivers will compete for 160 laps (400 miles) en route to the checkered flag.

Records and facts

Last year, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. passed Greg Biffle with 14 laps to go and held on through a wild final restart to claim the victory and the season sweep at Pocono.  Kevin Harvick was second followed by Joey Logano, Clint Bowyer and Biffle.

Jeff Gordon is the winningest active driver at Pocono Raceway with six career victories, the most recent of which was the rain/lightning-shortened race in July 2012.  He has an average finish of tenth in 45 career starts at the scalene triangle.  Denny Hamlin has four career wins at Pocono, including a season sweep as a rookie in 2006.  Jimmie Johnson has three career wins at Pocono as well.

Track Facts
Track / Race Length: 2.5-mile oval, 160 laps (400 miles)
Banking: 14 degrees in turn 1, 8 degrees in turn 2, 6 degrees in turn 3

Frontstretch: 3,740 ft., flat

Long Pond Straightaway: 3,055 ft., flat

North Straight: 1,780 ft., flat

Grandstand Seating: 70,000
Pit Road Speed: 55 mph
Pace Car Speed: 65 mph
Opened: 1971 (first Cup race in 1974)

Website: http://www.poconoraceway.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/poconoraceway

Twitter: http://twitter.com/poconoraceway

Pre-Race Schedule:

Practice 1: Friday, July 31, 11 a.m. - 12:25 p.m. ET on NBCSN

Practice 2: Saturday, August 1, 9 - 9:50 a.m. ET on NBCSN

Happy Hour: Saturday, August 1, 11:35 a.m. - 12:25 p.m. ET on NBCSN

Qualifying: Friday, July 31 at 4:45 p.m. ET on NBCSN

Say What?!

"I think it's a fun track as far as how unique it is with the three corners being different. And the fact that your setup really can't be dialed in for all three corners, you have to give and take. Some years, it seems like turn 1 is tough. Some years, turn 3 ends up being a tough corner but I always focus on the tunnel turn. I always try to get through turn 2 as quickly as I can because, like I've said, it seems like the years I've won, that's where I've had the best car." - Kurt Busch

"After winning there last month, how can you not feel good and upbeat about returning to Pocono?  We're going to have a big target on our back but that's OK. We'll use everything we learned last time and more to hopefully achieve a Pocono sweep. Our Furniture Row guys have been working hard to find more speed for this weekend.  All the teams are also working harder as we get closer to the Chase. The toughest thing about Pocono is to find the right balance for all three corners. The three unique corners at Pocono are all different and the challenge is to figure out a way to make your car work in each of them. Conditions for this Pocono race will most likely be different -- especially with the weather being hotter than in early June." -  Martin Truex, Jr.

"Well, all three corners are very different from each other. You have turn 1 that has a lot of banking in it for a flat track. Turn 2 is a very short duration and flat corner and then turn 3 is a very, very, long sweeping flat corner. There's a lot going on, but every corner on the track is totally different from each other. It's a big challenge for the crew chiefs to not only try to find a balance but also figure out what to do when they're making changes.They have to figure out the corner they're trying to fix without messing up the other two corners." - Tony Stewart

Phil Allaway is the Newsletter Manager and a Senior Writer for Frontstretch.com.  He can be reached via e-mail at phil.allaway@frontstretch.com.
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IndyCar In Brief: Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio
by Matt Stallknecht

This Week's Race: Honda Indy 200

Track: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. It's a 2.258-mile natural terrain road course located in Troy Township, OH.

Last year's P1: Sebastien Bourdais

Last year's winner: Scott Dixon

Distance: 200 miles

Who Ya Got? Matt Stallknecht and Huston Ladner are each going with Will Power this week. Toni Montgomery is going with Scott Dixon.

Where To Watch: CNBC is carrying the race this week. Race coverage begins at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.

On Social Media: Follow along with @Mid_ohio@IndyCar,  and #IndyCar

Quotable: 

Scott Dixon (No. 9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet) "A lot of credit goes to the team…it's a track that is good for me. It's a long list that makes me do well at this track. It's an aggressive place." – On his success at Mid-Ohio

Graham Rahal (No. 15 Steak and Shake Honda): "I had this concept that, with Ohio State having won the national championship and us being in the championship battle here, it would be fun to come home and do something I haven't done before." – On his Ohio St. branded helmet being run this weekend

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TODAY ON FRONTSTRETCH:
by Matt Stallknecht

by the Frontstretch Staff

by Amy Henderson

as told to Mike Neff

by Kevin Rutherford

by Matt Weaver
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FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:

Q:
The 2002 Pep Boys Pennsylvania 400 is best known for the huge crash on the first lap involving Rusty Wallace, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Steve Park.  However, Jeremy Mayfield took a big hit during the race as well.  What happened?

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

Thursday's Answer:

Q:  Dave Marcis had some hard hits in his career at Pocono.  The 1999 crash is an all-timer in intensity.  Marcis' 1998 Pennsylvania 500 also ended against the wall, but in a different way.  What caused the crash?

A: Marcis was running in 37th when he suffered a left rear tire failure entering turn 1.  The casing of the tire removed itself from the car, causing Marcis to spin and hit the wall hard.  The crash can be seen here.  Marcis was OK, but done for the day.

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COMING MONDAY
In The Frontstretch Newsletter:
We'll have a recap of Sunday's Windows 10 400, plus an update on the points and any other news that breaks this weekend.

On Frontstretch.com:
We'll have a series of post-race commentaries breaking down the action from Pocono.
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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! 
©2015 Frontstretch.com

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