THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Jul. 16, 2015
Volume IX, Edition CXX
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What to Watch: Thursday
- Today, the race weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway begins with two practices for the K&N Pro Series East starting at 3 p.m. For Cup teams, there is a hauler parade at 6 p.m. tonight.
Top News
by the Frontstretch Staff
New Rules Package, New Qualifying Format at Indy and Michigan
by the Frontstretch Staff
New Rules Package, New Qualifying Format at Indy and Michigan
Wednesday, NASCAR announced a new qualifying format for races at Indianapolis and Michigan. Instead of group qualifying, the restrictor plate system will now apply (single-car laps for everyone, then the top 12 go again in a fight for the pole). The move is in response to new rules at those races in Sprint Cup with a nine-inch rear spoiler, a change that would likely make drafting too important to allow groups. 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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Today's Featured Commentary
Potts' Shots for July 16
Potts' Shots
by John Potts
To start out this week, I will admit to not having been a real fan of Kyle Busch. As a matter of fact, I'll also admit that I didn't like him very much.
However, over the past few months I've had to adjust my opinion quite a bit. First, his recuperative period and the almost humble way he conducted himself impressed me. Maybe it was because he had, to my knowledge anyway, never been really hurt bad before. I don't know. Whatever, I had to give him some credit.
Last Saturday night at Kentucky Speedway. he impressed me a bunch. If it was because NASCAR's track-specific aero package put more control in the hands of the driver, it's even more impressive.
I've admitted all along that the boy could really handle a race car, and he proved it in spades that night. Was it because he was the first one to figure out the package or did he just have the talent to make it work? I don't know, but again, it was impressive.
Now, on to the subject of the aero package…
The people who keep messing with the rules may finally be onto something. At least one driver expressed the opinion that once everybody figures the package out, things will be back to the way they were.
I don't think so. If it's actually successful in putting the driver back in charge, the driver's ability is probably going to be the determining factor. Seeing Tony Stewart up toward the front last Saturday more than he's been most of the season also made me think of this difference.
And, if they continue to tweak the package to fit specific tracks, it's going to be at least once or twice around the schedule before even the bigger teams begin to get a handle on it. Maybe this transition would be a drain on the finances of some of the smaller teams, particularly if the big ones start building a car for each track. They already have speedway cars, intermediate cars, short track cars, and road course cars.
However, if they keep the tweaks small, so there's not much expense to making the changes, so this idea could work out OK.
I understand from the NASCAR press releases that they've got another package ready for the Brickyard, with the aim of putting the draft and use of the slingshot going into the corner back into racing.
There's some criticism around that idea but let's face it; something needs to be done. The best example of real racing I've seen lately in that race was Jeff Gordon's performance on the final restart last year. First off, that track is not really conducive to stock car racing, and the new spoiler and pan adjustments might help the competition. Second, we all know real NASCAR fans aren't happy not being able to see the whole track. I believe they tolerate the road course races because of the variety and the action involved.
Maybe that driver was right, and things will eventually go back to the way they were before. I hope not. I've felt for some time that NASCAR was messing things up when they went to the common template. Without the logos and grill decals, you can't tell the brands apart.
It's the old story of not letting one brand get too far out in front of the other. Remember 1969 and 1970? The winged Mopars and long-nosed FoMoCo cars? They were made specifically for stock car racing.
Let's hope this new deal works, and for the good of the sport, let's hope the entire program works when they start tailoring it to each of the tracks.
Now, while we're talking about track-specific rules, how about some discussion on tires? Would we be better off, and see better racing, not to mention lower tire prices if Goodyear stopped making a track-specific tire?
Every now and then, we hear the commentators on TV say, "Well, this is the same tire we used at (insert track name here). Goodyear tested and felt it would work well here, too."
All too often we hear, "They've brought a new tire here, and nobody's sure how it's going to work."
Now, I don't want to see a replay of the Brickyard 400 that had to be run in 15 or 20-lap segments because the tires were coming apart -- far from it. If Indianapolis Motor Speedway is such a hard nut to crack, fine, let them build a tire just for that one.
Otherwise, how about a short track tire, an intermediate track tire, a speedway tire, and a road course tire? And set the parameters at the beginning of the season.
Sure, the teams are going to have to figure out just how those tires are going to work when they arrive at each track. But that isn't why guys like Chad Knaus are getting the big bucks? Maybe it would play right into the hands of somebody as smart as Chad. But isn't it worth a try?
Just tossing an idea out there…
To start out this week, I will admit to not having been a real fan of Kyle Busch. As a matter of fact, I'll also admit that I didn't like him very much.
However, over the past few months I've had to adjust my opinion quite a bit. First, his recuperative period and the almost humble way he conducted himself impressed me. Maybe it was because he had, to my knowledge anyway, never been really hurt bad before. I don't know. Whatever, I had to give him some credit.
Last Saturday night at Kentucky Speedway. he impressed me a bunch. If it was because NASCAR's track-specific aero package put more control in the hands of the driver, it's even more impressive.
I've admitted all along that the boy could really handle a race car, and he proved it in spades that night. Was it because he was the first one to figure out the package or did he just have the talent to make it work? I don't know, but again, it was impressive.
Now, on to the subject of the aero package…
The people who keep messing with the rules may finally be onto something. At least one driver expressed the opinion that once everybody figures the package out, things will be back to the way they were.
I don't think so. If it's actually successful in putting the driver back in charge, the driver's ability is probably going to be the determining factor. Seeing Tony Stewart up toward the front last Saturday more than he's been most of the season also made me think of this difference.
And, if they continue to tweak the package to fit specific tracks, it's going to be at least once or twice around the schedule before even the bigger teams begin to get a handle on it. Maybe this transition would be a drain on the finances of some of the smaller teams, particularly if the big ones start building a car for each track. They already have speedway cars, intermediate cars, short track cars, and road course cars.
However, if they keep the tweaks small, so there's not much expense to making the changes, so this idea could work out OK.
I understand from the NASCAR press releases that they've got another package ready for the Brickyard, with the aim of putting the draft and use of the slingshot going into the corner back into racing.
There's some criticism around that idea but let's face it; something needs to be done. The best example of real racing I've seen lately in that race was Jeff Gordon's performance on the final restart last year. First off, that track is not really conducive to stock car racing, and the new spoiler and pan adjustments might help the competition. Second, we all know real NASCAR fans aren't happy not being able to see the whole track. I believe they tolerate the road course races because of the variety and the action involved.
Maybe that driver was right, and things will eventually go back to the way they were before. I hope not. I've felt for some time that NASCAR was messing things up when they went to the common template. Without the logos and grill decals, you can't tell the brands apart.
It's the old story of not letting one brand get too far out in front of the other. Remember 1969 and 1970? The winged Mopars and long-nosed FoMoCo cars? They were made specifically for stock car racing.
Let's hope this new deal works, and for the good of the sport, let's hope the entire program works when they start tailoring it to each of the tracks.
Now, while we're talking about track-specific rules, how about some discussion on tires? Would we be better off, and see better racing, not to mention lower tire prices if Goodyear stopped making a track-specific tire?
Every now and then, we hear the commentators on TV say, "Well, this is the same tire we used at (insert track name here). Goodyear tested and felt it would work well here, too."
All too often we hear, "They've brought a new tire here, and nobody's sure how it's going to work."
Now, I don't want to see a replay of the Brickyard 400 that had to be run in 15 or 20-lap segments because the tires were coming apart -- far from it. If Indianapolis Motor Speedway is such a hard nut to crack, fine, let them build a tire just for that one.
Otherwise, how about a short track tire, an intermediate track tire, a speedway tire, and a road course tire? And set the parameters at the beginning of the season.
Sure, the teams are going to have to figure out just how those tires are going to work when they arrive at each track. But that isn't why guys like Chad Knaus are getting the big bucks? Maybe it would play right into the hands of somebody as smart as Chad. But isn't it worth a try?
Just tossing an idea out there…
John Potts is a Senior Writer for Frontstretch. He can be reached via e-mail at john.potts@frontstretch.com.
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The Critic's Annex: UNOH 225
by Phil Allaway
I hope you enjoyed this look at the UNOH 225. Next week, we'll be back with more motorsports TV coverage. Until then, enjoy this weekend's action in Loudon and Iowa.
Welcome back to another edition of The Critic's Annex. Earlier this week, I stated that I would cover the Camping World Truck Series' UNOH 225 here in the Newsletter due to time constraints. That will remain true. The look at Chasing 43 will have to be pushed to next week.
FOX Sports 1's Camping World Truck Series broadcasts in 2015 have featured constant change in the broadcast booth and pit road. Thursday night was no different. Ralph Sheheen returned to the play-by-play seat in place of Brian Till and Michael Waltrip returned as an analyst in place of Todd Bodine. At this point, FOX Sports would be better off having a permanent booth in place for Camping World Truck Series broadcasts. Ever since Rick Allen officially left the network last year, they've had five different play-by-play commentators.
Steve Byrnes' cancer recurrence and eventual death because of it definitely threw a wrench into FOX Sports' plans for the series. Had Byrnes' cancer not returned, we probably wouldn't be having this conversation. He'd have the play-by-play gig full-time and would have settled into the role by now. As much as it probably pains FOX Sports (see the decision not to replace Dick Berggren on pit road after he retired) they need to get someone in the play-by-play chair on a regular basis. Is that person Adam Alexander? I don't know. Is it Ralph Sheheen? Quite possibly, although he's also the play-by-play voice of AMA Monster Energy Supercross, causing a conflict once or twice early in the season. Brian Till? No, because he's got two other gigs (his work with FOX Sports' sports car racing coverage and his non-TV work with Pirelli World Challenge). Is it someone who isn't with the network right now? I don't know. That's something that FOX Sports will need to flesh out in the near future because constant change in the booth can hurt ratings.
Also, having Michael Waltrip on the coverage for all three National Series wasn't going to work. If our readership is any indication, people are pretty sick of Michael Waltrip on TV at this point. Todd Bodine has done well as a booth analyst and I would not be opposed to giving him the second analyst slot full-time alongside Phil Parsons.
Also, having Michael Waltrip on the coverage for all three National Series wasn't going to work. If our readership is any indication, people are pretty sick of Michael Waltrip on TV at this point. Todd Bodine has done well as a booth analyst and I would not be opposed to giving him the second analyst slot full-time alongside Phil Parsons.
As for Thursday night's race, the studio-based NCWTS Setup started out with a recap of Iowa before running a couple of interviews from the track. While we do still have the pit reporters on-site, the show has lost quite a bit not being completely based at the track. Nowadays, the show is really only watchable for Ray Dunlap's features, which are always excellent, but don't run every week. Kentucky was one of those weeks without one.
The race itself was pretty decent. There was a good amount of action for position and FOX Sports 1 took it upon themselves to show that on-track action profusely. I liked the use of side-by-side to show replays early on in the race.
I do have a couple of gripes, though. An aspect of coverage that I always note is when NASCAR decrees a Competition Caution. It should be a rule of thumb that it be noted during pre-race coverage and again during the pace laps. The first mention of it should not be on lap 7 of the race. That's inappropriate.
Later on, Daniel Hemric slowed on track and came to pits to solve some mechanical issues. Apparently, under the previous yellow Hemric made a number of stops to try to solve those problems. That was never mentioned until his truck turned traitor under green. Those issues should have been mentioned during the caution.
As you're aware of, Thursday night's race ended in an unusual fashion due to Ben Kennedy's crash that damaged the catchfence. I have no idea who thought it was "just a restrictor plate problem." I guess whoever said that has never seen a sprint car race. The fence can come into play at any track at any time.
Regardless, post-race coverage once the race was called was actually quite short. We got an interview with Kennedy and the race winner. There was also a check of the points before FOX Sports 1 left the air to get to FOX Sports Live.
Overall, the race was about average. There was some good racing out there and viewers got to see a decent amount of it. The chemistry in the booth is OK, but the constant shifting doesn't help. Actually having the same group together for more than two races at a time would help immensely. A little on-track action for position would be nice as well.
I hope you enjoyed this look at the UNOH 225. Next week, we'll be back with more motorsports TV coverage. Until then, enjoy this weekend's action in Loudon and Iowa.
Phil Allaway is the Newsletter Manager and a Senior Writer for Frontstretch. He can be reached via e-mail at phil.allaway@frontstretch.com.
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Line of the Week
"Great performance, happy to be 1‑2, but clearly thinking about the accident that happened and the people in the stands. It sounds like things are well out there, which is shocking. I'm shocked that Austin Dillon is even alive, what he went through. Just a frightening moment. I saw it in the mirror, and man, I expected the worst when I came back around." - This isn't from from one of our columns this week. This quote is direct from Jimmie Johnson during his post-race press conference in Daytona Monday morning. It just shows the genuine concern and fear that Johnson had in that situation.
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TODAY AT FRONTSTRETCH:
by Becca Gladden
by P. Huston Ladner
by Toni Montgomery
by Brett Winningham
FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Q: Rodney Combs was having a great day at New Hampshire International Speedway in the 1994 New England Chevy Dealers 250. With a little more than 100 laps to go, Combs was second behind Randy LaJoie. Then, it all ended just that quick. What happened?
Check back Friday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
Wednesday's Answer:
Wednesday's Answer:
Q: The inaugural Slick 50 300 for the Winston Cup Series at then-New Hampshire International Speedway in 1993 also marked the Cup debut for Jeff Burton. Burton qualified sixth, then spun out on the first lap. Later on, his race ended in a more costly way. What happened?
A: On lap 87, Burton slid up and into the wall in turn 3. The car, which was already hurt from the first crash, was badly damaged here to the point where the right front tire was not turning. Burton more or less hung on the outside of turn 4 for a lap to wait for a hole to get to pit road, drawing a caution in the process. Once there, he immediately went to the garage and out of the race.
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COMING TOMORROW
In The Frontstretch Newsletter:
We'll preview this weekend's racing at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, in addition to bringing you Thursday's news.
On Frontstretch.com:
Amy will be back with another edition of Holding a Pretty Wheel. Plus, Friday Faceoff takes a look at the impact of NASCAR's new rule changes.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Talk back to the Frontstretch Newsletter!
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