THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
Sept. 21, 2015
Volume IX, Edition CLXVII
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
Sept. 21, 2015
Volume IX, Edition CLXVII
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What to Watch: Monday- Today, the teams are returning to the shops to swap everything out for Loudon this weekend. There's some tempers still flaring from Chicagoland as well. Should anything of note break, we'll have it for you at Frontstretch.
Top News
by the Frontstretch Staff
Denny Hamlin Wins Chicagoland; Advances to Round 2 in Chase
Denny Hamlin Wins Chicagoland; Advances to Round 2 in Chase
Denny Hamlin stayed out when the final caution flew for a Matt DiBenedetto crash on lap 259. Restarting third, Hamlin went three-wide into turn 1 and took the lead. From there, he held off teammate Carl Edwards to take his second win of the year and a free ticket to Round No. 2 of the Chase. Kurt Busch was third, followed by Ryan Newman and Matt Kenseth. Read more
Kevin Harvick Suffers Championship Setback in Chase Opener
Kevin Harvick Suffers Championship Setback in Chase Opener
Kevin Harvick was one of the early contenders Sunday at Chicagoland Speedway. However, contact on a restart with Jimmie Johnson caused a tire rub that eventually cut his left rear. The resulting crash put Harvick in the garage for 57 laps and dropped him to a 42nd-place finish. Read more
Kevin Harvick Confronts Jimmie Johnson Following Mid-Race Collision
Kevin Harvick Confronts Jimmie Johnson Following Mid-Race Collision
Naturally, after being knocked out of contention due to contact, Kevin Harvick was not pleased with Jimmie Johnson. Upon returning to the track, he pointed angrily at Johnson's pit crew. After the race, Harvick and Johnson met in the motorcoach lot where the duo tried to talk out their differences. It didn't go well. Harvick shoved Johnson and had to be restrained from going after the six-time champion. Read more
Jeff Gordon Optimistic With Speed Despite Late-Race Drop
Jeff Gordon Optimistic With Speed Despite Late-Race Drop
For Jeff Gordon, Sunday was one of his best races of the season. Gordon led 41 laps and was in second when the final caution flew. The decision not to pit resulted in Gordon dropping like a stone to 14th at the finish. However, there were plenty of positives to take from Sunday's performance. Read more
Kurt Busch Disappointed, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Upset Following Late-Race Caution
Kurt Busch Disappointed, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Upset Following Late-Race Caution
Late-race cautions always tend to shake up races. Take Kurt Busch, who was leading when the yellow came out on lap 259. He was nothing more than a sitting duck when it came time to pit. Also, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. lost out on the restart and dropped outside of the top 10 at the finish. Neither driver was necessarily pleased with NASCAR's decision to throw the yellow after the race. Read more
Kyle Busch Wins the Furious 7 300
Kyle Busch Wins the Furious 7 300
Saturday's XFINITY Series race was dominated by Joe Gibbs Racing's Cup duo of Kyle Busch and Matt Kenseth. Busch led 102 laps by himself but had to hold off a slide job from Kenseth coming to the white flag to take his fourth win of the year. Darrell Wallace, Jr. was third followed by Paul Menard and Ty Dillon. Read more
John Hunter Nemechek Wins First Truck Race on Fuel Mileage
John Hunter Nemechek Wins First Truck Race on Fuel Mileage
Kyle Larson, Timothy Peters and Johnny Sauter dominated the rain-delayed American Ethanol E15 225 Saturday morning. However, when fuel mileage came into play, none of the three drivers could make it to the finish from the final caution without stopping. Further back in the field, John Hunter Nemechek was forced to pit to repair a Romeo window and took the opportunity to top off. That decision gave him just enough fuel to allow him to coast to his first career win. Tyler Reddick was second, followed by Timothy Peters, Daniel Suarez and Johnny Sauter. 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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Chasing the Chase: Kenseth Sneaks Into the Lead
by Phil Allaway
by Phil Allaway
Without a Chase, Joey Logano would have taken the points lead Sunday. Instead, he'll have to settle for a tie for fifth with Kurt Busch after a sixth-place finish. Jimmie Johnson finished 11th and exited Chicagoland with a shove to the sternum and seventh in points, while Ryan Newman had one of his best runs of the season (fourth) to place himself eighth. Brad Keselowski and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. round out the top 10 in points.
The only driver to really hurt themselves on Sunday was Kevin Harvick, who crashed after contact from Johnson on a restart. Despite returning to the race after repairs, the complete lack of attrition (all 43 cars finished the race) meant that he could do no better than 42nd. Harvick is now nearly half a race out of 15th in points and 43 out of the lead. He needs two good races just to make the top 12 after Dover.
Chase Point Standings: 1) Matt Kenseth 2052, 2) Denny Hamlin -2, t-3) Carl Edwards -3, t-3) Kyle Busch -3, t-5) Kurt Busch -4, t-5) Joey Logano -4, 7) Jimmie Johnson -7, 8) Ryan Newman -12, 9) Brad Keselowski -13, 10) Dale Earnhardt, Jr. -14, 11) Martin Truex, Jr. -17, 12) Jeff Gordon -21, 13) Jamie McMurray -24, 14) Paul Menard -25, 15) Clint Bowyer -27, 16) Kevin Harvick -43.
Best of the Rest: 17) Aric Almirola 727, 18) Kasey Kahne -30, 19) Kyle Larson -71, 20) Greg Biffle -93, 21) Austin Dillon -123, 22) Casey Mears -149.
Regular Point Standings (1-16): 1) Joey Logano 987, 2) Kevin Harvick -6, 3) Dale Earnhardt, Jr. -61, 4) Brad Keselowski -78, 5) Jimmie Johnson -102, 6) Matt Kenseth -123, 7) Martin Truex, Jr. -137, 8) Denny Hamlin -147, 9) Kurt Busch -164, 10) Carl Edwards -198, 11) Jamie McMurray -202, 12) Ryan Newman -209, 13) Jeff Gordon -219, 14) Clint Bowyer -246, 15) Paul Menard -250, 16) Aric Almirola -260.
Drivers Outside the top 16 in the Chase: t-24) Kyle Busch -436.
Race Winners: Joey Logano (Daytona-1, Watkins Glen, Bristol-2), Jimmie Johnson (Atlanta, Texas, Kansas, Dover), Kevin Harvick (Las Vegas, Phoenix), Brad Keselowski (Fontana), Denny Hamlin (Martinsville, Chicagoland), Matt Kenseth (Bristol-1, Pocono-2, Michigan-2. Richmond-2), Kurt Busch (Richmond-1, Michigan-1), Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (Talladega, Daytona-2), Carl Edwards (Charlotte, Darlington), Martin Truex, Jr. (Pocono-1), Kyle Busch (Sonoma, Kentucky, Loudon, Indianapolis)Letter of the Race: Sunday's myAFibRisk.com 400 was brought to you by the letter "S," for "Strategy." The caution on lap 259 determined the fates for a number of racers. A number of drivers stopped and took tires. Three others stayed out and ended up with different fates. While Denny Hamlin won and Kurt Busch finished third, Jeff Gordon fell like a rock and wound up 14th. - Phil Allaway
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Quotes to Remember: MyAFibRisk.com 400
compiled by Phil Allaway
"We were passing the eighth-place car and we started in the back on that first green-flag run, before I crashed so I knew there couldn't be a lot of cars on the lead lap. Luckily, that one caution came out that allowed us to get the wave around and get back on the lead lap. We had a fast car and that was the most important thing. We stretched out there at the end even with no tires... I'm proud of this effort. The pit crew did a phenomenal job again and now we're looking forward to the next round. [The restart move] was ballsy, but I'd been stuck so many times three-wide in the middle. The front cars almost have a disadvantage to the back cars the way it all plays out. We got a great restart and I just held it wide open through (turns) one and two and it stuck. We were able to get in that clean air and take off." - Denny Hamlin, race winner
"We fought back. We did a good job. Everybody at JGR (Joe Gibbs Racing) is working together. This is cool, an awesome day for everybody — just unbelievable. Denny (Hamlin) hung on tough at the end. I thought I had him. Great race with Kurt (Busch) — that was fun. I don't think we could be more aggressive there. I just couldn't clear him. I thought I was going to get him." - Carl Edwards, finished second
"We didn't run well today, really all weekend. We never were able to make it drive like we wanted it to and never found the speed that we wanted to. We were very, very fortunate to come home fifth. We had about a 15th-place car all day. The last restart, we were on the bottom and Jason (Ratcliff, crew chief) made some good adjustments. They got all bottled up in turn one and I think I passed about eight of them on the first corner. It turned pretty good on that restart and starting on the bottom was an advantage for us. I slipped up the hill trying to drive Brad (Keselowski) or maybe we could have got one or two more, but can't complain about that – [we got] way more than we should have." - Matt Kenseth, finished fifth
"I felt like we were in the cat-bird seat on that restart starting sixth with new tires. I had a good start and got three-wide. The 18 got tight and fenced us. We lost all the spots that we should have gained. I felt like we were in the position that we needed to be in to win this thing." - Joey Logano, finished sixth
"It looked like we were going to steal something that final restart. We gained quite a few spots and probably weren't quite a top-5 car but almost stole a top 5. We were racing real hard and just fell back. I just didn't have the turn to run up front. I was trying to make something happen but all in all I guess it was a decent day. Just couldn't get the front end to work. It is disappointing because I thought we were better than this in practice but it just didn't work out." - Brad Keselowski, finished eighth
"I got a fairly good restart, just had a little tire buzz at the end shifting into third gear. I saw those guys coming on the apron; they must have gotten together and had a good run up. I stood my ground and [Jimmie Johnson] just slammed into the side of the door like I wasn't even there. My spotter was telling me 'four-wide' and I guess he just figured that he'd come up the racetrack. But I'm just really proud of everybody on our Jimmy John's/Budweiser team for not giving up and doing all the things they had to do to get the car back on the track; we've just got to go win one of these races." - Kevin Harvick, finished 42nd
Phil Allaway is the Newsletter Manager for Frontstretch. He can be reached via e-mail at phil.allaway@frontstretch.com."We were passing the eighth-place car and we started in the back on that first green-flag run, before I crashed so I knew there couldn't be a lot of cars on the lead lap. Luckily, that one caution came out that allowed us to get the wave around and get back on the lead lap. We had a fast car and that was the most important thing. We stretched out there at the end even with no tires... I'm proud of this effort. The pit crew did a phenomenal job again and now we're looking forward to the next round. [The restart move] was ballsy, but I'd been stuck so many times three-wide in the middle. The front cars almost have a disadvantage to the back cars the way it all plays out. We got a great restart and I just held it wide open through (turns) one and two and it stuck. We were able to get in that clean air and take off." - Denny Hamlin, race winner
"We fought back. We did a good job. Everybody at JGR (Joe Gibbs Racing) is working together. This is cool, an awesome day for everybody — just unbelievable. Denny (Hamlin) hung on tough at the end. I thought I had him. Great race with Kurt (Busch) — that was fun. I don't think we could be more aggressive there. I just couldn't clear him. I thought I was going to get him." - Carl Edwards, finished second
"We didn't run well today, really all weekend. We never were able to make it drive like we wanted it to and never found the speed that we wanted to. We were very, very fortunate to come home fifth. We had about a 15th-place car all day. The last restart, we were on the bottom and Jason (Ratcliff, crew chief) made some good adjustments. They got all bottled up in turn one and I think I passed about eight of them on the first corner. It turned pretty good on that restart and starting on the bottom was an advantage for us. I slipped up the hill trying to drive Brad (Keselowski) or maybe we could have got one or two more, but can't complain about that – [we got] way more than we should have." - Matt Kenseth, finished fifth
"I felt like we were in the cat-bird seat on that restart starting sixth with new tires. I had a good start and got three-wide. The 18 got tight and fenced us. We lost all the spots that we should have gained. I felt like we were in the position that we needed to be in to win this thing." - Joey Logano, finished sixth
"It looked like we were going to steal something that final restart. We gained quite a few spots and probably weren't quite a top-5 car but almost stole a top 5. We were racing real hard and just fell back. I just didn't have the turn to run up front. I was trying to make something happen but all in all I guess it was a decent day. Just couldn't get the front end to work. It is disappointing because I thought we were better than this in practice but it just didn't work out." - Brad Keselowski, finished eighth
"I got a fairly good restart, just had a little tire buzz at the end shifting into third gear. I saw those guys coming on the apron; they must have gotten together and had a good run up. I stood my ground and [Jimmie Johnson] just slammed into the side of the door like I wasn't even there. My spotter was telling me 'four-wide' and I guess he just figured that he'd come up the racetrack. But I'm just really proud of everybody on our Jimmy John's/Budweiser team for not giving up and doing all the things they had to do to get the car back on the track; we've just got to go win one of these races." - Kevin Harvick, finished 42nd
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TODAY AT FRONTSTRETCH:
Thinkin' Out Loud – Denny Hamlin Takes Advantage of Late Race Caution to Steal Win at Chicago
by Mike Neff
What Did We Learn at Chicagoland Speedway?
by Jerry Jordan
The Big Six: Questions Answered After the 2015 myAFibRisk.com 400
by Amy Henderson
Up to Speed: Oh Look, Another Late-Race Debris Caution!
by Aaron Bearden
Pace Laps: XFINITY Frustration, Historic Finals, F1 Changeup & More
by the Frontstretch Staff
XFINITY Breakdown: Furious 7 300 at Chicagoland Speedway
by Joseph Wolkin
Tracking the Trucks: American Ethanol E15 225
by Beth Lunkenheimer
Thinkin' Out Loud – Denny Hamlin Takes Advantage of Late Race Caution to Steal Win at Chicago
by Mike Neff
What Did We Learn at Chicagoland Speedway?
by Jerry Jordan
The Big Six: Questions Answered After the 2015 myAFibRisk.com 400
by Amy Henderson
Up to Speed: Oh Look, Another Late-Race Debris Caution!
by Aaron Bearden
Pace Laps: XFINITY Frustration, Historic Finals, F1 Changeup & More
by the Frontstretch Staff
XFINITY Breakdown: Furious 7 300 at Chicagoland Speedway
by Joseph Wolkin
Tracking the Trucks: American Ethanol E15 225
by Beth Lunkenheimer
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FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:Q: Formula One makes their yearly visit to Suzuka Circuit this weekend. The 3.6-mile, figure-8 road course always puts on an interesting show but one of the most unusual races was the 1989 Grand Prix of Japan. Here, the stewards and wrecking came into play. What happened?
Check back Tuesday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
Friday's Answer:
Friday's Answer:
Q: In 2004, Tony Stewart claimed the first of his three wins at Chicagoland Speedway. However, it didn't come without controversy. What happened in the middle of the race to cause a shoving match to break out?
A: An ill-timed yellow led to a setup with multiple drivers on the tail end of the lead lap and drivers on different pit strategies. Kasey Kahne was leading while Stewart was third on the restart. Stewart got a great jump, passed Sterling Marlin on the outside, then got into the back of Kasey Kahne exiting the tri-oval, turning Kahne head-on into the wall. Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Scott Riggs, Jeff Burton, Dave Blaney and others were also involved. The crash can be seen here. Naturally, Kahne's crew was not pleased and they went down to confront Stewart's team. It was on.~~~~~~~~~~
COMING TOMORROW
-----------------------------COMING TOMORROW
In The Frontstretch Newsletter:
We'll have breaking news from Monday and S.D. Grady returns with Sitting In The Stands: A Fan's View.
On Frontstretch.com:
Danny Peters returns with Five Points to Ponder after Saturday night's race in Joliet.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
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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