Friday, November 20, 2015

The Frontstretch Newsletter: Carl Edwards Fastest in Cup Practice; Wood Brothers Full-Time in 2016

THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
Nov. 20, 2015
Volume IX, Edition CCXI

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What to Watch: Friday


- Today, the Camping World Truck Series will crown their champion after 200 miles of racing at Homestead-Miami Speedway.  But, before that happens, they must qualify.  Qualifying for both the Sprint Cup and Camping World Truck Series is later this afternoon.

- Richard Petty Motorsports has scheduled a press conference for 3 p.m. in the Media Center at Homestead-Miami Speedway.  It is unclear what will be announced, but we will have a full write-up afterwards.

FOLLOW THE FRONTSTRETCH THIS WEEKEND IN HOMESTEAD FROM OUR COLLEAGUES:

Phil Allaway (@Critic84)
Zach Catanzareti (@ZachRacing)

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

Carl Edwards Leads Opening Homestead Practice

The Sprint Cup Series took to Homestead-Miami Speedway for what was supposed to be 85 minutes of practice.  However, that practice was shortened to 55 minutes due to light rain.  Carl Edwards was fastest, followed by Brad Keselowski, Chaser Martin Truex, Jr., Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Jimmie Johnson.  Read more

Wood Brothers, Ryan Blaney Plan Full-Time Cup Schedule in 2016

Wood Brothers Racing announced during a press conference this afternoon at Homestead-Miami Speedway that they will return to full-time racing in Sprint Cup in 2016.  Ryan Blaney will drive the No. 21 Ford, while Motorcraft/Quick Lane and Ford Performance will sponsor.  Read more

Daniel Hemric Tops Homestead Truck Practice

On Friday morning, the Camping World Truck Series took to the 1.5 mile Homestead-Miami Speedway for 145 minutes of practice.  It took about three minutes for the fastest lap of the session to be set.  Daniel Hemric was fastest, followed by Tyler Reddick, Spencer Gallagher, Matt Crafton and Erik Jones.  Read more

Marcus Richmond, Red Horse Racing Part Ways

Last Friday, Marcus Richmond was the winning crew chief in the Lucas Oil 150 at Phoenix International Raceway.  Today, he's out of a job.  Richmond announced on his Twitter page that he is no longer Timothy Peters' crew chief.  Butch Hylton is filling in.  Read more

Jeff Gordon Talks Championships Past & Future(?) in Homestead

At Championship 4 Media Day on Thursday, Jeff Gordon was reflexive and bullish while talking with the media, recalling memories of past championship challenges.  However, he appears confident that he could claim No. 5 on Sunday.  Read more

Changes Afoot at Stewart-Haas Racing?

At Championship 4 Media Day, Tony Stewart was present in the capacity of team owner.  However, questioning turned to his own performance.  Stewart hinted that changes will likely made on his race team after the season concludes.  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: Ford EcoBoost 400
by Phil Allaway

The 2015 Sprint Cup Series season wraps up Sunday afternoon at Homestead-Miami Speedway with the 17th running of the Ford EcoBoost 400.  The race can be starting at 3 p.m. Sunday on NBC; the event can also be heard on your local MRN affiliate or SiriusXM Channel 90. Drivers will compete for 267 laps (400.5 miles) en route to the checkered flag.

Records and facts

Last year, the first one-race championship playoff played out exactly how the powers that be thought that it would.  The Chasers fought to the very end.  Kevin Harvick passed Denny Hamlin for the lead on lap 260, then held off a winless Ryan Newman on a late restart to claim the win and the championship.  Brad Keselowski was third, followed by Paul Menard and Jamie McMurray.

Tony Stewart and Greg Biffle each have three victories at Homestead-Miami Speedway, tops among all drivers.  Denny Hamlin and Carl Edwards each have two wins, while six others have one victory.

Track Facts
Track / Race Length: 1.5 mile oval, 267 laps (400.5 miles)
Banking: 18-20 degrees

Straightaways: 1,760 ft, banked 4 degrees

Grandstand Seating: 46,000
Pit Road Speed: 45 mph
Pace Car Speed: 55 mph
Opened: 1995, first Cup race in 1999

Website: http://www.homesteadmiamispeedway.com

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

Twitter: http://twitter.com/HomesteadMiami

Pre-Race Schedule:

Practice No 1: Friday, November 20, 12 - 1:25 p.m. on NBCSN

Practice No. 2: Saturday, November 21, 10 - 10:55 a.m. on CNBC

Happy Hour: Saturday, November 14, 1 - 1:50 p.m. on NBCSN

Qualifying: Friday, November 20, 6:15 p.m. on NBCSN

Say What?!

"Homestead is for all the marbles and I can't think of a better place I would want to compete at for the overall title. Not only has Homestead-Miami Speedway been my best track over the past 10 years, but the 1.5-mile tracks have also been strong for our team.

"This is what you dream about as a kid -- the opportunity to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup championship. It's been an incredible year and I am so proud of all of our guys back at the shop in Denver and to our road crew for giving me fast cars week in and week out." - Martin Truex, Jr.

"It feels awesome. This is what the format is and you have to go race against three other guys. The three guys I'm racing with, it's so cool the storylines that you're going with there. You've got the past champion from last year racing against Kevin Harvick and probably the most dominant car each and every week, the most consistent car. You have Jeff Gordon who has his own stor that he wants to put a chapter to end with for his fifth championship. And, of course, the dark horse, Martin Truex, Jr. being a single-car team and being as stout as they are with Furniture Row, it's pretty cool to see. I'm looking forward to it. I'm looking forward to going out there and performing with those guys and racing them and being the lone Toyota. It's going to be cool to see that Toyota bug whip the other guys and take home this championship for Toyota and everyone at M&M'S." - Kyle Busch

"I enjoy heading to Homestead and I've had some success there in the past.  You've got to have a good car so you can run the middle, top and bottom of the flat slick race track.  We've won three times there, so hopefully we can add to that and finish off the season with a solid run." - Greg Biffle

"I can't believe we're at Homestead [Miami Speedway] already. It seems like yesterday we were getting ready for the Daytona 500. There's a lot on the line this weekend with the four guys going for the Championship. Everyone wants to go into the offseason with a win, so there will definitely be a lot of action on the track. We had a solid finish at Homestead last year, and I want to repeat that again for everybody at HScott Motorsports and at BRANDT. This weekend is bittersweet with it being my last Sprint Cup race with HScott Motorsports. Everyone has worked so hard at the team over the years to build it into what it is today, and I'm thankful for the opportunity I've had. I really want to get BRANDT a top 10 this weekend. They've been so supportive of my career, and will continue to be." - Justin Allgaier

 
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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TODAY ON FRONTSTRETCH:
by Sean Fesko

by the Frontstretch Staff

as told to Mike Neff

by Amy Henderson
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FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:

Q:
In 1996, Homestead-Miami Speedway (then known as the Miami-Dade Homestead Motorsports Complex) hosted the season opener for the Craftsman Truck Series.  As the series didn't race on any ovals longer than a mile in its inaugural season (or race an event anywhere near the advertised 400 kilometer distance, for that matter), how did NASCAR officiate pit stops so as to keep the playing field as level as possible?

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

Thursday's Answer:

Q:  The early years of the Daytona Prototype formula saw underpowered prototypes and relatively low car counts.  Despite that, hard racing was common.  Homestead played host to one of the most spectacular races for the lead in recent memory back in 2004.  What happened?

A: Late in the race, Max Papis held the lead with Chip Ganassi's No. 01 CompUSA-sponsored Lexus Riley.  However, Jan Magnussen in the Doran Racing Lexus Doran, got to the inside of Papis exiting the infield.  Papis wasn't having it and a bumping match ensued.  The two bashed each other down the backstretch, then hit again on the frontstretch, likely breaking a part on Magnussen's car.  A final bit of contact spun Magnussen out and put Papis in the sand trap, allowing the duo of Andy Wallace and Milka Duno to take the lead and win.  The racing can be seen here.

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COMING MONDAY
In The Frontstretch Newsletter:
We'll have recaps of the Sprint Cup, XFINITY and Camping World Truck Series season finales from Homestead.  There will also be 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 this weekend's action in Homestead and looking forward to the offseason as preparations for 2016 are already underway.
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©2015 Frontstretch.com

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