Friday, February 19, 2016

The Frontstretch Newsletter: Johnson Leads First Friday Cup Practice

THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
Feb. 19, 2016
Volume X, Edition IX

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NEW POSTING: SALES & BRANDING MANAGER

Frontstretch is seeking a dynamic, creative individual to head our sales team. The individual would be responsible for the following:
- Engaging new partners and taking the lead in brokering agreements for sales & advertising across all Frontstretch outlets: Website, Newsletter, Podcast, and video content
- Responding to exposure inquiries from potential advertisers
- Working with our social media team to enhance the marketing and branding experience for our advertising clients

The position will be a direct report to our Business and Financial Manager, a position that also will work closely with the Majority Owner and Social Media team. A fast-growing website whose writers have won multiple NMPA Awards, the Frontstretch is well-positioned for success in 2016 and has a healthy audience of over seven figures per year. The role, while initially commission-based offers a generous percentage and perks down the road for this startup company. Frontstretch management has, in many cases been in place for nearly a decade before becoming a for-profit website and we're excited to welcome the right person into this family atmosphere.

Interested parties should email tbowles81@yahoo.com with a short note on why they're interested and their current resume. Serious inquiries only. 

What to Watch: Friday


- Tonight, the Camping World Truck Series has their season opener, the NextEra Energy Resources 250.  Once the 43-truck entry list is whittled down to 32, those teams will have at it for all the marbles.  Coverage starts at 7 p.m. on FOX Sports 1.

- Meanwhile, the Sprint Cup and XFINITY Series teams will take to the 2.5 mile tri-oval for a combined five practice sessions this morning and afternoon.

FOLLOW THE FRONTSTRETCH THIS WEEKEND IN DAYTONA FROM OUR COLLEAGUES:

Tom Bowles (@NASCARBowles)
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
here.

Top News
by The Frontstretch Staff

Johnson Leading Pack In Friday Practice

Jimmie Johnson's backup car is quickly backing up the speed we've seen from the No. 48 team earlier in Speedweeks. Johnson is leading the closing moments of Friday practice at Daytona with Denny Hamlin, Chase Elliott, Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. and Kasey Kahne rounding out the top 5 speeds. Johnson is going to a backup after a wreck in the final lap of Duel #2 ruined his primary car; it's the second one destroyed for this Hendrick Motorsports team this week after a wreck in Saturday night's Sprint Unlimited.

Only 13 cars went out for this practice. Missing from the rolls were the No. 20 of Matt Kenseth and the No. 78 of Martin Truex, Jr., both of whom are onto backup cars after losing their primary equipment in Thursday night's Duels.

Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Wins Can-Am Duel No. 1 in Daytona

Early on Thursday night, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. set the tone by snatching the lead away from Chase Elliott and holding everyone at bay.  However, thanks to pit strategy, he had to work his way back to the front, passing Denny Hamlin with five laps to go to take the win.  Joey Logano was second, followed by Ryan Blaney, Kevin Harvick and Hamlin.  By virtue of Blaney racing into the 500, Michael McDowell also made Sunday's race based on his qualifying speed.  Read more

Kyle Busch Wins Can-Am Duel No. 2, Multiple Cars Crash on Last Lap

In the second Can-Am Duel, Kyle Busch was able to hold off the pack to take the win from the outside pole, tops in a 60-lap parade dominated by Joe Gibbs Racing.  Jamie McMurray was second followed by Kurt Busch, Carl Edwards and Ty Dillon.  The race was cut short by a half-lap due to a crash involving Jimmie Johnson, Matt Kenseth and Martin Truex, Jr. on the final lap in turn 1.  All three drivers were OK.  Matt DiBenedetto raced into the 500, giving the final spot on speed to BK Racing teammate Robert Richardson, Jr.  Read more

Peters, Gallagher Pace NASCAR Truck Practices

Prior to the Can-Am Duels, the Camping World Truck Series teams took to the 2.5 mile tri-oval for two practice sessions.  Much of the time was spent working on race runs.  The first session saw Timothy Peters top the speed charts, followed by rookie Ben Rhodes and Ben Kennedy.  The second had GMS Racing's Spencer Gallagher atop the timing sheet.  Gallagher was followed by Peters, Tyler Reddick, rookie Rico Abreu and Matt Crafton.  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: Daytona 500
by Phil Allaway

The 2016 Sprint Cup Series well and truly gets underway on Sunday afternoon with the 58th running of the Daytona 500.  Coverage of the race will start at Noon Sunday on FOX; the event can also be heard on your local MRN affiliate or SiriusXM Channel 90. Drivers will compete for 200 laps (500 miles) en route to the checkered flag.

Records and facts

Last year, Joey Logano was able to draft past Denny Hamlin on lap 191 and held off the pack on a green-white-checkered finish to claim his first Daytona 500 victory.  Kevin Harvick was second followed by Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Hamlin and Jimmie Johnson with Casey Mears in sixth.

Among active drivers, Tony Stewart is tied with Dale Earnhardt, Jr. for the most points victories at Daytona with four each.  All of Stewart's wins came in the July race, while Earnhardt Jr. has two Daytona 500 wins.  Jimmie Johnson and Michael Waltrip both have three Daytona victories, including two Daytona 500 trophies apiece.

All-time, Richard Petty has seven Daytona 500 wins (the most recent of which occurred in 1981) and ten overall wins in point races, most of all drivers.

Track Facts
Track / Race Length: 2.5-mile oval, 200 laps (500 miles)
Banking: 31 degrees

Frontstretch: 3,800 ft, banked 18 degrees in tri-oval, 6 degrees in chutes

Backstretch: 3,400 ft., banked 3 degrees

Grandstand Seating: 101,000
Pit Road Speed: 55 mph
Pace Car Speed: 70 mph
Opened: 1959

Website: http://www.daytonaintlspeedway.com

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

Twitter: http://twitter.com/DISUpdates

Remaining Pre-Race Schedule:

Practice No. 7: Friday, February 19, 2 - 2:55 p.m. on FOX Sports 1

Happy Hour: Saturday, February 20, 12:15 - 1:55 p.m. on FOX Sports 1

Say What?!

"I want to finish the race with all four wheels on the ground. The last time I was there, it was a little bit of a wicked ride. I saw a lot of effort coming from our guys and that's the biggest thing heading into this year's Daytona 500. We want our cars to be faster so that we're not in that mess. We want to be in front of that. I've seen a lot of push at the shop from the guys making our speedway cars faster and I don't really think we've put that effort in the last couple of years because the speedway races are a wreck fest sometimes, so it's hard to put a lot of effort into something sometimes when you don't know what the outcome is going to be. Our opinion now is to put more effort in and be in front of it. I think we've put a lot of effort in this year to go fast at Daytona, so we have an expectation to be fast." - Austin Dillon

"Daytona will forever be a special place for me. Winning here in 2011 is something that I will cherish for the rest of my life. It means the world to me knowing that my name is a part of this track's history. I love racing here. Restrictor plate racing is a type that definitely keeps you on your toes the whole day and on edge. Hopefully (crew chief) Matt (Puccia) and I can get this AdvoCare Ford handling great and get that second Daytona 500 victory on Sunday." - Trevor Bayne

"I'm pretty excited about the 500, but we still haven't really seen what the cars are capable of because we haven't drafted in them yet. We feel like we've made some good progress, comparing cars with my teammates, as far as speed differences. But, as far as how the car drives in traffic, we haven't established that yet. And we're looking forward to working on the balance and how it drafts in traffic because that's what's going to make the difference on Sunday with our Florida Lottery Ford. It's great knowing that we are locked in, although there is no feeling like racing your way into the Daytona 500. And this week there will be four drivers who have that fantastic feeling of knowing they raced their way in. But on a grander scale, Front Row Motorsports has earned their way into the field by having two charters, so I'm just proud to be a part of that." - Landon Cassill

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 Tom Bowles

by the Frontstretch Staff

by Mike Neff

by Amy Henderson
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FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:

Q:
The 2000 Daytona 250, the very first Truck race at Daytona International Speedway, had a number of things in its favor, including a snowstorm socking in part of the Northeast, freeing those viewers up to watch the Friday afternoon race on ESPN.  The rule package was a lot different back then compared to today.  What did NASCAR do to control speeds?

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

Thursday's Answer:

Q: The races now known as the Can-Am Duels have had more than their share of incidents. Phil Barkdoll had a very spectacular wreck back in 1987.  What happened?

A: CBS actually missed the beginning of the wreck, but according to Barkdoll himself, he blew an engine entering the tri-oval and put fluid down.  He then spun in his own oil and got airborne.  The car did one roll before backing hard into the wall and catching fire.  The crash, plus Barkdoll's rather fast-paced interview with Dave DeSpain 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 openers from Daytona.  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 Daytona and look forward to Atlanta.
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©2016 Frontstretch.com

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