Tuesday, June 14, 2011

The Frontstretch Newsletter: June 14th, 2011

THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
June 14th, 2011
Volume V, Edition CXIII
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What To Watch: Tuesday
by Tom Bowles
 
After months of waiting, the 25 finalists for NASCAR's 2012 Hall of Fame class have their day of reckoning.  A 55-member committee will determine which five will make the final cut, convening at the Charlotte Convention Center for the Third annual Hall of Fame Voting Day Tuesday afternoon.  After a group discussion, each panel member will select five nominees, with each vote being given equal weight on their ballot.  Once those ballots are counted, the five finalists with the most votes from the panel will win induction regardless of the overall percentage of support they collected.
 
As a reminder, here's a breakdown on the panel of inductees:
 
NASCAR Hall of Fame: Buz McKim (Historian), Winston Kelley (Executive Director)

NASCAR officials: Brian France (Chairman), Jim France (Senior Vice Chairman), Mike Helton (President), Paul Brooks (Senior Vice President), Steve O'Donnell (Senior Vice President), Robin Pemberton (Vice President), Jerry Cook (Competition Administrator) and Ken Clapp (former Vice President)
 
Track owners/operators: Lesa France Kennedy (International Speedway Corporation), Clay Campbell (Martinsville), Ed Clark (Atlanta), Jim/Barbara Cromarty (Riverhead), Jody Deery (Rockford), Tony George (formerly of Indianapolis), Eddie Gossage (Texas), Dr. Joe Mattioli (Pocono), Denis McGlynn (Dover), Dale Pinilis (Bowman-Gray), Humpy Wheeler (formerly of Charlotte), and Jim Williams (Irwindale).
 
Media: Rick Allen (SPEED), Kenny Bruce (SceneDaily.com), Dusty Brandel (Racing Information Systems/American Auto Racing Writers & Broadcasters Association president), Jenna Fryer (Associated Press), Barney Hall (MRN), Mike Harris (formerly of the Associated Press), Tom Higgins (formerly of the Charlotte Observer), Mike Joy (FOX), Dustin Long (Landmark Newspapers), Dave Moody (SIRIUS), Jim Pedley (RacinToday.com), Kyle Petty (TNT), Jerry Punch (ESPN), Doug Rice (PRN), Dave Rodman (NASCAR.com), Nate Ryan (USA Today), Ernie Saxton (freelance writer and publicist / Eastern Motorsports Press Association president), Ken Squier (broadcaster), Rea White (Fox Sports/National Motorsports Press Association president)
 
Manufacturers: Jim Campbell (Chevrolet), Edsel B. Ford II (Ford), Lee White (Toyota)

Retired drivers: Harry Gant, Ned Jarrett, Richard Petty, Ricky Rudd

Retired car owners: Junior Johnson, Bud Moore, Cotton Owens

Retired crew chiefs: Barry Dodson, Buddy Parrott, Waddell Wilson

Fan Vote (from online / NASCAR.com): Counts as one vote apiece for their five selections
 
25 Hall of Fame Finalists:
- Buck Baker, first driver to win consecutive NASCAR Cup championships
- Red Byron, first NASCAR Cup champion, in 1949
- Richard Childress, 11-time car owner champion in NASCAR's three national series
- Jerry Cook, six-time NASCAR Modified champion
- H. Clay Earles, founder of Martinsville Speedway
- Richie Evans, nine-time NASCAR Modified champion
- Tim Flock, two-time NASCAR Cup champion
- Rick Hendrick, 12-time car owner champion in NASCAR's three national series
- Jack Ingram, two-time NASCAR Busch champion
- Dale Inman, eight-time NASCAR Cup championship crew chief
- Bobby Isaac, 1970 NASCAR Cup champion
- Fred Lorenzen, 26 wins and winner of the Daytona 500 and World 600
- Cotton Owens, driver-owner, won 1966 owner championship with David Pearson
- Raymond Parks, NASCAR's first champion car owner
- Benny Parsons, 1973 NASCAR Cup champion and former commentator
- Les Richter, former NASCAR executive and former president of Riverside International Raceway
- Fireball Roberts, won 33 NASCAR Cup races, including the 1962 Daytona 500
- T. Wayne Robertson, helped raise NASCAR popularity as R.J. Reynolds senior vice president
- Herb Thomas, first two-time NASCAR Cup champion, 1951 and '53
- Curtis Turner, early personality, called the "Babe Ruth of stock car racing"
- Darrell Waltrip, winner of 84 races and three NASCAR Cup championships
- Joe Weatherly, two-time NASCAR Cup champion
- Glen Wood, as driver, laid foundation for Wood Brothers' future team success
- Leonard Wood, co-owner and former crew chief for Wood Brothers who also revolutionized pit stops
- Cale Yarborough, winner of three consecutive NASCAR Cup titles, 1976-78

Today's Top News
by Tom Bowles

Kyle Busch, No. 18 Penalized For Failing Post-Race Inspection
 
After a tumultuous last month of off-track incidents, turns out it wasn't a punch from Richard Childress, a speeding ticket, or pushing Kevin Harvick's buttons that cost Kyle Busch ground in the championship Chase.
 
Nope, the culprit was simply a drooping left front fender.
 
Busch lost six Sprint Cup driver points Monday afternoon, part of a NASCAR-sanctioned penalty for the No. 18 Toyota failing Sunday's post-race inspection at Pocono.  Team owner Joe Gibbs also lost six owner points while crew chief Dave Rogers was fined $25,000 for the car falling too low by the checkered flag.  According to sources, the M&M's car measured 1/16th of an inch underneath NASCAR's tolerances.
 
Officially, NASCAR claimed the team, who finished third at Pocono violated Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-J (any determination by NASCAR officials that race equipment used in the event does not conform to NASCAR rules); and 20-12.8.1B (body height requirements - car failed to meet the minimum front car heights) of the 2011 NASCAR rule book.  The team had initially claimed in-race body damage as a reason the car got adjusted; however, in a press release shortly thereafter they took responsibility for the incident and pledged not to appeal.
 
"We brought the No. 18 car back to our race shop and have identified the problem which caused us to measure low during the post-race inspection process in Pocono [Sunday] afternoon," said Joe Gibbs Racing in an official statement.  "We have made NASCAR aware of our findings and we accept the penalty they have issued today."
 
After the deduction, Busch remains fifth in points but drops to 31 behind leader Carl Edwards.  With a 50-point cushion over 11th-place Jeff Gordon, along with a series victory to his credit, the veteran driver remains in solid shape to make the postseason.
 
Todd Bodine, Germain Racing Still Together… When Sponsorship Allows
 
Two days after his reported firing, defending Truck Series champion Todd Bodine remains with Germain Racing but may not complete the full schedule. In a posting by Ray Dunlap on his blog, the SPEED reporter explained owner Bob Germain called him Monday and refuted a Friday night Tweet, posted by Dunlap himself that Germain made a driver change.
 
"Todd Bodine did NOT get fired," Germain said in a statement.  "Todd has a place at Germain Racing as long as he chooses to stay with us.  He is family.  Of course, we are all aggravated about the No. 30's performance, but we will get it figured out soon."
 
Those poor results only got worse at Texas, Bodine's Friday night crash leaving him 13th in points and a whopping 89 behind leader Johnny Sauter nine races into the season.  That frustration apparently boiled over post-race, causing crew chief Mike Hillman to indicate there might be an upcoming change.  But the owner said any adjustments to the No. 30 team won't be behind the wheel; they'll be to the team's full-time schedule, in jeopardy as the Truck remains without sponsorship for several upcoming races.
 
For now, the team will race at Kentucky with backing from Georgia Boot; Tire Kingdom will also fund the car for several upcoming events.  However, the team is considering an S&P effort or simply pulling out altogether at races where there's not enough money to pay the bills.  Claiming it now makes "no financial sense" to go the distance unsponsored, like they have in the past when they're in contention for the title Germain claims decisions will be made on a race-to-race basis in the coming weeks and months.
 
The No. 30 team has been in this position before, virtually every year since November, 2008 when Lumber Liquidators terminated their sponsorship. Last year, a similar plan of a part-time schedule was scrapped when Bodine remained in the points lead; he went on to win his second championship with the program.
 
NASCAR Debuts Social Media Game
 
Farmville and Frontierville, eat your heart out; there's a new competitor in the social gaming world that NASCAR hopes will "run circles" around the competition. On Monday, the sanctioning body announced the NASCAR Pro Championship presented by Sprint, packaged within the popular Facebook motorsports game called Car Town. Beginning this week, the racing "series" will run all the way through the sport's season finale at Homestead November 20th.
 
The new game is free to play, allowing fans the ability to compete against each other in a sponsored race.  By completing special challenges, they can earn virtual rewards and accumulate prizes to add to their Car Town Garage. Three different tracks are included within the series, designed for users to involve their own social networks, utilizing friend connections to come out on top and take the coveted Pro Championship title.
 
"Through our NASCAR.COM features including video highlights, live leaderboards and RaceBuddy, fans can [already] engage in an interactive viewing experience," said Justin Williams, senior director of business operations for NASCAR.COM who spoke on the sport's newest expansion.  "Adding the NASCAR Pro Championship presented by Sprint allows us to reach fans already engaged in social media gaming, continuing to provide them with a fully immersive NASCAR experience."
 
As title sponsor, Sprint will be branded into the game with special graphics that include a branded vehicle, race entrance, Victory Lane and leaderboard.  Players can also earn special virtual rewards by visiting Miss Sprint Cup's Facebook page, watching her NASCAR 101 video and sharing a picture of their virtual car with Facebook friends.
 
Car Town is a creation of Cie Games, Inc. and has almost 9 million users. Players use virtual currency to purchase, collect, and customize virtual cars, building their own "dream garage" in the process.
 
Have news for Tom and the Frontstretch? Don't hesitate to let us know; email us at ashland10@mail.com with a promising lead or tip.
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Got NASCAR-related questions or comments?
Send them John Potts' way at john.potts@frontstretch.com; and if you're lucky, you'll get your name in print when he does his weekly column answering back to you – the fans that keep Frontstretch afloat. Potts' Shots will run on Thursdays with a whole new set of Fan Questions and Answers!
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Numbers Game:  5-Hour Energy 500/WinStar World Casino 400k
by Brett Poirier
 
2
The number of times Carl Edwards has finished outside the top-20 in 14 races this season. He was 37th at Pocono on Sunday.

2
Fords that finished in the top-20 in Sunday's Sprint Cup race at Pocono. Matt Kenseth was eighth and David Ragan was 17th.

2
Times that Tony Stewart has finished outside the top-10 at Pocono since 2006. He was 21st on Sunday.

2
Speeding penalties issued to Brian Vickers on Sunday. After receiving his first penalty, Vickers sped down pit road while serving that one to draw a second.

3
The number of finishes for Denny Hamlin outside the top six at Pocono since 2006. He finished 19th on Sunday.

3
Top-10 starters that finished in the top-10 at the Sprint Cup race at Pocono. (Jeff Gordon, Kurt Busch, Ryan Newman)

5
Wins for Bill Elliott and Jeff Gordon at Pocono. They are tied for the lead in all-time victories at the track.

10
The record number of cautions in the Camping World Trucks at Texas on Friday.

12
Wins for car owner Rick Hendrick at Pocono after Jeff Gordon's victory Sunday.

19
The record number of lead changes in the Camping World Truck race at Texas on Friday. There was also a record for leaders (11).

22nd
The finishing position of Johnny Sauter after crossing the line first at the end of Friday's Camping World Truck race at Texas. Sauter was black-flagged for changing lanes on a restart.

34
Points chopped off Carl Edwards' lead after a 37th-place finish at Pocono. He now leads Jimmie Johnson by just six points.

48
Sprint Cup races at Pocono won by a top-10 starter in 67 races. Jeff Gordon started third on Sunday.

48
The number of wins for Ron Hornaday in the Camping World Trucks after his win on Friday.

84
The number of wins for Jeff Gordon after winning at Pocono on Sunday. Gordon is now tied for third on the all-time wins list with Bobby Allison and Darrell Waltrip.

479
Laps completed this season by Joe Nemechek through 14 Sprint Cup races. He ran 29 laps at Pocono on his way to a 40th-place finish.

865
Laps led this season by Kyle Busch in the Sprint Cup Series, a number that leads all drivers. He paced the field for two laps and finished third on Sunday, meaning Busch has led in 11 of the first 14 races.

957
The number of laps led by Jeff Gordon at Pocono, the most all-time. He led 39 laps on the way to the win on Sunday.

2007
The last year that Jeff Gordon had multiple victories in a single season. He now has more victories (two) this year than he had in the previous three seasons of competition (2008-10, one).

Brett Poirier is a Website Contributor for Frontstretch.com.  He can be reached via e-mail at brett.poirier@frontstretch.com.
 
Today's Featured Commentary
2011: A Season Filled With Uncertainty...and Fun!
Sitting In The Stands: A Fan's View
by S.D. Grady
 
I sat through yet another interminable Pocono race, watched Jeff Gordon add another to his still growing win column, waited an eternity for the top-10 drivers to cross the finish line, yawned, turned off the DVR in the wee hours of the morning and went to bed. 

Sounds like the story of a disenchanted NASCAR fan, doesn't it?  That couldn't be farther from the truth. 

The 2011 Sprint Cup season has turned out to be one of the best I can remember in quite some time.  We've been enjoying all the multiple ingredients required of an engrossing year: 

• A seasoned veteran has added two more notches to his Hall of Fame worthy career stats (Gordon)
• Rookie Trevor Bayne startled everyone with his win in the legendary Wood Bros. machine at Daytona
• Longtime underdog Regan Smith proved that nice guys don't always finish last
• Kevin Harvick keeps appearing out of the mist to steal the checkered flag (3 of 'em, at last count)
• After a lengthy hiatus, we finally saw a backflip in the Cup Series (Carl Edwards)
• A manufacturer other than Chevy or Toyota is making a serious run at stealing the show, bringing the Cat in the Hat, Jack Roush back to the spotlight
• A certain driver under the moniker of Kyle Busch is either doing the hat dance or pissing off the entire planet—always good entertainment
• We've had name calling, fists flying in public and behind closed doors, tickets issued, fines levied and runaway unmanned vehicles

And above all else, after five long years, while the reigning Champ is still seriously in the race, the conversation around the campfire after the day is done is not all about Jimmie Johnson.

Points race?  Uh.  At this time in the long season, I can't say that I actually give a damn.  Maybe Carl Edwards climbed back in his No. 99 on Sunday to prevent a DNF appearing next to his name, but was that a points racing decision?  Do I care?

Nope.  When I've got a driver bringing a broken valve up to the booth for some show and tell, the big picture vanishes in appreciation of an enjoyable broadcast.

All this points to one thing: NASCAR has got it going on. 

After several years of bemoaning bad management by the powers that be, I have to admit I'm puzzled over my general positive reaction to this year.  But you know, I can remember a time when I was equally enamored over a wide variety of storylines in NASCAR, plotlines that had little to do with a favorite driver beating down the entire field for years on end.  Perhaps time has added to pleasant memories, but still...

The year was 1992.  I was relatively new to the "NASCAR can take over your life" world.  I had been steadily sucked into the mire, a more casual fan through the late '80's, but '92 can be pegged as the year true addiction to everything stock car began.

Three black cars still figured large in weekly tales back then (Earnhardt in his No. 3, Rusty Wallace with the Miller Genuine Draft No. 2 and Davey Allison, who piloted the ubiquitous No. 28).  Awesome Bill from Dawsonville enjoyed the adoration of a huge fan club.  Kyle Petty ran around the track in a black and neon green Mello Yello machine, staying up front more than I remember.  There was even a guy by the name of Lake Speed—for real!  And amidst all the veterans, new faces, broken engines, twists of fate and oft displayed incidents of road rage, a small operation run by one Alan Kulwicki managed to steal the show. 

But what a show it was. I loved the sponsors, the grease, bad hair, difficulty understanding Sterling Marlin and stories told of days gone by as NASCAR bid farewell to their King, Richard Petty. 

Even though the sport was still trying to figure out how to drown out the engine noise, done so we could hear the broadcasters at Bristol and couldn't think of anything better than to put shots of glowing brakes at Martinsville, it was a time when you were invited in and welcomed to the growing NASCAR family.  For the burgeoning cable viewing audience, we had lessons on loose, push, bump stops, drafting, pit stop techniques and introductions to all the personalities that filled a Cup garage, as they do now.

There was magic in the air that year.  Yes, you've been told the tale time and again about the Championship won in the final laps of the 1992 Hooters 500 at Atlanta.  But it takes more than the last laps of a single race to win the attention and devotion of a new fan.

There must be a variety of winners, underdogs, young guns, veterans taking their bow, innovation…a sport ready to change for the better and hold true to what works.

So far, 2011 has pleasantly surprised the masses filled with ennui by trotting out no-name stars, come from behind stunners, last-lap drama, familiar faces, small town winners…and nary a mention of same old, same old.  We have a long way to go before we hoist the Cup in Homestead, but it looks to be a ride filled with fun and intrigue.

It's not my place to decide how it all came to be; I'll leave that complicated dissection of the sport to somebody more enamored with numbers.  For me, I see months filled with serendipity. 

In the interest of watching many more laps with an unknown conclusion at the end, I shall remain, for now, one happy fan.

S.D. Grady is an Assistant Editor for Frontstretch.com.  She can be reached via e-mail at sonya.grady@frontstretch.com.  Follow her on Twitter at @laregna.
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TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:
 
by Bryan Davis Keith
by Danny Peters
by Phil Allaway
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Get THE ANNUAL, 2011 Racing Preview for your mobile device.
Go to Frontstretch.com and click on "The Annual" link on the right side to order and download this special issue that includes: Track Information, Driver profiles and In-Depth Features.
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FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
 
Q:  1994 saw a whole bunch of wrecks at Michigan in Turn 3.  Why was this so?
 
Check back Wednesday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
 
Monday's Answer:

Q:  The 1982 Gabriel 400 was won by Cale Yarborough in a duel with Darrell Waltrip.  However, the race is known for something else entirely.  What is that?
 
A:  The race is known for one of the longest red flags in the history of the sport, an interruption of over five hours due to severe weather.  CBS, who was airing the race live, left during the red flag, but never returned to the air.  According to Larry Nuber (who was a pit reporter for CBS in 1982), the race ended at approximately 9:30 PM, in total darkness, but they still managed to get all 400 miles in.
 
Frontstretch Trivia Guarantee:  If we mess up, you get the shirt off our backs!  If we've provided an incorrect answer to the Frontstretch Trivia question, be the first to email the corrected trivia answer to trivia@frontstretch.com and we'll send you a Frontstretch T-Shirt ... FREE! 
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Hey, Frontstretch Readers!
We know you love the roar of raw horsepower under the hood that powers 43 of the best drivers in the world every weekend, but did you ever wonder how the sponsor on top of that hood also contributes to keeping the sport moving? What about the contributions of official NASCAR companies? If you think they are simply writing checks, think again. Check out our newest feature - Sunday Money. This weekly Frontstretch exclusive provides you with a behind the scenes look at how NASCAR, its affiliates and team sponsors approach the daunting task of keeping fans interested and excited about the sport for 38 weeks of the year.
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Coming tomorrow in the Frontstretch Newsletter:
-- Top News from Summer Dreyer
-- Full Throttle by Mike Neff
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, and more!
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Tomorrow on the Frontstretch:
 
Did You Notice?... by Tom Bowles
Tom returns with a long list of small observations from the NASCAR week that was. Among them: Hall of Fame oddities, a Silly Season note or two and why Carl Edwards blowing up could be a good thing.
 
Mirror Driving by the Frontstretch Staff
The Mirror crew is at it again with more talking points to debate.  Topics include whether NASCAR really needed to issue a cease-and-desist to Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick, Jeff Gordon's chances at getting either a fifth championship or 100 career wins, stories to watch coming out of Friday night's Camping World Truck Series race in Texas, and more.  

Frontstretch Top Ten by Jeff Meyer
Our weekly list based on the latest NASCAR controversy will start your morning off with a laugh -- guaranteed.
 
Top 15 Power Rankings by the Frontstretch Staff
Which driver came out of Pocono on top of our 2011 Power Rankings chart? Jimmie Johnson? Carl Edwards? Kevin Harvick? Someone else? Find out who our select Frontstretch experts have labeled as this week's favorite heading into the 5-Hour Energy 500 at Pocono Raceway.

Beyond The Cockpit: TBA
 
Foto Funnies: 5-Hour Energy 500 Edition by Kurt Smith
Kurt's back to leave you laughing with the best photos you didn't see in the papers from Pocono.

Voice Of Vito Fill-In by Summer Dreyer
Join Summer as she fills in for Vito by delivering her latest look at a major controversy within the Cup, Nationwide, and Truck Series this season.
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©2011 Frontstretch.com

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