The Frontstretch Newsletter: November 26th, 2012

THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
November 26th, 2012
Volume VI, Edition CCXXXIV

Editor's Note: Remember, the Frontstretch Newsletter has scaled back to a weekly edition over the offseason! The next scheduled edition will run on Monday, December 3rd.

What to Watch for this week:

- This week is Champions' Week, the yearly celebration of the Sprint Cup Series and recently crowned 2012 Sprint Cup Series Champion Brad Keselowski in Las Vegas, Nevada.  That said, there are quite a few events that are scheduled.  A full schedule can be found here.  Highlights include the NMPA Myers Brothers Luncheon, where multiple awards are handed out, the Victory Lap on the Las Vegas Strip and the low-key After the Lap, and the actual banquet itself.

- Also of note, Chevrolet will finally unveil their 2013 Sprint Cup Series challenger, the Chevrolet SS, on Thursday in Las Vegas.  The street version of the SS will be unveiled this week at the LA Auto Show.

- Finally, for sports car fans, Mazda will officially debut their car for the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series' new GX class on Friday at the LA Auto Show.  Mazda has already confirmed that the car will use a new Skyactiv-D Diesel engine.  Rumors over the past few months have been centered upon the new 2014 Mazda6, which debuted in Moscow earlier this year and will have a diesel engine available to buyers.

Top News From The Past Week

by Phil Allaway

Burton Has Minor Wrist Surgery

On Wednesday, Richard Childress Racing announced that driver Jeff Burton recently had a minor surgical procedure on his right wrist.  The procedure was undertaken in order to address a case of carpal tunnel syndrome.  It is not expected to keep Burton down for any significant amount of time.

Burton is happy to get the procedure out of the way.

"After feeling some reoccurring symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, my physician and I decided [that] routine surgery would be best for this situation," Burton said.  "There is no such thing as an off-season in this sport, so I wanted to get it done as soon as possible to be ready for my Caterpillar Visitors Center appearance with Richard Childress early next month.  Plus, we have many test sessions planned in December with the No. 31 Chevrolet team in preparation for the 2013 season with my new crew chief Luke Lambert.  I will be ready."

The appearance that Burton referenced is scheduled for next Wednesday, December 5 at the Caterpillar Visitors Center at Caterpillar's world headquarters in Peoria, Illinois.  During that appearance, Burton and Childress, along with Caterpillar representatives, will unveil their 2013 Chevrolet SS.  Burton and Childress will participate in a two-hour autograph session, while the No. 31 hauler will be on display all day.

For now, Burton is under doctor's orders to rest his right wrist and effectively do nothing with it.  The orders even extend as far as him not being able to change the channel on his remote control with his right hand.  However, he has been answering fan questions on Twitter while typing with only his left hand.  On Twitter, Burton has stated that he's pain-free after the surgery.

Son of Andy Rueger Dies in ATV Crash

On Thanksgiving morning, seven-year old Bryce Rueger was killed when the ATV that he was riding with his 11-year old cousin rolled over at his home in Salisbury, North Carolina.  According to WSOC, Rueger was driving the ATV at what was described as a high rate of speed when he attempted to make a sharp turn around his house.  The ATV simply could not stay upright at that speed and threw both passengers off.  Rueger was killed instantly while his cousin suffered a broken leg.  The cousin was hospitalized in serious condition with a broken leg.

There was a wake/visitation for Rueger Sunday at the Cavin Cook Funeral Home in Mooresville, North Carolina.  There is another wake scheduled for Tuesday, November 27 at the Voss Chapel in Seymour, Indiana from 4:00-8:00pm EST.  The funeral is scheduled for Wednesday, November 28 at 10:30am at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Seymour, Indiana, with burial scheduled for shortly afterwards at Riverview Cemetery.

Rueger is the son of Andy Rueger, who worked this past season as the gas man on Ryan Newman's No. 39 U.S. Army/Tornados/Quicken Loans/Outback Steakhouse Chevrolet.  For 2013, Rueger is scheduled to move over to a similar role with the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing crew.

Rueger has set up an online memorial fund for people to help the family pay for medical and funeral expenses.  The original goal for the campaign was to raise $10,000, a goal that was reached in only one day.  However, if you would like to donate, you still can.  People who would like to donate can leave their name and a short message for the Rueger's, or they can donate anonymously.

Keselowski Wins 3rd Quarter NMPA Speedway Motorsports Spirit Award

SiriusXM NASCAR Radio's Dave Moody reported last week that the National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) announced  2012 Sprint Cup Series Champion Brad Keselowski as the winner of the NMPA Speedway Motorsports Spirit Award for the third quarter of 2012.  Similarly to the Driver of the Year Award, four quarterly awards and handed out, and the yearly winner is chosen between the four quarterly winners.  Keselowski joins Clint Bowyer and Rockingham Speedway President Andy Hillenburg in contention for the 2012 NMPA Speedway Motorsports Spirit Award.

According to the NMPA, the Spirit Award is supposed to "recognize character and achievement in the face of adversity, sportsmanship and contributions to motorsports."  Usually, the award is given to an individual that is successful on track, but also heavily involved with good works off the track.  In Keselowski's case, he was nominated for his work with his own organization, the Brad Keselowski Checkered Flag Foundation (BKCFF), which awards grants to various organizations.  Readers may recognize the charity as having been on Keselowski's No. 19 truck in the Camping World Truck Series earlier this season.

Past winners of the NMPA Speedway Motorsports Spirit Award include Kyle and Pattie Petty for their work with Victory Junction Gang Camp (Kyle also won in 2000 after continuing to race after his son Adam's death at New Hampshire), and Benny Parsons during his battle with lung cancer.

Have news for Phil and the Frontstretch? Don't hesitate to let us know; email us at ashland10@mail.com with a promising lead or tip.

 
FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Q:  Eddie Irvine didn't exactly make many friends when he first entered Formula One.  He was famously punched by Ayrton Senna after racing him inappropriately while a lap down at Suzuka in 1993.  After the 1994 Brazilian Grand Prix, Irvine was suspended for three weeks.  Why did this happen?

 
Check back next Monday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
 
Wednesday's Answer:
Q. In 1993, the Brazilian crowd at Interlagos was treated to Ayrton Senna's second win at the twisty road course near Sao Paulo. What happened towards the halfway point of the race to knock leader Alain Prost out of the event?
 
A. A sudden downpour swamped the circuit, sending everyone scurrying for cover.  The teams were all racing on slick tires at the time, so the rain caused drivers to slide off the track everywhere.  Senna made a quick decision to get wet tires before the brunt of the rain hit.  Meanwhile, Prost stayed out too long and crashed into a Minardi on the pit straight, putting himself out of the race.  Senna's stop, and the downpour can be seen at the 8:40 mark of this clip.

 
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!
 
Coming Monday, December 26th in the Frontstretch Newsletter:
-- Top News from Phil Allaway
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, and more ... including our 2011 Driver Reviews!
 
Coming Monday, December 3rd at Frontstretch:
2012 Driver Reviews by the Frontstretch Staff
Our driver reviews will start off with the Chasers from Sprint Cup.  Like last year, we're covering everyone in the Sprint Cup Series, but we're also covering the top-5 in Nationwide Series points and the top-5 in Camping World Truck Series points.

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©2012 Frontstretch.com

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The Frontstretch Newsletter: Jam-Packed, End-of-Season Edition

THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
November 21st, 2012
Volume VI, Edition CCXXXIII

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Happy Thanksgiving American Readers!  We would like to extend a special thank you to each and every one of our readers for your unrelenting dedication throughout this season. Without your support, we wouldn't be writing each and every week, and we couldn't be more appreciative of all your feedback (even when it's bad!).  Have a safe holiday with your friends and family, and we hope you don't suffer too badly from racing withdrawal!

Editor's Note: This Newsletter will be the last daily edition until the Sprint Cup Media Tour in January. From this point on, Frontstretch enters into "offseason mode" where our Newsletters scale back to one jam-packed, weekly edition sent out every Monday morning. Enjoy!

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Top News
by Brad Morgan

Penske Racing Names Erwin Crew Chief of No. 12 Nationwide Team

Longtime NASCAR crew chief Greg Erwin is on the move again, this time to a fresh start with completely new team in a different series.  The experienced Erwin has been hired by Penske Racing as the new crew chief of the No. 12 Ford Mustang, currently driven by Sam Hornish, Jr. in the NASCAR Nationwide Series for 2013.

The minds at Penske Racing believe that the acquisition of Erwin will help move the No. 12 team closer to winning the championship, pairing the veteran with Hornish  after the driver finished fourth in the series standings this season.

"We are excited about having Greg as he brings a great deal of knowledge and experience to [the team]," said Tim Cindric, President of Penske Racing. "We are confident that he will be able to take the No. 12 Nationwide Series program to another level."

Hornish, from Defiance, Ohio did his part to assure Penske's best Nationwide Series finish since Brad Keselowski led the organization to its first overall title in 2010.  He accumulated 10 top 5s and 22 top 10s after having competed in just 33 races. 

Now the Penske organization will lean on Erwin, who started his career as a crew chief with Robby Gordon Motorsports before relocating to Roush Fenway Racing and most recently Richard Petty Motorsports.

"It is an honor to be selected as the crew chief of the No. 12 Ford Mustang," said Erwin. "I would like to thank Roger Penske and everyone at Penske Racing for the opportunity to be a part of this championship-caliber team. I look forward to working hard to build a team that consistently wins races and competes for championships."

Former Hendrick Employee Hired as Crew Chief for JR Motorsports

Greg Ives has officially been named crew chief for JR Motorsports' No. 5 Chevrolet in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, the team's general manager Kelley Earnhardt Miller announced Tuesday.

The former Hendick employee will be counted on to help newly acquired driver Regan Smith become reacquainted to running in the Nationwide Series, a series the 29-year-old driver hasn't competed full-time in since the 2006 campaign that resulted in a 20th place final points ranking.

Even without new crew chief Ives, Smith was off and running in his Nationwide Series debut with the No. 5 team at Homestead-Miami on Saturday, leading 24 laps before capturing his first ever series victory.

"Regan's win on Saturday and the announcement of Greg's hiring [Tuesday] are huge momentum boosts for this company going into the offseason," owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. said. "Greg comes highly regarded.  He has been a huge part of the 48 team's success, and this is a good opportunity for him to get his feet wet as a crew chief.  The partnership between JR Motorsports and Hendrick Motorsports gives us the opportunity to help employees advance their careers while still keeping them in the family, so to speak."

The victory eased tension at JR Motorsports, an organization with only one previous win since 2009, delivered by Jamie McMurray at Atlanta Motor Speedway over two years ago.  Now the organization can focus on expanding to house multiple, full-time cars, a goal that has always been at the forefront of the team ownership's vision.

"With the final race of the season now in the books, the 2013 season has begun," Earnhardt Miller said. "Our goal is always to field two full-time teams -- and that could still happen next year with other potential opportunities -- but what we have right now is a strong team with Regan and Greg that will compete for a championship, and a part-time team with Dale Jr. that will compete for wins.  Our focus is to streamline our company and equip those teams with everything they need to compete at a high level."

The hope is that Ives will be beneficial to the supposed streamlining of JR Motorsports.  His prior experience indicates that the championship savvy, former engineer could indeed have that affect.

Fans with a deeper knowledge of Jimmie Johnson's unprecedented run of five consecutive Sprint Cup championships may remember that Ives was an integral part of the No. 48 team's success year after year. In all, the 33-year-old served at Hendrick Motorsports for nine years, first as a mechanic before becoming a race engineer.

"Whether I realized it or not, each of my nine years at Hendrick Motorsports were preparing me for this role," Ives said.  "I have always aspired to be a crew chief, but it couldn't have happened without Hendrick Motorsports recognizing my goals early and giving me opportunities to ultimately reach them.  And it doesn't hurt to be surrounded by people like Rick Hendrick, Jimmie Johnson, Chad Knaus and the entire 48/88 shop.  They are the best in the sport -- not just as racers but as people -- and I plan to carry that experience with me to JR Motorsports."

Homestead-Miami Ratings Fall Drastically Over 2011

Ratings show that this season's finale, the Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, failed to live to the last year's blockbuster duel between eventual champion Tony Stewart and runner-up Carl Edwards in the eyes of viewers worldwide.

The race earned a 3.5 household coverage rating, which can be considered low when compared to the record-breaking 4.6 mark achieved a season ago.

Sunday's event averaged 3,444,706 viewers, according to the Nielsen Company, which seems like a small figure when placed alongside ESPN's 6.8 million average viewers achieved during the '11 version.  This can be explained partially to the fact that this season's battle between first time Cup holder Brad Keselowski and Jimmie Johnson wasn't as close as the virtual tie achieved by Edwards and Stewart a year ago.

Patrick Files For Divorce

Danica Patrick will head into the 2013 Sprint Cup season a single woman. The 30-year-old announced this week he's filling for divorce after seven years of marriage to Paul Hospenthal, asking for privacy in a message to fans and the public.

"I am sad to inform my fans that after seven years, Paul and I have decided (to) amicably end our marriage," she said in a statement. "This isn't easy for either of us, but mutually it has come to this. He has been an important person and friend in my life and that's how we will remain moving forward."

Her soon-to-be ex-husband, 17 years her senior met Patrick as a physical therapist treating her for a non-racing injury.

Have news for Brad and 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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WRITE FOR US!
Hey Frontstretch Readers! Are you looking for a fast-growing website that can give you an opportunity to not only share your thoughts on racing, but have FUN doing it with a group of laid-back, dedicated personnel?  Well, we have the place for you. Frontstretch is actively seeking 1-3 additional writers for both our newsletter and website to add to our dedicated staff. Follow this link for more information on how you can become a weekly columnist for the site and / or newsletter!

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Today's Featured Commentary
Sitting in the Stands: A Fan's View
For Every Checkered Flag, There Is A Green
by S.D. Grady

Well, it's over. No more races for the year. We've got a new champion named Brad, rediscovered the bad guy in Jeff and welcomed MWR into the upper ranks of Cup goodness. Dale, Jr. proved his mortality, Danica proved...what we always suspected, and a host of capable young drivers signed up for the future of our sport. Kyle refrained from appearing too much like an ass, deciding that following his big brother's example was not the best idea. The 'Dinger was counted out, JPM put his demolition training to dramatic effect and Tony asked to put a new twist on 'Dega.

It's been... a year. There have been some classic races, poignant moments and many afternoons of sleep-inducing parades. Now, it is all over. The echo of the engines in the garage area hasn't even calmed, and I'm already wondering what the hell I'm going to do with all this extra time for the next few months. 

Saturday afternoons I will surf the channels seeking a NASCAR listing, only to be disappointed. On Sundays, there will not be a deadline on the grocery shopping, lest I miss the drop of the green flag. And Mondays... Mondays there will not be frenetic typing, more deadlines and hunting for the errant comma. My life will be calm and quiet and just a little empty.

There will be time to neaten the closets, dust off the die-casts and catch up with the rest of humanity -- rumor has it there's a segment of the population who don't even watch racing. My cats may have a harder time finding a warm lap on the couch for a few months.

But even as I pen these final words of the NASCAR season, I do so with the eager knowledge that only a little over 90 days remain before we start it all over again. What is there to look forward to, you ask?

We'll actually have a Rookie of the Year class in 2013, headed by the two-time Nationwide champ Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. Clint Bowyer will make a run for the top spot next November, proving once and for all there's more to that No. 15 than many have thought for too long.

There should be a mountain of new Brad Keselowski ads, which should be interesting as up to now there's been almost none. JJ and Chad will come out of their bunker with a new set of battle plans while the rest of the field calls their local psychic to divine what those might be. The cars are supposed to look a little different...we'll have to see how true that might be. What I've seen so far hasn't really impressed. Junior, Harvick, Stewart, Ambrose, Newman and the rest of the usual suspects will all line up for the start of the season, with friends and family at their sides.

There will have been some minor shuffling of lockers while we waited for everyone to return to Florida. Kenseth and Logano will find themselves with new teammates and have to decide if is was really a great idea after all.

In the chat rooms, some perennial questions will be raised by those hungry for news of NASCAR in the off-season: Will Mark Martin ever really retire? Can Jeff Burton regain his long lost Top Dog status? How will Denny Hamlin manage to self-detonate this year? Who will NASCAR dub as the first successful female racer in its ranks?

But ultimately, the air guns' whirr will fill the air. The engines will rev and the stink of gasoline and oil will mix with the warm Florida air to summon memories of days gone by. There will be tailgating, t-shirts, smiles and anticipation. Race Day will return.

For as many times as we've watched the year turn over, leaving the frustration of a season's disappointments behind, there has always been and always will be the joy of welcoming the new. A new year, new day and a chance to make fresh memories filled with everything we have always wanted: the roar of fast cars coming to the green, driving off into the corner and coming out the other side three-wide.

All this glory is only 90-someodd days away, a little over three months. Time enough to reconnect with your life, loves and to realize without racing, our world is a little less special.

As a final note: Thank you to everybody who takes the time to read these ramblings of mine. Your comments are always welcome, whether you think I've messed up or not. Without another fan to talk to, this column would be nonexistent. Thanks again and I will see you all in 2013.

Author's Note:  I've finally made it to Facebook!  Come visit with me at http://facebook.com/Author.SDGrady

S.D. Grady is a Senior 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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DONATE TO HELP HURRICANE SANDY VICTIMS
Millions are grappling with the effects from one of the more devastating hurricanes to hit the United States. If you're in an unaffected area, please consider donating to help others who will spend months rebuilding their lives and their homes after Sandy whipped onshore with winds of 80 miles an hour.  Call 1-800-RED-CROSS, visit redcross.org or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation today. Every little bit helps.

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Numbers Game: Ford EcoBoost 400
by Garrett Horton

1
Brad Keselowski had just one finish worse than 18th in the final 28 races this year.  He had three finishes of 32nd or worse in the first five races in 2012.

2
Carl Edwards led more than one lap in just two races this year – Richmond in the spring where he led 206 laps and the Bristol night race which saw him pace the field for 45 circuits.  He has not led a single lap since Bristol.

4
All four manufacturers represented the top 5 in the final point standings this year, the first time since 2001 this has happened (Chevy, Pontiac, Ford, Dodge).

4th
Kasey Kahne finished fourth in the final point standings, the highest he has ever finished and the first time he has had a top-5 points result.

6
For the first time in six years, we have a new champion in the Sprint Cup Series in Brad Keselowski. Jimmie Johnson was able to repeat his first title in 2006 for the next four seasons and Tony Stewart won his third title last year. 

10
Stephen Leicht, who is the 2012 Sprint Cup Series Rookie of the Year, had 10 DNF's in 15 starts.

11
Is there really a championship runner-up curse? Clint Bowyer certainly doesn't hope so, but it would appear that is the trend in recent years. Since 2007, the man who has finished second in the year-end final point standings has averaged just an 11th place finish in the standings the following year.

12.8
Denny Hamlin's average finish in 2012, his highest since his rookie year in 2006 when he posted a 12.5.

15
Chevrolet had 15 wins this year, more than any other manufacturer. Toyota had the second most with ten, Ford had six, and Dodge, in its final year had five, all with Brad Keselowski.

16
Tony Stewart had just 16 top-10's this season, matching 2008 for the fewest top-10's he had in a single year.

18.3
Tony Stewart's average start in 2012, a career low.

24
Despite the disappointing end to 2012, Jimmie Johnson ended the year with 24 top-10 finishes, more than any other driver and tied his career high for most top-10's in a season (also had 24 in 2006, 2007, and 2009).

32
Greg Biffle had 32 lead lap finishes this year, more than any other driver.

36
In addition to leading the league in lead lap finishes, Biffle was also the only driver to be running at the finish in every race this year, completing all 36 events.

Garrett Horton is a Contributor to Frontstretch.  He can be reached via e-mail at garrett.horton@frontstretch.com.  Follow him on Twitter at @Garrett_Horton.

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The Eyes Have It!
In our newest Facebook feature, we posted a photo of a driver inside a helmet, and asked you to identify which driver it was based only on his or her eyes.  Monday's mystery driver was Casey Mears. 

Congratulations to Stephanie Gois, the first reader to correctly identify Mears in the photo.

Debbie Fletcher also replied with the correct answer. Great job!

Other guesses included Jamie McMurray, Denny Hamlin, Kenny Wallace, Brian Vickers, Mark Martin, Clint Bowyer, Jeff Gordon, Kasey Kahne, Greg Biffle, and Trevor Bayne.

We will run a new photo each Monday and Wednesday throughout the offseason (please note that we will NOT post a new photo this Wednesday because of the holiday, but we will be back next week!), and list the readers with the correct answer here in our newsletter (Facebook rules prohibit us giving a prize, but hey—at least you'll get your name in lights!).  Go to our Facebook page to join the fun!

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Tweet 'N' Greet
by Summer Bedgood

Editor's Note: With the NASCAR Twitter community expanding by leaps and bounds, it remains a place for instantaneous news, reactions, and a whole lot of inside jokes. We understand if you don't want to join the Twitter community - but as a fan, it's important to know the news and info you're missing out on! That's why, every week, Summer Bedgood will sort through the thousands of messages and give us a little taste of what's going on each Wednesday.

So, without further ado, here's a look at what those in NASCAR were thinking over the past seven days...

@jim_utter: Rule cited in @keselowski penalty in rulebook received in January http://twitpic.com/bd0tak

@jim_utter: "Nothing we've seen from Brad violates any current rules pertaining to the use of social media during races." - NASCAR, Feb. 28, 2012

@patisouzapaludo (Patricia Paludo): Best news of the day! Oli's levels are the same as a person withouth diabetes! A1C 7.4!! Soooo happy! Proud mama! Tears in my eyes! #WDD

@MartySmithESPN: #DaleJr helmet would give my daughter nightmares... pic.twitter.com/ild8ZBeQ

@MaryeveDufault: Turned down @Playboy cover. It can be flattering for a model, but for me it's all about racing.#Nascar #Playboy #RacingSuit Don't work together

@dcaraviello (David Caraviello): Joey Logano says he reached out to Jeff Gordon for an apology re: Phx "and didn't get one. Got hung up on." Said Gordon texted him later.

@Team_Onion (Todd and Janet Bodine): There is no one that will tell me different @Team_Onion is the best in the business. Even through all this bad luck. Love him.

@AllWaltrip (Darrell Waltrip): We complement each other very well, @AllWaltrip has hindsight, @mikejoy500 has foresight and @LarryMac28 has insight, got you covered!

@Brett_Griff (Brett Griffin): Attention #NASCAR fans... "Rubbin is racin" someone please give @JeffGordonWeb that memo. It's what brought us fans. It's what will keep em

@Brett_Griff: Reading those quotes is a joke. 3 wide pisses him off. Touching him pisses him off. Hell lets play flag football this Sunday. #SMDH

@Beth_Frntstrtch (Beth Lunkenheimer): Confirmed for 2013: Sauter and Crafton will return with ThorSport Racing. #NASCAR

@LarryMac28 (Larry McReynolds): Being in the booth doing anything is like being with my family @mikejoy500 and @AllWaltrip Hope we 're together as long as we can make it!

@JeffGordonWeb: From my understanding, media didn't tweet full @joeylogano quote. There's his side, my side...and truth is somewhere in between."

@jeff_gluck: Damn. That was a big hit for Blaney. Can't really blame either Larson or Dillon...they were both just going for it, IMO.

@TheOrangeCone: Ty saw the chance at the championship slipping. Larson saw a win. Both needed that ground. Hard racing.

@mattkenseth: That was a big wreck, feel bad for those guys. They were putting on a heck of a show. #NASCAR

@RyanTruex: I think your thinking of a different Ryan "@JustxJessica: I hate it for @ryan_truex was hoping he would get a good finish"

@kaseykahne: Glad everyone is ok after that. Man they were all putting on a great race.

@EmmaBlaney: Just saw Ry. He is okay! Might be a little sore in the morning!

@mattkenseth: Wow!

@JamesBuescher: JAMES BUESCHER IS YOUR 2012 CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES CHAMPION!!!!!

@AshleyAllgaier: HUGE congratulations to @JamesBuescher & @Kris_Buescher! A well deserved championship!

@jim_utter: Margin of victory: 0.014 seconds.

@PPistone: 9 first time winners, 16 different winners in 22 races this season - insane! #nascar

@kaseykahne: Congrats @jamesbuescher and @TurnerMotorspts on the Truck Championship #NASCAR

@SamanthaBusch: Not a scratch on the truck racing hard n clean with other drivers all night. Then Cale gets to Kyle n does this to win http://twitpic.com/bduige

@BubbaWallace (Darrell Wallace, Jr.): I just called my mom to see if putting her in the wall to win my 1st race was okay.. She said heck yea then told me to go to bed!

@SamanthaBusch: 2 more races til 2012 race season is over, halleulujah! Proud of KBs interview n all the hard work the boys put into this program! Nite all!

@KyleLarsonRacin: Watched the replay of the wreck. Feel REALLY bad for @tydillon. I definitely would never wreck someone on purpose. I just drove over my head

@KyleLarsonRacin: Also would never do that to help a teammate out. Can't really express how bad I feel about it all.

@RyanBlaney22: Well that hurt. I appreciate all the support everyone gave me tonight. Means a lot. Looking forward to tomorrow.

@Kris_Buescher: Congrats to my sweet husband!! And thanks to all of the amazing @JamesBuescher fans! #nascar pic.twitter.com/5fob6y3y

@Rchilders55 (Rodney Childers): I want to say thanks to @NASCAR and all of the officials that makes this happen each week.. It's been a fun year and we really appreciate it

@ClintBowyer: Great piece on @SPEED about @keselowski and his parents. It's a long hard ole road to get here and it's awesome to see it pay off for people

@MStall41 (Matt Stallknecht): Johnson has what appears to be a terminal motor issue. Pretty much wraps things up for Keselowski #NASCAR

@KyleLarsonRacin: That's such a lame way for the chase to end. Happy for @keselowski but was shaping up to be a good finish

@SamanthaBusch: Peace out 2012 race season I'm not sad at all to see you go!! What doesn't kill u makes u stronger so watch out in 2013 Kyle n crew r comin!

@queers4gears: And to think, some people (including me) thought Gordon should have been parked for this race

@2Spotter: Huh...that worked out well.....#NASCAR

@KristineC48: JJ congratulating the champions. pic.twitter.com/hXaCRWOm

@Brett_Griff: What a fun Chase that was. Hauled ass every week! 2nd in the standings. Thanks @mw55 @ClintBowyer and 15 team.

@dennyhamlin: Thanks also to all of my fans who come on here each week and wish me luck. It doesn't go unnoticed.

@nascarcasm: Congrats to @ClintBowyer - we found out last week he was a runner, but today, he became runner-up. #phoenix #nascar #chase

@joeylogano: And that's the way the cookie crumbles. Thanks to all of @JoeGibbsRacing for 7 great years

@dennyhamlin: Big congrats to @keselowski and Roger Penske on a job well done. They executed this chase nearly perfect! Well deserved first time champ!

@TheOrangeCone: A week after a profane tirade in the media center, Brad is now drunk on SportsCenter. Dude is bad ass!

@JimmieJohnson: Congrats @keselowski, Paul Wolf, Roger Penske an all of Penske on your championship. It was a lot of fun battling with you!

@JimmieJohnson: We had a chance... Thanks to my entire team and all of @TeamHendrick. #team48

@ivandebosch (Ingrid Vandebosch): Thanks everyone for your support! So happy for Jeff to end the season with a win!

@keselowski: Thank you 2 each & every fan 4 the words of support this week & after the race. Special thanks to the @JimmieJohnson Fans for the congrats

@MonteDutton: I have a strong suspicion that Brad Keselowski really believes in his corporate sponsor. #NASCAR

@keselowski: New twitter profile pic! #NASCAR #championship #thankyou every1 pic.twitter.com/PgscTo5y

@dnicholas (Dawn Nicholas): "@keselowski: We did it! #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/RJkSl056" You sure did! I couldn't be prouder of you baby bro

@dnicholas: Just want to say thanks to all you great fans who support my brother. It really means so much to us! What a day

@mattkenseth: Thanks everyone at @roushfenway for 15 great years. I will miss racing with you guys!

@2Spotter: Just read the last 10 hours of tweets. I'm thrilled,honored, humbled. Thanks EVERYONE for all the kind words. This is SPECIAL!! I get it!

@ClaireBLang: Headed to airport. Check out Ella Gordon playing by dads race car in Vic Lane while Leo hangs with papa http://twitpic.com/belchq

@PPistone: #espn generated a 2.7 overnight rating for Sunday's Cup finale, down from the 3.7 last year which was the network's most viewed race ever

@JeffGordonWeb: Headed back to CLT after a fun night of celebrating. Thanks to everyone for the congrats wishes & all the support this year. #Team24

@ClintBowyer: Does anyone else have trouble getting their "give a shit" level off of zero on Mondays?

@JimmieJohnson: Must be my fault. @JennaFryer: ESPN's telecast of yesterdays #NASCAR race drew a 2.7 overnight rating, down from 3.7. last year's race.

@KyleBusch: Anyone else hate the chase as much as I do!?! Coulda shoulda woulda been Vegas bound. http://twitpic.com/beobbw

@Elliott_Sadler: Wow.. Come back from playing in pool with Wyatt and see the news is out.. Yep As of 145pm sat. I became the newest driver at JGR! Awesome!!

@Elliott_Sadler: Can't thank Coach and JD enough for this great opportunity...my family and I are ecstatic...thank you guys for all the tweets and congrats.

@RutledgeWood: This is my friend Jake..he's the camera man that jogged along w/ clintbowyer in PHX Great guy w/a great dad http://instagr.am/p/SObnhkDAnI/

@JohannaLong: As promised @kris_buescher .. Me in a dress.. LOL pic.twitter.com/BRJLbvwW

@RayEvernham: Just saw my friend and Crew Chief Scott Fisher take his first unaided steps since 9/10/11 sprint car accident. Very emotional but awesome

@StacyStenhouse: #2inarow #champion #brother #soproud http://instagr.am/p/SPIJmXKg3N/

@DanicaPatrick: Omg! Thank u fans for voting me most popular driver for the 2012 @nascar_nns series! Y'all are the best! U heard me. Y'all.

@jim_utter: Danica Patrick and Nelson Piquet Jr. wins most popular driver in #NASCAR Nationwide and Camping World Truck series, respectively

@keselowski: Just finishing up a long day. Started in Miami at 730am, from there to Charlotte, then Connecticut and now in NYC. Whew, I'm tired!

@TimothyPeters17: Headed home from a great @NASCAR_Trucks banquet tonight! Hard to believe it's over! Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

@HappyChairSR (Shawna Robinson): I wanna race trucks again!! I'm coming outta retirement!!! Giddy Up!

@ReganSmith: Cant begin to tell everybody how excited I am to have Greg Ives as a crew chief! His knowledge, passion and work ethic are second to none

@SamanthaBusch: FINALLY heading home after being on the road since martinsville!!! Can't wait to see our pups Kel n Suzie n sleep in my own bed!!!

@jim_utter: Final #NASCAR rating from Sunday's Sprint Cup finale on ESPN was a 3.5, down from 4.6 a year ago (3.4 million viewers) ... off 24 percent

@bobpockrass: Sprint Cup Banquet acts: Train, Lifehouse, Natasha Bedingfield, Phillip Phillips And The Beatles LOVE By Cirque du Soleil #nascar

@JennaFryer: NEWS: Danica Patrick announces she and husband are divorcing after 7 years of marriage. Calls split amicable.

@jeff_gluck: Danica on her Facebook page: "I am sad to inform my fans that after 7 years, Paul and I have decided to amicably end our marriage."

@jeff_gluck: More Danica on Facebook: "This isn't easy for either of us, but mutually it has come to this."

@jeff_gluck: More Danica from Facebook: "He has been an important person and friend in my life and that's how we will remain moving forward."

Summer Bedgood is a Senior Writer for Frontstretch.com. She can be reached via email at summer.bedgood@frontstretch.com. Follow her on Twitter @SummerBedgood.

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The Critic's Annex: Kurt Busch: The Outlaw
by Phil Allaway

Hello, race fans. Welcome back to The Critic's Annex, where I take an additional opportunity to take a look at some motorsports-related programming. Today's special Wednesday edition will not be the last Annex of the year. A later edition will cover the recently released sophomore NASCAR effort from Activision and Eutechnyx, NASCAR the Game: Inside Line. The game is available for the Xbox 360

However, today's program of emphasis is a documentary that premiered just last week on SPEED. We're all aware of Kurt Busch's somewhat volatile personality, his tirades at members of the media during press conferences and in normal interviews, and an attitude that has hurt him in the past. The one-hour special is designed to (hopefully) show us the real Kurt Busch. We'll just see about that.

Kurt is apparently still angry about how he is represented. Let's just the say that the special starts with a mini-rant about how the media edits everything that happens with Kurt so as to create falsehood. I'd argue that it isn't true, but because of it, Busch decides to put everything out there in real time. It reminds me of an episode of The Simpsons when Homer is interviewed in an office and they cut the bejesus out of it. The whole time it's happening, there is a wall clock in the background and viewers could see the hands constantly switch to different positions based upon where the cuts were made. Instead of the media's point of view of everything that has happened, we're getting his point of view.

From here, the scene shifts to Baltimore, Maryland in September. Kurt splits time between here and the Charlotte area with his girlfriend, Patricia Driscoll, and her son Houston. With a backdrop of the simple morning routine, Busch talks about 2012 up to that point where he describes it as the toughest year of his career. Lets just say that he isn't pleased about how he is perceived. He believes that he is 97 percent good, but no one ever wants to talk about the good. They only talk about the bad.

I suppose he's right, but he's missing something. As of the writing of this critique, Kevin Clash is currently going through a public fall from grace, as is General David Petraeus. Granted, they are for very different reasons, but the point is the following. Kurt Busch is a public figure. Sure, it's nice to hear about donating to charitable causes and helping out disabled veterans (which he does, and really likes to do) and seeing him as a doting father to his girlfriend's son from another relationship. However, the bad outweighs the good in many situations. I'm not saying whether or not it's right, but it is the truth. If it's bad enough, even the accusation of it (in Clash's case) can kill a long career and render you a permanent pariah.

After explaining a little about the transmission failure in Homestead, Busch gave a running commentary of his thoughts while waiting for the interview with Dr. Jerry Punch that never happened. Footage from the "infamous YouTube video":http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsaBQq5D4Zg was shown to help us along. Here, he states that he wasn't angry at Dr. Punch but rather that it just looked like he was. Instead, he was angry with Dr. Punch's cameraman, who pointed his camera in his face for something like ten minutes straight so that he would be ready when they went live. I can understand that kind of frustration. It was basically an error by ESPN's Producer. They should have just taped it as quick as they could and aired it later, or found a way to do it live earlier. Had either one of those options been chosen, we would have only been commenting on Busch flipping off a truck instead of the firestorm that ultimately occurred.

Busch admits that his career might have started out with a little too much success, and that likely led to the infamous rivalry with Jimmy Spencer. He claimed that the spanking after Spencer wrecked him in the 2002 Brickyard 400 was a sign that Spencer should have been sent to the rear. I can understand that because it is a move often used by flagmen at short tracks like The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where Busch got his start. However, such a directive is not typically made so expressively and repeatedly. Just pointing to Spencer, then his behind, would have been plenty (Spencer got a one-race suspension and Busch was placed on probation). Also, that was the second time he had expressed his anger on-track after the crash. The first time around, Busch had thrown his hands up as if to say "What the Deuce?" to Spencer. He had had enough, and I believe him. I'd be ticked off too if someone wrecked me at the end of the backstretch at 180 miles an hour.

Busch continued on and said that NBC broadcasting his radio chatter that indicated an intentional attempt to flatten Spencer's fender at Michigan in 2003 turned the general public against him. However, he never gave any reasoning as to why he tried to flatten Spencer's fender. Did Spencer do something to tick him off again, or was it just because it was Spencer?

Later, we learn a little bit about the work ethic of both of the Busch brothers. Their father, Tom, could be best described as a workaholic who would work for 12 to 13 hours a day, every day. That was just life for him. Kurt was the little kid who would help out from time to time with a small piece of sandpaper that likely didn't do anything at all. Prior to Kyle getting in a race car, the whole affair was more fun than anything else as Kurt raced against his father multiple times. It only got ultra competitive once Kyle started racing.

In regards to the infamous pull-over in 2005, Busch claims that the deputy actually did know who he was (at the time, it was rumored that Busch supposedly yelled, "Do you know who I am!" at the deputy), and it was part of the reason why he flipped out after he was cuffed, despite passing the field sobriety tests without resistance. He isn't necessarily angry at the media here for what they reported, but more at the deputy and Sheriff Joe Arpaio, the well-known elected Sheriff of Maricopa County, Arizona, for dragging his name through the mud and costing him his job at Roush Racing. Arpaio tried to make good with a badge (which Busch still has) later on, but he's still ticked over it. At the time, the situation almost sounded like Busch was lucky to not end up in Arpaio's Tent City.

The Darlington incident earlier this year was described as an instance in which he was accused of endangering Ryan Newman's crew. Busch didn't believe he did, but it was a little close. Then, he accidentally ran into the back of Newman's car on pit road. Before he could get pushed away, members of Newman's crew went after him and apparently said some really inappropriate stuff about Driscoll. I don't know what that was, but I can understand Busch being angry there. At the time, I thought the incident was ridiculous. It didn't make any sense to me.

The "refraining from kicking your <expletive>" comment at Dover was explained as basically a spur of the moment quote that he can't take back. Busch didn't exactly express contrition, but thought that Bob Pockrass's question was ridiculous since it referred to something that happened at the very beginning of the race. It's apparently nothing different to Busch than if Allen Bestwick says something incorrectly in the broadcast booth for ESPN. That doesn't mean that an accidental Bestwick flub is equal to Busch threatening to beat up Bob Pockrass, because it isn't. However, the explanation Busch gives is very similar to how Bestwick would explain a flub.

Probably the most interesting thing that was revealed in the piece is that Phoenix Racing owner James Finch nixed a number of potential sponsorship deals for the team so that he could "go after the big fish." Uh, that's nice and all if this were 1998. That's not a good strategy if you want to survive today. It's not far off suicide, actually. I'd argue that Busch would never admit that it was part of the reason why he left Phoenix Racing before the season ended for Furniture Row, but it had to have played a role.

The show ends with Talladega and Busch getting parked for driving off with the EMT's equipment on his roof after he wrecked. Busch's position is that he thought the car would still roll and he got it started. That explanation is not dissimilar to "Dale Earnhardt after his roll in the 1997 Daytona 500":http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWRj6cs8SRg#t=3m22s. However, times have changed since 1997. I guess you can't just get out of the car after a wreck and immediately get back in without seeking medical treatment these days.

Let's just say that Busch made a really stupid mistake by not putting his helmet back on before he drove off, and not waiting until the EMT's removed their equipment. Had he done that, we probably wouldn't be having this discussion now. However, because of his choices, he got parked by NASCAR and didn't know that he'd been parked until Nick Harrison (his crew chief) told him so in the garage. Afterwards, there was a massive throng of media members waiting to hear from him. However, instead of saying something that he would regret, he took the time to thank his crew members personally, calmed down, then faced the throng.

Overall, the tone of the documentary is a bit defeatist. Kurt Busch realizes now that he cannot win. At least part of his problems are self-inflicted. It appears that he functions on instinct a little too much, and that has created a lot of his problems. However, despite those problems, he's still a very talented racer.

However, he also comes off as a little paranoid at times. It's never outright stated, but it appears that he thinks that people are out to get him. Do I think that's the truth? No, at least not with the assembled media at the track. Pockrass definitely isn't out to get him, even though the Dover situation was at least the second time that Busch was visibly angry at Pockrass in less than a year (the previous July, he angrily read a prepared statement during a press conference after Pockrass asked about the then-generally unknown Driscoll in a press conference that I just so happened to be in attendance at. The reasoning for the question: Busch had won the previous week in Sonoma and she kissed him in Victory Lane, and his wife Eva--whom he had quietly separated from--was nowhere to be seen).

However, the explanation for the traffic stop in Avondale definitely makes it sound like the deputy tried to elevate himself and/or the Maricopa County Sheriff's Department at Busch's expense. I'd like to see the deputy's side of the story before making a definitive yea or nay on that situation, though. Knowing how much of a publicity hog that the now 80-year old Arpaio is (see the recent investigation into President Obama's birth certificate using public funds), I wouldn't be surprised if the call came in over the radio to nail Busch. It would be consistent with the behavior of Arpaio and the Maricopa County Sheriff's Department over the past 20 years.

Having said all that, the special was very well put together, if potentially a little misguided (due to Busch's wishes). We got a raw look at life as a racer from Busch's perspective. At times, it's a pretty sweet life. At other times, it can be a nightmare. However, I wouldn't necessarily call Busch an "Outlaw." That's just marketing.

I hope you liked this look at Kurt Busch: The Outlaw. Stay tuned over the winter months for the aforementioned critique of NASCAR the Game: Inside Line. Until then, enjoy the off-season.

Phil Allaway is the Newsletter Manager for Frontstretch.  He can be reached via e-mail at phil.allaway@frontstretch.com.  Follow him on Twitter at @Critic84.

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TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:

Did You Notice? ... The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly Of NASCAR 2012
by Tom Bowles

An IndyCar Season to Be Thankful For...
by Toni Montgomery, Huston Ladner and Matt Stallknecht

NASCAR Sprint Cup Power Rankings: Top 15 After Homestead
compiled by Summer Bedgood

Mirror Driving: Champions, Challenges, And NASCAR's Memorable Moments
by the Frontstretch Staff

Michael Annett Driver Diary: End of the Season and Looking Ahead
as told to Toni Montgomery

~~~~~~~~~~

FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:

Q: In 1993, the Brazilian crowd at Interlagos was treated to Ayrton Senna's second win at the twisty road course near Sao Paulo. What happened towards the halfway point of the race to knock leader Alain Prost out of the event?

Check back Monday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
 
Monday's Answer:

Q: In the very first race at Homestead-Miami Speedway for CART in 1996, debutant Alex Zanardi made a rather unusual exit from the race.  What happened?

A: The caution was already out on track due to debris from contact involving Andre Ribeiro and Robby Gordon.  Everyone chose to pit for tires here.  Zanardi was tenth at the time of the yellow, but his crew failed to tighten the left rear wheel out correctly.  As a result, Zanardi's left-rear wheel flew off on the warm-up lane beneath Turn 2 and shot Zanardi into the outside wall.  The incident, as well as Paul Tracy's demise due to transmission issues after leading from the start, can be seen in this clip.

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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©2012 Frontstretch.com

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The Frontstretch Newsletter: November 19th, 2012

THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
November 19th, 2012
Volume VI, Edition CCXXXII
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DONATE TO HELP HURRICANE SANDY VICTIMS
We are three full weeks past Hurricane Sandy's initial impact on the East Coast.  However, the suffering continues and help is still needed.  If you're in an unaffected area, please consider donating to help others who will spend months rebuilding their lives and their homes after Sandy whipped onshore with winds of 80 miles an hour.  Call 1-800-RED-CROSS, visit redcross.org or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation today. Every little bit helps.
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Sprint Cup Race Recap: Gordon gets First win at Homestead; Keselowski Wins Sprint Cup Championship
by Jeff Wolfe

When Brad Keselowski came onto the NASCAR Sprint Cup scene in 2008, there weren’t a lot of questions about his talent. The then 23-year-old proved rather quickly that he had a desire to win and didn’t like it if someone got in his way.  There were questions however about his tactics, and yes, even tact, as at times he was called “Bad Brad.”

But over the past three years, driving for Roger Penske, Keselowski has gradually answered those questions about being a potential champion.  After Sunday’s Sprint Cup race at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Keselowski won’t need the word “potential” in front of the word “champion” any longer.

The driver of the No. 2 Dodge finished 15th and while he never challenged for the victory in the 267-lap race, he didn’t have to in capturing his first Sprint Cup title. That’s because Jimmie Johnson, the only driver capable of beating Keselowski for the title, experienced major issues for the second straight week.

Johnson’s Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon was part of a major storyline for the second straight week too, but for pretty much the opposite reason as in Phoenix.  Gordon won Sunday’s race, the 87th of his career and second of the year, leaving Kentucky Speedway (which has only had two races) as the lone track he has not won at on the Sprint Cup circuit.

Gordon took the lead for good with 14 laps remaining when leader Kyle Busch had to pit for fuel.  Busch, who did not win a race he led the most laps in for the ninth straight time, led 191 laps and finished fourth.

However, it was Keselowski who finished where all Sprint Cup drivers like to be at the end of the season, No. 1 in the points standings.

“Well, I saw this really cool video that (Baltimore Ravens linebacker) Ray Lewis did and, you know, he said in it that you know throughout my whole life I've been told my whole life I'm not big enough, not fast enough, not strong enough, I don't have what it takes and I've used that as a chip on my shoulder to carry me through my whole career, and, you know, it took till this year for me to realize that was right,” Keselowski said.  “I'm not big enough, not fast enough, not strong enough.  Only a team can do that and these guys up here, they make me big enough.  They make me fast enough.  They make me strong enough to do anything we want to do and it's because of these guys. I can't be here without them.  I really can't.”

Keselowski, who was known for his aggressive driving early in his career, knows he couldn’t have won without the support and sometimes patience of team owner Roger Penske.  While Penske has been a top IndyCar owner for nearly 40 years where he’s won 12 titles, Keselowski gave him his first Sprint Cup title two years after giving Penske his first Nationwide title.  While Penske first fielded a NASCAR team in 1972, he re-entered the series in earnest in 1991 with Rusty Wallace as his driver.  Wallace’s second-place finish in the points in 1993 had been Penske’s best finish before this year.

“This guy Keselowski is something special, and for me it's a lifelong goal when you think about Hendrick, you think about Earnhardt and Childress and Gibbs and just to mention all the guys that have been up there, and we've been close but we've never delivered,” said Penske, who is 75.  “But this guy here delivered it for us.  Every week all through the year, gave us this championship.  Boy, I'll tell you, man, I love you.”

Even though Johnson was behind by 20 points to start the day, the five-time champion and driver of the No. 48 Chevrolet had every intention of making Keselowski earn the title.  After struggling a bit early, he found himself in the lead with 55 laps to go.

But a loose lug nut after what would have been his final pit stop caused him to return to pit road, and Johnson was a lap down in 25th-place.  Johnson then smelled what he thought was a burning gear, when a possible leak in his oil line caused his cockpit to fill with smoke and end his day.

“It all unraveled pretty quickly,” Johnson said.  “You know, the pit road thing, I was just kind of dealing with it, the first two or three laps I got on the track and trying to think through what was going on.  Chad had some optimism left in his voice.  I wasn't sure why or what.  Maybe he was just doing a good job of being a cheerleader.  But I ran a handful of laps and then I could smell some oil.  And when the gear failed, I mean, there was a lot of shaking in the car.  I knew it was big and going to be fatal.”

The fact that Johnson was leading when his problems began were not lost on Keselowski, who needed a 15th place finish or better to guarantee himself the title and give Dodge its first title since Richard Petty won the crown in 1975. By the time Johnson had the lead though, a 16th-place would have also clinched it as Busch was guaranteed the bonus point for leading the most laps.

“He's the best,” said Keselowski, who became the eighth-youngest champion.  “He proved here today he was going to win this race and I know that.  We were not as good as we wanted to be, I'll be the first to admit that, but my guys never gave up, we kept working and at the end, we were capable of getting back up enough to where it wouldn't have mattered if he had won which made me feel a lot better, but my guys did a great job all year long and I'm lucky to have them.”

And any champion will tell you there is at least a little luck involved in winning any championship.  Keselowski, who won the title in his 125th start, the fewest since Jeff Gordon won on his 93rd start in 1995, avoided major incident all throughout the ten-race Chase for the Championship, including the now famous Gordon-Clint Bowyer crash happening right in front of him last week, then getting to the finish line after taking a hit from a sliding Kurt Busch on the final lap wreck last week.

While Gordon made plenty of headlines throughout the week for what he admitted was a revenge-filled crash against Bowyer, he was relieved to make some headlines for a different reason Sunday.

“I felt terrible about how I went about it and still regret the way I went about it but you know what, I can't take it back,” Gordon said about last week.  “What we can do is look forward and race guys as hard and clean as we possibly can and, you know, this is a great way to get some positive things going because this year has been real up and down. This is awesome to have my family here in Victory Lane.”

The rest of the top-10 behind Gordon in front of a crowd of 76,000 was Clint Bowyer, Ryan Newman, Kyle Busch, Greg Biffle, Martin Truex, Jr., Aric Almirola, Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch and Dale Earnhardt, Jr.

Keselowski will get to celebrate his title at the NASCAR Sprint Cup awards banquet in Las Vegas on November 30.  Howie Mandel is due to host the festivites at the Wynn Las Vegas and SPEED will televise the event.

Jeff Wolfe is a Contributor for Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via email at jeff.wolfe@frontstretch.com.

~~~~~~~~~~
Chasing the Chase: As Keselowski Claims Crown, Places in Points Shuffle Behind Him
by Jeff Wolfe

As Brad Keselowski was claiming his first Sprint Cup title Sunday at Miami-Homestead Speedway, there was some movement in the standings behind him.

One thing that could be misleading when looking at the final points standings years from now is how close Jimmie Johnson was to challenging for the title.  Johnson, a five-time champion, came into the race at the only driver with a chance to catch Keselowski.  And the driver of the No. 48 Chevrolet had worked his way to the lead with 55 laps remaining when he had to come back into the pits because of loose lug nut after what was his final scheduled pit stop of the day.

When Johnson returned to the track, he was in 25th, one lap down.  Then just a few laps later, Johnson smelled a gear burning that may have been caused be a leak in an oil line.  The result was a cockpit filled with smoke and trip to the garage area for the rest of the race, relegating him to a 36th-place finish.

The result, combined with Clint Bowyer’s second-place finish, put Bowyer in second place in the final standings, 39 behind Keselowski and Johnson in third, 40 back.  That capped a good Chase run for Bowyer, even though he was mathematically eliminated from the title hunt last week.

“When we made the Chase, my realistic goal was to be in the top-5,” Bowyer said.  “I thought that was a reachable goal for our race team the way we had been running leading into the Chase.  And to be able to exceed that, I mean, we had a shot at it until last week.  You just can't ask for more than that out of a brand new group like that.  Just very proud of all their efforts."

Bowyer’s switch from Richard Childress Racing last year to Michael Waltrip Racing this year raised some eyebrows, but it turned out best for Bowyer, who won three races this season, while the Childress team combined for just one.

Bowyer jumped two spots in the standings to get to second, pulling ahead of Kasey Kahne, who finished 21st to drop one spot and finish fourth at 55 points back.  The other driver to jump two spots was Greg Biffle, who finished fifth in the standings, after his fifth-place finish Sunday. Biffle finished 68 points behind Keselowski.

The other driver to gain in the standings was race winner Jeff Gordon.  He jumped one spot to tenth. Gordon was penalized 25 points after last week’s race at Phoenix for intentionally wrecking Bowyer late in the race.  If Gordon had those 25 points back, he would have finish seventh in the standings, one point behind Denny Hamlin, who finished 24th Sunday.

Finishing seventh in the final standings was Matt Kenseth, who drove his final race for Roush Fenway Racing.  Kenseth, who will be moving to Joe Gibbs Racing next season to drive the No. 20 Toyota, finished 18th Sunday.

Last week’s winner at Phoenix, Kevin Harvick, had another good day, taking eighth.  Harvick, who is heavily rumored to be going to Stewart-Haas Racing with primary sponsors Budweiser and Jimmy John’s in 2014, finished eighth in the final standings.

And speaking of Tony Stewart, last year’s champion who won at Homestead-Miami, was never a factor in Sunday’s race as he finished 17th and ninth in the points standings 89 behind Keselowski.

The final two spots in the top 12 standings went to Martin Truex, Jr. and Dale Earnhardt, Jr.  Truex Jr. was the only driver in the Chase to not win a race this year and finished 11th, 101 points out of the lead. Truex was a contender for much of Sunday, before scraping the wall late in the race, leaving him with a sixth-place finish. Earnhardt finished 10th Sunday. Any hopes he had of winning a title were lost when he had to miss two races in the Chase due to a concussion. He finished 155 points out of first.

Final Chase for the Championship Standings:  1) Brad Keselowski 2400, 2) Clint Bowyer -39, 3) Jimmie Johnson -40, 4) Kasey Kahne -55, 5) Greg Biffle -68, 6) Denny Hamlin -71, 7) Matt Kenseth -76, 8) Kevin Harvick –79, 9) Tony Stewart -89, 10) Jeff Gordon -97, 11) Martin Truex, Jr. -101, 12) Dale Earnhardt, Jr. -155.

Best of the Rest:  13) Kyle Busch 1133, 14) Ryan Newman -82, 15) Carl Edwards -103, 16) Paul Menard -127, 17) Joey Logano -148, 18) Marcos Ambrose -163, 19) Jeff Burton -230, t-20) Aric Almirola -245, t-20) Jamie McMurray -245.

Race Winners: Matt Kenseth (Daytona 500. Talladega 2, Kansas 2), Denny Hamlin (Phoenix, Kansas, Bristol 2, Atlanta, New Hampshire 2), Tony Stewart (Las Vegas, Fontana, Daytona 2), Brad Keselowski (Bristol, Talladega, Kentucky, Chicagoland 2, Dover 2), Ryan Newman (Martinsville), Greg Biffle (Texas, Michigan 2), Kyle Busch (Richmond), Jimmie Johnson (Darlington, Dover, Indianapolis, Martinsville 2, Texas 2), Kasey Kahne (Charlotte, New Hampshire), Joey Logano (Pocono 1), Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (Michigan 1), Clint Bowyer (Sonoma, Richmond 2, Charlotte 2), Jeff Gordon (Pocono 2, Miami-Homestead), Marcos Ambrose (Watkins Glen), Kevin Harvick (Phoenix 2).

Tracking The Top 35: So Long to the Top 35 List

In past years, finishing in the top 35 in the points standings guaranteed those car owners a spot in the first five races of the next season.  But NASCAR announced earlier this fall that they would be ending the top 35 rule, going back to a rule from several years ago that puts almost all of the starting spots based strictly on time, with provisional spots available for past champions.

If it did matter though, the No. 36 car driven by Dave Blaney finished 35th in the standings, 81 ahead of the No. 21 car driven by Trevor Bayne, who drove a partial Sprint Cup schedule this year for the Wood Brothers.  Bayne finished 23rd Sunday, while Blaney finished 32nd.

Here's your owners point standings around the once all-important cutoff...

29) Front Row Motorsports (No. 34 - David Ragan), 276 points ahead of 36th.
30) Germain Racing (No. 13 – Casey Mears), 266 points ahead of 36th.
31) Front Row Motorsports (No. 38 - David Gilliland), 259 points ahead of 36th.
32) BK Racing (No. 83 - Landon Cassill), 252 points ahead of 36th.
33) Tommy Baldwin Racing / Stewart-Haas Racing (No. 10 – David Reutimann), 173 points ahead of 36th.
34) FAS Lane Racing (No. 32 – Ken Schrader), 147 points ahead of 36th.
35) Tommy Baldwin Racing (No. 36 – Dave Blaney), 81 points ahead of 36th.
36) Wood Brothers Racing (No. 21 - Trevor Bayne), 81 points behind 35th.
37) Richard Childress Racing/Circle Point, LLC (No. 33 – Stephen Leicht), 174 points behind 35th.
38) Inception Motorsports (No. 30 – David Stremme), 189 points behind 35th.
39) Phil Parsons Racing (No. 98 – Michael McDowell), 228 points behind 35th.
40) Front Row Motorsports (No. 26 - Josh Wise), 255 points behind 35th.

Jeff Wolfe is a Contributor for Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via email at jeff.wolfe@frontstretch.com.

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Secret Star of the Week: The Race You Never Saw

With the championship on the line, most eyes were focused on Brad Keselowski and Jimmie Johnson.  However, Aric Almirola managed to beat both of these drivers on Sunday.  In a continued display of great form that effectively saved Almirola's job (he's been re-signed for the 2013 season along with teammate Marcos Ambrose), Almirola qualified fifth, then hung around the top-15 all day.  On a day in which only a couple of drivers legitimately had a chance to win the race in a straight-up fight, Almirola and RPM attempted an alternate strategy.  Much like Jimmie Johnson, the No. 43 team elected to pit during the third and final caution after Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. crashed.  This gave Almirola the chance to potentially make it on fuel.

A good handling car gave Almirola a chance at besting his career-best finish of fourth (accomplished twice, one of which was at Homestead back in 2010).  However, on the final lap, Almirola ran out of fuel while running 14 seconds behind winner Jeff Gordon in third.  By the time Almirola coasted back to the start-finish line, he was seventh.  However, Almirola was still very pleased with his result.

"About $3 worth of gas short of finishing 3rd. Extremely proud of my 43 team and everyone [at Richard Petty Motorsports], Almirola said.  "Can't wait for 2013!"

The seventh-place finish allowed Almirola to finish the season in a tie for 20th in driver's points with Jamie McMurray.  Almirola wins the tiebreaker over McMurray since he has the better top finish (fourth at Martinsville in October).  It was the first time that Almirola had finished a race in the top-20 in points since Pocono in June. - Phil Allaway

STAT OF THE WEEK: 47. Represents the number of points lost by Jimmie Johnson in the final two weeks of the season to Champion Brad Keselowski,  This is tantamount to a full race's worth of points lost in just two events.  To future race fans, it will appear that Johnson gave away the "Conflict of Mechanical Advantage 6," but his car managed to let him down both times. - Phil Allaway

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Quotes to Remember: Ford EcoBoost 400

"He's already drunk?  That's awesome" - Jeff Gordon, race winner, upon hearing that Brad Keselowski did an interview with ESPN's Kevin Connors whilst drunk

"This is a big win.  I mean, we've been really close here in the past years with some good race cars, but just coming up a little bit short.  And today we just did all the right things.  With the way this team has handled things and fought through things and some great moments and some pretty low moments, to be able to end the season like this, pretty amazing." - Gordon, during his post-race press conference.

"When we made the Chase, my realistic goal was to be in the top 5.  I thought that was a reachable goal for our race team the way we had been running leading into the Chase.  And to be able to exceed that, I mean, we had a shot at it until last week.  You just can't ask for more than that out of a brand‑new group like that.  Just very proud of all their efforts." - Clint Bowyer, finished second, on his season.

"Finishing the season with three straight top-10s and four straight top-15s – you just can’t ask for much more in a short period of time together.  We’ve made a tremendous amount of progress in the last six weeks and that gives all of us plenty of confidence heading into the offseason. We laid a strong foundation and I can’t thank the Furniture Row Racing guys enough for a job well done." - Kurt Busch, finished ninth

"Yeah, we were in position and putting the pressure on the 2 car like we needed to.  I said at the beginning of the week, 15th isn't a lay‑up, and I certainly had him in position.  He made it really interesting here at the end of this thing.  It we could have not had the mistake on pitted road and then the gear failure at the end.  Didn't really catch exactly what happened but I know there was oil under the back of the car.

So there was oil under the back of the car.  I'm not sure if a fitting busted or was hit by debris or line but something back there allowed the car to puke out gear oil.  So as I was saying, there was oil all over under the back of the car, so something happened from either a line failure or a fitting was hit by debris or something and it puked all the gear oil out and burned up the gear.  So again, disappointing, and we were right there in position and putting pressure on like we needed to" - Jimmie Johnson, finished 36th, on his issues

~~~~~~~~~~

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We are looking for someone who shares our enthusiasm for NASCAR and has an experienced background in web design. Specifically, we are looking for someone who can help maintain and enhance our website, increase our SEO, and upgrade our publishing platform while producing a limited amount of content throughout the season. This job presents a perfect opportunity for someone with a technical background, a person who wants their work to gain national exposure.

 

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TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:

Thinkin' Out Loud: Homestead Race Recap
by Mike Neff

Pace Laps: Runner-Up Blues, American Success Stories, and Weird Weather
by the Frontstretch Staff

The Big Six: Questions Answered After the Ford EcoBoost 400
by Amy Henderson

2012 Truck Series Wrap-Up: Buescher, Dillon, Larson and Gale
by Beth Lunkenheimer

Nationwide Series Breakdown: Ford EcoBoost 300
by Bryan Davis Keith

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FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
 
Q:  In the very first race at Homestead-Miami Speedway for CART in 1996, debutant Alex Zanardi made a rather unusual exit from the race.  What happened?

Check back Tuesday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
 
Friday's Answer:
 
Q:  The 2002 Ford 300 saw the one and only race start in Busch Series competition for one very controversial outfit.  Name it.

A:  That team would be the infamous Angela's Motorsports outfit, run by Angela Harkness and her then-boyfriend, Gary Jones.  The team formed a brief partnership with Kevin Lepage's Matrix Motorsports to run their white and neon green colors on Lepage's No. 71, while their own team was the No. 02 Ford driven by Jay Sauter.  WiredFlyer.com provided sponsorship.  Sauter finished 25th, two laps down in the No. 02, while Lepage suffered brake failure and retired after 128 laps, finishing 37th.  The team was going to run the full 2003 season with Mike McLaughlin driving a renumbered No. 03 with Harold Holly as crew chief, but the scam was discovered in between Daytona testing and Speedweeks.  As a result, the team was shut down and equipment seized.

Frontstretch Trivia Guarantee: Take 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!

Coming Tuesday in the Frontstretch Newsletter:
-- Top News by Tom Bowles
-- Fan's View Commentary by S.D. Grady
-- Numbers Game: Ford EcoBoost 400 by Garrett Horton
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, and more!
 
Tomorrow on the Frontstretch:

Five Points To Ponder by Bryan Keith
Bryan has his weekly edition of talking points to wrap up Phoenix and get us ready for Homestead.

Couch Potato Tuesday by Phil Allaway
This past weekend, the Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series were all in action at Homestead-Miami Speedway for their season finales.  Were the telecasts of these events "up to snuff?"  Find out in this week's TV Critique.

Tech Talk by Mike Neff
This year, we have an interesting new weekly feature for our readers where we'll have a special guest stop by on a weekly basis to discuss the technical aspects of the sport.

The Yellow Stripe by Danny Peters
Danny is back with another commentary to make you think.
-----------------------------
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©2012 Frontstretch.com

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The Frontstretch Newsletter: November 16th, 2012

THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
November 16th, 2012
Volume VI, Edition CCXXXI

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DONATE TO HELP HURRICANE SANDY VICTIMS
Millions are grappling with the effects from one of the more devastating hurricanes to hit the United States. If you're in an unaffected area, please consider donating to help others who will spend months rebuilding their lives and their homes after Sandy whipped onshore with winds of 80 miles an hour.  Call 1-800-RED-CROSS, visit redcross.org or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation today. Every little bit helps.

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Top News
by Jeff Wolfe

Keselowski Won't Challenge NASCAR Cell Phone Policy

According to a report from ESPN's David Newton, Brad Keselowski has no plans to go toe to toe with NASCAR about their ban on drivers having their cell phones in the car with them. After his red flag tweets during the jet dryer fire in the season opener at Daytona, Keselowski gained legions of followers.

Again on Sunday, the championship leader pulled out his phone during the red flag and proceeded to tweet to his followers, and on Monday, NASCAR punished him with a $25,000 fine. Speaking at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Keselowski was asked if he'd continue to carry his phone with him in the car.

"I will say probably not," he said during the Chaser news conference at Miami-Homestead Speedway Thursday.

NASCAR said drivers were told they could not carry cellphones or any other computer-like devices in their cars after the Daytona 500. Keselowski, who comes into Sunday's race with a 20-point lead in the championship series, wouldn't comment on whether he thought the fine was hypocritical of NASCAR.

"It doesn't matter whether it is, it exists and I have to work around it," he said. "I'd rather stay out of that line (of questioning)."

But Keselowski did say he had a clear understanding of how to use social media in the future.

"It means you can still be involved in social media," he said. "NASCAR has drawn the line as what you can do in the car."

Dale Earnhardt Foundation Donates $2 Million to Girl Scout Retreat

The Dale Earnhardt Foundation, with Teresa Earnhardt as its executive director, donated $2 million to help develop a 700-acre campus for a Charlotte area Girl Scouts council which will name the new retreat after the late seven-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion.

The retreat will be called the Dale Earnhardt Environmental Leadership Campus and will serve as an outdoor learning place for the Girls Scouts Hornets Nest Council in an eight-county area, according to report from AOL's Sporting News.

"Dale was an avid sportsman and outdoorsman; whether it was spending time at the Earnhardt Farm or traveling across the country on a hunt, he loved outdoor adventure," said Teresa Earnhardt. "We are proud to put Dale's name on a campus like this with its beautiful wooded environment, wildlife native to the area and such a strong program teaching young people the importance of respecting nature."

The foundation was created in 2002 to help children and to help wildlife and environmental preservation.

According to the foundation, the grant was the largest ever received by the Hornets Nest Council and the largest the foundation has ever given to one organization.

"We cannot imagine a more worthy cause for our largest grant to date," Earnhardt said.

Dale Earnhardt was inducted in the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2010 with seven championships and 76 career Sprint Cup victories.

Mars, Inc. Says it Gets 4 to 1 Return on Investment With NASCAR Sponsorship

Mars Inc., the company that produces M&M's candy, says it's over 20 years of NASCAR sponsorship has paid off for the company, according to a report on forbes.com.

According to NASCAR data as well as Mars Inc. tracking, M&Ms is the fourth-most recognized brand in NASCAR with 72 percent brand loyalty over competitors. Among avid NASCAR fans, 72 percent say they almost always choose the brand affiliated with the racing series over a brand that is not, 76 percent indicate they feel positive with Mars, Inc.'s sponsorship in NASCAR and 69 percent replied that NASCAR sponsorship influences their decision to buy M&Ms over other candy.

"One of the reasons that Mars has been so successful is that the company is so integrated in the sport," said Norris Scott, NASCAR's vice president of partnership marketing. "A great example of Mars 'going big' is last year when Mars aired a TV spot for first time ever since being involved with NASCAR."

Kyle Busch is the current driver of the M&Ms car, the No. 18 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing. Busch has won one race this season, even though he has led the most laps in some races, including last Sunday at Phoenix.

"I have been with Mars since June 1991 and directly involved in our NASCAR program since 2001; NASCAR truly understands and leverages the different sponsors within their sport," said William Clements, vice president of sponsorships and sports marketing for Mars, Inc.  "When we consider a partner, we focus on four main things: the partner must reinforce the brand message (M&M's are colorful, fun, engaging, family, sharing, which is the same as NASCAR's attributes), must be inclusive amongst a wide group of people (NASCAR has 75 million fans; almost 1/3 of the U.S. population are some level of fans of NASCAR), must truly be reputable with customers and must be consumer and associate engaging."

According to the story, there are some advertisers who think NASCAR may have experienced its best times in the early 2000s. Scott said the data shows that NASCAR fans are as loyal to the sport's brands now as they were in 1990.

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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In Case You Missed It
by Beth Lunkenheimer

Bodine to Run Endeavour Project Paint Scheme at Homestead

Todd Bodine's No. 11 Red Horse Racing Toyota will sport a special paint scheme this weekend for the at Homestead-Miami Speedway. He'll showcase the Tundra Endeavour Project in the final race of the season.

"Toyota has stood behind me for such a long time, and it's an amazing manufacturer to drive for. I've been fortunate to drive fast Tundras for the past nine years and win two championships with them, and I'm proud to be a Toyota driver," Bodine said. "When I visited the Endeavour in 1995, I was given the opportunity to sit in the cockpit of the shuttle, which is a very special and extremely rare privilege. So when we were approached with the chance to represent this project at Red Horse Racing, we gladly accepted the opportunity. It'll be a great way to have some fun and close out the season."

The Endeavour Project spotlighted the 2012 Toyota Tundra Crewmax when it towed the 292,000-pound Space Shuttle Endeavour across a Los Angeles bridge on the way to its final home at the California Science Center last month.

"It's really amazing that a stock Toyota Tundra was able to tow the Endeavour; it just shows how tough these trucks are," he continued. "As the full-sized pickup truck with the highest North American parts content, I think the Tundra was a clear choice to pull this American icon to its final home."

In 21 races, Bodine has a lone win at Dover in June, five top 5s and seven top-10 finishes. The driver of the No. 11 Toyota has been plagued by a strong of bad luck this season, suffering eight DNFs--including a lap 48 crash last week at Phoenix.

Dakoda Armstrong, Regan Smith to Make Nationwide Debuts

Dakoda Armstrong and Regan Smith will make their Nationwide Series Debuts Saturday at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Armstrong, who was released from Truck Series team ThorSport Racing after sponsorship ran out in late August, will pilot the No. 30 Turner Motorsports Chevrolet. He ran the Truck Series race at Michigan for the organization but retired early due to engine woes.

"I'm really excited about the opportunity that Turner Motorsports has given me to run their No. 30 Chevrolet during the series finale in Miami," Armstrong said. "I'm looking forward to making my first NNS start at Homestead-Miami Speedway."

Meanwhile, Regan Smith will pilot the No. 5 HendrickCars Chevrolet in what will be a preview of next season. Late last month, he signed on to drive the No. 5 truck full time next year.

"I'm thrilled about this opportunity. Being a part of JR Motorsports and the direction it's headed means a lot to me. I think running at Homestead will give us a great head start on 2013," Smith said. "Out goal is to be the team that dominates races and contends for a championship. Races like this go a long way in helping the driver and team get acclimated to each other. I know a lot of the guys at JRM already, so this weekend will be a lot of fun too. I'm looking forward to working with both Cole (Whitt) and Danica (Patrick). I think there is a lot we can learn from one another."

Smith was released early from Furniture Row Racing in favor of next year's driver Kurt Busch beginning at Charlotte in late September.

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Got NASCAR-related questions or comments?
Send them Summer Bedgood's way at summer.bedgood@frontstretch.com; and, if you're lucky, you'll get your name in print when she does her weekly column answering back to you – the fans that keep Frontstretch afloat. Frontstretch Fan Q & A will run on Thursdays with a whole new set of Fan Questions and Answers!

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Keepin' It Short: The Battle of the North and South Continues
by Mike Neff

Last week we talked about the North/South Shootout pitting the best Modified drivers of the North and South against each other for supremacy. This week the war continues, only it will be on the dirt this time. Cherokee Speedway will once again be hosting the Blue-Gray 100. An institution in the Southeast, this year's event will be the 22nd annual version of this classic race. Some of the best Super Late Model dirt drivers in the business have won this race during its 21 year history.

Cherokee Speedway has been the home of quite a few well known dirt drivers in the Southeast over the years. Scott Bloomquist ran here for several years. Mike Duvall of Flintstone Flyer fame is famous around the Gaffney, SC area. Ricky Weeks has been climbing the ranks of the Supers in recent years while Dennis Franklin has been spreading his own Super Late Model success from his roots at the track.

In the 21 years that Blue-Gray has been contested, there have been three drivers who have won the event three times. Scott Bloomquist was the first, Freddy Smith was the second while Chris Madden is the most recent member of the three-peat club. Jack Pennington, Clint Smith, Dale McDowell, Jimmy Owens and Jonathan Davenport have also engraved their name on the Blue-Gray trophy.

Along with the Super Late Models, the Extreme 4s, Young Guns, Renegades, Stock 4s, Crate Late Models, Open Wheel Modifieds and Vintage cars will be competing. Saturday the Renegades and Stock 4s will qualify and run heats with the Extreme 4s and Young Guns running heats and mains. When Sunday dawns at the track, fans will see Crate Late Models qualify and then run their main along with the Renegades, Stock 4s, Open Wheel Modifieds and Vintage cars. The feature division, the Super Late Models, will qualify, run heats, consolation races and the Blue-Gray main event.

Admission for Saturday's activity is $10 with pit passes costing $20. Sunday's tickets will set you back $25 with pits being $35. Both days kids under 11 are free. Two day passes are available for $30 in the grandstands and $40 in the pits. Gates open at 11:00 both days with hot laps starting immediately after the 1:00 drivers' meeting. If you are anywhere near Gaffney, SC this weekend, make the trip to Cherokee Speedway to see another chapter in the rich heritage of the Blue-Gray unfold.

This Weekend's Race Schedule

Fri : Nov 16th – USA Raceway ; Tucson : AZ – 45th Annual Western World Championships Lucas Oil ASCS Sprints
Fri : Nov 16th – New Smyrna Speedway ; New Smyrna Beach : FL – 47th Annual Florida Governor's Cup Pro Late Models
Fri : Nov 16th – New Smyrna Speedway ; New Smyrna Beach : FL – Sportsman
Fri : Nov 16th – Royal Purple Raceway ; Baytown : TX – USMTS 6th Annual Winter Nationals
Sat : Nov 17th – USA Raceway ; Tucson : AZ – 45th Annual Western World Championships Lucas Oil ASCS Sprints
Sat : Nov 17th – New Smyrna Speedway ; New Smyrna Beach : FL – 47th Annual Florida Governor's Cup Super Late Models
Sat : Nov 17th – New Smyrna Speedway ; New Smyrna Beach : FL – Modifieds
Sat : Nov 17th – The Bullring at Las Vegas ; Las Vegas : NV – SRL Southwest Tour Late Models
Sat : Nov 17th – Cleveland Speedway ; Cleveland : TN – Southern All Star Dirt Super Late Models
Sat : Nov 17th – Royal Purple Raceway ; Baytown : TX – USMTS 6th Annual Winter Nationals
Sun : Nov 18th – Cherokee Speedway ; Gaffney : SC – Southern All Star Dirt Super Late Models
Sun : Nov 18th – Myrtle Beach Speedway ; Myrtle Beach : SC – Myrtle Beach 400 Late Models
Sun : Nov 18th – Myrtle Beach Speedway ; Myrtle Beach : SC – Southeast Limited Late Models
Thu : Nov 22nd – Toyota Speedway at Irwindale; Irwindale : CA – USAC MOPAR National Midgets

Mike Neff is a Senior Writer for Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via email at mike.neff@frontstretch.com. Follow him on Twitter @MNeffShortTrack.

~~~~~~~~~~

COME JOIN THE FRONTSTRETCH FAMILY!

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Frontstretch Folio: Ford EcoBoost 400
by Rick Lunkenheimer

This weekend, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series heads to Homestead-Miami Speedway for the Ford 400. Sunday's race will be the 36th and final race of the 2012 season and will be broadcast live Sunday, November 18th, at 3 PM ET on ESPN. The race can also be heard on your local MRN affiliate or SiriusXM Channel 90. Drivers will compete for 267 laps (400.5 miles) before taking the checkered flag.

Records and Facts

Jamie McMurray holds the track qualifying record, with a lap of 29.816 sec at 181.111 mph 2003 Ford 400. McMurray finished ninth in the race and failed to lead any laps. Bobby Labonte went on to win the race. The pole was McMurray's only one of the season and he acquired a total of five top 5s, 10 top 10s, and an average finish of 19th to finish 13th in points that season.

Tony Stewart holds the record for the fastest race run at this racetrack, with a speed of 140.335 mph in the 1999 Pennzoil 400 presented by Kmart. Stewart led 44 of the 267 laps to win the race by 5.289 sec over second-place Bobby Labonte. Jeff Burton finished third, followed by Mark Martin in fourth, and Dale Jarrett in fifth. Stewart won a total of three races during the 1999 season and finished fourth in points.

Tony Stewart is the defending race winner of this event, leading 65 of the 267 laps in the 2011 Ford 400. He finished more than a second ahead of Carl Edwards, who had led the most laps, and managed to find himself in a tie-breaker situation for the championship. Martin Truex, Jr., Matt Kenseth and Jeff Gordon rounded out the top 5.

Track Facts

Track / Race Length: 1.5.-mile oval, 267 laps (400.5 miles)
Pit Road Speed: 45 mph
Banking: 18-20 degrees in the corners
Frontstretch: 1,760 ft., banked 4 degrees
Backstretch: 1,760 ft., banked 4 degrees
Grandstand Seating: 65,000

Pre-race Schedule
Practices: Friday, November 16, 1:30 - 3:00 PM ET on ESPN2
Saturday, November 17, 1:00 - 2:00 PM ET (not televised)
Happy Hour: Saturday, November 17, 3:00 - 3:50 PM ET on SPEED
Qualifying: Friday, November 16 at 6:10 PM ET on SPEED

VIPs

Grand Marshal / Command: Johnathan Hillstrand, of Discovery's "Deadliest Catch"
Honorary Starter / Wave Green Flag: Dave Mondragon, General Marketing Manager for Ford and Lincoln
Honorary Race Chairman: Jamie Jones, Senior Vice President of Consumer Sales; Edsel B. Ford, III, Board of Directors of Ford Motor Company
Honorary Pace Car Driver: Kid Rock, Multi-platinum selling American rock star
Invocation: Pastor Scott Claunch, Calvary Chapel in Kendall, FL
Pledge of Allegiance: Gary Littrell, Medal of Honor Recipient
National Anthem: Chris Mann, 2012 Finalist of NBC's "The Voice"
God Bless America: Chelsea Bain, Rock Ridge Music Recording Artist
Color Guard: Homestead Air Force Base 482nd Fighter Wing Color Guard
Military Flyover: F-16C Fighting Falcons, Homestead Air Force Base 482nd Fighter Wing

They Said It

"The way you drive the racetrack is pretty unique. The corners are very symmetric, but the way that you drive it is a little bit different. It created a lot of opportunities to pass, and it's a track where you can run from the bottom to the top. It's just a matter of where your car works the best. The way the momentum gets built and shifted there, it's kind of unique from all the other tracks as far as you can get through the center of the corner and be three car-lengths ahead of a guy, but he can really get a run off the corner. The next thing you know, on exit, you are back to being side-by-side. It's a little bit different momentum-wise and how you pass there than some of the other tracks we go to." Tony Stewart

"We had a really fast car last year at Homestead and we were able to finish fourth. Homestead is one of my favorite tracks on the circuit and it's a great place to end the season. I think that with the banking they put in a few years ago, Homestead has really become one of the best tracks that we race at. There's enough banking that we can run side-by-side, and the groove ended up being along the top line. I just think it's a place that creates great racing, so I'm looking forward to this weekend and would love to get a win for this No. 17 team." Matt Kenseth

"Homestead is just unique. You can charge turn one a little bit more than you can at most places, because as you get through the corner, the banking seems to get steeper all the way through, and you have options. You can run the top, you can run the bottom, you can run the middle, or you can split the middle-top or middle-bottom and make your car turn. It's just a unique race track, and it seems to fit the guys that like to move around and make their cars work in different spots. It seems like every time we return to the track it loses a little grip, which is a good thing. Since they repaved the track a few years back it has become one of my favorites. For me it has been a lot of fun to race on." Kevin Harvick

Rick Lunkenheimer is a contributor for Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via email at rick.lunkenheimer@frontstrech.com. Follow him on Twitter @FrntstretchRick.

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Fantasy Friday: Ford EcoBoost 400
by Jeff Wolfe

We've hit race No. 36 overall, and race No. 10 in the Chase as NASCAR finish up another season at Homestead-Miami Speedway. It will be hard for NASCAR to top the drama it had last year at when Tony Stewart needed a victory to capture the title, then went out and won. It will be next to impossible to match the drama from last week, with then points leader Jimmie Johnson crashing, Jeff Gordon extracting revenge on Clint Bowyer in the form a causing a crash, and a last lap finish that became wild when NASCAR didn't throw the caution while Danica Patrick's car left oil down in turn 4 and all along the frontstretch.

Brad Keselowski heads into Miami with a 20-point lead over Johnson and needs only a 15th-place finish to clinch the title, no matter what Johnson does. Keselowski's first goal, contrary to what his instincts will want it to be, is to stay out of trouble. He'll also be protecting tires, to try and avoid what happened to Johnson last week.
Unless an accident or mechanical issue sidelines Keselowski early, Johnson will be going all out for the win.

Top 5 Picks

1. Jimmie Johnson. His past history at Miami is a bit deceiving because during his run of five straight titles, he often was in control of the points race and was just looking to stay out of trouble, taking few risks. That won't be the case this Sunday as he knows he'll need to win for any shot to catch Keselowski.

2. Brad Keselowski. He'll be in protection mode, but I'm picking him anyway. He's only led 11 laps in eight races at Miami, but he's been breaking those trends the entire Chase and it may well continue here.

3. Carl Edwards. If there's any place that he can break his 68-race losing streak it's at Miami. He has two wins in eight races at Miami and has led 560 laps. Plus he finished runner-up to Tony Stewart last year after leading the most laps.

4. Tony Stewart. He ended last season at Miami with a win, and just like Edwards, Miami has been one of his best tracks. In 13 races there he has three wins and has led 450 laps.

5. Matt Kenseth. This race will be his last with the only organization he has ever known, and Miami has also been a good track for him. He has one win there and has led 303 laps in 12 races. He'd love to finish his Roush Fenway tenure with one more win before moving to Joe Gibbs Racing next season.

Shoulda, woulda, coulda: Jeff Gordon and Clint Bowyer. Just for fun, wouldn't it be interesting to see Gordon leading this race on the final lap, with Bowyer on his bumper. Do we really need to ask what the outcome might be?

ACCOUNTABILITY GROUP
Here's a look at how last week's picks fared in Week 9 of the Chase at Phoenix.

Jimmie Johnson - 32nd. He was looking at a top-10 finish before his right-front tire blew, causing him to go to the garage for repairs.

Brad Keselowski - 6th. He was a contender to win for a while, but once Johnson went out, it was clear that he was looking for a good finish and to stay out of trouble.

Denny Hamlin - 2nd. He also was in contention much of the day and had a nice rebound after a disappointing finish in Texas the week before.

Tony Stewart - 19th. He was trying to battle for a top-10 finish when a spin put him a lap down.

Kyle Busch - 3rd. He had the dominating car for most of the day, but for some reason chose the inside lane on a late restart when the outside lane had been working well all day for restarts. He led the most laps at 237 and it was the eighth straight time when he has led the most laps in a race and not won.

Season Stats
175 Predictions
17 Wins
56 Top 5s
84 Top 10s

Grade for the week: B-. No winner this time, even though Busch should have won it. Still three of the top 6 isn't too bad.

One last thing: Ryan Newman has not started from the pole this year, putting at risk his streak of 11 straight seasons of winning at least one pole position. Additionally he hasn't managed to grab a pole at Homestead in 10 starts.

Jeff Wolfe is a Contributor for Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via email at jeff.wolfe@frontstretch.com.

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THE EYES HAVE IT!

In our newest Facebook feature, we posted a photo of a driver inside a helmet, and asked you to identify which driver it was based only on his or her eyes.  Wednesday's mystery driver was Paul Menard. 

Congratulations to Jill Vommaro, the first reader to correctly identify Menard in the photo.

Other readers with the correct answer include: Harry Colby, Heidi Bodine, Rhonda Herning, Lucia Bush, and Rogers Andrea. Great job, everyone!

Other guesses included Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson, Austin Dillon, Ken Schrader, Kurt Busch, Elliott Sadler, Marcos Ambrose and Mark Martin.

We will run a new photo each Monday and Wednesday throughout the offseason, and list the readers with the correct answer here in our newsletter (Facebook rules prohibit us giving a prize, but hey—at least you'll get your name in lights!).  Go to our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/Frontstretch) to join the fun!

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TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:

No Such Thing As a Bad Champion: Thoughts As the Offseason Looms
by Amy Henderson

Four Burning Questions: Will Brad Seal the Deal in Homestead?
by Matt Stallknecht

Voices from the Cheapseats: Finer Points to Bring Back Fans
by Jeff Meyer

Handicapping the 2012 Nationwide Series Finale at Homestead
by Bryan Davis Keith

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FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
 
Q: The 2002 Ford 300 saw the one and only race start in Busch Series competition for one very controversial outfit.  Name it.

Check back Monday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
 
Thursday's Answer:
 
Q: In 1996, defending Busch Grand National Champion Johnny Benson only made one Busch appearance at Homestead.  Unfortunately, this one-off did not last very long.  What happened?

A: David Hutto, then the defending champion of the Goody's Dash Series, got his No. 97 Chevrolet out of the groove in Turn 1. He then slid into the wall right-rear first. The result of that hit was that Hutto bounced back out into traffic, causing a multi-car crash involving Benson, points leader Randy LaJoie, Rodney Combs, Derrike Cope, Dennis Setzer, Greg Biffle and Michael Ritch.  The crash can be seen at the 32:15 mark of this clip.

Benson's Pontiac was not heavily damaged in the crash, but the team chose to park it since they weren't racing for points.  In addition to Benson, Cope, Setzer, Hutto and Ritch were out on the spot, while Combs returned after repairs behind the wall.  LaJoie's team made multiple pit stops to repair crash damage (Hutto hit him in the passenger side), but eventually recovered to finish tenth and claim the title over David Green.

Frontstretch Trivia Guarantee: Take 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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Coming Monday in the Frontstretch Newsletter:
-- Ford EcoBoost 400 Race Recap by Jeff Wolfe
-- Secret Star and Stat of the Race by Tom Bowles
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, and more!
 
Monday on the Frontstretch:

Thinkin' Out Loud: Ford EcoBoost 400 by Mike Neff
Mike is back with his overall thoughts about the action from Sunday afternoon's race from Homestead.

Bowles' Eye View by Tom Bowles
Tom is back with a commentary about one of the biggest stories leaving the final Chase race from Homestead.

Commentary by TBA
A commentary about the hottest topic leaving Homestead.

Big Six: Ford EcoBoost 400 by Amy Henderson
Looking for all you need to know leaving the final Chase race at Homestead? Amy has your who, what, when, where, why and how from a weekend of racing.

Pace Laps: Homestead-Miami Weekend by the Frontstretch Staff
A look at the biggest stories to keep an eye on in each series after the races from Homestead.

Nationwide Breakdown: Ford EcoBoost 300 by Bryan Davis Keith
Bryan has all the post-race analysis you need following Saturday afternoon's Nationwide Series race from Homestead.

Tracking the Trucks: Ford EcoBoost 200 by Beth Lunkenheimer
Beth has all the post-race analysis you need following Friday night's Camping World Truck Series final race of the season from Homestead-Miami Speedway.

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