Friday, March 29, 2013

Replica optical toys - updated range

Dear List members,

 

The page showing the range of replica optical toys is updated.

See the new versions of the Phenakistiscope, Zootrope, Praxinoscope, etc.

Also available is a replica version of La Toupie Fantoche.

Goto:
http://www.visual-media.eu/new-replica-optical.toys.html

 

These replica are most useful for demonstration purposes, children workshops, museum shops etc.

 

Replicas can be ordered directly from the distributor or publisher.

Visual Media website does not sell these items

 

Best wishes,

 

Thomas

www.visual-media.eu

The Frontstretch Newsletter: Friday, Lunchtime Edition

THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!

March 29th, 2013
Volume VII, Edition XLVI

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Top News
by Justin Tucker

Mark Martin Tabbed As Sub for Denny Hamlin

Joe Gibbs Racing announced Thursday evening that Mark Martin will pilot Denny Hamlin's No. 11 FedEx Toyota while he recovers from an L1 Compression Fracture suffered at Auto Club Speedway last weekend. Martin had originally been scheduled to pilot the Michael Waltrip Racing No. 55 Toyota for four of the next six races; instead, he'll do all six, perhaps more while moving over to a team that contended for the championship last season.

"I'm happy to have this opportunity to help out JGR, FedEx and Denny," said Martin. "Hopefully I can keep those guys up front and compete for wins while Denny heals up."

JGR President J.D. Gibbs expressed his confidence in the part-time Sprint Cup driver.

"We've been real fortunate to have never been in this situation with the need to find someone to fill in for an injured driver," Gibbs said. "A lot goes into a decision like this [one] but we are really pleased to have someone of the character and caliber of Mark Martin to fill in while Denny is out. Obviously, we're not exactly sure how long that is going to take, but Mark's career speaks for itself and our team knows it will have the opportunity to compete for a win every week."

Martin's record in the Sprint Cup Series, extending over three decades is stellar. In 858 career starts, he has 40 wins, 271 top 5s, and 449 top 10s. Since scaling back to a part-time schedule, with MWR's No. 55 Martin has led over 250 laps and scored five poles, five top 5s and 15 top 10s in 28 starts.

While he hates being sidelined, Denny Hamlin also voiced his support for the 54-year-old, who's trying to become the oldest driver in NASCAR history to win a Cup Series race.

"I really appreciate Mark being able to fill in for me," said Hamlin. "Like everyone in NASCAR, I have a tremendous amount of respect for Mark, and I know he will keep that FedEx Camry up front until I get back behind the wheel."

According to a report from USA Today, Rodney Childers, crew chief for the No. 55 MWR Toyota, tweeted -- and deleted -- his thoughts on Martin's temporary move to JGR.

"This will be like me loaning my girlfriend to my best friend for 4 weeks to see if I like this other girl moving fwd," he said. "It will be very hard."

"But overall, this will show a lot of people that we work a lot closer with JGR than most people think we do."

As of press time, MWR had not announced their plans to replace Martin. It's widely expected, however that Brian Vickers will fill the seat in the No. 55, an extended audition of sorts as the company looks for a full-time replacement for Martin in 2014.

Frontstretch had initially reported, from several sources Elliott Sadler was the primary sub for Hamlin, but input from sponsor Fed Ex, as well as the surprising last minute willingness for Martin to swap for all dates - not just a few - turned things in a different direction. Sadler, who was originally scheduled to run a fourth Cup car in a limited schedule with Joe Gibbs Racing will continue in that role, racing at Kansas and Talladega coming up.

Jack Roush To Be Inducted In Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame

Jack Roush's achievements in motorsports are long and illustrious: two-time championship car owner in the Sprint Cup Series, four-time championship owner in the Nationwide Series, one Camping World Truck Series title, and 312 wins across NASCAR's top three touring series. Now, you can add Texas Motorsports Hall of Famer to that list. Roush will become the 15th inductee into the Texas Motorsports HOF on April 11th joining the likes of A.J. Foyt,Terry Labonte, Kenny Bernstein, Mark Martin, Bruton Smith, Joe Gibbs, and Bobby Labonte.

Roush's success in the state of Texas is unmatched, and Texas Motor Speedway has been dubbed the "House of Roush." Roush's teams have accounted for nine Sprint Cup Series wins and 18 victories total among the top three series at that 1.5-mile oval. In fact, his Sprint Cup Series wins total at TMS is more than double his next closest competitor, Rick Hendrick, with four. Roush's most recent win at the speedway come in last April's Samsung Mobile 500 with Greg Biffle.

Jimmie Johnson and Kurt Busch will also be honored at the gala on April 11th. Johnson will be championed as the Racer of the Year while Kurt Busch will be presented the Major General Thomas Sadler Award. The NASCAR trio will also be joined by IndyCar Series driver Graham Rahal (TMS Sportsman Award) and late journalist Chris Economaki (Bruton Smith Legend Award).

NTS Motorsports Adds Joey Licata to K&N Pro Series East Stable

NTS Motorsports announced the addition of Joey Licata to its NASCAR K&N Pro Series East team on Thursday. The 21-year-old from from Lake Balboa, California started his career in karting where he earned six International Karting Federation Grand National championships. Licata's resume doesn't end there, though, as he has amassed over 90 victories and two ASA Speed Truck championships. 

"I'm really looking forward to driving for such a great up and coming team like NTS Motorsports," Licata said in a release on the team's website. "I am confident that we can run strong and win races. That's what this year is all about; building momentum that will take us into next year, where we can go after a championship. I would like to sincerely thank NTS for this opportunity."

The plan currently is for Licata to run 3 K&N Pro Series East races in 2013 with a full schedule in 2014 contending for series Rookie of the Year honors as well as the championship. NTS also currently has Truck Series Rookie of the Year Brennan Newberry and four-time Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday, Jr. in its stable of drivers.

Have news for Justin 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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ADVERTISEMENT
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~~~~~~~~~~

In Case You Missed It
by Beth Lunkenheimer

Eldora Rules Package Still A Work In Progress

Camping World Truck Series director Chad Little spoke during a media teleconference on Tuesday and updated information on the series' visit to Eldora Speedway later this season. Unfortunately, what he had to give in terms of answers was little more than "stay tuned." 

"We are getting very close to finalizing all of the details for Eldora, from the procedural changes for that race to the rules package," Little said. "We've bounced around several ideas internally here and we're visiting with the teams. We'll probably finish our final visits at Martinsville, and then I expect that we'll have an announcement very shortly after that race."

In his first year as series director, Little has been handed the task of determining the structure of the race, heights of the trucks and so much more in preparation for the July 24th event. The Truck Series visit to the Rossburg, Ohio track will be the first dirt race in the history of the series.

Warriors-4-Warriors Joins Brian Silas, T3R2

Brian Silas and T3R2 Racing announced earlier this week that they had partnered with Warriors-4-Warriors for the remainder of the 2013 season. The sophomore driver represented the charity that "strives to help veterans with the challenges they face when returning home" at Daytona in February.

"We were honored to promote and support Warriors-4-Warriors at Daytona," Silas said. "Now, we have the privilege to continue to support their cause and help make a difference. It's an indescribable thing."

The pair will be at World of Beer-Wellington tonight to share the charity's message and promote the Truck Series' upcoming visit to Martinsville Speedway from 6:00 to 9:00 PM.

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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: Hop, Hop, Hoppin', to Victory Lane on Easter Saturday
by Mike Neff

The Pro All-Star Series expanded into the South, in 2006 and the Easter Bunny 150 at Hickory Motor Speedway quickly became one of the crown jewels on their schedule. Mike Rowe, the legendary Super Late Model racer from New England was the winner of the inaugural event that year, one that's grown in stature ever since. Kyle Grissom, the 2012 PASS South champion and also the 2012 Easter Bunny, hopes to ride the momentum from a win at Myrtle Beach in the Bash at the Beach to a repeat in the annual Easter Weekend event. 32 drivers are pre-entered for the race, promising an impressive field will compete for the coveted Springtime trophy from the "Birthplace of NASCAR Stars."

Austin Theriault leads Grissom by 10 points after two races on the Southern PASS schedule. Theriault and Grissom have each scored a win in the first two races, but Theriault has two top-5 finishes while Grissom has posted two top 10s. Jay Fogleman, the 2012 PASS National Champion is sitting third in South points and is hoping to add an Easter Bunny trophy to his mantle. Brandon Ward is fourth in heading into Hickory while Brandon Lynn rounds out the top five in the standings.

There are some other, well-known names hitting the banking at the .363-mile oval this Saturday. Clay Rogers, who has won numerous short track races around the Southeast, including a win at Rockingham Speedway last fall, will be trying for a Bunny trophy. Grissom isn't the only driver chasing a second Bunny title. Ben Rowe, who won the event in 2009 is entered again this year, trying to become the first repeat winner of the event. Jared Irvan, the son of former Cup Series driver Ernie Irvan, continues to expand his racing resume this season as he runs a Super Late Model in the Bunny.

Former Snowball Derby winner, Johanna Long, is taking advantage of a week off for the Nationwide Series to compete at the historic race track that is actually located in Newton, NC. There are drivers from 10 states making the trip to Hickory to chase the Bunny trophy. Mark Beard from Michigan, Clete Caywood from South Carolina, Kyle DeSouze from Rhode Island, Joey Doiron from Maine, Trey Gibson from Colorado, Zak Hausler from Texas, and DJ Shaw from New Hampshire are just a few traveling many miles to hopefully bring back home a holiday gift.

The Easter Bunny has become a staple of racing in the Southeast over the last seven years and each event has had a personality of its own. It is hard to say what the race will look like this year but the odds are there will be an exciting finish. Hickory Motor Speedway and its tight confines seem to naturally lend itself to incredibly close results, from its days on the then-Busch Series schedule to its weekly short track barnburners. So if you're in the Tar Heel state for Easter and want to see some great competition, head over to the little track in Newton, NC and see who takes home the trophy in the Easter Bunny 150.

This Weekend's Race Schedule

Friday    03/29/13    Green Valley Speedway    Glencoe    AL    Crate Late Models
Friday    03/29/13    Green Valley Speedway    Glencoe    AL    Enduros
Friday    03/29/13    Green Valley Speedway    Glencoe    AL    Hobby Stocks
Friday    03/29/13    Green Valley Speedway    Glencoe    AL    KMSA Mini Stocks
Friday    03/29/13    Green Valley Speedway    Glencoe    AL    Pure Pony
Friday    03/29/13    Green Valley Speedway    Glencoe    AL    Sportsman
Friday    03/29/13    Green Valley Speedway    Glencoe    AL    Street Stocks
Friday    03/29/13    LaSalle Speedway    LaSalle    IL    Hornets
Friday    03/29/13    LaSalle Speedway    LaSalle    IL    Late Models
Friday    03/29/13    LaSalle Speedway    LaSalle    IL    Street Stocks
Friday    03/29/13    LaSalle Speedway    LaSalle    IL    UMP Modifieds
Friday    03/29/13    Tri-City Speedway    Pontoon Beach    IL    UMP Factory Stocks
Friday    03/29/13    Tri-City Speedway    Pontoon Beach    IL    UMP Late Models
Friday    03/29/13    Tri-City Speedway    Pontoon Beach    IL    UMP Modifieds
Friday    03/29/13    Tri-City Speedway    Pontoon Beach    IL    UMP Pro-Crate Late Models
Friday    03/29/13    Tri-City Speedway    Pontoon Beach    IL    UMP Sport Compacts
Friday    03/29/13    LA Raceway    La Monte    MO    USMTS Modifieds
Friday    03/29/13    Ace Speedway    Altamahaw    NC    USAC Eastern Ignite Midgets
Friday    03/29/13    Lancaster Speedway    Lancaster     SC    Pro Late Models
Friday    03/29/13    Golden Triangle Raceway Park    Beaumont    TX    ASCS Winged Sprints
Friday    03/29/13    Houston Motorsports Park    Houston    TX    7th Annual Fiesta's Speedfest Ecostocks
Friday    03/29/13    Houston Motorsports Park    Houston    TX    7th Annual Fiesta's Speedfest NASCAR BWFS Coke Trucks
Friday    03/29/13    Houston Motorsports Park    Houston    TX    7th Annual Fiesta's Speedfest NASCAR Fiesta Modifieds
Friday    03/29/13    Houston Motorsports Park    Houston    TX    7th Annual Fiesta's Speedfest NASCAR Stock Cars
Friday    03/29/13    RPM Speedway    Crandall    TX    Factory Stocks
Friday    03/29/13    RPM Speedway    Crandall    TX    Limited Modifieds
Friday    03/29/13    RPM Speedway    Crandall    TX    Sprint Cars
Friday    03/29/13    RPM Speedway    Crandall    TX    Street Stocks
Friday    03/29/13    RPM Speedway    Crandall    TX    USRA Modifieds
Saturday    03/30/13    Green Valley Speedway    Glencoe    AL    Crate Late Models
Saturday    03/30/13    Green Valley Speedway    Glencoe    AL    Enduros
Saturday    03/30/13    Green Valley Speedway    Glencoe    AL    Hobby Stocks
Saturday    03/30/13    Green Valley Speedway    Glencoe    AL    KMSA Mini Stocks
Saturday    03/30/13    Green Valley Speedway    Glencoe    AL    Pure Pony
Saturday    03/30/13    Green Valley Speedway    Glencoe    AL    Sportsman
Saturday    03/30/13    Green Valley Speedway    Glencoe    AL    Street Stocks
Saturday    03/30/13    Riverside International Speedway    West Memphis    AR    305 Winged Sprints
Saturday    03/30/13    Riverside International Speedway    West Memphis    AR    360 Winged Sprints
Saturday    03/30/13    Riverside International Speedway    West Memphis    AR    Late Models
Saturday    03/30/13    Riverside International Speedway    West Memphis    AR    Modifieds
Saturday    03/30/13    Riverside International Speedway    West Memphis    AR    Stock Cars
Saturday    03/30/13    Arizona Speedway    Queen Creek    AZ    ASCS Winged Sprints
Saturday    03/30/13    Central Arizona Raceway    Casa Grande    AZ    Dwarf Cars
Saturday    03/30/13    Central Arizona Raceway    Casa Grande    AZ    IMCA Modifieds
Saturday    03/30/13    Central Arizona Raceway    Casa Grande    AZ    Super Stocks
Saturday    03/30/13    Central Arizona Raceway    Casa Grande    AZ    X-Mods
Saturday    03/30/13    Cocopah Speedway    Yuma    AZ    Factory Stocks
Saturday    03/30/13    Cocopah Speedway    Yuma    AZ    Street Stocks
Saturday    03/30/13    Cocopah Speedway    Yuma    AZ    IMCA Sport Mods
Saturday    03/30/13    Cocopah Speedway    Yuma    AZ    Pro Stocks
Saturday    03/30/13    Cocopah Speedway    Yuma    AZ    IMCA Modifieds
Saturday    03/30/13    Bakersfield Speedway    Bakersfield    CA    Mini Stocks
Saturday    03/30/13    Bakersfield Speedway    Bakersfield    CA    NMRA Midgets
Saturday    03/30/13    Bakersfield Speedway    Bakersfield    CA    Sport Mods
Saturday    03/30/13    Bakersfield Speedway    Bakersfield    CA    USAC Midgets
Saturday    03/30/13    Bakersfield Speedway    Bakersfield    CA    USAC Western States Midgets
Saturday    03/30/13    Madera Speedway    Madera    CA    4-Cylinders
Saturday    03/30/13    Madera Speedway    Madera    CA    Hobby Stocks
Saturday    03/30/13    Madera Speedway    Madera    CA    MST
Saturday    03/30/13    Madera Speedway    Madera    CA    Open Late Models
Saturday    03/30/13    Madera Speedway    Madera    CA    Sport Mods
Saturday    03/30/13    Madera Speedway    Madera    CA    Toyota Sedans
Saturday    03/30/13    34 Raceway    Burlington    IA    360 Sprint Invaders
Saturday    03/30/13    34 Raceway    Burlington    IA    IMCA Modifieds
Saturday    03/30/13    34 Raceway    Burlington    IA    IMCA Stock Cars
Saturday    03/30/13    34 Raceway    Burlington    IA    Mod Lites
Saturday    03/30/13    Highland Speedway    Highland    IL    Outlaw Micros
Saturday    03/30/13    Highland Speedway    Highland    IL    UMP Late Models
Saturday    03/30/13    Highland Speedway    Highland    IL    UMP Modifieds
Saturday    03/30/13    Highland Speedway    Highland    IL    UMP Sport Mods
Saturday    03/30/13    Highland Speedway    Highland    IL    UMP Street Stocks
Saturday    03/30/13    LaSalle Speedway    LaSalle    IL    Hornets
Saturday    03/30/13    LaSalle Speedway    LaSalle    IL    Street Stocks
Saturday    03/30/13    LaSalle Speedway    LaSalle    IL    Sunoco American Late Models
Saturday    03/30/13    LaSalle Speedway    LaSalle    IL    UMP Modifieds
Saturday    03/30/13    I-35 Speedway    Winston     MO    USMTS Modifieds
Saturday    03/30/13    Ace Speedway    Altamahaw    NC    USAC Eastern Ignite Midgets
Saturday    03/30/13    Caraway Speedway    Asheboro    NC    Late Models
Saturday    03/30/13    Caraway Speedway    Asheboro    NC    Southern Modified Lights
Saturday    03/30/13    Caraway Speedway    Asheboro    NC    Limited Late Models
Saturday    03/30/13    Caraway Speedway    Asheboro    NC    Mini Stocks
Saturday    03/30/13    Caraway Speedway    Asheboro    NC    Carolina Street Stock Big 10 Series
Saturday    03/30/13    Caraway Speedway    Asheboro    NC    Legends
Saturday    03/30/13    Caraway Speedway    Asheboro    NC    Hornets
Saturday    03/30/13    Caraway Speedway    Asheboro    NC    U-Cars
Saturday    03/30/13    East Lincoln Speedway    Stanley    NC    Limited Sportsman
Saturday    03/30/13    East Lincoln Speedway    Stanley    NC    Micro Sprints
Saturday    03/30/13    East Lincoln Speedway    Stanley    NC    Raceiver Sprint Cars
Saturday    03/30/13    East Lincoln Speedway    Stanley    NC    Renegades
Saturday    03/30/13    East Lincoln Speedway    Stanley    NC    Stock 4
Saturday    03/30/13    East Lincoln Speedway    Stanley    NC    Super Stock 4 Cylinders
Saturday    03/30/13    Hickory Motor Speedway    Hickory    NC    PASS Pro Late Models
Saturday    03/30/13    Hickory Motor Speedway    Hickory    NC    PASS South Super Late Models
Saturday    03/30/13    Lancaster Speedway    Lancaster     SC    Super Late Models
Saturday    03/30/13    Music City Quarter Midget Racing Association    Hermitage    TN     Jr. Honda Quarter Midget
Saturday    03/30/13    Music City Quarter Midget Racing Association    Hermitage    TN     Sr. Honda Quarter Midget
Saturday    03/30/13    Music City Quarter Midget Racing Association    Hermitage    TN     Light 160 Quarter Midget
Saturday    03/30/13    Houston Motorsports Park    Houston    TX    7th Annual Fiesta's Speedfest Ecostocks
Saturday    03/30/13    Houston Motorsports Park    Houston    TX    7th Annual Fiesta's Speedfest NASCAR BWFS Coke Trucks
Saturday    03/30/13    Houston Motorsports Park    Houston    TX    7th Annual Fiesta's Speedfest NASCAR Fiesta Modifieds
Saturday    03/30/13    Houston Motorsports Park    Houston    TX    7th Annual Fiesta's Speedfest NASCAR Stock Cars
Saturday    03/30/13    Texana Raceway Park    Edna    TX    Dwarf/Mod Lites
Saturday    03/30/13    Texana Raceway Park    Edna    TX    Hot Stock Trucks
Saturday    03/30/13    Texana Raceway Park    Edna    TX    Mini Stocks
Saturday    03/30/13    Texana Raceway Park    Edna    TX    Pure Stocks
Saturday    03/30/13    Texana Raceway Park    Edna    TX    Sport Mods
Saturday    03/30/13    Texana Raceway Park    Edna    TX    Street Stocks
Saturday    03/30/13    South Boston Speedway    South Boston    VA    Late Models
Saturday    03/30/13    South Boston Speedway    South Boston    VA    Limited Late Models
Saturday    03/30/13    South Boston Speedway    South Boston    VA    Pure Stock
Monday    04/01/13    Tucson International Raceway    Tucson    AZ    Green Racing Spring Nationals Chevy Volt
Monday    04/01/13    Tucson International Raceway    Tucson    AZ    Green Racing Spring Nationals Nissan Leaf

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

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Today's Featured Commentary
Editor's Note: The wrong commentary was posted yesterday in Vito Pugliese's slot. We apologize for the error (although February's column was great!) and give you this week's edition on a special day.

Joey Logano At A Crossroad
What's Vexing Vito
by Vito Pugliese

Much has been made of Joey Logano's actions at Auto Club Speedway this past Sunday. From his "take no prisoners" dive into Turn Three on the final lap, to going Ivan Drago with his "that's what he gets" blast after Denny Hamlin went careening into the inside wall – and out of the Series for the next six weeks, Sliced Bread has sliced right into the center of NASCAR attention. Granted, Logano didn't know the extent of Hamlin's injuries. However, as of Wednesday afternoon he had yet to reach out to Hamlin to discuss the incident - or wish him well. That changed Wednesday afternoon, finally although Hamlin said that while Logano had reached out to him, and they had exchanged texts, things "didn't go well. It was unproductive."

We all know the knock on Joey thus far; he hasn't lived up to the hype ever since Joe Gibbs Racing snatched him out from under Roush's nose, being glossed "Sliced Bread" due to the hoopla surrounding him. He's fought an uphill battle, having to replace a quasi-legend in Tony Stewart, taking over the reins of a driver and team what won two titles prior to his arrival. Home Depot even built an ad campaign around the transition in 2008, heightening the pressure that never did seem to pop while he was there.

Logano's won two races – albeit a rain-delayed one at New Hampshire, in 2009, and last year at Pocono, moving former mentor Mark Martin out of the way during the final laps, but has ruffled his share of feathers along the way. Greg Biffle, Kevin Harvick, Ryan Newman, Denny Hamlin, and now Tony Stewart have all had their run-ins with the driver, with the last two weeks those conflicts extending to scuffles with crewmen. Sure, he has been an easy target: a young kid, not particularly physically imposing or intimidating (besides threatening to punch Kevin Harvick in the nose over the radio, or poking Ryan Newman), and now the latest barb is a "rich kid" smack. Tony Stewart referred to him as a rich kid who never had to work for anything, while Kurt Busch's girlfriend hit him with #TrustFundRacer hash tag on Twitter.

So Logano is at a bit of a crossroads. He's five races in with a new team, and Roger Penske's operation has always been the definition of professionalism; these guys don't even wear jeans the morning before the race. It's slacks, dress shoes, and a sponsor shirt with a button-down collar. Over the course of the last couple of years, the Captain has had to deal with Kurt's craziness, A.J.'s Adderall, and now Joey turning into a stone cold killa. So considering the circumstances, it might be time for Logano to drop the "tough guy" act and exercise some humility. He's teetering on the brink of success in the No. 22 car, showing speed and consistency without the frustrations of living up to the history of the No. 20 car when he was 18 years old. Just because you were wronged at Bristol and were going for the win in California doesn't mean things are going to be all right.

The last two weeks have seen him getting into fights on pit road, which sponsors aren't going to like – particularly Shell, who for the last five years with Harvick, Allmendinger, and now Logano have seen themselves aligned with drivers cussing out their teams, other drivers, fighting people, or suspended for failed drug tests. In a way, he's following in the footsteps of Brad Keselowski – who is about the furthest thing from a TrustFundRacer or rich kid that you could think of. But Keselowski knew how to balance it all, piling success on top of these situations and now is the time to mentor his teammate to do the same.

Logano also reminds me of another driver of a yellow car who got off to a bit of a rocky start himself: Ernie Irvan. Discovered by Dale Earnhardt, Irvan won early in his career once he got aligned with Morgan-McClure racing and the iconic No. 4 Kodak machine. In 1991, Irvan was involved in a number of incidents and run-ins with drivers, becoming a bit polarizing with fans and competitors alike. The kicker came during a midsummer wreck at Pocono, where contact wiped out half the field just several months after a Talladega incident knocked Kyle Petty out for an extended period of time with a leg injury. Finally, before the start of the August race at Talladega, Ernie chose to address the drivers during a pre-race meeting apologizing for his actions and asked for the respect back of his peers. Things weren't perfect, after that, but over time he grew to be one of the better, more likable wheelmen inside the garage.

Will we be seeing the same from Logano sometime soon? Now, I'm not suggesting that Joey has to kow-tow to people he's had run-ins with, but it might not hurt to dial down the rhetoric a tick, show some genuine concern for somebody who suffered a broken back that you go to work with 36 weeks a year, and not be so concerned with trying to be a hard ass at every opportunity in an effort to demand respect.

And as far as his beef with Tony is concerned? Just buy him a few hot dogs next weekend at Martinsville and he should be fine.

Vito Pugliese is an Assistant Editor for Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via email at vito.pugliese@frontstretch.com.

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ADVERTISEMENT
Are you looking to advertise your website, product or brand?  A good way to get your name out there is via direct advertising here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!  Interested parties can contact us at tony.lumbis@frontstretch.com for details.

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TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:


Four Burning Questions: Hamlin's Replacement and Dale Jr's Dream Season
by Matt Stallknecht

Voices From the Cheap Seats: A Waltrip Makes Sense While France…Not So Much
by Jeff Meyer

Around the Block: Stewart Called This One Wrong
by Amy Henderson

Kyle Larson Driver Diary: Daytona's Finish, Busy Schedules and Nationwide Racing
as told to Mike Neff

Nuts for Nationwide: The Highs and Lows of 2013 (So Far)
by Kevin Rutherford

Frontstretch Foto Funnies: Holy $#!&, Slow Down!
by the Fronstretch Staff

Formula 1 Friday: The Champ Starts a War
by Andy Hollis

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FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:

Q: About the only aspect of the Busch Series' second stint at Nashville Speedway that stayed the same from 1995-2000 was the fact that the race was 320 laps in length.  During that time, the track was repaved, the race was moved to the evening from the afternoon and back again.  What major change came along in 1999 for the event?

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

Q: In the rough and tumble 1996 BellSouth Mobility Opryland USA 320 at Nashville Speedway, Todd Bodine was in position to pick up the first victory for ProMotion Motorsports.  However, Bodine's potential winning run came to an end with 25 laps to go.  What happened?

A: Bodine ended up blowing a right rear tire and sliding into the wall in Turn 3, ending his day.  The blown tire appeared to happen because he ran over the rear bumper off of Randy LaJoie's car a few laps earlier (naturally, the bumper on the track caused a debris caution).  The tire went flat on the second lap after the restart.  The debris and Bodine hitting it can be seen here.  The resulting crash, after that can be seen here.

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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Coming Monday in the Frontstretch Newsletter:
-- Weekend News by Phil Allaway
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, trivia, and more!


~~~~~~~~~~

Monday on the Frontstretch:


Full Throttle by Mike Neff
Mike takes a look at the upcoming Truck race at Rockingham -- and the statement he feels NASCAR fans must make along with it.

Speeding Through Summer by Summer Bedgood
Summer takes a deeper look at NASCAR's off week and its timing. Was it good or bad for the sport in the long run?

Bowles-Eye View by Tom Bowles
Tom pops up with a commentary that will make you think.

Pace Laps: All Series by the Frontstretch Staff
After a quiet Easter weekend, get yourself pumped and ready for the racing week ahead with top storylines from all your major racing series.

5th Column TBA

-----------------------------
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Thursday, March 28, 2013

The Frontstretch Newsletter: March 28th, 2013

THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!

March 28th, 2013
Volume VII, Edition XLV
~~~~~~~~~~


Latest On Hamlin Situation
per Mike Neff

A Thursday teleconference with J.D. Gibbs did not lead to an official announcement on Hamlin's replacement at the No. 11 car. Frontstretch reported yesterday Elliott Sadler was the frontrunner for that seat.

Sources late yesterday confirmed that Brian Vickers had been put in the mix, at the last minute through the interest of sponsor Fed Ex in negotiations to drive some of the races Hamlin is out but there were mitigating factors. Fed Ex, one of the few primary sponsors left in the sport desires sponsor exclusivity and Vickers driving the No. 11 would limit exposure with sponsor Aaron's during that time. Since Vickers is the top candidate to drive the No. 55 car, full-time in 2014 there was an additional level of concern such a "swap" would cause on all sides. That additional behind-the-scenes brokering is what could stretch this announcement, along with a final schedule out for several days.

Keep it here for all the latest updates on this developing story.

Top News

by Phil Allaway

Hamlin and Logano Communicate; Feud Over?

Whenever there is a significant incident in NASCAR involving on-track contact, it is generally expected that drivers take it upon themselves to contact the other party and talk it out in an attempt to clear the airThese conversations are often done over the phone, while house calls have also been made in the past.

Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano, the main belligerents in the last-lap incident in Fontana, have not talked to each other face-to-face since the crash.  However, they did recently exchange text messages.

"It didn't go well," Hamlin stated in a matter-of-fact fashion to the Associated Press.

Penske Racing owner Roger Penske, speaking from the Pro-Am event at the Shell Houston Open, just wants the whole affair to go away.

"
There's a lot of noise about a lot of things that are said at these races," Penske said on Wednesday to the Associated Press' Chris Duncan.  "People are at a high pitch and I think other people need to settle down and realize that's the sport. We're just going to have to keep our heads on." 

Penske and Logano were both playing in the Pro-Am portion of the event, where Logano declined interview requests.


Brad Keselowski Launches New Website

On Wednesday, Brad Keselowski announced the relaunch of his personal website, BradRacing.com.  According to the site's press release, the site will provide "increased access to the Penske Racing driver and Brad Keselowski Racing owner."  The site, which takes a page from NASCAR's own redesigned website, will be one of the first in the NASCAR industry designed to give users on desktops, laptops, tablets and other mobile devices a complete, easy-to-navigate experience.

Keselowski is very happy to open his revamped personal website and hopes that fans like it.

"
We're fortunate to compete in a sport with such a large and loyal fan base," Keselowski said.  "This site is designed to be at the forefront of digital media and primarily with the fans in mind as a platform for them to engage and interact with me and each other in new and different ways."

Once the site is completely live next week, there will be individual mini-sites within the website for every race in which Keselowski is scheduled to compete in.  These sites will contain comprehensive news updates and multimedia content.  Fans will be able to contribute to the mini-sites, and so will Keselowski. 

In addition, The Crew Challenge will launch on April 5th at Martinsville as a way for fans to contribute content to BradRacing.com.  According to the site, they are looking for "t
hings that capture a unique perspective on a race. Things that make a statement. Things that show your passion. Things that show intelligence or wit. Things that are fun and entertaining. Things that, taken together, help tell the story of each of Brad's races in a dynamic way." Note: Italics are emphasized at BradRacing.com.  Fans can submit videos, photos, stories, drawings, race analysis, commentary, interviews, or even recreations of race events in games like NASCAR Racing 2003 Season or NASCAR The Game: Inside Line. 

Fans will earn points based on how much content is accepted by the website, and by how much it is liked by other fans.  The points can be redeemed to acquire merchandise, and some additional prizes will be awarded at season's end.  If you'd like to sign up early and earn bonus points, go here and fill out the form
.  Keselowski will announce more detailed information on this particular aspect of the site via his Twitter feed next week.

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

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!

Today's Featured Commentary
Joey Logano At A Crossroads
What's Vexing Vito
by Vito Pugliese

As we approach Daytona Speedweeks' 2013 kickoff this weekend, with Media Day well underway as you read this article there is as much talk about looking to the past as there is heading towards the future.

The Gen-6 car will make its debut in competition for the first time Saturday night in the Sprint Unlimited exhibition race. The sixth iteration to the Cup car to compete is really, in my mind version 3.0 for the CoT. After an update in 2010, one that axed the front splitter and rear wing, the latest version is said to embrace more of the street car cues of its production counterparts. Much like the Nationwide Series regained some notoriety, starting to develop an image of its own with the throwback styling of the Dodge Challenger and Ford Mustang, the Cup cars now look more "street stock" than they have in nearly 20 years.

There will be aspects, though that harken back to a simpler time with the new car. Much like in the early 1980s, Dodge has all but vanished once again from NASCAR, save for Morgan Shepherd's effort in the Nationwide Series. Chevrolet has been left thumping their chest about the new SS being the only rear-wheel drive, V8 powered production car in the field – albeit due to Dodge's departure – although their car isn't due in showrooms until the end of the year. (And had to be engineered in Australia, then rebadged from the long defunct Pontiac G8. Lumina fans, take heart.) Even Ford is appearing retro in various ways; well, at least "one of them" is. The Wood Brothers announced that 2011 Daytona 500 champion Trevor Bayne will be piloting the colors driven to victory 50 years ago by DeWayne "Tiny" Lund for this year's event. Lund's win was as unlikely as Bayne's, as he was a substitute driver, filling in for the injured Marvin Panch whose life he saved just days earlier.

Holding true to tradition is the running of the Busch Cla… er, the Bud Shoot… I mean, the Sprint Unlimited as the first race of the season. It used to be held the week before the Daytona 500 during the day, and it was quite simple: a 20-lap sprint (literally) to the finish, with no pit stops needed. In 1991, when restrictor plates made things pretty boring, the format was updated. The race was broken into two ten-lap, green-flag segments, with the field inverted for the second ten-lapper. Considering what today's plate races have devolved into – riding around for three hours before trying the last 20 laps – this format would probably be ideal nowadays.

Alas, further tinkering with perfection was preferred, and the race was eventually drug out to a 25-lap first segment, then intermission, followed by a 50-lap race. Why, I have no clue. Probably because you can sell more commercials and beer over the course of 75 laps.

This year, governing has gone out the window, and the fans will now be responsible for voting on the segments. The race's eligibility, taking a turn towards history is limited to previous year pole winners only, and prior winners of the event -- not "whomever has a full-time ride this coming season." The lineup will be determined on race day by a fan vote, based on career Wins, 2012 Points Standings Finish, most nose hair, or the order in which they won their poles the previous year. The format itself will also be a fan vote, broken up into three segments totaling 75 laps. 

While I am not really a fan of the constant format fiddling of this event, The All-Star Race, or the points system, it is a definite change to what we had become accustomed to. As much flack as NASCAR takes, you have to give them credit for finally listening to the fans – those who were actually still showing up and tuning in. Nobody liked the splitter and the wing – boom, outta here. Two-car tandems getting boring? Cover up the grille and make it run hot quicker. That Fusion looks nothing like what Carl Edwards has ripped the front end off of? Suddenly, cars look like cars again. Kind of.

There's even a new truck, the "Air Titan," which is said to reduce track-drying time by up to 80%. Presumably, since it also blows mainly compressed air, its flash point and burn rate is also greatly reduced if JPM is in the neighborhood.

What is a bit frustrating, however is that we're a week off of what the schedule should truly be and always had been until last year. The Daytona 500 is supposed to be run the second Sunday in February. Last year, tradition was tinkered with, and look what happened – the first rain delay in this great race's history and an event that nearly got finished on Tuesday afternoon. Had the Unlimited been run last week, well it would have been smack dab in the middle of the massive blizzard that buried much of the Northeastern United States. I seem to remember that happening back in 1979 and it being kind of a big deal, one that minted a legion of new race fans who were forced to watch TV that day.

Perhaps with this new car, new format, and a new attitude within the sanctioning body, we can pick up where things left off back in '79 one more time.


Vito Pugliese is a Senior Writer/Assistant Editor for Frontstretch.  He can be reached via e-mail at vito.pugliese@frontstretch.com.  Follow him on Twitter at @VitoPugliese.
~~~~~~~~~~~~

Editor's Note: The Critic's Annex will return next week due to a lack of content to actually critique.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ADVERTISEMENT
Race fans, do you love Frontstretch.com's coverage of NASCAR's top 3 series, IndyCar, Formula One and Short Track Racing? Do you want to read even more about your favorite sport? Then check out the industry's newest racing publication, Motorsport Illustrated News!, which is available both in print and in digital format! As one of our loyal readers, you'll receive 15% off any subscription when you use the coupon code fs2013.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Frontstretch Line of the Week

From Did You Notice? ... Back-Breaking Maneuvers, The Perfect Combination And A Secret Success

"
Who would have thought, two years ago we'd be five races into 2013 and Paul Menard would still be driving for Richard Childress, let alone the most consistent wheelman on the team?  "- Tom Bowles, on Paul Menard's consistent performance to start the season.
~~~~~~~~~~

ADVERTISEMENT
Are you looking to advertise your website, product or brand?  A good way to get your name out there is via direct advertising here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!  Interested parties can contact us at tony.lumbis@frontstretch.com for details.

~~~~~~~~~~

TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:

NASCAR Fan Q & A: How Much Does Media Really Influence Viewership?
by Summer Bedgood

Truckin' Thursdays: Miguel Paludo on Time Off, Testing and Illnesses
by Beth Lunkenheimer

Tech Talk: Bono Manion Takes Stock Of NASCAR's New Stock Car
by Mike Neff

Mirror Driving: NASCAR Surprises And Disappointments In 2013
by the Frontstretch Staff
~~~~~~~~~~

FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:

Q:  In the rough and tumble 1996 BellSouth Mobility Opryland USA 320 at Nashville Speedway, Todd Bodine was in position to pick up the first victory for ProMotion Motorsports.  However, Bodine's potential winning run came to an end with 25 laps to go.  What happened?

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

Q:  If you've seen the movie Smokey and the Bandit Part II, then you've seen footage of a race between a bunch of trucks at then-Atlanta International Raceway. That one-off race in 1979 that was filmed for the movie resulted in the creation of the Great American Truck Race for 1980. However, what was the main problem with racing eight ton trucks at superspeedways?

A:  The one downside to this particular brand of truck racing was the complete and total lack of support from tire manufacturers.  As a result, teams raced on street tires that had a large amount of the tread shaved off in order to dissipate heat.  The beginning of this clip shows some of the issues and what little the teams could do to stop it.  Unfortunately, there just wasn't any way to prevent a bunch of right front tires from blowing out.

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 tomorrow in the Frontstretch Newsletter:
-- Top News from Justin Tucker
-- In Case You Missed It by Beth Lunkenheimer
-- Keepin' It Short by Mike Neff
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, trivia, and more!


~~~~~~~~~~

Tomorrow on the Frontstretch:


Formula 1 Fridays by Andy Hollis
Andy takes a look at what's happening with the biggest racing series overseas.

Four Burning Questions: Off Week by Matt Stallknecht
Matt takes time out during this break in NASCAR action to assess the 2013 season to date.

Holding A Pretty Wheel by Amy Henderson
Amy returns this week with another intriguing Friday commentary.

Voices From the Heartland by Jeff Meyer
Our Tennessee transplant returns with another interesting take on recent events.

Nuts For Nationwide by Kevin Rutherford
With the Nationwide Series at a brief stopping point, Kevin checks out the highs and lows of the 2013 season to date.

Kyle Larson Driver Diary as told to Mike Neff
Larson stops by to give his take on how his season has gone so far in the Nationwide Series.
-----------------------------
Talk back to the Frontstretch Newsletter!
Got something to say about an article you've seen in the newsletter? It's as easy as replying directly to this message or sending an email to editors@frontstretch.com. We'll take the best comments and publish them here!

©2013 Frontstretch.com

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Wednesday, March 27, 2013

The Frontstretch Newsletter: March 27th, 2013

THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!

March 27th, 2013
Volume VII, Edition XLIV

~~~~~~~~~~

Top News
by the Frontstretch Staff

Sadler To Replace Hamlin

Sources have told the Frontstretch Elliott Sadler has been chosen as the primary sub for Denny Hamlin. All that's preventing an official announcement, at this point is a few details to work out with sponsor Fed Ex. Sadler, who was long pegged as the likely choice is driving full-time for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Nationwide Series and was scheduled to drive a fourth Cup car in a limited schedule later this season. That Cup announcement has been put on hold due to Hamlin's injury; ironically, Sadler's expected fill-in role will serve as an extended audition.

Sadler has been runner-up in the Nationwide Series championship the last two seasons after taking a step down from Cup competition. In 430 career Cup starts, beginning in 1998 he's won three times, collected 19 top-5 finishes, 69 top 10s and eight pole positions. His last start was in the 2012 Daytona 500, running 27th after being at the epicenter of a multi-car wreck early on that wiped out several contenders. Michael Waltrip Racing had hired him for a limited schedule after that, but Richard Childress and Chevrolet, his employers at the time blocked that due to manufacturer conflicts. That put current teammate Brian Vickers in that seat, which now opens the door for Sadler on this side (Vickers will drive for MWR in Martinsville in two weeks).

There are no conflicts on the Nationwide schedule that would affect Sadler until early June.

Hamlin Out At Least 6 Weeks With Back Fracture

Denny Hamlin's Sprint Cup season will be officially interrupted. After an evaluation by Dr. Jerry Petty, in North Carolina Tuesday Joe Gibbs Racing announced Hamlin will be on the sidelines for at least six weeks with an L1 compression fracture of his back. While the driver won't require surgery, the risks involved with racing with this type of injury were too high for him to be medically cleared.

"I wish I got good news today," he tweeted. "I didn't.
If me getting back in a car was based on pain tolerance then I would be in the car next week. There's just more to it that I can't control."

Hamlin will miss at least five races: Martinsville, Texas, Kansas, Richmond and Talladega before making a potential return at Darlington May 11th. If he adheres to that schedule, based on the way points have been scored in 2013 to date he'll be an estimated 137 points outside the top 10 upon his return. That would put Hamlin in the position of winning multiple times just to contend for a postseason spot he's made every year since entering the Cup Series in 2006. Still, he'll be an estimated 91 points behind the top 20 which would make even that avenue almost impossible.

Joey Logano, who has been silent on Twitter since Sunday's race expressed regret about postrace comments in which he said "That's what he gets" without knowing Hamlin was seriously hurt. "The last thing I wanted to hear was that [Hamlin] was in the hospital," he told USA Today Sports. "[I'm] hoping for a speedy recovery."

No Fines Issued For Post-Race Incidents In California

Joey Logano and Tony Stewart escaped any consequences from NASCAR Tuesday after their post-race incident at Fontana. Stewart, who went charging at Logano on pit road after he felt the driver blocked him on a restart also went off during a post-race interview, swearing multiple times before claiming he planned to physically fight the driver. The sanctioning body, though chose not to get involved in their spat, citing a "Boys, Have At It" philosophy verified by Sprint Cup Director John Darby.

"That's just another example of the state of competition in NASCAR racing," he claimed in a Tuesday teleconference. "And the disappointments that come sometimes when you don't win the race.  I don't see any foul there at all."

"A few years ago, we backed away from micromanaging drivers' emotions.  You would hope in today's world that if somebody didn't win a race, they would be upset about it for whatever reason.  That's what our drivers do is they try to win races."

As for the last-lap crash, between Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano NASCAR looked at the replays and determined no additional penalties were warranted. Darby also praised the crews, in each situation which kept the post-race emotions from boiling over into a bigger brawl after Sunday's event.

News 'N' Notes

- Brian France,
in an interview with ESPN took responsibility for fining Denny Hamlin earlier this season after a series of criticisms on NASCAR's Gen-6. It's a ruling he also stood by. "
We give more latitude than any professional sport to criticize, speak their mind and say whatever they want," he said. "We encourage it, actually, including criticism that gets directed at us. But when the driver . . . begins to call out the quality of the racing or the rules packages, we have to make that call or opinions will shape what may not be reality..."

- JD Motorsports and Nationwide Series driver Danny Efland have parted ways. Efland, who was running a limited schedule for the organization in 2013 failed to qualify at Bristol after becoming involved in a season-opening Daytona wreck. 39 of his 58 career starts have come with the JD Motorsports organization, resulting in a best finish of 13th. No replacement was announced at press time, although Daryl Harr is running the West Coast races already for the team's second car, the No. 4.
 

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

~~~~~~~~~~

ADVERTISEMENT

Race fans, do you love Frontstretch.com's coverage of NASCAR's top 3 series, IndyCar, Formula One and Short Track Racing? Do you want to read even more about your favorite sport? Then check out the industry's newest racing publication, Motorsport Illustrated News!, which is available both in print and in digital format! As one of our loyal readers, you'll receive 15% off any subscription when you use the coupon code fs2013.

~~~~~~~~~~


Today's Featured Commentary
NASCAR Rivalries: Ongoing Feuds Keep Fans Watching
by Ellen Richardson

Although competition in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series has continued to improve this season, the true heat was found on Sunday in the final laps of the Auto Club 400.  Watching Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano share sheet metal until one or the other wound up in the wall, on the last lap of this race, I knew that this rivalry had gone from a war of words to the kind of NASCAR rivalry that fans will continue to remember.

The funny thing is, I never expected another rivalry to emerge at the end of this race. So, I was somewhat surprised when Tony Stewart climbed from his No. 14 Chevrolet and started wailing on Logano for blocking him on the final restart.  In fact, the buzz among both NASCAR fans and media following Sunday's race has been centered on Smoke's attempt to make Sliced Bread into burnt toast, followed by Stewart's post-race rant and Hamlin's injury, regardless of Kyle Busch's weekend sweep. 

Feeling the excitement in the air following Sunday's wild finish, I was interested to see how active both Facebook and Twitter would be with fan comments.  One of these comments came straight from a fan who works directly within the sport:

"I think Tony Stewart is one heck of a race car driver, but I don't feel that Joey really did anything wrong. It was a restart and he was holding his position trying to win the race. Stewart has and would've done the same thing.  However I do feel like Stewart was correct on speaking his mind on how he felt about the situation.  Instead of holding his feelings and true emotions back he said what he felt.  I also do not like what Logano said about Hamlin getting what he deserved.  Their racing was good for the sport because it was a lot of battling for position, but I feel that Logano used up Hamlin and it cost both of them a chance to win.  This battling is good for our sport.  However drivers getting hurt is not, I do feel that if Hamlin wouldn't have tried to get Logano back he wouldn't have hit the wall quite as hard as he did. Just my two cents worth!!!"

Call it "Boys Have It" or what you will, NASCAR's rivalries are what keep us all tuning in, filling the stands and talking.  Whether you choose to deny it or not, this has been the case since the early days of this sport when Cale Yarborough and the Allison brothers brought national publicity to NASCAR following their unforgettable on-track and off-track battle at the end of the 1979 Daytona 500. 

As well-known pit road reporter, Dick Berggren stated, "Nobody knew it then, but that was the race that got everything going.  It was the first 'water cooler' race, the first time people stood around water coolers on Monday and talked about seeing a race on TV the day before." 

This would be one of many NASCAR rivalries that would keep fans standing around the proverbial water cooler, or what we might all now refer to social media, talking about.  Some of my favorite rivalries include:

•    Darrell Waltrip vs. Rusty Wallace – The battle that ensued following Rusty Wallace's last lap spin of Darrell Waltrip in the 1989 All Star Race is one that long-time NASCAR fans continue to talk about.  In fact, hearing Tony's rant on Sunday was very reminiscent of Darrell's comment following this race, "I hope he chokes on the $200,000, that's all I can tell him."

•    Dale Earnhardt vs. Jeff Gordon – This rivalry went on from Gordon's initial start in the sport.  Earnhardt called Gordon "Wonder Boy" throughout their time racing together just to mess with his head.  This rivalry actually led to a large fan split, similar to that of Carolina and Duke basketball fans.

•    Kevin Harvick vs. Joey Logano – Here's yet another feud that Logano had himself mixed up in.  After Harvick spun Logano on the last lap of Pocono Raceway's Gillette Fusion ProGlide 500 in June 2010, Logano jumped out of his car and went straight to Harvick's to begin yelling at both Harvick and his team.  The post-race interview with Logano led to one of the most memorable marketing phrases that fans everywhere will long remember: "It's probably not Harvick's fault, his wife wears the firesuit in the family."

•    Clint Bowyer vs. Jeff Gordon – This was the race that everyone was talking about last year.  After a season's worth of ongoing tension exploded into pandemonium in the pits at Phoenix International Raceway, following Bowyer and Gordon colliding with seven laps lap to in the AdvoCare 500 and Gordon retaliating by wrecking Bowyer three laps later.  The battle royale that ensued between Bowyer's and Gordon's crews kept fans talking far into the offseason.

Witnessing the rivalries that have already formed this early in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, I will be "tuning in" to see who will be next to make rivalry history.

Ellen Richardson is a Newsletter Contributor for Frontstretch.com.  She can be reached via e-mail at frontstretcheditors@googlegroups.com.  

~~~~~~~~~~

GOT A NASCAR QUESTION OR COMMENT? WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
That's right; our Fan Q & A column is back once again in 2013. Send your question Summer Bedgood's way at summer.bedgood@frontstretch.com and if you're lucky, you'll get your name in print on Thursday when she does her weekly column. It's all part of our daily mission to give back to you – the fans that keep Frontstretch afloat!

~~~~~~~~~~

Tweet 'N' Greet
by Kevin Rutherford

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, Kevin Rutherford 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...

@dennyhamlin: All good pic.twitter.com/3Ou1XkAAtL

@BubbaWallace (Darrell Wallace, Jr.): The perfect example of never giving up and it ain't over til the checkered flag is out. Best race of all time!

@mw55 (Michael Waltrip): Let's celebrate safety and not ridicule our league. We learn from every wreck.

@KyleBusch: Finally gettin 2 my phone after an awesome time in VL n celebration dinner. Great job by my guys n thx 4 the congrats. Speedy recovery denny!

@kaseykahne: Just listened to an awesome interview by Tony Stewart. I think he said it all!

@BlakeFeese: To those fussing about Tony's reaction, watch golf. That's what it is there for.

@tydillon: I think today what made our sport is back great racing and fighting #gameon

@Drew_Herring: I think the racing we watched today is proof to calm down the the track re-paving. Amazing race, kudos to NASCAR and manufacturers #NASCAR

@RyanBlaney22: NASCAR is back everyone. From the amazing racing to the passion of the drivers. Big year for us.

@PeytonSellers: These kind of finishes are every weekend at @NASCARHomeTrack across the country. Find your local short track Sat night

@55MarkMartin: I went broke in 1982 doing my own team. Won't do it again RT @MTNVG: @55MarkMartin Hey Mark, did you ever plan on starting your own race team

@DannyEfland: @JDMotorsports01 and I have parted ways.

@Kenny_Wallace: I had this picture of @kylepetty from yesterday. Ha ha! pic.twitter.com/lpVxFJueF6

@AndyLally: I refuse to iron clothes, I just keep putting the dryer on cycle over & over until I remember to come back to it while it is still turning.

@DavidRagan: Really hate to hear Sonoma PR man John Cardinale passed away today. He was a good guy and truly loved racing. Keep his family n your prayers

@RossChastain: Hey @TeamBKR how's the budget looking?? I'm formally recommending heated seats in the banos! #coldmornings

@tannerberryhill: Hey @mattdracing! Bet you didn't know you get to drive the "love machine!" pic.twitter.com/2NChsGx9ko

@aric_almirola: Went for a hike to the top of Mount Baldy today with Marcos after practice. Ended up climbing around 4,000 ft. One hell of a workout

@claygreenfield: Grandmother- Do you realize you haven't called me since Daytona? Me- I've been busy I haven't even had time to tweet. She didn't laugh

@paulieharraka: Is it just me, or does it look like @joeylogano is getting ready to throw his Coke @ Smoke on this display?? pic.twitter.com/sxDJOUS8bL


Kevin Rutherford is a Senior Writer for Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via email at kevin.rutherford@frontstretch.com. Follow him on Twitter at @Surfwax83.

~~~~~~~~~~


ADVERTISEMENT
Are you looking to advertise your website, product or brand?  A good way to get your name out there is via direct advertising here in the Frontstretch Newsletter! Interested parties can contact us at frontstretcheditors@googlegroups.com for details.

~~~~~~~~~~

TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:

Did You Notice? ... Back-Breaking Maneuvers, The Perfect Combination And A Secret Success

by Tom Bowles

NASCAR Writer Power Rankings: Top 15 After Fontana
compiled by Michael Mehedin

Top Ten Ways NASCAR Could Make Drivers Settle Their Differences Off the Track
by the Frontstretch Staff

Open Wheel Wednesday: Season Opener Round Table
by Huston Ladner, Toni Montgomery and Matt Stallknecht

~~~~~~~~~~

FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
 
Q: If you've seen the movie Smokey and the Bandit Part II, then you've seen footage of a race between a bunch of trucks at then-Atlanta International Raceway. That one-off race in 1979 that was filmed for the movie resulted in the creation of the Great American Truck Race for 1980. However, what was the main problem with racing eight ton trucks at superspeedways?
 
Check back Thursday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
 
Tuesday's Answer:

Q: For many years, the spring race at Martinsville was scheduled for the same weekend as the NFL Draft, an event that ESPN built up from simple beginnings to be an all-conquering behemoth. As a result, it was the last race on the Sprint Cup schedule to get a live, flag-to-flag telecast. When was the first live, flag-to-flag telecast of the then-Hanes 500?

A: 1996 was the first year that the Hanes 500 received a pre-planned live, flag-to-flag telecast on ESPN. The previous year, rains delayed the race so that once coverage of the NFL Draft was complete, ESPN went to Martinsville to air the delayed telecast, but the actual race wasn't over yet. ESPN then aired that portion of the race as part of an unplanned live telecast. Later that year, rains delayed the start of the DieHard 500 at Talladega to beyond the end of CBS' timeslot. As a result, that telecast ended up airing six days later as an unplanned tape delayed broadcast. It also allowed a local TV station to embargo the footage of the big crash that broke Dale Earnhardt's collarbone and sternum.

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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Coming tomorrow in the Frontstretch Newsletter:
-- Top News from Phil Allaway
-- 
What's Vexing Vito by Vito Pugliese
-- Critic's Annex by Phil Allaway
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, the Line of the Week and more!

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Tomorrow on the Frontstretch:


Mirror Driving by the Frontstretch Staff
Your favorite Frontstretch writers are back to discuss a variety of different subjects. This week's topics include the NASCAR's lack of Tuesday penalties, the best and worst of the Nationwide Series thus far and so much more!

Frontstretch Fan Q&A by Summer Bedgood
Summer takes on your questions and answers them to the best of her ability. Be sure to send your questions in if there's something that's been nagging at you and you might see your name in print.

Tech Talk by Mike Neff
Mike has a Sprint Cup Series crew chief stop by to talk about the technical side of NASCAR. This week, "Bono" Manion stops by to talk about the progression of NASCAR's Gen-6 so far this season.

Truckin' Thursdays by Beth Lunkenheimer
Beth is back with all of the latest and greatest to come out of the Truck Series as the series continues on an extended break. This week, Miguel Paludo stops by with his latest driver diary entry. Topics include testing at Martinsville and what he's been filling his time off with.

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