The Frontstretch Newsletter: February 15th, 2012

THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
February 15th, 2012
Volume VI, Edition XIII

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Today's Top News
by Phil Allaway and Amy Henderson

Reutimann to "BK Racing" for Daytona 500, Kvapil for Phoenix

FoxSports.com's Lee Spencer is reporting that David Reutimann has signed with the not-officially-announced-yet BK Racing to drive their No. 93 Toyota in the Daytona 500.  It is currently a one-race deal for the Florida native, who already has a contract to drive in 26 races in the No. 10 for Tommy Baldwin Racing in the events that Danica Patrick does not attempt.  However, prior to Tuesday, he did not have a ride for Speedweeks.

"I was definitely starting to think that I wasn't going to get to run the Daytona 500, but that doesn't seem to be the case," Reutimann said.  "Daytona is such a huge deal.  Everyone says it pays the same amount of points and blah, blah, blah.  But it's my home track and I didn't know how I was going to take sitting on the sidelines.  That place is pretty special to me.  I'm pretty excited about running that race."

After Speedweeks, Reutimann will move over to the No. 10 for Tommy Baldwin Racing through the beginning of May before Patrick returns at Darlington.  When that happens, Travis Kvapil will take the reins of the No. 93 starting at Phoenix.  It is currently unclear whether Kvapil will be in the seat for the 26 races that Reutimann is in the No. 10 for, or if he will drive the car for the rest of the season after Daytona.

The No. 93 for BK Racing is the No. 4 that the Red Bull Racing Team campaigned last season in Sprint Cup.  Not only is the team guaranteed a starting spot thanks to a top-35 finish in owner points, but if they do drop out of the top-35 later in the season, they're still guaranteed a starting spot in rain delay situations since Kasey Kahne won at Phoenix last November.

J.R. Fitzpatrick to Drive for Turn One Racing?

The Toronto Sun reported on Tuesday that former NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Champion J.R. Fitzpatrick will likely announce this week that he will drive the No. 60 Chevrolet for Turn One Racing in the Camping World Truck Series.  According to the article, Fitzpatrick's contract is not fully signed as of yet.  However, a source in the know claims that only minor aspects of the deal need to be worked out before the driver signs on for the season.

The No. 60 Chevrolet was driven last year by Cole Whitt, while sponsorship was split between Red Bull and Fuel Doctor.  In 24 starts (Whitt failed to qualify at Daytona, but cut a deal to drive the No. 93 Chevrolet for RSS Motorsports in the race) he earned two top-5 and 11 top-10 finishes.  Whitt even led the point standings for one race, winding up a respectable ninth by season's end.  As for sponsorship, neither Red Bull nor Fuel Doctor are expected to return to the team, but Fitzpatrick has had backing in the past from Schick Hydro.  It is possible that Fitzpatrick could bring that backing into the fold.

Fitzpatrick has 14 previous starts in the Camping World Truck Series.  He has one fourth-place finish in the series back in 2009 at Daytona while driving for TRG Motorsports.  The journeyman has also started races for Kevin Harvick, Inc., DGR Motorsports, Brad Keselowski Racing and most recently, T3R Motorsports.  Last season, Fitzpatrick raced the full 12-race Canadian Tire Series schedule, earning three top-5 and 10 top-10 finishes while running a strong third in the final point standings.  In addition, Fitzpatrick started seven Nationwide Series races (two for Baker-Curb Racing and five for Go Canada Racing).  He finished a career-best fifth in the NAPA Auto Parts 200 at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve and earned a tenth-place finish at Road America.

News And Notes

- JJC Racing announced their plans to run the full Camping World Truck Series schedule on Tuesday, returning to competition with the No. 10.  Team owner Jennifer Jo Cobb will campaign Fords and Rams for herself during the season, while Steve Kuykendall returns as her crew chief.  The team will still run selected Nationwide Series races in their No. 13 car, as well.

- T3R Racing announced on Tuesday that they will run the full Camping World Truck Series season with Bryan Silas as the driver of the No. 99 Ford F-150.  According to Silas, the team has acquired the owner's points of Turn One Racing's No. 66 from 2011.  As a result, Silas will be locked into the first four races of 2012.

Silas is very excited about running the full year in the Camping World Truck Series.

"We've been building this program up for a while," Silas said.  "I spent a lot of time racing in the ARCA Racing Series and I feel the experience there is going to help me in a truck.  While the vehicles are different, we compete at a lot of the same types of tracks and that is extremely beneficial.  Its also a good feeling that a lot of the drivers I competed against in ARCA are now over here in the trucks, too, so there's that comfort zone as far as who I'm racing around."

Silas' No. 99 will once again be sponsored by Rockingham Speedway, a track that he has had success at in the past, and which just so happens to be on the Camping World Truck Series schedule for the first time this year.  Cal Boprey will serve as Silas' crew chief.

- JD Motorsports and their No. 01 Nationwide Series program announced a primary sponsorship deal with G&K Services for 2012. The company will combine with country gold recording artist Chris Cagle as a primary sponsor for Daytona, then continue on as primary for other selected races throughout the season. Mike Wallace is the driver of the team's Chevrolet.

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.

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Got NASCAR-related questions or comments?
Send them John Potts' way at john.potts@frontstretch.com; and if you're lucky, you'll get your name in print when he does his weekly column answering back to you – the fans that keep Frontstretch afloat. Potts' Shots will run on Thursdays with a whole new set of Fan Questions and Answers!

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ADVERTISEMENT
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TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:
Part III Of Our NASCAR Season Preview: What Next For The Busch Brothers?
by the Frontstretch Staff

Did You Notice? ... Buying A Super Bowl Spot, Tweaking The Shootout And Quick Hits
by Tom Bowles

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FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
 
Q:  Back when the Budweiser Shootout was a 20-lap race known as the Busch Clash (split into two segments), multi-car incidents were quite rare.  However, in 1995, the race got off to an auspicious start.  What happened?

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

Q:  In the 1995 ARCA 200 at Daytona International Speedway, Bill Venturini was in contention to claim victory early on before it all went away shortly before halfway.  What happened?

A: Venturini, who was running second at the time, suffered an unusual tire failure in the tri-oval and went hard into the outside wall.  Venturini was fine, but none too pleased.  Afterwards, his wife Cathy (Wendy and Billy's mother) gave a memorable interview/rant to ESPN's Dr. Jerry Punch about what was to blame for the crash.  That interview can be seen at the beginning 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! 

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Coming tomorrow in the Frontstretch Newsletter:
-- Top News from Phil Allaway
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, and more!

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Tomorrow on the Frontstretch:

Season Preview: Part IV by the Frontstretch Staff
Danica, Danica, Danica. We've heard all the hype... now the experts deal with reality. How, exactly, will she fare in her first full-time effort at stock car racing?
 
NASCAR, Tweet At Your Own Risk by Tom Bowles
Last year, multiple drivers found themselves on the wrong end of controversy based on things that they had publicly tweeted.  Tom takes a look at the tweeting phenomenon, and how drivers should be careful what they say online.

Other Columns TBA

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©2012 Frontstretch.com

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The Frontstretch Newsletter: February 14th, 2012

THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
February 14th, 2012
Volume VI, Edition XII

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HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

What To Watch For: Tuesday
by Tom Bowles

- At 11:00 AM, crews will begin assembling a 42-foot, underground tunnel at Kentucky Speedway which will eventually connect its new parking with the rest of the facility. The 1.5-mile oval track is undergoing renovations both inside and out after a disastrous debut on the Cup circuit in 2011; the first event saw traffic deadlocked for hours, parking filled too quickly and thousands of fans either forced to turn back, turned away or in a position where they needed to park two miles from the entrance and walk in order to see the race.

Today's Top News
by Tom Bowles

Michael Waltrip Attempting Daytona 500

The sport's only two-time winner of the Daytona 500 this century, Michael Waltrip will be looking to add to his trophy case once more. The semi-retired driver/owner has found a seat for Daytona Speedweeks, aligning with newly-formed Hillman Racing outside his stable to drive a No. 40 Aaron's-backed Toyota. The organization, competing in the Truck Series full-time this season with Ward and Jeb Burton will now give another "elder statesman" within the sport a chance while making their Cup debut.

"I appreciate what the folks at Hillman Racing including Joe Falk are putting together," said Waltrip in a release announcing the move. "Hopefully, my experience at Daytona will help them get out of the gate strong with their new team."

"I've been in this sport a long time, but I've never been so excited to go to Daytona," added Hillman. "To have two Daytona 500 champions at the start of the season, with Ward Burton in the truck and Michael in the Cup car positions Hillman Racing for a strong debut and a chance to win both races."

Should Waltrip qualify, it will be his 75th career start in the Cup, Nationwide or Truck Series at the speedway – a NASCAR record. The owner of Clint Bowyer, Mark Martin, and Martin Truex, Jr.'s cars, as well as a chassis and engine provider for JTG-Daugherty, Waltrip needed to align with another team to run the race as NASCAR claimed running his self-owned Toyota would violate their four-car limit rule.

New Sponsor Needed For Watkins Glen, Michigan Races

For two major Cup Series events, this Valentine's Day will be spent getting Cupid to shoot his arrows towards new primary sponsors. Heluva Good! Sour cream dips, after three years of backing the August Watkins Glen race officially pulled out of contract negotiations Monday, leaving the road course without a title sponsor just six months before the big event. Heluva Good! also severed their relationship with Michigan in the process, whose race they had supported the following week. That leaves the two-mile oval also scrambling to fill a late summer time period that's quickly becoming the true Dog Days of NASCAR August.

"The biggest sponsor every race track has is its Cup entitlement sponsor," Watkins Glen President Michael Printup told the Elmira Star-Gazette in an interview. "There is no question that it's painful. At this point, it's all hands on deck [to find a replacement]."

The exact terms of Heluva Good's! yearly contract were not disclosed. However, both facilities are seeking replacements with an asking price that could reach $2 million plus.

Hendrick Getting Busy Sponsoring … Other Teams

Rick Hendrick's Cup team is limited by the four-car rule. His business, Hendrickcars.com? They can sponsor all 43 cars on the grid if they so desire.

Based on Monday's announcement, that possibility is off to a running start. Already, the company has said they will partner with three cars this season, including the No. 51 of Phoenix Racing and Kurt Busch in this year's Daytona 500. The team, which already gets engine and chassis support from Hendrick will also be backed by the car company in Saturday's Nationwide race.

"We're proud to have HendrickCars.com as our primary sponsor for both races," said James Finch in the sponsor release. "The Hendrick people know how well sponsorships like this work when they're done the right way. Daytona is a big opportunity for our team to build some positive momentum to start the season. Having a sponsor for Speedweeks means a lot to us, and we're going to do everything we can to put HendrickCars.com up front."

Finch won't be the only one benefitting from additional support. Cole Whitt, running the No. 88 for JR Motorsports will have Hendrickcars.com as a primary sponsor for Bristol. And in perhaps the most intriguing move of all, the company will back one of rival Richard Childress' cars – the No. 33 driven by Elliott Sadler – as a major associate during the Daytona 500.

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.

~~~~~~~~~~

Got NASCAR-related questions or comments?
Send them John Potts' way at john.potts@frontstretch.com; and if you're lucky, you'll get your name in print when he does his weekly column answering back to you – the fans that keep Frontstretch afloat. Potts' Shots will run on Thursdays with a whole new set of Fan Questions and Answers!

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Today's Featured Commentary
Happy Valentine's Day, NASCAR

Sitting In The Stands: A Fan's View
by S.D. Grady

"Order your 20 Years of Racing Sam Bass designed Jeff Gordon die-cast."

I clicked on the e-mail.  My jaw dropped and there might have been a bit of drool as my eyes catalogued the hood emblazoned with the DuPont rainbow I remember so well, the doors splashed with the red & blue flames that followed the inaugural years of a career and finally, the rear quarterpanels covered in the current red & black colors.  The 1/24th No. 24 was a thing of beauty and I thought of adding it to my ever-growing collection of toy cars.  My hand reached for the mouse -- and then it hit me.  Cripes!  When did the 20-year thing happen?

That's right, I've been watching Jeff Gordon for 20 years.  My Sundays have been defined by all things NASCAR for probably 25.  And that would make me...well, no need to get personal.  That got me thinking about the upcoming season and all the changes that invariably arrive with the haulers at Daytona.

Every year we dissect, discuss and determine that our sport is going down the toilet, those sitting in the offices in Daytona haven't a clue of what they're doing and we're about to be subjected to another season of fixed races and bland coverage. Given the fact that Twitterdom and internet chat rooms are full of avid fans that echo these sentiments, there must some bit of truth the these ideas.  However, if you've read this column over the past few years, you'll know I'm not necessarily one of the negative nellies.  At this point in my decades-long love affair with this sport, it's safe to say it might indeed be the time invested in watching cars go in circles that colors my current appreciation of NASCAR, in all its imperfect glory.

The fact is I'm a sucker...and happy to be one.  All those long years ago, I became enamored of small tracks full of black cars that beat on one another with complete abandon.  At the beginning of the '90's, we watched the shadetree teams give way to bigger and bigger budgets, shiny fenders and the start of drivers who spoke with less of a twang.  The cars got smaller, with rounder edges and brighter paint jobs. More microphones and cameras began to appear on pit road and in the garage.  Cable TV expanded coverage to include qualifying and the occasional talk show.  Change always accompanied the turn of the season, even as the parade of cars continued their high speed pursuit of bricks, grandfather clocks and other storied trophies.

By the time Y2K descended upon us, NASCAR no longer figured in the world of autosports as the rednecked child.  The champions of the open wheeled world began to realize that for all their highfalutin pedigree, NASCAR was the place with sponsors and an expanding fan base able to bring drivers salaries that now competed with other major league sports across America.  We had arrived!  And with the success came censorship, politically correct broadcasts and a batch of new and improved tracks. 

I will admit that around 2005, I was worried about the state of our sport.  Change could now be categorized as significant, and I wondered if any of it was good.  I couldn't equate what I had originally been drawn to in all its rough and tumble insanity with the polished and pressed version I was now handed each week.  But, still I remained a fan.  I'm like that.  Hard to thoroughly dissuade.  I had trouble cheering for the champions as Stewart had a knack with punching people, Kurt Busch was sharpening his nasty temperament and I think I fell asleep listening to Kenseth celebrate a time or two.  But really, when it came down to it all on Sunday afternoon, I still couldn't deny my pulse pounded a bit faster with the drop of the green flag.  I was still heavily invested in my sport.

Then came the reign of King Jimmie.  Look, way back when Dale Sr. won every Cup through brute strength and sheer intimidation, half the fans of our sport hated him for it.  He was ousted by some fresh-faced kid named Jeff Gordon, who suffered an equal amount of derision from the stands while he piled up win after win after win.  So, to say that the pleasant and personable Five-time created a pile of negativity over the past half-decade with his unending success is only to be par for the course.

Both the fans and the powers-that-be tweaked out.  The points, the car, the engine, the rules...we changed everything to bring an end to the era of single car domination.  I will admit to joining in on the general unhappiness and hoped the twiddling would finally accomplish something.

Then, at long last 2011 arrived.  Something new hovered in the air.  Change?  Was that the magic?  I'm chuckling as I write that.  However, what else could explain a season that had me back on the edge of my seat.  Side-by-side finishes, a rookie winning the biggest race of the year, a single car team winning it all, drivers throwing punches -- and evading them.  Bad tempers, stumbling champions, that stupid wing good and thoroughly gone.

I fell in love with NASCAR all over again.  And you know what they say about love?  It keeps you young.

So, 20 years or not, the fact is I'm feeling my oats.  I'm looking forward to a season with new faces in different numbers, an engine running without a carburetor and a field of teams capable of surprising me with a new winner week after week.  As I said, I'm in love and ready to stay this way for 20 years more.

S.D. Grady is a Senior Editor for Frontstretch.com.  She can be reached via e-mail at sonya.grady@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 frontstretcheditors@googlegroups.com for details.

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TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:

Part II Of Our NASCAR Season Preview: Is It The Economy, Stupid?
by the Frontstretch Staff

Did You Notice?... 6 Things We Learned About NASCAR In January, Part II
by Tom Bowles

Beyond the Cockpit: Boris Said Dishes On NASCAR Past, Present, And Future
as told to Phil Allaway

Couch Potato Tuesday: It's Time To Preview Our NASCAR Telecasts
by Phil Allaway

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FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
 
Q:  In the 1995 ARCA 200 at Daytona International Speedway, Bill Venturini was in contention to claim victory early on before it all went away shortly before halfway.  What happened?

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

Q:  In 1993, Phoenix Racing had a rare relationship with a then-Winston Cup team that allowed them to stomp the rest of the ARCA field at Daytona with driver Jeff Purvis.  Which team was Phoenix Racing allied with, and where did the team's winning race car that year come from?

A:  Phoenix Racing had a fruitful relationship with Morgan-McClure Motorsports throughout the early 1990's.  This deal is part of the reason that Jeff Purvis got a chance to drive the No. 4 in 1993 (along with Joe Nemechek and Jimmy Hensley) after Ernie Irvan left the team to go over to Robert Yates Racing as the official replacement for Davey Allison. 

In this particular Daytona race, Purvis's No. 1 for Phoenix Racing was the actual Chevrolet Lumina that Ernie Irvan had driven to the victory in the 1991 Daytona 500.  The car was particularly dominant in ARCA, winning what turned out to be an anti-climatic 200-mile race.  That was because a good chunk of the field was eliminated in a huge crash on the third lap of the race (visible at the 4:19 mark of this clip).  With the vast majority of potential contenders eliminated, Purvis was free to drive away from the remaining ones, turning in laps by himself that were faster than he qualified.  The result was a victory with only four cars on the lead lap at the finish.

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 Tom Bowles
-- Full Throttle by Mike Neff
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, and more!

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Tomorrow on the Frontstretch:

Season Preview: Part III by the Frontstretch Staff
2011 saw both of the Busch brothers get themselves into hot water in separate incidents.  For 2012, they now have different schedules as a consequence.  Kurt is full-time for Phoenix Racing in their No. 51 and part-time in the Nationwide Series, while Kyle remains in the No. 18 while driving part-time in Nationwide with no Truck starts.  How will the Busch brothers do in 2012, and what will their fates be in 2013? Our experts debate the recovery prospects for both.
 
NASCAR, Tweet At Your Own Risk by Tom Bowles
Last year, multiple drivers found themselves on the wrong end of controversy based on things that they had publicly tweeted.  Tom takes a look at the tweeting phenomenon, and how drivers should be careful what they say online.

Did You Notice... by Tom Bowles
In this week's second edition of Did You Notice, Tom tackles the multiple owners' point swaps in recent weeks and the new teams that are slated to enter the Sprint Cup Series.

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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!
©2012 Frontstretch.com

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The Frontstretch Newsletter: February 13th, 2012

THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
February 13th, 2012
Volume V, Edition XI

WELCOME TO NASCAR 2012! Starting today, the Frontstretch returns to a daily edition of the Newsletter with all your favorite columnists returning full-time by Monday, February 20th. We've got new faces, fresh ideas and a whole lot of Daytona 500 coverage headed your way, once again serving you the best way we know how: through quality, independent journalism.

Don't forget to follow us on Twitter @TheFrontstretch and Facebook at Frontstretch Writers! That way, you don't miss a beat as the action heats up down in Speedweeks.

 

Top News From The Past Week

by Tom Bowles

Landon Cassill to New, Unnamed Team with Red Bull Assets

Ten days ago, Landon Cassill announced that he was going to Front Row Motorsports to attempt to qualify for the Daytona 500 in the No. 26 Ford (formerly No. 55) with sponsorship from Morristown Drivers Service.  However, Cassill had an out from the deal if he was able to find a full-time ride.  A day later, this apparently came to pass and Cassill was free to leave.

Last week, SiriusXM Speedway's Dave Moody reported that Cassill will drive the No. 83 formerly driven by Brian Vickers in Daytona starting this weekend.  The team that he will be driving for currently does not officially have a name.  However, the AP's Jenna Fryer is reporting that the team will likely be known as BK Racing, due to the fact that many of the team's investors own Burger King franchises. The investor group, which formerly supported TRG Motorsports' Cup operation is hoping to run two cars full-time throughout 2012.

In addition, Cassill stated that his crew chief will be Doug Richert, who split last season between TRG Motorsports and Rick Ware Racing's No. 15 in the Nationwide Series.  The team's General Manager will be Harry McMullin, formerly of Roush Fenway Racing.

Cassill understands that everything is coming together for him very late, but he is happy to be locked into the Daytona 500.

"The guys are really hustling to get ready for Daytona, and this will be my first time going into a season knowing there's a full-time ride with my name on the door," Cassill said.  "I'm going to be locked into the Daytona 500 for the first time in my life, and that's an emotional deal for me."

The team will field two cars for the full season.  Cassill is confirmed in the No. 83, but no driver has been announced for the No. 93 (formerly the No. 4).  Travis Kvapil, Brian Vickers and others are said to be in contention for the seat.  Look for an announcement later this week for a driver for the No. 93.

Also of note, the No. 93 was previously tied in with Sinica Motorsports, the Monroe, NC team that attempted Homestead with Grant Enfinger last fall.  The team has stated that they will attempt a part-time schedule in 2012, but will switch their number to avoid a conflict.

Ollie's Bargain Outlet to Sponsor Tommy Baldwin Racing at Daytona

On Friday, Tommy Baldwin Racing announced that Pennsylvania-based Ollie's Bargain Outlet has signed on to serve as the primary sponsor on the team's No. 36 Chevrolet for Speedweeks in Daytona.  According to the team's press release, it is currently just a one-race deal.  After the owner points switch that was designed to lock Danica Patrick into the Daytona 500, the No. 36 will have to either qualify on speed or race in through the Gatorade Duels.

Team owner Tommy Baldwin is pleased to put the sponsorship deal together for full-time driver Dave Blaney.

"We are thrilled to have Ollie's come on board for this year's Daytona 500," Baldwin said.  "We were pleased with our superspeedway efforts last year and feel like we can build on that for this season. With Ollie's joining for the biggest race of the season, it is a win-win for all of us.  They have worked with Dave in the past, and we are excited to have them as part of our program at TBR."

Like Baldwin said, this is not the first time that Ollie's has been involved in NASCAR, or with Blaney.  In June 2004, Ollie's sponsored the No. 23 Dodge for Bill Davis Racing at Dover.  Blaney ran very well in the race before getting involved in a huge 19-car wreck.  Since then, Ollie's has sponsored teams like Kevin Harvick, Inc. in the Camping World Truck Series.

Townley Busted for DUI, Parked by RAB Racing

For John Wes Townley, 2012 was supposed to be his return to NASCAR after a mysterious disappearing act in the Fall of 2010.  Unfortunately, it looks like his comeback will be short-lived, at least for the time being.

On Tuesday morning, Townley crashed his 2012 BMW into a telephone pole in Oconee County, Georgia.  Upon crashing, Townley fled from his car and was found knocking on the back door of a home by a sheriff's deputy.  According to the deputy, Townley was "swaying from side to side and bleeding from his bare feet."

Townley has been charged with Driving Under the Influence (DUI) and weaving in the road.  A mugshot posted by the Oconee County Sheriff's Department on their Facebook page and reposted on SBNation shows an incredibly inebriated Townley with what appears to be dried blood on his face.

NASCAR historically does not suspend drivers for blatant off-track incidents involving alcohol.  Last year, Michael Annett was caught with a BAC four times the legal limit in North Carolina a couple of weeks before the season began.  NASCAR put Annett on probation.  Scott Wimmer lost his license after being involved in a crash with alcohol being involved; however, the sanctioning body usually leaves punishment up to the individual teams.

With that in mind, team owner Robby Benton was not going to sit idly by after the news broke of Townley's arrest.  He immediately suspended Townley indefinitely for his conduct detrimental to the organization.

"Obviously, this is an unfortunate situation.  However, we have to react to the severity of the incident accordingly. His actions do not reflect those of RAB Racing, nor the sponsors associated with the team," Benton wrote.  "John Wes has accepted full responsibility, and will take the necessary personal steps in order to correct his actions, among other internal sanctions.  We stand by John Wes, and will welcome him back to the team at the appropriate time."

For Townley, this is not his first alcohol-related citation, but his first (known) DUI.  In 2010, the then 20-year old Townley was cited for underage possession of alcohol in Las Vegas while he was driving for Richard Childress Racing.

Bowles to MacDonald Motorsports

MacDonald Motorsports announced on Thursday that Jason Bowles, 2009 Champion of the K&N Pro Series West, will drive the No. 81 Dodge Challenger full-time in 2012 and compete for Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year.  Sponsorship will be provided by American Majority Racing, described as the nation's leading conservative grassroots training organization.  The main goal of their sponsorship is to engage race fans in the upcoming 2012 Presidential elections and convince them to register to vote (if they aren't already).

Bowles is very excited for his upcoming rookie campaign.

"I'm super excited about the opportunity with American Majority Racing and MacDonald Motorsports," said Bowles.  "I look forward to working with them all year and a successful 2012 season. I can't thank them enough for coming on board and the support they have shown so far leading up to Daytona; it's going to be an exciting year!"

Team owner Randy MacDonald is happy to have Bowles onboard for 2012.

"I think Jason is going to be an excellent fit for our team and our sponsor, American Majority," MacDonald said.  "He had an enormous amount of success running the K&N Pro Series and deserves a shot in Nationwide. I'm hoping to bring our team to the next level and compete for top-10 finishes this year with Jason, and that will be our goal on each race weekend."

Bowles replaces Blake Koch behind the wheel of the No. 81.  Koch and his sponsor, Daystar, left the team at the end of 2011 and moved over to Rick Ware Racing's No. 41.

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.
 
Just in case you missed them, we have completed our annual Driver Reviews. If you'd like to review them, JUST HEAD HERE AND YOU'LL FIND THEM ALL LISTED FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE.

TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:

Part I Of Our NASCAR Season Preview: Head Wrench Musical Chairs...And Miracles
by the Frontstretch Staff

 

FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Q:  In 1993, Phoenix Racing had a rare relationship with a then-Winston Cup team that allowed them to stomp the rest of the ARCA field at Daytona with driver Jeff Purvis.  Which team was Phoenix Racing allied with, and where did the team's winning race car that year come from?

Check back next Monday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
 
Last Monday's Answer:
Q: The recent Rolex 24 at Daytona featured some close racing for position, some bumping and banging and well over 40 lead changes.  However, Michael Shank Racing's 5.1-second margin-of-victory is not the closest ever in the event.  Who had the narrowest margin of victory in the Rolex 24, and when did it occur?

 
A:  Actually, the closest Rolex 24 finish occurred quite recently.  The 2009 Rolex 24 at Daytona was won by a margin of .167 of a second by the No. 58 Porsche Riley for Brumos Racing over the No. 01 Lexus Riley for Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates.  Darren Law, David Donohue, Buddy Rice and Antonio Garcia did the honors behind the wheel.  That year, four cars finished on the lead lap.

 

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 Phil Allaway
-- The Return Of Fan's View by S.D. Grady
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, and more!

Coming Tomorrow On The Frontstretch:

Season Preview: Part II by the Frontstretch Staff
With 2012 on the horizon, the staff tackles the biggest issues facing NASCAR - both positive and negative - heading into the upcoming season. Part II of our preview focuses on the dwindling car count expected to hit the Sprint Cup Series at Phoenix and beyond; what, if anything can be done to solve even the big teams' recent economic and sponsor struggles?

Did You Notice... 6 Things We Learned In January, Part II by Tom Bowles
Tom finishes up his two-parter as we help get you set for the NASCAR season at hand.

Beyond the Cockpit: Boris Said as told to Phil Allaway
The curly-haired road racing veteran sat down with our own Phil Allaway for a brief conversation about the Rolex Series and his time in NASCAR's top-three 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!
©2012 Frontstretch.com

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The Frontstretch Newsletter: February 7th, 2012

THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
February 7th, 2012
Volume V, Edition X

ATTENTION NEWSLETTER READERS! This edition serves as the last "weekly" installment of your favorite Newsletter. Look for a switch back to daily content beginning on Monday, February 13th!

 

Top News From The Past Week

by Phil Allaway

NASCAR Releases Official Race Start Times

On Sunday, NASCAR augmented the official 2012 schedules for the Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series with official race start times.  On the surface, most of the start times in Sprint Cup are the same as last year.  However, there are a couple of changes.

Most notably, Darlington Raceway's Showtime Southern 500 will start at 7:00 PM instead of 7:30 PM.  This adjustment was granted due to the fact that Darlington's race is the second longest event on the schedule, taking nearly four hours to run in recent years.

In the Nationwide Series, the O'Reilly Auto Parts Challenge in November at Texas Motor Speedway will be a night race this year.  Previously, the race started at 1 PM EST (Noon CST).  Also, the Bucyrus 200 at Road America will have a 3:30 PM EDT (2:30 PM CDT) start, roughly 90 minutes earlier than last year.

In the Camping World Truck Series, the Lucas Oil 200 at Dover will once again be aired via tape delay at 8:00 PM EDT on June 1.  The race will actually roll off at 4:30 that afternoon.  The inaugural Good Sam Roadside Assistance 200 at Rockingham Speedway will have a 1 PM EDT start time on April 15.  Also, the Smith's 350k at Las Vegas Motor Speedway is once again a night race and will go off at 8:30 PM EDT (5:30 PM PDT). Last year, the race was the main support event to the Izod IndyCar World Championships and ran two weeks later on a Saturday afternoon.

JTG-Daugherty Racing to Expand?

NASCAR.com's Joe Menzer is reporting that JTG-Daugherty Racing is looking towards potential expansion for the 2013 Sprint Cup Series season.  Step 1 of the expansion was to cut their ties to Michael Waltrip Racing.  That started last year when the team announced that they were moving their No. 47 team out of Michael Waltrip Racing's shop and into the shop that the Geschickters already owned for their former Nationwide team.  As the organization is currently considered to be a satellite of Michael Waltrip Racing, they cannot expand due to the fact that MWR has three full-time teams already (and their No. 47 is considered to be No. 4).

For 2012, the team will run Bobby Labonte full-time in their No. 47 Toyotas.  The cars that the team will use have been purchased from MWR, while the team will use TRD engines.  Todd Berrier, formerly of Richard Childress Racing, is now the Crew Chief of the No. 47, replacing Frankie Kerr.  Eventually, though, the team will build their own cars out of the old ST Motorsports shop.

For the 2013 season, the team is already planning to add a second car on a full-time basis.  According to team co-owner Brad Daugherty, there is the possibility that the team could put a second car on the track on a part-time basis later in the year.

"We're already working on it," Daugherty said.  "That's something that's going to happen sooner rather than later, because we need that. That's as big as we want to be, though. The cost comes down and the information goes way up. So we're really working on that."

Last year, Labonte finished a disappointing 29th in points with only one top-5 finish all season, that being a fourth in the Daytona 500.  Berrier believes that with the current resources available to the single-car team, the team can finish 17th in points.  That is where the team finished in 2009 with Marcos Ambrose driving.

Inception Motorsports To Toyota

On Thursday, Inception Motorsports announced that they are changing manufacturers from Chevrolet to Toyota for the 2012 Sprint Cup Series season.  The team also has reached a deal to run engines from Triad Racing Technologies.

For driver David Stremme, the change to Toyota is a move that could possibly result in additional support for the small organization and new sponsorship.

"It is a great boost for our team to have the support of Toyota and Triad engines heading into Daytona and this season," Stremme said.  "Our team is excited to have their support especially with their success in the sport.  Our team has grown over the offseason.  We have a great group of talented people in our race family who have been working hard to get us to where we need to be for this season.  We are looking for the final pieces to the puzzle and hopefully our track presence will help find that sponsorship piece."

Inception Motorsports was formed a little less than a year ago and made their debut in May at Richmond with Stremme driving.  The team ran complete races at Richmond (April) and Bristol (August), but start-and-parked in the other 16 races that they qualified for.

Go Canada Racing Changes Name, Announces Driver for Daytona

On Friday, Go Canada Racing announced that they are changing the name of their organization.  Effective February 15th, the team will now be known as GC Motorsports International, or GCMI.

The reason for this move appears to be financial and business motivated.

"The name change is a result of numerous developments in the offseason and more clearly represents our company, our partners, drivers and sponsors going forward," said GCMI owner Steve Meehan.

To this end, the team announced that 2011 Coke Zero 400 winner David Ragan will drive the team's No. 67 Ford in the Drive4COPD 300 at Daytona International Speedway on February 25.  Meehan is very pleased to have a driver with a winning pedigree at Daytona with the team to help them qualify and race on the high banks.

"We feel incredibly fortunate to have David's knowledge and experience to help launch our 2012 program and hopefully guide the team into the future," Meehan said.

Ragan, who also has a Nationwide Series victory at Talladega on his resume, is also quite pleased to drive for GCMI at Daytona.

"I am really excited to be kicking off the 2012 Nationwide season for GCMI," Ragan said.  "I have known many of the team members for quite some time; it will be great to work with them again.  This group has put together many winning efforts in the past and I plan on being part of their winning efforts in the future, hopefully starting with Daytona."

In addition to Ragan, GCMI plans on fielding entries for Quebec racer Andrew Ranger later this year.  The team's press release doesn't mention which races that Ranger will be driving in other than the NAPA Auto Parts 200 at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in August.  However, it does state that Ranger will "compete in a number of Nationwide events."  Ranger will also drive for the newly rechristened GC Motorsports Canada (formed via a partnership with Dave Jacombs Racing) in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series.

The long-term plan for GCMI is to cultivate a multi-tier approach to driver development.  Eventually, the plan is to gain a foothold in the Sprint Cup Series, but first, the team wants to have two entries in the Nationwide Series

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.
 
Just in case you missed them, we have completed our annual Driver Reviews. If you'd like to review them, JUST HEAD HERE AND YOU'LL FIND THEM ALL LISTED FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE.

 

FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Q:  The recent Rolex 24 at Daytona featured some close racing for position, some bumping and banging and well over 40 lead changes.  However, Michael Shank Racing's 5.1-second margin-of-victory is not the closest ever in the event.  Who had the narrowest margin of victory in the Rolex 24, and when did it occur?

Check back next Monday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
 
Last Monday's Answer:
Q: In 2002, Doran Racing won the last Rolex 24 at Daytona before the introduction of the Daytona Prototype formula.  What car did the team field, and what engine were they using?

 
A: Doran Racing fielded a Dallara LMP chassis with a V10 Judd engine to win the race.  The Dallara was originally designed around a factory program at Le Mans in 2001 for DaimlerChrysler, but after a year, the cars were sold off to privateers to run whatever engines they wanted to with the car.  At the time, this package was roughly midpack in the American Le Mans Series and not really competitive with the all-conquering Audi R8 prototypes, but out of the various teams that contested the Rolex Sports Car Series at the time, it was a very nice car to have.

 

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!
 
Hey, Frontstretch Readers!
We know you love the roar of raw horsepower under the hood that powers 43 of the best drivers in the world every weekend, but did you ever wonder how the sponsor on top of that hood also contributes to keeping the sport moving? What about the contributions of official NASCAR companies? If you think they are simply writing checks, think again. Check out our newest  feature - Sunday Money. This weekly Frontstretch exclusive provides you with a behind the scenes look at how NASCAR, its affiliates and team sponsors approach the daunting task of keeping fans interested and excited about the sport for 38 weeks of the year.
 
Coming Monday, February 13th in the Frontstretch Newsletter:
-- Top News from Phil Allaway
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, and more!

Coming This Week at The Frontstretch:

Beyond the Cockpit: Boris Said as told to Phil Allaway
The curly-haired road racing veteran sat down with our own Phil Allaway for a brief conversation about the Rolex Series and his time in NASCAR's top-three 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!
©2012 Frontstretch.com

--
Feel free to forward this newsletter if you have any friends who loves
NASCAR and great NASCAR commentary. They can subscribe to the Frontstetch by visiting http://www.frontstretch.com/notice/9557/.
 
If you want to stop your Frontstretch Newsletter subscription, we're sorry
to see you go. Just send an email to
TheFrontstretch+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com from the address that you
recieve the Frontstretch Newsletter.