THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
July 27th, 2011
Volume V, Edition CXLVII
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
July 27th, 2011
Volume V, Edition CXLVII
~~~~~~~~~~
Top News
by Tom Bowles
ESPN Introduces New Technology For 2011 Telecasts
The Worldwide Leader In Sports is pushing to put its best foot forward in NASCAR this season with its Sprint Cup coverage. One week after making a major change in the broadcast booth, replacing Marty Reid for Sprint Cup races with Allen Bestwick the network announced some fresh, innovative technology it will debut in Sunday's Brickyard 400 for viewers.
"On the production side, we're as excited and energized going into what I refer to as the second half of the season, or our long portion of the season, as I can remember in the past few years," explained ESPN VP of Motorsports, Rich Feinberg, in a conference call. "The sport seems to be on a healthy upswing."
Among the news bells and whistles being introduced: dual, simultaneous in-car cam technology, powered by a partnership with ESPN and Broadcast Sports International that allows viewers to see two in-car cam views at the same time. The network will also have an expanded use of Sportvision's pointer system, the graphics which identify cars on the track along with a dedicated "helicopter cam" for all 17 events. Also at Indy will be the Batcam, a camera that can zip down the front straightaway covering action at speeds of well over 80 miles an hour.
In all, the network plans to use 76 cameras for its 2011 Sprint Cup debut this Sunday. With Allen Bestwick moving into the broadcast booth, he'll anchor coverage with longtime analysts Dale Jarrett and Andy Petree while Nicole Briscoe, Brad Daugherty and Rusty Wallace will come together for NASCAR Countdown. Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Dr. Jerry Punch and Vince Welch will man the pits, with others rotated in different races throughout the next three months of coverage.
Brian France Drops Request To Seal Documents On Divorce
It looks like Brian France's latest marital problem is going public after all. On Monday, the NASCAR CEO made the surprise decision to drop a request to seal documents related to his divorce, opening the floodgates for media access to the latest controversy involving Brian and his ex-wife, Megan France.
Currently, the two are in court with Brian accusing his ex-wife of taping telephone calls to extort money from him. Their divorce battle has been contentious and drawn out, raising the eyebrows of the Charlotte Observer who filed a motion to block the Frances from sealing any documents in the case. Now, there will be no need for the paper to push forward, as both Brian and Megan's side are content with the decision.
"Megan P. France does not agree that such a draconian step is necessary," claimed Megan's attorneys, "To protect the legitimate privacy concerns of her, her children and her ex-husband."
Elliott Sadler To Run Truck Races For New Team
Elliott Sadler's schedule got a bit busier Tuesday. The full-time Nationwide Series driver will run a limited Truck Series slate for Joe Denette Motorsports, a rookie team later this season at the short tracks of Bristol and Martinsville. JDM, who already runs full-time with Jason White, will expand to a two-truck operation (running the No. 24) for those events.
Sadler, who has one series win to his credit, already runs part-time in the series with his Nationwide employer, Kevin Harvick, Inc. The team will run Chevys with sponsorship to be announced at a later date.
Have news for Tom 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 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!
~~~~~~~~~~
Today's Featured Commentary
Heading Home to Indy
Full Throttle
by Mike Neff
Growing up in Indianapolis planted the seeds of being a racing fan very early in life. While I never attended races at Raceway Park's oval until I had long moved away from the Circle City, I attended all but three Indianapolis 500s and the first three Brickyard 400s. I also went to many a race at the Indianapolis Speedrome on the Southeast side of the city, not far from where my uncle lived. Now that I'm in the Charlotte area, I don't get to frequent the race tracks around Indy more than once a year but I spend as much time as I can when I'm in town for the Brickyard between Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Raceway Park. This year, it is going to have extra meaning thanks to the circumstances surrounding the races at Raceway Park.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway was the ultimate destination for any young race fan in the area. From the first years of my life that I can remember, I could not wait for the month of May to roll around so that I could go to the track and see what the cars looked like that year and try and get as many driver autographs as I could. In the '60s and '70s, the entrance to Gasoline Alley was not secured like Fort Knox as it is today and parents didn't worry about their kids being kidnapped whenever they were out of sight. My mom and dad would sit in the stands and watch practice while I stood in the opening in the stands where they rolled the cars from the garages to pit lane. The drivers would walk through that same opening and you had about a 50-yard opportunity to try and get your book in front of them to get their signature. Whether I ultimately got their autograph or not, I will never forget the rush of just seeing my heroes walking within feet of me. For any kid that age, they were larger than life.
The only autograph from my youth that I never was able to wrangle no matter how hard I tried was my idol A.J. Foyt. The greatest driver of all time was always surrounded by a throng, and I never had the chance to position myself directly in the way of Super Tex to get my book in position. I have autographs from every other driver of that era, building my love of the sport, but my all-time favorite always eluded me. As a side note, though, I did get to slap his hand after he won his fourth 500 in 1977. I had a general admission ticket after marching around the track before the race and when he won, I was one of the many people who jumped over the fence during his victory lap in the back of the pace car and got to hit his hand as they came through turn four. Without a doubt, it was one of the absolutely biggest moments of my racing fan life.
I'll also never forget going to the Brickyard the inaugural year in 1994. It started with practice the first time stock cars rolled out onto the track as part of an event, although they had done some testing before that. Dale Earnhardt wasn't the first one on the track but he was the first one to complete a lap. That was important to him and I remember how mad he was that he didn't lead the first lap of the race that year. The drivers were amazed that there were several thousand people in attendance for practice since it was something they had never seen before; however, Indianapolis fans had been doing it for years with the 500. When the time came to qualify there were easily 150,000 people in attendance which, at that time, was the biggest crowd of the year for any event let alone qualifying for a race. That was unheard of for a Winston Cup event but it was standard operating procedure for a pole day at Indianapolis. It didn't hurt that there were thousands of people who wanted tickets to the race and did not secure them through the lottery process.
Race day was simply unbelievable. The buzz was bigger than anything I'd ever experienced at the Speedway because it was a first. There weren't a whole lot of people around that day who were in attendance for the first 500 in 1911 so almost everyone there knew they were witnessing something they'd never seen before. Aside from Jeff Gordon winning and Dale Earnhardt leading, the one thing I remember was A.J. Foyt trying to stay out on fuel to lead the race and failing by a lap. He wanted so badly to be the only driver to lead the 500 and the 400 at that time but Ted Musgrave led two laps and Foyt ran out of gas on the same lap that Musgrave came in to pit. By the time Foyt coasted around to the pits he was multiple laps down and never had the chance to lead again. Gordon won the race and the place went bananas because, although he was born in California, he was always considered an Indiana boy.
While the race had a huge amount of buzz around it, the racing was not much to write home about; in fact, it never has been. The configuration of the track doesn't lend itself to exciting competition but the reason for going to Indy has never been the racing, really; it is the history and mystique of running at the Brickyard. It is the most famous race track in the world and has 100 years of history behind it, with some of the greatest names in all of auto racing among those who have turned laps in anger on its surface. Putting your name in the record book next to the likes of A.J. Foyt, Mario Andretti, Jimmy Clark, Jackie Stewart and Nigel Mansell means quite a bit to every single driver who will try to qualify.
On top of getting to see the action at the big track at 16th and Georgetown fans will also get to see big-league racing one last time at Raceway Park, just six miles down the road from the Brickyard. The Truck Series and the Nationwide Series will be making one more appearance at the short track before the Nationwide race moves to the big track in 2012 and the Trucks simply go away. What is almost always the best racing on either series schedule all year will take place Friday and Saturday night and will certainly be emotional for drivers and fans since they all know it won't be coming back. The folks at Kroger deserve special kudos for sponsoring the Nationwide race for all 30 years that it has taken place at Raceway Park, though; Saturday will bring to an end the longest-running race sponsorship in NASCAR. It will be a night of mixed emotions but, as usual will almost certainly providethe type of great on-track competition that's lacking down the street.
Heading home always holds a special place for people but it is extra special when you get to head back to a place that meant so much during your youth. I have no doubt that, once again, the hair will stand up on the back of my neck as I pass under the track between turns one and two and emerge right in front of the Hall of Fame Museum. The aura of the facility and the excitement it generates for me remains one of the highlights of the year every season.
Mike Neff is a Senior Writer for Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via e-mail at mike.neff@frontstretch.com.
~~~~~~~~~~
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.
~~~~~~~~~~
Tweet 'N' Greet
by Jay Pennell
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, Jay Pennell 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...
@JimmieJohnson: Enough taxes, quit spending! @BreakingNews: Obama: Rich should pay 'fair share' to reduce nation's debt - @USATODAYusat.ly/nYFawp
@JimmieJohnson: Wow, politics really strike a chord with people. Some liked my tweet and others didn't. Either way, i still say, enough taxes. #forall
@JimmieJohnson: I'm curious... Big government or small? I'm for small. #stopthespending
@Regan_Smith_: "@JimmieJohnson: I'm curious... Big government or small? I'm for small. #stopthespending". Agree with u 100%
@JimmieJohnson: Small wins! I guess size doesn't matter here...
@aric_almirola: I love my country and I'm proud to be an American. However by being an American if I have accumulated too much debt I can't keep borrowing
@aric_almirola: More n more money from the bank without paying down some of that debt. It's called "responsibility." Me and you wouldn't be allowed to do it
@aric_almirola: I don't really understand exactly all the ins and outs of what's going on in Washington, but I do know that most of us do better at balancing our
@aric_almirola: Checkbooks than the government itself it seems.
@aric_almirola: I'm not taking sides I'm just saying I'd like to have a loan for a few trillion and not have to worry about paying back. #goodtimes!
@aric_almirola: Looks like I won't be getting a chance to play DB for the Bucs. Football's back. However I think some fans are still upset with all the greed
@Kenny_Wallace: Woke up this morning and my wife said, You accomplished your goal?... ESPN said "Kenny Wallace you're BACK"... #smallvictories
@2Spotter (Joey Meier): So would Pastor Joe have gotten in trouble for saying "thank the Lord for my HOOKER HOT wife"... #JustAskin
@JimmieJohnson: Still on vaca and I see the word is out on me running JR's #7 NNS car at the Glen. I can't wait, should be a blast.
@kaseykahne: I love all my kkr guys. Forgot how tough what u guys do is until the last five nights. Stay after it guys, you're awesome!
@kaseykahne: Btw I'm going back to just owning the cars for awhile! Haha
@keselowski (Brad Keselowski): I guess it just was not meant to be today Searching to see what happened to the engine... #notSure #majorBummer
@Kenny_Wallace: THANK YOU to all for making my "Comeback" FUN! ... @RAB_Racing n @RobbyBenton have made feel like a Race Car Driver :)
@Kenny_Wallace: Hello @kaseykahne Dirt Racing is Fun Until it goes tuff then I say "What am I doing this for" ha ha ha!..I heard you GOT flipped?
@Kenny_Wallace: Hello @JimmieJohnson I am Happy you are Racing the NNS race at Watkins Glen! ... Can I get an Autograph? ... Better yet, Can I fly home with you?
@JimmieJohnson: @Kenny_Wallace I hope we ram each other at some point! You're welcome on JJ air anytime, you make us laugh a lot...
@Kenny_Wallace: Thank You @JimmieJohnson ...You are always good to me!..I guess it was the upbringing you had in The Trailer Park? ... ha ha ha! ...
@Kenny_Wallace: "Thank You Lord for my Hot Wife," ha ha! ... Did y'all hear the pastor last night before the NNS race? ... Awesome and Funny :)
@Kenny_Wallace: On Headline News TV today the NNS High lite is the Pastor doing the "Prayer" before the race! ... ha ha, NO race highlights.
@bscottracing (Brian Scott): Tough, tough day for our team today. Fought hard to get a fast car all weekend. When we did it was too late. Proud of their hard work!
@J_Allgaier (Justin Allgaier): What a day. Had some trouble in the pits and got behind. I think we made lemonade out of lemons for sure. Glad to rep the @DollarGeneral 31
@J_Allgaier: And the lemonade comment had nothing to do with the Super Bright Yellow and black firesuit I was wearing haha.
@J_Allgaier: Couldn't be prouder of our guys. It was super hot all weekend and they kept their nose down and fighting. I have an awesome group of guys!!!
@DJCopp83 (D.J. Copp): been @ JR mtrsprts for almost 5 years. Had a first today... Pops gave me a pat on the back and said good job. Did pigs fly today?
@jpmontoya (Juan Pablo Montoya): had a blast today with the family we played some soccer together!!! I really sucked at it, got my ass kicked by the wife!!!!
@mw55 (Michael Waltrip): A runaway winner does not make it a boring race. Action everywhere! Carl is winning like Kyle does. That's why they race on Sundays.
Jay Pennell is an Assistant Editor to Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via e-mail at jaywpennell@yahoo.com, and you can also check out his work at allleftturns.com or jaywpennell.blogspot.com.
~~~~~~~~~~
TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:
Mirror Driving: Stripping A Win, Drawing A Crowd, And A Sponsor's New Direction
by the Frontstretch Staff
What I Really Wish We Would See at The Brickyard 400
by Vito Pugliese
Race Fans, Meet Blake Koch
by Phil Allaway
Top Ten Events Likely To Draw a Bigger Crowd Than Stock Cars at Indy
by Jeff Meyer
NASCAR Power Rankings: Top 15 Up-And-Coming Drivers
compiled by Mike Neff
The Frontstretch Foto Funnies! - Off-Week, July 2011
by Kurt Smith
~~~~~~~~~~
FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Top News
by Tom Bowles
ESPN Introduces New Technology For 2011 Telecasts
The Worldwide Leader In Sports is pushing to put its best foot forward in NASCAR this season with its Sprint Cup coverage. One week after making a major change in the broadcast booth, replacing Marty Reid for Sprint Cup races with Allen Bestwick the network announced some fresh, innovative technology it will debut in Sunday's Brickyard 400 for viewers.
"On the production side, we're as excited and energized going into what I refer to as the second half of the season, or our long portion of the season, as I can remember in the past few years," explained ESPN VP of Motorsports, Rich Feinberg, in a conference call. "The sport seems to be on a healthy upswing."
Among the news bells and whistles being introduced: dual, simultaneous in-car cam technology, powered by a partnership with ESPN and Broadcast Sports International that allows viewers to see two in-car cam views at the same time. The network will also have an expanded use of Sportvision's pointer system, the graphics which identify cars on the track along with a dedicated "helicopter cam" for all 17 events. Also at Indy will be the Batcam, a camera that can zip down the front straightaway covering action at speeds of well over 80 miles an hour.
In all, the network plans to use 76 cameras for its 2011 Sprint Cup debut this Sunday. With Allen Bestwick moving into the broadcast booth, he'll anchor coverage with longtime analysts Dale Jarrett and Andy Petree while Nicole Briscoe, Brad Daugherty and Rusty Wallace will come together for NASCAR Countdown. Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Dr. Jerry Punch and Vince Welch will man the pits, with others rotated in different races throughout the next three months of coverage.
Brian France Drops Request To Seal Documents On Divorce
It looks like Brian France's latest marital problem is going public after all. On Monday, the NASCAR CEO made the surprise decision to drop a request to seal documents related to his divorce, opening the floodgates for media access to the latest controversy involving Brian and his ex-wife, Megan France.
Currently, the two are in court with Brian accusing his ex-wife of taping telephone calls to extort money from him. Their divorce battle has been contentious and drawn out, raising the eyebrows of the Charlotte Observer who filed a motion to block the Frances from sealing any documents in the case. Now, there will be no need for the paper to push forward, as both Brian and Megan's side are content with the decision.
"Megan P. France does not agree that such a draconian step is necessary," claimed Megan's attorneys, "To protect the legitimate privacy concerns of her, her children and her ex-husband."
Elliott Sadler To Run Truck Races For New Team
Elliott Sadler's schedule got a bit busier Tuesday. The full-time Nationwide Series driver will run a limited Truck Series slate for Joe Denette Motorsports, a rookie team later this season at the short tracks of Bristol and Martinsville. JDM, who already runs full-time with Jason White, will expand to a two-truck operation (running the No. 24) for those events.
Sadler, who has one series win to his credit, already runs part-time in the series with his Nationwide employer, Kevin Harvick, Inc. The team will run Chevys with sponsorship to be announced at a later date.
Have news for Tom 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 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!
~~~~~~~~~~
Today's Featured Commentary
Heading Home to Indy
Full Throttle
by Mike Neff
Growing up in Indianapolis planted the seeds of being a racing fan very early in life. While I never attended races at Raceway Park's oval until I had long moved away from the Circle City, I attended all but three Indianapolis 500s and the first three Brickyard 400s. I also went to many a race at the Indianapolis Speedrome on the Southeast side of the city, not far from where my uncle lived. Now that I'm in the Charlotte area, I don't get to frequent the race tracks around Indy more than once a year but I spend as much time as I can when I'm in town for the Brickyard between Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Raceway Park. This year, it is going to have extra meaning thanks to the circumstances surrounding the races at Raceway Park.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway was the ultimate destination for any young race fan in the area. From the first years of my life that I can remember, I could not wait for the month of May to roll around so that I could go to the track and see what the cars looked like that year and try and get as many driver autographs as I could. In the '60s and '70s, the entrance to Gasoline Alley was not secured like Fort Knox as it is today and parents didn't worry about their kids being kidnapped whenever they were out of sight. My mom and dad would sit in the stands and watch practice while I stood in the opening in the stands where they rolled the cars from the garages to pit lane. The drivers would walk through that same opening and you had about a 50-yard opportunity to try and get your book in front of them to get their signature. Whether I ultimately got their autograph or not, I will never forget the rush of just seeing my heroes walking within feet of me. For any kid that age, they were larger than life.
The only autograph from my youth that I never was able to wrangle no matter how hard I tried was my idol A.J. Foyt. The greatest driver of all time was always surrounded by a throng, and I never had the chance to position myself directly in the way of Super Tex to get my book in position. I have autographs from every other driver of that era, building my love of the sport, but my all-time favorite always eluded me. As a side note, though, I did get to slap his hand after he won his fourth 500 in 1977. I had a general admission ticket after marching around the track before the race and when he won, I was one of the many people who jumped over the fence during his victory lap in the back of the pace car and got to hit his hand as they came through turn four. Without a doubt, it was one of the absolutely biggest moments of my racing fan life.
I'll also never forget going to the Brickyard the inaugural year in 1994. It started with practice the first time stock cars rolled out onto the track as part of an event, although they had done some testing before that. Dale Earnhardt wasn't the first one on the track but he was the first one to complete a lap. That was important to him and I remember how mad he was that he didn't lead the first lap of the race that year. The drivers were amazed that there were several thousand people in attendance for practice since it was something they had never seen before; however, Indianapolis fans had been doing it for years with the 500. When the time came to qualify there were easily 150,000 people in attendance which, at that time, was the biggest crowd of the year for any event let alone qualifying for a race. That was unheard of for a Winston Cup event but it was standard operating procedure for a pole day at Indianapolis. It didn't hurt that there were thousands of people who wanted tickets to the race and did not secure them through the lottery process.
Race day was simply unbelievable. The buzz was bigger than anything I'd ever experienced at the Speedway because it was a first. There weren't a whole lot of people around that day who were in attendance for the first 500 in 1911 so almost everyone there knew they were witnessing something they'd never seen before. Aside from Jeff Gordon winning and Dale Earnhardt leading, the one thing I remember was A.J. Foyt trying to stay out on fuel to lead the race and failing by a lap. He wanted so badly to be the only driver to lead the 500 and the 400 at that time but Ted Musgrave led two laps and Foyt ran out of gas on the same lap that Musgrave came in to pit. By the time Foyt coasted around to the pits he was multiple laps down and never had the chance to lead again. Gordon won the race and the place went bananas because, although he was born in California, he was always considered an Indiana boy.
While the race had a huge amount of buzz around it, the racing was not much to write home about; in fact, it never has been. The configuration of the track doesn't lend itself to exciting competition but the reason for going to Indy has never been the racing, really; it is the history and mystique of running at the Brickyard. It is the most famous race track in the world and has 100 years of history behind it, with some of the greatest names in all of auto racing among those who have turned laps in anger on its surface. Putting your name in the record book next to the likes of A.J. Foyt, Mario Andretti, Jimmy Clark, Jackie Stewart and Nigel Mansell means quite a bit to every single driver who will try to qualify.
On top of getting to see the action at the big track at 16th and Georgetown fans will also get to see big-league racing one last time at Raceway Park, just six miles down the road from the Brickyard. The Truck Series and the Nationwide Series will be making one more appearance at the short track before the Nationwide race moves to the big track in 2012 and the Trucks simply go away. What is almost always the best racing on either series schedule all year will take place Friday and Saturday night and will certainly be emotional for drivers and fans since they all know it won't be coming back. The folks at Kroger deserve special kudos for sponsoring the Nationwide race for all 30 years that it has taken place at Raceway Park, though; Saturday will bring to an end the longest-running race sponsorship in NASCAR. It will be a night of mixed emotions but, as usual will almost certainly providethe type of great on-track competition that's lacking down the street.
Heading home always holds a special place for people but it is extra special when you get to head back to a place that meant so much during your youth. I have no doubt that, once again, the hair will stand up on the back of my neck as I pass under the track between turns one and two and emerge right in front of the Hall of Fame Museum. The aura of the facility and the excitement it generates for me remains one of the highlights of the year every season.
Mike Neff is a Senior Writer for Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via e-mail at mike.neff@frontstretch.com.
~~~~~~~~~~
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.
~~~~~~~~~~
Tweet 'N' Greet
by Jay Pennell
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, Jay Pennell 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...
@JimmieJohnson: Enough taxes, quit spending! @BreakingNews: Obama: Rich should pay 'fair share' to reduce nation's debt - @USATODAYusat.ly/nYFawp
@JimmieJohnson: Wow, politics really strike a chord with people. Some liked my tweet and others didn't. Either way, i still say, enough taxes. #forall
@JimmieJohnson: I'm curious... Big government or small? I'm for small. #stopthespending
@Regan_Smith_: "@JimmieJohnson: I'm curious... Big government or small? I'm for small. #stopthespending". Agree with u 100%
@JimmieJohnson: Small wins! I guess size doesn't matter here...
@aric_almirola: I love my country and I'm proud to be an American. However by being an American if I have accumulated too much debt I can't keep borrowing
@aric_almirola: More n more money from the bank without paying down some of that debt. It's called "responsibility." Me and you wouldn't be allowed to do it
@aric_almirola: I don't really understand exactly all the ins and outs of what's going on in Washington, but I do know that most of us do better at balancing our
@aric_almirola: Checkbooks than the government itself it seems.
@aric_almirola: I'm not taking sides I'm just saying I'd like to have a loan for a few trillion and not have to worry about paying back. #goodtimes!
@aric_almirola: Looks like I won't be getting a chance to play DB for the Bucs. Football's back. However I think some fans are still upset with all the greed
@Kenny_Wallace: Woke up this morning and my wife said, You accomplished your goal?... ESPN said "Kenny Wallace you're BACK"... #smallvictories
@2Spotter (Joey Meier): So would Pastor Joe have gotten in trouble for saying "thank the Lord for my HOOKER HOT wife"... #JustAskin
@JimmieJohnson: Still on vaca and I see the word is out on me running JR's #7 NNS car at the Glen. I can't wait, should be a blast.
@kaseykahne: I love all my kkr guys. Forgot how tough what u guys do is until the last five nights. Stay after it guys, you're awesome!
@kaseykahne: Btw I'm going back to just owning the cars for awhile! Haha
@keselowski (Brad Keselowski): I guess it just was not meant to be today Searching to see what happened to the engine... #notSure #majorBummer
@Kenny_Wallace: THANK YOU to all for making my "Comeback" FUN! ... @RAB_Racing n @RobbyBenton have made feel like a Race Car Driver :)
@Kenny_Wallace: Hello @kaseykahne Dirt Racing is Fun Until it goes tuff then I say "What am I doing this for" ha ha ha!..I heard you GOT flipped?
@Kenny_Wallace: Hello @JimmieJohnson I am Happy you are Racing the NNS race at Watkins Glen! ... Can I get an Autograph? ... Better yet, Can I fly home with you?
@JimmieJohnson: @Kenny_Wallace I hope we ram each other at some point! You're welcome on JJ air anytime, you make us laugh a lot...
@Kenny_Wallace: Thank You @JimmieJohnson ...You are always good to me!..I guess it was the upbringing you had in The Trailer Park? ... ha ha ha! ...
@Kenny_Wallace: "Thank You Lord for my Hot Wife," ha ha! ... Did y'all hear the pastor last night before the NNS race? ... Awesome and Funny :)
@Kenny_Wallace: On Headline News TV today the NNS High lite is the Pastor doing the "Prayer" before the race! ... ha ha, NO race highlights.
@bscottracing (Brian Scott): Tough, tough day for our team today. Fought hard to get a fast car all weekend. When we did it was too late. Proud of their hard work!
@J_Allgaier (Justin Allgaier): What a day. Had some trouble in the pits and got behind. I think we made lemonade out of lemons for sure. Glad to rep the @DollarGeneral 31
@J_Allgaier: And the lemonade comment had nothing to do with the Super Bright Yellow and black firesuit I was wearing haha.
@J_Allgaier: Couldn't be prouder of our guys. It was super hot all weekend and they kept their nose down and fighting. I have an awesome group of guys!!!
@DJCopp83 (D.J. Copp): been @ JR mtrsprts for almost 5 years. Had a first today... Pops gave me a pat on the back and said good job. Did pigs fly today?
@jpmontoya (Juan Pablo Montoya): had a blast today with the family we played some soccer together!!! I really sucked at it, got my ass kicked by the wife!!!!
@mw55 (Michael Waltrip): A runaway winner does not make it a boring race. Action everywhere! Carl is winning like Kyle does. That's why they race on Sundays.
Jay Pennell is an Assistant Editor to Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via e-mail at jaywpennell@yahoo.com, and you can also check out his work at allleftturns.com or jaywpennell.blogspot.com.
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TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:
Mirror Driving: Stripping A Win, Drawing A Crowd, And A Sponsor's New Direction
by the Frontstretch Staff
What I Really Wish We Would See at The Brickyard 400
by Vito Pugliese
Race Fans, Meet Blake Koch
by Phil Allaway
Top Ten Events Likely To Draw a Bigger Crowd Than Stock Cars at Indy
by Jeff Meyer
NASCAR Power Rankings: Top 15 Up-And-Coming Drivers
compiled by Mike Neff
The Frontstretch Foto Funnies! - Off-Week, July 2011
by Kurt Smith
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FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Q: Willy T. Ribbs is best known in racing circles as the first African-American to ever qualify for the Indianapols 500 when he got his Derrick Walker-owned No. 17 Lola Buick into the field in 1991. However, Ribbs spent most of his career in CART with backing from a famous benefactor, in addition to sponsorship from Service Merchandise. Who was this benefactor?
Check back Thursday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
Tuesday's Answer:
Tuesday's Answer:
Q: In 1991, Chuck Bown completely dominated the Kroger 200 at then-Indianapolis Raceway Park. However, something very strange cost him the win. What happened?
A: While running under caution with a little more than ten laps to go, Bown's seat belts came undone, forcing him to stop on track to buckle back up, and lose five places as a result. Bown made a couple of passes after the restart, but could only make it back up to third behind winner Bobby Labonte and Dick Trickle. The incident that cost Bown the win can be seen in this clip.Frontstretch Trivia Guarantee: If we mess up, you get the shirt off our backs! If we've provided an incorrect answer to the Frontstretch Trivia question, be the first to email the corrected trivia answer to trivia@frontstretch.com and we'll send you a Frontstretch T-Shirt ... FREE!
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Coming tomorrow in the Frontstretch Newsletter:
-- Top News from Phil Allaway
-- Shakedown Session by Brody Jones
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, and more!
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Tomorrow on the Frontstretch:
Did You Notice? (pushed back from yesterday) by Tom Bowles
Voices From the Heartland by Jeff Meyer
Your favorite midwestern writer is back for another season of making you want to laugh, cry and even pull your hair out. This week, Jeff answers the question of whether there's NASCAR in Nashville Superspeedway's future.
Potts' Shots by John Potts
Fanning the Flames has become Potts' Shots, and John Potts is here to answer your questions in our weekly Fan Q & A. Do you have something you'd like to ask John? Don't sit on the sidelines! Send it to john.potts@frontstretch.com, and you just may see your question in print next week!
Fantasy Insider by Brett Poirier
Did your fantasy racing team take a hit at Loudon? Well, Brett has just what you need to know to turn things around when choosing your teams for the Brickyard 400 presented by BigMachineRecords.com at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
5th Column TBA by Mark Powell
Our professor of racing history "has at it" with another column pertinent to the sport at large. This week, Mark takes a look back at some of his favorite experiences at the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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