Tuesday, May 28, 2013

The Frontstretch Newsletter: May 29th, 2013

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

May 29th, 2013
Volume VII, Edition XCII

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Congratulations to Gary Boucher, winner of our Dover Speedway and FanVision Contest. Gary was the first to correctly identify Earnhardt Ganassi Racing as the team Matt referred to in his Friday column, and that Juan Pablo Montoya and Jamie McMurray finished in 18th and 19th place, respectively.
 
Thank you Gary for your support of the Frontstretch and enjoy your weekend at Dover with your FanVision Device!

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Top News
by Tom Bowles

Tony Stewart Speaks Out Against Blocking

One of NASCAR's veterans is admonishing the way younger drivers are racing in Sprint Cup competition for the second time in less than three months. Tony Stewart, in the midst of his own 2013 struggles, went off on how blocking is affecting the sport Sunday despite one of his better performances of the year, a seventh in Charlotte's Coca-Cola 600.

"Ricky Stenhouse, I'd choke him right now if I could get to him," Stewart told Sirius XM Radio after the race. "One more lap of having to mess around with him... "

Stewart went on to say, on the radio program, today's style of racing is radically different from when he was a rookie in Cup. Claiming the practice is now readily accepted, he doesn't want to move drivers out of the way but may feel like it's a necessary evil going forward if things don't change.

"Everybody that thinks this crap of blocking is productive, they don't know honestly what racing is all about," Stewart said. "And the guys that do it who think it's acceptable, I lose respect for them every day."

Stewart also was critical of Joey Logano, specifically following a Fontana restart in March where the young driver blocked Stewart's inside bid for the lead. In that race, Stewart faded to well outside the top 20 and the incident caused a physical confrontation afterwards. While never openly retaliating, the bitterness between the two has continued, as there's stubbornness to both sides changing the way they compete.

"I always said I'd choke those (IndyCar) guys if I raced with them, but that was the most respectful race I saw and probably the best Indy 500 I ever saw," Stewart claimed, using Sunday's record-setting open-wheel race as a comparison and future compromise. "It shows when those guys, no matter what series it is, if you race each other with respect and actually race each other, it can put on a good show. You don't have to sit there and block and gouge everybody to get a good race."

National Guard Sponsorship Study Confirms NASCAR Link To Recruiting

The armed forces' lone remaining full-time sponsor in the sport now has proof its advertising works. The Alan Newman Research program of Richmond, VA concluded a study, released to the public this week where the National Guard is boasting a three-to-one return on its NASCAR program. Since backing Dale Earnhardt, Jr., in 2007 the branch of the U.S. Military has added some 400,000 recruits, some 90% of which were exposed to their benefits through NASCAR-related brochures, events, drivers, or cars.

Additionally, the research group found that among those 18 to 34, fans of NASCAR are twice as likely to consider the military a career option than those who don't care about the sport. They're also "very likely" to support a loved one's military career by an increased rate of 20 percent.

The news is important considering attempts in recent years to ban military sponsorships at sporting events. That bill, which was defeated last year has not been proposed to Congress so far in 2013. Earnhardt, meanwhile, is still searching for additional sponsorship as the National Guard is only backing roughly half the events on the driver's schedule.

Truck Series Crew Member Suspended Indefinitely

NASCAR announced on Tuesday that Beau Wilkes, a tire specialist for Eddie Sharp Racing in the Camping World Truck Series, was suspended indefinitely for violating the sanctioning body's substance abusy policy. Wilkes was found in violation of Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 19 (violation of the NASCAR Substance Abuse Policy) on May 23rd. ESR issued a statement from team owner Eddie Sharp.

"ESR supports all NASCAR rules and mandates zero tolerance with any violations, especially concerning NASCAR's and ESR's own substance abuse policy," Sharp said. "Upon learning that one of our team members violated NASCAR's substance abuse policy, we immediately released him from the team. That said, we support his Road to Recovery efforts and wish good health for him and his family."

The organization fields two full-time entries in the Truck Series including one for Max Gresham and another that has had a myriad of drivers behind the wheel.

News 'N' Notes

- Early indications are that Coca-Cola 600 viewership is on par with one year ago. The race earned a 4.1 Nielsen overnight rating, flat with 2012 and outpacing this year's Indy 500 by seven percent. That number also blew away the Grand Prix of Monaco, which scored a 1.3 on NBC even though that's the highest rating for a live F-1 race in six years.

The numbers are disappointing, however, when compared to their heights of just a short time ago. The Coke 600, back in 2005 posted a 6.1 rating while the Indy 500 drew a 6.6. That year was the peak of NASCAR's popularity, combined with Danica Patrick's near-win in open-wheel's biggest race.

- AJ Allmendinger, just two days removed from a seventh-place finish in the Indy 500 spent Tuesday testing a Penske Racing Nationwide Series car at Virginia International Raceway. There's been no official announcement as to his schedule, other than racing open-wheel for the team at Belle Isle this weekend but the test raised speculation as to whether he'll run on the road courses of Road America, Mid-Ohio, and Watkins Glen for the No. 22 car. The latter two events have no conflict with the IndyCar schedule; Penske is trying to find funding to run the Californian in more events on that side of the fence, as well.

- The early entry lists for Nationwide and Trucks find NASCAR scrambling to fill the field for both series. Only 38 cars are listed for the second-tier division, for an available 40 spots on the grid while the Truck Series is one short (35 entries for 36 spots). The Cup cars, with a bare minimum 43 are the only ones "set" for this weekend's activities.

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.

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Today's Featured Commentary
Shame on You, INDYCAR
WTF Wednesdays
by Ellen Richardson

After being excited about tuning into the Indy 500 (the one IndyCar race that I generally tune into each year) I was, once again, disappointed by this series' Superbowl race ending under caution.  Not to take anything away from race winner, Tony Kanaan but how can fans be asked to continue to tune into this race when all they can expect is a dull ending?

As the Izod IndyCar Series has continued to struggle for both fans and television ratings over the last few years, fellow Frontstretch writer, Toni Montgomery wrote "the one debate that will likely arise for Sunday's Indy 500 is whether or not this series needs to use some method to ensure races end under green flag conditions," in her Indy 500 Breakdown: One For the Ages.

Let the debate begin, because it is time for the IndyCar Series to do everything that they can to give fans the most exciting race possible while giving drivers and teams the chance to prove they are top performers.

I can't say that this race wasn't exciting, with the record-setting 68 lead changes and consistent competition throughout.  Also, who wouldn't want to root for Tony Kanaan, on his 12th try for the one race that has eluded him throughout the years, especially with the wonderful story about the lucky medallion that he had with him throughout this race? 

I just can't help but wonder that if INDYCAR were to adopt NASCAR's green-white-checkered finish rule, though that the finish of Sunday's Indy 500 would have been as legendary as ones we have continued to see in NASCAR over the last few years.  Instead, fans not only viewing this race from home but who also stood in line for hours at Indianapolis Motor Speedway were treated to a hum drum ending, single-file behind the pace car for not the first, no not even the second, but the fourth year in a row.  I just have to say it early in this column folks, WTF?

Being a typical writer who loves research, my continued disbelief and disappointment took me to the Internet to find out what kind of buzz was going on regarding this debate.  One of the best references that I read was within Los Angeles Times article Indy 500 Postscript: An Outcry Over Ending the Race Under Caution where third-place finisher Ryan Hunter-Reay gave his opinion on bringing this world-renowned race into overtime.

"This is Indy, there's a certain way things are done."  Hunter-Reay also mentioned that the green-white-checkered format "can be a bit gimmicky."

Gimmicky! Are you kidding me?  If this type of finish were, quote, "gimmicky" why does almost every small track racing series use the same type of "gimmicky" finish that NASCAR adopted so many years ago? 

The funny thing is Hunter-Reay has also said that he is willing to do "what the fans want."  I am glad that he is willing to recognize that while it is important that these drivers be happy with the competition, without fans tuning in or sitting in the stands this series will see its days come to an end. 

Even if Sunday's race winner can see a valid reason to reconsider a change in the rules, I think it is time that new series President, Derrick Walker and his fellow cohorts consider some changes.  Maybe the thought is, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.  The problem is, there are so many things that are falling apart in the IZOD IndyCar Series that if it isn't broken yet, it sure will be soon.  Time for a change guys!

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

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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!

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Tweet 'N' Greet
by Beth Lunkenheimer and 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...

@Writer_Amy: Ouch! Hey, @CJMearsGang what did that poor gecko do to y'all? pic.twitter.com/kHVcOxsn3I

@MountaineerMama: @TheFrontstretch @surfwax83 When Kyle dominates, I turn the TV off. Where's the fun in watching him lap these young drivers?

@Writer_Amy: Three new #nascar Hall of Famers: Dale Jarrett, Jack Ingram and Maurice Petty pic.twitter.com/FpSt6Q2Fue

@jeff_gluck: Frustrating as a viewer to think about the finish that might have been at Indy 500. Need a GWC rule. It's a gimmick, yeah, but for the fans!

@jeff_gluck: Getting crushed by IndyCar fans on Twitter right now. How dare I suggest IndyCar make its races more entertaining. Sorry?

@ReganSmith: @jeff_gluck gotta say I agree with them, as anti-climatic as that finish was for as good as the race was, it's good to stick with tradition.

@LewisFranck:
Some people kiss the yard of bricks. I think I just saw Tony Kanaan try to make love to that yard of bricks.

@nateryan: Perhaps it's just me ... but this race has been run 97 times, and it hasn't gone more than 500 miles yet. Hard to argue with that. #indycar

@nateryan: With respect to colleague @jeff_gluck and others, fans didn't litter Indianapolis with debris because race ended under yellow ... #IndyCar

@nateryan: ... nor did they shower the field with boos. Will take that as a tacit endorsement of the way the race ended by 200,000 or so here. #indycar

@DeLanaHarvick: Yeah kinda wanted to push him down :( MT @kcav917: @DeLanaHarvick must b awesome 2 c @KeelanHarvick walking, but heartbreak 2 see him grow up

@NickBromberg: After one of the best Indy 500s ever, the GWC debate going on right now proves that race fans and many around sport are never happy.

@NickBromberg: And, the worst thing the @IndyCar Series could do right now would be to institute GWC finishes anytime soon. Let the rules be different.

@IndyCar: KISS THE BRICKS! #Indy500orBust #IndyCar @TonyKanaan @kvracing pic.twitter.com/d1DqX7ZP30

@GrahamRahal: Heard the race today was awesome. I hope people are noticing how great the product is in @indycar. Don't think any series has what we do

@KevinHarvick: Waking up at the track on a Monday morning with the trophy and a hangover is always a good thing!!!

@KevinHarvick:
@KeelanHarvick has a new toy! pic.twitter.com/g8KOZnr8vD

@MikeCWheeler: Here's a pic @KyleBusch snapped w/ my phone. Lot of damage. But 18 team patched it up quickly and effectively. #team pic.twitter.com/dnhAEdUyUP

@Elliott_Sadler: Congrats to @TonyKanaan ... Great guy.. Always puts on a great show at Indy... Well deserved my friend

@AJDinger (AJ Allmendinger):
Yesterday was one the coolest moments of my racing career. Will never forget it thank u @penskeracing @IZOD @TeamChevy making it happen

@keselowski (Brad Keselowski): So after indy500, what do you prefer fans, great racing or great finish? Seems we can't have both.

@Beth_Frntstrtch (Beth Lunkenheimer): @keselowski It's possible to have both, but a great race holds your attention through 500 miles. A great finish? A handful of laps.

@TimGeorgeJr: Wow that cable is nuts! #coke600 #NASCAR wonder if that's it for that camera view for good ... It was a cool view

@mw55 (Michael Waltrip): I'm thankful today for those who stood in harm's way and gave all. And to the men and women who continue to keep us free. #remember

@bscottracing (Brian Scott):
God bless all our past and present service men & women. Thank you 4 ur commitment to this great country! Hope all our troops come home safe!

@AlexBRacing (Alex Bowman): Well not a good day but a bad day at the race track is better than no day at the race track

@JimmieJohnson: I wonder if this guy is still in the dog house??? https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=KC1cfgbowUg

@pkligerman (Parker Kligerman): Oh glad to know after 3 years break from road course racing, the talent didn't fall out of my ear, haha... Always a fear! #FastoffTheTruck

@Ryan_Truex: Thanks to everyone asking how I'm doing, looks like I won't be able to make Dover. But I have some very big news coming soon #hired

@NelsonPiquet:
Happy 21st bday johannalong ! We had a great time! http://instagram.com/p/Zw-0diE8ig/

@JoeyLogano: Hard day of testing at VIR, @keselowski is apparently wore out pic.twitter.com/9i4WHgWKxJ

@AndyLally: Yo momma so stupid, she sits on the TV and watches the couch.

@scottspeed: Juliet just counted to 10 by herself!!!! Holly shit! So crazy!!!! #ProudDaddy

@MaxGresham: Priuses do not belong in the left lane. Move over! #sorrynotsorry #moooooooooove

@Tbayne21 (Trevor Bayne): In 1 week I will be married to @ashtonshelby_!! #gotthegirl

@BubbaWallace: Only if only, red lobster biscuits were at every restaurant....

@SluggerLabbe: So great to see all the service men & woman @CLTMotorSpdwy supporting @nascar teams  thanks for defending our freedom #proudtobeanamerican

@RyanHunterReay:
So so close to winning the big one... Congrats to @TonyKanaan on a much deserved #Indy500 win. Great racing, lots of action. Usual @IndyCar

@nateryan: Remember how upset everyone was when Dale Earnhardt won the 1998 Daytona 500 because it ended under caution? Oh, wait ... #nascar #indycar

@TheOrangeCone: I love how the "no one will remember TK's win, only that he won under caution" people blatantly ignore the 1998 Daytona 500.

@Jordan_Bianchi: On the scale of Juan Pablo Montoya hitting a jet dryer, how weird is this? #NASCAR

@SummerBedgood: Why is everyone eating those PB&J's??? Does someone have a stash somewhere? I'm jealous. #NASCAR

@queers4gears: WOW,  that's amazing, Fox just told us the red flag they caused will make the race better.  <-- see #delusional in Webster's

@Just_AP (Ashley Parlett): Me. To nearly everything DW says pic.twitter.com/fYlACMnTDW

@dcaraviello (David Caraviello): Chris Myers on the Coca-Cola 600 television broadcast: "We at Fox Sports do apologize for this delay." #CableGate

@NASCAR_Wonka: Somewhere right now, Sterling Marlin is saying, "WTH?! You're allowed to work on your car during a red flag now?!"

@JakeSnakeCrum (Jake Crum): If I could go to a race and the only damage I receive is from a camera cable, I would be happy!

@TonyKanaan: Yesssssssss http://instagram.com/p/Zy2TKNkFhR/

@jaywpennell: Chad Knaus tells @JimmieJohnson the guys ahead of them are just better, says the Toyotas have an advantage & they're behind.

@bigdalsky (Brandon Igdalsky): Fan on @NASCARONFOX might be best hula hooping shadow boxer ever! I love this sport. Just when you've seen it all!  #nascar

@jeff_gluck: Kyle Busch says his engine is blowing and adds, "I've got more f-------- blowups than I do wins!" #NASCAR

@jeff_gluck: Team wants to fix it but Kyle says: "There's nothing to fix! It's f-------- broke! It's pointless."

@SummerBedgood: So Kyle's engine went out, Dale Jr.'s engine blew, and two cars crashed ... at the exact same time. This race is one big acid trip. #NASCAR

@Just_AP: This race sucks. THERE. I SAID IT.

@SummerBedgood: I hate to say it, but all of these cautions are helping make the race more tolerable. Those long green flag runs can be brutal. #NASCAR

@Beth_Frntstrtch: @SummerBedgood Sad state when @IndyCar can run more than 100 green flag laps and still be interesting but #NASCAR can't do the same.
 
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.

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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:

Did You Notice? ... 2013 Driver Report Cards
by Tom Bowles

IndyCar Round Table: What Did We Really Think of the Indy 500?
by Toni Montgomery, Huston Ladner and Matt Stallknecht

by the Frontstretch Staff

Happiness Is... The Next Morning
by Huston Ladner
by Amy Henderson

compiled by Michael Mehedin

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FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
 
Q: The 1987 Budweiser 500 at Dover, won by Davey Allison, was plagued by a number of engine failures.  Why was this so?
 
Check back Thursday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
 
Tuesday's Answer:

Q: In Matt Stallknecht's Four Burning Questions, Charlotte edition, that appeared on the Frontstretch last Friday, question No. 3 was about whether or not a certain team would shine during the Coca-Cola 600 based on their season to date.
 
What team was Matt talking about and how did each driver on that team perform during Sunday's race?

A: Matt was talking about Earnhardt Ganassi Racing's drivers, Jamie McMurray and Juan Pablo Montoya.  During the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday night, Montoya finished three laps down in 18th after getting caught up in a crash with Jimmie Johnson and Matt Kenseth.  Jamie McMurray finished four laps down in 19th.

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: Indianapolis 500 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.

Frontstretch Fan Q&A by Summer Bedgood
Summer takes on your NASCAR 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, Shane Wilson stops by with a few thoughts as the series heads off to Dover.

Fantasy Racing by Jeff Wolfe
Jeff brings fantasy racing back to Frontstretch this season. The week, he has your best bets as you fill out your roster for Dover.

Truckin' Thursdays by Beth Lunkenheimer
Beth is back with all of the latest and greatest to come out of the Truck Series. This week, Beth takes a look at the drivers that scored their first career victory at Dover and who has the best shot of doing the same this weekend.
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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!
©2013 Frontstretch.com

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The Frontstretch Newsletter: Lunchtime Means Free NASCAR...

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

May 28th, 2013
Volume VII, Edition XCI
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Frontstretch Readers - You can win 2 FREE tickets to this week's FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks at Dover along with 2 free FanVision rentals for the same weekend. All you need to do is answer the trivia question below and e-mail it to: FrontstretchTrivia@gmail.com. The first correct response will win!
 
NOTE: This offer is for tickets only. Travel to the track and accommodations are NOT included.

Q:  In Matt Stallknecht's Four Burning Questions, Charlotte edition, that appeared on the Frontstretch last Friday, question No. 3 was about whether or not a certain team would shine during the Coca-Cola 600 based on their season to date.
 
What team was Matt talking about and how did each driver on that team perform during Sunday's race?

The first person to respond correctly to the e-mail address listed above gets the tickets and the free FanVision rental.
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Top News
by Tom Bowles

FOX Releases Follow Up Statement Regarding Charlotte Rope Issue

This Tuesday, the investigation continues into a nylon rope cable collapse, designed to hold up a FOX camera which ultimately injured ten fans, caused a red flag and severely damaged several race cars in the Coca-Cola 600. As more information is collected, the network is keeping the public abreast of their findings and released a follow-up statement yesterday.

"Everyone at FOX Sports is relieved and thankful to know," the network said, "That the injuries to fans caused when CAMCAT malfunctioned at Charlotte Motor Speedway were minor, and those who received hospital treatment were released. As stated previously, we regret that the race was affected, and we apologize to the racers whose cars were damaged, to everyone at CMS, NASCAR, and NASCAR fans, especially those who were hurt. At this time, we still do not have a cause for what happened, but a full investigation is underway, and use of the camera is suspended indefinitely.

"The rope is made of Dyneema, an ultra-strong synthetic that has the same approximate strength of a steel wire with the same diameter, and is less than a year old. According to the company, it had been factory-tested by the manufacturer and its breaking strength is certified before shipment. It was also inspected by CAMCAT upon receipt last June. The rope was certified to have a breaking strength of over 9,300 pounds. The force exerted during last night's race was less than 900 pounds.

"FOX Sports is reviewing with CAMCAT equipment maintenance records, history and installation information and will share those findings with NASCAR and CMS."

FOX will cover its last Sprint Cup race of the season Sunday at Dover. At this time, TNT and ESPN are not expected to utilize this technology, meaning the earliest CAMCAT would be part of a broadcast once again for NASCAR would be the 2014 Daytona 500.

Justin Marks To Drive For Tommy Baldwin Racing

A former full-timer in the Camping World Truck Series will attempt his Sprint Cup debut next month. Justin Marks, a road racing expert from California will pilot the No. 7 Chevrolet, owned by Tommy Baldwin Racing in his home state race out in Sonoma. Marks, who has four top-10 finishes and two poles in 35 career Truck Series starts, will be sponsored by GoPro. A driver with a myriad of racing experience, his accomplishments include winning the 2009 Rolex 24 in Daytona, NASCAR's Grand-Am crown jewel.

The move means Dave Blaney will step out of the seat of his TBR Chevy for the event, not unexpected considering the veteran is far out of Chase contention. 31st in Sprint Cup points, he has a best finish of 16th and three DNFs, all due to wrecks in a dozen starts this season.

News 'N' Notes

- Deadspin has released some terrifying video of the camera cable snapping and falling onto the racetrack at Charlotte. The field comes by not once, but twice before the yellow flag waves and NASCAR recognizes the seriousness of the situation.

- Good racing doesn't always lead to better ratings. The 2013 Indianapolis 500 drew just a 3.8 overnight, down 7 percent from a year ago and posted as the worst Nielsen number in the history of the 500-mile event. The race first was aired live by ABC in 1986.

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


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GOT 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!

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Today's Featured Commentary
Memorial Day Ceremonies: More than Parades and Waving Flags
Sitting In The Stands: A Fan's View
by S.D. Grady

Here in the Northeast, the day dawned bright with a cloudless sky.  A perfect day for a parade, you might say.  How fortuitous that it happens to be Memorial Day in the United States of America, the holiday where we remember those who have given their lives in service to our country.

In years past, I have highlighted the Congressional Medal of Honor recipients that were honored as part of the pre-race show for the Coca-Cola 600.  This year, the massive military tribute focused on the masses rather than the few.  600 troops marched down the frontstretch, while over 10,000 military members were present for the race.  We enjoyed a stirring rendition of Amazing Grace on the bagpipes and Taps done as only a live bugler can.  Even the anthem was performed by Robin Meade, who has made a tradition on her Headline News Morning Express show out of the daily "Salute to the Troops" segment.  And who could have missed the giant flag, waving across the start/finish line saluting our nation?

All of this ceremony is important, to recognize the members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, National Guard and Coast Guard who are actively serving. However, it skirts what Memorial Day is truly about.

This past week in Boston, a beautiful and somber display was created on Boston Common by members of the Massachusetts Military Heroes Fund.  They planted 33,000 American flags on the green lawns of this public recreation space to represent all the Massachusetts men and women who have died in service to our nation since the Civil War.  33,000 lives. 

There was no music or parades. Instead, it was only a small podium and microphone where the names of the 170 Massachusetts heroes who have perished since September 11th, 2001 were read aloud.  A sea of red, white and blue flourished silently around the speaker.  There were no stories of glory, few pictures of the fallen as visual memories.  But still, who can deny the price of human life that has been given to our nation when it was needed most?

No matter that we know the names, faces and families of those fallen, it is still the act of the ultimate sacrifice that we honor on Memorial Day, as well as every day at Arlington National Cemetery at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  Every hour of the year, Marines guard this tomb.  We don't know the identity of the soldier buried here, only that he died serving our country.  For that we protect his grave, maintain it and honor the person as a national hero.

Memorial Day is a holiday, one where we often gather with family and friends for picnics, fun and love.  However, it behooves all of us as Americans to pause and consider why this holiday was enacted.  Our nation did not become what it is today without great peril and strife.  Wars have always been part of our history, and for every time America enters into a great conflict, there are those who march into battle knowing they, too, may be called upon to give everything they have ever had.  It's this act of selflessness that we honor on the final Monday of May every year; the generosity of the human spirit as embodied by each member of our Armed Forces.

So yes, wave the flags and cheer for our troops marching in the joyous parades.  But please, do not forget those who fight no longer.  For this is truly their day.  Memorial Day.

Kyle Larson Stat

Series:
Nationwide
Track: Charlotte Motor Speedway
Car: No. 32 Vizio/Hulu Plus Chevrolet
Qualified: 18th
Finished: 4th (lead lap)
Points Standings: 9th

Want to follow Kyle Larson yourself?

Twitter: @KyleLarsonRacin
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KyleLarsonRacing
Website (under construction): http://kylelarsonracing.com/
Looking for a little history? Try... http://kylelarsonracing.net/

S.D. Grady is a Senior Editor for Frontstretch. She can be reached via e-mail at sonya.grady@frontstretch.com. Follow him on Twitter at @laregna.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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

Numbers Game: Coca-Cola 600
by Tom Bowles

0
Intermediate track races won by Kasey Kahne this year. That's even with three second-place finishes (Las Vegas, Kansas, Charlotte) and 275 laps led on 1.5-milers.

1
Finish worse than 18th for Martin Truex, Jr. in the last ten races (he was 40th at Martinsville). That's launched him up to ninth in series points; Truex was a consistent ninth Sunday night in Charlotte.

2
Coca-Cola 600 victories for Kevin Harvick, in which he led a combined total of 30 laps. In his other win, back in 2011 Harvick shot up to first once Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and several others ran out of gas coming off Turn 4 on the white-flag lap.

1
Total number of top-5 finishes for three-car Stewart-Haas Racing through 12 races this season. That's the team Harvick is moving to in 2014; so far, he has two wins this season with RCR.

3
Top-5 finishes for Kurt Busch this season after running third in the Coke 600. That equals the number of top-5 finishes Furniture Row Racing had on the Cup Series level heading into this season (eight years, 199 starts).

4
Top-5 finishes for Joey Logano in 2013 (fifth at Charlotte). That's double the number he had last season with Joe Gibbs Racing.

4
Straight finishes outside the top 10 for Brad Keselowski, the first time that's happened since June of 2012.

6
The number of cautions Sunday night for debris on the racetrack. There were only five yellows for wrecks/blown engines.

10
The number of races, out of 12 Jimmie Johnson has led the point standings this season. Even after running 22nd at Charlotte, tying the No. 48 car's worst finish of the year he's still 32 points ahead of Carl Edwards.

12
Number of drivers who failed to finish Sunday's Coca-Cola 600, a Sprint Cup season high.

13
The number of drivers to finish on the lead lap at Charlotte, a season low. Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. who ran 14th was actually two laps off the pace.

17.5
The average start this season for Paul Menard, a season worst for anyone inside the top 10 in series points. Menard had to battle forward from 22nd in order to score his 13th-place finish on Sunday, the final car on the lead lap.

24
Lead changes Sunday in the Coke 600. In comparison, the Indy 500 had a record-setting 68 in 100 fewer miles of competition.

37
The number of races, on the Cup level since Trevor Bayne has scored a top-5 finish (Win, 2011 Daytona 500). He was 16th driving the No. 21 Wood Brothers Ford Sunday, a season best but also three laps off the pace.

Tom Bowles is the Editor-In-Chief of Frontstretch. He can be reached via e-mail at tom.bowles@frontstretch.com.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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~~~~~~~~~~~

TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:

Racing To The Point: Allmendinger Cashes In On Second Chances
by Brett Poirier

Who's Hot / Who's Not In Sprint Cup: Charlotte-Dover Edition
by Brad Morgan


Going By The Numbers: Imagine A Nationwide Race Without Kyle Busch
by Kevin Rutherford

Five Points to Ponder: Halfway to the Chase, Trophies and Last FOX Race
by Danny Peters

Couch Potato Tuesday: FOX Unwittingly Becomes The Story in Charlotte
by Phil Allaway


~~~~~~~~~~
Coming tomorrow in the Frontstretch Newsletter:
-- Top News from Tom Bowles
-- WTF Wednesday by Ellen Richardson
-- Tweet 'N' Greet by Kevin Rutherford
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, and more!

~~~~~~~~~~

Tomorrow on the Frontstretch:


Did You Notice? by Tom Bowles
Did You Notice we're one-third of the way through the regular season? Tom gives out some report card grades while handing out some other small, important observations surrounding the NASCAR circuit.

Side By Side: Moving a Charlotte Race Date to Las Vegas? by TBA
Should Bruton Smith move one of Charlotte's two Sprint Cup races to Las Vegas Motor Speedway for 2014 and beyond? Two of your favorite Frontstretch experts debate; feel free to weigh in with your take on the issue.

Beyond the Cockpit: TBA

Frontstretch Top 10 by the Frontstretch Staff
Your favorite writers are back with their Wednesday dose of NASCAR humor that leaves you laughing. Don't miss out!

Open-Wheel Wednesday by Toni Montgomery
Join Toni, Huston and Matt as they wrap up the month of May with a roundtable discussion.

NASCAR Power Rankings: Top 15 After Charlotte compiled by Michael Mehedin
Jimmie Johnson finally had a slip-up on Sunday night, but he still has a 32-point lead over Carl Edwards in second. Did he maintain number one on our power rankings list? Experts you love from across the web, not just Frontstretch rank the drivers heading into Dover as our weekly top 15 poll comes up for a vote once again.

Happiness Is... by P. Huston Ladner
Don't let your life sink into the pits. Huston tells us why pit road was the place to be for smiles over the weekend, among other topics while looking at the bright side of racing stories we've seen in the past seven days.

-----------------------------
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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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Monday, May 27, 2013

The Frontstretch Newsletter: Win Free Dover Tickets!

THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
May 27th, 2013
Volume VII, Edition XCI

~~~~~~~~~~

Frontstretch Readers - You can win 2 FREE tickets to this week's FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks at Dover along with 2 free FanVision rentals
for the same weekend. All you need to do is answer the trivia question below and e-mail it to: FrontstretchTrivia@gmail.com. The first correct response will win!
 
NOTE: This offer is for tickets only. Travel to the track and accommodations are NOT included.

~~~~~~~~~~

Sprint Cup Race Recap: Harvick Takes Advantage of Pit Strategy to Win Strange 600
by Phil Allaway

Ahead of Sunday's Coca-Cola 600, most observers had put their money on Kasey Kahne to win.  Kahne had been fastest in single-lap, short runs, and long runs in both practice sessions on Saturday.

However, a lot of things can happen in a 600-mile race.  Kahne led a race-high 161 laps on Sunday, but chose to stay out on the final caution with 14 laps to go while all the other drivers on the lead lap pitted for tires.  On the restart, Kevin Harvick sprinted past Kahne and drove away to claim his second victory of the season.

After the race, Harvick was very pleased with his evening.

"It feels great [to be in Victory Lane]," Harvick said.  "Just have to thank everybody on this Budweiser Folds of Honor Chevy for just hanging in there.  This is a long night.  We have been here a lot of times and know that you just have to grind through mile after mile, keep your car running, don't get tore up, don't get a lap down and you're going to be somewhere around at the end.  Everybody did that on our Budweiser Chevy tonight and there we were at the end."

Denny Hamlin won the pole with a record lap, and led the field to green.  Despite running very well for nearly the entire race, Hamlin was never really a factor to win.  Matt Kenseth took the lead early on and staked his claim as a serious contender to win his fourth race of the season.  Kyle Busch, in another Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, was also in the hunt.

Kahne moved up relatively quickly from his sixth starting spot, eventually claiming the lead from Kenseth on Lap 24 and holding the lead through the first round of pit stops.  It appeared that the race was going to have a "green flag feel."

After a debris caution, Kyle Busch began to assert his strength, trading the lead with Kahne.  However, the race became very unusual once Casey Mears hit the wall in Turn 4 to bring out the second caution.  Kyle Busch won the race off pit road and re-took the lead from Kahne for the restart.

Then, the unprecedented occurred.  A cable responsible for the movement of FOX's CAMCAT, referred to on-air as the "Unlimited Cam," snapped and laid down on the track.  Kyle Busch hit this cable and ripped open a hole in the right side of his Toyota.  The cable whipped back and ripped brake lines off of Marcos Ambrose's Ford and damaged numerous other cars.  Meanwhile, ten fans in the grandstand were struck by the cable and suffered minor injuries.  Seven of those fans were treated at the track, while three others were taken by ambulance to a local hospital.  They have since been released.  FOX Sports has released a statement regarding the incident, which can be seen in the Sidebar Stories section below.

The race was red-flagged while crews removed the offending cable from the track.  FOX disabled the CAMCAT for the rest of the race and kept it stationary on its support cables over the quad-oval.  Due to the circumstances, NASCAR made a near-unprecedented move to allow teams 15 minutes to perform repairs on their cars, all while retaining their positions prior to the red flag.  These were limited to work on normal pit stops and fixing repairs caused by the cable.

Despite the substantial repairs on his Toyota, Kyle Busch was still in command after the stoppage.  But Kenseth retook the advantage on the next round of green-flag stops as Kyle Busch began to fade with what turned out to be engine issues.  On Lap 257, Kyle's Toyota slowed on track and pulled out.  At roughly the same time, Dale Earnhardt, Jr.'s Chevrolet R07 engine blew and put oil down in Turns 3 and 4.  That oil down led to two separate wrecks.  First, Greg Biffle slid into the wall, then Travis Kvapil and Dave Blaney collided and slammed into the concrete.  Kvapil was out on the spot, while Biffle and Blaney continued after repairs.

After having to play catch-up with the changeable track conditions, Kahne's car came back to life and allowed him to reassume the point.  However, a couple of debris cautions brought the field back to him.

Kurt Busch was able to take the lead from Kahne on a Lap 319 restart.  Then, a spate of crashing began.  Brad Keselowski and Danica Patrick collided in Turn 3 while racing for the Lucky Dog and crashed into the wall.  Keselowski tried to continue, but crashed again in the quad-oval and retired.  Patrick continued, but finished 15 laps off the pace.

Immediately after the restart, Mark Martin and Aric Almirola had contact in the quad-oval, resulting in a six-car crash that caused another red flag for cleanup.  Martin, Almirola and Jeff Gordon were out on the spot as a result.  During the red flag, Kurt Busch's car shut off due to an electrical issue.  Harvick claimed the lead as a result of Kurt's problems.

A couple of laps later, Jimmie Johnson rubbed against Martin Truex, Jr. in Turn 4 and spun.  The resulting stack-up saw Juan Pablo Montoya and Matt Kenseth hit the wall in Turn 4.  Montoya then slid into the grass and hit Johnson.  All three continued, but were out of contention for decent finishes.

Kahne was able to assume the lead shortly after the restart from Harvick and pulled away prior to the final round of stops.  After a prolonged sequence, Kahne regained the lead before the final caution flew.

Behind Harvick and Kahne was Kurt Busch in third.  Hamlin was fourth, while Joey Logano charged late to finish fifth.  Ryan Newman came back from a lap down to run sixth, while team owner Tony Stewart was seventh.  Clint Bowyer was eighth, while Martin Truex, Jr. was ninth.  Ambrose, despite all the damage done to his car from the cable, rounded out the top-10 finishers.

Johnson, who littered the track with debris to cause the final yellow, finished five laps down in 22nd.  Carl Edwards ran 11th and trimmed Johnson's point lead down to 32.

Next weekend, the Sprint Cup Series travels to Dover, Delaware for the FedEx 400 Benefiting Autism Speaks.  Coverage begins Sunday at 12:30pm EDT.

Phil Allaway is the Newsletter Manager and a Senior Writer for Frontstretch. He can be reached via e-mail at phil.allaway@frontstretch.com.

Chasing the Chase: Johnson's Issues Allows Margin to Close
by Phil Allaway

Sunday night's crazy race has caused some significant changes to the standings.  Jimmie Johnson had his first trouble on track in weeks, spinning after rubbing against Martin Truex, Jr. on Lap 333 and getting hit by Juan Pablo Montoya.  Afterwards, Johnson lost a lap under yellow, then pitted under green for an unscheduled stop.  For the rest of the race, Johnson just rode along to a 22nd-place finish, five laps down.  He maintained his points lead, but it is down to 32 over Carl Edwards, who finished 11th.  Despite hitting the wall in the same crash where Johnson spun out, Matt Kenseth maintained the third spot in the standings after finishing 15th, two laps down.

Clint Bowyer managed to keep himself out of trouble on Sunday night, which turned out to be quite a feat.  He was rewarded with an eighth-place finish, which moved him one place to fourth in points.  Kasey Kahne is up to fifth after his second-place result, but he's likely wondering what could have been.  Prior to the final debris caution, he basically had the race won, then everyone except him pitted for tires.  Dale Earnhardt, Jr. dropped to sixth after blowing an engine on Lap 258.  Fluids from Earnhardt Jr.'s Chevrolet resulted in two separate crashes in Turn 4 where Greg Biffle, Travis Kvapil and Dave Blaney went into the wall.

Kevin Harvick's victory moved him up three places in the standings to seventh, solidifying his spot within the top-10.  Paul Menard, despite suffering damage in the Lap 333 crash after running into the back of Montoya, finished 13th on Sunday, which is where he ran for most of the evening.  That was good enough to move Menard up three places in the standings and back into the top 10.  The big mover for the week was Martin Truex, Jr., who moved up into the top 10 for the first time all season after finishing ninth, a gain of five spots.

Brad Keselowski dropped three places to tenth after crashing out on Lap 318.  Prior to that point, Keselowski was a lap down and racing Danica Patrick for the Lucky Dog.  He was having, at best, a mediocre night.  Kyle Busch's blown engine dropped him clean out of the top 10, to 11th, while Aric Almirola dropped to 12th after crashing out.

Standings: 1) Jimmie Johnson 445, 2) Carl Edwards -32, 3) Matt Kenseth -51, 4) Clint Bowyer -60, 5) Kasey Kahne -75, 6) Dale Earnhardt, Jr. -81, 7) Kevin Harvick -83, 8) Paul Menard -98, 9) Martin Truex, Jr. -109, 10) Brad Keselowski -110.

Best of the Rest: 11)
Kyle Busch -113, 12) Aric Almirola, -117, 13) Greg Biffle -121, 14) Jamie McMurray, -124, 15) Jeff Gordon, -125, 16) Ryan Newman. -130, 17) Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. -133, 18) Kurt Busch -141, 19) Joey Logano -147, 20) Tony Stewart -154.

Wild Cards: 1) Kyle Busch (11th in points, two wins), 2) Aric Almirola (12th in points)

Currently Ineligible for Wild Card: 1) David Ragan (27th in points, one win)

Race Winners: Jimmie Johnson (Daytona, Martinsville), Carl Edwards (Phoenix), Matt Kenseth (Las Vegas, Kansas, Darlington), Kasey Kahne (Bristol), Kyle Busch (Fontana, Texas), Kevin Harvick (Richmond, Charlotte), David Ragan (Talladega)

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

Never Fear, The Underdogs Are Here: Charlotte Edition
by Amy Henderson

Editor's Note: This year, we're going to switch things up a little bit.  Instead of just focusing upon one underdog (or underreported) car in the Secret Star section, we will point out three smaller teams that put up good finishes each week.


Underdog Selection No. 1: Trevor Bayne for Wood Brothers Racing; started 29th, finished 16th

A common thread among this week's selections is that while they all had decent finishes, it wasn't pretty.  Bayne's team had to start from the rear after blowing an engine in practice, had a flat tire in the first 40 laps, suffered from handling problems, and had damage from a lap 327 crash… yet still managed to get their best finish of the year. 

It was the 1,400th start for the storied organization, which revolutionized the sport by making pit strategy a key part of NASCAR racing. While they didn't have a great run, they ran until the end and beat some teams with a lot more resources…something the Woods have managed to do at some level for the better part of seven decades.

Underdog Selection No. 2: David Gilliland for Front Row Motorsports; started 38th, finished 20th

Gilliland might have wished he had a clean uniform after a piece of the fallen camera rope hit his car in the windshield, but they were able to recover from that for a decent finish.  It wasn't a repeat of Gilliland's second-place run at Talladega, but it was the kind of result they need to have to move forward - a solid top-20 effort that is the building block of better finishes in the long run.

Underdog Selection No. 3: Casey Mears for Germain Racing; started 21st, finished 23rd

There were a couple of small teams with better finishes than Mears this week, but none that overcame as much as the No. 13 had to.  Some of that was their own making; Mears was penalized for speeding on pit road…and then was penalized again for speeding while serving the first stop and go penalty.  He slammed the wall 40 laps later, tearing off the entire rear bumper cover.  The car overheated.  Mears got collected in a lap 327 incident…and through it all, the car got better.  Mears' lap times in the late going were comparable to the leaders', and he had the best car he's had in quite some time.  If this team can find a little luck, they can finish consistently in the top 20.

Is your favorite driver among NASCAR's underdogs?  Are you frustrated with the lack of coverage they receive during the race broadcasts? Amy has all the small teams covered each and every week in The Big Six.  Be sure to check it out to see how your favorites fared!


Amy Henderson is a Co-Managing Editor and a Senior Writer for Frontstretch.  She can be reached via e-mail at amy.henderson@frontstretch.com.  Follow her on Twitter at @Writer_Amy.
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Letter of the Race: Saturday night's Bojangles' Southern 500 was brought to you by the Letter U, for "Unforeseen."  Strange things have been happening in NASCAR over the past few years (Montoya's jet dryer crash, potholes at the Daytona 500, the Nationwide crash at Daytona, etc.).  However, Sunday's guide cable failure on FOX's CAMCAT system is one of the strangest issues ever to affect a Sprint Cup race.  While it is not the first time that cameras such as CAMCAT have had issues, I cannot recall anytime that the system actually hurt fans.  After the unprecedented moves that NASCAR made in response, heck later broke loose in the race itself.  You just never know what might happen in a NASCAR race.  - Phil Allaway

~~~~~~~~~~

Sidebar Charlotte Stories
by Summer Bedgood

Cable Breaks off of FOX Camera, Injures Fans

NASCAR was forced to red flag the Coca-Cola 600 Sunday night when a cable from FOX's aerial "CamCat" camera broke and fell onto the racetrack and into the grandstands.  What fans in the grandstands described as a whipping motion went through the grandstands when the rope from the camera snapped, injuring ten people. Three of them were transported to a local hospital and later released.

The cable also caused damage to several cars on track, including Kyle Busch, Mark Martin, Marcos Ambrose, Kasey Kahne, and Jimmie Johnson.  NASCAR red flagged the race for 16 minutes and 22 seconds, in which time NASCAR allowed the teams to repair any damage related to the cable.

FOX later released a statement, saying, "At this time, we do not have a cause for the failure of the camera drive line that interrupted tonight's Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and our immediate concern is with the injured fans.  The camera system consists of three ropes -- a drive rope which moves the camera back and forth, and two guide ropes on either side.  The drive rope failed near the Turn 1 connection and fell to the track.  The camera itself did not come down because guide ropes acted as designed.  A full investigation is planned, and use of the camera is suspended indefinitely.

This camera system had been used successfully at this year's Daytona 500, last week's NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race and other major events around the world. We certainly regret that the system failure affected tonight's event; we apologize to the racers whose cars were damaged, and our immediate concern is for the race fans.  We also offer a sincere 'thank you' to the staff at CMS for attending to the injuries and keeping us informed on this developing situation.  When we have more information on the cause of the equipment failure, we will share it with you immediately."

The CAMCAT system takes about five days to set up and is suspended between two cranes, one outside turn four and one outside turn one. A safety function built into the mechanism kept the camera itself from failing.

Long Night for the Coca-Cola 600

Two red flags and 11 caution periods dragged Sunday night's Coca-Cola 600 on for four hours, 35 minutes, and 49 seconds.  This was almost on par with the 2011 Coca-Cola 600, which ran for four hours, 33 minutes, and 14 seconds with a total of 14 cautions.

The first red flag of the night came from a bizarre cable failure on NASCAR on FOX's suspended camera above the racetrack damaged several cars and injured fans in the grandstands.  The second was for a multi-car accident on lap 327 when three-wide racing between Mark Martin, Aric Almirola, and Jeff Gordon went awry.  Martin ever so slightly touched Almirola's right rear and a chain reaction ensued. All three drivers were forced out of the race.

Six of the cautions were debris-related, including the cable from the camera.

A grand total of 18 cars were involved in accidents over the course of the race.

Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., Danica Patrick Involved in Late Race Crash

On lap 320, Brad Keselowski and Danica Patrick slammed into the Turn 3 wall after Patrick, Keselowski, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr., who is in a relationship with Patrick, went three wide heading into the corner.  With very little racing room and the intensity increasing with less than 100 laps remaining, the cars collided.

Stenhouse sustained very little damage from the race and went on to 14th while Keselowski was forced to retire from the event.  Patrick lost several laps on pit road while the crew repaired the car and eventually finished the race in 29th, 15 laps down.

Keselowski accepted the blame for the wreck, saying, "I was three-wide with Danica and didn't know it and I cut her off and wrecked her and myself.  I feel bad for her and I send my apologies to her.  It's just a long night for the Miller Lite Ford. We'll move on. That's all you can do."

Patrick declined comment after the race.

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

Quotes to Remember: Coca-Cola 600
compiled by Summer Bedgood

"The whole field pitted and we were in a tough spot. I knew Kevin would be good; he was fast all weekend. … We raced all day and thought we were in a really good position at the end.  We just didn't get it done." - Kasey Kahne, finished second

"I'm still shell-shocked.  We picked up the lead and the battery went dead.  I don't know what to think about that.  We battled back and got third.  You have to be perfect to win these things and we were close, but we weren't quite there." - Kurt Busch, finished third

"Just went three wide and I got squeezed in there. Trying to run the thing three wide and there just wasn't quite room there. I hate it.  I hope everybody's OK." - Mark Martin, finished 34th (Crashed out)

"We're a victim of the caution coming out while we were on pit road.  Shouldn't have stopped in the box and did that pit stop.  We'd have still been on the lead lap.  Instead, we're racing three wide and that's gonna happen.  We're just going for the lucky dog and you've gotta be real aggressive back here.  I got beat on the restart before that with Ambrose and messed that one up so I just hate we were even back there. We had an awesome Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet.  Love that patriotic colors on our car this weekend and just a shame that we were even back there.  We couldn't win, Kasey was too strong, but we had a top-5 car." - Jeff Gordon, finished 35th (Crashed out)

"I was three-wide with Danica and didn't know it and I cut her off and wrecked her and myself. I feel bad for her and I send my apologies to her.  It's just a long night for the Miller Lite Ford.  We'll move on.  That's all you can do." - Brad Keselowski, finished 36th (Crashed out)

"Earlier in the race, I commend NASCAR on taking a break there and giving us all a chance to repair our cars from the damage, at least the ones that had damage, and my guys did a great job. They work way too hard, not only every year but this year and tonight being able to get us back out there with a car that was capable of running in the top five . . . Certainly (Matt Kenseth) and (Kasey Kahne) were the class of the field. We led some laps. But catastrophic engine failure. Just unfortunate, I hate that it happens like that, seems to be that time of year again for us anyways." - Kyle Busch, finished 38th (Blown Engine)

~~~~~~~~~~

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 ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:

Indianapolis 500 Breakdown: One For The Ages
by Toni Montgomery

~~~~~~~~~~~
 
FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:

REMEMBER, THIS IS THE QUESTION YOU NEED TO ANSWER TO WIN YOUR FREE DOVER TICKETS!!!
 
Q:
  In Matt Stallknecht's Four Burning Questions, Charlotte edition, that appeared on the Frontstretch last Friday, question No. 3 was about whether or not a certain team would shine during the Coca-Cola 600 based on their season to date.
 
What team was Matt talking about and how did each driver on that team perform during Sunday's race?

Check back Tuesday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
 
Friday's Answer:
 
Q:  Aside from the Daytona 500, 1998 was not the best year for Dale Earnhardt.  The Coca-Cola 600 was another race where fate just was not in favor of the seven-time champion.  What happened?

A: Earnhardt was racing Randy LaJoie (subbing for the injured Ricky Craven) for 16th when LaJoie pushed up the track in Turn 3.  LaJoie's car then got loose and stuffed himself and Earnhardt into the wall.  Both drivers were out on the spot, and Earnhardt was none too pleased with the situation.  The crash can be seen at the 7:36 mark of this clip

Earnhardt later ranted about the "5 and 5 Rule" that NASCAR was using in the Winston Cup Series that season.  That can be seen here.

Frontstretch Trivia Guarantee: Take the shirt off our backs! If we've provided an incorrect answer to the Frontstretch Trivia question, be the first to email the corrected trivia answer to trivia@frontstretch.com and we'll send you a Frontstretch T-Shirt ... FREE!

Coming Tuesday in the Frontstretch Newsletter:
-- Top News by Tom Bowles
-- Fan's View Commentary by S.D. Grady
-- Numbers Game: Coca-Cola 600 by Tom Bowles
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, and more!
 
Tomorrow on the Frontstretch:

Five Points To Ponder by Danny Peters
Danny returns for his weekly edition of talking points, which will wrap up the action at Charlotte and get us ready for the FedEx 400 Benefiting Autism Speaks at Dover International Speedway

Couch Potato Tuesday by Phil Allaway
This past weekend, the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series were in action at Charlotte Motor Speedway.  Meanwhile, the Izod IndyCar Series held their crown jewel, the Indianapolis 500.  How were the telecasts of these races?  Find out tomorrow.

Who's Hot / Who's Not in Sprint Cup: Charlotte-Dover Edition by Brad Morgan
Brad gets us set for Dover while tracking the trends of the past few weeks to see which drivers are on a tear... or tearing their hair out.

Racing To The Point by Brett Poirier
Brett is back with another commentary to make you think.

Going By The Numbers by Kevin Rutherford
Kevin enlightens us with his weekly statistics column based on trends we've been seeing in the Cup Series so far this season.
-----------------------------
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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Sunday, May 26, 2013

The Frontstretch Newsletter: May 26th, 2013

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

May 26th, 2013
Volume VII, Edition XC
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Frontstretch Live: At The Track
Be sure to follow your Frontstretch feed on both Facebook and Twitter as two of your favorite writers are live with coverage all weekend long. Amy Henderson (@Writer_Amy) and Mike Neff (@MNeffShortTrack) will be manning the ship down in Charlotte.

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What to Watch: Sunday
- You know the answer! One of the greatest days in racing already begun by the Grand Prix of Monaco. Here's a look at the TV schedule...

11:00 AM
97th Indianapolis 500 ABC
5:30 PM NASCAR Sprint Cup Coca-Cola 600 FOX

Top News
by Amy Henderson

France Addresses Media at Charlotte

NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France addressed the assembled media at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Saturday to discuss the sport and field questions.  France opened with comments on the Gen-6 race car, saying that while NASCAR is basically happy with the new chassis, its performance is still a long-term project.

"(The Gen-6) continues to evolve for us," France said.  "We're looking at that carefully in terms of the driver feedback, the racing action on the track, all the rest.  We like what we see.  Although, like anything that is new, we're always trying to make some improvements on that and we'll be doing that as we go along."

So far no major changes have been made on the newest style of race cars, and reviews of the racing have been mixed.  France said that the ultimate goal is to put races back in the hands of teams as much as possible.

"If you ask any driver," he said. "they would like to win the race by 10 seconds.  But we want to see a more fair balance where the best drivers and the best teams on a given night who race just a little bit harder, make just a little bit bigger effort."

France also spoke about the success of the sport's diversity initiative, citing drivers like Kyle Larson and Darrell Wallace, Jr., who came from the program into national touring divisions with top-level teams. Both have been competitive, with Larson currently ninth in Nationwide Series points and poised to contend for the Rookie of the Year title.

Another topic of discussion was the hiring of Gene Stefanyshyn at their Research and Development Center.  France told the media, "We'll be going in a direction that I've told everybody, which is we're going to use a lot more science than art in establishing the very thing that matters most, which is safety, of course, but also putting ourselves in a position to have the closest, tightest competition possible.  That's what Gene's task is.  He'll work very closely with the existing group in competition.  And over time, we believe we can make improvements on a central goal of ours.  A central goal of NASCAR is to obviously have safe racing and at the same time have the tightest, closest races in the world.  That's our mission.  It's harder than ever to do, to accomplish, but that's our goal, that's our mission."

France also addressed the media's questions on attendance and ratings, saying that NASCAR is satisfied with the numbers.  He admitted that they have leveled off in recent years, but added that a large crowd that doesn't fill a huge venue is still a large crowd.  He also said that his preference would be to keep Charlotte's fall race, amid rumors that track owner Bruton Smith will request the track's date be move to Las Vegas next year.  He also said that improvements like the Air Titan track dryers will help keep fans interested by shortening rain delays.

Wood Brothers Make Milestone Start

When Trevor Bayne takes the green flag for the Coca-Cola 600, it will mark a special race for his team.  Wood Brothers Racing will make their 1,400th start in the Cup Series this weekend.

The team made their series debut at Martinsville, in 1953 with Glen Wood behind the wheel, going on to field cars for many different drivers during seven decades in NASCAR. That's included David Pearson, A.J. Foyt, Cale Yarborough, Curtis Turner, Donnie Allison, Dan Gurney, Neil Bonnett, and Dale Jarrett.  Current driver Bayne took the famed No. 21 to Victory Lane in the 2011 Daytona 500, one of 98 career wins they've scored in NASCAR's top division.

Team co-owner Eddie Wood spoke about the milestone start this weekend, adding that their long relationship with Ford was one key to the team's success and longevity.  "We all feel very fortunate to be where we are today," Wood said. "We couldn't have done it without having great drivers in our cars over the years, from my dad in the beginning to Trevor Bayne today. And we couldn't have done it without the support of Ford Motor Company. They've been right there with us through the great times and the struggles.  The people at Ford and Motorcraft/Quick Lane have been like family to us for more than 60 years."

Bayne will start 29th on Sunday evening.

Weekend Racing Primer - One More Time, In Case You Missed It
 
Sprint Cup Series Coca-Cola 600: Starting Lineup

Row 1
Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Toyota, 195.624 MPH.
Kurt Busch, No. 78 Chevy, 195.221 MPH.

Row 2
Matt Kenseth, No. 20 Toyota, 195.094 MPH.
Mark Martin, No. 55 Toyota, 194.595 MPH.

Row 3
Clint Bowyer, No. 15 Toyota, 194.503 MPH.
Kasey Kahne, No. 5 Chevy, 194.309 MPH.

Row 4
Greg Biffle, No. 16 Ford, 194.238 MPH.
Kyle Busch, No. 18 Toyota, 193.952 MPH.

Row 5
Jamie McMurray, No. 1 Chevy, 193.694 MPH.
Ryan Newman, No. 39 Chevy, 193.639 MPH.

Row 6
Dale Earnhardt, Jr., No. 88 Chevy, 193.444 MPH.
Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 Chevy, 193.292 MPH.

Row 7
Carl Edwards, No. 99 Ford, 193.271 MPH.
Jeff Gordon, No. 24 Chevy, 192.961 MPH.

Row 8
Kevin Harvick, No. 29 Chevy, 192.520 MPH.
Juan Pablo Montoya, No. 42 Chevy, 192.287 MPH.

Row 9
Martin Truex, Jr., No. 56 Toyota, 192.191 MPH.
Aric Almirola, No. 43 Ford, 192.130 MPH.

Row 10
Marcos Ambrose, No. 9 Ford, 192.123 MPH.
Brad Keselowski, No. 2 Ford, 191.884 MPH.

Row 11
Casey Mears, No. 13 Ford, 191.884 MPH.
Paul Menard, No. 27 Chevy, 191.727 MPH.**

** - On Friday, Menard announced a long-term contract extension to stay on with Richard Childress Racing for the foreseeable future. Menard, who is sponsored by his family-owned home improvement stores company was in the last year of his contract with the team.

Row 12
J.J. Yeley, No. 36 Chevy, 190.988 MPH.
Danica Patrick, No. 10 Chevy, 190.826 MPH.

Row 13
Tony Stewart, No. 14 Chevy, 190.792 MPH.
David Gilliland, No. 38 Ford, 190.665 MPH.

Row 14
Jeff Burton, No. 31 Chevy, 190.490 MPH.
Travis Kvapil, No. 93 Toyota, 190.416 MPH.

Row 15
Trevor Bayne, No. 21 Ford, 190.409 MPH.
Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., No. 17 Ford, 190.241 MPH.

Row 16
Joey Logano, No. 22 Ford, 190.047 MPH.
Michael McDowell, No. 98 Ford, 189.967 MPH.

Row 17
Dave Blaney, No. 7 Chevy, 189.793 MPH.
Bobby Labonte, No. 47 Toyota, 189.401 MPH.

Row 18
David Ragan, No. 34 Ford, 189.049 MPH.
Regan Smith, No. 51 Chevy, 188.725 MPH.

Row 19
David Reutimann, No. 83 Toyota, 188.383 MPH. (Provisional)
David Stremme, No. 30 Toyota, 188.265 MPH. (Provisional)

Row 20
Timmy Hill, No. 32 Ford, 188.114 MPH. (Provisional)
Joe Nemechek, No. 87 Toyota, 188.081 MPH. (Provisional)

Row 21
Landon Cassill, No. 33 Chevy, 188.075 MPH. (Provisional)
Josh Wise, No. 35 Ford, 186.406 MPH. (Provisional)

Row 22
Scott Speed, No. 95 Ford, 188.659 MPH. (Provisional)

Indy 500: Starting Lineup (with four-lap average qualifying speeds)

Row 1
Ed Carpenter, No. 20, 228.762 MPH.
Carlos Munoz, No. 26, 228.342 MPH.
Marco Andretti, No. 25, 228.261 MPH.

Row 2
E.J. Viso, No. 5, 228.150 MPH.
AJ Allmendinger, No. 2, 228.099 MPH.
Will Power, No. 12, 228.087 MPH.

Row 3
Ryan Hunter-Reay, No. 1, 227.904 MPH.
Helio Castroneves, No. 3, 227.762 MPH.
James Hinchcliffe, No. 27, 227.070 MPH.

Row 4
JR Hildebrand, No. 4, 227.441 MPH.
Alex Tagliani, No. 98, 227.386 MPH.
Tony Kanaan, No. 11, 226.949 MPH.

Row 5
Oriol Servia, No. 22, 226.810 MPH.
Justin Wilson, No. 19, 226.370 MPH.
Sebastien Bourdais, No. 7, 226.196 MPH.

Row 6
Scott Dixon, No. 9, 226.158 MPH.
Dario Franchitti, No. 10, 226.069 MPH.
Takuma Sato, No. 14, 225.892 MPH.

Row 7
Charlie Kimball, No. 83, 225.880 MPH.
James Jakes, No. 16, 225.809 MPH.
Simon Pagneaud, No. 77, 225.674 MPH.

Row 8
Townsend Bell, No. 60, 225.643 MPH.
Ryan Briscoe, Nol. 8, 225.265 MPH.
Simona De Silvestro, No. 78, 225.226 MPH.

Row 9
Josef Newgarden, No. 21, 225.731 MPH.
Graham Rahal, No. 15, 225.007 MPH.
Sebastian Saavedra, No. 6, 224.929 MPH.

Row 10
Tristan Vautier, No. 55, 224.870 MPH.
Ana Beatriz, No. 18, 224.184 MPH.
Pippa Mann, No. 63, 224.005 MPH.

Row 11
Conor Daly, No. 41, 223.582 MPH.
Buddy Lazier, No. 91, 223.442 MPH.
Katherine Legge, No. 81, 223.176 MPH.

Kyle Busch Wins 7th Nationwide Series Race At Charlotte, Sixth Of Season

Kyle Busch was dominant at Charlotte Saturday, leading 186 of 200 laps to score his series-best sixth win of the season in the Nationwide Series. Busch, who was winless with his own team a year ago is reaping the benefits of Joe Gibbs Racing technology after they absorbed his No. 54 Toyota back into their program along with sponsor Monster Energy.

Busch, who managed several late restarts successfully led a cadre of Cup drivers who swept four of the top-5 positions. Kasey Kahne came home in second place, followed by Joey Logano; Kevin Harvick was just a step behind them in fifth. Only Kyle Larson, who ran fourth in his Turner Scott Chevrolet broke through for Nationwide Series regulars.

For more information on this race, please check out Mike Neff's column on the website.

Have news for Amy 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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TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:
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Tomorrow on the Frontstretch:


Thinkin' Out Loud: Coca-Cola 600 by Mike Neff
Mike is back with his overall thoughts from Sunday night's longest race of the year from Charlotte.

Commentary
by Summer Bedgood
Summer takes a look at one of the biggest stories to come out of Charlotte.

Commentary by TBA
One of the Frontstretch Staff members will stop by with their thoughts on Sunday night's action from Charlotte.

Big Six:
Coca-Cola 600 by Amy Henderson
Amy has your weekly look at the Who, What, When, Where, Why and How from a weekend of racing at Charlotte.

Pace Laps: Charlotte Weekend by the Frontstretch Staff
It's back again this season! The staff gets together to help you catch up on the latest and greatest going on in each series coming out of a weekend at Charlotte.

Indy 500 Breakdown by Toni Montgomery
Toni has all the post-race analysis you need from the Brickyard following the IZOD IndyCar Series' crown jewel event.

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