Testing SpeedwayMedia.com

Author: Angie Campbell

  • NASCAR – The Men Behind the Curtain

    NASCAR – The Men Behind the Curtain

    The governing body of NASCAR is reminiscent of the ‘Great Oz’ with its true agenda hidden behind a curtain of mystery. Sleight of hand and misdirection create the illusion that NASCAR is a sport driven by the desires of its passionate fans.

    They almost pull it off until something happens like the debacle at Richmond at the end of the regular season last year when the race results were blatantly manipulated to ensure certain drivers made it into the Chase. After a few days to review the incidents, NASCAR reacted by issuing fines and penalties. The boldest move was the addition of an unprecedented 13th driver (Jeff Gordon) to the Sprint Cup Chase.

    When the fans suggested that NASCAR was equally as guilty of manipulation as those being penalized, Chairman Brian France was quick to establish who is in charge.” I am Oz the great and powerful,” he proclaimed. Well, maybe not in those exact words, but France emphasized that the governing body has the authority to make whatever changes are deemed necessary to “protect the integrity, which is our number one goal of NASCAR.”

    The aftermath of this ruling brought out comparisons of NASCAR to the world of wrestling and did little to preserve the integrity of a sport that often struggles to define its identity. Is it sports, entertainment or perhaps a convoluted mixture of the two?

    Race results have been manipulated in one form or another since stock car racing began. These instances have run the gamut from the standard practice of allowing ones teammates to pass so that they can gain extra points to drivers being told to let someone else win.

    Darrell Waltrip found himself in one such predicament in 1990, his final year with Hendrick Motorsports. It was the first year since 1974 that Waltrip was winless.

    But according to Waltrip’s recollection in his book, ‘DW: A Lifetime Going Around in Circles,’ he won at North Wilkesboro Speedway on April 22, 1990 in the First Union 400. Yet, Brett Bodine is credited as the official winner due to a scoring error.

    According to the explanation given in the book, “NASCAR, and even Larry McReynolds, the crew chief at the time for Brett Bodine, later admitted to Waltrip, that Bodine did not actually win the race. Jeff Hammond, Waltrip’s crew chief, appealed to NASCAR officials to correct what was clearly an error in NASCAR’s scoring of the event.”

    Waltrip took his protest to Bill France Jr. and was told by France to “leave that boy alone, D.W., that’s his first win and you are going to win a lot more races.”

    NASCAR history is filled with similar examples. These were all accepted practices, until they weren’t. Who determines what is fair, where the line is drawn and who keeps moving the line? It’s often difficult to determine who is pulling the strings but in today’s world of social media, the fans have added their collective voice to shape the perceptions of right and wrong. NASCAR says that they are listening.

    This season brought more machinations by NASCAR to deliver the type of racing they believe fans want with rule changes to the Sprint Cup Chase format that place more emphasis on winning. However, many fans have been adamant in their dislike of a system that places more value on one win than a season of competitiveness.

    The changes were also intended to promote more competitive racing and discourage points racing. Over half of the race finishes this season have been impacted by late race cautions. Coincidence or design?

    Is this a true reflection of what fans desire or NASCAR’s misguided interpretation of “I know I’m not the wizard you expected but I might be the wizard you need.”

    This was never more evident than this past weekend at Richmond International Raceway when Marcos Amrbose and Casey Mears had an altercation after the race. A shove by Mears and a right cross by Ambrose overshadowed Logano’s second win of the season.

    There’s no doubt in anyone’s mind that this fight will make it onto the highlight reel as it showcases what many fans love about short track racing. These tracks are known for intense racing and competitors with short fuses. It also fits right in with the on again, off again motto of “Have at it Boys,” that NASCAR likes to dust off when the racing becomes a little too predictable

    Once again, however, NASCAR intervened with fines and probations issued to the drivers involved. I would be remiss if I didn’t point out that their rule book has been updated to make the line between what is appropriate and what isn’t, more readily apparent. But there are still enough gray areas that the fans can never anticipate which ruling NASCAR will pull from their hat.

     

    Quotes from the film, ‘The Wizard of Oz’

     

  • Trevor Bayne – Making the Most of Every Opportunity

    Trevor Bayne – Making the Most of Every Opportunity

    Trevor Bayne’s career has been a roller coaster ride of highs and lows but throughout it all he has remained constant in his belief that God has a plan for him. His faith gives him a unique perspective that allows him to accept both triumph and adversity with a maturity and grace that belies his young age.

    We sat down together at Darlington Raceway after the first day of practice and spoke about the challenges of racing at the legendary track.  Bayne recounted his previous two efforts in 2010 and 2013.

    “In 2010,” he said, “We had a little incident with Matt Kenseth and last year I crashed with a lapped car in turn one.” This year, the goal is to “finish the race.”

    He explained the strategy for the upcoming race, saying, “You just have to be patient here. It’s so narrow that it’s easy to get frustrated. You have to keep your head on straight and hit your line perfect every single lap. You’ve got to hit your marks and be consistent.”

    Bayne qualified 10th at Darlington, finished in ninth place and currently is ranked fifth in the point standings. In seven starts this season, he has one top-five and six top-10 finishes. But what will it take to propel this top-ten team to victory lane? The simple answer is speed.

    “Overall our Roush Fenway Mustangs as a group are not very fast at the beginning of a new car run,” he told me. “Late in the run we can catch guys and pass them but the leaders just get so far gone on new tires that we never have a chance. We’re working on some things to get our cars better; it’s just a speed thing.”

    “I think Chad (Crew Chief Chad Norris) and I have done a good job with the balance,” he continued. “We’ve been really patient this year and not made many mistakes other than blowing the right rear last weekend which really isn’t in our hands. We just need raw speed on new tires.”

    We also spoke about Bayne’s recent multiple sclerosis diagnosis and the impact it has had on his life.

    “If I put my value in who I am in Christ, it doesn’t change much through the ups and downs,” he said. “Christ got me through that knowing that this is temporary and his kingdom is eternal and that’s where my perspective comes from.”

    Bayne acknowledged that, “when you go through something tough like that, especially something health threatening, it makes you think. It makes you appreciate the good days even more and want to make the most out of every opportunity.”

    After the Easter break this weekend, NASCAR Nationwide Series racing resumes at Richmond International Raceway on April 25th as Bayne and his team look for their first win of the season.

  • Jeremy Clements – Achieving More with Less In NASCAR

    Jeremy Clements – Achieving More with Less In NASCAR

    Jeremy Clement’s recipe for success is a combination of talent, tenacity and mathematical wizardry. Throw some sponsorship dollars and a little luck into the mix and it would not be surprising to see him standing in victory lane.

    He drives the No. 51 Chevy in the NASCAR Nationwide Series for family owned team, Jeremy Clements Racing and seven races into the season is ranked 18th in the point standings. Driving for a small, underfunded team often requires juggling expectations with financial limitations. But drivers race with one goal, winning races. After an 18th place finish at Texas, I asked Clements if he would repeat that finish at Darlington Raceway.

    “Heck no, we always want better. A top 20 is good for our team but we always want better,” he said.

    Clements went on to talk about the issues he would face at this unique track, saying, “The biggest challenge is probably just trying to stay off the wall and conserve tires. The other problem is we don’t have sticker tires for tonight. You need four sets for the race, plus the one you start with.  It’s just about tire management. We still need two more sets. One set we have has four laps on them but that’s an every week thing, honestly. Four laps doesn’t sound like a lot. It’s not but it is, especially here. You don’t have the grip. You take off and they’ll just leave you.”

    Clements qualified 21st at Darlington and had a competitive car. But a faulty power steering hose caused him to go 10 laps down during repairs and they had to settle for a disappointing 31st place finish.

    Photo Credit: David Yeazell
    Photo Credit: David Yeazell

    Each race has its own set of problems but the one constant for Jeremy Clements Racing and other small teams is the lack of sponsorship dollars. They don’t have the newest engines or best equipment and sometimes can’t afford many of the items that better funded teams take for granted. Most race off the purse, using winnings from the previous race to finance the next one. If they’re lucky enough to have a sponsor for a race, they have to decide where to spend that money because it’s never enough.

    Clements used the following example to explain the dilemma.

    “We have two sets of four lap tires that we could buy for $100 each or spend four grand on two sets of stickers and we’d still need more. So what do you do? How much money do you have for this race? You want to run good of course, that’s the whole reason we’re here but you can’t break the bank. It’s frustrating. You want to run good every week but you know you’re kind of handicapped somewhat.”

    Although he admits that the financial struggles can sometimes be slightly overwhelming, he is also quick to point out that he’s not complaining. He is, after all, living his dream and when all is said and done, it comes down to this; Jeremy Clements is a racer. It is not a job description; but rather, defines who he is.

  • Jeffrey Earnhardt Continues the Family Tradition

    Jeffrey Earnhardt Continues the Family Tradition

    Jeffrey Earnhardt may have a famous last name but he’s determined to make his mark in NASCAR on his own terms. His determination is unmistakable and his desire undeniable as he talks racing.

    This season he has a full-time ride in the Nationwide Series with a new team, JD Motorsports. Jeffrey is committed to the team for believing in him and giving him the opportunity to drive even when he hasn’t had sponsorship.

    “Being out there every week has been huge for me,” he said. “It’s definitely helping me learn to be a better driver. I’m fortunate to have an awesome group of guys that I get to work with every weekend.”

    However, many of his fans continue to ask about the possibility that Jeffrey will partner with his uncle, Dale Earnhardt Jr. at JR Motorsports.  Dale Jr. spoke to the media about his nephew at Darlington Raceway this past weekend.

    “I watch him every week during the Nationwide races, he stated. “I think he’s done a couple of good things with that team, had a great qualifying effort at Bristol and got spun out the first lap of the race. He has had some other good situations that I’ve seen where he’s had some speed in practice or in qualifying and in particularly in the race he has done well on a few occasions. We keep an eye on him. Him and I are close; he lives real close to me. He’s supposed to come over to the house Sunday to hang out a little bit. I mean we stay pretty tight.”

    While it’s conceivable that Dale Jr. and Jeffrey will team up at some point in his career, Jeffrey is especially pleased that they are forming a closer personal bond and spending time together away from the track.

    “I’m not looking for him to hand me a full ride. It would have to be the right scenario,” he explained. “The fact that he’s reaching out to try and create a better relationship, because we didn’t used to have one, he was always busy and I was off doing my own thing, it’s pretty cool.

    Photo Credit: David Yeazell
    Photo Credit: David Yeazell

    Jeffrey was competing at Darlington for only the second time in his career. His first experience at the track was in 2011 in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Before the race we talked about his goals and the challenges he would face during the race.

    “Darlington is a unique track,” he continued. “It’s really hard to learn and get used to. The biggest thing that everyone has always told me about this track is to race the track and not to race other cars.”

    Jeffrey qualified in 26th and brought home a 20th place finish. It is his second top-20 of the season and he is currently ranked 17th in the point standings.

    “I feel like this team is very capable,” he told me. “It’s my first year with them and we’re still learning but I think we’re capable of a top-15 every weekend. We want to get better each weekend and get everything we can out of these cars.”

    NASCAR will take a week off for Easter break but you can catch up with Jeffrey when the action resumes at Richmond International Raceway on April 25th.

     

  • Darlington Raceway Rewind

    Darlington Raceway Rewind

    There’s nothing like a weekend at Darlington Raceway to remind you why you love racing. The excitement begins to build as you drive through the tunnel. As you step out of your car and gaze out at the grandstands, your mind begins to fill with the memories of all that has gone before and the anticipation of things to come.

    Will a first time winner be crowned? Will records be broken? Whose dreams will come true and whose hopes will be crushed?

    A look back at some of the highlights from another historic racing weekend at Darlington:

    Nationwide Series:

    Kyle Busch scored his 37th career Nationwide Series pole and with 65 wins in the series was a serious contender for the win in the VFW Sport Clips Help a Hero 200 race. But the “Lady in Black had other plans and he had to settle for a fourth place finish.”

    Chase Elliott made it look easy Friday night winning in his first start at Darlington. He also etched his name in the record books becoming:

    • The youngest driver to win two NASCAR Nationwide Series races at 18 years, 4 months and 14 days.
    • The youngest driver to win a Nationwide Series race at Darlington
    • The youngest driver to lead the series point standings.
    • The fourth driver to win in his first start at Darlington. Johnny Mantz did so in 1950, Herb Thomas in 1951 and Dick Rathmann in 1952.

    He now has two wins in only seven starts in the series but if you listen to team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. the best is yet to come.

    “He has amazing car control. We saw that on several occasions out there tonight.” Earnhardt continued saying, “He’s got a great level head, good character and nothing really rattles him. So when it came down to the end there and it was time to really get after it, he kept his composure and did what he needed to do to make it work. That’s going to be tough to contend with for many years. I’d like to think that we’re going to hang on to him for a little bit and try to get him ready for the next level but he’s ahead of schedule.”

    Sprint Cup:

    Kevin Harvick, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jimmie Johnson gave the crowd an electrifying finish at the Bojangles’ Southern 500 Saturday night as Harvick grabbed his second victory of the season in a green-white-checkered finish. He became the first driver to capture two wins this season which virtually assures him a place in the Sprint Cup Chase.

    Harvick waxed poetic as he talked about the allure of Darlington.

    “You’ve got to love it, gray racetracks”, he said. “You can almost see the sparkle of the rocks coming out in the asphalt. That’s so exciting. Maybe we need to spread the South Carolina sand on Kansas and Charlotte and all these other racetracks that haven’t aged as fast as this one. When you start to see that gray and you start to see the seams and you can see the sparkle of the small rocks in the asphalt, it just makes it fun. Darlington is what it was supposed to be tonight, the cars slipping and sliding and bouncing off the walls and hard to drive something, I don’t know.”

    Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished second for the third time this season and Jimmie Johnson saw another race win slip away.

    Earnhardt was clearly disappointed that he came up short but proud of the effort.

    “It’s a little disappointing,” he admitted, “to come that close because I know I don’t really run that well here and the opportunities to win are going to be very few compared to other tracks. It hurts a little bit to come that close because we worked so hard to try to win races. Running second is great but nobody is going to really remember that. But we’re proud of it. ”

    Johnson said that moving forward, their efforts would be focused on “unloading closer.” He explained, “We seem to find a way come race time to get a good finish and honestly have a shot to win some races. But showing up at the track a little bit closer is key for us. We’re really just trying to get a grasp on these rules, and we go home with what we’ve learned from a previous race, bring a new mousetrap, and unfortunately we’ve had to continue to work on it each week. That’s really our goal is to show up closer.”

    2015 and Beyond:

    Darlington Raceway continues to cement its place in NASCAR history and promises to deliver more with plans to “honor the track’s history and shape its future.”

    As part of the celebration, Bill and Chase Elliott were introduced Saturday as the “face” of the program. Track president Chip Wile, along with Bill and Chase, talked about future plans which will include a retro ticket design for the 2015 Bojangles’ Southern 500 and a Classic merchandise product line that will focus on previous decades and will be available for purchase.

    Wile encouraged fans to share their stories saying “We have the most passionate, loyal fans in all of motorsports and we look forward to the role they will play as we celebrate our past, present and future.”

    If you have a story to share or an idea on how to celebrate the history of Darlington and NASCAR, you can send an Email to mailto:darlington1950@darlingtonraceway.com.

    As I left the track and made my way home, my only regret was that it would be another year before I could reunite with old friends and make new memories together at “The Track Too Tough To Tame.”

  • Darlington Raceway Celebrates Its Past & Looks Ahead to a Bright Future

    Darlington Raceway Celebrates Its Past & Looks Ahead to a Bright Future

    Darlington Raceway is an integral part of NASCAR history. Many of those who have conquered the Lady in Black went on to become legends of the sport including Bill Elliott.

    Elliott is a five-time winner at Darlington Raceway, NASCAR’s 1988 Champion and has always been a fan favorite.  His son Chase, who won the Nationwide Series race Friday night in his first appearance at the famed track, is a perfect example of the future of NASCAR. Chase currently drives the No. 9 NAPA Chevrolet for JR Motorsports.

    Darlington Raceway track president Chip Wile announced plans Saturday to celebrate its beginnings and look ahead to the next generation of drivers who will make new history and add to the mystique of the track, beginning in 2015.

    “Our history defines us,” he said. “Without history we wouldn’t know where we’ve come from or where we’re going. NASCAR legends and loyal fans have all played a role in defining Darlington Raceway. Together, we’re celebrating where we came from and where we’re going.”

    As part of the celebration, Bill and Chase Elliott were introduced Saturday as the “face” of the program. Wile, along with Bill and Chase, talked about future plans which will include a retro ticket design for the 2015 Bojangles’ Southern 500 and a Classic merchandise product line that will focus on previous decades and will be available for purchase.

    Media and fans in attendance were also treated to a first look at an old school designed No. 9 Bill Elliott car which will be used to promote the endeavor.

    Another interesting element of the program will feature stories from fans who are encouraged to share their ideas and their unique stories at darlington1950@darlingtonraceway.com

    “Tell us your Darlington story,” said Wile. “If you have ideas about how Darlington Raceway and NASCAR can celebrate our history and embrace our future, please let us know.”

  • Chase Elliott Tames the “Lady in Black” with a Dramatic Win at Darlington Raceway

    Chase Elliott Tames the “Lady in Black” with a Dramatic Win at Darlington Raceway

    Chase Elliott won the VFW Sports Clip Help a Hero 200 in his first start at Darlington, conquering the legendary track in a dramatic finish. This is his second consecutive victory following his win at Texas last week and his sixth top-10 finish in 2014.

    He’s not only winning races but breaking records as well. He’s the youngest driver to win two NASCAR Nationwide Series races at 18 years, 4 months and 14 days.  Joey Logano previously held the record at 18 years, 10 months and 18 days. He’s also the youngest driver to win a Nationwide Series race at Darlington and the youngest points leader in the Nationwide Series history. Elliott is only the fourth driver to win his first NASCAR National Series race in his first start at Darlington. Johnny Mantz did so in 1950, Herb Thomas in 1951 and Dick Rathmann in 1952.

    Elliott’s car was fast all night but he had challenges from Kevin Harvick, Kyle Larson, Matt Kenseth and particularly, Kyle Busch who led the most laps with 84. The last caution of the night came out on lap 142 and lasted through lap 145. The race restarted with two to go. Due to a quick pit stop, Elliott Sadler restarted in first place but Chase Elliott was not to be denied. He quickly raced through the field from sixth place to fight for the win. 

    Elliott was able to clear Sadler in turn three of the last lap to claim the win. It was intense competition but both drivers raced cleanly and Chase Elliott drove his No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet to his second win in seven starts in the series.

    “This is unbelievable,” Elliott said in victory lane. “I couldn’t believe last week, much less here at Darlington. This truly is a dream come true. This is a place I always loved watching races. It was probably my favorite place to watch a race as a fan for a long, long time. Just to come and be a part of this race is unbelievable, but to come and win this thing that’s a deal I’ll never forget.”

    JR Motorsports team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. spoke about how impressed he is with his young driver and even gave him a special nickname.

    “The thing I like about Chase is obviously he’s successful and winning but his personality, man, I like to call him the new Elvis. He’s the full package, man, he just has it all. The sky’s the limit with that kid.”

    Elliott Sadler finished second and praised his crew chief Chris Gayle for making the call to only take two tires on the last pit stop.

    “It was a great call by Chris to put me in that position,” he said.

    Sadler also expressed disappointment. “I have a lot of second-place finishes here. He continued, “Second is a good finish of course, but it’s not what we wanted. I really want to win at this place. Just felt like I let one get away from us tonight.”

    Matt Kenseth finished in third place saying “it was an up and down night. I thought we had a top-five car most of the night and got a decent finish out of that last run.”

    Kyle Busch came home in fourth place followed by Joey Logano in fifth. Kyle Larson, Kevin Harvick, Regan Smith, Trevor Bayne and Ty Dillon round out the top-10 finishers.

    Chase Elliott leaves Darlington Raceway ranked first in the points standings, 13 points ahead of Regan Smith in second. Sadler, Dillon and Trevor Bayne are third, fourth and fifth in the standings.

  • Kyle Busch wins the Nationwide Series Coors Light Pole Award at Darlington Raceway

    Kyle Busch wins the Nationwide Series Coors Light Pole Award at Darlington Raceway

    After posting fast speeds in all three rounds, Kyle Busch went to the top of the leaderboard in Round 3 of Knockout Qualifying to score his 37th pole in 277 NASCAR Nationwide Series races. He posted a lap speed of 173.681 mph. It is his third pole in ten races at Darlington Raceway.

    Chase Elliott will start on the outside pole position in his debut at “The Track Too Tough To Tame” and scores his fourth top-10 start this season. He also has the distinction of being the fastest qualifying rookie.

    Matt Kenseth will begin third, marking his seventh top-10 in seven races this season. Kevin Harvick will start fourth followed by Ty Dillon in fifth. Chris Buescher, Brian Scott, Regan Smith, Elliott Sadler and Trevor Bayne qualified in positions six through 10, respectively.

    Of special note, all three JR Motorsports cars qualified in the top-10. Kyle Larson spun out during qualifying, hitting the wall and will most likely have to go to a backup car for the race.

    Busch will lead the field to green in the 32nd annual VFW Sports Clips Help a Hero 200 Friday evening. The race coverage will be broadcast on ESPN2 beginning at 7:30 p.m.

    Complete NASCAR Nationwide Series Starting Lineup – Darlington Raceway

    1.  Kyle Busch

    2.  Chase Elliott

    3.  Matt Kenseth

    4.  Kevin Harvick

    5.  Ty Dillon

    6.  Chris Buescher

    7.  Brian Scott

    8.  Regan Smith

    9.  Elliott Sadler

    10. Trevor Bayne

    11. Cale Conley

    12. Kyle Larson

    13. Bendan Gaughan

    14. Ryan Sieg

    15. Joey Logano

    16. Landon Cassill

    17. Dylan Kwasniewski

    18. Ryan Reed

    19. Josh Wise

    20. Mike Bliss

    21. Jeremy Clements

    22. James Buescher

    23. JJ Yeley

    24. David Starr

    25. Dakoda Armstrong

    26. Jeffrey Earnhardt

    27. Mike Wallace

    28. Tanner Berryhill

    29. Todd Bodine

    30. Eric McClure

    31. Kevin LePage

    32. Joey Gase

    33. Matt Dibenedetto

    34. Tommy Joe Martins

    35. Derrike Cope

    36. Carlos Contreras

    37. Matt Carter

    38. Jeff Green

    39. Mike Harmon

    40. Blake Koch

     

  • Dale Earnhardt Jr. Weighs In On Plan to Reduce Horsepower in Sprint Cup Cars in 2015

    Dale Earnhardt Jr. Weighs In On Plan to Reduce Horsepower in Sprint Cup Cars in 2015

    NASCAR Vice President of Competition and Racing Development Robin Pemberton recently confirmed that NASCAR is planning on making extensive changes in the Sprint Cup car engine packages in 2015. One of the major components of those changes will include a reduction in engine horsepower.

    During driver press conferences at Texas Motor Speedway Friday, Dale Earnhardt Jr. was asked if he felt the reduction in horsepower would make the racing more competitive, whether it would change his driving style and his thoughts on less horsepower.

    He began by saying, “I don’t think they are trying to make it more competitive.  No matter how the horsepower is I think we will have competitive racing. I think the racing is competitive any way you slice it. I can enjoy a race where a guy laps the field just as much as I can enjoy one where they are side-by-side across the finish line. There is something to be appreciated about both ways of winning and how a race plays out. I like the idea of going to a smaller motor and allowing us to engineer through that package instead of choking down what we currently have with a plate. I think choking the motor down with a plate is the easiest way to go and the laziest way to go.”

    Earnhardt Jr. continued by stating that he thinks a reduction in engine horsepower is preferable to the restrictor plate that NASCAR currently uses to reduce horsepower and speed.

    “When you can go to a smaller engine you preserve some throttle response,” he explained. “You preserve some reaction in the gas pedal and give the driver a few more tools to be able to use out on the race track when he is driving his race car.  When you take and put a plate on those cars you take tons of throttle response out of the car and setting up a pass, particularly on a track that is worn out like this is a little more challenging with a plate rather than an open engine that is smaller.”

    He also believes that the change is inevitable and the appropriate response is to work together to ensure it is implemented in the best manner possible.

    “I hope they will go the way I want to go.  Whatever way they end up going whatever decision they end up making, there is not a wrong decision, there is an okay one and a better one in my opinion.  They are going to do it.  It’s kind of like the (number) 3 coming back.  A lot of people didn’t want it to come back.  A lot of people were upset that it came back, but it’s coming back.

    “I think the reduction in power is coming whether you like it or not,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “I chose as an individual to get on the side of being productive in that discussion instead of saying we don’t need to do it and trying to fight it, let’s try to make sure when it does happen we do it the right way and give ourselves something to grow into and something to engineers and something that is productive for many years to come.  It’s coming either way whether we like it or not.  You can have both sides arguing against and for, for however long you want, but it’s going to happen so we might as well start thinking about how we want it to happen and trying to have those discussions on making sure we make the best choice we can make for the sport.”

  • Matt Kenseth Wins the Pole for the Auto Club 400 at Fontana

    Matt Kenseth Wins the Pole for the Auto Club 400 at Fontana

    Kenseth conquered Knockout Qualifying and drove his No. 20 Dollar General Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota to first place at Auto Club Speedway, earning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Coors Light Pole Award with a speed of 187.315 mph. It was his 12th career pole and his first pole at this track.

    When asked the importance of track position, Kenseth responded by saying, “Track position is important everywhere. This is probably one of the best tracks we go to though, as far as passing.” He continued saying, “There’s a lot of options here, this place is really wide. It’s very challenging as a driver but very fun as well.”

    His car was consistently fast all day in practice and qualifying. Kenseth was scored fourth quickest in the first elimination round, second in the next round and captured the top qualifying spot in the final round.

    Notable drivers that did not advance to the second round include McMurray, Kahne and Danica Patrick who qualified 25th, 26th and 27th. Those not advancing to the final round include Denny Hamlin (13), Kyle Busch (14), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (15), Ryan Newman (16) and Kurt Busch (17).

    Brad Keselowski will start on the outside pole for the Auto Club 400, his fourth consecutive start on the front row.

    “We’ve got a lot of great momentum going,” he said, “so we’ve got to keep it up. Obviously qualifying up front is always fun and always a great start to the weekend. But there’s more to be done in the race.”

    Jimmie Johnson, Harvick, Bowyer, Gordon and Logano will begin in positions three through seven respectively. Rounding out the top twelve are Marcos Ambrose, Edwards, Stewart, rookie Kyle Larson and Martin Truex Jr.

    The Auto Club 400 race will consist of 200 laps/400 miles. It will be televised on FOX with race coverage beginning Sunday at 3:00 pm. The green flag is scheduled to drop at approximately 3:18 pm.

    The complete starting lineup for the Auto Club 400:

    Position No. Driver Sponsor
    1 20 Matt Kenseth Dollar General Toyota
    2 2 Brad Keselowski Wurth Ford
    3 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe’s Spring is Calling Chevrolet
    4 4 Kevin Harvick Jimmy John’s Chevrolet
    5 15 Clint Bowyer PEAK Toyota
    6 24 Jeff Gordon Drive To End Hunger Chevrolet
    7 22 Joey Logano AAA Southern California Ford
    8 9 Marcos Ambrose DeWalt Ford
    9 99 Carl Edwards Subway Ford
    10 14 Tony Stewart Rush Truck Centers/Mobil 1 Chevrolet
    11 42 Kyle Larson Target Chevrolet
    12 78 Martin Truex Jr. Furniture Row Chevrolet
    13 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Express Toyota
    14 18 Kyle Busch Interstate Batteries Toyota
    15 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. National Guard Chevrolet
    16 31 Ryan Newman Caterpillar Chevrolet
    17 41 Kurt Busch Haas Automation Chevrolet
    18 47 AJ Allmendinger Charter Chevrolet
    19 55 Brian Vickers TreatMyClot.com/Aaron’s Toyota
    20 3 Austin Dillon # Cheerios Chevrolet
    21 43 Aric Almirola Farmland Ford
    22 17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Ford EcoBoost Ford
    23 7 Michael Annett # Pilot/Flying J Chevrolet
    24 16 Greg Biffle 3M Aerospace Ford
    25 1 Jamie McMurray McDonald’s Chevrolet
    26 5 Kasey Kahne Time Warner Cable Chevrolet
    27 10 Danica Patrick GoDaddy/Get Found Chevrolet
    28 51 Justin Allgaier # Brandt Professional Agriculture Chevrolet
    29 38 David Gilliland Love’s Travel Stops Ford
    30 27 Matt Crafton (i) Duracell/Menards Chevrolet
    31 13 Casey Mears GEICO Chevrolet
    32 30 Parker Kligerman # Swan Energy Toyota
    33 35 David Reutimann MDS Transport Ford
    34 26 Cole Whitt # Swan Energy Toyota
    35 32 Travis Kvapil SK Hand Tools Ford
    36 36 Reed Sorenson Chevrolet
    37 33 Brian Scott (i) Whitetail Chevrolet
    38 98 Josh Wise Trench Shoring Company Chevrolet
    39 23 Alex Bowman # Dr.Pepper Toyota
    40 83 Ryan Truex # Borla Exhaust Toyota
    41 34 David Ragan Taco Bell Ford
    42 66 Joe Nemechek (i) Land Castle Title Toyota
    43 40 Landon Cassill (i) CRC Brakleen/FiberLock Chevrolet

     

    #  Rookie

    (i) Ineligible for Driver Points