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  • NASCAR Needs Ounce of Prevention in Substance Abuse Policy

    NASCAR Needs Ounce of Prevention in Substance Abuse Policy

    Before the official start of the 2011 NASCAR season, the issue of substance abuse again made headlines for the sport, with the arrest of up and coming driver Michael Annett for driving under the influence.

    [media-credit name=”FMCM” align=”alignright” width=”225″][/media-credit]Annett, age 24, allegedly blew a .32 in the breath alcohol level test. This is four times over the legal limit in North Carolina, where he was pulled over after an accident.

    Rusty Wallace Racing, the team for whom Annett drives, took immediate action.  The team announced that Annett will not be allowed to drink alcohol at all and will get no ‘second chance’ if he violates that requirement.

    “It’s real serious to me what happened,” Rusty Wallace, principal of the team, said. “We’re doing the right things with Michael. NASCAR trusts we’re doing the right things.”

    “It’s some alcohol awareness, it’s some community service, he’s at that race shop at 7 a.m. every morning,” Wallace continued. “We’ve got him polishing the freaking drive shafts because I’m pissed at him.”

    NASCAR has also imposed its own sanctions on Annett as well.  The sanctioning body announced that is has paced Annett, driver of the No. 62 race car in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, on probation until December 31, 2011.

    Annett will be evaluated by a certified drug and alcohol professional at NASCAR’s discretion.  The young driver will also be subject to random testing throughout the year as well.

    Unfortunately for the sport, Annett is not alone in having an alcohol-related driving incident prior to or during the racing season.

    In 2009, Richard Petty Motorsports young gun AJ Allmendinger was arrested for driving under the influence.  Even veteran driver Michael Waltrip has had his share of incidents, one in 2009 and another in 2007 where alcohol was suspected to be a factor in crashes behind the wheel. However, Waltrip was never charged.

    With all this attention to alcohol-related issues, especially with drivers getting behind the wheel of a car after imbibing, NASCAR has indeed reacted swiftly and decisively to the various incidents.  NASCAR, as well as the race teams involved, should be commended for that.

    Yet, in addition to the reaction, the sport must also seriously consider adding some prevention strategies to the mix.

    Let’s face it, while not excusing it in any way, shape or form, anyone can make a mistake when it comes to having a few glasses of wine or a few beers and then getting behind the wheel.  Most of us, particularly in our youth, could claim the phrase, “There but for the grace of God go I” when it comes to those situations.

    But the element that the sport may be missing when it comes to their substance abuse policy is that element of prevention. What is NASCAR really doing to educate those who participate in the sport at whatever level as to the dangers of drinking, drugging and driving prior to it happening?

    As a licensed clinical social worker, as well as someone who has run programs for those who have been convicted of driving under the influence, it has been my personal experience that most individuals have no clue how little alcohol they have to have in their bodies in order to be impaired behind the wheel of any vehicle.

    In fact, most folks that I have worked with in my professional career have had no idea of the alcohol content in one drink, whether it be beer, wine or other spirits.  They are also stunned when they learn of the amount of alcohol that it takes for their particular body type to be considered legally and functionally impaired.

    NASCAR must consider being more proactive when it comes to prevention of substance abuse in the sport.  This is true especially in a sport where the majority of the drivers are young, male, and fearless as they need to be to even participate as a race car driver.

    NASCAR, as well as the various race teams, should run regular substance abuse education and prevention courses that are required for drivers at every level. This should be a part of the licensing requirements, where not only do the drivers declare which Series they are running for championships in but they also check off that they have participated in at least one substance abuse awareness seminar or course.

    Having said that, these substance abuse prevention and education requirements should not just be made for the Cup, Nationwide and Truck Series.  They should also be required in the Camping World East and West Series, and yes, should even be required in the up and coming series where those teenagers and even pre-teens are now racing.

    Perhaps if substance abuse prevention and education programming was added to NASCAR’s substance abuse policy, situations like with Michael Annett will become a thing of the past.  And that would be great not only for the sport, where the athletes serve as role models to so many youth, but for the athletes themselves who can avoid having to be punished or sanctioned, to the detriment of all.

    Best of all, alcohol and drug prevention and education might just save a life.  And that truly is the most powerful argument of all for NASCAR to add that ounce of prevention to the sport’s substance abuse policy.

  • Dale Earnhardt Jr. Grabs Bud Shootout Pole At Draw Party

    Dale Earnhardt Jr. Grabs Bud Shootout Pole At Draw Party

    Lately it seemed when Dale Earnhardt Jr. went to pick his spot, he’d always get a crappy starting position – like 20th. This year was different as he drew the pole for Saturday night’s Budweiser Shootout at the Draw Party.

    [media-credit name=”David Yeazell” align=”alignleft” width=”225″][/media-credit]”I’ve been in this race a lot and I’ve never started from the pole,” he said. “Hopefully I can find out who starts third and am good friends with them.”

    Before he peeled his label off, he predicted it’d to be first.

    “You knew it, didn’t you?” Kenny Wallace asked him.

    “I did,” Earnhardt responded. “We’re good.”

    Sporting a clean look this year instead of the beard, Earnhardt cited it being due to the sponsors not allowing it.

    “My sister got smart and has photo shoots every three weeks so I can’t grow it,” he said.

    Starting on the outside of the front row will be one of Earnhardt’s best drafting partners in the past – Tony Stewart. Instead of his starting position being talked about the most, the talk surrounded his incident in Australia, where he stated that he didn’t hit the guy with the helmet like rumor said, and him losing weight.

    “You know you’re famous when the biggest story of the winter time is Tony loses weight,” Kenny commented.

    “Its kind of scary when one guy talks about another guy’s weight,” Stewart said near the end of their conversation. “If I didn’t know your wife, I’d be scared.”

    Drawing the fourth spot was Denny Hamlin, who was quite content with what he got.

    “Actually, wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,” Hamlin said.

    After coming so close last year, Hamlin comes into the new season ready to challenge, with new backing from Michael Jordan.

    “Its a good business deal for the both of us,” he said, of the deal. “Its a big deal for myself to be the first Jordan branded athlete in racing.”

    The fifth starting spot came to equal irony as it would be Kasey Kahne, who is set to drive that number in 2012.

    “I think we’re going to learn a lot for the duels and the 500 next week,” Kahne said.

    Rounding out the top 10 was Bobby Labonte, Clint Bowyer, Ryan Newman, Derrike Cope and Michael Waltrip.

    While the focus was on determining where everybody would start, the discussions were a little all over the place as Kenny Wallace and Steve Byrns hosted the event.

    Kyle Busch, who will start 21st, spoke off his wedding to Samantha that took place on New Year’s Eve in Chicago.

    “I do got some extra weight on my hand, but we’re drinking strictly bottled water as there’s lots going on here,” he joked. “We both had a great time. The wedding was awesome. We had a wonderful opportunity to get our friends out there to celebrate – 300 of them.”

    Jeff Burton and Jeff Gordon joked about their little feud that they had at Texas.

    “Ah yeah, we’re buddies,” Gordon responded when Wallace asked him if they spent thanksgiving together. “We’ve been hanging out all off-season long……..I think its funny how every place we go, they put us next to each other to try to start something.”

    “My daughter said when I got home, she said she’d kick his ass,” Burton said.

    They will start the Budweiser Shootout near each other as Gordon got 12th while Burton got 15th.

    Besides the feud, Burton also spoke of the busy off-season he had.

    “We did a lot of racing, more racing than normal,” Burton said. “I’m a car owner and I’m a crew chief.”

    20th may not be the number that must drivers want, but Mark Martin was plenty happy with it.

    “I got some great race fans and one of my fanss said to get this one,” he said. “This is just where I wanted to start so this is no problem.”

    Last year’s Daytona 500 winner Jamie McMurray said that last year was a really good year for him and he spent the off-season with his new baby, Carter.

    “We had a baby – on Thanksgiving day,” he said, before choosing 14th. “We’ve had a really good off-season. it was nice that we had carter right when the season was over so we got to stay with him.”

    Kevin Harvick, who is going for his third Budweiser Shootout in a row, spoke of his latest experiences with Budweiser.

    “I went with Budweiser and anywhere you go with Budweiser, you can’t help but have a good time,” he said before drawing 18th. “I got to go the Superbowl, NHL All-Star game and drink beer. We got to go to the headquarters in St. Louis and got to drank really good beer.”

    Starting Lineup      

    1.         Dale Earnhardt Jr.

    2.         Tony Stewart

    3.         Carl Edwards

    4.         Denny Hamlin

    5.         Kasey Kahne

    6.         Bobby Labonte

    7.         Clint Bowyer

    8.         Ryan Newman

    9.         Derrike Cope

    10.       Michael Waltrip

    11.       Greg Biffle

    12.       Jeff Gordon

    13.       Juan Montoya

    14.       Jamie McMurray

    15.       Jeff Burton

    16.       Kevin Conway

    17.       Kurt Busch

    18.       Kevin Harvick

    19.       Matt Kenseth

    20.       Mark Martin

    21.       Kyle Busch

    22.       Joey Logano

    23.       Jimmie Johnson

    24.       Regan Smith

    To see more articles by Ashley McCubbin and live updates from the weekend, check out http://newsfromthepits.blogspot.com/

  • Joe Denette Parlays A Dollar and A Dream Into His Own Race Team

    Joe Denette Parlays A Dollar and A Dream Into His Own Race Team

    Every NASCAR fan dreams of winning the lottery and starting his or her own race team.  NASCAR fan Joe Denette did just that, parlaying his dollar and his dream into his own race team after winning the Mega Millions Lottery.

    [media-credit name=”Joe Denette Motorsports” align=”alignright” width=”210″][/media-credit]The Fredericksburg, Virginia native had been a bit down on his luck prior to picking the winning ticket.  In fact, Denette was unemployed.

    “I was a construction worker up until January of 2009 and then I got laid off,” Denette said.  “In May of 2009, I hit the lottery and I’m still laid off.”

    “I just played the lottery like I usually do and woke up one morning in May and found that I had won,” Denette said.  “Needless to say I went from there to the race track.”

    At the race track, in fact at Richmond International Raceway, Denette met Hermie Sadler, NASCAR driver and SPEED TV personality.  Denette and Sadler clicked during a ride around the track in celebration of his lottery win and the partnership was formed.

    “During the check presentation for the lottery, he (Sadler) drove me around the track and that’s how I got with him,” Denette said.  “We became friends then and we’re still real good friends.”

    “One thing led to another and we started talking about starting our team,” Denette said.  “And that’s what we did.”

    Denette decided to focus on the truck series because of his affinity for the race vehicles.

    “I love trucks to start with,” Denette said.  “I drive a truck myself so I’m a little partial to trucks.  I’ve always loved racing and this will be the best start.”

    After claiming his winnings of over $70 million, Denette decided to first work with his new NASCAR mentor Sadler to field a truck at the Bristol race in 2009, with Sadler behind the wheel.  Denette continued to support Sadler in various runs throughout 2010 before deciding to launch his own team for 2011.

    This year, Denette will launch his new Camping World Truck team, Joe Denette Motorsports.  The new owner plans to participate in the season opening truck race at Daytona and will run the entire 2011 schedule.

    “To start with, we plan on winning races and winning the championship,” Denette said confidently.  “Jason White will be driving our No. 23 truck and GunBroker.com is our primary sponsor.”

    “We are running all 24 races and we will make them and contend for a championship.”

    Denette is most confident in his new team, as well as his driver, citing White’s experience, as well as his pole run at Daytona last year.  “I think he can do it again this year,” Denette said.

    White will be paired with crew chief Chad Kendrick, fresh off his stint with Germain Racing, where he worked with drivers such as Max Papis, Stacey Compton, Narain Karthikeyan, and Timothy Peters.  The 31 year old driver, competing in his  fourth year in the series, echoed the confidence of his new owner as well.

    “I feel like I am finally somewhere that I can grow, be competitive and race for wins,” White said.  “With this team and my sponsor behind me, I feel like we will be not only win races but contend for the championship.”

    Denette is sparing no expense in his racing endeavor.  Under the tutelage of Sadler, he has purchased top notch equipment, as well as forming an alliance with Kevin Harvick Inc.

    “We’re renting a place to house all of our trucks from KHI,” Denette said.  “Kevin Harvick is also doing all of our chassis and bodies and we basically have an alliance so we get our research and development from him.”

    Although Denette is trying to be as involved as he can in all aspects of his new truck team, he is primarily focusing on the business side of the operations.

    “But as many chances as I can get to go to the shop, I take,” Denette said.  “And as many times as I can get to the track, I will go.”

    Denette clarified, however, that he might not be able to make the trip himself for the first race of the season at Daytona.

    “My wife’s expecting a baby, due the following week and we’re not sure if he’s going to wait until then,” Denette said with a chuckle.  This will their first child and he realizes that, although he is now a NASCAR team owner, he has little control of when his son decides to enter the world.

    “When he’s ready, he’s ready,” Denette said.

    Although Denette is experiencing many new transitions in his life, from husband to father and from unemployed to NASCAR truck team owner, he still primarily defines himself as a race fan.

    “I’ve been a NASCAR fan my entire life,” Denette said.  “Now rather than sitting in the stands just watching the race, I’m a part of it.  I’ll be in the pits and a part of all the action.”

    “A lot of times, I do want to pinch myself,” Denette continued.  “And I think, I hope I don’t wake up from this dream.”

  • Ty Dillon and Kyle Fowler Make Up Front Row for ARCA Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at Daytona

    Ty Dillon and Kyle Fowler Make Up Front Row for ARCA Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at Daytona

    [media-credit name=”arcaracing.com” align=”alignleft” width=”258″][/media-credit]When the green flag drops tomorrow for the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200, two 18 year old drivers will lead the field to the green flag.

    Richard Childress’ grandson Ty Dillon (No. 41 University of Northwestern Ohio/Richard Childress Racing Development Chevrolet) won the pole with a lap of 48.509 seconds (185.533mph) to win the Menards Pole Award presented by Ansell. This is the fastest lap that has been run at Daytona since Kirk Shelmerdine in 2001 with a pole speed of 187.352mph. 

    “It was really special to me. I’ve been coming here for a long time since I was a little kid to see my grandfather, watching races, watching qualifying, and this being my first time at a superspeedway and to have this car get the pole is really special to me,” Dillon said. “I’m glad we could do it with UNOH.

    “Our team has definitely worked hard enough so that we have one of the best cars in the garage. I believe we can definitely win this race tomorrow. I just have to be patient; we have the car to do it.”

    This marks the start of a solid weekend for Dillon, who is trying to go for his third consecutive win in a row after winning the final two races last year – Kansas & Rockingham. Dillon has also been running a dirt modified at Volusia Speedway Park each night to get more experience.

    “I think it just helps me with my experience, getting as much seat time as possible,” he said. “It’s been hard every night getting back to the hotel at 1 in the morning and getting up at 6 to come here to be with the guys, but I love racing. I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else.”

    Starting second will be Venturini Motorsports rookie Kyle Fowler, who drove a lap of 48.65 seconds (184.995mph) in his No. 15 Chevrolet.

    “Venturini definitely has an awesome piece there with the 15 car, and I’m just the lucky guy that gets to hold the steering wheel,” Fowler said.

    Fowler has made just five prior starts in the ARCA Racing Series, but none on a track larger than a mile-and-a-half.

    “It was absolutely incredible to make those first few laps around here,” he said. “Heck, I got goosebumps just walking on the premises. It’s every driver’s dream to race here. It’s racing’s biggest stage, and I just want to be there at the end.”  

    Following the rookies will be Venturini Motorsports veteran Steve Arpin (No. 25 Mike’s Hard Lemonade Chevrolet), with a lap of 48.762 seconds (184.57 mph).

    “We were really focused (in practice) yesterday on qualifying stuff,” said Arpin, who led the series with three victories last year. “It’s really hard at Daytona, because you’ve got to try to qualify the best you can because track position’s really important, but at the same time you’ve got to make the car drive as good as it can.

    “We tried to find that happy medium and balance the car the best we could. The best thing I’m excited about is that our car drives awesome in the draft and that’s all that’s important – to get that trophy at the end of the day tomorrow.”

    Matt Merrell, who is making his first start since 2009, will start fourth, in his No. 32 Red Line Oil Toyota. Six-time Daytona ARCA winner Bobby Gerhart completed the top five in fifth with his No. 5 Lucas Oil Slick Mist Chevrolet.

    Practice leader Hal Martin, motocross superstar Ricky Carmichael, Mark Thompson, Tim George Jr., and Tom Hessert will fill out the rest of the first five rows.

    Other notables include IndyCar star Milka Duno who will start 23rd in his first ARCA start while nine-time ARCA Racing Series champion Frank Kimmel will start 26th in his 20th ARCA Daytona start.

    The 80-lap, 200-mile Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 airs live on SPEED at 4:30 p.m. Eastern tomorrow, with live timing and scoring and live audio presented by ARCA Nation and News 1150 WNDB at ARCARacing.com. Bobby Gerhart (No. 5 Lucas Oil Slick Mist Chevrolet) is the defending and all-time leading winner at the track, with wins in 1999, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2010. Gerhart also won four consecutive poles between 2003 and 2006. The race is scheduled as the first of 19 this season.

    The ARCA Racing Series will host a final, 45-minute practice at 10 a.m. on Saturday. Live timing and scoring will be presented by ARCA Nation at ARCARacing.com.

    Starting Grid

    2011 Event #1, ARCA Racing Series Presented by Menards    
    Daytona Int’l Speedway, Daytona Beach FL, 2-12-11    
    Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200      
               
    February 11, 2011 / 3:49 PM      
               
    POS NO DRIVER/HOMETOWN TEAM & CAR TIME SPEED
    1 41 Ty Dillon/Lewisville NC UNOH Chevrolet 48.509 185.533
    2 15 Kyle Fowler/Smyrna GA Venturini Motorsports Chevrolet 48.650 184.995
    3 25 Steve Arpin/Fort Frances ON Mike’s Hard Lemonade-Trent’s Tire Toyota 48.762 184.570
    4 32 Matt Merrell/Portland TX Red Line Oil Toyota 48.881 184.121
    5 5 Bobby Gerhart/Lebanon PA Lucas Oil Slick Mist Chevrolet 48.961 183.820
    6 55 Hal Martin/Galliano LA NOLA Motorsports Park Toyota 48.977 183.760
    7 4 Ricky Carmichael/Tallahassee FL Monster Energy Chevrolet 48.981 183.745
    8 66 Mark Thompson/Cartersville GA Phoenix Air Toyota 49.083 183.363
    9 31 Tim George Jr./New York NY RCR Development Chevrolet 49.112 183.255
    10 52 Tom Hessert/Cherry Hill NJ Federated Auto Parts Toyota 49.249 182.745
    11 28 Miguel Paludo/Nova Prata Brazil STEMCO-Duroline Toyota 49.276 182.645
    12 98 Kevin Swindell/Goodlettsville TN Curb Records-Eddie Sharp Racing Toyota 49.291 182.589
    13 16 Joey Coulter/Miami Springs FL Rip It Energy Fuel-Darrell Gwynn Foundation Chevrolet 49.314 182.504
    14 22 Dakoda Armstrong/New Castle IN Ferrellgas-Syngenta Dodge 49.355 182.352
    15 19 Brian Rose/Louisville KY Harris Trucking-ASE Toyota 49.358 182.341
    16 6 Jason Bowles/Ontario CA Eddie Sharp Racing Toyota 49.368 182.304
    17 14 John Ferrier/Middletown NY CGS Imaging Ford 49.386 182.238
    18 30 Terry Jones/Amherstburg Ontario Jones Group Dodge 49.388 182.230
    19 17 Chris Buescher/Prosper TX Roulo Brothers Racing Ford 49.408 182.157
    20 09 Benny Gordon/DuBois PA VSI Ford 49.537 181.682
    21 94 Brett Hudson/Owensboro KY Hudson Performance Drivelines Dodge 49.583 181.514
    22 11 Bryan Silas/Stuart FL National Speed Sport News-Fast Track Ford 49.584 181.510
    23 63 Milka Duno/Caracas Venezuela Citgo Lubricants Dodge 49.604 181.437
    24 12 Maryeve Dufault/Sorel Quebec TMR Dodge 49.726 180.992
    25 77 Joey Licata/Van Nuys CA Wrong Inc. Dodge 49.727 180.988
    26 44 Frank Kimmel/Clarksville IN Ansell-Menards Ford 49.775 180.814
    27 82 Sean Corr/Goshen NY Empire Racing Ford 49.782 180.788
    28 1 Chad McCumbee/Supply NC ModSpace Ford 49.791 180.756
    29 18 Chris Lawson/Troutman NC Ideal Steel Custom Flame Cutting Dodge 49.801 180.719
    30 00 Ed Kennedy/Coppell TX Thunder 2 Lubricants-Daytona Lagoon Chevrolet 49.811 180.683
    31 36 Grant Enfinger/Fairhope AL BeasleyAllen.com-Excaliber Coach Dodge 49.846 180.556
    32 26 Tommy Joe Martins/Como MS Martins Motorsports Dodge 49.924 180.274
    33 23 Nick Igdalsky/Long Pond PA Fox Realty Chevrolet Provisional
    34 34 Darrell Basham/Henryville IN IndustrialDepot.com Ford Provisional
    35 48 James Hylton/Inman SC Radon.com Ford Provisional
    36 10 Ed Pompa/Ballston Spa NY Rifenburg Construction-Double H Ranch Chevrolet Provisional
    37 06 Barry Fitzgerald/Sykesville MD CanadianHeroes.com Chevrolet Provisional
    38 68 Steve Blackburn/Prestonsburg KY Honda of Prestonburg-Harley of Pikeville Dodge Provisional
    39 7 Brent Cross/Cortland NY Cummings Auto Machine-Quadraflex Chevrolet Provisional
    40 58 Chad Hackenbracht/New Philadelphia OH Tastee Apple Chevrolet Provisional
    41 75 Benny Chastain/Tallahassee FL Drive To End Hunger AARP Toyota Provisional
    42 3 Brent Brevak/Eau Claire WI Red’s Auto Ford Provisional
    43 42 Scott Stenzel/Orlando FL Yellow Stripes Making The Driver Ford Provisional

    To see more articles by Ashley McCubbin and live updates from the weekend, check out http://newsfromthepits.blogspot.com/

  • Track construction underway in St. Pete.

    Construction crews have installed the first barrier along the cities’ waterfront at Bayshore Blvd, and 1St Avenue in what is the start of track construction for the 7th annual Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. Crews will install over 20,000 linear feet of reinforced concrete barriers, and over 44,000 feet of chain link catch fencing throughout the streets of downtown St. Pete, and along the primary east west runway of the Albert Whited Airport, The airport runway will again serve as the main straight for the 14 turn 1.8 mile temporary street course, the adjacent taxiway will function as pit road for this event. Construction is expected to take 44 days to complete.

    The season opening 7Th edition of The Honda Grand Prix of St. Pete is scheduled for the week-end of Mar.25Th through Mar.27Th. The stars, and cars of Indy Car will be the main attraction along with the USF2000 Series, the Star Mazda Series, The Indy Lights, and the SCCA World Challenge scheduled to run as the support series.

    Tickets are available by visiting the website www.gpstpete.com

  • Not for the Points: Budweiser Shootout Could Set the Tone for Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Season

    Not for the Points: Budweiser Shootout Could Set the Tone for Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Season

    There must be a sense of déjà vu for Dale Earnhardt Jr. as he enters Speedweeks 2011 at the Daytona International Speedway.

    [media-credit name=”David Yeazell” align=”alignright” width=”180″][/media-credit]Much like he did in 2008, Earnhardt Jr.  will be racing with a new team and new cars for the upcoming season. This time, however, it won’t be at a new organization just a new shop at Hendrick Motorsports.

    He moves from a shop with the No. 5 of Mark Martin to the shop that holds defending five-time Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson. Earnhardt Jr. now inherits cars and team from Jeff Gordon as well as his crew chief, Steve Letarte.

    The success of Earnhardt Jr.’s season will be measured by his performance in the 36 Sprint Cup Series events but no race may be more important than this Saturday’s Budweiser Shootout. Coming out of the gate strong with Letarte and setting the tone will be critical for momentum heading into Phoenix, Las Vegas and the first half of the schedule.

    Think of Kevin Harvick, who won last year’s shootout and continued to ride the wave through the season, nearly winning the championship. Or even back to Earnhardt Jr. when he won it in 2008, he went on to have one of his best seasons, regardless of the win count, where he stood second or third in points the first half of the year.

    He stumbled in the Chase however, and finished 12th. Now, three years later he gets to start fresh again.

    The driver of the No. 88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolet knows what’s in front of him; he’s had to sit home since two days after Homestead when the changes were announced and wait. And wait.

    When asked Earnhardt Jr. said he felt like a kid again, knowing what he was going to get for Christmas but having to wait until Christmas day to play with it.

    The same could be said about 2008 when he left Dale Earnhardt Inc. for HMS. And much like then, Earnhardt Jr. needs to win soon and Junior Nation desperately needs something to hold onto. They too want wins and results and they want them now.

    Saturday is the first and one of the greatest opportunities for Earnhardt Jr.

    His second Shootout win in 2008 led many to believe that Earnhardt Jr. was finally going to cash in at HMS. So much so that during his burnout at the start/finish line, Mike Joy stated, “I think this is the start of a beautiful relationship.”

    Darrell Waltrip chimed in and said it was the start of something big.

    It’s been anything but. Since that 2008 season NASCAR’s Most Popular driver has been off the map: winless, Chase-less and finishing 25th and 21st in points.

    Things though, have a way of coming back to you and Earnhardt Jr.’s back on the map with the changes have been made. You can’t escape the déjà vu.

    Letarte is in the same boat. When he became a crew chief in late 2005, he was expected to be the man that led Jeff Gordon to his fifth championship. It never happened and like any crew chief, he became the scapegoat by the Gordon fans.

    Now he inherits a driver that is also expected to do great things, but listening to Letarte, he isn’t thinking about his goals or legacy. He’s more concerned about his drivers.

    This past offseason he made the comment that his motivation was “to show everybody in the world how talented Dale Earnhardt Jr. is … “

    That time has arrived, as has the 2011 NASCAR season. The talking and predicting is over and all the work that has gone in over the past two and three months will be hitting the racetrack.

    Have Letarte and Earnhardt Jr. hit a winning setup?

    The 33rd annual Budweiser Shootout will be the first race run on Daytona’s new pavement. The excitement and intensity won’t have changed from last season no matter how crazy it gets.

    For Earnhardt Jr. he’ll be looking for another win at a restrictor plate track. The hope is that the first race on this new pavement doesn’t end the way the last track who was repaved did … where he was spinning through the grass down the backstretch on the last lap at Talladega.

  • Daytona’s Magical Aura: Kevin Harvick’s 2007 Daytona 500

    Daytona’s Magical Aura: Kevin Harvick’s 2007 Daytona 500

    [media-credit name=”David Yeazell” align=”alignright” width=”225″][/media-credit]Daytona has always had this magical aura with stories surrounding the Daytona 500 that everybody loves to tell over and over. As we near closer to the Daytona 500, here is a look back through some of the highlighted moments in Daytona 500 history.

    February 18th, 2001 marked the death of the NASCAR’s biggest star and Richard Childress Racing’s lead driver Dale Earnhardt.

    Six years later, the Daytona 500 fell on February 18th. Coming into the event, emotions were high considering what had happened six years earlier and everybody’s thoughts. For Richard Childress Racing, there was one way that they could make the pain easier – win the race.

    With 20 to go, Harvick made his charge as he went from 29th to second. The final lap marked a battle between Kevin Harvick and Mark Martin. As they raced off of turn four, a wreck happened behind them and had NASCAR called a caution, the winner would’ve been Martin. Though NASCAR let them race to the finish line and instead, Harvick won the race, 0.2 seconds over Martin.

    “I knew when I got out of the car I wasn’t going to be the good guy (after passing Mark Martin),” Harvick said. ” But that’s just the way it works. Somebody has to win and somebody has to lose. And fortunately today was our day to win. I got so excited at the end of the race, and I knew we had won. I just didn’t realize how excited I was, and I punched the dang mirror out of the car. Just overexcited, I guess. Knocked the mirror right out.”

    “I didn’t ask for a win in the Daytona 500, I asked for a chance and I let it slip through my fingers…No one wants to see a grown man cry and I’m not going to cry,” Martin said afterwards.

    With the win, Harvick dealt the medicine that was needed for Richard Childress Racing. It was also fitting with Harvick winning as after Earnhardt’s death, it was Harvick that Childress chose to fill the team’s third car, changing the No. 3 to the No. 29. It marked an impressive moment for Harvick as one of his biggest wins, though let him come out of the shadow to become his own man.

    Emotions were seen across the board as everybody was crying, excited and angry with the finish. Even Harvick’s wife Delana was overcome to her emotions as she cried.

    With the dramatics of the race and how it played out with Harvick winning, its no question that this Daytona 500 is yet another example of Daytona’s Magical Aura.

  • Hal Martin, Ty Dillon and Kyle Fowler Lead ARCA Practice No. 1

    Hal Martin, Ty Dillon and Kyle Fowler Lead ARCA Practice No. 1

    [media-credit name=”ARCA Racing Network” align=”alignleft” width=”287″][/media-credit]The ARCA Series Presented by Menards opened up their first day of on-track action today with a four hour practice this afternoon.

    Like in testing last month, Hal Martin drove his No. 55 NOLA Motorsports Park Toyota to the top of the practice chart as his team, Venturini Motorsports, took three of the top four positions.

    “What a successful day, all in all,” Martin said. “We’ve spent a lot of long hours at the shop, and I’ve put in a lot of long hours of mental prep for this day. There were some things in practice we wanted to try, and the car just ran fast. That’s all I can say. It’s driving really well, and dicing in and out of traffic. We did a lot of drafting this afternoon and ran well in every situation.”

    Martin’s best lap was 48.092 seconds, hitting an average speed of 187.141mph. Martin’s teammates Kyle Fowler (No. 15 Chevrolet) and Steve Arpin (No. 25 Mike’s Hard Lemonade/Trent’s Tire Toyota) were third and fourth.

    Sandwiched in second was Richard Childress Racing driver and Childress’ grandson Ty Dillon (No. 41 University of Northwestern Ohio Chevrolet), with his teammate Tim George Jr. (No. 31 Richard Childress Racing Development Chevrolet) in fifth to complete the top five. Contributing to a top-five sweep by Venturini and RCR was the drafting that was done during practice as Martin cited all his two teammates and the RCR teammates as “dancing partners”.

    Though Martin notes that he spent the beginning during mock qualifying runs as this is the only practice they’ll get before qualifying.

    “We started out the day with mock qualifying runs, just to see where we stood basically,” he said. “Hopefully, we get the pole, but you never know what will happen out there. I hope we can get a solid top-five start and go win it from there on Saturday. If we can start up front, we hope to stay out front.”

    Steve Blackburn, Matt Merrell, Bryan Silas, Brian Rose, and Tom Hessert comprised the remainder of the top 10.

    Other notables include six-time and defending Daytona ARCA Bobby Gerhart, who drove his No. 5 Lucas Oil Slick Mist Chevrolet to the 20th position on the chart, one spot ahead of nine-time ARCA Racing Series champion Frank Kimmel.

    Some people were concerned what the rain earlier in the day would do to the track, however Martin said it had no effect.

    “The grip level’s still there,” Martin said. “You know, it’s not like a track where it’s been worn in and you get a little rain and the track gets green and there’s no grip. That didn’t happen. I know we had a good bit of rain this morning – it woke me up in the motor home at 5 or 6 a.m. – but the track is just like it was at the test. The tires aren’t wearing.”

    Fowler says as a whole, the track hasn’t actually changed that much from before the paving.

    “We talked about the old and the new, as far as whatever he was doing and what it was like to run around this place, and where I’m running around this place, and the similarities,” Fowler said. “Over time, it hasn’t really changed as much as people think even through different pavements. The core of it is still the same.”

    Though Fowler says he is ready for whatever happens.

    “I’ve been mentally preparing,” Fowler said. “Preparing, preparing, preparing. I’ve been doing a little bit of the iRacing (computer simulation) stuff, because I’ve got to get familiar with this place more. I’ve been watching tapes of races and (NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver) David Ragan’s been giving me advice.”

    With three of the five drivers at Venturini Motorsports in the top five, its no wonder Venturini Motorsports General Manager Billy Venturini is happy.

    “All the cars seemed really good,” Venturini said. “The Nos. 15, 25, and 55 seemed to be the best three cars during single-car runs. So, I think we will have a very solid performance in qualifying. No. 28 (Miguel Paludo) and No. 66 (Mark Thompson), we expect to put them in the top 10 also. (In) drafting practice, all the cars seemed extremely strong. I think that we should be tough to beat. All the hard work seems to be paying off. I expect to qualify very well and make sure we can back that up on Saturday with a victory.”

    All 47 entered drivers took laps; 43 will start in Saturday’s Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200, scheduled to air at 4:30 p.m. on SPEED. The starting field will be set in Menards Pole Qualifying presented by Ansell, tomorrow at 2 p.m.

    2011 Event #1, ARCA Racing Series Presented by Menards
    Daytona Int’l Speedway, Daytona Beach FL, 2-12-11  
    Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200    
             
             
    POS NO DRIVER/HOMETOWN TIME SPEED
    1 55 Hal Martin/Galliano LA 48.092 187.141
    2 41 Ty Dillon/Lewisville NC 48.133 186.982
    3 15 Kyle Fowler/Smyrna GA 48.378 186.035
    4 25 Steve Arpin/Fort Frances ON 48.415 185.893
    5 31 Tim George Jr./New York NY 48.421 185.870
    6 68 Steve Blackburn/Prestonsburg KY 48.493 185.594
    7 32 Matt Merrell/Portland TX 48.837 184.286
    8 11 Bryan Silas/Stuart FL 48.863 184.188
    9 19 Brian Rose/Louisville KY 48.970 183.786
    10 52 Tom Hessert/Cherry Hill NJ 48.970 183.786
    11 16 Joey Coulter/Miami Springs FL 48.983 183.737
    12 36 Grant Enfinger/Fairhope AL 48.999 183.677
    13 14 John Ferrier/Middletown NY 49.002 183.666
    14 26 Tommy Joe Martins/Como MS 49.003 183.662
    15 09 Benny Gordon/DuBois PA 49.019 183.602
    16 4 Ricky Carmichael/Tallahassee FL 49.053 183.475
    17 1 Chad McCumbee/Supply NC 49.085 183.355
    18 98 Kevin Swindell/Goodlettsville TN 49.095 183.318
    19 77 Joey Licata/Van Nuys CA 49.100 183.299
    20 5 Bobby Gerhart/Lebanon PA 49.104 183.284
    21 44 Frank Kimmel/Clarksville IN 49.104 183.284
    22 6 Jason Bowles/Ontario CA 49.245 182.760
    23 30 Terry Jones/Amherstburg Ontario 49.266 182.682
    24 63 Milka Duno/Caracas Venezuela 49.339 182.411
    25 66 Mark Thompson/Cartersville GA 49.358 182.341
    26 28 Miguel Paludo/Nova Prata Brazil 49.440 182.039
    27 97 Matt Lofton/Mooresville NC 49.570 181.561
    28 22 Dakoda Armstrong/New Castle IN 49.729 180.981
    29 17 Chris Buescher/Prosper TX 49.778 180.803
    30 00 Ed Kennedy/Coppell TX 49.804 180.708
    31 82 Sean Corr/Goshen NY 49.862 180.498
    32 94 Brett Hudson/Owensboro KY 49.869 180.473
    33 75 Benny Chastain/Tallahassee FL 50.045 179.838
    34 42 Scott Stenzel/Orlando FL 50.096 179.655
    35 59 Drew Charlson/New Bremen OH 50.182 179.347
    36 12 Maryeve Dufault/Sorel Quebec 50.189 179.322
    37 48 James Hylton/Inman SC 50.198 179.290
    38 3 Brent Brevak/Eau Claire WI 50.562 177.999
    39 54 Will Vaught/Crane MO 50.649 177.694
    40 18 Chris Lawson/Troutman NC 50.767 177.281
    41 24 Ricky Byers/Birmingham AL 50.796 177.179
    42 34 Darrell Basham/Henryville IN 51.127 176.032
    43 23 Nick Igdalsky/Long Pond PA 51.258 175.582
    44 58 Chad Hackenbracht/New Philadelphia OH 51.529 174.659
    45 10 Ed Pompa/Ballston Spa NY 51.932 173.304
    46 7 Brent Cross/Cortland NY 51.991 173.107
    47 06 Barry Fitzgerald/Sykesville MD 54.744 164.402

    Credit to the ARCA Racing Network for Picture and Quotes

  • SM Pick’Em: Bud Shootout

    SM Pick’Em: Bud Shootout

    Editor’s Note: Ed Coombs’ pick was wrongfully omitted. It is shown below.

    New for 2011 is the SpeedwayMedia.com Pick ‘Em game! Each week, our panel of writers will make their picks for Sprint Cup Series races, picking a driver they really think will win, a darkhorse driver and tell us why they picked the way they did.

    Throughout the season, we’ll collect, tally and tabulate the points. They’ll get five points if their “Who I Really Think Will Win” pick wins, three points for a top-five finish, one point if the pick finished 6th through tenth, and no points if they finish outside of the top-ten. The same points apply for darkhorse picks, except points are doubled. So, if the driver the writer thinks will actually win does win and the writer’s darkhorse pick finishes second, they will earn 11 points.

    Every Thursday, the Pick ‘Em column will be posted along with updated points standings.

    RACE: Budwesier Shootout
    DATE: February 12

    Ed Coombs

    Who I Really Think Will Win: Tony Stewart
    Dark Horse Pick: Dale Earnhardt Jr.

    I think that Stewart, whose record at Daytona is pretty good will be a major factor in this race. He typically drafts well with his good friend, Earnhardt which is why I have him as the dark horse. As sad as it is, Earnhardt is a dark horse just based on recent history. He runs well then has a mishap on pit road, on the track or in his head. However, he’s got a great new team that has served Jeff Gordon well for years.

    Matt LaFlair

    Who I Really Think Will Win: Kyle Busch

    Dark Horse Pick: Dale Earnhardt Jr.

    Well its my first picks and I’d like to make it clear that I like to stir up NASCAR Fans whenever possible. Lets face it, Dale Jr is really a dark horse pick after the past two seasons of riding around in 30th. And as for Kyle, lets face it 85-percent of the NASCAR community hates Kyle Busch. I think that JGR has their restrictor plate package dialed in for 2011 and look for the 11, 18, and 20 to mix it up this year at Daytona and Talledaga. Let the games begin!!!

    Roberta Cowan

    Who I Really Think Will Win: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
    Dark Horse Pick: Tony Stewart

    I think you will see Dale Jr. and Steve Letarte come out with guns blazing. I think they will make a fast and definite statement that will carry over into the Daytona 500.

    Kyle Brandt

    Who I Really Think Will Win: Kevin Harvick
    Dark Horse Pick: Tony Stewart

    Kevin domianted the restrictor plate races in 2010 and has ECR engines, which are arguably the best engines in the Sprint Cup Series. Being the winner of the last two shootout isn’t too shabby either. Although Tony typically doesn’t fit into the dark horse category, restrict plate races have been feast or famine for him. Tony was fast in testing at Daytona last month and has three career shootout wins, with the last being in 2007.

    Mark Odor

    Who I Really Think Will Win: Kevin Harvick
    Dark Horse Pick: Regan Smith

    Ben Gunby

    Who I Really Think Will Win: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
    Dark Horse Pick: Juan Pablo Montoya

    If there’s anywhere Junior can win, we know it’s Daytona. This new crew chief/driver combination desperately wants to get off to a good start and build some momentum, and winning the Shootout again would do just that. We know the Hendrick cars will be fast, and few can get to the front at a plate track with a good car like Junior can. The plate racing program at Ganassi is among the best in the sport at this point in time. We know Jamie McMurray will be strong, but don’t count out Montoya. The short, sprint style race fits his driving style perfectly, and Montoya really wants to got to victory lane at a track that doesn’t require right hand turns.

    Ahsley McCubbin

    Who I Really Think Will Win: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
    Dark Horse Pick: Michael Waltrip

    Known as one of the best restrictor plate racers, Earnhardt is always up from and in contention. With the need to start the year on a good foot with new crew chief Steve Letarte, a win will do all that justice and atleast quiet the critics for a little bit. Waltrip has been known as a good restrictor plate driver as well. He has won the Daytona 500 twice and with bringing back the NAPA Paint Scheme driven then, it may bring him the luck he needs to win the Great American Race again.

    Barry Albert

    Who I Really Think Will Win: Tony Stewart
    Dark Horse Pick: Mark Martin

    Kyle Ocker

    Who I Really Think Will Win: Jeff Gordon
    Dark Horse Pick: AJ Allmendinger

    Jeffrey Boswell

    Who I Really Think Will Win: Jeff Gordon
    Dark Horse Pick: Sterling Marlin

    Fittingly, the hard-luck Gordon will end his losing streak with a win that, in fact, won’t end his losing streak.

  • Daytona’s Magical Aura: Hendrick Motorsports’ 1997 Daytona 500

    Daytona’s Magical Aura: Hendrick Motorsports’ 1997 Daytona 500

    Daytona has always had this magical aura with stories surrounding the Daytona 500 that everybody loves to tell over and over. As we near closer to the Daytona 500, here is a look back through some of the highlighted moments in Daytona 500 history.

    While the boss was going through his fight with cancer, his drivers were trying to keep having success on track. With Rick Hendrick’s brother John leading operations, they headed to Daytona in 1997 with one goal.

    Late in 1996, Hendrick was diagnosed with leukemia and had to undergo treatment. He was also given 12-month house rest sentence by the courts for mail fraud with his dealerships while undergoing the treatment. As a result of the sentence and sickness, Hendrick put his brother John in charge and the three-car team headed down to Daytona.

    As they ran up front near the end of the race, Gordon took the attitude on the radio with the words, “We’re doing this thing. Never die. Never quit.”  Those words not only symbolized the attitude of the race, but yet the attitude they wanted their boss to keep. The attitude that they wanted him to recover.

    Gordon knew with the win that he could help in making Rick feel a little better so he took the attitude to go out and do it no matter what. When it came to the pass on Bill Elliott, he made the bold move of going under him, partly on the flat part of the track, knowing he had to make the move.

    Following behind Hendrick, Terry Labonte and Ricky Craven passed Elliott to make it a Hendrick 1-2-3.

    “Congratulations,” crew chief Ray Evernham came on the radio as the caution came out late in the going. “This is a great gift for Rick.”

    “You won’t believe it buddy,” Gordon said back. “Let’s come across here one-two-three.”

    On the last lap, they crossed the finish line three wide, doing it all for Rick. As Gordon said on the radio, “This is for you, Rick.”

    Their emotions gave them reason to push further and led to them to victory and classic Daytona style. It was the perfect type of medicine that they could have given their boss.

    Gordon added an extra dose of medicine at the end of the year when he won the championship, capping off a great season for Hendrick Motorsports.

    As the story goes, Hendrick fought through his cancer and made it through, pushing forward to continue his team to a whole new level. Hendrick fought through more emotional battles, though still reigns as one of the top owners in racing.

    Looking back even today at the finish, tears still come to the eyes as the emotions are brought forth of that exact race.