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Category: NASCAR Cup Series

NASCAR Cup Series

  • NASCAR Tinkers While Fans Check Out

    NASCAR Tinkers While Fans Check Out

    NASCAR continues to tinker with at least two of its top three series at the risk of alienating more fans.

    Why do they do this? The fans of the Sprint Cup Series had just become accustomed to The Chase, the Lucky Dog, the Shotgun Start, and (unfortunately) the Car of Tomorrow (which properly should be called the Car of Today) in the Sprint Cup Series and what do they do? Talk is they are going to revamp the points system. You know the one created by Bob Latford in 1975 that rewarded consistency over the entire season. What they’ve come up with, according to the Associated Press, is a system that would give the winner of the race 43 points. Each position thereafter would receive one less point than the position ahead of it. In other words, the team/driver that finished second would receive 42 points and the third place team/driver would get 41 points. Last place would yield 1 point.

    The problem with all of this is that these changes are manufactured to attain a goal that takes us far away from the traditions of the sport. Take the Nationwide Series for instance. According to drivers who already applied for their licenses, they have to choose only one series to run for the championship. No more running for the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series the same season. The point of this is to eliminate the championship going to a Sprint Cup regular, but guess what? It may happen anyway.

    If you look at the list of probable Nationwide Series entrants, one name just jumps out at you. Elliott Sadler. Yep, the guy who has been a regular on the Sprint Cup Series for a long time. He even has three wins in Sprint Cup competition, driving for the Wood Brothers, Robert Yates Racing, and the Ray Evernham, George Gillette, and Richard Petty Motorsports teams. Last year, he decided to leave RPM and wound up in the Nationwide Series driving for Kevin Harvick Motorsports, one of the most powerful Nationwide Series teams. He will run for the championship and has to be the odds-on favorite. Imagine that.

    The rumored points system would attempt to make a closer championship race, giving the fans what Brian France calls a “seventh game experience.” Funny he would use a baseball term; I always thought the NFL was the target. Regardless, it would mean that a top driver can have a bad day, win the next week, and not be so far behind in the series standings. Other changes could be ten drivers qualifying for the Chase with the two top winners, if they are not part of the top ten taking positions 11 and 12. Once again manufacturing the close finish might have the same appeal to fans that those other ideas in my first paragraph (with the exception of Shotgun Starts) did. They will be yawning. As I’ve said before, most of the older base of fans will consider it a bastardization of their sport, younger fans will continue to turn the channel because they don’t know what the rules are, and both will eventually watch the NBA, MLB or the NFL. And they will wonder why.

    If we look at the history of the last decade, NASCAR had a good product that was growing year after year. Television ratings were high and crowds at the track were large. Things started to decline before the Great Recession of 2008, and that event and the constant changes designed to “make things better” turned the base fan away. They haven’t returned. And with gasoline prices rumored to be $4.00 per gallon by May, look for more of the same.

    Where does all of this leave us? I’ve long had a problem with Sprint Cup drivers and powerhouse teams (Childress or one of his farm teams, Roush-Fenway, Penske, Gibbs, and Hendrick) dominating the Nationwide Series, but was this the answer? Nationwide Series races are not as well attended as Sprint Cup races, but you can bet the absence of Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski, and Kyle Busch won’t help any. This will all play out, but I don’t have a good feeling about it. The new points system, if rumors are true, may make for a close finish or it may be a runaway. So, nothing has changed except confusion to the fan base. From 2004 until today, NASCAR has been confusing its fans. Yes, the economy is bad, but people resist change. It confuses the young and confounds the old. And the beat goes on.

  • Preseason Question and Answer with No. 6 UPS Ford Team Crew Chief Drew Blickensderfer

    What are you hoping to work on and learn at the Daytona test this week?

    “Our plan this week is to visit the new track surface and see where we stand compared to the old Daytona. We’ll basically shake down the car we plan on running in the Daytona 500 and try to get some overall speed, as well as work out some things for qualifying and when it comes to the race.”

    What does the restrictor plate change mean?

    “The restrictor plate change takes about 30 horsepower away from us, which will probably lead to more side-by-side and tight packs when it comes time to race.”

    Did you learn anything from the tire test back in December that you can apply to this test?

    “We learned a little bit, but we were cut short. There were some things we found during the first day that we were going to do the second day, but didn’t have the car to do it with. So we came out of the test with a handful of ideas that we will put into our car and try this time.”

    Does the new track surface or new nose make much of a difference?

    “Yes and yes, they both are quite a bit different than what we had in the past. Daytona was one of the most abrasive tracks we went to the last few years and now, being one of the smoothest, is quite a big change in setup and what you do to prepare for the race. The new nose is something everyone has to deal with. For a team like ours who started to run well at the end of the year it’s a change we’ll have to grasp quickly. It creates a little different balance and as with something new there will be things that come up and we’ll just have to adapt quickly and be ready for them.”

    What’s your goal for the 2011 season?

    “Our goal is to contend for a Chase spot, win a couple poles and win a race, or be in contention for race wins. We need to build on what we had going the last part of the year. We made some additions to the team that should help and we made some changes to the car over the off season which will hopefully give us more speed.”

    What’s your favorite restaurant in Daytona?

    “Deck Down Under.”

    Roush Fenway Racing is NASCAR’s largest team operating seven motorsports teams. Four in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with drivers Matt Kenseth, Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards and David Ragan; and three in the Nationwide Series with Edwards, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and Trevor Bayne. For more information on any of the Roush Fenway Racing teams, log onto www.RoushFenway.com http://www.roushfenway.com/ . Become a fan of Roush Fenway Racing on Facebook by going to http://www.facebook.com/roushfenway and follow us on Twitter @roushfenway. For sponsorship inquiries please contact Robin Johnson at 704.720.4645.

  • HP Racing Ready to Debut for 2011 Season

    Cornelius, NC (January 18, 2011)- HP Racing, LLC, a renamed entity formed by owners Randy Humphrey and Phil Parsons is pleased to announce the formation of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team HP Racing (HP). Debuting in 2011 HP is set to compete with the No. 66 Toyota Camry with driver Michael McDowell at the controls. McDowell qualified for 17 Sprint Cup Series races in 2010 driving for PRISM Motorsports, including the Daytona 500 in February.

    After moving into a spacious shop at the JTG Racing facility in Harrisburg, North Carolina, the team is currently expanding its fleet of Sprint Cup Series racecars and upgrading equipment. Under the direction of Crew Chief Gene Nead, the team is slated for its first round of competition in the Daytona 500 on Sunday, February 20th. Nead has a long standing relationship with the core of HP Racing and looks to continue a successful affiliation in 2011.

    “It is great to reunite with Randy and Phil at HP. The new shop and equipment will help us develop partnerships to grow this race team and help us push into the next level of competition,” McDowell expressed. “I have had great success with Gene Nead in the past and feel confident we can qualify and run competitively in the races we attempt.”

    Aside from Daytona, HP intends to compete in select races, including events at Bristol Motor Speedway, Infineon Raceway and Watkins Glen International, with others to be named at a later date. HP is actively seeking sponsorship to fund the remaining races on the Sprint Cup Series Schedule and is positioning itself as a viable race team for partnership with organizations looking to break into the racing industry.

    “HP is a reinvention of our race team that has been operating for a couple years. We’re still the same people, but we see this as a tremendous opportunity to compete on a more consistent basis in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series,” said Co-Owner Phil Parsons.

    “We really feel like we’ve elevated our program and we’re thrilled about the team we’ve put together. It’s an exciting time for us and we’re thankful to be able to reunite Gene Nead and Michael McDowell. We have all the elements in place to succeed, and with sponsorship we’ll be able to race competitively on a consistent basis,” Co-Owner Randy Humphrey commented.

    In preparation for the 53rd running of the Daytona 500, HP Racing will travel to Daytona International Speedway for a test session this Friday and Saturday.

  • Steven Wallace to Run the Daytona 500, Sam Hornish Jr. Without Cup Ride? No Way!

    Steven Wallace to Run the Daytona 500, Sam Hornish Jr. Without Cup Ride? No Way!

    Folks, the headline may be hard to believe—but it is true. Well, okay, most of you would believe the second half of the headline, but not the first half.

    As reported by Fox Sports on Saturday, Sam Hornish Jr. will not be racing anything in the Cup Series for Penske Racing or anybody come Daytona or during the year.

    His crew has been shrunk to either join the Nationwide teams or strengthen Brad Keselowski’s Cup team.

    This would equal no surprise, as Hornish hasn’t done anything in Cup except cause wrecks and incidents that have many people questioning why he was even in the series to begin with. Let’s face it—in 108 starts, he only has two top fives and eight top 10s. If you can’t get it done in that time, then how much time do you want?

    NASCAR is a performance-driven business, and if you can’t get it done, you’re cut. Just ask Scott Speed, as he was booted from Red Bull Racing despite “contract terms” and “discussions” when he finished outside the top 20 in points.

    Hornish has only lasted as long as he has with Penske due to their IZOD IndyCar success, as Hornish won 19 races, had 62 top fives and 80 top 10s in 116 starts. It’s the situation of being the teacher’s pet, but the teacher has run out of excuses to keep the principal from intervening.

    So what happens in NASCAR when you don’t do well? Simple—you go down and run one of the two lower divisions, or you face the music and leave the series. Some drivers who have stepped down have found success and have loved it there—namely Ron Hornaday and Todd Bodine. The Camping World Truck Series has become home to drivers with this scenario and now has fans tuned in for the high-octane drama.

    However, Dario Franchitti also faced the music but went back to IZOD IndyCar instead after his NASCAR experiment failed and won the championship. Some drivers are only fit for one form of motorsports, while others can adapt across the board, like Tony Stewart.

    Hornish has taken the road of going down to the Nationwide Series for 2011, as he will run at least 10 races for Roger Penske, including the season opener at Daytona. Hornish will have no excuses for those 10 races, as Penske had two cars in the top five last year in points, so we know they have a good program. It’ll all be up to the driver and for him to prove that he belongs in NASCAR.

    The second half of the story, though, is where the shocker hits—the owner’s points from the No. 77 car that Hornish drove will be used by Steven Wallace for the season-opening Daytona 500. With the No. 77 being 30th in points, therefore in the top 35, that will lock Steven into the race. What is wrong with this picture?

    EVERYTHING ABOUT IT! Steven has yet to even find success in the Nationwide Series and has caused too many wrecks to count. Many fans have already expressed their thoughts towards Rusty Wallace in telling him to take his son out of the car and put his money in someone who can drive, such as his niece Chrissy Wallace.

    His stats speak towards what the fans are saying, as in 157 starts he only has four top fives and 29 top 10s. He also has seven DNFs in his past 12 Nationwide Series restrictor plate starts. Now, we’ll be nice and say that he has been improving each year, yet not enough that it warrants him being allowed to run the biggest race of the year in the top series.

    Rusty also said that he thinks Steven will be the Sprint Cup Series champion in 2015—delusional much? Doesn’t he see what we see in the fact that Steven can’t even call himself a top Nationwide Series driver?

    Folks, last year’s Daytona 500 was almost ruined in the headlines by a pothole. Luckily, Jamie McMurray won it in emotional fashion and stole the headlines.

    With Wallace starting this year’s Daytona 500 and the harm that he could cause, we may need another dramatic win to steal the headlines. Without it, we could see a lot of hate mail floating across the web over another ruined Daytona 500.

    Penske Racing has obviously made some interesting choices since the conclusion of 2010 with choosing to attempt to find Hornish sponsorship rather than Justin Allgaier and now allowing a wrecking ball to run the biggest race of the year. Thankfully, there are people like Steve Turner who help those in need (Allgaier), and hopefully somebody like him will save us from doom in the Daytona 500.

  • Montoya on the drive toward the Daytona 500

    Montoya on the drive toward the Daytona 500

    Driver of the No. 42 Earnhardt Ganassi Chevrolet hits the links with South Florida media

    DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Before Juan Pablo Montoya goes driving on the new racing surface of Daytona International Speedway, the driver of the No. 42 Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Chevrolet did a different type of driving on Monday.

    [media-credit name=”DIS” align=”alignright” width=”160″][/media-credit]
    Road to Daytona Media Event at Doral Jan. 17, 2011
    Montoya, along with PGA pro Nicholas Thompson, participated in a drive, pitch and putt contest with South Florida media at the Doral Golf Resort and Spa promoting the 53rd running of the Daytona 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Sunday, Feb. 20.

    Golf is one of Montoya’s favorite hobbies away from the race track and it showed when he sank a nice 20-foot putt on Monday morning during the putting contest.

    “I do play a lot of golf,” said Montoya, who resides in the Miami area but is a native of Colombia. “I can hit it pretty far and I can actually hit it pretty straight as well. I don’t spend enough time on it for it to be as good as it needs to be.”

    Next month, Montoya will look to add the Daytona 500 to the list of prestigious races that he has won, which includes the Rolex 24 At Daytona, Indianapolis 500 and the Monaco Grand Prix.

    “It would be pretty cool,” Montoya said about the potential of winning the Daytona 500. “I’ve won all the big races except that one. I’m pretty good on restrictor plates and our cars are pretty good. Jamie (McMurray) won last year, and at Talladega, I’ve had so many chances at winning those races. It’s matter of giving yourself a chance. That’s all I ask for.”

    Tickets for Speedweeks 2011 and the 53rd annual Daytona 500 are available online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.

    Fans can stay connected with Daytona International Speedway on Twitter ( http://www.twitter.com/DISUpdates www.twitter.com/DISUpdates) and Facebook ( http://www.facebook.com/DaytonaInternationalSpeedway www.facebook.com/DaytonaInternationalSpeedway)

  • What Could Have Been?

    What Could Have Been?

    As you may have noticed from my previous articles, I’m no fan of the Chase system. This article will detail what would have happened if we had the old points system, but with the 10 extra bonus points for wins feature from 1975-2006 because as you know, NASCAR implemented the extra points for wins following the end of the 2006 season, so repeating what happened from 2007-2010 is irrelevant. I’m going to call my points system, Ryan’s System.

    1975 Ryan’s System Champion:Richard Petty (Petty won by over 842 points in my system and by 722 under the system back then. Petty won 13 races to 1 by second place finisher, Dave Marcis.)

    1976 Ryan’s System Champion:Cale Yarborough (Won 9 races. Richard Petty had just three to finish second and was behind by 275 points)

    1977 Ryan’s System Champion:Cale Yarborough (Won 9 races again. Petty won 5 races this time around, but this time found himself behind 425 points. Better luck next year King.)

    1978 Ryan’s System Champion:Cale Yarbrough (3rd and Final Championship in a row. Beat Darrell Waltrip by 519 points.)

    1979 Ryan’s System Champion:Darrell Waltrip (Oooh ouch. Petty is not a 7-time champion anymore, but a 6-time champion. Waltrip wins a 9 point nail biter. Now, that is exciting stuff.)

    1980 Ryan’s System Champion:Dale Earnhardt (First championship for The Intimidator. 9 point victory over Cale who was going for his 4th.)

    1981 Ryan’s System Champion:Darrell Waltrip (No question about it. He won 12 races. Second-place finisher Bobby Allison had 5.)

    1982 Ryan’s System Champion:Darrell Waltrip (Same story. No question about it. Waltrip 12-Allison 8)

    1983 Ryan’s System Champion:Bobby Allison (Bobby gets revenge and both have 6 wins, but Allison wins by 47.)

    1984 Ryan’s System Champion:Terry Labonte (Labonte only won 2 races yet still won by 55 points. Evidence that the system works on consistency as well.)

    1985 Ryan’s System Champion:Bill Elliott (Elliott edges Waltrip. Waltrip would have had an 101 point win, but Elliott had 11 wins to Waltrip’s 3 and won the title. Sorry Darrell.)

    1986 Ryan’s System Champion:Dale Earnhardt (Won the title easily)

    1987 Ryan’s System Champion:Dale Earnhardt (3rd Championship. Made it look easy.)

    1988 Ryan’s System Champion:Bill Elliott (Two titles in four years for Elliott. Held off Wallace by 24 points.)

    1989 Ryan’s System Champion:Rusty Wallace (22 point win for Wallace over the 3-time champion Earnhardt.)

    1990 Ryan’s System Champion:Dale Earnhardt (Cruised easily to his 4th title.)

    1991 Ryan’s System Champion:Dale Earnhardt (5th title. 4th title in 6 years. Amazing performance.)

    1992 Ryan’s System Champion:Bill Elliott (3rd title. Apologies to the late Alan Kulwicki, but he lost out by 20 points.)

    1993 Ryan’s System Champion:Dale Earnhardt (6th title ties Richard Petty for most all-time.

    1994 Ryan’s System Champion:Dale Earnhardt (7th title. The best NASCAR driver of all-time.

    1995 Ryan’s System Champion:Jeff Gordon (This kid beat the best of all-time in just his third year? Very impressive.

    1996 Ryan’s System Champion:Jeff Gordon (Beats out teammate Terry Labonte by 43 points for his second career championship.

    1997 Ryan’s System Champion:Jeff Gordon (3rd title in a row ties him with Cale Yarborough for most titles in consecutive seasons.)

    1998 Ryan’s System Champion:Jeff Gordon (4th title in a row and only 27 years of age and now has the record for himself.)

    1999 Ryan’s System Champion:Dale Jarrett (Heck at least someone other than Gordon won.)

    2000 Ryan’s System Champion:Bobby Labonte (First title. Holds off the best of all-time to win it.)

    2001 Ryan’s System Champion:Jeff Gordon (5 titles in 7 years is still mighty impressive.)

    2002 Ryan’s System Champion:Tony Stewart (Former open-wheeler wins his first title.)

    2003 Ryan’s System Champion:Matt Kenseth (Held off Jimmie Johnson for his first title.)

    2004 Ryan’s System Champion:Jeff Gordon (6th title in 10 years. Won by 17 points.)

    2005 Ryan’s System Champion:Tony Stewart (2nd title.)

    2006 Ryan’s System Champion:Jimmie Johnson (He did it! By 14 points, but he did it!)

    Now, you know that NASCAR implemented the 10 extra bonus points after this year. 2007 belonged to Jeff Gordon for his 7th title to tie him with Dale Earnhardt for the most championships all-time. Carl Edwards got his first in 2008. Jimmie Johnson took his second title in 2009 and finally Happy Kevin Harvick is a champion finally. So, looking at this article…who is the best of all-time? If you want to go by wins, you have to go with Richard Petty because he won 200, but if you want to go by championships you have to go with either #3 or #24 and Gordon will be King once he wins another title. Yes, Gordon won 4 in a row and that record cannot be broken until at least 2013. I have provided you with the evidence. What do you guys think of it?

    Email me at therhino.ryan@gmail.com or facebook me. Thank you.

  • One of a Kind: The Daytona International Speedway

    One of a Kind: The Daytona International Speedway

    This piece was originally published two years ago on a blog. With the recent changes to the speedway and the 10 year anniversary of Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s death, it has been revised for reposting.

    She stands on the stretch of land between Interstate 95 and the notorious Daytona Beach.

    She emanates beauty, strength, power, and glory.

    Dreams have both been made and broken on her high banks, and her spectators, the loyal followers and patrons, have witnessed history and heartbreak.

    Since 1959, they have come to this 2.5-mile oval in awe and in no need to contradict her. She is a piece of sacred American land, joining the company of The Alamo, Gettysburg, The White House, and even Elvis’ Graceland.

    She is important, she is rich, big, and beautiful, she is the attention getter that is the Daytona International Speedway, and she is my home away from home.

    [media-credit name=”CIA Stock Photo” align=”alignright” width=”300″][/media-credit]They call her the “World Center of Racing,” NASCAR auto racing. She was born in 1959 when NASCAR founder Bill France had a vision of her and knew that she was the next great sports venue.

    But before his vision could become a reality, NASCAR’s grandest stage was the Daytona Beach course, just down the road from where she would be built.

    But soon enough, from the dirt of what became a man-made lake that sits in the middle of her, and straight from the ground she arose, all 480 acres of her.

    She became Speedway Boulevard’s eye catching and most glorious structure. It is easy to spot her from all directions miles away.

    The sun beams brightly on her long sweeping straightaways, 3,800 in the front and 3,000 in the back, during the daytime. Over a thousand lights illuminate her distinctive steep banked corners of 31 degrees. She is one of a kind, a magnificent facility.

    Many have come to walk along her green grass and sit among her multi-colored grandstands.

    They have come to get an up close and personal view of their heroes and their powerful machines, thanks to her state of the art garage area and newly expanded fan zone.

    They have come from near, the Floridians proud of their home coliseum. They have come from far, be it half way around the world or half way across the country.

    From all along the coast, they have all come with their excitement and expectations. They make the trip of a lifetime; they make the trip with hopes of leaving happier and satisfied.

    They come for not just a couple of hours like other sporting events, but for days and even weeks.

    She becomes their home away from home, as they set up camp on her infield with motor homes and tents, which are decorated with decals, flags and everything in-between, everything that shows their NASCAR spirit.

    It’s a spirit that has been carried over to the unwritten dress code when attending any of her events as a way to show where loyalties lie.

    She is not a place where designer clothes are worn, only solid colors, because she is a place where they are happy to look like racecars.

    And when they are not watching those cars battling her, they water ski, swim, and fish on her 29-acre Lake Lloyd. However, it is not an intrusion on her space, it is what she likes, it is what she wants, and it is why she was born.

    I, too, have walked through her gates on many occasions. I have stood in amazement at her size, which appears to reach the stars. She easily made me feel humble, grateful and happy all at once.

    I have come and observed her when she is quiet, the calm before the storm, when there is not a car, truck, crewman, or other fan in site.

    It is the time when she sits undisturbed under a blanket of lights. But I have also come and observed her at her best, in the heat of the battle.

    It is because of the impending battle of NASCAR’s greatest drivers that others and I become drawn to her, like a moth to a flame.

    Drawn to the history of the events that she hosts: the first race of the year which is NASCAR’s biggest event and most important, plus it also pays the most.

    During the months of February and July, she becomes the center of the NASCAR world as well as the second largest city in Florida.

    Drawn to the excitement she produces by having 43 cars going 190 mph just inches from each other and her white walls that will ruin the driver’s day with one touch.

    Drawn to the accidents that may happen at any time she decides to strike out at an unsuspecting, the accidents that make us hold our breaths. Clint Bowyer and Ryan Newman have each felt her wrath by flipping into the frontstretch grass.

    Drawn to her wonderful weather, the sun/advertisement plane filled days and starry firework-filled nights.

    She is the only place where gasoline and burnt rubber are welcome smells. When the wind blows she gives a picture perfect shot of the giant American flag flying on her infield and of the checkered flag that will wave for the last driver standing.

    Richard Petty met with her a record seven times during February and she broke Dale Earnhardt’s heart for 19 straight years. Only a special few have danced with her through the years, and for some of them it has made not only their career but their life.

    I’ve stood among the thousands of others in her grandstand and asked her to welcome our favorite drivers into the winner’s circle.

    I have journeyed through the tunnel under turn three to her infield and have felt like I was being swallowed whole.

    I must have appeared like I was an ant trying to navigate my way through her giant world filled with maze after maze consisting of towers and garages.

    Now the clock has begun to turn in anticipation of a new year. The excitement is building and everyone is getting anxious about what’s next.

    Anxious about what she, the Daytona International Speedway, has in store for both the fans and the drivers. Right now she sits empty and quiet, however the sound of car engines are approaching from the distance.

    She’s finally resting now after seven months of getting a facelift. The dynamic and characteristics will forever be different once the green flag falls this season. New memories will be born as others are put in the 1978-2010 history book.

    Her walls are getting a fresh coat of paint and the grass is being groomed for the “Great American Race.” She is going to make sure it lives up to the hype: it will be important, rich, big and beautiful but it will also be sad.

    She’s ready to welcome a new driver into the hallowed ground of victory lane but also ti help us remember another one. It has been 10 years since the death of Dale Earnhardt and the loss of a fans champion. I will gather with thousands if not millions around the globe and remember and black and white car.

    I will shed a tear or look to the heavens with three fingers held high. I, like others, will remember the past before looking toward the future.

    Racing has gone on but has never been the same. Daytona has remained close in the fans hearts and memories, but again, hasn’t been the same. As she awakens and wipes the dust off the gates for the competitors and fans it is with remembrance in mind.

    And with a mustached grin ready to shine down from overhead.

    Because as Jacqueline Kennedy once again, “So now he is a legend when he would have preferred to be a man.”

  • Jeff Gordon: NASCAR’s Best All-Around Driver Ready to Win More Championships

    Jeff Gordon: NASCAR’s Best All-Around Driver Ready to Win More Championships

    Throughout the years, the NASCAR racing Gods have always shown a great deal of generosity whenever the time has come to hand over the reins to the sport’s next big superstar. Whether it be every 10, 20, or even 30 years, there will always be a driver who will step up to the challenge that takes him beyond the normal realm of just being labeled as, “One of the guys.”

    NASCAR garages from around the country are oozing with such talent, and it’s usually from these same garages where a driver will emerge who can defy the odds and take his racing career to the next level.

    In a sport where some of the biggest names who have graced our asphalt gladiator rings have come from the south, in walked California native Jeff Gordon who felt ready to accept the challenge knowing the rewards would be worth its weight in gold. Gordon knew he would be facing a long and strenuous uphill battle, with his biggest clash being the fans who couldn’t find it in their hearts to accept a driver who was not born with the “southern blood” running through his veins.

    Not long after his first Winston cup start, “the perfect storm” had already started brewing and Gordon found himself in the midst of its stranglehold. Along with the storm came the black cloud of doubt as driver after driver begin doubting Gordon’s ability to compete at a level he was not used to, which resulted in his tendency to push the cars too hard and crash. None of this stopped the California native from reaching the goals he set before himself, and before long Gordon made his first visit to victory lane during the 1994 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

    Gordon was well on his way to NASCAR stardom and it was attributed to the extra work he was willing to put in knowing that greatness can only be measured by the amount of enthusiasm that a driver can carry through all the hardship. Words alone cannot describe the amount of respect that he has earned throughout his very lucrative racing career and to say that he is anything less is absolutely ludicrous.

    Gordon has shown how an everyday run-of-the-mill California boy can come into a sport that was dominated by the good old boys from down south and dominate every aspect of their beloved sport.

    Gordon was truly an one-of-a-kind driver when he first entered what was then the Winston Cup Series, and one of his many characteristics that played a big role in him being successful was the methodical way he could pick apart his competition. Gordon learned patience along the way, which helped him to keep his composure with the result being the 82 victories he has in his win column.

    When you look back at his career, which is continuing to stand the test of time, how can a fan not take to heart what Jeff Gordon has endured, while racing against some of the great drivers from the past, as well as the present. There is no other driver in the garage today, who comes close to the accomplishments that Gordon has already garnered and his numbers speak for themselves.

    Gordon leads all active drivers with the most victories, and is currently sixth on the all-time winners list, and with one more victory he will tie Cale Yarborough in addition to Darrell Waltrip and Bobby Allison who are only one win away from the number three spot.

    Will Gordon ever win 200 races or will he reach the seven championship milestone? Probably not, but with 15 short-track wins, 12 restrictor-plate wins and a record nine road-course wins, along with Homestead-Miami as the only track he hasn’t won at, these stats alone make him one the most versatile and greatest drivers of our time.

    As father time continues to slowly creep up on one of NASCAR’s most prolific drivers, the drive for his fifth championship picks up where it left off after another disappointing and winless season.

    During the off-season team owner Rick Hendrick announced that Alan Gustafson, crew chief from Mark Martin’s No. 5 GoDaddy.com team would take over for Steve Letarte, with Letarte moving over to teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. Gordon responded about the change saying that, “This just shows the kind of commitment we have at Hendrick Motorsports. You don’t make a move like this without hoping you’re making all the right ones. I feel really good about what we’re doing, and I feel like we’re going to win more championships. Things like this, led by Rick, are what get you there.”

  • NASCAR Beginnings Featuring Dave Marcis

    NASCAR Beginnings Featuring Dave Marcis

    Dave Marcis was one of the last of a dying breed. He chose to walk his own path as an independent owner/driver with little or no factory support. The life he led was not an easy one but Marcis was never afraid of a little hard work.

    If you look at his statistics alone, you won’t see a lot of wins or any championship titles. But if you dig a little deeper, you’ll soon discover why he is one of the most respected drivers in NASCAR history.

    Dave Marcis was born in the small town of Wausau, Wisconsin on March 1, 1941. Often described as hard working, stubborn and opinionated, Marcis was determined to do things his way. He set himself apart from the other drivers right down to his shoes. If you mention Marcis’s name, people will likely remember two things; his work ethic and the wingtip shoes he wore to protect his feet from the heat while driving his racecar.

    His first NASCAR start was in 1968 at the Daytona 500. Over the course of his career, he set two records at Daytona International Speedway that still stand today. Marcis has the most career starts at 33 and the most consecutive starts at 32, from 1968-1999.

    He remembers his first race in Daytona and how Smokey Yunick came to his aid when he was having problems with his car. Yunick was famous for reading between the lines of the rule book and thinking outside the box.

    “When I went to my first race in Daytona, I went and talked to Smokey about how to fix the problems I was having. He gave me a set of special push rods to put in the engine and said I should order some more,” Marcis said. “He gave me a part number, and when I called the company, they said there is no such thing. Yet I had a set in my hand that Smokey gave me.”

    In a career that lasted over 30 years, Marcis made 883 career starts that included five wins and 222 top ten finishes. He ended his career at the Daytona 500 in 2002, at the age of 60.

    When Marcis retired, he was second on the all times starts list in NASCAR behind Richard Petty. Since then, Ricky Rudd has passed him, putting Marcis in third place on the list today.

    Marcis drove for some of the top teams of the day including Nord Krauskopf, Penske Racing and Osterlund Racing. His best season was in 1975 when he drove Krauskopf’s K&K Dodge Charger, and finished second in the points standings.

    In 1978, driving for Rod Osterlund, Marcis had 30 starts and finished in the top 10 an unbelievable 24 times. However, at the end of 1978, he abruptly left Osterlund Racing and decided to field his own team. He was replaced by the late Dale Earnhardt who became a close friend.

    Between 1974 and 1982, Marcis finished out of the top ten in points only twice. By the mid 1980s, however, his performance took a downward turn as it became more difficult to compete with the big money of the factory teams.

    Marcis began testing cars for Richard Childress including Dale Earnhardt’s No. 3 GM Goodwrench car. In return he received cars, engines, technical support and sponsorship.

    Throughout his career Marcis also did most of the testing for the IROC series along with Dick Trickle and Jim Sauter. He was originally hired by Mark Donohue, winner of the 1972 Indy 500. Donohue gave Roger Penske his first win of the historic race and won the inaugural IROC championship. Marcis’s association with IROC lasted for 30 years.

    Marcis may have retired from NASCAR in 2002 but he hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down.  He took his love of racing and turned it into a successful business venture named ‘Street Rods by Dave Marcis.’

    Among his racing buddies, Marcis is quite well known for his huge appetite. His second love led him to open a hotel/restaurant in Wisconsin called Camp 28 Resort Hotel.

    The end of Dave Marcis’s career closed a chapter in NASCAR history. The day of the independent owner/driver is almost extinct but Marcis has no regrets when he looks back on his life.

    “I think what I accomplished, the way I did it and the money I had to do it with, I personally think I done very well. I think that I was a good racecar driver, a hard racecar driver. I never gave up. I raced hard every lap, harder than I should have in a lot of instances.”

    He went on to say that “a lot of people said I raced them too hard, even if I was a lap or two down. But I always had hopes of getting that lap back and getting some better finishes. I believed that the spectators came to see a race, and I raced. I always put my heart and soul in it, and I raced hard, hard, hard all the time.”

    Marcis treasures the friendships he formed along the way.

    “To me, the guys today, when they reach our age, they’re not going to have a lot to talk about.” They fly to the races and they fly out.”

    “We were in a caravan and we used to eat in the same restaurants. The fans would meet us there and get autographs. That’s just how it was. It’s just completely different today.”

    His memories tell a story of days gone by when fierce competitors on the track became lifelong friends off the track.

    “What are they going to talk about when they retire? Us guys, we could sit around and talk for weeks,” Marcis said. “At Rockingham, after practice was over in the evening, Buddy Baker and a bunch of us, we’d go in the pine trees over there, get a crow call and shoot crows. Down at Darlington, in some of them ponds, we’d go fishing and catch bass. It was just a whole lot more fun.”

    Marcis’s life is a reflection of a time when it wasn’t all about fame and fortune. It was about accomplishing extraordinary things with little money, great determination and tremendous ingenuity.

    “Radioman” Doug Taylor of Taylor Communications remembers a conversation with Dave Marcis at Daytona in 1975. At the time Taylor was working to provide better two-way radio communications between drivers and their pit crews. Although the driver helmets had speakers in them, the engine noise made communication iffy, at best.

    “Dave approached me at Daytona back in 1975 and said that his two-way radios didn’t work.  At the time my system worked but only on the Yellow Flag laps. Dave showed me what he had been working on and I about died laughing at first. But the more he talked, the more I listened.”

    “What Dave had was a tiny transistor radio earpiece that he had in his ear with bubble gum pushed around it to seal out the noise. He told me he knew he was on the right track, but just couldn’t perfect it.”

    “He suggested that I take his idea and use my engineering expertise to make a better design.  I came up with the ear mold which fit inside the driver’s ear and shut out all outside engine noise. It provided clear communication with no distortion. I used about 30 different ear mold models over 25 years.”

    The legacy of Dave Marcis is best summed up in his own words.

    “We have done so much, with so little, for so long, that now we can do almost anything with nothing.”

    Accomplishments:

    Daytona 500 Most Career Starts – 33
    Daytona 500 Most Consecutive Starts – 32
    IROC Test Driver – 30 Years

  • Tony Stewart May Be Tanned But Not So Relaxed After Australian Adventure

    Tony Stewart May Be Tanned But Not So Relaxed After Australian Adventure

    By his own account, Tony Stewart was looking forward to his second year in a row of spending his NASCAR off season down under.  Unfortunately, this year’s Australian adventure did not turn out quite as Stewart had planned.

    [media-credit name=”Barry Albert” align=”alignright” width=”300″][/media-credit]”Last year was a first for me,” Stewart said.  “I spent three weeks down in Australia racing and having fun.  Best thing I could’ve ever done.”

    Stewart had an excellent adventure last off season, with his World of Outlaws driver companion and tour guide Donny Schatz.  Both Stewart and Schatz spent their time in Australia sight seeing, as well as fitting just a bit of racing into the mix.

    “I ended up racing four nights,” Stewart said.  “We had planned for five nights, but one of the races got rained out.”

    Stewart deemed himself “terrible” the first night out racing last year.  “The second night I was a little better but not much,” Stewart said.  “We got better every night so that was the biggest thing for me.”

    In fact, Stewart had such a great time last year that he decided to return to Australia in the most recent off season, this time for a month.  His plans were to leave December 15th, 2010 and return on January 15th, 2011, just in time to do some NASCAR testing on the new surface at Daytona.

    “It’ll be fun,” Stewart predicted of his time down under this off season.  “I’ll come back tan, relaxed and ready for Daytona.”

    Unfortunately, Stewart’s time in Australia was not at all relaxing and he ended up leaving what he thought would be his off season paradise with a cloud of trouble hanging over his head.  The problems came after an altercation allegedly between Stewart and the Sydney Speedway co-owner Brett Morris over a disagreement about the track conditions.

    The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Stewart threw his helmet at Morris after fighting over the track conditions at the Sydney Speedway.   Reportedly Morris retaliated by giving Stewart a shiner to take back to Daytona.

    Stewart was also reportedly detained for a short time by the local police for questioning.  After his questioning, he was then released for his flight back home to the United States.

    “Tony was simply questioned about the alleged incident, and after the questioning, he returned to his hotel, got a good night’s rest and is currently en route to the States,” Mark Arning, a spokesperson for Stewart told ESPN.com.  Also according to Arning, “No charges were filed.”

    Ironically, although Stewart left with a blackened eye, his driver Donny Schatz, ending up winning Saturday night’s race in Australia.  This was Schatz’s sixth career win in his Australian racing career.  He has four World of Outlaws titles under his belt as well.

    Stewart has had his share of anger management issues in the past.  In fact, earlier in his career as far back as his rookie year, Stewart was mixing it up with other drivers on and off the track.

    In 2002, Stewart had a much-publicized disagreement with a photographer at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.  Although he was put on probation by NASCAR, Stewart went on that year to win his first Cup championship.

    Stewart’s volatility on and off the track continued.  In the years following, Stewart had altercations with drivers like Brian Vickers, that resulted in a fine and more NASCAR probation, as well as some serious disagreements with the likes of Matt Kenseth, Jeff Gordon, and Kyle Busch.

    In 2008, Stewart got into it with an official at a USAC race.  He pulled the headset off of one official’s head and then shoved another official who had the misfortune of trying to talk with him about the prior incident. Stewart was fined and had to pay restitution to both officials for their equipment and gear.

    Since that time, a different, calmer and seemingly wiser Stewart has seemingly emerged.  This “new” Stewart appeared on the surface to be more at peace after moving back home, purchasing Eldora Speedway, and becoming a NASCAR team owner.

    Yet apparently, the old demons have continued to plague Stewart.  Or perhaps the track owner in Stewart simply got the better of him and he just had to object to what he deemed inadequate conditions at the Sydney Speedway.

    Either way, Stewart may be tanned but certainly not relaxed as he wings his way to Daytona testing.  And he certainly will need to continue to battle his aggression demons as he bids Australia adieu and returns to rev his engines in preparation for the start of the NASCAR 2011 season.