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Category: NASCAR Cup Series

NASCAR Cup Series

  • Brian France Doesn’t See The Big Picture

    Brian France Doesn’t See The Big Picture

    Brian France took over as NASCAR Chairman in 2003 and boy has he done great things for the sport. There are some NASCAR fans that would actually fall for that type of comment, which is why I hope all of the readers will read the title of the article before actually reading it. France is now proposing new changes for the Chase, which include now 15 drivers instead of 12 and an elimination style/knockout format. Now, France just doesn’t seem to get the big picture. We don’t want the Chase at all! We want to see 43 drivers competing week in and week out and the person with the most points out of those thirty-six races as the champion. We are sick and tired of seeing ten race seasons and for nearly the past 2,000 days we haven’t had a new champion.

    [media-credit name=”Brad Keppel” align=”alignright” width=”300″][/media-credit]France would be a good fit for the United States Senate. He just doesn’t listen to the will of the people. The people don’t want the Chase and instead of following up on their request, he just wants to “change” the Chase. France should expect more ratings and attendance drops if he does this again. We should go back to the old points system and just give 10 more bonus points for wins. I believe that if we do that we would be seeing a much more exciting points finish and the person that really deserves the championship will win.

    Now, how would my change have worked in the past? Well let’s take a look everybody. We all know that Matt Kenseth won the 2003 championship by 90 points over Jimmie Johnson. Now, with the new 10 extra bonus points on wins…who really won? Matt Kenseth still. Kenseth won 1 race in 2003 and Johnson had 3. So, ultimately it was a 70 point gap between Kenseth and Johnson that decided the championship. 2004 is going to be probably the nail biter! Jeff Gordon won under the old way by 47 points over Jimmie Johnson that year, but Gordon had 5 wins, Johnson had 8. This would have been a 17 point win for Jeff. Isn’t this the way to go? Mr. France, I have had enough with your points system. Do you care that NASCAR’s attendance is dropping, or are you just too incompetent to realize how wrong you really are?

    I got a couple emails the other day about my proposal and one person yelled, “Well! Jeff Gordon would have run away with the championships in the 90’s!! That’s no fun!” My response is simply this, “He won the races. That is the way my points system works. You have to be able to not only win races from time to time, but you have to show some sort of consistency.” There is no point reverting under my system. You either win it or you don’t, so there is no complaining when the season is done about being unfair. My fellow colleague, Matt Embury on the radio show Next Time By said, “The only reason you want your system is because you are a Jr. fan and you want to see him back in the championship hunt.” That was probably the most silly comment ever. First, What difference would it had made for Jr. if they had the old system? That’s right. Nothing. He wouldn’t even had been a factor and I’m not a Jr. fan, so that kinda backfired.

    Before I leave you guys, I want to hear what your version of the points system should be and I’ll respond to them. You can add me on Facebook or email me at therhino.ryan@gmail.com. I would love to hear from you guys.

  • Fourth Turn: The Season Begins

    Fourth Turn: The Season Begins

    The echo of bull dozers and concrete rollers has died down at Daytona leaving in it’s wake the familiar echo of the more familar race engines. The jet black pavement stands in stark contrast to the snow white walls that stand guard over the crown jewel of NASCAR. Though the pavement is silent and the garages stand empty waiting their familiar lodgers, nothing stands still for long in NASCAR. Especially not Daytona.

    [media-credit name=”DIS” align=”alignright” width=”300″][/media-credit]Rolex 24 competitors have already begun their practice as have the super bikes. NASCAR’s finest have tested the avement and given it a big thumbs up. The tire compound has been tested. NASCAR has announced it’s yearly gift to fans in withdrawal with Preseason Thunder and Fanfest. The restrictor plate has been announced. The cars are built and the E15 is secured. It’s almost time to go racing.

    For those that are tech oriented and interested in such things for Preseason Thunder, the plate size for next week’s NASCAR Sprint Cup test will be 29/32 inch. This is reduction in the size of the holes in the restrictor plate by 1/32nd of an inch – from 30/32nds of an inch to 29/32nds of an inch – a NASCAR spokesman confirmed Wednesday night.

    The plate change will result in a speed reduction of 5-10 mph on Qualifying lap and 3 -5 mph on a race lap in traffic.

    The spoiler will be the same as previously used –Spoiler dimensions will be 4.5 inches tall by 63 inches wide. It will sit at 70 degrees.

    Another note of interest for next weeks test is that it will be the first public test of the new E15 engines and fuel, although the teams have been testing it for over a year. Most of the teams have stated that the new fuel and new engines will not be an issue.

    Things to keep in mind with the new fuel are that the engine temperatures will run slightly higher than before due to the alcohol content in the fuel. Fuel mileage decreases with the Ethanol laced fuel in most cases. Fueling procedures have changed due to the Ethanol fuel. The catch can man has been eliminated and the fuel cans are slower to pour, resulting in a 3 – 5 second increase in pit times.

    The new nose and body changes to the COT will also make their debut during this test. Although most teams used them in the tire test in December this is will be the first full field test with the new nose.

    The new nose was designed to create more front down force and eliminate the splitter and it’s braces which were easily broken during agricultural racing. Also by eliminating the old splitter it decreases the chances of cut tires from incidental contact with other cars.

    New crew chief and driver pairing, new driver/team pairings will also test their new relationships on the new pavement in Daytona. Pairings that are striking the most intrigue include the HMS pairings of Mark Martin/Lance McGrew, Jeff Gordon/Alan Gustafson, Dale Earnhardt Jr./Steve Latarte and Brad Keselowski/Paul Wolfe.

    Speed TV will broadcasting much of the practice sessions live. Below is the broadcast schedule. Darrell Waltrip, John Roberts Larry McReynolds and other broadcast favorites will rotate through the analysis position in the booth.

    Thursday, Jan. 20
    9 a.m. – 12 p.m. (SPEED.com)
    1 p.m. – 5 p.m. (SPEED.com)
    5 p.m. – 7 p.m. (same-day delay) (SPEED)

    Friday, Jan. 21
    9 a.m. – 12 p.m. (SPEED.com)
    1 p.m. – 2 p.m. (SPEED)
    2 p.m. – 5 p.m. (SPEED.com)

    Saturday, Jan. 22
    9 a.m. – 12 p.m. (SPEED.com)
    1 p.m. – 2 p.m.  (SPEED)
    2 p.m. – 5 p.m.  (SPEED.com)

    Fans seeking to rev up their new year can do so at the NASCAR Preseason Thunder Fan Fest at Daytona – the companion event to the January test. Along with watching NASCAR Preseason Thunder track activity from Daytona’s Sprint FANZONE, fans can enjoy two Fan Fest sessions – from 5-9 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 21 and from 5-7 p.m., on Saturday, Jan. 22.

    Driver question-and-answer and autograph sessions are planned. Tickets for the NASCAR Preseason Thunder Fan Fest are $20. Fans also can watch each day’s testing at no cost from a section of the Oldfield Grandstands. Drivers currently scheduled to make appearances on Thursday, Jan. 20 beginning at 6 p.m. are Dale Earnhardt Jr., Tony Stewart, Brad Keselowski, David Ragan, Kurt Busch, Carl Edwards, Denny Hamlin, Kasey Kahne, Mark Martin, Martin Truex Jr. and Regan Smith.

    Scheduled to appear on Friday, Jan. 21, during the 5-7 p.m. session are Kevin Harvick, Clint Bowyer, David Reutimann, Casey Mears, Jeff Burton, Jimmie Johnson, Joey Logano, Kevin Conway, Kyle Busch, Paul Menard and Ryan Newman. In the 7-9 p.m. session, drivers scheduled to appear are AJ Allmendinger, Brian Vickers, Greg Biffle, Jamie McMurray, Jeff Gordon, Juan Pablo Montoya, Marcos Ambrose and Matt Kenseth.

    While the snow and ice and artic temperatures blanket most of the country, the heat is just beginning to find it’s way home to Daytona. Like birds migrating back after the winter. The power, and the roar of racing engines combined with the heart and determination of champion thoroughbreds is returning to Daytona. And for those fans that have been in the clutches of withdrawal, it can’t happen too soon.

  • Construction Begins on World’s Largest HD Video Board in Preparation for May

    CONCORD, N.C. (Jan. 13, 2011) – Construction crews using dump trucks and excavators have begun preparations for the debut of the world’s largest HD video board at Charlotte Motor Speedway’s 2011 May race events.

    Crews from Granite Contracting, of Concord, N.C., are using the heavy earth-moving equipment this week for the initial grading on the backstretch near Gate 25 where the gigantic, nearly 16,000-square-foot board will be located.

    Designed and created by Panasonic, the approximately 200-foot-wide and 80-foot-tall screen will be centered along the backstretch between Turns 2 and 3, across from the start/finish line.

    Fans seated throughout the frontstretch from Turn 4 to Turn 1 will have clear viewing angles of instant replays, leaderboard updates and interactive entertainment displayed in 720P high-definition visuals. The screen will be illuminated by more than nine million LED lamps during each NASCAR race event at Charlotte Motor Speedway this spring, including the May 21 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race and the May 29 Coca-Cola 600.

    To prepare the base of the construction site, approximately 18,000 cubic yards of dirt and 3,000 cubic yards of concrete will be removed during the month of January to bring the current grade down to the track wall level. The concrete will be removed during demolition of bleachers that were part of the speedway’s original construction in 1960. Later this month, site work will include drilling 12 holes more than 50 feet deep for the installation of concrete piers to support the massive 165,000-pound structure.

    Frontstretch tickets with the best views of the new HD video board and pit road start at just $49 for the May 21 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race.

    Fans can also purchase two frontstretch tickets for just $99 to the May 29 Coca-Cola 600 by calling the speedway ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS or online at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com.

  • Bobby Labonte’s recent comments on NASCAR’s decision to reduce the size of the restrictor plate at DIS

    JTG Daugherty Racing driver Bobby Labonte recently commented on NASCAR’s decision to reduce the size of the restrictor plate for the upcoming three-day test session at Daytona International Speedway. Since Labonte tested on the newly paved surface last month during a Goodyear tire test, his No. 47 Toyota Camry team has opted not to test this month.

    “When we tested during the Goodyear tire test at Daytona, I could see the speeds of two cars that got together being high,” said Bobby Labonte. “When you get to actually racing, things always go a little faster. I think making the restrictor plate smaller is a deal where NASCAR was foreseeing that speeds would be really high.
     
    “With a smaller restrictor plate, I think it will be similar to what you see at Talladega,” continued Labonte. “The handling affect will be gone. The throttle response will be a little less for us and it might be harder to complete the pass. Daytona has been historically a handling track the past 15 to 20 years that I’ve been down there. I think fans will see the race coming down to cars being bunched up in the right line, getting the right push from somebody, clearing the pass and blocking more like we see at Talladega. It’s hard to believe Daytona is just around the corner. I’m really looking forward to getting the season started with JTG Daugherty Racing.”

  • Martinsville Speedway Moves Goody’s 500 Qualifying To Saturday

    MARTINSVILLE, Va. (January 13, 2011) – Martinsville Speedway President W. Clay Campbell announced a scheduling change today that will double the action on Saturday during the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 weekend.  

    Qualifying for the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 will be held on Saturday, April 2. Traditionally Sprint Cup qualifying has been on Friday at Martinsville Speedway. Time trials for the Kroger 250 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will also be on Saturday, April 2.  

    Friday will remain a key part of race weekends at Martinsville Speedway, with practice sessions for both the Sprint Cup and Camping World Truck Series set for April 1. Between the two divisions, there will be almost six hours of practice on Friday.  

    “We know that it has become more and more difficult for fans to take an extra day off from work and come out for qualifying,” said Campbell. “By shuffling the schedule like we have fans will be able to come on Saturday and see a great day of racing action. The cup and truck guys will be on the track for qualifying and then the day is capped off with the Kroger 250, and everybody knows how exciting the truck series races are here at Martinsville.”  

    Qualifying for the Kroger 250 on April 2 will be at 10:35 in the morning with Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 qualifying scheduled for 12:10 p.m. The Kroger 250 will take the green flag at 2 p.m.  

    On track action at Martinsville Speedway will kick off on Friday, April 1 with a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series practice at 11 a.m. followed by a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice session at noon. The final Truck Series practice is scheduled for 2 p.m. with the Sprint Cup final practice at 3:30 p.m.  

    Tickets for all three days of the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 weekend are on sale and may be purchased by calling 877.RACE.TIX or online at www.martinsvillespeedway.com.  

    Tickets for Friday’s practice session are $10. Tickets for Saturday are $30 in advance and $35 the day of while tickets for the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 start at just $25.

  • Stratosphere to sponsor NASCAR Pole Day at LVMS

    LAS VEGAS – Stratosphere Casino, Hotel & Tower, one of Las Vegas’ most identifiable properties, has partnered with Las Vegas Motor Speedway as the title sponsor of NASCAR Pole Day on March 4.

    “Stratosphere has taken a very active role in motorsports over the past several years, and we’re really excited that it has decided to increase that presence for the NASCAR Weekend,” said LVMS president Chris Powell. “Stratosphere’s tower is one of the top tourist attractions in the city, and its recently renovated rooms make it one of the best hotel options for the thousands of race fans who will visit from out of town for the annual NASCAR Weekend.”

    Stratosphere has hosted several driver autograph sessions for both NASCAR and NHRA over the past several years as well as press conferences and other media events. In 2011, the hotel also will host the annual Speedway Children’s Charities poker tournament in October.

    “Race fans are important to us at the Stratosphere.  That’s why we’re thrilled to sponsor NASCAR Pole Day and partner with Las Vegas Motor Speedway year-round by offering special room rates,” said Michael McNamee, vice president of marketing at the Stratosphere. “Race fans can find exclusive deals on Stratosphere rooms by visiting Las Vegas Motor Speedway’s website and clicking on the Discounted Hotel Rooms flashing icon.”   Stratosphere Pole Day will kick off NASCAR Weekend on the superspeedway with practice for both the Kobalt Tools 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race and Sam’s Town 300 NASCAR Nationwide Series race as well as qualifying for the Kobalt Tools 400 on Friday, March 4. The Sam’s Town 300 is set for Saturday, March 5 and the Kobalt Tools 400 will run on Sunday, March 6. Two nights of World of Outlaws racing will take place on the dirt track March 2 and 3. Tickets for all of these events are on sale at www.lvms.com or by calling 1-800-644-4444.

    Las Vegas Motor Speedway is a wholly owned subsidiary of Speedway Motorsports, a leading marketer and promoter of motorsports entertainment in the United States.  For more information visit www.speedwaymotorsports.com.

    Stratosphere Casino, Hotel & Tower is a Las Vegas Strip resort with an 80,000-square-foot casino. The 1,149-foot Stratosphere Tower is the tallest freestanding observation tower in the United States, featuring the Top of the World restaurant and highest view of the Las Vegas Strip from the Observation Deck as well as SkyJump Las Vegas and thrill rides Big Shot, X-Scream and Insanity. Known as a great value to gamblers, Stratosphere is located close to the Convention Center at the gateway to downtown Las Vegas. It features 2,427 guest rooms and suites, uniquely themed restaurants, the Tower Shops and the American Superstars™ and BITE® shows. Additionally, Stratosphere’s ace | PLAY™ card allows players to enjoy awards, comps and exclusives based on their loyalty to American Casino & Entertainment’s four properties: Stratosphere Casino, Hotel & Tower on the Las Vegas Strip, Aquarius Casino Resort in Laughlin, Nevada, and two Arizona Charlie’s locations in Las Vegas. For more information, visit StratosphereHotel.com, call 702-380-7777 or 800-99-TOWER (998-6937).

  • NAPA Racing’s Pat Tryson on today’s restrictor-place announcement

    No. 56 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota Crew Chief Pat Tryson on today’s announcement that NASCAR will use a 29/32-inch restrictor plate instead of a 30/32-inch plate at next week’s Goodyear test at Daytona:

    “I think the decision was made to slow down the speeds because the speeds were too high at the first test. It’s a good move on the side of safety because no one wants to see a car go airborne at the potential speeds that could be generated with the plate they had last month. It will be better for the driver and better for the fans in the stands. Safety always comes first. “By slowing down the cars, it will make the draft bigger and tighter. Before with a little more power, the cars would spread out a little bit. I think now, we can expect to see the cars a lot closer together and more in one pack versus two, three or four. It’s going to make for some great racing for sure because I expect to see more three, maybe four-wide racing at Daytona which is exactly what we saw at Talladega Superspeedway. It’s going to be a lot of fun for everyone to watch.”

  • Budweiser Shootout Eligibility Criteria Expands For What Purpose?

    Budweiser Shootout Eligibility Criteria Expands For What Purpose?

    NASCAR announced that the eligibility criteria for the 2011 Budweiser Shootout would be expanded.

    Last year it included the previous year’s 12 Chase for the Championship drivers and drivers who have competed in the past two seasons who are past Cup champions, past Budweiser Shootout winners and past Daytona Cup points race winners.

    This year it includes the criteria, along with including Rookie of the Year winners from the past 10 years.

    “When you take a look at the field for this year’s Budweiser Shootout at Daytona, it’s loaded with all-star caliber drivers,” said Robin Pemberton, vice president of competition, in the press release. “From former series champions and Chase drivers, to the past 10 rookie of the year performers, to drivers who have had success at Daytona, we believe the fans are in store for a terrific and highly competitive event on a brand new racing surface.”

    The new format allows Kasey Kahne, Joey Logano, Kevin Conway, Juan Montoya and Regan Smith to be qualified in to the field.

    The old format of the Budweiser Shootout included only pole winners and past winners of the race. The idea was to give those who had worked hard to win a pole throughout the year a bonus – just like the Sprint All-Star Race gives race winners a bonus.

    Though when Coors Light took over the rights of the Pole Award, it was demanded that the format get changed from Budweiser.

    So what is the bonus now for pole winners? Besides starting first and getting first pit selection with some extra cash, pretty much nothing. With the way the races are, on most tracks it doesn’t matter where you start as you can always work your way to the front to win one way or another. The pole isn’t as big as it was before.

    Therefore qualifying day is off of people’s radars a lot as they don’t count that towards if their driver will run well. They just care how their driver is in practice. With that being said, the views on qualifying are down, making things look bad there.

    How can this be fixed? Either go back to the old format or give bonus points for qualifying. 15 for the pole, 10 for second and five for third sounds right – that is what the ARCA Racing Series does and in the end, that could seperate first and second.

    Now NASCAR just comes up with something that looks like an interesting format that has some “criteria” to get as many big faces as they can in. If they want to do that, they might as well just say, “Okay, look – everybody is allowed in. It’s just a non-points race with a big cash bonus.” That is the way it is going as the only drivers in the top 35 not locked in are David Reutimann, A.J. Allmendinger, Martin Truex Jr., Paul Menard, David Ragan, Brad Keselowski, Marcos Ambrose, Elliott Sadler, Sam Hornish Jr., Scott Speed, David Gilliiland, Travis Kvapil and Robby Gordon.

  • Improvements Should Mean Better Fan Experience At Martinsville Speedway In 2011

    Improvements Should Mean Better Fan Experience At Martinsville Speedway In 2011  

    MARTINSVILLE, Va. (January 12, 2010) – When fans return to Martinsville Speedway in April for the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 they will find plenty of changes, all aimed at an improved fan experience.  

    All seats have been widened to give fans more room … when they aren’t standing up cheering.  

    Fans will find new and improved restrooms and concession stands on the first-turn end of the front stretch. In that same area, the concourse under the grandstands has been widened by almost 30 feet, making the flow of pedestrian traffic much easier.  

    A new, state-of-the-art speaker system has been installed which will provide much better sound quality than in the past.  

    Carry-in and cooler policies have also been relaxed to allow fans to carry in larger coolers and bags for souvenirs and race gear.  

    “We have always worked hard to make things better for fans and I think this has been one of our biggest off-seasons ever for that,” said Martinsville Speedway President W. Clay Campbell. “With everything that has changed for 2011, from wider seats to new restrooms to a new cooler policy and an improved sound system, fans should have a better experience than ever at Martinsville.”  

    Here is a look at some of the improvements for the 2011 season:

    ·         Every grandstand seat has been widened giving each fan more seat room.

    ·         New and much larger restrooms and concession stands at the first-turn end of the front stretch will be completed in time for the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 on April 3.

    ·         The concourse area has more than doubled in the area of the new restrooms and concession stands allowing much more room for pedestrian traffic.

    ·         Martinsville Speedway’s carry-in policy has changed to allow one soft side bag or cooler, no larger than 14 x 14 x14. Also one lightweight backpack, similar to a daypack carried by school students, roughly 17 inches in length is now allowed.

     ·         The new sound system will feature 50 hi-tech speakers which will improve the quality of sound.

    All of the speakers have been positioned  closer to the grandstands than in the past.  

    Tickets for the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 weekend are on sale and may be purchased by calling 877.RACE.TIX or by visiting www.martinsvillespeedway.com. Tickets for the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 on April 3 start at just $25.  2011

    Schedule

    April 1: Pole Day April 2: Kroger 250 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race

    April 3: Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup race  

    October 8: Virginia is for Racing Lovers 300 Pole Day

    October 9: Virginia is for Racing Lovers 300 Late Model Stock race  

    October 28: Pole Day October 29: Kroger 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race

    October 30: TUMS Fast Relief 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup race    

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  • PHOENIX INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY OFFERS FANS ’48-HOUR SPECIAL’ ON FEBRUARY RACE TICKETS IN HONOR OF NASCAR CHAMPION JIMMIE JOHNSON

    Jimmie johnson Special ticket promotion offers $90 tickets for $48 during 48-hour window  

    (PHOENIX, Ariz.) – Phoenix International Raceway will kick off the 2011 NASCAR season by honoring five-time defending Sprint Cup Champion Jimmie Johnson – driver of the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet – with a special No. 48-themed ticket offer for February’s SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500™.

    The ‘48-Hour Special’ will offer fans a unique discounted opportunity to take in NASCAR Sprint Cup action at PIR on February 27. Beginning at noon today, January 12, and ending at noon on January 14, race fans can purchase a regularly-priced $90 ticket to the SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500™ for just $48. This ticket, located in the Upper AJ Foyt Grandstand, offers a full view of PIR’s one-mile oval and pit road. ‘48-hour Special’ tickets will be available at PhoenixRaceway.com/Jimmie-Johnson or by calling 866-408-RAC E beginning at noon Arizona time today, January 12, and ending at noon on January 14.  

    About Phoenix International Raceway

    Since 1964, Phoenix International Raceway has served race fans as the premier motorsports venue in the Southwest. Watch the brightest stars in NASCAR take on PIR’s famed one-mile oval – including five-time defending Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Tony Stewart and many more – on February 27, 2011 in the Subway Fresh Fit 500.

    Tickets for the entire Subway Fresh Fit 500 weekend at Phoenix International Raceway can be purchased online at PhoenixRaceway.com/Tickets or by calling 1-866-408-RACE (7223). For more, visit PhoenixRaceway.com, Facebook.com/PhoenixRaceway and Twitter.com/PhoenixRaceway.