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NASCAR Cup Series

  • Kentucky Speedway to Place Individual Sprint Cup Series Race Tickets on Sale Jan. 12

    Fans can reserve individual tickets for the historic July 9 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debut and five additional 2011 races in seven days

    SPARTA, Ky. – Individual tickets for Kentucky Speedway’s inaugural NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 400-mile event and five additional 2011 races will be placed on sale Wednesday, Jan. 12 at www.kentuckyspeedway.com, 888-652-7223 as well as through speedway offices in Ft. Mitchell, Ky., at 400 Buttermilk Pike and Sparta, Ky., off of Interstate 71, Exit 57.   

      The Saturday night Sprint Cup Series spectacular featuring five-time champion Jimmie Johnson, Kurt andKyle Busch, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and all of NASCAR’s top-tier competitors highlights a two-weekend season made up of the most NASCAR and IndyCar Series action in Kentucky Speedway’s 12-year history. 

      Reserved Sprint Cup Series tickets are available on six price levels ranging from $70 to $110 depending on seat location to provide fans ample opportunity to experience the first new venue to be added to the 36-race series schedule since 2001.  

      “Our season ticket plans helped expand our reach to 39 states as far away as Alaska; which indicates fans cannot wait to see their favorite Sprint Cup Series drivers compete at our venue for the first time. We’ve worked hard to create a competitive price scale to ensure passionate fans everywhere have the opportunity to experience our electric atmosphere on July 9 and throughout our six-race season,” Kentucky Speedway General Manager Mark Simendinger said. 

      The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event will conclude an opening weekend that further spotlights 225 miles of NASCAR Camping World Truck Series racing Thursday, July 7 and 300 miles of NASCAR Nationwide Series action Friday, July 8. The second 2011 tripleheader weekend combines a Saturday, Oct. 1 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series 225-mile battle with a 300-mile IZOD IndyCar Series event and 100-mile Firestone Indy Lights dash on Sunday, Oct. 2.

      Reserved NASCAR Nationwide Series tickets are priced from $40 to $75. One grandstand ticket ranging from $45 to $80 will bring fans a combined 400 miles of IZOD IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights action on Oct. 2 while general admission tickets for the July 7 and Oct. 1 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series visits are $30 or $40.   Race tickets can be complemented with season passes to a variety of infield and reserved campsites, many equipped with electrical service. Season campsite passes cover both 2011 event weekends and are priced between $200 and $600.

      Six-race season ticket plans and campsite passes can be reserved through www.kentuckyspeedway.com and 859-578-2300. Fans reserving one to three season ticket plans will receive a 10 percent discount off individual race ticket pricing and those reserving four or more season plans will receive a 20 percent discount off individual race ticket pricing along with additional benefits.

  • HOORAHS AND WAZZUPS: THE ABSOLUTE FINAL CRUMBS FROM 2010

    HOORAHS AND WAZZUPS: THE ABSOLUTE FINAL CRUMBS FROM 2010

    Over the past several days we learned that a true NASCAR legend, and Hall Of Famer, Junior Johnson is returning to the team ownership business. Meanwhile a financial investor literally stole a motorsports complex in Tennessee. Kyle Busch got married in a ceremony that was witnessed by the paparazzi and it appears we have the opportunity to smell like Carl Edwards. With those thoughts in mind, let’s begin with:

    HOORAH to the legendary Junior Johnson for opening a new race shop to support the racing effort of his 17 year son, Robert, whom he truly believes has the potential of becoming a NASCAR Sprint Cup star. The shops of the newly established Junior Johnson Racing is located on the Hall Of Famer’s 278 acre estate in Hamptonville-North Carolina.

    The plan calls for the team to field a car for Robert Johnson in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East this year with some possible appearances in the Pro Series West such as the end of the season race at Phoenix International Raceway. During their free weekends on the schedule, Johnson will also drive in some UARA and NASCAR Whelen All American Series events.

    Junior Johnson recently purchased some Toyota Camrys from Red Bull Racing but has yet to make a final decision regarding the team’s manufacturer. Somehow Junior Johnson and Toyota just doesn’t feel right.

    *************

    WAZZUP with the Memphis Motorsports Park beging sold for the paltry sum of $1.8 million? Dover Motorsports, the owner of the famed complex since 1997, closed the Millington-Tennessee facility over a year ago and, this past April, put it on the market for $6 million. That price alone was a major bargain. Simply put: the dirt under the parking lot was worth more than that.

    But there were no takers and that led to the auction on the property held in mid December. The bidding began at $3 million and the auction audience sat there in stony silence. The result was no different when the opening bid was dropped to $2 million. When the opening price fell to $1.5 million that’s when Joe Lubeck, the managing partner of the Florida based Palm Beach International Raceway, stepped up and made his amazing deal. This entire process took approximately ten minutes.

    So, what did Mr. Lubeck get for his $1.8 million investment? It was a .75 mile paved oval, that used to, and could again, host NASCAR’s Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series along with a 1.77 mile road course. Also included in the deal was a quarter mile drag strip that used to, and could again, host the NHRA.

    ************

    From our God Bless department, congratulations to Kyle Busch and Samantha Sarcinella-Busch who were married on New Year’s Eve in Chicago. We wish the couple a life time of happiness.

    But, at the same time, WAZZUP with the paparazzi crashing the ceremony and leaking the wedding photos? In a “Twitter” message Kyle Busch wrote: “the photos weren’t leaked. Since it was a public church, u can’t turn anyone away and thus there was paparazzi there. The pics out there weren’t authorized by Samantha and I. We look forward to sharing our wedding with our fans on the “Style” Network in early March.”

    The “Style” Network? Are we talking about the making of another reality show here?

    *************

    A God Bless also goes out to Crystal and Sam Hornish Jr who welcomed the arrival of their second daughter on December 28th. Eliza Jo Hornish weighed seven pounds and 15 ounces while measuring 20.5 inches long. Mom, Dad and big sister Addison are reported to be fine and thrilled.

    Another God Bless goes to SPEED Channel reporter Wendy Venturini and husband Jarrad Egert, of Joe Gibbs Racing. They welcomed the arrival of a son, Caleb James, on December 22nd.

    ************

    I suppose whether or not this next item is a HOORAH or a WAZZUP depends on what you smell like at the moment or how you would like to smell.

    It seems that the often mentioned girl friend, still a card carrying T shirt wearing member of the Junior Nation, is also an avid supporter of the Avon Cosmetics industry. I know this because approximately once a month a heavily painted lady arrives at our front door carrying small product bags and catalogs.

    Following the latest Avon visit the girlfriend couldn’t wait to show me the catalog page featuring a new men’s fragrance, endorsed by NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Carl Edwards, with the macho name: Turn 4 XT.

    According to the catalog write up: “Turn 4 XT is an eau de toilette spray. The invigorating drive of spicy pepperwood accelerates into a smooth, sexy finish intensified by a jolt of java vefiver and masculine mahogany.”

    For the nominal fee of $26 you can smell just like Carl Edwards. Look on the bright side: pepperwood and mahogany beats smelling like Sunoco race fuel any day of the week.

    *************

    The final WAZZUP of the week goes to NASCAR Nationwide Series driver Brian Scott. It’s seems this driver had problems with folding a fitted bed sheet and made the situation worse by telling the world about it on “Twitter.”

    Scott’s “Twitter” messages read: “AHHH ! It’s impossible to fold a fitted sheet. This is so aggravating. I have tried every trick and every angle of attack on those fitted sheets. I admit defeat. They piss me off.”

    By now you’re probably thinking the same thing I am. Considering the salary levels of modern day NASCAR drivers why not just hire a house keeper?

  • Ray Evernham Enterprises to consult for the Hendrick Companies

    CONCORD, N.C. (Jan. 4, 2011) – Ray Evernham Enterprises (REE) has been retained to consult for the Hendrick Companies, a management company formed in 2005 to oversee strategic initiatives for chairman Rick Hendrick.  

    Founded in 2008 by successful auto racing crew chief, team owner and broadcaster Ray Evernham, REE will consult on special projects related to Hendrick’s core businesses. In that role, REE’s initial focus will be development of the Hendrick Performance retail brand of high-performance parts, vehicles, products and related services.  

    “Hendrick Performance parts and cars will have a racing pedigree, and Ray is someone who will help ensure that on behalf of our customers and dealers,” Hendrick said.

    “He’s assembled a terrific group of people at REE, and I see a lot of opportunities for them to be a valuable resource for our organization on projects like this. I know the kind of high standards Ray sets.”  

    With Hendrick as car owner, Evernham won three NASCAR Cup championships in the 1990s as crew chief for driver Jeff Gordon. He left the Hendrick organization in 1999 to found his own team, Evernham Motorsports, and most recently was a television analyst for ESPN.  

    “Rick and I have had many conversations over the years about our passion projects, and there’s so much crossover with what we enjoy working on,” said Evernham, 53, CEO of Ray Evernham Enterprises. “We both sense an opportunity to do some unique things, whether it’s with performance parts and cars, his dealership business (Hendrick Automotive Group) or other ways to build the Hendrick brand.”  

    Ray Evernham Enterprises is based in Mooresville, N.C. For more information, visit www.RayEvernham.com.

  • Who, What & Why to Watch NASCAR 2011

    Who, What & Why to Watch NASCAR 2011

    Championship Week is over, the trophies have all been collected and 2010 has taken its final curtain call. Instead of looking back to the year that was, I’m looking ahead to the limitless possibilities of next season.

    2011 promises to be a pivotal year in NASCAR and these are just a few of the stories to watch.

    Camping World Truck Series:

    Austin Dillon wasted no time in his first full season in this series. He earned seven poles in 2010, breaking a rookie record previously held by Greg Biffle (four), ended the season with two wins and 16 top-10 finishes and finished fifth in the points standings.

    With his first win at Iowa Speedway, he became the series’ second youngest winner, at age 20 years, 2 months, and 37 days. He also has the distinction of capturing the first series victory for Richard Childress Racing since 1995.

    Dillon rounded out the season by winning the Raybestos Rookie of the Year award and was named a top breakthrough performer of the year.

    Look for Dillon to run another full season in the black No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing next year but don’t be surprised to see him competing in a few Nationwide Series races too.

    Nationwide Series:

    Rumors abound that the Nationwide Series may see some changes for 2011. The biggest news is that Sprint Cup drivers may no longer be allowed to race for the championship. If this is true, will the change spell the end of the series, or, will it revitalize it?

    The Nationwide Series has been struggling to find its own separate identity as a proving ground for drivers aspiring to rise to the premier Sprint Cup Series level. The last Nationwide regular to win the championship was Martin Truex Jr in 2005.

    This change could allow fans to form a more personal connection with these drivers and allow the fan base for the series to grow.

    The flip side of this scenario is that sponsors may decide that their money might be better spent on the more popular and better established Sprint Cup Series.

    This leaves us with two big questions.

    Will the Sprint Cup drivers continue to race in the series without the benefit of racing for a possible championship?

    If the Sprint Cup drivers abandon the Nationwide Series, will the sponsors follow?

    Travis Pastrana:

    Travis Pastrana will make his NASCAR debut in 2011.

    Although he will only run a limited schedule of seven races in the Nationwide Series, his potential impact on the sport should not be overlooked.

    He’s not interested in anything but first place and he’ll do whatever it takes to prepare for this new challenge.

    Michael Waltrip told ESPN’s David Caraviello that the plan is for Pastrana to gain experience in the K&N Pro Series and possibly run some Truck Series events. This means that Pastrana probably won’t make his debut in the Nationwide Series until mid to late season.

    “Hopefully, he can make all his mistakes and learn all the lessons that he has to learn, and get up to speed where we can be very comfortable when he runs his first Nationwide race or first Truck race, that he is in a position to be competitive,” Waltrip said. “That’s his goal. He wants to test and work really hard at getting up to speed.”

    If he’s successful, Pastrana could breathe new life into a sport that needs some exciting new faces.

    As an added bonus, his “X Games” and “Nitro Circus” following could bring in a new generation of younger fans which NASCAR desperately needs.

    Trevor Bayne:

    In his first full Nationwide Series schedule, Bayne finished the 2010 season in seventh place.  His year included 3 poles along with six top-five and 11 top-ten finishes.  Bayne also made his Cup debut at Texas finishing in 17th place.

    Bayne’s 2010 season was a rollercoaster ride that had him suddenly looking for a new ride just a few weeks before the season was over.

    “It just goes to show that you don’t have any control over it. God has a path for me and He’s guiding me right along because there’s no way I could have done this on my own. It’s just crazy to see how it happens.”

    “Everything seems like it’s the end of the world when Diamond Waltrip Racing has no sponsorship and can’t sign a contract, and then all of a sudden I hear that Jack Roush is making comments that he’s interested, so I checked into it and the next thing I know I’m signing a contract with him. Shortly after that, I hear I’m gonna be in the Wood Brothers Cup car, so it’s been a whirlwind, but it’s been really exciting.”

    Bayne has earned the respect of the Cup veterans he has raced against this year showing a talent and maturity far beyond his 19 years. Bayne is a rising star in NASCAR and one to watch in 2011.

    Sprint Cup Series:

    The Sprint Cup drivers have already been making headlines with Hendrick Motorsports leading the way, but the other teams are chipping away at the Hendrick dominance.

    Joe Gibbs Racing and Denny Hamlin came within inches of breaking the HMS winning streak in 2010. Richard Childress Racing flexed their muscles with all three teams making The Chase and Roush Fenway Racing’s Carl Edwards won the last two races of the season.

    Mark Martin:

    Say it ain’t so. Mark Martin drives for his final season in NASCAR…or does he? We all know it’s his final year at Hendrick Motorsports but will Martin retire at the end of 2011?

    Next season may be his final year at the Cup level but sources say that Martin will also run a limited schedule in both the Nationwide Series and the Camping World Truck Series in 2011 for Turner Motorsports.

    Mark Martin may be the best driver who has never won a championship. With a new crew chief and one more year on his contract at HMS, this may be his last best chance to win that elusive Sprint Cup trophy.

    The recent crew chief change has many asking the question, “Is Martin getting Earnhardt Jr.’s leftovers?”

    Rick Hendrick was adamant that he is committed to giving Martin whatever he needs to make it happen and is confident that he’s put together the right team.

    “We are going to do whatever it takes with people, with equipment, whatever it takes for Mark Martin to win races and have the opportunity to go for the championship again. I have total confidence in Lance (McGrew) and Chris (Heroy) and I feel like with Mark, his technical expertise as well as those other two guys, will be a match that I think will surprise a lot of people. Mark’s not getting the short end of the stick. He is going to get all the stick he wants, and that comes from me.”

    Jeff Gordon:

    Alan Gustafson is widely accepted as one of the best crew chiefs in NASCAR today. Pairing him with the four-time champ could easily propel Gordon towards that fifth championship.

    Rick Hendrick explained his reason for pairing the two saying that Gordon “has a tremendous amount of respect for Alan (Gustafson) and wants to do whatever is necessary to give him the opportunity to win and win championships.”

    Hendrick also emphasized that while Gordon was not unhappy with Letarte he felt that “the opportunity to try something different and new would again create a spark inside of the company.”

    “With Alan as an engineer,” Hendrick continued, “he is a proven commodity; he’s been there and won races with a lot of people. He’s finished second in the points. He and Jeff have a relationship. He’s very technical, not a lot of conversation but very to the point and matter-of-fact and Jeff I think at this point in his career.”

    Gordon looks at the change as another chance to succeed.

    “I’m certainly looking forward to working with Alan,” Gordon said. “I’ve known Alan for a number of years, always respected him and I guess in the back of my mind, I always thought it would be kind of cool to work with him. It’s a great opportunity.”

    Gordon could very easily emerge as the real winner in the Hendrick Motorsports shakeup.

    Dale Earnhardt Jr:

    Will this new combination of driver/crew chief provide the magic ingredient that’s been missing?

    Is Steve Letarte the one that can restore his confidence and provide the spark to reignite Dale Jr’s career?

    It will take months before we know the answers to these questions but Letarte has already begun the rebuilding process.

    “I believe he’s a remarkable race-car driver, and I think some people in the world have forgotten that,” Letarte said. “I look forward to the opportunity to remind them that he is as good as I think he is.”

    “I’ve had the ability to work around some very remarkable talents, and I think he is included in that bunch. That’s my motivation – to show everybody in the world how talented Dale Earnhardt Jr. is. We know he can do it. We just have to give him a consistent platform to operate on. I have all the faith in the world with him.”

    The real solution will come from Earnhardt Jr. who acknowledged that the last couple of years have shaken his confidence. “The only person that can truly help me get where I need to go, obviously, starts with me.”

    For the first time in a couple of years, Dale Jr’s fans are excited about the possibilities and this can only be a good thing for NASCAR.

    Jimmie Johnson:

    The season finale will undoubtedly be focused on Jimmie Johnson once again.

    Will the five-time champ claim the six-pack in 2011?

    Team owner Rick Hendrick says that the 48 team was a little off this season but in the end they were good enough.

    Johnson is already looking ahead to the future and the possibility that he could tie Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty by winning seven championship titles.

    “I want to believe, and I do feel in my heart, that we’ll have a shot next year, but I don’t know what those challenges are going to be, how competitive we’ll be, what the competition’s going to look like,” said Johnson.

    “It’s really hard to look that far ahead. I feel like I have my best chances at Hendrick Motorsports, with Chad Knaus as my crew chief.  If I can seam together seven in any shape or form to tie those two greats, I would be extremely honored. If I was ever able to surpass them, it would be out of this world.”

    Look for the power team of Johnson/Knaus to level up in 2011 as they try to continue their unprecedented championship winning streak.

    Denny Hamlin:

    Although he was unable to bring home the championship trophy this year, Hamlin’s 2010 season was nothing short of phenomenal.

    With a season high eight wins and a runner up finish, Hamlin has proven that he’s one of the fiercest competitors out there.

    If anything, the loss to Johnson has made him even more determined to come back in 2011 and make another run for the championship.

    “It’s going to be fuel for me,” Hamlin said. “I’m just going to try to get better. There are things that I can improve on as a driver.”

    “I can assure you we’re going to hold our heads high because we came close this year. We had a great year. We were just a little short in the end.”

    NASCAR:

    While the fans are watching the racing, NASCAR will be the ones under the microscope.

    Attendance and TV Ratings:

    NASCAR has experienced a downward trend for the past four years in television viewership and empty seats at the race tracks have become the norm.

    Changes such as more consistent start times, three attempts at a green-white-checkered restart and a new “have at it boys” policy have had little effect on either.

    And while Johnson’s consecutive championship winning streak looks great in the record books, some will argue that it’s bad for the sport. Many fans will tell you that it’s simply not any fun watching the Chase when you already know what the outcome will be.

    One of the biggest problems facing NASCAR is the decline in 18- to 34-year-old male viewing audience. NASCAR plans to increase its marketing and target this younger demographic.

    Steve Phelps, NASCAR’s chief marketing officer, said their goal is to “use every resource available to us. We have to expose the sport to as many people as we can wherever they are, whether that is on a computer screen, mobile device or television.”

    Another obstacle to overcome is how to compete with the NFL. While NASCAR ratings decline, the NFL ratings have seen a steady increase over the last few years. Despite this, NASCAR has no plans to change the 1:00 PM standard starting time in 2011 which puts them in direct competition with the NFL.

    For most fans, the biggest complaint is the number of commercial advertisements broadcast during the race. NASCAR should explore options such as side by side viewing so that fans don’t miss a minute of the action at the track.

    The 2011 season will be crucial for the continued success of NASCAR.

    Maybe they should take a hint from Rick Hendrick who took a hard look at his company and said,

    “It’s not enough that we do our best; sometimes we have to do what’s required.”

    Thanks to Ford Racing for Trevor Bayne quotes.

  • Earnhardt Jr., Gordon, McMurray, Johnson among Drivers to Participate in 2011 NASCAR Preseason Thunder Fan Fest At Daytona Jan. 20-21

    Earnhardt Jr., Gordon, McMurray, Johnson among Drivers to Participate in 2011 NASCAR Preseason Thunder Fan Fest At Daytona Jan. 20-21

    Daytona 500 Ticket Holders Receive Free Admission Free Camping Available in the Infield during Preseason Thunder 

    DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Daytona 500 champions Jaime McMurray, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. are among the drivers that will appear at NASCAR Preseason Thunder Fan Fest at historic Daytona International Speedway on Thursday, Jan. 20 and Friday, Jan. 21.   

    The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will take to the new asphalt at Daytona International Speedway in a three-day test session, known as NASCAR Preseason Thunder, Thursday, Jan. 20 through Saturday, Jan. 22.   Tickets for NASCAR Preseason Thunder Fan Fest are $20 and available by calling 1-800-PITSHOP or online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com.  2011 Daytona 500 ticketholders and children 12 and under will receive free admission.  Advanced reservations are available (limited to 250 people) for special autograph sessions to be held with participating 2010 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers and Daytona 500 champions.  Additional driver autograph sessions will be held on both days with wristbands available the day of the event.   To request access to the special autograph sessions, race fans can call 1-800-PITSHOP or visit the Daytona International Speedway ticket office beginning on Saturday, Jan. 8 at 9 a.m.   

    In addition to viewing the on-track activity from the Sprint FANZONE, fans can watch each day’s testing at no cost from a section of the Oldfield Grandstands near Turn 4.  

    Drivers currently scheduled to make appearances on Thursday, Jan. 20 beginning at 6 p.m. are Dale Earnhardt Jr., 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, Jaime McMurray, Jeff Gordon, Juan Pablo Montoya, Marcos Ambrose and Matt Kenseth.  

    Lastly, race fans will be able to camp in the infield of Daytona International Speedway for free with their admission ticket during the three-day test inside Turns 3 and 4.  Sites will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis.  Gates to the infield will open Thursday, Jan. 20 at 8:00 a.m.   Among the activities planned for both days include:

    • Interactive driver question and answer sessions on the main stage
    • Show cars, displays, music
    • Photo opportunity with the Harley J. Earl Daytona 500 trophy
    • Blood drive outside the Turn 4 tunnel

    The Roar Before The Rolex 24, the tune-up session for the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series teams in advance of the 49th running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona, is set for Jan. 7-9. Tickets are $15 daily for the Roar Before The Rolex 24, with driver fan forums, tech talks and pit stop demonstrations slated for Saturday.  2011 Rolex 24 At Daytona ticketholders and children 12 and under will receive free admission.    Tickets for both the NASCAR Preseason Thunder Fan Fests and the Roar Before The Rolex 24 are available online at http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.

  • Less is More: The Road to a Sprint Cup Series Title for Kyle Busch Could Be Through Slowing Down

    Less is More: The Road to a Sprint Cup Series Title for Kyle Busch Could Be Through Slowing Down

    Applaud Kyle Busch for winning 24 races in NASCAR’s top three series in 2010.

    Applaud Kyle Busch for winning three races in one weekend. Applaud Kyle Busch for setting the single season win record in the Nationwide Series. Applaud Kyle Busch for winning the Camping World Truck Series owners championship in the first year as a team owner.

    Now give Kyle Busch a thumb down for running in so many races.

    [media-credit name=”Brad Keppel” align=”alignright” width=”300″][/media-credit]There’s no denying or criticizing the fact that Busch loves and lives to race. He’s damn good at what he does and the fans are in for a treat whenever he climbs behind the wheel.

    The big picture though, a Sprint Cup Series championship, is a different story. With all the talent that Busch possesses, it’s hard not to ask the question: when does the day come when it’s all put together and Busch takes home the biggest trophy of all?

    He’s come close; in 2008 he dominated the regular season winning eight races before having a dismal Chase. It was his first season at Joe Gibbs Racing and looked to be the beginning of a beautiful relationship.

    Not so in the last two seasons. He missed the Chase in 2009 and went through a crew chief change.

    In the meantime, he won a NNS championship (2009) and put his name in the history book in both there and the CWTS on a few different occasions.

    Those accomplishments are great on the resume, but mean nothing down the long run. Busch’s job is in the Sprint Cup Series; his job is to win Cup races and championships.

    For all the dominating Busch does in the minor leagues, the majors haven’t been as easy. In 2010 he won four races, the least of any series he competed in – he won eight in trucks and 13 in the Nationwide. It pulled his win total in Cup to 19 and he again qualified for the Chase, yet was never a factor.

    “Good year,” he said. “You always want more. Want more Cup wins, maybe you’d trade out some Nationwide wins for some Cup wins but overall, to win two owners championships is pretty darn good.”

    Good it was, but rewind to Busch’s previous statement, “… maybe you’d trade out some Nationwide wins for some Cup wins … “

    That’s exactly what he needs to do and the way to do it is by not running so many races. Cut back even more on the part-time NNS schedule as well as the CWTS schedule.

    Even at 25 years of age it’s possible to burn out and run yourself ragged. For Busch, running in three series is turning into too much and the road to a Sprint Cup title does not go through the NNS or CWTS series. Winning on Friday and Saturday’s are great, but when Sunday rolls around is Busch really at his best and refreshed?

    Think about it a different way, running in so many races presents more opportunities to loss his cool. Avoiding those situations would make Busch a different driver.

    Imagine a calm, cool, collected Busch every Sunday; that can only equal danger for the competition. What if Busch wasn’t already livid with NASCAR from the Nationwide race heading into the Cup race at Texas this past season?

    Would he have lost his cool and taken a car capable of winning out of contention by being penalized two laps?

    But it’s well known he wants to get to the 200 win mark and Busch fans can only hope it doesn’t take his focus away from the big picture. Winning all those races would be an incredible feat and will further add to Busch’s pages in the history book.

    Except, will his name be there under a driver that knew how to win a lot of races or could win races and championships?

    A lot goes into winning a championship with focus being a major part. One of the reasons Jimmie Johnson has been said to be so good and have won five straight titles is through intense tunnel vision. He and his No. 48 Lowe’s team see nothing but the Sprint Cup Series championship. Kyle Busch sees every trophy in front of him and wants them.

    Nothing wrong with that but wouldn’t a Sprint Cup title on the mantel look good too?

    How much better can Busch be if he didn’t have to go back and forth between garages? What if Busch’s tunnel vision only included the Cup Series?

    This is not the first time that the question has been asked. What brings it forth again is that it’s becoming a little more apparent that those who try and pull double duty don’t end up for the better.

    Contenders for the Sprint Cup title the last few seasons did not race as much as Busch does. Now five-time Cup champion Johnson doesn’t wonder outside his No. 48 to compete in anything but the Cup Series.

    Busch’s teammate, Denny Hamlin, only ran in four NNS races this past season. He finished second to Johnson in the championship after winning eight races. In 2009 Mark Martin won five Cup races and finished second in points. Third place finisher Jeff Gordon won a race as well.

    That year, Martin ran one NNS race. Gordon has run a Nationwide race since 2000 when he ran in five events. He like Johnson hasn’t strayed from the Cup Series.

    Look back even further, to 2005, the last time a driver not named Johnson won the title. Tony Stewart took home his second Sprint Cup championship after only competing in 12 Nationwide races that year.

    Competing in one series has paid off in big ways for these drivers. Of course this past season Kevin Harvick ran in almost as many NNS and CWTS races as Busch and was able to finish third in the Sprint Cup points. Carl Edwards pulled double duty in 2008 and finished second in points to Johnson.

    Yet for Busch, his success hasn’t carried through all three series in the same year. So, why not take a year to try something different, try racing less.

    He will be a Sprint Cup Series champion one day and a multiple champion at that. If he took one year to slow himself down however, that day might come sooner than it currently appears.

  • ‘Have At It Boys’ Becomes a NASCAR Key Phrase in 2010 with Edwards and Keselowski

    ‘Have At It Boys’ Becomes a NASCAR Key Phrase in 2010 with Edwards and Keselowski

    When Robin Pemberton uttered those four words last year in January, a lot of people were curious as to how the drivers would react. Most thought it would equal some emotions being shown, but at the end of the year, it went beyond just a little bit of emotion.

    Notably the biggest “Have At It Boys” Story is Carl Edwards and Brad Keselowski that started at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

    [media-credit name=”Barry Albert” align=”alignleft” width=”300″][/media-credit]On lap 39, Keselowski and Edwards made contact on the restart, sending Edwards and Joey Logano into the wall. On the initial replay, it looked as if Keselowski got into the back of Edwards. Though upon further review, Edwards actually came down in front of Keselowski, causing Keselowski to get into him. Either way, blame was placed on Keselowski for the incident.

    “He cut down on me on the restart and I couldn’t lift faster,” Keselowski said of the accident. “I appologize to him.”

    “Looking at that replay, it didn’t look as bad as I first thought,” Edwards said. “We were on the restart and I was going for the bottom. I knew Brad was peeking inside, but I thought he’d give me just a little bit of room and he didn’t and we ended up overlapping.”

    “I know Brad (Keselowski) has made his career on being super-aggressive,” Edwards continued.  “But it’s just a little too aggressive overall for that early in the race and caused us to wreck.”

    Carl Edwards also added that, “Brad is somebody who doesn’t ever give me any room.”

    After spending numerous laps behind the wall, Edwards returned to the track, looking to make the points loss due to the incident minimal. However, with six laps to go, Edwards did something that’d become the No. 1 hot topic: He retaliated.

    Edwards got behind Keselowski with eight laps to go and took three swipes at him, finally wrecking him on the third try. The result was Keselowski flipping upside down on the front stretch at Atlanta Motor Speedway, not injured, and Edwards being parked for the remainder of the race.

    After the wreck, Keselowski said Carl Edwards, “decided to just wreck me intentionally down the straightaway and about killed me and a couple thousand people in the grandstands. It’s one thing to race somebody hard and get in an accident when you’re going for position. It’s another to just intentionally wreck someone at 195 mph at a track like this. I know it’s ironic that it’s me saying that but I didn’t do it on purpose.”

    After the race, Carl Edwards posted the following on his Facebook page:

    Considering that Brad wrecks me with no regard for anyones safety or hard work, should I: A-Keep letting him wreck me? B-Confront him after the race? C-Wait til bristol and collect other cars? or D-Take care of it now? I want to be clear that I was surprised at his flight and very relieved when he walked away. Every person has to decide what code they want to live by and hopefully this explains mine.

    NASCAR had suspended drivers in the past for incidents of rough driving. Kevin Harvick was suspended for cup race at Martinsville after retaliating in the truck race the previous day while Ted Musgrave was suspended in 2007 for getting into Kelly Bires under the caution. So there were those who were calling for Edwards to be suspended.

    “Parking a guy for this race is not enough,” Keselowski said. “I think he deserves at least one race. He could have killed somebody in the grandstands wrecking somebody intentionally. Things happen. We wreck race cars. That’s going to happen and they happen out of the pursuit of competition and the aggression to go out and win.

    “But they should not happen at tracks like this, at this speed, out of anger or emotions that are not in check at tracks like this at this speed. The bottom line is, Carl is an awesome guy – one of the best in the garage. But he made a move that was uncalled for and cannot be tolerated in this sport, or we’re going to kill somebody.”

    “I just have no comment on it,” Edwards said when asked about Keselowski calling for him to be suspended.

    Some others within NASCAR Nation, though, agree with Brad Keselowski.

    “Well Brad K isn’t the first car to flip from Carl this year,” Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s spotter TJ Majors posted on twitter. “Lost all respect I had for Carl today. Get a grip. Obviously has no care for being safe. Park him. Teach a lesson.”

    “This is a black eye on NASCAR. He (Edwards) shouldn’t show up at Bristol.” Kyle Petty said on SpeedTV’s show NASCAR Victory Lane.

    However, NASCAR made the call not to suspend Edwards. Instead, Edwards was put on probation for three races, no suspension, no fines, and no point penalty. Helton added that Edwards “knows what that means.”

    In pulling Edwards off the track and speaking with him in the trailer, Helton said that NASCAR “wanted to make it clear that this goes beyond what we said in February, and we think the driver of the No. 99 understands that.”

    In his opinion, he thinks their “reaction of putting Carl in the garage for the rest of the event and our probation is enough.”

    He went on to add that in talking with both Roger Penske (Brad Keselowski’s owner) and Jack Roush (Edwards’ owner), they came to this decision and plan to meet up with both drivers to “clean the slate so they can get back to hard racing” as the “drivers need to sort it out themselves.”

    Of the drivers, Helton added, “If there’s a rivalry that goes beyond racing, they need to figure out how to manage that before we get involved in it. It’s not as much us mentoring at this point, as it is the two drivers talking it out with the owners listening.”

    Though Helton went on to add, “There is a line you can cross, and we’ll step in to maintain law and order when we think that line is crossed.”

    When Helton was asked what’s crossing the line, he said, “We’ll see it when we see it” and then went said, “We may react to first incident different then we’d react to third, forth or fifth incident.”

    As the announcement broke, drivers and NASCAR members alike began tweeting their opinions, in which some turned out to be quite interesting:

    “I wonder what would of happened to me in that situation?” Robby Gordon (@RobbyGordon) questioned. “Hmmm someone playing favorites?”

    “Huh!” Kevin Harvick (@KevinHarvick) tweeted soon after. “Surprised by the penalty or lack there of….. I’m thinking about asking for a refund for all of my penalties!!!!”

    “Rules or comments of unintended consequences, all any league can do is act, then react,u make rules based on what you know at the time!” Darrell Waltrip (@allwaltrip) tweeted.

    “Gotta say I think NASCAR handled the situation the right way, glad 2 c they ackowledged the car getting airborne is the biggest issue.” Regan Smith (@Regan_Smith_) tweeted.

    “My heading is spinning,” Delana Harvick (@DeLanaHarvick) tweeted. “I can’t understand what a 3-race probation actually does. Maybe @kevinharvick should awe shucks more. Seems to work.”

    “Yo go #nascar!!!” Scott Speed (@scottspeed) tweeted. “3 race probation for Edwards! Awsome I love it!!! I bet Keslowski is scared now lol”

    Marty Smith (@MartySmithESPN) tweeted it best with, “Agree or not, precedence is set. If I’m Driver-X, and somebody’s holdin’ me up, I ain’t a damn bit scared to bomb into 1 and send ’em now.”

    The story continued to blossom when at Gateway, Edwards turned Keselowski coming to the checkered flag for the win.

    A lot of people believed Edwards would be suspended there, however he was not as NASCAR believed it was a racing incident.

    NASCAR could have simply done something about the incident, however they didn’t and left it in the driver’s hands. In the end, it equaled some heated racing yet by the end of the year, the drivers sorted out their issues themselves.

    Also, had NASCAR took an offensive approach, they probably would have stopped all the following events with “boys have at it” as people would have been scared.

    In the end, Edwards and Keselowski are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to “Have at it Boys” as seen throughout the season with all the controversies.

  • NASCAR’s Richard Childress, Driven to Success

    NASCAR’s Richard Childress, Driven to Success

    The inaugural Talladega 500 was short of drivers because the Professional Drivers Association, led by Richard Petty, organized a mass exit of NASCAR’s top drivers. They feared the tires were unsafe at the high speeds on the new track.

    [media-credit name=”Brad Keppel” align=”alignleft” width=”300″][/media-credit]Bill France Sr. was determined to run the race, so he called upon drivers with less experience and recognition to fill the field.

    Richard Childress was one of the replacement drivers who competed in the first big race at the Alabama superspeedway.

    Childress became an independent driver in 1971 and fielded a car bearing the No. 3 in honor of Junior Johnson’s number. He never won a race in NASCAR’s top-tier of racing, but he did have 76 top-10 finishes. His best finish was third place in 1978.

    The high school dropout had the wisdom to take the money he earned racing in the early days to buy land in North Carolina. Childress owns a lot of land now and a good portion of the North Carolina land is used for his Vineyard, mansion and of course Richard Childress Racing.

    In 1981 Childress retired from racing to become an owner. Rod Osterlund sold his racing operations and his driver, Dale Earnhardt, was hired to drive the No. 3 Wrangler Jeans car for Childress.

    The union only lasted one season and Earnhardt left with Ricky Rudd taking over the ride for two seasons.

    In 1984, Earnhardt returned to Richard Childress Racing and the most potent owner/driver relationship in the history of the sport was formed.

    Together the team forged out six NASCAR Winston Cup (Sprint Cup) Championships in 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993 and 1994. Childress proved to be a savvy businessman in many ways, but securing the GM Goodwrench sponsorship for the feared, black No. 3 was a coup.

    During the 1990’s, Childress expanded his operations to include Busch (Nationwide) and Craftsman (Camping World) Truck Series teams. In 1995, RCR won the championship with driver, Mike Skinner, during the first season for the Craftsman Truck Series.

    In 2001, the world as Childress knew it collapsed with the death of his best friend and driver, Dale Earnhardt, on the last lap of the Daytona 500. He seriously thought of closing down his racing operations.

    Childress managed to move ahead and continue racing with Kevin Harvick behind the wheel of the former No. 3 car renumbered with No. 29. Childress went on to win two Busch (Nationwide) championships with Harvick in 2001 and 2006.

    Childress has found great success with his teams, though he has not won a championship since the last one with Earnhardt. In 2011 he will return to four teams with drivers Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton, Clint Bowyer and Paul Menard.

    RCR supplies engines and chassis to other NASCAR teams as well.

    The man who started with little but a dream has amassed great wealth and he knows how to enjoy it. His Childress Vineyards winery in Lexington, N.C. has garnered much attention and success.

    Childress is and avid outdoorsman and conservationist. He was elected to the NRA Board of Directors in 2009. His big game hunts around the world have become a passion for him.

    NASCAR has given a great deal to the respected team owner, but it has taken much from him as well.

    Childress had the wisdom to invest wisely as a young man, a bit of magic with the union he had with Dale Earnhardt and the skills to build a racing empire along with the other profitable operations.

    Childress was indeed driven to success.

  • Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 One Of Season’s Most Memorable Races

    MARTINSVILLE, Va. (December 29, 2010) – Denny Hamlin’s late-race charge to the front in last spring’s Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway kept fans on their feet and competitors shaking their heads in disbelief.

    Nine months later, the race and Hamlin’s performance are still drawing rave reviews. Tuesday the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 was named one of the five most memorable races of the year by NASCAR.com as part of a year-end series of stories.

    In case anyone has forgotten, Hamlin was leading the race with 10 laps to go when Jeff Burton’s blown tire brought out a caution. Hamlin gave up the lead for fresh tires and most thought his chances for a win for doomed. He put those new tires to work, though. He pushed, shoved and dodged his way through traffic to move to fourth when Kyle Busch slammed into the third-turn wall and brought out the final caution of the day forcing a green-white-checkered finish.

    Hamlin watched on the final restart as second-place Matt Kenseth knocked leader Jeff Gordon out of the way, only to be repaid a turn later. The retaliation cost Gordon, though, as Hamlin slipped by for the win, his first the season.

    “I had to bully my way through there toward the end, but everybody was just running into everyone,” said Hamlin, who would up with eight wins on the season. “I flattened my tires with Kenseth going down the backstretch and just somehow made it work.”

    “It was Martinsville Speedway racing at its best,” Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell said of the Goody’s Fast Relief 500. “It was wild racing all day long. That’s what fans expect when they come to Martinsville.”

    They can expect more of the same on April 3 when the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series cars return to Martinsville Speedway for the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500. The Kroger 250 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race is scheduled for April 2.

    Tickets for the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 begin at $25 and may be purchased by calling 877.RACE.TIX or online at www.martinsvillespeedway.com.

  • New Year Resolutions for Some of NASCAR’s Top Stars

    New Year Resolutions for Some of NASCAR’s Top Stars

    With Christmas now behind us and the New Year coming fast ahead, the tradition is not only to reflect one last time on another year that has quickly passed, but also look ahead.

    Looking back upon the 2010 season fans and drivers have already given thanks for another great season. A few different drivers made history and the competition was at an all time high.

    They gave and received new gifts and gadgets to help them survive the rest of the offseason and head into a new calendar year. Leaving just one thing to do before the curtain on the 2010 season and year officially drops.

    Many around the globe are preparing their resolutions for 2011, something they vow to do in the New Year they haven’t done in the past.  Most resolutions made before Friday night will be broken before the first week of the New Year is complete.

    Resolutions though, are meant to be broken. The fun comes from even coming up with a resolution to eventually toss by the wayside. Will any of our favorite drivers come up with their own resolutions this year?

    Here are a few that might not be bad ideas …

    NASCAR: Force all drivers to ride in same safety ambulance and install cameras

    With a full year of “boys, have at it” under their belts, the drivers will be ready for a fresh slate to do it even bigger in 2011. For NASCAR that’s great news because as was shown in 2010, it puts on great racing.

    At Texas in November when Jeff Gordon and Jeff Burton got into a tussle on the track they both had to go to the infield care center … in the same ambulance. Viewers were eager to be a fly on that wall in hopes the two drivers went at it again.

    As long as boys have at it is going to be around, NASCAR needs to make sure there are cameras everywhere, ready to catch all the action.

    Jimmie Johnson: To make a final decision

    Hard to image that the now five-time defending Sprint Cup Series champion would have anything he needs to change but there’s one thing. The last year in a half Johnson has flirted with having a beard, shaving it and then bringing it back. It really wasn’t a big deal being that it’s his facial hair and he can do as he pleases.

    That changed, however, when it became its own news story. It was brought up during championship weekend as “the beard won a championship,” and there’s repeated stories devoted to how Johnson likes to annoy crew chief Chad Knaus.

    No need for so much publicity over a beard. Meaning that Johnson has to help out by choosing to keep it or shave it for good.

    Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Find a new vocabulary

    Working with a new team and crew chief will be among a few changes in 2011 for Dale Earnhardt Jr. The one he personally needs to make comes from within and how communication with Steve Letarte could take a turn.

    Never one to back down and hide how he’s feeling or how he expresses himself, Earnhardt Jr.’s radio is more suited for Comedy Central then Nickelodeon. The problem is that Letarte lets his family at home listen to the team communication through a home stereo system.

    While it’s been said time and time again that those who are offended by the radio communications shouldn’t listen, in this case it might not be good for team chemistry if the driver begins giving the crew chief’s children an English lesson.

    Denny Hamlin: To never, ever think about the last two races of the 2010 season

    It can be argued, but for 34 races of the 2010 Sprint Cup Series season Denny Hamlin was the guy to watch. After declaring in the season finale of 2009 that his team was going to be champions in the near future, Hamlin walked the walk this past season.

    In fact, Hamlin may have been 15 laps away from clinching his first title at Phoenix after dominating the day. Until a little thing called strategy came into play. Then came the equally bad day in Homestead-Miami a week later.

    As Hamlin enters the 2011 season he needs to wash his brain of those two races and instead burn into his memory how his team performed in the first 34 races. Put them on a tape that replays in every room of his house, listen to old radio broadcasts of his eight wins, just burn it in his mind what his team accomplished. Should he do that and his team come out in 2011 as they did in 2010, they’ll again be in the thick of the title hunt.

    Juan Pablo Montoya: Become the team leader

    Like most drivers in the garage, Montoya possesses an intense fire that drives him every weekend. But that fire has gotten him in trouble sometimes, especially when it comes to losing races that he’s dominated.

    For the second year in row Montoya should have been the man in victory lane at the Brickyard 400, but instead was left heartbroken. His crew chief took the blame as Montoya exploded over the radio after their pit stop.

    The reason that his resolution is to become the team leader is that Montoya needs to step up and not let everything fall on his crew chief’s shoulders. In 2009 it was Montoya, not his crew chief that was speeding on pit road. And in 2010 it was Montoya, not his crew chief that drove too hard trying to get back to the front and wrecked.

    Yet it was Brian Pattie in tears talking about costing Montoya wins. This is a team that can win on the oval tracks, but if the team is going to be at odds, it’s not going to help. It also doesn’t help when you’re insulting you’re teammate either such as what happened in Las Vegas.

    Carl Edwards: Go back to being Cousin Carl instead of Crazy Carl

    The driver of the Aflac Ford is one of the easiest drivers for fans to cheer for. This past year however, he changed some of their minds when he engaged in a season-long rivalry with Brad Keselowski.

    Having a little bit of competition and being the villain every once in a while can be a good thing. But when Edwards sent Keselowski airborne in Atlanta and then spinning in front of the field at Gateway, things got a little out of control.

    That’s not the driver that Edwards wants to be, especially when he respects the sport and the fans as much as he does. He even celebrates with them in the stands. Edwards will always have fans, but avoiding dangerous incidents he had in 2010 might bring him more and it’ll also help the image of the sport to have one of their friendliest drivers back.

    Mark Martin: Not to pull a Brett Favre

    The 2011 season will be the last for Martin behind the wheel of the No. 5 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports. Martin says he expects to drive either part-time or full-time in 2012 for another team.

    Whatever he chooses to do, Martin should make sure the ink is dry on the deal before announcing anything. Martin had already announced in 2005 that he was going to retire at the end of the season, and then came back for another full year in 2006, which was then expected to be his last.

    In 2007 he moved to what was still Dale Earnhardt Inc., to share time with Aric Almirola. He did the same in 2008 as he said he was working toward retirement. But then he announced he was going to HMS for the 2009-2010 season, again expected to be his last. Then came a contract extension.

    All the moving around and mixed signals about whether he wanted to race full-time, part-time or retire is beginning to become all too familiar.

    Kasey Kahne: Don’t walk out on his team

    Whether or not Kahne was actually sick can still be up for debate, but what’s not is the fact that he left his team in the middle of a race. It was much like Kyle Busch did back in 2007 when he wrecked at Texas, said his back hurt and left the track while his team repaired the car.

    Following a wreck at Charlotte, Kahne refused to get back in his No. 9 Ford and said he was sick and left. The following week he was released from Richard Petty Motorsports.

    His reasoning was that the team hadn’t been putting unsafe cars underneath him and he was sick of it. Many argued that Kahne was being reduced to a lame duck because he had announced he was leaving at the end of the season anyway.

    In 2011 he’ll find himself in that same spot with Red Bull Racing as he prepares for 2012 with Hendrick Motorsports. Should Kahne again feel let down by a team he should revert to this resolution and be the bigger man.

    Steve Wallace: Don’t be Steve Wallace

    Sounds harsh but the reality is that Wallace needs to step up in the Nationwide Series. It’s unrealistic that he’ll lose his ride seeing that he drives for his father, but that doesn’t mean the criticism will go away.

    The potential is there as he finished 10th in points this season. However, he only had one top five. Time to make a change for 2011 that will get the Wallace name back in NASCAR’s victory lane.

    Ricky Stenhouse Jr.: Don’t fall into a sense of déjà vu

    Much like Denny Hamlin, Stenhouse Jr. is another driver that needs to forget some races. For him, it’s almost the first half of the 2010 season, which saw him nearly lose his ride.

    After starting the season in the No. 6 for Roush-Fenway, Stenhouse was benched by owner Jack Roush. The time out of the car did the rookie some good as he came back stronger than ever.

    He ended the season with five top 10s in the final 10 races and captured Rookie of the Year honors. He’ll be back in 2011 for a sophomore season and Stenhouse desperately needs to pick up where he left off.

    Justin Allgaier: Embrace his “Little Gator” nickname

    Nice guys do finish last and in 2010 that was Justin Allgaier. The former Penske driver did win his first race at Bristol in March, but a few slipped through his fingers and Allgaier wishes he had them back.

    Near the end of the season Allgaier traded paint with Aric Almirola, whom he’ll be racing full-time with in 2011. But Allgaier said he didn’t mean to go up there and get into Almirola, he was just trying to slow down. That’s nice to say but Allgaier shouldn’t have to, it’s OK to show some aggression.

    In 2011 lets see Allgaier go up and show drivers that while he can be the nice guy, he’s not going to be taken lightly. In 2010 he was the highest finishing NNS regular driver and he’ll be one to contend with in 2011, but he’s got to take a bite out of the competition to take home some checkered flags.

    Austin Dillon: Remain Austin Dillon

    His rookie season was a success, as was the fans taking to the young kid and his driving of the black No. 3. But now comes the hard part because as a rookie there aren’t that many expectations and as Dillon heads for another season after which he won two races, seven poles and the ROY, the expectations will rise.

    As they do Dillon needs to not get caught up in them or who the fans may want him to become. With any driver that climbs aboard the No. 3 there comes the added pressure of doing the Earnhardt name justice and hopefully Dillon doesn’t crack under that pressure. He did a great job in 2010 but he’s not out of the woods yet.

    There you have it, just a few of NASCAR’s top drivers from 2010 with resolutions for 2011. Happy New Year NASCAR fans.