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NASCAR Cup Series

  • NOTES FROM THE NASCAR NATION: Three drivers, 267 laps and one trophy

    NOTES FROM THE NASCAR NATION: Three drivers, 267 laps and one trophy

    The drama of the Chase will hit its zenith point this Sunday afternoon with the running of the Ford 400 at the Homestead-Miami Speedway. Three drivers will battle it out for 267 laps for NASCAR’s grand prize: the 2010 Sprint Cup Chase for the Championship trophy. With only 46 points separating the Chase contenders, there is a ton of pre race anticipation that says the Ford 400 could turn into a winner take all shoot out to the checkers.

    [media-credit name=”CIA Stock Photo” align=”alignright” width=”300″][/media-credit]THE STORY BREAKDOWN

    All eyes will be on Denny Hamlin, Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick next Sunday afternoon. We will carefully monitor their progress lap after lap. Every time one member of the Chase trio has a change in track position you can expect to see a graphic from ESPN2 informing us how that change impacted the Chase numbers.

    Denny Hamlin, and his #11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, is at the forefront of the Chase shootout with a 15 point lead over Johnson and a 46 point advantage over Harvick. Mathematically speaking, there are two possible ways for Hamlin to clinch the Chase. The first is rather obvious: win the race. The second clinch scenario is finish second after leading the most laps in the race.

    Both scenarios are very doable for Hamlin this Sunday. Among the three championship contenders he’s the only one who has won a race at the Homestead-Miami Speedway. In fact, he’s the defending race winner from last year after starting 38th. In five starts at this speedway Hamlin also has three top five finishes, three top tens and a healthy average finish ratio of 10.6.

    But the one thing that Hamlin really seems to have at this point in time is a sense of razor sharp focus. In recent weeks he has been viewed as being somewhat arrogant but we should not be buying into that. When the green flag falls on the Ford 400 next Sunday a highly focused Hamlin will be concentrating on the job at hand. That razor sharp attention factor could lead to the championship he’s always dreamed of.

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

    The Homestead-Miami Speedway is one of the few tracks on the Sprint Cup circuit where Jimmie Johnson hasn’t visited victory lane. In nine starts there he’s accumulated three top five finishes, six top tens, an average finish ratio of 12.7 and he’s won the pole position twice.

    He of course holds the Sprint Cup Series record for winning four consecutive championships and there are many observers who truly believe that his drive for five campaign could happen this Sunday. It’s that experience he has in winning a championship that could be a major factor this weekend. Johnson fully understands the procedure and is an expert at dealing with the stress levels it presents.

    The other outstanding quality this team has is the combination of Johnson and crew chief Chad Knaus along with their combined ability to display grace under fire. No matter what racing surprise develops, or the intensity level that it creates, this duo seems to calmly address the issue and work their way through it. That’s also the mark of champions.

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

    Kevin Harvick will also be seeking his first win at Homestead-Miami this Sunday. But in nine starts there he has the best set of numbers among the Chase contenders. That includes five top five finishes, seven top tens and a low average finish ratio of 8.4.

    At 46 points out, Harvick will be the driver to watch on Sunday. Expect him to take a very aggressive approach to this race prepared to do whatever’s necessary to launch a charge to the front. Realistically, he has nothing to lose and everything to gain by this approach. He put it best himself in recent days when he said “the worst that can happen is we finish third in the Chase.”

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

    There are many other factors connected to the Ford 400 that could have an impact on the final resolution of the Chase. While the focal point may be on three drivers, we need to remember that there’s going to be 43 starting this race and many of them will have their own team agendas well outside of the Chase profile.

    The Homestead-Miami Speedway is the only track on the Sprint Cup circuit that four time champion Jeff Gordon hasn’t won at. Then again, his last win dates back to the fall race in Texas last year. Look for Gordon to pull out all the stops to rectify this situation next Sunday.

    After an extremely dismal 2009 season, Richard Childress Racing was thrilled to see all three of their cars in the Chase line up this year. However, despite some very strong efforts, Jeff Burton is the only Childress driver who has yet to find victory lane this season. Look for a very aggressive effort from the 31 team on Sunday.

    Kurt Busch certainly has a personal agenda connected to the Ford 400. It’s his farewell race in Penske Racing’s #2 Miller Lite Dodge. Next year Busch will be moving to Penske’s #22 Shell/Penzoil Dodge. Considering the legacy of the blue deuce in NASCAR racing, it’s a safe bet that Busch would love to exit this ride in victory lane.

    However Busch has yet another agenda he have to concentrate on this Sunday. He’s currently tenth in the Chase rankings but only five points ahead of Clint Bowyer. Remember, only the top ten gets the coveted stage, and live television, time during next month’s Sprint Cup awards banquet in Busch’s home town of Las Vegas.

    No one should make the mistake of overlooking the Ford contingency this Sunday. Ford holds the Homestead-Miami Speedway’s manufacturer’s record with six wins. All six of those wins have been delivered by Roush Fenway Racing with driver Greg Biffle serving up a record high three of them. Carl Edwards has found his fire again and looked very strong en route to his win at Phoenix last weekend. Matt Kenseth has been showing some strength recently as well. Kenseth will be making his 400th Sprint Cup career start Sunday and would love to honor that occasion with his first win of the season.

    Let’s also not forget that anytime a corporation is the official race sponsor as well as having ties to individual race teams then the drivers of those teams has a tendency to work even harder to get a win for their sponsor.

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

    Since the start of the 2010 season, last February 14th at Daytona, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series has ran 10,244 laps, 13,777 miles featuring 1,505 starters. Now, during the championship weekend, it all comes down to three drivers, 267 laps and one trophy.

    ***********

    THE VEGAS BREAKDOWN

    Regarding the 2010 Sprint Cup Chase for the Championship, the Las Vegas based World Sports Exchange, (WSE), seems to believe that Denny Hamlin can accomplish his great American dream by winning his first NASCAR title. They’re backing that with 1 to 2 odds. The WSE has Jimmie Johnson ranked at 9 to 5 odds to take his fifth consecutive title. Kevin Harvick has been rated at 10 to 1. These WSE numbers are highly significant in the fact that it’s the first time since January that Johnson has not been on top of their list to win the championship.

    Regarding their picks for the Ford 400, the WSE has Johnson and Hamlin dead even at 5 to 1 as favorites to win. Carl Edwards is behind them at 6 to 1 followed by Harvick at 7 to 1. At 8 to 1 you will find three time race winner Greg Biffle with Kyle Busch right behind him at 9 to 1. The top of the WSE list closes out this week with two time winner Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon ranked at 15 to 1. Either one of those two drivers could turn out to be a lucrative long shot wager.

    Now for the weekly disclaimer: NASCAR wants us to remind you that these numbers are for informational and entertainment purposes. They neither encourage nor condone the placing of wagers on their events.

    This is normally where I offer some silly alternative regarding how to spend the left over coins from your weekly budget. I’m not doing that this week. This is Ford championship weekend and every NASCAR fan in the country has the right to get a little wild and crazy.

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

    THE RACE BREAKDOWN

    The Ford 400 is 267 laps/400.5 miles around the Homestead-Miami Speedway’s 1.5 mile oval.

    The race has 45 entries vying for the 43 starting berths. Nine of the entries are on the go or go home list meaning they don’t have a guaranteed starting berth because they are currently outside of NASCAR’s top 35 in owner’s points. These teams will have to rely on qualifying speeds to make the race.

    Qualifying day is going to be important because it will establish pre race track position and, of equal importance, determine the order of pit stall selections. The track qualifying record, 181.111 MPH, was set by Jamie McMurray back in November of 2003.

    The first NASCAR Sprint Cup race was held at the Homestead-Miami Speedway in November of 1999 and was won by Tony Stewart. Since that time there has been 11 Cup races at the speedway that has sent eight different winners to victory lane.

    The Homestead-Miami Speedway has progressive banking in its turns measuring 18,19, and 20 degrees. The two straight-aways only has four degrees of banking.

    The pit road speed is 45 MPH.

    The weather forecast for race day Sunday calls for sunny skies and daytime highs around 76 degrees. Because this is solely a daytime race, track temperatures could be a concern for crew chiefs. Also of concern will be the opening phase of sunset, towards the end of the race, when drivers will have to endure a severe glare on their windshields while going down the front straightaway towards turn one.

    The Ford 400 will be broadcast live by the ESPN2 Network with the pre race show beginning at 12 pm eastern time. The race re airs will be Monday morning, 330 am et, also on ESPN2 and again on Wednesday afternoon, 230 pm et, on SPEED.

  • 2010 Championship Week Preview: Hamlin, Harvick, Johnson gunning for the title

    In recent years, Jimmie Johnson had a three-digit points lead and only needed to finish the race to win yet another Sprint Cup Series title.

    Things have changed — drastically.

    Three guys — Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick and Johnson — are in the running for the championship, which will undoubtedly come down to the final lap of the Ford 400 this weekend.

    [media-credit name=”Getty Images” align=”alignright” width=”400″][/media-credit]Only 15 points separate the top-two drivers in the closest championship battle since the advent of the new points system in 1974. Hamlin, the points leader, can only clinch by winning the race or leading the most laps and finishing second. Otherwise, he will need to outrun Johnson and Harvick.

    “I’m in a good spot knowing that I just have — I can control my own destiny and not have to worry about anything else,” Hamlin said during Thursday’s championship contenders press conference. “If we win the race, it’s a moot point.”

    Johnson has more to overcome than Hamlin’s one victory and three top-five finishes in five starts at Homestead. Since 1975, only two drivers have ever come from behind in the final race to win the title In 1979, Richard Petty won the championship after entering the season finale trailing Darrell Waltrip by two points and most recently in 1992 when Alan Kulwicki overcame a 30-point deficit to beat Davey Allison. Still, Johnson says he is more relaxed coming into the finale than he ever has been.

    “For us, I mean, we have nothing to lose,” Johnson said. “… When you’re defending, your mind starts to change, and you start to think about the ‘what ifs.’ When you’re chasing, it’s more about ‘What do I need to do?’ It’s been a more relaxed week for me, even though I’m down 15 points, than I’ve ever experienced before.”

    Johnson is looking for his fifth straight championship title while Hamlin and Harvick are both looking for their first.

    Storylines:

    At the end of the year banquet held in Las Vegas, the top-ten drivers in the chase will be invited to come up on stage, the 11th and 12th place drivers will not. As Hamlin, Johnson and Harvick battle for the championship, the other end of the chase field is battling to stay in the top-ten. Kurt Busch currently holds the tenth spot, but Clint Bowyer is only five points behind.

    The final race of the 2010 season also means it’s the final opportunity for cars to either gain or lose a spot in the top-35 owner points race. The No. 71 team currently holds a 74-point lead over the No. 38 team, who is in 36th. The first five races of next season will use the top-35 owner points from the end of this season to determine which cars will be guaranteed a starting spot.

    Last year:

    The 2009 Ford 400 was won by Denny Hamlin after Jimmie Johnson, eventual champion, sat on the pole.

    Race information:

    Track: Homestead-Miami Speedway; Homestead, Fla. (1.5-mile oval)
    Date: Sunday, Nov. 21 at 1:00 p.m. ET
    TV: ESPN, 1 p.m. ET (pre-race starting at Noon ET on ESPN2)
    Radio: MRN Radio/Sirius-XM NASCAR Radio 128

  • KENSETH WILL MAKE 400th CAREER START IN THE SPRINT CUP SERIES THIS WEEKEND AT HOMESTEAD

    CONCORD, N.C. (Nov. 18, 2010) — As NASCAR’s top series sets the stage
    for the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway this weekend, driver
    Matt Kenseth will earn a career milestone amidst the crowning of this
    year’s champion.  Kenseth will make his 400th career start in NASCAR’s
    Sprint Cup Series Sunday in the Ford 400, and after making his first
    debut in the series 13 years ago, he will look to earn his first win of
    the 2010 season in his milestone start.

    Kenseth’s career has been full of many achievements over the years,
    including his 2003 Cup Championship title where he and his No. 17 team
    earned a series-best 25 top-10 finishes, 11 top-five finishes and one
    win that season.

    A native of Cambridge, Wis., Kenseth began his racing career at the age
    of 16 and won his first feature event in only his third race.  By the
    age of 19, Kenseth was racing against the likes of Dick Trickle, Ted
    Musgrave and Rich Bickle in Wisconsin, and learning the skills that
    would eventually lead him to NASCAR.

    In 1997, Kenseth got the fateful call from fellow Wisconsin racer,
    Robbie Reiser, who asked Kenseth to drive for his team in NASCAR’s
    Nationwide Series.  Continuing his successful development in the
    Nationwide Series, Kenseth made his first Cup series debut on September
    20, 1998 substitute driving for Bill Elliott in the McDonald’s Ford at
    Dover International Speedway.  The young Kenseth drove to an impressive
    sixth-place finish in his first run with NASCAR’s elite. 

    Kenseth was given the opportunity to make five more Cup series starts in
    1999 while also continuing his racing in the Nationwide Series full time
    that season as well.  In 2000, Kenseth and his No. 17 team went
    full-time Cup series racing and Kenseth earned his first Cup victory at
    the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway that year.  Kenseth went
    on to finish his rookie season with four top-five and 11 top-10 finishes
    along with that win, and was named the 2000 Raybestos Rookie of the
    Year.

    Kenseth and his No. 17 team continued to grow and develop while earning
    several accolades over the next few seasons, but in 2003, everything
    clicked for Kenseth and his team as he was crowned the final Winston-era
    Cup Champion with a record-setting performance.  Kenseth’s consistency
    kept the rest of the field at bay with a series-best 25 top-10 finishes,
    11 top-five finishes, and one win.  Kenseth also led the championship
    point standings that season for a record-breaking 34 straight weeks en
    route to Roush Fenway Racing’s first-ever Cup title.

    Over the course of the next five seasons, Kenseth qualified for the
    Chase for the Cup every season from 2004 through 2008 and in the
    process, continued to add to his career achievements list.  In 2006,
    Kenseth became the first driver since Dale Earnhardt to win back-to-back
    Bristol night races and along the way set career highs for top-five
    finishes (15), laps led (1,132), and average finishes (9.8). 

    Kenseth began the 2009 season with back-to-back victories by winning the
    Daytona 500 and followed up his victory a week later at California
    Speedway with another win.  With the Daytona 500 win, Kenseth earned a
    spot with some elite company like Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Gordon, David
    Pearson and Richard Petty as one of only five drivers in NASCAR history
    who have won a Cup Championship, the Raybestos Rookie Award, and the
    Daytona 500.

    The 2010 season saw Kenseth sport new primary colors on his No. 17 Ford
    as Crown Royal joined Kenseth and the team.  Although he has not yet won
    a race this season, Kenseth could pull of a big win Sunday if he can
    visit Victory Lane in his 400th career start during Ford Championship
    Weekend.  Kenseth has already earned six top-five finishes and 14 top-10
    finishes this season, but is looking to close out the 2010 season with a
    win under his belt.  Amidst the Sprint Cupbeing decided on Sunday, Kenseth –
    who enters the weekend fifth in the
    driver point standings – will look to finish the season on a high note.

    Kenseth and his No. 17 Crown Royal team will have their first practice
    session of the weekend on Friday, November 19th from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00
    p.m. EST.  Coverage of the Ford 400 from Homestead-Miami Speedway will
    begin on Sunday, November 21st at 1:00 p.m. EST on ESPN with radio
    coverage provided by the Motor Racing Network (MRN.)

    About Roush Fenway Racing

    Roush Fenway Racing is NASCAR’s largest team operating nine motorsports
    teams.  Four in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with drivers Matt Kenseth,
    Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards and David Ragan; and five in the Nationwide
    Series with Edwards, Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., Trevor Bayne, Colin Braun,
    Brian Ickler, and Paul Menard.  For more information on any of the Roush
    Fenway Racing teams, log onto 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.

  • Earnhardt Ganassi Racing – Homestead-Miami Speedway Advance Notes

    Homestead-Miami Speedway Advance Notes

    Race: Ford 400 on Sunday, Nov. 22

    Track: Homestead-Miami Speedway (1.5-mile oval)

    Location: Homestead, Fla.

    Earnhardt Ganassi Media Contacts at Homestead-Miami Speedway

    NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS)

    Jarrod England No. 1 Bass Pro Shops / Tracker Boats Chevrolet

    Shayna Keller No. 42 Target Chevrolet

    Chip Ganassi Racing Teams 2010 Notes

    Record Breaking Year: 2010 has been a historic year for Chip Ganassi Racing Teams. The following are highlights of on-track success across all three sanctioning bodies (NASCAR, IndyCar, GRAND-AM)

    · Chip Ganassi became the first owner in history to win what has become known at the Triple Crown of American auto racing – the Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400 in NASCAR and the Indianapolis 500 in the IndyCar Series.

    · He became the first owner to win both IMS events in the same year – the Indianapolis 500 and the Brickyard 400.

    · Ganassi’s teams won 2010 championships in both the GRAND-AM Rolex Series (Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas) and the IZOD IndyCar Series (Dario Franchitti) – his 11th and 12th championships.

    · All five of his teams and all six of his drivers found victory lane in 2010 to score a team record 19 victories (previous best was 14) – 4 in NASCAR, 9 in GRAND-AM and 6 in IndyCar

    · The four wins by Chip’s NASCAR Sprint Cup operation, is the most in the organization’s history breaking their 2002 mark of three (Marlin 2, McMurray 1)

    · Only Earnhardt Ganassi Racing, Gibbs, RCR and Roush-Fenway have had multiple drivers win races in 2010

    · Only Jimmie Johnson and Denny Hamlin have won more races in 2010 than Jamie McMurray (Harvick and Kyle Busch also won 3)

    · Earnhardt Ganassi Racing leads all teams with the most Coors Light pole awards in 2010 with seven (McMurray 4, Montoya 3)

    NOTES

    Jamie McMurray and No. 1 Bass Pro Shops / Tracker Boats Team

    McMurray at Homestead-Miami: McMurray has eight NSCS starts at the one-half mile Florida oval. McMurray has an average starting and finishing position of 15.8 at Homestead-Miami Speedway (HMS). He has one pole award at the speedway when driving for car owner Chip Ganassi during the 2003 season. His career best finish came in the 2008 season finale finishing third. McMurray has three top-10 starts, one top-five and three top-10 finishes with only one DNF due to a blown engine. He has also completed 2121 of the 2141 laps raced (99.1%).

    Phoenix Recap: Jamie McMurray made a dramatic comeback during last Sunday afternoon’s event at Phoenix International Raceway. McMurray, who started in the fifth position, was running well inside the top 10 early on in the 312 lap event when he brushed the wall coming off of turn four on lap 70. The brush with the wall nearly knocked the spoiler off of McMurray’s No.1 McDonald’s Chevrolet. Hanging on by a thread, McMurray would be forced to fight terrible handling conditions, dropping through the field several positions. The driver would continue his battle to stay on the lead lap, but would eventually succumb to a long green-flag run. McMurray would ultimately receive the lucky dog and with a fixed race car, would begin to move through the field eventually making his way to and finishing in the 10th position.

    Visit Local Bass Pro Shops: Race Fans looking to stock up on all of their tailgating or fishing supplies should be sure to visit one of the two Bass Pro Shops located within minutes of HMS. The Miami location, located at 11551 Northwest 12th Street is the closest location, just 30 minutes from the Speedway. Fans seeking a bit more adventure can make the one-half hour drive down the scenic Overseas Highway to the Islamorada location at 81576 Overseas Highway. For more information on store activities, location and hours fans can visit www.basspro.com.

    Fishing Trackside: Jamie McMurray will join a host of other NASCAR stars as they come together to support the 9th Annual Hot Shot ‘Hot Rods & Reels’ Charity Fishing Tournament this Saturday, November 20th at the infield lake at HMS. This will mark McMurray’s third appearance for the tournament after competing in the Darrell Gwynn Foundation’s season opening event on Lake Lloyd at Daytona International Speedway and this same tournament last season. The event benefits the non-profit Darrell Gwynn Foundation to Cure Paralysis and the “Speediatrics” unit at Homestead Hospital. The tournament begins at 8:30am ET, and race fans are encouraged to attend.

    Consistency Streak: McMurray’s 10th place finish at Phoenix continues the No. 1 team’s trend of consistency since the mid-season Chicago race. Since Chicago, the team has had only two finishes outside of the top-20 in 17 starts, this includes two wins (Indy and Charlotte), two poles (Chicago and Fontana), 10 top-10 starting positions, five top-five, seven top-10, 11 top-15 and 15 top-20 finishes. The team has an average starting and finishing position of 12th.

    McMurray vs. the Chase: While not in the Chase, McMurray and the No. 1 team haven’t given up on being one of the most impressive race teams on the track. The team has been on a hot streak throughout the nine Chase races. Compared to the top-12 Chase drivers this is how McMurray and the No. 1 Team currently stack up:

    – Poles – Tied for 1st

    – Wins – Tied for 2nd

    – Average start of 12.4 – Ranks 3rd

    – Top-five finishes – Tied for 4th

    – Top- 10 finishes – Ranks 4th

    – Average finish of13.1 – Ranks 5th

    – Ranks 5th for the most points gained in the chase with 1175 points gained

    Juan Pablo Montoya and No. 42 Target Team

    Home Sweet Home: Juan Pablo Montoya will return home to close out the 2010 season this weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Not only do the Montoya’s call Miami home, this weekend’s start will mark four years since Montoya climbed behind the wheel of a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car. In his inaugural race, Montoya started 29th and finished 34th due to an accident.

    Homestead History: Juan Pablo Montoya will be making his fifth NSCS start at Homestead-Miami Speedway this weekend. Montoya’s career best weekend at HMS came at the 2007 season finale when he started 11th and finished 17th. He has only one DNF in his first visit to the 1.5-mile oval.

    About Phoenix: Juan Pablo Montoya and the Target team headed out west for the final time in 2010 to Phoenix International Raceway. The No. 42 Target Chevrolet found itself in contention for a win in the closing laps of the Kobalt Tools 500 until the team’s luck turned on them. Montoya was displayed in the second position chasing down the leader when the No. 42 ran out of fuel on the final lap and coasted across the finish line in the 16th position.

    2010 Statistics: Montoya and the Target team have accumulated three pole awards, 24 top-10 starting positions, one win, six top-five and 14 top-10 finishes this season. He has led 411 laps, averages a starting position of 10.8 and a finishing position of 17.5 for the season. Montoya has set a career best for number of poles, laps led and average start in a season. He is just one top-five short of his career best set last season with seven. Along with these statistics Montoya currently sits in the top-10 in the following performance generated categories:

    – Average start of 10.8 (2nd)

    – 7141 Laps in top-15 (6th)

    – 407 Fastest laps run (6th)

    – Fastest drivers early in a run (7th)

    – Quality passes (7th)

    – Fastest drivers on restarts (7th)

    – Average running position (7th)

    – 733.08 Miles led (8th)

    – Driver rating of 91.9 (8th)

    – Green flag speed (8th)

    – 411 Laps led (9th)

    – Green flag speed (9th)

    Montoya Makes an Appearance: Race fans attending this weekend’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway should be sure to stop by the Sprint Experience on Saturday, November 20. Montoya will be visiting the Sprint Experience to participate in a Q&A Session from 11:30am-11:45am (ET). The Sprint Experience is located outside of the racetrack on souvenir row.

    Montoya’s Honor NASCAR Veteran Kyle Petty: Juan Pablo Montoya and his wife Connie Freydell Montoya will honor NASCAR veteran driver Kyle Petty at this year’s BeLive gala on Thursday, Nov. 18 in Miami. The former NASCAR driver turned analyst on SPEED will be presented with the BeLive Humanitarian award for his ongoing work and dedication to the Victory Junction Gang Camp. The award recognizes individuals that selflessly work towards helping others in need. Kyle and his wife Pattie created the Victory Junction Gang Camp in honor of their late son Adam who was killed in a racing incident at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in 2000. Victory Junction provides life-changing experiences for kids with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses. Since the doors opened in 2004, the camp has enriched the lives of more than 11,000 children and families and has welcomed children from 47 states and three countries.

    CHASSIS INFO

    No. 1 Bass Pro Shops / Tracker Boats Chevrolet (NSCS): Chassis #1006. The No. 1 Bass Pro Shops / Tracker Boat team will bring chassis #1006 to Homestead-Miami Speedway this weekend. This chassis has been used five times this season, most recent at Charlotte where McMurray started 27th and captured his third win of the season. This chassis has also captured the pole position three times at Kansas, Chicagoland and Darlington and has two out of three top-five finishes of second and fifth. It was also used in August at Michigan where the No. 1 started 19th and finished 20th. McMurray has led 143 laps with this chassis.

    No. 42 Target Chevrolet (NSCS): Chassis #1015. Crew Chief Brian Pattie and the No. 42 Target team are bringing chassis #1015 to Homestead-Miami Speedway this weekend. The No. 42 team has used this chassis three times this season at Charlotte last month and both Michigan events. Montoya has scored two top-10 qualifying positions of fifth and 10th (both Michigan) and three top-15 finishes of seventh, 13th and 11th (Charlotte).

    2010 STATS

    NASCAR Sprint Cup Series

    Starts Wins Poles Top 5s Top 10s Ave Start Ave Finish Pts. Pos./(Prev)

    Jamie McMurray 35 3 4 9 12 13.7 16.3 14/14

    Juan Pablo Montoya 35 1 3 6 14 10.8 17.5 17/17

    CAREER STATS

    NASCAR Sprint Cup Series

    Starts Wins Poles Top 5s Top 10s Ave Start Ave Finish

    Jamie McMurray 293 6 7 39 92 19.6 19.0

    Juan Pablo Montoya 144 2 5 18 41 17.2 19.7

    TEAM ROSTERS

    Tony Glover – Team Manager

    Steve Hmiel – Director of Competition

    No. 1 (NSCS) Hometown Hometown

    Crew Chief: Kevin Manion Boylston, MA Rear Tire Changer: Chris Taylor West Plains, MO

    Chief Mechanic: Gary Putnam Vernon, CT Rear Tire Carrier: Adam Mosher Fort Mill, SC

    Front Tire Changer: Cory DeMarco St. Louis, MO Gas Man: Benjy Grubbs Richmond, VA

    Front Tire Carrier: Doug Riepe Danbury, CT Catch Can: Eric Hoyle Asheville, NC

    Jack Man: Tracy Duncan Lincolnton, NC Spotter: Keith Barnwell Hudson, NC

    No. 42 (NSCS) Hometown Hometown

    Crew Chief: Brian Pattie Zephyrhills, FL Rear Tire Changer: Chris McMullen Troutman, NC

    Chief Mechanic: Heath Silver Asheville, NC Rear Tire Carrier: Chip Goode Statesville, NC

    Front Tire Changer: Trevor Lysne Fergus Falls, MN Gas Man: Mike Bodick Norwalk, CT

    Front Tire Carrier: Eric Bilyeu Waterford, MI Catch Can: Heath Silver Asheville, NC

    Jack Man: TJ Ford Charlotte, NC Spotter: Tab Boyd Pensacola, FL

  • NASCAR Announcement: A Gigantic Load Of Fail For The 2011 Season

    NASCAR Announcement: A Gigantic Load Of Fail For The 2011 Season

    All aboard the Failboat!

    Even though it’s been some months since I’ve been able to sit down at a keyboard and type the usual sort of revolting prose that I’m not really all that famous for, I haven’t been sitting idle. I am keeping track of what’s going on in NASCAR, but I’m also working on a few side projects (one being a possible Youtube automotive show of sorts), and following the pursuits of other types of auto racing. A lot has happened in my absence, but at the same time, nothing has changed.

    Top Gear USA

    Before I say anything else, there is a USA-version of Top Gear coming out on the History Channel….and from what I’ve seen of the new show….I cannot come up with another term more stupendously powerful than ‘it freaking sucks’. This show sucks so freaking badly, I’m ashamed to even be in the same country as the location it’s produced in. This show is proof that brain donors do indeed walk the earth. This show makes me psychotically envious of those who are legally blind and deaf. This show sucks so freaking badly, that you’d be hard-pressed to get better sucking results from a $300,000 Hoover vacuum cleaner.

    BBC Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson once said something to the effect that “Americans don’t ‘get’ Top Gear”.

    It’s not the viewing Americans with the problem. We ‘get’ the show just fine and dandy. Well, I take that back, Democrats don’t get it.

    It’s the idiots who produce the American ‘car’ shows who are the scourge behind this rampant, all-enveloping stupidity.

    Want to see what I’m talking about? Watch a car show, any car show, that’s produced in the USA. Watch NASCAR racing on TV.

    See any correlation?

    Both of these types of shows cater to….no one. Both types of shows are insults to the viewer’s intelligence….unless you’re a voting Democrat. I can think of a couple of shows on the Speed channel (or whatever it’s called)….but both grow boring rather quickly, as even these couple of shows constantly dip into the ‘Extreme!’ bucket for effect.

    The only ‘shows’ on TV, for the car guy, that are worth watching, are Speedtv races….and BBC Top Gear.

    The rest?

    To borrow from the British….utter rubbish.

    I shut my cable off over a year ago because of how bad it’s really gotten with American cable networks. The American Top Gear is yet another sterling example.

    Here is the formula for Top Gear USA:

    1. Use the Top Gear logo. According to American TV producers, we’re too stupid to notice that it’s not the UK version of Top Gear
    2. Put two metrosexual males together with some guy that claims to be a race car driver, and hope we don’t notice, that in one of the commercials, two of the guys are wearing the same plaid metrosexual shirts
    3. Suggest that there is ‘chemistry’ between the three presenters….never mind that there clearly isn’t any
    4. Combine elements of the hit TV show ‘Jackass’ (and the dozens of other ‘Extreme!’ knockoffs that have popped up since then) with generic thematic elements of the original BBC show, because, once again, we’re too stupid to think we’d want to watch anything else
    5. Sound as fake as possible by saying  ‘Oh My God!’ and other boisterous exclamations as many times as you can during the span of a 60-second commercial spot, and laugh as much as possible, even though it sounds forced
    6. Simply ignore that some of the appeal with the BBC Top Gear is that a British accent adds something like 30 ‘perceived’ IQ points to the person who is speaking
    7. Ignore the fact that there have been two other major attempts to get Top Gear USA off of the ground, and that it failed miserably both times
    8. Do absolutely nothing to try to make it different from the UK version, even use the bits from the UK show that didn’t work too well
    9. Cover up the fact that American TV producers don’t understand the concept of ‘dry humor’, and how it’s a staple of British comedy (Monty Python, anyone?)

    10. Insert butt-rock music as much as possible (something you’d hear from the late 1980’s/early 1990’s), because we do it with every other ‘car guy’ TV show in existence, and they’re too stupid to notice anyway

    Well, there you go, that’s pretty much the formula for the new USA Top Gear. Feel free to add your own additions to the ‘formula’ in the comment section down below. And yes, the ‘Youtube’ show project of mine revolves around something of a Top Gear UK-type of show….same basic idea, much-different layout and subject material, however….and it will include viewer participation.

    Moving on….

    NASCAR Announcements

    1. Well, whaddya know, NASCAR is switching to E85 for the 2011 season. Does anyone except for the Corn lobby give two bleeps that NASCAR is switching to E85 for the 2011 season, and every other season after that? We need to get away from foreign fuel sources? Where is the other 85% of the fuel coming from, if 15% ethanol is coming from America?
    2. I think I saw somewhere where there was going to be a front splitter change for 2011….but I don’t have a source. That’s a nice suggestion, if it’s true, however, what is the France Cartel going to do about the rest of the car?
    3. Isn’t fuel injection coming in mid-2011? This was around 10 years overdue. Now if we could only get powerplants that are sourced from actual production cars or trucks….pushrod vs. overhead cam? Chevy and Dodge went with pushrods for their production V8’s, Ford and Toyota went with DOHC….
    4. I wonder if Ford is actually going to show up with a winning powerplant next year. The all-new FR9 has been a disaster, and I don’t care that Ford somehow won two races this year….out of 35 ran so far….that engine is still a turd, never mind how much time and engineering they’ve wasted upon it. Yes, it’s a great idea, and sure, it sounds like it should work…on paper…but they brought it out before it was ready to compete.

    There are other announcements and developments that are out there….or at least I think there are….however, nothing has been done as to what to do about the elephant in the room, namely why viewers are leaving this sport in droves.

    I have a thought about that.

    This series needs an overhaul. The failed COSHAT (Car of some hideous alternate tomorrow) hasn’t been updated in three years now, other than a spoiler change….wooo, what an upgrade….and it’s done nothing to improve ‘the racing’. Yes, it’s supposedly safer….nobody has been killed in one yet….but it punches such a huge hole in the air that anyone coming up on the leader has air taken off of the nose….and so we have race after race, where whoever gets in front during a pit stop pretty much has the lead for that round of green-flag racing….and people switch off the TV sets.

    There’s another suggestion as to why nobody is watching….and it has nothing to do with racing.

    I’m struggling with trying to identify the problem, simply because I think I’m suffering from ‘it’ also.

    I can’t sit down and watch a race any longer, unless it’s something really significant. I’m having difficulty reading an entire news article. I’m having difficulty sitting down and reading an entire book. It’s so much easier simply reading the title of the article, and if it’s got a good hook, I’ll check it out….otherwise, I’ve already moved on.

    This isn’t just affecting how I read.

    I can’t stand talking to slow people. If you’re talking like Forrest Gump, and in addition, sound like you are further impaired as if you’re overdosing on valium, I really cannot talk to you. I’ve already moved onto three or four other thoughts or conversation topics by the time you’ve finished saying ‘hello’. I’m not trying to be rude, I’m not trying to be a jerk, I’m simply operating at a speed at which you’re not, and unless I’m really trying to focus….you just lost me.

    This is also how I feel when talking to people who vote democrat, but we all know that this particular disease is incurable, so I’ll put them into a ‘cuddly but dumb’ category, knowing that there’s nothing I can do for them and their mental illness….

    However, moving on….I think what’s happened, is that our Information Age, along with fast-moving computer games, TV, and whatnot….it’s done something to the male population under 35. Think of it as ‘Acquired A.D.H.D’, where we’d really like to focus on a race….but if it’s not done in 10 laps….sorry, we’re done, and we’ve just checked our Facebook page, scanned through Drudge Report, gone through 3 different email accounts, and have eaten two frozen pizzas in the same space of time it takes a NASCAR announcer to say, “And there’s only 322 laps to go!”.

    I’m going to spend more time working on this particular phenomenon….simply because I’m in this particular age bracket, and I’m curious if there isn’t  more to why we can’t watch an entire race….from any motorsport series….

    But for now….have a good week. I hope to do this again sometime soon.

    If at first you don’t succeed, call it ‘the Car of Tomorrow’.

  • CHEVY NSCS AT HOMESTEAD: Richard Childress and Rick Hendrick NASCAR Teleconference Transcript

    Team Chevy team owners, Richard Childress, No. 29 Shell-Pennzoil Chevrolet, and Rick Hendrick, No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet, were guests on a NASCAR Teleconference to discuss the championship battle at the upcoming season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Full transcript:

    An Interview With:

    RICK HENDRICK

    RICHARD CHILDRESS

                HERB BRANHAM: Thank you, and good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to today’s very special teleconference. We’re in advance of Sunday’s Ford 400 at Homestead Miami Speedway. That’s the final event of this season in the culmination of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. We have three teams still in contention for the title. 

                Today we’re really pleased to be joined by the car owners of our championship contending teams. We have; Rick Hendrick, who owns the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet driven by Jimmie; and Richard Childress, who owns the No. 29 Shell-Pennzoil Chevrolet driven by Kevin Harvick.

                We’re going to start off with a quick opener from each of our owners. Then we’re going to go to media, and we’ll start with Richard Childress. Richard, you have those six Sprint Cup titles as a car owner, won them all with the late Dale Earnhardt. How special would it be to finally win one with Kevin Harvick?

                RICHARD CHILDRESS: It would be very special for RCR, myself. I’ve been there and been fortunate to have been aboard for those. We have so many new employees and sponsors that hasn’t been there, and for us to be able to bring a championship to them and to these employees, it would be very special for all of us.

                HERB BRANHAM: Rick, nine series car owner championships. That’s a record that you share in the Cup Series with Petty Enterprises. What would it mean if you came away from Homestead and had that record by yourself?

                RICK HENDRICK: It would be awesome. You know, when you think about it, time goes by, and I never thought I would win one of these deals. I thought I’d always watch Richard get them. The guys have worked hard, and we hope we can pull it off.

                But to have ten would be an amazing accomplishment for the organization. You never know when you’re going to win another one of these deals, so we’re excited to have an opportunity to do that.

                HERB BRANHAM: Thank you for those openers. We’ll go to the media now for questions for today’s three really special guests.

                Q. I have a question I’d like each of you to address, please. There’s been some surprises in this Chase, but as we look at this championship finale, what would surprise each of you about Sunday?

                RICK HENDRICK: You know, I would be surprised if we had an answer before the white flag Sunday. I think when the white flag comes out, it’ll still be up for grabs. I don’t think we’ll know until then, until after that.

                RICHARD CHILDRESS: I kind of go along with what both of them said. You’ve got three top organizations running for this championship, and that’s what the Chase was all built around is to have this. This is a storybook Chase right here, and I think it’s going to go down to the wire because you have three capable drivers, you have three capable organizations, and it’s going to be fun. I’m as excited about this championship effort — I wish we were 46 ahead or whatever we’re behind. I wish we were ahead that much. But we’ll take it just being able to have a mathematical chance of winning it.

                Q.  Rick, the perception persists that for all he’s accomplished, Jimmie Johnson still has not captivated the kind of credit that is warranted for what he’s done. Could you address that?

                RICK HENDRICK: You know, I don’t understand it, but to win two or three — two of these deals back-to-back is pretty impressive, three, and then four is just outstanding. You look at his stats, and he’s been amazing. And I don’t know. I think it’s one of those things that while sometimes you’re accomplishing an unbelievable results, it’s after the fact one day people will look at it and say, man, that was awesome back then. I can’t really answer it. I wish I knew.

                I think he does have the respect of the garage area, and I think he does have the respect of the competitors, both the teams that he competes against, but I think history will have to prove that what he’s done has been pretty remarkable.

                Q. The question I had for you, what is the price of victory? What special reward do each of you guys have to very willingly pay out if your team wins, to the driver, to the team in the shop? I guess is there a bounty on winning the Chase?

                RICK HENDRICK: It’s most all of us from our side. I think Joe and Richard, I think the driver gets his piece and then when you get through paying the bonuses to everybody, you might be able to pay your expenses to go out to the championship. But that’s the way we work it, incentivizing our people, and we want to put a carrot out there, and they don’t do it for the money, but it’s the recognition and rewarding them financially that’s important.

                I think it’s — I can’t give you a number because I haven’t added it all up, but there is a lot of incentives out there for them, for our team.

                RICHARD CHILDRESS: Same here with ours. I think the biggest thing is having that trophy as a car owner and driver is the largest incentive for us, but at RCR we will end up paying out most all of the winnings throughout the team and the company, so that’s the way we’re set up as well as Rick.

                Q. I think everyone would be in agreement that this is the best Chase since probably 2004, and yet the ratings have been down in each race and everyone still seems to act like the sky is falling in NASCAR. The Chase is so captivating this year, I’m wondering why you think it’s not resonating with fans and what more NASCAR could be doing.

                RICHARD CHILDRESS: I would hit it first. I don’t think Rome is burning in NASCAR. I think we still have a great sport. We have great fans. I think the economy has touched every sport at some point. I think that we will come back and be as strong as we ever were.

                I don’t know financially-wise, but I think with the fans, they’re going to get their NASCAR fix, and I just think it’ll be back. But Rome isn’t burning in our series.

                RICK HENDRICK: It sounds like all three of us agree totally here. I think it’s the best racing I’ve seen since I’ve been in the sport. When I first started you didn’t have to beat but two or three cars to win a championship. Now you’ve got 15 capable teams of winning it, and it comes down to a couple of you.

                I think our season is long, but the racing is the best I’ve ever seen. But when you turn on TV you might watch the World Series, football, they’re talking about cranking up college basketball. It’s so much for people to see and a lot of things that are popping up every week that are new. So I can’t explain the ratings.

                But the stands are — Phoenix looked full. Like Joe said, it was awful quiet with the economy being soft from new sponsors and sponsors wanting to re-up or even new people coming in, and that activity has gotten a lot stronger. This has been — we’ve had more movement, more action with companies — some new companies and the old companies that were there that are re-upping, and the economy is not fixed yet.

                But I can definitely feel a difference, and I think NASCAR has done everything they could do, that we’re a victim just like everybody else of the economy just like these guys have said.

                But I feel very good. I mean, in the end of ’08 when the world looked like it was going to come to an end for everybody, banks, companies, the whole U.S. and worldwide economy, I feel much better, and we’re seeing a lot more activity. So I think we’re on a tremendous upswing, and I think this Chase is proof positive that NASCAR came up with the best formula for the fans and to make it competitive.

                Q. When you were building your championship organizations did you look at Richard’s organization at all, and is there anything that you can remember that you kind of took from either Richard’s style or RCR in general that you saw what they were doing and put it to use for yourself?

                RICK HENDRICK: I’ll take that one first because I did look at Richard’s organization extremely hard because we led a lot of laps and we won a lot of races, but we’d get down to the end of the year and Richard won the championships. I think Richard showed us how you have to prepare and run for a championship. You’ve got to be there and you’ve got to race every race and every lap, and you’ve got to finish.

                So I did learn an awful lot and watch Richard from the day I started and actually not only followed some of his standards, but he has helped me along the way. We’ve worked together many times on projects. He’s been a great friend and a great competitor just like Joe. But it’s amazing how we do learn from each other, and I learned an awful lot from Richard early on.

                Q. I guess I just want to ask you what you guys fear. I don’t think fear like totally being afraid of it, but as maybe this comes down to a green-white checkered or it comes down to a caution being called from the tower, I think we all know NASCAR does a good job of officiating, but what do you want to see there? And what part of it being so close and the officiating of it being different than other sports do you guys think about?

                RICK HENDRICK: Well, I said early on this year that I thought that the double-file restarts and the green-white checkered was going to decide this championship. You know, I think all of us have been in a situation where there was a double-file restart and somebody got into us. I know Jimmie spun at Loudon and all those things, and you can’t control that. That’s just kind of chaos with so many good cars and everybody racing hard and guys wanting to win a race, guys wanting to win a championship.

                From my standpoint I think there’s no debris in the last few laps, ten laps, and I hope we can race clean, and I hope for all of our sakes that there’s not one of those deals to decide it that — caution at the wrong — you can’t help it, those kind of things are going to happen. But I hope that each one of these three cars can finish this race without being taken out by somebody else’s mistake. If one of our guys make it, that’s fine, and we’ve got to live with it. That’s racing. But I think my fear is that they’re going to get caught up in something here and it’s going to be decided by something out of their control.

                But that’s racing, and I guess we’ve got to live with it.

                Q. Rick, after the standard you set at Hendrick Motorsports the last few years, winning championships and having multiple drivers contend for the Chase, do you consider this a success if Jimmie doesn’t win this thing? And the second part is you said three years ago the pressure was on you to make Dale, Jr., a winner. You’ve thrown everything you can at him. Is the pressure now on him?

                RICK HENDRICK: Well, first of all, this deal is pretty competitive and pretty tough, and you never — you’ve never done your best, and we’re going to keep digging in every area. You wrap up a year and you finish one, two, three and you come back and you struggle and you don’t win. I don’t think this is a disaster year by any stretch, but we’re not satisfied. I don’t think we’ve made as much improvements as Richard’s organization has or Joe’s organization, so we’ve just got to go to work. If we want to compete and be a part of the championship in ’11, and all of our cars for your sponsors’ sake you commit to all your drivers and all your sponsors that you want to be competitive and win races with all your cars, then it’s not easy. It’s kind of like being at the fair with those gophers and you hit one and the other one pops up somewhere else. There’s always something to work on.

                We can’t be satisfied because we’re not where we were a year ago in the results, in the final standings, so we need to work harder and work smarter, and we’re going to do that.

                Q. Rick, as championships go, you can say this may have been the toughest year for the 48 team to win one. If you’re able to get the job done this weekend, will you kind of take some extra satisfaction in the fact that it was more difficult to achieve?

                RICK HENDRICK: Yeah, I mean, none of them are easy. I mean, you know, they may look a little bit easier and maybe we had a little bit more points going into the last race, and this one has been hard-fought, and if we’re fortunate enough to win it, yeah, we just know that it was a dog fight to the very end.

                We’re just kind of glad we’re in that position to be there. But none of the championships were easy. The point spread might have been a lot different, they might have looked easy, but there was an awful lot of pressure to get it done. But I think this one will go down — I think we lost one in ’04 by, I don’t know, eight or ten points or whatever, and there was a — if Busch’s tire had gone the other way on pit road we’d have I think been first or second.

                This is the kind of deal you deal in the moment and you do the best you can, and if you come up short, you’ve just got to go to work and try to be there next year.

                Q. Question for each of you. Who’s got a bigger knot in his stomach right now on your team, the owner, the driver or the crew chief?

                RICK HENDRICK: I think Jimmie and Chad are — I flew back home with Chad last Sunday night, and I’ve been with Jimmie early in the week, and they seem to be pretty relaxed, and I am, too. I just feel like it’s — we got here, and when we walk into the track is when I’m going to get knotted up. And they get ready to start the race, so many things are happening around you, and you’re trying to keep up with it. I’m trying to wait until Sunday when I walk in out there to get kind of in a bind. Actually I’m fishing today with Joe and Richard, so I’m taking the day off.

                RICHARD CHILDRESS: I think we probably got it the easiest on our end because the worst we’re going to finish in the points is third, and we’re the team that’s chasing, and we’re just going to go down there and have fun. If it gets down to the last ten laps and there’s five points difference or ten points difference and we’ve got a solid chance of winning it, leading it or are right there, yeah, I think I’ll probably be like Joe. I may end up having to jump off the truck or something.

                HERB BRANHAM: Thank you, and thanks to our championship contending owners. This is one of our best teleconferences of the year. We appreciate it, and best of luck on Sunday.

    About Chevrolet: Chevrolet is a global automotive brand, with annual sales of about 3.5 million vehicles in more than 130 countries. Chevrolet provides consumers with fuel-efficient, safe and reliable vehicles that deliver high quality, expressive design, spirited performance and value. In the U.S., the Chevrolet portfolio includes: iconic performance cars, such as Corvette and Camaro; dependable, long lasting pickups and SUVs, such as Silverado and Suburban; and award-winning passenger cars and crossovers, such as Malibu, Equinox and Traverse. Chevrolet also offers “gas-friendly” solutions, such as the upcoming 2011 Chevrolet Cruze Eco model that is expected to deliver up to an estimated 40 mpg highway, and 2011 Chevrolet Volt that will offer 25-50 miles of electric driving and an additional 310 miles of extended range with the onboard generator (based on GM testing).  Most new Chevrolet models offer OnStar safety, security, and convenience technologies including OnStar Hands-Free Calling, Automatic Crash Response, and Stolen Vehicle Slowdown. More information regarding Chevrolet models, fuel solutions, and OnStar availability can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

  • The scenarios that will turn one of our 3 contenders into a champion at Homestead

    The scenarios that will turn one of our 3 contenders into a champion at Homestead

    When the cars come to life this Sunday, just 15 points will separate series leader Denny Hamlin from the four-time defending champion Jimmie Johnson. Hamlin wins, as he did at Homestead a year ago, and the title is his. Johnson wins, but Hamlin leads the most laps, and the crown still goes to the challenger. Johnson wins and leads the most laps, it goes to him.

    [media-credit name=”CIA Stock Photo” align=”alignleft” width=”300″][/media-credit]Of course, that is if it comes down to one of the two winning, something Johnson has never done at Homestead. He was second in 2004, fifth last year, and he has 6 top tens in nine tries. Still, he has never won. Hamlin did just that in 2009, and with 3 top fives in the last four there, he could have the advantage. He also finished 13th in 2008, and seventh is all Johnson would need to take the crown for a fifth consecutive year if that should happen again this Sunday.

    So, the Reader’s Digest version has Hamlin winning it all by finishing ahead of Johnson. Jimmie wins it by finishing anywhere from one to nine spots ahead of Denny. It will depend on who leads a lap, who leads the most laps (both which award five bonus points), and if we are talking about position gains equalling five (Top Five), four (Top Ten), or three points, which is the case for those spots outside the Top Ten.

    As for Kevin Harvick, he would need to win, lead the most laps, and then he would claim it all if Hamlin is no better than 10th and Johnson 7th. That margin even shrinks if neither of those boys lead the most laps, or none at all. At least there is no way we could end up with a three way tie, right? Right? Well, there is. For example, if Harvick finishes second (170 points), Johnson leads a lap and finishes 10th (139 points), and Hamlin does not and winds up 13th (124 points), we would have, what they would call, a real interesting situation. Well, not really. The tie-breaker would go to the driver with the most wins, and Hamlin’s eight puts him in the driver’s seat, ahead of Johnson’s six and Harvick’s three.

    NASCAR took a risk when they went away from recognizing the most dominant car over the course of the season as champion, yet most fans bought into it. The change may have cost Jeff Gordon a couple of titles and Carl Edwards one, but it did extend the drama a few more weeks with even more contenders vying for the crown. Be it with ten, twelve, or even twenty in the Chase, the format works. However, to push this further with “winner take all” or “elimination round” formats would risk crowning a paper champion that has no legitimacy with the fans. You have to remember that sometimes the best driver, car, and team simply kicks the stuffings out of the competition. That is not the case this year.

    When the action resumes at Homestead on Sunday, we will have three drivers, each with a legitimate chance to become the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion. While Kevin Harvick might be forgiven for yearning for the classic system this season, the current format has presented us with a true “game seven” conclusion to the year. NASCAR wanted an exciting finale when they instituted the Chase, and they now have that.

    All that they have to do now is decide how many they want to invite to the party next season. If they want Junior in it, they just might have to extend the number of invitations to twenty.

  • Hamlin, Harvick or Johnson? No matter who is crowned champion, NASCAR will be the real winner

    Hamlin, Harvick or Johnson? No matter who is crowned champion, NASCAR will be the real winner

    The Chase for the Championship is no longer just a catchy phrase but an actual nail biting, drama filled, race to the bitter end.

    [media-credit name=”CIA Stock Photo” align=”alignleft” width=”300″][/media-credit]It’s what fans have been screaming for and exactly what NASCAR needs. It’s down to the last race at Homestead and we have three contenders who all have a legitimate chance to win it all.

    Each driver has their own unique story and it’s impossible to find a NASCAR fan that isn’t salivating in anticipation.

    Denny Hamlin was widely proclaimed by the media at the end of last season as the driver who could de-throne the reigning king, Jimmie Johnson.

    But early this season a knee injury and subsequent surgery had the same media writing him off.

    Hamlin had a slow start this season but rallied back with eight wins and heads into Homestead with a slim 15 point lead in the points standings.

    Last year, Hamlin won at Homestead-Miami Speedway and has three top-three finishes in five starts at the track.

    The Championship is his to win or lose but his triumph over adversity would make this young driver a popular hero if he pulls it off.

    Kevin Harvick is probably the long shot in the equation but with 25 top-10 finishes this season, don’t count him out. Throw strategy and luck into the mix and anything could happen.

    And what a story that would be. Who wouldn’t be happy to see the driver who replaced Dale Earnhardt win another championship for Richard Childress?

    Jimmie Johnson is already in the NASCAR record books for winning four consecutive championships. If you think he’s satisfied with that, think again. The team of Johnson and crew chief Chad Knaus don’t show any indication that they’re done yet.

    Johnson knows how to win a championship and another title is within his grasp. If you love to see history in the making, then Johnson is your man.

    NASCAR has been plagued with sagging ratings and empty seats but this three driver shootout is just what the doctor ordered.

    Win, lose or draw, these three drivers have breathed new life into NASCAR.

  • Kentucky Speedway Invites Fans to Submit Sprint Cup Series Trophy Designs

    SPARTA, Ky. – Kentucky Speedway invites fans to lend their creative talents to designing the trophy that will be presented to the facility’s inaugural NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 400-mile race winner on July 9, 2011.

    Fans are encouraged to feature elements unique to the Commonwealth in their designs and may submit drawings and descriptions along with their full name, mailing address, e-mail address and phone number to: Sprint Cup Series Trophy c/o Kentucky Speedway, 400 Buttermilk Pike, Suite 100, Ft. Mitchell, Ky., 41017 or by e-mail to contest@kentuckyspeedway.com. If a fan entry is chosen, the designer will view the trophy presentation in Victory Lane.

    The 2011 Kentucky Speedway schedule features two tripleheader weekends spotlighting the most NASCAR and ¬open-wheel action in the facility’s 12-year history. The inaugural 400-mile NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race will conclude an opening weekend that additionally showcases a Thursday, July 7 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event and a 300-mile NASCAR Nationwide Series battle on Friday, July 8. The speedway’s second tripleheader weekend opens with a Saturday, Oct. 1 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race before closing out with a 300-mile IZOD IndyCar Series tilt and 100-mile Firestone Indy Lights dash on Sunday, Oct. 2.

    Six-race season ticket plans are on sale now and include one reserved ticket to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series, IZOD IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights races along with one general admission ticket to both NASCAR Camping World Truck Series events. Plan seat locations are in prime grandstand areas, including the new 19,000-capacity Ohio Tower and Kentucky Tower grandstands that will feature chair-back seats.

    Five plan price levels reflect a discount off single-event ticket pricing. Customers ordering one to three plans will receive a 10 percent discount with prices ranging from $199 to $309 per plan. Those reserving four or more plans will receive a 20 percent discount with prices ranging $179 to $279 per plan. Plan owners will have the right to renew reserved seat locations for future seasons, expand their order for future seasons, change seat locations for future seasons and take advantage of an optional, interest-free payment plan.

    Fans also are able to purchase season infield and reserved campsite passes. Trackside and Interior season campsite passes in the Red, White and Blue infield campgrounds are priced at $400 and $350. Season campsite passes in the new reserved Millionaire’s Row and Lakeside campgrounds made up of campsites featuring electric hook-ups are priced at $600.

    Season ticket plans and season campsite passes can be purchased online at www.kentuckyspeedway.com, by phone at 859-578-2300 or by visiting the speedway between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. weekdays at 400 Buttermilk Pike, Suite 100, in Ft. Mitchell, Ky., near the Montgomery Inn Restaurant or at a temporary Sparta, Ky., office located just past Kentucky Speedway Entrance 3 off of Ky. Hwy 35 N and I-71 Exit 57.

  • Martinsville Speedway Construction Project On Target For March 1st Completion

    MARTINSVILLE, Va. (November 17, 2010) – It didn’t take long for the construction crews to invade Martinsville Speedway after the completion of the TUMS Fast Relief 500 and less than a month later, work on new restrooms and concession stands at the first-turn end of the front stretch is in high gear.

    Old restrooms and concession stands have been demolished, debris cleared and excavation begun to pour the concrete foundation. The target finish date for the project is March 1, well before the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 on April 3.

    “I think fans are going to be really pleased what they see when they come back in April,” said Martinsville Speedway President W. Clay Campbell. “The restrooms and concession stands in that area are going to be larger, modern and much more efficient than what we had in the past.”

    The new restrooms and concession stands have been moved back about 25 feet and are actually being built in the superstructure of the grandstands at the end of the frontstretch to help expand the concourse area under the grandstands.

    “We’ve just about doubled the space under the grandstands in that area, which will make it much easier for fans to move about,” said Campbell.

    The current project is part of a multi-phase effort that will result in most of the restrooms and concession stands along the frontstretch being replaced. It is being funded by a Virginia Tobacco Commission grant of $1.5 million, which is being matched by Martinsville Speedway.

    The present project includes men and women’s restrooms, which double the size of the ones they replace. Every effort was made to include amenities and improvements requested by fans, like more sinks in the ladies restrooms and larger stalls. All of the new buildings meet ADA requirements.

    “This first phase will be completed before our April race, but when the entire project is completed in a couple of years, our restrooms and concession stands will be on par with those at any sporting venues,” said Campbell. “In the end, it’s all about giving fans the best possible experience.”

    There are about 15 subcontractors involved in the project, according to Rick Magee, Executive Vice-President of Frith Construction, the general contractor for the construction. All but one of those subcontractors is from the Martinsville and Henry County area, Magee said. About 50 jobs were created by the project with about 25 workers onsite at any given time, according to Frith.