Testing SpeedwayMedia.com

Category: NASCAR Cup Series

NASCAR Cup Series

  • Greg Erwin Named WYPALL* Wipers Crew Chief of the Race in Kansas

    Roswell, Ga. (October 5, 2010) – Greg Erwin, crew chief for the No. 16 Sherwin-Williams 3M Ford and driver Greg Biffle, has been named the WYPALL Wipers Crew Chief of the Race following Sunday’s Price Chopper 400 at Kansas Speedway.

    Coming into Kansas, Biffle and company were mired 140 points behind in the “Chase for the Championship” and needed a solid, top-five finish. Erwin, however, had victory in mind. Not satisfied with running in the top-five all day, he made a gamble in the latter stages of the event for an adjustment to Biffle’s car. It paid off, vaulting Biffle to the lead for 60 of the final 79 circuits.

    “It was a great day for us,” said Biffle, who, once he got the lead, scorched the field by 7.638 seconds. “The car was flawless. (Greg) Erwin just made great calls in the pits, and the car just kept getting better. It was loose for about the first three-quarters of the race. I didn’t want to adjust on it because I was running in the top-three, but they tightened it up, and off it went. All it needed was a little bit of wedge in it to take off.”

    The victory – the 16th of Biffle’s career and second this season- now puts the team 85 points out of the lead with seven races remaining. Biffle’s finishes in the first two “Chase for the Championship” races were 17th at Loudon and 19th at Dover.

    “After two bad weekends, Greg Erwin and his crew responded to the challenge to perform,” said WYPALL Wipers crew chief representative Jeff Hammond. “They were impressive. The team qualified fifth and stayed up front all day long, and Greg Erwin made good calls on pit road to help Biffle get to the front.”

    WYPALL* Wipers Crew Chief Results

    Jeff Burton and the No. 31 Caterpillar Chevy led by Todd Berrier finished a disappointing 18th. Like Biffle, Burton was a contender most of the day, running in the top-10. However, an unexplained extreme loose-handling condition took over Burton’s car with 80 laps left.

    “I don’t know what happened,” said Burton after the race. “The run before the final caution, we were the fastest car on the race track. We chose not to put on tires and the Caterpillar Chevrolet wasn’t as good. And, then we went to (being) the slowest car on the race track. It’s really frustrating. I don’t know if we had a bump stop fail or something else went wrong, but we went from having a really good race car and being able to, I thought, contend for the win, to where we wouldn’t have stayed on the lead lap if we had gone another run.”

    Marcos Ambrose and the No. 47 Kroger Toyota Camry, led by Frank Kerr, finished a disappointing 34th position after enduring electrical woes in the second part of the race.

    Starting from the rear of the field due to an engine change during Friday’s practice session, Ambrose climbed inside the top-20, but his engine cut off with 80 laps to go and refused to re-fire. It took the team some time to figure out the problem on pit road, and Ambrose finished 10 laps down to the leaders.

    “It’s a shame about the problems this weekend,” said Ambrose. “We had a pretty quick car, and we were definitely on target for a top-15 finish.”

    WYPALL* Wipers Crew Chief Team

    Berrier, Kerr and Hammond, along with representatives from the WYPALL Wipers brand, serve as the panel for the WYPALL Wipers Crew Chief Challenge and vote for the weekly crew chief winners. In addition to the $500 check, the winning crew chief will receive signage to announce the win on their pit box the following week. The crew chief with the most weekly wins will be honored as the WYPALL Wipers Crew Chief of the Year and will be presented a $20,000 check at season’s end.

    Former winners of the WYPALL Wipers Crew Chief Challenge include Tony Eury, Sr. (Dale Earnhardt, Jr.), Robbie Reiser (Matt Kenseth), Doug Richert (Greg Biffle), Mike Ford (Denny Hamlin) and Chad Knaus (Johnson).

    About WYPALL Wipers

    WYPALL is a brand of Kimberly-Clark Professional. Since 2004, WYPALL Wipers has been affiliated with some of racing’s top teams. Offering heavy-duty to versatile light-duty towels, WYPALL Wipers provide race teams with a number of products that demonstrate strength and durability. Defeating the toughest of challenges, from absorbing tough grease and oil to wiping down windshields without leaving residue behind, WYPALL Wipers continue to offer performance and versatility.

    The WYPALL Wipers Crew Chief Challenge will continue throughout the 2010 season and spotlight the men behind the machines. For more information, log onto www.wypall.com.

  • Marcos Ambrose, Auto Club Speedway Preview

    FONTANA, Calif. (October 5, 2010) – It’s a busy week for Marcos Ambrose as he travels all over the country in the next few days before racing the No. 47 Little Debbie Toyota Camry for JTG Daugherty Racing at Auto Club Speedway on Sunday.

    “I’m only going to be home for a few hours this week,” Ambrose said. “The month of October is extremely busy for me and it kicks off this week with a trip to San Diego and then Atlanta before our race in Fontana.”

    On Monday, the Australian driver made an appearance for Blundstone (footwear) in San Diego before flying back to Charlotte for another sponsor obligation. On Wednesday, he travels south to Atlanta to attend the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) Show with his sponsors. The NACS serves the convenience and petroleum retailing industry by providing industry knowledge, connections and advocacy to ensure the competitive viability of its members’ businesses.

    “I’m looking forward to appearing (2 to 4 p.m. Eastern) at the NASC Show on behalf of JTG Daugherty Racing’s sponsors,” said Ambrose. “The NACS develops events that helps promote interaction between suppliers and retailers and it helps increase industry awareness among so many other things. It’s all about learning new ideas and strategies that help build your brand. I’m glad to participate.”

    On Thursday night, Ambrose is appearing at the Stater Bros. Racefest at Auto Club Speedway from 6 to 8 p.m. Pacific along with several other NASCAR personalities on hand to meet fans and sign autographs.

    “It’s nice to be able to interact with the fans in Fontana on Thursday night,” Ambrose said. “Auto Club Speedway draws a good crowd for the Racefest and there’s always a few Aussies that come around. That’s always fun.”

    It’s back to business as usual on Friday with first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice and qualifying. Ambrose admits he has not had the best of luck at Auto Club Speedway, but it is not going to slow him down. In four Cup starts at the two-mile D-shaped track, he has finished 32nd, 22nd, 23rd and 35th respectively.

    “We’ve had speed there, but we’ve also had things happen to us that has kept us out of the top 10,” Ambrose said. “We hope that changes this weekend. We’ve had three weeks in a row where we haven’t had the finishes we are definitely capable of having. We’re looking to change that this weekend.”

    When Ambrose has not been busy with work, he’s found time to play a few rounds of golf, keep a watch on the Atlanta Braves, oversee the construction of a new boat for gold prospecting and secure a building for his office and staff.

    “You are extremely busy in this business, but I try to keep a good balance,” Ambrose said. “Every now and then I play a round of golf because I enjoy the sport and I have a few Aussie friends that are on the PGA Tour. I also have an Aussie friend (Peter Moylan) that plays for the Atlanta Braves and I keep a watch on them – – congratulations to those guys on claiming the Wild Card.

    “I’ve also been busy with a lot of side projects,” Ambrose continued. “I have a new building in the Concord area that will be used for offices and some other projects that are in the works. And, the latest creation is a boat for gold prospecting. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

    Live coverage of the event at Auto Club Speedway airs on Sunday, October 10th at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN and MRN Radio. Sirius XM Satellite will also air the event.

  • PEPSI MAX 400 personal tune-in reminder from Jeff Gordon

    PEPSI MAX 400 personal tune-in reminder from Jeff Gordon

    [media-credit name=”Pepsi Max | SpeedwayMedia.com” align=”alignnone” width=”400″][/media-credit]During the PEPSI MAX 400 this weekend, Jeff Gordon will dawn the newest PEPSI MAX paint scheme. In conjunction with the race, PEPSI MAX will be awarding 400 lucky winners one of 400 Prizes in 400 Miles! Tune in October 10th at 2:30 EDT on ESPN, where Jeff Gordon will be revealing, during his pre-race interview, the unique word that fans can text to 73774 or enter online at www.facebook.com/pepsimaxusa for their chance to win.

    Prizes include trip packages to Vegas, Bristol Motor Speedway and Hendrick Motorsports; autographed PEPSI MAX hats; and a phone call from Jeff Gordon.

    Need a reminder to tune in? Fans can text “Jeff” to 73774 to receive a phone call from Jeff Gordon prior to the race reminding them to tune in and enter for their chance to win.

    No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Enter at link on facebook.com/pespimaxusa. Subject to official rules. Sweeps begins 10/10/10 at 12:01 AM and ends 10/11/10 at 12:00 AM. Open to legal U.S. residents, 18 or older.

  • TUMS HONORS THE CREWS THAT ‘ARE THE BACKBONE OF OUR SPORT’

    Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell Values the Crews’ Contributions

    Martinsville, Va. (Oct. 4, 2010) — On Oct. 24 at Martinsville Speedway, Clay Campbell, track president, will join TUMS® in recognizing the dedicated road warriors and pit crew members as the Grand Marshals for the TUMS Fast Relief 500.

    “The crews are the backbone of our sport and all-to-often they go overlooked,” said Campbell. “The drivers get the glory, but the teams make our world go round. Without these hard-working folks, we wouldn’t be here. A race car can’t run if it isn’t prepared and I don’t care how good a driver is, all that skill is useless without the team that surrounds him.

    “I drive a race car at weekly tracks and I know firsthand how important my crew is. I wouldn’t move an inch without them and that’s the way it is in NASCAR Sprint Cup racing. That’s why I’m so honored that Martinsville Speedway can be part of this program to help get all of the team members some recognition.”

    Each team pre-selected the crew member that best represents and embodies the team spirit to give the command “Gentlemen, Start Your Engines.”  The third set of eight grand marshals, listed in no particular order, is outlined below and highlights the invaluable role they play within the team environment and their passion for racing.

     

    • STEVE CHANNING – No. 00 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota
      Channing drove Mini Modifieds in his teenage years on tracks around his Seekonk, Mass., home, but like so many racers, struggled to keep his fledgling race team afloat. A move to North Carolina in the mid-1990s and a recommendation from a friend helped land him jobs with drivers Rick Mast and Bill Elliott at the controls. Today, Channing’s role as car chief for driver David Reutimann keeps him busy with every detail pertaining to the team’s racing machines.  

    “I make changes to the car that crew chief Rodney Childers may want during the race weekend,” Channing says. “I go with the car during inspection to make sure everything is good there. I’d say the most nerve-wracking time is between practice and qualifying.”

    • TIM SPARKMAN – No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
      When Sparkman’s grandparents owned and operated St. Mary’s Speedway in St. Genevieve. Mo., the teenager had plenty of access to race cars and the tools needed to make them go fast. While there, he had access to Late Model and ASA machines that offered a perfect place to learn. A move to North Carolina in 1998 paid off when he met NASCAR driver Ken Schrader and went to work. More opportunities followed over the years, and today, he serves as a shock specialist at Joe Gibbs Racing.
       
      “I love the competition, that’s for sure,” Sparkman says. “This will be my last year on the road so I can be a little more of a dad at home. But I’ll be doing something at the shop for team owners Joe and J.D. Gibbs.”

     

    • DAVID DOYLE – No. 12 Penske Racing Dodge
      Decades past his childhood, Doyle remembers sitting behind the wheel of his dad’s race car playing with the steering wheel, pedals and shifter. He would often pretend he was on the track fighting for position just like the champion driver, mentor and hero he admired. Doyle eventually followed in his father’s footsteps as a racer, but the high costs of fielding a team sent his career in a different direction. Today, Doyle helps prepare each of the No. 12 machines Penske Racing brings to the track to make sure they are race ready.
       
      “Being competitive is what it’s all about for me,” Doyle says. “You have to have competition in your blood to be able to do this seven days a week.”

     

    • ADAM GRAVITT – No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet
      Instead of being involved in neighborhood football games as a child, Gravitt spent his time working at nearby South Boston (Va.) Speedway and Orange County (N.C.) Speedway just to be around the cars. He kept watching and learning the tricks of the trade before completing a degree in mechanical engineering from Virginia Tech. Today, Gravitti works as a shock specialist for the team.
       
      “I love what I do,” Gravitt says. “There’s a lot of travel, but as far as the competition goes, that’s what makes it all worth while.”

     

    • MARK WILLIAMS – No. 29 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
      After working on dirt Late Models and spending a decade operating his own trucking business, Williams began driving transporters for Richard Childress Racing when an extra driver was needed for trips to the West Coast for Sprint Cup events. The assignments increased for the native of Martinsville, Va., to the point that he is now a full-time driver for the team. While at the track, his duties include unloading tool boxes, getting the car unloaded and ready for initial service by the crew, setting up the garage stalls and taking care of all the mechanical components on the transporter. 

      “Driving the truck is a very small part of it,” Williams says. “But I drive all over the country and meet a lot of people who would love to do what I do.”

     

    • SCOTT BREWER – No. 33 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
      The son of well-known former crew chief and present-day television broadcaster Tim Brewer, Brewer grew up in the sport and spent several years driving Legend cars and Late Models before turning his attention to obtaining a degree in mechanical engineering. Brewer grew up going to races almost every weekend and decided to build a career in the sport like his famous father. He now maintains cars for the teams, handles water duties and windshield tear-offs during pit stops.
       
      “Racing was always a part of my life,” Brewer says. “My dad realized I was going to get into racing. I’ve been with RCR since 2005, and I’m very happy to be a part of this team.”

     

    • ALAN HOWARD – No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford
      A native of Covington, Va., Howard didn’t set out to become a crew member for a Sprint Cup team. His career with a major US airline was going well when he and NASCAR driver Jeremy Mayfield became friends in the late 1990s. More and more visits to Mayfield’s Michael Kranefuss Racing shop set the foundation for becoming a full-time crew member. When Howard’s job with the air carrier was eliminated, he found his new calling in NASCAR. Today, Howard works as shock specialist and mentor for many of the younger members of the team.
       
      “I guess the way I came into NASCAR was a different way to get into racing,” Howard says. “I enjoy the travel and meeting people and doing different things.”

     

    • RYAN QUANN – No. 42 Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing Chevrolet
      With parents having connections to NASCAR and serving the sport in various roles, Quann has been around stock car racing his entire life. The graduate of the Bobby Isaac Motorsports program at Catawba County Community College in Hickory, N.C., took his chassis-building skills to the Sprint Cup team owned by Chip Ganassi and Felix Sabates. Through a friend, the avid golfer and snowboarder received an invitation to work for the organization and presently helps the team in various capacities.
       
      “I’m in the composite-component shop building carbon-fiber parts for the cars,” Quann says. “On Sundays, I work in a pit support role. I was in the right place at the right time when I started with this team, and I love being here.”

     

    The TUMS Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway is the sixth of 10 races that will determine the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion. Tickets to the TUMS Fast Relief 500 now are on sale. For more information, call 877.722.3849 or visit www.martinsvillespeedway.com. 

                For more information on TUMS, visit www.TUMS.com.

     

    About TUMS®
    For more than 75 years, TUMS® has been a fast, effective treatment for heartburn and acid indigestion, neutralizing stomach acid on contact. Today, TUMS is the number one antacid in America, used by more people than any other brand to treat heartburn.
    About GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare
    GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare is one of the world’s largest over-the-counter consumer healthcare products companies. Its more than 30 well-known brands include the leading smoking cessation products, Nicorette(R)and NicoDerm(R)CQ(R), and Commit(R), as well as many medicine cabinet staples– alli(R), Aquafresh(R), Sensodyne(R), and TUMS(R) — which are trademarks owned by and/or licensed to GlaxoSmithKline Group of Companies.

  • Original Daytona International Speedway Track Memorabilia Now Available from Jostens

    Limited edition track items from NASCAR’s historic racetrack officially unveiled for purchase

    MINNEAPOLIS – October 4, 2010 – Jostens, in conjunction with Daytona International Speedway®, announced the starting grid of limited edition memorabilia containing actual track pieces from Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. Race fans and collectors now have the rare opportunity to own a piece of America’s rich racing history following the historic 2010 repaving of Daytona International Speedway by visiting www.jostens.com/daytona or calling 1.800.839.7125.

    From the first race in 1959 to the last 2010 race before the repave, Daytona International Speedway holds more than 50 years of unforgettable racing history. Now enthusiasts and fans can hold on to every legendary Daytona story with a piece of genuine track where racing history happened. The Commemorative Track Collection includes unique one-of-a-kind genuine track pieces. Quantities of these commemorative pieces are limited and available only while supplies last.

    Sixteen unique items are available now with more collectibles to be added in the coming weeks. Items available now at www.jostens.com/daytona include:

    • Genuine Daytona Track Medallion – With the authentication seal, the medallion is approximately 1¾” round and comes in a protective clear holder.
    • Genuine Track Piece of Legendary #3 – The asphalt number is approximately 4″x 5″ featuring the official seal of authentication highlighted on a black base.
    • Framed Collage with Genuine Track – The collector’s DAYTONA® Speedway collage, a genuine piece of track and authentication seal create a stunning ensemble in a beautiful black frame 16″ x 16″ with multiple mats.
    • Limited Edition Genuine Front Stretch Track Surface – Only 1959 one-of-a-kind pieces of top-edge surface asphalt are available from the Front stretch. Each unique top-edge surface piece is approximately 6″ x 4″ x 1½” displayed on a stunning aluminum and black base.

     

    While there is a limited amount of actual track available, Jostens is producing commemorative products suitable for every Daytona fan and every budget. For a complete listing of genuine track pieces and to sign up for updates on the availability of new pieces, visit www.jostens.com/daytona or call 1.800.839.7125.

    Daytona International Speedway, which was built in the late 1950s, has been resurfaced only once previously – in 1978. The Daytona International Speedway’s entire 2.5-mile tri-oval will be repaved, including the skid pads, apron and pit road. Concrete will be used for the pit stalls. The repaving project has a target completion date of January 1, 2011.

    Lane Construction, which repaved other ISC race tracks including Talladega Superspeedway, Homestead-Miami Speedway, Richmond International Raceway and Darlington Raceway, removed the historic track and has been contracted to repave Daytona International Speedway.

    Jostens supplies trophies and championship rings for NASCAR-sanctioned series and is the exclusive designer/provider of NASCAR championship rings. Jostens presented Jamie McMurray with a one-of-a-kind Champions Ring following his thrilling triumph in the 2010 DAYTONA 500®. Jostens has created 28 of the 43 NFL Super Bowl rings, including the ring for the Green Bay Packers Super Bowl I victory. Jostens has also designed and produced NBA Finals and World Series championship rings, as well as rings for collegiate sports championships.

    About Jostens

    Minneapolis-based Jostens is a provider of products, programs and services that help people tell their stories, celebrate important traditions and recognize achievements. The company’s products include school yearbooks and other memory book products, scholastic products such as class rings and graduation products, and products for athletic champions and their fans. Jostens is a subsidiary of Visant Corporation, a marketing and publishing services enterprise servicing the school affinity, direct marketing, fragrance and cosmetics sampling and educational and trade publishing segments.

  • Ford on Top at Kansas

    Mooresville, NC (October 4, 2010) Roush Yates Engines started out the third race of the chase in true championship form, qualifying two Ford drivers on the front row and coming away from Kansas Speedway with the win.

    With eight races left in the chase for the Sprint Cup Championship, Ford drivers arrived at Kansas Speedway on Friday prepared to show just how much power their FR9s are capable of producing. Kasey Kahne, driver of the number 9 Budweiser Ford Fusion, qualified on the pole with fellow Ford driver Paul Menard starting alongside him. Three other Blue Oval drivers qualified in the top ten, with Greg Biffle starting 5th, Matt Kenseth starting 8th, and David Ragan starting 10th.

    “We weren’t great in practice so we knew we needed to make adjustments to the car. Kenny Francis and Keith did a really nice job,” said Kahne. “I am glad we got the pole for Budweiser and for Ford. It’s exciting to have a couple of RPM guys on the front row and it’s just really nice for the whole company.”

    After starting the race in the top positions, Ford drivers never wavered and Greg Biffle, driver of the number 16 3M/Sherwin Williams Ford Fusion, led the final 29 laps of the Price Chopper 400 presented by Kraft Foods to win the race. With twelve leaders and twenty total lead changes, Sunday’s race was nothing short of exciting and Biffle took advantage by gaining his sixteenth career win in his 287th start.

    “Everyone asked us last week if we’re out of the Chase, have we given up, whatever the case was. The 16 team will never give up,” said Biffle. “We’re just going to approach each race like we did today, qualify the best we can, do the best we can in practice, execute the best we can at the racetrack. This was the best car I’ve ever driven here and I have a lot of confidence going into Fontana.”

    Biffle has won two races this season, including a victory at Pocono Raceway in August. He is 8th in the points for the Chase for the Championship, leading Roush Fenway Racing teammates Carl Edwards in 4th and Matt Kenseth in 11th position. Roush Fenway Racing is one of only two teams with 3 cars in the 2010 Chase.

    “It’s very exciting to see Roush Yates Engines and Roush Fenway Racing back in Victory Lane,” said Doug Yates, CEO of Roush Yates Engines. “Qualifying on the pole and winning the race shows exactly what Ford Racing and Roush Yates Engines are capable of. I look forward to watching the remainder of the Chase for the Championship and see no reason why the 2011 Sprint Cup Championship will not go to a Ford.”

    Roush Yates continues to win in all divisions of motorsports with another victory for Billy Well’s driver Ivedent Lloyd at Ocala in the Dirt Late Model division this weekend. Jason Myers won the modified race at North Wilkesboro Speedway and Chip King won in the Blown Pro Modified division at the Shakedown at Englishtown. Roush Yates has over 80 wins so far this season and two championships in the TORC Off-Road series and the Sprint Cars on Dirt series.

    To learn more about all of Roush Yates’ engine programs or how to update your engine with the Roush Yates’ Performance Upgrade, call Jeff Clark at (704) 658-1540 or visit www.roushyatesparts.com.

    About Roush Yates Engines

    Roush Yates Engines designs, engineers and crafts high performance racing engines with the power to perform and the horsepower and durability you’d expect from legendary NASCAR pioneers Jack Roush and Robert Yates. The partnership of power and precision has come from merging the knowledge and experience of two legendary engine builders, both with a passion for winning today and powering up for tomorrow. In 2009 Doug Yates purchased his father’s half of Roush Yates Engines to become a co-owner in the company.

    As CEO, Doug Yates leads a staff of 180 engineers and technicians who design, assemble, test, and service racing engines at two separate state-of-the-art facilities in Mooresville, North Carolina. Here, the best minds and latest technology are hard at work producing nearly 1,500 racing engines each year for teams in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, ARCA, Grand-Am, FIA GT3, Dirt Late Model, Sprint cars, and NHRA Pro Stock. At Roush Yates Engines, the mission is Power Performance, which is achieved through innovation design, precision engineering, and skillful craftsmanship. Building the best engines in racing today, providing service that’s second to none, and honoring a commitment to research and development are the heart of Roush Yates Engines.

  • The Final Word – The day the dream machine became Kyle’s nightmare

    The Final Word – The day the dream machine became Kyle’s nightmare

    So, what did we learn from Kansas?

    Well, we learned that Kyle Busch and David Reutimann won’t be exchanging hugs anytime soon. Shrub was behind Reutimann in the early going, who seemed to lift in a corner which caused Busch to nail him from behind to ruin his day. It made Reuity a tad upset.

    We learned later by just how much. With Kyle in the top ten and Reutimann laps down, the dream machine took aim and became the #18’s biggest nightmare. If they do a modern re-make of Ben-Hur, that is what the chariot scene would look like.

    We learned that the best decision by a crew chief on the day might only result in a 21st place finish. With his rear end a mess, Kyle’s crew had a choice to make. They could go behind the wall, lose a ton of laps, and fix it right, or come up with some kind of fix on pit road. Dave Rogers’ decision to stay out there, to do the best they could with what they had, probably saved his driver at least 40 points. Instead of 120 points out, Busch is down 80. With seven races to go, that is doable.

    We learned that if you do something wrong in the eyes of a competitor, don’t expect any favors even if you happen to be in the Chase. Reutimann felt wronged, and Busch found himself on the business end of a front fender. Having a reputation as being something of a gunslinger doesn’t help when someone takes a few shots back at you. If Busch had hoped NASCAR would ride to his rescue, he was wrong. No sanctions seem forthcoming over the incident.

    We learned that Greg Biffle still has something to prove and the ability to do so. In the latter stages the Biff was the guy to beat, but nobody could pull it off. It was his second win of the season, and 16th of his Cup career. He remains 85 points back, which is close enough if this is a sign of what is to come.

    We learned that the cream rises to the top. In recent years, we have called that cream Jimmie Johnson. He was second on Sunday, and first in the points by eight over Denny Hamlin, 30 ahead of Kevin Harvick. Could it be, in the words of Yogi Berra, deja vu all over again?

    So, now they are off to California to that track that seldom entertains. Maybe this time will be the charm. Mind you, Mr. Johnson does not seem to mind it. Winning four of the last six races run there might have something to do with that. Maybe the only way to keep Jimmie away from another title is to get David Reutimann mad at him. I’m just saying. Enjoy the week.

  • MICHAEL WALTRIP RESPONSE TO REUTIMANN-BUSCH INCIDENT

    “There are 43 drivers on the race track each Sunday and there is no delineation between Chase participants and non-Chase participants when it comes to respect.

    “Everyone at Michael Waltrip Racing is working hard to deliver great results to our owners, employees and sponsors. All organizations have a lot at stake each week as we are all measured by our performance and finishing position. When David Reutimann’s chance to compete for a win at Kansas was taken away, it set off a series of events that have been well documented.

    “I stand behind David because his record of sportsmanship is flawless. It is the duty of MWR’s drivers to deliver for Toyota and our other partners, and I expect them to be treated fairly while doing so.”

  • Surprising and Not Surprising: Kansas Speedway’s Price Chopper 400

    Surprising and Not Surprising: Kansas Speedway’s Price Chopper 400

    With the mile-sized race tracks in the rear view mirror, there was bound to be drama headed to the first mile and a half track, not only amongst the twelve Chase contenders but also the rest of the field who had nothing to lose and everything to gain. The pressure was definitely on for those Chase contenders in the bottom half of the field, who needed a great run in order to stay in the championship hunt. Here is what was surprising and not surprising from the third race in the Chase competition, with just seven races remaining in the 2010 season.

    Surprising: One of those bottom half Chase contenders, Greg Biffle, definitely helped his own cause, qualifying his No. 16 Sherwin Williams/3M Ford in the fifth position and driving strong all race long to claim his second checkered flag of the season. The Biff’s win was the 118th Cup Series win for Roush Fenway Racing and thankfully this time, team owner Jack Roush was in Victory Lane with his driver instead of recuperating in the hospital from a plane crash as was the case when his driver won Pocono. Biffle gained one position in the Chase standings, moving from ninth to eighth, but he is now just 85 points back from the point’s leader.

    Not Surprising: In spite of starting at the back of the field and getting trapped in the pits early in the race, Jimmie Johnson, in his No. 48 Lowes/Johns Manville Chevrolet, made his ever-lucky way to the front of the field, finishing in the runner up position. With that finish and as he does so often when the pressure is on, Johnson moved into the points lead, making his presence known for that fifth historic consecutive championship run.

    Surprising: In this third Chase race, one of the non-Chasers had a major impact on the Chase standings. Normally good- natured David Reutimann apparently had had enough. After Chase competitor Kyle Busch got into the back of him early in the race and spun his No. 00 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota, Reutimann took revenge, coming back onto the track and slamming Busch into the wall. Busch’s car sustained serious damage, in Busch’s words “the car was killed.” This unfortunate turn of events led to a 21st place finish for Busch and a free fall of four positions in the Chase standings, from third to seventh, 80 points behind leader Jimmie Johnson.

    Not Surprising: While Busch was furious, saying that Reutimann could have wrecked him in any of the races next season and had no right to wreck him in the midst of a Chase run, Reutimann was non-repentant. Reutimann said “It just gets old” and between the urging of his crew chief and his own frustration, Rooty proved that he was just not going to take it anymore.

    Surprising: Big Daddy and original four-time champion Jeff Gordon was NASCAR’s biggest winner in the point standings, moving up three spots from eighth to fifth. Gordon, in his signature-colored No. 24 Dupont Chevrolet, qualified in the third spot, led laps during the race, had some stellar pit stops, and finished in the fifth position on the track.

    Not Surprising: After a rough run at the Monster Mile, point’s winner of the regular season, Kevin Harvick, redeemed himself with a great run at Kansas. Not only did Harvick bring his No. 29 Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet to the checkered flag in third place, he also moved up to the third position in the point standings, just 30 points behind Johnson.

    Surprising: While not a terrible run, with a 12th place race finish, Denny Hamlin, who has been so strong coming into the Chase and so determined so far throughout the Chase competition, lost the points lead to Jimmie Johnson. Hamlin sits just eight points now behind his nemesis as he desperately attempts to fight his way back to win that coveted Sprint Cup.

    Not Surprising: A panoply of Fords graced the top ten at the Kansas Price Chopper 400 presented by Kraft Foods. Carl Edwards, in his No. 99 Aflac Ford, finished sixth. Matt Kenseth, in his No. 17 Crown Royal Black Ford, finished seventh. And Paul Menard, who started on the outside pole, finished eighth in his No. 98 Zecol/Menards Ford. It was no surprise that the Fords were competing so well since the manufacturer put $100,000 on the line as an incentive for the win. Jamie Allison, Director of Ford North American Motorsports, duly pronounced it a “One Ford effort.”

    Surprising: Kasey Kahne, in his No. 9 Budweiser Richard Petty Motorsports Ford, led the race to green from the pole position. The driver that is soon to running for Red Bull Racing and ultimately Hendrick Motorsports unfortunately hit the wall about midway through the race and then watched his car fall to pieces as the tire blew the fenders and other car parts all over the race track. After that most promising start, Kahne finished miserably in the 37th position.

    Not Surprising: Kahne’s Richard Petty Motorsports teammate A.J. Allmendinger continued his string of great races, particularly after leading so many laps and being dominant early at the Monster Mile last weekend. The Dinger managed to lead a lap at Kansas and again scored a top ten finish in his No. 43 Insignia HDTV/Best Buy Ford.

    The Chasers and the rest of the Cup field will now head even further west for the fourth Chase race of the season. The Pepsi Max 400 will run at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California on Sunday, October 10th, with the broadcast on ESPN set to start at 3:00 PM ET.

  • Ford Kansas Post Race

    BIFFLE BACK IN VICTORY LANE

    • Greg Biffle won his 16th career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race today.

    • It marks the second victory at Kansas for Biffle who also took the 2007 LifeLock 400.

    • Today’s win marks the second victory of the season for Biffle.

    • The win was the 118th all-time NSCS win for Roush Fenway Racing.

    • Today’s win was the 597th all-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win for Ford Racing.

    • Today’s win was the third at Kansas Speedway for Ford.

    GREG BIFFLE – No. 16 3M Ford Fusion (Finished 1st) — “Once we got our car adjusted we were off and set sail. The thing was really fast. I didn’t think even if there were more cautions that they would catch us. We had such a great car today and I couldn’t be any prouder of my 3M Ford team today and the Pit Bulls. I was even saving a little bit out there at the end too. I knew the caution was going to come out and I would need some tire to race these guys. So was Tony though. I think those guys were all saving for the end. Thank goodness this one isn’t a controversial win. Last time people were skeptical if I kept my speed up. I think I kept up plenty of speed this time. This is such a great race track. I am so excited we will be coming here twice a year.” LAST TIME YOU WON, YOU HAD TO TAKE THE TROPHY TO JACK IN THE HOSPITAL, THIS TIME YOU GET TO CELEBRATE HERE WITH HIM, HOW DOES THAT FEEL? “It is awesome. I am so glad, not only for Jack but for all the Ford guys and Roush Fenway guys. Everybody has worked so dang hard and it makes it even more rewarding and exciting for us.”

    JAMIE ALLISON – Director, Ford North American Motorsports — YOU SAID THIS IS YOUR FIRST TIME IN VICTORY LANE, HOW DOES IT FEEL? “It feels awesome. What a great feeling for everyone at Ford. What a great race that was. Running one, two, three Ford with 50 laps to go shows you that it is deeper than just one team. I am very proud of everybody at Roush, RPM and Wood Brothers. It is a One Ford effort.” CARL MENTIONED TO THE MEDIA THAT GREG HAD EXTRA INCENTIVE THIS WEEK. “Yeah, we wanted to reward the entire team. We like to reward for performance. I put a little reward out there for the Ford team to win and sure enough it came through. I think it was more than that though. It was a good team effort with good preparation. We were long overdue.”

    JACK ROUSH, Owner Roush Fenway Racing — WHAT IS GOING THROUGH YOUR MIND RIGHT NOW? “The last time Greg won I was in a hospital due to my little problem at Osh Kosh. It is really great to be back in Victory Circle with Greg and the 3M bunch and Sherwin Williams paint. It was a great race. We always try to be at our best at mile-and-a-half race tracks. We had a whole bunch of cars that could have won the race. All of our Fords were good out there today.” IT LOOKED LIKE YOU COULD GO ONE-TWO-THREE FOR A LITTLE BIT “I was covered that way if we had a flat tire or something. I felt a little naked when Greg was out there by himself. It worked out for us today though.”

    CARL EDWARDS – No. 99 Aflac Ford Fusion (Finished 6th) – ON HIS 10th PLACE FINISH “We are 53 points out of the lead now and got some bonus points. I was frustrated with sixth but now I find out we are only 53 points out of the lead, so that is huge. It was a good day for us from a points perspective, so I am extremely proud of my entire Aflac Ford team.” WERE YOU DRIVING MORE WITH HEAD OR HEART TODAY? “I had to be careful not to drive with my heart too much today. Seeing this crowd the size that it is and how many came to support me it is very difficult not to throw caution to the wind, but I knew that I couldn’t do that.” DOES IT BOTHER YOU THAT JIMMIE JOHNSON TOOK OVER THE POINTS LEAD? “No, it doesn’t bother me. Those guys have run really well and they deserve whatever they get. There is nobody I would rather beat for the championship than Jimmie. None of us want to see Jimmie win, but it sure would be cool to beat him.” WHAT A GREAT RACE TO COME FROM WHERE YOU WERE. AT WHAT POINT DID IT APPEAR WITH JEFF THAT IT WOULD BE TOUGH TO FINISH UP THERE? “I realized once I started racing with Jeff that he meant business. We were going to battle for fifth place like it was the win. That is cool. If you can’t go with the race it is fun to have a good race with someone. I realized then that we were going to finish fifth or sixth just because of how hard we were going to battle.” ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WITH WHERE YOU ARE NOW IN THE CHASE? “Yeah, I wish we were better off, but we have closed points on the leader and all we have to do is go have a solid run in California and some luck at Martinsville and Talladega. Greg Biffle is in victory lane and we had Fords running up front all day.” ROUSH HAD A GREAT DAY TODAY, WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR THE ORGANIZATION? “Ford told us right before the race that they were giving us an extra incentive to with the race. They had some extra money in a fund that they weren’t using, so Greg is going to be handing out checks to his pit crew. That is really cool. Ford wanted us to step it up and Greg did that today.”

    MATT KENSETH – No. 17 Crown Royal Ford Fusion (Finished 7th) – “We were pretty good. We just kind of didn’t keep up with the track good enough at the end. I just couldn’t keep up with them.” YOU HAD A GOOD BATTLE DOWN THE STRETCH WITH EDWARDS AND GORDON “I couldn’t catch them, the 24 and 99 were in front of me battling and I just couldn’t keep up with them.” ARE YOU HAPPY ABOUT THE POINTS DAY TODAY “I didn’t even think about that. We are so far behind that I haven’t even thought of that to be honest with you. I am just happy that we are more competitive. We have to finish them off. I am happy we are more competitive though.”

    PAUL MENARD- No. 98 Menards Ford Fusion (Finished 8th) – “Track position is important and the further back you got today, the worse your car handled. Clean air was very important. We got out front and were able to set sail. After a little bit, four tires showed up and the 16 passed us. I am kind of disappointed with fourth because we had a little bit of a slow pit stop the last pit stop. I am proud of the guys though because this was a fast car all weekend.”