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Category: Angie’s Spin Zone

Angie’s Spin on NASCAR

  • Richmond Sprint Cup Preview – Strategy, Milestones and More

    Richmond Sprint Cup Preview – Strategy, Milestones and More

    It sounds simple. If you want to win a race, the best place to begin is in front. But in reality, starting from the pole doesn’t necessarily translate into winning the race…unless you’re racing at Richmond International Raceway. The statistics below tell the story.

    Winning Strategy:

    1) If you want to win at RIR the best strategy is to win the Coors Light Pole Award. There have been 117 Sprint Cup races at RIR and 23 of those were won by drivers from the pole starting position.

    There are four active drivers who have done just that; Kasey Kahne did it in 2005, Jimmie Johnson in 2007, Kyle Busch in 2010 and Brad Keselowski in the fall race last year.

    2) The second best way to win is to begin on the front row where 13 races have been won by drivers starting in second place. Combine those two numbers and 36 (30.7 percent) of the Sprint Cup races at RIR have been won by front row starters.

    3) The third best way to win is to qualify in the top-ten. Ninety-one of those 117 (77.7 percent) races were won by drivers in the top-ten starting positions.

    Clint Bowyer has the distinction of winning at RIR after starting deepest in the field, 31st, in 2008.

    Milestones:

    As Jeff Gordon heads to Richmond he is on the verge of reaching another significant milestone in an already storied career. Gordon has led 24,778 laps during his Sprint Cup career. If he can add 222 laps to that total, he will become the sixth driver in NSCS history to lead 25,000 laps.

    Dale Earnhardt Jr. will make his 550th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start at the Toyota Owners 400 Saturday night. He is 30th on the all-time NSCS starts list. Earnhardt, along with Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson and Tony Stewart, leads all active drivers in wins at RIR; with three victories (Kyle Busch has four wins but is currently inactive). Although his last win at Richmond was in 2006, it remains one of his favorite tracks and could prove to be the impetus Earnhardt needs to capture his first win of the season.

    Paul Menard is 14th in the standings and needs a win to secure his position in the Chase. He’ll make his 300th NSCS start this weekend at Richmond. All Richard Childress Racing entries will feature decals to honor the memory of Richard “Bob” “Poncho” Myers, who passed away April 16. He was the brother of longtime RCR employee, Danny “Chocolate” Myers.

    Defending Cup champion, Kevin Harvick, shows no intention of slowing down this year. With two wins and seven top 10s, he leads the Chase standings. He has also led 950 laps in 2015 and is 50 away from becoming the eighth driver in series history to lead 1000 laps or more in the first nine races of a season. Harvick has led laps in every race this season, with the exception of Daytona, averaging 118.75 laps led per race.

    Firsts – Now Chand Then:

    Chase Elliott has a full weekend coming up at Richmond as he competes for the first time in both the XFINITY and Sprint Cup Series races. As an added incentive, Elliott gets a second chance to impress in his second Cup start. His NSCS debut at Martinsville in March resulted in a disappointing 38th place finish, 73 laps down, after contact with another car and the loss of his power steering sent Elliott behind the wall for extensive repairs.

    The first NSCS race at RIR was April 19, 1953 and was won by Lee Petty.

    Buck Baker won the inaugural pole award at RIR in 1953 with a speed of 48.465 mph.

    The first race under permanent lights was held on September 7, 1991.

    The first season when both races at RIR were night races was in 1999.

    Tony Stewart (1999) and Kasey Kahne (2005) each captured their first NSCS career win at Richmond. A victory for Stewart could kick start a dismal season and provide the momentum to propel him into Chase contention.

    By the Numbers:   

    Top 10 Driver Ratings at Richmond –

    110.7 – Denny Hamlin – Leads all active drivers with an average finishing position of 10.412

    110.3 – Kevin Harvick – Series-best Average Running Position of 7.5

    109.8 – Kyle Busch – Four wins at RIR

    99.6 – Clint Bowyer – Two wins, four top fives, 10 top 10s

    99.3 – Jeff Gordon – Leads all active drivers with 18 top five-finishes

    94.0 – Tony Stewart – Won at RIR in his second appearance

    92.5 – Ryan Newman – One win, six top fives, 16 top 10s; one pole

    91.6 – Brad Keselowski – One win, two top fives, four top 10s; one pole

    91.5 – Kurt Busch – One win, five top fives, 10 top 10s

    89.1 – Carl Edwards – One win, four top fives, 11 top 10s; one pole

    The Toyota Owners 400 Sprint Cup race will be televised on FOX Saturday at 7 p.m. ET.

     

  • Is it Time for NASCAR to Allow the Use of Tire Bleeder Valves?

    Is it Time for NASCAR to Allow the Use of Tire Bleeder Valves?

    NASCAR recently issued substantial penalties to Ryan Newman’s No. 31 Richard Childress Racing team for manipulating tire pressure by reportedly drilling small holes in the tires, allowing air to escape in an effort to improve tire wear and grip. The rules infractions were discovered during post race inspections following the event at Auto Club Speedway.

    The “P5”penalty was one of the largest ever issued by NASCAR. Sanctions include a $125,000 fine for crew chief Luke Lambert and the loss of 75 points for Newman and car owner Richard Childress. Lambert, tire technician James Bender and team engineer Philip Surgen received a six-race suspension and probation through December 31.

    NASCAR has a long standing tradition of strictly prohibiting any manipulation or modifications of tires. But considering the extensive time and effort required to police the teams for this particular infraction, maybe it’s time for NASCAR to consider a change in the rules and allow the use of bleeder valves.

    Bleeder valves are used to regulate air pressure which builds as tires heat up, particularly on long runs. Proper air pressure significantly impacts tire performance.

    Jeff Gordon addressed this issue at Martinsville Speedway.

    “I’ve been saying for years… and probably in here… that we need bleeder valves,” he said. “We just do. I came from sprint cars where they’re built into the wheel. You set them. They may not be advanced enough for what we need in a Cup car and Cup tire, but it just makes sense. It’s crazy what we do with air pressures. These big heavy cars build the air pressures up so much that we’re always trying to start them real low, which causes issues for Goodyear and the teams. Then they just increase, increase, increase. So it makes sense to me that we should have bleeder valves.”

    Darrell Waltrip also offered his opinion suggesting that NASCAR “standardize the process and level the playing field for all the teams with air bleeders.”

    “The reality is that teams have been trying to figure out ways to regulate the pressure in the tires for years,” he explained. “In the past, tire softening was a big thing that teams tried to get away with. Drilling microscopic size holes in the tires sure has taken things to a whole new level. Unfortunately for the No. 31 car, they are now paying a pretty hefty penalty. They fought the law and the law won.

    “Up until this year there had been a rule in place where NASCAR issued a minimum air pressure and teams weren’t to go below that. They regulated it and had officials in the pits to monitor that teams didn’t go below the line. For the 2015 season, that rule was eliminated and air pressure was left up to the teams.”

    Waltrip further stated that “adopting air bleeders will not only add consistency to the tires, but will enhance safety so the teams can run the tires at the levels they want and not worry about tearing up the sidewalls.”

    This latest incident has emphasized the importance of managing tire air pressures within the rules but it could also provide an opportunity for NASCAR to reevaluate the feasibility of those rules moving forward.

  • Buescher ‘ecstatic,’ Moffitt ‘feels pretty good’ and Ragan ‘a little frustrated’ after Fontana

    Buescher ‘ecstatic,’ Moffitt ‘feels pretty good’ and Ragan ‘a little frustrated’ after Fontana

    Due to driver injury and illness, a few fortunate drivers have been given the opportunity to shine in the Sprint Cup Series as substitute drivers. Here’s a look at how the subs performed at Auto Club Speedway.

    Chris Buescher:

    Chris Buescher, second in the point standings in his second full season in the XFINITY Series with Roush Fenway Racing, got the call to sub for Brett Moffitt in the No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford at Fontana this past weekend.

    It was his Sprint Cup Series debut and the 22-year-old driver described the experience as both “nerve-racking” and “fun.” Buescher finished in 20th place.

    “It was a lot of fun,” he said. “I can’t thank Front Row Motorsports enough to give me this opportunity and for Roush Fenway Racing to allow me to go do it. To be able to help another Ford Performance team out, this was a blast. It’s the kind of race track I wanted to make my Cup debut at.”

    “It was nerve-racking at the beginning,” Buescher admitted. “The first 50-100 laps even just trying to race around some guys, just getting that little initiation, I guess, people pushing you around trying to show you who is boss. But after we got 100 laps in I just started to feel a lot better and started settling into a run where we were comfortable and a lot like our XFINITY race we were able to find a place and keep moving forward with that.”

    Buescher also talked about the transition between the cars in the XFINITY Series and the Sprint Cup Series.

    “A lot of it has been trying to get used to the amount of downforce and grip in the Cup car versus the XFINITY car,” he explained. “That’s something that took me a lot of the race to figure out. Restarts were tough because I didn’t realize how far you could push it, how hard you could really drive the car. After we figured that out, our restarts got better the last half. It’s always those little things and I don’t know if this is my last Cup start for the year or if we’ve got a couple on the way, but, regardless, this is a lot of information to jot down in a notebook and remember for my next Cup start.”

    Overall Buescher was satisfied with his performance saying, “We completed the race, finished on the lead lap and got a top 20 out of it. I’m ecstatic about that. These guys did an awesome job today.”

    Brett Moffitt:

    Brett Moffitt filled in for Brian Vickers in the No. 55 Toyota for Michael Waltrip Racing, finishing 22nd. Vickers has been sidelined after a recurrence of blood clots. This was the second time Moffitt subbed for Vickers, capturing an eighth place at Atlanta Motor Speedway earlier this season in only his eighth Sprint Cup start.

    Moffitt’s finish at Auto Club Speedway was disappointing but he was encouraged by how the team fought back.

    “We struggled all race long,” he said.“Made good calls, Billy (Scott, crew chief) did a good job on top of the box. At the end, the restarts were fun. We got back on the lead lap and Billy did a great job getting us back on the lead lap, pit crew did a good job getting us out. The second-to-the-last restart went really well and passed a bunch of cars and then on the last one they kind of took advantage of us and I fell back to 22nd. After the day we had, 22nd feels pretty good.”

    Moffitt also subbed for David Ragan at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with a 37th place finish and at Phoenix International Raceway, finishing 32nd.

    David Ragan:

    While David Ragan is no stranger to the Sprint Cup Series, the opportunity to drive the high profile No. 18 M&Ms Toyota puts him in the spotlight and competitive results could prove invaluable to his career going forward.

    In his fourth race subbing for the injured Kyle Busch, Ragan qualified fourth at Fontana and finished the race in 18th place. This follows an 18th at Atlanta, 22nd at Las Vegas and 21st at Phoenix.

    Ragan says the team is working toward getting the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota back where it belongs.

    “We fired off really good and just a little too free early,” he said. “Racing with the 24 (Jeff Gordon), I think he just crowded me a little and I got loose and spun. That was certainly unfortunate. A pit road penalty hurt us under green and that’s a testament to just keep working hard and never giving up.”

    “We want top-10s and top-fives,” Ragan continued, “that’s our goal and that’s where the 18 car should be. I’m a little frustrated with our finishes, but we’ve had good speed, we work hard and all we can do is be positive and look forward to Martinsville. Thanks to Interstate Batteries and Toyota and M&M’s for all their support and can’t wait to get to the next one.”

    NASCAR’s preliminary entry list for Martinsville Speedway lists Buescher as the driver for the No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford and Moffitt in the No. 55 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota. Ragan will once again pilot the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing entry.

  • One Man’s Journey from Tragedy to Inspiration

    One Man’s Journey from Tragedy to Inspiration

    Our lives are often shaped by tragedy that forces us to look within for answers. Author John Green wrote, “Grief does not change you.  It reveals you.”

    Matt Poole’s journey of self awareness began in 2003 when his mother, Peggy Poole, passed away suddenly from a heart attack. “Her death,” he told me, “hit me hard and turned my world upside down. Then the darkness doubled up on me in 2005, when my friend Tonya Schultz was murdered by her husband.”

    Disheartened but not defeated, Matt’s childhood dream of racing reawakened, fueled by love and the desire to honor the memory of this mother and friend. It has been 10 years since his journey began. The road traveled has been littered with the debris of broken promises, apathy and deception but his determination is unwavering.

    This is his story.

    “So here I was,” he begins, “on the outside looking in with no experience and almost 40-years-old. Over the course of the next 10 years, I heard the word ‘No’ not just occasionally, but often. Nobody cared about me.  Nobody cared about Mom and Tonya.  Nobody cared about my dream.  However, if I was able to come up with enough money, they were willing to at least act like they cared.”

    Matt was quickly confronted by the stark realities of racing. “One instance that comes to mind,” he remembers, “is walking into the race shop of a well known Nationwide Series owner. As I had done many times before, I went in and introduced myself, sat at the conference table with him and told him about my dream and what my goals were. He asked a few basic questions and his reply was short and sweet. ‘Bring me $2 million and I’ll run you in the K&N East Series.’ Just like that. He had never seen me turn a lap but after a 10 minute meeting he was ready to put me in a car and get me right out on the track, provided I came up with $2 million dollars.”

    Amid the frustration, there were also moments of sweet success. After four years of knocking on doors, phone calls, emails and letters, Matt had the opportunity to test at Hickory Motor Speedway and eventually compete in his first race, with a picture of his mother and friend, Tonya, taped to the dash of the car for inspiration.

    ”I walked in off the street and ran against guys who had been doing it for years. I didn’t burn the world down in my first race; I started 10th and finished 12th.”

    He donated his winnings to the American Heart Association in his mother’s memory, “because it was a heart attack that took Mom from us,” and to the Victory Junction Gang Camp in Tonya’s memory, “because her children were her world.” In Matt’s second race, he started ninth and finished seventh, once again donating his earnings to charity.

    His biggest disappointment came in 2012 when he entered a nationwide driver search which was advertised as “giving a grass roots racer a shot.” It seemed straightforward with reputable backers so Matt submitted a video and asked his friends to vote.

    My mindset when I entered,” he explained, “was whether I win or lose, if I just get in and get on TV then maybe, just maybe, someone will take notice. All I had to do was get chosen. “

    He soon rose to the top in fan votes and remained there for most of the competition but was not selected as a finalist.

    “For reasons still unknown to this day,” Matt says, “that opportunity was taken away from me. Tens of thousands of votes and the voting server crashing three times wasn’t enough to get me chosen.  Sitting in first place for three months wasn’t enough.  Yes, I was mad and I was hurt. I had been publically embarrassed. But even as let down as I felt, I felt like I had let down the people who voted for me day in and day out.”

    “I turned my back on the dream,” he continued, “but the dream never went away. The desire never went away. I was the one who went away. That was, by far, the lowest point of this 10 year journey.”

    But dreams cannot be denied and Matt is once again chasing his dream. This time, he’s doing it on his terms with a specific goal.

    When I walked away, I didn’t think a comeback was possible. At that point in time I didn’t want to,” he admitted. “But the feeling kept eating away at me that if I gave up, I was disappointing Mom and Tonya. I felt like I was disappointing all of the fans, who were behind me and kept telling me, ‘Don’t give up on your dreams.’ I knew there was no use trying to find a sponsor again, I had done that. I knew there was no use trying to find an owner willing to give me a shot. I had done that. I knew that the only way to do it was to turn to the fans for help. A fundraiser was literally the only way it was going to happen. It was, quite simply, my only choice.”

    Matt has negotiated a deal with a car owner and put together a plan that he feels is not only realistic, but attainable. All that remains is procuring funds to maintain, transport and operate the car. Any winnings will be donated to charity. Matt will also host various promotional events including an auction of his helmet and firesuit with all proceeds going to charity.

    “The goal amount of the fundraiser is for the costs involved with running the 11 race ARCA Series package we have put together. Nobody makes any kind of profit from this deal,” he emphasized. “Not me, not the owner, no one. One hundred percent of my winnings are being donated to the American Heart Association in Mom’s memory and to the Victory Junction Gang Camp in Tonya’s memory. The only thing I get out of this is the opportunity to drive the car. That’s all I have ever chased after.

    “This is just my way of honoring the memory of two people who were very dear to me. It’s about a childhood dream and it’s about helping others. I can’t do it without help, though. This is literally my only shot. I’m asking the fans for their help in getting there so I can drive it like I stole it. That’s all I want, that’s all I ever wanted, to drive it like I stole it. And I won’t give up until I do.”

    For as little as $1, you can not only help Matt achieve his dream but also make a difference in someone’s life through the charities that he supports. Everyone who contributes will be recognized on the “Contribution Wall of Fame” at Matt Poole Racing and businesses can share their link on the page as well. Matt’s progress will be documented so that you can follow along and be a part of the journey.

    “It’s about a childhood dream, and it’s about helping others. I can’t do it without your help.”

    Please visit the Matt Poole’s Fundraiser page to contribute and help Matt realize his dream.

  • Dale Earnhardt Jr. Still Chasing First Win of the Season

    Dale Earnhardt Jr. Still Chasing First Win of the Season

    Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished fourth in the Kobalt 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, capturing his third top five in three races this season. Two third place finishes at Daytona and Atlanta plus a fourth Sunday at Vegas sounds good on paper but Earnhardt is looking for more.

    “Sounds a little bit less than we did last year, I think we were first, second, second – so, we have to step it up a little bit,” he said laughing.”

    Earnhardt led twice for four laps but was no match for Kevin Harvick. The No. 88 team decided to take a gamble on the last pit stop, taking only two tires, in an effort to steal the lead from the dominant Harvick. It was a risky call but one that Earnhardt felt was justified.

    “We didn’t put lefts (tires) on it; made it a gamble. I like to gamble. I liked the call. I love being aggressive,” he stated after the race. “We were going to drive up there and pass that No. 4 (Kevin Harvick). So, we had to take a chance. Second, fifth, fourth, whatever; it really don’t matter if you don’t win.”

    Unfortunately, the end result was an ill-handling car.

    “I got really loose. I had a real bad vibration on that last run and I was really, really loose,” Earnhardt explained. “We’ve been running the track bar pretty much even the whole race, and at the end there I had it down three inches on right side trying to save my butt. Maybe it was worn-out lefts, I don’t know. The left side (tires) is new and a little softer compound, maybe we just took it a little bit too far.”

    Although he was somewhat disappointed with today’s finish, Earnhardt is certain that his next win is imminent.

    “This year, our cars are racing up there. So, we think we’ve got the cars better than we had last year. Hendrick, overall, has great speed. The engine department is doing awesome and we’re going to get one,” he predicted.

    “I want to win! We’re going to get there.”

    So far this season, Earnhardt’s partnership with new crew chief, Greg Ives, has produced impressive results and Earnhardt is his biggest supporter.

    Just last week, he praised Ives, saying, “Greg is great at communicating. Our communication is natural, feels good. He’s a pretty decent cheerleader, too, for myself, the team. Man, he’s going to be something else for a while around that garage. I’m glad to be able to work with him there.”

    After Sunday’s race at Las Vegas, Earnhardt’s enthusiasm spilled over onto twitter.

    “I am so excited about our team! Getting a group THIS talented & focused is rare,” he tweeted. “Been doing this gig a long time and I know how lucky I am.”

    Earnhardt is now second in the Sprint Cup standings, nine points behind leader, Harvick. The only missing piece is a trip to victory lane and if Earnhardt’s confidence is any indication, it could happen sooner rather than later.

  • Martin Truex Jr. Heads to Atlanta with Renewed Confidence and Purpose

    Martin Truex Jr. Heads to Atlanta with Renewed Confidence and Purpose

    Last year was undoubtedly one on the most difficult for Martin Truex Jr., both professionally and personally. A disappointing season with no wins and only one top-five and five top-10s only tells part of the story. His longtime girlfriend Sherry Pollex underwent treatment for ovarian cancer. Pollex finished her final primary chemotherapy treatment in January and has opted for a maintenance program of once monthly chemo treatments.

    As the new season begins, Truex has a new perspective and appreciation for life. After competing for the win in the Daytona 500, a revitalized Truex is eager to carry that momentum forward as they head to one of his favorite tracks, Atlanta Motor Speedway.

    Truex was competitive all weekend, finishing second in the Sprint Unlimited and fifth in the Budweiser Duel. He ran in the top ten for much of the Daytona 500, lining up fifth after the last caution for the green-white-checkered restart and ended the day in eighth place.

    “I sure hated to see that last caution come out,” Truex said. “We didn’t restart in the lane I was hoping for. We were one spot away from being in the catbird seat, but restrictor-plate racing is all about circumstances.”

    With new crew chief, Cole Pearn, at the helm, the result is indicative of the intense preparation the team put in during the off season to prepare for this year. They rallied to keep Truex at the front, despite some pit road miscues. The ability to remain calm and prevail under these circumstances speaks volumes about the team’s determination.

    “We almost threw away this race a couple of times,” admitted Truex. “One was for a pit-road speeding penalty and another for a fuel issue. Those issues were costly at the time, dropping us back to the rear of the field. But we came charging back with a powerful race car and good pit strategy by our crew chief Cole Pearn. When you can come back like the way we did it says something about the makeup of this team. It was a lot of fun to run up front and to be in contention at the end.”

    Truex is optimistic about the 2015 season, saying, “The Daytona performance isn’t a guarantee that we’ll run real good all season long. But with the things we did over the winter, the testing we did towards the end of last year, the momentum we gained and the team changes we made, I feel really good about our stuff and what we’re going to do. We’ll have to see how we do at Atlanta. We’re looking forward to going there. It’s one of my favorite tracks and we’ll see if we can’t come out of there about seven spots better.”

    The No. 78 Furniture Row Racing team heads to Atlanta, eighth in driver points, with the goal of keeping Truex in Chase contention as he embraces a new season of possibilities.

     

  • A Jeff Gordon story – Sometimes the little things mean the most

    A Jeff Gordon story – Sometimes the little things mean the most

    A few times a year, I’m privileged to be able to go to a NASCAR race as part of the media. It’s a unique experience that allows me to be a small part of something that has an enormous impact on so many.  What may surprise you is that it is often the little things that make it a special experience.

    One of the most enjoyable aspects is the opportunity to meet people from all walks of life. During several conversations with one of the women who helped prepare our food at the media center she talked about being a lifelong NASCAR fan and proudly told me, “I’m a huge Dale Jr. fan but my Dad likes Kasey Kahne. Can you believe that?” The look on her face was priceless.

    The young man who stood watch at the door to the media center told me how he begged a friend to switch assignments with him so that he could work the race at Darlington.

    My favorite moment was shared with a photographer at Darlington Raceway who has been working the NASCAR circuit for over 30 years. I was surprised to hear he drove all the way from Canada to cover the Darlington race. He was accompanied by his daughter.

    He began talking about how it was in the “old days’’ when drivers like David Pearson and Richard Petty would spend hours signing autographs for their fans. “I don’t know why,” he said “but they had such an appreciation for the fans, especially the kids. You don’t see that much anymore.”

    But then he related a story about his daughter. She has been his constant companion since she was old enough to travel with him. “She grew up in NASCAR,” he told me.

    When his daughter was a small girl, she had a Jeff Gordon Pepsi trading card and desperately wanted it autographed. When the opportunity arose, they approached Gordon who was surrounded by fans. It was beginning to rain but they were determined to wait. When Gordon saw the girl, he politely told the rest of the crowd; “children first.”

    “Gordon took the card from her, placed it face down on his pants leg, covered it with his hand so it wouldn’t get wet and told us to follow him to his hauler. He signed the card and spent several minutes talking with my daughter and me.”

    The photographer’s eyes were glistening as he looked at me and said, “Signing autographs, that’s business. But this, (he pantomimed covering up the card on his leg), this was from the heart.”

    As the story unfolded, it reminded me that a driver’s legacy extends far beyond the racetrack. It shines as an example of why Gordon’s impact on the sport goes far beyond statistics. As he embarks on his final full time season in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series this year, I can only imagine how many more lives he will touch.

  • Four Questions for the 2015 NASCAR Season

    Four Questions for the 2015 NASCAR Season

    As the NASCAR season approaches anticipation builds for the endless possibilities that a new year can bring. Will Earnhardt Jr. contend for a title? Will Smoke rise again? Will Kyle Larson finally grab that win? Will Roush Fenway Racing regain its former glory? Please join me as I take a look ahead at the 2015 season.

    1) Will Dale Earnhardt Jr. and new crew chief Greg Ives contend for the championship in 2015?

    The Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Steve Letarte partnership will be a hard act to follow as Greg Ives takes over the crew chief responsibilities for the No. 88 team in 2015. Last year was Earnhardt’s first multiple win season since 2004. It began with the season opener when he joined an elite group of drivers to score his second Daytona 500 win, continued with a sweep at Pocono and culminated with his first victory at Martinsville. Although Earnhardt did not make it through all the championship rounds to contend for the title, 2014 saw an Earnhardt on the cusp of capturing the ultimate prize.

    Will Earnhardt and Ives hit the ground running?

    “I don’t know how long it will take me and him to get on the same page, it may happen overnight, it might take a month, whatever,” Earnhardt said. “We see it happen different for everybody. But I think as the season goes on, we’ll be as strong as we were this year, if not stronger.”

    There will certainly be a period of transition as they develop team rapport and fine-tune the chemistry necessary to duplicate or exceed last year’s success. How quickly they accomplish this will be crucial to achieving their goals.

    2) Will Tony Stewart win in 2015?

    In June 2013, Tony Stewart won at Dover, continuing a 15-years-in-a-row streak of winning at least one race each season of his Sprint Cup career. It would prove to be his last win to date and the streak ended in 2014 as Stewart went winless for the first time in 16 years.

    There were, however, extenuating circumstances. Stewart was sidelined for the last 15 races of the 2013 season after breaking his right leg in August during a sprint car race at Southern Iowa Speedway. He returned full-time in 2014 but was not completely healed; scoring only three top-five finishes over the course of the season.

    Later in the year, controversy surrounded Stewart when Kevin Ward Jr. was struck by a car Stewart was driving at a sprint car race on August 9 at Canandaigua (N.Y.) Motorsports Park.  Stewart was cleared by a grand jury of any charges but the ordeal took its toll on Stewart, who, out of respect for the family, sat out three races following the incident.

    Stewart ended the season on a positive note, celebrating the Sprint Cup Championship of Stewart-Haas Racing driver Kevin Harvick.

    “You know, I think more than anything, I’m happy for this organization and happy for this team. It’s not about me right now,” he said, “it’s about us as a group. It’s about everybody at Stewart-Haas Racing. You know, you learn when you’re in these situations that it’s about a larger group of people and a bigger picture that’s in play. I’m grateful that I have a co-owner and co-workers and teammates that are such great people that no matter what’s been thrown at us the last year and a half that this organization was able to thrive and continue to prosper and be successful through this.

    “You know, it shows the depth of this organization and what these people are capable of. Nights like tonight are when you sit back and you reflect on everything and you realize how proud you are of your entire group and everybody that you surround yourself with.”

    In December Stewart underwent two more surgeries on his leg and hopes to begin the new season pain-free. With controversy behind him and no more injuries, expect to see the three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion back to his winning ways in 2015.

    3) Will Kyle Larson capture his first Sprint Cup win in 2015?

    Larson ended his rookie season with eight top-fives including three runner-up finishes at Fontana, New Hampshire and Kansas. That’s more top-fives than two of the final four championship contenders, Denny Hamlin (7) and Ryan Newman (5). Throw in 17 top-10s and one pole and it’s no surprise that he won the Rookie of the Year award.

    In 2006 Denny Hamlin became the first rookie (and only rookie to date) to make the Chase but Larson came close. He missed making the 16 driver Chase field by only one position, ending the season in 17th place, best among the non-Chasers.

    Larson summed up his season after the last race at Homestead saying, “There are a lot of moments that stand out, a lot of heartbreak moments as well. We will come back next season peel the rookie stripes off and try and go out there and win a race and get into the Chase and do what Kevin Harvick did tonight.”

    If determination and focus are any indicators, you will probably see Larson in victory lane this year.

    4) Will Roush Fenway Racing rebound in 2015?

    The 2014 season for Roush Fenway Racing was one of the most disappointing in recent memory as the team struggled to find speed. Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. combined for a grand total of two wins. The two victories were courtesy of Edwards who left RFR at the end of the year to drive for Joe Gibbs Racing in 2015. Edwards and Biffle participated in the Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship, finishing ninth and 14th respectively, but neither was considered a serious contender for the title.

    Trevor Bayne will move up to a full-time ride for RFR in the Cup Series after Edward’s departure. Bayne has driven a partial schedule for the Wood Brothers for the past four years. His most notable accomplishment was the unforgettable 2011 Daytona 500 win, his only victory in 58 starts in the series.

    In an effort to bolster their Sprint Cup and Xfinity programs, RFR has hired Mark McArdle as engineering director and Kevin Kidd as NSCS team manager.

    McArdle is an experienced veteran of IndyCar and NASCAR. He has worked in NASCAR for the past 15 years with various organizations including Roush Yates Engines, Evernham Motorsports, Furniture Row Racing and Richard Childress Racing.

    “I’m confident that having Mark and Kevin in these two key positions will make our organization even stronger next season,” said team co-owner Jack Roush. “Mark has a pedigree in racing that spans multiple platforms and speaks for itself in terms of results. He has a reputation not only for success, but as a great manager and motivator.

    “Kevin is recognized in the garage as one of the brightest minds in our sport,” added Roush. “He has acquired invaluable experience working with both veteran and young drivers, and will be a great asset to our Sprint Cup program week in and week out at the race track. We look forward to bringing both Mark and Kevin on board and welcoming them into the fold.”

    Also noteworthy, was the announcement in July 2014 that veteran Mark Martin has joined the RFR team as a driver development coach.

    Roush Fenway Racing remains one of the premier teams in NASCAR and despite recent struggles, it would be premature to count them out. This may be a year of transition but look for RFR to re-emerge as a leader sooner rather than later.

     

  • Which is More Important – Winning or Respect?

    Which is More Important – Winning or Respect?

    The new playoff style Chase format was designed to put the emphasis on winning. Win and you’re in. Depending upon who you ask, it has brought out the best or the worst in the drivers.

    Brad Keselowski has been center stage in this debate. During the race at Texas Motor Speedway, he attempted to pass Jeff Gordon by squeezing through a gap between Gordon and Jimmie Johnson. As they went three wide, Keselowski made contact with Gordon cutting his left rear tire and causing Gordon to spin out, relegating him to a 29th place finish.

    After the race an angry Gordon confronted him but Keselowski didn’t seem to have much interest in discussing the incident, saying only that, “There was a hole.” Crew members of both teams gathered and a brawl of epic proportions broke out.

    Keselowski was unapologetic post-race saying, “We were just racing for the win. I didn’t wreck him, just raced him hard. He left a hole. Everything you watch in racing, if you leave a hole you’re supposed to go for it. It closed back up and we made contact. I don’t want to ruin anyone’s day. I wanted to win the race, and that was our opportunity. It just didn’t come together.”

    “I’ve been through a lot of rivalries,” he continued, “I’ve got a little blood on me right now, I’ve been roughed up, put in the grandstands, wrecked, and done all that stuff, and I’m still here fighting. It’s not going to change the way I race. I race with 100-percent intensity and race for the win. That’s what our fans deserve in NASCAR.”

    After several days to cool off, Gordon explained his intense reaction.

    “I have no issue with a guy being aggressive and making a bold move,” Gordon said. “If you win the race and the guy that you slam finishes third or fourth, I will be the first one to stand up and say, ‘That was awesome, that was a great move.’

    “But when you don’t win the race and you ruin a person’s day, then there are consequences that you are going to have to deal with. How you handle yourself after that is a part of that.”

    Denny Hamlin, who was involved in a dispute with Keselowski after the Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, expressed a similar sentiment about Keselowski’s dismissive attitude.

    You’re just looking for someone to say, ‘Man, I’m sorry I ruined your day. I screwed up. I apologize,’” Hamlin said. “When that doesn’t get said, then it immediately lights a fire in your stomach that he doesn’t have any remorse. He’s just like, ‘Oh well, it’s your problem.’

    “If you ask me do you want a championship trophy or do you want the respect of your peers, I will take the respect from my peers because that trophy, they can’t put in my casket,” Hamlin said. “What’s the fun of a NASCAR party that nobody shows up to?”

    Sunday at Phoenix International Raceway, it was Ryan Newman who caused another controversy when he made the decision to push Kyle Larson out of the way to finish 11th and secure his spot in the final race for the championship.

    “I did what I had to do,” Newman said. “I’m not proud of it, but I think if he (Larson) was in my position he would have done the same.”

    Larson salvaged a 13th place finish and while he was obviously unhappy, said that he understood Newman’s motivation.

    “Coming to the finish, there were a lot of cars racing really hard,” Larson said in a team statement Monday. “I knew the 31 (of Newman) was right around me and knew he needed to gain some spots to keep from getting eliminated from the Chase.

    “It’s a little upsetting he pushed me up to the wall, but I completely understand the situation he was in, and can’t fault him for being aggressive there. I think a lot of drivers out here would have done something similar if they were in that position.”

    Newman’s finish put him one point ahead of Gordon, ending his championship hopes for this year. Yet Gordon is proud of his team and the integrity he feels he has maintained throughout the season.

    “It’s disappointing, Gordon said. “We have a lot to hold our heads high about, the way we raced this race and this season. I hope we taught people that you can race clean and you don’t have to wreck people and ruin people’s season.”

    Is winning the only thing that matters? Opinions are as varied among the drivers as they are among their devoted fans. However, for better or worse, I have no doubt that whoever wins the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship will waste little time reflecting on how they got there as they hoist their trophy high.

  • Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Victory at Martinsville – A Story of Celebration and Loss

    Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Victory at Martinsville – A Story of Celebration and Loss

    His smile is infectious and his exuberance contagious. Nowhere was that more evident than in victory lane after Dale Earnhardt Jr. finally won at Martinsville Speedway. He’s an unexpected combination of vulnerability and a hidden strength born of tragedy that endears him to not only his fans but his fellow competitors as well. When Earnhardt wins it’s difficult not to get caught up in his joy.

    He grew up at racetracks all over the country but Martinsville and the iconic grandfather clock given to its winners has always held a special place in his heart as it conjures memories of his Dad.

    “Been coming here so many years,” Earnhardt begins, painting a picture as he remembers. “I’ve been coming here since the early ’80s, watching races here. Dad won several races here, brought home several clocks. As I remember one in particular that set at the front door, in the hall by the stairs. Had this little round rug right in that hallway that I’d run my Matchbox cars on, listening to the race on the Racing Motor Network. That clock would ring on the hour.”

    “I still really can’t believe it,” he continued. “The clock seems so hard to get. This is so special. I try not to get too caught up in the emotion of it because it’s a team deal, but this is very personal and very special to me to be able to win here.”

    The victory comes one week after Earnhardt was eliminated from NASCAR Sprint Cup championship contention after failing to advance to the Eliminator Round. In a year that began with a second Daytona 500 trophy, it was a surprising twist in a season that held such promise. Although he’s disappointed, the win at Martinsville, his fourth this year, serves as affirmation that the future is bright for this team.

    “I don’t believe in fairytales, Earnhardt said. “It’s only destiny in hindsight, you know. This wasn’t our year.  It’s only magical after the fact when you see it happen. But it just wasn’t our year, man. It feels good not to sit there and watch everybody else just finish the year off. I’m glad we were able to get a win, remind ourselves that if we keep working hard, keep trying, maybe we will win the championship like we want to.”

    The victory was even more poignant as it was ten years ago that a Hendrick Motorsports plane crashed, killing all ten passengers aboard while en route to Martinsville Speedway, including team owner Rick Hendrick’s son, brother and two nieces.

    As the two men hugged in victory lane, it was impossible to miss the heartfelt bond that they share.

    “I could feel how important it was to him and his embrace, when he would hug me. You just know there’s a genuine hug and there’s a hug. His was the real deal,” Earnhardt observed. He went on to say, “There’s a part of you that loves to celebrate those people’s lives. But there’s the other half of you that can’t forget the loss.”

    Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s life has been shaped by both triumph and tragedy. But on this day, he chooses to savor the good times with a passion that is irresistible. He may have fallen short of his goal to become a NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion this season but there’s always next year. And, if that dream becomes a reality, it’s going to be one hell of a party.