Category: Featured Stories

Featured stories from SpeedwayMedia.com

Danica Patrick Announces Full-Time Commitment: Was Popularity Compromised For Talent?

[media-credit name=”NASCAR.com” align=”alignright” width=”220″][/media-credit]When it was first announced that IZOD IndyCar Series driver Danica Patrick would be officially making her debut in the NASCAR Nationwide Series for the 2010 season, the internet exploded with the fans blogging about what type of impact she would have on the sport.

With many unanswered questions because of her lack of experience behind the wheel of the much heavier stock car, and the fact that her Indy car career was less than stellar at best.

The fans began to take sides after they realized she was serious about her attempt to try and compete in a series, which is nowhere near the types of cars she grew up racing in. Skepticism ran rampant as the season progressed, and Patrick herself made it hard for the fans to gauge if indeed she had what it took to compete at this level, since her results reflected her lack of experience.

Patrick ran a total of 13 races in 2010 without a top-five, or top-10 finish, and only finished one race on the lead lap. With each passing race, we heard the watered down versions of why she might become an overnight success, with most of them based on her one victory that came in the IZOD IndyCar Series. Even though her results were nowhere near what she felt she was capable of, she continued to pursue her dream of one day becoming a star in a series where most felt her popularity and GoDaddy’s marketing skills took over.

After all it is was founder and CEO of GoDaddy.com Bob Parson’s, who thrust Patrick into the limelight with his unique marketing strategy, while capitalizing on the sex sells society that we live in today. The only lingering question that had yet to be answered was, did popularity take over where talent used to be the main focus when a driver came into the series?

Parson’s himself said that, “This is not only big news for NASCAR fans; it has all the ingredients for some major GoDaddy-esque marketing magic.” “If she decided to move into ice skating, I’d go with her. The only issue I have is if I’m stroking the check, because she certainly is one of a kind. I expect to be able to (sponsor her), but business is business. You have to make hay while in the prime of your life, and she’s definitely (there),” said Parsons.

Kyle Petty, who lately has become one of Patrick’s biggest detractors once, said that, “She’s not Dario Franchitti and she’s not Tony Stewart. She’s not really shown over there [in the Indy Racing League] and won races and done stuff over their numbers-wise.” Petty also added, “She’s just a marketing machine, and let’s look at the facts and be blunt about it. If she gets in that car and doesn’t win races, it’s not the car, it’s not the engines and it’s not the team.”

These comments along with a few others during the months leading up to her big announcement that she would indeed pursue a full-time career in NASCAR, has set the tone for her transition from open wheel to the NNS. The hype along with the expectations from her fans followed her into the 2011 season, where so far in seven starts she has lead four of the 1134 laps she has competed in, while picking-up one top-five, and three top-10 finishes.

Whether or not this was a big enough improvement to keep her detractors at bay, was clearly seen by the numerous comments after each race with the consensus usually being a lop-sided victory for the nay-sayers. Yet none of this kept has kept her or her loyal fans from believing the dream of becoming NASCAR’s next biggest star based on talent, and not on popularity alone as we shall see with today’s official announcement that Patrick will be behind the wheel of the JR Motorsports No. 7 Chevrolet, full-time in 2012.

“I’m excited to start the next chapter. … I’m ready to go. We can finally put the rumors to rest — I am going full-time NASCAR with Go Daddy next year,” said Patrick officially during today’s new conference at GoDaddy’s headquarters in Arizona. “I’m very excited to finally say it,” Patrick said. “From the first time I got out of the car in the ARCA race at Daytona [in 2010], it was the most fun I ever had in a race car. It probably had to do with the bumping, but it was the most fun I ever had in a car and I think that really started it.”

Patrick now has the ball in her court, and her destiny lies within her own grasp whether or not she is the real deal, or just another pretty face trying to capitalize on her good looks. The season will be one her toughest not only in the stands, but also on the track since the NNS runs 34 races and 8,063 laps, as compared to 18 races and about half the laps in a much heavier car.

The scrutiny would have continued no matter which series she would have ultimately chosen, and only Patrick herself knows where her limitations lie, as well as what she is capable of achieving. Her final decision to race full-time in NASCAR is no longer an experiment, but after today has become a reality and she is ready to jump in with both feet. Popularity and talent can go hand in hand, but that will be up to her to decide since she is the one who made the choice to try and defeat the odds and seek after what many woman before her have dreamed about.

“I’ve truly enjoyed my experience in NASCAR to the point I want to do it full time. I feel like in the last year, I’ve really come around much more on the track and top-10s are happening much more frequently and I feel like I’m getting it more all the time.”

August 25, 2011
Bristol Motor Speedway Promises to Deliver – Sprint Cup Preview

Bristol Motor Speedway had humble beginnings.

[media-credit name=”CIA Stock Photo” align=”alignright” width=”241″][/media-credit]In 1960 Larry Carrier and Carl Moore visited Charlotte Motor Speedway and came away with a dream. They wanted to build a race track in Tennessee.

But the goal was not to imitate. They had a vision of a half-mile track with turns banked at 22 degrees and amphitheater style seating that would offer a more personal experience for race fans.

With the help of R.G. Pope, the dream of Bristol International Speedway became a reality and the first race was run on July 30, 1961. The seating capacity was 18,000.

A practice session was held for ‘The Volunteer 500’ on July 27, 1961 and Tiny Lund was the first driver on the new track. Fred Lorenzen won the pole for the first race with a speed of 79.225 mph. The 1960 Rookie of the Year, David Pearson, was there, becoming the first driver to drive the No. 3 at Bristol.

Jack Smith became the first winner at Bristol even though he wasn’t in the car when the race ended. He made it to lap 290 but had to turn the car over to relief driver Johnny Allen, due to severe blistering on his feet.

Throughout the years, there have been many changes. The name has changed, ownership has changed and the track has undergone a few makeovers.

In 1969 the banked turns were increased up to 36 degrees, the track size was enlarged to .533 miles and in 1992, they switched to a concrete surface. Today the seating capacity is approximately 160,000. The current Sprint Cup qualifying record is 128.709 mph and was set by Ryan Newman on March 21, 2003.

There has however been one constant. Bristol Motor Speedway is short track racing at its best. The drivers love it and the fans can’t get enough.

Dale Earnhardt got his first Cup win at Bristol in 1979. Other first time winners include Rusty Wallace, Ernie Irvan, Elliot Sadler and Kurt Busch.

The 2011 Sprint Cup season has already seen five first time winners. Will we add another name to the list at Bristol Motor Speedway?

Anticipation is building for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Irwin Tools Night Race at Bristol this Saturday as drivers try to snare a spot in the Chase.

Kyle Busch has already clinched at least a Wild Card slot in the Chase with his win at Michigan. He is also a favorite to win this weekend. He swept all three series last August and has 11 wins at Bristol, including five in the Cup Series. Those five wins tie him with Jeff Gordon and Kurt Busch, for most among active drivers.

Darrell Waltrip currently holds the record for most driver wins with 12 (7 consecutively).

We could also be looking at a little rivalry between the Busch brothers. Kyle’s win at Michigan was his 23^rd Sprint Cup victory which mirrors brother Kurt’s 23 total wins.

Brad Keselowski is another one to watch at Bristol Saturday night.

Only a month ago he was 23^rd in points and didn’t appear to have any chance of making the Chase. Three weeks ago, he broke his ankle and everyone counted him out. But then the unthinkable happened. Instead of giving up, he used the injury as motivation and has rebounded to 12^th in the points standings.

His win at Pocono plus a second place finish at Watkins Glen and a third place finish at Michigan have moved him up to only 52 points outside the top ten.

For all the Chase contenders, the number to remember this weekend is 97. Any driver leaving Bristol with a 97 point lead over 11^th place will guarantee themselves a spot in the Chase. All of the top eight drivers can mathematically reach this goal.

On the Wild Card front, Brad Keselowski and Denny Hamlin have laid claim to the top two spots. Keselowski has two wins and Hamlin has one victory. Hamlin scores the second spot because of points position.

Paul Menard in 18^th place and David Ragan in 20^th, each have one win and are still in the running for a wild card slot. Marcos Ambrose and Regan Smith each have victories, but currently sit outside the top 20.

Bristol is also the final race for drivers to become eligible for the Sprint Summer Showdown. The Bristol winner will join Paul Menard, Brad Keselowski, Marcos Ambrose and Kyle Busch, who have all secured a spot. If one of these eligible drivers wins at Atlanta, they will claim a million dollar payout. The driver’s charity and one fan will also receive a million dollars.

It’s getting crunch time in the ‘Race to the Chase’ and Bristol Motor Speedway promises to deliver a night of excitement. You never know what will happen but one thing is certain. You don’t want to miss it.

August 25, 2011
NEWSFLASH – Danica says goodbye IndyCar, hello NASCAR

*(RacingWire)* – Danica Patrick is leaving her roots of open wheel racing to go full-time stock car racing in 2012. Patrick will drive the full NASCAR Nationwide Series Schedule with Dale Earnhardt Jr’s JR Motorsports and select Sprint Cup Series races with Stewart-Haas Racing.

August 25, 2011

Harvick wins the NCWTS O’Reilly Auto Parts 200 at Bristol

Kevin Harvick won his first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway on Wednesday night in the O’Reilly Auto Parts 200.

[media-credit name=”Brad Keppel” align=”alignright” width=”240″][/media-credit]Harvick held off Johnny Sauter in the final laps for his third consecutive victory in the Truck Series.

“Three in a row, that’s pretty cool.” Harvick said.

Todd Bodine finished third James Buescher fourth and Timothy Peters finished fifth.

Ron Hornaday started third but got loose exiting off of turn 2 and slid into the inside wall, ending his night early.

On lap 51, Chris Jones driver of the #87 was turned into the outside wall by Jake Crum, #01. Jones did a little retaliation bump before bringing it into the garage for repairs. “I got plum run over.” said Crum. “I don’t know if he ran out of talent or brains.”

On lap 62, Crum was caught up in a multi-truck crash in turn 4 after Ricky Carmichael and Max Papis get together. Crum slammed into the side of the #9 of Max Papis, sending both of them to the garage.

On lap 99 during the restart, Elliott Salder spun Kyle Busch into the outside wall exiting turn 2. Busch suffered severe front end damage but stayed on the track until Sadler made it back around the track. As Sadler tried to make the move around Busch, Busch pushed him up high and spun him out in retaliation. Busch also clipped him in the rear during the spin.

Busch’s quest for a fourth consecutive victory at Bristol came to an end as his pit crew was unable to make repairs and get him back into the race. But Sadler’s crew was able to make repairs and he finished ninth.

“I honestly think his sponsor didn’t see that I was on the outside of him.” Sadler said.

Busch admitted that he took Sadler out and accused Sadler of purposely taking him out. Busch made a reference to the person that pays Sadler’s paycheck, referring to Kevin Harvick Inc (KHI).

“Where does his paycheck come from? We were racing earlier tonight and I pulled a slide job on him and he ran into me three times after that. Then got clear of him for a while and on that restart there I was trying to slide him and get up to the top. The spotter said I was clear and I was clear at the time. Maybe I was too late. He wrecked us and I’m not going to put up with it.” Busch said.

“Shows how smart Kyle Busch is. Elliott is not even driving for us tonight. We can drive as dirty as he wants.” Harvick said in victory lane.

On lap 144, #39 Ryan Sieg and #51 Josh Richards get together as Sieg tried to make a move low. Also #32 Blake Feese and Papis were also involved.

Sauter increased his points lead from five points to seven over Buescher in the series standings.

Unofficial Race Results
O’Reilly Auto Parts 200, Bristol Motor Speedway
http://www.speedwaymedia.com/truckseries/race.php?race=16
==============================================
Pos.	St.	No.	Driver	Make	Points
==============================================
1	6	2	Kevin Harvick	Chevrolet	0
2	12	13	Johnny Sauter	Chevrolet	42
3	9	5	Todd Bodine	Toyota	41
4	5	31	James Buescher	Chevrolet	40
5	8	17	Timothy Peters	Toyota	39
6	10	22	Joey Coulter *	Chevrolet	38
7	29	6	Justin Lofton	Toyota	37
8	2	8	Nelson Piquet Jr. *	Chevrolet	36
9	1	124	Elliott Sadler	Chevrolet	0
10	11	29	Parker Kligerman *	Dodge	34
11	15	81	David Starr	Toyota	33
12	30	60	Cole Whitt *	Chevrolet	32
13	27	119	David Mayhew	Chevrolet	0
14	31	92	Clay Rogers	Chevrolet	30
15	14	20	Johanna Long *	Toyota	29
16	20	23	Jason White	Chevrolet	29
17	13	151	Josh Richards	Toyota	27
18	35	32	Blake Feese	Chevrolet	26
19	34	66	Ross Chastain	Chevrolet	25
20	4	62	Brendan Gaughan	Toyota	24
21	18	88	Matt Crafton	Chevrolet	23
22	28	109	Bryan Silas	Ford	0
23	17	3	Austin Dillon	Chevrolet	21
24	3	33	Ron Hornaday	Chevrolet	20
25	26	39	Ryan Sieg	Chevrolet	19
26	33	9	Max Papis	Toyota	18
27	21	73	Brian Johnson Jr.	Chevrolet	17
28	24	170	Jeff Agnew	Chevrolet	16
29	22	4	Ricky Carmichael	Chevrolet	15
30	7	18	Kyle Busch	Toyota	0
31	16	7	Miguel Paludo *	Toyota	13
32	19	7	John King	Toyota	12
33	25	101	Jake Crum	Chevrolet	11
34	23	87	Chris Jones	Chevrolet	10
35	32	93	Mike Garvey	Chevrolet	9
36	36	165	Brent Raymer	Chevrolet	8

August 24, 2011

NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Michigan

Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

[media-credit name=”CIA Stock Photo” align=”alignright” width=”227″][/media-credit]1. Kyle Busch: Busch took the lead at Michigan with 12 laps to go, then fought off Jimmie Johnson during a green-white-checkered finish to win the Pure Michigan 400. It was Busch’s series-best fourth win of the year, and he took sole possession of the points lead, and now leads Johnson by ten.

“I clinched a spot in the Chase For The Cup,” Busch said. “That makes me the first to do so this year. That fact supports my motto to ‘Stay one step ahead of the competition, and an arm’s length away from Kevin Harvick and Richard Childress.

“Many are calling this the ‘new’ Kyle Busch. I’d prefer the previous version not return. Of course, if I start the Chase as the favorite and a points lead and fail to win the Sprint Cup, then I guess the ‘old’ Kyle will have returned.”

2. Jimmie Johnson: Johnson finished second at Michigan, coming up short in a late battle with Kyle Busch for the win. It was Johnson’s third straight top-10 finish, and he moved up to second in the Sprint Cup point standings, ten behind Busch.

“Everyone is calling Busch the favorite to win the Sprint Cup championship,” Johnson said. “But I think it’s wide open. There are eight to ten drivers who could win the Cup. But only one who will.

“It remains to be seen whether Kyle can hang with the five-time champ in the Chase. There’s a not-so-fine line between being ‘No. 1’ and ‘no one.’ The way I see it, until you’re the former, you’re the latter.”

3. Carl Edwards: Edwards tumbled from the Sprint Cup points lead after early electrical problems sent the No. 99 Aflac Ford to the garage. After losing 28 laps for repairs, Edwards eventually finished 36^th, and fell to fourth in the standings, 39 behind Kyle Busch.

“What can electrical problems do to a points lead?” Edwards asks. “Make it not current. Carl Edwards not in the points lead? That’s a shocker. Luckily, my tumble down the points standings is made more tolerable by knowing I just signed a fat, new contract. Surprisingly, cold, hard cash makes for a soft landing.

“You may have heard my animated character appeared on the Disney cartoon ‘Kick Buttowski.’ Jack Roush’s character appeared as well, representing a car owner who goes to extreme lengths to keep his driver happy. He’s called ‘Kiss Buttowski.’”

4. Matt Kenseth: Kenseth led the way for Roush Fenway Racing at Michigan, finishing tenth as David Ragan took 12^th and Greg Biffle finished 20^th. Carl Edwards was slowed by electrical problems and finished 38^th, falling out of the points lead.

“It was an up-and-down day for RFR,” Kenseth said. “I finished tenth, but Biffle finished a middle-of-the-pack 20^thdespite leading 86 of 203 laps, while Edwards suffered major electrical issues in finishing 36^th. Is Boris Said still looking for Biffle’s address? Here’s a clue: the street name is not Victory Lane. As for Edwards, he’s gone downhill since signing his contract extension. He’s down to No. 4 in the points standings after leading the way for most of the year. I guess we should start calling him ‘Fourth Cousin Carl.’

“Did you notice my No. 17 with the Kroger paint scheme? That may have been the first time anything associated with Matt Kenseth has been described as colorful. It sure would have been funny had Clint Bowyer’s No. 33 car, sponsored by Cheerios and Hamburger Helper, would have ‘got into’ my Kroger car.”

5. Jeff Gordon: Gordon led 50 laps at Michigan, second to Greg Biffle’s 86, and finished sixth, his 11^th top-10 result of the year. He moved up one spot to sixth in the point standings and trails Kyle Busch by 60.

“The car was at its best while leading,” Gordon said. “By the way, in addition to my Sprint Cup titles, I’m a four-time champ at stating the obvious.”

6. Kevin Harvick: Harvick finished a mediocre 22^nd in the Pure Michigan 400, his fifth result outside the top 10 in the last six races. He is third in the Sprint Cup point standings, 39 behind rival Kyle Busch.

“The No. 29 Budweiser car has not been impressive lately,” Harvick said. “I’ve told my crew in so many words that ‘This Bud’s Forgettable.’

“What this team needs in a complete turnaround. One provided by me, while in the car, and not one issued by Kyle Busch, while I’m not in the car.”

7. Kurt Busch: Busch finished 34^th at Michigan, suffering a tire pressure problem that sent him into the wall on lap 197. Busch’s two worst finishes have come in the last two weeks, and he dropped two places to eighth in the point standings.

“That’s two DNF’s this year,” Busch said. “Three if you count my feud with Jimmie Johnson.

“Now, my brother Kyle’s ascension to the points lead will make for an interesting Busch family dynamic in the Chase. There will be Kyle, everyone’s favorite, and me, no one’s favorite.”

8. Brad Keselowski: Keselowski remained NASCAR’s hottest driver, finishing third at Michigan to validate August 7^th’s win at Pocono and last week’s runner-up finish at Watkins Glen. He improved two spots to 12^th in the Sprint Cup point standings, and solidified his wildcard standing for the Chase.

“It looks like I’ll be joining Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin,” Keselowski said, “when we all three limp into the Chase.”

9. Ryan Newman: Newman posted his eighth top-8 finish of the year, coming home fifth in the Pure Michigan. Newman jumped one place in the point standings to seventh, 74 out of first.

“I hear Steven Wallace raised the ire of Patrick Carpentier’s team at Montreal on Saturday,” Newman said. “So much that Carpentier’s crew chief Jerry Baxter reached inside Wallace’s car and grabbed a handful of hair to voice his displeasure. I can certainly relate to the reaction of Baxter. I’ve pulled hair out on account of a Wallace before. That would be Rusty Wallace, and that would be my own hair.”

10. Tony Stewart: Stewart finished ninth in the Pure Michigan 400, a solid finish, yet one he was not pleased with. Although he sits 10^th in the point standings, Stewart said he be ‘wasting one of those top-12 spots” the way he’s running right now.

“Just to clarify,” Stewart commented, “I said ‘What a waste,’ not ‘What a waist.’

“I once had a pet monkey named ‘Mojo. He’s missing, but I’ve replaced him with one I like to call ‘Chase Bubbles.”

August 23, 2011
NASCAR Sprint Cup Point Standings Analytics – After Race 23

The announcement of a change to the distribution of points across NASCAR national series sparked debate among even the most conservative NASCAR fans. One of the explanations behind the change was to develop a more dramatic points battle to increase fan interest.

[media-credit name=”CIA Stock Photo” align=”alignright” width=”213″][/media-credit]A debate arose over the fact that a quick calculation would show that very little, if anything, would change in the final championship standings. In fact, even among the more common point distributions across all major racing series, by the end of the season there did not appear to be much of a difference in the order of the final standings.

Here, I shall contend that debate with weekly comparisons across the three most commonly mentioned distributions, plus my own personal points schedule designed to reward both race winners and consistent high finishes.

Classic Points System – Standings After Race 23

In each of the various points distributions Kyle Busch enjoys a commanding lead over the rest of the Sprint Cup field. As has been shown throughout the season, the majority of the standings remains virtually unchanged between the old and new system.

Notable changes in position compared to current system: None

Changes to Chase Field: NONE

F1 System – Standings After Race 23

It is in the F1 points distribution in which Busch’s four victories this season truly pays off. He would possess an over two race advantage over second place runner Carl Edwards, and nearly a five race advantage over fifth place Jeff Gordon. Brad Keselowski enjoys a nice jump up into the top ten, while Dale Earnhardt, Jr and Tony Stewart slide back to 13th and 14th respectively.

With Keselowski and Hamlin residing in the top ten, big changes occur in the Chase field.

Notable changes in position compared to current system: Regan Smith (+5), Brad Keselowski (+4), Denny Hamlin (+4), Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (-4), Tony Stewart (-4), Greg Biffle (-9), A.J. Allmendinger (-10)

Changes to Chase Field: Marcos Ambrose (IN), David Ragan (IN), Tony Stewart (OUT), Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (OUT)

IndyCar System – Standings After Race 23

Similar to the F1 distribution, Kyle Busch sits atop the standings by a difference of nearly two full races. Again, the Chase standings are shaken up, but this time the difference is much smaller with David Ragan and Marcos Ambrose tied in points, while Paul Menard is a mere two points behind them.

Notable changes in position compared to current system: Denny Hamlin (+4), Brad Keselowski (+3), Kevin Harvick (-3), Jeff Burton (-5), A.J. Allmendinger (-7)

Changes to Chase Field: Marcos Ambrose (IN), David Ragan (IN), Tony Stewart (OUT), Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (OUT)

Phat’s System – Standings After Race 23

For an explanation of the points distribution, please see consult table below standings. This distribution is designed to reward race winners, while also rewarding those who run well every week.

In the last distribution, Busch maintains another two plus race advantage over Carl Edwards. In another change to the Chase field, Paul Menard finds himself as the second wild card, only 18 points ahead of David Ragan and 26 ahead of Marcos Ambrose.

Notable changes in position compared to current system: Marcos Ambrose (+5), David Ragan (+4), Kasey Kahne (+3), Kevin Harvick (-3), A.J. Allmendinger (-5)

Changes to Chase Field: Paul Menard (IN), Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (OUT)

August 23, 2011
NOTES FROM THE NASCAR NATION: A TAIL GATE PARTY IN THUNDER VALLEY – NCWTS EDITION

The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will be taking its high energy tail gate party to Tennessee’s Thunder Valley for a special Wednesday night event at the always exciting, but treacherous, Bristol Motor Speedway. NASCAR’s national truck series was simply born to excite fans on a short track. Wednesday night’s race is expected to present just about any racing scenario you can name before the checkers falls on the O’Reilly 200. After all, it’s Bristol baby !

THE STORY BREAKDOWN

[media-credit name=”CIA Stock Photo” align=”alignright” width=”243″][/media-credit]The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will be bringing a skin tight points battle to Bristol Wednesday night. At this point in time there is only a 12 point separation between the top four drivers. Thorsport Racing’s Johnny Sauter sits on top of the standings at 519 points but it’s only a five point cushion over Turner Motorsports’ driver James Buescher. Third in the standings, and only eight points back, is Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Dillon while Red Horse Racing driver Timothy Peters is 12 points from the top in fourth. Any combination of Bristol motorized mayhem could easily alter the course of this championship profile.

But the tightest points battle of all, in NASCAR’s truck series, is the owner’s points battle. Kyle Busch Motorsports and Kevin Harvick Inc are tied at 583 points each. It appears that this may be their latest run off between two Sprint Cup drivers,and truck series owners, who have a long history of running against each other. The tie in the owner’s standings is largely based on the red hot Kevin Harvick who has won the last two Camping World Truck Series races in a row. Harvick will be returning to his #2 Hunt Brothers Pizza/KHI Chevrolet for Wednesday’s race at Bristol. He will be part of a three truck team that also includes KHI team mates Ron Hornaday Jr and Nelson Piquet Jr.

Kyle Busch Motorsports will be strongly represented as well with Busch himself returning to his #18 Dollar General/Combos/KBM Toyota. Busch is defending race champion from 2010. He will be joined by KBM development driver Josh Richards who will be behind the wheel of the #51 Joy Mining Machinery Toyota.

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

On a very sad note you will be hearing about NASCAR Camping World Series driver Shane Sieg who, last Monday, was placed on indefinite suspension by NASCAR officials for violating the sanctioning body’s substance abuse policy. Known for having the most rigid substance abuse policy in all of professional sports, NASCAR has made it clear they have a zero tolerance policy for violators. It’s bad enough when a mechanic from a race team fails a random drug test, But when a driver fails a test it’s really serious not to mention extremely dangerous. NASCAR should be applauded for taking this strong stand. But there is a benevolent clause in the policy, known as “The Road To Recovery.” If this young driver can successfully complete an approved rehabilitation program he will be eligible for consideration for reinstatement. Here’s hoping Sieg does the right thing and takes advantage of that opportunity.

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

On a much happier note congratulations and God bless goes to series regular Miguel Paludo and his wife Patricia who, on Monday, welcomed the arrival of their son. Oliver Paludo arrived weighing in at eight pounds three ounces. Mom and the baby are reported to be doing just fine.

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

Fans of driver Jason White will notice a striking difference in the appearance of his #23 Gunbrokers.Com/Joe Denette Motorsports Chevrolet Truck. It will be sporting a striking new paint job created by Sam Bass, the official artist of NASCAR.

Jason White was rather busy on Tuesday where he spent the day in Bristol, Virginia participating in a special photo shoot with famed hair stylist Sherri Jesse. The photos will be featured in an upcoming addition of “Style Source” Magazine.

White will also have a special guest team mate to work with during Wednesday night’s Bristol race. NASCAR Nationwide Series regular Elliot Sadler will be behind the wheel of the #24 Joe Denette Motorsports Chevrolet with sponsorship provided by AM FM Energy along with Pellet and Wood Stoves.

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

THE RACE BREAKDOWN

Wednesday night’s O’Reilly 200 is 200 laps/106.6 miles around the Bristol Motor Speedway’s tightly wound .533 mile concrete covered oval.

The race has 39 entries vying for the 36 starting berths. Yes, you read that right: 36 full sized racing trucks on a half mile oval. 14 of those entries are on the go or go home list meaning they will have to earn a starting berth based on qualifying speed because they are currently outside of the series’ top 25 in owner’s points.

Don’t be misled by the fact this race is 200 laps long. The laps fly by very quickly and, for the drivers and crew chiefs, it will be “GO” time the moment the initial green flag is dropped.

All aspects of the O’Reilly 200 will be carried live by the SPEED Channel beginning with qualifying scheduled for 5 pm eastern time. The pre-race set up show will begin at 730 pm eastern.

August 23, 2011
Some comments deserve to be repeated – Michigan and Montreal

During the NASCAR weekend, at both Michigan and Montreal,we observed a bizarre bad hair moment as well as the driver frustrations of trying to make the Sprint Cup Chase For The Championship line up.From that came several comments that deserved to be repeated. Here are just a few of them.

[media-credit name=”CIA Stock Photo” align=”alignright” width=”224″][/media-credit]In the moments that followed the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Montreal, Jerry Baxter was a very angry man. Baxter is the crew chief for Pastrana-Waltrip Racing’s Nationwide Series team. He was manning the pit box at Montreal for driver Patrick Carpentier. Baxter really wanted to help deliver a win, or at least a rock solid finish, for his driver because it was Carpentier’s final race before he officially retired from driving after spending 27 years in the sport.Sadly that didn’t happen. Carpentier found himself in an altercation with Nationwide Series regular Steve Wallace. The fact that Carpentier had to settle for a disappointing 32nd finish while Wallace survived the incident and moved on to finish fourth did not escape the notice of Baxter.

After the race Wallace was sitting in his car on pit road with the window net down and his helmet off. The ESPN Television cameras made quick work of presenting an angry Baxter charging towards the Wallace car. We all expected to see a right hook punch being thrown at the driver. Instead Baxter decided to pull Wallace’s hair. Once we all got over the surprise of this move it was actually pretty funny.

In the aftermath of this incident, Steve Wallace reminded us that “only girls pull hair.” Later, from his “Twitter” account, Wallace wrote: “my hair feels okay, a lil’ sore, ha ha.”

On the Tuesday following the race, Baxter issued a formal apology, issued by Pastrana-Waltrip Racing, that said: “I’m sorry for what happened after the race on Saturday, and I take full responsibility for my own actions. I called Steve and apologized. I was frustrated and let my emotions get to me.” Wallace responded with another “Tweet” that read: “just talked to Jerry Baxter, he’s going to give me my hair back, ha ha.”

Also weighing in on this issue was NASCAR Nationwide Series driver Kenny Wallace, the uncle of Steve Wallace, via his “Twitter” account. In his first message Kenny Wallace praised Baxter for his apology. Apparently someone sent Wallace a “Tweet” asking him what his brother Rusty Wallace, Steve’s dad and team owner, thought about this incident. Kenny Wallace responded with: “Rusty and Steve have THICK skin. Steve finished fourth. That’s what Rusty thinks”

This is not the first time Steve Wallace has found himself in the eye of a racing storm. He seems to thrive on it somehow and proved the point via another “Tweet” where he wrote: “cars run on fuel, I run on controversy and 5 Hour Energy, (his team sponsor), baby !”

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

There are only three races left on the NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule before the official line up for the 2011 Sprint Cup Chase For The Championship. There are a handful of Cup drivers who are seriously feeling the stress of making that all important Chase line up with time running out. One of them is Tony Stewart, the owner-driver of Stewart-Haas Racing. Amazingly, Stewart is still seeking his first win of the 2011 season. Several weeks ago he was in the top five in the points standings and looking good to earn a Chase berth. Now he’s currently tenth in the points standings and worried about staying there so he can participate in the championship run. He has repeatedly blamed this nail biting situation on inconsistent team performances.

Despite a solid ninth place finish at the Michigan race, Stewart simply wasn’t happy and, in an eyebrow raising comment, said: “I will be perfectly honest, at this point of the deal, if we’re going to run this bad, it really doesn’t matter if we make the Chase or not. Our stuff is so bad right now, we’re wasting one of those 12 (Chase) spots right now.”

Some observers referred to this comment as a “meltdown.” Actually it’s not, Stewart was remarkably calm when he made that statement. Those of us who recall his early days in NASCAR, when he was driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, remember times when he was often referred to as “Tony The Terrible.” Now some of those moments were meltdowns.

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

Also feeling the strain of making the Chase line up is driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. During the first quarter of the season NASCAR’s most popular driver was as high as third in the points standings and his massive fan club, known as “the Junior Nation”, was elated. Then a free fall began and Earnhardt now finds himself ninth in the standings and only six points ahead of Stewart. He was working on a needed top ten finish during the Michigan race. A late race caution set up the race’s green-white-checker finish. Prior to the restart Earnhardt was summoned to pit road by crew chief Steve Letarte for two tires and a splash of gas. It was a gamble that sadly didn’t work. The potential top ten turned into a 14th place finish.

After the race, Earnhardt diplomatically said “we probably shouldn’t have made that last pit stop.” Earnhardt said he was pretty much mired down in the field for the final restart adding “we took two tires like a lot of guys and just didn’t have the good fortune at the end of that green-white-checker. We were on the bottom behind the #00, (David Reutimann), and some other people that were slow as hell and just couldn’t go nowhere.”

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

If Stewart and Earnhardt are feeling some major stress, then one has to think that Denny Hamlin may be getting a little frantic regarding his Chase aspirations. Hamlin was a heavy pre race favorite to win the Michigan race. He already has one win this year and a second win would have propelled him from 11th in the standings into the top ten. At the very least a win would have virtually locked down a wild card berth in the final Chase line up. Unfortunately disaster stuck for Hamlin when he smacked the wall during the Michigan race and he wound up with a devastating 35th place finish that dropped him from 11th to 14th in the points.

In the late 1960’s the Beatles came up with a great song that said:”I’ll get by with a little help from my friends.” After the Michigan race Hamlin received some very encouraging words from a very good friend: NBA basketball legend Michael Jordon. It seems that Hamlin and Jordon are not only very close friends they are also involved in some business investments with each other. Jordon sent his friend a text message that Hamlin shared with his fans on his “Twitter” page. That message read;”Tough day my friend. Still in this thing. Stay positive.”

That’s good advice for us all and it’s a comment that deserves to be repeated.

August 23, 2011
AdvoCare Allows David Starr to Focus at Bristol

Just as in many forms of sports, momentum is a key part of a NASCAR teams success and momentum is exactly what the SS Green Light team has heading into this weeks race at the worlds fastest half-mile racetrack. Over the last six races, the team has strung together six lead-lap finishes that include two top-fives and five top-tens. During the recent run, veteran driver David Starr has moved from nineteenth to eleventh in the NCWTS point standings and looks forward to continued success this week

The SS Green Light Racing No. 81 Toyota Tundra will have a fresh new look this week at the Bristol Motor Speedway as premier health and wellness company AdvoCare will back Starr’s effort. AdvoCare will also be supporting David in both the Nationwide and Sprint Cup races at Bristol this week as the fourteen-year NASCAR veteran attempts his first ever “triple” in all three touring series.

“I’ve been using and endorsing AdvoCare performance and wellness products for over nine years and I can honestly say I believe in them. They also have energy, weight loss and skin care products and I use them all. My favorite is AdvoCare Spark® which is a vitamin packet you mix in water,” explained Starr. “I’m a pretty energetic guy and I can feel the energy and focus I get from using AdvoCare products.”

Between his busy race schedule at BMS this week, Thursday evening David will make an appearance at the Food City Race Night where he will sign autographs in the AdvoCare booth from 6:00 to 8:00 on State Street in downtown Bristol.

“For a company as large, well established and successful as AdvoCare to choose SS Green Light Racing and the NCWTS to market their products to the NASCAR community is a great honor for both the team and myself. AdvoCare is a leader in the vitamin and supplement industry and we are going to do our best to put the AdvoCare Toyota Tundra up at the front of the field Wednesday night at Bristol.”

In nine previous NCWTS races at the .533-mile Bristol Motor Speedway, David’s average start is 15.6 and average finish is 14.8. He has one top-five and four top-ten finishes with his best finish of fifth coming in 2005.

“I’m so excited to get to Bristol this week; we’ve got a new partner, the team has so much momentum and our performance has improved tremendously as the season has gone on. Bristol is such a cool racetrack with so much history. There is always a lot of action and excitement both on and off the track, I can’t wait to get there.”

The Boot Campaign and Zachry will provide associate sponsorship on the AdvoCare No. 81Toyota this week.

The O’Reilly 200 is the 261st consecutive NCWTS start for the SS Green Light Racing team and the 281st career start for Starr in the Truck Series. David has four victories, 47 top-fives and 114 top-tens through his 14-year career including two top-fives and seven top-tens so far in 2011.

There are 40 trucks on the preliminary entry list for the O’Reilly 200.

Practice for the O’Reilly 200 will be Wednesday, August 24th from 10:00 a.m. to 10:50 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. with qualifying at 4:35 p.m. and the green flag will fall on the O’Reilly 200 at 8:00 pm. It will be shown live on SPEED TV. It will also be broadcast live via radio worldwide on the Motor Racing Network (MRN) and also Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. All times Eastern.

AdvoCare International, LP is an award-winning, premier health and wellness company headquartered in Plano, TX, that offers more than 70 exclusive nutritional and skincare products and a business opportunity that empowers individuals to explore their ultimate potential. Since 1993, AdvoCare has offered nutritional supplements and vitamins of the highest quality developed through comprehensive research and backed by a Scientific & Medical Advisory Board. For more information on AdvoCare, visit www.advocare.com or call 800-542-4800.

For more information about SS Green Light Racing visit www.SSRacingonline.com or email pr@ssracingonline.com.

August 23, 2011
NASCAR Beginnings Featuring Buck Baker

Elzie Wylie “Buck” Baker was one of the most dominant drivers in NASCAR during the 1950s. His never give up attitude was the fuel for the fire that pushed him to be the best. Baker became the first driver to win consecutive Sprint Cup Championships in 1956 and 1957.

His strategy was a mixture of determination and the belief that he was capable of winning any race.

“You can’t let anyone think you’re not going to win a race,” he once said during an interview. “If you talk yourself out of believing you are a

winnner, then you might as well stay in the pits and let someone else do the driving.”

“There were times we left home without money to buy new tires. We didn’t know where the money was coming from. Heck, there’s times we didn’t have money to put gas in the truck to get to the track.”

“But someone always came through for what we needed. We always could have used more and better equipment, but I’m talking about don’t let yourself believe you can’t be a winner.”

Baker was born on a farm near Chester, SC on March 4, 1919. He didn’t grow up with dreams of racing but he always had a wild streak.

It was a bull calf named Buck that inspired Baker’s nickname because he shared the same uncontrolled abandon as the animal. That recklessness continued into his teenage years when he began running moonshine for his cousin.

He also supplemented his income with a variety of other jobs including working in a bakery and selling cars.

When World War II erupted, Baker did a stint in the Navy and served in Maryland. But even the regimented life of a serviceman did not change him. He still found a way to run moonshine for his pals in his spare time.

After the Navy he moved with his wife and son to Charlotte, NC. Baker found work as a bus driver for Trailways. He had a family and a regular job but Baker was never the typical family man.

One evening he was headed to Union, SC, with about 20 passengers on board. Somebody mentioned that there was a square dance in the town of Chester. They all took a vote and decided to take a detour to the dance.

“The vote to go to the dance was unanimous among the passengers, who were singing and having a good time. So I parked the bus and we all went in. Meanwhile, the dispatcher had the police out looking for the bus.”

They finally arrived in Union about three hours late.

“The passengers were half drunk, hanging out the windows and waving and carrying on. Driving into the garage to park the bus, I almost ran over the owner of the company. He fired me on the spot but rehired me the next morning before it was time to make another run.”

It was during this period of his life that Baker decided he wanted to try his hand at becoming a race car driver. He got a later start than most but competed in his first NASCAR race in 1949, at the age of 30.

Baker found some success in those early years, racing mostly as an independent owner/driver and in 1952 he captured his first win in the Grand National Series (now Sprint Cup Series) in Columbia, SC.

Baker was known as a hard charger both on and off the track. His competitors knew that too much beating and banging on the track would be dealt with in the pits after the race.

“My dad won his share of races on the track,” said Baker’s son Buddy, “but I don’t think he ever lost a battle in the pits.”

In 1955 Baker finished second in the points standings and caught the eye of mulit-car team owner, Carl Kiekhaefer.

“I saw that Buck was my top competition,” Kiekhaefer said. “There is only one thing to do with a man like that — hire him!”

In 1956 Baker won 14 races and his first Cup championship while driving for Carl Kiekhaefer who was partnered with legendary car and engine builder, Ray Fox.

The following year, Kiekhaefer left NASCAR and Baker was on his own again. He partnered with Bud Moore as his crew chief and scored ten victories in 1957. Baker won his second Cup championship becoming the first driver to win consecutive championships.

The following season Baker once again finished second in the points standings.

One of Baker’s most controversial races was on December 1, 1963 at Speedway Park in Jacksonville, FL. Although NASCAR awarded the winning trophy to Baker, the race was actually won by Wendell Scott.

Hours after the event, NASCAR officials admitted that Scott had won the race. Wendell Scott went in the record books as the first and only African-American to win a NASCAR race in the premier Cup series. They gave him a trophy about a month later in Savannah, but it wasn’t the real thing. Baker got the real trophy.

Years later, Baker would say, “Many racers gave him a hard time, including some of my friends, but I got along fine with him and tried to help him. He did as well as anybody with the equipment he had.”

“By the time he was declared the winner, all the fans had left the track. I’ll always believe that I won the race, but I don’t want to take anything from Scott by saying that. It was OK with me, and I was happy for him.”

Baker continued to race until 1976. In 636 starts, he won 46 times and ranks 14th on the all-time wins list.

In addition to his two championships, Baker won the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway three times. His last victory there came in 1964, at the age of 45. It would also be the final win of his career.

Baker considered it his biggest accomplishment.

“In 1964, I drove Ray Fox’s Dodge in the Southern 500. I was 45 years old at the time. Fox was concerned that I was too old to run 500 miles. Others had written me off as too old. I told Fox not to worry about the horse, just load the wagon. Buddy (Buck’s son) was there, and toward the end of the race, Fox was seriously thinking that I might need relief. Buddy told him there was absolutely no need to say anything to me, because I wouldn’t get out of the car. And he’s never been more right.”

“It was the biggest thrill I had in racing. There was nothing left for me to prove to those who had said I was finished.”

Baker was known as one of the most versatile racers of his time. He won races in NASCAR’s Modified, Speedway and Grand American series, raced in multiple makes of cars and won for eight different team owners.

His son, Buddy once said, “There was a time in the modified division that nobody could beat him.”

After retiring from NASCAR, Baker opened the Buck Baker Driving School in 1980. Many of today’s top drivers have attended his school including Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Ryan Newman, Jeff Burton and Ward Burton.

Baker claimed that Jeff Gordon made the decision to race stock cars at his school.

“He turned North Carolina Speedway about three seconds faster than the school car he was driving had ever gone. He drove to the motel and told his mother that stock car racing was what he was going to do for the rest of his life. I knew then that he was going to be a hell of a driver. I guess the rest, shall we say, is history in the making.”

In 1998 Buck Baker was named as one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers and in 2010 was honored as a nominee in the inaugural class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

Baker died on April 14, 2002 at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, NC, at the age of 83.

His son, Buddy, followed his father’s path, winning 19 NASCAR Cup races and continued his legacy at the Buck Baker Driving School.

He summed up his father’s life saying, “Throughout the entire racing world, I don’t know of anybody who would have said he didn’t give 110 percent from the time they dropped the green flag until the time the race was over.”

“He was that same way in life, too.”

Achievements:

1982 – Inducted into the National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame
1990 – Inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame
1992 – Inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame
1996 – Inducted into the Stock Car Racing Hall of Fame
1998 – Inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America
1998 – Named one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers
2010 – Nominee to the inaugural NASCAR Hall of Fame induction class
2011 – Nominee to the NASCAR Hall of Fame
2012 – Nominee to the NASCAR Hall of Fame

Thanks to circletrack.com for Buck Baker quotes

August 22, 2011