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  • Boys have at it!

    Boys have at it!

    With a $1,000,000 on the line, drivers are ready to rumble, All-Star style. Brian France, Chairman and CEO of NASCAR recognizes that this particular event will bring out a more aggressive side of drivers.

    [media-credit name=”Barry Albert” align=”alignright” width=”241″][/media-credit]“You can be a lot more aggressive,” Kyle Busch commented on Friday. “That probably may be the reason why I‘ve gotten myself in trouble here a little bit is just trying to push it as hard as you can push it to try to win the race,” Busch added.

    “The All-Star race is a different atmosphere for me, since it’s a different way of racing for everybody. It’s just that it’s a non-points race, and the pure fact you’re going after a race just for bragging rights and a million bucks,’ Kyle Busch said, ‘That’s what it is all about.” Busch, currently on probation for a post-race altercation with Kevin Hayrick at Darlington Speedway will be under the watchful eye of NASCAR during Saturday‘s main event.

    When questioned about his current feelings and position with Harvick, Busch had this response. “My priorities are to go out on the race track and race everybody as hard as I can, as clean as I can and do my job to try to win races. The things that happen on the race track sometimes when you get into somebody and wrinkle some sheet metal and hurt some feelings,” he continued. “It’s a part of NASCAR racing and has been for years. Unfortunately, there seems to be a following between Kevin (Harvick) and I and what’s going to happen next. To me it’s just another competitor out there on the race track. I race them all the same and give them all the same room that they give me. I don’t foresee any further incidences, but that’s from my side. I’ve forgiven and forgotten.”

    Best known for his exciting style of driving, Busch finds it hard to define his type of driving style. “A lot of guys would say that they’re patiently aggressive. That’s the best way to look at it,’ Busch said. ‘I guess that’s the way I thought I was a few years ago, even though there wasn’t a lot of patience involved.” While his patience has improved, Busch still remains aggressive. His winning ways irk race fans, but in his own words, ‘it makes it exciting for fans.’

    For NASCAR’s newest bad boy Ryan Newman, this race will be a gunfight worth winning. “The win in the All-Star Race was my greatest win, I thought, as a person and as a team.” Newman continued, “What we did and what we achieved that night, it’s all for the glory. In an All-Star race, it’s much more than pride.” Newman, the 2002 All-Star Race winner has recently been called out for an exchange with Juan Pablo Montoya.

    “The All-Star weekend, it has changed what it looks like over the last several years.” Dale Earnhardt Jr. said after questions arose that he did not care if he made the All-Star field. Earnhardt tried to explain his position and felt misinterpreted. “It’s a different race than what it was in the mid-80’s but it is still our All-Star event. Looking at other sports it’s a celebration of the sport, celebration of what the sport is about, celebration of the characters in the sport past and present.”

    While the money and prestige is on the line, Earnhardt believes that this race is all in fun. No pressure and no points were his message. And while many drivers consider this track to be in their backyard because of the race shop location, for Earnhardt it is truly a hometown track. The Kannapolis native believes in the history of the racetrack and has enjoyed coming to the Charlotte Motor Speedway for many years.

    Earnhardt won the All-Star event in 2000. His memories coming to the checkered flag was that of pure panic. “You start hearing all the noises in the car and wondering what’s going to fall off and what you broke and what’s breaking now and what’s going to break,” Earnhardt added. “I don’t know. It was just panic mode the whole time, just really frantic inside the car.”

    Earnhardt, a historian in the garage, would rather see the fans treated to a more relaxed day of racing. He recalls a time when this particular event was more of a circus than a celebration and a fun time to boot. “Now that I’m in the event and working and trying to race and trying to win it,” Earnhardt said,“ it’s a lot more pressure, lot more intense but maybe it’s still fun from the other side of the fence to experience.”

  • Prerace News and Notes from Charlotte Motor Speedway

    Prerace News and Notes from Charlotte Motor Speedway

    [media-credit name=”Barry Albert” align=”alignright” width=”217″][/media-credit]The Sprint Showdown will feature an all Ford front row. Leading the field to the green in Roush Fenway Racing Driver David Ragan in the No. 6 UPS machine. Ragan timed in with a lap of 28.172 seconds, which translates into 191.68 mph. Starting on the outside of the front row is Richard Petty Motorsports driver A.J. Allmendinger in the Best Buy famed No. 43. Rounding out the top 3 is Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Driver Paul Menard.

    —

    The All-Star Race will be led to the green flag by Kyle ‘Rowdy’ Busch in the M&M No. 18 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing. His team turned in a cumulative effort and combined team time of 1:59:19 sec. Clint Bowyer claimed the outside pole position in his Richard Childress Racing BB&T Chevrolet No. 33. Starting third is Roush Fenway Racing Driver Greg Biffle in the No. 16 3M machine.

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    Congratulation to Denny Hamlin and the No. 11 Fed Ex crew who won their second consecutive Pit Crew Challenge for Joe Gibbs Racing.

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    Tony Stewart celebrated his 40th birthday at the track on Friday, and while he admits to a few small pieces of cake. He does agree, there is no place else that he rather be. “I love what I do. I love being with the people that I am around and most of my friends are in the garage area, so I can’t think of a better place to spend my birthday.”

    —

    Special paint schemes of interest include Stewart’s No. 14 carrying the blue and orange colors for Burger King. Mark Martin is riding in the No. 25 Farmers Insurance Group (red). Juan Pablo Montoya is carrying the Energizer banner on the hood of his No. 42 machine in preparation for the ‘Light Up the Night’ program. Carl Edwards Aflac Ford will be decorated in new black and orange AFLAC colors. Kevin Harvick’s Budweiser machine is tearing it up in black, white and red. The famed Rainbow machine of Jeff Gordon has turned into a black and red Dupont machine for the All-Star event. Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s AMP Energy Chevrolet features AMP Up the Music in a black and silver paint scheme. Meanwhile Bobby Labonte will race his No. 47 machine with a new sponsor: Reese Towpower.

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    “With today being NASCAR Day, we are proud of the money we raised, mostly going to children’s charities, and not to mention the monies just granted to the tornado victims throughout Alabama, Tennessee and Mississippi,” Said Brian France when he addressed the media on Friday.

    —

    Monday night the NASCAR Hall of Fame will induct its second class. The class includes Bobby Allison, Ned Jarrett, Lee Petty, Bud Moore and David Pearson.

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    Clint Bowyer shared his excitement about Kansas Speedway. “I just went back there for a media day, just kind of pumping up the upcoming race. The soccer field is done. I’m waiting for the casino. I know that’s going to be a big hit when they get that done. But I’m just looking forward to going back there. I’m really excited about the way our cars are running on these 1.5 mile tracks. The car was good here in practice and we’ve got a brand new bullet in store for Kansas, so I’m looking forward to it.”

    It means a lot to Carl Edwards to be going to Kansas twice this year. “A win at Kansas in the Cup Series, you guys don’t know how much that would mean to me. I am excited we are running twice there. I thin our program is suited very well to those type of tracks.

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    Jeff Gordon will make his 17th appearance in the All-Star race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. He is a three-time winner in this event. (1995, 1997, 2001)

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    Mark Martin appreciates the race fans that make sacrifices to be at the track. “We love the fan which is why we’re able to race on this level. And for most all of us, we came up through the ranks where there might be 1000 or 1500 fans in the stands on a given night of racing. When you start having 150,000 fans at a race, it’s pretty overwhelming for us to really comprehend how you can reach out and touch so many people. The fans are what drives this sport. We’re all grateful for their loyalty.”

    Mark Martin has made 21 appearances in the All-Star event. He has the most appearances of any active driver. He will run the No. 25 HMS machine in this race, which signifies 25 years of racing for Papa Jo Hendrick.

    —

    On their approach to Saturday night’s racing, drivers are of the same mindset. Martin Truex Jr.’s approach “If you don’t win, it don’t matter. Win or go home.” For the Showdown, Brian Vickers is going “all out! We’ve got to just put it on the line. You either win or go home.” Vickers sat out of this event last season following a medical issue.

    —

  • Matty’s Picks – Vol. 2 – Sprint All-Star Race – May 21, 2011

    Matty’s Picks – Vol. 2 – Sprint All-Star Race – May 21, 2011

    [media-credit name=”Barry Albert” align=”alignright” width=”274″][/media-credit]This week, I get the pleasure of submitting picks for two races as well as my ‘Shoe-in’ for a fan-favorite entry into the 2011 Sprint All-Star Race.

    Let’s start with a brief recap of my picks last week. Stepping outside of the recent trend last week, my actual pick to win the race finished higher than my Dark Horse pick. Despite a few critics of my picks last week, I ended up in ‘OK’ shape when the checkered flag flew.

    Dover – ‘Winner’ Pick
    After starting dead last following an engine change prior to the green flag on Sunday, Kyle Busch made the most out of his extremely fast Camry. Busch worked his way from 43rd all the way into the Top-10 by the midway point of the race. It was somewhere around lap 350 that I felt like I had made a really nice pick in KB as he moved into 6th place. Had it not been for a few cars gambling on staying out or taking two tires on their last pit stops, Kyle Busch would have won the race. Finishing third, he was the first car in line that took all four Goodyears on the final stop.

    Dover – ‘Dark Horse’ Pick
    It was a rough day in Delaware for the #27 team. Averaging a running spot of around 22, Paul Menard was nowhere near gaining me points in my own ‘Pick-um’ contest. The end of my hope for double points in my Dark Horse pick came at lap 340 when Menard got into Juan Montoya and subsequently hit the wall. Finishing the race in 24th, three laps down, Menard wouldn’t score me any points at Dover.

    Onto this week’s events…

    Sprint Showdown – ‘Winner’ Pick

    I will stick with the winner of last years Sprint Showdown race for my pick to win this race. Martin Truex Jr. was seventh-quick in practice this afternoon at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Truex has been seen starting towards the front of the field at Charlotte, and to me starting towards the front of a sprint is extremely important. Being familiar with the ‘race your way in’ format of the Showdown will also give Truex an advantage on Saturday Night.

    Sprint Showdown – ‘Dark Horse’

    I think it’s time to see a Red Bull driver finish towards the front, and I think that the Showdown Race will be a great time to see it. Brian Vickers is my Dark Horse for the Showdown. He does have two Top-5’s and three Top-10’s at Charlotte to his credit, so watch for the #83 to make the transfer into the All-Star Race.

    Fan-Favorite ‘Shoe-In’
    Dale Earnhardt Jr. – I don’t see Jr racing his way into the All-Star, but I do see Jr Nation voting him into the race.

    Now to the MONEY RACE…

    Sprint All-Star Race – ‘Dark Horse’

    It is fairly difficult to pick an actual Dark Horse in a field of All-Stars, but this driver is just due for a win. Mark Martin has won two All-Star races in his career and he stands a nice shot at following up his second place finish at Dover with a million dollar win on Saturday Night. He was won four times at Charlotte and has scored 18 Top-5’s at the track.

    Sprint All-Star Race – ‘Winner’ Pick

    Fans will be treated Saturday Night to a ‘Million Dollar Backflip’. Charlotte is a track that has eluded a win for Carl Edwards, despite having four Top-5’s in his twelve races. Seventeen of his nineteen Sprint Cup Series wins have come at intermediate tracks, so Edwards is no stranger to Victory Lane at a 1.5 mile. The 99 team has put together a strong car for Saturday Night, finishing practice second on the speed chart. I think this will be Carl’s turn to collect the One-Million-Dollar purse for winning the 2011 NASCAR All-Star Race.

    On a side note; Kudos to the team of the #11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry for winning the 2011 Pit Crew Challenge.

    Until next week, you stay classy NASCAR NATION!

  • NOTES FROM THE NASCAR NATION: THE INSIDE LINE FROM LAS VEGAS

    NOTES FROM THE NASCAR NATION: THE INSIDE LINE FROM LAS VEGAS

    The annual NASCAR Sprint All Star race, this Saturday night at the Charlotte Motor Speedway, is virtually guaranteed to be filled with the excitement of hard racing and possible surprises both on and off the track.

    One would think that predicting possible winners for an event of this nature would be almost impossible. However, the expert number crunchers and trend observers from the “Las Vegas Insider”, (LVI), have once again risen to the occasion and has presented an All Star ratings survey that appears to be rock solid.

    [media-credit name=”Barry Albert” align=”alignright” width=”227″][/media-credit]JIMMIE JOHNSON AT 7 TO 2 ODDS. It’s no surprise that Double J is on the top of the LVI’s list this week. His personal stats at the Charlotte Motor Speedway are simply awesome. In nine starts in the Sprint All Star Race Johnson has two wins, 2003 and 2006, along with an average finish ratio, (AFR), of 6.7. His stats during the Sprint Cup points events at Charlotte are equally amazing and includes six wins, ten top five finishes, 14 top tens along with an extremely healthy AFR of 9.8.

    CARL EDWARDS AT 4 TO 1. This driver has ascended to the top of the NASCAR Sprint Cup championship standings based on highly consistent performance levels including an early season win at Las Vegas. One would believe that this level of consistency would make him a strong consideration for winning the one million dollars from Saturday’s All Star Race. Before you place some money on this driver you may want to consider his Sprint Cup stats at Charlotte. He’s still looking for his first win there, but he does have four top fives and seven top tens. However his Charlotte AFR is a little on the high side at 17.6.

    KYLE BUSCH AT 5 TO 1. Already a two time winner this season, here’s a driver that has a strong record of creating new records at nearly every track he races on. His 96 career wins, in NASCAR’s three national touring series, supports that. Surprisingly enough the Charlotte Motor Speedway has not been one of his better performance tracks. He’s still looking for his first win there. He has accumulated five top fives, eight top tens but the Charlotte AFR is a rather high 16.6. Despite that number, he’s still one of the best drivers in the Sprint Cup and always a threat to win a race and always a rock solid wager consideration.

    JEFF GORDON AND KEVIN HARVICK AT 8 TO 1. Jeff Gordon is always going to be a solid wager consideration when the Sprint Cup Series races at Charlotte and the LVI 8 to 1 odds could turn out to be lucrative. Gordon is a three time winner of the Sprint All Star Race. He shares the prestige, with the legendary Dale Earnhardt Sr, as being the only three time winners in this race’s 26 year history. His regular Sprint Cup stats at Charlotte are also strong with five wins, 16 top fives, 20 top tens and a 15.6 AFR.

    Kevin Harvick is a two time race winner this year and appears to be in position to become a solid contender for the 2011 Chase For The Championship. He understands what it takes to win the difficult Sprint All Star Race and performed that feat back in 2007. If you’re into long shot wagers then Harvick might be worthy of that consideration. But be aware that his regular Sprint Cup numbers at Charlotte indicates that this is not one of his better tracks. He’s still looking for his first win there. He only has one top five finish, four top tens and his AFR is 20.0.

    DENNY HAMLIN, MATT KENSETH AND TONY STEWART AT 10 TO 1. After a somewhat sluggish start to the 2011 season, Hamlin’s team seems to be finally headed in the right direction although the process is probably not as fast as he would like. If numbers still mean a lot, and they often do, then the All Star Race at Charlotte may not be the right time to put your money on this team. Hamlin is still seeking his first win there, he only has one top five finish and a 17.2 AFR.

    On the opposite extreme is Matt Kenseth who, at 10 to 1, is well worth your wager consideration. The combination of this driver and his crew chief, Jimmy Fennig, has already led to two wins this year. Kenseth’s stats in the All Star Race are outstanding. He won this race in 2004 and has a 6.6 AFR in ten starts. The regular season numbers at Charlotte are also very healthy and includes a win, six top fives and a 15.0 AFR. Again, if you’re looking for a long shot driver this might be the go to guy.

    Sadly, the same cannot be said for Tony Stewart. Every major sports team hits a slump every now and then and that seems to be the situation with the flag ship team from Stewart-Haas Racing. When we start hearing radio transmissions from the driver that claims he’s “embarrassed” by the team’s performance or, in the case of last weekend, “I have no @#%&* confidence in our team right now” this is not a time to call “The Las Vegas Insider” and spend some money on this team. On the extreme opposite end of this situation is the fact that Stewart has some good Charlotte numbers. He’s a former All Star Race winner, in 2009, and his regular season numbers show a win, six top fives and a 13.7 AFR. Maybe this is the place and the race where Stewart can turn his recent fortunes around. I just not sure you want to bet any money on it.

    DALE EARNHARDT JR AND KURT BUSCH AT 12 TO 1. Yes, we’re all aware that Dale Earnhardt Jr is fourth in the Sprint Cup points and the team, under the leadership of new crew chief Steve Letarte, seems to be stronger than ever. But if you’re planning to call the “LVI” to bet on this driver be advised you will have to wait to the extreme last minute Saturday evening to determine if Earnhardt is going to make the line up for the Sprint All Star Race. There’s a little snag with the race criteria here. The race rules say that any driver who won a race in 2010 or 2011 is automatically in the line up. We already know that doesn’t apply to this driver. Previous winners of the All Star Race from the past ten years are also automatically in. Earnhardt is a previous race winner but that happened 11 years ago.

    So why is Earnhardt on the “Las Vegas Insider’s” list at 12 to 1? That’s easy. The “LVI”, just like the rest of us, is nearly positive that Earnhardt will make the All Star Race line via the fan vote provisional. It’s a very safe bet that his fan club, aka the Junior Nation, has been very busy punching the buttons on their Sprint applications to insure their favorite guy has enough votes to make this race. While his cool, calm and collected crew chief will likely once again work his magic to get his team another strong finish, I wouldn’t expect the amount of Letarte magic that will be needed for this team to cash that one million dollar check.

    Then there’s Kurt Busch, the defending All Star Race champion. Here’s a guy who understands the go or blow racing style required to win this race. But the problem here is the highly visible state of unhappiness this driver has been displaying of late. At one level there is the importance of a race team keeping the lines of communication open. Then there’s the Kurt Busch approach to communication that comes with tirades that are often abusive. We’ve hearing it in his media interviews and we’re really hearing it from his in car radio comments that are often just plain brutal. If this team is going to achieve the measure of success everyone believes they’re capable of then this driver has to chill out a little and take it down a notch. Busch has the talent and experience to win the All Star Race, but I wouldn’t bet any money on it this year.

    GREG BIFFLE AT 14 TO 1. Slowly but surely Biffle’s Roush Fenway Racing team is making progress in the points standings and has now worked their way up to 12th in the rankings. He’s still looking for his first win of the season and, for that matter, his first ever win at Charlotte. The one positive factor is the horsepower and performance that comes with the Roush Yates Engines. While the possibilities for this team to win the All Star Race is there, the regular season Charlotte numbers aren’t. You may want to think twice about a long shot bet on this team.

    CLINT BOWYER AT 16 TO 1. After a sluggish start to the season, this team has worked their way to eighth in the championship standings. Bowyer is looking terrific on the track these days and would be worthy of your long shot consideration. The only gray area here is the uncontrollable bad luck that sometimes places this driver in middle of someone else’s temper tantrum. Yes, I’m referring to Harvick vs Busch at Darlington.

    JAMIE MC MURRAY AND JUAN PABLO MONTOYA AT 18 TO 1. Considered to be a Chase contender by many during the off season, Mc Murray seems to be in a points hole and is languishing in 22nd. The All Star Race Saturday could turn out to be the venue to turn things in the right direction. His regular season Charlotte numbers are actually good and includes two wins, five top fives, eight top tens and a 15.7 AFR.

    On the other hand his Earnhardt Ganassi Racing team mate, Juan Pablo Montoya, has Charlotte racing numbers that are disappointing including a 27.6 AFR. However, the All Star Race features a format that is perfectly suited for his style of driving and he could make things interesting Saturday night. The win potential for both of these drivers are there, but I don’t know if I would be spending any money on it.

    MARK MARTIN AND RYAN NEWMAN AT 22 TO 1. Look at this excellent long shot possibility the “LVI” has presented you this week. Mark Martin at 22 to 1 is worthy of serious consideration. First off, he’s a two time winner of the Sprint All Star Race and has a series 21 starts in this event. That means he has the vast experience needed to handle himself in this unique no holds barred race. His regular season Sprint Cup stats at Charlotte are also quite good and includes four wins, 18 top fives, 23 top tens and a 15.7 AFR. The new relationship with crew chief Lance McGrew seems to be gelling. This team looked very strong last weekend at the Dover race. Don’t get distracted by the age issue here. “The Old Man” of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is actually in better physical shape that young drivers half his age and his mental focus is sharper than ever. If you’re into long shot bets, this is your guy.

    Ryan Newman has a special place in his heart for the Sprint All Star Race. He won the event, in 2002, during his rookie season which clearly proved that he belonged in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. While his personal career stats at Charlotte could use a little work, he’s a hard charger who has proven in the past he can run hard, and even hit harder, when it’s necessary. That’s a major plus for an event like the All Star Race.

    Now for the weekly disclaimer. NASCAR wants us to remind you that they consider these posted numbers as a means for both entertainment and information. They neither encourage or condone the placing of wagers on their races.

    But if you’re going to do it anyway, and many of you will, then dial up “The Las Vegas Insider’s” official website to get the latest, updated, information.

    Having said that let the buyer beware. This is the Sprint All Star Race that comes with the traditional no holds barred, anything goes, format. There will be no impact on the the championship standings following this race. That means the drivers are free to race hard for the prestige and the million dollars that comes with winning this event. Anything can happen and often does during the course of this race.

  • NOTES FROM THE NASCAR NATION: THERE ARE A MILLION PLUS REASONS TO WATCH THE ALL STAR RACE

    It’s that time of the year again: the annual break in the traditional NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule for the Sprint All Star weekend at the Charlotte Motor Speedway.

    [media-credit id=41 align=”alignright” width=”280″][/media-credit]For decades the other major American sports has observed this time honored tradition of creating a special day comprised of their best athletes who passed certain eligibility criteria for the right to play in this game. In 1985 NASCAR decided it was time for them to create their very own All Star exhibition. 26 races later it has turned into one of the most exciting, no holes barred, free for all ever seen by sports fans on national television.

    There are at least one million reasons to watch the NASCAR Sprint All Star Race this Saturday night. That would be the one million dollar paycheck the winner is going to receive at the end of the evening. When it comes to that level of racing purse, there will be no consideration for team mates. There will not be a second’s worth of angst over shoving a friend and colleague out of the way. The truth be known, these competitors would use the bump and run on their grandparents to earn the prestige of winning this event and the money that comes with it.

    You also have to consider the fact that the All Star Race has no impact on the driver’s championship points standings. That means they will be free to race as hard as they want to with virtually no consequences to deal with after the race is over. It’s very possible that this race is going to push NASCAR’s “Have At It Boys” policy over the top.

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    THE ELIGIBILITY BREAKDOWN

    The 2011 NASCAR Sprint All Star Race will have a field of 22 cars Saturday night. There were six different levels of criteria to make this race:

    1. Any driver who won a race during the 2010 season or any event so far in 2011 is automatically in the race.

    2. Any NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion from the past ten years will receive a past champion’s provisional.

    3. Any driver who has won the Sprint All Star Race over the past ten years.

    4. The winner of Saturday night’s preliminary race known as the Sprint Showdown.

    5. The driver who finishes second in the Sprint Showdown.

    6. The winner of the annual fan vote competition.

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    THE ALL STAR FORMAT BREAKDOWN

    The NASCAR Sprint All Star Race will be run in four different segments totaling 100 laps. The initial starting line up will be based on qualifying to be held on Friday, 6 pm eastern time. Even the qualifying format is unique for this race. The drivers will turn three laps around the Charlotte Motor Speedway. However, somewhere in the midst of those three laps, they must come down pit road to complete a four tire pit stop.

    SEGMENT ONE: 50 laps with a mandatory green flag, four tire, pit stop on lap 25. At the conclusion of the segment the yellow flag will be presented and teams will have an option of coming back to pit road if needed.

    SEGMENT TWO: 20 laps. Again, a yellow flag will also conclude this segment and teams will be presented the option of coming to pit road.

    SEGMENT THREE: 20 laps. At the conclusion of this segment there will be a ten minute break to allow teams to make standard adjustments to their cars. The finishing order of this segment will determine the starting line up for the fourth, and final, segment.

    SEGMENT FOUR. The ten lap shootout. At the start of this segment the teams will turn one lap behind the pace car and will then come down pit road for a mandatory, four tire, pit stop. The pit road exit order will determine the line up for this final segment. Segment four will be ten green flag laps, yellow flag laps will not be counted.

    This is the “go time” point of the race where drivers will be laying all of their cards on the table to show what they have and what they’re willing to do in order to win this race.

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    THE SPRINT SHOWDOWN FORMAT BREAKDOWN

    This event is open to NASCAR Sprint teams who did not meet the official criteria for a guaranteed starting berth in the All Star Race. This race is NASCAR’s ultimate B main, or last chance, race. It’s 20 laps with only the top two finishers earning a transfer spot to the All Star Race. This event alone has turned out some exciting racing over the years.

    In last year’s event, driver Martin Truex Jr, #56 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota, and Greg Biffle, #16 Roush Fenway Racing Ford, earned the two coveted transfer spots.

    To be eligible for this race a driver must be ranked withing the top 50 of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship points standings. Additionally a driver must have competed in a Sprint Cup event during the 2010 season or attempted to qualify for last February’s Daytona 500.

    This year 43 teams were eligible to compete in the Sprint Showdown with 28 teams signing entry blanks for Saturday night’s race. That entry list features some impressive names, very capable of winning this race, including: Brad Keselowski, David Ragan, Marcus Ambrose, Joey Logano, Paul Menard, Jeff Burton, A J Allmendinger, Bobby Labonte, Martin Truex Jr, Brian Vickers and Dale Earnhardt Jr.

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    THE FAN VOTE BREAKDOWN

    The final starting berth, for Saturday night’s Sprint All Star Race, will be based on fan voting and driver popularity. The voting process began back on March 23d with a record setting 1.5 million voters plus already participating.

    The top ten drivers in the voting process are: A J Allmendinger, Marcus Ambrose, Jeff Burton, Dale Earnhardt Jr, Brad Keselowski, Bobby Labonte, Joey Logano, Paul Menard, David Ragan and Brian Vickers.

    Before you start reading too much into that, you have to be aware that NASCAR and Sprint released the top ten in alphabetical order based on driver last name. They are protecting the identity of the fan favorite until after the Sprint Showdown race.

    However, there’s another reason for the secrecy: the voting period isn’t over yet. Votes will be taken all the way to Saturday evening, 5 pm eastern time. Fans can continue to vote by using their Sprint Mobile application, “NASCAR Dot Com” or voting at the Sprint Experience display center located in the Charlotte Motor Speedway’s midway area. For Sprint customers, every wireless vote submitted from a Sprint, Nextel, Boost Mobile or Virgin Mobile device counts double in the driver vote totals.

    The fact that the fan favorite will be announced prior to the start of the All Star Race creates a special driver criteria. Those eligible for the fan vote will still have to race in the 20 lap Sprint Showdown, they must finish the race on the lead lap and must still have a raceable car to transfer into the All Star event.

    How viable is this fan vote? Ask driver Kasey Kahne. In 2008, Kahne made the Sprint All Star Race line up based on fan vote and went on to win the race and the million dollars.

    By the way, does anyone else think the fan phenomenon known as the Junior Nation will rise to the occasion and work their cell phones to insure that their favorite guy, Dale Earnhardt Jr, gets to race in the All Star event? Yeah, so do I.

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    THE STORY BREAKDOWN

    .

    With that level of prestige and cash on the line Saturday there will be, of course, story lines connected to the Sprint All Star Race. The main story line will be: can we expect to see “Have It Boys” stretched to the breaking point during and especially after the race? That’s highly likely and expect to see it develop during that final ten lap shoot out.

    However, something very unique to “Have At It Boys” developed on Tuesday via a statement from Marcus Smith, President of the Charlotte Motor Speedway. With the next race on the Sprint Cup schedule, the Coca Cola 600, also being at the Charlotte Motor Speedway, it’s definitely in Smith’s best interest to see some “Have At It Boys” match ups this weekend especially after the race. Any form of driver temper tantrums will certainly sell tickets for the Coke 600.

    In a press release, that would make P T Barnum smile, Smith announced that if any driver received a fine from NASCAR for exceeding the limits, whatever they are, of the “Have At It Boys” policy then the Speedway will pay those fines. This is almost tantamount to the “get out of jail free” card from the Monopoly game. It’s also brilliant marketing.

    Smith has also created a special advertising campaign regarding the current feud between drivers Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch that was launched in the aftermath of the Darlington race. The speedway is promoting a poster that displays a picture of their two cars making contact with the caption: “it gets settled in the race for $1 million.”

    However, the general consensus seems to be don’t look for Harvick and Busch to get too close to each other Saturday night. Both drivers are currently serving a four race probation period. However the argument against that states that the probation only applies to the next four points paying Sprint Cup Races. Again, the All Star Race is a non points event. Despite the fact that there has been no real visible effort between these drivers to shake hands and declare a truce, one has to wonder if their thoughts are now returning to making the Chase.

    The other general feeling is Marcus Smith won’t be leaving his speedway disappointed Saturday night. This race is just too famous for bruised egos and wadded up race cars. Someone’s going to get mad Saturday night and someone’s going to try to get even. It’s the nature of the beast.

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

    It will also be very interesting to observe the decisions made by the crew chiefs during Saturday night’s race. This is an opportunity for them to experiment with exotic race set ups and subsequent adjustments. If they discover a winning formula then it could turn out to be a gold mine when they return the following weekend for the running of the Coca Cola 600.

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

    Over the past several weeks we’ve seen a lot of miscues from teams during pit stops that has proved to be costly in terms of track position. It will be imperative that the pit stops run smoothly Saturday night for a driver to put himself in position to win that million dollars. The most common of these miscues has been pit road speeding and that’s an important area drivers will have to focus on when coming in for service. The pit road speed at the Charlotte Motor Speedway is 45 MPH.

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

    The fans of Jimmie Johnson may experience a brief moment of confusion prior to the All Star Race. That’s because Johnson’s Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet will have the #5 on it instead of the traditional #48. It also means that Mark Martin, Johnson’s team mate, will temporarily change his number from 5 to 25 Saturday night.

    The change is in conjunction with a special promotion by Johnson’s long time primary sponsor, Lowe’s Home Improvement stores, who are offering five percent discounts on purchases at their stores when using their Lowe’s credit cards.

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

    THE RACE BREAKDOWN

    The Sprint All Star Race, as well as the Sprint Showdown, are 100 laps/150 miles and 20 laps/30 miles respectively. around the Charlotte Motor Speedway’s 1.5 mile quad oval complete with its steep 24 degrees of banking in the turns.

    There has been 26 Sprint All Star Races in the past. The first was held in 1985, at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, and was won by Bill Elliot. From that point the race was relocated to its present home at Charlotte.

    Those 26 races have sent 18 different winners to victory lane. This highly competitive event has seen seven winners in the last seven races.

    The win list is led by Dale Earnhardt Sr and Jeff Gordon who are the only three time winners of the event. Hendrick Motorsports leads the team win category at six based on three wins from Jeff Gordon, two from Jimmie Johnson and one from Terry Labonte.

    84 different drivers have competed in at least one All Star Race over the 26 years. Mark Martin leads that list with 21 appearances. The race entry has ranged from ten, in 1986, to 27 back in 2002.

    The Sprint All Star Race appears to possibly be somewhat of an omen. Five previous race winners have gone on to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup championship that same year. That prestigious list includes Darrell Waltrip-1985, Dale Earnhardt Sr-1987-1990-1993, Rusty Wallace-1989, Jeff Gordon-1995-1997-2001 and Jimmie Johnson-2006.

    The Weather appears to be basically good for the weekend. The National Weather Service forecast for the Charlotte area calls for sunny skies Friday and Saturday with daytime highs ranging from 81 to 85 degrees. However, the All Star Race is a night time event and Saturday night’s forecast calls for cloudy conditions with an over night low of 51 degrees. That could present an interesting challenge for crew chiefs.

    The Sprint All Star Race will be presented live by the SPEED Channel beginning at 7 pm eastern time.

  • NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Dover

    NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Dover

    Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

    1. Carl Edwards: Edwards posted his fifth straight top-10 finish, and ninth of the year, with a seventh in the Fed Ex 400 at Dover. Edwards led 117 laps, and like Jimmie Johnson, who led 207, took four tires instead of two on the race’s final pit stop, which cost him a chance for the win. Edwards leads the Sprint Cup point standings with a 24-point edge over Jimmie Johnson.

    “It appears we were outsmarted by Matt Kenseth,” Edwards said. “Two tires was the right call. I’ve made some regrettable decisions during my career, most involving the Keselowski’s, Kevin Harvick, or the lids to oil coolers, but this one really pains me. Bob Osbourne yelled ‘Four!’ and the No. 99 Aflac Ford ‘ducked,’ out of contention.

    “In most cases, Matt’s not known for his bravery, but I have to commend him for such a ‘courageous’ call. I honestly thought with four tires we could catch him. It most cases, when Matt has seen me coming, he’s ran away. This time was no different, except that he ran away, with victory.”

    2. Kyle Busch: A week after his near throwdown with Kevin Harvick at Darlington, Busch registered a solid fourth at Dover despite an engine change that rendered him at the rear for the start. With his seventh top 10 of the year, Busch maintained the third spot in the Sprint Cup point standings, and trails Carl Edwards by 37.

    “I can’t let a disciplinary ruling from NASCAR get me down,” Busch said. “I went from ‘probation’ to ‘ovation.’ Frankly, I like it better when anyone but Kevin Harvick is giving me ‘a hand.’

    “Now, Unlike Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota engines, there’s no ‘quit’ in me. Thankfully, the new engine lasted. It was the ‘little engine that could.’ As for the Gibbs engine department, it’s a case of ‘so little engines that can.’”

    3. Jimmie Johnson: Johnson started on the pole at Dover and led the most laps, 207, but his decision to take four tires on the final pit stop proved costly, as several drivers, including eventual winner Matt Kenseth, chose two. Johnson restarted 11th, and could only regain two spots and finished ninth. He remained second in the points, 24 behind Carl Edwards.

    “Now that’s what I call ‘championship caliber,’” Johnson said, “but only in that we were right on target in shooting ourselves in the foot.

    “Last week, Chad Knaus called Juan Montoya a ‘douchebag.’ Oh how the tables have turned. This time, however, it looks like Chad’s the douchebag, for calling for four tires instead of two. In short, it’s a case of ‘touché, douché.’

    “As expected, after last week’s Kyle Busch-Kevin Harvick fiasco, nothing interesting happened at Dover. It went from ‘boor-dom’ to ‘boredom.’”

    4. Matt Kenseth: Kenseth opted for two tires on the final pit stop at Dover and led the final 39 laps to win the Fed Ex 400, his second win of the year. On the crucial pit stop, Kenseth overruled crew chief Jimmy Fennig, who wanted four tires, and outsmarted Jimmie Johnson and Carl Edwards, who had shared domination of the race to that point.

    “Not to toot my own horn,” Kenseth said, “but that was a gutsy call on my part. People can question my fortitude all they want, but I proved that it takes a ‘pair’ to take ‘two’ in that situation. That’s why I told Fennig to ‘Take two, and call me ‘champ’ in the morning.’”

    5. Kevin Harvick: Harvick finished 10th at Dover, posting his sixth top 10 of the year. He remained fifth in the Sprint Cup point standings, and trails Carl Edwards by 54.

    “Congratulations to Matt Kenseth on the win,” Harvick said. “Matt is well-liked among other drivers. Ironically, he, like Kyle Busch, deserves everything coming to him.

    “NASCAR has ordered me to stay in my car. In other words, I should keep my HANS to myself. As such, I’ve come to appreciate the art of ‘restraint,’ at least until June 15th. I call that date the ‘Ides Of June.’ And Busch should heed the warning to beware the Ides of June. Why is it called the ‘ides?’ Because, if I were Busch, I’d watch my back, and I’d expect some payback,’ and I’d be on the lookout for the Budweiser car.”

    6. Dale Earnhardt, Jr.: Earnhardt led one lap at Dover, piloting the No. 88 Amp Energy Sugar Free/National Guard Chevy to a 12th-place finish. His winless streak now sits at 104 races, and Earnhardt admitted that he doesn’t feel a win is close.

    “It took 104 races,” Earnhardt said, “but finally, I’m able to admit defeat.

    “As of now, I’m not eligible to compete in the All Star Race at Charlotte on May 21st since I haven’t won. But even if I don’t win the Sprint Showdown, I fully expect the fans to vote me in. So, I’m appealing to my fans to vote for me, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. I call that ‘cAMPaigning.”

    7. Clint Bowyer: Bowyer held the lead when Juan Montoya’s spin brought out the race’s last caution on lap 361, and the No. 33 team’s decision to bolt on four tires seemed to be the right call. But Matt Kenseth took only two and left the pits in second, and soon overtook Mark Martin for the lead. Bowyer settled for sixth, his sixth top-10 finish of the year, and is now ninth in the point standings, 80 out of first.

    “I was beyond stunned,” Bowyer said, “that a Montoya spin could involve only him. Of course, I was also shocked that a four-tire stop was not the correct call. Sure, we were wise to put on right-side tires. That is, until we put on the ‘wrong-side’ tires.”

    8. Ryan Newman: Newman finished 21st at Dover, two laps down, after struggling with handling issues on a miserable day at the Monster Mile for Stewart Haas Racing. Newman fell one spot in the point standings to seventh, and is now 76 out of first.

    “Only one thing went ‘right’ for us at Dover,” Newman said, “and that was Juan Montoya’s No. 42 car, into the wall. That’s two weeks in a row in which someone’s said of Montoya, ‘I bet that left a mark.’ Take it from me. There’s a party-like atmosphere in the NASCAR hauler. Ask Juan. He’ll tell you they even serve ‘punch.’”

    9. Mark Martin: While most of the field pitted for tires during Sunday’s final caution, Martin chose to stay out, and that decision gave him the runner-up spot in the Fed Ex 400 at Dover. It was Martin’s best finish of the year and vaulted him three places in the point standings to 11th, 92 out of first.

    “How’s that for irony?” Martin said. “Everyone ‘re-tired,’ except me. For once in my life, the decision was easy to ‘stay out.’”

    10. Denny Hamlin: Hamlin finished 16th at Dover after battling handling conditions all day, unable to keep his short streak of top-10’s alive. However, he vaulted three places in the Sprint Cup point standings to 13th, 112 out of first.

    “I envy Kyle Busch,” Hamlin said. “He’s only got four weeks of probation. I’ve already suffered through a year’s worth of stagnation.

    “I’ve been quite entertained by the Busch-Harvick feud. Over the years, I’ve had my disagreements with both of them. Luckily, NASCAR acted quickly and thereby prevented one or both from acting rashly and hurting someone. I think Kyle and Kevin are safe from harm anyway, because both their cars are equipped with drivers-side windbags.”

  • What six points means; Morgan Shepherd and his Faith Motorsports team

    What six points means; Morgan Shepherd and his Faith Motorsports team

    If you thought six points isn’t a big deal, think again. Six points is the amount Nationwide Series driver Morgan Shepherd and his Faith Motorsports team trail owner Mark Smith by, the team that ranks 30th in Nationwide Owner Points. Not only do teams ranked 30th or higher get a guaranteed starting position for the next race, it also provides for bonus money.

    [media-credit name=”Barry Albert” align=”alignright” width=”241″][/media-credit]Shepherd finished 26th at Dover after completing 184 laps. Charles Lewandoski finished 42nd after completing just four laps, due to a reported ignition problem. But since Shepherd’s team ranks 31st in owner’s points, he only received a check for $12,700. Lewandoski received $11,950. Even though Shepherd finished 180 more laps, he only received $750 more, or $4.17 more per lap. That $750 doesn’t cover half a set of tires. Had Shepherd been in the top 30, he would have received money similar to Derrike Cope. Cope’s owner, Jay Robinson is 28th in owner points. Cope was befallen by an engine problem, but received $19,518. A safeguard, in effect for a bad race.

    Meanwhile, McDonald Motorsports ran afoul of such a system. Ranked 27th in owner’s standings; Donnie Neuenberger was flagged off the track after 70 laps for failing to maintain race pace after being involved in an accident not of his own making. He received a check for $18,743. The team’s second car, driven by Blake Koch was caught in the same accident and only won $11,892, due to being a part-time team. Even though it appears they had intentions of running a full race, they won the smallest piece of the pie.

    In the confusing world of NASCAR, teams in the top 30 in owner’s standings receive a bonus payout for each race they enter. The posted purse was $1,014,243. Part of that money comes from the TV contracts and part of it comes from the track itself. NASCAR also offers others plans, such as the aforementioned “top 30” money. The purse is rounded out by contingency funds. For example, Coors Light posts a $3,300 for the driver who sits on the pole, so long as qualifying isn’t rained out. Featherlite offers a $2,400 bounty for the driver who improves their finishing position the most, compared to their finish in the previous race. Sunoco, Goodyear…it’s enough to make your head spin.

    An e-mail to NASCAR seeking further clarification on the purse structure wasn’t immediately returned.

    Some owners, such as Shepherd and Smith run a second or third car to help their underfunded operations. That car often parks in a short amount of time. That’s shouldn’t be seen as a problem—these teams aren’t trying to raid the purse—teams use that money to help fund their primary car, not to make money. Even that second car doesn’t help out a lot. “It costs $1200 to enter each race and a set of tires is $1900,” explained Shepherd. “Teams are in survival mode, but it’s all a chance. If there’s a problem…”

    In comparison, teams have existed such as Phil Parson’s MSRP Motorsports. From 2008-2009, Parsons’ two cars completed exactly one race. That one finish came under clout; reportedly, another team was simply using the MSRP name. When Car and Driver’s Bob Zeller attempted to interview Parsons, he brushed off questions regarding MSRP.

    The purse structure is a convoluted mess. NASCAR needs to do more to balance the money situation out, especially in the Nationwide Series. There’s a distinction between teams that actually show up to race, as opposed to those who cheat the system and take purse money from other hard working teams, especially with the Nationwide Car of Tomorrow going full time this season, a move that was supposed to be cost beneficial, according to Shepherd. “That was [NASCAR’s] thinking to get everything alike so we could use the same car everywhere. It came at a hard time with sponsorships and attendance being down. Teams are basically in survival mode,” he concluded.

    Many fans watching the end of Sunday’s FedEx 400 noticed that during the last commercial break, a so-called “side-by-side” telecast aired. This wasn’t an accident, according to Dan Bell, Vice President, Communications for FOX Sports. “The idea [to go “side-by-side] re-surfaced earlier this week and after some discussion it was decided we would experiment with it if we could get enough advertisers to go along with it”, said Bell. “Three ardent NASCAR on FOX supporters, Sprint, Pizza Hut and Fed Ex all…agreed to work with us with the spots they planned to run in the race’s final break. At this point, the fan feedback from we’ve seen via social media has been very positive.”

    FOX deserves kudos for listening to fans and delivering coverage that is enjoyed by many. This weekend’s All-Star Race airs on Speed, while the Coca-Cola 600 and the Kansas Speedway 400 wrap up FOX’s coverage for the year. Coverage then shifts to TNT for the next six races.

    With what could be described as a frustrating season to date, Mark Martin finished strong for his first to five of the year. After a gutsy pit call by crew chief Lance McGrew to take the lead, Martin held pace for six laps before being overtaken by eventual winner Matt Kenseth. Surprisingly, the tires held and Martin was rewarded with his best finish since Martinsville last October. “Well kudos to Lance McGrew and everybody on this GoDaddy.com Chevrolet crew here. We ran good. But we were getting ready to finish 15th again and its been a shame because we have run that well a lot this year and finished 15th,” said Martin.

    While Martin was celebrating his best run of the year, Jimmie Johnson was left wondering what could have been. Johnson dominated the first portion of the race, leading 207 laps in total. However, a four-tire call by crew chief Chad Knaus resulted in Johnson getting buried in traffic. Johnson could only muster a ninth. Many observers were surprised that four tires ended up being the wrong call, making it the second straight week a gutsy crew chief decision help decide the winner.

    Johnson said that “I think the track conditions more affected the balance of the cars, especially as a run went on. There at the end, I really think that it was just dirty air and track position was the issue why the four-tire guys couldn’t get through. You are just going so fast around here, even though it is just a one-mile track, that clean air, just cleaner air towards the front makes a huge difference.”

    Two other drivers had reason to be disappointed; AJ Allmendinger and Darlington winner Regan Smith. Allmendinger led at one point and was consistently in the top ten all race. Despite finishing, Allmendinger ended the race with a driver rating of 95.7; ninth best among all drivers. Smith spent the entire race on the lead lap until a track bar mount broke in the late stages. “What a difference a week makes,” said Smith. “The frustrating thing is that our Furniture Row Chevrolet was coming to life when the track bar mount broke during a caution (Lap 334). Our car really picked up steam during the second half of the green flag run before the caution came out. We were definitely in position to make a late-race charge and get a nice finish out of this race. I think we were running 16th when the mount broke. It hurts because we had a good car and wanted to continue the momentum from last week’s win in Darlington.”

    Mark can be found on Twitter @SpdwyMediaModor.

  • An All-Star Race to Remember: How Frank Stoddard Caused a Rule Change

    An All-Star Race to Remember: How Frank Stoddard Caused a Rule Change

    With the last two Sprint Cup Series races being won because of pit road strategy, it brings to mind another brilliant call made from atop the pit box. Although he’s no longer a crew chief, when Frank Stoddard was atop the pit box for Jeff Burton in the No. 99 CITGO Ford he was one of the best in the business.

    For those in doubt, Stoddard would pull off a memorable call in the 2002 All-Star race. The rules nine years ago are vastly different than what the field will be facing this Saturday night in Charlotte for the 27th annual Sprint All-Star race. The name of the race, how the field is determined and the purse size all are not what they once were.

    In 2002, the race was split up into three segments: the first being 40 laps, the second 30 laps and the final segment 20 laps. There was also a knockout format, called Survival of the Fastest where drivers would be eliminated after each segment. The top-20 advanced to segment two and the top-10 advanced to the final segment.

    The excitement normally doesn’t start until the third segment, when the money is in sight and drivers let it all hang out. But as the laps wound down in segment one on May 18, 2002 it was Burton leading and he was about to stumble.

    Per the NASCAR rules, all drivers are required to make a pit stop, but Burton was still cruising with three laps to go. With the competition having already made their stops, Burton held a 26 second lead over Jimmie Johnson and with two laps to go the broadcast crew featuring Mike Joy, Darrell Waltrip and Larry McReynolds, starting to think out loud.

    “We didn’t miss something did we?” asked Waltrip, as Burton headed for turn one with two laps to go. Hanging in the balance the longer he stayed on the track was the risk of being eliminated. Once he came down pit road he would lose his track position and most likely slide outside the top 20 and not advance to segment two.

    How long was Burton and Stoddard going to hold out? As he approached turn four Waltrip thought for sure he would be pitting that time. Burton didn’t and took the white flag as Waltrip could barely croak out, “he’s not coming.”

    Many watched in astonishment. Not pitting would mean not playing by NASCAR rules and possibly being disqualified. There was no going back as the team either lost track of the lap count or were having trouble communicating. Whatever the reason one could come up with there was no denying that Burton had missed his chance to pit.

    Or did he? With excitement and curiosity in his voice Joy suddenly perked up, “What if your pit was before the start finish line, you pitted on the last lap and you only had to jump across the line?”

    That’s exactly what Stoddard was going to have his driver do. “Oh my gosh” exclaimed Joy when Stoddard starting calling Burton to pit road. As the head shaking began Joy stated what many were already thinking, “This is either crazy or brilliant.”

    Brilliant it was as Burton made his stop and only had to go 50 yards to cross the finish line and advance into segment two. Had it not been for a full-speed Johnson and a slow stop, Burton might have even won instead of crossing second.

    Waltrip had no shame in admitting that he was just a little bit confused by what he and thousands of others had just seen. NASCAR officials, while maybe amused at the time and even a little impressed, would mandate after 2002 that green flag pit stops must come during a designated time in the race.

    It removed any chance that a crew chief could repeat Stoddard’s strategy in the future. At the time though, “I have got to tip my hat to Frank Stoddard,” said McReynolds. “I can’t wait to see him after this race because that was a brilliant call.”

    As brilliant and bold the call was, it wasn’t even to win the race. But it was made in hopes of setting his team up to win the most important segment later that night. In big races, such as when Regan Smith won the Southern 500 at Darlington two weeks ago, all the stops are pulled out. More risks are taken and gambles made, just as Stoddard did in exploiting a loophole in NASCAR’s rulebook.

    When asked how he came up with the strategy, Stoddard laughed, “We didn’t have a whole lot of stuff to do today and … we just thought about it and we wanted to come up with something different here, see if we couldn’t get something out of them and almost pulled off a win right there if the clutch wasn’t slipping.”

    Burton’s night would be done in though in segment two because of the aforementioned clutch. He finished 20th as Johnson won his second segment of the night. Now it was onto the final segment for the big prize, which would be won by a driver who benefited from Stoddard’s call in segment one.

    With Burton finishing second it put Ryan Newman in the transfer spot to advance to the second segment. He then advanced to the final segment and would go on to win the Winston by holding off a furious charge on the final lap from Dale Earnhardt Jr. For once though, it wasn’t the finish that people cared about or would remember.

    It was all a crew chief again doing what they do best and outsmarting the competition. Only on that May night Stoddard didn’t just pull off a brilliant move to outsmart the competition, he outsmarted NASCAR too.

  • NASCAR Sprint All Star Race Preview and Predictions

    NASCAR Sprint All Star Race Preview and Predictions

    Once again it is that time of year when the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series heads home for two consecutive weekends of big time racing and events.

    It all starts of with the Camping World Truck Series’ North Carolina Education 250 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Friday night which will see the debut of 2007 Formula One champion, Kimi Raikonen. Not to take anything away from this race, but it’s just not the main ticket this weekend.

    The Sprint All Star race has been a smash hit since its inception in 1985. The event went to a whole other level in 1992 when it went under the lights for the first time and ended with the race winner, Davey Allison, in the hospital. So much history has occurred in this race including; Jeff Gordon’s “T-REX” car in 1997, Gordon winning the race in 2001 after going to a backup car after a turn one pile up caused by a rain shower, the Busch brothers wreck in 2007, Kasey Kahne becoming the first Sprint Fan Vote winner to win the All Star in 2008 and Kurt Busch sweeping the May Cup events at CMS just last year.

    When you come to the All-Star race, you are always in for a show. The reason for that is that there aren’t any points on the line. It’s all about winning and the million dollar pay day. Drivers will do anything to win this race as it is now considered one of the crown jewels of NASCAR racing. Sometimes this race is just what a driver needs to turn around their season or even their career. Michael Waltrip, Dale Earnhardt Jr, Darrell Waltrip, Ryan Newman, Terry Labonte and Kasey Kahne have all had season or career defining moments in this race.

    Over the years, there have also been many changes to the format of the race. For a while, drivers were being eliminated segment by segment. Fans did not like this because some crazy occurrence on pit road could cost a driver with a legitimate shot at winning the race. Also, the multi-million dollar companies places their logos all over the cars didn’t like their company being forced to park. These were not the reasons this format was changed thought. It is changed regularly so even the format you will see Saturday night may be gone in a few years. All the new and sometimes strange formats really provide exciting racing because no one really knows how they will work in this different style of race.

    This year’s All Star race will be one for the history books. The reason I say this is because this has been one of the best starts to a season that NASCAR has had in long time both in the racing and ratings respectively. The “Boys have at it” policy is still providing exciting moments and shouldn’t be any different Saturday night.

    Predictions
    Pit Crew Challenge Winning Team- #18 Joe Gibbs Racing Team
    Sprint Showdown Winner- David Ragan
    Sprint Showdown Runner Up- Marcos Ambrose
    Sprint Fan Vote Winner- Dale Earnhardt Jr
    Sprint All Star Race Winner- Kasey Kahne

  • ThorSport Racing Looks To Continue Early Season Success at Charlotte

    ThorSport Racing Looks To Continue Early Season Success at Charlotte

    When the green flag drops Friday night, you can be assured that ThorSport Racing will be in the thick of the battle as they have so far this year.

    While most say that you need to be centered into the hub of NASCAR in Charlotte, ThorSport Racing has done things differently as they’re based in Sandusky, Ohio. As the team says, they are coming from the “Ice Palace” (as dubbed by Krista Voda) to take on the “Queen Palace”.

    [media-credit name=”mattcrafton.com” align=”alignright” width=”290″][/media-credit]”They aren’t new questions, I’ve heard them my whole career at ThorSport Racing and we’ve never really given it a second thought,” Matt Crafton said in the team preview. “We’ve heard things like, ‘You have to be in Charlotte to be successful.’  ‘There are no equipment suppliers or people in Ohio.’  ‘What about the wind tunnel or technology?’ ‘How can you win a championship from somewhere other than the heart of racing?’  All valid questions, but all questions we’ve either answered or solved in a really humble way – quietly  – through great people, partners, technology and track performance over the last few years as we’ve hit our stride.”

    Currently, Matt Crafton leads the point standings and goes into Charlotte looking to get his second win. With two top-fives and seven top-10s there in the past including a win in 2008, he is looking for more success.

    “With all due respect, I love Charlotte,” Crafton continued. “This is my adopted city, after being from California and driving for a team from Sandusky. We have so much momentum this year, coming off a great season last year – my teammate, Johnny Sauter, and I being third and fourth in points; me winning at Charlotte in 2008; and doing pretty well the first six races this year.  Many of our extended families and friends live here, and it’s a place to pay homage to our racing forefathers, just as Daytona is for all of us racers.”

    Charlotte also marks the welcoming of a new name aboard the hood as Mullican Great Lakes Flooring will adore the hood of the No. 88 Menards Chevrolet.

    “I’m looking forward to this race and having Great Lakes by Mullican on the hood,” he said. “I spent two extra days in Sandusky with my guys after racing Toledo on Sunday in the ARCA Racing Series.  It gave us a chance to connect over the Charlotte truck, and it also gave us the mental gains to prepare for this week.  Every week is a big race week, but our 1.5-mile program is dominant this year.  I’d like to come back and really see if we can get this truck in Victory Lane again.”

    Meanwhile, Johnny Sauter is looking to have success also so he can jump back up in the lead as he currently sits second in points.

    “Being at the top of the points this early in the season was a positive surprise to me, and it was a great feeling after Nashville,” Sauter said.  “It’s a lot of pressure though, when we have so many races ahead of us.  Charlotte has always been a track that has challenged me, and our 1.5-mile program is really stellar this year.  That’s got to be my focus with (crew chief) Joe (Shear, Jr.) and my guys.  Perform on all fronts – from the truck setup to the pit cycles and fuel management.  I said it at the end of Dover and I meant it, with me and Joe it’s back to basics and some tried-and-true setups we used last year for great finishes.”

    Sauter likes being in the backseat behind Crafton as somewhat “underdog” though as he says it presents an opportunity for success.

    “The best finishes I’ve ever had, all my wins, were coming back from behind or scraping to the top all the way,” he said. “That’s how I love to race.  So the pressure is off right now, and I can get back to being the underdog.  There’s nothing this team can’t do this year with the right focus, and we’re proving that every race.  Charlotte is no different – we’re proving to the racing world exactly how consistent we can be at these tracks, using a lot of communication and strategy. ThorSport Racing is building championship-consistency teams this year, and we’re going to show that at the racetrack.”

    ThorSport Racing looks to continue their success not only this coming weekend, but down the road in the future. In August, the team plans to continue expanding as they will be opening a new shop, keeping things based in Sandusky.

    “ThorSport Racing opens a brand new, 100,000-sq. ft. race facility in Sandusky in August, though, and it’s a source of huge pride in where we’ve come from and to in ten years,” Crafton said. “We can’t wait to celebrate with our Ohio family and NASCAR fans everywhere.  This continues to be a great year. But we’d like to prove, in a subtle, humble way of sorts – that you don’t necessarily have to live and work here as a team, to be successful & win championships in this business.”