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  • Sam Bass Partners with Richard Petty To Do Good with Goody’s

    Sam Bass Partners with Richard Petty To Do Good with Goody’s

    NASCAR artist Sam Bass and the ‘King’ Richard Petty are partnering with Goody’s and BC Powders to do good for two charities, the Wounded Warrior Project and Victory Junction Camp. The special promotion, ‘Pick a Powder’ will culminate at the Goody’s Fast Relief 500 Cup race this weekend at Martinsville Speedway.

    [media-credit name=”Barry Albert” align=”alignright” width=”275″][/media-credit]Throughout this month, fans have had the opportunity to get involved by voting on which powder provided the fastest relief, Goody’s or BC Powders. Richard Petty championed the Goody’s cause benefiting the charity nearest to his heart, Victory Junction Camp, and county singer Trace Adkins was the cheerleader for the BC Powders team with his charity being the Wounded Warrior Project.

    Artist Sam Bass got involved in this special promotion as he was asked to design the paint schemes for each charity that will be displayed on two cars during the Martinsville race. Even more special was that two individuals, one representing each charity, worked with Bass to craft the designs.

    “Well, it’s going to be a very exciting weekend,” Bass said. “These are two tremendous causes brought together by Goody’s and BC Powders.”

    “It’s a unique pairing of a lot of different things,” Bass continued. “BC Powders and Goody’s have been around the sport of NASCAR for a long, long time. Victory Junction Gang Camp and Wounded Warriors Project have been as well.”

    “The idea was what could we do to represent these two charities and make people happy and tie it in to Sam Bass and NASCAR design work.”

    “What I got to do, which was really, really special, was that I got to work with a gentleman named Cory Collins on the Wounded Warrior Project and I got to work with a little girl named Eleanor Bolton from Victory Junction Camp,” Bass said. “Both of them are tremendous NASCAR fans and basically what they did was to work with me to design their race cars.”

    Bass began his collaboration with the two at the first race in Daytona. His work started with phone calls to pick their brain about their interest in the sport and their respective relationships to their charities.

    Eleanor Bolton, a Victory Junction camper, is an eight year old with Spinal Muscular Atrophy. She and her family first attended Camp for a family weekend in February 2010.

    “She is as sweet as she can be,” Bass said. “She sent me some drawings she had done and I just took all of her information, all of her colors, all of her family photos, all of her drawings and then kind of took the logo of Camp and Goody’s.”

    “Her car number was 43, of course with Richard Petty,” Bass continued. “And I just designed a car with her input and came up with something that she would like.”

    “She had peace symbols and hearts and photos of her and her family,” Bass said. “That’s how her car was.”

    The other participant with whom Bass worked was Cory Collins. On his first tour in Iraq in 2005, Collins was injured 27 days after arriving. He and his unit ran over a 500-pound IED  and he was the sole survivor of the attack.

    “Cory is a veteran of the armed forces and had been injured serving this country and ultimately it cost him his left leg,” Bass said. “I could sympathize because I lost my lower left leg to diabetes a few years ago. He and I hit it off from the very beginning.”

    “I worked with him and got his favorite colors and learned that he was a Jeff Gordon fan,” Bass continued. “So, having designed for Jeff since he came into the sport of NASCAR, I quickly related to Cory.”

    Bass took Collins’ favorite color, which was black, and put some flames into the mix a la Jeff Gordon. Bass then featured Collins’ car number, 101 for his unit, the 101st Airborne.

    “We came up with a couple of designs that mirrored the tattoo that he had gotten on his arm over there,” Bass said. “It’s got a flaming skull that looks really cool. And of course the Wounded Warriors logo is prominently featured on the hood.”

    “To keep the cars in symmetry, I had Cory send me photos of his family and his friends,” Bass continued. “So things are meaningful on both cars for both participants.”

    Both Collins and Bolton will get to ride in their respective cars during the pace laps of the Goody’s Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville.

    “Over the weekend they’re going to get to meet Richard Petty and Trace Adkins,” Bass said. “It’s just going to be a blast and I’m going to get to be a part of it.”

    “From dealing with the child in Eleanor to the adult experiences of Cory was very meaningful to me.”

    “It’s going to be a great day for both of them,” Bass said. “To see their reactions and to spend the day with them will warm my heart and I feel very proud to participate in this project.”

    Fans can also get in on the action as Goody’s and BC Powders will make donations to each charity on every box of either product sold. During the Goody’s Fast Relief 500 race at Martinsville Speedway, both charities will be presented checks by their respective powders to continue their missions.

  • NOTES FROM THE NASCAR NATION: WHO’S GOING TO WIN THE TIME OF DAY AT MARTINSVILLE?

    NOTES FROM THE NASCAR NATION: WHO’S GOING TO WIN THE TIME OF DAY AT MARTINSVILLE?

    [media-credit name=”Barry Albert” align=”alignright” width=”277″][/media-credit]The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will be returning to the fan favorite Martinsville Speedway for this Sunday’s running of the Goody’s Fast Relief 500. The race has all of the ingredients that makes drivers and crew chiefs crazy but, at the same time, revs the fans to a feverish frenzy. It’s 43 cars on a half mile track that often produces demolition derby like incidents. It’s also bragging rights regarding who gets to take Martinsville’s unique trophy home. That would be that beautiful grandfather clock.

    THE STORY BREAKDOWN

    There are keys areas to racing at the Martinsville Speedway that requires detailed protection. Certainly topping that list is the protection of the race car’s brake system. This track is extremely tough on brakes and a good system to keep the brake roters cool is a must. Drivers will also have to protect the front nose of their cars, in order to further protect brake duct systems, which is not easy to do considering the aggressive nature of short track racing at Martinsville.

    Still another area of concern is that pesky little, six inches high, curb that borders the bottom of the Martinsville Speedway. The first area of concern is obvious: hit the curb and you could find yourself spinning sideways headed towards the middle of expensive crash damage. Hit the curb hard enough and you could severely damage the car’s front end handling capability.

    Track position is extremely important at a track like Martinsville which in turn places an increased importance on qualifying day. There has been 124 NASCAR Sprint Cup races at the historic racing facility. 19 of them, roughly 15.3%, have been won from the pole position while 15 of the races have been won from the outside of the front row. 65 times, 52.4%, Martinsville winners have started the race from the top five starting positions while 89 previous race winners, 71.8%, have started from the top ten. Driver Tony Stewart owns the Martinsville track qualifying record, 98.083 MPH, which was set back in October of 2005.

    Also of crucial importance is the maintaining, and gaining, of track position while motoring out of the pits. That’s also easier said than done at Martinsville. The pit stalls there are narrow, measuring 14 feet wide by 28 feet long, The pit road speed is a slow 30 MPH.

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    The thought of racing at Martinsville Speedway brings a variety of thoughts from a lot of NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers. It’s safe to assume that Denny Hamlin loves this speedway. The driver of the #11 Fed Ex/Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota has 11 starts at Martinsville and his personal stats there are simply awesome. They include four wins, including the last three consecutive races, ten top ten finishes and a very healthy average finish ratio of 6.0. There is also a strong sense of home whenever Hamlin races at Martinsville. His home town of Chesterfield is just a short drive from the race track.

    But Hamlin has a serious matter on his mind these days. It’s the recent rash of engine failures that has left engineers at Joe Gibbs Racing and Toyota Racing Development in a state of confusion. In the first five races of the still young season, Gibbs Racing has suffered DNF’s, (did not finish), in three of them due to engine failure. There has also been three cases where engines had to be changed prior to a race because of the discovery of suspected problems. All three team drivers: Hamlin, Kyle Busch and Joey Logano have been plague by this problem. In comparison to last year, the organization only had two DNF’s in 38 races related to engine failure.

    The situation has also placed Hamlin in a bit of a hole regarding the current championship standings. The engine failure suffered last Sunday, at the Auto Club Speedway in California, dropped Hamlin to 21st in the rankings and 45 points out of the top ten which determines the Chase line up.

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

    Jimmie Johnson is another driver who thoroughly understands and appreciates the Martinsville Speedway. The driver of the #48 Lowes/Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet has driven into victory lane there six times and has an amazing average finish ratio of 5.3.

    But it’s his Hendrick Motorsports team mate Jeff Gordon who owns all of the professional stats at the Martinsville Speedway. Among the active Sprint Cup drivers, Gordon has a series high seven wins. He also leads the series in top five finishes with 23, top ten finishes with 29 and he’s led a series high 2,994 at Martinsville. He also has earned a healthy average finish ratio of seven.

    In some recent comments on Sunday’s race, Gordon said “not much has changed at Martinsville and it seems like all the things that I’ve done over the years at Martinsville still apply and still work well there. I think we’re very capable of winning at Martinsville this year.”

    When asked if he considered Martinsville to be a wild card race Gordon replied “not necessarily,” adding “it’s tight racing and it’s a short track. You have to be careful not to overheat the brakes and use up your equipment. I think if you run well and have a good race car, you can drive away to work yourself through some of the wrecks and things you see that gets guys in trouble. It’s a small, tight race track and we’re running inches away from each other so anything is possible.”

    For Hendrick Motorsports team mate Mark Martin, next Sunday’s race will become the latest milestone in his amazing career. Martin will be making his 800th official NASCAR Sprint Cup start. He’s only the eighth driver in Cup history to reach that milestone and, before the season is over, is expected to pass Darell Waltrip, 809 starts, and Kyle Petty, 829 starts.

    The driver of the Go Daddy Chevrolet is a two time winner at Martinsville. When recently asked what does it take to be successful at the Virginia short track, he said “It’s the same as everywhere else: good engine, good handling, good crew, good brakes and fast through the corners. The only difference is the brakes are really important there and they are not at most places we race so that’s a big deal.”

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

    Finally there’s the matter of 43 drivers who would love to be the one to take that beautiful Martinsville grandfather clock home. The beautiful custom clock, created by the Martinsville based Ridgewood Clocks, is seven feet tall and is valued at $10,000. The tradition began in the fall of 1964 when “Fearless” Fred Lorenzen became the recipient of the first ever clock. NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Richard Petty tops the list with 15 of those beautiful clocks.

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

    THE VEGAS BREAKDOWN

    To absolutely no surprise the Las Vegas based World Sports Exchange, (WSE), has Denny Hamlin, 7 to 2 odds, and Jimmie Johnson, 5 to 1, on the top of their list for Sunday’s race. Why wouldn’t they? These two drivers have combined to win the last nine races at Martinsville.

    Right behind them, at 8 to 1, is the driver who is favored to win any race he enters. That, of course, would be every body’s favorite “rowdy” one Kyle Busch. At 9 to 1 is the duo of Kevin Harvick and Jeff Gordon. These are both good wagers. Harvick is running on high momentum especially after that dramatic win in California last weekend. But it’s Gordon at 9 to 1 that is a bit of a mystery. The four time NASCAR champion literally owns all of the modern day Martinsville stats from wins to laps led. This is an excellent long shot wager. At ten to 1 you will find Tony Stewart. The two time Martinsville winner is another solid long shot consideration. He will also be seeking his 250th career top ten finish on Sunday.

    The middle tier of this week’s WSE listing is led by Carl Edwards. The current series points leader is rated at 12 to 1 this week and his NASCAR power ranking this week suggests he may be a very interesting long shot wager. At 16 to 1 is former race winner Jeff Burton followed by Richard Childress Racing team mate Clint Bowyer at 20 to 1. Both drivers will be seeking to get their Chase status back on track this Sunday. At 25 to 1 you will find the trio of Joey Logano, Dale Earnhardt Jr and former race winner Kurt Busch. The elder Busch brother recently went on record as saying he’s not that fond of the Martinsville brand of racing and said “It’s not one of my favorite tracks, but they’re handing out 48 points if you have a perfect day.”

    The bottom of the WSE Martinsville rankings features Jamie McMurray, who is making his 300th official Sprint Cup start, and the aforementioned Mark Martin at 28 to 1. At 30 to 1 are the trio of Matt Kenseth, Ryan Newman and Juan Pablo Montoya. The duo of Kasey Kahne and Greg Biffle, also making his 300th official start, are ranked at 35 to 1 while Martin Truex Jr completes the list at 40 to 1.

    By the way, if you don’t see your favorite driver listed here they are automatically ranked at 5 to 1.

    Now for the disclaimer. NASCAR wants us to remind you that these posted Las Vegas numbers should be regarded for information and entertainment purposes only. They neither encourage or condone the placing of wagers on their events.

    They would instead prefer that you make fantasy, aka pretend, wagers. That way you can still cover your realistic mortgage, realistic car payment, realistic food and gas bills and, in an effort to really get real, you’ll have money left over for realistic NASCAR tickets and souvenirs.

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

    THE RACE BREAKDOWN

    Sunday’s Goody’s Fast Relief 500 is 500 laps/263 miles around the Martinsville Speedways 0.526 oval and is race number six of the 36 points events on the schedule.

    The race has 45 entries vying for the 43 starting berths. Ten of those entries are on the go or go home list meaning they do not have a guaranteed start in the race because they are currently outside of the top 35 in NASCAR owner’s points. These teams will have to rely on qualifying speed to earn a starting spot.

    This asphalt oval is unique in the fact that its four turns are covered in concrete. There is only 12 degrees of banking in the turns and zero degrees on the straightaways. The front and back stretch measures 800 feet each which means the left turns are going to come at the drivers very quickly. The speedway presently has seating for 61,000.

    The Martinsville Speedway was built by the legendary Clay Earles and opened in September of 1947. The speedway began as a dirt track and was paved in 1955. The concrete overlays were placed on the speedway’s four turns in 1976.

    The Martinsville Speedway played a huge role in the history of NASCAR. The first NASCAR Grand National, now known as the Sprint Cup, event was held there in September of 1949 and was won by the legendary Red Byron.

    Since that time the speedway has hosted 124 Sprint Cup events that has sent 45 different winners to victory lane.

    Petty Enterprises, led by King Richard’s 15 wins, leads the team win list at Martinsville with 19. Hendrick Motorsports, based largely on Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson’s efforts, leads the modern era teams with 18 wins at Martinsville.

    When it comes to manufacturer wins the bow tie brigade tops the list. Chevrolet has been to victory lane at Martinsville 46 times followed by Ford with 26 wins, Dodge with ten and Toyota at five.

    Weather could play a role in Friday’s practice sessions. The Martinsville area forecast calls for cloudy conditions on Friday with a 30% chance of afternoon showers. Saturday’s forecast calls for partly cloudy skies, a daytime high of 56 degrees and breezy winds. On Sunday race day expect clear skies and a high of 61 degrees. But if race conditions, such as a high number of yellow flags, forces the race to run long there is a chance of showers on Sunday evening.

    The Goody’s Fast Relief 500 will be broadcast live by Fox Sports with the pre race show beginning at 1230 pm eastern time. The race re air will be on Wednesday, April 6th, on SPEED beginning at 12 pm eastern.

  • NASCAR Sprint Cup Point Standings Analytics – After Race 5

    NASCAR Sprint Cup Point Standings Analytics – After Race 5

    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.

    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.

    On the left side of the standings is the difference between where they stand in actual Sprint Cup Standings and their position in the respective system.

    Classic Points System – Standings After Race 5

    Carl Edwards would maintain a 33 point lead over new second place driver Kyle Busch. Ryan Newman would jump up a spot to third, with Jimmie Johnson up to fourth and Kurt Busch down three positions to fifth, 61 points back

    Notable changes in position compared to current system: None really… as we move forward in the season it is becoming apparent that there is little, if any difference, between the two point distributions.

    F1 System – Standings After Race 5

    Edwards maintains the points lead again, this time it shrinks to a mere 7 points over Kyle Busch. Jimmie Johnson remains in third while Kevin Harvick, by virtue of his California win jumps up to fourth. Clint Bowyer earns his first points of the season, sliding into the 18th position.

    Drivers without points: David Reutimann, Jamie McMurray, Jeff Burton, Joey Logano

    Notable changes in position compared to current system: David Gilliand (+14), Jeff Gordon (+10), Kevin Harvick (+5), A.J. Allmendinger (-9), Dale Earnhardt Jr (-10)

    IndyCar System – Standings After Race 5

    Once again, Carl Edwards and Kyle Busch top the standings, this time with commanding leads over third place Jimmie Johnson. Kevin Harvick and Ryan Newman round out the top five.

    Notable changes in position compared to current system: Jeff Gordon (+6), David Gilliand (+6), Kevin Harvick (+5), Paul Menard (-5), Brad Keselowski (-6), Clint Bowyer (-7)

    Phat’s System – Standings After Race 5

    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.

    Not so surprisingly, Edwards and Busch are atop the standings and, again, Harvick, Johnson and  Newman round out the top five.

    Notable changes in position compared to current system: Kevin Harvick (+6), Jeff Gordon (+6), Paul Menard (-6), Clint Bowyer (-7), Martin Truex Jr (-7)

  • Topping Out Ceremony with Ed ‘Too Tall’ Jones Marks Completion of Steel Frame For the World’s Largest HD Video Board

    Topping Out Ceremony with Ed ‘Too Tall’ Jones Marks Completion of Steel Frame For the World’s Largest HD Video Board

    [media-credit name=”Brad Keppel” align=”alignright” width=”225″][/media-credit]CONCORD, N.C. (March 31, 2011) – The completion of the steel frame that will support the world’s largest high-definition video board was marked today with a topping out ceremony featuring special guest Ed “Too Tall” Jones, former Dallas Cowboy All-Pro defensive end. Construction continues on the massive screen created by Panasonic that will debut during Charlotte Motor Speedway’s 2011 May race events.

    “We opened the new stadium in Dallas two years ago that had the largest TV in the world up until today, so I wanted to see it,” said Jones. “The one in Dallas was one of the most incredible things I’ve ever seen in my life, but this one just kind of tops it all.”

    Jones placed an American flag on the final girder, which was hoisted more than 110 feet in the air and secured atop the 500,000-pound steel frame that will hold the 165,000-pound HD video board. The girder, measuring 40 feet wide with a 10 foot depth of bracing steel, was signed by dignitaries taking part in the ceremony, including Jones; Marcus Smith, president and general manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway; and Richard Ballard, vice president of sales, Panasonic Enterprise Solutions Company, as well as construction workers who have been part of the project.

    “We are so excited for all the fans to come here for the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race and the Coca-Cola 600 and see just how big this TV is,” said Smith. “Our fans are going to love it. They’re going to have a great time and they just will not believe how exciting the racing will be when they can watch it both in front of them on the track and catch all the action on the television screen. It’s literally the biggest Fans First initiative in our history.”

    The HD video board construction is being completed by crews from Granite Contracting and Parker Crane Service of Concord, N.C.; Mid-Atlantic Construction of Charlotte, N.C.; and Eastern Sign Tech of Burlington, N.J. The approximately 200-foot-wide, 80-foot-tall screen will eventually rise 110 feet above the track on the steel support structure.

    “This is a very exciting time for us. This is the world’s largest high-definition video screen and we will be getting that certified by the Guinness Book of World Records,” said Ballard. “Panasonic is very pleased to be a part of this as we bring the fan experience closer and the fans closer to the races. And by doing that we hope to increase that fan experience, making it better not only at the races but all throughout the rest of the year here at Charlotte Motor Speedway.”

    The next construction phase on the world’s largest HD video board will start the first week of April and will include the installation of the 158 panels that make up the 16,000 square foot screen. Thirteen sub-electric panels will also be installed, each of which will power a “panel riser,” or a column of panels. Once construction is completed, more than nine million LED lamps will illuminate the Panasonic video board during each NASCAR race event at Charlotte Motor Speedway this spring, including the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race on May 21 and the Coca-Cola 600 on May 29.

    The screen will be centered along the backstretch between Turns 2 and 3, across from the start/finish line. Fans seated throughout the frontstretch from Turn 4 to Turn 1 will have clear viewing angles of instant replays, leaderboard updates and interactive entertainment displayed in 720P high-definition visuals. For continuous updates on the Panasonic HD video board, watch the construction webcam on www.charlottemotorspeedway.com.

    Frontstretch tickets with the best views of the new HD video board and pit road start at just $49 for the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. Fans can also purchase two frontstretch tickets for just $99 to the Coca-Cola 600 by calling the speedway ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS (3267) or online at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com.

  • Hot 20 over the past 10 – Edwards the new flame atop this candle

    Hot 20 over the past 10 – Edwards the new flame atop this candle

    No wins, yet Jimmie Johnson has been able to remain at the top of the mountain, until this week. Carl Edwards put together his fourth Top Ten in five starts this season, to go along with three wins in his past ten, to take over the summit. How long he stays there is another question.

    No one is hotter at Martinsville than Johnson. He was 35th there in his first attempt back in the spring of 2002. He has finished in the Top Ten in the seventeen races he has run there since. If that isn’t dominance, then he needs to start wearing chaps with his leather suit and carry a whip. Johnson has to be considered a favorite to lay a beat down on the field this Sunday.

    Kevin Harvick’s win keeps him at the big boys’ table this week, but Ryan Newman and Kasey Kahne both made significant gains. Denny Hamlin may be slipping, but Joey Logano is the one in a free fall.

    Kyle Busch was third at Fontana, but he was second at Charlotte ten races ago and so slipped a point over the past ten races. On the other hand, his brother Kurt, Paul Menard, and Tony Stewart moved up with significantly better results than they had in that race in the fall. So, while Kyle remains hot, those other three have become even hotter. Who said life was fair?

    Here are our hot 20 drivers over the past 10 events…

    1 (2) Carl Edwards – 369 pts – Most famous cousin not in the Grand Ole Opry.

    2 (1) Jimmie Johnson – 367 pts – 18 Martinsville races, 17 Straight Top Tens, 6 Wins

    3 (3) Kevin Harvick – 360 pts – As Bobby McFerrin sang, “Don’t be McMurray, be Happy.”

    4 (6) Matt Kenseth – 332 pts – Daytona was a disaster, but 12th or better each race since.

    5 (5) Mark Martin – 329 pts – For the 800th time, once more unto the breach, my friends.

    6 (11) Ryan Newman – 317 pts – 3 top fives, 4 straight top tens, he is taking off like a…rocket.

    7 (4) Denny Hamlin – 304 pts – Drives a Toyota, yet still sinking like a rock.

    8 (10) Kurt Busch – 302 pts – Might be just going around in circles, but NASCAR’s no drag.

    9 (8) Paul Menard – 301 pts – How do you like him now?

    10 (9) Tony Stewart – 301 pts – Tony has been good, but not good enough for Tony.

    11 (7) Kyle Busch – 292 pts – Performing like Junior was supposed to…and once did.

    12 (17) Kasey Kahne – 290 pts – Best Martinsville finish since 2006? Last fall he was 14th.

    13 (12) Juan Pablo Montoya – 281 pts – Already has made a million bucks this season.

    14 (16) A.J. Allmendinger – 276 pts – Steady competitor, but not yet a contender.

    15 (15) Martin Truex Jr – 270 pts – I want the sideburns back.

    16 (14) Greg Biffle – 269 pts – Turn-a-round in last two needs to continue for next two or ten.

    17 (19) Dale Earnhardt Jr – 267 pts – If he avoids disaster, a top ten driver after Darlington.

    18 (13) Joey Logano – 258 pts – Consistency can be a good thing, but 23rd three times??

    19 (18) David Ragan – 240 pts – 14 Top Tens in 2008, but just five since (in 78 races).

    20 (22) Clint Bowyer – 239 pts – First Top Ten last week, but needs to string a few more.

    Other notables…
    21 (21) Jeff Gordon – 239 pts
    22 (20) Jamie McMurray – 223 pts
    25 (24) David Reutimann – 212 pts
    27 (28) Jeff Burton – 191 pts

  • Crew chief Jimmy Fennig quietly leading Matt Kenseth and team in right direction

    Crew chief Jimmy Fennig quietly leading Matt Kenseth and team in right direction

    [media-credit name=”Barry Albert” align=”alignright” width=”259″][/media-credit]Matt Kenseth finished fourth in Sunday’s Auto Club 400 with a car that he referred to a few times as “absolute junk.”

    Like most of the competition, Kenseth spent much of the day fighting either a loose or tight condition and sometimes a little of both. While he battled his way into the top-10, his No. 17 Crown Royal team battled on pit road to adjust his car. With every opportunity given, adjustments were made and the progress began.

    Kenseth was strong enough to maintain in the top-10 for much of the event.  Although the race was expected to be a dominating performance for all four of the Roush-Fenway Racing drivers, but none other them where a factor for the win.

    Kenseth and teammate Carl Edwards were the only two who finished in the top-10 and currently sit in the top-10 in points. That made the race an oddball in itself as none of the four drivers even led a lap.

    As the race wound down it was Kenseth however, who said he came up a few laps short from giving the top three a run for their money. When the caution flag flew on lap 185 for the final time, putting the race into the crew chief’s hands, Jimmy Fennig brought Kenseth down pit road and called two tires and no fuel.

    On the restart Kenseth went from ninth to fourth where he stalled out and finished. Afterwards he praised his pit crew for their hard work, his crew chief and spotter and said given more time he might have been able to challenge for the win. Fennig told the team they’re “knocking on the door” and will win one soon.

    “The last two weeks, Jimmy (Fennig) and these guys have made some great adjustments,” said Kenseth on Sunday. “They had our Crown Royal Ford the best it has been all day at the end of the race, which is important.”

    The team did the same last weekend in Bristol where Kenseth had again started 11th and came home fourth.

    “It’s a good day for us,” he said. “Of course you are always greedy and want more. I was the first guy on tires and I didn’t do probably a good a job as I need to on the restart. It just took a while to get there, but we got another top-five finish this weekend and just ran out of time to get any more positions today.”

    Kenseth now sits 10th in points as the Sprint Cup Series heads to Martinsville this upcoming weekend. Kenseth’s silent but deadly approach, of which he’s made a career of is off to a fast start in 2011. But there’s nothing silent about Martinsville.

    Kenseth ruffled a few feathers last season in the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 when Jeff Gordon and him had a pushing and shoving match during a green-white-checkered finish. It was Kenseth who cost Gordon the win according to some, while it was Gordon who made sure Kenseth couldn’t win.

    The result was an 18th place finish last season. He’s never won at the paperclip in Virginia but has completed 99 percent of the laps and has a pretty good understanding of what Martinsville is all about: short tempers.

    “Martinsville is probably not our best track, but, statistically, it’s probably not our worst either,” he said. “It’s just one that I get aggravated at and probably don’t use my head as much as I should at times. I think it’s more of a Matt thing trying to be patient and not let my emotions get the best of me. You can never get away from anybody it feels like so it can get frustrating.”

    As Kenseth’s describes, Martinsville doesn’t leave much room for drivers to work. It’s a track that has drivers making a living by bumping, banging and annoying other drivers.

    Fennig is well aware of that. It puts the pressure on the team to make sure the car is handling correctly in order for Kenseth to navigate the what is bound to be an all day traffic jam.

    “Track position is really important since you don’t have the long straightaways to be able to make passes like we would at longer tracks,” said Fennig. “So we’ll make sure that our No. 17 Ford turns well in the center of the turns and that it has good grip off the turns in order to race down the short straightaways.”

    Their quiet consistency and never give up attitude the last two weeks is what made the No. 17 team champions in 2003. With back-to-back top five finishes their climb through the points has begun and they confidence is growing that they’re getting closer to their first win since February of 2009.

  • George Gillett to Return To NASCAR With Kimi Raikkonen After Last Year’s Drama?

    George Gillett to Return To NASCAR With Kimi Raikkonen After Last Year’s Drama?

    According to a Finland Newspaper titled Turun Sanomat, 2007 Formula One Champion Kimi Raikkonen will be coming to NASCAR. The catch is that his partner is Foster Gillett.

    Turun Sanomat says that this summer, Raikkonen is set to run some Camping World Truck Series, followed by Nationwide and Sprint Cup for a new team called ICE1 with Foster Gillett as a partner.

    “I’m really looking forward to get there to familiarize to the world of NASCAR,” Raikkonen told the paper. “I have been following it for a long time. I know, it’s a very tough and open top racing series. I just love the American spirit of racing. It feels just great to get involved with that. Obviously, it will be very challenging and great fun for me.”

    The last time Gillett was with a team that turned into a disaster that almost saw the team close. Anybody remember last year’s drama with Richard Petty Motorsports?

    The team ran into financial trouble that saw them almost miss the final three races of the year after Gillett made some bad financial decisions outside of the racing business. Sporting News reported that Gillett, who owned as much as 70 percent of the team, defaulted on it’s roughly $90 million loan last February. Sirius Speedway reports that he still owes $70 million to Wachovia Bank, while still making payments to Ray Evernham for the purchase from him a couple years ago.

    The sale of Liverpool FC was suppose to help Gillett restructure it, however, it sold for a amount far less than expected causing some of these strains.

    To try to put some of the pieces together, Gillett sold his stock in the companies that operate the Northstar-At-Tahoe Ski Resort in Vail Resorts, which is worth $63 million as according to Sirius Speedway. Gillett’s moves did not help the team in restructuring, though.

    They almost didn’t make it to the final races of the season after Gillett failed to pay Roush-Fenway Racing for the motors and chassis. There was a hold up with leaving for both Talladega Superspeedway and Phoenix Raceway after discussions of terms.

    Richard Petty Motorsports is only back on its footing due to Richard Petty, Douglas G. Bergeron and Andrew Murstein buying out Gillett’s part at the end of the season.

    Evernham, who says he is still owed $19 million and brought forth a lawsuit last year, is surprised to see this even surfacing.

    “I really don’t know why Kimi would partner with people who continually fail with sports franchises,” Evernham told Auto123.com. “I don’t know how they could leave with so many unpaid bills and return to the sport.”

  • David Ragan: Record Setter, Shriner and Driver in Search of a Good Finish

    David Ragan: Record Setter, Shriner and Driver in Search of a Good Finish

    Driver of the No. 6 UPS Ford for Roush Fenway Racing David Ragan is a man of many talents, from setting a world record to pursuing the status of Mason and supporting the Shriners Hospitals for Children.

    [media-credit name=”Barry Albert” align=”alignright” width=”291″][/media-credit]But most of all, Ragan is a driver in search of a good finish, one that seems to be so elusive early in his 2011 NASCAR Cup season. Yet in spite of that, he is managing to not only keep the faith, but keep it all in perspective.

    Two weeks ago after the race at Bristol Motor Speedway, Ragan had the distinction of breaking a world record on the very track on which he had competed in the Cup Series. Ragan scored the fastest lap for a passenger car around the world’s fastest half-mile race track.

    Behind the wheel of a Ford Mustang GT 5.0, Ragan scored the fastest time ever at 19.481 seconds, with a speed of 98.497 mph.

    “I drove the production Mustang and we broke the world half mile speed record,” Ragan said. “It was pretty cool.”

    In addition to being a world record setter, Ragan has also devoted himself to supporting the causes of the Shriners, especially the Shriners Hospitals for Children. Ragan has supported this as his charity of choice since 2008.

    Ragan took time out of his hectic schedule prior to the racing at Auto Club Speedway this past weekend to visit the Shriners Hospital for Children in Los Angeles. Ragan toured the facility and also had plenty of time to interact with some of the children recuperating at the hospital.

    “Anytime we get to visit a hospital, that’s cool,” Ragan said. “We get to meet a lot of the patients and the families and the whole staff. It’s neat to show them our support.”

    “Some of the kids had bandages or prosthetic arms,” Ragan shared. “Just to spend a little bit of time with them was awesome.”

    Ragan also has his sights set on becoming a Shriner himself. He has currently completed the first degree of Masonry.

    “My uncle is a Shriner and we are close friends with many Shriners,” Ragan said. “The Shriners have just stood out, especially with their treatment of kids for free of charge.  It’s just a really good group of people who are passionate about what they do.”

    Most of all, however, David Ragan is in search of a good finish to a race in this 2011 season. It all started at the first race of the season, the Daytona 500, where Ragan was black-flagged for changing lanes before crossing the start/finish line during a second green, white, checkered finish.

    After serving the stop and go penalty, Ragan restarted 15th and could only rally his car to finish 14th.

    At the second race in Phoenix, Ragan again had a fast race car, with the third fastest time in practice and qualifying 11th. The driver first got caught up in a wreck and, after recovering from that, blew a tire and hit the wall, ending his day with a 36th place finish.

    At the season’s third race at Vegas, Ragan was once again fast in practice, in fact second fastest. When it came time to qualify, however, Ragan spun on his time trial run, relegating him to start the race from the rear of the field.

    Ragan battled a loose race car throughout, ending the race in the 22nd position.

    Ragan qualified fifth for the next race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Believing that this was finally a track where he could rebound, the driver was definitely looking forward to a decent finish.

    Alas, it was not to be yet again. Tire troubles plagued all of the teams at Bristol, including Ragan’s, who struggled mightily on the new tires.

    The UPS Ford team finished the competition at ‘Thunder Valley’ in the 16th spot.

    This weekend, buoyed by his visit to the Shriners Hospital for Children, Ragan was ready to take on the big, wide track at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California. Ragan had a great qualifying run, scoring sixth in the time trials.

    Ragan also won final practice and looked to be poised for that elusive good finish. His team kept tuning on his car, yet it kept vacillating between too tight and too loose conditions.

    “We just made adjustment after adjustment and never could make it right,” Ragan said. “There at the long part of the race when we had some clean traffic, we were trying to tighten the car up because it was too free.”

    “Then when we got into traffic during those last few restarts with all the dirty air, our UPS Ford just got too tight,” Ragan continued. “You know, me and Drew (Blickensderfer) and our team engineer have just got to sit down and take a look at the adjustments we made and see where we can make it better.”

    “I think we had an opportunity to finish better than we did.”

    David Ragan, record setter, Shriner and driver in search of a good finish plans to take his quest next to the short track in Martinsville. Yet he is still managing to stay upbeat, keeping it all in perspective, especially after his visit to the Shriners Hospital.

    “We often think our lives are hard and we have a lot of pressure on us to win races or to make up points, but then you see an eight year old girl who was in a fire and half of her body is burned and she doesn’t have an arm,” Ragan said. “And yet she is there and she is recovering.”

    “That puts things in perspective.”

  • NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Fontana

    NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Fontana

    Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

    1. Kyle Busch: Busch led 151 of 200 laps at Fontana, but couldn’t hold off the late charges of Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick. Johnson passed Busch with two laps to go, while Harvick slid by the No. 18 Toyota a lap later. Busch finished third, narrowly missing another weekend sweep after taking the Nationwide and Sprint Cup races at Bristol a week earlier.

    “I’m disappointed we didn’t win,” Busch said, “but I can’t complain about a finish. Nor can Denny Hamlin, because he didn’t have one to complain about. I’ll send Denny my condolences via Federal Express, to his new address at the corner of Start and Park. But it’s concerning when engine woes become engine ‘whoa’s.’ Apparently, the engine shop has some bugs to work out. Fans of AMC’s infamous 1970’s subcompact car will be thrilled to hear this, but it seems that Toyota is now making Gremlins.”

    I led ¾ of Sunday’s race, so, for 151 laps, I did what everyone expects of Kyle Busch, and that’s to ‘show my behind.’ That’s called giving the rest of the field a view of the ‘tail end of the lap leader.’”      

    2. Carl Edwards: Edwards finished sixth in the Auto Club 400, posting his fourth top-10 result of the year. It was a solid finish for Edwards, albeit a disappointing one at a track on which he’s consistently been competitive, and gave him the lead in the Sprint Cup point standings. Edwards leads Ryan Newman by nine points.

    “Kevin Harvick wasted no time in passing Jimmie Johnson,” Edwards said. “I hear they’re calling it ‘The Pass.’ And, they’re calling my failure to overtake Kyle Busch at Bristol ‘The Passive.’”

    I still regret not pushing Kyle a little harder at Bristol. Next time, I won’t ‘beat around the Busch.’ I’ve learned a hard lesson in complacence. Next time, when Carl Edwards ‘sees’ an opportunity, Carl Edwards will ‘seize’ that opportunity.”  

    3. Jimmie Johnson: Johnson overtook Kyle Busch on lap 199 in the Auto Club 500, only to see Kevin Harvick slip by on the final turn, stealing the win from Johnson, who had won five times previously at Fontana. Johnson’s runner-up finish advanced him two spots in the Sprint Cup point standings to fifth, 14 points behind Carl Edwards.

    “I guess Jimmy John’s does deliver,” Johnson said, “because I got ‘served’ by Kevin Harvick in the No. 29 Jimmy John’s Chevy. Harvick gave me something to think about, so I guess that makes it ‘food for thought.’ I wonder if he accepts tips. If he does, I’ve got one for him: It happens, but it won’t happen again.”

    But does a last-lap pass make Harvick a contender for the Cup? Not in my eyes. I’ve got five Cup titles propping me up. My lovely wife has one ‘ring’ finger; I’ve got five. My three biggest rivals, Harvick, Kyle Busch, and Carl Edwards, have none. So, until something changes, I’m playing ‘ring around the posers.’ If they want to prove something to me, then they should improve.” 

    I’ve got the field right where I want them. I’m fifth in the standings, and you know how my competitors hate to hear the words ‘fifth’ and ‘Jimmie Johnson’ used together.” 

    4. Kevin Harvick: In fifth with nine laps remaining, Harvick blasted to the front in the final two laps, gaining Jimmie Johnson’s bumper before sling-shotting by the No. 48 in turn 4. Harvick posted his first win of the year, beating Johnson by a .144 margin.

    “I hope this win reaffirms my commitment to dethroning the five-time defending champion,” Harvick said. “I’d like to think I’m seen as a legitimate threat, and I hope that when the No. 29 Chevrolet with ‘Jimmy John’s’ on the hood appeared in Jimmie Johnson’s rear-view mirror, he saw a little bit of ‘himself’ out there.” 

    5. Ryan Newman: Newman finished fifth at Fontana, posting his third top-5 and fourth top-10 result of the year, as the Stewart-Haas Racing duo was again strong. Teammate Tony Stewart finished 13th  after spending much of the day in the top 10. Newman moved up two spots to second in the point standings, and trails Carl Edwards by only 9.

    “I think Stewart-Haas may be the strongest team in NASCAR right now,” Newman said. “Tony and I are talented drivers, and we’re not afraid to say or do whatever necessary to get our point across. You could say Tony and I have and make a formidable pair. And my engineering degree from Purdue University makes me the ‘dynamic’ of the ‘dynamic duo.’ As for Tony, he adamantly disavows any accusations that he’s ever matriculated in his life.” 

    6. Kurt Busch: Busch started 23rd in the Auto Club 500 and gained little ground throughout the duration of the race. The No. 22 Dodge, bearing Auto Club sponsorship, started tight, and the “Double Deuce” never found a remedy despite multiple adjustments. Busch fell from the lead in the point standings to third, ten points behind Carl Edwards.

    “We were stuck in the middle of the pack all day,” Busch said. “Had we been sporting our usual sponsors and paint schemes, it would have been fitting to call us ‘Shell stationary.’”

    But leads in the point standings this early in the season can be fleeting. Of all people, I should know. As a veteran of cosmetic surgery, I can tell you that some things are ‘ear today and gone tomorrow.’ And that’s no joke. Trust me, I know importance of being earnest. However, I don’t know the importance of being ear-less, but I do know the importance of having less ear.”   

    7. Tony Stewart: Stewart ran among the leaders all day at Fontana, chasing front-runner Kyle Busch, who led 151 laps, for much of the race. However, after the final restart, Stewart’s No. 14 Office Depot Chevrolet faded, and he finished a disappointing 13th. He dropped two spots in the point standings to sixth, 17 out of first.

    “We’ve been fast all year,” Stewart said. “We’ve led laps, and we’ve made the right pit calls. We’ve done everything but win. Someone once said, or some someone once misquoted me in Rolling Stone as saying, “Racing is a lot like a visit to the massage parlor—it’s a lot better when there’s a happy ending.”

    8. Paul Menard: Menard scrambled to a 16th-place finish in the Auto Club 400, with tight handling conditions spoiling his chances for a result in the top 10. Menard’s No. 27 Serta/Menard’s Chevrolet stood in ninth for a restart with about 25 laps remaining, but quickly dropped to 16th as the handling deserted him. He fell further back before the race’s last restart,  

    “Despite a lackluster finish,” Menard said, “I’m still proud of my position in the Sprint Cup point standings. I don’t think anyone expected me to be seventh in the points after five races. And, with Serta sponsorship on my car, you could say I’m a real ‘sleeper.’ Apparently, it was enough to wake up my RCR teammates, who’ve been sleeping on the job.”

    9. Matt Kenseth: Kenseth finished fourth in the Auto Club 400, registering his second top-5 result of the year. He’s charged back from a slow start to the season with two consecutive 4th-place finishes, and is now 10th in the point standings, 30 out of first.

    “Carl Edwards has assumed the Sprint Cup points lead,” Kenseth said. “He’s become the unquestioned leader of Roush Fenway Racing, but that doesn’t mean his teammates like it. I like to say he’s the ‘face’ and the ‘ass’ of Roush Fenway.”

    Now, as NASCAR’s unofficial spokesman for bland and boring, and the lead singer of the Mötley Crüe cover band ‘Mätt-ley Crüe, a band known for the hit ‘Mild Side,’ I’m compelled to comment on Sunday’s race. It was 197 laps of low drama, followed by three laps of melodrama. For the first 197 laps, the Auto Club 400 should have been called the ‘Auto Pilot 400.’” 

    10. Kasey Kahne: Kahne posted his third top-10 finish of the year with a ninth at Fontana, backing up an identical ninth at Bristol a week earlier. After a 25th at Daytona, Kahne hasn’t finished outside the top 15, and is now 11th in the points, 30 out of first.

    “I guess it’s true what they say,” Kahne said. “Red Bull does give you wings, because I’ll be taking flight from Red Bull to Hendrick Motorsports at season’s end. It’s common knowledge that when I sign a contract, it’s often scored by the sound of the Beatles ‘Hello Goodbye’ playing in the background.”

  • NOTES FROM THE NASCAR NATION: DALE JR IS A DIE HARD ‘GAMER’ BUT DON’T ASK HIM TO JOIN YOU ON THE ‘SOCIAL NETWORK’

    NOTES FROM THE NASCAR NATION: DALE JR IS A DIE HARD ‘GAMER’ BUT DON’T ASK HIM TO JOIN YOU ON THE ‘SOCIAL NETWORK’

    [media-credit name=”Barry Albert” align=”alignright” width=”276″][/media-credit]For many years now it’s been generally well known that Dale Earnhardt Jr. is a “gamer,” or an avid player of video games. In past interviews he’s admitted to often sitting up much of the night honing his expertise with just about any video game on the market.

    One would think that Earnhardt’s love of this high tech recreational age would include hanging out with his friends on modern day so called “social networks.” It doesn’t. Believe it or not NASCAR’s most popular driver isn’t that fond of the concept and has actually declined opening a “Twitter” account.

    During a recent interview, conducted prior to the start of the NASCAR weekend at the California based Auto Club Speedway, Earnhardt answered the usual questions regarding all aspects of his Hendrick Motorsports racing team. Somehow the topic of video games worked it’s way into the conversation. Earnhardt is one of the Sprint Cup celebrities included in the new racing game “NASCAR, The Video Game 2011.”

    “NASCAR: The Video Game 2011” is the first edition of the NASCAR racing simulator series developed by Eutechnyx and published by Activision. It was released for Playstation and Xbox 360 units last March 29th and will be released for Wii machines on May 24th. It will be the first NASCAR game released since the contract between EA Sports and NASCAR expired. The new game will feature on line races for 16 players. All of the 23 Sprint Cup Series race tracks will be featured in the game. 43 Sprint Cup drivers have been added to the game as well as some other drivers from the Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series.

    When asked for his impression of the new video game and what characteristics did they use for his race team, Earnhardt surprisingly said “I don’t know, I haven’t tried it. I don’t have my copy yet. I’m waiting on those guys to tell me where I can go buy it.”

    It seemed a little amazing that Earnhardt would even have to purchase a copy of the new video game especially with his image included in it. Responding to that, he said “well, I was not going to assume that I was going to get a free one but if they wish to send me one, I’ll be glad to try it. I enjoy those kind of things and I’ve got some friends that work at the company in Europe that made it and I was pretty excited to see it. I’m a big longtime EA Sports fan, but I was excited to see a new developer get an opportunity to try the game and try their hand at NASCAR and see what kind of product we could get out there. Hopefully the fans really enjoy it. I’m excited to be a part of it in any way possible. It’s one of my favorite hobbies and I look forward to seeing the job they did.”

    As much as Earnhardt Jr. is up for the challenge of a video game, he never has really developed an appreciation of the so called “social networks” that is the electronic rave these days. Most of his NASCAR contemporaries have “Twitter” accounts and spend a lot of time sending and receiving instant messages.

    When asked why the leader of the “Junior nation” chose not to participate in the “Twitter nation” Earnhardt said “I used to have a My Space Dot Com page and I used to have a “Face Book Dot Com” page; I don’t anymore because it was just too much responsibility. I felt like you had to plug in and be involved with it so much and I just thought that personally I don’t need to do it. I understand it and we utilize the business side of it and it works for JR Motorsports and it helps us there. But, personally, it would be fun for about a month and then I would start to feel like it was a job, where people expected me to do it. I’ve had some other drivers tell me that some of the people aren’t too nice about it. (Laughing) So that part of it, why do I need to put up with it anyway? But, if I don’t have to put up with it, why do I want to bring that into my life?”

    That’s a perfectly logical reason when you’re NASCAR’s most popular driver and you practically live your life in a fish bowl. Despite that Earnhardt hasn’t one hundred percent ruled out using the social network. “I think never say never, but with my experience with “My Space” and “Facebook”, which worked great, I ended up in the end going this isn’t necessary for me. It was fun trying to be cool, and creating your page and being the hipster that you thought you were, but in the end, I needed to get outside and I just needed to get rid of it. It just wasn’t for me, I guess,” he said.

    Can you imagine the “Twitter” followers this man would accumulate in a short amount of time if he did open an account?

    By the way, attention Activision, send this man a copy of your new video game. If he likes it, and he probably will, then he will become the best thing that has ever happened to your marketing plan.