Testing SpeedwayMedia.com

Tag: Brandon McReynolds

  • The View From My Recliner – Smoke is on Fire!

    The View From My Recliner – Smoke is on Fire!

    In the middle of what should have been an amazing weekend for Tony Stewart, Smoke has shown that he is had enough and Homestead can’t get here soon enough for him.

    Coming off his solid run in Michigan, Stewart was running in the top-five in practice at Sonoma when he came up on slower cars heading into turn 11 and it set off the fireworks. Later in practice, Jamie McMurray cut him off and received the one-finger salute from the three-time champion.

    After practice, Stewart said to the gathered media, “I’m ready to go run stuff that makes me happy and driving a Sprint Cup car does not make me happy right now. A lot of things have changed. The atmosphere has changed. There is so much stuff in the garage area that has changed that it was time for me to make a change with it.

    “I’ve dedicated 18 years of my life to this series and it’s done great by me,” Stewart said. “I’ve made a great living doing it, but at the same time, there are other things in life I want to do other than be at a NASCAR track three days a week for 38 weekends out of 52 weeks a year. There are just other things I want to do now.”

    Reading Stewart’s quotes to the media makes me wonder about the shape NASCAR is in as a sport. One thing that Stewart has said was when he was coming up, drivers learned from Mark Martin, didn’t cross Dale Earnhardt and would get a lecture from Rusty Wallace if they didn’t obey the unofficial rules of practice or the race.

    Folks, please take notice. NASCAR is a better place with Tony Stewart in the race car and in the garage. Tony Stewart basically said yesterday he can’t wait to be done with NASCAR. That is sad.

    The state of NASCAR is up in the air.

    The majority of competitive NASCAR team owners are in their 60s and 70s,  Who is the next group of racers who want to own teams? How many drivers are in cars because they bring sponsorship with them? Paul Menard, Brian Scott and Danica Patrick are drivers who are either funded by family companies or just a marketing machine and probably not in their rides without the sponsorship they bring to the table.

    The XFINITY Series can’t develop the next group of drivers because they will run with the funding Cup drivers bring with them to theXFINITY Series rather than take a chance on a good young driver like Ryan Truex, Corey LaJoie and Brandon McReynolds.

    Attendance is down everywhere and television ratings are down, where is the opportunity to grow the sport?

    The television contract with Fox Sports 1 and NBC Sports Network put more races on cable networks that are building an audience from scratch and people are too fickle or lazy to go searching  for what channel it is on.

    A couple comments from a post-practice interview yesterday, really made me question where does NASCAR go from here? Think about it, if Tony Stewart doesn’t want to be in Sprint Cup racing, why would anyone else want to watch it?

     

  • The View From My Recliner – Easter Break

    The View From My Recliner – Easter Break

    Hello, everyone. I am John Harlow and I am a NASCAR fan.

    I became a racing fan because it was one of the few things my Dad and I had in common. I have been watching racing since the early 70s. It is an honor to be one of the newest writers at Speedwaymedia.com.

    We’re five weeks into the 2016 NASCAR racing season and we have watched (the TV ratings says that many haven’t and the fans dressed as empty seats the last few weeks haven’t shown much) some of the best racing NASCAR has put on the track in years.

    A few observations from the first five weeks.

    Everyone who thought that Kyle Busch would change since he won his Sprint Cup championship is wrong. His comments following the XFINITY race in Fontana show that he hasn’t matured and trying to take out Austin Dillon shows that he is still all about Kyle. Racers are and need to be all about themselves. There are many times where I will defend Kyle, but this time, he was wrong. NASCAR got it wrong today for not digging into his wallet for his remarks. He was fined $10,000 for not showing up for media availability after the race, but nothing for his comments about fixing races.

    The racing coverage on Fox Sports has the good and the bad. The good is Jeff Gordon making the transition from driving to the TV booth look easy. He gives great analysis from someone who was in the driver’s seat less than a year ago. Pairing him with Darrell Waltrip has been a disaster. DW comes across as someone who is jealous that someone is taking his TV time away. While we’re at it, get Chris Myers and Michael Waltrip off of the pre-race show. Danielle Trotta, Larry McReynolds and Jeff Hammond would make the pre-race show watchable. Pulling DW from the booth and replacing him with Larry Mac would make the race coverage bearable.

    Last but not least, the XFINITY Series is a joke. Who cares about the Chase in the XFINITY Series? The three Joe Gibbs Racing Toyotas have dominated this series. I would rather watch paint dry. Here is the basic narrative from each XFINITY. The Gibbs cars are 1-2-3 and the XFINITY regulars are battling for 10th-15th place. Let’s get the Cup drivers and Cup teams out of XFINITY. I would rather see a Corey LaJoie or Brandon McReynolds race than watching Kyle stink up the show.

    Have a safe and Happy Easter. And we’ll talk soon about what I see in my Recliner.

  • Corey LaJoie Scores First Monster Mile Win In Wild K&N Pro Series East Race

    Corey LaJoie Scores First Monster Mile Win In Wild K&N Pro Series East Race

    [media-credit name=”Gary Buchanan” align=”alignright” width=”225″][/media-credit]With wrecks aplenty, a torn off bumper, and a green, white checkered finish, Corey LaJoie survived to score the win in the K&N Pro Series East race, the American Real TV 150, at Dover International Speedway.

    And in one of the more unique victory celebrations, LaJoie removed his driving shoe, autographed it and handed it to a young race fan in the stands.

    This was LaJoie’s fourth career K&N Pro Series East victory, with all four wins in the 2012 season. It was his first win at the Monster Mile, where he finished

    “First I just want to start by saying how blessed I am to be in this situation,” the driver of the No. 07 Sims Metal Management Ford, said. “There are a million and a half kids who’d like to be in my spot right here so I’m just lucky enough to have the opportunity.”

    “It doesn’t matter how many races I win in my career, I’ll always be second to the Lord.”

    LaJoie was also effusive in his praise for third place finisher and good friend Brandon McReynolds.

    “Brandon’s my best buddy since we came out of the womb,” LaJoie said. “To get to race for Miles the Monster in one of his one-off races, man it’s something you couldn’t ask for more.”

    “I also need to thank Brand Gdovic for pulling that bumper off or we’d be sitting her in tenth place half tore up.”

    “All in all, that was an awesome race.”

    LaJoie admitted that the car he was driving and won the race in just happened to be borrowed.

    “Miguel Paludo drove it last year and we pulled it out of the barn to get it out,” LaJoie said. “We got it a month ago, stripped it, painted it and the first time it hit the track was yesterday.”

    LaJoie is also focused on the biggest prize in the series, the championship. And what does he have to do in his opinion to achieve that goal?

    “Win the next two races,” LaJoie said simply. “If we win the next two races, no matter what anybody else does, we’re going to win the championship.”

    LaJoie also came into the media center shoeless, thanks to his unique victory celebration.

    “I give both of my shoes away,” LaJoie said. “I started that at Iowa.”

    “I gave one away in the stands and one away in Victory Lane and my socks are soaking wet with Budweiser.”

    Darrell “Bubba” Wallace, Jr. had an incredible comeback to finish second, his second top-2 finish at Dover having won the race last year, but he was none too happy in the media center after the race.

    “It’s not even that I’m disappointed that we lost,” the driver of the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, said. “We lost the wrong way.”

    “If you have to cheat to win and get somebody else to take your rear bumper off, I don’t understand that.”

    “I’m frustrated over that but great day for us and a great weekend overall,” Wallace said. “We’ve been struggling all year and to be able to finish second, I’ll take it.”

    “That’s how it is,” Wallace continued. “Maybe that will come around to us when our bumper gets ripped off and we get someone else to take it off for us.”

    “It is complete awesomeness – sarcasm there – but we’ll take it.”

    Brandon McReynolds, son of broadcaster Larry McReynolds, came in third in his No. 28 Turner Motorsports Chevrolet. This was McReynolds best finish in his eighth K&N Pro Series East start and his first race of the season.

    “I really believe the 18 or us had the best car to beat,” McReynolds said. “I just didn’t get the pickup full of fuel so our restart was pretty terrible.”

    “But it all started when I got a good run on the top and got on the outside of the 07,” McReynolds continued. “He just stuck me in the fence and tore up his bumper.”

    “But that’s fine,” McReynolds said. “He’s one of our buddies and we’ll get over it and talk about it sometime.”

    “He’ll realize pretty quick when you move up, you ain’t going to go far doing stuff like that,” McReynolds continued. “There’s only so many guys who will cut you breaks.”

    “I shouldn’t have cut him a break,” McReynolds said. “I should have put him in the fence.”

    “But we’ll move on to the next one,” McReynolds continued. “We were here to spoil the party and everyone knows we were a force to be reckoned with.”

    “We made our statement and hopefully Mr. Turner sees that we have a really good thing going here and we can get some more races.”

    The rest of the top five finishers were Ben Kennedy in fourth and Kyle Larson in fifth place.

  • Chad Hackenbracht is Making a Name for Himself On and Off the Track

    Chad Hackenbracht is Making a Name for Himself On and Off the Track

    [media-credit name=”Photo Credit CGH Motorsports” align=”alignright” width=”246″][/media-credit]In spite of his difficult to pronounce moniker, up and coming 20 year old racer Chad Hackenbracht has been making a name for himself on and off the track.

    Hackenbracht definitely made a name for himself on the track at Talladega by leading laps at the end of the race and pushing Brandon McReynolds, son of former crew chief and FOX broadcaster Larry McReynolds, to his first ARCA win.

    The driver of the No. 58 Kindify Chevrolet Impala led 38 laps and was leading when the white flag flew. Unfortunately, Hackenbracht was a sitting duck at the front of the field and had to settle for a third place finish in the International Motorsports Hall of Fame 250 when all was said and done.

    This was Hackenbracht’s fifth career top five finish and his best finish ever at a superspeedway.

    “I knew we had a good chance at winning for sure,” Hackenbracht said. “But you don’t want to be in the lead at a superspeedway.”

    “You’re a sitting duck with no friends at all,” Hackenbracht continued. “So, they got me on that last restart. I tried to back up to them but they wound up getting around me.”

    While rivals on the track, Hackenbracht and McReynolds have been good friends off the track. And they planned on working together in the draft during their superspeedway competitions.

    “Brandon and I talked about pushing each other since the tandem racing began at Daytona,” Hackenbracht said. “Ever since then, we tried to work together but never got the opportunity until the Talladega race.”

    So, how has McReynolds paid Hackenbracht back for that winning push, which has brought great attention to both racers’ names, at Talladega?

    “He hasn’t given me anything,” Hackenbracht said with a laugh. “He called me after the race and thanked me.”

    “He said we could go get some lunch or dinner or hang out,” Hackenbracht continued. “He has thanked me a lot and really that’s all you can ask for.”

    “Obviously with Brandon being Larry Mac’s son and me pushing him to the lead, we’ve both gotten a lot of exposure,” Hackenbracht said. “So, when they talk him, they’re also talking about me.”

    “We’re getting some good press out of it for sure and hopefully making a name in the garage area.”

    Hackenbracht certainly had mixed emotions after the ARCA race, even with his third place finish. Among those emotions were elation for his friend, sadness that he was not in Victory Lane, and a little bit of anger all at the same time.

    “Right after the race, I was actually kind of upset because the 16 came up and damaged our car,” Hackenbracht said. “He decided to come up and block us after we were right next to him.”

    “Third is good because it helps us go after the championship,” Hackenbracht, who is third in the ARCA point standings, continued. “You always want to be in Victory Lane but it will happen when it’s supposed to happen.”

    Hackenbracht has also been making a name for himself off the track as well. The young driver was chosen to do the Hoosier tire test at several newly paved tracks, as well as fulfilling a great deal of sponsor and charitable appearances.

    “We did the Hoosier tire test,” Hackenbracht said. “We were the only team that went up and tested the tires on the new surface.”

    “We also did that a few weeks ago in Michigan, as well as at Pocono,” Hackenbracht continued. “Michigan was very similar to the old track as far as conditions.”

    “It had a lot of grip and is a lot faster,” Hackenbracht said. “We were actually only two tenths off of the Cup speeds in the ARCA cars.”

    “Pocono also looks great,” Hackenbracht continued. “I can’t complain about that at all. It’s smooth and fast too.”

    Hackenbracht has become a bit of a rock star off the track as well, between all of his sponsor visits and charities.

    “Before Talladega, we went to Fort Bragg and did a show car appearance,” Hackenbracht said. “I had never once been on a base before and I didn’t realize it was like a whole other town.”

    “It was great to meet the troops and spend time with them.”

    “That Thursday of Talladega, we went to Fort Rucker and it was so nice to meet people and get my name out there,” Hackenbracht continued. “Another thing that I’ve started to do is with the RAD (Race Against Drugs) program. They’re going to have a go kart thing where kids get to race against us ARCA racers.”

    “At ‘Dega, as soon as I got out of the car after finishing the race, I rushed everybody out and went to the hauler, changed my clothes and went outside the track to the International Motorsports Hall of Fame to sign autographs for different kids with the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind,” Hackenbracht said. “That was fun to speak with a bunch of different kids.”

    “It was hectic getting right out of the car but it was really fun.”

    While Hackenbracht likes to go fast and finish well on the track, making a name for himself and causes he cares about off the track is something that is vitally important to the young driver.

    “That’s one thing I really like to do is the off-track stuff, whether it’s autographs or just meeting people,” Hackenbracht said. “I love meeting new people and you never know where there connections will lead.”

    Although it is early in the season, Hackenbracht has been enjoying making a name for himself on and off the track. And he just knows that his team will be the next ones in Victory Lane.

    “We’re getting closer to finally closing the deal on the win,” Hackenbracht said. “It’s been a long time coming.”

    “We’ve had dominant performances but bad luck or other problems have gotten in the way of the win,” Hackenbracht continued. “It’s definitely been a good season so far.”

    “Hopefully we will continue to go in the right direction.”

     

     

  • Darrell Wallace Jr. and Max Gresham Duo Winners at Dover

    Darrell Wallace Jr. and Max Gresham Duo Winners at Dover

    There were dueling victory lane celebrations after the final NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race, the Dover 150, at the Monster Mile.

    [media-credit name=”Gary Buchanan” align=”alignright” width=”222″][/media-credit]Darrell Wallace, Jr., driving the No. 6 US Army Toyota for Revolution Racing, scored his third win of the season in the final race, while Max Gresham, fielding the No. 18 Live Oak Plantation Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, finished off the season as champion.

    Although one a race winner and the other a champion, both drivers were equally emotional about their victories. The win was especially powerful for Wallace due to a loss he suffered in his personal life last weekend.

    “It was an emotional win for me, especially losing my uncle this past Saturday,” Wallace Jr. said, “It was tough.”

    “I put his name over my name on the door,” Wallace continued. “He was riding shot gun with us and he’s the one who put us in Victory Lane.”

    Wallace not only enjoyed the racing at the Monster Mile, but the trophy too.

    “This race was fun,” Wallace said. “I love this track.”

    “Dover is my favorite track, not just because I won but because it teaches you a lot, how to pass cars, go fast and turn laps,” Wallace continued. “But I’m more tired from carrying this thing (Miles the Monster trophy) around than racing out on the track.”

    Wallace is just seventeen years old, with his ‘big 18th’ birthday coming up next Saturday. Under the tutelage of Andy Santerre, former Busch North champ, and with the support of the US Army as sponsor, the young driver has also been responsible for half of the wins for Revolution Racing this past season.

    “Revolution Racing and the US Army not only got us to Victory Lane today, but also got us three wins and three poles and getting us to the race track each weekend we had a race,” Wallace Jr. said. “It just goes to show how ‘Army Strong’ we are.”

    As strong as Wallace was, there was one stronger car and driver in the field, at least as far as the championship. Max Gresham, who ran every lap of the season, was officially crowned the K&N Pro Series East champ.

    “This has been the best season I’ve ever had,” Gresham said. “It will be a good one for the records book for a long time for ourselves.”

    “You can’t ask for anything better than that,” Gresham continued. “It’s been a great year for us.”

    “To be a NASCAR champion is the biggest thing and pretty much the only thing I’ve ever wanted to do when I started racing,” Gresham said emotionally. “And now I am.”

    Crew chief Bryant Frazier seconded his driver’s assessment of the winning season. In addition to this championship, Frazier is also best known for being Tony Stewart’s first crew chief.

    “Wow, this is an awesome day,” Frazier said. “It’s been something coming all year.”

    “Max has done an excellent job,” Frazier continued. “It’s a testament to the Gibbs and everyone who works throughout this sport.”

    Steve Desouza, Vice President of Nationwide and Driver Development for Joe Gibbs Racing, also spoke of his pride for the driver, as well as the pride he had for the team in Gresham’s K&N Pro Series East championship.

    “Speaking on behalf of the Gibbs, what an honor to be part of this Series,” Desouza said. “It’s been a great development series for us.”

    “We’re really proud of Bryant and Max and the job our entire group has done,” Desouza continued. “Max is an incredible talent and our guys have worked very hard for the championship this year.”

    Gresham’s major competition for the championship, Brett Moffitt, looked like he might have a chance to pull off the upset, leading the race in the waning laps. Moffitt, in his No. 00 AAA/Michael Waltrip Racing machine, however, blew a tire and hit the wall to finish 21st.

    “It was unfortunate for him that he blew that right front tire but good for us,” Gresham said of Moffitt. “As soon as it happened, there was a big sigh of relief and we just slowed down and finished third.”

    “I’ve never been happier finishing third.”

    Both Gresham and Wallace Jr. acknowledged that not only are they winners, but they have also both learned many lessons throughout this race season. And one of those lessons is that patience is a virtue.

    “I think the biggest lesson that I’ve learned this year is patience,” Gresham said. “It’s definitely played a lot into finishing every lap and finishing top five and top ten as much as we did.”

    “Not letting my nerves get the better of me and staying calm, being patient and not pushing the issue was the key.”

    “The lesson that I’ve learned is to not get in over my head like in situations like today,” Wallace Jr. said. “Just a lot of patience, car control and everything there is to racing.”

    “I’ve still got a lot to learn.”

    With the race win and championship now in their rear view mirrors, both Wallace Jr. and Gresham took a moment to think about their futures. But for both winning drivers, that future is uncertain at present.

    “I don’t know yet what I will do next year,” Wallace Jr. said. “When I do, I’ll let you know.”

    “Hopefully by winning this race, we’ve opened some eyes and opened some ears.”

    “Watching Max since he has been with us, he has learned to race well,” Desouza said of Gresham’s future. “I would venture to say that you’ll be seeing him in Nationwide and more than likely in Cup in the future.”

    “He’s done a great job and he’s done a nice job of bringing this group together and applying it on the race track.”

    Following Darrell Wallace Jr., race winner, were Dale Quarterly, Max Gresham, Eddie MacDonald, and Andrew Smith as the top-five finishers. Benny Gordon, Ryan Gifford, Brandon McReynolds, Dylan Presnell and Jeff Anton rounded out the top ten.