Kevin Harvick, though, known as, “The Closer,” for the past couple of seasons, Harvick did it all on Sunday, leading 224 of the 312 laps, as he went on to easily cruise to victory at The Profit for CNBC 500, Presented by Small Business Fueling America.
Over the offseason, after driving for Richard Childress Racing for 13 years, Kevin Harvick switched to Stewart-Haas Racing. In just his second start with his new team, Harvick has already found his way to victory lane. Harvick’s victory was his 24th in 468 career starts in NASCAR’s elite series. Harvick’s win was his fifth at PIR, leading all drivers.
“Enthusiasm is contagious at SHR. You are only as good as the people around you,” Harvick said. “It is quite an honor to be apart of that.”
When asked about the advantages of being a part of SHR, compared to RCR, Harvick mentioned Tony Stewart, Kurt Busch, and Danica Patrick. Stewart is a three-time series champion, Kurt Busch won the championship in 2004, and Danica Patrick is a driver that wants to get better. “It’s a hard sport. It’s really hard to win. Celebrate every win like it is your last because you never know when it is going to be your last one.”
Dale Earnhardt Jr., last weeks Daytona 500 champion, finished second, with Brad Keselowski coming home third. “Got to congratulate Kevin. Those guys were two-tenths faster than everyone during practice. That was just phenomenal,” Earnhardt Jr. said. Before the final caution, Earnhardt Jr., had run his fastest lap of the race. However, Jr., could not make any ground on Harvick on the following restart. “We just didn’t have enough laps,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “We needed about ten laps and we did not have ten laps.”
Brad Keselowski, who swept the poles for the weekend, was third, leading 4 laps. At the tweet up before the race, Keselowski said, “The cars are easier than ever to drive solo, but harder than ever in traffic.” Keselowski led four laps and praised Kevin Harvick on a dominating win.
Joey Logano finished fourth, following his Team Penske teammate, Keselowski, after a solid weekend in the desert.
Hendrick Motorsports teammates Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon finished fifth and sixth, as Ryan Newman, Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch, and Jamie McMurray completing the top 10.
I am not a man that likes to intrude into the issue of sexism, and that includes politics as well. It is an issue that divides the people. However, we are talking about two different generations here. Richard Petty, who won 200 races and seven cup championships in his career said the following when asked if Danica Patrick would ever find victory lane in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series:
“If everybody stayed home. If she’d been a male, nobody would ever know if she’d showed up at a race track.”
I see some truth to Petty’s comments. Now, before I get tackled and pitchforked by Danica Patrick fans, I want to let you know that I disagree with Petty for the most part, and that I support Danica Patrick 100 percent.
Richard Petty grew up in an entirely different generation than we have. Therefore, his views will reflect a more traditional look at things. We will endure the same problems when we are Petty’s age. A new generation will come in and they will see our way of life rather peculiar and offensive.
For example, let’s use Darrell Waltrip. Toward the end of Darrell Waltrip’s career, Waltrip was not running very well. Danica Patrick did not have a terrible year for a rookie, but everyone can use improvement. If Patrick were in Waltrip’s position in 1999, it is conceivable that fans would definitely notice Patrick more than Waltrip. That is the point Petty is trying to make. At this point, Patrick is known for looks more than performance on the race track and if Patrick were a male, it would be a different story. I agree with that. Patrick brings publicity and fans to the track. That is what we need as a growing sport.
Many people are describing Petty’s comments as an “extremely sexist hyperbole.” NASCAR has been a male-dominated sport and it always will be. On the other hand, NASCAR has changed in many ways. The competition is tighter than ever and this will produce random winners at times. With that being said, Danica Patrick could win a race next season, most likely at a plate track.
To clear everything up: Were the comments sexist? Yes, by definition. However, it is a very sensitive topic in this generation. So, it should not be a shock that people will take Petty’s comments in a negative light. Petty is a legend in our sport and has earned all the accolades.
Danica Patrick has also earned accolades. Will Patrick ever win seven cup titles and rack up 200 wins? No, that is very doubtful, but Patrick has made a big investment into enhancing women’s athletics. Growing up, most could still not grasp the thought of a woman wheeling a race car. Then in 2004, Danica Patrick came into the spotlight. It was the next year, in 2005, Patrick became the first woman to lead the Indianapolis 500. Now, it is starting to become a common trend.
While women like Jennifer Jo Cobb, Shannon Mudro, Johanna Long, and Cassie Gannis are all fine examples of women trying to make their way to the top racing series in America, it is not just racing. Katie Copple, Ashley Schindler, and Kaitlyn Vincie are three candidates to be the first-ever females to announce a NASCAR race. In 2014, this is something that could soon become reality for three very intelligent, determined individuals. Their quest to achieve broadcasting heaven is just as realistic as mine.
Late Wednesday night, we received the tragic news that Jason Leffler was killed in a Sprint Car crash in Swedesboro, New Jersey. He was 37 years old and leaves behind a five year old son named Charlie Dean. When I heard the news, I couldn’t bear to believe it just like the rest of you. The racing community is a family and always comes together in times like this. Jason Leffler and #LEFturn were trending worldwide as drivers and fans alike took to Twitter to mourn the loss of a good man who like so many others, was taken much too soon.
Leffler was a real grassroots racer who loved to play in the dirt and he did so better than most. In 1997, he became a USAC National Midget champion and went on to win 3 consecutive titles in that division. It was the first time since 1962 that a driver won three midget titles in succession and no one has done it since. In 1998, he won the USAC Silver Crown championship joining NASCAR legends Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon as champions of that series. Some of his major short track victories include the 1997 Hut Hundred, the 1999 Copper Classic and two Turkey Night Grand Prix’s. His success in USAC caught the attention of Joe Gibbs Racing who put him in a Nationwide car for select races in 1999. He ran his first full Nationwide season in 2000 finishing 20th in points. He also made his one and only start in the Indianapolis 500 that year placing 17th.
In 2001, he moved to the Cup ranks with Chip Ganassi and struggled to find success although he did win a pole and post a top 10 at Homestead; the only pole of his Cup career. In 2002, he went to the Camping World Truck Series (CWTS) and put in a solid effort earning 4th place in the standings. Jason was inducted into the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 2003. After an impressive season in the CWTS, he began to jump around running part-time schedules in all three national touring divisions of NASCAR. Nashville Superspeedway in 2004 was the site of Leffler’s first Nationwide victory when he held off Martin Truex Jr. and Clint Bowyer in the closing stages of the event.
Joe Gibbs Racing signed Jason to drive their newly formed Cup team with sponsorship from FedEx in 2005. With pressure from a big time sponsor like FedEx to perform, Gibbs decided to replace him mid-season with Denny Hamlin. In 2006, he went back to the Nationwide (NNS) ranks with a full-time ride courtesy of Todd Braun. He continued to run full-time in NNS until 2011 with his best season being 2007. He finished 3rd in points and won what would be his final NASCAR race in thrilling fashion that year. He battled fiercely with David Reutimann and Greg Biffle in the closing laps trading paint and rubbing fenders as he tried desperately to hold on. He refused to lose and after David passed him, he came right back at him and muscled his way by. After running Biffle up the track with three to go, he put the pedal to the floor and drove off taking the checkered flag. That was also Toyota’s first win in the Nationwide series. Kyle Busch put him in a truck for a handful of races in 2012 and Jason finished top 10 in six of his ten starts with a best result of 4th. His last flash of greatness in NASCAR came in the July NNS Daytona event back in 2011 when he drove from outside the top 10 with just one lap remaining to finish a very close 2nd to Joey Logano.
Jason Leffler Sprint Car
He made his final Cup start a Pocono last weekend before a Sprint Car race at Bridgeport Speedway. While running 2nd in the dirt race, he lost control and flipped into the wall. Jason was killed on impact and the racing world is still stunned by this unfathomable loss. It’s been a long time since we’ve lost an active NASCAR driver like this and the mood is somber as we all reluctantly gear up for a weekend of racing at Michigan International Speedway. Leffler will be remembered as an aggressive driver who never gave an inch and fought tooth and nail for every position. After getting into it with Sorenson once, Reed said to Leffler, “if you had lifted, we both would have made it through there.” Jason simply replied, “I don’t lift.” Just one of the many examples of what kind of competitor Leffler was. Panther Racing owner John Barnes was quoted saying, ” Jason was a small man with a huge right foot.”
Jason was a devoted single father who adored his son and had an unshakable passion for going fast. His determination to win was incorruptible and even through all the hardships, he pushed on, he persevered, he refused to give up. This phenomenal talent could push a car to the absolute limit, teetering on the edge of disaster with no fear or trepidation of what could happen should something go wrong. His tenacity behind the wheel was awe-inspiring and his goofy, yet friendly personality will be remembered with smiles and with tears. We lost more than just a racer on that track, we lost a great man and a little boy lost his father.
The unwavering bravery and determination of racers never ceases to amaze as they look death in the eye every time they drive and losses like Leffler’s are never in vain. As legendary racer Bruce McLaren who also perished behind the wheel once put it; ” To do something well is so worthwhile that to die trying to do it better cannot be foolhardy. It would be a waste of life to do nothing with one’s ability, for I feel that life is measured in achievement, not in years alone.”
Well said Bruce. Death in racing is unavoidable and the wounds left in its wake sometimes never heel. We bury the fallen with tears, embrace the ones who escape death’s firm and final grip with relief and race on because that’s what racers do. Rest in peace Jason Leffler and let us all take comfort in the fact that you’re racing with angels now.
“Last night we lost a real racer (in) Jason Leffler” -Mario Andretti
“Jason Leffler was a great racer and an even better friend….We raced together a lot, and our career paths were very similar. He loved racing, especially open-wheel racing, and that’s a passion we both share. To not have him around to talk about whatever race one of us had just run, or were going to run, will be hard.” -Tony Stewart
“He died doing what he loved. He was a real racer, and he will be missed.” -Ryan Newman
“Can’t stop thinking about Jason Leffler…Very sad night. What a great guy we lost tonight. Rest in Peace Jason.” -Kasey Kahne
“Hate bein reminded of whatta dangerous sport racing is. Lost a good buddy 2nite” -Shane Hmiel
[media-credit name=”David Yeazell” align=”alignright” width=”300″][/media-credit]The Gatorade Duel race #1 certainly didn’t end well at all for Danica Patrick on Thursday afternoon. As she spent the end of the race trying to catch her breath after a HARD hit on the final lap, her car owner Tony Stewart was celebrating the race win.
Jamie McMurray moved down in front of Aric Almirola (her former team mate at JR Motorsports) causing Almirola to get into Patrick, sending her car slamming into the inside SAFER barrier hard enough that all four tires left the pavement.
“It happened really quick,” she said. “When it gets down to the end of the race, everybody’s on each other’s doors really close. That’s what happens. Unfortunately, I was part of it.”
“I’ll go look at it and see if I change something I’m doing out there. Overall I’m just very disappointed we got crashed with two corners to go. That’s not how we wanted to roll into Sunday. We wanted to be just cool, calm and collected with no damage.”
Her team owner and teammate, Stewart, didn’t see the accident but watched a replay after the race.
“It was impressive how she kept picking her way up through the field,’” he said. “The little part I could see her, I thought she did a good job. It’s hard for her right now because she’s trying to gain the confidence of the guys around her. It shows her poise and how she’s trying to make the right decisions to gain other drivers’ confidence right now.”
Patrick emerged from the car unharmed and walked to the ambulance. She was checked at the infield care center and released shortly afterward. Finishing the race in 16th spot, she will (unofficially) start 29th in Sunday’s 54th running of the Daytona 500.
After making a name for herself in Indy Car racing and flirting with racing in NASCAR’s Nationwide and ARCA series the last couple of years, Patrick is now a full-fledged (part-time) NASCAR Sprint Cup driver. She is scheduled to compete in 10 Sprint Cup Series races for Stewart-Haas racing in addition to a full-time Nationwide slate.
