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  • Chad Knuas and Hendrick Motorsports Bring Sports Mentality to Pit Crew Changes

    Chad Knuas and Hendrick Motorsports Bring Sports Mentality to Pit Crew Changes

    During the Media Tour, Hendrick Motorsports was questioned of what would happen with the pit crews come 2011 after the struggles seen during the 2010 Chase.

    [media-credit name=”David Yeazell” align=”alignleft” width=”244″][/media-credit]It was revealed that five-time defending Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be taking three pit crews to the track each weekend between the two teams. The logic is that it will give them 18 crewmen to draw from if someone gets injured or performance problems are seen.

    “We’ve always tried to work on the depth of our crew, but we’ve never been able to successfully pull that off,” Knaus said on Wednesday during the NASCAR Media Tour. “We think we’ve got it going in the right direction. It make take a little bit, let’s be honest, to get everything gelling in the right direction.

    “But once it hits it’ll be exciting.”

    The pit crew issues were spotlighted during the Texas race in the Chase where Knaus swapped pit crews with Jeff Gordon’s team.

    Out of the first seven stops of the day, the No. 48 team had lost spots on four of them, costing their driver valuable time. Once teammate Gordon was wrecked out of the race, the swap was called.

    “Ultimately, it was my decision to make the decision as we were getting beat,” Knaus said at the time. “I hope we get back with the 48 guys and get things back on track.”

    The No. 48 team ended up using Gordon’s pit crew for the rest of the season on their way to winning the title by 39 points.

    At the end of the year, the swap was reversed so therefore Steve Letarte, who was Godon’s crew chief at the time, could bring his team over to work with Earnahrdt in the new season. Knaus said of his team, four members remain in the mix, though nothing has been finalized.

    “I can change at any point and time,” Knaus said. “We’ve always had that to a degree, but our backups weren’t necessarily ones that could get it done. I wouldn’t say get it done, but maybe guys on the back end of their career.”

    On the other side of the spectrum, the No. 24 team of Gordon and the No. 5 of Mark Martin will have six full-time members per car and another four to share if problems arise.

    The mentality that looks to be played out by Hendrick Motorsports is nothing different then what you see in most sports. Every hockey team, basketball team and football team has multiple guys ready to step up to the plate and makes line changes in the middle of the game. This looks to be no different with what Knaus has lined up as he just has created a second-line to swap partway.

  • Jeff Gordon: NASCAR’s Best All-Around Driver Ready to Win More Championships

    Jeff Gordon: NASCAR’s Best All-Around Driver Ready to Win More Championships

    Throughout the years, the NASCAR racing Gods have always shown a great deal of generosity whenever the time has come to hand over the reins to the sport’s next big superstar. Whether it be every 10, 20, or even 30 years, there will always be a driver who will step up to the challenge that takes him beyond the normal realm of just being labeled as, “One of the guys.”

    NASCAR garages from around the country are oozing with such talent, and it’s usually from these same garages where a driver will emerge who can defy the odds and take his racing career to the next level.

    In a sport where some of the biggest names who have graced our asphalt gladiator rings have come from the south, in walked California native Jeff Gordon who felt ready to accept the challenge knowing the rewards would be worth its weight in gold. Gordon knew he would be facing a long and strenuous uphill battle, with his biggest clash being the fans who couldn’t find it in their hearts to accept a driver who was not born with the “southern blood” running through his veins.

    Not long after his first Winston cup start, “the perfect storm” had already started brewing and Gordon found himself in the midst of its stranglehold. Along with the storm came the black cloud of doubt as driver after driver begin doubting Gordon’s ability to compete at a level he was not used to, which resulted in his tendency to push the cars too hard and crash. None of this stopped the California native from reaching the goals he set before himself, and before long Gordon made his first visit to victory lane during the 1994 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

    Gordon was well on his way to NASCAR stardom and it was attributed to the extra work he was willing to put in knowing that greatness can only be measured by the amount of enthusiasm that a driver can carry through all the hardship. Words alone cannot describe the amount of respect that he has earned throughout his very lucrative racing career and to say that he is anything less is absolutely ludicrous.

    Gordon has shown how an everyday run-of-the-mill California boy can come into a sport that was dominated by the good old boys from down south and dominate every aspect of their beloved sport.

    Gordon was truly an one-of-a-kind driver when he first entered what was then the Winston Cup Series, and one of his many characteristics that played a big role in him being successful was the methodical way he could pick apart his competition. Gordon learned patience along the way, which helped him to keep his composure with the result being the 82 victories he has in his win column.

    When you look back at his career, which is continuing to stand the test of time, how can a fan not take to heart what Jeff Gordon has endured, while racing against some of the great drivers from the past, as well as the present. There is no other driver in the garage today, who comes close to the accomplishments that Gordon has already garnered and his numbers speak for themselves.

    Gordon leads all active drivers with the most victories, and is currently sixth on the all-time winners list, and with one more victory he will tie Cale Yarborough in addition to Darrell Waltrip and Bobby Allison who are only one win away from the number three spot.

    Will Gordon ever win 200 races or will he reach the seven championship milestone? Probably not, but with 15 short-track wins, 12 restrictor-plate wins and a record nine road-course wins, along with Homestead-Miami as the only track he hasn’t won at, these stats alone make him one the most versatile and greatest drivers of our time.

    As father time continues to slowly creep up on one of NASCAR’s most prolific drivers, the drive for his fifth championship picks up where it left off after another disappointing and winless season.

    During the off-season team owner Rick Hendrick announced that Alan Gustafson, crew chief from Mark Martin’s No. 5 GoDaddy.com team would take over for Steve Letarte, with Letarte moving over to teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. Gordon responded about the change saying that, “This just shows the kind of commitment we have at Hendrick Motorsports. You don’t make a move like this without hoping you’re making all the right ones. I feel really good about what we’re doing, and I feel like we’re going to win more championships. Things like this, led by Rick, are what get you there.”

  • Who, What & Why to Watch NASCAR 2011

    Who, What & Why to Watch NASCAR 2011

    Championship Week is over, the trophies have all been collected and 2010 has taken its final curtain call. Instead of looking back to the year that was, I’m looking ahead to the limitless possibilities of next season.

    2011 promises to be a pivotal year in NASCAR and these are just a few of the stories to watch.

    Camping World Truck Series:

    Austin Dillon wasted no time in his first full season in this series. He earned seven poles in 2010, breaking a rookie record previously held by Greg Biffle (four), ended the season with two wins and 16 top-10 finishes and finished fifth in the points standings.

    With his first win at Iowa Speedway, he became the series’ second youngest winner, at age 20 years, 2 months, and 37 days. He also has the distinction of capturing the first series victory for Richard Childress Racing since 1995.

    Dillon rounded out the season by winning the Raybestos Rookie of the Year award and was named a top breakthrough performer of the year.

    Look for Dillon to run another full season in the black No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing next year but don’t be surprised to see him competing in a few Nationwide Series races too.

    Nationwide Series:

    Rumors abound that the Nationwide Series may see some changes for 2011. The biggest news is that Sprint Cup drivers may no longer be allowed to race for the championship. If this is true, will the change spell the end of the series, or, will it revitalize it?

    The Nationwide Series has been struggling to find its own separate identity as a proving ground for drivers aspiring to rise to the premier Sprint Cup Series level. The last Nationwide regular to win the championship was Martin Truex Jr in 2005.

    This change could allow fans to form a more personal connection with these drivers and allow the fan base for the series to grow.

    The flip side of this scenario is that sponsors may decide that their money might be better spent on the more popular and better established Sprint Cup Series.

    This leaves us with two big questions.

    Will the Sprint Cup drivers continue to race in the series without the benefit of racing for a possible championship?

    If the Sprint Cup drivers abandon the Nationwide Series, will the sponsors follow?

    Travis Pastrana:

    Travis Pastrana will make his NASCAR debut in 2011.

    Although he will only run a limited schedule of seven races in the Nationwide Series, his potential impact on the sport should not be overlooked.

    He’s not interested in anything but first place and he’ll do whatever it takes to prepare for this new challenge.

    Michael Waltrip told ESPN’s David Caraviello that the plan is for Pastrana to gain experience in the K&N Pro Series and possibly run some Truck Series events. This means that Pastrana probably won’t make his debut in the Nationwide Series until mid to late season.

    “Hopefully, he can make all his mistakes and learn all the lessons that he has to learn, and get up to speed where we can be very comfortable when he runs his first Nationwide race or first Truck race, that he is in a position to be competitive,” Waltrip said. “That’s his goal. He wants to test and work really hard at getting up to speed.”

    If he’s successful, Pastrana could breathe new life into a sport that needs some exciting new faces.

    As an added bonus, his “X Games” and “Nitro Circus” following could bring in a new generation of younger fans which NASCAR desperately needs.

    Trevor Bayne:

    In his first full Nationwide Series schedule, Bayne finished the 2010 season in seventh place.  His year included 3 poles along with six top-five and 11 top-ten finishes.  Bayne also made his Cup debut at Texas finishing in 17th place.

    Bayne’s 2010 season was a rollercoaster ride that had him suddenly looking for a new ride just a few weeks before the season was over.

    “It just goes to show that you don’t have any control over it. God has a path for me and He’s guiding me right along because there’s no way I could have done this on my own. It’s just crazy to see how it happens.”

    “Everything seems like it’s the end of the world when Diamond Waltrip Racing has no sponsorship and can’t sign a contract, and then all of a sudden I hear that Jack Roush is making comments that he’s interested, so I checked into it and the next thing I know I’m signing a contract with him. Shortly after that, I hear I’m gonna be in the Wood Brothers Cup car, so it’s been a whirlwind, but it’s been really exciting.”

    Bayne has earned the respect of the Cup veterans he has raced against this year showing a talent and maturity far beyond his 19 years. Bayne is a rising star in NASCAR and one to watch in 2011.

    Sprint Cup Series:

    The Sprint Cup drivers have already been making headlines with Hendrick Motorsports leading the way, but the other teams are chipping away at the Hendrick dominance.

    Joe Gibbs Racing and Denny Hamlin came within inches of breaking the HMS winning streak in 2010. Richard Childress Racing flexed their muscles with all three teams making The Chase and Roush Fenway Racing’s Carl Edwards won the last two races of the season.

    Mark Martin:

    Say it ain’t so. Mark Martin drives for his final season in NASCAR…or does he? We all know it’s his final year at Hendrick Motorsports but will Martin retire at the end of 2011?

    Next season may be his final year at the Cup level but sources say that Martin will also run a limited schedule in both the Nationwide Series and the Camping World Truck Series in 2011 for Turner Motorsports.

    Mark Martin may be the best driver who has never won a championship. With a new crew chief and one more year on his contract at HMS, this may be his last best chance to win that elusive Sprint Cup trophy.

    The recent crew chief change has many asking the question, “Is Martin getting Earnhardt Jr.’s leftovers?”

    Rick Hendrick was adamant that he is committed to giving Martin whatever he needs to make it happen and is confident that he’s put together the right team.

    “We are going to do whatever it takes with people, with equipment, whatever it takes for Mark Martin to win races and have the opportunity to go for the championship again. I have total confidence in Lance (McGrew) and Chris (Heroy) and I feel like with Mark, his technical expertise as well as those other two guys, will be a match that I think will surprise a lot of people. Mark’s not getting the short end of the stick. He is going to get all the stick he wants, and that comes from me.”

    Jeff Gordon:

    Alan Gustafson is widely accepted as one of the best crew chiefs in NASCAR today. Pairing him with the four-time champ could easily propel Gordon towards that fifth championship.

    Rick Hendrick explained his reason for pairing the two saying that Gordon “has a tremendous amount of respect for Alan (Gustafson) and wants to do whatever is necessary to give him the opportunity to win and win championships.”

    Hendrick also emphasized that while Gordon was not unhappy with Letarte he felt that “the opportunity to try something different and new would again create a spark inside of the company.”

    “With Alan as an engineer,” Hendrick continued, “he is a proven commodity; he’s been there and won races with a lot of people. He’s finished second in the points. He and Jeff have a relationship. He’s very technical, not a lot of conversation but very to the point and matter-of-fact and Jeff I think at this point in his career.”

    Gordon looks at the change as another chance to succeed.

    “I’m certainly looking forward to working with Alan,” Gordon said. “I’ve known Alan for a number of years, always respected him and I guess in the back of my mind, I always thought it would be kind of cool to work with him. It’s a great opportunity.”

    Gordon could very easily emerge as the real winner in the Hendrick Motorsports shakeup.

    Dale Earnhardt Jr:

    Will this new combination of driver/crew chief provide the magic ingredient that’s been missing?

    Is Steve Letarte the one that can restore his confidence and provide the spark to reignite Dale Jr’s career?

    It will take months before we know the answers to these questions but Letarte has already begun the rebuilding process.

    “I believe he’s a remarkable race-car driver, and I think some people in the world have forgotten that,” Letarte said. “I look forward to the opportunity to remind them that he is as good as I think he is.”

    “I’ve had the ability to work around some very remarkable talents, and I think he is included in that bunch. That’s my motivation – to show everybody in the world how talented Dale Earnhardt Jr. is. We know he can do it. We just have to give him a consistent platform to operate on. I have all the faith in the world with him.”

    The real solution will come from Earnhardt Jr. who acknowledged that the last couple of years have shaken his confidence. “The only person that can truly help me get where I need to go, obviously, starts with me.”

    For the first time in a couple of years, Dale Jr’s fans are excited about the possibilities and this can only be a good thing for NASCAR.

    Jimmie Johnson:

    The season finale will undoubtedly be focused on Jimmie Johnson once again.

    Will the five-time champ claim the six-pack in 2011?

    Team owner Rick Hendrick says that the 48 team was a little off this season but in the end they were good enough.

    Johnson is already looking ahead to the future and the possibility that he could tie Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty by winning seven championship titles.

    “I want to believe, and I do feel in my heart, that we’ll have a shot next year, but I don’t know what those challenges are going to be, how competitive we’ll be, what the competition’s going to look like,” said Johnson.

    “It’s really hard to look that far ahead. I feel like I have my best chances at Hendrick Motorsports, with Chad Knaus as my crew chief.  If I can seam together seven in any shape or form to tie those two greats, I would be extremely honored. If I was ever able to surpass them, it would be out of this world.”

    Look for the power team of Johnson/Knaus to level up in 2011 as they try to continue their unprecedented championship winning streak.

    Denny Hamlin:

    Although he was unable to bring home the championship trophy this year, Hamlin’s 2010 season was nothing short of phenomenal.

    With a season high eight wins and a runner up finish, Hamlin has proven that he’s one of the fiercest competitors out there.

    If anything, the loss to Johnson has made him even more determined to come back in 2011 and make another run for the championship.

    “It’s going to be fuel for me,” Hamlin said. “I’m just going to try to get better. There are things that I can improve on as a driver.”

    “I can assure you we’re going to hold our heads high because we came close this year. We had a great year. We were just a little short in the end.”

    NASCAR:

    While the fans are watching the racing, NASCAR will be the ones under the microscope.

    Attendance and TV Ratings:

    NASCAR has experienced a downward trend for the past four years in television viewership and empty seats at the race tracks have become the norm.

    Changes such as more consistent start times, three attempts at a green-white-checkered restart and a new “have at it boys” policy have had little effect on either.

    And while Johnson’s consecutive championship winning streak looks great in the record books, some will argue that it’s bad for the sport. Many fans will tell you that it’s simply not any fun watching the Chase when you already know what the outcome will be.

    One of the biggest problems facing NASCAR is the decline in 18- to 34-year-old male viewing audience. NASCAR plans to increase its marketing and target this younger demographic.

    Steve Phelps, NASCAR’s chief marketing officer, said their goal is to “use every resource available to us. We have to expose the sport to as many people as we can wherever they are, whether that is on a computer screen, mobile device or television.”

    Another obstacle to overcome is how to compete with the NFL. While NASCAR ratings decline, the NFL ratings have seen a steady increase over the last few years. Despite this, NASCAR has no plans to change the 1:00 PM standard starting time in 2011 which puts them in direct competition with the NFL.

    For most fans, the biggest complaint is the number of commercial advertisements broadcast during the race. NASCAR should explore options such as side by side viewing so that fans don’t miss a minute of the action at the track.

    The 2011 season will be crucial for the continued success of NASCAR.

    Maybe they should take a hint from Rick Hendrick who took a hard look at his company and said,

    “It’s not enough that we do our best; sometimes we have to do what’s required.”

    Thanks to Ford Racing for Trevor Bayne quotes.

  • SportsCenter Special: My Wish Following Up on Jeffrey Buzell Who Met Dale Earnhardt Jr.

    SportsCenter Special: My Wish Following Up on Jeffrey Buzell Who Met Dale Earnhardt Jr.

    Fans might remember 15-year-old Jeffrey Buzell, who met NASCAR’s most popular driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. this past summer after being featured on ESPN’s “My Wish” series. He was the young kid who told his story of fighting a disease that was taking over his kidney’s.

    [media-credit name=”Barry Albert” align=”alignleft” width=”300″][/media-credit]Now a few months later, Christmas Eve, they get the opportunity to learn the latest on Buzell. A SportsCenter Special: My Wish is highlighting a few different wishes that were granted this past year, including 10-year-old Jailen Cooper who wished to be an Oakland Raider for a day and 13-year-old Anna Schmidt who wanted to spend a day with Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rogers.

    Jeffrey Buzell’s story was nothing short of heartbreaking. He suffers from a genetic kidney disorder and needs a kidney transplant within the next year or face his kidney’s possibly beginning to shut down. Buzell’s uncle suffered the same disease and passed away at 15-years-old, the current age of Buzell.

    “It just makes me wonder what’s going to happen to me,” Buzell said in the summer.

    His wish was to meet his favorite driver, Earnhardt Jr., and race go-karts against him. In conjunction with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the “My Wish” series made his wish a realty. But it was Earnhardt Jr. who not only made it a day he would never forget but gave Buzell much more.

    When Buzell arrived at Earnhardt Jr.’s home in North Carolina, he not only got to race him on his personal go-kart track but a few others as well, including 2010 Nationwide Series champion Brad Keselowski. A tour of Earnhardt Jr.’s Nationwide Series team JR Motorsports followed, as well as a lunch.

    He invited the Buzell family to the Charlotte Motor Speedway for the Sprint All-Star race that Saturday night, where Buzell met crew chief Lance McGrew who let Buzell sit in his favorite drivers racecar. But it wasn’t over yet. When Earnhardt Jr. was introduced to the crowd during driver introductions, he had Buzell walk out with him and ride around the track in the pickup truck with the team as they waved to the fans.

    The 30-minute epsiode will air this Friday, December 24 on ESPNEWS at 11:30 p.m. ET. It will run continually through December 25th, Chris Connelly hosts.

    Connelly: “It’s a great time of year to revisit these stories that touch so many people, and we’re pleased to have some updates on Anna, Jailen and Jeffrey.”

    To revisit Jeffrey’s wish see: Jeffrey Buzell Meets Dale Earnhardt Jr.

  • Speedway Mailbag: Top Stories Eclipse Lunar Light Show

    Speedway Mailbag: Top Stories Eclipse Lunar Light Show

    “When the moon is in the Seventh House
    And Jupiter aligns with Mars
    then peace will guide the planets
    and love will steer the stars”
    Aquarius[media-credit name=”David Yeazell” align=”alignright” width=”300″][/media-credit]

    Last night’s lunar eclipse wasn’t exactly Jupiter aligned with Mars, but it was a spectacular event.

    For those race fans from Venus and Mars who did not see the rare celestial congregation, I have enclosed a picture for your viewing pleasure.

    Bulging at the seams, the Speedway Media mailbag is proof positive there have been other noteworthy events this past week.

    Since our last installment, the hard working e-mail man has filled our Tupperware bowl with cards and letters from fans around the short track.

    Denny in Detroit writes: Dear Speedway Media: Did Rick Hendrick really buy a car for $225.000?
    Rick Hendrick did buy a new Chevrolet Volt, the first one available for sale to the general public, for $225,000 via an online auction. Proceeds of that sale will go to benefit various portions of the Detroit Public Schools Foundation.

    A successful hard core business man, Hendricks latest round of philanthropy is also a wise business decision.

    Because it is a charitable donation, all of the money above the original $40,000 MSRP of the car, approximately $185,000, is a tax deduction.

    Also, since the purchase was made before the end of 2010, Hendrick will also receive an additional $7500 federal energy tax credit for purchasing an electric car.

    Hendrick, a collectible car enthusiast, also has a first issue Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 in his museum.

    Bob in Boston writes: Dear Speedway Media, was the repaving of Daytona International Speedway a success?
    The repaving of DIS was an absolute success Bob. It was done in record time, within budget, and, with the help of DIS President Joie Chitwood III, the most publicized construction project in recent NASCAR history.

    Even with all that success, there is one little issue here. It is still Daytona, and the racers are still harnessed by restrictor plates.

    While visiting the track last week for tire testing, it was difficult not to think about how much money ISC had spent, how great a job their newly acquired construction company had done, and how refreshed the track looked with its new face lift.

    But still, other than a smoother ride, the cars will really not go any faster.

    To add some perspective, just imagine this.  A hurricane is only moments away and all you have is a handkerchief. It’s obvious you need to do more, but chose not to.

    Not a good analogy? Still confused?  Ok, lets look at it from a racing perspective.

    Consider Dale Earnhardt Jr. who basically got a complete makeover after leaving DEI. He partnered with a new owner, received new equipment and has acquired several new crew chiefs.

    He still doesn’t go any faster.

    Ron in Roanoke writes: Dear Speedway Media: Is Kasey Kahne’s new car number a good sign or a bad sign?
    Kasey said the No. 4 was his favorite number Ron. Looking back at a few things, I find the No. 4, alone and in a group, might just be a lucky charm for KK.

    Let’s do a little “by the numbers.”

    Kasey was Rookie of the Year in 2004.

    Ernie Ervin’s second win (a divisor of 4) came in the Daytona 500 driving the No. 4 Kodak Chevrolet.

    Sterling Marlin’s first and second career wins were the Daytona 500, driving the No. 4 Kodak Chevrolet.

    Kahne has now raced for all four NASCAR manufactures, had four different team names and will be the fourth driver in the Hendrick Motorsports stable starting in the year 2012, which happens to be divisible by four.

    And finally, should Kahne win the season opening Daytona 500, it will be the fourth for the No. 4.

    Well that’s about it for this weeks edition of Speedway Mailbag. I usually comment on more letters, but I was distracted by the overwhelming amount of advertising in this week’s e-mailbag.

    Who knew you could get 50 million dollars from an unknown rich widow in Bangladesh, check your credit score, and buy non-prescription prescription medicine, all by e-mail.

    Feel free to send your questions, comments and suggestions to mailbag@speedwaymedia.com.

    Opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the opinion of management.

  • Questions, Answers and Conundrums from the SpeedwayMedia Mailbag

    Questions, Answers and Conundrums from the SpeedwayMedia Mailbag

    The 2010 NASCAR season is officially over, well, except for some suspensions and probations issued over the past year. Those are not officially over until December 31st. That’s a whole different article.

    Wire services, official press releases and even news around the sport has slowed to a trickle. It is officially the off season in NASCAR.

    Sitting at my desk admiring the most recent construction of another cobweb, I decided it was time to do some digging through the Speedway Media mailbag.

    The mailbag at Speedway Media isn’t exactly like traditional mailbags, actually, it’s more like a large round Tupperware bowl that’s so worn out it stopped burping years ago.

    Once in a while the staff writers take turns reading and responding to the miniscule amount of fan letters, questions and even occasional suggestions that almost never pour in.

    After spending a few hours of reading and a little consternation, I came across four letters I thought were relevant, topical, well thought out, and begged to be answered.

    Honestly, there were only four letters in the bowl and I needed at least 500 words for this article, so I thought I would just answer them all.

    Mary Anne from Mobile writes:
    Dear Speedway Media: Do you think Jimmie Johnson will win his fifth championship in a row this year?
    Well Mary Anne as you can see it’s been a while since we checked the mail bag. Jimmie Johnson did in fact win his fifth championship in a row this year. Since there is not much change scheduled for next year in the Chase system or in NASCAR, Johnson is certainly the favorite to occupy the podium again.

    Karl from Kalamazoo writes:
    Dear Speedway Media: Has Hendrick Motorsports found a sponsor for Kasey Kahne in 2012 yet?
    Karl, that’s a very good question. As of right now there have been no announcements of any sponsorship deals for Kahne beyond 2011. Given the most recent turn of events at HMS; swapping crews in the middle of a race and a multitude of personnel changes after the final race, except for JJ and Knaus, it’s quite possible a sponsor like Manpower Temporary Services would be best suited for Kahne in 2012.

    Louise from Lubbock writes:
    Dear Speedway Media: Why is Dale Earnhardt Jr. once again NASCAR’s most popular driver? Shouldn’t Jimmie Johnson’s five championships in a row make him the most popular driver?
    Louise I am surprised you are the only one who has asked this question. Johnson has won quite a few awards over the past couple of years, including Athlete of the Year.

    Even though he has won five championships in a row, the answer to your question has two parts and is quite simple.
    First: Dale Earnhardt Jr. gets more attention for not winning than Johnson does for winning.

    Second: Everyone likes Jr.

    Speaking of Jr. and not winning, Robert from Richmond writes:
    Dear Speedway Media: Do you think Dale Earnhardt Jr. will extend his contract with Hendrick Motor Sports?
    Thanks for the question Robert. I doubt it will happen by the end of this year, but who knows, this year has had its share of strange events.

    Macy’s fired Santa Claus, Urban Meyer abruptly resigned, Auburn went undefeated, and Joe Nemechek actually ran a full race.

    The marriage between Rick Hendrick and Dale Earnhardt Jr. started off as traditional as unions go. Hendrick brought money, Earnhardt brought his name along with some extra baggage of a cousin. It was consummated quickly with a Duel win at Daytona.

    Since then there hasn’t been much bliss. Hendrick has tried to keep the romance going by supplying Jr. with new equipment and even a new crew chief. It still didn’t seem to be enough. So once again Jr. is getting another new crew chief and also moving in with Jimmie Johnson.

    The move with Johnson could be strategic, or a veiled attempt at marriage counseling.

    I doubt that Hendrick and Earnhardt Jr. will get a divorce at the end of 2012, but it’s possible a trial separation is in their future. This would give both of parties a chance at finding what they did or didn’t have during their union.

    That’s all for this edition of Speedway Mailbag.

    Feel free to send your questions, comments and suggestions to mailbag@speedwaymedia.com.

    Opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect opinions of the management.

  • Meet Jimmie Johnson’s Chase Kryptonite: Texas Motor Speedway

    Meet Jimmie Johnson’s Chase Kryptonite: Texas Motor Speedway

    After winning his fifth straight Sprint Cup Series championship or even back to when he won his fourth, Jimmie Johnson likes to make it known that each championship season is different.

    “It is a different year, a different Chase,” said Johnson during the contender’s press conference before Homestead. “I kind of think every year is different for that matter. I know the last four years we’ve had the same result. But every year, every championship battle has had its own little quirks to it.”

    [media-credit name=”CIA Stock Photo” align=”alignleft” width=”300″][/media-credit]While the road to the title may go through the same 10 tracks in the Chase and the same 36 tracks that circle the country, how the championship is won is different. Johnson has come from behind and he’s dominated to win it.

    Whether it was battling Carl Edwards, Mark Martin or Denny Hamlin or even the style of racecars – from twisted sister to half a season with the COT, to a full season of the COT then changes from the wing to the spoiler – nothing stays the same.

    The last three seasons however, Johnson has seen one constant which threw an obstacle in his way: Texas Motor Speedway.

    Like most tracks the Sprint Cup Series visits, his statistics at the 1.5-mile track in Forth Worth, TX are worth noting. He’s led laps, finished well and has even won before.

    Since the win, which came in November of 2007, Johnson hasn’t performed to standard at Texas. That’s in the Chase events, the spring races have been nothing short of Johnson perfection. In nine spring races, Johnson’s results: sixth, eighth, ninth, third, 11th, 38th, second, second, and second.

    But, back to the Chase, a time when the 48 is at their best, Texas has been their Achilles heel. A year after their win, Johnson went to Texas and ran embarrassingly. Carl Edwards, whom he was battling for the championship with, and, who won the race, lapped him early.

    Johnson and team struggled from the beginning with the handling of the car and never got their lap back. In a rare occurrence, Johnson didn’t even lead a lap in the race and wound up finishing 15th.

    “It’s like getting kicked in the balls over and over. That sucked,” Johnson said afterwards. In the end it wasn’t enough to keep Johnson from winning his third straight championship.

    November of 2009, what many thought was unimaginable, happened: Johnson wrecked. Not only did he wreck, he wrecked in a Chase race.

    On lap three Johnson jumped to the outside of Sam Hornish Jr., who was hit by David Reutimann. Hornish was sent sideways into Johnson, causing the 48 to start spinning and come back down the track where hit Hornish and then the inside wall.

    To the garage Johnson went where crew members from every Hendrick Motorsports team came to the aid to repair his mangled Chevrolet. The work was enough to send Johnson back to the track where he was able to finish (38th) but with valuable points. Again though, he didn’t lead a lap.

    Afterwards Johnson said, “I don’t think I could have done anything different. 77 lost it. I wish he could have waited a few more laps before he lost control of his car.”

    Three months after the incident, when the NSCS hit media day in Daytona, the now four-time champion still wasn’t happy. Johnson ripped into Hornish saying, “The guy I wouldn’t want to learn from would be Sam Hornish. He hits way to much stuff, including me.”

    Johnson was also miffed that Hornish hadn’t called to apologize or say anything about the wreck. When asked, Hornish said Reutimann had called him to take the blame but Hornish wasn’t going to reach out to someone that was mad at him.

    When Johnson continued his assault, Hornish said it surprised him and that, “Jimmie’s had ample opportunity to look at the tape.”

    For the second year in a row, Texas had shaken up the Chase. Should the speedway need a new slogan, they should jump on the fact that they know how to produce championship drama and have made it three years in a row where the championship was almost lost there.

    The 2010 AAA 500 was more than Denny Hamlin winning and Johnson having to swap pit crews. The 48 team again showed up to the Lone Star state off of their game, betraying Johnson’s confidence heading into the weekend.

    “Texas and Phoenix have been really good tracks and we’ve always raced well at those racetracks,” he said.

    In the first three practice sessions Johnson never ended a session higher than ninth and he qualified 17th. On Sunday evening of raceday he ran between eighth and 15th, again fighting the handling of the car and fighting pit road.

    Pit road selections saw Hamlin’s team, winners of the pit crew challenge, pitting the 11 car in front of the 48. Stop after stop Johnson was beaten off pit road and suffered slow stops by his team.

    His finish wasn’t as bad at 2008 and 2009, he finished ninth and led one lap on a green flag pit stop, but it was enough to lose the point lead. Leaving Texas with two races to go, Johnson sat 33 markers behind Hamlin.

    Oh the Chase drama at night is big and bright, deep in the heart of Texas!

    The latest drama has been thought to be the biggest. Championship was over, Hamlin had Johnson down and almost out. It was an unfamiliar and unwanted territory for Johnson.

    “It sucks,” he said. “I don’t want to be there. Every year feels different being here this late in the game. We all know how special a run we’ve been on and how rare it is in sports period … I know I’m down and I need to get back on top.”

    Back on top he was two weeks later for a fifth title.

    For three years Texas came close to crowning a new champion and while it didn’t, Texas did set up dramatic Chase conclusions. Texas has also shown that Johnson and company are human even if the past five years have had many watching them do inhuman things.

    With three straight second place finishes in the spring Texas race, what has made the Chase race slow him down? As Johnson has faltered at Texas, drivers he was battling for in the Chase won two of those three races.

    The best news for the competition is that Texas will again be in the Chase in 2011 as 42 drivers again try to dethrone Johnson. All of which is helping  Texas quickly become the Chase race you don’t want to miss.

  • Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Reality Is, Races Are Run on the Track, Not at the Shop

    Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Reality Is, Races Are Run on the Track, Not at the Shop

    For the second straight season, Hendrick Motorsports team owner Rick Hendrick, was able to keep the fans as well as the media right where he likes them, poking around his organizations race shops looking for the hottest story to finish off the year.

    We already know one the hottest stories to come out from behind the doors of one of NASCAR’s most decorated organizations is Jimmie Johnson’s record setting fifth straight championship in-a-row.

    It’s not hard to see that most of the fans are still trying to convince themselves that somehow NASCAR got it all wrong by allowing such a travesty to enter the sport by way of a fiasco called the Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship.

    [media-credit name=”CIA Stock Photo” align=”alignright” width=”300″][/media-credit]Even though Johnson walked away the big winner for the fifth straight year, the biggest question to come out of the HMS camp during the season was the poor showing by NASCAR’s most popular driver again.

    No other driver received the amount of publicity for such a poor season then the son of one of the true legends of the sport, Dale Earnhardt Jr.

    Question after question was posted, along with many fictional answers as to why this 36 year-old driver from Kannapolis, North Carolina has not been able to perform according to their standards.

    These standards are what every NASCAR fan hopes their favorite driver can achieve, but unfortunately, not all drivers are capable of reaching them, whether it be because of talent, skill, heart, desire, equipment or whatever excuse will be placed upon them.

    Excuses have become second nature whenever Earnhardt’s fans have tried to justify or explain why he is having trouble with an organization that is said to have the best equipment in the sport.

    How many organizations can boast of having a four-time, along with a five-time champion, on the same team?

    Wasn’t it just last season when a 50 year-old driver by the name of Mark Martin, who was driving in his first season with the organization won five races, along with finishing second in the points behind cup champion Jimmie Johnson?

    Martin just about stole the headlines away from Johnson towards the end of the season, but the big story was the signing of IZOD IndyCar Series star Danica Patrick, only a few days after NASCAR’s season ending awards banquet.

    The signing of Patrick took the focus off of Johnson’s fourth championship, when a legion of doubters began flooding the NASCAR social sites explaining why the GoDaddy.com poster girl should not be allowed to race in NASCAR’s second tier series.

    Marketing has always been the cornerstone of this great sport of ours, and it’s no wonder that Mr. Hendrick has made it one of his key ingredients when it comes to building a successful organization.

    After all, when you look back to Earnhardt’s last three seasons with the organization, the majority of the fans began putting him into the same category as Patrick with the moniker that Hendrick only hired him because of his popularity.

    Now, whether it is true or not has yet to be proven, especially after Hendrick heard the cry from the fans and replaced Earnhardt’s long time crew chief Tony Eury Jr. with Lance McGrew.

    It wouldn’t take long before Earnhardt’s fans would begin questioning whether McGrew was the right man for the job, and once again, the focus of Earnhardt’s poor results would be back in the hands of his crew chief.

    So when Hendrick made the announcement at the end of the season that Earnhardt would be getting Gordon’s crew chief Steve Letarte to start the 2011 campaign, along switching the shops of the 24 and 88 teams, almost immediately Earnhardt’s legion of fans went into a frenzy saying this should be the move that puts their driver back in victory lane.

    Now from a marketing standpoint, it made all the sense in the world, especially when you are dealing with the sport’s most popular driver and part of the focus being on keeping his fans happy.

    Changing shops is not the answer to the problems which Earnhardt has faced since coming on board with HMS in 2008, and when you think about it the only difference is the car number sitting next to his.

    Earnhardt will be working with a new group of team members, which will be led by his new crew chief Steve Letarte.

    Sharing a race shop with five-time champion Jimmie Johnson will not make him a better driver, nor will it help the team since each driver has their own driving style and set-ups which they prefer.

    When looking back to 2002, when Johnson first came into the series, Gordon’s best season was in 2007 when he finished second in the point standings, with six wins while sharing the same shop with Johnson.

    Gordon, who has proven to be a more experienced driver than Earnhardt, missed only one chase appearance in 2005, which happened to be the same year Steve Letarte took over for Robbie Loomis with 10 races left in the season.

    Gordon would add an additional 10 wins, 78 top-five and 114 top-10 finishes in 190 starts with LeTarte as his crew chief, but in the end would only pick-up one win in the last three seasons which is way below Gordon’s standards.

    “Five years is a long opportunity, and I had an opportunity to get him there, and we came close a few years but we never got there completely,” said Letarte who will not be back with Gordon next season.

    Letarte also added that, “I’m definitely disappointed in that. … I’m a crew chief in this sport because of Jeff Gordon, and Rick Hendrick.”

    Letarte knows he will have his hands full next season and the task at hand will not be an easy one, especially when you’re talking about a driver who means so much to the sport.

    “I was excited for the opportunity. I was humbled. It’s a very important task for this company, for Dale Jr., for the sport, and I take it as that. I was very proud that I was the guy tagged for that. I’m excited, and I’m ready to go,” said Letarte when talking about the move to the No. 88 team.

    Whether or not the changes will be beneficial to Earnhardt is a question mark that will be answered once the 2011 season begins, even though in the minds of the purist races are run on the track and not in the shop.

    As far as Earnhardt’s fans are concerned, they need to realize a four-time champion encountered his own problems while sharing a shop with Johnson, and it’s not the shop that makes the driver, even though Earnhardt feels otherwise:

    “I needed this to happen. Hopefully, this will get me back to winning races, running in the top five and running in the top 10.” said Earnhardt of the change.

    Earnhardt also added, “The only person that can truly help me get where I need to go starts with me, then it goes to Rick, Steve [Letarte] and those guys in your inner circle every week and in your corner every week.”

    How many crew chiefs will it take to get Earnhardt back into victory lane is anyone’s guess, but the answer may be plain and simple in the eyes of NASCAR’s most popular driver:

    “My biggest problem, I think, is my confidence,”

  • Rick Hendrick’s Journey to a NASCAR Dynasty

    Rick Hendrick’s Journey to a NASCAR Dynasty

    Rick Hendrick started out with the simple life working on the family farm in Virginia, but he was always interested in cars and speed.  He worked with his father building cars and went drag racing in an old Chevy.

    [media-credit name=”Brad Keppel” align=”alignleft” width=”300″][/media-credit]While still in high school he won a contest for building engines.  His thoughts of becoming a baseball player faded and he attended North Carolina University in a program that had him also working at Westinghouse Electric Company in Raleigh, N.C.

    He then decided to purchase a used car lot with the help of an established new car dealer and it was named Hendrick Automotive Group.  In 1976 he sold his assets to buy a franchise in South Carolina and became the youngest Chevrolet dealer in the country.

    Hendrick was able to turn the troubled dealership into one of the most profitable in the region.  From there he bought a dealership in Charlotte N.C. and the rest is history with his success in automotive dealerships now exceeding some 80 franchises employing in excess of 5,000 employees.

    Drag boat racing fascinated him in the late 70’s and he had a team that won three championships and set a world record of 222.2 with Nitro Fever.

    With his automotive business home base being located in Charlotte, it was a natural that he became involved in the NASCAR Sportsman (Nationwide) series.  By 1984 he formed All-Star Racing which is now Hendrick Motorsports.  He cobbled together a small race shop with five employees and attempted to pull off a deal to have Richard Petty race the Daytona 500 for him, but the deal fell apart.

    Not to be discouraged by the fact he no sponsor or driver, Hendrick hired Geoff Bodine who finished eighth in the Daytona 500.  Money was tight and Hendrick didn’t think he could race more than five races, but Bodine won at Martinsville and Northwestern Security Life came on board with sponsorship funds and at that point saved the day for the team.

    Hendrick credit’s the loyalty of his group of employees for the success he has had.  He said, “I want to be competitive and I want to win races and championships, but you know what means more to me?  Guys who say our place is special and appreciate their jobs and feel like it’s a family.”

    Hendrick added, “You’ve got to win, you’ve got to perform and you’ve got to take care of each other.”

    The ability to lead, make good decisions and inspire loyalty has started at the top with Hendrick and led to stability throughout his organization

    His recent tough decision to swap the teams around within his organization is just one example of his leadership.  Though the shakeup was announced two days after Jimmie Johnson clinched his fifth consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship, the decision was made two weeks before in a lengthy meeting with all the involved parties.

    It was Hendrick that calmed the waters after the news making  mid- race team swap of the Lowe’s 48 over-the-wall crew with Jeff Gordon’s crew.  He  motivated everyone not to rest, not to back down and to continue to overcome Denny Hamlin’s chance to win his first NASCAR title in the Cup series.

    Hendrick watched the Petty Championships and the titles won by Richard Childress Racing and wondered how he could beat them.  Well it is obvious he put all the pieces in place to win 10 Championships in NASCAR top-tier series.

    Jimmie Johnson’s fifth consecutive championship put the dynasty built by Rick Hendrick in the record books as one of the top organizations in sports history alongside teams like the Boston Celtics and New York Yankees.  In the NHRA John Force who has 15 Top Fuel Funny Car titles, won 10 in a row from 1993 to 2002.

    Hendrick plans to win more championships with his roster of drivers, Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon and Mark Martin who will hopefully yield winning results with the realignment of all the teams except for the five-time champ and his crew chief, Chad Knaus.  In 2012 Kasey Kahne will move in to the slot occupied by Mark Martin along with his crew chief, Kenny Francis.

    It has been a long road for Hendrick and not always an easy one with legal problems, illness and the tragic airplane crash that killed his son, brother and two nieces along with others from the organization.

    For now though, Hendrick Motorsports has set the bar very high for all the other NASCAR teams.  Watching how the Hendrick drivers fare in 2011 will be very interesting and we just may see some surprise turnarounds.

  • Fourth Turn, A Fan’s Perspective …. Post Season Withdrawal

    Fourth Turn, A Fan’s Perspective …. Post Season Withdrawal

    Well the season has officially ended. The NASCAR Champions banquet has been held and the dishes are done, the smoke has cleared and yes Jimmie really did win it for the 5th time, even if you did have to stay up half the night to see the presentation of the cup. The crew chiefs have all gone back to work making bigger, badder and meaner race cars. The pit crews are in off season strengthening mode. The marketing people are looking for new twists and new angles. The big chiefs are looking for more innovative sponsorship arrangements. And drivers are working out with their children and families. Some are challenging for a new trophy in Fantasy Football. Some are meeting the challenges of new fatherhood.

    [media-credit name=”CIA Stock Photo” align=”alignright” width=”300″][/media-credit]But for the fan’s the off season is more of a challenge. For instance, Santa Rick Hendrick gave three of his drivers’ fan contingencies their Christmas gifts early, presumably so he could get back to his normal business routine of playing Santa to his Grandchildren and taking care of business for his employees across the country. Though the act was well meaning, it added to the long, long off season wait for the return to racing. You could almost see him checking off his list. There was a new crew chief for Jeff and Mark and Junior, A new building for Jr. Nation, A new paint job for Jeff’s and Mark’s fans, and a new look and feel for the 5 time champ. That should about do it you could almost hear him chuckle. But oh the horror of the wait Santa H, we have the new toys but can not play with them until February.

    In order to assist his fans in their withdrawal modes, Kevin Harvick made available a few items featuring the new Budweiser 29 Chevrolet. Just in time for your Christmas shopping pleasure and to avoid the need for hospitalization for your favorite NASCAR fan.

    Jeff Gordon saw the need as critical for his fan base and unveiled the new Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet on every major morning TV show. The car, a sharp new Candy Apple Red and Silver Metallic, oozed speed even while it sat still. But one could almost hear the yells at the female anchors who so obviously had no idea what front down force meant and had been schooled about the importance of the Daytona 500 but were obviously not sure when that was.

    NASCAR is trying hard to do their part with updates on the Hall of Fame Inductee’s and Christmas packages at the NASCAR Superstore. The fan council has new TV survey’s to complete and the media has story lines from 2010 to rank. There are the rumors of mid season changes to the COT’s fuel delivery system. The new nose has been unveiled. The determination of Sprint Cup driver participation in the Nationwide Series has yet to be released. And of course there is the new fuel to debate and learn the fine points of.

    But still the fan’s grow restless it’s been 3 weeks since the engines fired. There are cars on GM’s test track in Arizona but we can’t see them, hear them or smell them. Brad Keselowski is in Columbus Ohio to help Nationwide celebrate its champion festival, but we aren’t there. Even Jeff Gluck and Joe Menzer are relatively quiet. The minds of NASCAR fans are searching for a way to fill the void. The chat rooms and message boards are running qualifying lap speeds and still the matrixing has begun.

    Stories are pouring in of new ways that NASCAR fans have found to ease the discomfort of withdrawals from the sport. The rearranging of rooms of memorabilia, holiday pies shaped like the 5 Sprint Cups all bearing the 48 in whipped cream. The holiday Coconut cake that was Amp Green with red 88’s, (they are Christmas colors after all) the Christmas trees that are decorated all in NASCAR and team ornaments, including the one that is all car parts and sheet metal wreaths.

    Which brings us to the David Letterman standard; the top 10 ways you know if you or someone you love is a NASCAR fan in withdraw. *insert drum roll here please*

    10. You go through the chip display to find a bag of Bugles with the 33 Chevrolet on it instead of the new holiday bags.

    9. You get volunteered to take the boys of the family Christmas shopping and you say to your young male shopping companions as you enter the mall, “Boogity, Boogity, Boogity Let’s go shopping boys.”

    8. At a holiday party alternative fuel sources come up in the discussion and you start your opinion with, “Sunoco’s E 15 fuel, partners American Farmers with Speed for the good of the planet and the sport….”

    7. You see an Intimidator Monte Carlo complete with Taz in the parking lot of the grocery store and you stand in awe with tears in your eyes and Whisper ‘It’s a beautiful thing’.

    6. You and your best friend race the motorized carts at Wal-Mart in the Wally World 250 and use your cell phones for in cart cameras.

    5. You nominate the HMS Paint and Body Department for best Artistic presentation at your Alumni Christmas party.

    4. Your date is describing a play from the football game and he says, “He got loose and headed down the field …” And you say “maybe they need to go a round up on his track bar.”

    3. You are waiting in the waiting room at the doctor’s office addressing envelopes and another patient says, Christmas Cards? You shake your head in disbelief and say ‘Daytona 500 party’.

    2.  You are watching a NASCAR race on TV and are very animated when your house mate reminds you this race was run in 1999. You calmly look at them and say “So what’s your point man on any given day anyone can win.”

    And the number one reason you know you are a NASCAR fan in withdraw.

    1. You pull up to a stop light and look to your left and see a Toyota Camry and say to your best friend. I can take it. Watch. Your best friend reminds you that this is a Malibu and you say yeah but I got my Malibu from Rick Hendrick and you both give thumbs up.

    If any of these sounds like your favorite NASCAR fan or even yourself, please don’t panic. Remain calm and remember that the Daytona 500 is in 75 days. The first official test of the season at Daytona on new pavement is December 15th and 16th. So it’s not long and it’s not far. Please be considerate of the safety of others and try to remember, ‘Have at it Boys’ does not carry over to Target at Christmas time.

    Happy Holidays to all!

    *Legal Disclaimer, any resemblance to any party, including the writer of this piece, is purely your imagination. Photo documentation and at least 3 statements of confirmation from at least 3 series champions will be required to verify these acts as factual. No animals, small children, or elderly individuals were injured during the performance of any of the above acts.

    ~~~~~****~~~~~

    Thoughts and prayers to the friends and families to all that we have lost this year, this is a difficult time but know that you are not alone. Continued thoughts and prayers for a speedy and full recovery go out to Shame Hmiel.

    Happy Holidays to all the competitors in all the series thanks for giving us everything you had to give every single week, you are our heroes. Most importantly, thanks to all the families who shared their loved ones with us so we could cheer our favorite driver and favorite teams. You are the true heroes of the sport and we are forever in your debt.