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  • Travis Pastrana Still Embracing Learning Curve

    Travis Pastrana Still Embracing Learning Curve

    With a solid team in Roush Fenway Racing and a full season ahead in NASCAR’s Nationwide Series, Travis Pastrana is still embracing the learning curve when it comes to stock car racing.

    Unfortunately, Pastrana, behind the wheel of his most colorful No. 60 Roush Fenway Ford Mustang, did not even get a chance to go to school in the Dollar General 200 Advance at Phoenix International Raceway. He was involved in an early crash, relegating him to a 28th place finish.

    “They started crashing in front of me,” Pastrana said. “I thought I could get to the inside and I just wanted to try to get down, so once I got in the marbles the first lap and was loose, the second lap came in and I saw them crashing in front of me.”

    “I kind of let off, but I just got in the marbles again, so unfortunately, it was a pretty useless day for learning.”

    Pastrana qualified in the 12th position for the Nationwide race, with a speed of 131.200 mph and a time of 27.439 seconds. But that was not good enough to sustain him in race conditions, having to utilize his teammate’s set up instead.

    “We knew that we had a good qualifying run compared to where we practiced,” Pastrana said. “We thought we were pretty good at the end of practice, but we were so far off from where Trevor (Bayne) was, so we went with Trevor’s stuff just to see if it would work.”

    “I think we were on the right track, but there’s not a lot we could pick up because I didn’t get one single lap,” Pastrana continued. “The front wheel was busted out and the splitter was off the right-front tire.”

    “We just drove around all day,” Pastrana said. “If you see the front tire, it’s folded over completely, so I don’t know how the car survived.”

    “The team earned their money today.”

    Although frustrated with the early crash and poor finish, Pastrana did learn at least one tidbit. After following teammate Bayne’s line on the track, he at least picked up some knowledge for the future about where to run for maximum speed.

    “I knew where his line was and I knew where my line was,” Pastrana said. “So, just learning where you can run the car was good.”

    “But with this car, we never knew because we never had a chance.”

    Pastrana’s Phoenix run was especially tough since he had had a great outing at Daytona, finishing in the tenth position. The former extreme sport star turned NASCAR racer felt that he really learned a great deal about restrictor plate racing, again with a little help from teammate and former Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne.

    “Daytona was awesome,” Pastrana said “A top-10 finish was exactly what we had hoped for.”

    “I knew we had a great car coming into the race,” Pastrana continued. “Trevor pushed me around a few laps.”

    “I kind of gained confidence and really just started pushing a little bit and started to be pushed more and those guys gained confidence with me.”

    Unfortunately, Pastrana’s confidence was short-lived in the waning laps of the race, with the horrific crash that sent debris raining into the stands as well as all over the track.

    “We were running three-wide and I didn’t know what to do,” Pastrana said. “All hell broke loose like it always does.”

    “But I still learned a lot.”

    Pastrana also broke the news in Phoenix that he will have some learning to do off the track as well, which may involve entirely new skills sets such as diaper changing. He and his wife announced that they are expecting their first child.

    “It’s just really exciting,” Pastrana said. “I got married about a year-and-a-half ago and having a kid is going to be awesome.”

    Will Pastrana teach his youngster about all of his daredevil ways, including racing in its many forms?

    “I definitely feel for my parents now with everything I’ve put them through,” Pastrana said. “But we’ll encourage whatever we have – a boy or girl – to follow their passion.”

    “But I’m hoping their passion is golf, maybe.”

    As Pastrana leaves Phoenix, now 15th in the point standings, he is no doubt looking forward to more learning at the next venue, Las Vegas Motor Speedway. But he is also anticipating going to another track as well, the Monster Mile, later in the season.

    “For me, my hometown track was always Dover,” Pastrana said. “I’ve never gotten to drive anything around Dover and they say it’s like dropping into a roller coaster every corner and jumping coming out.”

    “It doesn’t look like a jump when you’re watching,” Pastrana continued. “But all the drivers say it is.”

    “I’m looking forward to that.”

     

  • Scott Lagasse Honored by Boy Scout Partnership

    Scott Lagasse Honored by Boy Scout Partnership

    Photo Credit: TeamSLR Photo
    Photo Credit: TeamSLR Photo

    Scott Lagasse has honed his skills from ARCA racing to the NASCAR Nationwide Series. But he is most proud of his new relationship with the Boy Scouts of America as sponsor and partner.

    “The relationship with them is pretty unique,” Lagasse said. “It started when I did a pine wood derby race and thought that was pretty cool.”

    “We started talking and it ended up at national,” Lagasse continued. “What a great organization.”

    “The Scouts do so many great things for kids, instilling morals and values,” Lagasse said. “It was a strange and unplanned relationship, but really a great one.”

    Lagasse, a Boy Scout himself, has been most enthused about the impact of the partnership that he has experienced first-hand through a variety of Scouting events.

    “We’ve already seen the excitement with the kids,” Lagasse said. “We went to an event at Fort Knox, Kentucky and there were 8,000 kids there that absolutely went crazy and loved the race car.”

    “It’s fun for me because we drove a Scout to school this morning,” Lagasse continued. “We’ve done that a couple times now.”

    “We went through Orlando with a police escort, spinning the rear tires and pulling up to the front of the school with all the kids out front,” Lagasse said. “It was great.”

    “I don’t know if I had more fun, he had more fun or his parents had more fun.”

    Lagasse is not the first driver to have a sponsor partnership with a charitable organization, proudly following in the steps of one of his racing idols, Jeff Gordon, whose sponsor is the AARP Foundation’s Drive to End Hunger.

    So, it may not be coincidence that Gordon’s step-father John Bickford has also been a friend, mentor and advisor to Lagasse throughout the years.

    “Without a doubt you always look up to a driver like Jeff Gordon,” Lagasse said. “Obviously for Mr. Bickford to spend the time with me that he has, I guess I would consider myself a charity case.”

    “I don’t know that it was his idea about the charitable partnership, but he definitely has molded the way that I think and approach the sport,” Lagasse continued. “There’s no doubt that he is the leading person pushing me to do a business plan that makes sense.”

    “In that regard, Mr. Bickford has been a huge ally and asset,” Lagasse said. “You definitely have to respect what he has done for the sport.”

    Lagasse, mirroring the values of the Boy Scouts, also credits his family, particularly his father Scott Lagasse Sr., a racer in his own right, with supporting him in his racing journey.

    “I couldn’t ask for my parents to do anything more for me,” Lagasse said. “They both realize the commitment and how much it takes to be successful.”

    “They were always there to support me and that to me means a lot.”

    In addition to the support of his family, Lagasse is also grateful for the camaraderie, commitment and support of his team. This too mirrors the values of Scouting in creating teamwork and a shared community.

    “I’m really excited about the group of guys that we have, especially my crew chief Brad Parrott,” Lagasse said. “Brad came and crew chiefed an ARCA race for me.”

    “He was a huge help and we led a lot of laps until we ran out of gas,” Lagasse continued. “It was not his doing but I still give him a hard time about it.”

    “That’s obviously a good way to have started the relationship,” Lagasse said. “Since then we have worked together quite a few times.”

    “That’s what motivates me, knowing that we’re all going to battle together,” Lagasse continued. “The most fun will be on race day when we strap in with that group of guys around me and the support of the Scouts.”

    Lagasse is also looking forward to race day right at his home track, having grown up in St. Augustine, Florida and racing as a youngster in the shadows of Daytona International Speedway. And the 31 year old driver, now with his own team, cannot wait to take the track for the DRIVE4COPD 300 Nationwide race behind the wheel of his No. 8 HybridLight/Boy Scouts of America Chevrolet.

    “This is for sure home and I’ve always had dreams of racing here,” Lagasse said. “Our goals are probably in stages.”

    “Number one is to get out of here in one piece,” Lagasse said. “That one, we will accomplish.”

    “Beyond that, we need to have a good partner to have a shot at the win,” Lagasse continued. “That’s how I’m going to approach it.”

    “We’ll do what we need to do early to be there late,” Lagasse said. “We’re a small team and we know we’re up against the big boys.”

    “But we have good people so I don’t see why we can’t run up front.”

    Most of all for Lagasse, the Daytona race is all about being honored to represent the Boy Scouts and get the youth leadership of today interested in racing for the rest of their lives.

    “I would say for me it’s a huge responsibility to partner with the Boy Scouts,” Lagasse said. “That’s how I look at it.”

    “It’s a huge honor that also comes with a huge responsibility,” Lagasse continued. “Our relationship is very young but we’re both committed to the long term.”

    “I’m excited about helping young kids develop on and off the track,” Lagasse said. “For us, it’s a shared responsibility and an honor to be that rallying point for them.”

    “To me, that’s the best part about the Scouts because time and time again, they do the right thing.”

  • Crunching the Numbers: Daytona

    Crunching the Numbers: Daytona

    Photo Credit: Rusty Jarrett MRD/CIA
    Photo Credit: Rusty Jarrett MRD/CIA

    As the 2013 season gets underway this weekend at Daytona for the Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series, and the Camping World Truck Series, it’s time once again to analyze the statistics and see just who you should be watching this weekend at the “World Center of Racing”.

    First on the docket of racing this weekend will be the Camping World Truck Series, which will take to the high banks Friday night in the Nextera Energy Resources 250.

    Top 10 Camping World Series drivers at Daytona International Speedway (last 10 races):

    Driver Races Win Top 5 Top 10 Pole Laps Led Avg. Start Avg. Finish
    John King 1 1 1 1 0 6 23.0 1.0
    Todd Bodine 8 2 6 7 0 136 9.0 5.4
    Timothy Peters 5 1 2 3 0 17 23.0 6.4
    Kyle Busch 4 0 3 3 0 18 19.2 7.8
    Ty Dillon 1 0 0 1 0 0 4.0 9.0
    Clay Greenfield 1 0 0 1 0 0 26.0 10.0
    Chris Fontaine 2 0 0 1 0 0 19.0 13.0
    Justin Lofton 3 0 1 1 0 0 17.0 13.0
    Dusty Davis 1 0 0 0 0 0 16.0 13.0
    Matt Crafton 10 0 1 4 0 1 16.2 14.6

    Who to Watch: Defending winner John King returns in 2013 after winning in his first attempt last year in a wild finish. King will be with a different team, but is batting 1.000 in his career at Daytona, so he will definitely be one to keep an eye on. Todd Bodine leads the series regulars with 2 wins and an average finish of 5.4. Other series regulars who run well at Daytona include Timothy Peters with 1 win and an average finish of 6.4 and Ty Dillon, who finished top 10 in his first outing last year. Throw in Cup regular Kyle Busch with an average finish of 7.8 and Friday night’s Truck race should be a great race, as usual.

    Next up will be the Nationwide Series taking on the famed 2.5 superspeedway in Florida in the Drive4COPD 300 on Saturday afternoon.

    Top 10 Nationwide Series drivers at Daytona International Speedway (last 10 races):

    Driver Races Win Top 5 Top 10 Pole Laps Led Avg. Start Avg. Finish
    Tony Stewart 6 4 4 5 1 146 10.2 4.2
    Austin Dillon 2 0 2 2 0 8 23.5 4.5
    Kurt Busch 2 1 1 2 0 65 9.5 5.5
    Kyle Busch 10 0 5 7 0 132 12.9 8.7
    Matt Kenseth 3 0 1 2 0 39 7.3 9.7
    Brian Vickers 5 0 2 4 0 12 17.2 11.8
    Kasey Kahne 6 0 1 4 0 5 14.5 12.5
    Dale Earnhardt Jr 8 1 4 5 0 62 8.5 12.8
    Parker Kligerman 1 0 0 0 0 0 2.0 13.0
    Elliott Sadler 4 0 1 3 0 49 9.5 13.8

    Who to Watch: The field will be stocked full of Cup regulars, with Tony Stewart as best by far when the Nationwide Series rolls into Daytona. Stewart has 4 wins in 6 starts and has finished no worse than 10th in all but 1 start. This year should be more of the same from Stewart as he will be the one to beat for the win. Others to keep an eye on will be Austin Dillon with a 4.5 average finish in 2 starts, as well as the Busch brothers and Matt Kenseth, all of whom have an average finish of 9.7 or better. Should be another exciting race for NASCAR’s 2nd tier series.

    Rounding out the weekend will be Sunday’s 55th running of the Daytona 500, which should be even more of a spectacle than usual with the points race debut of the Gen6 car.

    Top 10 Sprint Cup Series drivers at Daytona International Speedway (last 10 races):

    Driver Races Win Top 5 Top 10 Pole Laps Led Avg. Start Avg. Finish
    Carl Edwards 10 0 3 7 1 2 14.4 11.1
    Matt Kenseth 10 2 5 7 1 164 15.7 11.1
    Tony Stewart 10 2 3 4 0 149 13.3 12.0
    Kevin Harvick 10 1 2 5 0 90 15.7 14.1
    Kurt Busch 10 0 4 6 0 82 20.3 14.4
    Dale Earnhardt Jr 10 0 3 5 1 78 9.0 14.9
    Kasey Kahne 10 0 2 5 0 24 15.0 15.5
    Bobby Labonte 10 0 1 2 0 3 28.0 16.3
    Paul Menard 10 0 0 3 1 37 20.8 16.6
    Kyle Busch 10 1 3 4 0 252 13.9 16.8

    Who to Watch: The top 10 is a virtual who’s who of restrictor plate masters with recent Daytona winners Matt Kenseth, Tony Stewart and Kevin Harvick, who have 5 wins among them in the last 10 races at Daytona, being book-ended by a consistent Carl Edwards and Kurt Busch. All 5 of these drivers have an average finish of 14.4 or less over the last 10 races and all of the top 10 drivers could be threats for the win on Sunday. The one X-factor, however, will be the debut of the Gen6 car and the vast array of unknowns associated with it, so anyone could be a winner in the “Great American Race” this year.

  • Reed Sorenson: “We Have a Shot To Win”

    Reed Sorenson: “We Have a Shot To Win”

    reedReed Sorenson began his NASCAR career with Ganassi Racing in the No. 41 Dodge in 2005. He was immediately a force to be reckoned with, scoring his first victory at Nashville Speedway from the pole and crossing the finish line 14 seconds over the competition. He went to victory lane once again at Gateway and lead the standings by 51 points and finished the season fourth overall.

    Beginning a full-time schedule in the Cup series and double duty in the Nationwide series in 2006, Reed completed the season 10th in Nationwide standings and earned five top-10 finishes in Cup. In his rookie Cup season, he became the youngest pole winner at Indianapolis Motor Speedway at the age of 21.

    His career went from the best of highs to the worst of lows when Sorenson was released from driving duties at Turner Motorsports in October 2011. After taking Turner Motorsports to victory lane and to third place in the championship standings, this came as a shock to the NASCAR world. Turner gave no excuse for the release.

    Now at the age of 27, Sorenson finds himself racing full-time in the Nationwide series once again with The Motorsports Group, much to the excitement of his fan base. “I came in and he told me his plan as far as trying to make his race team better and trying to improve his race team with his engine program that he’s started up – he’s hoping that’s a step forward compared to last year and what he had. You know, he kind of filled me in on – this is the year where he’s going to try and put everything he possibly can into the race team and making it better. I felt pretty encouraged about that and we just talked a few more times and said alright let’s do it.”

    Formerly known as Key Motorsports, TMG currently fields the #40, 42, 46 and 47 entries in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Curtis Key is approaching his 20th anniversary as a team owner in NASCAR’s top three divisions.

    “I hope this year will be the best that this team has ever ran”, Sorenson said when I asked about his expectations for the 2013 season. “I hope that I can bring, as a driver, more experience than they’ve (TMG) had in the past. We know what we’re up against; we’re not a Cup team, as you can see. I mean you’re here, this is a small operation with a handful of people and we all know that – anybody from me, to Curtis, to the guys working down there(in the shop), we know what we’re up against.”

    Unlike most teams, TMG was not able to test their cars in the off season or at Daytona in January. Despite the odds against them, Sorenson is up for the challenge and has a positive outlook.

    “Going into Daytona, the way the racing is there, I feel like we have a shot to win. I love racing there and I’m going there to win. After Daytona, we kind of have to see where we’re at and see what we need to work on. Our expectations, I guess, to put it in a simple form, is to go out there and run well and figure out where we need to get better and do that.”

    The No. 40 is going into Daytona on the right foot with a primary sponsor of E-Swisher for the DRIVE4COPD300. Instead of smoke, e-Swisher electronic cigarettes emit a vapor that evaporates in seconds, with only a faint scent that doesn’t linger. The e-cigarettes are infused with high-quality nicotine, giving you the full satisfaction of a regular cigarette.

    “We’re excited about them, they’ve never been in the sport, it’s a new product,” said Sorenson. “Their excited about their new product and telling people what it is. They will be at the race, so that’s exciting. I’ve been a part of bringing a new sponsor into the sport in the past (with Discount Tire) and they’re still in the sport, so hopefully this is a relationship that can last and we can build on it in the future and I’m excited about them. When you have a new sponsor coming in your kind of want to show them all about NASCAR and what it’s about and how they can get their monies worth out of it. We’ll do the best job we can to show them a good time and show them NASCAR is a place they need to be.”

    Going into the restrictor-plate track of Daytona, Sorenson has one top-five and three top-10 finishes with zero DNF’s.

    To keep up with Reed and his No. 40 TMG team, be sure to follow him on Twitter @ReedSorenson7 and @TMG_team40.

  • Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Jeffrey Earnhardt

    Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Jeffrey Earnhardt

    The name Earnhardt will always be linked to NASCAR. No one knows that better than Dale Earnhardt’s grandson, Jeffrey Earnhardt. It’s a legacy that comes with advantages and expectations. It can also overpower anyone standing in its shadow.

    I sat down with Earnhardt this past weekend to learn more about the driver with the famous last name. We talked about everything from racing to hunting to family to glitter tattoos.

    He will run a full-time schedule this year in the NASCAR Nationwide Series with Go Green Racing. When I asked him about his goals for the season, he answered without hesitation.

    “Personally, I‘d like to win Rookie of the Year,” he said. “That’s the number one priority for me this year and to finish in the top 10 in points.”

    He doesn’t expect it to be easy but he’s confident that he is with the right team and is determined to make the most of the opportunity.

    “I know the first half of the year is probably going to be tough,” Earnhardt said.  “With a new crew chief and new team, there’s a connection that’s got to build there. But I think after the first couple of races, everything will start to click and we’ll get the chemistry going to where we’re having consistent runs every weekend and finishing in the top 15.”

    He will be racing on most of the tracks on the schedule for the first time. Does he feel intimidated by that fact?

    His answer was a resounding, no.

    “I have fun facing new challenges. It’s the competitive side of me to want to go to a new track that I’ve never been to and by the time I leave be able to say to myself, ‘I own this place.’”

    Earnhardt continued, “That’s how I feel at every track, even tracks I’ve been to before. You think this time; ‘I can do better than that.’ It’s always a competition within yourself to want to do better.”

    Do you prefer old school or new school racing?

    “Old school, for sure. I feel like today there’s a lot of people who don’t seem to want it as bad. I feel like I was in that situation. When I was at DEI (Dale Earnhardt Inc.) I thought the streets were paved with gold and I had that taken away from me.”

    He went on to add, “Since then, I learned a lot. I learned about fighting for something you want really bad and that’s how it’s been the last couple of years. I took the opportunity for granted and didn’t appreciate what was given to me. It was a rocky road and a huge learning experience.”

    Do you prefer country music or rock and roll?

    “Country, big time.”

    His favorite group used to be Brooks and Dunn but since the duo disbanded, Jeffrey’s favorite singer is Justin Moore.

    Photo Credit: Lisa Berard
    Photo Credit: Lisa Berard

    Do you prefer hunting or fishing?

    “Hunting.  I grew up fishing a lot as a kid but I’ve really taken to hunting. I like to bow hunt now so bow hunting is one of my favorite things to do.”

    Earnhardt recently mentioned that he had taken his 9-year-old sister Kayla hunting. When I asked him about this, his face lit up with a huge smile.

    “She is spoiled rotten and she’s the world to me. I’d put my life on the line for her, hands down, for that little girl. She’s just adorable.”

    “She came over and spent the night so we had a little sleep over. We did these glitter tattoos. It was all kinds of fun,” he said laughing.

    I had to ask, ‘Did you get a glitter tattoo?’

    “I let her put one on me,” he admitted. “That was it. It was a lot of fun. She begged me to go hunting so we went out hunting the next morning. We didn’t kill anything. But we had fun.”

    Did you have a favorite driver, other than your grandfather?

    “No, but when I was a little kid I really liked Kyle Petty for the simple fact that when I was over at their shop one day and peeking through the window, he was nice enough to come out and speak to me. That meant a lot to me as a kid for him to take the time to come out and talk to me. That was cool.”

    However, it was obvious who his real hero was.

    “My grandfather was one of a kind,” Earnhardt said. “There are things he’s done on the track that I’ve never seen anyone else do.  It’s hard not to like someone like that who has that edge.”

    Are you an aggressive driver?

    “I don’t like to think I’m aggressive. I like to think I race fair. I’m going to race you the same way you race me but I do have my aggressive side where I will do whatever it takes. But you also have to be respectful of other drivers.  I’ve learned through this whole journey I’ve had, the hard work and the money that goes into this sport. It’s not cheap. To be a smaller team and have a good run going and have it taken away by someone is very hurtful so I’m respectful of that.”

    Do you look at this year as a pivotal point in your career?

    “It’s definitely a turning point and a chance to prove what I can do in solid equipment. Going into this season I feel very confident that the team I’m with, Go Green Racing, that they’re going to put me in the best opportunities to go out there and perform. Being out there every weekend and keeping everything fresh on my mind and keeping that rhythm, that’s a big part of it.”

    What was your most embarrassing moment on the track?

    “I ran a UARA late model race at Bristol. It’s been quite a while back. We were out during practice and it was starting to sprinkle. They wanted the cars to stay on the track and help keep it dried off because it wasn’t raining that hard.”

    “I was out there cutting the steering wheel back and forth, keeping  the heat in the tires and all of a sudden the car turned and it didn’t turn back to the right like I wanted it to and then I slid head on into the barrels on pit road and knocked the entire front nose off the car. It was terrible. We were just out there trying to keep the track dry and I wrecked.”

    “It was hard to climb out of the car and take the helmet off after that one.”

    What has been the proudest moment of your career?

    “It’s probably between two things.”

    “One is the good run we had going at Daytona last year. The finish wasn’t there but to be able to take a small team like that and be up there running fourth with the best cars in the field, to be able to do that, it really meant a lot to me and it meant a lot to the guys back at the shop.”

    Earnhardt’s hopes for a good finish were ruined after an off-center push from Ricky Stenhouse Jr. turned him sideways in front of the main pack of cars.

    “Besides that, it was qualifying on the pole (his first) in the (Camping World) East race at Dover. It’s been several years ago but it was cool to go out there and out-qualify someone like Joey Logano who is now a Cup driver.

    At that point in time, I was just as good as those guys. I feel like I still am.”

    When all is said and done, Jeffrey Earnhardt is not that different from any other driver, despite his last name. He is confident, yet humble, aggressive but fair and passionate about racing. He is appreciative of his legacy but determined to find his own way. He embraces life with a smile on his face and fire in his heart. And his journey has just begun.

  • Michael Annett Focusing on Fifth for Finale

    Michael Annett Focusing on Fifth for Finale

    [media-credit name=”Photo Credit: Gary Buchanan” align=”alignright” width=”228″][/media-credit]With six top-five finishes and 17 top-10 finishes in his first season with Richard Petty Motorsports, driver Michael Annett has had one heck of a year. In fact, in 32 races, Annett has only had five where he finished outside the top-15.

    But in the last race of the year, Annett has just one thing on his mind. He wants to finish fifth in the championship points and beat out Justin Allgaier, who is just seven points behind him in sixth.

    “Our season didn’t start off the way we wanted to and, as tough as the competition is, you can be out of the championship race pretty early in the season,” Annett said. “At some point, you have to sit down and look at what your goals are going to be.”

    “It actually wasn’t too long ago that we were 50 some odd points behind the fifth spot and then we put together some really good runs,” Annett continued. “We looked at where we are and what goal we could achieve and that’s now fifth in points, and to on get on stage, and hopefully get a race win before the season is out.”

    “I think we’d be disappointed if we didn’t achieve that goal but still so happy with our season.”

    Although Annett is focused on that fifth place in the point standings, make no mistake. The young driver is also focused on going for the win in the season finale.

    “We’d like to get that win and this is the last chance of the season to bring home a trophy,” Annett said. “It would be really cool to win and a testament to how hard my guys have worked this season, starting about a month before Daytona in February.”

    “To get where we are right now, a win would be a huge honor,” Annett continued. “To get the 43 car back in Victory Lane, knowing how much that means to the sport, would be great.”

    “It has been a long time since I’ve won a stock car race so it would be a huge deal.”

    While racing for the win, will Annett keep a look out the corner of his eye on the No. 31 Brandt Chevrolet, piloted by the driver know as ‘Lil Gator’? You bet he will, in no uncertain terms.

    “We just want to do our best to stay on the same strategy as him,” Annett said. “We know we can beat them but if we stay on that same strategy we know we will beat them straight up.”

    Annett is definitely looking forward to racing the finale at Homestead, a track that he enjoys and finds challenging. He has four Nationwide starts there, with a best finish of 19th at the 1.5 mile track.

    “The biggest challenges at Homestead are the changes in the track from one end to the other,” Annett said. “We’ve already seen in the first practice that the tire fall off is huge, about a second it seems like.”

    “That’s the biggest thing we fight,” Annett continued. “The track is hot and slick and that’s a challenge, especially to get a car to work good in both ends of the track.

    Annett will be piloting Chassis No. 621 for the 200-lap Ford EcoBoost 300. This particular Ford Mustang has previously run at Bristol and at Dover, where Annett finished eighth and third respectively.

    “The chassis is one of our mile and a half cars that has run well in the past,” Annett said. “We’ll definitely use it up for the final race.”

    While Annett prepares for the Nationwide finale, he will also have spent his Friday night watching the Truck race as well.

    “Not only am I a driver but I’m a race fan too and the trucks put on a good show,” Annett said. “I want to pick up what the track is going to do and what’s going to change throughout the race.”

    “Also, I’ll watch who tries two tires, no tires or four tires and how that either helps or hurts them,” Annett continued. “Those are the kind of things you watch and those races are always exciting and they have a tight points battle to boot.”

    Annett is also excited about the end of the season because he, unlike many drivers, knows that he will be back in a race car again in 2013.

    “RPM picked up the option so we will be back with our whole team intact,” Annett said. “We have some new partners coming on board and for sure, we are back again.”

    Although excited about the season finale, Annett also has an eye to the off-season.

    “I’m going to go to the Dominican Republic for Thanksgiving and then I go home for ten or fifteen days for Christmas,” Annett said. “Other than those two trips, then we will start getting focused and get ready to race again in February.”

    But for now, Annett has winning and clinching fifth in points on his mind and in his sights.

    “We put ourselves in position for top-five in points so we need to keep doing what we’re doing,” Annett said. “Hopefully, we can win the race and if not, then staying in the top five would be the best.”

    “If we can keep improving on our results and finish fifth this year, we’ll definitely be a championship team next year.”

  • Cole Whitt Ready For Some NASCAR Bashing

    Cole Whitt Ready For Some NASCAR Bashing

    [media-credit name=”JR Motorsports/Spin Master” align=”alignright” width=”225″][/media-credit]JR Motorsports young gun Cole Whitt is all set to do some NASCAR bashing at his upcoming Nationwide race at Texas Motor Speedway.

    In fact, the up and coming young gun will be behind the wheel of the No. 88 NASCAR Bashers car, promoting a new race car toy made by Spin Master that wrecks, transforms and then is reassembled to do it all over again.

    “It is an awesome opportunity for me and JR Motorsports to be teamed up with NASCAR Bashers for Texas,” Whitt said. “We already had the Atlanta race with them and ran really well.”

    “That’s always fun when you run good with your sponsor.”

    While Whitt may be pleased to run well with NASCAR Bashers on the hood, he is most excited about the toy itself. And being a ‘big kid’, he has already had the opportunity to play.

    “It’s a really cool toy,” Whitt said of the NASCAR Basher, which is styled like an actual NASCAR race car that actually transforms after wrecking. “I went to an autograph signing at Walmart and they had them on the table, so I got to play with them.”

    “They kept me entertained.”

    Whitt acknowledged that the coolest part of the NASCAR Bashers is that there are not only countless ways to wreck them, but, just like his own NASCAR pit crew does for him, the cars can be rebuilt and readied to race once again.

    “I think what’s cool about it is the kids can beat and bang on them,” Whitt said. “That’s part of our sport and that makes it exciting and why people watch.”

    “Our cars are always on edge and when we crash, we may be out of the race,” Whitt continued. “But with NASCAR Bashers, the kids can play with them and crash them and they just break apart.”

    “But then they can snap them all back together and keep playing with them,” Whitt said. “I wish our race cars were that easy to put back together.”

    “That’s what makes it exciting for the kids.”

    Whitt admitted that he wished that he had toys like NASCAR Bashers, instead of having to do his own crash improvisations.

    “I didn’t get to have anything as cool as NASCAR Bashers when I was a kid,” Whitt said. “I had to take a hammer to my race cars and I’d just beat them up and make them look like they were all crashed up.”

    “My cars were done after that though,” Whitt continued. “At least with NASCAR Bashers you can put them back together and keep playing.”

    There was one other feature of NASCAR Bashers that really appealed to Whitt. And that was the important ability to attract a younger audience to the sport.

    “What’s cool about NASCAR Bashers is that they are for younger fans and that’s who NASCAR wants to bring into the sport,” Whitt said. “This starts a family tradition and that’s part of JR Motosports being a family tradition.”

    “It’s pretty exciting for us to get kids excited about the sport.”

    “I’m just an average kid that came up through the sport and JR Motorsports gave me this awesome opportunity,” Whitt said. “NASCAR’s really always focused on trying to find that next generation of fans and we finally have some young kids coming up in the sport and kids can relate.”

    “That’s what the Nationwide Series is all about with young kids trying to make a name for themselves and trying to win races with the bigger names.”

    NASCAR Basher’s maker, Spin Master, could not agree more with their young driver.

    “Spin Master wants to engage young fans with great products and unique means to reach them,” Craig Drobis, Marketing Director for Spin Master, said. “The NASCAR Bashers product and partnering with a young rising star like Cole does that.”

    At the O’Reilly Auto Parts Challenge in Texas, Whitt will not only run the NASCAR Bashers car but will also show off the new toys on his hero card and at autograph signings throughout the race weekend. And Whitt will have a special honor, that of serving as ESPN’s in-race reporter.

    As pleased as Whitt is about driving the NASCAR Bashers car, he is also thrilled to finish off the season on a high note from a performance perspective, especially after a bit of an up and down year.

    “This year’s been a little bit of a roller coaster,” Whitt said. “You’ve got to race and learn by your mistakes.”

    “So far, it’s been a good year and we’re starting to really hit our stride and run consistently lately,” Whitt continued. “There were a lot of changes throughout the season with JR Motorsports, all in the direction of making the team better.”

    “And I think we really have been improving.”

    Even with NASCAR Bashers on the hood at Texas and a strong run in the final races, Whitt is still unsure, however, of his future in the new year. He is hoping that he remains a part of JR Motorsports, especially with the recent signing of Regan Smith to the team.

    “So far, I’m not exactly sure what 2013 holds for me but we’re looking at it as we’re going into 2013 with JR Motorsports and we’re hoping to find a little more funding,” Whitt said. “We want to go for that championship.”

    “Hopefully our deal comes together and I find a little more sponsorship because I think we could really give it a run for the money,” Whitt said. “Plus Regan would be a great teammate I could learn from.”

    “I just hope we get that opportunity.”

    But until that time, Whitt will simply focus instead on doing some NASCAR bashing at Texas Motor Speedway.

    “I just think NASCAR Bashers are plain awesome,” Whitt said. “I always crashed my cars when I was a kid.”

    “So being able to put them back together is really, really awesome.”

    NASCAR Bashers are available at Walmart, Target, ToysRus, NASCAR.com and at official NASCAR Trackside Merchandise trailers at track. They are designed for children ages 5 and up and are reasonably priced at $9.99 for the NASCAR Basher race car, with additional accessories available.

     

  • Kansas Shows A Halloween Face; Stenhouse Jr. wins the Kansas Lottery 300

    Kansas Shows A Halloween Face; Stenhouse Jr. wins the Kansas Lottery 300

    [media-credit name=”Credit: John Harrelson/Getty Images” align=”alignright” width=”225″][/media-credit]The Nationwide Series race at Kansas was a caution filled display of skills and patience. The freshly paved surface proved to be a wickedly fast, wickedly slick Halloween ghoul. The track management created a surface that after a couple of races and a winter of seasoning will be one of the best tracks in NASCAR. The trick was surviving to get there.

    Brian Scott would be the first casualty with three spins, two of which were unassisted. The third he had contact with the wall removing him from the competition. Johanna Long would have an early day as would Dexter Stacey and Nur Ali.

    The track provided us with visual example of aero effects. The faster the car the lighter the car is on its wheels. The air disruption as another car goes by lifts just enough to make the car literally wrecking loose.

    The day would prove to be frustrating for Kyle Busch, after wrecking the primary car the back up proved to be an unpredictable monster that Busch struggled with all day. Coming back late to lead he ultimately run out of gas between 3 and 4 on the final lap.

    Joey Logano would be involved with Ricky Stenhouse Jr making his day a very long one.  He got both laps back, and ended up finishing third.

    Stenhouse Jr. would get back on the lead lap late in the race after the contact and come back to hold on to win as Busch ran out of fuel.

    Points leader Sadler played a fuel strategy card late in the race. Sadler finished fourth and holds on to the series points lead by 6 points.

    Young Ryan Blaney, was again impressive behind the wheel of the Penske Dodge. Blaney who started in the 27th position drove his way all the way up as high as second. But he also ran out of the gas.

    The most improved performance in the series today came from Danica Patrick. Patrick climbed all the way up to the third place before having to pit for fuel and claiming a 10th place finish. Patrick’s confidence was very evident. Obviously the extra time in a car and the extra laps on the track paid off for her in a big way. It was refreshing to see her actually live up to the expectations placed on her. Hopefully she will remember to thank Greg Zipadelli and the SHR team as well as Ryan Pemberton and her JRM.

    What began as a long drawn out race made a drastic turn at about halfway. The unpredictable monster that is the new Kansas showed her fickle nature. Stenhouse Jr. wins and Busch came up a ½ mile short. But in the end the winner was the fans and it is a victory that will last for years to come.

    “Our Sam’s Club Mustang was fast this weekend. I didn’t see the win coming like this but we will take it. It was in front of a great crowd. I can’t say enough about the fans coming out and supporting us. It is a lot of fun to run in this series and especially to come to Kansas.” Stenhouse Jr. said.

    Unofficial Race Results
    Kansas Lottery 300, Kansas Speedway
    http://www.speedwaymedia.com/n2s/race.php?race=30
    =========================================
    Pos. St. No. Driver Make Points
    =========================================
    1 10 6 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Ford 47
    2 2 3 Austin Dillon * Chevrolet 43
    3 1 18 Joey Logano Toyota 0
    4 7 2 Elliott Sadler Chevrolet 40
    5 8 88 Cole Whitt * Chevrolet 39
    6 6 54 Kyle Busch Toyota 0
    7 21 31 Justin Allgaier Chevrolet 38
    8 14 43 Michael Annett Ford 36
    9 12 12 Sam Hornish Jr. Dodge 35
    10 13 7 Danica Patrick Chevrolet 34
    11 27 22 Ryan Blaney Dodge 33
    12 22 87 Joe Nemechek Toyota 32
    13 23 19 Mike Bliss Toyota 31
    14 37 4 Danny Efland Chevrolet 30
    15 15 14 Eric McClure Toyota 29
    16 5 33 Paul Menard Chevrolet 0
    17 39 40 Erik Darnell Chevrolet 27
    18 4 199 Kenny Wallace Toyota 26
    19 32 52 Joey Gase * Chevrolet 25
    20 24 81 Jason Bowles * Toyota 24
    21 29 1 Mike Wallace Chevrolet 23
    22 33 113 Jennifer Jo Cobb Chevrolet 0
    23 26 38 Brad Sweet * Chevrolet 21
    24 19 8 Scott Lagasse Jr. Chevrolet 0
    25 16 44 Hal Martin Toyota 0
    26 3 11 Brian Scott Toyota 18
    27 42 39 Dexter Stacey Ford 17
    28 17 30 James Buescher Chevrolet 0
    29 40 124 Derek White Toyota 0
    30 31 28 Tony Raines Chevrolet 0
    31 9 70 Johanna Long * Chevrolet 13
    32 43 89 Morgan Shepherd Chevrolet 12
    33 41 41 Nur Ali Chevrolet 11
    34 30 108 Scott Saunders Ford 10
    35 11 51 Jeremy Clements Chevrolet 9
    36 25 100 Blake Koch Toyota 8
    37 36 175 Carl Long Chevrolet 7
    38 34 171 Timmy Hill Ford 0
    39 35 23 Robert Richardson Jr. Chevrolet 5
    40 28 47 J.J. Yeley Chevrolet 0
    41 38 174 Mike Harmon Chevrolet 3
    42 18 10 Jeff Green Toyota 2
    43 20 46 Chase Miller Chevrolet 1
  • Paulie Harraka Goes Back to School with Tutor Ted Musgrave

    Paulie Harraka Goes Back to School with Tutor Ted Musgrave

    [media-credit name=”Gary Buchanan” align=”alignright” width=”231″][/media-credit]He may have just graduated from Duke, but the young racer from New Jersey, Paulie Harraka, is now going back to school, this time under the tutelage of veteran driver Ted Musgrave.

    Harraka recently parted ways with Wauters Motorsports in the Camping World Truck Series and made a run at his first Nationwide race at Richmond last weekend, all under the watchful eye of mentor and spotter Musgrave.

    “Building off of the first half of the season, we felt this was the most logical next step for Paulie’s development,” Musgrave said. “Paulie’s got the talent and work ethic and now we need to get him the experience.”

    Both Harraka’s and Musgrave’s goal was for the young driver to learn at Richmond and finish in the top-25. Harraka achieved that goal, running all the laps and finishing 25th in the Randy Hill Racing Ford.

    “I really enjoyed working with the team,” Harraka said. “It was something that we put together at the last minute and so we set some modest goals.”

    “Ted Musgrave has been spotting for me and mentoring me and guiding us as we decide what races I should do,” Harraka continued. “He felt like this was a good one for me to do.”

    “I had never been to Richmond before but it was similar to many that we had been to in the past,” Harraka said. “The weekend went as we planned and as we hoped.”

    While Harraka is unsure of when his next race will be, he most certainly enjoyed his time in the Nationwide car and at Richmond. In fact, he found it even more comfortable that his truck ride, especially since it was more like the K&N Pro Series cars that he has grown up racing and in which he had so much success.

    “There is definitely potential that we will run more races in the Nationwide Series this year,” Harraka said. “Nothing has been decided yet.”

    “But Richmond helped us build some positive momentum.”

    “I definitely enjoyed being in the Nationwide car,” Harraka said. “It does drive different than the truck and I definitely enjoyed it.”

    “It is closer to the K&N Pro Series cars that I’ve run in the past so I definitely enjoy the Nationwide cars even more.”

    What Harraka appreciated most about running the Nationwide race, however, was the opportunity to continue going to school on the race track, with the voice of Ted Musgrave in his ear.

    “This year is very, very much a learning experience for me,” Harraka said. “We knew that going into it.”

    “The best thing that we’ve done is bringing Ted in,” Harraka continued. “He is serving in a lot of roles, not just coaching at the race track, but really helping guide our decisions about what’s best for me and for my development.”

    “He was the one who said we needed to run the Nationwide race at Richmond and so we went and did it,” Harraka said. “We are following what he is advising.”

    “Ted is leading the charge as to what races we run.”

    Harraka first partnered with Musgrave when he raced for his first time at Dover. And the partnership has flourished ever since.

    “Ted happened to be spotting for Ron Hornaday at the time,” Harraka said. “He mentioned that Ron was only running a few laps in practice.”

    “Since it was my first time at Dover and my normal spotter wasn’t going to be there on practice day, I asked him if he would mind giving me some critical feedback,” Harraka continued. “Ted, being a great guy, was cool with that and he was really helpful to us at Dover.”

    “I knew then that we wanted to get him more involved,” Harraka said. “Fortunately, he was willing to jump on board with us for the rest of the year and he’s been a huge asset.”

    While Musgrave may not be physically training with the up and coming driver, he certainly is training Harraka as to how to approach his racing mentally and strategically.

    “Ted’s not one to go on a two mile run with me,” Harraka said with a chuckle. “It’s definitely conversational more than anything else.”

    “A lot of what he’s taught is how to think about different scenarios and different situations and how to prioritize what you worry about and what you don’t worry about,” Harraka continued. “He helps to think about how to position yourself throughout the race.”

    “There are so many situations that you have to deal with and he’s been in those different scenarios at all levels,” Harraka said. “So, being able to draw from that experience, it’s just huge.”

    What Harraka appreciates most in his schooling with Musgrave is his honest feedback, his consistency and his ability to help him grow and develop based on his past mistakes and successes.

    “I’ve got other people that I can learn from and do lean on, but having someone who is there with you week in and week out is huge,” Harraka said. “Ted knows my strengths and my weaknesses as good as anybody.”

    “He knows what I need to learn to get better,” Harraka continued. “To be able to have that continuity allows us to keep building on the things we’ve done.”

    “He reminds me of what we did weeks ago so I can build on that.”

    One of the biggest lessons that Harraka has been learning is that the path to racing success is often filled with twists and turns, on and off the track.

    “One of my favorite quotes is that some of the best laid plans are changed often,” Harraka said. “When I got to Duke, I was engineering major, but when I graduated Duke, I was a markets and management major.”

    “While I am a goal-directed person, you also have to be smart enough to be flexible and make changes when they are necessary,” Harraka continued. “And that’s what we’ve done.”

    “The goal remains the same but we’ve just changed some of the action steps along the way.”

    “The good thing is that we’re still moving forward,” Harraka said. “I have a fantastic group of people supporting me both on the business side.”

    “And with Ted, we’re growing, learning and moving forward, just as you’d want to be.”

     

  • Radio Chatter Sparks Discussion on Team Orders

    Radio Chatter Sparks Discussion on Team Orders

    [media-credit name=”Kyle Ocker” align=”alignright” width=”232″][/media-credit]As the laps dwindled down in Saturday afternoon’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Chicagoland Speedway, teams and fans alike were brought to the attention of suspicious radio communication between Austin Dillon, driver of the No. 3 Richard Childress Racing (RCR) Chevrolet and crew chief Danny Stockman.

    In a close battle with teammate and championship competitor, Elliott Sadler, Dillon was radioed by his crew chief to “not help” the No. 2 of Sadler. While some took this comment as a usual thought of any racer, many are looking deeper into why it may have been said.

    Sadler, who is reportedly leaving for Joe Gibbs Racing after the 2012 season, believes there are no hard feelings within the organization.

    “I don’t think so – I don’t know what that means,” Sadler said. “We share really good notes. We always have.”

    A heavy focus has been made on Dillon and his grandfather-turned-team owner’s heavy influence on his team and racing career. Following today’s comments, the amount of input his grandfather has on his grandson’s championship run in the Nationwide Series is questioned by many and what lengths could be taken to assure he is in the hunt without having to fend off a soon to be leaving teammate.

    “We’re one big happy family,” says Stockman, following his realization of the amount of discussion brought on by the comments.

    While it may simply be a miscommunication, from the fans’ point of view, it reopens the question of whether or not team orders can come into play in the final races counting down to the crowning of a new champion.

    Are team orders alive in NASCAR, or is it still any driver for himself? That’s for teams to decide and for fans to debate about.