Testing SpeedwayMedia.com

Tag: New Hampshire Motor Speedway

Newman & Busch Take Jabs At One Another Following New Hampshire Run-In

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Ryan Newman was told last Wednesday that his services at Stewart-Haas Racing would no longer be needed beyond 2013 and that 2007 Daytona 500 winner, Kevin Harvick would fill the vacated seat. Ryan doesn’t know what he will be doing next year or if he’ll even be racing at the Cup level but at least the next race on the schedule was one of his best; New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Unfortunately, the weekend didn’t go according to plan. The No.39 finished 39th after crashing heavily with Kurt Busch on lap 225. Although both drivers were upset following the untimely end to their days, it’s what happened a few laps earlier involving Newman and another Busch that would make for some animated soundbites that won’t soon be forgotten.

Ryan Newman found himself racing Kyle Busch hard and the two made contact which infuriated Ryan. The two slammed doors and Ryan tried to hit him again going into a corner but only managed to trade some paint with bystander Brad Keselowski. After the race, ESPN asked Kyle Busch what happened and this is what he said…

“Ryan Newman is the biggest, stupid idiot out there….He’s a big ogre and can do whatever he wants because he can probably kick anybody’s butt so no sense getting in a fight with him. Glad he’s out of a job.”

It’s not often that you hear the word “ogre” used to describe a fellow driver and saying that he’s glad Ryan is out of a job turned some heads. It caught the attention of the whole racing community including Newman himself who held nothing back in his incensed reply to Kyle…

“I’m just afraid if I rearranged his face, I might fix it. We know he’s not very bright. He’s a heck of a talent, but he’s not very bright and I’ll leave it at that. I admit to goring Kyle down the straightaway after he blasted me into the corner. I didn’t crash him. He didn’t crash me. I don’t know what he’s got to be mad about. Evidently he’s got a bone to pick for some reason. “

“It seems like after his comments about me not having a ride and all that stuff, seems like he’s got way more to lose than I do, so I think he might check his trap there before he gets too ahead of himself. If he’s going to run his mouth, he better be able to back running his mouth.”

These two drivers are fierce competitors who both wear their emotions on their sleeves and Ryan Newman is never afraid to throw down. Go talk to Juan Pablo Montoya and Joe Logano if you think otherwise. It seems that we have an intense rivalry or feud shaping up between these two who are both vying for a chase berth and one is looking for a ride. In a tweet today, Kyle Busch actually apologized for the last part of his angry comments…

“I want to clarify that I was answering what I felt was two separate questions asked to me at the same time in an interview following the race in Loudon. The first was about how fast Kurt was and the second was how I felt about Ryan Newman blaming me for him getting wrecked.

First I answered the Kurt part. He was fast… Great to see them running well… Was a shame to see him crashed… Nowhere there did I place blame on who wrecked who. I didn’t see it and I still haven’t seen it.

My second answer came from being upset over an incident I had with RN on the track during the race. I answered it in the same response, but it was intended as a completely separate answer.

I was upset because I felt RN raced me poorly, making contact and causing damage to my RF fender that affected the handling on my racecar. This isn’t the first time that I’ve been raced poorly by RN either, which added to my frustration. All this built up and allowed my emotions to spill over for how I felt. I’m not sorry for how I feel in those moments, but could have expressed it better and certainly my comments about someone’s livelihood went too far.”

I doubt Kyle will try to continue this feud but I wouldn’t be too sure about Newman simmering down anytime soon. It will be interesting to see how these two race one another in the future and if anything controversial will unfold. Multiple drivers got angry at each other at Loudon and I believe those instances of intense anger between drivers will only increase as we get closer and closer to Richmond. You will see patience wearing thin and the aggression pick up as some drivers realize that they have to make something happened if they want one of those coveted chase spots and begin taking risks that they wouldn’t normally take.

Lastly, as long as we are taking about on track feuds; take a look at this wild video from a race at the legendary Bowman Gray Stadium that occurred the other night: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2F2iHTNDE8&feature=youtu.be

July 16, 2013
Brian Vickers Becomes New Sheriff in Town with New Hampshire Win

Brian Vickers, driver of the No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota, proved that there was a new sheriff in town in the Camping World RV Sales 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Vickers scored his first win of the season, forgoing the traditional burnout to instead claim the checkered flag and celebrate the moment high-fiving the fans.

“I don’t know if I can put it into words,” Vickers said. “With everything I’ve gone through from the blood clots to are you ever going to race again to now I can race, but I don’t have a job to getting a phone call from Ty (Norris) to run eight races, nothing could be more special to have this win.”

“I’m grateful to my family and friends who have supported me along the way,” Vickers continued. “When your back’s against the wall, you find out quickly who is willing to vouch for you.”

“Sitting in Victory Lane is one of the most special events of my life.”

The last time that Vickers was in Victory Lane was on August 16, 2009 at Michigan. Until now, he has never won at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

“I’m just thankful that I was able to get back in the car and that there were people that still believed in me,” Vickers said. “That was the biggest emotion that I have and will have going forward.”

“They took a chance in a lot of ways,” Vickers continued. “I’m just very thankful for all that and that’s the main emotion that I still have.”

Although Kyle Busch, driver of the No. 18 Interstate Batteries Toyota, finished in the runner up position, he acknowledged that it was one difficult race, especially contending with race winner Vickers.

“Well it was certainly a tough one,” Busch said. “Our car was super-fast for the short run of the race and we could run up front and make some ground.”

“But once we got close to somebody, the aero effect seemed to take over,” Busch continued. “I was just getting tighter and tighter as the run went along.”

“I’m really proud of the effort and glad we came home second but it was a really tough day for us.”

Busch had nothing but praise for Brian Vickers, as well as Michael Waltrip Racing, with whom Joe Gibbs Racing has a relationship. And he even learned a little bit that he can take into the next Loudon race during the Chase.

“Vickers was obviously going to be the car to beat,” Busch said. “But congratulations to them.”

“It was cool to see an MWR team in Victory Lane with the relationship we have with JGR,” Busch continued. “Certainly, we really wanted to win but we know what we need to do to get our car better for when we come back in the Chase race.”

This was Busch’s seventh top-10 finish in 17 races at the Magic Mile and his 11^th top-10 finish of the season.

Jeff Burton achieved a milestone at a track that he loves, scoring his best finish of the season in third. The driver of the No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet posted his 14^th top-10 finish at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

“You know, we feel good about what we’re doing,” Burton said. “We are definitely making progress and we feel like we are starting to building on something.

“And we think we can improve.”

Brad Keselowski, who sat on the pole, finished fourth in the Blue Deuce. And he echoed what most of the drivers were saying, that the race was one of the toughest he has run.

“That was a grueling race for sure,” Keselowski said. “We fought hard all day and came home with a fourth, so that was a decent day.”

“I thought we had a shot at it,” Keselowski continued. “The 18 and 78 were really good and I hadn’t been around the 55 all day until the end.”

“But man, that last run, he was definitely fast and deserved the win,” Keselowski said. “It was a decent day for the Miller Lite Ford Fusion but we just needed a little bit more to win.”

One of the bigger surprises of the race was the finish of Aric Almirola, behind the wheel of the No. 43 Smithfield Ford for Richard Petty Motorsports, finishing fifth. And he gave all the credit to the man atop his pit box, crew chief Todd Parrott.

“We really struggled and Todd saw that track position was really important,” Almirola said. “So, we took two tires on one of those cautions and that was really bad so we came back down pit road and took four tires when everybody else stayed out and that gave us the opportunity when everyone else came to pit to make it on fuel and we stayed out.”

“That was a great pit call by Todd Parrott and these guys on the Smithfield Ford Fusion did a great job and that is nice,” Almirola continued. “It is a great way to go into the off weekend.”

As with any short, flat track, there were some moments both on and off the track that sparked some rather emotional responses.

Probably the most disappointed was Kurt Busch, who sat on the outside pole and then got tangled up with Matt Kenseth, sending Ryan Newman spinning as well. The driver of the No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet finished 31^st.

I just got hit from behind,” Busch said. “There was three-wide action and everybody’s going hard.”

“Kenseth was in the middle on the back straightaway,” Busch continued. “The car gets light when there is no air on the rear spoiler back there.”

“We just got whacked by a bunch of guys,” Newman said. “The No. 18 hit me first, the No. 2 hit me next and then I guess it was Kurt (Busch) that went underneath three-wide.”

“The No. 20 come and clipped us and knocked us into the fence and took himself out,” Newman said. “That was the best I could tell.”

“We kind of were in a bad spot having a little bit older tire but just a lot of disrespect from a bunch of guys on restarts.”

The Rookie of the Year contenders Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. and Danica Patrick also had a moment together, finishing 23^rd and 32^nd respectively. And for those two drivers, it was all about the brakes that were to blame as they both went crashing.

“My brakes were going out all race really,” Stenhouse Jr. said. “I was complaining about it all race.”

“We will take the weekend off and go to Indy.”

Jimmie Johnson, who came from the rear to finish sixth and maintain the points lead, Kevin Harvick, Carl Edwards, Matt Kenseth and Jeff Gordon rounded out the top-ten in the 21^st Annual Camping World RV Sales 301 at the Magic Mile.

July 14, 2013
Marcus Lemonis Turns ‘The Profit’ at New Hampshire Motor Speedway

While his partnership with NASCAR has been profitable for Marcus Lemonis, the CEO of Camping World, he is leveraging that relationship in a whole new way.

Lemonis announced at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway this weekend that he and CNBC Prime are launching a new reality show called ‘The Profit.’

The show will utilize Lemonis as a kind of ‘emergency responder’ and business mentor to small businesses in trouble. ‘The Profit’ will premiere on CNBC Prime on Tuesday, July 30^th at 10:00 PM.

Lemonis chose to announce his newest endeavor at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, serving as the headline sponsor for Saturday’s Nationwide race and the lead sponsor for the Cup race. He also served as the Grand Marshal for both races.

“The Profit’ is about the heart and soul of American Business,” Mark Hoffman, President of CNBC, said. “The future of growth and employment in this country is really about small business.”

“That’s where we really focus on ‘The Profit,’ Hoffman continued. “The premise of the show is that we go into small businesses that are in trouble.”

“Marcus (Lemonis), who is an incredibly successful businessman and serial entrepreneur, goes into these businesses, focuses on three components, including people, product and process, and makes decisions about whether he wants to help them,” Hoffman continued. “He focuses on their business and what they need to do to get back on the straight and narrow.”

“Here’s what’s unique about this program,” Hoffman said. “Marcus puts his own money into these businesses.”

“He’s there to make investments,” Hoffman continued. “And there are incredible results that come about and that’s what you’ll see in the first six episodes.”

Lemonis for his part said that ‘The Profit’ is unique because it is all about the people. And it is totally authentic, unscripted and unpredictable.

“I’ve never been a believer in consultants who go in and out and tell you what’s wrong,” Lemonis said. “What Mark and I wanted to do is show the insides of a small business.”

“This show is really about the people, in some cases good peoples and in some cases not so good peoples,” Lemonis continued. “What we like about this show is that’s authentic.”

“Sometimes things work out and sometimes not at all.”

So, why has Lemonis decided to announce this new endeavor at a NASCAR race in the Granite state?

“I’ve been in the NASCAR space for almost eight years and I felt like incorporating some elements of NASCAR made sense because the fans in NASCAR are familiar with Camping World, me and small businesses,” Lemonis said. “Over 50% of the fans in NASCAR either own or work in small businesses so they will be able to relate to this.”

“This is our fourth year with New Hampshire and we’ve had better luck from a performance perspective than we have anywhere else.”

Lemonis has learned a lot about small businesses by his own successes and challenges along the way. And he credits his own business launch to none other than Lee Iacocca, American business icon.

“I got into the RV business because of Lee Iacocca,” Lemonis said. “He told me that if I wanted to make a difference in business in the US, I have an opportunity that will shock you.”

“That was in 2001 and 12 years later, Camping World is a three billion dollar business,” Lemonis continued. “The things that I have learned about small business are that attention to detail is critical and that without good people, it doesn’t matter how good the product is.”

“Small businesses need to understand that the business is larger than them,” Lemonis said. “Even as the owner of Camping World, I recognize that I’m a small gnat in the scheme of the business.”

“I think the other piece is recognizing whether you have a good product or not,” Lemonis continued. “This show is on a network that is focused on numbers and performance.”

“Our show is about numbers but is a deeper diver into those businesses.”

Lemonis has also managed to weave his business and NASCAR worlds together in ‘The Profit’. In fact, his sponsorship contract extension may just depend on what happens in one of these episodes.

“Our deal goes through 2015 and one of the tipping points is in one of the episodes where there is an integration of NASCAR into one of the shows,” Lemonis said. “This will decide whether we extend or not.”

“NASCAR has done a great job of taking Camping World to the next level,” Lemonis continued. “But for the trucks, my biggest question is what the new Fox Sports is going to look like.”

“I just want to be sure I’m not going to be shuffled to the back,” Lemonis said. “We’ll have an answer by the end of this year whether we will extend it or not.”

While ‘The Profit’ sounds very serious, it also will have its entertaining moments. Hundreds of companies have already applied to be a part of it and no doubt more will get in line after the premiere of the show.

“I hope they learn a few things about business and the working world,” Hoffman said. “I hope they will also have a little fun watching it.”

“This is a prime time entertainment program with a lot of emotion, inherent conflict and businesses that really need help,” Hoffman continued. “You have to coach people to better performance.”

“Sometimes it’s a whisper and sometimes it’s a shout.”

In addition to the new show, Camping World also did a major ‘shout out’ to the first responders in the Boston Marathon.

Lemonis and his company announced in Turn One at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway on race day the donation of an emergency response vehicle to the Boston Police Department in recognition of their courage, determination and bravery in the aftermath of the Boston Marathon.

July 14, 2013
Doug Coby Wins Whelen Modified Race and Sets Sights on Repeat Championship

In a race where the lead changes were frenetic, NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, Doug Coby, driver of the No. 52 Furnace & Duct Supply/Seekonk Grand Prix Chevrolet, made the pass when it counted most and took the checkered flag in the Town Fair 100 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Although the reigning champ, this was Coby’s first win of the season, his second New Hampshire victory and his eighth career Modified Tour Victory. And after sitting out the last race at Riverhead Raceway due to a qualifying wreck, he is back in championship contention, hoping for a repeat performance.

“It’s really neat to be in Victory Lane here,” Coby said. “I’ve been really close a lot of times.”

Coby has most certainly done his homework on New Hampshire Motor Speedway, including trying to plot out the best strategy to get him into the winner’s circle.

“I’ve really studied the draft here and watched a lot of video when I missed a win or an opportunity to finish in the top-five,” Coby said. “It’s not going to happen all the time but I feel that I have a great understanding of where I need to be positioned at the end of the race.”

“And it’s just a matter if I can get there,” Coby continued. “Both wins, I wanted to be running second on the last lap because I think that’s the best place to be to get a win here.”

“It just so happens that we had a caution and we won last race in September here and I think the 3 and the 16 running side by side gave me an opportunity to start moving my car around and not giving them a chance to get a good draft on me,” Coby said. “There were about four lapped cars as well that I could use their air to pull me forward.”

“Then it was just crazy and chaotic because you’re listening to your spotter and looking everywhere and thinking to yourself, am I doing the right thing?” Coby continued. “I’m coming to the white flag and saying I’m not going to win this thing.”

“ So, just one of those deals where I don’t know how the heck it happens but you’re in.”

Coby’s victory was especially sweet after having wrecked out of the race at Riverhead the previous race weekend. The driver of the No. 52 actually had to sit on the sidelines and watch as he had no backup car available to him.

“We didn’t come here with Riverhead on our minds,” Coby said. “We came here with defending our race win at Loudon on our minds.”

“I knew in practice that we have every bit as good of a car that we had in September,” Coby continued. “So, that gave me a little extra confidence.”

Coby also hopes that his win, along with the Modifieds being on one of the biggest stages at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, will call more attention to the series. He said that the Whelen Tour has the best combination of drivers of all different ages and capabilities.

“Loudon’s still the biggest race on the schedule in terms of putting the Modifieds out in front of the public,” Coby said. “I hope when I win and get to do interviews, that it makes other people interested in seeing the Modifieds and learning more about our drivers and the personalities that we have.”

“Teddy (Christopher) is in his 50’s, I’m in my 30’s and Ryan (Preece) is 22 and that’s who was battling for the win out there,” Coby said. “I think that says something about the skill level and our series and for Ryan, the maturity that he possesses and of course Ted, the knowledge that he has.”

“And I guess I’m somewhere in the middle.”

While Coby does have thoughts of the championship repeat on his mind, he acknowledged that he and his team have work to do to be able to truly compete.

“I think we have a way to go before I assess the championship fully,” Coby said. “I have to get through the August Bristol race.”

“If you’re anywhere in an arm’s length distance of the championship, then you still have a shot.”

Coby assessed the championship competition and shared his opinion that young driver Ryan Preece is the one to beat for that honor.

“Obviously the 16 team of Ryan Preece has it going on this year,” Coby said. “They changed a motor this week and he went out and led most of the second half of the race.”

“Ryan is the strongest competitor hands down,” Coby continued. “But there are eight of us out there really and it’s the same eight cars battling for the top spots.”

“For us, it’s a matter of getting back to where we’re at,” Coby said. “We won the championship last year for a reason and we’re in Loudon victory lane for a reason.”

“We’re coming back and we’re not going to let it be easy on anybody.”

Coby also gave a nod to another Ryan in the field, Cup competitor Ryan Newman, who finished fifth in his No. 7 Menards/Wix Filters Chevrolet.

“Ryan Newman did not time trial well but then Ryan Newman blew right by me before the break,” Coby said. “Obviously they have tremendous equipment and he is a Cup driver so he knows what he’s doing here.”

“It’s great to have him in our field,” Coby continued. “They take it very serious and want to win races.”

“And I’m sure they’re just as unhappy as every other Modified team that didn’t win today.”

Ted Christopher, veteran driver of the No. 3 Silver Dollar Construction/Cape Cod Copper Chevrolet, came in second and Ryan Preece, who was also making his debut in the Nationwide race, finished third in his No. 16 East West Marine/Diversified Metals Ford.

“Our cars usually do put on a show,” Christopher said. “Just came up a little short.”

“Really want to thank the guys for giving me a car capable to win here in a bunch of years,” Christopher continued. “The last cautions just brought everybody closer but it was the three of us at the end.”

“Anytime you have a day where you can take the car off the trailer, run up front and lead laps is a good day,” Preece said. “We had a head gasket that went in practice, so we had to swap motors.”

“For them to put that back up motor and time trial twelfth, I knew we had a good race car,” Preece continued. “We were fourth on that restart and then made our way up front in the top three.”

“It’s great to be a part of this team and I’m looking forward to running 200 laps in that Nationwide race.”

Andy Seuss and Ryan Newman rounded out the top five and Woody Pitkat, Eric Berndt, Chuck Hossfeld, Richie Pallai Jr., and Jamie Tomaino completed the top-10 finishers in the Town Fair Tire 100.

July 14, 2013
Matty’s Picks 2013 – Vol. 16 Camping World RV Sales 301 – New Hampshire Motor Speedway – July 14, 2013

On to New Hampshire this week before a much needed one week break before the series heads to the Brickyard.

The site of Sunday’s Camping World RV Sales 301 is the one-mile flat track in Loudon, New Hampshire. It is the eighth and final stop during the regular season at a track which also hosts a race in this year’s Chase – the two tracks not in the regular season are the first and last races in this year’s chase – Chicago and Homestead.

The funny part about all this is 7 different drivers have taken the new Gen-6 care to Victory lane on the chase tracks so far this season, and all but the Cinderella in David Ragan are in the top 10 in the points as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series heads to New Hampshire.

There is a bit of importance at the one-miler this week in the sense that a year ago, 7 of the top-10 finishers in the July race at New Hampshire, punched a ticket to the Chase in September. Its also noted that each member of the top 10 in the posts standings after the 19th race of the 2012 season also moved on to the NASCAR Postseason, so as boring of a race as this might be, there is some significance in finishing well in this race.

New Hampshire’s summer race has seen 8 different winners in as many seasons and 10 straight different winners overall. Last year’s race-winners are both outside the top-10 in points, that’s Kasey Kahne and Denny Hamlin.

Daytona Recap

Not much to recap this week because of the relatively boring race at Daytona last week. My Winner Pick, the hottest guy in NASCAR right now, Kevin Harvick collected his eighth-consecutive top-10 finish after he finished third last weekend. Harvick started in 26th, and quickly dropped back in the field in the early stages of the race. A fuel-only pit stop on lap 127 would vault the team to 4th were he would remain for the green-white-checkered finish, picking up one spot on the final lap and finishing third.
Harvick’s teammate, Paul Menard was my Dark Horse and finished dead last in 43rd after experiencing a terminal engine issue early in the 161-lap event.

New Hampshire Picks

I had a roster of guys on my list on Thursday when I previewed the race with Greg on the Prime Sports Network, and promised I would narrow down my picks for my column this week.
As far as the Winner Picks went, I had four guys on my list who I thought were not longshots and had the best chance of winning on Sunday. Those guys were Kevin Harvick, Clint Bowyer, Tony Stewart, and Jeff Gordon. Only one of those guys has qualified inside the top-10 and that’s Jeff Gordon, but that stat doesn’t scare me because 5 of the last 8 races at New Hampshire have been won from starting spots 10th or worse, including 32nd by Denny Hamlin last season.

Winner Pick

It was Clint Bowyer who was the only one of the four guys to be shown in the top 10 in both practice sessions yesterday, and it’s Clint Bowyer who I’m going with as my Winner Pick.
Clint Has:
• Two wins, four top five’s, six top 10s; one pole
• Average finish of 15.1
• Average Running Position of 12.0, sixth-best
• Driver Rating of 97.2, fifth-best
• 230 Fastest Laps Run, sixth-most
• Average Green Flag Speed of 124.466 mph, sixth-fastest

Considering he was 3rd and 4th here last season in his first year with Michael Waltrip Racing, he’s 2nd in points WITHOUT A WIN, and the practice speeds, he’s my winner pick this week.

Dark Horse Pick

He might not be a Dark Horse any longer given the practice speeds and the fact that he will start the Camping World RV Sales 301 outside the front row, but he started the week as a 25 to 1 longshot and he’s my Dark Horse again this week.It was only a matter of time before we talked about Kurt Busch in the top 10 in points. This team is making strides, and jumping 5 spots in the points after last week’s run at Daytona is awesome for this one-car team. It’s remarkable to see these Furniture Row guys mix up the powerhouses like Hendrick, Roush, Gibbs, etc. with this team putting together some solid finishes since their unfortunate luck back in May at Talladega.

The New Hampshire Stats look good with Kurt’s 3 wins and 7 Top 5’s.
• Average finish of 14.8
• 835 Green Flag Passes, seventh-most
• 479 Quality Passes, fifth-most

Granted, the majority of Kurt’s success at New Hampshire came with Penske and Roush, this one-car team has shown they belong in the talk with some of the powerhouse teams over the past two months, and Kurt is my Top Longshot again this week.

That’s all for this week, so until we head to the Brickyard in TWO weeks…You Stay Classy NASCAR NATION!

July 13, 2013
Kyle Busch Thanks Lord, Wife, and Gas Man for New Hampshire Nationwide Win

Kyle Busch, driver of the No. 54 Monster Energy Toyota, was giving thanks in Victory Lane to everyone from his higher power, lovely wife and probably his gas man for helping him survive three green-white-checkered restarts to score the Nationwide Series win in the CNBC Prime’s The Profit 200 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

This was Busch’s 58^th victory in 258 Nationwide Series races, his seventh win in 2013, and his fourth victory at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

“We didn’t want to have those late restarts,” Busch said. “We felt like we just had enough fuel to make it to the end and then everything keeps happening where guys keep wrecking and spinning to cause the cautions.”

“Besides the hiccup on pit road, we showed our strength and am just glad we were able to take the checkered flag first,” Busch continued. “All in all, we had a great race car today.”

Busch and his crew chief Adam Stevens admitted that fuel was of paramount concern, especially with the multiple green-white-checkered restarts. But they were able to not only have enough to do a burnout but also to drive the car into Victory Lane.

“I knew we had a buffer of fuel but I didn’t know exactly how much,” Stevens said. “When you get down to the small numbers, the calculations get a little bit fuzzy.”

“We kept him out there as long as we felt safe to set it up for that situation at the end,” Stevens continued. “That’s what sealed the deal for us.”

“We pitted two laps after Brian (Vickers, runner up) so that was part of it,” Busch said. “Brian and the No. 3 car were racing really hard to beat each other too.”

“That all just compounded the fuel situation,” Busch continued. “I bet you there’s still probably a couple of gallons left in our tank.”

Busch also tied Sam Ard’s record for wins from the pole in a season set in 1983, with this his fourth win from the Coors Lite Pole in 2013.

“Wow, every time I get in Victory Lane there’s some sort of record that I tie or break,” Busch said. “That’s cool.”

“Sam was a huge part of the sport and so there’s been a lot of records that I’ve been able to tie or break of his,” Busch continued. “It’s been fun to do.”

“We still pay heritage to those that have made this sport and it is guys like Sam that have done a lot of great things for the sport,” Busch said. “Even down the road, maybe somebody’s going to break my records.”

“Records are always made to be broken so we’ll see who will be better than me.”

Brian Vickers, behind the wheel of the No. 20 Dollar General Toyota, finished in the runner up spot. This was his second top-10 finish in three races at New Hampshire and his ninth top-10 finish of the season.

“It was a good run,” Vickers said. “The guys did their homework back at the shop and we had a good starting spot.”

“We had a really fast car until we had the overheating issue,” Vickers said. “I got some trash on the grill and that definitely hurt us.”

“Once we got that off the grill when the caution came out, we were much better,” Vickers continued. “But the third green-white-checkered, we started to run out of gas and I completely ran out coming to the finish line.”

Austin Dillon captured not only the third place, his second top-10 at New Hampshire, but also secured the $100,000 Dash for Cash winnings for himself and the No. 3 AdvoCare Chevrolet team.

“This race played out exactly like last year’s did for us,” Dillon said. “We didn’t get the track position we wanted after the first stop and then had a four-tire stop and the car just came to life.”

“Super excited to win the Nationwide Dash for Cash,” Dillon continued. “With all those restarts and so close on fuel, I just thank the good Lord above for keeping fuel in that thing for us.”

Brian Scott, driver of the No. 2 ShoreLodge Chevrolet, finished fourth and then a bevy of Ford Mustangs, driven by Michael Annett, Trevor Bayne and Sam Hornish Jr., finished fifth, sixth and seventh respectively.

“This was a great run for Richard Petty Motorsports,” Annett, driver of the No. 43 Pilot Travel Centers Ford, said. “We came back at Charlotte after the injury and just had the worst racing luck I’ve had since I’ve been in the Nationwide Series.”

“Finally, nothing stupid happened and we kept our nose clean and brought home a top-five.”

“We were 15^th with five to go so to come out sixth was a good day,” Bayne said. “Overall it wasn’t a great day though because I felt like we had a car that could win the thing.”

“To come out of here sixth, I will take it.”

“Our Ford Mustang was awesome today,” Hornish Jr. said. “We were really good on a long run.”

“We didn’t have any fall off which would have made us really good but we just didn’t get the run we needed to toward the end.”

Alex Bowman, driver of the No. 99 SchoolTipline.com Toyota, was the highest finishing rookie, scoring the tenth spot in the race.

“I think if anybody would have told me I would be sitting in the media center after how we were in practice and at the beginning of the race, I would have laughed,” Bowman said. “We never gave up and my crew chief made a lot of good calls and some people decided to take themselves out at the end.”

“So, we were able to capitalize on the opportunity and come home in tenth.”

With his eighth place finish, Regan Smith, driver of the No. 7 TaxSlayer.com Chevrolet, now has a five point advantage over Sam Hornish Jr. in the point standings. The Nationwide Series will next race at Chicagoland Speedway next week.Kyle

July 13, 2013
Jeff Gordon and Kurt Busch in an Indy State of Mind

While Jeff Gordon and Kurt Busch are in the Granite state for the NASCAR Sprint Cup race weekend, they were both in a bit of an Indy state of mind, having watched the IZOD IndyCar Series race the weekend before at Pocono Raceway.

Both drivers took in the IndyCar race with their loved ones, Busch with his father and Gordon with his son Leo and his nephew. The only difference was that Busch watched from the safety of his couch while Gordon attended in person, watching the start of the race from the Pocono Victory Lane roof top.

“It was fun to sit on the couch and watch that on Sunday,” Kurt Busch, driver of the No. 78 Furniture Row/Denver Mattress Chevrolet, said. “To understand it from the in-car telemetry and to see the pit strategy side of it, it was just fun.”

“I sat there with my dad and watched the race,” Busch continued. “We were rooting for Marco Andretti and it was just crazy to see how the Ganassi guys came out on top.”

“I was just thinking of it from a purely entertainment standpoint seeing my son see a different kind of car,” Jeff Gordon, driver of the No. 24 Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet, said. “Most of it was for him and my nephew, who was also with me.”

Even as fast as both drivers go in the Sprint Cup cars, Busch and Gordon were also most impressed with the speeds of the open wheel cars at Pocono, which topped over 220 mph.

“It was cool to see the speeds,” Busch said. “The speeds are incredible at Pocono and that track now that it’s smoothed out is why the Indy cars went back there.”

“The track is smooth enough for them to race on and I thought it produced a decent race.”

“For me it was being amazed at how fast those cars go through the corners, corners that I’m used to going through at much slower speeds,” Gordon said. “I was amazed with just the technology of the cars.”

Would Busch or Gordon be interested in racing in the IndyCar Series themselves, especially since both have been exposed to open wheel racing?

“Would I like to drive one of those cars somewhere?” Jeff Gordon asked himself. “Yeah I would.”

“My biggest thing that holds me back from doing a lot of things is I want to be competitive in whatever it is I’m in and I know if I go run five or ten laps, whether it be a rally car or an IndyCar or whatever car, that’s not enough for me to go be competitive,” Gordon continued. “If I can’t go and be competitive in it then I usually don’t have fun.”

“That’s just my personality,” Gordon said. “It’s not about just sliding the car sideways or feeling it stick at 220 mph, it’s about can I be as fast as somebody else and so no, honestly watching that race didn’t persuade me to want to go do it.”

Gordon also expressed some trepidation just based on seeing one of his IndyCar friends James Hinchcliffe wreck hard into the wall on the first turn of the first lap at Pocono Raceway.

“As a matter of fact, when I was speaking to Hinchcliffe on the grid and then moments later he’s spinning back in the wall, the guy barely flinched and he couldn’t catch it,” Gordon said. “I felt bad for him and also thought I had no desire to get in that car.”

For Kurt Busch, the interest in another series may just be something on his horizon since he has not yet inked any deal for his 2014 season.

“It’s been one thing I’ve been trying to answer in my own mind,” Busch said. “There are a lot of irons in the fire.”

“Contract negotiations and things are in discussion, but you try not to let that weigh any on what’s going on right now,” Busch continued. “Right now is the most important thing.”

“I’m living in the present.”

While Gordon and Busch may be in Indy states of mind, they also have to focus on the race at hand at the Magic Mile. And both had good qualifying runs, with Busch moving to the outside pole and Gordon moving to the fifth starting position after Jimmie Johnson’s qualifying time was disallowed due to failing post-race inspection.

“We tested here,” Gordon said of New Hampshire Motor Speedway. “Conditions I think have changed from the test quite a bit on us so it’s pretty challenging.”

“But it’s always a track I look forward to.”

“This track if your car is running well, you can go to the low side and make up a lot of time,” Busch said. “You are not stuck in traffic if you have a good car.”

Busch was especially thrilled with his qualifying run at a time of 28.040 seconds and a speed of 135.835 mph. But he also admitted his time trial lap had some moments that gave him pause.

“For us, our lap was pretty exciting,” Busch said. “I hit the rev chip so soon that I thought the guys missed the setting.”

“It was such a weird lap because I thought we were going to be 20^th,” Busch continued. “If we can screw up and be that good, I’ll take it.”

While Busch and Gordon may be in an Indy state of mind, they also have Chase contention on their minds as well. Busch currently sits in the ninth position in points while Gordon is further back in the fourteenth spot.

“To be in the top ten in points is great,” Busch said. “It’s a nice feather in the cap but there is still a long way to go.”

“You can lose points real easily, but it’s tough to gain the points,” Busch continued. “So basically from eighth to 18^th, everybody fits in one shoe box right now.”

Once both Gordon and Busch leave New Hampshire, they will enjoy a rare weekend off and then be in a real Indy state of mind as they prepare for the Crown Royal Presents the Samuel Deeds 400 at the Brickyard Powered by BigMachineRecords.com at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

For the off weekend, Gordon will be attending a friend’s wedding and Busch will be whisking girlfriend Patricia Driscoll to Argentina for a getaway. But after that, Indy will be totally on their minds and both drivers cannot wait, especially Jeff Gordon.

“I’m very much looking forward to Indianapolis,” Gordon said. “The same thing kind of applies to Indy as it does here at New Hampshire.”

“We tested there which is always great and beneficial,” Gordon continued. “All signs of that test and things that we have planned, I’m very excited.”

“We had a shot of winning that race a couple years ago and I always go to that track with confidence and feeling good,” Gordon said. “When the car and the team are feeling the same way, then that’s a great combination to have.”

July 13, 2013
Chad Knaus Admits Qualifying Mistake But Confident in Fast Car

Although Brad Keselowski claimed the pole position for the Camping World RV Sales 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway with a new track record of 28.022 seconds and a speed of 135.922 mph, all eyes were on Jimmie Johnson instead as his outside pole position was disallowed because of failed post-qualifying inspection.

The driver of the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports will have to start at the back of the pack for Sunday’s race and also will be the last one to do the all important pit stall selection.

Johnson’s problems started even before qualifying as his car had difficulty passing through technical inspection, resulting in the cutting away of the side skirt. Both the driver and team sprinted to the grid just in time to qualify, throwing down a fast lap of 28.026 seconds at a speed of 135.902 mph before having it disallowed.

In an unusual move after the penalty was announced by NASCAR, Johnson’s crew chief Chad Knaus came into the media center to talk about the errors made by his team.

“We had some difficulty as you all know,” Knaus said. “We were late because we had problems getting through the initial inspection before qualifying.”

“We were able to get through but it just wasn’t exactly right,” Knaus said. “We weren’t going to know until after qualifying what the problem was.”

“What ended up happening was there was some issue with the left front and that’s why the heights were so messed up as we were going through initial inspection.”

So, what exactly was the issue with the car that led to the failed inspection? Initially Knaus joked a bit with the media that they would know all about it if they had watched his show ‘NASCAR Performance’, however, he then explained it in layman’s terms.

“The left side was real high and the right side was real low,” Knaus said. “NASCAR does a really good job making sure the cars are right going through pre-qualifying inspection and knew there was something that was just not jiving right. “

“We were able to get through but then afterwards the car settled, which happens especially at a track like New Hampshire where the cars are so low around the race track,” Knaus continued. “We run a lot of shock and rebound and it takes a little bit for the cars to come up.”

“So, with the way that we’re measuring the heights now, there’s not a lot of room for error,” Knaus said. “And we just had a lot of error.”

“It happens,” Knaus continued. “There are a lot of things you’re trying to do in a brief amount of time.”

“You’re changing springs and shocks and sway bars,” Knaus said. “You don’t have a whole lot of time to get through your final assembly of practice to get the car ready to qualify.”

“We just missed a little detail,” Knaus continued. “That was all our fault.”

“That’s why we were so shocked going through initial inspection,” Knaus said. “We knew something was just not right.”

Knaus admitted that the penalty was a costly one, especially as it related to pit selection. But he also remained confident that, with some strategy, the five-time champion could drive through the field and back to the front of the pack.

“It’s going to hurt us tremendously for the pit selection,” Knaus admitted. “The good thing about Loudon is that if you have a good race car, you can pass.”

“We’re really looking forward to that,” Knaus continued. “It’s really kind of a funny race.”

“The ebb and flow of the event, the guys in the back typically get a chance to get to the front through some form of pit strategy,” Knaus said. “So, if nothing else we can make it exciting.”

In spite of the mistake of the usually focused No. 48 team, Knaus praised his team and said that there would be no difficulty in regaining their confidence and attention to detail.

“And yes, I can’t say enough about the mechanical department of the 48,” Knaus said. “Ron Malek and the guys and everybody there do such a tremendous job.”

“For us to have one single mistake, we get a bye from that standpoint.”

Knaus also said that it would not be difficult at all for the No. 48 bunch to regroup and regain their focus. But he also acknowledged that he will ensure that this error will not happen again.

“You look at the issue,” Knaus said. “You figure out how to put processes in place where you don’t have any kind of issue again.”

“You just go on with it.”

“These things always happen and you guys just don’t see them as much,” Knaus said. “They happen to everybody at a lot of different times.”

“We do a very good job of when we do have an issue, making sure that we don’t do it again,” Knaus continued. “As long as we can make sure we don’t do it again, we’ll be fine.”

When asked what his strategy might be to bring his five-time champion through the field on Sunday, Knaus admitted that he had not even had time to consider that yet.

“Wow, shoot I don’t know,” Knaus said. “We’ll have to get going here.”

“That dust hasn’t settled yet.”

“You know what, we’ll have to be aggressive,” Knaus continued. “The thing about this race is that it’s a very short race, 300 laps or so.”

“You have to get in there and you have to be aggressive,” Knaus said. “I’ll look forward to the challenge.”

“I think it will be a lot of fun.”

While Knaus admitted the mistake, he reiterated what may give the rest of his Cup competitors pause.

“We made a mistake,” Knaus said. “It happens.”

“But the car is good,” Knaus continued. “The car is really good.”

“We’ve got a really good car and I think it’s going to be plenty fast.”

July 13, 2013
Kevin Harvick Opens Door While Door Shuts on Ryan Newman

The old saying of one door closing and another opening was most fitting for both Kevin Harvick and Ryan Newman at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Harvick officially announced that the door has been opened for him at Stewart-Haas Racing while Ryan Newman acknowledged that the door has been shut for him at that team.

“It’s nice to officially end all the speculation,” Harvick, the new 2014 driver of the No. 4 Budweiser Chevrolet for Stewart-Haas Racing, said. “For me, Stewart-Haas was intriguing just for the fact that you have Tony (Stewart) as a teammate who’s been a big part of what we did at KHI to get it started.”

“We have a friendship that goes beyond the race track,” Harvick continued. “Obviously Gene Haas makes it very intriguing with the guarantees that he made to make the deal happen to put the car on the race track.”

“When you have a family and you start seeing those guarantees of sponsorship for the car, it makes you think about things,” Harvick said. “I think not only about those two pieces, but also the Hendrick tie with the engines and the support.”

“I think the potential is really high with all those resources and relationships and things that go with it.”

“I got a phone call from Tony (Stewart) on Wednesday about 20 minutes to seven and we talked for basically 20 minutes,” Newman said. “That was it.”

“His phone call was about making the announcement and that I would not be a part of Stewart-Haas Racing in 2014.”

Both drivers acknowledged that they have the highest regard for Tony Stewart, both as a friend, racer and team owner.

“I feel like our relationship is going to help progress things as they move forward on the performance side,” Harvick said. “Tony balances a lot of things and I’ve been in that boat.”

“I think it’s going to allow me the time to help him and be able to make it better.”

“We only ever argued over how hard we race,” Newman said. “That is the kind of friends Tony and I are.”

“His stress was the importance of our friendship and that to me will never change.”

Both drivers talked a great deal about sponsorship as for Harvick, his major sponsor Budweiser will be following him to Stewart-Haas Racing while Newman is currently unsure about the status of any of his sponsors.

“We’ve had three years with Budweiser and looking forward to moving forward with them as a sponsor,” Harvick said. “Those guys at SHR took full responsibility to have the car funded and that made my life a lot easier.”

“We have great sponsors in Quicken Loans, Wix Filters, Aspen Dental, Code 3 Associates, and Outback,” Newman said. “They have all done us well.”

“There are no answers that I have,” Newman continued. “Obviously I have my own homework to do.”

“I want to be competitive,” Newman said. “I’m not just going to go out there and just find a ride.”

“I want to find a ride with somebody that has the same goals and perspectives as I do.”

Both Newman and Harvick had nothing but praise for their current teams, Stewart-Haas Racing and Richard Childress Racing respectively. And both intend to race as hard as possible for their owners and teams.

“I’ve had a good run,” Newman said. “I look forward to finishing out this year.”

“Look forward to the opportunity to make the Chase, win races and putting ourselves to have a chance to win a championship,” Newman continued. “That’s my ultimate goal and it always has been.”

“We’re going to go out and race every week as hard as we can,” Harvick said. “It’s not like we detached ourselves from what we’re doing and those guys on the team, they don’t care about the politics of the sport; they just want to win races.”

“They like spraying beer in Victory Lane and as a group we’re going to do that until we get to Homestead,” Harvick continued. “We’ll start working on the future plans when that race is over.”

The two drivers, however, expressed very different emotions about the transition, with Harvick on one hand talking about the change as rejuvenation while Newman showing his upset about the uncertainty of his future.

“It wasn’t anything personal from Richard (Childress, team owner) or a team standpoint doing anything wrong,” Harvick said. “It was just me needing to rejuvenate myself to get to the race track and really be excited to show up.”

“Just like everybody else’s job, sometimes you just need a change to get going again.”

“I do not know what my future holds,” Newman said. “I have no idea right now.”

“That’s something that weighs on my shoulders,” Newman continued. “That is part of racing and part of the situation that I’m in.”

While the door is opening for Harvick and closing for Newman in 2014 at Stewart-Haas Racing, both drivers have to focus this weekend on competing at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway in the 21^st Annual Camping World RV Sales 301.

In fact, Ryan Newman is doing double duty at the Magic Mile, racing both in the Cup Series and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour.

“For me, it’s a track position race,” Newman said. “You get a limited number of chances to adjust on your race car and tune your race car and work in those windows that either the cautions or the green flag runs give you.”

“Excited it’s a big race this weekend for Wix Filters and they are also sponsoring the modified which is a lot of fun for me.”

“We know that we have to come back here and race for the Chase so obviously this is an important weekend to kind of evaluate where we are with our short track program,” Harvick said. “Flat tracks are a big part of the Chase.”

“I think this is an important weekend to fully understand what we need to do going forward.”

So, what will the future hold for Harvick as a new door opens and Newman as a big door closes?

“I can’t say I’m happy with how everything unfolded,” Newman said. “There will be a change for me in 2014 and I don’t know what that change is.”

“It’s nice to be in this position to be able to focus on racing a car and getting the performance and doing the things we need to do,” Harvick said. “It’s worked out well.”

July 12, 2013
Joey Logano Is Making Dreams Come True at the Magic Mile

Joey Logano announced the fulfillment of a dream come true today at New Hampshire Motor Speedway with the establishment of a foundation bearing his name at a track which means so much to him.

“We’re here to announce the formation of the Joey Logano Foundation, which is something that I’ve been wanting to do the last few years,” the driver of the No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford said. “This is a great race track to announce this, being my home track here in New Hampshire.”

“I won my first Cup race here and actually watched my first Cup race here so to announce my Foundation is the best place for that to happen.”

With Logano being able to fulfill his dream job behind the wheel of a Cup car for Penske Racing, he now feels in the position to help others achieve their dreams. And he hopes that his NASCAR fan base will be right there with him helping others.

“I feel like I’ve been very blessed and to be able to drive a race car for a living is a dream come true for me,” Logano said. “I realize that not everyone is as fortunate as myself so what I want to do with my Foundation is directly impact people’s lives to make them better, whether that’s fixing someone’s roof or helping a soldier who came back from Iraq outfit his home for a wheelchair.”

“Whatever that is, I want to be able to do that,” Logano continued. “And I want the NASCAR fans to help point out who these people are and then we will help them.”

Logano is already busy fulfilling the dreams of others through his brand new Foundation. In fact, the first event of five more to come will happen right at the Magic Mile this weekend.

“Our first event is actually this weekend,” Logano said. “We have the Connecticut State Police Crime Squad, who investigated the Newtown school shooting, here this weekend.”

“I was in Las Vegas for the race and walking around the Caesar’s Palace shops when a group of guys recognized me,” Logano continued. “I found out they were part of the Crime Squad at Newtown.”

“I really wanted to do something for Newtown at the time but I didn’t know what to do because there were a lot of people helping out,” Logano said “But I wanted to find the people that were getting lost in the shuffle.”

“After talking with these guys, I realized that they were the guys that were getting lost in the shuffle,” Logano continued. “With New Hampshire Motor Speedway’s help, we’ve been able to bring 200 of them up here with their families to enjoy an all-American NASCAR race.”

“I’m really excited about that as the first deal we’re going to do and we have four more coming up, at Atlanta, Charlotte, Michigan, and Phoenix.”

Logano has also had some help with making his Foundation dream come true. Some of his major partners in his new endeavor include Coca Cola, the NASCAR Foundation, and his sponsor Shell Oil Company.

“This organization wouldn’t have started without the Coca Cola’s Chug for Charity program,” Logano said. “It helped me out with my charity donations and to have them help me start this is a dream come true.”

“Also, with NASCAR, we will be doing some online auctions with the NASCAR Foundation, some for race experiences which will be cool,” Logano continued. “Obviously Shell Pennzoil has also helped and backed me one hundred percent.”

Tom Swindell, NASCAR Director of Racing Operations, presented Logano with a $10,000 check on behalf of the NASCAR Foundation, as did the Shell Oil Company, who also presented their young driver with a $10,000 dream gift.

“I’ve been around Shell for a long time, thirty-three years, and I’ve watched what we’ve done for charity and kids in the community,” Paul Stanifer, Shell Oil Company General Manager, said. “For him at his age to decide to do what’s right for the community is kind of phenomenal.”

“It fits well with us because our customers live in the communities,” Stanifer continued. “So, this will be a national fit.”

“We’re going to throw a lot of resources to Joey and try to engage our wholesalers in areas that are important to us,” Stanifer said. “That will be a nice fit because it’s more about people helping people.”

While Logano is most excited about making his Foundation dream a reality, he also hopes to have a dream finish at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. And the driver of that No. 22 Penske race car is counting on his recent tire test at the track to help him to do just that.

“This has been a hit or miss track for me,” Logano admitted “I have either run decent or really struggled here.”

“I came up here and we did the tire test and we left here and I didn’t feel like we were very good,” Logano continued. “So, we used one of the Penske tests here and we came up here and felt like we would make up some ground.”

“This is a very difficult race track to make a car work,” Logano said. “There will be a few cars that can do it and they will stand out.”

Logano is certainly hoping that he will be one of those race cars standing out at the Magic Mile. But even more important to the young driver is that he can do something good by making dreams come true for others.

“This Foundation is not about me,” Logano said. “My name is on it, but that is to bring awareness to it.”

“This Foundation is about other people and about how we can help other people,” Logano continued. “This was the right time for me to do this.”

“I plan to have a lot of fun with it.”

July 12, 2013