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  • Hot 20 – Capital City 400 in Richmond should be as iconic as the Southern 500

    Hot 20 – Capital City 400 in Richmond should be as iconic as the Southern 500

    For a race that has been around since 1958, it is a damn shame that it does not carry the proper branding to link it over the decades to the time it was claimed by the likes of Speedy Thompson, Cotton Owens, and Joe Weatherly. Let us properly honor it and refer to this Saturday night’s contest in Richmond, Virginia as the Federated Auto Parts Capital City 400.

    It is a race that was won by Hall of Famer Richard Petty seven times. Five times it went to Hall of Famer Bobby Allison. Four-time winners included Hall of Famers Darrell Waltrip and Rusty Wallace. The winner of three Capital City events, looking to join the legends on Saturday, is Denny Hamlin. This race has history. It has pedigree. It should mean something.

    Unlike Hamlin’s win last weekend, which means about as much as Joey Logano’s spring win at Richmond. Failure to pass post-race inspection means that Darlington win has been encumbered. Unlike Logano, Hamlin already has a win in the bank, so it matters little. Nice trophy, though.

    For the final time, this race is the last chance for those not yet in the Chase to make their mark. That distinction goes to the Brickyard 400 in Indianapolis next season. The instructions to each and every driver is a simple one. Win it. It is the last shot for young guns Erik Jones and Daniel Suarez to make it this season. Veterans Clint Bowyer and Logano are in the same boat. At least Logano’s encumbered win came at Richmond in the spring, so maybe there lies some hope. It is the last opportunity in his career for Dale Earnhardt Jr. Winning Saturday night will be everything. With those loose lug nuts biting him at Darlington, Travis Mack sits in for the suspended Greg Ives as Junior’s crew chief this weekend.

    For some, it is also another chance to do something memorable, to interest sponsors to keep them in a decent seat for next season. Kurt Busch and Kasey Kahne both have wins, but they need to convince somebody to lay out the big bucks to see their hands on the wheel of a fast car in 2018. Matt Kenseth might make the Chase, but he needs a place to land when it is over. Danica Patrick is said to need some help. Maybe a lot of help. A win would be great for them all, but time is also winding down to turn heads.

    Geico signed on for more years with Ty Dillon, but I got to tell you, those sponsors can be pretty touchy. Just ask Suarez. He hands out some donuts on a tv segment and his Subway sponsorship disappears. Donuts compete with Subway as a breakfast menu item? Hell, I didn’t even know I could eat donuts for breakfast. I do now. Mom lied to me. Maybe I will have me a donut on my way to Quiznos.

    As long as no one currently winless upsets the apple cart, the top sixteen among our Hot 20 head to the Chase. However, just three points separate Chase Elliott, Kenseth, and Jamie McMurray. If a first-time winner comes along this weekend, one of those three would wind up losing their game of musical chairs.

    With NBC’s analyst Rutledge Wood driving the honorary pace car, expect the first crash of the night to take place prior to the opening lap.

    1. MARTIN TRUEX JR. – 4 WINS (1000 Pts)
    When they reset the points after Richmond, he will remain firmly atop the leader board.

    2. KYLE LARSON – 3 WINS (884 Pts)
    Was running with an Outlaw gang last weekend…and so were his parents.

    3. JIMMIE JOHNSON – 3 WINS (653 Pts)
    When will Jimmie return from vacation?

    4. KYLE BUSCH – 2 WINS (893 Pts)
    Running a distant second in playoff points.

    5. DENNY HAMLIN – 2 WINS (785 Pts)
    It might be a NASCAR secret, but a win at Richmond and Hamlin drives with the legends.

    6. BRAD KESELOWSKI – 2 WINS (761 Pts)
    Tried to look like Rusty last weekend, wound up looking more like Harpo.

    7. RICKY STENHOUSE JR. – 2 WINS (536 Pts)
    When you get a bank for a sponsor and scream their slogan in victory, they come back for more.

    8. KEVIN HARVICK – 1 WIN (867 Pts)
    Had the pole and a Top Ten at Darlington, but things have been pretty relaxing since Sonoma.

    9. RYAN BLANEY – 1 WIN (629 Pts)
    Less pressure being the son of Dave, than it was for being the son of Richard, Bobby, and Dale.

    10. KURT BUSCH – 1 WIN (624 Pts)
    No trips to Victory Lane since the Daytona 500 and he has some hearts to win and cash to entice.

    11. RYAN NEWMAN – 1 WIN (604 Pts)
    Childress has two drivers in the Chase…but for how long?

    12. AUSTIN DILLON – 1 WIN (473 Pts)
    Sometimes a win means a lot…

    13. KASEY KAHNE – 1 WIN (464 Pts)
    Sometimes a win does not mean enough.

    14. CHASE ELLIOTT – 737 POINTS
    Seventh best in points, but seven who have done less have a victory or two or three to their names.

    15. MATT KENSETH – 735 POINTS
    What is the case for Chase, the same goes for Matt…and Jamie.

    16. JAMIE MCMURRAY – 734 POINTS
    Does not have to win, but he should be encouraged to at least beat Chase and Matt to the line.

    17. CLINT BOWYER – 643 POINTS
    If the minimum Chase eligibility was tagged at 500 points, life would have been so much easier.

    18. ERIK JONES – 611 POINTS
    Five straight Top Tens, but needs a Top One this weekend.

    19. JOEY LOGANO – 605 POINTS (1 Win)
    Won at Richmond in the spring. Maybe a win in the fall might actually mean something.

    20. DANIEL SUAREZ – 538 POINTS
    A win and he is in. Same goes for the ten drivers behind him.

     

  • Rutledge Wood Joins NBC Sports Group as Motorsports Specialty Reporter

    Rutledge Wood Joins NBC Sports Group as Motorsports Specialty Reporter

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    Tuesday, December 16th, 2014

    Well-Known Personality Brings His Passion for Cars and Motorsports to NBC and NBCSN’s Coverage of NASCAR, F1, IndyCar, Rallycross and Mecum

    STAMFORD, Conn. — December 16, 2014 — NBC Sports Group today added reporter Rutledge Wood to its multiplatform coverage of NASCAR, Formula 1, IndyCar, Global Rallycross and Mecum Auctions. Among his contributions, Wood will present features on the storied raceways, unique towns and enthusiastic fans that make NASCAR an American treasure. The announcement was made today by Jeff Behnke, Vice President of NASCAR Production for NBC Sports and NBCSN.

    “Rutledge brings a unique combination of knowledge and enthusiasm to his work that will help us shine a spotlight on the tracks and communities we visit throughout the year, and bring them to life,” said Behnke.

    “It’s hard to put into words how unbelievably excited I am to be a part of NBC and their return to NASCAR,” said Wood. “Working in motorsports is a dream come true for me, as I have so much fun telling the stories of drivers, teams and their fans. Just like NASCAR, NBC Sports is a family, and it’s one that I am proud to be a part of.”

    The appointment of Wood follows previous NBC Sports NASCAR on-air announcements for analysts Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte and Kyle Petty, race announcer Rick Allen, pre- and post-race host Krista Voda, and reporters Marty Snider, Kelli Stavast, Mike Massaro and Dave Burns.

    Wood’s first experience in NASCAR came during his first job in entertainment: traveling with the NASCAR circuit for Country Music Television’s mobile marketing activation. Soon after, he was hired by SPEED, where he has worked continuously for the past 10 seasons covering NASCAR. Wood most recently was a correspondent for NASCAR Sprint Cup Series pre-race show, NASCAR RaceDay, on Fox Sports 1, and has also hosted or co-hosted several NASCAR events, including the annual NASCAR Awards Banquet. In addition, Wood has been the co-host of Top Gear on the History Channel, the American iteration of the BBC program of the same name, for the past four seasons.

    On July 23, 2013, NASCAR and NBC Sports Group reached a comprehensive agreement that grants NBC Universal exclusive rights to the final 20 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, final 19 NASCAR XFINITY Series events, select NASCAR Regional & Touring Series events and other live content, beginning in 2015.

    With this partnership, NBC’s 20 Sprint Cup race schedule includes a designation as the exclusive home to the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, when the elite national series races through its final 10 events of the season. The Chase culminates with the season-ending championship event, which returns to network television in 2015 for the first time since 2009. Of NBC Sports Group’s 20 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events, seven will be carried on NBC annually, with 13 airing on NBCSN. Four of NBC Sports Group’s 19 NASCAR XFINITY Series races will air on NBC, with 15 airing on NBCSN.

    NASCAR AMERICA premiered in February, following Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Daytona 500 victory and NBC Sports Group’s multi-platform coverage of the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. The weekday 30-minute news and highlights program is dedicated to America’s fascination with speed and stock car racing, and features regular appearances by NBC Sports NASCAR experts, as well as a rotation of guest analysts.

    – NBC SPORTS GROUP –

  • Nicole Biffle Shares Passion for Work of Greg Biffle Foundation

    Nicole Biffle Shares Passion for Work of Greg Biffle Foundation

    [media-credit name=”Photo Credit: Gary Buchanan” align=”alignright” width=”183″][/media-credit]Nicole Biffle is one busy young woman, as wife to Chase contender Greg and mom to 15 month old Emma. And while obviously completely committed to both of those roles, she is also passionate about her work with the Greg Biffle Foundation.

    Nicole started the Greg Biffle Foundation with her husband in 2005 with the mission of creating awareness and serving as advocates to improve the well-being of animals by engaging the power and passion of the motor sports industry.

    One of her ‘pet’ projects is the NASCAR Pets Calendar and she has just wrapped up work on the 2013 calendar, featuring many drivers including Kyle Busch, Jeff Burton, Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., and Joey Logano. It also features NASCAR media members Shannon Spake, Rutledge Wood, Jeff Hammond, John Roberts and Chris Myers.

    “So we just finished our 2013 calendar and it’s really cool,” Biffle said. “This year we have Danica Patrick, the King and Kyle Petty, and media and drivers of course.”

    “It’s fun because this year we have our daughter Emma in the calendar,” Biffle continued. “So, it’s completely different.”

    “It’s funny because when it comes out after taking the picture so long ago, she looks so different since then.”

    The NASCAR Pets Calendar has been the fundraising hallmark for the Greg Biffle Foundation. The response to the inaugural edition of the calendar made it the best selling item on NASCAR.com and in 2009, Greg’s sponsor 3M got on board to take it to the next level.

    The 2013 edition of the calendar is already on sale in various outlets, including 30 Petco stores, Mooresville, NC vet clinics, animal welfare organizations nationally and again on NASCAR.com.

    According to Nicole Biffle, the Foundation took another bold step to raise money recently by auctioning off a 2012 Ford Raptor truck designed by her husband. The truck sold for $80,000, with all of the proceeds benefitting the Foundation.

    “With that Barrett Jackson auction we just did, we also raised money as well,” Nicole Biffle said. “The truck was really cool.”

    “I was watching it on TV and I was so nervous,” Biffle continued. “I’m very thankful to the lady who bought it. That was very nice of her and that will help a lot of animals.”

    “The great thing is that the dog they had there in that rescue, there were a lot of inquires about adopting him,” Biffle said. “So, having him there brought some attention to not only him but his shelter too.”

    “People were really interested which was really cool.”

    Nicole Biffle is also passionate about another upcoming event to benefit the Foundation, their annual mountain retreat fundraiser.

    “We have our Foundation event, our mountain retreat event, after the Charlotte race,” Biffle said. “We do that at our mountain property.”

    “It’s an exclusive event and we invite about nine drivers and we make of teams,” Biffle said. “We invite them and they go on the dirt track and shoot skeet.”

    “We have an archery course set up and we do trail rides,” Biffle continued. “It’s really a lot of fun.”

    “We raise money through sponsorships and the participants pay to attend,” Biffle said. “It is a competition so the drivers are always competitive, especially on the dirt track, but we also give awards for the best shooter and things like that.”

    “We also added the night before a poker tournament and a casino night just for fun,” Biffle continued. “Of course, people are generous enough to donate their winnings back to us which is so nice.”

    While Nicole Biffle is passionate about all of the Foundation fundraisers, she is most passionate about the real reason for the Foundation, making all of the grants. And this year, she has had a record amount of applications to consider, from 93 grants made last year to 380 applications this year.

    “We go through them and it is so difficult because there is so many,” Biffle said. “We look at what we’ve got and we tend to give to those that have little so they can keep their doors open.”

    “I had to hire an assistant to help me with the grant requests because my brain wasn’t working with what my heart was saying and I would have given to everybody,” Biffle continued. “It’s just hard but that’s obviously what the Foundation is for.”

    Nicole Biffle is also passionate about another endeavor, serving on the Board of the Friends of the Animals organization, where she serves as President and Greg as Vice President.

    “Greg and I are involved with the Friends of the Animals,” Biffle said. “That’s to build an adoption center in Mooresville.”

    “That is really, really going well,” Biffle continued. “We are making progress and the community backing is astounding.”

    “I’m pretty excited,” Biffle continued. “I think it’s going to be a big thing for us.”

    As with every mom, however, Nicole Biffle’s passion must now be shared and spread around, from her Foundation work to her roles as wife and mother. And like every busy mom, she works hard at trying to balance it all.

    “It’s different now that I’ve got Emma because I can’t focus as much time as I did in the past,” Biffle said. “I love being with her.”

    “We just try to balance it out and I’m grateful for good help at the Foundation and good board members at the Friends of the Animals.”

    Oh and by the way and on one final note, Nicole Biffle is also passionate about her husband Greg, who is currently competing for NASCAR’s highest honor the Sprint Cup. And she is very passionate in supporting him, along with Emma, in that endeavor.

    “I would love for Greg to win the championship this year,” Nicole Biffle said.”Being the first to win in all three series would be amazing.”

    “It would be awesome to have our little family to celebrate that.”

    For more information about the Greg Biffle Foundation or to purchase a 2013 calendar, visit gregbifflefoundation.com.

  • Tanner Foust, Global Rally Cross Racer, Happy with NASCAR Embrace

    Tanner Foust, Global Rally Cross Racer, Happy with NASCAR Embrace

    [media-credit name=”Mary Jo Buchanan” align=”alignright” width=”127″][/media-credit]While New Hampshire Motor Speedway is traditionally a NASCAR track, Tanner Foust, Global Rally Cross points leader, has made himself at home, qualifying his No. 34 ROCKSTAR Ford Fiesta for the pole.

    Foust could not feel more at home than amongst the NASCAR Whelen Modified, Nationwide and Cup Series and has been most pleased about how the NASCAR fans have embraced the sport.

    “I’ll be honest, it’s amazing how positive the feedback is from the NASCAR fans,” Foust said. “I’ve got strange connections with a lot of NASCAR fans through Top Gear and hosting with Rutledge (Wood), who is embedded in the NASCAR culture.”

    “But a lot of people I’ve talked to come up and say, ‘Oh, you’re the guy from Top Gear’ and they had never seen a small car like this race before and they absolutely love it,” Foust continued. “It’s really been very, very positive, much more so than I would have thought, to be honest.”

    “Hopefully we can continue to put on good shows and take advantage of this very amazing opportunity to put this sport in the homeland of NASCAR, right in the SMI tracks, and show it to them for the first time.”

    Of course, Foust had to have a little bit of fun with his NASCAR compatriots, especially fellow Top Gear host Rutledge Wood. Foust, however, would definitely not recommend Rutledge to drive one of the Rally cars.

    “No, no way,” Foust said of putting Wood in a car. “He screams a lot, which as a passenger is sort of understandable, but when you’re screaming and driving, it’s a little weird.”

    Foust also sees some of his fellow competitors as actually finding a place in NASCAR eventually. And he cites Travis Pastrana as the prime example of that.

    “I think there are a lot of different avenues to go and these are guys that are not brand new to their sponsors or their fans,” Foust said. “The doors have been opened for a lot of these guys to do what they want to do for a long time and I think Rallycross is a home they’ve landed at right now because it’s in the X Games.”

    “You get guys like Pastrana, who was a motocross racer in the day, and these guys on two wheels pick it up so quickly.”

    Although the Rallycross track may be a bit shoehorned into the NASCAR venue, Foust strong believes that this is their best track to date.

    “I think this is the best course so far in New Hampshire,” Foust said. “I think this is the best course because of the added asphalt inside of NASCAR Turn 1.”

    Foust described the track as more of an interesting layout, with a water splash and the over-under, where the cars go underneath the jump.

    “It’s a pretty dynamic track with 100-115 mile per hour top speed on the little straghtaways,” Foust said. “It is a track that creates a lot of chaos.”

    “There is a lot of interesting elements and we’ll see how those come together once you get multiple cars on the track together.”

    Fellow racer Travis Pastrana agreed with Foust regarding the challenges of the track.

    “The course is absolutely awesome,” said Pastrana, who is pulling double-duty at New Hampshire by competing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series race before running the SilverStar zXe GRC event. “It’s the most challenging course we’ve had out here at GRC.”

    Foust also likened the Rally car racing to their NASCAR compatriots in terms of safety, especially given the incredible wrecks and crashes that have occurred in that form of racing.

    “Among the NASCAR fans and around the rest of the country, not a lot of people have heard of the term rally racing,” Foust said. “Rallycross cars translate a lot of that safety over.”

    “The rollcages are all FIA-approved and are very sophisticated,” Foust continued. “They have automated fire safety systems inside.”

    “We had two huge crashes at X Games, very big crashes, almost 100-g crashes,” Foust said. “But the fact that those drivers are OK, I think is really attributed to the safety systems in the cars.”

    “Both of them were in the Fiestas, but the cars are wickedly fast and they do have to have a lot of safety features thankfully.”

    Since the Rallycross course has to be manufactured on the NASCAR track, Foust was asked if he thought that the program was being a bit shoehorned into the NASCAR model.

    “We are certainly adjusting the cars and the driving to fit the venue because this is a great opportunity to come into the number one motorsport in the U.S. and show them this sport for the first time,” Foust said. “In order to take advantage of that opportunity, we need to fit into the actual venue itself with big, long straightaways, instead of natural jumps coming out of rolling hills.”

    “Rallycross has been going on for 45 years in Europe and I’ve been lucky enough to compete there for the last three years and there are tracks specifically built that have been around since the late sixties and early seventies,” Foust continued. “They’re little battlegrounds.”

    “So, there are a lot of components that in the US the sport will move towards as it gets a bigger following I hope.”

    “Right now, there is real racing going on,” Foust said. “There are hard battles, but it is limited a little bit by the venue because of we are fitting within the confines of an unorthodox rallycross format.”

    “But I still think the show is awesome.”