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  • Parker Kligerman – Seeking the Next Best Opportunity

    Parker Kligerman – Seeking the Next Best Opportunity

    Imagine yourself, sitting in the car that is about to make your dream come true. Imagine being in what NASCAR is calling the best class of rookies we have ever had. Imagine being picked by famous drivers and fans as “The Dark Horse” for the season. Imagine pulling your belts tight and then hearing the most famous words in NASCAR history. Imagine being on the cusp of everything you have dreamed of. Imagine doing all that and then waking up one day and it is over before you have a chance to really start it.

    All of these things happened to Parker Kligerman this year and though many would be frustrated and even bitter, he isn’t. Kligerman considers it a chance to learn and to grow and is determined that it will not bring him down. This is his story.

    Kligerman grew up in Connecticut, a place you normally wouldn’t associate with racing. “I think there is racing everywhere,” Kligerman said. “I really got into racing when I was about nine years old. We got Speed Channel and I saw some kids go-karting on there and decided I needed to be doing that.”

    Four years later his parents got him a go-kart and he has been racing ever since. Kligerman knew he had to get out of Connecticut and start racing in other places so he headed out to the Midwest. He also began racing in the south to get his career going.

    He went on to race some in the ARCA series as well. When asked if that was when he got his big break, he simply stated, “Well, every opportunity is a big break.” He also added, “I didn’t have a lot of funding so any time I could find an opportunity to get into a race car, I made the most of it.”

    Kligerman would race in just about anything including midgets and that is where he made the right connection. He got what he calls, “a line to becoming a Penske Racing development driver.” He continued saying, “That was a big step into getting my foot in the door in the NASCAR ranks. To be associated with such an iconic race team as Penske Racing, it was a huge break, it was one of the few reasons I was able to move into the NASCAR ranks through their support and belief.”

    Kligerman also discussed the frenzy around the class of 2014. When asked if being around all the Austin Dillon controversy ever made him feel overshadowed, he said that he expected it. “I think in a lot of ways obviously the 3 coming back into the sport in a Cup level, it was a big deal for everyone involved,” he explained. “He deserved the press and the fan support. I felt like I had an ample amount of support, press and fan support, and I have great fans out there.”

    Kligerman went on to say, “I think you make your own headlines and you make your own luck, and whatever it is that you get is most importantly dictated by what you do on the track and that is what I am focused on. I don’t really put too much stock in the other stuff.”

    One wonders if he had any inkling about the sweeping changes at Swan Racing that left him without a ride. Did he have a feeling it was coming or was he taken by surprise?

    His response was, “Ah no, I actually had inklings and I knew of some things going on. One of the largest was they were going to two cars which was never a decision that I was fully supportive of and I didn’t think as an organization we were strong enough internally for that kind of a move. I felt like it put a lot of strain on the organization and sure enough in the end it did. That’s not to put anyone down, it’s just the situation we were in and at the end of the day I was given a job and that was to put the 30 car in the best position possible week in and week out and that’s what we did.”

    Kligerman continued, “Financially I think the team was put in a little bit of a tough spot and obviously going the way it did. It wasn’t a surprise as much as inkling or an idea. I just didn’t know the capacity that would happen.”

    When asked what that felt like, he answered, “You know, as a race car driver you never want to be in the position where your performance on the race track isn’t the main story. We started to see that become the issue at Swan. The performance on the race track wasn’t the main goal, basically survival was. As a driver and as an organization that can wear on you. I think in a lot of ways looking forward that some of my decision making and the opportunities that I take going forward, is to make sure the opportunities and the focus is solely on the performance on the race track and not so much of the internal things. I think goal wise it becomes something where you’re more worried about your performance than how to survive which is never a fun situation for anyone involved. Going forward I’m trying to make sure I am never in that spot again.”

    When asked what he has been doing since leaving Swan Racing and about his old teammate, Kurt Busch. Kligerman said, “I got the call from Kurt to be backup on the 41 for the All-Star race and the 600 while he did the Indy 500 and that was kind of an honor to get that call and I was flattered to be associated with a top notch organization such as Stewart-Haas Racing.”

    He added, “I’ve been actively pursuing other opportunities throughout the sport in NASCAR, outside NASCAR, and all over. We continue to do all our media stuff and our podcast, “Kickin’ It with Kligerman,” just became a radio show.”

    His main focus is “making sure that when we make a decision on what my next move is that it’s the right decision. I do have time on my side. I am only 23 years old so I feel I can take a step back and really start to evaluate what’s out there and what the situation is and find the best situation possible for me. That is more important than just jumping into something for the sake of jumping in something. I’m having a little fun too. I am going to drive a couple of different type of racecars over the next few weeks that we will be able to announce. I am just having a lot of fun with the situation and hope we can get back to something full time that can compete for a championship and win in the near future.”

    Kligerman has been through quite a bit and when asked what he thinks is his biggest accomplishment so far he responded, “As a driver 23 yrs old”, he said, “I made it to the top of the sport and with very, very little family funding almost non-existent, going on talent alone and being able to work with sponsors and as a driver being determined and grateful for every opportunity I have gotten to get to the highest level of the sport at such a young age. If I were to look back I would be very proud of that and of the times I had good equipment and went out there and raced and have been beat up on and the times I had subpar equipment and went out there again and got the most out of it, and got it in a better position than I deserved. As a driver that’s the best you can hope for.  If it all were to stop now I would be proud of the career I have had, proud of the ability I have had to get to the top of our sport, and now that I am here, hopefully I can find the situation that allows me to go out win and fight for championships.”

    Inquiries about the rumors that he was looking toward IndyCars resulted in this answer, “Well yeah, I have always had an interest in open wheel racing and that’s where I started. I want to take this time not being in a full time ride, to go out there and drive as many things as possible and just experience other forms of racing. As a race car driver you won’t always have the opportunity to be in the position I am in, so I am kind of making the best of it.”

    Kligerman is also proud of his podcast telling me how it has grown significantly and is becoming one of the largest racing podcasts and now it’s become a radio show syndicated for Performance Motorsports Network.

    Kligerman is not waiting for things to happen, he is making things happen. He also wanted to make sure to thank his fans.

    “To my fans I am grateful for your support. I think we have some cool things coming up that I really think are going to be fun, so stick with us.”

    Kligerman has every right to be down about the way things have happened. He could have given up, maybe some would have but he is not even close to showing us all what he is about. He has only just begun.
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  • NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Michigan

    NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Michigan

    Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

    1. Jimmie Johnson: Johnson took the win at Michigan, snatching his third win in the last four races. It was his first win at Michigan, and he is now second in the points standings.

    “That’s right,” Johnson said. “My first win at Michigan. And that just goes to show that you can’t underestimate my greatness—in one race, I scored two ‘firsts.’

    “It was a Happy Father’s Day, at least for me. And what a great way to celebrate, with a win. The congratulations have been overwhelming. It’s been ‘mad props’ for the ‘glad pops.’”

    2. Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Earnhardt finished seventh in the Quicken Loans 400, posting his tenth top-10 result of the year. He is third in the Sprint Cup points standings, 23 behind Jeff Gordon.

    “You probably heard I left Ryan Newman at the airport,” Earnhardt said. “I call that ‘left behind,’ and so did Newman, when he told me to kiss a certain butt cheek.

    “By the way, Ryan’s phone has a new ring tone—Simple Minds’ ‘Don’t You Forget About Me.’”

    3. Jeff Gordon: Gordon started second at Michigan and led 36 laps on his way to a sixth at Michigan.

    “That’s five wins in a row for Hendrick Motorsports,” Gordon said, “and sixth on the year. NASCAR hasn’t seen a run of dominance like this since Tim Richmond’s S&M phase. Here are some interesting ratios: Three of four Hendrick drivers have won six of 15 races. And one of four Hendrick drivers is Kasey Kahne.”

    4. Brad Keselowski: Keselowski finished third at Michigan following two straight runner-up finishes, at Dover and Pocono. He is fifth in the points standings, 47 out of first.

    “I won in Las Vegas,” Keselowski said, “and haven’t won since. I guess it’s true what they say: ‘What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.’”

    5. Matt Kenseth: Still seeking his first win of the season, Kenseth finished 14th in the Quicken Loans 400.

    “I had seven wins last year,” Kenseth said, “and didn’t win the championship. By that rationale, I’m well on pace to win the Cup this year. At least that’s what I keep telling myself. As for now, my ‘Victory Circle’ is a zero.”

    6. Joey Logano: Logano started ninth and finished ninth at Michigan, recording his eighth top-10 finish of the year. He moved up two spots in the points standings to seventh, 83 out of first.

    “I’d like to wish my dad a Happy Fathers’ Day,” Logano said. “I’m sure most people at the track feel the same about him as they do about Fathers’ Day—-they’re glad it only shows up only once a year.”

    7. Kevin Harvick: Harvick started on the pole at Michigan and finished second to Jimmie Johnson. It was Harvick’s fourth runner-up this season, and left him quite irritable.

    “Some people say my frustration from four runner-up finishes this year is boiling over,” Harvick said. “Well, I would ‘second’ their opinion.”

    8. Carl Edwards: Edwards struggled at Michigan, finishing 23rd, one lap down, as Roush Fenway cars failed to crack the top 15. Edwards is now sixth in the points standings, 75 out of first.

    “We Roush Fenway drivers consider Michigan our home track,” Edwards said. “Ironically, our performance there leaves us home sick.”

    9. Kyle Larson: Larson finished eight at Michigan, posting his seventh top 10 of the year. He is eighth in the Sprint Cup points standings, 83 out of first.

    “My girlfriend and I are expecting a child in December,” Larson said. “I’ll likely be NASCAR’s Rookie Of The Year and a father soon. So, as you’d expect for a young, up-and-coming superstar driver, things are happening ‘fast.’”

    10. Ryan Newman: Newman finished 15th in the Quicken Loans 400 at Michigan, as Richard Childress Racing teammate Paul Menard took fourth.

    “I missed a flight to Michigan because Dale Earnhardt Jr. just forgot about me,” Newman said. “I called Junior and told him I was standing on the runway, waiting for my ride. That joker replied, ‘What are you doing? ‘Taxi-ing?’”

  • Harvick Claims Pole at MIS with New Track Record.

    Harvick Claims Pole at MIS with New Track Record.

  • NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Pocono

    NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Pocono

    Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

    1. Jimmie Johnson: In search of his third straight win, Johnson finished sixth at Pocono despite an accident on pit road with Marcos Ambrose that left the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet with right-side damage. Johnson now sits fourth in the points standings, 23 behind Jeff Gordon.

    “We failed at pulling off the ‘triple,’” Johnson said, “as did a certain horse. For this native of El Cajon, ‘California Chrome’ is what I call my trophy room. I’m a six-time Sprint Cup champion, so, in a sense, I’ve got two ‘triple crowns.’ That’s what is known as the ‘Jimmie Hat.’”

    2. Dale Earnhardt, Jr.: Earnhardt passed Brad Keselowski with five laps to go and won the Pocono 400. It was Earnhardt’s second win this season and first at Pocono’s 2.5 mile tri-oval. He is now third in the points standings, 22 behind Jeff Gordon.

    “What was that on Keselowski’s grill?” Earnhardt said. “I’ll tell you. The same thing that’s littering the infield of any NASCAR track—white trash.

    “Now, that’s a tough fate to befall a former Sprint Cup title winner. I guess that’s what you call a ‘paper’ champion.”

    3. Jeff Gordon: Gordon finished eighth at Pocono and regained the Sprint Cup points lead as Matt Kenseth struggled to a 25th-place result. Gordon now leads Kenseth by 16 points.

    “That’s three straight wins for Hendrick Motorsports,” Gordon said, “and five total on the season. Some say Rick Hendrick’s deep pockets are the reason we’re so dominant. There may be some truth to that. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. won because of a white piece of paper. But in most cases, a Hendrick win can be attributed to paper that is green.’”

    4. Matt Kenseth: Kenseth finished a disappointing 25th in the Pocono 400 and remained winless on the year. He dropped out of the top spot in the points standings and is now in second, 16 behind Jeff Gordon.

    “Pocono is just not one of my favorite tracks,” Kenseth said. “This ‘square’ doesn’t like triangles, and has a hard time finding ‘circles,’ namely ‘Victory.’”

    5. Joey Logano: Logano suffered his worst finish of the year, a 40th at Pocono, the result of engine failure with ten laps to go.

    “A hot dog wrapper? A grill?” Logano said. “Sounded like a perfect occasion for some Miller Lite. But it was not to be.

    “I’ll say it again. NASCAR is safer than the NFL. Why, you ask? Because men of color are just trying to break barriers, not other players.”

    6. Brad Keselowski: Keselowski led with five laps to go at Pocono, but lost the lead to Dale Earnhardt as Keselowski tried to clear a piece of debris from his grill. It was Keselowski’s second runner-up finish in a row, and left him fifth in the points standings, 50 out of first.

    “Done in by a piece of paper that surrounds a hot dog,” Keselowski said. “In the business, that’s called getting ‘Vanilla Iced,’ because we got served by a ‘white wrapper.’

    “I was trying to use Danica Patrick as a pick. Just call me ‘GoDaddy.com,’ because I was trying to exploit her.”

    7. Carl Edwards: Edwards was collected in a late crash initiated when Kasey Kahne and Kyle Busch made contact. Edward’s day was done on lap 143, and he finished 41st. He is seventh in the points standings, 57 out of first.

    “Greg Biffle is set to sign an extension with Roush Fenway,” Edwards said. “Biffle’s never won a championship in his long tenure here. So, it’s no surprise he’s not ‘going places.’

    “Of course, my future here is a lot like a good back flip—up in the air. And speaking of ‘hang time,’ I don’t have any, because none of my teammates want to ‘hang’ with me.

    8. Kevin Harvick: Harvick finished 14th at Pocono, as Dale Earnhardt, Jr. won, joining Harvick, Joey Logano, and Jimmie Johnson in the two-win club.

    “I can certainly empathize with Brad Keselowski,” Harvick said. “I too know what a worthless white piece of paper is. In my case, it was several—when I ripped up my Richard Childress Racing contract.”

    9. Kyle Busch: Busch came home 12th at Pocono, posting a solid finish despite making contact with Kasey Kahne on lap 142 and losing considerable track position. Busch is sixth in the Sprint Cup points standings, 55 out of first.

    “Tough break there for Brad Keselowski,” Busch said. “If you’ve got trash all up in your grill, try some dental floss.”

    10. Denny Hamlin: Hamlin started on the pole at Pocono and brought home a fourth-place finish, leading the Joe Gibbs Racing charge. He is eighth in the Sprint Cup points standings, 78 out of first.

    “Is Carl Edwards headed to Joe Gibbs Racing?” Hamlin said. “On the surface, it seems ‘Cousin Carl’ would be a great addition to the team. But, let’s face it, I’m not the only with who feels no amount of ‘kinship’ with Edwards.”

  • Dale Earnhardt Jr. – “I don’t want to be the new 48; I want to be the new 88.”

    Dale Earnhardt Jr. – “I don’t want to be the new 48; I want to be the new 88.”

    Dale Earnhardt Jr. brought home his second win of the season at Pocono Raceway and cemented his spot in the 2014 Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship. As his success continues, his confidence rises.

    In the media center after the race, Earnhardt was asked if the 88 team was the new 48. He laughed and said, “Easy now.”

    “They just come off of two straight wins, and everybody was about to crown him the champion. You know, two weeks before they were wondering what the hell was wrong with him, and then two weeks later he’s the best thing on the block,” he continued. “We just got to keep everything in perspective. Jimmie is an awesome teammate. We’re successful because of their success and vice versa. I think we really work well together.”

    But, laughter aside, there was no doubt that Earnhardt is determined to stamp out his own identity when he said, “They’re the 48 and we’re the 88 and I don’t want to be the new 48. I want to be the new 88. We’ll definitely try to continue to work hard and try to win some more races and try to leave our own mark and not a mark similar to anyone else.”

    The Sprint Cup Series is headed to Michigan International Speedway next week, where he has two previous victories in 2008 and 2012.

    When questioned about the possibility of back-to-back wins, Earnhardt said, “That would be awesome. I haven’t done that since the Nationwide days back in ’98 or ’99. We won a couple there back to back, I think. That’s a really good feeling, puts you right on top of the world. A win gives you a lot of confidence, but you know and realize how difficult those are to come by and how competitive this garage is, but man, when you win two in a row, man, that sets you apart a bit from your competition. That would be a great thing for us.”

    Despite the success Earnhardt and the No. 88 team has achieved this season; he doesn’t think they have reached their full potential.

    “I think we have not peaked as a team performance-wise, but we’re certainly at our highest ceiling. We’re doing some of our best work certainly right now. We have a lot of passion and there’s a lot of emotion, considering this is Steve’s last year, and I think that also adds some drive and determination to the team to do as well as we can. So that can be dangerous, I think, for everyone else if we win.”

    As Earnhardt and his crew chief Steve Letarte strive to make the most out of their last year working together, momentum is on their side and the possibilities are endless. Perhaps, more importantly, the two have formed a bond that has impacted Earnhardt both professionally and personally.

    “We’ll continue to be such great friends after working together this year. I still have him as a big part of my life, and I think that’ll continue to positively affect me in whoever I work with in the future,” Earnhardt emphasized. “I’ll work hard to continue to maintain a great relationship with him because he has such a positive effect on me, and I still think even though we aren’t working together next year, throughout the rest of my career together, he can still have that effect on me and still do things for me that help me on Sunday even though he’s not there.”

    This year may be Earnhardt’s best chance at capturing the elusive Championship trophy. He’s already referring to it as a “storybook” season and his fans can’t wait to see how this story ends.

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  • Authentic Sponsorships: The Relationship Between Sponsor and Driver

    Authentic Sponsorships: The Relationship Between Sponsor and Driver

    In the wake of Dale Earnhardt Jr. announcing a new sponsorship with eBay, appearing on his No. 88 Chevrolet for the NASCAR Nationwide Series June race at Michigan International Speedway, there is a lot to be said for authentic sponsorships within the sport of NASCAR in this day and age.

    Having learned at the end of the 2013 NASCAR season that Earnhardt is an ardent eBay user, the recently announced partnership is without a doubt legitimate. It is not about a driver forcing a smile and promoting something he or she doesn’t believe in, it’s about selling a product or service that they have their own faith in as a consumer.

    Though in a time where sponsorship is spread thin, money is tight and some teams are forced to stretch every last dollar, the ability to always be picky with sponsorships is not always there.

    Which leads to the question, do fans actually care whether a sponsorship or partnership between driver and business is authentic?

    Sponsorships and partnerships come in all forms. Whether it’s a product or service funding the race car, a charity placing their name on the car for large amounts of promotion, or simply a driver appearing to promote a company or cause, they all align a driver’s image with their brand identity.

    Danica Patrick, driver of the No. 10 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, has been a magnet for the concept of brand identity. GoDaddy.com’s use of her in their television commercials put them on the map as well as boosted her recognition outside of the racing world. But does becoming one brand’s identity limit what other companies would choose to partner with her?

    Another sponsorship that stands out as authentic is Bass Pro Shops, who sponsors drivers Tony Stewart, Austin Dillon, and Ty Dillon, all of whom are avid outdoorsmen. If their partnership was with someone outside of that fit, it could create a different reception from fans.

    While the sport rarely sees completely off-the-wall sponsorships, many often do not make sense or do not seem to be a great fit for the driver or team. We have entered a time though, where the name on the car means nothing to many fans, it is simply the writer of the paycheck.

    There is no telling whether having that authentic connection between driver and sponsor is necessary for positive fan reaction, but there is reason to believe these strong partnerships may end up standing better in the long run.

  • NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Charlotte

    NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Charlotte

    Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

    1. Jeff Gordon: Gordon overcame back spasms to post a seventh in the Coca Cola 600 at Charlotte. He remains atop the Sprint Cup points standings, 11 ahead of Matt Kenseth.

    “Back problems have been an ongoing issue for me,” Gordon said, “as has the quest to win my fifth Cup championship. That’s why the latter part of my career can be described as ‘back and fourth.’

    “We had Regan Smith on standby just in case I couldn’t go. Turns out, we didn’t need him, which certainly isn’t the first time Regan’s heard that.”

    2. Jimmie Johnson: Johnson started on the pole and led a race-high 164 on his way to the win in the Coca-Cola 600. It was Johnson’s first win of the year, and all but ensured his chance to defend his Sprint Cup championship.

    “The No. 48 Chevrolet with the special Memorial Day paint scheme was awesome,” Johnson said. “Matt Kenseth was no match for me. You could say I ‘red, white, and blew’ right past him.

    “You’ve probably heard that I completed a triathlon last Saturday. I’m proud to call myself a ‘triathlete.’ The great Tim Richmond was NASCAR’s original triathlete, because he’d ‘tri’ anything.

    3. Matt Kenseth: Kenseth held the lead on the final restart but was easily passed by Jimmie Johnson, who went on for his first victory of the year. Kenseth eventually finished third, and is second in the points standings, 11 behind Jeff Gordon.

    “Johnson went by me like I wasn’t even there,” Kenseth said. “I could say the same about most NASCAR fans. I may be the most unrecognizable athlete in professional sports today.”

    4. Dale Earnhardt, Jr.: Earnhardt finished two laps down in 19th at Charlotte after engines problems soured his day. He is fourth in the Sprint Cup points standings, 38 behind Jeff Gordon.

    “I raced Charles Barkley head-to-head a couple of weeks ago,” Earnhardt said. “Charles can really drive. The last time he went that fast, there was a prostitute waiting on him. Where was she waiting, you ask? Well, let’s just say Sir Charles’ car is good at ‘cornering.’”

    5. Kevin Harvick: Harvick led 100 laps and finished second at Charlotte to Jimmie Johnson. Harvick was going for his third win this season, but couldn’t chase down Johnson.

    “Where’s one of those phantom cautions when you need one?” Harvick said. “I guess that’s what happens on Memorial Day weekend—there’s plenty of red, white, and blue flags, but no yellow.”

    6. Carl Edwards: Edwards posted his third top-five finish of the year with a fourth in the Coca-Cola 600. He is third in the points standings, 24 out of first.

    “Trevor Bayne’s joining the Roush Fenway Racing family in 2015,” Edwards said. “That means a current driver at Roush is likely to say goodbye. Could that be me? If it is, I guess you could call me ‘Cousin It.’”

    7. Joey Logano: Logano finished 12th at Charlotte as Penske teammate Brad Keselowski finished tenth. Logano is now sixth in the points, 54 behind Jeff Gordon.

    “What a run by Kurt Busch at Indianapolis,” Logano said. “And what a run by race winner Ryan Hunter-Reay. Not only does he lead the Indy Car points standings, he’s the most sought-after driver on the talk show circuit now. I guess that’s what happens when the Hunter becomes the hunted.”

    8. Kyle Busch: Busch finished ninth at Charlotte, recording his sixth top-10 result of the year. He is now third in the points standings, 24 out of first.

    “My brother Kurt didn’t complete the Indianapolis-Charlotte ‘double,’” Busch said, “but he did finish sixth. I think all NASCAR drivers would agree that’s an incredible accomplishment. And I’m sure all NASCAR drivers would agree Kurt should become a full-time open-wheel driver.”

    9. Brian Vickers: Vickers finished sixth in the Coca-Cola 600, earning his second straight top-10 and fifth of the year. He is now eighth in the Sprint Cup points standings, 67 behind Jeff Gordon.

    “It’s great driving for Michael Waltrip,” Vickers said. “And it’s great driving the Aaron’s Dream Machine. I like to think my alter ego, who’s a fierce competitor talented enough to contend for the Cup, would drive a car called the ‘Rude Awakening.’ Here’s to dreaming.”

    10. Brad Keselowski: Keselowski’s attempt at fuel mileage strategy was derailed by a late-race pit stop for a right-wheel vibration. Still, the driver of the No. 2 Miller Lite Ford finished tenth, his fifth top-10 of the year, and is now ninth in the points standings, 71 out of first.

    “We just didn’t get the wheel on tight enough,” Keselowski said. “If that would have happened to the No. 48 car, it would have been called a ‘Shimmy Johnson.’”

  • Possible Engine Failure Terminates Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Night in Charlotte

    Possible Engine Failure Terminates Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Night in Charlotte

    Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s night in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway went drastically haywire after engine issues, during the latter stages, prohibited him from competing inside the top dozen.

    Earnhardt Jr., who’s never won the famed Memorial Day event at Charlotte, finished 19th, two laps down, after nursing his machine to the checkered flag with a sour engine an intense vibration.

    “(The car) was trying to blow up. We had a lot of real high water pressure and a real bad vibration,” Earnhardt Jr. explained. “The vibration was so bad I was afraid to hold it wide open because it would just get so bad at the end of the straightaway. I thought we were about to break the motor. “

    “We came in (to the pits) and knocked the pressure out of it and the vibration slowly got better and never completely went away. Something (was) wrong with the car.”

    Hendrick Motors – which supplies for multiple teams in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series – will have to return to shop and diagnose the problem this week, according to Earnhardt.

    ‘We don’t know (what happened). We have to find out,” Earnhardt Jr. further expressed. “They’ll take it back and see what’s wrong with (the car). I’m glad we tried to keep going. I don’t know what’s wrong with it but we’ve got a little problem with that car. But it was very fast. I’m very happy with the speed.”

    ‘June Bug’, who won the Daytona 500 earlier this season, told reporters he felt fortunate to finish the race rather then in the garage, making his night easier to cope with.

    “I’m real happy with the speed in the car. We were able to at least finish 19th tonight. We could have blown up and finished in the back. We had a really good fast car and I’m really excited about all the races coming up,” Earnhardt added.

    Though, after having a disappointing result, Junior understands that teams struggle on occasions, however, he wants to dismiss the negative and begin exploiting the positives heading into the summer months

    “You’re going to have some bad weeks and you’ve got to be able to roll with them. This was one of them and we just have to look at the positives and try not to dwell too much on what happened,” Earnhardt concluded with. “We just need to go home and find out what it was and see if we can learn something.”

  • Johnson Reclaims Charlotte Glory with Superb Coca-Cola 600 Performance

    Johnson Reclaims Charlotte Glory with Superb Coca-Cola 600 Performance

    From lap one to lap 400, Sunday Night at Charlotte belonged solely to Jimmie Johnson. Johnson and his No. 48 team dominated as they perfectly executed a game plan en route to their first victory of the year.

    The victory was Johnson’s 67th career series win which places him eighth on the all-time wins list. It was his seventh points win at Charlotte Motor Speedway, breaking a tie with Bobby Allison for most wins at the track and his fourth Coca-Cola 600 victory. Only Darrell Waltrip has won more 600s, with a total of five wins.

    Rarely does this team go too far into the season without scoring a victory. However, the team wasn’t fazed by the somewhat slow start. This was demonstrated in the race as Johnson once again proved why he’s a six-time champion.

    After the race, Johnson was asked about the significance of the win.

    “It means a lot,” he said. “Through the years a lot of references (have been made) to this race as one of our majors. I certainly agree with that. 600 miles around here is no easy task. To deal with all the things that are thrown at a race team through the evening with the track changing, the mechanical obstacles that you have to overcome, keeping an engine alive, tires alive, all of it; it’s a serious team effort to finish 600 miles. And then win here, especially as hard as we had to run throughout the night, the pace we had to keep up, certainly proud of that.”

    Throughout the race, it was typically one of three drivers leading the field. Johnson, Kevin Harvick, and Matt Kenseth all had fast cars and found themselves leading for large portions of the event.

    Harvick was first to take the top spot away from Johnson on lap 76. He maintained the lead until the ensuing restart after the second caution when Johnson soared back by.

    Brad Keselowski was another driver who stuck his nose out front at different points in the race as he and Paul Wolfe worked out a different pit strategy. The strategy was successful in getting the No. 2 car out front; however it did not work out in their favor at the end as they placed tenth at the end of the night.

    Unlike last year’s Coca-Cola 600, only one multi-car incident occurred throughout the race. On Lap 235, Marcos Ambrose spun off turn four. As drivers attempted to slow and avoid the accident, Josh Wise came in hot and hit the back of Landon Cassill which started a chain reaction. Brian Scott and Danica Patrick were also involved.

    Kenseth made his way to the top spot on Lap 271. He was able to hold the position for a majority of the race’s second half.

    Kurt Busch’s attempt at the Indianapolis-Charlotte double was going fine until Lap 273. Busch had placed sixth in the Indianapolis 500 earlier, but would finish 40th in Charlotte after blowing his engine 906 miles into his attempt at completing 1,100 throughout the day.

    Despite the disappointing end, Busch was upbeat and satisfied about the day as a whole. “A day I’ll never forget,” was how Busch described his attempt at the double to FOX.

    The eighth and final caution of the night came with 22 laps remaining. Jeff Gordon was the leader on the ensuing restart; however Kenseth would quickly regain the spot.

    Johnson made the winning move with eight laps to go when he passed Kenseth. He then cruised to victory as he frequently did prior to the repave of the track in 2006.

    Harvick came home second after being a threat early on and cited issues on pit road that thwarted their efforts.

    “We had a fast car all night,” he said, “just kind of fumbled again on pit road, got behind, got a lap down.  We needed a 700-mile race to get back to where we needed to be. All in all, they’re doing a great job of putting cars up on the track; we just have to clean up on pit road.”

    Kenseth couldn’t get the job done and ended up third. He still has yet to score a victory in 2014. He was generally satisfied with the team’s efforts but said the car lacked the necessary speed.

    “Overall for the weekend, I thought it was a step in the right direction,” he said. “I thought we were more competitive tonight. I didn’t think we were quick enough to win unless everything fell exactly our way. Even then I couldn’t quite hang on. Overall I thought it was a step in the right direction. I thought we had a top-five car all night. Great pit stops, great adjustments, just couldn’t hang on to it at the end.”

    Carl Edwards and Jamie McMurray rounded out the top five, finishing fourth and fifth, respectively. Brian Vickers, Jeff Gordon, Paul Menard, Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski complete the top 10.

    Jeff Gordon, who finished seventh, retains the series points lead followed by Matt Kenseth who is 11 points behind in second place. Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards are tied at 24 points behind the leader for third and fourth in the standings and Dale Earnhardt Jr. fell one spot to fifth place.

    NASCAR’s two home weeks concluded with the waving of the checkered flag. Now, all three series head to Delaware for a battle with the Monster Mile at Dover next weekend.

     

     

  • Bittersweet Outcome For Greg Biffle at Talladega Superspeedway

    Bittersweet Outcome For Greg Biffle at Talladega Superspeedway

    Greg Biffle reassured his presence in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series after finishing second in the Aaron’s 499 at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday afternoon. However, he’s still scratching his head on what could have been had his crew advised him that there was debris spread across the start/finish line.

    “When I got back around (to the frontstretch), I was wondering why nobody told me that there was half of a car laying in the track,” Biffle explained following the runner-up finish, “and that we probably weren’t going to race back so go ahead and try and pass (Denny Hamlin) now, but that’s a lot to happen in a short amount of time.”

    Biffle, 43, was also baffled at the timing of NASCAR’s decision to throw the caution. He was led to believe once the machines roared through the first two corners that they’d be able to conclude the race under green flag conditions but obviously that wasn’t the result.

    “We were about halfway down the back stretch I guess and I thought when I saw the smoke that (it) was (time) to make a decision to go or not, then I decided to wait,” Biffle further expressed. “I figured once we got in the middle of one and two (that) the caution wasn’t going to come out. I figured, okay, we’re good all the way back.”

    He led a season-high 58 laps of the 188 scheduled after beginning the famed race in the 35th starting position, yet, he was still craving more, respectively.

    “I just wish I was where (Hamlin) was on that final restart,” Biffle explained about the final few circuits. “But it was pretty satisfying to finish — once the outside lane got a push there towards the end and I got shuffled back to about third row and we were three wide, I was nervous that I wasn’t going to (finish). But I was extremely happy with second.”

    Nevertheless, this becomes Biffle’s season-best finish, bettering his fifth place showing at Darlington Raceway last month, and an ideal time nonetheless.

    “I mean, it’s sort of bittersweet for us,” Biffle added. “We’ve run a little bit better in the last couple weeks, and I wasn’t sure how we were going to run here. I was extremely happy with the speed my car had on Friday and then today all day. We’ve still got some work to do, but it sure would have been nice to get a win toward the Chase, but we’ve got some great racetracks coming up, as well. It would have been nice (though).”

    Now, Biffle heads to Kansas Speedway, a track he’s scored triumphs at on two prior occasions and this time, due to the Chase format, he’s willing to risk everything to visit victory lane.

    “I’d be super excited to win there to start with, but to be a guy to win — first guy to win three (at Kansas) would be pretty neat,” Biffle expressed about Kansas next weekend. “I love that racetrack. It’s a lot of fun to race on, puts on a good race.”

    Biffle will continue seeking a victory and eventual Chase berth, and now, after a runner-up finish, momentum and confidence could prove to be a ‘funny thing’ in upcoming races for the former NASCAR Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series champion.