The Frontstretch Newsletter: June 30th, 2009
1 view
Skip to first unread message
Frontstretch.com
Jun 30, 2009, 3:47:16 AM6/30/09
to The Frontstretch
THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
June 30th, 2009
Volume III, Edition CVIII
Top News Stories
by Tom Bowles
45 Cars Entered For Coke Zero 400
With Saturday night's race marking the halfway point of the Sprint Cup season, the series will officially survive through 18 races without the nightmare scenario of a short field. 45 entries are officially on the list for the event, with no big surprises or major driver changes.
Among those attempting are prominent part-timers Regan Smith in the No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet, Max Papis in the No. 13 GEICO Toyota, and Mike Wallace in the No. 64 Gunselman Motorsports Toyota. They'll join Scott Speed (No. 82), David Gilliland (No. 71), Brad Keselowski (No. 09), Joe Nemechek (No. 87), Patrick Carpentier (No. 36), Dave Blaney (No. 66), and Tony Raines (No. 37) as those drivers needing to qualify in on time.
Almirola Not Entered At Daytona, Team Still Searching For Sponsorship
Initially pledged to return at Daytona in July, the No. 8 car run by Earnhardt Ganassi Racing is not on the entry list for this weekend's race. Team President Steve Lauletta said to FOXsports.com that deals are still being finalized, meaning the earliest we'll see the young driver Aric Almirola in the car is mid-August. With Truex leaving the team for 2010, Almirola may also become a viable candidate to drive the No. 1 Bass Pro Shops car as a teammate to Juan Pablo Montoya.
In 25 career Cup starts, Almirola has a best finish of 8th at Bristol.
Nationwide Series Has 48 Entries For Daytona
The Nationwide Series has a hefty 48-car entry list this weekend for Friday night's Subway Jalapeno 250. Among those returning to the series are Kerry Earnhardt, driving the Rick Ware No. 31; Chase Austin, back in the series with SK Motorsports' No. 07; and restrictor plate specialist Bobby Gerhart, back for another go-round in Bob Schacht's No. 75.
The race will be televised on ESPN beginning at 7:30 PM Friday night.
Have news for Tom and the Frontstretch? Don't hesitate to let us know; email us at ashl...@mail.com with a promising lead or tip.
Got NASCAR-related questions or comments?
Send them Matt Taliaferro's way at matt.ta...@frontstretch.com; and if you're lucky, you'll get your name in print when he does his weekly column answering back to you – the fans that keep Frontstretch afloat. Fanning The Flames returns Thursday with a whole new set of Fan Questions and Answers!
Today's Featured Commentary
Kyle Busch Wrecking The Field ... Or Was It Junior?
Sitting In The Stands: A Fan's View
by S.D. Grady
Martin Truex, Jr. knew who hit him. He knew he wasn’t the one at fault, that Dale Jr. spun his tires when the green flag waved. He knew his bright green TomTom No. 1 wouldn’t be taking off anytime soon; and right now, with his helmet in hand, he knew exactly at which car he’d be throwing the potential missile.
That’s right. In mere seconds, our favorite bad boy, Kyle Busch, was tried and convicted of reckless driving. In fact, as I stood in the stands and watched the replay, a unanimous roar rose from my neighbors.
“Did you see that? It was Busch!”
“Of course, it was. What would you expect?”
“He took out the entire field!”
In fact, it seems that Kyle’s fellow drivers were equally eager to throw him under the bus…for being the unfortunate driver three back in a restart pileup.
Brian Vickers comment, “Stupid is forever,” may go down as one of the best quotes of the year, even if it proves to be inaccurate.
Now, don’t get all bent out of shape. If you follow my column, you know I have little respect for the M&M boy. I cringe whenever a microphone gets within shouting distance of Bratboy, and fear for any trophy he might get his hands on. However, I do marvel at his driving ability.
On Sunday afternoon, the condemnation that poured from Truex and Vickers, and a large group of fans in Section F South, proved that Kyle Busch is now reaping what he has sewn.
Had the Turn 1 wreck at New Hampshire Motor Speedway that resulted in a red flag been caused by almost anybody else in the field, I doubt blame would have been assigned with such alacrity or vehemence. In fact, usually I can find level heads among race commentators and even rabid fans. But not this week.
In a media feeding frenzy, pit reporters thrust microphones in any available face and asked, “So what do you make of that?”
The producers just couldn’t stop it! THIS was a gift from the ratings gods…Kyle Busch caught in yet another controversial moment. Make sure you get the sound bite! Put the near-helmet toss on permanent playback. The fans in the stands…that kind of energy you can’t hope, or want, to put a halt to.
It seems even the Shrub is eager to welcome this kind of attention. He practically accepted blame for the wreck, climbing from his car and actually apologized for the carnage.
What ever happened to, “That was just a racing deal?”
After watching countless races for more decades than I care to admit, what happened on lap 174 had very little to do with aggressive driving, or better yet, a certain driver’s personality.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. spun his tires. Truex Jr. was forced to back off, to prevent running Junior over. Busch, focused on picking up speed and finding the right lane, swerved to the right and then left, making contact with Truex, Jr. The rest of the wreck occurred because cars spun in front of other cars…there was no time to react.
Is that what happened to those who stand in judgment of Kyle? No time to stop and consider the facts before jumping on the bandwagon and boo the one we’re all so eager to put down. What does that say about us — the NASCAR fans?
Oo! That’s not so flattering, is it?
I’m all for frowning on Kyle when he says something imbecilic. I’ll write scathing paragraphs when he smashes guitars. I will even boo his very appearance on the driver introduction stage simply because it’s fun. However, I’ll not hold him to a double-standard on the track.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. spun his tires on the restart. That was the cause of the wreck. Everybody else involved in the pileup were innocent bystanders.
Kyle? Well, for this week, I will give you your due. You ran a relatively clean race. Do you think you could do it again next week?
Then again, what would we talk about if you did?
S.D. Grady is a Senior Writer for Frontstretch.com. She can be contacted at lar...@gmail.com.
Numbers Game: Lenox Industrial Tools 301
by Kim DeHaven
1
Number of times winner Joey Logano led the Lenox Industrial Tools 301 Sunday.
1st
Joey Logano's finishing position in the Lenox Industrial Tools 301, earning him Rookie of the Race honors for the 12th time this season.
2
Drivers who failed to qualify for the Lenox Industrial Tools 301.
(No. 51 - Dexter Bean; No. 27 - Ted Christopher)
2 hour, 57 minutes, 45 seconds
Time it took to complete the Lenox Industrial Tools 301.
10
Laps led by Lenox Industrial Tools 301 winner Joey Logano.
10th
Career Sprint Cup victories for Lenox Industrial Tools 301 winner Joey Logano in 20 starts.
11
Caution flags for a total of 47 laps at New Hampshire.
12
Number of penalties handed out by NASCAR during the running of the Lenox Industrial Tools 301.
19 years, 1 month, and 4 days
Joey Logano's age on Sunday when he won the Lenox Industrial Tools 301, making him the youngest winner in NASCAR Cup history.
21
Lead changes among 14 drivers Sunday.
34
Cars running at the end of the Lenox Industrial Tools 301; 26 finished on the lead lap.
43rd
Patrick Carpentier's finishing position in the Lenox Industrial Tools 301. He completed just 14 laps before crashing out of the event in Turn 4.
69
Points that Tony Stewart leads Jeff Gordon by in the Sprint Cup standings.
72
Career Cup wins for Joe Gibbs Racing after Joey Logano's trip to Victory Lane on Sunday.
93
Laps led by in the Lenox Industrial Tools 301, the most of any driver.
97.497
Average race speed (in mph).
273
Laps in the Lenox Industrial Tools 301, equaling 288.834 miles.
101,000
Estimated crowd in attendance at New Hampshire.
$276,201
Joey Logano's purse for winning the Lenox Industrial Tools 301.
$5,423,189
Total purse for the Lenox Industrial Tools 301.
Kim is co-publisher of the Frontstretch. She can be reached at kim.d...@frontstretch.com.
Think you have what it takes to write for the Frontstretch?
Are you looking for a fast-growing website that can give you an opportunity to not only share your thoughts on racing, but have FUN doing it with a group of laid-back, dedicated personnel? Well, we have the place for you. Frontstretch is actively seeking 1-3 additional writers for both our newsletter and website to add to our dedicated staff in 2009. Follow this link for more information on how you can become a weekly columnist for the site and/or newsletter!
TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:
Beyond The Cockpit: Bobby Labonte On Adjusting, Winning, And ... Shooting the Truck?
by Amy Henderson
Talking NASCAR TV: Loudon Telecasts Marked By Bill Weber's Departure In The Booth
by Phil Allaway
Ten Of The Best Motorsports Writers You Should Be Reading (Outside Of Frontstretch)
by Danny Peters
Who's Hot / Who's Not In Sprint Cup: New Hampshire Edition
by Doug Turnbull
Running Their Mouth: Lenox Industrial Tools 301
by Beth Lunkenheimer
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
June 30th, 2009
Volume III, Edition CVIII
Top News Stories
by Tom Bowles
45 Cars Entered For Coke Zero 400
With Saturday night's race marking the halfway point of the Sprint Cup season, the series will officially survive through 18 races without the nightmare scenario of a short field. 45 entries are officially on the list for the event, with no big surprises or major driver changes.
Among those attempting are prominent part-timers Regan Smith in the No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet, Max Papis in the No. 13 GEICO Toyota, and Mike Wallace in the No. 64 Gunselman Motorsports Toyota. They'll join Scott Speed (No. 82), David Gilliland (No. 71), Brad Keselowski (No. 09), Joe Nemechek (No. 87), Patrick Carpentier (No. 36), Dave Blaney (No. 66), and Tony Raines (No. 37) as those drivers needing to qualify in on time.
Almirola Not Entered At Daytona, Team Still Searching For Sponsorship
Initially pledged to return at Daytona in July, the No. 8 car run by Earnhardt Ganassi Racing is not on the entry list for this weekend's race. Team President Steve Lauletta said to FOXsports.com that deals are still being finalized, meaning the earliest we'll see the young driver Aric Almirola in the car is mid-August. With Truex leaving the team for 2010, Almirola may also become a viable candidate to drive the No. 1 Bass Pro Shops car as a teammate to Juan Pablo Montoya.
In 25 career Cup starts, Almirola has a best finish of 8th at Bristol.
Nationwide Series Has 48 Entries For Daytona
The Nationwide Series has a hefty 48-car entry list this weekend for Friday night's Subway Jalapeno 250. Among those returning to the series are Kerry Earnhardt, driving the Rick Ware No. 31; Chase Austin, back in the series with SK Motorsports' No. 07; and restrictor plate specialist Bobby Gerhart, back for another go-round in Bob Schacht's No. 75.
The race will be televised on ESPN beginning at 7:30 PM Friday night.
Have news for Tom and the Frontstretch? Don't hesitate to let us know; email us at ashl...@mail.com with a promising lead or tip.
Got NASCAR-related questions or comments?
Send them Matt Taliaferro's way at matt.ta...@frontstretch.com; and if you're lucky, you'll get your name in print when he does his weekly column answering back to you – the fans that keep Frontstretch afloat. Fanning The Flames returns Thursday with a whole new set of Fan Questions and Answers!
Today's Featured Commentary
Kyle Busch Wrecking The Field ... Or Was It Junior?
Sitting In The Stands: A Fan's View
by S.D. Grady
Martin Truex, Jr. knew who hit him. He knew he wasn’t the one at fault, that Dale Jr. spun his tires when the green flag waved. He knew his bright green TomTom No. 1 wouldn’t be taking off anytime soon; and right now, with his helmet in hand, he knew exactly at which car he’d be throwing the potential missile.
That’s right. In mere seconds, our favorite bad boy, Kyle Busch, was tried and convicted of reckless driving. In fact, as I stood in the stands and watched the replay, a unanimous roar rose from my neighbors.
“Did you see that? It was Busch!”
“Of course, it was. What would you expect?”
“He took out the entire field!”
In fact, it seems that Kyle’s fellow drivers were equally eager to throw him under the bus…for being the unfortunate driver three back in a restart pileup.
Brian Vickers comment, “Stupid is forever,” may go down as one of the best quotes of the year, even if it proves to be inaccurate.
Now, don’t get all bent out of shape. If you follow my column, you know I have little respect for the M&M boy. I cringe whenever a microphone gets within shouting distance of Bratboy, and fear for any trophy he might get his hands on. However, I do marvel at his driving ability.
On Sunday afternoon, the condemnation that poured from Truex and Vickers, and a large group of fans in Section F South, proved that Kyle Busch is now reaping what he has sewn.
Had the Turn 1 wreck at New Hampshire Motor Speedway that resulted in a red flag been caused by almost anybody else in the field, I doubt blame would have been assigned with such alacrity or vehemence. In fact, usually I can find level heads among race commentators and even rabid fans. But not this week.
In a media feeding frenzy, pit reporters thrust microphones in any available face and asked, “So what do you make of that?”
The producers just couldn’t stop it! THIS was a gift from the ratings gods…Kyle Busch caught in yet another controversial moment. Make sure you get the sound bite! Put the near-helmet toss on permanent playback. The fans in the stands…that kind of energy you can’t hope, or want, to put a halt to.
It seems even the Shrub is eager to welcome this kind of attention. He practically accepted blame for the wreck, climbing from his car and actually apologized for the carnage.
What ever happened to, “That was just a racing deal?”
After watching countless races for more decades than I care to admit, what happened on lap 174 had very little to do with aggressive driving, or better yet, a certain driver’s personality.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. spun his tires. Truex Jr. was forced to back off, to prevent running Junior over. Busch, focused on picking up speed and finding the right lane, swerved to the right and then left, making contact with Truex, Jr. The rest of the wreck occurred because cars spun in front of other cars…there was no time to react.
Is that what happened to those who stand in judgment of Kyle? No time to stop and consider the facts before jumping on the bandwagon and boo the one we’re all so eager to put down. What does that say about us — the NASCAR fans?
Oo! That’s not so flattering, is it?
I’m all for frowning on Kyle when he says something imbecilic. I’ll write scathing paragraphs when he smashes guitars. I will even boo his very appearance on the driver introduction stage simply because it’s fun. However, I’ll not hold him to a double-standard on the track.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. spun his tires on the restart. That was the cause of the wreck. Everybody else involved in the pileup were innocent bystanders.
Kyle? Well, for this week, I will give you your due. You ran a relatively clean race. Do you think you could do it again next week?
Then again, what would we talk about if you did?
S.D. Grady is a Senior Writer for Frontstretch.com. She can be contacted at lar...@gmail.com.
Numbers Game: Lenox Industrial Tools 301
by Kim DeHaven
1
Number of times winner Joey Logano led the Lenox Industrial Tools 301 Sunday.
1st
Joey Logano's finishing position in the Lenox Industrial Tools 301, earning him Rookie of the Race honors for the 12th time this season.
2
Drivers who failed to qualify for the Lenox Industrial Tools 301.
(No. 51 - Dexter Bean; No. 27 - Ted Christopher)
2 hour, 57 minutes, 45 seconds
Time it took to complete the Lenox Industrial Tools 301.
10
Laps led by Lenox Industrial Tools 301 winner Joey Logano.
10th
Career Sprint Cup victories for Lenox Industrial Tools 301 winner Joey Logano in 20 starts.
11
Caution flags for a total of 47 laps at New Hampshire.
12
Number of penalties handed out by NASCAR during the running of the Lenox Industrial Tools 301.
19 years, 1 month, and 4 days
Joey Logano's age on Sunday when he won the Lenox Industrial Tools 301, making him the youngest winner in NASCAR Cup history.
21
Lead changes among 14 drivers Sunday.
34
Cars running at the end of the Lenox Industrial Tools 301; 26 finished on the lead lap.
43rd
Patrick Carpentier's finishing position in the Lenox Industrial Tools 301. He completed just 14 laps before crashing out of the event in Turn 4.
69
Points that Tony Stewart leads Jeff Gordon by in the Sprint Cup standings.
72
Career Cup wins for Joe Gibbs Racing after Joey Logano's trip to Victory Lane on Sunday.
93
Laps led by in the Lenox Industrial Tools 301, the most of any driver.
97.497
Average race speed (in mph).
273
Laps in the Lenox Industrial Tools 301, equaling 288.834 miles.
101,000
Estimated crowd in attendance at New Hampshire.
$276,201
Joey Logano's purse for winning the Lenox Industrial Tools 301.
$5,423,189
Total purse for the Lenox Industrial Tools 301.
Kim is co-publisher of the Frontstretch. She can be reached at kim.d...@frontstretch.com.
Think you have what it takes to write for the Frontstretch?
Are you looking for a fast-growing website that can give you an opportunity to not only share your thoughts on racing, but have FUN doing it with a group of laid-back, dedicated personnel? Well, we have the place for you. Frontstretch is actively seeking 1-3 additional writers for both our newsletter and website to add to our dedicated staff in 2009. Follow this link for more information on how you can become a weekly columnist for the site and/or newsletter!
TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:
Beyond The Cockpit: Bobby Labonte On Adjusting, Winning, And ... Shooting the Truck?
by Amy Henderson
Talking NASCAR TV: Loudon Telecasts Marked By Bill Weber's Departure In The Booth
by Phil Allaway
Ten Of The Best Motorsports Writers You Should Be Reading (Outside Of Frontstretch)
by Danny Peters
Who's Hot / Who's Not In Sprint Cup: New Hampshire Edition
by Doug Turnbull
Running Their Mouth: Lenox Industrial Tools 301
by Beth Lunkenheimer
FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Q. The 400-mile race at Daytona is a July 4th holiday tradition -- but when was the last time the Coke Zero 400 was actually run on July 4th?
Check back Wednesday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
Monday's Answer:
Q. Who was the last driver to start the season sweeping the first three restrictor plate races -- the Daytona 500, the Spring Race at Talladega, and the Pepsi 400?
A. It's a trick question -- because it's never happened. That's right; not once in the 40-year history both tracks were on the schedule (long before plates were introduced in 1989) has anyone won both Daytona races AND the first race at Talladega in the same year.
Frontstretch Trivia Guarantee; If we mess up, you get the shirt off our backs! If we've provided an incorrect answer to the Frontstretch Trivia question, be the first to email the corrected trivia answer to tri...@frontstretch.com and we'll send you a Frontstretch T-Shirt ... FREE!
ADVERTISEMENT
Save Big at Porter and Pittsburgh Paint Locations Nationwide!
Frontstretch.com has negotiated a special price for its readers on all paints and sundries at any corporate owned Porter Paints or Pittsburgh Paints location. Tell your sales associate to use account number TA000553 to let them know that you are a Frontstretch reader, and you are entitled to a 15% discount off the WHOLESALE price on any stocked item. Not valid at dealer locations.
Coming tomorrow in the Frontstretch Newsletter:
-- Top News from Phil Allaway
-- Full Throttle by Mike Neff
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, and more!
Tomorrow on the Frontstretch:
Frontstretch Top Ten by Jeff Meyer
Jeff's back in action with another hysterical, super-sarcastic rendition of his weekly racing Top Ten.
Frontstretch Foto Funnies by Kurt Smith
Poking fun at NASCAR superstars? It's second nature to Kurt, as he takes a look at some of the goofiest photos from the past weekend of racing at New Hampshire and Memphis.
Voice Of Vito by Vito Pugliese
Vito returns from vacation with his latest NASCAR commentary on the state of the sport.
Did You Notice? by Tom Bowles
That a certain driver has more access to money than anyone in the Cup Series field today -- but doesn't have a top 10 finish yet this season? That's just one of Tom Bowles' many small observations he has from the last week around the NASCAR circuit.
Mirror Driving by the Frontstretch Staff
Where does Joey Logano's win rank on racing history -- and which drivers should make history as members of the first class of NASCAR's Hall of Fame? Your favorite experts discuss both ends of the spectrum, and then some, in the latest edition of their weekly writing roundtable.
Frontstretch Top 15 Sprint Cup Power Rankings compiled by Mike Neff
How did a another week of fuel mileage follies shake up the weekly rankings? Our experts reveal their latest weekly poll after Mother Nature shook up the final running order at the Magic Mile.
------------------------------
Talk back to the Frontstretch Newsletter!
Got something to say about an article you've seen in the newsletter? It's as easy as replying directly to this message or sending an email to edi...@frontstretch.com. We'll take the best comments and publish them here!
©2009 Frontstretch.com
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages