The Frontstretch Newsletter: November 20th, 2009

[Frontstretch.com]

THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
November 13th, 2009
Volume III, Edition CCXXV
 
DON'T FORGET THE FRONTSTRETCH LIVE BLOG THIS SUNDAY!

Jimmie Johnson's victory Sunday at Phoenix has given him a 108-point lead going into the season-ending Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, all but securing him a fourth straight title.  But while there may not be much of a race for the championship this weekend, that doesn't mean the action will stop on a 1.5-mile oval whose graduated banking often makes for fantastic finishes.
 
Can't get to a television to watch the race?  Or are you too busy watching the NFL to switch over?  Well, join your favorite Frontstretch writers instead for commentary, opinions, polls, and all kinds of other inside information you just can't get anywhere else as you follow the race LIVE from your computer.  The action starts at 2:45 PM EST on Sunday, so feel free to drop on by.  And remember, viewer posts are always welcome, so don't be shy -- participate!

Today's Top News
by Kurt Allen Smith
 
Rusty Wallace Racing Moving To Toyotas

 

Rusty Wallace racing announced yesterday that it will be fielding Toyotas for its 2010 Nationwide series campaign. RWR runs cars for Rusty’s son Steve Wallace and for Brendan Gaughan.

 

"I'm very proud to have the opportunity for the team and I to represent the Toyota brand," said Wallace. "We decided that at the end of the day, our goal as a race team is simple: to win races and championships. Thus, we all had to take a long look at which manufacturer partner could best help us reach that goal."

 

RWR had previously been running Chevrolets in its two year tenure in the Nationwide Series.

 

Mayfield’s Lawyer Calls NASCAR’s Dismissal Attempt “Desperate”

 

Following a court claim made by NASCAR that suspended driver Jeremy Mayfield had no case in his lawsuit challenging the sport, Mayfield’s attorney Mark Geragos called the move a “desperate attempt by desperate people”. He said in a radio interview that “We’re confident once we’re in the courtroom, the truth will be told.”

 

Geragos claimed that NASCAR is trying to delay the case by asking that the information gathering phase be halted until its latest motion can be heard.

 

Mayfield was suspended on May 9 of this year for testing positive for methamphetamines. He subsequently sued NASCAR for breach of contract, discrimination and defamation of character. The trial is set for September of 2010.

 

Have news for Jeff and the Frontstretch? Don't hesitate to let us know; email us at ashl...@mail.com with a promising lead or tip.
 
Hey Frontstretch Readers!
Do you want the chance to win a free Frontstretch T-Shirt, and are you really good at talking about NASCAR? Well, we have the perfect opportunity for you. Our staff will be giving away a free T-Shirt to the reader who makes the best post in our Frontstretch Forum between now and the end of the season. So, what makes a good post? It's pretty hard to impress us, but here are some things we are looking for:

Does your post spark passionate reactions from other readers? Are you commenting on meaningful NASCAR-related events? Do your posts have substance? In other words, "Dale Jr. is the best driver ever" or "Danica Patrick is hot" will not cut it.
 
So go to the Frontstretch Forums, post early, post often, and post well! We'll announce the winner following the final race of the season at Homestead.
 
In Case You Missed It
By Kurt Allen Smith
 
Astronaut Buzz Aldrin Named Honorary Race Chairman At Homestead

 

Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin, a member of the Apollo 11 mission that was the first to land on the moon, has been named the honorary race chairman for this weekend’s Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The speedway is celebrating the 40-year anniversary of the event.

 

“In this 40th-year celebration of man walking on the moon, what an honor to have Buzz Aldrin circle the Championship Track in a 1969 Ford Mustang,” said Speedway President Curtis Gray. “Buzz is an American hero and his presence at Homestead-Miami will serve as a deserving tribute to the history he and NASA made 40 years ago this year.”

 

Aldrin will be honored during pre-race activities and will drive a 1969 Mustang as the pace car for the preliminary laps.

 

Ragan Testing New Ford Engine At Homestead

 

David Ragan, driver of the No. 6 Roush Fenway Racing Ford in the Sprint Cup series, was selected to test the new Ford FR9 engine in the Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway this weekend. The engine had been tested at Talladega by Ragan and Matt Kenseth with no performance issues.

 

"It gives us a good look at how the engine will perform on the track," North American Operations manager of Ford Racing Technology Doug Hervey said. "You know, the engine has been tested on a dyno with race-durability runs, so it has simulated racing, but it hasn’t been out in the environment.”

 

Ragan is currently 27th in the Sprint Cup series standings.

 
Listen In To Frontstretch On iTunes!
Tune in every Thursday afternoon to the Inside Racing Podcast presented by Wrigley's to get the inside dish on the week’s racing news. The Frontstretch’s Matt Taliaferro and Tom Bowles break down last week’s events, discuss current issues within the sport, and take a look ahead to this weekend’s upcoming race. With host Braden Gall keeping things in order for segments like Tom's Track Talk, Matt's Hot Laps, and more, it's an action-packed, fast-paced 30 minutes of racing debate. So if you’re tired of the cleaned-up, glossed-over network coverage, Inside Racing presented by Wrigley's is the place for you — Matt and Tom ask all the tough questions and provide the politically incorrect answers you seek. Look for our podcast on iTunes under the keyword: Athlon.
 
Blue Smoke And Burnt Rubber:  Epilogue
A NASCAR Mystery
by S.D. Grady

Chris coiled the power cord and stored it in the proper compartment on Danny’s RV.  Silence hung over the infield campground, save for the squeak of an awning retracting.  He stepped back and looked over the gray and black exterior of the vehicle, making sure the antennae was down, levelers retracted and all the trash picked up.

 

Most of the RV’s had left last night, after the final checkered flag dropped on the season.  Bud Shepherd, in his fifteenth year of competition, had won the Cup.  Preston Colton, damn the kid, settled for second, missing out on a record breaking season by a mere forty points. 

 

Chris looked up at the bright November sky and felt the warmth of the southern sun on his face. 

 

It was over—all of it.  He kicked at the grass and headed for the door.  Time to go.  He doubted if he ever wanted to return again.  Not just to Tallahassee Race Park, but to any race.  He’d been thinking a lot this past week.

 

You raced to be the fastest.  To be the best, you had to hire the brightest in the garage and have all the best equipment.  In order to accomplish that formidable feat, you needed money.  You needed the sponsors. And that’s when the spiral of power and money began its sickening turn into hell.

 

Yes, Albright had been an extreme aberration of the type of man that was drawn to the GSCA…but…

 

An engine fired.

 

Automatically, Chris turned toward the sound.  The familiar rumble of a carbureted engine drew him like a magnet.  It came from the Cup garage area.  A second roar joined the first.  The cars began to move.

 

Chris’ feet stepped out.  With his hands in his pockets, he shrugged and smiled to himself.  He simply had to go check it out.

Minutes later, he stepped onto pit lane.  The Frank Saunders Racing School had their awnings and mini-grandstand set up.  About a hundred people milled about, eating donuts and coffee while a pair of cars took to the track.   Some slightly overweight fans climbed into the one-size-fits-all fire suits before they sat down for their safety review.  The cars on the track remained single file, at a reduced speed—the engines complaining about the lack of pedal.

 

The green flag waved and they picked up the pace. 

 

Chris climbed to the top of the little grandstand and began his habitual circular march, keeping a close eye on the cars that sported familiar paintjobs.

 

With each corner, the instructor picked up the pace a little while the guest worked on keeping his car directly behind the leader with a safe distance separating them. 

 

This one was pretty good, Chris thought.  Maybe the guy had taken the three lap spin before.

 

Another pair of engines fired.  The stench filled the air.

 

Chris felt his pulse lift and he took a deep breath.  Did he really want to give all this up?  What else would he do?  He could get a job as a PR rep somewhere.  This season had taught him enough about working the media to land that kind of position in almost any industry.  Still…

 

The second pair of cars took to the track as the first one came down pit road.  A mom and kid cheered for the arrival of their dad.

Fun and games…that’s what the fans saw.

 

The dad climbed out and stood next to his car.  The photographer snapped the shot.  The school would offer up the dvd of his ride for purchase for just another $50.

 

More money.  Another way to put the cash into the pockets of the race teams.  Frank Saunders would sponsor one of the independent GSCA teams for a couple races next year.  Funny how it all ended up back at the track.

 

Chris sat down and watched the morning’s action.  After a bit, four young men in well-used and fitted fire suits climbed over the wall and got into the cars.  Those that had paid for their bit of fun lined up to watch. 

 

Chris stood up again.  These were next year’s rookies.  They needed to complete the course at Tallahassee to be approved to run the Florida World Speedway race in February.  The cars took to the track, two wide and two deep.  They paced for two laps before the green was given.

 

The engines wound up and they were off.

 

Chris gave a moment’s thought to the empty stands surrounding the track.  Was this morning so much different from last night, where 43 cars roared past and 100,000 fans stood with excitement?

 

The four-pack blew by at close to competitive speeds.  One ducked to the bottom to execute a pass.  The leader blocked.

Chris grinned at the mini-race.  Yeah, there was a difference.

 

He climbed down the stands and headed back to the RV.  The rumble from the high banking beat through his veins.

Could he just walk away and never return to the track?

 

The cars sped by on the backstretch, a bright streak of excitement.

 

He knew the answer. 

 

This life was in his blood—in his soul.  In three months, with whichever team he might be working for, he would pack his bags and the toolboxes and head out to the track.  Only here would he find the things that defined his existence.

 

Speed.  Competition.  Victory.

 

The End

S.D. Grady is a Senior Writer for Frontstretch.com. She can be reached at sonya...@frontstretch.com.

Frontstretch Folio:  Ford 400
By Phil Allaway

The Sprint Cup Series heads to South Florida this weekend for the 2009 Sprint Cup Series finale.  The Ford 400 is the 36th and final race of the 2009 Sprint Cup season and will be broadcast live on Sunday, November 1st at 3:15 PM EST on ABC, with radio coverage by MRN affiliates nationwide. Competitors will make 267 circuits for 400.5 miles around the 1.5 mile oval in their quest for the checkered flag.

Records and Facts
Jamie McMurray holds the record for the fastest lap at Homestead-Miami Speedway, posting a qualifying lap with a time of 29.816 seconds and a speed of 181.111 mph to win the pole for the 2003 running of the Ford 400.

Kurt Busch holds the record for the most poles at Homestead with two.  David Reutimann won the pole for the race last year.  He finished the race in 20th.

Greg Biffle holds the record for most race victories at Homestead-Miami Speedway with three.  Carl Edwards is the defending champion of the Ford 400.

Matt Kenseth holds the fastest race record time on the current configuration of 3 hours, 2 minutes, 12 seconds at an average speed of 131.888 mph.  He attained the record on November 18, 2007 in the Ford 400.

On the flatter configuration with 6 degree banks in the turns used by the Cup Series from 1999-2002, Tony Stewart holds the race record.  Stewart ran the 400 miles in 2 hours, 51 minutes, 14 seconds at an average speed of 140.335 mph.  He attained this record on November 14, 1999 in the inaugural Pennzoil 400.

Track Facts
Track/Race Length: 1.5 mile oval, 188 laps, 500.08 miles
Pit Road Speed: 45 mph
Degree of Banking: Turns 1-2: 18-20 degrees; Turns 3-4: 18-20 degrees
Frontstretch: Length: 1,760 feet, Banking: 4 degrees
Backstretch: Length: 1,760 feet, Banking: 4 degrees
Pit Road: Length: 1,730 feet
Grandstand seating: 72,000

Pre-race Schedule
Practice: Friday, November 20th - 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on SPEED
Qualifying: Friday, November 20th - 3:00 p.m. on ESPN 2
Practice:  Saturday, November 21st- 1:30 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. on SPEED
Happy Hour Practice: Saturday, November 21st - 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on ESPN 2

VIPs
National Anthem:  Anika Noni Rose (Voice of Tiana in Disney's The Princess and the Rose)
Grand Marshal:  Mike Rowe (Host of the Discovery Channel's Dirty Jobs)
Honorary Starter:  Bobby Allison

Say What?!?!?!?!
“There are a lot of different lanes you can look for.  It’s a lot of fun.  It’s the only track we have that’s that big that is a true oval without the dogleg, and the backstretch being higher than the frontstretch, it makes all four corners a lot different, so it’s a fun track.  I think the racing there is as good as anywhere now.  I think all the drivers and teams and the fans, everybody loves going down there and it’s a great event to have at the end of the year and to crown all the champions, so it’s really unique.”- Matt Kenseth

"Homestead is a good track and a good speedway to end the season at.  You’re running on a mile-and-a-half track that is relatively new and has new some technology that allows for multiple racing grooves.  When they remodeled the track, they did a great job and it’s worthy of being a championship track.  You can run low, in the middle, up high and still carry the speed you need to be competitive.  The track is fast too and has a lot of grip in it.  You’re not going to find a track that has as many good qualities to it.”- Bobby Labonte

Phil Allaway is a Newsletter Contributor/Editor for Frontstretch.com.  He can be reached at phil.a...@frontstretch.com.

Spoiler Picks, Round 36:  Ford 400
By Phil Allaway and Mike Ravesi

Well, here we are.  The final week of the season.  Just 267 laps of action remain before the long offseason sadly begins.  But before we start talking about this weekend's Ford 400, we have to first review the results from last Sunday's Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500k presented by Pennzoil.

Phil's Phoenix Picks:

55 Michael Waltrip(11)- Finished 36th, 61 laps down (involved in restart wreck on lap 120, spent significant time behind the wall for repairs)
77 Sam Hornish Jr.(12)- Finished 17th, one lap down

Average Finish:  26.5

Mike's Phoenix Picks:

12 Brad Keselowski(26)- Finished 37th, 73 laps down (involved in same restart wreck as Michael Waltrip, also spent significant time behind the wall)
71 Bobby Labonte(20)- Finished 39th, completed 169 laps before being taken out in the big wreck on lap 170 exiting turn 4

Average Finish:  38

Even though it doesn't matter at this point (since Phil clinched the competition by winning at Texas), Phil's picks won him the weekend at Phoenix.  This has increased his lead to 20-15, the largest margin of the season.

This weekend is the Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.  It's the final race of the season and is widely thought to be a coronation for Jimmie Johnson's fourth championship.  However, we here at Frontstretch like to give our readers something else to look for during the races when the coverage that NASCAR's media partners are pushing doesn't whet the fans' appetite.  That is mainly the reason that the Spoiler Pick competition was created.  Phil and Mike both send their thanks to the readership for reading our weekly picks column for the balance of the 2009 season.

Now, without further ado, here are the picks that Phil and Mike have made for this Sunday's Ford 400.

Mike's Homestead Picks:

6 David Ragan- Out of the drivers eligible to be Spoiler Picks, Ragan has the best average finish at Homestead (17th).  Of course, he's only made two starts there, but that is beside the point.  The first time there in the Cup Series (2007), which doubled as the very last race for the "old car," Ragan finished tenth.  In addition, he has qualified in the top 10 for each of his Cup starts at Homestead.

71 Bobby Labonte- Most of Bobby Labonte's success at Homestead in the Cup Series came on "Mk 2" of the track, the six degree version used by the Cup Series from 1999-2002.  (For reference purposes, "Mk 1" is the original, rectangular configuration that is approximately 35 mph slower than the current design).  In that stretch, he scored a second in the inaugural race in 1999, a fourth and an eighth place finish.  Then, the track was reconfigured into its current setup.  Labonte won the first race on this configuration after Bill Elliott cut a tire on the final lap.  Since then, however, success has been fleeting for Labonte at HMS.

Phil's Homestead Picks:

12 Brad Keselowski- Brad has no Cup starts at Homestead, but has made three starts in the Nationwide Series on the graduated banks.  Those starts range from great to unfortunate.  Also, he may be "humbled" by Sunday, so he might be able to get his mind in the race a little more.

82 Scott Speed- Speed is desparate to get his No. 82 team into the Top 35 after Sunday's race, so he'll be charging as hard as possible in order to do it.  Speed has only one career start at Homestead (last fall), but he did very well in it.  In that race, the Red Bull Racing Team shifted Speed from the No. 84 (former number of the current No. 82) to the No. 83 while Brian Vickers drove the No. 84.  Speed qualified the No. 83 on the outside pole and then finished 16th on Sunday.  Meanwhile, Vickers qualified decent, but struggled throughout the race to a 32nd place finish.

 

TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:

What We Really Can Look Forward To In 2010 

by Kurt Smith
 
Where, Oh Where Has the Underdog Gone? 

by Amy Henderson
 
Driven to the Past: Some Thoughts Before Going Into Hibernation 

by John Potts
 
Tearing Apart the Trucks: Farewell 2009 Season...It's Been a Great Ride! 

by Beth Lunkenheimer
 
A Look Back: The Top 20 NNS Performances of 2009 

by Bryan Davis Keith

FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
 
Q:  When the Winston Cup Series first came to Homestead-Miami Speedway in 1999, it also marked the first telecast of a Cup race for NBC since 1985 (they had actually never televised a race flag-to-flag up to that point).  Who was in the booth for NBC that day?
 
Check back Monday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
 
Thursday's Answer:
Q:  We're going to make this one quite a bit easier than yesterday's question.  In the 2001 Pennzoil 400, Bill Elliott picked up his first Winston Cup victory since the 1994 Mountain Dew Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway (back in 1994, Elliott was driving the No. 11 Budweiser Ford for Junior Johnson).  Who did he overtake to claim the victory?

A:  Elliott overtook his teammate Casey Atwood with five laps to go and pulled away to win the race by nearly a second and a half.  Michael Waltrip just got by Atwood at the line for second.  Not only was this the first win in over seven years for Elliott, but it was also the first victory for the race team, which had been competing in the Winston Cup Series since 1994 (They started as the No. 44, then switched to No. 94 when Elliott bought into the Hardy Racing team, then to No. 9 when Evernham bought it).

 

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!
 
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Coming Monday in the Frontstretch Newsletter:
--  Ford 400 Race Recap by Jay W. Pennell
--- Big Six:  Ford 400 by Amy Henderson
--- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, Stat of the Week, and more!
 
Monday on the Frontstretch:

Matt McLaughlin's Thinkin' Out Loud:  Homestead by Matt McLaughlin
Matt's got all the post-race analysis and NASCAR water cooler fodder you need to know after the Sprint Cup Series goes racing at Homestead-Miami Speedway for the final race of the Chase for the Sprint Cup.
 
Bowles-Eye View by Tom Bowles
Tom has his take on the biggest story coming out of the weekend in his Monday post-race commentary.
 
Five Points To Ponder by Mike Lovecchio
Mike will point out five things you shouldn't have missed from the last week in NASCAR racing after an action-packed weekend in South Florida.

Bubble Breakdown: Tracking The Top 35 In Owner Points by Mike Ravesi
34 teams have already locked themselves into the first five races of 2010.  Just one spot, the 35th and final "locked in" spot remains.  Will the Front Row Motorsports No. 34 get it, or will Scott Speed somehow overcome his gap in the No. 82 for the Red Bull Racing Team.  Mike continues to track those cars and others in and around the top 35 in owner points following the Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Sprint Cup Rookie Report by Tony Lumbis
Tony has the wrapup of Sunday's action for the Sprint Cup Rookie contenders competing in the Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Truck Series Breakdown by Beth Lunkenheimer
Beth gives the wrap-up treatment to Friday night's Ford 200 from Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Nationwide Series Breakdown:  Ford 300 by Bryan Davis Keith
Bryan gives his full race rundown from Saturday's Nationwide Series showdown at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
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