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Top News
by Phil Allaway
GM Announcement of Holden Commodore Exportation Imminent
Australia's Drive is reporting that Holden, General Motors' Australian subsidiary, is expected to announce as soon as today that exportation of the rear-wheel drive Holden Commodore to the U.S. will begin early next year. The Commodore is expected to be the basis of a new model in the Chevrolet lineup, likely to be called the SS Performance or just SS.
This new model will be the new entry that Chevrolet fields in the Sprint Cup Series for 2013 when the second generation COT's debut next February. Previously, Chevrolet had already announced that they would not be continuing with the Impala beyond the end of this season in Sprint Cup, and that their 2013 challenger would be a new model to their lineup. In addition, a brand-new Impala for the 2014 model year was unveiled last month at the New York Auto Show.
Such a move is important for Holden due to the fact that demand for the Commodore in Australia is waning. Last year, the
Mazda3 eclipsed the Commodore to become the highest selling car in Australia, ending a 15 year reign for Holden's full-size offering.
Drive also reports that the announcement has been moved up by quite a few weeks due to a number of leaks. For example, the OnStar website briefly displayed a list of future models that would be equipped with OnStar through the 2014 model year. This included the SS Performance and a new ELR model from Cadillac.
This will not be the first time that Holden has exported the Commodore to the U.S. The Commodore was recently exported to the U.S. as the Pontiac G8, a Grand Prix replacement. However, the bankruptcy of General Motors and the shutdown of Pontiac ended that program after only two years in 2009.
The Commodore is built on GM's full size Zeta platform. A stretched version of it is currently utilized for the Holden Caprice. That car is currently being sold in the U.S. as the Caprice PPV, a vehicle officially available only to Police Departments (although a couple of dealerships have stocked civilian versions). The Commodore also has "Ute" (think the El Camino) and wagon variants that could also come to the U.S. at a future date. The ute was supposed to come to the U.S. as the Pontiac G8 ST, but the brand was shutdown before that could happen.
Rumors have placed the SS Performance as a V8-only vehicle with a limited production run. However, that could be subject to change due to the realities of the U.S. market.
SPEED Energy Joins Eddie Sharp Racing
On Wednesday, Eddie Sharp Racing announced a new partnership with SPEED Energy, the energy drink brand created by Robby Gordon. According to a picture on the
SPEED Energy website, the SPEED Energy logo will appear on the deck lid of the No. 6 CollegeComplete.com Chevrolet driven by Justin Lofton in Friday night's North Carolina Education Lottery 200 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Lofton is very pleased to have Gordon's energy drink onboard this weekend.
"I am really excited about having SPEED Energy Drink onboard," Lofton said. "The new partnership with Robby Gordon and SPEED is more than just a decal on the truck. I have known Robby for a long time, racing against him in the desert."
Gordon, who has focused much of his 2012 on racing in the desert, is very happy to work with a kindred spirit in Lofton.
"With regards to Justin joining up with SPEED Energy, we're really excited about it," Gordon said. "Justin has done an awesome job in the Camping World Truck Series and I've known him and his family in off-road [racing] for years. His dad was always fast in the desert and Justin's ability is awesome. I'm looking forward to him having a good run this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway and then racing again in the Best of the Desert Series. We've been having a lot of fun racing together and [I'm] excited for us and his production company to start working on future projects together."
In addition to the sponsorship on the No. 6 Chevrolet, Lofton and Gordon will team up on future projects via Weekend Warriors Productions, a production company that Lofton is a co-owner of. That production company actually sponsored Lofton in a 2010 Nationwide Series race at Texas Motor Speedway (the car was owned by a combination of Lofton and his Camping World Truck Series team at the time, Red Horse Racing).
Entering Charlotte, Lofton is third in Camping World Truck Series points with two top-5 finishes and top-10's in all four races.
Angela Cope to Make Season Debut for SR2 Motorsports at Charlotte
SR2 Motorsports announced on Tuesday that Angela Cope will drive for the team in the History 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 26. The team's press release indicates that Cope will be driving a No. 00 Chevrolet. This will be a second entry in addition to the team's No. 24 that has been shared this season by Benny Gordon, Casey Roderick, Tanner Berryhill, and (via partnership with RAB Racing with Brack Maggard) John Wes Townley. As a result, Cope will have to qualify on speed.
Sponsorship will be provided by Highland Wealth Advisors and Luichiny Shoes. Cope has an existing relationship with Luichiny since Angela, along with her twin sister Amber, sell Luichiny shoes (along with other products) at their own online store,
Pink Candy Boutique.
Entry List Update
Note: These entries are accurate as of Wednesday night. However, they are still subject to change.
Sprint Cup Series Sprint Showdown: 22 cars entered
Driver Changes:
No. 10- David Reutimann returns to the seat, replacing Danica Patrick.
No. 36- Tony Raines is in the seat, replacing Dave Blaney.
No. 93- Travis Kvapil returns to the seat, replacing David Reutimann.
Entries:
No. 1- Jamie McMurray for Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing
No. 10- David Reutimann for Tommy Baldwin Racing
No. 13- Casey Mears for Germain Racing
No. 19- Mike Bliss for Humphrey-Smith Racing
No. 20- Joey Logano for Joe Gibbs Racing
No. 22- A.J. Allmendinger for Penske Racing
No. 26- Josh Wise for Front Row Motorsports
No. 30- David Stremme for Inception Motorsports
No. 31- Jeff Burton for Richard Childress Racing
No. 33- Stephen Leicht for Richard Childress Racing/LJ Racing
No. 36- Tony Raines for Tommy Baldwin Racing
No. 38- David Gilliland for Front Row Motorsports
No. 42- Juan Pablo Montoya for Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing
No. 43- Aric Almirola for Richard Petty Motorsports
No. 47- Bobby Labonte for JTG-Daugherty Racing
No. 49- J.J. Yeley for Robinson-Blakeney Racing
No. 56- Martin Truex, Jr. for Michael Waltrip Racing
No. 83- Landon Cassill for BK Racing
No. 87- Joe Nemechek for NEMCO Motorsports
No. 88- Dale Earnhardt, Jr. for Hendrick Motorsports
No. 93- Travis Kvapil for BK Racing
No. 95- Scott Speed for Leavine Family Racing
Not Entered:
No. 23- Scott Riggs for R3 Motorsports
No. 73- BK Racing
No. 79- Go Green Racing
Sprint All-Star Race: 20 cars currently entered, 23 will start
Entries:
No. 2- Brad Keselowski for Penske Racing (won two races in 2012)
No. 5- Kasey Kahne for Hendrick Motorsports (won Phoenix, November 2011)
No. 9- Marcos Ambrose for Richard Petty Motorsports (won Watkins Glen 2011)
No. 11- Denny Hamlin for Joe Gibbs Racing (won two races in 2012)
No. 14- Tony Stewart for Stewart-Haas Racing (won two races in 2012)
No. 15- Clint Bowyer for Michael Waltrip Racing (won Talladega, November 2011)
No. 16- Greg Biffle for Roush Fenway Racing (won Texas, April 2012)
No. 17- Matt Kenseth for Roush Fenway Racing (won 2012 Daytona 500)
No. 18- Kyle Busch for Joe Gibbs Racing (won Bristol, March 2011)
No. 21- Trevor Bayne for Wood Brothers Racing (won 2011 Daytona 500)
No. 24- Jeff Gordon for Hendrick Motorsports (won Atlanta, September 2011)
No. 27- Paul Menard for Richard Childress Racing (won Indianapolis, July 2011)
No. 29- Kevin Harvick for Richard Childress Racing (won three races in 2011)
No. 34- David Ragan for Front Row Motorsports (won Daytona, July 2011)
No. 39- Ryan Newman for Stewart-Haas Racing (won Martinsville, April 2012)
No. 48- Jimmie Johnson for Hendrick Motorsports (won Darlington, May 2012)
No. 51- Kurt Busch for Phoenix Racing (won three races in 2011)
No. 55- Mark Martin for Michael Waltrip Racing (won All-Star Race in 2005)
No. 78- Regan Smith for Furniture Row Motorsports (won Darlington, May 2011)
No. 99- Carl Edwards for Roush Fenway Racing (won Las Vegas, March 2011)
In addition, the top two finishers in the Sprint Showdown, plus the winner of the fan vote (provided his vehicle is raceable, did not finish in the top two in the Showdown, and finished on the lead lap) would round out the field.
Nationwide Series Pioneer Hi-Bred 250: 43 cars entered
Drivers Ineligible to Earn Points:
No. 18- Michael McDowell for Joe Gibbs Racing
No. 22- Parker Kligerman for Penske Racing
No. 33- Brendan Gaughan for Richard Childress Racing
No. 42- Josh Wise for Team Motorsports Group
No. 47- Scott Speed for Team Motorsports Group
No. 54- Kurt Busch for Kyle Busch Motorsports
No. 75- Scott Riggs for Rick Ware Racing
Driver Changes:
No. 08- Tim Andrews returns to the seat, replacing Matt Frahm.
No. 4- Daryl Harr returns to the seat, replacing Danny Efland.
No. 10- An unknown driver will be in the seat, replacing Tony Raines.
Regular driver Jeff Green will once again sub for Eric McClure in the No. 14.
No. 20- Darrell Wallace, Jr. is in the seat, replacing Joey Logano. If Wallace qualifies, he will make his Nationwide Series debut.
No. 22- Parker Kligerman is in the seat, replacing Brad Keselowski. This is the first of a short schedule of races in the No. 22 for the Camping World Truck Series regular.
No. 30- Steve Arpin returns to the seat, replacing James Buescher.
No. 38- Brad Sweet returns to the seat, replacing Kasey Kahne.
No. 52- Joey Gase is in the seat, replacing Kevin Lepage.
No. 70- Johanna Long returns to the seat, replacing Derrike Cope.
Since there are only 43 entries, no one will fail to qualify. However, these drivers must still qualify on speed:
No. 10- Unknown driver for TriStar Motorsports
No. 15- Blake Koch for Rick Ware Racing
No. 20- Darrell Wallace, Jr. for Joe Gibbs Racing
No. 26- John Young for Young Motorsports
No. 39- Josh Richards for Go Green Racing
No. 42- Josh Wise for Team Motorsports Group*
No. 46- Chase Miller for Team Motorsports Group*
No. 47- Scott Speed for Team Motorsports Group*
No. 50- T.J. Bell for MAKE Motorsports
No. 52- Joey Gase for Means Motorsports
No. 74- Mike Harmon for Mike Harmon Racing*
No. 75- Scott Riggs for Rick Ware Racing*
No. 89- Morgan Shepherd for Shepherd Racing Ventures
Not Entered:
No. 36- Ryan Blaney for Tommy Baldwin Racing
Camping World Truck Series North Carolina Education Lottery 200: 41 trucks entered
Drivers Ineligible to Earn Points:
No. 2- Brendan Gaughan for Richard Childress Racing
No. 19- Brad Keselowski for Brad Keselowski Racing
No. 92- David Reutimann for RBR Enterprises
Driver Changes:
No. 07- Johnny Chapman is in the seat, replacing Chris Jones.
No. 2- Brendan Gaughan returns to the seat, replacing Tim George, Jr.
No. 38- An unknown driver will be in the seat, replacing Dennis Setzer.
No. 60- An unknown driver (more than likely J.R. Fitzpatrick) will be in the seat, replacing Chad McCumbee.
No. 74- An unknown driver will be in the seat, replacing Scott Riggs.
Drivers who must qualify on speed:
No. 07- Johnny Chapman for SS-Green Light Racing*
No. 10- Jennifer Jo Cobb for JJC Racing
No. 14- Brennan Newberry for Newberry Racing
No. 19- Brad Keselowski for Brad Keselowski Racing
No. 28- Wes Burton for FDNY Racing
No. 38- Unknown driver for RSS Racing*
No. 57- Norm Benning for Norm Benning Racing
No. 60- Unknown driver for Turn One Racing
No. 68- Clay Greenfield for Clay Greenfield Racing
No. 70- Jeff Agnew for Level 7 Motorsports
No. 74- Unknown driver for Mike Harmon Racing*
No. 75- Caleb Holman for Henderson Racing
No. 84- Chris Fontaine for Chris Fontaine, Inc.
No. 92- David Reutimann for RBR Enterprises
No. 93- Chris Cockrum for RSS Racing
No. 99- Bryan Silas for T3R Racing
*- Expected to Start and Park
Not Entered:
No. 12- Russ Dugger for DGR Racing
No. 65- Scott Stenzel for MB Motorsports
Have news for Phil and the Frontstretch? Don't hesitate to let us know; email us at phil.a...@frontstretch.com with a promising lead or tip.
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Today's Featured Commentary
Let's Cut Kurt Busch a Bit of a BreakWhat's Vexing Vito
by Vito Pugliese
Perhaps I am in the minority here, but I think Kurt Busch gets a bad rap. And yes, I did see the last twenty minutes at Darlington. As soon as Busch scrapped the wall with about ten laps to go, I promptly dialed up the scanner to No. 51, because I had a funny feeling something was about to happen.
Needless to say, I wasn’t disappointed.
What followed sounded a bit more like a Mel Gibson rant rather than a conversation between a driver and his crew. By the final restart, his voice was hoarse from screaming and voicing the frustrations of both himself and his team as well. Here’s a low-budget operation with his owner’s construction company sometimes on the car, when it’s not clad in cougar graphics to help draw some attention to it to secure sponsorship.
While that may be funny, what’s not funny is when a small team like this is literally racing week to week, yet had top-10 – and nearly top-5 – runs going down to the wire in the race. At Talladega, Busch received an off-centered push from former teammate Brad Keselowski. At Darlington, he had driven up as high as fourth in the race. Late in the going, he was running seventh before bouncing the car off the wall, which resulted in a flat tire. The flat tire lead to several more meetings with the wall, and an eventual crash on the backstretch with Ryan Newman.
I think Kurt is a bit of an easy target. Everybody enjoys kicking somebody when they’re down, and it’s common knowledge that he has a bit of a temper. He lost his ride with Penske Racing largely due to Busch not exactly being Mr. Personality with highly respected long-time NASCAR reporter Dr. Jerry Punch, and his radio antics which are now the thing of legend. You know he’s going to go off and pepper his communications with some well-placed expletives and salty observations. The faux shock, awe, and disgust from some fans is a little hard to swallow. Had it been an Earnhardt exchange they heard, it would be roundly revered and celebrated.
What nobody will admit to though is that many times, it’s justified.
Last year, Penske Racing was out to lunch on anything outside of a restrictor plate track. Brad Keselowski was mired in points and rarely a threat to crack the top-10. Busch’s No. 22 would start out strong, but then immediately fade throughout the race and not make any progress. It wasn’t until a 400-lap long lambasting at Richmond did changes occur within Penske, and performance begin to turn around. During the summer months, the No. 22 won at Infineon Raceway, was going door-to-door with the No. 48 and flustering Five-Time, while Brad Keselowski with his broken foot suddenly became the hottest thing in NASCAR until the advent of a Montoya-ized jet dryer at Daytona.
This season, the 2004 Sprint Cup Champion is driving a car that last year was helmed by Landon Cassill, and despite wiping out three cars in Daytona (including a Nationwide car), they had put together back to back legitimate top-10 runs at drastically different race tracks. If you’re looking for a reason to melt down in the midst of reviving your career, now would be the perfect time to do it. No, I don’t approve of the burnout that sent some of the No. 39 guys scattering, but I’d hold off on the “he almost killed someone” hysterics that followed from some as it did when he pulled up next to Tony Stewart at Dover in 2007, after Smoke pushed him down the length of the frontstretch in the door.
Hopefully the No. 51 team can get things turned around and have a little bit of good luck come their way, for the sake of their 18 employees, James Finch, and for the mental health and stability of Kurt Busch. Its drivers like Kurt, his brother, Tony Stewart, and Dale Earnhardt, Jr., that help keep the sport interesting during times of limited action and actual racing. They cut lunch, shoot you straight, and you never have to question what they’re thinking, who they’re mad at, and if they care – and are just out there pulling a pay check.
Vito Pugliese is a Senior Writer for Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via e-mail at vito.p...@frontstretch.com.
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