The Frontstretch Newsletter: November 3rd, 2009

[Frontstretch.com]

THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
November 3rd, 2009
Volume III, Edition CCXII
 
DON'T FORGET THE FRONTSTRETCH LIVE BLOG THIS SUNDAY!
Jimmie Johnson's sixth place finish at Talladega has given him a 184 point lead with just three races to go.  It appears that the race for the actual championship may be a coronation now, but the rest of the Top 10 is very close.  Positions can jumble this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway.

 

Can't get to a television to watch the race?  Too busy watch Drew Brees torch the Panthers to watch the race on ABC?  Join your favorite Frontstretch writers 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!
 
Top News Stories
by Phil Allaway

Keselowski to the Penske No. 12 Immediately

 

On Monday, Penske Championship Racing announced that Brad Keselowski will take over the No. 12 Penske Dodge immediately, replacing David Stremme.  Since Keselowski had already been signed to replace Stremme in the No. 12 at the beginning of the 2010 season, this move simply jump starts the preparation for the 2010 season.

 

Team owner Roger Penske is realistic about this move.

 

"Penske Racing wants to give Brad an opportunity to work with the team and get to know the race car as we prepare for the 2010 season," Penske said in a press release.  "These three races will provide a good base for both Brad and the team as we head into next year.  Penske Racing also thanks David Stremme for his contributions to the team this year.  We wish David the very best moving forward."

 

Brad Keselowski is happy to jumpstart his association with Penske Championship Racing.

 

"I am very excited to begin working with the Penske Racing team and I look forward to competing in the No. 12 Penske Dodge in the final three Cup Series races of the year," Keselowski said on Monday.  "We all have high expectations for next season and beyond and being able to race with the team this year will only help us as we look toward 2010."

 

This move does not have any bearing on rookie status since Keselowski has already rendered himself ineligible for the Raybestos Brakes Rookie of the Year Award for 2010.  Keselowski has started 12 races this season, splitting time between Hendrick Motorsports' No. 25 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet and the No. 09 Miccosukee Gaming Chevrolet for Phoenix Racing.  Keselowski won the Aaron's 499 at Talladega Superspeedway in April, and has gathered three other top 10 finishes (7th at Darlington, 6th at Loudon (June), and 8th on Sunday at Talladega).

 

Nationwide COT's Test at Talladega

 

On Monday, NASCAR held a test at Talladega Superspeedway for the new Nationwide Series COT's that will debut at Daytona next July.  Each of the four manufacturers were represented. 

 

Ford Mustangs were driven by Colin Braun and Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., representing Roush Fenway Racing.  Chevrolet was represented by Jeff Burton for Richard Childress Racing, Kevin Harvick for his own race team (Kevin Harvick Inc.), and Kelly Bires for JR Motorsports.  Dodge was represented by Justin Allgaier for Penske Championship Racing, while Toyota was represented by Trevor Bayne for Michael Waltrip Racing.

 

In the six hour test session, most of the emphasis was on single car runs.  In the afternoon, some draft testing took place.

 

According to Robin Pemberton, NASCAR's Vice President of Competition, the purpose of this on-track test was to see which tapered spacer would be required to reach the "desired speed" at Daytona and Talladega.  This "desired speed" was not mentioned publicly.

 

This was only the third official track test for the new Nationwide COT's.  Previous tests were held at Richmond International Raceway and the former Lowe's Motor Speedway last year.  Those two tracks will host Nationwide COT races next season.  On track testing for the new racer was cut off at the end of last year after the testing ban went into effect.

 

Overnight TV Ratings for Talladega down from last year

 

The overnights have been released, and they are generally not good, once again.  Sunday's AMP Energy 500 on ABC earned a 3.8 overnight rating.  This rating is down five percent from last year, when the race earned an overnight 4.0 rating.  However, that rating came from when the race was run three weeks earlier on the weekend now occupied by the Pepsi 500 at Auto Club Speedway.

 

Compared to this weekend last year, when the Sprint Cup Series was at Texas Motor Speedway for the Dickies 500, the rating is actually up 11.8 percent.  Last year's Dickies 500 earned an overnight rating of 3.4.

 

Carter-Simo Racing announces Fan Sponsorship on the No. 08 at Homestead

 

On Monday, FanCar announced that they would provide sponsorship for the No. 08 Toyota of Carter-Simo Racing in the Ford 400 on November 22.  This fan initiative allows fans to sponsor the No. 08 for a fee of $20.  All of that $20 goes towards sponsoring the No. 08.  In addition, fans that sign up to sponsor the car can help decide the paint scheme that Carter-Simo Racing will run.

 

The brass behind FanCar is very happy with this announcement.

 

"We started FanCar to support drivers like Terry Labonte, a former Cup champion and an old-school, no-nonsense competitor," FanCar founder Matt Ferguson said on Monday.  "Now it’s up to the fans to get behind Terry and Carter/Simo Racing at [Homestead] and join the FanCar team."

 

Fans that pay to sponsor the car will receive a certificate of sponsorship, showing that they have paid the fee to sponsor the car.  A digital photo of the car at Homestead will also be included with the certificate.

 

Terry Labonte is happy that the team has a sponsor for Homestead.

 

"It’s a great honor and a privilege to be the first driver of the FanCar," Labonte said on Monday.  "NASCAR fans have given me so much in my career, but FanCar takes that fan support to a whole new level."

 

The FanCar is not the first fan-sponsoring initiative in the Sprint Cup Series.  In 2003, Brett Bodine had a fan sponsorship drive where fans could buy bricks.  Earlier this year, 5000 fans paid to have their names put onto the No. 28 Chevrolet for Jay Robinson Racing so that Kenny Wallace could race in Montreal.  The reason why this was so is that the U.S. Border Patrol cannot sponsor a car outside of the United States.

 

The No. 47 Ford team back in the mid to late 1990's also employed some fan sponsorship to a degree.

Have news for Phil 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!

Numbers Game:  AMP Energy 500
By Kim DeHaven

3
Career wins for Jamie McMurray in 255 starts.

3rd
Joey Logano's finishing position, earning him Raybestos Rookie of the Race honors.

3 hours, 13 minutes, 54 seconds
Time it took to complete the AMP Energy 500.

4
Number of times winner Jamie McMurray led the AMP Energy 500 Sunday.

6
Caution flags for a total of 23 laps at Talladega.

14
Penalties handed down by NASCAR during the running of the AMP Energy 500.

30
Cars running at the end of the AMP Energy 500; 26 of those finished on the lead lap.

32
Laps led by AMP Energy 500 winner Jamie McMurray, the most of any driver.

43rd
Joe Nemechek's finishing position Sunday in the AMP Energy 500.  He completed just 4 laps of the event before crashing the No. 87 NEMCO Motorsports Toyota in Turn 1. 

58
Lead changes among 25 drivers Sunday. 

116
Career Cup wins for Jack Roush after Jamie McMurray's trip to Victory Lane on Sunday.

157.213
Average race speed (in mph)

184
Points that Jimmie Johnson leads Mark Martin by in the NASCAR Sprint Cup point standings.

191
Laps in the AMP Energy 500, equaling 508.06 miles.

127,500
Estimated crowd in attendance at Talladega.

$229,275
Jamie McMurray's purse for winning the AMP Energy 500.

$5,492,493    
Total purse for the AMP Energy 500.

Kim DeHaven is a co-publisher of Frontstretch.com. She can be reached at GoGou...@aol.com.

Today's Featured Commentary
Safe Cars are Not Supposed to Fly
Sitting In The Stands: A Fan's View
By S.D. Grady

One good thing came out of Sunday’s AMP Energy 500.

 

Ryan Newman climbed out of his dinged, squashed and damaged No. 39 without any serious injury.  That car—in all its ugly CoT-ness—kept its occupant in his seat, buckled in and safe while it sailed across Talladega’s backstretch.  The larger greenhouse, even though that suffered a direct impact during the final flip, also did its job.  Roof flaps deployed.  Crumple zones absorbed hits.

All that sounds like NASCAR has done its job.  We’re driving a safer car.  There are soft walls and paved sections at these crazy-ass fast tracks.

 

But before we get too excited by all that is going right, we need a reality check.

 

That car went airborne, even after its flaps deployed.  Ryan Newman stated the rollbar was sitting on his helmet.  Those are not things I want to see and hear.  Only a few laps later, Mark Martin did a nice little roll down the frontstretch.  Nor can we dismiss Joey Logano’s tumbling trip down the high banks of Dover not so long ago. 

 

I’m well aware the CoT is still a work in progress.  I just want to make sure that’s not forgotten.  The safety innovations that are an inherent part of this machine cannot be viewed as the ultimate configuration in racing.

 

Nothing made me feel better than seeing Newman pop out of that flattened vehicle.  Nothing could have made me feel worse than knowing that rollbar suffered a pound too much stress, ending Ryan’s life in an instant.

 

Most of the Cup season is spent at tracks that tend not to produce such spectacular wrecks on a regular basis. We’ve ceased to be amazed that drivers walk away from most impacts.  Too often, we take for granted the durability of the cars.  Talladega and Daytona, for all their controversial and questionable racing, are the proving grounds of the advancing technology of our sport.

As long as we’re going to be returning to these monstrosities, intent on launching cars at 200 mph into the turns, there can be no “good enough” in regards to the safety measures required of the vehicles.  More wind tunnel testing, with the car going backwards, is needed.  Why did Newman’s car launch?  What new flap or wing configuration is needed to ensure next time that car will sit back down, as it should have.  Do we need an even bigger greenhouse or new materials for the rollcage capable of taking bigger impacts?  Is the higher center of gravity for the CoT contributing to the number of cars found tumbling down banks?

 

I’m not an engineer, just an observer.  But, these questions are the obvious ones to be set before the learned people over at the R&D Center. 

 

I’m thankful for all the ingenuity and determination shown thus far in NASCAR’s endeavor to provide as safe a racing environment as possible, but it’s clear to me now is not the time to decide they’ve done enough.

 

Keep it up, NASCAR!  There are lives on the line.

S.D. Grady is a Senior Writer for Frontstretch.com. She can be contacted at sonya.grady@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 4-6 additional writers for both our newsletter and website to add to our dedicated staff in 2010.  Follow this link for more information on how you can become a weekly columnist for the site and/or newsletter!
 
TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:

Who's Hot/Who's Not in Sprint Cup: Chase Race #7 

by Doug Turnbull

 

Talking NASCAR TV: Slight Problems Affect Telecasts; Rules Hurt More 

by Phil Allaway

 

Beyond the Cockpit: Michael Annett on Goals, Achievements, and the Stanley Cup 

by Amy Henderson

 

Running Their Mouth: AMP Energy 500 

by Beth Lunkenheimer

 

Reasons To Keep Watching NASCAR in 2009 (No, Really, There Are...I Think) 

by Danny Peters

FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:

Q. The current version of Texas Motor Speedway that we know today was the result of at least two renovations in the first few years of operation.  For example, the pit lane had to be widened before the track ever opened because it was too narrow.

 

Another staple of Texas Motor Speedway is that it is effectively always been devoid of grass except for the quad-oval.  There was a reason for this.  What is it?

 

Check back Wednesday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
 
Monday's Answer:

Q. This question could be considered to be really easy, or really hard, depending on how you look at it.  The 2000 DirecTV 500 is best known for being the first Winston Cup Series win for Dale Earnhardt Jr., and the only career start for the late Adam Petty.  In addition, the No. 10 of Johnny Benson unveiled a new black and blue paint scheme for sponsor Lycos, complete with the Lone Star Flag.  It's obvious that the race was in Texas, but there's another reason why that was there.  Why?

A. At the time, the No. 10 was Tyler Jet Motorsports, owned by Tim Beverley.  Beverley owned Tyler Jet, a company involved in private jets.  This company was based in Tyler, Texas (hence, "Tyler Jet").  The team was coming off a second place finish (at the time, a career best for Benson) at Bristol the previous week.  Unfortunately, Lycos didn't pay up, forcing the team to remove the logos from the No. 10 at Daytona in July and run unsponsored.  Beverley ran the team out of his own pocket until he couldn't go on anymore.  At that point, he sold the team to MB2 Motorsports.  Aaron's came on in the 11th Hour to allow the team to finish the season.

 

Beverley was sentenced to prison in 2004 for impropreties with Tyler Jet along with an associate.

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 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:
Did You Notice? by Tom Bowles

Mirror Driving by the Frontstretch Staff
The Mirror crew is at it again.  This week's topics include the racing at Talladega on Sunday, A.J. Allmendinger's DUI arrest and subsequent probation, the closure of Memphis Motorsports Park, and more.

Frontstretch Top Ten by Jeff Meyer
Jeff's weekly list based on the latest NASCAR controversy will start your morning off with a laugh -- guaranteed.

The 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 Talladega that should never have made it to print.

 

Voice Of Vito by Vito Pugliese
Pointed NASCAR commentary by one of the site's Senior Writers.
 
Frontstretch Sprint Cup Power Rankings: Top 15 After Talladega by the Frontstretch Staff
Is your favorite driver primed to make a run at the title? To get there, he'll probably need to secure a spot atop our top 15 poll. Take a look and see who's on track to do just that following Sunday afternoon's AMP Energy 500 at Talladega Superspeedway.
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