The Frontstretch Newsletter: February 8th, 2010

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Feb 8, 2010, 3:19:16 AM2/8/10
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THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
February 8th, 2010
Volume IV, Edition XV

Congratulations to the New Orleans Saints on their Super Bowl victory!
 
Breaking News: Danica To Attempt Nationwide Race Saturday
by Tom Bowles

In a move first reported by ESPN, Danica Patrick has decided to attempt the Nationwide Series race at Daytona on Saturday, Frontstretch.com has learned. After a sixth-place finish in the ARCA 200-miler this weekend, Patrick has decided to take the next step, moving up her "AAA" Series debut by a week. She was originally scheduled to start competing the Nationwide Series race in Fontana, California on February 20th.

Patrick's move now leaves JR Motorsports' Kelly Bires out of a ride for Daytona. The full-time replacement for Brad Keselowski in the No. 88 was scheduled to drive the No. 7 for this event, but now will sit out as Patrick and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. contest the race with sponsorship. No word on if JR will let Bires run with a different team this weekend.

Have news for Tom and the Frontstretch? Email us at ashl...@mail.com with your tip.

Miss the Daytona news from the weekend? Check out our special Newsletter from yesterday ... we'll set up the Duels and all the information you need on the 150s in the Newsletter later this week.

Special Daytona Feature
Beyond the Cockpit: Austin Dillon on His First Daytona Start and the Future of the No. 3
By Mike Lovecchio
 
Some NASCAR fans may not know the name, but all of them know the number. Austin Dillon, the grandson of Richard Childress, has driven the No. 3 for most his life, but now that he's made the step up to NASCAR's Truck Series, that number comes with the expectations of matching the Dale Earnhardt legacy.
 
How will the teen respond to a cross he never asked to bear? Dillon took time out at NASCAR Media Day in Daytona Beach, FL to talk to Frontstretch writer Mike Lovecchio about the pressure that comes with driving for such a historic number, and what his future plans are for it.
 
Mike:  What kind of thoughts are going through your head as you are preparing for your first Daytona start?
 
Austin:  You can’t say there’s no nerves, because there is. You can’t look at it as pressure, though. I’m just gonna go out there, have fun, and try to get to the front somehow. If we run all the laps and try to make it to the end, I feel we’ll have a good shot.
 
Mike:  How excited are you to be running the full Truck schedule in 2010?
 
Austin: I’m very excited. Last year, we jumped around from different series; this year, having a set schedule, it’s going to make things easier. Being in the truck every week and having a great sponsor in Bass Pro Shops is a good thing; as tough as the economy is right now, having a company behind you like them really makes things easier.
 
Mike:  Speaking of the economy, what are your thoughts on what seems to be a healthier Truck series this season?
 
Austin:  I feel like the Truck Series has actually done well. I heard their attendance was up last year compared to past years, and everyone loves the racing. It’s tough racing, there’s a lot of beating and banging, and drivers really have to go hard because of the short amount of laps. Everybody’s on the move every lap. It’s a lot of fun, I know that and I’m very excited to be in the series.
 
Mike:  How fortunate do you feel as a young driver to have a sponsor like Bass Pro Shops and be able to run the full schedule when there are so many drivers out there looking for rides?
 
Austin:  It’s awesome, and for me it doesn’t fit any better. I love hunting and fishing, and I go in the outdoors a lot with my grandfather (Richard Childress). I can’t wait to get out there and showcase the truck. It looks awesome, and the guys have cool suits…I just can’t wait.
 
Mike:  What do you see as the reason why there is an anticipated increase in the number of start and park teams in the Nationwide Series, but fewer in the Truck Series?
 
Austin:  I think it’s just going to be better competition in the Truck Series. We’ve got Kyle Busch bringing in a team now and we’re bringing our new team…it’s just a bunch of new teams going out there and trying to prove themselves. I feel the Truck Series is almost going to be the developmental series now. They’ve raised the bar now for the Nationwide Series, just because of the prices and the things that you have to do to get in these days. The Truck Series is just the perfect place for guys like me that are trying to prove themselves and run well.
 
Mike:  So what are your goals for your rookie season?
 
Austin:  Definitely to win Rookie of the Year, run in the top 10, and hopefully get a win by the end of the season. That would be a great year. If we could have that and run all the races and laps, that’s the biggest thing… no DNF’s.
 
Mike:  Is there any conflict of interest working for your grandfather?
 
Austin:  No. Ever since I’ve been in a race car I’ve driven for him, and that’s who I want to be with. He’s a great grandfather and owner, but you kind of just have to change yourself when you’re out there. When something goes wrong, you’ve got to be the driver and not the grandson. It’s hard to juggle, but we do a good job of it.
 
Mike:  Is there any added pressure driving the No. 3 truck with the history behind it?
 
Austin:  I think there’s pressure when you’re out on the track with any number. I put the pressure on myself to go out there and perform, but you can’t really look at it as pressure - you’ve got to have fun while you’re doing it.
 
Mike:  Do you have any Nationwide plans for this season?
 
Austin:  Hopefully, we can run the new car at the three or four races they have. We’ve got to try and get ready for next year if we feel we’re good enough to move up.
 
Mike:  Do you plan on moving up with the No. 3?
 
Austin:  We’ll just have to see. My grandfather is the main factor in that. I love running it, I’ve run it in every series since I started racing. I’m comfortable with the number, and I’m excited to run it in the Truck Series. It’s fun to run. It comes with a lot of different things: the media, the fans…people love it. It’s something that’s close to a lot of people’s hearts, and it’s close to my family’s. I feel like I’m fortunate to run it.
 
Mike:  Do you think it should be retired in the Cup Series?
 
Austin:  I guess that’s a question that other people have to answer. I don’t know. I like running it right now, and I’m comfortable with it. I just have to see how it goes from now on.
 
Mike Lovecchio is a Senior Writer for Frontstretch.com.  He can be reached via email at mike.lo...@frontstretch.com.
 
Secret Star Of The Weekend: The Best Run You Never Saw
 
OK, so maybe it wasn’t such a secret. But how many people thought Jamie McMurray would compete the way he did on Saturday night? Garage insiders claimed Bass Pro Shops was less than hesitant to sign the “metro” driver – even for a one-year deal - as they wondered if he’d be the right fit for their products.
 
Well, if "Jamie Mac" runs each week they way he did in the Shootout, he could never hold a gun or a fishing line the rest of his life and I think things will work out alright. Finishing third, the No. 1 Chevy was one of the strongest cars all night, with McMurray pulling off some thrilling slingshot moves in the second half after being hung out to dry from the lead on Lap 30.
 
“I like the package they have,” he said afterwards in complimenting NASCAR’s larger restrictor plate, referring to several incidents where he pulled out and passed cars by himself. “I think it's going to put on a great show Sunday.”
 
What makes McMurray’s run so impressive is despite his previous stint with Chip Ganassi, this was still his first Cup race driving a Chevy – and his first with Ganassi in four-plus years. Add in a Friday wreck that sent him scrambling into a backup car, and the recovery marks the type of momentum-building foundation that builds into a strong season.
 
“[The crash] kind of worked out to benefit us because the backup car drove a lot better than the primary,” he said. “[Crew chief] Kevin [Manion] explained to me after practice that they chose the third best car for the Shootout. Our backup car was the second best car. So it wasn't surprising to him.”
 
McMurray’s commented many times this Speedweeks how quickly the chemistry’s developed between him and the longtime crew chief on the No. 1. And if Saturday’s any indication, it looks like both men are well on their way to the perfect formula.
 
“You never know when you start out if you're going to like the setups that they give you or the cars, if you're going to have to work on all of that,” McMurray explained.

“[But] we unloaded pretty much with the setup that they built at the shop, and didn't change anything all night long. Pretty much the way we unloaded the car. We got caught up in that wreck.”
 
“It feels great to be back. I'm hoping I can make some Twitter page at this point, too, so you know. If you want to send the highlight out, I'd appreciate it (smiling).”
 
Well, @jamiemcmurray, you didn’t make our Twitter page – but hopefully this Newsletter’s good enough. –Tom Bowles
 
STAT OF THE WEEK: 2002. That’s the last time the Bud Shootout winner (Tony Stewart) went on to win the season championship. In all, since the introduction of the Shootout (initially called the Busch Clash) in 1979 a total of 7 winners have won the title the same year: Dale Earnhardt (1980, ’86, ’91, ‘93), Darrell Waltrip (1981), Jeff Gordon (1997), and Dale Jarrett (2000). -Tom Bowles

Big Six:  Budweiser Shootout
By Amy Henderson
 
Who… gets my shoutout of the race?
 
It’s not easy to mesh with a new team overnight.  It’s not easy to adjust to new equipment, either.  But Jamie McMurray did both on Saturday night, forcing his way to the front for a couple of laps before finishing third for his new Earnhardt-Ganassi team.  Ganassi is a familiar face, having fielded cars for McMurray from 2002-2005, but the rest of the No. 1 team is new to McMurray, who takes over the seat from Martin Truex, Jr. this year.
 
What…was THAT?
 
This week, the “What did NASCAR do now?” question has a positive outcome.  When NASCAR decided to back off and allow bumpdrafting, it could have been a disaster - but for the most part, the drivers took care of their own, and the pushing and shoving made for a fun race to watch.  Only one incident might have come from a bump, and even that one is doubtful; it was the last wreck when Jeff Gordon got into Greg Biffle, and Biffle may have had a tire going down, so the bumping may not even have been the cause.
 
Where… did the polesitter wind up?
 
Up against the wall as the field steamed under the white flag.  Carl Edwards drew the pole for the race and led the entire first segment before getting shuffled to the back.  He nearly tangled with Jimmie Johnson earlier in the segment, trying to force his way into the bottom line, but escaped that mishap only to get caught in the aftermath of Greg Biffle’s late-race spin, finishing 17th.
 
When…will I be loved?
 
I never thought I’d see the day when I’d give the “I caused a wreck and now I’m not feeling the love” award to Mark Martin.  Martin tried to fit his car into a space just a few inches too small and turned Kurt Busch, sending Busch on a wild ride through the infield grass.  Even Busch was reluctant to blame Martin, though, because the crash was obviously unintentional, and there will be no hard feelings when the big race rolls around next weekend.
 
Why…are some of these guys in this exhibition race?
 
Any active past Daytona winner is eligible, but did it seem just a little silly to see drivers like Derrike Cope in the race?  While John Andretti at least ran much of the Cup Schedule last year, his last win at DIS was in 1997, and that win is his only top 10 finish at the track.  Cope got his Daytona win nearly 20 years ago, and has run just one Cup race since 2006.  Ken Schrader’s inclusion makes a bit more sense - Schrader is at least a past winner of this event, and one of a handful of drivers to win it twice in a row.  Still… it seems like a couple of drivers were entered on shaky reasoning, at best.
 
How…much better is Kevin Harvick feeling?
 
Harvick is probably feeling pretty darn good after his second consecutive Shootout win.  Harvick was so sick on Thursday that he wasn’t even in Daytona (Clint Bowyer and Jeff Burton practiced for him) but bounced back to win in short order.  He got to the front late in the race, then held off all comers en route to the win, a record seventh for car owner Richard Childress.  Harvick has hinted that his tenure at Richard Childress Racing will be over after the 2010 season, so he’s showcasing his talent for prospective teams, as well as looking for a little redemption after a dismal 2009.
 
Amy Henderson is a Senior Writer for Frontstretch.com. She can be reached by e-mail at amy.he...@frontstretch.com.
 
TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:
 
By Matt McLaughlin
 
By Brock Beard
 
By Amy Henderson
 
By Doug Turnbull

By Summer Dreyer
 
By Bryan Davis Keith
 
FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Q:  As many of you already know by now, Mark Martin won the pole for the Daytona 500 with a lap of 47.074 seconds (191.188 mph).  This is the fastest qualifying lap at Daytona since 2000.
 
In 2000, Dale Jarrett won the Daytona 500 from the pole in a very uneventful race that featured only nine lead changes in the entire 500-mile event.  This was the lowest number of lead changes in a Daytona 500 that went the full distance since 1964, where there were only six (last year's Daytona 500 only had nine lead changes as well, but the race only went 380 miles (152 laps)).  Who did Jarrett pass to win that race (his third Daytona 500 victory), how did he get in that position, and where did he finish?

Check back Tuesday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
 
Saturday's Answer:
Q.  They say a good run in the Bud Shootout can be a jumpstart towards Daytona 500 Victory Lane. But not every winner of the Great American Race has started off their season running this exhibition race. Who was the last Daytona winner NOT to run the Shootout (formerly the Busch Clash) that same year?
 
A.  Michael Waltrip was the last driver to pull off this feat back in 2003.  Waltrip has never been the best qualifier during his nearly 25-year career in the Sprint Cup Series.  In 759 career starts, he has started from the pole only four times. Two of those were in 1991 when he was driving the Pennzoil Pontiac for Chuck Rider's Bahari Racing team.  After 1991, it was 14 years before Waltrip won another pole, at Pocono in June of 2005.
 
At the time that Waltrip accomplished this feat, his only start in the Budweiser Shootout was in 1992, when he finished eighth in the No. 30 Pontiac.
 
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!!

Coming Tuesday in the Frontstretch Newsletter:
-- Top News from Summer Dreyer
-- Sitting in the Stands: A Fan's View by S.D. Grady
   This week's topic: The things that have nothing to do with racing, yet we're happy to hear.
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles and more!

Tomorrow On The Frontstretch:
 
Talking NASCAR TV by Phil Allaway
The first weekend of Speedweeks brought us ARCA, otherwise known as "Danica-Mania."  Oh, and there was a little race known as the Shootout, as well.  Were these telecasts up to snuff, or was there something missing?  Find out in our weekly TV Critique.
 
The Yellow Stripe by Danny Peters
Our New York City-based writer is back with his weekly commentary.
 
What's Hot / What's Not in Sprint Cup:  Budweiser Shootout Edition by Dave Exum
Dave looks into the Sprint Cup Series at the present time and tells us which drivers are riding hot streaks, and which ones are in the freezer heading into this weekend's Great American Race.
 
Turner's Take by Jared Turner
Our newest writer is here with his take on an important issue.
 
Five Points to Ponder by Bryan Davis Keith
There are five potential things to look out for heading into the Duels On Thursday, and Bryan's here to bring them to you.
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