The Frontstretch Newsletter: December 29th, 2009
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December 29th, 2009
Volume III, Edition CCXXXVI
Editor's Note: Wondering where the Newsletter was these last couple of days? Don't forget, it's the offseason now ... so we've scaled down to once a week, with editions coming out sometime on Mondays. Expect the first edition of 2010 to head your way on Monday, January 4th.
Editor's Note II: Our apologies on the delay of this week's Newsletter. Expect it back in your inbox on Mondays for the rest of the offseason.
NASCAR News In Review: December 21st - 29th
by Phil Allaway
Report: Kyle Busch Signs Contract Extension With JGR
Typically, when this scenario occurs, it is possible for the driver (or any other athlete, for that matter) to be distracted by potential offers from other teams, or from the team he/she already competes for. By getting this deal done now, Busch can put more focus on the 2010 Sprint Cup season and developing a proper rapport with new crew chief Dave Rogers.
In two years with JGR, Busch has one Chase appearance, a dozen wins, and the 2009 Nationwide Series Championship on his resume. However, he struggled on the Cup side during his second season, missing the playoffs en route to a 13th place finish in the final point standings -- a slump that caused former head wrench Steve Addington to get the ax this November.
Jimmie Johnson named AP Male Athlete of the Year
Johnson's run of four straight titles still struggles to earn the respect from hardcore NASCAR traditionalists -- but it's certainly grabbing its fair share of headlines everywhere else.
Last Monday, the Associated Press announced Johnson was named the 2009 AP Male Athlete of the Year, a first for a race car driver in the award’s 78-year history. Johnson received 42 votes from the national panel of sports aficionados, beating out second place Tennis champion Roger Federer (30 votes) and sprinter Usain Bolt (29 votes). Tiger Woods, Kobe Bryant, and Albert Pujols were all tied for fourth with nine votes each.
For Johnson, winning this award validates his historic run under the Chase for the Championship format.
“We'd been wondering the last few years, 'When is this going to hit?,” Johnson said of the recent wave of national respect for his achievement. “It seems like the answer is now. The wave is finally peaking, and we don't know where it's going to take us. The fourth straight title takes it out of our sport and makes it a point of discussion -- like, 'Wow, a race car driver won this thing.'"
In the eyes of observers, Johnson winning this award validated some individuals’ beliefs about whether race car drivers could be considered athletes, a bone of contention amongst several national sportswriters who possess limited knowledge at best of the sport. Johnson's modern-day driver athleticism has certainly helped his cause, with his strong physical off-track regimen leaving him running run five miles at a clip just under seven minutes per mile. While that’s not world class by any means, it’s better than most people can accomplish -- and for the AP, it was good enough to help knock down stereotypes and award him this prestigious honor.
New Eligibility Rules For The Budweiser Shootout
On Wednesday, NASCAR announced a new format for determining which drivers are eligible to race in the Budweiser Shootout, scheduled for February 6th. Previously, the race was billed as an exhibition showdown amongst the four manufacturers (Chevrolet, Ford, Dodge and Toyota). The top six teams from each manufacturer were guaranteed spots, along with one “wild card” per manufacturer to guarantee a starting field of 28.
The new procedure is more points-based, but with additional eligibility rules that allow more "random" entrants into the field. The first set of criteria is easiest to follow: all 12 of the Chase teams from 2009 are automatically placed into the Shootout. In addition, all active former Sprint Cup Champions are eligible, as are former winners of the Busch Clash/Bud Shootout/Budweiser Shootout, in existence since 1979.
But the list of invitees doesn't end there. All former Daytona 500 and/or Coke Zero 400 winners make the guest list, along with the reigning Raybestos Rookie of the Year. However, for criteria two through four, an additional caveat requires that the driver has attempted at least one race since the beginning of 2008 (for example, former Daytona 500 winners Richard Petty and David Pearson would be ineligible if they wanted to make a miracle comeback attempt for this event).
The changes leave a final list of invitees that includes the following drivers:
2009 Chase For The Championship Drivers
Greg Biffle
Kurt Busch
Carl Edwards
Jeff Gordon
Denny Hamlin
Jimmie Johnson
Kasey Kahne
Mark Martin
Juan Pablo Montoya
Ryan Newman
Tony Stewart
Brian Vickers
Bill Elliott (1988)
Dale Jarrett (1999)
Matt Kenseth (2003)
Bobby Labonte (2000)
Terry Labonte (1996)
Former Bud Shootout Champions
Ken Schrader (1989, 1990)
Geoff Bodine (1992)
Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (2003, 2008)
Kevin Harvick (2009)
Former Daytona 500, Coke Zero 400 Winners Not Already Eligible*
John Andretti (Coke Zero 400, 1997)
Jeff Burton (Pepsi 400, 2000)
Kyle Busch (Coke Zero 400, 2008)
Derrike Cope (Daytona 500, 1990)
Sterling Marlin (three-time winner, beginning with the Daytona 500 in 1994)
Jamie McMurray (Pepsi 400, 2007)
Michael Waltrip (three-time winner, beginning with the Daytona 500 in 2001)
Raybestos Rookie of the Year - 2009
Joey Logano
* - Coke Zero 400 was the Pepsi 400 from 1987-2008
Maximum Entry List Count: 29.
RCR Crew Member D.J. Richardson Dies
Unfortunately, even during the Holidays, real life tragedies can affect the NASCAR family. On Christmas Day, RCR crew member D.J. Richardson died at Health Alliance Hospital in Leominster, Massachusetts as a result of complications from the H1N1 flu. He was just 37 years old.
Richardson contracted the H1N1 flu during a trip to Massachusetts for Thanksgiving. Later on, Richardson was admitted to the hospital for evaluation, where it was determined that he was suffering from Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, resulting in admission to Intensive Care (ICU).
Richardson joined the RCR team in July after previously working for Penske Racing South (now Penske Championship Racing), Hendrick Motorsports, Andy Petree Racing, and Braun Racing in a racing career that began in 1999. After some shuffling around at RCR, Richardson was the rear tire changer on the No. 29 of Kevin Harvick when the season ended.
Teammates, friends, and family members were understandably distraught over the tragedy.
“All of us at RCR are saddened by D.J.’s passing,” said Richard Childress, President and CEO of the organization. “D.J. was a gifted tire changer, one of the great team players in our industry, and a valued member of the RCR family. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.”
Richardson’s body will be available for private viewing on Tuesday, December 29th at Salias F. Richardson and Son Funeral Home in Leominster, Massachusetts. A funeral has been scheduled for Wednesday, December 30th at St. Marks’s Church, also in Leominster. A public memorial service is also planned, but details have yet to be released.
Other Racing Tragedies Hit NASCAR Hard Over Holiday Season
It's been a tough December for everyone involved in the NASCAR family. On December 22nd, Stewart-Haas' Competition Director Bobby Hutchens lost his wife, Sharon, after a battle with breast cancer. She was just 45 years old. Then, on Christmas Eve longtime Cup Series car owner Earl Sadler passed away at the age of 87. Sadler's Tennessee-based organization competed in the series from 1984 through 2000, compiling a best finish of eighth while jumpstarting the early careers of Sterling Marlin, Davey Allison, and Jeremy Mayfield. In recent years, Bobby Hamilton, Jr. had taken up a partial ownership role as the team stepped down into the Nationwide and ARCA divisions.
Everyone at Frontstretch.com extends their deepest condolences to the Hutchens, Sadlers, and Richardsons in their time of mourning.
Nationwide Series to Road America in 2010
On Monday, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported that the Nationwide Series will race at the 4.048-mile Road America circuit on Saturday, June 19. The race, tentatively named the Road America 200, will comprise 50 laps (202.4 miles) of the ultra-fast course through the rolling hills of Wisconsin.
This race will replace the NorthernTool.com 250 that was held at the Milwaukee Mile in 2009. As was reported last week, the Wisconsin State Fair board announced that the Milwaukee Mile will not be holding major events in 2010 due to the lack of a track promoter.
The Nationwide Series will be supported at Road America by the SCCA Pro Racing Trans-Am Series, who will head up the Sunday afternoon race card. More series are likely to be announced for this race weekend in the coming months, but it is more than likely that the Camping World Truck Series, who also lost a race as a result of Milwaukee’s promotion issues, will not be present.
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Q: 1994 marked the last year that the then-Busch Grand National Series raced at Orange County Speedway in Rougemont, North Carolina (for those race fans who are not from the Carolinas, Rougemont is located near Durham in the northeast part of the state). Hermie Sadler claimed victory that evening in a thrilling race, with a controversial ending. What happened?
Check back next Monday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
Last Monday's Answer:
Q. Once again, continuing with the obscure tracks once visited by the trucks, during the inaugural season of the now-Camping World Truck Series, the trucks ventured out to Saugus Speedway in Santa Clarita, California for the Scott Irvan Chevrolet / Craftsman 200. Of note here, this was the series' only appearance at the track since it stopped holding races after 1995. What is notable about Saugus Speedway, besides the fact that it hosted only one truck race?
A. Saugus Speedway was the shortest track that ever hosted a Camping World Truck Series race. Depending on who you ask, the track is either 1/4 mile, or 1/3 mile. The track had very little, if any, banking in the turns. Also, the entire infield was paved over and the pits were outside of the track. From above, the track looks like a filled-in oval.
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Coming Monday, January 4th, 2010 in the Frontstretch Newsletter:
-- Top News from Phil Allaway and more!
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