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soundtech
  
 
| #1 posted June 9, 2008 at 4:35pm (EST)
edited November 11, 2008 at 3:26pm (EST) |
Here are a few stories I thought were interesting.
NASCAR announces 2008 Diversity Internship class
(I think this is Very Cool)
Seventeen students from across the country were selected to participate in the 2008 NASCAR Diversity Internship Program. The program, which began Monday, gives minority college students the opportunity to complete a 10-week, paid summer internship within the NASCAR industry.
"The NASCAR Diversity Internship Program has introduced dozens of students from diverse backgrounds to professional opportunities in NASCAR," said Marcus Jadotte, NASCAR's managing director of public affairs, who oversees the diversity department. Participation in the program has led to full-time positions in the industry for a number of past interns.
The NASCAR Diversity Internship Program features internships offered by NASCAR offices, sponsors, licensees, teams, tracks and broadcast partners. In addition to NASCAR corporate offices in Daytona Beach, Charlotte, N.C., New York and Los Angeles, the following companies are participating in 2008: Brandsense Partners, Daytona International Speedway, Hendrick Motorsports, Images USA, International Speedway Corp. (ISC), JHE Production Group, Just Marketing International, Motorsports Authentics, Octagon, Roush Fenway Racing, SPEED (FOX Entertainment Group) and The Specialized Marketing Group.
The current intern class began their NASCAR experience with an orientation session during the Sprint All-Star Race weekend at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C. The group visited the NASCAR Speedpark in Concord Mills, the NASCAR Research and Development Center in Concord, toured the Dale Earnhardt Inc. facilities, attended the Sprint Pit Crew Challenge presented by Craftsman and the Craftsman Truck Series race. In addition, the group met with NASCAR president Mike Helton.
More than 150 students have participated in the NASCAR Diversity Internship Program since its inception in 2000. These interns have gained experience working in marketing, engineering, public relations, licensing and various other areas. Each year, the internships are available to college juniors, seniors and graduate students across the country. To be eligible, students must be in good standing with their school and community and must have a minimum 3.0 grade point average.
In addition to the internship program, NASCAR awards diversity scholarships in tribute to NASCAR legend Wendell Scott, has an at-track diversity mentorship program and a college tour that visits historically black colleges and universities and Hispanic-serving institutions.
NASCAR fans are most loyal of any sport
(I thought this spoke "loads" of truth about us, the fans)
The true and faithful fans that follow the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing are the most loyal fans of any sport within the United States. True, you could make arguments about any of the major sports in America, but I have never witnessed fans in any other arena of competition as completely dedicated to their favorite sport as much as in NASCAR.
Fans in many other sports may travel an hour or two at most to watch their favorite team play in their hometown. They attend the game, and then that’s it – go home, go to bed, wake-up for work the next morning. It’s a great experience, don’t get me wrong, but the novelty doesn’t last long. In NASCAR, fans travel from untold distances a full week before the race. Families plan entire vacations around race weekends. Dare try to tell a true fan to be back to work on a Monday after a race. Nine times out of 10, every fan will plan one extra day into their vacation just in case of inclement weather. They aren’t going to take that chance; they’ve looked forward to this weekend for months just to allow Mother Nature to spoil the show, I don’t think so.
If you want to attend a Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway, you are looking at sitting on a waiting list for upwards of three years. I have never heard of any sporting event in another sport that sales out three years prior to the event. It’s just unheard of.
When it comes to choosing who to pull for on race day, a NASCAR fan will never venture away from his driver.
In the NFL, good teams will come and go and it always appears as though whoever’s football jerseys are proudly worn throughout the sports bars across America is largely reminiscent of the records on the football field. In NASCAR however, the same people will continue to support their favorite driver, year in, year out, through thick or thin.
Fans will go through extreme lengths to show their support for their drivers – everything from buying t-shirts and mini replica die-cast cars, to repainting their own vehicle to look like that of their driver’s car on the track. If another driver has an altercation with his favorite driver, fans will go out of their way to hold a grudge against the other driver.
One thing that separates NASCAR fans well beyond any other sport is the brand name loyalty.
Tony Stewart fans will only shop at Home Depot for home improvement products.
Jeff Gordon fans will only drink Pepsi products because that is what he drinks.
Dale Earnhardt fans will never be seen driving anything but a Chevrolet because Earnhardt drove a Chevy.
These are just a few of numerous examples of fan loyalty.
NASCAR fans are absolutely nuts when it comes to supporting the sport and athletes they love, and this is why I am proud to say I am, and will always be, one of these NASCAR fans.
Kahne wins at Pocono; 2nd win in 3 weeks
(This kid is on a roll !!!!! Good to see)
With pit strategy so critical at Pocono Raceway, it was no surprise to see Kasey Kahne's team make a sudden change.
It could have cost him a victory. Instead, Kahne rallied to his second points race victory in the last three weeks with a dominant run Sunday in the Pocono 500.
It nearly went awry early in the race when Kahne headed to pit road for a four-tire stop. At the last minute, crew chief Kenny Francis called for just a two tire stop, and the crew was caught flat-footed when Kahne drove away missing three lug nuts on one of his wheels.
Kahne had to return to pit road for a second stop, which dropped him to 38th.
"Kasey did a great job driving it back up through the field," Francis said. "We had a really, really good car, to be able to do that. It was pretty impressive to watch, really, for me. There at the end, I finally was relieved that we got back up front and were leading the race."
That's what momentum can do to a team, and Kahne and his No. 9 crew have been riding a wave of it since winning the All-Star race a month ago. Including that $1 million win, Kahne has been to Victory Lane three times in the past four events.
He knows he's got his fans to thank after they voted him into the All-Star race, giving him the push he needed to rally his way to ninth in the Sprint Cup Series standings.
"As a driver, I didn't feel like my confidence was down. But until I actually won this year, the All-Star race, I realized that I was leaving a little bit out there and wasn't communicating probably like I should have been," Kahne said. "I definitely credit the fans for getting us into the All-Star race. That gave us the momentum.
"That gave the company the excitement and the momentum that they needed, and myself, and that's when I personally feel like I started communicating better and I've done a much better job since.
Has he ever.
He followed the All-Star win with a victory the next week in the Coca-Cola 600, and although he bobbled last week with a 31st-place finish at Dover, he owned Pocono.
Kahne started from the pole, overcame the missing lug nuts and led a race-high 69 of the 200 laps in his Dodge.
"Never. I've never had a car that dominant before," Kahne said. "This one stayed the same all day long. It was so good all day long."
Brian Vickers was second for his best finish since joining Red Bull Racing at the start of last season, and Denny Hamlin was third to give Toyota two cars in the top three.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. was fourth and appeared winded after racing over four hours on the hottest day so far of the NASCAR season. Temperatures hovered around 90 degrees all day, even after a brief rain shower halted action midway through the race.
Vickers declared himself exhausted and blamed some of the issues on rising heat in NASCAR's new car.
"It's brutal. We're going to the infield care center after the races and that's ridiculous," Vickers said. "NASCAR needs to step in and ... cool these cars down to help us. It is extremely freaking hot out there."
Hamlin was pale white and clearly spent as he nodded in agreement.
"I saw Brian, and even Junior needed a second to breathe. It's just tough," Hamlin said. "We're trying as drivers to stay hydrated, but these cars are just way too hot."
Jeff Burton was fifth and was followed by Jimmie Johnson, Matt Kenseth and Kurt Busch. Carl Edwards and Mark Martin rounded out the top 10. Bobby Labonte was 11th and AJ Allmendinger was 12th to give Red Bull its best all-around day since the two-car team joined NASCAR last season.
Kyle Busch became the first driver to compete in all three of NASCAR's national series at three different race tracks on the same weekend, but fell far short of winning a triple crown and finished last Sunday in the Sprint Cup race.
Busch, who wrecked his primary car in Saturday's practice session, started at the rear of the field when he had to switch to his backup Toyota and was running deep in traffic when he ran into Jamie McMurray as the battled for the same spot of race track. It sent Busch into the garage for repairs, and even though his crew rebuilt the car and got him back on the track, he wound up 43rd.
"I saw (McMurray) get high, get loose, and thought he faded back further than he did," Busch said. "We broke the mirror trying to adjust it there before the race and couldn't see anything out my right rear quarter panel. So I couldn't clear myself. The spotter didn't say anything, so I apologize to McMurray for wrecking their day."
Busch was second in Friday night's Truck Series race at Texas Motor Speedway, and was a distant 20th in the Nationwide Series race at Nashville on Saturday night.
But even worse, his cozy lead in the Sprint Cup Series standings was gobbled up as Busch lost 121 points of his lead. Burton now trails him by just 21 points.
"We just had a bad weekend in Pocono, that's all we can really say," crew chief Steve Addington said. "We've had a great year. You can't sit here and dwell on one weekend."
| Kianta
 
 
| | #2 posted June 9, 2008 at 8:10pm (EST) |
this part makes me laugh.....
"Kyle Busch became the first driver to compete in all three of NASCAR's national series at three different race tracks on the same weekend, but fell far short of winning a triple crown and finished last Sunday in the Sprint Cup race.
Busch, who wrecked his primary car in Saturday's practice session, started at the rear of the field when he had to switch to his backup Toyota and was running deep in traffic when he ran into Jamie McMurray as the battled for the same spot of race track. It sent Busch into the garage for repairs, and even though his crew rebuilt the car and got him back on the track, he wound up 43rd. "
why would you be so retarded and try to do 3 races.....they showed him on ESPN with huge red / purple bags under his eyes after the poor finish in sprint cup....The team says they dont think the schedule was a factor I call bullcrap.....
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| | #3 posted June 9, 2008 at 8:17pm (EST) |
Yeah, Kianta, after what he did to Jr. a few races ago (which I still think was intentional), I have no sympathy for him.
I know Dale Sr. wrecked people in his career, but Jr. is NOT his dad, in fact most people agree that he drives more like his grandfather, Ralph Earnhardt than anyone else.
But yeah, I am really disliking Kyle's attitude....he whines so much when his chance of winning gets taken out, and unlike other drivers, he cannot even be satisfied with a top 5, or top 10 finish. | Kianta
| | #4 posted June 9, 2008 at 8:26pm (EST) |
yup...he is a wreckless driver first or last for him....reminds me of Ricky bobby from talladega nights....if your not first your last lol
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| | #5 posted June 12, 2008 at 12:56am (EST) |
I wanted to mention, in this particular part of the forum especially, you guys/gals are always welcome to post your own stories or news that you may find interesting, something that you found on the net.
Don't think that the ones I post are the only ones allowed.....Please contribute any news, stats, or anything else that you would like to share with the other fans....I want this to be an open and active forum in which visitors feel comfortable sharing.
Thanks | soundtech
| #6 posted June 16, 2008 at 7:01pm (EST)
edited June 16, 2008 at 8:03pm (EST) |
NEW Stories, HOT off the press !!!!!
Busch bows out of pursuit of all three different titles
(LOL...looks like he heard your thoughts Kianta)
Sprint Cup Series point leader Kyle Busch has abandoned any hope of competing for two NASCAR national touring division championships, which he had attempted through the most recent weekend.
Busch's name is listed on the preliminary entry list for this weekend's Nationwide Series Milwaukee 250 at The Milwaukee Mile, in a No. 10 Braun Racing Toyota, but a Braun spokesperson said Busch would remain in Sonoma, Calif., for this weekend's Sprint Cup event and not travel to Milwaukee.
"We are just going to have fun now and win the races and not stress on getting to where we've got to go."
Five other drivers -- Nationwide Series leader Clint Bowyer, David Reutimann, defending series champion Carl Edwards, David Ragan and Marcos Ambrose -- will make the trip from Sonoma to compete in Milwaukee.
But on TNT's Sunday pre-race show at Michigan International Speedway, Busch said he had given up on continuing to race for the Nationwide Series championship, in which he's competed in the first 16 races -- the last two weekends going to great lengths to run two races in both Cup and Nationwide in four different states.
"We are so far behind in the Nationwide stuff it's not worth trying to catch back up," Busch said of his fifth-place standing, 243 points behind Bowyer. "Clint Boywer is pretty good and such a consistent driver that it's too hard to catch back up, so we aren't going to stress ourselves trying to make it.
"We are just going to have fun now and win the races and not stress on getting to where we've got to go."
Busch had never intended to compete for the Craftsman Truck Series drivers' title, but after the first 10 races in which Busch has run eight times and won twice in owner Billy Ballew's No. 51 Toyota, that truck is second in the owner standings, only eight points behind Johnny Benson's owner, Bill Davis (complete standings).
On Sunday morning at Michigan, Joe Gibbs, the owner of Busch's primary ride, the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota in the Sprint Cup Series, had said he saw no issues with Busch's globe-trotting antics and that, in the end, common sense would rule.
"As young as [Busch] is I think he has a great enthusiasm for all of that," Gibbs said. "Every now and then you run across someone like that. Tony [Stewart, another JGR driver] is a little bit that way -- they want to race everything. That's when they're happy [and] they get a thrill out of it.
"I don't sense that it wears [Busch] out and I don't think Steve [Addington, Busch's crew chief] has sensed that there is anything there that would detract from his Cup effort and certainly I don't think that it has. I think it's just one of those things where some of the guys want to be in a car every chance that they get."
Two weekends ago, Busch flew to Texas on Friday night after qualifying his Sprint Cup car at Pocono and finished second in the Truck race. That Saturday, he crashed his primary Cup car in practice, then flew to Nashville for Nationwide qualifying and a race, in which he finished 20th. On Sunday, he crashed his Cup car and finished last.
Busch started his Michigan weekend by finishing second in the Truck Series race on Saturday afternoon, then flew to Kentucky for the Nationwide race, in which he crashed and finished 30th (watch video). He then returned to Michigan, where he finished 13th, extending his lead in the Sprint Cup standings to 32 points over Jeff Burton.
Gibbs said everything Busch has done, including four wins in Sprint Cup and four more in Nationwide action between JGR and Braun Racing, is a revelation to him and his organization.
"I don't think anybody would've dreamed that this would've happened -- I don't think there is anybody standing here that would've," Gibbs said. "We're really proud of [Busch] and everything he's done. We're excited about where we are now."
Busch's decision nullified anything he and JGR management would have had to decide later in the season, but Gibbs also said he wasn't concerned about it.
"I think it would just be a common sense discussion," Gibbs said on Sunday morning. "I think that obviously over [in Sprint Cup] a lot goes into this. A lot of people count on him -- obviously our sponsor and everything. You wouldn't want to do anything that would run the risk of jeopardizing what we have over here."
Mike Bliss is scheduled to take Busch's place in Ballew's truck this weekend at Milwaukee, and a Ballew Motorsports spokesperson said the rest of Busch's schedule for the remainder of this season is yet to be determined.
That comes in the aftermath of a clash on the last lap of Saturday's Truck Series race at Michigan. Busch hit former championship leader Ron Hornaday on the last lap and knocked him from the top five to 23rd at the finish.
In the garage area, Hornaday and truck owner Kevin Harvick angrily confronted Busch, who did not make any public comments about the finish, although Hornaday said plenty (watch video).
"I knew he was coming. He had the outside or the inside -- he just drove into me," Hornaday said. "He just drove into me because he got mad because I took us four-wide and passed him cleanly. Halfway through the race, he showed me he was upset because he lifted the back of the truck up.
"If he is going to race that way that is pretty chicken -- he doesn't deserve to be a racer. He has a lot of talent, but that is just flat stupid. If Billy Ballew needs a championship that bad for owners, he has the right driver.
"I don't knock any other driver, but I will tell you what, that kid has just about done wore me out. I don't know if I have to give up this championship to teach him a lesson -- I hope I don't hurt him, because if Joe Gibbs lets him do this, I am ashamed for them.
"I tried to talk to him as a friend. He is just out there; I don't know what it is. I guess it is an ego trip and if he is going to wreck me every week, I guess we are going to have to do it back to him."
Junior's win puts NASCAR's focus back on right track
(figured it would be fitting to have a Dale Jr. story after his victory)
As chairman and CEO of NASCAR, Brian France strives to be objective.
Yet it came as no surprise last offseason when he publicly admitted -- on more than one occasion -- that it would be great for the Sprint Cup Series if Dale Earnhardt Jr. would start winning races again. Hey, France was only being honest.
The fact is, love him or hate him (there seem to be a whole lot more of the former, fewer of the latter, and virtually no one left in between), Earnhardt's victory Sunday in the LifeLock 400 at Michigan International Speedway was exactly what NASCAR needed. It broke a 76-race winless streak for Earnhardt, who won the 18th Cup race of his career.
France had no idea at the time of his initial statements about Earnhardt just how well-timed Junior's belated return to Victory Lane could be or would be for the sanctioning body that often is accused by its critics of attempting to script too much of the sport.
Mauricia Grant is suing NASCAR for $225 million, alleging racial and sexual discrimination, sexual harassment and wrongful termination.
The script went awry last Tuesday when Mauricia Grant, a former NASCAR official who is black, filed a $225 million lawsuit against France's organization, alleging racial and sexual discrimination and wrongful termination.
Subsequent attempts to have the world go according to their own carefully crafted script were mixed over the weekend, beginning with a hastily called, closed-door meeting between high-ranking NASCAR officials, drivers and car owners.
The meeting was held Friday at MIS, not MI5 -- that secret-service arm of the British intelligence community made famous by the mythical James Bond. Hence, confusion reigned over a thinly veiled attempt at secrecy.
Officials from NASCAR insisted the meeting was all about reminding the drivers to reconnect with the fan base. Drivers insisted the meeting was all about the officials from NASCAR telling them to keep their mouths shut when it came to criticizing the new car (read more).
In the end, it became clear that the drivers were the ones telling the closer version of the truth. The irony there is that they were being told to hush by the same NASCAR officials who insisted at the beginning of the season that they wanted the drivers to display more of their personalities, to let their opinions flow forth without fear of constant intervention or reprimand on NASCAR's part.
What the meeting really appeared to be was diversion -- as in diversion from the omnipresent diversity issue. It gave the media something else to focus on besides the lawsuit that had been dominating all the headlines.
To his credit, France held an impromptu news conference at MIS one day later, attempting to explain NASCAR's position as it continues "an ongoing investigation" into Grant's very serious allegations. He warned that more must be learned, and made it a point -- repeatedly -- to say that had Grant followed clear company policy and filed formal complaints about the incidents alleged in the lawsuit, the matter could have been resolved before it reached this point.
While that may be true enough, Grant has alleged that she did tell superiors of his complaints. She contends in the lawsuit that she ultimately was wrongfully terminated because of it.
If Grant is telling the truth, shame on NASCAR. If she isn't, shame on her.
Hopefully the truth will come out some day, and some day soon. In the meantime, NASCAR should use this as a wakeup call to monitor the garage area even more closely when it comes to promoting racial and gender diversity and making absolutely certain everyone involved understands all of the parameters and boundaries that must be observed to make it work. Those who don't -- or perhaps didn't in Grant's case -- should be dismissed from their jobs immediately.
The fact is, however, that the absolute truth likely will never be known and the case probably will be settled out of court. That's the way these things usually work.
In the meantime, the sport must go on. The season must continue.
That's where Earnhardt comes in, and why the first victory in a points race in more than two years by the sport's most popular driver could not have come at a more opportune time.
Nothing could have served a better purpose to take at least some of the focus off all the side shows transpiring away from the track and put it back on the racing itself.
This isn't to diminish the enormity of Grant's allegations in her lawsuit. They should be taken very seriously indeed, and whether this ends up being settled out of court or not, NASCAR should use the occasion to better itself.
Change never comes easily, and permanent change doesn't usually come quickly or without controversy.
But as important as this ongoing story about alleged racial and sexual discrimination is, there are other important storylines in NASCAR that deserve exploration as well. Some of them even involve the actual racing being done on the track.
Earnhardt's victory was monumental not only for himself, but also for his new car owner, Rick Hendrick, and for his manufacturer, Chevrolet. Every team seeks the bragging rights that come with winning at Michigan, in the very shadow of the city that houses the Big Three manufacturers who have helped build NASCAR -- Chevy, Ford and Chrysler.
Sunday's race was somewhat of a snoozefest over the first 140 laps of the 200-lap event, but who remembers that after the fantastic and riveting finish? And what does it say about the sport that the top four finishers drove a Chevrolet (Earnhardt), a Dodge (Kasey Kahne), a Ford (Matt Kenseth) and a Toyota (Brian Vickers)?
The lawsuit filed by Grant has cast a cloud over the sport, and rightly so if even a fraction of her allegations prove true. Hopefully, one way or another, it will lead to positive change.
In the meantime, there are plenty of other subjects that deserve some attention, too. Earnhardt's victory served as a reminder of that.
Gordon hears criticisms, warns not to point fingers
Coming off a season in which he won six races and finished second in the championship standings to teammate Jimmie Johnson, it's not surprising that Jeff Gordon and the No. 24 Chevrolet crew had high hopes heading into 2008.
However, even though Gordon is solidly in the top 10 in the standings heading into Sunday's LifeLock 400 at Michigan International Speedway, this has been an unexpected struggle for a team that expects to qualify and run up front every weekend.
"This is so much different because it's so many steps back and we're in a box, so it's been the biggest challenge that I've ever seen any of the teams go through and that's exactly what we anticipated it would be -- a big challenge," Gordon said. "Last year wasn't so big because we were on the shorter tracks. Now we're on the big, fast, high-speed tracks and it's a real challenge."
I've just gotten to the point where I just need to shut up and drive because other people are making it work. We are not and we're one of the best teams out there.
”
It's not surprising that crew chief Steve Letarte may be taking the brunt of the criticism, but Gordon said now is not the time to point fingers. Instead, he -- and the team -- is focused on finding a solution.
"We don't pay attention to outside criticism," Gordon said. "We know what we're capable of doing. We focus internally. I think Steve Letarte is one of the best crew chiefs out there and I'm confident in that, and I would say that being a crew chief these days takes a lot of different elements."
Gordon said Letarte brings many positive elements to the role.
"He knows how to motivate people, he knows how to organize them," Gordon said. "He knows how to read the information. He knows how to work with me, communicate with me, with the team. He knows when to crack the whip and when not to. He's worked with some of the best crew chiefs in the business and he gets a chance to work side by side with Chad Knaus, who I think is one of the best out there as well.
"He's got to deal with me and that's not an easy thing. Sometimes I'm not the easiest and he's got to deal with exactly what we talked about -- he's got to deal with extreme criticism from very loyal, avid fans of mine. It's a tough job and not anybody can be in that position, and I think for his age and his experience I think he does an unbelievable job. I'm confident in that and that's why that doesn't change things outside of our shop."
Earlier this season, Gordon started second and finished third at Fontana, a track similar to Michigan. But crashes at Las Vegas and Texas left many wondering what was wrong with the No. 24. Gordon admits his team is still searching for answers.
"I can just tell you from my own personal experiences that there are guys out there that are making it work, certainly making it work better than we are," Gordon said. "I've just gotten to the point where I just need to shut up and drive because other people are making it work. We are not and we're one of the best teams out there.
"I feel confident in my driving and my team and that we can get it and find it. I don't think that there's anybody else out there that's doing anything that's magic, they just found some things and gone in that direction and it's working."
Gordon said the team has been proactive in an effort to hit the right combination on intermediate tracks.
"We keep our eyes and our ears open at all times," he said. "We pay attention. We look at what we're doing. We communicate with our teammates and we do everything we can.
"We try to learn every time we come to any racetrack. It's what can we take from this racetrack that's going to apply to other racetracks or what can we take from other racetracks and apply here in Michigan and try to win. Our goal is every time we come to a racetrack we want to be competitive, we want to lead laps and we want to have an opportunity to win and hopefully pull off a win."
Despite his struggles, Gordon is solidly in contention for the Chase, which allows the team to try some different setups. However, Victory Lane remains his ultimate goal.
"With the Chase format ... we're not solidly in but it does allow us to experiment a little more than we have been able to up to this point," he said. "Before we were like, 'Hey, we would just be happy to get to 15th.' Now we need to be 10th or fifth. We've gotten some top-fives and that's gotten us up there, and now we got to get better. We've got to be competitive enough to win races."
And for his detractors, Gordon has a few words of wisdom.
"[We] know what we're doing and what direction we're going in and how hard we're working and confident that we can get where we need to be," Gordon said. "It's funny that when you're not running where you need to be how quickly people are to point those things out, but how quickly they forget about the fact that we were basically one of the best teams out there on the track last year.
"There's a reason why we were as good as we were last year and there's a reason why we'll get back there hopefully before the season is out." | Kianta
| | #7 posted June 16, 2008 at 9:57pm (EST) |
lol 
owners probably put a big boot in his ass lol
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| | #8 posted June 16, 2008 at 11:49pm (EST) |
Kianta wrote:
> lol
>
> owners probably put a big boot in his ass lol
>
>
I certainly hope so, that's exactly what he needs.
Not only do the fans not like him, but from what I've heard, none of the other drivers in the garage can stand him,
even the ones on his team...now that's bad...LOL | Kianta
| #9 posted June 17, 2008 at 9:54am (EST)
edited June 17, 2008 at 9:55am (EST) |
lol yeah I believe it....crashers / wreckless drivers often make the race more competitive but they often are hated as they wreck people quite often
personally I dont like Pablo Montoya either because it seems like he is always part of a big wreck...a lot of times it is his fault and others he just doesnt have the skills to overcome someone else rubbing him.
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| | #10 posted June 22, 2008 at 6:59pm (EST) |
My heart just skipped a beat or two...
Sources: Martin to leave DEI, replace Mears in No. 5
By David Newton and Marty Smith
ESPN.com
SONOMA, Calif. -- Casey Mears and Mark Martin look to be on the move, and their futures might be linked.
Mears' future with Hendrick Motorsports appears in jeopardy, ESPN.com has learned. Although Mears has one year left on his contract, team owner Rick Hendrick would not commit to the driver of the No. 5 car beyond this season.
"I'm committed to him right now," Hendrick said on Sunday at Infineon Raceway. "I'm committed to him making that car run better right now."
Earlier on Sunday, sources told ESPN.com that Martin would leave Dale Earnhardt Inc. Later, ESPN.com learned that he would replace Mears, making one last full-time run at a championship.
John Story, the vice president of motorsports at DEI, said there are plans to put Aric Almirola into a full-time ride next season. Almirola currently is splitting the No. 8 with the 49-year-old Martin. He indicated the full-time ride would be in the No. 8.
"Aric is ready for a full-time ride," Story said. "There's a lot of interest in sponsorship for Aric. He's a bright young guy and a hell of a race car driver.
"He fits a lot of company's demographics with his age and Hispanic background. And first and foremost he can drive. We have to get him in a car full time somehow, someway."
Martin, who has been running a part-time schedule the past couple of seasons, was unavailable for comment.
Martin has been pivotal in mentoring DEI's young driving stable, especially Almirola and Regan Smith.
"He's been very good to us and very helpful, and good to our other drivers, so we're working through what's best for Mark, for Aric and for DEI," Story said. "We have five guys we'd like to run full time, and Mark doesn't want to run a full-time schedule.
"So he's looking at something very similar to what he has today. That's the challenge we have. We talk every day trying to make that work."
Hendrick would not address whether Martin could replace Mears. He also would not give Mears a strong endorsement.
"We're looking at everything right now," he said. "We're not ready to make any announcements. Guys, give me a break. What's there to tell? We just want to get in the Chase, we want to run good, we want to win races."
Mears is 27th in points. He has finished 17th or worse in the last six races and 26th or worse in five of six. In 51 races at HMS he has one win and only 12 top 10s.
Dale Earnhardt Jr., who joined the organization this season, has a win and 11 top 10s in 15 races.
Mears has been confident in his return to HMS over the past couple of months. There was doubt in his voice on Sunday.
"I don't know yet," he said when asked if he would return in 2009. "Obviously, we haven't had a good season. I think anything could happen. Right now, I don't really have anything good to talk about."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
If this turned out to be true... Wow...
Help me get a Wii!
http://www.YourNintendoWii4Free.com/index.php?ref=... | soundtech
| | #11 posted June 22, 2008 at 7:03pm (EST) |
Good Story !!!!!!
Thanks for contributing to the forum RULost, and also good to see you in here, hope to see more of ya !!!!!
 | Kianta
| | #12 posted June 23, 2008 at 8:12am (EST) |
I always liked martin...good stuff
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Try Goozex & get 1 Free trade & 100 points http://www.goozex.com/trading/asp/join.asp?idr=514... | soundtech
| | #13 posted June 23, 2008 at 1:30pm (EST) |
Kianta wrote:
> I always liked martin...good stuff
>
>
Yep...he is definitely one of the best, and a classy driver.
He keeps on saying he is going to retire, but I personally hope he continues driving a few years longer.
Everything will be updated shortly...gotta goto the PO first, then I will work on new standings and stories.
| soundtech
| #14 posted June 23, 2008 at 3:23pm (EST)
edited June 23, 2008 at 3:24pm (EST) |
NEW STORIES (as of 6-23-08)
Mears' future at Hendrick Motorsports not certain
(thought I would follow-up on what RULost posted)
SONOMA, Calif. (AP) - Just two months ago, car owner Rick Hendrick sounded almost certain Casey Mears would be driving his No. 5 Chevrolet next season.
Now he doesn't sound so sure.
Asked before Sunday's race at Infineon Raceway if he was committed to Mears through for the full length of his contract, Hendrick avoided the question.
"I'm committed to him right now," Hendrick said. "I'm committed to him making that car run better right now."
Mears' contract runs through the end of the 2009 season, and although he scored his only career victory at Charlotte last year with Hendrick, his results haven't matched the team potential. He had 10 top-10s last season and finished 15th in the points last year. This season, he has just two top-10s and is 27th in the standings.
"(I'm concentrating) on getting that car running better and working hard on that anything else is speculation," Hendrick said. "We're looking at everything right now. I'm not ready to make any announcements. What's there to tell? We want to get it in the Chase and want to win races."
Mears finished a season-best fifth Sunday.
"We just have gotten off to a horrible start this year and it just feels really good to get a top-five," he said. "Everybody on the team needed this. These guys have been working really hard, everybody has been working really hard to find out exactly what it is to do to get better."
The speculation comes as rumors swirl about Mark Martin's future with Dale Earnhardt Inc. He's previously been mentioned as a candidate to split the Cup schedule with Scott Speed at Red Bull Racing, but there could also be a similar role for him in the No. 5 car for Hendrick.
One scenario could have Martin splitting the seat time with Brad Keselowski, who currently drives a Nationwide Series car for JR Motorsports. Hendrick is partners with Dale Earnhardt Jr. in that venture, and Martin occasionally drives a car for them in that series.
Martin is currently splitting a ride with Aric Almirola for DEI, but the team wants Almirola in a full-time ride in 2009.
"Aric is ready for a full-time ride," said DEI vice president John Story. "We have to get him in a car full time somehow, someway
NHRA's Scott Kalitta killed in crash
(not exactly NASCAR news, but thought it might be worthwhile to post anyways)
ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. (AP) - Scott Kalitta died Saturday when his Funny Car burst into flames and crashed at the end of the track during the final round of qualifying for the Lucas Oil NHRA SuperNationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.
NHRA tragedy Scott Kalitta, 46, died when his car burst into flames and crashed Saturday during qualifying. Share your thoughts on this tragedy and the former champion.
Kalitta's Toyota Solara was traveling at about 300 mph when it burst into flames.
The Palmetto, Fla., resident started his career at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in 1982. His father, Connie Kalitta, was a longtime driver and team owner known as "The Bounty Hunter," and his cousin, Doug Kalitta, also drives competitively.
"We are deeply saddened and want to pass along our sincere condolences to the entire Kalitta family," the NHRA said in a statement. "Scott shared the same passion for drag racing as his legendary father, Connie. He also shared the same desire to win, becoming a two-time series world champion. He left the sport for a period of time, to devote more time to his family, only to be driven to return to the drag strip to regain his championship form. ... He will be truly missed by the entire NHRA community."
Kalitta had most of his racing success in Top Fuel, highlighted by his series titles in 1994 and 1995. He retired from racing in 1997, sitting out most of two seasons before returning for a 10-race campaign in 1999. He sat out three more seasons following that brief stint and then returned again in 2003, joining cousin Doug as a second driver for the family's two Top Fuel dragsters.
Kalitta started his pro career in Top Fuel in 1982, running limited events for four seasons before moving to Funny Car in 1986 for his first full season of competition. He returned to that category full-time in 2006.
One of only 14 drivers in NHRA history to win in both premier nitro categories, Kalitta's last victory came in Chicago in 2005 in Top Fuel. He had a runner-up finish two weeks ago in Chicago, his 36th career NHRA final-round appearance.
He's survived by his father, wife Kathy and sons Corey, 14, and Colin, 8.
NASCAR Nationwide Series driver Brad Keselowski - a native of Rochester Hills, Mich., about 20 miles away from Kalitta's hometown of Mount Clemens - learned the news from a television report.
"That really hits close to home," Keselowski said after winning the pole position for Saturday night's race at the Milwaukee Mile in West Allis, Wis. "(He was) a friend of my family's, and I send my thoughts and prayers out to him. That's tough to hear."
Last year, Funny Car driver Eric Medlen died after an accident in a testing session at Gainesville, Fla.
Caterpillar to take over for AT&T at RCR
With AT&T's NASCAR Sprint Cup sponsorship coming to an end, Richard Childress Racing has found a replacement sponsor for Jeff Burton.
As FOXSports.com first reported, Caterpillar has agreed to become the primary sponsor of the No. 31 Chevrolet driven by Burton beginning next season. The deal, which was announced Wednesday, is a multi-year agreement.
Based on an agreement reached by AT&T and NASCAR last year, the telecommunications giant had to give up their sponsorship deal at the end of this season. The agreement came after a protracted legal battle between AT&T and Sprint after Sprint phased out the Cingular brand — one of two brands which were grandfathered in when Sprint (formerly Nextel) took over sponsor rights for the Cup Series.
Currently, Caterpillar sponsors Bill Davis Racing's No. 22 Toyota Camry driven by Dave Blaney. The manufacturer of industrial equipment has been involved in NASCAR since 1993, when it was an associate sponsor for Kyle Petty's No. 42 Pontiac. They joined Bill Davis Racing in 1999 and have sponsored the No. 22 Sprint Cup entry since.
CAT has five Sprint Cup wins to its record, including the 2002 Daytona 500 when Jeff's brother Ward guided them to Victory Lane.
| soundtech
| #15 posted June 30, 2008 at 5:43pm (EST)
edited June 30, 2008 at 6:23pm (EST) |
NEW STORIES as of 6-30-08
For Carpentier, the lessons take place on and off track
LOUDON, N.H. -- The voice came down from the spotter's stand and over the radio, as clear as if Keith Barnwell were sitting in the back seat. "You run faster lap times when you're not using the brake," he told driver Patrick Carpentier. "Let that thing roll through there."
And the rookie from Canada tried to do just that, fighting his old IndyCar nature to drive hard into the corner, and instead reminding himself to feather the heavier stock car through the turns. New Hampshire Motor Speedway marked a key milepost in the Gillett Evernham driver's transition from open wheels to NASCAR, showing that he's learning not only how to qualify for Sprint Cup races, but compete in them, as well.
“... I asked [Harvick] on the stage, 'I just want to lead one lap. That's all I'm asking, then I'll let you by. I want to lead one lap.'”
Thanks in part to a Friday rainstorm that cooled the racetrack for those with later qualifying draws, the 37-year-old from Montreal was a surprising pole winner for the Lenox Industrial Tools 301 (watch video). No one would have been surprised had he dropped immediately to the back after the green flag. But he hung in the top 10 for more than 60 laps, leading four circuits around the 1-mile oval and showing flashes of the stock-car driver he may one day become. His ultimate finish was 31st, far from his best of the year. But he had been doomed to that by brake problems -- partially self-inflicted -- and held his own for as long as the car would allow.
"Every race, I see improvements," Carpentier said after the rain-shortened finish. "And I'm so happy [Sunday], because they usually go by me like nothing else. I thought they were going to go by me in a half a lap down the back-straight. But I held my own and stayed up front for a little bit and ran with these guys. At Richmond, I was down 20th place within five laps. Now we stayed up in fourth place and ran with them really fast, and I'm really happy. It's a step forward and starting to learn to race."
He even struck a deal with No. 2 starter Kevin Harvick on the stage during introductions, reminding the Richard Childress Racing driver that he didn't wreck him in their 1-2 finish in last year's Nationwide Series event in Montreal. "I'll be honest with you, I thought Harvick was going to go [past]," Carpentier said, "but I asked him on the stage, 'I just want to lead one lap. That's all I'm asking, then I'll let you by. I want to lead one lap.' He owed me from Montreal last year. I didn't take him out, so it's here that it paid off."
He didn't need much help, hanging with the leaders before a crowd that track officials estimated was up to 10 percent Canadian. He was guided by Barnwell and team director (GEM parlance for crew chief) Mike Shiplett, the two voices in his ear, who delivered equal portions strategy and advice. It was Barnwell who had advised Carpentier to try a certain line in practice for the Nationwide race, a discovery the driver credits with helping him later win the Sprint Cup pole. During Sunday's event, the recommendations came with regularity.
"Fall in behind [teammate] Kasey [Kahne] and follow him," Barnwell advised early in the race. And later: "You're looking at some really good cars in front of you now. Let's see if you can learn something from them that can help you later." It wasn't the first time Carpentier had tried to pick up tips from a fellow competitor while on the racetrack.
"At Dover, I picked up from Kasey and gained four-tenths [of a second] a lap following him," Carpentier said. "I didn't know why they were running the top, the top side of the track on what they call the ring. I saw him, and he was really tight. I thought it was when you were loose you move up, but it's when you're tight you move up. When you're loose, you kind of stay down a little bit. It's all learning. I started moving up, and we gained four-tenths a lap. It was good. Here, I could have been fast at the top, too, but I had no brakes. I had to lift halfway through the track. I was doing not even half the track wide open. It was still fast. They gave me a great car. It was fast through the corners, but I couldn't do anything with it."
The brakes were a constant headache Sunday. Carpentier was on them hard early in the race, so Shiplett and Barnwell reminded him again and again to "roll it through there," as the spotter would say. But finessing the brakes in the corner is easier said than done for a former IndyCar driver, who for years braked in corners at the last possible second. Carpentier realized it. "I'm having to use the brakes too hard. I'm destroying them," he radioed at one point. He lost his position near the front of the field when he was one of the first cars to pit in the opening green-flag sequence, and spent the rest of the race fighting to stay or get back on the lead lap.
"With the IndyCars, you're so used to entering it as fast as you can and just lifting in the last minute. With these things, you've got to baby it a little bit more," Carpentier said. "That's what they kept reminding me. It's a habit I used to have in the past. I'm trying to lose the habit and think stock car more. But it's been great. I'm very happy. I'm sad we lost the brakes. We could have got a lot of points. But it was still pretty good."
And it was something of a breakthrough for a driver still feeling his way around NASCAR's top level. "All we could do, buddy," Barnwell told Carpentier afterward. It all left the rookie wanting to learn more
"I'll tell you, I was sitting in the car and I was thinking, this is good. I like the life up front," he said with a smile. "It was going good, and I was enjoying it a lot. I had a great time this weekend. Just keep learning, just keep moving forward."
Stewart races to another Nationwide win in 20 car
LOUDON, N.H. -- Aside from Tony Stewart becoming the 22nd different winner in 22 Nationwide Series races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, the outcome of Saturday's Camping World RV Sales 200 was more of the same for NASCAR's Triple-A division.
Stewart's victory was the eighth of the season for the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, which has carried four different drivers to Victory Lane this year -- Stewart on five occasions and Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin and rookie phenom Joey Logano once each.
Hamlin and Busch, in fact, chased Stewart for the final 64 laps, after Stewart took the lead for good on Lap 136. Hamlin, driving Braun Racing's No. 32 Toyota, was within a half-second of the leader when Greg Biffle crashed on Lap 200, the final circuit. The race ended under caution with Stewart, Hamlin and Busch in the top-three spots (watch video), followed by Kevin Harvick and Carl Edwards.
"It's pretty spectacular," Edwards said about the No. 20 car. "Those guys are doing a great job. There are ups and downs in this sport and, right now, they're on the up side and we've just got to look at what they're doing and emulate them and try to get them by the end of the season."
Stewart credited crew chief Dave Rogers, a native of the neighboring state of Vermont, with the consistently excellent performance of the No. 20 Camry.
"There've been four drivers [to] win in this car, so it's not the drivers -- that's for sure," Stewart said. "We're the fortunate ones to be able to drive this thing."
A two-tire call on Stewart's final pit stop on Lap 129 got the No. 20 Toyota out in third place for a restart on Lap 133. Three laps later, Stewart took the lead from Edwards, who had taken fuel only on the pit stop, with a smooth pass entering Turn 1.
"That last stop is what won the race for us," Stewart said. "To get track position and be able to stay up front and not have to overdrive the car or abuse the tires was the key to the win."
It was Rogers, who started with the Gibbs team as an engineer on Stewart's No. 20 Cup car, who made the two-tire call.
"I look up and they're all coming," Rogers said of the last pit stop for the leaders. "It was a parking lot and I knew if we got back in traffic, we would never make it to the front. This is a track-position race."
On Lap 138, Hamlin passed Edwards for second, and Busch followed into third position three laps after that, but neither could overtake the leader.
"We didn't know it would come down to a track-position race," said Busch, who took four tires on his final pit stop, restarted eighth and had to work his way through traffic. "We got out-strategized there at the end."
NASCAR, teams discuss no-limits testing policy
LOUDON, N.H. -- When Sprint Cup officials met with series crew chiefs Saturday to discuss testing for next season, director John Darby threw out several options -- including no limits on testing at all.
"There was a pretty good gasp of air when you got to talking about wide-open testing," Darby said after the meeting at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, "because the immediate perception is, holy cats, we're going to be testing 38 weeks a year. Now after you talk to everybody for a little bit and then ask them to count the actual number of tests they usually do at all the places they go to test, and taking those same amount of days and applying them to places where we race, there's probably not much different there."
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NASCAR has limited tests in recent years on Sprint Cup tracks, to the point where testing is allowed only as a group and only on a number of finite tracks each year. This season the series is testing seven times, twice at Lowe's Motor Speedway outside Charlotte. But teams get around that limit by testing regularly on tracks other than those that host Sprint Cup events, making trips to places like Milwaukee, Kentucky and Virginia International Raceway that are outside of Cup Series officials' control. NASCAR did not allow teams to use official race tires for outside testing last season, but loosened the policy and allowed a limited number this year.
But those outside tests bring historically mixed results, whereas testing on all the actual tracks used in competition would provide more exact information. NASCAR believes the limited full-field tests, in addition to providing better data, also lower costs and allow for a greater degree of safety because all the teams share in the expense. But they're willing to look at other options for next year.
NASCAR can't eliminate testing altogether, because teams so often use facilities outside the sanctioning body's purview. Darby said the crew chiefs would take the options back to their respective car owners, and everyone would meet again in about two weeks.
"In the past, it's just been a matter of here, select your racetracks and here we go," Darby said. "This year, I felt it was time we sat down with everybody and talked: We're open to any suggestions you may have, from leaving our testing policy exactly like it was in '08, to going all the way to what I call wide-open testing. No limits. Any track any time, as many times as you want to go. We're prepared for either way. It doesn't matter to us, we'll listen to what all the teams come back with as suggestions, formulate a test plan and go forward."
And the final decision will be NASCAR's. "We're still not a democratic society," Darby joked.
Mears is on the move, and others may soon follow
LOUDON, N.H. -- The alligator gave it away.
He didn't walk in wearing a firesuit cluttered with corporate logos, or a golf shirt with the primary sponsor's insignia knitted over the left breast. Casey Mears entered the media center at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Friday wearing a simple blue Lacoste polo, bearing only the shirt maker's tiny reptilian emblem. There was no clearer sign that the winner of last year's Coca-Cola 600 was now a driver without a home (watch video).
Hendrick Motorsports announced that Mears would not be returning to its No. 5 car next season, a de facto dismissal that becomes the first domino to topple in what is sure to be a long line of them before this season is over. Mears is only the beginning -- there's still a fourth driver to be named at Richard Childress Racing, a decision by Tony Stewart and possible ensuing vacancy at Joe Gibbs Racing, as well as potential new homes for Ryan Newman and Martin Truex Jr. and the openings at Penske Racing and Dale Earnhardt Inc. that they might leave behind.
“At the end of the day, this is a performance-based sport. You have to put the numbers on the board ... and unfortunately for a few different reasons, we just haven't been able to do that this season.”
And the opening salvo is Hendrick's decision to cut ties with Mears, a move that places an enormously sponsor- and fan-friendly driver on the market, and opens a seat with one of NASCAR's top teams. Despite his victory last May, Mears could never find the level of performance that his Hendrick teammates enjoyed. He finished 15th in points last year with Hendrick's No. 25 team -- now Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s No. 88 -- and was 24th in his No. 5 car coming to New Hampshire.
"We've put a ton of emphasis on the No. 5 program," team owner Rick Hendrick said in a statement. "It's been a total team effort, and Casey has worked as hard as anyone to help us improve. We've tested more than we ever have, but the results just haven't come. None of us, Casey included, have been satisfied with the situation this season. But he's confident there are other options out there for him in 2009, and we feel like Hendrick Motorsports will have some opportunities, too."
Mears seemed to understand that the production -- a season-best fifth-place finish last week at Sonoma not withstanding -- just wasn't there.
"At the end of the day, this is a performance-based sport," he said. "My uncle [four-time Indianapolis 500 champion Rick Mears] has always said, you have to put the numbers on the board, and that's how you keep your job and keep your ride. Unfortunately, for a few different reasons, we just haven't been able to do that this season."
Now Mears is destined for his fifth program in as many years, following the Nos. 41 and 42 with Chip Ganassi Racing and the Nos. 25 and 5 at Hendrick. He's had five different crew chiefs during that span, with Lance McGrew replaced prior to last year's Daytona 500 with Darian Grubb. All that change has taken its toll -- Mears said he struggled to communicate with crew chief Alan Gustafson early this season, and piled bad runs on top of bad luck.
"Last year, we had gained some momentum. We won a race, I think Darian and I were starting to get on the same page," Mears said. "Now you move into the 5 car, and we've got to learn a new crew chief-driver scenario on top of learning a new car. I think that threw us for a loop a little bit, and obviously that's one reason why we didn't have the performances we wanted to have."
But Mears had too much working against him. It didn't help that, other than the driver, the No. 5 team remained exactly the same unit that finished fourth in points last season with Kyle Busch. It didn't help that Earnhardt found such quick success with what had been Mears' old team last year. Primary sponsor Kellogg's, which is contracted with Hendrick through at least next year, was used to winning. And at Hendrick, the bar is always high -- make the Chase and contend for championships, something Mears was unable to do. Hendrick made the call in a meeting with Mears following the June 15 event at Michigan.
"Because we have good relationships there at Hendrick Motorsports, I think Rick and everybody wanted to see a multiple-year deal and see me get some consistency," Mears said. "I think people made decisions because they had to make decisions. I don't know why everything's gone down. That would probably be a better question for Rick and some of the guys with the team. He understands my situation more than anybody, and getting some stability would be good. But obviously decisions were made for certain reasons."
It won't be an easy parting. Mears has close relationships with many members of the Hendrick fold. He and two-time defending Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson have been friends since the days when they both raced on dirt. Mears spent a few days earlier this week with Johnson on vacation in Aspen, Colo.
"It hurts me as a friend and a teammate that this is taking place. The release has been out, the decision has been made. At this point, I wish Casey the best. I'll do anything and everything I can to help him and his team finish this year on a positive note.”
"I feel really bad for Casey and the 5 team. There has not been a lack of effort to get that working right," Johnson said. "A situation has developed that Casey is going to move on. It hurts me as a friend and a teammate that this is taking place. I know it's the same with the company and Rick, but it's kind of the way it is. The release has been out, the decision has been made. At this point, I wish Casey the best. I'll do anything and everything I can to help him and his team finish this year on a positive note."
So what comes next? Despite some reports that the team might split the No. 5 car between veteran Mark Martin and Nationwide Series driver Brad Keselowski next year, indications are that Hendrick doesn't want to field a car with no chance of contending for the championship. Whoever lands in that ride will likely be in it full time. As for Mears, his name has been connected to the fourth car that will debut at Richard Childress Racing next season.
"They're a great organization, obviously, and if that were an opportunity, that would be great," Mears said. "Right now, I'm just trying to put the feelers out to everybody, and just trying to see what exactly is out there and what the opportunities are. So far I've seen some really good opportunities."
Whomever RCR hires, Jeff Burton believes he needs to fit with the company's three current drivers. "I think we have to have a guy that we can work with, and by the way, he has to be able to work with us. We're going to have to bend some. Things are going to be different. We're going to have to learn how to work with another driver. It's hard," he said.
"You get two drivers working together, that's hard. You get three drivers working together, that's harder yet. We're going to have to work hard at it. It's not going to come naturally. But every one of our drivers supports the fourth team, so naturally every one of our drivers will support the fourth team's driver. But that guy's going to have to come in with an open mind."
Right now, there's no shortage of possibilities. The Sprint Cup garage has been awash in speculation about pending driver moves, with Newman and Truex in the final years of their respective contracts, Childress needing another driver, Mark Martin's future uncertain and Stewart reportedly ready to bolt Joe Gibbs Racing for an ownership share in Hendrick-aided Haas CNC. Friday, there was only one certainty -- that Greg Biffle will stay with Roush Fenway Racing. As expected, the driver signed an extension to pilot his 3M-backed No. 16 car for three more years.
"I weighed certainly all of my options out, and it felt like the 16 car is where I really wanted to spend my next three years driving," he said. " A lot of things went into making a decision on where I was going to be. One was Ford's commitment to the racing program and supporting us technologically, and Roush Fenway's commitment to put [general manager] Robbie Reiser in the position that they did. I just feel like we're making all the right decisions at our company right now to win championships and races, and I like all the guys on the 16 team. We've developed a pretty good relationship.
| soundtech
| #16 posted July 6, 2008 at 7:43pm (EST)
edited July 6, 2008 at 8:30pm (EST) |
NEW STORIES as of 7-06-08
Ill-stricken Stewart gives way to Yeley mid-race
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- In an unprecedented move for one of the Sprint Cup Series' "tough guys," former two-time mid-summer event winner Tony Stewart stepped out of his potential Coke Zero 400-winning car Saturday night at Daytona International Speedway.
The gambit almost paid off, as substitute driver J.J. Yeley wheeled the car into the top 10 in the race's final stages before a multi-car crash on the backstretch with less than four laps to go in the original 160-lap distance knocked him back to 27th.
"I wasn't doing us any favors by not being 100 percent ... I knew I wasn't feeling good and I wasn't feeling any better and it was getting worse as we were going."
On the subsequent green-white-checkered restart, a last lap wreck that ended the race under caution after 162 laps sealed his fate in a more respectable 20th spot.
But the bottom line was less than the team had hoped for as it raced to the front, both early in the race with Stewart and later, with Yeley.
Stewart, who received credit for the finish since he started the car, fell three spots in the points, to 12th -- unofficially two points ahead of 13th-place Kevin Harvick.
"For me it's a big disappointment," Yeley said. "This Home Depot team had a really, really good racecar -- the Toyota power was great, we ran in the top 10 two or three times pretty easy, passing cars. We were going to have a good finish.
"At the end, I chose to go to the bottom and the 55 [Michael Waltrip] got up right behind me and got me loose."
Stewart, who received IV treatments both before the race and after he left the car, praised Yeley for stepping up, as did crew chief Greg Zipadelli.
"Yeah, [we're] very appreciative of [Yeley]," Stewart said. "He wishes he could've been in his own car [Saturday night], but I'm just thankful I got a friend that's willing to do that for you and help out."
"J.J. did a good job there, we just got shuffled at the end," Zipadelli said. "It's kind of been like our year. We got in a wreck twice, there [near the end]. I don't know what to say -- I know we had a lot better racecar than what we finished [Saturday night but] we just don't seem to do anything right to turn [our momentum] around.
"J.J. did a good job; the guys on the crew did a great job getting Tony out and J.J. in; and making adjustments and pit stops. I'm proud of everybody's effort, I'm just not very happy with our finish."
Stewart last got out of his car in the middle of a race at Dover International Speedway in June 2006, giving way to Ricky Rudd after running 25 laps with a broken shoulder incurred in a crash the week before at Lowe's Motor Speedway.
Stewart won the 2005 road race at Watkins Glen International suffering from gastrointestinal distress that delayed his appearance in Victory Lane.
Stewart started Saturday night's race in 17th position, but had undergone pre-race IV treatments at the track's infield care center. Since he was already feeling less than 100 percent, his Joe Gibbs Racing team had former JGR driver Yeley -- who was replaced in the team's No. 18 by Kyle Busch, who won Saturday night for his sixth victory of the season (read more) -- standing by in case Stewart needed relief.
Yeley, who drives for JGR ally Hall of Fame Racing, failed to qualify his No. 96 Toyota for the Coke Zero 400. In five previous Daytona starts, Yeley had a best finish of 12th in the 2007 Daytona 500 and 20th in the 2007 Pepsi 400 -- both of which came while he was driving JGR's No. 18 Chevrolet.
The two-time series champion Stewart, who won consecutive Pepsi 400s in 2005 and 2006, moved his No. 20 Toyota into the top 10 in only four laps. Stewart was seventh, leading the second draft, by 12 laps and was into the top five a short time later.
Stewart pitted twice under the race's first caution, at Lap 21, but was into third on Lap 39, a quarter of the way through the race. Just after Lap 50, Stewart moved into second behind leader Dale Earnhardt Jr., but got shuffled out of the draft and fell back to 15th.
Stewart raced back up to the middle of the top 10, but in the process had alerted his crew to get Yeley suited-up.
Stewart, while still running near the front gave up his seat under the race's third caution period, at Lap 72, when he came on his in-car radio and told Zipadelli to have Yeley ready to get into the car.
Stewart came to pit road, disconnected his belts and radio connection and was pulled out of the car while JGR's over-the-wall crew performed its normal service. Yeley, who was wearing a Home Depot uniform and one of Stewart's helmets to facilitate radio communication, got into the car.
Stewart, who finished 38th in this event last year after tangling with teammate Denny Hamlin, sat behind his team's pit box for a time, taking in liquids, before going to the track's infield medical center.
“J.J. did a good job; the guys on the crew did a great job getting Tony out and J.J. in; and making adjustments and pit stops. I'm proud of everybody's effort, I'm just not very happy with our finish.”
There, TNT's live television broadcast reported Stewart was undergoing additional IV treatments that were expected to last until the end of the race for "flu-like symptoms."
"I thought we were going to be able to [make it] for the first two runs, but once the car got a little bit loose and we had to start really sawing on the wheel, it's like it zapped the energy out of me and I started making mistakes," Stewart said after the race. "It was a situation where I was trying to look out for everybody involved on the race team -- I wasn't doing us any favors by not being 100 percent [so] it was better to get out as early as we could versus sticking it out with 20 to go and expecting J.J. to get the thing back in the top five.
"It's one of those decisions you have to make early enough, and I knew I wasn't feeling good and I wasn't feeling any better and it was getting worse as we were going.
"Before the race, the nurse said she was going to buy us a couple of hours and we got three hours out of it. We still had to go out there and try [but] it wasn't worth putting those [other drivers] at risk and me making a mistake in front of them and creating a bad day for those guys.
"I was trying to be responsible and respectful to my race team and to the rest of the competitors out there."
When the race resumed on Lap 75, Yeley was in 33rd position, but by Lap 100, with 60 laps remaining he was up to 27th near the end of a lead draft.
After pitting under the race's fourth caution, at Lap 110, Yeley restarted on Lap 114 in 21st. He was still running there when the fifth caution flew at Lap 125, but he restarted in 16th at Lap 128.
By the time the next caution flew, at Lap 137, Yeley was up to 13th with 23 laps remaining. The race restarted at Lap 139 and Yeley evaded two more yellows as he made it into the top 10, before the next-to-last of 11 cautions did him in.
Still, it was better than what he expected to be doing, as race time approached.
"I was playing in the playground with my daughter and some of the guys from the Home Depot team were looking for me," Yeley said. "Tony just was feeling really, really poorly. I figured after I was sitting up on the pit box after the race started that I never would get in the racecar because he [Stewart] was so fast.
"He drove up in the top five and was just maintaining there. Then [Stewart] got on the radio and said it was way, way too hot and he wasn't going to make it. I only ran half the race and it was extremely hot in that racecar. There's a lot of problems with the heat in these racecars."
Stewart said after the race that Saturday was the culmination of a long downslide.
"[Saturday] I had a real severe headache and some other flu-like symptoms -- I haven't really felt great for about two weeks, but it really didn't bother me, it was just more of a nuisance," Stewart said. "It didn't bother me at Loudon [N.H., last week] because it wasn't as physical of a race, but it got to where somewhere between [Friday] night and when we started [Saturday], it got to where I started feeling worse and worse.
"I felt nauseated and I was dehydrated. They ended up putting five bags of IV fluids in me, just to get me comfortable. I'll go home and go to the doctor and see if we can figure out what the cause of this was."
"We'll go to Chicago [next week] -- a place we've won a couple of times -- and with Tony feeling better we'll be able to just turn something around there," Zipadelli said. "Seems like we gain some points and then we go back and give it back."
Team owner J.D. Gibbs said he was satisfied with the outcome.
"J.J.'s driven our stuff for a long time and we think a lot of J.J., and he was the guy we wanted in that car if something happened," Gibbs said. "Tony started the race and got IV and felt pretty good with fluids, and once the race started going he realized he wasn't going to be able to finish.
"Our guys did a great job of being prepared and getting Tony out and J.J. in, even with a speedway with as much time as you have. Tony really wasn't feeling good all day [Saturday] and I think he's feeling a little better [after the race], but I think it's just going to take a little time and he'll be fine."
Video needed to determine who was Daytona winner
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla -- So who won the Coke Zero 400?
For a few moments, no one at Daytona International Speedway -- not eventual winner Kyle Busch, runner-up Carl Edwards or any of the fans in attendance -- could say with certainty who was ahead when the final caution came out for a multi-car accident behind the leaders.
Talk about a pause for dramatic effect.
While NASCAR officials checked the electronic scoring loops and video monitors, Busch and Edwards stayed side-by-side as the field slowed on the backstretch. Edwards took the checkered flag first, but it was Busch who was eventually summoned to Victory Lane, after bowing to the crowd, then running up the banking of the tri-oval to grab the checkered flag to wave it in triumph.
"Well, it was close, I knew that," Busch said. "When I did see the yellow light come on, I could barely see the nose of the 99 car at my right-front fender. I was hoping that we were the winners and it ended up that way."
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