Boris "Bad Enough" To Win Daytona Pole!

 

Boris Said wins the pole at Daytona
By Greg Engle
Cup Scene Daily

Boris Said wants to be taken seriously.

An accomplished road racer, Boris has spent his entire Nextel Cup career running selected road courses, most often filling in for teams at one of two road courses on the circuit.

But earlier this year, Said partnered with veteran crew chief Frankie Stoddard, bought cars and equipment from Roush Racing and sit about trying to make his mark at the ovals.

Friday at Daytona International Speedway, he made quite the mark.

Said scored his second career pole laying down a lap of 186.143, just ahead of the defending Pepsi 400 champion Tony Stewart. Said scored his first pole at Infineon 2003. His previous best start on oval was fourth in this race in 2005.

“It feels damn good,” an elated Boris commented.” I’ve been trying to do this for so long, break into NASCAR from road racing.” read the rest of the story

Daytona's Superman Of Restrictor Plates

 

Jeff Gordon Ready to Fly at Daytona

CONCORD, N.C. (June 27, 2006) – Coming off a NASCAR-record ninth road course victory Sunday at Infineon Raceway, Jeff Gordon’s sights are now firmly set on his next challenge: Daytona International Speedway, where he leads all active drivers with six career NEXTEL Cup Series wins.

Gordon has posted eye-popping, almost otherworldly statistics at the Daytona Beach, Fla., track, so it seems appropriate he would go into Saturday’s Pepsi 400 with a special passenger -- who is, coincidentally, faster than a speeding bullet -- by driving a No. 24 DuPont/Pepsi Chevrolet promoting “Superman Returns.”

Brandon Routh, star of the Warner Bros. motion picture opening nationwide Wednesday, will be the event’s Grand Marshal and Pepsi, the movie’s official soft drink partner, is offering fans the opportunity to win the Ultimate Racing Reward -- a trip to all 10 Chase races -- when Gordon reveals a secret password during the Pepsi 400 television broadcast. See Paint Scheme and Read More

NASCAR Wrecks - Chase To Change in 2007?

 

NASCAR to change championship format in 2007
Associated Press

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- NASCAR chairman Brian France promised slight changes to the sport's championship format, hoping to add more drama to the 10-race title hunt.

"What I have always said about the Chase was we needed a few years under our belt to see how it evolves, how it changes in strategy, see how the actual formula we have really works," France said Thursday. "Now in our third year ... it's the ideal time for us make adjustments."

France did not specify what areas will be changed in an offseason facelift that will take effect in 2007.

The Chase for the Nextel Cup was devised by France when he took over as chairman in 2004. The format was designed to spice up a stale championship race in which winners were running away with the title and routinely clinching before the season finale. Read More

Fifth Anniversary For Earnhardt Jr. At Daytona

 

Quotes from: DALE EARNHARDT JR. / Driver, #8 Budweiser Chevrolet:

On this being the fifth-year anniversary of his 2001 Pepsi 400 win:

“That was a special win for me. I wouldn't mind having that car for this race, because it was probably the best car I've ever had here. It was a just like my Daytona 500-winning car (in 2004) in that it would go wherever I wanted it to go… it would stick and haul ass. That was a cool night for me, and for the fans. It doesn't seem like five years ago. It seems like yesterday it's so vivid. A lot of emotions went into that race, and it was one we'll keep in the scrap book for a long time.”

On restrictor plate racing:

“There's not a lot to it. I just get in and tell the team whether it's slow or fast. I don't really know what they change to make it better. We've got some gains to make at the plate tracks. We're not as strong as we used to be, because we really started focusing on the intermediate speedways. We were losing a lot of points on those types of tracks, and we needed to improve. I think it's pretty obvious we've gotten a lot better at those tracks this year. Because of that, I don't think we're the dominant restrictor-plate team that we used to be, but we're still very competitive on the plate tracks. I think we're still in the top-three. We always take strong cars and strong motors. We're still capable of winning any of these restrictor-plate races.” continue reading

NASCAR Wrecks - Gordon Won..So What!

 

One race does not a comeback make
by Monte Dutton - Gazette Sports Writer

SONOMA, Calif. — The results of Sunday’s Dodge/SaveMart 350 were historic and newsworthy. What remains to be seen is whether they were significant.If it were just another race,

Jeff Gordon’s victory would seem to signal a resurgence. Gordon won his ninth road race — and 74th overall — to pull to within two of Dale Earnhardt on the all-time winners’ list and back into the ruling class that, after 10 more races, defines the Chase and, for Gordon, a shot at a fifth championship.And that’s not all.

Ryan Newman, slumping virtually season, finished second. Newman’s never failed to make the Chase, even though even the encouraging finish left him still 17th in the Nextel Cup standings.Terry Labonte, heretofore easing into retirement, awakened with a third-place finish that may wind up being the last hurrah of his distinguished career.

Unfortunately, one race does not a comeback make, especially when that one race occurred on a road course. There won’t be but one more this season. Read More

NASCAR Wrecks - Ward Burton Comin' Back?

 

Ward Burton looking to make comeback in 2007
Former Daytona winner has been in talks with owners, sponsors
By David Newton, NASCAR.COM

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Ward Burton will be at Daytona International Speedway on Friday as a part of a ceremony honoring the past 10 winners of the Daytona 500.
He hopes his next trip to NASCAR's crown jewel will be as a driver.

The 2002 Daytona 500 winner said Monday he is negotiating with two "established teams'' a return to the Nextel Cup Series that he hasn't been a part of since being fired by owner Gene Haas in 2004.

One possibility is the No. 88 car of Robert Yates Racing that is open in 2007 because of Dale Jarrett's departure to the new Toyota team of Michael Waltrip Racing.

"That would certainly be an opportunity if it came to fruition,'' Burton said. "It would pump me up. I'd be just excited as when I first made Cup in '94, maybe more so.'' ....continue reading

Vice President Cheney To Give The Command At Daytona

 

Vice President to attend Pepsi 400:

Vice President Dick Cheney will attend the 48th annual Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway. Vice President Cheney will speak to race fans during pre-race ceremonies for the mid-summer classic as well as meet NASCAR drivers, teams and executives during his visit to "The World Center of Racing."

"We're honored that Vice President Cheney will visit Daytona International Speedway and participate in Pepsi 400 pre-race festivities," Daytona International Speedway President Robin Braig said.

"Vice President Cheney continues the tradition of high-profile elected officials that have visited the 'World Center of Racing'."

In the 1984 Pepsi 400, the late President Ronald Reagan gave the starting command from Air Force One. Reagan, who became the first sitting President to attend a NASCAR race, witnessed Richard Petty earn his 200th NASCAR win. President George H.W. Bush attended the 1992 Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway, and current President George W. Bush served as the Grand Marshal for the Pepsi 400 during his 2000 presidential campaign. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld attended last year's 2005 Pepsi 400.

NASCAR Wrecks - Boris Said Champ Better Apologize

 

Brush with Said, engine woes end Stewart's run
After three consecutive road-course wins, champ finishes 28th
By Ryan Smithson, NASCAR.COM

SONOMA, Calif. -- Boris Said unabashedly admits that Tony Stewart is one of his favorite racecar drivers, but that admiration temporarily went out the window in the Dodge/Save Mart 350.

Said and Stewart played roller derby with their racecars on Lap 51 on Sunday at Sonoma, leaving Said wondering what he did to raise the defending Nextel Cup champ's ire.

"He better be apologizing to me, and I am going to be calling him Monday looking for it," Said said. ....continue reading

NASCAR Wrecks - Engaging Win For Gordon

 

Jeff Gordon wins the Dodge/Save Mart 350

Maybe what Jeff Gordon needed all along was the love of a good woman.


Saturday night Jeff Gordon announced his engagement to girlfriend, model Ingrid Vandebosch.

Then on Sunday, Gordon capped his weekend by scoring his first win of the year.

For Gordon the victory in the Dodge/Save Mart 350 was a much-needed one; breaking a nineteen race winless streak and more importantly vaulting the four-time champion into the top ten in points. He leaves Infineon Raceway in eighth position. ....continue reading

NASCAR Wrecks - He's NASCAR's New Star!

 

SONOMA, Calif. – Shortly after their post-qualifying press conference began, Jamie McMurray and Kevin Harvick were all smiles.

Congratulations were exchanged. Hands were shaken. McMurray even said, "That's awesome."

They almost seemed giddy, like they just met their childhood hero.

No, they weren't talking to each other about qualifying second (McMurray) and third (Harvick) for Sunday's Dodge/Save Mart 350 here at the Infineon Raceway road course.

Rather, they were reacting to the guy who had just interrupted the press conference and sat down next to them. ....continue reading

Kurt Busch Takes Pole At Sonoma

 

Kurt Busch has a "triple double" of sorts going on this weekend.

Driving the Penske South #02 Dodge Kurt has grabbed his 2nd pole of the year to start his 200th Nextel Cup Series race Sunday at Infineon Raceway for the Dodge/Save Mart 350 Click here for the Sonoma Starting Lineup

NASCAR Wrecks - Oyster Bed Cuts Riggs, Elliott Standing By.

 

Riggs injured, Elliott to stand by at Sonoma:

Monday, while on vacation with his family in Myrtle Beach SC, #10-Scott Riggs injured both feet while unloading his jet ski in an oyster bed. The wounds required 12 stitches in the ball of left foot and eight stitches in the right big toe.

The injury to Riggs has caused Valvoline Evernham Racing to make back-up plans for this weekend’s NASCAR Nextel Cup Series race in Sonoma. Ray Evernham and Valvoline Designated Team Owner Jim Rocco have retained former NASCAR champion Bill Elliott to stand by this weekend should Riggs not be able to practice, qualify or race the Valvoline/Stanley Tools Dodge Charger.

As things stand today, Riggs will be racing Sunday, according to the team.

“Jim and I huddled today with Scott, Bill Elliott, Team Director Rodney Childers and Competition Director Sammy Johns and we are going to Sonoma with the intention of Scott running the full weekend,” Evernham said. “But Bill will be ready for any scenario.”

“I’m going to Sonoma to race,” Riggs said Wednesday. “It was a freak incident at Myrtle Beach. There was no warning about an oyster bed where we unloaded. We’ll see what happens when I get in the race car. I’m going to do what’s best for the team this weekend.”

Valvoline Evernham Racing will have updates at Infineon Raceway for the media.(Evernham Motorsports/Clear!Blue PR)(6-22-2006)

NASCAR Wrecks - Dale Earnhardt Jr Makes The Cover... Again

 

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Graces Cover of TV GUIDE For 12th Time

June 21, 2006 (New York, New York) - As NASCAR approaches the midpoint of its 2006 Nextel Cup season, TV Guide magazine roars into newsstands with the annual mid-season special issue, featuring Dale Earnhardt Jr., (June 26 issue, on sale June 22). In an exclusive interview with TV Guide's resident NASCAR expert Robert Edelstein, Earnhardt speaks candidly about his reemergence at the head of the pack--after enduring his worst season ever last year, finishing 19th-and how adopting a new attitude has made all the difference.

“I think our chances are great,” says NASCAR's most charismatic star, who after 14 races sat in sixth place with one win and only three finishes worse than 20th. “We're on the verge of being there.”

Earnhardt's spirited resurgence comes on the heels of his reunion with crew chief and first cousin Tony Eury Jr., with whom he separated last season due to a rift. Now both driver and crew chief are bringing a previously missing element of maturity to their partnership. “It looks like that relationship and communication is better. They don't scream at each other anymore,” says NBC racing analyst Benny Parsons.

Earnhardt agrees. “For the past several years, I had no regard for how [Eury Jr.] felt about what I had to say,” he says. “If he didn't like it, he could shove it. I was really childish. And I think the way I acted rubbed off on him, made him childish. Now if I'm not happy, not comfortable, not fast, I'm direct yet conservative with my tone. I try to be optimistic. That's the difference.” Continue reading...

Michael Waltrip Racing To "Have It Your Way" In "30 Minutes Or Less" For 2007

 

Michael Waltrip Racing adds duel sponsorship, will add third car
By Greg Engle - Cup Scene Daily

BROOKLYN, Mich.-Michael Waltrip Racing (MWR) announced Sunday that it has formed a sponsorship with Domino’s Pizza and Burger King Corporation. They will be co-primary sponsors of Waltrip’s second 2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series car.

“It’s not unusual for two or more sponsors to split a sponsorship season,” said Ty Norris, General Manager for Michael Waltrip Racing. “However, this is the first time that two companies within the same industry agreed to be sponsors of the same car during the same season. This is another example of the unprecedented approach Michael Waltrip Racing is taking to becoming a multi-car NASCAR Nextel Cup team organization.”

Domino’s will kick off the season at the Daytona 500 and continue as the primary sponsor through the May race in Darlington, SC. A Domino’s paint scheme will also be on the No. 00 Toyota Camry at the August NASCAR Nextel Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway. Dominos is headquartered in nearby Ann Arbor Michigan.

Domino’s will deliver its final five races during the Chase for the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series championship. ..continue reading story

NASCAR Wrecks - Kahne WAS Able at Michigan

 

Kahne overcomes adversity to win at Michigan
By Greg Engle - Cup Scene Daily

BROOKLYN, Mich.-In a weekend filled with adversity, Kasey Kahne showed he has the right stuff. For Kahne the win capped off a weekend that saw plenty of ups and downs.

Kahne won the rain shortened 3M Performance 400 Sunday at Michigan International Speedway, scoring his fourth victory of the year, his third from a pole and fifth of his career.

After scoring the pole position Friday, Kahne scrapped the wall during the final practice session on Saturday. His Evernham Motorsports crew worked to repair the damage most of Saturday and he was able to lead the field to the green Sunday after a 57-minute rain delay.

“It was bad enough that it took a long time to fix,” Kahne said of his racecar. “But not bad enough to get out the back-up.”

After taking the green Sunday, Kahne would quickly lose the lead to second place starter Jeff Gordon on the second lap. .....continue reading story

NASCAR Wrecks - Jeff Gordon 64G Impact!

 

Gordon brake failure still being investigated; 64G's:

Jeff Gordon said Friday his Hendrick Motorsports team still doesn't know exactly what caused a right-front brake rotor to disintegrate, sending Gordon's #24 DuPont Chevy slamming into the Turn 1 wall at Pocono Raceway June 11.

"A lot of us have seen issues with brakes - and our hub issue at Charlotte," Gordon said. "A lot of it has to do with where we're at with our cars and the speed and the setups that we're running that are just putting a lot more stress on parts of the race car that we're not used to seeing. We don't have a definite answer yet."

Gordon did say the team has sent what was left of the rotor to be analyzed. The #24 had the same brake package as teammates #5-Kyle Busch and #25-Brian Vickers, neither of who had trouble.

The #48 of Jimmie Johnson had a slightly different package, and Gordon said his team would probably use that setup when it returns to Pocono next month.

Gordon added that the crash registered 64 Gs, and after an initial consultation in the infield care center, medical officials kept him longer. "I was ready to walk out of the infield care center, and they came in with the telemetry numbers and said, 'Wait a minute. We think you might want to stay a little bit longer,'" Gordon said.
(SceneDaily.com)

NASCAR Wrecks - Kahne Able at Michigan

 

MICHIGAN MAN Kahne wins 4th pole of 2006
By Greg Engle - Cup Scene Daily

Kasey Kahne scored his the fourth of 2006 Friday at running a lap of 185.644 at Michigan International Speedway.

Michigan Qualifying Results

“It was better than it was in practice, I was happy, “Kahne said, “(Team Director) Kenny Francis and the guys made a few adjustments and they went the right way.”

Starting next to Kahne is Jeff Gordon who missed the pole by a razor thin margin when he made his qualifying run.

“I don’t think the car could have been much better,” Gordon said. “But to miss it but .200 of a second that’s pretty disappointing.”

Kahne was forced to wait nearly the entire session; he was 17th in the order, Gordon went last.

“Jeff came very close, “ Kahne said, “I was waiting for him to go last, it was like maybe he will, maybe he won’t, but we ended up with it. And I was pretty happy. ...I was definitely nervous though.”
The lap for Kahne was well off the pace of Ryan Newman’s record lap of 194.232 set last June.

Newman had no chance of duplicating his feat today as he spun on his first lap. The Penske South driver was scored last in the session and had to use a provisional to make the field.

With the tenth pole of his career, Kahne is quickly gaining a reputation as a strong qualifier. But according to Kahne, it’s not due to his Evernham Motorsports team placing more emphasis on qualifying.

Bill Lester will be the first African-American to race at Michigan since Willy T. Ribbs competed here in 1986. Lester qualified his way into Sunday’s race with a speed of 180.845. He’ll start 34th.

Four drivers failed to qualify: Carl Long, Mike Garvey, Chad Chaffin and Jimmy Spencer.

NASCAR Wrecks - Can Lester Get Lucky At MIS?

 

Lester Hopes to Make the Field
By Greg Engle - Cup Scene Daily

Bill Lester just wants to race.

Lester is currently the only full-time African-American driver in NASCAR’s top three series Currently in his fifth full season in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck series, Lester drives Bill Davis Racing’s No. 22 Toyota. He’s currently 27th in the standings and will compete in Saturday’s Con-way Freight 200 at Michigan.

Earlier this season, Lester made history as the first African-American driver to qualify for a NASCAR Nextel Cup race since 1986. He finished 38th after qualifying 19th for the March 20 event at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Lester is ready to do all over again as he’ll attempt to qualify for his second series race this weekend at Michigan.

“I am hoping we have as much success as we did in Atlanta,” Lester said. “My goal is to first make the field, then log as many laps as I can. I now know what to expect and know what I need to be fast. I am hoping we can build on our success from Atlanta.”

The last African-American driver to compete at Michigan was Willy T. Ribbs. Ribbs started 37th and finished 39th in the June 15, 1986 event at Michigan. Before Ribbs, Wendell Scott made five starts at Michigan from 1969 through 1971.

Though Lester has not made a Nextel Cup start at Michigan, he has been successful here in the Craftsman Truck Series. Since his first start at MIS in 2002, Lester has posted a pair of top-five qualifying efforts. He has an average finish of 15th, has never finished outside the top 18 and has completed all of the laps in the races in which he has competed

“I’ve always liked racing in Michigan and have been able to put together a couple of decent finishes in the past couple of years there in the Truck Series,” Lester said. “Our confidence level as far as being able to have a little bit better race then we did in Atlanta is pretty high.”

“It is home of the ‘Big Three’ manufacturers, and it would be terrific to put on a great show with our Toyota Tundra, “Lester said. “Michigan is a track where the draft comes into effect, and I love to draft. [Crew chief] Doug Wolcott and the guys on this No. 22 team are working overtime to bring great trucks to the track, and I am confident they will bring a great truck to Michigan.”

And while Lester is proud of his heritage, he wants to be known first and foremost as a racecar driver

“Hopefully, we got some of the hoopla out of the way during the Atlanta race, and this time around we can focus solely on the racing end of it. “Lester said. “Don’t get me wrong, I appreciated the opportunity and all of the attention I was getting from the media and the fans and am glad everyone was so interested and excited about the weekend, but this time around, I hope it will be a little bit more of a normal type of a weekend for everyone involved.”

NASCAR Wrecks - Penske Ponders Michigan

 

Penske Racing duo hope to build on recent success at Michigan
By Greg Engle - Cup Scene Daily

For the Penske South Racing duo of Kurt Busch and Ryan Newman, the cornerstone has been laid. And at Michigan International Speedway this weekend both drivers hope to build on their recent success.

The newest member of the Penske South Racing team, Kurt Busch is currently mired 17th in points.

He won at Bristol earlier in the year but up until last week, Busch had finished no higher then seventh and owned an average finish of 20.6.

Then came Pocono last Sunday where Busch scored a second place finish. The 2004 champion and his team led by crew chief Roy McCauley have gone the extra mile in preparation for this weekend’s stop at MIS hoping to continue that momentum.

“I said that last weekend’s Pocono race would be the perfect spot for our Miller Lite Dodge team to get headed back on the right track and we did just that,” said Busch. “It was just the solid weekend we were hoping for. Our goal is to keep on logging those top-fives and top-10s all the way through the September Richmond race and make our way back up there into the top 10 in the points. What we accomplished at Pocono is a great start to launch us in that direction.”

“That right there was just what the doctor ordered,” added McCauley. “We needed a race where everyone performed at their best and that certainly was the case at Pocono. Kurt was on the wheel and in championship form, the guys had an absolutely incredible day in the pits and our communication, strategy and execution were terrific all day long.”

The Penske South Racing duo of Kurt Busch and Ryan Newman will have extra motivation to win this weekend in their boss's backyard Ryan Newman needs a good run as well. He sits just behind his new teammate in the points and although he does have one pole this season and he’s yet to visit victory lane. Newman had an average finish of 21.2.

Newman has two wins at Michigan August 2003 and June 2004 – and four top-five finishes in nine starts.

“I’m excited to be going back to MIS,” Newman said. “The past couple of weeks, we’ve been getting good finishes, but we need to be a whole lot better if we’re going to make it into the Chase this year, and I think Michigan will be a good place for the entire Alltel team.”

One advantage the duo might have here is their boss, Roger Penske. Penske, a Michigan native and Detroit-area resident, owned the Michigan track from 1973 until July 1999 and has five series wins here. Both Busch and Newman have the extra motivation to win this Sunday on their boss’ former turf.

“There's always a sense of pride when you get to go race at Michigan Speedway because of the auto manufacturers, and my team owner, of course,” Busch said.

The Penske Racing South duo need to score some strong finishes and make it into the top ten in points if they want to represent their boss in this year’s edition of the Chase for the Nextel Cup. Busch is a former champion and knows what it takes to get inside that coveted top ten.

“You definitely have to race to the Top 10,“ Busch said. “There's still plenty of races for things to go wrong and things to go right.”

Busch is filled with all the optimism that he needs to stage a turnaround and perhaps help carry both Penske drivers into the final stretch towards the Chase for the Nextel Cup

“Our goal is to keep on logging those top-fives and top-10s all the way through the September Richmond race and make our way back up there into the top 10 in the points,” Busch said. “What we accomplished at Pocono is a great start to launch us in that direction.”

NASCAR Wrecks - Gibbs Wishes Tony Stewart Wouldn't...

 

Gibbs not stopping Stewart's other races, but not happy with it:

Car owner Joe Gibbs says he won't keep #20-Tony Stewart from running in races other than Nextel Cup events, but Gibbs is not fond of the practice as his driver recovers from a broken shoulder blade.

Stewart's injury was discovered after he crashed in last month's Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. The incident happened a night after Stewart wrecked in the Busch race. A doctor cleared Stewart after the Busch incident, but Stewart favored his right shoulder before the Cup race.

Gibbs is sensitive to his Cup drivers competing in other events.

Bobby Labonte broke his shoulder blade in a Busch crash at Darlington in 1999. Labonte didn't return to that series the rest of the year. Gibbs says he's talked to Stewart about the driver's racing schedule.

"I think for younger guys that have a chance maybe to up their careers and want laps and all that, that's one set of circumstances,'' said Gibbs, who has Cup rookies Denny Hamlin and J.J. Yeley, both driving full time in the Busch series.

"For Tony, it's different. He can drive anything. He doesn't need laps. I know he loves it. We did limit a lot of things he's done. He's worked with us on that. He's got a lot to lose. He's got contracts that pay him a lot of money.''

Stewart, fourth in the Cup standings, has competed in five Busch races for Kevin Harvick's team.

He's scheduled to drive five more Busch races for Harvick, beginning at Daytona next month. Gibbs says that once drivers begin competing for a Cup title that's where he wants his drivers spending less time in other series.
(Roanoke Times)
(6-14-2006)

NASCAR Wrecks - It's Official...Mears To Hendrick #25 Team in '07!

 

Car owner Rick Hendrick today announced the signing of driver Casey Mears to pilot Hendrick Motorsports' #25 Chevys in the Nextel Cup Series beginning in 2007.

Financial terms were not disclosed. Mears, 28, inked a multi-year agreement that will keep him with the team through at least the 2009 racing season.

He will replace Brian Vickers, who is slated to complete the current schedule after being granted a release from contractual obligations to Hendrick Motorsports beyond 2006.

"Casey is a talented driver and a high-character person who is going to be a great fit with our organization," Hendrick said. "He has the ability to win races and ultimately contend for championships, so we're thrilled to welcome him to Hendrick Motorsports."

In the midst of his fourth full season, Mears has posted two pole positions, five top-five finishes and 21 top-10s on the NEXTEL Cup circuit.

The Bakersfield, Calif., native kicked off the 2006 campaign with a career-best second-place performance in the Feb. 19 Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway, where on Jan. 29 he became the first full-time NASCAR driver to be part of a winning Grand American Rolex 24 team.

"I'm committed to winning races and going after championships with the No. 25 team," said Mears, the son of legendary off-road racer Roger Mears and nephew of four-time Indianapolis 500 champion Rick Mears.

"This is an opportunity for me to work with close friends and start fresh with one of the top organizations in all of sports. It's an exciting situation for me, both personally and professionally."
(Hendrick Motorsports PR)
(6-14-2006)

NASCAR Wrecks - Hamlin Hauls In Pocono Win

 

Hamlin ovecomes adversity to win at Pocono
By Greg Engle - Cup Scene Daily
June 12 Contact

Denny Hamlin finished where he started at Pocono Raceway, but oh the show he put on in between.

Hamlin staged an amazing recovery to win his first Nextel Cup Series points race Sunday.
Starting on the pole Hamlin was firmly in command of the Pocono 500, stretching out to a lead of 6 seconds and running in front for 49 of the first 50 laps.

Then on lap 51, it looked as if Hamlin’s rookie dream would come to an end. The left rear tire exploded on his Chevy, sending him into a spin. Hamlin made a remarkable save to keep the car off the wall. The left rear wheel well on his Chevy suffered heavy damage, and Hamlin limped the machine back to the pits.

The members of the Joe Gibbs Racing crew, led by crew chief Mike Ford, worked on the car, bringing Hamlin into the pits on numerous occasions and making repair after repair with Hamlin falling as low as 40th.

But the team, and driver never gave up. Hamlin rallied, snatching the lead from Greg Biffle with 37 laps to go.

"I thought we were going down the drain after that tire issue," Hamlin said. "The whole crew just kept adding little pieces to the car to try and make it better. Each piece they added made it a little bit faster until we finally got back to where we were in the beginning."

There were some tense moments as the laps wound down.

With ten laps to go, Hamlin had stretched his lead out to five seconds. Then Jeff Gordon lost the front brakes on his Chevy, slid through the grass coming into Turn 1, rocketed up and slammed hard into the turn one wall.

The crash was so hard that NASCAR was forced to display a red flag while repairs were made to the SAFER barrier and the track was cleaned. Gordon climbed from his car and after a visit to the infield care center, was able to assure everyone that he was OK.

"I don't know how, but yes, I am,” Gordon said. “I've either got a really hard head or those guys at Hendrick Motorsports just build an awesome race car because that was one of the hardest hits I've ever taken. I think we broke a right front brake rotor going into (Turn) 1. That's probably the worst thing you could ever ask for in a racecar is to have the brakes go out going into Turn 1 at Pocono.”

After a nearly 15 minute red flag period, the field took the green flag with 5 laps to go. Hamlin was able to pull away once more and scoring his first points win in just his 21st Nextel Cup start.
Although Hamlin, a native of Chesterfield Virginia, won the non-points Budweiser Shootout this past February at Daytona, his previous best points race finish was second at his home track of Richmond four races ago.

Hamlin was followed by Kurt Busch, Tony Stewart, Brian Vickers and Matt Kenseth rounding out the top five.

Greg Biffle was sixth followed by Kasey Kahne, Scott Riggs, Jeff Burton and Jimmie Johnson.

There were 7 cautions, 13 leaders and 25 lead changes on the day.

Johnson maintained his points lead, while Jeff Gordon, after his hard crash, fell out of the top ten.

‘We had another tough day,” Johnson said. “But the guys did a great job and just like last week we never gave up. We did what we needed to do and we were able to get a top 10 out of the day."

Hamlin continues his remarkable rookie season moving into the top ten in points; he now sits ninth.

“Man this team is unbelievable,” Hamlin said in victory lane. “We’re tying to get in that chase, and this is a good way to do it.”

Pocono 500 Results

NASCAR Wrecks - Pondering Pocono

 

Drivers and Storylines to watch at Pocono
By Greg Engle - Cup Scene Daily

The NASCAR Nextel Cup Series heads for the mountains this weekend for the running of the Pocono 500 at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa.

Pocono’s irregularly shaped 2.5-mile triangle could provide the reinforcement that current points leader Jimmie Johnson needs to continue his surging season.

After starting 40th at Dover last Sunday, then going a lap down and spinning on Lap 275 damaging the rear section of his car, Johnson rebounded to a sixth-place lead-lap finish to hold on to a 74-point lead over Matt Kenseth who won the Dover event.

Will his lucky streak continue this weekend? Johnson swept both Pocono events in 2004, although last year he posted finishes of sixth in June and 12th in July. Overall, in eight previous Pocono starts, Johnson has two wins, three top-5s, four top-10s, and a pole, that coming in 2003.

The biggest obstacle for Johnson may come in the form of Roush Racing. Carl Edwards is the defending champion here, while former Roush driver Kurt Busch won the July event last year.

Up until this week, drivers who chose to run both NASCAR Nextel Cup and Busch Series races on the same weekend, merely had to walk from one side on the garage to the other.

But that will change this weekend when the Busch Series stages its first stand-alone event of the year to take place in the same weekend as a Nextel Cup event. The Nextel Cup series will race here at Pocono, the Busch series at Nashville Superspeedway.

For those drivers who aren’t running both series full time, it’s easy to simply skip the Busch Series race at Nashville. For several however, it’s crucial that they run both events; The Nextel Cup race at Pocono to fulfill their obligations to that series and the Busch Series race in Nashville because they are in the thick of the points battle.

Edwards was the only driver to attempt this Busch/Nextel “double” in 2005 and things didn’t exactly go as planned.

Edwards led the NASCAR Busch Series standings before last season’s same-weekend June events at Pocono and Nashville. Poor weather in Nashville forced a postponement of that race to Sunday. And while Edwards went on to win the Cup event at Pocono on the same day, missing the Nashville event cost Edwards the NASCAR Busch Series lead; he finished third at season’s end
Greg Biffle along with Edwards, Busch, Clint Bowyer, Kevin Harvick, Reed Sorensen, J.J. Yeley and Denny Hamlin are the other drivers running in both series this year.

“It'll be hectic,” said Kyle Busch. “The Busch Series race is on Saturday night, so it won't be too bad. I know there have been a lot of meetings and conversations about the itinerary and just making sure there's no possible way for anything to go wrong, whether it's getting me to the Busch race or getting me back to Pocono for the Cup race on Sunday.”

So if the weather turns ugly, those hopping back and forth may turn ugly as well.

Substitute drivers will be on call to accommodate the back-and-forth schedules.

Hank Parker Jr. will be sitting for Carl Edwards, Brandon Miller for defending race winner Clint Bowyer; Justin Labonte for Kyle Busch; Kertus Davis for Denny Hamlin; Kevin Hamlin for Reed Sorenson and Casey Atwood for J.J. Yeley.

Perhaps the driver who has the most to lose is Kevin Harvick. Harvick’s on top of the Busch Series standings and 8th in the Nextel Cup points.

“The thing I look at is that the next five guys behind me are in the same boat I am,” Harvick said. “If it’s weather, it’s going to be for everyone. It’s nice to have a big lead…but you can lose it in a hurry.”

Harvick’s sub will be two-time NASCAR Busch Series champion Randy LaJoie.

Here are some drivers to watch this weekend:

Michael Waltrip sat on the pole here last year. After having to buy his way into the Charlotte race a few weeks ago and a forgettable day at Dover last Sunday, he’ll be looking for a positive visit this weekend at Pocono.

Besides his pole Waltrip has three top-5 and six top-10 finishes at Pocono Raceway.

Waltrip will make his 21st start in the Pocono 500; Waltrip’s best finish in the event was second (1988) and his worst 43rd (2000).

“I love this track,” Waltrip said. “It’s fun to drive on. The weather is always a little cooler up there than at other tracks this time of year. We won the pole for this race last year, so we know we can do it. It’s just a matter of having the car prepared the way we like it.

The first laps of practice will be important, and you can tell a lot about a car and a setup when you unload it. When we went to Pocono last June I loved it, the first lap on the racetrack I told my team, ‘I hope that was fast enough because I wish they would call off practice right now and we could go race’. I hope we can have that good of an experience this year. Then we can try to capitalize on that at a track that I love.”

Brian Vickers asked for and received this week a permission slip from his current boss Rick Hendrick to seek his fortunes elsewhere. Vickers may want to use this weekend as an audition and improve his resume. And Pocono is a good place for Vickers to try and shine.

Vickers finished second in the first race last year so feels this a good track for him to show what he’s made off.

“Our car was at its best on the shorter runs,” Vickers said of his run last year. " Carl (Edwards) had a car that was better on longer runs and the way the race transpired, the longer run at the end was just too much for us. If there had been a caution later, we might have been able to take a shot at Carl. It was still a good race for us to lead the most laps and finish second.

"I'm a fan of racing at a variety of tracks and Pocono is definitely different.”

Joe Nemechek has been in the lowest part of the pit of despair lately. He’s 29th in points and has an average finishing position of 24th.

Last year wasn’t exactly a stellar one for Nemechek either. He finished 16th in points and couldn’t seem to buy a win. The biggest highlight of the year came here at Pocono in June when he finished third.

He was also in contention for a victory in Pocono's July race, but a pit road miscue and a flat tire relegated him to a 22nd-place finish.

"We have a real good baseline for Pocono," said Nemechek. "This is one track where our Army team has consistently run strong. Last year, we were running up front at both races and the year before, we were up there again until we had gear problems. I look for a good, solid run this weekend."

Matt Kenseth heads here with the momentum that only a recent win can provide. He won at Dover International Speedway last Sunday scoring his second victory and ninth top-10 finish in 2006.

Kenseth has won at least one race each season for five consecutive years (2002-2006).

The Roush Racing driver and former champion has competed in 12 races at Pocono Raceway scoring five top-10 finishes. He has led in five of his 12 races at Pocono and would love to leave here Sunday night with a win and the points lead.

“That was last week,” Kenseth said of his Dover win. “And that's how you have to approach this, week by week. Pocono is a new weekend and a completely different track. You need a lot of grip off the corners, which are pretty flat, if you're going to get the big run you need down the straight-a-ways to make the pass. It's a unique track with a lot of room to pass, it's really fast and I'm looking to have a lot of fun out there on Sunday."

Mark Martin has 27 top-10 finishes in 38 races at Pocono but has never won here. This will be his second to last shot to do so as a full-time Nextel Cup competitor so will have extra motivation. He finished seventh in this race a year ago and third last July. He has led the most laps (121) in a Pocono race, in July 1996 and has finished on the lead lap in his last three Pocono starts.

"Pocono is one of my favorite race tracks, “Martin said. “It's really hard to believe that we've never won there, but we've run really well and we've finished second a whole bunch of times. We've had some really good cars there over the years and we've been really fast the last several times that we've raced there. Hopefully we'll be able to build on that and finally get over that hump and get our first win at a track that I really love to go race at.”

Others.

Kasey Kahne won the pole in his first Pocono start in 2004, and posted a best finish of third in the July event that same year. He’s having a good season and will look to continue his upward mobility.

Carl Edwards made history, gave Jack Roush his first Pocono victory last year, and earned his second victory of 2005. This weekend, Edwards hopes to repeat his performance of last year in the Pocono 500.

Scott Riggs has been enjoying a good season as well so far. He won the Nextel Open at Lowes Motor Speedway and has been quietly making his presence known each and every race.

“We are taking the same Valvoline/Stanley Tools Dodge Charger that we won the Nextel Open pole and race with,” Riggs’s team director Rodney Childers said. “Scott’s pretty good at Pocono. Last year he was fastest in practice, qualified fifth, and run good up until the end."

Jeremy Mayfield, Riggs’s teammate at Evernham Motorsports is the only driver in that organization who needs some positive reinforcement. At Pocono he may just get that. In 23 starts here Mayfield has two wins 4 top 5’s and 9 top tens.

"There's no question we're looking forward to this weekend,” Mayfield said “Pocono has been a great track for me. We've had our share of problems this year with the new program, but things are coming together.”

Fast Facts:
Pocono 500
Pocono Raceway / Long Pond, Pa.
2.5-mile tri-oval / 200 laps / 500 miles
Sunday, June 11, 2006
TV: Fox, 1:30 p.m. ET
Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN), XM Radio.
Bud Pole Qualifying: Speed Channel / Friday, June 9 / 3:30 p.m. ET.
2005 winner: Carl Edwards

NASCAR Wrecks - Tony Stewart Shoulders Pocono

 

Stewart plans to run full race at Pocono: from TonyStewart.com:

Since you're still nursing a fractured right scapula, what are your expectations for Pocono?

Tony Stewart: "I plan to make it through the whole weekend. Every day my muscles feel like they're getting stronger, and I don't think it's a bone issue as much as it's a muscle issue. I got fitted for a new ButlerBuilt seat and we'll have it in the car for this weekend. We think it's a better design - a newer version of what I had been running. It was time to put something new in there. Brian Butler and his staff did an awesome job of accommodating me and getting a seat pumped out in a short amount of time so we would have it for Pocono, so we really appreciate their effort. I fully believe that with the new seat and another week of rest that we'll be ready to go."

TonyStewart.com: Will you have a relief driver on standby?

Tony Stewart: "We'll make that decision closer to the end of the week. But I really don't anticipate needing a relief driver. I appreciate what Ricky (Rudd) did for us last week at Dover, but he's on vacation with his family this week and I want him to enjoy his vacation. I'm confident that by the end of the week I'll be strong enough to go do the whole race at Pocono by myself."
(TonyStewart.com)

NASCAR Wrecks - Bill Elliott Red Bull Ride in 2006

 

Originally scheduled to debut in 2007, Team Red Bull today announces a short schedule of three NASCAR NEXTEL Cup races it plans to enter in the fall of 2006 with veteran driver Bill Elliott, a two-time Daytona 500 winner, behind the wheel.

“The organization and its competitive spirit are what attracted me to Team Red Bull,” says Elliott, who won the NASCAR Winston Cup driver’s title in 1988. “My job is simple . put the car in the show, drive it toward the front, and provide valuable input so that Team Red Bull is fully prepared by the Daytona 500. It’s really a great role at this stage of my racing career.”

Leading the preparation of the non-Toyota equipped car are two recent race staff additions, Competition Director Elton Sawyer, a stock car racing veteran, and Technical Director John Probst, one of the racing industry’s top vehicle dynamics engineers.

Sawyer and Probst join Gaunt and another appointee, Guenther Steiner, who came over to Team Red Bull from the Red Bull Racing F1 operation in a technical advisor role, as the team’s racing leadership operating out of the race shop in Mooresville, NC.

The 60,000 sq. ft. facility recently underwent a Red Bull make-over since the energy drink company acquired the property from Penske Racing South prior to the team’s January 24 announcement by Toyota.

Gaunt says the driver agreement with Elliott spans over three NEXTEL Cup races this fall

- Charlotte, NC (Oct. 14)
- Atlanta, GA (Oct. 29)
- Ft. Worth, TX (Nov. 5).

Starting with the 2007 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup season, Team Red Bull will field two, full-time Toyota Camry entries. Rumors notwithstanding, more “official” information on the new team—including 2007 drivers and crew chiefs—will be made available later this year.
(Red Bull Racing PR/Newsletter)(6-5-2006)

Kenseth Clobbers The Concrete of Dover

 

Kenseth defies his crew chief and wins at Dover
By Greg Engle - Cup Scene Daily

Sunday the gambling wasn’t inside the casino at Dover International Speedway.

Matt Kenseth rolled the dice defying his crew chief Robbie Reiser and electing to stay out towards the end of the Neighborhood Excellence 400. It was an all or nothing gamble that paid off handsomely as Kenseth scored his second win of 2006.

The first half of the event was a quiet affair with only two caution periods by the halfway point.

Jeff Gordon looked strong during the first half, leading the way for a total of 81 laps on the day. Gordon, a driver who desperately needs a win, led a race for the 8th time this year only to fade in the end to finish 12th.

"We were very frustrated with that finish, “Gordon said. “I really thought the way we took off at the beginning of the race that we were going to be good all day long. I don't really have an explanation for it. We lost the handle on it, got loose there one time and went backwards and lost track position and never could get it back."

The most watched move of the first half was the driver swap of reigning champion Tony Stewart with his relief driver Ricky Rudd.

After starting at the rear of the field an injured Stewart raced his way up 28th position before finally catching a caution flag on lap 35.

The driver change that the team had practiced went off without a hitch. Stewart stayed out one caution lap to remove his belts and helmet prior to coming down pit road.

The team was able get Stewart out of the car and Rudd in one minute flat, sending the No. 20 out without losing a lap.

"It pretty good for the first 10 laps while everybody was getting things going, “Stewart said.

“Everybody picked up the speed once the track cleaned off. Then the soreness kept coming and kept coming. I was glad to get the caution when we got it. “

Stewart’s pain told him that it was time to get out of the car.

"I feel like I got beat up, “Stewart said. “We did what we had to do there; it was a lot longer run than we were hoping for obviously.”

But Stewart’s competitive spirit made him want to continue.

"This isn't very much fun, I can tell you that, “Stewart said. “It is hard to explain to people how hard it is to get out of your own racecar. When you own a car, you know you have got another driver. But this is the one time of the week I cherish more than anything else in life right now. Not a very fun way to spend the day. “

Rudd who went a lap down shortly after taking over, added insult to injury when he was penalized for speeding and lost another lap. Rudd would finish the day 25th.

“Well, our biggest problem was that we got caught for speeding on pit road, “an obviously frustrated Rudd said later, “I knew there was a reason I quit this sport. I wasn’t speeding.

Somebody up there’s got something against me. I don’t know what it is. We came down pit road and left with the traffic and I’m the only guy that gets called back in for speeding, so that’s real disappointing.”

Kenseth was leading at the halfway mark being hounded by Jeff Burton, who had won the Busch Series race a day earlier. Burton would take over the top spot bringing Mark Martin with him while Kenseth settled into third. Soon after Martin would take over the lead bringing Kenseth with him.

Martin looked to be in command of the event until his crew missed a lugnut on a pit stop forcing him back to the pits. He would go on to finish 9th.

One of the big stories of the second half of the race was the incredible run by points leader Jimmie Johnson and his Chad Knaus led crew.

Johnson who had spun during qualifying Friday and made highlight reels after keeping his car off the wall, started 42nd. Because of the lack of pit stalls at Dover the team was forced to share a pit with the team of Scott Wimmer. Crew chief Chad Knaus made the decision Sunday morning to have his Hendrick Motorsports crew service both Johnson and Wimmer during the race. It was a decision that would prove costly for Wimmer as during the second caution he would run out of fuel while circling the track and waiting for Johnson to complete his stop.

Johnson would lose a lap and found himself running towards the back of the pack a majority of the afternoon. The low point came when he spun with 127 laps to go after David Stremme slid up into him in turn four. Johnson would make his second amazing save of the weekend keeping his car off the wall. His team showing their championship caliber form never threw in the towel however and Johnson battled back to finish 6th.

The second half of the race was peppered with yellow flags; six of the eight cautions on the day occurred during the final 200 laps. Among the victims were J.J. Yeley who crashed twice before retiring and Elliott Sadler who slid in some oil put down by Kevin Lepage and popped the turn three wall. Lepage would make a fiery exit with a 105 laps to go and some teams began to think that they could go all the way after pit stops during the caution.

Kevin Harvick who had jumped in for tires and fuel only few laps prior, took only fuel and found himself second. Jamie McMurray, who stayed out, inherited the lead.

McMurray, who had to start the day at the rear of the field after an engine change, had lost a lap earlier in the day. He then got his lap back via the ‘lucky dog’ free pass rule on lap 92 and assumed command as the laps wound down. The driver, who had celebrated his 30th birthday on Saturday, held off the hard charging Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch and looked poised to score his second career victory and his first with his Roush Racing team.

When Robby Gordon spun with 56 to go bringing out the 8th and final caution, the question became who would come in and who would stay out.

Among those who rolled the dice were the top five all of whom stayed out.

The top five included Kenseth, who stayed out in defiance of his crew chief Robbie Reiser.
McMurray led when the green waved with 51 to go. Harvick and Kyle Busch battled behind him, while McMurray stretched his lead back out to nearly one second.

After Busch used up his tires and began to fade, Harvick began to chip away at the lead at the rate of a tenth a second a lap. The drama began to build as Harvick crept closer to McMurray with each of the final 25 laps.

Harvick who hadn’t led all day finally caught him with 20 to go and began to work on McMurray for the lead. Kenseth joined the fray and worked on passing Harvick.

Harvick worked on the lead with 14 to go. While Kenseth worked on Harvick. Harvick battled with McMurray for the lead with 8 to go. Kenseth worked on Harvick finally clearing him 7 to go and began to charge forward.

Kenseth caught McMurray with 3 to go and took the lead. McMurray faded as Kenseth stretched out his lead denying McMurray his second career win.

“Yeah, you’re very disappointed – especially to come that close. I was like three or four laps or something from the end, and when Matt passed me I lost all my momentum,” McMurray said. “I went up to kind of block him, and when I did I lost all my speed. He just barely cleared me when he came up in front of me, and if he hadn’t cleared me I think I could’ve got back around him, but just kind of see that away within like 100 feet and I knew once he got in front of me I thought, ‘I have no chance unless something happens to his car,’ of passing him back, so it’s very disappointing when you want to win.”

The consolation for McMurray is seeing his new Roush Racing team starting to become contenders after a less than stellar season so far.

“It’s very, very disappointing and very frustrating when you have four other teammates who have shots to win races almost every single week,” McMurray said. “And you know everything they have, and the shocks and springs and everything about their cars, and that’s frustrating when you can’t make that work. So, it definitely feels good today.”

For Kenseth is was the second win of the season and his best finish at Dover since a second place in 2000.

“Obviously, it was great,” Kenseth said. “We had a great car all day. We kind of started in the middle of the pack and were able to make the right adjustments to the car. Robbie and Chip did a great job last night of figuring what they wanted to put in the car, and coming up with a plan and stick with it and it worked well. That’s by far the best we ever performed here, and it was an exciting race to be part of it and I’m glad that we came out on top.”

Kenseth’s chief Robbie Reiser was glad his driver stayed out towards the end of the race.

“Towards the end there when we had the cautions right in a row we had to make some decisions,” Reiser said. “We just basically stayed out until we got to our fuel window and then pitted. And then at the end I thought that we needed tires and Matt thought we didn’t. He knew what he had there and made a decision to stay out, and thank God he won the race because we’d probably be in the trailer fighting right now.”

Kenseth was also glad his decision not to pit worked out.

“There really wasn’t any discussion,” Kenseth said. “He just told me to pit and I didn’t say anything. I just kind of watched what everybody did and when I saw everybody stay out I just kind of decided on my own to stay out. When I looked over going down the frontstretch and saw the look on his face, I knew I better finish pretty good or it was going to be a long couple of months.”

Johnson amazing comeback kept him in the points lead. Dale Earnhardt Junior finished 10 and moved up a spot in the standings to fourth, swapping places with Tony Stewart. Jeff Burton and Kevin Harvick, both of who finished in the top five Sunday, each moved up a spot in the standings, Burton to seventh and Harvick to eighth. Jeff Gordon was the biggest loser in the points after Sunday. His 12th place finish dropped him two positions form seventh to ninth.

The series heads to Pocono Raceway for the running of the Pocono 500 this Sunday.

Greg Engle, the Editor of the Cup Scene Daily is seeking employment within the motorsports journalism industry. If you are interested, please contact him at:greg@cupscene.com