Talladega Starting Grid - Montoya leads the field to green
April 25, 2009
Juan Pablo Montoya captured his first NASCAR pole of 2009 on Saturday when he qualified for the Aaron’s 499 at Talledega Speedway. His speed of 188.171 mph was posted in the #42 Earnhardt-Ganassi Chevrolet.
Sam Hornish Jr. turned in an impressive performance in qualifying. He will start third in the Penske car. The top Toyota powered qualifier was rookie, Scott Speed, who qualified eight with a lap of 187.841 mph.
POS CAR DRIVER MAKE SPONSOR SPEED TIME BEHIND 1 42 Juan Montoya Chevy Tums Dual Action 188.171 50.890 Leader 2 16 Greg Biffle Ford 3M 188.141 50.898 -0.008 3 1 M. Truex Jr. Chevy Bass Pro Shops/Tracker 187.971 50.944 -0.054 4 77 S. Hornish Jr. Dodge Penske Truck Rental/AAA 187.953 50.949 -0.059 5 33 Clint Bowyer Chevy BB&T 187.919 50.958 -0.068 6 78 Regan Smith Chevy Furniture Row 187.897 50.964 -0.074 7 5 Mark Martin Chevy Carquest / Kellogg's 187.861 50.974 -0.084 8 82 Scott Speed* Toyota Red Bull 187.824 50.984 -0.094 9 09 Brad Keselowski Chevy Miccosukee Resrt/Gaming 187.687 51.021 -0.131 10 6 David Ragan Ford UPS 187.640 51.034 -0.144
Mark Martin wins one for the old guys
April 21, 2009
Mark Martin is a machine! He may be old, but he’s still got mojo. Saturday night, Martin drove his Hendrick Chevy toa dramatic and popular win, his first in three years. Martin has already qualified on pole three times in 2009, but has had a string of bad luck to spoil his efforts to get into Victory Lane. But when a drivier consistently qualifies in the top 5, wins are sure to follow. For Martin, that time came on Saturday night in Phoenix.
Is Martin ready to charge?
March 20, 2009
Mark Martin has to be the biggest disapointment of the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Martin was expected to be an odds on favorite for making the Chase. But after four races he is in danger of falling out of the top 35 qualifiers. Now, at Bristol, Martin has won his second straight pole. But he is going to have to turn his starting position into a good finish this time. One more Read more
Kyle Busch wins at the neighborhood speedway!
March 2, 2009
Kyle and Kurt Busch captured the front row in qualifying. It looked like the local boys were really dialed in for the Shelby 427. But Kyle had to start at the rear because he did an engine swap. After 427 miles Kyle was at the front, Read more
2008 0-36; 2009 2-2, Kenseth wins again!
February 23, 2009
Matt Kenseth won his second 500 mile race of the season. This time he won in California. Kenseth led the most laps, as he dominated the end of the race. But it was his “Killer B’s” pit crew that launched him into the lead twice after super quick stops. When Kenseth took the lead after the final caution Jeff Gordon did all he could to catch him, but Gordon couldn’t find a groove that made up for Kenseth running in clean air. Finally Read more
Kenseth wins in the rain!
February 16, 2009
Matt Kenseth made a late pass, and put a Ford in victory lane of the 500 for the first time since 2000. The rain brought out the checkered flag 48 laps early. Kenseth passed Elliot Sadler a lap before the caution came out for the final time. Kevin Harvick pulled off a second place… showing his Bud Shootout victory was no fluke.
A.J. Allmendinger had a great finish, Read more
2009 Budweiser Shootout: Statistical Tidbits
February 4, 2009
We are just days away from watching our drivers hit the track at Daytona and NASCARhas released various tidbits about the shootout:
• In total, 91 drivers have participated in the Budweiser Shootout, 42 have participated in two or less and 28 have taken the green flag in only one.
• Throughout the years, the lowest number of drivers to participate in a shootout was seven in 1981, while the high was 23 in 2008 (although it is set to be broken when 28 cars take to the track Saturday night.)
• Among the drivers who have participated in the most shootouts, none of the top-6 will hit the high banks of Daytona on Saturday night. They include: Bill Elliot (23), Mark Martin (21), Rusty Wallace (19), Ken Schrader (18), Geoffrey Bodine (16) and Ricky Rudd (16).
• Mark Martin will lose the lead for most consecutive starts in the Shootout, having competed in 20 straight events from 1989-2008 (Martin will not be included this year as a result of the qualifying procedures.) Jeff Gordon is set to take over the active lead, as he will start his 16th straight event Saturday night.
• Seven drivers have won the shootout multiple times. They include: Tony Stewart won three of the last eight, 2001, 2002 and 2007.; Dale Earnhardt won six of the 23 races between 1979 and 2001. His six victories came in 12 appearances.; Dale Jarret won in 1996, 2000 and 2004.; Other multiple winners include: Neil Bonnett (1983 and 1984), Ken Schrader (1989 and 1990), Jeff Gordon (1994 and 1997) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2003 and 2008).
• Five drivers have won their first start in a shootout: Buddy Baker (1979); Dale Earnhardt (1980); Jeff Gordon (1994); Dale Jarrett (1996); and most recently Denny Hamlin in 2006.
• In the 30 year history of the Shootout, only five times has the winner went on to win the Daytona500. The list includes: Bobby Allison (1982); Bill Elliot (1987); Dale Jarrett (1996 and 2000); and Jeff Gordon (1997).
• Three times the event has been won from the pole: Darrell Waltrip (1981); Bill Elliot (1987) and KenShrader (1989).
• Chevrolet leads the way with manufacture victories in the shootout at 17 (most recently in 2008 with Dale Jr.); Ford is second with seven wins (most recently Dale Jarrett in 2004); Buick has two wins (most recently in 1982 with Bobby Allison); Oldsmobile has two wins (last with Dale Earnhardt in 1980); and Pontiac has two wins (most recently with Tony Stewart in 2002). Dodge has never visited Victory Lane in a shootout.
By the Numbers: Budweiser Shootout at Daytona
.08 – Margin of victory in seconds by Dale Earnhardt over Sterling Marlin in 1995, the closest margin in Budweiser Shootout history
1 – Laps led by Rusty Wallace (1998), Neil Bonnett (1983-84), Dale Earnhardt (1980) and Dale Jarrett (2004) in the Budweiser Shootouts they won
2.75 – Average finish by Dale Earnhardt, best by any driver with multiple starts
5 – Drivers who have won the event in their first appearance (Buddy Baker, 1979; Dale Earnhardt, 1980; Jeff Gordon, 1994; Dale Jarrett, 1996; Denny Hamlin, 2006)
19 – Number of lead changes in 2001, the highest number since race began in 1979
19 – Starting position of Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 2003, the lowest starting position of a Budweiser Shootout race-winner
23 – Number of participants in 2008, the largest field in the event’s history. That number will be broken this year, as 28 cars will participate.
44 – Laps led by Greg Biffle in 2005, the most by a driver who did not win the event
47 – Laps led by Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 2008, the most in a single Budweiser Shootout
Source: NASCAR Media P/R
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Ready To Defend Shootout Win
February 4, 2009
The green flag will wave on the 2009 NASCAR season at 8:10 p.m. Saturday night and defending race winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. is ready to defend his title.
“Winning the first race of the year — whether it’s for points or not points — is always pretty special,” Earnhardt said. “There’s no better way to start a season than by winning the first one right out of the gate.”
Earnhardt won the event last year in his debut with Hendrick Motorsports.
This year, however, the event will have a different format and will feature different drivers.
Saturday will mark the 31st running of the annual non-points paying precursor to the season-opening Daytona 500 on Feb. 15.
Last year, Earnhardt not only won the Shootout, but he also went on to win his 150-mile qualifying race for the Daytona 500 as well. He couldn’t complete the trifecta, however, and finished ninth in the 500.
“It doesn’t necessarily determine how the rest of your Speedweeks will go, because we run different cars for the Daytona 500,” Earnhardt said. “But it’s the opening act of a new season, and everyone wants to start off with a bang. I guess it’s more important for bragging rights.”
Earnhardt said last year it was a combination of a good car, good motor and being in the right place at the right time that earned him the checkered flag at the 2008 Shootout—his third win overall.
“Everything was clicking,” he added. “I had teammates up front, and we worked together quite a bit. It was just a good race where everything went right.”
This year, he will again have two teammates in the race with him, Jeff Gordon and three-time defending champion Jimmie Johnson.
The 2009 Shootout will feature a new format in which the distance has been increased from 70 laps to 75 (or a total of 187.5 miles of Daytona’s high-banked, 2.5-mile layout.)
The event will still run in two segments, with the first lasting 25 laps and the second 50.
Following the first segment a 10-minute “pit-stop” will give each team the opportunity to make any normal adjustments to their cars they could perform on a normal pit stop. In other words, they can’t change springs, shocks or rear-ends.
Following the 10-minute “pit-stop” the event’s second segment will feature a 50-lap spring for the win.
The 2009 field includes five former Daytona 500 champions, including one three-time winner in Gordon, one two-time winner in Michael Waltrip, 2007 winner Kevin Harvick, 2004 winner Earnhardt Jr. and 2006 winner Johnson.
First-time Shootout participants include: AJ Allmendinger, Robby Gordon, Joey Logano, Paul Menard, David Ragan, David Reutimann, Scott Speed and David Stremme (all of whom received invitations due to the rule changes.)
The event will be broadcast of Fox, MRN radio and SIRIUS Satellite Radio, Channel 128.
Let’s go racing boys!
B-Blog
The Championship and the Daytona 500
January 28, 2009
The winner of the 2009 Daytona 500 will leave Daytona with the points lead for the Sprint Cup Championship. But I really doubt the 2009 500 winner will be found on top of top of the list following Homestead. So, who’s going to win the 500? I predict the 2009 Daytona 500 winner will be Jimmie Johnson. With all of the momentum he has built up over the past three years I think he will continue to be on top of his game at Daytona. I think Tony Stewart, with his new team, has taken himself out of contention for the 2009 500. I believe Denny Hamlin may also be in the mix for the victory at Daytona. I think a long shot at Daytona will be Dale Earnhardt Junior. None of the Dodge teams will even be in the mix. I doubt any Ford will finish above second place. A dark horse victory would be Jeff Burton in the #31 Chevrolet. Jeff Gordon will not win the 2009 500, unless he laps the entire field.
The Sprint Cup Chamionship is going to settle down to a four car race. Jimmie Johnson, with the odds against him, will be in the mix. The probable favorite, Carl Edwards will also be in the points chase. I think Kyle Busch is going to deliver throughout the Chase this year as well. The fourth driver I expect to be in the final mix is Mark Martin. Mark is now with a team that has the resources to give him a championship ride. I predict Kyle will win, but I really hope Mark wins the 2009 Sprint Cup Championship.
Economics 8,000: NASCAR’s Title Sponsor Announces Cutbacks
January 27, 2009
It appears nobody is safe from the strain on America’s tough economic status, and that holds true for the title sponsor of the NASCAR Cup Series as well.
It was announced today that Sprint-Nextel would cut 8,000 jobs—or 14 percent of its workforce—by the end of March. The effort will reduce the companies costs by more than $1 billion.
Along with the cuts, the company will also take part in a company-wide pay freeze and put a hiatus on employees’ 401(k) match for the year.
According to reports on NASCAR.com the nation’s third largest provider of wireless service provided a net loss of $326 million in the third quarter of 2008 and a $1.2 billion loss for the other three quarters.
“Labor reductions are always the most difficult action to take, but many companies are finding it necessary in this environment,” chief executive officer Dan Hesse said in a press release. “Our commitment to quality will not change.”
Sprint became the title sponsor for NASCAR’s premier series in 2005 when it acquired Nextel. According to NASCAR.com, the company pays around $75 million a year to have their name on the series.
The news was bad across the board for some of the sport’s top advertisers as well.
The same report on NASCAR.com said Caterpillar, Home Depot, and GM will also be experiencing cuts in employees.
Caterpillar (the new sponsor for the No. 31 Richard Childress Chevy driven by Jeff Burton), is expecting to cut 20,000 jobs—about 18 percent of their worforce—through layoffs and buyouts.
“While 2008 was our sixth consecutive year of record sales and revenues, it was an extraordinarily challenging year,” Caterpillar chairman and chief executive officer Jim Owns said on the company’s Web site. “We have initiated actions which will remove about 20,000 workers from our business and every indirect spent dollar will be heavily scrutinized.”
NASCAR’s official home improvement warehouse and sponsor of rookie Joey Logano is also planning cutbacks.
About 7,000 jobs—or two percent of the workforce—will be cut through closures of 34 Expo Design Center Stores and 14 other speciality stores over the next two months, according to NASCAR.com.
The fourth large sponsor—General Motors—also has plans to cut its workforce this spring, and has already seen large cuts throughout its manufacturing plants.
The news is tough for NASCAR, which relies heavily on the funding from top sponsors.
As the businesses that pay the millions of dollars begin to cut back, you have to wonder when that will include pulling funding from NASCAR teams.
With these announcements, it makes Jack Roush’s argument that his team should be allowed to keep all five teams all the more stronger.
Sure, this isn’t the loss of sponsors—yet!
Roush-Fenway currently has five cars that have full sponsors and NASCAR may not want to risk the loss of those precious funds if the team is forced to relocate to another shop.
It should be interesting to see how things progress as more and more announcements continue to surface of lay-offs and cutbacks.
Employees of these companies have got to be wondering why the company can’t afford their $8 an hour, yet can afford to spend millions of dollars to put their logo on a car going 200-mph.
Just another installment of Economics 101 in NASCAR today.
B-Blog
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