Kyle Busch leads every lap in Phoenix Nationwide win
By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service
(February 26, 2011)
AVONDALE, Ariz.—Kyle Busch held off a frenetic challenge from Carl Edwards in the closing laps of Saturday’s Bashas’ Supermarkets 200 at Phoenix International Raceway and collected his 44th Nationwide Series victory.
Having won Friday night’s Camping World Truck Series race at the 1-mile track, Busch will try for a weekend sweep Sunday in the Subway Fresh Fit 500 Sprint Cup event.
Busch became the only driver to sweep races in NASCAR’s top three series at the same track on the same weekend when he accomplished the feat last August at Bristol.
Edwards, who finished .514 seconds behind Busch, made a contest of the race over the final 20 laps, running side by side with Busch for extended stretches as the race neared its end.
Busch became the first driver to lead every lap of an event in one of NASCAR’s top three series since Dale Earnhardt Jr. accomplished the feat July 4, 2003, in a Nationwide race at Daytona.
Danica Patrick finished 17th, three laps down, and posted her third straight top-20 result in the series.
As Busch continued his domination in the desert, the fortunes of 2010 series champion Brad Keselowski continued to ebb. On Lap 105, Keselowski blew a right front tire and clobbered the Turn 4 wall to bring out only the second caution of the race.
Keselowski, who had finished 102 consecutive Nationwide races before falling out of last week’s Drive4COPD 300 at Daytona, suffered his second straight DNF.
“All I know is that we blew up a right front tire, and I ended up throwing the car into the Turn 4 wall,” Keselowski said.
Goodyear provided a softer right-side tire for all three series this weekend, one designed to enhance grip. The tire was chosen based on tests conducted at Richmond.
“Our team never saw this tire until we got to the track this weekend,” Keselowski said. “It’s a combination of the new tire and the new (Nationwide) car, and that was the recipe for disaster.”
Saturday, February 26, 2011
KYLE BUSCH WINS BASHAS 200
Phoenix International Raceway
7th Annual Bashas' Supermarkets 200
Provided by NASCAR Statistics - Sat, February 26, 2011 @ 07:47 PM Eastern
Race Winner: Kyle Busch(i)
Age: 25
Team : No. 18 - Interstate Batteries Toyota
Owner: Joe Gibbs
Crew Chief: Jason Ratcliff
Kyle Busch(i) won the 7th Annual Bashas' Supermarkets 200, his 44th victory in 204 NASCAR Nationwide Series races. He scores a perfect 150.0 Driver Rating for the second race of the weekend. This is his 88th national series victory for fourth all-time by himself.
This is his first victory and second top-10 finish in 2011.
This is his fourth victory and ninth top-10 finish in 12 races at Phoenix International Raceway. He led all 200 laps breaking Carl Edwards record of 153 in last fall's Phoenix race. This is the first time a driver in a national series has led wire to wire since July 4, 2003 when Dale Earnhardt Jr. led all 100 laps in a NNS race at Daytona International Speedway.
Carl Edwards(i) (second) posted his 12th top-10 finish in 13 races at Phoenix International Raceway. It is his first top-10 finish in 2011.
Kevin Harvick(i) (third) posted his 15th top-10 finish in 18 races at Phoenix International Raceway.
Ryan Truex (14th) was the highest finishing rookie.
Reed Sorenson leads the point standings by 5 points over Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
7th Annual Bashas' Supermarkets 200
Provided by NASCAR Statistics - Sat, February 26, 2011 @ 07:47 PM Eastern
Race Winner: Kyle Busch(i)
Age: 25
Team : No. 18 - Interstate Batteries Toyota
Owner: Joe Gibbs
Crew Chief: Jason Ratcliff
Kyle Busch(i) won the 7th Annual Bashas' Supermarkets 200, his 44th victory in 204 NASCAR Nationwide Series races. He scores a perfect 150.0 Driver Rating for the second race of the weekend. This is his 88th national series victory for fourth all-time by himself.
This is his first victory and second top-10 finish in 2011.
This is his fourth victory and ninth top-10 finish in 12 races at Phoenix International Raceway. He led all 200 laps breaking Carl Edwards record of 153 in last fall's Phoenix race. This is the first time a driver in a national series has led wire to wire since July 4, 2003 when Dale Earnhardt Jr. led all 100 laps in a NNS race at Daytona International Speedway.
Carl Edwards(i) (second) posted his 12th top-10 finish in 13 races at Phoenix International Raceway. It is his first top-10 finish in 2011.
Kevin Harvick(i) (third) posted his 15th top-10 finish in 18 races at Phoenix International Raceway.
Ryan Truex (14th) was the highest finishing rookie.
Reed Sorenson leads the point standings by 5 points over Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
KYLE BUSCH ON PHOENIX BASHAS 200 POLE
Phoenix International Raceway
7th Annual Bashas' Supermarkets 200
Provided by NASCAR Statistics - Sat, February 26, 2011 @ 03:16 PM Eastern
Coors Light Pole Winner: Kyle Busch(i)
Age: 25
Team : No. 18 - Interstate Batteries Toyota
Owner: Joe Gibbs
Crew Chief: Jason Ratcliff
Kyle Busch(i) won the Coors Light Pole Award for the 7th Annual Bashas' Supermarkets 200 with a lap of 26.806 seconds, 134.298 mph. This is a new track record (old Joey Logano, 134.048, Nov. 13, 2010).
This is his 22nd pole in 204 NASCAR Nationwide Series races. He breaks tie with Carl Edwards for 7th all-time. He's now fifth with David Green and Kevin Harvick.
This is his first pole and second top-10 start in 2011.
This is his fourth pole in 12 races at Phoenix International Raceway. He matches Edwards' 12 pole total here.
Carl Edwards(i) (second) posted his second top-10 start of 2011 and his 11th in 13 races at Phoenix International Raceway.
Joey Logano(i) (third) posted his fourth top-10 start at Phoenix International Raceway. It is his second in two races this season.
Ryan Truex (14th) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
7th Annual Bashas' Supermarkets 200
Provided by NASCAR Statistics - Sat, February 26, 2011 @ 03:16 PM Eastern
Coors Light Pole Winner: Kyle Busch(i)
Age: 25
Team : No. 18 - Interstate Batteries Toyota
Owner: Joe Gibbs
Crew Chief: Jason Ratcliff
Kyle Busch(i) won the Coors Light Pole Award for the 7th Annual Bashas' Supermarkets 200 with a lap of 26.806 seconds, 134.298 mph. This is a new track record (old Joey Logano, 134.048, Nov. 13, 2010).
This is his 22nd pole in 204 NASCAR Nationwide Series races. He breaks tie with Carl Edwards for 7th all-time. He's now fifth with David Green and Kevin Harvick.
This is his first pole and second top-10 start in 2011.
This is his fourth pole in 12 races at Phoenix International Raceway. He matches Edwards' 12 pole total here.
Carl Edwards(i) (second) posted his second top-10 start of 2011 and his 11th in 13 races at Phoenix International Raceway.
Joey Logano(i) (third) posted his fourth top-10 start at Phoenix International Raceway. It is his second in two races this season.
Ryan Truex (14th) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
Kyle Busch dominates truck race at Phoenix
Kyle Busch dominates truck race at Phoenix
AVONDALE, Ariz.—Win the race off pit road. Win the race.\After taking the lead under caution on Lap 44 of Friday night’s Lucas Oil 150 at Phoenix International Raceway, Kyle Busch led the final 107 to post his second win at the 1-mile track and his 25th in the Camping World Truck Series.
Busch beat polesitter Clint Bowyer to the checkered flag by .291 seconds, as Bowyer tightened the margin on the final lap.
Ron Hornaday Jr. was third, followed by Johnny Sauter and Austin Dillon.
As full-time Sprint Cup drivers, Busch and Bowyer aren’t collecting points in the truck series. Consequently, seventh-place finisher Matt Crafton left Phoenix with a one-point lead over Clay Rogers (16th Friday) in the series standings.
“We had a really good truck, but I was scared there at the beginning,” said Busch, who ran second to a dominant Bowyer at Phoenix in November. “I was like, ‘Man, it’s going to come down like last fall—Clint’s going to walk the dog on this one.’
“But (crew chief) Eric (Phillips) made some changes to this thing that really brought it to life.”
Bowyer faulted himself for not being able to overtake Busch on six restarts in the final 50 laps of the race.
“Whichever one of us had clean air, we were about a 10th (of a second) to a 10th and a half better,” Bowyer said. “For me—and I’m not making any excuses; I was screwing up big-time on the restarts—I’m just not used to a) not having any power and b) I was hitting the rev what sounded like about 5,000 less rpm than it should have been.
“I was just messing up. It’s the difference between a Corvette and an Impala—maybe a Volt. … That’s that electric car.”
Bowyer dominated the opening green-flag run, leading the first 41 laps before Chase Mattioli blew his right front tire and scattered debris in Turn 3. After pit stops, Busch was first off pit road and held the top spot through four more cautions, the last of which (and fifth of the race) was caused by a wreck off Turn 4 involving defending series champion Todd Bodine, David Starr and Dusty Davis.
Busch led the field to a restart on Lap 120, having held the point for 76 consecutive laps. Timothy Peters’ spin in Turn 2 on Lap 123 slowed the race for the sixth time.
In the late going, the trucks had difficulty running more than three laps without a caution. Brendan Gaughan spun and backed into the wall in Turn 2 on Lap 128 to bring out the seventh yellow flag.
By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service
(February 25, 2010)
AVONDALE, Ariz.—Win the race off pit road. Win the race.\After taking the lead under caution on Lap 44 of Friday night’s Lucas Oil 150 at Phoenix International Raceway, Kyle Busch led the final 107 to post his second win at the 1-mile track and his 25th in the Camping World Truck Series.
Busch beat polesitter Clint Bowyer to the checkered flag by .291 seconds, as Bowyer tightened the margin on the final lap.
Ron Hornaday Jr. was third, followed by Johnny Sauter and Austin Dillon.
As full-time Sprint Cup drivers, Busch and Bowyer aren’t collecting points in the truck series. Consequently, seventh-place finisher Matt Crafton left Phoenix with a one-point lead over Clay Rogers (16th Friday) in the series standings.
“We had a really good truck, but I was scared there at the beginning,” said Busch, who ran second to a dominant Bowyer at Phoenix in November. “I was like, ‘Man, it’s going to come down like last fall—Clint’s going to walk the dog on this one.’
“But (crew chief) Eric (Phillips) made some changes to this thing that really brought it to life.”
Bowyer faulted himself for not being able to overtake Busch on six restarts in the final 50 laps of the race.
“Whichever one of us had clean air, we were about a 10th (of a second) to a 10th and a half better,” Bowyer said. “For me—and I’m not making any excuses; I was screwing up big-time on the restarts—I’m just not used to a) not having any power and b) I was hitting the rev what sounded like about 5,000 less rpm than it should have been.
“I was just messing up. It’s the difference between a Corvette and an Impala—maybe a Volt. … That’s that electric car.”
Bowyer dominated the opening green-flag run, leading the first 41 laps before Chase Mattioli blew his right front tire and scattered debris in Turn 3. After pit stops, Busch was first off pit road and held the top spot through four more cautions, the last of which (and fifth of the race) was caused by a wreck off Turn 4 involving defending series champion Todd Bodine, David Starr and Dusty Davis.
Busch led the field to a restart on Lap 120, having held the point for 76 consecutive laps. Timothy Peters’ spin in Turn 2 on Lap 123 slowed the race for the sixth time.
In the late going, the trucks had difficulty running more than three laps without a caution. Brendan Gaughan spun and backed into the wall in Turn 2 on Lap 128 to bring out the seventh yellow flag.
By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service
(February 25, 2010)
Friday, February 25, 2011
Kyle Busch dominates truck race at Phoenix
Kyle Busch dominates truck race at Phoenix
By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Service
(February 26, 2010)
AVONDALE, Ariz.—Win the race off pit road. Win the race.
After taking the lead under caution on Lap 44 of Friday night’s Lucas Oil 150 at Phoenix International Raceway, Kyle Busch led the final 107 to post his second win at the 1-mile track and his 25th in the Camping World Truck Series.
Busch beat polesitter Clint Bowyer to the checkered flag by .291 seconds, as Bowyer tightened the margin on the final lap.
Bowyer dominated the opening green-flag run, leading the first 41 laps before Chase Mattioli blew his right front tire and scattered debris in Turn 3. After pit stops, Busch was first off pit road and held the top spot through four more cautions, the last of which (and fifth of the race) was caused by a wreck off Turn 4 involving defending series champion Todd Bodine, David Starr and Dusty Davis.
Busch led the field to a restart on Lap 120, having held the point for 76 consecutive laps. Timothy Peters’ spin in Turn 2 on Lap 123 slowed the race for the sixth time, with Busch still in front.
In the late going, the trucks had difficulty running more than three laps without a caution. Brendan Gaughan spun and backed into the wall in Turn 2 on Lap 128 to bring out the seventh yellow flag.
By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Service
(February 26, 2010)
AVONDALE, Ariz.—Win the race off pit road. Win the race.
After taking the lead under caution on Lap 44 of Friday night’s Lucas Oil 150 at Phoenix International Raceway, Kyle Busch led the final 107 to post his second win at the 1-mile track and his 25th in the Camping World Truck Series.
Busch beat polesitter Clint Bowyer to the checkered flag by .291 seconds, as Bowyer tightened the margin on the final lap.
Bowyer dominated the opening green-flag run, leading the first 41 laps before Chase Mattioli blew his right front tire and scattered debris in Turn 3. After pit stops, Busch was first off pit road and held the top spot through four more cautions, the last of which (and fifth of the race) was caused by a wreck off Turn 4 involving defending series champion Todd Bodine, David Starr and Dusty Davis.
Busch led the field to a restart on Lap 120, having held the point for 76 consecutive laps. Timothy Peters’ spin in Turn 2 on Lap 123 slowed the race for the sixth time, with Busch still in front.
In the late going, the trucks had difficulty running more than three laps without a caution. Brendan Gaughan spun and backed into the wall in Turn 2 on Lap 128 to bring out the seventh yellow flag.
KYLE BUSCH WINS LUCAS OIL 150
Phoenix International Raceway
7th Annual Lucas Oil 150
Provided by NASCAR Statistics - Fri, February 25, 2011 @ 10:10 PM Eastern
Race Winner: Kyle Busch(i)
Age: 25
Team : No. 18 - Dollar General Toyota
Owner: Kyle Busch
Crew Chief: Eric Phillips
Kyle Busch(i) won the 7th Annual Lucas Oil 150, his 25th victory in 87 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races.
This is his first victory and second top-10 finish in 2011.
This is his second victory and sixth top-10 finish in seven races at Phoenix International Raceway. Busch has now won 87 times in NASCAR national series competition tying him for sixth all-time with Jeff Gordon.
Clint Bowyer(i) (second) posted his second top-10 finish in two races at Phoenix International Raceway. It is his first top-10 finish in 2011.
Ron Hornaday (third) posted his 13th top-10 finish in 17 races at Phoenix International Raceway.
Cole Whitt (sixth) was the highest finishing rookie.
Matt Crafton leads the point standings by 1 points over Clay Rogers.
7th Annual Lucas Oil 150
Provided by NASCAR Statistics - Fri, February 25, 2011 @ 10:10 PM Eastern
Race Winner: Kyle Busch(i)
Age: 25
Team : No. 18 - Dollar General Toyota
Owner: Kyle Busch
Crew Chief: Eric Phillips
Kyle Busch(i) won the 7th Annual Lucas Oil 150, his 25th victory in 87 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races.
This is his first victory and second top-10 finish in 2011.
This is his second victory and sixth top-10 finish in seven races at Phoenix International Raceway. Busch has now won 87 times in NASCAR national series competition tying him for sixth all-time with Jeff Gordon.
Clint Bowyer(i) (second) posted his second top-10 finish in two races at Phoenix International Raceway. It is his first top-10 finish in 2011.
Ron Hornaday (third) posted his 13th top-10 finish in 17 races at Phoenix International Raceway.
Cole Whitt (sixth) was the highest finishing rookie.
Matt Crafton leads the point standings by 1 points over Clay Rogers.
CLINT BOWYER ON POLE LUCAS OIL 150
Qualifying Fast Facts
Phoenix International Raceway
7th Annual Lucas Oil 150
Provided by NASCAR Statistics - Fri, February 25, 2011 @ 06:20 PM Eastern
Keystone Light Pole Winner: Clint Bowyer(i)
Age: 31
Team : No. 2 - Tide / Kroger Chevrolet
Owner: Delana Harvick
Crew Chief: Bruce Cook
Clint Bowyer(i) won the Keystone Light Pole Award for the 7th Annual Lucas Oil 150 with a lap of 26.876 seconds, 133.949 mph. It breaks the previous record of 133.605 mph set last November by Austin Dillon. He is the defending winner of the Lucas Oil 150.
This is his second pole in nine NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races.
This is his first pole and first top-10 start in 2011.
This is his first pole in two races at Phoenix International Raceway.
Austin Dillon (second) posted his second top-10 start of 2011 and his second in two races at Phoenix International Raceway.
Kyle Busch(i) (third) posted his sixth top-10 start at Phoenix International Raceway. It is his first in two races this season.
Cole Whitt (ninth) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
Phoenix International Raceway
7th Annual Lucas Oil 150
Provided by NASCAR Statistics - Fri, February 25, 2011 @ 06:20 PM Eastern
Keystone Light Pole Winner: Clint Bowyer(i)
Age: 31
Team : No. 2 - Tide / Kroger Chevrolet
Owner: Delana Harvick
Crew Chief: Bruce Cook
Clint Bowyer(i) won the Keystone Light Pole Award for the 7th Annual Lucas Oil 150 with a lap of 26.876 seconds, 133.949 mph. It breaks the previous record of 133.605 mph set last November by Austin Dillon. He is the defending winner of the Lucas Oil 150.
This is his second pole in nine NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races.
This is his first pole and first top-10 start in 2011.
This is his first pole in two races at Phoenix International Raceway.
Austin Dillon (second) posted his second top-10 start of 2011 and his second in two races at Phoenix International Raceway.
Kyle Busch(i) (third) posted his sixth top-10 start at Phoenix International Raceway. It is his first in two races this season.
Cole Whitt (ninth) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
New points structure has Sorenson in great spot heading to Phoenix
New points structure has Sorenson in great spot heading to Phoenix
By Lee Montgomery
Special to Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service
(February 24, 2011)
Reed Sorenson wasn't part of the four-car finish of last weekend's Nationwide Series race at Daytona, yet he's leading the points standings of drivers entered in the Bashas' Supermarkets 200 at Phoenix International Raceway this Saturday.
Welcome to the new world of Nationwide Series points.
Three of the drivers involved in the Daytona finish—winner Tony Stewart, Clint Bowyer and Dale Earnhardt Jr.—are ineligible for Nationwide points because they chose to earn points in the Sprint Cup Series.
And Landon Cassill, who finished third at Daytona, isn't running the full Nationwide schedule and won't race at Phoenix .
That makes Sorenson, who finished fifth at Daytona, the unofficial points leader.
"It's one race, but anytime you can start the season off strong, whether you were leading the points or if you just had a strong finish, (it) is a really big deal," Sorenson said. "I've talked to my guys a lot before we went down (to Daytona), and I said, 'We're going to go for the win, but we need to come out of this thing with a solid finish because we are trying to win this championship.' Starting off on the right foot is a very big deal."
Sorenson is one point ahead of Turner Motorsports teammate Jason Leffler, who was sixth at Daytona but unofficially third in the points.
Confused? You may see it a lot in 2011 as Cup drivers still will be littered throughout Nationwide fields.
"It's going to be a little different, for sure," Sorenson said. "But it's something that keeps you racing hard for every position. If there are Cup guys between you and the next Nationwide guy (behind you), the more you can put in between, the more points you get and less points they get.
"I looked at the points after Daytona, and I see all the guys who got zeroes, but then you see the guy who finished fifth, which was us, we got 39 points. It keeps you racing for every position as hard as you can, because every position is still points."
Sorenson and his Turner team may be underdogs for the championship, as Elliott Sadler and Aric Almirola and others may get more attention, but that's fine with them. Beating the competition is more important to them than attention, and Phoenix will be the first true test to see where Turner ranks against the field.
Yes, Daytona is important, but superspeedway racing is different than racing at every other track.
And Phoenix has been kind to Sorenson, who has three top-five and five top-10 finishes in seven Nationwide starts at the 1-mile track.
"I've had some success there," Sorenson said. "It's definitely one of my favorite short tracks that we go to. I love racing there. It'll be good to see where we stack up vs. the competition. This is kind of the first place we see if we're better than the competition or if they're a little better than us. I'm pretty excited to get out there and see what we've got."
By Lee Montgomery
Special to Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service
(February 24, 2011)
Reed Sorenson wasn't part of the four-car finish of last weekend's Nationwide Series race at Daytona, yet he's leading the points standings of drivers entered in the Bashas' Supermarkets 200 at Phoenix International Raceway this Saturday.
Welcome to the new world of Nationwide Series points.
Three of the drivers involved in the Daytona finish—winner Tony Stewart, Clint Bowyer and Dale Earnhardt Jr.—are ineligible for Nationwide points because they chose to earn points in the Sprint Cup Series.
And Landon Cassill, who finished third at Daytona, isn't running the full Nationwide schedule and won't race at Phoenix .
That makes Sorenson, who finished fifth at Daytona, the unofficial points leader.
"It's one race, but anytime you can start the season off strong, whether you were leading the points or if you just had a strong finish, (it) is a really big deal," Sorenson said. "I've talked to my guys a lot before we went down (to Daytona), and I said, 'We're going to go for the win, but we need to come out of this thing with a solid finish because we are trying to win this championship.' Starting off on the right foot is a very big deal."
Sorenson is one point ahead of Turner Motorsports teammate Jason Leffler, who was sixth at Daytona but unofficially third in the points.
Confused? You may see it a lot in 2011 as Cup drivers still will be littered throughout Nationwide fields.
"It's going to be a little different, for sure," Sorenson said. "But it's something that keeps you racing hard for every position. If there are Cup guys between you and the next Nationwide guy (behind you), the more you can put in between, the more points you get and less points they get.
"I looked at the points after Daytona, and I see all the guys who got zeroes, but then you see the guy who finished fifth, which was us, we got 39 points. It keeps you racing for every position as hard as you can, because every position is still points."
Sorenson and his Turner team may be underdogs for the championship, as Elliott Sadler and Aric Almirola and others may get more attention, but that's fine with them. Beating the competition is more important to them than attention, and Phoenix will be the first true test to see where Turner ranks against the field.
Yes, Daytona is important, but superspeedway racing is different than racing at every other track.
And Phoenix has been kind to Sorenson, who has three top-five and five top-10 finishes in seven Nationwide starts at the 1-mile track.
"I've had some success there," Sorenson said. "It's definitely one of my favorite short tracks that we go to. I love racing there. It'll be good to see where we stack up vs. the competition. This is kind of the first place we see if we're better than the competition or if they're a little better than us. I'm pretty excited to get out there and see what we've got."
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Buescher expecting to be part of title chase
Buescher expecting to be part of title chase
By Jared Turner
Special to Sporting News
When the pundits and prognosticators began picking favorites for the 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series title, James Buescher was undoubtedly not on many folks' shortlist of probable champions.
With just one race down and 24 left, Buescher probably still isn't.
That's just fine, though, with the 20-year-old Texan.
Anyone who watched the entirety of last weekend's season opener at Daytona International Speedway witnessed Buescher and his No. 31 Turner Motorsports team roll with the series' big boys.
And roll is exactly what he did—for a race-high 55 laps out front—before getting caught up in a multi-truck accident on Lap 97.
Buescher, one of several lead-pack drivers vying for the same piece of real estate at the time of his crash, rallied from 16th to ninth in the final two laps. Not bad for a guy who had finished 25th in his one previous truck series start at Daytona.
Pretty impressive for someone who continues to fly under the radar, despite qualifying second at DIS and seemingly leading at will in a truck that appeared to be on rails for most of the night.
"We know that we're going to be contenders," Buescher said. "We know what we're capable of doing. Whether we fly under the radar or not, that's not really our problem, so they can talk about whoever they want to talk about. No one was talking about Trevor Bayne possibly winning the 500 … and today he's a Daytona 500 champion. So you don't have to have all the hype and everything going into the race as long as you get the outcome at the end of the day that you're looking for and let everybody talk about you afterwards.
"So just the fact that nobody's really talking us up going into the season doesn't mean that we're not capable of winning the championship."
Buescher, of course, is smart enough to know that a strong run at Daytona doesn't mean he'll be just as stout everywhere else. But the youngster believes he and his team have the potential to be good at virtually every stop, including Phoenix International Raceway—site of Friday's Lucas Oil 150 and a flat 1-mile layout bearing virtually no similarities to Daytona's high banks.
Buescher finished second (tying his career best) last September at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, a 1.058-mile oval often mentioned in the same breath with Phoenix . He was 11th last fall at PIR but would have placed better if a late call for tires hadn't cost him track position.
"I look for the 31 truck to be fast again," Buescher said. "We don't want to just be fast at the superspeedways or the intermediates; we want to be want to be fast everywhere we go, and I think we've done our homework."We're capable of running up front and we're planning on running up front every single week."
Buescher, who is in a three-way tie for third in the standings, is in his first full season with Turner Motorsports. Buescher finished 11th in the 2010 driver standings despite not joining the organization until race No. 4.
"I think once we get a few races under our belt and have some good finishes and hopefully get to victory lane, we should be right up near the front of the points like we are right now—and hopefully be leading them," he said.
Fast facts
What: Lucas Oil 150
Where: Phoenix International Raceway
When: Friday, 8 p.m. ET
TV: Speed, 7:30 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN/Sirius Satellite Ch. 128
Race distance: 150 laps/150 miles
Qualifying: Friday, 5:05 p.m. ET
Track layout: 1-mile oval
2010 winner: Clint Bowyer
2010 polesitter: Austin Dillon
By Jared Turner
Special to Sporting News
When the pundits and prognosticators began picking favorites for the 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series title, James Buescher was undoubtedly not on many folks' shortlist of probable champions.
With just one race down and 24 left, Buescher probably still isn't.
That's just fine, though, with the 20-year-old Texan.
Anyone who watched the entirety of last weekend's season opener at Daytona International Speedway witnessed Buescher and his No. 31 Turner Motorsports team roll with the series' big boys.
And roll is exactly what he did—for a race-high 55 laps out front—before getting caught up in a multi-truck accident on Lap 97.
Buescher, one of several lead-pack drivers vying for the same piece of real estate at the time of his crash, rallied from 16th to ninth in the final two laps. Not bad for a guy who had finished 25th in his one previous truck series start at Daytona.
Pretty impressive for someone who continues to fly under the radar, despite qualifying second at DIS and seemingly leading at will in a truck that appeared to be on rails for most of the night.
"We know that we're going to be contenders," Buescher said. "We know what we're capable of doing. Whether we fly under the radar or not, that's not really our problem, so they can talk about whoever they want to talk about. No one was talking about Trevor Bayne possibly winning the 500 … and today he's a Daytona 500 champion. So you don't have to have all the hype and everything going into the race as long as you get the outcome at the end of the day that you're looking for and let everybody talk about you afterwards.
"So just the fact that nobody's really talking us up going into the season doesn't mean that we're not capable of winning the championship."
Buescher, of course, is smart enough to know that a strong run at Daytona doesn't mean he'll be just as stout everywhere else. But the youngster believes he and his team have the potential to be good at virtually every stop, including Phoenix International Raceway—site of Friday's Lucas Oil 150 and a flat 1-mile layout bearing virtually no similarities to Daytona's high banks.
Buescher finished second (tying his career best) last September at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, a 1.058-mile oval often mentioned in the same breath with Phoenix . He was 11th last fall at PIR but would have placed better if a late call for tires hadn't cost him track position.
"I look for the 31 truck to be fast again," Buescher said. "We don't want to just be fast at the superspeedways or the intermediates; we want to be want to be fast everywhere we go, and I think we've done our homework."We're capable of running up front and we're planning on running up front every single week."
Buescher, who is in a three-way tie for third in the standings, is in his first full season with Turner Motorsports. Buescher finished 11th in the 2010 driver standings despite not joining the organization until race No. 4.
"I think once we get a few races under our belt and have some good finishes and hopefully get to victory lane, we should be right up near the front of the points like we are right now—and hopefully be leading them," he said.
Fast facts
What: Lucas Oil 150
Where: Phoenix International Raceway
When: Friday, 8 p.m. ET
TV: Speed, 7:30 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN/Sirius Satellite Ch. 128
Race distance: 150 laps/150 miles
Qualifying: Friday, 5:05 p.m. ET
Track layout: 1-mile oval
2010 winner: Clint Bowyer
2010 polesitter: Austin Dillon
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
A Leader Amongst Us … But Whom?
A Leader Amongst Us … But Whom?
Expect the NASCAR Nationwide Series driver standings to be shaken up this week as the series heads west to Phoenix International Raceway. There have been 18 series races run at PIR with 11 different winners and 12 different pole winners.
With current points leader Landon Cassill not schedule to run at Phoenix, a number of series regulars are in line to swipe his throne. Reed Sorenson - Second in the standings; has made seven starts at Phoenix posting three top fives and five top 10s, including a fifth last fall. Jason Leffler - Third in standings; has made 13 starts at Phoenix, posting two top fives and four top 10s and two poles. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. - Fourth in the standings; has made two starts at Phoenix posting two top 10s.
A couple of highly touted drivers who look to rebound from a rough Daytona: Elliott Sadler – Finished 38th at Daytona. The media pre-season poll championship favorite has made four starts at Phoenix, posting a runner-up finish in 2005. Brian Scott - 23rd in the standings, he has made three starts at Phoenix, finishing in the top 20 all three times, including an 11th last fall.
Expect the NASCAR Nationwide Series driver standings to be shaken up this week as the series heads west to Phoenix International Raceway. There have been 18 series races run at PIR with 11 different winners and 12 different pole winners.
With current points leader Landon Cassill not schedule to run at Phoenix, a number of series regulars are in line to swipe his throne. Reed Sorenson - Second in the standings; has made seven starts at Phoenix posting three top fives and five top 10s, including a fifth last fall. Jason Leffler - Third in standings; has made 13 starts at Phoenix, posting two top fives and four top 10s and two poles. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. - Fourth in the standings; has made two starts at Phoenix posting two top 10s.
A couple of highly touted drivers who look to rebound from a rough Daytona: Elliott Sadler – Finished 38th at Daytona. The media pre-season poll championship favorite has made four starts at Phoenix, posting a runner-up finish in 2005. Brian Scott - 23rd in the standings, he has made three starts at Phoenix, finishing in the top 20 all three times, including an 11th last fall.
NATIONWIDE SERIES TO PHOENIX
NASCAR NATIONWIDE SERIES
“Am I Dreaming Right Now?”
Getting belated birthday wishes usually means your big day was forgotten. For Trevor Bayne, a belated birthday present was the best he ever could have received.
Bayne turned 20 last Saturday, Feb. 18 – the season-opener for the NASCAR Nationwide Series at Daytona. He finished 10th, one of five series regulars in the top 10.
But on Sunday at the Daytona 500 … happy birthday to me.
In only his second NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, Bayne became the youngest winner in Daytona 500 history, and also only the seventh driver to win in his first Daytona 500 start. He’s also the first NASCAR Nationwide Series-only regular to win the Daytona 500 – he declared to receive driver championship points in the NASCAR Nationwide Series before the 2011 season began.
Former NASCAR Nationwide Series champions Bobby Labonte, Carl Edwards and Kyle Busch along with the series’ all time wins (48) and poles (30) leader Mark Martin also finished in the top 10. Two other series-only regulars – Steve Wallace (20th in his debut) and Robert Richardson Jr. (38th-accident) also ran in the Great American Race.
Following a whirlwind media tour this week, Bayne will get back to the business of racing at Phoenix on Saturday. In three starts there – all in the NASCAR Nationwide Series – Bayne has an average finish of 20th. His best finish is 14th in the fall races in 2009-10. He was 32nd in this race last year.
King of the Cassill – For Now
After finishing second at Daytona, Landon Cassill is the NASCAR Nationwide Series standings leader heading to Phoenix, having “checked” the series’ box as far as earning 2011 driver championship points. But he’ll hand that lead to another driver after Saturday’s race. The talented 21-year-old doesn’t have a full-time ride, so his top position will transfer.
Reed Sorenson is currently second in the standings, followed by his Turner Motorsports teammate Jason Leffler, in third. The Roush Fenway Racing duo of Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Trevor Bayne are fourth and fifth, respectively. And due to the new 43-1 points system, positions 2-5 are separated by only four points.
This will be the first race for the NASCAR Nationwide Series new car at Phoenix. It’s also the second race on a track one-mile in length or less for the new models – Dodge Challenger and Ford Mustang, and the sportier Chevrolet Impalas and Toyota Camrys. Last fall at Richmond was the first race for the new car at a short track.
Stenhouse, the 2010 Rookie of the Year, was 10th last year at Phoenix, the best finish among those drivers in the current top five. Kyle Busch, the 2009 series champion, is the defending race winner.
Back in the Sadler?
Elliott Sadler was chosen by the media in a pre-season poll to win the NASCAR Nationwide Series driver championship. His No. 2 KHI Chevrolet also was selected to unify the title by claiming the owner title.
But his first full-time series season since 1998 – when he finished eighth in the final standings – didn’t get off to a good start with a did not finish (DNF) result last week at Daytona due to an accident on Lap 46.
He comes to Phoenix 27th in the standings, 35 points out of first. He last ran in a NASCAR Nationwide Series race at the 1-mile track in 2007, finishing 14th. He had a runner-up finish in 2005.
Comfort Zone Grows For Patrick
Phoenix resident Danica Patrick takes a trip home this weekend following her NASCAR Nationwide Series career-best start (fourth) and finish (14th) at Daytona. During the season-opener, she also became the first woman to lead a lap at Daytona in a national series race. This will be the second of four consecutive races to start the 2011 season for the double-duty star who will run 12 NASCAR Nationwide Series races in addition to her full-time IndyCar ride.
She’s back at Phoenix for a second time in the NASCAR Nationwide Series having run there last fall, finishing 28th.
Patrick caused a stir last Friday at Daytona when she grabbed the provisional pole after going out 24th of 45 cars and staying there until Landon Cassill knocked her off from his 38th qualifying position. Her time held well enough to beat out eventual race winner Tony Stewart and Joey Logano.
Patrick’s near-miss had the record books at the ready. Shawna Robinson is the only female to capture a pole in NASCAR national series competition having done so in 1994 at Atlanta, also in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.
“Am I Dreaming Right Now?”
Getting belated birthday wishes usually means your big day was forgotten. For Trevor Bayne, a belated birthday present was the best he ever could have received.
Bayne turned 20 last Saturday, Feb. 18 – the season-opener for the NASCAR Nationwide Series at Daytona. He finished 10th, one of five series regulars in the top 10.
But on Sunday at the Daytona 500 … happy birthday to me.
In only his second NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, Bayne became the youngest winner in Daytona 500 history, and also only the seventh driver to win in his first Daytona 500 start. He’s also the first NASCAR Nationwide Series-only regular to win the Daytona 500 – he declared to receive driver championship points in the NASCAR Nationwide Series before the 2011 season began.
Former NASCAR Nationwide Series champions Bobby Labonte, Carl Edwards and Kyle Busch along with the series’ all time wins (48) and poles (30) leader Mark Martin also finished in the top 10. Two other series-only regulars – Steve Wallace (20th in his debut) and Robert Richardson Jr. (38th-accident) also ran in the Great American Race.
Following a whirlwind media tour this week, Bayne will get back to the business of racing at Phoenix on Saturday. In three starts there – all in the NASCAR Nationwide Series – Bayne has an average finish of 20th. His best finish is 14th in the fall races in 2009-10. He was 32nd in this race last year.
King of the Cassill – For Now
After finishing second at Daytona, Landon Cassill is the NASCAR Nationwide Series standings leader heading to Phoenix, having “checked” the series’ box as far as earning 2011 driver championship points. But he’ll hand that lead to another driver after Saturday’s race. The talented 21-year-old doesn’t have a full-time ride, so his top position will transfer.
Reed Sorenson is currently second in the standings, followed by his Turner Motorsports teammate Jason Leffler, in third. The Roush Fenway Racing duo of Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Trevor Bayne are fourth and fifth, respectively. And due to the new 43-1 points system, positions 2-5 are separated by only four points.
This will be the first race for the NASCAR Nationwide Series new car at Phoenix. It’s also the second race on a track one-mile in length or less for the new models – Dodge Challenger and Ford Mustang, and the sportier Chevrolet Impalas and Toyota Camrys. Last fall at Richmond was the first race for the new car at a short track.
Stenhouse, the 2010 Rookie of the Year, was 10th last year at Phoenix, the best finish among those drivers in the current top five. Kyle Busch, the 2009 series champion, is the defending race winner.
Back in the Sadler?
Elliott Sadler was chosen by the media in a pre-season poll to win the NASCAR Nationwide Series driver championship. His No. 2 KHI Chevrolet also was selected to unify the title by claiming the owner title.
But his first full-time series season since 1998 – when he finished eighth in the final standings – didn’t get off to a good start with a did not finish (DNF) result last week at Daytona due to an accident on Lap 46.
He comes to Phoenix 27th in the standings, 35 points out of first. He last ran in a NASCAR Nationwide Series race at the 1-mile track in 2007, finishing 14th. He had a runner-up finish in 2005.
Comfort Zone Grows For Patrick
Phoenix resident Danica Patrick takes a trip home this weekend following her NASCAR Nationwide Series career-best start (fourth) and finish (14th) at Daytona. During the season-opener, she also became the first woman to lead a lap at Daytona in a national series race. This will be the second of four consecutive races to start the 2011 season for the double-duty star who will run 12 NASCAR Nationwide Series races in addition to her full-time IndyCar ride.
She’s back at Phoenix for a second time in the NASCAR Nationwide Series having run there last fall, finishing 28th.
Patrick caused a stir last Friday at Daytona when she grabbed the provisional pole after going out 24th of 45 cars and staying there until Landon Cassill knocked her off from his 38th qualifying position. Her time held well enough to beat out eventual race winner Tony Stewart and Joey Logano.
Patrick’s near-miss had the record books at the ready. Shawna Robinson is the only female to capture a pole in NASCAR national series competition having done so in 1994 at Atlanta, also in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.
CAMPING WORLD TRUCK PHOENIX
NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES
Unfamiliar Territory
Clay Rogers finds himself in unfamiliar territory – at the top of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship standings following a third-place finish at Daytona.
Rogers, who has 21 series starts over a span of four seasons, was the highest finishing driver championship contender – earning the top spot.
But he risks relinquishing the momentum of his Daytona run if he cannot find a sponsor soon. His team, RBR Motorsports only has sponsorship for the first five races of the season.
Turner Motorsports teammates Ricky Carmichael and James Buescher find themselves not far behind Rogers – inside the top-five in points for the first time in their careers.
Defending champion Todd Bodine and Ron Hornaday Jr., both past champions, find themselves mired in 18th and 23rd in the series standings, respectively. Only one driver – Mike Bliss in 2002 – has come from a finishing position outside the top-12 at Daytona to win the title since the track started hosting the season opening race.
Return to the West
Phoenix International Raceway holds bragging rights to the first ever NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race in the spring of 1995. It has been 11 years since the series raced at Phoenix during spring temperatures, but that will all change Friday night.
Six previous winners are expected to compete in the Lucas Oil 150 including Clint Bowyer, who won the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race in last November at the one-mile oval.
Mike Skinner – who failed to qualify at Daytona – has an opportunity to rebound at Phoenix. In 11 previous races at PIR, Skinner has two wins – including the first ever truck race – two poles, six top-five and 10 top-10 finishes.
Vision Aviation Racing
Nothing like coming out with a bang. Vision Aviation Racing – a new NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team in 2011 who merged with Billy Ballew Motorsports during the offseason – visited Victory Lane in their first outing.
However, team drivers Justin Johnson and Dusty Davis had to watch the celebration in victory lane from afar due to not being approved to run superspeedways.
The wait for Johnson and Davis will be over this weekend as the duo will make their NASCAR national series starts.
The Las Vegas natives have climbed the ladder system, racing in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West in 2010.
Davis scored two top-10 finishes in 2010, including a top-five at Phoenix last November.
Unfamiliar Territory
Clay Rogers finds himself in unfamiliar territory – at the top of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship standings following a third-place finish at Daytona.
Rogers, who has 21 series starts over a span of four seasons, was the highest finishing driver championship contender – earning the top spot.
But he risks relinquishing the momentum of his Daytona run if he cannot find a sponsor soon. His team, RBR Motorsports only has sponsorship for the first five races of the season.
Turner Motorsports teammates Ricky Carmichael and James Buescher find themselves not far behind Rogers – inside the top-five in points for the first time in their careers.
Defending champion Todd Bodine and Ron Hornaday Jr., both past champions, find themselves mired in 18th and 23rd in the series standings, respectively. Only one driver – Mike Bliss in 2002 – has come from a finishing position outside the top-12 at Daytona to win the title since the track started hosting the season opening race.
Return to the West
Phoenix International Raceway holds bragging rights to the first ever NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race in the spring of 1995. It has been 11 years since the series raced at Phoenix during spring temperatures, but that will all change Friday night.
Six previous winners are expected to compete in the Lucas Oil 150 including Clint Bowyer, who won the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race in last November at the one-mile oval.
Mike Skinner – who failed to qualify at Daytona – has an opportunity to rebound at Phoenix. In 11 previous races at PIR, Skinner has two wins – including the first ever truck race – two poles, six top-five and 10 top-10 finishes.
Vision Aviation Racing
Nothing like coming out with a bang. Vision Aviation Racing – a new NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team in 2011 who merged with Billy Ballew Motorsports during the offseason – visited Victory Lane in their first outing.
However, team drivers Justin Johnson and Dusty Davis had to watch the celebration in victory lane from afar due to not being approved to run superspeedways.
The wait for Johnson and Davis will be over this weekend as the duo will make their NASCAR national series starts.
The Las Vegas natives have climbed the ladder system, racing in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West in 2010.
Davis scored two top-10 finishes in 2010, including a top-five at Phoenix last November.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Stewart wins fourth consecutive Daytona Nationwide race
Stewart wins fourth consecutive Daytona Nationwide race
(February 19, 2011)
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.—With a shove from Landon Cassill, Tony Stewart surged past Clint Bowyer at the finish line to win Saturday’s Drive4COPD 300, his fourth straight Nationwide Series victory at Daytona International Speedway.
Bowyer ran second .007 seconds behind Stewart. Cassill came home third, followed by Dale Earnhardt Jr., who had pushed Bowyer for six laps after a restart on Lap 115 of the 120-lap race.
Danica Patrick finished 14th, one lap down, her best result in 14 Nationwide starts.
Cassill also was involved in another pivotal moment of the race.
With the field bunched after a restart on Lap 104, Cassill moved down on drafting partner Brad Keselowski, knocking Keselowski’s No. 22 Dodge into the infield grass. Keselowski, the defending Nationwide Series champion, turned back across the track and sandwiched the No. 39 Ford of Josh Wise against the outside wall in the tri-oval, then bounced off the wall himself.
The crash ended Keselowski’s streak of 102 straight races without a DNF (did not finish).
It was restrictor-plate racing like no one had ever seen before. By Lap 55 of 120, a paired-up four-car breakaway involving the tandems of Keselowski-Trevor Bayne and Kyle Busch-Joey Logano had opened a 17-second lead over Stewart and Bowyer, who were running fifth and sixth at the time.
By the time NASCAR called a debris caution on Lap 100, there were only 12 cars on the lead lap—unheard of in modern-day restrictor plate racing, which typically features large packs of cars racing in close quarters within a few seconds of each other.
Note: Pit road at Daytona has been a veritable briar patch for Earnhardt, and Saturday was no exception. Stopping under caution on Lap 17, Earnhardt drove past his No. 5 pit stall and headed for the No. 88, his Sprint Cup number. The crew remedied that by holding out a No. 88 pit sign for Earnhardt on the next stop, meaning that both Earnhardt and JR Motorsports teammate Aric Almirola had No. 88 signs.
By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCARService
(February 19, 2011)
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.—With a shove from Landon Cassill, Tony Stewart surged past Clint Bowyer at the finish line to win Saturday’s Drive4COPD 300, his fourth straight Nationwide Series victory at Daytona International Speedway.
Bowyer ran second .007 seconds behind Stewart. Cassill came home third, followed by Dale Earnhardt Jr., who had pushed Bowyer for six laps after a restart on Lap 115 of the 120-lap race.
Danica Patrick finished 14th, one lap down, her best result in 14 Nationwide starts.
Cassill also was involved in another pivotal moment of the race.
With the field bunched after a restart on Lap 104, Cassill moved down on drafting partner Brad Keselowski, knocking Keselowski’s No. 22 Dodge into the infield grass. Keselowski, the defending Nationwide Series champion, turned back across the track and sandwiched the No. 39 Ford of Josh Wise against the outside wall in the tri-oval, then bounced off the wall himself.
The crash ended Keselowski’s streak of 102 straight races without a DNF (did not finish).
It was restrictor-plate racing like no one had ever seen before. By Lap 55 of 120, a paired-up four-car breakaway involving the tandems of Keselowski-Trevor Bayne and Kyle Busch-Joey Logano had opened a 17-second lead over Stewart and Bowyer, who were running fifth and sixth at the time.
By the time NASCAR called a debris caution on Lap 100, there were only 12 cars on the lead lap—unheard of in modern-day restrictor plate racing, which typically features large packs of cars racing in close quarters within a few seconds of each other.
Note: Pit road at Daytona has been a veritable briar patch for Earnhardt, and Saturday was no exception. Stopping under caution on Lap 17, Earnhardt drove past his No. 5 pit stall and headed for the No. 88, his Sprint Cup number. The crew remedied that by holding out a No. 88 pit sign for Earnhardt on the next stop, meaning that both Earnhardt and JR Motorsports teammate Aric Almirola had No. 88 signs.
By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCARService
Notebook: Offers roll in after Brian Keselowski’s big run
Notebook: Offers roll in after Brian Keselowski’s big run
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service
(February 18, 2011)
With a sustained push from his brother, Brian Keselowski finished fifth in Thursday’s second Gatorade Duel 150 qualifying event and raced his way into Sunday’s Daytona 500.
Since then, his phone hasn’t stopped ringing.
Ray Evernham called with an offer to pick up Keselowski’s tire bill for the weekend—a cool $10,000 or so. Keselowski is driving a 2006 Dodge Charger that Evernham built years ago, and he came to the track this weekend with one set of tires.
Penske Racing, which fields Sprint Cup cars for Keselowski’s younger brother, Brad Keselowski, offered to supply a stronger engine for the No. 92 Dodge. Unlike other well-heeled teams, Keselowski doesn’t have a fresh engine to put in the car for Sunday’s race.
A complication is that Keselowski is running an older generation R5 engine. The new R6 power plant available from Penske requires, among other things, completely different motor mounts and an external fuel pump. According to Keselowski’s father and crew chief, Bob Keselowski, the team might not be able to install the engine in time for Saturday’s practice.
Keselowski also is working on a sponsorship deal with Golden Corral, which already had sent him a mockup of the paint scheme for Sunday’s race.
“Honestly, I couldn’t answer all the calls,” Brian Keselowski said. “It’s just been insane. By the time I got out of the media center and got dressed (after the race), I looked at my phone, and I had 50-something messages and text messages and phone calls. It’s been crazy”
Bayne will not go to a backup car for 500
After a last-lap crash in Thursday’s second Duel 150 qualifying race, Trevor Bayne assumed he’d be in a backup car for the 500.
A thorough examination of the car found no structural damage, and the Wood Brothers, who get their chassis from Roush Fenway Racing, decided to repair the No. 21 Ford rather than roll out a backup.
“We were standing there looking at it yesterday, and some of the guys in (Jack Roush’s) fab shop that helped build the car to start with said they could fix it,” Wood Brothers co-owner Len Wood said.
As a consequence, the team opted to sit out both Friday practice sessions while the car was repaired.
Sprint Cup practice doesn’t draw a crowd
What if NASCAR scheduled a practice session and no one showed up?
The speedway wasn’t empty during the two Sprint Cup practice sessions on Friday, but it was close.
Only 12 of the 43 cars qualified for the Daytona 500 participated in Friday’s first practice session. Only 12 cars showed up for the second session, too, as teams were content to change to their Daytona 500 engines and work on their cars in the garage stalls, rather than risk calamity on the racetrack.
Many of the cars that took to the track were those that either weren’t up to satisfactory speed in the Duels, were damaged in those races and subsequently repaired (as with Jeff Gordon’s No. 24 Chevrolet), or were backup cars (as with David Ragan’s No. 6 Ford).
“We’re sitting out (Friday’s) practice completely,” Kyle Busch said. “We’re working on the car and doing our engine change and making sure everything is up to spec and tuned for the 500. We’ll probably just go out for practice a little bit (Saturday) just to make sure the engine runs—it runs on all eight cylinders, and the spark plugs are good.
“That’s about it. We’ll get out there with one of our teammates most likely and push them around for a few laps and call it a day.”
Bowyer wins pole for Nationwide race
Clint Bowyer will start on the pole Saturday when the Nationwide Series kicks off its 2011 season with the Drive4COPD 300 at Daytona.
Bowyer unseated Landon Cassill for the top spot Friday with his late-session lap of 180.821 mph. Cassill will start on the outside of the front row after his speed of 180.600 mph bumped Danica Patrick (180.480) from the top spot.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. (180.592), eventually took the No. 3 starting position, dropping Patrick to fourth.
Two drivers failed to qualify, Brett Rowe and Jennifer Jo Cobb. The race is scheduled to begin at 1:15 p.m. ET.
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service
(February 18, 2011)
With a sustained push from his brother, Brian Keselowski finished fifth in Thursday’s second Gatorade Duel 150 qualifying event and raced his way into Sunday’s Daytona 500.
Since then, his phone hasn’t stopped ringing.
Ray Evernham called with an offer to pick up Keselowski’s tire bill for the weekend—a cool $10,000 or so. Keselowski is driving a 2006 Dodge Charger that Evernham built years ago, and he came to the track this weekend with one set of tires.
Penske Racing, which fields Sprint Cup cars for Keselowski’s younger brother, Brad Keselowski, offered to supply a stronger engine for the No. 92 Dodge. Unlike other well-heeled teams, Keselowski doesn’t have a fresh engine to put in the car for Sunday’s race.
A complication is that Keselowski is running an older generation R5 engine. The new R6 power plant available from Penske requires, among other things, completely different motor mounts and an external fuel pump. According to Keselowski’s father and crew chief, Bob Keselowski, the team might not be able to install the engine in time for Saturday’s practice.
Keselowski also is working on a sponsorship deal with Golden Corral, which already had sent him a mockup of the paint scheme for Sunday’s race.
“Honestly, I couldn’t answer all the calls,” Brian Keselowski said. “It’s just been insane. By the time I got out of the media center and got dressed (after the race), I looked at my phone, and I had 50-something messages and text messages and phone calls. It’s been crazy”
Bayne will not go to a backup car for 500
After a last-lap crash in Thursday’s second Duel 150 qualifying race, Trevor Bayne assumed he’d be in a backup car for the 500.
A thorough examination of the car found no structural damage, and the Wood Brothers, who get their chassis from Roush Fenway Racing, decided to repair the No. 21 Ford rather than roll out a backup.
“We were standing there looking at it yesterday, and some of the guys in (Jack Roush’s) fab shop that helped build the car to start with said they could fix it,” Wood Brothers co-owner Len Wood said.
As a consequence, the team opted to sit out both Friday practice sessions while the car was repaired.
Sprint Cup practice doesn’t draw a crowd
What if NASCAR scheduled a practice session and no one showed up?
The speedway wasn’t empty during the two Sprint Cup practice sessions on Friday, but it was close.
Only 12 of the 43 cars qualified for the Daytona 500 participated in Friday’s first practice session. Only 12 cars showed up for the second session, too, as teams were content to change to their Daytona 500 engines and work on their cars in the garage stalls, rather than risk calamity on the racetrack.
Many of the cars that took to the track were those that either weren’t up to satisfactory speed in the Duels, were damaged in those races and subsequently repaired (as with Jeff Gordon’s No. 24 Chevrolet), or were backup cars (as with David Ragan’s No. 6 Ford).
“We’re sitting out (Friday’s) practice completely,” Kyle Busch said. “We’re working on the car and doing our engine change and making sure everything is up to spec and tuned for the 500. We’ll probably just go out for practice a little bit (Saturday) just to make sure the engine runs—it runs on all eight cylinders, and the spark plugs are good.
“That’s about it. We’ll get out there with one of our teammates most likely and push them around for a few laps and call it a day.”
Bowyer wins pole for Nationwide race
Clint Bowyer will start on the pole Saturday when the Nationwide Series kicks off its 2011 season with the Drive4COPD 300 at Daytona.
Bowyer unseated Landon Cassill for the top spot Friday with his late-session lap of 180.821 mph. Cassill will start on the outside of the front row after his speed of 180.600 mph bumped Danica Patrick (180.480) from the top spot.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. (180.592), eventually took the No. 3 starting position, dropping Patrick to fourth.
Two drivers failed to qualify, Brett Rowe and Jennifer Jo Cobb. The race is scheduled to begin at 1:15 p.m. ET.
Waltrip slingshots past Sadler for Daytona truck win
Waltrip slingshots past Sadler for Daytona truck win
By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service
(February 19, 2010)
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.—Ten years to the day from his first victory in the Daytona 500, Michael Waltrip made a slingshot pass of Elliott Sadler at the end of a green-white-checkered-flag finish Friday night to win the NextEra Energy Resources 250 Camping World Truck Series race at Daytona International Speedway.
The victory in the season opener, which went three laps past its scheduled distance of 100 laps, was Waltrip’s first in the truck series.
It also was the 10th anniversary of the death of Dale Earnhardt Sr., who owned the car Waltrip drove to his 2001 Daytona 500 victory. Waltrip is racing in all three of NASCAR’s top three touring series this weekend, and he decaled his truck and cars to honor Earnhardt.
“I came here to celebrate his life with my black truck and my No. 15 car,” an emotional Waltrip said after the race. “I didn’t come here to celebrate a win.”
Sadler crossed the line in second place, followed by Clay Rogers, Miguel Paludo and Kyle Busch.
“I went to victory lane to congratulate him,” Sadler said, “and I said to Michael, ‘If anyone deserves to win a race today, you do.’ ”
Jennifer Jo Cobb finished sixth, the highest finish in the truck series for a woman. Cobb, 37, also became the first woman to finish in the top 10 in any of the top three divisions at Daytona.
Sadler held the lead for a restart on Lap 89 and surged ahead with help from Waltrip. Busch made his move in the closing laps, pushing Chris Fontaine toward the front. But contact between Brad Sweet and Parker Kligerman on Lap 96 started a chaotic wreck that took out most of the cars that were still running, after a 14-car pileup on Lap 75 trimmed the field.
James Buescher led the first 55 laps, which included a cycle of green-flag pit stops, before the bed cover of No. 07 Chevrolet of Donnie Neuenberger’s truck flew off in Turn 4 to cause the second caution of the race.
Timothy Peters, the winner of last year’s season opener at Daytona, took the lead after a fuel-only pit stop under caution on Lap 56. Ricky Carmichael was second off pit road, with Buescher third for a restart on Lap 58.
Those three drivers remained 1-2-3 until the hood of Justin Marks’ Chevy came loose on Lap 66, flew up and covered the windshield. Unable to see the track ahead of him, Marks slammed into the Turn 1 wall to bring out caution No. 3.
Carmichael won the race off pit road after fuel stops on Lap 67, as the trucks reached a pit window that would allow them to complete the race without another stop. Rogers, who remained on the track during the caution, led the field to the green flag on Lap 70, but Sadler quickly surged into the lead from the outside line, bringing Buescher with him.
Sadler stayed on point until a wild 14-truck wreck on Lap 75, ignited when Travis Kvapil blew a tire, collected a number of trucks that figure to be championship contenders this season, including those of defending champ Todd Bodine, Ron Hornaday Jr. and Matt Crafton.
By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service
(February 19, 2010)
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.—Ten years to the day from his first victory in the Daytona 500, Michael Waltrip made a slingshot pass of Elliott Sadler at the end of a green-white-checkered-flag finish Friday night to win the NextEra Energy Resources 250 Camping World Truck Series race at Daytona International Speedway.
The victory in the season opener, which went three laps past its scheduled distance of 100 laps, was Waltrip’s first in the truck series.
It also was the 10th anniversary of the death of Dale Earnhardt Sr., who owned the car Waltrip drove to his 2001 Daytona 500 victory. Waltrip is racing in all three of NASCAR’s top three touring series this weekend, and he decaled his truck and cars to honor Earnhardt.
“I came here to celebrate his life with my black truck and my No. 15 car,” an emotional Waltrip said after the race. “I didn’t come here to celebrate a win.”
Sadler crossed the line in second place, followed by Clay Rogers, Miguel Paludo and Kyle Busch.
“I went to victory lane to congratulate him,” Sadler said, “and I said to Michael, ‘If anyone deserves to win a race today, you do.’ ”
Jennifer Jo Cobb finished sixth, the highest finish in the truck series for a woman. Cobb, 37, also became the first woman to finish in the top 10 in any of the top three divisions at Daytona.
Sadler held the lead for a restart on Lap 89 and surged ahead with help from Waltrip. Busch made his move in the closing laps, pushing Chris Fontaine toward the front. But contact between Brad Sweet and Parker Kligerman on Lap 96 started a chaotic wreck that took out most of the cars that were still running, after a 14-car pileup on Lap 75 trimmed the field.
James Buescher led the first 55 laps, which included a cycle of green-flag pit stops, before the bed cover of No. 07 Chevrolet of Donnie Neuenberger’s truck flew off in Turn 4 to cause the second caution of the race.
Timothy Peters, the winner of last year’s season opener at Daytona, took the lead after a fuel-only pit stop under caution on Lap 56. Ricky Carmichael was second off pit road, with Buescher third for a restart on Lap 58.
Those three drivers remained 1-2-3 until the hood of Justin Marks’ Chevy came loose on Lap 66, flew up and covered the windshield. Unable to see the track ahead of him, Marks slammed into the Turn 1 wall to bring out caution No. 3.
Carmichael won the race off pit road after fuel stops on Lap 67, as the trucks reached a pit window that would allow them to complete the race without another stop. Rogers, who remained on the track during the caution, led the field to the green flag on Lap 70, but Sadler quickly surged into the lead from the outside line, bringing Buescher with him.
Sadler stayed on point until a wild 14-truck wreck on Lap 75, ignited when Travis Kvapil blew a tire, collected a number of trucks that figure to be championship contenders this season, including those of defending champ Todd Bodine, Ron Hornaday Jr. and Matt Crafton.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Michael Waltrip Wins NextEra Energy Resources 250
Race Fast FactsDaytona International Speedway
12th Annual NextEra Energy Resources 250
Provided by NASCAR Statistics - Fri, February 18, 2011 @ 10:23 PM Eastern
Race Winner: Michael Waltrip
Age: 47
Team : No. 15 - NASCAR Race View/Wounded Warrior Project Toyota
Owner: Billy Ballew
Crew Chief: Doug Howe
Michael Waltrip won the 12th Annual NextEra Energy Resources 250, his first victory in nine NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races.
Waltrip becomes the 22nd driver to win a race in all three of NASCAR's national series.
Today is the 10-year anniversary of Michael Waltrip's victory in the 2001 Daytona 500.
Elliott Sadler (second) posted his first top-10 finish in two races at Daytona International Speedway.
Clay Rogers (third) posted his second career top-five finish. He is now the series points leader.
Miguel Paludo (fourth) was the highest finishing rookie.
(i) Ineligible for points in this series
Waltrip slingshots past Sadler for Daytona truck win
Waltrip slingshots past Sadler for Daytona truck win
By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service
(February 19, 2010)
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.—Ten years to the day from his first victory in the Daytona 500, Michael Waltrip made a slingshot pass of Elliott Sadler at the end of a green-white-checkered-flag finish Friday night to win the NextEra Energy Resources 250 Camping World Truck Series race at Daytona International Speedway.
The victory in the season opener, which went three laps past its scheduled distance, was Waltrip’s first in the truck series.
Sadler crossed the line in second place, followed by Clay Rogers, Miguel Paludo and Kyle Busch.
Sadler held the lead for a restart on Lap 89 and surged ahead with help from Waltrip. Busch made his move in the closing laps, pushing Chris Fontaine toward the front. But contact between Brad Sweet and Parker Kligerman on Lap 96 started a chaotic wreck that took out most of the cars that were still running, after a 14-car pileup on Lap 75 trimmed the field.
James Buescher led the first 55 laps, which included a cycle of green-flag pit stops, before the bed cover of No. 07 Chevrolet of Donnie Neuenberger’s truck flew off in Turn 4 to cause the second caution of the race.
Timothy Peters, the winner of last year’s season opener at Daytona, took the lead after a fuel-only pit stop under caution on Lap 56. Ricky Carmichael was second off pit road, with Buescher third for a restart on Lap 58.
Those three drivers remained 1-2-3 until the hood of Justin Marks’ Chevy came loose on Lap 66, flew up and covered the windshield. Unable to see the track ahead of him, Marks slammed into the Turn 1 wall to bring out caution No. 3.
Carmichael won the race off pit road after fuel stops on Lap 67, as the trucks reached a pit window that would allow them to complete the race without another stop. Rogers, who remained on the track during the caution, led the field to the green flag on Lap 70, but Sadler quickly surged into the lead from the outside line, bringing Buescher with him.
Sadler stayed on point until a wild 14-truck wreck on Lap 75, ignited when Travis Kvapil blew a tire, collected a number of trucks that figure to be championship contenders this season, including those of defending champ Todd Bodine, Ron Hornaday Jr. and Matt Crafton.
By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service
(February 19, 2010)
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.—Ten years to the day from his first victory in the Daytona 500, Michael Waltrip made a slingshot pass of Elliott Sadler at the end of a green-white-checkered-flag finish Friday night to win the NextEra Energy Resources 250 Camping World Truck Series race at Daytona International Speedway.
The victory in the season opener, which went three laps past its scheduled distance, was Waltrip’s first in the truck series.
Sadler crossed the line in second place, followed by Clay Rogers, Miguel Paludo and Kyle Busch.
Sadler held the lead for a restart on Lap 89 and surged ahead with help from Waltrip. Busch made his move in the closing laps, pushing Chris Fontaine toward the front. But contact between Brad Sweet and Parker Kligerman on Lap 96 started a chaotic wreck that took out most of the cars that were still running, after a 14-car pileup on Lap 75 trimmed the field.
James Buescher led the first 55 laps, which included a cycle of green-flag pit stops, before the bed cover of No. 07 Chevrolet of Donnie Neuenberger’s truck flew off in Turn 4 to cause the second caution of the race.
Timothy Peters, the winner of last year’s season opener at Daytona, took the lead after a fuel-only pit stop under caution on Lap 56. Ricky Carmichael was second off pit road, with Buescher third for a restart on Lap 58.
Those three drivers remained 1-2-3 until the hood of Justin Marks’ Chevy came loose on Lap 66, flew up and covered the windshield. Unable to see the track ahead of him, Marks slammed into the Turn 1 wall to bring out caution No. 3.
Carmichael won the race off pit road after fuel stops on Lap 67, as the trucks reached a pit window that would allow them to complete the race without another stop. Rogers, who remained on the track during the caution, led the field to the green flag on Lap 70, but Sadler quickly surged into the lead from the outside line, bringing Buescher with him.
Sadler stayed on point until a wild 14-truck wreck on Lap 75, ignited when Travis Kvapil blew a tire, collected a number of trucks that figure to be championship contenders this season, including those of defending champ Todd Bodine, Ron Hornaday Jr. and Matt Crafton.
Sadler embraces new role as a Nationwide driver
Sadler embraces new role as a Nationwide driver
By Lee Montgomery
Special to the Sporting News NASCAR Service
The main sponsor of Elliott Sadler’s Nationwide Series team is rebranding itself this year, changing its name from CitiFinancial to One Main Financial.
Sadler hopes to do exactly the same thing with his name.
Sadler, 35, a regular in the Cup series the past 12 years, has slipped down the scale of importance in many minds over recent years, as he went from a winning Sprint Cup competitor to just another driver.Sadler won two Cup races and finished ninth in the points standings in 2004 but since then posted five top-five finishes. The 2010 season was one of the worst of his career—one top-10 finish and only 12 finishes on the lead lap.
But last year, Sadler won a Camping World Truck Series race for Kevin Harvick Inc. and won a pole and finished third in the Nationwide race at Bristol in August, also for KHI.
“We sat down, and we went, ‘Hmm. We think we have something here. We can make this happen,’ ” Sadler said of his conversations with KHI co-owners Kevin and DeLana Harvick. “I feel like I’m rebranding myself over the last couple years. I feel like I’m putting my best foot forward going into the Nationwide Series with such a strong team like KHI.”
And that could include a Nationwide championship. With NASCAR’s new rule forcing drivers to pick one series in which to compete for a title, Sadler has become the favorite as he’ll race full time in KHI’s No. 2 Chevrolet.
Even other drivers figure he’s the man to beat.
“It’s hard to bet against Elliott,” JR Motorsports’ Aric Almirola said. “He’s got a lot of experience, and he’s a really good racecar driver. Kevin Harvick Inc. did a really good job with the new racecar. They were competitive right out of the box with it.”
Is Sadler feeling the pressure? Doesn’t seem to be.
“I have said this all throughout the offseason,” Sadler said. “I’m having fun. This is the first time in several years that I am going to the racetrack excited to get in the car and have some fun. It reminds me of the days when I raced at South Boston (Va.) Speedway. I would come to the racetrack week in and week out as the odds-on favorite, and that is what made racing fun. Not only competing, but being the one to beat.”
By Lee Montgomery
Special to the Sporting News NASCAR Service
The main sponsor of Elliott Sadler’s Nationwide Series team is rebranding itself this year, changing its name from CitiFinancial to One Main Financial.
Sadler hopes to do exactly the same thing with his name.
Sadler, 35, a regular in the Cup series the past 12 years, has slipped down the scale of importance in many minds over recent years, as he went from a winning Sprint Cup competitor to just another driver.Sadler won two Cup races and finished ninth in the points standings in 2004 but since then posted five top-five finishes. The 2010 season was one of the worst of his career—one top-10 finish and only 12 finishes on the lead lap.
But last year, Sadler won a Camping World Truck Series race for Kevin Harvick Inc. and won a pole and finished third in the Nationwide race at Bristol in August, also for KHI.
“We sat down, and we went, ‘Hmm. We think we have something here. We can make this happen,’ ” Sadler said of his conversations with KHI co-owners Kevin and DeLana Harvick. “I feel like I’m rebranding myself over the last couple years. I feel like I’m putting my best foot forward going into the Nationwide Series with such a strong team like KHI.”
And that could include a Nationwide championship. With NASCAR’s new rule forcing drivers to pick one series in which to compete for a title, Sadler has become the favorite as he’ll race full time in KHI’s No. 2 Chevrolet.
Even other drivers figure he’s the man to beat.
“It’s hard to bet against Elliott,” JR Motorsports’ Aric Almirola said. “He’s got a lot of experience, and he’s a really good racecar driver. Kevin Harvick Inc. did a really good job with the new racecar. They were competitive right out of the box with it.”
Is Sadler feeling the pressure? Doesn’t seem to be.
“I have said this all throughout the offseason,” Sadler said. “I’m having fun. This is the first time in several years that I am going to the racetrack excited to get in the car and have some fun. It reminds me of the days when I raced at South Boston (Va.) Speedway. I would come to the racetrack week in and week out as the odds-on favorite, and that is what made racing fun. Not only competing, but being the one to beat.”
AUSTIN DILLIONWINS POLE NextEra Energy Resources 250
Qualifying Fast Facts
Daytona International Speedway
12th Annual NextEra Energy Resources 250
Provided by NASCAR Statistics - Thu, February 17, 2011 @ 08:36 PM Eastern
Keystone 21 Means 21 Pole Winner: Austin Dillon
Age: 20
Team : No. 3 - Bass Pro Shops / Tracker Boats Chevrolet
Owner: Richard Childress
Crew Chief: Danny Stockman Jr.
Austin Dillon won the Keystone Light Pole Award for the 12th Annual NextEra Energy Resources 250 with a lap of 502660 seconds, 179.047 mph.
This is his eighth pole in 28 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races.
This is his first pole in two races at Daytona International Speedway.
James Buescher (second) posted his first top-10 start of 2011 and his first in two races at Daytona International Speedway.
Ron Hornaday Jr. (third) posted his fifth top-10 start at Daytona International Speedway. It is his first in one races this season.
Johanna Long (fifth) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
(i) Ineligible for points in this series
Daytona International Speedway
12th Annual NextEra Energy Resources 250
Provided by NASCAR Statistics - Thu, February 17, 2011 @ 08:36 PM Eastern
Keystone 21 Means 21 Pole Winner: Austin Dillon
Age: 20
Team : No. 3 - Bass Pro Shops / Tracker Boats Chevrolet
Owner: Richard Childress
Crew Chief: Danny Stockman Jr.
Austin Dillon won the Keystone Light Pole Award for the 12th Annual NextEra Energy Resources 250 with a lap of 502660 seconds, 179.047 mph.
This is his eighth pole in 28 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races.
This is his first pole in two races at Daytona International Speedway.
James Buescher (second) posted his first top-10 start of 2011 and his first in two races at Daytona International Speedway.
Ron Hornaday Jr. (third) posted his fifth top-10 start at Daytona International Speedway. It is his first in one races this season.
Johanna Long (fifth) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
(i) Ineligible for points in this series
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Sadler embraces new role as a Nationwide driver
Sadler embraces new role as a Nationwide driver
By Lee Montgomery
Special to the Sporting News NASCAR Service
The main sponsor of Elliott Sadler’s Nationwide Series team is rebranding itself this year, changing its name from CitiFinancial to One Main Financial.
Sadler hopes to do exactly the same thing with his name.
Sadler, 35, a regular in the Cup series the past 12 years, has slipped down the scale of importance in many minds over recent years, as he went from a winning Sprint Cup competitor to just another driver.Sadler won two Cup races and finished ninth in the points standings in 2004 but since then posted five top-five finishes. The 2010 season was one of the worst of his career—one top-10 finish and only 12 finishes on the lead lap.
But last year, Sadler won a Camping World Truck Series race for Kevin Harvick Inc. and won a pole and finished third in the Nationwide race at Bristol in August, also for KHI.
“We sat down, and we went, ‘Hmm. We think we have something here. We can make this happen,’ ” Sadler said of his conversations with KHI co-owners Kevin and DeLana Harvick. “I feel like I’m rebranding myself over the last couple years. I feel like I’m putting my best foot forward going into the Nationwide Series with such a strong team like KHI.”
And that could include a Nationwide championship. With NASCAR’s new rule forcing drivers to pick one series in which to compete for a title, Sadler has become the favorite as he’ll race full time in KHI’s No. 2 Chevrolet.
Even other drivers figure he’s the man to beat.
“It’s hard to bet against Elliott,” JR Motorsports’ Aric Almirola said. “He’s got a lot of experience, and he’s a really good racecar driver. Kevin Harvick Inc. did a really good job with the new racecar. They were competitive right out of the box with it.”
Is Sadler feeling the pressure? Doesn’t seem to be.
“I have said this all throughout the offseason,” Sadler said. “I’m having fun. This is the first time in several years that I am going to the racetrack excited to get in the car and have some fun. It reminds me of the days when I raced at South Boston (Va.) Speedway. I would come to the racetrack week in and week out as the odds-on favorite, and that is what made racing fun. Not only competing, but being the one to beat.”
By Lee Montgomery
Special to the Sporting News NASCAR Service
The main sponsor of Elliott Sadler’s Nationwide Series team is rebranding itself this year, changing its name from CitiFinancial to One Main Financial.
Sadler hopes to do exactly the same thing with his name.
Sadler, 35, a regular in the Cup series the past 12 years, has slipped down the scale of importance in many minds over recent years, as he went from a winning Sprint Cup competitor to just another driver.Sadler won two Cup races and finished ninth in the points standings in 2004 but since then posted five top-five finishes. The 2010 season was one of the worst of his career—one top-10 finish and only 12 finishes on the lead lap.
But last year, Sadler won a Camping World Truck Series race for Kevin Harvick Inc. and won a pole and finished third in the Nationwide race at Bristol in August, also for KHI.
“We sat down, and we went, ‘Hmm. We think we have something here. We can make this happen,’ ” Sadler said of his conversations with KHI co-owners Kevin and DeLana Harvick. “I feel like I’m rebranding myself over the last couple years. I feel like I’m putting my best foot forward going into the Nationwide Series with such a strong team like KHI.”
And that could include a Nationwide championship. With NASCAR’s new rule forcing drivers to pick one series in which to compete for a title, Sadler has become the favorite as he’ll race full time in KHI’s No. 2 Chevrolet.
Even other drivers figure he’s the man to beat.
“It’s hard to bet against Elliott,” JR Motorsports’ Aric Almirola said. “He’s got a lot of experience, and he’s a really good racecar driver. Kevin Harvick Inc. did a really good job with the new racecar. They were competitive right out of the box with it.”
Is Sadler feeling the pressure? Doesn’t seem to be.
“I have said this all throughout the offseason,” Sadler said. “I’m having fun. This is the first time in several years that I am going to the racetrack excited to get in the car and have some fun. It reminds me of the days when I raced at South Boston (Va.) Speedway. I would come to the racetrack week in and week out as the odds-on favorite, and that is what made racing fun. Not only competing, but being the one to beat.”
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
NATIONWIDE RESTRICTOR PLATE SIZE REDUCED
When Nationwide Series practice speeds topped 200 mph Wednesday afternoon, NASCAR reacted quickly to slow the cars.
It didn't work.
NASCAR reduced the size of the openings in the tapered spacers used to reduce horsepower on Nationwide engines from 61/64ths to 60/64ths inches for teams running old generation engines and from .945 inches (the equivalent of 60.48/64ths) to 59/64ths inches for teams running new engines.
With Tony Stewart as a drafting partner, Aric Almirola led the first Nationwide practice session with a lap at 200.303 mph. Stewart, the only other driver to top 200 mph, was second on the speed chart at 200.236 mph.
With the smaller spacer opening, Stewart ran 202.238 mph in the second practice session, followed by defending series champion Brad Keselowski at 202.234 mph. Almirola and Dale Earnhardt Jr. also topped 200 mph in the second session.
"We didn't have a test like the Cup teams had, so we're allowing the teams to make changes during [Wednesday's] practices," Nationwide Series director Joe Balash said between sessions. "[The 200.303 mph] was not really the number we're looking for."
After the second practice session, NASCAR decided on a tapered spacer/restrictor-plate combination designed to disrupt airflow to the carburetor. The spacer openings go up to 1 1/16th inches with the openings in the plate, which is positioned beneath the spacer, at 61/64ths inchesThe combination will be used on all engines in the series.
It didn't work.
NASCAR reduced the size of the openings in the tapered spacers used to reduce horsepower on Nationwide engines from 61/64ths to 60/64ths inches for teams running old generation engines and from .945 inches (the equivalent of 60.48/64ths) to 59/64ths inches for teams running new engines.
With Tony Stewart as a drafting partner, Aric Almirola led the first Nationwide practice session with a lap at 200.303 mph. Stewart, the only other driver to top 200 mph, was second on the speed chart at 200.236 mph.
With the smaller spacer opening, Stewart ran 202.238 mph in the second practice session, followed by defending series champion Brad Keselowski at 202.234 mph. Almirola and Dale Earnhardt Jr. also topped 200 mph in the second session.
"We didn't have a test like the Cup teams had, so we're allowing the teams to make changes during [Wednesday's] practices," Nationwide Series director Joe Balash said between sessions. "[The 200.303 mph] was not really the number we're looking for."
After the second practice session, NASCAR decided on a tapered spacer/restrictor-plate combination designed to disrupt airflow to the carburetor. The spacer openings go up to 1 1/16th inches with the openings in the plate, which is positioned beneath the spacer, at 61/64ths inchesThe combination will be used on all engines in the series.
Peters returns to Daytona with been-there, done-that confidence
Peters returns to Daytona with been-there, done-that confidence
By Jared Turner
Special to Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service
(February 16, 2011)
Saddled in second place with a lap left in the 2010 Camping World Truck Series opener at Daytona International Speedway, Timothy Peters was focused on getting to the finish line with his vehicle intact.
Passing leader and back-to-back Daytona winner Todd Bodine would be just icing on cake.
It turned out Peters got his cake—and plenty of icing, too.
Buoyed by a last-lap push from Jason White, Peters darted to the inside of Bodine coming down the backstretch and moved ahead to edge the Germain Racing driver by .068 seconds (one truck length) at the finish line.
Before he even realized what happened, Peters was heading to victory lane as a winner for the second time in his trucks career and at the series' biggest race.
The Providence , N.C. , native had accomplished his mission and more.
"It's Daytona and you know it's a crapshoot, and I feel like if you can get out of there and put it back on the truck the way it came off the hauler, then you've had a good finish if you completed all the laps," Peters said.
As he prepares to return to Daytona for Friday night's NextEra Energy Resources 250, Peters still savors the memory of his battle with eventual 2010 series champion Bodine.
"You know he's always going to be tough and to kind of dethrone him, that was very cool," Peters said.
Peters used his Daytona triumph as a springboard to a solid 2010 that culminated in a career-best sixth-place points finish. He didn't win again, however, and is itching to return to victory lane with his No. 17 Red Horse Racing team.
There's no place he'd rather break his 24-race winless streak than Daytona, a 2.5-mile, high-speed layout that generally produces some of the most exciting, close-quarters racing of the season. If Peters learned anything from his 2010 triumph at the World Center of Racing, it's not to push too hard too quickly.
"Last year we had an 11-lap shootout, I guess you could say, and it was very hard to make yourself ride behind Todd when you know you have a good truck," Peters said. "But you have to wait until the very last minute to try to make the move. … The biggest thing that I took away from that race is patience."
Peters returns to DIS with the confidence that comes with being the defending race champion, but he's not willing to anoint himself the favorite.
"Anything can happen and you know that a 'Big One' is going to occur and you just have to be prepared for when it happens," he said. "Coming out of there with a good run is momentum and confidence going into the next race at Phoenix , but for the most part it's surviving."
And sometimes winning.
By Jared Turner
Special to Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service
(February 16, 2011)
Saddled in second place with a lap left in the 2010 Camping World Truck Series opener at Daytona International Speedway, Timothy Peters was focused on getting to the finish line with his vehicle intact.
Passing leader and back-to-back Daytona winner Todd Bodine would be just icing on cake.
It turned out Peters got his cake—and plenty of icing, too.
Buoyed by a last-lap push from Jason White, Peters darted to the inside of Bodine coming down the backstretch and moved ahead to edge the Germain Racing driver by .068 seconds (one truck length) at the finish line.
Before he even realized what happened, Peters was heading to victory lane as a winner for the second time in his trucks career and at the series' biggest race.
The Providence , N.C. , native had accomplished his mission and more.
"It's Daytona and you know it's a crapshoot, and I feel like if you can get out of there and put it back on the truck the way it came off the hauler, then you've had a good finish if you completed all the laps," Peters said.
As he prepares to return to Daytona for Friday night's NextEra Energy Resources 250, Peters still savors the memory of his battle with eventual 2010 series champion Bodine.
"You know he's always going to be tough and to kind of dethrone him, that was very cool," Peters said.
Peters used his Daytona triumph as a springboard to a solid 2010 that culminated in a career-best sixth-place points finish. He didn't win again, however, and is itching to return to victory lane with his No. 17 Red Horse Racing team.
There's no place he'd rather break his 24-race winless streak than Daytona, a 2.5-mile, high-speed layout that generally produces some of the most exciting, close-quarters racing of the season. If Peters learned anything from his 2010 triumph at the World Center of Racing, it's not to push too hard too quickly.
"Last year we had an 11-lap shootout, I guess you could say, and it was very hard to make yourself ride behind Todd when you know you have a good truck," Peters said. "But you have to wait until the very last minute to try to make the move. … The biggest thing that I took away from that race is patience."
Peters returns to DIS with the confidence that comes with being the defending race champion, but he's not willing to anoint himself the favorite.
"Anything can happen and you know that a 'Big One' is going to occur and you just have to be prepared for when it happens," he said. "Coming out of there with a good run is momentum and confidence going into the next race at Phoenix , but for the most part it's surviving."
And sometimes winning.
Monday, February 14, 2011
NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES NEWS
2/2011
NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES
Bodine Dominant At Daytona
Todd Bodine has an impressive streak on the line heading into Friday night’s NextEra Energy Resources 250, but can the reigning NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion keep it going? Since 2005 Bodine has finished third or better at Daytona International Speedway, earning an impressive 117.3 driver rating that includes two trips to victory lane and two runner-up finishes.
In the previous 12 races at Daytona, 10 different drivers have claimed the famed season opener. Last season Timothy Peters passed Bodine on the last lap to score his second career series victory and first on a superspeedway.
Dillon Could Take The No. 3 Back To Victory Lane At Daytona
This Friday marks 10 years to the day that Dale Earnhardt passed away. Fittingly Austin Dillon, who drives for Richard Childress Racing, has the chance to return the famed black No. 3 back to Victory Lane. Dillon, who could become the youngest Daytona truck series winner, was part of the Victory Lane celebration with Earnhardt in 1998 following his Daytona 500 victory.
Jeffrey Earnhardt, the grandson of Earnhardt Sr., will make his Daytona NASCAR debut Friday night.
Daytona Win: A Curse For The Championship?
Since 2000 the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series has been racing on the high banks of Daytona International Speedway, but so far, the winner of the season opener has not taken home the series championship. Bobby Hamilton, who claimed the top prize in 2004, remains the only driver to win the series championship and then follow up with a victory at Daytona in February.
Can Gaughan and Kvapil Battle For The Top Spot Again?
In 2003, the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship came down to the last race of the season at Homestead-Miami Speedway between Brendan Gaughan, Ted Musgrave and Travis Kvapil. The trio was separated by only 26 points. Kvapil took home the championship trophy with a sixth-place finish after a crash ended Gaughan’s title hopes.
Could we have a replay of 2003 in 2011?
Kvapil, driving for Randy Moss Motorsports, and Gaughan, piloting the No. 62 Toyota for Germain Racing, return to the series for the first time full-time since 2007 and 2008 respectively.
The duo has combined for 17 victories and seven poles in the series.
NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES
Bodine Dominant At Daytona
Todd Bodine has an impressive streak on the line heading into Friday night’s NextEra Energy Resources 250, but can the reigning NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion keep it going? Since 2005 Bodine has finished third or better at Daytona International Speedway, earning an impressive 117.3 driver rating that includes two trips to victory lane and two runner-up finishes.
In the previous 12 races at Daytona, 10 different drivers have claimed the famed season opener. Last season Timothy Peters passed Bodine on the last lap to score his second career series victory and first on a superspeedway.
Dillon Could Take The No. 3 Back To Victory Lane At Daytona
This Friday marks 10 years to the day that Dale Earnhardt passed away. Fittingly Austin Dillon, who drives for Richard Childress Racing, has the chance to return the famed black No. 3 back to Victory Lane. Dillon, who could become the youngest Daytona truck series winner, was part of the Victory Lane celebration with Earnhardt in 1998 following his Daytona 500 victory.
Jeffrey Earnhardt, the grandson of Earnhardt Sr., will make his Daytona NASCAR debut Friday night.
Daytona Win: A Curse For The Championship?
Since 2000 the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series has been racing on the high banks of Daytona International Speedway, but so far, the winner of the season opener has not taken home the series championship. Bobby Hamilton, who claimed the top prize in 2004, remains the only driver to win the series championship and then follow up with a victory at Daytona in February.
Can Gaughan and Kvapil Battle For The Top Spot Again?
In 2003, the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship came down to the last race of the season at Homestead-Miami Speedway between Brendan Gaughan, Ted Musgrave and Travis Kvapil. The trio was separated by only 26 points. Kvapil took home the championship trophy with a sixth-place finish after a crash ended Gaughan’s title hopes.
Could we have a replay of 2003 in 2011?
Kvapil, driving for Randy Moss Motorsports, and Gaughan, piloting the No. 62 Toyota for Germain Racing, return to the series for the first time full-time since 2007 and 2008 respectively.
The duo has combined for 17 victories and seven poles in the series.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
NASCAR Lowers Age Limit For Touring Series
NASCAR Lowers Age Limit For Touring Series
Learner’s Permit Eligibility Also Expanded In All-American Series
by Jason Christley, NASCAR
February 2011
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — NASCAR announced today it has lowered the minimum age for drivers competing in its regional touring series to 15.
The change, effective immediately, will be applied to drivers in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and West, NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour and NASCAR Canadian Tire Series.
“We are constantly evaluating the process in which drivers are introduced to the sport and make their way up the NASCAR ladder,” said George Silbermann, NASCAR managing director of racing operations. “This change is the next logical step as the influx of talented young drivers entering NASCAR grows.
“The NASCAR touring series level is a great platform for developing the next generation of our sport’s stars. By making this adjustment, we are increasing the opportunities for drivers and crew members to compete and gain experience at the regional level, and prepare them for the higher levels of the sport.”
In a corresponding move, the Learner’s Permit License for the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series will be applicable for all divisions at NASCAR-sanctioned tracks. The Whelen All-American Series is NASCAR's national championship program for its more than 55 sanctioned short tracks across North America. More than 10,000 drivers compete in the series annually.
Last year, NASCAR introduced the Learner’s Permit to the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series, which allowed drivers and crew members ages 14 and 15 to participate in tracks’ entry-level divisions.
In 2007, NASCAR lowered the age minimum for the regional touring series from 18 to 16. Current NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Joey Logano, then 17, won the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East championship that season.
Ryan Truex, driving this season in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, made his debut in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series at age 17 and won the last two East championships. Brett Moffitt, who will take over for Truex at Michael Waltrip Racing in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series, broke Logano’s record as youngest series winner in 2009 when he was 16.
In 2008, Ryan Preece was 17 when he set the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour record for youngest winner at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, while Erick Rudolph eclipsed that mark in 2009 at age 17.
Learner’s Permit Eligibility Also Expanded In All-American Series
by Jason Christley, NASCAR
February 2011
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — NASCAR announced today it has lowered the minimum age for drivers competing in its regional touring series to 15.
The change, effective immediately, will be applied to drivers in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and West, NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour and NASCAR Canadian Tire Series.
“We are constantly evaluating the process in which drivers are introduced to the sport and make their way up the NASCAR ladder,” said George Silbermann, NASCAR managing director of racing operations. “This change is the next logical step as the influx of talented young drivers entering NASCAR grows.
“The NASCAR touring series level is a great platform for developing the next generation of our sport’s stars. By making this adjustment, we are increasing the opportunities for drivers and crew members to compete and gain experience at the regional level, and prepare them for the higher levels of the sport.”
In a corresponding move, the Learner’s Permit License for the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series will be applicable for all divisions at NASCAR-sanctioned tracks. The Whelen All-American Series is NASCAR's national championship program for its more than 55 sanctioned short tracks across North America. More than 10,000 drivers compete in the series annually.
Last year, NASCAR introduced the Learner’s Permit to the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series, which allowed drivers and crew members ages 14 and 15 to participate in tracks’ entry-level divisions.
In 2007, NASCAR lowered the age minimum for the regional touring series from 18 to 16. Current NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Joey Logano, then 17, won the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East championship that season.
Ryan Truex, driving this season in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, made his debut in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series at age 17 and won the last two East championships. Brett Moffitt, who will take over for Truex at Michael Waltrip Racing in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series, broke Logano’s record as youngest series winner in 2009 when he was 16.
In 2008, Ryan Preece was 17 when he set the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour record for youngest winner at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, while Erick Rudolph eclipsed that mark in 2009 at age 17.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Patrick’s Nationwide schedule revealed
Patrick’s Nationwide schedule revealed
Special to Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service
(February 2011)
Danica Patrick’s 2011 Nationwide Series schedule includes four tracks on which she didn’t race in 2010.
Patrick will drive the No. 7 JR Motorsports car in the first three races of the season at Daytona, Phoenix and Las Vegas .
She then will race in April at Bristol, in June at Chicagoland, in July at Daytona, in August at Montreal, in September at Richmond, in October at Kansas and the final three races of the season in November—Texas, Phoenix and Homestead.
Bristol , Montreal , Richmond and Kansas will be new venues for the 28-year-old IndyCar Series star.
Patrick competed in 13 races last year with a best of 19th in the season finale at Homestead .
This will be the second year of a two-year deal Patrick has with JR Motorsports as she tests whether she wants to switch full time to NASCAR.
The select races avoid conflicts with her IndyCar schedule and to allow her to concentrate on the Indianapolis 500 in May.
“I have a much different perspective heading into this season,” Patrick said. “I know a little more of what to expect, and I’m not as out of my element.
“I’ve had a year to work with my team, and there is a comfort level that comes with returning to some of these tracks. It’s obvious (that) experience goes a long way in this sport.”
Patrick again will have sponsorship from GoDaddy.com.
Josh Wise will drive the No. 7 car for most of those races not on Patrick’s limited schedule.
Special to Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service
(February 2011)
Danica Patrick’s 2011 Nationwide Series schedule includes four tracks on which she didn’t race in 2010.
Patrick will drive the No. 7 JR Motorsports car in the first three races of the season at Daytona, Phoenix and Las Vegas .
She then will race in April at Bristol, in June at Chicagoland, in July at Daytona, in August at Montreal, in September at Richmond, in October at Kansas and the final three races of the season in November—Texas, Phoenix and Homestead.
Bristol , Montreal , Richmond and Kansas will be new venues for the 28-year-old IndyCar Series star.
Patrick competed in 13 races last year with a best of 19th in the season finale at Homestead .
This will be the second year of a two-year deal Patrick has with JR Motorsports as she tests whether she wants to switch full time to NASCAR.
The select races avoid conflicts with her IndyCar schedule and to allow her to concentrate on the Indianapolis 500 in May.
“I have a much different perspective heading into this season,” Patrick said. “I know a little more of what to expect, and I’m not as out of my element.
“I’ve had a year to work with my team, and there is a comfort level that comes with returning to some of these tracks. It’s obvious (that) experience goes a long way in this sport.”
Patrick again will have sponsorship from GoDaddy.com.
Josh Wise will drive the No. 7 car for most of those races not on Patrick’s limited schedule.
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