Monthly Archives: February 2012

Monday Night Daytona 500 Gives Us Much To Talk About

Posted on February 29, 2012 | 3 Comments

Insane.

That’s the only word that can sum up the 54th Daytona 500 perfectly. After being delayed Sunday and Monday afternoon, we settled in to watch the first ever 500 that took place on a Monday night. It was also the first 500 to end on a Tuesday morning, and that was caused by a match-up between Juan Pablo Montoya and a jet dryer. But, let’s get down to the first official race recap of the 2012 Sprint Cup Series.

Starting third, Matt Kenseth was a decent pick to win the first race of the year; he won the second Gatorade Duel, and he had a Roush-Yates Ford engine under the hood. The Fords proved to be strong in the practices and Duels, so it was no shock that Kenseth would start the race behind his two Roush Fenway Racing teammates Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle. As the race went on, he stayed near the front. He sat right behind the hopeful Go-Or-Go-Homers on the restart that was scheduled to happen on lap 160. A bigger incident occurred, and a two-hour red flag dragged the anticipation out. When the racing finally resumed, the Go-Or-Go-Homers had to pit for fuel, and the racing began again. There were two more cautions, setting the field up for a green-white-checkered finish. Kenseth’s car took off, and the rest is set in burnt asphalt (don’t worry, I’ll explain.) The driver of the #17 won the rain-shortened Daytona 500 back in 2009, but victory is definitely sweeter this time around. Now leading the points, Matt is backing up his strong fourth place finish in last year’s Chase. Congrats to Matt Kenseth on the win.

Carl Edwards sat on the pole for the historical race, showing no signs of a slump after coming in second for The 2011 Sprint Cup Championship. Yet, when the race started, it was obvious his teammate Greg Biffle had the stronger car. He ran a good race, staying out of trouble . . . Until the red flag. During the red flag, Edwards pulled a tear-off of his windshield, as did Kyle Busch, so they restarted in the back. But, in the end, Carl pulled off a top ten for his team. I expected him to make a lot more noise, but he’ll shine at Phoenix, where he won the fall race in 2010.

Now we move on to the more shocking stories of the weekend. First, the rain pushed the 500 to Monday for the first time in 54 years. Many NASCAR fans were upset with Mother Nature, especially after dampening a few races last season. It didn’t turn out to be a bad thing in the end; a Monday night race to kick off the year was cool to experience. Move over, Monday Night Football, there’s another sport taking over primetime. Something else that stuck out to me was how the outside line couldn’t get going. Unless you had a strong duo, you were going nowhere fast. Also, the last lap was anything but exciting. Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Greg Biffle were teamed up, but they couldn’t catch Kenseth no matter how hard they tried. NASCAR attempted to get rid of the two-car tandem, and I can see why; how thrilling is one car beating two cars hooked up? I would’ve liked to see a better balance between the tango and the pack racing, and it’s something everyone should work on going to Talladega. Yet, the biggest event had to be Juan Pablo Montoya versus a NASCAR jet dryer. While under caution for David Stremme’s motor blowing up, Montoya stopped into the pits because of a vibration. I must note that there weren’t any NASCAR officials standing in his pit, which is required. He went back on track, trying to catch up to the leaders, when something broke in the back of his car. The car took a hard right up the track and slammed into one of the jet dryers working to clean up the surface. In case you didn’t know, ‘jet’ dryers utilize ‘jet’ fuel to help the process. Fuel ran down to the apron, and it soon ignited. Both Juan and the driver of the jet dryer are okay, but the track was coated with the gasoline. So, NASCAR threw the red flag, and workers proceeded to wash down and dry that section in turn 3. After two hours, we went back to racing. I have to applaud NASCAR for sticking with it and pushing to get the track fixed; angering us fans even more would’ve been bad. All in all, this was the craziest Daytona 500, and it will definitely go down in the history books.

We’re off to Phoenix this weekend for the Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series’ races, which was newly configured last season. The returning race winner is Kasey Kahne, and the Spring winner in 2011 was Jeff Gordon. My picks for the Nationwide race are Ricky Stenhouse Jr. or Elliot Sadler, and I choose either Kahne or Edwards to win on the Sprint Cup side.

→ 3 Comments

Posted in NASCAR

Tagged , , , , , ,

Bayne Without Stable Sponsorship

Posted on February 26, 2012 | Leave a comment

“Am I dreaming right now?”

Those words were spoken with utter shock by a 20-year-old Trevor Bayne after last year’s Daytona 500, where he turned the NASCAR world upside down by becoming the youngest driver to ever win the prestigious race. The media immediately jumped onto the Bayne Train, seeing the marketability in the young man. Trevor, a devoted Christian and dedicated driver, is practically the perfect choice to represent NASCAR in the best way. You would think the sponsors would be nipping at his heels. However, that’s not the case; a full-time NASCAR Nationwide Series participant, Bayne has backing for only three races.

Money is tight all around, but it still seems unfair. Trevor Bayne is the total package: kind, committed, passionate, and adorable. His Cinderella story is inspirational and heartening. When you see people like Carl Edwards, who has more than three part-time sponsors, you have to wonder why nobody’s rising up to back the youngster. I mean, he’s won The Great American Race; couldn’t we get him some sort of deal? Sponsors are looking for drivers that have experience, a quality that will get them to Victory Lane, not the scrap pile. Companies don’t have the money to endorse a driver that is still learning the ropes. With Trevor being only 21, they shy away, even if he is a Daytona 500 Champion.

It is completely criminal. There, I said it: not sponsoring Trevor Bayne is a stupid move. Winning the 500 wasn’t a fluke or a lucky break; he backed it up on the Nationwide side with a win at Texas last fall. Besides, Jack Roush knows talent when he sees it. I don’t see him giving up on the young star, but he can’t keep helping him if there isn’t any backing. Back in the day, if you won the Daytona 500, you were set for life. Sadly, we have Trevor struggling to have a name on the car. He has the ability to become a top player in the Sprint Cups Series, and the Wood Brothers see it.

Back in the beginning of 2010, Bayne was interviewed after a good run in the Nationwide race. I remember looking at my dad and saying, “He’s going to be a threat.” He agreed with me. If a lack of sponsorship dictates whether or not this kid continues to race, I will be upset, along with a lot of other fans. Nobody likes to see talent just slip away. Hopefully, something shows up soon for the driver of the #21 because, if it doesn’t, NASCAR will definitely be missing out.

So, what do you think about Trevor not having sponsorship? Express your thoughts in the Comment section.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in NASCAR, NASCAR Nationwide Series

Tagged , ,

Highlights Of The Drive4COPD 300: A Season Opener To Remember

Posted on February 25, 2012 | 2 Comments

When the green flag waved to start the Drive4COPD 300, many expected it to be crazy since it is Daytona, but few predicted a first-time winner and carnage that took out all the heavy hitters. With every race recap, I will profile the winner, the pole sitter, and another notable story, so here we go:

In a cloud of smoke, James Buescher dove below the yellow line to avoid a last lap crash that brought out the caution. This made the driver of the #30 for Turner Motorsports a first time winner this afternoon. Before the wreck, Buescher was running eleventh, yet fate had another finishing position in mind for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series full-timer. This may have been the highlight of the season opener, preparing us for a NASCAR Nationwide Series full of surprises and excitement. Congrats to James, and I hope he has continued success in his racing career.

At the beginning of the race, all eyes were on Danica Patrick, the first woman to sit on the pole since Shawna Robinson in 1994 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. It is no secret that she had brought much attention to NASCAR as a whole, and many people were probably watching today’s race as racing newbies. It has an effect on the sport. Unfortunately, all that hype didn’t soften the hit to the wall she took on lap 49. Teammate Cole Whitt was attempting to draft with her but loosened her up instead. As a result, Patrick hit the wall, and she blew up on the radio. It wasn’t the performance she wanted to deliver, that’s for sure. We’ll see how she does at Phoenix next week, and then we can predict where she’ll end up at the end of the season.

Another big story was Austin Dillon, the grandson of Richard Childress and the 2011 NCWTS champion, stepping up into the sport’s second-tier series. He had the historical #3 on the side of his Richard Childress Racing car today, and it helped him escape some of the day’s wrecks. He survived the mess that happened at the end, claiming fifth. Dillon, along with his younger brother Ty, grew up watching Dale Earnhardt Sr. make his mark in the history books with an intimidating driving style and unmistakable swagger. There is no doubt that Austin learned from one of the best, and he used the pointers to his advantage last year. It was obvious today that he knows what he’s doing, and he will continue to impress.

The beginning of the NASCAR season is two-thirds of the way over, and the last leg is The Great American Race. The Nationwide segment of the weekend showed us that tomorrow’s outcome is basically impossible to predict, but it was one heck of a way to start a season.

→ 2 Comments

Posted in NASCAR Nationwide Series

Tagged , , , ,

Trouble On The Horizon For Knaus/Johnson?

Posted on February 19, 2012 | 3 Comments

Two is better than one. That phrase is common in NASCAR, meaning you can’t have a great driver without a crew chief to back him up. It has produced some famous pairings, like Inman and Petty, Petree and Earnhardt Sr., but what pairing is the most prominent duo in racing today? Many would say Chad Knaus and Jimmie Johnson. Together, they have fifty-three wins and five championships. This is the longest crew chief-driver pairing today, yet they don’t have a flawless history together. The most recent black-eye to their reputation happened Friday during Sprint Cup practice for the Shootout; while the #48 Daytona 500 car was in line for inspection, NASCAR officials noticed the C-post did not fit in the parameters of the rules. The team flew down a new part from Hendrick Motorsports, and many have alluded to penalties being given to Knaus after Speedweek activities. The thing is that the crew chief of the #48 is a repeat offender.

Back in February of 2006, Johnson completed his Daytona 500 qualifying run, and Knaus made an illegal adjustment to the rear window. He was suspended until March 22, yet his driver won the prestigious race and another race with sit-in crew chief Darian Grubb before he came back. Flashing forward to 2007, when the newest body style for the Car of Tomorrow on the #48 didn’t meet standards. Chad was suspended for six races and fined $100,000. Jimmie wasn’t allowed to qualify the car and started at the back for the race at Infineon. Eyebrows rose again last year when a pre-race talk at Talladega between Knaus and Johnson came over the radio, the head chief asking his driver to ‘crack the back’ if he won. The driver sounded appalled as he deadpanned, “Really,” when told to do so. This makes me wonder if the pair will be together for much longer.

The communication between the two was strained and full of bickering last year, something we don’t hear that often on the #48 radio. This shows that Jimmie is getting fed up with Chad’s attempt to ‘push the envelope’ time and time again. After being known as ‘vanilla,’ the driver is concerned about his image, and Chad isn’t helping in a good way. Something tells me that Jimmie is tired of getting caught up in controversy because of his crew chief.

Prediction? Chad Knaus isn’t leading the team in two years, but there is a way to prevent that from happening.

If Rick Hendrick was thinking about cutting ties with Knaus, it would’ve happened late last year because of Darian Grubbs’ availability. He must have faith in Jimmie’s crew chief if he didn’t jump on that opportunity. But, as of recent, it is obvious Mr. Hendrick needs to sit Chad and Jimmie down for another Milk-And-Cookies talk. The best thing is to re-establish the boundaries. There is something special with the Knaus and Johnson combination, you know, since they’ve won five championships in a row.

Can their success overshadow the infractions and penalties? Most likely yes, but what Chad does this year will be something to watch. After 2011, a five-year streak was broken, and questions were asked. NASCAR nation will be eager to see if the #48 can bounce back, and if they can do it legally.

→ 3 Comments

Posted in NASCAR

Tagged , ,

Step Up or Shut Up: Drivers Who Need To Prove Themselves In 2012

Posted on February 13, 2012 | 2 Comments

As the days until the Daytona 500 dwindle down, the excitement continues to build up. Yet, for certain drivers, that ‘excitement’ might be nerves. Much is at stake this season, with the competition tougher than ever, and some of our favorites need to step up and prove themselves. Everyone has something to prove, but there are three drivers who need to put it all on the line.

1. Joey Logano

Joey Logano was predicted to come into the Sprint Cup Series and make a lot of noise. Unfortunately, that noise turned out to be the combination of screeching sheet metal and exploding engines. His lone win came in 2009 during the rain-shortened race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, and that’s all she wrote. In 2011, the rumor of Carl Edwards taking over the #20 was released. Although untrue, it made people wonder what was wrong with Logano, why he wasn’t doing as well as everyone predicted. The reason most likely is that he was thrown into Sprint Cup too early. When you run with the big dogs, you’ll feel the bite soon enough, and Logano is being eaten up.

I have no idea how this season will work out for Joey. There’s no doubt he’s feeling the heat, especially after Greg Zipadelli left the pit box to go over to Stewart-Haas Racing. However, he is gaining Jason Ratcliff as a crew chief, who won the 2009 Nationwide Series Championship with Kyle Busch. This change may finally give Joey the confidence he needs. We will have to wait and see what happens.

Prediction? Joey Logano wins a race and has a shot at The Chase. Not sure if it’s enough, though.

2. Dale Earnhardt Jr.

If wins were determined by fan power, Dale Earnhardt Jr. would have won five championships and swept every race by now. The reality of it is that Junior hasn’t won a race since 2008 at Michigan. Yet, last year, the #88 became a blip on The Chase radar, consistency locking him in. It was his first season with new crew chief Steve Letarte, who was sent over from Jeff Gordon’s stable. They did pretty well for working together for their initial arrangement. It’s definitely Go Time for Dale, and it’s because of Kasey Kahne, who has been predicted to do amazing things with Hendrick equipment. If that doesn’t light a fire underneath Junior, then something is wrong. There is a possible chance for Kahne to become the lead driver at the race team, and that won’t be good for NASCAR’S Most Popular Driver.

There’s no doubt that he can win. He was close a few times in 2011, and it will happen. When and where? That, my friends, is unknown.

Prediction? Dale Earnhardt Jr. breaks his winless streak and pleases Junior Nation with a strong Chase run.

3. Greg Biffle

Remember Greg Biffle? No? That’s because he hasn’t done much in a while. His last win came at Kansas two years ago, making 2011 his second winless season in his career. We didn’t hear about him, and it was very weird. With Carl Edwards and Matt Kenseth making The Chase, and David Ragan getting released from RFR, The Biff was left in the shadows. The most exciting thing that happened to him was actually his little rivalry with Boris Said. This season, he was practically a ghost.

Missing the playoffs for the first time since 2007, Greg Biffle is starting to look like the next victim of downsizing. Sponsors are running thin, and they want a driver that will show up and run up front. Seeing him go would be very saddening; he’s a great person who can drive. However, recently, his results aren’t as good as they use to be. Can he start racking up the high finishes and crawls into The Chase? Or will he falter and collapse into himself?

Prediction? Greg Biffle sneaks a win, but it isn’t enough to help his case at RFR.

All in all, every driver has something to prove, but more have something to lose by not manning up. It’s time to light a fire under your bumper, folks. Because, in NASCAR, those who can’t get the job done? They don’t have a job in the end.

→ 2 Comments

Posted in NASCAR

Tagged , , , ,

Why Edwards Is A Favorite With Sponsors

Posted on February 9, 2012 | Leave a comment

Times are tough these days in our favorite sport, especially in the ‘sponsorship‘ department. Some are lucky to have long-term sponsors. Others lose their jobs because there’s no backing. When the money is tight, a name across your car’s hood is sacred. But, one person who doesn’t have to worry about having bare spots on his quarter panels is Carl Edwards. After an announcement this week that Subway would sponsor the driver for six races in 2012, I could help but wonder why companies are attracted to him like moths to a flame.

Edwards brings positive attention to himself. You don’t see Carl smashing into the SAFER barrier every weekend or blowing engines. He’s made consistency an art form, and it almost won him the 2011 Sprint Cup Championship. The last ten weeks of the 2011 season, he fought against Tony Stewart repeatedly, making himself the subject of much talk. Even after the final checkered flag waved, he made rounds on the TV circuit. Also, he is a smart racer. Carl won’t let his emotions drive the car. If he’s upset, he doesn’t wreck the other 42 cars out there. It takes a lot to make this driver’s blood boil, but he won’t allow it to mess up his focus. When he was racing close with Stewart during The Chase, he didn’t turn him. He raced him fair, and sponsors like a clean-cut wheeler.

Natural charisma, grace, and attractiveness are qualities Carl has, and he executes them very well. This man is the subject to scrutiny from TV cameras, talk shows, and female fans because of his magnetism. He likes to talk and sometimes commentate about the sport he loves. With ESPN trying to get him in the booth during Nationwide races this year, it’s likely we will see Analyst Carl, who is conversation-savvy and amusing. Late last year, his gracefulness was tested, as he lost the championship by one point. He became NASCAR’s Most Dignified Loser, which many people applauded. Even if he didn’t clinch the title, he won a better trophy: the hearts of many fans. As with some drivers, he has a devoted female following, and it is understandable; with a bright smile and great sense of humor, it’s hard for women to not forget their own names. But, all of these traits make Edwards very marketable, the ribbon that ties the package together.

When sponsors look for drivers to back, they want someone who is an ideal spokesman., someone suave, likable, and sharp. Not every driver has that combination, so Carl Edwards is a rarity. Does he hog sponsors? Possibly, but it won’t stop companies from wanting their names mentioned by him when he hits Victory Lane.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in NASCAR

Tagged , ,

Will ‘The Closer’ Finally Clinch A Championship?

Posted on February 7, 2012 | Leave a comment

They say third time’s the charm, but that has proven wrong for Kevin Harvick. The past few seasons, he has been there at the end, showing strength and promise. Yet, The Closer cannot seal the deal on winning a Sprint Cup Championship. Will the trophy finally find its way into Harvick’s hands?

The stars seem to be aligning for the occasion. Him and wife DeLana sold Kevin Harvick Incorporated, a team that fielded machines in the Truck and Nationwide Series, he received a new crew chief in Shane Wilson, and the couple is expecting their first child in July. The puzzle is falling into place personally, but can that make Happy Harvick truly, well, happy?

When I see Kevin racing, Dale Earnhardt Sr. immediately comes to mind. Not because he was succeeded by the then-young driver after his death, but because his racing style lives on. There is no doubt Harvick is an aggressive driver. He is one of NASCAR’s bad boys, yet he is nothing like The Intimidator that came before him. However, I see a lot of Dale in Harvick, including his ‘All-Or-Nothing’ attitude. With that ability in you, it seems like you should be a shoe-in for a Sprint Cup.

But, why can’t he do it? He needs to grow up.

Now that he is going to be a father, Harvick needs to kick himself into shape, and that can help him with his on-track performance. That sounds backwards, but it isn’t; having a child changes your entire life, and you can’t take good care of a baby when you’re jumping out of cars and beating on Kyle Busch because of on-track tension. Given, the feud entertained us all, but how did that aid his championship chances? With Shane Wilson on top his pit box, it is the perfect chance for Harvick to make professional and personal changes. Starting over now will give him time to go through some growing pains, which will open up the rest of the season for an undeniably strong run for the title.

Going from doggies to diapers, Kevin Harvick is in for a year he’ll never forget. Prediction? He shines in The Chase, yet finishes second. Maybe 2013 will be his year, but I don’t see his success truly happening overnight. Yet, there is no doubt he is one of the strongest, and he will finally secure a Sprint Cup Championship when the time is right.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in NASCAR

Tagged , ,