Category Archives: NASCAR Nationwide Series

Daytona Wrap Up: Equality

Posted on February 24, 2013 | 1 Comment

Daytona is always thrilling.

The first race of the season, where everyone’s equipment is fresh and new. Playing fields are level and notebooks are blank.

No tricks, no rare advantages.

Equality.

Yet, when the pressure rises, that alignment shifts.

And bangs.

And sparks as it grinds sheet metal against sheet metal.

And, suddenly, it doesn’t feel fair anymore. It feels risky, like sitting at a slot machine with only a few coins in your pocket. You know you could lose it all, but there’s this adrenaline rush that pulls your fingers back into your pocket to grasp another token.

It is kind to some. Johnny Sauter was a lucky one. He raced his way through a mine field of Trucks and got the win. Winning the opening race in the NCWTS is also special because it hangs in everyone’s heads until the next race, which is a month away.

Passing and dodging. Slicing and dicing. Mild wrecks, under the lights, hungry drivers. The Trucks race was the high point of the weekend.

Yet, after every climax, there is falling action.

Sometimes, that falling action happens in the blink of an eye.

What happened Saturday in the Nationwide race is an occurrence that makes stomachs fall into people’s feet, and it is something that should never be taken lightly. Everyone knows the danger the drivers put themselves in. That’s what makes the sport so respectable.

But, when the fans who give them that respect are injured, the danger becomes the 3400-pound stock car in the room. The lighting shifts, and everyone sees racing as it is; complex, sensitive, and terrifying.

The fans who were injured after Saturday’s accident were all upgraded to stable. Some were even in the stands Sunday after being released. Everywhere, fans banded together to offer love, support, and prayers, tagging each tweet with #NASCARstrong.

With Tony Stewart’s victory eclipsed by another kind of darkness, the real triumph was achieved by NASCAR’s followers, who are the most strong and unified among any other group of sports fanatics anyone has ever seen.

Everyone is tougher when a community is formed. Ours could move mountains. I have never been more proud to call myself a NASCAR fan.

The sun set on an accident, yet it rose with purpose this Sunday: to wave the checkered flag on the offseason and fly the green on a new chapter.

Throughout the Daytona 500, two lines were formed, then merged into one. For some, it was as exciting as watching a freshly-painted fence parch. For others, it brought flashbacks of how racing was in the ‘80s and ‘90s. Whether it was what people wanted, or if they were unsatisfied, nobody couldn’t ignore that the last 50 laps made up for some of the blandness.

Motors blowing. A bolded bottom line charging. Sprinting heartbeats. Each winding lap made fans on-edge as cars bobbed and wiggled.

A five-time champion rose and grabbed the win. The lone female driver led laps for the first time under green at Daytona, combining that with an eighth-place finish. NASCAR’s coveted driver made a slick move to grab second.

Equality. It’s defined as, “rights, treatments, quantity, or value equal to all others.”

Well, life isn’t always equal. Without that fairness, it becomes a thrilling ride.

That’s why we feed the slot machine.

That’s why we love Daytona.

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Smith Wins in First Start with JRM, Stenhouse Repeats as Champion

Posted on November 17, 2012 | Leave a comment

There are those moments in racing that get your heart thumping. They usually involve scrunched sheet metal, smashed cars, and crushed hopes. Tight battles and hard racing.

Those last ten laps in the Nationwide championship race got me going just like that.

It wasn’t solely the fact that Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was in a squirrelly situation, what with being surrounded by the two other contenders of Elliott Sadler and Austin Dillon. The other part was that his car was loose. Wrecking loose. He was sawing on that wheel like crazy. You didn’t know if he would be able to hold onto it or not.

Earlier in the race, Stenhouse’s spotter Mike Calinoff kept telling the driver to keep it off the wall, to which Ricky replied, “I know . . . I don’t need you to repeat it.”

Oooh. Salty.

Aside from the few cautions we received, the championship race drew most of our attention. The single moment that broke my heart? When Sadler’s crew missed a lugnut. You could hear the collective intake of breath from fans everywhere, as if we had all been punched in the gut. Add that to the other mishaps that plagued the #2 team -like the restart fiasco at Indy and the wreck last week in Phoenix- and it’s just sad.

Sadler recovered to get a great finish, but it wasn’t enough. He ended up twenty-three points behind Stenhouse. Austin Dillon impressed and contended for the win, yet, similarly, he came up short.

This is Stenhouse’s second straight championship, the success worlds apart from his fruitless Rookie season back in 2010. Who would’ve thought the driver Jack Roush forced to sit out a few races back then would be the current two-time champion? Ricky proves how things in this sport can change drastically if you keep pushing and trying. Not only that, it’s inspirational for anyone who needs a bit of help during a tough point in their life.

As for the race winner, it was Regan Smith, trying out the #5 JR Motorsports Chevy to get a head start on next season. He will run full time for the team in 2013, and his win proved he would be a force to be reckoned with for the championship. His crew chief, in his Nationwide series debut, was Steve Letarte, and the crew? Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s posse. Great momentum to build off of for next season.

The Nationwide series has come to a close, but fear not; next season will be just as exciting and just as nerve-racking.

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Stenhouse Jr. Makes Comeback to Capture Kansas

Posted on October 20, 2012 | 1 Comment

Who would’ve thought that Kansas would be exciting? Definitely not me. Another 1.5-mile oval? Yawn.

Yet, after the Nationwide race, it is apparent that this repave has turned Kansas into a track that was perfect for great racing.

Breaking the record for most cautions at the speedway, the 12th caution set the field up for a green-white-checkered finish. Fuel mileage was causing cars to run dry during the caution laps, such as Sam Hornish Jr. and Kenny Wallace.

Crew chiefs grew nervous, making their guys recount laps and figure how many laps they were in the good . . . Or in the red.

One person who didn’t have to worry about fuel was Ricky Stenhouse Jr. The driver had previously went two laps down when he overdrove his car and went into Joey Logano. Logano wasn’t happy, but Ricky had to pit multiple times to fix damage. While he rode around behind lead lap cars, the #6 team began to plan out their own strategy.

With three to go, Stenhouse was behind Kyle Busch and Paul Menard. As the green flag waved, Menard ran out of gas, and Ricky jumped at the chance to sniff the lead. He raced down Busch until the white flag.

The #54 began to wiggle. The announcers said he was checking to see if he had fuel. Between turns three and four, Kyle’s machine was officially empty, and the #6 charged to first place.

On the cool down lap, Logano smacked Stenhouse’s car and sent him around with a, quote, “Good Job Tap.” Hey, whatever the intention was, Ricky still had a smile on his face.

This is the sixth win for Stenhouse this season, putting him only six points out of the championship lead. Points leader Elliott Sadler finished fourth after an up and down day. The third contender in this battle, Austin Dillon, pulled out a second-place finish.

Another notable instance? Danica Patrick grew a pair and raced her butt off. Her sudden confidence made her go 3-wide with Sadler and youngster Ryan Blaney. On the second-to-last restart, she did the same thing again for a chance at the lead. She fell back and finished tenth. What she showed today was very impressive. If she keeps it up, who knows what could happen?

What did we learn from the Nationwide race at Kansas? That tomorrow’s Cup race should be epic.

Points after Kansas:
Elliott Sadler (–)
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (-6)
Austin Dillon (-26)
Sam Hornish Jr. (-98)
Michael Annett (-150)

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Dillon Sweeps Kentucky, Points Shake Up

Posted on September 22, 2012 | Leave a comment

After the Trucks race the night before, the afternoon Nationwide event at Kentucky was a bit of a let down, not following up with a wreck-fest.

More so, the excitement came from the points standings.

I noticed a tweet on Twitter that stood out to me. The tweeter mentioned that, even if there were four drivers mathematically eligible for the NNS championship at this point, this was a two-horse race between Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Elliott Sadler. Why this bothered me, I wasn’t really sure, but it seemed very narrow-minded. I thought it would be shaken up today, someway, somehow.

Two cautions flew for small incidents, so things went fairly smooth before the competition caution at lap 30. Coming down pit road, everyone was antsy.

As Stenhouse shot from his pit, the #14 of Eric McClure was coming in. McClure pinched Ricky, slamming him in the side. The #6 backed up to get repairs under the yellow. He had to start at the tail-end of the lead lap.

Fast forward to after the restart, Stenhouse was attempting to make up as many spot as he could. Now, from my point of view, he was driving a bit crazily, very urgently. I understand why, but there was a lot of time to make those spots up. Anyway, he overdrove it, snapped loose, and hit the wall.

So, for the rest of the race, Stenhouse tried to regain as many points as he could, but he ended up finishing 17th, three laps down.

Meanwhile, Elliott Sadler was one of the best cars out there. He was driving away towards the win when he had trouble with his power steering. As much as it bothered the driver, he dealt with it and was still fast. When the final caution came out, however, Sadler came down pit road after crew chief Luke Lambert called it. The team put two tires on, and he restarted in the top ten.

He couldn’t make up all those spots, however. At the end of the day, he finished fifth.

So who won? Austin Dillon’s car wasn’t as dialed in as Sadler’s, but he was still fast. As soon as that RCR machine breathed cleaned air, it was gone. Dillon swept Kentucky, the first time since Joey Logano did it in 2009. This win was a birthday present to Pop Pop Childress, who celebrated his birthday yesterday.

Also, Sam Hornish Jr., who is also in a position to capture that championship, had a solid day and finished second.

Now, here are the points after Kentucky (the first four positions):

Elliot Sadler (leader)
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (-4)
Austin Dillon (-19)
Sam Hornish Jr. (-46)

So, confident tweeter whose handle I forget, is it a two-horse race still?

I don’t think so. These next few races will show us who’s ready to rise to the top.

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Atlanta Gets Hot Near The End

Posted on September 3, 2012 | Leave a comment

If it were up to me, every race would be under the lights.

The anticipation all day, waiting for green flag. The flicker of cameras in the stands, like stars on a clear Summer night. The bumping and grinding, tempers flaring, and the occasional helmet throw.

This is the epitome of a perfect race . . .

. . . So Atlanta was a bit of a disappointment.

Many stated that this race had the same air as Texas did back in April: long green flag runs and not much excitement until the end. That ended up being the theme in all three NASCAR series’ races. Given the expectations were running high after Bristol, Atlanta felt a bit short.

The last laps made up for it, however. Here’s the overview of the whole weekend.

Atlanta Gets Hot Near The End

Friday night put the Trucks series in the spotlight, where Ty Dillon started from the pole. Two notable drivers in that field were The Busch Brothers. Kurt and Kyle had never raced against each other in the Trucks series, so some were focused on them. Also, the latest addition to the Brad Keselowski Racing team, Ryan Blaney, was in the truck again, and K&N Pro Series East wheelman Kyle Larson was back. Multiple story lines usually equals great racing.

I had my eye on Ty Dillon all night. He was up and down for the most part, and, near the end, Richard Childress came on the radio. Pop Pop told his grandson to change his line. The advice shot Ty forward, giving him a chance to contend with Kyle Busch, who’s Truck was stout.

This was a great battle, but, after smacking the wall almost three times, Busch wiggled back, and the youngest Dillon prevailed, winning his first ever NCWTS trophy. There is nothing better than winning your first race on any level, but beating Kyle freakin’ Busch had to make it sweeter. Busch afterwards said Dillon had the better truck in the end.

Of course, many fans on Twitter voiced their opinions, saying Dillon wouldn’t have won if Childress didn’t put him in that ride.

My bottom line? Money doesn’t drive the truck/ car. Simple as that.

Nationwide raced the following night, making things exciting early with a slight disagreement between Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch. Harvick came over the radio and told crew chief Ernie Cope, “I’m going to spin him.” A response? “Better to get it done early.”

Spicy.

Harvick would be one to talk about all night. His machine was on a rail. Nobody could touch him as the laps wound down.

Then, BAM! A wild caution flew in. As any driver would be, Harvick was upset. NASCAR stated the yellow was for debris. Before the object was specified, ESPN showed a clip of Brad Keselowski tossing his water bottle out the window. (This happened about 15 laps before the caution, actually.) Twitter lit up with speculation that the water bottle resulted in the caution, making the act intentional. When Harvick got wind of this, he was very unhappy.

On the final restart, Harvick was attempting to hold of both Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Keselowski, but Stenhouse slipped by, claiming the victory. The exciting finish, however, was overpowered by what happened afterwards. Harvick parked on pit road and talked to Busch about their early incident. Then, he moved over to Keselowski and talked about the water bottle incident, Brad stating he had no idea what he was talking about. Since they both finished in the top three, they went to the required Media Center press conference and sat next to each other. The two made jabs at the other, and, when Harvick left, he patted Keselowski on the cheek. “Sleep well, buddy!”

NASCAR came out and said the debris was a piece of aluminum high in turn two, not the water bottle. Not a big deal anymore. Harvick shouldn’t have laid a hand on Brad; it seems very rude and unprofessional to me. Oh well. Congrats to ESPN’s coverage for that tiff.

The big show was Sunday night. Tony Stewart led the field to green, but his car didn’t have anything for the rest of the night. Not even leading the first lap, he fell back. Another notable who didn’t have a good night was Kasey Kahne, who has held that first Wild Card spot since his second win at New Hampshire.

Once again, the race was comprised of long green flag runs, and Martin Truex Jr. was pulling away. Carl Edwards’ engine had issues, putting what seems like the final nail in his Chase hopes’ coffin. Then, Jimmie Johnson and Ryan Newman wrecked. There’s another Wild Card contender struggling again. At this point, Truex was stretching fuel, so he didn’t want to see the final caution, brought out by Jamie McMurray.

The restart shifted Denny Hamlin and Jeff Gordon to first and second, Truex moving back. This is how the race finished. Hamlin’s pit crew aided in flawless stops and gave him the chance for this win, as he stated in his post-win interview. This was Hamlin’s fourth win this season, and his second win in the past two weeks.

We go to Richmond, and the Cup series is going to be the highlight. With the Wild Card race shaken up, who gets in? Who could get knocked out? What will be thrown on the track next?

Pull the belts tight, we’re headed for a crazy ride Saturday night.

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The Woman Who Raced Over a Shoe

Posted on August 19, 2012 | 5 Comments

Oh, Montreal.

Not only is it a gorgeous place, with the track right by the water and healthy trees and grass everywhere, but it just held the most dramatic race of the NASCAR season.

That miracle is beauty within itself.

There’s no doubt that cautions have been either scarce or inconsistent, and that there aren’t many on-track storylines to cover, over the Cup and NNS side of things. The Trucks series always brings relief, with the wreckage and funny post-wreck interviews. (“I’ll take responsibility, but only because I should’ve known not to trust an idiot.” Insert foot into that gaping hole in your face.) Road course racing has been the center of controversy, with last week’s Oil-Or-No-Oil debate and Nationwide’s Road America shock with Danica Patrick getting punted by Jacques Villeneuve.

Well, Saturday was expected to be a crazy ride, and that was correct. The drama! The fuel! The racing! Here are some of the big story from the NAPA Auto Parts 200 Presented by Dodge at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

The Woman Who Raced Over a Shoe

Danica Patrick has been the media darling of the season, from extra time for post-race interviews to updates from back in 28th. When she started fourth, it caused even more freaking out. Not only was this a good place to actually do something, but she was lined up next to J. Villeneuve.

As they went around on the back of the truck together after Driver Introductions, everyone chimed in, thinking that this was the perfect time for payback. I didn’t agree; she needed to have a good race and not get caught up in any drama.

Almost immediately, she shot into third, then second. Twitter nearly exploded with shock and sarcasm. When she went to the lead and claimed her car was perfect, people prepared for the Apocalypse. Statements of “When Danica wins this race . . .” came from die-hard haters.

She was impressive, but it wasn’t surprising; it’s a road course. Her IndyCar roots shown through. I was happy she made it past lap one. Her car was one of the best.

“Was” being the key word here.

Danica was leading and flying when she hit a piece of debris. It was a shoe that was thrown by a spectator. It was sucked underneath the car, and, quickly, she began to talk about the steering being off. Then, she felt something from the bottom of the car smack the ground. After a few more laps, she went behind the wall, got the issues fixed, and came back about five laps down. Danica then got caught up in two more on-track incidents.

There is no question she has horrible, Jeff Gordon-esque luck as of now. But, the positives: she led a lot of laps, learned how to control herself while leading, kept the lead while fighting the car . . . Great day for her.

As for the shoe, whoever threw it is very ignorant. You aren’t a fan if you toss objects on the track; you’re plain stupid. I want them to find whoever threw it, put them in a room with Danica, and explain why they did it. It also must be taped.

No matter what, Danica Patrick impressed some, or supported what they already knew: road courses are her strong suit. Hopefully she can get some decent finishes on ovals to stake her claim among the hard hitters.

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Johanna Long: The Rising Star

Posted on July 15, 2012 | 5 Comments

Johanna Long (via LAT Photographic)

 

Johanna Long is a true driver.

From her background to her mindset, she knows the ups and downs of the sport, especially when she runs for ML Motorsports, who is currently seeking sponsorship. She doesn’t expect anyone to pull aside and let her pass by. It’s all about focus and the future.

“This sport is all about looking forward, not backwards. I set goals for myself and try my best to reach them one race at a time . . . you can’t dwell on the negative, you have to shake it off and move forward.”

The future is coming up fast, but Long keeps going.

While many are set on winning, she is aiming to improve in each race. “This whole year is about progressing and improving as much as I possibly can. As a rookie in the Nationwide Series, there is a lot that I have to learn, but I feel like each race that I go to, I’m learning, gaining experience and improving.” Having someone to help you along the way, she added, helps too. “It also helps to have veterans like David Green [her spotter/driver coach] on your team. He has helped me out tremendously this year with adapting to the new cars and tracks.”

In the few starts she has made this season, Johanna is making gains, capturing two Top Fifteen finishes in her last three races, which includes her highest result of 12th. Her next start is slated for this coming Sunday at Chicagoland.

Her finishes aren’t the only thing drawing attention to the 20-year-old. The fact that she is a woman racing in NASCAR is also turning heads. When Long thinks of her self, though, all she sees is a driver.

“. . . there’s no hiding the fact that I’m a female competing in a male-dominated sport, but it’s the profession that I chose, so I knew exactly what I was getting myself into . . . when I strap into my car, I’m not considered a “girl” driver, I’m just a race car driver competing against 43 others. At the end of the day, I evaluate myself as a driver, and I think most people do the same.”

This mentality is one she inherited from her father, who told her at a young age, if you want to be a good girl driver, then you might as well hang up your helmet. She also states he is why she is racing today. “If it wasn’t for [my dad], I wouldn’t have gotten my very first shot behind the wheel of a go-kart at age 8. I looked up to him when he was racing in Late Models and I always wanted to be just like him. He has been one of my biggest mentors, fans, he has been my coach and of course, my dad. I don’t know what I would do without him.”

When asked about the next generation of young racers, Johanna offered up this bit of advice: “No matter what obstacles you may face in your career, keep digging. If you have a dream, do everything in your power to reach it. It’s a mind game. If you can see it and believe it, then you can achieve it!” Very heartfelt advice from a driver who’s still young herself.

As for sponsorship opportunities, she stated that she isn’t picky, including, “All I can say is that I would be very appreciative and thankful for any sponsor.”

For now, Johanna Long keeps chipping away, achieving small goals and making even bigger personal gains. Her down to earth demeanor and passion for racing fuels her dreams.

That’s what makes her a true driver.

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Dillon Dominates Kentucky

Posted on June 29, 2012 | Leave a comment

In the best way you can win a race, Austin Dillon lead 192 of 200 laps at Kentucky Speedway and captured the checkered flag Friday night.

“This was domination,” he stated in Victory Lane. “This is awesome!”

Nobody questioned if Dillon could win, but when. That question has finally been answered. His car was stout the whole race, but he said the last adjustment just made the car take off.

The win was eerie because of the black pain scheme and that #3. Many fans were ecstatic to see that famous number covered in victory champagne and confetti once again. Chocolate Myers, the famous gasman for Dale Earnhardt Sr., summed it up perfectly with his tweet:

“3 forever. Forever 3.”

Coming in second was Kurt Busch, whose engine began to drop a cylinder with 5 to go. Bringing the car home after a hard fought finish, Busch stated, “It just started to make a different noise.”

Busch was running for his younger brother Kyle’s team, Kyle Busch Motorsports, being the first Busch to ‘bring it home without a scratch,’ they joked. Despite his recent troubles, Kurt has began to rise up again, happy with his finish.

The #3 was in a different zip code, as it use to be when it was wheeled by The Intimidator. There is no doubt the Dillon is the real deal, and it’s great to see a rookie rise to the top.

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The GoDaddy/Danica Effect

Posted on June 23, 2012 | 6 Comments

GoDaddy, the internet hosting site known for it’s racy commercials starring NNS driver Danica Patrick, recently announced that their company was ready to change their image. They want to come across as a more professional business and cut out the sexy advertising.

We all know sex sells in a lot of situations, but men make up a good-sized part of the racing fan base. Yet women, including myself, don’t really care for a bikini-clad Danica going across my screen when there’s action on the track. The driver of the #10 GoDaddy Chevy hasn’t done anything on-track that’s really special, but she’s the topic that’s setting the NASCAR world on fire.

If the new direction for GoDaddy’s campaigning makes her seem more like a serious driver, then I’m all for it. What I’m wondering is if the damage is already done.

With all the publicity Patrick is getting, it could sway the thoughts of other female drivers or, even more troublesome, young girls. “If those commercials get her more attention, why not?” In racing, and in society, image has become a factor that determines how people view individuals. Although it isn’t right, those with a more flashy representation get more publicity, compared to those who may be more entitled to the promotion.

Take Johanna Long, for example. The 20-year-old gained respect from competitors such as Elliott Sadler and Brad Keselowski last week at Michigan, where she claimed a 16th place finish. She ran great throughout the whole race. The announcers only talked about her twice. During the same race, Patrick spun two times and was the subject of much talk. I see that as unfair.

Now, on the other hand, we have Kasey Kahne. He’s known as a NASCAR heartthrob because of how he looks, and many females were attracted to the sport for that reason. The driver doesn’t like talking about his ‘fan girls,’ mostly because he doesn’t see himself that way. I remember back when he was sponsored by Allstate, and the company used his Pretty Boy image to their advantage. The commercials featured three woman chasing around Kahne and vying for his attention. You could say that’s similar to what Danica is doing. But there’s a line: when the business opportunity is used, and when it’s abused. Kahne brought women in, yet Patrick is pushing them away to some extent.

If I were Danica, I would be happy with this new direction GoDaddy is going in. It’s definitely a new direction for the company, but maybe it’s the right direction.

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Tuesday is Judgment Day for Busch

Posted on June 11, 2012 | Leave a comment

After the race at Pocono, we crowned winner Joey Logano, quieting some noise from those who thought he wasn’t fit for the Cup series. However, one question still hangs in the air, one that may be resolved this Tuesday.

The Kurt Busch saga is a train wreck none of us can stop watching. Once we think it’s lost momentum, something happens to cause more damage. This race wasn’t as exciting, though; Busch was suspended from all NASCAR sanctioned events this weekend, which restrained him from running in Pocono. David Reutimann filled his spot and garnered a 21st-place finish.

James Finch, the owner of Busch’s #51, stated after the suspension that Tuesday was when him and the controversial driver would “sit down and have a Come-To-Jesus talk.” That day is almost here, and some are wondering if there is a future for the elder Busch.

I’m not sure why there is much speculation about what Finch should do. If I were him, Kurt would’ve been gone a while ago.

If you are unfamiliar with the story, Kurt Busch has been known as the Radio Sweetheart for his constant shouting during races and his temper. Last weekend at Dover, he threatened a reporter after the Nationwide race and received a suspension. One of his famous outbursts happened last year at Homestead, where he berated an interviewer and was caught on camera.

There is no doubt he has an issue, something personal, that he needs to deal with, but it has gone too far. Finch has to let Kurt go. The deal between the owner and driver was a handshake one, no contracts involved.

“I hired him for his foot, not his mouth,” is what Finch first stated when the two came together. Well, it seems like enough is enough, not just for the team owner, but the crew, too. Many pit road members have stated how they’re tired of the constant shouting and attacks to the organization. For a tiny team like Finch’s, keeping the workers they have is very crucial.

There are many drivers that could be seated into the #51 after this year, where that Handshake deal is up. But, after Tuesday, will it be open earlier than planned?

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