Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Crazy 2012 Daytona 500 Claimed by Matt Kenseth

Photo Credit: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images for NASCAR
 

 

After 53 years of Sunday Daytona 500, NASCAR drivers, teams and fans could be forgiven for expecting the 500-mile event at the Daytona International Speedway would be resolved by the time many go back to work on Monday. Unfortunate for the 2012 running of the “Great American Race”, ended a long motorsport streak by postponing the classic stock car event on the 2.5-mile superspeedway oval for the first time ever.

 
Originally postponed to Monday afternoon, continuing rain showers gave the officials overseeing the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series reason to again reschedule the start of the Daytona 500 to 7pm Eastern time. To the delight of everyone, the precipitation left the track in time for engines of 43 cars to ignite. Already an unusual event based on the Monday evening start, the 54th Daytona 500 reception of the green flag kicked-off one of the most bizarre, memorable races in the race’s history.

 
Carl Edwards took the green flag for the 2012 debut of the NASCAR Sprint Cup cars but the #99 Fastenal Ford was quickly unseated once the lead drivers came up to speed. Regan Smith in the #78 Furniture Row Chevrolet flew to the front by lap one just as the race’s first big wreck transpired. Just as most of the field completed the first lap of the Daytona 500, a multi-car tangle occurred when the #48 Lowes Chevrolet driven by Jimmie Johnson was tapped in the middle of the drafting pack. As Johnson was sent into the outer Daytona wall, David Ragan in the #38 car, the #51 Chevy of Kurt Busch and the #10 driven by high-profile Sprint Cup Series rookie Danica Patrick were damaged. Patrick and Busch were able to return to the event after extended stays behind the wall as crews repaired their racing machines but 2006 Daytona 500 winner Jimmie Johnson and the #48 Hendrick Motorsports car was out of the event in just the second lap. The retirement of Johnson marked what would be a difficult Daytona 500 for Hendrick Motorsport that would be followed before halfway by a blown engine on Jeff Gordon’s #24 Chevrolet.

 

 
Photo Credit: Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR

 

After another yellow flag thrown on lap 14 for a spinning Ryan Newman (now major damage was sustained to his #39 Chevy), the race began to demonstrate advantages and perils of pack racing in the draft. After Lap 17, Denny Hamlin (who started 31st position in the Daytona 500 following a disastrous finish in his Duel 150 event) led continuously for 24 laps. Unseating the #11 Toyota of Hamlin from the lead was the #31 Chevrolet belonging to Richard Childress Racing driver Jeff Burton. Green flag pit stops would cause the front position to be swapped with Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart until they pitted to return lead to Burton. A caution for debris would end 49 laps of green flag racing at Daytona International Speedway (a caution-free streak that would become the longest in the 2012 Daytona 500).

 
Martin Truex Jr in the #56 NAPA Toyota for Michael Waltrip Racing led the NASCAR Sprint Cup pack across the line for the halfway-point in the 2012 Daytona 500 thereby making the race official. With concerns for rain around past the 100 lap-mark of the event, drivers were getting more aggressive than ever. After a short-lived fight, it was the #11 Toyota of Denny Hamlin that once again found the preferential lead position on lap 103. Holding up to first for another 28 laps, Greg Biffle took the lead of the Daytona 500 just ahead of a caution for the #15 Toyota of Clint Bowyer that ran out of fuel. Following the yellow flag, the Roush Fenway Racing group showing the near dominating pace identical to that displayed in the second Gatorade Duel 150 race. At lap 133, Biffle’s #17 Ford held the lead for 6 laps until the #17 Ford of Matt Kenseth would flourish to the led on lap 146 after a stint where two Joe Gibbs Racing Toyotas were present at the found.

 
After the rain-out that delayed the race for over 30 hours, a caution initially called for a one-car spin involving the #30 Chevy of David Stremme after the vehicle blew an engine on-track. Crew members work to clean up the oil left by the #30 car incident (a safety crew that included a high-powered track jet dryer) under caution on lap 160 until a scary and surreal on-track moment.

 
The #42 Target Chevrolet piloted by Juan-Pablo Montoya, rushing to catch the back of the race, suddenly veered right on the backstretch hammering the jet dryer truck. A heavy hit, a fireball thrown up by the intense jet dryer heat. The front end of the #42 Chevy was briefly ignited but was extinguished quickly thanks partially to the damaged car spinning into the infield. However, as Juan-Pablo Montoya climbed out of his wrecked race vehicle, fuel from the jet dryer began running down the Daytona International Speedway’s 31-degree banking. A large fire burned as safety crew reinforcements with a fire truck raced to the scene. After several minutes of flames cooking overtop of the turn 3 asphalt, the fire was suppressed. Despite the inferno that erupted from the jet dryer fuel cascading down the track, neither Montoya nor the safety crew member Duane Barnes was seriously hurt in the accident (however both men were checked out by medical personnel for precaution).

 

 
Photo Credit: Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images for NASCAR
 
 
Cleaning up the Daytona International Speedway after one of the harshest fires ever transpiring on the race surface, NASCAR threw a red flag stopping the Daytona 500. Attempting to steal to the race by staying on-track while other cars pitted, the #36 Tommy Baldwin Racing car driven by Dave Blaney was in the lead and looked poised to win the 2012 Daytona 500. The uncertainty of the jet dryer fire’s affect on the track’s surface and a chance of more rain showers threatened the continuation of the event. However, with no major rainfalls, the track crews just over two hours to extract the burnt jet dryer and truck, clean off the jet fuel residue as well as repair the track surface with a fast-drying compound.
 
 
 

 
Photo Credit: Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images for NASCAR

 
After an extended stay on the backstretch under red flag conditions, drivers were ordered back to their NASCAR Sprint Cup cars. Almost midnight, the field were again circulating around the 2.5-mile oval. Some questioned whether the resumption of the Daytona 500 was wise based on the considerable repairs conducted on the Daytona International Speedway. Concern for the track surface quickly dissipated when the field completed their first green flag laps over the restored turn 3 patch.
 
With 35 laps to go in the Daytona 500, the fight was on for the race’s Harley Earl Trophy. Matt Kenseth commanded the drafting pack waiting for the laps to count down. In three multi-car accidents in the final 21 laps consumed several frontrunners of the Daytona 500. Carl Edwards, Brad Keselowski, Regan Smith and AJ Allmendinger were removed from contention either in the garage area or marching wounded on the race track. The #5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet of Kasey Kahne was also caught in a lap 189 crash. With three out of four Rick Hendrick cars out of front-running position, the #88 Chevrolet of Dale Earnhardt Jr was the organization’s only chance at victory. On the final restart during a green-white-checkered period, Earnhardt Jr made a substantial fight to push the #16 Ford of Greg Biffle past the leading #17 car. Despite a hit pressing bump draft through the final two laps of the event, there was not enough pace to pass Matt Kenseth.
 
 
 
 
Photo Credit: Streeter Lecka/Getty Imags
 
After 202 laps (a race distance extended 2 laps due to the final green-white-checkered finish), the #17 Best Buy Ford of Matt Kenseth stormed across the start/finish line winning the 2012 Daytona 500. The 22nd win for Kenseth in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and second Daytona 500 victory, the #17 car win is also Roush Fenway Racing’s 300th win within the top-3 NASCAR series (Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series).
 

Unable to push Greg Biffle to the lead, Dale Earnhardt Jr successfully passed the #16 car for second place. The 2012 race becomes Earnhardt Jr’s third runner-up finish in the Daytona 500 (His father finished second five times in the “Great American Race“). Biffle, Denny Hamlin and Jeff Burton rounded out the top-5 for the 2012 Daytona 500. Racing to a sixth place finish, Paul Menard scaled from a 37th place starting position to insert himself between Richard Childress Racing teammates Burton and Kevin Harvick. Michael Waltrip Racing also earns honourable mention with Mark Martin placing tenth behind the wheel of the #55 Toyota in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Clint Bowyer finishing 11th after in-race troubles. Both veteran drivers were making first point-paying race drives for Michael Waltrip‘s race team.
 
In 2009, Matt Kenseth won the rain-shortened Daytona 500 event after completing 152 of the scheduled 200 laps. One of only four times a Daytona 500 race was cut due to weather, that instance had NASCAR declaring the event as over in a relatively short time span. Kenseth's 2012 Daytona win in what was a marathon NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season opener would definitely make-up for that premature Daytona 500 running in 2009.
 


2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Daytona International Speedway
Daytona 500
Race Results
 
  1. 17 Matt Kenseth Best Buy Ford
  2. 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Diet Mountain Dew/National Guard Chevrolet
  3. 16 Greg Biffle 3M Ford
  4. 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Express Toyota
  5. 31 Jeff Burton Caterpillar Chevrolet
  6. 27 Paul Menard Menards/Peak Chevrolet
  7. 29 Kevin Harvick Budweiser Chevrolet
  8. 99 Carl Edwards Fastenal Ford
  9. 20 Joey Logano The Home Depot Toyota
  10. 55 Mark Martin Aaron's Toyota
  11. 15 Clint Bowyer 5-hour Energy Toyota
  12. 56 Martin Truex Jr. NAPA Auto Parts Toyota
  13. 9 Marcos Ambrose Stanley Ford
  14. 47 Bobby Labonte Kroger Toyota
  15. 36 Dave Blaney Ollie's Bargain Outlet Chevrolet
  16. 14 Tony Stewart Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet
  17. 18 Kyle Busch M&M's Brown Toyota
  18. 32 Terry Labonte C&J Energy Ford
  19. 26 Tony Raines Front Row Motorsports Ford
  20. 6 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Ford EcoBoost Ford
  21. 39 Ryan Newman U.S. ARMY/Quicken Loans Chevrolet
  22. 83 Landon Cassill Burger King Toyota
  23. 38 David Gilliland MHP/Power Pak Pudding Ford
  24. 78 Regan Smith Furniture Row/CSX Play It Safe Chevrolet
  25. 13 Casey Mears GEICO Ford
  26. 93 David Reutimann Burger King Toyota
  27. 33 Elliott Sadler General Mills/Kroger Chevrolet
  28. 87 Joe Nemechek AM FM Energy Wood & Pellet Stoves Toyota
  29. 5 Kasey Kahne Farmers Insurance Chevrolet
  30. 98 Michael McDowell No.98 KLOVE/Curb Records Ford Ford
  31. 1 Jamie McMurray Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Chevrolet
  32. 2 Brad Keselowski Miller Lite Dodge
  33. 43 Aric Almirola Smithfield Helping Hungry Homes Ford
  34. 22 AJ Allmendinger Shell Pennzoil Dodge
  35. 21 Trevor Bayne Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford
  36. 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Target Chevrolet
  37. 30 David Stremme Inception Motorsports Toyota
  38. 10 Danica Patrick GoDaddy.com Chevrolet
  39. 51 Kurt Busch Hendrickcars.com Chevrolet
  40. 24 Jeff Gordon Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet
  41. 7 Robby Gordon MAPEI/Menards/SPEED Energy Dodge
  42. 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe's Chevrolet
  43. 34 David Ragan Scorpion Truck Bedliners Ford

Monday, February 27, 2012

Daytona 500 Rained Out on Sunday for First Time in 54 Races

Photo Credit: Russell LaBounty/Autostock


As much as it is to a picnic, a rainy day is a nemesis to auto racing. While road racing tours such as Formula 1, sports car and even (on limited basis) the IZOD INDYCAR racing series have developed counter-measures like rain tires, windshield wipers and defoggers that allows the competition to continue in most weather, events running on oval tracks are still held at the mercy of nature. Impractical and unsafe even when using any current technology, it is mostly stock cars (specifically those of NASCAR) that suffer the severe effects of precipitation. While rain delays and postponements are far from unexpected by drivers, teams and fans of NASCAR, one major event ran a frankly defying streak of delivering a race on the day scheduled.

Since their inaugural event at Daytona International Speedway in 1959, the tour now known as the NASCAR Sprint Cup stock car series has competed at the Daytona 500 on Sunday. In fact, in 53 years, the Daytona 500 has run to the full 200-lap distance on all but 5 occasions. Once scheduled to a shortened 450-mile distance in 1974 due to an oil crisis, the other 4 occasion in 1965, 1966, 2003 and 2009 were due to rain past the halfway point in the Daytona 500 race. For 53 runnings, the Daytona International Speedway appeared to have control over the most uncontrollable elements. Building an incredible winning streak for fans to expect to see their favourite stock car drivers compete on the 2.5-oval track, the streak ended at 53 this weekend.

Despite several attempts to jet-dry the asphalt racing surface over a four-hour period, a stubborn weather system sailing through Daytona Beach continued to defeat any effort. Thanks what turned out to be three-quarters of an inch of rain through the course of the afternoon on February 26th, the Daytona 500 was postponed for the first time.

On Monday, NASCAR will attempt to start the Great American Race at noon-time eastern. Unfortunately, forecasts call for an elevated chance of precipitation throughout the afternoon Monday(between 70-90 percent). Thunderstorms are also predicted as likely on Monday's during the attempt to start the Daytona 500. NASCAR and Daytona International Speedway does have optimism that rainfall may slow or cease long enough to dry the track sufficiently for competition.

Set to start the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup season, drivers, teams and fans will hope the green flag drops at noon Monday.

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Senna Documentary’s Unfitting Snub for Oscar Nomination

Photo Credit: MPH The Prestige & Performance Motor Show

Not completely familiar with the nomination procedure for the Academy Awards, I was eagerly awaiting the chance to announce a best documentary nod for the film that detailed a great Brazilian athlete. Sadly, when I realized that the documentary did not even make the list for nomination contenders, I was left feeling that the Senna movie did not receive the attention the flamboyant 3-time Formula 1 champion’s story deserved.
Nominated for the 2012 Oscar category for best feature documentary is Hell and Back Again, If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front, Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory, Pina and Undefeated. A fine set of films demonstrating the exploration that documentary teams have made in the year that was 2011, members and fans of the motorsport community noted the omission of one compelling documentary from the Academy Awards nomination list. A very powerful film profiling the awesome career of Formula 1 legend Ayrton Senna, the documentary Senna has been a gripping characterization of a most passionate race car driver.


Photo Credit: Chris Nagy


Spending a short time fighting for distribution, 2011 started with Senna (a Universal Pictures and Working Title production) earning Best Documentary film prize at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival. Recognized by the esteemed judging panel at Sundance, Senna became that rare motorsport-related film that wins over non-auto racing fans. A life compiled by acclaimed European director Asif Kapadia through the interviews and dramatic lifestyle of Formula 1 racing, the documentary movie Senna eventually made it across Europe, South American and into North American this past summer. Fortunate enough to catch the movie in Toronto in August 2011, I had not seen such a master documentary film as to the first time seeing Senna. In honesty, when I recommended Senna, I knew I was not favouring a movie merely on my commitment to my motorsport passion. Senna was a unique time at the theater that a popular figure’s life was captured in such a well-rounded manner. In a detailed review on Automoblog.net, I spoke glowingly about the film and desire that I have convinced at least one or two others to see this documentary.



Photo Credit: MPH The Prestige & Performance Motor Show


Providing an honesty and impartiality rarely seen in even recent documentary films, Senna was by no means a “fluff piece” about the driver and his sport. Senna was especially brilliant in delivering a rich narrative of a man who changed a sport (and how the sport changed the man). From the start of his grand prix, viewers saw Ayrton Senna driving his Toleman Formula 1 car as a young man simply living his dream of high-speed auto racing. At no point was Ayrton Senna portrayed as the “Hollywood underdog”. The documentary film shows the legendary Brazilian driver’s conviction to Formula 1 with McLaren F1 was on display through the middle of Senna only to be rattled up until his fatal crash in the 1994 European Grand Prix.

Such a wonderful piece of filmmaking, Sundance would only be the earliest award show recognition for Senna. Though 2011 and into 2012, Senna has been nominated 19 times total for 12 wins. Winning prizes at the National Board of Review, Los Angeles Film Festival and the Melbourne International Film Festival, the highest-touted honours for Senna came from the recent 2012 BAFTA Awards where the movie received Best Editing as well as Best Documentary. Based on the success at so many other film honours, the snub at the 2012 Oscars seems even more bizarre.



Photo Credit: Veloce



Perhaps I speak with a person with bias towards motorsports. Through my time blogging on this site (as well as my articles in other publications I have been fortunate to collaborate), it is hard for me to argue my complete impartiality. The entire auto racing world is a soulful, graceful and impassioned arena that not everyone quite understands or accepts. Getting lost behind the machinery, the sponsorship logos and isolated crowds who only claim attending auto races to see crashes, the people within the motorsports community (not just the drivers but the owners, crew members, track workers, etc.) are committed to be guardians to the an incredible display every time an race car’s engine starts. Physical as well as mental strain on drivers and crew member is an athletic ability shown all-too clearly in NASCAR, NHRA, INDYCAR or Formula 1 events.

As the 2012 Academy Awards is being held Sunday, my point for writing this declaration for the Senna documentary was not meant to shame those for not picking the movie for an Oscar nod. Rather, it is my intent to properly honour a documentary that captures the spirit for which stories are told on film.

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Stewart, Kenseth Winners in Gatorade Duel 150 Races

Photo Credit: Chris Graythen/Getty Images for NASCAR

 
Continuing a long-standing spectacle unique to the Daytona Speedweeks, 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers and teamed suited up to the only qualifying heat races on the series' schedule. With only the top-two spots for the Daytona 500 secured after Sunday time trial, the filling of 41 remaining positions would be resolved through a pair of 125-mile, 60-lap races. Dividing the Sunday qualifying field in half, pole winner Carl Edwards would lead race 1 for odd-numbered qualifiers while Roush Fenway teammate Greg Biffle had the top starting spot for race 2.

 
Following the Budweiser Shootout hosted at the Daytona International Speedway the previous Saturday night, a preview for the type of restrictor plate racing indicated drivers would need to reacquaint themselves with multiple-car packs. After spending 2011 experimenting with the two-car tandem drafting, NASCAR teams would be held in tighter quarter racing. Making for a more wide-open race where any driver with momentum could find their way to the front, pack racing also decreases the tolerable margin of error between competitors. The side effect of pack racing was shown at least three times in the 2012 Budweiser Shootout with major, multi-car wrecks. Some observers speculated NASCAR Sprint Cup series teams may have received new regulations in reaction to the sometimes wild racing. Allowing teams to increase the engine water pressure check valve from 25 PSI to 28 PSI, NASCAR made no other changes to the sporting rules heading into the Gatorade Duel 150s.

 
Races mixed with well-established teams and veteran drivers, first time Daytona 500 runners and teams outside of the top-35 needing a strong run simply to make the Great American Race Sunday, there was a total of 49 teams intent to compete at the 2.5-mile oval;s 43-car event this weekend. The last non-points competition to involve NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers ahead of the official start of the 2012 season with the Daytona 500, the Gatorade Duel 150s were staged Thursday as an important event for all drivers.

 

 
Race 1:

Photo Credit: Tom Pennington/Getty Images for NASCAR

 
Daytona 500 pole sitter Carl Edwards led the 25-car field to green Thursday in the first Gatorade Duel 150 event. Edwards' #99 Ford Fusion led the first of 60 laps but was soon overhauled by Tony Stewart's #14 Chevrolet. By lap 5, the Hendrick Motorsports #88 Chevrolet driven by Dale Earnhardt Jr stormed to the top spot.

 
Historically regarded as the qualifying race containing the most cautions, the first Gatorade Duel 150 event for 2012 Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway delivered on yellow flag expectations. A four-car incident in turn 1 on lap 10 when the #38 Ford of David Gilliland was poked by the #98 machine driven by Michael McDowell. Gilliland's car continued a path up the 31-degree banking collecting the #42 of Juan Pablo Montoya and Paul Menard's #27 Chevrolet. David Gilliland, Juan Pablo Montoya and Paul Menard were out of the race due to significant crash damage.

 
Following the major accident, the first Gatorade Duel 150 stabilized with Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin taking the lead of the event at lap 17. Driving the #11 FedEx Toyota, Hamlin led 27 laps of the Duel 150 event.

 
Attempting to make the 2012 Daytona 500, two-time winner of the biggest NASCAR Sprint Cup series race Michael Waltrip was feverish in his efforts to make his 26th career Daytona 500-mile race. Unfortunately, a lap 54 incident ended his plans of making the 2012 race with the #40 Toyota. Leaving pit road after making a needed fuel stop, Waltrip miscalculated his reentry onto the Daytona race track. Combined with the likelihood of debris on the lower track surface, Michael Waltrip lost control of his Toyota race car crashing it into the outer backstretch wall. Following the failure to quality for the Daytona 500 in 2012, Michael Waltrip responded through team media "I just went the wrong way and lost the car. I feel like I let everybody down. I raced my way to the front and then I let them down. It's just really hard. I don't know what to say -- it's just sad.".

 
Setting up a 4-lap rush for the finish, the #14 car of Tony Stewart led the NASCAR Sprint Cup group to the final run to the checkered flag. Dale Earnhardt Jr, Jeff Burton and Marcos Ambrose made the race interesting at the end coming down to the final lap. However, the race would conclude out of turn 2 when the #43 Ford of Aric Almirola made contact with Danica Patrick's #10 Chevrolet. Sent for a fast, violent ride, Patrick flew into the lower retaining wall. Fortunately unhurt, Danica Patrick's first Daytona 500 will have her starting the Stewart-Haas Racing team car deep in the field.

 
Under the protection of the yellow flag, Tony Stewart cruised to the start/finish line for the first Gatorade Duel 150 event with Dale Earnhardt Jr following in second place. Marcos Ambrose, Jeff Burton and Carl Edwards rounded out the top-5.

 

 
Race 2:

Photo Credit: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images for NASCAR


 
Under the guidance of 2012 Daytona 500 front row starter Greg Biffle, the second Gatorade Duel 150 qualifying race. Unlike race 1, the second Gatorade Duel 150 event ran without the appearance of a yellow flag. The result in this second race was a more methodical competition where NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers carefully made their moves through the field.

 
With a Roush Fenway Racing Ford leading the event early, race 2 for the Gatorade Duel 150 would show some impressive pace for the Ford Fusions. Between Greg Biffle and Matt Kenseth, 50 of the 60 race laps would be led by the Roush Fenway Racing organization. Leading for five laps apiece, the Joe Gibbs Racing Toyotas of Joey Logano and Kyle Busch would the only vehicles able to compete with the Ford brigade.

 
After having his Sunday qualifying time disallowed when the #15 5-Hour Energy Toyota failed to meet post-qualifying inspection, Clint Bowyer fought hard through the Gatorade Duel 150 round to make up positions. Taking his Michael Waltrip Racing car near the front early in the event, Bowyer's efforts were hindered by engine overheating problems. Costing him a lap in the qualifying race, Clint Bowyer could not obtain a spot better than 15th place.

 
Maintaining a single-file drafting train in the final laps, the #16 Ford of Greg Biffle was the top driver. Coming to the white flag though, Biffle's teammate Matt Kenseth made a run on the #16 car along the outside line of turn 4. Getting a push from Jimmie Johnson, Kenseth rapidly roared up on Greg Biffle resulting with the #16 Ford to veer into the path of the #17 teammate. Attempting to hold off Kenseth, Greg Biffle lost momentum causing Matt Kenseth to pass the #16. On the final lap behind Kenseth's #17 Ford, there was contact between the #78 Chevrolet of Regan Smith and Jimmie Johnson's #48 Chevrolet through the Daytona superstretch. While there was a brush-up between the vehicles, both Chevys raced to the finish.

 
At the finish line, Matt Kenseth pulled off a Gatorade Duel 150 victory over the #78 of Regan Smith. Jimmie Johnson, Elliott Sadler and Greg Biffle finished 3rd through 5th in this second qualifying race.

 

 
Starting Lineup for 2012 Daytona 500

 
  1. 99 Carl Edwards Fastenal Ford
  2. 16 Greg Biffle 3M Ford
  3. 14 Tony Stewart Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet
  4. 17 Matt Kenseth Best Buy Ford
  5. 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Diet Mountain Dew/National Guard Chevrolet
  6. 78 Regan Smith Furniture Row/CSX Play It Safe Chevrolet
  7. 9 Marcos Ambrose Stanley Ford
  8. 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe's Chevrolet
  9. 31 Jeff Burton Caterpillar Chevrolet
  10. 33 Elliott Sadler General Mills/Kroger Chevrolet
  11. 98 Michael McDowell No.98 KLOVE/Curb Records Ford Ford
  12. 20 Joey Logano The Home Depot Toyota
  13. 29 Kevin Harvick Budweiser Chevrolet
  14. 18 Kyle Busch M&M's Brown Toyota
  15. 22 AJ Allmendinger Shell Pennzoil Dodge
  16. 24 Jeff Gordon Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet
  17. 7 Robby Gordon MAPEI/Menards/SPEED Energy Dodge
  18. 39 Ryan Newman U.S. ARMY/Quicken Loans Chevrolet
  19. 1 Jamie McMurray Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Chevrolet
  20. 5 Kasey Kahne Farmers Insurance Chevrolet
  21. 6 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Ford EcoBoost Ford
  22. 55 Mark Martin Aaron's Toyota
  23. 2 Brad Keselowski Miller Lite Dodge
  24. 36 Dave Blaney Ollie's Bargain Outlet Chevrolet
  25. 34 David Ragan Scorpion Truck Bedliners Ford
  26. 56 Martin Truex Jr. NAPA Auto Parts Toyota
  27. 43 Aric Almirola Smithfield Helping Hungry Homes Ford
  28. 51 Kurt Busch Hendrickcars.com Chevrolet
  29. 10 Danica Patrick GoDaddy.com Chevrolet
  30. 15 Clint Bowyer 5-hour Energy Toyota
  31. 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Express Toyota
  32. 47 Bobby Labonte Kroger Toyota
  33. 38 David Gilliland MHP/Power Pak Pudding Ford
  34. 87 Joe Nemechek AM FM Energy Wood & Pellet Stoves Toyota
  35. 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Target Chevrolet
  36. 13 Casey Mears GEICO Ford
  37. 27 Paul Menard Menards/Peak Chevrolet
  38. 93 David Reutimann Burger King Toyota
  39. 83 Landon Cassill Burger King Toyota
  40. 21 Trevor Bayne Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford
  41. 26 Tony Raines Front Row Motorsports Ford
  42. 30 David Stremme Inception Motorsports Toyota
  43. 32 Terry Labonte C&J Energy Ford

Thursday, February 23, 2012

2012 Daytona 500 Gatorade Duel 150 Lineups

Photo Credit: Tom Pennington/Getty Images for NASCAR
 
 
Below is the starting lineup for the Gatorade Duel 150 races. Car and drivers marked in red must race into Daytona 500 during the Thursday qualifying heats. 
 
 
2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup
Gatorade Duel 150 Race 1
Daytona International Speedway
Starting Lineup


  1. 99 Carl Edwards Fastenal Ford
  2. 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Diet Mountain Dew/National Guard Chevrolet
  3. 9 Marcos Ambrose Stanley Ford
  4. 6 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Ford EcoBoost Ford
  5. 21 Trevor Bayne Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford
  6. 14 Tony Stewart Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet
  7. 43 Aric Almirola Smithfield Helping Hungry Homes Ford
  8. 27 Paul Menard Menards/Peak Chevrolet
  9. 34 David Ragan Scorpion Truck Bedliners Ford
  10. 22 AJ Allmendinger Shell Pennzoil Dodge
  11. 2 Brad Keselowski Miller Lite Dodge
  12. 29 Kevin Harvick Budweiser Chevrolet
  13. 31 Jeff Burton Caterpillar Chevrolet
  14. 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Target Chevrolet
  15. 30 David Stremme Inception Motorsports Toyota
  16. 1 Jamie McMurray Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Chevrolet
  17. 10 Danica Patrick GoDaddy.com Chevrolet
  18. 32 Terry Labonte C&J Energy Ford
  19. 40 Michael Waltrip Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota
  20. 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Express Toyota
  21. 98 Michael McDowell No.98 KLOVE/Curb Records Ford
  22. 83 Landon Cassill Burger King Toyota
  23. 38 David Gilliland MHP/Power Pak Pudding Ford
  24. 37 Mike Wallace Poynt.com Ford
  25. 7 Robby Gordon MAPEI/Menards/SPEED Energy Dodge
 

 
2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup
Gatorade Duel 150 Race 2
Daytona International Speedway
Starting Lineup


  1. 16 Greg Biffle 3M Ford
  2. 13 Casey Mears GEICO Ford
  3. 24 Jeff Gordon Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet
  4. 56 Martin Truex Jr. NAPA Auto Parts Toyota
  5. 55 Mark Martin Aaron's Toyota
  6. 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe's Chevrolet
  7. 17 Matt Kenseth Best Buy Ford
  8. 39 Ryan Newman U.S. ARMY/Quicken Loans Chevrolet
  9. 20 Joey Logano The Home Depot Toyota
  10. 5 Kasey Kahne Farmers Insurance Chevrolet
  11. 26 Tony Raines Front Row Motorsports Ford
  12. 18 Kyle Busch M&M's Brown Toyota
  13. 9 Kenny Wallace American Ethanol Toyota
  14. 36 Dave Blaney Ollie's Bargain Outlet Chevrolet
  15. 51 Kurt Busch Hendrickcars.com Chevrolet
  16. 33 Elliott Sadler General Mills/Kroger Chevrolet
  17. 87 Joe Nemechek AM FM Energy Wood & Pellet Stoves Toyota
  18. 78 Regan Smith Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet
  19. 47 Bobby Labonte Kroger Toyota
  20. 97 Bill Elliott AM FM Energy Wood & Pellet Stoves Toyota
  21. 93 David Reutimann Burger King Toyota
  22. 23 Robert Richardson Jr. North Texas Pipe Toyota
  23. 49 JJ Yeley America Israel Racing Toyota
  24. 15 Clint Bowyer 5-hour Energy Toyota

 
 

 

 

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Busch Smokes Smoke for Bud Shootout Win at Daytona

Photo Credit: Jamie Squire/Getty Images

A race almost three months in the waiting, the 2012 Budweiser Shootout launched the NASCAR Sprint Cup competition with a non-points event. Bringing the new fuel-injected V-8 engines of the world's most premier stock car series to life, the Daytona International Speedway plays host to an annual event that combines the accomplishments of the previous season with a perspective towards the upcoming season. The scheduled 75-lap event brought 25 selected drivers into a Saturday night fight for a purse just over a million dollars as well as the all-important begging rights entering the following Sunday's Daytona 500.

Michael Waltrip Racing's #56 Toyota piloted by Martin Truex Jr led the 25-car field to the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup season's first green flag (although unofficial). After several rule changes designed to eliminate last year's prevalent 'two-car tandem' drafting at restrictor plate races, the first major competition at Daytona International Speedway saw the multi-car packs return as the main method for lapping the 2.5-mile oval. The racing action immediately became anxious as the Budweiser Shootout saw drivers frequently going up to three-wide.

At the front of the Budweiser Shootout early, Truex Jr's pole advantage was nullified by the #88 Chevrolet of Dale Earnhardt Jr surge from a 7th place spot to the lead in the first lap. In addition to Earnhardt Jr, drivers Joey Logano, Jamie McMurray and Kevin Harvick also possessed the top spot across the Daytona start/finish line within only the first 10 laps.

A wild race within 25 cars, the Budweiser Shootout competition would be reduced early by an accident on lap 9. Through turn 2, the #34 Ford of David Ragan and Paul Menard's #27 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet made contact that caused a chain reaction wreck collecting 9 cars. Among the vehicles damaged in the race's first caution was the #11 FedEx Toyota of Denny Hamlin, Jeff Burton's #31 Chevrolet and the #55 Toyota driven by Michael Waltrip. Of the five cautions for the night, three (including the lap 9 altercation) would be for multi-car accidents.

A race divided into two segments (first a 25-lap and second a 50-lap stint), the NASCAR Sprint Cup racers aggressively ran through the initial 25 laps. Showing some considerable speed, the #1 Chevrolet piloted by 2012 Daytona 500 winner Jamie McMurray made the most of his Earnhardt-Childress Racing engine once again at Daytona. With a 10-minute break for teams to tune their cars for the final 50 laps, the race was wide-open for any competition (or situation) to win out.

Photo Credit: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

Similar to the first racing segment, the second part of the 2012 Budweiser Shootout would involve rapid lead changes. Coming strong in the first 25 laps, Jeff Gordon's #24 Chevrolet took the lead in the second segment's first lap. The #16 Roush-Fenway Racing Ford of Greg Biffle and AJ Allmendinger, driving the #22 Dodge for the first time in competition for Penske Racing, added their names to the leader board of the event.

Having started alongside Martin Truex Jr on the front row after the Budweiser Shootout qualifying draw Friday, the #18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota in the hands of Kyle Busch remained quiet during the event until a wild slide on lap 47. Sent sideways, Kyle Busch showed off some brilliant car control by saving his M&Ms-sponsored race vehicle avoiding major damage and a caution. Through the latter stage of the event, Busch and the #18 Toyota involved deeply in the action of the 2012 Budweiser Shootout.

With a big wreck at lap 9 of the Daytona event, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competitors were once-again to be swept by a major accident in turn 2. When the #9 Ford of Marcos Ambrose tagged Joey Logano's #20 Toyota, the ensuing accident collected several front runners. The #17 Ford of Matt Kenseth, Kevin Harvick and Dale Earnhardt Jr were all finished for the night following major damage from the wreck.

Photo Credit: Jamie Squire/Getty Images
As the field of the Budweiser Shootout thinned after two major restrictor plate accidents, there was still a considerable pack of NASCAR Sprint Cup cars in position for the 2012 edition of the event. With just a handful of laps remaining, almost every race car remaining stood a chance of taking the 2012 Budweiser Shootout at Daytona but Jeff Gordon, Kyle Busch and Tony Stewart appeared to be primed as favourites within 2 laps to go. Entering into turn 3 on lap 73, Kyle Busch was sent sideways once more by an aggressive Jeff Gordon. While Busch chased control in his #18 machine, the contact created a chain reaction that swept up 8 cars. Among the vehicles caught up included Gordon's #24 Chevrolet that flew into the turn 4 wall, was lifted onto its side and sent burrow-rolling down the frontstretch. Landing upside-down, Jeff Gordon carefully climbed out of his Hendrick Motorsports car unhurt. This second-to-last lap wreck also ended the Budweiser Shootout for Jamie Mcmurray, the #48 Chevrolet of Jimmie Johnson and Kurt Busch Piloting his first race with the Phoenix Racing #51 Chevrolet.

Once the accident scene was cleaned up, NASCAR issued a green-white-checkered restart to the field of 10 lead lap cars. Tony Stewart led the group to the final green flag of the 2012 Budweiser Shootout and was immediately placed under attack by the multi-car drafting trains. On the final lap, 2011 Watkins Glen winner Marcos Ambrose received credit for the lead. However, it would be a fight between Tony Stewart and Kyle Busch off the final corner on the final lap that would settle the Budweiser Shootout at Daytona. Skillfully holding onto the #18 Toyota from near accidents twice, Kyle Busch placed himself along the passenger side of Stewart's #14 Chevrolet en route to the checkered flag. To the line, Busch ended a fantastic Saturday night performance by inching Tony Stewart by a 0.013-second margin (The closest ever in the Budweiser Shootout event's history). Behind Tony Stewart, Marcos Ambrose, Brad Keselowski and Denny Hamlin rounded out the top-5 for the Budweiser Shootout.

With 13 of the 25 cars classified as running at the end of the Budweiser Shootout, question now exist on whether the return to large drafting packs could be done in a safe manner for the Gatorade Duel 150s or the Daytona 500 race. What may come into play is the Budweiser Shootout differs from the Daytona 500 as a non-points sprint event where there was little to lose by taking chances. The Daytona 500 is a far more methodical event that is prepared to run February 26th as the official beginning of the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup season.


2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup
Budweiser Shootout
Daytona International Speedway
Race Results


Position        |   Car No.      | Driver                 | Sponsor/Car Make
1 18 Kyle Busch M&M's Toyota
2 14 Tony Stewart Mobil 1 / Office Depot Chevrolet
3 9 Marcos Ambrose Stanley Ford
4 2 Brad Keselowski Miller Lite Dodge
5 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Express Toyota
6 16 Greg Biffle 3M Ford
7 39 Ryan Newman WIX Filters Chevrolet
8 15 Clint Bowyer 5-hour Energy Toyota
9 99 Carl Edwards Fastenal Ford
10 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Target Chevrolet
11 31 Jeff Burton CAT Chevrolet
12 22 AJ Allmendinger Shell Pennzoil Dodge
13 5 Kasey Kahne Farmers Insurance Chevrolet
14 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe's Chevrolet
15 24 Jeff Gordon Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet
16 1 Jamie McMurray Bass Pro Shops / Tracker Boats Chevrolet
17 51 Kurt Busch Tag Heuer Avant-Garde Chevrolet
18 20 Joey Logano The Home Depot Toyota
19 56 Martin Truex Jr. NAPA Auto Parts Toyota
20 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. National Guard / Diet Mtn. Dew Chevrolet
21 17 Matt Kenseth Best Buy Ford
22 29 Kevin Harvick Budweiser Chevrolet
23 27 Paul Menard Menards / Peak Chevrolet
24 34 David Ragan MHP / Power Pak Pudding Ford
25 55 Michael Waltrip Aaron's Toyota

New Dallara DW12 INDYCAR at 2012 Canadian International Auto Show

Photo Credit: Chris Nagy

Last week, I had the privilege of attending the media day festivities for the 2012 Canadian International Autoshow. Happily observing the auto show as an assignment for Automoblog.net, there was more than one instance where motorsports interests were stoked at the Toronto exhibition. Part of an exciting display of new production and concept-based Honda vehicles was the all-new Dallara Indy car.

A show car representing the final shape for the new Dallara DW12 chassis open wheel fighter, this race vehicle will deliver a technological step forward for the IZOD INDYCAR Series. Powered by a choice of twin-turbocharged, 2.4 liter V-6 powerplants from Chevrolet, Lotus and (of course) Honda, the latest Dallara chassis/engine combination more technologically-advanced than the normally-aspirated V-8 engine formula existing in the series since 1997. Despite being a newer, more competitive package, the 2012 Indy car engineered to be less expensive for teams to operate while offering improved safety and drivability. Built around a carbon fiber monocoque, the new Dallara Indy car can wear a multitude of varying body kits the leaque hopes to rolls out starting in the 2013 season.

Keen followers to the progress of the Indy car will notice some minor differences from the mid-2011 show car. Witnessing the concept version of the 2012 Dallara at the 2011 Honda Indy Toronto in road course trim, the present design referred to a vehicle yet to be formally track-tested. While the oval version of the refined 2012 Dallara Indy car is not an exact comparison of the advancements made thanks heavily to the test driving of late Indy 500 champion Dan Wheldon, there are some elements that stick-out as altered. The final vehicle featured at the 2012 Canadian International Auto Show withdrew the Dallara's engine cover shark fin and is overall composed of less stylized body lines. The more polished piece displayed at Toronto also carried another more symbolic detail. Honouring the life and achievements of the 2012 car's test driver Dan Wheldon, the Dallara chassis wears the designating initials 'DW' as a continuing tribute.


2012 Dallara Cars: 2011 Road Course Concept (Above), 2012 DW12 Oval Car
  Photo Credit: Chris Nagy

Set to premiere on the St Petersburg street course on March 25th opening the 2012 IZOD INDYCAR Series sechedule, many opern wheel fans in North Ameica will be eager to see the Dallara DW12 live up to the highest of potential.


Saturday, February 18, 2012

Truex Jr Drafts the Right Bottle for Bud Shootout Pole

Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR

 
Unofficially the first NASCAR Sprint Cup race of the season, the 2012 Budweiser Shootout, the world's top stock car racing stars are unleashed on the 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway a weekend ahead of the prestigious Daytona 500. Open to the drivers who clinched a top-25 finishing position in the overall Sprint Cup Series driver standings last season, past winners of Daytona Cup Series events who are still ineligible through points are also granted entrance into the 34th running of the Budweiser Shootout. Started as a 20-lap sprint event in 1979, the Budweiser Shootout's 2012 edition will consist of 75 laps divided by two segments (a 25-lap and 50-lap part) for the ultimate Saturday night spectacle under the lights of the Daytona oval.

Settled by 25 special bottles of Budweiser beer, the starting lineup was drawn by the participating drivers of the non-points race. Unlike the pressures of qualifying for a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event (a sensation that will certainly affect drivers during Sunday's qualifying for the Daytona 500), the Budweiser Shootout draw was a more leisure occasion where fans were reacquainted with their favourite NASCAR drivers. From the massive cheers for Dale Earnhardt Jr to the more colourful choir of cheers and boos for Kyle Busch, the 2012 Budweiser Shootout field was slowly set with many top starting spots selected early. One of the early drivers, Kyle Busch, drew a front-row 2nd place spot for the Saturday night event.

When the draw concluded, Martin Truex Jr left the ceremony with the Budweiser Shootout 2012. A field being led by a pair of Toyota Camrys (Truex Jr's #56 NAPA car for Michael Waltrip Racing and Busch's #18 M&Ms machine owned by Joe Gibbs Racing), the Japanese-derived auto brand has yet to win the Budweiser Shootout. Behind the all-Toyota front row, Brad Keselowski's #2 Miller Lite Dodge will start from the 3rd place position with Jamie McMurray joining on the second row for this Daytona race. With David Ragan starting 5th in the 2012 Budweiser Shootout, the top-5 drivers for this event are all non-winners of the Daytona non-points race.

Parting with the Penske Racing team in a highly eventful departure in the off-season, the defending winner of the Budwieser Shootout Kurt Busch drew a 6th place spot. The older Busch will be driving a Chevrolet in Sprint Cup competition for the first time for Phoenix Racing. Kurt Busch's former car, the #22 Penske Racing Dodge, will be driven by AJ Allmendinger in his maiden race for Penske Racing.  
 
Other former winners of the Budweiser Shootout will be starting the Saturday night with the additional challenge of a deep race position. Coming off his third championship season in 2011, two-time Shootout winner Tony Stewart will start his #14 Chevrolet from the 15th position. Starting 18th will be the 2005 Budweiser Shootout winner and five-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson. Johnson's #48 Chevrolet may easily have the support of new Hendrick Motosports teammate Kasey Kahne placed just one spot behind. Budweiser Shootout victor in 2009 and 2010, Kevin Harvick will start his #29 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet in 22nd spot. The race's title sponsor is also worn on the body panels of Harvick's Chevrolet. Fortunately for Tony Stewart, Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick, the Daytona International Speedway is a renowned restrictor plate track providing the speed for drivers to realistically launch their charge to the front.

The 2012 Budweiser Shootout is set to start at 8:10 PM Eastern time and will be televised on Fox in the United States as well as TSN2 in Canada.



2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup
Daytona International Speedway
Budweiser Shootout
Starting Lineup
 
  1. 56 Martin Truex Jr NAPA Auto Parts Toyota
  2. 18 Kyle Busch M&M's Toyota
  3. 2 Brad Keselowski Miller Lite Dodge
  4. 1 Jamie McMurray Bass Pro Shops / Tracker Boats Chevrolet
  5. 34 David Ragan MHP / Power Pak Pudding Ford
  6. 51 Kurt Busch Tag Heuer Avant / Garde Chevrolet
  7. 16 Greg Biffle 3M Ford
  8. 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr National Guard / Diet Mountain Dew Chevrolet
  9. 22 AJ Allmendinger Shell Pennzoil Dodge
  10. 20 Joey Logano The Home Depot Toyota
  11. 99 Carl Edwards Fastenal Ford
  12. 31 Jeff Burton CAT Chevrolet
  13. 39 Ryan Newman WIX Filters Chevrolet
  14. 24 Jeff Gordon Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet
  15. 14 Tony Stewart Mobil 1 / Office Depot Chevrolet
  16. 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Express Toyota
  17. 15 Clint Bowyer 5-hour Energy Toyota
  18. 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe's Chevrolet
  19. 5 Kasey Kahne Farmers Insurance Chevrolet
  20. 55 Michael Waltrip Aaron's Toyota
  21. 9 Marcos Ambrose Stanley Ford
  22. 29 Kevin Harvick Budweiser Chevrolet
  23. 17 Matt Kenseth Best Buy Ford
  24. 27 Paul Menard Menards / Peak Chevrolet
  25. 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Target Chevrolet