NASCAR Sprint Cup Car to Lose Horsepower, Gains On-board Track Bar Adjuster for 2015

Photo Credit: 301763 Sarah Glenn/NASCAR via Getty Images

Right now, the immediate focus related to the NASCAR Sprint Cup series surrounds the 2014 Chase. However, with eight races remaining in the 2014 season, NASCAR announced a series of rules changes affecting the way the 2015 race cars will be prepared for competition.

For the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup season, the Chevrolet, Ford and Toyota race cars will most notably feature less rear downforce as well as less engine power. Trimming the rear spoiler on this year's car by two inches, the 2015 height for the aerodynamic accessory will be a maximum of six inches. Power for the V-8 engines propelling Sprint Cup cars is being reduced for the upcoming year with the use of a so-called tapered spacer (the same device used on NASCAR Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series vehicles). Adding the tapered spacer, performance output available from the powerplants of 2015 cars is predicted to circulate around 725 horsepower. Other technical revisions for 2015 includes brake calipers, an altered radiator pan width and the reduction of the overall weight of the NASCAR Sprint Cup to 3,250 pounds without the driver (down by 50 pounds more than 2014 rules).

Another major addition for 2015 places more handling control in the hands of the driver. For the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup season, drivers and teams can choose to install optional onboard adjustment tool for the track bar. Teams have long exploited the track bar for dialing in the on-track performance of the stock cars on the tour but it had existed only an adjustment that could be made during pit stops. The driver-controlled track bar adjustment tool will be available as an active tool that could take work off the hands of pit crew members and provide competitors with quicker tailoring of the vehicle's track performance. At this time, one of the only other adjustments available to a driver inside the race car is brake bias.

Changes for the NASCAR Sprint Cup series will not be limited to the cars for 2015 There will also be a number of changes made to the sporting and operations of Sprint Cup series. Destined to affect teams the most is the ban of all private track testing. This measure is seen as a measure to reduce costs and to prevent advantages gained by the higher-funded organizations on the Sprint Cup tour. Teams will be invited to take part in NASCAR-sanctioned tests or Goodyear tire tests only. NASCAR also noted that there will be no test at Daytona International Speedway ahead of the 2015 Daytona 500.

The NASCAR Sprint Cup series will also introduce the group qualifying format that debuted this season at all tracks for 2015 including its implementation at the Daytona 500. At the road course of Sonoma and Watkins Glen, series tire supplier Goodyear is providing fans the chance to watch a race even in wet conditions. The Akron, Ohio tire company has pledged to create rain tires for Sprint Cup road races. Used more often in the NASCAR Nationwide series in past seasons (including the last race at Road America), Goodyear's rain tires have never been used in a Sprint Cup main event. Additionally, NASCAR Sprint Cup cars will be required to run windshield wipers, window defogger system and a red rear marker light in preparation for wet weather racing.

These changes are the highlight of a total of 60 enhancements made to the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup car rules for 2015.

Six Down, Thirty to Go: The 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Season So Far

Photo Credit: Tyler Barrick/Getty Images for NASCAR

With NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers and teams taking their first break off during the Easter weekend, the chance to reflect on the 2012 season so far sheds light on some notable developments. Included below are some headline-worthy stories after the first six races of the stock car racing tour.


　

The Longest (Possibly Best) Daytona Ever!

Photo Credit: Chris Graythen/Getty Images for NASCAR

A first-time rain postponement to Monday night, a wild action-filled Daytona International Speedway event, Danica Patrick’s debut in NASCAR Sprint Cup, Brad Keselowski taking Twitter onto the race track and a jet dryer set ablaze are just a few items that made the 2012 Daytona 500 most memorable.

As a major rainstorm kept 43 NASCAR Sprint Cup car engines quiet within the Daytona International Speedway Sunday and into most of Monday, the season opener for the 2012 tour started during prime time television. Showing the respect race fans for the Great American Race, an estimated crowd of 140,000 people were present more than a day and half after the event’s originally scheduled start. With 25 lead changes between 13 drivers, the 2012 edition of the Daytona 500 was a suspenseful affair perfect for Monday night treatment.

While the actual race took 3 hours, 36 minutes to complete, that time tally did not account for a more than 2-hour red flag period needed to extinguish a jet dryer fire started when the #42 Chevrolet piloted by Juan-Pablo Montoya suffered a mechanical problem that shot his stock car into the speedway clean-up vehicle. Thanks to Dodge driver Brad Keselowski’s ingenuity of carrying an iPhone in a closed compartment of the vehicle during the race, his Twitter page came alive giving fans a connection to drivers in competition.

The victory for Matt Kenseth (occurring past 1am Eastern time) capped what a Daytona 500 distinguished from all others. A perfect way to start the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season.

　

　

Stewart Stamps Victory Lane Early

Todd Warshaw/Getty Images for NASCAR

In 2011, Tony Stewart fought through the first 26 races winless and barely muscled into the NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup. With many writing-off Stewart and the #14 Stewart/Haas Racing team early of any championship contention, the driver/owner came to life through the 10-race Chase. Recording 5 wins en route to his third NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship, Tony Stewart rolled into the 2012 season as a top runner. Winning one of the Gatorade Duel 150 events in the Daytona qualifying heats, the first six official races ha netted two wins for Stewart (a driver who has historically won most of his events later in a NASCAR Sprint Cup season).

After six races, Tony Stewart is 12 points out of the lead position in the series standings. Stewart is third place behind Greg Biffle and Dale Earnhardt Jr in 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup points heading into the Texas Motor Speedway round.

　

Car 48 Fights On and Off Track for Points

Photo Credit: Tom Pennington/Getty Images for NASCAR

Hendrick Motorsports has not the ideal start of the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup season in the first six races. While Dale Earnhardt Jr is currently seated in 2^nd place in the driver’s standings, the four-car team is continuing to chase their first victory for 2012 (which has the added prestige as being Hendrick Motorsports’ 200^th win in the series).

For what is considered the Hendrick Motorsports organization’s top team, the season started badly even before their Daytona 500 car was prepped during Speedweeks. During inspection, NASCAR measurements determined that the #48 Chevrolet’s roof C-pillar was out of tolerances. Holding back the penalty until after the Daytona 500 race, NASCAR levied a hefty $100,000 as well as a 25-point deduction for the #48 owner’s points and Jimmie Johnson’s driver points standing. Chad Knaus and the #48 car chief were also handed a six-race suspension.

It is unclear if the penalty would have impeded the #48 team at the Daytona 500 since they were caught up in a wreck completing the Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet’s race after just one lap. Following the 2012 Daytona 500, Jimmie Johnson and the #48 team returned to form finishing no lower than 12^th following the season opener. As the #48 Hendrick Motorsports team recorded better on-track results, the race organization appealed their penalty. Initially left defeated when a three-person panel ruled to uphold the penalties, Hendrick Motorsports took their case to the chief appellate officer where the team largely prevailed. Only left with the monetary fine, the victory through the stock car racing appeal process is a most noteworthy achievement.


　

Michael Waltrip Racing is No Laughing Matter

Photo Credit: Justin Edmonds/Getty Images for NASCAR

Debuting as a charter Toyota team for the Camry’s controversial entry into the NASCAR Sprint Cup in 2007, the Michael Waltrip Racing organization started in disastrous fashion as a three-car group struggling to make races. Making progressive steps to a top-caliber NASCAR Sprint Cup team, the three-car team of 2012 has shown impressive front-runner status in the first half dozen races of the year.

Driving the NAPA Toyota for a third season for the Michael Waltrip Racing camp, Martin Truex Jr has been the Sprint Cup series model of consistency in 2012. Truex Jr’s #56 Toyota has finished no lower than 17^th in the first races of the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series tour. The week-by-week results have combined for a 6^th place position in the overall drivers points standings.

Releasing David Reutimann after 2011, the Michael Watrip Racing squad had acquired Clint Bowyer for the #15 Toyota. Despite a rocky start of the year in the Daytona 500, Bowyer and his crew have placed the #15 into the top-10 for 3 of the 5 races afterwards. Clint Bowyer is 9^th in the NASCAR Sprint Cup point’s standings.

For what is the first four races in a limited schedule for Mark Martin in 2012, the Arkansas NASCAR superstar delivered a pair of top-10 finishes and a pole for Michael Waltrip Racing at Phoenix International Raceway. At Bristol Motor Speedway, Brian Vickers took over the #55 and drove a masterful first race to a fifth place result. Through the driving collective, the Michael Waltrip Racing #55 Toyota is 9^th in car owner points after the first 6 NASCAR Sprint Cup races of 2012.



The Fuel Injected Future is Here

Photo Credit: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images for NASCAR

Joining the vehicles in the modern automotive marketplace in North America, NASCAR Sprint Cup adopted electronic fuel injection as the method for feeding the V-8 engines of their stock cars. After considerable testing during 2011 and through the past off-season, fuel injection debuted at Daytona with levels of uncertainty. Despite the miles put on the NASCAR Sprint Cup car’s new fuel delivery system in testing, the performance of this format of fuel injection left unknowns during first conditions. For the most part, the new electronic fuel injection system on the stock cars has proven successful in replacing what was the long-standard carburetor.

Allowing teams to explore a level of computer-assisted data acquisition, the electronic fuel injection system has given tools many other forms of motorsports have been utilizing over a decade. The only major downside attributed to the electronic fuel injection system was an isolated incident involving the #14 Chevrolet of Tony Stewart. Mid-way through the Subway Fresh Fit 500k at Phoenix International Raceway, the system had shut down Stewart’s engine costing the reigning champion and crew two laps diagnosing the problem.

The NASCAR Sprint Cup electronic fuel injection system still has a season’s worth of challenges as it powers 43 race cars through the ongoing 2012 schedule. New race tracks, the 2012 series’ first 500-mile event set for Texas Motor Speedway and the two road courses should provide the best opportunities to see how the new norm of NASCAR Sprint Cup can benefit the future of stock car competition.

　

　

Kahne’s Rough Start with Hendrick Motorsports

Photo Credit: Russell LaBounty © 2012 Russell LaBounty Autostock

Despite all of the ingredients for success, the newly forged relationship between Kasey Kahne and Hendrick Motorsports has resulted in less than stellar start to the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup season. Kasey Kahne’s was involved in a somewhat complex flight path to Hendrick Motorsports first charted in 2010.

Driving the #9 Ford for Richard Petty Motorsports in 2010, Kahne signed to replace Mark Martin at Hendrick Motorsports for than-distant 2012 season. Expecting to see how Kasey Kahne’s future plans would affect his relationship with his Richard Petty Motorsports team through the 2010 season, it initially appeared promising that the two soon-to-be parted entities could focus on track. Collecting three top-five finishes in June and July races, the partnership would deteriorate during the Charlotte Motor Speedway fall race. As the Richard Petty Motorsports #9 Ford was sidelined after an early race accident, Kahne implied he was too ill to continue completing laps in event. When suspicion arose that Kahne may not have been truthful, the partnership dissolved.

Through the remainder of 2010 and into the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup season, Kasey Kahne home a pivotal temporary home with Team Red Bull. By the end of the 2011 tour, Kahne and the #4 Toyota was one of the hottest combinations in the NASCAR Sprint Cup racing field. Finishing in the top-10 for 7 of 8 final races, Kahne and Team Red Bull won the Phoenix event in their second-to-last journey together.

Leaving 2011 with optimism of front-running presence, Kasey Kahne finally climbed into the #5 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports at Daytona. Amusingly sponsored by Farmer’s Insurance, the #5 Chevrolet piloted by Kahne has been potentially the most at-risk contender wherever an accident on track unfolds. After six races, the team’s top finish was 14^th at the rain-shortened event at Auto Club Speedway in California. Most dramatically is the #5 car has recorded results 29^th or worse in 4 races starting the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup season. In the overall series driver point’s standings, Kahne is 31^st.

On the bright side, Kasey Kahne and the #5 Hendrick Motorsports has scored two pole positions proving they have pace. In the remainder of the 2012 season, Kahne and the #5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet will require some fortune to fall their way to change what has been a series of mechanical problems and brushes with mayhem.

　

Boring Bristol Bout, Manic Martinsville Short Track Events

Photo Credit: Russell LaBounty © 2012 Russell LaBounty Autostock

So far this year, the under one mile short tracks of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series have presented a mixed bag of racing action.

Once known as one of the hottest ticket in motorsports, the Bristol Motor Speedway Sprint Cup Series events have been diminishing as an attraction most likely because of the recent on-track product. As impressive as the dominating performance by Brad Keselowski was during the 4^th race of the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup season, the high number of empty seats signified that the same ‘beating-and-banging action’ Bristol gained years ago was no longer on a prime showcase.

A reconfiguration of the Bristol Motor Speedway’s concrete surface (that was actually meant to improve side-by-side racing with so-called “progressive banking”) has taken away much of the racing action NASCAR short track fans desired. The contribution of the Car of Tomorrow since 2007 could also be defeating the on-track competition when the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series has been racing at the short track. While Keselowski’s victory at the track in came through 13 lead changes, most of those were performed during green-flag pit stops as only 5 caution periods interrupted the event (the lowest level since spring of 1996).

As a contrast to the Bristol Motor Speedway event, the Martinsville Speedway race held on the short, flat-banked oval provided an electric finish with side-by-side battling for position, intrigue and controversy. With a certain Hendrick Motorsports victory set, a stalled #10 Stewart/Haas Racing Chevrolet driven by David Reutimann set up an event that would ended under a green-white-checkered finish. Hendrick Motorsports would lose both lead cars of Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson in a turn 1 tangle at Martinsville allowing Ryan Newman to steal victory.

Hendrick Motorsports 48 Team Daytona Penalties Stand After Appeal

Photo Credit: Tom Pennington/Getty Images for NASCAR

While many in the racing world have been able to move on from 2012 Daytona International Speedway Speedweeks that ended in dramatic fashion with the most bizarre Daytona 500 on record, the #48 Chevrolet, piloted by Jimmie Johnson and fielded by Hendrick Motorsports have somewhat been captive by actions that occurred more than 3 weeks ago. On Tuesday, the Hendrick Motorsports #48 team approached the National Stock Car Racing Appeals Panel in an effort to bring more beneficial closure to their Speedweeks nightmare.

Going back to Saturday, February 17th at the Daytona International Speedway, the #48 Chevrolet Impala was deemed to have a roof C-pillar post out of conformity with the strict NASCAR tolerances. While the #48 Hendrick Motorsport team and driver Jimmie Johnson were able to proceed through the remainder of Daytona Speedweeks once their NASCAR Sprint Cup vehicle was replaced. Bringing back memories of the 2006 season where the #48 team was penalized for failing pre-race inspection. Unlike the 2006 Daytona 500 where Johnson won without his regular crew chief, Chad Knaus was allowed to stay with the team for the 2012 Daytona 500 as the penalty for the C-post issue would not be assessed until following the event.

When the penalty was handed down by NASCAR, the #48 Hendrick Motorsport driver and team first received a hefty points reduction of 25 points apiece. NASCAR also suspended car chief Ron Melac and #48 car crew chief Chad Knaus for six races in addition to probation until May 9th. Knaus was also assessed a $100,000 monetary fine.

Hendrick Motorsports immediately filed an appeal of the NASCAR penalties stemming from the failure in technical inspection at Daytona. Appearing in front of the three-member National Stock Car Racing Appeals Panel consisting of John Capels, Leo Mehl and Dan Pinilis, the case for the #48 Hendrick Motorsports team was heard with the team expressing confidence they could prevail. NASCAR countered in the appeal with representation from the Research and Development describing the infaction as well as the reason for the penalties.

Photo Credit: Nigel Kinrade/Autostock

Unanimously, the three-judge panel decided to uphold all the original penalties levied against the #48 Chevrolet team. “The panel was generous with its time today, and we appreciated the opportunity to talk through our concerns,” said the car co-owner Rick Hendrick in a press transcript after the appeal decision in front of the three-member panel. A final avenue for appeal by the #48 Hendrick Motorsports team exists with the National Stock Car Racing Appeals Panel chief appellate John Middlebrook. Affirming a commitment to the crew of his race team, Hendrick stated  "But we’re going to go ahead to the next level and present our case one more time. So I stand firmly behind our guys." When asked why not accept the panel's decision, a defiant Rick Hendrick stated directly, "I don’t accept it. Period."

No date has yet been set for hearing the final appeal of Hendrick Motorsports. With the final appeal pending, the #48 Chevrolet will still be operating as usual at this weekend's race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Crew chief Chad Knaus and car chief Ron Malec will be present with Jimmie Johnson's car.

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.

Complexion of the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Teams

Photo Credit: Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR

More than a month before Speedweeks open the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Daytona International Speedway, deals are coming together assuring to normally competitive field of cars for the crown jewel Daytona 500 race on February 26th. For others within stock car racing, the off-season consists also of a time where drivers and teams plan for a season of 36 races.

In a bizarre off-season move that erupted after from the actions of a disgruntled Kurt Busch, the 2004 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion was removed from his #22 Penske Racing Dodge moving to the #51 Phoenix Racing Chevrolet team. A domino effect saw AJ Allmendinger joining the Penske Racing stock car team while 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series runner Aric Almirola takes over the vacated #43 Ford Fusion at Richard Petty Motorsports. 

As of mid-January, 39 driver and team combinations are expected to run the 2012 Daytona 500. Listed below a list of confirmed entrants includes a select number of expected part-time runners including the #6 Roush Fenway Ford being driven by Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Among the confirmed list is 30 NASCAR Sprint Cup teams that are guaranteed to run the first 5 races of the 2012 season on virtue of placing in the top-35 in car owner points.

Still unable to find a new owner or investor, two of the vacancies in the top-35 cars in the Team Red Bull racing team. Approaching the Daytona 500, the team campaigning two Toyota Camrys last season is completely silent. While the arrangement for the #4 car driver Kasey Kahne to move to Hendrick Motorsports was orchestrated in 2010, Brian Vickers (Team Red Bull pilot since the organization's inception in 2007) is still without a seat for the Daytona 500. Kahne and #4 Team Red Bull car's victory at Phoenix International Raceway late in 2011 appears to be a last effort for the group. Heading into February, it remains a possibility that some or all of the 5 cars remaining as part of the top-35 will be romanced by new teams to relinquish their guaranteed starting spot. If the car owner spots in the top-35 remain unused, the active teams down the list of the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup car owner points will inherit the sought-after honours.


Confirmed 2012 Entrants

Car Number /Driver /Race Team /Car Make
00 Mark Martin/Michael Waltrip/TBA Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota
1 Jamie McMurray Earnhardt/Ganaasi Racing Chevrolet
2 Brad Keselowski Penske Racing Dodge
5 Kasey Kahne Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
6 Ricky Stenhouse Jr Roush Fenway Racing Ford
9 Marcos Ambrose Richard Petty Motorsports Ford
10 Danica Patrick Stewart/Haas Racing Chevrolet
11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
13 Casey Mears GEICO Toyota Ford
14 Tony Stewart Stewart/Haas Racing Chevrolet
15 Clint Bowyer Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota
16 Greg Biffle Roush Fenway Racing Ford
17 Matt Kenseth Roush Fenway Racing Ford
18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
20 Joey Logano Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
21 Trevor Bayne Wood Brothers Ford
22 A J Allmendinger Penske Racing Dodge
23 Robert Richardson R3 Motorsports Chevrolet
24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
27 Paul Menard Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
30 David Stremme Inception Motorsports Chevrolet
31 Jeff Burton Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
35 David Reutimann Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet
36 Dave Blaney Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet
38 Travis Kvapil Front Row Motorsports Ford
39 Ryan Newman Stewart/Haas Racing Chevrolet
42 Juan Pablo Montoya Earnhardt/Ganaasi Racing Chevrolet
43 Aric Almirola Richard Petty Motorsports Ford
47 Bobby Labonte JTG Daugherty Racing Toyota
48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
51 Kurt Busch Phoenix Racing Chevrolet
56 Martin Truex Jr. Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota
66 Michael McDowell HP Racing LLC Toyota
78 Regan Smith Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet
87 Joe Nemechek NEMCO Motorsports Toyota
88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
95 Scott Speed Leavine Family Racing Ford
99 Carl Edwards Roush Fenway Racing Ford


Possible (Unconfirmed) 2012 Team Combinations

Car Number /Driver /Race Team /Car Make
7 Robby Gordon Robby Gordon Motorsports Dodge
37 Josh Wise Gunselman Motorsports Ford
46 ? Whitney Motorsports Ford
75 Derrike Cope Creation-Cope Racing Dodge
92 Brian Keselowski K Automotive Chevrolet
93 ? Sinica Motorsports Chevrolet

A changing attitude with Dale Earnhardt Jr?

Photo Credit: Jason Smith/Getty Images for NASCAR


Having finished a dismal 25th place in the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup, the series' most popular driver Dale Earnhardt Jr maintained a tone of optimism. Despite being at his worst, the driver of the #88 Chevrolet has shown exceptional class in dealing with everything from engine problems, driving severely-damaged stock cars or adjusting to team personnel changes. With 2010 working as a clean slate, it remained to be seen if Dale Earnhardt Jr's positiveness would be rewarded. Having been used to happy-go-lucky Dale Earnhardt Jr, the driver got out of his #88 Chevrolet sounding like a different competitor. Appearing to be more personality traits in common with Kyle Busch after a bad race, the 2004 Daytona 500 winning driver clearly conveyed frustration and disgust taking second best in the first race of the year.

With 6 wins on restrictor plate race tracks Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Earnhardt Jr is favoured more in the four total races run at those ovals over almost any other venue. As hoped for by JR Nation, the green and white #88 AMP Chevy put on a magnificent show on the final green-white-checkered period of the 2010 Daytona 500. Exhibiting a marvelous piece of restrictor plate racing, Earnhardt Jr methodically worked his way from an obscure 10th place to have a chance to win the Daytona 500 coming up just one position short. As Jamie McMurray and his newly-acquainted with #1 Chevrolet crew celebrated an emotional triumph at Daytona, the second place interview happened to catch the attention of some NASCAR fans watching the broadcast on Fox.

While paying congratulations to McMurray and the victorious #1 crew (A team which was founded by the senior Dale Earnhardt 12 years ago), Earnhardt Jr also gave credit to Hendrick Motorsport's engine department. However, the driver left without giving credit for himself. Typically Dale Earnhardt Jr is a modest driver but some NASCAR fans felt the post-race comments were unprofessional during the spontaneity of the Fox interview unwilling to gracefully accept the 2nd place run.

Anyone who is a careful observer of professional sports knows that athletes stride to be at the highest plateaus. Speaking like a true racer playing to win, the fans composing Jr Nation are certain to give their driver a well-earned applause for the #88 Hendrick Motorsport driver. Appreciating the optimism that the 2010 Sprint Cup season can bring, Earnhardt Jr's fanbase have eagerly awaited the renaissance of their favourite sportsman. It is also the good nature of fans to elevate their athlete's confidence. The post race TV interview might have sat badly with some JR Nation fans since the only thing worse than seeing a good man be torn down is a man who will tear themselves apart.

Besides the Fox post-race chat, Dale Earnhardt Jr convened for a separate NASCAR interview. In that interview performed in great detail with Daytona 500 winner Jamie McMurray and 3rd place Greg Biffle, Earnhardt was much more in character commenting on the event. "I had a hell of a time tonight" Dale Earnhardt Jr happily chirped as he described the final laps of the 2010 Daytona 500 as a "blur". Following the frustrated admissions late in the television broadcast, the NASCAR post-race interview provided a more sportsmanlike reflection from Earnhardt Jr. "I feel good about the finish. It's just frustrating coming that close. Hell, I don't have anything to be -- you know, when you're running 22nd, you're mad because you just want to get a top 10. When you get a top 10, you're pissed off because you can't get in the top five. Then when you're running second it gets you mad because you didn't get a win. That's how racecar drivers are, I hope."

However, as this more intense attitude emerges from Dale Earnhardt Jr, the naysayers of the third-generation stock car driver's career have above all questioned Earnhardt Jr's hunger to win. Clearly, Dale Earnhardt Jr is starving in 2010!

Daytona 500 Qualifying: Gatorade Duel 150- Race 2

ACE 2: Drivers who placed in even numbered positions through Saturday's Daytona 500 qualifying.



Row 1:   #      Driver                  Sponsor/Car Make
1 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. AMP Energy / National Guard Chevrolet
2 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Target Chevrolet

Row 2: 
3 2 Kurt Busch Miller Lite Dodge
4 17 Matt Kenseth Crown Royal Ford

Row 3: 
5 77 Sam Hornish Jr. Mobil 1 Dodge
6 82 Scott Speed Red Bull Toyota

Row 4:
7 47 Marcos Ambrose Kroger Floral Toyota
8 12 Brad Keselowski Penske Dodge

Row 5: 
9 20 Joey Logano Home Depot Toyota
10 71 Bobby Labonte TaxSlayer.com Chevrolet

Row 6: 
11 14 Tony Stewart Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet
12 00 David Reutimann Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota

Row 7: 
13 98 Paul Menard Peak / Menards Ford
14 9 Kasey Kahne Budweiser Ford

Row 8: 
15 36 Mike Bliss Wave Energy Drink Chevrolet
16 7 Robby Gordon Monster Energy Toyota

Row 9: 
17 56 Martin Truex Jr.  NAPA Auto Parts Toyota
18 83 Brian Vickers   Red Bull Toyota

Row 10: 
19 19 Elliott Sadler Stanley Ford
20 90 Casey Mears Keyed-Up Motorsports Chevrolet

Row 11: 
21 49 David Gilliland Warner Music / Larry the Cable Guy Toyota
22 09 Aric Almirola Phoenix Racing Chevrolet

Row 12: 
23 26 Boris Said Window World Cares Ford
24 66 Dave Blaney PRISM Motorsports Toyota

Row 13: 
25 75 Derrike Cope Asset Protect / Strutmasterspro.com Dodge
26 92 Mike Wallace K Automotive Dodge

Row 14: 
27 57 Norm Benning Norm Benning Racing Chevrolet


Blue denotes cars outside top-35 guaranteed starting spots through first 5 races of 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup series

Daytona 500 Qualifying: Gatorade Duel 150- Race 1

RACE 1: Drivers who placed in odd numbered positions through Saturday's Daytona 500 qualifying.



Row 1: #       Driver          Sponsor/Car Make
1 5 Mark Martin GoDaddy.com Chevrolet
2 39 Ryan Newman US Army Chevrolet

Row 2: 
3 21 Bill Elliott Motorcraft / Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center
4 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe's Chevrolet

Row 3: 
5 33 Clint Bowyer Cheerios / Hamburger Helper Chevrolet
6 18 Kyle Busch M&M's Toyota

Row 4: 
7 24 Jeff Gordon Dupont Chevrolet
8 87 Joe Nemechek NEMCO Motorsports Toyota

Row 5: 
9 1 Jamie McMurray Bass Pro Shops / Tracker Boats Chevrolet
10 51 Michael Waltrip NAPA Auto Parts Toyota

Row 6: 
11 6 David Ragan UPS Ford
12 43 AJ Allmendinger Best Buy Ford

Row 7: 
13 99 Carl Edwards Aflac Ford
14 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Express Toyota

Row 8: 
15 29 Kevin Harvick Shell / Pennzoil Chevrolet
16 31 Jeff Burton Caterpillar Chevrolet

Row 9: 
17 78 Regan Smith Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet
18 16 Greg Biffle 3M Ford

Row 10: 
19 32 Reed Sorenson Dollar General Toyota
20 13 Max Papis GEICO Toyota

Row 11: 
21 34 John Andretti Window World Cares Ford
22 97 Jeff Fuller NEMCO Motorsports Toyota

Row 12: 
23 38 Robert Richardson   Mahindra USA Tractors Ford
24 37 Travis Kvapil     Extenze Ford

Row 13: 
25 46 Terry Cook  Whitney Motorsports Dodge
26 55 Michael McDowell PRISM Motorsports Toyota

Row 14: 
27 27 Todd Bodine Kirk Shelmerdine Toyota

Blue denotes cars outside top-35 guaranteed starting spots through first 5 races of 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup series

Mark Martin Takes Pole for the Daytona 500; Earnhardt Jr Joins Hendrick Teammate on Front Row

Saturday's qualifying the event known as the 'Great American Race' took place against gusty winds and some teams scratching their heads after running only a few laps of practice on a rainy Friday.

With only 43 starting positions up for grabs for the 2010 running of the Daytona 500 in Sunday February 14th, 54 cars take the track for a nerve-racking 2-laps each of single race qualifying. While only the first 2 positions will be locked in following the session, every NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competitor is under pressure to provide the fastest lap possible since their speeds play a part in the Gatorade 150 mile Duel races set for Thursday.

Sporting a bearded look in accompanying his new look #88 AMP/Energy Chevrolet, Dale Earnhardt Jr backed up his fastest time in Friday practice. Drawing an early spot in Daytona 500 qualifying, Earnhardt Jr grabbed the fastest time with a 190.913 miles per hour. A run which proved strong amongst the first 10 Sprint Cup cars to take time, Earnhardt Jr was a little disappointed with the #88 Chevrolet scrubbing off speed as the splitter was brushing along the race track.

The 12th car out on the track, Earnhardt Jr's teammate Mark Martin quickly stole the show with his run in the #5 Godaddy.com Chevrolet. Placing 2nd in practice time behind the #88 car on Friday, Martin reversed the results by running his Hendrick Motorsports car faster at 191.188 miles per hour.

The next Hendrick bullet launched onto the Daytona high-banks was Jimmie Johnson who posted a 5th place run with 26 cars of the 54 cars setting time.

As qualifying ran Chevrolet proved that they had a run on the competition with two Hendrick Motorsports leading the way. However, the NASCAR Sprint Cup teams running Toyota and even Dodge (3 of the 6 being campaigned by Penske Racing) contenders have proven themselves to be on equal footing in regards to speed. The one manufacturer struggling to find speed was the newly-expanded Ford Racing. Through the 2-lap single-car qualifying runs, the Ford Fusions appeared to be lacking as the cars of Richard Petty Motorsports and 3 of the 4 Roush/Fenway rides had set some ho-hum times. While the #17 Crown Royal car of Matt Kenseth, the final guaranteed race starter to qualify for the Daytona 500 in accordance to top 35 in owner points, posted an optimistic run for Roush/Fenway, the pride of Ford Racing has been the #21 Wood Brothers team. A car that must qualify without the aid of car owner points Driven by two-time Daytona 500 winner and the 1988 NASCAR Cup series champion Bill Elliott, the Motorcraft Ford bolted around the track at an astonishing lap of 190.57 miles per hour, threatening to front row at one point in the qualifying run.

While the Roush/Fenway Racing Fords didn't show a lot of speed during single car qualifying, slowness in restrictor plate racing qualifying is not out of character. With four experienced drivers who have shown muscle in restrictor plate racing, Roush/Fenway Racing is likely to shine deeper into Speedweeks as drafting becomes paramount. Also remember that Matt Kenseth won last year's Daytona 500 after starting 39th place.

At the end, the Hendrick Motorsports team celebrated a massive victory in Daytona 500 qualifying with the #5 Chevrolet of Mark Martin as well as the #88 Chevy of Dale Earnhardt Jr takes the 1st and 2nd place positions. For the drivers, these results are career best through the major qualifying event. With Earnhardt Jr's starting in his highest spot ever in 11 starts, Mark Martin takes his career first pole in Daytona 500 in 2010.

As both drivers are locked into the Daytona 500, they'll also lead Thursday's Gatorade Duel 150 races as the rest of the field will fight to claim their starting positions for the famous 500-miler around the 2.5 mile superspeedway.


Qualifying Results for 2010 Daytona 500

Top 10:

1. Mark Martin #5 Chevy
2. Dale Earnhardt #88 Chevy
3. Ryan Newman #39 Chevy
4. Bill Elliott #21 Ford
5. Juan Pablo Montoya #42 Chevy
6. Jimmie Johnson #48 Chevy
7. Kurt Busch #2 Dodge
8. Clint Bowyer #33 Chevy
9. Kyle Busch #18 Toyota
10. Jeff Gordon #24 Chevy

Major Events During 2010 Speedweeks at Daytona

Photo Credit: Todd Warshaw/Getty Images for NASCAR

Last week, it was the tires of Grand Am sports cars warming up the Daytona International Speedway for 2010 through the 3.56 mile road course. This week, Daytona's more recognized 2.5 superspeedway oval becomes the focus for Hershey's Milk & Milkshakes Speedweeks, a medley of stock car races which will start with ARCA's Lucas Oil Stick Mist 200 and end with the Daytona 500.

The following list is the TV stations as well as the scheduled time starts of major events during the Hershey's Milk and Milkshakes Speedweeks:

February 6th

NASCAR Sprint Cup: Daytona 500 Qualifying Day (Resolving top 2 starting spots and Duel 150 fields)- Fox/ 1:05PM

ARCA Racing Series Presented by REMAX and Menards: Lucas Oil Stick Mist 200- Speed/4:30PM

NASCAR Sprint Cup: Budweiser Shootout- FOX(TSN2 in Canada)/8PM



February 11th

NASCAR Sprint Cup: Gatorade Duel 150 Races- Speed(TSN in Canada)/2PM

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series: Qualifying- Speed/6:10PM


February 12th

NASCAR Nationwide Series: Qualifying- ESPN/3:10PM

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series: Nextera Energy Resources 250- Speed/8PM (Pre-race show starts at 7:30PM)


February 13th

NASCAR Nationwide Series: Drive4COPD 300- ESPN2(TSN2 in Canada)/1:15PM (Pre-race show starts at noon)


February 14th

NASCAR Sprint Cup: Daytona 500- Fox(TSN in Canada)/1PM (Pre-race show starts at noon)

All times are Eastern

NASCAR Issues Rule Changes for 2010 Sprint Cup Series

Photo Credit: Jason Smith/Getty Images

Emphasized as a 'back to basics' approach, the NASCAR press conference confirmed some of the growing rumours which had been surfacing the past week in auto racing media.

The headlining announcement regarded a monumental rule change to the Car of Tomorrow-style Sprint Cup stock car. In the 2010 season, the older-style rear spoiler will replace the symbolic wing which had adorned the truck lid since the vehicle debuted part-time in 2007. While the rear wing is remaining in place for the Daytona 500 as well as for many of the first races of the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup season, some speculation had pointed at the short track of Bristol Motor Speedway being the launch pad for the reintroduction of the spoiler. However, NASCAR indirectly dispelled that rumour since a test date for the rear spoiler is set three days after the Bristol race on March 23 and 24th at Charlotte. "Over the last couple of years, there have been dozens of changes to this car, with this being the most visible change," said NASCAR's Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton. While Pemberton acknowledges the COT was a work in progress even after two seasons of full season competition, this recent change goes against the grain of the leadership of NASCAR which had remained stubborn to making adjustments to the new Sprint Cup vehicle. In fact NASCAR Chairman Brian France, in a November 2008 interview, had once commended their stance than saying "..we got a lot of pressure back in May to make changes on the Car of Tomorrow because it wasn't driving as well as it could and all those things. And we're very pleased that we didn't cave to that pressure..". Concerned with adding additional cost to the Sprint Cup teams in adapting their race vehicles to new rules, NASCAR's more recent intervention into improving the competition on-track has likely caused the sanctioning body to reexamine the criticized Car of Tomorrow.

Another rule change dealing with the mechanical aspect of the Sprint Cup cars see a larger restrictor plate between the carburetor and intake manifold of the engines at Daytona and Talladega. Propping up horsepower, this move is also going to allow drivers to gain throttle response which translates to better acceleration control by drivers.

In the final issues of NASCAR's press conference about the Sprint Cup series of 2010, the division will no longer institute special driving rules at the restrictor plate races starting with the season premiere Daytona 500. For Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway, NASCAR had for years set measures meant to tone-down aggressive bump-drafting and passes made in potentially risky areas of the race track. For many years, the yellow lane running along the lower part of the speedway of those two ovals were also considered the "Out-of-bounds Line" or "No Passing Zone" by NASCAR. Aimed to prevent cars from racing and potentially losing control on flat, slippery parts of race tracks, cars passing another competitor below that line were subjected to penalties.

One of the most popular incidents relating to this line occurred in the fall Talladega race of 2008 where Regan Smith ran his vehicle just under the line to pass Tony Stewart before the start/finish line. Smith was penalized in the end results falling to 18th place for the pass deemed illegal by NASCAR Sprint Cup officials. Smith protested his penalty after the race saying that he was forced down because of Stewart cutting off the legal race line. Whether Stewart had forced Smith below the yellow line, leaders of restrictor plate races often used the yellow line rule out of the spirit of the initiate in protecting their position. In the spring race at Talladega this past season, the yellow lane rule actually demonstrated itself as a liability when Carl Edwards protected the bottom of the legal racing zone. Brad Keselowski, running second and full of momentum thanks to a push from Earnhardt Jr, chose to go through the #99 Ford Fusion. The result was a dangerous crash which saw Edward's go airborne and crash down the front stretch. Catching some other cars including Ryan Newman, a NASCAR spectator also required medical attention cause of flying debris. This incident repeated again at the July race at Daytona as Kyle Busch led to the checkered flag before receiving a punt from the #14 Chevrolet of Tony Stewart. Stewart came out the victor while Busch received a rough ride and a hard shot from the #9 Dodge of Kasey Kahne. In effect, the No Passing Zone had created accidents.


Photo Credit: Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR

More recent and even less popular driving rules had NASCAR policing where bump-drafting could take place on the racetrack. Acknowledging NASCAR as a contact sport, Chairman Brian France removed the no passing zones and no bump-drafting zones from being concerns for the drivers. Regaining full movement on the track, drivers new freedom comes with responsibility racing with some common sense. NASCAR Sprint Cup officials will wisely remind every competitor that while some restrictor plate racing rules have been relaxed, racing at 200 miles per hour is no reason for drivers to relax their responsibility to themselves and 42 other drivers.

As the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup season nears, fans can almost hear the push rod-driven V8 engines circulating the 2.5 mile of Daytona International Speedway promising to be the first of 36 unique races. NASCAR's new rules could become a game changer to conventional wisdom which had guided us through 2009 Sprint Cup season.

New Rules for Sprint Cup Budweiser Shootout at Daytona

Photo Credit: Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR

Presented as an unofficial start to the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup season, the Budweiser Shootout kicks off February 6th at Daytona International Speedway with an all-new eligibility requirements. After experimenting with a manufacturer-based selection process last year, NASCAR has revamped the 2010 Budweiser Shootout eligibility by opening the field under the following requirement:

• 2009 Chase for the Cup drivers
• Past NASCAR Sprint Cup champions
• Past Budweiser Shootout winners
• Past winners of Daytona 500 and Daytona's July Coke Zero 400 race
• 2009 rookie of the year

With the race founded in 1979 as the Busch Clash, this non-points race was exclusive to pole winners in the previous Cup series season. After the selection process was left unchanged for 22 runnings, the format radically changed in 2001 when previous event winners were also granted automatic entry. As Toyota gained ground in the series, NASCAR decided after to altered the selection of the Shootout by shining light on the 4 manufacturers in 2009. For the 2009 Budweiser Shootout, the 6th highest (7th if no championship driver is otherwise available) in owner points of each car make filled the field. Not only did this change in eligibility throw out the long-held basis on past season's pole sitters, two drivers who didn't race with their respected teams entered the Budweiser Shootout. The #12 Penske Racing Dodge as well as the #20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, piloted by Ryan Newman and Tony Stewart, were driven in the race by David Stremme and rookie driver Joey Logano. In fact, if it wasn't for NASCAR's decision to add the past championship provision, Stewart wouldn't even have gotten a chance to run the Busweiser Shootout. Though the race itself wasn't terribly affected, some fans disliked the system since manufacturers like Ford and Dodge, who barely fielded 6 cars in 2009, were promoted into the race by constructor affiliation rather than individual performance.

In an era where NASCAR is leaning further and further towards spec stock cars, using manufacturers standing is far outdated for a series which features race cars that maintain little identity to their stock counterparts. Current economics also made the manufacturer-based selection process problematic. This is reflected heavily in the Dodge Motorsport camp. Losing Richard Petty Motorsports to Ford, Dodge is left with only three steady cars fielded by Penske Racing.

NASCAR's choice to abandoning the highly controversial manufacturer-based selection process for a system rewarding drivers' achievements will be better received by fans. Amongst what would be the most newsworthy addition under the new criteria is NASCAR Sprint Cup's 2009 Most Popular driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. Ready to put the 2009 campaign with the AMP/National Guard Chevrolet behind him, Earnhardt's position in the 2010 Budweiser Shootout was earned through past success at Daytona.

The 2010 edition of the Budweiser Shootout running on February 6th will be the finale to an important day at Daytona International Speedway. Starting with Daytona 500 qualifying, these Sprint Cup racing action is sandwiched between the ARCA stock car Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 race.

NASCAR races in 2010 to Abide to Standardize Start Times

NASCAR always makes the case that they are a sporting body who places the fans' experience first. Providing some of the greatest finishes in auto racing thanks to large fields and tight rules, NASCAR conversely created the still anti-competitive Sprint Cup Car of Tomorrow.

This week NASCAR has made a positive move by promising standardizing the start times for all 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup series events. In Eastern time, opening ceremonies of daytime races will start at 1:00pm or 3:00pm if track is closer to West coast. Almost all night races will begin at 7:30pm with exception given to the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte in May which will remain around 5:45pm. The green flag will drop no more than 30 minutes past these start times.

Three cheers to NASCAR for making this change. During the past few seasons, While helping the all so important paying spectators, this directive is most likely to help television viewers plan their weekends. Before 2001, it was no unusual for Cup series race coverage to begin just minutes before the command to start engines. After 2001, NASCAR obtained control of negotiating deal and made major deals with national broadcast entities. Along with establishing pre-race shows, race starts in afternoons were moved to later start times in order to better accommodate to desirable NASCAR Sprint Cup fan bases on the west coast. Because of this, the NASCAR Sprint Cup series races had habitually been starting later in the Eastern time zone including the Daytona 500 from 2006 to 2009.

Broadcasters also attributed to the race start confusions by resisting to separate their pre-race shows from the time the race started. With 2 hour plus pre-race shows given to the Daytona 500 and the Sonoma, California road race at Infineon Raceway for 2008, the prolonged wait was certain to grind some fans gears. While providing great insight to NASCAR's top series, it would have been nice for FOX, TNT, ESPN, and ABC to supply a transparent race start time in the pre-race shows.