The Life and Career of Dan Wheldon

Photo Credit: Michael Levitt/LAT Photo USA

First stepping into a go-kart at age four, the young Dan Wheldon grew up with a steering wheel on his hand. When he reached 21 years of age, Wheldon entered the United States marching through the open wheel racing ladder. Coming to the country operating at square one, the young Brit quickly established himself netting titles in US F2000 in 1999, Toyota Atlantic in 2000 and the 2001 Indy Lights championship. Debuting in the INDYCAR Series with Panther Racing for two races in 2002, Andretti-Green Racing (becoming Andretti Autosport in 2010) picked up the British expatriate to drive for their team in 2003. Winning Rookie of the year in that first full year of INDYCAR competition, Wheldon's career was taken to the next level with a victory at the Twin-Ring Motegi oval in 2004 followed later by wins at Nazareth and Richmond International Raceway.

Perhaps what cause be considered Dan Wheldon's dream season, the 2005 INDYCAR Season saw him in victory lane 5 times including the Indianapolis 500. Going on the win the series championship by 80 points over Tony Kanaan, Wheldon reached the big time. For 2006, Wheldon signed with Target Chip Ganassi Racing. From 2004 to 2008, Dan Wheldon's INDYCAR Career was electric with 15 wins in 97 races as he drove for both Andretti-Green Racing and later for Target Chip Ganassi Racing. Along the latter part of this path, he formed a partnership off the track marrying his wife Susie in 2008. One year later, the couple welcomed their first child Sebastian.

For two seasons, Dan Wheldon raced rejoined Panther Racing. While Wheldon's time in the Panther Racing team's #4 car did not net the victorious success as compiled with Andretti-Green or Target Chip Ganassi Racing, the 2009 and 2010 campaigns together resulted in 3 runner-up positions. Two of the three 2nd place finishes in the highly competitive series were at the Indianapolis 500. Finishing 9th in the 2010 IZOD INDYCAR Series overall points, the Wheldon/Panther Racing partnership disbanded after the 2010 season.

Photo Credit: Chris Nagy/XSL Speed Reporter

Despite his youth and history of winning ways, Dan Wheldon sat out the start of the 2011 IZOD INDYCAR Series. Instead, the Brit's focus was off-track as difficult news forged with fortune early in the year. The most unfortunate news was that Wheldon's mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease during the off-time from the IZOD INDYCAR Series. However, a medical information regarding his mother also involved some more positive family news. In March of this year, his wife Susie gave birth to the couple's second son Oliver.

Out of the ride for the 2011 season, a one-off deal was forged with the #98 Bryan Herta Autosport/Sam Schmidt Motorsport car. Qualifying in 6th place, Dan Wheldon did not show any rust as his lapped the track in an average speed of 226.490 miles per hour through 4 laps. While not the fastest car, Dan Wheldon and the #98 team moved up steadily through the final 10 laps. Saving fuel early, Wheldon was able to push for 2nd place through the final lap behind JR Hildebrand. On the fourth turn of the final lap, Hildebrand (driving for Dan Wheldon's former team of Panther Racing) ran wide and slammed into the outer wall. Wheldon in the last few hundred yards, sailed across the start/finish line winning the Indianapolis 500 in spectacular fashion. Wheldon's second win at the Brickyard, this latest victory was sweetened by the presence of his wife and children. A most popular win at the 100th year of the Indy 500, the Dan Wheldon win served as a favourite underdog story in modern open wheel racing.

Starting the year on the sidelines, Dan Wheldon was suddenly an in demand personality in motorsports. One of the IZOD INDYCAR Series television broadcasters Versus called upon the recent Indy 500 winner as a colour analyst for several events providing some fresh, relevant insight to races including the Texas Motor Speedway double race. Wheldon's skills were also welcomed by Dallara and the IZOD INDYCAR Series as test driver for the new 2012 Indy car. Putting the new spec car through its paces at Mid-Ohio and most recently the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Wheldon was highly favoured to be racing this new vehicle next season.
In September, INDYCAR and website hosting company GoDaddy.com got together with Dan Wheldon to present a promotion at the season finale race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. If Wheldon would have been able to win the IZOD INDYCAR World Championship event at Las Vegas, him, his team and a fan would split a 5-million dollar bonus. In a press conference for announcing the GoDaddy INDYCAR Challenge, Wheldon stated, "I am really excited to return in the #98 entry with SSM and BHA to follow-up our success at this year's Indy 500 and go after another race win, especially with this carrot on the end of the stick," Taking over the #77 car for Sam Schmidt Motorsports, Wheldon was granted a warm-up race at Kentucky finishing 14th on the day. While winning the Las Vegas race would have probably been a bigger long shot than his Indy 500 win, Dan Wheldon was just happy to be back in a race car. "I'm ready for the Go Daddy INDYCAR Challenge and, hopefully, myself and one lucky fan will be smiling on October 16." said Wheldon in September.

On lap 12 of the IZOD INDYCAR World Championship at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the two-time Indy 500 winning driver Dan Wheldon would be 1 of 15 drivers caught up in what was probably the worst crash in INDYCAR history. Occuring as cars were travelling at 200-plus miles per hour, the impact was so hard for many drivers including Will Power, JR Hildebrand and EJ Viso. In the wreckage, Wheldon's #77 car became the concern as safety officials placed a yellow tarp over the badly torn apart Dallara chassis. Confirmed reports that the Brit was being rushed to hospital via helicopter led many to fear something bad was transpiring on what was a quiet race track. Sitting in silence, the entire Las Vegas Motor Speedway was awaiting word for the auto racing great praying for the best news. Unfortunately, a press announcement from INDYCAR's CEO Randy Bernard delivered somber news of the loss of Dan Wheldon to "unsurvivable injuries".

As his fellow drivers and everyone else affiliated with the race series were understandably in tears over the passing, drivers and the IZOD INDYCAR Series got together for an immediate tribute. Running in a three-wide formation for five laps, the remaining race cars were steered around the 1.5 mile Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Dedicated to the memory of Dan Wheldon, those final laps at least gave teams and race fans a closing race moment following the disturbing crash scene.
On Sunday night as night set on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a memorial was created on the gates of the track where Dan Wheldon and the #98 Bryan Herta Autosport performed the masterful upset less than five months earlier. Candles were lit, flowers and race memorabilia would soon rest in a sizable shrine after only hours of the 33-year old driver's departure from Earth. More tributes are definitely in the immediate future including the suspension of the IZOD INDYCAR Las Vegas post-race celebrations in memory of Wheldon. For teams and race fans alike, we bid our deepest condolences to the young racer's family, wife and 2 young children.

Photo Credit: Daniel Incandela

Attracting a media presence that often ignores auto racing, this is ultimately not the way a driver wants to be remembered. While the mainstream public shares the condolences only realizing Dan Wheldon through the Las Vegas crash video and some dry statistics. Once hearing of his death, some will question why people would risk their lives in this competition at speed. While life is full of risks, race car drivers are individuals who live life coming the realize a challenge is not always to back away from through existence. Of course, the life of Dan Wheldon, or the many other auto racers who died in the pursuit for performance greatness, would have been much more appreciated on world for much longer but when they lived their lives inside and around race cars it might be hard for drivers to experience life at all without this particular fulfillment.

The privileged people who got to know Dan Wheldon personally through life, their pleasure of knowing the great racing driver brings the deepest sadness. As a community, we support and remember Dan Wheldon for sharing a piece of his 33 great years with a world.

Las Vegas INDYCAR Finale Ends Sadly with Dan Wheldon's Passing

Photo Credit: Chris Jones

Entering the season finale for the 2011 IZOD INDYCAR Series, the tempo was his with the tour's return to the carnival-like atmosphere of Las Vegas. The Las Vegas Motor Speedway's 300-mile IZOD INDYCAR World Championship would be the place where many major honours were decided. For the second-straight year, Will Power and Dario Franchitti were to do battle are top place in the driver's overall point standings. A tight rookie of the year point fight between American JR Hildebrand and Canadian James Hinchcliffe was prepared to reach a conclusion.

Finally, there was one final event on the 2011 IZOD INDYCAR Series title for which 34 drivers were placed in the race field to win. One of those drivers entered into the Las Vegas event was 2011 Indianapolis 500 winner Dan Wheldon. Completing what was a magical feat in late May, Wheldon joined Sam Schmidt Racing and the #77 team for the series' final 2011 race competing with a considerable perk of a 5-million dollar prize if he would have won the Las Vegas Motor Speedway round. As the field was staged for the last 2011 IZOD INDYCAR Series race, the excitement would be far too short-lived with emotions quickly turning by lap 12.

Through one of the most packed field of open wheel racing cars the series has seen since the 1997 Indianapolis 500, there was immediate issues from the drop of green with competitors fighting for position during such an infant race. As several near misses took place on the 1.5-mile Las Vegas Motor Speedway including a brushing of wheels between Alex Tagliani and Ryan Briscoe, the two escaped the incident without wrecking. With packs racing three-wide, even the slightest misinterpretation on-track would have caused a serious incident. Heading into turn 1 on the 12th lap in the event, a worst case scenario took place.

On the outside travelling through the first corner, the #17 of Wade Cunningham made minor contact with the #02 car of James Hinchcliffe who had recently checked up in reaction to action in front of his Newman/Haas Racing machine. Unable to retain handling of his compromised Indy car, Cunningham slid and began a fast pile-up. Travelling in excess of 200 miles per hour, cars were instantly swept up in the initial contact taking in total 15 Indy car vehicles. Jay Howard, Paul Tracy, JR Hildebrand, EJ Viso and Pippa Mann were among some of the drivers sitting in wrecked race cars as a red flag quickly flew over the race track. IZOD INDYCAR title contender Will Power was also caught up in the melee ultimately handing the 2011 championship to Dario Franchitti. Out of the car, Power would be alright but later attended the an off-site hospital with back pain concerns.

With safety crews and emergency vehicles rushing to the massive crash scene around turn 2, Mann and Hildebrand were conscious but in need of further medical attention outside of the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Taken to the University Medical Center by road ambulance, worry from many race observes surrounded the #77 car that was driven by Dan Wheldon. Sustaining heavy damage, Wheldon's car was eventually centered by a yellow tarp as the condition of the driver was unknown.

As time passed and other drivers involved in the big wreck at Las Vegas were discharged from the on-site medical center, Paul Tracy detailed that doctors were surrounding Wheldon. Later, IZOD INDYCAR Series television coverage on ABC received confirmation that Dan Wheldon was on a recently-lifted medical helicopter to the same medical center as Hildebrand and Mann. With a track sitting quiet under a red flag with clean-up as well as track repairs to the safer barrier wall and track surface itself proceeding, the concern for the 33-year old British driver grew. After an hour under the red flag period, the INDYCAR Series called a closed-door meeting with all drivers in the media center. It was almost two hours after the horrible 15-car crash when word was officially relayed that the two-time Indy 500 and 2005 INDYCAR champion Dan Wheldon had succumbed to his injures.

In a brief statement, INDYCAR CEO Randy Bernard read the following short message providing the racing world with news a tragedy marks the day:

"INDYCAR is sad to announce that Dan Wheldon passed away from unsurvivable injuries. Our thoughts and prayers are with Dan and his family. INDYCAR, its drivers and teams have decided to end the race. We will run a five-lap salute in honor of Dan."

Ten minutes after Bernard presented the news, drivers of the remaining 19 vehicles were assembled to perform a makeshift yet tasteful memorial to the now-departed young racing legend. For five laps, the Indy car pack circulated the Las Vegas Motor Speedway race in a three-wide formation. A gripping emotional time for the fraternity of IZOD INDYCAR Series drivers as they reentered their vehicles with knowledge of a lost competitor, and in many cases friend. As a checkered-flag flew as an end to the Las Vegas race. However, for drivers, race team members, race fans and the racing families (especially the now grieving family of Dan Wheldon), the flag does nothing to resolve the pain of losing a fellow competitor.

Power Vs. Franchitti: INDYCAR Stars Battle for 2011 Title in Las Vegas

Photo Credit: Chris Jones

The fierce rivalries in motorsports has always been a key element in the most memorable eras. Richard Petty versus David Pearson, Ayrton Senna versus Alain Prost and even manufacturer face-off such as Ferrari versus Chevrolet are occasions in auto racing history where the presence of a full group of contentions is respectfully discounted to see a one-on-one match-up. While modern auto racing bodies are constantly trying to open up the playing field to an assortment of drivers and organizations, there continues to be match-ups where two figures become a prominent fixture.

For the past two seasons in the IZOD INDYCAR Series, the Scottish driver for Target Chip Ganassi Racing #10 car and an Australian driving the #12 Penske Racing team have been the overall championship point duelers. In 2010, Will Power demonstrated some incredible magic on road courses in a first full season for Penske that allowed the Australian to contend for the series title against the more experienced shoe of Dario Franchitti. Franchitti's performance on ovals (a track layout understood to be shortfall for Power last year) gave himself and the Chip Ganassi Racing team the advantage for the 2010 series championship.

In 2011, the battle between Power and Franchitti has apparently become a lot more directed. The focal point for their combat was the Honda Indy of Toronto where Franchitti's actions during the event sent Power's #12 around on course. Embattled in a see-saw battle through the 2011 IZOD INDYCAR season, Will Power and Dario Franchitti entered the Iowa Speedway race tied in the overall points standings after six events. Through unfortunate events at Iowa and Toronto for Power and the Penske Racing team, Franchitti built up a sizable points cushion only for Will Power to chip away at the lagging slowly. Helped largely by a 6th place finish at New Hampshire Motor Speedway following Franchitti suffering a DNF, Power would take the points lead following the Twin Ring Motegi road course event. Will Power's efforts were heavily set-back by a miserable outing in the past race at Kentucky Speedway where he finished 19th after a pit road accident damaging his race car.    

Entering into their second championship showdown, both drivers came from a background involving competition in Formula cars overseas only to be discovered in North America under modest circumstances. For Dario Franchitti, he arrived in the CART series in 1997 driving for Hogan Racing while Will Power was drafted by Team Australian/Walker Racing in Champ car in 2005. Considerable talents, the IZOD INDYCAR Series premium teams signed their respective drivers. Together, Franchitti and Power combine for 10 of the 16 races currently completed on the series schedule.

Taking their championship battle onto the 1.5-mile Las Vegas Motor Speedway oval, Dario Franchitti and Will Power arrive to the track that neither driver has competed on in the IZOD INDYCAR Series. On account of the last major open wheel event for INDYCAR was run at the track in 2000 (when the series was known as the Indy Racing League), the search for understanding of the oval could have contributed to the 18th and 19th place qualifying efforts Friday. Both drivers do process a vague interpretation of racing in the major Nevada city. Heading into the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Will Power in fact has a winning history in the land famously known as 'Sin City'. In 2007, the Australian won his first major open wheel event in North America on the Fremont street course during an Champ Car event. In the case of Dario Franchitti, he raced the Las Vegas Motor Speedway during his 2008 foray into NASCAR. Driving in the Sprint Cup stock car series to a 33rd place finish, Franchitti also competed in the NASCAR Nationwide round taking a more optimistic 6th place.

With an 18-point gap separating Will Power from Dario Franchitti, the IZOD INDYCAR World Championship race at Las Vegas will see if the score can be even in their series championship fight.

Kanaan Hits Jackpot with INDYCAR Finale Pole; Power and Franchitti Starts Mid-Pack

Photo Credit: Chris Jones

 

After 16 races, the series finale for the 2011 IZOD INDYCAR Series takes place on the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Staging the IZOD INDYCAR World Championship Presented by Honda, North America's top open wheel racing tour presents the largest entry list since the Indianapolis 500 in may with 34 cars ready to race Sunday's 200-lap event. Friday's qualifying on the 1.5-mile oval meant a lot for many drivers and teams wanting to make this last race of the season count.

The driver scoring the top qualifying run for the IZOD INDYCAR World Championship Presented by Honda was the #82 car of Tony Kanaan. Lapping the Las Vegas race track in a two-lap average speed of 222.078 miles per hour, the Lotus/KV Racing Technology car earns his first pole position of the year (however, he did start at the front via a qualifying draw during the double race at Texas Motor Speedway).

Prior to the 2011 IZOD INDYCAR Series season, the 2003 champion Tony Kanaan was sent for a loop when a planned drive with de Ferran/Dragon Racing was derailed due to lack of team finances. In a late deal, Lotus/KV Racing Technology give the popular Brazilian a ride driving the #82 machine. Seen initially as a puzzling move for Tony Kanaan, KV Racing Technology's 2010 season performance was mixed at best. Spending most of the season repairing their dwindling supply of Dallara chassis the previous year, Lotus/KV Racing Technology and Tony Kanaan surged to redemption in the first IZOD INDYCAR race of the season at St Petersburg with a 3rd place finish. The rest of the season has shown some great potential from the #82 car.

Only 17/100th of a second slower than Kanaan's time in qualifiying is Oriol Servia. Earning a front row start, Servia himself was a last-minute entrant to the 2011 IZOD INDYCAR race season announcing sponsorship just in time for the first event with his Newman/Haas Racing team.

Starting third, recent surprise race winner of Kentucky Ed Carpenter drives what is likely the last race with the #67 Sarah Fisher Racing team (at least with Dollar General sponsorship). Recently displaced driver from his #77 car Alex Tagliani joins the field through a Sam Schmidt Racing associated Bryan Herta Autosport. Tagliani starts fourth in the #98 car that won this year's Indianapolis 500 with Dan Wheldon. Wheldon driving the #77 car will start 28th on Sunday.

Photo Credit: Bret Kelley

Filling the top-10 for the IZOD INDYCAR World Championship Presented by Honda at Las Vegas Motor Speedway is Ryan Briscoe, Marco Andretti, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Graham Rahal, Danica Patrick and Mike Conway. All four Andretti Autosport cars start in the top-10 including Danica Patrick who will be making her final IZOD INDYCAR Series race start before becoming a permanent fixture in NASCAR in 2012. 

 

 

At the forefront of the series finale, the intense championship battle in the IZOD INDYCAR Series has 18 points separating contenders Dario Franchitti and Will Power. In qualifying for the IZOD INDYCAR World Championship Presented by Honda, the complexion of the 2011 driver championship fight grows more interesting as the Power's #12 Penske Racing and Franchitti's #10 Target/Chip Ganassi car start in the middle of the field Sunday. Recording 2-lap qualifying efforts just under 8/100ths of a second apart, Power took a one grid position advantage at Las Vegas to start 17th. A repeat championship match-up between the two drivers, Dario Franchitti (starting 18th at the Las Vegas race) prevailed at Homestead in 2010.

 

 

While Will Power and Dario Franchitti will be starting close in the final race settling the 2011 IZOD INDYCAR championship, a similar situation is transpiring for the tight Rookie of the Year fight. Canadian driver for Newman/Haas Racing James Hinchcliffe qualifying 14th holds a slim rookie points advantage on Panther Racing's JR Hildebrand.

 

A race concluding the 2011 IZOD INDYCAR Series season, the 200-lap event at Las Vegas is set for 3PM Eastern time.

 

 

2011 IZOD INDYCAR
IZOD INDYCAR World Championship Presented by Honda
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Starting Lineup

 

1. 82 Tony Kanaan/Brazil/ KV Racing Technology
2. 2 Oriol Servia/Spain/ Newman/Haas Racing
3. 67 Ed Carpenter/ United States/ Sarah Fisher Racing
4. 98 Alex Tagliani/ Canada/ Bryan Herta Autosport
5. 6 Ryan Briscoe/Australia/ Penske Racing
6. 26 Marco Andretti/United States/ Andretti Autosport
7. 28 Ryan Hunter-Reay/United States/Andretti Autosport
8. 38 Graham Rahal/United States/Chip Ganassi Racing
9. 7 Danica Patrick/United States/ Andretti Autosport
10. 27 Mike Conway/England/Andretti Autosport
11. 3 Helio Castroneves/Brazil/ Penske Racing
12. 17 Wade Cunningham/New Zealand/ Sam Schmidt Motorsports
13. 9 Scott Dixon/New Zealand/ Target/Chip Ganassi Racing
14. 06 James Hinchcliffe/Canada/ Newman/Haas Racing
15. 4 JR Hildebrand/United States/ Panther Racing
16. 5 Takuma Sato/Japan/ KV Racing Technology
17. 12 Will Power/Australia/ Penske Racing
18. 10 Dario Franchitti/Scotland/ Target/Chip Ganassi Racing
19. 34 Sebastian Saavedra/ Columbia/ Conquest Racing
20. 19 Alex Lloyd/England/Dale Coyne Racing
21. 83 Charlie Kimball/United States/ Chip Ganassi Racing
22. 22 Townsend Bell/ United States/Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
23. 57 Tomas Scheckter/ South Africa/ Sarah Fisher Racing
24. 11 Davey Hamilton/ United States/ Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
25. 14 Vitor Meira/Brazil/ AJ Foyt Racing Enterprises
26. 8 Paul Tracy/Canada/Dragon Racing
27. 15 Jay Howard/ England/ Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing
28. Wheldon/England/ Sam Schmidt Motorsports
29. 30 Pippa Mann/ England/ Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing
30. 24 Ana Beatriz/Brazil/ Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
31. 78 Simona De Silvestro/Switzerland/ HVM Racing
32. 59 EJ Viso/Venezuela/ KV Racing Technology
33. 18 James Jakes/England/ Dale Coyne Racing
34. 44 Buddy Rice/United States/Panther Racing

Jimmie Johnson Shows His Hand at NASCAR Sprint Cup Shelby American in Vegas

Photo Credit: Stephen Dunn/Getty Images for NASCAR

As a Canadian, I feel my need to apologize to NASCAR for turning my attention away from the 400 mile race Shelby American at Las Vegas Motor Speedway as I just had to watch the Olympic Men's Hockey finals between Canada and the United States. Judging published accounts of Sunday afternoon's TV Ratings in Canada and the United States, it's fair to say I was not the only one who watched the brilliant 3-2 victory of Team Canada's male athletes in a hard-fought effort through overtime.

Through all the excitement and the sheer volume of the major hockey event, I have to candidly admit that the feeling of watching the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway was comparably underwhelming on this afternoon.

Started under a bright sky in front of a reportedly sell-out audience at the 1.5 oval, the Las Vegas native Kurt Busch pole position gave him and his #2 Miller Lite Dodge lane choice for the Shelby American start. Choosing the top side, Busch's decision immediately turned out to be an unwise decision following the drop of the green flag. Holding the lower line, fellow front row starter Jeff Gordon motored his #24 Chevrolet around the #2 Dodge to take the lead. Setting the course of the day, Jeff Gordon would lead often through the 400 mile event.

Gordon led for the first 52 laps until Roush Racing's Greg Biffle was able to sneak by the Hendrick Motorsports #24 car on a restart from a caution. As Biffle claimed the top spot, the green flag period was very short-lived. In fact, according to the track alert lights, the field was still under yellow flag conditions. Wisely acting on the side of driver safety, a yellow flag was thrown by NASCAR so they could correct the signaling error. Taking only 3 laps under caution until the race could be restarted, this signaling problem would creep once more on lap 109 when the issue was fully remedied.

With 7 caution periods overall in the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup race in Las Vegas, the incidents are fairly tame for the most part. However, a caution drawn on lap 94 would reflect the only multi-car accident in the race involving three cars which have shown competitiveness through the early stage of the 2010 Sprint Cup season. Creating the 5th caution of the Shelby American race, the Earnhardt/Ganassi Racing #1 Chevrolet of Jamie McMurray slipped up into his teammate, the #42 of Juan Pablo Montoya through turn 4 on the racetrack cited earlier in the race as being slick. Spinning out Montoya, the red #42 car ran up the track striking the turn 4 wall enough to infect serious damage to the car's deck lid area. As Kurt Busch came through the turn 4 area, he became the only non EGR casualty of the situation as he made contact that damaged the right front corner of his blue Dodge. McMurray was apologetic in the aftermath of the accident taking responsibility for the costly day for Earnhardt/Ganassi Racing. All three cars suffered damage requiring extended attention of their crews but finished the event only at most 20 laps down.



Photo Credit: Stephen Dunn/Getty Images for NASCAR


The Hendrick Motorsports duo of Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson led all but 30 of the 267 laps of the Shelby American at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Little else happened through the race as only Matt Kenseth, Tony Stewart, and the odd appearance of Scott Speed were some drivers who mixed up the complexion at the front of Las Vegas Motor Speedway when the Hendrick Chevrolet were pitting or were bypassed on pit strategy. The other Hendrick Motorsport cars were having mixed days in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Shelby American as Mark Martin was able to hold on to the top 10 while Dale Earnhardt Jr fell from a 4th place starting spot to the lower part of the top 15 after 200 laps.

Being a match race between Gordon and Johnson at the end, Johnson who was running 2nd place since the mid-way point of the race out-powered his teammate and part-owner on lap 251. In the final run, Jeff Gordon's #24 Chevrolet also gave way to the #29 Chevrolet of Kevin Harvick (who fought his way from a 34th place start) relinquishing the runner-up to the Pennzoil car. With considerable distance to Johnson, Harvick ran out of laps to catch Jimmie Johnson for the second straight week.

Again, Jimmie Johnson's #48 Lowes Chevrolet from Hendrick Motorsports successfully streaked claim to a 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup race trophy. Requiring a methodical climb from 20th place at the beginning of the event, Johnson wins his 49 career event in the major stock car racing series.

Behind Johnson, Harvick and Gordon was the #5 Hendrick car of Mark Martin followed by the Roush Racing's #17 of Matt Kenseth. Finishing 5th, Kenseth is effectively gelling with his new crew chief Todd Parrott working in their second race together in 2010.

After 3 races in the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup series season, Kevin Harvick continues to hold the lead in the early going. Last week at Auto Club Speedway, Harvick chuckled in response to the significance of leading this still infant season an told about his lead. Holding a 47 markers ahead of teammate Clint Bowyer, the #29 car's 32 position improvement in the Shelby American 400 miles race and win in Saturday's NASCAR Nationwide series round should at least keep a smile on the driver's face. A beneficial event to Hendrick Motorsports two lead teams, Johnson leapfrogs 7 positions to 5th but Jeff Gordon also surged by 9 spots in the overall points standing.



2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup
Shelby American
Las Vegas Motor Speedway

Pos # | Car # | Driver | Sponsor/Car Make

1) 48 Jimmie Johnson   Lowe's / KOBALT Tools Chevrolet
2) 29 Kevin Harvick    Pennzoil Ultra Chevrolet
3) 24 Jeff Gordon      DuPont / Pepsi Max Chevrolet
4) 5 Mark Martin      GoDaddy.com Chevrolet
5) 17 Matt Kenseth     Crown Royal Ford
6) 20 Joey Logano      Home Depot Toyota
7) 14 Tony Stewart     Old Spice / Office Depot Chevrolet
8) 33 Clint Bowyer     Cheerios / Hamburger Helper Chevrolet
9) 9 Kasey Kahne      Budweiser Ford
10) 16 Greg Biffle      3M Ford
11) 31 Jeff Burton      Caterpillar Chevrolet
12) 99 Carl Edwards     Aflac / Kelloggs Ford
13) 00 David Reutimann   TUMS Toyota
14) 47 Marcos Ambrose    Kingsford / Scott Branded Products Toyota
15) 18 Kyle Busch       M&M's Toyota
16) 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. National Guard / AMP Energy Chevrolet
17) 98 Paul Menard      Moen / Menards Ford 
18) 39 Ryan Newman      Tornados Chevrolet
19) 11 Denny Hamlin     FedEx Ground Toyota
20) 56 Martin Truex Jr. NAPA Gold Filters Toyota
21) 78 Regan Smith      Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet
22) 82 Scott Speed      Red Bull Toyota
23) 6 David Ragan      UPS Ford
24) 34 Travis Kvapil    Long John Silver's Ford
25) 43 A J Allmendinger Valvoline Ford
26) 12 Brad Keselowski         Penske Dodge
27) 19 Elliott Sadler         Stanley Ford
28) 77 Sam Hornish Jr.         Mobil 1 Dodge
29) 66 Dave Blaney         PRISM Motorsports Toyota
30) 38 David Gilliland         Taco Bell Ford 
31) 83 Brian Vickers         Red Bull Toyota
32) 7 Robby Gordon         Monster Energy Toyota
33) 13 Max Papis         GEICO Toyota
34) 1 Jamie McMurray         McDonald's Chevrolet
35) 2 Kurt Busch         Miller Lite Dodge
36) 37 Kevin Conway          Extenze Ford
37) 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Target Chevrolet
38) 71 Bobby Labonte         TaxSlayer.com Chevrolet
39) 36 Mike Bliss         Kim Kardashian Fragrance Chevrolet
40) 26 Boris Said        Southern Pride Trucking Ford
41) 87 Joe Nemechek     FrontRowJoe.com Toyota
42) 55 Michael McDowell PRISM Motorsports Toyota
43)     09 Aric Almirola    Phoenix Racing Chevrolet

Harvick Hits Jackpot at Sam's Town 300 NASCAR Nationwide Race

Photo Credit: Geoff Burke/Getty Images for NASCAR


There's a saying that the best way to cure a drought is to hold a car race in the area. As the NASCAR Nationwide series Sam's Town 300 prepared to roll on Saturday in the desert of Las Vegas, rain delayed the green flag for over an hour and a half. After the rain clouds finally dispersed and the Las Vegas Motor Speedway surface dry was dried, Brad Keselowski in the #22 Dodge took field to the starting line.

Taking the green flag in the lead, Keselowski would not hold the position for lap 1 as front row starter Kevin Harvick in his Chevrolet swept around the Penske-owned Dodge. Driving again for his KHI (Kevin Harvick Incorporated) Chevy, Harvick lead held the lead for a consecutive 57 laps before he had to make a green-flag pit stop. Kyle Busch, Greg Biffle, Keselowski, Carl Edwards, and James Buescher would lead through the proceeding laps.


Photo Credit: Todd Warshaw/Getty Images


Driving the photogenic #7 Godaddy.com Chevrolet, Danica Patrick start at Las Vegas Motor Speedway was her third career NASCAR Nationwide series race. Since her debut at Daytona, Patrick has been enduring a bumpy road in the stock car racing series getting caught in a crash at Daytona and having a so-par race car at Auto Club Speedway. Continuing what is a difficult transition to the heavier stock cars, Patrick's race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway started in 37th place. Moving up the running order, Danica Patrick briefly ran as high as 3rd using pit stop strategy but saw her efforts fall flat. On lap 83, Patrick's #7 Chevrolet is passing the slower car of Michael McDowell on the inside of turn one when McDowell's Dodge trimmed down on the #7 Chevrolet. McDowell's car spun and collected Patrick ending her race with a heavily-damaged JR Motorsports Chevrolet. The Sam's Town 300 will be Danica Patrick's last scheduled race in the NASCAR Nationwide Series until late June. Taking precedence over her stock car racing, Patrick returns to the IZOD IndyCar series in two weeks time rejoining her full-time effort with Andretti Autosport.

As the field visited pit road for service, Kyle Busch's #18 Toyota led the leaders back up to the track. Early race leader Kevin Harvick experienced a less stellar stop which cost him five positions on the race track. This stop followed an earlier stop where the KHI #33 pit crew provided another slow service and comes just two weeks after Harvick chastised his crew members in the Daytona Nationwide race.

With an interruption for rain drawing a brief caution at lap 105, Kyle Busch led for 32 laps before a 5th race yellow flag flew for the #6 Ford hitting the wall along for frontstretch. On the pit road rush, the crew of the Carl Edwards #60 Ford got the new father out first. With three lead lap cars staying on the racetrack for track position, Edwards took 3 laps to work past those vehicles to take the lead. Caution came out again on lap 146 when Brian Scott lost control of his #11 Toyota and banged the wall in turn 4. Finishing the race in 31st, Scott has currently revealed himself as a top 15 driver in 2010 as a NASCAR Nationwide series rookie.

Pit stops again reshaped the lead of the race as Denny Hamlin was able to usher his #20 Toyota out of the pits first with Penske's Racing Justin Allgaier also finding his way around the former leading car of Carl Edwards. As Hamlin sets the pace through the latter stage of the Sam's Town 300, Kevin Harvick made a change from 6th to 2nd in the 29 laps that the #20 Toyota led. With the aid of a late caution involving Colin Braun, Steve Wallace and Tony Raines, Harvick used the double file restart to make a race winning move around Denny Hamlin. Just a few laps after teammate Hamlin relinquished the race's lead, Kyle Busch contention for victory ended when he brushed the wall with his #18 Z-Line Designs Toyota while running third. Busch would backslid to 16th place as he crossed the finish line.

Leading the final 25 laps, Kevin Harvick took the #33 Chevrolet to victory in the Sam's Town 300 overcoming the early pit problems to celebrate with his team in the winner's circle.
For the second time, a KHI Chevrolet takes victory on the 2010 NASCAR Nationwide circuit adding to the Daytona win with Tony Stewart driving a team car. This victory for Kevin Harvick was also describe by wife and team co-owner DeLana Harvick as "a nice anniversary present". NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers would dominate the top 5 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with Denny Hamlin, Carl Edwards, Brad Keselowski and Brian Vickers following Harvick in that order across the finish line.

With only three races in the books for the NASCAR Nationwide Series, Carl Edwards holds a 41 point lead over Brad Keselowski in the series-long standings. Finishing 7th in the Sam's Town 300, Allgaier currently sits 4th in series points, the highest placed Nationwide-only driver amongst a crowd of Sprint Cup regulars.



NASCAR Nationwide Series
Sam's Town 300
Las Vegas Motor Speedway


Top 10

1) 33 Kevin Harvick Rheem Chevrolet
2) 20 Denny Hamlin Interstate Batteries Toyota
3) 60 Carl Edwards Copart Ford
4) 22 Brad Keselowski Discount Tire Dodge
5) 32 Brian Vickers Dollar General Toyota
6) 99 Trevor Bayne Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota
7) 12 Justin Allgaier Verizon Wireless Dodge
8) 98 Paul Menard Richmond / Menards Ford
9) 27 Greg Biffle Redman Moist Snuff Ford
10) 66 Steve Wallace 5 Hour Energy Toyota

Other Notables

16) 18 Kyle Busch Z-Line Designs Toyota
18) 87 Joe Nemechek FrontRowJoe.com Chevrolet
27) 40 Mike Bliss Buck Commander / Bad Boy Buggies Chevrolet
28) 16 Colin Braun  Roush Fenway Ford
31) 11 Brian Scott  StopRepairBills.com Toyota
36) 7 Danica Patrick GoDaddy.com Chevrolet
42) 88 Kelly Bires Hendrickcars.com Chevrolet

Kurt Busch Takes Pole for Las Vegas Shelby 427 Cup Race

Photo Credit: Autostock/Penske Racing

Into the third race of the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup, fans of the top stock car series have been treated to some unpredictable happenings in the first two events. The Shelby American 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway is the second non-restrictor plate race of the season and has the potential to help establish some firm ground under where the Sprint Cup teams stand for 2010.

On Friday qualifying, Kurt Busch piloted has Miller Lite Dodge won the time trials for the Shelby 427 pole. Perhaps gaining some inspiration from the dominance of Penske Racing's IndyCar teams testing performances at Birmingham's Barber Motorsports Park, Busch shot around the 1.5 mile oval at an average speed of 188.719 miles per hour striping the #24 of Jeff Gordon from the top position. Scoring pole in his hometown race, the elder Busch brother will likely enjoy a repeat result from last season when Kyle Busch's won from the pole.

With Dupont/Pepsi Max #24 Chevrolet nailing down a tough mark to beat for Busch, Gordon was little more than 1/100th of a second short of successfully holding off Busch's fast Dodge. In 3rd, Ryan Newman has ridden his Tornados-sponsored #39 Chevrolet attempting to fight the turbulence of an unfair 2010 campaign so far. Falling victim to a last race crash at the Daytona 500 and an engine failure at Auto Club Speedway, Newman currently sits 36th in driver points.

Dale Earnhardt Jr took the top spot early in the qualifying session for the second time of the year. As qualifying concluded, Earnhardt Jr's #88 Chevrolet settled into a 4th place starting position for Sunday's event. JR Nation fans wanting to see a turnaround for the #88 Hendrick Motorsport car in 2010 will be pleased to learn this weekend's qualifying effort through Earnhardt Jr's average start of 28.6 place in the past four visits to Las Vegas.

In 5th and 6th, the 2 of the 3 Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch and Joey Logano can present a definite challenge to the lead at Las Vegas. With Kyle Busch the reigning race winner in the #18 Toyota, Logano has been showing some real promise through the early stages of the 2010 Sprint Cup campaign seated 9th in points.

Rounding out the top 10 in Friday's qualifying is the highest-starting Ford of Greg Biffle, the #5 Chevrolet of Mark Martin, Tony Stewart and Juan Pablo Montoya. Despite the aggressive performance that the Earnhardt-Childress Engine program has in the first two races of 2010, Montoya's #42 Target Chevrolet placement of 10th was the fastest of the group at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Current Sprint Cup points leader and fellow Earnhardt-Childress Engine runner Kevin Harvick could only muster a 34th place starting spot for Sunday's Shelby American 400 race.

In the middle of the field, multiple race winners Jeff Burton and Jimmie Johnson will be starting the event with not only their experience but with statistics on their side. Through the past 12 Sprint Cup races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the winner came from a starting position outside of the top 15 on 6 occasions. Four of those times became from between 23rd to 25st place.

With two 500 mile races launching the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup season, the 400 miles around Las Vegas Motor Speedway might seem like a breather to the drivers and teams. However, these shorter races basically compresses the intensity level of the competitors as fewer laps mean a more flat-out race. These shorter events for the NASCAR Sprint Cup series also leaves less margin of error making even one pit road penalty a considerably more costly occurrence.


2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup
Shelby American 400
Las Vegas Motor Speedway

Pos # | Car # | Driver | Sponsor/Car make

1) 2 Kurt Busch Miller Lite Dodge
2) 24 Jeff Gordon DuPont / Pepsi Max Chevrolet
3) 39 Ryan Newman Tornados Chevrolet
4) 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. National Guard / AMP Energy Chevrolet
5) 18 Kyle Busch M&M's Toyota
6) 20 Joey Logano Home Depot Toyota
7) 16 Greg Biffle 3M Ford
8) 5 Mark Martin GoDaddy.com Chevrolet
9) 14 Tony Stewart Old Spice / Office Depot Chevrolet
10) 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Target Chevrolet
11) 17 Matt Kenseth Crown Royal Ford
12) 99 Carl Edwards Aflac / Kelloggs Ford
13) 33 Clint Bowyer Cheerios / Hamburger Helper Chevrolet
14) 77 Sam Hornish Jr. Mobil 1 Dodge
15) 87 Joe Nemechek FrontRowJoe.com Toyota
16) 12 Brad Keselowski Penske Dodge
17) 00 David Reutimann TUMS Toyota
18) 6 David Ragan UPS Ford
19) 9 Kasey Kahne Budweiser Ford
20) 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe's / KOBALT Tools Chevrolet
21) 13 Max Papis GEICO Toyota
22) 31 Jeff Burton Caterpillar Chevrolet
23) 82 Scott Speed Red Bull Toyota
24) 1 Jamie McMurray McDonald's Chevrolet
25) 34 Travis Kvapil Long John Silver's Ford
26) 98 Paul Menard Moen / Menards Ford
27) 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Ground Toyota
28) 78 Regan Smith Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet
29) 71 Bobby Labonte TaxSlayer.com Chevrolet
30) 36 Mike Bliss Kim Kardashian Fragrance Chevrolet
31) 83 Brian Vickers Red Bull Toyota
32) 47 Marcos Ambrose Kingsford / Scott Branded Products Toyota
33) 55 Michael McDowell PRISM Motorsports Toyota
34) 29 Kevin Harvick Pennzoil Ultra Chevrolet
35) 56 Martin Truex Jr. NAPA Gold Filters Toyota
36) 66 Dave Blaney PRISM Motorsports Toyota
37) 19 Elliott Sadler Stanley Ford
38) 38 David Gilliland Taco Bell Ford
39) 37 Kevin Conway  Extenze Ford
40) 43 A J Allmendinger Valvoline Ford
41) 26 Boris Said Southern Pride Trucking Ford
42) 7 Robby Gordon Monster Energy Toyota
43) 09 Aric Almirola Phoenix Racing Chevrolet 

Victory Lap and Kids on a Stage By Cathy Elliott

Photo Credit: David Becker/Getty Images for NASCAR


Guest Column By Cathy Elliott

NASCAR’s decision to move its annual NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion’s Week activities from New York City to Las Vegas was met with little, if any, resistance. Las Vegas, of course, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country, and although everyone loves New York, it did seem to be time for a change of scenery.

It has been more than that; it has brought a change of attitude.

There’s a lot going on, including various media gatherings, a private dinner for the champion, sponsor receptions and the like. Las Vegas Motor Speedway hosted a big fan event on Tuesday. Stock cars are parked in prominent locations on the famous Las Vegas Strip for photo ops. Tony Stewart did a live radio awards show – his yearly “Stewies” -- from the Rio Hotel. There’s a lot of action, and it isn’t just in the casinos. Las Vegas is a happening place.

Speaking of the Strip, the city shut the whole thing down for an hour so the top 12 drivers in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup could take a Victory Lap, complete with pit stops and a burnout from four-time champion Jimmie Johnson.

The Victory Lap is probably Champion’s Week’s most spectacular event. When you’re standing in front of the MGM Grand Hotel with all the bells and whistles of Vegas behind you, fans are lining the streets as far as the eye can see, and then those stock cars fire up in front of you, you can’t help but think things couldn’t get any better.

But they did. Wayne Newton –- who has probably never before been referred to as the icing on the cake but in this case was –- waved the green flag for the Victory Lap. Yes, he’s real.

On Thursday, December 3, the National Motorsports Press Association and Myers Brothers hosted their awards ceremony. Other than the NASCAR Sprint Cup awards dinner, this is the biggest event of the week. It honors, if not exactly the little guy, then the guys who are slightly less large. Officials and crew members have their moment in the spotlight, and proactive sponsors are recognized for their contributions to NASCAR.

Dale Earnhardt, Jr. flew in for the day to pick up the NASCAR NMPA Chex Most Popular Driver Award for the seventh consecutive year. Junior has turned into a pretty good speechmaker. On this day, he talked about his childhood dream –- the dream of so many kids that in this notable case came true –- of growing up to race cars for a living. He thanked the fans, who select the winner of this award, and said, “As long as you keep supporting me, I’ll keep showing up.”

Photo Credit: Todd Warshaw/Getty Images for NASCAR

Joey Logano, who received Raybestos Rookie of the Year honors, may have delivered the best line of the day. Acknowledging Mark Martin as one of his primary role models, Logano said he only hoped he could measure up to that high standard when he reached Martin’s age –- in the year 2040.

Barney Hall seemed truly nonplussed to be presented with the event’s namesake trophy, the NMPA Myers Brothers Award, but still managed to summon up one of his trademark quips -- “Like the little fish said when he swam into a concrete wall, '… damn.'”

Of course, the top 12 drivers were there, participating in what has become one of my favorite vignettes from Champion’s Week. As they are introduced one by one to open the show, the guys come out in their impeccable designer suits and form a single line on the stage. Basically, it’s just a photo opportunity. Literally, all they have to do is stand there and behave themselves.

They never pull it off. Never. The world’s greatest drivers, who literally live in each other’s faces week in and week out, never seem to know what to do up there in their fancy outfits. They decide they need to stand up there and have a chat. They fidget; they put their hands in their pockets. They whisper jokes that must be pretty funny because there seems to be an awful lot of hilarity going on.

This year was the best. Realizing it was a long line, and they were going to run out of room on the stage before Johnson got out there, Brian Vickers, who was introduced first, tugged on the arm of Carl Edwards to get him to move down.

This started a chain reaction-type deal as the drivers pulled and poked and nudged one another in an attempt to properly rearrange themselves. Think about kids all costumed up as vegetables or farm animals in a second-grade play, trying their hardest to occupy their correct spots on stage, and you get the idea.

Plus, I’m pretty sure Martin was wearing sneakers.

Now, I realize this seems like a small point to make such a big deal out of. But really, it kind of sums up the whole feel of the 2009 Champion’s Week.

The most visible faces of a wildly popular sport are in Las Vegas for a week. At the NASCAR Sprint Cup Awards Ceremony, they will be honored for their achievements this year. As an added bonus, they will also get paid for those achievements. They got to drive their race cars down the Strip. They got to mess around on stage with their buddies. They’re having fun.

And because of them, so are we.

Photo Credit: Todd Warshaw/Getty Images for NASCAR