Sprint Hangs Up on Sponsoring NASCAR's Top Series Beyond 2016

Photo Credit: Jerry Markland/Getty Images

At the start of the 2017 NASCAR season, the green flag for the Daytona 500 will drop inaugurating a new path for their biggest stakes tour. First and foremost, NASCAR's top series will no longer be known as the Sprint Cup Series. In a brief statement issued by NASCAR on Tuesday afternoon, it was announced cellular phone service provider Sprint would not renew their title sponsor role in the premier stock car racing series.

Citing the need to concentrate on their core business, Sprint has decided not to renew their title sponsorship commitment to NASCAR. Steve Gaffney, Sprint's vice president of marketing commented, “We are proud of our association with NASCAR’s top series but have made the decision not to extend our sponsorship beyond the next two years,”. Gaffney also stated, “We genuinely appreciate the fans, teams, drivers, tracks and media who have been so supportive and welcoming to us during these many race seasons,” adding how Sprint looks forward to fulfilling the final years of their current deal.

The series had been known as NASCAR Sprint Cup since 2008 but the original contract began in 2004 through the company Nextel. Called the Nextel Cup Series for a single season, Sprint and Nextel merged in 2005. The original ten-year naming right deal for the NASCAR series was extended at the end of the term to three additional seasons. The Nextel-Sprint arrangement replaced a long-running sponsorship deal with R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company resulting in the existence of the Winston Cup Series for 33 seasons. Besides the series title sponsorship, Sprint has also been providing their brand name to the invitational event at Daytona International Speedway and the all-star race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

The Sprint Cup Series isn't going to be the first major touring division of NASCAR to undergo a rebranding. Starting next year, Comcast's Xfinity brand will be the new title sponsor in the NASCAR division previously known as the Nationwide Series.

Braver Camry Face Expresses Stern Toyota NASCAR Sprint Cup Car for 2015

Photo Credit: Michael L. Levitt, LAT Photo USA for Toyota Racing

With the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup season almost over, the Toyota teams in the series have been enduring a less than spectacular outing.  A season that looked promising during the first part of Daytona Speedweeks, the 2014 Sprint Cup effort for Toyota has been one of the least fruitful since the conclusion of the manufacturer's winless debut season in 2007. After 31 races, the collection effort of the Toyota organizations has amounted to only two wins in point-paying races. Both coming with Joe Gibbs Racing owned vehicles, the Toyota Camry found victory at Auto Club Speedway driven by Kyle Busch and at May's Talladega race when Denny Hamlin wheeled the #11 machine. While qualifying has been kinder to the 2014 Toyota Camry with seven starts at the front this season, the cars have not seen victory lane in the 21 races since Talladega.

Looking ahead to greater fortunes in next season's NASCAR Sprint Cup series, the Japanese-derived auto company has created an all-new body style intent on seeing it claim more winner trophies than 2014. Based on the production car version of the new Toyota Camry (just recently released for sale to the public), the new stock car receives a more pronounced front end. Reflecting the bolder stance of the production car, the 2015 race car also features reshaping of the quarter panels and rear portion for greater personality.  Responding to the design expertise invested in the 2015 Toyota Camry NASCAR stock car, TRD (Toyota Racing Development) president and general manager David Wilson said, “It was a challenging process balancing performance and design, but working closely with Calty Design, NASCAR and our race team partners, we were able to develop a race car that looks similar to its production counterpart -- and provide a performance upgrade on the race track.”

The 2015 Toyota Camry NASCAR Sprint Cup car will debut next season at Daytona Speedweeks receiving its first ultimate field test in the Daytona 500. With the change for 2015, Toyota becomes the first manufacturer to update a NASCAR Sprint Cup vehicle based on the so-called "Gen 6" architecture balancing brand parity with unique identity. The car will also conform to a refreshed 2015 Sprint Cup series rule package designed to lessen aerodynamic downforce and drag along with reducing engine momentum. This new Camry race car will also be the shape of Toyota's 2015 NASCAR Xfinity Series (the soon-to-be new name of the Nationwide Series).

Kahne Tames Early Hendrick Woes to Win Coca-Cola 600

Photo Credit: Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR

NASCAR's Memorial day Sunday counterpart to the Indianapolis 500, 43 Sprint Cup Series cars were readied for a race into the night at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

The longest race on the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series calender, the Coca-Cola 600 started under the early evening sun with the #43 Ford of Aric Almirola leading the field to a green flag for 400 laps. In the Thursday qualifying, a strong effort by the Richard Petty Motorsports cars of Almirola and the #9 of Marcos Ambrose secured the front row positions at the 1.5-mile Charlotte track.

When green fell on the Coca-Cola 600, the Richard Petty Motorsport Ford Fusion stock cars would exchange the lead on three occasions in the first 6 laps. On lap 9, another member the Ford brigade would break Richard Petty Motorsports very early hold of the 400-lap event. The #16 Roush Fenway Racing Ford of Greg Biffle pass on Ambrose amounted to what would be 204 laps leading the Coca-Cola 600. After another brief exchange of the first spot with Marcos Ambrose's #9 car, Biffle's #16 Ford would lead from lap 23 for 90 consecutive circuits around the Charlotte Motor Speedway oval.

Photo Credit: Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Greg Biffle's domination in the first quarter of the Coca-Cola 600 was aided by the lack of a yellow flag slowing the NASCAR Sprint Cup field. Completing 113 caution-free laps opening the race, debris on the racetrack finally slowed the stock cars. After not seeing a caution for the race's first 169.5 miles, lap 113 to lap 179 would see the yellow flag pop out for what was four of the five caution periods during the Coca-Cola 600 event. All but one of the yellow flags in the event were a result of debris (Travis Kvapil's #93 Toyota scraping with the turn 4 wall on lap 174 was the only exception).

Past the halfway point of the event, the race-contending #9 Ford of Marcos Ambrose was brought to the garage due to a damaged hub on his racing machine. Though the determined Richard Petty Motorsports team were able to return Ambrose to the racetrack after losing just 13 laps to the garage, the effort by the #9 car resulted in a 32nd place finish for the Tasmanian driver. A similar hub failure was also connected to a loss of laps for the #22 Penske Racing Dodge of AJ Allmendinger.

The season for Kasey Kahne started with 4 finishes of 29th or worse in the first 6 races. After a 38th place finish at the Martinsville race, Kahne and the #5 Hendrick Motorsport team turned their fortunes around by placing in the top-8 in each of the five NASCAR Sprint Cup races leading up to the Cola-Cola 600. Taking the lead of the 2012 Coca-Cola 600 for the first time on lap 220, Kahne's #5 Chevrolet blazed to the front of the field just as the lights brightened the Charlotte Motor Speedway. A race Kasey Kahne had won twice before, the pursuit of his first win with Hendrick Motorsports was coming fruition in the second-half of the Charlotte Motor Speedway event.

In the last 180 laps of the Coca-Cola 600, it was largely a battle between the #5 Chevrolet of Kasey Kahne and the #16 Ford driven by Greg Biffle. On lap 357, the race's final lead change resulted in Kahne out front of the NASCAR Sprint Cup event. Crossing the line with a 4.3 second advantage over second-place, the win for the #5 Chevrolet is the second win of the season for Hendrick Motorsports. For driver Kasey Kahne, he has now won a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race driving for all four active manufacturers on the 2012 stock car tour.

Photo Credit: Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Unseating Greg Biffle from the top-3 in the Coca-Cola 600, Denny Hamlin finished a strong second in the #11 Toyota and #18 car of Kyle Busch came across the line third for Joe Gibbs Racing. With Biffle finishing fourth, the Roush Fenway Racing driver holds onto the NASCAR Sprint Cup points lead by 10 points over teammate Matt Kenseth. Brad Keselowski's #2 Dodge rounded out the top-5 in a race that was completed at a record average speed of 155.687 miles per hour.

Winning the last two races on the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series tour, Hendrick Motorsports delivered a strong overall performance with all 4 cars in the top-11. Dale Earnhardt Jr finished 6th and Jeff Gordon's #24 Chevrolet finished 7th (only Gordon's 3rd top-10 result in a difficult 2012 season. While Johnson did not lead a lap during the 600-mile event, the #48 Hendrick Motorsports car was considered a contender for the throughout the course of the Charlotte Motor Speedway event based on the previous weekend's performance in the Sprint All-Star race. However, a late pit miscue by the #48 crew caused by a stuck fuel can resulted in a penalty that would prevent Johnson from climbing any higher than 11th place.

Next race for the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series tour is the FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks at Dover International Speedway on June 3rd. Matt Kenseth is the defending winner of the last Spring race at the Dover 1-mile track.



2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup
Coca-Cola 600
Charlotte Motor Speedway
Race Results

1	5	Kasey Kahne	Quaker State Chevrolet
2	11	Denny Hamlin	FedEx Ground Toyota
3	18	Kyle Busch	M&M's Red-White-Blue Toyota
4	16	Greg Biffle	Fastenal Ford
5	2	Brad Keselowski	Miller Lite Dodge
6	88	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	National Guard-An American Salute Chevrolet
7	24	Jeff Gordon	Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet
8	29	Kevin Harvick	Budweiser Folds of Honor Chevrolet
9	99	Carl Edwards	Fastenal Ford
10	17	Matt Kenseth	Fastenal Ford
11	48	Jimmie Johnson	Lowe's Patriotic Chevrolet
12	56	Martin Truex Jr.	NAPA Auto Parts Toyota
13	15	Clint Bowyer	5-hour Energy Toyota
14	39	Ryan Newman	US ARMY Chevrolet
15	27	Paul Menard	Menards/Serta Chevrolet
16	43	Aric Almirola	US Air Force Ford
17	78	Regan Smith	Furniture Row Chevrolet
18	83	Landon Cassill	Burger King Real Fruit Smoothies Toyota
19	31	Jeff Burton	Wheaties Chevrolet
20	42	Juan Pablo Montoya	Target Chevrolet
21	1	Jamie McMurray	Bass Pro Shops/Arctic Cat Chevrolet
22	13	Casey Mears	GEICO Ford
23	20	Joey Logano	Dollar General Toyota
24	21	Trevor Bayne	Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Ctr. Ford
25	14	Tony Stewart	Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet
26	38	David Gilliland	Mod Space Ford
27	51	Kurt Busch	Phoenix Construction Services Inc Chevrolet
28	47	Bobby Labonte	Kingsford Charcoal Toyota
29	93	Travis Kvapil	Dr. Pepper Toyota
30	10	Danica Patrick	GoDaddy.com Chevrolet
31	32	TJ Bell	Green Smoke Ford
32	9	Marcos Ambrose	DeWalt Ford
33	22	AJ Allmendinger	Shell Pennzoil Dodge
34	55	Mark Martin	Aaron's Armed Forces Foundation Toyota
35	34	David Ragan	Al's Liners/Scorpion Coatings Ford
36	98	Michael McDowell	Presbyterian Healthcare Ford
37	95	Scott Speed	Jordan Truck Sales Ford
38	30	David Stremme	Inception Motorsports Toyota
39	33	Stephen Leicht	Little Joe's Autos/Precon Chevrolet
40	36	Dave Blaney	SealWrap Chevrolet
41	87	Joe Nemechek	AM/FM Energy / SWM Toyota
42	74	Cole Whitt	Turn One Racing Chevrolet
43	26	Josh Wise	MDS Transport Ford

Tony Stewart Hits Early Season Jackpot at Las Vegas

Photo Credit: Getty Images for NASCAR

 

Having already competed at the 2.5-mile Daytana International Speedway and the 1-mile Phoenix International Raceway, the third race in the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup tour took the series regulars to a track in between the earlier two circuits. Hosting the Kobalt Tools 400, the 1.5-mile of Las Vegas Motor Speedway became the stage for another interesting round in a Sprint Cup where the front-runners are still inconclusive.

 

Winning qualifying for the first time with his Hendrick Motorsports on Friday, Kasey Kahne placed the Farmer's Insurance #5 Chevrolet on the coveted pole. Kahne's 190.456-mile per hour lap average speed would be a record at the 1.5-mile oval.

 

 After some chaotic practice sessions, several top drivers would start the Kobalt Tools 400 fighting an even tougher battle. Losing their primary race cars, Jimmie Johnson and 2nd place qualifier Kyle Busch were required to start near the back of the 43-car field in accordance with NASCAR rules. Kyle Busch would receive aid prior to the green flag as several rear field cars allowed the #18 Toyota to start ahead oh them (An action permitted by NASCAR rules). At the front, as Busch was forced from his 2nd place spot, the start at Las Vegas Motor Speedway morphed into an all-Hendrick Motorsport front row with Dale Earnhardt Jr's #88 Chevrolet starting alongside Kasey Kahne.

 

With the green flag falling for Sunday's Kobalt Tools 400, Kasey Kahne's time in the lead was over by the end of the second turn. Showing speed early, Dale Earnhardt Jr surged in the lead at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. A sight so many JR Nation fans will want to see through this 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup season, the #88 National Guard Chevrolet maintained a healthy lead on what was several challenger early on in the 400-mile event.

 

With Kasey Kahne and Joey Logano holding the second place position early, Tony Stewart shot to second appearing to have enough speed to catch Earnhardt Jr. However, Stewart needed to back off from the fight as a piece of debris obstructed the grille of his #14 Chevrolet. Dale Earnhardt Jr remained at the front of the Kobalt Tools 400 for 70 of the race's first 73 laps even surviving a lap-46 caution coming out while pitting.

Photo Credit: Nigel Kinrade/Autostock

 

The #88 Chevrolet would be knocked from the lead on lap 74 when several cars took two tires compared to Earnhardt Jr's team stopping for four. Dale Earnhardt Jr would be out of winning contention for the Las Vegas Motor Speedway event as the race progressed leading to a 10th place day for the #88 Hendrick Motorsports-owned Chevrolet.

 

Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart would be some of the drivers leading the NASCAR Sprint Cup teams up to the halfway point of the Kobalt Tools 400. The Las Vegas Motor Speedway race was proving to be another hotly-contested round in the young 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup year until a true dominator emerged supreme at lap 180. Having already led for 41 laps in the event, Tony Stewart and his #14 Chevrolet developed a liking for the first place spot that saw another 50 laps commanded by the Mobil 1/Home Depot-sponsored car.

 

With all but 37 laps completed of the 267 scheduled lap distance at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the race was slowed three times by the yellow flag. On 246, the #83 Toyota of Landon Cassill suffered an engine failure. With 10 laps to go, Kyle Busch would spin loose across the race track as he attempted to mount a strong top-10 finishing effort late. Spinning through the frontstretch, Busch was fortunate enough to guide the #18 Toyota safely through the infield grass. The second time this season Kyle Busch avoided a near certain wreck (the several saves during the Budweiser Shootout that later evolved to a win for the #18 Toyota), this time would not result in a best possible finish for the Joe Gibbs Racing driver. Kyle Busch would finish 23rd in what was a difficult Kobalt Tools 400 race.

 

 

Photo Credit: Getty Images for NASCAR

 

Despite a fierce challenge from a charging Jimmie Johnson (who flew from the back of the field to compete at the end for the Kobalt Tools 400), Tony Stewart lead 75 of the final 77 laps at Las Vegas Motor Speedway to win the event. Winning in the third race of the year, this season's first win for Tony Stewart was the earliest in his career. The Las Vegas victory was #14 car crew chief Steve Addington's first win since joining Stewart/Haas Racing. In the last NASCAR Sprint Cup event at Phoenix, Tony Stewart's former crew chief Darian Grubb found early success wrenching the #11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota and driver Denny Hamlin to the winner's circle.

 

Jimmie Johnson finished second in a race where his race team and sponsor Lowes partnered in providing relief funding for the areas of the United States hard-hit by tornadoes two weeks ago. The finishes for Johnson at this early time in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series is playing pivotal to capturing lost ground from the Daytona penalty. Later this upcoming week, an review of the tech-inspection penalty that cost the driver and team 25 point following the disastrous Daytona 500 finish who also determine if crew chief Chad Knaus will have to serve a six-race suspension.

 

In third in the finish in the Kobalt Tools 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway was the #16 Ford of Greg Biffle. Biffle prevailed best of a late-race battle between his Roush Fenway Racing teammates. On the last restart, a three-way fight among Matt Kenseth, Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle resulted in Kenseth losing out when he needed to slow to avoid contact. Kasey Kahne was also caught up in the calamity. Kahne would finish 19th and Matt Kenseth come across the start/finish line 23rd. Carl Edwards would finish in the top-5 with Greg Biffle who is currently the NASCAR Sprint Cup points leader in the 2012 driver standings.

 

Other strong finishers at the Las Vegas race included Ryan Newman who backed-up his teammate/owner's victory with a 4th place, Clint Bowyer's finished 6th for Michael Waltrip Racing, Paul Menard with 7th in his Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet and a 9th place finish for Trevor Bayne driving the Wood Brothers Ford Fusion. For Bayne, this finish becomes his 2nd top-10 finish in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series (first being his 2011 Daytona 500 win).

 

Next Sunday, the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup season turns to the tight 0.533-mile short track oval of Bristol Motor Speedway.

 

 

2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Kobalt Tools 400
Race Results

1. 14 Tony Stewart Mobil 1/Office Depot Chevrolet
2. 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe's/Kobalt Tools Chevrolet
3. 16 Greg Biffle 3M/Meguiars Ford
4. 39 Ryan Newman Quicken Loans Chevrolet
5. 99 Carl Edwards Aflac Ford
6. 15 Clint Bowyer 5-hour Energy Toyota
7. 27 Paul Menard Menards/Schrock Chevrolet
8. 1 Jamie McMurray McDonald's Chevrolet
9. 21 Trevor Bayne Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford
10. 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. National Guard/Diet Mountain Dew Chevrolet
11. 29 Kevin Harvick Budweiser Chevrolet
12. 24 Jeff Gordon DuPont 20 Years Chevrolet
13. 9 Marcos Ambrose DeWalt Ford
14. 31 Jeff Burton Caterpillar Chevrolet
15. 78 Regan Smith Furniture Row/Farm American Chevrolet
16. 20 Joey Logano Dollar General Toyota
17. 56 Martin Truex Jr. NAPA Auto Parts Toyota
18. 55 Mark Martin Aaron's Toyota
19. 5 Kasey Kahne Farmers Insurance Chevrolet
20. 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Freight Toyota
21. 34 David Ragan Front Row Motorsports Ford
22. 17 Matt Kenseth Zest Ford
23. 18 Kyle Busch M&M's Brown Toyota
24. 43 Aric Almirola Richard Petty Fantasy Racing Camp Ford
25. 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Clorox Chevrolet
26. 47 Bobby Labonte Kingsford/Bush's Beans Toyota
27. 13 Casey Mears GEICO Ford
28. 30 David Stremme Inception Motorsports Toyota
29. 36 Dave Blaney Ollie's Bargain Outlet Chevrolet
30. 32 Ken Schrader Federated Auto Parts Ford
31. 10 David Reutimann Accell Construction Chevrolet
32. 2 Brad Keselowski Miller Lite Dodge
33. 38 David Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford
34. 33 Brendan Gaughan South Point Casino Chevrolet
35. 51 Kurt Busch Tag Heuer Eyewear Chevrolet
36. 83 Landon Cassill Burger King Toyota
37. 22 AJ Allmendinger Pennzoil Dodge
38. 98 Michael McDowell Phil Parsons Racing Ford
39. 93 Travis Kvapil Burger King Toyota
40. 26 Josh Wise 1-800-Loan Mart Ford
41. 87 Joe Nemechek AM FM Energy Wood & Pellet Stoves Toyota
42. 37 Timmy Hill Poynt.com Ford
43. 49 JJ Yeley America Israel Racing Toyota

 

Championship-Minded Edwards Wins Homestead Cup Pole

Photo Credit: Nigel Kinrade Autostock

The 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season started at Florida's Daytona International Speedway where a surprise winner Trevor Bayne took a Wood Brothers Ford to Daytona 500 victory circle. Returning to the state where the top stock car racing tour kicked off what was an overall unpredictable year, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series title will be won by the first driver other than Hendrick Motorsports' Jimmie Johnson for the first time since 2005.

The winner of that 2005 Cup championship, Tony Stewart, readies for the 2011 series finale at the 1.5-mile Homestead-Miami Speedway just 3 points behind the Chase points leader. Indiana state's Stewart target for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Ford 400 is the #99 car driven by a Columbus, Missouri native. A driver equally as skilled inside the car as he is charismatic outside of a race vehicle, Carl Edwards used plain consistency in 9 of the 10 NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup races to take the point lead going into the Ford 400 on Sunday. Despite not winning an event so far in this 2011 NASCAR Chase, Edwards and the #99 Ford Fusion fielded by Roush Fenway Racing are in position to gain owner Jack Roush his third Cup Series championship. 

With no track activity on Friday due to rain drenching the Homestead-Miami Speedway oval, practice and qualifying for the Ford 400 took place Saturday. Immediately, Carl Edwards and the #99 team rocketed to the top of the time sheets in the two practice sessions. Parlaying the speed in practice, Edward's #99 Ford took pole in qualifying Saturday afternoon lapping the 1.5-mile Florida oval in 30.775 seconds. Equating to a 175.467 mile per hour average speed, Carl Edwards commented following his pole run success content with the importance of Sunday's Ford 400 race. "It is great to be on the pole. It is just one lap and tomorrow we have 267 laps and we have some serious competition out there. We are just going to go put this Ford Fusion up there and get a good pit stall and race hard all day Sunday.” said Edwards ahead of the 400-mile event.

On a mission Sunday, Carl Edwards starts from the front row while Chase contender Tony Stewart will launch from a 15th position in the #14 Chevrolet. With the fight for the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship the tightest during Ford Championship Weekend at the race track, Tony Stewart only needs to improve a few spots over Carl Edwards to steal his third driver's title. Historically at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Edwards and Stewart each hold a pair of victories in the 400-mile event.

Collecting a little over one-tenth of a second slower than Edwards to start on the front row of the Ford 400 is Martin Truex Jr in the #56 Toyota. Recent Pheonix race winner Kasey Kahne is positioned 3rd in what will by his final event in the #4 Toyota for Team Red Bull. Kurt Busch and Brad Keselowski claims the 4th and 5th spots in qualifying for Penske Racing. Part of the 12 drivers eligible in the 2011 Chase, both Kurt Busch and Keselowski enter with opportunities to gain positions to finish out the season. Drivers rounding out the top-10 for the start of the Ford 400 are in order of Matt Kenseth, Jeff Gordon, Greg Biffle, Jimmie Johnson and Denny Hamlin.

Fastest in the first practice, the Hendrick Motorsports-backed #88 Chevrolet of Dale Earnhardt Jr will start 11th after qualifying for Sunday's race. In 11 race starts, Earnhardt Jr has yet to record a top-10 at the Homestead-Miami Speedway track in Sprint Cup Series competition. Other notable starters for the Ford 400 includes Regan Smith in 16th place driving the #78 Furniture Row car, the #18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota of Kyle Busch in 19th position, one-time 2011 Chase contender Kevin Harvick in 21st and 2003 Homestead-Miami race winner Bobby Labonte will start 35th. Also, Mark Martin will be racing his final race for Hendrick Motorsports in the #5 Chevy starting from the 25th position. Martin had announced weeks ago going to Michael Watrip Racing in 2012.

Concluding the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup season, the Ford 400 starts Sunday at 3pm Eastern time.

2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup

Ford 400
Homestead-Miami Speedway
Starting Line-up

1. 99 Carl Edwards Aflac Ford
2. 56 Martin Truex Jr. NAPA Auto Parts Toyota
3. 4 Kasey Kahne Red Bull Toyota
4. 22 Kurt Busch Shell Pennzoil Dodge
5. 2 Brad Keselowski Miller Lite Dodge
6. 17 Matt Kenseth Crown Royal Ford
7. 24 Jeff Gordon Drive To End Hunger Chevrolet
8. 16 Greg Biffle 3M/Novec Ford
9. 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe's Chevrolet
10. 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Express Toyota
11. 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. National Guard/AMP Energy Chevrolet
12. 43 A J Allmendinger Best Buy Ford
13. 6 David Ragan UPS My Choice Ford
14. 39 Ryan Newman U.S. ARMY Chevrolet
15. 14 Tony Stewart Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet
16. 78 Regan Smith Furniture Row Chevrolet
17. 33 Clint Bowyer Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet
18. 9 Marcos Ambrose Stanley Ford
19. 18 Kyle Busch Interstate Batteries Toyota
20. 21 Trevor Bayne Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford
21. 29 Kevin Harvick Budweiser Chevrolet
22. 51 Landon Cassill Security Benefit/ThnkATchr Today Chevrolet
23. 27 Paul Menard Duracell/Menards Chevrolet
24. 83 Brian Vickers Red Bull Toyota
25. 5 Mark Martin GoDaddy.com Chevrolet
26. 1 Jamie McMurray Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Chevrolet
27. 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Target Chevrolet
28. 0 David Reutimann Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota
29. 84 Cole Whitt Kangaroo Express Toyota
30. 55 J J Yeley Ingersoll Rand Ford
31. 31 Jeff Burton Caterpillar Chevrolet
32. 20 Joey Logano The Home Depot Toyota
33. 66 Michael McDowell HP Racing LLC Toyota
34. 35 Dave Blaney Golden Corral Chevrolet
35. 47 Bobby Labonte Reese Towpower Toyota
36. 30 David Stremme Inception Racing Chevrolet
37. 87 Joe Nemechek AM/FM Energy Pellet & Wood Stoves Toyota
38. 34 David Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford
39. 13 Casey Mears Hard Rock Vodka Toyota
40. 38 Travis Kvapil Long John Silver's Ford
41. 32 T J Bell GreenSmoke.com Ford
42. 36 Geoffrey Bodine Luke & Associates Chevrolet
43. 71 Mike Bliss School Media Ford

Sam Hornish Jr Wins First NASCAR Nationwide Race at Phoenix

Photo Credit: Rainier Ehrhardt

Becoming the first major NASCAR touring series in inaugurate the new pavement for the one-mile Phoenix International Raceway, the NASCAR Nationwide Series suited up for the Wypall 200 Saturday afternoon unaware if the race track will develop the critical second groove.

With the #88 Chevrolet in the series, JR Motorsports Aric Almirola took pole for the Wypall 200 who proceeded from the afternoon start to lead the race's first 66 laps. As the green fell for the Phoenix International Raceway 200-lap race, the yellow flag flew quickly. On lap 1, one-time 2011 Nationwide Series championship contender Reed Sorenson driving the #82 Dodge slammed into the rear of Brian Scott's #11 Toyota into turn 3. Scott's car was launched forward into the out wall of the turn while Sorenson spun. Brian Scott was unhurt in the accident that would collect additional vehicles. Behind the two cars of the main incident, a second wrecked occurred relating to the #7 Chevolet of Danica Patrick checking up. Patrick's car was sent sideways and backed into the wall crippling her chances of a good race run. The race vehicles of Tim Andrews, Johnny Chapman, Matt Frahm and Jeff Green were also caught in the multi-car accident eventually retiring from the Wypall 200. Danica Patrick would keep running to finish 21st in the event 4 laps down to the leader.

Photo Credit: Christian Petersen/ Getty Images 

Pit stops proved pivotal to the outcome of the Wypall 200 NASCAR Nationwide race at Phoenix as the tire stop by the JR Motorsports crew would rob Aric Almirola of the first lead. On the right rear corner of the #88 Chevrolet, lug nuts missed on the wheel resulted with considerable track position lost in the event.

Sprint Cup Series regular Carl Edwards' moonlighting run in Saturday's Nationwide Series race also suffered a pit road related slowdown. Stopping to the attention of his pit crew, the race setup of the #60 Roush Fenway Racing Ford Mustang caused the front end to dive. When the front end suspension did not rebound quickly, the work by the front tire changer was complicated as the tire was difficult to remove from the front fender well. While the #60 Ford recovered with a strong charge at the end, Edwards lost several positions which could be proven valuable late in the Phoenix race.

In a race that involved only three drivers leading, NASCAR Nationwide Series regular and overall driver title leader Ricky Stenhouse Jr led following Almirola's pit road gaffe in the #6 Ford. The Roush Fenway Racing pilot led for a race-high 73 laps before losing spot to Sam Hornish Jr's Penske Racing Dodge in what was the final lead change of the Wypall 200 race on the 140th lap.

Besides competing for victory in the second-to-last NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Phoenix International Raceway, drivers Ricky Stenhouse Jr and Elliott Sadler were head-to-head for the racing division's championship. Roush Fenway Racing driver Stenhouse entered Phoenix with a 17-point gap over Kevin Harvick Incorporated Chevrolet pilot Elliott Sadler. On lap 191 of the Wypall 200, a championship-determining action took place when the #2 Chevrolet of Elliott Sadler. Heading down the backstretch prior to the turn, Sadler roared by the Jason Leffler and Aric Almirola on the newly-paved backstretch apron. The #2 Chevrolet was bumped from behind by the Jason Leffler into turn 3. Spinning out Sadler, Leffler swept up the #88 car of Almirola into the outer wall. Morgan Shepherd and Jeremy Clements were also significantly damaged in the wreck that ended Elliott Sadler's title hopes in the 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series. Finishing 5th in the race, Ricky Stenhouse Jr is comfortably going to be crowned the 2011 Nationwide Series champion by finishing 38th or better.

With Penske Racing teammate Brad Keselowski in tow, Sam Hornish Jr driving the #12 Dodge drove the final 19 laps to win the Wypall 200 at Phoenix International Raceway. Having made his first NASCAR event 5 years ago with the Nationwide Series (than-Busch Series) event at the Phoenix International Raceway, the former INDYCAR star Hornish Jr becomes a NASCAR race winner. Sam Hornish Jr also won two events in the IRL INDYCAR Series in 2001 and 2005 seasons.

Sprint Cup series regulars Brad Keselowski, Carl Edwards and Joey Logano crossed the start/finish line 2nd through 4th for the Wypall 200. Rounding out the top-10 for the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Phoenix International Raceway is Trevor Bayne, Clint Bowyer, Ryan Truex, Justin Allgaier and Michael Annett.

The final race on the 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule runs next week at Homestead-Miami Speedway During Ford Championship Weekend.

2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series
Wypall 200
Phoenix International Raceway
Race Results

12 Sam Hornish Jr. Alliance Truck Parts Dodge
22 Brad Keselowski Discount Tire Dodge
60 Carl Edwards World Financial Group Ford
18 Joey Logano GameStop / Call of Duty MW3 Toyota
6 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Ford Drive one. Ford
16 Trevor Bayne AirHogs.com Ford
33 Clint Bowyer Rheem Heating Cooling & Water Heating Chevrolet
20 Ryan Truex Martin Truex Jr. Foundation Toyota
31 Justin Allgaier Brandt Chevrolet
62 Michael Annett Oakley / Pilot Travel Centers / Flying J Toyota
70 David Stremme ForeTravel Motorcoach Chevrolet
87 Joe Nemechek AM/FM Energy Pellet & Wood Stoves Toyota
32 Ron Hornaday Dollar General Chevrolet
81 Blake Koch Daystar.com Dodge
34 Ricky Carmichael Monster Energy / QT QuikTrip Chevrolet
1 Mike Wallace I Hate Steven Singer! Chevrolet
9 Kenny Wallace TOYOTA Toyota
15 Timmy Hill Poynt.com / Lilly Trucking Ford
14 Eric McClure Hefty Black Out / Reynolds Chevrolet
52 Kevin Lepage Tilted Kilt Sports Bar Chevrolet
7 Danica Patrick GoDaddy.com Chevrolet
23 Robert Richardson Jr. North Texas Pipe Chevrolet
40 TJ Duke Merrill Lynch Chevrolet
51 Jeremy Clements Phoenix Automotive Cores Chevrolet
88 Aric Almirola Suave MEN / Fry's Food Stores Chevrolet
38 Jason Leffler Great Clips Chevrolet
2 Elliott Sadler OneMain Financial Chevrolet
89 Morgan Shepherd Victory in Jesus Racing Chevrolet
66 Steve Wallace 5-hour Energy Toyota
30 James Buescher Exide Chevrolet
19 Mike Bliss Millennium Salon / Spa Software & Elemnt Pymnt
28 Derrike Cope MAXelence.com Chevrolet
80 D J Kennington NPP/Clark/Whitemud Dodge
44 Jeff Green Tri Star Motorsports Chevrolet
82 Reed Sorenson Foametix / Bullet Liner Dodge
49 Mark Green Acredale Vending Chevrolet
47 Scott Speed Curtis Key Plumbing Chevrolet
46 Chase Miller Curtis Key Plumbing Chevrolet
71 Matt Carter Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet
41 Johnny Chapman Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet
11 Brian Scott Shore Lodge Toyota
4 Tim Andrews Go Green Racing Ford
39 Matt Frahm TSP Powder Coating Ford

Kenseth Leads Ford Front Row for Sunday's Phoenix Cup Race

Photo Credit: Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Still possessing a mathematical chance at the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship, Matt Kenseth emerged from Saturday's qualifying with the Kobalt Tools 500 pole position. Kenseth steered his #17 Roush Fenway Racing Ford around the newly-paved Phoenix International Raceway with a lead time of a 26.26 seconds averaging 137.10 miles per hour. A tad slower than teammate Carl Edward's spring qualifying benchmark, Matt Kenseth's time is the quickest run achieved during a late fall event at the one-mile Phoenix oval. 

Allowing Ford's blue oval to shine with supremacy from the start of Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup race, AJ Allmendinger lapped the race track at 26.38 seconds. Ford Fusions swept the top three positions with the second Richard Petty Motorsports #9 car of Marcos Ambrose registering a time just 3/100ths of a second slower than Allmendinger.

While Ford teams claims some important victories at Phoenix International Raceway (including the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series race by Alan Kulwicki in 1988 and Carl Edward's victory in last season's fall event), Chevrolet have won 13 of the 15 Phoenix Sprint Cup runnings. At the start of Sunday's Kobalt Tools 500, the top Chevrolet will be in 4th spot; the Hendrick Motorsports #5 machine driven by Mark Martin. Martin's fellow Hendrick Motorsports teammates are positioned in mid-field positions with Jimmie Johnson in 16th, Dale Earnhardt Jr starting 22nd and Jeff Gordon qualified in 23rd. Of the 12 race won by Chevrolet since 2003, 7 times it was a Hendrick Motorsports car stationed in victory lane.

Wrapping up the top-10 qualifiers for the Kobalt Tools 500 at Phoenix International Raceway is Martin Truex Jr (the highest starting Toyota), Jamie McMurray, David Reutimann, title-contending Tony Stewart, Chase points leader Carl Edwards and Kasey Kahne. With Edwards and Stewart entering the Phoenix separated by just 3 points in the 2011 Chase points, one slight miscue by either driver could result in a drastic event as only the series finale Homestead-Miami Speedway round left after this race.

Interesting notes heading into the resurfaced Phoenix International Raceway is neither Toyota or Dodge have recorded a Cup victory at the one-mile Arizona track. Also, the Phoenix race Sunday will be the first career Sprint Cup start with Camping World Truck Series rookie Cole Whitt driving a third Toyota Camry for Team Red Bull.

Scheduled for 312 laps, the 500-kilometer NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Phoenix is set for a 3pm Eastern time start.

  

2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup
Kobalt Tools 500
Phoenix International Raceway
Starting Lineup

  

1. 17 Matt Kenseth Crown Royal Ford
2. 43 A J Allmendinger WIX Filters Ford
3. 9 Marcos Ambrose DeWalt Ford
4. 5 Mark Martin GoDaddy.com Chevrolet
5. 56 Martin Truex Jr. NAPA Auto Parts Toyota
6. 1 Jamie McMurray McDonald's Chevrolet
7. 0 David Reutimann TUMS Toyota
8. 14 Tony Stewart Mobil 1 / Office Depot Chevrolet
9. 99 Carl Edwards Aflac Ford
10. 4 Kasey Kahne Red Bull Toyota
11. 27 Paul Menard Peak / Menards Chevrolet
12. 2 Brad Keselowski Miller Lite Dodge
13. 6 David Ragan UPS My Choice Ford
14. 31 Jeff Burton Caterpillar Global Mining Chevrolet
15. 78 Regan Smith Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet
16. 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe's / Kobalt Tools Chevrolet
17. 22 Kurt Busch Shell Pennzoil Dodge
18. 83 Brian Vickers Red Bull Toyota
19. 84 Cole Whitt Red Bull Racing Toyota
20. 7 Robby Gordon SPEED Energy / MAPEI Dodge
21. 51 Landon Cassill Phoenix Construction Chevrolet
22. 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Retro Diet Mt. Dew / National Guard Chevrolet
23. 24 Jeff Gordon DuPont Chevrolet
24. 46 Scott Speed Green Stuff Absorbent Ford
25. 20 Joey Logano The Home Depot Toyota
26. 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Target Chevrolet
27. 29 Kevin Harvick Budweiser Chevrolet
28. 33 Clint Bowyer USO / Cheerios / Hamburger Helper Chevrolet
29. 16 Greg Biffle 3M / Meguiar's Ford
30. 39 Ryan Newman U.S. Army Veterans Day Chevrolet
31. 47 Bobby Labonte Wounded Warrior / Clorox / Kleenex Toyota
32. 87 Joe Nemechek AM FM Energy Pellet & Wood Stoves Toyota
33. 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Freight Toyota
34. 18 Kyle Busch Interstate Batteries Toyota
35. 66 Michael McDowell HP Racing Toyota
36. 37 Mike Skinner MaxQ Motorsports Ford
37. 55 Travis Kvapil Aloft Hotels Ford
38. 13 Casey Mears GEICO Toyota
39. 32 Mike Bliss Veterans United Home Loans Ford
40. 36 Geoffrey Bodine Luke & Associates Inc. Chevrolet
41. 38 J J Yeley Vampt Ford
42. 34 David Gilliland Aloft Hotels Ford
43. 35 Dave Blaney Golden Corral Chevrolet

Stewart Roping in Chase Leader Edwards with Texas Cup Win

Photo Credit: Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR

 

With only 3 races to go in the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup season, the all-important Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup his come down to 4 main competitors. Carl Edwards, Tony Stewart, Matt Kenseth and Kevin Harvick have all made the most of the 10-race Chase system. Winning 4 of the 7 completed events combined, Tony Stewart has won 3 of those pivotal events. In fact, of the four Chase contenders, Stewart (a driver who made it into the 2011 Chase by a slim 28-point margin after Richmond) rides into Texas Motor Speedway with momentum of winning the last event at the short track of Martinsville Speedway. A fast tri-oval circuit, Texas Motor Speedway providing an important stage for the 8th of 10 races in the 2011 NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup.

 

From the green flag of the 500-mile event for the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway, Roush Fenway Racing united in the AAA Texas 500 determined to optimize their prime qualifying performances to the advantage of their Chase contending drivers. Non-Chase driver Greg Biffle took the race's pole Friday and proceeded to lead the first 23 laps in the #16 Ford before turning over the top position to the Roush Fenway Racing teammate Matt Kenseth driving the #17 car. Kenseth was out in front of the AAA Texas 500 for 87 of the race's first 118 laps as an eaerly denominator. Though the #17 Ford Fusion remained steadily in the top-5 for almost all of the race's 334 laps, the early 1/3 segment of the event at Texas Motor Speedway was the only time he spent in the lead position. Matt Kenseth finished 4th in the final results of the event. Helping in efforts of preserving his Chase lead, Carl Edwards quickly registered a point for leading a lap in his #99 Ford for a total 14 rounds during the AAA Texas 500.

 

The initial one-third distance of the 500-mile NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway went caution-free creating a deep quagmire for teams who did not immediately synchronized to a sufficient race pace. After 113 circuits around the 1.5-mile oval, a debris caution finally slowed giving some of the struggling cars a chance to regroup. A three-car team with a winning past at Texas Motor Speedway, Joe Gibbs Racing were unable to place a single entrant in the top-20 up to his point. Much of the focus leading around the AAA Texas 500 was the Joe Gibbs Racing team's #18 Toyota begin driven by substitute driver Michael McDowell. Due to the conduct of regular driver Kyle Busch in Friday's Camping World Truck Series race at Texas, NASCAR were convinced to immediately park the then-7th place in points Busch for Nationwide and this Sprint Cup race. The absence of the team's frequent front runner would have certainly distracted the whole Joe Gibbs Racing organization which are placed a lap down when the yellow flag fell. Denny Hamlin recovered to the lead lap on this caution being rewarded the Free Pass around leader Carl Edwards. A tough day for the team founded by an NFL great coach, Joe Gibbs Racing's #20 Home Depot Toyota piloted by Joey Logano would retire after running 258 laps on the day with an engine failure. Michael McDowell (called on to replace Kyle Busch on Saturday) started near the rear of the field to finish 33rd place 3 laps down to the leader.

 

While the Roush Fenway Racing bunch arrived at Texas Motor Speedway with a very robust mile and a half program paying dividends in the Chase, the Martinsville Speedway winning #14 Chevrolet emerged against the Fords. Tony Stewart and crew chief Darian Grubb hit the set-up that would place the #14 car out front for much of the afternoon. Leading 173 laps total, Stewart began to cruise in or around the first place position.
Jimmie Johnson saw his hopes of an unprecedented 6th straight NASCAR Sprint Cup fizzle during the AAA Texas 500 finishing 14th in the event. Able to lead for lap 159 at Texas Motor Speedway through a pit stop cycle, Johnson spun his #48 Chevrolet in turn 4 bringing out a caution on lap 241. Without making contact with any walls, Jimmie Johnson's car slid into the frontstretch infield suffering minimal damage. While still in the championship hunt mathematically heading into the next race at Phoenix, the NASCAR Sprint Cup trophy for the 2011 season is unlikely to be hoisted by Johnson's hands.

 

With a relatively low 5 cautions through the AAA Texas 500 race, the final caution at lap 271 to 274 gave a few teams a notion of stretching their ethanol-blended gasoline. Little to lose, Richard Childress Racing's #31 Chevrolet driven by Jeff Burton attempted steal the event with a late race fuel economy dash. Five laps short of the race's full distance, Burton's Chevy sputtered to a quiet crawl out of fuel relinquishing the lead to Tony Stewart. Sailing across the Texas Motor Speedway, Stewart scored his 4th win in the 10-race Chase for 2011.

 

Crossing the line a little over a second after Stewart, Carl Edwards continues to mount a strong defense as he attempts to reel in his first NASCAR Sprint Cup championship. Coming in 2nd place, Edwards still holds a 3-point advantage over the two-time NASCAR Cup series champion Tony Stewart.

 

Rounding out the top-5 for the AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway is Kasey Kahne, Matt Kenseth and Greg Biffle. Also closing out the event with strong runs is Jeff Gordon who climbed from 23rd to 6th, 7th place for Dale Earnhardt Jr and Marcos Ambrose who ran in the top-10 almost all day Sunday to finish 11th.

With two races remaining in the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season, the tour will race at the newly-reconfigured Phoenix International Raceway.

 

2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup

AAA Texas 500
Texas Motor Speedway
Race Results

  

1. 14 Tony Stewart Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet
2. 99 Carl Edwards Aflac Ford
3. 4 Kasey Kahne Red Bull Toyota
4. 17 Matt Kenseth Crown Royal Ford
5. 16 Greg Biffle Scotch Blue Ford
6. 24 Jeff Gordon Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet
7. 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. National Guard by Tradition/AMP Chevrolet
8. 56 Martin Truex, Jr. NAPA Auto Parts Toyota
9. 33 Clint Bowyer Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet
10. 43 AJ Allmendinger Immortals/Best Buy Ford
11. 9 Marcos Ambrose DeWalt Ford
12. 6 David Ragan UPS My Choice Ford
13. 29 Kevin Harvick Rheem Chevrolet
14. 48 Jimmie Johnson mylowes Chevrolet
15. 27 Paul Menard Quaker State/Menards Chevrolet
16. 39 Ryan Newman Quicken Loans/Carrier Classic Chevrolet
17. 21 Trevor Bayne Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford
18. 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Target Chevrolet
19. 5 Mark Martin CARQUEST/GoDaddy.com Chevrolet
20. 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Office Toyota
21. 83 Brian Vickers Red Bull Toyota
22. 0 David Reutimann Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota
23. 78 Regan Smith Furniture Row Chevrolet
24. 2 Brad Keselowski Miller Lite Dodge
25. 13 Casey Mears GEICO Toyota
26. 51 Landon Cassill Security Benefit/Thank A Teacher Chevrolet
27. 31 Jeff Burton Caterpillar Chevrolet
28. 47 Bobby Labonte Wounded Warrior Project Toyota
29. 71 Andy Lally TRG Motorsports Ford
30. 22 Kurt Busch AAA Dodge
31. 38 Travis Kvapil Long John Silver's Ford
32. 34 David Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford
33. 18 Michael McDowell M&M's Toyota
34. 32 Mike Bliss Street King Ford
35. 35 Dave Blaney Big Red Chevrolet
36. 1 Jamie McMurray Bass Pro Shops/Arctic Cat Chevrolet
37. 20 Joey Logano The Home Depot Toyota
38. 36 Geoffrey Bodine Luke & Associates, Inc. Chevrolet
39. 46 Scott Speed Green Stuff Absorbent Ford
40. 66 Josh Wise HP Racing LLC Toyota
41. 37 Mike Skinner MaxQ Motorsports Ford
42. 87 Joe Nemechek AM/FM Energy Wood & Pellet Stoves Toyota
43. 55 JJ Yeley Ingersoll Rand Ford

 

 

NASCAR Levies Suspension for Texas Race Against Kyle Busch

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

Known as a driver that embodies the must-win attitude found in all legendary racers, Kyle Busch at the age of 26 years has swiftly fell to 104 race victories in the top-three faucets of NASCAR. A focused, determined individual with the talent to justify his presence as an all-out race threat in NASCAR Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck races, Busch would never accept anything less than victory on the track. A driven winner, this enthusiasm of Kyle Busch has caused him to appear aggressive and downright disrespectful to other competitors. Earning reputation for combativeness in racing, Carl Edwards, Kevin Harvick and even his brother Kurt met the consequences of crossing Kyle Busch's intense self-motivation.

For this weekend's NASCAR triple-header show at Texas Motor Speedway, Kyle Busch again prepared to race in all three major NASCAR divisions starting with the Camping World Trucks Winstar World Casino 350k event Friday night. Qualifying 4th in his Kyle Busch Motorsports #18 Toyota Tundra, the driver/owner was a certified favourite for race victory at the end of the night. On lap 13, Busch battled for 2nd place with the #33 KHI (Kevin Harvick Incorporated) Chevrolet of Ron Hornaday Jr side-by-side into turn one. Passing a lapped truck, Hornaday slightly bobbled his race truck rubbing into Kyle Busch's race vehicle on the outside. Both trucks ran wide up the race track through turn two with the #33 Chevrolet Silverado brushing the wall. NASCAR threw the caution on the Texas Motor Speedway track but the #18 Toyota was instantly racing for the #33 truck of Ron Hornaday Jr. Crushing into the rear of the KHI truck, Busch intentionally turned the #33 into the turn 4 wall hard damaging his own truck in the process. Stunning spectators as well as other race teams alike, NASCAR responded promptly to the deliberate and dangerous actions of Kyle Busch. Indifferent to the penalties occurring in the NHL for dangerous head shots, NASCAR deemed the Friday night retaliation of Kyle Busch against Ron Hornaday Jr an action worthy for benching one of the stock car racing series' most popular bad boys.

Photo Credit: Tom Pennington/ Getty Images for NASCAR

Having originally parked the #18 Toyota Tundra for the rest of the Camping World Truck Series event, Kyle Busch would return to the Texas Motor Speedway to learn he would be forbidden to compete in the remaining races at the 1.5-mile oval including most significantly the NASCAR Sprint Cup event on Sunday. Seventh place in Chase points for 2011, Kyle Busch will be a NASCAR Sprint Cup spectator for the first time since 2004 having to watch his #18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota round the Texas Motor Speedway in the hands of Michael McDowell.  

Ruling on Busch's reckless contact with the #33 Chevrolet, the driver's past skirmishes likely added some weight to NASCAR's rare decision to suspend a driver. In May, Kyle Busch was involved with spinning Kevin Harvick at Darlington. On the pit lane during post-race, Busch forced himself past the #29 Richard Childress Racing car almost colliding with a Richard Childress Racing crew member. A second incident initiated by Kyle Busch in 2011 took place a month later in the O'Reilly Auto Parts 250 Camping World Truck Series at Kansas Speedway. Dissatisfied with a pass by Joey Coulter in the #22 Chevrolet, Busch bumped the competitor's truck hard on the cool down lap. Ironically, the owner of the car Busch confronted was Richard Childress who physically encountered the driver afterwards in the garage area. In the Texas truck race, Busch's wrath was dealt to a truck owned by Kevin Harvick (a pilot of Richard Childress' Sprint Cup car).

A rare occurrence to see a driver parked for an event as a penalty, only two times prior has a driver been suspended from a Cup series event for an incident in another NASCAR event. In the first time following a 2002 Martinsville truck race, Kevin Harvick (under probation for a post-race incident at Bristol Motor Speedway) was unseated from his #29 Chevrolet for the Sunday Cup event. The other time NASCAR levied a race suspension involved Robby Gordon. Wrecking Marcos Ambrose in the late laps of the inaugural Montreal Nationwide event, that incident and Gordon's conduct immediately afterwards led NASCAR to park versatile driver from the July race at Pocono Raceway.

Both Joe Gibbs Racing and Toyota Racing expressed understanding on NASCAR's decision making neutral statements after the penalty was leveled against Kyle Busch. While Kyle Busch remained elusive for much of the day following NASCAR's penalty, the driver at-fault issued an open letter Saturday evening on his website.

To all,

I’ve had a lot of time today to sit and reflect, and try to put my thoughts into words as best I can.

I want to sincerely apologize for my actions during Friday night’s Truck Series race at Texas.

I apologize to my fans, all my sponsors, everyone at Joe Gibbs Racing and Kyle Busch Motorsports.

After talking with my team, it’s great to have their support and encouragement to assure me that there are better days ahead. Even though this took place while driving for Kyle Busch Motorsports, I am sorry for how difficult this has been for everyone associated with Joe Gibbs Racing’s Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series teams.

I’d also like to apologize to Ron Hornaday Jr., and everyone associated with the No. 33 team in the Truck Series.

I understand why I was taken out of the car for the rest of the weekend. NASCAR officials had to act, and I accept their punishment and take full responsibility for my actions.

As a racecar driver, the hardest thing to do is to sit on the sidelines listening to cars on the track when you know you should be out there competing. For this, I have no one to blame but myself.

Through a lot of support from the people around me, I feel like I’ve made a lot of strides this year, but this was certainly a step backward. Moving forward, I will do everything I possibly can to represent everyone involved in a positive manner. However, I know my long-term actions will have more of a bearing than anything I say right now.

Sincerely,

Kyle Busch


NASCAR has not ruled out further actions on Kyle Busch but the chances of further race suspension is unlikely after Texas. While some will argue NASCAR is making an example out of Kyle Busch for his race actions, the driver would probably admit he made an example of himself to earn this hard ruling.

Mark Martin Joins Michael Waltrip Racing through 2013

Photo Credit: John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR

With 2012 plans for Hendrick Motorsports installing current Team Red Bull driver Kasey Kahne into the #5 Chevy, this season's driver Mark Martin (a 40-time NASCAR Sprint Cup winner) was going to be rideless after the present 2011 Sprint Cup series season ends after three remaining events. Late in the summer, rumours swirled Martin would be part of Stewart/Haas Racing (a Hendrick Motorsports satellite team) but recent weeks indicated the 52 year-old driver could be venturing from Chevrolets to another car manufacturer brand in 2012. Following the course of recent rumours, Mark Martin has inked a deal to drive the #00 Toyota for Michael Waltrip Racing.

Committed to the team for the 2012 and 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup seasons, Martin will drive the Michael Waltrip Racing-owned Toyota Camry for what is said to be 25 events in the 2012 and 2013 racing season. “Aaron’s and MWR have given me a chance to keep doing what I love with a competitive race car and a perfect schedule for the next two years." said Mark Martin at a press announcement that included team owner Michael Waltrip. Having signed Clint Bowyer less than a month earlier, Waltrip comments “It is very rare that a young organization gets an opportunity to hire a driver with Mark’s incredible talent, experience and insight into what it takes to be a winner. Mark will be competitive but also a great teammate to Clint, Martin (Truex Jr) and me. I’m thrilled he will be in our cars, but just as thrilled he will be in our meetings.”

The news of Mark Martin joining the team was also bundled with an announcement that long-time Michael Waltrip Racing sponsor and supporter Aaron's would return. Riding on the #00 Toyota for 30 races through 2013, Aaron's chief operating officer Ken Butler says “We have a lot of plans for Mark that I’m sure Aaron’s customers will enjoy in the coming months. We welcome Mark to the Aaron’s family and can’t wait to see him behind the wheel of the No. 00 Aaron’s Dream Machine.”

Extending his NASCAR Sprint Cup career into the 2013 season, Mark Martin has been involved in what has to be the longest farewell tours of any professional figure. Started in 2005, Martin was planned to retire from the series following a publicized final season. Intended to turn over his #6 Ford after 18 full seasons with Roush Racing in NASCAR's top tour in 2006, Mark Martin resigned with the team for an extra year to please sponsorship. Appearing to have delayed the Arkansas native's retirement by only another season, Martin stun many when he signed a deal with another team to race Chevrolets part-time for what was a five-year deal. Driving partial schedules in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series in 2007 and 2008, Mark Martin came to grasp the notion that his place was in a race car full-time. Pleasantly surprising the fans of stock car racing, Martin secured the #5 Chevy for racing powerhouse Hendrick Motorsports. Originally planning to stay with the team for 2009 and part of the 2010 season, Martin's 5 race victories in the first year as well as a near championship season for the pairing encouraged both sides to extend their deal through 2011.

Driving the #00 Toyota for only part of the season, Mark Martin will start with the team in the 2012 Daytona 500. Michael Waltrip will also run the race car in the remaining three restrictor plate events and the Kentucky Speedway NASCAR Sprint Cup event. Sponsor and driver for the rest of the schedule has not been announced.

Hamlin Captures First Truck Victory

Photo Credit: Tom Whitmore/Getty Images for NASCAR

By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

(October 29, 2011)

MARTINSVILLE, Va.—Making excellent use of a fresh set of tires, Denny Hamlin drove through the field after a pit stop on Lap 134 and won Saturday’s Kroger 200 Camping World Truck Series race at Martinsville Speedway in his only start this year.

Ron Hornaday Jr. ran second to make a small dent in the advantage on series points leader Austin Dillon, who finished third. Johnny Sauter ran fourth, followed by rookie Joey Coulter and Kevin Harvick.

The victory was Hamlin’s first in the series in 12 starts, adding the driver of the No. 18 Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota to the list of drivers, now 23 in number, who have won at least one race in each of NASCAR’s top three series.
“It’s a big deal for me, more than what people probably think,” said Hamlin, who has run one truck race per year in 2009, 2010 and 2011. “When they think we go down to these different series—Nationwide and truck—and we’re just going down there to try to get wins, from my standpoint, it’s very, very tough.

“The truck series is more competitive now than what it’s ever been, and it means as lot to myself to win a truck series race, especially running just one a year, usually. … This was just one of those weekends where everything worked out great for us.”
Hamlin passed Hornaday and Dillon moments after a restart on Lap 187, as Dillon slid up the racetrack in Turn 1 but managed to maintain control.

“We gave it to him—I did,” said Dillon, who expanded his points lead to 11 over 10th-place finisher James Buescher. “Just couldn’t make the first turn and ran into Ron. If I could have made it through the first turn, it would have been me (or) Ron in victory lane, I’m pretty sure. We had faster trucks.”
Hornaday said he expected Dillon to slip in the corner and was prepared for it.

“The lap before the (next-to-last) restart, I cleaned my tires off pretty good, and I still shoved my nose pretty good,” said Hornaday, who gained one point on Dillon and now is tied for third in the standings with Sauter, 15 points back. “When I saw Austin not weaving his truck as much as I did on the (last) restart, I knew he was coming up into me.

“I had to make sure his right front tire was at my door, and I could lean on him back a little bit, so we didn’t get up in the marbles. It worked out for both of us, other than Denny Hamlin snuck through the middle of both of us and stole the win—but we’ll take it.”
Dillon passed Harvick for the lead on Lap 141 shortly after a restart that followed the sixth caution of the race, caused by contact between Germain Racing teammates Todd Bodine and Max Papis, who battled until Papis spun off Bodine’s front bumper.
After Papis spun again to bring out the seventh caution, Dillon led the field to the green flag for a restart on Lap 152 and held the top spot until Ryan Sieg’s spin on Lap 172 caused caution No. 8. Moments before the yellow flew, Hornaday passed Harvick for second, setting up a battle between a four-time champion (Hornaday) and a driver seeking his first title (Dillon).

When the field restarted on Lap 179, Dillon and Hornaday held the top two spots, chased by Hamlin and Sauter, both on fresher tires. One caution later, Hamlin powered beneath both Hornaday and Dillon on a Lap 187 restart and pulled away for the win.



2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Kroger 200
Martinsville Speedway
Race Results


3 18 Denny Hamlin Toyota / Traxxas Toyota
2 33 Ron Hornaday Jr. Steak-Umm Steaks / Chastity Baker Chevrolet
10 3 Austin Dillon Bass Pro Shops / Tracker Boats Chevrolet
4 13 Johnny Sauter SafeAuto / Curb Records Chevrolet
12 22 Joey Coulter darrellgwynnfoundation.com / RCR Graphics Chevrolet
6 2 Kevin Harvick Tide / Kroger Chevrolet
13 21 Cale Gale Rheem Heating, Cooling and Water Heating Chevrolet
9 17 Timothy Peters GearWrench / Strutmasters.com Toyota
28 62 Brendan Gaughan South Point Hotel and Casino Toyota
5 31 James Buescher Wolfpack Rentals Chevrolet
7 5 Todd Bodine NTB / Service Central Toyota
1 88 Matt Crafton Roto-Rooter / Menards Chevrolet
18 8 Nelson Piquet Jr. QualComm / AutoTrac Chevrolet
21 70 Jeff Agnew Clarence's Steak House Chevrolet
26 23 Jason White GunBroker.com Chevrolet
11 7 Miguel Paludo Stemco Duroline Toyota
8 6 Justin Lofton CollegeComplete.com Chevrolet
15 9 Max Papis GEICO Toyota
14 24 Elliott Sadler Virginia Lottery Chevrolet
29 36 Grant Enfinger England's Stove Works Dodge
16 29 Parker Kligerman Penske Truck Leasing Dodge
22 81 David Starr Zachry / BYF.org / ASI Limited Toyota
17 39 Ryan Sieg Pull-A-Part Used Auto Parts Chevrolet
20 92 Clay Rogers Tri City Tire / Fleet HQ / BTS Tires & Wheels Chevrolet
24 66 Max Gresham World Crown 300 / Gresham & Associates Chevrolet
36 9 Bryan Silas Rockingham Speedway Ford
19 60 Cole Whitt Fuel Doctor / Red Bull Chevrolet
25 51 Josh Richards Joy Mining Machinery / U.S. Navy Seals Toyota
33 57 Norm Benning Norm Benning Racing Chevrolet
31 65 Tyler Tanner EF-65 Ford
27 97 Matt Lofton Strutmasters.com Toyota
34 32 Blake Feese AccuDoc Solutions Chevrolet
30 20 Johanna Long Panhandle Grading & Paving Toyota
32 7 TJ Duke Merrill Lynch Toyota
23 4 Ricky Carmichael Monster Energy Chevrolet
35 93 Mike Garvey S&W Services Chevrolet

Bowyer Breaks Pass Burton for Talladega Win

Photo Credit: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images for NASCAR

Considered the most unpredictable race in the 10-race 2011 Chase for the Sprint Cup, the top NASCAR drivers take on the 2.66-mile, high-speed Talladega Superspeedway. This final restrictor plate event on the overall NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule, the race is known to favour almost any driver and team in the right position at the end of the event. For the Good Sam Club 500 event, this benefit came to the Richard Childress Racing pair of Jeff Burton and Clint Bowyer. In a daring final lap move on the Talladega tri-oval section, Bowyer’s #33 Chevy broke the draft and performed a slingshot on his #31 car teammate Burton claiming the win by mere feet.

A race comprised of the interaction of the two-car tandem draft, this went contrary to the intent of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series rule makers plans for the event. Entering the Talladega Superspeedway race, NASCAR dictated a series of new rules created to combat the increasing level of two-car bump-drafting practice. Despite eliminating teams from using lubricants to grease the bumpers and changes made in the area of the radiator, the two-car tandem re-established itself through the race weekend. Back and better than ever, the two-car tandem dominated the Good Sam Club 500 at Talladega Superspeedway.

Photo Credit: Undefined by NASCAR

Going through the first 8 laps with 5 distant drivers leading the Good Sam Club 500, the #17 Roush Fenway Racing Ford of Matt Kenseth made a profound impact early. On course to lead 21 laps through the day working with the #6 Ford teammate of David Ragan, Kenseth’s run at the Talladega Superspeedway is capitalizing on the Charlotte victory.

With Roush Fenway Racing driver Matt Kenseth and the #99 car pilot Carl Edwards well in the title hunt for this season, rumours through the weekend at Talladega Superspeedway has indicated the blue oval organization of Ford teams were engaged in a political move on the race track. Reports have circulated that Ford drivers were discouraged to draft with vehicles belonging to any other auto manufacturers. As the race transpired, the multi-car team dynamic obscured any obvious presence of manufacturer orders as corporate teammates of all organizations were paired. There was one incident in the final run of the event involving the #21 Ford of Trevor Bayne and the #24 Chevrolet of Jeff Gordon. As Bayne started to draft with the Hendrick Motorsports car of Gordon, the #21 Wood Brothers Ford suddenly abandoned the Chevy driver in favour of a Roush Fenway Racing Ford. Without a drafting partner, Jeff Gordon plummeted in the final running order to 27th place.

In a race consisting of 72 lead changes (falling well short of the Talladega Superspeedway’s promotional stunt where a prize would be rewarded if 100 lead changes occurred), the #14 Chevrolet piloted by owner/driver Tony Stewart would lead most often with 30 laps on the day. Jeff Burton, Clint Bowyer and Matt Kenseth were the only other drivers to lead more than 20 laps during the 188-lap event.

Slowed nine times by caution, five of the yellow flags on the day fell in reaction to multiple-car accidents. The first major accident crucial to the 2011 NASCAR Chase standings on lap 105 collected the cars of Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch among the 6 vehicles. A crash started when the Richard Petty Motorsports cars of AJ Allmendinger and Marcos Ambrose made contact, Allmendinger’s spinning #43 Ford tagged Kyle Busch’s #18 Toyota before collecting others. Both championship contenders required crew service in the Talladega Superspeedway garage area, Harvick finished the race in 32nd place while Kyle Busch was listed 13 laps down in the final results crossing the start/finish line in 33rd place.

Another crash that could have had dire consequences for the Chase standing in the Good Sam Club 500 transpired on lap 164. Set off when the #32 Ford driven by Terry Labonte made incidental contact with the #71 Ford of Andy Lally sending him sideways. Right behind the sliding #71 car was the #48 Chevrolet of Jimmie Johnson who just barely missed collection. Though contact between the #71 and #48 occurred, the damage was not serious enough to require immediate attention. Penske Racing’s Chase contender Kurt Busch would not be so lucky when he collided with a spinning car of Bobby Labonte 11 laps later. Losing oil pressure, Busch’s #22 Dodge also lost considerable ground for securing a chance at the 2011 title.

The final multi-car crash in the Good Sam Club 500 involved five cars out of turn two. Receiving the most serious hit head-on with the Talladega wall was the #78 Chevrolet of Regan Smith. Though sustaining severe front-end damage, Smith climbed out of the car uninjured.

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

One positive development of the two-tandem appears to be reducing the traditional multi-car “Big Wreck” crashes consisting of double-digit involvement. However, three of the caution during the Talladega Superspeedway NASCAR Sprint Cup race was attributed to mistakes during the two-car bump-drafting exercises. On lap 81, it was the Stewart/Haas Racing #14 and #39 stock cars spinning on the frontstretch. Also happening on the frontstretch was a tangling between the Red Bull Toyotas on lap 130. Both pairs recovered to continue running with the Red Bull cars even breaking into the top-10 in the race’s final results.

With the race ending with a dramatic last-lap battle between Bowyer and Burton, the Good Sam Club 500 at Talladega Superspeedway delivered some definite surprises. When stock cars crossed the checkered flag on lap 188, nine of the top ten finishing race cars started from deep in the field. With Clint Bowyer the only drive to qualify within the top-12, Jeff Burton surged from 27th to a runner-up spot to almost win the Talladega event. Finishing third for the Tommy Baldwin Racing team, Dave Blaney brought the #36 Chevy from 41st to finish 3rd ahead of 2009 spring Talladega race winner Brad Keselowski. In 5th and 6th place, the Team Red Bull pair recovered from the mid-race trials. Brian Vickers led Kasey Kahne across the line in Toyotas.

One note was the ineffectiveness of the Hendrick Motorsports team in the race’s final run. After Jimmie Johnson won the spring race at Talladega, tandem pairing of Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr seemed as if it could be a strong combination. Leading only three laps combined through the Good Sam Club 500, their strategy of waiting in the back of the field for a late race charge backfired. While Jimmie Johnson’s #48 Chevrolet escaped danger through the Andy Lally lap 164 crash, the caution periods in the final laps left too little time for the Hendrick Motorsport pairing to make an impact for even a top-10 finish.

The 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Chase standings see the Roush Fenway Racing group gain commandingly after issues brought complications to other contenders. Carl Edwards (who finished in a safe 11th place at Talladega) now holds a 14-point lead over teammate Matt Kenseth. Brad Keselowski is only 4 points behind Kenseth in third place and is a single point ahead of Tony Stewart. Kevin Harvick is now 26 points away from Carl Edwards with only four races remaining in the 2011 season.

Heading to the Martinsville Speedway short track, the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series leaves the fastest track in the season for the slowest.

2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup

Good Sam Club 500
Talladega Superspeedway
Race Results

1. 33 Clint Bowyer Chevrolet 100 Years Chevrolet
2. 31 Jeff Burton Caterpillar Chevrolet
3. 36 Dave Blaney Golden Corral Chevrolet
4. 2 Brad Keselowski Miller Lite Dodge
5. 83 Brian Vickers Red Bull Toyota
6. 4 Kasey Kahne Red Bull Toyota
7. 14 Tony Stewart El Monterey/Office Depot Chevrolet
8. 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Office Toyota
9. 15 Michael Waltrip Aaron's/DarrellWaltripNASCARHallofFame Toyota
10. 56 Martin Truex Jr. NAPA Auto Parts Toyota
11. 99 Carl Edwards Subway Ford
12. 27 Paul Menard Serta/Menards Chevrolet
13. 0 David Reutimann Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota
14. 16 Greg Biffle 3M Ford
15. 21 Trevor Bayne Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford
16. 51 Landon Cassill Phoenix Construction/Thank A Teacher Chevrolet
17. 13 Casey Mears GEICO Toyota
18. 17 Matt Kenseth Jeremiah Weed Ford
19. 9 Marcos Ambrose Stanley Ford
20. 5 Mark Martin GoDaddy.com Chevrolet
21. 38 Travis Kvapil Long John Silver's Ford
22. 34 David Gilliland World Hunger Relief/www.fromhungertohope.com Ford
23. 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Energizer Chevrolet
24. 20 Joey Logano The Home Depot Toyota
25. 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. DietMountainDewPaintthe88/NationalGuard Chevrolet
26. 48 Jimmie Johnson mylowes Chevrolet
27. 24 Jeff Gordon Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet
28. 6 David Ragan UPS My Choice Ford
29. 1 Jamie McMurray Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Chevrolet
30. 78 Regan Smith Furniture Row Chevrolet
31. 43 AJ Allmendinger Best Buy Ford
32. 29 Kevin Harvick Jimmy John's Chevrolet
33. 18 Kyle Busch M&M's Halloween Toyota
34. 32 Terry Labonte C&J Energy Ford
35. 47 Bobby Labonte Scott Products Toyota
36. 22 Kurt Busch Shell Pennzoil Dodge
37. 7 Robby Gordon SPEED Energy/MAPEI Dodge
38. 39 Ryan Newman U.S. ARMY Chevrolet
39. 71 Andy Lally TRG Motorsports Ford
40. 66 Michael McDowell HP Racing, LLC Toyota
41. 87 Joe Nemechek AM/FM Energy Pellet & Wood Stoves Toyota
42. 55 JJ Yeley Front Row Motorsports Ford
43. 97 Kevin Conway Extenze Toyota