Sadler on Pole for Inaugural Truck Series Race at Pocono

Today NASCAR’s Camping World Truck Series makes it’s first ever stop at the “Tricky Triangle” of Pocono Raceway for the Pocono Mountains 125. Leading the field to green will be Elliott Sadler driving the #2 GT Vodka Chevrolet for Kevin Harvick Inc. Sadler’s time of 55.350 seconds (162.602 MPH) was enough to earn him his first career pole in the truck series.

Starting alongside Sadler is Sprint Cup Series driver Kasey Kahne. Kahne will be piloting the #18 Toyota for Kyle Busch Motorsports this weekend. The last time Kahne ran in the truck series was 2004. The good news for Kahne fans is that in his two previous truck series starts he has brought home the trophy both times.
The Pocono Mountains 125 will be broadcast on SPEED Channel with prerace beginning at 12:30 Eastern.

Here’s the full starting lineup:

1. Elliott Sadler
2. Kasey Kahne
3. Denny Hamlin
4. Austin Dillon
5. Aric Almirola
6. Todd Bodine
7. Justin Lofton
8. Ron Hornaday
9. Stacy Compton
10. Mike Skinner
11. James Buescher
12. Johnny Sauter
13. Timothy Peters
14. Chris Fontaine
15. David Starr
16. Jason White
17. Ricky Carmichael
18. Matt Crafton
19. Mario Gosselin
20. Donny Lia
21. Carl Long
22. Mike Garvey
23. Bobby Hamilton Jr.
24. Ryan Seig
25. Brent Raymer
26. Tim Andrews
27. Jennifer Jo Cobb
28. Tim Bainey Jr.
29. Chase Mattioli
30. Brett Butler
31. Chad McCumbee
32. Butch Miller
33. Mike Harmon
34. Norm Benning
35. Joe Aramendia
36. J C  Stout

Did Not Qualify: Michelle Theriault, Jerick Johnson

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Letarte Signs Contract Extension with Hendrick Motorsports

LONG POND, Pa. (July 30, 2010) -- Crew chief Steve Letarte has signed a multi-year contract extension with Hendrick Motorsports, the organization announced Friday.

Heading into Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at Pocono Raceway, the 31-year-old Letarte has guided Jeff Gordon and the No. 24 DuPont team to 10 wins, 21 runner-up finishes, 77 top-five finishes, 108 top-10s and 14 pole positions in 174 races. Gordon's second-place and top-five finishes during that time rank as the most among all drivers (teammate Jimmie Johnson ranks second in top-fives with 76.)

"I'm extremely excited," Letarte said. "Hendrick Motorsports is the only company I've ever received a paycheck from. I've worked here since I was a teenager, and they've provided wonderful opportunities for me. I owe a lot to them. I'm really excited to be extended here so I can go a few more years."


Letarte, a native of Portland, Maine, has been involved in the No. 24 team on almost every level, starting as a parts assistant while attending high school in 1995. A year later, Letarte was full-time with the No. 24 crew. He went on to work as a tire specialist, mechanic and car chief, winning three of Gordon's four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series titles under the tutelage of crew chiefs Ray Evernham, Brian Whitesell and Robbie Loomis.

Near the end of the 2005 season, Letarte received the ultimate promotion when then-crew chief Loomis left for a spot at Petty Enterprises. Letarte stepped onto the pit box as the crew chief for Jeff Gordon at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Sept. 18, 2005. Six races later at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, Letarte led the No. 24 team to Victory Lane and picked up his first win as a crew chief. The No. 24 team finished the 2005 season, scoring five top-10s in the last six races with Letarte at the helm.

Since then, Letarte has played a role in helping the No. 24 achieve several milestones. Notably, in 2006 at Infineon Raceway, the team made history after Gordon scored his ninth road course win – a Sprint Cup record. In 2008, Letarte helped extend Gordon's streak of 16 consecutive seasons with a pole position when he picked up his first at Texas Motor Speedway. The team also scored its first victory at the 1.5-mile Fort Worth, Texas, oval earlier that year in April.

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Marshall Carlson Named President of Hendrick Motorsports

CONCORD, N.C. (July 28, 2010) – Rick Hendrick this week elevated Marshall Carlson to the role of president and chief operating officer of Hendrick Motorsports. Hendrick made the announcement Tuesday to more than 500 people at the organization's employee meeting.

The position of Hendrick Motorsports president most recently was held by Hendrick's late brother John Hendrick, who assumed the title in 1998. It has remained vacant since his passing in October 2004.

"Marshall has the ability to plug into every aspect of our industry, from competition to marketing, at an extremely high level," said Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. "He's versatile from a business perspective, and there's a high degree of respect for him throughout the organization because of the way he treats people. We're very fortunate to have someone of his considerable talent help guide us into the future."
Carlson, 37, will continue to oversee the day-to-day operations of Hendrick Motorsports, which has earned four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championships since he assumed the role of executive vice president and general manager on Jan. 24, 2005.


"Hendrick Motorsports is a family, and it's been one of the great privileges of my life to work with these amazing people," Carlson said. "This opportunity comes with the highest commitment to serve my teammates and support their continued success."

Carlson started his Hendrick Motorsports career sweeping floors as part of a chassis department summer internship. After earning a degree in business administration in 1996 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, he served as engineer for the organization's fledgling Camping World Truck team, which earned the first of three series championships in 1997.

Following the 1998 season, Carlson was reassigned to focus on Hendrick Motorsports' sponsorship and marketing efforts as director of marketing services. In 2000, he managed a $10 million facilities effort, which included the design and construction of racing operations space now housing the Sprint Cup Series teams of Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson.

From 2002 until 2004, Carlson oversaw more than $200 million in real estate projects as vice president of corporate financial management with Hendrick Automotive Group, one of the largest automotive retail operations in the United States.

A native of Charlotte, N.C., Carlson was named to the 2009 Street & Smith's SportsBusiness Journal "Forty Under 40" list, which spotlights the 40 top executives in sports under 40 years of age.

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TV Schedule July 30-Aug. 1

NASCAR returns to Pocono Raceway as the Sprint Cup Series and - for the first time - the Camping World Truck Series take on the Tricky Triangle this weekend. Meanwhile, the Nationwide Series makes its second annual appearance at Iowa Speedway.

Pocono is a different animal from the other tracks on the NASCAR circuit. The 2.5-mile triangle-shaped superspeedway has three sharp turns, all different from one another. Turn 1, with 14-degree banking, was described by Kurt Busch this week as being the bumpiest of the three. Turn 2, the famous "tunnel turn," has a banking of 8 degrees and is widely considered by the majority of drivers to be the most difficult. Turn 3 has 6-degree banking. Instructors with the Stockcar Racing Experience at Pocono will tell you Turn 3 is the most troublesome because as the flattest of the turns, it's easy for drivers to lose focus and "get lost" in the corner. Pocono's three straightaways are also unusual because each one is a different length.

The combination of the track's sharp, distinct turns and long, flat straightaways presents a challenge for crew chiefs. Making adjustments that work in all three corners is no easy feat. Fuel mileage has also been a factor at Pocono, such as last spring when Tony Stewart outlasted Greg Biffle and Jimmie Johnson to win his first race as owner/driver. And as any fan will tell you, Mother Nature has a history of raining on Pocono's parade. To see what the weather has in store for this weekend, check the always reliable forecast from meteorologist and race fan Brian Neudorff, aka NASCAR WX-MAN, at http://wx-man.com/NASCAR/.

The Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 Sprint Cup race is set for Sunday. Denny Hamlin has swept the last two Cup races here - can he pull off a three-peat?

The Camping World Truck Series makes its debut at Pocono for Saturday's Pocono Mountains 125. The event also marks the first time multi-truck qualifying will be used. According to the times set in final practice, the slowest truck will qualify first and the fastest will go out last. Trucks will be released at 25-second intervals; no drafting will be allowed. Many are curious to see how the trucks will fare at Pocono, as well as the new qualifying procedure. This weekend we will finally get the chance to see for ourselves.

The Nationwide Series heads to Iowa for Saturday's U.S. Cellular 250. The 0.875-mile tri-oval owned by Rusty Wallace was added to the series' schedule in 2009 and earned raves from drivers and fans alike. The track's banking varies between 12 and 14 degrees, allowing for more side-by-side racing. Brad Keselowski is defending race winner.

The following is a handy guide to track events and coverage this weekend at Pocono and Iowa (all times are in Eastern Standard Time. Events without a channel listed will not be televised):

Friday, July 30:
8 a.m. Truck Practice
12 noon Sprint Cup Practice, SPEED
1:30 p.m. NASCAR Live, SPEED
3 p.m. NASCAR Live, SPEED
3:30 p.m. Sprint Cup Qualifying, SPEED (reruns at 8 p.m. and 3 a.m.)
5 p.m. NASCAR Live, SPEED
5:30 p.m. Truck Final Practice, SPEED
5:30 p.m. Nationwide Practice
7 p.m. Trackside at Pocono, SPEED (reruns at 11 p.m.)
7 p.m. Nationwide Final Practice

Saturday, July 31:
9:30 a.m. Sprint Cup Practice, SPEED (starts at 9 a.m.)
10 a.m. Truck Qualifying, SPEED
11 a.m. Sprint Cup Final Practice, SPEED
12:30 p.m. NCWTS SetUp, SPEED (reruns at 10 p.m.)
1 p.m. Truck race at Pocono: Pocono Mountains 125, SPEED (reruns at 10:30 p.m.)
3 p.m. ARCA race at Pocono: Weis Markets 125, SPEED (reruns at 8 p.m.)
4 p.m. Nationwide Qualifying
5 p.m. NASCAR Performance, SPEED (reruns at 1 a.m.)
5:30 p.m. NASCAR Smarts, SPEED (reruns at 12:30 a.m.)
7 p.m. Nationwide Countdown, ESPN2
7:30 p.m. Nationwide race at Iowa: U.S. Cellular 250, ESPN2

Sunday, Aug. 1:
9 a.m. NASCAR Now, ESPN2
10 a.m. NASCAR RaceDay, SPEED
12 noon Sprint Cup Countdown, ESPN2
1 p.m. Sprint Cup race at Pocono: Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500, ESPN (reruns at 2 a.m. on ESPN2)
8 p.m. NASCAR Victory Lane, SPEED (reruns at 2 a.m. and 9 a.m. Monday)
12 a.m. NASCAR Now, ESPN2

Photo: Denny Hamlin does a burnout after winning the Pocono 500 in June 2010. (Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Readers: Would you rather see the overview of the track as a separate entry from the TV schedule in the future? Let us know in the comments below.

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Motorsports as Grief Therapy?

Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images for NASCAR

The following post was written by Skirts and Scuffs contributor Jenny Sigelko during the recent weekend at Gateway International Raceway. Jenny recently lost her mother after a long illness and wanted to share her thoughts on returning to a hobby she enjoys so much.


On behalf of our entire team I would like to express our condolences to Jenny and her entire family. Thanks for sharing your story Jenny and for showing us there are many ways to grieve ~ K

As I stood in the hot sun, in t-shirt & jeans, I exhaled for the first time in what seemed like months. This was my first trip in nearly 4 months, and my first time to relax after my mother’s funeral 10 days prior. I’d spent, along with my dad, nearly every waking moment, apart from work, taking care of my mom. Since her kidneys began to fail in February, she required nearly constant care. Trips away to races were now impossible. Even though I knew the right thing was to care for my mom, it was hard to watch my plans unravel… Nashville, Richmond, Darlington, New Hampshire, Chicago had come and gone. The thought of getting on the airplane for St.Louis kept me companion through her services and the days after.

Even though it was dangerously hot, I didn’t want the day to end. Every lap of the truck race, every lap of Nationwide Series qualifying seemed to help me. Sitting on the back deck of my rental car parked along the back straight, playing ‘armchair crew chief’ gave me the distraction I needed. Debating fuel strategy with friends prior to the Nationwide Series race gave my mind something to think about other than the trauma of the previous weeks. I openly cried when the pastor gave the Invocation as I thought that my mom was now, in my mind, ‘in charge’ of seeing to it that all the drivers arrived safely at the finish line, and all the crews arrived safely at home later. As the Brad/Carl last lap drama unfolded, I had to thank her for a job well done. I listened exclusively to #99 of Trevor Bayne during the race, and by the end I felt excited and happy for their finish. For a few minutes, I had actually put my grief out of my mind to focus on the OUT! Pet Care driver and crew. As I watched my old K Automotive associates tear down in post-race inspection, I realized that I would not have felt this good if I hadn’t had this opportunity; if motorsports were not my hobby.

I said goodbye to friends after a long day in the heat. I’ll miss my mom until I die, and I still haven’t gone a day without a good cry, but being at Gateway renewed a passion for a sport that had to take a back seat to other things.

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Dover Motorsports Declines 2011 NASCAR Events at Gateway International Raceway

July 28, 2010 - Dover Motorsports, Inc. (NYSE: DVD) announced today that its wholly owned subsidiary, Gateway International Raceway has notified NASCAR that it will not seek 2011 sanctions for its two Nationwide Series and one Camping World Truck Series races.

Vice President and General Manager of Gateway, Terry Harmeson stated, “This was a difficult decision in light of the many years of earnest and continued efforts on everyone’s part to develop a viable market for these events in one of our nation’s greatest cities. We remain committed to fulfill the balance of our 2010 schedule including our October 23rd NASCAR Nationwide race which will provide our fans the opportunity to see Danica Patrick compete here for the first time. We also plan to explore various ways to change the economics at Gateway both from the revenue and expense side.”

 Denis McGlynn, President & CEO of Dover Motorsports, stated, “We have a group of extremely dedicated and talented employees who make Gateway a great destination and we deeply appreciate all the support we have had from the racing community over the years – from racing fans and drivers to sponsors, team owners and sanctioning bodies. However, economics dictate that we evaluate all of our options for this facility, including its possible sale.”

Gateway International Raceway is owned by Dover Motorsports, Inc. (NYSE: DVD), a leading promoter of motorsports events in the United States. DVD subsidiaries operate three tracks in three states, and present several hundred motorsports events each year. This includes 14 major, national events which include races sanctioned by NASCAR and the NHRA. Dover Motorsports, Inc. also owns and operates Dover International Speedway in Dover, Del., and Nashville Superspeedway near Nashville, Tenn. For further information log on to www.DoverMotorsports.com. This release may contain forward-looking statements based on management’s beliefs and assumptions. Such statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause results to vary materially. Please refer to the SEC filings of DVD for a discussion of such factors.

Photo Credit: Jason Smith/Getty Images

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Update on the Condition of Jack Roush Following Plane Crash

Read the initial release from Roush Fenway Racing here.

Concord, N.C. (July 28, 2010) – Jack Roush, co-owner of Roush Fenway Racing and chairman of ROUSH® Enterprises, remains hospitalized in serious, but stable condition following a plane accident at Wittman Air Field in Oshkosh, Wisc., yesterday.  He is currently under observation for facial injuries sustained in the accident.

His passenger, Brenda Stricklin, was treated and released from a Wisconsin hospital this afternoon.


The entire Roush organization would like to thank everyone for the outpouring of support and well wishes.  Those wishing to make a charitable donation in the name of Jack Roush are encouraged to contribute to Speedway Children’s Charities at www.speedwaycharities.org ( http://www.speedwaycharities.org/ ).  Please identify your contribution as “Jack Roush” in the notes section.

As information and updates are available, they will be posted to www.RoushFenway.com ( http://www.roushfenway.com/ )and www.ROUSHperformance.com ( http://www.roushperformance.com/ ).

Roush Fenway Racing is NASCAR’s largest team operating eight motorsports teams.  Four in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with drivers Matt Kenseth, Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards and David Ragan; and four in the Nationwide Series with Edwards, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Colin Braun, Brian Ickler, and Paul Menard.  For more information on any of the Roush Fenway Racing teams, log onto www.RoushFenway.com

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Labonte to Replace Ambrose for JTG Daugherty in 2011

JTG Daugherty Racing announced today that 2000 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Bobby Labonte will take the reins as driver of the No. 47 Toyota Camry for the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 36-race schedule. 

“JTG Daugherty Racing is a solid race team that has come close to winning races with Marcos Ambrose and I’m looking forward to developing our new partnership in 2011,” Labonte said. “The team is thriving and their technical alliance with MWR (Michael Waltrip Racing) is intact. It’s great to have next year already set in stone so when this season ends we can begin focusing on next year right away. Everything is in place and we have all the right ingredients to win races together.”

Labonte’s credentials speak for themselves. The Corpus Christi, Texas native is a 21-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series winner with 26 pole awards, 114 top-five and 199 top-10 finishes. Team owners Jodi and Tad Geschickter and Brad Daugherty are pleased Labonte accepted the offer to drive the JTG Daugherty Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series entry as they enter their third full-time season of competition at Daytona International Speedway on February 13th.

“We are really happy Bobby has decided to join our team because I have known him for a long time and I have always admired him as a professional driver and as an individual,” Daugherty said. “He will do an outstanding job representing our products and team. He has gotten to a point in his career that he still has some things to accomplish. He is highly experienced with a championship on his résumé’ and we know he is capable of winning.”

“We would like to give a warm welcome to Bobby as he joins the JTG Daugherty Racing family,” said Jodi Geschickter. “We know he is an amazing fit for our sponsors and racing organization. The Labonte name has a history of excellence. Bobby is a proven winner, a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion and his character is solid. We share similar goals and views regarding the future. We are pleased that he has accepted the offer to join JTG Daugherty Racing in 2011.”

JTG Daugherty Racing’s partners concur.

“We are extremely excited to have Bobby coming on board,” said Grant LaMontagne, Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Officer of The Clorox Company,  the longest running sponsor partner of JTG Daugherty Racing. “He’s a champion and a great fit for our brands. We expect to have a serious run for the Chase next season.”

This announcement follows Marcos Ambrose’s decision to part ways with JTG Daugherty Racing at the end of the year, which was confirmed on Tuesday by team officials.
Photo Credit: Rusty Jarrett / Getty Images for NASCAR)

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Scranton dealership to host meet-and-great with Kyle Busch

In anticipation of this weekend's races at Pocono Raceway, Kyle Busch will make an appearance at the Toyota of Scranton dealership, 3400 N. Main Ave., Scranton, on Thursday from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

The event kicks off with a press conference. Busch will take questions from media and fans and will be on hand to sign autographs. There will be food, racecars on display and simulators.

Toyota of Scranton will sponsor the No. 18 Toyota Tundra for Kyle Busch Motorsports in Saturday's inaugural Camping World Truck Series race at Pocono Raceway. Kasey Kahne will pilot the No. 18 truck in the Pocono Mountains 125. Busch will be competing later that day in the Nationwide Series event at Iowa Speedway.

Busch is the driver of the No. 18 M&Ms Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Sprint Cup Series. He won the pole for the June race at Pocono Raceway and will attempt his first win at the track in Sunday's Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500. He has two Cup wins this season and sits sixth in the championship standings.

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NASCAR Hall of Fame nominee spotlight: Richie Evans

Richard Petty may be considered the "King" of NASCAR's Cup level, but Richie Evans is the "King" when it comes to NASCAR's modified ranks, and rightfully so.

The exact numbers aren't known by NASCAR, but it is estimated that Evans posted 475 wins in 1,300 starts in NASCAR Modified racing. In the 13-year span from 1973 to 1985, he captured nine modified titles, eight of them coming in consecutive seasons. The first of those titles came in 1973. Evans won his second championship in 1978 and went on the win modified titles every year through the remainder of his racing career that ended in 1985.

When the NASCAR series that is now dubbed the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour was born in 1985, Evans rang in the new series with a season that saw him win 12 races. On the strength of those 12 wins, Evans clinched the 1985 championship before his death in a practice crash at Martinsville Speedway in October of that year.

To read more of this bio, visit Cup Series News and Notes.

Photo of Richie Evans courtesy of ISC Archives/Getty Images

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Roush Rewind: Brickyard 400

After an off weekend for the Cup drivers, NASCAR made its annual trip to storied Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the running of the Brickyard 400. Indianapolis, affectionately called Indy by fans and drivers alike, is one of the most historic tracks on the circuit. Next to the Daytona 500, the race at Indianapolis is one every driver strives to win. Winning there is an unforgettable experience for drivers, their crews, and the team owners.

Two weeks ago, the Roush Fenway Racing drivers ran one of their best races of the season at Chicagoland, and they looked to build on that performance and be contenders for the win on Sunday. A Roush Fenway Racing driver has finished 2nd at Indy four times. With zero wins among the four of them this season, each one wanted to be the winner kissing those famous bricks once the checkered flag waved, but once again, a win at the Brickyard eluded Roush Fenway Racing.

The first practice session on Friday was a major disappointment for David Ragan as the No. 6 UPS Ford was scored 40th on the board when practice ended. Three practice sessions later, Ragan had moved to 16th on the board. After qualifying 28th on Saturday, Ragan and his crew knew they would have to do al they could to get to the front because track position is so crucial at Indianapolis. Just after the green flag waved, Kyle Busch and Sam Hornish Jr. spun in turn two, resulting in chain reaction multi-car incident to bring out the first caution of the day. Busch and Hornish, Jr. both spun in front of Ragan, but he was able to dodge the trouble and was 23rd for the following restart. He had worked his way up to 16th when the caution came out on lap 15 for debris. The caution would also serve as the competition caution that had been originally scheduled by NASCAR for lap 15 due to heavy rains at the track the night before. Ragan reported his car was free off the turns and tight in the center. Crew chief Donnie Wingo made the call for a two-tire stop, and after fuel and a track bar adjustment too, Ragan restarted 12th. He continued to fight handling issues and no matter what adjustments Wingo told the crew to make, nothing seemed to give Ragan the grip he needed. On lap 124, Ragan thought he had a tire going down. Just two laps later, he made an unscheduled green-flag stop for four tires and fuel. The UPS crew discovered a small hole in the left-front tire which was slowly causing the tire to go down. Ragan lost a lap during that stop, but it was a necessary move to keep Ragan’s day from ending early. When the caution came out again on lap 138, Ragan was able to get back on the lead lap due to being in the Lucky Dog position. Since he really had nothing to lose, Ragan pitted for four tires, fuel, and a track bar adjustment. He was 21st for the restart with 18 laps remaining. Just a few laps later, Juan Pablo Montoya and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. made contact, both ending up at the entrance to pit road to bring out the final caution of the race. In a last ditch effort to gain track position, Ragan opted not to pit. It was a move that, after looking back on it, probably wasn’t the best idea. Ragan fought hard against drivers who had pitted and had fresher tires in the closing laps. He held on to finish 20th. Ragan gained one position in the standings, up to 24th.

With two second-place finishes at Indianapolis, Matt Kenseth was looking to do better than that on Sunday. During all four practice sessions, Kenseth and his crew focused on the handling of the No. 17 Crown Royal Ford. Usually an early draw isn’t exactly a good thing for qualifying, but for Kenseth, it worked in his favor on Saturday. As the temperature continued to climb during qualifying, the track became slicker for the drivers who had the late draws. Kenseth started Sunday’s race in the 13th position so he was well ahead of the multi-car incident in turn two. After the restart, Kenseth informed crew chief Jimmy Fennig that the No. 17 Ford was lacking grip and was tight in the center of the turns. Kenseth pitted for two tires, fuel, and an air pressure adjustment. He restarted 6th and was soon up to 4th, reporting his car was handling pretty well. However, it turned out Kenseth’s car was good on the short runs, but the longer runs seemed to leave Kenseth looking for more front grip as the laps wore on. Green-flag stops began around lap 47. Kenseth made his stop on lap 49 for four tires, fuel, and a track bar adjustment. Once the stops cycled through, he was 12th. The car began to get loose, and as the race progressed, the Crown Royal crew made adjustments when they could. However, the crew battled the handling issues all night due to the fact the car’s handling was always changing. Track bar and air pressure adjustments were the changes that seemed to help Kenseth out, but he still had to fight for position. Kenseth was 16th for the final restart and was able to gain four positions to finish 12th. He remained 8th in the standings.

With 2 wins in the Nationwide series, Carl Edwards has been on the hunt for a Cup win. He and his crew hoped to get that win an Indianapolis. Edwards qualified 19th on Saturday, but had a minor setback in the early laps of the race. On lap 10, he had to make a pit stop under green so his crew could clean the dirt from the grille of the No. 99 Aflac Ford that was causing the engine to overheat. Edwards fell to 36th after that stop, but it didn’t slow him down. He pitted under the caution on lap 15 and his crew added water to the car. Edwards was 28th for the restart, and by lap 22, was up to 19th. As a long green-flag run went on, Edwards reported his car was loose in and off the turns, tight in the center. The Aflac crew made wedge and air pressure adjustments when they could to improve the car’s handling. The changes appeared to work as Edwards got up to 14th by lap 88. Edwards stayed out when a second round of green-flag stops began to lead lap 99. With 50 laps remaining, he had cracked the top ten. When the caution came out for debris on lap 118, he pitted for four tires, fuel, and a wedge adjustment. His crew performed a flawless 12.6-second stop and helped him pick up four positions on pit road. Edwards was holding his own in the 9th position with 25 laps to go, but crew chief Bob Osborne informed Edwards that he would be about eight laps short on fuel. The yellow flag waved again on lap 138, and with just over 20 laps left in the race, it would put everyone on equal ground as far as fuel mileage would go. Edwards pitted, but was 11th on the restart due to the first six drivers off pit road making a two-tire stop while Edwards took four tires. As soon as the green flag waved again, he began to make a charge through the field. Then a few laps later, the caution was brought out by Montoya and Earnhardt, Jr. getting together. Edwards was 10th for the final restart and picked up three positions to finish 7th. He remained 10th in the standings.

Greg Biffle came to Indianapolis hoping to improve from where he’d left off at Chicagoland two weeks ago. Biffle had felt he had a top-five car at Chicagoland, but things didn’t turn out the way he hoped. However, he felt the same way leading up to the race this past Sunday. He finished 4th at the Brickyard last season and was looking to better that result this time around. While practice didn’t seem to go so well for Biffle, he managed a quick qualifying lap that left him starting 7th on Sunday. From the drop of the green flag, Biffle began to make his move toward the front. He had cracked the top five just 8 laps into the race. He pitted for four tires and fuel under the caution on lap 15. The crew made no adjustments to the car since Biffle was happy with the handling on the No. 16 3M/Pistonz Ford. He restarted 9th, and since some teams had only took two tires, it didn’t take long for Biffle to get by them. He had worked his way up to 2nd by lap 38 and took the lead on lap 63 after a round of green-flag stops. Biffle held onto the lead until green-flag stops began again on lap 97. He told crew chief Greg Erwin that the car was a bit too loose. Biffle headed for pit road for his scheduled stop on lap 98, but as he was entering his pit stall, he got hit by Brad Keselowski, who was exiting his. The contact caused minor damage, but it held Biffle up long enough for Montoya to take the lead. He was 2nd once the stops cycled through. When the caution came out around lap 118 for debris, Biffle pitted for four tires, fuel, and some adjustments since the car was a little loose. Biffle’s crew sent him out in the 2nd position for the restart. Biffle was passed by Jamie McMurray before they even completed a lap after the restart. Biffle remained third and pitted under the caution on lap 138, but restarted 8th due to six drivers ahead of him making a two-tire stop. Biffle was 5th when the final caution of the day came out. The green flag waved for the last time and Biffle was able to make his way to the 3rd position. While he made a valiant attempt to get the lead, Biffle just couldn’t get past Kevin Harvick to get to McMurray. Biffle finished 3rd, which is his best finish at Indianapolis. He remained 11th in the standings.

While Biffle proved to be Roush Fenway Racing’s dark horse on Sunday, he couldn’t quite make his way back to the front to claim the win. It was former Roush Fenway Racing driver Jamie McMurray who was kissing the bricks when all was said and done. McMurray’s win added his name not only to the list of winners at Indianapolis, but also to the list of drivers who have won the Daytona 500 and the Brickyard 400 in the same season. He is only the third driver to ever do so. Congratulations to Jamie McMurray and the No. 1 team on their historic victory!

Next up: Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono Raceway

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Fans In The Stands - My ORP Experience!

For the last three years, my mom and I have scored two free Brickyard tickets. This year, we weren't so lucky. My mom had told me that we would go to the Brickyard this year even if we didn't get free tickets. The weekend of the Brickyard 400 was upon us and my mom told me that we wouldn't be going to the famous track this year. I was bummed but I understood why we weren't able to go. Then she said we would be going to the Nationwide Series race at O'Reilly Raceway Park aka ORP! I was so excited because I had never been to ORP and I had learned that Kyle Busch would be driving in the #18 Toyota Camry!

The following day, I learned that Lacy Keyser, a fellow writer for Skirts & Scuffs, would be flying out to Indy for her first ever NASCAR race weekend by attending the Nationwide and Cup races! We had gotten to know each other on Twitter and had become good friends. I was excited to meet her! I had tweeted Ashley Allgaier, Nationwide driver Justin Allgaier's wife, that I would be attending the race because I had wanted to meet her. We had talked on Twitter a few times and had wanted to meet each other at Eldora but it didn't work out. The Friday before the race, Ashley had direct messaged me on Twitter saying that if my mom and I needed tickets that she had 2 free extra tickets and wanted to know if we wanted them. I said yes that we would love them and thanked her over and over again. It was so nice of her to give us the extra tickets! Ashley is such a nice and down to earth person.


Saturday, July 24, 2010, I woke up early and got ready for the Nationwide race. Oh man, I was so excited. I had been talking to Lacy and Ashley before we got there so we could make arrangements to meet up. First my mom and I met Ashley Allgaier. She meet us by the gate and handed over the tickets. We talked for a little bit and then she had to go get ready for qualifying. I was so shy and didn't talk much, I felt bad after she left. She was so nice. Then, my mom and I walked around for a little bit and I got a direct message from Lacy asking where I was and I was getting ready to reply back and I noticed a girl walking around with a Amp #88 hat and a Brad Keselowski shirt on.

"Lacy?", I said and she said "Kiara?".

We talked for a little bit and then parted ways. She was very nice and funny. I was glad that I got to finally meet her. My mom and I walked around some more and then made our way to our seats to watch qualifying. Kyle was right there in front of me and I was freaking out...like always :) I was also talking to Lacy through direct message on Twitter, we were talking about qualifying and what we were going to do after qualifying. Qualifying ended and Trevor Bayne was on the pole! I was happy because I had meet him two days before! He was very sweet! Mom and I got up from out seats and walked around to find my moms friend.

While I was sitting there, Lacy dm'ed me and asked if I wanted to meet up again and get a picture for S&S! I said of course and I went and found her. We took some pictures together and got some NOS energy drink (yum!). Then we walked around for about 20-25 minutes just talking about different stuff. It was great, Lacy is a wonderful person to talk to! She is very nice and I hope to one day meet her again! We parted ways because driver introductions were about to start. I got back to my seat and looked on pit road, Kyle Busch's Toyota Camry was right in front of our seats. It was great! Drivers introductions ended and then it was time for the command!

Now it's race time! Kyle started off great and moved to second behind Trevor Bayne early. he kept on saying that he was having a hard time passing Trevor Bayne for the lead and then he finally passed him! I sprang to my feet and screamed! I was so happy. Kyle was having a great race. Day turned to night and the laps were counting down. Soon it was 50 to go, then 30 to go. I was starting to get really nervous and I had a knot in my stomach. I felt like I was going to pass out or something!

Now it was 20 to go, then 10 laps to go. My eyes were starting to fill with tears as I watched Kyle lap after lap. Carl Edwards was coming fast and then there was a caution. I screamed in disbelief. Could I walk out of here seeing my favorite driver Kyle Busch winning or walk out here upset. Even though I do like Carl, Kyle had run up front all night. The restart was so nerve racking, I was shaking so bad and my heart was pounding away. I started to get a lump in my throat like I was gonna puke. White Flag, I'm almost ready to die. I'm standing on my seat jumping up and down and screaming at the top of my lungs with my scanner in one hand and my other hand in the air. Can Kyle do it? Can he win for me?

Checkered Flag, KYLE BUSCH WINS! I burst into tears. I couldn't believe it! I had finally seen Kyle Busch win in the 18! I was shaking so bad and screaming at the top of my lungs. Everyone was looking at me but I didn't care, My favorite driver and hero had just won the race. I switched my camera to video and I could barely keep the camera straight while I recorded his amazing burnout because I was shaking so bad. I'm screaming so loud in the video!! (You can see the video on my Facebook Page!) My mom and I quickly got down to Victory Lane and I just stood there taking pictures. I was so close to my hero while he was celebrating with his crew. It was just an amazing site.

I'll never forget this race ever. From meeting Lacy Keyser and Ashley Allgaier to crying over my favorite drivers win, it was amazing.


Picture 1 - Kyle Busch's Qualifying Lap!
Picture 2 - Kyle Busch standing by his car during qualifying (he's in his Cup firesuit)
Picture 3 - Lacy and I! I'm in the white Kyle Busch tank top and Lacy in her Brad Keselowski shirt!
Picture 4 - My hero, Kyle Busch in Victory Lane!!

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5 Questions After ... Brickyard 400

The Brickyard 400 turned out to be a very surprising race. Several dark horse runners were up front for most of the race, while the expected contenders never challenged for the victory. Add to that mix the string of overheating racecars that had to hit pit road less than 20 laps into the race, and “bizarre” might accurately describe all the goings-on at “The Brickyard” on Sunday afternoon.

Here are some questions on my mind following the race on Sunday…

Did Jamie McMurray’s win upset anyone? … Almost every driver has haters to go along with their loyal following of fans. There seems to be a group of people for every driver that cheers for their demise and shouts with triumph whenever that driver suffers any misfortune. But this Sunday, was anyone unhappy with Jamie McMurray? Was anyone walking away from the race angry because of who was in Victory Lane? Any driver that was asked about McMurray’s win (or even if they weren’t) seemed genuinely happy for the Missouri native who at this time last year wasn’t even sure if he had a ride in 2010. Now he has two Sprint Cup Series victories, both of which came in the biggest races of the season. Most (if not all) fans were celebrating right along with McMurray, happy to see the feel-good, underdog story of the season continue.

Where were the Hendrick Motorsports drivers? … Everyone and their mother were picking either Jimmie Johnson or Jeff Gordon to win the Brickyard 400. Yet when Sunday rolled around, they were nowhere to be seen. Though Johnson was able to lead a lap, he spent most of the race outside the top 15 and a lap down. Gordon never ran any higher than 7th, which is only one position better than he started. Johnson and Gordon ended up 22nd and 23rd, respectively. Mark Martin, who has been practically non-existent this season, was the highest finishing HMS car this season in 11th. And, for the sake of not leaving out the most popular driver in NASCAR, teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished 27th. This was the first time since Dover back in May that we did not have an HMS driver in the top 10 at the end of a race. Don’t expect it to happen again anytime soon.

Does Juan Pablo Montoya have any luck? … For the second year in a row, Juan Pablo Montoya was the dominant car, led the most laps, and still came up short. Last year, it was a speeding penalty that Montoya swore on his wife and kids was a sham. Last Sunday, a late race call for four tires put JPM back in the seventh position. Montoya fell back a few spots and on lap 146 smacked the wall coming off of turn four, collecting Dale Earnhardt Jr. Montoya drove behind the wall with heavy right side damage, and left the racetrack without comment. Crew chief Brian Pattie took responsibility for the incident, saying the call for two tires would have been the right one. Um … yeah?

Who knew grass could be so destructive? … A first lap incident involving Kyle Busch and Sam Hornish Jr. caused mass chaos when the race resumed after a few laps under caution. Busch had spun coming off of turn two, collecting Hornish and a few other cars. The spinning racecars kicked up some grass onto the racing surface, and started a frenzy of unscheduled pit stops when the grass found its way into the engines of the racecars. Mass chaos ensued as mini-geysers started spewing from the overheated engines, making it seem like the drivers were racing at Yellowstone National Park instead of Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Eventually, a blown engine from Max Papis on lap 15 gave everyone a chance to catch their breath and fix the problem. Hey, at least it wasn’t tires, right?

Where did the RFR cars come from? …. Almost every week, someone brings up the struggles of Roush Fenway Racing this season. None of the four have won a race this season, and the last time any RFR car won was with Jamie McMurray back at Talladega in October (Hmm…). On Sunday, though, Greg Biffle was running up front for most of the race, leading 38 laps and never running any lower than 12th. Excuse me, but where has this been all season? It’s not as if IMS is a fluke racetrack where anyone and everyone have an equal shot at winning. Not only did Biffle do well, but his teammates finished strong too with all four of them finishing in the top 20. Biffle was racing an R&D car, and I would imagine it was given a passing grade. Could this be the turnaround RFR is looking for, or will everything go back to the status quo once the green flag flies at Pocono?

Bonus questions: Can Chip Ganassi please pick my lottery numbers for me? … Does Jamie McMurray like the taste of burnt rubber to go with his bricks? … Is Kyle Busch’s title “King of the Restarts” only relevant in the Nationwide Series?

--
Photo courtesy of NASCAR Media. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author.

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Crew Chief For The No. 83 Team In The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Penalized For Rule Violation at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 27, 2010) – NASCAR has penalized Jimmy Elledge, crew chief for the No. 83 team in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, for a rule violation committed last week at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Elledge has been fined $25,000 for violating Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-J (any determination by NASCAR officials that the race equipment does not conform to NASCAR rules); and 20-2.3A (improperly attached weight) of the 2010 NASCAR rule book.

The violation was discovered during practice on July 24.

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No. 88 NASCAR Nationwide Series Team Penalized For Rule Violation At O’Reilly Raceway Park

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 27, 2010) – NASCAR handed down penalties Tuesday to the No. 88 team that competes in the NASCAR Nationwide Series for a rule violation committed last week at O’Reilly Raceway Park.

The penalties come as a result of the team violating Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-J (any determination by NASCAR officials that the race equipment used in the event does not conform to NASCAR rules); and 20A-12.3T (unapproved left front shock absorber) of the 2010 NASCAR Rule Book. The violation was discovered in post-race inspection on July 24.

Crew chief Tony Eury Sr. has been fined $10,000, while owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. and driver Aric Almirola have been penalized with the loss of 25 championship owner and 25 championship driver points, respectively.

Photo: Todd Warshaw/Getty Images

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Ambrose Departing JTG Daugherty at Conclusion of 2010 Season

After five successful years together in NASCAR’s top touring divisions, JTG Daugherty Racing and Marcos Ambrose will part ways at the end of the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season.

“JTG Daugherty Racing and our sponsors are obviously huge Marcos Ambrose fans and we are disappointed to see him leave after five great years of building a program together from the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, to the Nationwide Series, and into the Sprint Cup Series,” said Tad Geschickter, co-owner of JTG Daugherty Racing along with Brad Daugherty and Jodi Geschickter. “Marcos is a friend and he is a great talent. He will be an asset to his next team.

“While we hate to see him move on at the end of the season, we will remain focused on winning races with Marcos,” Geschickter continued.  "We are excited about our company's development. We have NASCAR’s greatest and most loyal sponsors, a growing fan base, and a steadily improving race team.”

“We have enjoyed working with Marcos and getting to know his family and friends from both the United States and Australia,” Jodi Geschickter added. “They have brought a lively dimension to our racing family and we have appreciated the opportunity to get to know them. Although we will miss Marcos, we have an amazing team at JTG Daugherty Racing and we look forward to announcing our plans for 2011.”

Daugherty echoes the Geschickter’s sentiments and wishes Ambrose much success in his future endeavors.   

“We are thankful for the opportunity to work with Marcos for the last five years and it has been an enjoyable experience,” Daugherty said. “We wish him the utmost success and best wishes. JTG Daugherty Racing has a bright future and we already have great plans in place for the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season.”

The two-time V8 Supercar champion’s first appearance with JTG Daugherty Racing was at Martinsville Speedway in 2006 when he made his NASCAR debut in the Camping World Truck Series. Ambrose naturally progressed the next year to the NASCAR Nationwide Series spending two years in the division before competing full-time in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for the racing organization.

“It has been a great five year journey for me and JTG Daugherty Racing,” Ambrose said. “I am proud of being their driver and of what we have been able to accomplish together. I want to personally thank Tad, Jodi and Brad and the entire race team for everything they have done. Our plan is to complete the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season with the same desire and commitment and end our relationship the same way it started with a positive attitude and the willingness to win. I will do everything I can to help JTG Daugherty transition into next year with their new driver.

“After five years, I personally felt it was time for a change,” Ambrose continued. “I have no firm plans of what will come next for me and my career. I would like to continue in NASCAR and finish off what I started, but I have not discounted returning to Australia. I’m grateful to JTG Daugherty Racing for giving me an opportunity to become a NASCAR driver and I wish them the best in the future.”

The Launceston, Tasmania Australia native has recorded four top-five and nine top-10 finishes with JTG Daugherty Racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and has also delivered two Nationwide Series victories. His career-best Cup finish is a second-place finish at Watkins Glen International last season.

Currently Ambrose has two top-10 finishes and is 27th in the driver points standings after 20 starts this season.

JTG Daugherty Racing will make an announcement in the near future regarding their driver for the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season.

--JTG Daugherty Release

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NASCAR Anonymously Fines Two Top Drivers

News broke late yesterday about NASCAR fining two drivers for comments made that were degrading to the sport or to the fans. Granted, I don't know who these drivers are I can certainly speculate who they might be.

Coming off a season last year that was very vanilla, aside from the Keselowski/Hamlin Nationwide feud, I have to say I was excited this season to hear what drivers really thought and somewhat catch a glimpse of just who these guys we cheer for week in and week out really are.

At the same time I am hypocritical in my own thoughts. It's for these very reasons I have been known to discourage my three year old from cheering for Kyle Busch, because of the things he has said and the way he acts. I can understand NASCAR's feeling of trying to protect their product as I am trying to protect my child from the words and actions of an outspoken and passionate driver.

However, I don't see how putting a muzzle on drivers is good for the sport. It's the passion and heart of these guys that a lot of people I know tune in on the weekends to see. I think NASCAR is taking a big risk in trying to protect the integrity of the sport by somewhat limiting what the drivers are allowed to say to their fan base. In feeling this way about NASCAR's attempt to keep the drivers quiet, I know I have to let up on my son and let him cheer on the very outspoken Kyle Busch!

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McMurray Kisses the Bricks: Brickyard 400 Recap

(July 25, 2010) INDIANAPOLIS — Car owner Chip Ganassi got the expected result from an unexpected source in Sunday’s Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, as race winner Jamie McMurray joined one of NASCAR Sprint Cup racing’s most exclusive clubs.

Restarting second thanks to a two-tire call on a Lap 140 pit stop, McMurray powered his No. 1 Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Chevrolet past Kevin Harvick’s No. 29 Chevy on a restart with 11 laps left and pulled away to beat Harvick to the finish line by 1.391 seconds.

“I get to kiss the bricks,” McMurray said after he crossed the stripe, adding another milestone to his career and Ganassi’s unbelievable year.

McMurray gave Ganassi his first Daytona 500 win in February. In May, Dario Franchitti won the Indianapolis 500 in one of Ganassi’s cars. On Sunday, Ganassi hit the unprecedented trifecta. No other car owner has won all three major races, much less in the same year.

At the same time, McMurray joined Dale Jarrett (1996) and Jimmie Johnson (2006) as the only drivers to win the Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400 in the same year.

 “I’m the luckiest guy on the planet,” Ganassi said. “You wouldn’t dare to dream this. You wouldn’t dare to dream this kind of year.”

The Brickyard victory, however, had a bittersweet edge to it. McMurray’s teammate, Juan Pablo Montoya, tabbed as the driver more likely to finish the triple for his owner, did nothing to dispel that notion early on.

Montoya led a race-high 86 laps but lost the lead when six teams—including those of McMurray and Harvick—opted for two tires on the Lap 140 pit stop under caution for debris. Montoya took four tires.

Montoya foundered in dirty air, dropped four positions and ultimately lost control of his car and crashed on Lap 145. For the second straight year, the Brickyard 400 ended in heartbreak for Montoya, who led 116 of 160 laps last year only to be thwarted by a pit road speeding penalty.

Greg Biffle finished third in his No. 16 Ford, the only non-Chevrolet to qualify in the top 10. Clint Bowyer was fourth and Tony Stewart fifth. Jeff Burton, Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch, Joey Logano and Kurt Busch completed the top 10.

McMurray was concerned when Harvick passed him two laps after a restart on Lap 143.
“When Kevin got by me a few laps from the end, I thought it was over,” McMurray said. “It’s unreal right now. How about Chip winning the (Indianapolis) 500 and both of these big races? We’re just a great team right now.

“Honestly, when Juan was leading and I was in second (before the debris caution on Lap 137)—I’m a big believer in fate—I thought this was how it was meant to be. I won the Daytona 500, Dario won the 500, and I thought Juan was going to win this one. I’m just shocked I won the Daytona 500 and the Brickyard 400 in the same year.”

Harvick was philosophical. He could afford to be, having increased his Cup series lead to 184 points over second-place Jeff Gordon, who finished 23rd.

“We took a gamble there at the end to take two tires,” Harvick said. “On the first restart (Lap 143), it took off great. We were able to run Jamie down and pass him. Second restart (Lap 150), it didn’t take off so great. Just got tight. He drove around the outside of me.

“I guess just the first cycle on those new right-side tires carried us through. We were just tight the whole second restart. But still — a great day. Took a chance to try to win the race. All but capitalized on it and came up one short.”

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Busch Wins 8th Nationwide Race of Season in Just 16 Starts

CLERMONT, Ind.—This time, there was no controversial finish.

For the second NASCAR Nationwide Series race in a row, Carl Edwards went side-by-side for the lead on the final lap. But Saturday night at O'Reilly Raceway Park, Kyle Busch held Edwards off to win the Kroger 200 at the 0.686-mile track.

Last week at Gateway International Raceway, Edwards dumped Brad Keselowski coming to the checkered flag, triggering a multicar accident and forcing NASCAR to penalize both drivers.

This time, Edwards raced Busch cleanly, and Busch grabbed his 38th career Nationwide Series victory, second only to Mark Martin on the all-time win list. Martin has 48 wins in the series.

Edwards and some others on the lead lap pitted for fresh tires on Lap 162, with Edwards restarting 11th with 28 laps to go. Edwards sliced through the top 10 to get to second, and a caution came out with six laps to go.

On the green-white-checkered restart, Busch got the jump on Edwards into Turn 1, though Edwards tried to get to the inside lane on the white flag lap and on the final lap. But Busch was up to the task. He led four times for 144 laps.
Ron Hornaday, who won Friday night's Camping World Truck Series race here, ran in the top five for most of the race until he and the lapped car of J.C. Stout got together in Turn 2 on Lap 161.
"Lapper just turned left," Hornaday said after he drove his damaged car behind the wall.
Aric Almirola finished third, with polesitter Trevor Bayne fourth and Reed Sorenson fifth.

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Hornaday Snaps 22 Race Winless Streak with Win at ORP

(July 23, 2010) CLERMONT, Ind.—The back-to-basics approach seems to work for Ron Hornaday Jr. and the No. 33 Kevin Harvick Inc. NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team.

Hornaday Jr. snapped a 22-race winless streak in the truck series Friday night, winning the AAA Insurance 200 at O'Reilly Raceway Park.

Watched by team owner Kevin Harvick, Hornaday led 129 laps and beat runner-up Kyle Busch by 2.095 seconds for his first victory since Aug. 1 of last year at Nashville Superspeedway.

Hornaday credited crew chief Ernie Cope — who rejoined the truck team while maintaining his crew chief job with the KHI NASCAR Nationwide Series group — with helping turn things around.

"We couldn't do it without Ernie Cope and all these guys on this Chevrolet," Hornaday said. "They worked their guts out, changing the truck after last weekend. It's just a great day. Hopefully it keeps a little bit quiet. It took Ernie to come over here and settle everybody down. The guys were getting a little anxious. We know we've got a winning team. We just had to prove it to them."

What did Cope do for Hornaday?

 "We just kind of went back to what we call our basic package," Cope said. "We've had people come in and try to do their own thing. I know everyone wants to make an identity for themselves, but it wasn't working. We had to make changes. We just went back to basics here with Ron and let him drive the truck, don't try to do nothing trick. We just went to basics and let him do his job. You're going to win a lot of races when you do that with Ron Hornaday."

Hornaday chipped in, too, trying to change his luck to get back to the winner's circle.

"I changed my tennis shoes, changed all my luck stuff," Hornaday said. "I just (went) back to my basic (of) come to the racetrack and try to kick butt, and it seems to be working."

The victory was Hornaday's fourth at ORP in 11 starts at the 0.686-mile short track. He led 67 laps in winning the race here in 2009 and has won three of the last four at the facility.

The key moment of the race came on Lap 153, when Hornaday squirted past Busch and polesitter Timothy Peters for the lead in Turns 3 and 4. Busch was trying to pass Peters on the high side but was blocked by Peters, opening the door for Hornaday.

"That's one the things you've got to remember about this place," Busch said. "You can dive-bomb the bottom really fast and pull a slide job on somebody, and he did it so well that I was still stuck behind the 17, so I couldn't even turn back underneath him and do it back to (Hornaday) in the next corner."

Said Hornaday: "Timothy was kind of backing up the corners, so once I got under Kyle, I kind of pinned him back there. We never touched or anything, but that's what you've got to do here at ORP."

Busch finished second after practicing his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Matt Crafton was third, with Johnny Sauter fourth and James Buescher fifth.

Austin Dillon was sixth, with Todd Bodine seventh, Brad Sweet eighth, David Starr ninth and Peters 10th.
Bodine's series points lead grew to 177 over Aric Almirola, who finished 31st after being involved in a Lap 96 accident with Narain Karthikeyan and Mario Gosselin.

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Oh baby! Hornish, wife expecting second child

Maybe there really is something in the water...

A day after Ryan Newman and his wife Krissie announced at Indianapolis Motor Speedway that they were expecting, Sam Hornish Jr. broke the news Saturday that he and his wife Crystal are expecting their second child.

During an ESPN interview, the usually calm and collected Hornish excitedly rambled on about not knowing if the baby was a boy or a girl. The Indianapolis 500 champion was clearly thrilled about his growing family. The Hornishes have one child, daughter Addison, 2. The baby is due Dec. 30.

Hornish's announcement is the latest in a string of NASCAR births. Earlier in the month Jimmie Johnson and his wife Chandra welcomed a daughter and this week Juan Pablo Montoya and his wife Connie welcomed their third child. Jeff Gordon and his wife Ingrid are expecting their second child in the coming weeks.

But Hornish won't be the only one hearing the pitter-patter of little feet during the off-season. Krissie Newman, Jamie McMurray's wife Christy and SPEED journalist Wendy Venturini are also due in December.

The Skirts and Scuffs team congratulates Sam and Crystal on their happy news!

As for our readers, we recommend staying away from the water the next time you go to a race ...

_____________
Photo: Sam Hornish Jr. and his daughter Addison during practice at Chicagoland in 2009. (Jason Smith/Getty Images for NASCAR)

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Reutimann and Aaron’s Team Up Through 2012

INDIANAPOLIS (JULY 23, 2010) – Michael Waltrip Racing announced today that it has signed agreements extending its relationships with driver David Reutimann and primary sponsor Aaron’s, Inc. on the No. 00 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota through the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup season.
 

“I’m glad both Michael Waltrip Racing and Aaron’s want to keep me around,” joked Reutimann. “I’ve been asked about my contract for the last month and we’ve had a handshake agreement, but now it’s done and I’m glad I can finally talk about it. I’m thrilled. This is where I want to be – at Michael Waltrip Racing driving the No. 00 with Aaron’s on the hood. Aaron’s has been a great partner and I consider myself a lucky dog every time I get behind the wheel of the Aaron’s Dream Machine.
 

“Michael and Darrell Waltrip have given me just about every chance I have ever had in NASCAR since 2004 and I don’t want to go anywhere else. Good things are happening here and I plan to be a part of it.”

Reutimann, 40, earned his second Sprint Cup victory on July 10 in Chicagoland. He earned his and MWR’s first Sprint Cup victory at Charlotte in May 2009. He owns victories all three NASCAR national touring series. No driver owns more Toyota starts than Reutimann in NASCAR.
 

MWR co-owner Michael Waltrip said he never doubted Reutimann’s return.
 

“We never wavered on wanting to extend David and neither did Aaron’s. David and Aaron’s are like family to me. They’ve both been a large part of Michael Waltrip Racing since the very beginning and have stuck with us through thick and thin,” said Waltrip. “In the beginning we all took a chance on each other. You might say it was a high-risk, high reward proposition for everyone involved, but we all believed in each other and we are now starting to see those rewards a little more each day.
 

“Aaron’s along with NAPA AUTO PARTS and Toyota are three of the cornerstones MWR built upon over the years. Their loyalty to us has been as important as any ingredient in our success of late. I’m very proud that these companies have stayed with us as long as they have. We have a very bright future and plan to reward their loyalty in the coming years as we grow and continue to visit victory lane.”
 

Aaron’s will increase its primary sponsorship of Reutimann’s No.00 from 24 to 30 races in 2010 with TUMS and Best Western completing the schedule. Aaron’s will remain at 30 races in 2011 and 2012 and assume associate sponsorship position with all MWR Toyotas.
 

“Increasing our involvement in the NACSAR Sprint Cup Series and extending our partnership with Michael Waltrip Racing and David Reutimann through 2012 is a testament to how successful this relationship has been for Aaron’s,” stated Ken Butler, Chief Operating Officer of Aaron’s, Inc. “Much of Aaron’s growth and success is a direct result of our partnership with MWR and we are thrilled to continue that for two more seasons. We have built a rich history with Michael Waltrip and this organization over the last 11 years and I could not imagine Aaron’s partnering with anyone else in this sport. We look forward to being a part of their continued success.”
 

Aaron’s relationship with Michael Waltrip Racing began in 2000 when the Atlanta-based company sponsored six races for Waltrip’s Nationwide team. The relationship grew from a partial Nationwide program to one of the most recognizable Cup partnerships in the sport with aggressive activation and extensive usage of Waltrip and Reutimann in television and radio commercials.
 

MWR fields fulltime NASCAR Sprint Cup teams for Reutimann and Martin Truex Jr. as well as a fulltime K&N Pro Series entry and a six-race Nationwide Series entry for Ryan Truex. MWR along with Gary and Blake Bechtel co-own Diamond-Waltrip Racing that fields a fulltime Nationwide entry for Trevor Bayne.
 

About Aaron’s, Inc.
Aaron’s, Inc. (NYSE: AAN), the nation’s leader in the sales and lease ownership and specialty retailing of residential furniture, consumer electronics, home appliances and accessories, has more than 1,730 Company-operated and franchised stores in 48 states and Canada. Founded in 1955 by entrepreneur R. Charles Loudermilk, Sr. and headquartered in Atlanta, Aaron’s has been publicly traded since 1982. For more information, visit www.aarons.com.

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Starting Lineup: Camping World Truck Series – AAA Insurance 200 Presented by J.D. Byrider

While the Sprint Cup Series is coming to you from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend, the Camping World Truck Series and Nationwide Series are in action at O’Reilly Raceway Park. ORP is a .686 mile track located just a few miles away from where the big boys will play Sunday afternoon.

With a time of 22.522 seconds (109.653 MPH) Timothy Peters captured the pole for Friday nights event. Starting alongside Peters is Kyle Busch.

Here’s your starting lineup:

1. Timothy Peters
2. Kyle Busch
3. James Buescher
4. Matt Crafton
5. Ron Hornaday
6. Todd Bodine
7. Mike Skinner
8. Aric Almirola
9. Johnny Sauter
10. David Starr
11. Shelby Howard
12. Austin Dillon
13. Justin Lofton
14. Brad Sweet
15. Johanna Long
16. Dennis Setzer
17. Mario Gosselin
18. Ryan Sieg
19. Donny Lia
20. Chris Jones
21. Ricky Carmichael
22. JC Stout
23. Narain Karthikeyan
24. Jason White
25. Brent Raymer
26. Nick Hoffman
27. Butch Miller
28. Joe Aramendia
29. Mike Harmon
30. Micheller Theriault
31. Mike Garvey
32. Jennifer Jo Cobb
33. Brett Butler
34. Norm Benning
35. Ryan Rust
36. Chris Lafferty

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An Exciting Announcement from the Brickyard: Newman Expecting First Child

Chevy Day at the Brickyard is one of the most popular fan events in the sport. Fans can head over to Indianapolis Motor Speedway on the Friday before NASCAR’s Brickyard 400 for a day of autograph and Q&A sessions with the Team Chevy drivers.

Two years ago Casey Mears made the announcement from the Chevy stage that he was expecting his first child.

Today, in similar fashion Ryan Newman and his wife Krissie announced that they were expecting their first child. The announcement was confirmed on the Team Chevy Facebook page:

Team Chevy would like to congratulate Ryan and Krissie Newman! Ryan told fans from the Team Chevy stage today that he will be a first time father in 2010! So excited for them both!

Riki Rachtman broke the news on Twitter saying: Hey Ryan Newmans gonna be a papa . I think I'm breaking the story Congrats Krissie

The Newmans join a long line of recent and upcoming births in the sport of NASCAR. Earlier in the month Jimmie Johnson and wife Chandra welcomed a daughter and just last week Juan Pablo Montoya and his wife Connie welcomed their third child.

On behalf of the entire Skirts and Scuffs team we would like to congratulate Ryan and Krissie!

If you want to learn more about Krissie check out the interview our columnist Lindi Bess did with her a few months back.

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Win Dale Jr. AMP Energy official merchandise from Skirts and Scuffs

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. THANKS TO ALL WHO ENTERED. CONGRATULATIONS TO JEANNIE! CHECK YOUR EMAIL FOR DETAILS ON CLAIMING THE PRIZE! LOOK FOR MORE GREAT GIVEAWAYS SOON FROM SKIRTS AND SCUFFS

 

Thanks to AMP Energy, co-sponsor of Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the No. 88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports, Skirts and Scuffs is giving away this officially licensed Dale Jr. clock and keychain to one lucky reader. The clock measures approximately 12.5 inches by 10.5 inches.

To enter, please leave a comment below as whether you think Dale Jr. will make the Chase this season. The winner will be chosen in a random drawing.

The contest begins Friday, July 23, and will end Thursday, July 29, at noon, when the drawing will be conducted. Skirts and Scuffs will contact the winner by e-mail within 24 hours of the end of the contest. Winner has 48 hours after e-mail is sent to respond.

Skirts and Scuffs contributors are not eligible to participate.

Good luck to all those who enter!

For more information on Dale Earnhardt Jr. and AMP Energy, check out the official website at www.ampupthe88.com, which features weekly video chats with members of the No. 88 crew and Hendrick Motorsports, videos and daily giveaways.

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Keselowski and Edwards Not Backin' Down

First we heard from NASCAR and their decision on penalties for both Brad Keselowski and Carl Edwards. Now both drivers have said their peace in different media sessions in Indianapolis.

Just like always, these two racers see one incident in a very different light. What's even more confusing, Brad seems to be "happy" about NASCAR's decision to also place him on probation the rest of the year. Keselowski says it "takes away the pressure of retaliation." While I tend to agree with him, after hearing Edwards' comments in the media center I still believe this feud is far from over.


Brad's interview was pretty typical for a driver who is looking beyond Gateway and just ready to put it behind him. He was pretty adamant that he "slipped a tiny bit" getting into Carl, which seemed to give Carl justification for the retaliation he lashed out coming to the checkers. Brad also stands behind his actions, saying he wouldn't do anything differently as he clearly believes what he did was not intentional but just hard racing.

Carl's opinions on Saturday night's race could not have been more different. Carl insists he is not the one "initiating" the run-ins he has had with Keselowski. He also says he's "done a better job at keeping the car under control." He also feels that Brad's "slip up" was not a mistake but moreso intentional.

The irony in all of this is Brad was right in his interview on Saturday night when he said Carl would play the "good guy." This was displayed by Carl apologizing to all the teams involved that shouldn't have been when Brad went spinning. I was really even more confused when Carl said he would rather finish second than get a win the way he did Saturday night. I think I must've missed something, because the major events that took place Saturday night that he is so "sorry" for were caused by his revenge-seeking actions.

Either way, both the Nationwide and Cup series have moved on to Indianapolis and it's time to focus on the race at hand. However, I honestly believe we have not seen the last of the clashes between these two just yet.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer.
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Photo: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR

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NASCAR Hall of Fame nominee spotlight: Jerry Cook

When NASCAR announced its second class of nominees up for induction into the Hall of Fame recently, Jerry Cook became the second driver from NASCAR's Modified ranks to receive a nomination, following Richie Evans who was one of the inaugural 25 nominees and is nominated again this year.

Cook and Evans went head to head in what turned into quite the rivalry between the two Rome, N.Y., drivers in modified racing.

After beginning his racing career at the age of 13, Cook made a name for himself in NASCAR's Modified division by claiming six NASCAR Modified championships, including four-straight between 1974 and 1977. His other two championship came in the consecutive years of 1971 and 1972 after runner-up showings in 1969 and 1970. Cook's career included 1,474 modified starts with 342 wins.

To read more, visit Cup Series News and Notes.

Photo of Jerry Cook courtesy of ISC Archives/Getty Images

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Roush Fenway Hits One Million-Mile Mark in NASCAR Sprint Cup Action

CONCORD, N.C. (July 22, 2010) – On February 14, 1988 Jack Roush launched into his first official foray into the big-time world of NASCAR racing. The day would be a short one – lasting just under 50 of the scheduled 500 miles of the world’s biggest race. It was a humble beginning for what would grow into one of the most successful organizations in professional sports. Today - almost 25 years later - Roush Fenway Racing has covered over one million miles in Sprint Cup action, enough miles to cover the Earth 40 times over.

“You sure can’t say that it has come without its bumps,” said team owner Jack Roush. “There has been a lot of hard work, blood, sweat and tears that have been poured into that milestone. There have been a lot of drivers, crew chiefs and crew guys that put in a great deal of work in order for us to be as successful as we have been during that stretch and to be able to sustain that type of longevity.”

The miles were turned by 16 different Cup drivers over a 23-plus year period. During that span, Roush Fenway has fielded 2,688 Sprint Cup entries, captured 116 wins, while collecting 632 top fives, 1102 top 10s and 65 poles. The organization has churned 768,810 laps, leading 32,754 laps along the way, while capturing two championships and finishing the season top two on nine occasions.

The team has won the Daytona 500, the Coca-Cola 600, the Southern 500 and will look to build on that heritage this weekend when it looks for an elusive win in the Brickyard 400 at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Roush Fenway has finished runner-up at Indy on four occasions.

The Roush Fenway cars will run a commemorative decal this week at Indy.

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Multi-Truck Qualifying Procedure Planned For Inaugural NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Event At Pocono Raceway

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 21, 2010) – NASCAR announced today that it will revise the qualifying procedure for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series’ inaugural Pocono Mountains 125 at Pocono Raceway on Saturday, July 31, with a multi-truck session on the 2.5-mile track.

The order in which trucks will qualify for the 36 available positions will be based on their practice speeds from final practice on Friday, July 30. Times will be inverted, allowing the slowest truck in practice to be the first out in qualifying on Saturday morning, with the fastest truck going out last. Trucks will be released from pit road in approximately 25-second increments.

Two laps of qualifying will be allowed with the fastest lap counting. Once a truck comes onto pit road its respective qualifying lap is complete. No drafting will be permitted.

 “The distance and uniqueness of Pocono afforded us the opportunity to implement this style of qualifying for this event,” said NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Director Wayne Auton. “SPEED is excited about the format and we believe the fans, drivers and viewing audience will embrace it, too.”

“Our anticipation for the first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race ever at Pocono has been building for quite some time, but adding multi-truck qualifying to the mix really turns it up a notch,” said SPEED President Hunter Nickell. “All of us at SPEED are looking forward to watching this unique qualifying format unfold live and delivering it to the fans.”

“It will definitely be different than what we are used to,” said Todd Bodine, a former series champion who currently leads the series standings by 101 points over Aric Almirola. “It will be quite a show I’m sure. It should be good for the fans and good for television.”

“We are thrilled to have the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series coming to Pocono Raceway for the inaugural Pocono Mountains 125,” said Brandon Igdalsky, president of Pocono Raceway. “Recently, Pocono Raceway has been the host to many firsts, and with the new qualifying format being introduced and the always exciting double-file restarts, the truck series’ first trip to Pocono is sure to be a memorable one.”

A drawing for qualifying order will be held in case inclement weather cancels the session. The field would then be set according to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series rule book.  

Qualifying will be televised on SPEED at 10 a.m. on July 31 from Pocono. Tickets to the Pocono Mountains 125 are available online at www.poconoraceway.com or by calling 1-800- RACEWAY (800-722-3829).

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