tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61829732934127319112023-11-16T09:34:44.349-08:00Skirtsandscuffs testKaty Lindamoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15504396087249155797noreply@blogger.comBlogger1006125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6182973293412731911.post-24002029789689345162012-11-17T16:59:00.000-08:002012-11-17T20:13:06.481-08:00Stenhouse Jr. takes the title as Smith takes the checkers<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCe7bYj9gmE0YkCMIztBD2i7rLPVQTHIAirZ07adGNqe9gDGh4DBu2Y2bhzAYiaZftupc82cPivdv4jPJkaLCNVS0tNogvt9gm3dGK54pJShV0U9n__KqCZ-MANvOp_kxpnNes6ckosB0/s1600/643999_10151127702398097_961293575_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCe7bYj9gmE0YkCMIztBD2i7rLPVQTHIAirZ07adGNqe9gDGh4DBu2Y2bhzAYiaZftupc82cPivdv4jPJkaLCNVS0tNogvt9gm3dGK54pJShV0U9n__KqCZ-MANvOp_kxpnNes6ckosB0/s640/643999_10151127702398097_961293575_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A winning combination - Mike Kelly, Jack Roush, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. <br />
on the grid at Texas Motor Speedway - Credit: Skirts and Scuffs </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
When the green flag flew on the final NASCAR Nationwide Series race of the season, just 20 points separated defending series champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and his closest threat, Elliott Sadler. Lurking and hoping one of the two leaders would have a catastrophic issue was Austin Dillon.<br />
<br />
Although Dillon and Sadler fought hard, Stenhouse Jr. clinched his second straight title with a sixth place finish. Stenhouse Jr. becomes the sixth driver in series history to repeat joining Sam Ard, Larry Pearson, Randy LaJoie, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Martin Truex Jr. Second place points finisher Elliott Sadler finishes behind Stenhouse Jr. for the second year in a row with Rookie of the Year winner Austin Dillon wrapping up third place in the title hunt. Joe Gibbs Racing led by Joey Logano and the No. 18 team captured the Owner's Championship.<br />
<br />
Starting from the pole position, Kyle Busch looked to have the strongest car of the afternoon dominating the first portion of the race. As the race progressed, the No. 54 lost track position finishing second marking the first season since 2004 that Busch, the all-time series leader in wins, hasn't won in the series.<br />
<br />
Regan Smith, who will join JR Motorsports in 2013 to contend for the Nationwide Series Championship, took home the win. In his victory lane interview Smith said he was sad to see the season end now, but looks forward to what the team can do in the future.<br />
<br />
Top 10 in standings: Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Elliott Sadler, Austin Dillon, Sam Hornish Jr., Michael Annett, Justin Allgaier, Cole Whitt, Mike Bliss, Brian Scott, Danica Patrick<br />
<br />
Final running order:<br />
<ol>
<li>Regan Smith</li>
<li>Kyle Busch</li>
<li>Brendan Gaughan</li>
<li>Sam Hornish Jr.</li>
<li>Austin Dillon</li>
<li>Ricky Stenhouse Jr. </li>
<li>Brian Scott</li>
<li>Ryan Blaney</li>
<li>Elliott Sadler</li>
<li>Cole Whitt</li>
<li>Justin Allgaier</li>
<li>Michael Annett</li>
<li>Danica Patrick</li>
<li>Joey Coulter</li>
<li>Kenny Wallace</li>
<li>Joey Logano</li>
<li>Brad Sweet</li>
<li>Joe Nemechek</li>
<li>Mike Bliss</li>
<li>Scott Lagasee Jr.</li>
<li>Kevin Swindell</li>
<li>Jeremy Clements</li>
<li>Jeffrey Earnhardt</li>
<li>David Starr</li>
<li>Dakoda Armstrong</li>
<li>Mike Wallace</li>
<li>Eric McClure</li>
<li>Andrew Ranger</li>
<li>Jason Bowles</li>
<li>Hal Martin</li>
<li>Danny Efland</li>
<li>Joey Gase</li>
<li>Robert Richardson Jr.</li>
<li>Johanna Long</li>
<li>Erik Darnell</li>
<li>John Blankenship</li>
<li>Juan Carlos Blum</li>
<li>Ryan Truex</li>
<li>Blake Koch</li>
<li>Jeff Green</li>
<li>Chase Miller</li>
<li>Josh Wise</li>
<li>Dexter Stacey</li>
</ol>
Katy Lindamoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15504396087249155797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6182973293412731911.post-44859371624983628062012-04-04T16:21:00.000-07:002012-04-04T16:24:27.764-07:00LIVE CHAT TEST...AMANDA<iframe src="http://www.coveritlive.com/index2.php/option=com_altcaster/task=viewaltcast/altcast_code=56bc16f7ca/height=550/width=470" scrolling="no" height="550px" width="470px" frameBorder ="0" allowTransparency="true" ><a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php/option=com_mobile/task=viewaltcast/altcast_code=56bc16f7ca" >Skirts and Scuffs Live Chat</a></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6182973293412731911.post-17722833862957224822012-04-04T15:03:00.001-07:002012-04-04T15:03:30.685-07:00Live Blogging = Test<iframe src="http://www.coveritlive.com/index2.php/option=com_altcaster/task=viewaltcast/altcast_code=cbcc5ffa0a/height=550/width=470" scrolling="no" height="550px" width="470px" frameBorder ="0" allowTransparency="true" ><a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php/option=com_mobile/task=viewaltcast/altcast_code=cbcc5ffa0a" >TEST</a></iframe>Katy Lindamoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15504396087249155797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6182973293412731911.post-37370033331866905792010-11-30T05:00:00.000-08:002010-11-30T08:41:55.778-08:00Kevin Conway: NASCAR's 2010 Sprint Cup Raybestos Rookie of the Year<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"></span><br /><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHVWx3o_xeA_QH0fMKF3oZukv_obaP-egABMYP9EDemnxPO3-k-ocBBqrSr3TQOtcpVS4C7hG5HOI1CfN83K_8L4m9I5yMvrrJ2JinfPuriT4qcl191RORnBnwsvh4wS8z7bwvQpVdNxAP/s1600/kevon+conway+wave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHVWx3o_xeA_QH0fMKF3oZukv_obaP-egABMYP9EDemnxPO3-k-ocBBqrSr3TQOtcpVS4C7hG5HOI1CfN83K_8L4m9I5yMvrrJ2JinfPuriT4qcl191RORnBnwsvh4wS8z7bwvQpVdNxAP/s400/kevon+conway+wave.jpg" width="301" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy of Kevin Conway's official Facebook page</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">The 2010 NASCAR<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> Raybestos Rookie of the Year</span></span></span><i> </i>award goes to the Toyota ExtenZe Racing driver Kevin Conway. The official award presentation will happen during Champions Week in Las Vegas on Thursday, Dec. 2, during the<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Awards Luncheon. </span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Conway started 28 races during the 2010 season and finished 82 percent of his starts. Without having the luxury of provisional start availability, Kevin had to race his way into all of the events through qualifying. Conway's average starting place this season was 40.3 and his statistics show a 32.6 average finish for 2010. Kevin finished 35</span></span><sup><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">th</span></span></sup><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"> in Cup Series season points after earning 1,830 points throughout the season and bringing home more than $2.5 million in earnings.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black;"><br /><span style="color: white;"></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: small;">Though Conway receives the Rookie of the Year award as the only qualifying Cup Series rookie in the field, if Landon Cassill had declared himself for the ROTY award and been in one more race in 2010, Conway would have still come out on top. If driver Terry Cook, who declared himself eligible for ROTY at the beginning of the season, had stayed in for more than three Cup races, it is likely that Kevin would have beaten Cook for the honors as well. In the three races Cook participated in during the 2010 season, Conway finished an average 10 spots better in all three. Conway earned the 2010 Rookie of the Year award by keeping the car out of trouble on the track, qualifying for and finishing races, and through overcoming much adversity during his 2010 season.</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black;"><br /><span style="color: white;"></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Considering that before the season started, Front Row Motorsports opted to not allow Kevin an attempt to qualify for the Daytona 500 because of his lack of superspeedway experience, it is ironic that Kevin's best finish of 2010 came at the Coke Zero 400 in July at Daytona. His 14</span></span><sup><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">th</span></span></sup><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">-place finish in that race is also the best finish for Front Row Motorsports since the team formed in 2005. </span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Even with FRM's best finish of their five-year history, after his 21</span></span><sup><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">st</span></span></sup><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> race of the 2010 season Kevin and ExtenZe Racing left FRM because of a disagreement regarding sponsor payments. </span></span></span></span><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Showing himself to not be bitter about the split, Conway said, </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"It was exciting for me to be able to give Front Row their best finish ... it's unfortunate that we can't work it out to remain in the car for the immediate future."</span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black;"><a name='more'></a><br /><span style="color: white;"></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: small;">In week 24 Conway and ExtenZe Racing debuted with Robby Gordon Motorsports. The remainder of the season proved to have several rough spots. During his time with Front Row Motorsports, Conway had just three DNFs in his first 21 races in 2010. In the last seven races of the season, the team shows six DNFs with Robby Gordon Motorsports. With a variety of issues plaguing the Robby Gordon Motorsports Toyota, ranging from a transmission problem and engine failure to brake issues and a bad fuel pump, Kevin said that it felt like going from the frying pan into the fire. </span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjphYDuFVCPG64pe2h5JZDwG_PETQYb-U6FWpdXCThBXnO3JQo5RlZOEkTTOrU7GFqnY3WGHJylTwLmZ33qk1D8WvSD1EmfC_ljr0-aPgPaZWH6fCuxUriAaQ2G29zVrVYdNT2XGvsEADLK/s1600/kevin+conway+helmet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjphYDuFVCPG64pe2h5JZDwG_PETQYb-U6FWpdXCThBXnO3JQo5RlZOEkTTOrU7GFqnY3WGHJylTwLmZ33qk1D8WvSD1EmfC_ljr0-aPgPaZWH6fCuxUriAaQ2G29zVrVYdNT2XGvsEADLK/s320/kevin+conway+helmet.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container"><tbody><tr></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy of Kevin Conway's official Facebook page</td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: small;">“It was extremely frustrating,” Conway said. “You try to work with what's in control and not worry about the rest. As a team we have to evaluate what went right and improve on what went wrong. To be a competitive race team and get the results you want to have, you have to remain in the sport even with ongoing mechanical issues. When you beat yourself in the shop it's tough.”</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black;"><br /><span style="color: white;"></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: small;">When asked how much he is looking forward to the 2011 season after achieving his best finish of 2010 at Daytona, Kevin said, “I'm really looking forward to getting back to Daytona. There was a lot of track changes and handling that came into play last year.” </span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: small;">But Conway expects that with the new surface at Daytona International Speedway, the aerodynamic package will come into play more and with that there are new opportunities. Kevin went on to say, “The new track surface levels the playing field to some extent. The teams who have ability to do research can capitalize on that ... I expect more three- and four-wide racing and better handling.” He said that ultimately, everyone's 2011 season will depend on surviving the races and coming away with decent finishes.</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black;"><br /><span style="color: white;"></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="text-align: right;"></div><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: small;">With plans to run both Cup and Nationwide races in 2011, Conway said that hitting the reset button with the switch to Robby Gordon Motorsports led to having limited resources in the latter part the season. Kevin said that not having the equipment or experience in Cup cars proved to create challenges in 2010 for his ExtenZe Racing Team. For 2011, Kevin wants to build more familiarity with the team and improve dramatically on 2010. </span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: small;">With the majority of a full year under his belt, Conway says that the ExtenZe Racing Team wants to finish consistently in the top 20—25 next year and be able to capitalize on other teams' bad days. He said it is up to the driver and the team to create opportunities for success. Setting realistic goals in addition to learning and developing himself as a driver are at the top of the to-do list for Conway in 2011. </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: small;">Keep an eye out for a formal announcement regarding a sponsorship agreement between Kevin and Robby Gordon Motorsports following Champions Week in Las Vegas, possibly just before Christmas. </span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black;"><br /><span style="color: white;"></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: small;">Conway said that although nothing is booked yet, after the awards in Las Vegas he is going to take a look at the calendar and is “planning on planning a trip to the mountains” during the off-season. Either somewhere in Canada or maybe the Rockies for some snowboarding, he said. </span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: small;">As a final question, I asked Kevin if there was anything that NASCAR fans should know about him, his season or his team that he would like to share; his reply speaks volumes. </span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: small;">“We've had a lot of racers over the last couple weeks saying you're the new hero; we're making sure that we are keeping the dream alive for the little guy. This is the first time a non-major team has won Rookie of the Year in 12 years. Regardless of the number of competitors, to be able to run the majority of the races we had to have tenacity, persistence and hard work. Six years ago I was racing weekends in midgets, working for Richard Petty Driving Experience to pay the bills. Six years later, to be in a position to compete for Rookie of the Year ... people sometimes don't understand what it takes to get to this position.” </span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black;"><br /><span style="color: white;"></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: small;">This is a man who has fought tooth and nail for every inch gained on and off the racetrack. A man who believes in himself, his team and his future. A man who had to overcome adversity more than once during 2010. A man who appreciates each opportunity that has come his way. </span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: small;">To Kevin Conway, the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Rookie of the Year ... Congratulations. You have earned it.</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black;"><br /><span style="color: white;"></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black;"><br /><span style="color: white;"></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><i>*A special thank you to Kevin for taking the time to speak with me.</i> </span></span></span></span></div>Katy Lindamoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15504396087249155797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6182973293412731911.post-78078245582514822072010-11-29T11:16:00.000-08:002010-11-30T08:41:55.812-08:00Jamie McMurray and wife welcome baby boy<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig_deOS_RceBs2sogV91ORRYEGh6fkDjVNfkynd7kgybqrXwn0SVzAavgP9fb43Ee_OOmH_5a7wir5jqGEW3y12IeuT2xZ57qN9zMN7O7vT2DR5hXAuGmfa-C7y60UmDrOcz1A0KNsXiYF/s1600/2010+Daytona+Feb+Champions+Breakfast+Jamie+McMurray+wife+Christy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig_deOS_RceBs2sogV91ORRYEGh6fkDjVNfkynd7kgybqrXwn0SVzAavgP9fb43Ee_OOmH_5a7wir5jqGEW3y12IeuT2xZ57qN9zMN7O7vT2DR5hXAuGmfa-C7y60UmDrOcz1A0KNsXiYF/s400/2010+Daytona+Feb+Champions+Breakfast+Jamie+McMurray+wife+Christy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jamie and Christy McMurray at the Daytona champion's breakfast <br />in February. (Motorsports Images & Archives)</td></tr></tbody></table><br />After an incredible season, Jamie McMurray and his wife Christy have something else to be thankful for this year. On Thanksgiving, the couple welcomed their first child, son Carter Scott McMurray, into the world at 8:34 a.m. Carter is 7 lbs, 12 ounces and 20 inches long, according to <a href="http://www.jamiemcmurray.com/news/news-archives/McMurrays-Welcome-Birth-of-Their-Son-on-Thanksgiving-Morning/">McMurray's official website</a>. <br /><br />The 2010 season has been prolific in more ways than one for McMurray's No. 1 team at Earnhardt Ganassi Racing. McMurray won three Sprint Cup races, including two of NASCAR's premier events, the Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400, in what has been likely the best season of his career. The McMurrays' new addition also marks the eighth - you read that right, eighth - baby born to members of the No. 1 team this year.<br /><br />The birth is the latest in the NASCAR baby boom. McMurray joins fellow Sprint Cup drivers Elliot Sadler, Carl Edwards, Juan Pablo Montoya, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Ryan Newman in expanding their families in 2010. Just over a week ago Newman and his wife Krissie welcomed a baby girl. <br /><br />But the baby boom isn't over yet. Sam Hornish Jr. as well as SPEED personality Wendy Venturini are expecting babies next month.Katy Lindamoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15504396087249155797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6182973293412731911.post-90927681159900104792010-11-29T10:28:00.000-08:002010-11-30T08:41:55.836-08:00Richard Petty and financial partners take control of RPM<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglOpSQ_sP__QWTLUCGKOalc-MtXbxbu_bJTnp6rY77cDRV2_TQJRWbdVA7o4d1F45f9v1QLEha8FcpBDt6Xvot7Y-c-6nHzvjuCaWLYjnfwwCQSJ9XBJVx1DNAyye1VKpTu-2W-jxbjsoC/s1600/2009+Charlotte+Jan+Media+Tour+Richard+Petty+with+Motorsports+Sign.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglOpSQ_sP__QWTLUCGKOalc-MtXbxbu_bJTnp6rY77cDRV2_TQJRWbdVA7o4d1F45f9v1QLEha8FcpBDt6Xvot7Y-c-6nHzvjuCaWLYjnfwwCQSJ9XBJVx1DNAyye1VKpTu-2W-jxbjsoC/s400/2009+Charlotte+Jan+Media+Tour+Richard+Petty+with+Motorsports+Sign.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jason Smith/Getty Images for NASCAR (2009 photo)</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Concord, N.C. (November 29, 2010) — Racing legend and all time NASCAR win leader Richard Petty is back in the driver’s seat.<br /><br />Richard Petty Motorsports signed and closed a sale of its racing assets to an investment group comprised of Richard Petty, Medallion Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:TAXI) and DGB Investments.<br /><br />Richard Petty, a seven-time NASCAR champion has won 200 races, including 10 Daytona races. Known in the NASCAR world as The King, Petty will serve as chairman and will be actively involved in overseeing day-to-day operations of the company. As previously announced, the team will operate the legendary No. 43 car driven by AJ Allmendinger and the No. 9 car driven by Marcos Ambrose.<br /><br />“Today is a great day for me, my family, our fans and our wonderful sponsors. Ford, Stanley, Best Buy, Valvoline, Reynolds, Air Force, Super 8, Paralyzed Veterans of America, WIX Filters and Menards have supported me through thick and thin and I thank them from the bottom of my heart,” said Petty.<br /><br />Andrew Murstein, President of Medallion Financial, commented: “We could not be happier to be able to acquire these assets together. Richard is one of the greatest names, not only in NASCAR, but in all sports. His name and image are a world recognized brand with unlimited potential to grow and expand in racing. Ample working capital has been invested in the company to insure this great team and legend will not only continue to perform, but will thrive and be back in the winner’s circle.”<br /><br />“George and Foster Gillett deserve a great deal of credit for running a successful race team,” commented Petty. “They made a significant investment into the business and helped get back into Victory Lane. Going forward, we have put together an all-star ownership team consisting of myself, Medallion, and VeriFone CEO Doug Bergeron.”<br /><br />Medallion Financial, a publicly traded investment company, has invested over $3 billion in companies since its IPO in 1996 and its board members include such notables as former New York Governor Mario Cuomo, former Connecticut Governor and Senator Lowell Weicker, and another King of his sport, Hank Aaron. The Murstein family is the largest shareholder in Medallion, owning approximately 20 percent.<br /><br />DGB Investments is an investment vehicle of Canadian-born investor Douglas G. Bergeron, CEO of VeriFone Systems, Inc. (NYSE: PAY), San Jose, Calif. In 2001, Bergeron and DGB participated in the acquisition of VeriFone Systems from Hewlett-Packard in a transaction valued at $50 million. Today, VeriFone’s market value exceeds $3 billion dollars and Bergeron remains CEO and one of the largest individual shareholders.<br /><br />Douglas Bergeron commented, “With Richard Petty’s unmatched name and reputation in the motorsports industry, I know this investment is well-timed to succeed. We are going to help put Richard Petty Motorsports back in victory lane.”<br /><br />Petty concluded, “Our partnership with Andy Murstein and Doug Bergeron will help take us to a whole new level and I could not be more excited about our future.”Katy Lindamoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15504396087249155797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6182973293412731911.post-12299356259157757772010-11-29T05:00:00.000-08:002010-11-30T08:41:55.860-08:00Champion's Week kicks off in Vegas<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5FE5ScvtiEc9hk9alDpHsVXvmthoIvC1ZMnt0CxkP2fOXAT3sE9WvHrT6_On_0lmGEMjBTRCbeZR8IY7mBUui3MY6Ixx2AsGHxdsovgCbhtG1jMPJsmlNcSny7t_ZbAqT0Dt9MG321Pi-/s1600/2009+Las+Vegas+Dec+Champions+Week+Jimmie+Johnson+burnout.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5FE5ScvtiEc9hk9alDpHsVXvmthoIvC1ZMnt0CxkP2fOXAT3sE9WvHrT6_On_0lmGEMjBTRCbeZR8IY7mBUui3MY6Ixx2AsGHxdsovgCbhtG1jMPJsmlNcSny7t_ZbAqT0Dt9MG321Pi-/s400/2009+Las+Vegas+Dec+Champions+Week+Jimmie+Johnson+burnout.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jimmie Johnson does a burnout on the Las Vegas Strip during last year's <br />Victory Lap in Las Vegas. (Todd Warshaw/Getty Images for NASCAR)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b>Johnson to be honored; schedule of events to start Wednesday</b><br /><br />DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The champion is crowned, the celebration awaits.<br /><br />What a party it promises to be.<br /><br />The 2010 edition of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion’s Week in Las Vegas will fete Hendrick Motorsports’ Jimmie Johnson, who earned an unprecedented fifth consecutive series title following the Nov. 21 season-finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.<br /><br />With events starting Wednesday, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion’s Week is full of fan-friendly activities that showcase the nation’s No. 1 form of motorsports while honoring its top driver and its loyal fan base.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm_7wPEKqSXvZOFCzRuYQPeEN2991TWQJ4GgGtPqaRwe_1-SNfXAom2SDaDElh4l7Mm862CGWTWyICLaE8ETs-0yewrT8BjJU5o19srW21fwt_hjHukqB3lUq-v7pIYSbEYGSJomZrFoIh/s1600/2009+Las+Vegas+Dec+Champions+Week+Awards+Banquet+Jimmie+Johnson+with+trophy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm_7wPEKqSXvZOFCzRuYQPeEN2991TWQJ4GgGtPqaRwe_1-SNfXAom2SDaDElh4l7Mm862CGWTWyICLaE8ETs-0yewrT8BjJU5o19srW21fwt_hjHukqB3lUq-v7pIYSbEYGSJomZrFoIh/s400/2009+Las+Vegas+Dec+Champions+Week+Awards+Banquet+Jimmie+Johnson+with+trophy.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR</td></tr></tbody></table>After a 28-year run in New York, the annual postseason celebration made its Las Vegas debut last year, capped, as always, by the champion’s Friday-night coronation. This year’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Ceremony returns to one of the city’s premier resorts, Wynn Las Vegas, on Friday, Dec. 3.<br />SPEED will once again broadcast the event, live at 9 p.m. ET.<br /><br />Comedian Frank Caliendo and country rockers Rascal Flatts will entertain during the awards ceremony. Joining them will be “Viva ELVIS by Cirque du Soleil,” a special performance of dance, acrobatics and music celebrating the King of Rock ‘n Roll, Elvis Presley.<br /><br />The ceremony culminates several days of whirlwind activity involving not only the series champion, but also the other 11 drivers in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup – NASCAR’s “playoffs.” Those drivers, together with Johnson, comprise the top 12 in the series’ final standings.<br /><br />“It's just been an amazing experience, amazing for myself and the team,” Johnson said of his five-title run. “I think it's been great for our sport to see the comparisons drawn to other sports that have been able to link together multiple championships. It's been awesome, a ton of fun.”<br /><a name='more'></a><br />For the second consecutive year, some of the thousands of fans who flock to catch a glimpse of stock car racing’s biggest stars will join drivers, team owners and industry leaders in celebrating Johnson at the awards ceremony. Approximately 300 tickets are available to fans, which are being distributed by tracks, NASCAR partners and teams through various promotions. Fan tickets offer the following experiences:<br /><ul><li>NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Awards Luncheon seats</li><li>Access to “NASCAR After The Lap, Made Possible By Coca-Cola and Ford”</li><li>Fan reception & Red Carpet walk prior to the awards ceremony</li><li>Awards ceremony seats</li></ul>Following is a complete rundown of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion’s Week activities.<br /><br /><b>Wednesday, Dec. 1:</b><br /><ul><li><b>NASCAR Street Tour: </b>Two tricked-out NASCAR interactive Ford vehicles are scheduled to appear all week throughout Las Vegas with dynamic street teams, interactive video games and free giveaways. </li><li><b>NASCAR Pit Stop Tour: </b>The Pit Stop Tour program will run from Dec. 1-3, consisting of Official Partner show cars placed in iconic locations throughout the Las Vegas Strip. Brand ambassadors at each location (locations TBD) will be on site from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. for all three days, engaging the fans.</li><li><b>Chasers for Charity Event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway: </b>Gates open at 10 a.m. The Richard Petty Driving Experience will offer rides with a percentage of the proceeds being donated to charity. The speedway will offer tours of the facility. There will be interactive displays throughout the track’s “Neon Garage” and live music on the main stage from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. In addition, all 12 Chase drivers will participate in a Family Feud-style game show hosted by comedian Kevin Burke between 2 to 3:30 p.m. Admission to the Fanfest is free, and mass transportation will be available from the strip and downtown.</li></ul> <b>Thursday, Dec. 2:</b><br /><ul><li><b>NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Awards Luncheon:</b> This annual industry/media event begins at 11 a.m. in the Bellagio Ballroom at the Bellagio and includes presentations to the Champion Crew Chief, Champion Sponsor, Raybestos Rookie of the Year and Most Popular Driver. Fans have the opportunity to attend for the first time. It is co-hosted by NASCAR and the National Motor Sports Press Association.</li><li><b>Victory Lap:</b> Set for 3:30 p.m., the top 12 drivers will motor down the famed Las Vegas Strip in their respective race cars. Expect an authentic pit stop along the route and two burn-out sections for drivers. Victory Lap begins in front of Planet Hollywood Hotel & Casino and ends at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Prior to Victory Lap at 3 p.m., Johnson will receive the Key to the City of Las Vegas from Mayor Oscar Goodman and Commissioner Tom Collins. Commissioner Collins also will present a Proclamation recognizing Champion’s Week and Johnson’s accomplishments.</li><li><b>NASCAR After The Lap:</b> This free fan event starts at 4:30 p.m., at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino and features a question-and-answer session with drivers and an interactive Coca-Cola Fan Zone experience. Select fans will win NASCAR-themed prizes, including a 2011 Ford Taurus SHO. The Coca-Cola Fan Zone opens at noon, with doors to NASCAR After The Lap opening at 3 p.m. General admission seats are free, on a first-come, first-serve basis. Register for tickets at nascarafterthelap.com.</li></ul><b>Friday, Dec. 3:</b><br /><ul><li><b>2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Ceremony:</b> The big show starts at 6 p.m., crowning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion driver and owner and honoring the other drivers who finished in the top 10 in the final series standings. </li></ul>Katy Lindamoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15504396087249155797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6182973293412731911.post-27187933196936866362010-11-29T04:59:00.000-08:002010-11-30T08:41:55.883-08:00Daytona vs. Michigan in holiday food drive competition<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS6Sune5Y6q-v0vDJ22M_QC9tovOpK1_Xn7FSYkTudKSoZULg0oiOtyBLtmhvbzG3uqOfBtuXtFTlSiD-QnSLEIChVkKiPYFrSEXDbTLdZtSqVAR1E70PFTVpbxgsZQ5iwODSo2HZR_ub2/s1600/Daytona_International_Speedway_thumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS6Sune5Y6q-v0vDJ22M_QC9tovOpK1_Xn7FSYkTudKSoZULg0oiOtyBLtmhvbzG3uqOfBtuXtFTlSiD-QnSLEIChVkKiPYFrSEXDbTLdZtSqVAR1E70PFTVpbxgsZQ5iwODSo2HZR_ub2/s1600/Daytona_International_Speedway_thumb.jpg" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiirxqrQcB4u4RpU1z7uqm1y2le9DONi9irtT_EjwjvkF_NkMbI5081Eho82mtXVyUafDut3G6ymvB6PbnNPZqc98zBCYLm9-Tme25PH7LUq0pBLY9vmXzWEgM6iS47_xxxZetdWPeo4s2O/s1600/Michigan_C.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="127" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiirxqrQcB4u4RpU1z7uqm1y2le9DONi9irtT_EjwjvkF_NkMbI5081Eho82mtXVyUafDut3G6ymvB6PbnNPZqc98zBCYLm9-Tme25PH7LUq0pBLY9vmXzWEgM6iS47_xxxZetdWPeo4s2O/s320/Michigan_C.jpg" width="320" /></a>BROOKLYN, Mich. and DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — In the spirit of competition off the racetrack, Michigan International Speedway and Daytona International Speedway are having a friendly contest to see which track can collect the most food items for people who need it the most this holiday season.<br /><br />Although it is a competition, both tracks aren’t looking at it as a win-lose situation. All the food donated at MIS and DIS will go to families in need. MIS’ donations will benefit the CCIS Food Pantry in Brooklyn, while Daytona’s will benefit the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida.<br /><br />The overall weight of all donations collected for each track will determine the winner. The winner of the competition will receive lunch courtesy of the other track.<br /><br />MIS has already collected some 2,100 items, thanks to a sizable donation from Brooklyn Elementary School. The students collected food throughout the Thanksgiving week.<br /><br />“This is not only a fun contest, but one that really can make a difference in the lives of the givers and the receivers this holiday,” MIS President Roger Curtis said. “We hope our friendly rivalry with Daytona will inspire others to participate and donate something.”<br /><br />“We hope the heightened excitement around our contest with MIS will benefit area families who rely on Second Harvest during the holiday season,” said Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood III. “We encourage all our employees and local fans to stop by and help make this a wonderful holiday for our community.”<br /><br />All MIS fans can get involved with this competition. Non-perishable food donations will be accepted at the speedway’s Administration Building from Monday, Nov. 29, to Friday, Dec. 3.<br /><br />Donations of a non-perishable food item or unwrapped toy may also be made at the speedway’s Track Drive for Charity, scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 4. With every donation, fans will receive a lap around the two-mile oval at a controlled speed. Longtime MIS sponsor GFS Marketplace will provide cider and donuts for all fans who attend the track drive.<br /><br />All DIS fans that bring at least three (3) cans of food to the DIS ticket office counter on Friday, Dec. 3 and Saturday, Dec. 4 will receive a free admission for the new Daytona International Speedway All-Access Tour.<br /><br />Daytona International Speedway will also host the WESH-TV “Share Your Christmas” food drive, which also benefits the Salvation Army, on Monday Dec. 6. Later that day, Volusia County Sheriff Ben Johnson’s “Caravan that Cares” will begin its route from the main Daytona International Speedway parking lot on International Speedway Boulevard. Fans are encouraged to drop off their non-perishable donations at the Daytona ticket office lobby through Monday, Dec. 6.Katy Lindamoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15504396087249155797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6182973293412731911.post-30210544906578711522010-11-27T16:11:00.000-08:002010-11-30T08:41:55.902-08:00NASCAR Off-Season Week 1: Focus on Reed Sorenson<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ0tRIvEFHXQKVtPR76zGCmAnhLDFRSkLTXLFB8OfNjc8Ksd3CULFirFCz5Bwnwfxaz3eL7lSyVEYzCNkfoLXwWhqZtiYfOqYbz88F5NgZG_-SokzYrris_TH7tbssTFUyi5Z_mUHUjv76/s1600/Reed+Sorenson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ0tRIvEFHXQKVtPR76zGCmAnhLDFRSkLTXLFB8OfNjc8Ksd3CULFirFCz5Bwnwfxaz3eL7lSyVEYzCNkfoLXwWhqZtiYfOqYbz88F5NgZG_-SokzYrris_TH7tbssTFUyi5Z_mUHUjv76/s320/Reed+Sorenson.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reed Sorenson speaks with crew chief Jimmy Elledge <br />during his stint driving for Red Bull this summer. <br />(Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR)</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Tahoma;"></span>Throughout the NASCAR off-season, I am going to be posting a weekly look at a lesser-known driver from the Cup, Nationwide and Trucks Series. For week one, we will be taking a closer look at Reed Sorenson.<br /><br />Being at the track as a toddler while his father raced, it is no wonder Sorenson found a love of racing. Reed first drove a racecar when he was 6 years old, behind the wheel of a Quarter Midget. He competed in Regional Quarter Midget racing for several years, most successfully in 1997. That amazing season found Reed finishing in the top 10 in 42 of his 43 starts, taking home the National Championship, 40 top fives and 22 wins. Anyone watching back then could have guessed we would someday see Reed in the Cup Series. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="border: medium none; padding: 0in;">Sorenson's five years in Legend Cars were just as successful; he won over half the races he started during his rookie season. Reed posts totals including 84 wins and 152 top five finishes in 183 starts. By the time Sorenson graduated from high school in 2004, he had a developmental deal with Chip Ganassi Racing. The 2004 season found Reed in ARCA and Nationwide racing. Sorenson claimed top-five finishes in all three of his 2004 ARCA starts; his first start at Charlotte Motor Speedway found him in the fourth finishing spot and his second ARCA race found him in Victory Lane. In his 2004 Nationwide starts, Reed claimed one top five finish, three top 10s and led several laps in the October race at Atlanta.<br /><br />2005 brought Sorenson to the Busch Series as a full-time driver and eligible for the Rookie of the Year award. He won his first race, ended his freshman season in fourth place, and second in the ROTY competition to Carl Edwards. Reed joined the Cup ranks on a part-time basis in 2006 while also running as a full-time Busch Series driver. With five top-10 Cup finishes and 14 top 10s in the Busch Series, Reed put together a solid year in which he finished 24th in the Cup standings, 10th in the Busch Series and fourth in the Cup Series ROTY. 2007 brought Reed his first pole start in the Cup Series, a third-place finish at his home track of Atlanta, and a fourth-place finish at Charlotte.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma;"><a name='more'></a></span></div><div style="border: medium none; padding: 0in;">2008 brought trouble to the Sorenson camp; his fifth-place finish at the season opener in Daytona was the highlight of his year. In a quest for owners points, Reed found himself temporarily replaced by another driver, had a short day because of a wreck at Talladega, and found himself moving to Gillette Everham Motorsports for the 2009 season. As 2009 began it was announced that there would be a merger between Gillette Everham and Richard Petty to form Richard Petty Motorsports. In order to keep the team financially able to operate, Reed raced for free for part of the 2009 season to keep his crew members employed. <br /><br />Reed finished the 2010 season in the 12th place in season standings in the Nationwide Series, and 39th in the Cup Series. Sorenson ran a limited schedule for Red Bull Racing as a replacement driver for Brian Vickers and in later stages of the season for Braun Racing. Sorenson posted just one top-10 finish in his Cup season, but 21 top-10 finishes, and nine top fives in the Nationwide Series in 2010. With an 11.6 average Nationwide Series finish, Reed has shown he knows how to handle a car. With the right equipment in a Cup Series ride, he could be a title contender within a few years.</div><div style="border: medium none; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma;"></span>Reed plans to run a full-time Nationwide schedule with Turner Motorsports in 2011. Sorenson will be driving the #32 Dollar General Chevrolet Impala with engine support from Hendrick Motorsports in Nationwide Series racing. During the few weekends that Sorenson isn't in a racecar, Reed enjoys fishing, boating, and spending time with family and friends. He purchased his first home a few years ago on a lake so he can fish, have a boat right outside the back door, and have plenty of space for visitors. This 24-year-old has an impressive resume, has been successful at multiple levels of racing, and looks like he will have better equipment in 2011 to work with on the track. Sorenson is definitely one driver who NASCAR fans should keep an eye on in the coming years. </div><br /><br />*Next week ... Cole Whitt<br /><div align="right">Amy McHargue</div><div align="right"><span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><u><a href="http://ellipticalcurrents.blogspot.com/">http://ellipticalcurrents.blogspot.com/</a></u></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div>Katy Lindamoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15504396087249155797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6182973293412731911.post-91535982848303035782010-11-26T04:35:00.000-08:002010-11-30T08:41:55.922-08:00Hendrick Motorsports announces changes for 2011<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUOK1AE-LNYn-bA72UegOe-z1WyrJgQQWtbnW6n5oF5JrAxMbXTdKqioUfNyxrJj1Cbjgqi1F6MfCdcfe6kZqoOERIH7Mu6w2z5zxP_DDtc2Rxj40AQqkwOq5IWqhcadu3EM0SZAoK9t7Q/s1600/2010+Daytona+Feb+Dale+Earnhardt+Jr+and+Lance+McGrew+in+garage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUOK1AE-LNYn-bA72UegOe-z1WyrJgQQWtbnW6n5oF5JrAxMbXTdKqioUfNyxrJj1Cbjgqi1F6MfCdcfe6kZqoOERIH7Mu6w2z5zxP_DDtc2Rxj40AQqkwOq5IWqhcadu3EM0SZAoK9t7Q/s320/2010+Daytona+Feb+Dale+Earnhardt+Jr+and+Lance+McGrew+in+garage.jpg" width="252" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR</td></tr></tbody></table>Junior Nation has been waiting a long time to hear this: Lance McGrew and Dale Earnhardt Jr. are parting ways. <br /><br />On Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2010, Hendrick Motorsports announced the changes made for next season. Crew chiefs are being shuffled around as are garages. Although Jimmie Johnson and the #48 team have won a lot of races as well as their five Sprint Cup championships, the rest of his teammates have not won a single race this past season. Rick Hendrick, owner of the Hendrick Motorsports team and 10-time owners' champion, spoke with reporters on a telephone conference Wednesday morning. He mentioned that the idea to make the following changes started after the Texas race. <br /><br />Steve Letarte will now be Earnhardt Jr.’s crew chief and the #88 team will now be working with team #48’s garage. The seven-time winner of the Most Popular Driver award, Earnhardt Jr. hasn't won a race in two seasons nor has he made the Chase these past two years. He finished the 2010 season 21st in points.<br /><br />Personally, I believe this will be a positive change for Earnhardt Jr. He does not need a nanny (as Terry Blount, senior writer for ESPN.com mentioned in his <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/nascar/cup/columns/story?columnist=blount_terry&id=5846436">article</a>) but Letarte’s optimistic personality along with Earnhardt’s boyish charm and humor will be a good mix, and Earnhardt Jr. will be in very strong hands. Both Letarte and Earnhardt Jr. are people persons, and Letarte's biggest strength is helping his driver find their confidence again.<br /><br /><a name='more'></a>Letarte told reporters that he is excited and proud to take on the task; you can see his comment in a <a href="http://www.facebook.com/#%21/video/video.php?v=1511805392220&oid=112227520585&comments">video</a> as well as his introductory video which can be found <a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000389962590#%21/video/video.php?v=179032315444627&oid=85431167421&comments">here.</a><br /><br />Earnhardt Jr. also issued a statement on his website, <a href="http://draft.blogger.com/www.dalejr.com">DaleJr.com:</a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"Rick Hendrick is someone I trust wholeheartedly, and any decision he makes inside or outside his organization is something I support. He is a 10-time champion owner, and that speaks directly to his ability to lead. I am committed to give Steve Letarte and the new team 100% of my effort. I spoke with Steve last night, and his enthusiasm really pumped me up to the point I wish we were going to the track this weekend. I really enjoyed working with Lance (McGrew), and I want to thank him and everyone on that team for their hard work. I've had a lot of fun with that group, and we'll continue working together to make all the Hendrick Motorsports teams better."</span><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1iGiTI1uUnk_kf5pWrDiknbw1XRrkjACBOYJIY5_sU7dpQHtWtm6lm4Z3r7bOeX3C0ISBRJ_KR4GD-BLiMH-NaZdhJreYMqWSQE3xczy6tYWNhS1gzIKzBrvcwWFB_GNiZmL46UstM_Ya/s1600/gordon%2526alan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1iGiTI1uUnk_kf5pWrDiknbw1XRrkjACBOYJIY5_sU7dpQHtWtm6lm4Z3r7bOeX3C0ISBRJ_KR4GD-BLiMH-NaZdhJreYMqWSQE3xczy6tYWNhS1gzIKzBrvcwWFB_GNiZmL46UstM_Ya/s320/gordon%2526alan.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Todd Warsaw / Getty Images for NASCAR</td></tr></tbody></table>The #24 team will now be sharing a garage with the #5 team. Jeff Gordon parts ways with Letarte, but Alan Gustafson is now his crew chief. This will be Gordon’s sixth crew chief since the start of his career. Gustafson’s professional manner, engineer intelligence and positive reputation will blend well with Gordon, and Gordon will benefit by sharing a a garage with team #5 and Mark Martin.<br /><br />Mark Martin will be paired with Lance McGrew. After a successful year in 2009 and a second-place points finish, Martin's 2010 season didn't go nearly as well - he finished 13th in points. Both McGrew and Martin have a professional business mindset, so the pairing could work in their favor.<br /><br />Five-time Cup champion Johnson will not part ways with crew chief Chad Knaus in 2011. The two have worked well together, winning 53 races since they were paired in 2002, including six victories in 2010.<br /><br />Sure, the garage will be different but not much: Letarte and Knaus are still working together as will McGrew and Gustafson. The point is to keep Team Hendrick in contention for a championship - not only for Johnson to win, but for his teammates to contend and win as well. It is clear that the Joe Gibbs Racing team has young, talented drivers in the #11, #18 and #20 cars. To stay competitive, Hendrick must make the necessary changes to keep his teams in the running. <br /><br />In a statement posted on the Hendrick Motorsports website, Hendrick said:<span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><br /><br /><i>"This will improve us as an organization, across the board. We had a championship season (in 2010), but we weren't where we wanted and needed to be with all four teams. We've made the right adjustments, and I'm excited to go racing with this lineup."</i>Katy Lindamoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15504396087249155797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6182973293412731911.post-8007023365087255522010-11-25T13:22:00.000-08:002010-11-30T08:41:55.959-08:00Chase Coverage: Homestead Wrap-Up Report<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvFDtUTD_GGDY52hpi8qlwHzLwNqXQgeHFd1aVRQ5c71Zj7rB-xyk6hV9KeHixDbrvEorruUim8rqNbQGmS8co9yzPyduiLv4N30VsEGrGzME9b1yaiZwf3GUK1Zt8_4hiyB9oimhxEzvq/s1600/2010+Homestead+Nov+NSCS+Jimmie+Johnson+trophy+family.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvFDtUTD_GGDY52hpi8qlwHzLwNqXQgeHFd1aVRQ5c71Zj7rB-xyk6hV9KeHixDbrvEorruUim8rqNbQGmS8co9yzPyduiLv4N30VsEGrGzME9b1yaiZwf3GUK1Zt8_4hiyB9oimhxEzvq/s400/2010+Homestead+Nov+NSCS+Jimmie+Johnson+trophy+family.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs_dsVGxVFvCBSsg2qbk6wefKsWMGVTj4y8DdYY0wkgpDTO_qCkgAWk5mSwaOPtqux8s2tFXOprOFmdlnZ7W7WOMas-nE-5eGzDjFX06ZIZ72YEsVTy3bArC1P7O3XxRt4UZvXcjirSanD/s1600/carl+win+homestead.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>After 10 races, the 2010 Chase for the Sprint Cup came to a thrilling conclusion at Homestead-Miami Speedway.<br /><br />What started as a three-man battle for the title between Denny Hamlin, Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick gave way to one of the most exciting season finales in memory, if not the most exciting race of the year. All three contenders had problems during the race, keeping fans on the edge of their seats wondering who would come out on top.<br /><br />In the end, one man was left standing: Jimmie Johnson came from behind in the points to hoist his fifth consecutive Sprint Cup championship, a first in the history of NASCAR.<br /><br />Skirts and Scuffs congratulates Johnson on his historic achievement.<br /><br />There's also the matter of who won the last race of 2010. That would be Carl Edwards, who dominated at Homestead to finish out the season with back-to-back wins. Will Edwards be a possible contender for the 2011 championship? Read on to find out his thoughts.<br /><br />Here's what our contributors had to say about how the Chase drivers did during the final race of the 2010 season.<br /><br /><div style="color: cyan;">1. Jimmie Johnson - Champion - 6622 points - Rebecca Kivak</div>Jimmie Johnson went into Homestead second in the points standings and emerged as the first consecutive five-time champion in the history of NASCAR. Faced with racing for the title in the season finale, a situation he hadn't found himself in in five years, the driver of the No. 48 Lowes Chevrolet delivered on the track to the very last lap, finishing second in Sunday's Ford 400. But the road to a fifth title wasn't easy. Johnson overcame three slow pit stops by his crew and made the fewest mistakes of the top 3 title contenders in a race that kept fans guessing until the very end. <br /><br />Johnson's 6th-place starting position in the Ford 400 gave him an edge over points leader Denny Hamlin, who started 37th, and third-place Kevin Harvick, who started 28th. Within the opening laps Johnson had moved up to third. He continued to run in the top 5 for the first 70 laps and was the only title contender to lead a lap, which he did on lap 72.<br /><br />During the race Johnson worked to stay ahead of Hamlin, who had his own problems after spinning out early in the race and later a confusing pit call, and Harvick, who had the speed until a late-race speeding penalty set him back. <br /><br /><a name='more'></a>The biggest obstacle to Johnson's historic fifth title ended up being his pit crew. The former over-the-wall crew for the No. 24 team, who had performed flawlessly at Texas and Phoenix, stumbled at Homestead. When Johnson pitted on lap 73, the crew had trouble with the right rear tire. The 15.6-second stop caused Johnson to restart 9th. Johnson had worked his way to 7th when he came into the pits on lap 99 for tires and fuel. The 13.7-second pit stop lost him three spots and he restarted 10th. When Johnson came in for fuel only on lap 135, the crew's fast work allowed him to gain four spots and he restarted fourth. But a stop on lap 165 brought more trouble for Johnson when the crew had a problem with the lug nuts on the right front. The 15.4-second stop saw Johnson lose five spots, relegating him back to 12th.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ84sU2FkqJTF0J-11YIGSPeOfDrTN45K7VvtwRPQtSJvT4qC8m5q4atkuBQzgGxQbDeHJY6TpqMfFrhjghFypf7vB4asDB3oODojx8QKuPRK9QlRPAk6DCCwL2CGw7MhFpqZmBeq8Nr9T/s1600/hendrick+motorsports+jimmie+and+chad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ84sU2FkqJTF0J-11YIGSPeOfDrTN45K7VvtwRPQtSJvT4qC8m5q4atkuBQzgGxQbDeHJY6TpqMfFrhjghFypf7vB4asDB3oODojx8QKuPRK9QlRPAk6DCCwL2CGw7MhFpqZmBeq8Nr9T/s320/hendrick+motorsports+jimmie+and+chad.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>After the third problematic pit stop, Johnson asked his crew kindly and calmly on the scanner to be there for him. And for the remainder of the race they were. Within 15 laps he had climbed back into the top 10. After another caution on lap 187, the pit crew's 12.7-second stop enabled Johnson to gain one spot, restarting 8th.<br /><br />The adjustments made by crew chief Chad Knaus helped Johnson gain speed throughout the race. By lap 220 he was up to 2nd, behind race leader Carl Edwards. From then on out Johnson never looked back. When he crossed the finish line and Knaus told him he was the 2010 champion, Johnson pumped his fist and exclaimed, "It's unbelievable, it's unbelievable!" It was a nice display of emotion for the usually cool and collected Johnson. <br /><br />Johnson became the first driver in Chase history and the first since 1992 to come from behind to win the championship. And it was this championship - the one that almost wasn't - that has been the sweetest for Johnson.<br /><br />“I’ve always (said) that the first championship, first win, that stuff meant the most to me,” Johnson said. "This one, I think this takes the lead. Just the circumstances, it’s not that the other Chases weren’t competitive. We were stronger I think in the previous two Chases at least. Maybe all four. We have had the highs and lows of the Chase, but to have it all come around, and to look every single one of my crew guys in the eyes on that stage tonight, there’s a different feeling about it.” <br /><br />With his five titles, Johnson now follows Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt, with seven each, into the history books.<br /><br /><i>On a personal note, I just wanted to say I've enjoyed covering Jimmie Johnson for the Skirts and Scuffs Chase coverage! I</i><i>t's incredible to see one of my favorite drivers reach this amazing achievement. Thanks for joining me in watching it unfold.</i><br /><br /><div style="color: cyan;">2. Denny Hamlin - (-39) - Holly Machuga</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdsTVRUbgZV5xCy9AmvnRqXI69RhIANtbkV0JkOXga1-_b1JsvrA5ZOvfcAX89u64jjD10mz9zSKSoTy8GJTM0Rt1mmqFWyCmkMm7x8eP7PiwdTI52Dld2h1lGPU1Jew9Go5cBtzh97d6e/s1600/2010+Homestead+Nov+NSCS+prerace+Denny+Hamlin+Mike+Ford.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdsTVRUbgZV5xCy9AmvnRqXI69RhIANtbkV0JkOXga1-_b1JsvrA5ZOvfcAX89u64jjD10mz9zSKSoTy8GJTM0Rt1mmqFWyCmkMm7x8eP7PiwdTI52Dld2h1lGPU1Jew9Go5cBtzh97d6e/s320/2010+Homestead+Nov+NSCS+prerace+Denny+Hamlin+Mike+Ford.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The 2010 season came to a disappointing end for Denny Hamlin on Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway. He finished 14th with 39 points behind Jimmie Johnson.<br /><br />This season has been the best by far of Hamlin’s career with eight wins, 14 top 5s, 18 top 10s and two poles.<br /><br />When asked about the race itself, Denny answered, “Well, I mean, it was a fight. You know, you can kind of maybe contribute it to bad qualifying, but our car was really fast at the beginning. I mean, just unbelievably fast at the beginning, and I knew we had a car that could contend for a win, and obviously when we got in that incident on the back straightaway, it tore up the front and knocked the toe out and obviously the car did not drive as well for the rest of the day.”<br /> <br />Afterward, he addressed the incident with Greg Biffle just a few laps into the race, “We just tried to patch it and work on it the best we could but just wasn't the car that it was at the beginning.”<br /> <br />And, next year? “We'll just keep fighting and get 'em next year.”<br /><br /><div style="color: cyan;">3. Kevin Harvick - (-41) - Amber Arnold</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH8epcD3SbJ0f2gsxDC9naIt_7ewL09WcV0JI7viVPTxyl3PSJaFtQXC7JtEEE-oxxRiYFYImiH6CmqEgQyKQB-9Z27Pul9jyxKJViO6QyAWsbg6XKdkRURSFmfOlIRFlgCQxP5oXJDE2C/s1600/2010+Homestead-Miami+Nov+NSCS+practice+Kevin+Harvick+smiles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH8epcD3SbJ0f2gsxDC9naIt_7ewL09WcV0JI7viVPTxyl3PSJaFtQXC7JtEEE-oxxRiYFYImiH6CmqEgQyKQB-9Z27Pul9jyxKJViO6QyAWsbg6XKdkRURSFmfOlIRFlgCQxP5oXJDE2C/s320/2010+Homestead-Miami+Nov+NSCS+practice+Kevin+Harvick+smiles.jpg" width="198" /></a></div>As the laps wound down and the checkered flag flew, a season in which Harvick called “a 180,” ended up falling a little short in the title hopes. Forty-one points short to be exact.<br /><br />Homestead was an eventful race for the 29 team. An on-track dust-up with Kyle Busch ended with Busch going down in flames at the hands of Harvick’s front bumper. Harvick later told the media Busch raced him “like a clown” all day and even joked after the race with Busch’s teammate Denny Hamlin that Harvick “parked” Hamlin’s teammate.<br /><br />While Harvick didn’t receive any detrimental damage after the on-track altercation, he may have sunk himself after one on pit road. Harvick was caught speeding in a controversial call made by NASCAR. Gil Martin, crew chief for the 29, disputed the call and in the end NASCAR won and Harvick paid the price. Some say this was the demise of the championship for Harvick and his team. Harvick later said the speeding call will “(n)ever settle in my stomach.”<br /><br />At the end of the 2010 season, the 29 team should look back on it with nothing but positive thoughts. While they didn’t take home the trophy, they did take away proof they could contend while overcoming adversity. <br /><br /><div style="color: cyan;">4. Carl Edwards - (-229) - Amanda Ebersole</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4VYlt8oMuZHH1NPrPCwby9BxVjKvfJT_XG8mftnry_5JDqUMKhVU8qYdNxPir85BDzRiUMI8x2UzugFSFT9u97uJbiT_ez0f0UtHDATBeBiryD4fqew3xNeGhS8FWsu8RYeWv4BQB0FyN/s1600/carl+win+homestead.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4VYlt8oMuZHH1NPrPCwby9BxVjKvfJT_XG8mftnry_5JDqUMKhVU8qYdNxPir85BDzRiUMI8x2UzugFSFT9u97uJbiT_ez0f0UtHDATBeBiryD4fqew3xNeGhS8FWsu8RYeWv4BQB0FyN/s320/carl+win+homestead.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>The season is d-o-n-e - done - and Jimmie Johnson is still king of the mountain. All the drama during the race was over who would win the Sprint Cup, but did anyone notice who won the race? That’s right … for the second week in a row it was Carl Edwards! And if I do say so myself, Carl spanked the field in Homestead by leading 190 of the 267 laps for the Ford 400 championship finale. It was very fitting to have a Ford in victory lane.<br /><br />Carl started in second, next to pole sitter Kasey Kahne, and quickly showed his dominance. Five laps into the race, Carl took the lead and from that point on there was only one car that seemed to match up to Carl, the 56 of Martin Truex Jr. Truex was the only other driver to lead a large quantity of laps. Carl and crew chief Bob Osborne made great calls in the race to improve the handling of the Aflac Ford Fusion. The 99 team also was stellar in the pit stops, and if you have ever followed Carl and his team, that was an issue at one point. The pit crew was also awarded the Tissot Pit Crew Award for being the fastest in Homestead. Carl won the race with a 1.608-second margin over Jimmie Johnson and the third-place car of Kevin Harvick. <br /><br />"This is unreal,” Edwards said in victory lane. “This is a great way to finish the season. I’m just so proud for Ford, Aflac, Scotts, Subway, Vitamin Water, Kellogg’s, Valvoline – everybody that’s been behind us all year. To win back-to-back is a product of these guys not giving up. We don’t give up. My guys are unreal and we just had an unbelievable run toward the end of this season. I’m truly blessed and I’m so excited."<br /><br />And please don’t name Carl as a threat to Jimmie in 2011. In his post-race press conference, he was asked about being the favorite in 2008 and his reply was comical: “Please don't do that again. That didn't work worth a damn.”<br /><br />Looking toward 2011, I expect great things from the 99 team. I am so sad to see 2010 end, but for Carl it ended on a high note.<br /><br />Thank you for reading my coverage of Carl Edwards throughout the Chase … it has been a blast to cover him! <br /><br /><div style="color: cyan;">5. Matt Kenseth - (-328) - Whitney Richards</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1vxtBkdZGgpzHjw0oUj6F74wb5hyMoH81HxnZwax8bByFJFUHpstNUtg5XnaAQoY_3HityPF0wrhfN8FszMHFFX0vOl6a8gMU7tn96SkumIOmUQXBdWZgD1bjLDOrMOf9w9vm-pFQ8u90/s1600/kenseth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1vxtBkdZGgpzHjw0oUj6F74wb5hyMoH81HxnZwax8bByFJFUHpstNUtg5XnaAQoY_3HityPF0wrhfN8FszMHFFX0vOl6a8gMU7tn96SkumIOmUQXBdWZgD1bjLDOrMOf9w9vm-pFQ8u90/s320/kenseth.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Last Sunday’s race was a milestone in Matt Kenseth’s NASCAR career. It was his 400th Sprint Cup Series start, and the team wanted to bring home the win. After an up-and-down year, Kenseth was hungry for a win to end the season, but unfortunately it didn’t happen. For the second time in three years, Kenseth went winless, finishing 9th in the season finale.<br /><br />Kenseth took the green flag from the 13th position, and within the opening run, had cracked the top 10. Under the first caution of the day on lap 17, Kenseth informed crew chief Jimmy Fennig that the No. 17 Crown Royal Ford was tight in the center of the turns, loose off. He pitted for four tires, fuel, and an air pressure adjustment. Kenseth’s crew gained him three positions on pit road, which had him restarting sixth.<br /><br />The following run had Kenseth battling a car that had become looser than it had been in the beginning of the race. The crew continued to make adjustments when they could, but the loose-handling condition remained. A caution for debris around lap 188 gave the team a chance to make more adjustments. The No. 17 crew gained three positions on pit road again, and Kenseth restarted 4th. Following the restart, Kenseth informed Fennig that the car had tightened up and that he could finally challenge for position. A few laps later, he was up to second. Kenseth challenged teammate Carl Edwards for the lead, and was able to lead lap 207, but soon afterward, he began to drop back. The No. 17 Ford was beginning to get loose again. Kenseth dropped to third and told his crew that the car was lacking rear grip.<br /><br />On lap 240, Fennig called Kenseth to pit road for a green-flag stop for four tires, fuel, and track bar and air pressure adjustments. A caution came out just a few laps after Kenseth pitted, and the team opted to stay out. Kenseth restarted third, but dropped back as the race began to wind down. In the end, he took the checkered flag from the 9th position. Kenseth ended the season 5th in the standings.<br /><br />While Kenseth might have gone winless, his pit crew didn’t. Congratulations to the No. 17 crew, who won the 2010 Tissot Pit Crew of the Year award! <br /><div style="color: cyan;"><br /></div><div style="color: cyan;">6. Greg Biffle - (-375) - Stacie Ball</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8n6gnukxU7lZ0cTLVuvcy7dcYCDU0Rsu88YeCZAHZGsGOguTq5vjxhkYReqMCWKlAgrxjHzRcgwRwF6qL1yvVcVnC-KoothczzaolKLWM9YsunECmu85XnDwPlsufMYZOBD3kqNGhogJU/s1600/biffle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8n6gnukxU7lZ0cTLVuvcy7dcYCDU0Rsu88YeCZAHZGsGOguTq5vjxhkYReqMCWKlAgrxjHzRcgwRwF6qL1yvVcVnC-KoothczzaolKLWM9YsunECmu85XnDwPlsufMYZOBD3kqNGhogJU/s320/biffle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>That’s a wrap! The 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season is officially over and in the books. Greg Biffle and his team, in my eyes, had one of the best comebacks ever by finishing sixth in the standings. The naysayers definitely were wrong about him not having what it takes to get back into the game after his engine failure earlier in the Chase. For me, I had to look at it from a positive perspective, not giving up hope. Yes, I know other cars had some mishaps, which brought him back into the top 10, and which I think is pretty darn good after being in 10th a few weeks back.<br /><br />By the time the first caution flag flew on lap 17 of the Ford 400, Biffle had made his way up to the 22nd position. The Pit Bulls picked up four spots in the pits after giving him four fresh tires and fuel. The next caution came out on lap 24 as he was running in the 16th position, and he opted to stay out to retain his track position. The field restarted on lap 27 and he continued his climb toward the top 10.<br /><br />A round of green-flag stops began on lap 67. Biffle made his way into the 12th position and he pitted three laps later for four tires, fuel and a wedge adjustment as the car had become a little tight. Over the course of the next 100 laps, the Pit Bulls made several wedge and air pressure adjustments during three pit stops under caution to try to fine-tune the car. <br /><br />Following a pit stop on lap 201, Biffle reported that the car was the best it had been all day. He was running 12th at the time and drove all the way up to ninth before a round of green-flag stops began on lap 238. Erwin instructed Biffle to pit on lap 240 for four tires, fuel and a wedge adjustment and a caution came out five laps later before the cycle was complete. <br /><br />Biffle stayed out and restarted seventh on lap 250, but some of the drivers behind him with fresher tires initially got by him. He dropped back to 13th, but was able to get by three cars in the closing laps for a 10th-place finish.<br /><br />“It was a pretty good day,” Biffle said. “We were off just a little bit with this car. I think our other car was faster. We had to go to a backup car. It was a good day for us, but I just wish we could have finished up there a little higher. That last caution hurt us because I thought we were better than that and guys got to start behind us with new tires. I’m happy Carl won two in a row at the end of the year and we’ve got our program turned around. It’s good for us.”<br /><br />I have to say earlier in the season I never thought Ford would bounce back, which they did once the win for Biffle came in July. I actually liked being proven wrong. Thank you to Greg Biffle, Greg Erwin and the Pit Bulls for an amazing Chase, along with making me believe in the sport of NASCAR again by not giving up. It was an honor to follow you the last 10 weeks for Skirts and Scuffs. I am definitely looking forward to seeing what comes next year for the team! <br /><br /><div style="color: cyan;">7. Tony Stewart - (-401) - Unique Hiram</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYOWUHHHZmxRGi8mR0c_84Y6OjiAbuZqZrhLtxkplyWohuYCg5KKjTWhmZ2_97Wy97nO6H3uNW6WVfmo0LB9S2Hujh_nngNBnSsUCaE5g36ZIFdhL6CV7YuTdH_H9OihAbTomwr5_0Swfy/s1600/stewart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYOWUHHHZmxRGi8mR0c_84Y6OjiAbuZqZrhLtxkplyWohuYCg5KKjTWhmZ2_97Wy97nO6H3uNW6WVfmo0LB9S2Hujh_nngNBnSsUCaE5g36ZIFdhL6CV7YuTdH_H9OihAbTomwr5_0Swfy/s320/stewart.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup season has officially ended and Tony Stewart ended it on a high note at the conclusion of the Ford 400. He started the race in the 31st position and ended up finishing in the eighth position when the checkered flag waved. Upon entering this final race, Smoke was seeded ninth in the Sprint Cup Chase points standings; however, due to his great finish it moved him up to seventh in the final standings. This is a great testament about how persistence and hard work can pay off dividends when you have that fighting can-do spirit.<br /><br />“We worked really hard today for an eighth-place finish,” said Stewart after completing his 12th full season in the elite Sprint Cup Series. “I think it sort of mirrors our season. We worked hard all year long – everybody at Stewart-Haas Racing did. We really had a phenomenal year last year, and we knew it would be hard to maintain that this year. Sure enough, we faced more adversity this year than we did last year, but no one ever gave up, no one ever quit. We all just kept digging. We did that all day today. We went a lap down twice, worked our way back onto the lead lap both times, and ended the day with a top-10. Nothing spectacular, but a solid result nonetheless.”<br /><br />Additionally, Smoke had this to say about the five-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion Jimmie Johnson - “He’s the best that’s ever been and five straight championships, in this era, that proves it.”<br /><br />Although Tony Stewart and the #14 Office Depot/Old Spice team had their share of challenges this season, they have proven that they are tough contenders who will keep fighting until the final checkered flag waves for the season. The 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup season should prove to be even more exciting for this team because they are like the Energizer Bunny who keeps "going and going."<br /><br /><div style="color: cyan;">8. Kyle Busch - (-440) - Lindi Bess</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_wSJnvT2I0mk/TO1mIoyQAsI/AAAAAAAABEA/SRnjCVEIkoQ/s1600-h/a3-2359.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="a3 235" height="160" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_wSJnvT2I0mk/TO1mJH4xF6I/AAAAAAAABEE/KmWnGOPoxW8/a3-235_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="a3 235" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Credited to Tracey Ziolkowski</span></td></tr></tbody></table>With the 2010 NASCAR season ending and his upcoming nuptials Dec. 31, Kyle Busch’s year is far from over. In fact, you could say it's just the beginning. But before we say goodbye to the 2010 season, let's look back on Kyle’s very exciting year and what I’m calling ‘<b>Kyle’s Miles.’</b> <br /><br />Homestead-Miami Speedway was the setting for the 2010 NASCAR season finale. The 2010 Sprint Cup Championship race was one of the most exciting it had been in recent years. It actually got down to the final laps before it was known who was going to walk away with the coveted Sprint Cup Championship.<br /><br />Kyle went into the 2010 Chase fourth in the points standings. After not making the Chase in 2009, Kyle was ready to show what he was made of in 2010. <a href="http://www.racing-reference.info/tracks/New_Hampshire_Motor_Speedway">New Hampshire Motor Speedway</a>, Loudon, N.H. marked race #1 of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship. It was here that Kyle began his trek for the championship.<br /><br />When asked his thoughts about this season and the Chase, Busch said, “I’m looking forward to it. We have a good opportunity to come out here and run strong. I don’t think we are going to shock the world, but hopefully we will steal one out of the bag.”<br /><br />Kyle Busch remained a strong contender in the Chase for the Sprint Cup. Then his visions of winning the 2010 Championship disappeared from his sight during the NSCS Price Chopper 400 at Kansas Speedway. The #00 of David Reutimann admittedly chose to retaliate for an earlier incident and purposely slammed into #18 Toyota Camry and caused very serious damage to his car.<br /><br />They repaired the car and got him back on the track, but not before he went from his 4th place position in the Chase to 7th in the standings. Both he and his team deserve to be commended on their ability to get the car back on the track and finally finishing on the lead lap, but in 21st position.<br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_wSJnvT2I0mk/TO1mJvZyDhI/AAAAAAAABEI/9ifE_3w7U7E/s1600-h/HOMESTEAD%5B3%5D.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="HOMESTEAD" border="0" height="164" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_wSJnvT2I0mk/TO1mKGyJ5KI/AAAAAAAABEM/dHkJktF6_yM/HOMESTEAD_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="HOMESTEAD" width="244" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Credited to Tracey Ziolkowski</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Kyle’s 2010 Sprint Cup statistics were nothing to be ashamed of. With 3 wins, 10 top 5s and 18 top 10s, 3 DNFs, an average finish of 14 and average start was 15.8. His total winnings for the Sprint Cup Series were $6,088,001.<br /><br /><br />Kyle’s 2010 NNS statistics were above and beyond what anyone would have thought possible: 13 wins, 21 top 5s and 24 top 10s, an average finish of 5.1 and start of 4.2. His winnings totaled $1,277,890. <br /><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_wSJnvT2I0mk/TO1mL9cwbmI/AAAAAAAABEY/sgmCsBdeotk/s1600-h/tundra%5B2%5D.jpg"><br /></a><br />Kyle’s NCWTS stats were awesome. With eight wins, 13 top 5s and 14 top 10s. Average start: 4.3, Average finish: 4.0, 1 DNF and Total Winnings: $616,110 (+ bonuses).<br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_wSJnvT2I0mk/TO1mNP3CuLI/AAAAAAAABEg/GjS3VdTqs5w/s1600-h/sam%20and%20kyle%20kissing%5B3%5D.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="sam and kyle kissing" border="0" height="244" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_wSJnvT2I0mk/TO1mN9ctY5I/AAAAAAAABEk/lePmnyBDd3Y/sam%20and%20kyle%20kissing_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="sam and kyle kissing" width="164" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Credited to Tracey Ziolkowski</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Kyle had an extremely exciting year, sweeping Bristol in August in all three of NASCAR’s top series. He broke many records and seasonwise his stats were incomparable. When it came down to Homestead, he actually went into Sunday's Ford 400 with the chance to sweep the weekend as Busch had won Friday’s Ford 200 CWTS Race and then took Saturday's NNS Ford 300, his second race of the weekend.<br /><br /><br />The #18 Toyota Camry was racing smart Sunday and slowly but stealthlike, Kyle moved forward, actually having led 57 laps for the race. It was lap 243 when Busch’s hopes for another sweep where shot down in flames. <br />Kevin Harvick, while carrying a grudge against NASCAR for an earlier violation, took out the #18. Kyle’s car was engulfed in flames and he had to be pulled from the wreckage by track personnel. This incident ended the race for Kyle Busch. You can bet he’ll come back next year with a few crosses to bare.<br /><br /><br />He also won the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series owners' championship with his own No. 18 Toyota. Busch also secured the NNS owners' championship at Saturday's Ford 300 for Joe Gibbs Racing.<br /><div align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_wSJnvT2I0mk/TO1mOuYYV7I/AAAAAAAABEo/xQES3xrYrdg/s1600-h/KB%20trophy%20cab%5B2%5D.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span></div><br />After following Kyle this year, I have definitely become a fan. While I am still a Jimmie Johnson fan second, only to NASCAR, Busch comes in a strong third. Here’s to a great off-season and we’ll see you next year with more excitement and intrigue than you can stand.<br /><br /><div style="color: cyan;">9. Jeff Gordon - (-446) - Genevieve Cadorette</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlPYu7d37Z1Ugy9RpWqRC4FlXJjzw5LLvmZpoSJuhbCm1BsV_kcbSGpzZHDbNSbWygahP_iMiX7sC4ToASEAKjoMOIZKe7-s7wzpPEGpVIEdP_S0BzEoUdYViZPVFYl1HkObsJHFB3_l7u/s1600/jeff+gordon+hat.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlPYu7d37Z1Ugy9RpWqRC4FlXJjzw5LLvmZpoSJuhbCm1BsV_kcbSGpzZHDbNSbWygahP_iMiX7sC4ToASEAKjoMOIZKe7-s7wzpPEGpVIEdP_S0BzEoUdYViZPVFYl1HkObsJHFB3_l7u/s320/jeff+gordon+hat.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>Jeff Gordon didn’t finish the race at the Ford 400 on Sunday in Homestead, Fla.<br /><br />He started in 11th position and moved ahead to the seventh spot. He had been heard saying that his car was tight through the center and loose getting in and was unable to run to the top. On lap 59, he reported, “"Up top now, just a little too tight when I pick up the throttle."<br /><br />On lap 98, there was a caution. He fell back to 31st position and was a lap down; he pitted with the leaders.<br /><br />With 67 laps to go to the finish, the 24 car’s engine blew up, ending his season. He finished ninth in points and told reporters, "Heck of an effort boys. This is just the way things have been this year, things just haven't gone our way. We'll work hard to fix these things and come back strong next year."<br /><br /><div style="color: cyan;">10. Clint Bowyer - (-467) - Amy McHargue</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZb1nRtRxEnwWYdYIxiSj-pQ7Vv-3o6uSMsoTYoRJj2YLhY00L03DLOlboTb2sehuOGDKT9p5yuhbLtvZmZiVzk9Nzga9Nrnuq_XxMxGXTqCRe3558Z45rhg-zqxhTUnMHasTbz_bHrqjp/s1600/clint+bowyer+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZb1nRtRxEnwWYdYIxiSj-pQ7Vv-3o6uSMsoTYoRJj2YLhY00L03DLOlboTb2sehuOGDKT9p5yuhbLtvZmZiVzk9Nzga9Nrnuq_XxMxGXTqCRe3558Z45rhg-zqxhTUnMHasTbz_bHrqjp/s320/clint+bowyer+pic.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>Coming into Homestead, Clint Bowyer had plans to run strong and gain a few spots in the Chase if at all possible. Unfortunately, it was not meant to be for Clint and his team this year. After qualifying in the 17th position, Clint just could not gain much ground on Sunday. The team needed a spectacular day in Homestead that just didn't happen. After the first pit stops on lap 22, Bowyer was posted on the board in 12th position, but by lap 47 he was back to 16th. As lap 137 was completed on the track, Bowyer was shown in 21st. <br /><br />In a quiet race for Clint, he was as low in the field as 21st place and never cracked the top 10. This #33 Cheerios team just didn't seem to have the car under them to make anything big happen. Fortunately, Clint kept the car out of trouble and salvaged what he could out of a mediocre racecar. He had moved up to 12th by lap 156 but after pit stops on lap 180 Bowyer came back to the green flag in the 19th position again. By the end of the race, Clint had moved up to 12th place; it was enough to move Clint Bowyer up one spot in the Chase to the Championship. Clint finishes the year 10th in the standings. <br /><br /><div style="color: cyan;">11. Kurt Busch - (-480) - Rebecca Kivak</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicqSnqXvUoEF_9ECAreMVo8mgUWAR90WEyahYwMH7r9sWAERlGvTRYLddSn3W0ZwOk7A2RKbYTzWhWJNH_yPZh-8qEtzG9MSXe44VVaNgYfJtpYt3bKExo79_kZhhSkWNWLVyl9vkINHFH/s1600/2010+Charlotte+Oct+Kurt+Busch+in+car.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicqSnqXvUoEF_9ECAreMVo8mgUWAR90WEyahYwMH7r9sWAERlGvTRYLddSn3W0ZwOk7A2RKbYTzWhWJNH_yPZh-8qEtzG9MSXe44VVaNgYfJtpYt3bKExo79_kZhhSkWNWLVyl9vkINHFH/s320/2010+Charlotte+Oct+Kurt+Busch+in+car.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Kurt Busch has struggled throughout the 2010 Chase for the Sprint Cup, and the season finale at Homestead was no different. After an early-race incident impeded his progress, Busch finished 18th in his final race in the legendary Blue Deuce. Busch, who had been ranked 10th in the points standing prior to the race, fell to 11th, missing his last chance to represent sponsor Millier Lite at next week's annual Sprint Cup banquet.<br /><br />Busch started Sunday's Ford 400 in the 15th position, but wasted little time in moving up, reaching 8th in the opening laps. But on lap 17, David Reutimann hit the wall. Busch, running the high line, was unable to avoid the 00 and struck the rear of the car. After the incident, the No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge was unable to be competitive and Busch even went a lap down. With 100 laps left, Busch took the wave-around to get back on the lead lap. After a caution for debris on lap 186, Busch pitted and the crew was able to finish straightening out the tow-in. As a result, the Blue Deuce gained its competitive form back and Busch was able to break into the top 15. But his troubles weren't over.<br /><br />"The 9 car checked up and the 98 blocked us and we were in the wall again. We caught a break when the caution came out for Kyle’s (Busch’s) crash and the leaders had pitted (and he hadn’t), but it was too little too late," Busch said. "We really wanted to have a great run here in our final race in the 'Blue Deuce,' but it just wasn’t meant to be."<br /><br />Busch lost ground in the final points standings to Clint Bowyer, whose 12-place finish shot him ahead of Busch for the 10th spot - and a seat at the banquet.<br /><br />After bringing his 180-race stretch in the Blue Deuce to a close, Busch will take on the familiar red and yellow colors of Pennzoil/Shell when he steps into the No. 22 Penske Dodge for the 2011 season.<br /><br /><div style="color: cyan;">12. Jeff Burton - (-589) - Genna Short</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU0umL5pN0g-t7ESDvIw6BqfXXzAMTuhGbn9wA1MfPdlODxKoszMhHCj0Dmj39yCaNJQY2-6cegm7mS3vHH0AxaSaK0-F5Qj96YXjpmz20KI6Z49LIHq71AkeZ6L76mhI7McVX4B2XV8-f/s1600/2010+jeff+burton.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU0umL5pN0g-t7ESDvIw6BqfXXzAMTuhGbn9wA1MfPdlODxKoszMhHCj0Dmj39yCaNJQY2-6cegm7mS3vHH0AxaSaK0-F5Qj96YXjpmz20KI6Z49LIHq71AkeZ6L76mhI7McVX4B2XV8-f/s320/2010+jeff+burton.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>Jeff Burton didn’t make any big splashes during the final weeks of the Chase. That is, if you don’t count the wrecks and fights he was involved in.<br /><br />What began as a weekend and race with a lot of potential ended in a disappointing 31st-place finish - a full 29 spots behind where he finished in the same race one year ago.<br /><br />While he managed a respectable 14th place in qualifying, he was fast in practice. He led final practice with a speed of 169.545 mph, 0.039 ahead of eventual pole winner Kasey Kahne. In the first two practices, he was 33rd and second. While the car appeared to get progressively better over the course of the day, it just wasn’t enough to hold up during Sunday’s Ford 400 at Homestead.<br /><br />Early in the race, Burton broke the top five and was challenging Jimmie Johnson for fourth place by lap 68. However, during green-flag pit stops, he had a poor spot and lost the lead lap by lap 73. He fell to 34th place but got back his lap after he gained the free pass on lap 135.<br /><br />Bad only became worse. On lap 183, he smacked the wall and began to fall back even more. He was never able to pick up the pace again.<br /><br />He is ready to move on to next season, though.<br /><br />“We collectively have got to find a way to bring the speed to all the weekends that we have on some of the weekends. These are big factors, but those are the things that jump out to me that we need to be better at,” he stated on Friday.<br /><br />“I really think that we can go fast enough to win the championship next year, but we've got to find the little speed that we lost through the summer. We showed it at Phoenix, we showed it at Martinsville, but we haven't shown it on the big tracks as of late and we've got to get that back.”<br /><br />A note from Genna:<br />Recaps, previews, stats, numbers - they aren’t really my thing. When I took on Jeff Burton race coverage for Katy, 10 races ago, I never thought I would have so much fun doing this. Thanks for reading everyone and on to 2011!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><i>And that's a wrap! Skirts and Scuffs would like to thank all our readers who have followed our Chase coverage. Here's looking forward to what the 2011 season holds!</i><br /><br /><i>__________</i><br />Photos courtesy of NASCAR Media, Hendrick Motorsports and Roush Fenway Racing<i><br /></i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQIQqbZlZQQAglqqnUSoEE70C5SaHXdOgXbmLKap8cA9YL1Sa7bHEMSrsEp1wAwPu1Uzd1YDf6FKHnccQ1gWV-ZVd650kX-YkUs54FwVaOEg4HrPHgaKjL-z7sLKqEnXGHYHGTaOlFZd9a/s1600/carl+win+homestead.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div>Katy Lindamoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15504396087249155797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6182973293412731911.post-71333133890484940882010-11-24T09:37:00.000-08:002010-11-30T08:41:56.008-08:002010: Most competitive year in Sprint Cup Series history<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd10mlSFtX8g3xeaVVimFuuMQZaizH0fElz6FHWw6ME5W_FU4RwG5jTrNgA4sAvVlXvTBt1CL455GCnCI57gqIueCgQ9knPbI6wUu7cTzcPw9avgezQvp70P-wHv6iKPjYVtdghoHR156j/s1600/2010+Talladega+Apr+NSCS+race+start.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd10mlSFtX8g3xeaVVimFuuMQZaizH0fElz6FHWw6ME5W_FU4RwG5jTrNgA4sAvVlXvTBt1CL455GCnCI57gqIueCgQ9knPbI6wUu7cTzcPw9avgezQvp70P-wHv6iKPjYVtdghoHR156j/s320/2010+Talladega+Apr+NSCS+race+start.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The April race at Talladega set a record <br />for the highest amount of lead changes <br />- 88 among 29 drivers - at any track in Cup <br />Series history. (Todd Warshaw/Getty Images)</td></tr></tbody></table><b>Records set in lead changes and leaders per race</b><br /><br />DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Nov. 23, 2010) – The recently completed 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season goes down as the most competitive in the 62-year history of the sport’s premier series.<br /><br />Two major competition records were broken this past season in the series: average lead changes and leaders per race.<br /><br />There was an average of 25.4 lead changes per event in 2010, the most in the history of NASCAR Sprint Cup competition. <br /><br />Additionally, there was an average of 11.4 leaders per event, also the highest average since the series’ inaugural year of 1949.<br /><br />The previous highs in both statistics were 24.9 lead changes in 1981 and 11.0 leaders in 2006.<br />In all, 55 different drivers led at least one lap this season – another record. The previous most was 51, in both 2005 and 2007.<br /><br />Passing numbers, too, were at their statistical peak this season. NASCAR began recording passing numbers in 2005, with the inception of Loop Data. This season, those numbers were higher than any of the past six years.<br /><br />There were a total of 1,299 green flag passes for the lead (Note: Those are lead changes all around the track, not just at the start-finish line). The previous high was 994 in 2006.<br /><br />There were also 116,327 total green flag passes. The previous high was 110,226 in 2009. <br /><br />The tight on-track competition led to a closer-than-ever points battle. The 15 points separating the top-two drivers going into the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway were the fewest in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup’s seven-year history. Five-time champion Jimmie Johnson became the first driver since 1992 to overcome a deficit with one-to-go to capture the title.<br /><br />Five races broke or matched track records in either most leaders or lead changes this season:<br /><br /><b>Talladega:</b> Both Talladega races were exceptionally competitive, but the spring event made history. There were 88 lead changes among 29 drivers during the April 25 event, both all-time series records – at any track, ever.<br /><br /><b>Daytona:</b> There were 21 different leaders in the season-opening Daytona 500, the most ever at a track whose history dates back to 1959.<br /><br /><b>Infineon Raceway:</b> The first road course race of the season, the June 20 event featured 12 lead changes, the most ever at Infineon. The last lead change belonged to 2010 series champion Jimmie Johnson, who won the first road course race of his career.<br /><br /><b>Phoenix:</b> There were 13 different leaders in the spring Phoenix event, tying a track record.<br />Texas: The autumn event at Texas had 33 lead changes, setting a track record.Katy Lindamoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15504396087249155797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6182973293412731911.post-38834339412724853342010-11-23T11:28:00.000-08:002010-11-30T08:41:56.029-08:00Four series champions honored at NNS/NCWTS banquet in Miami<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr_yqhcmUQCf03lphxOSkY2OyeJ8ZRwYOpaKEFkKHDs7bljeeoFXK5D75HqkwjpILnUWCv-_FDY8pJ7_z_MUP5eW3h9aZiwcXBlMcA6ffYYrdVtTSIjSu05quoyfHktwMW1268rxgs4KQT/s1600/2010+Miami+Nov+NNS+NCWTS+Paul+Wolfe+Brad+Keselowski+Roger+Penske.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr_yqhcmUQCf03lphxOSkY2OyeJ8ZRwYOpaKEFkKHDs7bljeeoFXK5D75HqkwjpILnUWCv-_FDY8pJ7_z_MUP5eW3h9aZiwcXBlMcA6ffYYrdVtTSIjSu05quoyfHktwMW1268rxgs4KQT/s400/2010+Miami+Nov+NNS+NCWTS+Paul+Wolfe+Brad+Keselowski+Roger+Penske.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span id="CT_Main_1_cache_lblCaption">NASCAR Nationwide Series champion Brad Keselowski, <br />center, with crew chief Paul Wolfe and team owner Roger Penske.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>· Brad Keselowski, No. 18 JGR Toyota Are NASCAR Nationwide Series Driver, Owner Champions<br /> </b><br /><b>· Todd Bodine, No. 18 KBM Toyota Win Driver, Owner Titles in NASCAR Camping World Trucks</b><br /><br />MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (Nov. 22, 2010) – For the first time in NASCAR national series history, four championships in two different series were awarded simultaneously.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr6JfulKpLVwp6cPzh7Pt96jZmDrmgtdGhT3N28xgKPlv5NBZKfvLszxmP5C3vo7f2tGXe5hpBsDi5h6r8PBRTapTfTTOieToqrWqgthy7upFFvpu1T23aRM3QdOM5A07f-XqCPt7zxVuq/s1600/2010+Miami+Nov+NNS+NCWTS+Ratlciff+Busch+Gibbs+Gibbs.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr6JfulKpLVwp6cPzh7Pt96jZmDrmgtdGhT3N28xgKPlv5NBZKfvLszxmP5C3vo7f2tGXe5hpBsDi5h6r8PBRTapTfTTOieToqrWqgthy7upFFvpu1T23aRM3QdOM5A07f-XqCPt7zxVuq/s400/2010+Miami+Nov+NNS+NCWTS+Ratlciff+Busch+Gibbs+Gibbs.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span id="CT_Main_1_cache_lblCaption">NASCAR Nationwide Series team owner champions Joe Gibbs Racing <br />with (from left) Jason Ratcliff, Kyle Busch, Joe Gibbs and J.D. Gibbs.</span></td></tr></tbody></table>Brad Keselowski and Todd Bodine officially were crowned the 2010 driver champions of the NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, respectively, on the Americana Ballroom stage at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel on Monday evening.<br /><br />Keselowski was honored with his first NASCAR national series title as champion of the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Bodine received his second championship ring in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, joining Ron Hornaday Jr. (four) and Jack Sprague (two) as the only drivers in the series with multiple titles.<br /><br />Also, the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota captured a record-tying third consecutive NASCAR Nationwide Series owner championship, while the No. 18 Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota won the owner crown in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series as a first-year team.<br /><br />The champions were joined on stage by the drivers who finished in positions 2-5 in the final standings, along with each series’ Raybestos Rookie of the Year.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTCwdg0XXVvhyDHNJO1UEAjXY4c5vWH5QBa18MeDRw38CaN1VsKOahFgUSSKRb7ymwaZYzoqlY1O0ySEdHIF7pzuqmAQWnxYS7PfMxYeOQ4lwMAw9PLVX4-Ro2Mm-PedJpR38OVWlvUcXl/s1600/2010+Miami+Nov+NNS+NCWTS+Todd+Bodine+with+trophy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTCwdg0XXVvhyDHNJO1UEAjXY4c5vWH5QBa18MeDRw38CaN1VsKOahFgUSSKRb7ymwaZYzoqlY1O0ySEdHIF7pzuqmAQWnxYS7PfMxYeOQ4lwMAw9PLVX4-Ro2Mm-PedJpR38OVWlvUcXl/s400/2010+Miami+Nov+NNS+NCWTS+Todd+Bodine+with+trophy.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span id="CT_Main_1_cache_lblCaption">NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion Todd Bodine.</span></td></tr></tbody></table>After a fan vote on NASCAR.com, each series’ Most Popular Driver also was revealed. Keselowski and Narain Karthikeyan were chosen by the fans in the NASCAR Nationwide and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, respectively. Keselowski took home the award for the third consecutive year, tying him with Kenny Wallace for the most awards in that category.<br /><br />Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch, Justin Allgaier and Paul Menard finished second through fifth and were honored along with Keselowski in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhR-WAzUIF-FDktvfb128GCXlDXPIgx6fQ3Sp8Yi2qgX8QbbOVjNKVQUAG-oIF4gLotVP8uuuSV_jKHJbCe68h6p15-C7pq6psx1fdLvcRm_GfTEHNcEEy3aGEpWEFFVuzphsx0guEfqHr/s1600/2010+Miami+Nov+NNS+NCWTS+KBM+Phillips+Busch+Ren.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhR-WAzUIF-FDktvfb128GCXlDXPIgx6fQ3Sp8Yi2qgX8QbbOVjNKVQUAG-oIF4gLotVP8uuuSV_jKHJbCe68h6p15-C7pq6psx1fdLvcRm_GfTEHNcEEy3aGEpWEFFVuzphsx0guEfqHr/s400/2010+Miami+Nov+NNS+NCWTS+KBM+Phillips+Busch+Ren.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span id="CT_Main_1_cache_lblCaption">NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team champions <br />Eric Phillips, Kyle Busch and Rick Ren.</span></td></tr></tbody></table>Aric Almirola, Johnny Sauter, Matt Crafton and Austin Dillon were second through fifth in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series standings, and joined Bodine on stage.<br /><br />Ricky Stenhouse Jr. earned the Raybestos Rookie of the Year Award in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Dillon claimed the honor in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Stenhouse is the fifth rookie winner for Jack Roush.<br /><br />SPEED personalities Rick Allen and Krista Voda served as hosts of the event. The NASCAR Nationwide Series/NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Awards Banquet will air on Dec. 3 from 7 to 9 p.m. ET on SPEED, prior to the live telecast of the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Ceremony from Las Vegas.Katy Lindamoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15504396087249155797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6182973293412731911.post-51516526828641820222010-11-23T11:04:00.000-08:002010-11-30T08:41:56.050-08:00Johnson achieves 'Drive for Five' as Edwards dominates Homestead<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb2fmzhfzKyRp5DX_XDjUzhEQEXjvm5lejCBGM9xKQ8W4Wp5kBqY7V7QawpRWfYsvaO2g1SQVLhIHEjs97XWpN1PryQ4r8E70WfNWdUBxyyrKrqvrHS7KW_F9V0oViTLrjTqo6HRwnDFG3/s1600/2010+NSCS+Jimmie+Johnson+holds+trophy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb2fmzhfzKyRp5DX_XDjUzhEQEXjvm5lejCBGM9xKQ8W4Wp5kBqY7V7QawpRWfYsvaO2g1SQVLhIHEjs97XWpN1PryQ4r8E70WfNWdUBxyyrKrqvrHS7KW_F9V0oViTLrjTqo6HRwnDFG3/s400/2010+NSCS+Jimmie+Johnson+holds+trophy.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span id="CT_Main_1_cache_lblCredit">Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR</span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>Johnson first driver in NASCAR history to win five straight Sprint Cup titles; Edwards wins second consecutive series race </b><br /><br />By Reid Spencer<br />Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service<br /><br />HOMESTEAD, Fla. (Nov. 21) — NASCAR has a rock star — and perhaps after a fifth straight championship for unsinkable Jimmie Johnson, the sport will realize it.<br /><br />Johnson ran second to Carl Edwards in Sunday’s season-ending Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway to secure the first come-from-behind title in his skein of five championships.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg158b9uraf1z5bOq7heHcPFa6QBKtNf6HFfuaq7P-0vDAr1hZJZuk-sethxyKZ0slCEOIaYH2AW_SxvUmkvN2M5mx3rzSm3oNWbA4UuIgnrlZADsS2OEN0oLWNVXPIEvOKchbEP9YeP4bc/s1600/2010+Homestead+Nov+NSCS+Carl+Edwards+wins+Jimmie+Johnson+champ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>Edwards’ victory was perfection. He led 190 of 267 laps in winning his second straight Sprint Cup race and the 18th of his career.<br /><br />“Why didn’t you set the cars up like this before, Bob?” Edwards joked with crew chief Bob Osborne after the race. “That was the best performance down the straightaway I’ve had in a long time.”<br /><br />The race for the championship was anything but perfection. And it wasn’t the high drama fans had anticipated from the closest Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup since the introduction of NASCAR’s playoff format in 2004.<br /><br /><a name='more'></a>An early spin on the part of Denny Hamlin, the Chase leader by 15 points entering the final race, ultimately proved decisive. A pit road speeding penalty knocked Kevin Harvick (third in points) to the rear of the field just when he appeared ready to contend for the victory. Hamlin finished 14th; Harvick rallied to finish third.<br /><br />Sloppy work in the pits on the part of Johnson’s “substitute” crew—borrowed from Jeff Gordon’s No. 24 team in the middle of the eighth Chase race (at Texas) and bound to Johnson thereafter—repeatedly cost the champion track position.<br /><br />To call the final race a comedy of errors on the part of the title contenders may be harsh, but championship team owner Rick Hendrick did precisely that.<br /><br />“It was like, ‘Who’s going to screw up the most?’ ” Hendrick said after claiming his 10th Cup title (five with Johnson, four with Gordon and one with Terry Labonte).<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuzSEP85g93IaA4xKnRsxjI5pc6z6UzVKTBkgEUHRmdWWLpGd4_-A6CO68QqU0gs4bHYH3mR7tyh1QMUtSMcPrgd-NK7yMzbj3liAQym_nA4V0jXk-vGH6PvE_N6w3vSCkH-ZCs5M1X0ML/s1600/2010+Homestead+Nov+NSCS+Carl+Edwards+wins+Jimmie+Johnson+champ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuzSEP85g93IaA4xKnRsxjI5pc6z6UzVKTBkgEUHRmdWWLpGd4_-A6CO68QqU0gs4bHYH3mR7tyh1QMUtSMcPrgd-NK7yMzbj3liAQym_nA4V0jXk-vGH6PvE_N6w3vSCkH-ZCs5M1X0ML/s400/2010+Homestead+Nov+NSCS+Carl+Edwards+wins+Jimmie+Johnson+champ.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span id="CT_Main_1_cache_lblCredit">Todd Warshaw/Getty Images for NASCAR</span></td></tr></tbody></table>In the afterglow of a fifth straight title, however, the flaws in the process didn’t matter.<br /><br />“Jimmie, you are a rock star, my friend,” Chad Knaus radioed after Johnson crossed the finished line 1.608 seconds behind Edwards. “You have proven it time and time again. And you damn did it today, my friend.”<br /><br />Johnson finished 39 points ahead of Hamlin and 41 ahead of Harvick.<br /><br />Before the race was 25 laps old, Hamlin made a tough job much more difficult. His No. 11 Toyota, which had started the race 37th but had gained 18 positions in the first 23 laps, touched the No. 16 Ford of Greg Biffle as the cars sped through Turn 2 on Lap 24. Hamlin spun through the infield grass, damaging the front splitter and knocking the toe angle of the tires out of position.<br /><br />Though his crew worked feverishly to repair the damage, the incident affected the handling just enough to keep Hamlin from making an aggressive run to the front. His troubles were compounded when he was trapped a lap down during a cycle of pit stops and had to take a wave-around to the tail end of the lead lap. At that point Hamlin was fighting Harvick for second in the final standings, not battling Johnson for the championship.<br /><br />“I felt like, as soon as we dropped the green, I thought we could win the race,” Hamlin said. “Our car was really fast at the beginning—I mean, just unbelievably fast at the beginning—and I knew we had a car that could contend for a win, and obviously when we got in that incident on the back straightaway, it tore up the front and knocked the toe out, and obviously the car did not drive as well for the rest of the day.<br /><br />“We just tried to patch it and work on it the best we could, but it just wasn't the car that it was at the beginning. It's just part of racing.”<br /><br />Johnson restarted second on Lap 251 after Harvick dumped Kyle Busch, Hamlin’s teammate, into the inside frontstretch wall to cause the 10th and final caution on Lap 244. Johnson couldn’t catch Edwards over the final 17 laps, but he pulled away from Harvick to secure the title.<br /><br />“I’m just beside myself,” Johnson said in Victory Lane. “Four was amazing. Now I have to figure out what the hell to say about winning five of these things, because everybody is going to want to know what it means. I don't know. It is pretty damn awesome — I can tell you that.”<br /><br /><b>Fast facts:</b><br /><ul><li>With his fifth Sprint Cup championship, Johnson passes teammate Jeff Gordon (four titles) to take third on the all-time list of drivers with the most championships. Johnson follows Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt Sr. with seven each.</li><li>Johnson's fifth title comes in his ninth full-time season of Sprint Cup competition. Dale Earnhardt Sr. claimed his fifth in his 13th season and Richard Petty in his 16th.</li><li>Johnson won his fifth championship in 327 starts. Dale Earnhardt Sr. won his fifth title in 390 starts and Richard Petty in 655 starts.</li><li>Johnson gave Hendrick Motorsports their 10th Sprint Cup owner's championship, breaking a tie with Petty Motorsports (9) to become the all-time leading team.</li><li>Johnson is the first driver in Chase history to overcome a points deficit going into the season's final race and win the title. </li><li>He is only the third driver to overcome a points deficit in the last race and win the championship since 1975. </li><li>Johnson joins the New York Yankees, Boston Celtics and Montreal Canadiens in winning five or more consecutive championships. He also joins Michael Schumacher, who claimed five straight F1 titles. </li><li>All five of Johnson's championship have come under the Chase. </li><li>Johnson is the only driver to have made the Chase all seven seasons.</li></ul><i>__________________________________</i><br /><i>Reid Spencer's story from NASCAR Media </i><br /><br /><i>Fast Facts compiled by Rebecca Kivak </i><br /><ul></ul>Katy Lindamoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15504396087249155797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6182973293412731911.post-25623965691650882902010-11-20T22:19:00.000-08:002010-11-30T08:41:56.071-08:00Chase Coverage: Homestead Preview<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJuVrlEbr6LbPM7Wn78wF6LcvJdH5D2hMgUMq1zTMJKB8houCzjn4RbJf8BpEeELLnwJ230lfSE1Mm9ADDtQTgYx-UWwPaG1kCdFW-QOT4-v78QxeuoIMRpdHYnaZRVqn5cRqHWAV4AYs5/s1600/2010+Homestead-Miami+NSCS+Contenders+Johnson+Trophy+Hamlin+Harvick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJuVrlEbr6LbPM7Wn78wF6LcvJdH5D2hMgUMq1zTMJKB8houCzjn4RbJf8BpEeELLnwJ230lfSE1Mm9ADDtQTgYx-UWwPaG1kCdFW-QOT4-v78QxeuoIMRpdHYnaZRVqn5cRqHWAV4AYs5/s400/2010+Homestead-Miami+NSCS+Contenders+Johnson+Trophy+Hamlin+Harvick.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sam Greenwood / Getty Images for NASCAR</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />It all comes down to this. It's the final race of the 2010 Sprint Cup Series season, the end of the Chase. A champion will be crowned.<br /><br />Will it bring Denny Hamlin his first Cup title, the driver who overcame a knee problem to battle back and put himself atop the points standings? Will it be a historic-making moment for champion Jimmie Johnson? Will it be Kevin Harvick's first championship, the ultimate icing on the cake after a dramatic turnaround from last year's woes?<br /><br />With the tightest championship battle in Chase history, we will have to tune in Sunday to see who will prevail. The stage is set for one of the most exciting finales in recent history, a battle that will go down to the last lap. May the best man win.<br /><br />While the focus is on the title battle, the race winner will have bragging rights going into next season. A win in the last race of the year can go a long way to bring momentum for a team entering into 2011.<br /><br />Our contributors run down the Chase drivers' chances for the finale at Homestead-Miami. Come back Tuesday to find out how the Chasers finish out the 2010 season. <br /><br /><div style="color: lime;">1. Denny Hamlin - Holly Machuga</div>Following his “disappointing” finish of 12th at Phoenix last weekend, Denny Hamlin remains first in points going into the final race of the 2010 season. Thus far, he has eight wins, 14 top-fives, 18 top-10s, and two poles. He also has an average finish of 12.9. Hamlin has led 20 races all season, with a total of 1,184 laps led.<br /><br />At Homestead-Miami, Denny has one win (2009), three top-fives, and three top-10s. In five races, he has an average finish of 10.6. Also, he has a driver rating of 94.7, seventh best out of the drivers.<br /><br />There are two ways that Denny can win the championship this weekend. One, he could win the race. Two, he could lead the most laps and come in second. That is the only way that the FedEx team could be guaranteed their championship over four-time champions, the Lowe’s team.<br /><br />If there is a tie, the champion will be the one who won the most races. This would make Denny the 2010 champion.<br /><br />I am excited to see how this plays out! I can not believe that this is the last race! <br /><br /><a name='more'></a><div style="color: lime;">2. Jimmie Johnson - Rebecca Kivak</div>For the first time in five years, Jimmie Johnson comes into Homestead second in points, 15 behind leader Denny Hamlin. It's been a while since Johnson has been the chaser and not the chased, but the four-time Sprint Cup champion is up to the challenge. After losing championships in 2004 and 2005, Johnson learned what he needed to do to win them. That experience will factor into Sunday's Ford 400, when Johnson will have to race until the very last lap in order to claim a historic fifth title. <br /><br />The clinch scenario for Johnson, independent of how points leader Hamlin and third-place Kevin Harvick finish, is winning the race and leading the most laps. Now would be a good time to mention that Homestead is one of four tracks where Johnson has never won. However, the driver of the No. 48 Lowes Chevrolet has put up decent numbers at the 1.5-mile oval. In nine starts, Johnson has three top 5s, six top 10s and two poles. In last year's event, Johnson started from the pole and led 28 laps before securing a fifth-place finish. His average finish is 12.7, which Johnson will need to outperform on Sunday in order to win the championship. The No. 48 must find the speed that has evaded them in the last few races.<br /><br />Something also to consider is that Johnson hasn't had to be in the position to race for the win in quite some time at Homestead. It's possible the four-time champion, who usually has the title wrapped up by the finale, has held back in recent races, something Hamlin has said he's witnessed Johnson do at the Miami track. With the championship on the line, however, holding back is not an option for the No. 48 team on Sunday.<br /><br />As Johnson tells it: "We have nothing to lose. ... It's a much different perspective for us. I've been here in the past with even a big points lead and have been concerned about dropping the ball. When you're defending, your mind starts to change and you start to think about the 'what ifs.' When you're chasing, it's more about, What do I need to do?<br /><br />"For us, the small points gap, the way we'll win the championship is by doing our jobs. ... We're capable of doing it. We've done it in the past. Now it's time to step up as a team and go out and do it." <br /><br />You have a champion determined to win and his team willing to go out all out. No matter how Sunday's race at Homestead turns out, you can be sure Johnson and the No. 48 will put their best foot forward as they race to bring home a potential fifth title. <br /><br /><div style="color: lime;">3. Kevin Harvick - Stacie Ball </div> (Note: Stacie is stepping in for Amber Arnold for this installment)<br />“I think that's the way it's supposed to be. Even with the Chase, you let I guess nine other guys back into the championship hunt, and the three cars that have run the best all year have risen back to the top. For me, I think it's fun to be able to challenge yourself and race against the best guys that have been the best all year to see where you stack up in the end. I think it's the best way that it could have shaken out.” Kevin Harvick answered what it meant to him for him being one of the three to help decide the championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway.<br /><br />Four top fives, seven top-10 finishes and leading 116 laps at Homestead says a lot. Yet not having a win could make or break Harvick, especially with him starting 28th on the grid. It is true, though, he has quickly moved to the front after starting back in the field over the season. Will this be one of those races?<br /><br />"We know the job that we have at hand, and we're going with our best piece, and I think our driver is ready and psyched up about it after our meeting [Tuesday] morning. We're just looking forward to it," Gil Martin said of what he and the 29 pit crew needed to do for this weekend's race, before a day of deep-sea fishing for him and the team.<br /><br />Harvick, Martin and the team all knows what it takes. It takes him winning the race, leading the most laps, and most of all, the other two finishing behind Harvick in the top 10. Is it possible, could he do it? Honestly, after everything I have seen during the 2010 NASCAR season, anything is possible. <br /><br /><div style="color: lime;">4. Carl Edwards - Amanda Ebersole</div>It's that time of year many of us loathe, the final race of the 2010 NASCAR season. We head to the finale race at Homestead Miami Speedway in unfamiliar circumstances: the championship is undecided! That is a wonderful thing for our sport, and hopefully it will be a fight to the last lap to see who is victorious!<br /><br />Still riding high from last week’s sweep at Phoenix, I bring you more good news for Carl Edwards. He has great stats for Homestead with one win, three top fives, and five top 10s out of 6 races. His win was in November 2008. Edwards also has one pole there and has led 251 laps. Carl has turned 112 of the track's fastest laps, spent 1,112 laps in the top 15 and has a driver rating of 111 and leads all active drivers in these areas. Carl also has a series-best running position of eighth.<br /><br />Crew chief Bob Osborne will be unloading the same car that was previously raced at Charlotte in October, where he finished 16th. Bob’s thoughts on heading to Homestead: “It was great to finally get a win at Phoenix last weekend. Now we can go to Homestead and try for another win, and maintain our fourth place in the points. Carl has a great record at Homestead and won there in 2008. We are taking our newest car in the fleet which we ran at Charlotte so I feel it will be good. We’ve got a lot of momentum going into the final race of the season so we’d love to end the year with one more win.”<br /><br />Carl feels the momentum from Phoenix and is hoping it continues in Homestead. With his manufacture, Ford, sponsoring the title weekend, Carl would like nothing more than another win. "Ford Championship weekend has always been a huge weekend for me and Roush Fenway. We’ve got a ton of momentum right now. I feel like our 1.5-mile program is really strong, and our team is riding a huge wave from last weekend’s win in Phoenix. We can’t lose at Homestead because no matter what happens we all feel like we finished the season strong. We’re just going to go for the win and hopefully finish top four in points. That would be huge."<br /><br /><div style="color: lime;">5. Matt Kenseth - Whitney Richards</div>The final race of the 2010 has arrived. For Matt Kenseth and his crew, the race at Homestead-Miami Speedway will be their last chance to keep from going winless for the season. Two years ago Kenseth went winless, and this year, the team will do all they can to keep that from happening again. After the up-and-down year they’ve had, a win on Sunday would be the best way to end the season.<br /><br />Kenseth has 10 starts at Homestead and has earned two top 5s, three top 10s and one win (November 2007). He has an average starting position of 21.6 and an average finish of 19.8. He has led a total of 287 laps and completed 2,387 of 2,675 laps. Kenseth has two DNFs (November 2002 and 2003) at Homestead. In his last outing at the track, he started 34th and finished 13th. This weekend, the team will be running chassis RK-704, which was last run at Martinsville. Kenseth and his crew are hungry for a win, so keep an eye on that No. 17 Crown Royal Ford on Sunday. Whether they will win is uncertain, but there is no doubt that team will do all they can to make it happen. <br /><br /><div style="color: lime;">6. Jeff Gordon - Genevieve Cadorette</div>This past season, Jeff Gordon made it into the top 6 in the Chase for the Sprint Cup, yet he hasn’t won a race. In 2010, Gordon has 11 top 5s; 17 top 10s and has won one pole for the Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. He’s currently trailing the leader, Denny Hamlin by 338 points, so he is mathematically eliminated from winning the Cup on Sunday. If he wins at Homestead-Miami, Gordon will conquer the last remaining track on the circuit where he has yet to claim victory. He may not have the title, but he would walk away with the Ford 400 trophy, cash and bragging rights.<br /><br />Though he has not won here, his Homestead history is impressive. In 11 starts, Gordon has tallied the most five top 5s and nine top 10s out of all active drivers. He’s led 62 laps, his average finish is 9.5 and he’s completed 99.9 percent of all laps. <br /><br /><div style="color: lime;">7. Kyle Busch - Lindi Bess</div>What? The season is almost over, you say. Didn’t it just start? I am experiencing feelings that are somewhat bittersweet. On the one hand we are at <a href="http://www.nascar.com/races/tracks/hms/">Homestead-Miami Speedway,</a> where the excitement began Friday with qualifying. It should really be an exciting race with three contenders within reach of their goal to become the 2010 Sprint Cup Champion. Then there’s the whole "end of the season" thing that makes me somewhat blue.<br /><br />At last year's Homestead Ford 400, the 2010 points leader, #11 Denny Hamlin took the race, and Jimmie Johnson finished in the fifth position and walked away with his fourth Sprint Cup Championship trophy. With a third-place finish in 2009 at the end of the Homestead race was the driver of the #29, Kevin Harvick. Kyle Busch, although he didn’t make the chase, finished in the eighth position after qualifying in 30th position. Kyle also won the NNS Ford 300. The NNS race gave the #18 a<b> </b>Nationwide Race Record of 126.924. <br /><br />Now would be a good time to look at Kyle’s <a href="http://www.nascar.com/races/tracks/hms/">Homestead-Miami Speedway</a> career history. He has been running pretty strong this season and since he’s got one more chance at a trifecta at Homestead to finish his season out, you can bet he’s gonna be doing some hard racing.<br /><br />Kyle has a total of five starts at the Homestead track. Of these starts, three were with Hendrick and the last two with JGR. In five starts, he’s had one DNF and just one top 10. Average start is 12.6 and average finish is 25.2. These numbers don’t take into account that Kyle has changed his performance on and off the track for the most part. What we saw when he flipped off the official was just raw emotion.<br /><br />So with that, I will make my declaration as a Jimmie Johnson fan, with Kyle Busch coming in a close second, which is exactly how I’d like to see the Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway end.<br /><br /><div style="background-color: black; color: lime;">8. Greg Biffle - Stacie Ball</div>“Biffle has an incredible record at Homestead with his three wins in a row, so we know he can get it done if we can give him a fast racecar. Just like most every other week this year, we need to qualify up front and stay there with good pit stops. If we can do that, the rest will be up to Biffle and we should be able to compete for the win. We had one get away from us in Texas and it would be great to end the 2010 season with another trip to victory lane,” Greg Erwin, crew chief of the No. 16 3M Ford Fusion, said of Biffle's history at Homestead-Miami Speedway for the Ford 400, which ends the 36-week week racing schedule.<br /><br />Two wins, nine top fives, and 18 top 10s in 2010 does not give you an honest look at the season during which Greg Biffle had gone up and down in points, or the challenges he faced with his cars throughout the season before his first win at Pocono Raceway in July. In his nine years of racing, he has led 4456 laps and collected 16 wins, 66 top fives, and 112 top 10s in his 293 Sprint Cup Series career starts. As a fan, I do not know what the stats are really telling us. All I do know is that the luck from one track to the next is tested, especially after what we have seen in the last nine races. Yet I am hoping his three wins, three top fives, and three top 10s will be a good sign, showing this truly is a good track for him and the Pit Bulls, which will bring hopefully another victory in 2010.<br /><br />“We’re taking the same car to Homestead that we led with at Texas and won with at Pocono. We’ve had some success at Homestead obviously and it would be great to end another season with a win there. We had some extreme highs and lows during this Chase but the highs are encouraging for next season. We know that we can compete for wins now as long as we don’t have part failures. We are still working on our short track program but I think we’re moving in the right direction. We’ll just go to Homestead this weekend and do everything we can to finish this season with a win.”<br /><br />The only factors we really do not know about are, number one, the weather and two, the handling of the car on the track. Until we see those, we have no idea what kind of a race anyone will have, even if it is a good track for the No. 16 Ford Fusion and any of the other teams at Homestead-Miami Speedway. May the best car win the race along with the Cup on Sunday!<br /><br /><div style="color: lime;">9. Tony Stewart - Unique Hiram</div>We are down to the GRAND FINALE! Tony Stewart and the #14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet team are headed to a track where their driver holds some impressive statistics. At this particular race track, Smoke has captured two wins, nine top 5s and five top 10s. Additionally, his driver rating is 88.2 which is the 12th best and Stewart is listed as the 9th best at running the 60 fastest laps at this track.<br /><br />Stewart was asked about the dynamics of the Homestead-Miami racetrack and he had this to say about it:<br /><br />“You go off into turn one, and when you get into the banking, you lift. If your car is good, you can go and not use any brake, or very,very little brake. You stay one lane off the bottom, past the transition – it’s a little less banking on the lower level toward the apron – so you stay one level above that. As soon as your car settles in you can really just mash right back in the gas and just ride that second level around down onto the backstretch. And then you do exactly the same thing going into turn 3. A lot of times in turn 3, because of the wind direction there, you can actually go into the corner a lot harder and a lot further, actually turning into the<br />corner before you get off the gas. And it’s the same thing, once that car settles in, you get on the gas and ride it around to the frontstretch. It’s a pretty smooth racetrack.”<br /><br />It is clear that Stewart and his team will give it their best shot to capture the checkered flag. There will be chances taken and definitely some bold moves made in order to garner the absolute greatest finishing position that is in sight for the season finale's race. One race to go and it will be quite a show indeed!<br /><div style="color: lime;"><br />10. Kurt Busch - Rebecca Kivak</div>(Note: Katy Lindamond continues to be without an Internet connection, so Rebecca is covering Kurt.) <br />This weekend marks Kurt Busch's swan song in the No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge. After the season ends, Busch will hand the reins of the legendary Blue Deuce to his Penske Racing teammate Brad Keselowski, while Busch himself will become the new face of Shell/Pennzoil in the No. 22 Dodge. With this is in mind, Busch would like nothing better than to finish his five-year run in the No. 2 with a trip to victory lane at Homestead-Miami Speedway.<br /><br />“There are so many reasons that we need to close out the year with a great run this weekend at Homestead,” Busch said. “It will be the final race for me behind the wheel of the Miller Lite Dodge. We’ve had a great run in the ‘Blue Deuce’ over the last five seasons and would love to score another win and celebrate with some Miller Lites there in Victory Lane on Sunday.” <br /><br />Going into Homestead, Busch has racked up eight wins, 37 top 5s, 74 top 10s and nine poles during his time in the Blue Duece. Three of those wins came this season, including his sweep of the All-Star Race and the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway this summer. <br /><br />As Busch turns his focus to the season finale, the former Cup champion needs a strong showing at Homestead to remain in the top 10 in the points standings, guaranteeing himself a seat at the end-of-the-year Sprint Cup banquet at Las Vegas. He sits currently 41 points behind 9th-place Tony Stewart and only 5 in front of 11th-place Clint Bowyer, with a 35-point advantage on Jeff Burton in 12th.<br /><br />Busch has shown he can withstand the pressure at Homestead. It was here in 2004 where Busch sealed the deal in his own close championship battle. Then driving for Roush Racing, Busch overcame a tire issue to finish fifth and claim his first Sprint Cup title, beating Jimmie Johnson by just eight points. Out of his nine starts at the Miami track, Busch has four top 5s, including a win in 2002. In last year's race, Busch emerged as a serious contender for the win, leading five times for 43 laps, until a two-tire strategy at the end hampered his chances and he finished fourth. <br /><br />In addition to maintaining a top-10 points position and finishing out his run in the Blue Deuce on a high note, Bush also knows how a good final race of the season can inspire confidence and momentum for the next. “It would be super if we can win it, but if we can’t, we still need to have a strong showing like we had down there in last year’s final race,” Busch said. “That was a solid performance that kept us all pumped up and ready to get back after it when this season began at Daytona back in February.” <br /><br /><div style="color: lime;">11. Clint Bowyer - Amy McHargue</div>Closing the season at Homestead, Clint Bowyer is not where he wanted to be at the end of the 2010 season. Clint had hopes to finish his season with a top-5 finish in the Chase for the Sprint Cup standings as he has in his previous Chase performances. Unfortunately, Bowyer is coming into Miami in the 11th position in the Chase, 434 points back from the leader, and more importantly 123 points out of the fifth spot. To gain either amount of points is not achievable in a single race. It looks like Clint is going to have to settle for the bottom third of the standings for 2010.<br /><br />Bowyer posts a 16.2 average finish, has no Cup Series wins, and two top 10s in his four starts at this Miami mile-and-a-half track. He knocked on the door of the top 10 at this race last year and finished in 11th position. Clint's worst finish at Homestead-Miami came in 2007 when he finished his day in the 39th position 25 laps down. Bowyer has a slightly better average of 15.9 on this size track; he has finished in the top 10 in just under 48 percent of his Cup starts on intermediate-length tracks. <br /><br />It is down to salvaging whatever is possible out of this season for Clint Bowyer. With the bad luck that has revisited the team several times since the beginning of the Chase, the last nine races have have seemed very much like one step forward and two steps back for the Cheerios/BB&T Chevrolet #33. With one last chance to shine in 2010, Clint will come out this weekend and give it his all as he has done at every race. If Team Bowyer doesn't add one more top-5 finish for the season, it won't be from a lack of desire or effort. <br /><br /><div style="color: lime;">12. Jeff Burton - Genna Short </div>Jeff Burton has quite a history at Homestead. In the 11 races that have been run here as the Sprint Cup finale, he has four top fives and five top 10s. One of those top fives came last fall in the 2009 finale. He finished second.<br /><br />“I thought we had a great chance to win the race. The second half of the race, we were really, really strong,” says Burton of his runner-up finish in 2009.<br /><br />“The last run of the race, we weren't as good as we were the previous runs. We saw that with a lot of cars.”<br /><br />He feels he had one of the best cars out there, but it wasn’t enough to get him to the end.<br /><br />"If the race was 50 laps shorter, we'd have won the race."<br /><br />Momentum seems to be the key heading into this weekend for the Cat crew. After a great run ended in a less than satisfactory finish at Phoenix, Burton is ready to taste victory again.<br /><br />“This is my last chance to win a race this year. It’s been a year with a lot of promise, but a lot of those haven’t been fulfilled. This is our last chance and that’s kind of what we go into it with the mindset of – we need to win this race. It’s been a real frustrating Chase,” he stated in a press conference on Friday.<br /><br />“Obviously for us, at the same I hate to see the year end. I feel like the more we race, the better we would be. This is it and we need to go out on a big note.”Katy Lindamoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15504396087249155797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6182973293412731911.post-42220062324150699322010-11-20T11:30:00.000-08:002010-11-30T08:41:56.097-08:00Nationwide Pole Report: Logano and Busch Front Row Domination for Ford 300<p>How do you make an interesting series, even more interesting? The answer is simple you have teammates on the front row. Oh wait, we have seen this plenty of times in the 2010 season when it comes to the Nationwide Series. Joey Logano wins the pole in the Game Stop Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing with a lap of 31.487 (171.499 mph.). His teammate Kyle Busch in the NOS Energy Drink Toyota only -0.005 behind. Is having his teammate on the front row a good or bad thing? Only time will tell.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_yiNSU4jBKTU/TOgh2Us-j7I/AAAAAAAAAUo/eNMDbdpef0M/s1600-h/LoganoPoleFord200%5B11%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="LoganoPoleFord200" border="0" alt="LoganoPoleFord200" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_yiNSU4jBKTU/TOgh23kAdHI/AAAAAAAAAUs/-7ac85Mz4L4/LoganoPoleFord200_thumb%5B9%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="202" height="278"></a> </p> <p>Other than figuring out the Owners’ Championship, why should we be watching the last Nationwide race of 2010? How about Danica Patrick in the JR Motorsports Go Daddy No. 7 starting fifth on the grid? Her best start ever in the series. Will this be the race in which people realize she is good at what she does behind the wheel? </p> <p>For all the racing action, the place to be is ESPN 2 starting at 4 p.m. with the NASCAR Nationwide Countdown with the actual race starting at 4:30 with the green flag at 4:45. Enjoy the racing!</p> <ol> <li>Joey Logano <li>Kyle Busch <li>Brad Keselowski <li>Aric Almirola <li>Danica Patrick <li>Martin Truex Jr. <li>Kevin Harvick <li>Carl Edwards <li>Trevor Bayne <li>Cole Whitt <li>Brendan Gaughan <li>Sam Hornish Jr. <li>Paul Menard <li>Kasey Kahne <li>Jeremy Clements <li>Kevin Lepage <li>Shelby Howard <li>Justin Allgaier <li>David Gilliland <li>Ricky Stenhouse Jr. <li>Reed Sorensen <li>Jason Leffler <li>Parker Kligerman <li>Mark Green <li>Steve Wallace <li>Colin Braun <li>David Starr <li>Joe Nemechek <li>Eric McClure <li>Brian Scott <li>David Reutimann <li>Dennis Setzer <li>Jeff Green <li>Mike Wallace <li>Michael Arnett <li>Tony Raines <li>Kenny Wallace <li>Mike Bliss <li>Morgan Shepherd <li>Jason Keller <li>Robert Richardson Jr. <li>Chase Mattioli <li>Brian Keselowski</li></ol> Katy Lindamoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15504396087249155797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6182973293412731911.post-63581118846326413652010-11-19T16:10:00.000-08:002010-11-30T08:41:56.126-08:00Trucks Pole Report: Dillon Gets Lucky 7th Pole for Ford 200<p>Lucky number seven might work in the favor of Austin Dillon, who won his 7th pole for the 2010 season for Friday's Ford 200 in the Bass Pro Shops / Tracker Boats Chevrolet with a 31.649 lap (170.622 mph) for Richard Childress Racing. Only 0.148 seconds behind is Kyle Busch in the Toyota Tundra / TRAXXAS Toyota in the last race of his first season as driver and team owner of Kyle Busch Motorsports. </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_yiNSU4jBKTU/TOcR9ZR4AuI/AAAAAAAAAT4/xA_M7p7tpE4/s1600-h/Ford200%5B8%5D.jpg"><img style="border: 0px none; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" title="Ford200" alt="Ford200" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_yiNSU4jBKTU/TOcR-J5n2FI/AAAAAAAAAT8/k4y7mdvWL_0/Ford200_thumb%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" align="right" border="0" height="143" /></a> After Todd Bodine won the championship last week, what does this race mean? Actually it finalizes where the other racers in the series are placed on the rest of the grid, but will it bring lots of closure after a season of many interesting ups, downs and in-betweens. </p> <p>For all of the racing action you can catch the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race coverage starting with the Set Up starting at 7:30 p.m. ET and the race coverage starts at 8 p.m.! </p> <ol> <li>Austin Dillon </li> <li>Kyle Busch </li> <li>Johnny Sauter</li> <li>Elliott Sadler</li> <li>Aric Almirola</li> <li>Justin Lofton </li> <li>Matt Crafton </li> <li>Todd Bodine</li> <li>Ron Hornaday Jr.</li> <li>Mike Skinner</li> <li>Tayler Malsam</li> <li>Cole Whitt</li> <li>Max Papis</li> <li>Brad Sweet</li> <li>Timothy Peters</li> <li>Jason White</li> <li>Travis Kvapil</li> <li>David Starr</li> <li>David Mayhew</li> <li>James Buescher</li> <li>Craig Goess</li> <li>Ricky Carmichael</li> <li>John Jackson </li> <li>Miquel Paludo</li> <li>Johanna Long</li> <li>Jeffrey Earnhardt</li> <li>Hermie Sadler III</li> <li>Ryan Sieg</li> <li>John King</li> <li>Mario Gosselin</li> <li>Brent Raymer</li> <li>Jennifer Jo Cobb</li> <li>Shane Sieg</li> <li>Norm Benning</li> <li>Derek White</li> <li>Tom Hessert</li></ol>Katy Lindamoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15504396087249155797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6182973293412731911.post-78175690895421791972010-11-19T15:50:00.000-08:002010-11-30T08:41:56.144-08:00WIN Series: Johanna Long<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFxUu7qTVwasXbELV5Xzgh4NYCcxh2R4TZ-ENQ2s2oE6Wj5sZ9wFPuC2-hH0yYRjtbxIDBx6WMXsr7yHqCU0b_dyuYZyDPuwFiyX5tKneH1WT8VEQQ2xBzf8Acjr9crf7wvLIv2A4t-U0/s1600/Jo_Jo_Gallery_7.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 241px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFxUu7qTVwasXbELV5Xzgh4NYCcxh2R4TZ-ENQ2s2oE6Wj5sZ9wFPuC2-hH0yYRjtbxIDBx6WMXsr7yHqCU0b_dyuYZyDPuwFiyX5tKneH1WT8VEQQ2xBzf8Acjr9crf7wvLIv2A4t-U0/s200/Jo_Jo_Gallery_7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541415801851140066" border="0" /></a><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size:180%;">Johanna Takes on H</span></b><b><span style="font-size:180%;">omestead</span></b></p> <p align="left"><span style="font-size:100%;">Johanna Long, a native of Pennsicola, Fla., began racing go-karts at the age of 8. Then she moved up to Legends cars. She then moved on to the Pro Late Model division as a 15-year-old at her home track of Five Flags Speedway. </span></p> <p align="left"><span style="font-size:100%;">She will attempt to bring home a great finish under the lights as she competes in the Camping World Truck Series' season finale tonight at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Long will be driving her Panhandle Motorsports Toyota Tundra in the NASCAR’s Ford 200, making her first appearance at the 1.5-mile oval.</span></p> <p align="left"><span style="font-size:100%;">Long has been driving since she was 5 years old. She is a former Blizzard Series Champion on the Gulf Coast. Several top teams have showed much interest in the teen driver, and she has given them good reason. Homestead-Miami is Long’s seventh career start in the NASCAR’s Camping World Truck Series. In her previous six starts, Long has two top-20 finishes.<br /></span></p> <p align="left"><span style="font-size:100%;">She qualified for Friday night's race in 21th position with Jennifer Jo Cobb in 32nd. Prior to qualifying, Long spoke with me in a short phone interview via Skype. Below you will find the link to the unedited interview. I hope you enjoy this first-time interview for the WIN Series. </span></p> <p style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" align="left"><a href="http://soundcloud.com/win-series/johanna-long-interview-friday-19-november-2010/s-Sf4oo"><span style="font-size:100%;">WIN Series Pre-Qualifying Interview with NCWTS driver Johanna Long</span></a></p> <p align="left"><span style="font-size:100%;">The #20 Toyota Tundra is also sporting a decal depicting the43rd Annual Snowball Derby. Long stated in a recent interview, “I'm excited to have the Snowball Derby decal on the truck this weekend. Late models are my roots, my comfort zone and my first love, so it's nice to be able to showcase the Derby where I'm racing now - the Truck Series. The Snowball Derby is a tough week of racing, and I look forward to it every year. A lot of people know me from the Derby and the Blizzard Series - so it's nice to show where I came from in the sport. I'm looking forward to shedding some light on these races, as well as my home track of Five Flags Speedway. Plus, it might give me a little luck going into the weekend!"</span></p> <p align="left"><span style="font-size:100%;">It’s Long’s hope to move into 2011 with momentum from a great finish at the Miami track. This could potentially pave the way for her to debut in 2011 as her rookie year with the support of the right sponsors, some good luck and the continued support of her growing fan base.</span></p>Race Results:<br /><br />Johanna finished in 20th position. A great finish for the 2011 Rookie hopeful. I will be posting a more in-depth interview on Johanna for the readers of S&S and the fans of Johanna Long. Link will be posted on Twitter when post is ready to read.<br /><p align="left"></p>Katy Lindamoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15504396087249155797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6182973293412731911.post-71252577525634625072010-11-19T14:43:00.000-08:002010-11-30T08:41:56.169-08:00Ryan and Krissie Newman welcome first child<table class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqo1dZViilM_77HVfLaYSscvK39TnGwHSoOI-jLteM63wzs5z48fRecKwOHR6c27L4637sdt_SWzSLItqTGheWmUBOhwCmiJJgOnyfdXXzAu4KjjjQleFxryKtOo5m2FFlCSUIBEoUblpa/s1600/ryan+krissie.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqo1dZViilM_77HVfLaYSscvK39TnGwHSoOI-jLteM63wzs5z48fRecKwOHR6c27L4637sdt_SWzSLItqTGheWmUBOhwCmiJJgOnyfdXXzAu4KjjjQleFxryKtOo5m2FFlCSUIBEoUblpa/s400/ryan+krissie.JPG" width="400" border="0" height="290" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="img_credits"> Bobby Allison speaks with Ryan and Krissie Newman earlier this month at Darlington Raceway<br />in a ceremony remembering Jim Hunter. (Streeter Lecka/Getty Images for NASCAR)</div></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Ryan Newman and his wife Krissie will end the NASCAR season as first-time parents. The Newmans welcomed daughter Brooklyn Sage on Thursday, Nov. 18.<br /><br />Ryan announced the birth on his Twitter page:<br /><br /><i><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">RyanNewman39: We have a little baby girl! Mom and baby are both doing great! </span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">Our beautiful baby girl is named <i>Brooklyn Sage Newman</i>!</span></span></span></i><br /><br />The Newmans were married in 2004. Ryan announced Krissie's pregnancy during the Brickyard 400 race weekend in July.<br /><br />Last weekend while Ryan was racing at Phoenix, Krissie remained in North Carolina, awaiting the birth of their child. Ron Hornaday Jr. stepped in to practice Newman's No. 39 Sprint Cup car in case the expectant father was called away for the birth.<br /><br />The Newmans are the latest to give birth in a NASCAR baby boom. During the season, drivers Elliot Sadler, Carl Edwards, Juan Pablo Montoya, Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Brendan Gaughan welcomed new additions to their families.<br /><br />The baby boom will continue into the off-season. Jamie McMurray, Sam Hornish Jr. and Speed TV journalist Wendy Venturini are expecting babies next month.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">You can learn more about Krissie Newman by reading her <a href="http://www.skirtsandscuffs.com/2010/04/women-in-nascar-one-on-one-with-krissie.html">one-on-one interview</a> with Skirts and Scuffs for our Woman in NASCAR Series</span>.Katy Lindamoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15504396087249155797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6182973293412731911.post-73990698338056084462010-11-19T14:37:00.000-08:002010-11-30T08:41:56.194-08:00Sprint Cup Pole Report: Kahne Uses His Wings to Grab Ford 400 PoleIn the No. 83 Red Bull Toyota Camry, Kasey Kahne won his fourth pole for the 2010 season at Homestead-Miami Speedway with a lap of 30.525 seconds (176.904 mph.). This is the first of hopefully many poles for Kahne in a Red Bull Toyota. Just behind him on the grid is the winner of last week’s race at Phoenix International Raceway, Carl Edwards, in the Aflac Ford Fusion for Roush Fenway Racing, 0.031 behind the leader.<br /><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_yiNSU4jBKTU/TOb8EfYpJcI/AAAAAAAAATw/J0qCP_kgxe0/s1600-h/KahnePoleMiami2010%5B7%5D.jpg"><img align="right" alt="KahnePoleMiami2010" border="0" height="260" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_yiNSU4jBKTU/TOb8FSg8zuI/AAAAAAAAAT0/2HF696I6o4M/KahnePoleMiami2010_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border: 0px none; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" title="KahnePoleMiami2010" width="180" /></a><br />A few things to watch for this weekend’s race: Greg Biffle qualified 27th in a backup car after crashing into the wall during the early practice today. As for the top three Chasers, Denny Hamlin qualified 37th, Jimmie Johnson qualified 6th, and Kevin Harvick qualified 28th. I do not know what to expect on Sunday, other than a nail-biter of a race. Will we have a new champion or will Johnson win his fifth in a row?<br /><br />For all of the racing action, you can find the full <a href="http://www.skirtsandscuffs.com/2010/11/tv-schedule-nov-19-21.html">TV Schedule</a> on <a href="http://www.skirtsandscuffs.com/">Skirts and Scuffs</a>. The NSCS Countdown airs at noon Sunday on ESPN 2 with the race coverage changing over to ESPN at 1 p.m. EST. This is the last race of the season and probably the one in which everyone will be watching. <br /><ol><li>Kasey Kahne<br /></li><li>Carl Edwards<br /></li><li>Jamie McMurray<br /></li><li>Bill Elliott<br /></li><li>A.J. Allmendinger<br /></li><li>Jimmie Johnson<br /></li><li>David Reutimann<br /></li><li>Mark Martin<br /></li><li>David Ragan<br /></li><li>Regan Smith<br /></li><li>Jeff Gordon<br /></li><li>Elliott Sadler<br /></li><li>Matt Kenseth<br /></li><li>Jeff Burton<br /></li><li>Kurt Busch<br /></li><li>Paul Menard<br /></li><li>Clint Bowyer<br /></li><li>Brad Keselowski<br /></li><li>Joey Logano<br /></li><li>Marcos Ambrose<br /></li><li>J.J. Yeley<br /></li><li>Dale Earnhardt Jr.<br /></li><li>Ryan Newman<br /></li><li>Aric Almirola<br /></li><li>Martin Truex Jr.<br /></li><li>Sam Hornish Jr.<br /></li><li>Greg Biffle<br /></li><li>Kevin Harvick<br /></li><li>Joe Nemechek<br /></li><li>Mike Bliss<br /></li><li>Tony Stewart<br /></li><li>Bobby Labonte<br /></li><li>Kyle Busch<br /></li><li>Casey Mears<br /></li><li>Andy Lally<br /></li><li>Dave Blaney<br /></li><li>Denny Hamlin<br /></li><li>David Gilliland<br /></li><li>Travis Kvapil<br /></li><li>Juan Montoya<br /></li><li>Scott Speed<br /></li><li>Kevin Conway<br /></li><li>Landon Cassill </li></ol>Katy Lindamoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15504396087249155797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6182973293412731911.post-67130750474192148232010-11-19T13:14:00.000-08:002010-11-30T08:41:56.214-08:00TV Schedule Nov. 19-21<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9SU1iwzqXeEOLJy4wknM81LQVaKMJROwDRNCR4xNRAlVCo1gkHkw0AcqvpJpc5EJjW81cKohP-hV0hv63WmxYhatlEKq869FQrTIF3H2wZjFrTTfhN0YYxNERXPTLL79A9fG6fOe5Y7xz/s1600/2010+Homestead-Miami+NSCS+Contenders+trophy+vertical.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9SU1iwzqXeEOLJy4wknM81LQVaKMJROwDRNCR4xNRAlVCo1gkHkw0AcqvpJpc5EJjW81cKohP-hV0hv63WmxYhatlEKq869FQrTIF3H2wZjFrTTfhN0YYxNERXPTLL79A9fG6fOe5Y7xz/s400/2010+Homestead-Miami+NSCS+Contenders+trophy+vertical.jpg" width="263" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span id="CT_Main_1_cache_lblCaption">The Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup trophy, made <br />by Tiffany's. </span><span id="CT_Main_1_cache_lblCredit">(Sam Greenwood/Getty Images for NASCAR</span>)</td></tr></tbody></table>After nine months of racing action, the 2010 NASCAR season draws to a close this weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway.<br /><br />The 1.5-mile track has had its share of dramatic moments: champions have been made here and for others, championships have been lost. But Sunday's Ford 400 race may be the most anticipated in quite some time. With Denny Hamlin, also the defending race winner; Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick separated by only 46 points, there is no clear favorite to win the 2010 Sprint Cup championship. The title is on the line and it may go down to the very last lap, setting up what could be the most exciting race all year. May the best man win.<br /><br />The 2010 champions have been determined in the Camping World Truck Series and Nationwide Series, but in both the owners' championships have yet to be determined.<br /><br />In Nationwide, a flat tire caused Kyle Busch to finish 16th, trimming the No. 18's lead in owner points to 41 ahead of the No. 22 car driven all season by 2010 Champion Brad Keselowski. Can Keselowski close the deal and secure Roger Penske his first NASCAR owners' championship? Defending race winner is last year's champion Kyle Busch.<br /><br />In the Truck Series, the owners' title seems all but certain for first-year team owner Kyle Busch. Busch's No. 18 truck holds a 120-point lead over second-place Germain Racing and 2010 Champion Todd Bodine. Despite a dominant lead, you can expect Busch to go for the win Friday and add to his impressive series-high seven victories (that's half of his truck starts in 2010). Defending race winner is Kevin Harvick.<br /><br />As the white flag waves on the 2010 season, here is a guide to this weekend's track events and TV coverage at Homestead-Miami Speedway. (All times are in Eastern Standard Time):<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Friday, Nov. 19:</span><br />3 p.m. NSCS Qualifying, ESPN2<br />5 p.m. NCWTS Qualifying, SPEED<br />6 p.m. NASCAR Live, SPEED<br />6:30 p.m. NNS Final Practice, SPEED<br />7:30 p.m. NCWTS SetUp, SPEED (reruns at 12:30 p.m.)<br />8 p.m. NCWTS: Ford 200, SPEED. Green flag: 8:18 p.m. (reruns at 1 a.m.)<br />10:30 p.m. Trackside at Homestead-Miami, SPEED. Guests: Jeff Burton and Kurt Busch. (reruns at 3:30 a.m.)<br />1:30 a.m. NASCAR Now, ESPN2 <br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Saturday, Nov. 20:</span><br />10:30 a.m. The Racing Chef, SPEED<br />11:30 a.m. NNS Qualifying, SPEED<br />1 p.m. NASCAR Live, SPEED<br />3 p.m. NSCS Final Practice, ESPN2<br />4 p.m. NNS Countdown, ESPN2<br />4:30 p.m. NNS: Ford 300, ESPN2. Green flag: 4:45 p.m. (reruns at 3:30 a.m.)<br />8 p.m. Trackside at Homestead-Miami, SPEED<br />11 p.m. NASCAR Performance, SPEED<br />11:30 p.m. NASCAR Smarts, SPEED<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sunday, Nov. 21:</span><br />7:30 a.m. NASCAR Performance, SPEED<br />8 a.m. NASCAR Smarts, SPEED<br />8:30 a.m. NASCAR in A Hurry, SPEED<br />9 a.m. NASCAR Now, ESPN2<br />9 a.m. NASCAR RaceDay, SPEED<br />12 noon NSCS Countdown, ESPN2<br />1 p.m. NSCS: Ford 400, ESPN. Green flag: 1:15 p.m. (reruns at 3:30 a.m. on ESPN2)<br />8 p.m. The Edge: Grand American Road Racing, DISC HD<br />8 p.m. NASCAR Victory Lane, SPEED (reruns at 2 a.m. and 9 a.m. Monday)<br />10 p.m. NASCAR Now, ESPN2Katy Lindamoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15504396087249155797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6182973293412731911.post-49156368833040646852010-11-18T19:41:00.000-08:002010-11-30T08:41:56.235-08:00Chase Coverage: Phoenix Wrap-Up Report<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ1uiGrSVnmqXF151RB9_z0wfSRobaXgAx93trqjnnCJzCZVqcusKGNTk55_3tyGX8vEtB0Pr5Z-oIXACeaoG27e_GuQJALpcw9FJ_9JZiBy3bfUtaQHS8UZGfpGO6q6cbdxmFbkkLTuKq/s1600/backflip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ1uiGrSVnmqXF151RB9_z0wfSRobaXgAx93trqjnnCJzCZVqcusKGNTk55_3tyGX8vEtB0Pr5Z-oIXACeaoG27e_GuQJALpcw9FJ_9JZiBy3bfUtaQHS8UZGfpGO6q6cbdxmFbkkLTuKq/s400/backflip.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span id="CT_Main_1_cache_lblCredit">Jason Smith/Getty Images for NASCAR</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />With every race the 2010 Chase for the Sprint Cup becomes more exciting. At Phoenix, it was the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. One Chaser's winless streak ended in the desert, while the dominant car - and championship contender behind it - lost the race as well as ground in the standings. <br /><br />Points leader Denny Hamlin seemed all but certain to run way with Sunday's race in the desert. Then everything changed as it all came down to fuel mileage.<br /><br />The nearly 70-point lead Hamlin had built up during the race was nearly wiped out as the fuel-mileage gamble worked against him and in Jimmie Johnson's and Kevin Harvick's favor. We now have the closest points battle in the history of the Chase with one race to go. This sets up a final blowout for the title at Homestead, which could come down to the last lap.<br /><br />A delighted Carl Edwards couldn't wait to "flip" after a 70-race winless stretch, the end of a rare perfect weekend for the driver 4th in the standings. <br /><br />How did you favorite Chase driver come out in the fuel-mileage game at Phoenix? Our 12 contributors bring you the story on each of the top 12 after the Kobalt Tools 500.<br /><br /><div style="color: #f6b26b;">1. Denny Hamlin - Holly Machuga</div>Denny Hamlin continues to lead the points standings with 15 points over Jimmie Johnson after a 12th-place finish at Phoenix International Raceway.<br /><br />The team had a great run Sunday and led the majority of the race. What ruined their day was being 12 laps short on fuel. Unfortunately, Hamlin was forced to conserve fuel and fell to the 12th position. This opened the rest of the race up for anyone else to win.<br /><br />Post race, Denny was asked what he needs to do to win this Chase come Homestead. He answered, "For me I guess as soon as I leave Phoenix, I have to leave Phoenix in Phoenix."<br /><br />To clinch that championship spot, Hamlin has a few options. One, he can lead the most laps and come in second. Or, two, he can win the race.<br /><br />If it comes to a tie with Jimmie Johnson, the driver with the most wins will be the champion. Denny would overrule Johnson with eight wins.<br /><br />With one more race to go, the Chase has become extremely interesting. We'll all be watching the FedEx team during the final race in the 2010 Sprint Cup season.<br /><a name='more'></a><br /><div style="color: #f6b26b;">2. Jimmie Johnson - Rebecca Kivak</div>Jimmie Johnson's dream of a fifth Sprint Cup title looked like it was fading into the rear-view mirror while points leader Denny Hamlin dominated Sunday's Kobalt Tools 500. The driver of the No. 48 Lowes Chevrolet battled a loose racecar off and on and simply lacked the speed to keep up with the No. 11. But in the end, it was fuel mileage - something that had bitten the No. 48 team in the past - that would keep Johnson's title hopes alive.<br /><br />Johnson started Sunday's Kobalt Tools 500 from the 21st position. For the first half of the race, the four-time Cup champion reported a lose condition in the center and tight in the corners. It took Johnson until lap 70 to break into the top 10. When some shade fell upon the track in turns 3 and 4, the car tightened up, improving the handling and allowing Johnson to pick up positions. By lap 120 he was running in the top 5. Once the sun came back out, however, Johnson once again found himself struggling with a loose condition, but continued to run steadily in the top 5.<br /><br />Benefiting Johnson was his new No. 48 pit crew. The former over-the-wall team for the No. 24 nailed their stops in roughly 13 seconds or less, allowing Johnson to maintain or gain positions on pit road. Despite the improvements in the pits, though, Johnson and crew chief Chad Knaus couldn't get the speed they wanted from the No. 48 car. In an atypical Phoenix race for Johnson, he never led a lap or emerged as a contender for the win. <br /><br />The game-changing moment in the 312-lap event turned out to be a yellow-flag pit stop on lap 224. Johnson and Hamlin both pitted on this stop. In his post-race comments, Johnson said he had started conserving fuel early in the last long green-flag run. Then with 25 laps to go, Knaus started coaxing Johnson to save fuel, and he went into ultra conservation mode. Hamlin, however, didn't have enough fuel and pitted with 14 to go.<br /><br />Johnson was able to stretch the gas in his tank over the last 88 laps. For a team that has struggled with fuel mileage, the all-or-nothing gamble for the No. 48 paid off Sunday as Johnson crossed the finish line fifth. He gained 18 points on Hamlin and trails him by 15 going into the season finale at Homestead. Johnson's hunt for a fifth title is very much alive, setting up an exciting showdown for the championship.<br /><br /><div style="color: #f6b26b;">3. Kevin Harvick - Amber Arnold</div><div style="color: white;"><span id="internal-source-marker_0.7110078422539938" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Who knew that forgetting a lug nut on a pit stop could actually end up being a good thing? This was the case for Harvick and the 29 team in Phoenix. </span></div><div style="color: white;"><br /></div><div style="color: white;"><span id="internal-source-marker_0.7110078422539938" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Harvick ended up having to come back down pit road to fix it when Gil Martin, Harvick’s crew chief, made the call for fuel. After a long green flag run, Harvick managed to work himself up to the 6</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 6.6pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super;">th</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> position when the checkered flag flew. </span></div><div style="color: white;"><br /></div><div style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Phoenix was also a race that moved Harvick a little closer to possibly claiming the championship trophy in Homestead. Denny Hamlin finishing behind Harvick has brought him just 46 points out of first and 31 points our of 2</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 6.6pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super;">nd</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">. Going into Homestead the objective is clear for the Shell/Penzoil team. Win the race and win their first Sprint Cup championship!</span></div><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><br /><div style="color: #f6b26b;">4. Carl Edwards - Amanda Ebersole</div>After a two-year drought, Carl Edwards and the 99 Aflac team made it back to Victory Lane. This weekend could not have been any better for Edwards. He won the Nationwide race (after starting from second) then claimed the pole for the Cup race, setting a new track record, and also won every single practice that was held this weekend.<br /><br />Carl and crew chief Bob Osborne made great calls that had him in contention throughout the entire race. Carl was battling a loose condition for a while, but Bob made the appropriate changes and Carl regained his track position. He, Denny Hamlin and Kurt Busch battled for first, second and third throughout the race. Then the race came down to fuel mileage, something everyone dreads. But Carl has always been great at saving fuel, so I knew this was his moment …barring any fluke, he could do it!<br /><br />With 12 laps to go, Denny Hamlin had to pit. That left Carl in a good position over the second-place car of Juan Pablo Montoya. Montoya then ran out of fuel .... and Carl sailed to the checkered flag with a 4.77-second margin over second-place Ryan Newman.<br /><br />Carl snapped a 70-race winless streak, his last victory coming at Homestead in 2008, and has now earned his way into the All-Star Race next May. I guess you can say that this is one drought that ended in the desert.<br /><br />Carl celebrated his victory with his now trademark backflip and added to that a run through the crowd with the fans. Victory Lane also saw the markings of the Aflac duck - white feathers were thrown by the crew in celebration.<br /><br />Post race, Carl made sure to thank his sponsors, team and fans who have not given up on him these past two years. “I think it’s something that we needed for our confidence,” Carl said. “We needed it as a payoff for all the hard work the guys have put in at the shop, the engine department. It would be nice to get another one at Homestead. But to go into the off-season knowing that we’re getting better, looks like we have a legitimate shot to finish fourth in the points, to be in the All-Star Race next season, to have that energy going forward, all those things are good.”<br /><br />As a devoted Carl fan, this was the best race weekend in a long time for me! Sure, I have loved the Nationwide wins, but everyone always says to me, “When is he going to get a Cup win?” Now I can say he did!<br /><br />I never thought I would be one of those fans to get all emotional over sports of any type, but when Carl took that checkered flag Sunday night, I got all misty-eyed and as I recount this now I also am. I have never given up hope on Carl and the 99 team and am so proud as a fan to see them back in Victory Lane, where they belong!<br /><br /><div style="color: #f6b26b;">5. Matt Kenseth - Whitney Richards</div>After their second-place finish at Texas last weekend, Matt Kenseth and his crew came to Phoenix International Raceway looking to be contenders for the win again. With a decent starting position, Kenseth looked strong as the No. 17 Valvoline Ford cracked the top 10 within the opening laps of the race. However, an uncharacteristic pit road mistake from the No. 17 crew had Kenseth off sequence with the leaders late in the race. The team was able to battle back and finish seventh.<br /><br />Kenseth took the green flag from the 15th position on Sunday for the Kobalt Tools 500. Just 10 laps later, he was up to ninth. He remained in that position, and didn’t report much about his car’s handling other than the No. 17 Ford was tight in the middle of the turns. A caution on lap 60 gave Kenseth the chance to inform crew chief Jimmy Fennig that the car was still tight in the middle of the turns and also very aero-sensitive. Kenseth pitted under the caution for four tires, fuel and air pressure adjustments. His pit crew was able to help him gain two positions to restart seventh. He was able to maintain track position until around lap 95 when he reported the car was lacking rear grip. The tight-handling issue was still there too.<br /><br />Another caution gave Kenseth the chance to pit for four tires, fuel and more air pressure adjustments on lap 102. He restarted 11th, and worked his way back inside the top 10 when green-flag stops began to cycle through. After staying out to lead lap 173, he pitted and the team made more air pressure adjustments as well as a trackbar adjustment. The changes helped, but eventually the No. 17 Ford became loose. Under caution on lap 235, Fennig called Kenseth down pit road for a two-tire stop in an attempt to gain track position. Unfortunately, a loose lug nut forced Kenseth to come back down pit road, resulting in him restarting 18th.<br /><br />The race came down to basically who had the fuel to finish among the leaders. Before the race was over, Kenseth had to make a stop for fuel, but he battled back to take the checkered flag from the seventh position. He is fifth in the standings, 311 points behind leader Denny Hamlin.<br /><br /><div style="color: #f6b26b;">6. Jeff Gordon - Genevieve Cadorette</div>Jeff Gordon started the race in 22nd position in Sunday’s Kolbalt Tools 500 at Phoenix International Raceway in Arizona. He believes that a "tightening" in the track is what prevented the team from getting a better finish.<br /><br />By the time he pitted around lap 59, he was in 17th position; after pitting for four tires and an air pressure adjustment, he continued to move ahead until he was in 11th. He was heard on his radio telling his crew, “I’m a little bit too tight getting the center of the corner.” An issue during the lap 102 pit stop had dropped him back to 16th.<br /><br />He was later heard saying that his car was “not bad by myself, but plowing tight as soon as I get near someone.” His crew chief Steve Letarte called for major changes to the chassis during the lap 224 pit stop.<br /><br />He returned to pit road 13 laps later for more adjustments and four new tires. He restarted 15th and moved ahead to 11th in time to finish the race.<br /><br />"[The setup] at the end of the race was close to how we had it at the beginning," Gordon said after the race. "We adjusted on it and adjusted on it, and then we brought it back close to what we started with when those changes didn't work.<br /><br />"It was fast at the start, but I guess the track just tightened up too much and we couldn't get a hold of it.”<br /><br />Gordon is sixth in points for next week's final race at Homestead-Miami Speedway for the Ford 400 season finale and the Cup championship.<br /><br /><div style="color: #f6b26b;">7. Kyle Busch - Lindi Bess </div>The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series found itself in Phoenix this past weekend. A race that should have been about strategy came down to fuel mileage in the end. Kyle and the #18 Toyota Camry have 12 starts at the Phoenix track, six of which were in the JGR Toyota. Of these six races, including Sunday’s Kobalt Tools 500, Kyle has zero top 5s, three top 10s, an average start of 6, and average finish now a 11.33.<br /><br />In Sunday's race, Kyle started in the seventh position. The race began with its first caution within the first two laps. Once back out on the track, Kyle was able to move up to the fourth position, behind brother Kurt. Lap 60 brought out the second caution, in which Kyle Busch pits and took four tires and a track bar adjustment. By lap 164, Kyle took second from Carl Edwards. Soon Kyle got his five extra points by taking the lead from his teammate, Denny Hamlin.<br /><br />The field went through green flag pit stops and Kyle joins them after securing his extra points. When the field reset, Kyle was in third, right in front of four-time champion Jimmie Johnson, and Hamlin had regained the lead. After caution number 4, the field reset after pitting and Kyle took the lead, bringing the field past the green flag. Kyle led a total of six laps. In my opinion, the race had been extremely slow. It wasn’t until the end when drivers began to worry about fuel - and whether or not they had enough - when things began to pick up a bit. The #18 finished in 13th behind points leader and teammate Hamlin.<br /><br />Next weekend is a first for many of us NASCAR fans. By now in recent years, it was pretty much decided on who would drive away with the Sprint Cup championship. Not this year - we still have three who are in the running. I for one can’t wait until Homestead.<br /><br /><div style="color: #f6b26b;">8. Greg Biffle - Stacie Ball</div>For me, the second to last race in the Chase was a complete nail-biter. I am shocked I have any nails left over after watching the race from Phoenix International Raceway. After Biffle’s amazing finish in Texas, I really had no idea what to expect these last two races. I was so happy to see that he was driving for the win, even if it was not totally in the cards for him.<br /><br />The Pit Bulls sent Biffle out 13th for the restart on lap 65, but the car still seemed to be lacking grip. He was back in 15th when the next caution came out on lap 100. The team made another round of adjustments and sent Biffle out in the 12th position. A few laps later, however, he was back in the 16th position with a loose racecar when a round of green-flag pit stops began on lap 168.<br /><br />The team picked up three positions in the pits and Biffle was 13th on the board when the round of green-flag stops was complete on lap 176. During the next run, he reported that the Scotch Brand Ford was still too loose but a caution on lap 222 allowed him to pit for further adjustments. Those adjustments, however, made the car too tight so he pitted during the next caution on lap 235 for further changes while some of the frontrunners opted to stay out.<br /><br />That pit stop would prove to be pivotal for the 3M team as the race went green to the checkered flag from that point. He restarted 14th on lap 239 and drove up to seventh before informing the team that the car had lost grip again. He dropped back to ninth, which is where he was running when some of the cars in front of him began to run out of fuel. Biffle was able to capitalize and drive to a fourth-place finish.<br /><br />“We weren’t that good but the fuel mileage worked out for us at the end,” said Biffle. “We had a top-10 car but we want to be better than that so we’ll keep working on it. Hopefully, we’ll run a little better in the spring. We’ll take this top 5 and get ready to try to win next weekend in Homestead.”<br /><br />Biffle and the 3M team moved up to eighth in the point standings. They are 349 points behind the points leader and only 38 points out of fifth. A few weeks back, I did not think this was going to be possible; I hoped, though.<br /><br />I am really excited to see what is going to happen next week in Miami! All I know is that this has been the best Chase in the last five years. I have been enjoying each and every race for the different challenges in which they have brought, the good, the bad and the ugly. Thanks for a great Chase, boys!<br /><br /><div style="color: #f6b26b;">9. Tony Stewart - Unique Hiram</div>Fuel mileage was the name of the game at <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1290135887_0" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">Phoenix International Raceway</span> and it was also the reason that <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1290135887_1" style="-moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">Tony Stewart</span> ended up crossing the<span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1290135887_2" style="-moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; cursor: pointer;"> finish line</span> in the 17th position (three positions up from where he originally began the race). The <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1290135887_3" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">Kobalt Tools 500</span> proved to be another thorn in this race team's side when they decided to take the chance to stay out versus coming in for fuel on lap 235. Unfortunately, everyone behind him hit pit road for service in order to have an opportunity at a great finish when the <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1290135887_4">checkered flag</span> waved.<br /><br />There is one more race left in the <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1290135887_5">Sprint Cup</span> Chase (Homestead-Miami) and this team will rally as they always have to complete the season on a high note. Although most eyes will be on the top three contenders<br />(Hamlin, Johnson and <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1290135887_6" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">Harvick</span>), it will present the opportunity for one of the other Chase drivers to capture the win. You can bet that Stewart and the #14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet team will be fighting to the finish.<br /><br /><div style="color: #f6b26b;">10. Kurt Busch - Rebecca Kivak</div>Phoenix proved to be the high point so far in the 2010 Chase for Kurt Busch. The Penske driver swapped the lead with Carl Edwards early on in the Kobalt Tools 500 and came out on the right side of the fuel-mileage game, finishing ninth. Busch's finish was his second top 10 in the Chase and allowed him to climb back into the top 10 in points.<br /><br />With a top-3 starting spot, Busch led 20 laps in the beginning of Sunday's race. But his No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge started to fade in the middle of the event as Busch reported a tight condition that was loose in the center. As he battled the ill-handling car, Busch fell back as far as 15th.<br /><br />Busch was one of a group of drivers who pitted on lap 224 after the fourth caution of the race, but he also pitted again on lap 235 after the fifth yellow flag. The stop ensured Busch had enough fuel to make it through the end of the race. The adjustments the No. 2 crew made on that last stop helped free up the car, working in Busch's favor over the final green-flag run. <br /><br />"We’ll take the top-10 finish. Our Miller Lite Dodge was a little temperamental today. We did our job on Friday (in qualifying) to get a solid starting position and we just weren’t able to capitalize on the early track position that we had," Busch said. "It was a solid day, but we need to get a better balance on the car. For us, it comes down to working on getting the front end to work better in the center of the corner.”<br /><br />Busch now sits 10th in points, but is only 5 ahead of Clint Bowyer in 11th place. <br /><br /><div style="color: #f6b26b;">11. Clint Bowyer - Amy McHargue</div>Clint Bowyer began Sunday's race in the seventh position on the track and the 11th position in the Chase standings. Bowyer began slipping back through the field early and was in the wrong place at the wrong time on lap 20 when the #6 and #77 got into one another, catching Clint in the middle. There was some right rear damage; by lap 35 Bowyer was calling back to his crew saying “I don't even know how to tell you to fix it.” By lap 50 the #33 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet was in the 32nd position.<br /><br />First pit stops found Clint taking four tires, a trackbar adjustment, and two rubbers into the right rear. Bowyer improved his track position by five, coming out of the pits in 27th position. By lap 200 Bowyer had fought his way back up to the 19th position. The car was just mediocre and no matter the adjustments made in the pits handling was not improving. Then, word came down from the pit box late that the Cheerios car would run out of fuel without a late-race stop. With two laps to go, Bowyer headed to the pits. His day would end with him posting the 21st finishing position. <br /><br />The Cheerios #33 slipped back one position in the standings due to Bowyer's mid-pack finish and is now back to 11th in the Chase. Now 123 points out of fifth, it looks like Clint Bowyer will experience his first year of making the Chase but finishing outside of the top five. It is interesting to note that without the 150-point penalty assessed after Clint's car failed post-race inspection after the first Chase race, he would be in the fifth position, 284 point back instead of being 434 points behind Chase leaders. Bowyer needs to perform strongly at the season-ender in Homestead; he will have to salvage what he can out of his 2010 season.<br /><br /><div style="color: #f6b26b;">12. Jeff Burton - Genna Short</div><div>For a day that didn’t start off very promising for the 31 team, <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1290135766_0" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">Jeff Burton</span> certainly proved just what he was made of in Sunday’s <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1290135766_1" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">Kobalt Tools 500</span> at <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1290135766_2" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">Phoenix International Raceway</span>. He started in 40th position but was a quick mover, landing in 12th by lap 125 and had snuck into the top 10 by lap 177.</div><div></div><div><br />He’s always been a contender at Phoenix and <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1290135766_3" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">on Sunday</span>, he showed the competition that he can’t be counted out yet. While he hasn’t had a win since Charlotte in 2008, he seems to be edging closer to that elusive victory. </div><div></div><div><br />While his day ended in a disappointing finish, Burton still seem pleased with the run.</div><div></div><div><br />“It's disappointing in the fact that we finished 19th but I can't complain about where we were running and how well the No. 31 ran today,” he said after Sunday’s race.</div><div></div><div>After a fast stop, Burton found himself restarting in the fifth position on lap 228. He slipped to sixth and had to give up that spot when he was forced to pit for fuel on lap 303. He also took two tires and he fell back to eventually finish 19th.</div><div></div><div><br />"We really had high expectations coming into the race and the Caterpillar Chevrolet ran well, too. We, obviously, ran better than what our finish shows but, along with some other teams, we were short on fuel and a caution that we were looking for never came so we had to pit.”</div><div></div><div><br />While the day didn’t end as well as they had hoped, there is one final shot for the 31 team to gain that coveted victory and break a winless streak longer than <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1290135766_4" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">Carl Edwards</span>’. And that is just what Burton plans to do.</div><div></div><div><br />“We have one more chance to win a race this season and that's what we're going to set out to do."</div><div></div>Katy Lindamoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15504396087249155797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6182973293412731911.post-57831029559850268232010-11-18T19:40:00.000-08:002010-11-30T08:41:56.262-08:00WIN Series Update - Jen Jo Cobb<div align="center"><span style="color: rgb(255, 128, 192);font-family:Blackadder ITC;font-size:7px;" ><i><b><span style="color: rgb(255, 128, 192);font-family:Blackadder ITC;font-size:7px;" ><i><b><span style="color: rgb(255, 128, 192);font-family:Blackadder ITC;font-size:7px;" ><i><b><span style="color: rgb(255, 128, 192);font-family:Blackadder ITC;font-size:7px;" ><i><b></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: rgb(255, 128, 192);font-family:Blackadder ITC;font-size:180%;" ><i><b><span style="color: rgb(255, 128, 192);font-family:Blackadder ITC;" ><i><b><span style="color: rgb(255, 128, 192);font-family:Blackadder ITC;" ><i><b><span style="color: rgb(255, 128, 192);font-family:Blackadder ITC;" ><i><b>Making History</b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></b></i></span></div><div align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_wSJnvT2I0mk/TOWTwPLR-KI/AAAAAAAABDA/us8eHx1ASYw/s1600-h/x2_370672c%5B9%5D.jpg"><img alt="x2_370672c" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_wSJnvT2I0mk/TOWTwaSpHxI/AAAAAAAABDE/e8EeoqdVpNg/x2_370672c_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="x2_370672c" width="184" border="0" height="244" /></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;"><b><i><span style="color: rgb(255, 128, 192);font-family:Blackadder ITC;" >Her Way</span></i></b></span><b><i></i></b></div><br />Homestead marks the end of the season for many drivers, but it's really the beginning of the next season for the team owner. Getting sponsors in line, getting drivers under contract and having cars, and/or trucks in <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1290158770_0" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">Jennifer Jo Cobb</span>’s position, to race. This can all weigh on how they do during these final weekends.<br /><br />The Chase might be of importance to the 12 who are involved, but there are many other drivers out there who don’t have the money or sponsors to race a full schedule. Some of the drivers are working on deals throughout the current season to make sure they get as much seat time as possible in the next season. <br /><br />At <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1290158770_1">Jennifer Jo Cobb Racing</span>, things are really falling into place. Although she stated in our recent Women in <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1290158770_2" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">NASCAR</span> interview that she couldn’t help but feel a bit disappointed that she wasn’t at least finishing in the top 15 at every event, she is very optimistic in how next year is already lining up. <br /><br />When Jennifer takes the checkered flag at Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway, she’ll make NASCAR history in her <a style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" href="http://lillyscosmetics.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1290158770_3">LillysCosmetics.com</span></a><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> </span><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1290158770_4">Ford F-150</span> at <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1290158770_5" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">Friday night</span>’<span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1290158770_6" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">s Ford 200</span> Camping World Truck Series race. Cobb will surpass <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1290158770_7" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">Tammy Jo Kirk</span> as the highest-finishing female in one of NASCAR’s top-three series, boasting 17th in the final point standings.<br /><br /><a name='more'></a><br /><span style="color:red;">Jen tweeted from Miami after CWTS Rookie Meeting: Below is the exact tweet. I say it's about time! </span><br /><br /><b><i>Final @</i></b><a href="http://twitter.com/NASCAR_Trucks"><b><i>NASCAR_Trucks</i></b></a><b><i> rookie mtg. W Auton says take that yellow stripe off and congrats on bein a vet. Rode n Mustang arnd trk w our Champ!<a href="http://www.echofon.com/"></a> </i></b><br /><br /><b><i> </i></b><br /><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_wSJnvT2I0mk/TOXREZQr9BI/AAAAAAAABDY/RrE6V9r1cdM/s1600-h/x2_3708874%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="x2_3708874" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_wSJnvT2I0mk/TOXRErAc-sI/AAAAAAAABDc/hL6jLq_Dlu0/x2_3708874_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="x2_3708874" width="293" border="0" height="233" /></a><br /><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left">Underneath the beautiful pink #10 <a href="http://lillyscosmetics.com/"><span style="color:red;">LillysCosmetics.com</span></a> Ford F-150, pictured above, is the same truck Jennifer ran at both Texas and Darlington, claiming top 15s in both races. You’ll read later that this was actually a point of contention between Jen and Crew Chief Steve Kuykendall. </div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><b><i><span style="color: rgb(155, 0, 211);">Jen made this comment on on her website:</span></i></b></div><div align="center">"I hope that my team's accomplishments have been an inspiration.<br />I wanted to prove that you can't let age or gender keep you from <br />achieving your goals. I don't have the profile of a typical NASCAR <br />driver, but that never stopped me from chasing my dream. Our <br />team doesn't have a large budget by any means and we don't have <br />the resources that some of the larger operations have. We never let <br />that keep us from believing we could compete against NASCAR's <br />best. I hope that our accomplishments are an inspiration."</div><br />The truck and Jen’s firesuit have gone through a makeover to introduce her newest sponsor in<span style="color:red;"> </span><a href="http://lillyscosmetics.com/"><span style="color:red;">LillysCosmetics</span><span style="color:red;">.com</span></a><span style="color:red;">. </span> Jen sent me the renderings of her new firesuit, which you can view below.<br /><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">Renderings of Jen’s new firesuit</span><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_wSJnvT2I0mk/TOXjEkHk7kI/AAAAAAAABDo/S_UnzFDHwBA/s1600-h/Untitled%5B13%5D.jpg"><img alt="Untitled" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_wSJnvT2I0mk/TOXjE-ed73I/AAAAAAAABDs/ia_aUIw_fLo/Untitled_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Untitled" width="276" border="0" height="259" /></a></div><div align="left"><b><i>I thought this was a great time to sit down with Jen again and talk a little about all these huge changes, with the exciting news of her history-making event and addition of Homestead-Miami sponsor </i></b><a href="http://lillyscosmetics.com/"><b><i><span style="color:red;">Lill</span><span style="color:red;">ysCosmetics.com</span></i></b></a><b><i><span style="color:red;">. </span></i></b></div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left"><b><span style="color: rgb(155, 0, 211);">Let's talk about the fine last month for the carb issue. Explain to everyone what happened.</span></b></div>“It's not a big a big deal at all. The carburetor wasn't illegal, it was just overused. It's the same carb we've run all year in the Truck Series. It gets checked in every race. What happens is anytime you have something with holes in it, the more things that go through the whole such as air, fuel and sediments, then those holes are going to eventually erode away. <br /><br />"The advantage in carburation is that the bigger the hole, the more air and fuel can glow through it and it will go faster. For us, it was just a matter that the holes were wallered out a little bit. If you picture a child’s toy that you put shapes into the holes, after a few thousand times, it gets easier and easier. So, it was not an illegal carb, it had not been tampered with. It was just overused. If it had been tampered with, it would have been a much stronger fine. It's a minimum fine from NASCAR in which they allowed me to pay in two payments. It's been paid and the whole issue is done with. <br /><br />"A lot of teams get fined and get caught with something. We weren’t doing anything illegal; we just needed a new carburetor, and it's why we were being punished. In hindsight, a new carb would have been less expensive. What I wished would have happened it that we’d gotten a warning. Like, 'Hey guys, this carb is a little overused.’ A lot of times that's what NASCAR does when something is on the edge or on the line, but there was a bit of a crowd around and they want to be as black and white as possible, either it's right or it's not. So like I said, it's not a big deal at all, especially when it's something that's not illegal. The tools just didn't fit perfectly like they use to because it wasn’t brand new anymore."<br /><br /><b><span style="color: rgb(155, 0, 211);">When we last spoke, you'd talked a about being a little disappointed because you hadn't been finishing in the top 15 each race, which had been a small personal goal you had set for yourself. Now you're being recognized as the highest-finishing female with your run at Homestead. Is this making up for your disappointment, giving a high point on which to move on from into 2011?</span></b><br />"Yes, it's really exciting because there is a lot of recognition that is coming right now because of that. Even from higher officials in NASCAR as I had seen a tweet earlier from @SiriusXM128, who tweeted that Wayne Auton (director of the Camping World Truck Series) stated that Jen Cobb will be the highest-finishing female in NASCAR national competition history, she'll finish top 20 in points. So yeah, I definitely think it's something to be proud of. <br /><br />"If you can look back over your season and say was it enough, I say, 'Hell yeah!' We were there every week. We finished the majority of our races with very few incidents. Our equipment stayed together. We just want more. We’re hungry for more speed and we’re hungry for better finishes. And if we weren’t, we shouldn't be out there. But in hindsight, can we be proud of what we accomplished? Absolutely we can. The best part of it all is you're hungry for competition and you want that speed, but at the end of the day it’s the people that matter. What we have accomplished this year with an amazing crew and even employees we had to let go that I am still in contact with. Still texting on a weekly basis to say ‘good luck’ and ‘how ya doing,’ ‘I got this sponsor prospect for you.’ I think that’s what matters if you run a successful business and you put people first, and work, and better results each and every week, and I figure that’s what’s going to count for longevity.<br /><br />"As we end the 2010 season, we have more and more sponsor possibilities than I’ve ever had. So it's just my job to capitalize on all of that and work it. I’m so excited going into next year because not only am I being recognized, as a racer that can stay in the top levels of this sport, but as a team owner and as a business we have other drivers that are coming over and saying they want to bring their sponsors, too. I want to race with you.<br /><br />"Like what we saw with driver Cody Cambensy. Now I’ve got two other potential deals working for Daytona with two other drivers in both ARCA and trucks. So just to see as an entire organization and looking at the big picture, I’d say it was quite a success.”<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_wSJnvT2I0mk/TOWqyFbchwI/AAAAAAAABDQ/FblhppYTLGU/s1600-h/cody%5B2%5D.jpg"><img alt="cody" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_wSJnvT2I0mk/TOWqyp3fPMI/AAAAAAAABDU/jz-YMb13td0/cody_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="cody" width="244" border="0" height="184" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">Cody Cambensy racing for JJCR at Martinsville</span></div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left"><span style="color: rgb(155, 0, 211);"><b>Jimi or Star?</b></span></div>“We learned so much and one of the things that we learned, and I learned it weeks ago, but it had to be proven. When Steve called me yesterday and said, 'You finally proved it to me, you’re absolutely right. I didn’t want you to be right. I tried everything I could for you not to be right.' But what we thought was our top-10 truck, Jimi, was not our top best truck. They proved it finally and we made the decision not to take that truck to Homestead. We’re taking another, <span style="color:red;">Star,</span> that had the two top-15 results. I said that <span style="color:red;">Star</span> is the truck that has performed better than any. We’ve not had any problems with Jimi, it just doesn’t perform like<span style="color: rgb(155, 0, 211);"> </span><span style="color:red;">Star,</span> with our best finishes. So we’re bringing <span style="color:red;">Star</span> back out for Miami. I wish we’d done that at Kentucky, Chicago, the 2nd National race, Vegas. We would have much better performance had we, but that’s all part of learning.”<br /><br /><b><span style="color: rgb(155, 0, 211);">So you landed a new sponsor with Lilly’s Cosmetics, correct?</span></b><br />“Yes, I am so excited that finally my two favorite worlds have collided. I love makeup and I love racing. I have lots of friends and fans who love the same. And I’m sure my male fans are annoyed so I’m making sure I throw the technical updates in there as well when we talk about makeup this week.”<br /><br /><div align="center"><b><span style="color: rgb(155, 0, 211);"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_wSJnvT2I0mk/TOXY4SlPHMI/AAAAAAAABDg/3vMZIaW7PKY/s1600-h/Credited%20to%20Michael%20Myers%5B2%5D.jpg"><img alt="Credited to Michael Myers" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_wSJnvT2I0mk/TOXY4r86ilI/AAAAAAAABDk/koY4O8uhs0c/Credited%20to%20Michael%20Myers_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Credited to Michael Myers" width="214" border="0" height="244" /></a></span></b><b><span style=";font-size:78%;color:black;" >Photo credited to Michael Myers</span></b></div><br /><b><span style="color: rgb(155, 0, 211);">Has Lilly’s Cosmetics signed on for just Homestead or for 2011?</span></b><br />It's just Homestead right now and then we are already talking about stuff for next year.<br /><br /><b><span style="color: rgb(155, 0, 211);">Finally, how are you feeling going into Homestead?</span></b><br />“I’m so excited! I have a new sponsor and a new look! I haven’t have a new firesuit in like three years. So I have a new pink suit, our best truck is being wrapped pink. I get to drive a pink truck which is all about makeup and I think that the fans are going to be excited about it. Please go to <a href="http://lillyscosmetics.com/"><span style="color:red;">LillysCosmetics.com</span></a> and help support that great sponsor. You’re going to be in love with the products on there. Momentum into next season all begins at Miami. I am so grateful for a wonderful 2010 season and what a fitting way to wrap it up with a new sponsor.”<br /><br /><b>CONTEST: Not affiliated with or has any connection to SkirtsandScuffs.com or @SkirtsandScuffs.</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><b>Enter to win 2 tickets to the 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Daytona race on Friday, Feb. 18, 2011.</b><br /><br /><b><i>All purchases from this shoppe on Friday, Nov. 19, will be entered to win.</i></b><br /><br /><b><i>To enter without purchasing, e-mail your name, address, e-mail address and phone number to sllilly@earthlink .net. Enter "Race Tickets" as the subject line.</i></b><br /><img src="http://www.lillyscosmetics.com/Logo%20Small.jpg" style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" border="0" /><br /><div align="center"><b><i>is proud to sponsor</i></b></div><div align="center"><b><i>Jennifer Jo Cobb</i></b></div><div align="center"><b><i>in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series 2010 Season Final Race</i></b></div><div align="center"><b><i>Friday November 19, 2010</i></b></div><div align="center"><i></i></div><div align="center"><i></i><i><b>Affordable Beauty</b> ...</i></div><div color="red" align="left"><br /></div><div style="color: red;" align="left"><b><span style=";color:white;" >The views expressed in this post are those of the author and not necessarily those of the site or its administrators.</span></b></div>Katy Lindamoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15504396087249155797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6182973293412731911.post-13633367498291740372010-11-18T13:24:00.000-08:002010-11-30T08:41:56.283-08:00Roush Rewind: Kobalt Tools 500Last weekend’s race at Phoenix International Raceway marked the 9th race in the 2010 Chase. While the on-track drama from Texas the week before didn’t really carry over to the Kobalt Tools 500, Phoenix created its own brand of drama in the form of the tightest Chase battle heading into the final race of the season, with Denny Hamlin, Jimmie Johnson, and Kevin Harvick all within reach of becoming the 2010 champion.<br /><br />For Roush Fenway Racing, last weekend was one of their best of the season. David Ragan had a strong car for Sunday’s race, but following a bad restart, he lost positions he just couldn’t make up. Ragan finished 25th, two laps down. Matt Kenseth came to Phoenix riding the wave of momentum from his 2nd place finish at Texas the weekend before, but he had to battle handling issues to finish 7th. Greg Biffle fought an ill-handling racecar, but held on to finish 4th. After winning Saturday’s Nationwide race, Carl Edwards was looking to win on Sunday to sweep the weekend at Phoenix, and he successfully did just that. <br /><strong><a name='more'></a></strong><strong>David Ragan: Start-12th. Finish-25th.</strong><br /><br />Ragan and his crew have been steadily improving over these last few races. They came to Phoenix in hopes of continuing the trend. After qualifying inside the top fifteen, Ragan’s day went downhill after a restart early in the race saw him making contact with the No. 77 of Sam Hornish, Jr. and the No. 33 of Clint Bowyer. He dropped back, lost a lap, fought an ill-handling No. 6 UPS Ford, went another lap down, and eventually finished two laps down in the 25th position. <br /><br />He took the green flag from the 12th position on Sunday. Three laps into the race, the first caution of the day came out for the No. 71 of Brendan Gaughan making contact with the wall. The field restarted on lap 7. Ragan was battling Hornish, Jr. for position when Bowyer got loose in front of him. Ragan made contact with Hornish, Jr. when he checked up, and made slight contact with Bowyer too. He dropped from 15th to 28th in just a few short seconds. Shortly afterward, Ragan told crew chief Drew Blickensderfer that the No. 6 Ford was loose off the turns and tight through the center. The caution came out again on lap 60 for the No. 12 of Brad Keselowski and gave Ragan the opportunity to pit for adjustments. He pitted for four tires, fuel, and an air pressure adjustment in the right-front. The changes helped with the tightness through the center of the turns, but the car was still loose off the turns.<br /><br />Under his next pit stop, Ragan’s crew made a track bar adjustment as well as another air pressure adjustment. Around lap 168, Ragan went a lap down to the leader. His biggest issue was the loose-handling condition of his car, which he had to fight for the remainder of the race. Ragan battled hard to be in the Lucky Dog position in case the caution flag waved again, but he was never able to get his lap back. Eventually, he was passed by the leader again to lose another lap. He ultimately finished 25th, two laps down. He is 24th in the standings. <br /><br /><strong>Matt Kenseth: Start-15th. Finish-7th</strong>.<br /><br />After their second place finish at Texas last weekend, Matt Kenseth and his crew came to Phoenix International Raceway looking to be contenders for the win again. With a decent starting position, Kenseth looked strong as the No. 17 Valvoline Ford cracked the top ten within the opening laps of the race. However, an uncharacteristic pit road mistake from the No. 17 crew had Kenseth off sequence with the leaders late in the race. The team was able to battle back and finish 7th. <br /><br /><br />Kenseth took the green flag from the 15th position on Sunday for the Kobalt Tools 500. Just ten laps later, he was up to 9th. He remained in that position, and didn’t report much about his car’s handling other than the No. 17 Ford was tight in the middle of the turns. A caution on lap 60 gave Kenseth the chance to inform crew chief Jimmy Fennig that the car was still tight in the middle of the turns and also very aero-sensitive. Kenseth pitted under the caution for four tires, fuel, and air pressure adjustments. His pit crew was able to help him gain two positions to restart 7th. He was able to maintain track position until around lap 95 when he reported the car was lacking rear grip. The tight-handling issue was still there too. <br /><br />Another caution gave Kenseth the chance to pit for four tires, fuel, and more air pressure adjustments on lap 102. He restarted 11th, and worked his way back inside the top ten when green-flag stops began to cycle through. After staying out to lead lap 173, he pitted and the team made more air pressure adjustments as well as a track bar adjustment. The changes helped, but eventually the No. 17 Ford became loose. Under caution on lap 235, Fennig called Kenseth down pit road for a two-tire stop in an attempt to gain track position. Unfortunately, a loose lug nut forced Kenseth to come back down pit road, resulting in him restarting 18th. <br /><br />The race came down to basically who had the fuel to finish among the leaders. Before the race was over, Kenseth had to make a stop for fuel, but he battled back to take the checkered flag from the 7th position. He is 5th in the standings, 311 points behind leader Denny Hamlin.<br /><br /><strong>Greg Biffle: Start-4th. Finish-4th.</strong><br /><br />Just like his teammates, Greg Biffle also had to deal with an ill-handling racecar on Sunday. His crew made adjustments to the No. 16 3M Scotch Brand Ford any chance they got. However, in the end, it all came down to fuel mileage. Biffle was able to gain positions in the closing laps when some of the front-runners were forced to pit for fuel. He finished 4th, earning his 9th top-5 finish of the season.<br /><br />Biffle started the race from the 4th position, and soon after the green flag waved, he reported that the car was tight through the center of the turns and loose off. When the yellow flag waved for the second time of the day on lap 60, Biffle had slipped to 14th. He pitted for four tires, fuel, and air pressure and track bar adjustments. After restarting 13th, he still battled handling issues. The No. 16 Ford was lacking grip, and when the next caution came out on lap 100 for debris, Biffle was back to 15th. The No. 16 crew made more adjustments, and were able to help Biffle gain three positions to 12th for the restart. The changes seemed to help as Biffle worked his way back inside the top ten, but loose-handling conditions had him dropping back once more. <br /><br />He was running in the 16th position when green-flag stops began on lap 168. Biffle’s crew gained three positions on pit road, and he was 13th once the stops cycled through. Over the next few laps, Biffle informed crew chief Greg Erwin that the car was too loose. The caution came out again on lap 222, and Biffle made a pit stop for more adjustments. The changes were a bit much, resulting in the car becoming too tight. The caution came out again shortly afterward, which allowed Biffle to pit again for more adjustments. Under that caution, many of the front runners stayed out, and Biffle opting to pit would be a big break for the No. 16 team.<br /><br />The race was caution free from that point on. The drivers who stayed out during the caution on lap 235 found themselves making stops for fuel late in the race. As those drivers hit pit road, Biffle slowly worked his way through the field to finish 4th. The finish moved him to 8th in the standings, 349 points behind leader Denny Hamlin.<br /><br /><strong>Race Winner--Carl Edwards: Start 1st. Finish 1st</strong>.<br /><br />Carl Edwards was truly the top dog at Phoenix this past weekend. The No. 99 Aflac Ford He was fastest in all three Cup practice sessions, and won the Nationwide Series race on Saturday night before winning the race on Sunday, earning his 17th career Cup Series win.<br /><br />Edwards broke the track record on Friday to earn his third pole of the season. He led the first six laps on Sunday before the No. 2 of Kurt Busch got around him. The No. 99 Ford was just a little loose, but Edwards reclaimed the lead on lap 27. He pitted under the caution that came on lap 60, and his crew made a flawless, 12.9-second stop that allowed Edwards to maintain the lead. Shortly after the restart, he fell to third as the loose-handling conditions continued, and he remained there until the next caution came out on lap 100. Edwards pitted, and his crew was able to help him reclaim the lead on pit road. <br /><br />He led the field back to green, but almost immediately lost the lead to the No. 11 of Denny Hamlin. He slipped back to third again, as he reported to crew chief Bob Osborne that the car was lacking rear grip. Edwards made his final pit stop on lap 224 for tires, fuel, and air pressure and wedge adjustments. Those adjustments were just what he needed to make his move to the front. He took over the 2nd position and went into fuel conservation mode as Hamlin continued to lead. Around lap 250, Osborne radioed to Edwards that it was time to get the lead and worry about saving fuel later. On lap 266, Edwards charged past Hamlin and never looked back. <br /><br />Hamlin was forced to pit for fuel with many others, but Edwards, who is known for his exceptional efforts at saving fuel during races, just set sail and brought home the win to sweep the weekend at Phoenix. Edwards remains 4th in the standings, 264 points behind leader Denny Hamlin.<br /><br />It was a great weekend for Edwards and his crew. They dominated the entire weekend, and broke a 70-race winless streak. Congratulations to Carl Edwards and the No. 99 team on their victory!<br /><br />Just one race remains in the 2010 season. It seems like yesterday we were all watching Jamie McMurray take the checkered flag for the Daytona 500. What a season it has been! Can Denny Hamlin hold on to win his first championship? Will Jimmie Johnson earn his 5th consecutive championship? Can Kevin Harvick end up being the one who comes out on top? With the tightest Chase battle ever, anything can happen! One thing’s for sure…every fan will be on the edge of their seat, anxiously waiting to see who will be the 2010 champion once the checkered flag waves at Homestead. <br /><br />The Chase continues…<br /><br /><em>Next up: Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, November 21, 2010.</em><br /><em>-----------</em><br /><br /><em>I apologize for this column not being posted the last two weeks. It's that time of the semester when all my teachers have decided to assign a huge amount of homework. As much as I love writing this, I do have to put my schoolwork first. </em><br /><br /><em>On another note, I'm open to suggestions/comments on this column. Are there any changes to it you think I should make? What did you like about it? What didn't you like about it? Post a comment below and let me know! Thanks.</em>Katy Lindamoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15504396087249155797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6182973293412731911.post-46013746984105462332010-11-18T13:01:00.000-08:002010-11-30T08:41:56.308-08:005 Questions Before ... Ford 400<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTrO4SL4McV0H2YpWMfhoPWJxuqCcv7bkCGFcf_Vffh0pR2TwOAXCr9icdFCqDTOMBJx0sCTVq5NkyvjrwpLxM16TjG0d3iEuntt9k5v5PH8QjELxjAjZ3CKYzyfPpqLw7xQ-Ajfrxj-k/s1600/Ford_400_C.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTrO4SL4McV0H2YpWMfhoPWJxuqCcv7bkCGFcf_Vffh0pR2TwOAXCr9icdFCqDTOMBJx0sCTVq5NkyvjrwpLxM16TjG0d3iEuntt9k5v5PH8QjELxjAjZ3CKYzyfPpqLw7xQ-Ajfrxj-k/s1600/Ford_400_C.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br />Five questions probably won’t be enough for all the questions so many have heading into the weekend (and the offseason), but I’ll give it my best shot. After all, this will be the next to last “5 Questions Before/After” column until Daytona. My goodness, where did the season go? <br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Here are some questions on my mind heading into the (sniff) season finale… <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Who will win the championship?</strong> … This one is the biggie. When was the last time we went into a weekend and didn’t have a pretty good idea of who would win the title? Most would probably answer Homestead-Miami Speedway in 2004. It’s been a long time coming, and now we have a fight on our hands. With Denny Hamlin leading Jimmie Johnson by only 15 points and Kevin Harvick by only 46, it will be a season NASCAR fans will remember for a long time. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Will the title be decided by a fuel mileage race?</strong> … It wouldn’t be the first time fuel mileage played a role in a race at Homestead, which can be the most exciting (yet nerve-wracking) type of racing as long as it’s not your favorite driver involved. While a battle between Johnson and Hamlin for the victory on the final lap of the race would probably be a more ideal situation, involving the crew chiefs and pit crews at the very end of the championship race would be very interesting as well. Judging by last weekend’s race at Phoenix International Raceway, a fuel mileage race could very well cause a huge points shakeup that would turn the heads of race fans everywhere. Can you tell I’m excited? <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Can the Fords continue their upswing?</strong> … With Carl Edwards winning his first race in two years last weekend in Phoenix, Elliott Sadler’s pole run at Texas Motor Speedway a couple of weeks ago, and Greg Biffle continuing to rack up top-10 finishes it seems the Ford Racing camp is building up some momentum for the 2011 season. History shows that this track traditionally favors the Fords, with six of the 11 races run here won by a Ford driver. Add to that the name of the race is the Ford 400 and I’m thinking we may see a Ford in Victory Lane this weekend! <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>How much trash-talking will we hear this weekend?</strong> … Already, press conferences involving crew chiefs, owners, and drivers have included a heavy dosage of trash talking and mind games, not to mention all the post-race ego-trips that have occurred at least once a week since the Chase for the Sprint Cup began at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. From the Friday press conferences, sponsor-related driver appearances, and countless pit road and garage interviews that will occur between now and the drop of the green flag, there will plenty of time for the championship contenders to drop a few hints to their competition. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>What happens after Homestead?</strong> … Aside from Champion’s Week in Las Vegas, and a testing session at Daytona International Speedway to try out the new racing surface, there isn’t much to keep race fans entertained over the offseason. While some use other favorite sports such as hockey or football to keep them entertained, others employ the business of the holidays to pass the time until Daytona rolls around. However, if this race lives up to expectations, there will be plenty to talk about between now and then. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Bonus Questions: Where did the season go?! … How many times will ESPN show the points dropdown during the race? … Who will need to be practicing their speeches before the banquet? <br /><br /><br /><br />--<br /><em>Photo courtesy of NASCAR Media. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author.</em>Katy Lindamoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15504396087249155797noreply@blogger.com0