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Happy Tuesday all.
Today In Nascar History
04/04/1954-Dick Rathmann wins at North Wilkesboro, win #2 of the season, and #12 of his career.
04/04/1959-Jack Smith wins at Columbia, win #1 of the season, and #8 of his career.
04/04/1963-Ned Jarrett wins at Augusta, win #1 of the season, and #15 of his career.
04/04/1971-A.J. Foyt wins at Atlanta, win #2 of the season, and #5 of his career.
04/04/1976-Cale Yarborough wins at North Wilkesboro, win #2 of the season, and #33 of his career.
04/04/1982-Dale Earnhardt, the 1980 Winston Cup champion, wins at Darlington to earn one of Ford’s two victories in ‘82. Earnhardt, who has gone on to win six more championships, also collected one of Ford’s two poles during the season.
04/04/1993-Rusty Wallace wins at Bristol, win #2 of the season, and #23 of his career.
04/04/2004-Elliott Sadler wins at Fort Worth, win #1 of the season, and #2 of his career.
"I couldn't wait to get here because I knew we had a shot at winning this race."
-- Tony Stewart after winning at Martinsville~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
from Gary
re: Dennis S
Ahhh, a truely idealistic view. And what's next--anybody caught cheating should be taken out & shot at high noon? Hey, this stuff happens all the time. It's called 'racin.' Always has, always will. It's what has made this sport what it is. And it's certainly good for the sport. It's not as if they're trying to imitate driving the freeway to work daily. It's called history...
Gary
from Darrel
In reference to your comment:
D. Sweet
Any body on any level of racing can knock out the car in front of them...no skill needed the knuckleheads who drive on Saturday night
First of all there is skill required in moving a car in front of you out of your way. I feel that some of the younger NASCAR drives do not have the skill to do it. The skill is to move the car in front of you but to not wreck it. Second the skill to do it and it look as if it was not done. As I said last week Dale Ernheart was the master at the skill to move a car out of his way and that car not wreak and it would look like it was not Dales fault.
There were many old timers that had the same skill, but Dale was the master and there are a few young guns that have the skill also. I think if you watch the young guns that have that skill they came up thru dirt track racing.
Second D. Sweet those knuckleheads , as you call them, are the grass roots of American Racing. I suggest that if you feel they are knuckleheads that you find something else to watch other than racing.
Darrel
from Bob S
from HM
HOW COME KENNSETH AND BUSCH GET HALF OF YOUR NEWSLETTER AND JIMMIE JOHNSON GETS MAYBE TWO LINES
How about B and K are true gentlemen, salt of the earth and JJ is a scum sucking egoist? -- Is that the answer you were seeking?
No seriously, I think Momma is about as fair and even handed as anyone, but it sounds like you are letting your favoritism cloud your judgement. Might want to lighten up.
Cheers, Bob
Rookie Cries Foul Over Contact With Martin
Mark Martin has a reputation for being one of the cleanest drivers in NASCAR Good luck getting rookie Denny Hamlin to see it that way.
I'm surprised. I had a high opinion of DH prior to this. Whining won't resolve his suspected slight. He has talent, but to order a bizjet only after a few races is kind of irresponsible at best. I looked at the incident that bothered him, and it was pretty minor, and not too clear. Someone needs to look at the replays.
Cheers, Bob
Overnight Martinsville ratings up
Fox's broadcast of Sunday's DirecTV 500 Nextel Cup race at Martinsville Speedway earned a 5.1 overnight Nielsen Media Research rating and a 12 market share, Street & Smith's Sports Business Daily reports.
The daily says two markets - Indianapolis and St. Louis - were not included because of weather problems, but the rating was still 10.9 percent higher than the 4.6/11 last year's Martinsville race earned. The 2005 race, however, was a week later and aired opposite one of golf's major events, the Masters.
Kurt Busch is scheduled to make his Busch Series debut this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway.
The 2004 Nextel Cup champion has never raced in the NASCAR series, having jumped from the Craftsman Truck to Nextel Cup ranks. Busch will drive the No. 39 Penske Truck Rental Dodge in the O'Reilly 300 this Saturday.
"I think it will be a fun challenge to understand how to drive a Busch car as a rookie," Busch said. "The toughest aspect will probably be how to adjust to the tire rule since we only get six sets per weekend. I'm used to fresh Goodyear rubber all the time."
NASCAR Foundation officials say more than 36,000 NASCAR Day pins have been sold and more than 1,000 companies have signed up to take part in this year's May 19 observance.
For a $5 donation, participants receive an official commemorative lapel pin and are encouraged to wear them on May 19 to show their pride in the sport on NASCAR Day.
Proceeds benefit the non-profit NASCAR Foundation, which supports more than 25 motorsports industry and driver charities, including the Victory Junction Gang Camp and Speediatrics.
Stewart, Gordon contribute to charity auction
Officials with the Jeff Gordon Foundation say reigning Nextel Cup champion Tony Stewart has donated a worn firesuit for an online auction benefitting the foundation.
Stewart wore the firesuit during the UAW-DaimlerChrysler race weekend in March at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Also up for auction is a full-size poker table used in the Jeff Gordon Foundation Poker Classic that took place that same weekend in Las Vegas; a Goodyear tire that was on Jeff Gordon's 2005 Daytona 500- winning vehicle; and a full-size hood from a promotional race car built for the movie "Racing Stripes."
GoMotorBids.com features a full list of items up for auction and more details.
By Jerry Bonkowski, Yahoo! Sports
MARTINSVILLE, Va. – Winning Sunday's DirecTV 500 worked up an appetite in Tony Stewart in more ways than one.
First, he grabbed one of Martinsville Speedway's "famous dogs" – complete with ketchup and onions – and merrily munched on it all the way into the infield media center to talk with reporters after the race.
That hot dog was so good that Stewart went in search of a second one after he left the scribes and mic jockeys, only to find all the concession stands had closed. So much for Stewart's preseason hopes of a better power to weight ratio for his chunky chassis.
But more importantly, taking the checkered flag – and performing the fence climb that has quickly become a Stewart trademark – has him hungry for something a bit more fulfilling: more wins and a potential third Cup championship.
The reigning champ is off to a much quicker start in '06 than he had last year.
Stewart's first win last season didn't come until the end of June on the twisting road course at Sonoma. Up to that point, the 2002 Cup champ had struggled – up one week, down the next.
"Last year at this time, we were all scratching our heads and asking what we had to do to get caught up," Stewart said.
Not only did his first win come nearly three months earlier this season, Stewart has been nothing short of dominant in his last two starts, leading 245 laps last week at Bristol before finishing 12th, as well as pacing the field Sunday for nearly 60 percent of the event (288 of 500 laps).
"Trust me, from a driver's standpoint, [this year] is a lot better situation than what it was a year ago," said Stewart, who has led laps in every race this season. "Greg [crew chief Greg Zipadelli] and I had talked before the race about not worrying about leading the most laps, but to lead the right one."
He did both.
Sunday marked Stewart's 25th career Cup victory. That it came at Martinsville, where he has led 818 of the last 1,500 laps in Cup competition but had fallen short of collecting his second career Martinsville win until Sunday, added to Stewart's pleasure.
"We knew we were going to be a contender this week and with the anticipation of coming here, this is one of the places I couldn't wait to get to because I knew we had a shot at winning this race," Stewart said.
What really got Stewart going last year was a summer stretch during which he won five races in a seven-race span. Can history repeat itself one season later? Does it even need to?
"This year we've had a fast car everywhere ... and haven't gotten a win until here," Stewart said. "But just the fact that we have led and been competitive in all the races ... having your program where it needs to be is the toughest battle."
As the Cup series prepares for Sunday's race at Texas, Stewart already has led 685 laps in this year's first six races. He didn't even come close to that amount last season until the 16th race, ironically enough, at Sonoma.
So what we saw on Sunday could very well be a prelude of things to come.
And Stewart would love to have another year with five wins and capped off by another Cup title. But he's not about to let himself lose focus on what's ahead by reflecting back on the successes he enjoyed last season.
"We won a race [Sunday]; next week we might fall on our face [or] we might win again," Stewart said. "None of us know what is going to happen next week. We don't know if this is a momentum builder. ... I hope it leads to a streak. But there is not any evidence to back that up and support that right now."
Still, Stewart knows he's a championship favorite. It's a status he enjoys.
"We don't want to sneak up on people anyway," he said. "We want people to know we are one of the teams ... to beat.
Yet on the flip side, Stewart says he hopes to "win 10 more, but I may not win another race this year. That's how tough it is right now."
But knowing how hungry Stewart is, what's tough today may give him a sweet taste tomorrow.
Veteran motorsports writer Jerry Bonkowski is a Yahoo! Sports NASCAR columnist.
Campbell said short track deserves to keep both dates
By Mike Mulhern
JOURNAL REPORTER
MARTINSVILLE, Va.
Clay Campbell isn't a bit happy with speculation about possible changes at Martinsville Speedway - the track built by his grandfather, the late Clay Earles.
But Campbell, Martinsville's promoter, conceded that it might be helpful if the France family's International Speedway Corp., which owns the half-mile track, was more forthcoming about how NASCAR plans to incorporate new speedways in Seattle and New York into the Nextel Cup tour's 36-race schedule. NASCAR officials also have steadfastly insisted that the schedule will not be lengthened.
Not only does ISC plan to add Seattle and New York to the tour, but Bruton Smith also is pushing for a second date for Las Vegas Motor Speedway, even though he also is without a specific way to wrangle another date from NASCAR.
It seems that the only solutions are that some current tracks with two Cup races will lose one, or that NASCAR will expand the Cup tour with two new dates.
Campbell said that either of those changes is far in the future.
"You're looking at something that's five to 10 years down the road, and there are a lot of things that can happen in that period of time," Campbell said.
"Conditions might not be the same in 2010. It's too early for anyone to speculate where those two dates might come from.
"Speculation isn't fair. And nobody from ISC or NASCAR is telling me anything like that."
How will NASCAR give New York and Seattle Nextel Cup dates?
"I don't know where they're going to get it from," Campbell says. "They could add a date. Nothing says you can't add a date.
"But that's not my problem. Nobody can say there's not a possibility of losing a date. Nobody is guaranteed a date. But why speculate about us? Why us?"
NASCAR officials, of course, didn't say much about shutting down North Carolina Motor Speedway in Rockingham until after the deal was done. Campbell also repeatedly denied reports that negotiations were underway for the sale of Martinsville Speedway to the France family two years ago. And Jim France several years ago denied reports that negotiations had begun for the sale of Richmond International Raceway to the Frances.
When ISC decides to make a move, it tries to keep it under wraps as long as possible.
"But it's nobody's business until you do it," Campbell said.
"I can't say our dates are locked in ... but I can say there's no more reason to look at us rather than anyone else.
"If you look at Martinsville on a map and draw a 100-mile circle around it, we're in one of the best geographical areas of anybody. We've got all the Triad to the south of us, and Roanoke to the north, and Richmond. We're in a good area.
"Martinsville itself is no major market. That's no secret. But the area we draw from is. And our TV ratings are good; I'll match them up against anybody. And we sell our seats out.
"We're doing what we're supposed to do to remain a viable and successful operation in 2006. And we've done that year after year after year. I'd rather have the seats we have (65,000) and fill them up (Sunday's DIRECTV 500 was a sellout) instead of twice this many and not."
That, of course, is a reference to the Charlotte and Atlanta tracks, which have had trouble attracting sellout crowds.
Another angle - and question - is Martinsville's July Busch race, an experiment. A Martinsville night race has long been considered a hot marketing prospect, not only from the standpoint of a sizable drive-in crowd but also from the Bristol angle. When Bristol moved it's summer race to prime time, the race became one of the biggest on the tour.
Campbell, though, said that the starting time of the summer race here hasn't been set.
"We're hoping it will be a night race," he said. "The problem with a night Cup race here is our two dates (April and October); this weekend would have been great, but last weekend would have been a disaster. The same in October; Charlotte gets by with it (a night race) the week before, but that's still iffy.
By B. Duane Cross, NASCAR.COM
If there were any lingering doubts that the No. 8 team hadn't turned the corner, Sunday at Martinsville is Exhibit A on how far Dale Earnhardt Jr. has come.
Forget the nay-sayers; those nincompoops will forever hold to the misconception that Junior is riding his daddy's coattails. He'll never beat that rap, so why give credence to those with their heads in the sand?
For as much as Jeff Gordon dug Sunday, Earnhardt was digging just as much -- if not more. Gordon still had the semblance of a Chevy Monte Carlo SS after 500 grueling laps at Martinsville. Junior? His ride looked like a reject from the set of Grandview, U.S.A., thanks in large part to a multi-car crash on Lap 2 and a short-end-of-the-stick scuffle with Ryan Newman on Lap 316.
(And wasn't Jamie Lee Curtis spectacular in that movie? Talk about grand views ...)
Six races into the season, Earnhardt is sixth in the point standings. He's been no higher than sixth all season, but has spent half the year in that spot. Last year, he spent three weeks in the top 10 the entire season.
During the red-flag stop with seven laps to go, Junior and crew chief Tony Eury Jr. had a frank discussion about how the final few laps might play out:
Dale Jr.: "This has been a helluva race."
Tony Jr.: "Yeah, we've had a lot of drama at these races lately."
Dale Jr.: "Oh yeah, you've been getting your money's worth out of my ass, I can tell you that! I ain't overpaid!"
Tony Jr.: "Yeah, I think you need a bump after the last three weeks."
Dale Jr.: "I just wish I could just take a fifth. I want to try to get these guys, but after everything, I'd be happier than hell with a fifth."
Tony Jr.: "Yeah, we'll just see what happens here. That's nice, but I think you're probably better than them by a pretty good amount. Play your cards however you want to play them."
Earnhardt came up aces, posting a fourth-place finish, his second top-five of the season. (He was third at Atlanta.)
It's only been more than a month, and 20 races remain until the Chase field is set, but the early returns on the reunion of Earnhardt and Eury is better than many had hoped, which isn't good news for the competition.
Or the nincompoops.
Say Anything
"When you've got a great car and someone takes away your opportunity to finish well, it's frustrating. [Sterling Marlin] just dumped us going into the turn. You expect something like that from a rookie driver, but to have someone take us out who's made as many laps around this place as he has ... [that] really makes you mad."
-- Jeff Green, who lost a battle for position racing Marlin on Lap 364
Figuratively Speaking
0 -- The number of drivers in the Busch series' top five that are not full-time Nextel Cup drivers. Sixth-place Johnny Sauter is 241 points behind leader Kevin Harvick and 63 out of fifth, held by Carl Edwards. Another Buschwhacker, Jamie McMurray, is 10th -- and he didn't even start the race at Bristol.
Fast Facts
• Tony Stewart has moved from 22nd in points after California to ninth following his victory at Martinsville. Smoke now has won at least one race each season since1999, a streak of eight consecutive years.
• Jeff Gordon finished second at Martinsville, his sixth consecutive top-10 at the track and four of those were victories. It was Gordon's third top-10 of the year and marked his season high, besting a fourth-place showing at Atlanta.
• Reed Sorenson's 12th-place finish at Martinsville was the highest for a rookie of the year contender. At least one rookie has scored a top-15 finish in every race this season: Martinsville: Sorenson -- 12th; Bristol: Denny Hamlin -- 12th; Atlanta: Sorenson -- 10th; Las Vegas: Hamlin -- 10th, Clint Bowyer -- 15th; California: J.J. Yeley -- eighth, Hamlin -- 12th, Bowyer -- 14th; Martin Truex Jr. -- 15th; Daytona: Bowyer -- sixth.
Up Next
Texas Motor Speedway | 1:30 p.m. ET Sunday | FOX
• There have been 10 different race winners in 10 races at Texas Motor Speedway, and three of the past five races were won from starting positions of 19th or lower. No driver has ever won there from a front-row starting position (best starting position for a winner: third -- Dale Jarrett (2001) and Ryan Newman (2003)). The winner's average starting position: 11th.
And lookee there: Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s average starting position at Texas is 11th. Can you say "repeat winner" (2000)?
• Speaking of Junior, he has six top-10 finishes in seven starts at Texas, the most of all drivers, while Jimmie Johnson has top-10s in all five of his races (6.2 average finish), the longest current streak. Bobby Labonte had four top-10 finishes -- including three third-place finishes -- in his first four races at Texas, but he has finished 25th or worse in his last six races there.
• Roush Racing has won five of the 10 races at Texas, the most of any car owner. Roush swept both races there in 2005, and all five victories came with a different driver: 1997 -- Jeff Burton; 1998 -- Mark Martin; 2002 -- Matt Kenseth; 2005 -- Greg Biffle and Carl Edwards.
Mailbag
A little something different this week. Instead of the usual gabfest of he said, she said, I want to throw out two things:
1.) Give me Chad Knaus atop the pitbox and I'll take my chances on Sundays.
The media voted Ray Evernham as the all-time crew chief, but since he's otherwise preoccupied running the Dodge flagship program and getting Erin Crocker ready for her close-up, Knaus is my pick in a winner-take-all.
Book it now: The No. 48 team is your 2006 Cup champion. (Yeah, yeah -- flat tire on the first lap at Bristol. I hear ya. Call it a mulligan.)
2.) Give me Tony Stewart in the driver's seat and the checkered flag will be mine.
However, if Smoke is off running dirt tracks, I'll take Kurt Busch. Every time you write off the guy he's back in your face. Ryan Newman and Busch are 13th and 14th in points, and that's closer than Newman and Rusty Wallace ever were -- literally. Well, except for a couple of on-track bump-and-runs.
Send me your choices for those two propositions.
OK, here are a couple of gabs for good measure:
You write like a left-wing liberal journalist. Maybe you are. If Kurt Busch says it, it is sarcastic but Kevin Harvick is funny? Guess whiny Rusty Wallace and "Goody Four Good Years" Jeffy Gordon can bump and run all they want and Dale Earnhardt can knock the crap out of Terry Labonte but come some kid you don't like, and you start writing like Ed Hinton. It's the bump-and-run, you wuss, what do you want to do turn Thunder Valley into Brokeback Valley?
-- Buz Smith
Thanks for the comparison to Ed; he's one heckuva poker player, too.
You need to tell Joe Glover, who complained because his kid heard the word sh** on [the] NASCAR [telecast], that he obviously doesn't mind the half-dressed women all the time, i.e. deodorant commercials that promote sex. Get a grip and turn off the TV if you don't like it. He watches NASCAR because it is exciting -- and you can expect a swear word occasionally. I just tell my 5-year-old son, "He was mad and that doesn't mean you can say that when you get mad." He doesn't and we watch NASCAR every day. Bite me, Joe.
-- Robert Pearson
No sh**.
In case you're looking for something to do ...
• The Victory Junction Gang Camp has unveiled its redesigned Web site. Check it out -- as well as Josh Pate's interview with Kyle and Pattie Petty at Martinsville.
• Carl Edwards will be making his debut on 24 (9 p.m. ET Monday, FOX). Edwards hasn't spoken much about his role on the show during the past two months because, we assume -- just like the show -- it remains confidential information.
Fantasy Perspective
• Mark Martin has posted 10 consecutive top-15 finishes (since Atlanta in October 2005) and he has only one DNF (Talladega in October 2005) in the 30 races since Dover in June 2005.
• Matt Kenseth (24th) and Kasey Kahne (35th) had forgettable days at Martinsville; both had season-worst finishes. As a result, Kenseth yielded the points lead and dropped to third; Kahne fell from a career-high second to fourth. However, they each have five top-15 finishes in six starts this year.
• At this point one year ago, Kyle Busch was wallowing in 29th position in the point standings. His average finish through six races was 23.6, and even that was buoyed by a second-place finish at Vegas. This year, he has four top-10s and is fifth in points. ... Can you smell what the Shrub has cooking?
The opinions expressed are solely of the writer. ... And I'm still waiting on the DVD release party for Grandview U.S.A.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Qualifying: Nextel Cup Series Samsung/Radio Shack 500 Friday, April 7 4:30 p.m. Speed
Practice: Nextel Cup Series Samsung/Radio Shack 500 Saturday, April 8 2 p.m. FX
Busch Series O'Reilly 300 Saturday, April 8 3 p.m. Fox
Nextel Cup Series Samsung/Radio Shack 500 Sunday, Aprill 9 1:30 p.m. Fox
All time Eastern. Times and station subject to change.
Your
Momma
Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, wine in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!"
"Don't come here and grumble about going too fast. Get the hell out of the race car if you've got feathers on your legs or butt. Put a kerosene rag around your ankles so the ants wins't climb up there and eat that candy ass." - Dale Earnhardt – 1998
This list is authored by:
Sandra Monacelli
221 W. 57th Street 18B
Loveland, CO 80538
970/663-6967
Today In Nascar History
04/04/1954-Dick Rathmann wins at North Wilkesboro, win #2 of the season, and #12 of his career.
04/04/1959-Jack Smith wins at Columbia, win #1 of the season, and #8 of his career.
04/04/1963-Ned Jarrett wins at Augusta, win #1 of the season, and #15 of his career.
04/04/1971-A.J. Foyt wins at Atlanta, win #2 of the season, and #5 of his career.
04/04/1976-Cale Yarborough wins at North Wilkesboro, win #2 of the season, and #33 of his career.
04/04/1982-Dale Earnhardt, the 1980 Winston Cup champion, wins at Darlington to earn one of Ford’s two victories in ‘82. Earnhardt, who has gone on to win six more championships, also collected one of Ford’s two poles during the season.
04/04/1993-Rusty Wallace wins at Bristol, win #2 of the season, and #23 of his career.
04/04/2004-Elliott Sadler wins at Fort Worth, win #1 of the season, and #2 of his career.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Quote of the Day"I couldn't wait to get here because I knew we had a shot at winning this race."
-- Tony Stewart after winning at Martinsville
News gathered from multiple sources, including but not limited to: Jayski.com, Cup Scene Daily, Thatsracin.com, catchfence.com, nascar.com, yahoo!, espn.com and others.
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Comments from the Peanut Galleryfrom Gary
re: Dennis S
Ahhh, a truely idealistic view. And what's next--anybody caught cheating should be taken out & shot at high noon? Hey, this stuff happens all the time. It's called 'racin.' Always has, always will. It's what has made this sport what it is. And it's certainly good for the sport. It's not as if they're trying to imitate driving the freeway to work daily. It's called history...
Gary
from Darrel
In reference to your comment:
D. Sweet
Any body on any level of racing can knock out the car in front of them...no skill needed the knuckleheads who drive on Saturday night
First of all there is skill required in moving a car in front of you out of your way. I feel that some of the younger NASCAR drives do not have the skill to do it. The skill is to move the car in front of you but to not wreck it. Second the skill to do it and it look as if it was not done. As I said last week Dale Ernheart was the master at the skill to move a car out of his way and that car not wreak and it would look like it was not Dales fault.
There were many old timers that had the same skill, but Dale was the master and there are a few young guns that have the skill also. I think if you watch the young guns that have that skill they came up thru dirt track racing.
Second D. Sweet those knuckleheads , as you call them, are the grass roots of American Racing. I suggest that if you feel they are knuckleheads that you find something else to watch other than racing.
Darrel
from Bob S
from HM
HOW COME KENNSETH AND BUSCH GET HALF OF YOUR NEWSLETTER AND JIMMIE JOHNSON GETS MAYBE TWO LINES
How about B and K are true gentlemen, salt of the earth and JJ is a scum sucking egoist? -- Is that the answer you were seeking?
No seriously, I think Momma is about as fair and even handed as anyone, but it sounds like you are letting your favoritism cloud your judgement. Might want to lighten up.
Cheers, Bob
Rookie Cries Foul Over Contact With Martin
Mark Martin has a reputation for being one of the cleanest drivers in NASCAR Good luck getting rookie Denny Hamlin to see it that way.
I'm surprised. I had a high opinion of DH prior to this. Whining won't resolve his suspected slight. He has talent, but to order a bizjet only after a few races is kind of irresponsible at best. I looked at the incident that bothered him, and it was pretty minor, and not too clear. Someone needs to look at the replays.
Cheers, Bob
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bits and PiecesOvernight Martinsville ratings up
Fox's broadcast of Sunday's DirecTV 500 Nextel Cup race at Martinsville Speedway earned a 5.1 overnight Nielsen Media Research rating and a 12 market share, Street & Smith's Sports Business Daily reports.
The daily says two markets - Indianapolis and St. Louis - were not included because of weather problems, but the rating was still 10.9 percent higher than the 4.6/11 last year's Martinsville race earned. The 2005 race, however, was a week later and aired opposite one of golf's major events, the Masters.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kurt Busch set for Busch Series debutKurt Busch is scheduled to make his Busch Series debut this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway.
The 2004 Nextel Cup champion has never raced in the NASCAR series, having jumped from the Craftsman Truck to Nextel Cup ranks. Busch will drive the No. 39 Penske Truck Rental Dodge in the O'Reilly 300 this Saturday.
"I think it will be a fun challenge to understand how to drive a Busch car as a rookie," Busch said. "The toughest aspect will probably be how to adjust to the tire rule since we only get six sets per weekend. I'm used to fresh Goodyear rubber all the time."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
36,000 sign up for NASCAR DayNASCAR Foundation officials say more than 36,000 NASCAR Day pins have been sold and more than 1,000 companies have signed up to take part in this year's May 19 observance.
For a $5 donation, participants receive an official commemorative lapel pin and are encouraged to wear them on May 19 to show their pride in the sport on NASCAR Day.
Proceeds benefit the non-profit NASCAR Foundation, which supports more than 25 motorsports industry and driver charities, including the Victory Junction Gang Camp and Speediatrics.
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Officials with the Jeff Gordon Foundation say reigning Nextel Cup champion Tony Stewart has donated a worn firesuit for an online auction benefitting the foundation.
Stewart wore the firesuit during the UAW-DaimlerChrysler race weekend in March at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Also up for auction is a full-size poker table used in the Jeff Gordon Foundation Poker Classic that took place that same weekend in Las Vegas; a Goodyear tire that was on Jeff Gordon's 2005 Daytona 500- winning vehicle; and a full-size hood from a promotional race car built for the movie "Racing Stripes."
GoMotorBids.com features a full list of items up for auction and more details.
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Daytona International Speedway Infield Project Continues to Gain National Acclaim: Daytona International Speedway’s Infield Renovation Project which has given thousands of fans a unique way to experience infield festivities at the “World Center of Racing” continues to receive national recognition and awards. The award-winning NEXTEL FANZONE, completed in 2005, was recognized last month at the Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. (ABC) Award Ceremony in Las Vegas. Jacksonville, Fla.-based Haskell, the company which completed the project, not only collected the ABC Award of Excellence in their category and were one of only five projects recognized by The Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) and ABC jointly as worthy of an “Efficiency in Design-Build Award.” Since its completion, the project has also received three ABC “Eagles” for Excellence at local and national levels, and a DBIA National “Award of Excellence.” According to the ABC, “the Daytona Infield project represented a model of truly integrated design-build, the only delivery system capable of meeting the critical deadlines set by the Speedway. With one year from conception to completion, and a construction schedule dictated by The 2004 Pepsi 400 and 2005 Daytona 500, the Haskell team accepted and met the challenge.” “The NEXTEL FANZONE at Daytona International Speedway is truly a unique way to experience an event,” said DIS President Robin Braig. “Under a tight deadline and difficult weather obstacles (three hurricanes), Haskell delivered a product that everyone in the motorsports industry is trying to duplicate.” The DIS infield project involved the complete redesign and reconstruction of the garage area to include the NEXTEL FANZONE, construction of a 520-foot long tunnel under Turn One, and filling of one third of Lake Lloyd to accommodate a new premium RV area and upgrade the lake front. - Daytona International Speedway ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Champion Tony Stewart Auctions Actual Old Spice Post-Race Sweat Towel For Charity - Bidding Starts on Monday on OldSpice.com and eBay.com - All Proceeds Will Be Donated to The Victory Junction Gang Camp: NASCAR NEXTEL Cup champion Tony Stewart is working with Old Spice to give a lucky fan the sweat towel right off his shoulder (un-washed)! After winning the DIRECTV 500 on Sunday, Stewart handed over his Old Spice towel (as seen in countless post-race interviews) to a charity auction for The Victory Junction Gang Camp. Starting Monday, April 3, fans can place a bid for the autographed towel by logging onto OldSpice.com or eBay.com. Old Spice, the No. 1 antiperspirant/deodorant stick and personal cleansing choice for guys in the U.S., is hosting the weeklong auction. The brand has sponsored Nextel Cup winner Tony Stewart for the past five seasons. FUN FACT: During an average race, temperatures inside Tony's car reach up to 150 degrees, and he can lose several pounds of sweat. Tony relies on Old Spice antiperspirants, deodorants and body washes to stay cool and smell great both before and after a race. BACKGROUND: After every victory this season, including Nextel Cup, Busch and Craftsman Truck Series races, Stewart will immediately autograph and hand over his Old Spice towel in the winner's circle (as seen in countless post-race interviews) for an auction to benefit The Victory Junction Gang Camp. Old Spice is a proud sponsor of NASCAR Nextel Cup champion Tony Stewart. Old Spice is the No. 1 antiperspirant/deodorant and personal cleansing choice for guys in the U.S. Victory Junction Gang Camp enriches the lives of children with chronic or life-threatening illnesses by creating camping experiences that are memorable, and physically and medically safe. Camp is free to children and their families. - Paine PR
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The NASCAR Foundation Launches Vehicle Donation Program During Car Care Awareness Month - Top NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Crew Chiefs Sign on as Spokesmen: NASCAR fans, start your engines! If they don’t start, donate them to The NASCAR Foundation’s Vehicle Donation Program. Launched during Car Care Awareness Month, the program got a little help from friends at the Crew Chief Club. Crew Chief Club members Tommy Baldwin, crew chief for Elliott Sadler’s No. 38 Ford; Matt Borland, crew chief for Ryan Newman’s No. 12 Dodge; Jimmy Elledge, crew chief for Casey Mears’ No. 41 Dodge; and Greg Zipadelli, crew chief for Tony Stewart’s No. 20 Chevrolet; have all lent their expertise, knowledge and support to this worthy program. April, also known as Car Care Awareness Month, is a great time for garage spring cleaning, and getting rid of any unneeded vehicles. The donations are tax deductible and take the hassle out of deciding what to do with the unwanted cars, trucks and RVs. The donation process is quick and easy, and can be done online at www.nascar.com/foundation. The Crew Chief Club provides fans with a new way to interact with their favorite race teams, and creates recognition and fan support for their fellow crew members. Their involvement in the Vehicle Donation Program builds on the fan support and participation of these programs, making them successful. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Watching A Race At Talladega Named One Of 40 Best Southern Experiences By Southern Living Magazine: Talladega Superspeedway has been honored once again by Southern Living Magazine, selected by the publication's editors as one of 40 Best Southern Experiences in honor of the magazine's 40th anniversary year. The Top 40 list features editor's picks of the best the region has to offer, from iconic foods and restaurants to legendary activities and breathtaking vistas. The list is contained in a feature story titled "40 Things Every Southerner Ought To Do" in the April issue, on newsstands now. Attending a race at Talladega Superspeedway, is among a wide range of top experiences such as taking a walk through history at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute in Birmingham, Ala., visiting Graceland in Memphis, Tenn., learning to two-step at Gruene Hall in Gruene, Texas, shopping along King Street in Charleston, S.C., and taking in the natural beauty of Oklahoma's Tallgrass Prairie Preserve. The editors cast a wide net geographically for their picks, and Talladega Superspeedway is the only racetrack to have made the list. Last spring, Talladega Superspeedway was honored to have Southern Living editors pick the track as one of 205 favorite spots in the South. "We had fans come from all 50 states and 11 different countries last year to attend our races, yet part of the appeal for that diverse draw is because we are also viewed as a true establishment within our region," said Talladega Vice President and General Manager Rick Humphrey. "When a magazine like Southern Living reinforces that notion with this type of recognition, we feel very honored. For those who want to follow the editors' advice that visiting us is something every Southerner ought to do, we've still got excellent seats left for this month's Aaron's Dream Weekend. And everyone is welcome of course, no matter where you are from." - Talladega Superspeedway PR~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tony will keep climbing: #20-Tony Stewart says he plans to continue his fence-climbing ways when he wins races. When he first scaled a catchfence after winning at Daytona in July 2005, the fans went wild. Since then, Stewart has turned the impulsive move into his own victory signature, pulling himself up some difficult wiring at tracks such as Indianapolis Motor Speedway. When he won at Martinsville Speedway Sunday, Stewart once more worked his way up the fencing onto the flagstand to the delight of the sellout crowd. "I wish everybody had the opportunity to be up there during something like that, because that is the coolest view to see people," he said. "No matter what kind of driver they're supporting, they're still cheering because they know that before you even celebrate with your race team, you're celebrating with them." So look for more of the Nextel Cup defending champion's flag-grabbing ways during future wins. "The response every time we've done that has been so overwhelming that that is part of [the] victory celebration," he said. "When I get that checkered flag first, that's part of what I look forward about winning races, celebrating with the fans like that." (SceneDaily.com)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DEI Graphic Artist's work wins EVIE Award: In a recent competition, Dale Earnhardt, Inc. was nominated in four categories at the EVIE Award ceremony in nearby Charlotte. Kellie A. Schmidlin, our Graphic Artist, created the only award winner for Dale Earnhardt, Inc. when her work won Best Invitation. The award-winning creation was used for the 2005 Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Holiday Party last December. Schmidlin, 27, has been with Dale Earnhardt, Inc. since June of 2001 as a graphic artist. Originally from Bristol, Va., she's a 2000 graduate of Emory & Henry College in Emory, Va. where she studied Mass Communications and Art. This was the second nomination in this category, but first award for her work from EVIE (Events in Excellence). The award and invitation are currently on display in the company's Trophy Room where employees dine.(DEI)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sad News - Jack Arute, Sr.: One of the best known and most progressive track operators in the country has passed away. Jack Arute, Sr. of Stafford Motor Speedway fame died Monday morning in Connecticut. Arute was in the construction business and co-owned Eddie Flemke’s racecars in 1969 when he was approached about buying the track from former driver Bill Slater. At that time, the track was almost ready to shut down. Arute came in and made several improvements to the facility, including building new grandstands. Through the years, he aligned the track closely with NASCAR, started the SK Modified division and created a weekly racing card that attracted national short track stars on a regular basis. Drivers like Ron Bouchard and Richie Evans raced there regularly in the 1970’s and well known touring competitors like Ted Christopher and Zach Sylvester compete there on Friday nights to this day.(speed51.com and modseriesscene.com. from NASCAR: “Racing has lost one of its best friends. Jack Arute Sr. certainly helped build our sport and helped make NASCAR what it is today. He was a ‘man’s man,’ a personal friend, and he will be greatly missed. We extend our deepest sympathies to the Arute family,” NASCAR Vice Chairman Bill France said.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ince and #32 PPI part ways: been told that the #32 PPI Motorsports / Tide team and crew chief James Ince have parted way. No word on the new crew chief. Ince is actively seeking a new position in the sport.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hungry manBy Jerry Bonkowski, Yahoo! Sports
MARTINSVILLE, Va. – Winning Sunday's DirecTV 500 worked up an appetite in Tony Stewart in more ways than one.
First, he grabbed one of Martinsville Speedway's "famous dogs" – complete with ketchup and onions – and merrily munched on it all the way into the infield media center to talk with reporters after the race.
That hot dog was so good that Stewart went in search of a second one after he left the scribes and mic jockeys, only to find all the concession stands had closed. So much for Stewart's preseason hopes of a better power to weight ratio for his chunky chassis.
But more importantly, taking the checkered flag – and performing the fence climb that has quickly become a Stewart trademark – has him hungry for something a bit more fulfilling: more wins and a potential third Cup championship.
The reigning champ is off to a much quicker start in '06 than he had last year.
Stewart's first win last season didn't come until the end of June on the twisting road course at Sonoma. Up to that point, the 2002 Cup champ had struggled – up one week, down the next.
"Last year at this time, we were all scratching our heads and asking what we had to do to get caught up," Stewart said.
Not only did his first win come nearly three months earlier this season, Stewart has been nothing short of dominant in his last two starts, leading 245 laps last week at Bristol before finishing 12th, as well as pacing the field Sunday for nearly 60 percent of the event (288 of 500 laps).
"Trust me, from a driver's standpoint, [this year] is a lot better situation than what it was a year ago," said Stewart, who has led laps in every race this season. "Greg [crew chief Greg Zipadelli] and I had talked before the race about not worrying about leading the most laps, but to lead the right one."
He did both.
Sunday marked Stewart's 25th career Cup victory. That it came at Martinsville, where he has led 818 of the last 1,500 laps in Cup competition but had fallen short of collecting his second career Martinsville win until Sunday, added to Stewart's pleasure.
"We knew we were going to be a contender this week and with the anticipation of coming here, this is one of the places I couldn't wait to get to because I knew we had a shot at winning this race," Stewart said.
What really got Stewart going last year was a summer stretch during which he won five races in a seven-race span. Can history repeat itself one season later? Does it even need to?
"This year we've had a fast car everywhere ... and haven't gotten a win until here," Stewart said. "But just the fact that we have led and been competitive in all the races ... having your program where it needs to be is the toughest battle."
As the Cup series prepares for Sunday's race at Texas, Stewart already has led 685 laps in this year's first six races. He didn't even come close to that amount last season until the 16th race, ironically enough, at Sonoma.
So what we saw on Sunday could very well be a prelude of things to come.
And Stewart would love to have another year with five wins and capped off by another Cup title. But he's not about to let himself lose focus on what's ahead by reflecting back on the successes he enjoyed last season.
"We won a race [Sunday]; next week we might fall on our face [or] we might win again," Stewart said. "None of us know what is going to happen next week. We don't know if this is a momentum builder. ... I hope it leads to a streak. But there is not any evidence to back that up and support that right now."
Still, Stewart knows he's a championship favorite. It's a status he enjoys.
"We don't want to sneak up on people anyway," he said. "We want people to know we are one of the teams ... to beat.
Yet on the flip side, Stewart says he hopes to "win 10 more, but I may not win another race this year. That's how tough it is right now."
But knowing how hungry Stewart is, what's tough today may give him a sweet taste tomorrow.
Veteran motorsports writer Jerry Bonkowski is a Yahoo! Sports NASCAR columnist.
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Martinsville officials defend track's positionCampbell said short track deserves to keep both dates
By Mike Mulhern
JOURNAL REPORTER
MARTINSVILLE, Va.
Clay Campbell isn't a bit happy with speculation about possible changes at Martinsville Speedway - the track built by his grandfather, the late Clay Earles.
But Campbell, Martinsville's promoter, conceded that it might be helpful if the France family's International Speedway Corp., which owns the half-mile track, was more forthcoming about how NASCAR plans to incorporate new speedways in Seattle and New York into the Nextel Cup tour's 36-race schedule. NASCAR officials also have steadfastly insisted that the schedule will not be lengthened.
Not only does ISC plan to add Seattle and New York to the tour, but Bruton Smith also is pushing for a second date for Las Vegas Motor Speedway, even though he also is without a specific way to wrangle another date from NASCAR.
It seems that the only solutions are that some current tracks with two Cup races will lose one, or that NASCAR will expand the Cup tour with two new dates.
Campbell said that either of those changes is far in the future.
"You're looking at something that's five to 10 years down the road, and there are a lot of things that can happen in that period of time," Campbell said.
"Conditions might not be the same in 2010. It's too early for anyone to speculate where those two dates might come from.
"Speculation isn't fair. And nobody from ISC or NASCAR is telling me anything like that."
How will NASCAR give New York and Seattle Nextel Cup dates?
"I don't know where they're going to get it from," Campbell says. "They could add a date. Nothing says you can't add a date.
"But that's not my problem. Nobody can say there's not a possibility of losing a date. Nobody is guaranteed a date. But why speculate about us? Why us?"
NASCAR officials, of course, didn't say much about shutting down North Carolina Motor Speedway in Rockingham until after the deal was done. Campbell also repeatedly denied reports that negotiations were underway for the sale of Martinsville Speedway to the France family two years ago. And Jim France several years ago denied reports that negotiations had begun for the sale of Richmond International Raceway to the Frances.
When ISC decides to make a move, it tries to keep it under wraps as long as possible.
"But it's nobody's business until you do it," Campbell said.
"I can't say our dates are locked in ... but I can say there's no more reason to look at us rather than anyone else.
"If you look at Martinsville on a map and draw a 100-mile circle around it, we're in one of the best geographical areas of anybody. We've got all the Triad to the south of us, and Roanoke to the north, and Richmond. We're in a good area.
"Martinsville itself is no major market. That's no secret. But the area we draw from is. And our TV ratings are good; I'll match them up against anybody. And we sell our seats out.
"We're doing what we're supposed to do to remain a viable and successful operation in 2006. And we've done that year after year after year. I'd rather have the seats we have (65,000) and fill them up (Sunday's DIRECTV 500 was a sellout) instead of twice this many and not."
That, of course, is a reference to the Charlotte and Atlanta tracks, which have had trouble attracting sellout crowds.
Another angle - and question - is Martinsville's July Busch race, an experiment. A Martinsville night race has long been considered a hot marketing prospect, not only from the standpoint of a sizable drive-in crowd but also from the Bristol angle. When Bristol moved it's summer race to prime time, the race became one of the biggest on the tour.
Campbell, though, said that the starting time of the summer race here hasn't been set.
"We're hoping it will be a night race," he said. "The problem with a night Cup race here is our two dates (April and October); this weekend would have been great, but last weekend would have been a disaster. The same in October; Charlotte gets by with it (a night race) the week before, but that's still iffy.
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The sport could use a few more classic battles
by Monte Dutton
Gazette Sports Writer
Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon finished 1-2 at Martinsville. What could be better?
The top four finishers were Stewart, Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. What could be better?
Nothing would make NASCAR better in this rapidly changing age than the emergence of a week-to-week battle between the royalty.
Part of what prevents it from happening very often is the fact that there are so many fine drivers out there.
But think about it. With those four, there’s someone for virtually every fan to love, and there’s someone for virtually every fan to hate.
Rivalry is the fuel that powers sports. It’s the blood that courses through veins and arteries and the river that brings sustenance to the rocky interior.
It was rare and special when the green flag waved with three laps to go, leaving Stewart and Gordon to settle it.
“I would’ve loved to have taken it away from him,” said Gordon, “but I just couldn’t get close enough.”
How important was it? It brought out the passion – for the second week in a row – in Gordon. He actually seemed to want it too much, which is why he roared out of turn two overly bold and slipped sideways, leaving Stewart to power away.
Anticlimactic? Yes. Up until that fateful point, though, when Stewart’s victory was sealed and the others left to race for second, the anticipation of a classic was in the air. The classic didn’t actually occur, but if classics weren’t rare, they wouldn’t be classics.
“I’ve always felt there were times when you’ve got to be aggressive and times when you’ve got to be patient,” said Gordon, and as with almost everything else related to driving race cars better than anyone else, he was right. He just couldn’t get the formula down this one time, and it was in part because Stewart, the guy he was tracking, carries a similar virtuosity.
Stewart has won twice at Martinsville Speedway. When he won the first time, in 2000, the second-place finisher was Dale Earnhardt.
“That was probably a little more special because of who was behind me,” said Stewart, and what he didn’t say, but didn’t need to, was that it’s special also because Earnhardt — the Original — isn’t around anymore.
“We knew we were going to be contenders,” Stewart added, “and the anticipation of coming here … this is one of the places I couldn’t wait to get to because I knew we had a shot at winning the race.”
Stewart had a shot at beating Jeff Gordon, who won both Martinsville races in 2005 and who has won 73 Cup races in his career. Dale Earnhardt finished his career with 76.
Stewart’s latest victory was his 25th, but his place in the sport isn’t small potatoes anymore. He’s won two championships, and that’s something only 14 men in NASCAR history can say.
by Monte Dutton
Gazette Sports Writer
Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon finished 1-2 at Martinsville. What could be better?
The top four finishers were Stewart, Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. What could be better?
Nothing would make NASCAR better in this rapidly changing age than the emergence of a week-to-week battle between the royalty.
Part of what prevents it from happening very often is the fact that there are so many fine drivers out there.
But think about it. With those four, there’s someone for virtually every fan to love, and there’s someone for virtually every fan to hate.
Rivalry is the fuel that powers sports. It’s the blood that courses through veins and arteries and the river that brings sustenance to the rocky interior.
It was rare and special when the green flag waved with three laps to go, leaving Stewart and Gordon to settle it.
“I would’ve loved to have taken it away from him,” said Gordon, “but I just couldn’t get close enough.”
How important was it? It brought out the passion – for the second week in a row – in Gordon. He actually seemed to want it too much, which is why he roared out of turn two overly bold and slipped sideways, leaving Stewart to power away.
Anticlimactic? Yes. Up until that fateful point, though, when Stewart’s victory was sealed and the others left to race for second, the anticipation of a classic was in the air. The classic didn’t actually occur, but if classics weren’t rare, they wouldn’t be classics.
“I’ve always felt there were times when you’ve got to be aggressive and times when you’ve got to be patient,” said Gordon, and as with almost everything else related to driving race cars better than anyone else, he was right. He just couldn’t get the formula down this one time, and it was in part because Stewart, the guy he was tracking, carries a similar virtuosity.
Stewart has won twice at Martinsville Speedway. When he won the first time, in 2000, the second-place finisher was Dale Earnhardt.
“That was probably a little more special because of who was behind me,” said Stewart, and what he didn’t say, but didn’t need to, was that it’s special also because Earnhardt — the Original — isn’t around anymore.
“We knew we were going to be contenders,” Stewart added, “and the anticipation of coming here … this is one of the places I couldn’t wait to get to because I knew we had a shot at winning the race.”
Stewart had a shot at beating Jeff Gordon, who won both Martinsville races in 2005 and who has won 73 Cup races in his career. Dale Earnhardt finished his career with 76.
Stewart’s latest victory was his 25th, but his place in the sport isn’t small potatoes anymore. He’s won two championships, and that’s something only 14 men in NASCAR history can say.
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Earnhardt Jr. took early licking, somehow kept ticking at Martinsville
By Seth Livingstone, USA TODAY
MARTINSVILLE, Va. — Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s Chevrolet Monte Carlo was not a pretty sight.
The right-front fender had been sawed off after the opening laps of Sunday's DirecTV 500. The left side was battered, front and rear. The right-rear corner of the red No. 8 Budweiser car was caved in.
Earnhardt looked like a long shot to finish the race.
"I remember Harry Gant winning a race one day in a car that looked like that," Earnhardt said. "I was worried my car was tore up too bad to be competitive. I have to thank my team for working hard and getting me back out on the racetrack. (After) cutting everything away that needed to be out of the way, the car still drove great. They didn't give up."
Earnhardt and his crew scrambled to finish fourth in the race, which kept him sixth in the Nextel Cup points standings.
Starting 29th, he found himself caught up in a multi-car pileup on lap 2 that did the bulk of the damage.
"Sometimes you have to be lucky in this sport," said Tony Eury Jr., Earnhardt's crew chief who knew the early-race damage was close to sending the No. 8 car to the garage for time-consuming repairs.
For one thing, Earnhardt's brake cooling ducts, a vital component at Martinsville Speedway, were destroyed on the right front. But when the fender was cut away, the right brakes had natural cooling — no duct work necessary.
What did Eury think when he saw Earnhardt's car rolling toward him on pit road?
"This is big," Eury said.
"You're worried. Does the radiator have a hole in it? What does the toe (front-end alignment) look like? What do the ball joints look like? There are a number of things running through your mind. Very seldom do you get in an accident and hit that much stuff and come out of it with the car (mechanically) unscathed.
"At that point we were just thinking about trying to finish.
"As the race went on, we were thinking about maybe a top 10."
But when Earnhardt got back on the track, he had other ideas.
"Man, it drove great all day," he said. "What a pleasure to drive it. I couldn't hurt it."
Although he tried. On lap 318, Earnhardt bumped with Ryan Newman, bringing out the 10th of 16 race cautions and inflicting damage to his left fender.
"We bounced off a lot of things and it just continued to drive great," Earnhardt said. "The wheels were still straight, and everything was still going in the right direction."
Earnhardt thinks the same can be said for his DEI team, which has three top-10s this season.
It was the first time Earnhardt had run with a DEI-produced chassis.
"The company's turning around," said Earnhardt, who missed the Chase for the Cup in 2005. "I'm just real proud of the whole effort that everybody is giving me this year. We had a hard year last year.
"I try to do my job on Sunday. I can take some credit for wheeling on it, but you can't do it if your car doesn't work. My car was working so good this week. It's a great day for us, even though we didn't win."
By Seth Livingstone, USA TODAY
MARTINSVILLE, Va. — Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s Chevrolet Monte Carlo was not a pretty sight.
The right-front fender had been sawed off after the opening laps of Sunday's DirecTV 500. The left side was battered, front and rear. The right-rear corner of the red No. 8 Budweiser car was caved in.
Earnhardt looked like a long shot to finish the race.
"I remember Harry Gant winning a race one day in a car that looked like that," Earnhardt said. "I was worried my car was tore up too bad to be competitive. I have to thank my team for working hard and getting me back out on the racetrack. (After) cutting everything away that needed to be out of the way, the car still drove great. They didn't give up."
Earnhardt and his crew scrambled to finish fourth in the race, which kept him sixth in the Nextel Cup points standings.
Starting 29th, he found himself caught up in a multi-car pileup on lap 2 that did the bulk of the damage.
"Sometimes you have to be lucky in this sport," said Tony Eury Jr., Earnhardt's crew chief who knew the early-race damage was close to sending the No. 8 car to the garage for time-consuming repairs.
For one thing, Earnhardt's brake cooling ducts, a vital component at Martinsville Speedway, were destroyed on the right front. But when the fender was cut away, the right brakes had natural cooling — no duct work necessary.
What did Eury think when he saw Earnhardt's car rolling toward him on pit road?
"This is big," Eury said.
"You're worried. Does the radiator have a hole in it? What does the toe (front-end alignment) look like? What do the ball joints look like? There are a number of things running through your mind. Very seldom do you get in an accident and hit that much stuff and come out of it with the car (mechanically) unscathed.
"At that point we were just thinking about trying to finish.
"As the race went on, we were thinking about maybe a top 10."
But when Earnhardt got back on the track, he had other ideas.
"Man, it drove great all day," he said. "What a pleasure to drive it. I couldn't hurt it."
Although he tried. On lap 318, Earnhardt bumped with Ryan Newman, bringing out the 10th of 16 race cautions and inflicting damage to his left fender.
"We bounced off a lot of things and it just continued to drive great," Earnhardt said. "The wheels were still straight, and everything was still going in the right direction."
Earnhardt thinks the same can be said for his DEI team, which has three top-10s this season.
It was the first time Earnhardt had run with a DEI-produced chassis.
"The company's turning around," said Earnhardt, who missed the Chase for the Cup in 2005. "I'm just real proud of the whole effort that everybody is giving me this year. We had a hard year last year.
"I try to do my job on Sunday. I can take some credit for wheeling on it, but you can't do it if your car doesn't work. My car was working so good this week. It's a great day for us, even though we didn't win."
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Earnhardt Jr. showing plenty of grit
By JENNA FRYER, AP Motorsports Writer
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Everything was set up for Dale Earnhardt Jr. to fail. He was in two separate accidents that heavily damaged his car and ruined his chances of winning at Martinsville Speedway.
But instead of shrugging it off as just another bad day at the office, Earnhardt salvaged every minute of track time he had and rallied to a fourth-place finish Sunday.
That's the commitment he'll need if Earnhardt is ever going to put together a true championship run.
"We had to work all day -- the hardest I believe we've had to work as a team throughout 500 laps,'' he said.
Those kind of efforts were lacking during his first six seasons, when a mishap on the track would demoralize his Dale Earnhardt Inc. team. They'd patch up the damage and send Junior back out on the track, but more times than not he was just running in circles chasing after a few extra points.
And if his car wasn't handling well? Forget it. Neither the driver or the crew seemed capable of focusing long enough or hard enough to correct the problem in time to salvage their day.
But this is a whole new season for NASCAR's most popular driver, who built an enormous following despite a spotty resume that showed wins on every track length, but mostly boasted dominance at restrictor plate events. Of his 16 career victories, seven have come at either Daytona or Talladega.
Now Junior seems intent on proving he's not just a celebrity, and he's as good as any other driver on the track. And his team, no longer content to ride on his celebrated coattails, is finally ready to contend for the Nextel Cup title.
He missed the show outright last season, failing to make the Chase for the championship while finishing 19th in the final standings.
But the run on Sunday was the first sign that the No. 8 Chevrolet might really be among the best week in and week out.
Just seconds after the green flag fell, Earnhardt was caught in a pack of nonmoving traffic that caused a stack of fender benders. The contact knocked most of his front fender off and left a gaping hole in the back of his car. He had to make several stops on pit road to check the damage. But his Dale Earnhardt Inc. team made all its repairs under caution, preventing Junior from falling off the lead lap.
He then worked his way back to the front through the next 249 laps, driving from 40th all the way to fourth -- only to see all his hard work erased in a second accident.
Ryan Newman pinched Earnhardt into the curbing on the tight track, causing him to slip all the way back to 18th. Despite more damage to his car, he once again drove back into the lead pack and passed Kyle Busch in the final turn to steal his fourth-place finish.
When he hopped out of his car, he was ready to celebrate like he'd just won the race. The crowd reacted like he had.
"That's really the biggest reward out of the whole deal, is when everybody appreciates what you do,'' he said. "I don't ever remember getting cheered like that for anything less than a win, so it's neat that they recognized what we went through to get that top-five. It was loud -- they were chanting, cheering, raising hell.''
His followers recognize what Earnhardt accomplished at Martinsville -- and how far he's come in the past year and a half.
He was a legitimate championship contender in 2004, but saw his title hopes crumble at Martinsville when he was plagued with problem after problem during the race and wound up finishing 33rd.
And although Earnhardt finished 13th at Martinsville last spring, he left the track 16th in the standings and well on his way to his forgettable season. He fired his crew chief five races later and spent the rest of the year trying desperately to get back on track.
His time as an also-ran made him realize just how much he missed his former crew chief, Tony Eury Jr., who is also his cousin. The two were separated at the end of 2004 when they couldn't get along, and it took a season of struggles for Junior to realize he needed Eury back on top of his pit box.
They reunited with 10 races to go last year, giving them a head start on this season.
Now they head to Texas Motor Speedway this weekend in sixth in the standings -- a full 10 spots from where Junior was this time last year -- and quietly putting the pieces together for a run at the Nextel Cup title.
Earnhardt has gotten into the top 10 in standings with little fanfare, unusual for a celebrity who is mobbed just about everywhere he goes. But that low-key approach from top to bottom on the team might be the difference in the end.
"I think people are finally seeing that we know what we're doing,'' he said. "We had a hard year last year, but the company has bounced back.''
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~By JENNA FRYER, AP Motorsports Writer
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Everything was set up for Dale Earnhardt Jr. to fail. He was in two separate accidents that heavily damaged his car and ruined his chances of winning at Martinsville Speedway.
But instead of shrugging it off as just another bad day at the office, Earnhardt salvaged every minute of track time he had and rallied to a fourth-place finish Sunday.
That's the commitment he'll need if Earnhardt is ever going to put together a true championship run.
"We had to work all day -- the hardest I believe we've had to work as a team throughout 500 laps,'' he said.
Those kind of efforts were lacking during his first six seasons, when a mishap on the track would demoralize his Dale Earnhardt Inc. team. They'd patch up the damage and send Junior back out on the track, but more times than not he was just running in circles chasing after a few extra points.
And if his car wasn't handling well? Forget it. Neither the driver or the crew seemed capable of focusing long enough or hard enough to correct the problem in time to salvage their day.
But this is a whole new season for NASCAR's most popular driver, who built an enormous following despite a spotty resume that showed wins on every track length, but mostly boasted dominance at restrictor plate events. Of his 16 career victories, seven have come at either Daytona or Talladega.
Now Junior seems intent on proving he's not just a celebrity, and he's as good as any other driver on the track. And his team, no longer content to ride on his celebrated coattails, is finally ready to contend for the Nextel Cup title.
He missed the show outright last season, failing to make the Chase for the championship while finishing 19th in the final standings.
But the run on Sunday was the first sign that the No. 8 Chevrolet might really be among the best week in and week out.
Just seconds after the green flag fell, Earnhardt was caught in a pack of nonmoving traffic that caused a stack of fender benders. The contact knocked most of his front fender off and left a gaping hole in the back of his car. He had to make several stops on pit road to check the damage. But his Dale Earnhardt Inc. team made all its repairs under caution, preventing Junior from falling off the lead lap.
He then worked his way back to the front through the next 249 laps, driving from 40th all the way to fourth -- only to see all his hard work erased in a second accident.
Ryan Newman pinched Earnhardt into the curbing on the tight track, causing him to slip all the way back to 18th. Despite more damage to his car, he once again drove back into the lead pack and passed Kyle Busch in the final turn to steal his fourth-place finish.
When he hopped out of his car, he was ready to celebrate like he'd just won the race. The crowd reacted like he had.
"That's really the biggest reward out of the whole deal, is when everybody appreciates what you do,'' he said. "I don't ever remember getting cheered like that for anything less than a win, so it's neat that they recognized what we went through to get that top-five. It was loud -- they were chanting, cheering, raising hell.''
His followers recognize what Earnhardt accomplished at Martinsville -- and how far he's come in the past year and a half.
He was a legitimate championship contender in 2004, but saw his title hopes crumble at Martinsville when he was plagued with problem after problem during the race and wound up finishing 33rd.
And although Earnhardt finished 13th at Martinsville last spring, he left the track 16th in the standings and well on his way to his forgettable season. He fired his crew chief five races later and spent the rest of the year trying desperately to get back on track.
His time as an also-ran made him realize just how much he missed his former crew chief, Tony Eury Jr., who is also his cousin. The two were separated at the end of 2004 when they couldn't get along, and it took a season of struggles for Junior to realize he needed Eury back on top of his pit box.
They reunited with 10 races to go last year, giving them a head start on this season.
Now they head to Texas Motor Speedway this weekend in sixth in the standings -- a full 10 spots from where Junior was this time last year -- and quietly putting the pieces together for a run at the Nextel Cup title.
Earnhardt has gotten into the top 10 in standings with little fanfare, unusual for a celebrity who is mobbed just about everywhere he goes. But that low-key approach from top to bottom on the team might be the difference in the end.
"I think people are finally seeing that we know what we're doing,'' he said. "We had a hard year last year, but the company has bounced back.''
Cross' Words
MartinsvilleBy B. Duane Cross, NASCAR.COM
If there were any lingering doubts that the No. 8 team hadn't turned the corner, Sunday at Martinsville is Exhibit A on how far Dale Earnhardt Jr. has come.
Forget the nay-sayers; those nincompoops will forever hold to the misconception that Junior is riding his daddy's coattails. He'll never beat that rap, so why give credence to those with their heads in the sand?
For as much as Jeff Gordon dug Sunday, Earnhardt was digging just as much -- if not more. Gordon still had the semblance of a Chevy Monte Carlo SS after 500 grueling laps at Martinsville. Junior? His ride looked like a reject from the set of Grandview, U.S.A., thanks in large part to a multi-car crash on Lap 2 and a short-end-of-the-stick scuffle with Ryan Newman on Lap 316.
(And wasn't Jamie Lee Curtis spectacular in that movie? Talk about grand views ...)
Six races into the season, Earnhardt is sixth in the point standings. He's been no higher than sixth all season, but has spent half the year in that spot. Last year, he spent three weeks in the top 10 the entire season.
During the red-flag stop with seven laps to go, Junior and crew chief Tony Eury Jr. had a frank discussion about how the final few laps might play out:
Dale Jr.: "This has been a helluva race."
Tony Jr.: "Yeah, we've had a lot of drama at these races lately."
Dale Jr.: "Oh yeah, you've been getting your money's worth out of my ass, I can tell you that! I ain't overpaid!"
Tony Jr.: "Yeah, I think you need a bump after the last three weeks."
Dale Jr.: "I just wish I could just take a fifth. I want to try to get these guys, but after everything, I'd be happier than hell with a fifth."
Tony Jr.: "Yeah, we'll just see what happens here. That's nice, but I think you're probably better than them by a pretty good amount. Play your cards however you want to play them."
Earnhardt came up aces, posting a fourth-place finish, his second top-five of the season. (He was third at Atlanta.)
It's only been more than a month, and 20 races remain until the Chase field is set, but the early returns on the reunion of Earnhardt and Eury is better than many had hoped, which isn't good news for the competition.
Or the nincompoops.
Say Anything
"When you've got a great car and someone takes away your opportunity to finish well, it's frustrating. [Sterling Marlin] just dumped us going into the turn. You expect something like that from a rookie driver, but to have someone take us out who's made as many laps around this place as he has ... [that] really makes you mad."
-- Jeff Green, who lost a battle for position racing Marlin on Lap 364
Figuratively Speaking
0 -- The number of drivers in the Busch series' top five that are not full-time Nextel Cup drivers. Sixth-place Johnny Sauter is 241 points behind leader Kevin Harvick and 63 out of fifth, held by Carl Edwards. Another Buschwhacker, Jamie McMurray, is 10th -- and he didn't even start the race at Bristol.
Fast Facts
• Tony Stewart has moved from 22nd in points after California to ninth following his victory at Martinsville. Smoke now has won at least one race each season since1999, a streak of eight consecutive years.
• Jeff Gordon finished second at Martinsville, his sixth consecutive top-10 at the track and four of those were victories. It was Gordon's third top-10 of the year and marked his season high, besting a fourth-place showing at Atlanta.
• Reed Sorenson's 12th-place finish at Martinsville was the highest for a rookie of the year contender. At least one rookie has scored a top-15 finish in every race this season: Martinsville: Sorenson -- 12th; Bristol: Denny Hamlin -- 12th; Atlanta: Sorenson -- 10th; Las Vegas: Hamlin -- 10th, Clint Bowyer -- 15th; California: J.J. Yeley -- eighth, Hamlin -- 12th, Bowyer -- 14th; Martin Truex Jr. -- 15th; Daytona: Bowyer -- sixth.
Up Next
Texas Motor Speedway | 1:30 p.m. ET Sunday | FOX
• There have been 10 different race winners in 10 races at Texas Motor Speedway, and three of the past five races were won from starting positions of 19th or lower. No driver has ever won there from a front-row starting position (best starting position for a winner: third -- Dale Jarrett (2001) and Ryan Newman (2003)). The winner's average starting position: 11th.
And lookee there: Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s average starting position at Texas is 11th. Can you say "repeat winner" (2000)?
• Speaking of Junior, he has six top-10 finishes in seven starts at Texas, the most of all drivers, while Jimmie Johnson has top-10s in all five of his races (6.2 average finish), the longest current streak. Bobby Labonte had four top-10 finishes -- including three third-place finishes -- in his first four races at Texas, but he has finished 25th or worse in his last six races there.
• Roush Racing has won five of the 10 races at Texas, the most of any car owner. Roush swept both races there in 2005, and all five victories came with a different driver: 1997 -- Jeff Burton; 1998 -- Mark Martin; 2002 -- Matt Kenseth; 2005 -- Greg Biffle and Carl Edwards.
Mailbag
A little something different this week. Instead of the usual gabfest of he said, she said, I want to throw out two things:
1.) Give me Chad Knaus atop the pitbox and I'll take my chances on Sundays.
The media voted Ray Evernham as the all-time crew chief, but since he's otherwise preoccupied running the Dodge flagship program and getting Erin Crocker ready for her close-up, Knaus is my pick in a winner-take-all.
Book it now: The No. 48 team is your 2006 Cup champion. (Yeah, yeah -- flat tire on the first lap at Bristol. I hear ya. Call it a mulligan.)
2.) Give me Tony Stewart in the driver's seat and the checkered flag will be mine.
However, if Smoke is off running dirt tracks, I'll take Kurt Busch. Every time you write off the guy he's back in your face. Ryan Newman and Busch are 13th and 14th in points, and that's closer than Newman and Rusty Wallace ever were -- literally. Well, except for a couple of on-track bump-and-runs.
Send me your choices for those two propositions.
OK, here are a couple of gabs for good measure:
You write like a left-wing liberal journalist. Maybe you are. If Kurt Busch says it, it is sarcastic but Kevin Harvick is funny? Guess whiny Rusty Wallace and "Goody Four Good Years" Jeffy Gordon can bump and run all they want and Dale Earnhardt can knock the crap out of Terry Labonte but come some kid you don't like, and you start writing like Ed Hinton. It's the bump-and-run, you wuss, what do you want to do turn Thunder Valley into Brokeback Valley?
-- Buz Smith
Thanks for the comparison to Ed; he's one heckuva poker player, too.
You need to tell Joe Glover, who complained because his kid heard the word sh** on [the] NASCAR [telecast], that he obviously doesn't mind the half-dressed women all the time, i.e. deodorant commercials that promote sex. Get a grip and turn off the TV if you don't like it. He watches NASCAR because it is exciting -- and you can expect a swear word occasionally. I just tell my 5-year-old son, "He was mad and that doesn't mean you can say that when you get mad." He doesn't and we watch NASCAR every day. Bite me, Joe.
-- Robert Pearson
No sh**.
In case you're looking for something to do ...
• The Victory Junction Gang Camp has unveiled its redesigned Web site. Check it out -- as well as Josh Pate's interview with Kyle and Pattie Petty at Martinsville.
• Carl Edwards will be making his debut on 24 (9 p.m. ET Monday, FOX). Edwards hasn't spoken much about his role on the show during the past two months because, we assume -- just like the show -- it remains confidential information.
Fantasy Perspective
• Mark Martin has posted 10 consecutive top-15 finishes (since Atlanta in October 2005) and he has only one DNF (Talladega in October 2005) in the 30 races since Dover in June 2005.
• Matt Kenseth (24th) and Kasey Kahne (35th) had forgettable days at Martinsville; both had season-worst finishes. As a result, Kenseth yielded the points lead and dropped to third; Kahne fell from a career-high second to fourth. However, they each have five top-15 finishes in six starts this year.
• At this point one year ago, Kyle Busch was wallowing in 29th position in the point standings. His average finish through six races was 23.6, and even that was buoyed by a second-place finish at Vegas. This year, he has four top-10s and is fifth in points. ... Can you smell what the Shrub has cooking?
The opinions expressed are solely of the writer. ... And I'm still waiting on the DVD release party for Grandview U.S.A.
"Championships have always driven me to win races. That 3 car pulling into the track would cause people to look around and wonder what we were doing, to see how to beat us."
-Dale Earnhardt
-Dale Earnhardt
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NASCAR ON TV THIS WEEK Qualifying: Nextel Cup Series Samsung/Radio Shack 500 Friday, April 7 4:30 p.m. Speed
Practice: Nextel Cup Series Samsung/Radio Shack 500 Saturday, April 8 2 p.m. FX
Busch Series O'Reilly 300 Saturday, April 8 3 p.m. Fox
Nextel Cup Series Samsung/Radio Shack 500 Sunday, Aprill 9 1:30 p.m. Fox
All time Eastern. Times and station subject to change.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Well, that's all for today. Until the next time, I remain,Your
Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, wine in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!"
"Don't come here and grumble about going too fast. Get the hell out of the race car if you've got feathers on your legs or butt. Put a kerosene rag around your ankles so the ants wins't climb up there and eat that candy ass." - Dale Earnhardt – 1998
"It's nothin' personal, it's just racin'
-Dale Earnhardt Sr.
This list is authored by:
Sandra Monacelli
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