Thursday, July 31, 2014

Gordon, Stewart, Kahne, Larson Set For Charity Kart Race

Four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion and five-time Brickyard 400 winner Jeff Gordon, three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion and three-time World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series A-Feature winner Tony Stewart, 16-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series winner Kasey Kahne and current NASCAR Sprint Cup Series rookie-of-the-year leader Kyle Larson will join race fans to compete in the second-annual Weld Racing Go-Kart Spectacular kart race in Knoxville, Iowa. 

The race is part of the week’s Tony Stewart Kick-It Cup charity events, and pits more than 60 race fans who have generously donated to Kick-It against some of their favorite racing stars in an eight heat race, single-feature event.  

All proceeds from the event go to Kick-It, a program of Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation that raises money for children’s cancer research. To date, the Weld Racing Go-Kart Spectacular has raised more than $20,000 through online donations. 

The winner of each heat race will transfer to the 20-lap A-Main. All non-qualifiers have a last chance one-lap foot race to run their way in, with the top two starting ninth and 10th in the feature event. The four NASCAR drivers will start at the tail of the feature in an effort to beat the fans and have their name engraved on the trophy. Kyle Larson won the inaugural event last August.   


The 2014 Tony Stewart Kick-It Cup events continue on Friday, August 8 at 11 a.m. with the inaugural Fan Fest at Young’s Field, featuring a “Legends of Sprint Car Racing” autograph session, Minnesota Mafia Kids Kick-It contest, silent auction, food and more. At noon, the third-annual kickball game begins, pitting the world’s greatest sprint car drivers going head-to-head in a seven-inning grassroots game. A live auction featuring a QRC go-kart, sheetmetal, vacation packages, and more will take place throughout the game. A full list of auction items can be found at www.facebook.com/knoxvillekickit

Martin Returning Home To Roush Fenway Racing

Roush (L) and Martin team up again
Mark Martin is returning to Roush Fenway Racing -- where he excelled behind the wheel for almost 20 years -- this time as the team’s driver development coach. Martin was the first driver hired by team owner Jack Roush when he founded his NASCAR operation in 1988. The two went on to become one of the most successful duos in sports history, accumulating 83 NASCAR wins, four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship runner-up finishes, and building Roush Fenway into the winningest team in NASCAR history.

“I’m excited to return to Roush Fenway Racing, as it feels like I’m going home to where I belong,” said Martin. “I was fortunate to help build this team from the beginning and it’s very humbling to be a part of Jack’s team again. When Jack first hired me in 1988 we didn’t talk about salary or benefits or perks, we talked about testing, tires and putting the right personnel into place to win on the track. That commitment is what stood out to me then and it’s still what stands out to me today.

“Nobody does a better job at developing young talent than Jack Roush,” added Martin. “Roush Fenway has an abundance of young, talented drivers and I’m looking forward to working with each of them going forward. I am very proud of what Jack and I were able to accomplish together and I am excited to expand on those accomplishments. 

“I understand what it takes to succeed in this business and appreciate the hard work, dedication and focus required to compete at the highest level week in and week out,” added the NASCAR legend. “We have a great crop of young drivers in Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Trevor Bayne, as well as with the rookies Chris Buescher and Ryan Reed and of course the veteran leadership with Greg Biffle. It will be a key part of my job to help them develop their skills behind the wheel and get the most of their exceptional ability.” 

“The thing that always stood out about Mark was his unmatched drive to win,” said Roush. “Mark put us on the map and I am pleased to have him as a part of our team again. Mark is not only a good friend but he’s also a fierce competitor and I truly admire his passion and dedication to racing.  I have no question that you will be able to see his influence on our young drivers. He understands what it takes to win and to be able to do that on a consistent basis and he’ll, once again, be a great asset to have back within our organization.” 

Martin piloted Roush Fenway’s flagship No. 6 Ford from 1988 until 2006. During that time he accumulated 35 NSCS victories. At the end of his tenure at Roush Fenway he held a record five prestigious IROC (International Race of Champions) Championships and a then record 47 NASCAR Nationwide Series wins. For his career Martin posted 96 career NASCAR victories.


Wednesday, July 30, 2014

BREAKING NEWS: Ives Tapped As Earnhardt's 2015 Crew Chief

Crew chief Greg Ives will rejoin Hendrick Motorsports following the 2014 NASCAR season to lead the No. 88 Sprint Cup Series team of driver Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Ives, 34, was race engineer for Jimmie Johnson’s historic run of five consecutive Sprint Cup championships (2006-2010) with the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports team. He will work alongside Johnson’s crew chief, Chad Knaus, in the shop shared by the Nos. 48 and 88 Chevrolet SS teams.

“Greg was our number-one choice,” said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. “This is a talented guy who already has a terrific rapport with Dale Jr. and is a fit with the organization. He and Chad had a lot of success together, and all of our crew chiefs think the world of him and what he’s accomplished. Greg’s proven that he can win races, and he has all the tools to do big things.”

Since his debut as a crew chief for JR Motorsports in 2013, Ives has won five NASCAR Nationwide Series races including three this season with rookie and current points leader Chase Elliott.

“This is an incredible opportunity for me and my family,” Ives said. “Dale Jr. and I have a great relationship from being in the same shop at Hendrick Motorsports and my time at JRM. We have a lot left to do this season in the Nationwide Series, but I’m excited about what’s ahead and look forward to sharing some wins with JR Nation in the future. I couldn’t ask for a better situation than working with one of the best drivers and teams in racing.”

A native of Bark River, Michigan, and graduate of Michigan Technological University, Ives joined Hendrick Motorsports as a mechanic in 2004 before moving into an engineering role on the No. 48 team in 2006. In seven years working with Knaus, he contributed to 42 wins, 113 top-five finishes and 21 pole positions in the Sprint Cup Series.

In November 2012, Ives transitioned to JR Motorsports as crew chief for driver Regan Smith. The duo won two races and finished third in points in 2013 before Ives was named Elliott’s crew chief prior to this season. JR Motorsports works closely with Hendrick Motorsports and is owned by Earnhardt in partnership with Rick Hendrick.

“I know what Greg is all about and really respect him,” Earnhardt said. “He’s a strong leader with a cool personality, and we’re both competitors who want to win. It was important to find someone who would fit at Hendrick Motorsports and inside our shop, and he will for sure do that. We got the best guy for the job, and I look forward to working with him next year.

“From a JR Motorsports perspective, I’m extremely proud of how this worked out. Since the end of 2012, we’ve focused on JRM and Hendrick Motorsports working together as closely as possible and developing talented people for the next level. This is a perfect example of that happening the way we hoped it would.”

Ives will take the place of current No. 88 crew chief Steve Letarte who will move into a broadcasting role with NBC Sports Group following the 2014 Sprint Cup Series season.

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

NASCAR Hammers Gibbs, Hamlin For Indy Post-Race Violation

Hamlin loses 75 points
The No. 11 team that competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series has been penalized for a rules infraction discovered in post-race inspection July 27 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

This infraction is a P5 level penalty which is outlined in Section 12-4.5 A (9) of the 2014 NASCAR rule book:
Approved parts that fail or are improperly installed to fail in their intended use of great importance (e.g.; rear wheel well panels that fail and allow air evacuation in the trunk area; oil box cover that fails and allows air evacuation in the driver compartment; shifter boot cover that fails and allows air evacuation through the floor pan).

This infraction violates Sections:

12-1 - Actions detrimental to stock car racing; 

20-2.1 – Car body must be acceptable to NASCAR officials and meet the following requirements:
  • K – Any device or ductwork that permits air to pass from one area of the interior of the car to another, or to the outside of the car, will not be permitted. This includes, but is not limited to, the inside of the car to the trunk area, or the floors, firewalls, crush panels and wheel wells passing air into or out of the car;
  • L – All seams of the interior sheet metal and all interior sheet metal to exterior sheet metal contact point must be sealed and caulked. This includes, but is not limited to, floors, firewalls, wheel wells, package trays, crush panels and any removable covers;
20-3.4 - All references to the inspection surface in sub-section 20-3.4 have been determined with the front lower edge of both main frame rails set at six inches and the rear lower edge of both main frame rails set at eight inches. For driver protection, all firewalls, floors, tunnels, and access panels must be installed and completely secured in place when the car is in competition; 

20-3.4.5 - A rear firewall, including any removable panels or access doors, constructed using magnetic sheet steel a minimum of 22 gage (0.031 inch thick), must be located between the trunk area and the driver’s compartment and must be welded in place. Block-off plates/covers used in rear firewalls in place of blowers, oil coolers, etc., must be constructed of 22 gage (0.031 inch thick) magnetic sheet steel. Block-off plates/covers must be installed with positive fasteners and sealed to prevent air leakage. Carbon fiber or aluminum block-off plates/covers will not be permitted.

Per Section 12-4.5 B, the minimum P5 penalty includes:

  • Loss of 50 championship driver and owner points, regardless of whether the violation occurred during a championship race or not;
  • $75,000 to $125,000 fine;
  • Suspension for the next six series championship races, plus any non-championship races or special events which might occur during that period, for the crew chief and any other team members as determined by NASCAR;
  • Probation through the end of the calendar year for all suspended members, or for a six-month period following the issuance of the penalty notice if that period spans across two consecutive seasons.
Since this infraction is a P5 level penalty and was discovered in post-race inspection, Section 12-4.5 C (1,2) also applies: 
  • • If the infraction is detected during post-race inspection, then the following penalty elements will be added: 
    • o Loss of an additional 25 championship driver and owner points; regardless of whether it was a championship race or not; 
    • o Loss of an additional $50,000.
As a result of these violations, crew chief Darian Grubb has been fined $75,000 plus an additional $50,000 post-race fine for a total of $125,000. Grubb has also been suspended from NASCAR for the next six series championship events, plus any non-championship races or special events that might occur during that time period. Grubb will also be on NASCAR probation for the next six months.

Car chief Wesley Sherrill has been suspended from NASCAR for the next six series championship events, plus any non-championship races or special events that might occur during that time period and will be on NASCAR probation for the next six months. 

This infraction has also cost the No. 11 team the loss of 50 championship driver and owner (Denny Hamlin and J.D. Gibbs) points plus an additional 25 post-race points for a total loss of 75 championship driver and 75 championship owner points.


Joe Gibbs Racing issued a statement this afternoon saying the team “is aware of the penalty issued by NASCAR today regarding the No. 11 team’s post-race inspection infraction following Sunday’s Sprint Cup Series race in Indianapolis. JGR will plan to appeal the penalty, however, crew chief Darian Grubb and car chief Wesley Sherrill will begin to serve their suspensions starting this weekend in Pocono.”  

Hermie Sadler Inks Two-Race Deal With TriStar

1993 NASCAR Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year and current FOX SPORTS 1 analyst Hermie Sadler will return to the driver's seat for his first NASCAR Nationwide Series race since 2010. Sadler will pilot the No. 19 Toyota Camry for TriStar Motorsports at Bristol Motor Speedway on August 22nd for his 260th career NNS start and again on September 5th at Richmond International Raceway.

The Virginia Lottery will serve as primary sponsor, with whom Sadler has been an ambassador for over 15 years.  The car will promote The Virginia Lottery's "Let's Play VA" events, in which lottery players and NASCAR fans have the chance to join the No. 19 team as an honorary crew member, attend the NASCAR Awards banquet in Las Vegas as Sadler's guest and have a chance to win other exciting prizes by entering second chance drawings at the following events:
           
            Galax Fiddlers Convention                         August 7-9
            Bristol Food City Fan Appreciation Day    August 21
            Hillsville Flea Market                                 August 29-31
            Richmond International Raceway              September 5-6
            Virginia State Fair                                      September 26- October 5
            Martinsville Speedway                              October 24-26
            Urbanna Oyster Festival                            November 7-8

"I am thankful to my friends at The Virginia Lottery and to Mark Smith and his staff at TriStar Motorsports for making this happen," exclaimed Sadler. "Getting to race again on two of my favorite tracks, as well as promote some once in a lifetime opportunities from the Virginia Lottery, is exciting for me." 

Associate sponsors of the No. 19 Camry at Bristol Motor Speedway will include Black Wolf Harley Davidson in Bristol, Va, Quaker Steak and Lube in Bristol, and The Maxxis Mid-Atlantic Dirt Series, a karting series in which Sadler's karting team competes in.

Monday, July 28, 2014

RPM Tests As Ambrose Dodges Reports Of Departure

Ambrose has options
In the world of NASCAR, there is truly no rest for the weary. 

Currently enmeshed in a “17 races in 17 weeks” run that will carry the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series through the 2015 season finale at Homestead Miami Speedway on Nov. 16, a handful of teams traveled directly from Indianapolis Motor Speedway to Watkins Glen International today, to test for next month’s NASCAR At The Glen. 

One of those teams is Richard Petty Motorsports, working to secure both of its NASCAR Sprint Cup teams a berth in the 2014 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. RPM left the Brickyard yesterday after a 21st-place finish for driver Aric Almirola and a 22nd for teammate Marcos Ambrose, flying directly to the Watkins Glen road course for a two-day test session. 

The goal of the test will be to collect information and give Ambrose and Almirola the best possible setup when they return for the race in two weeks. If Ambrose can win the event – and he is a leading candidate to do so – RPM will put two cars in the title Chase for the first time ever.   

In addition to a brutal race and testing schedule, RPM’s No. 9 Ford team must maintain focused in the face of persistent reports that Ambrose could depart the team at season’s end.
The Aussie's future has been the subject of widespread speculation for weeks now, and multiple sources tell GodfatherMotorsports.com that Ambrose will in fact return to his native Australia at season's end to drive for a new Aussie V8 Supercar team fielded by veteran series owner Dick Johnson and new partner Roger Penske in 2015.
Ambrose is a two-time champion of the Aussie VB Supercar Series and Penske Racing president Tim Cindric confirmed recently that discussions have taken place about fielding a team with Johnson. Penske is currently building a number of new automobile and Western Star truck dealerships “down under,” but a spokesperson for Dick Johnson Racing said earlier this month that "there is nothing to report at the present time.”
RPM owner Richard Petty said last week at Indianapolis Motor Speedway that Ambrose “has been good for Richard Petty Motorsports,” adding, “we admire what he's been doing for us.” Petty said the decision on whether to stay in the U.S. or return to Australia is up to Ambrose.
In Petty’s words, “You'll have to ask him."
Ambrose has declined comment, telling reporters at IMS, "If I had something to say, I'd already say it."
 
 
 

COMMENTARY: Jack Spills The Beans

Jack Roush loses another driver
Roush Fenway Racing announced its 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series lineup yesterday, and with all due respect, the biggest news concerns who does not appear on the roster.

RFR confirmed that it will field three Sprint Cup teams next season for drivers Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M Ford), Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (No. 17 Fastenal Ford) and Trevor Bayne (No. 6 Advocare Ford). Noticeably absent from that lineup is Carl Edwards, who has served as the face of both RFR and Ford Racing since joining NASCAR’s senior circuit in 2004.

Edwards is universally believed to be headed for a fourth Toyota entry at Joe Gibbs Racing next season, and for the second time in the last three years, RFR majority owner Jack Roush has spilled the beans with an unusual July announcement concerning his driver roster for the following season. Two years ago, Roush outed Matt Kenseth’s departure plans in similar fashion, announcing that the former Sprint Cup Series champion would not return to the fold in 2013.

Roush and Edwards: Game over
There is no love lost between Jack Roush and Toyota Racing. Never has been, never will be. After spotting an employee’s Toyota truck in the RFR parking lot years ago, Roush famously paid that employee in Japanese yen. He repeatedly refers to Toyota as “the dark side” and enjoys trumping the rival automaker at every turn. Losing Edwards to Toyota rubs salt in the still-open wound inflicted by Kenseth two years earlier, and Roush reacted – perhaps predictably -- by launching a pre-emptive strike that takes much of the air out of a future Edwards/Gibbs announcement, whenever it may occur.

Ford Racing Director Jamie Allison said Sunday that the automaker “did everything to facilitate keeping Carl a part of the Ford Racing and Roush Fenway family,” lamenting that “in the end, that option did not come to fruition.” Indeed, for the second time in the last three years, Roush Fenway Racing and Ford Motor Company have been spurned by a top-tier, championship caliber driver, left to watch helplessly as one of their brightest lights crosses over to the dark side.

"I will always be thankful for Carl's contribution and the role he played in many Roush Fenway wins and championships," said Roush, mouthing all the platitudes required of an allegedly amicable split. "We wish him well for the future (and) are excited about continuing our quest for a championship with Carl and the No. 99 team in 2014.”

Make no mistake about it, however. Roush does not “wish Edwards well.” In fact, if Carl never wins another Sprint Cup Series race after 2014, it’ll be too soon for Jack. 

That’s why Roush took the unusual step of announcing his 2015 driver lineup last week, rather than waiting until September or October, as is customary in the industry.

No other NASCAR team has publicized its 2015 deals at this early date, preferring instead to focus on the job at hand; qualifying for a 2014 Chase that is now just six weeks away. Only the “Cat in the Hat” has chosen to let the cat out of the bag, with a statement clearly designed to shove it up the collective tailpipe of Edwards and JGR.

For his part, Joe Gibbs continues to keep mum on the topic, saying, "We don't have anything right now to announce. Anything that we're going to do will be coming up in the future. I'm not sure exactly what the time line is.”

There's no beanstalk this time around, no flesh-eating giant to bellow "fee, fie, fo, fum" while striking terror in the hearts of the townspeople. But for JGR, the damage has clearly been done. 

Their much-anticipated Edwards announcement is no longer a question of “if.” 

Thanks to Jack Roush, it’s only a matter of “when.”

Friday, July 25, 2014

Busch Touts Talladega As Final Race Before The Chase

Asked today what changes he would make to the 2015 schedule, former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Kurt Busch said he would swap the final event of the regular season and the opening race of the Chase, creating a high-stakes regular season finale at Talladega Superspeedway.

“Could I be president for the day and decide what we're going to do?” laughed Busch. “Maybe we should put Richmond in the Chase and use Talladega as the cutoff to get in. We're all driving around (at Talladega) very tentative and trying not to get in a wreck. But why not make it the final race to get in and throw a huge Wild Card in to try to make it into the Chase?

“By then, you have 15 guys that are pretty much locked in,” he added. “That means those top 15 guys are going to throw it all on the line to try to win. They're not going to be riding in the back to protect their points.

“I would change Richmond and Talladega, and it works because (International Speedway Corporation) owns both those tracks.”

The Stewart Haas Racing driver also suggested putting the season finale up for bid, much like the Super Bowl, World Series and Olympic Games; changing the venue each season.

“I think the final race should be bid on by a committee,” he said. “There's a committee that goes around and it gets filled in on who does the best job with their community to present themselves as the frontrunner to have the Super Bowl. Why not do that with our final stock car race?”


He also advocated a periodic reshuffling of the Chase schedule, saying, “I think Chicago is a great place to start it off. Those Chase races are valuable. And we could mix it up and change some of the races that are in the Chase.”

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

France Says NASCAR Will Not Negotiate With RTA

NASCAR Chairman/CEO Brian France made it perfectly clear Monday.

While he will continue to seek input from individual team owners, he has no interest in speaking with the newly formed Race Team Alliance.

The RTA is comprised of nine of NASCAR’s most powerful and successful teams; Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing, Michael Waltrip Racing, Richard Childress Racing, Richard Petty Motorsports, Roush Fenway Racing, Stewart-Haas Racing and Team Penske. Speaking on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio’s SiriusXM Speedway Monday, France said NASCAR’s “business as usual” policy will not include conversations with the new alliance.

"The worst thing that we could ever do is listen to one voice, even if it was a consensus voice," he said. "Every decision we've ever made that's important -- the more input (and) the more people we’ve heard from -- the better the results. That will never change in the business model of NASCAR, because good ideas come from all over the place."

RTA chairman Rob Kauffman has insisted that the alliance will concentrate on “low hanging fruit,” trimming expenditures for travel, hotel accommodations, rental cars and insurance. France endorsed those efforts, saying, “They’re smart guys, they may figure out some things that we’re not aware (of). They’re entitled to approach their business in certain ways (and) we’re going to respect that.”

France said NASCAR “didn't think (the RTA) was necessary," adding, “we think the benefits they will arrive at with this association will be much smaller than they do."

The RTA has said it has no plans to negotiate for a larger share of the new, 2015 television contracts. Under the current deal, 65% of all TV revenue is distributed to speedways, with teams getting 25% and 10% going to NASCAR. France said those percentages will remain unchanged, saying they are “set for historical reasons and because it’s the right allocation. Everybody would like to have more. The tracks would, anybody else would. That’s natural. I think they’ve made mention that they don’t have any desire to do that (and) we’re business as usual."

He also insisted that NASCAR will continue to deal with individual team owners, rather than a chosen spokesman.

"We need all the input we can get,” he said. “That's the whole beauty of the NASCAR business model. Everybody's in it together. We’re going to go down the road of dealing with all the team owners.


“Not most of them, not the big ones. All of them.”

Thursday, July 17, 2014

If You're A Race Fan, This Book Is A MUST!

Motorsports publisher Coastal 181 has announced the release of its latest title, “The People’s Champ: A Racing Life,” by Dave Darland. The autobiography of one of open-wheel racing’s most successful and popular racers was written with well-known journalist Bones Bourcier. The book charts the course of Darland’s racing life, from Quarter-Midgets and local Sprint Cars through his remarkable and ongoing professional career, including championships in all three of USAC’s national divisions – Silver Crown, Sprint Cars, and Midgets.

Not simply a chronological retelling of a great driver’s climb, Darland discusses the rivalries that helped shape his career, the code of conduct he races by, the magic of his sport’s biggest events, and the joys and stresses of being a husband and father in a sport that requires frequent travel and intense focus. The book is annotated with reflections from “eyewitnesses” who have known Dave through their own personal and professional relationships, whether as car owner, mechanic, rival driver, or family member. Darland’s story is illustrated by dozens of color and black and white photographs and includes a foreword by another champion and longtime friend, Tony Stewart.

And Dave Darland is not done yet.  Darland celebrated the launch of the book on July 12th at Kokomo Speedway by winning that night’s Indiana Sprint Week feature and setting a new track record.  


“The People’s Champ” is available online at www.coastal181.com or by calling Coastal 181 at 877-907-8181 toll free.   

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

KBM Truck Team Sanctioned By NASCAR... Again

The No. 51 Kyle Busch Motorsports team that competes in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series has been penalized for a rules infraction discovered in post-race inspection July 11 at Iowa Speedway.

The infraction is a P2 level penalty and violates Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 20B-12.8.1 (truck failed to meet post-race height requirements) of the 2014 NASCAR rule book.


As a result of this infraction, crew chief Eric Phillips has been fined $6,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31. In addition, driver Erik Jones has lost 10 championship driver points and owner Kyle Busch has lost 10 championship owner points.

Sunday, July 13, 2014

Shepherd’s Performance Proves Age Guidelines Needed

Logano's day ruined.
Despite being forced to roll out a backup car after a Friday practice crash, Joey Logano had a good day going at New Hampshire Motor Speedway Sunday. 

The Team Penske driver was running a solid second behind teammate and eventual winner Brad Keselowski with just 88 laps remaining, before an on-track incident with the lapped car of 72-year old Morgan Shepherd ended his hopes for Victory Lane. 


Shepherd was a whopping 16 laps down at the time, after qualifying slowest in the 43-car field, 2.2 seconds off Kyle Busch’s pole speed. His time was a quarter of a second slower than that of the 42nd-place qualifier, Timmy Hill, and he ran 20-30 mph off the pace from the outset before losing the handle, drifting up the track and wrecking Logano.

“I just gotten taken out by the slowest car out there,” said an incredulous Logano afterward. “You'd think there would be some courtesy to the leaders, (but) I guess not. I feel there should be a driver's test, but I guess there isn't.''

For his part, Shepherd complained about the handling of his Circle Sport Racing Chevrolet after the wreck, saying via in-car radio, “Guys, I can't hang on to this thing. (It’s) spinning out going into the corner. It doesn't take much for somebody to get up against me and pull this thing around."

Shepherd's run will inspire debate.
Sunday’s incident will almost certainly re-ignite the debate over the need for further age restrictions in NASCAR. At present, the sanctioning body mandates only a minimum age for national series competition, while requiring drivers to prove their mettle on smaller tracks before being cleared to race on superspeedways. There is no maximum age limit, however, and drivers like Shepherd who have competed for decades routinely receive the green light to continue racing for as long as they like, provided they pass a simple, pre-season physical examination. Aging drivers are not required by the sanctioning body to prove they can skill perform at a high level behind the wheel, and in light of Sunday’s incident, the time for such requirements may finally have come.

This is not the first time in recent seasons that Shepherd has served as a rolling road block. Last fall, he struggled mightily at the Loudon speed plant in equipment that was admittedly not up to snuff. Unfortunately, the results were the same this time around, despite driving for a Circle Sport Racing team that performed well the previous week at Daytona International Speedway with driver Bobby Labonte. Shepherd was embarrassingly slow again Sunday and consistently impeded the progress of the leaders before ending Logano’s bid for Victory Lane in an incident that quite simply should never have happened.

I have great respect for Morgan Shepherd, as both a racer and a man. He is a four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series winner, with an additional 15 career victories in what is now the NASCAR Nationwide Series. In his day, he was a force to be reckoned with, wherever and whenever he raced. But those days are long gone.

Despite his resume, Shepherd exhibited neither reasonable speed nor control over his race car last weekend, as Logano can surely attest. Even worse, he displayed extremely poor judgment by remaining on the race track with nothing to gain in a car that was 16 laps down and – by his own admission -- woefully ill-handling.

Professional athletes are infamous for staying too long at the dance. Muhammad Ali, 38-years old and with slowed reflexes and slurred speech caused by the onset of Parkinson’s Disease, was pummeled into retirement by Larry Holmes in a 1980 fight described by actor Sylvester Stallone as “like watching an autopsy on a man who was still alive.” Closer to home, NASCAR Hall of Famers Richard Petty and Darrell Waltrip both struggled simply to qualify for races late in their careers.

Shepherd’s most recent NASCAR win came 21 years ago, in March of 1993 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Of the drivers who finished in the Top-10 that day, only Shepherd and then-rookie Jeff Gordon remain active today. The others -- Ernie Irvan, Rusty Wallace, Ricky Rudd, Geoff Bodine, Kyle Petty, Brett Bodine, Bill Elliott and Jimmy Spencer -- have long ago retired.

Based on Sunday’s race at NHMS, it’s time for Shepherd to consider doing the same. It’s also time for NASCAR to ensure that every driver – regardless of age – possesses the skills needed to compete safely at the sport’s highest level.



Friday, July 11, 2014

Helton Says NASCAR Has No Issues With RTA

NASCAR president Mike Helton said today that the sanctioning body will not change its way of doing business as a result of the newly formed Race Team Alliance.
Earlier this week, nine of NASCAR’s top Sprint Cup Series teams announced what they called “an open forum for the teams to explore areas of common interest and to work collaboratively on initiatives to help preserve, promote, and grow the sport of stock car racing.”

Comprised of Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing, Michael Waltrip Racing, Richard Childress Racing, Richard Petty Motorsports, Roush Fenway Racing, Stewart-Haas Racing and Team Penske, the RTA announced plans to extend invitations to all full-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams in the near future.

Meeting with reporters Friday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Helton downplayed reports of animosity between the new group and NASCAR, saying the sanctioning body will continue to do business as usual.
“We’re going to stay our course,” said Helton. “We have great respect for our stakeholders, so any perception (that) there could be animosity based on this topic is incorrect.”
He said the sanctioning body will continue to solicit input from all team owners when making policy decisions.  “Every car owner in here has a voice;” he said, “crew members, drivers (and) crew chiefs. We take that input and make what we think are the best decisions that are good for the whole sport.
“We will continue to operate that way. Our intention is to build NASCAR collectively.”
RTA Chairman Rob Kauffman – co-owner of Michael Waltrip Racing – denied reports this week that the group intends to lobby NASCAR for a larger percentage of next year’s new, $8.3 billion television contract, saying they will work primarily toward producing cost savings in areas like rental cars, hotel accommodations, air travel and insurance premiums; efforts that Helton said NASCAR supports.
“We take very seriously our responsibility to make decisions in this sport (and) in the garage area, for the race tracks and the other partners that we have,” he said. “Part of that responsibility is to have a sport that has a great product at great race tracks for our fans, and the owners have been very clear that that is their intention, too. We stand together very clearly on that.”
He stressed, however, that the RTA will not change NASCAR’s approach to governing the sport, saying, “We believe that the way we (manage) our form of motorsports has worked. We continue to add assets and value in order to create and grow the sport.”

He also said that NASCAR will continue to seek input from all team owners -- large and small – in an effort to “limit the barrier of entry the best we can… in the garage area of our series (and) to encourage people who want to be owners, drivers or crew members to be part of this sport.”

Tuesday, July 08, 2014

Busch's No. 41 Team Docked For Daytona Violation

Stewart Haas Racing’s No. 41 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team has been penalized for a rules infraction discovered in post-race inspection at Daytona International Speedway Sunday. 
The infraction is a P2 level penalty and violates Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 20-12 (l) (for events at Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway, at all times, the Delta (or difference) of the Z-height measurement between the center of the panhard bar mounting bolt located at the left truck trailing arm and the center of the panhard bar mounting bolt, located at the right rear sub-frame mounting bracket, must not exceed three inches) of the 2014 NASCAR rule book. 

As a result of this infraction, crew chief Daniel Knost has been fined $10,000. In addition, driver Kurt Busch has lost 10 championship driver points and owner Gene Haas has lost 10 championship owner points.

Monday, July 07, 2014

COMMENTARY: As Expected, NASCAR's Push-Drafting Rule Does Not Work

It’s not like we didn’t see this coming.

In January of this year, NASCAR implemented a new rule banning tandem drafting in restrictor plate races in the NASCAR Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series. The sanctioning body vowed that drivers attempting to execute tandem drafting maneuvers would be summarily black flagged, with NASCAR Nationwide Series Director Wayne Auton saying during SpeedWeeks 2014 at Daytona, “It’s a simple rule. If your bumpers are locked, you’re pushing. You can bump draft all you want, but don’t lock bumpers and push someone, or we’ll black-flag you both.” 

At the time, some of us worried that NASCAR’s new edict would be difficult to enforce, and impossible to enforce fairly. NASCAR justified those concerns almost immediately, penalizing Nationwide Series driver James Buescher for pushing in the early laps of the season-opener, while inexplicably declining to sanction the driver he pushed. The sanctioning body then ignored numerous, blatant outbreaks of push-drafting in the race’s final laps, leaving observers to wonder exactly what the rule meant and how it would be enforced in the future.

It was more of the same Friday night at the World Center of Racing, as Josh Wise and Landon Cassill were issued early pass-through penalties by NASCAR for violating the push-drafting rule. On the final lap, however, a number of drivers appeared to violate the rule, without being penalized by NASCAR. Most notably, Ryan Sieg pushed winner Kasey Kahne virtually all the way around Daytona’s 2.5-mile tri-oval on the white-flag lap, shoving him past leader Regan Smith to a razor-close, .021 second victory. After the race, both Sieg and Kahne openly admitted flaunting the push-drafting law, raising howls of protest over NASCAR’s non-call.

Kahne (5) and Sieg: Hooked Up!
NASCAR Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton told reporters afterward that Sieg and Kahne went unpunished because the side-to-side movement of their cars proved them to be bump-drafting, but not linking bumpers. He admitted, however, that the sanctioning body may need to modify (or at least clarify) what is currently a murky interpretation of the rules.

"We'll look at this situation," Pemberton said. "It's the last plate race for the Nationwide Series this season and these are the rules we put in place at the beginning of the year. We've worked with the teams under their suggestions and said that we would look at it by the end of the year and see what adjustments we need to make.”

Without a major remake of NASCAR’s push-drafting rule, it’s simple to predict what will happen when the series returns to Daytona next February. On the final lap, someone will literally attempt to push the envelope, once again forcing NASCAR to decide the outcome of the event by black-flagging a prime contender, or by swallowing the whistle and allowing that driver to ignore the rules. 

Either way, water cooler talk on Monday morning will once again center on the umpire, rather than the game. And that’s a bad thing, no matter how you slice it.  

NASCAR owes it to its competitors and fans to do one of two things. Either come up with a simple, easy to understand, 100% enforceable push-drafting rule before Speedweeks 2015 at Daytona, or take the current, unenforceable rule off the books and let the racers do what they do best.