Talladega Announces Safety Initiatives

Talladega Superspeedway Chairman Grant Lynch spoke today on planned safety initiatives at the Alabama speed plant.

“Following an extensive track review with International Speedway Corporation, NASCAR and ARCA, Talladega Superspeedway will add SAFER Barrier to its existing barrier system in advance of the May 1-3 NASCAR weekend,” said Lynch in a written statement. “The new SAFER barrier will be placed in three locations along the inside wall at entrances to pit road, Turn One and Turn Three. Talladega Superspeedway will continue to review its safety initiatives and provide updates as circumstances warrant.

“We are committed to making Talladega Superspeedway a safe environment for drivers as well as our fans. Safety is our top priority and we will continue to collaborate with ISC, NASCAR and ARCA on any future safety enhancements.”

NASCAR return to Talladega May 1-3 for the GEICO 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race and Winn-Dixie 300 NASCAR XFINITY event. 

COMMENTARY: Patricia, Please Stop

Patricia Driscoll published an opinion piece in USA Today Thursday, in which she repeated her now-familiar assertion that she was a victim of domestic assault at the hands of NASCAR driver Kurt Busch last September at Dover International Speedway.

Today’s column broke no new ground, instead rehashing allegations and details that long ago became familiar to NASCAR fans and followers of the case. Instead, she chastised “uninformed observers” for disparaging her honesty, integrity and motivations. She criticized the tabloid media for “playing up the most sensationalist aspects” of the case, conveniently ignoring the fact that the sensationalist information –every bit of it -- has come from Driscoll, Busch or their respective attorneys.

In Driscoll’s latest media missive, she poses a number of questions that readers of USA Today are ill-equipped to answer.

“Will Busch and his legal team drag me through court so that I can leave the relationship with what I brought into it?” she asks. “Will Busch honor the commitments he made while we were together? Will he try to take my house, or fight me on something as basic as reclaiming my belongings?”

Those questions are best addressed to Driscoll’s attorneys, using a forum other than USA Today. In fact, an insistence on continuing to dismantle her personal relationship in public seems disingenuous from a person who insists she is “fully resolved to put this chapter of my life behind me.”

Driscoll continues to air her dirty laundry in public, all while pointedly referring to both Busch and NASCAR by name as often as possible. If she indeed has no interest in destroying Busch’s driving career -- and she steadfastly insists that she does not – the best way to demonstrate that fact would be to move on, settle their differences behind closed doors and put an immediate stop to the public posturing.

Whether you like Patricia Driscoll or not – and there are plenty of folks on either side of that question – her intelligence is beyond debate. She serves as CEO of a multi-million dollar, Washington DC-based surveillance systems corporation that supplies the United States military, and also heads the considerable fundraising efforts of the Armed Forces Foundation.

Ms. Driscoll is justifiably proud of her accomplishments as a businesswoman, philanthropist and advocate for our men and women in uniform. She also takes great pride in raising a son who is – by all indications – an intelligent, compassionate young man.

A woman of her intelligence must surely understand that while continuing to bang the drum against Busch tarnishes his already battered image, it also does the same to hers. She has every right to state her case – over and over again – for as long as she chooses to do so, regurgitating the same allegations and making the same points.

The legal system, however, has said its piece, and no amount of editorializing is going to change its decision.

“Above everything else,” wrote Driscoll today, “I'm a mom who simply will not let my son grow up thinking that it's ever OK to hit a woman.”

The importance of that lesson is clear to all of us. Unfortunately, that lesson is not best taught in the pages of USA Today.

COMMENTARY: Smoke Fans, Step Away From The Ledge

Tony Stewart fans, step away from the ledge. It’s too soon to jump.

The three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion started his 2015 season on a decidedly low note, crashing out of the Daytona 500 en route to a 42-place finish. Things improved only marginally the following week, with a 30th-place showing at Atlanta Motor Speedway. He was 33^rd at Las Vegas Motorsport Speedway two weeks ago and 39^th Sunday (wrecked again) in Phoenix.

That’s a lousy start, no matter how you slice it. And for some Stewart fans, the time has apparently come to begin jumping off the bandwagon.

They point to Smoke’s age – 43 – as a sign that his best competitive days may be behind him. They point to the departure of crew chief Darian Grubb – and before him, Greg Zipadelli – as contributing factors in Stewart’s fall from grace. They say he’s got “too much on his plate,” running the Eldora Speedway dirt track and the recently acquired All-Star Sprint Series. They blame the compound-fractured leg he suffered in a Sprint Car spill two summers back, and of course, they point to the on-track tragedy that took the life of driver Kevin Ward, Jr. as proof that Stewart may never again be the driver he once was.

At the risk of quelling the panic, here are a few simple facts.

For the record, Stewart and his Sprint Cup brethren have had just three races to acclimate themselves to NASCAR’s new lower-horsepower, reduced-downforce rules package. Some drivers have adapted well to those changes, while others have not. The sanctioning body’s newly announced ban on independent testing has made it especially tough on those who have not.

With testing restricted, struggling teams like Stewart’s need more time to diagnose and cure their on-track ills. And despite all the tearing of hair and gnashing of teeth in recent days, three weeks does not qualify as “more time.”

Repeat after me. It is far too early to begin throwing dirt on Tony Stewart’s grave.

Two years ago, under NASCAR’s previous championship format, a start like Stewart’s would have been extremely difficult to overcome. Under the current Chase system, however, a driver can choke on his own vomit for 25 consecutive weeks, then salvage the season and earn a berth in the championship Chase with a single win in Race 26 at Richmond.

Is there cause for concern for Tony Stewart fans right now? You bet there is.

At both Daytona and Phoenix, the former Sprint Cup Series champion was eliminated in crashes of his own creation. In Atlanta and Las Vegas, he finished multiple laps in arrears, with no wrecks, mechanical failures or pit-road miscues to blame.

His cars were simply, painfully, horribly slow. And worse, he and his team seemed to have little idea how to fix them. That’s a problem, but it’s not insurmountable.

All it takes is time and patience, something fans seem to have little of these days.

In today’s instant gratification society, we are no longer willing to wait for success. We want what we want, and we want it now. We cook our meals in microwave ovens, tapping our toes in annoyance at a recipe that requires an investment of more than 45 seconds. We eat over the sink, with no time to set the table or wash the dishes. We watch television in 10-second increments, mashing the remote control and hurtling wildly thorough all 300 channels, unable to commit to anything, lest we miss something more exciting happening just a few clicks away.

Today’s sports fan has a t-shirt in his closet for every Super Bowl, World Series, Stanley Cup and NBA champion from the last 15 years. His loyalty to those teams lasted less than a week, and required an investment no more emotional than a trip to WalMart. He roots for whichever team is hot at the moment, and as a result, he truly roots for no one at all.

That fan makes a lot of noise in the local watering hole on Super Bowl Sunday, but that variety of drive-by fandom has no meaningful payoff.

There are guys who marry their High School sweetheart and remain faithful – through thick and thin, good times and bad – for 50 years. There are also guys who attend their High School Reunion in a rented Corvette, with a hooker on each arm.

One of those guys is the real deal. The other is paper-thin.

As difficult as it may be these days, Stewart fans must keep the faith. Stewart and crew chief Chad Johnston have the full effort and resources of both Stewart Haas Racing and Hendrick Motorsports behind them. Some of the smartest people in the sport work inside those walls, and they’ll get things figured out, soon enough.

It is highly unlikely that Stewart has forgotten how to drive a race car in the last few months, and he insists that he no longer struggles with the baggage – both physical and emotional – acquired in a difficult last two seasons.

He says he’s going to be fine, and you should believe him.

Hang in there, Smoke fans. It may not be easy at present, but it’ll be worth it in the end.

No Issues With Harvick, Logano's Phoenix Tires

NASCAR has confirmed that there was nothing amiss with the tires taken from the Kevin Harvick and Joey Logano teams during Sunday’s CampingWorld.com 500 at Phoenix International Raceway.

Harvick and Logano finished first and eighth, respectively in Sundays race, and run 1-2 in the Sprint Cup Series championship standings. Their tires were taken by NASCAR as part of what  executive vice president of racing development Steve O’Donnell called “a regularly scheduled audit.

“We’ve done it in the past,” said O’Donnell on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio’s “The Morning Drive” this week. “It’s something we check with Goodyear, making sure the tires supplied are where we want them to be. It’s just another area of the car (to examine). 

"We don’t expect to find anything. It’s just something we like to do every once in a while.”

Inaugural "Tony Stewart Classic" Set For July 25

USAC and other midget racing groups will join forces to stage the inaugural "Tony Stewart Classic" on July 25 at the Lincoln Tech Indianapolis Speedrome.

The special, non-points event will bring together Midget participants from across the country in a night of pavement short-track racing on a speedway that has hosted more USAC races than any in history. A total of 494 USAC races have been contested at the one-fifth mile paved oval, located on Indianapolis' southeast side.

Speedrome Managing Partner Larry Curry said he is encouraged by the support shown by the racing community for the inaugural event, which occurs the night before the "Crown Royal 400 at the Brickyard" NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

"We are all very excited to have the opportunity to have such a great event in honor of Tony Stewart, who scored his first USAC feature win at the Speedrome," said Curry. "I was very lucky to have Tony as my race car driver, as well as work for him. He is a very special person, and one that I feel very lucky to refer to as a friend."

USAC racing at the Speedrome dates back to 1958 when Gene Hartley, the winner of USAC's first-ever race in 1956, won a 50-lap Midget feature.

"The Indianapolis Speedrome is a special place for me," says Stewart. "It's a huge honor to have a race named after me. I always enjoyed racing there and I'm sure July 25 will be an enjoyable atmosphere for the competitors and the fans." 

Walker Arrested After Arriving Late For Sentencing

Tyler Walker simply cannot get out of his own way.

The former NASCAR and World of Outlaws Sprint Car driver was scheduled to appear in Washington County (Utah) District Court Monday morning for sentencing on charges related to a January 2013 high-speed chase that led police through Nevada, Arizona and Utah at speeds of over 140 mph. Officials discovered quantities of methamphetamine, marijuana and alcohol in his black BMW, and he eventually pled guilty to a pair of felonies -- possession of a controlled substance and failure to stop for a police officer -- as well as misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, driving while impaired and an open container violation.

Walker was expected to receive probation for those charges yesterday, but failed to appear for sentencing, prompting Judge Eric Ludlow to issue a warrant for his arrest. He arrived at the courthouse approximately 45 minutes later and was immediately taken into custody. We will remain incarcerated in the Washington County jail until his next sentencing hearing, scheduled for March 30.

Washington County prosecutor Rachelle Shumway told The Associated Press yesterday that Walker’s agreement to receive probation in exchange for his guilty pleas could now be in doubt.

Walker competed in 28 races in NASCAR’s Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series before being suspended indefinitely in 2007 for failing a NASCAR-mandated substance abuse test. He has never applied for reinstatement.

Team Penske Nominated For Sports Team Of The Year

The Sports Business Journal announced today that Team Penske has been named a finalist in the Sports Team of the Year category for the eighth annual Sports Business Awards. Team Penske is the only motorsports program to be nominated this year for the prestigious award. Other Team of the Year finalists include the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets, Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles Galaxy, the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings, the Seattle Seahawks from the NFL and Major League Baseball’s St. Louis Cardinals.

The winner will be announced on May 20, 2015 at the awards ceremony to be held at the New York Marriott Marquis at Times Square.  

“It is a tremendous honor that Team Penske has been named as a finalist for the Sports Business Journal Professional Sports Team of the Year,” said team owner Roger Penske. “This is one of the most prestigious awards in the sports business world and it is a testament to our people along with our business partners and the tremendous amount of work we have accomplished together over the past year. We are fortunate to represent many of the world’s leading brands and our team has been able to win with them both on and off the track.”  

Launched in 2008, the Sports Business Awards were established by the Sports Business Journal and Sports Business Daily to celebrate and recognize the leaders, visionaries and day-to-day practitioners who personify excellence in the business of sports. The 2015 nominees and winners are recognized for excellence and outstanding achievement in sports business for the period spanning March 1, 2014 through February 28, 2015. 

In Team Penske’s nearly 50-year history, the organization has won over 400 major races, a record 15 Indianapolis 500 victories, two Daytona 500 titles and 27 national championships.  

The 2014 season was a landmark year for the team, as it included unprecedented championships in both the Verizon IndyCar Series with Will Power – the 13^th open-wheel title for Team Penske – and the NASCAR XFINITY Series, where the No. 22 team took home it’s second-straight owners’ title. In addition, both Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano finished inside the top five in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship standings, with Logano in contention for the title heading into the final race of the season. Across INDYCAR and NASCAR, all six of Team Penske’s full-time drivers and cars finished in the top five in series points with 22 wins equating to a winning percentage of 25 percent of the total races run. 

For Team Penske, the 2014 season also saw historic expansion. In September, they announced the addition of Simon Pagenaud to their INDYCAR lineup, joining Power, Helio Castroneves and Juan Pablo Montoya to create a fourth entry for the first time in the history of Verizon IndyCar Series competition., Team Penske’s 2015 four-driver lineup all finished among the top five in the 2014 championship standings. Team Penske also formed an alliance with Australia’s oldest and most established motorsports team – Dick Johnson Racing – to create DJR Team Penske, which is competing in the 2015 Australian V8 Supercars Championship.  

In addition to Team Penske being nominated for the SBJ Team of the Year award, NASCAR was also nominated for the Sports League of the Year and NASCAR Chairman Brian France was nominated for the Sports Executive of the Year.

Driver/Owner Jamie Dick Diagnosed With Diabetes

Immediately following Saturday's NASCAR XFINITY Series race at Phoenix International Raceway, Jamie Dick, the driver and owner of the No. 55 Viva Auto Group Chevrolet, was taken to the infield care center after experiencing dizziness and fatigue. 

After being evaluated, Dick was sent to on evaluation, nearby West Valley Hospital for further testing. He was admitted to the hospital Saturday evening and eventually diagnosed with new onset diabetes. 

He was released Sunday afternoon and is now back in the Charlotte (NC) area, where he will continue to be evaluated and treated.

"I would like to thank everyone for their support during this difficult time,” said Dick. “It was quite a surprise to hear the diagnosis from the doctors, but the response from the NASCAR and PIR medical staffs was outstanding.  The support from the racing community, my Viva Motorsports team, and the fans has been overwhelming.

“Now, I need to learn about this disease and do whatever it takes to get back behind the wheel as soon as possible."

Jeffrey Earnhardt will fill in as driver of the No. 55 Viva Auto Group Chevrolet for the upcoming NASCAR Xfinity Series event at Auto Club Speedway.

  

Harvick Says "We'll Ride The Wave As Long As We Can"

Kevin Harvick gave credit where credit is due today, after a red-hot start to the 2015 Sprint Cup Series season.

“It comes down to the guys on my race team and everybody at Stewart-Haas Racing bringing really good cars to the race track,” he said. “Particularly the No. 4 team… being able to capitalize and manage the weekend’s races and keep the cars together, as well as doing all the things that it takes to make laps and keep yourself in contention. (I’m) really proud of everybody on my team for everything they have done.

“Hopefully, we can keep it rolling.  We will try to ride the wave as long as we can.”

Harvick said he is not allowing himself to get caught up in the emotion of his recent success, adding, “You have to try to balance everything, approach it like you do every other week and not get caught up in… the attention and all the things that come with everything we’ve been able to accomplish. There’s not going to be anybody on our team that’s walking around beating their chest. It’s just going to be a normal approach to going out on the track and doing the same things.”

He also warned that this week’s race at Phoenix International Raceway – where he has six wins in 24 career starts – could be a good one for his Budweiser/Jimmy John’s Chevrolet team.

“I look forward to coming to this race track every year,” he said. “These are places that I have raced at since the mid ‘90s.  To come and race in front of these race fans and be able to hear stories about people that watched you race in the Southwest Tour, Winston West or the Truck Series through the years, it’s a lot of fun for me.” 

Specifically, Harvick lauded the efforts of crew chief Rodney Childers, saying, “I can tell you that Rodney and I get along like long-lost brothers. Sometimes you get in situations where (we) are talking about the car and (we) will type things at the exact same time. We have a very similar background of how we grew up, (but) his demeanor is a little bit different than mine. 

“Obviously, we are different ends of the spectrum,” said Harvick. “He is about as laid-back as you could possibly be and still be awake. I can get pretty wound up. I think that balance is good for both of us, to push each other and find that middle road. 

“We are very similar in age (and) we have a lot of the same interests in life, in general. I can’t tell you a day that has gone by over the past year and a half that we haven’t spoken -- in a text or conversation -- about something to do with the race cars. When he doesn’t have anything going on -- which is very rare -- it will just be, ‘Hey how are you doing today?’ That communication has carried over into the rest of the team. 

“When you look at our race team, everybody was assembled after we put Rodney in place. Everybody was assembled to come to the race team to race with us. Gene (Haas) and Tony (Stewart) gave us the ability to go out and buy race cars and trucks and trailers and pit boxes. Everything was kind of custom- built to what Rodney wanted. All of those guys have the same goal and they knew what they were getting into.  It wasn’t like people were placed on the team because they didn’t have somewhere else in the company (to work), or we ran out of guys to interview. 

“Everybody wants to be here for the exact same reason,” he said. “We are having a lot of fun, but I can tell you that the guys will come into the garage this week (having) forgotten about winning last week. “(They’ll) worry about where we are with practice for this week and what is going on.”

Harvick also commented on the competitive struggles experienced by teammates Tony Stewart and Danica Patrick this season.

“When you look at the changes that we made at SHR this year, I thought on paper they would be really good changes. I think they have been really good changes. I know that the No. 4 and the No. 14, all those cars are built side-by-side and put together by mostly the same people. All of our notes are live when we are in the garage and everybody shares information.

“But there are different characteristics of driving styles and interpretation of what you think you need,” he added. “The No. 41 car ran well at the end of last year (and) I think that you will see that car run well immediately this weekend.  I think Danica -- until the very end of the year -- had a really good year. I thought she raced well, but didn’t finish some of the situations she was in to capitalize on a Top-15.” 

“When you look at the No. 14,” said Harvick, “they have had a lot of things to work through. They have had a lot of changes on their team this year, and it’s just going to take some time to figure out exactly where they want their cars and what they need to do. 

“You can put an All Star group together and buy all the best parts and pieces, (but) in the end, it’s really about the details and the things that happen at the race track. I don’t think that Tony’s team has had time to really get into that situation yet. That is a new group of people and (they are) kind of starting over. We are three weeks in, they have not had a great start and I think everybody is aware of that. (But) as you look at everybody at SHR, they are doing everything they can do to try to make it as good as possible.”

He also commented on the return of teammate Kurt Busch this weekend, saying, “Everybody is excited that we’re able to put it all behind us. I don’t really know much about it, other than it seems like it’s (almost) over. To have Kurt back in the car is an asset to everybody at Stewart-Haas Racing from a performance side. Everything that he does inside that race car is a benefit to us, so we’re definitely looking forward to just worrying about racing the car.”

Warrant Issued To Team Xtreme Racing Owner's Arrest

Team Xtreme owner John Cohen

Team Xtreme Racing owner John Cohen is the subject of a legal dispute in his native New Jersey that has resulted in a bench warrant being issued for his arrest. 

Cohen is accused of failing to comply with a court order requiring him to pay $55,000 to a pair of former partners in a failed Manhattan night club.

Cohen told NJ Advance Media reporter Steve Politi today that he is a victim of mistaken identity, saying, "It's a story that's not true. I didn't make the settlement."

Plaintiffs Anthony Santucci and Jeff Rezink claim they were victimized after agreeing to pay Cohen a total of $85,000 for partnership in a proposed Manhattan night club. Their involvement was contingent on Cohen securing a liquor license, and they allege the Team Xtreme Racing owner failed to secure the license, instead funneling the money to his NASCAR team.

Santucci told NJ.com that Cohen "obviously just pocketed the money. We believe he used (it) to fund his NASCAR team. It completely crushed me. It was my first $50,000 I've saved. I still haven't really recovered. It completely wiped me out."

Cohen has claimed that the settlement order was actually directed at his father, telling NJ.com earlier today, “That's not me. That's my father. That has nothing to do with me."

He subsequently told USA Today that the warrant in question resulted from legal documents being sent to him at an incorrect address.

"The bench warrant was issued because it seems like I wasn't responding to (documents that) I wasn't getting any information about," said Cohen. "Everything was being sent to an address I wasn't living at."

Cohen’s own counsel, Tracey Hinson, denies those allegations, saying her office “has communicated with Defendant via email for the past two years and there had never been any problems with him receiving or responding to emails.”

Hinson has asked to be relieved as counsel for Cohen, saying in a court filing that he "has made no effort to respond to our telephone calls or correspondence."

Team Xtreme Racing made national headlines when their Sprint Cup Series Chevrolet was stolen in Hampton, Ga., earlier this month while en route to a race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The race car and transport truck were eventually recovered, but the trailer, assorted parts and equipment remains missing. An arrest warrant has been issued for a “person of interest” in that case.

Team Xtreme Racing is currently entered in this weekend’s CampingWorld.com 500 at Phoenix International Raceway, with driver Travis Kvapil. It is unknown if today’s legal issues will affect the team’s ability to compete. They have not raced since finishing 32^nd in the season-opening Daytona 500 last month.

Keselowski, Allgaier Teams Fined By NASCAR

Brad Keselowski and crew chief Paul Wolfe will be on probation for the remainder of the 2015 Sprint Cup Series season, after NASCAR determined that Team Penske personnel altered the rear wheel wells on Keselowski's No. 2 Ford following pre-qualifying inspection at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Friday.

Wolfe was assessed a P2 penalty – on a scale of one to six – after NASCAR forced the team to fix its car and submit it for an additional pre-qualifying inspection. The sanctioning body outlawed the flaring of fenders and side skirts during the off-season, after teams made increasingly large adjustments during races in search of an aerodynamic advantage.

Also Tuesday, NASCAR announced that driver Justin Allgaier and crew chief Steve Addington have been fined $25,000 each, after Allgaier's car was found to be too light in post-race inspection at LVMS. Addington was assessed a P3 penalty for failing to secure ballast in the No. 51 HScott Motorsports Chevrolet, allowing a piece of tungsten ballast to fall out of the car during the race.

The car failed to meet minimum weight requirements following the event.

Team owner Harry Scott commented on the penalty in a written statement last night, saying, “The issue was unintentional and we regret its occurrence. Going forward, we have implemented additional procedures to ensure that we do not have a repeat incident."

Busch On Court Battle: "It's A Humbling Experience"

Kurt Busch addressed the media today, just hours after being reinstated for competition by NASCAR.

“It means the world to me to be back in the car,” said the Stewart Haas Racing driver. “It's been a tough situation the last few months, and I've gone through this with confidence, knowing that I know the truth and that I never did any of the things that I was accused of.  It was a complete fabrication.

“It's unfortunate that my personal life crossed over and affected my business life, but I can't wait to get to the track, see my team, shake their hands and say `Thanks for the support’ and go out there and make my first lap this weekend.”

Busch declined to comment specifically on a possible appeal of the no-contact order issued last month by the Kent County (Del.) Family Court, saying, “What's happened so far in court, there's been no winners. Everybody has lost. I have my attorneys handling the pending appeals, and I'll leave that to them. 

“My focus is with the race team; Gene Haas and everybody at Haas Automation to get our Chevy into Victory Lane and to continue moving forward.

Busch said that while he understood NASCAR’s decision to suspend him, he was surprised by the timing.

“This is a very serious issue,” he admitted. “(But) the way NASCAR reacted was different than what we had been told all along. They were more focused on the criminal side, as were we, but the commissioner's ruling was not necessarily… the important factor. 

“The important factor is that what I was accused of was a complete fabrication. I never wavered through this whole process, because of (my) confidence in the truth. I had support from Gene Haas and everybody at SHR, and that's where my focus has been.  It's been on the racing side of it, and I never lost that confidence and drive.

“It's a humbling experience, but it's made me more focused and determined.

Busch also commented on the Road to Recovery laid out for him by NASCAR, saying he is “appreciative of the process.

“It's a road map that they laid out that I am respecting,” he said. “It has created such a good foundation to utilize moving forward that I wish I would have done it sooner. The hardest part about all of this has been sitting out, watching the 41 car go around the racetrack, especially at the Daytona 500. Atlanta is one of my favorite tracks, and Las Vegas is my hometown track.  It's been torture sitting out of the car.

“Being in that race car is a privilege,” said Busch. “It's a feeling that you can't describe when you go out there for practice each and every weekend.  You drive down into the corner, the car sticks, you stand on the gas and drive out of the corner. It's an experience that not a lot of people get to (have), and I get a chance to race against the best in the world in NASCAR.

“Talking with (NASCAR CEO) Brian France, he told me, `Don't change. Don't be different in the car, but be a different person outside of the car.’ He said, `Go be yourself in that car. That's what we really love. We love Kurt Busch behind the wheel. Go out there, use that passion (and) go for those wins.’

“And that's my focus is; to be humble through this whole process (and) let actions speak louder than words.

Busch also revealed that when he returns to the race track this weekend, he will not have his distinctive “Outlaw” logo above the driver’s door.

“My reputation will iron itself out in whichever way (it does),” he said. “My focus is the race car, and as I move forward, I'm putting my signature above the door of the car. I'm proud to have my signature on the side of a car that Gene Haas (owns) and to carry his name into Victory Lane.

Despite starting his season this weekend at Phoenix International Raceway in a three-race hole, Busch said he remains confident in his team’s ability to qualify for the 2015 Chase For the NASCAR Sprint Cup.

“I’m working with the great group of people at Stewart‑Haas Racing,” he said. “Kevin Harvick is a winner already this year. He and Rodney Childers have gone above and beyond what we all expected them to do, and Tony Gibson has (our) team in place. We proved that at the end of last year with our (best) finishes of the year in those last three races.

“I hope to start off this year in that same pattern, and my start is a little late. It's Phoenix, so I'm looking forward to it. I believe I've got cars that are capable of winning races, and now I've just got to go out there and do my job.”

Daytona To Add New Paving, SAFER Barriers

Daytona International Speedway president Joie Chitwood III issued a written statement today announcing the addition of new SAFER barriers at the Florida speedway.

“Following the completion of the February race events, Daytona International Speedway, working closely with NASCAR and International Speedway Corporation, performed an extensive review of the facility and developed a significant plan for additional safety initiatives,” said Chitwood.

Prior to the July NASCAR weekend, a number of safety initiatives will be completed, including an additional 20,000 square feet of asphalt in Turn One, realignment of a portion of inside retaining wall from the infield road course exit to Turn One and installation of SAFER barrier on that realigned retaining wall, as well as the existing retaining wall in Turn One.

New SAFER barrier will also be installed on the retaining wall at pit road exit, and between the exit of Turn Four to pit road entry.

“In addition, based on material availability and timing, we will install SAFER barrier on the outside backstretch wall and will complete as much as possible prior to the July NASCAR weekend,” Chitwood said. “Following the July races, we will complete any remaining installation of SAFER barrier on the outside backstretch wall, and continue to install SAFER barrier on the remaining areas of the property. We will provide additional updates regarding our safety initiatives as circumstances warrant.  The safety of the competitors and our fans is our top priority.”

COMMENTARY: Time To Stop The Insanity

After too many months of legal wrangling, media releases, name calling and battered reputations, the time has finally come to call a halt to the circus that is Patricia Driscoll vs. Kurt Busch.

There are no more battles to be fought, no more testimony to be heard, no more high-powered lawyers to hear from, no more “right and wrong” to be debated. Both the legal system and NASCAR did their respective jobs, to the best of their respective abilities. We may not have agreed with every decision made along the way, but someone had to make those calls, and they did. Continuing this debate – more than a week after the Delaware Attorney General announced his decision not to file criminal charges – only prolongs the agony for everyone involved.

Busch has honored the no-contact order issued against him without question or exception. He has done everything that has been asked of him in order to be reinstated by NASCAR and return to Sprint Cup Series competition. At this point, there is absolutely nothing to be gained by continuing his banishment from the sport. Busch gains nothing, NASCAR gains nothing and Patricia Driscoll gains nothing.

There is no defensible reason for continuing to punish a man who has been charged with absolutely nothing illegal. The point has been made, the courts have moved on and it is time for our sport to do the same.

Whether you agree with today’s reinstatement or not – and there are plenty of people who feel strongly in both directions – there is no real point in continuing the drama. It is time to stop the bleeding, allow all parties to return to whatever semblance of a normal life is possible, and put a period at the end of this unseemly sentence, once and for all.

Kurt Busch Reinstated By NASCAR

Kurt Busch is back in the game.

NASCAR announced today that Busch’s indefinite suspension has been lifted, effective immediately, making him eligible to return to NASCAR competition this weekend at Phoenix International Raceway. Busch remains under indefinite probation, subject to additional mandatory requirements that include but are not limited to participation in a treatment program and full compliance with any judicial requirements placed upon him.

NASCAR said the decision to lift the suspension was made after Kurt Busch complied with all requirements of its reinstatement program, completed mandatory behavioral assessment sessions and was approved for reinstatement by the behavioral health care expert who conducted those sessions. He will undergo additional steps to address the behavior for which he was penalized.

 The sanctioning body also announced that it will waive the requirement that Busch compete in all Championship Events of the current season in order to be eligible for The Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. The Stewart Haas Racing driver will return to competition with no championship points, after missing the opening three races f the 2015 season at Daytona, Atlanta and Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

“As we stated last week, the elimination of the possibility of criminal charges removed a significant impediment to Kurt Busch’s return to full status as a NASCAR member,” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Development Officer. “We therefore have decided to move him to indefinite probation and waive the Chase requirement. He has fully complied with our reinstatement program during his suspension and the health care expert who conducted his evaluation recommended his immediate return.  

“We have made it very clear to Kurt Busch our expectations for him moving forward, which includes participation in a treatment program and full compliance with all judicial requirements as a result of his off-track behavior.”

Stewart-Haas Racing executive vice president Joe Custer on the reinstatement, saying, “We appreciate the steps Kurt Busch has made while following NASCAR’s process for reinstatement. He has taken this path seriously, which allowed him to return to our race team. With his reinstatement and the conclusion by the Delaware Attorney General to not file charges, our focus is on the future.”

Custer did not specifically address whether Busch will compete this weekend in Phoenix, but sources close to SHR expect him to do so.

Chevrolet vice president of Performance Vehicles and Motorsports Jim Campbell said the automaker has also reinstated Busch.

“Now that Kurt Busch has been reinstated by NASCAR and is able to fulfill his obligations associated with our agreement, we have lifted our suspension and will continue to monitor the situation,” said Campbell.

Busch is expected to address the media later today.

Random Thoughts After Three Races

Onion reserves in the United States have fallen to record low levels in recent weeks, and Kevin Harvick is almost certainly to blame.

Each time the Stewart Haas Racing driver finishes in the Top-10 of a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, associate sponsor Outback Steakhouse rewards its customers with a Bloomin’ Onion the next day. 

Harvick has done his part and then some, finishing first or second in six consecutive races dating back to last season, and the odds favor yet another strong run this weekend at Phoenix International Raceway. Harvick has won the last three Sprint Cup races at the desert oval, and is the all-time leader in wins there, with six.

Make your reservations now!

Junior Not Far Behind: It was an anxious off-season in Earnhardt Nation, after crew chief Steve Letarte elected to climb down from the pit box and accept a new gig as a TV analyst for NBC Sports. Fans of NASCAR’s perennial Most Popular Driver worried about a possible falloff in performance, but those fears have proved unfounded.

Earnhardt’s No. 88 Nationwide Insurance Chevy has finished no worse than fourth in three starts this season, and Junior currently ranks second in the championship standings -- just nine points behind Harvick – heading to a PIR oval where he finished second last spring and is a two-time Sprint Cup Series winner.

Truex Rebounding: In 2014, it took Martin Truex, Jr. 14 races to claim his third Top-10 finish of the season. Performance issues with is No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet combined with longtime girlfriend Sherry Pollex’s ovarian cancer diagnosis to create what Truex called “the toughest 12 months of my life” and the worst competitive season of his big-league NASCAR career.

The 2015 campaign is off to a much brighter start, with the New Jersey native claiming Top-10 showings each of his first three starts, including a stellar runner-up finish behind winner Kevin Harvick Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

"The biggest thing I was proud of today was we were off a little bit at the beginning of the race and worked on it all day long, continuing to get better," said Truex afterward. "At the end of the day, we were the best we'd been all day."

Truex’s Cinderella start has Barney Visser’s single-car Furniture Row operation fourth in the championship standings; best in the team’s decade-long history and higher than Kurt Busch’s Chase-qualifying effort in 2014.

Dinger Toughs It Out: Hot off a win at Watkins Glen International and a Chase appearance last season, AJ Allmendinger and JTG Daugherty Racing show no signs of backsliding in 2015. The Dinger stands fifth in the title chase, after shrugging off a nasty case of the flu to finish sixth Sunday in Sin City; the team’s second consecutive Top-10 finish on an intermediate track.

Last season, 1.5-mile tracks were JTG Daugherty’s Achilles Heel, as they failed to secure a single Top-10 on the intermediate ovals. This time around, the team has utilized its alliance with Richard Childress Racing to turn a weakness into a strength. 

"We did the alliance so late last year that we were always behind, trying to build race cars,” said Allmendinger. “We're so much more prepared this year; far ahead of where we were last year. We’re building new cars, getting the bodies just right and getting all the little details that take you from a 20th-place car to running in the Top-10."

No Fire For Smoke: While Harvick, Earnhardt, Truex and Allmendinger are all enjoying stellar starts, the first three weeks of Tony Stewart’s 2015 season look discouragingly similar to 2013 and 2014. 

A crash-marred 42^nd-place finish in the season opener at Daytona was followed by a 30^th at Atlanta and a 33^rd-place showing in Las Vegas. Stewart’s Mobil 1/Bass Pro Shops Chevrolets were non-competitive at both Atlanta and Vegas, leaving the former series champion grumpy and grousing about NASCAR’s new 2015 rules package. 

He is currently ranked dead-last among the 32 drivers who have competed in all three races this season, and Brian Vickers earned two more championship points last week at LVMS than Stewart has earned all season.