April 12, 2008
- Special Helmet for Sadler: For the month of April, Elliott Sadler is wearing a specially-designed Autism Awareness helmet in every race. In May, that very same helmet will belong to whoever wants it most. To raise funds and awareness, Sadler had the helmet designed with the colorful, jigsaw Autism puzzle pieces. During the Texas, Phoenix and Talladega races in April, the driver of the #19 Dodge will be wearing the colorful concoction in competition. See more info on my Racing Charities page.(4-12-2008)
- NASCAR again…NO Changes to the COT planned: For drivers hoping for a change to the new Sprint Cup model car, series director John Darby burst their bubble Friday at Phoenix International Raceway. Darby said NASCAR doesn’t plan on making any alterations to the car, though some drivers, notably defending series champion Jimmie Johnson, called for changes after last week’s race at Texas Motor Speedway. Darby noted that this is only the second year with the new model and Texas was only the third race on a high-banked, 1.5-mile track. “We still call it the new car, right?” Darby said. “But it’s looked at as an old car, one that’s been around forever, and that’s not the case. There’s nothing broken, there’s nothing that we need to jump in and fix. It’s just a matter of continuing to race them and let the teams do what they do best.” Darby said he was open to adding an additional test to the NASCAR test schedule this year if the garage area wanted one. But he doesn’t think adding a day to existing races would be of any benefit to teams. “I would rather just go test somewhere rather than tack a day on to an event because you can’t test properly when it’s attached to an event,” Darby said. “If you’re the crew chief or the driver, you know you’re testing in the car you’ve got to race the next day. You’re always fearful of trying something new, damaging the car, losing an engine that would affect the event because it’s the next day.”(SceneDaily)(4-12-2008)
- Johnson wins at Phoenix: #48-Jimmie Johnson won the Subway Fresh Fit at Phoenix International Raceway for his 1st win of the 2008 season and 34th of his career [is now alone in 16th in all time wins]. #07-Clint Bowyer finished 2nd [Bowyer and Johnson stayed out and didn’t get a late splash of fuel and made it…barely] then #11-Hamlin, #99-Edwards, #8-Martin, #31-Burton, #88-Earnhardt Jr., #1-Truex Jr., #16-Biffle and #18-Busch. The pole sitter, #12-Ryan Newman lost an engine early and finsihed last/43rd. There were only 10 lead changes among 4 drivers [Johnson, Martin, Earnhardt and Newman] and there were 8 caution flags for 42 laps.
For race results, awards and more, see my Phoenix Race Results page.(4-12-2008) - Unofficial Drivers Points Standings [after Phoenix race 8 of 36]:
1) #31-Jeff Burton 1215 [1 win]
2) #18-Kyle Busch 1135 -80
3) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. 1129 -86
4) #48-Jimmie Johnson 1116 -99 [1 win]
5) #29-Kevin Harvick 1115 -100
6) #11-Denny Hamlin 1078 -137 [1 win]
7) #20-Tony Stewart 1057 -158
8) #07-Clint Bowyer 1044 -171
9) #99-Carl Edwards 1041 -174 [would be 2nd if no 100pt penalty][3 wins]
10) #16-Greg Biffle 1039 -176
11) #9-Kasey Kahne 929 -286
12) #12-Ryan Newman 915 -300 [1 win]
other chase contenders
13) #24-Jeff Gordon 907 8 pts out of 12th
14) #1-Martin Truex Jr. 897 -18
15) #17-Matt Kenseth 869 -46
Points Standings on my Drivers/Owners Points after Phoenix page.(4-12-2008) - Top-35 in Owner Points and guaranteed a starting spot at Talladega
A couple changes, #44-Reutimann is back in and #96-Yeley falls out and must qualify by speed at Talladega.
The teams are NOT locked in past the next race as the owners points change after each race.
31) #41-Sorenson/Ganassi Racing 644 +93
32) #55-Waltrip/Waltrip Racing 621 +70
33) #77-Hornish/Penske Racing 605 +54
34) #44-Reutimann/Waltrip Racing 567 -16
35) #01-Smith/Dale Earnhardt Inc 554, 3 points ahead of 36th
these teams/ drivers must qualify by speed:
36) #96-Yeley/Hall of Fame Racing 551, 3 points out of 35th
37) #22-Blaney/Bill Davis 546 -8
38) #70-Mayfield/Haas CNC Racing 542 +12
39) #40-Franchitti/Ganassi Racing 514 -40
40) #84-Skinner/Red Bull Racing 443 -111
For the owner points standings, see my Drivers/Owners Points Standings page.(4-12-2008) - Phoenix Fast Facts
.. Jimmie Johnson won the Subway Fresh Fit 500, his 34th victory in 227 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
.. This is his first victory and fourth top-10 finish in 2008.
.. This is his second victory and eighth top-10 finish in 10 races at Phoenix International Raceway. He also won at Phoenix last fall and became the fifth driver to score repeat victories at Phoenix. All five scored back-to-back wins.
.. Clint Bowyer (second) posted his second top-10 and career-best finish in six races at Phoenix.
.. Denny Hamlin (third) posted his third top-10 finish in six races at Phoenix and tied his career-best for the second time.
.. Sam Hornish Jr. (20th) was the highest finishing rookie.(NASCAR Statistics)(4-12-2008) - Who got a lap back on each caution at Phoenix: (and their finish)
Caution 1: no cars a lap down
Caution 2: no cars a lap down
Caution 3: #5-Mears, 11th
Caution 4: #43-Labonte, 12th
Caution 5: #24-Gordon, 13th
Caution 6: #99-Edwards, 4th
Caution 7: #38-Gilliland, 15th
Caution 8: #2-Busch, 23rd
(4-12-2008) - Jeff Gordon celebrates 200 wishes granted: In 1995, a young driver named Jeff Gordon won his first NASCAR Cup Series championship. That same year, he also granted his first wish to a child with a life-threatening medical condition in partnership with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Now 13 years later, Gordon is still collecting wins and still bringing smiles to Make-A-Wish kids through his strong commitment to wish granting – he passed the 200-wish mark earlier this season. The Make-A-Wish Foundation will celebrate his efforts when Joshua, 15, of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., meets Gordon at Phoenix International Raceway for his wish before Saturday’s Subway Fresh Fit 500. Joshua will receive VIP treatment during the race weekend: In addition to his wish meeting Friday, he will take part in some of the pre-race activities with his favorite driver Saturday and then watch Gordon race for the checkered flag in the #24 car. Gordon will also present Joshua with special mementos of his wish. While he has fulfilled so many wishes, Gordon says that the number doesn’t matter. He works with the Make-A-Wish Foundation to grant kids’ heartfelt wishes nearly every weekend during the race season because of the profound effect these kids have on his life. Those who would like to support these efforts may donate in honor of Gordon’s 200-plus wishes by visiting The Jeff Gordon Foundation Web site at www.jeffgordonfoundation.org or the Make-A-Wish Foundation Web site at www.wish.org. The NASCAR Foundation is also recognizing Gordon’s wish-granting commitment by designating proceeds from the online sale of NASCAR Day pins this weekend to help fulfill future wishes granted through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Visit www.NASCAR.com/NASCARDay to learn more.(4-12-2008)
- Logo added to #21 Hood: The #21 Motorcraft Ford Fusion of Bill Elliott will be sporting an additional logo on its hood in Phoenix. Ford Motor Company held a contest for the dealerships in its West Division. Landmark Ford of Tigard, Oregon won the grand prize of placing their company name on the hood of the #21 race car for this weekend’s race event. The greater Portland area dealership also won two additional prizes for second and third which awarded race tickets and garage passes. The landslide win is recognized by Ford Motor Company as a great accomplishment. Ford Motor Company’s Sales and Marketing Manager for the West Hub, John Ulrich, commented on the dealership’s contest sweep. Ulrich said, “Landmark Ford was the highest performer out of eight dealerships who participated in the contest. They exceeded their objectives in parts and retail service excellence. Ford Motor Company is very proud of the dealership and we are very excited that they used a Ford Motor Company contest to motivate their people.”(Wood Bros Racing)(4-12-2008) Comment here
- “The Greatest” at the track: Muhammad Ali watched Friday’s action from Octane, PIR’s turn-one hospitality club.(Arizona Republic)(4-12-2008)
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