April 16, 2013
- Kansas officials: Expect longer waits: Fans attending NASCAR events at Kansas Speedway this weekend should expect slightly longer waits for security checks as a part of heightened security due to Monday’s bombings at the Boston Marathon. “We’ve had several meetings with our local contact with the Kansas police department which interphases with Homeland Security and the FBI,” track president Pat Warren said on Tuesday. “We don’t discuss publicly the things we do because we don’t want somebody who might do something bad to know what our plans, policies and procedures are. What I would say is that we treat every event seriously, and we treat the safety and security of our fans seriously. Probably it’s a good idea for people to plan on a little more time getting through the gates, having their backpacks checked, their coolers checked, those kind of things.” Warren said track security policies and procedures are the same now that were put in place after the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks. In regards to a fan dying of a self-inflicted gunshot during last weekend’s Sprint Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway, Warren said it always has been track policy based on state and local law not to allow weapons at events. “Certainly we’re paying attention to what happened at Boston and we’re not ignoring that,” he said. “The policies and procedures we have in place we feel are sufficient. Certainly people are going to be paying more attention.”(ESPN)(4-16-2013)
- HBO’s Real Sports profiles NASCAR Female Pit Crew Member – tonight: Now in its 19th season, Real Sports with Bryant Gumble, presents more enterprising features and reporting when its 193rd edition, available in HDTV, debuts Tuesday, April 16 (10:00-11:00 pm/et-pt), exclusively on HBO. One segment that may interest NASCAR fans: Christmas Time. Christmas Abbott is the first female to be part of a NASCAR pit crew and is poised to make history as the first woman on a Sprint Cup crew. At first glance, the petite 31-year-old doesn’t seem like the type to do the laborious jobs required in the crew. Her strength and speed, however, make her a perfect fit for the pressure-filled job. At the height of the Iraq war, she visited the country with her mother, a contractor, and began a new workout regimen called CrossFit. A few years later, back in the States, she became a bona fide CrossFit star. In this REAL SPORTS/Sports Illustrated collaboration, Jon Frankel goes one-on-one with the Virginia native to learn more about her fast-rising star in NASCAR.(HBO)(4-16-2013)
- NASCAR takes parts from both Penske cars UPDATES: Sprint Cup champion #2-Brad Keselowski, teammate #22-Joey Logano and their Penske Racing teams face potential penalties as NASCAR confiscated rear-end housing parts and pieces from their cars during prerace inspection Saturday at Texas Motor Speedways. The teams frantically worked to replace the pieces an hour prior to the scheduled start of the NRA 500. “We’re taking (rear-end) housing and some other things. & It’s a group of pieces that surrounds the rear suspension area,” NASCAR Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton said. “It’s just something that is not in the spirit of the rules.” Pemberton said the sanctioning body would not eject the crew chiefs from the speedways and the drivers would keep their starting positions for the race Saturday night. Any penalties could be announced as early as Monday, although NASCAR typically waits until Tuesday to announce penalties. Possible penalties typically could include points penalties, fines and crew suspensions. (Sporting News)(4-13-2013)
UPDATE: Keselowski was able to keep his 16th-place starting spot. But both teams might be in for penalties due to parts that Robin Pemberton, NASCAR’s vice president for competition, told reporters were “not in the spirit of the rule.” “In pre-race inspection they felt like there was something that was a questionable item that they wanted replaced,” said Travis Geisler, Penske’s director of competition. “We replaced all the parts in question. They have them all. We’re working through the process here as it goes to get through inspection. Unfortunately a little tighter timeline here than we’d like to be on, but I certainly understand their position and don’t disagree with where they are.” The Penske vehicles were the last two vehicles in the garage area, and Keselowski’s car successfully cleared the laser inspection platform as driver introductions wound down. Crewmen continued to scramble under the rear of the #22 car, which needed three passes to get though the laser platform, and passed the final stages of inspection just as the command to start engines was given. “That’s what these guys do for a living, so it’s not really a crisis,” Geisler said of the 11th-hour changeover. “We do those kinds of things during practice at times. Everybody’s set up for it. It’s obviously not expected at this point in the day, but that’s racing. You have to expect the unexpected, and that’s the way it goes.” Having gotten the cars on track in time for the start of the race, the Penske team now faces the prospect of penalties from NASCAR. “We always have a good, open dialogue with them. They’ll keep us in the loop about how they feel about what’s going on there,” Geisler said. “I’m sure well all discuss that in the upcoming days.”(NASCAR.com)(4-14-2013)
UPDATE 2: If garage gossip is to be believed, somebody dropped a dime on NASCAR champion Brad Keselowski and his Penske Racing team at Texas Motor Speedway. The story blowing like wildfire Monday through NASCAR goes like this: Keselowski was parked at Texas next to Jimmie Johnson, while teammate Joey Logano was further down the garage parked next to Jeff Gordon. The assigned spots gave Hendrick Motorsports crews crystal clear views of the Penske cars all weekend As the story goes, there may have been eavesdropping on team chatter over the scanner during practice runs. Did someone from Hendrick ask NASCAR to take a closer look at the Penske cars? On race day, NASCAR inspectors were indeed sniffing around looking for an infraction. What they found in the rear-end housings on the #2 and #22 Fords were confiscated – Logano barely made the start of the race – though NASCAR vice president of competition Robin Pemberton curiously avoided a very important word in explaining the problem with the Penske cars. Pemberton never said the cars were illegal.
When the dust settles, crew chiefs Paul Wolfe and Todd Gordon will likely be sidelined for several weeks while Keselowski and Logano are stripped of critical points in the standings. Remember, it will be for something that hasn’t been deemed illegal, at least not yet. It’s more likely this is a case of something in development that the Penske crew was trying and NASCAR decided was too close to the edge. And there’s the rub in all of this. NASCAR gets to decide when a team has crept too close to a non-existent line in the rule book.
Should the Penske organization get hit with stiff penalties this week, then NASCAR needs to answer the what, why and how to help everyone understand exactly what is and isn’t “in the spirit of the rule.”(Associated Press)(4-16-2013) - Dish Network to make bid for Sprint Nextel UPDATE: Dish Network Corp, the No. 2 U.S. satellite television provider, offered to buy Sprint Nextel Corp for $25.5 billion in cash and stock, a move that could thwart the proposed acquisition of Sprint by Japan’s SoftBank Corp. Sprint shares soared 16.2 percent to their highest level since September 2008, leaving them well above the value of the Dish offer on Monday. Dish’s surprise bid is the latest development as the U.S. wireless business undergoes a wave of consolidation. Dish was already in the midst of an unsolicited offer for Clearwire Corp, the wireless company majority-owned by Sprint. Dish said it would pay $4.76 per share in cash and about 0.05953 shares in Dish stock for each Sprint share. The offer, which works out to $7 per share, represents a premium of roughly 12 percent to Sprint’s close on Friday. Sprint, the No. 3 U.S. mobile services provider, agreed in October to sell 70 percent of its shares to SoftBank for $20 billion. No date has been set yet for a vote on that deal. Sprint declined to comment on the Dish offer.(Reuters)(4-15-2013)
UPDATE: Sprint said it would evaluate the proposal but declined further comment. Some analysts said the Dish offer could lead to a bidding war with SoftBank. The combined entity would have 63.1 million retail subscribers and $50 billion in annual revenues, Dish said in a regulatory filing. The play for Sprint came together in the last few months as Dish started to think through all of its alternatives to gain even more spectrum, according to a source familiar with the matter. As much as Dish wants a wireless partner, analysts said Sprint also needs a deal to compete more effectively. Wells Fargo analyst Jennifer Fritzsche said Sprint management likely prefers the SoftBank offer, given the Japanese company’s deeper background in the wireless market.(MSN)(4-16-2013) - Kansas Speedway News & Notes:
• Groundbreaking was held on May 25, 1999.
• The official opening of Kansas Speedway was in 2001, with the first events being an ARCA race and a NASCAR K&N Pro Series West race on the same day – June 2.
• The first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race was on Sept. 30, 2001 – won by Jeff Gordon.
• During the 2012 season, between the April and October events the 1.5-mile track underwent a repave adding variable banking in the corners.
• There have been 14 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway, one NSCS event from 2001 – 2010 and two races per year since 2011.
• 108 drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas; 79 in more than one.
• Nine drivers have made all 14 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Kansas Speedway – Jeff Gordon, Bobby Labonte, Jeff Burton, Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch, Mark Martin, Matt Kenseth, Ryan Newman and Tony Stewart.
• Jason Leffler won the inaugural Coors Light Pole Award at Kansas Speedway in 2001 with a speed of 176.499 mph.
• 10 drivers have Coors Light poles at Kansas, led by Jimmie Johnson and Kasey Kahne with three each.
• Jimmie Johnson is the only driver to win consecutive Coors Light poles at Kansas Speedway (2007 and 2008).
• Youngest Kansas pole winner: Jason Leffler (09/30/2001 – 26 years, 0 months, 14 days).
• Oldest Kansas pole winner: Mark Martin (10/04/2009 – 50 years, 8 months, 25 days).
• 10 different drivers have won at Kansas Speedway, led by Greg Biffle, Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and Jimmie Johnson with two each.
• Roush Fenway Racing and Hendrick Motorsports are tied for the most wins at Kansas in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with four each; followed by Joe Gibbs Racing and Penske Racing with two each.
• Chevrolet leads the series in wins at Kansas with seven victories; followed by Ford with four wins.
• Two of the 14 NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Kansas Speedway have been won from the pole; Joe Nemechek (2004) and Jimmie Johnson (2008).
• Three starting positions have produced multiple wins at Kansas Speedway: the pole, fifth and 19th each have two wins.
• Three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway have been won from the front row: two from the pole and one from second-place.
• Eight of the 14 NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Kansas Speedway have been won from a top-10 starting position.
• Two of the 14 NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Kansas Speedway have been won from a starting position outside the top 20.
• The deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Kansas Speedway was 25th, by Brad Keselowski in the spring of 2011.
• Martin Truex Jr. and Ryan Newman are tied for the lead in runner-up finishes at Kansas Speedway with two each.
• Jeff Gordon leads the series in top-five finishes at Kansas Speedway with eight; followed by Greg Biffle with seven.
• Jimmie Johnson leads the series in top-10 finishes at Kansas Speedway with 11; followed by Jeff Gordon (10).
• Jimmie Johnson leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average starting position at Kansas Speedway with a 10.615.
• Two active drivers have a NASCAR Sprint Cup average finish better than 10.0 at Kansas: Jimmie Johnson (8.0) and Brad Keselowski (9.8).
• There has been one NSCS race resulting with a green-white-checkered finish at Kansas Speedway: fall of 2011 (267 scheduled laps/272 actual laps).
• Only one of the 14 races at Kansas Speedway has been shortened due to weather conditions: fall of 2007 (267 scheduled laps/210 actual laps).
• Qualifying has never been cancelled due to weather conditions in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Kansas Speedway.
• Jason Leffler (09/30/2001) is the only driver to post his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light pole at Kansas Speedway.
• 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion Austin Dillon (10/09/2011) and Denny Hamlin (10/09/2005) made their first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career starts at Kansas Speedway.
• Jeff Gordon is the only NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver to have posted consecutive wins at Kansas Speedway (2001 and 2002 – the first two NSCS events at Kansas).
• Nine of the 10 active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series winners at Kansas Speedway participated in at least two or more races before visiting Victory Lane. Jeff Gordon won at Kansas in his first appearance.
• Matt Kenseth competed at Kansas Speedway 13 times before winning last fall; the longest span of any of the 10 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series winners at Kansas.
• Matt Kenseth is the only driver to have made 10 or more attempts before his first win at Kansas Speedway.
• Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton, Kurt Busch and Bobby Labonte lead the series with the most NASCAR Sprint Cup starts at Kansas Speedway without visiting Victory Lane at 14.
• Since the advent of electronic scoring the closest margin of victory in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Kansas Speedway was the (10/10/2004) race won by Joe Nemechek with a MOV of 0.081 second.
• Danica Patrick is the only female driver to have competed at Kansas Speedway in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (10/21/2012) – starting 40th and finishing 32nd.
• Jimmie Johnson leads the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in laps led at Kansas Speedway with 547 laps led in 13 starts.(NASCAR)(4-16-2013) - Hornish testing at Mid-Ohio UPDATE: Sam Hornish, Jr., driver of the #12 Alliance Truck Parts / WURTH Ford Mustang for Penske Racing is testing at Mid-Ohio Monday, April 15. The test is open to fans for free from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fans looking to attend the test are asked to enter at Gate 3. The Infield and The Keyhole will be open. The tower, pits, paddock and garage area are closed to fans. Fans are welcome to take photos and videos of the cars on track as well as bring food and/or drinks as concession stands will be closed.(Mid-Ohio PR)(4-15-2013
UPDATE: Hornish was the only driver at the track Monday for the two-day test. His team and NASACAR officials were in Lexington to collect data for tires and gear ratios that will be shared with everyone in the Nationwide Series. Although Hornish joked he wasn’t going to share anything with his competitors, he was picked due to his extensive knowledge of the track and his Buckeye roots, being a native of Defiance who used to come to the track as a kid to watch the races in the 1980s and early 1990s. Hornish also had video camera on board to tape his laps around the track so other drivers could watch and get a feel for the nuances of the 2.25-mile, 13-turn road course. Besides getting information to share with all the teams, NASCAR was using the two days to decide on things like the start/finish line, qualifying procedures and how the garage area (paddock) and the pits would be arranged. Auton said one thing they know for sure is the start, the finish and all restarts will take place in front of the Goodyear Tower. IndyCar and other series start their races on the backstraight. (Mansfield News Journal)(4-16-2013) - Sad News – Clyde Ellis: Kansas Ciy Racing Legend Clyde Ellis passed away April 13, 2013. Ellis was one of the most influential figures in the local [Kansasi] racing world. He was a lifetime member of C.A.R.B., Central Auto Racing Boosters. In 2008, he was Grand Marshal of the Snake Saturdayparade. NASCAR sanctioned Lakeside Speedway annually holds the Clyde Ellis Late Model Showdown. More info and service info on my Sad News page.(4-16-2013)
- Turner Scott drivers testing at Darlington: Race fans have the opportunity to visit Darlington Raceway on April 16-17 to watch a two-day test session featuring NASCAR Nationwide Series drivers Kyle Larson and Nelson Piquet Jr., drivers of the #32 and #30 Chevys for Turner Scott Motorsports. The test, which will be held from 9:00am – 5:00pm both days, is free and open to the public. Darlington Raceway will open a section of the Colvin Grandstand on the backstretch of the track for fans to watch the test. (Darlington Raceway)(4-16-2013)
- Kansas City Chiefs players named race officials for STP 400: While they may not be rookies on the field, Kansas City Chiefs Jeff Allen and Don Stephenson may still need a yellow stripe as they attend the STP 400 on April 21 as honorary race officials. “Growing up in Kansas City, everyone always was either at Arrowhead or the race track and now I get to experience the best of both” said Stephenson, a starting left tackle for the Chiefs. “I can’t wait to meet some of the drivers and help out as one of the Honorary Officials for the race!” Both players were drafted in the 2012 draft, with Allen being selected in the second round and Stephenson being selected in the third round. Allen was also named to the NFL’s All-Rookie team in 2012.(Kansas Speedway)(4-16-2013)
- Liberty Tire Recycling joins Wallace for Kansas, two other races: This weekend at Kansas Speedway for the fourth stop of the season for the Camping World Truck Series, the #54 Toyota Tundra team will welcome aboard Liberty Tire Recycling as the primary sponsor for Darrell Wallace, Jr. Liberty Tire recycles more than 140 million tires annually to produce crumb rubber and industrial feedstock for molded products; as tire-derived fuel for industrial kilns, mills and power plants; and as rubber mulch for landscaping and playgrounds. With Liberty Tire Recycling on the hood, decklid, and TV panel, the #54 Toyota Tundra will feature GroundSmart Rubber Mulch, a product of Liberty Tire Recycling, on the quarter panels during the SFP 250. In addition to Kansas, Liberty Tire Recycling will serve as the primary sponsor for two additional races later this season with Wallace and the #54 Toyota team.(Kyle Busch Motorsports PR)(4-16-2013)
- Gaughan goes to school: On Monday, April 15, Brendan Gaughan, driver of the #62 Chevy, took on a new role as interim college professor at Elon University in Elon, N.C. The two-time championship driver participated in a lecture focused on all things NASCAR. Gaughan shared his insights and experiences from his years of being involved in the racing industry. (Richard Childress Racing PR)(4-16-2013)
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