April 27, 2008
- Sad News: Condolences to ESPN NASCAR analyst Marty Smith on the death of his father Leo. Thoughts go out to Marty and his family.
AND Leo Harvey (Butch) Smith II, 60, of Pearisburg, died on Friday, April 25, 2008. In death, Leo regained life, reuniting with his everything, his beloved wife, Joy, in the arms of the Lord after 10 heartbroken years apart. He yearned for nothing but to see her sweet face again. He said so every day. In life, Leo impacted many through anonymous generosity. Few kids contemplate where those Big Macs come from as the athletic bus meanders down the mountain on fall Friday evenings, or how those sparkling new bats appear in the Little League dugout. He was that kind of man. A lifelong resident of the New River Valley, Leo was raised an only child in Christiansburg by a pair of hardworking educators, Leo H. Smith and Eunice Martin Smith. Following brief stints in Culpeper, Va., and Salem, W.Va., during which he worked tirelessly to provide for a young family while earning a college degree, Leo eventually settled his family in Giles Co., in close proximity to his widowed mother and the Virginia Tech Hokies. A loving son, he called his mother daily to ensure her well-being. She once broke a hip and he didn’t just visit sporadically. He was there every day and literally taught her to walk again, tracking every step with an elaborate Excel spreadsheet that spoke well to his meticulous nature. A loving father, he attended ballgames and high school chorus concerts, leaving little doubt to the assemblage which children were his. He was the proudest of papas, and until his dying day instilled in others the value of determination. He cared not if you were the best, he cared that you strove to be. Leo was preceded in death by his father, Leo H. Smith and his wife, Joy Massey Smith. He is survived by his mother, Eunice Martin Smith, 93, of Christiansburg; his daughter, Stacy Smith Moyer and her husband, Chris, of Suffolk, Va.; his son, Marty and his wife, Lainie, of Huntersville, N.C.; and one grandson, Cambron Reed Smith. Visitation will be held Tuesday, April 29, 2008 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Givens Funeral Home, in Pearisburg. Funeral services will be held April 30, 2008, at 2 p.m. at Angel’s Rest Baptist Fellowship, in Pearisburg, with the Rev. Lee Ellison officiating. The interment will follow at Birchlawn Cemetery. Flowers are appreciated and donations made in his honor may be sent to the American Breast Cancer Foundation or Angel’s Rest Baptist Fellowship.(Roanoke Times)(4-27-2008) - Ownership not an option at JGR for Stewart: If #20-Tony Stewart wants to become a NASCAR team owner, he’ll have to do it somewhere other than Joe Gibbs Racing. J.D. Gibbs, president of JGR, said Sunday that co-ownership at Gibbs is not an option for Tony Stewart, but other options are available. “Our [ownership] deal is set the way it is,” Gibbs said. “But we could do some stuff to help him get started with his own team if that’s what he really wanted.” Stewart said earlier in the week that he is interest in becoming a Sprint Cup team owner. He also said Haas/CNC Racing has offered that option while allowing him to drive for them. But Stewart is under contact with JGR through the 2009 season. Gibbs said they have no intention of ending the relationship with Stewart before the contract expires. The deal with Home Depot, the primary sponsor of the #20 Toyota Stewart drives, also goes through 2009.(ESPN.com)(4-27-2008)
- Franchitti injured in Nationwide race, Stremme to run #40 UPDATE:#40-Dario Franchitti has fractured his left ankle in the Nationwide Series race at Talladega on Saturday and will not be able to race in Sunday’s Sprint Cup race. David Stremme, former driver of the #40 Dodge for Ganassi Racing, has been asked to sub for Franchitti and got permission from Roger Penske [he is their test driver] and Rusty Wallace [who Stremme drives for in the Nationwide Series] to start and run the race Sunday.(PRN’s Garage Pass)(4-26-2008)
UPDATE: Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (CGRFS) driver Dario Franchitti will not compete in the Sprint Cup Series race Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway after suffering a slight fracture in his left ankle as a result of a collision on lap 11 in Saturday’s Nationwide Series (NNS) event. Franchitti will be reevaluated early next week. On lap 11, Franchitti’s #40 Fastenal Dodge blew a right-rear tire which caused the on-track incident. Franchitti was treated at the Talladega Superspeedway infield care center and then driven to Physicians Medical Center Carraway in Birmingham, Ala., where he was further evaluated, treated and released.(Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates)(4-27-2008)
UPDATE 2: Stremme will replace the injured Dario Franchitti today in the #40 for Chip Ganassi Racing. Franchitti broke his ankle in a hard wreck Saturday in the Nationwide race. Stremme drove the #40 full time last year but was released to make way for Franchitti. Stremme stressed that it’s just a one-race deal and the team has yet to decide what to do for the race at Richmond next week. Ganassi Manager of Competition Steve Hmiel said no plans have been made yet for Richmond or beyond, depending on how quickly Franchitti can return. “Hopefully Dario will be back sooner rather than later, but it’s very unclear at this point,” he said.(Alabama Live)(4-27-2008) - Kyle Busch wins at Talladega: #18-Kyle Busch won the Aaron’s 499 at Talladega Superspeedway, for his 2nd win of 2008 and 6th of his career. The race ended under caution when there was a semi-big wreck on the last lap [once the white flag is thrown, NASCAR does not do a Green-White-Checker]. It is the 8th time since the ‘Lucky Dog’ rule went into effect at Dover in Sept 2003 that a driver who has received the Lucky Dog/Lap Back pass has gone on to win the Cup race. Busch now has seven NASCAR victories this season: two in Sprint Cup, three Nationwide and two in the Craftsman Truck Series. Finishing 2nd was #42-Montoya [his best oval finish] followed by #11-Hamlin, #6-Ragan, #83-Vickers, #28-Kvapil, #5-Mears, #12-Newman, #07-Bowyer and #88-Earnhardt Jr. #7-Robby Gordon finished 11th. #20-Stewart wrecked late and ended up 38th, #99-Edwards lost a tire and smacked the wall, finishing 40th. There were 8 caution flags for 23 laps and there were 52 lead changes among 20 drivers.
See race results and awards on my Talladega Race Results page.(4-27-2008) - REVISED UNOFFICAL Drivers Points Standings [after Talladega race 9 of 36]:
1) #31-Jeff Burton 1347 [1 win]
2) #18-Kyle Busch 1325 -22 [2 wins]
3) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. 1268 -79
4) #11-Denny Hamlin 1248 -84 [1 win]
5) #48-Jimmie Johnson 1245 -102 [1 win]
6) #29-Kevin Harvick 1208 -139
7) #07-Clint Bowyer 1182 -165
8) #16-Greg Biffle 1148 -199
9) #20-Tony Stewart 1137 -210
10) #99-Carl Edwards 1084 -263 [would be 7th if no 100pt penalty][3 wins]
11) #12-Ryan Newman 1062 -285 [1 win]
12) #42-Juan Pablo Montoya 1029 -318
other chase contenders
13) #9-Kasey Kahne 1028 -1pt out of 12th
14) #24-Jeff Gordon 1018 -11
15) #6-David Ragan 994 -35
15) #83-Vickers 994 -35
Points Standings on my Drivers/Owners Points after Talladega page.(4-27-2008) - Talladega Superspeedway Fast Facts
.. Kyle Busch won the Aaron’s 499, his sixth victory in 123 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
.. This is his second victory and sixth top-10 finish in 2008.
.. This is his first victory and first top-10 finish in seven races at Talladega Superspeedway.
.. Juan Pablo Montoya (second) posted his first top-10 finish in 2008 and his first finish better than 15th in three races at Talladega.
.. Denny Hamlin (third) posted his sixth top-10 finish of 2008. This is his second top-10 finish in five races at Talladega. He eclipsed his previous best finish of fourth set in October 2007.(NASCAR Statistics)(4-27-2008) - Top-35 in Owner Points and guaranteed a starting spot at Richmond
no changes in who is in or out, the order got changed a bit and the points between 35th and 36th is now 61
The teams are NOT locked in past the next race as the owners points change after each race.
31) #55-Waltrip/Waltrip Racing 708 +110
32) #41-Sorenson/Ganassi Racing 678 +80
33) #44-Reutimann/Waltrip Racing 670 +72
34) #77-Hornish/Penske Racing 663 +65
35) #01-Smith/Dale Earnhardt Inc 659, 61 points ahead of 36th
these teams/ drivers must qualify by speed:
36) #40-Franchitti/Ganassi Racing 598, 61 points out of 35th
37) #70-Sauter/Haas CNC Racing 584 -75
38) #96-Yeley/Hall of Fame Racing 579 -80
39) #22-Blaney/Bill Davis 577 -82
40) #84-Allmendinger/Red Bull Racing 521 -138
For the owner points standings, see my Drivers/Owners Points Standings page.(4-27-2008) - Talladega Superspeedway Penalty Report:
Car#, Penalty, Reason, Lap Issued
1 #17 Pitting before Pit Road is Open TE 20
2 #8 Excessive speed – Exiting pits PT 53
3 #17 Excessive speed – Exiting pits PT 54
4 #5 Excessive speed – Exiting pits TE 117
5 #09 Pitting before Pit Road is Open TE 117
6 #17 Excessive speed – Exiting pits TE 119
7 #20 Pitting before Pit Road is Open TE 144
8 #70 Pitting before Pit Road is Open TE 144
9 #10 Pitting before Pit Road is Open TE 144
10 #2 Pitting before Pit Road is Open TE 174
11 #20 Pitting before Pit Road is Open TE 174
12 #43 Pitting before Pit Road is Open TE 174
13 #43 Pitting before Pit Road is Open TE 181
PT – Pass through
TE – Tail end of the longest line
SG – Stop and Go
OL – One lap
ND – NASCAR discretion
MCI – Must come into pits.(NASCAR Statistics)(4-27-2008) - Who got a lap back on each caution at Talladega: (and their finish)
Caution 1: #21-Wood, still 7 laps down, 36th
Caution 2: #18-Busch, back on lead lap, WON
Caution 3: #2-Busch, back on lead lap, 39th
Caution 4: #7-Gordon, back on lead lap, 11th
Caution 5: #66-Riggs, back on lead lap, 16th
Caution 6: #09-Marlin, back on lead lap, 21st
Caution 7: none awarded with 10 or less laps to go
Caution 8: none awarded with 10 or less laps to go
(4-27-2008) - Raines to run the #08 at LMS: EM Motorsports owner John Carter announced that Tony Raines would pilot the Rhino’s Energy Drink Dodge Charger in both the Sprint Showdown and the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Charlotte. Fans will have the opportunity to vote a driver from the Sprint Showdown race into the field for the Sprint All-Star Race. EM Motorsports driver Tony Raines is eligible for the fan vote based on his finishing position in the 2007 Nextel Cup Series point standings had to be in the top 50, was 29th in drivers pts while driving ther #96). Based in Toccoa, GA, EM Motorsports presently has three race-ready COTs for Sprint Cup Series competition. EM Motorsports is led by owner John Carter, Crew Chief Charles Swing, Marketing VP Doug Barron and NASCAR Consultant James Hylton.(Tonyraines.com)(4-27-2008)
- Sauter back in #70 at RIR; Schrader could run more races: from a Team Chevy PR:
KEN SCHRADER, #70 HUNT BROTHERS PIZZA IMPALA SS – Qualified 3rd: HOW DID YOU MAKE THAT CAR GO THAT FAST AS THE LAST QUALIFIER OUT? “It was desperation. When you aren’t locked in to the top-35, you do what you have to do. We definitely concentrated more on qualifying for today. We will probably have to undo a little bit of that tomorrow. The Haas/CNC grout built us a heck of a little car. It is brand new with a brand new sponsor, Hunt Brothers Pizza. The Hendrick Motors, they did their job for sure. You work on qualifying differently when you are one of those cars that is not locked in the top-35 because if you don’t go fast enough, you go home. It brings a out desperation. There are a lot of things you have to do. We are going to have a good little race car.”
IS THIS A ONE-SHOT DEAL? “No, we’re going to run it some more. We’re definitely going to run it some more. We’re working on the schedule, but we are going to run the car some more this year. I know that Jay [actually Johnny, not Jay] Sauter is going to run it next week and we’re working on that stuff now. That’s the only real good advantage I’ve found to being old so far. I told them to just let me know if I need to be there.”
YOU WERE SCHEDULED TO BE IN THE BAM CAR FOR TALLADEGA. DO YOU STILL HAVE ANY TIES WITH THEM? COULD YOU UPDATE THAT STATUS?
“I can’t speak for them. I’ve driven for those people two full years and then drove one race last year. We started of the year this year and they love the sport a lot and they’ve invested a lot of their own money on that team. I know they’re working hard to get funding to run it. I’ll always be indebted to them because I’ve been working for them for a while and they’re just good people that love this sport. But I don’t have any ties to them.”(Team Chevy)(4-27-2008) - Danica Patrick talked to Roush Fenway recently UPDATE: Officials from Roush Fenway Racing “had a conversation” with IndyCar driver Danica Patrick as recently as two weeks ago when the Sprint Cup Series was in Phoenix for the Subway Fresh Fit 500. And while Jack Roush, the founder and co-owner of the organization, said that he was not part of the conversation, he also said Friday from Talladega Superspeedway that he believes Patrick has an interest in eventually pursuing a future that would include at least some stock-car racing. He even offered to lay out a program for her indoctrination into NASCAR. “I think Danica, from what I understand, has got an interest in stock-car racing,” Roush said. “Any sponsor, any team owner that felt the need to have more of a diverse situation in their driving lineup would look at Danica very favorably.”(more at NASCAR.com)(4-26-2008)
UPDATE: Danica Patrick’s visit to the Sprint Cup race at Phoenix International Raceway two weeks ago was more about seeing friends than putting out feelers. But aside from renewing ties with former Indy Racing League peers Dario Franchitti and Sam Hornish Jr., Patrick’s Phoenix appearance as a guest of Roush Fenway Racing also could mark a step toward establishing new relationships in stock-car racing — perhaps with Jack Roush, who admitted officials from his powerhouse Cup team spoke to Patrick at Phoenix. NASCAR still remains a possibility for Patrick in the wake of becoming the first woman to win a major-league open-wheel event. “The door has never been shut,” she said Friday at Kansas Speedway. “I’ve learned too well over the last six to eight years, you can’t say anything is a never. Saying never is a very strong word, and if you do enough interviews and say that word, it really lives.” Patrick, 26, had a brief flirtation with leaving Indy cars to race NASCAR in the summer of 2006 while in the final season of her contract with Rahal Letterman Racing. She signed with Andretti Green Racing for the 2007 season in a multiyear deal whose terms weren’t disclosed. But SPEEDTV.com reported that Patrick’s primary sponsor, Motorola, signed a contract for 2007-09, and driver contracts often run concurrently with their sponsors. That could put the IRL’s most popular star up for bidding again in 2010, and Patrick won’t rule out considering NASCAR again. “Yes, I’m knee deep in Indy car,” she said. “But when your contract time comes, anyone would be foolish not to explore options that are relevant. You have to go where you feel you have the best chance to win and the most opportunities and where you feel your heart is.” Patrick tested a Ford for a now-defunct team in the Nationwide series several years ago, and she now is drawing interest from Ford’s top team owner in NASCAR.(USA Today)(4-27-2008) - Executive to lead Petty Kansas camp for ill children: Mike Lepore, a former executive with Wells Fargo Financial, was introduced on Friday as the president of the new Victory Junction Gang Camp for children scheduled to open in Wyandotte County [KS]. The original Victory Junction camp in North Carolina, founded by NASCAR driver Kyle Petty and his wife Pattie, in honor of their late son, Adam, provides free, year-round, activities for chronically ill children. The Pettys announced earlier this year they would open a camp in Wyandotte County, and on Friday, Lepore said the search has been narrowed to one of three sites in Wyandotte County. A final decision could be announced as soon as the July 5 Sprint Cup race at Daytona International Speedway, home of International Speedway Corp., owner of Kansas’ Speedway. A ground-breaking is scheduled for the weekend of Sept. 27-28, when NASCAR Sprint Cup stages the Kansas 400 at Kansas Speedway. The hope is the $40 million facility, funded totally by donations, will open in 2010 or 2011 at the latest. Lepore already has set up office space at Kansas Speedway. ‘”We see 26 disease groups in North Carolina, and I foresee seeing that many at the camp here, maybe many more,” Pattie Petty said of the original Victory Junction Camp, opened in 2004 on 72 acres outside Randleman, N.C., that were generously donated by NASCAR legend Richard “The King” Petty. ”Maybe we’ll build it bigger, better, faster stronger. With all the people who have come on board, I can’t imagine we won’t. “I’ve never been to an area where the people are so community oriented as they are in this Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska … Midwest area.”(Kansas City Star)(4-27-2008) Comment here
- Allstate Teen Safe Driving Pit Stop Using GEM Drivers to Reach Parents and Teens: Allstate Insurance Company is using a group of athletes who drive fast for a living to caution parents and teens to slow down when making decisions behind the wheel. By partnering with Gillett Evernham Motorsports (GEM), Allstate has created the Allstate Teen Safe Driving Pit Stop, an interactive, racing-focused program that will promote teen safe driving in key NASCAR markets throughout the year. The goal of the initiative is to facilitate communication between parents and teens about the importance of teen safe driving and provide tools to spark these conversations, including Allstate’s interactive Parent-Teen Driving Contract, available at www.allstate.com/teen. Allstate is the official insurance provider of GEM. GEM NASCAR drivers Kasey Kahne, Elliott Sadler and Patrick Carpentier, as well as team owner Ray Evernham, will headline the Allstate Teen Safe Driving Pit Stops at high schools across the country prior to the Sprint Cup Series races in select markets. Joining them will be SPEED personality John Roberts, who will serve as emcee at all of the events. Events are being scheduled for Birmingham, Ala., Charlotte, N.C., and Richmond, Va., with other markets to be announced throughout the year. Highlights of the Allstate Teen Safe Driving Pit Stop will include an interactive discussion with GEM drivers and Evernham and an open forum and question and answer session between the drivers, parents and teens. The Allstate Safety Zone, an interactive safe driving mobile display, will also visit the high schools and provide illustrations of important safety components in NASCAR stock cars. Computer kiosks will be available for parents and teens to complete Allstate’s Interactive Parent-Teen Driving Contract at www.allstate.com/teen.(Allstate)(4-27-2008)
- Montoya named to People en Español’s 50 Most Beautiful: #42-Juan Pablo Montoya will make his first appearance in People en Español’sspecial-edition magazine as one of its 50 Most Beautiful of 2008. Montoya earned a spot beside singer Christina Aguilera, designer Daisy Fuentes and actor and current participant on “Dancing with the Stars” Christián de la Fuente on the exclusive list. Montoya is one of just four athletes whose photos will appear in the magazine along with NFL quarterback Tony Romo, NHL center Scott Gómez and basketball player Alexis Castro. Montoya participated in a special photo shoot on location in Miami for the magazine in February before heading out to the NASCAR race at California Speedway. Aside from an interview for the magazine, Montoya made a few wardrobe changes and even spent a few minutes in the make-up chair in preparation for the shoot.(Ganassi Racing)(4-27-2008)
- Lepage Apologizes for Talladega Wreck: Kevin Lepage issued the following statment Sunday, “As a child my dreams had always been to race on Superspeedways. Racing in NASCAR has allowed this to happen and I have a career that I love. However, on Saturday afternoon every racer’s concern was realized, as I caused “The Big One”. After reviewing the tapes of the accident I realize I need to apologize to NASCAR, the car owners, my fellow competitors and most importantly the fans. I made a huge driver error by blending onto the racetrack in the wrong area. This caused a multi-car accident and changed the outcome of the race for many teams. I’m so thankful that no one was hurt considering the number of cars involved. In over 25 years of racing this was the biggest mistake I’ve ever made behind the wheel of a stock car and I promise that it will not happen again. It is such a terrible feeling knowing that NASCAR, the car owners, fellow competitors and NASCAR fans think this was a “bonehead” move and I certainly don’t want anyone thinking of me in these terms. Speaking yesterday before reviewing the tapes of the accident made me look like a “heal” and there is not a single person to blame for this huge mistake except myself. I have worked very hard over the years to gain the respect of NASCAR, the owners, competitors and the fans and it will take a long time to gain it back after what happened. Once again I want to apologize to everyone involved. If I could replay the race, I would have used better judgment and let the pack go by before blending onto the racetrack.”(Specialty Racing PR)(4-27-2008)
- Fifth Place Finish for Green is Best Ever for ML Motorsports: In a car rebuilt after it was in a multi-car crash in the season-opener at Daytona, ML Motorsports driver #70-Mark Green finished fifth in Saturday’s Aaron’s 312 Nationwide Series race at Talladega. The fifth-place finish was the best finish in the short NASCAR career of the Warsaw, Indiana-based ML Motorsports team, topping the team’s previous best finish of 19th at Gateway with Green behind the wheel during the 2007 season.(ML Motorsports PR)(4-27-2008)
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