NASCAR Podcast
Last Off-Week Of Season Sets Up 2-Week Showdown For Chase Berths
After a one-week break, the “Race to the Chase” wraps up at Atlanta Motor Speedway and then, the annual “cut-off” event at Richmond International Speedway – both under the lights.
Three drivers – Tony Stewart, Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon have clinched spots in the 12-driver “Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.”
Nine spots left, two races to go.
Continue reading “Last Cup Series Off Weekend, 2 races until Chase”
Young Drivers Have Solid Road-Course Cred
Keep an eye out for some of the younger drivers on the 2.709-mile road course in Montreal this weekend. Their experience is extensive.
Colin Braun won the pole in 2008 in Mexico City in his third NASCAR Nationwide Series start. He set up the car for Greg Biffle for this race last year; Biffle finished eighth. Brad Coleman, who teamed with Braun in 2005 as the duo became the youngest to run in the Rolex Grand-Am GT Class (finished seventh), and like Braun, he began his career on road courses.
Stephen Leicht (photo) finished fifth in the inaugural race at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in 2007. He set up the car last year for Clint Bowyer; the eventual series champion finished ninth. Steve Wallace isn’t synonymous with road courses but he’s had success on them. He was 10th in this race last year and also was 10th in Mexico City in 2008. He was 12th at Watkins Glen earlier this month.
Continue reading “Young Nationwide drivers with road skills”
Unique Sponsorship Opportunity Has Fans “Riding” With Wallace
Almost speechless.
Believe it or not, that describes Kenny Wallace (No. 28 Thank You Fans Chevrolet), after he learned that more than 5,000 fans – or in this case “sponsors” – have extended their support to Wallace in Montreal.
For a $20 donation, fans were able to submit their name which appears on the hood of Wallace’s car for Sunday’s race.
“We were able to raise enough money to compete in the race,” Wallace said. “I couldn’t be more thankful or more humbled.”
It’s Kenseth vs. Kenseth this Weekend at Madison International Speedway
CONCORD, N.C. (August 26, 2009) – While the NASCAR Sprint Cup circuit and Matt Kenseth take a week off from the pressures of an intense points race to make the Chase for the Cup, the Roush Fenway driver will take on a different kind of pressure this weekend at Madison International Speedway; the race for family bragging rights.
For the first time ever, Kenseth will go head-to-head on the track against his 16 year-old son, Ross, this Saturday night (Aug. 29) at Madison International Speedway in Oregon, Wis.
“I am looking forward to racing against Ross and racing in a limited late model at Madison,” said Kenseth. “I’ve never run that type of car out there. I have watched many limited late model races since Ross has started and they are very competitive. It’s a great series with a lot of great drivers and I’m interested to race against them. I’m sure it will be a lot of fun and a great learning experience.”
The Madison International Speedway weekly Rockweiler Insulation Late Models will compete in a twin 50-lap feature event that will include father vs. son, as the 2009 Daytona 500 winner competes against Ross Kenseth and the other weekly MIS competitors.
Amanda’s Articles
by Amanda Vincent
One of the biggest headlines of the 2009 NASCAR season has been the on track woes of Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the No. 88 team.
Prior to his third-place finish at Michigan on Aug. 16, Earnhardt Jr. had only one top-five to his credit through 22 races. While his Hendrick Motorsports were winning races and occupying positions in the top-12, Earnhardt Jr. was struggling — so much so that team owner Rick Hendrick split up the cousin tandem of Earnhardt Jr. and cousin and crew chief Tony Eury Jr. and placed Lance McGrew atop the No. 88 pit box.
The team continued to struggle when McGrew first took over the reigns of the No. 88 team, raising the question — was the driver the weak link in this equation?
McGrew attempted to silence doubters by reciting that old saying, “Rome wasn’t built in a day.”
He reiterated that it takes time for changes to result in improved results on the track, and this situation was no exception.
Now that cars completely built under McGrew’s supervision are being taken to the track, those anticipated results seem to finally be coming to fruition.
Earnhardt Jr. followed up his top-five at Michigan with a top-10 Saturday night at Bristol — ninth — for his fifth top-10 of the season.
“we’re getting better as a team,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “It’s just really, really hard to be patient, be mindful and respectful of everybody, you know, just hold your tongue every once in a while.”
Sure 2009 is already shot, as far as Earnhardt Jr. and the No. 88 crew getting into the Chase. After all, they’re 21st in points, 529 points out of 12th, with just two races to go before the Chase cutoff. But if the past couple of weeks are any indication the team may have hit upon something that may get them into the groove of things and in championship contention in 2010.
Guess we’ll have to wait until then to find out.
“I think it just comes down to sticking with it, staying with the team, and trying to be part of a solution instead of a part of the problem,” Earnhardt Jr. said.
The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and not this website. To read more articles from this author, go to:
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