RYAN NEWMAN, DRIVER OF THE STEWART-HAAS RACING #39 CUP CAR

Q. Ryan, I’m wondering, what can NASCAR do to fix the problem at Talladega? The drivers obviously don’t like driving in packs, but that’s due to restrictor plates. But at the same time NASCAR doesn’t want the cars flying into the stands anymore. So is there anything in your view that they can do to fix that issue?

RYAN NEWMAN: I know they’ve made one big step and that’s to reduce the restrictor plate size to slow the cars down so we’re less likely to get airborne.

I know the Speedway has made improvements with respect to catch fans and things like that. But ultimately we don’t want to get to that situation.

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When Drivers Fight For Contention It’s The Fans Who Ultimately Win

Guest Column By Cathy Elliott

Most fans would probably agree that while it is great to debate the finer points of NASCAR, sometimes these discussions bring to mind the old saying: “It’s only fun until someone loses an eye.” But in the world of NASCAR partisanship, it’s only fun until someone loses their temper.

Case in point is a conversation I recently overheard between a couple of fans who were discussing the relative merits of Jeff Gordon versus Tony Stewart in this year’s Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. It started out friendly, slid rapidly down the scale to barely civil and then nosedived to stage three which, for lack of a better term, we’ll just refer to as yelling. And a little bit of spitting.

“Jeez, you guys,” another shameless eavesdropper observed. “Stop fighting. You don’t have to get so contentious about it.”

Continue reading “When Drivers Fight For Contention It's The Fans Who Ultimately Win”

Fans dream about Sunday’s AMP Energy 500 at Talladega Superspeedway , one of the season’s most eventful races.

Those drivers in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship may consider it a nightmare — especially since it comes with only four races remaining in the 2009 season.

There have been five editions of the Chase format. And on three occasions — 2004, 2005 and 2006 — the points leader entering the AMP Energy 500 has failed to win the title.

Photo Credit: CIA Stock Photo

Conversely, the points leader after Talladega — Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet) in 2007, Tony Stewart (No. 14 Office Depot Chevrolet) in 2005 and Kurt Busch (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge) in 2004 — went on to become champion.

In the Chase era (2004-present), the points leader after six races has gone on to win the championship in two of the five Chases. Prior to the Chase’s inception, from 1975-2003, five drivers won the title after trailing with four races to go. (See chart page 4)

Johnson’s current lead of 118 points might appear comfortable but history suggests otherwise. Although Johnson has finished ninth and second in his past two AMP Energy 500 starts, the three-time champion’s overall record in the race isn’t good. Before his runner-up performance in 2007, Johnson failed to finish higher than 24th with four finishes of 31st or worse.

Continue reading “The Chase comes down to Talladega”

It’s been more than two years — 23 races — since a Chase race has been won by a driver not part of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.

The drought, extending to Greg Biffle’s (No. 16 3M/Filtrete Ford) Sept. 30, 2007 victory at Kansas Speedway, could end this week especially if past Talladega performances are considered.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 AMP Energy “Get on the 88”/National Guard Chevrolet) is one obvious candidate. So is Kyle Busch (No. 18 M&Ms Toyota), Michael Waltrip (No. 55 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota) and 2009 Daytona 500 winner Matt Kenseth (No. 17 DEWALT Ford).

Earnhardt is a five-time Talladega winner three times capturing the AMP Energy 500. Busch won last spring’s Aaron’s 499 and finished fourth at Martinsville — his first top-five finish since Sept. 20.

Then there’s this spring’s surprise winner Brad Keselowski, who’ll drive the same No. 09 Miccosukee Indian Gaming & Resort Chevrolet. Two non-Chase drivers have won the Amp Energy 500: Brian Vickers (No. 83 Red Bull Toyota) in 2006 and Dale Jarrett in 2005.

AJ Allmendinger was arrested on Thursday charged with drunk driving or Driving Under the Influence (DUI) of alcohol. A.J. failed a field sobriety test after being pulled over. According to an AP News story Allmendinger said “I honestly felt fine, but I obviously should have erred more on the side of caution, particularly given what I do for a living, it was a bad judgment call and I apologize for that.”

Allmendinger added “If anything good can come of this, then hopefully I can be an example of being more aware of drinking responsibly and if even if you feel fine, take a cab, call a friend, just don’t risk it. I will do my best to make it right and use this to learn myself and hopefully educate others.”

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Oct. 29, 2009) – AJ Allmendinger, driver for the No. 44 team in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, has been placed on probation until Dec. 31, 2009.

Allmendinger has violated Section 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) of the 2009 NASCAR rule book.