The Final Lap – NASCAR News, Radio, Podcast

RAIN FORCES THE FIELD TO LINEUP BY THE NASCAR RULE BOOK
1 2 Elliott Sadler OneMain Financial Chevrolet
2 6 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Cargill/Blackwell Angus Ford
3 33 Kevin Harvick(i) Armour Chevrolet
4 18 Joey Logano(i) GameStop/Max Payne 3 Toyota
5 3 Austin Dillon # Advocare Chevrolet
6 38 Brad Sweet # Great Clips Chevrolet
7 30 James Buescher(i) Accudoc Chevrolet
8 12 Sam Hornish Jr. Alliance Dodge
9 22 Brad Keselowski(i) Discount Tire Dodge
10 43 Michael Annett Pilot/Flying J Ford
11 88 Cole Whitt # TaxSlayer.com Chevrolet

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12 54 Kyle Busch(i) Monster Energy Toyota
13 31 Justin Allgaier Brandt Chevrolet
14 19 Tayler Malsam G-Oil Toyota
15 44 Mike Bliss TriStar Motorsports Toyota

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Dale Earnhardt Jr. without a doubt has turned the corner.

The 135-race winless streak remains intact. But its end has become a case of when rather than if. Junior has become a story not for where he’s been but rather where he’s going – straight toward the top of the points standings.

A third-place finish at Martinsville Speedway, his third top five of the season, shot Earnhardt out of a third-place traffic jam and within six points of leader Greg Biffle. How well is Junior doing? Consider:

• He’s one of two drivers with three top-five and four top-four finishes. The other is Biffle.

• Three of the past four races have seen the No. 88 Chevrolet head the field.

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NATIONAL STOCK CAR RACING CHIEF APPELLATE OFFICER STATEMENT

On March 20, 2012, the Chief Appellate Officer heard and considered the appeal of the penalties resulting from the #48 Hendrick Motorsports NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team. This stemmed from an opening day inspection for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Daytona International Speedway on February 17, 2012.

The penalties concern Section 12-1 of the NASCAR Rule Book “Actions detrimental to stock car racing;” Section 12-4(J): “Any determination by NASCAR Officials that the Race Equipment used in the Event does not conform to NASCAR rules detailed in Section 20 of the NASCAR Rule Book, or has not been approved by NASCAR prior to the Event;” and Section 20-2.1(E): “If in the judgment of NASCAR Officials, any part or component of the car not previously approved by NASCAR that has been installed or modified to enhance aerodynamic performance, will not be permitted: Unapproved car body modifications.”

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NATIONAL STOCK CAR RACING APPEALS PANEL STATEMENT

On March 13, 2012, the National Stock Car Racing Appeals Panel heard and considered the appeal of the #48 Hendrick Motorsports NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team.

UPDATE 3/15/12 -The National Stock Car Chief Appellate Officer will conduct a hearing on the appeal of the No. 48 team Tuesday, March 20, at the NASCAR Research and Development Center.

The penalties concern Section 12-1 of the NASCAR Rule Book “Actions detrimental to stock car racing;” Section 12-4(J): “Any determination by NASCAR Officials that the Race Equipment used in the Event does not conform to NASCAR rules detailed in Section 20 of the NASCAR Rule Book, or has not been approved by NASCAR prior to the Event;” and Section 20-2.1(E): “If in the judgment of NASCAR Officials, any part or component of the car not previously approved by NASCAR that has been installed or modified to enhance aerodynamic performance, will not be permitted: Unapproved car body modifications.”

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Biffle Nabs Top Spot With Personal Triple Crown

With Chassis No. 777 in Las Vegas, Greg Biffle rolled his third consecutive third-place finish to start the season and take over the points lead for the second time in his career (the first was following Sonoma in 2005). Biffle credits crew chief Matt Puccia for helping him attempt to become the first driver to win all three national series titles. To lead the points, Biffle and the No. 16 3M team needed a leader and has found it in Puccia. “Just plain and simply, Matt Puccia is the reason why we’re running and competing and finishing where we are,” Biffle said. “This team needed leadership. He was willing to step up and take the task on. Done a fantastic job so far.”

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….while we wait for the official penalties after the Hendrick appeal.

Johnson Continues Climb
Daytona seems like forever ago for the five-time champion. A 42nd-place finish in the Daytona 500, coupled with a 25 points penalty for infractions in prerace inspection put Johnson in the red going into Phoenix.

Now, after a fourth-place finish at Phoenix and a runner-up run in Las Vegas, Johnson is back up to 23rd in the points. Johnson won his first Bristol race in March of 2010, and tallied two top fives in last year’s two Bristol events.

The spotlight was bright in Daytona for Danica Patrick. She started strong but didn’t end up with the hoped-for results. Although she is down, she isn’t out. One driver who can attest to that is Elliott Sadler, who faced nearly the same circumstance last season following the season opener at Daytona.

Patrick, a Phoenix resident, became just the second woman in national series history to win a Coors Light Pole when she did so in Daytona. But a potential strong run was cut short when her JR Motorsports teammate, Whitt, tapped her from behind, causing extensive damage to her No. 7 Chevrolet. She was able to return, but finished 38th. She comes home 26th in points.

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Pos Driver BPts Points Ldr Nxt Starts Poles Wins T5s T10
sDNFs Money Won PPos G/L
1 Tony Stewart 40 2403 0 0 36 1 5 9 19 1 $6,529,871 2 1
2 Carl Edwards 29 2403 0 0 36 3 1 19 26 0 $8,485,989 1 -1
3 Kevin Harvick 30 2345 -58 -58 36 0 4 9 19 1 $6,197,144 3 0
4 Matt Kenseth 34 2330 -73 -15 36 3 3 12 20 3 $6,183,584 6 2
5 Brad Keselowski 29 2319 -84 -11 36 1 3 10 14 1 $5,087,744 4 -1
6 Jimmie Johnson 33 2304 -99 -15 36 0 2 14 21 2 $6,296,359 5 -1
7 Dale Earnhardt Jr. 9 2290 -113 -14 36 1 0 4 12 2 $4,163,688 7 0
8 Jeff Gordon 35 2287 -116 -3 36 1 3 13 18 3 $5,912,834 11 3
9 Denny Hamlin 20 2284 -119 -3 36 0 1 5 14 2 $5,401,193 10 1
10 Ryan Newman 24 2284 -119 0 36 3 1 9 17 0 $5,303,023 9 -1
11 Kurt Busch 29 2262 -141 -22 36 3 2 8 16 3 $5,936,466 8 -3
12 Kyle Busch 45 2246 -157 -16 35 1 4 14 18 4 $6,161,023 12 0
13 Clint Bowyer 20 1047 -1356 -1199 36 0 1 4 16 6 $5,633,951 13 0
14 Kasey Kahne 20 1041 -1362 -6 36 2 1 8 15 4 $4,775,156 14 0
15 A J Allmendinger 7 1013 -1390 -28 36 0 0 1 10 1 $4,825,564 16 1
16 Greg Biffle 17 997 -1406 -16 36 3 0 3 10 2 $4,318,053 15 -1
17 Paul Menard 11 947 -1456 -50 36 0 1 4 8 2 $3,853,688 18 1
18 Martin Truex Jr. 16 937 -1466 -10 36 1 0 3 12 3 $3,955,563 23 5
19 Marcos Ambrose 10 936 -1467 -1 36 0 1 5 12 1 $4,750,389 17 -2
20 Jeff Burton 9 935 -1468 -1 36 0 0 2 5 3 $3,807,776 22 2

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