RPM Off To Surprising Start

Seeking to sustain its season-opening accomplishments, Richard Petty Motorsports teams head west hoping to maintain their Daytona 500 momentum.

Leading the pack was Los Gatos, Calif., native AJ Allmendinger and his third-place finish. But close behind is Elliott Sadler and his fifth-place finish, a tribute to both drivers’ resiliency as they endured January uncertainty over which, if any, RPM cars they would drive.

Teammate Reed Sorenson (No. 43 Charter Communications Dodge) finished ninth. The dean of RPM drivers, Kasey Kahne, who at age 28 is in his sixth season with the team, finished 29th. RPM was formed earlier this year by Gillett Evernham Motorsports’ merger with Petty Enterprises.

“Our goal isn’t just to get the 43 car back to Victory Lane,” said NASCAR legend Richard Petty of his own iconic car number. “We’re focusing on all four cars. We’re working together with everyone. People aren’t coming to the track to see Richard Petty race. It’s about those drivers we have here now. I want the 43 to win, but I’d be happy to see the 9, 19 or 44 win as well.”

Earnhardt Jr. Seeks West Coast Restart

Dale Earnhardt Jr. hopes to put a frustrating beginning to the 2009 season behind him this week at Auto Club Speedway.

All eyes are on the driver who’s expected to challenge not only for a berth in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, but a series title in his second season with Hendrick Motorsports.

By necessity, last Sunday’s pit-road problems, pit-road penalty and his role in a Lap 124 pileup that sparked peers’ criticism likely are in Earnhardt’s rear mirror by now.

But when he takes the track for Friday practice, he has some work to do. Earnhardt is one of four active drivers with a career-high four DNFs (did not finish) at Auto Club Speedway. He also has four top-10 finishes in 14 career starts there.

Continue reading “Dale Earnhardt Jr. hope to start the season over”

WELCOME, N.C. (Feb. 17, 2009) – Jeff Burton, driver of the No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet Impala SS in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, will trade in his fire suit and helmet for an acting role on ABC Daytime’s “General Hospital.”

Burton, a 21-time winner in NASCAR’s premier division, will visit the set of General Hospital Feb. 19 and take part in scenes with top neurosurgeon and Port Charles resident Dr. Patrick Drake. Drake’s character, which is played by Canadian actor Jason Thompson, is an avid fan of racing on the popular daytime Emmy award-winning series.

“I’m excited about going to the set of General Hospital and taking on a role with Jason,” explained Burton. “I’ve been in commercials and was a guest star on a sitcom a couple of years ago so I’m hoping those appearances prepped me for my soap opera debut. Luckily, I get to play myself and talk racing, which will help take some of the pressure off.”

After Thompson teaches Burton the ins and outs of being a soap opera actor, the roles will reverse when Thompson visits Auto Club Speedway, located in Fontana, Calif., to shadow Burton on the day of the Auto Club 500. The South Boston, Va., native will treat the actor to a pace car ride before heading out to his sponsor’s hospitality tent where both will participate in question-and-answer and autograph sessions.

Before taking a seat atop the Cat Racing team’s pit box for the Sprint Cup Series race, the Edmonton, Alberta, Canada native will participate in the race track’s pre-race festivities by attending the driver’s meeting and driver introductions.

Scheduled air time of Burton and Thompson’s episode is slated for mid-March.

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So if you are visiting our site, you obviously saw the big wreck in Sunday’s Daytona 500 caused by Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Brian Vickers.  Obviously there will be two sides to this story, one that defends Dale Earnhardt Jr. no matter what, and the other that defends Brian Vickers whom will be in the extreme minority.  Was there blocking going on? Sure, but if you ask every driver out there, they ALL would have done the same thing Brian did.  Was Dale Jr., forced below the yellow line?  You bet.  But in this radio hosts humble opinion, what Dale Jr. did next was unacceptable behavior for a driver in NASCAR’s top level.  His frustration from two failed pit stops came out in an instant when he hooked Brian Vickers on purpose, wrecking a million dollars worth of race cars.  Jason Leffler was penalized 5 laps the day before for a similar incident in the Nationwide Series.  Listen to the immediate comments from Larry McReynolds and Darrell Waltrip as it was happening, at that moment their years of experience came through, and their reaction was true.  I find it impossible to believe that Dale Jr. is not aware of how large his car was when he blended back into traffic, clipping the #83 and giving us plenty to talk about now.

Let the comments fly below, or simply vote on our Pole Position Question on the right.  What do you think?

Here’s the video for another look….

Continue reading “Video: Dale Jr., Brian Vickers cause THE BIG ONE at Daytona”