NASCAR Podcast
SHOW #361 – Guest: Chris Buescher – We recap Dover and the avalanche of Jimmie Johnson stats, audio, and accolades, Jimmie becomes a home improvement lobster, Logano plays foosball, Vickers gets a TV gig, what is the drivers council and is Yoda involved, plus a full Pocono Preview. Hosted by Kerry Murphey and Toby Christie
( Roughly 48:00 mins)
Continue reading “The Final Lap Weekly #361 Chris Buescher – Pocono Preview”
Numbers Never Lie: Hamlin Has Tricky Triangle Figured Out
Pocono Raceway is one of Denny Hamlin’s best tracks.
And Denny Hamlin is one of the best to ever race at Pocono.
At least that’s what the numbers say.
Judging by his statistics, it seems the Virginia native feels right at home at the 2.5-mile Pennsylvania track. In 18 starts at the Tricky Triangle, he’s earned more wins (four), poles (three) and top fives (nine) than he has at any track besides Martinsville.
But Hamlin’s pattern of Pocono dominance transcends personal significance. His four wins are tied for the third-most all-time at Pocono, behind only Jeff Gordon (six) and Bill Elliott (five), and no active driver lays claim to more Coors Light Pole Awards there than Hamlin’s three.
NASCAR Penalty Report / Dover International Speedway
DAYTONA BEACH, Florida
June 3, 2015
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
· Trevor Bayne, driver of the No. 6 car, has received a penalty for his actions during the May 31 race (Sections 12.1, 12.8 b and 10.4.2.1 in the 2015 NASCAR rule book). After the No. 6 car was involved in an on-track incident, the driver walked across the racing surface before he was attended to by the track safety crew. Bayne has been fined $20,000 and placed on NASCAR probation through Dec. 31.
· The No. 4 team has been assessed a P1 level penalty for receiving written warnings in two consecutive events (Section 12.5.3.1b,c NASCAR rule book). At Charlotte, the No. 4 team received a warning for having to go through pre-race inspection more than three times while during opening day inspection at Dover the car’s exhaust pipe was found to not be in conformance to rule book specifications. The team will receive the last choice in the pit selection process for this weekend’s event at Pocono Raceway.
NASCAR XFINITY Series
· The No. 97 team has been penalized for an infraction occurring during practice on May 29. It is a P3 level penalty (Sections 12.1 and 20.17.2.1b NASCAR rule book). The car had an improperly attached weight that fell out of the car. Crew chief John Monsam has been fined $15,000, suspended from the next championship points race, and placed on NASCAR probation through Dec. 31. Car chief David Jones has been suspended from the next championship points race and placed on NASCAR probation through Dec. 31. Driver Peyton Sellers and owner Victor Obaika lose 15 series championship driver and owner points, respectively.
· The No. 33 car was found to be too low in the rear during post-race inspection on May 30. This is a P2 level penalty (Sections 12.1 and 20.17.3.2.2b NASCAR rule book). Crew chief Nick Harrison has been fined $7,500 and placed on NASCAR probation through Dec. 31. Car owner Richard Childress loses 10 series championship owner points.
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
· Jennifer Jo Cobb, driver of the No. 10 truck, has received a penalty for her actions during the May 29 race (Sections 12-1, 12.8 b and 10.4.2.1 NASCAR rule book). After the No. 10 truck was involved in an on-track incident, the driver walked across the racing surface before she was attended to by the track safety crew. Cobb has been fined $5,000 and placed on NASCAR probation through Dec. 31.
Rick Hendrick might as well buy Pocono Raceway.
Over the past few years, his drivers have owned it, winning the last five races at the 2.5-mile track: Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2014 sweep), Kasey Kahne (2013 summer), Jimmie Johnson (2013 spring) and Jeff Gordon (2012 summer).
The last non-Hendrick Motorsports driver to win at Pocono was Joey Logano, who took the checkered flag from the pole in the spring of 2012 for Joe Gibbs Racing.
Hendrick Motorsports’ 17 victories at Pocono are the most of any race team and almost double the total of the next-best organization (Joe Gibbs Racing, nine).
Hendrick has won at Pocono with seven different drivers including Tim Richmond, Geoff Bodine, Terry Labonte, Gordon, Kahne, Johnson and Earnhardt Jr.
Richmond captured HMS’ first Pocono win in June of 1986 and returned in July to sweep the track with another victory.
Jimmie Johnson continues to chase and make history.
Last Sunday, the six-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion won his 10th-career race at Dover International Speedway, becoming the fifth driver ever to visit Victory Lane 10 or more times at a single track. The others are all NASCAR Hall of Famers: Richard Petty (Martinsville-15, North Wilkesboro-15, Richmond-13, Rockingham-11, Daytona-10), Darrell Waltrip (Bristol-12, Martinsville-11, North Wilkesboro-10), Dale Earnhardt (Talladega-10) and David Pearson (Darlington-10). Continue reading “History In The Making: Johnson Continues To Etch His Name Among NASCAR Legends”
The Final Lap Weekly 