2012 Pole Winners, Past Event Winners Will Make Field

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 19, 2012) – NASCAR today released the eligibility requirements for the 2013 Shootout at Daytona, an announcement that signals a return to the fan-favorite preseason event’s roots.

Next season’s field will consist of 2012 Coors Light Pole winners and past Shootout winners who have attempted to qualify for at least one race during the 2012 season.

Continue reading “Back to pole sitters and past Budweiser Shootout winners for 2013”

(As Do The Rest Of The Plays In The Giants’ Arsenal)

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 6, 2012) — Last night in the Daytona 500 of Football, the New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots, employing a thrilling, breathtaking and awe-inspiring defensive package named after a thrilling, breathtaking and awe-inspiring sport – NASCAR.

The moniker, and its genesis, makes sense. Think about it…

DE Justin Tuck went to college at Notre Dame, a quick three-hour drive from Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Look at him during a game, dancing here – then there – behind the line of scrimmage. Aren’t his shimmies – which often result in a spike of some poor quarterback – reminiscent of Darrell Waltrip in Daytona International Speedway’s Victory Lane after winning The Great American Race in 1989?

Continue reading “NASCAR Propels Giants To Super Bowl Victory”

After Tony Stewart climbed from his #14 Chevy in Victory Lane at New Hamphire, he said “We got rid of some dead weight earlier this week, so it’s made it a lot easier,” Stewart said of his team’s sudden turnaround. “It’s been a big weight lifted off our shoulders. Sometimes you’ve got to make adjustments in your life, and we did that, and it’s definitely helped this weekend for sure.”

UPDATE: LISTEN TO WHAT THE GUYS HAD TO SAY ABOUT THIS ON THIS WEEK’S THE FINAL LAP PODCAST

Here’s the exchange in the media center afterwards when ESPN.com reporter Ed Hinton tried to follow up….

Q. Tony, ever since you were on TV in Victory Lane, the buzz all around the track and Internet is wondering what you meant when you said, We dropped some dead weight earlier this week.

Continue reading “What did Tony Stewart Mean by getting rid of ‘Dead Weight’ after New Hampshire Win?”

Where The Wild Things Are: Outside The Top 10

At first glance, making the Chase looks easier in 2011. This season, there are two ways to make it happen – land in the top 10 after race No. 26, or win and snag one of the two wild card spots.

Neither has proven as easy as it looks.

Cracking the top 10 has always been difficult and this year is no different. Just ask Denny Hamlin, Clint Bowyer, Greg Biffle and Jeff Burton – perennial championship candidates, all of whom are currently outside the top 10 in points.

But it just might be the Wild Card battle that’s fiercest of them all. There are now four drivers between spots 11 and 20 with wins…

Continue reading “NASCAR Chase Wild Card Battle Heats Up”

Paul Menard rumbled across the yard of bricks at full speed for the final time, signaling the crunching of a few couple key numbers: 14 different winners in 20 races, most since 2003; four different first-time winners, most since 2007; and the big one – five winners residing outside the top 10 in points.

“Wild Card Fever” has overtaken the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series garage, adding new faces to the championship discussion. Only six races remain before NASCAR’s “playoffs” – the 12-driver Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup – meaning fewer chances for Wild Card wins, and potential Chase bonus points.

After race No. 26 at Richmond, the top-10 drivers will earn berths into the 12-driver Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup field. Spots 11 and 12 will go to those drivers outside the top 10 with the most wins, provided they are in the top 20. Ties will go to the drivers with the best points position.

Continue reading “NASCAR Playoff Push Heats Up”