Good morning everyone!
Just a little snippet for y'all since I'm away from the computer but hey it's Bristol Baby! We showed up here yesterday at about 5:00 and went straight over to Qualifying for the Spring Cup series. Full of excitement on my part I assure you! Something about how you can hear exactly how a car handles by when a driver picks up the gas will always excite me. And Bristol is so small you can hear it all!
During qualifying Kyle Busch, David Reutimann and Jimmie Johnson all got extremely loose on their first qualifying lap coming out of turn four and proceeded to turn around and try again from the start finish line (completely legal they just toss away the first lap). Kyle Busch went on to slap the wall and will be starting in the back of the field in a backup car.
The Nationwide 250 lapper was won by none other than Kyle Busch last night as well. (More on that in a later post). And tonight's 500 lapper will begin around 7 P.M. on your local ABC channel.
Y'all have a great one from the Bristol Motor Speedway!
-Pam
Hey everyone and happy Saturday!
We made it to the weekend again!
First off terribly sorry that I never got back with a wrap up from last weekend's races (things got crazy here), but I will include that in this post, so here we go!
Racing Wrap Up from Iowa and Pocono
Last Saturday night the NASCAR Nationwide Series was at the Iowa Speedway for their 250 mile race. The race went caution free all the way to lap 55 when caution came out for Drew Herring, and all the leaders came down pit road for a pit stop, the #22 of Brad Keslowski had a tire outside of the pit box on this stop and they were put to the back of the field for the restart. They started to battle an overheating problem around lap 100. One interesting fact via the ESPN broadcast of the race was that Brad Keselowski had previously never won a race that he had a pit penalty in. Lap 140 the caution returned for Reed Sorenson's engine expiring, on the restart the #3 of Austin Dillon remained the leader.
Things went downhill for the #3 of Austin Dillon on lap 199 when a caution flew for the #60 of Travis Pastrana who had a flat left rear tire. Under this round of pit stops, the Trevor Bayne took the top spot by taking just two right side tires, as did the top 4 cars leaving pit road. The #22 of Brad Keselowski restarted the race in 7th position with 4 fresh tires. Right after the race went back green, Brian Vickers took over the lead from Bayne, and retained the lead until 34 laps to go when Keselowski took advantage of the 4 fresh tires and took the lead. The fourth and final caution flew on lap 223 for a single car spin on the front stretch. The first car to come down pit road on this caution was the #7 of Regan Smith all the way back in the 12th position. The green flag flew once again with 22 laps remaining, and Keselowski retained the lead all the way to the checkers.
On to Pocono from last Sunday, which didn't wait too long to throw the first yellow flag. First lap first turn the #42 of Juan Pablo Montoya, the #17 of Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and the #20 of Matt Kenseth all tangled, and Stenhouse wound up with the worst damage from the bunch. The next caution came out just a few laps later for a cut tire, and the scheduled competition caution for lap 20 was canceled.
For those who don't know, a competition caution will be scheduled for a race that has had rain the night before thus all the rubber has been washed off the track which we call a "green track". The competition caution will be scheduled so that tire wear can be checked.
The pictures on the left are an example of a green race track (left) vs. a "rubbered in" race track (right). Both are the same race track (Bristol Motorspeedway), and you can see the distinct black color that the concrete will take on as the weekend wears on. The picture on the right is from March after Kasey Kahne's win in the Cup race.
Back to the race! Lap 52 the caution flag flew for the #38 of David Gilliland, and when the race went back to green on lap 58 Brad Keselowski was the leader; however, just one lap later the #5 of Kasey Kahne took the lead. After leading much of the race, the #48 of Jimmie Johnson blew a tire on lap 76 which sent him into the turn 2 wall. Caution flew again on lap 95 for another tire, this time it was the #30 of David Stremme. Kasey Kahne took control of the lead once again at lap 108 on a restart, but 2 laps later the #7 of Danica Patrick, Travis Kvapil, and the #31 of Jeff Burton got together bringing out another caution. Caution didn't fly again until lap 149 (after a round of green flag stops around lap 125) for a piece of debris on the track. Jeff Gordon took the lead on this restart and took off, but a caution for Matt Kenseth's spin in turn 2, gave Kahne another shot, which he took and never looked back winning his 2nd race of the season.
On to this weekend shall we? Or I should mention the happenings of this week right. The biggest news to come out of this week was from Tony Stewart who has been hospitalized for a broken leg since Monday night. Ouch right?! So Max Papis has taken over the #14 car for Stewart-Hass Racing this weekend in Watkins Glen.
Ok now to this weekend. The NASCAR Nationwide Series and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series are together this weekend in Watkins Glen, in New York. This track is a really fast road course, yes I said road course that means right and left! (Excuse me with my excitement, these things are what I grew up with)
This place is so incredibly fast as you can see by the long straightaways and the wide sweeping corners. Think there's no major wrecks at this type of track, you are sadly mistaken, there is always an interesting bit that happens when you throw guys that normally don't shift or turn right into a situation like this. However, over the years the times where a road course "ringer" (aka someone who is normally just a road course racer/specialist) would dominate. These days the regulars spend days testing at other road courses across the nation to become better.
Remember what I said about wrecks
Anyway, tune in for NASCAR Nationwide Series qualifying now on ESPN2 (it's about to go off though), and 11:30 PM EST for NASCAR Sprint Cup Series qualifying which both are being done in groups.
NASCAR Nationwide Series Zippo 200 is on ABC at 2:00 PM EST. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Cheez-It 355 comes on ESPN tomorrow at 1:00 PM EST.
And for the record I have been over the wall for a pit stop just one race (that's me full face helmet with a catch can) Catch cans are no longer used in NASCAR's 3 upper divisions; however, ARCA still uses them.
Y'all have a great day!
We made it to the weekend again!
First off terribly sorry that I never got back with a wrap up from last weekend's races (things got crazy here), but I will include that in this post, so here we go!
Racing Wrap Up from Iowa and Pocono
Last Saturday night the NASCAR Nationwide Series was at the Iowa Speedway for their 250 mile race. The race went caution free all the way to lap 55 when caution came out for Drew Herring, and all the leaders came down pit road for a pit stop, the #22 of Brad Keslowski had a tire outside of the pit box on this stop and they were put to the back of the field for the restart. They started to battle an overheating problem around lap 100. One interesting fact via the ESPN broadcast of the race was that Brad Keselowski had previously never won a race that he had a pit penalty in. Lap 140 the caution returned for Reed Sorenson's engine expiring, on the restart the #3 of Austin Dillon remained the leader.
 |
| (When I say pit stop in my head I always have this come to mind) |
On to Pocono from last Sunday, which didn't wait too long to throw the first yellow flag. First lap first turn the #42 of Juan Pablo Montoya, the #17 of Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and the #20 of Matt Kenseth all tangled, and Stenhouse wound up with the worst damage from the bunch. The next caution came out just a few laps later for a cut tire, and the scheduled competition caution for lap 20 was canceled.
 |
| Left: Green Track (caranddriver.com) Right: Rubbered in track (pamslife26.blogspot.com) |
The pictures on the left are an example of a green race track (left) vs. a "rubbered in" race track (right). Both are the same race track (Bristol Motorspeedway), and you can see the distinct black color that the concrete will take on as the weekend wears on. The picture on the right is from March after Kasey Kahne's win in the Cup race.
Back to the race! Lap 52 the caution flag flew for the #38 of David Gilliland, and when the race went back to green on lap 58 Brad Keselowski was the leader; however, just one lap later the #5 of Kasey Kahne took the lead. After leading much of the race, the #48 of Jimmie Johnson blew a tire on lap 76 which sent him into the turn 2 wall. Caution flew again on lap 95 for another tire, this time it was the #30 of David Stremme. Kasey Kahne took control of the lead once again at lap 108 on a restart, but 2 laps later the #7 of Danica Patrick, Travis Kvapil, and the #31 of Jeff Burton got together bringing out another caution. Caution didn't fly again until lap 149 (after a round of green flag stops around lap 125) for a piece of debris on the track. Jeff Gordon took the lead on this restart and took off, but a caution for Matt Kenseth's spin in turn 2, gave Kahne another shot, which he took and never looked back winning his 2nd race of the season.
 |
| Photo: msn.foxsports.com |
On to this weekend shall we? Or I should mention the happenings of this week right. The biggest news to come out of this week was from Tony Stewart who has been hospitalized for a broken leg since Monday night. Ouch right?! So Max Papis has taken over the #14 car for Stewart-Hass Racing this weekend in Watkins Glen.
 |
| Photo: racingjunky.bizland.com |
 |
| Photo: Getty Images |
Remember what I said about wrecks
Anyway, tune in for NASCAR Nationwide Series qualifying now on ESPN2 (it's about to go off though), and 11:30 PM EST for NASCAR Sprint Cup Series qualifying which both are being done in groups.
NASCAR Nationwide Series Zippo 200 is on ABC at 2:00 PM EST. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Cheez-It 355 comes on ESPN tomorrow at 1:00 PM EST.
 |
| Photo: pamslife26.blogspot.com |
Y'all have a great day!
Hey everyone!
One of my main passions is in auto racing (y'all may have just learned a little something about me) and I am going to start a thread on this blog dedicated just to that. To let you know another tidbit about myself, I worked in the ARCA Racing Series for 2 years, and my boyfriend worked in ARCA for well over 5 years.
This weekend is full of all kinds of goodies, the NASCAR K&N series and NASCAR Nationwide Series at the Iowa Speedway (wonderful facility if I do say so myself). The Indy Cars are in Ohio at Mid Ohio (a road course), and finally the ARCA Racing Series was in Pocono, Pennsylvania with the NASCAR Sprint Cup, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.
Friday was was a full day at Pocono with NASCAR Sprint Cup Qualifying which resulted with Hendrick Motorsports #48 of Jimmie Johnson on pole for Sunday afternoon's race he will share the front row with Joe Gibbs Racing's #18 of Kyle Busch.
(Photo: cbssports.com)
This track is affectionately called "The Tricky Triangle" and it truly is, but it is such a neat place. When you go there it is almost like going back in time, not much has changed at the track since it opened it seems, in the ARCA garage there is still just one women's bathroom while the men have a whole locker room. By far one of my favorite tracks I ever traveled to.
Yesterday from Pocono the ARCA Racing Series took to the track for the ModSpace 125 won by Corey LaJoie with veteran Frank Kimmel finishing 2nd.
Tonight at 7:30 PM EST tune into ESPN to see the NASCAR Nationwide Series from Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa.
(Photo: racingwest.com)
This track always has a huge crowd at it no matter what series is racing there, and it is a really great town. Newton, Iowa is extremely welcoming to the racing community, we always stayed with a family in their house when we came to town, and from my understanding they host a team every time a series comes to town.
This place always puts on a great show with lots of hard racing under the lights. Friday night the youngest winner in K&N Pro Series history, Cole Custer, won at Iowa Speedway. If you are ever looking for coverage of the series visit speed51.com they cover all kinds of short track racing.
Ever wonder what Pocono looks like....
Both of these were taken in August 2011 the first one was supposed to be our race day; however, as you can see we had a long day watching the rain fall, and the second one was the drive home out of the mountains.
I'll update y'all on the race weekend after everything occurs tomorrow!
Remember to tune in to ESPN at 7:30 PM EST for the NASCAR Nationwide Series from Iowa Speedway, and ESPN at 1:00 PM EST Sunday for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series from Pocono Raceway, and finally NBC Sports at 2:00 PM EST for Indy Racing League from Mid-Ohio.
Follow me on twitter @plsmith2691 for possible updates or check out these racing news websites:
http://www.jayski.com/
http://www.speed51.com/
http://www.catchfence.com/
Y'all have a great night!
One of my main passions is in auto racing (y'all may have just learned a little something about me) and I am going to start a thread on this blog dedicated just to that. To let you know another tidbit about myself, I worked in the ARCA Racing Series for 2 years, and my boyfriend worked in ARCA for well over 5 years.
This weekend is full of all kinds of goodies, the NASCAR K&N series and NASCAR Nationwide Series at the Iowa Speedway (wonderful facility if I do say so myself). The Indy Cars are in Ohio at Mid Ohio (a road course), and finally the ARCA Racing Series was in Pocono, Pennsylvania with the NASCAR Sprint Cup, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.
Friday was was a full day at Pocono with NASCAR Sprint Cup Qualifying which resulted with Hendrick Motorsports #48 of Jimmie Johnson on pole for Sunday afternoon's race he will share the front row with Joe Gibbs Racing's #18 of Kyle Busch.
This track is affectionately called "The Tricky Triangle" and it truly is, but it is such a neat place. When you go there it is almost like going back in time, not much has changed at the track since it opened it seems, in the ARCA garage there is still just one women's bathroom while the men have a whole locker room. By far one of my favorite tracks I ever traveled to.
Yesterday from Pocono the ARCA Racing Series took to the track for the ModSpace 125 won by Corey LaJoie with veteran Frank Kimmel finishing 2nd.
Tonight at 7:30 PM EST tune into ESPN to see the NASCAR Nationwide Series from Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa.
This track always has a huge crowd at it no matter what series is racing there, and it is a really great town. Newton, Iowa is extremely welcoming to the racing community, we always stayed with a family in their house when we came to town, and from my understanding they host a team every time a series comes to town.
This place always puts on a great show with lots of hard racing under the lights. Friday night the youngest winner in K&N Pro Series history, Cole Custer, won at Iowa Speedway. If you are ever looking for coverage of the series visit speed51.com they cover all kinds of short track racing.
Ever wonder what Pocono looks like....
I'll update y'all on the race weekend after everything occurs tomorrow!
Remember to tune in to ESPN at 7:30 PM EST for the NASCAR Nationwide Series from Iowa Speedway, and ESPN at 1:00 PM EST Sunday for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series from Pocono Raceway, and finally NBC Sports at 2:00 PM EST for Indy Racing League from Mid-Ohio.
Follow me on twitter @plsmith2691 for possible updates or check out these racing news websites:
http://www.jayski.com/
http://www.speed51.com/
http://www.catchfence.com/
Y'all have a great night!
Today is the day that we have all been waiting for, the 2012
Gatorade Duels at Daytona. The last day
for those outside the field for the Daytona 500 to make it in. These are the races that make dreams come
true, or can shatter the hopes of many.
The starting lineups for the Duel races are set by
qualifying positions from last Sunday.
Carl Edwards starts in the pole position for the first race while Greg
Biffle starts on the pole position for the second race. The rest of the field for these two races are
split by owners points from the previous season. All odd-numbered points positions, in the top
35, are placed into the first race and all even-numbered points positions are placed
in the second race. If the driver was
not in the top 35 at the end of last season, they are split between the two
races. Once the two fields are
determined, the actual starting lineups are based upon the time trials from
Sunday. Are you confused yet?
To make things simple the starting lineup for Duel race
number 1 is as follows:
|
Position
|
Car #
|
Driver
|
Sponsor/Manufacturer
|
|
1
|
99
|
Carl Edwards
|
Fastenal Ford
|
|
2
|
88
|
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
|
Diet Mountain Dew/ National
Guard Chevy
|
|
3
|
9
|
Marcos Ambrose
|
Stanley Ford
|
|
4
|
6
|
Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
|
Ford EcoBoost Ford
|
|
5
|
21
|
Trevor Bayne
|
Motorcraft/ Quick
Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford
|
|
6
|
14
|
Tony Stewart
|
Office Depot/ Mobile 1 Chevy
|
|
7
|
43
|
Aric Almirola
|
Smithfield Helping
Hungry Homes Ford
|
|
8
|
27
|
Paul Menard
|
Menards/ Peak Chevy
|
|
9
|
34
|
David Ragan
|
Scorpion Truck
Bedliners Ford
|
|
10
|
22
|
AJ Almendinger
|
Shell Pennzoil Dodge
|
|
11
|
2
|
Brad Keselowski
|
Miller Lite Dodge
|
|
12
|
29
|
Kevin Harvick
|
Budweiser Chevy
|
|
13
|
31
|
Jeff Burton
|
Catipillar Chevy
|
|
14
|
42
|
Juan Pablo Montoya
|
Target Chevy
|
|
15
|
30
|
David Stremme
|
Inception
Motorsports Toyota
|
|
16
|
1
|
Jamie McMurray
|
Bass Pro Shops/ Tracker Boats
Chevy
|
|
17
|
10
|
Danica Patrick
|
GoDaddy.com Chevy
|
|
18
|
32
|
Terry Labonte
|
C&J Energy Ford
|
|
19
|
40
|
Michael Waltrip
|
Aaron’s Dream
Machine Toyota
|
|
20
|
11
|
Denny Hamlin
|
FedEx Express Toyota
|
|
21
|
98
|
Michael McDowell
|
KLOVE/ Curb Records
Ford
|
|
22
|
83
|
Landon Cassill
|
Burger King Toyota
|
|
23
|
38
|
David Gilliland
|
MHP/ Power Pak
Pudding Ford
|
|
24
|
37
|
Mike Wallace
|
Poynt.com Ford
|
|
25
|
7
|
Robby Gordon
|
MAPEI/ Menards/
SPEED Energy Dodge
|
|
|
|
|
|
In this first race Trevor Bayne, David Stremme, are locked
into the field based upon their qualifying times if needed, and Terry Labonte
is locked into the field upon a past champion provision if needed. The finishing order of this race will set the
inside line for this Sunday’s Daytona 500 while the finishing order of the
second Duel will set the outside line.
The top two finishers that are among the non-top-35 teams race their way
into the 500.
Also in this race Michael McDowell, Mike Wallace, and Robby
Gordon are not locked into the 500 field based upon their qualifying times, so
these drivers will be trying to race their way into the 500. In this race Michael Waltrip could make the
field either by his qualifying speed, if one of the drivers locked in races
their way into the 500.
The starting lineup for Duel race number 2 is as follows:
|
Position
|
Car #
|
Driver
|
Sponsor/ Manufacturer
|
|
1
|
16
|
Greg Biffle
|
3M Ford
|
|
2
|
13
|
Casey Mears
|
GEICO Ford
|
|
3
|
24
|
Jeff Gordon
|
Drive to End Hunger
Chevy
|
|
4
|
56
|
Martin Truex Jr.
|
NAPA Auto Parts Toyota
|
|
5
|
55
|
Mark Martin
|
Aaron’s Toyota
|
|
6
|
48
|
Jimmie Johnson
|
Lowe’s Chevy
|
|
7
|
17
|
Matt Kenseth
|
Best Buy Ford
|
|
8
|
29
|
Ryan Newman
|
U.S. ARMY/ Quicken Loans Chevy
|
|
9
|
20
|
Joey Logano
|
The Home Depot
Toyota
|
|
10
|
5
|
Kasey Kahne
|
Farmers Insurance Chevy
|
|
11
|
26
|
Tony Raines
|
Front Row
Motorsports Ford
|
|
12
|
18
|
Kyle Busch
|
M&M’s Brown Toyota
|
|
13
|
09
|
Kenny Wallace
|
American Ethanol Toyota
|
|
14
|
36
|
Dave Blaney
|
Ollie’s Bargain Outlet Chevy
|
|
15
|
51
|
Kurt Busch
|
Hendrickcars.com
Chevy
|
|
16
|
33
|
Elliot Sadler
|
General Mills/Kroger Chevy
|
|
17
|
87
|
Joe Nemechek
|
AM FM Energy Wood
& Pellet Stoves Toyota
|
|
18
|
78
|
Regan Smith
|
Furniture Row Racing Chevy
|
|
19
|
47
|
Bobby Labonte
|
Kroger Toyota
|
|
20
|
97
|
Bill Elliott
|
AM FM Energy Wood & Pellet
Stoves Toyota
|
|
21
|
93
|
David Reutimann
|
Burger King Toyota
|
|
22
|
23
|
Robert Richardson Jr.
|
North Texas Pipe Toyota
|
|
23
|
49
|
JJ Yeley
|
America Israel
Racing Toyota
|
|
24
|
15
|
Clint Bowyer
|
5-hour Energy Toyota
|
In this race Tony Raines is the only non-top-35 driver
locked in based upon his qualifying time from Sunday. Kenny Wallace and Dave Blaney could make the field
based on their qualifying speed, if one of the drivers who are already locked
in race their way into the 500, or could race their way in. Joe Nemechek, Robert Richardson Jr., and JJ
Yeley must race their way in to make the field for the Daytona 500.
In the second race, Clint Bowyer’s qualifying time from last
Sunday was disallowed for failing post qualifying inspection, so he will start
at the back.
Both races should be exciting with lots of pack racing, and
close the close finishes that Daytona is known for, so tune into the SPEED
Channel at 2 PM EST to see how the field is set for the Daytona 500.
