Motorsports FanHouse

NASCAR Start Times Uniform in 2010

Geoffrey Miller — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Daytona Int'l Speedway, NASCAR Media Watch, Sprint Cup

Beginning with the 2010 Daytona 500, NASCAR fans won't have to deal with much variation in terms of start times for Sprint Cup races.

NASCAR and its three television broadcast partners announced Wednesday that they are moving to a uniform -- and often earlier -- drop of the green flag for races in 2010. It boils down simply to three options: East Coast races will start at 1 PM ET, West Coast races at 3 PM ET and night races at 7:30 PM ET.

Brian France, NASCAR's chairman and CEO, said the decision ultimately came down to going with what the fans wanted.

"Our core fans want to start watching NASCAR earlier in the afternoon," said France, referring to a focus group that NASCAR uses involving over 12,000 fans. "We haven't been as consistent as we can."

NASCAR calls the focus group its "Fan Council," and said that half of those fans were unclear when races would start and two-thirds requested earlier start times on Sundays.

Twenty races will start at 1 PM ET in 2010, six at 3 PM ET and nine at 7:30 PM ET in 2010. One race, the Coca-Cola 600 during Memorial Day weekend, will still start at 5:45 PM ET. Overall, 28 races will start at an earlier time from 2009.

The new start times are really a return to the past for NASCAR, after one TV partner, FOX, tried to increase ratings and visibility by pushing the finishes of races deeper into prime time. For example, the Daytona 500 in 2009 started around 3:40 PM ET -- some three and a half hours later than the 2000 version started. It will return to a 1 PM ET start in 2010.

FOX Sports Chairman David Hill -- his network carries the season's first 13 races with Daytona included -- acknowledged that while trends in television point to higher ratings with later starts, it didn't work well with NASCAR.

"I think we started to tinker with something we shouldn't have," said Hill. "I'll put my hand up and say, 'guilty.' "

Television ratings have been lower for several races in 2009. Does Hill think this switch will flip those around in 2010?

"I expect the ratings to drop next year," said Hill. "I think what you're going to see is an increase ratings for the Chase."

Hill attributed his assumptions to fans getting a better feel for the time schedule as the season moves on.

The listed start time is often a confusion for many fans because the television networks often list the time for start of the pre-race show. In 2010, that won't be true. A 1 PM start time will mean the pre-race invocation will start at that moment, with the green flag dropping 15-20 minutes thereafter.

While it wasn't a factor in the decision, the earlier start times should also have a positive effect on races that feature weather problems.

"It will give us more flexibility if rain should occur," said France. "We did have, especially earlier in the year, quite a bit of challenge with rain. Having more daylight, time to get events in, definitely will be an added benefit. It certainly wasn't the reason that we all did this but it will have an added benefit."

Had this been implemented in 2009, race fans would have seen an entire Daytona 500 (it was shortened due to rain) and they may have seen the Watkins Glen race on a Sunday instead of a Monday after rain swept in. Track drying efforts were thwarted by darkness.

Don't expect the changes to be a temporary grab at elevating ratings for 2010.

"We're not in this for the short term, but we are in this for long term," said FOX's Hill. "We believe firmly by making this move, it's going to give us long term ratings growth, because we're giving the fans what they want."

NASCAR Start Times Uniform in 2010 originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 17:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Last-Lap Dramatics Bump Busch, Give Stewart Victory at Daytona

Holly Cain — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 01:45:00 EST

Filed under: Kyle Busch, Tony Stewart, Daytona Int'l Speedway, Sprint Cup, Stewart-Haas Racing

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- The celebratory Fourth of July pyrotechnics going off along the backstretch following Saturday night's NASCAR race at Daytona International Speedway were nothing compared to the last-lap fireworks show minutes earlier on the frontstretch.

Two-time NASCAR champ Tony Stewart muscled his way by Kyle Busch about 100 yards before the finish line -- holding his line as Busch tried to block him. Ultimately, Stewart was able to get his nose in position for the pass. When Busch tried to stop Stewart's final push, the two cars collided and Busch's car spun out, hitting the wall and paving the way for Stewart to capture the victory.

The accident collected a half-dozen cars behind him as Stewart, Jimmie Johnson and Denny Hamlin zipped by to the checkered flag.

Busch climbed out of his mangled Toyota, which was resting in the infield, and walked angrily down pit road toward Stewart's car, which was on its way to victory circle. Two NASCAR officials intercepted Busch, each taking one arm and physically guiding him into a NASCAR vehicle for a trip to the infield care center.

Busch refused to comment after the race but was seen and cleared by the medical staff. He finished 14th.

While in his No. 14 Burger King Chevy driving to Victory Lane, Stewart was almost apologetic, telling his crew in the radio, "That's not the way I wanted to do this, but I did all I could do.''

The finish was as predictable as it was spectacular.

Tony Stewart Photos

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - JULY 04: Tony Stewart, driver of the #14 Burger King Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 51st Annual Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 4, 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Geoff Burke/Getty Images for NASCAR)

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DAYTONA BEACH, FL - JULY 04: Tony Stewart, driver of the #14 Burger King Chevrolet, leads Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Office Toyota, to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 51st Annual Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 4, 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

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DAYTONA BEACH, FL - JULY 04: Tony Stewart, driver of the #14 Burger King Chevrolet, leads Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's/Kobalt Tools Chevrolet, to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 51st Annual Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 4, 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

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DAYTONA BEACH, FL - JULY 04: Tony Stewart, driver of the #14 Burger King Chevrolet, leads Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Interstate Batteries Toyota, and Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Office Toyota, during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 51st Annual Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 4, 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR)

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DAYTONA BEACH, FL - JULY 04: Tony Stewart, driver of the #14 Burger King Chevrolet, leads Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Interstate Battereis Toyota, during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 51st Annual Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 4, 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR)

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DAYTONA BEACH, FL - JULY 04: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Office Toyota, leads Tony Stewart, driver of the #14 Burger King Chevrolet, Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Interstate Batteries Toyota, during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 51st Annual Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 4, 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

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DAYTONA BEACH, FL - JULY 04: Tony Stewart, driver of the #14 Burger King Chevrolet, leads Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Interstate Batteries Toyota, during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 51st Annual Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 4, 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

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DAYTONA BEACH, FL - JULY 04: Tony Stewart, driver of the #14 Burger King Chevrolet, leads Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Interstate Batteries Toyota, Matt Kenseth, driver of the #17 R&L Carriers Ford, and Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's/Kobalt Tools Chevrolet, during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 51st Annual Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 4, 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

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DAYTONA BEACH, FL - JULY 04: Tony Stewart, driver of the #14 Burger King Chevrolet, leads Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Interstate Batteries Toyota, and the field during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 51st Annual Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 4, 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

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It is what we've come to expect in restrictor-plate racing here, and at the series' other restrictor-plate track in Talladega, Ala. where a similar bump and go at the checkered flag sent a car flying into catch fence this past April.

It's the nature of the beast -- close-quarter, pack racing.

"I just saw two guys seeing the checkered flag in front of them, that's all that happened,'' said third-place finisher Hamlin, who was just behind the collision.

Race runner-up Johnson agreed.

"It's just (restrictor) plate racing and we're damned if we do and damned if we don't,'' Johnson said. "Tony didn't mean to dump him. They were racing. It's restrictor-plate racing.''

Even Busch's own crew chief Steve Addington conceded, "I can't say anything. ... I'm not pointing any fingers at Tony. He was trying to win the race, Kyle was trying to block him for the win and we got turned around.''

Unlike at Talladega, where eight fans suffered minor injuries from flying debris off Carl Edwards' airborne car, the hardest hit Saturday was to pride.

Stewart and Busch were teammates at Joe Gibbs Racing last year and even worked together on the restarts throughout Saturday's race. And it probably didn't help Stewart's conscience any when the crowd cheered as Busch's car was driven away on a flatbed tow truck. Busch is the series' newly designated black hat, Stewart the former.

"You don't want a race decided like that,'' said Stewart, who picked up his second victory for his new namesake team, Stewart-Haas Racing and now leads the championship by a comfortable 180 points over Jeff Gordon. "I know it takes a lot of work to get a car to the race track. And maybe I don't feel as much gratification for winning this race as I should.

"I don't want any part of winning a race because the guy leading wrecked. But I don't know that we did anything wrong.''

Certainly few people other than Busch, his family, girlfriend and fan club would argue with that. Few doubt that Busch would have tried the same thing if the situation had been reversed. But here was Stewart, NASCAR's one-time tough guy, lamenting a victory that everyone else felt he deserved.

"Even if it was 100 percent his fault, I still don't feel good about it,'' Stewart said. "Maybe I am being hard on myself, I just don't like the way it ended up.

"But it's a product of the environment. He did what he had to do and I did what I had to do.''

Stewart will keep the trophy, the paycheck and the championship points. And maybe Sunday morning he'll wake up and give himself some credit and a break. He led a race-high 86 of the 160 laps and his pit crew put him out first in line after all seven pit stops.

Stewart also said he planned to get in touch with Busch this week so the former teammates can speak and move on.

"It's important to talk to him,'' Stewart said in a soft, reflective tone. "His opinion matters to me.''

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DAYTONA BEACH, FL - JULY 04: Jeff Gordon, driver of the #24 DuPont Chevrolet, pits during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 51st Annual Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 4, 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jeff Gordon

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DAYTONA BEACH, FL - JULY 04: Dale Earnhardt Jr, driver of the #88 National Guard/AMP Energy Chevrolet, speaks to the media in the garage after wrecking his car during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 51st Annual Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 4, 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Dale Earnhardt Jr

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DAYTONA BEACH, FL - JULY 04: Kasey Kahne, driver of the #9 Budweiser Dodge, pits during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 51st Annual Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 4, 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Kasey Kahne

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A fireworks display is seen over the infield of the speedway after the NASCAR Coke Zero 400 auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla., Saturday, July 4, 2009.(AP Photo/Glenn Smith)

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - JULY 04: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's/Kobalt Tools Chevrolet, pits during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 51st Annual Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 4, 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jimmie Johnson

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DAYTONA BEACH, FL - JULY 04: A general view of the American Flag stretched across the tri-oval prior to the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 51st Annual Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 4, 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

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DAYTONA BEACH, FL - JULY 04: Jeff Gordon, driver of the #24 DuPont Chevrolet, pits during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 51st Annual Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 4, 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Jeff Gordon

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DAYTONA BEACH, FL - JULY 04: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Interstate Batteries Toyota, leads Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's/Kobalt Tools Chevrolet, during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 51st Annual Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 4, 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Kyle Busch;Jimmie Johnson

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DAYTONA BEACH, FL - JULY 04: Dale Earnhardt Jr, driver of the #88 National Guard/AMP Energy Chevrolet, drives to pit road after colliding with carsduring the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 51st Annual Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 4, 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Dale Earnhardt Jr

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DAYTONA BEACH, FL - JULY 04: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Office Toyota, pits during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 51st Annual Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 4, 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Denny Hamlin

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In his post-race press conference, the formerly volatile Stewart readily acknowledged this kinder, gentler version of himself was perhaps a product of maturity and team ownership.

"I don't want to disappoint you guys that much, I want to try to help out with as many good articles as I can,'' Stewart sarcastically joked with reporters who suggested he had mellowed.

"I don't know, the last couple years it just seems like we pick our battles a little differently. I think honestly, owning a race track and owning race teams has been a really big part of helping me understand the big picture. ... it was probably inevitable.

"I still enjoy the same things, I just don't get as riled up. ... Now with that hopefully you guys will let me put the past behind me. I'm enjoying my new role.

"I've still got the same passions and dreams and desires, maybe there's just not the low sides that go with it anymore. It's kind of neat to be in that position.''

Last-Lap Dramatics Bump Busch, Give Stewart Victory at Daytona originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sun, 05 Jul 2009 01:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Daytona's 'Big One' Takes Earnhardt Out Of Race Early

Holly Cain — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 22:45:00 EST

Filed under: Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Kasey Kahne, Daytona Int'l Speedway, NASCAR Crashes, Hendrick Motorsports

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- The "Big One," a 13-car accident at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday night took out fan favorite Dale Earnhardt Jr. before NASCAR's Coke Zero 400 was even halfway complete.

The accident on the backstretch was triggered when Kasey Kahne's Dodge tapped David Stremme's Dodge from behind. Eleven more cars were collected, including Earnhardt and his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon -- both truly innocent victims of the smoky melee.

Earnhardt, the 2001 winner of this race, entered the weekend needing a good run, acknowledging Friday that his championship chances are dwindling. He was 285 points behind 12th place Juan Pablo Montoya entering the night. Only the top 12 drivers qualify for NASCAR's version of playoffs and there are only eight more races before the championship field is set.

"I guess there were a couple of guys going for the same piece of real estate and I tried to stay high, '' an obviously disappointed Earnhardt said. "The National Guard Chevrolet was just getting going. I thought we had a shot of getting up there and mixing it up with the leaders. ''

Gordon's Chevrolet was able to continue, although badly damaged. Their teammate Mark Martin was involved in an accident on lap 14 and the fourth member of the Hendrick stable, Jimmie Johnson, was a top-five car all evening, ultimately finishing second.

Earnhardt ended up being credited with 39th place and dropped two positions in the standings to 21st - 356 points behind new 12th place driver Kasey Kahne.

Daytona's 'Big One' Takes Earnhardt Out Of Race Early originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sat, 04 Jul 2009 22:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mayfield Says He'll Return Next Week

Holly Cain — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 18:27:00 EST

Filed under: Daytona Int'l Speedway, Sprint Cup

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Embattled driver Jeremy Mayfield released a statement two hours before the start of Saturday's NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Daytona International Speedway, thanking fans who have stood behind him and promising to do everything possible to make next week's race in Chicago.

"Last Wednesday's ruling by Judge Mullen was a giant step towards clearing my name and getting the 41 Car back on the track,'' Mayfield said. "For those who know me well, there is nothing in the world that I would rather do than race for you all on the Fourth of July.

"Following Judge Mullen's ruling, we had less than 24 hours to prepare the car, assemble a team, get sponsorship and travel to Daytona. Ultimately, we were unable to get this done in time ... We've decided that our time is best spent back here in North Carolina working around the clock to try and secure the funding needed to get the 41 Car to Chicago and beyond.''

Mayfield, who was suspended indefinitely from NASCAR on May 9 after failing a drug test, had that suspension lifted by a federal judge Wednesday allowing him to compete while litigation pends with Mayfield and NASCAR. Mayfield had argued he needed the emergency injunction permitting him to race because that is his livelihood and many expected that meant he intended to try to qualify for Saturday's race here.

Mayfield has insisted he did not use methamphetamine as the drug test indicates. However, many of his fellow competitors say they worry about the message this judge's ruling sends. NASCAR Chairman Brian France said Friday that the sanctioning body may appeal the judge's ruling.

"To say that the last two months have been two of the worst months of my entire life is an understatement,'' Mayfield said. "The only event I can think of that brought me even greater pain was the loss of my father in 2007.

Mayfield continued, "We've been watching on television and reading online about the 'Storm Clouds Over Daytona' and the 'Mayfield Media Circus'. Honestly, this is the last thing Shana or I want for anybody.

"This weekend shouldn't be about a questionable drug test or a flawed drug testing system. It should be about celebrating our country; the greatest country in the world. So, enjoy the weekend with your friends and family, and have a very Happy Independence Day. We look forward to seeing you all at the track very soon.

"Thanks again for keeping us in your hearts and prayers."

Latest NASCAR Images

Jim Burrows serves up his homemade chili to fellow race fans in the infield prior to the start of the NASCAR Coke Zero 400 auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla., Saturday, July 4, 2009. (AP Photo/Reinhold Matay)

NBA basketball player Vince Carter answers questions at a news conference at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla., Saturday, July 4, 2009. Carter, of Daytona Beach, will drive the pace car for the Coke Zero 400 auto race. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)

Race fans gather on top of makeshift platform on a truck bed waiting for the start of the NASCAR Coke Zero 400 auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla., Saturday, July 4, 2009.(AP Photo/Reinhold Maytay)

Brent Hawkins jokes with other race fans in the speedway infield prior to the start of the NASCAR Coke Zero 400 auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla., Saturday, July 4, 2009.(AP Photo/Reinhold Matay)

Max Angelelli (10), of Monaco, takes the checkered flag in a Ford Dallara to win Brumos Porsche 250 auto race ahead of second-place finisher Alex Gurney (99) in the Pontiac/Riley at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla., Saturday, July 4, 2009. (AP Photo/David Graham)

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - JULY 04: Max Angelelli (L) and Brian Frisselle (R), drivers of the #10 SunTrust Ford Dallara, celebrate winning the Rolex Grand-Am Sports Car Series Brumos Porsche 250 at Daytona International Speedway on July 4, 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Geoff Burke/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Max Angelelli;Brian Frisselle

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Race fans, from left to right, Rob and Katie Conklin, Brent Polick, Don and DeeDee Gibson and Cheryl Keese, all of Jacksonville, Fla., cool off in a pool before the start of the NASCAR Coke Zero 400 auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla., Saturday, July 4, 2009.(AP Photo/Reinhold Matay)

Steve Burke, a Matt Kenseth fan and fellow Wisconsin native, wears a cheeshead hat while watching a sports car race prior to the NASCAR Coke Zero 400 auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla., Saturday, July 4, 2009.(AP Photo/Reinhold Matay)

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - JULY 04: Kyle Busch, driver of the #02 Chip Ganassi Racing with Felx Sabates Waste Management, races during the Rolex Grand-Am Sports Car Series Brumos Porsche 250 at Daytona International Speedway on July 4, 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Geoff Burke/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Kyle Busch

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Mayfield Says He'll Return Next Week originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sat, 04 Jul 2009 18:27:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Daytona Trackside: Earnhardt and Petty

Holly Cain — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 14:41:00 EST

Filed under: Carl Edwards, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Daytona Int'l Speedway, Chase for the Sprint Cup

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Catching up on the news and notes trackside at Daytona International Speedway.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. met with reporters briefly Friday and seemed pretty much resigned to the fact that he won't be making the 12-driver Chase for the Championship this season. He's currently ranked 19th, 285 points behind 12th place Juan Pablo Montoya with nine races remaining before the Chase field is set Sept. 12.

"It's going to be a real challenge for us to make the Chase,'' Earnhardt said. "We're still mathematically in it but we're not trying to catch just one guy. .. we're trying to catch four or five guys. And it's unrealistic to expect all them guys to have enough trouble.

"For us to top-ten 'em to death ain't gonna get it done. So we've got to run better and even though we have improved it seems, we still need to get better and be able to compete."

Earnhardt, who has 12 wins at Daytona International Speedway (counting all series races), conceded that getting to victory circle is the more pressing goal right now. That would give his team and new crew chief Lance McGrew the kind of momentum it needs for the off-season.

"At the end of the year when you're done racing at Homestead and you've run the last lap and you get out of the car, what kind of feeling do you want to have?

"The one I want to have is that we've fixed it. We've got something that we can feel good about and work on and get all our stuff ready for next year and feel like we can go in and get the job done.

"Right now, that's not how we feel as a team.

"We want to have some wins and some consistency and end the year going,'all right, can't wait 'til next year.' ''

*Lost in the all breaking news and controversy regarding embattled driver Jeremy Mayfield is the good news that the first inductees have been nominated for the soon-to-open NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte.

A voting panel will select five people from the ballot, which includes a long list of stock car pioneers from NASCAR founder Bill France Sr., to the original moonshiner runner Junior Johnson to legendary champions Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt to accomplished team owners such as Richard Childress.

It's pretty obvious that that first inductees will have to include France and Petty but there are several schools of thought on who should make the inaugural class beyond those two men.

"If I was doing it, I'd take some from the 1950s, 60s then go to next level,'' Petty said Friday. "I would put the people that got NASCAR started, the people that planted the seed. Then the people that came along next.

"It's going to be a tough decision on the Bill Frances do you put one in or both of them? I would look at history, the people that really got it started. ... If you're not careful you're going to start putting personalities in. ... You have to be careful not to make it a popularity contest.''

*In honor of the 25th anniversary of Petty's 200th and final NASCAR Cup win, which came in this race, the icon will drive the pace car prior for the Coke Zero 400.

"They're going to start me in the front and I haven't got a restrictor plate,'' Petty joked with reporters. "When they throw the flag and I'm getting ready to lap them, they'll throw the flag and I'll come in like a 'start and park' car.

"It really brings back a lot of good memories. This is a very special deal.''

*With rain cancelling Sprint Cup qualifying Friday for the fifth time and shortening three races this year, NASCAR has been under the gun to consider time changes for race starts - specifically, making it more uniform.

The National Football League, for example, starts its Sunday games at 1 and 4 every week. Fans can count on it and schedule their day around the games. As it is now, NASCAR has 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. starts.

Driver Kyle Busch said he'd be in favor of setting earlier, more definitive race times.

"Definitely, for sure,'' Busch said. "With the way NASCAR runs now you need a TV program or you're all confused. If it's a night race, start it at 7 and if it's a day race, 1 or 2. If you're on the West Coast, start it there at 10 a.m."

*After his car went airborne into the catch fence along the front grandstands at Talladega, Ala. in April, Carl Edwards crawled out of the mangled mess, ran across the finish line and then told the television audience that restrictor plate racing might end up killing someone.

In the days after the race, Edwards backed off the strong comments, but many others called for a change in rules that would better prevent the kind of last lap melee that has the potential to send cars airborne endangering the driver and spectator.

Many others felt the incident - when eventual winner Brad Keselowski bumped Edwards from behind - was just a racing incident - severe, but one-of-a-kind and a consequence of the sport.

Edwards moved to block Keselowski from passing him and the two cars collided sending Edwards Ford into the grandstands, where six people were injured from flying debris.

Edwards said at Daytona this week that he really hasn't thought much of the wreck in months and was completely comfortable for Saturday's restrictor plate 400-miler at Daytona.

"Honestly, I've had wrecks that were worse feeling than that by far,'' Edwards said. "That one was pretty wild and the potential for something bad to happen was maybe a little higher.

"If I had to do it over again, I think it would end up probably the same way. At least I'm aware more of the fact that, hey, there's something that can happen that I hadn't thought of before.

"It's funny. In racing you forget about those wrecks quick and then you go do the same stupid stuff again and again.''

Edwards Roush-Fenway Racing teammate said that the calls to change rules or car components as a reaction to the crash weren't really practical.

"Change it to what?'' Kenseth asked. "That's the question.

"Everybody's like, 'the rules have got to change.' They'll (NASCAR) say, what to you guys want to change it to? and then everybody's like, 'I don't know.'

"Certainly the wreck that he (Edwards) had and even me being upside down that Saturday at Talladega, those are the guys that are probably going to make the comments.

"I just don't know what you do. ... You're going to have wrecks, no matter what the package was.''

Daytona Trackside: Earnhardt and Petty originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sat, 04 Jul 2009 14:41:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NASCAR Chairman Gives 'Midseason State of the Sport' Speech

Holly Cain — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 19:19:00 EST

Filed under: Daytona Int'l Speedway, Sprint Cup

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- NASCAR Chairman Brian France addressed the media Friday afternoon in the infield of Daytona International Speedway and insisted that despite the downturn in the economy, sagging television ratings and lagging attendance, he considers the sport to be relatively healthy - competitive racing and compelling championships trumping the downsides.

"Everyone would like to point to me that the world is crumbling,'' France said. "I'm not telling you it's not difficult, it is. But we try to keep things in perspective. Lots of people would like to have our problems.''

And then France tackled the hot topic of the weekend here in Daytona -- a federal judge's decision Wedneday to lift NASCAR's suspension of driver Jeremy Mayfield, who failed a drug test in May.

"We don't just go laying the hammer down and ruining someone's career,'' France said emphatically. "We know what it means to anyone to get such a positive test back ... we are very comfortable that the test is accurate and reliable and will hold up, ultimately, when all of the facts are heard.''

France spent nearly an hour with a rapt audience including NASCAR President Mike Helton and Director of Competition Robin Pemberton, conducting his annual "mid-year update" and answering questions from the national racing press. Predictably, the majority of attention focused on the Mayfield saga and drug testing.

Here are excerpts from France's press conference.

On the economic outlook for NASCAR:
"There seems to be a bit of optimism in the broader economy and we are seeing that with better attendance in some places where we might have expected to do a little worse. So that's a good thing. The tracks have responded across the board to try to add value to our fans knowing how difficult it is with all of the things they are facing, losing their job, or the fear of that and all that means.''

On the tough times for auto manufacturers:
"We have been waiting and frankly, very much as we should, being a good partner with them through their own very very difficult restructuring and bankruptcies ... it is a painful reminder that no one is immune from difficult times.

"We were hoping in that particular case to be one of the last programs they would consider cutting and we were, but as it turns out they were in position where they had to make some changes across all of their programs.''

On the court ruling, reinstating Mayfield to competition:
"Our first responsibility, despite the ruling on Wednesday or any ruling, will always be that we are going to make sure every way we can that everyone who is driving these race cars is of clear mind.''

On whether NASCAR will appeal Wednesday's ruling:
"There are more than one way to work the appellate process. We will be looking at those options and acting as quickly as we can.''

On his reaction that Mayfield did not enter his team at Daytona despite pleading with the court that he needed emergency relief to be at this race:
"I'm probably like a lot of people. When I hear the word emergency, I think of urgency and really needing to do something. So the fact they didn't bother to show up, you can make of that what you will.''

On the evolution of NASCAR's new mandatory drug testing:
"We took a long time to review how to best go about that. ... We looked at all of the things that you would expect us to look at, the NFL's policy, USOC's. ... remembering that we had to have the toughest policy because we have the most to lose if something, if one of our players in on the field or on the track impaired.''

On the existence of a list of banned substances:
"There is a list and it's not limited. It's a long list, many, many pages long because there are scientific descriptions of all these substances. ... It's a very detailed list. ... But there's not one list you can pull out, there can't be one list by the definition of our program.

"We focus on impairment and impairment can come from the terrible drugs that are banned and are illegal in society to a misuse of a prescription.''

On the potential for new manufacturers to join the series:
"Our policy and our views haven't really changed. Some of the opportunities for a new manufacturer to come into NASCAR probably have changed. We have been talking -- and we have routinely -- because we are open, as we demonstrated with Toyota ... that under the right approach that's unique to NASCAR for a manufacturer to come in and compete at one of our national divisions. ... I do see more interests because there's more opportunity.''

On future of the Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series:
"Given the circumstances of the economy, they are relatively healthy. Sponsorship could be better, of course, but is okay. And the racing is great. The truck series has felt more pain for sure because they lost a big area of support from the manufacturers that was in all of their trucks.

"Last year we responded by trying to have a lot of cost-cutting measures for the teams and that's been effective. We have had full fields of trucks and a lot of people think that's some of the best racing they see."

NASCAR Chairman Gives 'Midseason State of the Sport' Speech originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 19:19:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NASCAR Cup Qualifying Rained Out, Stewart on the Pole

Holly Cain — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:50:00 EST

Filed under: Tony Stewart, Daytona Int'l Speedway, Sprint Cup

Tony Stewart picked up his third rain-out pole position of the season Friday afternoon at Daytona International Speedway. He'll start the No. 14 Burger King-sponsored Chevrolet first in Saturday night's Coke Zero 400 by virtue of leading the championship standings. Rain washed out qualifying so the starting order reverts back to the season rankings.

Hendrick Motorsports teammates Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson will start second and third.

"We weren't going to be third, I know that,'' Johnson said with a smile. "We'll take the track position, it is so important where you start and to take advantage of that all day long.''

Max Papis and Mike Wallace were among those outside the top-35 in the standings who ended up on the end of the circumstance and will miss the race. This is the fifth time this season and third time in the last five Sprint Cup races that qualifying has been cancelled because of bad weather.

NASCAR Cup Qualifying Rained Out, Stewart on the Pole originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jeremy Mayfield a No-Show at Daytona

Holly Cain — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Kasey Kahne, Ryan Newman, Daytona Int'l Speedway, Sprint Cup

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Jeremy Mayfield did not bring his race team to Daytona International Speedway Thursday, despite getting the go-ahead from the U.S. District Court in Charlotte on Wednesday.

Mayfield, an owner-driver in NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series, was suspended indefinitely by NASCAR on May 9 after allegedly testing positive for methamphetamine on May 1. He has repeatedly denied that he took the illegal drugs, insisting the test was a false positive -- the result of mixing a prescription drug and a common allergy medication.

Mayfield has sued NASCAR over the test results, and Wednesday U.S. District Judge Graham Mullen ruled he could compete until his trial, saying the damage to Mayfield's reputation and career exceeded the potential damage done to NASCAR.

More Coverage: Drivers Welcome Stricter Testing

Mayfield had until 3 p.m. ET on Thursday to officially enter his team for Saturday night's Coke Zero 400, but he did not show up at the speedway. NASCAR official John Darby was posted by the garage entrance checking his watch.

A pair of team owners reportedly rebuffed Mayfield's offers to drive for them, so it remains unclear if Mayfield is planning on competing any time soon. He could potentially still show up this weekend and drive for another team.

Because of the suspension and ensuing negative publicity, Mayfield's own single-car team has struggled securing financial backing and sponsorship, forcing him to lay off at least 10 crew members. Even before the suspension, Mayfield had qualified for only five of the first 11 races.

Drivers in the garage had mixed reaction about sharing the race track with Mayfield. Most weren't ready to concede NASCAR's point even if the judge gave Mayfield a reprieve. According to court documents, both Mayfield's primary and second samples tested positive for methamphetamine.

"The judge didn't say the result [of the drug test] is wrong, he said it can be questioned,'' said veteran driver Jeff Burton.

"If and when he comes back, NASCAR has every right to test him as many times as they want to. The only problem is, it's not an instant test.

"From Jeremy's perspective, if the judge ruled it can be questioned, it should be questioned. ... But he's [the judge] potentially putting my safety in question.""I have no idea how Jeremy got out of this one, but he did."
-- Kasey Kahne

Like many competitors, Kasey Kahne, Mayfield's former teammate at Evernham Motorsports, had particularly strong feelings about the situation on Thursday prior to practice for Saturday's race. Few were willing to give Mayfield "the benefit of the doubt."

"I'm not concerned about my safety. More than anything, I wonder how this happens and how he get backs back on track after it,'' Kahne said. "Everybody out here wants to race and they want to race hard and race people that are in the same state of mind that you're in. If people are into other things, they should go do those things by themselves and not be on a race track going 200 mph with other racers.''

"I have no idea how Jeremy got out of this one, but he did.

"As far as racing with Jeremy, I don't ever race with him. He's usually at one end of the track and I'm at the other.''

Driver Ryan Newman was similarly concerned about the potential of going door-to-door with Mayfield or anyone who has tested positive for drug use.

"The situation we had when someone tests positive is something to be seriously considered and when you release someone to go back and do that without clarifying everything, that's not cool,'' driver Ryan Newman said.

"People make mistakes. I just hope the judge didn't make a mistake.''

NASCAR Chairman Brian France is scheduled for a "mid-season update" press conference on Friday and will address the issue.

Jeremy Mayfield a No-Show at Daytona originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Drivers Welcome Stricter Drug Testing

Holly Cain — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:29:00 EST

Filed under: Daytona Int'l Speedway, Sprint Cup

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Some drivers said Thursday they've noticed a change in NASCAR's drug testing procedure: A more detailed, formal process since Sprint Cup owner-driver Jeremy Mayfield was suspended indefinitely for failing a random drug test on May 1.

"When I went at the start of the year, it was go in, take your sample, sign your name and basically walk out,'' Kasey Kahne said, "It was a five, 10 minute process. ... Now it's every step, you have to initial every step through the process. It seemed like it took 40 minutes in Sonoma (two weeks ago).''

Kurt Busch said he hasn't been tested since Mayfield's suspension took effect but welcomed the news.

"If they have made changes, I'm glad it's more formal,'' Busch said. "It seemed informal in the beginning."

NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said Thursday that there hasn't been a change in procedure but that the Aegis Science Corporation, the laboratory that conducts the tests for NASCAR, is simply getting more validation throughout the actually process.

The validity of NASCAR's new drug testing is exactly what Mayfield is contesting after NASCAR claimed both his A and B samples tested positive for methamphetamine. He filed a lawsuit against NASCAR disagreeing with the results and blamed the "false positive" on a mix of a prescription drug for ADHD and over-the-counter allergy medication.

A U.S. District Court judge ruled issued a temporary injunction Wednesday, lifting Mayfield's suspension until the court decides the matter. NASCAR could appeal the injunction but hasn't so far.

It was understandably a hot topic Thursday as teams arrived at Daytona International Speedway for Saturday's Coke Zero 400. Mayfield hasn't shown up at the track, but his presence is being felt as drivers and team members debate the judges ruling and ponder how to prevent this kind of thing from happening again.

"I agree with it (judge's ruling) only if Jeremy Mayfield or anyone that has tested positive for drugs can be tested soon enough, often enough, to ensure that he can never be on the race track at a time he would test positive for drugs,'' said driver Jeff Burton.

"I consider Jeremy a friend of mine, but 72 hours from him being on the race track, if that's how long it takes to get a result, then he should be tested again. And 24 hours after that, he should be tested again. I don't consider that harassment.

"I deserve to 100 percent know that he is 100 percent clean.

Burton added, "We have to make sure that you're assumed innocent and we have to make sure that we're doing everything in our power to return the proper result.

"It's okay to go that extra mile to do that. I think that was done, but it's in question somehow and NASCAR is going to have to look at what is being questioned and why is it being questioned and figure out the best way to close that up because we can't go through this every time there's a positive test.''

Denny Hamlin said he hasn't been tested since Mayfield's suspension but insisted he already had the utmost confidence in the procedure.

"They do a good job of verifying it's clean and everything - they do everything but stand there and hold it for you,'' Hamlin said, then adding with a laugh, " the cup, the cup.''

Drivers Welcome Stricter Drug Testing originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:29:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ryan Newman Live Chat from Daytona

Holly Cain — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Greg Biffle, Ryan Newman, Daytona Int'l Speedway, Sprint Cup

Join driver Ryan Newman trackside at Daytona International Speedway Friday at 3 PM ET for a live chat with FanHouse readers. Newman, who drives the No. 39 U.S. Army-sponsored Chevrolet for Stewart-Haas Racing, is ranked seventh in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship. The 2008 Daytona 500 winner enters Saturday night's Coke Zero 400 with eight top-10s, and his best showing in Daytona's summer race is 11th. This is your chance to catch up with one of the season's biggest success stories.

Also, 2003 Daytona race winner Greg Biffle, driver of the No. 16 3M Ford Fusion, will join FanHouse for a live chat at 3 PM ET on Saturday.

Chat with Ryan Newman after the jump.

&lt;a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php?option=com_mobile&amp;task=viewaltcast&amp;altcast_code=6b31cec6e4" &gt;Ryan Newman Live Chat&lt;/a&gt;

Ryan Newman Live Chat from Daytona originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NASCAR Implements Double-File Restarts for Nationwide Series

Holly Cain — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: Daytona Int'l Speedway, Nationwide Series

Noting the "excitement" double file restarts have added to NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series racing in the past month, NASCAR has decided to institute the format in the Nationwide Series as well, effective next week in the Subway Jalapeno 250 at Daytona International Speedway.

"Double-file restarts -- shootout style will add to even more close competition in our series. ... and the format will also help give us more standard restarts every time," Nationwide Series Director Joe Balash said Friday in announcing the change.

The move comes as little surprise to the competitors or teams, who have seen the format enthusiastically received in the Cup ranks.

"There are going to be times it hurts you, but I think more often than not, it is going to be a benefit,'' said driver Jason Leffler. "I'm looking forward to it and I think the fans are going to love it!''

Under the new rules, all restarts in the race will feature two lines of cars with the first and second place cars starting alongside each other and the race leader holding the option of starting on the inside or outside lane. In the previous format the lead lap cars would restart in a single file line and the lapped cars would start in a line next to them.

NASCAR Implements Double-File Restarts for Nationwide Series originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Fri, 26 Jun 2009 18:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rain Floods Daytona Speedway

Geoffrey Miller — Fri, 22 May 2009 10:11:00 EST

Filed under: Daytona Int'l Speedway, Sprint Cup

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CONCORD, N.C. - No, there's no racing at Florida's Daytona International Speedway this weekend, but that hasn't stopped the rain from putting the home of the Daytona 500 in the spotlight.

As of Friday morning, the National Weather Service monitoring station at the Daytona International Airport (which sits just outside the 2.5-mile track's backstretch) had recorded some 18.54 inches of rain in the month, with over 17 inches of that coming in the last few days.

The substantial precipitation has created some amazing sights at the track as the infield lake has flooded onto the backstretch and the infield access tunnels have been nearly filled to their brim.

Track officials, however, have commented that the rain has yet to produce serious damage to the facilities at the track and have decided not to release photos with the feeling that the residential areas around the track deserve more attention.

ESPN.com's David Newton talked with track spokesman Andrew Booth about the matter.

"It's a significant amount of water, but all it is, is water," Booth said. "We have people living around the speedway and in Flagler County with water in their homes. We believe that is more pressing than water in our tunnel.

The photo above came from a Flickr account, and a few more images exist there showing how the water has risen on the inside of the backstretch almost halfway up the SAFER barrier. The water there seems to have risen out of the infield man-made Lake Lloyd along the track's backstretch that was dug out for the dirt used to create the track's high banks. Nearly 10 feet of water is also shown inside the turn one infield tunnel.

"What happened will not affect what happens in July," said Booth.

Rain Floods Daytona Speedway originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Fri, 22 May 2009 10:11:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blame NASCAR's Scheduling, Not Weather, for Daytona Finish

Holly Cain — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: A.J. Allmendinger, Clint Bowyer, Elliott Sadler, Kevin Harvick, Matt Kenseth, Daytona Int'l Speedway

A friend from Denver -- a new NASCAR fan -- called up the morning after the Daytona 500 disappointed and feeling like he got short-changed.

He said stopping the race 48 laps short felt like watching an NFL game being played in bad weather with the referees just deciding whoever was ahead in the third quarter got the win.

As I explained to him -- and as Daytona 500 winner Matt Kenseth has unfortunately felt obligated to explain on every talk show appearance he's made since earning his first 500 trophy -- everyone knows the game and Kenseth's team simply played it best.

Every crew chief had the same access to the weather reports and knew rain was on the way. And since the race was well beyond the 101 laps (halfway plus a lap) needed to make it official, it was time to mash the pedal.

And that's exactly what Kenseth, Kevin Harvick, A.J. Allmendinger, Clint Bowyer, Elliott Sadler and the rest of the top-finishing drivers did. It's called strategy.

NASCAR's problem is getting that message out to new fans or those casual observers that tune in to the biggest races such as the Daytona 500, but don't follow the sport regularly.

Could NASCAR have waited out the rain shower and re-started the race?

As one reporter cynically noted, a couple of FOX's biggest hit shows, "The Family Guy" and "The Simpsons" were on deck anyway. And we know modern day NASCAR is all about what works best for network TV. Clearly, a rain delay didn't.

But maybe the point isn't how the race ended, but when races begin.

NASCAR should have the flexibility to start these races sooner. When bad weather is approaching, speed up driver introductions, run fewer pace laps and nix part of the pre-race entertainment or commercial time-outs. Ninety percent of the fans are there by driver intros and TV could shorten its pre-race show.

Ironically, NASCAR may have to deal with this again this week in Southern California, which is getting deluged with rain.

The late starting times are one of the worst moves NASCAR has made in recent years. For decades, fans could count on a 1 p.m. Sunday afternoon start -- and the consistency was vital in building the fan base and audience.
But like the Daytona 500, this week's race in Fontana, Calif. is a 3 p.m. local start -- 6 p.m. EST. Only two of the 36 races will begin before 2 p.m. -- 10 will be night races.

NASCAR won't be changing its schedule any time soon, so in the meantime, don't begrudge Kenseth his Daytona win.

There may be a lot more decided this way.

Blame NASCAR's Scheduling, Not Weather, for Daytona Finish originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Tue, 17 Feb 2009 17:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tempers Boil After Junior's Daytona Dare

Holly Cain — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 20:20:00 EST

Filed under: Brian Vickers, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Daytona Int'l Speedway, NASCAR Crashes, Sprint Cup

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. was the talk of the Daytona 500 once again.

Only this time it was all about a punt, not a pass.

Contact between his Chevy and Brian Vickers' Toyota on Lap 125 took out eight other cars -- including the race leader -- and left some of his competitors questioning the fairness of how NASCAR doles out penalties.

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More Coverage: Daytona 500 Results | Kenseth Wins | Junior Triggers Crash

"He hit me the first time on the way down, which is fine, we all do that," Vickers said. "Then when he came back up, he just hooked me in the left rear and typically NASCAR penalizes. ... I guess they're not going to penalize him for that."

Earnhardt denied he was intentionally wrecking anyone, instead claiming that he was just trying to regain control of his car after Vickers blocked his pass and forced his car down the race track.

"Penalize me? For what?" asked Earnhardt. "I got run into and sent down below the yellow line. What the hell am I supposed to do? Stay down there? No.

"I got to get back up on the race track. ... It was unfortunate man. If he wasn't so damn reckless, we would have never had that problem, that would never happen.

"As far as I'm concerned, it is all his responsibility," added Earnhardt, who stayed in the race and finished 27th.

"I don't hate it for him, but for everybody else that got wrecked."

Those collected in the accident weren't as understanding. Especially Kyle Busch, who was leading the race at the time, led a race-best 88 laps and insisted he was "100 percent" confident in winning.

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DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 07: David Ragan, driver of the #6 UPS Ford, spins into a gravel pit during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway on February 7, 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** David Ragan

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DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 07: A view of cars racing during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway on February 7, 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR)

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NASCAR driver David Ragan talks with reporters as he leaves the infield care center after he was involved in an accident during the NASCAR Budweiser Shootout auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla., Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009.(AP Photo/John Raoux)

"Some guys having some bad days and not doing their best made their bad day, our bad day," said Busch, who ended up 41st. "It's just a shame. That M&Ms Toyota was so, so strong today and led all those laps. It was just unfortunate that two guys got together that were a lap down and were fighting over nothing."

Busch didn't buy Earnhardt's explanation either.

"I'm not really very surprised (Earnhardt made the move), but it doesn't matter -- it could be anybody out there," Busch said.

"It's not very difficult to ease back in, you just roll out of the throttle and fall back in line," he said.

There was precedent for a penalty. NASCAR handed Jason Leffler a 5-lap penalty in Saturday's Nationwide Series race here for causing a very similar incident. In that case, however, they deemed Leffler's move as aggressive driving.

And actually Earnhardt did receive a penalty in the race. Officials held his car for one lap after his tire was slightly on the line, therefore the car not technically in the pit box during a stop. He was trying to make up that lap when he was racing Vickers for position.

Ironically, the only race Vickers has won in the Cup Series was at Talladega, Ala. in 2006 -- and he took the checkered flag after spinning out the leader Jimmie Johnson -- then his teammate at Hendrick Motorsports.

Then, as in Sunday's incident, Vickers maintained he was within his rights of competition.

"I think I was doing what I had to do," Vickers said. "That's superspeedway racing. You watch your mirror and try to keep the guy behind you, behind you.

"People blocked me the whole race. ... but I don't just hook them in the left rear and turn them in front of the field. I don't think that's an excuse to do that.

"Everybody has their own opinion I guess."

Tempers Boil After Junior's Daytona Dare originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sun, 15 Feb 2009 20:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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After Rain, It's Matt Kenseth in Daytona

Geoffrey Miller — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 20:11:00 EST

Filed under: Matt Kenseth, Daytona Int'l Speedway, Sprint Cup

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- It wasn't a full race, but for the driver from Cambridge, Wisc., it's still the Daytona 500.

Matt Kenseth, driver of the No. 17 Roush Fenway Racing Ford, won the rain-shortened 51st running of the Daytona 500 Sunday night after NASCAR stopped the event 48 laps from the scheduled distance.
"Just to win a race after our season last year -- I didn't know if we were ever going to be able to do that again," said Kenseth. "To win the Daytona 500 is unbelievable.

It was both Kenseth's and team owner Jack Roush's first victory in NASCAR's biggest race.

Roush wasn't quite ready to overcome years of frustration in NASCAR's biggest race.

"We've been here for more than 20 years trying to do this thing," Roush said after the race. "I even got so conditioned for being frustrated through it that I was almost not believing that it would happen. I will be black and blue for the next couple of days from pinching myself just to make sure I'm not dreaming."

The win for Kenseth also was a dream for the No. 17's crew chief Drew Blickensderfer, who called his first race for Kenseth on Sunday. Batting 1-1 has Blickensdorfer pondering his future.

"I'm thinking if we don't win the first practice at California, it's a failure," joked Blickensderfer in the post-race press conference.

Kyle Busch, though, has to be thinking his time at Daytona became a failure in the final three days of Speedweeks at the east Florida track. Busch failed to convert on last lap passes for the win in Friday night's Camping World Truck Series race and Saturday's Nationwide Series race.

Sunday, he led 88 laps with one of the most dominant cars in the field before being taken out in multi-car accident in Turn 3. Afterwards, Busch was not pleased with Dale Earnhardt Jr., who started the melee after contact with Brian Vickers on the backstretch.

"Some guys having some bad days and not doing their best made their bad day, our bad day," said Busch.

NASCAR called the race on lap 152, 17 minutes after they brought the cars down pit road thanks to the red flag being displayed after rain showers descended on the track. The rain -- which had been forecasted for a few days -- finally arrived after 6 p.m./EDT, roughly 2.5 hours after the start of the race.

The quick ending stranded several drivers in the pack after others gambled heavily to chance into a Daytona 500 win. Tony Stewart (he led 15 laps), Jeff Gordon (14 laps) and Mark Martin (1 lap) all were charging back through the field and likely would have battled Kenseth and others for the win.

Instead, Stewart finished 8th, Gordon 13th and Martin 16th. Surprisingly, Jimmie Johnson had mediocre outing in his first race back from winning three-straight NASCAR titles with a 31st-place finish.

The rest of the Top-5 was 2007 winner Kevin Harvick, A.J. Allmendinger, Clint Bowyer and Elliott Sadler. David Ragan, Michael Waltrip, Stewart, Reed Sorenson and Kurt Busch ronded out the Top-10.

Pole-sitter Martin Truex Jr. was never much of a factor and finished 11th.

Stay with FanHouse for more updates from the week of FanHouse in Daytona.

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After Rain, It's Matt Kenseth in Daytona originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sun, 15 Feb 2009 20:11:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Live Updates From the Daytona 500

Tom Mantzouranis — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 16:25:00 EST

Filed under: Daytona Int'l Speedway, NASCAR Fans, NASCAR Live Blogging

The cars are in motion, and Geoffrey Miller is in Daytona, following all of the action of the Daytona 500.

You might not be getting the full live experience, the roar of the engines, the drama in the air, but you can follow Geoffrey's updates live from the race with FanHouse's Twitter (after the jump) and be closer to the track than anywhere else on the Internet. Lead changes, wrecks, weird sights in the stands -- none of it is off-limits for Geoffrey.

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Live Updates From the Daytona 500 originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sun, 15 Feb 2009 16:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FanHouse Warmup: Daytona 500

Geoffrey Miller — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 10:15:00 EST

Filed under: Daytona Int'l Speedway, Sprint Cup

The Essentials

Race: 51st Daytona 500

Where: Daytona Int'l Speedway
Time: 3:00 PM/EDT (Green: 3:40pm)
TV/Radio: FOX Sports, MRN Radio
Forecast: Rain, Clouds, High of 68
Distance: 200 laps (500 miles)
Pole Sitter: Martin Truex Jr.
'08 Winner: Ryan Newman

The Storylines

Starting the season with the Super Bowl looks like an incredibly smart idea at the moment. Thanks to an economy that has forced the NASCAR world to talk about the economy, NASCAR racing needed to come back strong from an offseason mired with questions.

And boy, will Sunday's race be the ultimate -- even if its just short term -- antidote for what ails most of the racing world and the rest of the country. The race should feature a ton of drivers with great chances to win and there will certainly be many dramas and storylines that playout through the whole day.

Its often questioned by those both in and outside of the sport as to why NASCAR starts its endless season of racing with its premiere event, it's "Super Bowl of Racing" as its often called.

Sure, it probably makes sense to build up a season to its ultimate pinnacle in every other sport, but come on, would you really want to be tuning in Sunday to watch a race from California's Auto Club Speedway?

Yes, it's raining in Daytona this morning and it looks like we're going to at the least have some delays for today's race.

I would like to get on NASCAR, and more precisely, it's television partner FOX Sports for pushing the start time of this race into "Prime Time" by starting this event at 3:40pm, but today, the track will have been wet much earlier than the traditional 12:15pm start time.

Luckily, we've got lights here and the forecast and radar is showing that the later we go in the day, the better chance we have to get 500 miles in. Let's hope that happens -- I've got a flight back home early Monday morning.

Valentine's Day for Tony Stewart and Goodyear didn't produce much Saturday after Stewart's teammate Ryan Newman blew a tire -- actually, make that exploded a tire -- in turn two of the final practice for the 500. The ensuing wreck also snared Stewart's No. 14 and forced both cars to backup cars.

Each will start at the rear of the field with Stewart racing in the car that took second place in last Saturday night's Budweiser Shootout. Newman, on the other hand, will be racing Stewart-Haas Racing car number 39-452 -- a car that has an interesting story behind.

Because Newman destroyed his primary car during the Gatorade Duels on Thursday, he was already racing a backup. The car for Sunday's Daytona 500 rolled off the No. 39 hauler on Saturday as a No.14 Office Depot car for Stewart.

The team wasn't able to get the car back on track for the final practice, but it will be completely wrapped for Sunday in Newman's U.S. Army colors and have the No.39 emblazoned on the side.

Joey Logano's Daytona debut might not be amazingly impressive, but you've got to remember that this rookie is still 18-years-old.

Sympathy, though, doesn't mean his teammates will be waiting around to help push him through the pack on Sunday.

"If he gets his car driving better and can keep up -- then we'll work with him," said Busch. "If you can't keep up in this draft -- and with all these guys -- then you can't waste time trying to help a teammate that's hurting your performance."

On Friday, neither Busch or Denny Hamlin -- who Saturday said he had the "strongest car out there" -- took part in the scheduled practice session, but Busch got in Logano's No. 20 Toyota for a few laps to help the rookie driver get up to speed.

Keith Urban Lite showed up Saturday evening on the infield grass of the Daytona tri-oval. Urban -- a country music star who I, unabashedly, consider to have played the single-best concert I've seen -- is scheduled to perform four songs during FOX's pre-race show for both the television and the now sold-out at-track audience.

In order to pull the production off with hundreds of flag-waving and dancing people to add to the show, a rehearsal took place as dusk set in Saturday night. And so Urban's band performed, but Keith apparently wasn't around to for the preparations.

That left a guitarist with a singing ability that wasn't exactly Urban's to fill in as FOX's camera crews tested out the camera angles for the performance.

Let's just say you'll be happy that Urban will be the front man on Sunday.

The Race

As is the norm in the restrictor plate era of NASCAR racing at both Daytona and Talladega, the field of drivers who have a legitmate chance at winning the race is quite numerous.

In that same breath, though, that number of potential winners can shrink dramatically thanks to one bad errenous move by a single driver that sets off "The Big One" -- a crash that has been known to take out 10 to 20 cars at one time.

Throw in knowing that minor aerodynamic damage to the body of the car can cause major handling issues and the pressure these drivers feel in the season's biggest race, and the Daytona 500 nearly always brings the cream to the top.

Sunday, we'll have 43 drivers racing in temperatures and track conditions that will be noticably different than the previous four days of on-track activity, with tires that have become somewhat of question for a small number of teams and multiple cars that have been strong for all of Speedweeks here in Daytona.

And, oh yeah, the last two years have been a two-lap green-white-checkered finish.

Let's just say anything can, and probably will, happen Sunday at Daytona.

The Predictions

While we know that anything can happen, as racing experts (OK, just Holly is the racing expert) we still feel a need to "call" who will find the checkered flag on Sunday. Here's our picks:

Geoffrey Miller - Kyle Busch (Surprise winner: Jamie McMurray)

Holly Cain - Jeff Gordon (Surprise winner: Kasey Kahne)

Enjoy the race. We'll see you back here at FanHouse for plenty of post-race coverage.

FanHouse Warmup: Daytona 500 originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sun, 15 Feb 2009 10:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Daytona '79... NASCAR's Greatest Day?

Holly Cain — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 05:00:00 EST

Filed under: Daytona Int'l Speedway

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Today marks the 51st running of the Daytona 500.

But for most Americans, NASCAR's green flag really dropped 30 years ago in the 1979 Daytona 500 when television carried flag-to-flag coverage of the sport's biggest race for the first time.

It was a dramatic finish -- Richard Petty edging Darrell Waltrip with the great Indy car champion A.J. Foyt keeping them honest. But it was "The Fight" going on in the infield after the race that captured the country's attention.

Donnie Allison and Cale Yarborough were settling an on-track dispute next to their crumpled race cars when Bobby Allison stopped by to defend his younger brother's honor and give him a ride back to the garage.

"Cale said something about my family heritage and then hit my fist with his face,'' as Bobby Allison likes to explain.

The photos are classic -- showing the three men wrestling while officials tried to separate them, legs and fists flying, fire in their eyes. And there's great footage of the whole afternoon in the just released Paramount Pictures DVD, "The Ride of Their Lives", a NASCAR documentary narrated by actor Kevin Costner that sets up the historic nature of the whole day, not just the last lap.

"The race itself was an incredible finish,'' said current Sprint Cup Series driver Jeff Burton, "but I don't remember much about the race other than that last lap."

Most people forget it was Dale Earnhardt's first Daytona 500 and Petty's sixth victory. Even today, Foyt feels he could have won if not for slowing too soon when the caution flag flew for the Allison-Yarborough accident.

The drama and passion could not even have been scripted that well. And thanks to a snowstorm in the Eastern U.S., it all played out for a captive audience.

"Basically all the planets lined up,'' said Ken Squier, who anchored the ABC broadcast that day.

And NASCAR did not disappoint.

"That single event could possibly be credited as the No. 1 thing that got this sport to where it is today,'' said four-time champ Jeff Gordon.

For sure, that single Sunday afternoon introduced millions of potential converts to the drama and the danger of NASCAR's brand of racing and proved the sport wasn't just a regional phenomena but a compelling weekly story for all.

"I think that was one of the most important times for our sport,'' said NASCAR champ-turned ESPN race analyst Dale Jarrett.

"We're in a good time right now. And even though it's very difficult for a lot of people, we have the opportunity. .. to kind of bring some good things to people. We can bring some pretty good stories. .. at least for three and a half, four hours, help people get away from the bad things.''

Daytona '79... NASCAR's Greatest Day? originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sun, 15 Feb 2009 05:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blown Tire Puts Daytona in Chaos for Stewart-Haas Racing

Holly Cain — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 12:31:00 EST

Filed under: Ryan Newman, Tony Stewart, Chevrolet, Daytona Int'l Speedway

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- It's pretty much the worse case scenario for the Stewart-Haas Racing debut.

Defending Daytona 500 winner Ryan Newman's Chevrolet blew a tire in the final minutes of practice for Sunday's Daytona 500 and the wreck collected the car immediately behind him - his team owner, Tony Stewart.

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More Coverage: Stewart Rebounds to Win Nationwide Race | Saturday Notes

"Don't get them (Goodyear) anywhere near me," said Stewart, who described his emotions as "ticked, not nice and not cordial" as his crew worked feverishly to prepare his car.

"It's frustrating because the gold and blue caused another deal. I'm so tired of talking about Goodyear. Apparently this is their marketing strategy to get publicity."

Both drivers will have to go to a back-up car for the biggest race of the year - for Newman, it's his third car of the week. Stewart had earned the fifth starting position for the 500 but now will have to join Newman in a back-up at the rear of the 43-car field.

Stewart returned to the track to get in a couple laps of practice, Newman's car wasn't ready.

"If it was a driver's mistake that's one thing," Stewart said, "but a manufacturer that's got the sole deal. ... they don't have any competition, they can't give us something to keep us from having problems like this?"

"I'm just amazed how much everybody kisses their butt right now."

This isn't the first time Stewart has been disappointed with Goodyear. He's perhaps the garage's most vocal critic of NASCAR's sole tire supplier, and has often had good reason. Last year the tires were so dysfunctional at the series Indianapolis Motor Speedway race, officials had to throw caution flags every handful of laps for safety concerns.

Earlier Saturday, Goodyear recalled eight right side tires from eight Cup teams.

The force of the right rear tire failure yesterday essentially blew off the right rear side on Newman's No. 39 Chevy. The tire had less than a dozen laps of use.

"The car was handling well, everything was fine," Newman said. "It gave me about 100 yards of sign that it might do something.

"It's ridiculous the situation we have with these tires."

After examining the tire, Stu Grant, Goodyear's General Manager of Worldwide Racing, said the evidence clearly shows a puncture in the tire indicating that Newman's car ran over debris on the race track, versus a structural tire problem.

"The tire did no show excessive wear, it did not show any evidence of heat, blistering or abuse of any kind," Grant said. "What we did find was a clear puncture through the tread and both belts in one of the pieces we found."

Grant said he wasn't entirely surprised to hear Stewart's comments, especially in this situation.

"But we're focused on doing the best possible job we can at all levels of involvement in the sport," Grant said. "It can be frustrating for us to hear that criticism, but we also understand it's got to be extremely frustrating for him to experience what he did today.

"I do want to talk to Tony and I do plan to talk to Tony."

NASCAR Wives and Girlfriends

Kevin Harvick and his wife Delana arrive at the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Awards Ceremony at The Waldorf Astoria on November 30, 2007 in New York City.

Brad Barket, NASCAR / Getty Images

NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson kisses his wife, Chandra, after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship for the third consecutive year on Sunday, Nov. 16, 2008, in Homestead, Fla.

Terry Renna, AP

Jeff Burton and his wife Kim, left, share a light moment in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Bank of America 500 auto race at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., Saturday, Oct. 11, 2008.

Chuck Burton, AP

Juan Pablo Montoya and his wife Connie Freydell pose on the red carpet prior to the Juan Pablo Charity Gala hosted by Juan Pablo Montoya, Fonseca, Fanny Lu, Angela Patricia Janiot, Silvia Tcherassi, Camilo Vellegas and United for Colombia at Karu & Y on November 16, 2007 in Miami, Florida.

Doug Benc, Getty Images

Race car driver Sam Hornish Jr. (L) and wife Crystal Hornish arrive at the 3rd annual GM All-Car Showdown held at Paramount Pictures on July 11, 2006 in Hollywood, California. The GM All-Car Showdown is a charity-driven event celebrating the hottest modified GM vehicles, where athletes and celebrities compete for the King of Bling title.

Mark Davis, Getty Images

Actress Ashley Judd and IRL driver Dario Franchitti arrive at the 2007 ESPY Awards at the Kodak Theatre on July 11, 2007 in Hollywood, California.

Frederick M. Brown, Getty Images

Ingrid Vandebosch (L) and race car driver Jeff Gordon arrive at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala, Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy, held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 5, 2008 in New York City.

Stephen Lovekin, Getty Images

A.J. Allmendinger, driver of the #84 Red Bull Toyota, celebrates with his wife Lynne Allmendinger after winning the NASCAR Sprint Showdown on May 17, 2008 at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina.

Rusty Jarrett, NASCAR / Getty Images

Samantha Sarcinella and Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&Ms Toyota prior to the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series LifeLock.com 400 on July 12, 2008 at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois.

Rusty Jarrett, NASCAR / Getty Images

Greg Biffle, driver of the #16 Aflac Ford, poses for a photo with his fiancee Nicole Lunders as he celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series LifeLock 400 at Kansas Speedway on September 30, 2007 in Kansas City, Kansas.

Jerry Markland, NASCAR / Getty Images

Blown Tire Puts Daytona in Chaos for Stewart-Haas Racing originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sat, 14 Feb 2009 12:31:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Todd Bodine Wins Daytona Truck Race; Canadian Fitzpatrick Leads, Takes 4th

Geoffrey Miller — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 23:44:00 EST

Filed under: Kyle Busch, Daytona Int'l Speedway, Camping World Truck Series

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Todd Bodine became the first driver to win multiple NASCAR Camping World Truck Series events at Daytona International Speedway Friday night, but a 20-year-old Canadian driver nearly stole the show.

J.R. Fitzpatrick -- a contender for 2009 Rookie of the Year in the Truck Series -- led 17 laps late in the event before finishing fourth in his first ever NASCAR restrictor plate race after making just three starts in 2008.

He might have even led the most important one had the race been scheduled for a few more miles.

Fitzpatrick took the lead on lap 71 of the 100 lap event while the race was under caution, and when the green flag came back out, he led a single-file pack of trucks with Kyle Busch's Toyota drafting closely off his bumper.

After the race, Fitzpatrick talked about the novelty of seeing Busch -- a racer he's watched on television -- in his rear-view mirror.

"I was going down the straightaway saying 'This is sooo cool," said Fitzpatrick with a laugh. "I watch Kyle Busch, you know, all these guys, every weekend."

That, Fitzpatrick said, led to a heavy dose of nerves.

"I was really nervous on the first restart," said the native of Ontario. "But then I said if I'm going to keep being nervous, then I'm probably going to end up screwing up. I calmed myself down, focused on keeping it at the bottom."

Fitzpatrick got shuffled back somewhat after getting passed by Busch and Colin Braun, but was able to make up ground after his team was one of a few that opted for fresh tires during a debris caution that left six laps to go. From there, Fitzpatrick drafted back to his fourth-place finish.

As for Bodine, though, his second-straight win in the Truck Series season-opener got off to an ominous start.

First, Bodine was black-flagged by NASCAR for driving below the yellow line -- something NASCAR enforced very strictly -- for a pass-through penalty during green flag conditions. Later, he tapped the rear-end of James Buescher coming out of the tri-oval, setting off the race's biggest crash of 9 trucks.

However, Bodine battled back in his unsponsored Toyota to finish off the night by leading the final 11 laps and holding off a charge by Kyle Busch heading into Turn 3. Busch got a run on Bodine down the backstetch and slammed his rear bumper, barely loosening up Bodine's truck but killing the momentum of Busch's No. 51.

After the race, he called the move a mistake.

"I guess the last lap I screwed up once again this year," Busch said. "Last year, I did the same thing - can't time it right, can't get the timing going. I keep planning the last five laps in a row to try to get it. Thought I had an idea about it."

"Again, screwed up this year."

Fortunately, Busch has two more races this weekend at Daytona to make up for his mistake.

Todd Bodine Wins Daytona Truck Race; Canadian Fitzpatrick Leads, Takes 4th originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Fri, 13 Feb 2009 23:44:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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