Motorsports FanHouse http://motorsports.fanhouse.com Motorsports FanHouse http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/media/feedlogo.gif Motorsports FanHouse http://motorsports.fanhouse.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Stewart, Montoya Tangle in Finalehttp://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/11/22/stewart-and-montoya-tangle-in-dramatic-nascar-finale/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/11/22/stewart-and-montoya-tangle-in-dramatic-nascar-finale/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/11/22/stewart-and-montoya-tangle-in-dramatic-nascar-finale/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- Tony Stewart and Juan Pablo Montoya positioned themselves for a grand finale in NASCAR's Sprint Cup season-ender at Homestead Miami Speedway on Sunday. Montoya was set for a career-best points finish, with Stewart enjoying a great debut effort for his own new team.

Instead of finishing on a high note, the two veterans engaged in a spirited battle of fender-banging that resulted in both losing positions in the final championship standings.

Montoya started it with hitting Stewart's Chevrolet from behind. Stewart retaliated by coming down the race track and spinning Montoya out.

After almost a half-hour in the garage with his team making repairs to his No. 42 Target Chevrolet, Montoya returned to the track and promptly spun Stewart out, resulting in a two-lap penalty for Montoya, and a smashed-up car for Stewart.

Neither would comment after the race. However, Stewart's crew chief, Darian Grubb, approached Montoya's crew chief, Brian Pattie, in the garage after the race and said, "Sorry, dude.''

Pattie said he was dumbfounded how or why the whole dust-up started.

When Montoya made the final retaliation, Stewart came on the radio and said, "He got us,'' and Grubb responded, "Well, we deserved it.''

"We had the car going really good, we were really coming up through the field,'' Pattie said. "The part I'm frustrated with is I don't know how it all happened.

"I'm not mad though because I know where we're going, and we're going in the right direction.''

Grubb was a little more candid in his assessment.

"We weren't thinking about points, we were thinking about winning the race and then both of their common senses went out the window,'' Grubb said.

Stewart ended up 22nd in the No. 14 Office Depot Chevrolet and dropped one place to sixth in the final standings after leading the championship at the end of the regular season. Montoya, the first non-American driver to qualify for the Chase for the Championship, finished 38th Sunday and lost two places in the standings, dropping to eighth in the final points -- still a career best for the former Indy 500 winner and Formula One star.

Sunday's winner Denny Hamlin, who was penalized in Saturday's Nationwide Series race for intentionally spinning out Brad Keselowski, joked afterward that he must have been an "inspiration" to Stewart and Montoya.

"I thought yesterday was worth it to me and maybe they thought today deserved it too,'' Hamlin said.

Stewart, Montoya Tangle in Finale originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>juan pablo montoyaTony StewartHolly CainSun, 22 Nov 2009 20:50:00 EST Ryan Newman Calls Talladega Crash 'Worst Hit I've Ever Had'http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/11/06/ryan-newman-calls-talladega-accident-worst-hit-ive-ever-had/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/11/06/ryan-newman-calls-talladega-accident-worst-hit-ive-ever-had/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/11/06/ryan-newman-calls-talladega-accident-worst-hit-ive-ever-had/#commentsFiled under: , ,

For two mornings this week, Ryan Newman struggled just to lift his head off the pillow to get out of bed, his neck muscles still sore from a frightening airborne smash-and-roll wreck at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway last Sunday.

Even as he suited up Friday to practice for Race 8 of NASCAR's 10-race Chase for the Championship at Texas Motor Speedway, he was still aching from the crash, and bristling that it even happened.

Newman had been outspoken about NASCAR's immediate need to keep the race cars from launching into the air during accidents -- only to take that scary ride himself Sunday afternoon.

So instead of accepting the many interview requests to talk about the accident, a still sluggish Newman met with NASCAR officials at the Research and Development Center Wednesday in Charlotte.

"I was a little surprised at all the people wanting to do interviews, but I don't want to be interviewed because of my crashes, I want to be interviewed for winning,'' Newman said.

"I'm not in this for that kind of publicity. I'd rather meet with NASCAR and figure out a way to make the situation better."

"We talked about two different things, the extrication of myself from the accident scene and secondly, the reason why we're in that position in the first place, which is, to me, more important,'' Newman said.

Footage of the accident has been replayed daily -- even by the network morning shows and outlets that don't normally cover the sport. And it has sparked a lively debate on how to make the restrictor plate races at Talladega simultaneously exciting and safe.

Newman doesn't need to watch video of his accident. He has full sensory recall -- including watching and feeling the sparks shooting by his face because his helmet visor popped open before his car slid upside down along the asphalt track.

"I remember having to pull my visor back down in the middle of everything -- I felt like I flipped 10 times, but it was only three,'' Newman told FanHouse Friday as part of our weekly Inside the Chase Series with the Stewart-Haas Racing driver.

"I was all good until the roll cage came down and hit me. I wasn't ready for that one. It's the worst hit I've ever had.''

As his pit crew watched nervously on television monitors, it took track rescue workers nearly 15 minutes to get Newman out of the car after establishing he was conscious. Newman said one responder held his hand while the others worked to flip the car over and cut the roof off to free him from the mangled No. 39 U.S. Army Chevrolet.

He lost radio communication when the car came to rest upside down, disabling the antennae. But after the car was righted, he was able to radio his crew -- including his father, who spots for him -- and his wife Krissie to assure them he was all right.

"The first guy that got there talked to me and knew I was okay, but you can't properly assess the definition of okay until I'm out of the car,'' said Newman.

"I know (rescue process has) been an evolution, but the evolution is behind. I'm not mad at them, but I want it to be known from a driver's standpoint what can be done to make it better.''

Improving the show for the fans and the safety for the drivers remained a hot topic even as the series moved to the relatively calmer 1.5-mile track outside Dallas for Sunday's race.

Newman, a 2003 winner at Texas Motor Speedway, said he's inclined to agree with championship leader Jimmie Johnson, who suggested this week that altering the track's 33-degree banking is the most realistic option at Talladega.

"That's the easiest thing to do because we need to make it so the drivers have to drive the race car,'' Newman said. "We need it so it's not wide open, at some point we need to lift (off the accelerator) and that will make it better.

"We have crashes all year at every track, but only at Talladega do the cars leave the ground.''

Newman said NASCAR officials assured him Wednesday that they have already begun testing some things to help keep the cars from getting airborne.

"But I don't know that they have tested everything, I don't know if you can test everything,'' said Newman, who holds a degree in engineering from Purdue University.

"The faster you go, the more likely you are to take lift. An airplane takes off at 160 miles an hour. We're going 40 miles an hour above that at times. There's plenty of potential for a car to take lift, whether it's going forwards, backwards or sideways.''

"I talked to them a little about the the extrication of me, about the cars and the process of making all this better,'' Newman said.

"It's too little too late for me, but maybe on time for someone else.''

Ryan Newman Calls Talladega Crash 'Worst Hit I've Ever Had' originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:46:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>NASCARRyan NewmanRyanNewmanTalladega SuperspeedwayTalladegaSuperspeedwayHolly CainFri, 06 Nov 2009 16:46:00 EST Different Day, Same Talladegahttp://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/11/02/different-day-same-talladega/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/11/02/different-day-same-talladega/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/11/02/different-day-same-talladega/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Before Ryan Newman's horrific Talladega flip-roll-smash-and-slide on Sunday, there was Carl Edwards' car somersaulting into the front stretch fencing.

The late Dale Earnhardt had one of his most frightening accidents at Talladega Superspeedway, barrel-rolling through the tri-oval. Before that it was Ricky Craven and Bill Elliott on E-ticket rides. In 1993, driver Jimmy Horton's car flipped over the Turn 1 wall and landed outside the track.

Rusty Wallace's Talladega crash footage -- pick a year -- used to be standard play before any NASCAR restrictor plate race.

The point is -- while there is a justifiable outcry at the scary accident involving Newman this weekend -- spectacular, highlight-reel wrecks here aren't news. They are old news.

News would be if something unpredictable happened, something like. ... nothing.

And then the outrage would be "what a boring finish, what a boring race.''

And many are suggesting that, anyway. Instead of wrecking early and often, now NASCAR's brand of bumper-to-bumper draft racing in the COT produces the completely expected race-ending melee that typically shatters at least one drivers championship hopes and often introduces a dark horse to victory lane.

That's what happened Sunday. And everyone knew it would.

"We go through this every year,'' championship leader Jimmie Johnson said to reporters in his post-race interview. "You guys try to find new ways to have us answer the same question about the restrictor plate racing.

"Yeah, we have the steering wheel, gas pedal, brake pedal and all that kind of thing. But until somebody really has a chance to sit in these cars and understand how tough it is, it's easier to say these things from the outside.

"Inside the car, we're racing. We're doing our thing. We mind our manners during the race, single file and everybody was probably disappointed in that.

"Then we get racing in the end and you have the big wrecks. There is not a new angle. The only way we avoid this is if anybody wants to avoid these big wrecks and this type of racing is to eliminate the need for restrictor plates. That means get the tractors out and knock down the banking."

The question isn't only how to fix it. But do you really want to?

Practically every driver in the 43-car field can offer a plan to "fix" the close-quarter, pack racing that creates multi-car accidents. And the suggestions range from taking off the restrictor plates completely to aerodynamic modifications to adding horsepower.

The irony of Newman's car going airborne and crashing wildly certainly wasn't lost on him. He was the most outspoken driver coming into the race concerning NASCAR's need to keep the cars on the ground.

NASCAR will never be able to completely control drivers' actions behind the wheel, it does at the least need to keep these cars from launching like missiles.

"This is ridiculous,'' an understandably frustrated, but uninjured Newman said after a trip to the infield medical center.

"We don't need the cars getting upside down like this. There is way more technology than that to help us out. Whether it is a speed issue, a roof flap issue, whatever.

"It is a shame that not more is getting done. I guess maybe I expect NASCAR to call me. I am the only guy out there with an engineering degree. I would like to have a little respect on my end.''

Yet all the technical modifications to the car can't ensure against over-aggression, driver error or poor judgment. And that's the bottom line.

Tightening the rules to play by -- as NASCAR did when it warned drivers in the pre-race drivers meeting that it would penalize bumper-to-bumper contact -- may provide a chilling effect and the subsequent single-file parades.

But this remains the only major professional sport where if fans complain loudly enough, the sanctioning body will changes the rules in the name of entertainment.

Bloggers, radio show callers and internet comments indicate people were unhappy with the "show" at Talladega despite the fact there were 58 lead changes by 25 drivers - nearly 20 lead changes occurred before the race's midpoint.

The outcry against this type of racing isn't any different this Monday morning - the outlet is. Thanks to the Internet, we have instant indignation instead of perspective and that drives the news.

The television network morning talk shows invited Newman for interviews - he politely declined on Monday - and showed video of his wreck.

YouTube had the video posted before track workers extricated Newman from his car.

"The race is pretty safe up until the end,'' said Dale Earnhardt Jr., who finished 11th. "You knew that.

"I don't think anybody wants to be out there and involved in what happens at the end. Dodging cars, seeing people flip upside down. Obviously there is something else that needs to be thought about. I am sure NASCAR will figure it out.''

Or maybe, as they say, "it is what it is" at Talladega.

"I hope everyone enjoyed the show,'' Mark Martin said minutes after climbing out of his wrecked Chevy and realizing his now 184-point deficit to Jimmie Johnson is probably a championship deal-breaker.

"Congratulations to (race winner) Jamie McMurray, and that's all I know about the whole race.''

Different Day, Same Talladega originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>ryan newmanRyanNewmantalladega superspeedwayTalladegaSuperspeedwayHolly CainMon, 02 Nov 2009 16:25:00 EST Ryan Newman Blasts NASCAR After Fliphttp://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/11/01/ryan-newman-blasts-nascar-after-flip/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/11/01/ryan-newman-blasts-nascar-after-flip/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/11/01/ryan-newman-blasts-nascar-after-flip/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Ryan Newman flipsRyan Newman left Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday obviously sore and presumably irritated after flipping violently in a late-race crash near the end of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series' AMP Energy 500.

Newman, who was uninjured, was trapped in the car for almost 15 minutes as safety crews cut him out from exactly the type of wreck he had warned NASCAR against after an amazing crash involving him and Carl Edwards at the same track in April. And after being checked out of the infield hospital, Newman didn't hesitate to get on NASCAR again.

"Drivers used to be about to race each other and respect each other," said Newman. "Guys like Richard Petty, David Pearson and Bobby Allison -- all those guys have always done that. I guess they [NASCAR] just don't think much of us [drivers] anymore."
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Jimmie Johnson's Fourth Title in Full View

With five laps to go in the race, Newman got spun sideways on the backstretch before his No. 39 lifted off the ground, flipped on its roof, slid up the track's banking into the retaining wall and slid back down before tumbling multiple times. The car landed on its roof and safety officials were quickly on the scene.

Because they could determine Newman was not seriously injured, workers methodically attached Newman's car to a tow truck to turn it right side up. After gently setting it back on all four wheels, the workers cut away the roof of Newman's car to get him out.

All of this occurred as NASCAR put the rest of the field under the red flag, effectively putting a temporary stop to the race.



As Newman spoke -- he said he was sore -- he looked visibly shaken from the incident.

"I'm just really disappointed," said Newman. "We had the race back here in the spring and I complained about the cars getting airborne. Ironically, I'm the guy who gets airborne. I wish NASCAR would do something. That's not something anyone wants to see.

"It's probably the closest thing to being stuck in a tomb and not being able to get out -- all my body weight was pressed up against my head. ... I respect NASCAR. I just wish they respected me."

Just minutes later after the red flag was withdrawn for Newman's crash -- it included his teammate Tony Stewart, Marcos Ambrose, Kevin Harvick and others -- the race got underway again for a two lap, green-white-checkered finale but made it less than a lap under green before a bigger wreck, and yet another flipping car, ended the race.

Jamie McMurray, driving in his final season for Roush-Fenway Racing, scored the win after being in front at the point of caution after Kurt Busch was turned sideways by April's winner Brad Keselowski off of turn four. Busch's sliding car caught several others in the pack including Mark Martin.

Martin's car was hit in the right-rear, turned sideways, and tumbled across the front-stretch before coming to a stop on its wheels. As Newman did, Martin emerged without injury.

After the race -- one that ultimately left Martin with hardly a shot at catching teammate Jimmie Johnson for the championship thanks to his 28th-place finish (unofficially) -- Martin was quite contrite about the result.

"I just hope everybody enjoyed the show," said Martin.

To make the easy bet, I'd say more than a few -- especially those behind the wheel of crashing cars -- didn't.


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Ryan Newman Blasts NASCAR After Flip originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sun, 01 Nov 2009 16:39:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>ryan newmanGeoffrey MillerSun, 01 Nov 2009 16:39:00 EST David Ragan Wins as Kyle Busch Wrecks At Bristolhttp://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/08/21/david-ragan-wins-as-kyle-busch-wrecks-at-bristol/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/08/21/david-ragan-wins-as-kyle-busch-wrecks-at-bristol/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/08/21/david-ragan-wins-as-kyle-busch-wrecks-at-bristol/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

David RaganBRISTOL, Tenn. (AP) -- David Ragan held off teammate Carl Edwards on a two-lap sprint to the finish Friday night to win the Nationwide Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Edwards settled for second, but shaved 91 points off the commanding lead Kyle Busch brought into the race. Busch, who started the night with a 339-point lead over Edwards, was wrecked by Chase Austin while leading early in the race and finished 28th.

Edwards now trails him by 248 points, and wasn't disappointed to lose to his Roush Fenway Racing teammate.

"We didn't come here to finish second, but he's a great guy, a great teammate," Edwards said. "If you guys don't have a David Ragan hat or T-shirt, you need to go get one. There's no better guy out there."

Brad Keselowski finished third by overcoming his own early accident.

Amid mounting speculation he'll leave Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s Nationwide team next season to drive in the Sprint Cup Series for Roger Penske, Keselowski coincidentally ran into Penske driver Justin Allgaier.

"Just 100 percent my fault," said Keselowski, who declined to comment on his 2010 plans. "I was racing hard. I guess I was racing a little bit too hard."

Austin, in just the fourth Nationwide race of his career, could relate.

The 19-year-old was a lap down when Busch passed Kevin Harvick for the lead. As Busch and Harvick rounded Turn 4, Austin inexplicably cut down the track and directly into Busch.

Replays showed his hand was out the window motioning his intent to move down the track, but he never knew the traffic was on his inside. He was radioing his team to inform them of a tire problem at the exact time his spotter tried to tell him about Busch and Harvick.

"I heard a lot of fans were happy about it - that's how I knew it was Kyle," Austin said of the crowd's positive reaction to Busch wrecking.

Busch needed a few minutes to compose himself inside his team truck, but seemed sympathetic to Austin's error when he finally emerged.

"Real unfortunate that it happened," Busch said. "I've made mistakes too. Chase, I guess, didn't have the spotter telling him the leaders were bearing down. It stinks."

The bizarre accident allowed Edwards to climb back into the championship race, but he said a Busch wreck wasn't how he wanted to chip away at the points lead.

"That was some raw excitement," Edwards said. "That was unexpected. We made up some points, but that's not the way we want to do it."

Kevin Harvick and Matt Kenseth rounded out the top five.

It was only the second NASCAR victory for Ragan, who also won the Nationwide race at Talladega in April. He was thrilled to run up front at Bristol, where he'd never finished higher than eighth in five previous starts.

"We're usually just mediocre here," he admitted.

He had a decent lead over Edwards until debris on the track brought out the eighth caution of the race with eight laps remaining. He selected the outside for the double-file restart, then had to nervously circle around the track as NASCAR waved off the green flag each time Ragan thought the racing was about to resume.

"I felt like a field goal kicker, they kept calling timeouts," Ragan said. "One to go, call it off. One to go, call it off"

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

David Ragan Wins as Kyle Busch Wrecks At Bristol originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Fri, 21 Aug 2009 22:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>David RaganFanHouse NewswireFri, 21 Aug 2009 22:55:00 EST Accident Wreaks Havoc on Jeff Gordon's Ailing Backhttp://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/08/10/accident-wreaks-havoc-on-jeff-gordons-ailing-back/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/08/10/accident-wreaks-havoc-on-jeff-gordons-ailing-back/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/08/10/accident-wreaks-havoc-on-jeff-gordons-ailing-back/#commentsFiled under: ,


The pain was evident in Jeff Gordon's body language Monday afternoon outside the care center at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International where he was given the once-over after being involved in a frightening late race accident.

The resulting 37th place finish tied his worst showing of the season and was only his second finish outside the top-20 since April -- a dismal conclusion to an un-Gordon-like road course outing.

It's a safe bet his No. 24 DuPont Chevy team will rebound in the remaining four weeks before the Chase for the Championship 10-race playoff. The question is, how will his already aching back recover. And will it ultimately affect Gordon's title hopes?
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"It wasn't that hard of a hit, it's just my back can't stand too many hits,'' said Gordon, who had a procedure on his lower back in May to relieve the pain and inflammation from mild arthritis. "I'm hurting.''

"It's just not what I needed you know,'' Gordon added. "You take three or four steps forward up to this point and you then you take a hit like that and you take a couple steps backwards.''

Even the veteran ESPN broadcasters described the lap-63 scene as one of the most violent accidents they'd seen on a road course. The race was red-flagged for nearly 20 minutes while crews cleaned up the extensive debris.

Sam Hornish Jr. was pinched off-course while racing side-by-side with Kasey Kahne. The impact into the tire barrier lifted Hornish's Dodge off the ground and spun it wildly back across the race course into traffic. Gordon had nowhere to go and the cars collided violently, sending Gordon's Chevy head-on into a retaining fence.

"My first reaction was, 'man that hurt,' and then you hope you don't get hit again,'' Gordon said. "Then I just wanted to get out and see what kind of pain I was in with my back. I knew I was hurting and then was wondering if Sam [Hornish] was OK because he took a couple of heavy hits.''

Hornish was okay although that was the second major accident in the course's Turn 9 -- Jason Leffler wrecked there in Nationwide Series practice -- and already there are calls for NASCAR to look into the safety of that portion of the track.

Monday's result cost Gordon points in the title chase, but he's still ranked third, comfortably in the Championship fray. And that may be the only thing comfortable for the four-time Champ this week.

Gordon has said his back is more affected during intense short-track races, not so much at the larger speedways or road courses. Fortunately for Gordon, the Sprint Cup Series races at the 2-mile Michigan Speedway on Sunday before moving to the bump-and-bang Bristol, Tenn., half-mile bullring on Aug. 22.

"Oh man, my left side and my back is super sore,'' Gordon said. "It's going to take probably a couple of weeks for it to heal completely and then we'll be back to new. ... Luckily we've got Michigan coming up next week, it's pretty easy on things. If we were going to Bristol next week, I'd be concerned.''

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NASCAR Crash Photos
Bobby Labonte (96), David Ragan (6) and Joey Logano (20) crash in turn one during the NASCAR Pennsylvania 500 auto race at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa., Monday, Aug. 3, 2009. (AP Photo/Russ Hamilton Sr.)
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    David Liam Kyle, NBAE/Getty Images

    Brazil's Diogo (L) vies for the ball with Paraguay's Hernan Perez during their U-20 South American Championship football match in Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela on February 8, 2009.(Juan Barreto, AFP/Getty Images )

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    Denver Nuggets forward Chris Anderson touches his head during a time out in the first half of their NBA basketball game with the New Jersey Nets in East Rutherford, New Jersey February 7, 2009. (Ray Stubblebine, Reuters)

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    Margarita Marbler, of Austria, skis to a bronze medal finish the ladies moguls freestyle FIS World Cupskiing qualification at Cypress mountain in West Vancouver, British Columbia, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009. (Jonathan Hayward, The Canadian Press/AP)

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    West Virginia guard Darryl Bryant (25) is fouled by Providence guard Jeff Xavier (1) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Morgantown, W.Va. Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009. West Virginia won 86-59. (Don Wright, AP)

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    Missouri's DeMarre Carroll, top, celebrates the Tigers' 62-60 win over Kansas in Columbia, Missouri, Monday, February 9, 2009. (Rich Sugg, Kansas City Star/MCT)

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    Driver Patrick Sheltra (60) begins to spin coming out of the fourth turn during the ARCA 200 auto race in Daytona Beach, Fla. Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009.

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    Spain's Nuria Llagostera Vives serves the ball, in this multiple exposure, to Iveta Benesova of the Czech Republic during their Fed Cup tennis match in Brno February 7, 2009.

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Accident Wreaks Havoc on Jeff Gordon's Ailing Back originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Mon, 10 Aug 2009 18:54:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>jeff gordonHolly CainMon, 10 Aug 2009 18:54:00 EST Daytona's 'Big One' Takes Earnhardt Out Of Race Earlyhttp://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/07/04/daytonas-big-one-takes-earnhardt-out-of-race-early/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/07/04/daytonas-big-one-takes-earnhardt-out-of-race-early/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/07/04/daytonas-big-one-takes-earnhardt-out-of-race-early/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


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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]]>dale earnhardt jr.DaleEarnhardtJr.Holly CainSat, 04 Jul 2009 22:45:00 EST Driver Killed in NASCAR Mexico Racehttp://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/06/15/driver-killed-in-nascar-mexico-race/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/06/15/driver-killed-in-nascar-mexico-race/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/06/15/driver-killed-in-nascar-mexico-race/#commentsFiled under:

MEXICO CITY (AP) - Driver Carlos Pardo has been killed in a crash during the final laps of a NASCAR Mexico race, organizers said.

Pardo was leading the race in the 97th lap when his car was nudged by a competitor from behind and slid sideways into a wall at the entrance to the pit lane at about 120 mph on Sunday. The car disintegrated as a result of the impact.

Pardo was removed from the wreckage and sent by helicopter to a hospital. The NASCAR Mexico Web site reported that he died 45 minutes later.

Pardo was later declared winner of the race in Pueblo, east of Mexico City.

He won the series championship in 2004 and had 10 career victories in 74 races.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

Driver Killed in NASCAR Mexico Race originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Mon, 15 Jun 2009 10:51:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>FanHouse NewswireMon, 15 Jun 2009 10:51:00 EST Johnny Benson Crash Video: Truck Series Champion Survives Close Callhttp://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/06/14/johnny-benson-crash-video-defending-truck-series-champ-seriousl/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/06/14/johnny-benson-crash-video-defending-truck-series-champ-seriousl/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/06/14/johnny-benson-crash-video-defending-truck-series-champ-seriousl/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Johnny Benson has been upgraded to fair condition following a fiery crash during a SuperModified race. The wreck looked very scary on video, but the reigning NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion is reportedly awake and alert, according to a hospital spokesperson.



The 45-year-old driver crashed on the opening lap of Saturday night's 50-lap event at Berlin Raceway in Michigan. He reportedly suffered minor burns and at least one broken rib. Track personnel quickly extinguished the blaze and pulled Benson from the vehicle.

"The safety crew just did an excellent job. They worked with Johnny, Johnny worked with them, he talked with them, so I was very proud," said raceway representative Michael Blackmer.

It's been an awful couple of weeks for Benson, whose No. 1 car for Red Horse Racing was suspended on June 8 due to lack of sponsorship. The team had been unsuccessful since December in its attempts to secure funding.

Information from the Associated Press and WOOD TV 8 was used in this report.

Johnny Benson Crash Video: Truck Series Champion Survives Close Call originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sun, 14 Jun 2009 20:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>johnny bensonJohnnyBensonTom HerreraSun, 14 Jun 2009 20:35:00 EST Earnhardt's Answer: Control the Speedshttp://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/04/28/earnhardts-answer-control-the-speeds/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/04/28/earnhardts-answer-control-the-speeds/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/04/28/earnhardts-answer-control-the-speeds/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Dale Earnhardt Jr.Dale Earnhardt Jr. sees it quite simply. It's a numbers game.

The way to decrease the likelihood of a car going airborne into the grandstand fencing is to make the restrictor plates smaller (more restrictive), not to get rid of them. Not to change the track. Not to force fans to sit 50 rows back.

And not to overreact or sensationalize.


Earnhardt believes Carl Edwards' Ford slamming into the fence at Talladega, Ala. on Sunday -- injuring seven fans -- wasn't caused by careless and aggressive driving, but because the cars are going faster than what the current restrictor plates can safely handle in this kind of pack racing.

"If you really want to know what the situation is, that last lap of the race was the fastest lap ran, I do believe, by anybody,'' Earnhardt said Tuesday. "And Brad (Keselowski) ran a lap average of 199 miles an hour pushing the 99 car (Edwards).

"NASCAR is really wanting to see cars run around 190 mile-per-hour range. We are doing 10 more miles an hour being able to tag up and go bumper to bumper like we are. That's where the threshold is for cars getting airborne, is about the 195 mile-an-hour range. We have to think what we can do to get back under that threshold a little bit and not create this situation in the future," Earnhardt said. "It's always been there. We just have been lucky."

Terrifying Finish at Talladega

    A push for victory takes a disastrous turn for Carl Edwards at Talladega Superspeedway. Contact from race winner Brad Keselowski on the final lap sends Edwards into a tailspin before he's lifted into the air by Ryan Newman (39). Click through to see more photos from Sunday's incredible race.

    Rainier Ehrhardt, AP

    Edwards' car went airborne and into the safety fence, scattering debris into the crowd and injuring multiple fans. "I'm glad the car didn't go up in the grandstands," he said. "I don't know if I could live with myself if I ended up in the grandstands."

    Glenn Smith, AP

    After landing back down on the track, Edwards had to climb out of his car as it sparked flames. "I just want to tell my mom, I'm OK," Edwards told the television audience. "I'm very fortunate."

    Christian Petersen, Getty Image

    Edwards was quick to put some blame on NASCAR's use of restrictor plates to combat the high speed of the two fastest tracks -- Talladega and Daytona. The plates keep cars packed together, and all it takes is one wrong move to trigger "The Big One," a nickname for the recurring pileups.

    Jerry Markland, Getty Images

    As Edwards was derailed on the final lap, Keselowski surged into the lead to win a Sprint Cup Series race for the very first time. Keselowski felt sorry for the fans who were hurt, but wasn't about to make excuses for his maneuver. "Holding your line was the way to do it," said Keselowski.

    Christian Petersen, Getty Images

    "Either way, it was a great show, and I hope the fans had fun with it," said Keselowski, seen here celebrating in Victory Lane. Restrictor-plate races are both loved by fans for the thrills they provide and dreaded by drivers who fear for their safety.

    Rusty Jarrett,, Getty Images

    Edwards' stunning flight wasn't the only major crash during the Aaron's 499. On the seventh lap, a 13-car accident caused havoc for top drivers like Mark Martin, far left, Kevin Harvick (29) and points leader Jeff Gordon (24).

    Dale Davis, AP

    NASCAR issued a strong warning before the race, telling the drivers to avoid aggressive driving. But that didn't prevent the mayhem from taking over Talladega again. "You expect it," said Gordon. "You just hope to survive it."

    Russell Norris, AP

    Like Edwards, Jeremy Mayfield also had to leave his burning vehicle after a wreck Sunday. There were four major accidents between the Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide race over the weekend.

    Dale Davis, AP

    Edwards, who crossed the finish line on foot, said that drivers fear these type of races. "NASCAR has put us in this box and we'll race like this until we kill someone and then they'll change it."

    Christian Petersen, Getty Image


NASCAR officials suggested as much Monday addressing the situation with reporters. The size of the carburetor restrictor plate can vary in a given race weekend and officials have the flexibility of deciding which size to mandate for the race as late as the final practice.

But far from a traditional technical answer, the most immediate "fix" NASCAR officials offered this week was harsher scrutiny of aggressive driving and the possibility of more in-race penalties.

"Part of me gets sort of a little bit angry because it's like it's almost as if they're shoving the responsibility for what happened Sunday, totally on the drivers' shoulders, as if all our crazy blocking and weaving has just ruined the day, which isn't the case, you know,'' Earnhardt said.

"I mean, as a driver, I share responsibility, but I don't feel like it's entirely ours for anything that happens.

"A lot of it's a product of how the car races and drafts and how the plates work. There's a lot of different things that put us in those situations. I think it's fine the way it is," Earnhardt said. "If they get involved any more than they are currently, you run the risk of, you know, causing a lot of trouble, 'cause judgment calls are highly arguable.

"I'd hate to be in the middle of one that didn't go my way."

The series returns to the 3/4-mile Richmond (Va.) International Raceway this week where the speeds are considerably slower than the massive 2.66-mile Talladega speedway, but the action and excitement are just as great. Earnhardt has three wins at Richmond and made a strong case for a fourth last year before he was wrecked by Kyle Busch as they battled for the lead with three laps remaining.

Even at Richmond -- a driver favorite -- much of the talk will still remain at Talladega.

"We all have to get out there and race no matter what the circumstances are,'' Earnhardt said. "And people have raced in this sport under far, far more dangerous situations. I mean, we're in pretty good shape right now with how safe the cars are, what NASCAR's done to try to keep things within reason.

"It's hard to tell whether the wreck Sunday was an oddity or whether that's something that could easily happen again, because we haven't seen it since Bobby's (Allison) wreck (in 1987) at the same track at the same spot.

"But how easily could that happen again? I think that's the question you got to ask yourself."

DYST V3 test

    LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers watches as Mo Williams #2 takes a shoe to the face by Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers after a steal in the closing seconds of the first half at The Quicken Loans Arena on February 8, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio. (David Liam Kyle, NBAE/Getty Images)

    David Liam Kyle, NBAE/Getty Images

    Brazil's Diogo (L) vies for the ball with Paraguay's Hernan Perez during their U-20 South American Championship football match in Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela on February 8, 2009.(Juan Barreto, AFP/Getty Images )

    Juan Barreto, AFP/Getty Images

    A Dalmatian looks at its handler as a judge goes to touch the dog during the first day of the 2009 Westminster Dog Show in New York February 9, 2009.(Lucas Jackson, Reuters)

    Lucas Jackson, Reuters

    Denver Nuggets forward Chris Anderson touches his head during a time out in the first half of their NBA basketball game with the New Jersey Nets in East Rutherford, New Jersey February 7, 2009. (Ray Stubblebine, Reuters)

    Ray Stubblebine, Reuters

    Margarita Marbler, of Austria, skis to a bronze medal finish the ladies moguls freestyle FIS World Cupskiing qualification at Cypress mountain in West Vancouver, British Columbia, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009. (Jonathan Hayward, The Canadian Press/AP)

    Jonathan Hayward, The Canadian Press/AP

    West Virginia guard Darryl Bryant (25) is fouled by Providence guard Jeff Xavier (1) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Morgantown, W.Va. Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009. West Virginia won 86-59. (Don Wright, AP)

    Don Wright, AP

    Missouri's DeMarre Carroll, top, celebrates the Tigers' 62-60 win over Kansas in Columbia, Missouri, Monday, February 9, 2009. (Rich Sugg, Kansas City Star/MCT)

    Rich Sugg, Kansas City Star/MCT

    David Clarkson #23 of the New Jersey Devils fights Erik Reitz #4 of the New York Rangers during their game on February 9, 2009 at The Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey (Al Bello, Getty Images)

    Al Bello, Getty Images

    Driver Patrick Sheltra (60) begins to spin coming out of the fourth turn during the ARCA 200 auto race in Daytona Beach, Fla. Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009.

    Darryl Graham, AP

    Spain's Nuria Llagostera Vives serves the ball, in this multiple exposure, to Iveta Benesova of the Czech Republic during their Fed Cup tennis match in Brno February 7, 2009.

    Petr Josek, Reuters

Earnhardt's Answer: Control the Speeds originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Tue, 28 Apr 2009 17:01:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Dale Earnhardt jr.DaleEarnhardtJr.Holly CainTue, 28 Apr 2009 17:01:00 EST NASCAR Satisfied With Safety Measureshttp://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/04/27/nascar-satisfied-with-safety-measures/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/04/27/nascar-satisfied-with-safety-measures/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/04/27/nascar-satisfied-with-safety-measures/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Carl EdwardsSaying they were "glad all the safety devices worked properly,'' NASCAR officials addressed the national media Monday to answer questions in the wake of Sunday's frightening final-lap crash at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway that injured seven fans.

NASCAR Vice President Jim Hunter reiterated the sanctioning body's "number one priority" is the safety of its participants and spectators. And he sent the organization's thoughts to the fans who suffered minor injuries from debris when Carl Edwards' car went airborne and crashed into a fence along the front-stretch grandstands.

Hunter said the sanctioning body would take any steps necessary to ensure safe events. But at this point, there aren't any additional steps to take.

NASCAR Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton said there are no plans to take restrictor plates off the motors at super-fast Talladega, nor get rid of the high banking, nor change the "yellow line" rule.

Basically, NASCAR has to balance the excitement of a good show with the safety of its performers and fans in an inherently dangerous sport. And typically, the fans love the close-quarter, high-speed excitement typical of the two restrictor plate tracks at Talladega and Daytona. Many feel Sunday's race -- with its 57 lead changes and dicey racing -- was the best event of the season.

But fans were injured, and some drivers, such as three-time reigning champ Jimmie Johnson and Edwards, were especially critical of this type of racing.

Johnson said, "It sucks racing here,'' after being caught up in a late race multi-car accident, commonly referred to as "The Big One'' at these tracks.

Edwards, who wasn't hurt in the accident, and even climbed out of his car and jogged across the finish line for good measure, was even more extreme in his comments.

"Hopefully, they can do something somehow to change this style of racing,'' said Edwards, who was leading the race when his car collided with eventual winner Brad Keselowski. "I guess we'll do this until somebody gets killed and then we'll change it, but that's the way it is.''

The criticism isn't new, just fresh in light of Sunday's dramatic finish and spectator injuries.

"Our series races on 22 different race tracks and... not every driver likes all the tracks we run on, some hate restrictor plate tracks and some hate the road courses just as much,'' Pemberton said.

DYST V3 test

    LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers watches as Mo Williams #2 takes a shoe to the face by Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers after a steal in the closing seconds of the first half at The Quicken Loans Arena on February 8, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio. (David Liam Kyle, NBAE/Getty Images)

    David Liam Kyle, NBAE/Getty Images

    Brazil's Diogo (L) vies for the ball with Paraguay's Hernan Perez during their U-20 South American Championship football match in Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela on February 8, 2009.(Juan Barreto, AFP/Getty Images )

    Juan Barreto, AFP/Getty Images

    A Dalmatian looks at its handler as a judge goes to touch the dog during the first day of the 2009 Westminster Dog Show in New York February 9, 2009.(Lucas Jackson, Reuters)

    Lucas Jackson, Reuters

    Denver Nuggets forward Chris Anderson touches his head during a time out in the first half of their NBA basketball game with the New Jersey Nets in East Rutherford, New Jersey February 7, 2009. (Ray Stubblebine, Reuters)

    Ray Stubblebine, Reuters

    Margarita Marbler, of Austria, skis to a bronze medal finish the ladies moguls freestyle FIS World Cupskiing qualification at Cypress mountain in West Vancouver, British Columbia, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009. (Jonathan Hayward, The Canadian Press/AP)

    Jonathan Hayward, The Canadian Press/AP

    West Virginia guard Darryl Bryant (25) is fouled by Providence guard Jeff Xavier (1) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Morgantown, W.Va. Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009. West Virginia won 86-59. (Don Wright, AP)

    Don Wright, AP

    Missouri's DeMarre Carroll, top, celebrates the Tigers' 62-60 win over Kansas in Columbia, Missouri, Monday, February 9, 2009. (Rich Sugg, Kansas City Star/MCT)

    Rich Sugg, Kansas City Star/MCT

    David Clarkson #23 of the New Jersey Devils fights Erik Reitz #4 of the New York Rangers during their game on February 9, 2009 at The Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey (Al Bello, Getty Images)

    Al Bello, Getty Images

    Driver Patrick Sheltra (60) begins to spin coming out of the fourth turn during the ARCA 200 auto race in Daytona Beach, Fla. Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009.

    Darryl Graham, AP

    Spain's Nuria Llagostera Vives serves the ball, in this multiple exposure, to Iveta Benesova of the Czech Republic during their Fed Cup tennis match in Brno February 7, 2009.

    Petr Josek, Reuters


Pemberton said NASCAR officials, with a research and development team, were at Roush Racing headquarters in Charlotte on Monday morning looking at Edwards car to see if they could learn anything from the wreckage.

The cars roof flaps deployed as they were supposed to and Pemberton believes the launch into the air came when Edwards' Ford hit another car, not because of any aerodynamic problem with the 2-year-old COTs (Car of Tomorrow). The roll cage was also intact.

NASCAR said it would examine the fencing at the track, but was comfortable with the durability and performance on Sunday. It said seating availability -- including those seats so close to the racing surface -- was each track's call.

"The fence yesterday did what it was supposed to do, it threw the car back onto the track,'' Hunter said. "But we'll analyze the fence and if there's something we come up with after we analyze it, we'll put it into play.''

The three officials dismissed the suggestion they should get rid of the banking -- or even decrease it -- so the cars won't need the carburetor restrictor plates anymore. The plates essentially cut the horsepower in half at the super-fast high banks at Daytona and Talladega. It creates suspenseful "pack" racing but also lends itself to larger multi-car accidents.

"I believe the most exciting races we have are at Talladega and Daytona, and that's a big part of our sport,'' NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Director John Darby said. "I think there's more value in continuing safety efforts at those tracks than turning those two tracks into flat parking lots.

"Talladega and Daytona are not the only places we have wrecks or even multiple wrecks. There's just always a tendency to sensationalize the wrecks more at those tracks than other places we race at.''

Instead of changing the tracks, the cars or the rules, officials indicated it's a case of needing stricter enforcement of those rules, such as issuing more in-race penalties for aggressive driving.

"We tried letting the competitors police themselves in terms of blocking and bump-drafting,'' said Hunter.

The accident happened as Edwards was leading Keselowski about a half-mile from the checkered flag. Keselowski made a move to pass Edwards, who blocked him. The second time Keselowski tried the move, he got into position and held the line. When Edwards tried to block again, the cars collided and, ultimately, Edwards' car launched into the air.

Darby scoffed at the notion that NASCAR should do away with the yellow line rule that serves as a boundary line at the bottom on the track. Drivers cannot gain a position by driving below that line, which is why Keselowski said he held his driving lane instead of moving down out of Edwards way.

"It becomes a big game of chicken when the track goes from 15 lanes down to three and the yellow line rule has made the width of the track consistent all the way down,'' Darby said. "If you move both cars up two lanes on the track, I believe the same wreck would have happened.''

"What it comes down to is professional drivers controlling cars at high speeds."

NASCAR Satisfied With Safety Measures originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Mon, 27 Apr 2009 20:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>carl edwardsCarlEdwardsJimmie JohnsonJimmieJohnsonHolly CainMon, 27 Apr 2009 20:15:00 EST Blame NASCAR for Edwards' Scary Ridehttp://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/04/26/blame-nascar-for-edwards-scary-ride/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/04/26/blame-nascar-for-edwards-scary-ride/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/04/26/blame-nascar-for-edwards-scary-ride/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Let's face it: NASCAR's own rules nearly killed multiple spectators Sunday afternoon at Talladega Superspeedway.

The scary last-lap crash in the Aaron's 499 involving Carl Edwards, Ryan Newman and first-time winner Brad Keselowski is just the concoction NASCAR has cooked up with their set of rules governing the cans and cannots of racing at restrictor plate tracks.

At issue, primarily, is the much discussed yellow line rule that prohibits a driver from going below to advance a position.

More Coverage: Drivers Irate | Keselowski Capitalizes

But Sunday, it wasn't the application of the rule that changed the race's outcome, but rather the aggressive stance NASCAR is taking with it. Simply, the sanctioning body says that any driver making an advance of position while dropping any part of the car underneath the double yellows will be penalized.

No longer, according to NASCAR, do exceptions apply in any form.

Knowing that, Keselowski made a quick jaunt to the right of Carl Edwards entering the tri-oval before faking back to the left and getting a nose underneath the No. 99 in the slight curve just hundreds of yards from the finish line. Edwards wasn't about to give up a race win so easily with the checkered flag in sight and tried to pinch Keselowski and halt the run of the No. 09.

It was too much, too late.

Keselowski didn't bulge from his line in the lowest groove of the tri-oval on the edge of the dredded yellow line as Edwards cut down, sending the No. 99 arching sideways across the track over Keselowski's hood before the back end caught the rushing 190 mile-per-hour draft of air to lift the wheels off the track.

Edwards' car gained altitude, slammed the top of Ryan Newman's hood and made a beeline to the catch fence. The fence held most of Edwards' car before slamming it back to the track, yards from the finish line in a blaze of smoke and fire.

Terrifying Finish at Talladega

    A push for victory takes a disastrous turn for Carl Edwards at Talladega Superspeedway. Contact from race winner Brad Keselowski on the final lap sends Edwards into a tailspin before he's lifted into the air by Ryan Newman (39). Click through to see more photos from Sunday's incredible race.

    Rainier Ehrhardt, AP

    Edwards' car went airborne and into the safety fence, scattering debris into the crowd and injuring multiple fans. "I'm glad the car didn't go up in the grandstands," he said. "I don't know if I could live with myself if I ended up in the grandstands."

    Glenn Smith, AP

    After landing back down on the track, Edwards had to climb out of his car as it sparked flames. "I just want to tell my mom, I'm OK," Edwards told the television audience. "I'm very fortunate."

    Christian Petersen, Getty Image

    Edwards was quick to put some blame on NASCAR's use of restrictor plates to combat the high speed of the two fastest tracks -- Talladega and Daytona. The plates keep cars packed together, and all it takes is one wrong move to trigger "The Big One," a nickname for the recurring pileups.

    Jerry Markland, Getty Images

    As Edwards was derailed on the final lap, Keselowski surged into the lead to win a Sprint Cup Series race for the very first time. Keselowski felt sorry for the fans who were hurt, but wasn't about to make excuses for his maneuver. "Holding your line was the way to do it," said Keselowski.

    Christian Petersen, Getty Images

    "Either way, it was a great show, and I hope the fans had fun with it," said Keselowski, seen here celebrating in Victory Lane. Restrictor-plate races are both loved by fans for the thrills they provide and dreaded by drivers who fear for their safety.

    Rusty Jarrett,, Getty Images

    Edwards' stunning flight wasn't the only major crash during the Aaron's 499. On the seventh lap, a 13-car accident caused havoc for top drivers like Mark Martin, far left, Kevin Harvick (29) and points leader Jeff Gordon (24).

    Dale Davis, AP

    NASCAR issued a strong warning before the race, telling the drivers to avoid aggressive driving. But that didn't prevent the mayhem from taking over Talladega again. "You expect it," said Gordon. "You just hope to survive it."

    Russell Norris, AP

    Like Edwards, Jeremy Mayfield also had to leave his burning vehicle after a wreck Sunday. There were four major accidents between the Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide race over the weekend.

    Dale Davis, AP

    Edwards, who crossed the finish line on foot, said that drivers fear these type of races. "NASCAR has put us in this box and we'll race like this until we kill someone and then they'll change it."

    Christian Petersen, Getty Image


So how does the contact relate to NASCAR's hard line on the double-yellow rule?

Just take a trip back to the last October when Regan Smith made the same exact move coming to the finish line but was forced underneath the out-of-bounds line by Tony Stewart. Smith, with a surge of momentum, avoided contact with Stewart by ducking to the apron to complete the pass. [Videos available at bottom of post]

It was the safe move, but yet, it was the illegal move. NASCAR penalized Smith and stripped the victory.

And Sunday afternoon, NASCAR got exactly what it should have expected when it set a precedent saying to win at all costs without going underneath the line. And by all costs, I mean spinning out your competitor if necessary at 190 miles per hour.

What other proof do you need to realize that Sunday's brutal, vicious and ultimately far-too-close-to-being-deadly wreck is directly connected to NASCAR's inability to offer a gray area in the race's final lap?

Sure, there's an argument that Keselowski or Smith should have backed off and conceded that they got beat. But to make that argument to a race car driver who has made a living by winning is just simply not fathomable.

Would you tell a big league pitcher to take some steam off a fastball because it might be a little more dangerous to throw that pitch inside? Definitely not, and don't expect drivers to always carefully plan and execute every move on a race track with the checkered flag in the air.

NASCAR desperately needs to revamp the double-yellow line rules, but not abolish them after this mess. They do actually pose some good during the race because drivers tend to have a little more caution in their style and aren't as hesitant to cede a position.

But the rule needs to also include exceptions for racing to the finish line.

Establish a zone on the track that on the last lap will be a legal area to pass below that line or make an amend to say that a driver who has position on another driver has the right to use the apron if forced below the yellow line.

Something -- anything -- is needed to make drivers not have to resort to a tactic that is dangerous for both the stars of the sport but also the spectators paying to watch a race.

The yellow line rules were put in place to make racing safer and prevent drivers from making risky moves entering a corner, but it's awful, awful tough to see that process as a success after watching a 3,200-pound race car come entirely too close to landing in a spectator area at 190 miles per hour.

Did the rule cause the wreck? No, but the way it forces drivers to handle last lap situations did, and if this is NASCAR's version of making things safer, you've certainly got to wonder what baseline they're coming from.

Video: Brad Keselowski's pass in the Aaron's 499



Video: Regan Smith's pass in the Amp Energy 500

Blame NASCAR for Edwards' Scary Ride originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sun, 26 Apr 2009 21:19:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Aarons 499Aarons499Brad KeselowskiBradKeselowskiCarl EdwardsCarlEdwardsRegan SmithReganSmithRyan NewmanRyanNewmanSprint CupSprintCupTalladega SuperspeedwayTalladegaSuperspeedwayGeoffrey MillerSun, 26 Apr 2009 21:19:00 EST Drivers Irate After Terror at Talladega http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/04/26/terror-at-talladega-fans-hurt-by-debris/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/04/26/terror-at-talladega-fans-hurt-by-debris/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/04/26/terror-at-talladega-fans-hurt-by-debris/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



TALLADEGA, Ala. -- It wasn't Junior but his junior, Brad Keselowski, who seemingly came out of no where to survive a wreck-filled, spectacular last-lap crash and win his first ever NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday.

Keselowski, who drives full time for Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the triple-A Nationwide Series, was behind Carl Edwards about 100 yards from the checkered flag. As Edwards tried to block Keselowski's final push to win, the cars collided, launching Edwards' Ford airborne, which flipped wildly in the air. His car bounced off the hood of Ryan Newman's car and then rolled, roof up, hard into the catch fence along the front grandstand.
More Coverage: Keselowski Capitalizes | NASCAR Culpable

Edwards climbed out of the car and jogged to the finish line, jumping over it in a symbolic way to finish the race.

"I just want to tell my mom, I'm OK," Edwards told the television audience. "I'm very fortunate.

"NASCAR has put us in this box and we'll race like this until we kill someone and then they'll change it."

Keselowski motored on for his unlikely, maiden victory for the low budget team owned by Florida businessman James Finch. Earnhardt finished second -- his best effort of the season -- followed by Newman and rookies Marcos Ambrose and Scott Speed.

As soon as the race field cleared the finish line, a half dozen ambulances lined up on track and medical personnel went into the grandstands to treat any fans injured by the debris that came flying off Edwards' car.

The Speedway's medical director said eight fans suffered minor injuries such as bumps and bruises and perhaps a couple fractures. Two fans were airlifted to a local hospital, one with facial injuries and possibly a broken jaw, the other with a medical problem unrelated to the crash. They were airlifted because of heavy traffic -- not because the injuries were serious.

Edwards wasn't the only one with strong words.

Three-time defending Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson -- who was involved in a 10-car accident with 10 laps to go -- put it this way, "It sucks racing here."

Sunday's version of Talladega was typical of the close-quarter, ultra-fast races we've become accustomed to at the series' two restrictor plate tracks, Talladega and Daytona Beach. There were two huge multi-car accidents.

Terrifying Finish at Talladega

    A push for victory takes a disastrous turn for Carl Edwards at Talladega Superspeedway. Contact from race winner Brad Keselowski on the final lap sends Edwards into a tailspin before he's lifted into the air by Ryan Newman (39). Click through to see more photos from Sunday's incredible race.

    Rainier Ehrhardt, AP

    Edwards' car went airborne and into the safety fence, scattering debris into the crowd and injuring multiple fans. "I'm glad the car didn't go up in the grandstands," he said. "I don't know if I could live with myself if I ended up in the grandstands."

    Glenn Smith, AP

    After landing back down on the track, Edwards had to climb out of his car as it sparked flames. "I just want to tell my mom, I'm OK," Edwards told the television audience. "I'm very fortunate."

    Christian Petersen, Getty Image

    Edwards was quick to put some blame on NASCAR's use of restrictor plates to combat the high speed of the two fastest tracks -- Talladega and Daytona. The plates keep cars packed together, and all it takes is one wrong move to trigger "The Big One," a nickname for the recurring pileups.

    Jerry Markland, Getty Images

    As Edwards was derailed on the final lap, Keselowski surged into the lead to win a Sprint Cup Series race for the very first time. Keselowski felt sorry for the fans who were hurt, but wasn't about to make excuses for his maneuver. "Holding your line was the way to do it," said Keselowski.

    Christian Petersen, Getty Images

    "Either way, it was a great show, and I hope the fans had fun with it," said Keselowski, seen here celebrating in Victory Lane. Restrictor-plate races are both loved by fans for the thrills they provide and dreaded by drivers who fear for their safety.

    Rusty Jarrett,, Getty Images

    Edwards' stunning flight wasn't the only major crash during the Aaron's 499. On the seventh lap, a 13-car accident caused havoc for top drivers like Mark Martin, far left, Kevin Harvick (29) and points leader Jeff Gordon (24).

    Dale Davis, AP

    NASCAR issued a strong warning before the race, telling the drivers to avoid aggressive driving. But that didn't prevent the mayhem from taking over Talladega again. "You expect it," said Gordon. "You just hope to survive it."

    Russell Norris, AP

    Like Edwards, Jeremy Mayfield also had to leave his burning vehicle after a wreck Sunday. There were four major accidents between the Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide race over the weekend.

    Dale Davis, AP

    Edwards, who crossed the finish line on foot, said that drivers fear these type of races. "NASCAR has put us in this box and we'll race like this until we kill someone and then they'll change it."

    Christian Petersen, Getty Image


The first one -- less than 15 minutes into the race -- was a 13-car affair that eliminated points leader Jeff Gordon from contention. Johnson was involved in the second large accident. On Saturday, Cup regular Matt Kenseth was involved in a fiery airborne accident in the Nationwide Series race.

"Cars don't need to go up in the air for sure," Earnhardt said. "But we've slowed the cars down and put air flaps on, now we're pack racing so much it's about all you can do, to not be in a wreck."

"I wish we could get away from each other a little bit. I wish it came down to handling. I wish it came down to power. Everybody has the same piece, in the equivalent of IROC cars at Talladega. That kind of racing is exciting as hell to watch, but I've wrecked two or three times in these."

Keselowski's Cinderella win may likely be overshadowed by the dramatic finish and torn-up sheet metal strewn around the Talladega garage.

"There's no such thing as an overreaction for safety," Newman said. "I'm sure NASCAR will spend some time looking over the video tapes and seeing what we can do to help the situation. It's just crazy."

Drivers Irate After Terror at Talladega originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sun, 26 Apr 2009 18:33:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>brad keselowskicarl edwardsdale earnhardt jrjimmie johnsonryan newmanHolly CainSun, 26 Apr 2009 18:33:00 EST Talladega Marred by Early 13-Car Wreckhttp://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/04/26/talladega-marred-by-early-13-car-wreck/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/04/26/talladega-marred-by-early-13-car-wreck/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/04/26/talladega-marred-by-early-13-car-wreck/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

TALLADEGA, Ala. (AP) --The "Big One" hit early at Talladega Superspeedway.

A massive 13-car accident just seven laps into Sunday's race at Talladega Superspeedway took out race favorites and left it open for an unlikely winner to emerge from the field.

The accident started just seven laps into the race near the front of the field when Matt Kenseth appeared to make contact with series points leader Jeff Gordon.

The bump made Gordon's car slide toward the top of the track, and the drivers running around them couldn't avoid the wreck.


"It was a little bit of aggressive driving, but everybody's jockeying for position here in the early laps," Gordon said. "I got squeezed and didn't have anywhere else to go. I saw an opening, went for it, and it closed up in a hurry."

Six of the drivers caught up in the wreck are Chase for the championship contenders. They are Gordon, Kenseth, Kurt Busch, Kasey Kahne, Clint Bowyer and Mark Martin, winner of last week's race at Phoenix.

"It's Talladega. You expect it," Gordon said. "You just hope to survive it."

Kevin Harvick, Casey Mears, Jamie McMurray, Scott Riggs, AJ Allmendinger, David Gilliland, and Brian Vickers were also involved.

"How could it not happen," Martin said. "It's not guys losing control of their cars. It's so many in such a wad that you can't help but move up or down on each other and it starts a wreck."

DYST V3 test

    LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers watches as Mo Williams #2 takes a shoe to the face by Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers after a steal in the closing seconds of the first half at The Quicken Loans Arena on February 8, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio. (David Liam Kyle, NBAE/Getty Images)

    David Liam Kyle, NBAE/Getty Images

    Brazil's Diogo (L) vies for the ball with Paraguay's Hernan Perez during their U-20 South American Championship football match in Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela on February 8, 2009.(Juan Barreto, AFP/Getty Images )

    Juan Barreto, AFP/Getty Images

    A Dalmatian looks at its handler as a judge goes to touch the dog during the first day of the 2009 Westminster Dog Show in New York February 9, 2009.(Lucas Jackson, Reuters)

    Lucas Jackson, Reuters

    Denver Nuggets forward Chris Anderson touches his head during a time out in the first half of their NBA basketball game with the New Jersey Nets in East Rutherford, New Jersey February 7, 2009. (Ray Stubblebine, Reuters)

    Ray Stubblebine, Reuters

    Margarita Marbler, of Austria, skis to a bronze medal finish the ladies moguls freestyle FIS World Cupskiing qualification at Cypress mountain in West Vancouver, British Columbia, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009. (Jonathan Hayward, The Canadian Press/AP)

    Jonathan Hayward, The Canadian Press/AP

    West Virginia guard Darryl Bryant (25) is fouled by Providence guard Jeff Xavier (1) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Morgantown, W.Va. Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009. West Virginia won 86-59. (Don Wright, AP)

    Don Wright, AP

    Missouri's DeMarre Carroll, top, celebrates the Tigers' 62-60 win over Kansas in Columbia, Missouri, Monday, February 9, 2009. (Rich Sugg, Kansas City Star/MCT)

    Rich Sugg, Kansas City Star/MCT

    David Clarkson #23 of the New Jersey Devils fights Erik Reitz #4 of the New York Rangers during their game on February 9, 2009 at The Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey (Al Bello, Getty Images)

    Al Bello, Getty Images

    Driver Patrick Sheltra (60) begins to spin coming out of the fourth turn during the ARCA 200 auto race in Daytona Beach, Fla. Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009.

    Darryl Graham, AP

    Spain's Nuria Llagostera Vives serves the ball, in this multiple exposure, to Iveta Benesova of the Czech Republic during their Fed Cup tennis match in Brno February 7, 2009.

    Petr Josek, Reuters



NASCAR issued a stern warning before the race, telling the drivers to avoid aggressive driving, which is common at Talladega but policed heavily for safety precautions.

Race director David Hoots warned drivers at the prerace meeting to show caution on the track.

"If you're thinking you're getting ready to get too close to crossing over this line then draw back," he said.

Several teams were in the garage trying to repair the cars and get them back on the track and get in more laps in the 500-miles race. Others, like Martin, had already called it a day.

Harvick returned about 50 laps later. Gordon, the points leader, and Kahne also returned.

"Everyone's trying to position themselves," Harvick said. "I don't think it's anybody's fault."

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

Talladega Marred by Early 13-Car Wreck originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sun, 26 Apr 2009 16:57:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>a.j. allmendingerA.j.Allmendingerbrian vickersBrianVickerscasey mearsCaseyMearsclint bowyerClintBowyerjamie mcmurrayJamieMcmurrayjeff gordonJeffGordonkasey kahneKaseyKahnekurt buschKurtBuschmark martinMarkMartinmatt kensethMattKensethscott riggsScottRiggsFanHouse NewswireSun, 26 Apr 2009 16:57:00 EST Video: Matt Kenseth Takes Wild Tumblehttp://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/04/26/video-matt-kenseth-takes-wild-tumble/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/04/26/video-matt-kenseth-takes-wild-tumble/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/04/26/video-matt-kenseth-takes-wild-tumble/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

David Ragan's first NASCAR victory in 196 starts was the major story of Saturday's Nationwide race, but it definitely wasn't the biggest highlight. As Holly mentioned in her recap, a wild wreck by Matt Kenseth had every spectator in awe at Talladega.

After Kenseth lost control with 12 laps left, the car skidded on its roof, flipped three times and caught fire along the grass. Thankfully he was able to make a quick escape from the car as his pregnant wife, Katie, watched with bated breath.

Video: Matt Kenseth Takes Wild Tumble originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sun, 26 Apr 2009 04:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>katie kensethKatieKensethmatt kensethMattKensethtalladegasuperspeedwayTom HerreraSun, 26 Apr 2009 04:30:00 EST Gordon Readies for Waltrip's Retirementhttp://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/04/18/phoenix-crash-leaves-robby-gordon-ready-for-michael-waltrips-re/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/04/18/phoenix-crash-leaves-robby-gordon-ready-for-michael-waltrips-re/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/04/18/phoenix-crash-leaves-robby-gordon-ready-for-michael-waltrips-re/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The NASCAR on FOX television crew tried to play it off as an accident, but Sprint Cup driver Robby Gordon was having none of it.

"I'm really looking forward to having a new driver in the [No.] 55 next year," said Gordon during his post-wreck interview, mad after Michael Waltrip bumped him into the Phoenix International Raceway turn three wall Saturday night in the Subway Fresh Fit 500.

No, Gordon doesn't have insider infomation about Waltrip's 2010 plans, but rather he was just citing comments that the driver/owner made at the beginning of the season.

During a preseason press conference, Waltrip noted that his personal performance in the No. 55 Toyota of his Michael Waltrip Racing entity had to improve significantly over what had been two straight seasons of mediocrity -- if that.
"My goal is to go win some races this year, run up front so that I don't have to say this is my last year. But if I don't do those things, if I can't compete at the level that Reutimann does or NAPA expects, then I probably won't get to do this again in 2010," said Waltrip
Apparently Robby doesn't think such circumstances will occur Waltrip in 2009, though his comments came at a time when the driver of the No. 7 was a little biased.

The incident happened on lap 167 when Gordon headed into turn 3 with Waltrip inside and the other Gordon -- Jeff, the version with four more Sprint Cup titles than Robby -- trailing close behind. Waltrip lost grip heading into the corner, slid up the track and knocked Robby's ride into a spin. The No. 7 rear-ended the wall with Waltrip getting a piece of the action on his right-rear quarter panel.

Robby headed for the garage for repair [and returned to the race many laps down] while Waltrip hit pit road.

While in the garage, FOX Sports' Steve Byrnes grabbed an interview, leading off by referring to the crash as a 'victim of circumstance'.

"Yeah it's a bummer," Robby said. "I don't know, we probably should have come for tires there. We were running 18th. I don't know what Michael was doing there but he just ran us over."

"Can you get back in the race?" Byrnes asked.

"Yeah, but getting back in the race is one thing, but to lose this many points for the second weekend in a row -- its just devastation," said Gordon. "Our speedway car is really not that fast so i'm really concerned about that. But I'm really looking forward to have a new driver in the 55 next year."

And with that, the interview was complete, Michael Waltrip dissed and Robby Gordon's dismal streak of finishes continued.

Gordon Readies for Waltrip's Retirement originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sat, 18 Apr 2009 22:37:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>FOX SportsFoxSportsMichael WaltripMichaelWaltripPhoenix International SpeedwayPhoenixInternationalSpeedwayRobby GordonRobbyGordonSprint CupSprintCupSubway Fresh Fit 500SubwayFreshFit500Geoffrey MillerSat, 18 Apr 2009 22:37:00 EST Tempers Boil After Junior's Daytona Darehttp://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/02/15/tempers-boil-after-juniors-daytona-dare/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/02/15/tempers-boil-after-juniors-daytona-dare/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/02/15/tempers-boil-after-juniors-daytona-dare/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

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.

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.


"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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]]>brian vickersBrianVickersdale earnhardt jr.DaleEarnhardtJr.daytona 500Daytona500fanhouseindaytonakyle buschKyleBuschHolly CainSun, 15 Feb 2009 20:20:00 EST First '09 Crash Grabs Menard, Speedhttp://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/02/07/first-09-crash-grabs-menard-speed/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/02/07/first-09-crash-grabs-menard-speed/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/02/07/first-09-crash-grabs-menard-speed/#commentsFiled under: , ,

If the starting order of Saturday night's Budweiser Shootout at Daytona left you feeling a little bit uneasy about the start of the non-points dash for cash, well, Friday night's practice likely isn't going to calm your nerves:



Yep, that first yellow car to spin is Shootout pole winner Paul Menard and Scott Speed -- in the silver car -- is scheduled to start fourth with Elliott Sadler and Reed Sorenson in between them.

This accident wasn't exactly casting a direct foreshadow of Saturday night's activities because Menard didn't make a mistake, but rather just had a tire go flat. Speed's reaction, however, seemed a little bit interesting in that he just continued into the path of Menard without any drastic attempts to stay away from him.

I'll give Speed the benefit of the doubt, though, because the practice session was just his second time on-track in a Sprint Cup Series car with in the draft of restrictor plate racing. After all, it's hard to play armchair NASCAR driver for a guy who's following other cars at over 190 miles per hour.

Neither team is expected to head to a backup car for the race -- allowing them to keep their spot on the starting grid -- and thankfully for Speed, the accident came late in practice meaning he had quite a few laps under his belt prior to the Shootout.

First '09 Crash Grabs Menard, Speed originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sat, 07 Feb 2009 11:02:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>BudweiserShootoutDaytonaElliottSadlerPaulMenardReedSorensonScottSpeedSprintCupGeoffrey MillerSat, 07 Feb 2009 11:02:00 EST 10 from '08: 'Monster Mile' Starts Carnage Early at Doverhttp://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2008/12/02/10-from-08-monster-mile-starts-carnage-early/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2008/12/02/10-from-08-monster-mile-starts-carnage-early/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2008/12/02/10-from-08-monster-mile-starts-carnage-early/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

With NASCAR's awards banquet on Friday, Dec. 5 (stop by for the live blog!), here's a look at 10 from '08 -- 10 of the NASCAR season's best moments.

With 43 cars on track, it's not too often that TV cameras catch a wreck live for the audience at home, but June's Sprint Cup race at Dover International Speedway was a little different.

FOX Sports was riding along with Elliott Sadler in his No. 19 Dodge on the in-car camera when the car suddenly broke loose and slapped the outside Turn 2 wall. What we saw next was also atypical of crashes at Dover.

Instead of following the general rule that Dover is a "self-cleaning" race track that forces crashed cars to the bottom of the race track because of the banked corners and straightaways, Sadler's car opted to slide precariously into the middle of the track and into what is best described as a blind spot for race cars traveling at speed.

And so, as the video below shows, Tony Stewart slammed into Sadler, followed by Denny Hamlin, Scott Riggs, Kevin Harvick, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Bobby Labonte to leave the track virtually blocked and multiple pre-race favorites done for the day after just 19 laps of the 400-lap race.

FOX's Darrell Waltrip said "The 15 done a whale of a job," of getting through the wreck, and he surely did. The No. 15 is Paul Menard in the bright yellow car and as you can watch below, he comes out of Turn 2, sees the track blocked, cuts left around a slowing Earnhardt Jr. to slightly brush the wall with the rear of his car and keeps going around the wreck.

From my point of view, this whole crash started thanks to Sadler coming down across the nose of David Gilliland's No. 38 -- a common mistake at that point on track at DIS because the view of the spotters is somewhat limited.

NASCAR's summer king Kyle Busch wound up winning the 400-miler after just four more cautions, none even remotely close to the melee that took place off turn 2. Now, enjoy the clip:

10 from '08: 'Monster Mile' Starts Carnage Early at Dover originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Tue, 02 Dec 2008 15:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>10from08BobbyLabonteDaleEarnhardtJrDavidGillilandDennyHamlinDoverInternationalSpeedwayElliottSadlerKevinHarvickScottRiggsSprintCupTonyStewartGeoffrey MillerTue, 02 Dec 2008 15:00:00 EST Video: Gilliland's Intentional Wreck of Montoyahttp://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2008/11/03/video-gillilands-intentional-wreck-of-montoya/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2008/11/03/video-gillilands-intentional-wreck-of-montoya/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2008/11/03/video-gillilands-intentional-wreck-of-montoya/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Sunday's race at Texas Motor Speedway had a grand total of two cautions for actual on-track wrecks, and had David Gilliland not intentionally wrecked Juan Pablo Montoya, that number would have been cut in half.

First, the video:



I saw Montoya's crash live Sunday during our live blog here on the 'House, and immediately felt my stomach drop for how blatantly intentional Gilliiland's move was.

Who knew David Gilliland was that type of racer?


I certainly didn't, and couldn't believe that he'd make such an egregious move to take out Montoya in such a bad spot on the race track. To me, it's one thing to spin the a guy out coming off a corner and something entirely different to do what Gilliland did in turning left on the backstretch into Montoya's right rear, sending the No. 42 straight towards the outside wall.

For his part, Montoya did admit the two had tangled somewhat in the laps prior through the corners, but he was surprised his lead-lap run ended with Gilliland's desperate move.

NASCAR took corrective action nearly immediately after the wreck by bringing Gilliland to pit road originally for a five-lap penalty, before parking him for the rest of the event. He finished 42nd.

I am somewhat confused, though, about two things. First, Gilliland, who so obviously wrecked Montoya, tried to pass of his manuever as a complete accident.
My spotter said I was clear and I slid up in front of him and he ran in the back of me and then going down into turn one and two it was the same thing. Then I went up the track to let him go and just kind of misjudged my run coming down back across the track.
I wasn't in the driver's seat, but from my estimation, Gilliland is trying to pass off something that any jury would find him guilty for. If you wrecked him intentionally, fess up to it.

Second, I find it hard to believe NASCAR is considering the situation resolved after simply parking the No. 38 for the rest of the race. I get that he lost a good amount of points on the matter, but come on, a dangerous move like that deserves a slightly more hefty punishment.

Video: Gilliland's Intentional Wreck of Montoya originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Mon, 03 Nov 2008 20:32:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>ChipGanassiRacingDavidGillilandDickies500JuanPabloMontoyaNASCARVideosTexasMotorSpeedwayYatesRacingGeoffrey MillerMon, 03 Nov 2008 20:32:00 EST