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/Sprint Cup N's & Q's: AMP Energy 500http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/11/04/sprint-cup-ns-and-qs-amp-energy-500/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/11/04/sprint-cup-ns-and-qs-amp-energy-500/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/11/04/sprint-cup-ns-and-qs-amp-energy-500/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Notes, quotes & commentary from a NASCAR weekend at Talladega.

What a weekend it was, huh? Yes, I do have some comments and ideas about the overall product at Talladega this week. I'm going to wait, though, until the end of this post. First, the finer notes on Sunday.

Can anyone make sense of NASCAR's pit road penalties? Had Sunday's race been at another track where track position isn't so easily gained like it is at Talladega, Jimmie Johnson, Ryan Newman, Tony Stewart and eventual race winner Jamie McMurray would have been downright hosed.

And good or bad as it relates to your particular driver, the rule that nabbed them just isn't fair.

The four drivers ended up in a sticky situation when they dropped from 190-plus mph to Talladega's pit road speed of 65 mph on lap 50 to make a pit stop. As they did so, Kurt Busch blew a tire and murdered the pit road commitment cone just in front of them before spinning through the grass.

Jeff Gordon, originally with the aforementioned drivers, swerved back on track and didn't pit after worrying that the caution flag would negatively affect his team's decision to pit. But the other drivers, yards from the pit road commitment line when Busch spun, continued down pit road and some made their pit stops.

Upon further review, NASCAR determined that the four had entered pit road while it was closed -- replays showed the red light activated before they crossed the pit road commitment line, meaning they had indeed done so. The penalty was to restart at the tail-end of the field.

But come on, had those guys made aggressive maneuvers to stay off pit road as Gordon had, they would have all piled up in a hot mess of bent metal. How is it smart for NASCAR to think that the drivers should have made such an ill-advised maneuver?

It's not, frankly, and someone will soon get burned on the rule at a track where it matters like, say, Texas Motor Speedway, the site of this weekend's race.

You've got to feel bad for Joe Nemechek after he was a part of Sunday's first caution.

Nemechek, who is trying to keep his race team afloat this season by pulling the start-and-park pattern, was intending to run his Nemco Motorsports car the distance on Sunday and maybe squeeze out a decent finish to earn some more cash for his generally unsponsored team to keep it racing.

But Paul Menard's tire had another idea as it exploded in turn two on lap 6, shooting Menard into the side of Nemechek and both into the wall. Nemechek wound up 43rd and went home with a destroyed race car.

Do you want to accuse Jamie McMurray of winning a fluky race? Go ahead, but not only does he not care, the stats from the race don't back it up. McMurray led 32 laps Sunday to take home five extra points for leading the most.

Mark Martin came with a completely different attitude to Talladega than his normal "I hate this place" shtick. It worked so well that Martin completed all but one lap and spent time sliding on his roof.

Dude can't catch a break at these restrictor plate joints, I suppose. He did, though, reason on why Talladega has reared into a big, ugly monster that fans love or hate (and from the sound of those comments, its mostly hate right now).

"It used to be we'd come here and it'd be all about speed and power," said Martin, talking about the difference between then and today's uniform set of rules designed with mostly safety in mind, before he identified what's to blame for Talladega's controversies. "Technology has brought us to this."

Very true. And sadly, technology doesn't exactly allow us too many things to fix it.

As promised, some ramblings and questions about Talladega, as a whole. Agree or disagree as you wish.

♦ Single-file lines are not new at Talladega. If you remember back to the fall of 2007 with the same car, Jeff Gordon led all of one lap that day after the race got crazy near the end. But before that, there was plenty of guys (i.e. Gordon) riding in the back to stay out of trouble and single-file lines in the middle of the race.

Heck, I even posted about it on Oct. 8, 2007:
For much too long Sunday, it was obvious drivers were scared to be aggressive or dice for the lead. Single-file packs and drivers purposely staying at the back of the pack to avoid trouble just doesn't cut it at this level.

Jeff Gordon managed to pull off the race win by sailing through the draft after a restart with eight laps to go but for a large majority of Sunday's race, Gordon rode around at times five to seven seconds behind the leader with teammate Jimmie Johnson and other Chase contenders.

That's not racing. That's riding.
Sounds eerily familiar to Sunday, doesn't? Like I said, single-file lines aren't new at Talladega, and we really can't blame NASCAR's no bump drafting in the corners edict for it.

♦ Do you think the fact that Jimmie Johnson skirted through the messes of Talladega and came out with what is really an insurmountable point lead had any factor on fan frustration?

I really think that's part of the case. Had Jimmie wrecked, it might have changed the whole rest of the season. You get the feeling people were banking on that.

♦ Ryan Newman is right. NASCAR Sprint Cup cars don't need to be taking off on their own. Something needs to be engineered -- bigger roof flaps? -- to keep them on the ground.

♦ People that think racing at Talladega without restrictor plates would solve everything couldn't be further from the truth. Going faster means race cars fly better. And when cars fly, they don't have control. And when you don't have control, you don't know where they'll land.

Therein lies the complete problem with going faster at Talladega.

♦ After much thinking about the subject, I think I've nailed down the frustration I felt after Sunday's race. It's simple: Talladega is too predictable in its unpredictability.

Other race tracks have different types of races nearly every visit and there's often quirks that are completely unexpected. NASCAR fans like quirks and the unexpected -- it makes things exciting and fresh to watch.

But at Talladega (I'm not lumping Daytona into this) the formula is simple: Ride, ride, pass, ride, ride, crash, race, crash, checkered flag.

We've gotten so used to the "Big One" and extraordinary crashes that they've become just ordinary and an off-shoot winner -- we should have had three in-a-row going to back to last season's terrible call to rob Regan Smith of the win -- happens more often than not now.

Simply, we've seen three-wide racing so much that we expect it and its not massively thrilling to the longtime viewer. And for the drivers, they've reached the point where they realize that nothing counts until the checked flag waves. Why, then, would they want to ride in peril for three hours?

Can you blame them? I can't.

It's not a good show for the fans, and there's no incentive for the drivers. That leaves one variable on the table: NASCAR.

Love it or hate it, Talladega has reached an interesting point with problems -- not the safety ones -- that really have no clear cut answer.

Sprint Cup N's & Q's: AMP Energy 500 originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:14:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Geoffrey MillerWed, 04 Nov 2009 11:14:00 EST Jimmie Johnson on Bulldozing Talladega, Luck and Enjoying the Ridehttp://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/11/04/jimmie-johnson-on-bulldozing-talladega-luck-and-enjoying-the-ri/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/11/04/jimmie-johnson-on-bulldozing-talladega-luck-and-enjoying-the-ri/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/11/04/jimmie-johnson-on-bulldozing-talladega-luck-and-enjoying-the-ri/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Jimmie JohnsonTo hear Jimmie Johnson describe it, the most challenging part of wrapping up a historic fourth consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship is not getting wrapped up in winning it. No matter how hard everyone else tries to convince him the trophy's been engraved.

He holds a 184-point advantage -- nearly a full race lead -- on second place Mark Martin and only needs to finish 10th place or better in the remaining three Chase for the Championship races to secure the trophy. That's even if Martin wins all three races and leads the most laps in each.

But Johnson insists his approach in the No. 48 Lowe's Chevy will be the same as if he was trailing by 184 points and promised he wasn't about to start being conservative.

"We're showing up to win races,'' Johnson said. "Finishing 10th isn't as easy as it sounds. It is a tough field of cars out there and we need to be on our game. With three to go, we need to race these next two as if we're behind in the points and get every point we can.''

In an interview this week with the national press, Johnson also shared his thoughts on a controversial Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway race Sunday, how good luck has affected his unprecedented title run and if he ever takes a moment to enjoy the journey.

Johnson made candid remarks after a sixth-place finish at Talladega on Sunday, when multi-car crashes took out his closest championship rivals -- Hendrick Motorsports teammates Martin and Jeff Gordon. And a frightening collision sent Chase driver Ryan Newman's Chevy airborne resulting in a red flag.

Two days later, Johnson didn't back down from his opinion that the only way NASCAR was going to tame the dangerous multi-car melees at the 2.66-mile speedway was to take a bulldozer to the track's 33-degree banked turns.

"At the end of the day, I hope people realize we have messed with enough in the garage area with cars, with threatening drivers, regulating -- some people think they've over-regulated, other people think we're under-regulated -- but the bottom line is we're going to have these issues until we're required to let off the gas going into the turns,'' Johnson said.

"I think overwhelmingly, the public is understanding and starting to recognize that you can't change the cars anymore. You can't scold the drivers anymore. ... the only way we can get the racing to change is by changing the track. It's the only thing left. We've messed with every other area and nothing has worked.''

He also said he's heard the outcry from fans upset with the single file, play-it-safe strategy drivers used for the first two-thirds of the race. Johnson said he understands it may not be a good "show" but it's the new reality for a racer who wants to be around at the end to challenge for the checkered flag.

"The bottom line, somebody is going to be unhappy,'' Johnson said. "The fans that want to see the big wrecks and want to see the four and five-wide are going to be upset right now ... because we were responsible as drivers and tried not to wreck earlier in the race.

"Right now, because we're trying to be responsible, we have more people upset than we've ever had before.''


Johnson was one of those who successfully employed the strategy of patience. His top-10 finish Sunday was essentially an escape from what many considered the last true wild-card race. Had he succumbed to the Talladega odds and gotten caught up in one of the big wrecks, the points race would have tightened and the championship wouldn't be a runaway.

Instead, Johnson extended his lead -- but refused to write it off as "good luck."

The last big accident occurred literally just behind him, but even so, a late-race decision by his team to pit for fuel played a crucial role in his finishing when others did not.

"Some people may say Talladega was a lucky race for us, but I see how we earned this thing and made good decisions,'' Johnson said. "[Crew chief] Chad [Knaus] made a decision to pit for fuel and that decision put us in position for a good finish. ... it wasn't a lucky call. I feel from that race, the luckiest thing I had was not being back one more row and collected when that wreck started.

"It's hard for me to think too much about it [luck]. I guess I'm maybe trying to ignore it in some respects and focus on the things I can control and what the team does.''

And how do you argue with that. Clearly Johnson knows a thing or two -- or three, or four -- about winning championships in the most competitive era in NASCAR history.

And as a true sports fan, Johnson is genuinely humbled by the opportunity. As he will remind you, he only started driving stock cars about 10 years ago. He's only been in the Cup ranks for eight seasons and is on pace to claim championships in half of them.

Truly a remarkable statistic by any measure.

"No way I thought it was possible, let alone with my situation,'' Johnson said. "I'm not sure what I would compare it to, but I didn't think it was possible. I looked at what Jeff [Gordon] had accomplished, race wins and four championships and that was probably the last we'd see something like that with how competitive the sport is.

"I'm blown away and honored and enjoying every minute of what we're doing here. ... I've worked very, very hard to get to this point ans so has this team and we're enjoying every minute of it. What got us in this position was racing hard and going for every point and until it's mathematically locked up, we're going to keep the mindset and try to get every point that we can.''
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Jimmie Johnson on Bulldozing Talladega, Luck and Enjoying the Ride originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 06:26:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Jimmie JohnsonNASCARHolly CainWed, 04 Nov 2009 06:26:00 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 Johnson's Fourth Title in Full Viewhttp://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/11/01/jimmie-johnsons-fourth-title-in-full-view/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/11/01/jimmie-johnsons-fourth-title-in-full-view/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/11/01/jimmie-johnsons-fourth-title-in-full-view/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Jimmie Johnson Talladega 2009 Sprint Cup Chase Hendrick MotorsportsA car length here, a lane change there and one incredible pit call.

No matter what it was, Jimmie Johnson and the No. 48 team seemed to do it right on a mild then wild Sunday afternoon at Talladega Superspeedway -- even when it looked like holding par in the point standings wasn't going to happen as the laps clicked off and the drama kept rising around the 2.66-mile wildcard.

But when the cars stopped flipping and the smoke stopped rising, Johnson -- to the chagrin of plenty -- stood alone in his pursuit of the 2009 Chase for the Sprint Cup with what amounts to be an insurmountable lead with an unstoppable team.

All week -- actually, make that every race of the Chase so far -- other drivers, fans and us media types have looked at Sunday's race at Talladega from the mindset that it would be Johnson's calling card to come closer to the rest of the field. It would be his kryptonite because, come on, no one can really dominate as much the No. 48 without issue, right?

Well, we were right -- but just not enough.

Johnson's finishing average prior to Talladega in the six races that had previously comprised the Chase was a measly average of third. After his sixth-place Talladega effort? Johnson's average finishing position rocketed to 3.43.

Kidding aside, once again everything seemed to work out for Johnson.

Riding in the back of the lead pack with just five laps to go, Johnson stayed high to avoid Ryan Newman's flipping car from just five spots ahead of him and then avoided Tony Stewart's slowing race car on the outside. More important, though, was the pit call that crew chief Chad Knaus made as soon as the caution came out.

Follow FanHouse RacingJohnson ducked to pit road when it first opened, grabbed fuel, and returned to the race track. The red flag was displayed almost immediately thereafter, and the several of the drivers who didn't pit then but needed to ran out fuel when the caution resumed.

It was an unusual circumstance as NASCAR typically will put out the red flag before it opens pit lane, and Knaus jumped on the chance to take on fuel while the others, like teammates Mark Martin and Jeff Gordon, didn't. Johnson was initially skeptical of the call until cars ahead of him started dropping like flies to get fuel. By the restart, he was in the Top-10.

Johnson, though, wasn't out of the woods quite yet when Kurt Busch got turned sideways off of turn four as the field approached the white flag when racing had started again. Busch spun sideways and clipped Scott Speed -- the car drafting off Johnson's rear decklid to set off a 13-car pileup that ended the race a lap from the end.

Johnson and Knaus had then accomplished exactly what they had hoped to do by driving to a sixth-place finish and not giving up any ground in the Chase to his teammate Martin. Martin, thanks to a finish that saw him flip over, instead lost pivotal ground to Johnson.

The No. 48 now has a lead in the point standings of some 184 points over Martin in second. The number is large enough that should Johnson finish 10th or better in the remaining three races, there's not a soul who can catch him.

For a guy that's averaged that finish of 3.43 so far in the Chase, the odds seem to be pretty well in the favor of Johnson becoming the first four-peat champion in NASCAR's history -- leaving the competition with one question.

When's Daytona?

Johnson's Fourth Title in Full View originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sun, 01 Nov 2009 19:36:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>jimmie johnsontalladega superspeedwayGeoffrey MillerSun, 01 Nov 2009 19:36:00 EST McMurray Snaps 86-Race Winless Streakhttp://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/11/01/mcmurray-snaps-86-race-winless-streak/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/11/01/mcmurray-snaps-86-race-winless-streak/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/11/01/mcmurray-snaps-86-race-winless-streak/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Jamie McMurrayTALLADEGA, Ala. (AP) -- Jamie McMurray was the unlikely winner of an uncharacteristically dull race at Talladega Superspeedway, where a ban on bump-drafting forced most drivers to coast until the end Sunday.

It almost cost three-time defending champion Jimmie Johnson dearly. He puttered around at the back of the pack most of the afternoon and almost ran out of time to charge back through the field.

But when Ryan Newman's harrowing accident with five laps remaining caused a red-flag delay of nearly 13 minutes while Newman was cut out of his car, drivers ahead of Johnson began to run out of gas. He was credited with an eighth-place finish -- enough to likely seal his NASCAR-record fourth consecutive championship.
More Coverage: Amp Energy 500 Results | Sprint Cup Standings

Newman's accident set up a two-lap sprint to the finish, but the race still ended under caution because of another spectacular crash that sent Mark Martin flipping across the race track.

McMurray, stuck in an 86-race winless streak dating to Daytona in July 2007, coasted across the finish line for the third victory of his career.

Kasey Kahne was second, followed by rookie Joey Logano.

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.

McMurray Snaps 86-Race Winless Streak originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sun, 01 Nov 2009 17:24:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>FanHouse NewswireSun, 01 Nov 2009 17:24:00 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."
More Coverage: Amp Energy 500 Results | Sprint Cup Standings
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 FanHouse Warmup: AMP Energy 500http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/11/01/fanhouse-warmup-amp-energy-500/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/11/01/fanhouse-warmup-amp-energy-500/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/11/01/fanhouse-warmup-amp-energy-500/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Essentials
Race: AMP Energy 500
Where: Talladega Superspeedway
Time: Sunday 1:00 p.m. EST
TV/Radio: ABC, MRN Radio
Twitter: Updates @ FanHouseRacing
Forecast: Sunny, High 60s
Distance: 188 laps (500 miles)
Pole Winner: Jimmie Johnson
2008 Winner: Tony Stewart
The Storylines

Consider this as NASCAR's version of laying down the law, but with one problem -- will they actually enforce it?

NASCAR made big noise Sunday morning at Talladega when they told drivers in the pre-race meeting that bump drafting in today's race while racing through the corners would not be permitted. And to back up the rule, they promised to even swipe a victory away if a driver was found to be in violation.

It's a tough rhetoric that we've heard before from NASCAR, but this time it seems like they mean business.


NASCAR is trying to avoid, ultimately, what happened at Talladega back in April when Carl Edwards' No. 99 turned into a 3,200-pound pinball on the final lap. Some catchfencing along the frontstretch was the only thing that kept Edwards from sailing into the packed grandstands -- though parts and pieces did injure fans.

NASCAR wants to eliminate the phenomenon that has creeped up with the Car of Tomorrow platform that allows two drivers to pair up -- one pushing the other -- and fly hundreds of yards ahead of the competition. That's what happened with Edwards' situation after Edwards was pushed to the lead and then Brad Keselowski tried to pass him.

I do get what NASCAR is trying to do, but come on -- do they think such rules will prevent a wreck? I don't see it making much of a difference in the probability of a nasty crash today at the 2.66-mile behemoth of a race track but I do foresee one problem: the potential for a huge controversy at the end of the day thanks to NASCAR's judgment call.

We'll see how it works.

We know exactly what you're rooting for in the 2009 championship if you're not so much of a Jimmie Johnson fan, and Talladega might just provide the necessary ingredients to make the 2009's recipe a little better for you.

Jimmie knows it, his competitors know it, you know it and I know it: Talladega is the biggest of wildcards in the Chase for the Sprint Cup and more than likely the last best shot for anyone to come within striking distance of three-time.

Of course, Jimmie Johnson fans hate the talk of people wanting him to fall back to the competition and that's certainly something you can't blame them for. They want their boy to win. The good news for the No. 48 supporters? Just walk on nails for three or so hours Sunday and if Johnson makes it to the end in respectable position -- pull out those credit cards for some championship gear.

The Talladega weather already showed some love to Johnson after qualifying on Saturday morning was rained out.

Johnson, by nature of leading the points, will get to start from the pole on Sunday and had the number one choice of a pit stall. He took pit stall number one -- the last one on pit road towards turn one.

Teammates Mark Martin and Jeff Gordon (No.'s 2 & 3 in points) both opted for a garage opening in front of their stall for an easy exit from a stop and an easy place to pull in and fix a damaged race car.

Enjoy the race.

FanHouse Warmup: AMP Energy 500 originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sun, 01 Nov 2009 11:36:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Talladega+SuperspeedwayGeoffrey MillerSun, 01 Nov 2009 11:36:00 EST Despite Precautions, Talladega Remains Wild Ridehttp://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/10/28/despite-precautions-talladega-remains-a-wild-ride/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/10/28/despite-precautions-talladega-remains-a-wild-ride/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/10/28/despite-precautions-talladega-remains-a-wild-ride/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Depending on your perspective, Ryan Newman either had the best seat in the house or the worst during NASCAR's last visit to the mighty and unpredictable Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.

Carl Edwards, Sprint Cup rookie Brad Keselowski and Newman were 100 yards in front of the checkered flag, set to decide the winner amongst themselves, when Keselowski and Edwards collided directly in front of Newman. Edwards' Ford went airborne, bounced off the hood and windshield of Newman's Chevy, then flew into the fencing along the front stretch grandstands in a horrific-looking accident that led the country's sports highlight reels.

If you haven't seen the video, you will. It'll be played over and over and over all weekend as the Sprint Cup Series makes its Chase for the Championship visit to Talladega this week.

And each time you watch it, it will seem amazing that all the drivers were safe -- Keselowski got his maiden Cup victory and Newman went on to a career-best, third place at Talladega. Seven fans, however, were injured by debris that flew off Edwards car, prompting NASCAR and the track to institute some safety upgrades for this Halloween stop at the sport's largest track.

"It was a wild finish and it got a little tense at the end,'' Newman said in the ultimate understatement.

"We want exciting races, but we don't want to see cars airborne either,'' Newman said this week. "It's not safe and we need to collectively work to make sure what happened in the last race at Talladega doesn't happen again.''

After extracting himself from his mangled No. 39 Chevrolet that April evening, Newman immediately declared, "There's no such thing as an over-reaction for safety" and called the day's tightly-packed restrictor plate action, "just crazy."

Championship points leader Jimmie Johnson, involved in a multi-car crash with 10 laps remaining, was even more blunt: "It sucks racing here.''



Edwards somehow managed to climb out of his car unhurt, jog across the finish line, tell his mom in a television interview that he was "okay" and then sternly warned,"NASCAR has put us in this box and we'll race like this until we kill someone and then they'll change it.''

And NASCAR listened.

Sort of.

This weekend, NASCAR has mandated a smaller restrictor plate -- meaning there will be about 10-15 less horsepower for the cars. Talladega Superspeedway has extended the height of its catch fence another eight feet -- making it 22 feet high now -- and hired an engineering firm to "enhance" the fencing materials.

Daytona International Speedway, the other restrictor plate track on the circuit -- has also raised its fencing.

All this will at least give spectators peace of mind. Because of the pack-racing, multi-car crashes aren't going anywhere. They'll just happen at slightly slower speeds.

And let's face it, the "Big One" is part of Talladega's folklore. No one wants to see anyone get hurt, but fans love the unpredictable, from-last-to-first-in-10-laps possibilities that exist here. The baggage with that tight, draft racing is the potential for any driver lapse to create a 15-car melee.

NASCAR has had to balance the thrill of its show with the safety of its competitors and, just as importantly, the safety of its fans. Would NASCAR have reacted with new rules had fans not been hurt?

Newman not only had a front-row seat for the crash but also holds an engineering degree, making his perspective uniquely qualified. He likes the restrictor plate change and the fence modification, but thinks the real issue may be a question of aerodynamics and how to keep the cars from getting airborne in the first place.

"It's just a matter of excitement and strategy and the timing of those things in conjunction with what lap we're on and what there is to expect before the end of the race,'' Newman said.

"Realistically, you never know what to expect.''

And that's the rub ... and the attraction.

For his part, Edwards is scheduled to meet with Blake Bobbitt, the 17-year-old girl who was most seriously injured in April attending her first NASCAR race. Her jaw was broken and had to be wired shut for the remainder of her senior year of high school. After the race Edwards called it the worst feeling he's ever had in racing.

Since then Edwards has called periodically to check on her and the Bobbitt family will be a guest of NASCAR at the pre-race drivers meeting on Sunday.

"She's coming back to the track which is a great example of how passionate our fans are,'' Edwards said. "She's pumped about the race too, so that's cool.''
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Despite Precautions, Talladega Remains Wild Ride originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Ryan NewmanRyanNewmanTalladega SuperspeedayTalladegaSuperspeedayHolly CainWed, 28 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EST Inside 'The Chase' With Ryan Newman: On NASCAR Safety, Morehttp://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/10/10/inside-the-chase-with-ryan-newman/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/10/10/inside-the-chase-with-ryan-newman/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/10/10/inside-the-chase-with-ryan-newman/#commentsFiled under: , ,

In this week's edition of Inside the Chase, FanHouse's Holly Cain visits with Ryan Newman, the driver of the U.S. Army-sponsored No. 39 Chevrolet, to talk Talladega safety improvements, a rough qualifying lap at California Speedway, reading to school kids, a vacation to Jackson Hole and the benefits of earning his college degree.

Ryan Newman is currently ranked ninth among the 12 drivers vying for the Sprint Cup title as the series stops at Auto Club Speedway of Southern California for the fourth of the 10-race Chase for the Championship.

Newman was a vocal proponent of having NASCAR make safety modifications in light of a horrific airborne crash at the spring Talladega 500-miler. In the midst of a multi-car accident at the front of the field, Newman's car launched Carl Edwards' car into the front stretch catchfence. Debris injured seven people in the grandstands.

In response to the accident, NASCAR announced Friday it has slowed down the cars for the Nov. 1 Talladega race by shrinking the restrictor plate -- the difference of about 10-15 horsepower. And both Talladega and Daytona International Speedway -- the two largest tracks on the NASCAR schedule -- have said they will raise the height of their fencing.

"The things they did are the right direction and I commend them for it," Newman said. I just wish they had come to me and said, 'We're thinking of doing this and this.' I shouldn't have to go to them. It's their job to make the cars and tracks as safe as possible.

"I still believe there are things we can do collectively to keep the cars from getting airborne. ... I don't know if it's the size of the roof flaps -- making them bigger -- or adding more. The cars are definitely safer than the old ones, but let's not stop developing the race cars.

"Changing the fence is good, but if the car was never airborne, the fence wouldn't have been an issue.''

On his 36th-place starting position for Sunday's Pepsi 500:

"We weren't pole capable, but we were eighth-fastest in practice. Qualifying was just a combination of me trying to get too much out of it and not having the car just right yet. On a bigger race track like this, there's less to worry about starting this far back. I'm confident we'll get the car better.''

On why he doesn't consider himself out of contention for the Chase for the Championship. He dropped two positions in the standings after last week's race in Kansas City and trails leader Mark Martin by 164 points:

"There are seven races left. Seven races is a long time, it's a fifth of the schedule. We proved in the first fifth of the season that we could come back from 31st place to as high as fourth place (in the championship). Before Talladega, it's not even a question that we're in it.''

On the trip Newman and his wife Krissie took to Jackson Hole, Wy., on the way to this week's Cup race in Fontana, Calif.:

"We had a lot of fun and it was a lot colder than it was supposed to be. Last week it was 75 degrees, it never got above 45 while we there. We went horseback riding though, had a good time.''

On reading to school children this week:

"I don't really know which book I'm reading yet, hopefully it's not Green Eggs and Ham (laughing), maybe it will be The Little Engine that Could. I'm looking forward to it. It's a good thing and it makes a difference.''

On being the only current full-time Sprint Cup driver to have a four-year college degree (Newman earned an engineering degree from Purdue University):

"I always wanted to use the degree to help with my racing career, but it was also a Plan B in case racing didn't work out, either if something happened to me physically, or if I didn't get my breaks.

"I was fortunate to have my family on my side, Don Miller and Roger Penske. That helped. My dad kept in touch with Don Miller and kept him up to date so he knew when I had one semester left. I had assistance like that and people observing me (as a race car driver).

"All it takes is a few people that care."

Inside 'The Chase' With Ryan Newman: On NASCAR Safety, More originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sat, 10 Oct 2009 13:44:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>inside the chaseInsideTheChaseNASCARRyan NewmanRyanNewmanTalladega SuperspeedwayTalladegaSuperspeedwayHolly CainSat, 10 Oct 2009 13:44:00 EST Injured Fan, 17, Leaves Alabama Hospitalhttp://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/04/29/injured-fan-17-leaves-alabama-hospital/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/04/29/injured-fan-17-leaves-alabama-hospital/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/04/29/injured-fan-17-leaves-alabama-hospital/#commentsFiled under: , ,

For Blake Bobbitt, 187 laps of last Sunday's Aaron's 499 at Talladega Superspeedway were pretty much the same as the rest of the 142,000 fans on hand -- fast and exciting. Then, on the lap 188, Carl Edwards' No. 99 flew into the catch fence in front of her, ripping apart and spewing a chunk of metal into her face and shattering her jaw.

Talk about a bad experience at your first NASCAR race.

The 17-year-old Bobbitt was released from a Birmingham, Ala., hospital Wednesday according to the Associated Press, but not before having her jaw wired shut for up to six weeks, said a Florence, Ala., newspaper.

Bobbitt's father Terry was interviewed in the article and talked about seeing the wreck start to happen and trying to first warn then protect his daughter.
Terry Bobbitt said he pointed toward Edwards' car to alert his daughter as the vehicle flipped across the track.

"I pointed down the track and, all in that same motion, I grabbed her and took her down to the ground," [Bobbitt] said. "I covered her, and the only thing I didn't get covered was the side of her face that got hit. Nothing hit me. I couldn't believe anything even hit her."

Blake Bobbitt was knocked unconscious, Emma Bobbitt said. "They immediately got her on the backboard and took her to the medical house there and flew her out."

She said her daughter doesn't remember the wreck.

"She just remembers standing up to see the last lap," Emma Bobbitt said. "Everybody's talked about it so much since then that she's starting to put the pieces together."
That's definitely some pretty scary stuff, and from the sound of it both Blake and her father were lucky nothing more serious happened. That's not to say, of course, that a broken jaw is just a bump or a bruise -- especially for a high school senior preparing to graduate in the next few weeks.

The article said that Bobbitt went through a long reconstructive surgery on her lower jaw on Monday and that Edwards called her to apologize for the incident, and even added that he himself has broken his jaw before and understands the associated problems.

Fortunately, Bobbitt is expected to fully recover from her injuries despite more scheduled surgeries. However, its probably going to be a hard sell for her to ever attend a NASCAR race again -- which is a part NASCAR needs to recognize.

Having fans get hurt is just simply not a "part of the game" as many folks have argued in the past few days. People won't come to race tracks anymore, let alone buy up the cheap seats that are the lowest and closest to the action if they think there's a realistic possibility of injury.

Do accidents happen? Sure they do. But to think that there's nothing else anyone can do to keep potential lifelong fans like Blake Bobbitt from getting hurt is close-minded at best and ignorant at worst.

Injured Fan, 17, Leaves Alabama Hospital originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Wed, 29 Apr 2009 21:32:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Aarons 499Aarons499Carl EdwardsCarlEdwardsSprint CupSprintCupTalladega SuperspeedwayTalladegaSuperspeedwayGeoffrey MillerWed, 29 Apr 2009 21:32:00 EST Numbers: Keselowski's 'Dega Shockerhttp://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/04/29/numbers-keselowskis-talladega-shocker/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/04/29/numbers-keselowskis-talladega-shocker/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/04/29/numbers-keselowskis-talladega-shocker/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Takin' a glance at Brad Keselowski's upset win in last Sunday's action at Talladega Superspeedway:

0.175 - Seconds Keselowski finished ahead of second-place Dale Earnhardt Jr.

1 - Total number of laps led by Keselowski in his Sprint Cup career

1 - Number of Miss Sprint Cup girls doused with champagne in victory lane by Keselowski

2 - Previous number of trips to NASCAR victory lane, both during 2008 in the Nationwide Series

5 - Total number of Sprint Cup starts for Keselowski [quickest win record held by Jamie McMurray with 3]

9 - Keselowski's starting position in Sunday's race

09 - Keselowski's winning car number. He became the first driver to take that car number to victory lane in NASCAR history.

16.739 - Keselowski's average running position in Sunday's race

105 - Number of starts, since 1990, for team owner James Finch to find Sprint Cup victory lane

193.531 - Keselowski's average mile per hour speed under green flag, second to Joe Nemechek

463 - Number of green flag passes during Sunday's race for Keselowski, second to David Ragan with 489

Numbers: Keselowski's 'Dega Shocker originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Wed, 29 Apr 2009 14:48:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Aarons 499Aarons499Brad KeselowskiBradKeselowskiJames FinchJamesFinchSprint Cup NumbersSprintCupNumbersTalladega SuperspeedwayTalladegaSuperspeedwayGeoffrey MillerWed, 29 Apr 2009 14:48:00 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 Live Chat Wraphttp://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/04/26/talladega-live-chat-1-pm-et/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/04/26/talladega-live-chat-1-pm-et/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/04/26/talladega-live-chat-1-pm-et/#commentsFiled under:


Sunday marks the Aaron's 499 race at Talladega Superspeedway, and I spent time answering questions before the race -- one of the most exciting events on the Sprint Cup Series schedule -- live from the track's infield. Check out the chat wrap after the jump.

Talladega Crowd, History Could Equal Victory for Junior

Talladega Live Chat Wrap originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sun, 26 Apr 2009 12:04:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Holly CainSun, 26 Apr 2009 12:04:00 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 Talladega Live CHAT, Sunday at 1 EThttp://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/04/25/talladega-live-chat-sunday/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/04/25/talladega-live-chat-sunday/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/04/25/talladega-live-chat-sunday/#commentsFiled under: ,

Join FanHouse motorsports writer Holly Cain from the infield of Talladega Superspeedway for a live, pre-race CHAT Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.

She's covering the NASCAR race weekend in Talladega and will take your comments and questions about the season and the Aaron's 499 race -- one of the most exciting events on the Sprint Cup Series schedule.

Talladega Live CHAT, Sunday at 1 ET originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sat, 25 Apr 2009 16:12:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Holly CainSat, 25 Apr 2009 16:12:00 EST Kasey Kahne Talks About His Birthday, LeBron James, Sponsorship Rumorshttp://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/04/24/live-chat-with-kasey-kahne/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/04/24/live-chat-with-kasey-kahne/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/04/24/live-chat-with-kasey-kahne/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Kasey KahneOn Friday evening we caught up with one of NASCAR's most popular drivers, Kasey Kahne, for a live chat in which Kahne spent time answering the burning questions of his fans.

Among the topics Kahne touched on were his confidence in his car, the rumors swirling around his sponsorship status, his favorite track (and which one needs the most work) and what he did on his birthday.

Check out the full chat transcript after the jump.

Kasey Kahne: Hey, I just got out of the car -- lost an engine in practice so I only made one run, but car felt alright for Sunday.

Tracy: Do you have a girlfriend?
Kasey Kahne: I'm single right now.

Don Brown: Kasey, how does that blown engine impact the rest of your weekend?
Kasey Kahne: I didn't get as much practice as some of the other cars, but usually when you unload at this track you're fairly close.

Brett Pharve: Who was your favorite sports star (non-NASCAR) growing up?
Kasey Kahne: LeBron James right now because of how dominant he is in the NBA. I liked Gary Payton a lot growing up because of the Seattle SuperSonics.

Lori: Where do you think you will get your first win this year?
Kasey Kahne: Darlington -- I've always really liked that place.

Carrie: When are you guys going to start using the new Dodge engine?
Kasey Kahne: Hopefully sooner than later. The engine shop is working hard to have it, I'm just not sure when.

Chris: I miss your Allstate commercials, do you plan on doing any more?
Kasey Kahne: I always had a lot of fun with the Allstate commercials, but as of right now I haven't heard of anymore.

kayla: How was your birthday? What did you do, since there was no race that weekend?
Kasey Kahne: I ended up racing Saturday and just went out to PF Changs for dinner.

Dan Brinke: Hey Kasey, heard a rumor that you would be driving a Bud Light car. Any truth to that?
Kasey Kahne: No truth to that. I'll be Budweiser all year long

Julieanne: How do you not let the the rumors about you leaving your racing team or losing your sponsorship affect you while racing?
Kasey Kahne: It's easy. Budweiser is a great sponsor and they say they're sticking with us. All I want to do is work my hardest to win where I'm at right now.

Willie Nelson: Is it intimidating to race at Talladega Superspeedway? Or not too different from other tacks?
Kasey Kahne: It's not too intimidating. It's super smooth and cars handle so well at these tracks that you're always just focused on being in the right lane at right time.

kayla: What made you choose NASCAR racing as your career?
Kasey Kahne: I chose racing because I grew up loving racing. I ended up being a NASCAR driver, which is great, but I was open to any type of racing.

Dan Brinke: Do you actually ever drink Budweiser?
Kasey Kahne: That's all I drink. Dead serious. Beer and water.

Al: How about winning the Allstar Race again?
Kasey Kahne: I hope we have a great shot. We're bringing a brand new car which will be the latest and greatest Richard Petty Motorsports has.

David: You are the best.
Kasey Kahne: Thanks David.

David Rothfeld: How do you feel when you are about to race?
Kasey Kahne: I feel excited and ready to go. I usually listen to some music the hour before, get something to eat.

Chris: I'm from Vegas, what do you think of the Championship Ceremonies being moved from New York City to Las Vegas?
Kasey Kahne: I think it will be great. It seems to me there's more of a NASCAR following in Vegas than New York.

skdub: Do you think Danica Patrick could handle being a driver in NASCAR?
Kasey Kahne: As well as she runs in the IRL, I'd imagine she could figure it out with the right amount of experience.

Sareena: What other careers did you want to try?
Kasey Kahne: I wanted to be a logger when I was young, because my dad was. Then I decided to race and I'm glad that I did.

Marvin: Which NASCAR driver has the best personality? Which one of your rivals is a really funny guy?
Kasey Kahne: When I go out with Elliott Sadler, he's a great time. Jimmie Johnson's always cool.

David: What music do you like?
Kasey Kahne: Country

Danny: How is your Sprint car team doing?
Kasey Kahne: Alll three of my teams are doing great this year. We've already won six races.

skdub: Is Days of Thunder your favorite movie?
Kasey Kahne: No, but it's a good one.

Allison: Do you have any pets?
Kasey Kahne: No, but I'd like to have a dog some day.

Mason: Do you still talk with Bill Elliott at all?
Kasey Kahne: Not as much. But whenever I see him we talk. He's definitely a great guy.

kris: do you like Kyle and Kurt Busch?
Kasey Kahne: I like both Kyle and Kurt. I think they're great drivers and cool guys away from the track.

john: What track would you like to see some improvement on?
Kasey Kahne: Phoenix. ... new pavement.

rodney: When will your car be the car you need? We know you can drive, when will you get a fast car?
Kasey Kahne: It keeps getting better every week.

Al: What are your feelings on Martin winning?
Kasey Kahne: I thought it was awesome!

Kasey Kahne: Thanks for all the questions. Watch for the Bud car Sunday. I'm coming from the back.

Kasey Kahne Talks About His Birthday, LeBron James, Sponsorship Rumors originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Fri, 24 Apr 2009 16:31:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>kasey kahneKaseyKahneHolly CainFri, 24 Apr 2009 16:31:00 EST LFL: Regan Smith Won 'Dega, Says Dale Jr.http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2008/10/11/lfl-regan-smith-won-dega-says-dale-jr/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2008/10/11/lfl-regan-smith-won-dega-says-dale-jr/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2008/10/11/lfl-regan-smith-won-dega-says-dale-jr/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

FanHouse's Geoffrey Miller is at the track in Concord, N.C. for Saturday night's Bank of America 500 in full fan mode. He's hoping to avoid Kevin Harvick's motor coach driver from his location in the Ford Grandstand, Section I.

Regan Smith may drive for the race team that Dale Earnhardt Jr. left in 2007, but that didn't keep the now-Hendrick Motorsports driver from taking Smith's side after last week's controversial finish at Talladega Superspeedway.

Smith, a rookie in the Sprint Cup series, was denied his first-career win after NASCAR declared his last-lap pass underneath Tony Stewart illegal and gave Stewart the win despite getting beat by Smith to the finish line.

I was thoroughly against the ruling, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. made his support of Smith clear and questioned NASCAR's judgment on Friday at Lowe's Motor Speedway.
"In my opinion, the 01 (Smith) was forced below the line," Earnhardt Jr. said on Friday at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

"The two did make contact - (Smith) was on the inside of Tony and he had no choice other than to move away from Tony and that sends him below the line and in my opinion, the 01 wins the race. I feel like Tony did what he had to do. In the car, everyone would have done what Tony did, everyone would have done what the 01 did. Neither one of them were wrong or right.

"What's curious is when are you forced? Show me some video. I want to know what's forced and what's not. I felt like that was being forced."
And can you argue with Earnhardt Jr.? His statement further exemplifies how confused drivers were on NASCAR's rule, and how they remain to be confused now even after NASCAR tried to clarify the rule this week.

Earnhardt Jr. especially took exception to the now-apparent policy of NASCAR saying that Smith should have either backed off and not gone for the win or tried to wreck Stewart.
"[Smith] can't sit there and hold his line," said Earnhardt Jr., who left DEI at the end of 2007 to compete for Hendrick Motorsports. "He's going to wreck Tony and probably wreck himself. That's ridiculous to expect someone to be that bull-headed about a situation like that and put everybody in jeopardy just to not be accused of passing below the line."
Ridiculous it is, Mr. Earnhardt.

A black and white playbook isn't a possibility in NASCAR, but something with much less gray with the current one is very possible.

LFL: Regan Smith Won 'Dega, Says Dale Jr. originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sat, 11 Oct 2008 15:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>BankofAmerica500DaleEarnhardtIncDaleEarnhardtJrHendrickMotorsportsLiveFromLowesLowesMotorSpeedwayReganSmithSprintcupTalladegaSuperspeedwayTonyStewartGeoffrey MillerSat, 11 Oct 2008 15:30:00 EST Scenes from the Sprint Cup: Talladegahttp://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2008/10/10/scenes-from-the-sprint-cup-talladega/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2008/10/10/scenes-from-the-sprint-cup-talladega/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2008/10/10/scenes-from-the-sprint-cup-talladega/#commentsFiled under: ,

Before the Sprint Cup action gets too fired up again in Charlotte, here's a quick look back at some of the best images of a dramatic weekend at Talladega Superspeedway.



Excuse Us, We'll Just Be a Minute - A pack of Sprint Cup drivers races in tight, harrowing quarters through turn 2 at Talladega as the infield crowd looks on at the blur of speed and color.





This Will Be a Long Ride - Delana Harvick, wife of Sprint Cup driver Kevin Harvick, sits on pit road prior to the start of last Sunday's Amp Energy 500. Kevin was in position to battle for the win until a crash with 14 laps to go took him out of the race.



Demolition Derby Gone Bad - Roush Fenway Racing driver Matt Kenseth suffered race-ending damage in the crash with 14 laps to go. His crew's main concern here? Making sure the car fits in the hauler.



The New Bright Lights - Rookie driver Regan Smith gets a heavy dose of the NASCAR media after being involved with the controversial finish of Sunday's race. Smith actually beat race-winner Tony Stewart to the finish line but was penalized by NASCAR for what they deemed an illegal pass.



Whewwww - Even Tony Stewart seems a little incredulous that he took Sunday's victory after Smith's move. It also broke losing streak for Stewart as he notched his first win of the 2008 season, despite many opportunities earlier in the year marred by bad luck.

Scenes from the Sprint Cup: Talladega originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Fri, 10 Oct 2008 08:48:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>AmpEnergy500DelanaHarvickKevinHarvickMattKensethReganSmithScenesFromSprintCupTalladegaTonyStewartGeoffrey MillerFri, 10 Oct 2008 08:48:00 EST Add "Miss Cleo" to Driver Talent Requirementhttp://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2008/10/07/nascar-drivers-new-requirement-be-miss-cleo/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2008/10/07/nascar-drivers-new-requirement-be-miss-cleo/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2008/10/07/nascar-drivers-new-requirement-be-miss-cleo/#commentsFiled under: , ,

In most sports, rules that apply directly to a particular event are known at the very least before said event starts.

In NASCAR, though, only part of those rules in place, and the rest is up to the drivers to figure out based on past knowledge, or more correctly, what NASCAR's future rule will be.

Yes, NASCAR drivers are now expected by the sanctioning body to be as talented as Miss Cleo -- sans the lawsuits and deceptive billing and advertising claims.

Case in point? Sunday's race at Talladega Superspeedway that Tony Stewart was handed after Regan Smith was disqualified by NASCAR for making a pass that wasn't within the vaguely-stated and otherwise not consistently applied rules.

NASCAR clarified those rules for future use -- Regan Smith no longer has to wonder if he should wreck the leader for a win because that's what NASCAR seemingly wants -- on Monday through a statement from the sport's president, Mike Helton.
"In NASCAR's opinion he was not forced below the yellow line. NASCAR correctly took immediate action to enforce the policy by penalizing the #01 and scoring the #20 as the race winner," Helton said.

"Since the end of the race there has been some confusion as to what is allowable during the last lap at Daytona and Talladega. To be clear, as we go forward, there will be no passing under the yellow line at any time during NASCAR races at Daytona or Talladega, period. This includes any passing below the yellow line near the start/finish line on the final lap."
Well, I'm certainly glad we got that after the finish of Sunday's race, because, you know, knowing the rules might have changed the outcome a bit -- especially after the confusion that even NASCAR's employees had over the rule for the past few months.

The first example? Sunday's driver's meeting led by race director David Hoots:
"This is your warning. If you race below the yellow line and in the judgment of NASCAR you advance your position, you will be black flagged. If, in NASCAR's judgment you force someone below the yellow line in an effort to stop him from passing you, you may be black flagged," said Hoots.
Apparently NASCAR doesn't see Tony Stewart cutting down across Smith's nose, making contact with No. 01, and sending him below the yellow line to avoid collision as "forcing someone below the yellow line".

Still not convinced NASCAR got caught in its folly? Let's look back to a 2007 Craftsman Truck Series race at Daytona in which Johnny Benson made a pass for second place on the last lap under the yellow line -- and it stood.
Benson wasn't penalized because "if you can see the checkered flag on the last lap, anything goes," according to NASCAR spokesman Owen Kearns.
"Anything goes" is apparently synonymous with "you can't pass under the yellow line" in NASCAR's vocab.

Shame on Regan Smith for not knowing the rules, eh?

Somebody owes that 24-year-old a trophy and the recognition for winning a race.

Add "Miss Cleo" to Driver Talent Requirement originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Tue, 07 Oct 2008 12:39:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>DaleEarnhardtIncJoeGibbsRacingReganSmithTalladegaTonyStewartGeoffrey MillerTue, 07 Oct 2008 12:39:00 EST