Waltrip's Spoiler in Victory Lane following the Truck Series Race. (Photo by Dustin Long)
Wether or not you are a fan of the Cup Series (and to a lesser degree, Nationwide Series) tandem drafting, you would still have to admit that the phenomenon produces exciting racing. Carry that over to the Camping World Truck Series, however, and you get carnage.
Austin Dillon lead the field of 36 race trucks to the green flag in his number 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevy, 10 years to the day that the racing world lost Dale Earnhardt. He wouldn’t lead the first lap, however. That honor fell to Turner Motorsports young gun James Buescher who would go on to lead the first 46 laps of the race.
The complection of the majority of the race was that of an “old school” style of drafting where the field followed one by one in a conga-line effect, each driver seemingly biding his/her time for later in the event.
That rather calmness turned into calamity late in the race as the intensity picked up to two by two pack drafting. The first big one took out about 14 trucks on lap 75. By the 6 to go mark, unlikely contender Chris Fontaine blasted from the back to the front thanks in majority by a huge push by Kyle Busch, using the tandem style of drafting.
With 4 laps to go, going into turn one, the second big one of the night took out the majority of the remaining drivers in the field, leaving only 5 trucks without damage. The 32 truck of Brad Sweet broke loose behind teammate Buescher, who was trying to force his way up the middle in between the tandems of Fontaine/Busch and Sadler/Waltrip.
The lap 96 crash setup the season’s first Green-White-Checkerd with the trucks of Elliott Sadler and Michael Waltrip set to battle for the win. On the restart, Waltrip pushed he and Sadler far ahead of the pack and on the final turn of the final lap, Waltrip performed a slingshot maneuver to pass Sadler and claim his very first Truck Series victory, 10 years to the day that he won his first Cup Series race, the 2001 Daytona 500… the day we lost Dale Earnhardt.
Going into NASCAR Preseason Thunder at Daytona for 2011, speculation of yet another change to the points format lingered. On Friday, January 21, NASCAR President Mike Helton announced that the sanctioning body is exploring possible changes for the 2011 season.
The changes proposed are with the amount of points awarded after a race. Instead of a large amount of points, like 170 or 150, 43 points would be awarded to the race winner with one point less to each successive driver. This would give 1 point to the last place finisher, and 43 to the winner. Helton did not have any details about Bonus points but did hint that they would be factored in, in some way.
I like this concept. For years I have been a proponent of a similar system. I have always said get rid of the funky difference of some places being separated by points, some by three. This system will make it very simple to understand, and will not effect the overall outcome. Under the “new” system, Jimmie Johnson would have still been the champion last year.
Kudos to NASCAR for taking this route. I wonder how they will tackle The Chase. To this point, they have reset the points for the Chasers to 5000, plus bonus points awarded for wins. Should they adjust this as well? Post your thoughts and opinions bellow.
After a Richard Childress Racing owner, Richard Childress, brought in a reconstruction analyst to “prove beyond all reasonable doubt” that the infractions found by NASCAR on Clint Bowyer’s car following the New Hampshire race, the NASCAR Appeal Board upheld the original penalties levied by the sanctioning body. Childress paid the fine(s) on the spot and made a statement soon there after saying that the team will continue the appeal process. In the meantime, it probable that Bowyer’s Crew Chief, Shane Wilson will remain atop the pit box.
Judge Dismisses NASCAR v. Mayfield Countersuit, per NASCAR Request
The saga that has become NASCAR v. Jeremy Mayfield may have taken a step closer to resolution this week. Mayfield was suspended from NASCAR following failing a drug test for methamphetamines in May 2009. Following his suspension, Mayfield filed a volley of law suits against NASCAR. As part of their defense, NASCAR filed a countersuit against Mayfield stating the because Mayfield was under the influence of drugs, and competing, he was in breach of contract. In an effort to speed along the appeals process on the Mayfield suits, NASCAR requested that their countersuit be dropped.
New NASCAR Video Game
After two seasons without a major title release of a NASCAR based video game, Activision along with game developer Eutechnyx have developed: NASCAR The Game 2011 for XBOX 360, Playstation 3 and Nintendo Wii. The new game is due for release in February 2011. The first trailer will be released this Sunday on SPEED’s NASCAR RaceDay.
Speedway Illustrated Returns
JAYSKI – Speedway Illustrated is back on track. And some familiar names are in the driver’s seat, ready to steer it in the right direction. “Racing needs a quality magazine more than ever,” said Karl Fredrickson, publisher of Traction Media, which has acquired the rights to Speedway Illustrated and will resume its publishing schedule. For a decade, Speedway Illustrated has provided that quality. And after Formula Five, which had owned the magazine only since 2009, suspended publication last spring, Fredrickson immediately launched an effort to buy it. “It’s like a driver who decides to run his own team rather than drive for someone else,” said Fredrickson, who has been with Speedway Illustrated since it began in January 2000. “We care more about it because it’s more than just a business to us. Our reputations and our credibility are at stake. We don’t take that lightly.”
That means, among other things, that if you have an active subscription to Speedway Illustrated, Traction Media will honor it even though it is under no obligation to do so. Said Fredrickson, “It’s about doing the right thing and treating people fairly.”
Back on board are Bones Bourcier, Joyce Standridge, Mike Adaskaveg, Lew Boyd, Rob Sneddon, J.A. Ackley, Dan Anderson, and the rest of the award-winning editorial team including the magazine’s founder and namesake. Yes, Dick Berggren, who launched Dick Berggren’s Speedway Illustrated in 2000 but left the magazine in 2009, has returned. Fredrickson cautioned, “It’s not for everyone. If you think drawing yellows on purpose is acceptable, or that crate engines should be mandatory, or that age or looks or gender matter more than talent, then Speedway Illustrated probably isn’t for you. We will create magazines for people who pour their heart and soul into building a race car, and then think nothing of taking their pride and joy and the most expensive investment they’ve got besides their house and trying to squeeze it between moving steel and immovable concrete because they can’t stand the thought of finishing fourth when they might’ve finished third.
For details on how to subscribe or for questions regarding your Speedway Illustrated subscription that you paid for under the previous owner go to www.speedwayillustrated.com.(Dick Berggren’s Speedway Illustrated)(9-28-2010)
Nationwide Musical Chairs
In the NASCAR Nationwide Series, a game of musical chair played out this week. Trevor Bayne, whom had been driving for Diamond-Waltrip Racing, was released from that ride after DWR could not meet a contractual obligation to secure sponsorship for next season. Afterward, DWR announced that Martin Truex Jr., and Ryan Truex will share the 99 car for the remainder of the 2010 season. Bayne was scooped up by Roush Racing and will drive the number 17 car this weekend in Kansas.
Also in the garage area, with aqusition of Braun Racing by Turner Motorsports, new owner Steve Turner has decided to release car 11 driver Brain Scott. He will replace the rookie driver with new rookies James Buescher and Ricky Carmichael. Carmichael will drive the car, with sponsorship from Monster Energy Drink, this Saturday in Kansas. Scott, will move onto drive the 09 car for RAB after driver Jon Wes Townley as gone MIA from the NASCAR scene. Scott is expected to finish out the season in the 09.
Jimmy Joe’s NASCAR Update Price Chopper 400 Preview
This weekend, Kevin Harvick will race the Camping World Truck Series Race in Loudon at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway. His KHI Chevy will be adorned in the colors of racing parts supplier JEGS. The yellow and black scheme is prominent on the track and as Harvick is one of the favorites to win, Jegs is sure to get plenty of TV time.
