Going into the final race of the 2010 Nascar Sprint Cup Series season, three contenders will battle to claim the Championship.
Standings after Phoenix:
Clint Bowyer Celebrates Winning in Talladega
After an exciting finish, CLINT BOWYER wins at Talladega, with KEVIN HARVICK coming in 2nd. After a strong push by DAVID REUTIMANN, Harvick took his damaged car to the front leading the start of the final lap. Harvick was placed in the 2nd position after a front straight crash (AJ ALMENIDINGER flips) following Nascar scoring loop and video review.
My Pick for the Win, Joe Nemechek, led the first lap of the race, then fell backward. Although he did not run up front, Nemechek ran a solid race until a late race tire failure sent him to the back of the field. He did finish, in 27th.
Today’s race tightened an already tight three-way race between Johnson, who now leads Hamlin by 14 and Harvick by 38. Jeff Gordon, now 207 points back, has a steep hill to climb in order to stay in contention.
The Chase Standings after Talladega:
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.
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.
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.
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)
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.
Clint Bowyer
Just in case you have been living under a rock the past week, let me get you up to speed. During the week following the Chase cutoff race at Richmond, NASCAR issued a warning to the 33 Richard Childress Racing team. They warned the team that the car they raced in Richmond was severely close to going over the line in the rule book. I am still foggy as to the exact measurements and areas that NASCAR questioned, but suficit to say, the warning was issued. Following Clint Bowyer’s win in Loudon the very next week, his car was again inspected and passed. The car was taken to NASCAR’s R&D center for further inspection, where it was discovered to be 0.060 of an inch out of compliance in the same areas that the sanctioning body had previously warned about.
This revelation led to severe penalties. Richard Childress, and Clint Bowyer were docked 150 owner and driver points respectively. Crew chief Shane Wilson and car chief Chad Haney were also fined, and in addition, suspended from the Sprint Cup garage for six races, from NASCAR until November 1, and placed on probation until December 31.
Going into this weekend’s events in Dover, RCR denies that they cheated. Childress argues that the 0.060 discrepancy is a result of Bowyer’s car being pushed by a tow truck following his burnout after his victory and possibly from congratulatory bumps from other drivers on Boywer’s victory lap.
Clint Bowyer and Richard Childress defended their stance further in the Dover media center, stating “Why would we in our right mind bring a non-compliant car to the track the very next week after being warned?” Bowyer used a quarter from his pocket to illustrate what the 0.060 infraction looked like. Denny Hamlin voiced his opinion later, asserting that the RCR team did commit the infraction and it did provide an advantage. He went on to add that teams are paid to push the envelope and the 33 team got caught.
The media center banter led to an on track skirmish at the beginning of Cup Series practice. RCR teammate Kevin Harvick bumped and banged with Denny Hamlin as the cars started the warm up lap at the start of practice. NASCAR removed the two drivers from the track, where they had further words with each other in the garage area. They both lost valuable practice time as the teams had to repair the damage caused by the altercation.
Now that you are up to speed, let me share with you why I am defending the 33 team. Over the course of the weekend in Loudon, the 33 car was inspected four separate times. After his win, it was inspected again and passed. The team was warned about the Richmond car after the race and after the New Hampshire car was already prepped and ready to go to Loudon. NASCAR should have allowed the Childress team the time needed to make the necessary changes to the their car prior to enacting penalty. How can you warn a team on such short notice, and expect them to be compliant that fast? Take into account that all cars must go through the R&D center for approval prior to being brought to the track. The whole thing is stupid. Literally. NASCAR knows the team needed more time to affect the changes, yet ignored that fact and laid down the penalty anyway. I feel as though Bowyer and company have gotten the shaft on this. I hope that this penalty is over turned and that the 33 team bounces back to have a great Chase.
(polls)
Kevin Harvick
I remember back in 2001. I was a sophomore in high school, and was just getting in the groove of Nascar. 2001 was the first season that I can remember being fully engaged in from start to finish. It was the year we lost Dale Earnhardt. It was the first year of a new TV package with FOX and TNT. The first year of Boogity, Boogity, Boogity. The rookie season of one Kevin Harvick, who was thrust into the spotlight after climbing into Dale Senior’s car one week after the Intimidator’s tragic death.
Already a force in the Busch Series, Harvick continued his success early, by winning the memorable race at Atlanta, in just his second Cup Series start. “Happy” Harvick would continue an impressive year by running hard in every race he was entered into. At Martinsville, Kevin would be held a lap for aggressive driving after spinning Bobby Hamilton Sr. In what Harvick described as, “repaying the favor”, Hamilton would comment in post race that, “You got a kid here with a lot of talent, trying to fill Dale Earnhardt’s shoes, and thinks he is Dale Earnhardt,but he wouldn’t make a scab on Dale Earnhardt’s butt right now. He needs a little more time.”
Harvick has 3 wins going into the 2010 Chase.
Time has passed. Since that first year, Kevin Harvick has claimed a Busch and Nationwide Series Championships, and a Truck Series Championship as a car owner. He has amassed 14 Cup Series wins, 37 Nationwide Series victories and 9 Truck Series wins. Among those wins he holds trophies for the Brickyard 400 and Daytona 500. All that remains now, is the coveted Sprint Cup.
Going into 2010, Harvick and his Richard Childress Racing teammates were in the process of regaining the momentum lost in a less than productive 2009. Mike Joy, FOX commentator, coined the nickname, Mr. “Where did he come from?” as Harvick throughout the season has made it a trend to qualify poorly and be in contention for a win late in the race. That consistency payed off, as Harvick won races at Talledega, Daytona and Michigan. The wins, and consistency made he and his RCR #29 team the points standings leader for the majority of the season leading into The Chase. With his three wins, he as been seeded 3rd, behind Jimmie Johnson and Denny Hamlin.
I think that all the hard work Harvick has but into his racing over the last 10+ years, the resources he has to work with at Richard Childress Racing, and he and his team’s shear commitment to excellence with result in Kevin Harvick, driver of the #29 Pennzoil Chevy, winning the 2010 Sprint Cup. Consistency is key.
Meeting this mark will be tough. He has to overcome a strong stable of drivers all wanting the same thing, the championship. Denny Hamlin leads the points for the first time in his career. He has overcame an invasive ACL surgery in mid-season to earn six wins. Jimmie Johnson is going for history yet again, attempting to win an unprecedented fifth Sprint Cup in a row. Jeff Gordon is on his own drive for five, as the future Hall of Fame driver works to regain glory. Roush Racing drivers Matt Kenseth, Greg Biffle and Carl Edwards want to put a Ford logo in the championship victory lane for the first time since 2004. Tony Stewart is trying to become the first owner/driver champion since Alan Kulwicki accomplished the feat in 1992. Jeff Burton, Clint Bowyer, kurt Busch, and Kyle Busch are all gunning for the championship as well.
The stiff competition will provide drama and excitement over the next ten weeks, but in the end, the cream will rise. The cream this year is Kevin Harvick.
