Frank Kimmel charges into turn one at Mobile International Speedway. (Photo courtesy ThorSport Racing)

MOBILE, Ala. (March 10, 2012) - Frank Kimmel had a strong showing at the inaugural Mobile Speedway weekend – with as high as pole-fastest practice speeds on the slick track, as well as running as high as third during the ARCA 200.  However, a late-race incident on lap 180, with a podium finish or potential Victory Lane visit in site – ended the No. 44 Ansell/Menards Toyota Camry team’s night early with an 18th place finishing position.

Kimmel took the green flag in the 11th position and quickly maneuvered through the field during the caution-laden race.  Communicating much of the race that he was tight center and loose off, the veteran driver progressed to the second position by lap 69.  Pitting for fuel, tires and an air pressure adjustment under caution at lap 80, he emerged in the 12th position to tackle the second half of the 200-lap race.

Even though he was communicating to the crew about being loose in the brakes, Kimmel powered through, logging the fastest laps of the race.  At lap 167 under the race’s sixth caution, the No. 44 pit crew expertly guided the best stop of the day – pushing a splash of fuel and four tires on, then getting their driver back out in sixth place.  By lap 180, Kimmel had wheeled back to the third spot and was eyeing his next move towards the checkered flag – when disaster struck.  The No. 22 car turned low into the left bumper going into the turn, spinning the 44.  After two pit stops to fix a flat left rear tire and extensive left front fender damage, Kimmel salvaged the unfortunate incident with an 18th place finish at the checkered flag.

“This is just a shame, we had such a great car here today in Mobile,” said Kimmel.  “Not only did all the guys work hard to get a new chassis ready, we just had the right horsepower and setup package.  I was ready to make a move and felt like we had a win here, and it’s a shame to take a spin.  It happens, it’s a big part of short track racing – but the positive is, they saw what we had today.  Everyone hopefully understands that we mean business this year, and we’ll just keep tackling these tracks one at a time.  I’m looking forward to getting to my home track of Salem next and see some hometown fans.”

Source: ThorSport Racing Press Release

Courtesy CaleGale.com

Mobile’s rising star Cale Gale will return to his hometown to race in the Mobile ARCA 200 at Mobile International Speedway on Saturday, March 10, 2012. The up-and-coming NASCAR driver will take a break from his first full-time season in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series to pilot Eddie Sharp Racing’s ARCA #6 Rheem Chevrolet at his hometown track. The event will also mark the debut of ARCA Racing at MIS. To underscore the importance of this race and his love for his hometown, Gale jumped at the chance to support the event by becoming the first official entry in the race according to MIS track promoter, Rick Crawford. As a young racer in Mobile, Ala., Gale logged countless laps around the half-mile MIS track under the direction of his father and grandfather. Known for their success behind the wheel, the Gale family raced at tracks across the Southeast, and Cale became the third generation of the Gale family to find success at MIS. In fact, Gale’s father, Bubba, was a six-time track champion at MIS and achieved five championships in a row during the mid-1990s. However, by 2002, Cale was the one driving the family name further into the record books by becoming the first driver in MIS history to win both the track championship and the rookie of the year title in the same year. Gale will utilize the opportunity to pay tribute to all of his fans and loyal supporters that helped launch his career into the world of NASCAR, including his longtime sponsor, Rheem. Cale Gale will also unveil a special “Mobile Appreciation” message on the largest billboard at MIS that will remain in place throughout 2012. The Mobile ARCA 200 will take place at Mobile International Speedway on Saturday, March 10.

Source: Eddie Sharp Racing Press Release

1) #11-Denny Hamlin [1 win], 89
2) #16-Greg Biffle [0 wins], 83, -6
3) #29-Kevin Harvick [0 wins], 81, -8
4) #17-Matt Kenseth [1 win], 79, -10
5) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. [0 wins], 72, -17
6) #56-Martin Truex Jr. [0 wins], 71, -18
7) #55-Mark Martin [0 wins], 71, -18
#20-Joey Logano [0 wins], 70, -19
9) #18-Kyle Busch [0 wins], 66, -23
10) #99-Carl Edwards [0 wins], 63, -26
11) #47-Bobby Labonte [0 wins], 58, -31
12) #2-Brad Keselowski [0 wins], 52 -37

Full Points Standings >> http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2012/data/standings.html

Source: NASCAR

NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES OFFICIAL RACE REPORT No. 2

8TH ANNUAL SUBWAY FRESH FIT “500″
PHOENIX INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY

Avondale, AZ – March 4, 2012
1-Mile Oval
312 Laps – 312 Miles Purse: $5,040,864

# Sunoco Rookie of the Year Contender.
Bonus Points: includes winner, lap leader & most laps led points
(i) = Ineligible for driver points in this series

Source:  NASCARMedia.com

Courtesy NASCAR Media Group

The Subway Fresh Fit 500 was the second race of the season and the second at Phoenix International Raceway since the racing surface was repaved and reconfigured.  Kevin Harvick, who led the most laps of the race (88), fell short of winning as fuel mileage became the name of the game.  Denny Hamlin, with new Crew Chief Darin Grubb atop the pitbox, managed to save just enough gas to claim the win, and the points lead.

There were seven caution periods totaling 37 of the 312 laps, with three of those periods being caused by debris.  Also, there was only one mutli-car accident.  Engine attrition claimed Jamie McMurray, Jeff Burton, David Reutimann, and Marcos Ambrose.  The final four finishers: Joe Nemecheck, Robby Gordon, Scott Riggs and Michael McDowell were Start and Parks; each saying “brakes” are what forced them out of the race.

Greg Biffle picked up his second third place finish in a row, after finishing third in the Daytona 500 last week.

Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr. both lead chunks of the middle part of the race, and brought their machines home in sixth and seventh respectively.

Tony Stewart found himself a bit of a ginnie pig with the new Electronic Fuel Injection system.  During a caution, Stewart shut his car off in an effort to save fuel.  When he tried to restart the car, the engine would not fire.  He had to be pushed back to his pit, where his Stewart-Haas crew were perplexed by the cause of the malfunction.  Finally, one crew member discovered that a relay on the EFI box had been tripped and after attending to it, the car cranked as if nothing had ever happened.

 My picks, the Busch Bros. had an interesting Speedweeks.  Kyle’s trip to victory lane in the Budwiesier Shootout was spectacular.  Kyle overcame disaster not once, not twice, but three times in route to his win.  The Daytona 500, however, was less spectacular.  He found himself a contender, but didn’t really have the speed to challenge for the win.

Brother Kurt was another story.  Speed from the word go, Kurt tore up a lot of owner Jame’s Finche’s equipment during Speedweeks.  He wrecked in the Shootout, then after having a shot at winning the Nationwide race on Saturday, caused a massive muti-car crash late in the race, ending his chances.  I noticed his speed, however, and picked him to win the Daytona 500.  The lap two malee ended those chances, and Kurt finished deep in the field.

Danica-Mania.  I was a little saddened by Danica Patrick’s Speedweeks.  One would hope that with all the hype that she has brought to the sport that there would’ve been a larger payoff.  However, she too, tore up a lot of race cars.  During the Gatorade Duel, she took a wild ride down the Superstretch smashing violently into the inside wall.  Then, she too was a victim of the lap two crash going into turn one of the Daytona 500.

Dale Jr. strong once again.  One thing to me from this Speedweeks is clear.  Dale Earnhardt Jr. is a wheelman at restrictor plate tracks.  Earnhardt Jr. did all he could to make something happen late in the Daytona 500.  The Ford power ahead of him proved too much to claim his second 500, but another second place finish on the books is a strong way to start the season.  I hope to see him have a strong start to the year and get the winless streak off his back.

There goes the  BOOM!  Ready or not, the 2012 racing season is off to a fiery start.  With 40 laps to go in the Daytona 500, perhaps the most odd, and unexpected occurrences at a racetrack happened when Juan Montoya struck a jet dryer on the track during a caution.  Montoya’s car had a parts failure which sent him crashing into the dryer.  He was on his way back to pit road when the part broke, and in terms of speeds on a racetrack, was not going very fast.  Still, his EGR racer barreled into the jet dyer, destroying both his car and jet dryer.  Over 200 gallons of jet fuel and diesel  fuel spilled onto the track, erupting in flames.  While neither Montoya nor the driver of the jet dryer were seriously injured, both were shook up by the accident.  The resulting mess took over two hours to clean up and added a highlight that will more than likely trump Matt Kenseth’s victory.

@keselowski.  Yep. Twitter.  During the two hour red flag for the jet dryer incident, Brad Keselowski increased his Twitter following by over 100 thousand.  Yes, 100 thousand.  All thanks to the Penske driver having his cell phone with him in the car, and being the only driver able to reach the fans during the red flag as TV and Radio didn’t make to the back stretch until the delay was almost over.  Special K having his phone in the car was due to a concern he had after a crash at  Fontana that saw the driver end up at an L.A. hospital without a means of contact to his family.  He said on SPEED’s Trackside Live that it’s mostly to call Mom in a hurry.  The issue of a driver having a phone in his car was debated over the week, as the NASCAR Nation discussed if it sends the wrong message to fans of the sport.  Personally, I think it’s fine.  Had he used the phone while in motion, of course that is not a good thing for the sport.

This rambling of thoughts comes after a loooong Speedweeks.  Perhaps one of the most news-packed in many years.  I hope that this is a sign of the weeks ahead and if it is, the 2012 racing season is sure to be a barn-burner.

By BozPC Press Release

Logan Boyett's Pro and Super Late Model racers, ready to take on The Rattler. Courtesy Logan Boyett Racing

OPP, AL (February 28, 2012) – Logan Boyett will be a busy guy during the 36th Annual Rattler Weekend at South Alabama Speedway in Opp, AL. The Pensacola driver will be pulling “double duty” for the first time in his career. The team has purchased a top-notch Super Late Model and will enter it in Sunday’s Rattler 250. Boyett will also field his familiar No. 11 Pro Late Model car in Saturday’s Pro Late Model Rattler 125.

Not only is Boyett pulling double duty for the first time, but the Rattler 250 will be the longest single race he has ever competed in. That isn’t something the young driver is worried about, however.

“The longest race I have ran was 150 laps,” commented Boyett, “I had no issue keeping up on the wheel.”

Strategy during practice will be something new for Boyett as well. He will have to set up and practice two different race cars for the weekend.

“The strategy will be to focus on the Super during the daytime practice, closely relating to the actual race.” said Boyett, “The Pro car will not be touched until later in day.”

Last time Boyett competed at South Alabama Speedway was last October’s Alabama Pro 200. Boyett started from the rear of the field and drove to a well-deserved second place finish. He plans to use some valuable knowledge he learned in that race to help him in the Rattler.

“The Alabama Pro race told us a lot about the car and how long it would run. Coming from the tail to second helped me immensely by knowing more about how to work that much traffic.”

This weekend’s races at South Alabama Speedway, the 36th Annual Rattler, will be Boyett’s first of a busy 2012 season that includes running for possible championships in the Blizzard Series, Miller Lite Series, and Viper Series.

For more information about Logan Boyett and Logan Boyett Racing, please visit www.LoganBoyettRacing.net.

By BozPC Press Release

 

Courtesy BozPC.com / Dakota Stroup Collection

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, FL (February 28, 2012) – Dakota Stroup has started off the 2012 racing season right where he wants to be – on top. Stroup and his Owensboro, KY based team made the trek to New Smyrna Speedway for the 46^th Annual World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing to compete in the nine-night extravaganza. Stroup’s team overcame all obstacles, and used persistence and consistency to capture the 2012 Pro Late Model championship.

It was Stroup’s first time racing at the high-speed half-mile New Smyrna Speedway. It won’t be a trip he will soon forget. He knows this early season championship is just what his team needs to boost themselves into a busy 2012 racing season.

“It for sure boosts my confidence.” commented Stroup, “It makes a good start to the year. I have had some bad starts the past 2 or 3 years. This is a heck of a way to start the season off for sure.”

The team skipped out on racing the prestigious Snowball Derby weekend at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, FL back in December, solely to prepare for running for the 46^th Annual World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing crown. It a move that has proven to be a great one.

“That was my whole intentions.” Said Stroup, “We said back in December we had talked about going to the Derby. So we skipped the Derby to go down to New Smyrna for Speedweeks.”

Dakota knows that his championship was a collaborative team effort, and he has many people to thank.

“I’d like to thank Augie and Frank Grill from Grand American Race Cars. They build the best race cars they are. DeWayne McGunegill with McGunegill Engine Performance, Mom, Dad, and the whole crew for pulling together and what they have done for me this week.”

Stroup and his team will regroup following the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing and prepare for the Allen Turner Pro Late Model Series season opener at Five Flags Speedway on Friday, March 30, 2012.

(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Going into tomorrow’s Cup Series race in Phoenix, I had been leaning toward picking Jimmie Johnson. Historically, this is one of his best tracks. Unfortunately for him, he and his Lowe’s team have struggled this weekend, and will have to fight to earn a good finish.

Jimmie Johnson, “Without testing before the season, it’s just tough to know if the areas you’re working on during the off-season are good. We have a lot of ideas we’re trying to work through now so this weekend we haven’t had the raw speed that we had hoped to have but we’re working in a lot of areas to find speed. So I think in a couple of races from now, we’ll be where we want, but we’re going to have to deal with some tough moments I think, just because we can’t test like we used to in the old days.”

Of course every possibility exists that Johnson can come from a poor starting position to win, as he has done this several times. He starts 28th.

Last week’s surprise winner, Trevor Bayne, was no surprise for me. I picked him on the basis of his Speed Weeks performance leading up to the Daytona 500. He showed great maturity and skill negotiating his way through practice, qualifying and The Duel. In doing so, he gained the trust of the field, with four time Cup Series Champion Jeff Gordon taking the young rookie under his wing, and making Bayne his drafting partner above all others in the field. Trevor Bayne took this maturity, luck and new found trust all the way to the bank to claim his first victory in only his second start. This tied the record of Jamie McMurray, whom also won in his second start, and bested the record set by Jeff Gordon in becoming the youngest winner of The Great American Race. Phoenix however, is another story. Bayne didn’t make a full lap in practice before a brake issue sent him into the wall, destroying his racecar and sending the Daytona 500 Champion to a backup car. I don’t see see Trevor Bayne repeating the success he acheived last week, but I do look to see him perform well in his Wood Brother’s Ford. Look for Bayne to finish on the lead lap, perhaps top 15 and gain yet more trust and experience in the process.

In my opinion, this is KYLE BUSCH‘s race to loose. He has the momentum of winning the Truck Series and Nationwide Series races this weekend, and the track record of success at Phoenix.  Busch achieved this feat last season at Bristol.  In victory lane after leading every lap of Saturday’s Nationwide Series race, Busch was asked if this was a perfect race.  In response, Busch said, “Probably not,” then joked, “See??? I’m not perfect, OK!?”

Even though I predict a solid finish for last week’s winner, some of you may still be looking for an underdog to win.  This week’s Underdog to Watch is REGAN SMITH.  After a very strong Speed Weeks where he and his team showed the racing world that they were every bit as potent as Trevor Bayne, Smith rolls into Phoenix with a strong start to his season, and the cofindence that he is a contender.  To back up this surge of confidence, Smith posted the 5th best qualifiying speed and was strong in practice.

When asked about his qualifying effort, Smith said, “I was surprised. I thought it was a slow lap, to be honest with you. So I’m really pleased with that time. Sometimes when you’re fast it feels slow. We were quick when we unloaded. We were a little off in qualifying trim today so we made some adjustments today and everybody on this Furniture Row Chevy did an awesome job. We’ve been really working hard with this program to get it to this level and I feel like this is the year we can take advantage of it and hopefully that’s what we keep doing.”

One thing is certain for this week’s race.  It is the last for the current configuration, as following the race Phoenix International Raceway will undergo it’s own repaving and reconfiguration with adjustments made to the “dog leg” on the backstretch in the process.  Coming back for the fall race will mean a fresh notebook and an entirely new set of challenges, smack in the middle of the Chase.

UPDATE: Jeff Gordon passed Kyle Busch with 8 laps to go to claim his 83rd victory Sunday in Phoenix. With the win, Gordon moves to 10th on the all time Cup wins list. Kyle Busch misses his second Trifecta, but leaves Phoenix with the Cup Series Points Lead. (Feb. 27)