pandr
10-02-2011, 03:49 PM
Raceday: Racing it forward?
By Jim Utter - charlotteobserver
Sunday, Oct. 02, 2011
Observations
Here's an interesting dynamic. Almost all of the talk this weekend at Dover has been about Tony Stewart's spectacular start to the Chase and Jimmie Johnson's struggles. It could well be possible nothing is settled and the same two story lines could move ahead next week to Kansas. In the meantime, it might be smart to keep an eye on some of the others who have firmly planted themselves in the thick of the title Chase and could well be around at the end, such as Brad Keselowski, Kevin Harvick and Carl Edwards.
I have no idea why NASCAR decided to weigh in on a race fan's video almost five months after it was posted to YouTube, following the Coca-Cola 600 in May. The version of the video shown by Charlotte Motor Speedway this past week was edited and had profanity bleeped out. And it was used to highlight a family battle between fans of the two drivers in the hunt for the race win in May, not as a statement of racing stereotypes. Congratulations, though, NASCAR. You successfully ensured more people than ever would watch it.
Dover International Speedway is a classic illustration of the problem caused when track owners tried to build a seat for every fan who wanted to come to a race when NASCAR was at its peak in popularity. The problem here now is if there are far fewer fans in Delaware who wish to attend, the job the track faces to entice others to come here is very difficult. It's not easy to get here from anywhere.
Observer pick
Jim Utter: There's only one other track where this driver has as many career top-five finishes (11) as he does at Dover. Expect another one today. Winner: Matt Kenseth
Notebook
Truex leads the way: It's been more than a year since Martin Truex Jr. last won a pole in the Sprint Cup Series. No surprise it came at Dover International Speedway.
Truex's most recent pole came at the 1-mile concrete oval at this race in May 2010, and his only career Cup race victory came at Dover in the 2007 season. The pole is the sixth in Truex's career.
"I remember when I won the Sprint Cup race in 2007, we had about 30 people there and they all tried to get into Victory Lane," Truex said.
"I had to keep telling the guards to let them in. Hopefully I'll have that problem again on Sunday. Dover has been so good to me."
Kurt Busch qualified second, Paul Menard third, Carl Edwards fourth and Kyle Busch fifth. Series points leader Tony Stewart struggled in practice and in qualifying and will line up 28th.
Jeff Gordon and Matt Kenseth, who both had fast cars in practice, did not fair near as well in qualifying. Gordon will start 34th and Kenseth 18th.
EGR adds engineering help: John Probst has been named to the role of technical director to oversee all engineering for Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing. In his new role, Probst will work closely with the team's competition director, Steve Hmiel.
Probst previously spent five years with Team Red Bull, also as technical director, of their two-car Cup Series operation. Prior to his time at Red Bull, he spent more than a decade at Ford Motor Co.
"As a race team owner, you owe it to your team, partners and the fans to bring in good people whenever you have the opportunity," said team owner Chip Ganassi. "So when John became available we jumped at the opportunity to bring him on board."
C/P thats racin
By Jim Utter - charlotteobserver
Sunday, Oct. 02, 2011
Observations
Here's an interesting dynamic. Almost all of the talk this weekend at Dover has been about Tony Stewart's spectacular start to the Chase and Jimmie Johnson's struggles. It could well be possible nothing is settled and the same two story lines could move ahead next week to Kansas. In the meantime, it might be smart to keep an eye on some of the others who have firmly planted themselves in the thick of the title Chase and could well be around at the end, such as Brad Keselowski, Kevin Harvick and Carl Edwards.
I have no idea why NASCAR decided to weigh in on a race fan's video almost five months after it was posted to YouTube, following the Coca-Cola 600 in May. The version of the video shown by Charlotte Motor Speedway this past week was edited and had profanity bleeped out. And it was used to highlight a family battle between fans of the two drivers in the hunt for the race win in May, not as a statement of racing stereotypes. Congratulations, though, NASCAR. You successfully ensured more people than ever would watch it.
Dover International Speedway is a classic illustration of the problem caused when track owners tried to build a seat for every fan who wanted to come to a race when NASCAR was at its peak in popularity. The problem here now is if there are far fewer fans in Delaware who wish to attend, the job the track faces to entice others to come here is very difficult. It's not easy to get here from anywhere.
Observer pick
Jim Utter: There's only one other track where this driver has as many career top-five finishes (11) as he does at Dover. Expect another one today. Winner: Matt Kenseth
Notebook
Truex leads the way: It's been more than a year since Martin Truex Jr. last won a pole in the Sprint Cup Series. No surprise it came at Dover International Speedway.
Truex's most recent pole came at the 1-mile concrete oval at this race in May 2010, and his only career Cup race victory came at Dover in the 2007 season. The pole is the sixth in Truex's career.
"I remember when I won the Sprint Cup race in 2007, we had about 30 people there and they all tried to get into Victory Lane," Truex said.
"I had to keep telling the guards to let them in. Hopefully I'll have that problem again on Sunday. Dover has been so good to me."
Kurt Busch qualified second, Paul Menard third, Carl Edwards fourth and Kyle Busch fifth. Series points leader Tony Stewart struggled in practice and in qualifying and will line up 28th.
Jeff Gordon and Matt Kenseth, who both had fast cars in practice, did not fair near as well in qualifying. Gordon will start 34th and Kenseth 18th.
EGR adds engineering help: John Probst has been named to the role of technical director to oversee all engineering for Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing. In his new role, Probst will work closely with the team's competition director, Steve Hmiel.
Probst previously spent five years with Team Red Bull, also as technical director, of their two-car Cup Series operation. Prior to his time at Red Bull, he spent more than a decade at Ford Motor Co.
"As a race team owner, you owe it to your team, partners and the fans to bring in good people whenever you have the opportunity," said team owner Chip Ganassi. "So when John became available we jumped at the opportunity to bring him on board."
C/P thats racin