Trouble in Turn2

Halfway through Sunday’s race, Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin were leading the pack, pulling away with ease from everyone else. Kyle Busch, a lap down from an earlier pit road problem, was hanging with the lead pack, displaying an obviously fast car. At that point, it would have been easy to pick one of the three Joe Gibbs Racing cars out of a hat because they were all so strong. In the end it was Busch who found himself on the point at the right time. It took a few hairy moments to get there, including an audacious, yet successful block on Jeff Gordon as Gordon attempted to plow by on the outside. It’s not a total surprise that Busch won, he’s capable of winning on any weekend. Given the race he had and his Cup history at the track, it wasn’t the most obvious win.

In his six previous Cup starts at Talladega, Busch had four DNF’s and only one finish (11th in 2006) that was better than 32nd. He also has two DNF’s in the Busch/Nationwide Series. His 90.8 driver rating is the lowest of any winner this year. In fact no winning driver had a rating lower than 100 until Sunday. When things are going your way, and Busch is living a charmed life right now, everything just falls into place (usually first place).

• Race fans, it’s time to recognize that April and May represent the best stretch of racing there is on the Sprint Cup tour. Phoenix, Talladega, Richmond, Darlington and Lowe’s represent five completely different tracks with one common tie: great racing. Tight, competitive racing, incredible finishes, historic venues, night races, and aside from a road course, a pretty good cross-section of the circuit.

• I listened to part of the race on the radio in my truck. Listening to a restrictor plate race made me want to get behind another car and draft. Does that happen to anyone else?

• Some notable runs for David Stremme, Paul Menard and Joe Nemechek. Stremme subbed for the injured Dario Franchitti and nearly pulled off a top five result for the fledging #40 car. It wasn’t just a nice run for Stremme, but a professional move to accept driving for the team that let him go last year.

  It’s disappointing, but I had fun today. We ran well. There’s not much we can do. I ended up in a bad position at the end; I was left hanging out of the draft. When everything started, I had no place to go. Considering everything, we were there at the end with a chance for a good finish.

  Menard ran in the top ten for the majority of the day, leading 3 laps before getting bumped out of the way by Juan Pablo Montoya. Menard made an impressive save to not hit anything while sliding through the infield and actually rallied to finish 12th.

  We ran up front for most of the day and even thought we got turned by Montoya near the end, we still managed to fight our way back to 12th, which is awesome.

  The surprise of the weekend may have been Nemechek winning the pole for Furniture Row Racing. He was also in a nice position near the end before getting collected in the final lap crash.
  

  After taking the white flag, I was looking for a top-10 finish. But then came the wreck. I thought I had it missed, but at the last second the No. 48 (Jimmie Johnson) came across my hood. Yeah, we’re a little frustrated right now, but looking at the big picture it was a solid weekend for the Furniture Row Racing team. We qualified on the pole and had a solid performance in the race.

• Dale Earnhardt Jr had another strong run, but no win. Now he goes to the site of his last win 71 races ago. He has won the last two spring Richmond races in even years which means, nothing aside from he usually runs well at the track.

A few questions to ponder this week: Is there a better two month stretch of racing? How good could Juan Pablo Montoya be with better cars? Matt Kenseth sits 19th in the points, will he make the Chase? Who will win a race first among Dale Earnhardt Jr, Tony Stewart or Jeff Gordon? Have you entered the 50 years of Daytona 500 DVD contest yet? Why not?

For more NASCAR news and opinion, peep Racing Nation

Contest. There’s that word again.

A&E Home Video, the company that brought you the NASCAR Driven to Win DVD’s, is now releasing a two-disc set on the 50th anniversary of the Daytona 500. See below for the press release or check out the website.

Even better, they have provided me with one two copies to give away. So here is how the contest will go. It doesn’t take a lot of skill, but maybe a little patience. To enter, all you have to do is read a post from my archives (located to the left) or use the search box, tag cloud or category list to find the golden hits from the past two years. To ensure you are entered in the contest, be sure to leave a comment on an older post and write A&E at the end of your comment. I will enter all of the names into a random drawing and pull two names next Monday. Enter as many times as you like, but only one entry per archived post. If you enjoy Trouble in Turn 2, it’s a great way to catch up on some of the old material. Top ten lists, race recaps, The View from the Couch, blogger interviews, The Other 33 Series, driver previews and statistics-based opinion, it’s all in there somewhere. If you are new to the site or simply want a shot at a really cool DVD, then that works too.

NEW YORK, NY — The 50th running of the Daytona 500 is one of NASCAR®’s most unforgettable and highly-anticipated milestone events. Already the most prestigious race in motorsports, this landmark running is sure to be remembered and cherished by millions of race fans. On April 15, join A&E Home Video and NASCAR® Collections to celebrate the golden anniversary of “The Great American Race™” with DAYTONA 500: THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY, a highly-collectible 2-DVD set that puts fans in the driver’s seat like never before! Available just weeks after the 50th Daytona® 500 (February 17), this is THE official NASCAR® collectible of this historic race.

As part of DAYTONA® 500: THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY, the 2008 Daytona 500 will be presented in the ground-breaking “My Race” Interactive DVD format. This innovative user experience allows fans to choose the view of the race from six different driver perspectives plus the main broadcast feed, along with driver and announcer audio feeds — putting them right in the middle of the action. The second disc features the great stories and heroes that have defined the Daytona 500 through two exclusive NASCAR® programs: “A Sports Century” features a dynamic roundtable discussion of the moments and personalities that defined Daytona with a host and panel of NASCAR® experts including Richard Petty and Jeff Gordon, while “The Top 50 Daytona® 500 Moments” is the definitive telling of the story of NASCAR®’s Greatest single greatest event. Additional DVD extras include official NASCAR® PC wallpapers and time-lapse screensavers.

With a history of legend-defining and myth-making spectaculars, the Daytona® 500 winners circle has embraced NASCAR® heroes including: Richard Petty, Mario Andretti, Jeff Gordon, and Dale Earnhardt Senior and Junior. And DAYTONA® 500: THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY, an unprecedented and revolutionary DVD release, only adds to the legend of NASCAR®’s biggest race of the year.

Eight Races down in the 2008 Sprint Cup season. what have we learned so far? Here’s four simple things to nibble on while we wait for Talladega this weekend.

Dale Earnhardt Jr is apparently good Actually, Earnhardt Jr has been more than good. While a portion of the media focuses on his winless streak or his heated discussions with crew chief Tony Eury Jr, it’s pretty obvious that Earnhardt Jr is getting great cars every week. He has three top fives and six top tens in eight races and has led laps in six races. He sits 3rd in the points and has a season driver rating of 107.6, also good for third. Only six drivers have won so far this year, so there is no shame in running in the top five on a weekly basis.

Juan Pablo was the exception, not the rule. In 2007 Montoya made the bold jump to NASCAR from Formula One and almost immediately settled in. He scored a top five in the fourth race of the year, won a Busch race at Mexico City and a Cup race at Sonoma and a second at Indianapolis. He won rookie of the year, won one race, had three top fives and six top tens. It was a solid year and it also set the table for other drivers with open-wheel backgrounds. This year four drivers with open-wheel ties began the season intent on entering the entire Cup schedule. One, Jacques Villeneuve has already moved on. No other open-wheeler sits higher than 33rd in the driver points. Only one driver, Sam Hornish Jr, has finished higher than 20th. Meanwhile Dario Franchitti and Patrick Carpentier sit outside the top 35 in owners points and have failed to qualify for races.

It’s less an indictment of this year’s rookie crop and more of a testament to how well Montoya adjusted last year. The open wheel drivers have varying degrees of success prior to NASCAR so they all have talent, but the transition is slower than Montoya’s was in 2007.

The CoT is a work in progress…but there is progress Just like this time last year, the Car of tomorrow Today is an easy target for critics. Both fans and drivers have complained about the boring racing due to the lack of passing.

It’s true, on the intermediate tracks the car is not handling as well as the old car. Of course teams have only had four official races with the CoT, so it’s hard to expect the teams, Goodyear and NASCAR to successfully sort everything out already and produce great racing. It’s disappointing for the fans and drivers, but it will take time. The good news is that NASCAR has finally allowed another test session at a downforce track. This will only help shorten the learning curve for the car at new tracks.

So far the results have been discouraging, but for a glimpse of the future look at the tracks where the CoT is in its second year. Bristol, Martinsville and Phoenix all produced good races, especially compared to the same races from 2007. Give the teams time and they will figure out whatever car is mandated by NASCAR.

The Manufacturer love is spread out this year When a powerhouse team like Joe Gibbs Racing switches manufacturers, it will obviously change the NASCAR landscape. They granted Toyota instant credibility and have already won two races this year. Additionally Roush-Fenway-Daisuke Racing rediscovered their speedway prowess in the offseason. Suddenly Ford and Toyota are worthy opponents to RCR, Hendrick and the other Chevy teams.

Meanwhile, shhhh, quiet, Dodge is sleeping. Sure they won the Daytona 500, but in the seven races since, they have one top five (Ryan Newman at Texas). Kurt Busch has not led a lap since Daytona, Evernham-Gillet is still trying to get more than one car to run well and Chip Ganassi can’t stop criticizing his own teams.

For more NASCAR stats and opinion go to Racing Nation.

Daytona 500 DVD Contest

About that contest…I apologize, things got a little delayed last week. To make it up to you, I am now able to give away two DVD packages. I haven’t had a chance to see it yet, but based on what others are http://benchracing.onpitrow.com/tony-stewart/third-race-at-phoenix-was-the-new-car-charm.html">saying, it sounds ridiculous. I’ll have the details for my contest tomorrow. Seriously.

A&E Home Video, the company that brought you the NASCAR Driven to Win DVD’s, is now releasing a two-disc set on the 50th anniversary of the Daytona 500. See below for the press release or check out the website. All I know is that it is 288 minutes of Daytona. That’s almost as long as a race at Pocono!

Even better, they have provided me with a copy to give away. I have an idea for a contest, but I wanted some feedback first. If you have a fun idea for a contest, let me know in the comments.

NEW YORK, NY — The 50th running of the Daytona 500 is one of NASCAR®’s most unforgettable and highly-anticipated milestone events. Already the most prestigious race in motorsports, this landmark running is sure to be remembered and cherished by millions of race fans. On April 15, join A&E Home Video and NASCAR® Collections to celebrate the golden anniversary of “The Great American Race™” with DAYTONA 500: THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY, a highly-collectible 2-DVD set that puts fans in the driver’s seat like never before! Available just weeks after the 50th Daytona® 500 (February 17), this is THE official NASCAR® collectible of this historic race.

As part of DAYTONA® 500: THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY, the 2008 Daytona 500 will be presented in the ground-breaking “My Race” Interactive DVD format. This innovative user experience allows fans to choose the view of the race from six different driver perspectives plus the main broadcast feed, along with driver and announcer audio feeds — putting them right in the middle of the action. The second disc features the great stories and heroes that have defined the Daytona 500 through two exclusive NASCAR® programs: “A Sports Century” features a dynamic roundtable discussion of the moments and personalities that defined Daytona with a host and panel of NASCAR® experts including Richard Petty and Jeff Gordon, while “The Top 50 Daytona® 500 Moments” is the definitive telling of the story of NASCAR®’s Greatest single greatest event. Additional DVD extras include official NASCAR® PC wallpapers and time-lapse screensavers.

With a history of legend-defining and myth-making spectaculars, the Daytona® 500 winners circle has embraced NASCAR® heroes including: Richard Petty, Mario Andretti, Jeff Gordon, and Dale Earnhardt Senior and Junior. And DAYTONA® 500: THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY, an unprecedented and revolutionary DVD release, only adds to the legend of NASCAR®’s biggest race of the year.

Don’t forget to submit your idea for how I should give away the DVD.

As much as I enjoy acting like I know what happened during a particular Sprint Cup race, the fact is I have very little inside information. So what better way to recap a race weekend than through the people that actually participated.

• First up, Matt Kenseth relays what happened to his car.
  

  It’s disappointing, but it all started back on the restart. Jeff is kind of famous for laying back and NASCAR has a rule that you can’t lay back more than a car length or you can be black-flagged, but it’s usually not enforced, so I saw him laying back. I knew he was gonnna get a run on me, so I laid back a little bit. Carl went late and that kind of started the chain and we were three-wide going into one. We came off two and I was up as high as I thought I could get and Jeff just came across. Whether it was on purpose or not, it just kind of wiped us out.

  Certainly a frustrating finish for Kenseth. Dale Earnhardt Jr and Kenseth both mentioned cars laying back on restarts, which is certainly a gray area that everyone plays with. It’s kind of NASCAR’s version of a lane violation in basketball. It’s rarely called unless it’s blatant.

• Greg Biffle on his run at Las Vegas:
  

  Had a lot of fun. I mean, this is the most fun I’ve had driving a racecar in probably a year or two. A lot of times these races are real stressful, a lot of pressure. I feel really good getting out of the car right now.

  After two dismal years, it sounds like Biffle and the #16 team have figured some things out. That’s bad news for opponents.

• More Biffle, this time on the difference for Roush this year:

  Robbie Reiser really made the biggest difference probably at our company, you know, getting us turned around and pointed in the right direction. The end of last year, you know, before he moved into this general manager or competition director, the end of last year, he kind of headed up the testing and got that start. Before the second Loudon race is when that thing really came to life. So he’s been working in that position kind of since then. And it’s the reflection of his hard work and, you know, all the engineering department, everybody, fab shop, just starting to pay off.

  Both Biffle and Carl Edwards pointed to Reiser as the reason for the improvement. The move obviously hasn’t affected the #17 very much so far, so it looks like a great personnel move for Roush-Fenway.

• Jack Roush elaborates on this point and includes a not-so-subtle shot at Toyota:
  

  In anticipation of the additional manufacturer coming into the sport, what their reputation has been, I’m not going to name the manufacturer, but there’s expectations they would smother us, they would drown us with engineering, they would drown us with technology, they would come and recruit our best people, that they would leave us in the backwater. I was determined not to let that happen.
  I had contact with my friends at Ford, Edsel Ford, and of course Dan Davis, and Doug (indiscernible), about what the challenges were. And Ford Motor Company has put into our program at least 30% more in 2008 than they did in 2007. I’m sorry, 2007 they put in more than they did in 2006. That allowed us to get the tire engineer we needed. It allowed us to get the staff behind the seven post. It allowed us to more effectively utilize our K and C machines. It allowed us to make the preparations internally.
  The guy who is right on top of that of course is Chris Andrews. And Robbie Reiser on the heels of Max Jones is doing a great job in the shop organizing it. But we’ve got the resources now for the level of commitment that I’m aware of that the other manufacturers have made. We’ve got the resources to be competitive. Without Ford’s support, we couldn’t have done that.

  Thanks for not naming names, Jack.

• Red Bull made a driver change, temporary or permanent is unknown, moving Mike Skinner into the #84 for AJ Allmendinger.
  

  “We can’t keep missing races. It’s just not an option,” said general manager Jay Frye, hired in January to turn around the second-year Red Bull program.

  “We’re looking at several different ideas, all aimed at figuring out what’s wrong with that program, how we can fix it and how we can get that car into races. But it can’t continue the way it is. It just can’t.”

  No one should be surprised that Allmendinger has struggled to make races. The most surprising part is why Red Bull waited until now to get Allmendinger more seat time in the two lower tier series. For Skinner’s part, he qualified the Bill Davis Racing #27 car fifth and finished 30th at Las Vegas.

Write the Caption Contest

Thanks to the nice folks at Whateversports, I can give away a $20 gift certificate to their online store. They carry merchandise for all the major sports leagues including NASCAR. The contest is simple. Tell me what website Kasey Kahne is logged on to? Leave your answer in the comments and I’ll pick the best one this weekend and announce it next Monday. Enter as many times as you like.

What website is Kasey Kahne logged on to?

This contest is sponsored by www.whateversports.com.