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Week of 6/11/06
Who's hot going into this weekend?
Denny Hamlin tops the list with his win last week, plus 5 straight top-10 starts, and 5 straight top-15 finishes.
Greg Biffle has 5 top-10 finishes in a row, and is the defending race winner for this race.
Matt Kenseth is the only driver to have 9 top 5 finishes this year. June 15, 2006
TRACK STATS | MICHIGAN
It'S similar to California but with a little more banking
Distance: 2-mile oval
Banking/Turns 1-4:18 º
Length/Frontstretch: 3,600 ft.
Length/Backstretch: 2,242 ft.
Miles/laps: 400 miles, 200 laps
Last years poll sitter: Ryan Newman
Last years winner: Greg Biffle
Up for grabs: a little over $5 million June 15, 2006
New team starts up with help from Roush
A new team called No Fear Racing has formed and will make 4 starts this season in the Cup Series starting next weekend. Boris Said will drive the car at Infineon, Daytona, The Brickyard, and Watkins Glen. They will get tech support, engines and cars from their neighbors....Roush Racing.
-OFFICIAL RELEASE--
NO FEAR ENTERS FOUR NEXTEL CUP RACES
Concord, NC – (May 1, 2006) - No Fear Inc., the Carlsbad, California-based action sports lifestyle brand, will contest a four race schedule in the 2006 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series. To be named “No Fear Racing,” the team will be owned and operated by Mark Simo, Frank Stoddard and Boris Said. No Fear Racing will be based out of the company’s new east coast corporate headquarters in Concord, N.C. Located adjacent to the Roush Racing campus, the new team will receive technical support, motors and cars from Roush Racing.
Sponsorship will come in the form of No Fear’s highly successful energy drink, SoBe No Fear.
Driving the No. 60 No Fear Ford Fusion throughout the four race schedule will be NASCAR Nextel Cup and Busch Grand National veteran driver Boris Said.
No Fear Racing will debut at the Dodge/Save Mart 350 at Infineon Raceway the weekend of June 24-25. Six days later, No Fear Racing will compete in the Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway. On August 6, the No Fear Ford Fusion will race in the Allstate 400 at The Brickyard, and a week later, at the Sirius Satellite Radio at The Glen.
The four race schedule this summer marks the continuing evolution of No Fear’s 20-year history of motorsports activity. Initially involved in motocross during the mid-to-late 1980s, No Fear then moved into four wheel racing where the company won multiple championships in SCCA, IMSA and Trans-Am racing, as well as a number of Late Model stock car titles. In 1995 the company then decided to field a team in the inaugural season of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, winning races and placing second overall. Continuing on in the Craftsman Truck Series through 1998, No Fear then entered a team in the Winston Cup Series in 1999 and 2000.
After taking the last six years to regroup, No Fear is now poised to return to NASCAR’s premier series. “We believe that the NASCAR Nextel Cup series provides a highly visible platform to promote our widely distributed energy drink and to highlight our racing heritage for our core No Fear brand,” says Mark Simo, No Fear founder and CEO. “The Nextel Cup Series provides us with the opportunity to showcase our authentic heritage in motor racing, to promote our drink to true racing enthusiasts, as well as to promote NASCAR, Roush Racing and Ford.”
“I’ve been making the switch from roadracing to full-time NASCAR Nextel Cup,” offers Said. “I raced with MB2 last season and I really appreciate the opportunity they gave me last year. It is a great team and organization. However, this year, with my affiliation with Roush Racing and working with their young drivers on their roadracing skills, Jack offered us the chance to purchase cars and engines and more importantly, technical support. So now, after all the years of teaching people on the road courses, I finally feel like I’m getting paid back by receiving and using the resources of Roush Racing.
“Being a team owner is a dream come true and something I never really expected to happen,” says Said. “But all the pieces with Mark Simo and Frank came together and the support that Roush Racing has offered is something that just doesn’t come along every day.”
Having won 14 Nextel Cup races as a crew chief with Roush Racing, Frank Stoddard is looking forward to taking on the challenge of owning and overseeing a NASCAR Nextel Cup racing team.
“It’s very exciting to start something from the ground floor up and see it grow into something big,” says Stoddard, who worked as a crew chief for Roush driver Jeff Burton from 1998 through 2001. “It’s like getting a big Christmas present, opening it up, putting it together and playing with it all day”.
“I was with Roush Racing for seven years and have a great relationship with Jack,” Stoddard adds. “We’ve won races together and he has a great company. Boris has helped Roush Racing by training their kids in road racing and the two of us have a good relationship. Jack knows and likes me and knows and likes Boris. With Mark Simo involved, I think the timing to put this team together is perfect.” June 15, 2006
- Mears signs with Hendrick
CASEY MEARS TO JOIN HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS
CONCORD, N.C. (June 14, 2006) - Car owner Rick Hendrick today announced the signing of driver Casey Mears to pilot Hendrick Motorsports' No. 25 Chevrolets in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series beginning in 2007. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Mears, 28, inked a multi-year agreement that will keep him with the team through at least the 2009 racing season. He will replace Brian Vickers, who is slated to complete the current schedule after being granted a release from contractual obligations to Hendrick Motorsports beyond 2006.
"Casey is a talented driver and a high-character person who is going to be a great fit with our organization," Hendrick said. "He has the ability to win races and ultimately contend for championships, so we're thrilled to welcome him to Hendrick Motorsports."
In the midst of his fourth full season, Mears has posted two pole positions, five top-five finishes and 21 top-10s on the NEXTEL Cup circuit. The Bakersfield, Calif., native kicked off the 2006 campaign with a career-best second-place performance in the Feb. 19 Daytona 500 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway, where on Jan. 29 he became the first full-time NASCAR driver to be part of a winning Grand American Rolex 24 team.
"I'm committed to winning races and going after championships with the No. 25 team," said Mears, the son of legendary off-road racer Roger Mears and nephew of four-time Indianapolis 500 champion Rick Mears. "This is an opportunity for me to work with close friends and start fresh with one of the top organizations in all of sports. It's an exciting situation for me, both personally and professionally."
Casey Mears began racing competitively at the age of 4, campaigning BMX bicycles before moving to three- and four-wheel all-terrain vehicles at his hometown track of Bakersfield Speedway. He switched to go-karts in 1991, followed by a stint in the Mickey Thompson Off-Road Series (SuperLites) in 1992. Mears later earned the coveted Jim Russell USAC Triple Crown in 1995.
In 1999, Mears finished second in the Indy Lights Series championship standings. He won the ILS Grand Prix of Houston in October 2000 and later that month posted a top-five result in his CART Series (now Champ Car) debut at Fontana, Calif. The following year, he ran a four-race CART schedule as a substitute for the injured Alex Zanardi and made three Indy Racing League starts.
Mears drove his first-ever stock-car race in October 2001, earning a top-10 finish in the Automobile Racing Club of America event at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. He began full-time NASCAR Busch Series competition in 2002 before joining the NEXTEL Cup Series as a regular in 2003. June 14, 2006
Lester will attempt 2nd Cup race at Michigan
Bill Lester will attempt to make his second Cup Series race this weekend driving the #23 Bill Davis Dodge. His first was Atlanta earlier this year where he was the fastest among those who had to qualify into the show, he started 19th and finished 38th. June 14, 2006
Michigan to sell out again
Michigan is on track for it's 30th consecutive sell out that dates back to 1991. They expanded the frontstretch grandstands last year for a total of 137,243 seats. June 14, 2006
Odd 'N Ends
David Stremme will drive for Stephen Wallace in the ARCA race this weekend
Martin Truex Jr., and Mark Martin will drive in the Truck race
10 Cup drivers will do the double duty of Michigan and Kentucky Busch and Cup races June 14, 2006
Gordon takes hard hit at Pocono
In one of the hardest wrecks we've seen in a long time, Jeff Gordon walked away on Sunday with only a headache. Gordon's 24 car was mangled into a pile of metal after brake failure that could barely be recognized. Jeff said "That was one of the hardest hits I have ever taken. Between the soft wall and the seat and the safety device, I never got knocked out and I was surprised that I feel pretty good."
Update: Jeff Gordon has been cleared by doctors to race on Sunday. June 13, 2006
POINT STANDINGS | CUP SERIES
1. Jimmie Johnson Leader
2. Matt Kenseth -48
3. Mark Martin -238
4. Tony Stewart -257
5. Kasey Kahne -279
6. Dale Earnhardt Jr. -295
7. Jeff Burton -387
8. Kevin Harvick -430
9. Denny Hamlin -463
10. Kyle Busch -476
after Pocono
Note: Jeff Gordon drops out of the top 10 in points
June 12, 2006
Pocono Rundown
RACE RECAP | POCONO
10 Jimmie Johnson nice recovery after speeding on pit road
9 Jeff Burton also sped on pit road
8 Kasey Kahne
7 Scott Riggs
6 Greg Biffle had brake problems early on
5 Matt Kenseth
4 Brian Vickers
3 Tony Stewart
2 Kurt Busch
VICTORY LANE
1 Rookie Denny Hamlin, started on the poll, blew a tire but didn't wreck and battled back to lead the most laps and pick up his first career Cup Series win, plus is now 9th in points.
OTHER STORIES ON THE DAY
-Last years winner Carl Edwards had a jack problem in the pits and finished 25th
-Jeff Gordon lost the brakes on his 24 machine and wrecked hard but walked away from his mangled car. It's Jeff's 3rd DNF of the year and he dropped out of the top 10 in points
-Teams had tons of troubles in the pits, as well as brake problems like Biffle, Gordon, Sorenson, and Jarrett. Speeding claimed victims such as Burton, Johnson, Vickers, & Kyle Busch. June 12, 2006
Rookie Hamlin wins Pocono Cup race
Race Recap: Rookie Hamlin Wins in First Race at Pocono
LONG POND, PA. -- Rookie Joe Gibbs driver Denny Hamlin overcame a flat tire and spin early in the race and roared back to win the Pocono 500 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race at Pocono Raceway Sunday.
Starting from the pole position, Hamlin battled Kurt Busch for the lead before taking over the front spot early on. He was leading after 50 laps when a cut tire sent him into a spin but he straightened his Chevrolet out and returned to the pits where his crew began making repairs on the first of several stops under caution.
Hamlin restarted at the rear of the field but raced his way back to the front with consistently fast laps and outstanding pit work by his FedEx team. It was the first win in a Cup points race for Hamlin, although he won the Bud Shootout at Daytona to kick off his rookie season in the Gibbs Car. Amazingly, this weekend was the first time young Hamlin drove a lap at this tricky, tri-ovalled track that veterans agree is one of the toughest on the NASCAR circuit. It was the also the first time a No. 11 car has won a Cup points race since Bill Elliott won at Darlington in car owner Junior Johnson's No. 11 Chevy 12 years ago.
Four-time champion Jeff Gordon lost the brakes on his DuPont Chevrolet 10 laps from the finish and took a wild ride through the grassy apron, slamming the outside retaining wall hard, scattering mud and debris all over the track. The race was red-flagged for cleanup and was restarted with five laps remaining.
Hamlin, as he had up to that point, took off like a rocket and finished well ahead of runnerup Kurt Busch.
Injured two-time champion Tony Stewart, driving with a fractured scapula, wound up third after running near the front all day. Stewart suffered the injury two weeks ago at Lowe's Motor Speedway and used veteran Ricky Rudd as a relief driver at Dover last weekend.
Trailing Stewart were Brian Vickers, Matt Kenseth, Greg Biffle, Kasey Kahn, Scott Riggs, Ryan Newman and Jimmy Johnson.
Biffle drove his way back through the field for his sixth-place finish after going to the rear of the field when his crew had to repair the brakes on his Roush Racing Ford.
Casey Mears found out on the first lap his day was not going to be a good one. Mears' machine was tapped from the rear by Scott Riggs before the 43-car starting field had completed the first lap and smashed into the outside retaining wall.
Teammate Reed Sorensen in another Chip Ganassi car scraped the wall several times before halfway, ending his chances for victory.
Veteran Kyle Petty also bashed the wall before halfway after a wheel came loose and passed his damaged car as it slowed from the collision.
Carl Edwards, who appeared to be a contender, lost two laps during a pit stop when his car fell off the jack during a tire change. He returned to the race but was never a threat after the bizzare incident on pit road. June 11, 2006
Edwards takes Nashville Busch win
Race Recap: Edwards Wins in the Music City
Carl Edwards scored his second NASCAR Busch Series win of the season Saturday night at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway, while Kevin Harvick finished third to maintain his lead in the championship points race.
Edwards, who started 13th, pushed his Ameriquest Ford past ACDelco Chevrolet driver Clint Bowyer with 37 laps remaining in the 225-lap, 300-mile event and pulled away for the win. Bowyer finished second while Harvick, the 2001 series champion, placed third in the U.S. Coast Guard Chevrolet. Rockwell Automation Chevrolet driver Denny Hamlin finished fourth after leading during the midway point of the event. Finishing fifth was Paul Menard, who drove the Menard’s/Quaker State Chevrolet to his second top-five finish of the season.
David Reutimann recorded his best finish of the season in four series starts by placing sixth. He was followed by the 2002 series champion, Greg Biffle, Jon Wood, early race leader Ashton Lewis Jr., and Raybestos Rookie Danny O’Quinn, Jr., who started on the outside pole.
O'Quinn's Roush Racing teammate and fellow rookie Todd Kluever won his first career Busch Pole Award and led the first 17 laps of his career at the start of the event. He finished 17th.
Harvick exited the event with a 272-point lead over Edwards in the unofficial series standings. Bowyer and Hamlin maintained their third and fourth-place positions in the standings, while Biffle jumped two spots into fifth place.
The series makes its way to Kentucky Speedway on Saturday, June 17, for the Meijer 300 presented by Oreo. It's the second of three consecutive stand-alone events where seven drivers -- including Edwards and points leader Harvick who are attempting to run a full schedule in both the NASCAR Busch Series and in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series -- will have to travel from two different venues in order to make their starts in both series. The NASCAR NEXTEL Cup event will be at Michigan. June 11, 2006
Bodine wins Texas CTS race
Race Recap: Bodine Makes Last Lap Pass for Texas Win
Todd Bodine’s phenomenal NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season continued Friday night with a come-from-behind, final lap victory in the Sam’s Town 400 at Texas Motor Speedway.
Bodine’s Lumber Liquidator Toyota, a lap down when caution flew at lap 101, regained the lead serial as the highest scored, non, lead-lap truck.
And from an 18th-place restart – and fresh tires mounted at lap 117 – Bodine slashed his way back through the field to reach second place when the race’s seventh and final caution flew five laps short of the scheduled, 167-lap distance when Jack Sprague spun in Turn 2.
The yellow erased Budweiser Pole starter Mike Skinner’s 4.5-second lead and set up a two-lap, green-white-checker finish that proved the undoing of the 1995 champion, who a day earlier won a series record fourth consecutive pole at the 1.5-mile superspeedway.
Skinner, running on a set of tires last mounted 66 laps earlier, shot out to a two length lead as the field began lap 167 but Bodine quickly caught his Toyota Tundra at the white flag signaling the final trip around the racing surface.
A crowd estimated at 52,000 stood as Bodine swung high entering Turn 1 and shot past Skinner onto the backstretch. He beat Skinner back to the line to win by .116 second – the closest series finish in 17 races at TMS.
The victory, at an average speed of 132.129 mph, was Bodine’s third of the season, third in the past four Texas races and 10th in his career.
Bodine was resigned to an off-night when handling troubles beset his truck during a green flag run of 43 laps. Fortunately, the caution flag flew three laps later.
“That was just pure luck,” said Bodine, who padded his series championship lead to 115 over teammate Ted Musgrave. He won $71,600. “Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good.”
Bodine led only the final lap. Skinner, one of seven leaders who traded the point 11 times, headed the race four times for 113 laps.
Rick Crawford, who led twice in his Circle Bar Truck Corral Ford, finished third to claim his first top five of 2006. Toyota drivers David Reutimann and Johnny Benson were fourth and fifth followed by Dennis Setzer, Musgrave, David Ragan, Raybestos rookie contender Chad McCumbee and Mike Bliss.
Thirteen drivers completed all 168 laps including Mexico’s Michel Jourdain Jr., who finished 13th in his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut.
The series next moves to Michigan International Speedway for the June 17 Con-way Freight 200. June 11, 2006
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