NASCAR drivers' take on the "new" new Bristol

   Tony Stewart, Clint Bowyer and Jeff Burton took part in a Goodyear tire test on Tuesday at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway. They are the first NASCAR drivers to make runs on the track since track owner Bruton Smith made changes to the surface in hopes of bringing back more close-knit racing.

   Tony Stewart (who is the only driver to try to run the high groove):

   “Well, you’ve definitely lost the top groove. Guys who run up there aren’t going to be able to do that because it’s pretty slick up there. There’s going to be less room to race, that’s for sure. We’ve gone from a three-groove track to two grooves and any time you’ve got less room to get around it can get pretty interesting.

   “I’m one of the guys who likes that high groove so it’s really going to change things up for me. It’ll change things for everybody though because when you take away room to race on a track this small with 43 cars… yeah, it’s going to tighten things up.”

   Clint Bowyer:

   “That outside line – the upper groove – is out of play now. There’s going to be a lot closer racing then we’ve had here in the past. I don’t typically run up there but a lot of guys do and I can’t see them going up there now. If they do… it’s pretty slippery and they’ll figure that out in a hurry.

   “The closer we have to race just means something’s going to happen. Is it going to make fans happy? Well, narrowing up the track means less room to get around so there’s no question there’s going to be closer action.

   “I tell you what though… this place has always been – and will always be – far and away the best race we have. You wanna see a great race in the best atmosphere we have? Just be here in August. “

   Jeff Burton:

   “Goodyear is looking to bring a tire with more grip. I really think they have found some stuff that is really promising. As for the track itself, I really can’t imagine running up there in that top groove. I think it is going to force everyone more to the middle and bottom of the track. The drivers aren’t going to be happy, but the spectators probably will be because it is going to put more cars in a closer space.

   "By taking away that groove, it is going to change your mind about going up there. I think it is going to be two grooves, unless Goodyear brings a tire with a lot of grip. If that is the case, you’ll want to run around the bottom. Making the groove smaller is a good thing, it is going to put the action back to the bottom and middle of the track. What has changed is up near the wall, the bottom is the same. Tony experimented and tried out that top groove, and I know he won’t be trying that again.

   "If people liked the older track more than the new, they are going to like this. This takes the top groove out and brings it back toward the old track. Taking the groove out moves the track closer to what it used to be. Taking the banking out is what is going to make the difference. You won’t run the top groove on a short track without more banking. There is no way you will run around the outside. If there is less banking on a short track near the wall, you are not going to go there.

   "Every race track should look at the fan experience. The fans come to see action here because this is Bristol. That is why there are so many seats. This is why it is like a gladiator stadium. We always will walk a tight rope of what is in the best interest of the fan. The sport is under more scrutiny all the time. For us, it is a more constant conversation about changing. Some races are better than others. Some are phenomenal, some are sleepers. But all sports are like that. Not every NBA game is great.

   "This track always has been different. Fans always want to see action here. That is why pressure is always put on this track."

Ford makes changes to its 2013 Fusion in NASCAR

   After unveiling the 2013 Ford Fusion its plans to run in NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway in January, Ford Racing has made some design updates to the car, including enhanced design cues, including new grille work and hood lines.

   Gone is the stickered front grille from the January reveal and in its place are actual grille bars which will adorn the 2013 Cup Fusion, in addition to several other key tweaks to the front end of the car.

   “We had an opportunity to add more personality and detail to the race car,” said Garen Nicoghosian, Ford design manager in charge of the NASCAR project. “We took advantage of this opportunity and sculpted a more aggressive front end and we added grille bars that are identical in design to the production car. We also added more detail to the fog light housings, and created a more detailed headlight area as well.
  
   “In addition, we also sculpted a more aggressive hood, and were able to achieve a closer look to the production car. Our race car is even closer in design to the production car now, and we are very pleased with the results.”

   The latest enhancements have allowed Ford to more closely match the production Fusion while remaining within NASCAR guidelines as the manufacturers inch closer to submitting their final designs to NASCAR for the 2013 season.

Why Dale Junior doesn't want to mess up on pit road

   Dale Earnhardt Jr. was not among the drivers caught speeding on pit road during Sunday's Pocono 400 at Pocono Raceway. Apparently, that's a very good thing.

   While Earnhardt never wants to make mistakes on pit road - which can ruin an opportunity at a win or even a good run - there is a particular reason Earnhardt would like to avoid such issues.

   You might be surprised at the reason, which Earnhardt describes in this answer to a question about the abundance of speeding penalties on Sunday.

   "Steve (Letarte, crew chief) told me about them and just said to be careful. So I was extra careful. I was probably really ridiculously slow coming onto pit road. But I just don’t want to get popped.," he said.

   "I get burned on TV and by the fan base whenever we do anything stupid on pit road such as miss our stall or something. It takes me about a year-and-a-half to get over that in a lot of people’s eyes; so I can’t make too many mistakes on pit road. We have to be pretty careful."

Cotton Owens laid to rest

   Everett "Cotton" Owens, recently elected to the NASCAR Hall of Fame, was laid to rest on Sunday in Spartanburg, S.C. The funeral was held at Milestones Church. A private burial was held in Sunset Memorial Gardens.

   Owens, 88, was elected last month to the Hall of Fame and will be among five inductees in the Hall's 2013 class in February.

   Memorials may be made to Mobile Meals, P.O. Box 461, Spartanburg, SC 29304; or Spartanburg Regional Hospice, 101 E. Wood Street, Spartanburg, SC 29303.

   Dunbar Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the Owens' family.

   Click here to read the complete obituary.

Is Tony Stewart changing his tune on Kurt Busch?

   It was just a few days ago Tony Stewart made it absolutely clear he had no problem with the comments from driver Kurt Busch toward a reporter that drew a 10-day suspension from NASCAR.

   Last Saturday at Dover, Del., Sporting News reporter Bob Pockrass asked Busch a question about a run-in with another driver while he is on NASCAR probation. Busch's response: “It refrains me from not beating the (expletive) out of you right now because you ask me stupid questions.”   

    On his Sirius Satellite Radio show Tuesday night, Stewart said he agreed with Busch and “liked his answer.”

Read more here: http://www.thatsracin.com/2012/06/08/89221/jeff-gordon-calls-kurt-busch-comments.html#storylink=cpy

   Yet, during Stewart's media availability on Friday at Pocono Raceway, Stewart seemed to indicate that as an owner he may shy away from a driver like Busch who continues to run afoul of NASCAR.

   "You definitely have to look at that, for sure because you know half of the battle is getting a good partner and sponsor. And if the sponsors are leery, then it puts you in a bad spot as an owner unless you have unlimited funding and can just put in there whoever you want," Stewart said. "It’s definitely a huge concern."

   Do Stewart the driver and Stewart the owner have different perspectives? Or has Stewart's opinion of Busch's comments changed?

Bob Pockrass talks with Speed's Race Hub about Kurt Busch

SPEED’s NASCAR Race Hub Talks to Bob Pockrass about Kurt Busch

   Bob Pockrass, NASCAR writer for The Sporting News, came onto the set of NASCAR Race Hub this evening to chat about his challenging interview with Sprint Cup Series driver Kurt Busch.
   Busch’s actions towards Pockrass resulted in a NASCAR suspension that lasts through June 13, along with an addition to his probation until Dec. 31. The following are quotes from his interview with host Steve Byrnes.


   Steve Byrnes: Did you feel Kurt’s tone was threatening? Did you feel that his words were abusive?

   Bob Pockrass: I was not threatened by him. Athletes and the media often don’t see eye to eye, and I just thought it was one of those situations. I hope that NASCAR’s penalties (aren’t) necessarily just for what he said to me, but to keep other incidents from happening, and possibility from worse incidents from happening. Again, I thought it was just one of those media-athlete tiffs with no big harm.


   Byrnes: Bob, to your point about the totality of Kurt’s behavior, you’ve worked in the sport a long time. I think you, myself, a lot of us have witnessed – I wouldn’t call it hostile relations to the media - but this is not his first run in with the media.

   Pockrass: No it’s not, and to be fair, there have been times when I have asked questions and he’s been like, ‘Ah… this is like People Magazine and not racing. This is not the first time I’ve heard that from Kurt. Again, we just don’t see eye to eye on maybe what’s news or how things should be viewed. That happens. Kurt, obviously, has a little bit of trouble handling these types of situations.


   Byrnes: You know, Bob, you have taken some criticism some people feel like you were adding fuel to the fire. As just a personal aside, I thought you asked some legitimate questions, being on probation, does it affect the way you race?

   Pockrass: I’ll agree with you, Steve, I appreciate that. Especially because Kevin Harvick has said in the past that he’s felt like he’s kind of had a hand tied behind his back when he’s been on probation. I want to say Brad Keselowski may have said a similar thing. So I was kind of curious whether Kurt felt that way, especially with the way he said Justin Allgaier was racing him. Look, we all try to be professional and we try to treat drivers with respect. But, you have to ask the question at a time when it’s pertinent. This was the pertinent time to ask it. Just because some has a history of having some confrontational moments with the media, that doesn’t mean they don’t get asked those questions any more. If so, we would just be asking all the hard questions to guys like Justin Allgaier and Jeff Gordon. Nobody gets a free pass.


   Byrnes: James Finch (Busch’s car owner) was quoted again today saying that they were going to have a ‘Come to Jesus’ meeting – his words not mine – with Kurt. And he said, ‘It’s simple. He’s got to to quit wrecking race cars, and be nice to people. In your opinion, do you think he will continue – that being James Finch – with Kurt Busch after Pocono?

   Pockrass: First off, I haven’t talked to James because of the situation I am in – in this deal. So I don’t know exactly what he’s thinking. But, I think he will. I think if he did want Kurt, Kurt would already be out the door.

NASCAR's Hall of Fame has Cure for the Common Summer

   The NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte has several opportunities designed specifically designed for kids this summer:


   FIRST 1000 KIDS IN FREE WITH PAYING ADULT - Begins Friday, June 8
   The first 1000 kids (12 and younger) receive FREE admission to the NASCAR Hall of Fame with a paying adult courtesy of Coca-Cola. One child per paying adult.

   FREE SIMULATOR RIDE OFFER - Begins Friday, June 8
   Bring any Coca-Cola product to the NASCAR Hall of Fame box office throughout the summer and receive a FREE SIMULATOR RIDE with the purchase of a general admission ticket. Offer valid through August 31, 2012.

   WRFX Father’s Day Dad vs. Kid Video Game Challenge - Sunday, June 17
   Don't miss this showdown! Enter our video game bracket to play for a chance to win a VIP trip to Talladega (tickets & hotel) and a Family Membership to the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Other prizes include Memberships, souvenirs and more. Jeff Kent from WRFX will be at the Hall of Fame from noon until 2 p.m. for the festivities. To register, listen to WRFX 99.7FM in Charlotte or visit the NASCAR Hall of Fame on June 17.