Roger Penske comments on Allmendinger situation

   Following the news NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver A.J. Allmendinger had been temporarily suspended from the sport after failing a random drug test, SPEED reporter Robin Miller talked with team owner Roger Penske in Toronto at the IndyCar race. Penske’s comments on the situation aired on Sunday’s edition of Speed Center:

   Miller: RP, you flew in from Europe last night and got some unfortunate news …

   Penske: “Well, yes it’s unfortunate, obviously, when you come back … and we’re having such a good season … to have a disappointment like that with AJ. You know, there’s still some time. He’s got another test they have to look at this next week and then we’ll make a decision. Obviously, we support the NASCAR program of drug-free drivers, mechanics and crew members and we need to abide by that. To me, it’s a big speed bump for us, but at the end of the day, we’ve had situations before that we’ve had to deal with and we’re going to be professional, we are going to support the sport and we don’t want to let our sponsors down. At this point, we’ll just wait and see.”

Harvicks welcome baby boy

   Kevin and DeLana Harvick welcomed son Keelan Paul Harvick (pronounced Key-lan) Sunday, July 8^th, 2012.

    Keelan weighed in at 6.8 lbs. and 19.5 inches. Throughout the pregnancy, the Harvicks had jokingly referred to their son as "Baby Otis" on Twitter and in public because they did not want to give out the name they had chosen.

    "Waiting on Keelan was the longest nine months of my entire life," Kevin Harvick said. "But time literally stood still when I held our baby for the first time. I've accomplished a lot in my life that I'm proud of, but those moments don't hold a candle to becoming a father and seeing that little face looking up at you. DeLana and I are just amazed by how special and rewarding this is."

    Mother and baby are doing well.

Allmendinger fails drug test, out of Daytona race

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Driver AJ Allmendinger was pulled from the Coke Zero 400 and suspended temporarily by NASCAR for failing a random drug test, senior vice president for racing operations Steve O'Donnell announced about 90 minutes before Saturday's race at Daytona International Speedway began.

Allmendinger's No. 22 Dodge was taken from the starting grid. Sam Hornish Jr. will replace Allmendinger in the car for the race.


O'Donnell read a brief statement and didn't say what drug Allmendinger was flagged for taking, but that his "A" sample tested positive. O'Donnell, who took no questions, said Allmendinger will have the opportunity within 72 hours to request that his "B" sample be tested. O'Donnell referred to Section 19-11B (6,7) in NASCAR's rule book.

Allmendinger took the test last weekend at Kentucky.


Allmendinger's Penske Racing released the following statement:

"NASCAR notified Penske Racing this afternoon that AJ Allmendinger was administered a drug test earlier this week, and those results tested positive. NASCAR has a strict drug testing program that Penske Racing fully supports. Penske Racing will work with NASCAR through this process and its next steps. Sam Hornish Jr., will drive the No. 22 car in tonight's Coke Zero 400." -- David Scott 

Dillon explains penalty at Kentucky

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Rookie Austin Dillon came away from Kentucky Speedway last week with his first NASCAR Nationwide victory and what he thought was the series’ points lead.

Now, as Dillon prepares for Friday night’s Subway Jalapeno 250 at Daytona International Speedway, he still has possession of that triumph – the first of his Nationwide career. But his lead in the standings is gone after he was penalized six points for his Chevy being too low.

The penalty – levied for what Dillon said was a loose jack bolt that made the car too low -- dropped him into second place by four points behind Richard Childress Racing-teammate Elliott Sadler.

“We thought we had the problems fixed and we just made a mistake and didn’t put the new-style fix on the back of the car,” Dillon said. “Mine had the old clamp and it came loose at the track.

“It was a bummer. You go from such a high, but it’s still a high.”

NOTES

MANDATORY COMPETITION CAUTIONS? Drivers and one very influential NASCAR official had mixed reactions to Bruton Smith’s suggestion for more competition cautions to improve racing in the Sprint Cup series.

“I think … our product … is exciting," NASCAR President Mike Helton told reporters Thursday. “Sports is a true reality show as it unfolds. You have to be careful when you think about artificially creating the outcome of that.

“We go through cycles being accused of creating cautions. It’s kind of interesting to be accused of not having enough cautions. Time will swing back (in the other direction).”

Several races this season have been run under long green-flag periods. Smith, chairman of Charlotte Motor Speedway and Speedway Motorsports, Inc., made his suggestion to throw some mandatory cautions to tighten fields last week at Kentucky.

Greg Biffle doesn’t think it’s a bad idea.

“I wouldn’t be against it if we see the races continue to run green the whole way with one or two cautions,” Biffle said. “Over time, (we) could lose the fans’ interest … and that's not what we want."

Said points-leader Matt Kenseth: “I think we have a good mix of long green-flag runs and some short runs. Long greens have some endings that are pretty exciting. It just depends on what you’re looking for.”

Kevin Harvick also doesn’t think much of Smith’s idea.

“Same guy who ruined Bristol,” Harvick said of Smith, who is repaving Bristol after fans complained about the racing at that SMI track.

HAMLIN SITS OUT PRACTICE: Denny Hamlin didn’t practice Thursday for Saturday’s Coke Zero 400 at Daytona because of a stiff back. His Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch practiced the No. 11 Toyota. Hamlin also had problems with his back in May at Charlotte. -- David Scott

Regan Smith: Things could be worse

   To see performances spoiled by an overload of bad luck has been discouraging for Regan Smith in recent weeks in the Sprint Cup Series. But at the same time the Furniture Row Racing driver just needs to look outside of his mountain home near Denver, Colo., to get a crueler perspective of tough luck.

   Before leaving for Kentucky last week, Smith said he could see and smell the smoke from the raging fires that have engulfed Colorado, where more than 300 homes have gone up in flames and more than 100,000 acres torched.

   "I love this area and it tears your insides apart seeing the destruction that has taken place," said Smith, who moved to Colorado last year to be near the team's Denver race shop. "Our recent issues are minimal compared to the fire-stricken families.

   "I want Colorado residents to know that our thoughts and prayers are with those who have been affected and that Furniture Row Racing is very proud to represent the great state of Colorado on the NASCAR Sprint Cup circuit. I also want to give a team shout out to the brave firefighters and safety personnel who risk their lives daily in their continuing efforts to control and extinguish the fires."

A birthday fit for The King

   You will have to find a cake large enough to hold 75 candles if you want to celebrate the birthday of "The King" Richard Petty on Monday. 

 Petty, the seven-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion and owner of 200 Cup Series wins, including seven Daytona 500 victories, is celebrating his 75^th birthday in the same town he was born, Level Cross, N.C. Petty will spend time working at the current location of Petty's Garage and will later spend time with his family.

   Later this week, Petty will fly to a familiar summer spot for him in early July, Daytona Beach, Fla., where he and his family enjoy a birthday dinner in his honor. The dinner, coined "Red, White and Petty Blue," will take place at the Wyndham Ocean Walk Resort and feature guest speakers who have been a part of Petty's life. The night will conclude with a fireworks display and a birthday cake made by the TLC hit show "Cake Boss."

   "I'm really thankful for everyone who has supported us over the years," said Petty. "I really don't think about age too much. I just keep going to the next race. I've been doing that all my life and that's what I'm going to keep doing. But, I am grateful for each day and all the fans who make this a lot of fun for us."

Hamlin agrees to contract extension with Joe Gibbs Racing

   Denny Hamlin has agreed to a multi-year contract extension with Joe Gibbs Racing, the driver confirmed Saturday evening. Hamlin made the announcement during TNT's broadcast of its pre-race show Saturday night. 

   Hamlin agreed to the extension even though his current deal was not set to expire until the end of the 2013 season.

   "If I'm going to win a championship, I'm going to do it with Joe Gibbs Racing," Hamlin said. "They worked hard with me to get the deal signed. I'm lucky to have a team and sponsor (Fed Ex) who want to be with me."

   Hamlin, 31, has 19 wins in the Sprint Cup Series in nearly seven full seasons with JGR. He has finished as high as second in the series standings, in the 2010 season. He also has 11 wins in the Nationwide Series and one in the Truck series.

   So far this season Hamlin has a pair of Cup wins and is eighth in the series standings entering Saturday night's Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway.