Denny Hamlin talks about his first race back

 

  It didn't go quite as planned, but Denny Hamlin did his part in making his brief return to the Sprint Cup Series in Sunday's race at Talladega. Hamlin started the race and got out of his No. 11 Toyota at the first caution, giving way to driver Brian Vickers. Vickers, however, was caught up in a multi-car accident shortly thereafter. Hamlin talked about his first race back since injuring his back in March.

   Q: How was it out on the race track?
   Hamlin: "It was good. I got to thank all of the drivers -- (Juan Pablo) Montoya and (Tony) Stewart and Michael (Waltrip) and (Ricky) Stenhouse that really sacrificed the first part of the race for me and I can't thank them enough. It means a lot as a driver to have your peers that have got your back like that."

   Q: How did the driver exchange go for you and Brian Vickers?
   Hamlin: "The exchange went great. Really, that was about as smooth as it's went for us.  Obviously we've had a few repetitions at it. That was about the quickest that I was able to get out so everything went well. I had a checklist in the car with things that I needed to do before I got out to switch over for the next driver. Everything really went seamless and painless."

   Q: How do you feel physically?
   Hamlin: "I feel good. Every week I feel a lot better and really this is the best I've felt physically in, gosh, months since I felt this good.  So, I'm definitely looking forward to going back to full competition next week."

   Q: Were you worried about when the caution was going to come?
   Hamlin: "I didn't mind that part of it.  Even if we had to pit for fuel we would've gone ahead and done that and just waited for the first caution whether it had been lap 20 or 120, we were going to do it at a caution. Luckily we wanted to be five to six seconds behind the pack and we were.  Everything kind of worked out ideally how you would want it to."

   Q: Were you anxious getting back in the car today?
   Hamlin: "Yeah, for me the toughest part of every weekend has been watching the cars go off the starting grid and on to the race track for the green flag.  I didn't have to endure that pain this time around, but it is just tough now just having to watch especially this type of racing where it's so circumstantial."

   Q: How did the deal with Tony Stewart come about?
   Hamlin: "Tony (Stewart) actually approached me at my charity event last weekend (in Richmond) and said I want to work with you depending on what your plan is for Talladega.  Me and Tony for whatever reason when we stopped becoming teammates, we started becoming teammates. We've been closer off the race track and on the race track now that he's with Stewart-Haas than ever when we were with (Joe) Gibbs (Racing). We've got a great relationship and he's had my back really for the last three years."

   Q: Was it hard knowing you were going to have to drop back and then get out of the car?
   Hamlin: "I was enjoying it more than anything because it gave me something to do today.  I knew in my head that I wasn't going to be competing today. I wasn't going to be in the middle of the pack trying to make passes. It was all about just going through the motions and getting the process of making a comeback -- getting that started. This is the first week of a comeback.  This is going to be the start of everything so anything that Brian (Vickers) gets us for points today is strictly a bonus and we're going to start next week in Darlington with our hairs on fire."

This song will get you ready for the NASCAR Sprint All Star Race

   Yatta Da Kaptain, better known in NASCAR as Kenyatta Houston, a tire changer for Kurt Busch's No. 78 Furniture Row Racing team, created this song in honor of this month's NASCAR Sprint All Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

   To hear more of Houston's music, go here.

Denny Hamlin cleared to return to racing this weekend

   Press release from Joe Gibbs Racing:

   JOE GIBBS RACING DRIVER DENNY HAMLIN RECEIVES MEDICAL CLEARANCE TO RESUME RACING ACTIVITY

    Huntersville, NC (May 2, 2013) - Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin has received medical clearance to return to on-track activity beginning with this weekend's NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Talladega Superspeedway in the No. 11 FedEx Express Toyota.

    Hamlin was injured during an accident at Auto Club Speedway and has missed the past four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races while recovering.

    Exact plans for this weekend will be determined by the team at Talladega. 

UNC Charlotte to honor late NASCAR champ Alan Kulwicki

   The Williams States Lee College of Engineering UNC Charlotte will be honoring the memory of 1992 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Alan Kulwicki with a pair of events May 19.

   UNC Charlotte’s Motorsports Alumni Chapter will present “Tire Talk” on the UNCC Campus at 3 p.m. May 19. The event will feature former members of Kulwicki’s crew including Brian Whitesell, Cal Lawson, Danny Cameron, Ed Leslie, Joe Covington, Gary Preziosi, Peter Jellen, Randy Clary, Ron Viccaro and Shane Parsnow.

   The event will be moderated by Speed’s John Roberts and proceeds will go to the Alan Kulwicki Memorial Scholarship fund. Tickets are $7 from http://alumni.uncc.edu/tiretalk.

   In addition, the inaugural Alan Kulwicki Scholarship Dinner featuring a keynote address from former Charlotte Motor Speedway President H.A. “Humpy” Wheeler, will be held at 5:15 p.m. that evening. Cost of the dinner is $77 per person.

Text of National Stock Car Racing Appeals Panel Statement

NATIONAL STOCK CAR RACING APPEALS PANEL STATEMENT:

 

On May 1, 2013, the National Stock Car Racing Appeals Panel heard and considered the appeal of the No. 2 and No. 22 Penske Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams.

The penalties concern Sections 12-1: Actions detrimental to stock car racing; 12-4J: Any determination by NASCAR Officials that race equipment used in the event does not conform to the NASCAR rules detailed in Section 20 of the NASCAR rule book, or has not been approved by NASCAR prior to the event; and 20-12: All suspension systems and components must be approved by NASCAR. Prior to being used in competition, all suspension systems and components must be submitted in a completed form/assembly to the office of the NASCAR competition administrator for consideration of approval and approved by NASCAR. Each such part may thereafter be used until NASCAR determines that such part is no longer eligible. All suspension fasteners and mounting hardware must be made of solid magnetic steel. All front end and rear end suspension mounts with mounting hardware assembled must have single round mounting holes that are the correct size for the fastener being used. All front end and rear end suspension mounts and mounting hardware must not allow movement or realignment of any suspension component beyond component normal rotation or suspension travel.

The penalties stemmed from a pre-race inspection at Texas Motor Speedway April 13.

The original penalties assessed to the No. 2 team were:

·         Crew chief (Paul Wolfe): $100,000 fine; suspended from NASCAR until the completion of the next six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship points events; placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31;

·         Car chief Jerry Kelley, team engineer Brian Wilson and team manager Travis Geisler (serves as team manager for both the No. 2 and No. 22 cars): Suspended from NASCAR until the completion of the next six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship points events; placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31;

·         Car owner Roger Penske: Loss of 25 championship owner points;

·         Driver Brad Keselowski: Loss of 25 championship driver points.

The original penalties assessed to the No. 22 team were:

·         Crew chief (Todd Gordon): $100,000 fine; suspended from NASCAR until the completion of the next six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship points events; placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31;

·         Car chief Raymond Fox and team engineer Samuel Stanley: Suspended from NASCAR until the completion of the next six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship points events; placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31;

·         Car owner Walt Czarnecki: Loss of 25 championship owner points;

·         Driver Joey Logano: Loss of 25 championship driver points.

The Appellants appealed all penalties listed above. The Appellants also requested and were granted a deferral of the suspensions until such time as the hearing could be convened.

Upon hearing the testimony and carefully reviewing the facts, it was a unanimous decision by the National Stock Car Racing Appeals Panel to uphold the original penalties assessed by NASCAR.

The Appellants have the right under Section 15 of the rule book to appeal this decision to the National Stock Car Racing Chief Appellate Officer.

Brandon Igdalsky

Paul Brooks

Dale Pinilis

Shawn Rogers – Appellate Administrator and non-voting member

NASCAR suspends two Nationwide Series team members

Two NASCAR Nationwide Series Teams Penalized Following Post-Race Incidents At Richmond International Raceway

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 30, 2013) – Penalties have been levied to two NASCAR Nationwide Series teams as a result of their involvement in separate post-race incidents following last Friday’s race at Richmond International Raceway.

Thomas Costello and Michael Scearce, both crew members for the No. 2 team, have each been fined $15,000 and suspended from NASCAR until the completion of the next four NASCAR Nationwide Series Championship events. They have also been placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31. Both Costello and Scearce were found to be in violation of Section 12-1 (Actions detrimental to stock car racing. Involved in an altercation with another competitor after the race had concluded).

Drivers Nelson Piquet Jr. (No. 30 car) and Brian Scott (No. 2 car) have been placed on NASCAR probation until June 26 for violating Section 12-1 and their involvement in an on-track altercation with their two cars after the race had concluded.

Crew chiefs Chris Carrier (No. 30 car) and Phil Gould (No. 2 car) have likewise been placed on NASCAR probation until June 26 as a result of the on-track incident between their two drivers.

NASCAR: "We want our athletes and our sport to look like America."

   NBA veteran Jason Collins has come out as first openly gay male athlete player still active in a major American professional sport. Other gay athletes, including former NBA center John Amaechi, have waited until retirement to divulge their sexuality publicly.

   Collins has received mostly positive reaction, from teammates, friends and even former President Bill Clinton.

   Collins' decision sparked discussion on Monday to whether participants in other sports - or the sanctioning bodies themselves - would react in a similar fashion is faced with the same issue.

   NASCAR was asked to provide a statement in that regard. Marcus Jadotte, NASCAR Vice President of Public Affairs and Multicultural Development, responded:

   "NASCAR is a recognized leader in diversity and inclusion initiatives in professional sports and home to the best drivers in the world. We want our athletes and our sport to look like America, and exclusion or intolerance of any kind - whether behind the wheel, on pit road or in the garage - is not a part of that formula."

   In addition, in a published interview last month, reigning Sprint Cup Series champion Brad Keselowski said what matters in NASCAR is if someone can win.
 

    When asked if an openly gay driver would have more trouble earning acceptance from the fans or their fellow drivers, Keselowski said, "I can't speak for the fans, I can only speak for myself, but in this garage, if you can win, people will want to be a part of what you can do."