NASCAR Race Hub's Matt Clark sat down with fellow NASCAR on Fox/Speed analyst Kyle Petty to talk about the many topics currently shaping the sport's landscape.
Among the topics, five-time champion Jimmie Johnson. Considering his father, 'The King' Richard Petty, and what he accomplished, Kyle might be one of the more unique voices to talk about Johnson's eventual place in history.
Clark: Why do people consider him, or don't consider him, a powerhouse?
Petty: He may be the most underrated driver, ever. Now, on the other side of that coin when you flip it over, he's arguably the greatest driver ever, when you look at it. I don't know why, I think when you go back in the history of the sport, and when you look at those early years, it was all about the driver. When you talk Richard Petty, you just talk Richard Petty. When you talk Dale Earnhardt, Sr., you just talk Dale Earnhardt, Sr. Nobody mentions Jimmie, without mentioning (crew chief) Chad (Knaus) or (car owner) (Rick) Hendrick.
Clark: I think thats', I don't want to say Jimmie's fault, but it's a good characteristic. He's a blue-collar guy that bought into the team concept and said, 'Hey, my team, my crew chief, the owner, it's all of us.'
Petty: He's preached the team concept so much, and people bought it from him so much, that now he can't escape that. We'll always think about Jimmie as, 'Jimmie and Chad and oh yeah, Hendrick, was a powerhouse during that time.' That's why he's won so many races. No. He drives the wheels off that thing. That's why he wins the races.
Clark: It will be 20 or 30 years before people sit back and see what he did was amazing.
Petty: Yeah. I can't believe that Jimmie Johnson's five championships in a row was not a bigger deal in the sports world than what it was
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Kevin and DeLana Harvick are looking for someone special. Can you help?
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Kevin Harvick and his wife, DeLana, met a special person on a recent visit to Fort Bragg in North Carolina. But they never caught his name.
They posted the following note Tuesday on Facebook:
"Okay Fort Bragg followers, we need your help. A few weeks ago when DeLana and I were in Ft. Bragg, we came in contact with a solider as we were leaving the Soldier & Family Assistance Center.
He told us that he and his friend were huge Kevin Harvick fans. Soon after watching the Daytona 500, he and his friend were out on patrol, in Afghanistan I believe, and his friend was killed. He gave me a pin from his friend’s uniform. Before we could process what had just happened, between the tears, soldier was gone.
We never got his name…
We've been working with the folks from Ft. Bragg since that day with no luck. It would mean so much to us if anyone has any information about this particular solider we met in Ft. Bragg and how we might be able to contact him.
We’ve got something we want to get to the soldier and are hoping we can get the word out via social media. There are no pictures, video, etc of our meeting… so we are asking for any help in this matter!"
Go here to see Harvick's Facebook page.
They posted the following note Tuesday on Facebook:
"Okay Fort Bragg followers, we need your help. A few weeks ago when DeLana and I were in Ft. Bragg, we came in contact with a solider as we were leaving the Soldier & Family Assistance Center.
He told us that he and his friend were huge Kevin Harvick fans. Soon after watching the Daytona 500, he and his friend were out on patrol, in Afghanistan I believe, and his friend was killed. He gave me a pin from his friend’s uniform. Before we could process what had just happened, between the tears, soldier was gone.
We never got his name…
We've been working with the folks from Ft. Bragg since that day with no luck. It would mean so much to us if anyone has any information about this particular solider we met in Ft. Bragg and how we might be able to contact him.
We’ve got something we want to get to the soldier and are hoping we can get the word out via social media. There are no pictures, video, etc of our meeting… so we are asking for any help in this matter!"
Go here to see Harvick's Facebook page.
Will Nationwide always be on NASCAR's side?
Nationwide Insurance has extended its exclusive negotiating window with NASCAR, giving the company through the end of the summer to determine whether it wishes to renew its title sponsorship of NASCAR's second-tier series, according to a report in the Sports Business Journal.
The original agreement gave Nationwide until the end of June to negotiate exclusively with NASCAR but the company requested more time so it could take into consideration what TV network would be broadcasting the series' races.
Sources told the Observer on Tuesday that Fox Sports, perhaps in conjunction with its new Fox Sports 1 brand which debuts later this summer, may be making a play for the series' TV rights. The series is currently broadcast by ESPN/ABC.
ESPN/ABC has not yet started negotiations with NASCAR on extending its TV deal covering the series but is expected to by next month.
Asked if the network wanted to retain the rights, ESPN spokesman Andy Hall said, "We have a good relationship with NASCAR, it's good programming for us and we'd like to continue."
According to the SBJ, media has been one of Nationwide’s primary vehicles for getting a return on its $10 million to $12 million deal to title sponsor NASCAR’s secondary series. The company, which became the series’ sponsor in 2008, spends more than $5 million on media with ESPN, and it has used NASCAR-themed ads over the last five years to connect with fans and raise brand awareness, so the series’ future television deal is something sources said Nationwide officials wanted to evaluate before committing to a renewal.
ESPN/ABC has not yet started negotiations with NASCAR on extending its TV deal covering the series but is expected to by next month.
Asked if the network wanted to retain the rights, ESPN spokesman Andy Hall said, "We have a good relationship with NASCAR, it's good programming for us and we'd like to continue."
According to the SBJ, media has been one of Nationwide’s primary vehicles for getting a return on its $10 million to $12 million deal to title sponsor NASCAR’s secondary series. The company, which became the series’ sponsor in 2008, spends more than $5 million on media with ESPN, and it has used NASCAR-themed ads over the last five years to connect with fans and raise brand awareness, so the series’ future television deal is something sources said Nationwide officials wanted to evaluate before committing to a renewal.
Monday, June 24, 2013
Jeff Gordon would like to see change in Gen 6 Cup car on road courses
Four-time NASCAR Cup series champion Jeff Gordon, one of the most successful road course racers in NASCAR history, finished second Sunday in Sonoma, Calif. After the race, he said there was something with the new Gen 6 car he wanted to discuss with NASCAR in regards to its performance on road courses.
Let him explain:
"We don't have the body in the right position for the road courses to turn right. When we go to Watkins Glen, as fast as those right handers are, we're going to have some issues. There's nothing to lean on. You have plenty of grip on the lefts because the body still has a little bit of rake on the rights, it has nice sideforce for the right side of the car for those left turns, but on the right turns the cars are just so out of control," he said.
"I would like to see if there is something they can think about for that. But other than that, I love the Gen‑6 car everywhere we go. It's got good grip and drives well and looks great, and I think other than those fast right handers, I think it was the same here today."
Sunday, June 23, 2013
Who has the longest winless streak among current Sprint Cup drivers?
Now that Martin Truex Jr. has ended his 218-race winless streak in the Sprint Cup Series, here's a look at the fulltime drivers who currently hold the longest such streaks.
Top 5 longest winless streaks by current fulltime drivers in the Sprint Cup Series (through Sunday):
Bobby Labonte, 340 races
Casey Mears, 205 races
Jeff Burton, 165 races
Juan Pablo Montoya, 102 races
David Reutimann, 94 races
Friday, June 21, 2013
A vision of NASCAR in 2025?
A 25-year newspaper veteran, the Pulitzer Prize-nominated satirist produces 12 cartoons a week for The News and United Feature Syndicate. Payne is also a contributor to National Review, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Post, and other national publications.
Text of New Jersey State Police early findings of Jason Leffler accident
Troopers Release Early Findings in Fatal Race Crash Involving Jason Leffler
West Trenton, N.J. – Because of the media attention and high volume of calls regarding the results of the investigation into the crash that claimed the life of racecar driver Jason Leffler, we are supplying an early summary of the findings. These facts have been substantially vetted even though the full investigative report remains open for some minor additions. The facts we have established to this point are outlined below.
Bridgeport Speedway, Jason Leffler Crash: June 12, 2013, 2025 hours
On June 12, 2013, Jason Leffler was operating a 2013 Maxim chassis, 410 Spring Car in a heat race at Bridgeport Speedway. Leffler was in the second position completing his fifth lap when his vehicle sustained a mechanical failure in turn four. Race vehicles were averaging 135 mph and reaching speeds of up to 150 mph in the straight-aways at this event.
Evidence discovered on the track in turn 4 indicated a tortion stop located on the left side of the vehicle came off and allowed the tortion bar and arm to slide out of its housing. As the tortion bar slid out, the tortion arm became lodged between the inboard flange of the right front wheel and the right steering arm. As a result of this mechanical failure, Leffler’s front suspension failed and his steering became locked. Leffler lost directional control of his vehicle as he exited turn 4. His vehicle rotated clockwise approximately 180 degrees and struck the outside concrete hub rail with the left side of the vehicle. Leffler’s vehicle sustained a lateral impact with the wall then overturned and continued in a south east direction before coming to final uncontrolled rest upright facing north. Leffler remained in his vehicle and sustained fatal blunt force injuries as a result of the crash. Post Mortem examination confirmed that Jason Leffler died as a result of blunt force neck injuries.
West Trenton, N.J. – Because of the media attention and high volume of calls regarding the results of the investigation into the crash that claimed the life of racecar driver Jason Leffler, we are supplying an early summary of the findings. These facts have been substantially vetted even though the full investigative report remains open for some minor additions. The facts we have established to this point are outlined below.
Bridgeport Speedway, Jason Leffler Crash: June 12, 2013, 2025 hours
On June 12, 2013, Jason Leffler was operating a 2013 Maxim chassis, 410 Spring Car in a heat race at Bridgeport Speedway. Leffler was in the second position completing his fifth lap when his vehicle sustained a mechanical failure in turn four. Race vehicles were averaging 135 mph and reaching speeds of up to 150 mph in the straight-aways at this event.
Evidence discovered on the track in turn 4 indicated a tortion stop located on the left side of the vehicle came off and allowed the tortion bar and arm to slide out of its housing. As the tortion bar slid out, the tortion arm became lodged between the inboard flange of the right front wheel and the right steering arm. As a result of this mechanical failure, Leffler’s front suspension failed and his steering became locked. Leffler lost directional control of his vehicle as he exited turn 4. His vehicle rotated clockwise approximately 180 degrees and struck the outside concrete hub rail with the left side of the vehicle. Leffler’s vehicle sustained a lateral impact with the wall then overturned and continued in a south east direction before coming to final uncontrolled rest upright facing north. Leffler remained in his vehicle and sustained fatal blunt force injuries as a result of the crash. Post Mortem examination confirmed that Jason Leffler died as a result of blunt force neck injuries.
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