Posted on by Zack Albert

Those involved still marvel at July race, look forward to more

Seven full-time employees. It was a refrain that track owner Tony Stewart recited more than once during the inaugural Mudsummer Classic at Eldora Speedway, his half-mile dirt oval in western Ohio.

Having so few people on the payroll didn’t pose any hurdle to what was arguably one of the most novel races on the NASCAR calendar last season. Instead, Stewart’s "little track that could" thrived in the spotlight while hosting the first NASCAR national series event on dirt in 43 years.

The sense of accomplishment from that picture-perfect night last July returned last week for Roger Slack, Eldora’s general manager and promoter, at the annual NASCAR Summit, a gathering for more than 700 representatives from tracks that host NASCAR and IMSA events to share best practices in track services, safety and security. Eldora Speedway was honored twice, once as a co-recipient of the Track Services Mission Award and again with the Teamwork Award presented by NASCAR’s Medical Liaison staff.

The accolades were an affirmation not only of Stewart’s vision, but of the tremendous undertaking to bring one of NASCAR’s top three series to the historic facility. 

"I liken it to … it was really similar to what I think would be putting on a temporary street course event at your own race track," Slack said last week after the three-day meeting. "I say that because you’re looking at the infrastructure changes we had to make, whether they were gates, pit road, the redesigned walls, mobile infield care center, mobile infield media center, the credential office, all the different phone lines, high-speed internet, all the way down to making sure we had the right tow straps for the wreckers because the trucks are so much heavier than anything we run there. 

"It’s still a feat we marvel at every once in a while up at the track."

"It’s still a feat we marvel at every once in a while up at the track."

— Roger Slack, Eldora general manager and promoter

The preparation

Eldora is no stranger to big events, with a rich history of hosting the nation’s most prestigious and lucrative races for sprint cars and dirt late models. But this, the first visit by the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, was a different beast.

With NASCAR’s Research & Development team keeping close watch on Oct. 15, 2012, Austin Dillon completed a successful feasibility study by testing a plain black truck on Eldora’s high banks, setting the wheels in motion. Six weeks later, the series schedule was released with Stewart’s track in the heart of it.

"After the test that we did in October, when we knew that it looked pretty good that it was happening, that was when we really got after trying to figure out who we could partner up without revealing everything to them," Slack said, "… letting them know we might need some assistance on a possible future event. It really started in earnest in October, and it went all the way through." 

Among the preparations were the speedway staff’s first visit to the NASCAR Summit, where Slack met with noted North Carolina neurosurgeon Dr. Jerry Petty. From that conversation about a personal health issue for Slack, an agreement was eventually hatched to use the Carolinas MED-1 mobile emergency medical unit from the Carolinas HealthCare System in Charlotte for the inaugural race.

The agreement gave tiny Eldora a surgically capable infield care center that was deployed to treat more than 7,500 people in a 49-day span in the wake of the Hurricane Katrina disaster in 2005. 

"I would use that as a good example of the lengths they went to, to make sure they were at or above the standards of any other track that our national series travel to," said Jim Cassidy, NASCAR vice president of racing operations. "The temporary care center that they brought in was not only great for that venue, but I’m sure for any short tracks that don’t have a facility like that, that opened their eyes to ‘Hey, are there possibilities of our venue hosting such an event?’ They showed a lot of other tracks out there what the art of the possible is, and did it in a smart way." 

But the medical piece was only part of the preparation. A helipad was constructed for medical choppers and accommodations were made for television, radio and other coverage. The communication with NASCAR officials was near constant: Several site visits, plus advance calls and meetings took place to discuss event management, logistics, safety and security. 

The dizzying nature of the behind-the-scenes legwork was an eye-opener for Stewart, the three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion who has lived and breathed dirt-track racing for virtually all of his life.

"Getting first-hand knowledge of how NASCAR’s safety elements are managed was huge," Stewart said. "We as drivers don’t realize what goes into putting on a NASCAR event, especially from the track services, medical and safety side. We just show up, put on our safety gear and go race. I got a chance to see just how prepared NASCAR is and what they do to get there. It’s just one more important parameter that I got to see as a track promoter. 

"I’m that much more confident in NASCAR’s safety initiatives and the processes we have in place. We’re in better hands than we even realize. I think it would be an asset for every driver to learn the system like I did, maybe sit in on some of meetings, to get a better understanding of just what goes into all of this." 

More than 700 representatives from tracks that host NASCAR and IMSA events attended the NASCAR Summit. Eldora Speedway was honored twice at the event. (Photo by Scott Hunter)

The race

The on-track portion of the Mudsummer Classic made for one of NASCAR’s most enticing events of the year. Dillon eventually prevailed, 58-year-old Ken Schrader ruled qualifying, rookie hotshot Kyle Larson dazzled, and last-chance qualifier Norm Benning captivated fans and fellow drivers with his pedal-down move to transfer into the main event. Special touches abounded to give the race a true dirt-track feel, including the four-wide salute to fans during the formation laps. 

The Eldora debut also featured a pre-race pyrotechnic display to rival any major-league event, seemingly detonating a significant portion of the Ohio countryside. The conflagration was a definite nod to Slack’s years working in Charlotte Motor Speedway‘s event management team. 

"Working for Humpy Wheeler for 15 years, you’ve definitely got an appreciation for blowing stuff up," Slack said of his former boss, the legendary Charlotte track promoter renowned for his pre-race stunts. 

While Stewart shook hands and participated in the pre-race driver introduction ceremonies, Slack was managing two issues. The first was acting as air traffic control for medical and television helicopters; the second, and perhaps larger, issue was merely keeping the lights on. 

"We had a poor squirrel that hopped on the (electrical) transformer down in Rossburg and caused our lights to go out," Slack said. "So a lot of people don’t even know that we ran our track lights for the 150-lap main event on our redundant generators that we had brought in for the race because the power just blipped on and off."

Eventually, Slack was able to enjoy the rest of the night, and Stewart was able to exhale. With all the variables, the uncertainty and potential pitfalls, the event went off without a major snag — a tribute to the advance work to make sure everything went smoothly. 

"Eldora took the task as seriously as any other track has, and I think you saw the results," Cassidy said. "They were buttoned up and ready to go. We had a great time working with them and can’t wait to go back there." 

The future

The Camping World Truck Series will return to Eldora on July 23. This time around, many of the track’s one-time expenditures will already be in place, helping to ease some of the burden of preparation for the second-annual Classic.

But Slack and company aren’t resting on laurels — staffers with Eldora Speedway logo shirts were back in North Carolina at the NASCAR Summit this year, aiming to learn more and exchange ideas with representatives from other tracks. The rotation of safety and security seminars, plus a showcase of racing-industry products and services, hinted at the preparation for on-track action to come, even against the backdrop of frigid January days.

"The summit is a great opportunity to get everybody together, but it’s really part of an overall process that engages the tracks really on a year-round basis," Cassidy said. "The summit’s a great way to kick it off, but there is ongoing dialogue with each of the tracks in each of the different disciplines, whether it’s track logistics, security, track services or medical, it’s an ongoing process. … 

"While in many instances, our group only sees some of these folks once or twice a year, the relationship and the bond they have is quite remarkable. They all share the same passion for the never-ending focus on safety." 

For Slack and Stewart, their first-year effort is being rewarded with brisk ticket sales for the second running of the truck race at their unique, historic track. Slack already has what he calls a "long list" of new wrinkles for this season, plus a late model feature scheduled on the eve of the 2014 Mudsummer Classic to assist with grooming the track surface. 

It’s just the next challenge ahead for Eldora’s spirited staff of seven.

"People definitely remember the great time they had there," Slack said, "and even if they’re not coming back to the truck race, they’re coming back to one of our other major events to experience Eldora in a different way."

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Posted on by Staff Report

As the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup turns 10, get the history, format and more

FULL CHASE COVERAGE

• View Driver Profiles
• View Top 10 Moments
• View Fantasy Preview

A 10-race Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup decides the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship.

The Chase was implemented in 2004 to involve more drivers in the championship hunt, and intensify fan interest and drama in a playoffs-style atmosphere during the season’s stretch run.

FORMAT
After race No. 26, the top 10 drivers in points earn a berth in the 10-race Chase. Spots 11 and 12 — the Wild Card spots – go to those drivers outside the top 10 with the most wins, provided they are in the top 20. Once the Chase field is set, each driver has his points total reset to 2,000. For those in the top 10, three bonus points are added to that total for each victory during the first 26 races. The tiebreaker for drivers with the same win total is second-place finishes followed by third-place finishes and so on.

HISTORY
A rundown of the Chase’s first 10 years:

– In 2004, the Chase ended with Kurt Busch edging Jimmie Johnson by a scant eight points to win the series title.
– In 2005, Tony Stewart edged out Greg Biffle and Carl Edwards by just 35 points.
– In 2006, Johnson beat Matt Kenseth by 56 points.
– In 2007, Johnson beat Jeff Gordon by 77 points.
– In 2008, Johnson topped Edwards by 69 points, becoming only the second driver in NASCAR history and the first in 30 years to win three consecutive series titles. Cale Yarborough was the first driver to win three consecutive series titles (1975-78).
– In 2009 and 2010, Johnson again made NASCAR history by becoming the first driver to win five consecutive series titles (2006-10).
– In 2010, Johnson also became the first driver in Chase history to overcome a deficit going into the season finale to win the championship, beating out Denny Hamlin and Kevin Harvick.
– In 2011, Stewart claimed his third series crown by winning five of the 10 Chase races, including the season finale. His year-ending victory forced a points tie with Carl Edwards atop the standings; Stewart won the tiebreaker with five wins to Edwards’ one.
– In 2012, Brad Keselowski won claimed the title by 39 and 40 points over Clint Bowyer and Johnson, respectively. Keselowski was the first first-time champion in the series since 2005 when Johnson won his first title in only the second year of the Chase.
– In 2013, Johnson claimed his sixth title by 19 and 34 points over Kenseth and Harvick, respectively. Johnson joined Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt as the only drivers with six titles and begins 2014 in a quest to tie the NASCAR Hall of Famers with seven premier series championships.

Posted on by Brad Norman

These social media personalities engage, enlighten and entertain us

Brad Keselowski (@keselowski)

Perhaps the NASCAR godfather of social media, Keselowski’s Twitter game has evolved since his on-track tweet during a red flag in the 2012 Daytona 500. He offers commentary on a variety of social issues, and isn’t afraid to tackle big picture — and controversial — racing questions from his followers.

 

Kyle Busch (@KyleBusch)

Just like in real life, we enjoy the two sides of Busch on social media. He often does Q-and-A sessions while on long car trips (wife Samantha tweets the responses for him) and retweets fans who send him pictures in their KB gear. He’s equally as fun when he’s salty, too.

 

Mike Hoag (@mikehoag88)

Hoag might not be as well-known as others on this list, but as Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s road manager, no one has more access to NASCAR’s most popular driver. That access comes through with tons of behind-the-scene images and video, and Hoag is also insightful when he’s not tweeting about Junior.

 

Steve O’Donnell (@odsteve)

Want an inside look into NASCAR? Want to ask questions to one of the sport’s leaders? NASCAR Executive Vice President Steve O’Donnell is one to follow. O’Donnell consistently interacts with fans and posts thoughts from the track. His tweets from the World Innovation Convention from France were insightful.

 

Ryan Blaney and Darrell Wallace Jr. (@RyanBlaney22, @BubbaWallace)

A Twitter list simply has to include Blaney and Bubba together. Like a Las Vegas comedy act, these two Camping World Truck Series drivers play off each other perfectly and deliver plenty of zingers to their fellow drivers — and each other.

 

Jimmie Johnson (@JimmieJohnson)

Whether he’s responding to his haters, handing out free swag or mockingly using the #BlameJJ hashtag for common slip-ups, Johnson is almost as good on Twitter as he is behind the wheel. And in what other sport will a six-time champ follow a new fan every week?

 

Kevin and DeLana Harvick (@Kevin Harvick, @DeLanaHarvick)

It’s tough to separate this husband-and-wife tandem, so we won’t. Kevin Harvick, while often sarcastic, is generously sending one of his Twitter followers to the Daytona 500 on his dime. DeLana Harvick holds a lengthy race-day chat every week and extensively quoted National Lampoon’s "Christmas Vacation" movie when the Harvick family moved into its motorhome following a house fire. Unfortunately, none of those gems are fit to print here.

 

Stewart-Haas Racing (@StewartHaasRcng)

With some of the sport’s biggest personalities assembling at SHR, the official team account — which offers unique off-track images and news on its drivers — is a must-follow. This account spearheaded a massive social charge when Tony Stewart was injured (#SmokeWillRise, everyone), and we also enjoy when the circuit goes to New Hampshire, leading to tweets with a faux New England accent.

 

Denny Hamlin (@dennyhamlin)

Hamlin ignited his 2013 feud with Joey Logano with a few choice barbs on Twitter. We also enjoy his views on music, and won’t hold against the driver his tweets on the NBA’s Charlotte Bobcats. Our only wish is that he’d tweet more often.

 

Boris for JGR (@JoeGibbsRacing)

The official Joe Gibbs Racing account is perhaps the best follow on race day. Boris’ updates on JGR drivers are frequent, and his knowledge of on-track strategies and trends is nearly unparalleled.

 

Clint Bowyer (@ClintBowyer)

Twitter is a perfect avenue for Bowyer’s frenetic mind. His one-on-one dialogue with fans during the rare "Late Night Q&A with Clint Bowyer" sessions — perhaps after the driver has tipped back a few beverages — is an absolute treat. It was so raunchy earlier this year that all evidence has since been deleted.

MORE:

READ: Dale Jr. not surprised
by Letarte’s decision

READ: Complete schedule
for Preseason Thunder

WATCH: Stewart: ‘It’s nice
to be back’

READ: Latest news
from Preseason Thunder
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Whether it’s a small town or a big city, fans flock to Petty

NEW YORK — Patsy’s is a New York institution, an Italian restaurant whose bar area is adorned with autographed photos of famous customers, the names and faces spanning the decades from Carl Reiner to Selena Gomez. This was Frank Sinatra’s place, and there’s a hidden secret stairwell that leads up to the second floor, where a long table sits at the back of a room. Off to one side is a curtain, which could be pulled closed to give the Chairman a little privacy whenever he and his cronies were in town.

Needless to say, the place is well accustomed to hosting celebrities. But that doesn’t lessen the impact when a tall man walks in wearing boots, a cowboy hat and a large belt buckle proclaiming him to be a seven-time NASCAR champion.

Eyes widen. Jaws drop open. Forks are halted in mid-transit between plate and mouth. People begin to give thumbs-up signs, offer handshakes, provide recommendations from the menu. Suddenly chairs are pushed back, and people are leaving their chicken contadina or veal rollatine to walk over and get a photograph taken alongside a smiling — always smiling — Richard Petty. There may not be a race in the metropolitan area, and the awards ceremony may have left six years ago for Las Vegas, but the King still reigns, even in New York.

Richard Petty took off his sunglasses for this photo, but people at Patsy’s in New York City recognized him instantly. Petty is standing with Aric Almirola, left, and Patsy’s Executive Chef Sal Scognamillo. (Photo tweeted by Patsy’s official handle).

That much is inarguable. Petty spent the better part of two days this week in the Big Apple, where Smithfield Foods announced a three-year extension with Richard Petty Motorsports that includes a 29-race commitment to Aric Almirola‘s No. 43 car. New York can be a tough market for NASCAR, but look — there’s Dale Earnhardt Jr. smiling down from a video board in Times Square as part of a TaxSlayer campaign. And when the King walks the streets, New York might as well be New Bern or New Smyrna. The rock-star treatment remains the same, people flocking to the figure in the duster and the cowboy hat, NASCAR’s greatest ambassador always seeming as happy to see them as they are him.

"It’s amazing. He has that kind of impact on the entire U.S. It’s probably more than just the U.S. It’s probably the northern hemisphere," Almirola said. "But he’s just an icon. And he’s not only an icon in NASCAR. It’s more than NASCAR. He’s a national icon. And so when he walks in with that hat and sunglasses and belt buckle, he’s instantly recognizable. And people spot him, and they know, and it’s amazing to see that. He could probably skirt by and not get bothered at all, if he took his hat and sunglasses and belt buckle off. But that’s not who he is. When you think of Richard Petty, you think of the guy in the hat and sunglasses. That’s who he is, and people know him."

Even in New York. Andrew Murstein, an RPM co-owner and financier who lives in New York, sees it up close and personal whenever his business partner is in town. Tuesday night before meeting a host of Smithfield executives at Patsy’s, Murstein took Almirola and Petty to Nobu, a Japanese restaurant co-founded by Robert De Niro where the city’s elite meet to eat raw fish. With its stylish interior and star-studded clientele, Nobu is about as far as you can get from the Petty homestead in Randleman, N.C. But the King walks in, and all eyes are on him.

"Nobu, that’s like the opposite of Richard Petty," Murstein said with a laugh. "It’s froofy, it’s very particular, they have these little dishes he complains about. The atmosphere there is all celebrities and power players in New York. And still, they all came over to the table to say hello to him. Like the table next to us was Hoda (Kotb), so her and her husband come over to the table and say, ‘We just want to meet you, it’s such an honor.’ Curtis Martin, the (retired) NFL star was there, and also said, ‘I’d like to meet you.’ Richard really runs the gamut. He plays well anywhere, whether it’s barbecue joints in the back area of North Carolina, or New York City’s fanciest restaurants."

Murstein, who in addition to his share of the race team is a fixture at New York sports events, sees similarities between Petty and another friend — Hank Aaron, the baseball Hall of Famer and one-time home run king. "Hank and Richard are very similar in my mind, in that they’re both legends in their own sport, they’re both transformational athletes, they’re both extremely classy and humble men," he said. "But Hank Aaron doesn’t have the cowboy boots, the hat, the glasses. He walks into Nobu, and he doesn’t get as many looks as Richard does."

In that regard, among sports figures, Petty may very well be in a class by himself. By now, he’s long used to it. "I’ve been doing this for so long, the Petty name has been involved all the way through the whole deal. Even if Jimmie Johnson is the hot dog now or when Dale Earnhardt was the hot dog, of Jeff Gordon, the Petty name still goes into that deal," he said.

"So you don’t have to be out doing stuff to get notoriety. With all the TV and stuff, you turn on the race, and you’re going to see a picture of me, even if I’m just walking through. The recognition is more than you’d like to have sometimes, but it’s good for NASCAR, it’s good for Smithfield. Because when a guy’s walking in the grocery store, he’s thinking, ‘I don’t know what he does, but I know I’ve seen him before.’ But for people who haven’t been around it, to walk down the street and stuff and listen to peoples’ comments, it blows your mind."

It blows your mind just watching it happen. It’s not just that Petty is so instantly recognizable, which helps make the King so valuable to sponsors even though he hasn’t raced a car in more than 20 years. It’s that he’s so approachable. There’s an easy magnetism about the man, one that makes people on the street not just gawk, but go up to him. When people approach the King, they don’t seem nervous — they positively beam. Petty smiles that famous smile and somehow puts them immediately at ease, and they leave the experience with wide grins plastered to their faces. Walking through Patsy’s to his table, Petty patted diners on the shoulder as if he had known them for years.

"I think he was probably the very first guy in NASCAR that took NASCAR mainstream. That was proof," said Almirola, recalling the dinner scene. "We’re in New York City, the place where people can do whatever they want and not get looked at weird. You see people walking down the street dressed all kinds of different ways, but you see Richard walking around in a trench coat, with his hat and sunglasses, and they spot him. He’s mainstream. He really is. He brought our sport and NASCAR to that mainstream level a long time ago, and NASCAR’s done a very good job of taking our sport and growing it from there."

In his driving days, Petty was famous for obliging every autograph or picture request, viewing each one as a small thank-you to those who had watched him compete. He hasn’t changed. Petty was in the middle of dinner, seated against the wall in the middle of that long back table at Patsy’s, when the chef brought over a friend he wanted the King to meet. "Wow," the man said, "you’re at the Sinatra table." Petty stood up and wriggled his way past several dinner companions to shake the man’s hand. There was never any doubt that he wouldn’t.

"You’re not only promoting yourself, you’re promoting yourself and the people who are backing you," Petty said the next day. "Me doing that stuff last night, then when they go in and see Smithfield, they’ll think, ‘I know that.’ But if I treat them bad, they may think, ‘I ain’t buying none of that crap.’ When you’re rude to people — and you’re going to be from time to time, but a lot of people are rude all the time — it takes more energy than it does just to say, ‘Hey guys, how are you doing?’ And that’s all you have to do. Instead of saying, ‘Hey, get away from me,’ or whatever. I don’t know why people operate that way, but I’ve always been like how I am now. I just never thought about it. It’s one of those deals, you want to treat people the way you want to be treated, basically."

And few treat people better than Petty, who by dint of his persona and reputation commands attention simply by walking into a room — wherever that room is. Entering a private airport in White Plains, N.Y., for the flight back to Greensboro, N.C., all eyes once again turned toward the original seven-time champion, and some couldn’t resist a smile. The King offered a slight wave and a nod, the brim of his hat bobbling up and down, another small token of thanks as timeless as a Petty blue race car or the No. 43. Because to Richard Petty, whether it’s New York or North Carolina, in many ways every place is still the same.

The King, who remains a larger-than-life figure, paid a visit to the NASCAR New York office and stood amongst the skyscrapers. (Photo tweeted by Fuel 4 Business account).

MORE:

READ: Dale Jr. not surprised
by Letarte’s decision

READ: Complete schedule
for Preseason Thunder

WATCH: Stewart: ‘It’s nice
to be back’

READ: Latest news
from Preseason Thunder
Posted on by Holly Cain

Four-time Cup champion aiming for a faster start on the track

Jeff Gordon arrived in Daytona Beach, Fla., last week for NASCAR’s annual Preseason Thunder test sessions feeling as spry and acting as eager as ever. Twenty-one full-time seasons into his certain Hall of Fame career, he doesn’t take anything for granted.

There may have been a time when testing seemed monotonous and unnecessary. But these days, Gordon considers any time on track as a valuable asset. Others may dread the unofficial start to the season — a mere seven weeks after wrapping up the 2013 season. He couldn’t be more ready.

"It’s fantastic to be back, the excitement has definitely been building," Gordon said. "I really love getting to the shop and spending time with (crew chief) Alan (Gustafson) and the engineers every year this time of year. It’s exciting to hear all the things that they’ve been thinking about and creating ways to make you better as a team.

"When we get on the track, I look forward to seeing those results."

Gordon shared that he’d just shaved a 3-week-old beard that he joked was more gray than black. He’d just returned from a European holiday with family traveling through France and his wife Ingrid’s native Belgium.

Judging by the photos he posted on his Facebook and Twitter accounts, the family took in all the great sites: The Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, cafes on the Champs-Elysees and castles in the countryside.

Gordon also included an up-close photograph he took of Leonardo da Vinci’s "Mona Lisa" painting that hangs in the Louvre in Paris. There’s that famous hint of a smile — as if she knows something we don’t.

It’s not unlike Gordon.

The four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion offers a similar smile when asked if at 42 years old, he’s contemplating a timeframe to end his great career. He gets the question more frequently, yet his results — six wins and five pole positions in the last three seasons — puts him right in the thick of things competitively speaking with his contemporaries. It’s proof of his commitment, and that neither his ability nor desire has waned.

The fact he hasn’t won a championship since 2001 while his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson has won six in the last eight years, only feeds Gordon’s determination to win another.

"I feel young at the moment," Gordon said, adding with a laugh, "But when I roll out of the bed in the morning I realize that I’m 42 because I have aches and pain that I didn’t have 20 years ago. I’m reminded of my age.

"But when I get to the track, I’m still as passionate and as excited, if not more so, than I’ve ever been."

Daytona International Speedway has been a particularly prominent venue in his body of work with six wins and three poles. Only Richard Petty (7) and Cale Yarborough (4) have more Daytona 500 wins than Gordon (3). He won the 1999 Daytona 500 from the pole position, something that’s only been done nine times since "The Great American Race" was first run in 1959.

He nearly added another pole position to those statistics last year, instead starting on the outside of what was a historic Daytona 500 front row alongside pole winner Danica Patrick.

And good starts are meaningful.

The Feb. 23 Daytona 500 will be significant for Gordon not only because of its distinction as NASCAR’s crown jewel, but because it is the first race of the season.  

Gordon believes the Achilles’ heel in his championship contention over the past two seasons has been getting off to subpar starts, particularly in 2013 when he had as many finishes outside the top 30 (two) as he did top-10s in the first 10 races.

The slow start — three finishes of 20th-place or lower in the first four races — put him in the precarious position of playing catch-up. He made the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup as the 13th driver, placed in the field by NASCAR CEO and Chairman Brian France after the controversial regular-season finale at Richmond.

"For me, it’s all about getting off to a better start and really the last two seasons we have not," said Gordon, whose sixth-place finish in the final standings was his best since 2009. "That doesn’t mean you’ve got to go and win the first five races. It just means try and eliminate the 20ths and 25ths and try to put yourself in position to get those top-10s and hopefully turn those into top-fives or wins.

"Get the points, get the momentum and then run with it."

Gordon says the entire team needs to look at improving its setups. As a driver, he plans to work on his restarts and being more aggressive. And, he expects a renewed focus on qualifying better.

"There’s many thing that we can do to be better even at our best," Gordon said. "In some ways — and Alan and I have had conversations about this — maybe we’ve been trying to get off to a great start and things didn’t go well and we got a little bit behind on saying, OK, let’s get back to the basics.

"I think we’re going to try to blend the basics and some of the new things that we think are going to be successful for us."

MORE:

READ: Dale Jr. not surprised
by Letarte’s decision

READ: Complete schedule
for Preseason Thunder

WATCH: Stewart: ‘It’s nice
to be back’

READ: Latest news
from Preseason Thunder
Posted on by Holly Cain

Kevin Gilardoni to drive No. 99 as Papis aims to give back

RELATED: NASCAR Home Tracks

Explaining that he wanted to "make a difference," NASCAR driver Max Papis announced Thursday he will field a team in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series for fellow Italian Kevin Gilardoni, with hopes of developing the 21-year-old driver to compete in the NASCAR ranks in America soon.

Papis, who has competed in all three NASCAR national series and currently works as a racing and business advisor for Richard Childress Racing driver Austin Dillon, said he will spend a bit more time in Europe to support his new Max Papis Racing operation, but will also keep a large presence stateside working with Dillon.

Gilardoni is expected to come to the team’s Mooresville, N.C., headquarters in mid-February to get acquainted with the cars and team members before the Euro Series begins April 12 in Spain. Papis even plans to have the Italian compete in a handful of late model races in the U.S. during down times in the Euro schedule, which will include events at famed facilities such as Germany’s Nurburgring as well as Valencia, Spain.

"I look back when I was back in Europe at 15, 16, 17. I had a dream to come and race in America. I didn’t know how."

— Max Papis

"I would like to create this bridge in order to give opportunities to people that have the same dream I had," Papis told reporters Thursday. "And at the same time obviously doing it with NASCAR, it’s a great opportunity. I would have not done it with any other series because obviously I know what’s behind the vision of everyone in the NASCAR series."

The NASCAR Whelen Euro Series considers Papis’ involvement a "huge step" for the series, with impact immediately and in the future.

"The series has started to grow since it was created in 2009, and our common goal with NASCAR and Whelen Engineering and this team is to bring it to the top level of motorsports in Europe," said NASCAR Whelen Euro Series General Manager Jerome Galpin.

"We also would like, as Max said, to develop the bridge to bring the best European drivers racing NASCAR to the U.S. so definitely I think Max’s part of it will be his experience. His knowledge of racing both in Europe and the U.S. will be a huge step forward for us, and especially we’re going to build a path for younger drivers."

Gilardoni comes from the same small village of Como, Italy, as Papis. His most recent racing includes eight wins in 26 races en route to the 2012 Italian Formula Renault 2.0 championship. He finished third in the Renault production-based Megane Trophy Eurocup Series last year with a pole and seven podium finishes.

"My dream now is becoming true, so my target is always to do my best, and over time, step by step with Max’s advice, I hope to be in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series," Gilardoni said, acknowledging his appreciation for the opportunity. "I think from him I can learn everything to be at the top. Everyone like me and other drivers, we (are) really excited and really upbeat. For me, (this is) very important, and I will do my best to be like (Max). 

"And why not be in NASCAR in USA?"

When Papis was asked why a successful driver like himself would want to get involved with the risky ownership side of motorsports, he laughed, then explained earnestly.

"The main reason that drove me to have the team is not actually the desire to be a Hendrick or a Richard Childress," Papis said. "I don’t think that you will see me doing that kind of route. But it’s been more to be able to give back to the sport and do it in a way, in a series that is affordable, in a series where I can make a difference. … I look back when I was back in Europe at 15, 16, 17. I had a dream to come and race in America. I didn’t know how.

"I want to be the person that a kid like Kevin … that has a dream of coming and working in America, I get a call and I create a small, humble platform where they can start their dream, and I can use my connection to do that.

"The love for the sport is so big in my heart."

From a business perspective, Papis is encouraged by the more-than-respectable crowd attending the Whelen Euro races during the series’ first two years and the excitement it has generated.

Speaking at last year’s World Innovation Conference in Cannes, France, NASCAR Executive Vice President Steve O’Donnell reiterated the sport’s intent and commitment to expanding NASCAR’s stock car concept in other countries.

After the Cannes conference, O’Donnell told USA Today that the sanctioning body is seeing progress.

“People see that, and the light goes on that this is a pretty good product and compelling," O’Donnell told the newspaper. "We’re trying to sell two things: the competitive nature of the sport and that it reflects what (fans) may be driving on the street."

Papis has seen this firsthand, and that’s why he was so willing to up the ante and field a team.

"We planted the seed about three years ago. I was able to, thanks to Joe Gibbs Racing, to bring a Cup car to Monza to do a demonstration, and thanks to NASCAR, as well, they really helped us a lot," Papis said. "We planted the seed, and I really felt that that created a lot of enthusiasm because people are not used to hearing the sound of a V8 engine.

"And the way that the NASCAR Euro Series is approaching the business, it is very fan-friendly. The garage is open. We are basically bringing to Europe all the enthusiasm that has been missing there for a lot of years and the way of doing things in America that are basically fan-friendly. So the excitement has been really big, and that’s the reason why I decided to join them right now, because I really feel that the potential of growth is incredible, and I want to be part of it."

Of course for anyone who knows the big-hearted Papis, racing is always about much more than a good business decision. For example, he chose the No. 99 for his team as a tribute to his good friend, the late Greg Moore — even asking Moore’s father for permission to use it.

And judging by Papis’ comments this week, the ability to give back and to provide this opportunity to another young driver is the prevailing motivating factor.

"The love for the sport and the love for my family are the two biggest things that fill my dreams and fill my life every day," Papis said.

Kevin Gilardoni will drive the No. 99 for Max Papis Racing. (Photo courtesy of Kevin Gilardoni)

 

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Stefanyshyn talks changes to Sprint Cup car, panel of drivers discuss fan engagement

DETROIT — NASCAR, manufacturers and teams have collaborated to make a handful of changes to their cars for the coming season, and though many of the tweaks may be small — they could wind up paying big dividends.
 
Gene Stefanyshyn, NASCAR vice president of innovation and racing development, said cars will be closer to the ground at all but the fastest of tracks the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series visits. He was among the panelists for Wednesday’s Tech Talk forum at Cobo Center, home of the 2014 North American International Auto Show.
 
"Probably the thing fans will notice most is the height of the cars when they’re in the pits," he said. "It used to be 4 ½ inches but they’ll be closer to the ground this year."
 
Other changes include a steeper rear spoiler, squaring of the front splitter and slightly higher trim of the rear fascia, but Stefanyshyn said those alterations probably will be harder to spot.
 
The lack of severe changes comes a year after the series began running the Gen-6 race car, the result of a collaboration between NASCAR and the three manufacturers that field NASCAR Sprint Cup cars.

Jamie Allison of Ford Racing, David Wilson of Toyota Racing Development and Jim Campbell of Chevy Performance Vehicles and Motorsport also were panelists, and all three said that sense of collaboration still exists — even though all three nameplates want to be first to the checkered flag.
 
"We’re all trying to beat each other’s brains in," Wilson said, "but there still is that commitment to making the sport even better for our fans."
 
Stefanyshyn said the level of cooperation between NASCAR, its manufacturers and teams makes it seem like the sport has an army of engineers.
 
"We don’t have 1,000 engineers [at NASCAR] but we do have 1,000 engineers [throughout the industry]," he said. "This is an area where we work together to make the sport better."
 
Two of the most enlightening tidbits from the discussion included Allison noting that a lack of testing time means simulators are used more and more to prepare cars for different tracks. In many cases, he said, the driver’s first time in the car on a new track is with a setup prepared with extensive computer help.
 
A variety of metrics, Stefanyshyn added, also are used to measure the flow and general competitiveness of a race. A variety of factors, including the number of passes for the lead and the distance between the first and fifth, 10th or 15th cars in the running order, are among the factors NASCAR uses to grade the overall entertainment factor in a race.
 
The second panel focused on fan engagement and featured owner and former driver Michael Waltrip, NASCAR Vice President of Marketing Kim Brink, as well as current NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers David Ragan and Ryan Newman. All three drivers were quick to point out their use of technology hardly ends when they leave the race track.

Michael Waltrip, David Ragan and Ryan Newman talked about their use of technology away from the track.

"There are a lot of ways to know what’s happening while we’re at the race track," Ragan said, "but the fans that follow the drivers and teams want to know what happens Monday through Thursday."
 
The days of mail-in fan clubs, Newman said, are long gone.
 
"Michael used to have a fan club in 1992; now Twitter is the fan club.
 
"It’s social, it’s instant."
 
Michigan International Speedway hosts two NASCAR Sprint Cup races each season and track president Roger Curtis said the search for ways to improve the fan experience on-site never ends. His was the first speedway to offer free WiFi to fans last year and he said it hopes the same will be available at all facilities that host NASCAR events by the 2015 season.
 
"It used to be customer service was a department with us," he said. "Now it’s our job."
 
The NAIAS has a NASCAR flair of its own. Visitors to the show, which opens to the public Saturday and runs through Jan. 26, can get a look at the Harley J. Earl Trophy, presented to the Daytona 500 champion; the NASCAR Sprint Cup Trophy at Chevrolet’s exhibit; and Matt Kenseth‘s No. 20 Camry is on display at Toyota’s show floor.
 
The Sprint Unlimited kicks off competitive racing at Daytona on Feb. 15 on FOX Sports 1. The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series visits MIS on June 15 and Aug. 17.

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Sponsorship expands to 29 races for each of next three years

NEW YORK — The setting was a former Broadway theatre, complete with crystal light fixtures and ornamented gold columns that rose up to the second balcony. The thick, velvet curtain rose to display a familiar blue No. 43 car, and what Richard Petty Motorsports hopes is a new era for both the organization and driver Aric Almirola.

Amid the glitz of midtown Manhattan, RPM on Wednesday announced extended agreements with both the sponsor and driver of its flagship No. 43 car, the vehicle co-owner Richard Petty made famous through seven championships and autograph signings too many to count. Crucial to the deal is an increased commitment from Smithfield Foods,  which has expanded to 29 races for this season and each of the next two years, with the company’s investment in RPM increasing 50 percent each year through 2016.

The deal includes a contract extension for Almirola, who began driving the No. 43 car in the 2012 season, and whose new terms run concurrent with the Smithfield agreement. The increased funding will allow RPM to make upgrades such as the addition of a research and development team, and puts the No. 43 car on its best financial footing since Petty and a pair of investors took back a once-foundering organization from former majority owner George Gillett in late 2010.

"It’s tremendous," said Brian Moffitt, the team’s chief executive officer. "When Richard took back control of the company, him being a champion and a winner, he didn’t just want to run around in the back of the pack. It’s about being competitive. And Smithfield stepping up the way they are, it gives us more testing opportunities, it gives us more to advance research and development. We’ve been able to hire human capital — in our business it’s all about the people, and we’ve been able to invest in some really good people we’ve been able to bring into the company."



(Left to right) Seven-time NASCAR premier series champion Richard Petty, Smithfield Foods CEO Larry Pope and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Aric Almirola at the Hudson Theatre in New York City on Jan. 15, 2014

Smithfield started with RPM in 2012 by sponsoring seven races, a commitment that eventually increased to cover roughly half that season after another sponsor left the Petty team. Wednesday’s announcement in the Hudson Theatre marked the beginning of the Virginia company’s largest marketing campaign today, based on what chairman Larry Pope called double- and sometime triple-digit increases in sales thanks to his association with NASCAR and the Petty brand.

"The financial commitment that Smithfield is making now into 2016 is multiples of where we initially started, and a substantial increase from where we were last year," said Pope, who once lived in Daytona Beach, Fla., and attended the Daytona 500 as a youngster. "That’s an indication of how pleased we are with the success we think the relationship between what Aric is doing on the track, the brands on the track, and what it’s doing for us with our customers. We’ve seen the data supports the fact that this is the right way to reach our customers. We’re very pleased with the success we’re achieving at retail and food service as a result of that, and as a result, we’re increasing our commitment."

NASCAR was pleased to see the increased commitment from a Fortune 500 company. "We know NASCAR is a sport that works for business. It’s clearly working for Smithfield Foods," said Jim O’Connell, NASCAR’s chief sales officer. "It’s one thing for a sponsor to come in, it’s another for them to increase their investment by 50 percent. That shows it’s working for them."

For Smithfield, the sponsorship is a key step in its progression from a commodity-based company to consumer packaged goods company with recognized national brands. For RPM, the increased commitment from Smithfield adds greater flexibility to a team that receives chassis from Roush Fenway Racing and engines from Roush Yates. "We depend on other people," Petty said. "What we’re trying to do now is still depend on those other people, but get more in the game."

RPM also fields the No. 9 car of Marcos Ambrose, as well as an entry for Dakoda Armstrong in the Nationwide Series. Almirola expects the Smithfield extension to help not just the No. 43 team, but the organization as a whole.

"Not only are they investing in Richard Petty Motorsports, but they’re investing in our performance, to help us to perform at the level we need to be competitive," Almirola said of Smithfield. "Because let’s be real — everybody’s seen it for 100 years in racing: money buys speed. The teams with the most money, with the most resources, with all the right tools and right people, and that can afford the right people and the right parts and pieces, are successful. This is a huge step in that direction."



(Left to right) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Aric Almirola, seven-time NASCAR premier series champion Richard Petty and Smithfield Foods CEO Larry Pope at the Hudson Theatre in New York City on Jan. 15, 2014

While the Petty team has long been one of the most successful in NASCAR history, ownership changes and sponsorship issues have hamstrung it over much of the last decade.

"We’ve lost a few steps, but we’re hoping to regain them," Petty said in a video montage that preceded Wednesday’s formal announcement. Although Ambrose has won twice in recent years on road courses, the famed No. 43 car is still looking to snap a winless skid that dates back to a John Andretti victory at Martinsville in the spring of 1999.

But from a Smithfield perspective, winning isn’t necessarily as important as generating exposure for the company. "Whether Aric shows up in Victory Lane or not, the sales activation we’ve been trying to do is working, and we’ve seen sales lifts that are certainly double digits and sometimes triple digits. … So off‑track, the combination of what we’re doing with the retailers and the public appearances, Aric and Richard do a fantastic job off‑track, so there’s no issues, no issues off the track at all. In fact, that’s the big success story," Pope said.

"Now, what I want Aric to be is the subject of conversation on track. I want a lot of chatter, and the way you do that is to be up front and contending to be up front and being in the mix, and I think they have been a bit hamstrung with maybe not quite enough resources to do all the fine-tuning on the car, and as you well know, this is a 1 percent sport. Ninety-nine percent puts you in 25th place. So we’re giving him the ability to have the extra 1 percent, and that’s going to add a whole new dimension to that."

Having his car almost fully funded is certainty a comfort to Almirola, as is the contract extension. Almirola had been working on a year-by-year deal, and now has his first contract covering multiple seasons.

"This gives me the opportunity to be a lot more confident," he said. "I’m not worried that if I make one mistake or whatever, that they’re going to be looking to figure out the next guy that’s going to come in and do better. It gives me a lot of confidence knowing that I have Richard Petty Motorsports behind me, and then obviously Smithfield Foods behind me and that they’re committed to me and they support me. We’ve had a lot of success already off the race track and some on the race track, and we look to continue to increase the success on the race track as well as off the race track. It feels great to not have to be worrying in June or July where I’m going to get my next paycheck from."

For Almirola, the extension continues a relationship he’s had with Smithfield since his days racing in the Nationwide Series for JR Motorsports. Bob Weber, the company’s senior director of business development, was at Richmond with his son Matt to gauge interest in NASCAR when he met Almirola as the driver was heading to introductions. Since he didn’t have much time to chat, Almirola told Matt to jump in the back of the pickup truck along with him, and ride around the track as the he waved to the crowd.

Almirola finished 18th in Sprint Cup points last season, after a promising early stretch that saw him record four consecutive top-10 finishes, a first for the No. 43 car since Bobby Hamilton did it in 1996. But it was that meeting with Weber back in his Nationwide days that really helped him, and later RPM, gain traction with Smithfield. The Tampa native took over RPM’s No. 9 car for five races after Kasey Kahne left the team in late 2010. Later when RPM was in talks with Smithfield about prospective sponsorship, the company was pleased to learn that Almirola was in the Petty fold.

By 2012, Almirola was driving a No. 43 car that had Smithfield brands on the hood for much of that season, and the relationship has blossomed from there. "I think Aric kind of epitomizes what Richard stands for," Moffitt said, " … and that’s what Smithfield was looking for."

For Almirola, the increased sponsor commitment means perhaps his best shot yet at putting the No. 43 back into Victory Lane for the first time in well over a decade. With a better-funded vehicle underneath him, there’s now pressure to get it done — but pressure that the 29-year-old welcomes, because he knows the promise it entails.

"I’ll gladly take the pressure that comes with it," he said, "because if there’s no pressure, that means you’re not competitive. And if I’m not going to be competitive, I don’t want to do this. I l want to race, I want to win. I don’t get excited about playing board games unless I think I can have a chance to win. So I think it’s a great opportunity for me to go out and have a chance to be extremely successful. And I welcome the pressure, because that means I have all the tools and the people that I need to go out to be successful, and it’s up to me and my crew chief and my guys to go out and get that done."

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21-year-old tested third ThorSport Racing truck at Daytona

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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Last Friday night, Ross Chastain‘s phone rang. Just three days later, he was shaking down a truck for ThorSport Racing in NASCAR Preseason Thunder testing at Daytona International Speedway.
 
So what does the promising 21-year-old driver have lined up for this season?
 
"Every lap I made at the test, how about that?" Chastain joked.

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Now he’s hoping for another call-up. Chastain, who notched two pole positions in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series for Brad Keselowski Racing last year, found spot duty for ThorSport in his home state over the course of the two-day test. But the Alva, Fla., native is looking for something more substantial before the 2014 season kicks off.
 
"I was already talking to (team owner) Duke (Thorson) just on a personal level as friends, and they called me last Friday night to come test this truck since I was down here in Florida," Chastain said Tuesday afternoon, after making his final run of the day in the team’s No. 13 Toyota. "It worked out, but we don’t have anything signed. I mean there’s some things that could happen, but one straw could break it all apart. It’s tough not to get too overanxious, but I don’t want to put myself in a position … until it’s done, I’m not confident enough in it.
 
"So I feel like if we can get everything signed or even just a handshake, if we can get that done. As of now, no, we don’t have anything and I’m still working on putting myself in the best position to win races next year."
 
Chastain was in position more than once in his partial, 14-race slate last year, the best of his three seasons to date in the truck series. He was runner-up twice and impressively led multiple laps each time out in his final six starts of 2013.
 
His unofficial start to 2014 consisted of helping two of the series’ top drivers — defending series champ Matt Crafton and defending Daytona season-opening race winner Johnny Sauter — search for secrets to drafting with the new truck body style that makes its debut this season. Doing so meant searching for an edge while respecting the new rule that penalizes the tactic of tandem drafting on NASCAR’s biggest tracks.
 
"We tried some different things that NASCAR’s letting us do, but there’s not a whole lot we can play with, so we did what we could," Chastain said. "Just trying to get them to suck up better. That’s the big thing you’re going to have to be able to do here to make passes since we can’t tandem. You’ve still got to be able to get to the guy’s bumper and that’s something that me and my team here right now, we’re struggling a bit.
 
"We just worked on that, and I think we made a little headway, but there’s definitely still work to be done."

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Recent history shows lame-duck teams can succeed

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Tony Stewart and Darian Grubb in 2011. Kevin Harvick and Gil Martin in 2013.
 
Two driver-crew chief combinations that on the surface appeared to have little or no reason to succeed given their respective circumstances.
 
Or so we thought. We were wrong.
 
What each accomplished comes to mind as we begin to dissect the ramifications of Steve Letarte’s 2014 end-of-season departure.

The crew chief for Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports organization, Letarte has helped lead the sport’s most popular driver back to respectability. No, the wins haven’t flowed — let’s be honest, they haven’t even trickled with the pairing producing just a single victory. But Earnhardt Jr. posted 10 top-fives finishes in both 2012 and 2013 with Letarte as his wingman, and his 22 top-10 finishes in 2013 were a career best. His fifth-place points finish last year was his best overall result since 2006.
 
Now that Letarte’s impending exit has been announced (he’ll join NBC Sports in 2015), will the team continue to move forward? Or will the breakup lead to a loss of focus?

Not surprisingly, both Earnhardt Jr. and Letarte have said they don’t expect the news to impact this year’s efforts.

"I expect us to do nothing less than improve on what we’ve been doing and steadily keep moving toward our goals," Earnhardt Jr. said.

"I think what makes this situation unique compared to any driver situation I can remember is I’m not going to crew chief for another organization," said Letarte. "I’m not working on being a broadcaster in 2014, I’m working on filling a trophy case. And to do that we have to win."

Does the "what" Letarte will be doing next year matter? Or is the fact he won’t be back more important here?

No doubt, if the team starts slow, Letarte will be the scapegoat. If they succeed … well, the big question is can they succeed?

Stewart and Grubb did. Harvick and Martin did as well.

Grubb, the former Stewart-Haas Racing crew chief who now turns the wrenches, so to speak, for Denny Hamlin at Joe Gibbs Racing, helped Stewart earn a third career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series title in 2011.

He did so even though he found out during the 10-race Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup that he would not be retained for the following season. That Stewart himself had said his team didn’t deserve a spot in the field given its pre-Chase results made what the group accomplished (five Chase wins after going winless during the regular season) that much more impressive.

They could have mailed it in. Started working on the next season. Shown Grubb the door.

The Harvick/Martin effort of 2013 was equally impressive, if not quite as successful. Harvick won four races and finished third in points, which came after the news leaked out toward the end of the 2012 season and was confirmed during the 2013 season that Harvick would exit Richard Childress Racing for SHR in 2014.

Toss in the fallout of Harvick berating the organization after an on-track skirmish with fellow RCR driver Ty Dillon (grandson of team owner Richard Childress) at Martinsville in the fall and you have a volatile situation on your hands.

Yet no implosion occurred.

The Harvick/Martin situation "is a great example" of what teams can accomplish in such situations, said Larry McReynolds, the former crew chief who now works as a television analyst for FOX Sports.

"Every group is different, and it’s the people that control (the outcome)," he said. "That’s where I think Harvick and Gil Martin and even Richard Childress — even throwing the fact of all the stuff that went on at Martinsville … they still kept their heads down and were still focused on winning races and contending for the championship."

Earnhardt Jr. and Letarte have every reason to believe that this latest development will be nothing more than fodder for the naysayers.

They’ve got 36 more races, beginning with next month’s Daytona 500, to prove that that’s indeed the case.

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