Eldora has Sprint Cup stars dreaming of dirt

Posted on July 26, 2013 by

Thrilling Mudsummer Classic has created a buzz around the sport heading into Super Weekend

INDIANAPOLIS — Because he was in New York doing some media appearances, Dale Earnhardt Jr. didn’t get the chance to watch Wednesday night’s Camping World Truck Series race at Eldora Speedway. So he avoided anyone who might spoil the outcome for him, and set his DVR to record NASCAR’s first national race on dirt in over 42 years.

Then he got home, and realized the recording had cut off after an hour and half. “Some kind of communication error,” Earnhardt said Friday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. “It was disappointing, to say the least.”

But not the event itself, which was action-packed from beginning to end, and earned rave reviews despite taking place on a surface that NASCAR had not competed on in four decades. Sprint Cup Series drivers took notice, and at the Brickyard faced inevitable questions about whether the sport’s premier circuit should one day return to the dirt as well.

“I would love to see a Cup race at Eldora. Yes. I think that would be awesome,” said four-time series champion Jeff Gordon. “I don’t know. You don’t know until you get out there and try. Those guys looked like they were having a lot of fun. I think I’d rather have Kyle Larson drive my car, because he was awesome. He was unbelievable. But I love Eldora, I love the dirt. I enjoyed racing the dirt late model there, so I would love to see what a Cup car could do.”

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Larson, a budding Nationwide Series star who like Gordon started out on dirt, was the talk of the event before finishing third. Gordon is no stranger to Eldora — like many other top NASCAR drivers, he’s participated in the Prelude to the Dream, a charity dirt late model event track owner Tony Stewart has hosted at the facility. That’s always seemed about as close as the sport’s premier series would get to ever competing on anything beside asphalt or concrete.

What about now, in the wake of a sold-out Eldora truck race that saw Larson and Ryan Newman leaning on each other over the final laps?

“Why not?” asked Clint Bowyer, another Sprint Cup star who started on dirt. “You know what I mean? Again, if the fans liked it and it was well-received and people enjoyed it, then why not. This is a fan-driven sport, and it always has been, and we’ve always been able to deliver to the fans greater than most other sports and continue that. That’s my opinion on it. It’s all about the fans. These tracks didn’t build as big as they are not having that fan base and not being able to deliver to fans. Whatever it takes. In my opinion, it doesn’t matter as long as they’re happy so I’ve got a place to make a living and have a lot of fun doing it.”

First things first. Stewart and NASCAR’s Steve O’Donnell, the circuit’s senior vice president for race operations, have indicated that the Truck Series event at Eldora could go on beyond this season. But there are no immediate indications that the sanctioning body is ready to move in the same direction with the Nationwide or Sprint Cup circuits.

Still — guys can dream, right?

“Everywhere I’ve gone this week, I’ve had people who are huge NASCAR fans and people who aren’t big NASCAR fans at all who watched it, and they were blown away,” Gordon said. “They did not expect it to go the way that it did. And I thought, why not have more races on a dirt track? I don’t think you’ll ever see a Cup race there, at least while I’m driving. But I’d vote for it. I think it would be very cool to do.”

“The Trucks are such a neat choice because of the side force that they create, with the way the bodies are on the trucks. I’m not sure how the Nationwide cars or even the Cup cars would run there,” Earnhardt added. “But I think it would be fun for the series to have a couple of dirt races, to be honest. I know Eldora is the perfect place to have this all tested out, and it seems to have been really awesome for the fans and something they really enjoyed, so I expect it’s something we could see more of. We just have to see what NASCAR wants to do.”

No question, the rare weeknight night national-series event provided a boost to NASCAR heading into one of its biggest Sprint Cup weekends of the season. “Proud of NASCAR for taking a chance with that, and I believe that many great things came out of it,” Bowyer said. “I think it opened some eyes to some options with this sport. Not just talking dirt racing, but I thought the Wednesday night deal was a different appeal that I liked, and kind of gave us a chance to showcase our sport to maybe a different crowd.”

Earnhardt’s recording cut off before the main event, so he didn’t get a chance to see Austin Dillon hold off Newman and Larson for the victory. But he saw enough to recognize that Wednesday night at Eldora was something special for NASCAR, despite all the unknowns going in.

“I really thought that was extraordinary, for the race track, for the series, for the sport. What a risky, gutsy call to go do that,” he said. “I thought it was just extraordinary that NASCAR was willing to make the leap, and that Tony was there at the right place at the right time with the perfect race track and a historical place to run it. It’s awesome that it came together so well. And I thought the race was fun to watch. I really enjoyed what I saw. I think it would be fun to run there if they ever did an exhibition or something. I don’t know about a full-on event. But maybe we end up doing that one day. What I saw was entertaining, and exciting, and something that I hope I see more of from a viewer’s standpoint.”

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Posted on July 26, 2013 by

Drivers debate whether annual race at Indy should be a night event

SPEEDWAY, Ind. — At heart, Jeff Gordon is an Indianapolis purist. Growing up in a town just outside the city and racing sprint cars at the local short track, the four-time NASCAR champion was one of many who yearned to compete in the 500. Even now, with four stock-car victories at the Brickyard to his credit, he doesn’t view himself in the same class as someone like his boyhood hero Rick Mears.

"It’s just a different race," he said Friday of the Indianapolis 500, "and it should be held to a different standard."

But NASCAR’s annual event at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which Sunday will be contested for the 20th time, hasn’t so much fallen in line with tradition as it has broken from it. When stock cars first arrived here in 1994, they were the first vehicles besides the open-wheel machines to run here in decades. The creation of the "Super Weekend" last year brought Grand-Am and Nationwide Series cars to the big track.

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Now, NASCAR at Indianapolis could be on the brink of another revolutionary change — lights that would at least open the possibility to the Sprint Cup Series running around this 2.5-mile oval at night.

At least, that’s the vision shown earlier this year to Indiana state legislators, who in February viewed a presentation from speedway officials that included a rendering of stock cars competing on the famed track at night. In April, the state legislature approved creation of a special taxation district that would raise enough funds to provide the speedway with a $100 million loan, $20 million of which would be used for a lighting system, and the rest for other improvements such as new video boards. Gov. Mike Pence signed the bill in May.

Although no noticeable changes are expected until 2015 at the earliest, the idea of lights for NASCAR at the Brickyard now seems more a possibility than ever. "Boy, you’re going to need nuclear power to light this place," Clint Bowyer said. "You’re going to have to shut down downtown to have enough power to light this track. It’s huge."

"That would be something," agreed former Indy 500 winner Sam Hornish Jr. "It’s a lot of area to light up, and I don’t know exactly how it would all pan out, but I guarantee you it would probably make for a better Sprint Cup race here. Just because generally when we come here, it’s so hot. The sun is beating down on the track, it makes everything slick. And having that opportunity, a lot of times when you run these night races you get cooler temperatures and more grip on the car, more downforce, all that good stuff. The more of that you get, the more competitive the races seem to be."

That would certainly be a side benefit of an improvement project designed to make 104-year-old Indianapolis more competitive with newer tracks in the region, which were built with more spectator comforts in mind. Gordon, who was raised in nearby Pittsboro, Ind., and broke out as a racer at the track locals still call Indianapolis Raceway Park, is all for the idea of lights at the Brickyard — with one caveat.

"I think it would be awesome to race here at night," he said. "This goes back to the history about the Indy 500 and the history of racing here. Yes, there’s tradition with the Brickyard 400, but it’s not the tradition of the Indy 500. I would never want to see the Indy 500 run under the lights. But the Brickyard 400 beaks traditions. It always has, by being the first stock-car race to ever happen here. … So why not change it up? This race has had some different scenarios in the days that it’s run here, so why not let’s have a night race? I think that would be awesome."

As would be the effort to light the 2.5-mile facility. Hornish remembers flying over the city several years ago and seeing the area around the speedway all lit up — save for the dark outline of the track. "You can see the perfect outline of just utter blackness where the speedway’s at," he said. "… To think of how much it would take to light this place up, it’s a big undertaking."

Indianapolis has become less resistant to change over time, beginning 20 years ago with an inaugural NASCAR race many thought would remain a fantasy. "I felt like the door was always closed to stock cars racing here. I felt like that was one thing that would never happen," Dale Earnhardt Jr. said. Now, after one major renovation project and the addition of still more racing circuits to the Brickyard, lights seem just the natural next step in the evolution.

Of course, that doesn’t mean the idea of night racing at Indianapolis isn’t polarizing, even within the garage of a NASCAR series that started ushering in all that change 20 years ago.

"It’s always been a day race," Bowyer said of an event that began as the Brickyard 400. "I don’t see why it shouldn’t be. Grip level would be really well in a night race. I think, at least in a day race on Sunday, you slip and slide around quite a bit here and create some exciting racing. So I’m happy with a day race here."

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Posted on July 26, 2013 by

Jeff Gordon must take advantage of his strong history at Indy to get back into Chase race

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Jeff Gordon has a problem with the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup — currently, he’s not in it.

But Gordon also has a solution, and it doesn’t necessarily involve winning a race before the Chase field is set after the Sept. 7 event at Richmond.

Gordon is tied for 11th in the series standings right now, and that’s not quite good enough to make the 10-race Chase. The top-10 drivers in points after 26 races qualify automatically, along with the two Wild Card drivers from positions 11-20 with the most victories.

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Gordon has no wins this year. Martin Truex Jr., tied with Gordon for 11th, has one victory. So does Tony Stewart, who is 13th in points. That makes Truex and Stewart the provisional Wild Cards and leaves Gordon on the outside looking in.

Gordon, however, would be in a better position if he could stop taking a step back for every two forward. After running third at Dover and 12th at Pocono, Gordon was wiped out in an early crash at Michigan and finished 39th.

A week later, he was second at Sonoma and followed that with an eight-place result at New Hampshire, only to crash out of the July 6 race at Daytona in 34th place. Throughout his up-and-down season, Gordon has maintained a flirtation with the top 10, but it has been a tumultuous, uncomfortable love affair.

On the other hand, it’s nothing a string of strong finishes can’t cure, and Gordon doesn’t feel he can afford a cautious approach to the seven races that remain before the Chase field is set.

"That’s the beauty of where I’m at in points," Gordon said Friday morning at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, site of Sunday’s Crown Royal presents the Samuel Deeds 400 at the Brickyard. "I don’t have to dial back anything. We’re in full-on aggressive mode. Do we have to win? No. But do we have to put seven really good races together? Yes. In order to put good races together, I’m talking top fives. You look at the guys we’re racing against, and they can easily do that.

"We have to push and not pull back. I don’t know of a time where I went into a race — maybe I go back to the 1997 championship — where we were really the whole time thinking about points. Every time I’ve thought about points, it’s cost us more positions than we’ve gained."

That’s the attitude the four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion and four-time Brickyard winner plans to bring to Sunday’s race.

"That’s what we’re going to do this weekend, and that’s what we’re going to do every weekend."

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Posted on July 26, 2013 by Holly Cain

Dalziel, Popow earn DP victory, take points lead

"It took a sprint at the end to win the endurance championship."

— Chip Ganassi, owner of the North American Endurance Championship presented by VisitFlorida.com winning team of Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas

SPEEDWAY, Ind. – Scotland’s Ryan Dalziel and Venezuelan Alex Popow overcame a penalty for jumping the green flag at the start of the race to take the checkered flag and the Daytona Prototype points lead three hours later in the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series’ Brickyard Grand Prix.

Dalziel had to hold off the five-time and reigning series champion Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates team that was quickly gaining on the lead in the waning minutes of Friday’s race around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway‘s 2.54-mile road course.

And the same great passion that popular Italian driver Max Papis displayed in disappointment after getting spun out in the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Road America last month, was redirected in a GT Class victory Friday.

Papis famously slapped fellow competitor Billy Johnson‘s helmet, then apologized to the television viewers following the NASCAR race on the Wisconsin road circuit. On Friday night he was kissing the famous bricks after teaming with Jeff Segal for the class win in the Brickyard Sports Car Challenge part of a Super Weekend race tripleheader here with a NASCAR Nationwide race Saturday and Sprint Cup race Sunday.

Ganassi veteran Scott Pruett’s inspired drive to second place in the No. 01 BMW/Riley — after a series of mid-race setbacks — was good enough to deliver the North American Endurance Championship presented by VisitFlorida.com to the team. The award goes to the team that collects the most points in three designated races — the Rolex 24 at Daytona, the Six Hours at the (Watkins) Glen and this week’s race at Indianapolis.

"It took a sprint at the end to win the endurance championship," said a smiling Ganassi, who was being congratulated by GRAND-AM Series founder Jim France outside Victory Lane.

"It’s so great to win something here at Indianapolis, especially because we spun, we got knocked off the track, had a lot of things happen. A lot of hard work goes into this; it’s not just one weekend. It’s tough to put those three races together."

Like Ganassi, who also owns a two-car NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team, Papis has NASCAR ties competing in both the Camping World Truck Series and Nationwide Series. The versatile driver spoke of his only NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start at the famous Indy oval, a disappointing last place after his car’s engine expired only 15 laps into the race.

Before Friday’s win, Papis’ previous best finish at Indianapolis was 14th place in the 2006 Indy 500.

"It’s a great opportunity to be in Indianapolis first and just to be out here and kiss the bricks," Papis said. "Today was really a team win.

"We gave the first win to Ferrari this year and we gave it at Indianapolis. We deserve today and it’s a payback for all the shortcomings all year long."

"Walking up that pit lane today was definitely a lot of mixed emotions,” continued Papis, who celebrated friend and fellow Brickyard Grand Prix competitor Tony Kanaan’s Indy 500 victory in May. “I remember when I did the Indy 500 (in 2008) and we couldn’t qualify, I said, ‘Man, I don’t want to leave this place with this feeling.’

"Today definitely deleted all of that. Today is proof that good things happen to good people."

— Sylvain Tremblay and Tom Long won GX Class trophy for Mazdaspeed. And Rob Kauffman, co-owner of NASCAR’s Michael Waltrip Racing finished 16th in the GT class.

— The Fall-Line Motorsports team of Bryan Sellers and Mark Boden won the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge earlier Friday, beating Ford drivers Jack Roush Jr. and Billy Johnson by .8 seconds. Veteran Terry Borcheller and Mike LaMarra were the ST (Street Tuner) class winners.

Alex Popow waves the Venezuelan flag as he wins his second consecutive Brickyard Grand Prix for Starworks, this time with Ryan Dalziel.

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Posted on July 26, 2013 by Holly Cain

Low-key business owner the driving force behind MWR

SPEEDWAY, Ind. — Rob Kauffman tells the story with a mischievous grin.

While in London two weeks ago for the Goodwood Festival of Speed, he and good friend and business partner Michael Waltrip were trying to follow the NASCAR Sprint Cup race going on at Loudon, N.H. The two owners of Michael Waltrip Racing had three cars in the field and one driver, Brian Vickers, well positioned for victory in the closing laps.

Kauffman, 49, recalled the two grown men sitting shoulder to shoulder at their hotel restaurant, leaning in to watch the race on Waltrip’s cellphone. While there was a slight time delay on the phone, Kauffman got real-time updates through his Twitter account.

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Just as the field lined up for the final green-white-checkered restart, Kauffman glanced at his Twitter feed then he abruptly put the phone down and got up.

“Michael was like, ‘What happened? What happened? Did we win?’ Kauffman recalled with a smile sitting trackside at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where he raced a Ferrari in Friday’s GRAND-AM race.

“A minute later he realized Brian won. And then we just started buying beers for everyone.’’

There’s been a lot to celebrate at Michael Waltrip Racing lately. Vickers’ win was the second for the team in the last month and two of its drivers, Clint Bowyer (ranked second in the championship) and Sonoma race-winner Martin Truex Jr. (11^th) are in good shape to make the 12-driver Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.

As a result, the team is enjoying an unprecedented level of optimism and enthusiasm and to a person credits the good times to Kauffman, a hugely successful international investment banker who seven years ago bought half of the MWR organization — salvaging the business at a time when a cash-strapped Waltrip had to seriously contemplate closing shop and worse, abandoning a dream.

So much more than a team owner, Kauffman is regarded and referred to as a team savior under the MWR roof.

“He’s meant everything, obviously,’’ Truex said. “Without him there would be no Michael Waltrip Racing. Michael will tell you that straight up.

“Without him, I wouldn’t be there. We would have run out of money before I even went there.”

Agrees Bowyer, “Rob brings a great deal of business savvy to the table and without him, we’d all be looking for jobs, truth be told.’’

For Waltrip, it is obviously and understandably deeply personal.

“I wouldn’t be standing here in an interview, if I hadn’t met Rob,’’ Waltrip said. “Us hitting it off and sharing the same goals and dreams for the team, now seven years later, we’re best friends.

“I like who he is as a person. He doesn’t like when I say this, but I’m forever indebted to him. Not financially, but this whole endeavor is a big part of who I am and he helped me continue the dream.’’

Kauffman, who is private, low-key and soft-spoken, is clearly touched to hear what the others have said. He is a bit uncomfortable with the references to him as a savior.

“Savior is a pretty high standard, I think we’ll keep that in the Bible’’ Kauffman said. “I will say I’m pleased (with where we are) but not satisfied. We’re close. But I have high expectations.’’

It’s the ethos that made him so successful in the high stakes business world of private equity and investment banking. Last year, he retired from the billion-dollar company he founded, Fortress Investment Group — from what he affectionately used to refer to as his “day job.’’

Now Kauffman devotes his time to his four-wheel passions. He competes in sports car and historic races around the globe and even teamed up with Bowyer and Waltrip in this year’s Rolex 24 at Daytona.

(Right to left) Rob Kauffman talks with Rolex 24 teammates Michael Waltrip and Clint Bowyer during testing in January for the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway

He also founded RK Motors in Charlotte, what he describes as a “muscle car restoration” business with enough classic cars to impress the most discerning collector. This week RK Motors is sponsoring Bowyer’s No. 15 Toyota in the Brickyard 400.

His simple, pure and fervent love of cars is what put Kauffman in Waltrip’s orbit and ultimately how mutual friends introduced the pair.

“It wasn’t long into the 2007 season, our inaugural year at MWR, when it was pretty obvious to me the plan we’d put together wasn’t going to work,’’ Waltrip said. “We told NAPA and Aarons we could win and by the fourth or fifth race we had failed to qualify.

“We weren’t able to buy the equipment it would take for us to win. Everything we had was spent and the way we were performing was continuing in a bad direction. There were many problems but the one that was the key to survival was we were going to run out of money.

“Fortunately there were a lot of people in the garage area — and 2007 was at its height and the economy was good and everyone wanted to be a Cup owner. I had sponsors and this manufacturer so the sharks were swimming and wanting to take what we had put together.

“My dream to own a team looked like it was in jeopardy to continue. Fortunately, despite seeing the trouble we had and the desperation I saw in many people’s faces, I was smart enough to weather the storm long enough to find a partner or someone who would come in and team with me.”

And that’s where the one time auto mechanic-turned-billionaire banker Kauffman came in.

The relationship works because Kauffman didn’t want to buy out Waltrip but to invest alongside him. He doesn’t want to be the “front man” but is content and savvy enough to know that Waltrip’s massive personality is big enough for the both of them.

“He says no one ever comes up to him and asks for his autograph,’’ Waltrip said jokingly.

The infusion of Kauffman’s financial backing and business sense along with Waltrip’s knowledge of the sport and marketing ability have produced a championship-caliber team that is now contending every bit with NASCAR’s most successful organizations like Hendrick, Roush, Gibbs and Penske.

(Left to right) Rob Kauffman talks with fellow NASCAR team owners and NASCAR Hall of Fame nominees Rick Hendrick and Richard Childress at Daytona in January

This is not a hobby for Kauffman.

“Not at all,’’ Waltrip said. “There’s too many zeroes involved for it to be a hobby. I think Rob really wants to see the team win a championship and us be able to be part of the conversation of who’s the best in the garage.’’

In April this year, Kauffman sat down with NASCAR.com for a lengthy interview, revealing his motivations, expectations and mindset and providing rare insight into his background and hopes. It is clear that Kauffman is invested in all senses of the word.

While other major investors have come and gone in NASCAR, Kauffman has proven he is in it for the long haul. The man who has travelled the world, making his name in international business has found a home in NASCAR.

“It’s harder than what I expected,’’ Kauffman said of his NASCAR involvement. “I expected it to be hard, but it’s really hard. How close it is, the last one percent is the difference between 28-flat and 28.1-lap time and that’s the difference between being first and 10^th. That total precision and finesse is what really resonates the strongest. The difference between good and great is a really thin line.’’

But Kauffman sees that merely as a challenge to overcome.

And it’s not lost on those who work with him. His low profile belies his high impact.

“He’s a great leader, obviously a great businessman, that’s how he got where he is,’’ Truex said. “He’s really passionate about the race team and really pushes everybody hard to win. He wants to be a Rick Hendrick or Jack Roush. He wants to be at their level and has made the commitment to do so.

“That’s why you’ve seen in the past couple of years we’ve been able to do what we have. He’s really the guy leading the ship and steering everything. He’s a lot of fun to be around and a great guy to work for.’’

What does someone whose net worth is more than some small, third-world countries get out of owning a race team?

“It’s really simple,’’ Kauffman said. “The (payout) for me is when we win. The whole point of this is to win. Especially now, seven years into it. I feel like it’s the last one percent — we’re 99 percent of the way there.

“We were runner-up in the championship last year. No one in Michael Waltrip Racing is doing all this for practice at this point. We’re doing this for a very simple reason, to win. It all boils down to that.’’
“Win a championship. It’s as simple as that.’’

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Posted on July 26, 2013 by Staff Report

Organization to sponsor Kasey Kahne’s No. 5 Cup ride through 2016

Hendrick Motorsports officials have announced that Great Clips Inc. will increase its sponsorship effort with the organization’s No. 5 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and driver Kasey Kahne.

The team’s primary sponsor for three races this season, Great Clips will provide funding for a total of 10 races per season for 2014, 2015 and 2016, according to a release from HMS.

“The people at Great Clips have been committed to NASCAR as a marketing platform for many years,” Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports, said. “They continue to see a great return on investment, and we’re focused on continuing that trend by performing at a high level on the race track while delivering business wins.”

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Kahne is carrying the Great Clips colors for this weekend’s Samuel Deeds 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The company will also be the primary sponsor at New Hampshire Motor Speedway later this season.

“We are very proud to have Kasey drive the No. 5 for Great Clips,” Terri Miller, vice president of marketing and communications for Great Clips, said. “… Kasey has become a special member of our family over the years. He has brought great value to our brand and helped our system grow. Being a partner of Hendrick Motorsports is truly an honor as we share the same values, integrity and passion to win.”

Kahne, 33, has 15 career Cup victories and 26 poles. A winner at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway earlier this year, Kahne is 10^th in points heading into this weekend’s race.

“Bristol was our first Sprint Cup win together, and everyone on the team expects to deliver many more,” Kahne said.

In addition to Great Clips, the No. 5 team has also carried sponsorship from Farmers Insurance, Quaker State, Time Warner Cable and Hendrickcars.com this season.

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Posted on July 26, 2013 by Staff Report

Former Indy 500 winner tops Friday charts; points leader, Brickyard master Johnson 13th

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INDIANAPOLIS — Former Indianapolis 500 winner Juan Pablo Montoya topped the speed charts Friday in opening NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Montoya, driving the No. 42 Chevrolet for Earnhardt Ganassi Racing, shot to the top of the leaderboard with a lap at 185.410 mph with about 10 minutes left in the opening 90-minute session. Kurt Busch was a distant second, more than seven tenths of a second back at 184.347 mph in the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet.

Austin Dillon, winner of Wednesday night’s inaugural Mudsummer Classic for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series at Eldora Speedway’s dirt track, was third-best at 183.944. Paul Menard and Kasey Kahne completed the order in a top-five sweep by Chevrolets in preparation for the Crown Royal Presents the Samuel Deeds 400 at the Brickyard (1 p.m. ET, ESPN).

Series points leader Jimmie Johnson — a Brickyard winner four times, including last year’s running — was 13th-fastest in the opening practice.
The Sprint Cup Series has a final, two-hour practice session scheduled Saturday at 9 a.m. ET. The series will have qualifying Saturday at 2:10 p.m. ET.

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Posted on July 26, 2013 by Staff Report

Scott takes second in each session; Busch, Dillon, Smith also show speed

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INDIANAPOLIS — Kyle Larson and Brian Vickers split leaderboard honors in a pair of practice sessions Friday for the NASCAR Nationwide Series at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Larson, driving the No. 32 Turner Scott Motorsports Chevrolet, clocked a fast lap of 177.294 mph around the historic 2.5-mile track with about three minutes left in the opening 90-minute session. Vickers, piloting the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, was just a tick faster in the final practice with a best lap at 177.855 mph.

In the opening session, Brian Scott was second on the speed charts at 176.970 in the No. 2 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet. Vickers, teammate Kyle Busch and Eldora Speedway winner Austin Dillon completed the top five.

Scott, showing signs of consistency, was also second-fastest (177.651 mph) in the final practice for Saturday’s Indiana 250 (4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN). Regan Smith, who dropped from the points lead last Sunday at Chicagoland Speedway, was third-fastest with Trevor Bayne and Nelson Piquet Jr. filling out the top five.

Series points leader Sam Hornish Jr., the 2006 Indianapolis 500 winner, was 14th early and 10th-fastest in final practice.

Nationwide qualifying is scheduled for Saturday at 12:05 p.m. ET.

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Posted on July 26, 2013 by Nascar

Still in search of first win, week-to-week stability has Bowyer right where he needs to be

SPEEDWAY, Ind. — Clint Bowyer looks at the picture and sees the truth.

“I’m certainly not right behind Jimmie (Johnson), but I guess I’m the closest person to him,” Bowyer said Friday prior to opening practice for this weekend’s Crown Royal 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Bowyer is second in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points standings, but the gulf between his Michael Waltrip Racing team and that of the five-time series champion is 56 points. It’s the largest gap of the season between the top two positions. So large, in fact, that Johnson could skip this weekend’s stop at the legendary 2.5-mile speedway and still be leading the standings.

Johnson is one of two drivers with a series-best four victories this season. Bowyer is one of three in the top-10 yet to make the trip to victory lane.

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How, then, is Bowyer leading the charge among those hoping to put a halt to the Hendrick Motorsports driver’s charge toward a possible sixth title?

“We’ve done a great job at being consistent and that’s what I like to focus on,” Bowyer said.

Previous summer stretches haven’t exactly been his strong suit, he said, but the effort he’s seen from his No. 15 team gives him reason to feel good about his chances. A year ago, he was ninth in points heading into the Indy race; until this year, that was tops for a career that began in earnest back in 2006.

Second at Martinsville and Richmond earlier this year, Bowyer also posted top-five finishes at Bristol, Kansas, Sonoma, Kentucky and Daytona. Thus far, he’s avoided most of the potholes that can send a team spiraling out of the top-10 in the standings.

“You can win the championship being consistently strong,” he said. “We’re second in points being consistently strong. I feel like, with an exception of one (race), we’ve covered our bases. We’ve done a good job of being there each and every week.”

An engine issue sidetracked Bowyer at Auto Club Speedway, where he finished 35^th. At Las Vegas, he was 27^th.

And, he said, the team “stubbed our toe in the last race at New Hampshire.”

“Just went the wrong way” with adjustments, he said. “We were fast all weekend long.”

Teammate Brian Vickers “kind of went another route and ended up winning the race. That happens in racing. It’s a humbling sport.”

Vickers and fellow teammate Martin Truex Jr. each have one win this year, but haven’t displayed similar consistency. Truex Jr. is 11^th in points while Vickers, sharing the No. 55 entry with team co-owner Michael Waltrip and veteran Mark Martin, isn’t in the top 40.

“Does it bother me that my teammates won? Absolutely not,” Bowyer said. “I was super happy and proud of both of them. Both of them were great stories for not only MWR and themselves, but the sport. I’m a fan of the sport, I love this sport and you have Truex, he was in my rookie class and seeing him get his win that everybody knew was a long time coming was special for everybody.

“Brian Vickers, the man about lost his life and battled back and got another opportunity and made the most of it and got back in Victory Lane.

“Just two great stories and happy to be a part of it and hopefully we will get another one sometime soon."

Bowyer, 14^th in the opening practice session, said his team is “top-five week in and week out.”
“And if you do that,” he said, “I know you’re going to get your wins. I’m really not concerned about that. Being consistent, staying in the hunt each and every weekend is what’s going to give you a shot at a championship."

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