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Driver remains hopeful of returning this weekend at Richmond

WASHINGTON — Denny Hamlin‘s latest scan is done.
 
Now he’s waiting for doctors to read the results and arrive at a consensus of opinion as to whether he can race this weekend at Richmond International Raceway.
 
"A doctor has seen a scan yesterday, but, obviously, there’s a large team of doctors who have to have a consensus," Hamlin said Wednesday morning during a visit to the Grooming Lounge in downtown Washington. "Until all of them get the images, we’re still waiting on that. They should have them this morning.
 
"Hopefully, by the end of the day, everyone will have consensus and have time to review what’s the safe thing to do."
 
Hamlin, sidelined with a compression fracture of his first lumbar vertebra during a last-lap wreck March 24 at Fontana, Calif., said he has been preparing to get back into his Joe Gibbs Racing No. 11 Toyota Friday at Richmond if he has medical approval. Charlotte neurosurgeon Dr. Jerry Petty has the final say and getting input from the group.

"Hopefully, by the end of the day, everyone will have consensus and have time to review what’s the safe thing to do."

—Denny Hamlin

Whether he’s approved to race at Richmond or not, Hamlin plans to start the race the following week at Talladega and then give way to a relief driver. He’ll exit the car at Talladega at the first opportunity after riding in the back.
 
"We do have an agreement, I believe, on starting next week and getting out, so at least we’ll get some points starting next week," Hamlin said. "After that, I don’t know. It just depends on what the doctors, the results of this (the scan) are and when they want to re-scan and check progression again …
 
"Physically, I’m not much different than I am every day with my mobility. … We obviously have to be smart about this, because it is just one season. Hopefully, there’s many more to come. I’m just trying to do the right thing for my team and sponsors, because I feel like they need me."
 
Hamlin is leaning toward back surgery during the offseason — or perhaps sooner if his prospects of making the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup evaporate — because the compression fracture exacerbated a problem with bulging disks that existed before the crash. The bulging disks are far more painful to the 32-year-old-driver than the compression fracture was.
 
"(The accident) really screwed ’em up," Hamlin said. "I’m at the point now where, if they don’t let me back in the car in a timely fashion, where I’m going to be racing for nothing for the rest of the year, I’d just as soon do it now and get it over with and come back next year strong and ready to go."
 
Hamlin visited Washington in advance of America’s Small Business Summit, where FedEx (the primary sponsor of Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota), the Red Cross and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce together will offer disaster preparedness tips to small businesses.
 
Earlier on Wednesday, Hamlin toured the American Red Cross Disaster Operations Center, the primary point of contact for all disaster services, before driving a street-legal version of his No. 11 Camry to the Grooming Lounge to participate in a preparedness review.
 
"The last couple of years we’ve informed some kids on what to do when a disaster strikes, to prepare themselves, their families and all that," Hamlin said. "What we’re doing now is trying to get these small businesses to be informed, because, ultimately, our economy works around small businesses.
 
"Forty percent of small businesses that are affected by natural disasters never reopen. That’s a very disturbing stat. It affects a lot of families, because everyone that works here has two or three family members that live in their household, and they get fed off them being open. So we have to get them informed and very educated on what they can do in case a disaster strikes, to make sure their business is stronger on the way out." ___________________________________________________________________________________________

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Posted on by Holly Cain

Changes at Daytona, Talladega in response to crash in Nationwide season-opener

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Both Daytona International Speedway and Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway will undergo reinforcements to the crossover gate fencing in response to a February accident in the NASCAR Nationwide Series season-opening race at Daytona.

In the midst of a multi-car accident near the end of the event, a car driven by rookie Kyle Larson impacted a crossover gate located in the frontstretch fencing and parts of the car penetrated the fencing with debris scattering into the grandstands. Fourteen fans were treated at the track and 14 more were transported to local hospitals with injuries reportedly ranging from a broken bone to cuts and scrapes.

Both track presidents joined NASCAR Vice President Steve O’Donnell for Wednesday’s progress announcement.

They revealed that two structural engineering firms were hired to review data from the car and the scene of the accident. The engineering firms — experts at track design with more than 175 years of combined experience — agreed on recommendations to reinforce all the current crossover gates.

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A crossover gate opens before and after the race to allow fans and officials to move across the track between the infield and the grandstands. There are eight at Daytona and seven at Talladega.

“These changes include the installations of cable to create a redundant system to enhance continuity to the gate area," Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood explained. “The additional cables are the same size as the existing cables both at Daytona and Talladega as well as installing supplemental tethering between the gate frame and post."

The work is already completed on the 2.67-mile Talladega track — NASCAR’s largest venue — where the Sprint Cup and Nationwide series race next week.

Chitwood did confirm that the engineers did not see a need to change the other fencing — which has stabilizing cables — saying all indications are that it was doing the “appropriate job."

No seating sections will be moved and both track presidents said they had not received any request from a fan to get a different seat assignment for upcoming races. Chitwood said the track is still in touch with the fans injured in February.

“NASCAR and the tracks where we race always want to ensure the fans have a safe and enjoyable experience, and we believe we do everything we can to make the sport as safe as possible for our fans and again, believe our history speaks to that fact," O’Donnell said.

He also provided insight into the investigation from NASCAR’s perspective, which included a strong focus on Larson’s No. 32 Toyota by using photographs and video of the accident plus the Incident Data Recorder (IDR) files.

“The information we provided included the 32-car’s impact speed, its acceleration, the impact angle, the impact time (duration) and change in vehicle speed during the incident," O’Donnell said of the review conducted at NASCAR’s Research and Development Center in Concord, N.C.

“So even as we wrap up this specific investigation as it relates to Daytona, our work will continue.

“This was phase one to get ready for Talladega and Daytona. We’re looking closely at all tracks where NASCAR races."

But, O’Donnell cautioned, each race track has its own unique characteristics in terms of banking and car speeds so there may not be a uniform need to change every track. That research and consultation is part of the ongoing work.

And, he added, that while NASCAR is still examining the structural integrity of the cars, he did not foresee changes to the engine restrictor plates next week at Talladega.

“Obviously we’ll see with practices, see where we land, but we’re confident with the safety measures in place for this event," O’Donell said.
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Johnson a unanimous top-spot choice, while Stenhouse Jr. sees signifcant gains and Smoke falls

— 1/3 5th

Driver                    Change            High/Low            Last race

         

1. Jimmie Johnson        —                        1/3                       3rd

Outlook: It may have been an uncomfortable week for Johnson, but it certainly didn’t show on the race track. Despite a late charge by Kasey Kahne, nobody was catching Matt Kenseth at Kansas. His third-place finish might as well count as a win, especially considering his points lead increased by 19.
Standings: 1st, 311 points

2. Brad Keselowski    

Outlook: Possibly due to his meeting with the man in charge, or perhaps that other thing hanging over his head, but regardless, Keselowski drove an inspired race on Sunday. Don’t expect that chip on his shoulder to dissolve anytime soon.
Standings: 3rd, 273 points

3. Matt Kenseth           

Outlook: Back-to-back Kansas victories have Kenseth feeling pretty good. Richmond isn’t historically one of his best tracks, but he does have a win there, and he’s been running so well when he’s able to finish a race that another trip to Victory Lane may be imminent.
Standings: 8th, 252 points

4. Kasey Kahne           

Outlook: Along with Truex Jr., Kahne enjoyed the biggest leap in the points standings, moving up five spots to second overall. Kahne’s stock is trending up and his second victory of the season could be right around the corner.
Standings: 2nd, 274 points

5. Kyle Busch              

Outlook: Luckily it didn’t end in fisticuffs, but a wreck between Busch and Joey Logano ended the day for the two drivers, both of whom took huge hits in the points and ranks.
Standings: 7th, 257 points

Related Links:

Toyota Owners 400 entry list

Group qualifying for Sprint Cup road courses

Post-race reactions

Final Laps: Kenseth holds off Kahne

All Access: Danica Patrick

NASCAR Tech Series: CNC Machine

Sights and Sounds

Mobil 1 Driver of the Race

Weekend Top Five

Race Rewind

 

6. Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Outlook: Earnhardt had his chance at a top-five finish at Kansas spoiled thanks to an untimely caution, but Junior was still pleased with his team’s progress in the race. That being said, his brief reign at the top of the standings seems a distant memory.
Standings: 5th, 263 points

7. Clint Bowyer             

Outlook: Having a killer personality is one thing, but that doesn’t get a driver very far in NASCAR. Luckily there’s another side to Bowyer — a side that can drive the heck out of a race car. His runner-up finish last year was no fluke.
Standings: 9th, 247 points

8. Greg Biffle               

Outlook: Inspired by his team’s Boston Marathon relief efforts, Biffle was prepared to donate to a worthy cause and give $100 for each lap he led at Kansas. Noble, yes. Unfortunately the Roush Fenway Racing driver led zero laps on his way to a 19th-place finish.
Standings: 4th, 264 points

9. Carl Edwards           

Outlook: Edwards looked fantastic all weekend heading into Sunday’s race. He took the opening practice, and nearly grabbed the pole, finishing second in qualifying. And then he took 17th in the STP 400. Not exactly the textbook definition of “following-through”.
Standings: 6th, 262 points

10. Jeff Gordon            

Outlook: Gordon got behind the eight ball after crashing during qualifying and certainly wasn’t as confident as he could have been ahead of the race. Regardless, that didn’t stop the veteran from moving up from his starting position of 43rd to a 13th-place finish.
Standings: 15th, 202 points

11. Kevin Harvick       

Outlook: Harvick started the STP 400 17th, and finished 12th. Good, but not great. The Richard Childress Racing driver will need to improve if he intends on holding onto his 12th and final Chase spot. He has but one top-10 finish in 2013.
Standings: 12th, 224 points

12. Martin Truex Jr.    

Outlook: Time to prove everyone wrong for good, Martin Truex Jr. Consecutive top-fives have you just on the outside of a Chase spot, but Richmond has been your worst track, with an average finish of 24.1. Show us what you got.
Standings: 14th, 204 points

13. Paul Menard          

Outlook: Another race, another top-10 for Menard. It’s almost a foregone conclusion that someone from the Menard, Truex Jr., Jamie McMurray, and Aric Almirola bunch will sneak into the Chase. There are 12 top-10 finishes split between them and four belong to Menard.
Standings: 10th, 240 points

14. Jamie McMurray        

Outlook: Richmond hasn’t been friendly to McMurray in the past. He currently sits in the 11th spot in the standings, so it’s safe to assume that despite an excellent 7th-place finish at Kansas, the Earnhardt Ganassi Racing driver might be on the outside looking in after the weekend.
Standings: 11th, 227 points

15. Joey Logano             

Outlook: Yikes. Just three weeks after sitting pretty in ninth place with his stock on the rise, Logano now finds himself 37 points and eight spots out of a Chase spot with no wins under his belt. Much could change with the result of his penalty appeal decision, but above all else he needs a victory.
Standings: 20th, 187 points

16. Aric Almirola         

Outlook: What’s a guy gotta do to get some respect around here? An eighth-place finish has him 13th in the standings, but Almirola isn’t getting much recognition. His average finish of 26th in two career Richmond races doesn’t bode well for heads to turn.
Standings: 13th, 222 points

17. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

Outlook: Sitting in the second row at the start of the STP 400, Stenhouse Jr. had plenty to be confident about heading into the race. The rookie made sure not to squander his opportunity, finishing a more-than-respectable 11th.
Standings: 18th, 196 points

18. Ryan Newman          

Outlook: Newman (along with the rest of his Stewart-Haas Racing gang) has been mediocre at best in 2013. Richmond might be his shining moment of the season, as he averages a finish of 11.6, with one win, five top-fives, and 13 top-10s in 22 races.
Standings: 17th, 200 points

19. Kurt Busch         

Outlook: The season certainly isn’t a wash for Busch, as he’s shown promise in spurts. Right now, it’s hard to picture him gaining much traction, but it definitely isn’t out of the question.
Standings: 22nd, 180 points

20. Jeff Burton          

Outlook: With 37 Richmond starts under his belt, there was a time when one could look at his 16 top-10 finishes at the track and feel confident that he could add another one. Tough to feel that way these days, but Burton could certainly be looked at as a dark horse.
Standings: 23rd, 178 points

In the rearview

Note: These rankings have been determined by a poll that included writers Kenny Bruce, Holly Cain, David Caraviello and Zack Albert, and video host Alan Cavanna. Tell us what you think about the Power Rankings. Use the hashtag #NASCARPOWER.

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Kyle Busch, Johnson, Earnhardt know how to make the most of this .75-mile track

.051  seconds remains the closest margin of victory at Richmond since the advent of electronic scoring, won by Jeff Burton in September 1998.

2  drivers have posted their first Coors Light Pole wins at Richmond: Bobby Labonte (September 1993) and Brian Vickers (May 2004). Tony Stewart (September 1999) and Kasey Kahne (May 2005) posted their first NASCAR Sprint Cup wins at Richmond.

3  active drivers have a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series average finish in the top 10 at Richmond: Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin and Clint Bowyer.

4  of the 113 races at Richmond International Raceway have been shortened due to weather conditions: spring of 1962, spring of 1977, spring of 1982 and spring of 2003.

5.438  is the average finish position of Kyle Busch, who leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Richmond International Raceway.

7  drivers have won consecutive Coors Light poles at Richmond. Bobby Allison holds the record for most consecutive poles at Richmond with five (1972-1974).

7.925  is the best average starting position among active Sprint Cup Series drivers at Richmond International Raceway, a number earned by Jeff Gordon.

8  drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series have posted consecutive wins at Richmond International Raceway. Richard Petty leads the series in consecutive wins at Richmond after posting seven consecutive wins from the fall of 1970-1973. Terry Labonte (1994-1995) and Jimmie Johnson (2007 sweep) are the only two active drivers with consecutive wins at Richmond.

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9  is the record for runner-up finishes, a tie between Bobby Allison and Richard Petty. Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with six.

11  of the 113 Sprint Cup races at Richmond International Raceway have been won from a starting position outside the top 20.

15  Cup Series wins at Richmond have been claimed by Petty Enterprises, the most wins at the track, followed by Hendrick Motorsports with 10 and Joe Gibbs Racing with nine.

20  years, 6 months, 21 days is the age of the youngest Richmond pole winner: Brian Vickers on May 15, 2004. The oldest Richmond pole winner is Mark Martin, who won in April 2012 at 53 years, 3 months, 19 days.

16  active NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers have won at Richmond International Raceway, and each participated in at least one or more races before visiting Victory Lane. Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Tony Stewart won at Richmond in their second appearance.

22  of the 113 NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Richmond International Raceway have been won from the Coors Light pole. Only three active drivers have been able to accomplish the feat: Kasey Kahne (2005), Jimmie Johnson (2007) and Kyle Busch (2010). Thirteen races have been won from second-place.

31  is the deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Richmond International Raceway, by Clint Bowyer in the spring of 2008.

32  races after his Cup Series debut at Richmond, Terry Labonte made his first trip to Victory Lane there in 1994, the longest span of any of the 16 active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series winners. Bobby Labonte leads the series among active drivers with the most NASCAR Sprint Cup starts at Richmond without visiting Victory Lane at 40.

35  wins have come from Chevrolet, while Ford has 28.

44  is the record for top-10 finishes, held by Richard Petty. Mark Martin leads all active drivers with 30; followed by Terry Labonte with 28.

47  different drivers have won at Richmond International Raceway, led by Richard Petty with 13. Kyle Busch leads all active drivers with four.

51  drivers have won Coors Light poles at Richmond, led by Richard Petty and Bobby Allison with eight each. Jeff Gordon and Mark Martin lead all active drivers with five each.

63  starts at Richmond is currently the series record, held by NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty. Terry Labonte leads all active drivers with 55 starts; followed by Mark Martin with 54.

90  of the 113 Cup races at Richmond International Raceway have been won from a top-10 starting position.

113  Sprint Cup races have been held at at Richmond International Raceway, one NSCS event from 1953-1958 and two races per year since 1959.

467  drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Richmond; 304 in more than one.

1,415  laps led in 40 starts gives Jeff Gordon the record at Richmond among all active drivers.

1953  was the inaugural Coors Light Pole at Richmond, taken by Buck Baker with a speed of 48.465 mph.

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ThorSport teammate Crafton takes over top spot

Johnny Sauter has fallen out of the Camping World Truck Series lead after incurring a 25-point penalty from NASCAR for fuel cell violations discovered in opening inspection this past weekend at Kansas Speedway.

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Sauter’s No. 98 truck was found to have violated several sections of the 2013 Rule Book in relation to the fuel cell, which cannot be modified after receiving NASCAR approval and must include standard black safety foam with a minimum free-standing height of 8 inches. As a result, crew chief Joel Shear has been fined $10,000 and suspended the next four Truck Series events. He has also been placed on probation through Dec. 31.

Owner Mike Curb and Sauter were also docked 25 owner and driver points, respectively. Sauter won the season’s first two races and finished fifth at Kansas, after which he led ThorSport Racing teammate Matt Crafton by 12 points in the series standings. With the penalty, Crafton assumes the lead, while Sauter falls to second.


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Compare the No. 20 penalty with the biggest penalties in Sprint Cup Series’ history

Related: Reaction | NASCAR news release | Video | Inside engines | Fantasy take

After NASCAR officials discovered an illegal connecting rod in the Kansas-winning car of Matt Kenseth, the No. 20 team is facing hefty penalties. The penalties include a $200,000 fine and a suspension for crew chief Jason Ratcliff; 50 owner points plus forfeited points from Kenseth’s win at Kansas and a suspended owner’s license for the No. 20 car for Joe Gibbs; and 50 driver points as well as the STP 400 Coors Light Pole award toward eligibility for the Sprint Unlimited for the driver himself. Here is a list of the toughest penalties NASCAR has handed out in the Sprint Cup Series to compare just how much trouble Kenseth is in.

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Carl Long, No. 146 | Lowe’s Motor Speedway, May 2009

Violation: Section 12-1: Actions detrimental to stock car racing. Section 12-4-I: Any determination by NASCAR Officials that the Race Equipment used in the Event does not conform to NASCAR rules: Section 20-5.4A: Engine exceeded the maximum engine size of 358.000 cubic inch displacement.

Penalty: Loss of 200 Cup Driver Points.

Matt Kenseth, No. 20 | Kansas Speedway, April 2013

Violation: Section 12-1: Actions detrimental to stock car racing. Section 12-4J: Any determination by NASCAR Officials that Race Equipment used in the Event does not conform to the NASCAR Rules detailed in Section 20 of the NASCAR Rule Book, or has not been approved by NASCAR prior to the Event. Section 20-5.5.3E.: Only solid magnetic steel connecting rods with a minimum weight of 525.0 grams will be permitted. Connecting rod failed to meet the minimum connecting rod weight.

Penalty: Loss of 50 Cup Driver Points.*

 

Jeremy Mayfield, No. 12 | Talladega Superspeedway, April 2000

Violation: Section 12-4-A: Actions detrimental to stock car racing. Section 8-8: Fuel used by a Competitor that does not meet NASCAR specifications. Section 12-4-AA: Use of altered fuel or fuel other than the official fuel at the Event.

Penalty: Loss of 151 Cup Driver points.

 

Johnny Sauter, No. 70 | Lowe’s Motor Speedway, May 2008

Violation: Section 20-3.1.3A: Wing mounting locations were not as specified by the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Rule Book.

Penalty: Loss of 150 Cup Driver points.

Appealed: NASCAR Penalty upheld.

 

Scott Riggs, No. 66 | Lowe’s Motor Speedway, May 2008

Violation: Section 20-3.1.3A: Wing mounting locations were not as specified by the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Rule Book.

Penalty: Loss of 150 Cup Owner points.

Appealed: NASCAR Penalty upheld.

 

Brian Vickers, No. 83 | Martinsville Speedway, October 2008

Violation: Section 12-4-Q: Section 20-2.1D: Exterior sheet metal body parts did not meet the specified minimum thickness.

Penalty: Loss of 150 Cup Driver points.

 

Martin Truex Jr., No. 1 | Daytona International Speedway, July 2008

Violation: Section 12-4-Q: Section 20-3.8A: Roof of the car does not conform to the specifications of the NASCAR Rule Book.

Penalty: Loss of 150 Cup Driver points.

 

Travis Kvapil, No. 43 | Pocono Raceway, June 2010

Violation: Section 12-1: Section 12-4-J: Section 20-10.7J: Unapproved modification to valve stem hardware.

Penalty: 150 Cup Driver Points

 

Clint Bowyer, No. 15 | September 2010, New Hampshire Motor Speedway

Violation: Section 12-1: Actions detrimental to stock car racing. Section 12-4-J: Any determination by NASCAR Officials that the Race Equipment used in the Event does not conform to NASCAR Rules: Section 20-3: The car body location specifications in reference to the certified chassis, does not meet the NASCAR-approved specifications.

Penalty: 150 Cup Driver Points

*These penalties are ranked according to their severity in proportion to the points system used at that time. NASCAR moved to a one-point-per-position format in 2011.

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Jeff Burton, Kurt Busch on hand to honor troops in Washington

WASHINGTON — They came together for a chance to honor and to celebrate with those who have made a difference and those who have given of themselves both at home and abroad.
 
Members of Congress and the Senate, high-ranking military officials, corporate CEOs and athletes from various professional sports were in attendance Tuesday at the Ronald Reagan Building for the ninth annual Armed Forces Foundation Congressional Gala.
 
It was a powerful group. But the stars of the program were the approximately 250 service members and their families.

"Tonight really symbolizes what the AFF program is about, and it’s a chance to honor and thank everyone involved."

—Kurt Busch

“You won’t see this many important people together in one place for one cause; to be able to talk about your message with this many people, that’s a big deal,” said Patricia Driscoll, President and Executive Director of the AFF.
 
“I grew up in a military family and everyone in my family has served. I grew up in a military town. I’ve spent a lot of time overseas deployed with my company. … This (program) means a lot to me and I feel we need to give back. These service members do so much to protect our freedom, give so much of themselves; we owe it to them to give them a healthy life.”
 
The AFF provides assistance to active duty and retired military personnel and their families through a number of initiatives including financial assistance, therapy and outreach programs and national educational initiatives.
 
NASCAR is heavily involved through its Troops to the Track partnership, a program that brings wounded or disabled active or retired military personnel to NASCAR events.
 
“NASCAR is one of the most patriotic sports,” Driscoll said, “and its fans are incredibly patriotic. The (Troops to the Track) program is a great way for our guys with PTSD or other issues to realize there’s a lot to look forward to, that there are a lot of people that love you and care about you. And it’s a good reason to continue to work hard, change your life and live life.”
 
Kurt Busch, NASCAR’s 2004 Cup champion, said it’s easy for Americans to “take our freedom for granted.
 
“It’s an everyday way of life for the majority of us, to wake up and go do the things we get to do,” he said. “It’s a privilege and it comes at a sacrifice.
 
“The way that it affects me when I see these guys at the track … some might be missing a (limb), some might have scar tissue … they will deal with the rest of their lives. And they’re kids, from 18 to 25, that we’re seeing with these wounds. What they’ve done to give us the opportunity to live a free life came at a cost. It’s up to the AFF to give back and help tie loose ends up and to help ease that transition.”
 
Busch spent Tuesday morning swapping rides with Australian VA Supercar driver James Courtney at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. By Tuesday evening, he was in Washington taking part in the AFF event.
 
“A very busy day,” he said. “But I wouldn’t miss this. Tonight really symbolizes what the AFF program is about, and it’s a chance to honor and thank everyone involved.”
 
Fellow NASCAR driver Jeff Burton is a member of the AFF’s board of directors, although he said, “I don’t think I’ve been a particularly good board member. I’m new and not real good at it.”
 
He’s willing, he said, to participate in a program that he feels very strongly about. Taking “10 or 15 minutes” to speak with members of the military or their families at the track “is not a big deal” when they deserve so much more.
 
During the drivers’ meeting at Kansas a few days earlier, Burton said he saw the parents of a fallen soldier in attendance.
 
“I always try to go search those people out and shake their hand and tell them I’m sorry for their loss,” he said. “You look in their eyes and you think … it’s an overwhelming experience. Those kinds of things are sobering.
 
“We finished 18th, we thought we ran well (but) we finished poorly,” he said of his Richard Childress Racing team’s Kansas effort. “You’re mad and you think the world’s coming to an end; we’ve run bad for two, two and a half years, you know.
 
“Then you step back and you realize how lucky you are. These things are humbling and help me put things in perspective. It doesn’t mean we don’t want to win. It does mean when we don’t have success, there are bigger things in the world and this is a good example of it.”

Marcus Jadotte, Kim Burton and Jeff Burton were at the festivities in Washington.


Kurt Busch was at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, before heading to Washington to honor those who serve.


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Three-time champ at the forefront of Stewart-Haas Racing struggles

Tony Stewart finished third a year ago at Richmond International Raceway, extending a string of solid efforts that dated back to his epic championship run the season before. Fresh off his first title, he was showing early-season strength unusual for a driver whose best didn’t typically kick in until the summer and fall. With two victories already, his berth in the Chase for the Sprint Cup was effectively secured. After leading 118 laps on the Virginia short track, there seemed the potential for many more to come.

What a contrast that time feels like to now, when Stewart limps back to Richmond in the midst of the worst start of his proud and illustrious career. It has become painful to watch, a driver of Stewart’s caliber riding around every week in the middle of the pack. His 21st-place finish at Kansas continued a five-week slog since Stewart’s last competitive run, 11th at Las Vegas. He’s 21st in the standings, the lowest he has ever been through eight races, and his slowest start since he was 14th at this point in 2005.

Of course, Stewart rebounded to win his second premier-series championship that year, when he used a furious summertime spurt to effectively distance himself from the field. Is he capable of that this season? It’s the same driver behind the wheel, so it would be foolish to sell Smoke short. But eight years ago, an early engine failure played a key role in his slow start. This time around, a wreck at Daytona — where he seemed the man to beat entering the 500 — certainly hasn’t helped. But the more this year goes on, the more it seems something else is missing.

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Because it’s not just Stewart — it’s all of Stewart-Haas Racing that appears to be behind in its development of the new Generation-6 car that debuted on the Sprint Cup tour this season. SHR may get its chassis from Hendrick Motorsports, but it’s still ultimately up to SHR personnel to prepare and tune the vehicles. And judging from the results turned in by Stewart, Ryan Newman and Danica Patrick much of this season, the entire organization seems to be searching.

No question, the implementation of a new car with a completely redesigned body style and increased mechanical grip presented a challenge for every team in NASCAR’s top series, and entering the season there seemed to be a consensus — whoever hit on something quickest would have an advantage. Look at the start Joe Gibbs Racing is off to, particularly on intermediate tracks, and it’s easy to believe that’s the case. But eight races in, equally as important seems to be what teams have missed it, or at least struggled to adapt as quickly.

SHR is clearly foremost among that group, but it’s not alone there. Richard Childress Racing has endured its growing pains with the new car, and although RCR hasn’t really been a threat to win a race, Paul Menard and Kevin Harvick each seem to have found a degree of consistency that’s keeping them at least on the fringes of Chase contention. There’s plenty of work still to be done, of course, but last week at Kansas — where Menard was 10th and Harvick 12th — could be viewed as forward progress.

Harvick’s future car owner, meanwhile, was back there with Regan Smith and David Gilliland, drivers at a vast disadvantage to Stewart in terms of money and manpower. We’re not exactly early in the season, either — it’s nearly May, long enough for teams to determine the difference between bad luck and something more systemic. Other drivers who have endured poor starts, like Jeff Gordon and Martin Truex Jr., have been able to hang their helmets on runs that represent what they might be capable of. For Stewart, every week now is a grind.

Given how beloved Stewart is by much of the fan base, and how much more interesting things are when he’s in contention — who can forget the “he’s not going to sleep for three weeks” challenge to Carl Edwards two years ago? — none of this is good news. But it might have been predictable, given that this year SHR as an organization is clearly in flux, with one driver coming in, another potentially going out, and plenty of infrastructure shuffles needed to accommodate both of them.

Never has Stewart carried more on his shoulders, given that Patrick is a work in progress, and Newman is in the midst of a one-year deal. No question, it seemed necessary to pair Patrick with crew chief Tony Gibson and what used to be the No. 39 crew, given how well the personalities involved meshed together, and how much a rookie driver needed a veteran on the pit box. But Patrick’s development is ongoing, and despite runs like those at Daytona and Martinsville, she isn’t going to transform into a Chase contender overnight.

In short, you have a lot of resources dedicated to a longer-term goal, and any immediate success is a bonus. And then there’s Newman, who doesn’t have the likes of a GoDaddy — SHR’s biggest sponsor at the moment — behind him, and signed a one-year extension with Harvick ostensibly waiting in the wings. Stewart and his management team have done a fine job cobbling together a sponsorship package for the No. 39 car, but at the start of the season Newman’s crew was still a relatively new group, and crew chief Matt Borland hadn’t worked a full campaign in seven years.

Given all that, Newman’s 17th-place position in the points — and top-10 finishes in two of his last three races — is probably more impressive than it gets credit for. Particularly in light of the struggles endured so far this season by Stewart, whose No. 14 team entered the year as the one ready-made title contender in the SHR stable. Yes, the cars have been a work in progress. Perhaps it shouldn’t be surprising that a rookie driver, or even a more experienced one with a relatively green crew, would wrestle with them. But a three-time champion who seems capable of winning in any kind of vehicle on the planet? That’s something very different.

Granted, there’s a lot of season to go. Of Stewart’s 47 victories at the premier level, only four have come before May. His strength is the summer, when tracks get hot and slick, and all that car control honed in his sprint-car days comes into play. Earlier this year at Las Vegas, Stewart started with a car that was wrecking loose and wrung an 11th-place finish out of it, in as vivid a display of his driving prowess as we’ve seen all season. The dude can still wheel it. Underestimate him at your own risk.

But as recent weeks have shown, not even a driver of Stewart’s caliber can do it all by himself. Eventually the cars have to get better, and the team has to progress from scrambling to building. Richmond, a track where Stewart has won three times and is riding a streak of four consecutive top-10 finishes, seems as good a place as any to begin a turnaround. But it would still be quite a surprise to see him lead 118 laps and finish third Saturday night, even if it all seemed so natural just a year ago.


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Young driver says he’ll rely on team depth in worst-case scenario

Related video: Logano speaks up on recent events

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Joey Logano knows he’ll have his regular crew chief and support personnel at the track this weekend when he competes at Richmond International Raceway. Whether he’ll still be surrounded by the same faces after that will hinge on an appeal filed by his Penske Racing team in the wake of severe NASCAR penalties.

NASCAR on Tuesday announced that Penske’s appeal of penalties levied against the teams of Logano and Brad Keselowski will be heard May 1 at the NASCAR Research and Development Center in Concord, N.C. The crew chiefs for each program, as well as their respective car chiefs, race engineers and the team competition director, were all suspended by NASCAR for six weeks after the rear ends of both cars failed pre-race inspection two weeks ago at Texas Motor Speedway.

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The suspended personnel are able to work pending the appeal, although 25 points docked from Keselowski and Logano went into effect immediately. Three members from the National Stock Car Racing Appeals Panel will hear the Penske appeal. If the sanctions are upheld, Penske has the option of a final plea to Chief Appellate Officer John Middlebrook, who last year overturned suspensions and a 25-point deduction originally levied against Jimmie Johnson’s team.

“We need to prepare for the worst and hope for the best,” Logano said at the Carolinas Aviation Museum during an event promoting the upcoming Coca-Cola 600. “So we will prepare for the worst. We’ll obviously bring some extra people to try to have some overlap within our team to prepare for if the appeal doesn’t go the way we expect it to. So we need to always do that. Prepare for the worst, hope for the best, and we’ll get through this. Penske Racing has a lot of depth in the company. They’re very strong, and we will get through this.”

The penalties stem from rear-end housing pieces that NASCAR confiscated before the Texas race, forcing both Penske teams to change out the parts and rush the vehicles back through inspection during pre-race festivities. NASCAR deemed that Logano didn’t make it to the starting grid on time, and made him start at the rear. He still managed a top-five finish, continuing a strong early season that at one point saw him rise as high as ninth in the standings.

After incurring the 25-point penalty and finishing 39th at Kansas Speedway after being involved in a crash with Kyle Busch, Logano has slipped to 20th. But he believes he can still rally to challenge for his first berth in the Chase for the Sprint Cup.

“If we don’t have issues, we can get top-10s every week. I feel that confident,” he said. “No matter what, we can always get a top-10 …. And even if we don’t start very well, we’ve been able to get our cars good. We proved that at Texas. We didn’t start the race very well, and we had a lot of issues leading up to the start of the race, and we were able to tune our car in and … finish fifth. A top-five after that is awesome. So yes, we know we can do it. We know we can win races. We’ve been in contention to win races this year. It’s just become that much more important this year in the position we’re at.”

Logano said Penske was still working through a plan in case it has to compete without the suspended personnel. No. 22 crew chief Todd Gordon faces six weeks out, as does car chief Raymond Fox III and engineer Samuel Stanley. On Keselowski’s team, crew chief Paul Wolfe, car chief Jerry Kelley and engineer Brian Wilson all face the same fate, as does Penske competition director Travis Geisler. Both crew chiefs were also fined $100,000. If the penalties are upheld and Penske does not appeal further, the suspended personnel would be out until the June 16 event at Michigan.

“I think the teams are really dealing with it well,” Logano said. “We understand we want to win races and we’re going to push as hard as we can to win races, just like every other team does. I think everyone’s been very supportive, throughout all of Penske Racing, from the top to the bottom, and I’m glad to see that. Glad to see no one rolling over, and everyone working hard and still wanting those wins. That’s what makes a strong organization in my eyes.”

According to NASCAR, the Penske teams violated the sections of the 2013 Sprint Cup Series Rule Book which state that approved parts cannot be used after NASCAR deems them ineligible for competition, that stipulate what suspension parts and hardware must be made of, and outline the correct size of round mounting holes, and limitations on movement or realignment of suspension parts beyond normal rotation or travel. Some of those regulations are specific to the Generation-6 car, which debuted this season on NASCAR’s premier series.

“It’s teams pushing everything to the edge and trying to interpret the rules the right way,” Logano said. “And sometimes that becomes a challenge, I believe. It happens. It’s part of our sport. We want to win races as bad as anybody. And everyone’s going to do that, everyone’s going to try to find … a competitive advantage within the rules.”

Logano appeared Tuesday at an event promoting next month’s races at Charlotte Motor Speedway, which will once again have a military theme. The flyover prior to the May 26 Coca-Cola 600 will feature 10 vintage military aircraft, including two P-51 Mustangs owned by Jack Roush. Goodyear will continue its annual military appreciation campaign, using tires with “Support our Troops” stenciled on the sidewalls for all events during both Coca-Cola 600 and Sprint All-Star Race weekends.

The speedway has also launched a program in which sponsored buses will carry service members from Fort Bragg in North Carolina, and South Carolina’s Fort Jackson and Shaw Air Force Base to the Coca-Cola 600. The track is providing 3,000 tickets for military distribution through the USO. Logano symbolically kicked off the program Tuesday by driving a motorcoach carrying some military personnel.

“It puts everything in perspective for sure,” he said. “Yes, a tough day at the race track is hard, but it’s nothing compared to what these guys are doing out there. It does put it in perspective. You get frustrated racing because it’s your job and it’s your passion, but what I’m doing compared to what all these military guys are doing — I’m not really doing much at all, if you look at it that way.”

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Sprint Cup Series: Toyota Owners 400 results

Nationwide Series: ToyotaCare 250 results

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series both traveled to Richmond International Raceway this week for a pair of night races, won by Kevin Harvick and Brad Keselowski, respectively.

Check back for the latest coverage from NASCAR.com.

In The Rearview

It was another wild weekend in NASCAR, and what better way to catch up on the action than with our new column, In the Rearview? Check out all the interesting tidbits from Kenny Bruce, including how Aric Almirola is on the move, insightful stats on green-white-checkered dominance and the week’s best quotes. | Read the full story

Harvick wins thriller

Kevin Harvick went from seventh place to first on a restart to take a dramatic green-white-checkered finish and win the Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond International Raceway. Harvick spoiled Juan Pablo Montoya‘s bid for his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory on an oval track. | Read the full story

Busch’s eventful night

After tangling with three different drivers — including one (Tony Stewart) on the cool-down lap — Kurt Busch was more interested in talking about results. He finished ninth Saturday, and took an interesting road into the top 10. | Read the full story

No win, no problem

Juan Pablo Montoya led 67 laps and was in position to win Saturday night’s Toyota Owners 400. Then came a late caution. While that ruined his chances of winning, it didn’t ruin his night — the No. 42 team was thrilled with a top-five. | Read the full story

Patience pays off

Jamie McMurray and his No. 1 team didn’t get the results they wanted last year, but for the greater good, they spent time experimenting late in 2012. That’s paid off in 2013, with McMurray at 10th in the standings. | Read the full story

Engine caution

Given the penalties to Matt Kenseth’s team earlier in the week, Clint Bowyer’s team has erred on the side of caution. The No. 15 crew swapped out engines before Richmond because one connecting rod was too close to the legal minimum. | Read the full story

Scott, Piquet fight

Brian Scott and Nelson Piquet Jr. fight after Friday’s race at Richmond International Raceway. Scott accuses Piquet of a low blow, and both drivers are summoned to the series hauler to talk things out. Watch the video | Read the full story

Kes cashes in

Brad Keselowski outdueled a pair of fellow NASCAR Sprint Cup Series regulars to win his first Nationwide Series race of the year Friday. Keselowski’s win ended Kyle Busch’s three-race series winning streak. | Read the full story

Annett may be out until Charlotte

Michael Annett, out of the No. 43 Nationwide Series car since a crash in the season-opening race at Daytona, will be sidelined a little longer as he continues to recover from a sternum injury. | Read the full story

Police: RCR crew members charged

Two Richard Childress Racing crew members were charged and released early Saturday morning by the Henrico County (Va.) Police after a post-race altercation on the grounds of Richmond International Raceway. | Read the full story

A well-earned pole

It’s been a difficult week for Matt Kenseth, but the driver drove through the adversity to claim the pole for the second consecutive week. His pace at Richmond International Raceway set a new track record. | Read the full story

Gibbs gives take

Joe Gibbs agrees his No. 20 team should be penalized for having a light rod in Matt Kenseth’s car. Where the JGR owners disagrees, though, is with the penalty’s severity. He spoke Friday at Richmond. | Read the full story

Disagreement discussed

Danica Patrick chided David Gilliland over her radio during last week’s race, and Gilliland responded with a tersely worded reply later that night. The two seem to be on the same page after talking at Richmond, though. | Read the full story

No. 20 team keeps eye on Chase

After being hit hard with a penalty for an underweight engine part at Kansas Speedway, Matt Kenseth and team are insisting their win was fair — especially crew chief Jason Ratcliff, who spoke to the media Friday afternoon. The team will look to prove that this weekend at Richmond. | Read the full story

Pemberton chimes in on penalties

Robin Pemberton, NASCAR’s vice president of competition, spoke out Friday to outline the sanctioning body’s approach to Matt Kenseth‘s penalty, one of the most severe in the sport’s history, illustrating what care was taken with the case of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series’ most recent winning car and what areas of the rule book are strict no-nos. | Read the full story

Busch wins Showdown

Kyle Busch is coming off a rough week at Kansas Speedway, but things sure are looking promising this time around. Busch started the weekend by winning Denny Hamlin’s Short Track Showdown at nearby Southside Speedway. Can he keep the momentum for a Richmond sweep? | Read the full story

Kenseth responds to penalty

Matt Kenseth sounded off on penalties handed down Wednesday by NASCAR, saying that his team’s engine violations were an honest mistake and did not enhance the performance of the Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota that carried him to victory the previous weekend at Kansas Speedway. | Read the full story

Kenseth’s crew chief’s take

Jason Ratcliff said members of Joe Gibbs Racing expected NASCAR to come down hard on the team for an engine infraction discovered two days after Matt Kenseth’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory in Kansas, but admitted that “some of those penalties were quite surprising, were quite shocking.” | Read the full story

Hamlin not cleared to race

Denny Hamlin won’t be able to race in the Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond International Raceway. After checking his latest round of scans, doctors told Hamlin he had not healed enough to get back in his No. 11. | Read the full story

Danica, Comedy Central team up

The orange-haired cartoon face on Danica Patrick‘s No. 10 GoDaddy.com car won’t be the only man smiling at the Sprint Cup Series driver this weekend. During an appearance on Comedy Central’s "The Colbert Report," host Stephen Colbert offered Patrick a sticker of his face bearing a goofy grin for placement on her car at Richmond International Raceway. | Read the full story

Earnhardt’s effort pays off

When JR Motorsports had an open seat in its No. 5 car for Saturday night’s Nationwide Series event at Richmond International Raceway, the call ultimately went to Jeffrey Earnhardt — who was working on a boat and getting ready to go out fishing when the phone rang. | Read the full story

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