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Several big names find themselves toward the bottom of the standings
LAS VEGAS — It’s a field full of contenders for the Chase for the Sprint Cup, but at the wrong end of the standings. Kevin Harvick, Kasey Kahne, Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr. — all of them star drivers with hopes of vying for the series championship, and all of them 30th or worse in points entering Sunday’s event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
No question it’s early, and there are plenty of examples of drivers who have stumbled out of the gate only to recover — a task made somewhat less daunting by a Chase wild-card system that awards two playoff berths based on race victories. But there are also many others who plummeted into early holes never to climb out, their title aspirations ultimately doomed by shortcomings in events that seemed distant memories by the time the championship field was set.
Clint Bowyer has been there. Last year’s series runner-up missed the 2011 Chase in part because of a sluggish start to the season that forced him to play catch-up for the remainder of the year. And remembers the feeling very well.
"This is a mental game, and if you get yourself beat up early, sometimes you don’t ever get out of it as a group."
— Clint Bowyer
“Whatever the case may be — it may have just been you just got caught up in two bogus crazy things that happened. But nonetheless, you’re panicked,” Bowyer said. “Here you are, your peers, the guys that you’re going to be racing for a championship with, have had two good runs. You can see those smiles on their faces. They’re happy-go-lucky. And your guys are miserable. Somehow you got to get that train turned back around and pointed in the right direction.”
It’s very easy for a driver to fall behind, given the somewhat capricious nature of the Daytona 500. And indeed, all those title contenders currently at the wrong end of the standings were victims of incidents in the season opener — Busch and Truex engine issues, Harvick and Kahne accidents. But regardless of how those early struggles unfold, recovery isn’t always immediate. And the longer it takes, the longer the doubts begin to play on a driver’s mind.
“It’s so important to get that momentum and the points base established,” Bowyer said. “We’ve already seen teams struggle the very first two races and get themselves behind. If you look, these points are hard to accumulate, and you have two bad races in a row — that’s a month of really solid, really good runs to get yourself catapulted back up to where you need to be. Not to mention, just the momentum, the psychological part of it. This is a mental game, and if you get yourself beat up early, sometimes you don’t ever get out of it as a group.”
No question, it’s possible — Kahne and Jeff Gordon did just that last season, both of them overcoming snake-bitten starts to 2012 and rallying in time to claim the wild-card berths to the Chase. And reigning champion Brad Keselowski’s breakout season of 2011 opened miserably, with him standing 25th in points on Memorial Day weekend before he won three times and vaulted into the thick of the championship race.
“It can either tear you completely apart, or make you stronger,” Gordon said of the experience. “And I think in our case, it made us stronger, and I think that’s just a sign of how strong-knit a team we are and how we communicate. Because we were challenged every weekend with good race cars and bad results. We just kept fighting through it. But in this sport, in this day and age, it’s so competitive so far back, it’s hard to fight your way out of that type of a hole if you get into one early in the season. You have to perform really well and really go on a streak to get out of it.”
And not every team is capable of doing that. Last season, Gordon and Kahne were both buoyed by the knowledge that their cars were much better than their finishes, which gave them hope that a recovery was ultimately possible. But that’s not always the case, and teams that struggle for reasons relating more to performance can find it very difficult to make the kind of run or knock out the number of race victories it may take to get back in contention.
“Two races in, not a big hole. But when you get three or four races in and you’re still 30th in points, you’re starting to dig a big hole, and you’ve got to go. To overcome that, you have to have really good finishes, and you probably have to have wins. You probably at that point have to start looking at wins,” said Jeff Burton, who has endured his share of tough starts in recent years.
“It’s a 26-race (regular-season) schedule, so when you’re five in, and you’re 30th in points, you’ve got to pass all those people in 21 races to get where you need to be. And that’s very difficult to do. Kahne and them did it last year, but they won races. You’ve got to be on your game to overcome that big of a hole. We’re not there yet. Two races in, we’re not there yet. Someone will leave here in a bigger hole than they’re in today. Not us. But it gets harder and harder as the weeks go by.”
Even an eventual recovery can come with a price — Gordon’s team spent so long trying to make up their deficit, making the Chase by the barest of margins on the final night of the regular season, it was clearly spent when it became time to decide the championship. Even so, he believes that experience strengthened the bonds between members of his race team, which paid off in the form of a victory in the season finale at Homestead and a much more promising start to this year.
“I think that is the best thing that happened to us, even though I don’t like the way we ended up the season,” said Gordon. Of course, it certainly didn’t seem that way at the time, as the hole got deeper following one misfortunate event after another. Some teams are staring at that exact circumstance now, although the level of concern can vary.
“It’s so early right now,” said Tony Stewart, 23rd in points after a crash in the Daytona 500 and a top-10 run at Phoenix. “There are so many things that can happen. I think it’s way too early to be thinking about that. I think if you’re a team that’s worrying about it right now, I think you’re worrying about making it in to begin with. I think the teams that have confidence that they’re going to be in or should be in the Chase probably aren’t too concerned about it.”
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Burton’s crew chief remains on baby watch; could miss second race in a row
LAS VEGAS — It was truly a team effort last weekend that helped Jeff Burton record his first top-10 finish of this season. Two engineers and a competition director sat on the pit box, crunching numbers and recommending changes to the car. A substitute crew chief made strategy calls. And the regular crew chief monitored radio communication back home in North Carolina, using instant messenger to send in recommendations.
The result was a 10th-place finish at Phoenix International Raceway, Burton’s first top-10 on a venue other than a restrictor-plate track since Richmond in September of last season. And with crew chief Luke Lambert’s wife still expecting the couple’s second child, the No. 31 Sprint Cup Series team could end up employing the same group approach this weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Lambert and Burton flew to Las Vegas together on Wednesday, and the crew chief was at the speedway as on-track activity began. But with his wife Jamie still expecting, the chance remains that he could once again fly home on short notice, as he did last Saturday night when she began having contractions and birth seemed imminent. It proved a false alarm, so Lambert came to Las Vegas.
"Yeah, he should be home with his wife. And if anybody questions that, I don’t give a damn."
— Jeff Burton
“He intends to stay,” Burton said. “Now if something starts, we’re going to support Luke being at home. I got some questions from fans, you must not be committed to racing, you say your crew chief should be at home. Yeah, he should be home with his wife. And if anybody questions that, I don’t give a damn. Because racing is important, but being a father, there are things that are more important. And if things get going at home, we’ll get him home as quick as we can.”
If that happens, Burton said his team will employ the same setup as it did last week. Ernie Cope, crew chief for Richard Childress Racing’s No. 33 Nationwide Series car — driven this week at Las Vegas by Ty Dillon — worked in that same capacity Sunday on the No. 31 team and called the race. Engineers Matt McCall and Ryan Baldi, as well as RCR competition director Eric Warren, sat on the box making decisions on the car. And Lambert watched from home, following team audio and the race leaderboard via NASCAR.com, and using instant messenger to make suggestions.
Cope is a veteran crew chief who has won eight races on each of the Nationwide and Camping World Truck circuits, including Tony Stewart’s Nationwide victory in the No. 33 car two weeks ago at Daytona. Burton said RCR teammate Kevin Harvick is a big proponent of Cope — understandably, given that the two have won seven times together — and Lambert was comfortable with him on the pit box calling the race. The possibility exists that Cope could do the same again Sunday, should Lambert’s wife go into labor.
“That’s a tough situation to walk into,” Burton said. “We went to dinner Saturday night, and (Cope) said, ‘How do you want me to call this race?’ I said, ‘I want you to call the race the way you want to call it. You can’t second-guess yourself. If you’re going to do a good job as a crew chief, you’ve just got to call it and do what you think is best.’
“Our goal was to put ourselves in position to try to win the race, and have a solid day. Don’t do something trying to win the race that’s crazy, but try to win the race and have a good solid day. He called the race based on that, and that’s difficult, to step in and call a race for a team that’s trying to make the Chase. And he did an admirable job, he really did.”
That Phoenix performance was a needed rebound for a team whose Daytona 500 ended in a wreck not of their making. Now Burton comes to a Las Vegas track where he’s won twice, reasonably content with how he’s trending in the Sprint Cup point standings, and ready to once again lean on a team effort if need be.
“Things are heading in the right direction,” Burton said. “I’m not going to proclaim that we’re exactly where we need to be right now, but I feel like we’re headed in the right direction.”
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Keselowski on pole for Sunday’s 400-miler; Nationwide qualifying canceled
Starting lineups: Kobalt Tools 400 | Sam’s Town 300
LAS VEGAS — Reigning Sprint Cup Series champion Brad Keselowski will start at the front of the field for Sunday’s event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway after all scheduled on-track activity on the 1.5-mile circuit Friday was canceled due to rain.
The rainout marked the first time in the track’s history that Sprint Cup qualifying was canceled due to weather. The starting grid will be determined by the NASCAR rule book, with the top 36 set by 2012 owners’ points and the remainder of the field set by owners’ points or qualifying attempts this season.
“That’s one of the perks, I guess, of being the champion in the first few races,” Keselowski said. “With the rain, I got a great deal there. This is the first time I’ve ever had a decent starting position in a rainout. I feel pretty good about that.”
Persistent rain Friday canceled all scheduled activity at the speedway. NASCAR made an effort to dry the track and get in some Nationwide Series practice during a break in the weather late Friday afternoon, but rain began to fall again while the cars were rolling behind a maintenance vehicle with its caution lights flashing.
Because Nationwide cars have not yet been on the race track, NASCAR scheduled a practice session for that series Saturday rather than qualifying. The starting grid for the event was also set by the rule book, putting Brian Vickers and Trevor Bayne — who drive the cars that finished first and second, respectively, in the owners’ standings last season — on the front row.
Saturday’s schedule now consists of Nationwide practice from 8-9:30 a.m. Pacific Standard Time, followed by a pair of Sprint Cup practices at 9:40 and 11:35 a.m. The Nationwide Series race remains at 1 p.m. as originally scheduled.
Keselowski will start on the front row of the Sprint Cup event alongside Clint Bowyer, last season’s runner-up. Las Vegas marks the final week 2012 points will be used in the event of a qualifying cancellation. The series reverts to points in the current season beginning next weekend at Bristol.
Sprint Cup teams unloaded a day early for a test session Thursday, given that Las Vegas is the first 1.5-mile intermediate track event for the redesigned, more brand-identifiable Generation-6 race car. Although Sprint Cup teams have two practices slated for Saturday, drivers said the test session would help to make up for the lost track time.
“I’m glad we got on track yesterday,” said Jimmie Johnson, who will start third Sunday. “That was a good move by NASCAR to give us some extra time on top of the fact that if we did have rain or some issues, we would all have on-track activity.”
Even so, many teams will use different cars for the race weekend than they did for the test. “The car we tested yesterday is not the same we will run Sunday,” Keselowski said. “Certainly, we’d like to have all the track time we can get. It’s the same for everybody, the same circumstances, and it’s all about how you adapt to it.”
A total of 43 cars were entered for Sunday’s Kobalt Tools 400, and the qualifying rainout means Mike Bliss will be the lone driver sent home early. Forecasts call for mostly clear skies and only a minimal chance of rain in Las Vegas for the remainder of the race weekend.
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Automaker becomes first two-time honoree in Las Vegas ceremony
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — When Carl Edwards powered his 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Ford Fusion to Victory Lane on Sunday, Ford Motor Company took home its historic first win with the Gen-6 car. Friday, the auto manufacturer captured yet another honor when it was named recipient of the 2012 NASCAR Driving Business Award.
NASCAR presented Ford the award at a ceremony in Las Vegas during the NASCAR Fuel for Business (NFFB) Council. The annual award is bestowed upon the Official NASCAR Partner that demonstrates extraordinary leadership and results through its participation in the NFFB Council. With its win, Ford becomes the first two-time recipient of the Driving Business Award.
The NFFB Council brings together an exclusive group of more than 55 Official NASCAR Partners to get more out of their sponsorships, specifically aligning partners four times a year to buy and sell products and services. This environment offers the unique opportunity for many Fortune 500 companies to bypass the time and layers of corporate coordination that may exist and construct customized deals to help address specific business needs.
Ford Motor Company, which has been competing in NASCAR since 1949, has been a proud member of the NFFB Council since 2007. The company brings key personnel from across its organization and matches them up with their counterparts at other NFFB companies during the Council’s signature Speed Meetings. Most notable is Ford’s effort to sell vehicles to other NFFB members through its Partner Recognition Program.
As a result of Ford’s participation in the Council in 2012, Ford forged a number of business-to-business alliances with Official NASCAR Partners, resulting in highly visible partnerships and a number of programs that were successful in “Driving Business.” Through an advanced customer database, the company directly attributes vehicle sales and lead generation to NASCAR Official Partner assets. According to Ford’s data:
Ÿ• In 2012, Ford sold more than 5,500 vehicles to NASCAR Official Partners through its “Partner Recognition Program,” with one of its largest vehicle sales deals being worth more than $5 million
• More than two-thirds of Council members participated in Ford’s “Partner Recognition Program”
• Co-marketing promotions have been run with 12 Council members including 3M and Sprint
“Winning the ‘Driving Business Award’ for the second time in the past three years is a direct reflection of Tim Duerr, our motorsports marketing manager’s dedication to the NASCAR Fuel for Business Council and the value it provides to our brand,” said Jamie Allison, director, Ford Racing. “As a proud member of the Council, we are continuously developing new strategies to drive business and this platform has proven to be a particularly effective tool in generating positive return on investment.”
“Ford continues to be among the top blue chip brands that are building business within the NASCAR Fuel For Business Council,” said Norris Scott, NASCAR vice president of partnership marketing. “A model B-to-B partner in NASCAR, Ford continues to be a leader in developing strategic ways to generate business from its sponsorship.”
Since the NFFB’s 2004 inception, the Council has facilitated hundreds of millions of dollars in annual revenue and savings to its participating members.
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Currently second in points standings, Earnhardt is antsy for Sunday’s race at Las Vegas
LAS VEGAS — Dale Earnhardt Jr. said he was ready to start Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Thursday afternoon.
A full day of testing on Thursday only confirmed what’s been a candidly positive attitude from him about the performance and potential of the new Generation-6 car. And the performance and potential of himself.
His eagerness to take the next green flag is easy to understand when you consider NASCAR’s favorite son is a perfect two top-five finishes in two races this season.
And there’s no mistaking the swagger and smiles for someone never more committed to regaining championship form.
“I’m feeling good,’’ Earnhardt told reporters Friday. “I just hope we get a little time just to make sure everything is working right and get a couple laps Saturday just to make sure everything is cool.
“We’ll be ready to go.’’
"I think we’re going in a good direction. I like the new car."
— Dale Earnhardt Jr., on the Gen-6 car
Earnhardt has made good on a promise that his runner-up finish in the season-opening Daytona 500 — his third second place in NASCAR’s Super Bowl in the last four years — was a sign of good things to come.
He led 47 laps last week at Phoenix and his fifth place finish keeps him in a tie with reigning Cup champion Brad Keselowski for second place in the standings — only eight slim points behind leader Jimmie Johnson.
It’s Earnhardt’s best 1-2 start to a season since he won the 2004 Daytona 500 and answered it with a fifth place at Rockingham, N.C. the next week. He led the points going to Las Vegas that year and ranked among the top-three in the standings for 31 of the first 32 races.
Points leader, and Hendrick Motorsports teammate Johnson, along with Keselowski, are the only other drivers with two top fives to start the season.
Depending where you are in the early points standings, it’s either a strong statement out of the gates or nothing to get excited about yet.
“A one-one would be dominant, one-two is competitive,’’ said Johnson, who won the Daytona 500 and finished second at Phoenix.
Conversely, Tony Stewart, who is ranked 23rd , cautions it’s too early to be worried about the standings.
“There are so many things that can happen that I think it’s way too early to be thinking about that,’’ said Stewart, defending winner of Sunday’s Kobalt Tools 400.
Earnhardt has a pair of runner-up finishes at Las Vegas and has led laps in seven races — including 70 laps last year en route to a 10th place finish. Since 2007, he’s only finished worse than 11th once (16th in 2010).
And unlike some of his competitors, Earnhardt doesn’t seem overly concerned with the transition to the Gen-6 car on the 1.5-mile tracks such as Las Vegas.
“We always want to get better and always want to strive to be better as a sport,’’ Earnhardt said. “I think we’re going in a good direction. I like the new car.
“Obviously, I’ve had a couple good runs with it so I’m excited about what we have going on and things are only going to get better from here as we learn more and more about tires.
Earnhardt turned more laps (70) than anyone else in his No. 88 Amp Energy Orange Chevrolet in Thursday’s test and was immediately pleased with the results.
“We had pretty good speed right off the trailer and just worked with a lot of things,’’ Earnhardt said. “We were ready to race in two hours (of practice) yesterday."
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Patrick shaken up at first after Subway Fresh Fit 500, but ready to race Sunday
LAS VEGAS — Danica Patrick showed up for her press conference Friday morning at Las Vegas Motor Speedway sounding a bit groggy and complaining of a slight headache.
But the aches and pains aren’t a sign of some lingering problem from the hard crash she had last week in the Sprint Cup Series race at Phoenix International Raceway. She said they were the result of being hit in the head by a small rock while watching a World of Outlaws race at the dirt track race in Las Vegas on Thursday night.
In fact, Patrick had nothing but praise for NASCAR’s Generation-6 car, which got a good safety test last weekend when her No. 10 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet blew a tire sending it hard into the SAFER barrier walls at the 1-mile Phoenix oval.
“The cars are safer than they’ve ever been and the tracks,’’ said Patrick, who was cleared medically at the track soon after the accident.
“I said after last weekend that I’m glad that I didn’t race in the era of the lack of SAFER barriers out there because I don’t know what it’s like without them. I know that the hits feel hard and my neck was sore after last weekend for sure, which it never has been before, after a wreck.’’
Patrick said she was confident in the medical care following her accident and declined having further tests done.
“I was able to say my name and where I was born,’’ Patrick said. “They take your blood pressure, they do like vitals and they ask how you’re feeling and I really felt fine. It’s understandable that my neck would be sore.
“They’re thorough, but it’s based on your information too. . … It’s up to you to be honest about it and it’s your decision. You can say, ‘I’m fine,’ and go along with your day. If you’re not, it’s your risk.’’
Patrick said her Stewart-Haas Racing team competition director Greg Zipadelli spoke with Goodyear about the incident. Both she and teammate Ryan Newman had a tire go down.
But Goodyear said Friday it doesn’t consider the incidents to be an issue with the tire.
“Heat, it’s as simple as that,’’ NASCAR Vice President for Competition Robin Pemberton said Thursday. “They have the ability to cool more. It’s a compromise. When you try to run the front of the car as closed off as much as you can for down force, it’s a compromise at every different race track that we run at.’’
“The target changes throughout the year because of the speeds.’’
For this weekend, Patrick had a previously arranged follow-up visit with the medical team on Friday morning to finish up paperwork and gave her a quick check-up before sending her on her way.
And when asked if she’d wage a bet on herself to score a top-25 in Sunday’s Kobalt Tools 400 Sunday, she did not hesitate, “Yeah.’’
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