We're ALL Stars...

Professor Of Speed
Mark Howell · Thursday May 17, 2012

Well…. here we are…. at the All-Star (but not yet mid-season) point of the NASCAR schedule. As the national touring divisions swing into Charlotte for a much-deserved homecoming, the collective attention of NASCAR Nation looks forward to the slams-and-bangs of this weekend’s Sprint Showdown and the Sprint All-Star Race. This no-holds-barred slugfest for big bucks is often touted as just that: a no-holds-barred slugfest for big bucks.

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Truckin' Thursdays: Introducing Miguel Paludo

Truckin' Thursdays
Beth Lunkenheimer · Thursday May 17, 2012

I was born in Nova Prata, Brazil. It’s a small city in south Brazil. I was raised there, and when I was 18, I moved to Porto Alegre, a big city, to attend high school. After one year of high school, I decided to come to the United States for an exchange student program, and I lived with a family in Longview, Texas, close to Dallas. It’s a small city as well but I loved it and I still kept in contact with my family. I lived there for six or seven months before I went back to Brazil to finish high school and college.

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Potts' Shots: The Perils Of Reckless Driving In The Pits

NASCAR Fan Q & A
John Potts · Thursday May 17, 2012

Seriously, the subject of speeding or reckless driving in the pits has always been a big peeve of mine. This coming from a guy who worked in a NASCAR pit in the 1960’s, when there were no speed limits. There’s nothing like changing a right side tire while cars are going by at over 100mph to get your attention.

I was glad to see speed limits come along, mostly because of the way I feel about those guys working down there. I wasn’t the least surprised that the No. 39 crew was unhappy about the deal, particularly the gas man. Of course, he got penalized for his conduct as well, and he should have been. After all, it appeared to be his action that caused a NASCAR official to be knocked onto the hood of Busch’s car. Any time you touch an official in anger in any sport, no matter at whom that anger is directed, you’re in trouble.

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Six Solutions to the Cup Series' Rookie Problem (Besides Danica)

Kevin Rutherford · Thursday May 17, 2012

Looking down the list of Sprint Cup Rookie of the Year award winners from 1999-2009, one largely sees a formidable crop of drivers that includes two eventual Sprint Cup champions. Even more notable is the list of drivers who declared for but did not win the award — names like Johnson, Biffle, Earnhardt, Busch to name a few.

But since 2009, the once-prestigious award has produced little competition, if at all. In 2010, Kevin Conway ran virtually unopposed after Terry Cook’s full-season deal fell through. Last season was more of the same, with Andy Lally winning over Brian Keselowski and T.J. Bell, both of whom did not even make the minimum seven races in order to be eligible. A year later, barring a late challenger, it appears Front Row Motorsports’ Josh Wise will secure the award, despite having start-and-parked for much of the season. Timmy Hill, his former competition and the defending Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year, has returned to the second-tier series after less-than-stellar results.

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Dollars And Sense: NASCAR Stimulus Comes Packaged In Charlotte Race Weeks

Jesse Medford · Thursday May 17, 2012

Every year from mid-to-late May, race fans descend on the entire Charlotte area during what is known as Race Weeks. In no other large metropolitan area that NASCAR tours through is racing fever as electric as it is in the Queen City. This is such a big event in Charlotte that it was extended into a two week-long experience that comprises All-Star Week, followed by Memorial Day weekend and the Coca-Cola 600.

The only part of the NASCAR schedule that can compare in stature is Daytona Beach, Florida with their Speedweeks to kick of the season. The Daytona 500 is without a doubt the biggest race of the season, but the Charlotte area benefits greatly as the home of nearly all of the race teams. Racing themed events are a great stimulus to the Charlotte economy, with the sheer number of attendees participating in at least one piece of the NASCAR celebration is estimated to be just shy of 1 million people.

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Did You Notice? ... NASCAR's Fake Slump, Sleeping Beauties And All-Star Fixes

Thomas Bowles · Wednesday May 16, 2012

Did You Notice?… Hendrick Motorsports isn’t running as bad as everybody says? Yes, Jeff Gordon is running like somewhere, someone is sticking pins in a voodoo doll wearing a tiny AARP firesuit. Yes, for the first month Kasey Kahne thought the best way to fit in as the “new guy” was run into walls. And of course, any Jimmie Johnson slump of more than ten races is labeled “instant crisis” by the “casual media” whose NASCAR knowledge extends to little more than the No. 48, Petty, and a guy they once called the Intimidator.

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Mirror Driving: NASCAR Rule Changes, Brawl Mistakes, And History Makers

Frontstretch Staff · Wednesday May 16, 2012

For the second year in a row, the race at Darlington featured a post-race pit road incident, this time between Kurt Busch and members of Ryan Newman’s pit crew. Last year saw two drivers get monetary fines and probation… this year, we saw more of the same. Is that type of penalty sufficient, or is it time for NASCAR to ramp up the consequences if they aren’t getting the point across?

Phil: That whole thing is looney tunes. Simple as that.
Amy: I think they should up the fines significantly, like they did with Kurt. Face it, the $25,000 Harvick and Kyle Busch got last year was pocket change.

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Beyond the Cockpit: Ryan Blaney on the Learning Curve, History, and Tiny Fish

Amy Henderson · Wednesday May 16, 2012

When 18-year-old Ryan Blaney made his Nationwide Series debut at Richmond, his first start was somewhat overshadowed by the debut of Travis Pastrana as well as Danica Patrick. But by the end of that night, it was Blaney that they were paying closer attention to as he ran in the top 10 all night long, finishing a solid seventh. The son of Sprint Cup driver Dave Blaney (who is also a USCA and World of Outlaws champion) and nephew ofsprint carchampion Dale Blaney has taken his own path in racing, choosing stock cars over sprint cars. (though he’d love to drive sprints someday). The younger Blaney is running a combination of races in 2012 in late models as well as some races in the NASCAR K&N East Series and Nationwide Series—all while finishing out his senior year in high school. The rising star driver sat down with the Frontstretch’s Amy Henderson for a chat on Friday at Darlington Raceway. Although that race didn’t go as planned—-Blaney was caught in a lap 2 crash and saw an early ending to the night—he used the weekend to gain valuable experience and get some great advice.

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April Showers Bring May Concerns For NASCAR Drivers On The Hot Seat

Going Green
Garrett Horton · Wednesday May 16, 2012

The month of May is one of my favorite times of the race season. The Indy 500-Coke 600 doubleheader on Memorial Day marks the biggest the weekend of the year for motorsports and the All-Star Race is a nice, enjoyable break from the stresses of points racing on a week-to-week basis. Additionally, this is the point on the calendar where there are enough races on the books so that the statistics for each driver are no fluke, good or bad (exception: Jeff Gordon). It is right before the summer stretch, where teams try to either make up or hold their ground on the top 10 in points. With NASCAR’s new “wild card” rule, drivers also feel a greater sense of urgency to get to victory lane in hopes of qualifying for the Chase.

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Monday April 30, 2012
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