Dario Franchitti

Race Re-Cap: Muscle On The Monster Mile

I’m honestly not sure that big wreck on lap 18 really did much to affect the outcome of today’s race. Today’s real contenders were nowhere near this mess as it seemed that before we even got here, the race at Dover was about the Roush-Fenway Racing team, the old guard at Hendrick Motorsports, and the ever-present Kyle Busch. He wrestled the Monster Mile and made it cry “Uncle.”

Did you ever have a premonition? I swear when they went to Elliott Sadler’s on-board camera, I was thinking “Watch- he’s gonna wreck.” Sure enough, ol’ “Rabbit Release” moves down on David Gilliland, goes sideways on the track- and next thing you know, a collection of racers- including top runners like Kevin Harvick, Junior, Tony Stewart, Denny Hamlin, Kasey Kahne and Clint Bowyer are all wadded up. Could this change the outcome? Note the absence of Greg Biffle, Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Jamie Mc Murray from this mishap.

Did you catch Tony’s interview? Some fans were saying, “Wow, this is a different side of Tony. He’s taking responsibility for the mess. Why?” I think they missed the sarcasm. Basically, Tony was so much as saying that it’s his fault for being anywhere near Elliott Sadler. That’s the second time in the last few weeks the two have gotten together. I also got a kick out of Smoke’s “dune buggy” line. I appreciate his sense of humor about the whole thing.

By the time the smoke cleared, and Smoke was cleared, it was obvious that there was really only three serious contenders for the win at Dover. Greg Biffle put together another fine effort before mechanical problems set him back. Teammate Carl Edwards once again showed himself to be light on his wheels on concrete. The Roush Gang sure got it done today. Not only did Biffle and Edwards shine, but Matt Kenseth is becoming the 2008 edition of Lazarus as he seems to be bringing his Chase hopes back from the dead. Jamie Mc Murray is running like a guy who wants to stay with the team. But really, but late race, it was obvious that barring a catastrophe, there would be only one real serious contender.

Kyle Busch is just on one of those runs that drivers have from time to time. Don’t get me wrong, you have to be talented and have good equipment to do it, but it also helps to have Lady Luck in your corner. She’s got a real affinity for “Wild Thing” right now. But again, remember that “Luck is where preparation meets opportunity.”

If you don’t like him, give him credit for this much: he spread the love around. Busch was quick to credit his crew for good stops, to Joe Gibbs for their top flight organization, and for all his fans and all NASCAR fans.

Maybe’s he’s learning something. Nobody likes a champion who is not gracious.

The way he’s going right now, I wouldn’t bet against him. All the ingredients are there to take it all in 2008. I still think Edwards, Junior, Jimmie and maybe even the old guard like Gordon, Smoke, JB or even Biffle may have something to say about that- right now, it’s “Rowdy’s World” and we’re living in it. 

Other random thoughts…

Brian Vickers’ pit penalties sure screwed up a good opportunity to have an awesome finish….did you see Paul Menard weave through that big wreck? Dinging the inside barrier looked like a better altnernative than getting crumpled up in the middle of the crash….FOX reported their NASCAR ratings were up this year, so much for the death of NASCAR, huh?….Jeff Hammond made a good point and I must concede that I agree. Unlike free-agent-to-be Greg Biffle, who’s stated he’d prefer to stay at Roush, you don’t hear how Smoke want to stay at Gibbs. He may be gone- or he’s screwing with the media big-time…The speculation that Franchitti will give up NASCAR was something I foudn interesting. There seems to be a school of thought that this “stock car thing” is harder than it looks…According to Darrell Waltrip, even Sam Hornish is not sure a sure bet to stick around.

It’s all the drama that keeps us watching, and helps us endure a race like today.

 

“Pull Those Belts Tight!”- The “Monster Mile” Edition

Up Next: The Autism Speaks 400 presented by Best Buy, Dover International Speedway- Sunday June 1, 2008. Green flag start- 2 p.m. EDT, 11 a.m. PDT. Broadcast on FOX-TV network with Mike Joy, Larry Mc Reynolds and Darrell Waltrip. Radio broadcast- MRN, Sirius Satellite Network.

Track Facts- The first race ran at the Deleware track on July 6, 1969 as the Mason- Dixon 300. “The King”, Richard Petty won that race, the first of his 7 victories on the “Monster Mile.”

Dover International Speedway is a one mile track with 24 degrees of banking in the turns and 9 on the straights.  With the banks and changing elevation on the track, drivers liken the ride on the concrete track to riding on a roller coaster. Another interesting fact: there are only 42 pit stalls for the 43 drivers. Two of them will have to be nice and share.

Track Records: Richard Petty and Bobby Allison are the all-time leading winners with 7 victories at Dover. Jeff Gordon and Mark Martin are the leading winners here among active drivers with 4 each in Cup competition.

Last year- Martin Truex Jr. and Carl Edwards won the Spring and Fall events respectively. For the New Jersey born Truex it was his first and so far, only career victory at the Cup level.

The qualifying record is held by Jeremy Mayfield, who did it in a Dodge for Ray Evernham on June 4, 2004 with a speed of 161.522 m.p.h., for a lap time of 22.288 sec. David Pearson, who won 105 NASCAR Cup races, holds the record for poles at Dover with 5. Ryan Newman and Jimmie Johnson started out front in the Spring and Fall of 2007.

Who’s the fastest at Dover? Mark “The Kid” Martin finished the MBNA 400 in a time of 3 hours and 50 seconds with an average of 132.719 m.p.h. on Sept. 21, 1997 driving a Roush Racing Ford. 

The oldest race winner at “DIS” was Harry Gant won the race the age of 52 years, 4 months and 21 days on May 31, 1992. The youngest? Jeff Gordon at 24 years, 1 month and 13 days on Sept. 17, 1995. Ever hotice how these guys always show up on this one?

The yellow flag waved a record 16 times on Sept. 16, 1993. There were NO cautions waved at the June 6, 1971 edition of the Mason- Dixon 500.

When fans think of Dover, they think of crab cakes and concrete. Given his record of excellence on concrete tracks, be on the look-out for “Cousin Carl.” Because the surface is concrete, there will be no need to worry about changing track conditions like we had at Lowe’s.  With it’s positioning in the Northeast United States, this is the closest thing to a home track for Martin Truex Jr. and Todd Bodine. Don’t think being close to home matters? “The Onion” (Bodine) has won 3 Nationwide races at Dover, Randy Lajoie 2 in the “second series.” Martin Truex has won a Cup race and 2 Nationwides at DIS.

Some other active winners here include- Jimmie Johnson and Ryan Newman have 3 wins at Dover, Tony Stewart has climbed the fence in Delaware twice. Greg Biffle, Jeff Burton, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Bobby Labonte, Matt Kenseth, Kyle Petty, and Ken Schrader all have a single win at Dover.

We’ll be keeping all these things in mind as we prepare for the “Fearless Forecast” this Saturday. Hopefully, rain won’t be the factor it was last year, though I should warn you the long range forecasts call for a significant chance of rain Sunday. Thankfully, if that be the case, by virtue of being a radio sports guy I have to (oh darn) watch the race at work!

Like that little dog in the Disney movie that Cheech Marin did the voice for said: “If this is torture, chain me to the wall.”

NASCAR Terminology- A NASCAR For Dummies Primer

Fire extinguisher switch- Did you know that the cars had one of these? All you do is pull the switch and fire-suppressing chemicals are released into the driving compartment. How cool is that?

 Axle- (Not to be confused with Axel, as in Rose)- Rotating shafts connecting the rear differential gears to the rear wheels.

Gears- Circular, wheel-shaped parts with teeth along the edges. The interlocking of these two mechanisms enables one to turn the other.

That’s all for now! Until we meet again, “Keep It Off The Walls.”

 

 

Pull Those Belts Tight! (Richmond Preview)

Up Next: Crown Royal Presents The Dan Lowry 400, Saturday, May 3, 2008 at Richmond International Raceway, Richmond, Virginia. Green flag- 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time, 4:30 p.m. Pacific. Broadcast on FOX-TV with Mike Joy, Darrell Waltrip and Larry Mc Reynolds. Radio- MRN and Sirius Satellite Radio.

Richmond International Raceway (RIR) is NASCAR’s 3rd shortest track next to Bristol and Martinsville at .75 miles. Richmond has 14-degree banking in the turns, 8 degrees on the front stretch, and 2 degrees on the back stretch.

The first NASCAR Cup race ran here on April 19, 1953. Lee Petty won that day. In fact, 3 generations of Petty’s won here. RA young Richard Petty won on the Virginia track in 1961 and Lee’s grandson Kyle won in a Wood Brothers Ford in 1986.

Track Records: “The King” Is King. Richard Petty owns the most Richmond victories as 13 of his 200 Cup wins came here. Among active drivers, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Tony Stewart have 3 wins each. It does bear noting that Mark Martin has 5 Nationwide wins at RIR, Kevin Harvick 4- to go with his 1 Cup win.

The Pole “Cat”: Brian Vickers owns the qualifying record with a lap of 20.772 seconds in May, 2004 while driving the #25 for HMS. Richard Petty and Bobby Allison captured 8 poles apiece during their storied careers.

The fastest race? The recently retired Dale Jarrett ran the fall, 1997 race in 2 hours, 45 minutes, and 4 seconds (speed: 109.047 m.p.h.)

“Mr. September” Harry Gant was the oldest Richmond winner. He was 51 when he won here during that magical run of 4 wins in a row in September (when else?), 1991. Richard Petty owns the record for being the youngest Richmond winner. He got that win at the age of 23 years, 9 months in April of 1961. Kyle Busch turns 23 Friday. Think he’ll threaten this record?

15 Caution flags waved in the May, 2003 race for the record. Miraculously, none waved in 1976’s spring race.

Old school racing fans should love this race. They’ll be on an old, short track, racing under the lights- just like they do in the small towns. The only thing missing from this race is the dirt.

If trends from earlier races hold up here, I’d look for a good race from local boy Denny Hamlin- who showed short-track prowess at Martinsville. Jeff Burton (also a Virginian) won on the short track at Bristol. In fact, I’d say the strongest team for this place could be Richard Childress- as Clint Bowyer also seems to thrive in this environment, as does Kevin Harvick. Jimmie Johnson has a little history on his side- the #48 won both races at RIR in 2007. Jeff Gordon also has a pair of wins here and Junior got his last win at this very track in the spring of 2006.

I look for Childress, HMS and JGR to all run strong here. It doesn’t seem that among the big boys that the Roush boys do that well here. Don’t be surprised to see Kasey Kahne run well. The #9 won on this track in 2005.

By the way- Ken Schrader will sit in for the injured Dario Franchitti (ankle) in the #40 Dodge. No word on who might drive the #70 that Schrader drove at Talladega. Travis Kvapil has a sponsor for at least the next two weeks. Scott Wimmer will try to qualify in a 4th RCR car that will bear the #33.

Short tracks mean rubbin’ and racin’- so cinch those belts up good!

NASCAR Terminology- A NASCAR For Dummies Primer

Apron: Besides being what the Grillmaster wears at the infield BBQ, the apron is the “Pave portion of the trackthat seperates the racing surface from the (usually) unpaved infield.

Brake Caliper: The part of the braking system that, when applied by the driver, clamps the brake disk/rotor to slow or stop the car.

Round: Besides being Tony Stewart’s shape (more to love, right ladies?), “round” is a “Slang term for a way of making chassis adjustments utilizing the racecars springs. A wrench is inserted in a jack bolt attached to the springs and is used to tighten or loosen the amount of play in the spring. This in turn can loosen or tigthen the handling of a racecar.

That’s all for this week. Look for a Fearless Forecast Saturday morning, and I may offer up some of my thoughts on Tony Stewart’s “free agency”, Danica Patrick and Dale Earnhardt Jr. on Friday.