Tag Archives: Jeff Gordon

Day 2 – Feeling the Draft at Daytona International Speedway

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Credit: Chris Trotman/Getty Images for NASCAR

During single-car runs in the morning session, Richard Childress Racing’s Jeff Burton in the No. 31 Chevrolet topped the speed charts with a lap speed of 194.805 mph. Rounding out the top five were teammate Kevin Harvick (193.557), Matt Kenseth (193.121), Paul Menard (192.963) and Greg Biffle (192.719).

But since the first day of testing, drivers wanted to try drafting in a larger pack at Daytona International Speedway with the Gen 6 car, instead of in two-car tandums.

And they got their wish, but not without trouble.

But of course… everyone knows the saying…”It’s Daytona”, and it doesn’t matter what time of the year it is. It always happens – you know… “The Big One” – that is.  Friday’s second session opened with a multi-car pack working on drafting around the 2.5-mile superspeedway. About an hour into the afternoon test session, a multi-car incident on the backstretch sent several cars to the garage. Among the drivers involved in the incident were Marcos Ambrose, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jamie McMurray, Brad Keselowski, Jeff Gordon, Greg Biffle, Joey Logano, Kyle Busch, Regan Smith and Kasey Kahne.  The official count was that 12 cars out of the 18 on track were involved in some way or another.

Kasey Kahne’s Chevy SS after the wreck during the drafting session at Daytona International Speedway. Photo by Karen Pistone/Racingal.com

SO WHAT HAPPENED?
“We were just out there running around, said Dale Earnhardt, Jr. “I felt like Marcus (Ambrose) was backing up to me in (turns) one and two to get a run down the back.  I was just going to give him a push down the back straightaway and see if he could get the lead.  I was trying to eventually get the lead myself.  We got off the back straightaway and were just kind of pushing him along there and our cars sort of just didn’t match up very well.  I got him hooked into the fence.  I pushed Martin (Truex) a little bit in his Toyota and they matched up good.  The bumpers were good, didn’t have any problem with any of the cars.  That is the first time I pushed a Ford.  The roll bar of the front of my car is just at the right place where his car sets right up on top of that.  I sort of had him going down the back straightaway like a forklift.  It was a big mess and tore up a lot of cars down here trying to work on their stuff.  Definitely the drafting is not like it used to be.  You can’t really tandem certain cars; certain cars don’t match up well.  Our bumpers on the Chevy’s have a little bit of a point. It makes it a little bit of a challenge to get into guys and kind of help them.  We definitely weren’t doing that in the corner at all because it was pretty hairy trying to do it on the straightaways.”

Jeff Gordon was asked if he was surprised that the wreck had happened:

Jeff Gordon speaks to the media following the incident that took out 12 of 18 cars during the afternoon drafting session. Photo by Karen Pistone/Racingal.com

“I’m not surprised at all.  We see it every year, maybe not quite this big, but you get down here in packs.  It’s important to be in those packs and learn what you can learn, especially with a new car.  I think you can kind of weigh into both sides of it.  You know when the cars are starting to push and move around a lot more that the chances are getting higher that something is going to happen.  There are some rookies out there as well.  I saw some things happen a couple of laps before that.  You just ride it out and hope you can make it through it.  Unfortunately, we didn’t in this case.”

Some teams had packed up and called it a weekend late afternoon on Friday and headed back to their shops with damaged cars. Out of 35 teams, 21 remained to test Saturday afternoon.

AFTERNOON TESTING SESSIONS

In the afternoon session, which included drafting sessions, speeds reached 199 mph with 2011 Daytona 500 champion Trevor Bayne leading the speed charts with a lap of 199.650 mph.

With The Sprint Unlimited (Feb. 16 on SPEED, Motor Racing Network Radio and SiriusXM Satellite Radio) and the Daytona 500 (Feb. 24 on FOX, Motor Racing Network Radio, SiriusXM Satellite Radio) a little more than a month away, Greg Biffle is readying himself for what he believes will be a “fun” and “exciting” Speedweeks.

“The cars are stuck less and they are looser,” said Greg Biffle. “That is good for racing. It is good for the fans. It will make it more exciting and make pit strategy come into play. If you put tires on, you will be able to go faster. I think all of that is good. This is going to be a heck of a race. I like that the cars were sliding around and hard to drive. It will make it a fun race.”

During Day 2′s media availability, NASCAR’s 10-time Most Popular Driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. talked about his anticipation for the upcoming 2013 season.

“I feel like that the sport is in a good healthy place,” said Dale Earnhardt Jr. “We have a good opportunity to grow. With this car we have a chance to do something great and really make a big impact … I think the racing is as exciting as it has been in a long time.  You look at some of these old races and look back at some of the events that we had in the ’80s and the ’90s … it always is changing and it always will, but I think we have improved it.”

Matt Kenseth, the 2012 Daytona 500 champion, has been fast throughout Preseason Thunder with his new ride for 2013 season – the No. 20 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing.

After spending his entire career with Roush Fenway Racing, the 40-year-old driver is joining Joe Gibbs Racing and will be teammates with Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch.
He will look to become the first driver to repeat as Daytona 500 champion since Sterling Marlin accomplished that feat in 1994-95.

Preseason Thunder will conclude today.

 

Jeff Gordon surprised, honored at Myers Brothers Luncheon

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Credit: Jeff Bottari / Getty Images for NASCAR

Jeff Gordon was named the 2012 recipient of the National Motorsports Press Association’s Myers Brothers Award during Thursday’s traditional NASCAR/NMPA Myers Brothers Award luncheon at the Encore in Las Vegas.

Named for NASCAR racing pioneers Billy and Bob Myers, the award recognizes individuals and groups which have provided outstanding contributions to the sport of stock car racing. Past recipients are a virtual who’s-who of the industry – drivers, owners, track operators, sponsors and members of the media – and include nearly every current member of the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

Gordon’s accomplishments are two-fold: his on-track success, which includes four NASCAR Sprint Cup championships and 87 victories; and his charitable activities when not competing.

NASCAR Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Office Brian France congratulated 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup champions Brad Keselowski and Roger Penske and the Miller Lite organization. France also commented on the youth movement in the NASCAR Nationwide and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and first-time events due to take place in both national series in 2013.

Also announced at Thursday’s luncheon was the NASCAR NMPA Most Popular Driver Award, given to Dale Earnhardt Jr. for the 10th consecutive year. This now ties him with Bill Elliott as the only other drivers to be presented the award 10 straight years. Elliott, however, remains the all-time leader with 16 overall.

Thousands of fans lined The Strip – Las Vegas Boulevard – as the top 12 drivers celebrated the conclusion of the 2012 season with the Fourth Annual Victory Lap. Engines rumbled and smoke from burnouts filled the air during the popular event which started and ended at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino.

Additional events Wednesday included the NASCAR After The Lap Sponsored by Ford and Coca-Cola, a “tell-all” driver-fan interaction that’s quickly become one of the most sought after off-track tickets. Day Three of Champion’s Week ended with the presentation of the “Stewie Awards,” three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart’s sometimes irreverent take on the 2012 season.

Here is the complete list of Thursday’s award winners from the NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Awards Luncheon:

Myers Brothers Award: Jeff Gordon

NASCAR NMPA Most Popular Driver Award: Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Buddy Shuman Award: Ken Squier

NASCAR Marketing Achievement Award: Mars Inc.

3M Lap Leader Award: Jimmie Johnson

American Ethanol Green Flag Restart Award: Jimmie Johnson

Coors Light Pole Award: Jimmie Johnson

DIRECTV Crew Chief of the Year Award: Matt Puccia, crew chief for Greg Biffle No. 16

Freescale Wide Open Award: Matt Kenseth

Goodyear Tires Award (Champion): Brad Keselowski

MAHLE Clevite Engine Builder of the Year Award: Shane Parsnow, Hendrick Motorsports No. 48 Team

Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew Award: Michael Waltrip Racing No. 56 Team

Mobil 1 Driver of the Year Award: Denny Hamlin

MOOG Steering & Suspension Problem Solver of the Year Award: Steve Addington, crew chief for Tony Stewart No. 14

Sunoco Diamond Performance Award (Champion): Brad Keselowski

Sunoco Rookie of the Year Award: Stephen Leicht

USG Improving the Finish Award: Tony Stewart

Champion Sponsor Award: Miller Lite

Champion Crew Chief: Paul Wolfe

Here is Friday’s final event – the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards – at a glance:

Friday, Nov. 30

· 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards: The postseason, black tie event will begin at 5 p.m. PT at Wynn Las Vegas, where the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion driver and owner will be crowned and the top 10 drivers in the final standings will be honored. The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards, the culmination of Champion’s Week, will feature red carpet arrivals, celebrity guests, music and entertainment. Hosted by “America’s Got Talent” judge Howie Mandel, the show will feature performances by Train, Lifehouse, Natasha Bedingfield, Phillip Phillips and entertainers from The Beatles LOVE. SPEED, Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio will provide live coverage of the event. Prior to the awards, NASCAR.COM will live stream a Miss Sprint Cup chat with Brad Keselowski.

Source: NASCAR Media

Hendrick Motorsports releases statement

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS STATEMENT

CONCORD, N.C. (Nov. 12, 2012) – Hendrick Motorsports will not appeal sanctions announced today by NASCAR regarding the No. 24 Sprint Cup Series team and driver Jeff Gordon.

“I’ve always respected Jeff for standing his ground,” said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. “We also respect that NASCAR needs to police the sport and send a message when situations like this occur. It’s been a great year, and we’re going to put our focus on finishing in a positive way this weekend.”

“I take responsibility for my actions on the racetrack,” Gordon said. “I accept NASCAR’s decision and look forward to ending the season on a high note at Homestead.”

NASCAR issues penalties from Sunday’s event at Phoenix International Raceway

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NASCAR announced today penalties to three teams that compete in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, as a result of rule infractions at Phoenix International Raceway.

Jeff Gordon, driver of the No. 24 car, was found to be in violation of Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) – altercation with another competitor on the race track during the race – and has been fined $100,000, docked 25 championship driver points and put on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31. Rick Hendrick, owner of the No. 24 car, has also been penalized with the loss of 25 championship owner points. Alan Gustafson, crew chief of the No. 24 car, also was found to be in violation of Section 9-4A (at all events, crew chief assumes responsibility of his driver, car owner and team members) and has been placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31.

Brian Pattie, crew chief of the No. 15 car, violated Sections 12-1 and 9-4A and has been fined $25,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31.

Brad Keselowski, driver of the No. 2 car, has been fined $25,000 and placed on probation until Dec. 31 for violating Sections 12-1 and 20-6.7A (cars and drivers will not be permitted to carry onboard computers, automated electronic recording devices, electronically actuated devices, power distribution modules, power conditioners, micro-processors, recording devices, electronic digital memory chips, traction control devices, digital readout gauges and the like, even if inoperable or incomplete) – driver had a cell phone in his possession onboard the race car.

All of these violations occurred during the Nov. 11 event at PIR.

Statement From Robin Pemberton, NASCAR Vice President of Competition:

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Nov. 12, 2012) – “Following a thorough analysis of the actions that took place during Sunday’s race at Phoenix International Raceway, we have issued penalties based upon our review. The decisions announced today cover NASCAR’s full assessment of penalties for the incidents that occurred.

“There’s no doubt that a unique set of circumstances combined with a championship battle on the line resulted in raw emotions coming into play. We consider the penalties appropriate and those involved understand our decision and we expect them to abide by them.”

Gordon/Bowyer melee at Phoenix International Raceway has championship waylay

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Photo by Getty Images

Yes. I saw it.

It was the AdvoCare 500, lap 311 of 312 laps, when Jeff Gordon squeezed Clint Bowyer, who attempted to go low and then all hell broke loose – that is, on track and shortly following – off track – in the garage area at Phoenix International Raceway.

WATCH VIDEO:

An unregretful Jeff Gordon had wrecked title contender Clint Bowyer collecting other cars in the process – those of of Joey Logano and Aric Almirola in the process.

I heard the play-by-play calls by spotters – who had the best view of everyone – explaining it to drivers during the 15 minute red flag when crewman from Gordon’s and Bowyer’s teams started fighting in the garage – also collecting a few NASCAR Officials. Bowyer had excused himself from his parked car on pit road and ran through the garage area attempting to get to Gordon’s transporter after his spotter had reported “Gordon is waiting for you,” but was restrained by Hendrick crew members when he reached the destination.

The way Gordon saw it, wrecking Bowyer was justified retaliation for a litany of sins that have occurred this season, including contact between the two cars that sent Gordon into the Turn 3 wall a few laps before he exacted his revenge.

“Things just got escalated over the year, and I’d had it,” said Gordon. “Clint has run into me numerous times, wrecked me, and he got into me on the back straightaway and pretty much ruined our day.

“I’ve had it — fed up with it — and I got him back.”

There. Gordon said it himself. REVENGE.

Clint Bowyer (L), driver of the #15 5-hour Energy Toyota, talks with crew chief Brian Pattie on pit road during the red flag at Phoenix. Photo by Getty Images.

Bowyer said he wasn’t trying to hit Gordon’s Chevrolet. “All I was doing was riding around, biding my time,” Bowyer said after the meeting with Gordon and NASCAR to the media. “It’s pretty embarrassing for a four-time champion — and what I consider one of the best this sport’s ever seen — to act like that. It’s just completely ridiculous.”

Bowyer pretty much had a solid run all day, possibly looking at a top-five finish at PIR. Bowyer now finds himself completely out of the Chase, 52 points behind the new leader, Brad Keselowski, with his 28th-place finish. While both were Chase drivers, Bowyer still had a chance for the title before he was wrecked. Gordon’s move of retaliation also caused other drivers to wreck, hence falling under the “detrimental actions to cause harm to others on track” which NASCAR takes very seriously. NASCAR Championship Point Standings.

Police break up brawl after Gordon – Bowyer incident in garage area. Photo by Getty Images.

NASCAR should suspend Jeff Gordon, as well as crew members from BOTH Gordon and Bowyer’s crew, from the final race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. As a reminder, and also to be fair, NASCAR had suspended Kyle Busch for retaliation costing Ron Hornaday, Jr. his championship run in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Texas Motor Speedway last year.

As for NASCAR not throwing the yellow flag sooner right after Danica Patrick hit the wall, putting down oil all over the track: NASCAR VP of Competition Robin Pemberton said “We didn’t see any fluid or anything, she rode around on the apron, and when she pulled up on the track, there was smoke, it looked like tire smoke. It’s easy to look back on it obviously and wish that you did something different, but but at the time it didn’t appear like there was any fluid that was coming out of the car.”

Both drivers were summoned to the NASCAR hauler, where they met with officials of the sanctioning body. Gordon, who slid four places to 10th in the Chase, said he wasn’t worried about resulting penalties. So whatever actions NASCAR will take with regard to the on and off track incidents could be announced by Monday or Tuesday, according to Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president of competition.

NASCAR Chase Contenders worst, best track(s) is Dover or yet to come?

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NSCS Practice: 11 a.m. ET Friday on SPEED
NSCS 2nd practice: Friday at 2:30 pm ET on SPEED
NSCS Qualifying: 1:30 p.m. ET Saturday on SPEED
NSCS Race: Dover International Speedway – AAA 400 – 1 p.m. ET Sunday on ESPN

Jimmie Johnson Madagascar 3, Dover June, 2012 Photo credit: Geoff Burke/Getty Images

The first two races of the Chase have not been too driver friendly for our chase contenders. The Monster Mile is the type of track that throws a piece of concrete into the mix; The Monster Miles reduces a points lead like a common stirring of a bear invading a hornets nest. So will we exit from the Monster Mile with a new Chase leader?

Doubt it.

For current Chase points leader and five-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion, Jimmie Johnson, holding onto seven wins, 10 top fives, 15 top 10s and three poles might be an easy task due to his previous visits to Dover. Let’s just say the No. 48 team has figured the right science on set-up to conquer the concrete at Dover. And by the way – don’t forget, Johnson won the last race there in June.

Johnson also won the championship in 2007, coming in fourth after two events. Johnson was second in the points after two Chase events for three consecutive years beginning in 2008. The true test for the current championship leader will be at Talladega.

Brad Keselowski is the one Chase contender that doesn’t have a big track record at Dover. Keselowski has just five starts in the NASCAR Sprint Cup, the fewest among the other Chase qualifiers. Keselowski finished 12th in June and 20th last September with just two laps led at the track.

Heading into Dover is considered to be Denny Hamlin’s second-to-worst track. Here he had an 18th finishing position in June’s race. His best Dover finish is fourth, twice; Hamlin has five finishes of 20th or worse.

Three-time champion, Tony Stewart, is currently holding fourth-place in the Chase point standings, and has back-to-back 25th-place finishes at the Monster Mile. Dover is not considered to be one of Smoke’s favorite tracks, although he had won there once before.

However, do not count Stewart out – this is about the same time last year when Stewart turned up the heat despite not running well in the races leading into the Chase before winning five of the final 10 events to take the Cup last season.

As for one of the wild card entrants, Kasey Kahne, Dover seems to be considered about an average run on the concrete track. Kahne holds two wins, nine top fives, 15 top 10s; two poles at Dover and is currently in fifth in the points after last weekends race in Loudon. Kahne is the one driver in the Chase that just might have the most adds against him. His worst tracks gobbled up a good chunk of the Chase, where Kahne has a finish of 20th or worse at five Chase tracks: Phoenix, Talladega, Chicago, Martinsville and Dover. Charlotte is to be considered his best track throughout, however it being only where he’s got an average finish of 12.7.

Clint Bowyer has one top five, six top 10s at the Monster Mile. Bowyer never really comes up during a championship conversation, mainly because he’s not quite mounting up enough top 5 finishes to really scare the leaders. Bowyer is currently 6th in the point standings. Considering that his best tracks has passed (Chicago, Richmond), Bowyer will be looking to challenge his worst track in the Chase in the near future – Charlotte – where he’s achieved only a 17.5 average finish.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Photo by Sandi Goodall, Racingal.com

Dale Earnhardt Jr., is now 26 points behind the leader heading to Dover, where he’s won before and probably needs a good finish to keep up with frontrunners Johnson, Keselowski and Hamlin.

So don’t count Earnhardt Jr., out either. Up and coming tracks like Talladega, Martinsville and Texas are on his side.

As far as Kevin Harvick is concerned at Dover, the Monster Mile seems to be a mediocre run where he has three top fives and 10 top 10s with an average running position of 16.7, 15th-best. Harvick’s best Chase track(s) will be that of Homestead-Miami Speedway, the final track on the schedule and the finale of the Chase. Harvick’s stats stack up to nine top 10′s in 11 starts there. The not so favorable track down the road will be Talladega with 3 top 5′s and seven finishes of 20th or worse.

I will predict that Greg Biffle will be moving back up in the point standings, as I see his stats will agree. Biffle marks two wins, six top fives, 10 top 10s; one pole at the Monster Mile, with his average running position to be that of 9.7, third-best. Biffle’s survival race in the Chase will be at Martinsville. In 19 starts, he has just two top 10s with the most recent top 10 being in 2007. Biffle’s best track is yet to come at Kansas. How will he do now that it’s been repaved? Biffle has a history of running well at 1.5 mile tracks. Before the repave at Kansas Speedway, Biffle was at two wins and 7 top fives in 12 starts.

Boss, Michael Waltrip, talking to Martin Truex Jr. before the season finale race at Homestead-Miami Speedway, 2011. Photo by Sandi Goodall, Racingal.com

Martin Truex Jr. is the silent runner here and may just have a few surprises up his drivers sleeve. Truex Jr. is one team drivers that has placed MWR into the Chase for the first time. The main reason he’s in this year’s Chase is not based on wins, but rather Truex Jr.’s strong performances with 14 top 10s. Heading into Dover, this is the track where Truex had his first win, as well as placing 7th in last June’s race. Truex Jr.’s worst tracks are ahead are Martinsville, however, he finished fifth earlier this season. Talladega can be anyone’s race, and Kansas, well don’t forget – that’s like a “new” track since it has been repaved. Something to look forward to.

Matt Kenseth‘s only chance, I predict, for his next win just might be at Dover. Kenseth is a strong runner on the concrete, with two wins, 13 top fives, 18 top 10s; one pole and has an average finish of 11.8 in the past 27 races.

Kenseth still has his best track to look forward to going to Texas, where he has an average finish of 8.6. He’s only had two finishes outside the top 10 and that was back in 2005. Kenseth’s worst track is considered to be Talladega, where his average finish is 18.6.

In 39 starts at the concrete track, Jeff Gordon, a four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, shelves four wins, four poles, 14 top-fives and 21 top-10′s. He has also led 2,291 laps on the Monster Mile.

Last June, Gordon started 14th and led 60 laps, but an unscheduled green-flag pit stop for a loose wheel ultimately led to a 13th-place finish. With his luck possibly turning, don’t count out the No. 24 team to make a winning statement at Dover.

Standings as of Loudon, N. H.

  1. Jimmie Johnson
  2. Brad Keselowski
  3. Denny Hamlin
  4. Tony Stewart
  5. Kasey Kahne
  6. Clint Bowyer
  7. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
  8. Kevin Harvick
  9. Greg Biffle
  10. Martin Truex Jr.
  11. Matt Kenseth
  12. Jeff Gordon

###

Sources: Google, NASCAR Media

Testing completed at Tricky Triangle: What the NASCAR drivers were saying

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Jeff Gordon, driver of the No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet drives during testing for the new track surface at Pocono Raceway on Thursday in Long Pond, Pa. ~ Credit: Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images for NASCAR

Pocono Raceway is about to conclude two days of Goodyear Tire testing.

The newly completed repave project along with the shortened race length – from 500 to 400 miles – have offered drivers something to chat about. Day 2 of NASCAR Sprint Cup testing at Pocono Raceway just ended. Hendrick Motorsports driver Kasey Kahne,  led the way at 179.490 mph, fastest of the three test sessions. Jeff Gordon had earlier surpassed Kevin Harvick topping out a speed of 179 mph – Harvick was holding the top speed of 177.859 mph throughout the Goodyear Tire test. A.J. Allmendinger set the pace in the morning session at 177.190 mph – well ahead of the 175.380 mph fast lap Mark Martin recorded on Wednesday. A total of 41 cars tested today; yesterday 36 cars were on track.

Here’s what they are saying:

Over all, It’s FAST. It’s SMOOTH. Drivers are expecting some excitement on Sunday.

JEFF GORDON
Last year’s Pocono 400 winner Jeff Gordon said crew chiefs can leave their notes at the shop. “I am definitely not thinking about being the defending champion of that race at all just because there is nothing to compare to with a repave,” said Gordon. Gordon also stated that he “…loves Pocono Raceway and didn’t want to see it repaved, but understands tracks have to do what they need to do… and happy that the track did a good job”

Needless to say, this was recorded before his last run which resulted in the fastest speed of the day – so far.

Is this weighing heavily on his mind? You better believe it is. Gordon’s 94 points behind current 10th-place Clint Bowyer but a single point outside the top 20 and “wild card” territory. Gordon also looks to become the fifth driver to reach 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series top-10 finishes.

JIMMIE JOHNSON
Jimmie Johnson said repaving shouldn’t be a radical departure from the past because the same kind of materials were used in both old and new asphalt.

“Normally, it’s an edgy race track regardless of the tire that you come with on a new repave,” said Johnson, whose two Pocono victories came in 2004. “It sounds like we didn’t have that [during the test] and Pocono made sure they used the same mix, the same asphalt that we were racing on.

GREG BIFFLE
Current points leader, Greg Biffle, who previously won at Pocono during the 2010 August race is looking forward to the new format and thinks the fans should too. “I think the racing being shortened to 400 miles will create some excitement with the fan,” said Biffle. “There will be more urgency to go and different strategy.”

DENNY HAMLIN
“The race track is very fun in the sense of how they graded it and smoothed it out in different places,” said Denny Hamlin, a four-time winner at Pocono. “It’s still Pocono, but it drives very different than what it used to. You’re getting a feel of a lot of different race tracks here within the Pocono Raceway.

“You’re going to see massive dive bombs going into the corner trying to get position. My estimation – you’re going to see a lot of excitement,” Hamlin said.

JEFF BURTON
Jeff Burton stated in the news conference that the repave didn’t change the characteristics of the Tricky Triangle and since repaving has improved through the years, Pocono Raceway created a smooth, fast racing surface.

JOHN DARBY
NASCAR Managing Director of Competition and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Director John Darby says the racing will improve as the weekend progresses and groove widens.

The final NASCAR Sprint Cup test session ends with the Top 10:
#5, #1, #55, #24, #27, #39, #22, #11, #31, #29

42 Cup teams took to the track during Thursday morning’s test session: The top 5:
#22-Allmendinger 177.190
#42-Montoya 176.602
#55-Martin 176.595
#15-Bowyer 176.550
#11-Hamlin 176.218

Team DuPont celebrate two decades at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

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This year marks the 20th season Jeff Gordon, Hendrick Motorsports and DuPont have partnered on the now iconic No. 24 Chevrolet, and will debut a new paint scheme during Sunday’s Kobalt Tools 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

“I’m excited about the race this weekend because I think we will have a great race car,” said Gordon, who has one win (2001), six top-fives and seven top-10′s in 14 starts at the 1.5-mile track. “And running the new paint scheme will be cool because it signifies a great relationship that is now 20 years strong.

The DuPont “20 Years” paint scheme was designed by Sam Bass.

Graphic from www.Sambass.com

NASCAR investigating Gordon’s accusations Menard’s spin at Richmond was intentional

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After the race at Richmond International Speedway last weekend, Jeff Gordon made comments that “there was something fishy” about the spinout of Kevin Harvick’s RCR teammate, Paul Menard, with just 16 laps to go. Gordon has implied that Menard’s spinout was intentional bringing out the caution. Harvick then beat Gordon off of pit road, maintaining the lead after the final restart with 12 to go.

Gordon said from what he’s been told of the radio communications between Menard, crew chief Slugger Labbe and RCR executive Mike Dillon there is reason to believe the spinout was orchestrated on a second channel.

NASCAR released a statement Thursday stating they saw no evidence of anything out of the ordinary as far as actions that they would have to react to. However, during a media press conference with Mike Helton on Friday morning at Chicagoland Speedway, Helton stated, “In light of the suspicions, I guess, we’re going to look into it and see if there is anything. A lot of it’s going to be interpretation. But certainly I think it’s on us to understand exactly what all we can find as far as facts are concerned. I remind everybody that an incident like that is a race procedure. We have in the past reacted to cars that caused cautions during a race. So it doesn’t necessarily mean that we would find something after the fact and react to it, but it certainly would probably play a role in going forward as to our observations.”

NASCAR rules call for the analog channels to be used. Most cars have multiple analog channels that fans in the grandstand, NASCAR (located in the tower), and the industry listen to. All radio communications between crew chiefs, spotters and the driver are analog.

In light of the accusations, Richard Childress Racing released a statement regarding this ongoing issue:

“There were no team orders despite all the speculation in the media. I know Paul Menard well enough that he wouldn’t have spun out on purpose even if he had been asked. We are at Chicagoland Speedway to win the race and get a great start toward the championship.”

Stay tuned.

UPDATE 9/17

NASCAR officials said on Saturday there is no evidence to support allegations that Paul Menard spun out intentionally to bring out a caution and affect the finish of last weekend’s Sprint Cup race at Richmond International Raceway. Spokesman Kerry Tharp said officials listened to audio of Menard’s radio transmission before he spun out with 16 laps remaining and found nothing to indicate he did anything deliberately

Jeff Gordon marks his 85th Victory at Atlanta

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NASCAR President Mike Helton presents a plaque to Jeff Gordon commemorating his 85th win in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AdvoCare 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sept. 6 in Hampton, Ga. Credit: Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Jeff Gordon just won the AdvoCare 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway in a rain postponed misty Tuesday, making it his 85th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory. Gordon clinched another type of victory in the making by being third on the all-time series wins list. Only Richard Petty (200 wins) and David Pearson (105) have more.

40- year old Gordon also became the Modern Era* (1972-Present) wins leader, breaking a tie with Darrell Waltrip. During a career that began on the final race of 1992, and which was Richard Petty’s last, Gordon assembled a list of accomplishments fit for a future NASCAR Hall of Famer: Four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championships, three Daytona 500 victories, four Brickyard 400 victories, most road-course wins all-time (nine) and most restrictor plate wins all-time (12).

His reaction:

Below is a timeline of Gordon’s notable victories on his way to 85:

1 – On May 29, 1994 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Gordon won his first race. It was in one of NASCAR’s biggest events – the Coca-Cola 600.

2 – Gordon won the inaugural NASCAR race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Aug. 6, 1994. He would go on to win three other IMS races, in 1998, 2001 and 2004.

8 –Won another “crown jewel” race, the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, on Sept. 3, 1995.

19 – On Sept. 29, 1996, won his only race at North Wilkesboro Speedway, the final race at the North Carolina short track.

20 – At the time, became the youngest winner in Daytona 500 history at 25 years, six months, 12 days on Feb. 16, 1997. His record was later broken in 2011 by Trevor Bayne (20 years, one day). Gordon also won the Daytona 500 in 1999 and 2005.

28 – On Aug. 31, 1997, won his second Southern 500, capturing a $1 million bonus in what was known as The Winston Million. The Winston Million was given to any driver to win three of the following four races: the Daytona 500, the Coca-Cola 600, the Southern 500 and the first Talladega race.

42 – In the season finale at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Nov. 8, 1998, won his 13th race of the season, tying a Modern Era record first set by Richard Petty in 1975.

74 – On June 25, 2006, won at Infineon Raceway, his record ninth victory at a road course.

76 – With a win at Phoenix International Raceway on April 21, 2007, Gordon tied Dale Earnhardt for sixth on the all-time wins list. Gordon memorably took a victory lap with a massive No. 3 flag waving out his driver-side window, a tribute to his long-time rival.

80 – On Oct. 7, 2007 at Talladega Superspeedway, Gordon captured his record 12th restrictor-plate victory.

85 – In a race delayed two days because of inclement weather, Gordon captures historic win No. 85 on Sept. 6, 2011 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Congratulations, Jeff, on achieving such a great milestone!!

(*Note: “Modern Era” refers to the period in NASCAR Sprint Cup history when NASCAR shortened the schedule from as many as 62 races in 1964 to the 31-race schedule of 1972. Race numbers fluctuated between 28 and 36 since 1972.)

Source: NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communications