NASCAR Sprint Cup, Trucks head to Pocono Raceway; NNS to Iowa Speedway

Posted on August 1, 2012 by Karen Pistone

NASCAR Nationwide Series
Iowa Speedway
Qualifying: Sat., 4:30 p.m. ET – ESPN2
Race: Sat. 7:30 p.m. EDT – ESPN2
NASCAR NATIONWIDE POINT STANDINGS

Unfortunately, due to last weekend’s penalty when Elliott Sadler beat Brad Keselowski (leader) to the start/finish line during the Indy 250, Sadler’s perch at the top of the standings shrunk after being black flagged.

Why exactly was Sadler black flagged?

During last Saturday’s Nationwide series race at Indy, Brad Keselowski, the race leader, hit the accelerator in the ‘prescribed zone’ designated for restarts. However, Keselowski’s teammate at Penske Racing, Sam Hornish Jr., attempted to push Keselowski. The nose of Hornish’s Dodge lifted the rear bumper of Keselowski’s car slightly causing him to spin his tires.

Sadler, who then was being pushed by his teammate at Richard Childress Racing, Austin Dillon, reached the yard of bricks, (start/finish line) as Sadler was slightly more than one car-length ahead of Keselowski.

When Sadler did not give up the lead to Keselowski voluntarily, NASCAR black-flagged Sadler’s No. 2 Chevrolet, forcing him to serve a pass-through penalty, costing him the race as well as the chance of winning the Dash 4 Cash Bonus of $100,000.

According to NASCAR vice president of competition Robin Pemberton, NASCAR wanted to preserve an advantage for the race leader. Rules were designed “to help the driver who had the lead feel like he wasn’t losing all of his advantage when a caution comes out.” The leader has lane choice, the option of when to restart within the zone and the privilege of arriving first at the start/finish line.

A once-comfortable lead is now just one point ahead of his Sunoco Rookie teammate Austin Dillon. This weekend’s U.S. Cellular 250 at Iowa Speedway is crucial for Sadler as a finish outside the top five could considerably shake up the points rankings.

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Pocono Raceway
Qualifying: Sat., 9:35 a.m. ET (not aired)
Race: Sat, 12:30 p.m. ET – SPEED
NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES POINT STANDINGS

When the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series hits the pavement at Pocono Raceway in the Pocono Mountains 125 it will be the third time the series has competed at the 2.5-mile track, but the first time on the newly repaved surface. The new surface has potential to throw a wrench in the competition and shake up the championship hunt. However, statistics show the battle for the win could come down between the front runners in the points battle.

Three drivers inside the top-five in the championship standings – Timothy Peters, Justin Lofton and James Buescher – all have top-10 finishes at the famed Tricky Triangle. Peters increased his championship standings lead following Chicagoland to 23 points over Ty Dillon, Lofton, Buescher and Parker Kligerman.

Denny Hamlin remains the driver piloting the No. 18 KBM Toyota with Kyle Busch taking over the reins as team owner.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Practices: Noon / 3:30 pm ET Friday – SPEED
Qualifying: Sat., 10:30 a.m. ET – ESPN2
Race: Sun. 1:00 p.m. EDT – ESPN
NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES POINT STANDINGS

Junior! Junior! Junior!

Dale Earnhardt Jr. officially last led the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series standings on Sept. 19, 2004 following a third-place finish at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. He also led after the Oct. 3, 2004 race at Talladega Speedway, but lost the lead after a midweek penalty. Earnhardt made the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup™ a year ago and finished seventh – his best points placing since a fifth in 2006. With a victory earlier this summer and 20 consecutive finishes on the lead lap Earnhardt and Hendrick Motorsports crew chief Steve Letarte have every reason to believe they’re solid championship contenders.

For 10 drivers vying for two “wild card” entries into the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup™ Sunday’s race at Pocono Raceway has become a must-win affair. Kasey Kahne and Kyle Busch are the current “wild card” holders, drivers ranked 11th through 20th with the most wins. Kahne has two victories and Busch, who finished second to Jimmie Johnson at Indianapolis, prevails via tie-breaker over Ryan Newman and Joey Logano. Kahne, Newman and Logano all have Pocono victories – Logano won there when the series visited the 2.5-mile track in June. It’s not quite a last-chance situation for 2012 non-winners Carl Edwards (12th) and Jeff Gordon (15th) but the clock is ticking toward midnight. Gordon has won five times at the Pennsylvania track most recently in June 2011. Edwards won in 2005 and 2008.

Pocono Raceway’s June event could have been a preview of this year’s Chase with six of the current top-10 drivers finishing among the top 10 of the Pocono 400 presented by #NASCAR. Tony Stewart and Jimmie Johnson were the best-placed among the series’ elite finishing third and fourth respectively. Greg Biffle (24th) was the only member of the current top five outside the top 10. Biffle won Pocono’s late summer race in 2010. Brad Keselowski is the defending winner of this week’s event – the first of two August victories that propelled the Penske Racing driver into the Chase as a “wild card” qualifier.

June’s event was the first held since Pocono’s latest repaving. Logano won the Coors Light Pole award at a record 179.598 mph speed.

“Pocono Presidential Pick for $100,000”
Pocono Raceway President and CEO Brandon Igdalsky has confidently picked Dale Earnhardt Jr. to win Sunday’s Pennsylvania 400, pledging $100,000 to a lucky fan should Junior go to Victory Lane. Fans must register at the track prior to the halfway point of the race at which time the potential winner’s name will be drawn at random.

Earnhardt has yet to win at Pocono finishing second in 2001 and 2007. He was eighth in June’s race. C’mon Junebug!!

Chevrolet’s new entry for Nationwide Series 2013: CAMARO

Posted on July 27, 2012 by Karen Pistone

The Chevrolet Camaro will compete in the NASCAR Nationwide Series beginning in 2013. Credit: Chevrolet

Chevrolet will have a new entry in the NASCAR Nationwide Series in 2013: Camaro, the top-selling sports car in America, will make its series debut next February at Daytona International Speedway.

“Chevrolet is proud to bring the Camaro to the NASCAR Nationwide Series in 2013,” said Jim Campbell, vice president, Chevrolet Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. “The Camaro Nationwide race car incorporates many of the distinctive styling elements of the production Camaro, including the unique power-bulge hood and deep recessed grille. In addition, the design incorporates the distinctive halo light rings and dual-port grille appearances, and the gold bowtie.”

Camaro, which led its segment in sales in 2010 and 2011 and currently leads in 2012, will continue the proud heritage of Chevrolet performance vehicles in one of America’s most prestigious racing series. Chevrolet has more wins, more manufacturers’ championships and more driver’s championships than any other manufacturer competing in the Nationwide Series.

“Our team of Chevrolet designers and aerodynamic engineers did a fantastic job capturing the great looks and styling cues of the production Camaro, while providing our NASCAR Nationwide teams with a highly competitive aero platform,” said Pat Suhy, manager, Chevrolet Racing Oval Track Group. “For the remainder of 2012, our engineers will be busy working with our Chevy teams on wind tunnel and on-track testing to fine-tune the car in preparation for next year. It will be great to see Camaro compete on the track against its showroom competition starting with the 2013 season opener at Daytona.”

Chevrolet currently leads the NASCAR Nationwide Series in wins, manufacturer standings, and in the driver point standings.

“We have been working on this new Camaro for over a year and I am excited to have it approved by NASCAR for 2013 competition in the Nationwide Series,” said Shane Martin, program manager, Chevrolet NASCAR Nationwide Series. “This car has a bold look that will be reinforced by its performance on the race track.”

Fans can follow Team Chevy on Team Chevy Facebook, @TeamChevy on Twitter and on Google+.

NASCAR Nationwide Series, NCWTS heads to Chicagoland; Off week for NSCS

Posted on July 19, 2012 by Karen Pistone

Race: Sunday, July 22, 2012

Track: Chicagoland Speedway, Joliet, IL

Practice - 12:10 p.m. ET Sat. (TV at 12:30) on ESPN2

Practice - 2 p.m. ET Sat. (TV at 2:30) on ESPN2

Qualifying - 11:30 a.m. ET Sunday on ESPN2

Television Race Coverage: Sunday, ESPN, 3:00 pm/et,
NASCAR Countdown at 2 p.m. ET

Scheduled Green Flag (approx): 3:16pm/et

As the NASCAR Nationwide series heads to the first of two races at Chicagoland Speedway this weekend, the championship list is growing with three drivers within 32 points of the lead. Elliott Sadler has just a three-point advantage over Austin Dillon, his Richard Childress Racing teammate. Reigning series champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr. is 16 points back while Sam Hornish Jr. is just 32 points behind.

Among those, Dillon, 22, may be poised for the biggest second half. With a series-leading 10 top fives and tied with Sadler atop the leaderboard with 13 top 10s, the Sunoco rookie keeps fighting back despite hardships that might have destroyed the confidence of other young drivers.

Since last year’s “pick-a-series” rule where drivers in NASCAR’s national series declare the series in which they’ll accumulate championship points, the NASCAR Nationwide Series has had consecutive seasons where the championship has been its closest at the midway point since 2005. Then, 79 points separated first through fourth in the rankings. At this stage last year, the top four were within 37 points of the leader. From 2006-10, an average of 474 points were between first and fourth place at the halfway mark.

Chicagoland hosts the second of four consecutive NASCAR Nationwide Series “Dash 4 Cash” races where the highest finisher (not necessarily the winner) among the four eligible drivers for this race – Austin Dillon, Ricky Stenhouse, Sam Hornish and Elliott Sadler – will take home a $100,000 bonus in addition to his race purse. Indianapolis and Iowa round out the 2012 D4C races.

Dillon won the first $100,000 D4C bonus last week at New Hampshire Motor Speedway with his third-place finish, best among the eligible drivers. He now has a head start on a chance at a $1 million payout should he capture the bonus at Chicago and at the Brickyard, and then win outright at Iowa. The bonus winner from Chicago automatically advances to Indianapolis. The next three highest finishers among series regulars from Chicago also are eligible for the bonus at Indianapolis.

In other news, Penske Racing announced this week that Ryan Blaney has joined the organization and will compete in the No. 22 Dodge in selected NNS events. First up is Iowa Speedway on Saturday, Aug. 4, then Richmond International Raceway and Kentucky Speedway.

NNS all-time wins leader Kyle Busch is the only NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver competing in the NNS this weekend at Chicago. He leads the series in wins at Chicago with two.

NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES

Practice - 5:30 p.m. ET Friday on SPEED

Qualifying - 3:35 p.m. ET Sat. (TV at 4) on SPEED

Race coverage: Saturday Night, July 21 Setup: 7:30pm — Race: 8:00pm/et on SPEED

It was the one thing Timothy Peters was still searching for this season and statistics showed it would most likely not happen at Iowa Speedway. Think again. Peters started from the pole, led 87 laps en route to Victory Lane and increased his series championship points lead to 12 over Justin Lofton. It’s the largest points margin this season.

Red Horse Racing now has won three of the first nine races with one victory per team, Peters, John King (Daytona) and Todd Bodine (Dover). Peters’ next challenge awaits him this weekend at Chicagoland, a track in which is average finish is 16th. Peters has won at least one NCWTS race per season since 2009.

Brendan Gaughan returns to the driver’s seat of the #2 South Point Hotel & Casino RCR Chevrolet this Saturday evening for the American Ethanol 225, his fourth of eight scheduled appearances in the 2012 season. Thus far this season, the Las Vegas native has collected one top-five and one top-10 finish, maintaining an average starting position of 9.3 and a 12th-place average finishing position. In addition to competing in the Camping World Truck Series event at Chicagoland Speedway, Gaughan will also drive the #33 & Casino Chevrolet Silverado for RCR during the Nationwide Series event at Chicagoland Speedway on Sunday.

Matt Crafton has three consecutive top-five finishes at Texas, Kentucky and Iowa provided much needed momentum for the Ohio-based team. Crafton sits sixth in the championship standings just one point outside the top five – an impressive accomplishment considering he was in 23rd following the second race of the season.

The California-native has one pole this season, at Kentucky Speedway.

Todd Bodine’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series resume is full of impressive numbers:

2 championships
22 victories
7 poles
90 top-five finishes
121 top-10 finishes

And this weekend at Chicagoland he will add 200 series starts to an already stout career. Bodine is the only driver to hold 200 starts in all three of NASCAR’s national series, NASCAR Sprint Cup, NASCAR Nationwide and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

Source: NASCARMedia

Kurt Busch, Phoenix Racing’s hunger for win satisfied in NNS race at Daytona

Posted on July 7, 2012 by Karen Pistone

Photo credit Getty Images for NASCAR.

It was a hot night at Daytona International Speedway. Not just talking about the temperatures, but the action on the speedway as well.

It had been a long time coming. Finally an exciting race! Last evening’s Jalapeno 250 produced a record 42 lead changes, an increase over last year’s lead changes, which was 36.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. pushed the James Finch bright orange No. 1 Chevy to the checkered flag in a wild race that ended with Austin Dillon wrecking in the tri-oval as Busch crossed the finish line.

“You want to put James Finch in Victory Lane,” stated Busch. “That’s what he’s all about.”

Busch had stated in his post-race interview that Finch wanted his car bright orange Chevy, nicknamed “great pumpkin,” so sponsors can see his car run upfront.

Smart man.

Congratulations to Kurt Busch and Phoenix Racing.

Should the No. 3 NASCAR Nationwide team keep win from Kentucky Speedway?

Posted on July 2, 2012 by Karen Pistone

Credit: Geoff Burke/Getty Images for NASCAR Austin Dillon, driver of the #3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Nationwide Series Feed The Children 300 at Kentucky Speedway on June 29, 2012, in Sparta, Ky.

Sure Austin Dillon was smiling from cheek to cheek from his win at Kentucky Speedway Friday night. After all, he did lead 192 of 200 laps, most ever by a Nationwide race winner at the 1.5-mile track. Another track record for NASCAR for 2012! He also finished the race an amazing 9.828 seconds ahead of second-place finisher Kurt Busch.

However, soon after the celebration in Victory Lane had ended, little did Dillon know that his car had failed post-race inspection when officials discovered that the rear of the car was too low.

Here’s NASCAR’s (official) punishment, which was released today:

NASCAR has penalized the No. 3 team in the NASCAR Nationwide Series as a result of rule infractions discovered during post-race inspection last Friday at Kentucky Speedway.

The No. 3 car was found to be in violation of Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4J (any determination by NASCAR officials that race equipment used in the event does not conform to NASCAR rules); and 20A-12.8.1C (body height requirements – car failed to meet the minimum rear car heights) of the 2012 NASCAR rule book.

As a result, crew chief Danny Stockman Jr. has been fined $10,000, while owner Morgan Shepherd and driver Austin Dillon have been penalized with the loss of six championship owner and six championship driver points, respectively. In addition, Stockman and car chief Robert Strmiska continue to remain on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31.

Agree? I don’t. Keep on reading and you’ll find out why.

Credit: Sean Gardner/Getty Images for NASCAR

Now the infraction explains everything… it WAS a bad race. Now I know how Dillon had lapped all but eight cars; I now know how Dillon passed a pack of six cars in one low swoop coming out of the turn. In all my five years of blogging, I agree with Kurt Busch when he stated that “Austin Dillon was in his own zip code” during the race. I thought he just had the “mighty of all hot dog wrappers” stuck to the the opening of the grill on the No. 3 Chevy allowing more downforce with the way he was cruising!

I strongly believe NASCAR should implement a “Take it Away” penalty if a car that won was discovered to have an infraction during post-race inspection. NASCAR needs to take away the win. I know there are many people out there arguing “Oh no, you can’t do that!” blah, blah, blah…. Believe me, I know that teams are aware of the allowable tolerances for adjustments during a race. The team should be held accountable. Not just the driver, crew chief and owner.

Austin Dillon had put Elliott Sadler, the series leader entering the race, a lap down. With his dominating win, Dillon stole the points lead from Sadler.

Let me explain as to why I suggest this such “Take Away Penalty” and I am sure you are aware as to where I am going with this: What if it came down to, oh let’s just go ahead and say Elliott Sadler and Austin Dillon in a tie for the points lead for the Championship at the end of the last race of the season. (Sound familiar?) The number of wins would be the tie breaker, just as it was between Tony Stewart (SHR) and Carl Edwards (Roush Fenway Racing) for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway in 2011. That Championship was settled based on a Walk Off – which meant whichever driver with MOST wins (Tony Stewart), takes the Championship.

So what if it turns out that Dillon has one more win than Sadler – thanks to the Kentucky race in which he had an advantage and was fined, penalized for but got to keep the “win” – and that gives him the Championship.

Is that fair? Why on earth would a car that had an advantage still be allowed to keep the win?

However, some good news did come from this: With the penalty of the six championship points against Dillon and the No. 3 team, Elliott Sadler regains the points lead by just four points heading into Daytona for the Subway Jalapeno 250 this Friday night.

Notes for Kentucky Speedway

Posted on June 26, 2012 by Karen Pistone

As we head into Kentucky Speedway for a tripleheader weekend, here are the headlines to pay attention to:

Tripleheader action opens on Thursday with the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series – UNOH 225 and continues Friday with the NASCAR Nationwide Series- Feed The Children 300, then Saturday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, the Quaker State 400.

Kentucky Speedway tweeted on Twitter (@KYSpeedway) that they have room for additional 20,000 vehicles and all their parking woes are a thing of the past. As you may recall, during the inaugural race at Kentucky in 2011, the parking was a mess and fans were still on the highway in traffic at the start of the race. On June 21, the Kentucky Highway Patrol held a media conference regarding the plan for traffic on race day. The plan which calls for KSP to control all parking operations, station a trooper in each parking lot and direct 300 attendants employed by a new parking service contracted by Kentucky Speedway. Fans will be able follow @kystatepolice and @KySpeedway on Twitter along with finding “Kentucky State Police” and “Kentucky Speedway” on Facebook. Fans within five miles of the track can tune to information radio 1620 AM. To read more about the plan of action, go to www.kentuckspeedway.com
Roush Fenway Racing’s Matt Kenseth and Greg Biffle again are one-two in series points.
Kyle Busch dominated last year’s inaugural Quaker State 400 leading the most laps from a pole position that was set via the rule book due to inclement weather that canceled qualifying.
NASCAR Nationwide Series fans attending the Friday, June 29 “Feed The Children 300” will receive a free 32-ounce Kentucky Speedway cup courtesy of Levy Restaurants while supplies last. The cup features a checkered-flag pattern along with the Kentucky Speedway and Levy Restaurants logo. The keepsake will be distributed as guests exit the event at speedway gates.
You may NOW bring in one 14-inch by 14-inch by 14-inch cooler as well as one carry-in item such as a backpack or purse into our speedway on race days! Coolers may contain any food you’d like to enjoy during our races and unopened water or soft drinks in plastic or aluminum containers. Alcoholic beverages are not permitted, by law, in the grandstands at Kentucky Speedway.
Brad Keselowski will being doing triple duty at Kentucky Speedway beginning with Thursday night’s NCWTS race – UNOH 225.
Joey Logano won three consecutive NASCAR Nationwide events in Kentucky (2008-2010) before Brad Keselowski stopped his streak a year ago.
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Carl Edwards will help call the NNS race Friday evening (Green flag at 7:45 p.m.) as an analyst, his second of two scheduled races in the booth this year for ESPN.
Twitter lends a hand… After Nelson Piquet Jr.‘s native Brazil got wind of his pole position for Saturday’s race, they used social media efforts to pressure Brazilian media into showing the Sargento 200 live on television. Their efforts paid off, a scheduled soccer match in Brazil was shown at a later time so Piquet Jr.’s fans at home could witness him make history. Piquet has two prior starts at Kentucky with a best finish of fourth in last October’s race. All eyes will be on Piquet, Jr. at Kentucky.

Sources: PR, NASCARMedia

NASCAR Nationwide Series Notes: ROAD AMERICA

Posted on June 20, 2012 by Karen Pistone

Race: #14 of 33 for the 2012 season
Road America
Elkhart Lake, WI
Race Day: Saturday, June 23, 2012
TV Coverage: ESPN, 3:00 pm/et
Scheduled Green Flag (approx): 3:51pm/et

With the NASCAR Sprint Cup series heading to Sonoma, CA this weekend, the NASCAR Nationwide Series heads to Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin along with the GRAND-AM Road Racing series. It’s not all left turns for the Nationwide series at Road America. It’s going to be wild crazy! The NNS will feature group qualifying, rain tires and other inclement-weather equipment, if needed.

At 4.048 miles, Road America is the longest track in NASCAR’s national series. Saturday’s race in Elkhart Lake represents the first of three road course races on the NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule over the next three months. Watkins Glen is up next in July and Circuit Gilles Villeneuve closes the roadies out in August.

RECAP – 2011
Reed Sorenson ended up in Victory Lane after leader Justin Allgaier ran out of gas on the final lap of a second green-white-checkered attempt – which was under caution. Ron Fellows was penalized for passing under yellow on that last lap, which he angrily felt was undeserved. A late-race dispute between Villeneuve and Max Papis wascreated by an aggressive pass by Villeneuve that spun Papis out of contention.

POINTS LEADER(s)
The series championship battles have been between reigning champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Elliott Sadler – who regained the points lead from Stenhouse three races ago. Although, keep in mind, Austin Dillon remains only 8 points behind points leader, Sadler. Dillon can become the first in the Nationwide series history to win the Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors and the series championship in the same season. The previous best overall series finish by a rookie of the year driver contender was second in 2004 by Kyle Busch.

WHAT’S UP AT ROAD AMERICA?

Kurt Busch will travel to and from Sonoma to race his brother Kyle’s No. 54 KBM Toyota. Colin Braun has been tapped to practice the car for Busch while he is in Sonoma.
This race will mark Danica Patrick’s second start on an NNS road course but her first NASCAR trip to Road America. She made her NASCAR road course debut last year in Montreal, where she finished 24th. She is currently 11th in the series standings.
Jacques Villeneuve, will drive the No. 22 Discount Tire Dodge – back for a third try to win at Road America
Ron Fellows, who feels he has unfinished business from last year’s race, returns driving the No. 5 for JR Motorsports.
After spending the last six weeks sidelined due to injuries received during a late-race accident at Talladega Superspeedway on May 5, Eric McClure has been medically cleared to return to the seat of his Hefty®/Reynolds Wrap® Camry.
NCWTS drivers Nelson Piquet Jr. (No. 30) and Miguel Paludo (#32) will compete in the NASCAR Nationwide Series SARGENTO 300 at Road America on Saturday for Turner Motorsports. It will be Paludo’s first Nationwide Series start and Piquet’s third.
Max Papis will be the driver, first 2012 start, of the Menards Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing. Papis has been serving as a driving coach for Austin Dillon this season. Student now meets teacher at Road America.

GOODYEAR TIRE NOTES:
Teams in the NASCAR Nationwide Series will run the same Goodyear tire code on all four tire positions at Road America . . . this is the same code that Nationwide teams ran at Road America last season. These teams also ran this tire at Watkins Glen in 2011. As on all NASCAR road courses, teams will not run inner liners in their tires.

Wet Weather Tires: Goodyear will also bring 725 wet weather radials for use at Road America, should NASCAR decide that conditions warrant.

NASCAR docks Sadler, Nationwide team six points for Iowa infraction

Posted on May 24, 2012 by Karen Pistone

NASCAR penalized the No. 2 team of Nationwide Series title contender Elliott Sadler on Tuesday, docking the Richard Childress Racing team six points in the series standings.

The No. 2 Chevrolet from Richard Childress Racing was too low in post-race inspection after Sadler finished second in Sunday’s Pioneer Hi-Bred 250 at Iowa Speedway. Sadler indicated Monday on SPEED’s “Race Hub” broadcast that the illegal body height was likely due to a parts failure.

It marked the second time in three weeks that Childress’ top Nationwide operation has been penalized. Crew chief Luke Lambert was placed on probation May 1 through the end of the season after the car’s front bumper covers were found with unapproved modifications in a pre-race inspection at Richmond International Raceway.

Lambert was fined $10,000 for the Iowa violations. Sadler was stripped of six points in the Nationwide driver standings and car owner of record DeLana Harvick was docked six points in the series’ owner standings.

Sadler, who ranks second in Nationwide standings, now is 34 points behind defending series champion and current points leader Ricky Stenhouse Jr., who notched his third win of the season Sunday at Iowa.

NASCAR Nationwide Series News – Darlington

Posted on May 10, 2012 by Karen Pistone

Race #: 9 out of 33

Track Size: 1.366 miles

Race Length: 200 miles

Banking Turns 1 & 2: 25 degrees

Banking Turns 3 & 4: 23 degrees

Banking/Frontstretch: 6 degrees

Banking/Backstretch: 6 degrees

Frontstretch: 1,229 feet

Backstretch: 1,229 feet

Friday
Qualifying – ESPN2 @ 3:30 p.m. ET
NASCAR Countdown airs at 6:30 p.m. ET
VFW Sport Clips Help a Hero 200 airs live Friday Night on ESPN2 at 7 p.m.

IN THE DRIVERS’ SEAT
Danny Efland will drive the #4 for Johnny Davis;
Matt Frahm will be in the #08 for Randy Hill Racing;
Eric McClure will not race this weekend. Jeff Green will be the driver of the #14 Hefty/Reynolds Wrap
Black Koch returns to the Rick Ware #15;
Jamie Dick will drive the #23;
Brendan Gaughan will drive the RCR #33;
Ryan Blaney returns to the #36;
Josh Richards will again drive the Go Green #39;
The #52 for Jimmy Means is TBD;
David Green will drive the #70 in a deal with ML Motorsports to keep team in the top 30;
Travis Pastrana will run his second race in the RAB #99.
Casey Roderick is now listed as driver of the #24, in place of Benny Gordon.
Derrike Cope will be in the #70 for ML Motorsports.
Tony Raines will be in the #10 for TriStar Motorsports

TOP 10 STANDINGS

RANK	+/-	DRIVER	POINTS	BEHIND

1	+1	Ricky Stenhouse Jr.	325	Leader
2	-1	Elliott Sadler	320	-5
3	–	Austin Dillon*	290	-35
4	–	Sam Hornish Jr.	265	-60
5	+1	Cole Whitt*	248	-77
6	-1	Michael Annett	241	-84
7	–	Justin Allgaier	228	-97
8	–	Tayler Malsam	202	-123
9	+1	Mike Bliss	201	-124
10	+1	Joe Nemechek	189	-136

RICKY STENHOUSE, JR.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. has fought back from ninth in the standings following Daytona to retake the No. 1 position five points ahead of second-place Elliott Sadler.

TOP DRIVERS IN NNS RACE

Darlington Raceway has caused many of NASCAR’s top drivers to sign up for this Friday’s VFW Sport Clips Help a Hero 200 under the lights. Not only will the field have the likes of NSCS drivers Kasey Kahne, Joey Logano, Kurt Busch, Brad Keselowski and Denny Hamlin, but also NNS standouts Travis Pastrana and Danica Patrick. Patrick will be pulling double duty, driving the No. 10 Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet in the NSCS race Saturday night. The weekend will be Patrick’s and Pastrana’s NASCAR national series track debut at Darlington Raceway.

CARL EDWARDS

Carl Edwards will move to analyst for ESPN on two upcoming telecasts of NASCAR Nationwide Series races. Edwards will make his debut during ESPN2′s live telecast of the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Darlington Raceway joining announcer Allen Bestwick and analyst Andy Petree in the booth on Friday night, May 11, at 6:30 p.m. ET.

ERIC McCLURE

It is NASCAR’s policy that a driver that receives a concussion must be cleared by a neurosurgeon with at least five years of experience with sports-related head injuries before being allowed back in the car. In some sports leagues the athlete must wait at least seven days before returning to action. There will be only six days between Saturday’s crash and Friday’s race. Brandt said McClure will meet with a specialist on Tuesday or Wednesday to determine his status. He is scheduled to hold a press conference on Friday at Darlington.

McClure’s sister and PR representative reported “He’s sore and just needs to rest a few days and be with his family and go to his doctor appointments,” Brandt said. After his release McClure was driven back to his Chilhowie, Va., home by his father, who has been with him at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Medical Center since the accident.

KURT BUSCH

Kurt Busch says he’s planning to run both Nationwide series races at Iowa Speedway this season. Busch says he’s slated to run both the May 20 and August 4 races in Iowa this season in the #54 Toyota for Kyle Busch Motorsports.

PATRICK VS HORNISH

Danica Patrick will hear from NASCAR officials about sending Sam Hornish Jr. into the wall following the Nationwide Series race last Saturday at Talladega Superspeedway, but she likely won’t be penalized. The two drivers, whose rivalry goes back to their days racing go-karts and extended to the IndyCar Series, likely will both be talked to by NASCAR officials prior to practice tomorrow (Friday) at Darlington Raceway for what happened after the Aaron’s 312 on Saturday.

NASCAR Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton indicated that Patrick’s actions did not rise to the level of Kyle Busch retaliating against Ron Hornaday in a Truck Series race last November at Texas Motor Speedway, where Busch was suspended for the Nationwide and Cup events later that weekend.

NASCAR Stats & Notes for Darlington Raceway

Posted on May 8, 2012 by Karen Pistone

Race #: 11 of 36
Track Size: 1.366 miles
Race Length: 501.322 miles
Banking Turns 1 & 2: 25 degrees
Banking Turns 3 & 4: 23 degrees
Banking/Frontstretch: 6 degrees
Banking/Backstretch: 6 degrees
Frontstretch: 1,229 feet
Backstretch: 1,229 feet

Bojangles’ Southern 500
Airs: NSCS – Saturday night, (FOX, live 7 p.m. ET)

2011 pole winner: Kasey Kahne (181.254 mph, 27.131 seconds, 05-06-11)
2011 race winner: Regan Smith (129.678 mph, 05-07-11)
Track qualifying record: Kasey Kahne (181.254 mph, 27.131 seconds, 05-06-11)
Track race record: Kyle Busch (140.350 mph, 05-10-08)

Below is a look at some of the top statistical performers at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina going into the Bojangles’ Southern 500 on May 12.

Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M / OH / ES Ford)
· Two wins, two top fives, five top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 14.2

Kyle Busch (No. 18 Wrigley Toyota)
· One win, one top five, three top 10s
· Average finish of 17.1

Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 Diet Mountain Dew / National Guard Chevrolet)
· Three top fives, seven top 10s
· Average finish of 15.2

Carl Edwards (No. 99 Roush Fenway Racing Ford)
· Three top fives, five top 10s
· Average finish of 13.9

Jeff Gordon (No. 24 Drive To End Hunger Chevrolet)
· Seven wins, 18 top fives, 21 top 10s; three poles
· Average finish of 11.1

Denny Hamlin (No. 11 Sport Clips Toyota)
· One win, two top fives, five top 10s
· Average finish of 6.5

Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s / KOBALT Tools Chevrolet)
· Two wins, six top fives, nine top 10s
· Average finish of 9.8

Kasey Kahne (No. 5 Rockwell Tools Chevrolet)
· Three top fives, three top 10s; four poles
· Average finish of 14.6

Brad Keselowski (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge)
· One top five, two top 10s
· Average finish of 7.3

Jamie McMurray (No. 1 Bass Pro Shops / Tracker Boats Chevrolet)
· Three top fives, five top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 14.5

Ryan Newman (No. 39 WIX Chevrolet)
· Seven top fives, nine top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 11.6

Tony Stewart (No. 14 Office Depot / Mobil 1 Chevrolet)
· Three top fives, 10 top 10s
· Average finish of 12.3

Martin Truex Jr. (No. 56 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota)
· Two top 10s
· Average finish of 12.3

FACTS:
Gas, leaded of course, cost 18 cents a gallon, the average price of a new automobile was $1,510 and the average wages were $3,210.

HISTORY
· Built as a 1.25-mile paved superspeedway in 1949-50, Darlington Raceway hosted the first 500-mile race in NASCAR history and the first on asphalt on Sept. 4, 1950.
· The track was re-measured to 1.375 miles in 1953.
· The track was re-configured to 1.366 miles following the spring race in 1970.
· The track was repaved in 1995.
· The 2005 race was the first Saturday night race at Darlington.
· The track was repaved again prior to the 2008 season.
· There have been 108 NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Darlington Raceway since the track opened in 1950.
· There was one race per year in 1950, 1951, from 1953-1959, and again every year since 2005. Darlington held two races a season in all other years.
· Curtis Turner won the first pole, in 1950.
· Johnny Mantz won the first race, in 1950.
· 47 drivers have posted poles at Darlington.
· David Pearson leads all drivers with 12 poles at Darlington.
· 45 drivers have won races at Darlington; 25 drivers have won more than once there.
· David Pearson leads all drivers with 10 victories, followed by Dale Earnhardt with nine.
· Jeff Gordon is third overall and leads all active drivers with seven victories.
· Hendrick Motorsports has won 13 races at Darlington, more than any other organization.
· 19 races at Darlington have been won from the pole, the most productive starting position. Dale Jarrett was the last driver to win from the pole in 1997.
· The deepest in the field that a race winner has started was 43rd, in the track’s inaugural race in 1950 by Johnny Mantz. That race had a 75-car field.
· Darlington is the site of one of the closest race finishes in NASCAR history. Ricky Craven edged Kurt Busch by 0.002 seconds on March 16, 2003 – which is tied with Talladega (April 17, 2011) as the two smallest margins of victory since NASCAR instituted electronic timing in 1993.
· Youngest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Darlington Raceway winner: Kyle Busch (05/10/2008 – 23 years, 0 months, 8 days).
· Oldest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Darlington Raceway winner: Harry Gant (05/06/1991 – 51 years, 7 months, 22 days)

RACE CHATTER
Regan Smith was the surprise winner of last year’s Bojangles’ Southern 500 – the second of three, first time winners of NASCAR’s biggest events.
Darlington dates to 1950 and as the series’ first asphalt oval over a ½-mile in length ushered in the sport’s future.

MOM POWER
As an annual tradition the Darlington race will fall on Mother’s Day weekend. The track will recognize the driver’s mothers during the pre-race ceremonies. All of the moms in attendance will receive a bouquet of flowers and will give the command for “start your engines”.

REUTIMANN RETURNS
David Reutimann will return behind the wheel of the No. 93 BK Racing Toyota this week at Darlington Raceway for the Bojangles’ Southern 500. Reutimann raced the season-opening Daytona 500 with BK Racing, but has driven the balance of 2012 events with Tommy Baldwin Racing. Travis Kvapil will return to drive the No. 93 Burger King/Dr Pepper car next week at Charlotte.

JR. MUST NOT REPEAT LAST YEAR’S DARLINGTON RACE
Dale Earnhardt Jr. must reverse his recent Darlington trend – two finishes outside the top 15 in his past three starts – and have a top-10 finish to set a career record for consecutive top 10 finishes.

PASTRANA-PEARSON 101
To prepare for Darlington Raceway, Travis Pastrana sought out a Darlington 101 lesson from NASCAR legend and Hall of Fame member David Pearson at Greenville-Pickens Speedway last March. Pearson, who owns 10 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series wins and 12 pole positions at Darlington Raceway, educated the 28-year-old rookie on how to master driving the track dubbed “Too Tough to Tame.”

DANICA’S CHALLENGE
Danica Patrick faces her greatest challenge since coming to NASCAR as she competes in her second Sprint Cup race on Saturday. Her No. 10 Chevrolet, prepared by Stewart-Haas Racing, has a guaranteed starting position by virtue of owner Tommy Baldwin’s 33rd ranking in Owners Championship standings. Patrick finished 38th in her series debut at Daytona in February. She will do double duty also competing in Friday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race.

LAST CHANCE FOR ALL-STAR RACE
Saturday’s Bojangles’ Southern 500 is a last-chance race for automatic admission to the May 19 Sprint All-Star Race. Drivers yet to qualify include Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Burton, Jamie McMurray, Juan Pablo Montoya, Martin Truex Jr., Jeff Burton and former NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Bobby Labonte. Absent a Darlington win, a driver still can qualify via fan vote or transfer from the Sprint Showdown race. Fans can still vote up ’till May 19th for their favorite driver to make it into the show.

NNS Airs: Friday night, live ESPN2 (7:15 p.m. EDT )

NASCAR NATIONWIDE SERIES

QUIET SURPRISE
Tayler Malsam, driver of the No. 19 G-Oil Toyota for TriStar Motorsports, remains one of the surprises of the NASCAR Nationwide Series for 2012. In his first full season in the series, Malsam is currently eighth in the standings and has been ranked in the top 10 following each race this year.

NNS DRIVER ERIC McCLURE RELEASED FROM HOSPITAL
Eric McClure, driver of the No. 14 Hefty®/Reynolds Wrap® Toyota, was released Monday evening from the UAB Medical Center in Birmingham, Alabama, where he was airlifted Saturday afternoon following a racing incident at Talladega Superspeedway.

McClure suffered a concussion and mild internal bruising and is expected to make a full recovery. This week he will follow up with specialists regarding his injuries.

McClure has said he will make himself available to the media in the Jim Hunter Media Center at Darlington Raceway on Friday, May 11. Stay tuned for updates.

Racingal.com

A NASCAR Fan Blog by Karen Pistone

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