Surprises And Disappointments From The Auto Club 500

There were quite a bit of surprises and disappointments during the 2009 Auto Club 500. Here is a list of what I thought were the biggest surprises and disappointments from last Sunday’s race.

Surprise

Matt Kenseth winning the first two races of the year was a big surprise to me. I know Roush Fenway has been dominate at this event the last several years, but for Kenseth to pull off that win surprised and impressed me. If you would have told me that Kenseth was going to win the race with 30 laps to go, I would have fell out laughing.

Disappointment

As Matt Kenseth was starting a new streak of his own, Kevin Harvick ended one. Harvick’s DNF Sunday night was his first in 81 races. A streak that was only three races shy of the all-time races without a DNF streak.

Surprise

Jimmie Johnson fading off towards the end was definitely a surprise. Usually, the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet team is at its best when it comes to the waning laps of a race – not this week. Johnson was running in dominating form during the early and middles stages of the race. When it got down to the last 30 to 40 laps, he began struggling and finished an uncharacteristic ninth.

Disappointment

The only real racing was on pit road. It is a shame that out of 250 laps on the track, the most excitement was the race off pit road. No wonder the Auto Club Speedway has a hard time selling tickets.

Surprise

Tony Stewart finished eight in both races thus far, and is fourth in points – tied with Kurt Busch with 294 points. We all know Stewart is a great race car driver, but to be doing so well with his new team was a surprise to me. I figured some new team struggles would hamper Stewart in the beginning of the season.

Disappointment

Dale Earnhardt, Jr. being 35th in points is a huge disappointment. I am not a Junior fan, but I expected him to be doing much better than this out of the gate. His bad driving hurt him in Daytona, and now his bad luck at Fontana has put him in a big hole to climb out of. It might be a long season for Junior Nation if his fortunes do not reverse soon…. real soon.

Surprise

Seeing Michael Waltrip and Juan Pablo Montoya in the top-10 in points. Waltrip and Montoya have started the 2009 season with strong finishes the first two races. Waltrip has finishes of seventh at Daytona and 15th at Fontana. Montoya has finishes of 14th at Daytona and 11th at Fontana. If these two can keep this up, they could be be contenders for a Chase spot. I doubt it really, but you never know in this sport. As for Waltrip, nothing motivates quite like the threat of firing yourself, huh?

Disappointment

I have been disappointed in how Joey Logano has run so far in 2009. I know the 18-year old is a rookie and has never ran at these tracks, but he has struggled badly. Maybe I am expecting too much from him too early. Logano is currently 38th in owner points. So if he doesn’t get a move on by Martinsville, he will have to qualify to get in the race. That could become a nightmare for the No. 20 Home Depot team.

 

I am looking forward to seeing what kind of surprises and disappointments we find at Las Vegas this Sunday.

Garage Insider

Here’s more recent news leading up to the 51st Annual Daytona 500. I think the NASCAR rule change on single file restarts is very interesting. I really agree with this change. I believe the lead lap cars should have more laps to duke it out at the end, which should promote better racing during the final laps.

If you are interested in the full article, just click the “headline” of each topic.

 

NASCAR Modifies Restart Rules

NASCAR will implement single-file restarts over the final 20 laps instead of the final 10 in all three series during the 2009 season, officials said on Thursday.

The rule was changed to give lead-lap drivers a better chance to go for the victory instead of having to battle lapped traffic on the inside as they do on double-file restarts.

NASCAR also is evaluating the 50-foot distance announced at the Budweiser Shootout as the new standard for the leader to restart an event. It could decrease from track to track based on driver input, officials said.

Under the new rule, the leader has between the double-red line 50 feet from the start-finish line and single-red line at the start-finish line to start the race. Otherwise, the starter on the flag stand will start the field.

 

Daytona To Be Repaved

International Speedway Corporation plans to resurface Daytona International Speedway in three years, the first time that has occurred since 1978.

And the decision was in place long before Dale Earnhardt Jr. said on Wednesday that the 2.5-mile track was becoming too bumpy and long overdue for a new surface.

"It has nothing to do with money, although it will be a $20 million project," DIS president Robin Braig said. "It has nothing to do with technology. We banked Talladega so we know we can do it on the high banking.

"It's all about when NASCAR and Goodyear says we need to do it," Braig said.

Daytona is one of the few major tracks that hasn't been resurfaced over the past 10 years. Talladega, Darlington, Lowe's Motor Speedway and many others have been through the process.

Sprint Cup series director John Darby said the DIS surface hasn't reached the point where it needs immediate attention because it isn't coming apart like Talladega was, but it is near the end of its life cycle.

 

Busch Helps Rookie Logano During Practice

Kyle Busch hopped into teammate Joey Logano’s car during Daytona 500 practice Friday, presumably to help the rookie dial-in his No. 20 Toyota.

The two both took turns in the Joe Gibbs Racing entry, but combined ran just 22 laps in the only practice session of the day at Daytona International Speedway. The 18-year-old Logano has had a roller-coaster Speedweeks, wrecking last week and scraping the wall in an earlier practice session, but rebounding with a fourth-place run in one of Thursday’s qualifying races.

Kevin Harvick, winner of the 2007 race, scraped the wall late in the session and will go to a backup car. He’ll now race the same car he drove to victory in last week’s Budweiser Shootout.

Only 37 drivers participated in the practice, which was paced by Jamie McMurray.

Busch, who won the second of Thursday’s qualifying races, did not turn any laps in his own Toyota. Aric Almirola, Denny Hamlin, Scott Speed, Jeremy Mayfield and Scott Riggs also took the day off.

 

Sadler Helps Allmendinger Get In 500

Better to be friends who work together as teammates than mortal enemies who hamper every move the other makes.

That was the message delivered by Elliott Sadler to his Richard Petty Motorsports teammates prior to Thursday's Gatorade Duel at Daytona International Speedway. But it's one thing to preach this feel-good message; quite another altogether to go out and live it when you're driving a race car at speeds approaching 200 mph.

Sadler walked the walk after talking the talk during the second of twin 150-mile races that help set the lineup for this Sunday's Daytona 500. With new teammate A.J. Allmendinger in danger of failing to finish well enough to get into the season-opening event, Sadler deliberately slowed down and dropped back in the field to give Allmendinger much-needed drafting help.

Allmendinger ended up finishing 10th, while Sadler settled for 17th. Reed Sorenson, another RPM teammate, also assisted Allmendinger. But it was Sadler's show of generosity that drew the most attention -- and with good reason.

Around the first of the year, Allmendinger was basically set to replace Sadler as driver of the No. 19 Dodge. Sadler, who signed a contract extension last year with the organization when it was still known as Gillett Evernham Motorsports, threatened to sue GEM and Allmendinger alike -- and eventually it was announced that he would remain driver of the No. 19 for 2009.

Thursday's display of goodwill on the track confirmed that there are no hard feelings left between the two.

 

Slowing Economy Helps NASCAR "Little Guys"

Perhaps the most time-tested adage in auto racing is that money buys speed. That's long been reflected in the upper reaches of NASCAR.

Last year the four richest teams controlled the 12 spots in the Chase for the Sprint Cup, a 10-race playoff-style format at the end of the racing season. The price tag for running a championship contender seemed to be at least $20 million.

But this year the recession has hit NASCAR in ways that will change what fans see on the track. Some sponsors — whose money is the lifeblood of race teams — have cut spending or dropped out, forcing teams to lay off crewmembers and trim operations. The four dominant teams — Hendrick Motorsports, Roush Fenway Racing, Joe Gibbs Racing and Richard Childress Racing — are as potent as ever, with big-name drivers such as three-time defending champion Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick.

But several midsized teams — which were spending $12 million-$20 million a year — are gone. That has spawned a new generation of low-budget teams that, like NASCAR teams a half-century ago, will run on shoestring budgets — and try to play David to the Big Four's Goliath.

The new teams, most with budgets of 10% to 25% of the Big Four's, will benefit from a confluence of factors that has opened up NASCAR races to more upstart drivers and teams.

Gordon, Busch Win Duels – Daytona 500 Field Set

Gatorade Duel No. 1

Jeff Gordon returned to victory lane for the first time in more than a year, winning Thursday’s first Gatorade Duel qualifying race at Daytona International Speedway.

 Jeff Gordon Celebrates In Victory Lane After His Gatorade Duel Victory

Driving the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, Gordon held off Tony Stewart and rookie Joey Logano in the closing laps. Because of Thursday’s victory, Gordon will start Sunday’s Daytona 500 on the inside of the second row as he tries to break his 41-race losing streak.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to visit victory lane quite a few times, but not many times as a father,” said Gordon, who was greeted by his daughter Ella after the race, which does not count in the Sprint Cup standings. “There’s nothing more special than that.

“This team has been unbelievable. We all know what we went through last year by not winning. There’s a lot of expectations on this team, but they never wavered. The guys just kept working hard, building great race cars. I hope there’s a lot of this in store for us in 2009.”

Stewart finished second in his No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet and earned the first transfer spot into the 500. The second spot went to Scott Riggs’ new Tommy Baldwin Racing team, as Riggs moved from 11th to eighth in the final five laps.
Since Stewart raced his way into the Daytona 500, Regan Smith moved up the qualifying order and is guaranteed a starting spot Sunday. Smith is entered in Thursday’s second Gatorade Duel.
Logano surged into the top five late in the race and ended up third in the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. Hendrick’s Jimmie Johnson was fourth, with Earnhardt Ganassi Racing’s Aric Almirola fifth.

Sixth through 10th were Penske Racing’s Kurt Busch, Richard Petty Motorsports’ Kasey Kahne, Riggs, Yates Racing’s Paul Menard and Roush Fenway Racing’s Jamie McMurray.
Bill Elliott ran well early in the race, but under the second caution, the transmission on Elliott’s Wood Brothers Racing Ford locked up, sending Elliott into the wall.
Elliott still transfers into Sunday’s Daytona 500 via his qualifying speed, as he was the fastest of the drivers not locked into the race.

Daytona 500 polesitter Martin Truex Jr. brought out the third caution when he spun on lap 49. Truex’s No. 1 Earnhardt Ganassi Chevrolet slid up the track in Turn 2 and then was clipped by David Ragan’s Ford.

Kyle Roland,  a crewman for Mayfield Motorsports, was struck on pit road while he helped service Kirk Shelmerdine’s No. 27 Toyota. Roland was serving as jackman for Shelmerdine when he was hit by Shelmerdine’s car on a pit stop. Roland was taken to a local hospital for possible treatment, a NASCAR spokesman said.

Gatorade Duel No. 1 Results

Finish	Start	Car #	Driver	Car Make
1	5	24	Jeff Gordon	Chevrolet
2	6	14	Tony Stewart	Chevrolet
3	3	48	Jimmie Johnson	Chevrolet
4	10	20	Joey Logano	Toyota
5	4	8	Aric Almirola	Chevrolet
6	22	2	Kurt Busch	Dodge
7	19	9	Kasey Kahne	Dodge
8	15	36	Scott Riggs	Toyota
9	7	98	Paul Menard	Ford
10	12	26	Jamie McMurray	Ford
11	9	187	Joe Nemechek	Toyota
12	18	09	Brad Keselowski	Chevrolet
13	14	47	Marcos Ambrose	Toyota
14	21	07	Casey Mears	Chevrolet
15	16	55	Michael Waltrip	Toyota
16	23	77	Sam Hornish Jr	Dodge
17	28	146	Carl Long	Dodge
18	25	37	Tony Raines	Dodge
19	26	66	Terry Labonte	Toyota
20	24	127	Kirk Shelmerdine	Toyota
21	1	1	Martin Truex Jr	Chevrolet
22	20	7	Robby Gordon	Toyota
23	13	6	David Ragan	Ford
24	8	16	Greg Biffle	Ford
25	17	34	John Andretti	Chevrolet
26	11	17	Matt Kenseth	Ford
27	2	21	Bill Elliott	Ford
28	27	123	Mike Skinner	Chevrolet

 

Gatorade Duel No. 2

Kyle Busch seemed to shake off his 2008 Chase For The Sprint Cup blues by holding off Mark Martin and Brian Vickers to win the second Gatorade Duel qualifying race Thursday at Daytona International Speedway.

Kyle Busch Celebrates After Winning The Second Gatorade Duel

Mayfield Motorsports’ Jeremy Mayfield and Richard Petty Motorsports’ AJ Allmendinger finished ninth and 10th, respectively, to earn starting spots in Sunday’s Daytona 500.
“An emotional day,” Mayfield said. “It’s probably better than any win I’ve ever had. I’ve had so much support from everybody. It’s just unbelievable.”

While Mayfield used a late two-tire pit stop to gain track position, Allmendinger raced his No. 44 Dodge into the final transfer spot with help from teammates Elliott Sadler and Reed Sorenson.
“Everybody’s known over the last two months what’s happened,” Allmendinger said. “I’ve got to thank the 44 guys. They worked way long hours to get these cars ready. And I’ve especially got to thank my teammates, Elliott and Reed. They kind of had to ruin their races to come back and save me.”

The final three drivers to make the 500 reached it through qualifying speed: Bill Elliott (Wood Brothers Racing), Travis Kvapil (Yates Racing) and Regan Smith (Furniture Row Racing).
Busch won eight of the first 26 races last year but struggled in the 10-race Chase, finishing 10th in the final Cup standings.
Busch surged to the front late in the race, getting drafting help from Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Denny Hamlin to get around Hendrick Motorsports' Martin for the lead with three laps to go.
“I knew the first opportunity that we had to make the move that we ought to just take it and go for it and try to hold them off from there,” Busch said. “It turned out to be all right; it was the winning move.”

On the last lap, Martin and Vickers (Red Bull Racing) slipped under Hamlin and moved in on Busch. Vickers gave Martin a hard bump-draft into Turn 3, sending Martin to the outside of Busch.
Busch moved up the track to block Martin, and then Vickers darted under Martin as the two raced for second to the checkered flag.

Martin slipped around Vickers for second, with Vickers holding on for third. Earnhardt Ganassi Racing’s Juan Pablo Montoya finished fourth, with Hamlin finishing fifth

.
Sixth through 10th were Hall of Fame Racing’s Bobby Labonte, Hendrick’s Dale Earnhardt Jr., Roush Fenway Racing’s Carl Edwards, Mayfield and Allmendinger.

Stewart-Haas Racing’s Ryan Newman didn’t have as good a race as his teammate/owner Tony Stewart did in the first Duel. Newman was forced to pit with a flat tire on lap 13, but a caution came out soon after, and Newman was able to stay on the lead lap.

Newman moved back in the top five late in the race but was hit from behind by Michael Waltrip Racing's David Reutimann on the backstretch and slammed the wall. After crawling out of his No. 39 Chevrolet, Newman walked on the track and lifted his arms in frustration at Reutimann.

Gatorade Duel No. 2 Results

Finish	Start	Car #	Driver	Make
1	8	18	Kyle Busch	Toyota
2	1	5	Mark Martin	Chevrolet
3	18	83	Brian Vickers	Toyota
4	3	42	Juan Pablo Montoya	Chevrolet
5	13	11	Denny Hamlin	Toyota
6	5	96	Bobby Labonte	Ford
7	6	88	Dale Earnhardt Jr	Chevrolet
8	14	99	Carl Edwards	Ford
9	21	41	Jeremy Mayfield	Toyota
10	19	44	A.J. Allmendinger	Dodge
11	12	33	Clint Bowyer	Chevrolet
12	20	12	David Stremme	Dodge
13	22	171	Mike Wallace	Chevrolet
14	17	31	Jeff Burton	Chevrolet
15	10	00	David Reutimann	Toyota
16	7	78	Regan Smith	Chevrolet
17	16	19	Elliott Sadler	Dodge
18	24	29	Kevin Harvick	Chevrolet
19	4	28	Travis Kvapil	Ford
20	26	51	Kelly Bires	Dodge
21	15	43	Reed Sorenson	Dodge
22	25	175	Derrike Cope	Dodge
23	28	157	Norm Benning	Chevrolet
24	2	39	Ryan Newman	Chevrolet
25	9	82	Scott Speed	Toyota
26	23	73	Mike Garvey	Dodge
27	27	64	Geoffrey Bodine	Toyota
28	11	08	Boris Said	Ford

2009 Daytona 500 Starting Lineup

Starting lineup for Sunday's Daytona 500 race for NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series at Daytona International Speedway after Thursday's qualifying races, with car number in parentheses, driver, car and qualifying speed in mph:

1. (1) Martin Truex Jr., Chevrolet, 188.001.

2. (5) Mark Martin, Chevrolet, 187.817.

3. (24) Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, 187.402.

4. (18) Kyle Busch, Toyota, 186.896.

5. (14) Tony Stewart, Chevrolet, 187.336.

6. (83) Brian Vickers, Toyota, 185.858.

7. (48) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 187.727.

8. (42) Juan Pablo Montoya, Chevrolet, 187.743.

9. (20) Joey Logano, Toyota, 186.753.

10. (11) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 186.451.

11. (8) Aric Almirola, Chevrolet, 187.649.

12. (96) Bobby Labonte, Ford, 187.211.

13. (2) Kurt Busch, Dodge, 185.38.

14. (88) Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet, 187.079.

15. (9) Kasey Kahne, Dodge, 185.517.

16. (99) Carl Edwards, Ford, 186.389.

17. (36) Scott Riggs, Toyota, 185.893.

18. (41) Jeremy Mayfield, Toyota, 185.082.

19. (98) Paul Menard, Ford, 187.044.

20. (44) A.J. Allmendinger, Dodge, 185.77.

21. (26) Jamie McMurray, Ford, 186.509.

22. (33) Clint Bowyer, Chevrolet, 186.726.

23. (47) Marcos Ambrose, Toyota, 186.012.

24. (12) David Stremme, Dodge, 185.391.

25. (07) Casey Mears, Chevrolet, 185.426.

26. (31) Jeff Burton, Chevrolet, 185.958.

27. (55) Michael Waltrip, Toyota, 185.805.

28. (00) David Reutimann, Toyota, 186.827.

29. (77) Sam Hornish Jr., Dodge, 185.079.

30. (19) Elliott Sadler, Dodge, 186.066.

31. (7) Robby Gordon, Toyota, 185.51.

32. (29) Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet, 183.602.

33. (6) David Ragan, Ford, 186.374.

34. (43) Reed Sorenson, Dodge, 186.07.

35. (16) Greg Biffle, Ford, 186.889.

36. (39) Ryan Newman, Chevrolet, 187.778.

37. (34) John Andretti, Chevrolet, 185.59.

38. (82) Scott Speed, Toyota, 186.842.

39. (17) Matt Kenseth, Ford, 186.614.

40. (21) Bill Elliott, Ford, 187.739.

41. (28) Travis Kvapil, Ford, 187.574.

42. (78) Regan Smith, Chevrolet, 186.924.

43. (66) Terry Labonte, Toyota, Past Champion.

Failed to qualify

44. (87) Joe Nemechek, Toyota, 186.807.

45. (08) Boris Said, Ford, 186.78.

46. (09) Brad Keselowski, Chevrolet, 185.571.

47. (127) Kirk Shelmerdine, Toyota, 184.854.

48. (171) Mike Wallace, Chevrolet, 184.847.

49. (37) Tony Raines, Dodge, 184.106.

50. (73) Mike Garvey, Dodge, 184.004.

51. (75) Derrike Cope, Dodge, 182.02.

52. (23) Mike Skinner, Chevrolet, 181.928.

53. (51) Kelly Bires, Dodge, 181.701.

54. (46) Carl Long, Dodge, 181.032.

55. (64) Geoff Bodine, Toyota, 180.81.

56. (57) Norm Benning, Chevrolet, 177.396.

Race Recap:2009 Bud Shootout at Daytona

Harvick Takes Win With Last-Lap Pass

Harvick Celebrates In Victory Lane At Daytona

Kevin Harvick used a thrilling last-lap pass to steal a Daytona 500 victory.

He's apparently got the move mastered.

Harvick powered past Jamie McMurray on the outside of the last lap Saturday night to complete a come-from-nowhere victory in the exhibition Budweiser Shootout.

"That was some wild racing," he said from Victory Lane. "What a race. That was wild as heck there at the end."

Wild indeed.

 

 

It was Harvick's first victory in 71 races, dating to the All-Star race in May 2007. The only other event he won that year was the season-opening 500, when he nipped Mark Martin in a photo finish. Harvick was winless in 2008.

Now he's got the momentum heading into next weekend's Daytona 500.

He started 23rd in the Shootout, spent most of the race in the back dodging wrecks, then slowly worked his way up toward the front. McMurray seemed headed for the win until a late wreck between Greg Biffle and David Stremme set up a two-lap overtime sprint to the finish.

Harvick was in fourth on the restart, and didn't seem to have anything for McMurray.

But as they closed in on the finish line, he used a huge push from Denny Hamlin to slide past McMurray on the outside.

"It will be a long night," McMurray said. "I'll think about what maybe I should have done different."

Harvick coasted to the win as Hamlin, Jimmie Johnson and Kyle Busch all crashed behind him.

McMurray finished second and Tony Stewart was third.

Here is the final standings for the 2009 Budweiser Shootout at Daytona (start position in parentheses):

1. (27) Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet, 78 laps, 70.9 rating, $200,000.

2. (15) Jamie McMurray, Ford, 78, 102.9, $100,000.

3. (6) Tony Stewart, Chevrolet, 78, 92.3, $60,000.

4. (28) Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, 78, 95.4, $51,000.

5. (18) A.J. Allmendinger, Dodge, 78, 79.3, $50,000.

6. (14) Kasey Kahne, Dodge, 78, 102.6, $49,000.

7. (11) Carl Edwards, Ford, 78, 114.8, $47,000.

8. (25) Matt Kenseth, Ford, 78, 75.9, $45,000.

9. (12) Kurt Busch, Dodge, 78, 74.8, $43,000.

10. (10) Kyle Busch, Toyota, 78, 95.6, $41,500.

11. (7) Brian Vickers, Toyota, 78, 86.6, $41,000.

12. (1) Paul Menard, Ford, 78, 50.9, $40,500.

13. (5) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 78, 92.1, $40,000.

14. (21) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, accident, 77, 96.9, $38,500.

15. (24) Casey Mears, Chevrolet, accident, 77, 55.3, $38,000.

16. (20) David Stremme, Dodge, accident, 73, 57.7, $37,000.

17. (26) Greg Biffle, Ford, accident, 72, 51.7, $35,000.

18. (9) Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet, accident, 64, 110.6, $33,000.

19. (8) Bobby Labonte, Ford, accident, 63, 51.5, $30,000.

20. (22) David Reutimann, Toyota, accident, 56, 48.5, $28,000.

21. (2) Elliott Sadler, Dodge, accident, 54, 56.5, $26,000.

22. (17) Michael Waltrip, Toyota, accident, 43, 46.1, $25,000.

23. (3) Reed Sorenson, Dodge, engine, 36, 51.8, $23,500.

24. (23) Jeff Burton, Chevrolet, accident, 32, 33, $21,000.

25. (4) Scott Speed, Toyota, accident, 4, 35.6, $20,000.

26. (16) David Ragan, Ford, accident, 3, 40.1, $19,000.

27. (13) Robby Gordon, Dodge, accident, 3, 36.4, $18,000.

28. (19) Joey Logano, Toyota, accident, 3, 32.9, $17,154.

***

Race Statistics

Average Speed of race winner: 127.243 mph.

Time of race: 1 hour, 31 minutes, 57 seconds.

Margin of victory: Under caution.

Caution flags: Eight for 23 laps.

Lead changes: 23 among 14 drivers.

Lap leaders: P.Menard 1-2; D.Hamlin 3; D.Earnhardt Jr. 4-10; E.Sadler 11-12; T.Stewart 13-16; C.Edwards 17-25; J.McMurray 26; K.Kahne 27-28; J.McMurray 29; J.Gordon 30; J.McMurray 31-32; D.Hamlin 33-35; Ky.Busch 36-40; D.Earnhardt Jr. 41-49; M.Kenseth 50; D.Earnhardt Jr. 51-56; C.Edwards 57-58; Ky.Busch 59; D.Earnhardt Jr. 60; J.Gordon 61; J.Johnson 62-63; B.Vickers 64-65; J.McMurray 66-77; K.Harvick 78.

Leaders summary (Driver, Times led, Laps led): D.Earnhardt Jr., 4 times for 23 laps; J.McMurray, 4 times for 16 laps; C.Edwards, 2 times for 11 laps; Ky.Busch, 2 times for 6 laps; T.Stewart, 1 time for 4 laps; D.Hamlin, 2 times for 4 laps; J.Gordon, 2 times for 2 laps; K.Kahne, 1 time for 2 laps; B.Vickers, 1 time for 2 laps; P.Menard, 1 time for 2 laps; J.Johnson, 1 time for 2 laps; E.Sadler, 1 time for 2 laps; K.Harvick, 1 time for 1 lap; M.Kenseth, 1 time for 1 lap.

This was one of the most exciting Bud Shootout’s I can remember. I can’t wait to see what happens during the Daytona 500!

2009 Sprint Cup Rookie of the Year Prediction

The 2009 season will bring us just two candidates for Raybestos Rookie of the Year in the Sprint Cup Series. Those candidates are Joey Logano and Scott Speed.

Joey Logano

First up is Joey Logano. Logano is the most-hyped rookie in recent memory. You have probably heard more about Logano in the last six months than you have about any rookie since Dale Earnhardt,Jr.

 2009 Raybestos Rookie of the Year Candidate Joey Logano

Joey Logano was born May 24, 1990 in Middletown, Connecticut. He was nicknamed “Sliced Bread” by former Nationwide Champion, Randy LaJoie. LaJoie’s son, Corey, grew up racing with Logano.

Logano burst onto the NASCAR scene last season after he turned 18, NASCAR’s minimum age to compete in the top three series. He then won his first Nationwide Series race just 21 days later at Kentucky Speedway. With wins in quarter midgets, Bandoleros and Legends as a child to USAR Hooters Pro Cup, Camping World East and ARCA Series as a teenager, Logano has proven he is as good as the hype indicates.

Joey Logano will take over the Joe Gibbs Racing #20 Home Depot Toyota Camry from Tony Stewart in 2009.

 

Scott Speed

Scott Speed was born January 24, 1983 in Manteca, California. Speed worked his way up through the open wheel career ladder winning national championships in karting before moving on to US Barber Formula Dodge and US Star Mazda Series. Speed continued his climb overseas with 2004 championships in the Formula Renault 2000 Eurocup and German Formula Renault series.

2009 Raybestos Rookie of the Year candidate Scott Speed

Speed got a taste of the big time in 2005 when he started two Formula One races. He then ran the full season in 2006 and the first ten races of 2007 before disagreements with the team caused a separation.

In all, Speed started 28 Formula One races without scoring a point in the series. Overall Scott Speed performed well in Formula One considering the equipment he had.

Speed found his way back to the U.S. and landed in the ARCA series. In 2008, Scott scored four wins and ended the season third in points. At the same time he started 16 Truck Series events for Bill Davis Racing managing nine top tens and one win.

Speed ended last season with five NASCAR Sprint Cup starts in the Red Bull Racing #84. Speed struggled with his first four starts, not starting better than 33rd or finishing higher than 30th. However, in the season finale in Homestead, Speed started on the outside of the front row, ran near the front most of the day and ended the race with a respectable 16th place finish.

This is the same team that he will race full-time with in 2009. They have simply changed the car number to #82.

 

The Skinny

Scott Speed brings the most diversified racing resume and experience of the two drivers. He has proven he is a quick learner. Throughout his career he has reached his potential at a rapid pace. He could quickly become the #1 driver at Team Red Bull. And his last name is Speed, go figure.

Joey Logano has also shown to be a quick study. Logano has proven that he isn’t scared to rub fenders with the big boys. He will be the youngest driver to ever qualify for the Daytona 500 at 18 years old. Logano will need to mature quickly to overcome obstacles during his first full-time season in Sprint Cup.

 

My Prediction

One driver has great skill and experience but is with a second tier team. The other driver is very young, immensely talented, and has the support of a championship-winning crew chief with nearly unlimited resources.

My choice is the latter, Joey Logano, to win the 2009 Raybestos Rookie of the Year. With crew chief Greg Zipadelli’s tutelage, Logano will have a very good season. He should get at least one or two wins in 2009 and may even challenge for a Chase spot near the end of the season.

I hope that both drivers have a safe and competitive season in 2009. I believe they both will have great success in the Sprint Cup Series.

2009 Bud Shootout Entry List

Here is the official Entry List for the 2009 Bud Shootout. Remember, the Bud Shootout will be February 7th, at 8:00PM (EST) on Fox.

Car #	Driver	Owner	Crew Chief	Car Make	Sponsor
00	David Reutimann	Michael Waltrip	Rodney Childers	Toyota Camry	Aaron’s Dream Machine
2	Kurt Busch	Walter Czamecki	Patrick Tryson	Dodge Charger	Miller Lite
6	David Ragan	Mike Dee	Jimmy Fennig	Ford Fusion	UPS
7	Robby Gordon	Robby Gordon	Kirk Almquist	Dodge Charger	Jim Beam
07	Casey Mears	Richard Childress	Gil Martin	Chevrolet Impala	Jack Daniels
9	Kasey Kahne	George Gillett Jr	Kenny Francis	Dodge Charger	Budweiser
11	Denny Hamlin	J.D. Gibbs	Michael Ford	Toyota Camry	FedEx Express
12	David Stremme	Roger Penske	Leroy McCauley	Dodge Charger	Penske Dodge
14	Tony Stewart	Margaret Haas	Darian Grubb	Chevrolet Impala	Old Spice/Office Depot
16	Greg Biffle	Jack Roush	Greg Erwin	Ford Fusion	3M
17	Matt Kenseth	John Henry	Drew Blickensderfer	Ford Fusion	DeWalt
18	Kyle Busch	Joe Gibbs	Steve Addington	Toyota Camry	M&Ms
19	Elliott Sadler	George Gillett Jr	Kevin Buskirk	Dodge Charger	Stanley Tools
20	Joey Logano	Joe Gibbs	Greg Zipadelli	Toyota Camry	Home Depot
24	Jeff Gordon	Rick Hendrick	Steve Letarte	Chevrolet Impala	DuPont
26	Jamie McMurray	Geoff Smith	Donnie Wingo	Ford Fusion	Crown Royal
29	Kevin Harvick	Richard Childress	Todd Berrier	Chevrolet Impala	Shell/Pennzoil
31	Jeff Burton	Richard Childress	Scott Miller	Chevrolet Impala	Caterpillar
43	Reed Sorenson	Richard Petty	Mike Shplett	Dodge Charger	McDonald’s
44	A.J. Allmendinger	George Gillett Jr	Sammy Johns	Dodge Charger	Valvoline
48	Jimmie Johnson	Jeff Gordon	Chad Knaus	Chevrolet Impala	Lowe’s
55	Michael Waltrip	Michael Waltrip	Bootie Barker	Toyota Camry	NAPA
82	Scott Speed	Dietrich Mateschitz	Jimmy Elledge	Toyota Camry	Red Bull
83	Brian Vickers	Dietrich Mateschitz	Ryan Pemberton	Toyota Camry	Red Bull
88	Dale Earnhardt Jr	Rick Hendrick	Tony Eury Jr	Chevrolet Impala	National Guard/AMP Energy
96	Bobby Labonte	Jeff Moorad	Brad Parrott	Ford Fusion	Ask.com
98	Paul Menard	Max Jones	Larry Carter	Ford Fusion	Menard’s
99	Carl Edwards	Jack Roush	Bob Osborne	Ford Fusion	AFLAC

 

The starting order is determined by a drawing for the Bud Shootout. It will be interesting to see which of these 28 drivers get the pole!

Thursday I will have a special post on the Bud Shootout called The Big Bud Shootout Shindig. This post will cover everything from the Bud Shootout history, famous events during previous Shootouts, former winners and much more!

Be sure you don’t miss it!

Follow The Chaos For The 2009 Season

As the 2009 season approaches, I felt like it would be a good time to list some of the new driver/crew chief/team changes. This Silly Season probably represents more changes than any other year I can remember.

So hang on and try to keep up as I list some of the biggest changes thus far for the 2009 Sprint Cup Series season.

 

• Mark Martin left a part time schedule, driving the #01 U.S. Army Chevrolet, to run full time again for Hendrick Motorsports. Martin will be steering the #5 Kellogg's/Car Quest Chevrolet with Alan Gustafson being the crew chief.
• Casey Mears left that Hendricks Motorsports #5 to drive for Richard Childress Racing. Mears will be driving the #07 Jack Daniels Chevrolet with Gil Martin serving as crew chief.
• Clint Bowyer, the previous driver of the #07 Jack Daniels Chevrolet, will move over to Richard Childress Racing's fourth team the #33 General Mills/BB&T Chevrolet with crew chief Shane Wilson.
• Ryan Newman left the #12 Alltel Dodge of Penske South Racing to drive the #39 U.S. Army Chevrolet of Stewart Haas Racing with crew chief Tony Gibson.
• Tony Stewart left Joe Gibbs Racing to become half owner of Stewart Haas Racing and pilot the #14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet with new crew chief Darian Grubb.
• David Stremme was hired by Penske South Racing to drive the #12 Alltel Dodge with crew chief Roy McCauley.
• Rookie Joey Logano was promoted to the Sprint Cup Series by Joe Gibbs Racing. He will steer the #20 Home Depot Toyota with crew chief Greg Zipadelli.
• John Andretti was hired to drive the #34 Window World Chevrolet for Earnhardt Ganassi Racing. This team is from an alliance between Earnhardt Ganassi Racing and Front Row Motorsports. The crew chief will be Scott Eggleston.
• Rookie Scott Speed has moved into the #82 Red Bull Racing Toyota vacated by A.J. Allmendinger. The crew chief will be Jimmy Elledge.
• A.J. Allmendinger has signed to drive the new #44 Valvoline Dodge with Richard Petty Motorsports (now a part of Gillett Evernham Motorsports) for 2009. As of this post, Allmendinger is set for eight races this season, but the team is working on getting more races.
• Reed Sorenson will be piloting the #43 Gillett Evernham Motorsports Dodge in 2009 with crew chief Mike Shiplett. Their will be five primary sponsors for the team in 2009, most notably the U.S. Air Force.
• Former Sprint Cup Champion Bobby Labonte will be driving the #96 Academy Sports and Outdoors Ford for Hall of Fame Racing with crew chief Todd Parrott.
• JTG Daugherty Racing will add a Sprint Cup Series car to their team in 2009. They have primarily fielded cars in the Nationwide Series. The new Sprint Cup car will be the #47 Little Debbie Snacks Toyota driven by rookie Marcos Ambrose. Frank Kerr will be the crew chief.
• Paul Menard has left DEI, after the merger with Ganassi, to join Yates Racing. Menard will drive the #98 Menard's Ford. The crew chief will be Larry Carter.

There have been some notable team mergers during the off season as well.

• Richard Petty Motorsports has merged with Gillett Evernham Motorsports. It will be referred to as Richard Petty Motorsports.
• Dale Earnhardt Inc. has merged with Ganassi Racing to form Earnhardt Ganassi Racing or EGR.
• Yates Racing has formed an alliance with Hall of Fame Racing. It will be called Yates Racing.

Boy! This stuff can get confusing. It is no wonder they call it the Silly Season. The team mergers can get real confusing, because different people call the new team a different name. It all depends on who you talk to.

It can get mind-boggling the first couple races trying to figure out which driver is driving what. Hopefully this list will help to clear it up a bit.

The Top 20 Drivers of 2009 Part 1

Today I will begin a pre-season look at how I think the points will end up for the upcoming year. The Top 20 Drivers of 2009 will showcase what I think will be the finishing order in points, starting at number 20 and finishing on February 7th with the 2009 Sprint Cup Champion. I will display three drivers each day until February 5th. On February 6th, I will have the second place driver, and on February 7th I will have who I think will be this year's champ. All just in time for the February 8th kickoff of the season - the Budweiser Shootout! It is just around the corner, so let's get started!

#20 Ryan Newman

Ryan Newman started off 2008 with a bang by capturing the 50th Annual Daytona 500. The rest of his year was somewhat disappointing, finishing 17th in the final points standings.

Newman was born December 8, 1977 in South Bend, Indiana. He received a degree in Vehicle Structure Engineering from Purdue University. He won the USAC Silver Crown National Championship in 1999. His Sprint Cup career began at Penske Racing South in 2000.

In 2008, Newman had 36 starts, 1 pole, 1 win, 2 Top 5s, 8 Top 10s, average start of 16, average finish of 20, and 3,735 points.

2009 looks to be a trickier ride for Newman, as he joins Tony Stewart at Stewart-Haas Racing. He will be driving the #39 Chevrolet Impala sponsored by the U.S. Army and Haas Automation.


#19 Joey Logano



Joey Logano will kick off his rookie season in 2009. Logano has shown much promise and has been the most talked-about newcomer all of 2008. Everyone has high expectations for the 18 year-old.

Logano was born May 24, 1990 in Middletown, Connecticut. Logano started racing at the age of six. He has won in everything from quarter-midgets to USAR Hooters Pro Cup to the Nationwide Series. Logano became the youngest driver to ever win a Nationwide Series race during the Meijer 300 at Kentucky Speedway. He was 18 years, 21 days old at the time.

Look to hear a lot about Logano during the 2009 season. He will have a bunch of good finishes and may even see Victory Lane this year, but he will also see some growing pains and rookie mishaps.

Logano will be taking over the #20 Home Depot Toyota Camry from Tony Stewart at Joe Gibbs Racing.

#18 Kasey Kahne



Kasey Kahne started the 2008 season in pretty decent shape, knocking off six Top 10s in the first ten races. Kahne even seemed like he was on track to challenge for a possible championship run towards the middle of the 2008 season. He posted wins for the NASCAR All-Star race at Charlotte, then winning the Cocoa-Cola 600, a win two weeks later at Pocono, and a second at Michigan the following week. After that Kahne's season fell apart, recording only six Top 10s in the next 21 races.

Kasey Kahne was born April 10, 1980 in Enumclaw, Washington. Kahne has driven everything from World of Outlaws to USAC Midgets. He started racing at the age if 14.

I expect Kahne's woes to continue in 2009. He will have the occasional spurt of good runs but most of his season will be as lackluster as 2008. Ray Evernham will not be as involved with the race teams in 2009, as he is pursuing other ventures. This will might have a negative impact on all the Gillett Evernham teams.

Kahne will continue to drive the #9 Budweiser Dodge Charger for Gillett Evernham Motorsports in 2009.


That is it for numbers 20 through 18 for The Top 20 Drivers of 2009. Check back tomorrow for numbers 17 through 15!