Nascar Blog

Here are some videos from the 2010 Daytona 500 qualifying.

Here are some great videos from the 2010 Bud Shootout.

Here are the starting lineups for the twin 125 Gatorade Duel Races, 54 stock cars total, so, 11 of these guys will go home next week.

Gatorade Duel 1:
1 5 Mark Martin Chevrolet GoDaddy.com
2 39 Ryan Newman Chevrolet U.S. Army
3 21 Bill Elliott Ford Motorcraft / Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center
4 48 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet Lowe’s
5 33 Clint Bowyer Chevrolet Cheerios / Hamburger Helper
6 18 Kyle Busch Toyota M&M’s
7 24 Jeff Gordon Chevrolet DuPont
8 87 Joe Nemechek Toyota NEMCO Motorsports
9 1 Jamie McMurray Chevrolet Bass Pro Shops / Tracker
10 151 Michael Waltrip Toyota NAPA Auto Parts
11 6 David Ragan Ford UPS
12 43 A.J. Allmendinger Ford Best Buy
13 99 Carl Edwards Ford Aflac
14 11 Denny Hamlin Toyota FedEx Express
15 29 Kevin Harvick Chevrolet Shell / Pennzoil
16 31 Jeff Burton Chevrolet Caterpillar
17 78 Regan Smith Chevrolet Furniture Row Companies
18 16 Greg Biffle Ford 3M
19 132 Reed Sorenson Toyota Dollar General
20 13 Max Papis Toyota GEICO
21 34 John Andretti Ford Window World Cares
22 197 Jeff Fuller Toyota FrontRowJoe.com
23 38 Robert Richardson Jr. Ford Mahindra Tractors
24 37 Travis Kvapil Ford Extenze
25 46 Terry Cook* Dodge Whitney Motorsports
26 55 Michael McDowell Toyota Prism Motorsports
27 127 Kirk Shelmerdine Toyota Kirk Shelmerdine Racing

Gatorade Duel 2:
1 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet Amp Energy / National Guard
2 42 Juan Montoya Chevrolet Target
3 2 Kurt Busch Dodge Miller Lite
4 17 Matt Kenseth Ford Crown Royal
5 77 Sam Hornish Jr. Dodge Mobil 1
6 82 Scott Speed Toyota Red Bull
7 47 Marcos Ambrose Toyota Kroger Floral
8 12 Brad Keselowski Dodge Penske Racing
9 20 Joey Logano Toyota The Home Depot
10 71 Bobby Labonte Chevrolet TaxSlayer.com
11 14 Tony Stewart Chevrolet Office Depot / Old Spice
12 00 David Reutimann Toyota Aaron’s Dream Machine
13 98 Paul Menard Ford Peak / Menards
14 9 Kasey Kahne Ford Budweiser
15 36 Mike Bliss Chevrolet Wave Energy Drink
16 7 Robby Gordon Toyota Monster Energy
17 56 Martin Truex Jr. Toyota NAPA Auto Parts
18 83 Brian Vickers Toyota Red Bull
19 19 Elliott Sadler Ford Stanley
20 190 Casey Mears Chevrolet Keyed-Up Motorsports
21 49 David Gilliland Toyota Warner Music Nashville / Larry the Cable Guy
22 09 Aric Almirola Chevrolet Phoenix Racing
23 26 Boris Said Ford Window World Cares
24 66 Dave Blaney Toyota Prism Motorsports
25 175 Derrike Cope Dodge Asset Protect/ Strutmasterspro.com
26 192 Mike Wallace Dodge K-Automotive Motorsports
27 157 Norm Benning Chevrolet Norm Benning Racing

They qualified the first two positions yesterday for the 2010 Daytona 500, and it’s an all Hendricks front row, again. The rest of the qualifying spots will be determined by the twin 125 races this coming week. As far as the times on this qualifying run go, Johnson was 7th and Gordon was 10th, so all of the Hendricks vehicles were running in the top 10. After looking like he was going to do well in the Bus Shootout, things are looking good for Gordon as well in the Daytona 500.

Three weeks ago, at a Fan Fest appearance at Daytona International Speedway, Dale Earnhardt Jr. spoke of a renewed spirit of cooperation at the Hendrick Motorsports shop shared by the No. 5 and No. 88 teams.

What Earnhardt termed a “change in culture” spurred by personnel moves within the shop was in full flower Saturday at Daytona.

Daytona 500 quals
Video: Martin races to pole
Video: Junior on front row
Results: Qualifying times
Lineup: Gatorade Duel 1
Lineup: Gatorade Duel 2
Mark Martin, who led the Sprint Cup Series with seven poles last year, added another to his resume, putting his No. 5 Chevy in the top starting spot for the Feb. 14 season-opening Daytona 500. Navigating the 2.5-mile superspeedway in 47.074 seconds (191.188 mph), Martin edged Earnhardt (190.913 mph) for the pole.

Those two drivers, who will start first and second in the 52nd running of NASCAR’s most prestigious race, are the only two who know their positions on the grid for the Valentine’s Day event. The starting order for the rest of the 43-car field won’t be determined until Thursday, with the running of the two Gatorade Duel 150-mile qualifying races. Source: Nascar.com

Here is how they qualified:
1 5 Mark Martin Chevrolet GoDaddy.com
2 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet Amp Energy / National Guard
3 39 Ryan Newman Chevrolet U.S. Army
4 21 Bill Elliott Ford Motorcraft / Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center
5 42 Juan Montoya Chevrolet Target
6 2 Kurt Busch Dodge Miller Lite
7 48 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet Lowe’s
8 33 Clint Bowyer Chevrolet Cheerios / Hamburger Helper
9 18 Kyle Busch Toyota M&M’s
10 24 Jeff Gordon Chevrolet DuPont
11 17 Matt Kenseth Ford Crown Royal
12 77 Sam Hornish Jr. Dodge Mobil 1
13 82 Scott Speed Toyota Red Bull
14 47 Marcos Ambrose Toyota Kroger Floral
15 12 Brad Keselowski Dodge Penske Racing
16 87 Joe Nemechek Toyota NEMCO Motorsports
17 20 Joey Logano Toyota The Home Depot
18 71 Bobby Labonte Chevrolet TaxSlayer.com
19 1 Jamie McMurray Chevrolet Bass Pro Shops / Tracker
20 151 Michael Waltrip Toyota NAPA Auto Parts
21 14 Tony Stewart Chevrolet Office Depot / Old Spice
22 00 David Reutimann Toyota Aaron’s Dream Machine
23 98 Paul Menard Ford Peak / Menards
24 6 David Ragan Ford UPS
25 43 A.J. Allmendinger Ford Best Buy
26 99 Carl Edwards Ford Aflac
27 11 Denny Hamlin Toyota FedEx Express
28 9 Kasey Kahne Ford Budweiser
29 36 Mike Bliss Chevrolet Wave Energy Drink
30 29 Kevin Harvick Chevrolet Shell / Pennzoil
31 31 Jeff Burton Chevrolet Caterpillar
32 7 Robby Gordon Toyota Monster Energy
33 56 Martin Truex Jr. Toyota NAPA Auto Parts
34 78 Regan Smith Chevrolet Furniture Row Companies
35 83 Brian Vickers Toyota Red Bull
36 19 Elliott Sadler Ford Stanley
37 16 Greg Biffle Ford 3M
38 132 Reed Sorenson Toyota Dollar General
39 190 Casey Mears Chevrolet Keyed-Up Motorsports
40 13 Max Papis Toyota GEICO
41 49 David Gilliland Toyota Warner Music Nashville / Larry the Cable Guy
42 34 John Andretti Ford Window World Cares
43 197 Jeff Fuller Toyota FrontRowJoe.com
44 38 Robert Richardson Jr. Ford Mahindra Tractors
45 37 Travis Kvapil Ford Extenze
46 09 Aric Almirola Chevrolet Phoenix Racing
47 46 Terry Cook* Dodge Whitney Motorsports
48 26 Boris Said Ford Window World Cares
49 66 Dave Blaney Toyota Prism Motorsports
50 55 Michael McDowell Toyota Prism Motorsports
51 175 Derrike Cope Dodge Asset Protect/Strutmasterspro.com
52 127 Kirk Shelmerdine Toyota Kirk Shelmerdine Racing
53 192 Mike Wallace Dodge K-Automotive Motorsports
54 157 Norm Benning Chevrolet Norm Benning Racing

This year’s Bud Shootout was okay, the bigger restrictor plate didn’t seem to make much difference as far as the race went for me. Harvick won after fighting the flu, I think he said he had no practice time in the car; maybe he should try that more often. It was funny that it didn’t end under green, which I believe is in the rulebook, but, it ended under caution when Greg Biffle lost it while Jeff Gordon was pushing him.

We’ll see if the bigger plate and the changes while help during the Daytona qualifying races and the 500 next week.

“I was sick on Thursday and didn’t even get to see a lap in the car, but this thing was a rocket, man,” said Harvick, the fourth back-to-back winner in Shootout history.

Kasey Kahne came home second in the non-points Cup event, followed by Jamie McMurray, Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin. Gordon, Joey Logano, Brian Vickers, Tony Stewart and Juan Montoya completed the top 10 as the race ended under caution one lap beyond the scheduled 75 laps. Source:

Here is how they finished:
1 29 Kevin Harvick Chevrolet Shell / Pennzoil
2 9 Kasey Kahne Ford Budweiser
3 1 Jamie McMurray Chevrolet Bass Pro Shops / Tracker
4 18 Kyle Busch Toyota M&M’s
5 11 Denny Hamlin Toyota FedEx Express
6 24 Jeff Gordon Chevrolet DuPont
7 20 Joey Logano Toyota The Home Depot
8 83 Brian Vickers Toyota Red Bull
9 14 Tony Stewart Chevrolet Old Spice / Office Depot
10 42 Juan Montoya Chevrolet Target
11 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet National Guard / Amp Energy
12 31 Jeff Burton Chevrolet Caterpillar
13 48 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet Lowe’s
14 82 Ken Schrader Toyota Red Bull
15 16 Greg Biffle Ford 3M
16 17 Matt Kenseth Ford Crown Royal
17 99 Carl Edwards Ford Scotts Turf Builder
18 71 Bobby Labonte Chevrolet TRG Motorsports
19 39 Ryan Newman Chevrolet Haas Automation
20 5 Mark Martin Chevrolet GoDaddy.com PE
21 151 Michael Waltrip Toyota NAPA Auto Parts
22 34 John Andretti Ford Window World Cares
23 2 Kurt Busch Dodge Miller Lite PE
24 175 Derrike Cope Dodge Asset Protect/ Strutmasterspro.com

Here is the Nascar Sprint Cup Series schedule for 2010.

February 6 Daytona Shootout Sat 8 p.m. on FOX
February 11 Daytona Duel 1 Thu 2 p.m. on SPEED
February 11 Daytona Duel 2 TBA on SPEED
February 14 Daytona Sun 1 p.m. on FOX
February 21 Fontana Sun 3 p.m. on FOX
February 28 Las Vegas Sun 3 p.m. on FOX
March 7 Atlanta Sun 1 p.m. on FOX
March 21 Bristol Sun 1 p.m. on FOX
March 28 Martinsville Sun 1 p.m. on FOX
April 10 Phoenix Sat 7:30 p.m. on FOX
April 18 Texas Sun 1 p.m. on FOX
April 25 Talladega Sun 1 p.m. on FOX
May 1 Richmond Sat 7:30 p.m. on FOX
May 8 Darlington Sat 7:30 p.m. on FOX
May 16 Dover Sun 1 p.m. on FOX
May 22 Sprint Showdown TBA on SPEED
May 22 Sprint All-Star Race TBA on SPEED
May 30 Charlotte Sun 5:45 p.m. on FOX
June 6 Pocono Sun 1 p.m. on TNT
June 13 Michigan Sun 1 p.m. on TNT
June 20 Sonoma Sun 3 p.m. on TNT
June 27 Loudon Sun 1 p.m. on TNT
July 3 Daytona Sat 7:30 p.m. on TNT
July 10 Chicago Sat 7:30 p.m. on TNT
July 25 Indianapolis Sun 1 p.m. on ESPN
August 1 Pocono Sun 1 p.m. on ESPN
August 8 Watkins Glen Sun 1 p.m. on ESPN
August 15 Michigan Sun 1 p.m. on ESPN
August 21 Bristol Sat 7:30 p.m. on ABC
September 5 Atlanta Sun 7:30 p.m. on ESPN
September 11 Richmond Sat 7:30 p.m. on ABC
September 19 Loudon Sun 1 p.m. on ESPN
September 26 Dover Sun 1 p.m. on ESPN
October 3 Kansas Sun 1 p.m. on ESPN
October 10 Fontana Sun 3 p.m. on ESPN
October 16 Charlotte Sat 7:30 p.m. on ABC
October 24 Martinsville Sun 1 p.m. on ESPN
October 31 Talladega Sun 1 p.m. on ESPN
November 7 Texas Sun 1 p.m. on ESPN
November 14 Phoenix Sun 3 p.m. on ESPN
November 21 Homestead Sun 1 p.m. on ESPN

I was reading an article on Nascar.com about the some of the drivers opinions on the upcoming changes, and this quote from Jeff Gordon really got my spirits up about the coming season and hopefully a lot better racing.

Jeff Gordon said he was excited about “the biggest restrictor plate since 1989″ because it would give drivers “more power under the hood.” Gordon added that teams also have been told by NASCAR that drivers will have a greater opportunity to police themselves in certain situations in 2010 as well — which he said he welcomes.

“I think sometimes it’s appropriate for them to get involved, but usually the drivers are pretty good at policing themselves,” Gordon said. “I know [owner] Rick [Hendrick] has been part of some occasions when they had to get involved, but I love the idea of, ‘Let’s just go race.’ That’s what this sport was built on, that’s what fans love. That’s what drives this sport and creates advertising and sponsorship opportunities and puts fans in the seats and glued to their TVs at home.

“So I think we’ve got some really cool things in store for 2010. … I think NASCAR is ready to let us put some really great racing out there.” Source: Nascar.com

Mark Martin and Jimmie Johnson were talking about the yellow line rule still being in effect, all seem to be glad of that, Dale Jr. said I think if you took the rule away you would figure out real quick why they had it to start with. But Mark Martin had a great idea, repeal the rule for the last lap, and let all hell break loose.

“In a perfect world, no, I wouldn’t have that,” Martin said. “But if we’re really trying to treat the race fans, I’m willing to wreck from Turn 4 to the start-finish line on the last lap — for The Show. I just don’t want to do it the first 10 laps or whenever. I want to get at least that close to the finish before all hell breaks loose.”

That would be a great idea. I’m not saying that they should be allowed to just wreck each other on purpose, but you get people all around jockeying for position and you’re bound to have some wrecks and great action on the last lap. Hell, why not try it out for a couple races, before the chase of course; don’t want to knock anyone out of the championship run, unless it’s Jimmie Johnson.

Nascar is apparently taking advice from the fans and from the drivers early this year with some much needed rule changes. The biggest rule change as of now, they are going to allow bump drafting again at Talladega and Daytona.

Thank You!

Last years racing at Talladega was some of the worst racing there ever, and allowing bump drafting again will put lots of action back into Nascar, I hope. I’m sure we’ll have those guys in the back riding around until the end, but now they will be taking a bigger chance of being collected in the big one if they do. Let’s hope so anyway, that should motivate them to race harder the whole race.

Other rule changes:
Increasing the size of the restrictor plate at Daytona. Let’s hope this really boosts the speed at which they can race there. AS safe as these cars are now, let’s have some wrecks!

They also plan to replace the rear wing on the Sprint Cup cars with a spoiler. I think everyone in Nascar, at least that I have heard, will certainly like this one. This will give them more of the old stock car look and surely affect the handling of the race car. They plan on testing the spoiler in March at Charlotte and will make a decision then of when to implement it. Check out some pics here.

They plan on limiting the number of crew members on Nationwide Series teams. This is probably one of those rules to make it cheaper to run the Nationwide series.

Reducing number of races Nationwide Series teams can run without using a sealed engine

Implementing double-file restarts in the Camping World Truck Series

This is already a good start to the season and we haven’t even started racing yet. Now I’m getting a little excited!

“When I heard NASCAR talk about losing the wing and going back to the traditional spoiler that we’ve all looked at for 50 years, I was thrilled,” said three-time Cup champion Darrell Waltrip, a NASCAR on FOX analyst. “Losing the wing will give cars that conventional stock car look. And a bigger restrictor plate will make racing better and drivers happier. It’s a change that a fan won’t see or feel, but the driver will. It will give them so much more throttle response. It’s like swapping a four cylinder engine for a V8.” From Fox Sports

A couple more changes have been announced at California and Phoenix; the California race that is in the Chase will change from a 500 mile race to a 400 mile race, they say it will help make it an even better race than last years. They are also changing the distance at Phoenix, but this one is going up, from 312 miles to 375, changing the whole complexion of that race.

Here is the Cyber Monday online shopping deal from the Nascar Superstore.

Starting Cyber Monday: Get 25% Off Your Entire Order at the NASCAR Superstore Until 12PM EST. Get 20% Off your order the rest of the day!

Here is the Black Friday Coupon from the Nascar.com Superstore.

Starting Thanksgiving and ending Black Friday: Get 15% Off at the NASCAR Superstore!