10A Thursday, July 19, 2012
Beavercreek News Current
Four Turns
Tracks on Tap
OF STREAKS Kasey Kahne 1 SEASON has had a weird season, although he
SPRINT CUP SERIES Track: Indianapolis Motor Speedway Race: Brickyard 400 Location: Speedway, Ind. When: Sunday, July 29 TV: ESPN (12:00 p.m. EST) Layout: 2.5-mile oval Banking/Turns: 9 degrees 2011 Winner: Paul Menard Crew Chief’s Take: “Indy is big and fast, with four unique 90 degree corners that are connected by either long, fast straights where top-end power is required, or tight shortchutes, where torque is key. Communication — within the team, between driver and crew chief, engineer and crew chief — makes more of a difference at Indy than anywhere else. You can’t take chances there in terms of strategy. Run out of gas at the wrong part of the track and you might lose four laps coasting back to pit road.”
appears to be striding toward a Chase birth. His first six races netted him an average finish of 28.5. He averaged a 6.0-place run in races 7-13, then dipped from races 14-16 to the tune of a 25.3-place finish. His last three starts have witnessed an average finishing position of 3.3. FEAST OR FAMINE Unlike Kahne’s streaky tendencies, Denny Hamlin’s results have been either really good or really bad on raceday. Hamlin has nine top-5 finishes (two wins), offset by six finishes outside the top 20 through 19 events. Five of his top-5 showings have been either first- or second-place finishes. DRUG FREE ZONE On the subject of AJ Allmendinger failing a random drug test, Brad Keselowski took the drug/supplement discussion to another level, saying, “It’s my personal belief that nothing should be allowed — nothing. I don’t feel like you should be able to take Flintstone (vitamin) pills. I think it’s a bunch of bull that you’re allowed to take supplements or any of those things. I don’t think that’s right. I don’t think any athlete should be allowed to take that, but that’s my personal belief.” UN“HAPPY” HARVICK Brad Keselowski won the Nationwide Series race at New Hampshire on Saturday after Kevin Harvick was slowed by lap traffic while leading with 22 laps to go. Harvick expressed his frustration with the slow car of Amber Cope — down 32 laps at the time — saying, “It’s somebody who shouldn’t be on the race track and has no clue what they’re doing in a racecar. She wants to be Danica Patrick, but she can’t hold her helmet.”
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Sprint Cup Standings 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
DRIVER (WINS) Matt Kenseth (1) Dale Earnhardt Jr. (1) Greg Biffle (1) Jimmie Johnson (2) Denny Hamlin (2) Kevin Harvick Tony Stewart (3) Martin Truex Jr. Clint Bowyer (1) Brad Keselowski (3)
11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20.
Carl Edwards Kasey Kahne (2) Kyle Busch (1) Ryan Newman (1) Paul Menard Joey Logano (1) Jeff Gordon Marcos Ambrose Jeff Burton Jamie McMurray
POINTS BEHIND 707 — 691 -16 667 -40 656 -51 628 -79 622 -85 618 -89 617 -90 614 -93 613 -94
^ CHASE FOR THE SPRINT CUP ^
567 547 545 536 534 533 524 495 493 486
-140 -160 -162 -171 -173 -174 -183 -212 -214 -221
Nationwide Standings 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
DRIVER (WINS) POINTS BEHIND Elliott Sadler (2) 628 — Austin Dillon (1) 625 -3 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (3) 612 -16 Sam Hornish Jr. 596 -32 Justin Allgaier 555 -73 Michael Annett 529 -99 Cole Whitt 514 -114 Mike Bliss 458 -170 Danica Patrick 413 -215 Brian Scott 397 -231
Making a “Kase” for the Chase Kasey Kahne wins second event of 2012, leads wild card race. By MATT TALIAFERRO Athlon Sports Racing Editor
NASCAR’s Chase for the Championship wild card hunt took a definitive turn at the 1.058-mile New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Sunday. Denny Hamlin and his No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing team dominated the LENOX Industrial Tools 301, leading 150 laps. However, miscommunication during the final round of pit stops on lap 235 of 301 between Kahne and crew chief Darian Grubb dropped their Toyota from first to 14th. At issue was their decision to take two or four tires under caution. Hamlin’s team put four tires on, while the majority of the leaders only took two. The time lost in the pits handed the lead to Kasey Kahne, who led the final 66 laps — the only laps he led all day — en route to his second win of the season. Hamlin staged an epic run through the field in the closing laps, but came up shy, finishing second. “If he (Hamlin) was to keep the track position, I never would have passed him,” Kahne said. “For him to be on four tires and us on two, he was catching us pretty fast. (It’s) just what they chose to do. Somebody said they said something about tires — they took four, he meant two — I don’t know how it happened. “We had great luck today. For those guys to miscommunicate, that helped us a ton. I’ll take ’em any way we can.” Hamlin later explained the crux of the problem. “When the caution flies, when pit road opens, that time is so small, your time to communicate, figure out what you're going to do, you really have about 45 seconds to get it. “What happened was Darian asked me, he said how much of the tires he felt like I used up. I said I felt like I used them up a substantial amount. So my information to him was, ‘Yeah, I’ve used up the tires.’ He said, ‘I think two is the call.’ I
NATIONWIDE SERIES Track: Chicagoland Speedway Race: STP 300 When: Saturday, July 22 TV: ESPN (2:00 p.m. EST) 2011 Winner: Justin Allgaier
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Kasey Kahne celebrates in Victory Lane at New Hampshire Motor Speedway after winning the LENOX Industrial Tools 301.
said, ‘OK, just give me tires and no adjustments.’ “He took that as I meant four tires. So it’s just that small miscommunication just messed us up a little bit.” The miscue may have very little influence on Hamlin’s playoff positioning with seven races left in the Cup Series’ regular season. He sits fifth in the standings, with a 61-point cushion over 11th place. His two wins also provide a nice insurance policy, as the final two spots in the Chase are awarded to drivers with the most wins not already qualified. Meanwhile, Kahne’s victory may be the turning point in his quest for a Chase appearance. Ranked 16th with a single win entering the New Hampshire race, Kahne vaulted up the standings to 12th by day’s end. Further, his two victories currently find him with the No. 1 wild card slot. Kyle Busch (13th in the standings), Ryan Newman (14th) and Joey Logano (16th) all have a single win, as well. “I think three (wins) would put you in a real good spot,” Kahne said
! A date has been set to test AJ Allmendinger’s “B” sample following his failed random drug test prior to the July Daytona race weekend. Allmendinger’s business manager, Tara Ragan, released in a statement that, “We now have a confirmed date for the testing of AJ’s ‘B’ (split specimen) sample. The test will take place on Tuesday, July 24 at 8:00 a.m. CDT and be conducted at the Aegis Analytical Laboratories in Nashville.” A NASCAR statement indicated that the date was selected by Allmendinger. According to an ESPN report, Allmendinger’s “B” sample test is expected to be complete by the Brickyard 400.
of making the Chase. “Two helps, but three would put you in a real good spot. We’re going to stay after it. We have some really good tracks coming up. I like my car a lot, so I think we’ll be in good shape.” Carl Edwards sits 11th in the point standings but has yet to win this season. At 46 points behind 10th-place Brad Keselowski, it would seem at least one victory is needed for last season’s championship runner-up to transfer into the playoffs. He finished 18th in Loudon. He’ll go about getting those wins with a new crew chief, as Roush Fenway Racing has announced that Bob Osborne has stepped away from the role he’s held since the start of the 2007 season. “I cannot say enough good things about Bob Osborne,” Edwards said. “I’m so thankful for what he’s done for me as a driver, and he is without a doubt one of the smartest guys in the sport. I’m also appreciative of the fact that he’ll continue to be a resource for me and our team as we focus on these final races.”
! Roush Fenway Racing announced on Tuesday
that Bob Osborne has stepped down as Carl Edwards’ crew chief on the No. 99 team. New crew chief Chad Norris has been with Roush since 2005, when he scored his first win, a Nationwide Series victory, in his fifth race as crew chief for Matt Kenseth. He’s led the company’s research and development test program since last year. Norris most recently oversaw wins in the Nationwide Series for Marcos Ambrose and Trevor Bayne in 2011. Osborne will remain with the organization as a senior member of the organization's management team and steering committee.
CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES Track: Chicagoland Speedway Race: American Ethanol 225 When: Saturday, July 21 TV: SPEED (7:30 p.m. EST) 2011 Winner: Matt Crafton
Classic Moments Indianapolis Motor Speedway The first Saturday in August 1995 was a wet one in Indianapolis. The start of the second Brickyard 400 was delayed over four hours as rain moved through the area and crews worked to dry the track. As a result, ABC signed off, planning to air the race the following day. Therefore, most fans never saw Jeff Gordon lead the field to green at 4:30 p.m. Gordon led the first 31 laps, while Bill Elliott and Rusty Wallace swapped the point throughout the majority of the race. The event witnessed only one caution period, but it was a costly one for Wallace, who lost the lead in the pits with 30 laps to go, handing it to Dale Earnhardt. The Intimidator never looked back, leading the final 24 green-flag laps to score his first and only win on the Big Track.
Athlon Fantasy Stall Looking at Checkers: No one appreciates Indy more than Tony Stewart. He always brings something extra. Pretty Solid Pick: Jeff Gordon’s four Indy wins are the most in NASCAR’s 18 visits to the historic track. Good Sleeper Pick: Mark Martin has 11 top 10s in 18 Brickyard races. Runs on Seven Cylinders: Martin Truex Jr. has zero top 10s in seven IMS starts. Insider Tip: It takes the total package to win at Indy. Stick with the big guns.
Truck Standings 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
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DRIVER (WINS) POINTS BEHIND Timothy Peters (1) 353 — Justin Lofton (1) 341 -12 Ty Dillon 339 -14 James Buescher (2) 313 -40 Parker Kligerman 306 -47 Matt Crafton 305 -48 Ron Hornaday Jr. 296 -57 Joey Coulter 292 -61 Nelson Piquet Jr. 284 -69 Miguel Paludo 262 -91
1. Jimmie Johnson 2. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 3. Matt Kenseth 4. Tony Stewart 5. Denny Hamlin 6. Brad Keselowski
Throttle Up/Throttle Down
JEFF GORDON Gordon has averaged a seventh-place finish over the last five races after averaging a 19th-place finish in the season’s first 14 events. He sits 17th in the standings, his highest ranking in 2012.
7. Kasey Kahne 8. Greg Biffle 9. Clint Bowyer 10. Jeff Gordon
KYLE BUSCH Since sitting eighth in the point standings after the Coke 600, Busch has faltered to 13th, while averaging a 22.5-place showing. Compiled and written by Matt Taliaferro. Follow Matt on Twitter @MattTaliaferro or email at Matt.Taliaferro@AthlonSports.com
Matt Kenseth and crew chief Jimmy Fennig.
11. Kevin Harvick 12. Martin Truex Jr. 13. Ryan Newman 14. Joey Logano 15. Kyle Busch ASP, Inc. Just off the lead pack:
A Daytona crash is the only blemish on Johnson’s stat sheet since mid-May. Indianapolis is typically the event that Johnson, Chad Knaus & crew use as a jumping off point for the Chase. According to Junior PR guru Mike Davis, Earnhardt has completed the first 5,488 laps this season, a record in NASCAR’s Modern Era. He also has 20 consecutive lead lap finishes, dating back to 2011. No flashy stats for Kenseth, just a stream of steadiness for the points leader. His 13th at Loudon, along with a 13th at Sonoma, are his worst showings since a 16th way back in March. Stewart, Denny Hamlin and Brad Keselowski are closing the gap on the Big Three of Johnson, Earnhardt and Keselowski, although Smoke’s Loudon performance was disappointing after winning there last year. “Hit or Miss” Hamlin was a hit on Sunday, despite falling short in the end due to miscommunication with the crew chief. Hamlin’s last six races: Three top 5s, three finishes of 25th or worse. May deserve to be higher on the list, as BK and the boys appear to be gaining steam — which says something since they’re already weekly contenders. Was Sunday’s win what we’ll look back on as his Chase-clinching run? Impossible to say, but suddenly, the heat is turned up on about five drivers clawing for a wild card slot in the Chase. His ninth-place finish in New Hampshire led the Roush Fenway contingent — odd in that the “Fenway” in the race team’s name is the same associated with a certain New England sports franchise. Back on track to the tune of a third-place run at Loudon after two hangover-esque weekends that proceeded the Sonoma victory. Gordon and crew chief Alan Gustafson are obviously going all-out for wins at this point, which explains his frustration after finishing a respectable sixth in Loudon. Those wins are now imperative. Harvick’s eighth in Loudon was his best showing in over a month. A win would cinch things for him. Has 50 points on 11th-place Carl Edwards. And at this rate — without a win — he’ll need ’em. Baby news for the second straight week: Ryan and Krissie welcomed Ashlyn Olivia on Monday. Currently in a log jam with Newman and Kyle Busch for that second Chase wild card spot. Maybe if he went back to racing three times a weekend ... ? Marcos Ambrose, Carl Edwards, Mark Martin, Jamie McMurray, Paul Menard
Crew chief change for slumping Carl Edwards By JENNA FRYER AP Auto Racing Writer CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Carl Edwards' crew chief stepped down Tuesday, 19 races removed from a disheartening defeat in last year's championship race. Bob Osborne cited undisclosed health concerns in his decision to relinquish the No. 99 Ford, which has been stuck in a slump since Edwards ended last season tied with Tony Stewart in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship. The title went to Stewart on a tie-breaker. "I have had the pleasure of working with Carl Edwards for the past nine years and, during that time, my focus has been building a championship-cal-
iber program," Osborne said in a statement. "At this time in my life, however, concerns with my health have necessitated that I change my role within the organization." Osborne, who guided Edwards to 18 wins and two runner-up finishes in the points, will move to a senior management position with Roush Fenway Racing. He'll be replaced as crew chief by Chad Norris, who has been with Roush since 2005 as a crew chief in the Nationwide and Truck Series. "This transition is not an easy one, but I'm thankful to have the full support of Jack (Roush), Carl and the entire organization. I also have every confidence in Chad Norris, and I look
forward to working with him as we continue to pursue a championship in 2012," said Osborne, who asked for privacy from the NASCAR community. Osborne had run the No. 99 team since 2004, and Edwards took over that ride for the final 13 races of that season. But Edwards is stuck in a 52-race losing streak dating back to Las Vegas last season, and at 11th in the point standings he's in danger of missing the Chase this season. Edwards has only worked with Osborne at the Cup level. "I cannot say enough good things about Bob Osborne," Edwards said. "I'm so thankful for what he's done for me as a driver, and he is without a
doubt one of the smartest guys in the sport. I'm also appreciative of the fact that he'll continue to be a resource for me and our team as we focus on these final races." Norris since last season has led Roush Fenway's testing program, and has been crew chief for Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.'s limited Sprint Cup Series schedule and Trevor Bayne's partial Nationwide Series schedule. Norris led Bayne to his inaugural Nationwide Series win at Texas Motor Speedway in November of 2011. "We're very fortunate to have Chad Norris as part of our organization to take over for the No. 99," Edwards said. "I've known Chad for a long time and he is a fierce competitor. We've got
our work cut out for us over the next seven races, and I've got every confidence Chad can lead our team to where we need to be."
Date set for Allmendinger's 2nd drug test Suspended NASCAR driver A.J. Allmendinger will have his second urine sample tested for banned substances next week. In a statement issued Tuesday on behalf of Allmendinger, the 30-year-old has elected to bring his own toxicologist to the July 24 testing of his "B'' sample. It's scheduled to take place at the Aegis Analytical Laboratories in Nashville, Tenn.