Sprint Cup 2013: Race 5: Auto Club 500

Mark Martin dominated “Happy Hour” practice as Toyotas look strong in final practice for tomorrow’s Auto Club 500 at Fontana, California. Qualifying showed a blend of Toyotas and Fords which Chevrolet surprisingly missing from the top 10 qualifiers until Tony Stewart shows up in 8^th starting position then Kurt Busch in 10^th. One conclusion that is starting to seem valid going into the 5^th race of the season, no manufacturer or team seems to have a distinct advantage or is failing miserably adjusting to the “Gen 6” car unlike the “Car of Tomorrow” where Hendricks dominated early as Roush struggled.

Looking at tomorrow’s line-up, while Ford would be encouraged having the 2^nd and 3^rd best qualifiers, that enthusiasm in hampered by both starters, Greg Biffle and Brad Keselowski being forced to start at the rear of the field running replacement engines. The next Ford in the fight is Joey Logano in 6^th position. Clearly the story is about Toyota’s success with half the starting top ten but even better, Joe Gibbs three cars all starting in the top five.

Dale Earnhardt tops the Hendrix fleet in 15^th, followed by Kasey Kahne in 16^th, Jimmie Johnson in 18^th and Jeff Gordon in 19^th. After winning the Daytona pole, qualifying continues difficult for rookie, Danica Patrick, starting in the provisional grouping in a miserable 40^th position while fellow rookie, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. checks in posting a 31^st starting spot.

Weather should be ideal tomorrow afternoon in Fontana, California, sunny with high temperatures in the mid 70’s.

STARTING LINE UP:

POS		CAR #		DRIVER		MFG		SPEED
1		11		Denny Hamlin		Toyota		187.451
2		16		Greg Biffle		Ford		187.217
3		2		Brad Keselowski (PC1)		Ford		187.149
4		18		Kyle Busch		Toyota		187.130
5		20		Matt Kenseth (PC5)		Toyota		186.688
6		22		Joey Logano		Ford		186.514
7		56		Martin Truex, Jr.		Toyota		186.273
8		14		Tony Stewart (PC2)		Chevrolet		185.864
9		55		Mark Martin		Toyota		185.792
10		78		Kurt Busch (PC4)		Chevrolet		185.677
11		13		Casey Mears		Ford		185.157
12		42		Juan Pablo Montoya		Chevrolet		185.085
13		15		Clint Bowyer		Toyota		184.876
14		29		Kevin Harvick		Chevrolet		184.715
15		88		Dale Earnhardt, Jr.		Chevrolet		184.625
16		5		Kasey Kahne		Chevrolet		184.374
17		1		Jamie McMurray		Chevrolet		184.233
18		48		Jimmie Johnson (PC3)		Chevrolet		184.044
19		24		Jeff Gordon (PC6)		Chevrolet		184.011
20		39		Ryan Newman		Chevrolet		183.988
21		9		Marcos Ambrose		Ford		183.852
22		31		Jeff Burton		Chevrolet		183.702
23		43		Aric Almirola		Ford		183.697
24		99		Carl Edwards		Ford		183.570
25		47		Bobby Labonte (PC7)		Toyota		183.248
26		51		A.J. Allmendinger		Chevrolet		183.113
27		27		Paul Menard		Chevrolet		183.020
28		83		David Reutimann		Toyota		182.825
29		7		Dave Blaney		Chevrolet		182.658
30		35		Josh Wise		Ford		182.639
31		17		Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. #		Ford		182.519
32		30		David Stremme		Toyota		182.473
33		93		Travis Kvapil		Toyota		182.440
34		38		David Gilliland		Ford		181.493
35		98		Michael McDowell		Ford		181.087
36		33		Landon Cassill		Chevrolet		181.087
				Provisional Starters determined by Owner's Points
37		36		JJ Yeley		Chevrolet		180.203
38		44		Scott Riggs(i)		Ford		179.829
39		32		Timmy Hill #		Ford		179.471
40		10		Danica Patrick #		Chevrolet		179.305
41		19		Mike Bliss(i)		Toyota		178.355
42		34		David Ragan		Ford		177.813
43		87		Joe Nemechek(i)		Toyota		177.144

Sprint Cup 2013: Race 4 -- Food City 500, Bristol: Gen 6 Hits the Short Track

FOOD CITY 500

The next bold initiation for the Generation 6 car will be tested at Bristol Motor Speedway this weekend as the new car faces competition at its first short track, the high-banked demolition arena in Bristol, Tennessee. The race will not only test the handling characteristics of the new car but also how well it stands up to the typical banging and beating from start to finish, a hallmark of short track competition.

Examining the starting line-up, the results don’t look good for Ford because the highest qualifier is Joey Logano racing for Roger Penske in 10^th place, but more significantly, where are Jack Roush’s cars. Before a Roush car shows up, not only is Logano in the field but so are David Gilliland in 14^th for Front Row Racing, Casey Mears in 15^th in the GEICO Ford, and Aric Almirola in 20^th racing for Richard Petty before Carl Edwards checks in in 21^st place followed by the other Richard Petty entry, Marcos Ambrose in 21^st. Finally, Greg Biffle shows up in 24^th, but then a marginal team, Scott Speed in car #99 shows up in 27^th before the final Roush entry, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. posts a 28^th starting position.

Other prominent starters way out of the picture include two Stewart-Haas entries with Ryan Newman in 31^st and Danica Patrick in the provisional ranks starting 41^st. Dale Earnhardt Jr. starts in a distant 32^nd.

Weather could be a factor Sunday as the forecast calls for a 40% of showers Sunday afternoon with temperatures in the mid-50’s.

STARTING LINE UP:

POS		CAR#		DRIVER		MFG		SPONSOR		SPEED
1		18		Kyle Busch		Toyota		M&M's		129.535
2		5		Kasey Kahne		Chevrolet		Great Clips		128.995
3		11		Denny Hamlin		Toyota		FedEx Freight		128.960
4		55		Brian Vickers(i)		Toyota		RK Motors		128.528
5		27		Paul Menard		Chevrolet		Menards/Sylvania		128.356
6		1		Jamie McMurray		Chevrolet		Cessna		128.288
7		2		Brad Keselowski		Ford		Miller Lite		128.211
8		14		Tony Stewart		Chevrolet		Bass Pro Shops/Mobil 1		128.005
9		56		Martin Truex Jr.		Toyota		NAPA Auto Parts		127.946
10		22		Joey Logano		Ford		Shell Pennzoil		127.877
11		24		Jeff Gordon		Chevrolet		Drive to End Hunger		127.869
12		20		Matt Kenseth		Toyota		Home Depot/Husky		127.852
13		48		Jimmie Johnson		Chevrolet		Lowe's/Kobalt Tools		127.835
14		38		David Gilliland		Ford		A&W All American Food		127.792
15		13		Casey Mears		Ford		GEICO		127.588
16		31		Jeff Burton		Chevrolet		Cheerios		127.512
17		42		Juan Pablo Montoya		Chevrolet		Target/Mountain Dew		127.470
18		29		Kevin Harvick		Chevrolet		Budweiser		127.453
19		78		Kurt Busch		Chevrolet		Furniture Row/Beautyrest		127.393
20		43		Aric Almirola		Ford		Smithfield		127.377
21		99		Carl Edwards		Ford		Kellogg's/Frosted Flakes		127.360
22		9		Marcos Ambrose		Ford		DeWalt		127.360
23		15		Clint Bowyer		Toyota		NAPA Filters		127.300
24		16		Greg Biffle		Ford		3M		127.258
25		83		David Reutimann		Toyota		Burger King/Dr.Pepper		127.132
26		30		David Stremme		Toyota		Swan Energy		126.595
27		95		Scott Speed		Ford		Sin City Motorsports		126.578
28		17		Ricky Stenhouse Jr. #		Ford		Best Buy		126.528
29		51		AJ Allmendinger		Chevrolet		Guy Roofing		126.420
30		34		David Ragan		Ford		Dockside Logistics		126.403
31		39		Ryan Newman		Chevrolet		Haas Automation		126.237
32		88		Dale Earnhardt Jr.		Chevrolet		National Guard		125.947
33		7		Dave Blaney		Chevrolet		Sany		125.848
34		98		Michael McDowell		Ford		Phil Parsons Racing		125.740
35		36		JJ Yeley		Chevrolet		United Mining Equipment		125.732
36		19		Mike Bliss(i)		Toyota		Plinker Tactical		125.708
				PROVISIONAL STARTERS
37		93		Travis Kvapil		Toyota		Burger King/Dr.Pepper		125.142
38		87		Joe Nemechek(i)		Toyota		MaddiesPlaceRocks.com		124.897
39		47		Bobby Labonte		Toyota		Bush's Beans		124.743
40		35		Josh Wise(i)		Ford		MDS Transport		124.711
41		10		Danica Patrick #		Chevrolet		GoDaddy.com		124.638
42		33		Landon Cassill		Chevrolet		Little Joe's Autos		124.379
				PAST CHAMPION PROVISIONAL
43		32		Terry Labonte		Ford		OXY Water		123.316
				DID NOT QUALIFY
DNQ		44		Scott Riggs		Ford		No Label Watches		124.452