Saturday, March 23, 2013

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 8th starting position then Kurt Busch in 10th. One conclusion that is starting to seem valid going into the 5th 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 2nd and 3rd 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 6th 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 15th, followed by Kasey Kahne in 16th, Jimmie Johnson in 18th and Jeff Gordon in 19th. After winning the Daytona pole, qualifying continues difficult for rookie, Danica Patrick, starting in the provisional grouping in a miserable 40th position while fellow rookie, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. checks in posting a 31st 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


Saturday, March 16, 2013

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 10th 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 14th for Front Row Racing, Casey Mears in 15th in the GEICO Ford, and Aric Almirola in 20th racing for Richard Petty before Carl Edwards checks in in 21st place followed by the other Richard Petty entry, Marcos Ambrose in 21st. Finally, Greg Biffle shows up in 24th, but then a marginal team, Scott Speed in car #99 shows up in 27th before the final Roush entry, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. posts a 28th starting position.

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

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