The Coca Cola 600 runs for the 40th time Sunday night, a race so full of NASCAR history, 600 miles, starting in daylight, finishing at night. What an interesting combination of established competitors, outsiders, and a touch of history is found at the top of the starting lineup for the upcoming marathon. Ryan Newman, a racer who always had the talent to put his car on the poll while racing for Penske earns his first pole for Stewart-Haas racing with the NASCAR version of Dr. Evil on the outside front row with Kyle Busch. Team Hendrick then takes charge with their three winning drivers lining up next, Jeff Gordon, Mark Martin, and Jimmie Johnson while teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. continues to frustrate his supporters all the way down in 27th position which is one spot ahead of his racing pal and last weekend’s hot shot, Tony Stewart, who starts in 28th. Last year’s star, Kasey Kahne starts 6th with the top Dodge entry then come some real surprirses, starting with Mike Bliss in the 09 Finch Dodge, the same team who won Talladega with Brad Keselowski in a Hendricks dosed up Chevy. Brian Vickers Red Bull car starts 8th with a strong showing for Ganassi/Earnhardt in 9th with Juan Montoya, then the real story, racing only a limited schedule this year, a driver and a team whose contributions are part of NASCAR’s past suddenly becomes part of the present with Bill Elliot qualifying the Wood Brothers #21 Ford in 10th. Joe Nemechek in a family owned ride with limited sponsorship starts 11th, Martin Truex, 12th, then two Joe Gibbs cars, Denny Hamlin, 13th and showing more confidence in the top circuit, Joey Logano.
Here’s the full lineup from NASCAR.com: http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2009/12/data/lineup.html
The secret to Charlotte is as much a matter of careful planning as it is racing. The race breaks down into segments as track conditions change from day to night radically influencing the feel of the cars as the night progresses. A great setup when the green flag drops can be garbage by the half way point, but racers need to save their equipment but stay on the lead lap so they still have a car with plenty to give when the racing heats up in the last 50 laps.
We can look over the starting lineup and feel certain of certain cars that will quietly fade away before the sun goes down. We’ve become increasingly aware of the “start and park” phenomenon where some of the less wealthy, under resourced teams make the show spin a few laps before having to make the first tire change to gain their meager stake of the prize money. We would see the following cars as all candidates for this distinction: Dave Blaney, #66 Toyota starting 25th; David Gilliland, #71, starting 29th; Max Papis, #13, starting 32nd; and Scott Riggs, #36th in 43rd. Despite their fine qualifying efforts Bill Elliot’s ride with the Wood Brothers despite Ford factory sponsorship and Joe Nemechek in 11th, are also rides that could bow out.
With his lackluster starting position given his teammates are in dominant form, all eyes will once again be on the #88 car looking for signs Dale Earnhardt Jr. and crew chief, Tony Eury, Jr. have found something that indicates they are getting their miserable season put back in order. The good news is they are less than 100 points out of The Chase and more than half the season remains before The Chase lineup is set. However, with one top five and three top tens, substantial improvement is mandated immediately. Considering the next two races – the long haul of the Coca Cola 600 and the high banked mayhem at Dover are both events where struggling teams problems show the worst side of their failings, the pressure is on as this weekend’s contest is held at the center of the NASCAR world before heading northeast to the media jungle of four gigantic media markets an easy daytrip away from both Dover and Pocono with Baltimore, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC along with a host of intermediate markets looking on.
Surely, there must be a sense of uneasiness among Roush-Fenway teams as none of their drivers have shown dominant form recently. Carl Edwards perhaps the second strongest racer over the entire season last year, and has had nothing but struggles this year. Matt Kenseth hardly looks like the driver who won the first two races. Greg Biffle is perhaps the strongest driver at the moment but still has much ground to make up. David Ragan and Jaime McMurray have even more to prove.
Bring on the marathon and all the clichés to describe its action. This event has brought forth some of the sport’s greatest triumphs but also its greatest tragedies as NASCAR’s first media star, Fireball Roberts, sustained injuries that would take his life days later after being burned to death when Ned Jarrett spun out of control knocking out Roberts’ 1964 Ford Galaxy. Like Dale Earnhardt’s death at Daytona in 2001, Roberts’ tragedy led to massive NASCAR safety enhancements including fuel cells, double liner tires, and mandatory fire suits. Roberts was wearing jeans and a t-shirt. Ned Jarrett’s life and outlook on the sport would be forever changed as he rushed to the car of his trapped fellow racer helpless to do anything as Roberts pleaded for help. Meanwhile, a young driver from nearby Randleman, North Carolina was just beginning to get in dominating form. Richard Petty is among the distinguished alumni to win this prestigious event.
From Hoosier state to the Tar Heel state, it’s all day racing on Sunday, and speaking of Richard Petty, what’s he up to? Serving as team owner for the #43 car with driver, John Andretti, at Indy. Could there be a little Petty magic at the Brickyard? Probably not, but it sure adds to the legend of both his career and the history and Indy.
Here’s the full lineup from NASCAR.com: http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2009/12/data/lineup.html
The secret to Charlotte is as much a matter of careful planning as it is racing. The race breaks down into segments as track conditions change from day to night radically influencing the feel of the cars as the night progresses. A great setup when the green flag drops can be garbage by the half way point, but racers need to save their equipment but stay on the lead lap so they still have a car with plenty to give when the racing heats up in the last 50 laps.
We can look over the starting lineup and feel certain of certain cars that will quietly fade away before the sun goes down. We’ve become increasingly aware of the “start and park” phenomenon where some of the less wealthy, under resourced teams make the show spin a few laps before having to make the first tire change to gain their meager stake of the prize money. We would see the following cars as all candidates for this distinction: Dave Blaney, #66 Toyota starting 25th; David Gilliland, #71, starting 29th; Max Papis, #13, starting 32nd; and Scott Riggs, #36th in 43rd. Despite their fine qualifying efforts Bill Elliot’s ride with the Wood Brothers despite Ford factory sponsorship and Joe Nemechek in 11th, are also rides that could bow out.
With his lackluster starting position given his teammates are in dominant form, all eyes will once again be on the #88 car looking for signs Dale Earnhardt Jr. and crew chief, Tony Eury, Jr. have found something that indicates they are getting their miserable season put back in order. The good news is they are less than 100 points out of The Chase and more than half the season remains before The Chase lineup is set. However, with one top five and three top tens, substantial improvement is mandated immediately. Considering the next two races – the long haul of the Coca Cola 600 and the high banked mayhem at Dover are both events where struggling teams problems show the worst side of their failings, the pressure is on as this weekend’s contest is held at the center of the NASCAR world before heading northeast to the media jungle of four gigantic media markets an easy daytrip away from both Dover and Pocono with Baltimore, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC along with a host of intermediate markets looking on.
Surely, there must be a sense of uneasiness among Roush-Fenway teams as none of their drivers have shown dominant form recently. Carl Edwards perhaps the second strongest racer over the entire season last year, and has had nothing but struggles this year. Matt Kenseth hardly looks like the driver who won the first two races. Greg Biffle is perhaps the strongest driver at the moment but still has much ground to make up. David Ragan and Jaime McMurray have even more to prove.
Bring on the marathon and all the clichés to describe its action. This event has brought forth some of the sport’s greatest triumphs but also its greatest tragedies as NASCAR’s first media star, Fireball Roberts, sustained injuries that would take his life days later after being burned to death when Ned Jarrett spun out of control knocking out Roberts’ 1964 Ford Galaxy. Like Dale Earnhardt’s death at Daytona in 2001, Roberts’ tragedy led to massive NASCAR safety enhancements including fuel cells, double liner tires, and mandatory fire suits. Roberts was wearing jeans and a t-shirt. Ned Jarrett’s life and outlook on the sport would be forever changed as he rushed to the car of his trapped fellow racer helpless to do anything as Roberts pleaded for help. Meanwhile, a young driver from nearby Randleman, North Carolina was just beginning to get in dominating form. Richard Petty is among the distinguished alumni to win this prestigious event.
From Hoosier state to the Tar Heel state, it’s all day racing on Sunday, and speaking of Richard Petty, what’s he up to? Serving as team owner for the #43 car with driver, John Andretti, at Indy. Could there be a little Petty magic at the Brickyard? Probably not, but it sure adds to the legend of both his career and the history and Indy.
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