Bleacher Report - Articles by Ben Swarey

2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Race Times Announced

Ben Swarey — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:21:16 -0400

NASCAR has announced the race start times for the Sprint Cup Series in 2010. The start times are as follows (NOTE: The times are when the green flag drops, not the time that the pre-race coverage starts.):

2/6: Bud Shootout FOX 8:10

2/11: Gatorade Duel SPEED 2:00

2/14: Daytona 500 FOX 1:25

2/21: Auto Club 500 FOX 3:25

2/28: Shelby 427 FOX 3:25

3/7: Kobalt Tools 500 FOX 1:25

3/14: OFF

3/21: Food City 500 FOX 1:25

3/28: Goody's Fast Relief 500 FOX 1:25

4/4: OFF

4/10: Subway Fresh Fit 500 FOX 7:55

4/18: Samsung Mobile 500 FOX 1:25

4/25: Aaron's 499 FOX 1:25

5/1: Crown Royal 400 FOX 7:55

5/8: Southern 500 FOX 7:55

5/16: Autism Speaks 400 FOX 1:25

5/22: Sprint Showdown SPEED 7:00

5/22: Sprint All-Star Race SPEED 9:00

5/30: Coca-Cola 600 FOX 6:05

6/6: Pocono 500 TNT 1:25

6/13: LifeLock 400 TNT 1:25

6/20: Toyota/Save Mart 350 TNT 3:25

6/27: Lenox Industrial Tools 301 TNT 1:25

7/3: Coke Zero 400 TNT 7:55

7/10: LifeLock 400 TNT 7:55

7/18: OFF

7/25: Brickyard 400 ESPN 1:25

8/1: Pennsylvania 500 ESPN 1:25

8/8: Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips @ The Glen ESPN 1:25

8/15: Michigan 400 ESPN 1:25

8/21: Irwin Tools 500 ESPN 7:55

8/29: OFF

9/5: Pep Boys Auto 500 ESPN 7:55

9/11: Chevy Rock & Roll 400 ABC 7:55

9/19: Sylvania 300 ABC 1:25

9/26: AAA 400 ABC 1:25

10/3: Price Chopper 400 ABC 1:25

10/10: Pepsi 500 ABC 3:25

10/16: Bank of America 500 ABC 7:55

10/24: TUMS Bring It On 400 ABC 1:25

10/31: AMP Energy 500 ABC 1:25

11/7: Dickies 500 ABC 1:25

11/14: Checker Auto Parts 500 ABC 3:25

11/21: Ford 400 ABC 1:25

Car of Tomorrow to Make Its Debut In the Nationwide Series In July 2010

Ben Swarey — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:14:24 -0400

On July 2, 2010, the Car of Tomorrow will make its debut in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. It will also be run at Michigan, Richmond, and Lowe's Motor Speedway. The new car's first full year in the Nationwide Series will be in 2011.

The move was made in a meeting between car owners, crew chiefs, and NASCAR officials in July. NASCAR vice president of competition said running the new car in four races next year will give teams feedback for 2011.

NASCAR Making Changes at Daytona and Talladega

Ben Swarey — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 10:38:16 -0400

NASCAR is reducing the size of restrictor plates used at Daytona in the Sprint Cup Series, to hopefully make racing safer for the drivers. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series director John Darby said that by reducing the size of the restrictor plates, the amount of horsepower will decrease, and a some of the top-end speed will be taken away from the cars.

The fence at Talladega will be raised from 14 feet to 22 feet after Carl Edwards' last lap crash into the wall in the spring race. Seven fans were injured from debris that flew from Edwards' car, one of which was a teen girl who suffered a broken jaw.

The fence at Talladega will be raised before the next race, which is Nov. 1. The fence at Daytona will be raised before it's first event in January.

Joey Logano Wins Nationwide Copart 300 From the Pole at California

Ben Swarey — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 19:24:09 -0400

Despite having trouble early in the race, Joey Logano took the checkered flag in the Nationwide Series Copart 300 at California.

Logano was slammed into the outside retaining wall by another driver, and fell back to 25th position. Logano missed a crash with just a few laps to go, which set up a five-lap shootout.

On the final restart, the front of the pack got jumbled up as one of the drivers missed a shift, thus resulting in a two-man race, in which Logano held off Brian Vickers for the win.

2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Schedule Released

Ben Swarey — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 12:39:38 -0400

The 2010 schedule for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series has been released. There are a few changes in next year's schedule.

Qualifying for the Daytona will be on February 6, and not on the day after the Bud Shootout. The first Dover race will be on May 16, before the races at Charlotte, unlike in years past, where Dover has been run after the Charlotte races. Phoenix's first race will be April 10, and then Texas' first race on April 18. Previously, it had been the other way around. The Sprint Cup Series will have four off weeks.

The 2010 Sprint Cup Series Schedule is as follows:

February 6: Bud Shootout

February 14: Daytona

February 21: Fontana

February 28: Las Vegas

March 7: Atlanta

March 14: OFF WEEK 1 OF 4

March 21: Bristol

March 28: Martinsville

April 4: OFF WEEK 2 OF 4

April 10: Phoenix

April 18: Texas

April 25: Talladega

May 1: Richmond

May 8: Darlington

May 16: Dover

May 22: All-Star Race

May 30: Charlotte

June 6: Pocono

June 13: Michigan

June 20: Sonoma

June 27: New Hampshire

July 3: Daytona

July 10: Chicago

July 18: OFF WEEK 3 OF 4

July 25: Indianapolis

August 1: Pocono

August 8: Watkins Glen

August 15: Michigan

August 21: Bristol

August 29: OFF WEEK 4 OF 4

September 5: Atlanta

September 11: Richmond

CHASE RACES

September 19: New Hampshire

September 26: Dover

October 3: Kansas

October 10: Fontana

October 16: Charlotte

October 24: Martinsville

October 31: Talladega

November 7: Texas

November 14: Phoenix

November 21: Homestead

Times are to be announced.

Race to the Chase: Driver Scenarios

Ben Swarey — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 18:43:09 -0400

Only one race remains in the race to the chase. Four spots have been claimed, leaving eight spots up for grabs with 11 drivers looking for a spot in the chase. It's like the song says, "Always gonna be an uphill battle, sometimes I'm gonna have to lose." (Miley Cyrus' The Climb) This weekend's race is going to be an uphill battle for the drivers trying to get in the chase. Three drivers will have to lose.

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Edwards Makes Last Lap Pass For Victory at Montreal

Ben Swarey — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 19:22:58 -0400

Marcos Ambrose was the driver to watch in today's Nationwide Series race at Montreal. Ambrose led the most laps, but did not win the race. Carl Edwards passed Ambrose on the final turn of the final lap to win his first race outside of the United States.

Marcos Ambrose was in the lead with ten laps to go when NASCAR decided to pull out the rain tires due to rain. As a result, there were many wrecks toward the end of the race. If NASCAR had not decided to pull out the rain tires, Marcos Ambrose could have won. On the other hand, today's race was a great show for the fans.

The top ten is as follows:

1. Carl Edwards

2. Marcos Ambrose

3. Andrew Ranger

4. Jaques Villaneuve

5. Brad Keselowski

6. Tony Raines

7. Jean-Francois Dumoulin

8. Stephen Leicht

9. Brendan Gaughn*

10. Kyle Busch

* Denotes rookie

Has Kyle Busch's Whining Gone Too Far?

Ben Swarey — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 09:22:58 -0400

Over the past few weeks, Kyle Busch has been whining because he has come so close to winning, but didn't win. Kyle Busch has finished in the second position in seven of the last nine Nationwide Series races. Has Rowdy's whining gone too far? I think it has.

Kyle Busch runs in the Nationwide Series, and the Sprint Cup Series. What more could he ask for? Racing is racing. Kyle Busch fails to understand that you cannot win every race every week.

Busch has also been known for blaming his bad luck on other drivers getting in his way; he has also referred to them as idiots. They are not idiots. Kyle is.

Kyle Busch is an idiot for making such a big deal out of his second place finishes. Finishing in second place is better than finishing in 43rd place. That is another concept that Kyle Busch does not understand.

Since Kyle Busch has been complaining about his misfortune in the Nationwide Series, he has slipped out of the chase in the Sprint Cup Series. He is 13th in the Sprint Cup Series, 58 points out of the chase. That proves one thing: he is focusing too hard on the Nationwide Series, and not enough on the Sprint Cup Series.

He is leading the Nationwide Series points by 212 points, which is a one race cushion, and then some. If Kyle Busch has a bad race, he will still be in the lead in the points. Does Kyle know what a mulligan is? That is yet another concept that Kyle Busch doesn't get.

I'm not sure what Kyle Busch's problem is, but he has shown over the past few weeks that he is a crybaby. He has also proved that he is extremely hardheaded. If he keeps calling people idiots, he is going to make a bunch of enemies on the track.

He cries about every little detail that happens to him that he doesn't like, such as finishing in second position over and over. He is hardheaded because it doesn't take a genius to figure out that you can't win every race every weekend. It's like the song says, "You Can't Always Get What You Want.”

The Race to the Chase: Who's In and Who's Out

Ben Swarey — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 16:09:54 -0400

The chase to the championship is just a few races away. It is clear that the top seven drivers in points have clinched a spot in the chase. However, drivers in positions eight through twelve are still jockeying for a spot in the chase. Don't forget about the guys outside looking in. Drivers in positions thirteen through fifteen still have a shot to get in the chase. For a driver to get in the chase, another driver has to fall out of the chase. Let's take a look who has a shot to get into the chase, and who has no chance.

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How Monday's Big Crash Could Have Been Prevented

Ben Swarey — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 18:51:01 -0400

Halfway through Monday's race, Jeff Gordon and Sam Hornish, Jr. were involved in a huge crash going into turn nine. Both drivers hit the wall hard because there are no safer barriers at Watkins Glen. NASCAR installed the safer barriers at most of the tracks, yet there are no safer barriers at the Glen.

What's wrong with this picture?

The walls at Watkins Glen are so poor that I would not even consider them walls. I'm not sure what to call them. The wall was hit so hard that it could have been broken as a result of the impact. If that would have happened, the race could have been stopped.

Who wants to see a race end because of a broken wall?

Also, why is there not a dirt trap in the area in which Gordon and Hornish crashed? Both Gordon and Hornish went into that area before crashing into the wall. If there was a dirt trap in that area, the wreck could have been less severe than it was, or it might not have happened to start with.

Did I mention that Jeff Gordon has a bad back? When drivers crash into a wall, as he and Sam Hornish did, they usually don't leave the scene of the crash with no aches or pains. That wreck could not have been good for Jeff Gordon's back.

Wouldn't you think that NASCAR would learn about safety at the track after Kyle Busch's wreck at Daytona? I am not sure that they have. They didn't come up with the safer barriers until nearly ten years after Dale Earnhardt's wreck at the 2001 Daytona 500.

If Gordon and Hornish would have hit the walls any harder than they did, the fans could have been injured. NASCAR fans could sue NASCAR for injuries at the track. It is NASCAR's responsibility to make sure that the sport is as safe as possible. So far, I am not sure if they are doing that.

Why NASCAR Shouldn't Run Special Configurations at Road Courses

Ben Swarey — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 16:39:57 -0400

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series has run at the 2.45-mile Watkins Glen International since 1991. However, the full track is 3.45 miles long. So why doesn't NASCAR run the full 3.45 miles? That makes no sense to me at all.

I would like to see NASCAR run the full 3.45-mile circuit. In my opinion, NASCAR should race the full circuit, not just part of it. Racing only part of the course is boring. If part of the track is not raced on, why does it exist?

Racing the full circuit increases the fans' attendance. The bigger the track is, the more grandstands there are. If NASCAR would run the full Watkins Glen International, more fans could go to the race.

Running the entire track also increases difficulty for the drivers. Difficult races tend to produce more wrecks. Wrecks make drivers' tempers flare, which is entertaining to the fans. If the drivers' tempers would not flare, where would the excitement be in NASCAR racing?

If NASCAR ran the full course, there would be more drama. NASCAR fans like drama on the track. Drama on the track is what makes NASCAR interesting. As the TNT motto goes, "TNT: We Know Drama."

I believe that by limiting the length of the track, NASCAR is just making the race dull. Running the full course extends the length of the race. The fans go to the races to be at the track for a few hours, not just for a little while.

NASCAR fans did not pay for their tickets to see a boring race. Running only part of the track is boring. To me, watching a race on a partial track is not what I would pay for. If I am going to pay for a race ticket, I want to see the race run on the full circuit.

If NASCAR built a track, and they are only going to run on part of it, they are wasting their money. In this economy, money does not need to be wasted. I say that NASCAR either needs to run tracks in their entirety, or not run at the track at all.

How NASCAR Can Prevent Racing On Mondays

Ben Swarey — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 17:26:31 -0400

Much to NASCAR fans' disliking, this weekend's race was postponed due to rain. NASCAR tried their best to get the track dried so the race could be held today. However, there are a few things NASCAR can do to prevent races being run on Mondays in the future.

NASCAR can start off by installing lights at all tracks that do not currently have lights. That way, if it rains, NASCAR would not have to worry about having to decide to pull the plug by a certain time. Besides, night racing is cool, and the fans love it.

NASCAR can also prevent Monday races by tweaking the schedule. NASCAR should change the dates of the races that are at risk of being postponed to another time of the year. The NASCAR schedule needs to be tweaked every once in a while anyways.

NASCAR could also start the race as soon as the track is dry, but cut the race short. I know not everyone will agree with me on this suggestion, but NASCAR has done this before. To me, as far as racing goes, going some of the distance on Sunday is better than postponing the race to Monday.

NASCAR fans do not want to have to watch a race on a Monday. Adults have to go to work, and children have to go to school. Michael Waltrip's daughter had to skip school because of a race that was postponed a few years ago.

I remember times when NASCAR races were postponed, and I had to go to school the next day. I hated when that happened. In fact, one year at the end of the school year, a race was postponed, and I left school early to watch the race.

Racing on Monday is a hassle to most NASCAR fans, and it needs to stop. The fans don't like it, and neither does NASCAR. NASCAR has done a lot of things to prevent racing on Mondays. However, there is more that they can do, and they have not done all they can do to prevent racing on Mondays.

Late-Race Wreck Caused By Double-File Restarts? Try a Blown Tire

Ben Swarey — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 10:16:50 -0400

Late in Saturday's LifeLock.com 400, Paul Menard blew a tire and spun, collecting Scott Speed and Jeff Burton. Jeff Burton blames the incident on double-file restarts. So, should NASCAR rethink having double file restarts? I think not!

Burton's unfortunate wreck may have been caused by the double-file restart rule, but that was not the only reason for Burton's wreck. Paul Menard blew a tire and collected Scott Speed, and as a result, Burton was involved in the wreck. If Menard would not have blown a tire, Burton would not have been involved in a crash.

Having double-file restarts is the best decision NASCAR has made all season long. Having the double-file restarts makes the field more crowded. With the double-file restarts, not so many drivers will get lapped at short tracks like Martinsville. But most of all, the fans love the excitement of double-file restarts.

The NASCAR Nationwide Series has also recently added the double-file restart rule. No driver in the Nationwide Series has complained about it. In fact, the Camping World Truck Series may also go to double-file restarts soon. So why is Burton complaining about having double file restarts?

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series added the double file restart rule after this year's All-Star race at Lowe's Motor Speedway. NASCAR liked double-file restarts so well that the Nationwide Series went to double-file restarts. Since the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series moved to the new system, the races have been more exciting for the fans. NASCAR should have made this move a long time ago!

Many fans may be asking, "Why doesn't the Camping World Truck Series have the new rule?" They will probably have the double-file restart soon. NASCAR Camping World Truck drivers need to experience the drama of double-file restarts, too! Most of all, the fans would love to see the double-file restart rule go into effect for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series!

How NASCAR Can Prevent the "Dump" and Run

Ben Swarey — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 20:04:42 -0400

I'm sure we all saw Kyle Busch's wild wreck on the last lap of the Coke Zero 400. On Thursday, a news conference was held in which Kyle said that he was "dumped."

He said that NASCAR should black flag drivers who "dump" other drivers. In my opinion, Kyle Busch is correct.

I believe that drivers should be black flagged for "dumping" other drivers because I consider it to be rough driving. After all, NASCAR does issue black flags for rough driving, or at least I thought they did. Some people may not see rough driving as being a big deal. However, it is a very big deal.

Rough driving is usually done in the form that was done when Kyle Busch wrecked. Kyle was lucky to get out of his car with just a headache. He could have died if there were no SAFER barriers. If NASCAR black flags drivers for "dumping" other drivers, big wrecks like Kyle Busch's will not happen, and drivers will not get hurt.

Kyle Busch also stated in Thursday's drivers meeting that if a driver "dumps" another driver coming to the finish of the race, as in last week's race, the driver who does the "dumping" should be placed last on the lead lap, and the third place driver should win the race. I also agree with this statement because this serves as the penalty for the driver doing the "dumping" when he cannot be black flagged.

NASCAR should have done this in last week's race at Daytona.

If they would have done so, Tony Stewart would have finished in the 28th position, Kyle Busch 13th, and Jimmie Johnson would have won the race. Instead, Stewart ended up winning the race, while Kyle Busch finished in 14th position, and Jimmie Johnson finished in second position.

Not only should NASCAR black flag drivers for "dumping" other drivers, but if they keep it up, they should be parked. Kevin Harvick was parked in a NCTS race a few years ago for an unrelated incident. If NASCAR would park drivers for "dumping" other drivers, they'll be sure to not do it again!

To Be July 4 or Not to Be July 4: That Is the Question

Ben Swarey — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 11:38:26 -0400

For the past few years, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series has run the summer Daytona race on a Saturday regardless of what day of the week the 4th of July was on. The summer Daytona race used to be run on July 4, regardless of whether it was on a Saturday or not, as a tradition. So, why was this tradition broken? That I do not know, but I think it should be changed back to the way it was.

On Saturday when I was watching the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona, I was thinking, "Didn't they run this race on the 4th of July a long time ago? Why don't they do it now?"

I believe that the race should be run on the 4th of July. Running the race on the 4th of July makes the race more special and shows NASCAR'S pride in our country.

Having a race on the 4th of July would increase the number of fans in attendance for the race. That's just what NASCAR needs. However, I would pick a different track than Daytona. I would pick a track that would not be so notorious for having bad wrecks like the big one.

I think having a race at Daytona is a bad idea because Daytona is a track known for having major wrecks where drivers could get severely hurt or even die. Take the end of this weekend's race for example. If there were no SAFER barriers, Kyle Busch could have died! Who would want to have to mourn the loss of a huge NASCAR star on the 4th of July? I wouldn't!

The 4th of July is supposed to be a time to have pride in our country, not to be mourning the loss of a NASCAR star. That's what almost happened on Saturday. I believe that Bristol would be a more appropriate track to have a race on the 4th of July. Bristol has just as much excitement, but at the same time, Bristol is not notorious for wrecks that have killed drivers.

Running Down the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in 2009

Ben Swarey — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 10:47:44 -0400

I have been a fan of NASCAR for the past eight years or so. Through the years, better technology has enabled NASCAR to be a safer sport. However, just because NASCAR has been safer throughout the years, that does not mean that it is as safe as it can be.

Take the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona for example. On the final lap, coming to the line, Tony Stewart turned Kyle Busch into the wall. If there were no SAFER barriers, Kyle Busch could have died! Dale Earnhardt crashed the same way and died!

Yes, he died because there were no safer barriers! Kyle Busch complained of a headache after he wrecked and was hospitalized overnight for evaluation. If there were safer barriers back when Dale Earnhardt wrecked, he would still be here today!

Earlier in the season, Carl Edwards wrecked at Talladega. If it were not for soft walls, he could have had serious injuries, or died as did Earnhardt. It is obvious that the SAFER barriers have saved lives of big NASCAR stars.

The Car of Tomorrow has also had a great impact on the safety of the sport. The new car is stronger and can handle more impact than the old car. The Car of Tomorrow was debuted at some races in 2007, and then was run in the entire season, starting in 2008.

Lately, Jeremy Mayfield has been in the news because of drug-related issues. He was accused of taking methamphetamines. Mayfield claims that he took no such drugs. NASCAR says he tested positive for methamphetamines about a month ago.

However, just recently, he tested negative in a second drug test. As a result, Mayfield won an injunction in court that allowed him to continue racing in NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series. However, he does not have a ride yet. This is because four teams refused to sign with him.

NASCAR refused to challenge the decision made in court to give Jeremy Mayfield an injunction. However, they are still going to test him for drugs on a weekly basis. In other words, NASCAR believes that Mayfield was taking methamphetamine drugs, and are against the court's decision to give Mayfield an injunction. How much sense does that make?

Jeremy Mayfield has been racing in NASCAR's top series for quite some time now. He got in trouble for taking performance-enhancing drugs a few years ago. So should he be allowed to race in NASCAR at all anymore? In my opinion, he should not be racing anymore.

In the MLB's substance abuse policy, the first and second offenses result in suspension of the player guilty of violating the policy. The third offense results in a ban from playing the sport for the rest of the player's career. If NASCAR would have this policy, Jeremy Mayfield would be in danger of not being able to race again.