Bleacher Report - Articles by James Wallace

Things To Watch In Daytona

James Wallace — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:29:12 -0400

As the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series takes to the 31 degree banked turns of the historic DAYTONA International Speeday this weekend, we should take a look at some things that could be a huge factor this weekend

1.) Weather: No matter when you visit the world's most famous beach during the summer, there is always a chance of rain. I have been to 15 races at Daytona, rain has been a factor in at least 8 of them. WFTV Channel 9 out of Orlando shows a 40% chance of rain coem Saturday night, and it seems in NASCAR, the lower teh chance, the more likely it is. Be ready to wait out a rain delay or two come Saturday night.

2.) Hendrick Motorsports and their satellites: Gordon, Earnhardt, Johnson, Martin, Stewart, and Newman have all had their turn in DAYTONA's Gatorade Victory Lane. Granted Martin has never won a points race, and Stewart has never won the 500, all of them will be a threat come Saturday. Hell, even Brad Keselowski will be a threat...granted he actually makes the race.

3.) The return of a competitive Dale Jr, and a happier Dale Jr.: Since the split of Tony Eury Jr and Dale Earnhardt Jr., Dale has been on a rise, gaining little by little each week. The easliy had a top-10 car Sunday in New Hampshire, but the rain changed that and they had to settle for a 13th place finish.

4.) What happened to Joe Gibbs Racing?: Kyle Busch has lost 6 spots in points since Richmond, his last victory. Denny Hamlin is strugging to close good runs, and Joey Lagono, even after a win, still has a long way to go.

5.) An important anniversary: 25 years ago, July 4th, 1984, Richard Petty nosed Cale Yarbourogh to the caution to win teh Firecracker 400. The win was Petty's 200th career victory. As the green flag flies Saturday, keep that in mind. If you are going to teh race, have fun, if you are watching from home

These are some stories to keep an eye on in DAYTONA Saturday Night for the Mid-Summer Classic the Coke Zero 400. If you are going to the race, have fun, if you are watching from home, Enjoy the 4th with your family. This 4th of July remember, God Bless Our Troops, God Bless America, and Gentelman, Start Your Engines!!!!!

Shell To Sponsor Hendrick?

James Wallace — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:00:09 -0400

Rick Hendrick may be in the running for the lucrative Shell-Pennzoil sponsorship for 2010, according to sources in the NASCAR garage. Car owner Richard Childress is in the third season of Shell sponsorship, but he has said little about the contract or any negotiations.

Hendrick has had a long-standing sponsorship relationship with Quaker State, which is owned by Shell. If Shell were to move from the Childress camp to the Hendrick camp, it would apparently go on Mark Martin's car.

NASCAR executives are expected to discuss the full range of sponsorship issues with key car owners and drivers in next week's planned annual post-Daytona 400 "seminar." That private retreat each July was started by the late Bill France Jr. to get an inside look at the state of the sport from the owner's perspective.

Truex Jr. To Drive No. 56 for Michael Waltrip Racing in 2010

James Wallace — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 10:52:56 -0400

Michael Waltrip Racing and Napa Auto Parts has scheduled a press conference to announce that Martin Truex Jr. will drive the No. 56 Toyota for MWR. Truex Jr., the 2004 and 2005 NASCAR Busch Series champion and winner at Dover in May 2007, will depart form the Earnhardt-Ganassi team.

While sponsors have yet to be determined, it looks as though Bass Pro Shops, Truex's Sponsor since the 2004 Busch Series Season, will stay with EGR and stay on the No. 1 Impala. Napa Auto Parts will likely take over as the sponsor for the No. 56.

Also being announced is that Michael Waltrip will drive 10-12 races in the No. 55 Napa Toyota.

Aric Almorola will likely replace Truex Jr in the No. 1, likely with Bass Pro Shops as its sponsor.

Truex's brother, Ryan, is an MWR development driver and won the pole and finished second at New Hampshire in the Camping World East Series.

Sprint Cup Series Gets Buschwacked

James Wallace — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 10:17:01 -0400

Okay, I know it isn't the Busch Series anymore, but wasn't it neat to see a Nationwide driver whoop up on the big boys for a change??? A Nationwide Series driver, owner, and crew!

Good Job Brad!!!!!!!!!!!!! Brad Keselowski wins the Aaron's 499!!! Three days later I am still trying to process Brad Keselowski winning the race!

The Future of David Depends on Goliath

James Wallace — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 10:07:19 -0400

Dale Earnhardt Jr. came out yesterday and said he'd like to have Brad Keselowski drive for him next year...he'd LIKE too. After doing some digging, I found out that Keselowski doesn't have a deal for next season.

Keselowski is currently a developmental driver for Rick Hendrick, and is probably in line to take over the No. 5 Kellogg's Chevy when Mark Martin decides to call it quits.

Mark is supposed to go to a part-time schedule next year and more than likely drive the No. 5 when Martin is in his lounge chair on a Sunday afternoon...

"I don't know where I'm at to be honest -- I know I don't have anything locked in, that's really all I can say -- I don't have a ride secured for next year," Keselowski said after the race.

"Everything to this point has been wait and see. I know [winning] certainly can't hurt. To be honest, I've put it off myself, personally, because I don't even know what I want to do. I feel like I'm ready to run at this level full time, and hopefully there are some that agree with that after [Sunday]. It's a matter of getting on the right teams, the right sponsorship and all of the stars aligning, and that's not something you can rush. As far as contracts and all that go, I don't know. I don't understand them. I know I don't have a ride for next year."

"I was not surprised at all," Earnhardt said.

"That car was at one time a backup to the [Hendrick Motorsports] No. 5 car, so it was a Hendrick chassis, Hendrick powerplant under the hood that James Finch had rented for the race. So I mean, you got a real good crew chief, he's got a lot of decent mechanics, worker bees on his team -- Marc Reno, he's got tons of experience as a crew chief."

"So I'm not surprised at all because I know how good Brad is and I know how hungry he is. You have to imagine how amazingly driven he was, to be sitting there in that position at the end of that race. If you know Brad at all personally, you know that's all he does is think about racing 24/7 -- what he can do. So he's almost over-analyzing himself at times. I have to kind of tell him to stop thinking so much about it."

But because of that, Earnhardt would like to continue both Keselowski's development and that of his race team, in-house.

"I'd like Brad to drive my Nationwide car again if he wants to," Earnhardt said.

"But as far as what he does in his Cup stuff, that's with Rick [Hendrick]. It's my understanding that that's particularly not any of my business up until they're ready to share that information."

"Whatever Rick wants to do with Brad, it's up to him on the Cup side. I'm in the business of trying to help guys win races in the Nationwide Series and trying to help them become better race car drivers."

"I feel like we've really achieved that goal with Brad, and he's sort of done what we set out to do with our program. You know, it's really up to him if he wants to keep driving the car. We'll work that out. We're not really in no big hurry."

NASCAR Will Not Be the Same without David Poole

James Wallace — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 09:44:35 -0400

After suffering a heart attack Tuesday afternoon at his North Carolina home, David Poole was pronounced dead at the hospital. He was 50 years old.

Probably one of NASCAR's most well-known journalists, Poole will be remembered as an influence on writers in the NASCAR community.

I personally had the chance to talk with Mr. Poole back in 2007 on the Sirius radio show, The Morning Drive with Marty Smith, and we talked about Casey Mears winning the Coke 600 the day before and also about the pros and cons of the COT. I also met him in Daytona in the garage during the 50th Anniversary of the Daytona 500 last February.

As far as I could tell through those meetings, Poole was one of the tell-it-like-it-is people that this world needs. He will be missed.

“David Poole was as much a fixture in this sport as the actual cars themselves,” driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. said Tuesday. “He was a one-of-a-kind individual and an extremely talented writer.”

“He could be controversial from time to time but he always wrote and spoke what he believed,” said Richard Childress, president and CEO Richard Childress Racing. “He didn't pull any punches with anybody and that's what people respected about him. He was good for the sport.”

“He was truly one of the nation's best and he always wrote what he believed,” said Bruton Smith, chairman and CEO of Speedway Motorsports. “Whether you agreed with him or not, he made us all think, and that's what the best writers do. He cared about what he did and had a passion for his work. It came through in what he wrote every day.”

“I'd go in restaurants in Mooresville and people would say, ‘Did you read what Poole wrote today?'” said Tom Higgins. “And I'd say that's the first thing I read.”

In announcing Poole's death to a hushed newsroom Tuesday afternoon, Observer editor Rick Thames called him “the best in his field, there's no doubt about that.” Thames said: "David Poole was the fans' reporter, always covering NASCAR with their sensibilities in mind. Their passions were his passions. Their values, his values. If that occasionally clashed with the power brokers of the sport, so be it. David told it like it was. And by doing that, he made the sport richer and more genuine for all who love it."

Statement from Brian France, NASCAR Chairman and CEO: “The NASCAR community is stunned and saddened by the loss of David Poole. David was as passionate about NASCAR as anyone and had very definitive opinions about the sport. He served the industry, and most importantly the fans, through his reporting and commentary in the Charlotte Observer and Sirius Satellite Radio. Our thoughts and prayers go out to David’s family and friends. He will be missed.”

Martinsville: More Than Just a Win For Hendrick Motorsports

James Wallace — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 00:29:21 -0400

Twenty-five years ago, Geoffrey Bodine won the first race for Hendrick Motorsports in the No. 5 All-Star Racing Chevy.

The win came on April 29, 1984 at Martinsville Speedway. Fast forward 25 years, where Rick Hendrick's No. 48 Lowe's Chevy won its' 41st race in team history, all with some Southern California kid named Jimmie Johnson.

On a day where Hendrick Motorsports' past meets its' present, all four of Hendrick's drivers finished in the top eight, with Johnson taking the win, Jeff Gordon in fourth position, Mark Martin in seventh spot, and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. taking eight place.

As a fan of this ultra successful team, I think we owe it to Hendrick to take a look back for a moment.

In 25 years as a team owner, Hendrick has 12 NASCAR Championships (eight NASCAR Cup Series, one Nationwide, and three Truck Series titles) and has over 300 wins in NASCAR's top three series.

Mr. H has also revolutionized the way a team owner operates by being the first successful multi-car operation owner.

Reflecting on Sunday's race, Hendrick Motorsports' cars led a total of nearly 200 laps, with Johnson winning in amazing fashion.

Johnson not only notched his first win of the year but it was the first for Hendrick Motorsports and the Chevy brigade in the 2009 season. In addition, Johnson moved up to fourth in the points standings, just over 100 points behind championship leader Gordon.

The Hendrick cars showed a lot of muscle in the Goody's Fast Relief 500, and brought a little fast relief to Hendrick as he currently celebrates the silver anniversary of not only his organization's existence, but that maiden voyage to Victory Lane in 1984.

Congrats Hendrick, may the next 25 years be just a prosperous.

Kurt Busch Celebrates in a Whole New Way

James Wallace — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 09:49:03 -0400

(I wrote this article on Monday Morning, but saved it on a school computer, and was out Tuesday-Thursday, sorry if you feel I copied an idea...)

Kevin Harvick has the Straight Line Burnout.

Dale Jr parks on the frontstretch, points the nose towards the crowd and lights 'em up.

Carl Edwards has the backflip.

Kyle Busch burns out in tight donuts and then gets out and bows to the crowd.

When Kurt Busch won Sunday's Kobalt Tools 500 at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, I half Expected a burnout on the frontstretch, or some donuts, a victory lap with the checkered flag, or even his infamous snow angel.

But I gotta say, I was laughing when I saw his new style.

When Busch picked up the checkered flag and put the car in reverse, I expected him to back up and then burnout, not to go around the entire 1.5 mile Atlanta Motor Speedway in reverse!

I couldn't believe it. I am not the biggest Kurt Busch fan in America, but I hope he wins again at some point this season so I can see that again!

And if you log on to www.kurtbusch.com , you yourself can name his celebration! email kristy@kurtbusch.com to submit your name for Kurt's Backwards Celebration

Tough Luck Kid

James Wallace — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 12:31:16 -0500

During Speedweeks, when anyone talked about the NASCAR Nationwide Series Camping World 300 at Daytona one driver peaked all interest among the Sprint Cup drivers in the field. Brad Keselowski. The Jr Motorsports driver won two races (Nashville in April, and Bristol in August) last season. Everyone thought this was his race. And during the first part it was. But while making a late race charge to the front, Brad got loose running third off of Daytona's Tricky Turn two and slammed the wall, ending his chances of winning the Camping World 300 at Daytona.

The next week, during the Stater Bros. 300 at the Auto Club Speedway, Brad was running tenth early in the event when he was spun into the outside wall by Greg Biffle. Brad had one of the fastest cars in the field that night and the week before, and had nothing to show for it.

And Saturday's Sam's Town 300 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Brad didn't have a chance when he was wrecked in the first few laps...TWICE!!!!! Brad ended up coming home in the top 25, but he showing one of the toughest racing lessons is being learned. If it weren't for bad luck, he'd have no luck at all.

As a fan of Brad's since the beginning of 2007, all I can do is hope and pray the Dale Jr's protege gets things going his way, as he has already showed when things are even decent, he is a force to be "wreckend" with.

Las Vegas Motor Speedway: One Hell of a Race

James Wallace — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 10:18:41 -0500

Even though we've only seen two winners in three races in the 2009 season, haven't we seen three great races?

The Daytona 500: Two- and three-wide racing from the drop of the green flag, to the drops of rain. Even though the race was cut to 380 miles, it was the best 500 I had seen in a couple years.

Oh by the way, it was still a last lap pass because Matt Kenseth went by Elliott Sadler in Turn One, the race ended in Turn Three.

The Auto Club 500: WOW! Who would have thought we would be entertained by a race in California? That was the best California race I have seen since 2004 when Elliott Sadler just beat Kasey Kahne to win Labor Day weekend.

Kenseth and Jeff Gordon also battled to the end in a very entertaining event.

And then yesterday's Shelby 427: No one knew who was going to win until about 25 laps remaing, when Kyle Busch started marching the "KB Beat" into Turn One and rubbed on Clint Bowyer.

This was one of the better Las Vegas races I can remember.

When Busch took the checkered flag, I was actually satisfied. I don't like Busch, but I was happy for him to win at his home track.

I can only hope one day I get the same satisfaction at my home track, Daytona International Speedway, as a NASCAR crew chief.

At age-17, I have some time to get that done, but it was cool to see Busch get it done yesterday.

Three down, 33 to go.

It looks like it will be one hell of a ride to Ford Championship weekend in Miami

And Daytona Makes Four

James Wallace — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 22:55:35 -0500

Todd Bodine won his fourth consecutive superspeedway race in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Friday night, beating Kyle Busch, Terry Cook, J.R. Fitzpatrick, and Ron Hornoday back to the flag.

The race did have its scares, though. Bodine got into James Buescher and caused an eight -truck pile-up on the frontstretch. Also swept up in the wreck were Ricky Carmichael, Johnny Benson, and Mike Skinner.

Later in the race, the No. 85 of Brent Raymer got loose off Turn 2. He overcorrected and slammed the outside wall at full speed.

As the truck came off the fence, the throttle hung. Raymer's Ford procceded back into the wall at full speed. Both impacts were head-on. He walked away.

The race finished in a six-lap sprint in which Kyle Busch waited until the final second to make his move.

As Kyle went high, the back of the truck started to come around and he lifted out of the throttle. This allowed Bodine to streak to his second Daytona win in a row.

NASCAR Fan Seeking Sponsorship

James Wallace — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 09:58:45 -0500

With the economy being so poor and my checkbook so dry, I have decided to go where no fan has gone before—to the board room. I have decided that if Eddie Gossage thinks that the drivers need to do more, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. thinks the promoters should do more, then it is time for the companies who sponsor both sides to step up for the fans.

I think that as 17-year-old male who is single, has a PS2, and an XBOX 360, I would be a great spokesperson for GameStop, BlockBuster, or even Best Buy.

I am the sometimes proud owner of a 1997 Dodge Dakota—sometimes proud because it is an old truck, so parts are failing. Hey AutoZone, Advanced Auto Parts, Pep Boys—I am your guy.

As a teenage male, I love to eat a good meal. I would love to wear a Golden Corral Racing Shirt as their spokesperson.

Every morning on my way to school, I have a hard time getting started without my French Vanilla Cappuccino. Don't forget about after school, considering I always look forward to that Slurpee! Where do I get them from? 7-Eleven.

I am even willing to jump on the AMC movies bandwagon.

All of this is just in an effort to go to Daytona one more time before I move to North Carolina in July.

Oh well, I guess there is always Kleenex to wipe away the tears.

Hey...that's another one!

The Entry List for the 51st Daytona 500 in Pictures

James Wallace — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 11:03:29 -0500

Here is the entry list for the 2009 Daytona 500! Now, you will notice about 10 drivers are missing, if those are your favorites, I am sorry. But anyway, there are a lot of major new stories headed into 2009. Will Mark Martin or Dale Jr win the title? Will Tony Stewart and Ryan Neman be successful with Stewart-Haas racing? 2009 will be a fun season. Now lets strap in, and hold tight, because it's gonna be one hell of a ride.

Begin Slideshow

Jimmie Johnson vs. the Florida Gators: Comparing the Champs

James Wallace — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 10:22:11 -0500

In February at Daytona, Jimmie Johnson’s No. 48 Lowe’s Chevy was a wreck waiting to happen.

Actually, it did, as he went spinning down the backstretch at 200 m.p.h.

He didn’t do so well over the next few weeks—getting beat left and right and was next to the worst of the Hendrick Motorsports' cars.

Johnson's season started to turn around for the better in July at the Pocono. That is when he got the wakeup call that he needed.

The Florida Gators, led by Coach Urban Meyer and quarterback Tim Tebow were dominant. Destroying every team in their path—hey they were unstoppable.

That is, until they played Ole Miss. After a botched extra point and a failed attempt to convert fourth down, the Gators lost 31-30 at the Swamp to an unranked Ole Miss team. They finally got the wakeup call that they needed.

After finishing third in the Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono, Johnson and the entire No. 48 Lowe’s Chevy team caught fire—winning six of the last 15 races, including the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard. He ended the season with seven wins—the third highest total behind Kyle Busch (8) and Carl Edwards (9).

After the devastating loss to Ole’ Miss in week four, Florida didn’t lose again. They scored at least 42 points in each of their last six games. In the last seven games, Tebow threw for 19 touchdowns and rushed for 10 more.

Johnson started the Chase for the Cup in the third position. Florida was ranked fourth in the BCS headed into the SEC Championship Game.

Johnson ended up winning his third NASCAR Sprint (NEXTEL) Cup Series Championship.

Could the Gators win their third National title in 12 years and two out of the last three?

Johnson had to take down Busch and Edwards to win his third straight title.

Florida, meanwhile had to eliminate Alabama and Oklahoma. That was the big question headed into the SEC title game.

Alabama was undefeated (12-0) taking on the hottest team in college football—the Florida Gators (11-1). As the two teams took to the field in the Georgia Dome, the big question was: Could the No. 1 offense in college football handle the No. 1 defense in college football?

The answer—NO!

The Gators stunned the Crimson Tide 31-20 to win the SEC Championship (eighth since 1992) and clinched a spot in the FedEx BCS National Title Game, where they would take on the Oklahoma Sooners.

In the title game, Tebow led the Gators to three TD’s and a field goal to beat the Sooners 24-14 and become the 2008 BCS National Champions.

Both the Gators and Johnson won their third championships. I tried to draw the parallels, but it is simple to see for yourself. You decide how the seasons matched up.

Tony Stewart to Drive for Jr Motorsports

James Wallace — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 17:49:38 -0500

Two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart will attempt to qualify a No. 80 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet prepared by Hendrick Motorsports in the Feb. 14 Nationwide Series race at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway.

Stewart, the defending winner of the Camping World 300, has won the season-opening event three times—twice with owner Kevin Harvick (2005 and 2006) and once with Joe Gibbs (2008).

Should he qualify, the race will mark Stewart's first-ever start for car owner Rick Hendrick. The effort will be led by 2003 Nationwide Series champion crew chief Lance McGrew.

"After winning the season-opening Nationwide Series race at Daytona three times, we're going to try and get another one, this time for Rick," said Stewart, who has seven career Nationwide Series victories. "Hopefully we can go back-to-back for a second time and put the HendrickCars.com Chevrolet in Victory Lane. Rick and I have been friends for years, so it would mean a lot to me to get a win for him."

As a car owner, Hendrick has 13 total NASCAR victories at Daytona, including three in the Nationwide Series. He has won the prestigious Daytona 500 six times.

"Tony is one of the best drivers in the world," Hendrick said. "We know how terrific he is at Daytona, so I told the guys to build him a fast carand let him do what he does best. He's a great friend, and it's going to be fun to see him drive for Hendrick Motorsports for the first time."

The best and quickest way to purchase a car online, HendrickCars.com features more than $90 million in used-car inventory and the largest selection of manufacturer-certified vehicles in the nation. Customers can browse more than 5,000 cars of all makes and models from the 80 Hendrick Automotive Group franchises nationwide. Each comes with a free CARFAX vehicle history report.

"We chose the No. 80 to represent all of our stores," said Hendrick, also the chairman of Charlotte-based Hendrick Automotive Group. "This is something our folks can get excited about and rally around, and it's a great way to promote HendrickCars.com. It's become a premier destination for online car buying, and we're committed to making it a world-class experience for our customers."

Coming Soon: NASCAR Articles in the Mix

James Wallace — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 12:35:21 -0500

Over the next week or two I will be posting an article I've been working on since November of last year.

The article will show the similarities between Jimmie Johnson's Championship season and the Florida Gators 2008 National Title season.

Both were the third title for each.

Next month I will be posting "post-game" wrap ups of the Bud Shootout, Coors Pole Qualifying Day, the Gatorade Duels @ DAYTONA, the DAYTONA 250 Camping World Truck Series event, the Camping World 300 Nationwide Series race, and of course, the 2009 running, the 51st-annual DAYTONA 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race.

I will try to do a slideshow of the Starting Line-up and Finishing order for and from the DAYTONA 500.

Hang in there—we are just two days from Direct TV Speedweeks and an only 17 days from the Budweiser Shootout.

NASCAR News: Fastenal to Sponsor JR Motorsports

James Wallace — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 15:31:38 -0500

From a memo to Fastenal employees from the vice president of marketing at Fastenal: "For the 2009 Nationwide Series, Fastenal will be the proud sponsor of the #5 Fastenal Chevy for JR Motorsports, a very successful team that is co-owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Rick Hendrick from Hendrick Motorsports. Here's the best part: As part of our new partnership, Dale Jr. will drive the #5 Fastenal car for select races during the season. He will share driving duties with two-time Nationwide Series champion, Martin Truex, Jr as well as Scott Wimmer who has six Nationwide Series wins and 29 top-five finishes."

JR Motorsports announced today, it has secured additional sponsorship backing for its No. 5 entry in the Nationwide Series with Fastenal Company. Fastenal will be the primary sponsor of the No. 5 Chevrolet for 14 races, bringing the team's total number of races in 2009 to 21.

The partnership will kick off at Texas Motor Speedway on April 4 with veteran driver and team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. behind the wheel. Earnhardt Jr. will make one other start in the No. 5 Fastenal Chevy at Daytona International Speedway in July.

Additional drivers and races for the No. 5 team will be announced at a later date.

New Budweiser Shootout Format: Tweaked Again!

James Wallace — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 14:36:12 -0500

NASCAR has tweaked the format for the 2009 Budweiser Shootout. Rick Benjamin announced—as breaking news around 12:30 P.M.—that NASCAR has upped the field in the race to 28.

Each manufacturer gets a "wild card" driver to enter the race. The catch is that the driver must be a past champion. If the manufacturer doesn't have a champion outside of the top six from the past season, I am not sure what the criteria for the manufacturers without a champ is. Now, Tony Stewart and Bobby Labonte become eligible.

Florida Gators Win Title: 2009 BCS National Championship Wrap-Up

James Wallace — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 11:10:30 -0500

Jan. 8, 2009

Miami, Florida

The atmosphere at Dolphin Stadium was electric. The 2006 National Champion Florida Gators, led by junior quarterback and 2007 Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow and Coach Urban Meyer, looked to win their second national title in three years. On the other hand, 2008 Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford and Coach Bob Stoops looked to continue their high-scoring ways.

But looking around the stadium, one thing was clear: This was more like a Florida Gator home game.

At 8:15 p.m., the Gators kicked off to the Sooners to start the 2009 FedEx BCS National Championship game. Oklahoma’s first drive ended in a punt after starting at the 23-yard line.

Then it was Florida’s turn. On a drive that started on the 20-yard line, Florida started moving the ball downfield until Tebow threw his third interception of the season.

Oklahoma started on the 48-yard line for their second drive of the night, but again were forced to punt. At the end of the first quarter, the score was stunning: Neither team had scored.

Florida started the second drive on their own 13-yard line and drove the ball downfield for the touchdown. Florida now led 7-0 three minutes into the second quarter.

Oklahoma answered them and in less than three minutes, we were all tied up 7-7.

Tebow was intercepted on his next drive, and the Florida defense was able to stop Oklahoma on fourth and goal from the one-yard line.

Florida punted on the next drive, but Bradford threw his third interception of the season on the goal line to end the half.

Both Florida and Oklahoma punted on their first drives of the second half.

Florida made it 14-7 with the first strike of the second half on a beautiful run by Percy Harvin.

Oklahoma’s next possession saw a 49-yard field goal attempt blocked, and Florida regained possession.

The Gators didn’t make it too far and punted the ball back to OU at the start of the fourth quarter.

On their first possession of the second half, Oklahoma’s Bradford connected with Jermaine Gresham for the second Sooner touchdown, tying the score at 14.

Jonathan Phillips kicked a 28-yard field goal on Florida’s next drive following the Sooner TD to go up 17-14 around the middle of the fourth quarter.

But the Gators weren’t done. After a B-E-A-U-tiful interception by Florida’s Ahmad Black, Florida was driven willfully downfield by Tebow to score a touchdown with five minutes left in the game to get a 10-point margin, 24-14 Florida.

After an attempted Oklahoma fourth down that failed, the Gators were the 2009 BCS National Champions for the second time in three years.

On Jan. 11, 2009, Florida Gators quarterback Tebow announced he would return for his senior season. Now, Florida fans are just waiting to hear from Harvin and Brandon Spikes, linebacker, to see if they will return next season.

The Florida Gators win the national championship!

The Economic Future of NASCAR

James Wallace — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 03:59:04 -0500

We all know the feeling. We all are working as hard as we can, but not seeing any gains in the checkbook. With the economy in the state it's in, how will it affect the sport we love?

Some people don't realize how far in the hole NASCAR is. How will the potential failure/bailout of Detroit's Big Three effect the sport? Let's take a look.

As one of the lucky ones, I was able to attend the 50th Daytona 500 this year. I got to see something I had never before seen at the Daytona International Speedway: empty seats.

We stayed behind Dale Jr.'s box the entire afternoon. At one point, we went atop the Sprint Fan Zone and watched a few laps. That is when I looked at the Backstretch grandstands and noticed the empty seats. I knew there was trouble.

As the season went on, attendance continued to drop. As attendance dropped, ratings went up, and you knew there was a potential for a problem. Around the beginning of summer, when gas was near $4 a gallon, the stock market tumbled, causing at least four days of 300+ point losses. Stores started closing, and car makers were panicking. The country had gone into a recession.

Now we will fast forward to November in Homestead. Dale Earnhardt Inc. and Chip Ganassi Racing merged to become Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing.

That merger became the latest in a long run of mergers and investors. That trend started in 2007 when John Henry and Fenway Sports Group bought 50 percent of Roush Racing from Roush Fenway Racing.

This was followed by George Gillette buying majority in Evernham Motorsports to form Gillette Evernham Motorsports, or GEM.

Finally, the least successful sell off was Boston Ventures buying into Petty Enterprises. Petty is so deep in the hole that they had to let Bobby LaBonte, the 2000 Winston Cup Series champ, go his own way. He is now, as of the moment, out of a ride.

In November, General Motors announced that they would not renew sponsorships of seven NASCAR Sprint Cup Tracks.

Included was Richmond, which has the popular Chevy Rock and Roll 400, which is the last race before the Chase. GM, Ford, and Dodge also announced that there would be layoffs at the manufacturing plants. This is truly an economy in peril.

Here are the layoff statistics as of Dec. 10:

Dale Earnhardt Inc—116
Ganassi—76 and Nationwide team
Petty Enterprises—65
Bill Davis Racing—60
Richard Petty Driving Experience—45 [approx.]
Roush Fenway Racing—40-50
Furniture Row—25 [approx.]
Earnhardt-Childress Racing Technologies—25 [approx.]
Wood Brothers—22
Hendrick Motorsports—19
Stewart-Haas—16
Richard Childress Racing—15
Red Bull Racing—15 [approx.]
JTG Daugherty Racing—12
Michael Waltrip Racing—12
Ernie Elliott Inc [Ganassi engines]—9
Joe Gibbs Engines—5 [approx.]

So what does all this mean?

Basically, we need to sit tight. I have seen encouraging signs in the stock market that things are improving. The Dow has had five straight days of gains; gas in Apopka, FlL (about 10 to 15 miles north of Orlando) has fallen from $4 all the way down to $1.59 and is continuing to fall.

The credit market is starting to thaw out. We have to be patient and make sure we continue to support American brands and buy our NASCAR gear like we always have. We have to continue to try to go to the races and show our support for the sport we love. We have got to have faith that things will improve.

Championship Needs To Be Looked At One More Time (Look at Last Restart)

James Wallace — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 14:10:16 -0500

It is great that BleacherReport.com allows us to express our opinions.
In my opinion, NASCAR should have given Ron Hornaday the Championship.

Johnny Benson's teammate, Scott Speed, brake-checked Ron Hornaday at the start of the Green-White-Checkered finish.

It has been long known that NASCAR looks down upon team orders. So what changed?

This battle would have been great if Speed didn't brake check. That isn't needed.

Now I will give you guys a shot. What did you think of the last lap antics by Scott Speed?

2008 NASCAR Schedule With Winners

James Wallace — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 03:05:44 -0500

Edited for Wekiva High School Story

2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Schedule

Date Race Venue T.V./Time Winner

02/09/08	Budweiser Shootout	Daytona International Speedway	FOX/8 p.m. Dale Earnhardt Jr.

02/14/08	Gatorade Duel 1	Daytona International Speedway	SPEED/2 p.m. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
02/14/08	Gatorade Duel 2	Daytona International Speedway	SPEED/3:30 p.m. Denny Hamlin
02/17/08	Daytona 500	Daytona International Speedway	FOX/2 p.m. Ryan Newman
02/25/08	Auto Club 500	Auto Club Speedway	FOX/1 p.m. Carl Edwards
03/02/08	UAW-Dodge 400	Las Vegas Motor Speedway	FOX/3:30 p.m. Carl Edwards
03/09/08	Kobalt Tools 500	Atlanta Motor Speedway	FOX/1:30 p.m. Kyle Busch
03/16/08	Food City 500	Bristol Motor Speedway	FOX/1:30 p.m. Jeff Burton
03/30/08	Goody's Cool Orange 500	Martinsville Speedway	FOX/1:30 p.m. Denny Hamlin
04/06/08	Samsung 500	Texas Motor Speedway	FOX/1:30 p.m. Carl Edwards
04/12/08	Subway Fresh Fit 500	Phoenix International Raceway	FOX/8 p.m. Jimmie Johnson
04/27/08	Aaron's 499	Talladega Superspeedway	FOX/1 p.m. Kyle Busch
05/03/08	Crown Royal Presents the Dan Lowry 400	Richmond International Raceway	FOX/7 p.m. Clint Bowyer
05/10/08	Dodge Challenger 500	Darlington Raceway	FOX/7 p.m. Kyle Busch
05/17/08	NASCAR Sprint Showdown	Lowe's Motor Speedway	SPEED/7 p.m. A.J. Almendinger
05/17/08	NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race	Lowe's Motor Speedway	SPEED/9 p.m. Kasey Kahne
05/25/08	Coca-Cola 600	Lowe's Motor Speedway	FOX/5 p.m. Kasey Kahne
06/01/08	Best Buy 400 Benefiting Student Clubs for Autism Speaks	Dover International Speedway	FOX/1:30 p.m. Kyle Busch
06/08/08	Pocono 500	Pocono Raceway	TNT/12:30 p.m. Kasey Kahne
06/15/08	LifeLock 400	Michigan International Speedway	TNT/12:30 p.m. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
06/22/08	Toyota/Save Mart 350	Infineon Raceway	TNT/3:30 p.m. Kyle Busch
06/29/08	LENOX Industrial Tools 301	New Hampshire Motor Speedway	TNT/12:30 p.m. Kurt Busch
07/05/08	Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola	Daytona International Speedway	TNT/6:30 p.m. Kyle Busch
07/12/08	LifeLock.com 400	Chicagoland Speedway	TNT/6:30 p.m. Kyle Busch
07/27/08	Allstate 400 at The Brickyard	Indianapolis Motor Speedway	ESPN/1 p.m. Jimmie Johnson
08/03/08	Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500	Pocono Raceway	ESPN/1 p.m. Carl Edwards
08/10/08	Centurion Boats at The Glen	Watkins Glen International	ESPN/1 p.m. Kyle Busch
08/17/08	3M Performance 400 presented by Bondo	Michigan International Speedway	ESPN/1 p.m. Carl Edwards
08/23/08	Sharpie 500	Bristol Motor Speedway	ESPN/7 p.m. Carl Edwards
08/31/08	Pepsi 500	Auto Club Speedway	ESPN/7 p.m. Jimmie Johnson
09/07/08	Chevy Rock & Roll 400	Richmond International Raceway	ABC/1 p.m. Jimmie Johnson
09/14/08	Sylvania 300	New Hampshire Motor Speedway	ABC/1 p.m. Greg Biffle
09/21/08	Camping World RV 400 presented by AAA	Dover International Speedway	ABC/1 p.m. Greg Biffle
09/28/08	Camping World RV 400 presented by Coleman	Kansas Speedway	ABC/1 p.m. Jimmie Johnson

NASCAR Booted To ESPN 2 For America's Funniest Home Videos

James Wallace — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 02:17:38 -0500

The excitement was growing. There were 39 laps to go and the race was intensifying. Jimmie Johnson was trying to hold off Kurt Busch, Jamie Mac, Carl Edwards and Dale Earnhardt Jr., to win his 7th race of the 2008 season. He almost wrapped up the title. And what happens?

Dr Jerry Punch: "Race Fans on the East Coast we will be switching over to ESPN2 for the conclusion of the Checker O'Riely Auto Parts 500. We will perform the switch during the break."

Correct me if I am wrong, and I could be, but didn't ABC start the broadcast? Would Fox switch Game Six of the World Series in the bottom ninth for Family Guy, (actually, Family Guy did not air during the Series) so why does ABC off and decided that America's Funniest Home Videos is more important than that of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship? This is why I want the FOX crew doing EVERY NASCAR event.

Jimmie could have wrecked, blown a motor, cut a tire, spun, had a wheel come off, run out of gas, battery go dead, ect. Finish 40th, and Carl could have walked away with the point lead. Did it happen, NO, but the possibility is there. Does everyone win the lotto, no, but there is that slim chance. See the parallel?

ABC, if you are gonna pay millions, HOW ABOUT YOU SHOW THE RACE!!! I couldn't believe it when I heard Dr. Jerry say that. If Jr wouldn't have been 5th, I'd have shut the T.V. off, but I am more of a fan than that. It just infuriates me that the ABC exec's think it is more entertaining to watch 50 men get hit in the balls than watch history THEY paid for.

I would suggest that they not do that Sunday. Because there WILL be another article. And this one will go national.

NASCAR: Need Your Suggestions!

James Wallace — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 04:38:19 -0400

As the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series draws to a close, the 08-09 school year is a quarter way through.

As a senior at WEKIVA High School, I am going to need to be on the ball so I can start right off next August as a student at the NASCAR Technical Institute in Mooresville, North Carolina.

With that said, my school newspaper has asked me to write a NASCAR article for the paper. What I am asking ya'll is how should I approach it?

Should I sum up the entire season from DAYTONA to Homestead? Or should I only cover the Sprint Cup Chase For The Cup?

I am letting you guys decide. Answer the poll question in the article, or comment what you think I should do. I have three weeks to get started either way.

Thanks,
James

Jimmie Johnson: Too Early to Call Him Champ?

James Wallace — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 02:58:33 -0400

In listening to the ESPN broadcast yesterday, I got the impression that this title seems to be over. For the third year in a row, Jimmie Johnson is going to win the cup. I will admit, this article will be a tiny bit biased because I am a Hendrick fan. But, I will put that aside.

I am a big believer in "it ain't over until the fat lady sings," and I don't see Rosie O'Donnell anywhere at the moment. Yes, Jimmie has had a stellar chase, only evidenced more by his comeback in Yesterday's Pep Boy's Auto 500 at Atlanta.

A pit stop with 10 laps to go put Johnson 11th on the restart and, in eight laps, he moved up to second, increasing his lead over second in the standings (now Carl Edwards). The lead was 169 at the start of the race; by race's end, the gap was 183 over Carl.

Jimmie has been the most consistent driver in the chase with nine straight top tens, including four wins; he has a total of 21 top tens on the year. Johnson also has six wins in total, equaling his tally from 2006, his first championship season.

But, when you look at Carl's year, he has 24 top tens and seven wins after yesterday.

What is the difference? Why is Carl 185 points behind after having a "better" year than Jimmie? The answer: All of Jimmie's rotten luck came early in the season. Carl's tough luck has come in the chase. Plus, Jimmie Johnson is a driver who can step it up when it gets down to the nitty-gritty.

Also, his crew chief Chad Knaus knows how to find every inch of adjustability in the No. 48 Lowe's Chevy.

But, there are three races to go. I am NOT saying that Johnson will be beaten, but we should wait until that Sunday night in Phoenix, Arizona to give Jimmie the trophy, should he clinch it early.

Barring a catastrophic meltdown, Jimmie Johnson has won his third straight Sprint/NEXTEL Cup Championship, matching only accomplished by Cale Yarborough.

Still, wait one more week before you stop and engrave Jimmie's name on the championship trophy.

Can Kyle Busch Rebound After Three Bad Races?

James Wallace — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 05:35:46 -0400

After 25 races were complete, Kyle Busch was the man to beat headed into Richmond. With eight wins this season, Kyle seemed to have the perfect season. Only two bad races out of 25 (both at Pocono) had Kyle on top by 200+ points going into Richmond.

At Richmond, it looked like his dominance would continue as he was running up front near halfway, then he tangled with Dale Jr. A promising day ruined by every fan's perfect hopes and dreams. Kyle rebounded for a 13th place finish.

With the Chase field set, Kyle held a nice 30 point cushion headed into Loudon, where he has had decent finishes over the years. On lap 30, he reported to the crew that something was broken. A little later, Kyle spun and was hit by Jamie McMurray. After a broken part and a broken car were fixed, he ended up finishing 34th, falling from first to eighth in the point standings.

Almost everyone (including myself) said that Dover would show who this team was, who Steve Addington was, and who Kyle Busch was.

All was good until that smoke started coming from the pipes and he headed to the garage. Kyle never returned and was credited with 43rd—DEAD LAST.

After listening to the interview conducted by ESPN/ABC, I concluded that Kyle doesn't believe that he can recover. Two sub-30 finishes in two weeks of the Chase has left them 12th in points 210 points back—a complete reversal from just three weeks prior.

Which raises the question, can Kyle come back? Answer: Anything can happen over the next eight races. Anyone can win the title until they are mathematically eliminated. But does Kyle have the mental toughness to mount a charge?

The last three weeks have been hell for the 18 team. Finishes of 13th, 34th, and 43rd took them form championship contenders, to the outside looking in for the first time this year.

Even if Kyle runs great, consider the following:

Greg Biffle is third in points, 10 back. He has won the last two races.

Jimmie Johnson is second, 10 points back. He was fifth.

Carl Edwards is leading by 10. He was third.

So the odds are stacked against Kyle Busch. Look for a charge to be mounted, but they will probably not pull the trigger.

With NASCAR Chase Field Set, Drivers Strap in for a Hell of a Ride

James Wallace — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 02:41:46 -0400

With the chase looming, we all look back on the first 26 races and try to figure out who will be crowned 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion.

Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, and Jimmie Johnson combined for a total of 18 wins in the first 26 races. The "other" winners were as follows: Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (Michigan), Kasey Kahne (Lowe's, Pocono 6/8), Ryan Newman (Daytona 2/8), Kurt Busch (New Hampshire), Clint Bowyer (Richmond 5/3), Denny Hamlin (Martinsville), and Jeff Burton (Bristol 3/16).

The Chasers have one goal: win the championship.

Jimmie Johnson is going for three in a row. He is considered a heavy favorite heading into the chase.

But, I believe it is a four-man race for the championship. Busch, Edwards, and Earnhardt Jr. will join the aforementioned Johnson.

Here is my chase ending lineup, concluded with my eventual champ:

12. Kevin Harvick: Kevin has been strong, but will fade as the chase rolls on.

11. Matt Kenseth: A tough year will continue as he will struggle in the chase.

10. Clint Bowyer: Clint will continue to fizzle as the chase goes on.

9. Jeff Gordon: Jeff will get at least one win before the end, but can't quite hold any momentum.

8. Jeff Burton: Jeff has struggled in the last couple of weeks and I expect that to continue.

7. Tony Stewart: He will give a valiant effort in his last ride for Joe Gibbs. Expect great things next year at the newly formed Stewart Haas Racing.

6. Kyle Busch: Kyle had a strong start to the year, eight wins, but just will not hold in the chase.

5. Greg Biffle: Greg will be impressive in his return to the chase.

4. Denny Hamlin: Denny will take the momentum from the last three races and ride to a top five.

3. Carl Edwards: He will be no match for a Hendrick tag-team.

2. Dale Earnhardt, Jr.: This battle will go down to Homestead and will ultimately lose by less than 20 points.

1. Jimmie Johnson. You can't beat this guy in the chase. Going into this chase with 20 top fives in 40 chase races, including 11 wins.

With Chase Field Set, Drivers Strap in for a Hell of a Ride

James Wallace — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 03:03:43 -0400

With the chase looming, we all look back on the first 26 races and try to figure out who will be crowned 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion.

Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, and Jimmie Johnson combined for a total of 18 wins in the first 26 races. The "other" winners were as follows: Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (Michigan), Kasey Kahne (Lowes, Pocono 6/8), Ryan Newman (Daytona 2/8), Kurt Busch (New Hampshire), Clint Bowyer (Richmond 5/3), Denny Hamlin (Martinsville), and Jeff Burton (Bristol 3/16).