Nationwide Series News
November 24, 2009
NASCAR NEWS
November 24, 2009
Putting JJ’s dominance in perspective by Ed Hinton;
Can anyone stop the 48? and
Johnson worked hard for fourth title by Terry Blount;
Believe it or not, JJ not done yet and
Rivalries a fun sideshow to JJ’s 4-peat by David Newton;
Post-Chase odds and ends by Ryan McGee
Punch’s Near Disaster Led to Safety for Pit Reporters
Jimmie Johnson wins fourth consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup championship by Doug Demmons
History Around The Track: 2001 – Robby Gordon Wins New Hampshire Race – Day After Thanksgiving
Johnson wins 4th straight NASCAR championship by Jenna Fryer
Johnson captures 4th consecutive title by Don Coble
Jimmie Johnson’s crew chief Chad Knaus married with children? by Lewis Franck
Johnson Now a Serious Threat to Petty’s And Earnhardt’s Championship Record by Jerry Bonkowski
The Lugnut Report: Tony Stewart Caps Off Season With 22nd Place Finish and
Winners and Losers: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 2009 Season by Patti Rodisch
Race React: Finale Provides 2010 Glimpse by Jim McCoy
Commercial breakdown, driver focus, and links related to the 2009 Ford 400 by Cheryl Walker
Johnson’s success could have no limitations by Pete Pistone
Johnson, Busch, Hornaday Scrambled The NASCAR Record Book In 2009 by John Close
Kahne finishes season 10th in the standings by Darren Pope
Signed, Sealed, And Delivered and
Momentum starts at Homestead by Sarah Farlee
Your Turn: Sprint Cup Series Race From Homestead On ABC by John Daly
Montoya’s season ends with a thump by Josh Lobdell
Stewart, Montoya Tangle in Finale by Holly Cain
Performance in the clutch propels Johnson to amazing feat and
End of the road (for 2009) by Thomas Pope
Time to give Jimmie Johnson his due by Jeff Owens;
The Hot Pass: Johnson not content coasting to title and
Volkswagen has no interest in joining NASCAR by Lee Spencer
Matt McLaughlin’s Thinkin’ Out Loud: Homestead Race Recap by Matt McLaughlin;
Appreciating History Rewritten by Jay Pennell;
Five Points To Ponder: Chase Race #10 Edition by Mike Lovecchio;
Bubble Breakdown: Andretti, Front Row Overcome Wreck To Lock Into Top 35 For 2010 by Mike Ravesi;
Logano Captures 2009 Rookie of the Year Award Despite Rocky Finish by Tony Lumbis
Fourth And One: History Making Championship Puts Jimmie Johnson In Exclusive Club Of His Own by Shawn Courchesne
Homestead recap: Johnson wins historic fourth Cup
Hamlin Wins But The Day Belongs To Jimmie Johnson by Ron Felix
Hamlin wins race, Johnson takes title by Amanda Vincent
Jimmie Johnson wins record 4th consecutive Sprint Cup championship and
Jeff Burton settles for second in Ford 400/Notes by Adam Beasley;
With win, Hamlin serves notice he can contend in 2010 by Gary Long;
Making history is much more exciting than making fans by Greg Cote;
Juan Pablo Montoya’s exciting homecoming by Cammy Clark
Driven! Now, about that Drive For Five….Can Jimmie and Chad make it happen? and
And now on to Championship Number Five? and
Warning: Objects in your mirror may be closer than they appear and
Do NASCAR’s finest now once again have a harder ‘edge’ out there on the track? and
Jimmie, Yes! But it was a night of survival, en route to that fourth NASCAR title and
Volkswagen…Honda…BMW? Maybe NASCAR is turning the corner
Can Johnson and Knaus be Stopped at Four? by Drew Hierwarter
For four drivers, ‘09 finale more than end to season by Mark Aumann;
Only question remaining is, how far can Johnson go? by David Caraviello;
Montoya, Stewart let anger get best of them in finale by Joe Menzer
Emergence of Montoya, Twitter trash talk among things to smile about in 2009 by Matt Myftiu
Why can’t the NASCAR season end at Daytona? and
So that’s it? by Greg Engle
The Best And Worst Of NASCAR In 2009 by Journo
This Champ’s Not So Vanilla After All and
Rick Hendrick Misses Team’s History-Making Day by Michelle Dawn
Johnson’s the best until someone else gets better and
Hamlin shows the guts; Johnson gets the glory and
Ford 400 race notes: Stewart, Montoya engage in juvenile spat and
A year that took a toll by Monte Dutton
A record four straight – Johnson leads 1-2-3 finish for Hendrick team in point standings by Tania Ganguli
Jimmy Johnson a True Champion. Even if it Only Racing?
November 24, 2009
Applause and appreciation, please, for Jimmie Johnson. Even from those of us who might not exactly be what you’d call car racing aficionados. By the way, what’s NASCAR stand for again?
Those of you who are similarly carburetor-challenged, please don’t go. You’re among friends.
Matter of fact, only three things I’m really sure about in this sport. The cars carry enough advertising to be minor league baseball outfield walls. The drivers seem to be mad at each other a lot. And whoever gets to the finish line first is the victor, usually by the margin of about three bumpers.
But hey, we can all count to four.
That’s how many NASCAR championships Johnson has now won in a row, clinched in the final race of the season Sunday night. A lot of us might not be totally clear on how or why, but here is what we should know.
Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson and Larry Bird have a lifetime full of NBA titles, but never did that.
Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw and Tom Brady took home boxes of Super Bowls rings, but never did that.
Babe Ruth never did that.
Meanwhile, in the horsepower set, nobody had ever done that. Not even Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty, and they’d be half of a NASCAR Mount Rushmore. Listen Now
Jeremy Mayfield Hold Auction to Help with Legal Fee’s
November 24, 2009
CATAWBA, N.C.— Jeremy Mayfield sat in the back of his large barn Friday morning about 800 miles from where NASCAR’s season-ending weekend was kicking off. Several hundred people surrounded him, listening intently as a fast-speaking auctioneer sold dozens of items. Banned from driving by NASCAR after testing positive for methamphetamines, Mayfield has become an auction fanatic. Only this time, he was selling his own stuff, ranging from a second home, land, cars, dirt bikes and bulldozers to weed-whackers, humidifiers and sunglasses.
If it was all sold by the end of the day it would be worth about $5 million, money needed to help his ongoing court fight to be reinstated to the sport.
“Obviously, this will help financially,” Mayfield said. “But it’s also what I like to do.”
And for a guy who claims that, “All I’ve ever known was racing,” it was an odd sight. Most of the crowd consisted of auction veterans. Few paid any attention to Mayfield’s presence, instead staring at their seller sheets and fellow bidders.
And besides a few old pieces of sheet metal for sale and the racing hats worn by some of the visitors, there were few signs of NASCAR on the premises.
“Sold for $15! What’s your number?” the auctioneer yelled after selling a circular saw blade.
Mayfield walked around his land with a smile, but also determined to prove that he’s not a drug user. His wife, selling clothes and shoes in another section of the facility, took a harder stand against how others in the sport have treated them. Listen Now
NASCAR Nationwide Series, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Awards Banquet Combined Keselowski, Carmichael Named Series’ Most Popular Drivers
November 23, 2009
MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (Nov. 23, 2009) – Tonight, for the first time, the post-season awards banquet for the NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series was a combined event.
Kyle Busch and Ron Hornaday Jr. officially were crowned as champions of their respective series for the 2009 season on the Americana Ballroom stage at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel.
Busch was honored with his first NASCAR national series title as champion of the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Hornaday received his fourth championship ring in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, joining Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Richard Petty as the only four-time champions in NASCAR’s three national series.
The champions were joined on stage by the drivers who finished in positions 2-5 in the final standings, along with each series’ Raybestos Rookie of the Year.
And after a fan vote on NASCAR.com, each series’ Most Popular Driver also was revealed. Brad Keselowski and Ricky Carmichael were chosen by the fans in the NASCAR Nationwide and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, respectively. Keselowski took home the award for the second consecutive year. Listen Now
Hamlin vs Keselowski. Round Two… chaaaaachhhhhinnnnng
November 23, 2009
HOMESTEAD, Fla. — What NASCAR’s Nationwide Series finale lacked in drama until the closing laps, it made up for in entertainment Saturday — especially for those following the Denny Hamlin/Brad Keselowski soap opera. Kyle Busch earned the series championship by simply participating in the race, then fended off the charge of Carl Edwards — series runner-up for a second consecutive season — to win the Ford 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
It was Busch’s ninth Nationwide victory of 2009 (20th win in NASCAR’s three major series) and 25th top-10 finish of the season, tying a Nationwide record set by Jeff Green in 2000.
But it was the recurring contact between Hamlin and Keselowski that had people — including the principles — talking.
Keselowski spun twice in the first 36 laps. The first incident came after pressure from Hamlin but on his own, eight laps into the race. The second spin came after direct contact from Hamlin’s front bumper.
NASCAR, which had called Keselowski into its hauler for a cautionary chat on Thursday, penalized Hamlin one lap for rough driving. Listen Now
Kasey Kahne Looking….Is RPM a Death Wish to a NASCAR Driver Career?
November 23, 2009
HOMESTEAD, Fla.— Kasey Kahne might be maxed out at RPM. Kahne is strongly considering bolting Richard Petty Motorsports after his contract expires next season because of the instability surrounding the organization and will start shopping around for a new team in January.
Kahne has been disgruntled with many parts of RPM this season, including a planned merger with Yates Racing that has yet to happen. Kahne says the company needs to become focused and resolve its lingering issues in the offseason.
“The ups and downs of the team has made it difficult for me to really say, ‘Man, I’m going to be here for 10 years,’ ” Kahne said Friday at Homestead-Miami Speedway. “I really don’t know what’s going to happen.”
Kahne said he has not heard from majority owner George Gillett Jr. about a new contract.
Kahne has given the struggling organization a huge boost this season with two victories and a spot in the Chase for the championship. He finished 38th in the Chase opener, has not been a factor and is in 10th place entering Sunday’s finale.
“I don’t feel like I need to be done racing for the year,” Kahne said. “I’m still pretty excited at where we’re at right now. … I think the season needs to get over with for the management side of things and just figure out exactly what we’re doing, get us pointed in the right direction so that the teams can start working and preparing for 2010.”
The team has been plagued by problems since it was formed in January from the merger between Gillett-Evernham Motorsports and Petty Enterprises.
RPM didn’t have enough new engines for Kahne to use full time, and the team decided to shift from Dodge to Ford next season. RPM fielded only two fully funded cars all season — Kahne and Elliott Sadler. The team pieced together funding for A.J. Allmendinger and Reed Sorenson, and both drivers have forfeited salary or race winnings to help keep their teams afloat.
Kahne took owner Richard Petty to Victory Lane for the first time in 364 races by winning on the road course at Infineon Raceway. It was the first time a Petty-owned car won a race since John Andretti’s 1999 victory at Martinsville. Kahne helped secure his spot in the Chase in early September when he won at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
He hopes a third win — even if it’s overshadowed by Jimmie Johnson’s fourth straight Cup title — will put a satisfying end to a tumultuous season.
Kahne realizes the offseason might not bring him any answers.
“I used to try and stay in the loop, and then things don’t happen that they say will,” Kahne said. “It’s up to them what happens. They do their things, and I’ll do mine.”
Check Out all The News and Rumors!!!
November 23, 2009
- Johnson to light up the Emprise State Building
- JOHNSON the 2009 Sprint Cup Champion
- Hamlin wins at Homestead
- Overnight Homestead TV ratings posted
- Evernham looking to be involved with race team again
- BAM announces featured artist for Daytona 500; crew chief returns
- Logano named 2009 Rookie of the Year
- Race & Commercial Breakdown of the 2009 Ford 400
- F1 Drivers check out NASCAR at Homestead
- Win 188 for #11
- Edwards gets shut out in 2009 after
- Six drivers who won in 2008, did not win in 2009
- Hendrick Motorsports Championship Notes
- Volkswagen and NASCAR? update
- Hendrick misses Homestead race
- Robby Gordon Clinches Off-Road Title
- Knaus Wins Wypall Wipers Crew Chief of the Year Award
- 2010 Sprint Cup Silly Season Driver/Team Chart
- Wave Energy to sponsor #36 team in 2010
- Hamlin to have knee surgery
Denny Hamlin Wins Ford 400
November 23, 2009
HOMESTEAD, Fla. — Denny Hamlin’s good days in this year’s Chase for the Sprint Cup — such as Sunday’s Ford 400 victory — made it easy to buy his declaration that he could run with Jimmie Johnson. But doing so required near-perfection in almost every area, and this fall revealed how far Hamlin and his No. 11 Toyota had to climb to reach Johnson’s level. For all of the potential shown in Chase victories at Martinsville Speedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway, they were offset by three DNFs (did not finish) that quickly turned his title hopes into a salvage operation. (By comparison, Johnson’s only low finish was 38th after an early wreck at Texas Motor Speedway.)
Three top-threes since then helped Hamlin finish fifth, but his fourth victory of the season offered a sign of where he and the Joe Gibbs Racing team need to be to stop Johnson from winning a fifth consecutive championship.
“It’s tough to play the numbers games and what-if, but all I know is we’ve been competitive enough to run with those guys,” Hamlin said after leading three times for 71 laps. Listen Now
Stewart, Montoya Beat and Bang…Ruin Chances for Top 5 at Homestead Miami
November 23, 2009
HOMESTEAD, Fla. — Tony Stewart and Juan Pablo Montoya, running fifth and sixth in points, were close all weekend, their bright red haulers parked beside each other in the Cup garage. Close turned to physical 117 laps into Sunday’s Ford 400.
Montoya got into the back of Stewart, who would have none of it. He came down on Montoya, all but scraping the 42 off the right side of Montoya’s Chevrolet.
Forty-three laps later, the two were at it again, Montoya drawing a two-lap penalty for rough driving when he rammed the rear end of Stewart.
Neither driver was available for postrace discussion.
“I definitely didn’t see that coming,” said Montoya’s crew chief, Brian Pattie.
“It shows you that (Montoya) is not going to be pushed around. But it didn’t help us, and it didn’t help (Stewart). We both had a chance to finish in the top five.”
Stewart finished 22nd, falling behind race winner Denny Hamlin to sixth in points. Montoya, who lost 32 laps to repairs and penalty, finished 38th.
“Tony was frustrated,” said Joe Custer, executive vice president at Stewart-Haas Racing.
Hamlin was penalized one lap for rough driving after an incident with Brad Keselowski in Saturday’s Nationwide Series race.
“I think everyone’s got a little fight in them, especially when they’ve been done wrong,” Hamlin said. “Maybe they thought (retaliation) was worth it. I thought yesterday that it was worth it.” Listen Now
