Nascar Sprint All-Star Race changes

By Nick Stodal

 

 "Jimmie Johnson. Winner of the 2013 All-Star race. Can he win again or who will win?"

Charlotte Motor Speedway announced, that they make changes to the Sprint All-Star Schedule. They said, that they will move the Sprint Showdown to Friday, May16, preceding the Nascar Camping World Truck Series Norht Carolina Education Lottary 200. So fans will see the drivers with a three lap qualifying that includes a mandatory 4 Tire pit stop without a pit road speed limit. So we will see some great qualifying action race fans. Marcus Smith said:“These changes mean fans get even more bang for their buck here at The Greatest Place to See the Race,” It also means, that drivers can watch both Nascar Sprint Cup Series drivers and Camping World Truck Series drivers. It's the only date in the Schedule, where both Truck and Sprint Cup drivers will complete in non qualifiying contests, in the same night and the same venue. Drivers who win a race before the All-Star Race will be added to the field. And also the top 2 finishers in the Sprint Showdown and the Sprint Fan Vote winner will also be added to the field. So let's see a great All-Star Race next season and a powerfull weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Who will win the 1 Million $? What do you think race fans? Write it in the comments.

Kurt Busch Nears Formula 1 Test Ride

By Joey Gucciardo, Ultimate Staff Member

The "Outlaw" is headed to Open Wheels! 2004 Nextel Cup (Now Sprint Cup) Series champion Kurt "Outlaw" Busch made the chase in 2013. Now, Kurt is at Stewart-HAAS Racing, driving the #41 HAAS Chevrolet under team owners Tony Stewart and Gene Haas. 

A colleague told the "Outlaw" that he was told that he was too old to be a Formula 1 driver.

Kurt responded, "Yep, I agree. But I'm not too old to be a Formula 1 test driver. I could not pass up the opportunity to drive one of these types of cars and to experience it in life, you know, check it off the box."

HAAS isd trying to get a Formula 1 team going, possibly next year. From FOX Sport's article "Link below"

"I think as an American it would be a great honor to participate in that form of racing," Haas said during Monday's first stop on the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Media Tour hosted by Charlotte Motor Speedway."

[:SOURCES:]

http://msn.foxsports.com/nascar/shake-and-bake/f1-f-yeah-kurt-busch-would-love-to-test-in-a-formula-1-car-012814

NASCAR Switches To Knockout Qualifying Format

By Joey Gucciardo

NASCAR switched from its one-car-at-a-time qualifying stsyem to a knockout qualifying system similar to the one used in Formula 1 and Indy Car Racing.

The policy will not be used in the DAYTONA 500, and non-points events like the Camping World Truck Series race at Eldora Speedway in Ohio.

According to the "Los Angeles Times",

"--At tracks 1.25 miles and longer, there will be three rounds. The first will be 25 minutes and include all the cars in the field. The 24 fastest cars in that round -- based on their fastest single lap -- advance to a 10-minute second round. The 12 fastest cars cars in the second round then move on to the final, five-minute round. There will be a five-minute break between each round.

--At tracks less than 1.25 miles, there will be two rounds. The first will be 30 minutes and the 12 fastest cars advance to a final, 10-minute round. There will be a 10-minute break between the two rounds."

http://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-sn-nascar-qualifying-changes-20140122,0,4833593.story#ixzz2rB7i59tb

Blue Deuce Has A New Sponsor In 2014

By Joey Gucciardo (#BigGoochDWG)

Along with Miller Lite, who Brad Keselowski won the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship, and won the 2013 Chase race at Charlotte Motor Speedway with, Team Penske announced Tuesday that Alliance Truck Parts will join Miller Lite as Brad Keselowski's sponsor in 2014. "Team Penske has built a terrific relationship with Alliance Truck Parts and we look forward to having them join us in the Cup series this season. 

This is a great example of how we can build business relationships to create opportunities for our partners through our racing teams.", said Roger Penske, owner of Penske Racing.

Brad first raced with Alliance Truck Parts as a sponsor in the 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series finale at Homestea-Miami Speedway. That continued into 2011, and now, Alliance makes its NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debut as a sponsor in 2014.

"This is a great opportunity for a strong new partner to join the No. 2 Team Penske Ford as Alliance Truck Parts increases its presence in NASCAR. This is a natural partnership as Penske and Alliance Truck Parts are both strong transportation-based companies. We're anxious to see the prominent yellow No. 2 Alliance Truck Parts Ford Fusion on the track this year.", said Brad Keselowski.

For 24 out of 36 races, Brad Keselowski will run Miller Lite as his primary sponsor.

Sources:

http://msn.foxsports.com/nascar/story/no-smokescreen-bad-brad-picks-up-new-sponsor-on-no-2-car-012114

NASCAR Considers New Chase Points System

By, Joey Gucciardo

I'll try to make this very brief. According to NASCAR Illustrated on Facebook:

"Big news. According to Jim Utter at the Charlotte Observer, NASCAR is going to change the Chase in a big way. In short: 16 drivers qualify for the Chase, then the field would get reduced by four after third, sixth, and ninth races of the Chase. The four top drivers remaining after PHX would race in a winner-take-all race at Miami. Wow. Lets start here: what do you think about the season finale?"

Flashback: The Johnson and Kenseth Rivalry Of 2013

By Joey Gucciardo, UNB Staff Member

 

In 2003, Matt Kenseth won his first championship, Johnson ironically finished second in points that year. In 2013, it was the opposite. It was a rivalry that will last forever. What a rivalry it was! Two former champions, fighting for a championship. One has won only one championship, but the other has five. Matt Kenseth hasn't won a championship since 2003, and Jimmie Johnson winning his last in 2010. Johnson reigned for the sixth time in his career. But Kenseth, he's still looking for that second championship trophy.

Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus are a NASCAR dynasty that will last forver.In 2010, Jimmie Johnson won title number five, falling to Tony Stewart and Carl Edwards in 2011, and Brad Keselowski in 2012. Jimmie had motivation in 2013 after he won the DAYTONA 500, the first race of the season. Later, he would win at Martinsville. Johnson had trouble with restarts earlier in the season, like the mishap at Kentucky Speedway. But the wins at Dover after a restart mistake with Juan Pablo Montoya earlier at Dover, and the win at Texas motivated Johnson even more. His All-Star race win, and his Coca Cola 600 win benefitted him even more. After Kenseth's two chase wins in a row, Johnson bounced back with his win at Dover. Johnson would win the championship at Homestead, FL in November, which was his sixth championship. 

Matt Kenseth and Jason Ratcliffe had a season to remember in 2013. Matt had problems at Phoenix, the race before the final race at Homestead-Miami Speedway, like a long pit stop that was an accidental blunder by his pit crew. He won at Michigan, he won the first two chase races in 2013. He won seven total races in 2013, giving Jimmie Johnson a true run for his money. Kenseth had just finished a long career at Roush-Fenway Racing, and has moved to Joe Gibbs Racing for his first year there. Second place in the points standings in your first year driving for a new team is not bad at all.]

Both Jimmie Johnson and Matt Kenseth gave the fans a true show, and showed others what real racing was all about. 2013 was a historic year in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, one that is hopefully never forgotten by NASCAR fans for the rest of time.

PRE-Season Thunder FINAL Testing Speeds

Tuesday Testing speeds

Pos.	No.	Name	Make	Laps	Best Time (sec.)	Best Speed (mph)
1.	98	Johnny Sauter	Toyota	75	48.934	183.921
2.	88	Matt Crafton	Toyota	60	48.941	183.895
3.	13	Ross Chastain	Toyota	71	48.945	183.880
4.	28	Ryan Ellis	Chevrolet	8	51.129	176.025
5.	10	Jennifer Jo Cobb	Chevrolet	9	51.892	173.437

Monday P.M. testing speeds

Pos.	No.	Name	Make	Laps	Best Tm	Best Speed
1.	4	Jeb Burton	Chevrolet	94	47.085	191.144
2.	31	Ben Kennedy	Chevrolet	106	47.139	190.925
3.	5	John Wes Townley	Toyota	69	47.141	190.917
4.	88	Matt Crafton	Toyota	57	47.211	190.634
5.	54	Darrell Wallace	Toyota	64	47.225	190.577
6.	17	Timothy Peters	Toyota	60	47.296	190.291
7.	77	German Quiroga	Toyota	70	47.456	189.649
8.	82	Sean Corr	Ford	75	47.737	188.533
9.	63	Justin Jennings	Chevrolet	53	47.788	188.332
10.	13	Ross Chastain	Toyota	47	47.809	188.249
11.	24	Brennan Newberry	Chevrolet	76	47.877	187.982
12.	51	Kyle Busch	Toyota	61	47.999	187.504
13.	21	Joey Coulter	Chevrolet	59	48.061	187.262
14.	19	Ryan Blaney	Ford	57	48.095	187.130
15.	35	Mason Mingus	Chevrolet	57	48.099	187.114
16.	39	Ryan Sieg	Chevrolet	63	48.152	186.908
17.	07	Jimmy Weller	Toyota	61	48.214	186.668
18.	28	Ryan Ellis	Chevrolet	26	48.217	186.656
19.	10	Jennifer Jo Cobb	Chevrolet	36	48.708	184.775
20.	98	Johnny Sauter	Toyota	38	48.723	184.718

Monday A.M. testing speeds

Pos.	No.	Name	Make	Laps	Best Time (sec.)	Best Speed (mph)
1.	31	Ben Kennedy	Chevrolet	54	49.405	182.168
2.	4	Jeb Burton	Chevrolet	49	49.428	182.083
3.	17	Timothy Peters	Toyota	8	50.485	178.271
4.	5	John Wes Townley	Toyota	24	50.512	178.175
5.	54	Darrell Wallace	Toyota	18	50.590	177.901
6.	77	German Quiroga	Toyota	14	50.750	177.340
7.	19	Tyler Reddick	Ford	18	50.764	177.291
8.	82	Sean Corr	Ford	4	50.786	177.214
9.	51	Kyle Busch	Toyota	15	50.857	176.967
10.	35	Mason Mingus	Chevrolet	15	50.996	176.484
11.	24	Brennan Newberry	Chevrolet	11	50.998	176.478
12.	21	Joey Coulter	Chevrolet	8	51.008	176.443
13.	88	Matt Crafton	Toyota	9	51.178	175.857
14.	28	Ryan Ellis	Chevrolet	6	51.209	175.750
15.	39	Ryan Sieg	Chevrolet	23	51.453	174.917
16.	13	Ross Chastain	Toyota	10	51.525	174.672
17.	98	Johnny Sauter	Toyota	3	51.777	173.822
18.	63	Justin Jennings	Chevrolet	3	52.196	172.427
19.	07	Todd Peck	Toyota	23	52.269	172.186

Mat Crafton's Dominance In 2013

By, Joey Gucciardo (January 8th 2014)

Matt Crafton may have lost the 2013 owners title to Kyle Busch, but Crafton won what counted, the championship. Crafton completed every lap of the 2013 season (100%). Matt had one win in 2013, seven Top-5's, and nineteen Top-10's. If Crafton had not been involved in a wreck in the Ford EcoBoost 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, the final race of the season, Crafton probably would have had the truck owners points wrapped up. But, Kyle Busch Motorsports won out. Overall, a SPECTACULAR season for Mat Crafton.

Five Camping World Truck Series Drivers From 2013 Who Will Most Likely Become Stars Of This Sport

By, Joey Gucciardo (January 3rd 2014)

There are many popular faces in NASCAR. Many are in the Sprint Cup Series, like Kyle Busch, Matt Kenseth, Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, especially Dale Earnhardt Jr. However, the Nationwide Series has its own as well, like Kyle Busch again, Austin Dillon, Sam Hornish Jr., and Brian Scott. But what about the Camping World Truck Series? The Truck drivers are trying to work their way up the ranks. I'm going to nam four out of the many Truck Series drivers from 2013 who might one day become the stars of NASCAR.

Jeb Burton

Jeb Burton: Jeb Burton drives the No. 4 Truck for Turner Scott Motorsports. Even though he only has one career win in the Trucks, he has twelve career Top 10's and five career Top 5's. He only has two career DNF's. Also, Jeb comes from the Burton family, where legendary drivers like Ward Burton, and Jeff Burton have emerged from.

Ryan Blaney

Ryan Blaney: This "Young Gun" superstar is part of the Blaney family, and is the son of Sprint Cup Series driver Dave Blaney. Ryan has two career Truck series wins, one in 2012, and the other in 2013. Ryan also has ten career Top 5's, and eighteen career Top 10's. Ryan also only has three career DNF's. Ryan is definately going to be in the Sprint Cup one day.

Joey Coulter

Joey Coulter: Joey Coulter is another "Young Gun" driver in the Trucks. Even though he has only one career win in the Truck Series, he has sixteen career Top 5's, and thirty-three career Top 10's, and only three career DNF's. One thing that really stood out to me was that Joey has 2,190 career points in his three year career in the Truck Series. Look out for Joey Coulter in the Trucks. With these stats, he's going to be agreat driver one day.

Chase Elliott: This guy may not have stats like the other guys, but he's only been in the trucks for one year. He has one career win, which was at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park, where Ty Dillon was leading, but wrecked, giving Chase the victory. 

Chase Elliott celebrating his victory

at Canadian Tire Mototsports Park

in 2013.

Chase has five career Top 5's, and seven career Top 10's. He only has one career DNF. He is the son of one of NASCAR's greatest drivers "Million Dollar Bill", Bill Ellliott. Bill was one of the sports greats, and Chase is trying to follow his father's footsteps. Chase Elliott is one of the current "Young Gun" greats in the camping World Truck Series, which is why you should watch him in 2014, and the years to follow.

These four drivers are some of the "Young Gun" stars of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. They are making many headlines, and I think they will make great Sprint Cup Series drivers one day. Jeb, Ryan, Joey, and Chase are definately guys you should follow throughout their careers.

Final 2013 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Points Standings (Top 20)

As of: Ford EcoBoost 200		+/-	Points	Behind	Wins
1	Matt Crafton #88 - Toyota	–	804	‒	1
2	Ty Dillon #3 - Chevrolet	–	764	40	2
3	James Buescher #31 - Chevrolet	–	761	43	2
4	Johnny Sauter #98 - Toyota	–	732	72	3
5	Jeb Burton #4 - Chevrolet	–	731	73	1
6	Ryan Blaney #29 - Ford	–	726	78	1
7	Brendan Gaughan #62 - Chevrolet	–	717	87	0
8	Darrell Wallace Jr. #54 - Toyota	–	704	100	1
9	Miguel Paludo #32 - Chevrolet	–	697	107	0
10	Timothy Peters #17 - Toyota	–	683	121	2
11	John Wes Townley #7 - Toyota	+2	641	163	0
12	Dakoda Armstrong #60 - Chevrolet	–	628	176	0
13	German Quiroga #77 - Toyota	+2	625	179	0
14	Ron Hornaday Jr. #134 - Chevrolet	-3	612	192	0
15	Joey Coulter #18 - Toyota	-1	605	199	0
16	Max Gresham #8 - Chevrolet	–	579	225	0
17	Ryan Sieg #39 - Chevrolet	–	500	304	0
18	Ross Chastain #19 - Ford	–	484	320	0
19	Brennan Newberry #24 - Chevrolet	–	452	352	0
20	Norm Benning #57 - Chevrolet	+1	370	434	0

According To Google