Full Throttle

Roush-Fenway Racing rookie Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., and his #99 Ford used a solid restart on Lap 107 of 112 to steal the race lead from Scott Speed and the No. 2 Red Bull Toyota and drive away to his first ARCA RE/MAX Series win in front of 10,273 “Drive Smart! Buckle-Up Kentucky 150” fans at Kentucky Speedway tonight.

Stenhouse, Jr., led the closing six laps before crossing the finish line ahead of Scott Speed in the #2 Red Bull Toyota. The margin marked the third-closest finish in the series 16 Kentucky Speedway races and the second straight May win for the Roush-Fenway #99 at the track. Current NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Erik Darnell took top honors last season.

“We’ve had good runs the last few weeks, so to finally get a win was just awesome. It was pretty tough. I’ve never really led a restart in one of these stock cars, and, actually those last few restarts when we were behind him (Speed) were the best restarts I’ve ever had in a stock car. I’m just trying to get better ever week, and learn as much as I can,” Stenhouse, Jr., said.

“This is a special win compared to the sprint cars I’ve won in, and means the most to me to finally get a win in a stock car. I can’t say enough about this Ford Fusion and the Roush V8 Engines, they really ran down the straightaways tonight.

“There’s a lot of competition here, and a lot of good cars in the ARCA/REMAX Series, but it’s getting better and better for us every week. It was another good night for points for us, and we’re just going to try to keep the momentum up going to Toledo. . I’m just glad we got this one, and hopefully there are more to come,” he added.

Ryan Fischer took third in the %25 TufTruckdirect.com/Venturini Motorsports Chevrolet, Ken Butler III wheeled to a fourth-place finish in the #22 Aaron’s Lucky Dog Dream Machine and John Wes Townley completed the top-five in the #09 John Wes Townley Zaxby’s/SPS/BB&T Ford.

The Roush Fenway driver spoiled what looked to Speed’s night. Speed seized the race lead on Lap 52 from Jake Francis and his #48 Dodge and led until Lap 106 when his solid run was ended by a series of late cautions.

The race restarted at total of four times in the closing 14 laps. Speed managed to hold point on all but the final restart, when his car experienced mechanical difficulty.

“Our Fuel strategy was fine. The only problem was on like the original green-white-checker. We got off to a nice little lead, but we broke third gear. So, the rest of the restarts they kept doing the green-white-checker and the gear was destroyed. It was a challenge. We definitely had a fast car. We should have won,” Speed said.

Current Points Standings:
Pos Driver Points
1 Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. 1365
2 Frank Kimmel 1360
3 John Wes Townley 1320
3 Matt Carter 1315
5 Tom Hessert III 1295
6 Scott Speed 1240
7 Justin Allgaier 1230
8 Patrick Sheltra 1215
9 Ken Butler III 1165
10 Tayler Malsam 1140

Technorati Tags: Auto racing, ARCA RE/MAX Series, Kentucky Speedway, NASCAR, Craftsman Truck Series, Roush Fenway Racing, Ricky Stenhouse

Of all the noise heard within NASCAR Nation the past few days (the loudest being the Junior/Busch non-sense) one couldn’t help noticing the many stories concerning Chrissy Wallace’s recent exploits. Not that is isn’t deserved, she has the talent and more importantly, the pedigree of the Wallace family to aid her drive to the top of NASCAR.

My question is, is there room on the Wallace bandwagon for Tiffany Daniels?

Daniels has just signed with Eddie Sharp Racing (ESR) to compete in the Camping World East Series. She makes her first series start May 31st in the The Strutmasters.com 150 at South Boston Speedway.

“Eddie Sharp Racing is a top-notch organization, so I feel very confident entering the Camping World East Series race at South Boston Speedway,” said Daniels. “South Boston Speedway is an excellent track for my debut in the Camping World East series. I have a great deal of racing experience at the track, so my familiarity with the 0.4-mile oval should translate into a successful CW East race. I believe that I will be very competitive in ESR equipment. Driving this race for ESR is a great opportunity to take a step forward in advancing my driving career.”

For those unaware Daniels should be in top notch equipment, ESR also fields the #2 Red Bull entry of Scott Speed in the ARCA RE/MAX Series. Although caught up in an accident at Rockingham this past weekend Speed scored his first win with a ESR machine in the Kansas Lottery $150 Grand at Kansas Speedway the previous week.

Technorati Tags: ARCA RE/MAX Series, Sports, Motorsports, Auto Racing, Kansas Speedway, NASCAR, Camping World East Series, Tiffany Daniels, Chrissy Wallace

Congratulations to ARCA RE/MAX Series car owner and former driver Andy Hillenburg for bringing Rockingham back to life.

Same goes for Joey Logano for winning in his first ever ARCA event at the wheel of a Venturini Motorsports prepared, Joe Gibbs sponsored Chevy. The soon-to-be 18 year old Gibbs phenom decimated the field and lapped all but 4 other cars on the way to the win.

There’s one remaining question I have after the checkered flag fell Sunday. If a race is held at a resurrected Rockingham Speedway will anyone see it?

The apparent answer is not only no, but a resounding NO when taking into account the number of “fans” dressed as vacant seats Sunday.

Was this the same track that was dropped from the NASCAR circuit in favor of bigger tracks with bigger grandstands in 2004? I think so.

Was this the same track that a multitude of fans of the track and it’s unique brand of racing was very much lamented at it’s passing? I think so.

Was this the very same track upon its demise in 2004 spawned a loud vociferous group of fans that campaigned for someone, anyone to bring it back to life? I think so.

So where the hell were they?

Where were these so-called “fans” when the green flag flew, the stands to be charitable, were one third full. That’s 20k at a place that holds 60k. The remainder of the math problem is left as an exercise for the reader.

No excuses. I don’t want to hear about this being an ARCA event vice NASCAR. I don’t want to hear about gas prices, hotel bills or any other such excuses that have been used since NASCAR opened it’s season at Daytona.

This was THE ROCK after all, you asked for it and got it, so where were you?

To be clear, I never expected a 60k sellout. But the least one could have hoped for, and Andy might admit to it if his feet were held to the fire, was 30k, or half full.

Didn’t happen not even close, for an event that has been pimped for months, billed as the new signature event for the circuit, the longest miles wise in series history and featuring many of the best of the youngsters that are on the development ladder to NASCAR’s three top series’.

Sorry, I fail to see any valid excuses, not after 4 years of whimpering and whining over the last few years.

Technorati Tags: Rockingham Speedway, Joe Gibbs, Andy Hillenburg, Joey Logano, Motorsports, Sports, Auto racing, NASCAR, ARCA RE/MAX Series, Full Throttle

Jeff Boyer and his #05 Boyer-Rimi Racing Chevrolet has the “pleasure” of starting shotgun on the field at The Rock, no not that Rock, this one when the Carolina 500 rolls off Sunday afternoon.

That’s not just shotgun on any field of stock cars, but shotgun on a field of FIFTY. And at that he’s in on a provisional, the ninth and last provisional in the field. Talk about being on the bottom rung.

Hell, Boyer will have to utilize a magnifying lens in his helmet just to get a glimpse of who sits on the pole. A pole that was won by a guy who Charlie has already slotted into the Sprint Cup seat now held by Tony Stewart, Joey Logano.

For the record, HELL YES, I’d love to be Jeff Boyer about now. But I’m not so you’re all stuck with me here.

Logano will start on the pole alongside Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. in the Roush-Fenway.com Ford for Sunday’s Carolina 500.

Other notables in the starting field are series points leader Matt Carter starting in the six hole, Alli Owens 22nd, Scott Speed winner of the last ARCA RE/MAX event in Kansas 25th and Gabi DiCarlo 32nd.

Two-time ARCA RE/MAX Series winner and NCTS veteran Chad McCumbee qualed in the 21st spot but turned up the wick during final practice to post the quickest speed.

Technorati Tags: Tony Stewart, Joey Logano, Sprint Cup Series, Matt Carter, Chad McCumbee, ARCA RE/MAX Series, Sprint Cup, Kevin Harvick

For full disclosure, NASCAR has been and still is double X chromosome challenged, no one disputes that.

The klieg lights have shown even brighter on the fact since the Danica Tsunami washed over Twin-Ring Motegi last weekend.

Given that, it was only natural the motorsports press would seek out past females with experience at various levels of the sport for comment. It was just as predictable they would find their way to Erin Crocker the last female to make any headway at making at the top level of NASCAR.

With that as the preface, I give you Erin Crocker:

“To be quite frank, NASCAR is not doing much to help women get into the sport,” Crocker said. “Maybe that will change, but up until now they haven’t done too much.”

I’m not sure what she expects them to do, as a sanctioning body all they can do is provide the proper venue for them to race in and also ensure they are at a skill level so no danger arises for themselves or other competitors. And they have, along with Joe Gibbs supported the Diversity Program.

“I’m not privy to the insides of how they’re doing business,” she said of Cup operations. “I just know it’s not a high priority. Their priority is making sure they’re in the top 35 in points, taking care of their sponsors.”

“No one has put their stake in the ground and said we’re going to make it work. Everybody has just given it a shot, and when the going got tough they gravitated back to the norm.”

Excuse me!

Remind me again who it was that did have a shot. A shot at making it to the Cup Series by having a fully sponsored ride by one of the top-tiered teams in the sport at a level most rookies start at, the Truck Series. In addition the same team provided a competitive ride in the ARCA RE/MAX Series.

Excuse me again Ms. Crocker, the problem was not getting a fair shot but what was done with the opportunity.

The problem wasn’t any stakes in the ground, but rather your boss putting his “stake” somewhere it didn’t belong and creating an environment where you became virtually untouchable by both teams and major sponsors in the sport.

You young lady need to sit down, shut up and get on with whatever racing opportunities may come your way.

And while your waiting you need to call on your former, ahem… employer. and ask why he hasn’t done everything he “possibly could do” to get you back into a competitive ride as promised. Although I suspect there were a lot of promises that were made in the heat of “competition” that were never kept, if you get my drift.

Technorati Tags: ARCA RE/MAX Series, NASCAR, Erin Crocker, NCTS, Nationwide Series

There must have been a few leftover rainbows over the state after the recent storms in Kansas.

And F1 veteran Scott Speed may have caught one on his way to his first-ever ARCA RE/MAX Series win in the Kansas Lottery $150 Grand Friday afternoon at Kansas Speedway.

Speed started on the outside pole but by lap 16 found himself down a lap down after being called in to repair a window net that had come unlatched. It wasn’t until catching a Lucky Mongrel during a lap 54 caution period he regained the lead lap.

“I don’t let things that I can’t control affect me while I’m driving,” said Speed. “Obviously, something like a window net I can’t control. I just got really aggressive after that happened so that we could be in a position to earn the Lucky Dog. Once we got that, I pushed real hard to make up a lot of positions.”

Steadily worked his way through the field he got his chance to overtake then leader rookie Jesse Smith on a late-race restart with six laps remaining, held off Roush Fenway Racing’s Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. to the checkers to claim his career-first victory in his fifth career series start.

Stenhouse, Smith Michael Annett and Robb Brent filled out the remainder of the top five.

Series points leader going into the event Justin Allgaier had his two-race win streak broken after a blown engine sent his Chevy to the garage after 83 laps.

The lone female in the field Gabi DiCarlo scored her career best finish by bring home the Great Clips Toyota ninth on the lead lap.

Technorati Tags: ARCA RE/MAX Series, Gabi DiCarlo, Scott Speed, Ricky Stenhouse Jr, Kansas Speedway, Full Throttle

Kansas native Jennifer Jo Cobb will be the latest female to make her debut in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

Cobb will not be the only new face in the garage; so will her team. She will pilot the #74 Dodge owned by 1990 Daytona 500 winner Derrike Cope.

“I couldn’t be more excited,” Cobb said. “I love racing at Kansas Speedway, and am looking forward to climbing behind the wheel in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and kicking off Derrike’s new race team.”

The daughter of racer Joe Cobb, she has found success in the ARCA RE/MAX Series, where she’s posted three top-10 finishes in her first five starts, one of which came at Kansas.

The driver also has two appearances in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, including one at Kansas Speedway.

Joe Cobb’s accomplishments (as per Jennifer’s website) date back to 1976 and include hundreds of victories and awards. Joe continues to race weekly at Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City.

Not to demean Jennifer’s chance in the Cope ride, but I wonder, given the family ties why the twins Angela and Amber Cope haven’t been slotted into any of Derrike’s rides.

Just curious is all, just curious.

Technorati Tags: ARCA RE/MAX Series, Nationwide Series, NASCAR, Jennifer Jo Cobb, Derrike Cope

ARCA RE/MAX Series veteran Ken Schrader, in his own no. 52 Federated Auto Parts Dodge, earned the SIM Factory Pole Award Saturday afternoon at Salem Speedway for Sunday’s running of the Kentuckiana Ford Dealers ARCA 200 presented by Federated Auto Parts.

The Fenton, Missouri native was the only driver to crack the 16-second barrier with a time of 16.909 seconds, an average speed of 118.162 mph. It was Schrader’s 14th career series pole award in his 47th series attempt.

“I sort of wanted that one,” said Schrader. “Real happy with the car. If we can keep the fenders on it, we should be in good shape tomorrow.”

“Tough field, I can’t believe the level of competition in this series. There’s a lot of really, really good cars here. I’d like to thank Federated Auto Parts for all their support over the years. We’re glad to be able to give them the pole.”

Matt Carter qualified second with a speed of 117.488 mph.

Defending Salem race winner Justin Allgaier qualed in third, Tom Hessert III was fourth in his career first series attempt at Salem and F1 veteran Scott Speed completed the top-five qualifiers with a speed of 116.678 mph.

Technorati Tags: Ken Schrader, Salem Speedway, ARCA RE/MAX Series, NASCAR, Sprint Cup, Full Throttle