One City, Two Tracks: One Massive NASCAR Weekend
Besides the season-opening weekend at Daytona International Speedway, these upcoming few days might rank at the top of any “Biggest NASCAR Weekends Of 2011” lists. Here’s why …
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
It’s the Brickyard 400. Period.
Still, added bonuses join the usual pageantry and prestige affixed to any event at this historic venue.
For one, the Wild Card. After race No. 26 at Richmond, the top-10 drivers will be locked in the 12-driver Chase. Spots 11 and 12 will go to those drivers outside the top 10 with the most wins, provided they are in the top 20. Only seven races remain between now and NASCAR’s playoffs, and Wild Card-eligible opportunities are dwindling.
Three drivers, in particular, to watch: Tony Stewart, Juan Pablo Montoya and Jamie McMurray. All three are outside the top 10, and all three have enjoyed success at IMS (see below for more).
Sunday’s Brickyard 400 is also the first race in the Sprint Summer Showdown presented by HTC EVO 3D. Any driver who wins between Indianapolis and Bristol (the next five races) will become a finalist for the AdvoCare 500 in Atlanta. If one of those eligible drivers wins the Atlanta race, then the driver, the driver’s charity and fan each collect $1,000,000. Peruse the pre-race Driver Rating for possible victory candidates in race No. 1. The top five at Indy: Stewart (109.3), Montoya (106.4), Mark Martin (105.3), Jimmie Johnson (100.1) and Greg Biffle (97.7).
NASCAR Nationwide Series at Lucas Oil Raceway
Travis Pastrana, welcome aboard. Pastrana, X Games gold-medalist and action sports superstar, will make his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut this weekend.
Pastrana, who has won multiple titles in supercross, motocross and rally cars, has taken a NASCAR crash course of sorts in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series. He has run five NASCAR K&N Pro Series races this year, with a best finish of sixth in his NASCAR debut in January at the Toyota All-Star Showdown.
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series at Lucas Oil Raceway
This weekend pairs two long-standing trademarks of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series: short-track racing and Ron Hornaday Jr.
Of the 20 races on the inaugural 1995 series schedule, 15 were held on short tracks – including a race at Lucas Oil Raceway.
Ron Hornaday Jr. competed in that event, finishing 19th. His finishes improved a bit since then, to the tune of series records in wins (48) and championships (four). But hard times have befallen the four-time champion. His points position of ninth is his second-lowest through 12 races in any of his full-time seasons. A reason for optimism: He’s won the last two LOR races, and three of the last four.
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
It’s the Brickyard 400. Period.
Still, added bonuses join the usual pageantry and prestige affixed to any event at this historic venue.
For one, the Wild Card. After race No. 26 at Richmond, the top-10 drivers will be locked in the 12-driver Chase. Spots 11 and 12 will go to those drivers outside the top 10 with the most wins, provided they are in the top 20. Only seven races remain between now and NASCAR’s playoffs, and Wild Card-eligible opportunities are dwindling.
Three drivers, in particular, to watch: Tony Stewart, Juan Pablo Montoya and Jamie McMurray. All three are outside the top 10, and all three have enjoyed success at IMS (see below for more).
Sunday’s Brickyard 400 is also the first race in the Sprint Summer Showdown presented by HTC EVO 3D. Any driver who wins between Indianapolis and Bristol (the next five races) will become a finalist for the AdvoCare 500 in Atlanta. If one of those eligible drivers wins the Atlanta race, then the driver, the driver’s charity and fan each collect $1,000,000. Peruse the pre-race Driver Rating for possible victory candidates in race No. 1. The top five at Indy: Stewart (109.3), Montoya (106.4), Mark Martin (105.3), Jimmie Johnson (100.1) and Greg Biffle (97.7).
NASCAR Nationwide Series at Lucas Oil Raceway
Travis Pastrana, welcome aboard. Pastrana, X Games gold-medalist and action sports superstar, will make his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut this weekend.
Pastrana, who has won multiple titles in supercross, motocross and rally cars, has taken a NASCAR crash course of sorts in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series. He has run five NASCAR K&N Pro Series races this year, with a best finish of sixth in his NASCAR debut in January at the Toyota All-Star Showdown.
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series at Lucas Oil Raceway
This weekend pairs two long-standing trademarks of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series: short-track racing and Ron Hornaday Jr.
Of the 20 races on the inaugural 1995 series schedule, 15 were held on short tracks – including a race at Lucas Oil Raceway.
Ron Hornaday Jr. competed in that event, finishing 19th. His finishes improved a bit since then, to the tune of series records in wins (48) and championships (four). But hard times have befallen the four-time champion. His points position of ninth is his second-lowest through 12 races in any of his full-time seasons. A reason for optimism: He’s won the last two LOR races, and three of the last four.
Wild Card Watch: Threesome Favorites To Kiss The Bricks
“Home of Champions” is a slogan attached to many venues. Sometimes it’s apt. Most times it’s exaggeration. At Indianapolis Motor Speedway, it fits brilliantly.
Of the 17 races run at Indy, 14 have been won by past, reigning or future series champions. In eight of those seasons, the Brickyard winner went on to win that season’s championship.
This season especially, Indy could play an integral role in deciding the 2011 future champion – thanks to the Wild Card position.
Watch for three names in particular – Tony Stewart, Juan Pablo Montoya and Jamie McMurray.
Stewart, currently 11th in points, seeks his first win of 2011. A two-time Brickyard champion, Stewart looks to become just the second driver-owner to win at Indy; the first was Ricky Rudd in 1997. (For more on Stewart, see page 2 story on Indy natives.)
Montoya, currently 17th in points, finished second in the 2007 Brickyard 400 and might have won in 2009 if not for a late-race pit road speeding penalty while leading. He won the Indianapolis 500 in 2000.
McMurray, 29th in points, won last year’s Brickyard 400. Winless in 2011, McMurray has scored a Driver Rating over 100.0 in two of the last three IMS races.
Of the 17 races run at Indy, 14 have been won by past, reigning or future series champions. In eight of those seasons, the Brickyard winner went on to win that season’s championship.
This season especially, Indy could play an integral role in deciding the 2011 future champion – thanks to the Wild Card position.
Watch for three names in particular – Tony Stewart, Juan Pablo Montoya and Jamie McMurray.
Stewart, currently 11th in points, seeks his first win of 2011. A two-time Brickyard champion, Stewart looks to become just the second driver-owner to win at Indy; the first was Ricky Rudd in 1997. (For more on Stewart, see page 2 story on Indy natives.)
Montoya, currently 17th in points, finished second in the 2007 Brickyard 400 and might have won in 2009 if not for a late-race pit road speeding penalty while leading. He won the Indianapolis 500 in 2000.
McMurray, 29th in points, won last year’s Brickyard 400. Winless in 2011, McMurray has scored a Driver Rating over 100.0 in two of the last three IMS races.
Gordon: One Weekend, Two Milestones
For Jeff Gordon, this one’s extra special.
An honorary Indiana native (Gordon’s actually from Vallejo, Calif. but moved to Pittsboro, Ind. when he was 14), the four-time champion has accomplished Indy feats that put him on yet another list of all-time greats.
Gordon’s four Brickyard 400 victories tie Rick Mears, Al Unser and A.J. Foyt for most all-time on the oval portion of IMS. One more victory, and Gordon ties Michael Schumacher for most “major” victories at Indy. All five of Schumacher’s wins came in Formula 1 competition.
If he does accomplish his “Drive for Five” at Indy, Gordon will reach 85 career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victories, which will put him alone in third on the all-time wins list behind Richard Petty (200) and David Pearson (105).
Last week during the final off-week/weekend of the 2011 season, Gordon visited the Democratic Republic of the Congo on a fact-finding mission as part of the Lead Group of the Clinton Global Initiative. Gordon appeared on NBC’s Today on Tuesday, saying the group’s initiatives included finding “better ways to deal with education, economic and health empowerment.”
An honorary Indiana native (Gordon’s actually from Vallejo, Calif. but moved to Pittsboro, Ind. when he was 14), the four-time champion has accomplished Indy feats that put him on yet another list of all-time greats.
Gordon’s four Brickyard 400 victories tie Rick Mears, Al Unser and A.J. Foyt for most all-time on the oval portion of IMS. One more victory, and Gordon ties Michael Schumacher for most “major” victories at Indy. All five of Schumacher’s wins came in Formula 1 competition.
If he does accomplish his “Drive for Five” at Indy, Gordon will reach 85 career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victories, which will put him alone in third on the all-time wins list behind Richard Petty (200) and David Pearson (105).
Last week during the final off-week/weekend of the 2011 season, Gordon visited the Democratic Republic of the Congo on a fact-finding mission as part of the Lead Group of the Clinton Global Initiative. Gordon appeared on NBC’s Today on Tuesday, saying the group’s initiatives included finding “better ways to deal with education, economic and health empowerment.”
Indiana Natives Ride Momentum Into Home Track
Assuredly, Stewart-Haas Racing enjoyed the off week more than most teams. Its two Indiana natives – Ryan Newman, from South Bend and Tony Stewart from Columbus – started and finished 1-2 in the last NASCAR Sprint Cup race, at New Hampshire. The last time two Indiana drivers finished 1-2 was in 2005, in the Chase race at New Hampshire – that time it was also Newman first, Stewart second.
Currently, Newman is eighth in the standings, 16 points ahead of Denny Hamlin in 10th-place. Though in a points-tie with Hamlin for 10th, Stewart officially sits 11th. Hamlin owns the tie-breaker (best finish), thanks to his victory at Michigan.
As the Race for the Chase hits its stride, Indianapolis Motor Speedway could be the golden ticket Stewart needs to lock himself into the Chase. In 12 starts at Indianapolis, Stewart has posted two wins (2005, 2007), six top fives, eight top 10s and a pole. He leads the series in pre-race Driver Rating with a 109.3 and is one of only three active drivers (Jeff Gordon and Kevin Harvick) with an average finish in the top 10 (8.2).
Newman has made 10 starts at IMS posting one top-five finish. His average finish is 21.0. Newman finished 17th last season at Indianapolis.
But one rare statistical quirk that plays in SHR’s favor: Manufacturer dominance. Chevrolet has won the last eight races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The last time a non-Chevy won at the Brickyard was Bill Elliott’s Dodge in 2002.
Another Indiana native that will be competing this weekend is South Bend’s David Stremme. Stremme has made three starts at Indianapolis Motor Speedway posting his best finish (16th) in 2009.
Currently, Newman is eighth in the standings, 16 points ahead of Denny Hamlin in 10th-place. Though in a points-tie with Hamlin for 10th, Stewart officially sits 11th. Hamlin owns the tie-breaker (best finish), thanks to his victory at Michigan.
As the Race for the Chase hits its stride, Indianapolis Motor Speedway could be the golden ticket Stewart needs to lock himself into the Chase. In 12 starts at Indianapolis, Stewart has posted two wins (2005, 2007), six top fives, eight top 10s and a pole. He leads the series in pre-race Driver Rating with a 109.3 and is one of only three active drivers (Jeff Gordon and Kevin Harvick) with an average finish in the top 10 (8.2).
Newman has made 10 starts at IMS posting one top-five finish. His average finish is 21.0. Newman finished 17th last season at Indianapolis.
But one rare statistical quirk that plays in SHR’s favor: Manufacturer dominance. Chevrolet has won the last eight races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The last time a non-Chevy won at the Brickyard was Bill Elliott’s Dodge in 2002.
Another Indiana native that will be competing this weekend is South Bend’s David Stremme. Stremme has made three starts at Indianapolis Motor Speedway posting his best finish (16th) in 2009.
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Etc. – Indianapolis
The largest driver autograph session of the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season is scheduled for Saturday, July 30 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for race day ticket-holders for the Brickyard 400. Drivers will be split into two groups, signing in pairs from noon-12:45 p.m. and 1-1:45 p.m. at Pavilion 1A and 1B, adjacent to the Pagoda Plaza. Brickyard 400 ticket holders can obtain an autograph session wristband at 9 a.m. Saturday at Pavilion 1A and 1B. Fans can choose from the pairing of drivers they wish to receive autographs, with a maximum of 150 wristbands allotted per driver pairing. Only one wristband will be distributed to each ticket holder, first come, first served. … David Ragan will be sporting a special paint scheme this weekend that will honor NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Ned Jarrett. For a photo of the car, click here. … ESPN and ABC kick off their coverage of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series this weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and will continue through the rest of the season. “The teams have made the cars better for the drivers,” ESPN analyst Dale Jarrett said. “The competition is better from 1st to 30th than we've seen in a long, long time and so the opportunity is there to make these strategy calls. It's brought us some different winners along the way. But I think the competition level is very keen.” This weekend’s broadcast will be on ESPN at 12:00 p.m. ET. For audio of the ESPN NASCAR teleconference click here. … Scott Speed will make his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series return this weekend at Indianapolis driving for Max Q Motorsports No. 37 car. He’ll attempt to make his first race since the 2010 finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. … Possible upcoming milestones this week: Matt Kenseth is going for his 200th top-10 finish and Denny Hamlin needs one lap led to reach the 5,000 laps led mark (he currently has 4,999 laps led). … Rascal Flatts will play a pre-race mini concert, partially broadcast on ESPN, before singing the national anthem.
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