Nascar Racing Online

Archive for August, 2010

Boris Said has been teaching short track kids how to turn right for over a decade. 

Until Sunday, Boris had only one touring series win ever,  the 1998 Craftsman Truck series race at Sonoma.  That year was also the last time Boris Said was an actual full time driver in any NASCAR series. 

Boris has 11 years of Cup Series expirence, but has never driven more than 9 races in a single year.  But that doesn’t mean that Boris is not a great driver. He’s just better known as a Road Course ringer than a full time driver.

Hundreds have received lessons in road racing from Boris Said. It was time for the master to show them how it’s done. After Marcos Ambrose yet again suffered heartbreak in Canada, this time thanks to an electrical problem, it seemed that this was going to come down to Carl Edwards and Robby Gordon.

Jacques Villeneuve and Max Papis looked to challenge the two Cup regulars, but both road ringers were having problems keeping up. Montreal would not allow Edwards to win back to back.  A track bar broke on the no. 60 Ford.  Once it broke, the rear tires began to shift violently in the rear of the car.  Edwards went into the pits, lost a lap and when all was said and done, Edwards was 4 laps down. 

He managed to finish the race, but his 20th place finish put his championship hopes further out of reach. 

Then there was Robby Gordon. Gordon started alongside Max Papis with just 7 to go.  As they hit the turn, Gordon ran Papis right into the grass. This is a move that Mr. Gordon has used to great avail many times in the past. But Papis didn’t relent, he drove through the grass and right back into the path of Gordon. Due to the move, Jason Leffler was hit by teammate Jacques Villeneuve, and Colin Braun was collected.

Caution. 

Gordon was now running low on gas, but felt he could make it.  That was until Trevor Bayne got into J.R. Fitzpatrick and Jason Leffler blew up, causing a red flag. You could make the case that Gordon’s move caused both accidents, since Leffler blew because of the damage he took in that wreck. 

The incident would be Gordon’s undoing.  When the feild got back under way, Gordon ran out of gas.  He would finish 14th, two laps down. Ambrose just may have smiled.

That set up a wild finish that saw Boris Said in the Zaxby’s Ford battling with Max Papis in the Rheem Chevy, and Jacques Villeneuve in the Dollar General Toyota.  Boris and Papis would battle side by side to the flag, where Boris would out run Papis by a fender. 

Something the ESPN announce team failed to tell you was that not only was it Boris Said’s first Nationwide victory, but it was also RAB Racing’s first ever Nascar Victory.  The 09 has never won in 53 starts. 

I loved this race, but ESPN let me down big.  They talked to Papis, who was great as always, and Villeneuve, then gave a very weak interview with Boris Said before cutting to basketball.  Not to mention the very weak qualifing coverage.  There was no more then 6 cars on track at the same time during qualifing, yet ESPN failed to show every driver making a lap.  When Papis and Ambrose were out there, we didn’t even see Keselowski or Logano make a run.  Of the 46 cars making a lap, we saw maybe 20 of them.  It was incredibly biased and quite dissapointing.  They failed to talk about the fact that some of these guys had to race in on time, and even failed to tell us who failed to qualify.  I had to go online just to see that Stanton Barrett, Kevin O’Connell and Canada’s own Pierre Bourque failed to make the race.  What a joke.  Bad broadcasting failed to take away from a one of a kind race though.

Results and more after the JUMP!

Keselowski had one of the hardest fought top 5′s I’ve seen all year.  There was nothing left of Keso’s car when he crossed the line, and I’m pretty sure if they would of had one more lap, that car would have fallen apart.  The 2011 debut of Andrew Ranger and Justin Marks was rather uneventful.  Both were out before lap 14. 

The race for the top 30 got a bit more interesting.  With Boris Said winning, that propelled the RAB Ford from 28th up to 24th in owner points.  A bad day by both the 35 and 81 kept Keller in and McDowell out.  Here’s how they stack up:

That’s all for this week.  Join us next week when the Nationwide Boys head to Atlanta for the Great Clips 300.  Enjoy!

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Sunday’s Nationwide race at Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve was one of the best of the season, road-course grace combined with some good old-fashioned all-out racing.

And chances are, most NASCAR fans missed it. Which is a shame, because in addition to being a fine race, the Montreal track is a fine locale. And that, at least according to Racin’ Today’s Jim Pedley, is why Montreal needs a Sprint Cup-level race.

Hey, I’m for it. Why not, eh?

Anyway, here’s what it would mean: a third road course, a top-line NASCAR presence in Canada, and — not inconsequentially — the removal of one current race from the Sprint Cup slate. That there is the stumbling block: Since the track isn’t owned by either of the monolithic track organizations, that means somebody’s gotta lose a race with no tit-for-tat recompense.

So for the sake of argument, let’s kick this around. Who’s got two races and could realistically lose one? Phoenix and Michigan, but they’re International Speedway Corp. tracks, which means they’re inviolate. Loudon, but no way Speedway Motorsports is giving up one date without a tradeoff. (Maybe moving the season-ender from ISC’s Homestead to SMI’s Vegas?) Pocono is an easy candidate, but what’s the incentive for the Mattioli family to give up one of their two dates? I love the idea, but at the moment, given the intransigence of NASCAR track politics, I can’t find a way to make this work.

And so I turn it over to you. Put a Sprint Cup race in Montreal in 2012, folks. Figure a way. 

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What has Marcos done to make the gods at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve mad?

Ambrose had the fastest car in the early stages of Sunday’s Nationwide race, but was ultimately felled by alternator problems. It was just another bad result for Ambrose, who’s quickly becoming to the track in the middle of the St. Lawrence River what Dale Earnhardt was to Daytona before breaking through in 1999.

In 2007, Ambrose got into Robby Gordon as the two battled for the lead and Gordon returned the favor while ignoring NASCAR’s orders to move back in the field as Ambrose was leading, potentially costing Ambrose the win.

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That was worth the four-hour race time, that’s for sure.

Boris Said used a crossover move in the final chicane at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal to win Sunday’s Nationwide race by a fender over Max Papis.

Papis drove the car in incredibly deep after the long straightaway, passing Said as the two entered the chicane. But since Said’s entry wasn’t nearly as deep, he was able to get off the second corner better and beat Papis to the stripe to get his first NASCAR victory.

"It was just unbelievable," Said told ESPN in victory lane. "I didn’t know I won because I didn’t have a radio at the end."

Papis, who was racing the No. 33 for Kevin Harvick Inc., said that if he couldn’t win, he was glad that Said did.

"First, congrats to Boris. If I couldn’t win, he deserved the win," Papis said.

"I gave everything I had. I believed until the last corner. I really outbraked him really hard and it came down to the last corner. I did all I could, I went through the gears, barely hit the chip in second gear … This is what I can do in a good car and I’m really proud."

Jacques Villeneuve, driving on the track named for his father, finished third for Braun Racing.

Neither Said nor Papis were leading on that final restart, however. Robby Gordon, who still claims he won the 2007 race at Montreal, was leading, but since he pitted before everyone else, ran out of fuel with two laps to go.

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I’m sure that many of you are sick of reading about Kyle Busch, but face it, the man is on a roll in NASCAR-sanctioned events right now. (Other events, notsomuch)

After taking four tires in the pits, Busch charged from sixth to first on a restart with 22 laps to go and pulled away from Todd Bodine on a green-white-checker restart to win the Camping World Truck Series race at Chicagoland.

Bodine had a shot at Busch with seven laps to go as he got alongside of Busch in turn three. However, Busch had the outside line and Bodine had to get off the gas.

And Bodine’s second place finish allowed him to further extend his points lead in the Truck Series. It’s not Brad Keselowski-esque (313 points over second place Carl Edwards), but Bodine is doing his best to make the 2010 race for the title a snoozer. He leaves Chicago 236 points ahead of second place Aric Almirola with eight races to go.

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Kyle Busch, basking in his own awesomeness. Surely you have some commentary for this scene. Come on, you’ve had a week to build up your Kyle bile. Have at it!

After the jump, Carl Edwards‘ little girl makes her NASCAR debut.

Vaffanculo:
Edwards celebrates his win at the first Cabbage Patch 350.

Janine R:
Carl: "Don’t worry Kate, nobody is going to punch a man holding a baby."

tx_jjk:
Annie: Mommy, I just spit up all over Brad Keselowski
Mom: High five!!
Carl: I’m so proud of my girl.

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This week the Nationwide Series heads North to Montreal.  This is one of the dates that I have circled on my Nationwide Schedule.  It does happen to be funny that the series that actually goes outside of the US is called Nationwide and the Sprint Cup drivers never go north or south of US borders.  The Montreal race does offer Canadian Drivers a chance to be seen on the big screen in America.  I’ll get to our Canadian Brothers after the jump.  This race, now in it’s 4th year running, has only once been won by a Canadian driver.  Ron Fellows took it in 2008. Carl Edwards is the defending champion of this race.  It’s road course racing at it’s best.

Entry List and more after the JUMP!

Canadian Patrick Carpenter will attempt to qualify the 00 for Michael Waltrip Racing. 

Victor Gonzales returns to the 05 this week.

Canadian J.R. Fitzpatrick returns to the 7 this week.

Robby Gordon will be making his first Nationwide Attempt of 2010 in the 07 Chevy.

Boris Said returns to the 09 this week.

Alex Kennedy returns to the 23 this week.

Canadian D. J. Kennington will try to qualify Eric McClure’s 24 Ford this week.  Kennington drove last year for the 81 team in 6 races.  His one race for Specialty Racing last year was here at Montreal where he crashed out of the event.

Parker Kligerman will race Brian Keselowski’s 26 this week.

I’ve very excited about this one, It’s the return of two time Canadian Tire Champion Andrew Ranger.  We have all seen Ranger’s Tide/Walmart 27 car on the side of Nascar R&R.  Ranger drove at Montreal last year in the 11 Toyota and finished 3rd.  He drove for the now defunct FitzBradshaw racing in 2008, where he made 5 starts with a best finish of 19th at Bristol.  Ranger will be driving in the Baker Curb #27 DODGE. Meaning that Ranger will not only take his Canadian Tire Number to Nationwide, he will also take his Manufacturer.  Keep an eye on Ranger this week.  He could wind up taking this one.

Kevin O’Connell will make his first attempt in the 31 this year.  O’Connell raced at Elkhart Lake earlier this year for Baker Curb but blew and engine.

Canada’s best chance at a victory this week is Jacques Villeneuve.  He returns to the 32 this week. 

Italy’s Max Papis will drive Kevin Harvick’s 33 Chevy this week.  Papis has a great chance of showing that he belongs in Nascar with a good run here.

Tony Ave returns to the 35 this week.

Stanton Barrett returns to the 41 this week.

Currently 7th in ARCA points, driver Justin Marks will make his first 2010 Attempt in the Baker Curb 43 Ford. Marks raced in 5 races last year for Braun Racing’s 10 Toyota but didn’t fare to well. 

Marcos Ambrose will return to the track this week in the 47 Toyota.  I know I said that Watkins Glen was Ambrose’s final race for JTG Daugherty in the Nationwide Series, but they made a liar out of me.  Ambrose will run Little Debbie colors this week.

Joey Scarallo will make his 3rd attempt in Nationwide as he returns to the 52 Chevy this week.

Kyle Kelley returns with his 59 team this week.

Canada’s own Pierre Bourque will make his first ever attempt at a Nationwide Race in the 61 Ford.  Bourque is currently 11th in the Canadian Tire Point Standings.

2009 Trans Am Champion and current SCCA driver Tomy Drissi will make his first ever NASCAR attempt this week.  Drissi will drive a second MacDonald Motorsports entry this week.  Drissi owns an advertising firm that makes movie displays for Cinemas.  That may be why Wall Street: The Movie is the sponsor of the 82.

Currently 3rd in the K&N Pro Series Points, Paulie Harraka will make his first ever Nationwide race this week as he drives for Joe Nemechek in the 87 Chevy.  Harraka has 3 wins in the K&N series, so don’t count him out just because he’s in the NEMCO Chevy.

Canada’s Ron Fellows, the guy who won this race two years ago, will be in the Canadian Tire 88 Chevy for JR Motorsports.  Fellows finished 2nd at Watkins Glen, 6th at Elkhart Lake, both in the 88.  Fellows is not one to count out of this one.  Ron has 4 career Nationwide wins.

Brett Rowe will pilot the 89 this week, as Morgan Shepherd is in the 21 this week.

With Harraka in the 87, Joe Nemechek will drive a second NEMCO Chevy this week.  The 97. If Jeff Green makes it in on time, Joe Nemechek would be able to use a Past Champions Provisional if Joe can’t qualify on time.

Wow, I’m outta breath.  That was a lot of different drivers this week.  This is your last chance to see great Road Course Racing this year, so don’t miss it.  Tune in Sunday at 2pm eastern to ESPN2 for the Napa Auto Parts 200 from Montreal, Quebec, Canada and the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.  Enjoy!

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Before heading to Chicago for the TRAXXAS TORC Series off road race, Kyle Busch was in Kansas City for a go-kart race with fans and media where he got put into the wall on the first lap.

He made it further in the TRAXXAS race Wednesday evening, but not by much. Busch’s rear suspension broke on the second lap and he finished last.

From SPEED:

Even though Busch didn’t get the result he wanted, he still enjoyed the experience.



"It’s fun," said the driver who swept NASCAR’s three national series
races last week at Bristol Motor Speedway. "I enjoy going out there and
going out to the sand dunes and messing around and jumping some stuff
out there.



"Anytime you can put a big heavy vehicle up in the air like that, it’s
always cool. For myself, running the Traxxas TORC Series PRO 2s, it’s
fun."

Busch is competing in Friday night’s Camping World Truck Series race at Chicagoland Speedway, and now that he’s gotten all of the bad luck out of his system Wednesday, he’ll probably go out and dominate Friday.

Or, if the pattern continues, have to retire on lap three.

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We’re getting close to the Chase, and that means it’s time to start charting odds for who’s actually going to win this season. Kyle Busch is running well, Kevin Harvick is out of his mind, Jeff Gordon is consistently high-quality, and –

… oh, right. Him.

As ESPN’s Terry Blount notes, Jimmie Johnson remains the odds-on Vegas favorite to take his fifth Chase title in five years, coming in at 7-2. In other words, you bet two bucks on Johnson, you make seven if he wins.

Here’s how the rest of the Chase field shakes out:

• Kevin Harvick: 9-2
• Denny Hamlin: 5-1
• Kyle Busch: 5-1
• Jeff Gordon: 7-1
• Tony Stewart: 10-1
• Kurt Busch: 12-1
• Carl Edwards: 12-1
• Greg Biffle: 15-1
• Matt Kenseth: 18-1
• Jeff Burton: 18-1
• Clint Bowyer: 20-1 (assuming he makes the Chase)

Now, a caveat. Just because someone’s the odds-on favorite doesn’t mean Vegas necessarily thinks they’ll win; it helps account for betting action as much as anything else. It’s why perennial favorites like Tiger Woods, the New York Yankees and the Dallas Cowboys have low odds — the more people bet on a "known" name, the more a casino stands to lose if that name actually comes through. So fear not, anti-Jimmie fans. He may win No. 5, but at least at this point, it looks like it’s going to be a tough road to get there.

All right, so — your take? How do these odds look to you? Reasonable? Who would you move up, and who would you move down? Have at it!

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For all the buildup to Saturday night’s Bristol race, it was relatively devoid of drama, with Kyle Busch relentlessly demolishing all comers.

Or so it appeared. Turns out there was a bit more going on than we’d noticed, specifically between Busch and David Reutimann. Although he held the lead most of the night, Busch briefly lost the top spot every so often after pit stops, and at one point late in the race — lap 429 — he and Reutimann dueled for the lead. Reutimann refused to give ground, and the two banged doors as they circled the track.

But the outcome was never really in doubt, and Busch eventually passed Reutimann and won going away. After the race, he was asked what happened during that exchange — since it was either that or "Kyle, what makes you so awesome?" — and here was his reply:

"Reutimann was fast, and he was good, and I’m not going to say why I
beat him because then he’ll fix it, but it has to do with behind the
wheel … He wasn’t driving the place right. I’m sorry. If
he fixes how to drive this place, he’d be right there with me."

You can say plenty of things to a NASCAR driver, but telling him he doesn’t know how to drive a track has to rank up there with insulting his sponsor or his momma. And Reutimann, naturally, didn’t take the jabs too well. On Sirius/XM on Tuesday, he fired back, calling Kyle’s jab "probably the stupidest comment I’ve ever hard anybody say at any given time," which is saying an awful lot considering some of the guys he shares a garage with. Scene Daily transcribed the rest of the conversation thusly:

"I don’t know if [it was] the fact that his Superman cape was flying
out the back when I was behind him and I couldn’t see or what the deal
was … We got beat fair and square. That’s what it
comes down to. We just got outrun. Professor Busch, maybe he can start
a driving school at Bristol and the rest of the field can join in and
go and [he can] show all of us what we’re doing wrong. I need help."

(I hope you can see the sarcasm dripping off your monitor.)

I can see why Reutimann would be frustrated, but hey, when you own a track the way Kyle owned Bristol, you could perhaps be forgiven for being a little full of yourself. And "Professor Busch"? I think we’ve got us a new nickname. 

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