Corvette Action Center - Autocrossing and Motorsports http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/ For the discussion of Corvette autocrossing and road racing. en Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:59:31 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/images/misc/rss.jpg Corvette Action Center - Autocrossing and Motorsports http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/ Surprise: Johnson takes pole at Homestead http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/autocrossing-motorsports/118592-surprise-johnson-takes-pole-homestead.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:07:11 GMT Image:...

HOMESTEAD, Fla. Jimmie Johnson will go for his fourth straight Cup title from the pole.

Johnson turned a lap of 173.919 mph to win the pole at Homestead-Miami Speedway. He qualified first Friday hours after it was announced he signed a contract extension to drive for Hendrick Motorsports through the 2015 season.

Scott Speed was second. Marcos Ambrose was third. Mark Martin and Tony Stewart round out the top five.

Johnson goes into Sunday's finale with a 108-point lead over Martin and needs only to finish 25th or better to win the title.

Johnson takes pole at Homestead | www.thatsracin.com ]]> Autocrossing and Motorsports 6 Shooter http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/autocrossing-motorsports/118592-surprise-johnson-takes-pole-homestead.html <![CDATA[Oliver Gavin Q & A on 2009 season]]> http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/autocrossing-motorsports/118590-oliver-gavin-q-2009-season.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:53:14 GMT OLIVER GAVIN -- A BUSY YEAR IN 2009! *1. How did it feel to say goodbye to the Corvette GT1 car... OLIVER GAVIN -- A BUSY YEAR IN 2009!

1. How did it feel to say goodbye to the Corvette GT1 car in the ALMS after so many successful seasons?

It felt quite sad because the car had generated a huge amount of success for the team and me personally, and I got so much enjoyment out of driving it. With my team mates, I won Le Mans four times in the GT1 car, starting in 2002 and then three great victories with Olivier [Beretta] and Jan [Magnussen] in 2004/05/06. I also won three ALMS championships with Olivier so it played a huge part in my career. The GT1 car spanned a decade of successful competition which is really impressive; I'm pleased to have been part of the history of such an important and special car.

2. What's your best memory of those GT1 years?

The whole 2006 season! We started with victory at the 12 Hours of Sebring, a race that Olivier, Jan and I had been trying to win since 2004 but it seemed that luck had always been against us; it was a monkey off our back. That year it all fell into place and we went on to win all the ALMS races leading up to Le Mans and then won in France for the third time in a row after an epic battle with the Prodrive Aston Martins. Having been nose-to-tail for 22 hours, victory was fantastic. On a personal level, I felt it was the best I'd ever driven; I didn't make any mistakes, go off or hit anybody and felt I contributed a lot to that victory.

3. How confident were you that this year's Corvette GT2 car was going to be competitive?

Well, knowing that the same people at Pratt & Miller who'd made the GT1 car were involved automatically gave us a lot of confidence. They've got a massive pool of knowledge for building and running successful GT cars but, until you go to that first race and are up against everyone else on the same track and in the same set of conditions, you don't really know for sure. We've run somewhere near the front almost everywhere we've been with the GT2 car this year, and had a chance of victory, and that speaks volumes.

4. Who is your biggest rival in GT and why?

Your team mates are your biggest rivals first and foremost; with equal equipment and engineering they have exactly the same shot as you. In the ALMS, the Flying Lizard Porsche of Jorg Bergmeister and Pat Long and Jaime Melo and Pierre Kaffer's Risi Ferrari were extremely quick and always a threat. In both cases this is down to their experience, speed and well-run teams.

It's just such an intensely competitive class in the ALMS, with at least seven or eight cars always being in with a chance. At the last round in Laguna Seca, I came into the pits during one practice session and asked what position I was in and was a bit surprised when they said 7th. But, the quickest time was only three tenths of a second ahead and there was rarely more than half a second separating the top six or seven cars in any session at any race which shows just how competitive it is. That rivalry is only going to increase into 2010 and everyone is really looking forward to it. I can't wait to get back to Sebring in March and commence battle!

5. What, for you, was the revelation of 2009?

The Goodwood Revival meeting. It was my first time there this year and it was such an amazing, enjoyable event with so much atmosphere and fun, but with serious racing and great competitors. It was a truly remarkable weekend and one I'd love to do it again next year. To race a Mini on my debut there -- the first time I'd ever raced a front-wheel-drive car -- up against some touring and sports car legends like Derek Bell, Andy Rouse and John Cleland was very special. Nick Swift put out a very good car and did an exceptionally good job himself so the two of us came away with a pretty dominant victory.

6. What was the biggest disappointment of 2009?

Le Mans. We'd worked so hard to overcome hurdles during the race, such as pace cars, incidents, and just 'stuff' that happened and, after 20 hours got into the lead genuinely on speed and not through luck. Then, for it all to be taken away an hour or so later because of a freak gearbox problem, it leaves you thinking..."why? Why did it happen to us?" I felt extremely sorry for Marcel [Fassler] as I'd experienced something similar in 2007, being stuck out on track with a broken car and having to make that horrible walk back to the pits. You feel so helpless and useless and it was massively deflating.

7. Is victory in the Spa 24 Hours a personal goal for 2010 and how different is it racing in Europe and the USA?

Spa is such an iconic track and the 24 Hours is a huge event each year; it's one of the races every sports car driver wants to win. I thought this year might have been my chance to win it but it wasn't to be so I definitely want to go back and crack it. I had a huge amount of fun this year with SRT, driving the GT1 Corvette there for the last time.

The main differences between the two continents are mostly to be found in the paddock. It seems to be a lot more convivial and friendly in the USA, there's a warmer feel to the whole race meeting -- and that's nothing to do with the weather! There's an edginess, a bit of a coldness you feel when racing in Europe and I'm sure it's something to do with the fact that everyone's shut away in garages and motorhomes. On both sides you're there to do your job, compete hard and get victory but I feel happier in the USA than in Europe. The American side is super fan friendly, and paddock-friendly, and that's reflected in the amount of spectators you get at all the races.

8. What makes Olivier a good team mate? What characteristic of his do you admire the most?

He's intelligent, very fast, supportive of whatever happens on the track, whether it's to you or another team mate , and very inclusive of team mates...but very competitive against rivals. He fights hard for his corner, as we've all seen, and many times I've seen him drive brilliant, quadruple stints in the night at Le Mans which is down to his stamina and focus. He also makes me laugh a lot, especially his lack of understanding technology and computers. He's not at all tech savvy and is always asking for someone's help!

9. When you share a rental car at races, who drives and why?

I learnt very early on that sharing a rental car with Olivier is a Jekyll and Hyde experience. You need to make sure you keep him cool because if he gets over-heated he starts doing all sorts of things that shouldn't be allowed, things you think shouldn't possible and things which make you think "I want to get out now!!" We split the driving 50/50 but, if he drives, I keep him calm because if he gets too excited then it all gets a bit too interesting.

10. What were the most frustrating seconds of 2009?

Missing my London Marathon target. I'd trained long and hard over the winter, determined to break the 3-hour barrier but missed it by nine seconds. By the time I got to the final mile or two I was 20 seconds under target and, at the last drinks station, I decided to take an energy drink (first one of the race) but within 30 seconds of drinking it I got stomach cramps and started going slower and slower. I tried to make up the time but couldn't quite, so came in nine seconds short which was very frustrating. Next year, I'm part of a BRDC-entered team and am aiming for 2h 55; there'll be three or four of us within the team pushing for that sort of time so it will spur us all on. Twelve racing drivers all together in the Marathon...how competitive will that be?!

11. What do you see as the biggest racing challenge for 2010?

Le Mans with the GT2 Corvette. It's a new class for us there and a new (much bigger) set of competitors to race against. We don't know what the car will be like at Le Mans, how it will all marry up together -- the tyres, aerodynamics, suspension, general conditions and so on. The last two years we've had wet test days during the week and that doesn't leave much time to get it all set up right. It will be a massive challenge.

12. Who is your pick of the pops for the future in sports cars?

That's a difficult one as there are so many good drivers currently but I think Richard Westbrook has proved himself to be a strong driver and I'm sure we'll have a few more battles. There are always exceptionally good young Porsche drivers and maybe Ferrari will also bring on some, such as Rob Bell. Outside of the current crop, I think Nick Tandy will make a good sports car driver and I hope he gets a good deal for next season, and maybe in a few years' time we need to be looking out for a young Kevin Magnussen!!

-credit: Oliver Gavin: International Sportscar Driver ]]> Autocrossing and Motorsports Rob http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/autocrossing-motorsports/118590-oliver-gavin-q-2009-season.html Rusty Wallace to field Toyotas in 2010 http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/autocrossing-motorsports/118547-rusty-wallace-field-toyotas-2010-a.html Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:47:37 GMT HOMESTEAD, Fla. Rusty Wallace Racing is moving its Nationwide Series team from Chevrolet to Toyota...
HOMESTEAD, Fla. Rusty Wallace Racing is moving its Nationwide Series team from Chevrolet to Toyota next season.

Wallace, who is a NASCAR analyst for ESPN, also will represent the Toyota brand on a national basis.

His team will field cars for Steve Wallace and Brendan Gaughan. RWR had used Chevrolets the past two seasons.

Wallace says he toured Toyota's racing facility in North Carolina and became convinced that the manufacturer has the best products for the Nationwide Series.

The three American manufacturers in NASCAR have had to reduce their support for Nationwide teams during their financial restructuring.

Rusty Wallace to field Toyotas in 2010 | www.thatsracin.com ]]> Autocrossing and Motorsports 6 Shooter http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/autocrossing-motorsports/118547-rusty-wallace-field-toyotas-2010-a.html Keselowski may have rough road ahead: Great, someone to brake the boredom! http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/autocrossing-motorsports/118505-keselowski-may-have-rough-road-ahead-great-someone-brake-boredom.html Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:04:54 GMT Image:...

AVONDALE, Ariz. - Brad Keselowski's crew chief was headed to the pre-race driver meeting when Juan Pablo Montoya cut him off at the door.

"The next two weeks, you better bring your worst cars," Montoya told Roy McCauley.

"Why's that?" McCauley asked.

"Because they are going to get wrecked," Montoya warned. "Somebody is going to wreck him, if Denny Hamlin doesn't do it first."

The banter was friendly, and Montoya smiled as he delivered the message. But he certainly wasn't joking.

NASCAR's newest hotshot driver is quickly racking up a long list of enemies who are looking to make his transition to the big leagues a rough one. First up is Hamlin, who is openly feuding with Keselowski over a series of at least five Nationwide Series incidents dating to last season.

What's not in dispute is that the two have rubbed fenders, pushed each other around on the track and maybe changed lanes once or twice without using their signals.

Each time, though, Hamlin made his point with finesse and Keselowski moved on unscathed. Not so for Hamlin, who has five wrecked cars to show for the times Keselowski has pushed back.

Hamlin, now at his boiling point, is done being subtle.

A late-race exchange at Phoenix International Raceway started with a bump from Hamlin, but ended with two shoves by Keselowski that sent him into the wall. Hamlin later promised to exact his revenge in Saturday's season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

"There's a lot of guys that owe him," he said. "There's a lot of guys that have a lot of chips that they're going to cash in. I'm just going to be the first to the pay window."

Revealing his intent may not have been the smartest move by Hamlin. He now has a worried team wondering if they are spending good money on a big-name driver who has already earmarked the car for the scrap heap.

Aware of the growing list of disgruntled drivers, top NASCAR officials called Keselowski in for a little chat about aggressive driving before Sunday's Sprint Cup Series race. Even chairman Brian France popped his head in for this talk, and when the 25-year-old Keselowski emerged, it wasn't clear if he'd heard the entire message.

Sure, they talked about the need to choose your enemies carefully as Keselowski prepares for his full-time Cup ride next season with Penske Racing. But Keselowski will have to show if the recommendations sunk in about his hard-charging style.

"I've dug and clawed for everything I've got, and the only way to do that is by being aggressive," he said. "That's not to say I need to be aggressive every race. There's races where you need to play it cool and be smart."

There really is no reason for Keselowski to change his style. It's exciting and created controversy. He's won six Nationwide races and landed a Cup ride with Roger Penske.

He's been defended by current Nationwide Series team owners Rick Hendrick and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Both insist that as long as he's in control of his car and not intentionally causing accidents, anything goes.

Others aren't so sure.

His only Cup victory came in a last-lap crash at Talladega in April, when he hooked the rear of Carl Edwards' car to start an accident that sent Edwards sailing into the safety fence. That brought attention and new opportunities for Keselowski, but also may have created a monster.

Keselowski apparently alienated most of the principal players at Hendrick Motorsports two months after that Talladega win, when he tried to explain the best strategy to win at Daytona International Speedway. Last check showed the current Hendrick drivers have a combined 187 Cup victories, and probably don't need much advice from a one-time winner.

Still, the groundswell of drivers turning against him stayed fairly quiet until his feud with Hamlin hit high gear in September. They played bumper-cars at Dover, and Hamlin ended up in the wall. They raced hard at California, and Hamlin ended up in the wall. Then came Phoenix, where NASCAR officials clearly believed Keselowski's second hit on Hamlin was intended to wreck him.

After the first two incidents, Earnhardt defended his driver and wondered if Keselowski maybe wasn't inside Hamlin's head. But he also said Keselowski had no plans to back down to Hamlin, or anyone else.

"I think people underestimate Brad and how strong he is because I certainly did," Earnhardt said in October. "I'll be honest, I underestimated how mentally tough he is."

Hamlin might view it as stubbornness or arrogance, and is convinced Keselowski has some hard lessons ahead.

"I'm racing for a Chase and he's racing to make sure he stays in the seat," Hamlin said. "I'm just going to do my job, and if the opportunity arises, I'm going to handle the situation, the way I should. The way anybody else would."

Keselowski may have rough road ahead | www.thatsracin.com ]]> Autocrossing and Motorsports 6 Shooter http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/autocrossing-motorsports/118505-keselowski-may-have-rough-road-ahead-great-someone-brake-boredom.html <![CDATA[Not Boring: NASCAR's brass calls Keselowski in for a chat]]> http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/autocrossing-motorsports/118486-not-boring-nascars-brass-calls-keselowski-chat.html Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:29:13 GMT Image:...

AVONDALE, Ariz. – Brad Keselowski met with NASCAR officials, including Chairman Brian France, Sunday morning at Phoenix International Raceway following a Keselowski-Denny Hamlin dust-up on the track in Saturday’s Nationwide race.

“It went real well. That’s probably the most impressed I’ve ever been with NASCAR. I honestly will say that and I’m not brainwashed in saying that, either,” said Keselowski, who will drive the No. 12 Dodges in the Cup series full time for Penske Racing next season.

“I really respected the fact Brian France walked in there. That was really the first time I’ve ever had a conversation with him. I think that’s a good sign for the sport that he was involved in that conversation.”

Keselowski said he wasn’t going to go into details about things that were “talked about privately,” but wanted to give an overview of the conversation.

“It was (about) just to trying to pick and choose who you want to be your friends and enemies in this sport and making sure I understood that process and what it takes to make it to this level,” he said.

Keselowski said he was also reminded “how you’re going to need friends down the line and make sure you don’t alienate everybody. At the same time, you don’t want to give up being a hard charger.”

Asked if he felt that he was going to have to change his driving style, Keselowski said, “You always change your style. Do I need to do things better? Oh yeah, all the time. Being aggressive is what got me here.

“Nobody has handed me anything in my career – ever. I’ve dug and clawed for everything I’ve got. The only way to do that is by being aggressive. But that’s not to say I need to be aggressive every race.”

On Lap 157 of the 200-lap race, Hamlin bumped Keselowski from behind and then passed him to the inside while going three-wide.

Shortly after, Keselowski returned the bump, with Hamlin spinning out in the process. Hamlin was livid during radio communication with his crew and a post-race confrontation seemed likely.

There was no confrontation on pit road, but Hamlin and Keselowski did meet face-to-face outside the Nationwide hauler well after the race in an animated discussion.

NASCAR's brass calls Keselowski in for a chat | www.thatsracin.com
]]> Autocrossing and Motorsports 6 Shooter http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/autocrossing-motorsports/118486-not-boring-nascars-brass-calls-keselowski-chat.html <![CDATA[Boring Alert: Ratings down for ABC's Phoenix race coverage]]> http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/autocrossing-motorsports/118485-boring-alert-ratings-down-abcs-phoenix-race-coverage.html Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:25:59 GMT Image:...

Sunday's Sprint Cup race broadcast earned ABC a 2.8 rating in the Nielsen overnights, Street and Smith’s SportsBusiness Daily and SceneDaily.com reported.

According to the Nielsen Media Research, that represents a decline of 17.6 percent.

ABC garnered a 3.4 rating for last fall's race at Phoenix International Raceway, but part of that event was switched to ESPN2.

Ratings down for ABC's Phoenix race coverage | www.thatsracin.com ]]> Autocrossing and Motorsports 6 Shooter http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/autocrossing-motorsports/118485-boring-alert-ratings-down-abcs-phoenix-race-coverage.html <![CDATA[Earnhardt losing streak reaches 55; Enquirer says Junior in 'Death Spiral']]> http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/autocrossing-motorsports/118422-earnhardt-losing-streak-reaches-55%3B-enquirer-says-junior-death-spiral.html Sat, 14 Nov 2009 13:59:45 GMT

Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s season of unrelenting misery and inexplicable failure reached a new level of woe both on and off the track this week. On Sunday Earnhardt lost his 55th straight race and did so in what has now become his usual heartbreaking fashion. After running in the top 10 all day at Texas Motor Speedway, Earnhardt went to the pits for gas with five laps to go. After a quick splash, his engine refused to re-fire as he rolled down pit road. He sat motionless beyond his pit stall and lost track position for three laps before the engine finally started. He finished 25th.

But that might not be the worst thing to happen to him this week.

The National Enquirer, which we all know only prints the truth, "reported" via anonymous sources today that Earnhardt is locked in a "death spiral." None of the sources in the piece - sources who claim to care about Junior's well-being - care enough to give their names. Also, the article is filled with vague "mays" and "seems" and "almosts," which keep publications like the Enquirer from getting sued when it turns out they are wrong. In other words, it's all pretty flimsy. Still, the story is now out there.

EARNHARDT LOSING STREAK REACHES 55; ENQUIRER SAYS JUNIOR IN 'DEATH SPIRAL' ]]> Autocrossing and Motorsports 6 Shooter http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/autocrossing-motorsports/118422-earnhardt-losing-streak-reaches-55%3B-enquirer-says-junior-death-spiral.html Nothing from Patrick, reps about running at Daytona http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/autocrossing-motorsports/118421-nothing-patrick-reps-about-running-daytona.html Sat, 14 Nov 2009 13:36:13 GMT Image: http://i33.tinypic.com/1j3r74.jpg ...

AVONDALE, Ariz. – Although there is still time to change plans, Automobile Racing Club of America series officials confirmed Friday they have not received an entry for IndyCar Series star Danica Patrick.

Patrick is rumored to be interested in running the 2010 ARCA season opener at Daytona. There has also been discussion of her participation in a December testing session the series has scheduled at the 2.5-mile speedway in advance of February's racing.

Numerous reports have had Patrick destined for a mixed schedule in ARCA and NASCAR Nationwide Series competition, which would likely include the ARCA season opener so that she could gain superspeedway experience.

Various reports have pointed to JR Motorsports, co-owned by Rick Hendrick and Dale Earnhardt Jr., as the team most likely to field Patrick in a limited NASCAR schedule.

Some reports have also noted interest in a pairing with Patrick on the part of Michael Waltrip Racing and Stewart Haas Racing, among others.

ARCA teams are scheduled to test at Daytona on Dec. 18, 19 and 20.

Nothing from Patrick, reps about running at Daytona | www.thatsracin.com ]]> Autocrossing and Motorsports 6 Shooter http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/autocrossing-motorsports/118421-nothing-patrick-reps-about-running-daytona.html Hornaday clinches 4th title as boss wins http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/autocrossing-motorsports/118420-hornaday-clinches-4th-title-boss-wins.html Sat, 14 Nov 2009 13:18:52 GMT Image:...


AVONDALE, Ariz. – It was a clean sweep for Kevin Harvick Inc.

Team co-owner Kevin Harvick won Friday night’s Lucas Oil 150 at Phoenix International Raceway in dominating fashion.

He also got a bonus as the driver of his No. 33 Chevrolet, Ron Hornaday, wrapped up his record fourth Camping World Truck Series championship.

Regardless of the outcome of next week’s season finale at Homestead, Fla., Hornaday has clinched this year’s championship. He also won titles in 1996, 1998 and 2007. At 51, Hornaday is the oldest champion in NASCAR’s three national series.

His title-clinching fourth-place finish Friday is only the second time since the series’ inception in 1995 that the Truck championship has been clinched prior to the final race of the season.

Hornaday has a 215-point advantage over Matt Crafton.

“Matt is a heck of a racer,” Hornaday said. “They really turned their program around and gave us a heck of a battle this year.

“I got one up on (Jack) Sprague (a three-time champion), finally. It’s been a fun battle with Jack and I wish he was back here racing.”

Hornaday won his first two Truck titles with Dale Earnhardt Inc. He joined KHI in 2005 as the organization’s first full-time driver and has now won two of the past three championships.

“We put Ron in the truck in 2005 and really didn’t have our stuff together,” said Harvick. “Finally, in 2007 we built a team that could keep up with the driver. It’s a lot of fun to see it evolve and come together.”

Hornaday said there is still work to be done. His No. 33 team has a 60-point lead over Billy Ballew Motorsports’ No. 51 for the owner’s title, which will be decided next week.

“When you drive Kevin and DeLana’s equipment you feel like you're 18 years old,” Hornaday said. “The trucks they give me make you feel like a hero.”

Kyle Busch finished second, Aric Almirola was third and pole-winner Johnny Sauter was fifth.

The race featured five lead changes among four drivers and there were seven cautions covering 26 laps.

Hornaday clinches 4th title as boss wins | www.thatsracin.com ]]> Autocrossing and Motorsports 6 Shooter http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/autocrossing-motorsports/118420-hornaday-clinches-4th-title-boss-wins.html Truex to start out front http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/autocrossing-motorsports/118413-truex-start-out-front.html Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:41:25 GMT


Martin Truex Jr. earns the pole for Sunday's Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500, his third of the season. Points leader Jimmie Johnson will start in the third position.

:lou

NASCAR.COM
]]> Autocrossing and Motorsports 6 Shooter http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/autocrossing-motorsports/118413-truex-start-out-front.html PIR played big role in title battles involving Earnhardt http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/autocrossing-motorsports/118397-pir-played-big-role-title-battles-involving-earnhardt.html Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:01:30 GMT Image: http://i38.tinypic.com/b509kn.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v631/cyal8tr/DE3.jpg)...

With the installation of the Chase format in 2004, the odds are decidedly against a driver clinching the championship before the season's final race at Homestead. Until his early-race accident last weekend at Texas, Jimmie Johnson appeared to have a relatively decent chance of being in that position at Phoenix International Raceway. And even though the odds are long against it happening, Johnson could still clinch his fourth consecutive title one week early.

However, when it comes to swings of fortune in the penultimate race of the season at Phoenix, it seems Dale Earnhardt's name comes to mind most quickly. In three consecutive seasons beginning in 1989, Earnhardt found himself in the thick of the championship battle with two races remaining -- and twice, he wound up wearing the crown at season's end.

Complete resultsIn 1989, controversy from the previous race at Rockingham was still on the minds of the three main challengers when the Cup Series descended on the Valley of the Sun. Mark Martin had just won his first Cup race, beating Rusty Wallace, who had collided with Earnhardt during the event, saddling the Intimidator with a 20th-place finish. However, Earnhardt fans received a bit of vindication when Wallace crashed while trying to lap the slower car of Stan Barrett and wound up 16th. Martin and Earnhardt both scored top-10s and cut into Wallace's points lead. However, despite Earnhardt winning at Atlanta, Wallace was able to hold on for a 12-point margin of victory.

In 1990, Earnhardt trailed Martin by 45 points heading into the Checker 500 at Phoenix. He wound up dominating, leading the final 262 laps as Martin struggled with a sour engine and then was collected in a last-lap crash coming to the finish line, resulting in a 10th-place finish. That swing put Earnhardt ahead by six points, and he stretched that margin to 26 with a third-place finish in the season finale at Atlanta. Martin fans will remember that was the year Martin was docked 46 points at Richmond for a technical inspection penalty.

So when NASCAR's premier series returned to Phoenix in 1991, Earnhardt had already seen both sides of the championship picture there. Carrying a 157-point advantage on Ricky Rudd and 203 points ahead of Davey Allison, Earnhardt knew he could play things conservatively and still have the championship sewn up by Atlanta, but it almost got away early, as he spun out on Lap 56.

"The car was loose and I just kept driving it and driving it," Earnhardt said. "Finally, I hung it out too much and around and around it went. It was a show. I was lucky to keep it off the wall."

While Allison went on to dominate, particularly during the final green-flag run of 107 laps, Earnhardt was fortunate to only be one lap down in ninth place.

"We didn't have it today," Earnhardt said. "I think the motor was a little bit weak, but the setup was a little bit off, too."

However, the 156-point advantage Earnhardt had at the end of the race virtually clinched the championship. All he would need to do two weeks later at Atlanta was to take the green flag.

"I wish we could have been a lot better here," Earnhardt said. "I would have liked to wrap it up today. If I don't fall out of a tree deer hunting the next two weeks, we'll be OK. Then we'll get them at Atlanta. We'll go for it there."

On the other hand, Allison was pleasantly surprised at how good his car ran after the team made wholesale chassis changes following a lousy practice effort earlier in the weekend.

"As far off as we were in practice, to be so good today, I just can't believe it," Allison said. "I sat down last night and talked to [crew chief] Larry McReynolds and [uncle] Donnie Allison and we decided to try some things."

Even following the final caution flag of the day, Allison assumed he'd be pressed by someone in the field. Instead, he built up an 11-second margin on Darrell Waltrip at the finish.

"I figured it was going to be one of those cat and mouse games with some more caution flags and other guys making adjustments and suddenly running stronger," Allison said. "But when they dropped the flag for the restart and I pulled away from Rusty, I thought, 'I don't believe this.'"

Interestingly enough, it was Allison who put himself in a position to win the 1992 championship when he returned to Phoenix the following year and won. Instead, he wound up the unwitting victim of a crash at Atlanta when Ernie Irvan's tire went flat, and Alan Kulwicki went on to edge Bill Elliott for the title.

NASCAR.COM - PIR played big role in title battles involving Earnhardt - Nov 12, 2009 ]]> Autocrossing and Motorsports 6 Shooter http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/autocrossing-motorsports/118397-pir-played-big-role-title-battles-involving-earnhardt.html No surprise: JJ will win at Texas http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/autocrossing-motorsports/118300-no-surprise-jj-will-win-texas.html Sun, 08 Nov 2009 14:22:33 GMT Image: http://i38.tinypic.com/28as4uv.jpg NASCAR.COM...

NASCAR.COM

It was approaching 9 p.m. on a cold February night, and the party in the back room of a Daytona, Fla., bar was just getting started. This was a couple of days before the season-opening Daytona 500, and Jimmie Johnson was throwing a kick-off soiree. As he strummed the chords of the guitar while playing the game Guitar Hero, his blonde-haired, blue-eyed wife, Chani, pounded on the drums, both of them joking around and laughing like teenagers on a date.

I talked at length with the Johnsons that night -- even apologizing to Chani that her name appeared as "Chandi" in a cover story I had written on Johnson two months earlier -- and what struck me was Johnson's confidence. Even back then, he felt strongly that he could do what no other driver has ever done: Win four straight Cup titles, which he can achieve as early as next week at Phoenix.

"I really do like our chances again this year," he said. "I mean, why shouldn't I? We've got a great organization and a great team. Chad [Knaus] is, I think, one of the best, if not the best crew chiefs in the sport. And, you know, we're just really good in the Chase. As long as we can get in, we've shown that we can run fast at pretty much every track in the Chase. A lot can happen, obviously, but I think we've got a shot at another one."

So far, Johnson has authored a virtually flawless Chase. Through seven races, he has three wins (a Chase record after seven races), seven top-10 finishes (a Chase record), an average finish of 3.28 (a Chase record), led a total of 720 laps (a Chase record), and holds a 184-point lead in the standings (a Chase record). You get the picture. Johnson and Knaus have been so ruthlessly dominating, in fact, that rival crew chiefs and drivers in the garage are already contemplating this vexing question: Just how in the hell are we going to beat these guys next year?

There is no good reason -- at least none that I can find -- to think Johnson won't rip off another top-five run on Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway. After all, Johnson leads all active drivers in average finish at Texas, where Johnson's 8.5 is better than Matt Kenseth (9.7), Denny Hamlin (11.6) and Tony Stewart (12.6). You could make the argument that Johnson is due some bad luck, but the fact is that it's blue-moon rare that bad luck ever strikes the No. 48 team. Just last week at Talladega Johnson narrowly avoided a terrible finish when, late in the race, he navigated his way through the Big One, which erupted directly in front of him. Even Johnson admitted that he was fortunate to finish sixth at 'Dega.

On Sunday, Johnson will be piloting chassis No. 552. How good is this car? Well, the last time Johnson drove it was in September at Dover, Del. All Johnson did that weekend was win the pole and the race. What if something happens to his primary car during practice or qualifying and Johnson has to pull out his backup vehicle? That one's not too bad either: He won with it at Charlotte in October.

To win the championship, all Johnson has to do is finish an average of 10th in every race -- and that's if Mark Martin, who is in second in the standings, wins out and leads the most laps in the last three races. "We're showing up to win races," Johnson said earlier this week. "It is a tough field of cars out there, and we need to be on our game. So with that in mind, we're going to race as hard as we can these next two races and see what happens for Homestead and see where we're at."

In what may be the most obvious pick I've made in my eight years on the NASCAR beat, I'm taking JJ to win on Sunday and then to clinch the championship in Phoenix a week later. That's how dominate he's been this season. It's almost as if, all the way back in February, he saw it coming.

Jimmie Johnson will win NASCAR Chase race at Texas - Lars Anderson - SI.com ]]> Autocrossing and Motorsports 6 Shooter http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/autocrossing-motorsports/118300-no-surprise-jj-will-win-texas.html Gordon wins Texas pole, extends consecutive streak http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/autocrossing-motorsports/118281-gordon-wins-texas-pole-extends-consecutive-streak.html Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:35:01 GMT Image: http://i33.tinypic.com/5121de.jpg NASCAR.COM...

NASCAR.COM

FORT WORTH, Texas -- Not since 1997 has Jeff Gordon won fewer than two poles in a Cup season. Never in 16 previous full seasons had he failed to win at least one.

After qualifying in the top spot Friday at Texas Motor Speedway, Gordon extended his record streak to 17 consecutive years. Gordon, who claimed his first victory at Texas in April, turned a lap at 191.117 mph to edge Kasey Kahne (190.975 mph) for the P1 starting position in Sunday's Dickies 500.

The pole was the 68th of Gordon's career and his first since the fall race at Texas last year.

It was particularly gratifying to Gordon, who had struggled at the 1.5-mile track before winning earlier this year. It was also at Texas, in 1999, where Gordon suffered one of the hardest impacts of his career during a crash 68 laps into the March 500-miler.

"We've been very close," Gordon said. "There were times when I really thought we had a pole. It's like a win. You hope you get it early and accomplish it and get it out of the way so you don't think and worry about it -- it doesn't build -- especially when you've done 16 years in a row.

"To finally get it, it doesn't matter to me if it happens the first race or the last race -- it just takes a little bit of heat off you to get it early -- but the fact that we did get it, and to do it here in Texas, a track that we have struggled at until recently, this is a great place to do it.

"We're focused on ending the season the best we possibly can. We've got three races left and we want poles, we want wins -- we want to get a lot of points and get ourselves as high up in the points as we possibly can for the championship and also build something for next year."

NASCAR.COM - Gordon wins Texas pole, extends consecutive streak - Nov 6, 2009 ]]> Autocrossing and Motorsports 6 Shooter http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/autocrossing-motorsports/118281-gordon-wins-texas-pole-extends-consecutive-streak.html Keselowski buttoned-down in new role with Penske http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/autocrossing-motorsports/118276-keselowski-buttoned-down-new-role-penske.html Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:20:17 GMT FORT WORTH, Texas -- If you want contrite, or apologetic, don't expect it from Brad Keselowski, either in the last three weekends of the 2009 season or any time in the future.

What you'll get is a comfortably confident, newly-clean-shaven driver who's most concerned with satisfying the trust placed in him by legendary team owner Roger Penske.

That didn't include shaving, a move that Keselowski, no doubt aware of Penske Racing's tradition for a crisp, neat operation, said he made on his own.

"I was wondering and we took a bet on how long it was going to take," Keselowski said, laughing at the 18 questions it took before his appearance was brought up. "Nobody said a word to me, I just felt like shaving it off. Man, I'm serious. I'm kind of interested to see if Roger says anything -- I don't know if I'll get a phone call or not."

Keselowski, who of late has been in the middle of some heated post-race "discussions" and has backed away from none of them, got an eyeful of the Sprint Cup landscape Friday afternoon at Texas Motor Speedway when he was surrounded by between 15-25 media members behind his hauler at a scheduled "availability."

But before you get the wrong idea, in addition to the previous observations you'll also get a 25-year-old who's wide-eyed and open-minded about what lies ahead of him.

"We're just trying to lay a base to know what to work on, because I really don't know if I can define what to work on right now," Keselowski said. "I really have no expectations, good or bad. Everything to me is just complete evaluation on both sides -- for them to evaluate me and figure out my strengths and weaknesses, and vice versa for the team.

"In the end we're all gonna gel together and be one, big, happy family. This is a good way to get off on the right foot, to have three races and then a full winter to address whatever things we feel like we need to address."

Earlier this week, Keselowski's deal to run full schedules in 2010 in the Cup and Nationwide series hit fast forward when Penske announced Keselowski would immediately replace David Stremme as driver of the No. 12 Dodge, which is 30th in the Cup owners' points after 33 races.

"I wasn't sure how [the switch] was going to go down and I don't know what went into that, because quite honestly it was none of my business," Keselowski said. "It's cool and I can respect [Stremme's] position. I could have respected him if he didn't decide to let me do that. It's a tough situation."

NASCAR.COM - Keselowski buttoned-down in new role with Penske - Nov 6, 2009 ]]> Autocrossing and Motorsports 6 Shooter http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/autocrossing-motorsports/118276-keselowski-buttoned-down-new-role-penske.html Won four the books http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/autocrossing-motorsports/118252-won-four-books.html Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:36:57 GMT

Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty's shared mark of seven championships ranks near the top of NASCAR's greatest accomplishments. Where will Jimmie Johnson and his four consecutive championships rank among the greats?

NASCAR.COM - Johnson poised to*take his*seat in racing*history - Nov 5, 2009 ]]> Autocrossing and Motorsports 6 Shooter http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/autocrossing-motorsports/118252-won-four-books.html