pandr
05-12-2012, 03:04 PM
Raceday: Your guide to the Southern 500
By Jim Utter - charlotte observer
Friday, May. 11, 2012
Three things to watch
1 . After a terrible start to the season, Kasey Kahne has finished in the Top 10 the past four races, including top-five finishes in the last two. Can the streak continue?
2 . Mark Martin won Darlington in 2009, and Denny Hamlin won in 2010. Considering how well both are performing this season, a return trip to Victory Lane is not out of the question.
3 . This could be another big weekend for Sprint Cup Series leader Greg Biffle, who is the most recent driver to win consecutive races at Darlington (2005-06).
Observations
--Interesting to hear all the discussion about Hendrick Motorsports' inability to secure its 200th Sprint Cup Series victory yet this season. Jimmie Johnson got win No. 199 last October. It's not like HMS has had plenty of chances to win since then. There are organizations in Cup without 20 wins in their entire existence which makes the fixation on not getting No. 200 sort of misplaced. If HMS can never reach No. 200 with its four current drivers then get back to me. That would be a huge story but not one that's likely to be written.
--Brad Keselowski has won at Bristol, Tenn., and Talladega, Ala., so far this season. If he can add a victory at Darlington Raceway, it's safe to say his No. 2 Penske Racing team has what it takes to be a series contender for the Cup series championship this season.
--Danica Patrick will make her second Cup series start on an oval track tonight at Darlington. Not sure that was the best track to help get acclimated to these cars. She definitely will need the experience here if she moves fulltime to Cup next season. But a race on an oval other than Daytona before this one may have built up some confidence.
Best bets
Jim Utter gives you three picks for your fantasy racing league:
Kasey Kahne, Greg Biffle, Kevin Harvick
Notes
Dale Jr.: It's not just me: Dale Earnhardt Jr. takes issue with the idea his current career-worst winless streak and lack of winning a Cup series title are reasons why some tracks are still dealing with attendance problems.
As Earnhardt has reiterated in the past, he believes economic factors still greatly affect race fans - many of whom travel long distances to the races they attend.
"I don’t really think (TV) viewership and attendance is directly tied to the success of our team. We do have a great fan base and a loyal fan base that I think watches the races regardless of how we’re running. I just think it’s challenging financially for the demographic to afford to come out to a race," the sport's most popular driver said.
"I think hotel prices are really high and gas is really high and just trying to get here and enjoy yourself has become quite expensive. A lot of people are not willing to make that sacrifice.
Mechanical failure contributed to McClure wreck: Eric McClure's violent wreck at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway last weekend happened in part because the brakes failed in his No. 14 Toyota, the driver confirmed Friday.
“I just remember being really excited – we were in a good position and I felt like I had an opportunity for our first top-10 and we were just in a pack there,” McClure said. “I saw the smoke ahead of me and went to hit the brake pedal and the brakes were not there.”
McClure suffered internal bruising and a concussion. He has not yet been cleared to return to racing.
“I look forward to going through the process that NASCAR has laid out, getting the right clearance when it's time to come back,” he said. “I look forward to doing it and racing again and trying to get better.”
Race facts
Where: Darlington (S.C.) Raceway
Track type: 1.366-mile highly banked, paved egg-shaped oval
Race distance: 367 laps or 500.1 miles
Weather: Partly sunny with high in the low 80s.
TV: Coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. on Fox. Green flag is 7:16 p.m.
Radio: Motor Racing Network
C/P Thats Racin
By Jim Utter - charlotte observer
Friday, May. 11, 2012
Three things to watch
1 . After a terrible start to the season, Kasey Kahne has finished in the Top 10 the past four races, including top-five finishes in the last two. Can the streak continue?
2 . Mark Martin won Darlington in 2009, and Denny Hamlin won in 2010. Considering how well both are performing this season, a return trip to Victory Lane is not out of the question.
3 . This could be another big weekend for Sprint Cup Series leader Greg Biffle, who is the most recent driver to win consecutive races at Darlington (2005-06).
Observations
--Interesting to hear all the discussion about Hendrick Motorsports' inability to secure its 200th Sprint Cup Series victory yet this season. Jimmie Johnson got win No. 199 last October. It's not like HMS has had plenty of chances to win since then. There are organizations in Cup without 20 wins in their entire existence which makes the fixation on not getting No. 200 sort of misplaced. If HMS can never reach No. 200 with its four current drivers then get back to me. That would be a huge story but not one that's likely to be written.
--Brad Keselowski has won at Bristol, Tenn., and Talladega, Ala., so far this season. If he can add a victory at Darlington Raceway, it's safe to say his No. 2 Penske Racing team has what it takes to be a series contender for the Cup series championship this season.
--Danica Patrick will make her second Cup series start on an oval track tonight at Darlington. Not sure that was the best track to help get acclimated to these cars. She definitely will need the experience here if she moves fulltime to Cup next season. But a race on an oval other than Daytona before this one may have built up some confidence.
Best bets
Jim Utter gives you three picks for your fantasy racing league:
Kasey Kahne, Greg Biffle, Kevin Harvick
Notes
Dale Jr.: It's not just me: Dale Earnhardt Jr. takes issue with the idea his current career-worst winless streak and lack of winning a Cup series title are reasons why some tracks are still dealing with attendance problems.
As Earnhardt has reiterated in the past, he believes economic factors still greatly affect race fans - many of whom travel long distances to the races they attend.
"I don’t really think (TV) viewership and attendance is directly tied to the success of our team. We do have a great fan base and a loyal fan base that I think watches the races regardless of how we’re running. I just think it’s challenging financially for the demographic to afford to come out to a race," the sport's most popular driver said.
"I think hotel prices are really high and gas is really high and just trying to get here and enjoy yourself has become quite expensive. A lot of people are not willing to make that sacrifice.
Mechanical failure contributed to McClure wreck: Eric McClure's violent wreck at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway last weekend happened in part because the brakes failed in his No. 14 Toyota, the driver confirmed Friday.
“I just remember being really excited – we were in a good position and I felt like I had an opportunity for our first top-10 and we were just in a pack there,” McClure said. “I saw the smoke ahead of me and went to hit the brake pedal and the brakes were not there.”
McClure suffered internal bruising and a concussion. He has not yet been cleared to return to racing.
“I look forward to going through the process that NASCAR has laid out, getting the right clearance when it's time to come back,” he said. “I look forward to doing it and racing again and trying to get better.”
Race facts
Where: Darlington (S.C.) Raceway
Track type: 1.366-mile highly banked, paved egg-shaped oval
Race distance: 367 laps or 500.1 miles
Weather: Partly sunny with high in the low 80s.
TV: Coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. on Fox. Green flag is 7:16 p.m.
Radio: Motor Racing Network
C/P Thats Racin