Ryan Newman showed finesse at Fontana

Photo, courtesy of Jerry Conner

This season's California race was the best I've seen in years. While it was not without drama, it was filled with excellent side-by-side racing and passing, which is something that races have lacked of late. Not the case Sunday at Fontana.

The finish was in the hands of the drivers, which was all too evidenced by my fave, Ryan Newman, driver of the #39 Wix Chevrolet. Newman had a hard day at the beginning with a fast car but some handling issues. He overcame a speeding penalty on pit road as well as a boneheaded mistake when his pit crew that not only negated the chassis changes he needed, but they turned the track bar the wrong way, worsening the handling. Newman and his team persevered though, turning it around with a tenth-place finish. Not only that, his crew chief Matt Borland won the season's first MOOG Problem Solver of the Race award. The award is sponsored by global vehicle components manufacturer Federal-Mogul Corporation.

According to Market Watch in the Wall Street Journal, "the award is presented to the crew chief whose car posts the greatest improvement in average lap time during the second half of the race while finishing on the lead lap. Newman and the 39 Chevrolet topped the field with a 0.354-second improvement over the final 100 laps to finish 10th at Fontana."

Congratulations to Ryan Newman and Matt Borland, his crew chief. The two were reunited at the end of last season. Newman, with Borland on the pit box won 12 races together at Penske Racing between 2002 and 2005. 

Since coming together at Stewart-Haas Racing, the duo has earned three top-10s in five starts - including a fifth-place finish in this year's Daytona 500. They have much to overcome however, since the races at Phoenix and Las Vegas ended with DNF's due to tire issues and an engine failure. 

Newman now stands in 20th position, up three spots and on the rise.

NASCAR is going too far

Denny Hamlin drives the #11 car
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The recent announcement that Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 car, has been fined $25,000 for detrimentl comments is simply BS. Hamlin merely voiced his concerns last week that the new 'generation 6' car needed some tweaking because it was impossible to pass other cars on the race track. Hamlin drove to a third place finished at Phoenix.

Since the fine was imposed, Hamlin also stated that he has no intention of paying it.

"I believe I was severely disrespected by NASCAR by getting fined. I believe that the simple fact of us not even having a conversation about this issue before I was hit with a fine has something to say about our relationship," Hamlin told the media.

I couldn't agree more.

Who does NASCAR think it is, censoring a driver for having an opinion? This is America, where citizens are guaranteed free speech. There is no exemption for race car drivers that I know of.

NASCAR is a sanctioning body--not an almighty racing god--for which apparently they perceive themselves. That have made a practice of slinging their weight around in the form of monetary and driver points fines the last several years in a total arbitrary and capricious fashion, as far as I can tell.

Ironically, they are leveling fines for damaging the sport, but they are the ones damaging the sport. The result has been bad attitudes among the fans and poor morale among the drivers.

NASCAR has said it was going to let the drivers "have at it," yet if they do, they get slapped with fines. NASCAR is becoming ridiculous and needs to knock it off before auto racing goes the way of the dinosaurs.

Race day must overcome crash coverage

Race day is finally here, as we anticipate the 55th running of the Daytona 500, but because of the horrific accident at the conclusion of yesterday's Nationwide race where nearly 30 spectators were injured by flying car parts and other debris in a last lap crash, every effort is being made to tear away any dark curtain over today's event. 

Despite yesterday's incident, today is a new day. It is exciting to realize the seemingly endless off-season for NASCAR's Sprint Cup series is finally over. There will be no more counting down to the Daytona 500. TODAY IS THE DAY! The race will run in just a few hours. 

The excitement is palpable, despite yesterday's horror, the fans involved in the melee are receiving the best care possible, drivers are uninjured, and NASCAR is trying to move on. 

The accident itself was very troubling because it is so easy to imagine what it was like to be in the stands as fans enjoyed the final laps of an exciting race. In an instant lives were changed. There will likely be other changes that grow out of this event--additional safety features perhaps--but those will remain to be seen. 

It bears stating that this was an accident, an unpredictable moment in time that could not have been prevented. There is no question that NASCAR is cognizant of the safety issues associated with driving cars at speeds often times in excess of 200 mph. NASCAR has taken as many precautions to protect everyone associated with the sport--both drivers and spectators. The fact that those drivers involved in the melee emerged from their destroyed race cars unhurt is a testament to that. 

I was impressed with how several people have reacted to this event. 

First, when Tony Stewart won the race, his reaction in victory lane couldn't have been more correct. He was soft-spoken, thoughtful, and despite his excitement at winning the race, he shoved that emotion into the shadow in favor of the obviously injured spectators. Stewart's reaction was as an appropriate champion of the sport. 

Another reaction that was laudable was that of Kyle Petty. Petty is a NASCAR commentator and spokesman. He is in my view, one of the best. He is honest, truthful, and pulls no punches. Petty pointed out that drivers are aware of the risk they take when they put on a helmet and climb into their race car, but spectators shouldn't be at risk when they come to a race. He indicated that fans should feel safe when they sit in the stands and prepare to enjoy a race. In my view, Petty is such a class act. I believe he is one of the finest spokespersons for the sport.

As the day wore on and videotapes of the incident became available, I couldn't help but notice the quick reactions of both spectators and track personnel when it was realized there were injuries. There were heroes in the stands and heroes that work at the track. 

I can't help but question NASCAR's official reaction. While it is appropriate to report news in a timely manner, so as to make certain facts are provable, and correct, NASCAR takes that a step too far. They attempt to control the news.

As an organization, NASCAR's priority appears to be to protect its brand rather than to allow the news media to do its job to report news. This fits with NASCAR's attempts to direct every aspect of the public's perception of motor sport racing. It was very disturbing to learn that NASCAR attempted to censor fan videos of the accident, requesting You Tube to remove them from public view. NASCAR claimed it was a copyright infringement. Later, it was stated that it was to protect those involved.

NASCAR officials need to realize that this is the 21st century when citizen journalists and fans with cell phone cameras fill the stands. Their efforts to censor such events will never occur. They have much to be proud of, so there is no danger in resting on their laurels. 

In my view, not only does NASCAR need to continue to work on safety issues, and other things under their control, they need to work on their own attitudes. 

Buzz over Danica Patrick; I called it a year ago

Danica Patrick at the premiere of Baby Mama in New York City at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Where Danica Patrick is concerned, I'm proud to say I called it last year around this time.

I wrote in this very blog about Danica's potential in NASCAR. In fact, just type her name into the search box to find several posts about her. Who knew though that she would earn the pole position during qualifying for the sport's biggest race of the year in her first full time Sprint Cup Series debut? It will really be fun to watch Danica perform in the Daytona 500 Sunday, as she leads the field to the green.

In fact, it will be really fun to be back to watching racing on a regular basis again.

For me, as a Ryan Newman fan, Saturday's Sprint Unlimited almost didn't count. For me, the racing season officially starts on Thursday when I can enjoy Newman again racing competitively in the Duels, the pair of qualifying races for Sunday's Daytona 500.

Newman wasn't among the race participants in this year's event to honor pole winners from 2012. That in itself is weird since Newman normally has a real penchant for winning poles. I do expect that to turn around during this season. Being back with Matt Borland, I am not sure how they could miss.

nascar (Photo credit: rogerblake2)

I'm really pumped because we just purchased our first flat screen HD television. Racing will be more exciting than ever before, as are all things TV.

Watching qualifying was pretty exciting, not just because Danica got the pole, but because at one point Stewart-Haas Racing held first, second, and third in fastest speeds with Newman and Tony Stewart right behind her. That later changed, though I didn't watch after Newman's run, I found 'other things' to do Saturday. That may be the last time 'other things' will come into play during qualifying and racing this season.

Newman's second spot and Tony Stewart's third were eked out by Jeff Gordon and Trevor Bain, but Danica of course held her first place. Newman earned fourth fastest and Tony Stewart ran fifth; That is a good way to start out the season. So, as the gentlemen and lady start their engines, I can't wait to watch.

Getting accustomed to empty Sundays

NASCAR's off-season this year, seems a little less painful than in years past when I couldn't stand waking up on a Sunday morning without the prospect of satisfying my racing fix. This year was different. I almost relished the end to this racing year. There was plenty of aggravation during the 2012 season. 

Perhaps my disfavor can be explained by the less than stellar performance of my favorite driver--Ryan Newman. Don't get me wrong--I am as big a Newman fan as ever--but I recognize that everybody has an off year sometimes. After all, he had plenty going on to distract him this year. Not only was he in line for a new contract with Stewart-Haas Racing, but sponsorship for the 2013 season was precarious when the U.S. Army decided not to back the #39 car due to budget constraints. I'm really not too upset about that, by the way. He and Krissie were also preparing for a new addition to their family. All that can weigh on a guy. Once Ryan's contract was settled, sponsors stepped up and Ashlyn, the Newmans' second child was born, Ryan seemed to be back to his old self, ending the season with four top 15 races; the last two were top fives.

I have to say that despite Newman's end-game rally, I did not enjoy the 2012 Chase for the Sprint Championship. Though I continued to watch each race, it was not with my normal enthusiasm. In fact I even wrote recently about favoring an end to the Chase. During this season, and frankly leading up to it, NASCAR rulings haven't always been fair or consistent; results of the championship run were way too predictable; and Ryan didn't make the chase. Truthfully, by the time the season concluded, I was actually ready for a racing respite.

I must have gotten over it, because sometime after Homestead I input Feb. 24, 2013 into my desktop calendar. I am counting down to the start of the season and the Daytona 500, just 48 days away now.

I just learned however, that due to NASCAR's latest rules, not only will Newman not be participating in the Shootout, but neither will this year's champion, Brad Kezelowski or Clint Bowyer, who finished second in points. What is up with that? NASCAR seems to go out of its way to make aggravating decisions--at least as far as I'm concerned.

I just can't help but wonder, if Dale Earnhardt, Jr. hadn't won a pole in 2012, I wonder how the rules would have been tweaked to accommodate...just sayin!

It is one thing for my personal disappointment that Newman won't be included in the Shootout, but the Champion?

While the Shootout isn't a points race, it is a fan favorite. I'm just not so sure this year, this fan will be watching!