Hendricks Leaves Indy On Top

In a weekend of first at the famed Indianapolis Motorspeedway, it was Jimmie Johnson who kissed the bricks for the fourth time in his career. Denny Hamlin led the field to the drop of the green flag, but when it came time for green flag pit stops on lap 28, it was Johnson who won the race off pit road to gain the lead. On the first restart of the Keselowski had a mirror full of Johnson’s black and white Lowes Chevrolet, who made quick work of Keselowski retaking the lead in turn one. Keselowski watched Johnson pass him up yet again after he got loose off turn two on lap 101. Greg Biffle found himself leading on lap 129 by about seven tenths of a second, but Johnson had something to say about Biffle's lead when he just about blew the sheet metal off Biffles #16 Ford as he retook the lead. Lap 132 saw the caution flag fall once again as Joey Logano spun off turn one collecting points leader Matt Kenseth and cutting his day short. Johnson dropped the hammer on the restart at lap 140 as Biffle and Kyle Busch battled for second but they were no match for Johnson as he took the checkered by over four seconds. Kyle Busch had nothing to complain about with his second place finish; he even stated that his M&M’s Toyota was “phenomenal”, but Busch put it best when he was asked about Johnson stating,  "Jimmie Johnson wasn't even in his own zip code; he was in his own country".

But at the end of the day Johnson was not the only Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet with a number one next to it. Dale Earnhardt Jr. stole Johnson’s spotlight when he took advantage of Kenseth troubles and captured the points by fourteen points with seven races left until the chase. . Junior is proving to his fans that he and his number 88 crew are working hard by capturing his ninth top-five of the year, and twenty first consecutive race finishing on the lead lap. Junior is proud to be point’s leader, but Junior knows exactly what he has to do if he wants to capture the

Championship, “We need to win more races” Junior said. Junior is hot and is on track but can he stay there.

Kenseth says Farewell

This morning Tuesday June 26, 2012 Roush Fenway Racing announced that long time driver Matt Kenseth will be leaving the team at the end of this season. Matt Kenseth has spent his entire 13 years Sprint Cup career racing for Roush in the number 17 car. He is also second next to Jeff Gordon in amount of time spent at one team. It has been noted this season that the number 17 team has not had the sponsorship they needed and Roush has footed the bill himself for a few races. Roush also stated that he will do whatever he has to do to keep Matt's excellent season going.  Kenseth is a unique driver in the fact that he acts as his own agent, when Kenseth was asked about his future at Roush Fenway this past weekend at Sonoma he declined to comment by saying, "you know I don't talk about my contract". It was announced that 2011 Nationwide Series Champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will become the young new face of Roush Fenway Racing. Stenhouse who was mentored by Kenseth as well as other Roush Fenway drivers, has shown a lot of progress over the past couple years. It seems that Old Jack Roush is sticking to his roots once you get old by his standards, your out. Matt Kenseth gave Jack Roush his first Sprint cup championship as well as two Daytona 500's, is also currently the points leader, and is he's being removed. To me that just does not add up but its typical Jack Roush fashion 

There are speculations of teams Kenseth may join which are Penske, as they move back to Ford, and Joe Gibbs Racing. However, as Penske President Bud Denker stated this weekend that they are content with A.J. Allmindinger who is in a contract year. Aside from Penske, the majority of signs are pointing at the possibility of joining JGR who would be replacing current driver Joey Logano who is already under contract. Unlike Allmindinger, Logano has not had much improvement over the past few years at JGR. Not much has been said if Logano will continue his contract at JGR.

Stay tuned for more information concerning Matt Kenseth.

The Junior Rose This Weekend

This past Sunday it finally happened Dale Junior rose to the top like the Dark Knight and won for the first time in 140 races. Ironically the win came at the site of his last win, Michigan International Speedway four years ago. Junior did not start off solid the car was just ok until the second pit stop when crew chief Steve Letart made the call to place a spring rubber in the left rear. Since Letart and Earnhardt have been paired together they have made nothing but strides forward. The duo has had a strong start to this season racking up the top  fives and tens. This could be the spark under Dale Junior that he needs to keep winning and he has officially put  his name in as a chase contender. Junior moved himself into second in points and is closing in on that number one position. It is safe to say that you should look out for Junior because he is rising to the top.  

Racings Greatest Weekend

Memorial Day weekend is the greatest weekend in racing, three different series running three of there biggest races of the season, Nascar have there longest race of the year the Coke 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, IRL with the Holy Grail the Indy 500, and Formula 1 at Monaco. The Coke 600 is the longest race of the year and an engine builders nightmare, the 600 mile race starts in the day when the sun is setting adding a challenge for drivers but that is the least of their worries when drivers know how long the race is. Richard Petty Motorsports surprised every one as Aric Almirola won pole and Marcos Ambrose starts along side his teammate in second. Being on the front row is helpful in pit stall selection but it is about keeping that car together and running strong all day long. I am going to give Dale Earnhardt Jr. my vote to win, I think this weekend is his weekend.
The biggest race of the year in IRL and in racing is the Indianapolis 500. Qualifying day was uneventful for this years 500 as there were only 33 drivers qualifying for the 33 car field. But its still a big deal to win pole and it was Ryan Briscoe who received the 100,000 dollar check for winning the pole for the famed Indy 500, James Hinchliffe qualified second, and Ryan Hunter-Reay is third. Althoug after qualifying 11 teams were penalized for different issues involving aerodynamics. Besides that the new speedway aerodynamics package is working very well as speeds are around the 220 mph mark, it will be interesting to see how it races on Sunday.  The Indy 500 is every Indy Car drivers dream and I think any racers dream, and it is tough to pick a possible winner so I going to make three picks, my first is Marco Andretti, second Ryan Briscoe, and third James Hinchcliffe.
Lastly Formula 1 is at the famous Monaco, the track it known for its turn and very tight street circuit, and much like this unusual Formula 1 season there was a surprise pole winner former champion who is back in his second year out of retirement Michale Schumacher captured pole. Schumacher is also my pick to win, my reason being is because the track is very tight with limited passing in it and he is an multi time winner at Monaco and I feel he can do it again, also his teammate Nico Rosberg won earlier this year now its Michaels turn. Monaco is guaranteed to be a great race, this Formula 1 season has been very unusual but I say this in a great way, the 2012 Formula 1 season has put on a great show with five different winners in five races and teams are being revived, like Williams who won there first race in roughly 5 years, and that win was by new comer Pastor Maldonado. Formula 1 is final a series we all should be watching early in the morning.

The All-Star

Last weekend was the biggest race of the year: the Sprint All-Star race where one million dollars was the only thing on the line. The night started with the Sprint Shootout where only the top two finishers move through to the All-Star. A.J. Allmendinger was the pole sitter but before the green flag dropped he had a flat left front, thus moving Dale Jr. to the pole. Junior was gone with the drop of the green flag and Jamie McMurray fell into second. At the mandatory caution everyone pitted allowing Allmendinger to catch the field. At the green Junior took off yet again as Allmendinger started his march through the field picking off car after car. As the field took two to go, Allmendinger was hot on the heals of McMurray and made the pass for second, securing a transfer spot exiting turn two. Junior took the win, Allmendinger second, and Bobby Labonte won the fan vote.
The All-Star race was guaranteed to be interesting with the introduction of the new format: each winner of the first four segments would be the first four on pit road for the mandatory pit stop. Kyle Busch had the pole for the All-Star but at the drop of the green it was Jimmie Johnson who rocketed to the front and won the first segment, Johnson immediately started playing strategy after the first round off pit stops and dropped  way back from the field at the green knowing he would be the first onto pit road for the final pit stop, Matt Kenseth took the second segment and fell back to join Jimmie Johnson. The third segment was a fantastic one with a fast Kasey Kahne in second and closing on leader Brad Keselowski, Kahne made a dive bomb off turn four coming to the checkered but was beat by about one inch and Keselowski won the third segment and also followed Johnson's strategy. At the drop of the green flag for segment four it was Junior who had played pit strategy to get the lead but a caution late in the segment allowed for Allmendinger to close again, at the restart Junior was able to slightly pull away and keep the lead to win the four segment, allowing him to be the fourth driver to pit road. As the cars came for the mandatory final pit stop the four segment winners were the first to pit road it was Johnson, Kenseth, Keselowski, and Earnhardt Jr., and what and eventful pit stop they were with no one taking tires or gas they all had to come to a complete stop in there pit boxes before leaving, and they all left how they had entered. At the restart Kenseth bobbled a little and Johnson stretched out in front and never looked back leading the final ten laps and winning the Sprint All-Star race. To celebrate Johnson did one of the most awesome things I have seen in a long time. He picked up team owner Rick Hendrick and placed him on the door of his car and drove him around the front stretch on a parade lap.

Come join Me and Lug Nutzz radio at Ultraluxe Cinemas in Garden Walk in Anaheim for an Official Viewing Party of the Nascar All-Star race, fun, games, and prizes. A playstation 3 contest on a 65 foot screen, Ill see you there  

Big news being made this week involving Michael Andretti's Andretti Autosports, the news is Andretti Autosports will be expanding into the Nascar sprint cup series and possibly be Dodges main team. Could Michael Andretti become the next Penske. Proposed drivers to run for Andretti Autosports are Kurt Busch and Ryan Newman, both are former Penske driver and both have established relationships with Dodge. Could this be true, I definitely hope so. If Andretti were to expand to Nascar I  see a field of Indy fans converting to Nascar. Stay tuned for more updates.