Double-File Restarts

NASCAR vice president of competition Robin Pemberton said the excitement created by double-file restarts at last month's All-Star race at Lowe's Motor Speedway helped to determine the new format change.



Jeff Burton: "I'm shocked that we are doing this this year. I have become very used to the ship liner analogy about how it is hard to turn a ship real quick. (I) believed we would do it in the Nationwide and Truck Series and do it in Cup Series in 2010, I'm shocked that they made the decision and are doing it this year... For the fans, I think the double-file restart is great. For us, I think it is going to increase the workload quite a bit. A lot of guys complain about having to race the lapped cars but there is an advantage of doing that, too. … As hectic as restarts are now, it is going to increase that two-fold because the people you are going to be racing are faster."

David Reutimann: "So it's this weekend? I thought we were going to get farther down the road than that."

Jimmie Johnson: "The leader is going to have control and that's a good thing. I think another very positive aspect to it is that you're going to be racing cars that you need to be racing with. Lead-lap cars will be racing lead-lap cars. Guys fighting for Lucky Dog (a lap down) will be racing against themselves."

Mark Martin: "From a competitor's standpoint there are winners and loser in a double-file restart. You just have to hope that balances out equally. Sometime a double-file restart will put you in a less-desirable lane. Hopefully it balances out to 50/50 over the long haul and you gain some and you lose some and the fans gain every time."

Ryan Newman: "It's just another step to keep delivering to the fans what they want. It's something that I think will make the racing better from an excitement standpoint and that's what we're here for. We're delivering entertainment. If the fans say they want us to start the third restart in reverse … we're probably going to do it."

Kyle Busch: "If you're at Martinsville, Darlington, Indianapolis, then you're not going to be able to do much. Places like Texas, Atlanta, Michigan, here at Pocono — areas where you might have a little more room it won't be so bad. If you're stuck in the outside lane and the inside lane boxes you up against the wall then you can't go anywhere."

What do you think of the new double file restart - shootout style rule change. Thoughts?

NSCS - Pocono 500

Tony Stewart's dream season! He sits on top of the point standings and is winning races in his first year as an owner/driver.

Stewart won the Pocono 500 for his first official points-paying race win as an owner/driver. Defeat was not in his vocabulary. He started in the back of the field in a back-up car after wrecking his primary in a practice accident. With an average fuel window of 33-39 laps, Stewart chose not to pit for gas during a late race caution. Instead, he pulled out on the restart to lead the final 36 laps. The gamble paid off.

"It's just a little different when you're the one that's got to be accountable," Stewart said.

John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR

Stewart is the first owner/driver to win a cup race since Ricky Rudd on September 27, 1998 @ Martinsville.

"I think it's just preparation and having a group of guys that have the confidence that no matter what the challenge is, they are not going to panic. They are not going to freak out. They just know that you are going to have situations like that," Stewart said. "Nobody got upset. Nobody lost their heads yesterday when I crashed the primary car, and you know, they just do their job and they are efficient at it. It that's half the battle is just having a group of guys that have the same confidence that I have behind the wheel. They have that same confidence as crew members, and the preparation at the shop before we come here, it's not like they all of a sudden had to roll a backup car out and try to set it up from scratch. It was basically ready to go when it came off the trailer."

It was a slight flashback to last week's event @ Dover. In the closing laps, it came down to Stewart, Jimmie Johnson and a Roush driver, in this case it was Carl Edwards. This time around, Stewart was able to distance himself seconds ahead of Edwards and Johnson. With 2 laps to go, the #48 and #99 were in a heated battle for 2nd position forgetting their need to also conserve fuel. Johnson ran out of gas coming out of turn 2 on the last lap. He finished 7th.

Carl Edwards led the race-high 103 laps and was able to hang on for a runner-up finish. David Reutimann, Jeff Gordon and Stewart's driver, Ryan Newman round out the top 5.

There were 5 cautions for 20 laps and 22 lead changes among 12 drivers:

T. Stewart 0; J. Gordon 1-5; J. Johnson 6-13; R. Newman 14; J. Johnson 15-37; C. Edwards 38-44; M. Martin 45; Kurt Busch 46-47; C. Edwards 48-76; T. Stewart 77-78; C. Edwards 79-100; G. Biffle 101-104; M. Kenseth 105; C. Edwards 106-117; M. Kenseth 118-120; C. Edwards 121-136; M. Kenseth 137-138; J. McMurray 139; E. Sadler 140-141; C. Mears 142; C. Edwards 143-159; J. Gordon 160-163; T. Stewart 164-200.

For the (unofficial) results, click here.

NNS - Federated Auto Parts 300

Kyle Busch scores a smashing win in Saturday night's Federated Auto Parts 300 Nationwide Series race @ Nashville Superspeedway.

After leading the most laps in the past 3 series races without a win to show for it, things finally went Busch's way. He led 4 times for 173 of the 225 laps around, giving up the lead only for pit stops. He led the final 24 laps and beat Keselowski by 0.891 seconds.

Chris Graythen/Getty Images for NASCAR

To the surprise of many, he slammed the special trophy given to Nashville race winners, a Sam Bass-designed Gibson Les Paul guitar.

"Pete Townsend?" Busch wondered. "I think Ozzy's done it, too. I think Kiss has even done it. Everybody's done it, expect race car drivers. All them sorry saps, they take it home in one piece and put it on their shelf, man. I break that thing up and spread it within the team so everybody's got a piece."

Busch said he made a promise to his team members last year that if he ever won a race @ Nashville, he would give them each a piece of the guitar. However, the guitar didn't break into too many pieces.

"It didn't break according to plan," Busch said. "I was actually hoping to get more pieces for the guys on the team. We'll go back to the shop and cut it up, and they can have nice, smooth pieces of it."



Sam Bass was in attendance @ Nashville. He too was surprised by Kyle's actions. "Just like everybody else in victory lane, I was stunned when it happened," said Bass. "When I took a picture with Kyle as I traditionally do, the first thing he said to me was that there was no disrespect to me or the trophy or the speedway or any of the sponsors. He just said that he told his guys that he was going to give each one of them a piece of the trophy whenever he won the guitar." Bass continued, "That was his way, in the spirit of rock and roll to break the guitar like a Kiss concert and share it with all the guys on the team. That made me feel a lot better. As a person that loves rock and roll the way I do and appreciates a good show, Kyle Busch put on as great show in victory lane and shocked the world."

There were 4 cautions for 24 laps including a 13 minute and 7 second red flag for an accident on lap 126 involving the 2, 16, 27, 33 and 99 in turn 4.

There were 12 lead changes among 8 drivers:

K. Busch 1-67; C. Edwards 68; Brad Keselowski 69-72; J. Leffler 73-93; K. Wallace 94-100; K. Busch 101-115; J. Leffler 116-120; K. Busch 121-187; Brad Keselowski 188-193; M. Bliss 194-199; M. McDowell # 200; E. Darnell 201; K. Busch 202-225.

For (unofficial) results, click here.

On Track - Saturday

Tony Stewart wrecked during the first practice session today @ Pocono. He lost the pole position for tomorrow's race and will have to start in the back in his back-up car.



"I feel like it's better than the primary car," Stewart said."I was happier with that car then I was the first one," Stewart said. "If I'd known the second one was going to be so good, I would have crashed the first one the first lap out."

Stewart posted the 3rd fastest practice time with a lap of 166.701 mph during the first practice session before his wreck 35 minutes in. He was 6th fastest with a lap of 164.817 in his back-up during the second practice session. So far in the 13 races this season, 3 drivers have won a race after having to move to the back of the field before the start. Matt Kenseth won the Daytona 500 in a back-up. Kyle Busch won at Las Vegas and Brad Keselowski won at Talladega after they both had to start in the back due to an engine change.

Stewart left Pocono to compete in the Dirt Late Model Dream race at his Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio.

The fastest drivers during the first practice session:
1. Jimmie Johnson 167.607
2. Ryan Newman 166.747
3. Tony Stewart 166.701
4. Denny Hamlin 166.620
5. Jeff Gordon 166.248

The fastest drivers during Happy Hour:
1. Denny Hamlin 165.317
2. Ryan Newman 165.213
3. Greg Biffle 165.210
4. Clint Bowyer 165.080
5. Jimmie Johnson 165.017

Kyle Busch won the pole for the Nationwide Series race @ Nashville. His 2nd pole this season in the series and 2nd @ Nashville. This is his 17th pole in 151 Nationwide Series races.

Busch has led the most laps in the past 3 races, but without a win to show for it. He's led a combined 349 of a possible 523 laps. He hasn't posted a win yet @ Nashville in 7 starts.

Trevor Bayne qualified 2nd followed by Michael McDowell, Brad Coleman and Scott Lagasse Jr.

For the starting line-up, click here.

Chris Graythen/Getty Images for NASCAR

On Track - Friday

Once again, rain causes havoc for race fans. Sprint Cup Series qualifying was washed out. Drivers will line-up according to owners points. It puts Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon on the front row. The garage is about to close, until 8 tomorrow morning. Long Pond weather is supposed to be better for tomorrow, but there's a 40% chance for rain on Race Day Sunday.

Here's what has been going on up until this point. Courtesy of WNEP.



Nationwide Series drivers hit the track @ Nashville for their first practice session at 6 (ET) this evening. Jason Leffler, Michael McDowell, Stephen Leicht, Sean Caisse and Scott Lagasse Jr posted the top 5 fastest practice speeds. Carl Edwards, Brad Coleman, Steve Wallace, Mike Bliss and Sean Caisse were the top 5 fastest during final practice Friday night @ Nashville.

Todd Bodine won the WinStar World Casino 400 for his 5th Camping World Truck Series win @ Texas Motor Speedway!

Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images
It's a history making win for Bodine as he becomes the first driver in truck series history to win 5 times at a track. Is a win ever easy to come by? Bodine led twice for 52 of the 167 laps. He took the lead on lap 125 and was never really challenged in a race that was slowed by just 2 cautions. Bodine passed up a stop for gas late in the race to hold onto the lead.

“I wasn’t concerned,” Bodine said. “This truck right into that last run, we were just too loose the whole race,” Bodine said. “Junior made some great calls at the end and fixed it up to make it run. This is an awesome night.”

It marks Bodine's 2nd win and 4th top-10 finish this season.

Matt Crafton finished 2nd followed by Colin Braun, Johnny Benson and Rick Crawford.

For the (unofficial) race results, click here.

There 2 cautions for 10 laps and 5 lead changes among 5 drivers:
J. Sauter # 1-42; R. Hornaday Jr. 43-97; M. Crafton 98; T. Bodine 99-107; R. Crawford 108-124; T. Bodine 125-167.

Matt Crafton leads the point standings by 30 points over Ron Hornaday Jr.

It's Official! Penske to purchase Saturn

The announcement came over today that Roger Penske's Penske Automotive Group won the bid for General Motors Corp.'s Saturn line. The sale should save 13,000 jobs and 350 dealers.

“Saturn has a passionate customer base and outstanding dealer network,” Roger Penske said. “For nearly 20 years, Saturn has focused on treating the customer right. We share that philosophy, and we want to build on those strengths.”

Since Penske Auto isn't a manufacturer, they'll have to find a supplier. Penske also said he expects to line-up a "worldwide partner", but plans to build in the U.S.

Here's a link to an article on bloomberg.com, http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=email_en&sid=a1zpoYuqSeEQ

On a side note, GM plans to sell Hummer to a Chinese company and will drop Pontiac and Saab.

Need For Speed Race Preview: Pocono

The race weekend just kicked off with a bang! Fans made noise and NASCAR listened. The official announcement was made today that "Double-File Restarts - Shootout Style" will become the norm in the Sprint Cup Series.

Someone asked me if they didn't already line up double file for restarts. They do, but under this format change the race leader will have the option to restart on the inside or outside lane with the second place driver lining up directly beside the leader and the rest of the field lining up behind them according to their current scoring position. The lapped cars will restart in the back of the field. Until now, lapped cars lined up beside the leaders to try to race for their lap back. The first eligible car a lap down or more will still earn a lap back following a caution which is known as the "free pass" and "the lucky dog".

"I'm excited about it," Tony Stewart said. "The good thing is that when they drop the green, you're going to be racing with the guys you're racing for position instead of trying to clear lapped cars. Since NASCAR has adapted the 'free pass', I think that's something that now justifies being able to put those lapped cars to the back and let them race with each other, and the let the guys who are racing on the lead lap do the same. I'm behind NASCAR 100% on this."

NASCAR recently 'showcased' the "double-file restart" during the All-Star race @ Charlotte to great fan response. The format, NASCAR says, will soon be adapted for both the Camping World Truck and Nationwide Series races.

"Double-file restarts - shootout style"won't be the only change of pace lined up for us this weekend as we head from the ovals to the unique triangular track of Pocono Raceway. The "Tricky Triangle" as some call it. Drivers will say it's similar to racing on a road course. Banking in the turns is listed at 14, 8 and 6 degrees. The three straights' distances are 3,740, 3,055 and 1,780 feet. All in all, "challenging" might be the word we hear used the most.



Who to watch for?


Mark Martin has posted 19 top-5 and 31 top-10 finishes - more than any other driver in the series, but has yet to score a Pocono win. He's led 432 laps - tops among drivers without a Pocono win in his 44 consecutive races at the track. He's in good company this year driving the #5 for Hendrick Motorsports. Hendrick drivers have scored more Pocono wins than any other team. They account for 11 victories since the very first cup race was held there on August 4, 1974. By the way, Richard Petty won that one.

Jeff Gordon leads the Hendrick pack (and entered drivers) with 4 Pocono wins. Johnson has 2. Earnhardt Jr and Martin, as mentioned above, have yet to win.

Joe Gibbs Racing and Penske Racing have 6 Pocono wins each. Roush Fenway Racing drivers can account for 3 wins @ Pocono. Richard Childress Racing has posted 2 - both by Dale Earnhardt.

There has been 4 repeat winners @ Pocono since 2000: Jimmie Johnson (2004), Carl Edwards (2005, 2008), Kurt Busch (2005, 2007) and Denny Hamlin (2006).

Jimmie Johnson and Denny Hamlin are the only 2 drivers entered in the race on Sunday that have a finishing average inside the top-10.

Kasey Kahne is the defending race winner. He won the spring race @ Pocono last year from the pole.

And what about Kyle Busch? He hasn't won yet @ Pocono. He has finished 20th or worse in half of his 8 starts @ Pocono. He finished 43rd and 36th in the 2 races last year.

The race starts at 2 on Sunday. 200 laps = 500 miles. TNT takes over the racin' coverage.

Get ready for night racin' for both the Camping World Truck and Nationwide Series.

TV coverage for the Camping World Truck Series @ Texas begins at 8:30 Friday night on SPEED. The Nationwide Series @ Nashville gets underway at 7 Saturday night on their ESPN 2 home.