Since 1909 the Indianapolis Motor Speedway has welcomed racers from around the world and all across the country.
And since that time they've crowned winners in many different forms. From F1, MotoGP, IndyCar and then to the surprise of many, NASCAR. Beginning in 1994 it was stock cars roaring around the famed Brickyard with Jeff Gordon taking home the first checkered flag.
Since then the Brickyard 400 has become one of NASCAR's most prestigious races, and according to IMS the second-highest paying race behind the Daytona 500.
Just two years after NASCAR got there a great Indianapolis tradition was born. In the name of tradition and winning big races, the Daytona International Speedway places the winners car in the Daytona 500 USA museum for a year. The driver is the introduced as the Daytona 500 winner for the remainder of the year and their name goes into the record books not just as winner, but a Daytona 500 champion.
Now when a driver wins at Indy they end up with much the same accolades. Part of their tradition is taking a ride around the speedway in the pace car and going to the "Yard of Bricks."
That's where they'll have one of the most memorable kisses of their life. It was Dale Jarrett and crew chief Todd Parrott who started the tradition in '96 when they innocently went to kiss the bricks after their win. They were soon joined by the entire team who also kissed the bricks and the rest as they say is history.
NASCAR winners and IndyCar winners all get their chance to kiss the bricks and go down in history as a winner at Indianapolis. Win there and you'll be remembered forever, regardless of whatever else you've done.
Beginning next weekend Indianapolis will now host the NASCAR Nationwide Series at the big track. For many years the NNS and CWTS raced away from Indianapolis at the small oval in Clermont, Indiana. The Lucas Oil Raceway - formerly Indianapolis Raceway Park and O'Reilly Raceway Park - will not be hosting NNS or CWTS races beginning in 2012, although many agreed the shorttrack put on some great racing throughout its history.
Now the Brickyard will go from hosting just Sprint Cup drivers and race to the NNS the day before. While Daytona does the same, with only the Cup race being known as a "big" race, this will be the first time in recent memory that a famed track and big race has gone from hosting just Cup cars to sharing it with the NNS.
Cars hit the track starting on Thursday, July 26th when the NNS hits the track for the very first time in practice. When they do it will bring many questions, which will only be answered throughout the weekend.
But ...
What if w/Nationwide now at Indy & if they start kissing the bricks, will it change your view of the prestige of the Cup race there?
@Talon64 yes, but only because the Cup guys would get Nationwide's sloppy seconds on the brick kiss.
@mrheadrick No. Has the prestige of Daytona been tarnished by multiple series running there? The whole #Indycar split several years ago killed the prestige of Indy in my eyes.
@dustin_n_va No not at all any win at indy is prestigious
@JoJo_6040 Yep, but I'm sure the winner will since it's a tradition for cup. Now you have me curious haha. Wish they kept nns at orp.
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Tuesday, July 10th 'What If' Question
Before the green flag in Saturday night's Coke Zero 400 at Daytona there had already been plenty of headlines made.
There was Austin Dillon defending his Kentucky win after a failed inspection, Brian France delivering his state of the sport address and saying there would be no mandatory cautions as Bruton Smith suggested. There was Danica Patrick in a way calling her shot to win before Dillon won the pole and again failed inspection.
Matt Kenseth, going for the Daytona sweep, started it off right by winning the Cup pole. While eventual winner Tony Stewart failed post qualifying because of the same reason Dillon did. Kurt Busch went out and won a wild Nationwide Series race for James Finch and Joey Logano became the latest driver to fail inspection.
On Saturday, in what is normally a lazy day before the Cup race that evening, was anything but. Kevin Harvick flew wife DeLana back home to NC in order to rest before the birth of their first child. Son Keelan would be born the next morning. Austin Dillon thought he might get behind the wheel of the No. 29 until NASCAR nixed that idea, so Kenny Wallace was put on standby.
Bobby Bowden came into the media centered and entertained everyone, while Train rocked out on the frontstretch for the fans. Then came the biggest news of the entire weekend, seemingly out of nowhere.
At 6:00 p.m. ET NASCAR's senior vice president of racing, Steve O'Donnell, walked into the media center to announce that Penske Racing driver AJ Allmendinger had been suspended because of a failed drug test. He had been chosen as the random driver a week before in Kentucky and his "A" sample came back positive.
Sam Hornish Jr. flew back to Daytona from Charlotte, NC to pilot the No. 22 in the race. And since then the talk has been all about Allmendinger. Even though there was Stewart winning his fourth Daytona race in the last eight attempt, as well as the numerous penalties handed down on Tuesday after the infractions found in inspection.
Dillon will now be without his crew chief and car chief for two weeks and lost another six points in the owner and driver standings, Adam Stevens and the car chief of the No. 18 in the NNS was fine and put on probation as well as lost six owner points. And Stewart lost six driver/owner points while his crew chief and car chief were both placed on probation.
Yet, it all went in one ear and out the other. It's all about Allmendinger right now. Speculation has run wild from what caused the failed test, to whether he intentionally took something, and of course, whether he'll ever be back behind the wheel.
As of Wednesday, Allmendinger was waiting on the results of his "B" sample while he camp released a statement that he had tested positive for a stimulant. What the stimulant was is still a guess, but Allmendinger was said to be going through all his medications and supplements to determine what could have caused the failed test.
With Allmendinger working with NASCAR to determine what has gone on while waiting on the results of his "B" sample, Hornish will again drive the No. 22 this weekend at New Hampshire. Everyone else is left offering their own opinions and theories.
But ...
What if there were no AJ Allmendinger suspension, what would be the big story and have us all talking after Daytona?
@mattwoodruff29 The Harvick's having there first child and the penalties from Daytona.
@HarpAmyStabler 2 complete green flag pit cycles and the outside line not being able to go. No pack drafting excitement 4 passing ... My dad, son, and I were all at the NNS and cup race. NNS race was exciting and fun all the way through .... The cup race was boring and we struggled to stay awake there until lap 120. Shouldn't be that way ... Dad and I have been going to Daytona since 2004 and loved it. We'll go again, but the racing has gotten progressively worse with the exception of the tandem racing. I remember the 1st to 30th & back to 1st in a few laps back in 2004-2008. That was fun for the pack drafting. Bring back tandems if it's not going 2 improve ... I thought that it was sad how sparse the midway & souvie trailer area was. Econ=bad. :(
@NancyatStudioN The big story would be the Army leaving SHR. It could open a whole can of worms. Will the National Guard leave Jr? And why are they paying so much more than Army paid SHR? If Ryan can't get a sponsor to stay there, where will he go? He can't go back to Penske and can't go to Roush without a sponsor. In fact, can he go anywhere if he can't bring a sponsor? And, will Kurt get a sponsor and take it to SHR? After all, Tony said he'd hire him in a heartbeat.
@DonRohr reason the midway is sparse is because of the heat, the cost, and the ROI in July. overflowing in February ... I thought the race itself was just fine. decent beginning, filling in the middle and balls out at the end
@JoJo_6040 The pack v tandem or Sprint v Nationwide races. I kinda like the combo of pack and tandem. :)
There was Austin Dillon defending his Kentucky win after a failed inspection, Brian France delivering his state of the sport address and saying there would be no mandatory cautions as Bruton Smith suggested. There was Danica Patrick in a way calling her shot to win before Dillon won the pole and again failed inspection.
Matt Kenseth, going for the Daytona sweep, started it off right by winning the Cup pole. While eventual winner Tony Stewart failed post qualifying because of the same reason Dillon did. Kurt Busch went out and won a wild Nationwide Series race for James Finch and Joey Logano became the latest driver to fail inspection.
On Saturday, in what is normally a lazy day before the Cup race that evening, was anything but. Kevin Harvick flew wife DeLana back home to NC in order to rest before the birth of their first child. Son Keelan would be born the next morning. Austin Dillon thought he might get behind the wheel of the No. 29 until NASCAR nixed that idea, so Kenny Wallace was put on standby.
Bobby Bowden came into the media centered and entertained everyone, while Train rocked out on the frontstretch for the fans. Then came the biggest news of the entire weekend, seemingly out of nowhere.
At 6:00 p.m. ET NASCAR's senior vice president of racing, Steve O'Donnell, walked into the media center to announce that Penske Racing driver AJ Allmendinger had been suspended because of a failed drug test. He had been chosen as the random driver a week before in Kentucky and his "A" sample came back positive.
Sam Hornish Jr. flew back to Daytona from Charlotte, NC to pilot the No. 22 in the race. And since then the talk has been all about Allmendinger. Even though there was Stewart winning his fourth Daytona race in the last eight attempt, as well as the numerous penalties handed down on Tuesday after the infractions found in inspection.
Dillon will now be without his crew chief and car chief for two weeks and lost another six points in the owner and driver standings, Adam Stevens and the car chief of the No. 18 in the NNS was fine and put on probation as well as lost six owner points. And Stewart lost six driver/owner points while his crew chief and car chief were both placed on probation.
Yet, it all went in one ear and out the other. It's all about Allmendinger right now. Speculation has run wild from what caused the failed test, to whether he intentionally took something, and of course, whether he'll ever be back behind the wheel.
As of Wednesday, Allmendinger was waiting on the results of his "B" sample while he camp released a statement that he had tested positive for a stimulant. What the stimulant was is still a guess, but Allmendinger was said to be going through all his medications and supplements to determine what could have caused the failed test.
With Allmendinger working with NASCAR to determine what has gone on while waiting on the results of his "B" sample, Hornish will again drive the No. 22 this weekend at New Hampshire. Everyone else is left offering their own opinions and theories.
But ...
What if there were no AJ Allmendinger suspension, what would be the big story and have us all talking after Daytona?
@mattwoodruff29 The Harvick's having there first child and the penalties from Daytona.
@HarpAmyStabler 2 complete green flag pit cycles and the outside line not being able to go. No pack drafting excitement 4 passing ... My dad, son, and I were all at the NNS and cup race. NNS race was exciting and fun all the way through .... The cup race was boring and we struggled to stay awake there until lap 120. Shouldn't be that way ... Dad and I have been going to Daytona since 2004 and loved it. We'll go again, but the racing has gotten progressively worse with the exception of the tandem racing. I remember the 1st to 30th & back to 1st in a few laps back in 2004-2008. That was fun for the pack drafting. Bring back tandems if it's not going 2 improve ... I thought that it was sad how sparse the midway & souvie trailer area was. Econ=bad. :(
@NancyatStudioN The big story would be the Army leaving SHR. It could open a whole can of worms. Will the National Guard leave Jr? And why are they paying so much more than Army paid SHR? If Ryan can't get a sponsor to stay there, where will he go? He can't go back to Penske and can't go to Roush without a sponsor. In fact, can he go anywhere if he can't bring a sponsor? And, will Kurt get a sponsor and take it to SHR? After all, Tony said he'd hire him in a heartbeat.
@DonRohr reason the midway is sparse is because of the heat, the cost, and the ROI in July. overflowing in February ... I thought the race itself was just fine. decent beginning, filling in the middle and balls out at the end
@JoJo_6040 The pack v tandem or Sprint v Nationwide races. I kinda like the combo of pack and tandem. :)
Wednesday, July 4th 'What If' Question
Prior to the 2012 NASCAR Nationwide Series season domination used to belong to two drivers: Carl Edwards and Kyle Busch.
If they weren't battling each other they were fending off Busch's teammate at Joe Gibbs Racing, Joey Logano. Now Logano has picked up where Edwards and Busch have left off. Halfway through the NNS season Logano has five wins, the most of anyone in the series.
Even more impressive, he's only competed in 12 of the 16 races. When he's not winning races he's leading a ton of laps (468) or capturing poles (3). Anytime he's behind the wheel of the No. 18 he's become the driver to beat. Deja vu for competitors when Busch used to be that driver.
At first glance many would be shocked to see that Busch has not yet won a NNS this season. Look closer though and you see that this season different for Busch. His team, Kyle Busch Motorsports, moved to the NNS after coming off a Camping World Truck Series owners title in their first year.
Moving up the ladder however, is hard. Something that Busch fully recognizes. Older brother Kurt delivered the team's first, and so far only, NNS win back at Richmond in April. Not to say that Kyle hasn't come close to winning a few races himself but luck and circumstance just got in the way.
So, as he fights to make his own company contenders, Logano enjoys the role of dominator. The good news for NNS drivers is that Logano will not be in this Saturday's event at New Hampshire as Ryan Truex gets another start in the No. 18.
Kyle Busch will be entered in his No. 54 Monster Energy Toyota. He's won the last three New Hampshire races.
But ...
What if Kyle Busch still ran NNS races for Joe Gibbs Racing, would Joey Logano still be as dominant as he's been this season?
@mattwoodruff29 No he wouldn't.......
@HD388 Logano wouldn't be dominating NNS if Busch were there. Busch is the far more superior driver & would have 3 wins by now. Logano probably would only have 1
@31SpazCat15 not really answering the what if? But I think it proves that given the same equipment and resources.... Joey is a winner too
If they weren't battling each other they were fending off Busch's teammate at Joe Gibbs Racing, Joey Logano. Now Logano has picked up where Edwards and Busch have left off. Halfway through the NNS season Logano has five wins, the most of anyone in the series.
Even more impressive, he's only competed in 12 of the 16 races. When he's not winning races he's leading a ton of laps (468) or capturing poles (3). Anytime he's behind the wheel of the No. 18 he's become the driver to beat. Deja vu for competitors when Busch used to be that driver.
At first glance many would be shocked to see that Busch has not yet won a NNS this season. Look closer though and you see that this season different for Busch. His team, Kyle Busch Motorsports, moved to the NNS after coming off a Camping World Truck Series owners title in their first year.
Moving up the ladder however, is hard. Something that Busch fully recognizes. Older brother Kurt delivered the team's first, and so far only, NNS win back at Richmond in April. Not to say that Kyle hasn't come close to winning a few races himself but luck and circumstance just got in the way.
So, as he fights to make his own company contenders, Logano enjoys the role of dominator. The good news for NNS drivers is that Logano will not be in this Saturday's event at New Hampshire as Ryan Truex gets another start in the No. 18.
Kyle Busch will be entered in his No. 54 Monster Energy Toyota. He's won the last three New Hampshire races.
But ...
What if Kyle Busch still ran NNS races for Joe Gibbs Racing, would Joey Logano still be as dominant as he's been this season?
@mattwoodruff29 No he wouldn't.......
@HD388 Logano wouldn't be dominating NNS if Busch were there. Busch is the far more superior driver & would have 3 wins by now. Logano probably would only have 1
@31SpazCat15 not really answering the what if? But I think it proves that given the same equipment and resources.... Joey is a winner too
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