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Mark Martin Wins Pole at Richmond

Posted: Sep 11th 2009 8:40PM by Holly Cain (author feed)
Filed under: Denny Hamlin, Mark Martin, Matt Kenseth, Penske Racing, Chase for the Sprint Cup

4 COMMENTS

RICHMOND, Va. -- Fifty-year old Mark Martin continues to make a strong case for his emotional NASCAR championship run, winning the pole position for Saturday night's Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway.

It's Martin's sixth pole of the year, tying him with Brian Vickers for the most in NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series. His four wins is also tied for most of the season -- a victory total that equals his wins from 2000-2008 combined.

"This year, I've been getting some nice laps,'' Martin said in the ultimate understatement.

Continue Reading Mark Martin Wins Pole at Richmond

Numbers: Shrub's Richmond B-Day Bash

Posted: May 4th 2009 9:45AM by Geoffrey Miller (author feed)
Filed under: Kyle Busch, Joe Gibbs Racing, Sprint Cup Numbers

12 COMMENTS

Kyle Busch celebrated his 24th birthday Saturday night with his third win in Richmond. Here's a look at it from a feature we like to call Sprint Cup Numbers:

2.751 - Kyle Busch's margin of victory in seconds over Tony Stewart, the largest of the 2009 season

3 - Wins Kyle Busch had over the weekend after also taking the Nationwide Series race and a Denny Hamlin charity race

4.895 - Average running position, behind Jeff Gordon (4.198) and teammate Denny Hamlin (3.510)

Continue Reading Numbers: Shrub's Richmond B-Day Bash

Sprint Cup Notes & Quotes: Richmond

Posted: May 3rd 2009 6:47PM by Geoffrey Miller (author feed)
Filed under: Jamie McMurray, Jimmie Johnson, Sam Hornish Jr., Sprint Cup

0 COMMENTS

Let's take a quick glance at some of the Richmond post-race storylines:

"We lost the brakes."

Jimmie Johnson, as Saturday night at Richmond International Raceway proved, isn't the racing robot with a switch stuck on "Dominate" we've come to think he is after three-straight Sprint Cup titles. Nope, not even at a track where he's won three of the last four events before Saturday night's race.

In fact, it was an all-around miserable night for the No. 48 after brake problems caused him to spin once, get caught up in another crash and then race the rest of the way with a damaged race car. Unfortunately for the rest of the competition, his 36th-place finish won't be a barometer of his 2009 season.

Continue Reading Sprint Cup Notes & Quotes: Richmond

Believe It: Stewart-Haas Ready to Win

Posted: May 3rd 2009 5:01PM by Geoffrey Miller (author feed)
Filed under: Ryan Newman, Tony Stewart, Stewart-Haas Racing

15 COMMENTS

There's a lot of folks in the NASCAR world that said Tony Stewart was straight crazy to leave his championship-winning team of Joe Gibbs Racing for the 2009 season.

Me? I didn't exactly make a prediction to stay on the safe side, mainly because I know how Stewart always produces when the odds are against him.

But for all of those that said Stewart and hired teammate Ryan Newman wouldn't find success, the still-young Stewart-Haas Racing is proving the doubters to be completely wrong.

Continue Reading Believe It: Stewart-Haas Ready to Win

FanHouse Warmup: Russ Friedman 400

Posted: May 2nd 2009 2:14PM by Geoffrey Miller (author feed)
Filed under: Brian Vickers, Denny Hamlin, Sprint Cup

6 COMMENTS

The Essentials

Race: Russ Friedman 400 by Crown Royal

Where: Richmond Int'l Raceway
Time: Saturday 7:30 p.m./EDT
TV/Radio: FOX Sports, MRN Radio
Twitter: Live updates at FanHouseRacing
Forecast: 60 degrees, 60% chance of rain
Distance: 400 laps (300 miles)
Pole Winner: Brian Vickers
2008 Winner: Clint Bowyer

The Storylines

Who in the world is Russ Friedman? After winning a promotion though Crown Royal, Saturday night's presenting sponsor, Friedman earned himself naming rights to the event in a program that's been going for a few years now.

Friedman, as it turns out, is a veteran of the war in Iraq and has received -- count 'em -- two purple hearts during his service.

Continue Reading FanHouse Warmup: Russ Friedman 400

Jeff Gordon Talks Back Problems, MRI

Posted: May 1st 2009 6:40PM by Geoffrey Miller (author feed)
Filed under: Jeff Gordon, Sprint Cup, Hendrick Motorsports

5 COMMENTS

Almost like a scientist tries to forecast an earthquake or a volcano, the alert level keeps rising when it comes to the discussion of Sprint Cup driver Jeff Gordon and his back.

Friday afternoon at Richmond International Raceway prior to Saturday night's 400-lap race, Gordon revealed that he went in for an MRI over the week and found out some more information to more accurately diagnose his back problems.

And while Gordon's ailment hasn't reached a tipping point, he's not divulging what information he learned this week quite yet.

Continue Reading Jeff Gordon Talks Back Problems, MRI

Wheel2Wheel: From 'Dega to Richmond

Posted: Apr 30th 2009 11:59AM by Geoffrey Miller (author feed)
Filed under: Sprint Cup, Wheel2Wheel

76 COMMENTS

Jump in as FanHouse writers Holly Cain and Geoffrey Miller try to put a cap on the weekend that was Talladega and look ahead to the always exciting spring race in Richmond with a little thing we like to call Wheel2Wheel.

NASCAR Feuds

While Carl Edwards' wreck stole the show at Talladega, two of NASCAR's biggest stars will be thrust into the spotlight Saturday. Kyle Busch and Dale Earnhardt Jr. traded paint at both of last year's Richmond races. Click through to see their two dustups and other top feuds.

Getty Images

Race: Crown Royal presents Dan Lowry 400 Date: May 3, 2008
Feud: Kyle Busch spins out leader Dale Earnhardt Jr. with three laps to go.
Memorable Quote: Kyle Busch: "The deal with Jr. ... man, it was racing."

Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images

Race: Chevy Rock & Roll 400 Date: Sept. 7, 2008
Feud: Dale Earnhardt spins out leader Kyle Busch on lap 212.
Memorable Quote: Dale Jr.: "I really ain

Shawn Chamberlin, AP

Race: Subway Fresh Fit 500
Feud: Dale Earnhardt Jr. crashed with 11 laps to go after he and Casey Mears made contact. Earnhardt then spun Mears on the cool-down lap and Mears retaliated by bumping into the back of Earnhardt's car on pit road.
Memorable Quote: Mears: "I guess he was a little bent out of shape about it, because he spun me out after the checkered flag."

LEFT: Jim McIsaac, Getty Images RIGHT: Christian Petersen, Getty Images

Race: Subway Fresh Fit 500
Feud: Robby Gordon, left, gets upset with Michael Waltrip after contact with Waltrip's No. 55 Toyota sends Gordon into the Phoenix International Speedway wall.
Memorable Quote: Gordon: "I

Getty Images

Race: Daytona 500
Feud: Dale Earnhardt Jr's clip of Brian Vickers triggers a 9-car accident
Memorable Quote: Earnhardt: "What the hell am I supposed to do? ... If he wasn't so damn reckless, we would have never had that problem."

Getty Images (2)

Race: Gatorade Duel 150 Date: Feb. 12, 2009
Feud: Ryan Newman wrecked by David Reutimann
Memorable Quote: Newman: "Reutimann is a good name for him -- because he rooted a man right out of there and sent me up into the wall."

Steve Johnson, Orlando Sentinel / MCT

Race: Amp Energy 500 Date: Oct. 7, 2008
Feud: Carl Edwards and Kevin Harvick clash four days after race
Memorable Quote: Harvick after race: "I know that [Edwards'] fans won't be very proud of him sitting back there riding around like a pansy."

Race: CARQUEST Auto Parts 300 (Nationwide) Date: May 24, 2008
Feud: Denny Hamlin and Brad Keselowski mix it up under a caution
Memorable Quote: Hamlin: "If he throws a rock, I'll throw a concrete block back."

Jason Smith, Getty Images

Race: Food City 500 Date: March 17, 2008
Feud: Kevin Harvick wrecks Tony Stewart with two laps left
Memorable Quote: Stewart: "I thought I left him plenty of room. I was far enough ahead of him that I didn't see where he hit me or when he hit me. But I'm sure, somehow, it's my fault."

Jason Smith, Getty Images

Q: What was your first reaction to all of the events and drama that Talladega produced this weekend?

Holly Cain: The accident began only a few yards below my seat in the Talladega press box. At most tracks, the press box is an elevator-ride atop the grandstands, but at Talladega it sits only about 15 rows up.

The last lap was sensory-overload, but that's what you expect at Talladega.

Continue Reading Wheel2Wheel: From 'Dega to Richmond

10 from '08: Kyle Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Play Bumper Cars Twice at Richmond

Posted: Nov 29th 2008 4:58AM by Geoffrey Miller (author feed)
Filed under: Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kyle Busch, NASCAR Videos

0 COMMENTS

With NASCAR's awards banquet on Friday, Dec. 5 (stop by for the live blog!), here's a look at 10 from '08 -- ten of the NASCAR season's best moments.

"Oooohhh he turned 'em! Oooohh he turned 'em! No! No! No! No!" was the call Darrell Waltrip made in the FOX Sports booth as he watched young Kyle Busch -- who already wasn't the most well-liked driver in NASCAR fan circles -- spin fan favorite Dale Earnhardt Jr. back in May at Richmond International Raceway.

The wreck, with three laps to go in 400-lap race, sent Earnhardt Jr.'s No. 88 Chevrolet spinning sideways and into the turn 3 wall after Kyle Busch bumped the left side of the No. 88. Unfortunately for Busch, he wasn't able to keep the lead he temporarily gained with the incident after Clint Bowyer snuck past on the low side.

The memories of that incident wouldn't be forgotten, however, by Mr. Earnhardt Jr.

Continue Reading 10 from '08: Kyle Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Play Bumper Cars Twice at Richmond

Make the Call: Is Earnhardt Jr. Guilty?

Posted: Sep 8th 2008 10:00PM by Geoffrey Miller (author feed)
Filed under: Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kyle Busch, Chevrolet, Toyota, NASCAR Crashes, Sprint Cup, Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing

19 COMMENTS

Tens of thousands of race fans -- most of them likely decked out in green, blue, or maybe even red gear -- roared to life on lap 211 Sunday at Richmond International Raceway after their hero Dale Earnhardt Jr. seemed to finally get some revenge.

And that unintentional (as Dale Jr. called it) revenge took the form of the No. 88 Chevrolet nudging Kyle Busch around in turn one as the two battled for the lead.

Sure, Earnhardt Jr. is the sport's most popular wheel man, and Busch has been the hottest driver for all of 2008, but the revenge factor had nothing to do with either of those. Come on, you remember back to Richmond in May, right?

That was when the roles were reversed late in the race and Busch decided to barrel into the side of Earnhardt Jr. in the closing laps. It was the type of move that some called just racing, but others, well, they craved pay back.

And so it happened on lap 211 Sunday during the Chevy Rock & Roll 400. Earnhardt Jr. spun Busch. Busch hit the wall. Earnhardt Jr. called it unintentional. Busch was upset. The crowd cheered.

Whaddya think? Was it legitimately a mistake? Or was it that revenge thing?

Continue Reading Make the Call: Is Earnhardt Jr. Guilty?

Johnson on Right Track to Make 3-Peat

Posted: Sep 8th 2008 1:39AM by Geoffrey Miller (author feed)
Filed under: Carl Edwards, Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch, Tony Stewart, Sprint Cup, Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing

2 COMMENTS

Boy, that guy is just sneaky.

Two weeks ago, all the rage was about Carl Edwards finally mounting a charge to overcome Kyle Busch's impressive stranglehold on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

Then, Jimmie Johnson won two races (including Sunday's Chevy Rock & Roll 400), came out of hiding, and decided to play the Chase for the Championship game as the veteran ace among championship newbies.

Continue Reading Johnson on Right Track to Make 3-Peat