Boger City, NC — Dick Trickle apparently called 911 to report his own suicide yesterday.

The NASCAR legend told the 911 operator the address of the emergency was a specific area of the Forest Lawn Cemetery (in North Carolina) and to look for a pickup truck.

Continued Trickle (listen to embed below): “There is going to be a dead body … a suicide … I’m the one.”

The 911 operator said she was sending help to him but sadly it was too late. The operator evidently also attempted to call him back, but nobody answered.

Trickle’s body was shortly thereafter discovered near his pickup truck in the cemetery. He died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Reportedly his granddaughter who died in a 2001 car accident is buried in that cemetery.

Tim Johnson of the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office has stated that foul play is not suspected. He added that a note was found by Dick Trickle’s body. Further information, such as the contents of the note, will not be disclosed. Johnson explained: “We’re trying to protect the family as much as possible, and they had just gotten notified right after it happened. We’re trying to respect their privacy.”

Trickle, 71, was a mainstay in the Sprint Cup series for over 20 years. He retired in 2002 after 303 Sprint Cup races. Trickle’s best year came in 1989 when he scored six top five finishes. He never won a NASCAR race, but came out on top twice in the Nationwide Series. He is considered the all-time winningest driver in short track history

NASCAR released a statement about Trickle’s apparent suicide, saying that its thoughts and prayers are with the former stock car driver’s family. The statement added: “Dick was a legend in the short-track community, particularly in his home state of Wisconsin, and he was a true fan favorite. Personalities like Dick Trickle helped shape our sport. He will be missed.”

May NASCAR drivers took to social media to mourn the death of Dick Trickle.

Charlotte Motor Speedway will observe a moment of silence tonight in his honor.

[top image via via Royalbroil]

Dick Trickle Called 911 On Himself [Listen] is a post from: The Inquisitr

A NASCAR driver theft is being alleged by Jennifer Jo Cobb.

Cobb accuses Mike Harmon of stealing her team’s hauler, whose contents are worth more than $250,000. Both of the NASCAR drivers were sharing the same hauler.

NASCAR driver Mike Harmon was arrested along with his sister Sheila Rae Rice on Wednesday for felony larceny of the trailer and breaking and entering of a motor vehicle. The hauler has yet to be found and Mike Harmon is out of jail on a $10,000 bond.

The NASCAR driver theft story has Mike Harmon taking to Twitter to defend himself:

“I want it known that I have never stolen so much as a piece of bubble gum in my life. I did not take JJC hauler, there is no video of me anywhere near her shop. Today she was the windshield & I was the bug, but when we get in FEDERAL court in a couple wks there’s a boulder coming.”

In response, Jennifer Jo Cobb claims she’s not directly accusing Mike Harmon of the crime:

“Very important clarification: I have not accused or alleged any person in this crime. Arrests have been made based on evidence and eye witness accounts. Now… Lets go racing!”

This is not the first time Jennifer Jo Cobb has been at the center of an alleged NASCAR drive theft of a vehicle. During Speedweeks at Daytona, Cobb’s van allegedly disappeared from a parking lot and Cobb reported it as stolen. But David Novak, who was in litigation with Cobb over ownership of the NASCAR racing team, apparently had possession and ownership of the van and supplied proof to the police.

Do you think Mike Harmon is guilty of the alleged NASCAR driver theft story?

NASCAR Driver Theft Of Trailer Accusation Sees Mike Harmon Arrested is a post from: The Inquisitr

Denny Hamlin has been cleared by doctors to race at Talladega Superspeedway after missing four straight races due to a compression fracture in his lower back. Hamlin sustained the injury during a final-lap wreck in the Auto Club 400 in late March.

Since the major setback, Mark Martin and Brian Vickers have filled in for Joe Gibbs Racing. Martin drove the No. 11 FedEx Toyota at Martinsville before Vickers took the wheel for Texas, Kansas, and Richmond.

Martin finished in 10th place at Martinsville while Vickers followed with an eighth-place finish in the NRA 500 in Texas. The 29-year-old ended the streak of two straight top-ten performances by Hamlin’s replacements by finishing 31st at Kansas Motor Speedway.

Last week, Vickers ended his three-race stint with the No. 11 car at Richmond and couldn’t find a groove before crossing the finish line in 35th. While recovering from his lower-back injury, Hamlin fell to 28th in the Sprint Cup standings.

He will now return in hopes of climbing his way back into contention this weekend. Hamlin has never won at Talladega and his best finish at the historical track is 17th, coming in 2008 and again in 2010.

The 32-year-old from Tampa, Florida won five races last year for 22 in his career though he didn’t find the winner’s circle this season before the injury. Hamlin had a shot at the Auto Club 400 from the pole position before he battled with Joey Logano on the final lap and the two connected coming off the last corner.

He slammed into Logano and spun out before the No. 11 car came to a rest near the entrance to the pits. Kyle Bush took advantage of the battle and made a move on the high side to take the checkered flag.

Hamlin ended up in the hospital and was informed of the bad news that he would miss a few races. Since the wreck, Hamlin has kept involved with his team and regularly spent time in the pits with his crew chief Darian Grubb to give advice and encouragement to his replacements.

He won’t watch from the pits anymore as he’s now received medical clearance to race again. Hamlin couldn’t hold in his excitement and took to Twitter late Thursday night to share his good news by quoting a song from LL Cool J.

Don’t call it a comeback- LL cool J

— Denny Hamlin (@dennyhamlin) May 2, 2013

NASCAR also took to Twitter to congratulate Hamlin on his return.

Welcome back Denny! RT @kerry_tharp: Looking forward to seeing @dennyhamlin back in the car this weekend at @talladegasupers #NASCAR

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) May 3, 2013

Will Denny Hamlin return from injury with style and win the Aaron’s 499 at Talladega this weekend for the first time in his career? Can Hamlin climb back into contention  in the Sprint Cup standings after missing the last four races?

[Image via Kim Phillips]

Denny Hamlin Cleared To Race At Talladega is a post from: The Inquisitr

NASCAR veteran Jeff Gordon achieved a 214mph top speed at Tuesday’s tire test in Indianapolis.

A cool track, long straights, fresh tires, and cars with grip all contributed to some eye-wateringly fast speeds during the session with all drivers reportedly topping 200mph.

After Mark Martin mentioned on Twitter that he’d reached 212mph along the backstretch, Gordon asked his team about his own top speed. The answer surprised even him.

“They said 214 and I said, ‘My gosh, it really is fast,’” Gordon told The Associated Press.

Furthermore, Gordon was also told every car had surpassed 200mph. To put that in perspective, Denny Hamlin won 2012′s Brickyard 400 pole with a lap time of 182.3 mph. 41-year-old Gordon, who’s won all four of his Cup titles with Hendrick Motorsports, was quick to praise the new Gen-6 cars:

“Like so many other tracks, this car adapts well, it sticks really well to the track. I’m pretty happy today because I think it went well.”

The fast speeds recorded by the entire field seem to defy the warm summer months, which typically see a decrease in speeds. Pundits also consider the new Goodyear tire compounds, introduced in 2009, to be behind the improved performances.

“You want balance so the car enters the turn comfortably and that’s what we had,” reflected Gordon. “But it was definitely wearing a little more than we wanted it to.”

The same drivers will return to the track May 1 for a second closed practice session. Such trials allow drivers to gain valuable information before other drivers can take their new vehicles onto the track.

NASCAR: 214mph Top Speed Recorded By Jeff Gordon In Indianapolis is a post from: The Inquisitr

A NASCAR pit fight spilled out of Richmond International Raceway and onto a nearby motorhome lot, ending in the assault arrest of two men who work on Brian Scott’s team. And it all probably started when Nelson Piquet Jr. kicked Brian Scott in an unfortunately personal place after last night’s Nationwide Series Race.

The video posted by NASCAR opens with a bang, as you can see Piquet and Scott scuffle in the aftermath of the race. “He kicked me below the belt, which I think is just a chicken move,” Scott said, as he appeared to possibly wipe away a tear. Ouch.

Scott was angry because he was in 15th place but still hoping to complete the race and gain some points. However, Piquet forced his car off the track, and Scott thinks it was deliberate.

“Every time we’ve raced against each other, he races me really dirty,” Scott claimed.

I’m not sure what he expected to gain by approaching Piquet to discuss the matter, but what he did get was the painful kick.

It isn’t entirely clear who started the fight — just who ended it.

Apparently, that wasn’t good enough for the Richard Childress crew. Two of Brian Scott’s team members, identified as Michael Searce and Thomas Costello, have now been arrested on misdemeanor assault charges. There doesn’t seem to be video of that fight, which took place outside of the pit, and the police haven’t identified the victims, except to say that one of them had a hurt shoulder.

However, at least one report said that people on the scene acknowledged that, yes, one of the men who was attacked was Nelson Piquet Jr. He wasn’t injured.

Searce and Costello were arrested and then released early Saturday morning by Henrico County Police. Their court date hasn’t been set at this time.

As for the low blow? Piquet said: “[Scott] came running at me yelling. It was kind of a first reaction to defend myself. It wasn’t meant to hit him where it ended up.”

NASCAR said they won’t comment on an ongoing investigation. What do you think about the unsportsmanlike NASCAR pit fight?

[Nelson Piquet Jr. photo by Beelde Photography / Shutterstock.com]

NASCAR Pit Fight Leads To Arrests [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Jimmie Johnson dominated in Ridgeway, Virginia on Sunday and went on to win for the eighth time at Martinsville Speedway in the STP  Gas Booster 500. Johnson is now alone in third-place for the most wins at Martinsville behind Richard Petty and Darrell Waltrip.

Petty and Waltrip are both members of the NASCAR Hall of Fame, and Johnson will surely join them when he retires as the premier driver of this era and one of the best of all-time. The win Sunday was Johnson’s second this season as he won the Daytona 500 on opening weekend.

Johnson’s performance was capped off by a great run on the final restart that held off Clint Bowyer and teammate Jeff Gordon. Johnson finished the race with a career-best 346 laps led and never gave Bowyer a chance to make a pass during the final laps.

On lap 487, Kurt Busch’s No. 78 car went up in flames, bringing out the last caution of the day. The caution came at the wrong time for Johnson, who was steadily increasing his lead over Bowyer each lap.

It all came down to the restart, and Bowyer didn’t get the jump he needed to make a pass as Johnson held on for the win. Johnson’s win gives Hendrick Motorsports its third on the season and a record 20th win at Martinsville.

Bowyer fell short of victory lane and finished second, while Johnson’s teammates Jeff Gordon and Kasey Kahne finished third and fourth respectively. The biggest battle in the final laps was between last week’s winner Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski for fifth place.

Busch blocked Keselowski low through each turn until the final lap when Keselowski made his move. On the last turn, Busch gave up the inside to Keselowski but got a great run off the corner and held off last season’s Sprint Cup champion at the finish line.

Mark Martin replaced the injured Denny Hamlin at Martinsville and ran well enough for a 10th place finish ahead of Brian Vickers. Danica Patrick finished 12th and proved to critics that she can run well on short tracks while Kevin Harvick finished 13th and was a little heated after the race.

After crossing the finish line, Harvick caught up with Brian Vickers’ No. 55 car and spun him out, showing his displeasure in Vickers racing near the finish. It’s not certain as to why Harvick was so upset, but Vickers was bumping and grinding his way to the front all day long. Here’s the video of Harvick’s retaliation after the race:

As the two battled it out after the race, Jimmie Johnson celebrated in the winner’s circle by receiving Martinsville’s annual grandfather clock for the eighth time. Johnson moved atop the Sprint Cup standings with the win as Dale Earnhardt Jr. fell two spots to third after finishing outside the top-10 for the first time this season.

Earnhardt Jr. finished 24th Sunday after falling two laps behind and is now 12 points back of Johnson for the top spot. The chase for the cup now moves on to Texas for the NRA 500 where Greg Biffle won last year.

The NASCAR season is off to a hot start and Jimmie Johnson is right back where he belongs atop the standings. Johnson is the only driver in history to win five consecutive championships, and he hopes to regain his title this year after a two-year drought.

Will Jimmie Johnson’s great start in 2013 continue in Texas as his quest for his sixth Sprint Cup title rolls on?

[Image via Kim Phillips]

Jimmie Johnson Wins For The Eighth Time At Martinsville [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

NASCAR veteran Mark Martin will replace Denny Hamlin in the No. 11 car while Hamlin is out for the next five races. Hamlin suffered a compression fracture in his L1 vertebra during the last lap of the Auto Club 400 a week ago.

Hamlin was in a battle for the lead with Joey Logano before spinning out and coming to a rest near the pits. The battle gave Kyle Busch enough momentum to take the lead just before the finish line for the win. Hamlin was sent to the hospital after the race but was released soon after and re-evaluated by Dr. Jerry Petty of Carolina Neurosurgery and Spine Associates this past Tuesday.

Petty determined Hamlin’s injury would not require surgery, though the 32-year-old will have to miss the next six weeks which includes five races. Mark Martin was set to drive the No.55 car in three of the five races Hamlin will miss but will now take over the No. 11 car as Joe Gibbs Racing will look to Elliot Sadler and Brian Vickers to cover the No. 55.

Both Sadler and Vickers are full-time Nationwide Series drivers for JGR in 2013. The two have combined for five career Cup wins and were also in the hunt to replace Hamlin.

Martin will run every race in the No. 11 car during Hamlin’s absence except for Talladega, which Michael Waltrip is expected to drive. Martin’s limited race schedule going into the season turned into a blessing for JGR who couldn’t have found a better replacement.

Mark Martin has started in 858 Sprint Cup races and won 40 times throughout his career. The 54-year-old is also second all-time with 49 Nationwide Series wins.

Martin’s age is catching up with him, but it hasn’t shown on the track, as he has five pole positions in his last 27-starts, including the pole at Phoenix earlier this March before finishing 21st.

Martin’s best finish on the season came at Daytona when he finished 3rd but struggled last week at Fontana after qualifying ninth. Martin hit the wall late in the race and finished 37th, his worst finish of the season.

Hamlin’s devastating news came at the worst possible time as he currently holds onto the tenth spot in the chase but finding a future NASCAR Hall of Famer as his replacement might make him feel a little better. Can Mark Martin help the No. 11 car stay in the chase over the next five races as Denny Hamlin heals from the big wreck at Fontana?

[Image via US Army Racing]

Mark Martin To Fill In For Injured Denny Hamlin is a post from: The Inquisitr

A NASCAR inspired headstone has been banned by a Catholic Church in Indiana, prompting legal action by the widow who commissioned the memorial in honor of her late husband.

The black granite stone, which cost nearly $10,000 and is shaped like a couch, features images of animals alongside the color logos of NASCAR and the Indianapolis Colts. According to his widow, each represent things that James Carr loved throughout his life.

Sharon Carr purchased the headstone for her husband’s burial plot following his death in 2009. When she recently tried to have the NASCAR headstone installed, it was banned from the cemetery by Reverend Jonathan Meyer, a priest at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Indianapolis.

Meyer reportedly denied the NASCAR headstone because its appearance violates the historic cemetery’s aesthetic guidelines. The priest also claims that Carr was made aware of the standards prior to her husband’s burial.

In a statement, Meyer claims that the church “told her not to move forward with the purchasing of the monument, but she went ahead anyway.”

“We have consistently communicated the same message prior to the purchase and after the purchase,” Meyer reportedly insists. “We did not think a granite couch was an appropriate monument in our historic cemetery.”

Once the NASCAR headstone was banned from her husband’s grave, Sharon Carr decided to bring legal action against the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis. She denies that anyone informed her of specific rules or regulations regarding headstones until she attempted to install the piece in 2010.

The sensitive nature of the issue has reportedly caused dissent in the church community. Questions have allegedly been raised regarding the church’s lack of compassion toward the Carr family.

According to the archdiocese, guidelines of this nature have been in place since the cemetery’s establishment in 1907. While Reverend Meyer allegedly concedes that the specific rules that caused the NASCAR headstone to be banned were formalized after Carr’s purchase, he maintains that she was well aware of the guidelines beforehand.

“We provided the family funeral rites, prepared a funeral meal and offered family members individual counseling after the services,” Meyer reportedly explained. “We were with them the entire way until this matter came up.”

Do you think Sharon Carr should continue her fight to install the NASCAR headstone banned by Reverend Jonathan Meyer and St. Joseph Catholic Church?

[Image Via EPG_EuroPhotoGraphics / Shutterstock.com]

NASCAR Headstone Banned By Catholic Church is a post from: The Inquisitr

Matt Kenseth wins the Kobalt Tools 400 in Las Vegas after holding off Kasey Kahne with a little over 20 laps left in the race. Kenseth is now the third Sprint Cup driver to win on his birthday; He turned 41-years-old Sunday.

Kasey Kahne had the best car all day, but a mix-up on his last pit stop cost him a couple positions that he never fully recovered from. Matt Kenseth took advantage, playing the guessing game on fuel. Kenseth elected to stay out instead of pit to take the lead and he never gave it up.

Kyle Busch and Jimmie Johnson also had fast cars in Las Vegas, finishing fourth and sixth respectively.  Last season’s champion Brad Keselowski started from the pole and had his best run of the season, finishing in third place.

This was Matt Kenseth’s first win as a member of Joe Gibbs racing as he jumps 11 spots in the standings to seventh. Jimmie Johnson continues to hold the lead after another top-10 finish.

Kasey Kahne led 112 laps on the day, better than anyone else on the track, and even Kenseth made note of it in Victory Lane.

“I was real nervous all day, he had the best car,” Kenseth said about Kasey Kahne.

Matt Kenseth finished seventh last week after a rough start to the season at Daytona. Kenseth started 12th at Daytona before falling to the back of the pack and finishing 37th.

Carl Edwards finished fifth after winning last week in Phoenix and is now 11th in the standings. Edwards jumped 19 spots in the standings last week and picked up six more spots Sunday.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. was near the front all day long, and finished seventh. Even with the top-10 finish, Earnhardt Jr. lost the second spot in the standings to Brad Keselowski.

Multiple drivers were penalized for pit road incidents during the race, including Denny Hamlin and Danica Patrick. Hamlin was penalized for entering the pits too fast and Patrick for a tire violation.

Danica Patrick finished 33rd while Denny Hamlin managed to work his way back for a modest 15th place finish. The Sprint Cup Series moves forward to Bristol Motor Speedway next week for the Food City 500.

Kyle Busch was hoping to win in his home town Sunday, but will have a great chance to take the checkered flag next week at Bristol.  Busch has won at Bristol five times during his Sprint Cup career.

Matt Kenseth stole the show from Kasey Kahne and used the don’t pit strategy to perfection. Kahne was getting a great run off the corners of one and two, and nobody thought Kenseth’s tires would hold off Kahne late.

Kenseth stuck to the high side and beat out Kahne by a few car lengths. Matt Kenseth wins the Kobalt Tools 400 by gambling with his pit strategy, the only way to do it in Las Vegas.

Matt Kenseth Wins The Kobalt Tools 400 In Las Vegas is a post from: The Inquisitr

Carl Edwards took the checkered flag at Phoenix International Raceway just one week after being involved in five accidents at Daytona. Edwards finished 33rd in the Daytona 500, which included one of his five wrecks for the week. Not only does the win erase Edwards bad start in Florida, but also snaps a 70 race winless streak. Edwards last win came March 6, 2011 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, almost two years ago.

A sight Nascar fans haven’t seen in a long time, Carl Edwards stopped at the line and did his classic back-flip off the No. 99 Subway Ford Fusion. Edwards then went on to grab the checkered flag and proceeded through a gate and right into the stands. Edwards greeted and gave high-fives to fans for a few moments before returning to his car.

“This is just awesome, one of the coolest wins of my life,” Edwards said about the win at Phoenix.

Carl Edwards led the final 78 laps of the race, taking the lead during final pit stops for the drivers still in contention. Jimmie Johnson edged out Denny Hamlin for second after Hamlin dived extremely low on the track to pick up a few spots on the last lap. The two cars connected off the last turn and Johnson picked up momentum off the high side, taking Hamlin by a nose.

Brad Keselowski finished fourth, followed by Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Clint Bowyer. Matt Kenseth, Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, and Jeff Burton rounded out the top-10.

Danica Patrick had a rough day which ended when her right front tire blew, sending her into the wall with about 100 laps to go. Patrick was cleared from the Medical Center shortly after the wreck.

Mark Martin had the pole after recording some of the fastest laps in practice all week, but couldn’t maintain the lead after 49 laps. Martin fell back in the pack before leading another 26 laps. At 54 years old, Mark Martin became the second oldest person of all-time to start from the pole in a Sprint Cup race.

Jimmie Johnson will continue to hold the top spot in the standings with his first and second finishes in the first two races of the season. It was great to see the Carl Edward’s back-flip once again, and the win could give him some momentum going into next week at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Carl Edwards Wins In Phoenix After Rough Week At Daytona is a post from: The Inquisitr

At least three NASCAR fans are planning to sue the Daytona International Speedway over a crash last weekend that injured more than 30 spectators.

According to Beyond the Flag, three of the injured spectators have contacted the personal injury law firm Morgan and Morgan about a lawsuit. The firm’s founder John Morgan said that four other fans have made appointments to meet about their legal options.

Morgan told the Daytona Beach News Journal that the main focus of the lawsuit will deal with the “assumption of risk.” Morgan said that basketball fans sitting courtside assume that they are at some risk since there is no barrier between them and the players. The fans at the Daytona International Speedway, however, had no reason to assume that they were at risk since they were sitting behind a protective fence.

Morgan said:

“When you go to a sporting event, if you are underneath the basket that’s where your seat is and Shaquille O’Neal comes after a loose ball and dislocates your shoulder, you sat there knowing that was a risk … This case here is going to be different because the fans who were sitting behind that fencing did not really assume a risk like you would think, because they were assured that fence could weather anything coming through it.”

Morgan said that three fans have already signed on to sue Daytona over the crash and that more people have scheduled meetings. A representative for the Speedway, however, said that they have not received any legal notices about a lawsuit.

NASCAR Fans To Sue Over Daytona Crash is a post from: The Inquisitr

The multi-car pileup that resulted in injury to NASCAR fans was pulled from YouTube on Saturday night.

In the video, race cars can be seen flying into the air as debris from those vehicles shot towards NASCAR fans sitting in the stands at Daytona. During the accident, a tire from one vehicle managed to land in the stands.

While the YouTube video quickly appeared online after the accident, NASCAR officials asked that it be removed.

The race organization did not request the removal because of standard copyright issues. Instead, the race organization issued the following statement:

“The fan video of the wreck on the final lap of today’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race was blocked on YouTube out of respect for those injured in today’s accident. Information on the status of those fans was unclear and the decision was made to err on the side of caution with this very serious incident.”

Shortly after NASCAR had the video taken down, it was placed back on the website. YouTube then told The Washington Post:

“Our partners and users do not have the right to take down videos from YouTube unless they contain content which is copyright infringing, which is why we have reinstated the videos.”

The footage was shot by a fan who was attending the NASCAR race at Daytona on Saturday afternoon.

Following the race, the NASCAR crash at Daytona quickly began to trend on Twitter, Facebook, and other social networks as fans discussed Daytona’s track safety. Other fans asked for updates about the crash while details were sparse.

While NASCAR posts notices in which it claims fans cannot record any part of a NASCAR event, enforcing such rules can be difficult.

Here is the NASCAR crash video on YouTube:

NASCAR Crash Video Reinstated On YouTube [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Commentary |When one thinks about the sport of racing, the first name that doesn’t come to mind is James Franco. Regardless, Franco was on hand this afternoon to kick off the Daytona 500 as this year’s grand marshal, and to promote his new film Oz: The Great And Powerful.

Over the years those before him have uttered the historical words of “Gentlemen, start your engines!” However, Franco had a new spin on it. One that people aren’t too happy about. Reports out of Daytona 500 claim that instead of saying the signature, “Gentleman, start your engines!” Franco yelled excitedly, “Drivers — and Danica — start your engines!”

Many saw this exclusive calling out of Danica Patrick as the worst flub in the Daytona 500. However, most publications aren’t actually taking into consideration the knowledge of the race in relation to Franco singling out Danica. While most see it as a flub by the first time grand marshal, it seems as though no one is really considering the history around this race for Danica. In many ways she’s a driver in a league all of her own.

USA Today reports the scene that many did not see from their living rooms as Patrick, the first woman ever to win the pole for a Sprint Cup Series race, climbed into her car to a wild scene. All eyes were on Danica Patrick as the drivers prepared for the 55th running of the Daytona 500. So much that it could be argued that Franco really meant to highlight the moment everyone was in albeit through a strange command.

Do you think James Franco should have singled Danica Patrick out from the rest of the drivers? Was his words well intentioned or out of line? Sound off here.

UPDATE: James Franco has released a statement via his Instagram about the blunder, scrawling over a picture of Danica Patrick that reads: “Sorry I was excited for Danica. I should have said ‘Gentlemen.’ Sorry, I’m an idiot.”

Did James Franco Really Insult Danica Patrick At Daytona 500? is a post from: The Inquisitr

When the Daytona 500 takes off today at 1:30 EST, Danica Patrick will be under pressure not just as a racer, but as the top draw for new NASCAR fans. Even before she made history as the first woman to win the pole, she was already recognized for drawing new, younger, and more diverse fans to the sport, according to a Forbes report by Darren Heitner.

A late 2012 market study showed that new female fans are especially worth attracting to the sport. According to the survey performed by Taylor Strategy, 82% of women fans recommend NASCAR to family and friends.

“Danica has immense ‘star power,’” Jon Flack of Just Marketing International, a motorsports marketing firm, told Forbes. Her over 720,000 followers on Twitter would certainly agree.

Other NASCAR racers also recognize her role as the sport’s top draw, at least to younger women. Last week, three top male drivers — Jeff Gordon, Carl Edwards, and Jimmie Johnson — even brought their daughters to meet Patrick, Jenna Fryer reported in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

“That’s three pretty big drivers who have little girls that wanted to meet me,” Patrick said.

Even before she won the historic pole position for the Daytona 500 race, the Taylor report stated that there’s growing money and attention in NASCAR. 71% of the younger fans in the 18-34 age group said they would be more likely to buy a sponsor’s product — and they’re willing to splash out. The sponsors they’d like to see included Nike, Google, and Apple.

Has her role as NASCAR’s ambassador rattled her nerves? She may have blundered in yesterday’s Nationwide race, when she pulled out early. She thought her engine was dead, but her pit crew fired it up. Some reports had the embarrassed star in tears when she realized her mistake.

If Patrick wins today, it could mean unprecedented new support for NASCAR. That won’t stop other drivers from trying to beat her, though. Tony Stewart, the winner of yesterday’s ill-starred Nationwide race, told USA Today that he feels “mule-kicked” every time he loses the Daytona 500. He sounds like a man determined to offer Patrick a challenge.

Daytona 500: Danica Patrick’s ‘Star Power’ Draws Fans is a post from: The Inquisitr

Saturday’s NASCAR race took a dangerous turn when a wreck caused debris to fly into the stands.

The multi-car collision took place during the final lap at the Daytona International Speedway. A number of cars reportedly became entangled as they approached the finish line.

According to CNN, the wreck during the Nationwide Series Drive4COPD 300 race caused driver Kyle Larson’s car to collide with the fence. The car broke into pieces, some of which ended up flying into the stands.

NASCAR President Mike Helton quickly took to Twitter after the wreck to address the situation.

He said:

“Our prayers and thoughts are with everybody they [the responders] are working on.”

USA Today reports that several ambulances were called to the scene in an effort to treat those injured during the accident. Authorities explained that at least five people were hurt when debris from the wreck shot into the stands. It’s believed that two people in the upper deck were wounded by some of the pieces.

Helton explained that officials were working hard to investigate the damage. Police reportedly closed off the area once fans were safely escorted away from the crash site.

The NASCAR president added:

“Right now, it’s just a function of trying to determine what all damage is done. They’re moving folks to care centers and taking some folks over to Halifax Medical. We’ll be able to update later on, but right now, all we know is everyone is working really hard on determining what all happened.”

Footage of the NASCAR wreck has been embedded below.

Fortunately for NASCAR driver Kyle Larson, he was able to walk away from the collision at the Daytona International Speedway unharmed. No other drivers were injured during the accident. The conditions of the people wounded as a result of the multi-car wreck are unknown as of this writing.

NASCAR Wreck: Fans Injured By Flying Debris [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Kyle Larson won the NASCAR All-American Late Model Series at Daytona International Speedway Monday night after he more or less used his car to shove leader C.E. Falk III out of the final turn. The unsportsmanlike act created an uproar in the social media, with many NASCAR fans tweeting that they’d changed their opinion of the 20-year-old star.

Some fender rubbing is to be expected in a tight race, but a video shows that Larson deliberately hit Falk in the final lap hard enough to spin him out of the way. The maneuver is particularly dangerous because both drivers were on worn brakes and tires by that point in the race.

Mark Long, reporting for the Miami Herald says that Falk is also angry about the cheap play. “I got monster-trucked at the end,” the 25-year-old said.

Autoweek writer Mike Larson commented, “On Monday night, Kyle Larson was either the greatest driver in the history of racing, or he was the dirtiest racer since Lance Armstrong. It just depends on which side of victory lane you happen to be standing.” He also hinted that the short track race is a tempest in a teapot which will be forgotten as Larson gears up for the Nationwide race this weekend.

The young racer himself seems to have mixed feelings about the way he won. Unable to resist getting involved in the Twitter debate, Larson tweeted, “I honestly feel bad but I’m here to win. I’m a racer and won’t settle for anything less.”

Having won five out of eight starts so far this season, Larson is definitely on track to become a rising star in a rising sport. More eyes than ever are on NASCAR after Danica Patrick made history by becoming the first woman to win the pole for the Daytona 500. With player health and safety becoming a growing issue in sports like football, one might question whether NASCAR needs the bad publicity of a reckless win.

But Kyle Larson’s most dedicated fans stand behind him. As a poster calling himself “The Catch Fence” tweeted, “NASCAR doesn’t need to do a thing about Kyle Larson. That’s just racin!”

NASCAR’s Kyle Larson Wins Ugly At Daytona is a post from: The Inquisitr

Denny Hamlin took a trip to the infield care center after a scary crash at the Kansas Speedway today during a testing session.

USA Today reports that Hamlin slammed into a wall at about 200 mph today. Hamlin was able to drive the car back to the garage but race officials urged him to get himself checked out at the medical center.

Hamlin said that he’s never been asked by an official to go to the medical center after a crash, especially when the car was able to be make it back to the garage, but Hamlin said that that the racing crew was just trying to make sure everyone was safe.

Hamlin said:

“Obviously the severity of it, and the speeds we were running, it was a wise thing to do anyway … Simply because of the speed of the impact, I think that they were just trying to be safe in asking me how I felt and I was honest with them and said I was a little dizzy and they said just come back in an hour to make sure you’re OK.”

USA Today reports that NASCAR officials may have been extra cautious after the Denny Hamlin crash since Dale Earnhardt Jr. recently received two concussions within a few weeks of each other. Spokesperson Kristi King issued a statement saying that safety is the number one issue for race officials and today’s incident was just an example of the officials doing their jobs.

King said:

“Safety has been and always will be the No. 1 priority for our officials. They are trained and experienced to be on the outlook for any type of situation in regards to safety at the racetrack. This is just an example of them doing their job.”

Hamlin seemed to agree, adding:

“The medical staff can’t do their job unless I tell them exactly what’s going on. They may as well not be here if I am going to tell them stories and give a false sense of security to them. I’m honest with them. I knew that I was fine. I just had my bell rung and let them do their jobs from thereon out.”

Here’s a video of Denny Hamlin talking about his crash at the Kansas Speedway.

Denny Hamlin Crash Leaves Driver Dizzy But Unscathed [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

President Obama, during his first run for President on 2008, had been caught on camera making an off-color comment about how rural voters need to believe in something so they cling to guns, religion and racist beliefs.  Well, if a poll from JZ Analytics can be believed, there is a new something that rural NASCAR fans are clinging to…President Obama!

The NASCAR vote is significant as it bills itself out as the most popular sport in America.  Hundreds of thousands of people show up to watch the stock car races every weekend, and while there is no shortage of fans among urban residents, NASCAR dominates in rural America.

President Obama had said of rural voters in 2008:

“So it’s not surprising then that they get bitter, and they cling to guns or religion, or antipathy toward people who aren’t like them, or anti-immigrant sentiment, or, you know, anti-trade sentiment [as] a way to explain their frustrations.”

Yet the poll, which was conducted by acclaimed pollster John Zogby, give Obama a 7 point lead over Republican challenger Mitt Romney among voters who identified themselves as NASCAR fans.  The poll was sponsored by the left-leaning PoliticusUSA Blog.  The same pol found President Obama holding a 9 point lead overall. Romney held the lead in two distinct demographics, Evangelical Christians and those who shop at Wal-Mart.

Both candidates have tried to connect to NASCAR fans, with both not really doing such a good job at it.   President Obama made arrangements to go to a race and meet some of the fans but cancelled at the last minute.  Instead he sent his wife, Michelle, in his place who looked about as excited as a patient in a coma to be there.

Romney decided to  head down to the Daytona 500 during the Republican primaries.  The trip would up enforcing Romney’s image of being an out-of-touch snob when he told a newscaster at the race that he didn’t really follow the sport much but he had some really good friends who own NSACAR teams.

NASCAR audiences seem to have a negative attitude towards politicians who try to score political points off of the sport.  Earlier this year, Romney was booed at an event.  Michelle Obama and Jill Biden got a similar welcome late last year.

NASCAR Fans Prefer Obama To Romney, Romney Favored By Wal-Mart Shoppers is a post from: The Inquisitr

Ralph Gilles, the head of Chrysler Motorsports , announced on Tuesday that the Dodge NASCAR team will end its participation in NASCAR at the end of the 2012 season.  Dodge’s top team, Penske Racing, announced in February that they were moving their team to Ford Racing next season and Doge said they were unable to find a replacement that will allow them to “go forward with a structure that met our standards.”

Dodge made the formal decision last Friday.  The four car makers that provide teams for NASCAR, Dodge, Toyota, Chevrolet and Ford, Dodge ranks dead last.  Chevrolet leads the pack followed by Toyota and Ford.

Dodge Quitting NASCAR At The End Of 2012 is a post from: The Inquisitr

Amidst the wrecks and dangerous collisions that frequent a NASCAR event, yesterday at Pocono Raceway we can add lightning as a legitimate threat.  After a rain shortened race at the Pennsylvania racetrack, lightning struck in the parking lot and killed one person and injured nine according to officials from the race track.

There were multiple reports that there was one lightning strike that hit multiple people while others said it may have been multiple strikes.  The injured were evacuated to local hospitals, two in critical condition.

Racetrack President, Brandon Igdalsky, announced a short time later that one of those who was taken to the hospital had died.

Igdalsky said,

“Unfortunately, a member of our raceway family here, a fan, has passed away,”

The race at Pocono Racetrack had been called off after 98 laps had been completed of 160 planned. The Racetrack began to release messages via Twitter and through announcements that it was time for the more than 85,000 in attendance to seek shelter “as severe lightning and heavy winds are in our area.”

Jeff Gordon, the driver who officially is listed as the race winner, told reporters that he heard multiple loud cracks from the Pit.

Gordon said,

“You could tell it was very close. I mean, that’s the thing that’s going to take away from the victory, is the fact that somebody was affected by that.”

NASCAR Spokesman David Higdon said in a statement,

“We are deeply saddened that a fan has died and others were injured by lightning strikes following today’s race at Pocono. Our thoughts are with them as well as those affected by this unfortunate accident.”

Five fans were taken to local hospitals in moderate to minor condition.  One fan remained in critical condition.

NASCAR Race At Pocono Raceway Hit By Lightning, 1 Dead is a post from: The Inquisitr

NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin announced on Friday at Ponoco Raceway that he and his girlfriend, former Charlotte Bobcats cheerleader Jordan Fish, are expecting their first child together. The baby is due in January. It is both Hamlin and Fish’s first child.

“It’s been a long time coming, so it’s going to be exciting to be a dad,” Hamlin told the NASCAR Wire Service on Friday. “It’s going to be a great experience. I’m really excited about it and just excited to be part of it.”

Hamlin was asked if there was a wedding date in the pair’s future, but told the Associated Press, “There’s no reason to rush it.”

The way the timing has turned out for the baby’s due date has Hamlin expecting everything to work out for the best.

“For my parents to have grandkids, it’s all going to be good,” Hamlin said. “Everything works great, things happened, and we’re excited that the timing’s going to be in January, since it’s the offseason — all that seems to be aligning perfectly for us.”

His recent race performances have Denny Hamlin expecting to improve on his position in the NASCAR Nextel Cup standings. Hamlin remained in fifth place for the second week in a row prior to the Pennsylvania 400 race which runs Sunday. He trails points leader Dale Earnhardt Jr. by 64 points, is 37 behind fourth-ranked Jimmie Johnson. He leads sixth-ranked Kevin Harvick by 14 points.

Hamlin has two wins, nine top five finishes and 11 top 10 finishes this season. Hamlin has racked up $4,157,735 in winnings so far this season.

Denny Hamlin Expecting First Child is a post from: The Inquisitr

Jimmie Johnson won his fourth Allstate 400 at the Brickyard on Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, beating out second place driver Kyle Busch by more than 5 seconds.

Yahoo News reports that, after the race, Busch, Johnson’s former team-mate, stated:

“If it wasn’t for the 48, we were probably in our zip code on the rest of the field. But Jimmie Johnson was in his own country today, so we just couldn’t keep up with him.”

Johnson took the lead on lap 28 in his No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet after beating Denny Hamlin out of the pits under a green flag. Sunday’s Allstate 400 win is Johnson’s fourth in the Indianapolis NASCAR Sprint Cup rave, and it is the kind of control that fans have become used to in the champion , who came in first at the end of the 2006-2010 seasons. Following the race, Johnson stated:

“I feel that from a performance standpoint that we’re as strong as we’ve ever been. We’ve had issues late in a race that’s cost us track position for a variety of reasons and that’s the part that we need to make sure is buttoned up before the Chase starts — carry that through the Chase. But from a performance standpoint these are amazing racecars. We made a lot of progress in the offseason and getting started this year and I feel really good about the Chase. I’m ready for it to start.”

The Indy Star notes that Johnson went on to say:

“I’m at a loss for words. To win here is just a huge honor… but four times? (Crew chief) Chad Knaus gave me one heck of a race car,. And this was a total team effort. There are only a couple of tracks on our schedule that, when you walk into the track, you feel the history of the facility. When you come back each year, (you feel) the energy around this racetrack, the excitement that comes with it.”

Are you excited that Jimmie Johnson won the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard for the fourth time?

Jimmie Johnson Wins Fourth Brickyard 400 is a post from: The Inquisitr

Kyle Busch remains optimistic that he will be able to secure a spot in the Chase, despite the fact that he is barely qualified for the final chase position.

Kyle Busch is in second place in the wildcard standing with one victory, reports ESPN Chicago. The Joe Gibbs Motorsports driver currently stands at number 13 in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Standings with one top 10 finish in the last seven weeks. If the season were to end now, he would fill the final Chase position but as is he still has seven races to earn his spot in the Chase.

The hopeful Busch tells ESPN:

“I’m not sure at all [I’ll qualify for the Chase.] All we can do is work as hard as we know how to do and get ourselves capable of finishing up front and winning a couple races before its starts. If you win one, you think you’re going to be okay. If you win two, you’re locked in. For us, we’ve got good tracks coming up. I think of the seven race tracks, we’ve won at six of them. It bodes well for us.”

Heading into June, Kyle Busch had seven top-10 finishes and a victory. Recently however, he’s had finishes of 29th, 30th, 32nd, 17th, 10th, 24th, and 16th place, leaving Busch feeling a bit uncertain as to whether he’ll be able to make a comeback. Of his place in the standings Busch says:

“We’re not comfortable at all. This Chase format is certainly stressful if you’re back in the points as we are. We had a slow start to the year and then we got going. We won at Richmond and then we had five top 5s in a row and were up to eighth in points and just about ready to make a pounce for fifth in points and then bad luck struck, and we haven’t been able to shake it yet.”

Daryle Hier, a contributor to Yahoo Sports, wrote that:

“What jumps out to me is Kyle Busch….On the surface, Kyle Busch has the best chance to make the Chase and currently has the second of two wildcard spots as it stands.”

Do you think that Kyle Busch has what it takes to make it into the 2012 Sprint Cup Chase?

Kyle Busch Strives For Spot In The Chase is a post from: The Inquisitr

Ready to be depressed? Linda Chase, a 72-year-old woman in Michigan, decided not to tell anyone about her husband’s passing so that she wouldn’t have to be alone. Chase said that she kept her husband Charles Zigler in front of the TV so that they could talk and watch NASCAR together.

Chase said:

“It’s not that I’m heartless. … I didn’t want to be alone. He was the only guy who was ever nice to me.”

According to the Associated Press, Zigler’s body was found last week. Authorities believe that Zigler died of natural causes in December, 2010, at the age of 67.

Web Pro News reports that authorities found Zigler’s body after his son, Wally, tried to visit. Wally said that he came to visit often but Chase would never let him inside the house.

Wally said:

“That wasn’t right to leave him lay like that.”

Chase wasn’t charged for keeping a dead body in her home but she was arrested for fraud. After Zigler died, Chase continued to collect his social security checks.

Chase said:

“I’m probably going to prison… I told them the truth. I didn’t lie about that.”

What do you think about Linda Chase and her relationship with her deceased husband. Is it sad? Depressing? Creepy?

NASCAR Corpse: Woman Watched TV With Dead Husband For Two Years is a post from: The Inquisitr

Danica Patrick is going to win at Daytona. At least that’s what she believes.

Patrick appeared on The Dan Patrick show this morning and said that she’s feeling pretty good about the race.

Patrick said:

“I heard one of the officials come over and say that all of the officials are basically saying I’m going to win the race tonight. They’ve been around a long time, and they’ve seen a lot of races. I’m going with the officials on this one. … Get ready.”

Patrick later clarified her statement saying that she wasn’t making a bold prediction of victory, instead, she just wasn’t going to bet against herself.

Patrick said:

“I was thinking later, ‘Wait a minute. That kind of sounded like a jerk thing to say.’ What I really should have said was, ‘Well, I shouldn’t bet against myself, should I?’ So that’s my answer. I really shouldn’t bet against myself.”

Patrick qualified in fourth before Daytona and is hoping to become the first woman to win a NASCAR national series race.

Patrick said:

“It’s like when somebody asks you before a race if you’re going to win. Well, of course I’m going to try to win. That’s the best that I can do. I have the best chance possible, with the most experience at this track versus any other one. And the fact that I’m driving a JR Motorsports car; they’re really fast on speedways… We had a great shot at winning this race last year. I think it’s as good a chance as ever.”

Do you think Danica Patrick will win at Daytona?

Danica Patrick Predicts Daytona Victory is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway saw temperatures of more than 100 degrees, but despite the heat, and participating in all three NASCAR races this weekend, Brad Keselowski is victorious.

The No. 2 driver beat the fuel odds, extending his last few gallons of fuel way beyond what was anticipated in order to win Sunday’s race, according to Kentucky.com.

Keselowski, who has already stacked up wins at Bristol and Talladega in the Sprint Cup Series this year, stated after the win that:

“What a weekend for us. We hit the wall on the first lap of practice. Our backup car is from the Chase last year. It’s not the newest car we have but it sure runs.”

The Quaker State 400 was not Keselowski’s only race this weekend, as he also participated in the Nationwide Series race, as well as the Camping World Truck Series race, both of which saw temperatures over 100 degrees.

Kasey Kahne, driver of the Hendrick Motorsports No. 5, came in second, with Denny Hamlin in his No. 11 coming in third. Sporting News reports that Kahne had a late surge that took him to second, finishing behind Keselowski by 4.399 seconds. Kahne told reporters after the race:

“I just hoped he’d run out of gas. No way I was catching him. We had stopped (for a fill-up) and I was hoping he’d shut down.”

Third place Hamlin announced via Twitter that he had signed a contract extension with Joe Gibbs Racing, and was excited about the finish, despite being disappointed that his car did not run better. He stated, according to Sporting News, that:

“It’s a great day. When you know you’re locked in where you’re going to race for really long time, it’s a good feeling. Those guys (at JGR) have given me a championship-caliber racing team.”

Dale Earnhardt Jr., who won last week, came in fourth in Sunday’s Quaker State 400, with Jeff Gordon rounding out the top 5, giving Hendrick Motorsports 3 of the top 5 spots for the race.

Brad Keselowski Wins Quaker State 400 At Kentucky Speedway is a post from: The Inquisitr

Matt Kenseth will no longer be racing with Roush Fenway Racing by the end of the current NASCAR season and is expected to replaced in his No. 17 car by another driver in the near future, reports The Boston Herald.

Racing all but one of his 452 starts with Roush Fenway Racing, there was speculation that the move might be coming after his race this past weekend at Sonoma. However, Kenseth declined to comment on the rumors leaving the speculation unconfirmed until Roush Fenway Racing made an announcement on Tuesday.

“I’d like to thank Matt Kenseth for his many years of loyal service,” team co-owner Jack Roush said in a statement.

“Matt has been an integral part of this organization for well over a decade, and we are extremely appreciative of his accomplishments and contributions to the team, and will always consider him a part of the Roush Fenway family.”

Possessing one of the longest current relationships in NASCAR, this split between the two comes as bit of a surprise with Roush and Kenseth offering no explanation as to why they are choosing to part ways.

”I’m very thankful to Jack Roush for the opportunities he’s given me over the past 14 years. Together we have enjoyed a lot of success,” Matt Kenseth followed up on Twitter.

”And as a team we are committed as ever to the remainder of the 2012 season and chasing a 3rd sprint cup title for Jack and RFR.”

Kenseth and teammate Greg Biffle are ranked 1st and 2nd in the Sprint Cup Series point standings and are in a great position to win a 3rd Sprint Cup title for Roush Fenway Racing.

The AP reports that Kenseth’s No. 17 car is expected to be filled by Nationwide Series champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr. while Kenseth is rumored to be heading to Joe Gibbs Racing to fill Joey Logano’s No. 20 car.

What do you think of Matt Kenseth parting ways with Roush Fenway Racing?

Matt Kenseth And Roush Fenway Racing To Part Ways At The End Of Season is a post from: The Inquisitr

Joey Logano celebrated on Saturday after capturing the pole for Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway as well as topping the track record, thanks to a track repave.

Fox News reports that 36 drivers in total broke the track record, but Logano just happened to be the fastest in his Number 20 Toyota, which turned a lap of 179.598 mph, going around the 2 1/2 mile track in 50.112 seconds.

What did the race car driver have to say of his win? The Home Depot-sponsored driver stated that after his run, he thought:

“I thought, ‘That ain’t going to be good enough to get a pole. The track was dirty. I felt I left a tenth (of a second) and a half on the table.”

But apparently he didn’t, and remarked that, “It’s cool to get a pole here. A new track record, too.”

Saturday’s pole was Joey Logano’s fourth of his career, his second at Pocono. He has one career victory so far, and has struggled in the 2012 season, sitting only 16th in points after 13 seasons, according to Sporting News. He is coming off of two straight top-10 finishes, and is optimistic about Sunday’s race. Logano stated:

“My guys did a good job focusing on getting the car handling right. My car is fast in qualifying trim and in race trim, so I’m really excited.”

The previous track record was set by Kasey Kahne, then-driver of the number 9 car, owned by Evernham Motorsports. Kahne’s previous record of 172.533 was set on June 11, 2004. He now races for Hendrick Motorsports in the number 5, and will start 10th on Sunday. Kahne qualified with a speed of 177.823 mph.

Joey Logano Wins Pole, Sets Pocono Track Record is a post from: The Inquisitr

Kurt Busch was suspended on Monday by NASCAR for one weekend after he threatened to hit a member of the media.

The incident comes just one month after another anger related incident. Busch was fined $50,000 and was put on probation at Darlington after an altercation with members of Ryan Newman’s crew. Busch’s probation has now been extended to the end of the year.

The most recent incident involved an altercation between the NASCAR star and a Sporting News reporter after Saturday’s race. Busch said that he would have hit reporter Bob Pockrass if he wasn’t on probation.

Busch said:

“It refrains me from not beating the (expletive) out of you right now because you ask me stupid questions. But since I’m on probation, I suppose that’s improper to say as well.”

Yes, according to NASCAR, it was improper to say.

Busch seemed to know that his words were going to get him in trouble as soon as they left his mouth. Today, he issued an apology to NASCAR and Sporting News reporter Bob Pockrass.

Busch said:

“I accept NASCAR’s decision. I put them in a box. They had to take action, and it’s my fault for putting them in this position. I apologize for the comments I made to Bob Pockrass.”

The Huffington Post reports that this is just the latest in a long string of anger related incidents for the NASCAR star. Busch’s temper was also cited as the main reason for his split with Penske Racing although the two parties said it was a “mutual agreement.”

Busch, who is now racing for the underfunded Phoenix Racing, did a burn out through Newman’s pitbox last month. He also ran his car into Newman’s and had an altercation with driver’s crew.

After the incident, Newman said:

“It’s easy to see and it’s easy to say that Kurt blew a fuse again… I’m not sure why he did it and tried to run over our guys and NASCAR officials. And nobody is. Circumstances I think are that he lied (about hitting Newman’s car on pit road) and was so frustrated that he doesn’t know how to deal with his anger.”

Are you a fan of Kurt Busch?

Kurt Busch Suspended, Won’t Race At Pocono is a post from: The Inquisitr

Kurt Busch got a little, well, curt with a reporter following Saturday’s Nationwide race at Dover, after the reporter got a little too pushy about Busch’s probation comments.

The big brother of Kyle Busch, who is known for his temper, has shown where his little bro got it the past few months, including the incident at Darlington that caused him to be placed on probation in the first place.

SB Nation reports that Busch did an angry burnout in Ryan Newman’s pit box following a crash, causing an altercation between the race car driver and Newman’s pit crew after the race. Busch was ultimately fined $50,000 and placed on NASCAR probation.

USA Today reports that Justin Allgaier and Kurt Busch were involved in an altercation early in the race, which did not affect their days. While Busch finished fourth and Allgaier fifth, they spoke together near their cars after the race, discussing the incident.

Following the discussion, Kurt Busch told reporters:

“On the initial start of the race, it was like packing air underneath somebody and he got loose in front of us and he thinks we purposely hit him and so he drove like a you-know-what all day and try to door us and try to do stupid things out on the track. I’m on probation so I can’t even pick my nose the right way.”

But Sporting News’s Bob Pockrass pushed the probation issue, which is understandably not something the NASCAR driver would want to talk about. After Pockrass pushed for Busch’s thoughts about how probation affected the way he raced Allgaier, CBS Sports reports that Busch responded by saying:

“(Probation) refrains me from not beating the shit out of you right now, because you ask me stupid questions. But since I’m on probation, I suppose that’s improper to say as well. If you could talk about racing things, we could talk about racing things, Bob.”

Do you think that Kurt Busch was right to call out SN’s Bob Pockrass for asking about his probation, or did the NASCAR driver go too far in his response?

Kurt Busch Tells Reporter He’d Punch Him If He Wasn’t Already On Probation is a post from: The Inquisitr

Danica Patrick and Sam Hornish Jr. got tangled up again on track Saturday during the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Dover.

SB Nation reports that the two former Indy car drivers got together with 67 laps to go, and that Patrick’s car seemed to take the worst of the brunt. When Hornish Jr. got out of his car after a 13th place finished, he winced upon seeing the mass of reporters.

He immediately told reporters that:

“I don’t want to be here talking to you guys about having a problem with her,” he said resignedly. “I know that if that happens with Michael Annett or T.J. Bell, that we don’t stand here and have this conversation. It’s just like, ‘Man…’ I don’t want to have any problems with her. I don’t harness any ill will, you know?”

USA Today reports that Danica Patrick, when speaking about the incident, stated:

“We were all going gangbusters on the restart. The tires were so good, so you try and use them. I was racing the car in front of me (Sweet’s), and the car behind me (Hornish’s) is racing me.”

Patrick was careful not to place blame on any of the three drivers involved in the wreck, but did say on radio after the crash, “Shocker. Real shocker.” USA Today reports that Sam Hornish Jr. described the wreck by saying:

“Danica slid up off the bottom a little bit, I got underneath her to try to be able to get the pass done. I didn’t know there was another car on the outside of her. Now, in retrospect, I see why she was holding me down as far as she was.”

This is not the first time these two have been involved in an on-track incident either. Fox News reports that Hornish Jr. slid into Patrick  after blowing a tire at Talladega. Danica Patrick, thinking that he had purposefully run her into the wall, retaliated by intentionally crashing him on the cool-down lap. The former Indy car driver later called team owner Roger Penske to apologize.

Danica Patrick Gets The Worst Of Crash With Sam Hornish Jr. is a post from: The Inquisitr

The man to beat tonight at the Darlington Cup is Greg Biffle. Biffle is the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points leader and he’ll be starting from the pole position today at the Darlington Raceway, the oldest superspeedway in NASCAR.

But tonight’s Bojangles’ Southern 500 won’t be an easy race for Biffle. Five-time champion Jimmie Johnson will be starting from the second position, and driver’s like last-year’s shocking upset winner, Regan Smith, Brad Keselowski, Kyle Busch and Jeff Gordon call all find themselves at the front of the pack when the checkered flag flies.

Johnson said:

“I feel really good about where are team is right now… I guess my memory is a little short, but especially back to last year, I feel much more competitive now than I did last year. I feel that in our setups, we have more areas to develop still. Where last year we were kind of at the edge of our package in trying to find new speed. Right now we have a fast car and a lot of great ideas still to come, if that makes any sense. So I feel we’re a lot stronger this year than we were last. I don’t know how to compare it to other years, but things are really good right now.”

But Johnson isn’t the only one feeling good about his setup. Biffle, who currently leads the series, is hoping to become the first driver in history to win a championship in all three of NASCAR’s top divisions.

Biffle said:

“It’s easy to say when you’re leading the points that it’s your best opportunity, but I feel like from a competitive standpoint we’re running as good as we have in several years and I think we’re as strong as we were in 2005 right now, I really do.”

Danica Patrick will be racing in her first non-restrictor-plate Sprint Cup race tonight, but don’t expect any heroics from NASCAR’s most popular driver. Patrick said that she’s just hoping to finish the race.

Patrick said:

“I just want to finish, which is going to be a challenge, I think… Just getting to the end of the Cup race is going to be the accomplishment for me.”

The live broadcast from the Darlington Raceway will start at 4:30 p.m. ET on SPEEDTV.

Darlington Cup: Biffle, Johnson Ready To Race At NASCAR’s Oldest Superspeedway is a post from: The Inquisitr

Former NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Jeremy Mayfield has been ordered to pay $1 million to a postal carrier who was attacked at his country home by his five free-roaming dogs back in 2011.

Court documents indicate that on April 21, 2011, Mary E. Bolton drove onto Mayfield’s property in order to deliver a package that was too large for the mailbox.  After driving passed “Beware of Dog” and “No Trespassing” signs, the carrier was attacked by five dogs.  The dogs, which were pit bull/Labrador mixes, mauled the woman until Jeremy, who was home at the time of the incident, scared the dogs away and carried Bolton into his home where he dialed 911.

Emergency services transported Bolton to a local hospital where she was treated for her injuries.  Animal control authorities confiscated and euthanized Mayfield’s dogs after the ordeal.

As a result of the mauling, Mary was unable to work for several months and lost an estimated $14,000 in income.  She also now suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as well as nerve damage.

Mayfield has offered to reimburse the postal worker for her medical expenses, however, he did not show up in court or file or a formal answer to Bolton’s charge of negligence for allowing his dogs to roam freely on the property.

While former NASCAR driver Mayfield did express regret over the situation, he did note that he moved to the country specifically to allow his dogs to run free on his rural property, which is located nearly one-mile from the road.  He was quoted having said:

“I’m far enough off the road to not get messed with. My dogs never left that property, yet I’ve got a $1 million judgment against me.”

Jeremy Mayfield has indicated that he hasn’t filed a response because he is unable to afford to hire an attorney for this incident, let alone his other criminal charges.  In regards to the predicament that he finds himself in, he was quoted having said:

“If I had $1 million to give away, I wouldn’t be in this situation.”

Mayfield was suspended from NASCAR back in 2009 after testing positive for methamphetamine.  While he protested his innocence at the time, drivers Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson conveyed their concern with sharing the track with an inebriated Mayfield.

What do you think of the Forsyth County, N.C., Superior Court judge’s ruling in which Jeremy Mayfield has been ordered to pay $1 million to the postal carrier who disregarded the “Beware of Dog” and “No Trespassing” signs on his property and was attacked by his free roaming dogs as she ventured onto the former NASCAR driver’s private property?

Jeremy Mayfield Ordered To Pay $1 Million After Dogs Attack Postal Carrier is a post from: The Inquisitr

Brad Keselowski, a 28-year-old Michigan born race car driver and team owner, contradicted popular belief when he lead on the last lap and proceeded to take the win at Talladega Superspeedway.

The 2012 Talladega winner was the first driver in the last five Talladega races to take the white flag and the hold onto the lead to take home the win.  Keselowski was quoted by The Associated Press having said:

“I had this whole plan if I ever got in that situation where I was leading; I thought about it and thought about it, dreamed about what to do, and sure enough, going into (turn) three, it was just me and Kyle. I knew the move I wanted to pull. It worked because the guy running second should have the advantage, but I had this move all worked up in my mind.”

After pulling high into the third turn at Talladega, Keselowski pulled off of Busch’s bumper and left Busch’s No. 18 car in the dust.  Busch initially seemed bewildered by what had just occurred, he was later quoted having said:

“I must have screwed something up, because we got to turn three and came unhooked. Just gave the win away over there. Not sure exactly what happened. We definitely need to go back and figure out what it was.”

A nine-car wreck occurred with only four laps remaining.  As a result, Eric McClure was taken to the hospital in order to be treated for injuries.  His sister who is coincidentally his public relations representative indicated that he was in stable condition on Sunday.

What are your thoughts on Brad Keselowski’s win at Talladega?

2012 Talladega Winner: Brad Keselowski Wins Over Kyle Busch [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Talladega Superspeedway played host on Saturday to a nine-car crash during the closing laps in which Eric McClure, a Virginia born NASCAR driver who finished 19th in 2011, was injured and subsequently airlifted to UAB Hospital, where he will stay overnight.

Public relations representative for McClure, Emily Brandt, issued a statement in which she said:

“Eric is awake, alert, and talking to family members. He is being kept overnight for further observation.”

McClure’s No. 14 Toyota slammed hard into the SAFER barrier on the inside wall after Michael Annett hit Kevin Harvick’s No. 33 Chevrolet in the rear on the backstretch and caused a multi-car wreck.

After emergency workers cut the roof off of McClure’s race car, he was placed onto a stretcher, and immediately airlifted to the hospital.  NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp stated:

“I’m told he was conscious, alert and talking to the attendants when he was transported down.”

Annett divulged some insight into the mindset of NASCAR drivers as he was quoted by NASCAR having said:

“We were sitting there in fifth on that final restart and got a really good push from the No. 18 [Logano] and we shot the middle. Everyone is doing what they have to do at these races. The No. 33 [Harvick] came over to try to block us and we had such a run going that if I slammed on the brakes it was going to turn me so I just stayed in the gas and tried to shoot the hole. When it closed it was too late to do anything. Unfortunately we tore up a bunch of race cars. Everybody is trying to get everything they can on those last two laps. It is just the way this racing is.”

A team statement released Sunday afternoon indicated that McClure is currently in stable condition. McClure’s sister and team publicist, Emily Brandt, was quoted by Sporting News having said:

“McClure and his family would like to express their thanks to the NASCAR community for their thoughts, support and concern.”

Eric McClure Crash Video:

Eric McClure Crash: Airlifted To Hospital After Wreck At Talladega [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

]]> http://www.inquisitr.com/231250/eric-mcclure-crash-airlifted-to-hospital-after-wreck-at-talladega-video/feed/ 2 Eric McClure Crash http://www.inquisitr.com/200625/mark-martin-on-top-wins-pole-for-phoenix-race/ http://www.inquisitr.com/200625/mark-martin-on-top-wins-pole-for-phoenix-race/#comments Sun, 04 Mar 2012 00:48:20 +0000 Melissa Stusinski http://www.inquisitr.com/?p=200625 Mark Martin won the pole for Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race with a lap time of 136.184 miles per hour, while Tony Stewart, last year’s Sprint Cup champion, was a close second at 136.126 mph. The rest of the top ten are as follows: 3–Regan Smith, 4–Jimmie Johnson, 5–Juan Montoya, 6–Ryan Newman, 7–Greg Biffle, 8–Kevin [...]

Mark Martin On Top, Wins Pole for Phoenix Race is a post from: The Inquisitr

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Mark Martin won the pole for Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race with a lap time of 136.184 miles per hour, while Tony Stewart, last year’s Sprint Cup champion, was a close second at 136.126 mph. The rest of the top ten are as follows: 3–Regan Smith, 4–Jimmie Johnson, 5–Juan Montoya, 6–Ryan Newman, 7–Greg Biffle, 8–Kevin Harvick, 9–Joey Logano, 10–Kasey Kahne.

Mark Martin has raced in NASCAR’s top series since 1981–that’s over 30 years (almost half of his life) spent behind the wheel of a stock car. He has participated in 831 races, and won 51 poles (not including this week’s). Throughout his whole career, however, he has yet to win the Championship. Who knows, maybe this will be his year?

The green flag will fly at this week’s NASCAR venue, Phoenix International Raceway, on Sunday at 2:30pm Eastern Time. Following from last week’s crazy race, we will see if Danica Patrick will make it through the whole race in one piece, hope that Juan Montoya avoids all the track equipment, and that the weather cooperates (although with the expected temperature of 80 degrees, I think we will be just fine).

So, who do you think will win this weekend’s Sprint Cup Series race? Will it be Mark Martin, this week’s pole sitter, one of the Hencrick drivers (two of which are in the top ten), or someone else? Post your thoughts below.

Mark Martin On Top, Wins Pole for Phoenix Race is a post from: The Inquisitr

]]> http://www.inquisitr.com/200625/mark-martin-on-top-wins-pole-for-phoenix-race/feed/ 0 http://www.inquisitr.com/200269/former-nascar-racer-jeremy-mayfield-free-on-bond/ http://www.inquisitr.com/200269/former-nascar-racer-jeremy-mayfield-free-on-bond/#comments Fri, 02 Mar 2012 08:48:23 +0000 James Johnson http://www.inquisitr.com/?p=200269

Former NASCAR driver Jeremy Mayfield was freed from a North Carolina jail on Thursday after he posted bail. Mayfield has been accused of stealing various pieces of property from Red Bull Racing and various other businesses. Mayfield surrendered himself to a Caldwell County magistrate on Thursday and was released on a $100,000 unsecured bond. According to Fox [...]

Former NASCAR Racer Jeremy Mayfield Free On Bond is a post from: The Inquisitr

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Former NASCAR driver Jeremy Mayfield was freed from a North Carolina jail on Thursday after he posted bail. Mayfield has been accused of stealing various pieces of property from Red Bull Racing and various other businesses.

Mayfield surrendered himself to a Caldwell County magistrate on Thursday and was released on a $100,000 unsecured bond.

According to Fox Sports:

“Indictments by a grand jury released last month charged Mayfield with three counts of possessing property stolen from businesses, and a fourth charge of obtaining property by false pretense. He has called the latest charges ”baseless.””

This isn’t the first run-in with the law Mayfield has had, in November 2011 police raided the former NASCAR drivers Catawba home and found 1.5 grams of methamphetamine.

Mayfield hasn’t raced in NASCAR since failing a random drug test in 2009 at Richmond International Raceway.

Last month Mayfield returned to court on his own terms to ask that the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond listen to his lawsuit seeking reinstatement as a NASCAR driver.

Do you think Jeremy Mayfield deserves to be reinstated after one failed drug test or has the rest of his actions outside of the sport given NASCAR officials reason to leave him in the dust so to speak?

Former NASCAR Racer Jeremy Mayfield Free On Bond is a post from: The Inquisitr

]]> http://www.inquisitr.com/200269/former-nascar-racer-jeremy-mayfield-free-on-bond/feed/ 0 Jeremy Mayfield http://www.inquisitr.com/199768/jimmie-johnson-loses-25-points-as-chad-knaus-receives-six-race-suspension/ http://www.inquisitr.com/199768/jimmie-johnson-loses-25-points-as-chad-knaus-receives-six-race-suspension/#comments Thu, 01 Mar 2012 01:59:42 +0000 James Johnson http://www.inquisitr.com/?p=199768 Jimmie Johnson lost 25 points in the Sprint Cup standings on Wednesday and crew chief Chad Knaus was suspended from the NO. 48 team for the next six weeks. With 25 points lost Johnson is now in last place in the Sprint Cup standing, 70 points behind last years winner Matt Kenseth. Knause was also handed [...]

Jimmie Johnson Loses 25 Points As Chad Knaus Receives Six Race Suspension is a post from: The Inquisitr

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Jimmie Johnson lost 25 points in the Sprint Cup standings on Wednesday and crew chief Chad Knaus was suspended from the NO. 48 team for the next six weeks.

With 25 points lost Johnson is now in last place in the Sprint Cup standing, 70 points behind last years winner Matt Kenseth.

Knause was also handed down a $100,000 fine while car chief Ron Malec was suspended for the same 6 week period. Both men have also received NASCAR probation through May 9.

The decision will be appealed by Hendrick Motorsports which will allow Knaus and Malec to remain on the team until a final decision is handed down.

According to team owner Rick Hendrick:

“Our organization respects NASCAR and the way the sanctioning body governs our sport. In this case, though, the system broke down and we will voice our concerns through the appeal process.”

On Wednesday Jimmie Johnson told fans on his Tweet page:

“We appreciate all of the support. Now it’s up to the appeal process.”

The points loss, suspensions and probationary period comes after NASCAR officials claim that Jimmie Johnson’s team used illegal C-posts to gain an aerodynamic advantage. The C-posts from Johnson’s car were confiscated during an inspection process at Daytona International Speedway.

According to Hendrick that same vehicle went through inspection 16 times prior to NASCAR’s Dayton inspection without a single issue. He also claims it’s the same exact vehicle that Johnson ran in all four restrictor-plate races last season without any changes made to the cars roof where the c-posts were housed.

According to ESPN Knaus is no stranger to penalties, having racked up nine prior offenses leading back to 2001.

Do you think Jimmie Johnson has a leg to stand on or will NASCAR uphold the original decision?

Jimmie Johnson Loses 25 Points As Chad Knaus Receives Six Race Suspension is a post from: The Inquisitr

]]> http://www.inquisitr.com/199768/jimmie-johnson-loses-25-points-as-chad-knaus-receives-six-race-suspension/feed/ 2 Jimmie Johnson Loses 25 Points http://www.inquisitr.com/199028/juan-pablo-montoya-crashes-causes-big-fire-at-daytona-500-video/ http://www.inquisitr.com/199028/juan-pablo-montoya-crashes-causes-big-fire-at-daytona-500-video/#comments Tue, 28 Feb 2012 15:48:34 +0000 Dan Evon http://www.inquisitr.com/?p=199028 The Daytona 500 saw a few crashes last night. Matt Kenseth won the rain delayed race, but it was Juan Pablo Montoya that caused the the biggest spectacle. Montoya’s No. 42 car spun out of control and crashed into the wall during the Daytona 500. But the crash was made even more crazy, dangerous, and [...]

Juan Pablo Montoya Crashes, Causes Big Fire at Daytona 500 [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

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The Daytona 500 saw a few crashes last night. Matt Kenseth won the rain delayed race, but it was Juan Pablo Montoya that caused the the biggest spectacle.

Montoya’s No. 42 car spun out of control and crashed into the wall during the Daytona 500. But the crash was made even more crazy, dangerous, and fiery, due to the fact that Montoya crashed into a jet drier truck containing nearly 200 gallons of kerosene.

A giant fire ball lit up the sky at the Daytona International Speedway as gallons of fuel spilled out onto the track.

NESN reports that Montoya walked away from the crash unharmed as rescue crews rushed to the fire. The burning vehicles were eventually removed from the track and the Daytona 500 restarted for the second time.

The race, was supposed to start on Sunday at noon, finally finished up last night. Both Danica Patrick and Jimmy Johnson crashed out of the race as Matt Kenseth rode to victory. Kenseth said:

“To win the (qualifying race) and then to win the 500, as well, is certainly a lot more than I would have expected or really thought we were going to do. So it’s always special to win races. It’s really hard to win these races. The older you get and the more you race, you realize how hard it is, and you really try to enjoy all those moments.”

Here’s a video of Juan Pablo Montoya’s crash.

Did you watch the Daytona 500 last night?

Juan Pablo Montoya Crashes, Causes Big Fire at Daytona 500 [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

]]> http://www.inquisitr.com/199028/juan-pablo-montoya-crashes-causes-big-fire-at-daytona-500-video/feed/ 3 juan pablo montoya http://www.inquisitr.com/198885/kenseth-wins-montoya-becomes-the-big-one/ http://www.inquisitr.com/198885/kenseth-wins-montoya-becomes-the-big-one/#comments Tue, 28 Feb 2012 06:34:39 +0000 Melissa Stusinski http://www.inquisitr.com/?p=198885 Matt Kenseth in the number 17  held off a field of 43 tired but determined drivers, surviving through 10 cautions to claim his victory at the 2012 Daytona 500. The race finally concluded under the lights at a little before 1am Tuesday morning. Kenseth, who is also the 2003 Winston Cup Champion, will celebrate his victory [...]

Kenseth Wins, Montoya Becomes The Big “One” at Daytona 500 is a post from: The Inquisitr

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Matt Kenseth in the number 17  held off a field of 43 tired but determined drivers, surviving through 10 cautions to claim his victory at the 2012 Daytona 500. The race finally concluded under the lights at a little before 1am Tuesday morning. Kenseth, who is also the 2003 Winston Cup Champion, will celebrate his victory after winning the Great American Race for the 2nd time in his career. The race finish was exciting with a crash on lap 196, the race ended with a green-white-checker, where Greg Biffle’s blocking proved futile, as Kenseth pulled away to win, and Earnhardt Junior barely beat him across the finish line.

The rest of the top ten are as follows: 2–Dale Earnhardt Jr (88), 3–Greg Biffle (16), 4–Denny Hamlin (11), 5–Jeff Burton (31), 6–Paul Menard (27), 7–Kevin Harvick (29), 8–Carl Edwards (99), 9–Joey Logano, 10–Mark Martin (55).

Tonight’s Daytona 500 race was historic in two ways. First, this is the first Daytona 500 that had over a one day delay due to weather. Rain clouded the forecast for all of  Sunday and most of Monday afternoon, with the green flag finally waving at 7:13pm EST. Second, Juan Pablo Montoya became the race’s famed “Big One” all by himself, causing a huge explosion when he lost control of his car and slammed into a jet dryer that was trying to clean the track from the previous accident. While “The Big One” title is usually reserved for the huge multi-car pileups we usually see in the closing laps of the race I think the title can describe Montoya’s stock car versus jet dryer showdown this time around– Needless to say, Montoya will likely see a lot of teasing  from other drivers, for being  the first driver to ever run into a piece of track-cleaning equipment.

While teasing is sure to follow, I think that, judging from the replays of the accident, a lot of focus will be placed on how good the safety equipment in these stock cars is–both Montoya and the driver of the jet dryer truck walked away from the accident and were later released from the infield care center.

I think the question we can ask ourselves is this: with such an exciting and bizarre start to the 2012 season, what else do you think we have in store for us?

Watch the video below of Montoya’s crash:

Kenseth Wins, Montoya Becomes The Big “One” at Daytona 500 is a post from: The Inquisitr

]]> http://www.inquisitr.com/198885/kenseth-wins-montoya-becomes-the-big-one/feed/ 2 http://www.inquisitr.com/198656/romney-makes-another-wealth-flub-when-chatting-about-nascar/ http://www.inquisitr.com/198656/romney-makes-another-wealth-flub-when-chatting-about-nascar/#comments Mon, 27 Feb 2012 20:16:58 +0000 James Johnson http://www.inquisitr.com/?p=198656

Mitt Romney was attending the Daytona 500 NASCAR race on Sunday when his chance to show that he was just another one of the guys went out the window. Romney was asked by an AP reporter if he’s a NASCAR follower for which he responded: “Not as closely as some of the most ardent fans. [...]

Romney Makes Another Wealth Flub When Chatting About NASCAR is a post from: The Inquisitr

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Mitt Romney was attending the Daytona 500 NASCAR race on Sunday when his chance to show that he was just another one of the guys went out the window.

Romney was asked by an AP reporter if he’s a NASCAR follower for which he responded:

“Not as closely as some of the most ardent fans. But I have some great friends who are NASCAR team owners.”

Quickly following his quip Brad Woodhouse, communications director of the Democratic National Committee tweeted:

“I don’t know people who fish but I know people who own yachts.”

The flub comes just three days after Romney was giving a speech at Forld Field in Detroit when he mentioend at least four cars he owns why mentioning that his wife Ann “drive a couple of Cadillacs.”

After that flub Fox News Sunday host Chris Wallace asked:

“Governor, can you understand why some voters would be put off by those things?”

Romney responded:

“I can’t be perfect. I just am who I am.”

Romney did manage to at least showcase his knowledge of the sport’s history, noting:

“I go back to the 1960s, back then when you had guys like Bobby Allison driving, they were driving stock cars,” Romney said. “Maybe they’d taken out the passenger seat and the back seat so they can put in a restraint system and a fire extinguisher. But now these cars really are built from the group up entirely by the teams themselves.”

Regardless of why he said what he did DNC press secretary Melanie Roussell tells CBS News:

“This is just the latest example of how out of touch Mitt Romney is from the average American experience. From an economic plan that provides tax cuts to line the pockets of his friends — like those who own NASCAR teams — to wanting Wall Street to write its own rules, Mitt Romney just doesn’t get it and won’t work to restore economic security for the middle class.”

Do you think Mitt Romney is out of touch with the needs of most Americans?

Romney Makes Another Wealth Flub When Chatting About NASCAR is a post from: The Inquisitr

]]> http://www.inquisitr.com/198656/romney-makes-another-wealth-flub-when-chatting-about-nascar/feed/ 0 Mitt Romney at NASCAR http://www.inquisitr.com/198236/daytona-500-delayed-until-noon-est-monday/ http://www.inquisitr.com/198236/daytona-500-delayed-until-noon-est-monday/#comments Sun, 26 Feb 2012 22:32:39 +0000 Melissa Stusinski http://www.inquisitr.com/?p=198236 For the first time in the history of the Daytona 500, the race will run a day after it’s originally scheduled time. While the race has been delayed by an hour or two before, and even shortened due to rain (four times), it has never been postponed until the next day. For those of you [...]

Daytona 500 Delayed Until Noon EST Monday is a post from: The Inquisitr

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For the first time in the history of the Daytona 500, the race will run a day after it’s originally scheduled time. While the race has been delayed by an hour or two before, and even shortened due to rain (four times), it has never been postponed until the next day.

For those of you not familiar with why rain could delay a car race (cars, after all, do run in rain), the tires that are specifically designed for these stock cars have  no tread, and therefore no grip in slick conditions. To top it off the cars also lack a basic necessity of driving in the rain–windshield wipers.

With pre-race ceremonies already completed by the scheduled race start time of 1:30 pm EST, the only thing the drivers and track officials have been waiting on is Mother Nature. Alas, at a little bit after 5pm, track and NASCAR officials called the race off until tomorrow, where it will start at noon EST, provided the weather cooperates.

NASCAR  president Mike Helton was initially optimistic, hoping that the rain would stop and the track (which takes 2-3 hours to dry), would be ready for racing abut 5pm. “The Daytona International Speedway has every drying piece of machinery they’ve got across the country here today,” Helton added, “because we know that the fans at home and the fans here in Daytona want to see the race run, and we do, too. The sooner, the better.”

Unfortunately, all the state-of-the-art jet dryers in the country cannot help when Mother Nature decides against it. So, with the weather not cooperating, we will be forced to sneak peaks at NASCAR’s TrackPass (find your free 14 day  trial at www.NASCAR.com!), or Lap-by-Lap, while our bosses are not looking. In fact, I wonder how many NASCAR fans will be calling in “sick” to watch tomorrow’s race…

Daytona 500 Delayed Until Noon EST Monday is a post from: The Inquisitr

]]> http://www.inquisitr.com/198236/daytona-500-delayed-until-noon-est-monday/feed/ 1 http://www.inquisitr.com/198133/rick-santorum-sponsors-daytona-500-car-hopes-for-an-unlikely-victory/ http://www.inquisitr.com/198133/rick-santorum-sponsors-daytona-500-car-hopes-for-an-unlikely-victory/#comments Sun, 26 Feb 2012 19:13:20 +0000 James Johnson http://www.inquisitr.com/?p=198133

GOP Presidential contender Rick Santorum is the newest sponsor in NASCAR after sealing a deal to sponsor the Daytona 500 racing car of Tony Raines. Speaking to ABC’s This Week Santorum said he had the chance to talk with Raines and offer him some advice: “I talked to him about a strategy. I recommended he stay [...]

Rick Santorum Sponsors Daytona 500 Car, Hopes For An Unlikely Victory is a post from: The Inquisitr

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GOP Presidential contender Rick Santorum is the newest sponsor in NASCAR after sealing a deal to sponsor the Daytona 500 racing car of Tony Raines.

Speaking to ABC’s This Week Santorum said he had the chance to talk with Raines and offer him some advice:

“I talked to him about a strategy. I recommended he stay back in the pack, you know, hang back there until the right time, and then bolt to the front when it really counts. So let’s watch. I’m hoping that for the first, you know, maybe 300, 400 miles, he’s sitting way, way back, letting all the other folks crash and burn, and then sneak up at the end and win this thing.”

That “sneak up” approach is obviously a direct link to Santorum’s own campaign while the GOP presidential hopeful said Raines’ run at Dayton 500 glory was ”the feel-good, underdog story of the day.”

Santorum continued in his interview by noting:

“I like how Tony Raines turned some heads last weekend with his qualifying run and we’d like to keep turning heads too. I think we’re both looking for a win in the end.”

Team owner Bob Jenkins said in an official press released:

“It’s a pretty tight battle for the Republican nomination right now, and the former senator is right in the thick of it. We hope we’re in the thick of it come Sunday out on the racetrack, too.”

As shown above Santorum’s campaign message is featured on the hood of the car and he’ll also have spots showing on the racing cars quarter panels.

In the meantime Santorum can now only sit around and hope that Tony Raines doesn’t crash and burn, that would quite possible be the worst symbolism a political contender has bought into in recent memory.

Do you think sponsoring an underdog Daytona 500 car was a smart move on the part of Rick Santorum?

Rick Santorum Sponsors Daytona 500 Car, Hopes For An Unlikely Victory is a post from: The Inquisitr

]]> http://www.inquisitr.com/198133/rick-santorum-sponsors-daytona-500-car-hopes-for-an-unlikely-victory/feed/ 2 Rick Santorum Sponors Tony Raines Daytona 500 Car http://www.inquisitr.com/197991/buescher-wins-daytona-nationwide-race-patrick-crashes-early/ http://www.inquisitr.com/197991/buescher-wins-daytona-nationwide-race-patrick-crashes-early/#comments Sun, 26 Feb 2012 04:06:56 +0000 Melissa Stusinski http://www.inquisitr.com/?p=197991 James Buesher, driver of the Number 30 Chevrolet, is the winner of the 2012 DRIVE4COPD 300 Nationwide Series race at Daytona International Speedway. Buescher battled through 120 laps of mayhem, including a last-lap crash that took out front-runners like Trevor Bayne, Tony Stewart, Elliott Sadler, Joey Logano, Kurt Busch, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Kyle Busch, to [...]

Buescher Wins Daytona Nationwide Race, Patrick Crashes Early is a post from: The Inquisitr

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James Buesher, driver of the Number 30 Chevrolet, is the winner of the 2012 DRIVE4COPD 300 Nationwide Series race at Daytona International Speedway. Buescher battled through 120 laps of mayhem, including a last-lap crash that took out front-runners like Trevor Bayne, Tony Stewart, Elliott Sadler, Joey Logano, Kurt Busch, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Kyle Busch, to take the victory, despite being in a crash himself late in the game.

Buescher said of his first victory, “It’s incredible. This is top of the list for any race car driver to win at — and we did it.”  He’s not the only first-time winner this weekend, as rookie John King won the Camping World Truck Series race on Friday night.

Danica Patrick, the first female to win a pole position since Shawna Robinson in 1994, had seemingly good luck for the first 50 laps, until a mistake by her teammate, rookie Cole Whitt, caused her to spin out into the wall. Patrick could be heard screaming expletives over the radio about Whitt, but calmly stated later, “I don’t think it’s ever great when teammates come together, so we’ll have to figure out what happened and move forward.”

Whitt said of the accident,” Yeah, I think we’ll be fine. I wouldn’t expect her to be happy about it. I wouldn’t be happy about it, either. I don’t know why anyone would expect her to be like, ‘Oh yeah, it’s great.’ We’re teammates.” Suffice to say, they will most likely have a few words about Whitt’s mistake in the next team meeting.

Patrick’s team pushed the car to the garage for extensive repairs, losing 48 laps in the process. She returned to the track on Lap 98 and finished 38th. Not a very optimistic start to the former Indy car driver’s season, but with the rest of the season in front of her, she has numerous chances to make up for her position in the current standings.

Watch the last-lap crash that led to Buescher’s win here:

Buescher Wins Daytona Nationwide Race, Patrick Crashes Early is a post from: The Inquisitr

]]> http://www.inquisitr.com/197991/buescher-wins-daytona-nationwide-race-patrick-crashes-early/feed/ 0 http://www.inquisitr.com/197777/danica-patrick-takes-pole-position-for-nationwide-race/ http://www.inquisitr.com/197777/danica-patrick-takes-pole-position-for-nationwide-race/#comments Sat, 25 Feb 2012 00:01:37 +0000 Dan Evon http://www.inquisitr.com/?p=197777 Danica Patrick suffered a rough crash yesterday during a preliminary round at the Daytona 500, but the GoDaddy.com driver bounced back to take the pole position for the DRIVE4COPD 300 Nationwide Series race. Patrick is the second woman in NASCAR history to take the pole position in one of the top three national series. Shawna Robinson was [...]

Danica Patrick Becomes Second Woman in NASCAR History To Take Pole Position is a post from: The Inquisitr

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Danica Patrick suffered a rough crash yesterday during a preliminary round at the Daytona 500, but the GoDaddy.com driver bounced back to take the pole position for the DRIVE4COPD 300 Nationwide Series race. Patrick is the second woman in NASCAR history to take the pole position in one of the top three national series.

Shawna Robinson was the first to accomplish the feat in 1994 whenshe took the pole in a Nationwide Series race in Atlanta.

Patrick said:

“I don’t think about it from a girl perspective. It was about being the best driver, not the best girl.”

The New York Times reports that Patrick topped a field of 50 cars at the Daytona International Speedway. Patrick posted a lap time of 49.250 seconds to clock a speed of 182.741 miles per hour. Trevor Bayne, who won the Daytona 500 last year, finished in second.

Patrick’s pole position is surprising, not because she’s new to NASCAR, but because her primary car was destroyed in her crash yesterday. Patrick joked at the time that maybe it was a “blessing in disguise” and that maybe her backup car was really faster. Well, it looks like she may have been right.

Patrick said:

“I was thinking about how disappointing the end of the day was yesterday and how happy it can be 24 hours later. It was a good turn of events. It’s always good to have something that brings your spirits up.”

The pole position will give Patrick the top spot on the grid tomorrow, but it will also put a little more pressure on her shoulder. Patrick knows now that her car is fast enough to win, now it’s up to her to drive it to victory.

“I got much more nervous because I know my car is fast. And when you sit on the pole, you’re the fastest car. So if you don’t win the race, then I just wasted the fasted car. So yes, it adds a lot of pressure and now I feel nervous.”

Do you think Danica Patrick will be able to win tomorrow?

Danica Patrick Becomes Second Woman in NASCAR History To Take Pole Position is a post from: The Inquisitr

]]> http://www.inquisitr.com/197777/danica-patrick-takes-pole-position-for-nationwide-race/feed/ 1 danica patrick http://www.inquisitr.com/196125/nascar-bans-general-lee-over-confederate-flag/ http://www.inquisitr.com/196125/nascar-bans-general-lee-over-confederate-flag/#comments Mon, 20 Feb 2012 22:50:36 +0000 H. Scott English http://www.inquisitr.com/?p=196125 When Pro-Golfer Bubba Watson bought the 1969 Dodge Charger known as the “General Lee” for 110,000 a few years ago he never assumed it would be the center of controversy that it is right now. Watson wanted to drive it on the parade lap before the Subway Fresh Fit 500. But NASCAR had a problem [...]

NASCAR Bans “General Lee” Over Confederate Flag is a post from: The Inquisitr

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When Pro-Golfer Bubba Watson bought the 1969 Dodge Charger known as the “General Lee” for 110,000 a few years ago he never assumed it would be the center of controversy that it is right now. Watson wanted to drive it on the parade lap before the Subway Fresh Fit 500.

But NASCAR had a problem with the giant Confederate flag painted on the roof of the car and told him that it wasn’t going to happen.

NASCAR spokesman David Higdon said,

“The image of the Confederate flag is not something that should play an official role in our sport as we continue to reach out to new fans and make NASCAR more inclusive,”

As could be expected NASCAR is taking some flak from its traditional fan base.  Those fans say the confederate flag is not a sign of racism or slavery but a part of their southern heritage.  Fans outside of the press conference told reporters,

“It makes me want to vomit.”

“This isn’t America. It’s Communist Russia.”

“Just one more example of NASCAR abandoning its traditional fans. Bill France Sr. is rolling over in his grave.”

“It is a disgraceful and gratuitous insult to a lot of very decent people. It is prejudicial toward those good-hearted folks, who, like Uncle Jesse Duke, are in fact, ‘never meaning’ no harm.’ ”

These are just a smattering of examples that were posted on NASCAR’s site in reference to the General Lee. While it may be true that the vast majority of people agree that the confederate flag is not a symbol of racism and hatred, most do not agree that even without that intent the flag has become a symbol of hatred and intolerance.

Do you agree with NASCAR that there is no reason to include a giant confederate flag during it’s performance?

NASCAR Bans “General Lee” Over Confederate Flag is a post from: The Inquisitr

]]> http://www.inquisitr.com/196125/nascar-bans-general-lee-over-confederate-flag/feed/ 19 General Lee http://www.inquisitr.com/195786/daytona-500-pole-goes-to/ http://www.inquisitr.com/195786/daytona-500-pole-goes-to/#comments Sun, 19 Feb 2012 23:02:27 +0000 Melissa Stusinski http://www.inquisitr.com/?p=195786 When the green flag drops during next Sunday’s Daytona 500 NASCAR race, Carl Edwards will lead the pack in his number 99 Ford, with Greg Biffle in the number 16 by his side. The NASCAR superstar won the pole with a qualifying lap of  194.738 mph in his No. 99 Ford, closely followed by Biffle’s lap [...]

Daytona 500 Pole goes to… is a post from: The Inquisitr

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When the green flag drops during next Sunday’s Daytona 500 NASCAR race, Carl Edwards will lead the pack in his number 99 Ford, with Greg Biffle in the number 16 by his side. The NASCAR superstar won the pole with a qualifying lap of  194.738 mph in his No. 99 Ford, closely followed by Biffle’s lap of 194.087. Positions 3 through 43 will be determined by two Gatorade Duels, 150 mile long races that take place on Thursday, and will set the tone for Sunday’s race.

The Daytona 500 race is NASCAR’s biggest race of the season, held every year in February, at Daytona International Raceway, Daytona Beach, Florida. The race is attended by over 168,000 people each year, and tickets are very hard to come by. While the race is the opening of the NASCAR Sprint Cup season, it is considered to be the Superbowl of the NASCAR races.

The first race was held in 1959 on the beaches of Daytona, and was won by Lee Petty, whose winner’s purse was $19,050. Last year’s winner, Trevor Bayne, won an astonishing $1,462,563, not bad for the rookie’s first race in the prestigious series. With other winners, like Richard Petty, Mario Andretti, Dale Earnhardt, and Jeff Gordon, it is easy to see why so many drivers want this victory. Not only will they get their name on the wall, next to these greats, they also get a huge payoff, and the right to call themselves Champion of the Great American Race.

Among the usual qualifiers for the Daytona 500 race, such as Tony Stewart (last year’s Sprint Cup champion), Dale Earnhardt Junior, and Jeff Gordon, we will also see names like Trevor Bayne (last year’s 2011 Daytona winner) and Danica Patrick (known for her participation in the Indianapolis 500). With names like these, we are sure to see an exciting race.

Watch Carl Edwards’ Daytona 500 qualifying lap here:

Daytona 500 Pole goes to… is a post from: The Inquisitr

]]> http://www.inquisitr.com/195786/daytona-500-pole-goes-to/feed/ 0 http://www.inquisitr.com/173603/kasey-kahne-apologizes-for-breastfeeding-remarks/ http://www.inquisitr.com/173603/kasey-kahne-apologizes-for-breastfeeding-remarks/#comments Thu, 29 Dec 2011 17:55:25 +0000 Kim LaCapria http://www.inquisitr.com/?p=173603 Earlier this week, NASCAR driver Kasey Kahne drew a bit of ire from the lactivist community when he made a series of body-shaming comments through his Twitter account after seeing a woman nursing in a grocery store. Kahne’s comments were the type you’re well familiar with if you’ve been a nursing mother at any point- [...]

Kasey Kahne Apologizes For Breastfeeding Remarks is a post from: The Inquisitr

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Earlier this week, NASCAR driver Kasey Kahne drew a bit of ire from the lactivist community when he made a series of body-shaming comments through his Twitter account after seeing a woman nursing in a grocery store.

Kahne’s comments were the type you’re well familiar with if you’ve been a nursing mother at any point- the standard “that’s nasty, I lost my appetite” kind of thing. Kahne’s attitude in the posts (quoted below) were- not surprisingly- offensive to many who have been in  the position of having to nurse in or near public, and outcry was swift and angry. Kahne originally said:

Just walking through supermarket. See a mom breast feeding little kid. Took second look because I was obviously seeing things. I wasn’t! …One boob put away and one boob hanging!!! #nasty …I don’t feel like shopping anymore or eating…

Initially, Kahne’s response to one angry tweeter (“your [sic] a dumb bitch”) didn’t ameliorate the situation either, but it seems the NASCAR star has changed his position, and he sent a pleasant apology- it seems to indicate that not only is he sorry for the offense caused, but that Kahne also appreciates the folly in his original comments. Kahne begins:

“I understand that my comments regarding breastfeeding posted on Twitter were offensive to some people. For that, I apologize. It was in no way my intention to offend any mother who chooses to breastfeed her child, or, for that matter, anyone who supports breastfeeding children. I want to make that clear… In all honestly, I was surprised by what I saw in a grocery store. I shared that reaction with my fans on Twitter. It obviously wasn’t the correct approach, and, after reading your feedback, I now have a better understanding of why my posts upset some of you.”

Kahne continued:

“My comments were not directed at the mother’s right to breastfeed. They were just a reaction to the location of that choice, and the fashion in which it was executed on that occasion… I respect the mother’s right to feed her child whenever and wherever she pleases.”

Given his initial remarks, it’s heartening such a dramatic reversal so rapidly followed. Oddly enough, if anything, the incident seems to be a testament to the benefits of nursing in public as a way to cement a woman’s right to nurse in public.

What do you think about Kahne’s initial remarks and subsequent apology?

Kasey Kahne Apologizes For Breastfeeding Remarks is a post from: The Inquisitr

]]> http://www.inquisitr.com/173603/kasey-kahne-apologizes-for-breastfeeding-remarks/feed/ 12 kasey kahne twitter breastfeeding http://www.inquisitr.com/173326/kasey-kahne-nascar-driver-picks-on-breastfeeding-moms-on-twitter/ http://www.inquisitr.com/173326/kasey-kahne-nascar-driver-picks-on-breastfeeding-moms-on-twitter/#comments Wed, 28 Dec 2011 22:12:26 +0000 Kim LaCapria http://www.inquisitr.com/?p=173326 In a shocking turn of events, it appears a NASCAR driver is an uneducated, not-very-enlightened hillbilly. Kasey Kahne, 31, is apparently active in charitable work, but it doesn’t appear to interfere with his personal misogyny or propensity to engage in perpetuating negative stereotypes about women (breastfeeding mothers, in particular.) Racing is traditionally a bit of [...]

Kasey Kahne, NASCAR Driver, Picks on Breastfeeding Moms on Twitter is a post from: The Inquisitr

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In a shocking turn of events, it appears a NASCAR driver is an uneducated, not-very-enlightened hillbilly.

Kasey Kahne, 31, is apparently active in charitable work, but it doesn’t appear to interfere with his personal misogyny or propensity to engage in perpetuating negative stereotypes about women (breastfeeding mothers, in particular.) Racing is traditionally a bit of a boys club- as a non-fan, the only think I know about the one chick that I know of from NASCAR is that she is “hot,” and Kahne seems to have internalized the “boobs are for selling beer” attitude.

The racing star took to Twitter to spew some injudicious comments about a breastfeeding woman who had the nerve to be the mother of a hungry baby in a supermarket, of all places, and though some of the offensive tweets have been removed, they’ve all been preserved because nothing really ever gets fully deleted from the internet. Kahne sent the following series of tweets Monday after being exposed to nursing in public:

Just walking through supermarket. See a mom breast feeding little kid. Took second look because I was obviously seeing things. I wasn’t!

One boob put away and one boob hanging!!! #nasty

I don’t feel like shopping anymore or eating

@KnittingRad And your a dumb b****.

It should be pointed out, in case you missed it, that breastfeeding is not only an act that literally saves the lives of babies all the time, it is also a protected activity in many states. And further, it’s stupid, reckless comments like Kahne’s that push women away from the practice, despite the palpable benefits to both mother and child.

It would be nice if Kahne retracted his comments and apologized to women who are forced to endure such puritanical, misplaced and dangerous attitudes when they have the audacity to feed their babies in public. But in the interim, the NASCAR star should take a look at the chart below, and remind himself that not ever pair of breasts he sees is in fact relevant to him.

Kasey Kahne, NASCAR Driver, Picks on Breastfeeding Moms on Twitter is a post from: The Inquisitr

]]> http://www.inquisitr.com/173326/kasey-kahne-nascar-driver-picks-on-breastfeeding-moms-on-twitter/feed/ 146 kasey kahne twitter breastfeeding kasey kahne breastfeeding http://www.inquisitr.com/172131/nascar-champion-kurt-busch-to-drive-for-phoenix-racing/ http://www.inquisitr.com/172131/nascar-champion-kurt-busch-to-drive-for-phoenix-racing/#comments Sun, 25 Dec 2011 14:32:28 +0000 H. Scott English http://www.inquisitr.com/?p=172131 Kurt Busch, 2004 Sprint Cup Champion and NASCAR All-Star has made his decision.  Next year he will be driving the #51 Chevrolet for James Finch on the Phoenix Racing team.  Busch wade it to the Chase for the Cup again for the sixth straight season, but had a bit of a hard time closing the [...]

NASCAR Champion Kurt Busch to Drive for Phoenix Racing is a post from: The Inquisitr

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Kurt Busch, 2004 Sprint Cup Champion and NASCAR All-Star has made his decision.  Next year he will be driving the #51 Chevrolet for James Finch on the Phoenix Racing team.  Busch wade it to the Chase for the Cup again for the sixth straight season, but had a bit of a hard time closing the deal down the stretch.  He had been previously driving the #22 Dodge for Penske Racing

“I’m very happy to join Phoenix Racing, and, after entertaining a lot of quality offers, there’s no better place for me,” Busch said in a written statement. “We’re going to run the full schedule together, and we’re going to have fun doing it.

Finch has not been so successful since becoming an owner with only one Sprint Cup victory since 2009 at Talladega Speedway.

Ironically, Finch has been very critical of Busch’s behavior in the past.  He once told ESPN: “He needs to simmer down a while. There are a lot of people that don’t like Kurt. He’s never done anything to me personally. He just needs to look in the mirror and see what the problem is.”

Finch was always impressed by Busch’s skills behind the wheel.  for the last 10 seasons Busch has won at least one Sprint Cup race. In 2011, he won two races and finished 11th in the Chase for the Cup.

“All we want to do is win,” Finch said to USA Today. “Winning is why I’ve been in racing for as long as I have, but NASCAR is a very competitive sport, and winning – especially at the Sprint Cup level – is hard. But now, with Kurt Busch as our driver, we have a shot to win every week. He’s a past champion, and he’s proven he can win everywhere. Our sponsors are looking forward to Kurt representing their brands.

Finch is sure that he has the team and the cars that are poised to win and with the addition of Busch he thinks this is going to be a good year.

Is Kurt Busch going to bring home a championship for Phoenix Racing this year?

NASCAR Champion Kurt Busch to Drive for Phoenix Racing is a post from: The Inquisitr

]]> http://www.inquisitr.com/172131/nascar-champion-kurt-busch-to-drive-for-phoenix-racing/feed/ 0 Kurt Busch Will Wear Number 51 For Phoenix Racing