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contents

featUre story

things to Watch in 2014

DRIVER PROFILES

chase dreams

The 28 biggest storylines of the 2014 season

Who will battle for the championship? NASCAR POLE POSITION RACE FAN GUIDE AN OFFICIALLY LICENSED PUBLICATION OF NASCAR

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NASCAR POLE POSITION MAGAZINE

nascar bUcKet list

Places and events true fans can’t miss green flag

06 07 08 10 12 14

news & notes tradin’ paint q&a: david ragan terms of racing tailgating spotlight: casey mears

nascar fUel

64 65 66 70

careers lifestyle fun pages trivia

the great oUtdoors

Tony Stewart’s nature preserve

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history of nascar

Moments that helped shape NASCAR

Photo finish: danica PatricK

2014 is go-time for the No. 10 team

nascar defined

56 2013 & 2014

driver featUres

75 dakoda armstrong 76 tyler reddick 78 lee pulliam

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rosters & schedUles

72 nscs roster 73 nns roster ncwts roster 74 nascar series schedules

SALES NATIONAL ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: ALEXANDER WONG, DAVID WALDMAN, JAY ROSENTHAL, KRISTY LIMOTTA, ARNOUT KOK

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green flag neWs & notes

Post receives humanitarian award

on Post, event chairman of the March of Dimes’ Kansas City chapter’s “Bikers for Babies” motorcycle ride, received the Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards in Las Vegas. In 1980, Post’s life was forever changed when he was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s Disease, and was told he only had three to five years to live. He retired from his professional job and embarked on a 33-year mission of donating his time and talent to charities in the Kansas City area. Post was chosen as the award winner from among four finalists by a fan vote on NASCAR.com. The NASCAR Foundation made a $100,000 donation to the March of Dimes in Post’s honor and he also received a 2014 Chevrolet SS from Chevrolet.

s part of the award festivities that concluded the 2013 season, Dale Earnhardt Jr. was named the NMPA NASCAR Most Popular Driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for a record 11th consecutive year. More than 1 million fan votes were tallied with Earnhardt collecting in excess of 700,000 votes.

n a move designed to expand its commitment to enhancing event experiences and fan engagement, as well as solidify the future of one of the premier racing and entertainment facilities in the Midwest, NASCAR has purchased Iowa Speedway. The facility, located 30 miles east of Des Moines in Newton, features a .875-mile paved tri-oval designed by NASCAR Hall of Famer Rusty Wallace. The track’s 2014 schedule, available at iowaspeedway.com, is highlighted by two NASCAR Nationwide Series races.

hree-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart was honored with the 2013 Myers Brothers Award. Presented annually by the National Motorsports Press Association, the prestigious award recognized Stewart as a fierce competitor, championship team owner and race track promoter. “But he’s also helped others on many occasions; quietly and without recognition,” said NMPA President Kenny Bruce. “The stories of our winner’s big heart have gotten around; much to his dismay, I’m sure. Trust me, they’re endless.”

he Coca-Cola Co. is the ﬁrst three-time recipient of the NASCAR Marketing Achievement Award. The company, which has been a NASCAR partner since 1998, was recognized for its 2013 integrated marketing campaign that engaged fans, customers and employees across virtually every facet of the NASCAR ecosystem. “Over the course of our 15-year relationship CocaCola has become one of the most recognized brands in our sport,” said Jim O’Connell, NASCAR chief sales ofﬁcer. “Once again Coca-Cola raised the bar by creating innovative activation and an integrated marketing approach to engage with millions of NASCAR fans, embodying the spirit of the award.”

Pole Position 2014

weeping changes to the time-trial formats in NASCAR’s top three touring series will eliminate singlecar qualifying in all but two cases – the Daytona 500 and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on dirt at Tony Stewart’s Eldora Speedway. All other events in the NASCAR Sprint Cup, NASCAR Nationwide and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will feature timed sessions of knockout qualifying, with the number of sessions depending on the length of the track, NASCAR ofﬁcials announced in late January. “This is really going to shake things up on Fridays – in a good way. I’m all for it,” said driver Clint Bowyer.

lory Road, the most prominent feature of the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, N.C., has been revamped and now features a new lineup of 18 historically significant stock cars. Marshall Teague’s 1952 Hudson Hornet, Ned Jarrett’s 1966 Ford Fairlane and Jeff Gordon’s 1994 Chevrolet Lumina are among the cars on display.

ASCAR and Flowmaster have signed a multiyear agreement that designates Flowmaster as the exclusive NASCAR Performance partner for performance exhaust system components. The company will complement its category rights with participation in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Contingency Program. “We’re proud to welcome Flowmaster to the NASCAR family because they exemplify the type of reliability our fans have come to expect from

NASCAR Performance partners,” said Norris Scott, NASCAR vice president of partnership marketing. “NASCAR teams and contingency sponsors display a level of synergy and teamwork that is unparalleled and continues to be one of the major reasons companies choose to partner with NASCAR.” 2013

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tradin’ Paint green flag

cool new rides for 2014

ne of the most exciting parts to the start of every racing season is that so much is new. Not only are there new goals and expectations – there are new driver and team combinations, drivers with new car numbers, new sponsors and new paint schemes on many of the race cars. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racing is a very visual sport and, as a result, teams and sponsors spend countless hours producing paint scheme designs that will make their cars stand out on the race track. Not a single detail is overlooked and numerous versions are often produced before the final design is selected. Throughout the 2014 season, NASCAR Pole Position will showcase many of these “works of art” that adorn the Chevrolets, Fords and Toyotas competing in NASCAR’s premier series.

The No. 3 returns with Austin Dillon driving and Cheerios among the sponsors.

Kevin Harvick and Bud have a new home – and number – at Stewart-Haas Racing.

The paint on Kasey Kahne’s No. 5 Farmers Chevrolet is now a vibrant dark blue.

Tony Stewart returns in the No. 14 Bass Pro Shops/ Mobil 1 Chevrolet.

3M returns with a slightly different paint scheme for Greg Bifﬂe’s No. 16 Ford.

Quicken Loans will be a primary sponsor as Ryan Newman moves to the No. 31.

The paint scheme on Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s No. 88 Chevy now includes gold numbers.

images courtesy of Lionel Racing

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green flag Q&a

Q&a

david ragan at a glance

With nascar sPrint cUP series driver david ragan

favorite mUsic ■ Everything – from country to rock ’n’ roll, to rap to classical to blues

WHO ARE YOUR HEROES?

Ragan: Certainly, my dad [1980’s NASCAR driver Ken Ragan] has to be my biggest inspiration. As a young kid, I would watch him, not in a lot of NASCAR races but more short tracks and dirt-track stuff, even some go-kart and late model races that he was running. So I kind of looked up to him. But then when I started racing, he was very hands-on with my race car and he was the one that taught me good work ethic and the value of a dollar when we didn’t have a lot of money. We weren’t poor, but we didn’t have an unlimited budget, so we had to be careful with what we spent and what we bought. HAS MARRIAGE CHANGED YOU?

Ragan: It’s made me appreciate and understand the real things that are important in life. When I was in high school and fresh out of high school, racing was everything that I thought about and if I had a good day at the race track or a good day at the shop, everything was good. But if I had a bad day, that day was bad. So what kind of mood I was in or what kind of attitude I had, it all hinged upon my race car and race shop and my racing performance on the weekend, and that’s what consumed me. So, being married – we’re expecting our first child – it puts a different perspective in your life. DO YOU HAVE ANY REGRETS?

Ragan: I wish that I could have spent another year in the [NASCAR Camping World] Truck Series and even a full year in the [NASCAR] Nationwide Series before I went to the [NASCAR Sprint] Cup car. It was just a perfect storm when Mark [Martin] was originally retiring 08

Pole Position 2014

favorite season ■ Spring

favorite meal ■ I get up early and I love breakfast. I never miss it

by jared turner

in 2006 and I had run a handful of late model races, a handful of ARCA races and a handful of truck races. I had learned a lot, but I didn’t know how to race. I knew how to go fast, I knew how to drive but I didn’t know how to race. So I was thrown into the 6 car full time in the NASCAR Sprint Cup and NASCAR Nationwide Series, and I was going to a lot of tracks that I hadn’t seen before and experiencing a lot of things that I hadn’t experienced before, and I struggled. I was immature and I made a lot of stupid mistakes. WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING IF YOU WEREN’T RACING?

Ragan: I would have gone to college and got some type of engineering degree. I probably would have been involved in motorsports. I probably would have worked with a race track or worked with one of the manufacturers or maybe one of the race teams. I enjoy working on the race cars and understanding how they work and what makes them work as much as I do driving them, sometimes. WHAT DO YOU FORESEE IN YOUR FUTURE AFTER RACING?

Ragan: I hope that I can race as long as I can be healthy and be

competitive. I do this because I enjoy the competition and trying to get better to beat the next guy. You’re just never satisfied. And when that love or that interest is over, I still would like to be tied into the sport. My family has owned race tracks, we’ve owned parts stores, machine shops and we’ve been involved in different types of racing series from Legend Cars to the [NASCAR] Sprint Cup Series. So I would love to be in motorsports in some way, shape or form. But first and foremost, I’m going to be a good dad and raise my kids and have a good family. I don’t want to be consumed with racing until the day that I die and look back and wish that I would have spent more time with my kids and family and friends and other people. WHAT ONE THING WOULD YOU CHANGE ABOUT THE WORLD?

Ragan: I think a lot about the world we live in, and now that I’m going to be bringing a young child into this world, what’s the future of this world hold? There’s a lot of trouble with this world. It sounds very cliché but if we all just loved one another more, that would solve a lot of problems. It seems like when we wake up, everyone has their own agenda.

favorite vacation sPot ■ I prefer the mountains, where they don’t keep a clock and you’re kind of away from society

favorite holiday ■ I love Christmas

favorite Possession ■ Probably antique cars. I really love old, American-made, steel-bodied cars

PaPer or Plastic ■ Paper, I hate plastic bags

democrat or rePUblican ■ I’m a Republican, but I don’t agree with a lot of both sides sometimes

fame or money ■ Neither one does a whole lot for me

©2014 Bush Brothers & Company. JTG Daugherty Racing,™ AJ Allmendinger name and/ or likeness and race team, race car and car number used by authority of JTG Racing, Inc. CHEVROLET AND ALL ASSOCIATED MARKS, EMBLEMS AND DESIGNS ARE THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS OF CHEVROLET MOTOR CORPORATION AND USED WITH PERMISSION.

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green flag terms of racing

Understanding the Terminology of Racing While touring a garage area, visitors will find that drivers and crew members often use words or phrases that can be confusing to new or casual fans of America’s most-popular form of auto racing. Consider the following a study guide as these definitions will help you better understand the racing “lingo.” A-Frame: Either the upper or lower connecting suspension piece (in the shape of an A) that locks the frame to the front spindles. Air Pressure: Force exerted by air within a tire, expressed in pounds per square inch.

Bite: (1.) “Round of bite” describes the turning or adjusting of a car’s jacking screws found at each wheel. “Weight jacking” distributes the car’s weight at each wheel. (2.) Adhesion of a tire to the track surface. 10

POLE POSITION 2014

Camber: The amount a tire is tilted in or out from vertical. It is described in degrees, either positive or negative. Chassis: The steel structure or frame of the race car. Drag: The resistance a car

experiences when passing through air at high speeds. A resisting force exerted on a car parallel to its airstream and opposite in direction to its motion. Equalized: When the inner liner of a Goodyear tire loses air

pressure and that pressure becomes the same as that within the outer tire, creating a vibration. The inner shield should have a higher PSI than the outer tire. Front Clip: Beginning at the firewall, the front-most section of a race car. It

holds the engine and its associated electrical, lubricating and cooling apparatus; and the braking, steering and suspension mechanisms. Horsepower: A measurement of mechanical or engine power. Measured in the

amount of power it takes to move 33,000 pounds one foot in a minute. Loose: Also known as oversteer. It is when the rear tires of the race car have trouble sticking in the corners. This causes the car to “fishtail” as the rear end swings outward in the turns. A minor amount of this effect can be desirable on certain tracks. Neutral: A term drivers use when referring to how their car is handling. It is when a car is neither loose nor tight. Restrictor Plate: A thin metal plate with four holes that restricts airflow through the throttle body into the engine. Used to reduce horsepower and keep speeds down. The restrictor plates are currently used only at Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway, the

two biggest and fastest tracks. Ride Height: The distance

to “scuff” a tire. Scuffed Goodyear tires are most often used in qualifying.

between the race car’s frame rails and the track surface. Round: Slang term for a way of making chassis adjustments utilizing the race car’s springs. A wrench is inserted in a jack bolt attached to the springs, and is used to tighten or loosen the amount of play in the spring. This in turn can loosen or tighten up the handling of a race car. Scuffs: Term for tires that have been used at least once and saved for further racing. A lap or two is enough

Sway Bar: Sometimes called an anti-roll bar. It is used to resist or counteract the rolling force of the car body through the turns. Tight: Also known as understeer. A car is said to be tight if the front wheels lose traction before the rear wheels. A tight race car isn’t able to be steered sharply enough through the turns. Instead, the front end continues toward the wall. Wedge: Term that refers to the cross weight adjustment on a race car.

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green flag tailgating presented by

Race Fans Forever

Fans travel from afar to enjoy the fun before and after races by derek smith

POLE POSITION 2014

Lee Hoech, 46, a native of Seattle, Wash., transferred to South Carolina when his company relocated to Fort Mill. It was then he caught the racing bug and began attending races.

When Hoech and his crew tailgate, they hold egg-and-spoon races and enjoy playing cornhole. Winners receive prizes Hoech collects from the promotional giveaways by sponsors around the track.

Hoech marvels at the generosity of other tailgaters. At a snowy Bristol race in 2006, Hoech couldn’t light his grill but didn’t go hungry as nearby fans shared their food.

Lee Jackson, 38, has lived in the heart of racing country – North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. He attended his first race at Daytona in 1998 and has been tailgating routinely

since 2003. Jackson, whose favorite driver is Clint Bowyer, likes to arrive at the track at least six hours before the green flag and “grill and chill.” He sets up a large canopy and brings

a power generator for a fan or heater, depending on the season. Jackson prefers light fare in the summer like quesadillas and kabobs, and burgers in the fall. He also documents the event on video.

Thirty-eight-year-old Daniel Britton, of Dallas, N.C., attended his first race at Charlotte Motor Speedway while in the first grade and for the last 25 years he and a group of 25-30 friends and

relatives have been tailgating in the infield of the 1.5-mile track. “It’s like family out there,” he said. “We see the same neighbors from race to race.” This yearly tradition at the spring

and fall CMS races was passed down from Britton’s grandfather to his father. The group constructs a scaffold on the back of a truck in order to be high enough to see all 43 cars at one time.

A resident of Rock Hill, S.C., Cameron McCrary, 33, tailgates each year with a group of 10-15 friends at the All-Star race in May. He arrives at the track at 8 a.m. and makes the event “an

all-day party.” For McCrary, a Dale Jr. fan, the event allows him to socialize with friends he doesn’t see on a regular basis and meet new ones from all over the country. Bringing

and preparing more food than his group can eat, he often shares it with other fans. McCrary takes pleasure in observing the inventive ways others set up their tailgate area.

Andy Dunn, 36, moved to racing country to attend graduate school in North Carolina before relocating to Georgia where he coaches high school football. The Ohio native tries to catch

as many races as he can at places like Charlotte, Talladega, Atlanta and Daytona. Dunn’s tailgating has run the gamut from the back of an SUV to an infield RV. He says there’s a different buzz to

tailgating inside the track, calling it “more electric and more partylike” than being in the parking lot. A flat screen TV allows his group to watch the race while feeling the cars fly by.

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green flag spotlight

Motorcyclist Casey Mears Not a Speed-Rider

ike all NASCAR drivers, Casey Mears enjoys going as fast as possible in his race car. On his motorcycle, however, he takes a much different approach. Mears, owner of a snazzy black and white 2005 HarleyDavidson Heritage Softail, has been an avid motorcyclist since his days as a teenager in Bakersfield, Calif. In fact, it was while in high school and with his parents’ blessing – at the tender but legal age of 15 – that Mears first rode a motorcycle on the street. Now 35 with a family of his own, Mears is just as keen on riding as he was back then. The nephew of four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Rick Mears and son of IndyCar and off-road veteran Roger Mears wants to make one thing clear, however: His speed habit is reserved for the race track. “I’m a passionate racer and I love to compete and I love to run fast but, fortunately, I get to do it on the weekends,” he said. “When I ride my bike, to me it’s really not the time to go fast. I usually take it pretty easy on the street and just enjoy the feeling

that I get out of riding, and cruise around. Fans would probably be disappointed in me if they saw me go by because I’d be the one cruising and not really going too fast.” Mears, who grew up in a family of motorcycle enthusiasts, takes advantage of every chance he gets during the busy NASCAR season and short NASCAR offseason to jump on his bike. The longest trip he recalls ever taking was a six- or

seven-hour excursion up and then back down the California coast following an Indy Lights test near Sacramento. Mears has gone on shorter rides with fellow NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Kasey Kahne and Carl Edwards, and has rolled into several race tracks – including Martinsville Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway and Darlington Raceway – on his Harley. Mears is also

For Mears, It’s Safety First

afety is always at the forefront of Casey Mears’ mind. That’s not surprising considering that his primary sponsor in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is GEICO – an acclaimed vehicle insurance provider. “The biggest thing on a bike is people just don’t see you as well. It’s quite a bit smaller. It’s not a car,” Mears said. “The biggest thing is just really being aware of what you’re around. If you’re in a busy area, the one thing I always do before I come to a stop is just take a good look in my mirror and just see how close somebody may or may not be to me.”

fond of cruising around with his wife, Trish, who owns a Sportster Forty-Eight Harley. “Just being on a bike, you get kind of that convertible feeling that you have in a convertible car,” he said. “You’ve got the wind and the smells and all that stuff. You go by a field that’s freshly watered or something out near the farmland, it gets a little cool and then other areas it’s warmer. Just enjoying the ride is a lot of fun.”

By Jared Turner 14

POLE POSITION 2014

DRIVER CASEY | MEARS

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thE 28

things to watch in 2014

Kyle Busch’s Championship Quest: If there’s one driver with the talent and the team to unseat reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson, his name is Kyle Busch. Fresh off a career-best fourth-place points finish in 2013, Busch should be bubbling over with confidence after avoiding a familiar late-season letdown. Instead of fading down the stretch, Busch recorded seven top-10 finishes in the 10-race Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup (with only one finish outside the top 15) to cap off a stellar four-win season. Although Johnson has to be considered the favorite to repeat as champion, Busch appears to have at least one advantage over the six-time champion: the law of averages. Johnson will be shooting for his seventh championship in nine seasons, while Busch will be vying for his first title and one that feels long overdue. Unlike big brother Kurt Busch and Kevin Harvick – two drivers with championship aspirations but with new teams – Busch will be back in familiar territory, working with crew chief Dave Rogers on the No. 18 Toyota. Busch, who will no longer field NASCAR Nationwide Series teams out of Kyle Busch Motorsports, should also have fewer distractions from his own NASCAR Sprint Cup Series effort.

by jared turner 16

POLE POSItION 2014

A Better-Than-Ever Gen-6 Car: NASCAR worked diligently during the offseason to help the already-popular Gen-6 race car deliver an even more exciting on-track product. Changes to the rules package include statically setting the car’s ride height and eliminating the pre- and post-race front height rules and inspections. Other changes: a square leading edge on the splitter, side-skirt and rear-fascia adjustments and an eight-inch rear spoiler. The Return of Tony Stewart: A broken right leg suffered in a sprint car crash during August forced Tony Stewart to sit out the rest of the season, snapping a streak of 521 consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts. As a result, Stewart missed the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup for just the second time. But Stewart is back in 2014, and rest assured he’s ready to make up for lost time.

The Return of the No. 3: For the first time since the 2001 Daytona 500, a No. 3 car will compete in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Fittingly, the car’s driver is Austin Dillon, the 2013 NASCAR Nationwide Series champion and grandson of team owner Richard Childress, with whom the man synonymous with the No. 3 – the late Dale Earnhardt – won six of his seven NASCAR Sprint Cup Series titles. Johnson’s Pursuit of History: Reigning six-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson is intent on joining Richard Petty and the late Dale Earnhardt this season as the sport’s only seven-time champion drivers. Will it happen? With veteran and six-time champion crew chief Chad Knaus back atop the No. 48 pit box, denying Johnson a seventh title will be a tall task for the rest of the garage.

A Slip for Kenseth: Matt Kenseth’s second-place points finish last season doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll contend for the title this year – although he certainly could. The past six runners-up have combined for only one victory the season after their second-place showing, and none of them finished better than seventh in the standings. Over the past eight years, three runners-up missed the Chase the following season. Will Kenseth be the one to break the curse of the runner-up? The Development of Danica: Despite winning the pole for the Daytona 500 – a major and history-making accomplishment – Danica Patrick will probably be the first to admit her rookie season in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series didn’t go quite as well as she had hoped. Still, there were positives – her Daytona pole and an eighth-place finish in the Daytona 500 being the biggest – so there’s something to build on for 2014. POLEPOSITIONMAG.COM

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Dale Jr. in Victory Lane: The 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season proved to be one of Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s best. With a strong car almost every weekend, NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver finished fifth in points – matching his best result in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. The only disappointment for Junior was that he didn’t win a race. With crew chief Steve Letarte back for a fourth season, winning shouldn’t be a problem this year. The Stars of Stewart-Haas Racing: With the addition of 2013 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup qualifiers Kevin Harvick and Kurt Busch to its driver lineup, Stewart-Haas Racing immediately becomes one of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series’ most potent organizations. Sure, meshing the personalities of teammates Harvick, Busch, SHR co-owner/driver Tony Stewart and Danica Patrick

POLE POSITION 2014

could pose some challenges, but there’s no question about the extreme talent this organization brings to the track. Changing of the Guard at RCR: Stewart-Haas Racing isn’t the only top organization with a significantly different look. Two-thirds of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver lineup at Richard Childress Racing is new, with rookie Austin Dillon and veteran Ryan Newman replacing veterans Kevin Harvick and Jeff Burton. The lone returnee of the bunch is 2011 Brickyard 400 winner Paul Menard. Needless to say, it should be an interesting year. Gordon’s Drive for Five: After being added to the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup as a 13th driver in 2013, Jeff Gordon proved he belonged by picking up a win in the October race at Martinsville Speedway and finishing sixth in the standings. Will the Hendrick Motors-

ports driver and four-time champion finally earn a long-awaited fifth NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship? Underestimating him is never a good idea. Logano’s Second Ride for “The Captain”: Joey Logano’s first season with legendary team owner Roger Penske – also known as “The Captain” – was Logano’s best in five years of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competition. In addition to notching NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career win No. 3 at Michigan International Speedway, Logano made the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup for the first time and finished a career-best eighth in points. Year No. 2 at Team Penske looks promising. A Roush Fenway Racing Resurgence: Roush Fenway Racing drivers Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle combined to win three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races last season, and

both made the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Teammate Ricky Stenhouse Jr., meanwhile, claimed top rookie honors. Yet, despite the success, 2013 didn’t produce the overall results RFR customarily achieves. Expect that to change as several offseason personnel moves should have an immediate impact. Many Different Winners: Seventeen different drivers tasted victory over the course of the 36 points-paying NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events last season. Don’t be shocked if even more break into the win column this year. With the sport arguably more competitive than it has ever been, and the arrival of the healthiest rookie class in years, it’s certainly possible that several new faces could appear in Victory Lane by season’s end. A Rejuvenated Denny Hamlin: Denny Hamlin’s hopes of a 2013

title were all but completely nixed by a wreck in March that sidelined him for four races with a broken vertebra in his back. Hamlin missed the Chase for the first time during his career, but finished the season on a high note by winning the finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Health concerns now hopefully behind him, Hamlin should be a consistent frontrunner once again. Keselowski’s Return to the Chase: In 2013, Brad Keselowski did something that had only happened once before – miss the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup the year after winning the championship. Despite showing decent speed, bad luck foiled the Team Penske driver’s shot at an opportunity to run for a second title over the final 10 weeks. Keselowski and crew chief Paul Wolfe are too good to miss the Chase two years in a row, however.

A Michael Waltrip Racing Rebound: Bruised by its role in the controversial events during September’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Richmond International Raceway, Michael Waltrip Racing appears poised to rebound. Gone are former MWR drivers Martin Truex Jr. and Mark Martin, but new to the organization is veteran Jeff Burton, who will be a test driver and run a part-time race schedule alongside full-timers Clint Bowyer and Brian Vickers. Rookie Sensations: The rookie class is the deepest and most talented the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series has had in years. Highlighted by 2013 NASCAR Nationwide Series champion Austin Dillon and highly touted youngster Kyle Larson, this crop of newcomers to NASCAR’s top series is sure to turn heads. While there will certainly be a learning curve, don’t

POLEPOSITIONMAG.COM

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rule out multiple wins and even a possible Chase berth from among these kids. The Birth of New Rivalries: Every season seems to bring the birth of at least one or two new rivalries in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Last season, it was former Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano clashing at the spring Bristol Motor Speedway event and again during the following weekend‘s race at Auto Club Speedway in California. Which drivers will find themselves at odds at some point during the 2014 season? Stay tuned. New Race Dates: Darlington Raceway will no longer host NASCAR on Mother’s Day weekend, as the track’s lone NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race has swapped places on the schedule with Kansas Speedway’s spring event. Kansas, which will continue to also host a second event later in the season

POLE POSITION 2014

during the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, will turn its spring NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race into a nighttime affair under the lights. The New Chase Format: NASCAR Chairman Brian France announced in January that the Chase for the Sprint Cup would expand to 16 drivers in 2014, with a new winner-takeall championship format in which only four drivers will be championship-eligible entering the season finale at HomesteadMiami Speedway. The top four drivers after the season’s penultimate race at Phoenix International Raceway will have their point totals reset so that all are tied entering the final race. Whoever among the four finishes best at Homestead will be the champ. New Qualifying Procedures: NASCAR announced in January that 2014 would feature all-new qualifying procedures for

each of the sport’s top three series. Gone are the days of single-car qualifying runs, which have been replaced by a “knockout” format where multiple drivers are on track and eliminated in different rounds. The concept, which will inject new excitement and strategy into time trials, was met with immediate enthusiasm from competitors and track executives alike. The NASCAR Nationwide Series Owners’ Championship: Last season’s battle for the NASCAR Nationwide Series owners’ championship literally couldn’t have been any closer. In the end, Penske Racing’s No. 22 Ford Mustang edged the No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota by a single point. The No. 22 reached Victory Lane 12 times with four different drivers: Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, A.J. Allmendinger and Ryan Blaney. Is another close owners’ title fight in store? Don’t bet against it.

Crafton’s Quest for Backto-Back Titles: If Matt Crafton doesn’t repeat as NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion, the driver who wins the 2014 title will definitely not come from among the top three points finishers in 2013. That’s because both second-place James Buescher and third-place Ty Dillon have moved on to the NASCAR Nationwide Series, opening the door for youngster Jeb Burton, veteran Johnny Sauter and others to challenge Crafton. Sam and Kyle Sharing a Seat: Last year’s NASCAR Nationwide Series championship runnerup, Sam Hornish Jr., has landed a parttime gig with Joe Gibbs Racing’s NASCAR Nationwide Series program following stellar 2012 and ’13 seasons with Team Penske. Hornish will make seven starts in JGR’s No. 54 Toyota, which will be driven

primarily by Kyle Busch. The best news for Hornish is that this car won a serieshigh 12 races last season with Busch at the wheel. The Progression of “Bubba”: When Darrell Wallace Jr. took the checkered flag in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Martinsville Speedway in October, the 20-year-old driver, nicknamed “Bubba,” became the first African-American to win a NASCAR national series race since Wendell Scott on Dec. 1, 1963. Wallace, who scored in just his 19th career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start, clearly has a promising future in the sport, and should make headlines again in 2014. Trucks Back on Dirt: The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will return to Tony Stewart’s Eldora Speedway in late July.

Last year’s inaugural event at the half-mile dirt track in Rossburg, Ohio, attracted a sell-out crowd and created a buzz in the NASCAR community the likes of which hadn’t been seen since the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was added to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule in 1994. Will the 2014 edition of the Mudsummer Classic be as exciting – and entertaining – as the first? A New NASCAR Nationwide Series Champ: With Austin Dillon’s move from the NASCAR Nationwide Series to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, there is sure to be a new NASCAR Nationwide Series champion. The only question is who that champion will be. Elliott Sadler, Trevor Bayne, Regan Smith and Dillon’s younger brother, Ty, should all be factors in what figures to be an intriguing fight for the series’ top prize.

POLEPOSITIONMAG.COM

NASCAR BUCKET LIST

PLACES AND EVENTS TRUE FANS CAN’T MISS To be considered a true NASCAR fan, there are certain places and events that are practically mandatory to experience. Here are a few that tie in with the first five venues on the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule

Daytona Beach, Fla., is one of the nation’s premier beach towns, and there’s never a bad time to get some sand between the toes and soak up a few rays – even in February. Daytona Beach is also known for great food and a terrific nightlife.

SPEEDWEEKS If there’s one can’t-miss-event for every NASCAR fan, it’s Budweiser Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway. OK, so maybe it would be more accurately called “10 Days of Daytona,” but that doesn’t take away from the spectacle. Unlike most events on the NASCAR calendar where drivers and teams are in and out of a race track in three days, Daytona Speedweeks is like a mini-season unto itself. Starting with practice for the Sprint Unlimited at Daytona exhibition race on a Friday in mid-February and culminating with the running of the grandest of all stock car races – the Daytona 500 – two Sundays later, Speedweeks is a highenergy affair like no other. Fans come from all over the country – and the world – and spend the better part of two weeks watching the stars of NASCAR put it all on the line to take home the coveted Harley J. Earl trophy that is awarded to the Daytona 500 winner. In addition to the season debut for each of NASCAR’s top three divisions, there are concerts, games and fan events.

At the top of “Monument Hill” sits a 15-foot concrete “X,” which is a U.S. Geological Survey benchmark known as the Gila and Salt River Meridian. The Gila and Salt River Meridian is the starting point of all land surveying used for property deeds and real-estate taxation.

MONUMENT HILL Known as “Monument Hill” or “Rattlesnake Hill,” the area hovering above Turns 3 and 4 at Phoenix International Raceway has become a fan-favorite spot from which to watch the action during the track’s two annual NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekends. While the hill and other areas surrounding the Arizona track have allegedly produced the occasional rattlesnake sighting over the years, fans say the perks of sitting on the hill outweigh any potential risks. Also known as “The Hillside,” the 155-foot perch is available for general admission seating – spots on the hill are known as “cheap seats” – and offers breathtaking views. Fans who covet a little extra legroom on race day, for example, find sitting here attractive. Food, souvenirs and portable toilets are located nearby, so sitting on the hill doesn’t keep fans from the amenities they most desire. Hillside patrons are encouraged to bring a blanket or a lawn chair, and many fans bring pop-up canopies.

Each December, the famed Las Vegas Strip heats up during the annual Champion’s Week festivities when all of the year’s Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup participants parade down Las Vegas Blvd. in their race cars for what is known as the NASCAR Victory Lap. A burnout competition is also held.

HAULER PARADE The NASCAR Hauler Parade, which showcases the 18-wheelers that tote NASCAR Sprint Cup Series cars and equipment to and from tracks across the country, visits several NASCAR host towns during the racing season. But nowhere is this colorful display of big rigs more popular or done in more grandiose fashion than under the neon lights of “Sin City.” As part of the buildup to Las Vegas Motor Speedway’s annual NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekend, the NASCAR Hauler Parade thunders up the world-famous Las Vegas Strip a few days before the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers go for broke at the 1.5-mile track. The parade, which typically gets going as the sun sets on the Thursday of race week, begins near the iconic “Welcome to Las Vegas” sign, and the haulers move north on Las Vegas Blvd. and proceed approximately five miles to Sahara Ave. to enter Interstate 15 North to complete the journey to the speedway. More than 50 haulers are expected to participate in this year’s event.

by jared turner 22

POLE POSITION 2014

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he track and the legends that have graced it are only part of what makes Martinsville famous: Thin, deep-red Jesse Jones hot dogs sold at the track’s concession stands. These delights on a bun are priced at just $2 each and come wrapped in wax paper and served with chili, onions, mustard and slaw.

thunder valley Bristol Motor Speedway, a .533-mile high-banked oval in the mountains of Tennessee, is widely regarded as one of the most popular places to watch a race on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series calendar. The track’s history of producing electrifying finishes and some of the sport’s most hard-nosed, fender-banging action is a huge part of what draws fans to “Thunder Valley” – but it’s not the only factor that keeps the masses coming back every spring and late summer. In addition to having played host to some of the sport’s most epic on-track battles through the years, Bristol Motor Speedway has also gained a reputation for its stellar and affordable camping options. Each of the track’s five camping sites offers unlimited access to shower facilities, while the track’s premier campsite – known as the Medallion Motorcoach Community – features a private, exclusive “gated community” of 20-foot by 50-foot reserved spaces with power, water and sewer hook-ups.

Southern California has miles of beaches to explore, world-famous attractions, hundreds of fashionsetting stores to visit and restaurants for every taste. In addition, sports enthusiasts have a multitude of activities and adventure options awaiting them on more than 100,000 acres of preserved wilderness.

HOLLYWOOD Auto Club Speedway, which joined the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series tour in 1997 and now hosts a lone NASCAR weekend each spring, is located about an hour east of Los Angeles in Fontana, Calif. Why is this significant? It’s because Auto Club Speedway is NASCAR’s connection to the vast and exciting world of Hollywood. The two-mile facility provides what no other track can – a direct gateway to Los Angeles, Hollywood and Beverly Hills with all of the pageantry, entertainment sources and opportunities to rub shoulders with the stars that those places offer. Attend any NASCAR race at Auto Club Speedway and you might bump into any number of personalities seen on the proverbial big screen. Leaving the track for a quick side trip to L.A. is a must for every fan who has ever watched a movie or TV show produced in Hollywood, and for every fan who has ever wanted to see the ornate places that America’s premier actors and actresses call home.

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FEAtURE

the Great Outdoors

tONy StEWARt MAKING AN IMPACt AS A CONSERVAtIONISt

PRESENtED By

The three-time champion is using his Hidden Hollow Ranch to help preserve The Great Outdoors.

ant to know where one’s life passion lies? Ask his mother. In the case of three-time champion Tony Stewart, that’s certainly true. Not just because she raised him and gave birth to him, but also because she works for him. Stewart’s mom – Pam Boas – is treasurer of the board of directors for the Indianapolis-based Tony Stewart Foundation, where she helps with day-to-day promotion of her son’s personal and racing interests.

Stewart and his mom launched the foundation in 2003 as an official platform to promote a cause that has long been near and dear to Stewart’s heart – wildlife and habitat conservation awareness. Stewart’s love of the outdoors, and conservation efforts in particular, is most evident by a piece of property he purchased in 2004 – the 800-acre Hidden Hollow Ranch near his hometown of Columbus, Ind. The property, which includes an eight-acre lake brimming with fish, is bubbling over with various forms of

wildlife – from white tail deer and eastern wild turkey to coyotes, songbirds, squirrels, raccoons and rabbits. “He’s had 10 years there, basically, and loves the property,” Boas said. “He loves animals and has helped the DNR here in Indiana with rescuing deer, baby deer, when they’ve lost their mommas, and that’s been a real joy to watch because we as a family have been able to go down and help bottle feed these little babies. It’s just like touching a piece of heaven.” Stewart, an avid hunter for most of the past decade, built

a home on the property in the summer of 2012 and hosts a number of conservationistfriendly activities throughout the year on the sprawling ranch. “I love the outdoors and everything that goes into maintaining the outdoors. Nurturing the land is as satisfying for me as hunting and fishing,” said Stewart, who served as the 2012 honorary chair of National Hunting and Fishing Day. “Giving back is something that drives me, be it in racing or with the outdoors. In order for racing to be sustainable, we have to have younger generations get

involved. It’s the same with the outdoors. In order for hunting and fishing to be sustainable, our land and wildlife needs to be managed and maintained, and that knowledge has to be passed on from one generation to the next.” Stewart has a full-time property manager who ensures that the grounds and wildlife are preserved while he is away racing at least 38 weekends every year. “He’s worked very hard with the people that help him there at Hidden Hollow to make sure the deer are given the proper food by planting

by jared turner 24

POLE POSItION 2014

Join the nwtf as we tackle the challenges to our hunting heritage together we’ll

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feature National Wild Turkey Federation In the Business of Saving a Lifestyle unting and habitat go hand-in-hand. We can’t have quality hunting without quality wildlife habitat. And the past has proven we won’t have sustainable wildlife habitat unless hunters are involved. Hunters pay for 80 percent of the budgets for state wildlife agencies, which drive the research and work to restore essential habitat for game and nongame species. We lose 6,000 acres of habitat every day. Hunters fund conservation but now less than 10 percent of the American population hunts, so the funding source is going away. We could sit idle and watch fields go fallow and our hunting rights crumble, or we can begin saving our lifestyle now. The National Wild Turkey Federation isn’t going to let it happen on its watch. That’s why it launched the Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt. initiative. The NWTF is committed to raise $1.2 billion to conserve and enhance more than four million acres of essential upland wildlife habitat, create at least 1.5 million new hunters and open access to 500,000 new acres for hunting, shooting and outdoor enjoyment. “Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt. Those two phrases capture everything we believe. It’s who we are. And it’s how we must think to ensure our heritage remains strong for the next generation,” says NWTF CEO George Thornton. The NWTF is leading a movement bigger than just one organization. So much is at stake — our country’s wildlife, our hunting heritage, the wild places we go to renew our souls. Join the NWTF as its dedicated volunteers work to save what’s important to us all — our lifestyle. Sign up today for $35 and receive a $25 Bass Pro Shops promo card. Learn more at nwtf.org.

feed plots and giving them grain that’s got the proper nutrition in it for them,” Boas said. “He does the same thing with the fish in his little lake there – makes sure they are given the proper nutrition not only by making the lake environmentally friendly for the fish, but also providing food for them that helps them to stay healthy. So, he’s always had a big heart for animals and being on this property where he has deer and the fish and other wildlife there, that’s just a big part of Tony Stewart himself.” Stewart has used Hidden Hollow in partnership with Mississippi State University to partake in research on wildlife population control and disease. The researchers’ work comes as growing deer populations across the United States have stressed habitat, created more human-deer conflicts and endangered the animals’ food sources. In 2012, the Quality Deer Management Association held

POLE POSITION 2014

courses at the ranch that focused on managing wildlife populations. “Tony’s dedicated to using that whole property for what we might call a holistic approach to taking advantage of the resource but also taking great care of that resource and being a very good steward of that entire property,” said Dr. Marty Brunson, a former wildlife and fisheries professor who serves as CEO of the CatchA-Dream Foundation, which uses Hidden Hollow in partnership with Stewart to provide hunting and fishing experiences for children with terminal or lifethreatening illnesses. Stewart’s passion for the outdoors makes him an ideal spokesman for Bass Pro Shops, which became a primary sponsor of the driver’s No. 14 StewartHaas Racing Chevrolet in 2013. Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris is a longtime fishing and hunting buddy of Stewart, whose relationship with the company extends almost 15 years.

Stewart has also carried the signage of the National Wild Turkey Federation, a close ally of Bass Pro Shops, on the hood of his race car. “People like Tony who are landowners and active conservationists, and practice good habitat management, are critically important,” said Doug Saunders, senior vice president of marketing for the National Wild Turkey Federation. “The majority of habitat in this country is privately held, so anyone who’s willing to set an example of how people should care for the wildlife habitat they have falls right in line with what we’ve built this organization on, and that is sound habitat management and education. The unique thing about Tony, as I see it, is that he’s willing to take his own personal interests into the association with Bass Pro Shops, and use the platform he’s got to be an advocate for other people to follow suit.”

BOOKS FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY Go trackside with FOX Sports broadcaster Chris Myers An outsider turned insider who “gets” what NASCAR fans and the world of NASCAR is all about Longtime FOX Sports broadcaster and NASCAR pre-race show host Chris Myers demonstrates that racing embodies the best of what makes America great: our competitive spirit; our will to win; our love of pageantry, heroes, and tradition; our willingness to face risks and build for the future. Myers takes fans to trackside, places them in the car and in the middle of the action and shares the sports finer moments, its most challenging times and introduces fans to a world that is so deeply cherished by all fans of motorsports.

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We didn’t just throw down the gauntlet.

We kicked it. Iconic tracks and iconic events together in one championship for the first time in a generation. Welcome to the next great chapter in North American sports car racing.

2014 TUDOR United SportsCar Championship Schedule

January 24-26 Daytona International Speedway

July 12-13 Canadian Tire Motorsport Park

March 14-15 Sebring International Raceway

July 25 Indianapolis Motor Speedway

April 12 Long Beach Street Circuit

August 9-10 Road America

May 3-4 Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca

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Chase Dreams by jared turner POLEPOSITIONmAG.COM

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48 number

Jimmie Johnson If there’s any driver whose ticket to the 2014 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup seems like little more than a formality, it’s the six-time and reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion.

CHASING HISTORY

info Owner Rick Hendrick Team Hendrick Motorsports Sponsors Lowe’s/ Kobalt Tools Manufacturer Chevrolet Crew Chief Chad Knaus

POLE POSITION 2013

Jimmie Johnson, who last season became only the third driver in NASCAR history to win six titles in the sport’s top series, seeks to make more history by joining Richard Petty and the late Dale Earnhardt as the only drivers to claim the sport’s top prize a record seven times. Since the debut of the Chase format in 2004, Johnson and his No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports team have never been in any real danger of missing the 10-race playoff from which the champion is ultimately crowned. In fact, since joining NASCAR’s premier series in 2002, Johnson’s worst points finish is sixth, and the California native has never been to Victory Lane fewer than two times in a full-time season. That’s dominance – and consistency – at its finest. There’s no reason to believe this season will be any different as Johnson returns to the grid with veteran crew chief Chad Knaus still calling the shots and team owner Rick Hendrick continuing to provide a fleet of Chevrolets that will undoubtedly be among the best in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series garage. To miss the Chase, Johnson would probably need to skip at least two or three races in the regular season, and even then he could probably find his way into NASCAR’s playoff via a Wild Card berth. In short, if Johnson missed the Chase this season, it would be one of the biggest stunners in NASCAR history, although a driver missing the Chase a season after winning the title is not without precedent. It’s happened twice – first in 2006 with 2005 champion Tony Stewart, and again last season with 2012 champion Brad Keselowski.

Photos courtesy Hendrick Motorsports

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14 NumbER

Tony Stewart The success and return to competition of three-time series champion Tony Stewart is without question one of the biggest storylines of the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season.

bACK IN THE SEAT

INFO Owner MaRGaRet Haas Team stewaRt-Haas RacinG SpOnSOrS bass pRo sHops/ MobiL 1/RusH tRuck centeRs manufacTurer cHevRoLet crew chief cHad JoHnston

POLE POSITION 2013

Stewart, one of the sport’s most popular drivers, saw his hopes of a Chase berth dashed last season when he broke his tibia and fibula during an Aug. 5 sprint car race in Oskaloosa, Iowa. The injury to his right leg forced the driver nicknamed “Smoke” to miss the final 15 races of the season, and in the process eliminated him from Chase contention. After months of rehab, Stewart is believed to be healthy again and is paired with a new crew chief in Chad Johnston, the former crew chief for Martin Truex Jr. at Michael Waltrip Racing. Stewart – the co-owner of Stewart-Haas Racing – hand-picked Johnston during the offseason to replace Steve Addington, Stewart’s crew chief from the past two years who replaced his 2011 championshipwinning crew chief, Darian Grubb. How quickly Stewart gels with Johnston, their chemistry together and whether Stewart experiences any lingering effects from his injury will be pivotal in whether he returns to the Chase. Another factor could be the new dynamic at Stewart-Haas, where Stewart may no longer be the clear top dog. Joining him this season as teammates are two of the sport’s most talented and accomplished current drivers – 2004 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Kurt Busch and Kevin Harvick, a Daytona 500 winner who has finished third in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series standings three times, including last season at Richard Childress Racing. Stewart was squarely on the Chase bubble last season, sitting 11th in points with one win, when his leg injury forced him to hand over the wheel. He was often seen in the garage area on crutches and, later, a scooter over the season’s final weeks.

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matt Kenseth Although a handful of drivers who ﬁnished second in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series standings have struggled the following season, don’t expect 2013 runner-up Matt Kenseth to be anything less than solid.

ANOTHER SOLID SEASON INFO Owner Joe Gibbs Team Joe Gibbs RacinG SpOnSOrS doLLaR GeneRaL/ tHe HoMe depot manufacTurer toYota crew chief Jason RatcLiFF

Other than perhaps reigning series champion Jimmie Johnson, there’s not a driver more assured of a Chase berth than Kenseth. In his first season with Joe Gibbs Racing after spending his entire career from his rookie season of 2000 with Roush Fenway Racing, Kenseth was impressive and at times dominant. No, he didn’t win the championship as he did in 2003 at Roush Fenway, but Kenseth gave Johnson all he could handle as the Hendrick Motorsports driver pursued a sixth championship in NASCAR’s top series. Driving a Toyota for the first time, Kenseth rolled up a careerhigh seven victories, including back-to-back triumphs at Chicagoland Speedway and New Hampshire Motor Speedway to open the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. The veteran driver also displayed a knack for navigating certain tracks – New Hampshire and Martinsville Speedway being the most notable – where he had struggled in the past. In the end, Kenseth fell just 19 points shy of Johnson in the standings while holding off a hard-charging Kevin Harvick for second over the season’s final weeks. Kenseth, who hit it off instantly with first-year crew chief Jason Ratcliff, began the Chase as the points leader based on his five regular-season wins, and was atop the standings after six of the 10 Chase races. “It was just an unbelievable year for us, really,” Kenseth said. “Obviously, we wanted to finish off and win the championship as good as we ran all year, but couldn’t be more proud of the whole Dollar General/Home Depot Toyota team. They did a spectacular job all season.” And there’s no reason why Kenseth and company won’t do it again.

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88 NumbER

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Last season was Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s best since joining Hendrick Motorsports in 2008. NASCAR’s most popular driver recorded a career-best 22 top-10 ﬁnishes, including ﬁve second-place showings.

INFO Owner Rick HendRick Team HendRick MotoRspoRts SpOnSOrS nationaL GuaRd/ diet Mountain dew manufacTurer cHevRoLet crew chief steve LetaRte

POLE POSITION 2013

DESTINATION VICTORY LANE he made the chase for the naScar Sprint cup for the third consecutive year, but there was something missing from his 2013 résumé – a win. Earnhardt Jr.’s No. 88 Chevrolet was plenty fast enough to get to Victory Lane multiple times, however things just never quite broke his way at the end of a few races. There were also at least two races – including the two races at Michigan International Speedway – where mechanical gremlins cost Earnhardt Jr. a possible shot at victory. Even so, the third-generation driver displayed a level of consistency that was enthusiastically embraced by his legions of supporters. Can Earnhardt Jr. qualify for NASCAR’s playoff again? Crew chief Steve Letarte, who has been with Earnhardt for each of his Chase appearances the past three seasons, is back atop the pit box, and Earnhardt is feeling as confident as ever about his chances of another outstanding campaign. “Each year, we’ve gotten better,” he said. “As a team, we’ve gotten better. When we first started working together, it’s easy to forget about all this, but when me and Steve started working together, we were working our guts out to finish in the top 10. Each year it’s kind of gotten easier to run a little better.” Last season, Earnhardt hit a bit of a slump before turning up the heat once the 10-race Chase commenced. Avoiding a similar slump and picking up a win or two in the regular season this year would go a long way toward helping Earnhardt and his team avoid some of the pressure they’ve felt going into the regular-season finale at Richmond International Raceway the past two years.

driVer Photo courtesy the nAtionAL GuArd

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10 NumbER

Danica Patrick To make the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, Danica Patrick must show signiﬁcant improvement over her rookie season of 2013. But a Chase run certainly can’t be ruled out.

SOPHOmORE SEASON

INFO Owner Gene Haas/ tonY stewaRt Team stewaRt-Haas RacinG SpOnSOrS GodaddY/ aspen dentaL manufacTurer cHevRoLet crew chief tonY Gibson

POLE POSITION 2013

after all, it’s hardly unprecedented for drivers to make considerable gains in their sophomore season in NASCAR’s top series. Among the notables – and former champions – to do this are the late seven-time champion Dale Earnhardt and four-time champion Jeff Gordon. Will NASCAR’s most adored female be next? In her first full season at Stewart-Haas Racing, Patrick sent the entire motorsports world into a frenzy by capturing the pole for the Daytona 500 in her second try at “The Great American Race.” Patrick then backed up her stellar qualifying effort by running in the lead pack the entire race and ultimately coming home eighth on NASCAR’s biggest stage. Patrick’s season was a bit bumpier from there, but she still managed to impress on numerous occasions, including the spring race at Martinsville Speedway where she finished 12th in her debut at the tricky Virginia short track. “I think that there is a tremendous amount that I still need to learn, for sure, and a lot of stuff that I need to work on for making the weekends more smooth on things like anticipating how big of changes need to happen from practice to qualifying and qualifying to the race,” Patrick said. “And the things I need out of practice that result in a good race car, those are all things that I need to learn. I need to be able to identify what is happening with the car better every time I’m in it so that I can help more. But at the end of the day, the natural speed that is in the car does need to continue to get better.”

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24 NumbER

Jeff Gordon Four-time series champion Jeff Gordon and the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports team have reached the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup the past two years by the skin of their teeth. THE DRIVE FOR FIVE

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Last season, Gordon and his alan Gustafson-led crew didn’t think they had made the Chase – until Gordon was added as a 13th driver in the championshipdetermining field once all the dominoes fell from the controversial regular-season finale at Richmond International Raceway. The previous year, Gordon arrived at Richmond on the outside of the Chase looking in, and managed to race his way into the playoffs with a stellar drive at the three-quarter-mile Virginia short track. Gordon is thankful to have been a part of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup in both 2012 and ’13, but he would certainly prefer not having to sweat it out so much. Gordon didn’t know he was part of last year’s Chase until six days after the checkered flag was waved at Richmond.

Once in, however, Gordon proved his place was deserved by soaring as high as third in the standings before finally settling for a sixth-place finish – seven spots higher than his original Chase position. Gordon scored his first and only win of 2013 during the Chase by going to Victory Lane at Martinsville Speedway in October, and finished the campaign on an overall strong note. Since the introduction of the Chase in 2004, Gordon has failed to qualify his way in just once, so he clearly understands what it takes to earn a spot among the championship field. And up until the past two years, the California native hasn’t typically had to wait until the very last minute to know his Chase fate. With a little luck, he should be back again this season – perhaps with a little less drama.

INFO Owner Rick HendRick Team HendRick MotoRspoRts SpOnSOrS dRive to end HunGeR/ aXaLta/pepsi manufacTurer cHevRoLet crew chief aLan GustaFson

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brad Keselowski To return to the Chase, Brad Keselowski and his No. 2 crew must perform more like the team that shocked the NASCAR world by winning the championship two years ago.

RETuRN TO FORm INFO Owner RoGeR penske Team teaM penske SpOnSOr MiLLeR Lite manufacTurer FoRd crew chief pauL woLFe

POLE POSITION 2013

Keselowski, who beat clint Bowyer and Jimmie Johnson to win the 2012 title at the tender age of 28, entered last season with hopes of repeating – and for a while that goal seemed attainable. Keselowski opened the year with four finishes of fourth or better and posted seven top-10 finishes in the first eight races. The driver of Roger Penske’s No. 2 Ford even took over the points lead for a week on the heels of a third-place finish March 17 at Bristol Motor Speedway. But following a 25-point penalty and two-race suspension for crew chief Paul Wolfe after NASCAR discovered an issue with the rear-end housings on both Penske team cars at Texas Motor Speedway in April, Keselowski’s season took an unexpected turn. After opening the year seemingly right where he left off in 2012, the Rochester Hills, Mich., native finished worse than 30th in three out of four races. Keselowski was unable to recapture his early season form during the summer months, ultimately falling outside the top 10 in points. He entered the regular-season finale at Richmond International Raceway with a slim chance of rallying into Chase contention, but was unable to do so. He became just the second reigning series champion to miss the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Over the final 10 races, Keselowski picked up his only victory of the season during the fall event at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

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INFO Owner Gene Haas/ tonY stewaRt Team stewaRt-Haas RacinG SpOnSOrS budweiseR/JiMMY JoHn’s/outback steakHouse manufacTurer cHevRoLet crew chief RodneY cHiLdeRs

Kevin Harvick The 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season marks a new beginning for California native Kevin Harvick, who moves to Stewart-Haas Racing after 13 mostly successful seasons at Richard Childress Racing.

CHANGE CAN bE GOOD harvick, who joined rcr’s naScar Sprint cup Series program in the second race of 2001, finished a career-high third in points three times and managed to score wins in some of the sport’s biggest races – the Daytona 500, the Brickyard 400 and the Coca-Cola 600. Perhaps most impressive among Harvick’s achievements at RCR was that he matched his career-best points finish and rang up four wins last season – all while competing as a lame-duck driver. While it’s hard to say exactly how well the driver nicknamed “Happy” will fare in his first season at Stewart-Haas where he’s paired with veteran crew chief Rodney Childers, a berth in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup seems attainable – at the very least. Harvick joins an organization that in just five years has won a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship (SHR co-owner Tony Stewart did that in 2011) and has been to Victory Lane 19 times. Harvick is also now surrounded by two fellow veteran drivers – his good friend, Stewart, and 2004 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Kurt Busch – who will inevitably push him to be even better. “The decision to make a change was just from the standpoint of needing to make a change from a personal standpoint just to rejuvenate what you’re doing,” Harvick said when announcing plans to part with longtime team owner Richard Childress and join SHR. “It wasn’t anything personal from Richard’s standpoint or the team’s standpoint of doing anything wrong. It was me trying to rejuvenate myself and be excited to do winter testing and things that go with it. Just like everybody else’s job, sometimes you need a change to get going again.” POLEPOSITIONmAG.COM

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18 NumbER

INFO Owner Joe Gibbs Team Joe Gibbs RacinG SpOnSOrS M&M’s/inteRstate batteRies manufacTurer toYota crew chief dave RoGeRs

POLE POSITION 2013

Kyle busch Kyle Busch, who has never had trouble winning races in any of NASCAR’s three main divisions, has rarely found the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup to be his strong suit. Last season was a different story, however.

EYES ON THE PRIZE Busch, who recorded a stout regular season highlighted by four visits to Victory Lane, remained in the title mix heading into the season’s final weeks before ultimately settling for a careerbest fourth-place finish in the standings. Prior to 2013, Busch’s best points finish was a fifth-place in 2007 while driving for Hendrick Motorsports. Unlike some other seasons when Busch has been dynamite in the regular season only to seemingly lose something in the Chase, the driver nicknamed “Rowdy” kept the pressure on in the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. Over the 10 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup races, Busch posted seven top 10s and nine finishes inside the top 15. Busch’s stellar campaign contributed to an outstanding overall season for Joe Gibbs Racing, which collectively won 12 races – a third of the races on the schedule – among Busch and teammates Matt Kenseth and Denny Hamlin. With crew chief Dave Rogers back at the helm of Busch’s No. 18 team this season, there’s no reason why Busch shouldn’t make the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup relatively easily and be in the title hunt until the very end. “I’m really proud of these guys,” the Las Vegas native said at the end of 2013. “They dug down hard and fought all season long. We overcame a lot of adversity and accomplished one of our goals, which was not having any mechanical failures all year. Hats off to all my guys and folks back at JGR and TRD [Toyota Racing Development] for putting together such a great product.”

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DRIVER PROFILES

Carl Edwards

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99 INFO Owner Jack RousH Team RousH FenwaY RacinG SpOnSOrS aFLac/FastenaL/ subwaY manufacTurer FoRd crew chief JiMMY FenniG

HuNGRY FOR mORE

arl edwards enjoyed a renaissance season of sorts in 2013, making the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup and winning two races after falling short of NASCAR’s playoff and Victory Lane in 2012. But Edwards wasn’t totally satisfied with last season’s body of work. Despite meshing well with his new crew chief, veteran Jimmy Fennig, Edwards was unable to get the No. 99 Roush Fenway Racing Ford out front as much as he would have liked. Edwards and Fennig are a dangerous combination, however, and they should have no problem gaining entry into the Chase for a second consecutive season.

Clint bowyer

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15 INFO OwnerS MicHaeL waLtRip/ Rob kauFFMan Team MicHaeL waLtRip RacinG SpOnSOr 5-HouR eneRGY manufacTurer toYota crew chief bRian pattie

POLE POSITION 2013

ON A mISSION

s championship runners-up often do, clint Bowyer faded a bit last season after finishing a career-best second to Brad Keselowski in the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series standings. Bowyer, who ranked seventh in points last year, also slipped in the wins category as he missed Victory Lane a season after posting a career-high three wins. Bowyer was solid throughout 2013, however, and never fell lower than 14th in points. Even more impressive is that the Kansas native has made the Chase in five of his eight seasons as a competitor in NASCAR’s top series. Odds are he’ll make it six of nine.

Kasey Kahne

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5 INFO

Owner Rick HendRick Team HendRick MotoRspoRts SpOnSOrS FaRMeRs insuRance/GReat cLips/tiMe waRneR cabLe manufacTurer cHevRoLet crew chief kennY FRancis

CONSISTENCY THE KEY

n two seasons with hendrick motorsports, Kasey Kahne has reached the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup twice. This after securing a playoff berth just twice in eight seasons with the organization that became Richard Petty Motorsports. Kahne has also picked up a pair of victories in each of his two seasons with the Hendrick organization – where he has continued to work with longtime crew chief Kenny Francis. Can he now make the Chase a third year in a row? The only thing that might stop him is consistency – an issue that required him to enter the Chase as a Wild Card in 2013.

Denny Hamlin

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11 INFO

Owner Joe Gibbs Team Joe Gibbs RacinG SpOnSOrS FedeX/spoRt cLips manufacTurer toYota crew chief daRian GRubb

STARTING A NEW STREAK

rom his rookie naScar Sprint cup Series season of 2006 through 2012, Denny Hamlin never missed the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Hamlin’s unblemished run of Chase qualifications finally ended in 2013, due mostly to a back injury that sidelined the Joe Gibbs Racing driver for four races. Hamlin is healthy again, however, and proved by winning last year’s season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway that he and his No. 11 team remain a formidable threat. Don’t be surprised if Hamlin not only returns to the Chase this season, but also makes a serious run at his first title. POLEPOSITIONmAG.COM

DRIVER PROFILES

Kurt busch

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41 INFO Owner tonY stewaRt/ Gene Haas Team stewaRtHaas RacinG SpOnSOr Haas autoMation manufacTurer cHevRoLet crew chief danieL knost

A NEW bEGINNING

n 2013, Kurt Busch did what no driver had ever done by reaching the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup with a single-car organization. While the 2004 series champion didn’t win a race, he defied the odds in his first and what would ultimately be his final full season driving for Furniture Row Racing. Now, Busch is with one of the sport’s elite organizations in Stewart-Haas Racing, where he’s competing alongside fellow SHR newcomer Kevin Harvick, team co-owner Tony Stewart and Danica Patrick. Busch’s chances of making NASCAR’s playoff a second consecutive season are extremely good.

Joey Logano

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22 INFO Owner RoGeR penske Team teaM penske SpOnSOrS sHeLL/pennZoiL manufacTurer FoRd crew chief todd GoRdon

POLE POSITION 2013

CHASING mORE

t took Joey Logano ﬁve seasons in NASCAR’s top series to make the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. But now that Logano has one Chase appearance to his credit, the driver nicknamed “Sliced Bread” has an excellent shot at getting back there. Last season – Logano’s first at Team Penske – proved to be a “breakout” year for the Connecticut native. In addition to nabbing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career win No. 3, Logano made the Chase for the first time and finished a career-best eighth in points. There’s no reason why he can’t do as well or better this season.

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DRIVER PROFILES

Greg biffle

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16 INFO Owner Jack RousH Team RousH FenwaY RacinG SpOnSOr 3M manufacTurer FoRd crew chief Matt puccia

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IS THIS HIS YEAR?

reg Bifﬂe’s 2013 season was rather uneventful, all things considered. The highlight – to be certain – was a victory in the June NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway. Biffle, who in winning delivered Ford’s milestone 1,000th NASCAR victory, went on to make the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup but never made a serious run at the championship once the 10-race playoff commenced. What does all this mean for 2014? Biffle has a good chance of making the Chase, but beyond that it’s difficult to project how high the ceiling is for the driver of No. 16 Roush Fenway Racing Ford.

Ryan Newman

INFO Owner RicHaRd cHiLdRess Team RicHaRd cHiLdRess RacinG SpOnSOrS cateRpiLLaR/ Quicken Loans/wiX FiLteRs manufacTurer cHevRoLet crew chief Luke LaMbeRt

POLE POSITION 2013

A GREAT FIT

fter ﬁve seasons at StewartHaas Racing, Ryan Newman has landed with another of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series’ top organizations – Richard Childress Racing. Newman appears to be a great fit. In addition to sharing a strong affinity for the outdoors with team owner Richard Childress, Newman will likely serve as a mentor to Childress’ grandson Austin Dillon, who is among a strong crop of Sunoco Rookie of the Year contenders. If Newman can quickly adapt to his new surroundings much like he did at SHR after several years at Team Penske, a Chase berth is a distinct possibility.

DRIVER PROFILES

INFO

NO.

Owner RicHaRd pettY Team RicHaRd pettY MotoRspoRts SpOnSOrS sMitHFieLd Foods/ U.S. AIR FORCE manufacTurer FoRd crew chief tRent owens

Marcos Ambrose ROAD WARRIOR

aS uSuaL, marcOS amBrOSe’S ShOT at making the Chase will hinge largely on whether he can score a win at one or both of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series’ two road courses – Sonoma Raceway and Watkins Glen International. Ambrose, arguably the best pure road racer in NASCAR, has won at Watkins Glen and stands a reasonable chance of reaching NASCAR’s playoff as a Wild Card if he can capitalize on the opportunity to prevail at both tracks.

INFO Owner RicHaRd cHiLdRess Team RicHaRd cHiLdRess RacinG

SpOnSOrS stanLeY/dewaLt

Austin Dillon

LOCKED AND LOADED

auSTin DiLLOn iS amOnG SeVeraL members of the talented 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series rookie class with a shot at making the Chase. His shot might be the best, however. Dillon has proven over the past four seasons (ﬁrst in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and then in the nascaR nationwide series) that he can win races – and championships. Driving in NASCAR’s premier series for his grandfather, Richard Childress, is a great situation.

crew chief GiL MaRtin

POLE POSITION 2013

Team RicHaRd pettY MotoRspoRts

crew chief dRew bLickensdeRFeR

manufacTurer cHevRoLet

Owner RicHaRd pettY

manufacTurer FoRd

SpOnSOrS dow cHeMicaL/ cHeeRios

KYLe LarSOn impreSSeD a LOT of folks last year as a rookie in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Among the impressed was veteran team owner Chip Ganassi, who decided to give the young driver a full-time ride in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series this season after just one year in the No. 2 division. Is Larson ready for the big-time and a possible berth in the Chase? The talent and potential are deﬁnitely there.

INFO

READY TO SHINE

COOKING uP SuCCESS

aric aLmirOLa’S SecOnD SeaSOn aT Richard petty Motorsports was in many ways an improvement over his first as the 29-year-old Florida native fared better than 2012 in several categories, including top-10 finishes, points finish and average race finish. Almirola’s Chase chances this season depend at least in part on how quickly he gels with new crew chief Trent Owens, who moves up from the NASCAR Nationwide Series to replace veteran pit boss Todd Parrott.

NO.

Kyle Larson

Aric Almirola

INFO Owner cHip Ganassi Team cHip Ganassi RacinG witH FeLiX sabates SpOnSOr taRGet manufacTurer cHevRoLet crew chief cHRis HeRoY

NO.

P_Halfpg.pdf

NO.

INFO Owner cHip Ganassi Team cHip Ganassi RacinG witH FeLiX sabates SpOnSOrS McdonaLd’s/ cessna manufacTurer cHevRoLet crew chief keitH Rodden

Casey Mears

WEARING A bOWTIE

caSeY mearS iS amOnG ThOSe cOn1 1/24/14 2:01 PMto make the Chase sidered to be a long shot for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. But history has proven anything is possible. The positive news for Mears is that he has steadily improved during his time with Germain Racing, the organization he joined midway through the 2010 season. And, after ﬁnishing 24th last season, the team has switched from Toyota to Chevrolet and now has an alliance with Richard Childress Racing.

NO.

Jamie McMurray

STEADILY ImPROVING

The 2013 naScar SprinT cup Series campaign was a vast improvement for Jamie McMurray over the two previous seasons. In fact, with a couple breaks, the veteran could have easily made the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. A victory late in the season at Talladega Superspeedway was the shot in the arm the Missouri native needed heading into 2014, where a strong start will go a long way toward landing a spot in the Chase.

INFO Owner bob GeRMain Team GeRMain RacinG SpOnSOr Geico manufacTurer cHevRoLet crew chief RobeRt “bootie” baRkeR

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DRIVER PROFILES

INFO Owner RicHaRd cHiLdRess Team RicHaRd cHiLdRess RacinG

Paul Menard

NO.

SENIOR ADVISER

ThiS SeaSOn, pauL menarD iS in a different role as the senior member of Richard Childress Racing’s three-driver NASCAR Sprint Cup Series lineup. Although teammate Ryan Newman boasts more years in nascaR’s top series, Menard is in his fourth year with RCR while Newman and rookie Austin Dillon are both new to the organization’s headlining roster.

SpOnSOr MenaRds manufacTurer cHevRoLet crew chief RicHaRd “sLuGGeR” Labbe

David Ragan

RESTRICTOR-PLATE ACE

DaViD raGan maY nOT haVe The resources to be a Chase contender, but the Georgia native does have something else: an uncanny ability to run up front – and occasionally grab a victory – at Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway, the sport’s two restrictor-plate tracks. If Ragan can repeat his Talladega win from a season ago, and add a second plate triumph to his regular-season results, making the Chase as a Wild Card is a possibility.

NO.

INFO

SpOnSOr tbd manufacTurer FoRd crew chief JaY GuY

INFO Owner Jack RousH Team RousH FenwaY RacinG SpOnSOrS nationwide insuRance/Zest

crew chief Mike keLLeY

PLENTY TO buILD ON

if marTin TrueX Jr. haD mOVeD TO Furniture Row Racing a year ago, prognosticators wouldn’t give him a chance of reaching the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. But as Kurt Busch proved last season, it can be done. Beating long odds, Busch became the ﬁrst driver to qualify for NASCAR’s playoff while competing for a singlecar operation. Can Truex, who has taken over Busch’s old seat at Furniture Row, do the same? 54

POLE POSITION 2013

Team FRont Row MotoRspoRts

manufacTurer FoRd

Martin Truex Jr.

NO.

Owner bob Jenkins

NO.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. READY FOR ROuND 2

ricKY STenhOuSe Jr. enDureD SOme growing pains last year, but the season wasn’t bereft of success. In addition to capturing Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors, the two-time NASCAR Nationwide Series champion nabbed a pole and three top-10 ﬁnishes en route to a respectable 19th-place ﬁnish in points. Stenhouse reunites with crew chief Mike Kelley, the man who guided him to both of his nascaR nationwide series championships, so a shot at the Chase seems possible.

INFO Owner baRneY visseR Team FuRnituRe Row RacinG SpOnSOr FuRnituRe Row manufacTurer cHevRoLet crew chief todd beRRieR

AROUND HERE, CHAOS IS ORDER, UP IS DOWN AND LEFT IS ALWAYS RIGHT. FOLLOW EVERY TURN AT NASCAR.com

Â©NASCAR 2014

nascar defined 2013 race rewind

Jeff Gordon (No. 24) and Kurt Busch (No. 78) pace the field prior to the start of the 56th annual Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway. 56

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Photography courtesy NASCAR/Getty Images and CIA Stock Photography

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nascar defined 2013 race rewind

Flyover during the Goodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Headache Relief Shot 500 Powered by Kroger at Martinsville Speedway.

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Scan to Watch The Video!

Visit www.sonaxusa.com for our complete line of car care products and tips.

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nascar defined 2013 race rewind

Kyle Busch celebrates victory at Watkins Glen International.

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“Bubba” Wallace celebrates his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series victory at Martinsville Speedway.

Clint Bowyer during practice at Phoenix International Raceway. POLEPOSITIONMAG.COM

NAScAR dEFINEd 2014 SPRINT MEdIA TOuR

Recognizing Greatness NAScAR Hall of Famers Leonard wood, Maurice Petty, Junior Johnson, dale Inman, Ned Jarrett, dale Jarrett, Richard Petty, Bud Moore, Jack Ingram, Rusty wallace, Bobby Allison and darrell waltrip

dale Earnhardt Jr. fields questions with Kasey Kahne. 62

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Stewart-Haas Racing’s New Look Stewart-Haas Racing co-owners Gene Haas and Tony Stewart, and drivers and danica Patrick, Kevin Harvick and Kurt Busch

Hendrick Motorsports is Go! Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne, dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeﬀ Gordon and team owner Rick Hendrick.

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NAScAR FuEL cAREERS

Jeff Owens

SENIOR NAScAR EdITOR, SPORTING NEwS

s a young newspaper reporter during the early ’90s, Jeff Owens devoted most of his time to covering stick-and-ball sports in his role with the Florence Morning News in South Carolina. Given the opportunity, however, to go cover the then-twice annual NASCAR events at nearby Darlington Raceway, Owens sank his teeth into learning everything he possibly could about the sport. He attended test sessions, he interviewed drivers and he eventually wrote a weekly Sunday notes column on the sport. The hard work paid off when, a couple years after covering his first race, Owens had the opportunity in 1993 to

become a NASCAR beat writer for the Gaston Gazette newspaper in Gastonia, N.C. Located in the heart of NASCAR’s epicenter, greater Charlotte, N.C., Owens began attending every race and writing an array of NASCAR stories ranging from business to political to human interest topics. In 1998, he was hired to join NASCAR Scene – the sport’s leading weekly print publication – and was named its executive editor in 2001. And the rest, as they say, is history. Owens spent the next decade overseeing a talented group of writers and editors before helping merge Scene and its affiliated website, SceneDaily. com, with Sporting News,

one of the top sports websites and digital media companies in the country. Owens, now Sporting News’ senior editor in charge of its NASCAR Channel and NASCAR coverage, has some candid advice for those who might aspire to follow in his footsteps. “You need a solid foundation of basic journalism practices and ethics and a good understanding of digital media and how the world of media is changing to be taken seriously,” he said. “Secondly, throw yourself out there. Pursue internships, freelance opportunities, be active on social media and do everything you can to become recognized by legitimate media organizations. It’s a tougher world to enter than ever before, so be diligent in pursuing opportunities and do everything you can to gain experience and be recognized.” And that’s not all. “Be flexible,” Owens said. “Don’t restrict yourself to being a writer, editor or online poster. Learn to do it all, because most websites today require you to be proficient in all facets of the job. Most importantly, learn the business and be professional. There’s nothing that turns credible news organizations off more than online mavericks pretending to be journalists. And don’t pursue a sport just because you are a fan. Be a journalist first.”

KEvIN wOOdS SENIOR dIREcTOR OF cORPORATE cOMMuNIcATIONS, ROuSH FENwAy RAcING

t first glance, working as a sports information director for a college or university might not seem like the most ideal springboard to becoming the senior director of corporate communications for a major NASCAR team. As one might imagine, the job descriptions are vastly different. But according to Roush Fenway Racing director of corporate communications Kevin Woods, they’re actually not that different. “Honestly, I think working in college athletics was a great preparation for my first role at RFR,” said Woods, who was the senior assistant sports information director at the University of Central Florida from September 1999 through November 2001. “It is a different background, but a lot of the skill set and challenges of the job translated very well. College athletics prepares you for the long hours, travel, multiple events and all of the multi-tasking that goes into the job here. “In addition, I was able to bring over some of the things to the job at Roush Fenway that I had been doing in that job; that were a little more unconventional to this sport. I was working with Mark Martin at the time, so the demand was there and it afforded me the chance to experiment with what worked and what did not. He was really open to doing some things a little different, because in the end it could lead to a more effective use of his time. For me, it was a perfect scenario.” Woods, whose first position at RFR was that of senior account manager, left after five years to go to work for another NASCAR team, but returned to RFR in December 2009 to accept his present position. So what’s the best way to position oneself for a similar role? “Experience, experience, experience,” said the 41-year-old Alabama native. “I think the key is to get as much experience as you can throughout the educational process – not just for a NASCAR job, but for any type of PR/communications job. The market is tough and you have to set yourself apart. You need to start to build a body of work well before you take your last class. “There is a lot to learn in the classroom, but the outside training is a critical piece. For one thing, that is where you will make valuable connections that can prove to be the key down the road. The other part of that piece is it’s a time when you can learn so much about the business and get real-time training. It can really prove to set you apart from the rest of the soon-to-be job candidates.”

by jared turner 64

POLE POSITION 2014

LIFESTyLE NAScAR FuEL

dOwNTIME WITH CLINT BOWYER

f there was ever a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver who knows how to have fun, it is Clint Bowyer, driver of the No. 15 Toyota for Michael Waltrip Racing. Known for his laid-back, fun-loving, Midwestern personality, the Emporia, Kan., native is all about a good time. For Bowyer, tinkering with the dirt late model race cars he owns and operates out of a small race shop in North Carolina is about as good as it gets. “I just love it,” he said. “It’s so much fun. It reminds me of where I came from – certainly, working on the cars in the shop and things like that. Cleaning up after them, I spend a great deal of time cleaning up. It seems like those dirt cars come back really dirty, and I spend most of my time cleaning.” But Bowyer isn’t one to spend all of his downtime in one place. He devotes many days to being on the water at his summer home on Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri. “It’s fun to go out on the boat,” Bowyer said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re over there by yourself or not; usually by the end of the day, you’ve met some friends and are enjoying a good day.”

MENTAL PREP WITH DAKODA ARMSTRONG Do you have a ritual that helps you prepare for races?

Not too much. If I know it’s going to be a hot weekend, I’ll try to hydrate better and make sure I eat right and cut out all pops like four or five days in advance, and just make sure my body’s ready for it. That’s probably about the only thing.

TRAINING WITH JEFF GORDON

s a four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion, Jeff Gordon is – not surprisingly – a big fan of being in the best shape possible. “Physical fitness is definitely important,” said the 42-year-old Hendrick Motorsports driver. “It’s getting more and more important all the time as the speeds of the cars increase. The demands on the driver, the competition in general, are just getting tighter. I think being fit is going to help you be more focused throughout the race weekend, through a long schedule that we have with 38 races.” While Gordon concedes that fitness training is “something that I probably haven’t put as much effort into as some other guys out there,” he takes his regular exercise regimen seriously. “I’ve had some back issues over the years,” he said, “so a lot of my routine is just mixing in cardio with stretching, just staying as loose as I can, building up my core to help strengthen my back and stomach to try to keep the pain that I deal with in my back to a minimum. That’s really helped me get through the races and not really be thinking about my back, so I can just think about driving the car.”

FuELING uP WITH JEB BURTON

Breakfast: LUNCH: “I eat really healthy. I’m kind of a health nut. In the morning, I’ll eat some cereal. It’s like Wheaties for breakfast, and then I’ll have a protein shake and a banana.”

“For lunch, it’s just a grilled chicken sandwich or something healthy. I’ll drink a water and eat some green beans and some grilled vegetables,” Burton said. If he isn’t eating grilled chicken, it’s “probably a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.”

DINNER:

“I like a steak or pasta. I really like steak for dinner,” Burton said. “I don’t drink any soft drinks. I’ll have a beer every now and then with a meal, but if I’m racing I definitely won’t drink anything like that, because it dehydrates you.”

SNACK:

For a snack, Burton usually has “bananas, protein bars, granola bars.” Burton considers his snack choices to be overall “pretty healthy,” noting that he’s most prone to drink water or G2 Gatorade. “Before a race, I’ll drink a Pedialyte.” POLEPOSITIONMAG.COM

PHOTOHuNT

Study the top photo, then see if you can find the 10 changes that were made in the bottom photo.

POLE POSITION 2014

ANSwERS // (1) Chad Knaus’ face is on Jimmie Johnson’s body, (2) Jimmie Johnson’s face is on Chad Knaus’ body, (3) Chad (Jimmie) is holding a fist in the air, instead of pointing a finger, (4) “Johnson” has been removed from Chad’s (Jimmie’s) belt, (5) Chandra Johnson now has hair over both shoulders, (6) Chandra is holding up five fingers instead of one, (7) Chandra’s belt has been removed, (8) On the far left, there is an extra hand in the air, (9) On the base of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series trophy, an extra logo has been added, (10) The Sprint logo on Miss Sprint Cup’s firesuit has been reversed.

NAScAR FuEL FuN PAGES

crazy maze

Test your driving skills and find the exit!

wordspell How many words can you spell using only the letters that appear in this driver’s name?

carl edwards car, led, ward...

Match the state with the correct track.

who am i? ■■

4 5 3

■■

6 1

■■

2 ■■

_ Las Vegas Motor Speedway _ Bristol Motor Speedway _ Martinsville Speedway

_ Michigan Int’l Speedway _ Pocono Raceway _ Sonoma Raceway

ANSWERS // (5) Las Vegas Motor Speedway, (2) Bristol Motor Speedway, (1) Martinsville Speedway, (4) Michigan Int’l Speedway, (6) Pocono Raceway, (3) Sonoma Raceway

I was born in Michigan I won my first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race in 2009 I am an owner in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series I am one of only two drivers to win a championship in the NASCAR Nationwide series and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series

ANSWER // Brad Keselowski

track hunt

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NAScAR FuEL FuN PAGES

dESIGN yOuR OwN RAcE cAR

MATcH THE dRIvER

KYLE LARSON

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Have fun creating a custom paint scheme!

Match the NASCAR Sprint Cup driver to the number that appears on his car.

KURT BUSCH

MARTIN TRUEX JR.

RYAN NEWMAN

AUSTIN DILLON

can you draw NAScAR? 1

wINNER’S cIRcLE

GARAGE GRIME? YES, IT CLEANS THAT! 3 ANd THE wINNERS ARE... ■ [1] Dryden Mix Cosens, age 10, Fort Scott, Kan. ■ [2] John Brayman, age 9, Las Vegas, Nev. ■ [3] James Brayman, age 8, Las Vegas, Nev.

ow is your chance to be featured in the pages of NASCAR Pole Position! Send us your NASCAR-themed artwork. The lucky winners will receive a race jacket of their favorite driver! On a piece of paper, send us your name, age, complete mailing address, email address or phone number and the driver jacket you would like to win. No purchase necessary. All entries are eligible.

Visit PolePositionMag.com to learn more about the Winner’s Circle.

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nascar fuel trivia

How Well Do You Know the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champions? 0-20 30-40 50-60 70-80 90-100

Which driver claimed the first of Hendrick Motorsports’ 11 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championships? A. Jimmie Johnson B. Jeff Gordon C. Terry Labonte D. Tim Richmond

Rookie Spectator Fan Race Chaser Super Fan

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What car number did Dale Earnhardt utilize during the 1980 season when he won the first of his seven championships? A. 8 B. 3 C. 2 D. 15

Who was the first of 10 drivers to win consecutive championships in NASCAR’s premier stock car series? A. Buck Baker B. Lee Petty C. Herb Thomas D. Cale Yarborough

4 70

Take the quiz and score 10 points for each correct answer. Add up your points and see how you rank!

Which driver finished second six times in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship battle, but never claimed the title? A. James Hylton B. Ricky Rudd C. Harry Gant D. Mark Martin

Who was the first driver born west of the Mississippi River to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship? A. Rusty Wallace B. Terry Labonte C. Jeff Gordon D. Jimmie Johnson Bill Rexford, winner of the 1950 championship, was from which state? A. Alabama B. South Carolina C. Virginia D. New York

Who was the first driver to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship after having claimed the NASCAR Nationwide Series title? A. Bobby Labonte B. Brad Keselowski C. Dale Earnhardt D. Dale Earnhardt Jr.

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Which driver edged out Jimmie Johnson to claim the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Rookie of the year title in 2002? A. Kurt Busch B. Kevin Harvick C. Jamie McMurray D. Ryan Newman

Six owner/drivers have won the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship. Who was the most recent? A. Alan Kulwicki B. Rex White C. Tony Stewart D. Richard Petty

overall, how many different drivers have won the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship? A. 29 B. 36 C. 24 D. 48 ANSwERS // 1. C; 2. B; 3. A; 4. D; 5. B; 6. D.; 7. A; 8. D; 9. A; 10. C

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NAScAR SERIES ROSTERS 2014 NAScAR SPRINT cuP SERIES ROSTER No.

Driver

Team

Sponsor & Make

Crew Chief

Driver Hometown

1 2 3 4 5 7 9 10 11 13 14 15 16 17 18 20 21 22 23 24 26 27 30 31 34 38 41 42 43 47 48 51 55 78 83 87 88 95 98 99

Jamie McMurray Brad Keselowski Austin Dillon Kevin Harvick Kasey Kahne Michael Annett Marcos Ambrose Danica Patrick Denny Hamlin Casey Mears Tony Stewart Clint Bowyer Greg Bifﬂe Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Kyle Busch Matt Kenseth Trevor Bayne Joey Logano Alex Bowman Jeff Gordon Cole Whitt Paul Menard Parker Kligerman Ryan Newman David Ragan David Gilliland Kurt Busch Kyle Larson Aric Almirola A.J. Allmendinger Jimmie Johnson Justin Allgaier Brian Vickers Martin Truex Jr. Ryan Truex Joe Nemechek Dale Earnhardt Jr. Michael McDowell Josh Wise Carl Edwards

Chip Ganassi Racing Team Penske Richard Childress Racing Stewart-Haas Racing Hendrick Motorsports Tommy Baldwin Racing Richard Petty Motorsports Stewart-Haas Racing Joe Gibbs Racing Germain Racing Stewart-Haas Racing Michael Waltrip Racing Roush Fenway Racing Roush Fenway Racing Joe Gibbs Racing Joe Gibbs Racing Wood Brothers Racing Team Penske BK Racing Hendrick Motorsports Swan Racing Richard Childress Racing Swan Racing Richard Childress Racing Front Row Motorsports Front Row Motorsports Stewart-Haas Racing Chip Ganassi Racing Richard Petty Motorsports JTG Daugherty Racing Hendrick Motorsports Phoenix Racing Michael Waltrip Racing Furniture Row Racing BK Racing NEMCO Motorsports Hendrick Motorsports Leavine Family Racing Phil Parsons Racing Roush Fenway Racing

McDonald’s/Cessna Chevrolet Miller Lite Ford Dow Chemical/Cheerios Chevrolet Budweiser/Jimmy John’s/Outback Chevrolet Farmers Insurance/Great Clips Chevrolet Pilot/Flying J Chevrolet Stanley/DeWALT Ford GoDaddy/Aspen Dental Chevrolet FedEx/Sport Clips Toyota GEICO Chevrolet Bass Pro Shops/Mobil 1 Chevrolet 5-Hour ENERGY Toyota 3M Ford Nationwide Insurance/Zest Ford M&M’s/Interstate Batteries Toyota Dollar General/The Home Depot Toyota Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Shell/Pennzoil Ford Burger King/Dr. Pepper Toyota Drive to End Hunger/Axalta/Pepsi Chevrolet Swan Energy Toyota Menards Chevrolet Swan Energy Toyota Caterpillar/Quicken Loans/WIX Filters Chevrolet Taco Bell Ford Long John Silver’s Ford Haas Automation Chevrolet Target Chevrolet Smithfield Foods/U.S. Air Force Ford Kingsford/Clorox/Scott/Bush’s Beans Chevrolet Lowe’s/Kobalt Tools Chevrolet BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota Furniture Row Chevrolet Burger King/Dr. Pepper Toyota NEMCO Motorsports Toyota National Guard/Diet Mt. Dew Chevrolet Leavine Family Racing Ford Curb Records Chevrolet Fastenal/Aﬂac/UPS Ford

Keith Rodden Paul Wolfe Gil Martin Rodney Childers Kenny Francis Kevin Manion Drew Blickensderfer Tony Gibson Darian Grubb Robert “Bootie” Barker Chad Johnston Brian Pattie Matt Puccia Mike Kelley Dave Rogers Jason Ratcliff Donnie Wingo Todd Gordon Dave Winston Alan Gustafson Randy Cox Richard “Slugger” Labbe Steven Lane Luke Lambert Jay Guy Frank Kerr Daniel Knost Chris Heroy Trent Owens Brian Burns Chad Knaus Steve Addington Billy Scott Todd Berrier Dale Ferguson Scott Eggleston Steve Letarte Wally Rogers Gene Nead Jimmy Fennig

Joplin, Mo. Rochester Hills, Mich. Welcome, N.C. Bakersfield, Calif. Enumclaw, Wash. Des Moines, Iowa Launceston, Australia Roscoe, Ill. Chesterfield, Va. Bakersfield, Calif. Columbus, Ind. Emporia, Kan. Vancouver, Wash. Olive Branch, Miss. Las Vegas, Nev. Cambridge, Wis. Knoxville, Tenn. Middletown, Conn. Tucson, Ariz. Vallejo, Calif. Alpine, Calif. Eau Claire, Wis. Westport, Conn. South Bend, Ind. Unadilla, Ga. Riverside, Calif. Las Vegas, Nev. Elk Grove, Calif. Tampa, Fla. Los Gatos, Calif. El Cajon, Calif. Riverton, Ill. Thomasville, N.C. Mayetta, N.J. Mayetta, N.J. Lakeland, Fla. Kannapolis, N.C. Glendale, Ariz. Riverside, Calif. Columbia, Mo.

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2014 NASCAR nationwide Series roster Team

Make

JD Motorsports Richard Childress Racing Richard Childress Racing JD Motorsports JR Motorsports

Chevrolet Chevrolet Chevrolet Chevrolet Chevrolet

Marc Browning Phil Gould Danny Stockman Dave Fuge Ernie Cope

Crew Chief

Roush Fenway Racing JR Motorsports JR Motorsports TriStar Motorsports Joe Gibbs Racing TriStar Motorsports Roush Fenway Racing TriStar Motorsports Joe Gibbs Racing

Ford Chevrolet Chevrolet Toyota Toyota Toyota Ford Toyota Toyota

Chad Norris Ryan Pemberton Greg Ives Greg Conner Chris Gayle Todd Myers Seth Barbour Paul Clapprood Kevin Kidd

Team Penske

Ford

Jeremy Bullins

R3 Motorsports Turner Scott Motorsports Turner Scott Motorsports The Motorsports Group Richard Petty Motorsports TriStar Motorsports Jeremy Clements Racing Jimmy Means Racing Joe Gibbs Racing

Chevrolet Chevrolet Chevrolet Chevrolet Ford Toyota Chevrolet Chevrolet Toyota

George Church Pat Tryson TBA Rob Fisher Phillippe Lopez Greg Conner Ricky Pearson Tim Brown Adam Stevens

Viva Auto Group Racing Roush Fenway Racing Richard Childress Racing NEMCO Motorsports KH Motorsports Biagi-DenSeste Racing RAB Racing

Chevrolet Ford Chevrolet Chevrolet Ford Ford Toyota

Bill Henderson Scott Graves Shane Wilson Steven Gray George Ingram Jon Hanson Chris Rice

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Note: Several NASCAR Nationwide Series teams were still finalizing plans for the 2014 season at press time.

FA N G U I D E . : . 0 2 . 2 0 1 4 . : .

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Note: Several NASCAR Camping World Truck Series teams were still finalizing plans for the 2014 season at press time.

PG.10 Q&A WITH DAVID RAGAN PG.16 SPOTLIGHT: CASEY MEARS

Tony Stewart preserving nature at Hidden Hollow Ranch

G LE N

Joe Shear Jr. Mike Hillman Jr. Richie Wauters Steve Kuykendall Marcus Richmond Doug Randolph Doug Randolph Jeff Stankiewicz Eddie Pardue Mark Hillman Chad Kendrick Michael Shelton Kevin Starland Wade Day Ryan Fugle Ryan Fugle Jerry Baxter Gary Ritter Butch Hylton Carl Joiner Michael Hester Tony Wilson Gene Wachtel Gary Cogswell

wAT k I N S

Chevrolet Chevrolet Toyota Chevrolet Toyota Ford Ford Chevrolet Chevrolet Chevrolet Ford Chevrolet Chevrolet Toyota Toyota Toyota Toyota Chevrolet Toyota Toyota Chevrolet Chevrolet Toyota Ford

. : .

Ken Schrader Racing Turner Scott Motorsports Wauters Motorsports Jennifer Jo Cobb Racing Red Horse Racing Brad Keselowski Racing Brad Keselowski Racing GMS Racing NTS Motorsports Hillman Racing Brad Keselowski Racing Turner Scott Motorsports RSS Racing DDK Motorsports Kyle Busch Motorsports Kyle Busch Motorsports Kyle Busch Motorsports Norm Benning Racing Red Horse Racing ThorSport Racing RBR Enterprises RSS Racing ThorSport Racing T3R Racing

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Ladera Ranch, Calif. Halifax, Va. Watkinsville, Ga. Kansas City, Kan. Providence, N.C. Corning, Calif. Rochester Hills, Mich. Miami Springs, Fla. Bakersfield, Calif. Copper Hill, Va. High Point, N.C. Daytona Beach, Fla. Tucker, Ga. Blountville, Tenn. Las Vegas, Nev. Byron, Mich. Mobile, Ala. Level Green, Pa. Mexico City, Mexico Tulare, Calif. Bahama, N.C. Forest, Va. Necedah, Wis. Stuart, Fla.

Cole Custer Jeb Burton John Wes Townley Jennifer Jo Cobb Timothy Peters Tyler Reddick Brad Keselowski Joey Coulter Brennan Newberry Jeff Agnew Ryan Blaney Ben Kennedy Ryan Sieg Nate Montieth Kyle Busch Erik Jones Darrell Wallace Jr. Norm Benning German Quiroga Matt Crafton Scott Riggs Chris Jones Johnny Sauter Bryan Silas

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Things to Watch in 2014

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2014 NASCAR camping world TRUCK Series roster

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Hometown Cedar Rapids, Iowa Boise, Idaho Welcome, N.C. Mooresville, N.C. Bakersfield, Calif. Enumclaw, Wash. Knoxville, Tenn. Cato, N.Y. Dawsonville, Ga. Owensboro, Ky. Emporia, Va. Chilhowie, Va. Bakersfield, Calif. Milwaukie, Ore. Cambridge, Wis. Chesterfield, Va. Rochester Hills, Mich. Middletown, Conn. McKinney, Texas Brasilia, Brazil Elk Grove, Calif. Peachtree City, Ga. New Castle, Ind. W. Palm Beach, Fla. Spartanburg, S.C. Cedar Rapids, Iowa Las Vegas, Nev. Defiance, Ohio El Paso, Texas Prosper, Texas Las Vegas, Nev. Lakeland, Fla. Kahnawake, Quebec Germantown, Tenn. Plano, Texas

Landon Cassill Brian Scott Ty Dillon Jeffrey Earnhardt Kevin Harvick Kasey Kane Trevor Bayne Regan Smith Chase Elliott Jeff Green Elliott Sadler Eric McClure Ryan Reed Mike Bliss Matt Kenseth Denny Hamlin Brad Keselowski Joey Logano Robert Richardson Jr. Nelson Piquet Jr. Kyle Larson Reed Sorenson Dakoda Armstrong Blake Koch Jeremy Clements Joey Gase Kyle Busch Sam Hornish Jr. Jamie Dick Chris Buescher Brendan Gaughan Joe Nemechek Dexter Stacey Kevin Swindell James Buescher

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No. Driver 01 2 3 4 5 6 7 9 10 11 14 16 19 20 22 23 30 32 40 43 44 51 52 54 55 60 62 87 92 98 99

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nascar series schedules 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Feb. 23 March 2 March 9 March 16 March 23 March 30 April 6 April 12 April 26 May 4 May 10 May 17 May 25 June 1 June 8 June 15 June 22 June 28 July 5 July 13 July 27 Aug. 3 Aug. 10 Aug. 17 Aug. 23 Aug. 31 Sept. 6 Sept. 14 Sept. 21 Sept. 28 Oct. 5 Oct. 11 Oct. 19 Oc. 26 Nov. 2 Nov. 9 Nov. 16

Daytona International Speedway Phoenix International Raceway Las Vegas Motor Speedway Bristol Motor Speedway Auto Club Speedway Martinsville Speedway Texas Motor Speedway Darlington Raceway Richmond International Raceway Talladega Superspeedway Kansas Speedway *Charlotte Motor Speedway Charlotte Motor Speedway Dover International Speedway Pocono Raceway Michigan International Speedway Sonoma Raceway Kentucky Speedway Daytona International Speedway New Hampshire Motor Speedway Indianapolis Motor Speedway Pocono Raceway Watkins Glen International Michigan International Speedway Bristol Motor Speedway Atlanta Motor Speedway Richmond International Raceway Chicagoland Speedway New Hampshire Motor Speedway Dover International Speedway Kansas Speedway Charlotte Motor Speedway Talladega Superspeedway Martinsville Speedway Texas Motor Speedway Phoenix International Raceway Homestead-Miami Speedway

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2014 NASCAR camping world truck Series Feb. 21 March 29 May 9 May 16 May 30 June 6 June 14 June 26 July 12 July 23 Aug. 2 Aug. 16 Aug. 20 Aug. 31 Sept. 12 Sept. 20 Sept. 27 Oct. 18 Oct. 25 Oct. 31 Nov. 7 Nov. 14

Daytona International Speedway Martinsville Speedway Kansas Speedway Charlotte Motor Speedway Dover International Speedway Texas Motor Speedway Gateway Motorsports Park Kentucky Speedway Iowa Speedway Eldora Speedway Pocono Raceway Michigan International Speedway Bristol Motor Speedway Canadian Tire Motorsport Park Chicagoland Speedway New Hampshire Motor Speedway Las Vegas Motor Speedway Talladega Superspeedway Martinsville Speedway Texas Motor Speedway Phoenix International Raceway Homestead-Miami Speedway

2014 NASCAR nationwide Series Feb. 22 March 1 March 8 March 15 March 22 April 4 April 11 April 25 May 3 May 18 May 24 May 31 June 14 June 21 June 27 July 4 July 12 July 19 July 26 Aug. 2 Aug. 9 Aug. 16 Aug. 22 Aug. 30 Sept. 5 Sept. 13 Sept. 20 Sept. 27 Oct. 4 Oct. 10 Nov. 1 Nov. 8 Nov. 15

Daytona International Speedway Phoenix International Raceway Las Vegas Motor Speedway Bristol Motor Speedway Auto Club Speedway Texas Motor Speedway Darlington Raceway Richmond International Raceway Talladega Superspeedway Iowa Speedway Charlotte Motor Speedway Dover International Speedway Michigan International Speedway Road America Kentucky Speedway Daytona International Speedway New Hampshire Motor Speedway Chicagoland Speedway Indianapolis Motor Speedway Iowa Speedway Watkins Glen International Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course Bristol Motor Speedway Atlanta Motor Speedway Richmond International Raceway Chicagoland Speedway Kentucky Speedway Dover International Speedway Kansas Speedway Charlotte Motor Speedway Texas Motor Speedway Phoenix International Raceway Homestead-Miami Speedway

nascar nationwide series

Things You Don’t Know About Dakoda

1 2

I’m actually pretty boring, but I like ’80s music for some odd reason. I don’t do a whole lot other than racing. Really, the only thing I do is go bowling or I go to the movies every once in a while. I used to do a lot of four-wheeling but I don’t do that as much anymore, just trying not to get hurt.

3 4 5

I have one brother and he’s been racing in the USAC series. He’s 19. We grew up on a really big farm so we had really nice equipment and got to drive a lot of tractors.

I always looked up to Jeff Gordon, and also Tony Stewart growing up. These were guys that kind of came out of the same background I was in, just because they were racing the same type of stuff.

Youngster Aims to Seize Opportunity

Dakoda Armstrong Joins the Nationwide Series

n an era when there are more talented, young drivers than seats to accommodate them, Dakoda Armstrong considers himself “very lucky” to have a full-time ride in the NASCAR Nationwide Series season with Richard Petty Motorsports.

However, Armstrong, the son of a farmer, knows luck will only take him so far. To reach his goals in NASCAR, he must work overtime to produce quality results on the race track. And that, in short, is the plan for the 22-year-old Hoosier in year No. 1 as a full-time competitor in NASCAR’s No. 2 series. Armstrong ran the full NASCAR Camping World Truck Series campaign in 2013 with only modest success. Now, given the chance to not only move up to the NASCAR

Nationwide Series but do so with the organization co-owned by “The King” Richard Petty, Armstrong is intent on delivering quality results. “Tons of people want to be in my shoes, so we need to make the most of it, and it’s a great opportunity,” he said. Although Armstrong has much to learn, he isn’t in completely unchartered waters. The native of New Castle, Ind., entered the season with seven NASCAR Nationwide Series starts, all but one coming last season.

“I feel this year that I’ve got enough experience in the trucks and I’ve got enough experience in the seven Nationwide Series races that even though I’m a rookie, I don’t feel like one,” Armstrong said. “I feel like I’m really ready and not like I’m being thrown to the wolves or anything.” Helping with Armstrong’s transition to the NASCAR Nationwide Series will be his Richard Petty Motorsports team, which has fielded cars the past two years for

now-NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Michael Annett. The team’s crew chief, Philippe Lopez, is a garage-area veteran and former crew chief in NASCAR’s premier series. “Most of the places I’ve raced before, when I would go there, I would come in and then we would start up a new team along with me,” said Armstrong, whose primary sponsor on the No. 43 Ford is Winfield, his main sponsor last season in both the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and the NASCAR Nationwide

Series. “So, to have a team that’s already there and established, and I’m what’s new, it makes it a little different, but it’s also nice.” Richard Petty, for one, is confident Armstrong is up to the task. “Dakoda is a driver who has grown up in the sport and has paid his dues,” said the seven-time NASCAR champion. “He has proven himself at every level, and we will now give him the tools he needs to be successful in the Nationwide Series and win races for us.”

by jared turner POLEPOSITIONMAG.COM

nascar camping world truck series

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Student Meets Teacher

Tyler Reddick Looking to Brad Keselowski

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rad Keselowski has a new protégé – and he’s already gleaning knowledge from the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion. Tyler Reddick, who celebrated his 18th birthday in January, is scheduled to make 15 or 16 starts this season in Brad Keselowski Racing’s No. 19 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series entry. Plans call for Reddick to race the Keselowski-owned Ford full time in 2015. The native of Corning, Calif., who cut his teeth racing at dirt tracks across the Midwest, is the latest in a growing list of young drivers who are trying to follow in the footsteps of Keselowski, who in just his third full NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season hoisted the sport’s premier

championship trophy. Another Keselowski understudy is Reddick’s new BKR teammate and second-year NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver Ryan Blaney, who himself is just 20 years old. “If you’re driving for someone like Brad Keselowski, there’s a lot you can learn from him,” said Reddick, who started racing at age 4 in Outlaw Karts before graduating to Mini Sprints, 410 Sprint Cars and Super Late Models. “It’s really, really helpful to have someone like that to go talk to about whatever it may be that’s on your mind going into that day at whatever track it may be, because he’s been to all of them and he knows what it’s like to race on them.

“So, having someone like that and Ryan Blaney to talk to is going to be a great help, I think. I’m not a very experienced pavement racer, and have done predominantly dirt racing in the past, so there’s a lot they can help me with and help me to understand.” Reddick, who transitioned to asphalt only two years ago, enters 2014 with one NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start to go along with a pair of NASCAR K&N Pro Series East appearances and three ARCA outings. While the youngster is admittedly short on asphalt-racing experience, his new boss sees the potential to achieve great things. “Tyler caught my eye at the Rockingham NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race

by jared turner

CarbonForgedTough.com 76 POLE POSITION 2014

in November of 2012,” Keselowski said of Reddick’s race-winning performance in his first series start. “I continued to follow his progress and he definitely made a positive impression on me and our competition staff at BKR. We’re pleased to be able to bring Tyler into the program that, with the support of the BBR Music Group, Ford and longtime BKR partners Cequent and Cooper Standard, has a very solid foundation to compete for wins and championships in the coming seasons. We look forward to helping develop Tyler into a championship-caliber CequentConsumer PP 2014 Horiz driver and ultimately

seeing him progress within NASCAR.” Reddick admits there’s a certain sense of urgency that he feels stepping into a truck that has the backing and resources to run near the front on a consistent basis. “Our team’s very capable of winning every single weekend,” he said. “There’s no doubt about that, and that puts a lot on my shoulders knowing that those guys can win every single weekend and that I have to perform at that level of a driver that runs top five every weekend. I feel like it’s possible. I just hope I can do my part and get the wins for Half.pdf 1 the 1/7/14 the guys at shop.” 8:44

5 Things You Don’t Know About tyler

1 2 3

A lot of people are surprised that I’m left-handed. If I knew how to make sushi I’d probably eat it the rest of my life. I snowboarded growing up. I really enjoyed it and it was a lot of fun. I didn’t get a lot of time to do it, but it was something I picked up pretty quickly and had a lot of fun doing. My dad raced bikes when he was about my age now. He did it for a few years and raced Modifieds a little when I was really, really young. He did it as more of a hobby than anything. My mom’s dad raced a little bit, too, in sprint cars. I have a sister and everyone thinks she’s older than me, but she’s actually not. She’s 16. She says the most common guess of how old she is is 19.

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A Driver to Watch

Two-Time Champion Lee Pulliam

y today’s standards, Lee Pulliam was a latecomer to the world of competitive stock car racing. However, it didn’t take him long to catch on.

Pulliam, a 25-year-old whose first season of racing wasn’t until 2007, captured his second consecutive NASCAR Whelen AllAmerican Series national championship in 2013 on the strength of 27 points-paying victories in 47 points-paying starts. Driving a Late Model fielded by his family-owned and operated team, Pulliam became only the third driver in history to win multiple titles on NASCAR’s weekly

racing circuit, joining short-track legends Philip Morris and Larry Phillips. En route to winning the national title, Pulliam also locked up the Virginia State title and became the first driver to claim track championships at Virginia’s Motor Mile Speedway and South Boston Speedway – two well-known short tracks – in the same year. But becoming a back-to-back national champion was the biggest accomplishment.

the intimidator

ulliam’s childhood hero was the late Dale Earnhardt. “I was a huge, huge, huge Dale Earnhardt fan on the national level. He didn’t take no junk and he’d get aggressive when he needed to,” Pulliam said. “And he was an outdoorsman and a small-town guy. Even though you didn’t know him, you thought you could relate to him, and I think that was really cool and something that helped bring NASCAR a lot of fans, because a lot of fans can relate to that.”

“It was extremely gratifying and at the same time it was something that I couldn’t even describe,” said Pulliam, who made cameo appearances last season at Southern National Motorsports Park and Caraway Speedway in North Carolina. “It sends tingles down your spine every time you think about it. To be on the list with the late Larry Phillips and Philip Morris, that’s a heck of an accomplishment, and I’m just real proud of everybody’s hard work and determination to get us there.” Pulliam graduated early from high school and went to work at a

diesel mechanic shop to earn the money to buy his first race car – a Limited Sportsman he ran at South Boston Speedway. The native of Semora, N.C., began gaining national recognition in 2011 with a thirdplace finish in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series standings, but success came even quicker. “It was pretty amazing,” said Pulliam, who as a teenager worked for the family’s logging business in Semora, where he still resides. “I think we won about our seventh or eighth race – ever. And I’d never sat in a go-kart or anything. It was pretty special.” Pulliam’s relatively late start in racing wasn’t from a lack of interest. “I’d have been racing at 3 if I could’ve,” he said. “It was just a money deal. There’s a lot of kids in the stands that would love to race and just don’t have the opportunity because of finances. I just had to wait until I was old enough to get

out on my own and work some.” Pulliam’s current day job is building and setting up race cars for other local drivers who pay him for his services and expertise. “It’s three cars leaving the shop, at least, every weekend, and it’s a lot of hours I put in during the week to make it all happen,” he said. “That’s the way I make a living and pay the bills. I’ve got to get those guys ready first. My car comes in last, and it still all works out. I still give 110 percent on each one of them, and it shows off at the race track.” This year, Pulliam plans to make a run at a third consecutive national title while continuing to compete at Motor Mile, South Boston and a few other speedways. He also plans to make select starts, including his debut, in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East. “My goal has always been to make it all the way to the top,” Pulliam said.

by jared turner 78

POLE POSITION 2014

history of nascar

Four on the Floor

Moments That Helped Shape NASCAR

ollowing a December 1947 meeting at the Streamline Hotel in Daytona Beach, Fla., Bill France spearheaded the formation of NASCAR and set stock car racing in America on a path of growth and prosperity. France worked hard to make the public aware of his fledgling sanctioning body and dreamed of the day it would become respected and revered on the level of other professional sports.

During the course of the 2014 season, NASCAR Pole Position will take a look at historic moments that helped shape NASCAR.

Charlotte Motor Speedway Opens

After battling weather delays and cost overruns, promoter Bruton Smith and NASCAR driver Curtis Turner opened Charlotte Motor Speedway on June 19, 1960. During the inaugural World 600, the new asphalt on the 1.5-mile track began to come up. After six grueling hours of racing, Joe Lee Johnson won the race.

Lorenzen Retires

Petty Wins 27 Races

Chrysler’s Winged Wonder

“Golden Boy” Fred Lorenzen was one of NASCAR’s brightest stars when he first retired from driving on April 2, 1967, at the age of 32. Running only select races, Lorenzen had 26 victories in 129 starts. Lorenzen eventually returned to the sport, competing in 29 additional NASCAR races during the early 1970s.

In 48 starts during the 1967 NASCAR season, Richard Petty won 27 times, including a streak of 10 in a row. The Plymouth Belvedere Petty used during his record-setting run debuted during the 1966 season and was updated for the ’67 campaign. That season, Petty won his second of seven NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championships.

Chrysler unveiled its radical winged Dodge Daytona during the summer of 1969. In its first NASCAR race at Talladega Superspeedway that September, tire issues resulted in many of the top drivers boycotting the event. Unheralded Richard Brickhouse drove one of the winged Dodges to victory.

by ben white

photos courtesy Charlotte Motor Speedway POLEPOSITIONMAG.COM

PHOTO FINISH

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Patrick

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