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NASCAR POLE POSITION RACE FAN GUIDE AN OFFICIALLY LICENSED PUBLICATION OF NASCAR

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06 HOW THE CHaSE WOrKS

07 TradIN’ PaINT

08 Q&a: arIC aLmIrOLa

10 TErmS Of raCINg

The method for crowning a champion

Paint schemes for the 2014 Chase, provided

by Lionel

First-time Daytona 500 winner

Understanding the terminology of racing

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SPOTLIgHT: CaSEy mEarS

TaILgaTINg

gEar

Smaller is better, presented by GEICO

The latest products from our advertising partners

Wins now play a larger role

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NASCAR Sprint Cup Series

drIvEr PrOfILES: WHO TO WaTCH

PaST CHamPIONS

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NEW rULES Of THE CHaSE

Fans front-andcenter, presented by Honda Generators

fIvE favOrITES: NSCS

PRODUCTION ART DIRECTOR: JASON TEDESCHI • GRAPHIC DESIGNER: STACEY FOSTER • WEB DEVELOPER: NICOLE COOPER • COPY EDITOR: KEITH WALTZ • EDITOR: DAN GUTTENPLAN • WRITERS: JARED TURNER, KEITH WALTZ, BEN WHITE, DEREK SMITH • PHOTOGRAPHY: CIA STOCK PHOTOGRAPHY, NASCAR/GETTY IMAGES • SPECIAL THANKS TO: MICHAEL FORDE (NASCAR), KRISTI JOYAL (NASCAR), RACHEL SMITH, MICHELLE FANIN (LIONEL RACING)

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fIvE favOrITES: NNS

fIvE favOrITES: NCWTS

Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers

Champions from the top three series

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ar C S a N EL

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NaSCar fUEL

Lifestyle tips, industry careers and fun pages!

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Schedules for NSCS, NNS and NCWTS

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Photos of NASCAR fans having fun at the track POLEPOSITIONmag.COM

05

green flag chase 101

How the Chase Works Since its highly publicized rollout in 2004, the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup has been the method by which NASCAR has crowned the champion of the sport’s top series.

Beginning in mid-September and culminating around midNovember, the 10-race playoff is an appropriate payoff for a driver and team’s strong performance over the 26-race “regular season.”

The Chase, which in its inaugural year included only 10 drivers, underwent multiple tweaks in its first decade – including an expansion from 10 to 12 drivers and the addition of “Wild Card” spots for the two drivers between positions 11 and 20 in points with the most wins.

But this year’s changes, highlighted by a larger-than-ever field of 16 participants and four new elimination rounds, are easily the most drastic in the playoff format’s 11-year existence.

While perhaps not everyone saw the need for such an overhaul, which NASCAR Chairman Brian France announced in late January, the decision quickly garnered widespread support throughout the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series garage and among NASCAR’s stakeholders.

“You’ve got to admire NASCAR,” veteran team owner Joe Gibbs said.

“This took guts, this is a big deal.

You have to admire their courage.”

For the first time in Chase history, four drivers will enter the 10th and final Chase race at Florida’s Homestead-Miami Speedway with equal point totals. These four drivers will be the only ones still championship-eligible following the season’s penultimate event

at Phoenix International Raceway, where eight drivers will arrive still in the hunt.

Whoever among the final four posts the best finish in the season finale, in which no bonus points are awarded, will be declared the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion.

So in essence, the season-ending Ford EcoBoost 400 is now a winnertake-all affair – or as some have dubbed it, “A Game 7 Moment” – for NASCAR’s top series.

“It will all come down to Homestead-Miami Speedway in a one-race shootout,” said Matthew Becherer, president of the Homestead track. “No more calculating points. It’s simple: The best championship contender takes all.

We applaud NASCAR for implementing these changes and its continued commitment to innovation.”

Unlike in past editions of the Chase, when typically no more than three drivers have entered the final race with a legitimate title shot, the new format gives four drivers an equal opportunity to claim the sport’s most coveted prize. Gone are the days of a driver trying to come from behind at Homestead while the driver who enters the race in the points lead can all but coast. With four drivers now arriving in South Florida on equal footing, the championship is for the taking among the fortunate quartet.

“The biggest change in my mind is one race, four cars,” said Jimmie Johnson, the six-time and reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion, who only once has been forced to come from behind to win the title in the final race.

“Homestead is a good track for us. We’ve run well when we’ve needed to, and other years we’ve been able to just protect our position.

This is definitely going to change the way we race there.”

by jared turner 06

POLE POSITION 2014

Tradin’ Paint Car dESIgNS fOr THE CHaSE

T

his year, each of the 16 cars competing in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup will have a special paint scheme. These cars, available in both 1:24 and 1:64 scale, may be ordered at lionelracing.com, the NASCAR.com Superstore or your local die-cast dealer.

Carl Edwards NO. 99 // faSTENaL fOrd

dale Earnhardt jr.

NO. 88 // NaTIONaL gUard CHEvrOLET

Kevin Harvick NO. 4 // bUdWEISEr CHEvrOLET

images courtesy of Lionel Racing

POLEPOSITIONmag.COM

07

grEEN fLag Q&a

fIvE PEOPLE yOU’d INvITE TO dINNEr

WITH NaSCar SPrINT CUP SErIES Q&a drIvEr arIC aLmIrOLa

T

hanks to a career-first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory in July at Daytona International Speedway, Aric Almirola is in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup for the first time. In an exclusive sit-down interview with NASCAR Pole Position magazine, Almirola reveals what he’s learned from Richard Petty, his biggest fear and his ideal life in 30 years.

Who is your favorite person in history?

Certainly, I’ve got to go with my boss, right? Richard Petty’s certainly a person of significance

as far as history’s concerned – and he’s my boss and I like him. He’s a pretty good guy.

Who would be No. 2 to ‘The King’?

I’d have to say probably George Washington. He was our first president and kind of established the ground rules for what our country stands for.

What’s the best advice you’ve received from Richard Petty?

Really, I think the thing that he talks about the most is just taking care of your stuff and making sure that every detail that you can control is taken care of. The old saying of dotting your i’s and crossing your t’s, he emphasizes that very much.

And that’s important for a small race team like ours to make sure that everything we’re in control of, we do that to the best of our ability.

What’s something interesting about you that most fans don’t know?

I guess the one thing that most

No. 1, it’d be pretty cool to sit and have dinner with Jesus. No. 2, it’d probably be pretty cool to sit and have dinner with Elvis Presley.

I think it would have been pretty cool to sit and have dinner with Dale Earnhardt. I think it’d be pretty cool to have dinner with Neil Armstrong, the first guy to walk on the moon. And I think it’d have been pretty cool to sit and have dinner with the guy that started Apple – Steve Jobs.

fans probably wouldn’t know about me is that I am pretty afraid of heights. I’ve got no problems going 210 mph on the ground, but I am not very fond of standing still 200 feet in the air.

Where do you see yourself in 30 years?

I would guess that I would probably be a grandfather. That’s kind of scary to think about. I don’t know what I’d be doing. Hopefully, I’ll have made enough money to kick back and relax and enjoy my family and be able to take my kids and grandkids to places that I never got to go, and travel the country, travel the world. All that stuff intrigues me.

famE Or mONEy Money. I don’t really care about the fame.

PaPEr Or PLaSTIC Paper

favOrITE drIvErS Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt

favOrITE SPOrTS TEamS The Tampa Bay Bucs for football and, it’s really weird, but it’s between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Cincinnati Reds for baseball. I was a huge Reds fan when I was a kid.

favOrITE fOOd Cuban

favOrITE HOLIday Christmas – by far.

How has becoming a parent changed you?

I think the thing for me that kids has done – it puts a lot of things in perspective. It makes me realize very much that racing is obviously very important to me, but it’s not the most important thing to me.

The reaction that I get from my son, Alex, when I get home – whether I run second or finish 43rd – is the same. You notice I didn’t say win, because when I win the reaction is completely different. When I came home from Daytona with a trophy, he was beside himself. He was all excited. He kept giving the trophy a hug and he was going nuts. But he doesn’t know if I have a great day at the race track or a bad day at the race track. When I open that door and walk in the house, he comes running to me and gets really excited, and I think that’s the biggest thing for me.

by jared turner 08

POLE POSITION 2014

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green flag terms of racing

Understanding the Terminology of Racing As the dog days of summer are replaced by cool autumn breezes, the battle for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship takes center stage. During this intense portion of the season, drivers and crew members will often use words or phrases that may be confusing to new or casual fans of America’s most-popular form of auto racing. Consider the following a NASCAR Pole Position study guide as these definitions will help you better understand the racing “lingo.”

Alternator: A belt-driven device mounted on the front of the engine that recharges the battery while the engine is running.

Air Filter: Paper, gauze or synthetic fiber element that prevents dirt particles from entering the engine.

Binders: Slang term for a race car’s brakes.

B-Post: Post extending from the roofline to the base of the window behind the driver’s head.

Champion’s Week: Celebrates an entire season of racing excitement and culminates with the crowning of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion at Wynn Las Vegas. This year’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Awards ceremony is scheduled for Dec. 5.

Drive Shaft: A steel tube that connects the transmission of a race to the rear end housing.

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POLE POSITION 2014

Fuel Pump: It’s a device that pumps fuel from the fuel cell through the fuel line into the electronic fuel-injection system.

Gasket: A thin material, made of paper, metal silicone or other synthetic materials, used as a seal between two similar machined metal surfaces such as cylinder heads and the engine block.

Gears: Circular, wheel-shaped parts with teeth along the edges. The interlocking of these two mechanisms enables one to turn the other.

Ignition: An electrical system used to ignite the air-fuel mixture in an internal combustion engine.

Loading: Weight at a given tire position on a NASCAR race car due to aerodynamics, vehicle weight and lateral G-forces in a turn.

Lug Nuts: Large nuts applied with a high-pressure air wrench to a wheel during a pit stop to ensure the tire remains in place.

All NASCAR cars use five lug nuts on each wheel, and penalties are assessed if a team fails to put on and tighten all five during a pit stop.

Offseason: It’s the time between the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway and the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway in February.

Even though there are no races during this period, the industry is a beehive of activity and a tremendous amount of work is completed in a relatively short amount of time.

Piston: A circular element in the engine that moves up and down in the cylinder, compressing the air-fuel mixture in the top of the chamber helping to produce horsepower.

Each engine in NASCAR’s top three series has eight pistons.

Rear Clip: It’s the section of a race car that begins at the base of the rear window and extends to the rear bumper. It contains the car’s fuel cell and rear suspension components.

Setup: Slang term for the tuning and adjustments made to a race car’s suspension before and during a race.

Slick: A track condition where, for a number of reasons, it’s hard for a car’s tires to adhere to the racing surface. A slick race track is not necessarily wet or slippery because of oil, water, etc.

Spoiler: A metal blade attached to the rear deck lid of the car. It helps restrict airflow over the rear of the car, providing downforce and traction.

Toe: Looking at the car from the front, the amount the tires are turned in or out. If you imagine your feet to be the two front tires of a race car, standing with your toes together would represent toe-in.

Standing with your heels together would represent toe-out.

Wedge, Round of: Adjusting the handling of the car by altering pressure on the rear springs.

By

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grEEN fLag SPOTLIgHT

Smaller is better CaSEy mEarS fINdS PErKS IN bEINg ParT Of gErmaIN raCINg PrESENTEd by

a

former driver for two of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series’ largest organizations in Hendrick Motorsports and Richard Childress Racing, Casey Mears certainly appreciates the resources and benefits that come with being part of a robust operation.

Mears also finds unique value in a smaller organization like the one he now calls home.

After two seasons at Hendrick and one at RCR, Mears landed at Germain Racing – a single-car organization that while high on passion and hard work is short on resources and personnel compared with those available at elite, multi-car outfits like Hendrick and RCR, or even mid-size organizations such as Chip Ganassi Racing where Mears began his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career in 2003 and spent four seasons.

But rather than dwelling on what he lacks, Mears chooses to focus on what he does have. In fact, he sees a number of benefits that come with being at Germain, a two-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship organization that boasts around 45 full-time shop

employees. Hendrick, by comparison, employs more than 500.

“One of the advantages of being smaller is sometimes you can get things done quicker,” said Mears, who joined Germain in the second half of the 2010 season. “If we want to have a team meeting, we get on the PA [public address system] in the shop, and 25 guys come walking up and we talk about what we’ve got going on. At a place like Hendrick or somewhere like that with 600 employees, it’s very difficult to get them all in the same place. It turns into a lot of small, separate meetings trying to deliver the same message, so from that standpoint we can move pretty quickly.

Unlike at Hendrick and RCR where it was impossible to know everyone on a sprawling campus, Mears has a personal connection with each member of his No. 13 GEICO team.

“It’s great,” Mears said. “When I was at Hendrick and those places where it was larger, it was very, very difficult.”

Fewer bodies to go around, however, mean more work for

everyone– and that goes for the driver, too.

“Everybody here on this team’s more involved – from me to anybody that’s on the team,” Mears said. “We all do two or three jobs, not just one, just to try to pick up the slack.”

Not surprisingly, Mears believes being short-handed makes success that much sweeter when it comes. The driver from Bakersfield, Calif., has managed to remain competitive in nearly four-and-a-half seasons with Germain, an organization that fields just one team but does benefit from a technical alliance with Richard Childress Racing, which has access to some of the highly sophisticated and expensive tools that Germain lacks. Among them are a 7-post shaker rig, K&C rigs and access to a wind tunnel.

“I think we’ve definitely done a good job within our budget of getting a relationship with a team that gives us the most for our money,” Mears said.

It’s that lack of convenience, however, that helps make Mears and his GEICO team such a tight-knit group.

It also makes success – when it comes – all the more sweet.

So when Mears finished in the top five for the first time as a Germain driver in July’s rain-shortened race at Daytona International Speedway, for example, it was cause for celebration.

“I think it’s more rewarding to understand our uphill battles, so when we have a really strong finish we know what we’ve overcome to achieve that, and when you’re with one of those bigger teams, winning is absolutely expected,” said Mears.

by jared turner 12

POLE POSITION 2014

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geico.com | 1-800-947-AUTO (2886) | Local Office Some discounts, coverages, payment plans and features are not available in all states or all GEICO companies. Motorcycle and ATV coverages are underwritten by GEICO Indemnity Company. Homeowners, renters, boat and PWC coverages are written through non-affiliated insurance companies and are secured through the GEICO Insurance Agency, Inc. GEICO is a registered service mark of Government Employees Insurance Company, Washington, D.C. 20076; a Berkshire Hathaway Inc. subsidiary. GEICO Gecko image © 1999-2014. © 2014 GEICO

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Race Fans Forever

Fans travel from afar to enjoy the fun before and after races by derek smith Rusty Ellis, 50, of Gastonia, N.C., wasn’t always a stock car fan. He grew up in a family of drag racing enthusiasts and made the switch to stock cars while covering the sport as a cameraman for a local television station. After filming over 230 races from 1988-2002, Ellis settled into watching the action as a spectator and tailgating beforehand. He likes to arrive early and spends the hours prior to the event cooking, socializing and talking about attending the first restrictor-plate race at Talladega and sitting in the condos at Atlanta Motor Speedway before they were completed.

It’s not unusual to see female race fans enjoying a good tailgate as much as the men. Katie Britton, 27, of Dallas, N.C., has been camping in the infield of Charlotte Motor Speedway twice a year for the past 10 years with a group of family and friends. “The guys like to take over everything, so all I have to do is eat and drink,” she said. “It doesn’t bother me.” Britton enjoys discovering new beverages and belting out her favorite karaoke songs.

Mike Norton, of Atlanta, could be called the “Tailgater to the Stars.” Because of his tailgating area’s proximity to the concert stage in the infield of Talladega Superspeedway, performers have been known to stop by and enjoy the pre-race festivities. Country music stars Pat Green and Zac Brown have hung out at Norton’s RV. The RV is a 39-foot Fleetwood Discovery that Norton decorates in the colors of his favorite team – the Georgia Bulldogs. “It’s been a great experience,” he said, of tailgating at tracks throughout the Southeast.

As an automotive technician, Jeff Terry, 53, can tell how a stock car is handling as he observes races from the grandstands. “I’m a gearhead,” he said. “Front tires and the hands. That’s what I watch for.” Terry started attending the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the ’70s and has attended races in Darlington, S.C., Rockingham, N.C., and North Wilkesboro, N.C. One year, Bobby Labonte invited Terry to a steak dinner at the driver’s RV. He and his son, Cody, 21, a student at the NASCAR Technical Institute, get their tailgate area set up and then check out the souvenir trailers and promotional displays.

“No boys allowed” is how Catherine Toomey, 45, of Weddington, N.C., describes her tailgate of 12 years during the Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. “We just don’t take the guys,” she said. “It’s just our thing.” The fan loyalties are split among three drivers – Dale Earnhardt, Jr., [Toomey]; Jeff Gordon [friend, Julie] and Tony Stewart [friend, Melanie]. The group always sets up its tailgate near the big, white house across the street from the track, arriving early in the morning for the day’s events. “To be 40-year-old moms we have a good time,” Toomey said. “We just love it.”

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POLE POSITION 2014

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Designed for the ultimate in quality, portability and convenience, these models are ideal for tailgating, camping or any trip to the great outdoors. Honda is proud to support several teams such as Chip Ganassi Racing, Stewart-Haas Racing, Kyle Busch Motorsports and others with EU series generator products that provide smooth, reliable power for their racing needs.

2 Reese towpower

REESE Towpower ®, the market leader in towing, has brought innovation and strength to towing products once again by introducing the Carbon Forged family of ball mounts. The ball mounts offer users greater towing capacity through their unique forged one-piece design, providing unequaled quality and performance in a patented weld-free design with a rust-resistant finish.

Features include: ■■ Greater Towing Capacity ■■ 100,000 Miles of Road Testing* *Simulated enhanced fatigue test ■■ Trusted Quality and Innovation 16

POLE POSITION 2014

6

3 lionel plastic cars

Enjoy the NASCAR season with these brand-new 1:18-scale plastic cars from Lionel Racing. The perfect plaything for the young and young at heart, these toy cars are bold, fun and indestructible. Each 1:18 car features a full plastic body, rolling wheels and is the perfect size for little ones to play with. Get your favorite driver’s car now at lionelracing.com, the NASCAR.com Superstore, trackside souvenir rigs or your hometown die-cast dealer.

4 nascar nation

Go trackside with FOX Sports broadcaster Chris Myers in NASCAR Nation. The book illustrates how 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. It takes fans trackside, places them in the car and in the middle of the action, and shares the sport’s finer moments. Available at the NASCAR.com Superstore.

5 LUBRIPLATE

Chain and Cable Fluid – Penetrating Oil. A superior, cleansing, non-gumming penetrating oil for wire rope, chains, cables and general lubrication. Prevents rust and corrosion, protects brightwork and loosens rusty nuts and bolts. Excellent for drilling, tapping and sawing. Available in a 12-ounce spray can, Part No. L0135-063. Buy it today at lubriplate.com or CARQUEST Auto Parts stores.

6 dvx sunglasses

DVX Sun & Safety sunglasses, sold exclusively at Walmart, are the favorite of champion Jeff Gordon.

Every pair of DVX sunglasses is ANSI rated, meaning they can be used on the job where occupational safety eyewear is required. Yet they feature great contemporary styling for use anywhere. Look for DVX on Jeff Gordon trackside haulers, and in any Walmart Vision Center. dvxeyewear.com

12 8 13

9

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7 TUb O’ TOWELS

Tough messes need the world’s toughest wipe: Tub O’ Towels. These solution-soaked wipes are bigger, stronger and tougher than ordinary wipes. Grease, grime, stains and spills are no problem with Tub O’ Towels. These tough wipes were designed to handle virtually any mess whether you’re tailgating, at home, on the job or on the go. Find a retailer or get more information at tubotowels.com today.

8 grILL EmbLEmS

Cloud-Rider Designs is an aftermarket auto manufacturer. Its line of products features stainless steel grill inserts, mud flaps and other licensed products for NASCAR. Cloud-Rider’s NASCAR Universal Grill Emblem is made of stainless steel with a 3M decal.

It fits any grill and is easy to install. Two plates are provided that attach to the back of the emblem, one with hooks and zip ties, the other with screws that fit into any grill insert. Available for car Nos. 48, 88, 24, 20, 11 and 18. Available at cloud-rider.com and the NASCAR Superstore.

9 TIgEr baLm

When you need industrial-strength pain relief, but don’t want to risk the side effects caused by pills, Tiger Balm is your best tool for the job. For more than 100 years, Tiger Balm’s proven blend of herbal ingredients

has delivered safe, fast and effective pain relief without the pills. It’s no wonder millions of users around the world reach for Tiger Balm to soothe their aches and pains. Available at Walgreens, CVS, drugstores, mass merchants and super markets. tigerbalm.com/us

10 fOLEx®

FOLEX® is perfect for removing stains from upholstery, vinyl, clothing and practically any other material that is “colorfast” and “color-stable.” Even hard surfaces, painted surfaces, walls and woodwork that can be safely dampened with water will be quickly and easily cleaned with FOLEX®! Please visit folex.net for a list of retailers in your area and other useful information!

11 SPrayWay

Automotive professionals and car enthusiasts alike trust Sprayway Glass Cleaner to cut through smoke, bugs, grit and grime, and deliver a streakfree shine to their windows, windshields and mirrors every single time. With no Ammonia and no-drip foam, no wonder it’s the “World’s Best Glass Cleaner.” spraywayretail.com

12 SONax POLymEr NET SHIELd

SONAX Polymer Net Shield is the latest in performance car care, complementing its counterparts in

the top-of-the-line graded ProfiLine products.

SONAX Polymer Net Shield protects paint by means of a resistant network made from organic and inorganic components and provides up to six months of protection. After a quick and easy application, SONAX Polymer Net Shield intensively freshens up colors and produces a silky smooth surface with an outstanding drip-off effect. It is the optimum complement to paintwork sealing with SONAX Nano paint protection.

Learn more at sonaxusa.com.

13 SONax WHEEL CLEaNEr fULL EffECT

SONAX Wheel Cleaner Full Effect is a highly effective, acid-free and pH balanced rim- and wheel-cleaner that is safe for all wheels, including aluminum and alloys. This formulation is also effective and safe for use on painted or anodized wheels and will not deteriorate clear coats. SONAX Wheel Cleaner is acid-free and pH-balanced, for an environmentally-friendly formulation. It sprays on in green fluorescent, then turns red as dirt and grime are penetrated.

SONAX Wheel Cleaner Plus is available for 30-percent stronger and faster-acting formula.

Learn more at sonaxusa.com.

POLEPOSITIONmag.COM

17

chase 101 rules of the chase

New Rules of the Chase Wins Play a Larger Role in participants, champion

P

rior to this season, making the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup has always been more of an exercise in consistency than winning. Ditto for capturing the championship once the Chase commenced.

While reaching the Chase and even claiming the championship without a win are still possible under the new-for-2014 Chase rules, such a scenario is extremely unlikely.

That’s because race wins now carry more weight than overall consistency in both making the Chase and becoming champion.

Gone is the Chase format that featured 12 drivers – the 10 highest in points and the two with the most wins between points positions 11 and 20 at the end of the “regular season.” Enter the new 16-driver “Chase Grid” comprised first of race winners, followed by the top points drivers without a win – assuming there aren’t 16 different winners in the first 26 races.

As of the Michigan race in August, 12 different drivers had gone to Victory Lane in the season’s first 23 races, leaving no more than four Chase spots available for non-race winners. That number was likely to get smaller in the final three races remaining before the Chase cutoff.

“Obviously, the fewer [Chase] spots there are, the intensity picks

New Paint Schemes To Further Spice Up Chase

In addition to an expanded 16-driver championship field and all-new round-by-round advancement format, the 2014 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup will also have a different look on the track.

No, the 10 tracks that make up the Chase have not changed from the past few

up for the guys in that position,” said Brian Vickers, one of the drivers still searching for a win as of mid-August. “I think every week you go to every race trying to win and knowing what’s at stake if you do and what’s at stake if you don’t.”

In a radical shift from past Chase years when the champion has been crowned based on total points accumulated over the final 10 weeks, this year’s Chase is a whole new ballgame.

After the first three Chase races – the Challenger Round – the bottom four Chase drivers in points will be eliminated from championship eligibility, whittling the championship field to 12 drivers who will have their point totals reset to 3,000.

Following the next three races – the Contender Round – the bottom four remaining drivers again will be axed, leaving eight title hopefuls;

seasons. But this year, the cars of each Chase qualifier will be clearly identified through several new elements added to the paint schemes of the championship-contending race cars.

The cars driven by Chase participants will feature special yellow roof numbers, yellow front splitters and yel-

and the remaining drivers’ point totals will be reset to 4,000.

After another three races – the Eliminator Round – the bottom four remaining drivers will be cut, leaving just four drivers to battle for the championship in the final race, which they will enter tied in points.

Here’s the real kicker, though: A win by a championship-eligible driver in any Chase race automatically clinches that driver a spot in the next Chase elimination round. Furthermore, if any of the four drivers in title contention wins the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, he or she is automatically the champion.

“I love it, I really do,” Jeff Gordon said of this year’s format. “I think it’s still truly going to benefit the best team and the best team will win the championship or at least be in position to win the championship.”

low windshield headers, all while carrying a “Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup” logo affixed to their respective front quarter panels.

In keeping with NASCAR’s renewed emphasis on winning races throughout the season, the celebratory paint scheme is the first of its kind in the 11-year history of the Chase,

and will debut on drivers’ cars beginning with the 2014 Chase opener at Chicagoland Speedway on Sept. 14.

Once a driver is eliminated from title contention after one of the Chase’s three three-race elimination rounds, the special paint scheme will be removed from his or her car.

by jared turner 18

POLE POSITION 2014

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For over 40 years, we’ve poured the energy and science into Mobil 1™ synthetic motor oil to keep your engine running like new. We’ve tested it in some of the most extreme conditions you could encounter — to help protect engines in temperatures up to 500º Fahrenheit. Because our normal is anything but. Learn more about our product development at mobil1.us/ournormal

Copyright © 2014 Exxon Mobil Corporation. All rights reserved. All trademarks used herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of Exxon Mobil Corporation or one of its subsidiaries unless otherwise noted.

CHaSE 101 fIvE favOrITES

5

favOrITES TO WIN THE CHamPIONSHIP

1

JIMMIE JOHNSON: Johnson has won the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship in six of the past eight seasons.

He has also been one of the top performers this season. Those facts alone make the Hendrick Motorsports driver a favorite to capture the title, which would tie Johnson with Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt for the most championships in NASCAR’s top series.

2

BRAD KESELOWSKI: After surprising the NASCAR world by winning the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series title, Brad Keselowski failed to even make the Chase in 2013. The Team Penske driver returned to championship form this season, however, winning three times in the first 19 races and putting himself in great position for his second championship in three years.

These five are the top contenders for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series title.

3

DALE EARNHARDT JR.: If there’s ever been a year when Dale Earnhardt Jr. was a legitimate championship contender, it’s this one. After opening the season with an electrifying win in the Daytona 500, Earnhardt and lameduck crew chief Steve Letarte quickly proved to be the real deal by putting the No. 88 car at or near the front on a regular basis.

4

JOEY LOGANO: After making the Chase for the first time last year – his first season with Team Penske – Joey Logano wasted little time proving it was no fluke, winning twice in the first nine races of 2014. While inconsistency has been a bit of an issue, Logano’s No. 22 Ford has been wicked fast all year.

5

JEFF GORDON: No driver has been more consistent this year than Jeff Gordon. During the first half of the season, the Hendrick Motorsports driver finished worse than 13th just once and led the points standings more than any other driver. Gordon secured a Chase berth with a win at Kansas in May, proving his “Drive for Five” is still very much alive.

by jared turner 20

POLE POSITION 2014

“Victory Never Tasted So Good!”

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driver profiles

WHO TO WATCH CONTENDERS FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP

by jared turner POLEPOSITIONMAG.COM

23

driver profiles

dale earnhardt Jr.

88

No. TEAM

NATIONAL GUARD CHEVROLET

Hendrick Motorsports

PREVIOUS APPEARANCES IN THE CHASE FOR THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP

six

BEST CHASE FINISH BEST POINTS FINISH IN THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES

FIFTH in 2004, 2006 & 2013 THIRD IN 2003

CHAMPIONSHIP CHAT TER:

If the current Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup format had been in place last season, Dale Earnhardt Jr. would have been the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion based simply on points accumulated. Nevertheless, the Hendrick Motorsports driver finished fifth in points – matching his best points finish since the 2004 rollout of the Chase format. This fact alone is enough to put NASCAR’s 11-time most popular driver in this year’s championship mix. Of course, a more compelling argument for Earnhardt’s case is that he has enjoyed what has arguably been the best season of his entire career. Starting the year with a bang by winning the Daytona 500, Earnhardt and his No. 88 team quickly proved to be more than one-race wonders.

Earnhardt picked up a second win at Pocono Raceway in June and proved to be one of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series’ most consistent performers over the first half of the season.

24

pole posiTioN 2014

driver profiles

driver profiles

Jeff Gordon

24

No. TEAM

Drive To End Hunger/ axalta/Pepsi Chevrolet

hendrick motorsports

PREVIOUS APPEARANCES IN THE CHASE FOR THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP

nine

BEST CHASE FINISH BEST POINTS FINISH IN THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES By

DVX eyewear is built from the ground up to provide ANSIrated protection and bold style that’s as comfortable at the worksite as it is at the race.

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DVX, DVX Logo, WX, WILEY X (and circle logo) are trademarks of Wiley X, Inc., registered (marca registrada) or pending registration in the U.S. and other countries/jurisdictions.

Packaging Logos TM © 2011 Wiley X, Inc. All rights reserved. © 2014 Jeff Gordon, Inc. 26 and pole posiTioN 2014

second in 2007 Champion in 1995, 1997, 1998 & 2001

CHAMPIONSHIP CHAT TER:

When Jeff Gordon captured his fourth top series NASCAR championship all the way back in 2001, it seemed for all practical matters that a fifth title wouldn’t be too far away. After all, the young driver, often referred to as “Wonder Boy,” rolled up four championships in a span of only seven years. Fittingly, not long after championship No. 4, Hendrick Motorsports and Gordon’s army of supporters helped create what became a catchy marketing campaign around Gordon’s quest for a fifth title. Appropriately, the slogan was known as Gordon’s “Drive For Five.” Well, 13 years after Gordon’s last championship, the now-veteran driver has yet to claim a fifth title. But the drive for championship No. 5 has never been more alive. Need proof? Look no further than Gordon’s results in the 2014 season, one marked by phenomenal consistency, fast cars and wins at Kansas Speedway and Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

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driver profiles

Jimmie Johnson

48

No. TEAM

Lowe’s/KOBALT Tools Chevrolet

Hendrick Motorsports

PREVIOUS APPEARANCES IN THE CHASE FOR THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP

ten

BEST CHASE FINISH BEST POINTS FINISH IN THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES

Champion in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 2010, & 2013 Champion in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 & 2013

C H A M P I O N S H I P C H A T T E R : Jimmie Johnson enters the 2014 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup as the prohibitive favorite to win the championship. A winner of six titles in the past eight years, the Hendrick Motorsports driver is looking to join legends Richard Petty and the late Dale Earnhardt as the only seven-time champions of the sport’s premier series.

Johnson is a multi-race winner at eight of the 10 Chase tracks and has historically been particularly strong at the three tracks – Martinsville Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway and Phoenix International Raceway – that make up the new Chase “Eliminator Round” leading into the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway. If Johnson advances past the third round, he will be among the four championship-eligible drivers at Homestead. One of only four active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series tracks where Johnson hasn’t won, Homestead poses a real challenge for the six-time champion.

28

pole posiTioN 2014

AVAILABLE AT

driver profiles

Kevin Harvick

4

No. TEAM

Budweiser/Jimmy John’s Chevrolet

STEWART-HAAS RACING

PREVIOUS APPEARANCES IN THE CHASE FOR THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP

seven

BEST CHASE FINISH BEST POINTS FINISH IN THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES

Third in 2010, 2011 & 2013 Third in 2010, 2011 & 2013

C H A M P I O N S H I P C H A T T E R : Kevin Harvick spent most of the regular season outside the top 10 in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points standings, but don’t let this fact fool you regarding “Happy” Harvick’s championship prospects. Harvick has been bad-fast all season in his first campaign as driver of the No. 4 Chevrolet fielded by StewartHaas Racing. Suffice it to say, had it not been for multiple issues on pit road in the season’s first half, the veteran driver from Bakersfield, Calif., could have feasibly notched as many as seven or eight victories. As it was, Harvick still won twice – at Phoenix International Raceway in early March and Darlington Raceway in mid-April – while putting on a driving clinic as he cruised to dominant victories on both occasions. Harvick’s title hopes in all likelihood largely depend on his team improving its performance on pit road and eliminating the mistakes that proved so costly in the season’s first half.

30

pole posiTioN 2014

Kevin Harvick

driver profiles

Brad Keselowski

2

No. TEAM

Miller Lite Ford

TEAM PENSKE

PREVIOUS APPEARANCES IN THE CHASE FOR THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP

two

BEST CHASE FINISH BEST POINTS FINISH IN THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES

CHAMPION IN 2012 CHAMPION IN 2012

C H A M P I O N S H I P C H A T T E R : Brad Keselowski surprised the NASCAR world by winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship in 2012, just his third full year in the sport’s premier division. No one, including Keselowski himself, will be surprised if the driver of the No. 2 Team Penske Ford walks away as the 2014 series champion. A season after missing the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, Keselowski has come back with vengeance. Entering the late July Brickyard 400 weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the 30-year-old Michigan native was tied with Jimmie Johnson for a series-high three victories, Keselowski’s coming at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Kentucky Speedway and New Hampshire Motor Speedway. While Keselowski fittingly needed a little good luck to get the win in Sin City, the driver some call “Bad Brad” dominated at both Kentucky and New Hampshire, where he led the most laps and won in convincing fashion.

32

pole posiTioN 2014

Brad Keselowski

driver profiles

Carl edwards

99

No. TEAM

Fastenal/Aflac/UPS/ Subway/Kellogg’s/ Geek Squad Ford

Roush Fenway Racing

PREVIOUS APPEARANCES IN THE CHASE FOR THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP

seven

BEST CHASE FINISH BEST POINTS FINISH IN THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES

Second in 2008 & 2011 Second in 2008 & 2011

CHAMPIONSHIP CHAT TER:

This season has truly been one strange trip for Carl Edwards. Faced with numerous questions about his future driving plans, Edwards – who is in the final year of his contract with Roush Fenway Racing – won twice in the season’s first half to secure his place in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. But despite victories at Bristol Motor Speedway in March and the Sonoma Raceway road course in June, the driver of the No. 99 Ford has been all over the map in terms of overall results as Roush Fenway as a whole hasn’t been up to its usual front-running ways. What does all this mean for Edwards’ quest to win the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship?

It’s truly hard to say. Edwards could plausibly catch fire in the 10-race playoff and be a real factor in the championship battle. Edwards brings considerable and meaningful experience to the table, having twice been the championship runner-up.

34

pole posiTioN 2014

driver profiles

Joey logano

22

No. TEAM

Shell/Pennzoil Ford

Team Penske

PREVIOUS APPEARANCES IN THE CHASE FOR THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP

one

BEST CHASE FINISH BEST POINTS FINISH IN THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES

eighth IN 2013 EIGHTH IN 2013

CHAMPIONSHIP CHAT TER:

One of the most consistently fast drivers all season, Joey Logano has made the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup in both seasons since joining Team Penske in 2013. But unlike last season, when Logano had to scratch and claw his way into the championship-determining field, not knowing until the very last moment if he would make the cut, the driver nicknamed “Sliced Bread” had no such worries this time around. Thanks to NASCAR’s new win-and-you’re-almost-in format, Logano and his No. 22 team knew they were Chase-bound a third of the way through the season following early victories at Texas Motor Speedway and Richmond International Raceway. Since that time, Logano has cooled off some, but don’t think he’s less than a legitimate title contender.

Team Penske as a whole has been one of the two or three strongest organizations all season, and the group has been especially potent at the 1.5-mile tracks.

36

pole posiTioN 2014

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DRIVER PROFILES

Kyle Busch

18

No. TEAM

M&M’s/Interstate Batteries Toyota

Joe Gibbs Racing

PREVIOUS APPEARANCES IN THE CHASE FOR THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP

six

BEST CHASE FINISH BEST POINTS FINISH IN THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES

Fourth in 2013 Fourth in 2013

C H A M P I O N S H I P C H A T T E R : Kyle Busch and the entire Joe Gibbs Racing organization came out of the box surprisingly behind the curve in 2014, especially in comparison to their stellar 2013 performance. Busch, a preseason favorite to score his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series title, was inconsistent in the first half of the season despite picking up an early victory and its accompanying Chase berth at Auto Club Speedway in March. Following a brutal June, Busch bounced back with two second-place finishes in three outings, at Kentucky Speedway and New Hampshire Motor Speedway, respectively. Still, the Las Vegas native was particularly concerned about the strength of JGR’s short-track program. “Last year and the early part of this year – Martinsville [and] Richmond – I’d say that our short-track program has decreased, unfortunately,” he said. Busch’s best hope for a championship this season is to deliver a Chase performance similar to last season, when he posted seven top-10 finishes in the 10 championship-determining races.

38

POLE POSITION 2014

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DRIVER PROFILES

Denny Hamiin

11

No. TEAM

FedEx/Sport Clips Toyota

Joe Gibbs Racing

PREVIOUS APPEARANCES IN THE CHASE FOR THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP

seven

BEST CHASE FINISH BEST POINTS FINISH IN THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES

second in 2010 second in 2010

CHAMPIONSHIP CHAT TER:

From his rookie NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season of 2006 through 2012, Denny Hamlin never missed the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. His unblemished run of Chase qualifications finally ended in 2013, due mostly to a back injury that sidelined the Joe Gibbs Racing driver four races in the spring and put him in a points hole that proved too deep to overcome. Now, after a one-year absence from NASCAR’s 10-race playoff, Hamlin is back and eager to once again pursue his first championship in NASCAR’s top division. Hamlin finished a career-best second in the standings to Jimmie Johnson in 2010 after entering the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway as the series points leader. Hamlin hasn’t been nearly as dominant this season, but has shown flashes of greatness – one of the most memorable coming in May at Talladega Superspeedway, where the Chesterfield, Va., native picked up his first career victory on a restrictor-plate track.

40

POLE POSITION 2014

Denny Hamlin

DRIVER PROFILES

Aric Almirola

43

No. TEAM

Smithfield Foods/STP Ford

Richard Petty Motorsports

PREVIOUS APPEARANCES IN THE CHASE FOR THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP

none

BEST CHASE FINISH BEST POINTS FINISH IN THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES

none

EIGHTEENTH IN 2013

C H A M P I O N S H I P C H A T T E R : Of all the drivers in the 2014 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, Aric Almirola probably gets the nod for biggest championship long shot.

Almirola, who gained entry into the Chase by taking the famous No. 43 car to Victory Lane in July’s rain-shortened event at Daytona International Speedway where team owner Richard Petty scored his record 200th career win 30 years earlier, has improved but been inconsistent throughout the course of 2014. Expect the trend to continue over the 10 Chase races, especially in light of the team’s inexperience in NASCAR’s playoff relative to most of its competition.

Almirola’s best chance to get a victory in the Chase will undoubtedly come at Talladega Superspeedway, the last of the three tracks that make up the new “Contender Round.” Like Daytona in July, Talladega – the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series’ only other restrictor-plate track – is a true wild-card race, where anything can happen and just about anyone can win.

42

POLE POSITION 2014

Kurt Busch

41

No. TEAM

Haas automation Chevrolet

stewart-haas racing

PREVIOUS APPEARANCES IN THE CHASE FOR THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP

seven

BEST CHASE FINISH BEST POINTS FINISH IN THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES

Champion in 2004 Champion in 2004

C H A M P I O N S H I P C H A T T E R : If any driver should be thankful for NASCAR’s new win-and-you’re-almost-in requirement for making the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, his name is Kurt Busch. In his first season with Stewart-Haas Racing, the 2004 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion has endured numerous hurdles along the way while spending most of the season outside the top 20 in the points standings. But because of the new way of making the expanded 16-driver Chase grid, Busch has pretty much known since winning at Martinsville Speedway in late March that, barring an unlikely series of events, he would be among the group competing for the championship over the season’s final 10 weeks. To really be a factor in the Chase, Busch and his No. 41 team, led by first-year crew chief Daniel Knost, must get better in several key areas – including overall speed and finishing races.

POLEPOSITIONMAG.COM

43

DRIVER PROFILES

A.J. Allmendinger

47

No. TEAM

Kingsford Charcoal/ Clorox/Bush’s Beans Chevrolet

JTG Daugherty Racing PREVIOUS APPEARANCES IN THE CHASE FOR THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP

none

BEST CHASE FINISH BEST POINTS FINISH IN THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES

none

fifTEENTH IN 2011

CHAMPIONSHIP CHAT TER:

If there’s any driver grateful to be a part of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, A.J. Allmendinger is undoubtedly the one. In his first full season since losing his ride at Team Penske and being suspended midway through 2012, Allmendinger is living proof that some drivers really do a get a second chance in NASCAR’s top series. One of the sport’s most talented and experienced road-course racers, the ’Dinger raced his way into the Chase by capturing his first career Sprint Cup Series victory on the Watkins Glen International road course. While Allmendinger acknowledges that he is very much an underdog in NASCAR’s playoff, it doesn’t dampen his enthusiasm. “Everything that comes along with that is just so big for our race team,” Allmendinger said of making the Chase.

44

POLE POSITION 2014

Matt Kenseth

20

No. TEAM

DOLLAR GENERAL/ HOME DEPOT TOYOTA

Joe Gibbs Racing

PREVIOUS APPEARANCES IN THE CHASE FOR THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP

nine

BEST CHASE FINISH BEST POINTS FINISH IN THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES

Second in 2006 & 2013 champion IN 2003

CHAMPIONSHIP CHAT TER:

A season after collecting a career-high seven victories and finishing a close runner-up to Jimmie Johnson in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series standings, Matt Kenseth hasn’t dazzled as he did in 2013. Then again, dazzle has rarely been Kenseth’s calling card since joining NASCAR’s No. 1 division in 2000. In fact, it was Kenseth – most folks might recall – who claimed the 2003 series championship, his only one to date, with just one win. In vintage Kenseth style, the quiet but uncannily witty Wisconsin native did not do anything particularly noteworthy in the first half of 2014 – especially compared to the previous season. In fact, the second-year Joe Gibbs Racing driver hadn’t gone to Victory Lane by the time 22 races were in the books this year. But Kenseth, in his familiar and modest Kenseth fashion, was fourth in the standings – by far the best among non-race winners.

POLEPOSITIONMAG.COM

45

DRIVER PROFILES

Ryan Newman

31

No. TEAM

Caterpillar/Quicken Loans/WIX Filters Chevrolet

Richard Childress Racing

PREVIOUS APPEARANCES IN THE CHASE FOR THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP

five

BEST CHASE FINISH BEST POINTS FINISH IN THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES

Sixth in 2005 Sixth in 2002, 2003 & 2005

C H A M P I O N S H I P C H A T T E R : Ryan Newman’s first season at Richard Childress Racing hasn’t been flashy, but as the year has progressed, so have Newman’s results. After scoring just four top-10 finishes in the season’s first 13 races, Newman took it up a notch as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series entered its summer stretch. Over an eight-race run, beginning and ending with the June and August races at Pocono Raceway, Newman registered four top-10 finishes, including a then-season-best finish of third at Kentucky Speedway. Over a six-race stretch, Newman moved from 11th in the standings to fifth, all but assuring himself a berth in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. “Having that clean air and that track position is probably more powerful than anything we do with the race car at times, so that’s probably the biggest difference,” Newman said of the improvements to his No. 31 car.

46

POLE POSITION 2014

Kasey Kahne

5

No. TEAM

Farmers Insurance/ Great Clips/Time Warner Cable Chevrolet

hendrick motorsports

PREVIOUS APPEARANCES IN THE CHASE FOR THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP

four

BEST CHASE FINISH BEST POINTS FINISH IN THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES

fourth in 2012 fourth in 2012

C H A M P I O N S H I P C H A T T E R : For much of the season, Kasey Kahne has lagged behind his three Hendrick Motorsports teammates all of whom have won multiple races and consistently run near the front. Kahne has the talent and the resources to do the same, however; it’s just a matter of everything coming together. The driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet demonstrated as much by winning the penultimate race of the regular season at Atlanta Motor Speedway, where he became the 13th different driver to go to Victory Lane in 2014 and thereby earn a spot in the Chase. While consistency has never been Kahne’s strong suit, the driver from Enumclaw, Wash., is historically one of the sport’s streakiest drivers. So while one or two bad outcomes might have doomed Kahne’s title hopes in past Chase years, this year’s win-and-advance format could help make Kahne one of the four drivers still standing at Homestead.

POLEPOSITIONMAG.COM

47

DRIVER PROFILES

Greg Biffle

16

No. TEAM

3m ford

Roush Fenway Racing

PREVIOUS APPEARANCES IN THE CHASE FOR THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP

six

BEST CHASE FINISH BEST POINTS FINISH IN THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES

second in 2005 second in 2005

C H A M P I O N S H I P C H A T T E R : This season has largely been a challenge for Greg Biffle and the entire Roush Fenway Racing organization. However, experience is the one intangible that could lift the veteran driver to his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship. Like rookie Austin Dillon, Biffle has won titles in both the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and the NASCAR Nationwide Series. But unlike Dillon, Biffle has the advantage of having been in the hunt for a championship before in NASCAR’s premier division. Despite remaining winless through the regular season, Biffle and his No. 16 team showed notable improvements in the final weeks leading up to the Chase as Biffle rattled off five consecutive top-10 finishes from the August event at Pocono Raceway to the Labor Day weekend race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Biffle ultimately became the last of three winless drivers to make the Chase based on points.

48

POLE POSITION 2014

chase 101 five favorites

Past Champions NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES Driver championships Seasons

Richard Petty Dale Earnhardt Jimmie Johnson Jeff Gordon Lee Petty David Pearson Cale Yarborough Darrell Waltrip Tony Stewart Herb Thomas Tim Flock Buck Baker Joe Weatherly Ned Jarrett Terry Labonte Red Byron Bill Rexford Rex White Bobby Isaac Benny Parsons Bobby Allison Bill Elliott Rusty Wallace Alan Kulwicki Dale Jarrett Bobby Labonte Matt Kenseth Kurt Busch Brad Keselowski

7 7 6 4 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

1964, 1967, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1979 1980, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013 1995, 1997, 1998, 2001 1954, 1958, 1959 1966, 1968, 1969 1976, 1977, 1978 1981, 1982, 1985 2002, 2005, 2011 1951, 1953 1952, 1955 1956, 1957 1962, 1963 1961, 1965 1984, 1996 1949 1950 1960 1970 1973 1983 1988 1989 1992 1999 2000 2003 2004 2012

Scan to Watch The Video!

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

NASCAR nationwide SERIES Season Driver Wins

1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Jack Ingram Sam Ard Sam Ard Jack Ingram Larry Pearson Larry Pearson Tommy Ellis Rob Moroso Chuck Bown Bobby Labonte Joe Nemechek Steve Grissom David Green Johnny Benson Jr. Randy LaJoie Randy LaJoie Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jeff Green Kevin Harvick Greg Biffle Brian Vickers Martin Truex Jr. Martin Truex Jr. Kevin Harvick Carl Edwards Clint Bowyer Kyle Busch Brad Keselowski Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Austin Dillon

7 10 8 5 1 6 3 4 6 2 2 2 1 2 5 5 7 6 6 5 4 3 6 6 9 4 1 9 6 2 6 0

NASCAR camping world SERIES Season Driver Wins

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Mike Skinner Ron Hornaday Jr. Jack Sprague Ron Hornaday Jr. Jack Sprague Greg Biffle Jack Sprague Mike Bliss Travis Kvapil Bobby Hamilton Ted Musgrave Todd Bodine Ron Hornaday Jr. Johnny Benson Ron Hornaday Jr. Todd Bodine Austin Dillon James Buescher Matt Crafton

8 4 3 6 3 5 4 5 1 4 1 3 4 5 6 4 2 4 1

POLEPOSITIONMAG.COM

49

ChASE 101 fIvE fAvoRITES

5

fAvoRITES To wIN ThE ChAmPIoNShIP

1

CHASE ELLIOTT: When the season began, Chase Elliott – son of 1988 NASCAR Cup champion Bill Elliott – wasn’t expected to be this strong this quickly. Driving for a JR Motorsports organization that has fl ourished from the 2014 opener, the second-generation driver has scored multiple wins and is a serious threat for the rare feat of becoming a rookie champion.

2

ELLIOTT SADLER: Twice a Nationwide Series championship bridesmaid, Elliott Sadler might be the hungriest of all the title contenders. A veteran who has revived his career in the Nationwide Series after a string of problematic seasons in the Sprint Cup Series, Sadler has the experience and backing from Joe Gibbs Racing to fi nally claim an elusive crown.

These five are the top contenders for the NASCAR Nationwide Series title.

3

REGAN SMITH: Former Sprint Cup Series full-timer Regan Smith is in the hunt for a Nationwide Series championship for a second consecutive year after a lateseason slump in 2013 ended once-promising title hopes. If Smith can avoid a repeat of his 2013 fade, the JR Motorsports driver may be the man to beat.

4

TREVOR BAYNE: His eyes set on a full-time Sprint Cup Series ride next season at Roush Fenway Racing, Trevor Bayne hopes to deliver a Nationwide Series title for RFR before making the jump. To do that, Bayne will likely need to consistently fi nish in the top fi ve – something he didn’t do in the season’s fi rst half.

5

BRIAN SCOTT: Back for a second season at Richard Childress Racing, unheralded Brian Scott continues to show signs of becoming a legitimate Nationwide Series title threat.

Despite being winless after 160 Nationwide Series starts, the Boise, Idaho, native has learned to avoid some of the mistakes that proved costly just a couple years ago.

by jared turner 50

PolE PoSITIoN 2014

5

1

fAvoRITES To wIN ThE ChAmPIoNShIP

MATT CRAFTON: Reigning truck champion Matt Crafton is seeking to do what no other driver has accomplished in the series’ 19-year history – become a winner of back-to-back truck titles. With the same ThorSport Racing team that powered the veteran to the 2013 crown, Crafton is once again using his trademark consistency to make a run at the sport’s top prize.

2

RYAN BLANEY: The son of veteran NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Dave Blaney, 20-year-old Ryan Blaney is in his second full season of truck competition for Brad Keselowski Racing. Clearly possessing the potential of a future Sprint Cup Series star, the Team Penske development driver has the equipment and the talent to become a truck champion – now.

These five are the top contenders for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series title.

3

RON HORNADAY: One of the most pleasant surprises of the 2014 season has been the resurgence of Ron Hornaday, the series’ only four-time champion and all-time wins leader. Hornaday, who hasn’t won since 2011 – his fi nal year at Kevin Harvick, Inc. – has been a consistent top-10 performer in his fi rst season with Turner Scott Motorsports.

4

JOHNNY SAUTER: Veteran Johnny Sauter has been one of the series’ most consistent drivers over the past few years, winning at least one race in each season since joining ThorSport Racing in 2009. Sauter fi nished a career-best runnerup in truck points in 2011 and has been no worse than ninth in his fi ve years with the Sandusky, Ohio-based organization.

5

GERMAN QUIROGA: Looking for a sleeper pick to win the 2014 title? Look no further than Mexico’s German Quiroga, who in his second season with Red Horse Racing has shown fl ashes of major speed and been in contention to win more than once. While he clearly still has some learning to do, Quiroga is progressing nicely.

by jared turner PolEPOSITIONmAg.COM

51

nascar fuel careers

Erik Arneson

Vice President of Media Relations, FOX Sports

W

hen Erik Arneson worked at USA Today as a design editor and motorsports reporter in the 1990s, he didn’t anticipate ultimately spending the majority of his professional career in media relations. When Arneson finally made the move from journalism to media relations in 1999 after eight years with the newspaper, he didn’t expect the career change to last. He’s never been so glad to be so wrong.

In his new job as an account manager for Cotter Group, Arneson found himself in a “less corporate” environment, working with clients that included Mercedes-Benz, NASCAR and Speedvision, the latter of which exists today as FOX Sports 1.

Once Arneson got his feet wet in the world of media relations, there was simply no turning back.

“Things clicked immediately with owner Tom Cotter, who allowed his teams to do things differently, to explore untested ideas, to push limits and to have ownership of their work,” said Arneson, a 49-year-old native of Deale, Md. “I truly believe that if I had landed in a more traditional PR setting, I would have jumped back to the journalism side very quickly. Tom created an amazingly unique

environment, and I was lucky to get my PR start with the Cotter Group team.”

After nearly three years there, Arneson joined the SPEED network in Charlotte, N.C., as vice president of media relations – a position he held until SPEED was replaced by FOX Sports 1, an all-sports network, in August 2013. As SPEED made the transition to FOX Sports 1, so did Arneson, who assumed his current position as VP of media relations for FOX Sports where he continues to focus on the motorsports side.

Arneson enjoys the uniqueness that comes with representing a major sports network, which is notably different from being a publicist for a professional sports team or even a NASCAR team.

“Working in PR for a news organization is unique in that we not only work with the media; we are the media,” he said. “In other PR roles, you move into and out of a variety of environments based on your clients. In my situation, I am working with a lot of the same people every day as long as I remain in this position, which is a tremendous advantage if the relationship is healthy and fruitful for both sides.”

As for ascending the ladder in his chosen profession, Arneson has more than one secret.

“The first thing I would suggest would be to not try to ride your love of the sport into a career,” he said. “There is nothing wrong with being a fan, but that’s not a reason for anyone to hire you; and in most cases, it’s an easy way to eliminate you from consideration. Stress your skill set, your communication abilities … anything but your desire to hang out with Dale [Earnhardt] Jr.” Arneson also advises against taking any job without thinking about its long-term consequences.

“Find the right door to enter if you want to get into the business,” he said. “Race teams, drivers, circuits all have reputations in the racing world. A bad first choice of where or who to work with can set your reputation, as well.”

Finally, Arneson suggests looking “for teachers along the way,” and not letting “opportunities to expand your knowledge base slip by.”

Kelly Hale Director of Public Relations, Kansas Speedway

A

s the director of public relations for Kansas Speedway, Kelly Hale has a diverse job description that includes everything from writing press releases and facilitating interviews, to ordering race-winner trophies and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series pole awards, to scheduling pre-race concerts and flyovers.

Needless to say, there is virtually never a dull day at work. She wouldn’t have it any other way. But while Hale is accustomed to wearing multiple hats, she has one primary objective at the end of the day.

“Every position within a company is a sales position – some of them just don’t involve money,” said Hale, who joined the speedway in September 2006 after four years as a public relations coordinator for NASCAR. “Every day, my job is to sell Kansas Speedway, and I have to find a way to do it.”

Of course, to get the opportunity to “sell,” job candidates must first sell themselves. And Hale has a tip on how to do that.

“Get as much experience as you can and do internships – even if they are unpaid,” Hale said. “All of that experience will help you land a job. … Make sure to network, especially if you are an intern.

Don’t stand in the corner afraid to talk to people. You never know how meeting someone can help you, even if it is just getting some advice on how to land a job.”

by jared turner 52

POLE POSITION 2014

lIfESTylE NASCAR fUEl

DowNTImE WITH CASEY MEARS

J

ust call Casey Mears the quintessential family man. That’s because these days, most of the Germain Racing driver’s extracurricular activities involve his two children – ages 3 and 5. Of course, he wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Mostly it’s just spending time with my kids now,” said Mears, who is married to wife Trisha. “A few years ago it would have been a lot of different little hobbies but really now, I just spend a lot of time with my kids, and enjoy that.”

Even while maintaining a family and competing in 36 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points races each year, Mears still makes time for the occasional adventure, however.

“I like a lot of things,” said Mears, who won the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 2007. “I love snowboarding, wakeboarding. I love RC cars – they’re a lot of fun. I’ve got a lot of hobbies.

“I spend a lot of time out in the desert playing in the sand dunes and some things like that. I take my kids riding now, too. I like doing a lot of different things, but most of it revolves around spending time with my kids.”

D

mENTAl PREP WITH JEFF GORDON Do you have a ritual that helps you prepare for races?

I like to get dressed at a certain time. I like to have our team meeting at a certain time and get to the car at a certain time, and all those things. But that’s just routine.

I don’t feel like it’s any superstitious thing.

fUElINg UP WITH MARTIN TRUEX JR.

Breakfast: LUNCH: Truex, driver of the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet, likes to sleep in. The fi rst meal of the day is therefore not a huge priority. “I don’t normally eat breakfast,” he said. “I don’t normally get up before about 10. But if I did, my favorite is a ham and cheese omelet.”

Unlike breakfast, Truex doesn’t normally skip lunch, but you won’t fi nd him in the buffet line. “I don’t usually eat a big lunch,” he said. “Usually if I go out or something, it’ll be like a salad with grilled chicken on it or something simple like that – maybe some buffalo shrimp.”

TRAININg WITH DENNY HAMLIN

DINNER:

enny Hamlin lost around 40 pounds between his rookie year of 2006 and 2010, and has since managed to keep the weight off.

So what’s his key to staying trim?

“I spend a lot of time doing Pilates – twice a week at least. I’ll go to the Pilates studio and do an hour or so there – and then strength training in between,” Hamlin said. “Usually if I’m at home during the week, I’ll go the gym. I never really miss a day. Never take any rest days off other than when I’m on the race track on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday.”

Do regular exercise and conditioning translate into improved performance on the track?

“It’s tough to say because some people don’t do it at all and are just fi ne,” Hamlin said. “I felt that I was betterfocused at the end of these races when I was more physically fi t. I’ve experienced one side and the other, and I felt like just the stamina and focus that I had when I was fi t was better at the end of the races than they were back in the day.”

When it comes to dinner, Truex knows what he wants.

“I really love seafood,” he said. “So it would be something like … shrimp is probably my favorite, so some kind of shrimp dinner. With dinner I like to have a little bit of Captain and ginger ale as a little cocktail.”

SNACK:

When it comes to snacks, Truex goes healthy. “I like granola bars – those peanut butter ones made by Nature Valley, I think they’re called,” he said. “Those are my favorite snack.” As for his choice in the beverage department, “I typically drink water most of the time,” Truex said.

PolEPOSITIONmAg.COM

53

Study the top photo, then see if you can fi nd the six changes that were made in the bottom photo.

54

PolE PoSITIoN 2014

ANSwERS // (1) Fireworks added to the sky, (2) Scoreboard erased from far end of track, (3) Food City logo changed to “Food Food,” (4) Bristol Motor Speedway logo changed to “Bristol Speedway,” (5) No. 31 car changed to 13, (6) No. 99 car (in front of No. 48) erased from track on right side.

NASCAR fUEl fUN PAgES

PhoTohUNT

CRAZy mAZE

Test your driving skills and fi nd the exit!

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

aric almirola calm, cola...

Match the state with the correct track.

who Am I? ■

3 4

2 1

■

■

5 6

_ Kansas Speedway _ Martinsville Speedway _ Charlotte Motor Speedway _ Phoenix Int’l Raceway _ Talladega Superspeedway _ Homestead-Miami Speedway

ANSwERS // (1) Phoenix Int’l Raceway, (2) Kansas Speedway, (3) Martinsville Speedway, (4) Charlotte Motor Speedway, (5) Talladega Superspeedway, (6) Homestead-Miami Speedway

■

■

I am a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion I am a two-time winner of the Daytona 500 My fi rst full season in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series was in 2000 I beat out Dale Earnhardt Jr. to win Rookie of the Year I drive car No. 20

ANSwER // Matt Kenseth

TRACK hUNT

PolEPOSITIONmAg.COM

55

NASCAR fUEl fUN PAgES

DESIgN yoUR owN RACE CAR

mATCh ThE DRIvER

JEFF GORDON

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

KEVIN HARVICK

22 24

56

PolE PoSITIoN 2014

Have fun creating a custom paint scheme!

BRAD KESELOWSKI

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KASEY KAHNE

4

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Can you Draw NASCAR? wINNER’S CIRClE

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AND ThE wINNERS ARE...

■ [1] Jim Clark, Pennington Gap, Pa. ■ [2] Emanuel Hills, W.Va.

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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.

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nascar fuel chase trivia

How Well Do You Know the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup? Points Title 0-25 Challenger 26-50 Contender 51-75 Eliminator 76-100 Champion

2

How many drivers qualified for the Chase each year between 2007 and 2012?

A. 10 B. 12 C. 14 D. 16

3

Which driver was accused of spinning out on purpose in the final regular season race of 2013 to allow a teammate into the Chase?

A. Martin Truex Jr. B. Kasey Kahne C. Ryan Newman D. Clint Bowyer

1

4

58

POLE POSITION 2014

Take the quiz and score 10 points for each correct answer.

Add up your points and see how you rank!

Which NASCAR Sprint Cup champion under the Chase system posted the most wins in a season?

A. Jimmie Johnson B. Brad Keselowski C. Tony Stewart D. Kurt Busch

Which driver earned the 13th spot in the 2013 Chase as an exception due to suspicion of collusion between teammates?

A. Ryan Newman B. Jeff Gordon C. Martin Truex Jr. D. Brian Vickers

56

Under the new Chase system in 2014, how many drivers will be eliminated from the Chase field after the third race in the Challenger Round?

A. 1 B. 2 C. 3 D. 4

Which track will play host to the final race for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship in 2014?

A. Homestead-Miami B. Phoenix C. Dover D. Atlanta

7

Which track no longer hosts one of the 10 dates for Chase races?

A. Chicagoland B. Auto Club Speedway C. New Hampshire D. Martinsville

Who was the only non-Chase driver to win a Chase race in 2007?

A. Jamie McMurray B. Clint Bowyer C. Tony Stewart D. Greg Biffle

8

Which driver holds the record for most Chase appearances since 2004?

A. Jimmie Johnson B. Jeff Gordon C. Matt Kenseth D. Tony Stewart

10

Which driver has never earned an appearance in the Chase?

A. Juan Pablo Montoya B. Jamie McMurray C. Elliott Sadler D. Brian Vickers

ANSWERS // 1. A.; 2. B.; 3. D.; 4. B.; 5. D.; 6. A.; 7. B.; 8. A.; 9. D.; 10. B

POLEPOSITIONMAG.COM

59

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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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POLE POSITION 2014

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 Speedway in JR Motorsports’ No. 5 Chevrolet that is being shared this season by multiple drivers, including NASCAR Sprint Cup Series veterans Kevin Harvick and Kasey Kahne.

Despite the major differences between a Late Model and a Nationwide Series car – not to mention the enormous gap in the quality of the competition – Berry went out and finished an impressive 12th in his first Nationwide Dale Earnhardt Jr. Gives Josh Berry Series start. a Rare Opportunity “Moving up to the Nationwide Series ost folks who participate in online has always been my ultimate goal since I joined simulation racing will never step foot JR Motorsports,” Berry said. “I’m very fortunate to inside an actual race car. A computer have people like Dale Jr., Kelley [Earnhardt-Miller, screen is as close as they’ll come to trading paint Earnhardt’s sister] and L.W. Miller [Earnhardt-Miller’s with Jeff Gordon or winning the Daytona 500. Such husband and a noted short-track racer] that are willis the harsh reality of the difference between the ing to give me an unbelievable opportunity like this, virtual world and real world. because deals like this are really hard to put together But in the case of Josh Berry, an avid online racer nowadays. It’s honestly a dream come true.” from Hendersonville, Tenn., success in the virtual Earnhardt was impressed early on with the 23-yearracing world led to a rare opportunity to try his hand old who, prior to being “discovered” by Junior, was in the real one. And he can thank NASCAR’s 11-time racing a Legend Car in his home state of Tennessee. most popular driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr. “Every opportunity we give him, he’s done well, Earnhardt, long known for his iRacing habit, met won races,” Earnhardt said. “He works really hard.

Berry through an online racing league in 2007. The I met him on iRacing.com and became friends two competed regularly on iRacing.com before strikwith him. I’d raced with him online for probably ing up a friendship that led Earnhardt to offer Berry about six years in several leagues that we put a ride with JR Motorsports’ Late Model program in together with friends. … He was racing cars over at April 2010.

Nashville, winning the races over there, and I just Berry seized the opportunity, earning the kind of followed what he was doing, and then I told team’s first Whelen All-American Series track him that I had a Late Model and I’d give him a race championship at Motor Mile Speedway in if he wanted to come race. We’d test him first. If Radford, Va., in 2012. he tested well, then we’d race him, and if he raced This year, Berry, who continues to run a jamwell, then we’d race him again, and just one race packed Late Model schedule to overwhelming after another. And then we ended up winning some success, got the nod from his boss to go to the races and won a championship. next level – at least for one night. Berry made his “He’s the guy working on the car. I mean, he’s workNASCAR Nationwide Series debut on Aug. 2 at Iowa ing on it, learning himself – that’s part of the deal.”

Virtual Reality

M

WHAT’S NEXT?

W

hile Josh Berry’s NASCAR Nationwide Series future has yet to be determined, Dale Earnhardt Jr. has every intention of giving the youngster more starts in NASCAR’s No. 2 division. The only question, it appears, is when.

“He’s done a great job,” Earnhardt said. “I just think he can do it. I think he’s really smooth. I think he understands what driving a car is all about, and hopefully we’ll see what kind of potential he’s got. We [gave] him this opportunity at Iowa, let him run some Nationwide Series cars. It took a lot to get that done and cost us a lot of money that we didn’t really want to have to spend. It’s not like the old days where like Denny Hamlin or myself will come out of a Late Model and get in a Nationwide Series car.”

With the right sponsorship, Earnhardt hopes to give Berry a chance to gain more seat time in the Nationwide Series before the end of the season.

“There are some races still open, and if we can get some people excited, we’d love to continue. If he can run well and not do anything totally disastrous, we can think about running him more,” Earnhardt said. “It’s kind of like going back to that Late Model idea of we’ll run you a race and see how you do, and if we can run you again, we’d love to do it. He’s part of our team and part of our team a long time. We’re going to try to take good care of him and try to give him the best opportunity we can.”

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Hello, Danica Patrick. There’s a new gal in town: 22-year-old NASCAR K&N Pro Series East driver Kenzie Ruston.

Entering the homestretch of her second K&N Pro Series East season, Ruston posted a career-best finish of second on Aug. 1 at Iowa Speedway.

It was the best result by a female driver in NASCAR K&N Pro Series history.

Now, Ruston, who competes for the team owned by NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver Ben Kennedy, is focused on the next step in her progression: Becoming a regular in Victory Lane.

“Winning races is what it’s all about,” she said. “That’s why we get in the car every weekend. When you’re winning races, your name gets out there, and that’s what you’ve got to do.”

While Ruston has excelled in her relatively short time in the K&N series – she notched 12 top-10 finishes in her first 26 career starts – the native of El Reno, Okla., is not satisfied and acknowledges that she still has room to grow and develop as a driver.

“I feel like my first year last year, my rookie year, I struggled at some of the bigger places, and I feel like this year I’ve kind of got my hand on a couple of the big tracks,” said Ruston, whose talents first became widely noticed in 2011 with a pair of top-10 finishes in four ARCA Racing Series outings. “But I think just going to those bigger places, I’ve always been a short-track racer because I grew up on short tracks, and just getting used to those bigger places has definitely been a struggle for me. The competition every time you move up just gets harder and harder and I feel like the competition this year is even more stout than it was last year.”

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CarbonForgedTough.com 62 PolE PoSITIoN 2014

As a NASCAR K&N Pro Series East rookie in 2013 for Turner Scott Motorsports, Ruston notched four top-five finishes in 14 starts on the way to a sixth-place finish in the standings.

Not bad for a girl who began her racing career in Bandoleros at age 14 and never drove a full-bodied race car until after her 18th birthday.

Much like Patrick, Ruston has grown accustomed to the extra attention – and

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scrutiny – that comes with being a female driver in NASCAR. She’s even come to sort of embrace it.

“Being a female definitely has its ups and downs, for sure,” she said. “When I was first starting out when I was 14 and I was racing other 12- to 14-year-old boys, I felt like it was a lot harder then. I feel like the little boys never want to get beat by a little girl, and I feel like you got crashed a lot more often, I guess. But I feel like [as] 8:44 AM

I’ve moved up, if you treat people with respect and you gain their respect, they respect you and they’ll race you clean.

“I feel like in the K&N Series that’s what it’s all about. If you gain somebody’s respect – you just race people like they race you. I feel like that’s what I strive to be better at.”

Ruston also strives to be an inspiration to aspiring female racers.

“For any little girl growing up racing your local dirt track or Legend Cars or Bandoleros or anything like that, I’ve always been told girls didn’t belong in racing, they’d never make it or they never had as much talent, enough talent to race the big race tracks,” she said. “They would never like the loose feeling in – a lot of things that you get at the big tracks that people say that girls would never be good at.

“You can do anything you set your mind to – if that’s being Jimmie Johnson or the next Danica – but you always strive to be your best, and don’t ever give up, especially if somebody tells you you can’t do it.”

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