NASCAR Pole Position 2013 Aug/Sep

FREE!

POLEPOSITIONMAG.COM

FEATURE STORY

A NEW TYPE OF WORKOUT NASCAR Drivers and Crew Members Join CrossFit Craze

@NPPMAG

PG.18 NASCAR GREEN

PG.32 NCWTS: FOUR TO WATCH

ARIC ALMIROLA KNOCKIN’ ’EM

DOWN IN POCONO

NASCAR NEWS & NOTES | TAILGATING TIPS | SCHEDULES | NASCAR FUEL | DRIVER PROFILES A RIC A L MIROL A

N A S C A R H I S T O R Y: T H E 1 9 6 0 s | d i d y o u k n o w ? | I N S I D E R ’ S V I E W | G E A R

OBL_NASCARPP_PG_AD_MECH_Layout 1 6/20/13 5:13 PM Page 1

POLE POSITION PAGE AD SPECS:

Let’s Go Places

#LetsGoPlaces Because inspiration is all around us. Š2013 Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

Ready to rock. Out of the box. The JVC ADIXXION’s simple controls, 1.5” LCD display and rubberized skin make it easy to capture Full HD video and photos anytime, anywhere. And with built-in Wi-Fi and smartphone linking, it’s just as easy to share.

BEACTIONREADY.COM BEACTION ACTIONREADY.COM READY.COM

QUAD PROOF OUT OF THE BOX WATER 5m

DUST

SHOCK 2m

FREEZE -10°c

DEREK GARLAND MOTO

Shock Absorbers

Over 100,000 parts

at our low prices.

Now Available at Walmart Auto Care Center

Rotor

Brake Pads

Starter

Alternator

Order in the Auto Care Center. Ready for pickup within 24–72 hours.

1047

Prestone® 50/50 Pre-diluted Antifreeze/Coolant • For all makes and models • Helps protect against extreme temperatures and rust corrosion • 1 gal.

327

CRC® Brakleen® Brake Parts Cleaner • 14 fl. oz.

1688 497

Power Service® Diesel Kleen® Diesel Fuel Supplement • 80 fl. oz.

Gumout® Diesel Fuel Treatment • 10 fl. oz.

1297 Rotella® T Conventional Motor Oil • 1 gal.

297

Gumout® Jet Spray Carb + Choke Cleaner • Cleans gum, dirt, and varnish inside and out of the carburetor • 14 fl. oz.

258

Prestone® Brake Fluid • 12 fl. oz.

32 fl. oz., 6.38

8797 Starting at

EverStart® Maxx Automotive Battery • Engineered for performance in all weather conditions • 5-yr. warranty program (3-yr. free replacement + 2-yr. pro rata)

Motorcycle & marine batteries also available.

2136 Rotella® T6 Synthetic Motor Oil • 1 gal.

Event Dates: Thursday, August 1 – Monday, September 30, 2013

1197 Blue Def™ Diesel Exhaust Fluid • 2.5 gal.

“When I need fast, safe and effective relief from muscle aches and pains, I count on Tiger Balm.

With it’s time-proven blend of herbal ingredients, it’s a pill-free solution to pain I can always depend on.”

A PROUD SUPPORTER OF

PAIN RELIEF WITHOUT THE PILLS

®

facebook.com/TigerBalmUS over 100 years • over 100 countries • millions of users

CoNteNtS

FeAtuRe StoRy

28

A New tyPe oF woRkout

DRIVER PROFILES

33

bIggeSt leAP

NASCAR drivers and crew members join CrossFit craze.

Which drivers have made the biggest leaps in their careers? nasCar Pole Position raCe Fan guide AN OFFICIALLY LICENSED PUBLICATION OF NASCAR

11880 28TH ST. N, SUITE 101 ST. PETERSBURG, FL 33716 PHONE: (727) 209-1781 • FAX: (727) 209-1776 WEB: PolePositionMag.CoM, ae-engine.CoM

NASCAR POLE POSITION MAGAZINE

22

32

62

64

PUBLISHER: Craig BaronCelli VICE PRESIDENT, SALES: daVid watson VICE PRESIDENT, EXECUTIVE ACCOUNTS: daYne MaasdorP

SALES

NASCAR deFINed

The view from the track.

4 to wAtCH IN tHe NCwtS

Four drivers to keep an eye on in 2013.

PoSteRIZed: MAtt keNSetH

FReSH FACeS: tRAVIS PAStRANA

Chase contender A 10-time X Games Matt Kenseth in action. gold medalist.

gReeN FlAg

06 news & notes 08 nascar diversity 09 series schedules nascar partner contests 10 racing 101 12 Q&a: steve letarte 14 twitter 15 racin’ recipes 16 did you know?

17 race time at walmart 18 nascar green 20 tailgating

geAR

The latest products from our advertisers, who help provide this magazine for free. 52 NASCAR Fuel

54 careers 55 lifestyle 56 fun pages

NATIONAL ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: Chris Vita, aleXander wong, CaZ PiurowsKi, KristY liMotta

PRODUCTION ART DIRECTOR: Jason tedesChi GRAPHIC DESIGNER: staCeY Foster WEB DEVELOPER: niCole hess COPY EDITOR: Keith waltZ ASSISTANT EDITOR: KYle Bennett WRITERS: Jared turner, Keith waltZ, Ben white • PHOTOGRAPHY: Cia stoCK PhotograPhY • SPECIAL THANKS TO: John Farrell, BrittanY MeYer, nasCar A.E. ENGINE SPECIFIES THAT POST-PRESS CHANGES MAY OCCUR TO ANY INFORMATION PRESENTED IN THIS PUBLICATION AND TAKES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR GOODS OR SERVICES ADVERTISED. NASCAR® IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR STOCK CAR AUTO RACING, INC. Mail order: TO RECEIVE A 2013 SUBSCRIPTION TO NASCAR POLE POSITION MAGAZINE, SEND A CHECK OR MONEY ORDER FOR $20.00 TO: POLE POSITION, C/O A.E. ENGINE, 11880 28TH ST. N, SUITE 101, ST. PETERSBURG, FL 33716. PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR RETURN MAILING ADDRESS AND AN EMAIL ADDRESS. online order: SUBSCRIPTIONS CAN BE ORDERED ONLINE AT POLEPOSITIONMAG. COM/BUY. distriBution: IF YOU ARE A BUSINESS OR AN ORGANIZATION INTERESTED IN DISTRIBUTING COPIES OF NASCAR POLE POSITION MAGAZINE, PLEASE CONTACT CRAIG BARONCELLI AT (727) 2091750 OR CB@AE-ENGINE.COM. sales inQuiries: IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN ADVERTISING IN NASCAR POLE POSITION MAGAZINE OR WOULD LIKE TO BECOME A FIELD REPRESENTATIVE, PLEASE CONTACT DAVID WATSON AT (727) 209-0789, OR DKW@AE-ENGINE.COM. Printed in the u.s.a.

RoSteRS

60 nascar sprint cup series 61 nascar nationwide series nascar camping world truck series

PolePOSITIONMAg.COM

05

green flag news & notes the number

76% T

wo-time NASCAR champion Tim Flock was named on 76 percent of the 55 ballots cast during voting for the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s 2014 induction class. He was followed by Maurice Petty (67%), Dale Jarrett (56%), Jack Ingram (53%) and Fireball Roberts (51%).

Most Popular Voting ■■ Jack Ingram is congratulated during NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting Day

NASCAR Hall of Fame Announces Five Inductees Three NASCAR driving champions, one of the sport’s earliest superstars and the man behind the engines that powered Richard Petty to seven NASCAR titles will comprise the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2014. The five-person group consists of Tim Flock, Jack Ingram, Dale Jarrett, Maurice Petty and Glenn “Fireball” Roberts. Flock won two driving titles during the 1950s and Ingram was a top late model sportsman race car driver before claiming two NASCAR Nationwide Series championships. Petty was an integral part of the family dynasty, while Jarrett claimed the 1999 NASCAR premier series crown and Roberts won the 1962 Daytona 500.

Induction Day 2014 Conveniently located in Uptown Charlotte, N.C., the 150,000-square-foot NASCAR Hall of Fame is an interactive, entertainment attraction honoring the history and heritage of NASCAR. It opened on May 11, 2010. Next year’s Induction Day is scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 29, and will be broadcast live on FOX Sports 1.

06

POLE POSITION 2013

V

oting is underway for the NASCAR National Motorsports Press Association Most Popular Driver Award. Fans can visit MostPopularDriver.com and vote once a day for their favorite NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver among the 39 eligible. All 39 will remain eligible for voting throughout the entire NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. Voting will conclude Nov. 17 following the season’s final race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The winner will be announced at the NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Luncheon in December.

Postseason Awards

C

hampions of the NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will be honored on the same stage Monday night, Nov. 18, at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel in Miami Beach, Fla. “Returning to a major market such as Miami for the [NASCAR] Nationwide Series and [NASCAR] Camping World Truck Series Awards will shine a bright spotlight on the special and unique achievements of our champions,” said Steve Phelps, NASCAR chief marketing officer.

Marketing Mix Nearly one-in-four (117) FORTUNE 500 companies use NASCAR as part of their marketing mix, according to an analysis of sponsors currently in the sport when compared to the magazine’s annual list.

For the second consecutive year, the number of FORTUNE 500 companies involved in NASCAR increased; and is an eight percent improvement over 2008. The analysis encompassed companies involved in all aspects of NASCAR. “There’s a reason the number of FORTUNE 500 companies invested in NASCAR remains higher than any other sport,” said Steve Phelps, NASCAR’s chief marketing officer. “Our fans are among the most brand loyal in all of sports. Some of the world’s biggest, most recognizable and profitable brands utilize NASCAR as a critical and powerful part of their marketing mix because it works for their business.”

green flag

Sherwin-Williams Boosts Investment

S

herwin-Williams, the nation’s largest specialty retailer of paint and painting supplies has signed a multi-year agreement to be the Official Paint of NASCAR. As part of the program, Sherwin-Williams will be the title sponsor of the Fastest Lap Award at each NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race.

“The Sherwin-Williams Co. is thrilled to be the Official Paint of NASCAR. We have invested in the sport at the team level since 2000, sponsoring about 85 percent of the teams in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series,” said Chris Connor, chairman and chief executive officer, The Sherwin-Williams Co. “With more than 3,500 stores nationwide, this comprehensive official partnership will enable us to connect with our wide customer base across the country and to truly partner with NASCAR at every track.”

A

s part of its partnership, Sherwin-Williams joins the NASCAR Fuel for Business Council, which brings together more than 60 Official NASCAR Partners four times per year to buy and sell products and services from one another. This exclusive business-to-business environment offers companies the opportunity to construct customized deals that help address specific needs.

T

ickets for the 56th annual Daytona 500, which will open the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season on Sunday, Feb. 23, are now on sale. Reserved seats start at $65 and the speedway is once again offering discounted tickets for children.

Those 12 and under will receive 50 percent off all backstretch grandstand seats for the Daytona 500 while supplies last. Tickets may be purchased online at daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-866-GO-NASCAR.

C

hris Powell, president of Las Vegas Motor Speedway, was recently inducted into the Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame.

“This is really an induction of Las Vegas Motor Speedway and the employees who have contributed so much to the speedway’s success over the past 15 years,” Powell said. “I’m indebted to our chairman, Bruton Smith, for his vision and the investment he has made in our speedway. It’s an honor to be able to represent this facility.”

A

xalta Coatings Systems, formerly DuPont Performance Coatings, has extended its sponsorship of Jeff Gordon and Hendrick Motorsports through the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season.

Currently in its 21st year, the sponsorship is the longest running driver, owner and sponsor combination in NASCAR. It began with Gordon’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debut at Atlanta Motor Speedway in 1992.

“I’m so excited that Axalta has decided to move forward with us beyond 2013,” Gordon said.

“They’ve been with me since the beginning and I look forward to a lot more racing, some more wins and hopefully another championship with them before it’s all over.”

T

he NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards – the annual culmination of Champion’s Week – will take place Friday, Dec. 6, at Wynn Las Vegas. From 1981 until 2008, NASCAR held its year-ending premier series awards show in New York City.

Starting in 2009, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards has been in Las Vegas, a destination that has triggered an entertainment evolution for the fan-favorite show.

“Every single week, NASCAR creates the big-event experience, so it’s fitting that our year-end celebration of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion takes place in a city built on major moments,” said Steve Phelps, NASCAR chief marketing officer.

“F

L

ee White, the man who led Toyota into NASCAR racing, has stepped down as president of Toyota Racing Development, USA due to family health care needs. White originally planned to retire at the end of the 2013 season. He has been replaced by David Watson, who was senior vice president of TRD, USA.

lat Out,” a 10-espisode docu-series that follows up-and-coming NASCAR driver Dylan Kwasniewski’s quest to become a top driver in the sport, will premiere later this year on AOL On Network, AOL’s premium video platform and curated video hub.

Produced by NASCAR and Vuguru, “Flat Out” is an unscripted, inspirational, real-life documentary series about a teenager trying to prove himself on the track while balancing family, school, friends and newfound celebrity away from the track.

“There are so many great stories within NASCAR but Dylan’s stands out,” said Zane Stoddard, NASCAR vice president of entertainment marketing and business development.

POLEPOSITIONMAG.COM

07

gReeN FlAg NASCAR dIVeRSIty NASCAR dIVeRSIty INteRNSHIP PRogRAM oFFeRS deVeloPMeNt oPPoRtuNItIeS

t

he nasCar diversity internship Program (NDIP) offers diverse students an opportunity to work in one of the largest professional sports industries in the United States. This year, 19 diverse college students were chosen to complete a 10-week, paid summer internship through the NDIP. Students have been placed in varying positions and organizations throughout the NASCAR industry with the hopes of finding the next wave of industry leaders.

“Fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment makes us stronger as an organization,” said Marcus Jadotte, NASCAR vice president of public affairs and multicultural development. “For over a decade, the NDIP has created opportunities for multicultural college students to take on substantive projects in our industry to help prepare them up for longterm success after completing college.”

Founded in 2000, the NDIP provides comprehensive involvement in the NASCAR ecosystem by offering internships with teams, tracks, broadcast partners and marketing partners. In addition to the NASCAR, GRAND-AM and American

Le Mans Series offices in Daytona Beach, Fla., Charlotte, N.C., Braselton, Ga., and New York, the 2013 interns are working at NASCAR’s partner companies such as Rev Racing, Daytona International Speedway, Taylor Strategy and Octagon.

“I learned about the NDIP while researching for summer internships in the career center at Virginia Tech. It looked like a great opportunity to learn about sports marketing and sponsorships,” said Marvin Aylor Jr., an

account executive in Series Marketing. “The program has turned out to be an invaluable resource for me as I continue to push the envelope in my career.”

NDIP has served as a valuable employment pool for NASCAR partners as well as other companies and industries by providing students hands-on experiences across various disciplines, including marketing, engineering, communications, licensing, diversity and public affairs. This year’s class includes five returning students who have demonstrated exceptional skills and dedication across NASCAR in previous years.

“The NDIP empowered me with the opportunity to interact with and learn from various stakeholders across the motorsports industry. I still look to many of those same contacts today for advice and leadership as I continue my career on the NASCAR Marketing team,” said Aylor Jr. The 2013 class began their NASCAR experience with an orientation session during the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., before departing for their various assignments for the summer.

Available At Walmart

Land O’Frost Premium® is America’s Favorite and number one selling one-pound deli pouch in the country!

08

Pole PoSItIoN■2013

series schedules green flag 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series SCHEDULE Feb. 24 March 3 March 10 March 17 March 24 April 7 April 13 April 21 April 27 May 5 May 11 May 18 May 26 June 2 June 9 June 16 June 23 June 29 July 6

Daytona International Speedway Phoenix International Raceway Las Vegas Motor Speedway Bristol Motor Speedway Auto Club Speedway Martinsville Speedway Texas Motor Speedway Kansas Speedway Richmond International Raceway Talladega Superspeedway Darlington Raceway *Charlotte Motor Speedway Charlotte Motor Speedway Dover International Speedway Pocono Raceway Michigan International Speedway Sonoma Raceway Kentucky Speedway Daytona International Speedway

July 14 New Hampshire Motor Speedway July 28 Indianapolis Motor Speedway Aug. 4 Pocono Raceway Aug. 11 Watkins Glen International Aug. 18 Michigan International Speedway Aug. 24 Bristol Motor Speedway Sept. 1 Atlanta Motor Speedway Sept. 7 Richmond International Raceway Sept. 15 Chicagoland Speedway Sept. 22 New Hampshire Motor Speedway Sept. 29 Dover International Speedway Oct. 6 Kansas Speedway Oct. 12 Charlotte Motor Speedway Oct. 20 Talladega Superspeedway Oct. 27 Martinsville Speedway Nov. 3 Texas Motor Speedway Nov. 10 Phoenix International Raceway Nov. 17 Homestead-Miami Speedway *Non-points special event

TOUGH Rugged, Rip it, Stick it, Done

TAPE

2013 NASCAR nationwide Series SCHEDULE Feb. 23 March 2 March 9 March 16 March 23 April 12 April 26 May 4 May 10 May 25 June 1 June 8 June 15 June 22 June 28 July 5 July 13

Daytona International Speedway Phoenix International Raceway Las Vegas Motor Speedway Bristol Motor Speedway Auto Club Speedway Texas Motor Speedway Richmond International Raceway Talladega Superspeedway Darlington Raceway Charlotte Motor Speedway Dover International Speedway Iowa Speedway Michigan International Speedway Road America Kentucky Speedway Daytona International Speedway New Hampshire Motor Speedway

2013 NASCAR camping world truck Series SCHEDULE Feb. 22 April 6 April 14 April 20 May 17 May 31 June 7 June 27 July 13 July 24 Aug. 3 Aug. 17 Aug. 21 Sept. 1 Sept. 8 Sept. 13 Sept. 28 Oct. 19 Oct. 26 Nov. 1 Nov. 8 Nov. 15

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

July 21 July 27 Aug. 3 Aug. 10 Aug. 17 Aug. 23 Aug. 31 Sept. 6 Sept. 14 Sept. 21 Sept. 28 Oct. 5 Oct. 11 Nov. 2 Nov. 9 Nov. 16

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 partner CONTESTS My Coke Rewards Sweepstakes January 1 - December 31, 2013 mycokerewards.com

M&M’s When We Win You Could Win Game January 14 - November 24, 2013 mms.com/us/racing Nabiso’s NASCAR Racing Sweepstakes February 1 - September 30, 2013 nabisconascar.com

Made in USA With its double-thick adhesive, heavy-duty cloth backing and rugged outer shell, Gorilla Tape sticks to rough, uneven and unforgiving surfaces.

It’s Gorilla Tough, every time.

For the Toughest Jobs on Planet Earth® www.gorillatough.com POLEPOSITIONMAG.COM 09 ©2013 The Gorilla Glue Company

gReeN FlAg RACINg 101

understanding the terminology of Racing

presented by

NASCAR competitors and hard-core fans 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 NASCAR Pole Position 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 – locking the frame to the spindle. alternator: A beltdriven device mounted on the front of the engine that recharges the battery while the engine is running.

Ball Joint: A ball inside a socket that can turn in any direction.

It is used to allow the front suspension to travel while the driver steers the race car.

Blown Motor: A major engine failure, for instance, when a connecting rod goes through the engine block.

Usually produces significant smoke and steam and drops oil on the race track.

Brake Caliper: The part of the braking system that, when applied by the driver, clamps the brake pads against the rotors to slow or stop the car. deck lid: Slang term for the trunk lid of a NASCAR race car. dirty air: Aerodynamic term for the turbulent air currents caused by fast-moving

10

Pole PoSItIoN■2013

cars that can cause a particular car to lose control.

Flat-out: Slang term for racing a car as fast as possible under the given weather and track conditions.

Frame: The metal skeleton or structure of a race car on which the suspension parts and roll cage are mounted.

Also referred to as a chassis.

turn the other. harmonic Balancer: An element used to reduce vibrations in the crank shaft. It is located on the front of the engine. ignition: An electrical system used to ignite the air-fuel mixture in an internal combustion engine. lug nuts: Large nuts that hold a wheel and tire in place. All

Fuel: Also known as gasoline. NASCAR’s top three series use Sunoco Green E15, a highly oxygenated unleaded racing fuel that contains 15 percent ethanol. gears: Circular, wheel-shaped parts with teeth along the edges. The interlocking of these two mechanisms enables one to

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

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

rear Clip: The section of a NASCAR 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, rPM: Short for revolutions per minutes, a measurement of the speed of the engine’s crank shaft. round: Slang term for a way of making chassis adjustments utilizing the race car’s springs. A wrench is inserted into 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 the handling of a race car. slingshot: A maneuver in which a car following the leader in

a draft suddenly steers around it, breaking the vacuum. This provides an extra burst of speed that allows the second car to take the lead. spoiler: A metal blade attached to the rear deck lid of the race car. It helps restrict airflow over the rear of the car, providing downforce and traction. trailing arm: A rear suspension piece holding the rear axle firmly fore and aft, yet allowing it to travel up and down. tri-oval: A race track that has a “hump” or fifth turn in addition to the standard four corners. Not to be confused with a triangular-shaped track like Pocono Raceway that has only three distinct corners.

PUT YOUR GARAGE TO WORK

UP TO $

200 CASH BACK ON

WELDING & CUTTING MACHINES LN O C

ELE C

IC R T

LIN

WWW.LINCOLNELECTRIC.COM / MONEYMATTERS

AR13-38 © The Lincoln Electric Co. All Rights Reserved.

gReeN FlAg Q&A

Q&A with Steve letarte

CRew CHIeF FoR NASCAR SPRINt CuP SeRIeS dRIVeR dAle eARNHARdt JR.

favorite hobby, if that makes any sense.

When I’m not here, I want to spend as much time as I can with my kids. I golf a little bit but other than that we race. Racing doesn’t leave a lot of time for much else. iF You weren’t a Crew

how do You deal with CritiCisM?

There are two ways to look at it. You can block it out and say, “There’s no truth to it.

I’m doing all I can do.”

Or you can be a man, stand up, look in the mirror and ask yourself that question. I’m not

ChieF in nasCar, what would You Be doing For a liVing?

who are Your Biggest insPirations?

My father was probably my biggest inspiration. He worked very hard in the sport at all levels of racing.

Mr. Hendrick [team owner Rick Hendrick] and Jeff Gordon have been big mentors to me, so I don’t know if I have an inspiration as much as just mentors.

I think that really led me and controlled the path that I’ve been on, and I probably owe the most to those three gentlemen.

before anybody else rustles. My wife basically does all the work while I’m gone and then I come home and she has dinner made and I try to do homework and read to the kids before they go to bed. That’s basically a pretty standard day.

I have a lot of work to do here [at Hendrick Motorsports], and my beautiful bride does the majority of the work at the house. how ManY hours a daY are You at worK?

weeKdaY liKe in the

I’m probably here, on an average day, 7 to 5 or 7 to 6.

letarte house?

what are Your

I get out of bed and go to work normally

hoBBies?

what’s a tYPiCal

My kids are my

I enjoy public speaking. I like standing in front of groups, so I would probably be doing something like that, or in the media. I enjoy being on the radio, being on television. I enjoy that aspect of it, so perhaps I’d try to work in that avenue.

letARte At A glANCe PAPeR oR PlAStIC ■ Paper

what is soMething

CAt oR dog

Most FolKs don’t

■ Dog

FAMe oR MoNey ■ Money

FAVoRIte VACAtIoN SPot ■ Aruba

what MotiVates You?

All the guys that work for me. I see how much they sacrifice, what they give up to come work as hard as they can and give everything they can. I see Mr. Hendrick and how hard he’s worked to try to build this place up to be a successful place. So my No. 1 drive and desire is not to let down the 400 and some odd teammates I have here at the company who I feel have done their job, and it’s time to do mine.

saying it’s true. Everybody has an opinion; that’s fine. But before you write it off and you throw that article out or you click “X” on your computer and you exit out, why don’t you stop for a minute and make sure there’s not some truth to it? Because whether you agree or disagree with everybody’s opinion, I’ve found there’s always a little bit of truth to all of it.

FAVoRIte SeASoN ■ Spring! Baseball starts

Know aBout dale Jr.?

I don’t think he gets enough credit for respecting the sport as much as he does.

I think he gets a bad rap for that. I think he’s a huge student of the sport, I think he respects everything it has given him, I think he respects his position in it, and I’ve learned a lot about his work ethic and how he wants to go about going to try to win races. iF You Could Change

FAVoRIte HolIdAy ■ Halloween

one thing aBout the world, what would it Be?

I would probably have everybody in the world try to take more accountability for their own actions. Just in general.

by jared turner 12

Pole PoSItIoN■2013

Luke Lambert, Crew Chief of the No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet SS, wears the Argon, built track-tough and comfortable for all day and all season long. Visit catfootwear.com to find out more about Luke Lambert and to learn what makes Luke an earthmover.

© 2013 Wolverine World Wide. All rights reserved The stylized No. 31 and the RCR checkered flag logo are registered trademarks of RCR Enterprises, LLC. CAT, CATERPILLAR, CAT RACING, their respective logos, “Caterpillar Yellow,” other marks and corporate identity used herein are trademarks of Caterpillar Inc. and may not be used without permission. All trademarks, personal likenesses and the likeness of the No. 31 race car are used under license from their owners.

green flag twitter

Tweets from the Track Kids make me laugh, my 3 1/2 yr old nephew just called and left me with a...

Peace out homey!!

may 26

@clintbowyer

Day off! Took my girl 4 coffee this morning @ Richards Coffee shop in Mooresville awesome #militarymuseum may 21 @kurtbusch

Boy did I drive like an old grandma tonight.

MAy 15

after struggling in the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race

@mattkenseth

Pups r ready 4 movie night! Six Pack last time, @SamanthaBusch went w “What About Bob�. What am I n 4? may 20 @kyleBusch

14

POLE POSITION 2013

I am so fortunate to have all you great fans that voted me Into the all star race. Thank you.

I really wish I could of made you more proud.

may 18

@danicapatrick

RACIN’ ReCIPeS gReeN FlAg INgRedIeNtS ■ 1 can (21.5 ounces) BUSH’S® Sweet Mesquite Grillin’ Beans® ■ Optional Garnish: Fresh flat leaf parsley, roughly chopped

FoR MARINAde ■ 1 tablespoon garlic, chopped ■ 1½ teaspoons smoked paprika ■ ½ teaspoon ground (cayenne) red pepper ■ 2 teaspoons dried thyme leaves ■ 2 tablespoons olive oil ■ 2 teaspoons salt

buSH’S® PePPeRy CHICkeN kAbobS

FoR kAbobS

■ Servings: 4 to 6 ■ Preparation Time: 30 mins. (plus 3 hours to overnight for marinating) ■ Cooking Time: 10 minutes

e ©2012 Bush Brothers & Company. JTG Daugherty Racing,™ Bobby Labonte name and/or likeness and race team, race car and car number used by authority of JTG Racing, Inc. TOYOTA AND ALL ASSOCIATED MARKS, EMBLEMS AND DESIGNS ARE THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS OF TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION AND USED WITH PERMISSION.

njoy this recipe created for Bush’s® Grillin’ Beans® exclusively by Chef Jeffrey Saad, grilling expert, television host of numerous food- and cooking-related shows and author of the new cookbook, Jeffrey Saad’s Global Kitchen: Recipes Without Borders.

■ 2 pounds skin on chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces ■ ½ each large white onion, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces ■ 1 each red bell pepper, cut intoB:8.625” 1-inch pieces ■ Salt and pepper T:8.375” ■ 1 12-inch sheet plastic S:7.875” wrap ■ Wooden or metal skewers (recommend metal)

dIReCtIoNS FoR MARINAde ■ In large bowl, mix

together garlic, paprika, red pepper, thyme, oil and salt.

FoR kAbobS ■ Place chicken in bowl of marinade, turn to evenly coat. Cover bowl tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for three hours to overnight.

■ Using skewers create kabob by threading chicken, onion and pepper, leaving ½-inch of space between each piece for even grilling. Alternate between chicken, onion and pepper until all pieces are used. (Tip: If using wooden skewers, soak in cold water for at least one hour before use to prevent burning).

■ Season kabobs with salt and pepper.

■ Set clean, well-oiled grill to medium-high heat.

When grill is hot, using tongs, place kabobs on

grill. Cook four minutes.

Using tongs, flip kabobs and cook five minutes or until chicken internal temperature is at least 165 degrees F˚ and onions and peppers are slightly crispy.

■ Using tongs, remove kabobs from grill and place on platter. Garnish with parsley, as desired.

Be sure to remove all ingredients from skewers before eating.

■ Serve with BUSH’S® Sweet Mesquite Grillin’ Beans.

DRIVE BOLD. GRILL BOLD.

With New BUSH’S® Sweet Mesquite Grillin’ Beans®.

Root for Bobby Labonte, driver of #47 BUSH’S® Beans-sponsored car.

PolePOSITIONMAg.COM

15

green flag did you know?

FREEZING THE FIELD

I

n an effort to further ensure the competitors’ safety, NASCAR announced in 2003 that racing to the caution flag would no longer be permitted in the NASCAR Sprint Cup, NASCAR Nationwide and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. That led NASCAR to institute a procedure in which the field is “frozen” on the track once the caution flag is waved.

The cars’ positions are determined by the previous electronic timing-and-scoring line they passed on the race track. On the backstretch, cars 1-3 are scored by their running order when they passed timing-and-scoring line E; cars 4 and 5 are scored by their positions when they passed timing-and-scoring line D; and

cars 6 and 7 are scored by their positions when they passed time and scoring line C. While the positions of the competitors on the race track will be “frozen,” the pit road, however, will remain active at this time with pit-road speed in effect.

The cars that are pitted from pit-road entrance to the start/finish line – cars 11, 12, 13 and 14 – must reach the start/ finish scoring line that extends across pit road before the race leader (No. 1 red car approaching scoring line A) reaches the same line on the race track.

Should any of these cars on pit road reach that point first, they will not lose a lap to the leader. Should the leader reach scoring line A before cars 11-14, they would lose a lap to the leader.

Those cars that are pitted from the start/finish line to the pit-road exit – cars 8, 9, and 10 – must reach the pit-road exit scoring line before the leader (No. 1 red car approaching scoring line B) to avoid going a lap down. Example: car 8 would not go a lap down, while cars 9 and 10 would.

Should a driver attempt to speed in pit road to avoid going down a lap to the leader, that driver will lose a lap in addition to being moved to the tail end of the longest line for the restart.

Should the race leader not slow immediately for the caution flag in an effort to put the pitted cars down a lap, the leader will be penalized by being sent to the tail end of the longest line and all pitted cars will retain their lap positions.

source: nascar 16

POLE POSITION 2013

RACe tIMe At wAlMARt gReeN FlAg

Fans win with Relationship between walmart and NASCAR RACe tIMe IS bACk!

uPCoMINg FAN eVeNtS At wAlMARt StoReS PoCoNo

Wednesday, July 31 Thursday, August 1 Thursday, August 1 Friday, August 2 Friday, August 2 Saturday, August 3

wAtkINS gleN Wednesday, August 7 Thursday, August 8 Friday, August 9 Saturday, August 10

MICHIgAN

w

almart and nasCar have once again teamed up to give race fans new NASCAR-branded merchandise and special savings on tickets for select races nationwide. Throughout the season, Walmart will provide shoppers with affordability and accessibility to the NASCAR experience.

The retail program, branded “Race Time,” is the largest retail promotion in NASCAR’s history and was launched in 2011. This year, it has been expanded to include more than triple the companies offering authentic merchandise. There is also an increase in the number of fan events in race markets and more tracks are partnering with Walmart to offer the Walmart Family Track Pack.

Walmart customers and NASCAR fans can save money by purchasing a “Walmart Family Track Pack,” discounted ticket packages available exclusively through Walmart.com/NASCAR for select NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races. Ticket packages include four race tickets, four hot dogs and four sodas for just $99, a savings of more than $100, while supplies last. Tickets are also available at Ticketmaster kiosks in select markets.

Race Time brings NASCAR to life at your local Walmart with exclusive fan events, featuring authentic stock car displays, racing simulators, product sampling and driver appearances in every NASCAR market all season long.

This year, Walmart also put its customers in the driver’s seat. Walmart was the title sponsor of the Party in the Poconos 400 race, which was both dedicated to and customized by the fans.

Throughout the promotion, customers selected elements of the race, as well as had the opportunity to get to the track through Walmart’s discounted ticket offer. Most every seat was sold for the same low price as the Walmart Family Track Pack gamechanging offer of $25! For more information, visit Walmart.com/NASCAR.

Wednesday, August 14 Thursday, August 15 Friday, August 16 Saturday, August 17 Saturday, August 17

bRIStol

Tuesday, August 20 Tuesday, August 20 Wednesday, August 21 Wednesday, August 21 Thursday, August 22 Thursday, August 22 Friday, August 23 Friday, August 23

AtlANtA

Wednesday, August 28 Thursday, August 29 Friday, August 30 Friday, August 30 Saturday, August 31 Saturday, August 31

RICHMoNd

Tuesday, September 3 Tuesday, September 3 Wednesday, September 4 Wednesday, September 4 Thursday, September 5 Thursday, September 5 Friday, September 6 Friday, September 6

CHICAgo

Thursday, September 12 Thursday, September 12 Friday, September 13 Friday, September 13 Saturday, September 14 Saturday, September 14

loudoN

11:30am - 5:30pm 10:00am - 4:00pm 11:30am - 5:30pm 10:00am - 4:00pm 11:30am - 5:30pm 9:00am - 3:00pm

3722 Easton Rd. 2150 Wilkes Barre Twp. Mktpl.

900 Commerce Blvd.

500 Route 940 355 Lincoln Ave. 500 Route 940

Easton, Pa. Wilkes-Barre, Pa. Dickson City, Pa. Mount Pocono, Pa. East Stroudsburg, Pa. Mount Pocono, Pa.

11:00am - 5:00pm 11:00am - 5:00pm 11:00am - 5:00pm 9:00am - 3:00pm

3217 Silverback Ln. 1400 County Rd. 64 515 East 4th St. 515 East 4th St.

Painted Post, N.Y. Horseheads, N.Y. Watkins Glen, N.Y. Watkins Glen, N.Y.

11:00am - 5:00pm 11:00am - 5:00pm 11:00am - 5:00pm 8:00am - 2:00pm 9:30am - 3:30pm

800 East Chicago St. 701 Olds St. 7000 East Michigan Ave. 1601 U.S. 223 1700 West Michigan Ave.

Coldwater, Mich.

Jonesville, Mich.

Saline, Mich.

Adrian, Mich.

Jackson, Mich.

10:00am - 4:00pm 11:30am - 5:30pm 10:00am - 4:00pm 11:30am - 5:30pm 10:00am - 4:00pm 11:30am - 5:30pm 10:00am - 4:00pm 11:30am - 5:30pm

2915 West Market St. 2500 West Stone Dr. 3200 Fort Henry Dr. 1001 Over Mountain Dr. 3111 Browns Mill Rd. 220 Century Blvd.

220 Century Blvd.

13245 Lee Highway

Johnson City, Tenn.

Kingsport, Tenn.

Kingsport, Tenn.

Elizabethown, Tenn.

Johnson City, Tenn.

Bristol, Tenn.

Bristol, Tenn.

Bristol, Tenn.

11:00am - 5:00pm 11:00am - 5:00pm 9:00am - 3:00pm 11:00am - 5:00pm 8:00am - 2:00pm 9:30am - 3:30pm

4949 Bill Gardner Pkwy.

11465 Tara Blvd.

4949 Bill Gardner Pkwy.

135 Willow Ln. 1569 North Expressway 11465 Tara Blvd.

Locust Grove, Ga. Lovejoy, Ga. Locust Grove, Ga. McDonough, Ga. Griffin, Ga. Lovejoy, Ga.

10:00am - 4:00pm 11:30am - 5:30pm 10:00am - 4:00pm 11:30am - 5:30pm 10:00am - 4:00pm 11:30am - 5:30pm 10:00am - 4:00pm 11:30am - 5:30pm

671 Southpark Blvd.

12000 Iron Bridge Rd. 145 Hill Carter Pkwy.

11400 W. Broad Meadows Rd. 12200 Chattanooga Plaza 7430 Bell Creek Rd. 7430 Bell Creek Rd. 7901 Brook Rd.

Colonial Heights, Va. Chester, Va. Ashland, Va. Glen Allen, Va. Midlothian, Va. Mechanicsville, Va. Mechanicsville, Va. Richmond, Va.

10:00am - 4:00pm 11:30am - 5:30pm 10:00am - 4:00pm 11:30am - 5:30pm 8:00am - 2:00pm 9:30am - 3:30pm

333 East U.S. Route 6 16241 South Farrell Rd. 16241 South Farrell Rd. 2424 W. Jefferson 501 E. Lincoln Highway 2424 W. Jefferson

Morris, Ill. Lockport, Ill. Lockport, Ill. Joliet, Ill. New Lenox, Ill. Joliet, Ill.

59 Walton Way 35 Fresh River Rd. 344 Loudon Rd. 3 Commerce Dr. 344 Loudon Rd. 116 Farmington Rd. 344 Loudon Rd.

Somersworth, NH Epping, NH Concord, NH Hooksett, NH Concord, NH Rochester, NH Concord, NH

Wednesday, September 18 10:00am - 4:00pm Wednesday, September 18 11:30am - 5:30pm Thursday, September 19 10:00am - 4:00pm Thursday, September 19 11:30am - 5:30pm Friday, September 20 10:00am - 4:00pm Friday, September 20 11:30am - 5:30pm Saturday, September 21 9:00am - 3:00pm

■■All■dates■and■locations■are■subject■to■change.

■

PolePOSITIONMAg.COM

17

nascar green

A Partnership with an Impact

Growth Energy, New Holland Share a Similar Vision As a trade association set up in support of the ethanol industry, Growth Energy seeks to dispel myths about ethanol, with a special focus on the renewable domestic fuel known as Sunoco E15 — a 15 percent ethanol blend that is the Official Fuel of NASCAR, and that emits 20 percent less greenhouse emissions than unleaded gasoline.

N

ew Holland, a Pennsylvaniabased company known for its innovative line of farm equipment, manufactures various pieces of machinery that aid farmers in the production and harvesting of corn used to yield the “first-generation” E15 biofuel.

New Holland also specializes in hay forage equipment that packages the “generation 2” piece of the ethanol area: biomass, which originates from different feed stocks and converts to ethanol.

It should come as no surprise, then, that in March 2012, Growth Energy and New Holland entered into an official partnership, joining forces to promote the growth and sustainability of

the ethanol industry.

Both Growth Energy and New Holland are also official partners of NASCAR Green.

“The leadership at New Holland saw what we did and what NASCAR’s leadership has seen: That there’s a specific need for a better way to do things,” said Kelly Manning, vice president of development for Growth Energy.

“New Holland, kind of being the clean energy leader as an equipment company, saw that and matched up with us real well and matched up with NASCAR real well. It’s one of those things where we’re all pushing in the same direction.”

Like Growth Energy, New Holland supports reducing the United

States’ dependence on foreign oil and advocates renewable energy that is more environmentally-friendly and sustainable for future generations.

“The goal of Growth Energy is to educate the American people about ethanol and dispel a lot of the rumors that are out there about ethanol,” said Ron Shaffer, New Holland’s director of Growth Initiatives for Institutional and Specialty Sales.

“Obviously, we are a big player in the agriculture market that produces and supports equipment that supports ethanol, whether it be corn or the biomass piece of it. So, that education helps both Growth Energy and us in the long run.”

Growth Energy, New Holland Proactive in Spreading Message

A

key aspect of the partnership between Growth Energy and New Holland involves teaming up at various events throughout the year to reach farmers with the ethanol message.

Growth Energy and New Holland collaborate on about a dozen annual “field days” held at ethanol plants, where farmers and representatives from the National Corn Growers Association come to learn more about ethanol and NASCAR Green initiatives. Attendance typically ranges from 150 to 500 people, depending on the size of the plant.

Growth Energy and New Holland also partner on various displays set up at several summer farm shows and NASCAR tracks.

“These events are not just events to showcase equipment and ethanol; they’re events to talk to the American people,” said Ron Shaffer, New Holland’s director of Growth Initiatives for Institutional and Specialty Sales.

Somewhat surprisingly, New Holland is the only agricultural equipment company that has stepped up to partner with the ethanol industry.

“New Holland, so much kudos to them for seeing this opportunity that the biofuels industry provides for the equipment industry,” said Kelly Manning, vice president of development for Growth Energy. “We had conversations with the other manufacturers as well, and their leadership did not see this opportunity.”

by jared turner 18

POLE POSITION 2013

FOOD AND FUEL IN EVERY HARVEST.

NOW THAT’S SMART. We’re proud to support NASCAR and all the farmers making smart decisions for our future.

www.newholland.com/na

© 2013 CNH America LLC. New Holland is a registered trademark of CNH America LLC.

green flag tailgating

Food & Fun at the Track

L

ife, with its many ups and downs, can be an exciting but also fairly stressful ride. However, Austin Harbison has found a place where he can get away from it all. That place is a tailgate – NASCAR-style – at Alabama’s Talladega Superspeedway.

Harbison, who lives in Macon, Ga., and works as a territory manager for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., enjoys tailgating at other sporting events, too – especially Auburn University football games. But the NASCAR experience, especially at Talladega, is like no other for him.

Since tailgating for the first time in the Talladega infield during 2009, Harbison has become a tailgating fixture at the 2.66-mile track, which is legendary for some of the biggest and most festive infield parties on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series circuit.

Harbison now won’t miss an opportunity to tailgate at either of the track’s two annual NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekends.

“College football in the SEC is always a fun tailgate, but a NASCAR tailgate is unique and unlike any other, being that it generally lasts an entire weekend, and no one is there judging you no matter how ridiculous you may look or act,” said Harbison, 26.

“My friends and I camp out spring and fall at Talladega from Friday to Sunday. By the time you’re done with a NASCAR tailgate, you’ve left absolutely everything you have out there – and usually need a shower and some Gold Bond after.”

When Harbison tailgates, he does it in a big way – in the company of lots of friends and with more than enough food, drink and activities to pass the time. Harbison’s regular tailgating entourage at Talladega includes close buddies Mason, Mark, Rhett, Cole, Michael, Derek, Robert, Casey, Kristin, Tia, Nicole and Emily.

Harbison’s list of tailgating essentials is even longer: coolers, beer, ice, bottles of water, condiments, a grill, hamburger meat, hot dogs, hot dog buns, chips, finger foods, party platters, paper towels, tables, chairs, plates, utensils, loud music, cornhole or horseshoes, solo cups, a ping pong ball and a football.

“Make sure you bring plenty of beer,” said Harbison, who tailgates from the cab of a GMC Sierra. “It’s always better to have

presented by way too much than not enough, especially if you’re in a dry county that does not sell on Sundays. I’m sure that is often times a bitter disappointment for the rookies, plus the booze and snacks will burn a hole through your wallet if you don’t bring your own, which you can actually bring in the track. Also, make sure to have plenty of ice.

Don’t forget good friends, and don’t worry what others think.”

Harbison will never forget the first time he and his companions decided to convene in the Talladega infield back in ’09.

“We were experienced football tailgaters, but this was a threeday long tailgate,” said Harbison, a Tony Stewart fan. “We got tons of pictures, had some great times and started a tradition that’s much anticipated now every spring and fall.”

Harbison has also tailgated at Daytona International Speedway, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series’ other restrictor-plate track, but there’s something about Talladega that puts tailgating there in a league of its own.

“Of course I’m partial, but it’s the granddaddy of them all,” Harbison said. “Daytona was an amazing track, but you cannot beat a Talladega tailgate experience. There are campgrounds beyond what the eyes can see, beautiful southern belles surprisingly almost everywhere you turn, and you know you are getting ready for one hell of a race at ’Dega.”

Harbison finds the only real challenges of hosting a good tailgate to be finding and planning for the perfect parking spot, getting everything set up for the tailgate and then taking everything down and packing it up once the race weekend is over.

But the hassle is well worth it.

“It’s outdoors, there are no rules and everybody is there for the same party,” Harbison said. “Life is full of stress and responsibilities that do not exist at a NASCAR tailgate.”

Even though he has only been a regular participant in NASCAR tailgates the last few years, Harbison can’t imagine now attending a race at Talladega without tailgating.

“Sounds like a world I don’t want to live in,” he concluded.

by jared turner 20

POLE POSITION 2013

Porta-Party.

Get the party started and keep it going strong with a Honda Generator.

You’ll enjoy quiet, fuel-efficient power, plus legendary Honda reliability.

From RVing, camping and tailgating to home backup and jobs around the house, a Honda Generator is your portable party machine.

gen.honda.com THE OFFICIAL GENERATOR OF

Please read the owner’s manual before operating your Honda Power Equipment and never use in a closed or partly enclosed area where you could be exposed to poisonous carbon monoxide.

POLEPOSITIONMAG.COM 21 Connection of a generator to house power requires a transfer device to avoid possible injury to power company personnel. Consult a qualified electrician. ©2013 American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

NASCAR defined THe vieW FRoM THe TRACK

ToP ■■Ricky■Stenhouse■Jr.■(No.■17)■races■ ■ with■Danica■Patrick■(No.■10)■at■ Richmond■International■Raceway.

FiRST RoW ■■Kyle■Busch■(No.■54)■completes■ ■ his■celebratory■burnout■after■ winning■the■NASCAR■Nationwide■ Series■race■at■Darlington■Raceway.

■■Travis■Pastrana■gets■focused■ ■ before■the■drop■of■the■green■fl■ag■at■ Charlotte■Motor■Speedway.

■■Kyle■Busch■poses■with■his■wife,■ ■ Samantha,■after■winning■the■ NASCAR■Nationwide■Series■race■at■ Darlington■Raceway.

22

PoLe PoSiTioN■2013

SeCoND RoW ■■Kevin■Harvick■and■the■No.■29■ ■ team■celebrate■their■victory■at■ Charlotte■Motor■Speedway.

■■A■perfectly■formatted■fl ■ ■yover■ before■the■race■at■Texas.

THiRD RoW ■■Kyle■Larson■looks■on■at■ ■ Rockingham■Speedway.

■■NASCAR■K&N■Pro■Series■driver■ ■ Mackena■Bell■looks■on■from■the■ garage.

ToP ■■The■view■from■high■above■ ■ Richmond■International■ Raceway.

FiRST RoW ■■Matt■Kenseth■and■the■No.■ ■ 20■team■celebrate■their■win■at■ Darlington■Raceway.

■■Danica■Patrick■looks■on■ ■ from■the■pits■at■Darlington■ Raceway.

■■Aric■Almirola■shares■a■ ■ moment■with■his■son■prior■to■ the■race■at■Darlington.

SeCoND RoW ■■Tony■Stewart■looks■on■ ■ prior■to■the■race■at■Darlington■ Raceway.

■■Matt■Kenseth■walks■ ■ through■the■pit■area■with■his■ family.

■■Kyle■Busch■celebrates■his■ ■ win■in■the■Dollar■General■200■ at■Phoenix.

THiRD RoW ■■A■paratrooper■makes■his■ ■ way■onto■the■track■during■ prerace■ceremonies■at■ Richmond.

■■Kevin■Harvick■(No.■29)■ ■ battles■with■Kyle■Busch■(No.■ 18)■during■the■NASCAR■Sprint■ Cup■race■at■Richmond.

PoLePOSITIONMAG.COM

23

NASCAR DeFiNeD

ToP ■■At■Kansas■Speedway,■the■ ■ Michael■Waltrip■Racing■cars■ sported■“runners■bibs”■as■a■ tribute■to■the■victims■of■the■ Boston■Marathon■bombing.

FiRST RoW ■■The■fi ■ ■eld■comes■to■a■ restart■at■Texas■Motor■ Speedway.

■■Things■got■hot■for■crew■ ■ members■in■Texas.

SeCoND RoW ■■Brian■Vickers■(No.■11)■ ■ fi■lled■in■for■the■then-injured■ Denny■Hamlin■at■Texas■ Motor■Speedway.

■■Jeff ■ ■■Gordon■(No.■24)■ makes■a■quick■pit■stop■at■ Texas.

THiRD RoW ■■Brian■Vickers■hangs■with■ ■ a■young■fan■in■the■garage■ prior■to■the■race■at■Texas.

■■Jimmie■Johnson■and■ ■ crew■chief■Chad■Knaus■talk■ strategy■in■the■garage.

24

PoLe PoSiTioN■2013

ToP ■■Aric■Almirola■(No.■43)■ ■ races■alongside■Martin■ Truex■Jr.■(No.■56)■at■ Talladega.

FiRST RoW ■■Alabama■quarterback■ ■ AJ■McCarron■poses■ with■the■Michael■Waltrip■ Racing■Girls■at■Talladega■ Superspeedway.

■■David■Ragan■embraces■ ■ teammmate■David■Gilliland■ following■their■1-2■fi■nish■at■ Talladega.

SeCoND RoW ■■An■offi ■ ■■cial■chats■with■Kyle■ Busch■(No.■18)■at■Charlotte■ Motor■Speedway.

■■Jimmie■Johnson■at■Dover■ ■ International■Speedway.

boTToM ■■View■from■above■the■ ■ grandstands■at■Talladega■ Superspeedway.

PoLePOSITIONMAG.COM

25

NASCAR DeFiNeD

ToP RoW ■■A■group■shot■of■the■2013■NASCAR■ ■ Next■members.

■■Jimmie■Johnson■celebrates■his■win■in■ ■ the■Party■in■the■Poconos■400.

MiDDLe RoW ■■Juan■Pablo■Montoya■sits■in■the■ ■ garage■at■Pocono■Raceway.

■■Trevor■Bayne■poses■with■wife■Ashton■ ■ after■winning■the■DuPont■Pioneer■250■ at■Iowa■Speedway.

boTToM RoW ■■The■Michael■Waltrip■Racing■Girls■ ■ mingle■in■the■pit■area■prior■to■the■race■ at■Pocono.

■■Jeff ■ ■■Gordon■awaits■driver■introductions■before■the■race■at■Pocono.

26

PoLe PoSiTioN■2013

ToP ■■The■Toyota■Owners■400■at■ ■ Richmond■International■Raceway.

FiRST RoW ■■Danica■Patrick■makes■her■way■ ■ through■the■pit■area■at■Richmond■ Interntional■Raceway■with■her■ boyfriend,■Ricky■Stenhouse■Jr. ■■Matt■Kenseth■poses■with■one■ ■ of■his■daughters■at■Richmond■ International■Raceway.

SeCoND RoW ■■NASCAR■K&N■Pro■Series■driver■ ■ Michael■Self■climbs■the■fence■after■ a■win.

■■Danica■Patrick■signs■an■ ■ autograph■for■a■fan■at■Kansas■ Speedway.

THiRD RoW ■■Brad■Keselowski■chats■with■ ■ one■of■his■NCWTS■drivers,■Ryan■ Blaney■druing■the■NASCAR■ weekend■at■Kansas■Speedway.

■■Matt■Kenseth■signs■an■ ■ autograph■for■a■fan■before■the■ race■at■Kansas■Speedway.■

PoLePOSITIONMAG.COM

27

inside nascar

A New Type of Workout NASCAR Drivers and Crew Members Join CrossFit Craze

By Jared Turner

■■ German Quiroga arrives at a CrossFit box (gym) in downtown Charlotte at 6 a.m. for a one-hour class, and typically stays an extra 30 minutes for additional work.

Whether for purposes of wheeling a 3,300-pound NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car in sultry heat for three or four hours, or changing four tires on a race car in around 15 seconds, physical fitness is crucial to success in the NASCAR world.

28

POLE POSITION 2013

For a few devoted tenants of the garage area, the path to fitness encompasses more than routine workouts – however helpful those might be. For these exercise buffs, it’s CrossFit or bust.

A popular fitness program that combines a wide variety of functional movements into a timed or scored workout, CrossFit advocates a mix of aerobic exercise, body weight exercise, gymnastics and Olympic weightlifting. Common routines include, but are not limited to, pull-ups, squats, push-ups, running and rowing.

CrossFit’s exercise program is practiced by members of

approximately 6,100 gymnasiums affiliated with CrossFit Inc., which was founded in 2000 by Greg and Lauren Glassman.

Describing its strength and conditioning program as “constantly varied, high-intensity, functional movement,” CrossFit encompasses daily workouts posted on the company’s website, or workouts prescribed by a coach at a local affiliate.

Unlike less-structured training methods, CrossFit doesn’t allow its hard-core adherents to completely focus on one or two kinds of exercises – and the body parts they’re intertwined with – while ignoring others.

While workouts are typically short in time, averaging around 30 minutes, they are anything but short on intensity in the form of intense, demanding all-out physical exertion. CrossFit doesn’t focus on bodybuilder type workouts such as bicep curls, but instead utilizes anaerobic exercises to trigger neuroendocrine response, which in effect shocks the body and will change it drastically.

Commonly used equipment includes barbells, dumbbells, gymnastics rings, pullup bars, kettlebells, medicine balls and boxes for box jumps.

Such elements are mixed in numerous combinations to form what are commonly known as “Workouts of the Day” or “WODs.” Hour-long classes at affiliated gyms typically include a warm-up, a skill development segment, the high-intensity WOD and a period of

individual or group stretching. Performance on each WOD is often scored and/or ranked to encourage competition and monitor individual progress.

Not surprisingly, CrossFit boasts broad appeal and is particularly popular among young adults. It is also the principal strength and conditioning program for many police academies and tactical operations teams, military special operations units, champion martial artists and hundreds of other elite and professional athletes.

NASCAR, one of the most physically demanding sports in the world, has likewise not surprisingly felt the effects of this CrossFit tidal wave.

Meet four members of the NASCAR community who have used CrossFit to bolster their strength and become better at their chosen profession within the motorsports world.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Driver A relative newcomer to the CrossFit movement, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series rookie Ricky Stenhouse Jr. tried for awhile to hone his physique exclusively through the weightlifting program offered by his team, Roush Fenway Racing.

He eventually sought a more diverse exercise regimen, however, and discovered CrossFit. “I never had enjoyed just lifting weights,”

said Stenhouse, 25. “I had watched CrossFit on TV and thought that it looked pretty cool and then I had a friend that did it, so I went out with them and did a few CrossFit classes. I was kind of hooked after that because, as you know, race car drivers are competitive, and CrossFit classes are nothing but competition. You lift weights but you also are doing things that are different and fun, and you get a lot of cardio in at the same time.

They’re intense, and so I’ve really enjoyed it. It’s something that I want to go do, and I want to go work out.”

Stenhouse, who just joined the ranks of CrossFitters back in February – right around the start of the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season – attends a CrossFit facility near his home in Davidson, N.C. The two-time and reigning NASCAR Nationwide Series champion tries to hit the gymnasium at least two to three times a week, and sometimes as often as four times a week, when his schedule permits.

“When I first started going, I didn’t really have much time,” he said. “I would go once, maybe twice a week, but if you only go once a week, you can’t hardly walk the next week, so you’ve got to go at least two or three times a week.”

Stenhouse is joined for most of his CrossFit

trips by girlfriend and fellow NASCAR Sprint Cup Series rookie Danica Patrick.

“We go together, and she’s really competitive,” Stenhouse said.

Stenhouse has two basic workout methods he enjoys. One is AMRAP, an acronym for “As Many Rounds as Possible,” in which

Stenhouse’s move to CrossFit couldn’t have been more appropriately timed. After spending the last three full seasons in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, his promotion to a full-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series ride for 2013 has him participating in races typically about twice as long as those

■■ German Quiroga uses CrossFit to stay in shape and in just a short time saw great results.

CrossFitters attempt three or four exercises and try to do as many rounds as possible in 20 to 30 minutes. The other basic approach involves trying to complete three or four rounds of workout in the shortest time possible.

“They’re switching it up every day,” Stenhouse said. “One of the things that CrossFit is all about is working different muscles out in different ways to keep them kind of guessing, and I think that really pays off.

You don’t totally focus on one thing. It kind of works your whole body all at one time.”

he was accustomed to running in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.

Stenhouse credits CrossFit for helping his adjustment.

“It’s not a real long workout but it’s very, very intense,” he said.

“That’s what makes it so worthwhile. I think it has paid off inside the car, for sure. I feel great after the races.”

German Quiroga, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Driver Good luck finding a CrossFitter in NASCAR more dedicated than NASCAR Camping World Truck Series rookie German Quiroga.

To be fairly young on the CrossFit scene, Quiroga takes his workouts seriously – really seriously.

Quiroga, a threetime champion of the Mexico-based NASCAR Toyota Mexico Series, began CrossFit in earnest about a year ago after moving from Mexico to the Charlotte, N.C., area to pursue a career in NASCAR’s national series. He’s been hooked practically since Day One. “After the first class, I really fell in love with it,” said Quiroga, 33.

“Since that first class, I’ve been doing it very strict. I have my goals set. I’ve improved a lot but I’m far away from what I want to achieve.”

Quiroga arrives at a gym in Charlotte at 6 a.m. for a one-hour CrossFit class, and typically stays an extra 30 minutes for more strength work. On weeks when the trucks aren’t racing, he tries to hit the gym six days. That number is closer to four or five on race weeks.

Before his introduction to CrossFit, Quiroga would spend three to four hours daily lifting weights in his native Mexico. He prefers his new, more diverse workout regimen.

“It is intense,” he said. “You are sore for the whole week. When you go to a gym just to lift weights there are some muscles that will get very strong, but then you won’t work other muscles in the same area. Like in the POLEPOSITIONMAG.COM

29

iNSiDe NASCAR chest when you’re benching, you will work just a couple of muscles but not all the chest. When you are doing CrossFit, you are actually using all the muscles in your body, and you are getting also the cardio stuff, so you are mixing both, so you are getting in better shape.”

While Quiroga enjoys the mixture that CrossFit offers, the Red Horse Racing driver’s focus is admittedly strength training, which he pursues through a diverse range of squats – including front, back and overhead.

Quiroga is a stickler for keeping close tabs on his repetitions to see if his times and scores have improved. So far, so good.

“Most of the movements of CrossFit I can do,” he said. “There’s probably 85 percent that I can do very, very good, but it’s just one of those things that you have to go daily and you have to keep working on it so you get better and in better shape and your movements are better. I’m really, really trying to put my body in better shape to keep doing it.”

Quiroga’s competitive fires have also taken him to team competitions against members of other CrossFit facilities in the Charlotte area. All of it, he believes, has made him better prepared on race day.

“By the end of the races you are in way better shape than the rest of the drivers,” he said. “Your focus is clearer and you’ll be more awake. Since I started doing my CrossFit workouts as part of my life, I’ve started getting better results.”

Bryan Ortiz, NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Driver NASCAR K&N Pro Series East driver Bryan Ortiz is a huge fan of CrossFit – especially in the company of good friends.

For Ortiz, who grew up in Puerto Rico but has lived in the continental United States for three years, one of the biggest perks of CrossFit is getting to go to the gymnasium with a group of six or seven buddies, including some fellow members of the motorsports community.

His best CrossFit companions are IndyCar driver Ryan Briscoe and former/ part-time NASCAR drivers Cole Whitt, T.J. Bell and Jason Bowles. The group of friends patronizes CrossFit 77 in Mooresville, N.C., on several evenings each week, with Ortiz attempting to go every day but Thursday and Sunday.

“You need people pushing, making you do it,” said Ortiz, 24. “The main reason 30

PoLe PoSiTioN■2013

for me to go and not do it by myself is the technique, making sure I’m doing it right because you could get hurt, like doing the squats and the deadlift. If you do them wrong, you could get injured badly.

It’s important to have somebody making sure you’re doing them right. The good thing about CrossFit, different from other programs, is that it combines everything. It combines endurance, cardio, strength, agility – everything – in different exercises.”

Ortiz, who embarked on his CrossFit journey in July 2012 after being introduced by a friend in Puerto Rico, returned from a vacation in his homeland and immediately found a place to pursue CrossFit near his North Carolina home.

Ortiz often strength trains before taking part in his daily CrossFit routine, which typically consists of 15 minutes or more of super-intense workout. Ortiz enjoys the “time-cap” approach, where he attempts to knock out as many different repetitions as possible in a set amount of time.

“You get strong in every aspect of your body,” he said. “You won’t have like a really strong leg and not be strong in your arms, or the other way around.”

Like many CrossFit enthusiasts, Ortiz likes to carefully document his progression.

“You will see the results,” the secondyear NASCAR K&N Pro Series East driver said. “You will see how you are getting better. I write everything down so I know how I’m doing, and numbers don’t lie. On the time, I’ve gotten so much better. On the weight I’ve gotten so much better, so I’m really happy with it.”

Christmas Abbott, Pit Crew Member In NASCAR, there’s an unequivocal queen of CrossFit. And her name is Christmas Abbott.

An elite Level 1 CrossFit trainer who owns and operates her own CrossFit training center, Abbott is sold out to staying in shape and helping others do the same. Of course, her CrossFit infatuation is just one way by which Abbott remains a paragon of fitness.

She’s also a NASCAR pit crew member.

Driven by a desire to expand her already vast horizons, Abbott took her slender 5-foot-3, 115-pound frame to participate in an informal pit crew competition/tryout a little over a year ago at Turner Scott Motorsports, which competes in the NASCAR Nationwide and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

Convinced by her reviews at Turner Scott that Abbott was up to the task – Abbott changed a tire in just over 1.7 seconds – Michael Waltrip Racing offered her an opportunity back in February to become a full-time pit crew member for its NASCAR Sprint Cup Series operation.

Abbott, 31, gladly accepted, and is traveling with the team to all NASCAR Sprint Cup events this season in a pit support role. When she’s not running the show at her own CrossFit center, she can be found working out, CrossFit-style, with her colleagues at MWR, where her ultimate goal is to go over the wall as a tire changer.

“I love changing tires,” Abbott said. “It’s the adrenaline of running in front of a car and then having the car zip by you 50 to 60 miles an hour behind you, and it’s just literally two feet of safety. Work is going to get done and it’s going to be hard and it’s going to be a heck of a fun time.”

No question about it: Abbott is built for her newest endeavor.

“She is an incredible, elite athlete, and she has worked with our crews by bringing some CrossFit elements to their workouts,” said team co-owner Michael Waltrip. “She is a competitor and when she decided to start working toward an over-the-wall position, we said we are the perfect place to make it happen.”

A native of Lynchburg, Va., Abbott used an experience as a civilian contractor in Iraq in her early 20s as inspiration to morph into the exercise guru she is today.

It was while overseas on unfamiliar soil that she discovered CrossFit and drastically altered her lifestyle and physique.

Since returning home, she has been a fitness pioneer in every sense of the word. In addition to opening what is now CrossFit Invoke in Raleigh, N.C., Abbott has become a member of the highly respected CrossFit Headquarter Seminar Staff, and led her team to the Mid-Atlantic Regionals for the CrossFit games the last three years, with two qualifications for the CrossFit Games.

Impressive accomplishments, for sure, but not surprising for a woman who can clean and jerk 170 pounds and dead lift 255.

“CrossFit has really helped me develop that inner being and self worth, ultimately that allows me to try new things,” Abbott said. “That’s what CrossFit has done for me.”

© Home 2011 Electrolux © 2011 Electrolux Products,Home Inc. Products, Inc.

Electrolux premium front washers Electrolux premium front loadload washers ® ® ENERGY STAR Most Efficient 2011.

Most Efficient . 2011.

ENERGY STAR Most Efficient 2011. .

Electrolux is living its commitment create environmentally conscious, beautifully Electrolux is living its commitment to createtoenvironmentally conscious, beautifully stylish stylish appliances offerperformance, power, performance, and functionality.

The ENERGY STAR® Most appliances that offerthat power, and functionality.

The ENERGY STAR® Most

2 designation 2011 recognizes Electrolux front load washers as the edge leading edge 2 designation Efficient Efficient 2011 recognizes Electrolux front load washers as the leading energy efficient year. Electrolux are asongentle on the environment in energyinefficient productsproducts this year.this Electrolux washerswashers are as gentle the environment 1 2 as they are clothes, on your clothes, up tomore 161% more energy-efficient less as they are on your up to 161% energy-efficient and use1 and 66%use less66% water . water2.

Electrolux arethe one of the most efficient, so you can be even more amazing.

Electrolux washerswashers are one of most efficient, so you can be even more amazing.

2012 2012 ourKitchen Virtual Kitchen and Laundry Drop intoDrop our into Virtual and Laundry Room. Room.

Go to electroluxappliances.com Go to electroluxappliances.com

1 2 ® Energy based currentminimum DOE Federal minimum standard for washers MEF. 2based Water savings on STAR DOE ENERGY STAR® energy-savings calculator. gy efficiency basedefficiency on current DOEon Federal standard for washers based on MEF.based Wateron savings on DOE based ENERGY energy-savings calculator.

NASCAR CAMPiNG WoRLD TRUCK SeRieS

presented by

To Watch in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series From two young guns with promising futures to a surprising young champion to a wily veteran, the quartet of Ross Chastain, Ryan Blaney, James Buescher and Matt Crafton represent a small sampling of the diverse backgrounds of drivers competing in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Moreover, all four are worth keeping close tabs on as the season moves through the hot summer months.

RoSS CHASTAiN

H REESE Towpower ®, the market leader in towing, is changing the approach to ball mounts with an innovative and patent pending line of products.

Introducing Carbon FORGED ball mounts. Offering greater towing capacity through an innovative CARBON FORGED one-piece design providing unequaled quality and performance.

7000 - lb Towing Capacity 100,000 Mile Road Tested*

WELD FREE Design *Simulated enhanced fatigue test

aving grown up in a racing family, Florida native Ross Chastain began competitive racing in 2006 as a driver in the FasTruck “Fast Kid” Series. After making his first foray in a NASCAR truck with a handful of starts for Turn One Racing in 2011, Chastain joined the series full time last season with SS Green Light Racing.

This year, Chastain is scheduled to make 15 starts in the No. 19 Ford owned by reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Brad Keselowski.

Chastain, 20, has a long history with trucks. His father, Ralph, was one of the pioneer drivers in the American Race Truck Series.

RYAN bLANeY

F

ollowing in the footsteps of his father, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver and World of Outlaws sprint car champion Dave Blaney, 19-year-old Ryan Blaney is in his first full season of truck competition.

Blaney, who also drives a truck fielded

by Keselowski, picked up his first truck win at Iowa Speedway last year in only his third series start.

Blaney is a thirdgeneration driver; his grandfather, the late Lou Blaney, was a sprint car and modified racing legend who tallied more than 600 victories and multiple track championships.

Blaney, a part of the Penske Racing driver development program, made multiple NASCAR Nationwide Series starts for the organization in 2012.

JAMeS bUeSCHeR

J

ames Buescher’s rookie NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season of 2009 was a disappointment.

Much success has followed, however.

After struggling mightily as a truck newcomer, Buescher showed his potential the next season by finishing 11th in points despite not entering three races. He was only getting warmed up. In 2011, Buescher finished third in points, a feat that helped set the stage for a four-win, championship season last year in his Turner Scott Motorsports Chevrolet.

Buescher, who has also dabbled in the NASCAR Nationwide Series the last few years, became the truck series’ secondyoungest champion at the age of 22.

by jared turner 32 PoLe PoSiTioN■2013 CequentConsumerProducts.com

MATT CRAFToN

K

nown for his quiet consistency, Matt Crafton is one of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series’ most unheralded drivers.

Crafton, a 13-year truck racing veteran who has spent all but one season in the series with Sandusky, Ohio-based ThorSport Racing, scored his first win at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 2008 and picked up win No. 2 in 2011 at Iowa Speedway.

Crafton has added to his trophy case this year, taking the win at Kansas Speedway in April.

Through it all, consistency has been Crafton’s trademark as the native of Tulare, Calif., has just one sub-top-10 points finish since 2004.

Crafton’s best points finish is second – in 2009.

DRiVER PRofiLES

BiGGEST LEAP

in oRDER To BE THEiR BEST, DRiVERS MUST iDEnTifY THEiR WEAKnESS AnD TAKE STEPS To iMPRoVE. WHiCH DRiVERS HAVE MADE THE BiGGEST LEAPS in THEiR CAREERS?

by jared turner PoLEPOSITIONMAG.COM

33

DRiVER PRofiLES BiGGEST LEAP

14 nUMBER

info OWNER Margaret haas TEAM stewart-haas racing spONsORs bass Pro shoPs/ Mobil 1 MANufAcTuRER chevrolet cREW cHIEf steve addington

34

PoLE PoSiTion 2013

Tony Stewart With his recent domination at restrictorplate tracks, it’s easy to forget Tony Stewart once struggled at Daytona and Talladega.

PLATE WinS from his rookie season of 1999, Tony stewart has always been stout on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series’ two restrictor-plate tracks where drivers run in tight packs and a good drafting partner is paramount to winning.

Before winning for the first time at Talladega Superspeedway in the fall of 2008, Stewart recorded a whopping six runner-up finishes at the 2.66-mile oval, including three in a row from spring 2005 to spring 2006. But Stewart needed 20 attempts to finally pull into Victory Lane at the high-speed facility, doing so after Regan Smith’s last-lap pass of Stewart in the fall 2008 race was ruled out of bounds because Smith dipped below the yellow line to advance his position.

While some observers questioned the legitimacy of Stewart’s win (he didn’t cross the finish line first), the fact was that it was long overdue at a track where Stewart had been a consistent frontrunner his entire career.

Meanwhile, at Daytona International Speedway – the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series’ only other restrictor-plate track – Stewart produced mixed results with a best finish of second in the 2004 Daytona 500 before finally breaking through with his first overall restrictor-plate win in July 2005.

Despite the sultry July temperatures at the World Center of Racing, Stewart was just heating up where Daytona is concerned.

Stewart, who scored that initial Daytona win after qualifying on the pole, picked up additional wins at DIS in the summer of 2006, 2009 and 2012. All except the July 2012 win, where he led 22 laps, have come in dominant fashion, with Stewart leading over half of the 160-lap race on each occasion.

Making Stewart’s Daytona success particularly impressive is that his wins have come with two different teams – the first two with Joe Gibbs Racing and the latter two with Stewart-Haas Racing, the organization Stewart joined as a driver and co-owner in 2009.

One crew. One driver. One oil.

Tony Stewart will be the first to tell you he couldn’t do it without his pit crew. NASCAR® is a team sport, and Mobil 1™ is a crucial player. Like over half of all NASCAR drivers, Tony Stewart chooses Mobil 1 technology to help him win races. Who’s on your team?

See more at facebook.com/mobil1

© 2013 Exxon Mobil Corporation. Mobil, Mobil 1 and the 1 Icon are trademarks or registered trademarks of Exxon Mobil Corporation or one of its subsidiaries. ™2013 Stewart-Haas Racing. NASCAR® is a registered trademark of The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc. Other trademarks shown are property of their respective owners.

DRiVER PRofiLES BiGGEST LEAP

88 nUMBER

info OWNER rick hendrick TEAM hendrick MotorsPorts spONsORs national guard MANufAcTuRER chevrolet cREW cHIEf steve letarte

36

PoLE PoSiTion 2013

Dale Earnhardt Jr. His move to Hendrick Motorsports has propelled Dale Earnhardt Jr. to success at Michigan International Speedway.

MiCHiGAn inTERnATionAL SPEEDWAY If there’s one track on the NAscAR sprint cup series schedule where Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s results have improved by leaps and bounds, it is Michigan International Speedway.

In his first 13 starts at the two-mile oval, the third-generation driver netted just two top-10 finishes – a 10th in August 2002 and a seventh in the spring of 2003. The mediocre race performances came despite winning two poles at MIS over the same stretch.

In the 14 races since at MIS (prior to 2013), Earnhardt has racked up eight top-10 finishes, including two wins. The first of those wins, in June 2008, was Earnhardt’s first win for Hendrick Motorsports, the organization he joined after leaving Dale Earnhardt Inc. at the end of 2007.

Earnhardt’s second win at MIS, recorded last June, marked his first triumph in NASCAR’s top series since his 2008 win at MIS. But unlike 2008, when Earnhardt prevailed by stretching his fuel to the finish when many others had to hit pit road for a late splash, Earnhardt’s win at MIS last year came in dominant fashion as he led 95 of 200 laps and was firmly in command over the race’s final stages.

Earnhardt then backed up his latest Michigan win with a solid fourth-place finish in August of 2012, when he led 25 laps. It seems that nowhere has Earnhardt’s much-publicized move to Hendrick paid more dividends than Michigan, a high-horsepower track with multiple grooves and a reputation for being hard on engines.

“The track has always been fun for me,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “It’s really wide, and up until they repaved it [in 2012], you really used the whole race track in the corner. That’s perfect. You can’t ask for any better situation than when cars go through the corner and everybody is sort of using a different line. That’s what you want.

That’s the kind of race track you hope and pray to build.”

Essential for Every Home's

PIT CREW Purchase at Retailers Nationwide or visit www.spraywayretail.com

Sprayway Supports Breast Cancer Research

MANUFACTURER’S COUPON

EXPIRES: 12/31/2013

DO NOT DOUBLE

$1.00 OFF ANY

PRODUCT

visit www.spraywayretail.com for retail listing

RETAILER: Redeem on terms stated for consumer upon purchase of any Sprayway product.

ANY OTHER USE CONSTITUTES FRAUD. If submitted in compliance with Sprayway’s Coupon Redemption Policy (copies available upon request), you will be reimbursed face value plus 8¢. Mail to: Sprayway Inc., PO Box 880091, El Paso, TX 88588-0091. Void if taxed, restricted, prohibited or presented by other than retailers of our products. Cash value 1/100¢. ©2013 Sprayway, Inc. CONSUMER: One coupon per purchase. Good only on Sprayway products. Consumer pays any sales tax. Void if sold, exchanged, transferred or reproduced (including by electronic, photographic, digital or other means in any media).

DRiVER PRofiLES BiGGEST LEAP

48 nUMBER

Jimmie Johnson It took five-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson 17 attempts, but he finally conqured Bristol.

BRiSToL MoToR SPEEDWAY info OWNER rick hendrick TEAM hendrick MotorsPorts spONsORs lowe’s/kobalt tools MANufAcTuRER chevrolet cREW cHIEf chad knaus

38

PoLE PoSiTion 2013

As a five-time NAscAR sprint cup series champion with 64 career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victories by the one-third point of the 2013 season, Jimmie Johnson has made winning at many tracks look easy throughout his stellar career. One notable exception: Bristol Motor Speedway.

Johnson, who needed little time to get a firm handle on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series’ other two short tracks – Martinsville and Richmond – had a whale of a time unlocking the key to success at Bristol, a .533-mile high-banked circuit that boasts some of the series’ best racing.

Surprisingly, Johnson needed 17 cracks at the Tennessee oval before finally knocking down the door to Victory Lane in March 2010. Johnson, whose best finish in 16 previous starts at BMS was third on two occasions, led 84 laps en route to a win that Johnson himself considered a major milestone.

“When a track kicks your butt for so long and you finally can win at that track, there’s just something really unique about that,” Johnson said following his long-awaited breakthrough in “Thunder Valley.”

Johnson screamed and yelled in celebration over his team’s radio moments after getting the Bristol monkey off his back.

“Bristol was pretty high on his list,” crew chief Chad Knaus said. “For him to say that he wanted to focus on that and get better at this race track, for us to be able to go out there and do what we did, I think it speaks volumes about the dedication and desire he’s got inside.”

Apparently, one win at Bristol was exactly what the California native needed to completely turn the corner at the track. In the six Bristol races following his win, Johnson recorded four top-10 finishes highlighted by a runner-up finish in the August 2012 race.

Johnson led four of the six races for a total of 467 laps out front.

AVAILABLE AT

DRiVER PRofiLES BiGGEST LEAP

10 nUMBER

Danica Patrick One of the most polarizing figures in NASCAR, Danica Patrick’s popularity continues to grow as she proves herself.

PoPULARiTY

info OWNER gene haas TEAM stewart-haas racing spONsORs godaddy MANufAcTuRER chevrolet cREW cHIEf tony gibson

40

PoLE PoSiTion 2013

from the moment she first strapped into a NAscAR stock car, Danica Patrick has been a hit with fans of all ages and backgrounds. But when Patrick won the pole for this year’s Daytona 500, becoming the first woman to ever win a pole in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, her popularity soared to epic new levels.

Rest assured: it’s not going anywhere fast. With Hollywood good looks and an outspoken personality that lends itself to colorful TV sound bites, Patrick is anything but the ordinary NASCAR Sprint Cup Series rookie. And she’s making significant strides on the track, too.

Despite having significantly less seat time in a stock car than most of her NASCAR Sprint Cup Series counterparts, the former IndyCar star has shown she can go fast and mix it up with some of the sport’s top veterans. She certainly did in the 2013 Daytona 500, NASCAR’s biggest stage.

Proving her pole a week earlier at the World Center of Racing was no fluke, Patrick kept her Stewart-Haas Racing Chevy in the lead pack virtually the entire race, led five laps and finished eighth – a spectacular result for a driver with such limited drafting experience.

The entire country – and much of the world – took collective notice. Patrick’s appeal was on display again in May when she gained entry into the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway by winning the Sprint Fan Vote.

“It’s nice to hear families talk about the fact that a little girl might say, ‘But, mommy, daddy, that’s a girl out there,’” Patrick said after her Daytona pole. “Then they can have the conversation with their kid about you can do anything you want and being different doesn’t by any means not allow you to follow your dreams. I love to think that conversation happens in households because of something I’m doing.”

Look through the roll Where the mystery’s revealed.

To see how we make new White Cloud ® Luxuriously Soft Bath Tissue, place your smartphone on this ad.

Open your web browser, go to http://goo.gl/b1ezO, touch play and place phone here

Mysteriously Made from the Softness of Clouds™ Go to MyWhiteCloud.com/StoreLocator to find the Luxurious Softness near you

© Kruger Products (USA) Inc. All Rights Reserved 2013. ® Registered and TM Trademarks of Kruger Products L.P., used under license. Walmart is not a registered trademark of Kruger Products (USA) Inc.

DRiVER PRofiLES BiGGEST LEAP

24

Jeff Gordon

nUMBER

Showcasing exceptional talent early in his career, Jeff Gordon struggled with consistency. info OWNER rick hendrick TEAM hendrick MotorsPorts

spONsORs drive to end hunger/ croMax Pro MANufAcTuRER chevrolet cREW cHIEf alan gustafson

ConSiSTEnCY

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.

DVXEYEWEAR.COM

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.

42 PoLE PoSiTion 2013X, Inc. All rights reserved. © 2012 Jeff Gordon, Inc. Packaging and Logos TM © 2011 Wiley

As both a rookie and second-year driver in NASCAR’s top series, Jeff Gordon showed amazing potential for a long and successful career. There were occasions over the course of the 1993 and 1994 seasons that the young Hendrick Motorsports driver was downright brilliant. Take, for example, his wins in 1994 in two of the sport’s most prestigious events – the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway and the inaugural Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. From those triumphs alone, everyone paying even modest attention to the sport believed that Gordon had the goods to become NASCAR’s next big superstar in an era when Dale Earnhardt was king of the hill.

Despite showcasing clear driving talent from the beginning, Gordon had one major hurdle to overcome: his tendency not to finish races, whether it was for reasons of his own making or circumstances beyond his control.

During the 1993 and 1994 seasons, Gordon recorded a whopping 21 DNFs in 61 races. For the mathematically-inclined, that means he failed to finish 34 percent of the time. And that was the main reason why, despite winning the rookie of the year title in 1993, Gordon finished only 14th in the series standings.

Gordon then faced a similar issue in his second NASCAR Sprint Cup season, when he managed just an eighth-place points finish, despite those wins in two of the sport’s biggest races. Roll the tape forward one more season to 1995 and Gordon became a new man.

Along with scoring a then-career-best seven wins with his Ray Evernham-led team known as the “Rainbow Warriors,” Gordon failed to finish a mere three times in 31 starts. His average finishing position, meanwhile, was a solid 9.5. The result ended up being the first of what would be three championships with Evernham, and four total championships to date with Hendrick Motorsports.

When you rebuild your engine, remember...

Lubriplate No. 105 Motor Assembly Grease has something your motor oil does not... ®

A Zinc-Oxide Anti-Wear Additive.

• Prevents scoring and wear on camshafts, lifters, pistons and bearings.

• Provides instant lubrication during initial start-up before the motor oil has circulated.

• Dissolves into the motor oil, will not clog filters or oil lines.

Also try these great lubricants from Lubriplate.

Lubriplate

Also Available At:

®

Lubricants Company

Newark, NJ 07105 / Toledo, OH 43605 / Phone 1-800-733-4755 Online Webstore: www.lubriplate.com / Visa / MC / AmEx

for store locations

CARQUEST.com

DRiVER PRofiLES BiGGEST LEAP

info

no.

43

OWNER richard Petty TEAM richard Petty MotorsPorts spONsORs sMithfield/stP MANufAcTuRER ford cREW cHIEf todd Parrott

GREG BIFFLE IT TOOk gREg bIfflE 13 ATTEMpTs TO finally score a top-10 finish at talladega superspeedway, one of the nascar sprint cup series’ fastest and most unpredictable tracks. but once biffle finally cracked the top 10 with a seventh-place finish in 2009, the roush fenway racing driver has been steady at the 2.66-mile track, posting four more top-10s, including a best finish of fourth, over the last eight events. biffle has led seven of the last 10 talladega races.

info

TEAM Michael waltriP racing spONsORs 5-hour energy

info

TEAM roush fenway racing spONsORs 3M/bondo

cREW cHIEf Matt Puccia

Clint bowyer

no.

15

KURT BUSCH

OWNER jack roush

MANufAcTuRER ford

WINNINg

fOR MOsT Of HIs RElATIvEly sHORT nascar sprint cup series career, clint bowyer has been quietly consistent — a silent assassin, of sorts. but after posting a total of five wins (and no more than two wins in a single season) over his first six years in nascar’s top series, bowyer scored three wins last year alone. the end result was a runner-up finish in points and a loud message delivered that bowyer can win with regularity.

cREW cHIEf brian Pattie

info

MORE fOR lEss

OWNER barney visser

NO ONE cAN EvER AccusE kuRT buscH Of not getting the most out of his race cars. despite competing for a single-car team in furniture row racing that doesn’t have the depth of personnel available at most nascar sprint cup series organizations, busch has done remarkably well in 2013, and even shown enough speed to lead laps on occasion. if there was ever a question about his driving talent, busch is proving any doubters wrong.

TEAM furniture row racing

PoLE PoSiTion 2013

IN ARIc AlMIROlA’s fIRsT full nascar sprint cup series season during 2012, the florida native scored just four top-10 finishes in 36 starts. now back for a second season with richard Petty Motorsports, almirola needed just 10 races to match his top-10 total for all of 2012. clearly, the experience gained last season is paying dividends for the 29-year-old driver, who is in his first season with veteran crew chief todd Parrott.

16

MANufAcTuRER toyota

44

IMpROvEMENT WITH ExpERIENcE

no.

TAllAdEgA

OWNER rob kauffMan

aric almirola

spONsORs furniture row MANufAcTuRER chevrolet cREW cHIEf todd berrier

no.

78

By

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

DVXEYEWEAR.COM 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 and Logos TM © 2011 Wiley X, Inc. All rights reserved. © 2012 Jeff Gordon, Inc.

DRIVER PROFILES BIGGEST LEAP

KYLE BUSCH

info

no.

18

OWNER joe gibbs

kyle busch motorsports

TEAM joe gibbs racing sponsors M&M’S/interstate batteries manufacturer toyota CREW CHIEF dave rogers

carl edwards

There was a time not too long ago when Carl Edwards was consistently a favorite to win at the 1.5-mile and two-mile tracks on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule, but virtually nowhere else. Not anymore. Edwards, who remains stout on the intermediate tracks, has gradually morphed into a contender at tracks of various sizes and configurations. In fact, Edwards’ lone win in the first third of 2013 came at the one-mile track – Phoenix International Raceway.

info

TEAM joe gibbs racing sponsors fedex

99 the intermediates For the longest time, Denny Hamlin was known primarily as a short-track ace. That’s ancient history now. Though he remains one of the drivers to beat at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series’ short tracks, Hamlin has also become quite the intermediate-track driver. With wins at Homestead, Michigan and Texas among other places, it is clear Hamlin can mix it up and compete for wins at just about any track on the calendar.

CREW CHIEF darian grubb

Kevin Harvick has been dubbed “The Closer” for his ability to come on strong at the end of races in which he might not lead until the closing laps. Make no mistake about it; the moniker is well-deserved.

Harvick has become one of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series’ best drivers when a big check and trophy are on the line.

And the older he gets, the better Harvick seemingly becomes in the clutch.

POLE POSITION 2013

sponsors fastenal/AFLAC/ UPS/SUBWAY

denny hamlin

11

the final laps

TEAM roush fenway racing

CREW CHIEF jimmy fenning

no.

kevin harvick

OWNER jack roush

manufacturer ford

manufacturer toyota

46

info

no.

diversity of tracks

OWNER j.d. gibbs

Kyle Busch’s success as a driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, though noteworthy, hasn’t been a big leap. Since joining the sport’s top circuit full time in 2005, Busch has always been a contender. However, Busch’s decision to move Kyle Busch Motorsports up from the late model ranks to the NASCAR Nationwide and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in 2010 was a major step.

info OWNER richard childress TEAM richard childress racing sponsors budweiser/ rheem/ JIMMY JOHN’S manufacturer chevrolet CREW CHIEF GIL MARTIN

no.

29

RAC E During a race, anything can happen.

You could come flying out of a corner pulling 3Gs. You could blindly launch into the unknown at 200 mph. You could slingshot your way to victory.

Or you could have it all ripped away in a photo finish and lose by 0.13 seconds.

Anything can happen. And will.

ŠNASCAR 2013

NASCAR.com

info

no.

5

OWNER linda hendrick TEAM henrick MotorsPorts spONsORs farMers insurance/ Quaker state MANufAcTuRER chevrolet cREW cHIEf kenny francis

matt kenseth

dEspITE All Of THE succEss 2003 nascar sprint cup series champion and two-time daytona 500 winner Matt kenseth has achieved, qualifying has never been his strength — until the last couple seasons. kenseth, now with joe gibbs racing after spending his entire career from 2000-’12 with roush fenway racing, has suddenly become a regular threat for the pole.

info

TEAM Penske racing spONsORs Miller lite

THROugHOuT MOsT Of HIs NAscAR sprint cup series career, kasey kahne has had little trouble getting to victory lane. contending for a championship has been an altogether different matter. kahne, who spent his first eight seasons with the organization now known as richard Petty Motorsports, never finished better than eighth in points. then, upon joining hendrick Motorsports ahead of the 2012 season, kahne promptly went out and finished a career-best fourth in the standings.

info

20

TEAM joe gibbs racing spONsORs dollar general/ husky

cREW cHIEf jason ratcliff

brad keselowski

no.

2

MARTINsvIllE

REIgNINg NAscAR spRINT cup series champion brad keselowski has made significant progress since his rookie season of 2010. one place where his gains are particularly noticeable: Martinsville speedway. in his first four starts at the .526-mile paperclip-shaped oval, keselowski posted a best finish of 10th and otherwise finished outside the top 10. however, in his last three outings at Martinsville, keselowski has finishes of ninth, sixth and sixth.

cREW cHIEf Paul wolfe

joey logano

OWNER joe gibbs

MANufAcTuRER toyota

MANufAcTuRER ford

48

cHAMpIONsHIp cONTENdER

no.

QuAlIfyINg THREAT

OWNER roger Penske

kasey kahne

info

lAps lEd

OWNER walter cZarnecki

As A NAscAR spRINT cup sERIEs rookie in 2009, joey logano led only 36 laps all season. in every season since, the number of laps logano has spent out front has risen, however. with 53 laps led in 2010, 58 in 2011 and 190 in 2012, logano has steadily learned how to get out front and stay out front. as of press time, logano had led 76 laps this season, already more than during his rookie year.

TEAM Penske racing

PoLE PoSiTion 2013

spONsORs shell/PennZoil MANufAcTuRER ford cREW cHIEf todd gordon

no.

22

Let’s Go Places

#LetsGoPlaces And celebrate when we get there. Š2013 Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

DRIVER PROFILES BIGGEST LEAP

info

no.

13

OWNER BOB GERMAIN TEAM germain racing sponsors geico manufacturer ford CREW CHIEF Robert “Bootie” Barker

Ryan newman Phoenix International Raceway proved somewhat problematic for Ryan Newman during his first several years of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competition, which were spent with Penske Racing. In more recent times, however, Newman has enjoyed success at the one-mile track.

Beginning with a win at PIR in the spring of 2010, the current Stewart-Haas Racing driver has five top-five finishes in the last seven starts at the track.

Casey Mears’ biggest leap in just over 10 seasons of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competition was his appointment to drive for Hendrick Motorsports in 2007. Hendrick hired Mears from Earnhardt Ganassi Racing where the California native began his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career in 2003.

While at Hendrick, Mears captured his only series victory and recorded six top-five finishes – equaling his combined number of top-five finishes with other teams.

info

10

TEAM ROUSH FENWAY racing sponsors best buy/ZEST/ FIFTH THIRD BANK

TEAM sTewart-haas racing sponsors godaddy

CREW CHIEF tony gibson

ricky stenhouse jr.

17

the nascar sprint cup series Three years ago, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series seemed like a stretch for Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Temporarily benched by team co-owner Jack Roush for wrecking too many race cars in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, Stenhouse got the message.

Back-to-back NASCAR Nationwide Series championships and a bundle of wins later, Stenhouse is still with Roush Fenway Racing – and competing full time in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

manufacturer fORd CREW CHIEF Scott Graves

martin truex jr.

OWNER Gene haas

manufacturer chevrolet

no.

OWNER JACK ROUSH

50

First Cup Series Victory

no.

phoenix

info

casey mears

info

making the chase

OWNER michael waltrip

Martin Truex Jr. has twice made the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. The first time came in 2007 with Dale Earnhardt Inc. and the second was last season with Michael Waltrip Racing. In both cases, Truex’s Chase appearances has represented a major uptick in performance from the previous season when he not only missed the Chase, but finished considerably further down the standings. Truex ranked 19th in points in 2006 and was 18th in 2011.

TEAM michael waltrip racing

POLE POSITION 2013

sponsors napa auto parts manufacturer toyota CREW CHIEF chad johnston

no.

56

gear

the latest products from our advertisers, who help provide this magazine for free. learn more about these products at PolePositionMag.com.

4 3

1 dVX sunglasses

DVX Sun & Safety sunglasses, sold exclusively at Walmart, are the favorite of racing 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, and in any Walmart Vision Center. dvxeyewear.com

2 sPraYwaY

Automotive professionals and car enthusiasts alike trust Sprayway Glass Cleaner to cut through smoke, bugs, grit and grime, and deliver a streak-free 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

2

3 Brode BY cat

The Brode is for the guy who needs a work boot, but wants anything but. It looks like a sneaker, but is built with all of the safety features of a traditional work boot. Highlights include a leather upper, nylon mesh lining, nylex & molded EVA sock liner, best in class SRX slip resistant rubber outsole and Strobel construction. Available in steel or soft toe. catfootwear.com

4 lincoln electric

Welding operators, show your patriotic pride! Lincoln Electric’s new All American™ design is featured on each of the company’s three VIKING™ auto-darkening helmet series. All VIKING™ helmets include a switchable grind mode, a bandana and a helmet bag.

The new All American™ design is also offered on a welder’s doo rag and cap. Both are constructed of 100-percent cotton with sweat-absorbing inserts to aid comfort. More information at lincolnelectric.com.

1

52

Pole Position 2013

5 11

7

10

8

9 6 7 foleX®

5 honda generators

Honda’s Super Quiet Series generators — the EU1000i, EU2000i, EU3000is, EU3000i Handi and the EU6500is — are inverter-equipped, lightweight models that feature extremely quiet performance. 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 Earnhardt Ganassi Racing, Stewart-Haas Racing, Kyle Busch Motorsports and others with EU series generator products that provide smooth, reliable power for their racing needs.

6 gorilla taPe

Gorilla Tough on a roll. Introducing Gorilla Tape, from the Gorilla Glue people. Gorilla Tape bonds to things other tapes simply can’t, including brick, stucco, wood and more. Made with double thick adhesive, strong reinforced backing and a tough allweather shell, it’s the biggest, strongest, toughest thing ever to happen to tape. For the toughest jobs on planet Earth. gorillatough.com

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!

8 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.

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 white cloud

Premium quality at an affordable price – that’s why White Cloud® is The Smart Alternative for bath tissue. Some bath tissue brands believe that a high price proves they’re “premium.” Not us! White Cloud two-ply bath tissue has all the softness you want and now it’s even thicker so you get more comfort with more money left in your pocket. Why pay more? mywhitecloud.com

11 reese towPower

This Reese Towpower ball mount offers users greater towing capacity through its innovative carbon-forged one-piece construction, providing unequaled quality and performance in a unique weld-free design and quality finish. The Reese Towpower Carbon Forged product line features 7,000 pounds of uprated towing capacity, 100,000 miles of simulated road testing, trusted quality and innovation.

Learn more at cequentconsumerproducts.com/Reese PolePOSITIONMag.COM

53

nascar fuel careers

Brian Nelson

Producer, Motor Racing Network Brian Nelson, a producer for the Motor Racing Network, has what might seem like an unusual tip for folks aspiring to become NASCAR’s next big on-air radio announcer. His advice: Don’t be too gung-ho about being on the radio.

Jonathan Coleman

Not that calling races for untold thousands of listeners over a major radio network is bereft of perks, of course.

Nelson, 41, has been there and done that – and enjoyed it.

But his primary duties with the Motor Racing Network, commonly known as MRN, aren’t over the airwaves with well-known veteran announcer colleagues such as Barney Hall, Joe Moore and Winston Kelley.

In some ways, Nelson’s role as a producer

is actually more important. He’s the person responsible for telling the guys in the spotlight what to say and when to say it.

“I’m really not driven to be an on-air talent anymore,” said Nelson, who joined MRN in March 2007 after a lengthy stint in Christian radio. “It’s a pretty unstable job to have, honestly. A lot of people want that; they want to be the guy behind the microphone, and I understand why: because you’re recognized and what not.

“But you put yourself in that position and you’re at the mercy of the demand for that job at any given moment.

And when you’re a producer, you’re a lot more locked into that job. It’s a lot more stable – and it’s fun.”

While there certainly are

enjoyable aspects to Nelson’s job, it can be fairly intense. He is responsible for directing the first hour of each MRN race broadcast, a major undertaking that involves writing the on-air script, scheduling pre-race interviews, overseeing audio production and more.

“It’s a lot of little things,” Nelson said.

Back at the MRN offices in Concord, N.C., Nelson has a full plate of duties that include writing and producing a daily NASCAR show – “Ned Jarrett’s World of Racing,” carried on about 230 radio stations nationwide.

“It is a lot easier to work at this level than you might think,” Nelson said. “It’s a lot more attainable than you might think. I’d always dreamed about it, but I never thought I could.

We have some of

the best people in the business, but there are a lot of great people who are doing local radio, and they’re qualified to do it as well. So, I would say believe you can and make the attempt first, especially in a producer role.”

As for specific career advice for aspiring motorsports radio journalists, Nelson recommends gleaning as much audio production knowledge as possible, and getting involved at a local short track – something he did as a pit road reporter and booth anchor at Berlin Raceway in his home state of Michigan.

“Go sit in the grandstand at your local short track on a Saturday night and call the races for yourself,” he said. “It’s good experience. And then get somebody to critique you.”

Communications Manager

D

on’t accuse Jonathan Coleman of taking the conventional route to becoming a key member of the public relations team at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Unlike most of his colleagues in this field, Coleman doesn’t come from a public relations background. Before being hired as the manager of communications for CMS in January 2012, Coleman was an editor for a local newspaper – the Concord, N.C.-based Independent Tribune, where he began in 2006 and progressed up the management ladder.

While at the newspaper, Coleman covered numerous assignments at Charlotte Motor Speedway and became interested in a possible change of direction as he observed the track’s PR representatives at work.

“At some point – I’m not sure I can pinpoint an exact moment – I realized that making a career as a storyteller wasn’t limited to a career as a newspaper reporter,” Coleman said.

Coleman established a strong working relationship with several members of the speedway’s public relations team, and that rapport ultimately helped pave the way to Coleman’s present gig.

“The most important career advice I can offer is to understand the importance of networking – start early,” said Coleman, who studied journalism at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. “Find opportunities to work alongside and with those in the field you want to join. If you have to volunteer to make coffee and pass out pit notes to get your foot in the door, do it. If it means working long nights between classes or on weekends to make a name for yourself in the industry, do it. Always carry yourself with professionalism and don’t shy away from offering fresh ideas and opinions.”

Coleman has found that journalists and public relations representatives actually have more in common than popular perception might suggest.

“We both do a lot of writing. We work wacky hours. We’re always looking for ways to grab the attention of our audience. We always have to be on our toes and prepared for the unexpected,” he said. “All of those things that I loved about working in newspapers are the same things I love about working in PR.”

by jared turner 54

POLE POSITION 2013

lifestYle nascar fuel

downtiMe WITH REGAN SMITH

a

s a full-time NASCAR Nationwide Series driver and part-time competitor this season in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, downtime is scarce for Regan Smith. So when Smith does get the rare chance to unplug from his duties in NASCAR’s top two divisions, it’s fair to say he seizes the opportunity.

“Free time for me is video games,” Smith said. “Working out, I enjoy doing that. I’m a big hockey fan, so I watch a lot of hockey on TV when I get the opportunity.”

This year more than ever, it seems that busy is the name of the game for Smith. In addition to the 33 races he’ll run in the NASCAR Nationwide Series for JR Motorsports, the Cato, N.Y., native is making select NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts for James Finch’s Phoenix Racing.

“I just relax, as much as anything, and try to do stuff that makes you maybe not think about racing in what little bit of free time we do happen to have, and maybe focus on something just a little bit different,” Smith concluded.

Mental PreP WITH DANICA PATRICK What do you do to get mentally prepared to race?

Have any rituals?

I listen to ‘Eye of the Tiger’ six times and I do 40 pushups in a row [laughs]. I don’t do anything unique or different. I just have a normal morning. I don’t think that changing it up means anything.

Superstitions are only real if you believe in them. They change based on what race time is, what there is to do before the race.

training WITH NELSON PIQUET JR.

N

elson Piquet Jr. comes at fitness training from a different perspective from the vast majority of his competitors in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.

That’s because Piquet, a Brazilian and the son of Formula One legend Nelson Piquet, comes from an open-wheel background – specifically that of F-1, where he himself competed during all of 2008 and part of 2009.

After running full time the last two years in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, this is Piquet’s first full foray in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.

“I must be honest: It’s quite a very easy car to drive,” Piquet said. “I would say it’s 20 percent, maybe 15 percent of what F-1 is.”

In Formula One, most races are separated by at least one idle weekend. The NASCAR Nationwide Series, conversely, features few off weekends during the season. Interestingly, Piquet believes that being in the car more actually makes regular workouts away from the track less important.

“The drivers are in the car so much – every week – their body gets used to it,” said the 28-year-old of the NASCAR Nationwide Series.

“In Europe, because we’re in the car every two or three weeks, you don’t get the same amount of time in cars that you get over here, so you need to spend a lot of time in the gym.”

fueling uP WITH GREG BIFFLE

Breakfast:

“I love coffee. I’ve gotta have coffee. I’m hungry in the morning. Don’t ask me why.

Who knows why? But typically I’m not a breakfast person. If I do eat something, it will range from an English muffin, cereal, oatmeal sometimes. So those are kind of my three choices.”

LUNCH:

“One day it’s Mexican food, one day it’s a salad, chef salad if I go to this place. I’ll eat a hamburger.

I eat Subway. I’m the spice of life when it comes to lunch.” On race day, Biffle’s lunch diet is stricter.

“I eat grilled chicken and some vegetables.”

DINNER:

“My wife is a great cook, so she makes homemade pasta or quiche. She cooks a lot of fish. Typically, there’s a vegetable like broccoli. I like asparagus. I’ve gotta have a potato every once in awhile. A little bit of wine sometimes. Milk, I get my calcium at dinner.”

SNACK:

“I don’t eat a lot of snack foods, actually. I’m kind of trying to stay away from them the best I can.”

by jared turner PolePOSITIONMag.COM

55

nascar fuel fun Pages

design Your own race car

BIFFLE

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

BOWYER

?

didYou

know 56

Pole Position 2013

LOGANO

HAMLIN

BAYNE

Who is the only female driver to win the pole for the Daytona 500? answer // Danica Patrick

Match the driVer

Have fun creating a custom paint scheme!

winner’s circle

MAKES ORDINARY WIPES SEEM WIMPY. 9 POWERFUL CLEANERS IN ONE TOUGH WIPE

BIGGER

Extra large 10” x 12” scrubbing wipes have twice the cleaning surface of typical wipes.

STRONGER

Our proprietary 9-cleaning-agent formula is a serious cleaning solution for serious messes.

past entries...

■■ [1] Emmanuel H, Age 14, Henderson, WV

TOUGHER

Our fiber weave wipe design is tough enough to withstand vigorous scrubbing.

■■ [2] Ana B, Age 11, Sparks, NV

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

Can you draw nascar?

N

ow is your chance to be featured in the pages of NASCAR Pole Position! Send us your NASCARthemed 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. Submissions cannot be returned. Questions? Email poleposition@ae-engine.com. Send your artwork, unfolded, in an oversized envelope to: NASCAR Pole Position Magazine c/o A.E. Engine, Attn: Stacey Foster 11880 28th St. North, Suite 101 St. Petersburg, FL 33716

AVAILABLE AT WALMART, LOWE’S, ACE HARDWARE, DO IT BEST, TRUE VALUE AND OTHER LEADING RETAILERS.

See how people across the country are loving Tub O’ Towels!®

Check us out at

www.tubotowels.com ©2013 Federal Process Corporation. All rights reserved.

POLEPOSITIONMAG.COM

57

PHOTOHUNT

Study the top photo, then see if you can find the 11 changes that were made in the bottom photo.

58

POLE POSITION 2013

ANSWERS // (1) Rolex logos missing on the archway exiting the garage area • (2) Clock missing on archway exiting the garage area • (3) “Daytona” missing across the top of the suites • (4) Cone missing on road exiting the garage area • (5) A race car appeared on the track • (6) Bird in the sky top right • (7) Airplane in the sky top right • (8) Turtle added to bottom left • (9) Stop sign added at the garage area exit • (10) Rabbit on ground right side of the No. 31 car. • (11) “Camaro” removed from rear bumber

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?

Dale Earnhardt Jr., eat, tan, date...

track hunt

Match the state with the correct track.

who aM i?

• I was born in Emporia, Kansas

3

1 4

_ Darlington Raceway _ Daytona Int’l Speedway _ Kentucky Speedway

5

_ Martinsville Speedway _ Texas Motor Speedway _ Phoenix Int’l Raceway

answers // (1) Darlington Raceway, (2) Martinsville Speedway, (3) Phoenix International Raceway, (4) Texas Motor Speedway, (5) Daytona International Speedway, (6) Kentucky Speedway

• I won the NASCAR Nationwide Series championship in 2008 • I race for Michael Waltrip Racing • 5-Hour Energy is my sponsor

answer // Clint Bowyer

2

6

• My first win was in 2007 at the Sylvania 300

PolePOSITIONMag.COM

59

nascar series rosters 2013 nascar sPrint cuP series roster No.

Driver

Team

Sponsor & Make

Crew Chief

Hometown

Birthdate

1 2 5 7 9 10 11 13 14 15 16 17 18 20 21 22 24 27 29 30 31 32

Jamie McMurray Brad Keselowski Kasey Kahne Dave Blaney 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 Jeff Gordon Paul Menard Kevin Harvick David Stremme Jeff Burton Ken Schrader Timmy Hill David Ragan Josh Wise J.J. Yeley David Gilliland Ryan Newman Juan Pablo Montoya Aric Almirola Bobby Labonte Jimmie Johnson Regan Smith AJ Allmendinger Mark Martin Brian Vickers Martin Truex Jr. Kurt Busch David Reutimann Joe Nemechek Dale Earnhardt Jr. Travis Kvapil Scott Speed Michael McDowell Carl Edwards

Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Penske 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 Penske Racing Hendrick Motorsports Richard Childress Racing Richard Childress Racing Swan Racing Richard Childress Racing FAS Lane Racing

McDonald’s/Cessna Chevrolet Miller Lite Ford Farmers Insurance/Quaker State Chevrolet SANY America Chevrolet Stanley/DeWALT Ford GoDaddy.com Chevrolet FedEx Toyota GEICO Ford Bass Pro Shops/Mobil 1 Chevrolet 5-Hour ENERGY Toyota 3M Ford Best Buy/Zest Ford M&M’s/Interstate Batteries Toyota Husky Tools/Dollar General Toyota Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Shell/Pennzoil Ford Drive to End Hunger/Axalta/Pepsi Chevrolet Menards Chevrolet Budweiser/Jimmy Johns/Rheem Chevrolet Swan Energy/Nutrition53 Toyota Caterpillar/Cheerios Chevrolet Oxywater/Federated Auto Parts Ford

Kevin Manion Paul Wolfe Kenny Francis Tommy Baldwin Jr. Drew Blickensderfer Tony Gibson Darian Grubb Robert “Bootie” Barker Steve Addington Brian Pattie Matt Puccia Scott Graves Dave Rogers Jason Ratcliff Donnie Wingo Todd Gordon Alan Gustafson Richard “Slugger” Labbe Gil Martin Steven Lane Luke Lambert Frank Stoddard Jr.

Front Row Motorsports Front Row Motorsports Tommy Baldwin Racing Front Row Motorsports Stewart-Haas Racing Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Richard Petty Motorsports JTG Daugherty Racing Hendrick Motorsports Phoenix Racing

Peanut Patch Ford MDS Transport Ford Golden Corral/Accell Construction Chevrolet Front Row Motorsports Ford Quicken Loans Chevrolet Target Chevrolet Smithfield Foods/STP Ford Kingsford/Clorox/Scott/Bush’s Beans Toyota Lowe’s/Kobalt Tools Chevrolet Phoenix Construction Chevrolet

Jay Guy Derrick Finley Joe Lax Frank Kerr Matt Borland Chris Heroy Todd Parrott Brian Burns Chad Knaus Nick Harrison

Michael Waltrip Racing

Aaron’s Toyota

Rodney Childers

Michael Waltrip Racing Furniture Row Racing BK Racing NEMCO Motorsports Hendrick Motorsports BK Racing Leavine Family Racing Phil Parsons Racing Roush Fenway Racing

NAPA Auto Parts Toyota Furniture Row Chevrolet Burger King Toyota NEMCO Motorsports Toyota National Guard/Diet Mt. Dew Chevrolet Burger King Toyota WRL General Contractors Ford K-Love/Curb Records Ford Fastenal/Aflac/UPS/Geek Squad Ford

Chad Johnston Todd Berrier Pat Tryson Scott Eggleston Steve Letarte Mike Ford Wally Rogers Gene Nead Jimmy Fennig

Joplin, Mo. Rochester Hills, Mich.

Enumclaw, Wash.

Hartford, Ohio 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.

Vallejo, Calif.

Eau Claire, Wis. Bakersfield, Calif.

South Bend, Ind. South Boston, Va. Fenton, Mo. Port Tobacco, Md. Unadilla, Ga. Riverside, Calif.

Phoenix, Ariz.

Riverside, Calif.

South Bend, Ind. Bogota, Colombia Tampa, Fla. Corpus Christi, Texas El Cajon, Calif.

Cato, N.Y. Las Gatos, Calif.

Batesville, Ark. Thomasville, N.C. Mayetta, N.J. Las Vegas, Nev. Zephyrhills, Fla. Lakeland, Fla. Kannapolis, N.C. Janesville, Wis. Manteca, Calif.

Glendale, Ariz.

Columbia, Mo.

June 3, 1976 Feb. 12, 1984 April 10, 1980 Oct. 24, 1962 Sept. 1, 1976 March 25, 1982 Nov. 18, 1980 March 12, 1978 May 20, 1971 May 30, 1979 Dec. 23, 1969 Oct. 2, 1987 May 2, 1985 March 10, 1972 Feb. 19, 1991 May 24, 1990 Aug. 4, 1971 Aug. 21, 1980 Dec. 8, 1975 Jun 19, 1977 June 20, 1967 May 29, 1955 Feb. 25, 1993 Dec. 24, 1985 Feb. 7, 1983 Oct. 5, 1976 April 1, 1976 Dec. 8, 1977 Sept. 20, 1975 March 14, 1983 May 8, 1964 Sept. 17, 1975 Sept. 23, 1983 Dec. 16, 1981 Jan. 9, 1959 Oct. 24, 1983 June 29, 1980 Aug. 4, 1978 March 2, 1970 Sept. 26, 1963 Oct. 10, 1974 March 1, 1976 Jan. 24, 1983 Dec. 21, 1984 Aug. 15, 1979

34 35 36 38 39 42 43 47 48 51 55 56 78 83 87 88 93 95 98 99

60

Pole Position 2013

Get in the Know. Now!

2013 nascar nationwide series roster 01 2 3 4 5

St. Louis, Mo. Boise, Idaho Welcome, N.C. Cedar Rapids, Iowa Enumclaw, Wash.

Grass Valley, Calif.

Knoxville, Tenn.

Cato, N.Y. St. Augustine, Fla. Owensboro, Ky. Emporia, Va. Defiance, Ohio Chilhowie, Va. Milwaukie, Ore. Thomasville, N.C. Rochester Hills, Mich.

Middletown, Conn.

McKinney, Texas Brasilia, Brazil Riverton, Ill. Elk Grove, Calif.

Bakersfield, Calif.

Peachtree City, Ga. Riverside, Calif.

Des Moines, Iowa Galliano, La. Spartanburg, S.C. Cedar Rapids, Iowa Las Vegas, Nev. Annapolis, Md. Pensacola, Fla. Westport, Conn.

Lakeland, Fla. Conover, N.C. Kahnawake, Quebec Germantown, Tenn.

Tucson, Ariz.

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

Chevrolet Chevrolet Chevrolet Chevrolet Chevrolet

Marc Browning Phil Gould Danny Stockman David Smith Mike Bumgarner

Roush Fenway Racing JR Motorsports Team SLR TriStar Motorsports Joe Gibbs Racing Penske Racing TriStar Motorsports TriStar Motorsports Joe Gibbs Racing Penske Racing

Ford Chevrolet Chevrolet Toyota Toyota Ford Toyota Toyota Toyota Ford

Mike Kelley Greg Ives Brad Parrott Todd Myers Chris Gayle Greg Erwin John Monsam Paul Clapprood Kevin Kidd Jeremy Bullins

R3 Motorsports Turner Scott Motorsports Turner Scott Motorsports Turner Scott Motorsports Richard Childress Racing The Motorsports Group The Motorsports Group Richard Petty Motorsports TriStar Motorsports Jeremy Clements Racing Jimmy Means Racing Joe Gibbs Racing Roush Fenway Racing ML Motorsports Kyle Busch Motorsports NEMCO Motorsports Faith Motorsports KH Motorsports Biagi-DenSeste Racing RAB Racing

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

George Church Chris Carrier Scott Zipadelli Trent Owens Ernie Cope Gary Showalter Mike Sroufe Phillippe Lopez Greg Conner Ricky Pearson Tim Brown Adam Stevens Chad Norris Mark Gutekunst Eric Phillips Steven Gray Mike Malamphy George Ingram John Hanson Chris Rice

A G .C O M

PG.24 HIT T HE RESET B UTTON

PG.44 RISIN G STARS

JEFF GORDON NO MARGIN FOR ERROR

. : .

0 4 . 2 0 1 3 . : .

MAG .COM

M A R T I N S V I L LE

POLE POSI TION

FRE E!

FEATURE STOR Y

THE NEXT GENERA N OF NASCTIO AR

As NASCAR moves into a new era, one factor has rem RACE DAY ained steady – the MAKING SENSE OF fans ENDERS PG.28 VICTORY LANE CONT PG.26 @NP PMA G

P O LE I O N : P O S I T

NASCAR NEW S & NOTES | TA IL G AT IN G T IPS | SCHED Q& A W I T H JE F ULES | NASC F BURTON | N AR FUEL | D ASCAR HISTOR Y: J A NE T G U T H RIVER PROFI R IE | d i d yo LES

R ACE

PP13 04 MAR

Cover JG.indd

DANICA PATRICTHKE

u know? | IN S I DE R ’ S V IE W | GEAR

1

FA N G U I D E

FEATURE

STEALS OW SH

STORY

G BUILDINEE N THE GR E MACHIN

. : .

Green Has NASCARLon g Way Come a rt Time in a Sho

1 3 0 5 . 2 0

free !

p o le p o s i t i o n m a g .c o

. : .

m

2/12/2013

pg.24 hit the r eset button

9:37:19 AM

pg.44 rising sta rs

P O L E

LO T T E C H A R

P O S I T I O N : R ACE

S ER PROFILE UEL | DRIV | NASCAR F EAR CHEDULES ’ S V IE W | G G TIPS | S ? | I N S I DE R | TA IL G AT IN i d yo u k n o w S d E | T O s N 0 7 & 9 1 WS T O R Y: T HE NASCAR NE | NASCAR HIS N NE W M A N FA N

brad keselowsk

nascar’s newei st champion

G U I D E

YA Q& A W I T H R . : .

PP13 05

CHA

d Cover DP.ind

1

4/15/2013

0 2 . 2 0 1 3

10:21:57

AM

. : .

DAy T O N A

23 30 31 32 33 40 42 43 44 51 52 54 60 70 77 87 89 92 98 99

P O LE P O S I T I O N M

G U I D E

6 7 8 10 11 12 14 19 20 22

Mike Wallace Brian Scott Austin Dillon Landon Cassill Kasey Kahne Brad Sweet Trevor Bayne Regan Smith Scott Lagasse Jr. Jeff Green Elliott Sadler Sam Hornish Jr. Eric McClure Mike Bliss Brian Vickers Brad Keselowski Joey Logano Robert Richardson Jr. Nelson Piquet Jr. Justin Allgaier Kyle Larson Kevin Harvick Reed Sorenson Josh Wise Michael Annett Hal Martin Jeremy Clements Joey Gase Kyle Busch Travis Pastrana Johanna Long Parker Kligerman Joe Nemechek Morgan Shepherd Dexter Stacey Kevin Swindell Alex Bowman

FRE E!

Crew Chief

FA N

Make

R ACE

Team

P O S I T I O N :

Hometown

P O LE

No. Driver

FEATURE STORY

2013 nascar caMPing world truck series roster No. Driver

Hometown

Team

Make

Crew Chief

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 13 17 18 19

Welcome, N.C. South Boston, Va. New York, N.Y. Westmorland, Calif.

Watkinsville, Ga. Stockbridge, Ga. Palmdale, Calif.

Kansas City, Kan. Chemung, N.Y. Providence, N.C. Miami Springs, Fla. Alva, Fla. Rochester Hill, Mich.

Bakersfield, Calif.

Copper Hills, Va. High Point, N.C. Plano, Texas Nova Prata, Brazil Tucker, Ga. Las Vegas, Nev. Mobile, Ala. Level Green, Pa. New Castle, Ind. Las Vegas, Nev. Mexico City, Mexico Houston, Texas Lakeland, Fla. Tulare, Calif.

Bahama, N.C. Necedah, Wis. Stuart, Fla.

Richard Childress Racing Turner Scott Motorsports Wauters Motorsports Eddie Sharp Racing Red Horse Racing Eddie Sharp Racing NTS Motorsports Jennifer Jo Cobb Racing ThorSport Racing Red Horse Racing Kyle Busch Motorsports Brad Keselowski Racing

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

Marcus Richmond Mike Hillman Jr. Richie Wauters Eddie Troconis Mike Beam Chris Showalter Bruce Cook Dan Kolanda Jeriod Prince Butch Hylton Harold Holly Chad Kendrick

NTS Motorsports Mike Hillman Racing Brad Keselowski Racing Turner Scott Motorsports Turner Scott Motorsports RSS Racing Kyle Busch Motorsports Kyle Busch Motorsports Norm Benning Racing Turn One Racing Richard Childress Racing Red Horse Racing Green Light Racing Glenden Enterprises ThorSport Racing RBR Enterprises ThorSport Racing T3R Racing

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

Eddie Pardue Doug Weddle Doug Randolph Michael Shelton Jeff Hensley Kevin Starland Ryan Fugle Jerry Baxter Gary Ritter Gene Kennon Shane Wilson Dan Stillman Bobby Dotter Kevin Ingram Carl Joiner Michael Hester Joe Shear Jr. Gary Cogswell

24 27 29 31 32 39 51 54 57 60 62 77 81 84 88 92 98 99

Ty Dillon Jeb Burton Tim George Jr. Justin Lofton John Wes Townley Max Gresham Ron Hornaday Jr. Jennifer Jo Cobb Todd Bodine Timothy Peters Joey Coulter Ross Chastain Brad Keselowski Brennan Newberry Jeff Agnew Ryan Blaney James Buescher Miguel Paludo Ryan Sieg Kyle Busch Darrell Wallace Jr. Norm Benning Dakoda Armstrong Brendan Gaughan German Quiroga David Starr Chris Fontaine Matt Crafton Scott Riggs Johnny Sauter Bryan Silas

ThE NExT GENERATION OF NASCAR

As NASCAR move s into a new era, factor has remaone ined steady – the fans

daytona

nascar news & n ote s | ta il g at in g tips | schedules | nascar fuel | dr q& a w i t h je f f b u r t on | nascar histo iver profiles r y: j a ne t g u t h r ie | d i d yo u k n o w ? | i n s i de r ’ s v ie w | g e a r

SUBSCRIBE TO

$19.95 FOR FIVE ISSUES + RECEIVE FREE DIGITAL EDITIONS POLEPOSITIONMAG.COM/BUY NASCAR® is a registered trademark of the National Association forPolePOSITIONMag.COM Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc.

61

Matt kenseth kenseth leads the field during the Quaker state 400 at kentuckY sPeedwaY

NASCAR Dreams NASCAR Dreams grants once-ina-lifetime opportunities to young fans of the sport by allowing them to meet their heroes, learn from Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) educational initiatives and experience NASCAR in ways they never thought possible. Since The NASCAR Foundation began the program in 2006, we have granted 700 NASCAR Dreams to children suffering from illnesses, underprivileged youth, kids of parents who are serving in the U.S. military, and others.

Speediatrics

NASCAR Unites

Speediatrics began with the humble goal of importing the color, excitement, and fun of NASCAR into children’s hospital rooms, wings, and waiting areas.

Today, we provide medical treatments for 24,000 children each year at our two permanent Speediatrics facilities in Daytona Beach and Homestead, and continue to extend our reach beyond the hospital walls by supporting other causes related to helping children live a healthy life.

In 2011, The NASCAR Foundation introduced NASCAR Unites as a vision for the future of the sport’s charitable mission.

It is a rallying cry for the entire sport, our drivers, our tracks, our sponsors, and our fans to take the passion they have for NASCAR and funnel it into compassion for those who need it most. NASCAR Unites is a broad, all-encompassing way to benefit a wider and larger range of causes.

About Us Our mission is to embody the compassion of the NASCAR family and its commitment to serving our communities. The NASCAR Foundation seeks to raise funds and increase volunteerism to support nonprofit charities and charitable causes throughout the nation with an emphasis placed on initiatives that affect the ability of children to live, learn, and play.

Want to get involved or learn more?

Visit NASCAR.com/foundation or contact The NASCAR Foundation, One Daytona Blvd., Daytona Beach, FL 32114 • 386-310-5736 Follow us on

SPECIAL ADVERTISING PAGE

Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award The NASCAR Foundation awards the Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award to a NASCAR fan who embodies the ideals of charity and community that Mrs. France has championed throughout her life.

These applicants honor the spirit of NASCAR, demonstrating goodwill and generosity in the interest of helping children in need. One winner receives a $100,000 donation to the children’s charity of their choice along with a NASCAR experience of a lifetime.

insider’s view fresh faces

Travis Pastrana NASCAR Nationwide Series Driver

To say the journeys of Travis Pastrana have been paved with mere excitement might be one of the biggest understatements ever.

myself but an entire team of people, and good guidance.

“So I don’t know that it has clicked yet to say, ‘Hey, I’m going to be successful in NASCAR.’ But I said, ‘Hey, if I want a chance, it’s now or never and we’ve got to drop everything else and give it a go.’”

In a bit of a break

A

10-time X Games gold medalist, two-time motocross champion and fourtime Rally America driving champion, Pastrana has lived life on the edge – literally – for the better part of the last 15 years.

Despite a variety of setbacks, including several fairly serious injuries, and a few changes in his genre of competition, the 29-year-old native of Annapolis, Md., has soldiered on to become one of the world’s most revered and decorated action sports superstars.

Yet Pastrana, ever the ambitious one, isn’t one to live on past laurels.

For him, it’s a new day. And NASCAR is his new game.

In his first full season as a driver in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, Pastrana makes no bones about just how steep the learning curve has been and will likely continue to be for

some time.

“Last year, I realized more than ever that it’s not something that you can come in and just do,” said Pastrana, who made select NASCAR Nationwide Series starts in 2012 before teaming with Roush Fenway Racing for the full schedule in 2013.

“Not that I expected it would be but I felt like maybe one race I’d get lucky, we’d have a good setup, we’d be better, we’d run up front. So, it’s going to take everything. It’s going to take not only

from the typical protocol, it was the driver, not the team owner, who made the first move toward putting together a possible deal, which led to Pastrana’s arrival at Roush Fenway Racing.

“Jack was very upfront,” said Pastrana, recalling his initial phone conversation with team co-owner Jack Roush. “He said, ‘Look, if you plan on doing this for a year or two years, you can hang up now. I don’t want to talk to you.’

I said, ‘No, I plan on

doing it for awhile.’ He said, ‘Well, let’s see if you have any speed.’

And that’s pretty much how it started.”

Roush, a two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championshipwinning owner, was flattered by Pastrana’s interest.

“Travis has been able to do everything that he wanted to do,” Roush said. “He’s never been unsuccessful at anything. I feel like the stock car racing challenge will be a bigger challenge than anything he’s had.

I like hanging with and being involved with motivated, ambitious, successful people.

“Travis is extraordinarily talented in anything involving a mechanism or a vehicle.

He’s brave and he’s got a following, so it was a great compliment when he came to me and asked if I had room for him in my program.”

As Pastrana and Roush both expected, the flamboyant driver is still adjusting to big-time stock car racing despite being paired with an organization that has been one of NASCAR’s most successful over the last two and a half decades.

Twenty-five races into his NASCAR Nationwide Series tenure and 16 races into his first full season, Pastrana’s best finish was

a ninth at Richmond International Raceway in April.

So, while he clearly still has room to grow, Pastrana has shown promise.

“I want a challenge,” he said. “I want to go out there and compete against the best, and I’ve known for a very long time that the best and the most competitive form of motorsports that I feel like I might have a chance to be competitive in is NASCAR. Just trying to get there has been a bear.”

THINGS YOU 5 DON’T KNOW ABOUT TRAVIS PASTRANA

1 2 3 4

“My favorite movie is ‘Grandma’s Boy.’ I definitely like all the Adam Sandler stuff.”

“I don’t know if ice cream is a food group but that’s probably my favorite food.”

“My favorite thing to do is probably bicycling – just getting on a road bike.”

“I love getting on the Internet and doing the social media but to get away from it sometimes is pretty awesome, especially because the Internet knows everything that I’m doing!”

5

“When I was racing motocross, I was a 100 percent morning person.

I could never stay up past like 8 o’clock. But now I’m kind of getting a little bit later. I actually like going to dinner with my wife and stuff and enjoying a night out.”

by jared turner 64

POLE POSITION 2013

wee racekly prev mag iew azin e

From the publisher of NASCAR Pole Position magazine, ROAR! is a free digital magazine and mobile app that provides race fans with a weekly blast of NASCAR information to prep them for the upcoming week’s races. ROAR! is automatically delivered every week to your desktop computer, laptop, mobile phone or tablet.

ROAR! is published on Wednesdays during the race season and provides subscribers with information, features, previews and predictions of upcoming races.

Are you ready to ROAR!?

RACING FANS: SUBSCRIBE TO ROAR! FOR FREE

36

editions

AVAILABLE FOR YOUR PHONE OR TABLET

Sign up here for free and you will receive your first of 36 editions of ROAR, starting with the Daytona 500 in February and concluding with Miami in November.

SIGN UP NOW FOR A LIFETIME DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTION POLEPOSITIONMAG.COM/ROAR