WHAT’S NEXT FOR CUSTER?
5 LESSONS LEARNED AT KENTUCKY
LONG SHOT TAKES KENTUCKY ROOKIE COLE CUSTER PICKS UP FIRST CAREER CUP SERIES WIN
ALL-STAR RACE IS A MUST-WATCH
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KENTUCKY FINISH CAME OUT OF NOWHERE
I
n this week’s episode of Out of the Groove, host and creator Eric Estepp gives us his race review and analysis from yesterday’s race at Kentucky. This was a historic race, as Cole Custer’s win is the first for a NASCAR Cup Series rookie in well over a decade. Eric takes us through what this all means for Custer and the sport as a whole. Eric also takes us through the entire race in general, along with all the most important storylines from the race. He talks through all of the
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ROAR! WEEKLY RACING MAGAZINE: JULY 13, 2020
top finishers to try to decipher a rather strange early race, along with the exciting ending of the race that led to so much conversation online. But what effect did the rules package have on the race at Kentucky? After last year’s showing and the positive reception from fans, what did the on track product show us from the package this weekend? Eric has all of that plus he puts the race on his patented Groovy Gauge in this week’s episode of Out of the Groove.
5 LESSONS LEARNED
5
LESSONS LEARNED AT KENTUCKY A ROOKIE REIGNS SUPREME IN QUAKER STATE 400 Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series event at Kentucky Speedway featured all that you could ever ask for in a NASCAR race: a thrilling finish, a surprising first-time winner in rookie Cole Custer and the beginning of a brand new feud involving two of the sport’s biggest stars — Jimmie Johnson and Brad Keselowski. And, just to put the icing on the cake, it didn’t rain a drop. Following are five key takeaways from the Quaker State 400 Presented by Walmart, Race No. 17 of 36 on the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series schedule. BY JA RED TURNER
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ROAR! WEEKLY RACING MAGAZINE: JULY 13, 2020
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5 LESSONS LEARNED
5
KYLE BUSCH’S STRUGGLES MORE OBVIOUS THAN EVER
T
he 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season is one race shy of its halfway mark and Kyle Busch has yet to find his way to Victory Lane. Good luck wrapping your brain around that. Justifiably hailed as one of the favorites to win the 2020 title on the heels of a five-win 2019 season capped by a championship-solidifying victory in the season’s final race, Busch hasn’t just gone winless this year; he’s actually struggled to even contend for the win more often than not. In the seven races since Busch finished runner-up at Bristol on May 31, the reigning series champion has posted just one top-five finish (a fifth at Pocono) and finished 19th or worse on four occasions. The struggle continued on Sunday at Kentucky — a track where Busch won the inaugural Cup race in 2011 — as he finished 21st after managing to avoid calamity when his No. 18 Toyota drifted up into the wall near the race’s midway point.
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ROAR! WEEKLY RACING MAGAZINE: JULY 13, 2020
5 LESSONS LEARNED
4
KENTUCKY IS NOW THE PLACE FOR KILLER FINISHES
R
emember last year’s thrilling Kentucky finish involving the Busch brothers where older brother Kurt nipped younger sibling Kyle in an all-out drag race to the checkered flag? While the final moments of Sunday’s showdown in the Bluegrass State didn’t offer that kind of family flavor, it was no less climactic as rookie Cole Custer — who hadn’t had one of the more dominant cars — seemingly came out of nowhere to execute a four-wide pass for the lead as the field approached Turn 1 on the final lap. Custer, who lined up sixth on the final restart with two laps to go, did the virtually unthinkable by winning at a track where he had never turned a lap in a NASCAR Cup Series car prior to the start of Sunday’s race. While Sunday’s outcome says a lot about Custer and the youngster’s enormous potential in the sport, it also says something about Kentucky Speedway, which shouldn’t have any problem convincing fans to buy tickets in future seasons.
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ROAR! WEEKLY RACING MAGAZINE: JULY 13, 2020
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5 LESSONS LEARNED
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THE PLAYOFF PICTURE IS COMING INTO FOCUS
ole Custer’s not-so-predictable victory at Kentucky had major playoff implications with just nine races left before the 16-driver championship-determining field is set. By virtue of having a win, Custer is now locked into the playoffs, which means one less playoff spot will be available for a winless driver to get in on the basis of points. The driver now squarely on the playoff bubble is seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson, who holds a solid but not altogether comfortable 24-point cushion on Austin Dillon as he seeks to qualify for the playoffs in his final season as a full-time Cup driver. Currently, nine drivers would make the playoffs as a result of having a win in 2020, while the other seven spots would be filled on the basis of points. The only driver in the top nine of the standings who lacks a win is eighth-place Aric Almirola, while Custer is the only driver outside of the top nine who’s been to Victory Lane.
ROAR! WEEKLY RACING MAGAZINE: JULY 13, 2020
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5 LESSONS LEARNED
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JOHNSON AND KESELOWSKI AREN’T SEEING EYE-TO-EYE
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istorically, Jimmie Johnson and Brad Keselowski have always raced each other fairly clean and for the most part gotten along. The two former champions were none too pleased with one another, however, on Sunday at Kentucky Speedway where a direct bump from Keselowski sent Johnson spinning on a late restart. Prior to the contact, Johnson was running third behind race leader Ryan Blaney while Keselowski had lined up in fifth. While it was clear that Keselowski’s No. 2 Ford made contact with Johnson’s No. 48 Chevrolet, versions differed from there. “I don’t know if he was trying to turn down to block me or if he was trying to turn down to get underneath Blaney, but he turned down and I was too far forward,” Keselowski said. “There was kind of unavoidable contact at that time.” Johnson, meanwhile, tweeted this about the Keselowski dustup, which it sounds like could lead to some retribution from the seven-time champ in the near future.
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ROAR! WEEKLY RACING MAGAZINE: JULY 13, 2020
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5 LESSONS LEARNED
1
CUSTER SHOWS HIS TRUE POTENTIAL WITH WIN
W
ho saw that one coming? Making just his 20th start at NASCAR’s premier level, 22-year-old newcomer Cole Custer shocked the NASCAR world on Sunday by earning career win No. 1 at Kentucky Speedway with a gutsy four-wide pass for the lead on the final lap. Rest assured, it was a blockbuster, career-altering kind of moment for Custer, who prior to a fifth-place finish last weekend at Indianapolis had home no better than ninth in his first 19 Cup outings. Now, he’s not only a NASCAR Cup Series race winner; he’s also punched an automatic ticket into the 2020 Cup playoffs. Rest assured, no one expected what happened on Sunday to happen any less than Custer. “I’m surprised, yes,” the rookie driver said. But he’s also optimistic about the direction of his team, which is part of the powerful Stewart-Haas Racing stable. “We have definitely done a lot better job these last few weeks,” Custer said. “We started putting the whole picture together.”
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ROAR! WEEKLY RACING MAGAZINE: JULY 13, 2020
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RECAPPING JUST SAYIN’JIMMIE JOHNSON’S NASCAR CAREER ▶ CLINT BOWYER IS ON THE HOT SEAT Presently hanging onto a playoff spot by the proverbial hair of his chin, Clint Bowyer has to be at least modestly worried about his future at Stewart-Haas Racing. How could he not be? Since joining SHR in 2017, Bowyer has been to Victory Lane just twice — both in 2018 — and finished no better than ninth in the standings. Bowyer’s struggles to win are now only further illuminated by the success of rookie teammate Cole Custer, who on Sunday at Kentucky Speedway prevailed for the first time at the Cup level in just his 20th start. If Bowyer — who is in a contract year — doesn’t step it up soon, he may be looking for a new ride in 2021. JA RED TURNER ▶▶ Yay for Racing on the Daytona Road Course Last week, NASCAR released its latest update to the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series schedule, which continues to slowly but surely take shape. The only real shocker from the schedule announcement was that NASCAR’s top series won’t be competing on the road course at Watkins Glen International as originally scheduled but, rather, will be racing on the Daytona International Speedway road course for the first time. While Cup drivers have never competed on the DIS road course, the layout is no stranger to those in the sportscar ranks, who convene at Daytona early each year for the prestigious Rolex 24 at Daytona. If this experiment works, look for racing on the Daytona road course to become a thing. ▶▶ Wait, Where Was the Rain? Brace yourself for what’s coming next. OK, here goes: There were no rain delays on Sunday at Kentucky Speedway. Yes, this is not a misprint. For the first time in what feels like forever, a NASCAR Cup Series race was NOT impeded by wet weather. Let’s hope this is a good omen for future events, starting with Wednesday night’s All-Star Race at Bristol Motor Speedway — a track where rain has never been reluctant through the years to make an unwelcome visit. 0 1 8
ROAR! WEEKLY RACING MAGAZINE: JULY 13, 2020
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11 KURT BUSCH
492
12 KYLE BUSCH
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13 MATT DIBENEDETTO
456
14 CLINT BOWYER
435
15 WILLIAM BYRON
418
16 JIMMIE JOHNSON
412
17 AUSTIN DILLON
388
18 TYLER REDDICK
371
19 ERIK JONES
370
20 BUBBA WALLACE
328
21 CHRIS BUESCHER
321
22 RICKY STENHOUSE JR.
320
23 CHRISTOPHER BELL
309
24 MICHAEL MCDOWELL
298
25 JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK 292 26 RYAN NEWMAN
276
27 TY DILLON
253
28 MATT KENSETH
234
29 COREY LAJOIE
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30 RYAN PREECE
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31 BRENNAN POOLE
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32 QUIN HOUFF
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33 DANIEL SUAREZ
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ROAR! WEEKLY RACING MAGAZINE: JULY 13, 2020
WINS
POLES
TOP 5
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4 0 10 14 4 0 9 10 2 1 6 12 2 0 3 7 1 0 7 8 1 1 7 9 1 1 3 9 1 0 2 5 1 0 2 3 0 0 5 9 0 1 4 10 0 1 7 9 0 0 2 5 0 1 2 5 0 0 0 5 0 0 2 6 0 0 1 4 0 0 1 5 0 0 4 6 0 0 0 3 0 0 1 4 0 1 3 3 0 0 1 5 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 BLUE AREAS HIGHLIGHT PLAYOFF QUALIFIERS
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AUSTIN CINDRIC
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4
HARRISON BURTON
492
5
JUSTIN HALEY
521
6
BRANDON JONES
401
7
ROSS CHASTAIN
583
8
JUSTIN ALLGAIER
491
9
MICHAEL ANNETT
443
10 RILEY HERBST
376
11 RYAN SIEG
364
12 BRANDON BROWN
321
13 MYATT SNIDER
307
14 JEREMY CLEMENTS
291
15 ALEX LABBE
279
16 JESSE LITTLE
274
17 JOSH WILLIAMS
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18 B.J. MCLEOD
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19 JOE GRAF JR.
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20 VINNIE MILLER
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21 CHAD FINCHUM
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28 COLBY HOWARD
115
29 KYLE WEATHERMAN
95
30 RAY BLACK JR.
92
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32 KODY VANDERWAL
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ROAR! WEEKLY RACING MAGAZINE: JULY 13, 2020
WINS
POLES
TOP 5
TOP 10
5 0 9 12 2 0 8 11 2 0 9 11 2 0 7 10 1 0 6 10 1 1 4 7 0 0 6 13 0 0 3 7 0 0 2 7 0 0 2 8 0 0 2 5 0 0 0 3 0 2 2 4 0 0 1 3 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 6 0 0 1 6 1 0 3 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 BLUE AREAS HIGHLIGHT PLAYOFF QUALIFIERS
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GRANT ENFINGER
221
2
SHELDON CREED
247
3
AUSTIN HILL
293
4
BEN RHODES
236
5
CHRISTIAN ECKES
222
6
ZANE SMITH
221
7
TODD GILLILAND
220
8
BRETT MOFFITT
205
9
TYLER ANKRUM
201
10 JOHNNY SAUTER
198
11 DEREK KRAUS
184
12 MATT CRAFTON
179
13 TANNER GRAY
172
14 STEWART FRIESEN
170
15 RAPHAEL LESSARD
143
16 TY MAJESKI
132
17 JORDAN ANDERSON
102
18 CODIE ROHRBAUGH
96
19 CORY ROPER
95
20 AUSTIN SELF
94
21 SPENCER BOYD
87
22 TATE FOGLEMAN
86
23 SPENCER DAVIS
110
24 ANGELA RUCH
70
25 NATALIE DECKER
66
26 KORBIN FORRISTER
63
27 CLAY GREENFIELD
43
28 PARKER KLIGERMAN
41
29 TIMMY HILL
39
30 BAYLEY CURREY
37
31 TYLER HILL
37
32 JENNIFER COBB
36
33 RYAN TRUEX
34
WINS
POLES
TOP 5
TOP 10
2 0 2 2 1 0 3 5 0 0 4 7 0 0 3 5 0 0 1 3 0 0 2 4 0 0 2 5 0 0 1 3 0 0 1 2 0 2 3 5 0 0 1 4 0 0 2 3 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 BLUE AREAS HIGHLIGHT PLAYOFF QUALIFIERS
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ROAR! WEEKLY RACING MAGAZINE: JULY 13, 2020 5/15/2020 8:30:21 AM
IN THE HOTSEAT
IN THE HOT SEAT
with Sara Houston
BY ROB TIONGSON
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Throughout the season, Rob Tiongson interviews various drivers in the world of NASCAR. Today, he talks with Sara Houston, a regional NASCAR driver from Arizona. ▶▶ Tell us a bit about yourself and how your racing career started. I am a 20-year-old regional level NASCAR driver. I have been racing for about 12 years and it is my biggest passion in life. I started in go-karts when I was seven after I had been going to the track that my dad raced at for fun. I instantly fell in love with it. He introduced me to it and my parents have been supportive ever since. ▶▶ How is it like to balance your driving career while working for NASCAR? I work for NASCAR in our West Region building for all 13 of the NASCAR-owned tracks. I love it! I get to talk to fans all day and share my passion with them. I started working for Phoenix Raceway parttime while in college. After graduating this year, I took on a full-time position with NASCAR. Being a racer, a fan, and an employee of the sport brings everything full circle. I feel well rounded in that sense. While working a full-time job and traveling for my races can be challenging, I wouldn’t trade it for the world! I think I live and breathe racing as I turn on my Sirus NASCAR Radio in the morning on my way to work, actually work in the sport, and race on the weekends. ▶▶ What are your long-term hopes with your NASCAR career? I would love to keep racing as long as I can. My next big goal is to be in ARCA. We are working to make this happen. As racing is my passion, I would love to continue my professional career in it as well.
ROAR! WEEKLY RACING MAGAZINE: JULY 13, 2020
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REDDIT REACTIONS COMPILED BY ROB TIONGSON r/NASCAR . Posted by u/LlindsayLlovesLlamas
1.0k
My dad on the left carrying tires. Worked in Winston Cup pit crews. Worked on the set of Days of Thunder. He was such a cool dude.
KICKING THINGS OFF THIS WEEK WAS LLINDSAYLLOVESLLAMA, SHARING A NEAT photo and series of reply posts about his father who served as a tire carrier for various NASCAR Cup Series pit crews. The photo that he shared in his post was from the 1980s when his father pitted for Geoffrey Bodine’s No. 5 ride. “Big Sweat” also worked with Truck Series veteran Timothy Peters and the legendary Jimmie Johnson. Moreover, how epic is it seeing him carry two Goodyear tires?
r/NASCAR . Posted by u/AirJosh42
213
Steve Grissom’s car after a gruesome hit and roll in 1997. The car backed into the inside wall, busted the fuel cell, and tore the rear axel off the car. The fuel caught fire moments later. Steve was OK.
BY ALL MEANS, I CAN STILL HEAR BENNY PARSONS’ “OH NO!” CALL FROM THE 1997 Primestar 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. When Steve Grissom backed it into an awkwardly angled concrete backstretch barrier, his No. 41 literally broke in half with his car rolling around like a top before being hit by Kenny Wallace’s No. 81 Ford. AirJosh42 shared photos of what was left of Grissom’s Chevy Monte Carlo, which was pretty much the rollcage and some damaged sheet metal. 0 2 8
ROAR! WEEKLY RACING MAGAZINE: JULY 13, 2020
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I’m sure there are some drivers that have been hurt at certain tracks, but I feel like for the most part dominant cars usually find their way towards the front.
EDHOOVIS ASKED REDDIT NASCAR NATION IF THEY’VE MISSED qualifying since the series’ return in mid-May. While most enjoy seeing the powerhouse teams having to work for it, they’ve expressed concern for smaller teams not having a chance to make it without actual ontrack qualifying. However, most want practice to return. r/NASCAR . Posted by u/StevenMWR
1.3k
6.25/10.25 Raised Torque Grips
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Keelan Harvick won his first go-kart race today. I can’t wait to see Kevin and Keelan battling for the Truck Series championship in 2030!
Happy 7/11 NASCAR fans!
AH, WHO DOESN’T APPRECIATE KYLE PETTY DURING HIS SHORThaired, mustached years? Long before we knew him with the Yanni look, he was showcasing his talents with the Wood Brothers Racing’s No. 7 Ford. While most know this team by the No. 21, Petty sported a very appropriate car number.
ROAR! WEEKLY RACING MAGAZINE: JULY 13, 2020
TWEETSTORM COMPILED BY ROB TIONGSON
▶▶ While his last name isn’t Trickle, Cole Custer dropped the hammer in incredible fashion during Sunday’s Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway. Taking his No. 41 Ford on the most outside lane on the final lap, Custer was all checkers or wreckers for this finish. Bravery and aggression prevailed for this Cup Series rookie. Many took to Twitter to reply to his post-race tweet to congratulate him on his first ever premier division win. Indeed, that is truly NASCAR racing! 0 3 2
ROAR! WEEKLY RACING MAGAZINE: JULY 13, 2020
▶▶ Naturally, including yours truly, who didn’t think of lines such as “arms wide open” or “higher” when it came to Sheldon Creed winning his first NASCAR Gander RV and Outdoors Truck Series race. While it’s been years since Scott Stapp and his bandmates made the mainstream radio airwaves, it’s safe to say this Creed is going to continually make noise in the Truck Series. It’s always refreshing to see a first-time winner, like Sheldon Creed, in any level of NASCAR.
▶▶ One of these days, Daniel Hemric will make his way to NASCAR XFINTY Series victory circle. Until then, it was quite a feat for him to start deep in the field during Friday night’s race to place ninth. In a few weeks, perhaps it will be his turn to win.
▶▶ You know you’re onto something right when Twitter makes an icon for hashtags bearing your name or cause. In this case, Bubba Wallace has three new hashtags that race fans can use to show their commitment towards standing with him and inclusion not only in NASCAR, but in our world.
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TWEETSTORM COMPILED BY ROB TIONGSON
▶▶ Certainly, Jimmie Johnson was fast and making steady gains during the Quaker State 400. However, he got a not-so-helpful push from Keselowski during one of the final restarts of the race. It’s safe to say that Johnson cannot wait to repay the favor on the pride of Rochester Hills, Michigan.
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ROAR! WEEKLY RACING MAGAZINE: JULY 13, 2020
▶▶ It’s safe to say that Keith Parsons’ thread is worth a read. The son of the late Benny Parsons shares some wonderful examples of how he and his brother were raised to be respectful to all during their childhood. Moreover, we learned that Benny Parsons would stand with Bubba Wallace.
LADIES & GENTLEMEN, (RE )START YOUR ENGINES! We know it’s been a rough year and you’re probably ready to hit the road. Whether you’re looking to rev up the fun or shift down and relax, Kentucky State Parks offer a variety of outdoor adventures and nature escapes in beautiful surroundings. Accommodations from rustic campsites and private cottages to resort parks give you lots of choices, plus 13 nationally recognized state park golf courses get you out on the links to soak up incredible views.
SPOTLIGHT
THE PERFECT STORM FOR NASCAR AND BRISTOL BY ROB TIONGSON
A
fter nearly two months of points-paying races, NASCAR takes a break from the routine for its All-Star Race this Wednesday evening at Bristol Motor Speedway. For as long as I’ve been around, this annual exhibition race has only been away once from its usual home, Charlotte Motor Speedway, when it was moved to Atlanta Motor Speedway long before my first birthday. In the 1986 running of that event, Bill Elliott absolutely destroyed the competition by leading all but one of the 83 laps run that afternoon. Otherwise, the 1.5-mile quad-oval speedway in Concord, N.C. has been home to NASCAR’s equal to the stick and ball’s nights honoring the series’ best and upcoming stars. While newer fans may write off the most recent All-Star Races, many incredible memories and moments in NASCAR history took place at this venue. Naturally, most old school fans point out to Dale Earnhardt’s 1987 win for a moment known as the “Pass in the Grass.” Sure, it was not an official pass for the lead, but seeing Earnhardt wheeling his No. 3 Wrangler Chevrolet Monte Carlo while it was on the edge was classic and gritty stock car goodness.
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ROAR! WEEKLY RACING MAGAZINE: JULY 13, 2020
Two years later, Darrell Waltrip would be fuming following the race’s running. When Waltrip was spun from the lead and win by Rusty Wallace, the vociferous threetime Cup champ famously said, “I hope he chokes on the $200,000.” Certainly, many fans recall Davey Allison’s painful win in the 1992 edition of this race, the first run under the lights. Although Allison successful beat Kyle Petty to the stripe, the two drivers tangled, with the race winner hitting the wall head on, sending him to the hospital versus Victory Lane. The example can go on and on, including Jeff Gordon’s eventful but memorable three All-Star Race wins (1995, ’97 and ’01), Tony Stewart’s only victory in this event in 2009, and Carl Edwards’ post-race destruction in 2011. All told, when NASCAR and Speedway Motorsports, LLC made the announcement that the All-Star Race would relocate to Bristol Motor Speedway, primarily because of rising COVID-19 cases, I initially had mixed feelings. How could they move this race
SPOTLIGHT from its home after 33 years? Naturally, like most longtime fans, my favorite AllStar Race moments happened at Charlotte Motor Speedway. It’s home to many of NASCAR’s teams and drivers. Then again, public safety comes first for those in North Carolina as physical distancing, masks, and good hygiene continue to be everyone’s modus operandum all around the world. Once I had more time to reflect on this move, I couldn’t help but feel incredibly excited for this race. Bristol Motor Speedway epitomizes everything that makes NASCAR such an embraced, popular sport in terms of action, competitiveness, and entertainment. Firstly, who wouldn’t get excited about the prospect of drivers trading paint and forgetting Sunday school etiquette on those high banked concrete corners? If a driver needed to exact revenge, and I mean Jimmie Johnson or Joey Logano, this is the perfect time to do so. Moreover, this is a track that absolutely oozes everything 0 3 8
that race fans clamor for this annual race. If you want drama, memorable on-track action, and a quote that’ll echo for as long as NASCAR’s around, Bristol’s the perfect venue for this. Now, of course, fans may not be happy about the car number placement for this event. Sure, the lights underneath the cars may “be the final straw for me,” so says some race fans who likely said they’d stop watching NASCAR when drivers stood alongside Bubba Wallace. OK, the car number placement experiment isn’t the greatest. Yes, maybe the glow from these cars might evoke more thoughts from the Fast and the Furious movie franchise than NASCAR tradition. However, at least with the latter, I say why not? Ultimately, this race has always been a great opportunity for NASCAR to try out experiments. In some cases, they’ve worked like double-file restarts, overtime sessions, one-off paint schemes, and the choose cone. While the option tire concept of 2016 didn’t take off, others became a part of our lore or traditions in NASCAR. Whether it’s Charlotte, Bristol, or another track if this event ever rotates in the future, the All-Star Race is not only about grand experiments or potential rules changes. It’s about race fans and drivers putting on an entertaining show, something that will be a near guarantee this Wednesday night.
ROAR! WEEKLY RACING MAGAZINE: JULY 13, 2020
SPOTLIGHT
SUPERSTAR RACING EXPERIENCE COMES TO CBS SPORTS IN PRIMETIME BY ROB TIONGSON
C
BS Sports and Superstar Racing Experience (SRX), a new sports property created by The Montag Group, NASCAR Hall of Famers Ray Evernham and Tony Stewart, and investor George Pyne have entered into a multi-year partnership to produce a six-race, short-track series that will air Saturday nights in primetime on CBS Television Network and CBS All-Access in the Summer of 2021. The SRX brings an entirely new entertainment concept to the marketplace – both competitively and commercially. The series features short, sprint races with a total emphasis on headto-head competition among elite drivers from diverse racing backgrounds. Each race will include a variety of drivers, courses and elements of reality to bring fans new and exciting stories every week across every screen.
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ROAR! WEEKLY RACING MAGAZINE: JULY 13, 2020
The at-track experience will be exceptional, and marketers will have incredible flexibility, unprecedented options for exclusivity, and the ability to integrate endto-end – broadcast/digital, track and team - efficiently and effectively. The leadership team designed all of this based on decades of experience building best-in-class sports and entertainment properties worldwide.
“We are looking forward to teaming with Superstar Racing Experience to bring this exciting new auto racing series to CBS in primetime,” said Sean McManus, Chairman, CBS Sports. “This innovative racing series will feature great drivers competing on short tracks and will provide viewers with unique, behind-the-scenes access, bringing fans closer to the action. With the backing from legends in the racing industry, the quality of the drivers and competition, and the atmosphere that short tracks will help to create, the Superstar Racing Experience is a great addition to our live summer sports programming that racing fans will embrace.”
“SRX is a series where the cars will be so evenly matched that talent instead of equipment will win the race,” said Stewart, a three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion who also won the 1997 INDYCAR Series title. “The competition will be intense, and thanks to the vision of such strong leaders in the sports and entertainment industry, millions will be able to watch live and in primetime on CBS.” Said Evernham: “We’ve set this up to bring the focus back to the drivers and their ability to compete head-to-head as opposed to the car deciding who wins. That’s going to create a unique dynamic for fans at the track and everywhere else. Adding superstar-caliber drivers and our unique racing features, you’re going to see all kinds of emotions playing out live. It’s going to be quite exciting and rekindle why a lot of people love short-track racing.” Legendary and iconic drivers and mechanics from many of the world’s top circuits, including Stewart and Evernham, as well as rising stars, will compete on various short tracks around the country. There will be approximately 90 minutes of racing time within the two-hour television window. Races will have no pit stops but a “halftime” where the drivers and crew chiefs will make adjustments and strategy decisions. The TV production will feature all of the behind-the-scenes and human drama that comes with high-intensity competitions. 0 4 1
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JORDAN ANDERSON TO DEBUT “RACE TO FREEDOM” TRUCK
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ordan Anderson Racing and A.E. Engine are proud to announce three new partnerships for the 2020 NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series race at Texas Motor Speedway. U.S. LawShield®, Vaultek and SAR USA will debut on the No. 3 U.S. LawShield / SAR USA / Vaultek “Race to Freedom” Chevrolet Silverado that will run in the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series Vankor 350 on July 18 at Texas Motor Speedway. “It’s going to be such a great honor to bring these three new partners into our sport,” said Jordan Anderson, who will drive the No. 3 “Race to Freedom” Chevrolet Silverado at Texas Motor Speedway. “I’ve always been a big believer in connecting partners that complement each other. We’re going to harness the power of working together just as our team does on race day. U.S. LawShield, SAR USA, and Vaultek are three solid
ROAR! WEEKLY RACING MAGAZINE: JULY 13, 2020
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RACE TO FREEDOM TRUCK likeminded companies that are excited about our sport, and I’m looking forward to introducing them to all our great fans.” With more than 80,000 fans across social media, Anderson not only provides a fascinating level of access, but also delivers his sponsors millions of impressions every month purely from his social media content. The “Race to Freedom” truck also allows all three partners to leverage their own social media to create an even larger online impact. Each sponsor will also be included in a complete A.E. Engine content activation program, to include print, digital, YouTube and additional social media. Each sponsor’s branding will appear on the No. 3 Chevrolet Silverado during the July 18 race, with SAR USA on the front hood, U.S. LawShield on the rear quarter panel and Vaultek on the rear bumper. STATEMENTS FROM THE SPONSORS: “U.S. LawShield® is pleased to partner with Jordan Ander0 4 4
son Racing as part of a sponsorship package and support for the NASCAR Truck Series. We respect what Jordan Anderson Racing has done in building a team from the ground up, pursuing excellence, never giving up, and of course, winning races in the ‘Race to Freedom Truck’.” “SAR USA is proud to support the ‘Race to Freedom Truck’. SAR USA is the exclusive importer of our parent company, Sarsilmaz, one of the world’s largest suppliers of small arms to elite forces around the world. Founded in 1880, we have a long and proud heritage and are excited to continue our tradition of excellence in the United States with this iconic brand.” “Vaultek is proud to partner with NASCAR for the first ever ‘Race to Freedom Truck’. Vaultek’s cutting-edge safe technology and security is a perfect fit for NASCAR fans, and we’re thrilled to join in the history and legacy of what NASCAR has built and is continuing to grow.” ▶▶ About U.S. LawShield U.S. LawShield traces its roots back to 2009 when a group of Houston, Texas-based attorneys saw first-hand the injustice against law-abiding gun owners who were forced to legally defend themselves. They observed that these gun owners, who acted lawfully in self-defense, were at a significant disadvantage within the justice system. They watched these people face unwarranted hardships, loss of freedom and financial ruin in trying to defend themselves in what they felt was a rigged justice system. These passionate attorneys created what is known today as U.S. LawShield and its Legal Defense for Self-Defense Program now supports a community of members totaling over 500,000 strong across the United States. The company focuses on educating members in self-defense law; empowering them to handle critical life-threatening situations with confidence; and protecting them from potential injustices in the legal system after lawful acts of self-defense. www.uslawshield.com ▶▶ About SAR USA SAR USA is the exclusive U.S. importer for all firearms and ammunition products produced by Sarsilmaz Silah Sanayi of
ROAR! WEEKLY RACING MAGAZINE: JULY 13, 2020
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FIRST TIME’S THE CHARM. Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender Cole Custer roared to his first Cup Series victory Sunday afternoon at Kentucky Speedway, emerging from a late-race restart with a bold four-wide move just after the white flag.
A QUICK PIT. Ryan Blaney and the No. 12 Advance Auto Parts Ford team pits during the Quaker State 400 Presented by Walmart at Kentucky Speedway. 0 4 8
ROAR! WEEKLY RACING MAGAZINE: JULY 13, 2020
A RARE SMILING FACE. Ryan Blaney gives a rare look at a momentarily maskless racer before the Quaker State 400 by Walmart at Kentucky.
NEED FOR CREED. Sheldon Creed prevailed in a frantic three-wide restart on Lap 52 of Saturday’s Buckle Up in Your Truck 225 NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series race and held the spot through the second stage break, earning his first career series victory. 0 4 9
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