ROAR! - Weekly Racing Magazine - July 30, 2020

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WHAT IS JIMMIE JOHNSON DOING IN INDIANAPOLIS In this week’s episode of Out of the Groove, host and creator Eric Estepp takes a short break from the usual allotment of NASCAR stories, and instead takes a look at what some people associated with NASCAR are up to outside of the actual sport itself. First up, what is seven time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson up to testing an IndyCar at Indianapolis?

Jimmie Johnson, as the hardcore fans might know, actually has a lot of history with IndyCar and open wheel racing as a whole. It’s been said that had Johnson not had such a legendary 0 0 4

ROAR! WEEKLY RACING MAGAZINE: JULY 30, 2020

career in NASCAR, he would actually be driving IndyCar full time, which was his original passion when it comes to racing. While there’s no indication Johnson is going full-time, Eric takes us through the context of what this practice means for his career.

That’s not all, as Eric also takes us through a preview of Tony Stewart’s upcoming racing TV show, the Superstar Racing Experience. Fans got their first peak at the new cars that will be run in the series, and Eric takes us through it all. Check out this week’s episode of Out of the Groove!

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5 THINGS TO WATCH

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THINGS TO WATCH AT NEW HAMPSHIRE On the heels of a rare weekend off, it’s game on for the NASCAR Cup Series this weekend as the sport’s premier division heads north for its lone annual visit to New Hampshire Motor Speedway. One of only three one-milers on the Cup schedule, NHMS has a history of close finishes and consequential outcomes. Perhaps more of the same is in store for this weekend’s event, which marks the 20th race of the 26-race regular season. Following are five key storylines to follow in Sunday afternoon’s Foxwoods Resort Casino 301.

BY JA RED TURNER

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ROAR! WEEKLY RACING MAGAZINE: JULY 30, 2020

5 THINGS TO WATCH

5

A NOTICEABLE NUMBER OF FANS IN THE STANDS

F

or the fifth time since NASCAR resumed on-track activities following a more than two-month sabbatical for COVID-19, fans will be in attendance for a NASCAR Cup Series race. However, unlike at Homestead-Miami Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway where so few fans were allowed that their presence was barely noticeable, Sunday’s anticipated gathering of around 19,000 guests will be comparable to the roughly 20,000 fans who witnessed the recent Cup event at Texas Motor Speedway. Only Bristol Motor Speedway, which invited 30,000 patrons for the All-Star Race in mid-July, has eclipsed the 20K attendance mark since NASCAR returned. Count Ryan Newman among those looking forward to seeing fans in the stands on Sunday. “Ultimately, we appreciate their support,” he said. “That’s what we’ve always said and that’s one of the strengths of NASCAR. A fan-friendly and family-friendly atmosphere we have with our sport is something that allows us to give thanks to those people that take the time to be a part of what we do.”

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ROAR! WEEKLY RACING MAGAZINE: JULY 30, 2020

5 THINGS TO WATCH

4

A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY FOR ‘ROWDY’ TO END DROUGHT

K

yle Busch — the reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion and a winner of more than 200 races across NASCAR’s three national divisions — is winless in 19 Cup starts this season. Just let that sink in for a minute. However, the good news for Busch is that New Hampshire Motor Speedway offers one of the best opportunities he’s had all year to go to Victory Lane. A three-time Cup winner at “The Magic Mile,” Busch has enjoyed plenty of recent success at NHMS with two victories in his last eight starts to go with four top-five finishes and six top-10s during that same stretch. Busch’s first triumph at the 1.058-mile track came in 2006 in only his third New Hampshire start. Not surprisingly, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver feels reasonably good about the possibilities for this weekend. “It’s been a pretty successful place for us,” Busch said of NHMS. “Maybe we can hit on (the car setup) better than somebody else and try to win.”

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ROAR! WEEKLY RACING MAGAZINE: JULY 30, 2020

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KEVIN HARVICK’S QUEST FOR THREE IN A ROW AT NHMS

D

on’t fault Kevin Harvick for carrying a high level of optimism into Sunday’s race. Along with being the points leader and a four-time race winner in 2020, the Stewart-Haas Racing driver and crew chief Rodney Childers have gone to Victory Lane the last two times and three of the last five times that NASCAR’s premier series has convened at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. “I think Rodney and I probably feel like we should have — could have — won them all,” Harvick said. So needless to say, the driver whose nickname is “Happy” couldn’t be any more thrilled to be heading back to a place where he’s enjoyed so much recent success.

“It’s been a racetrack that has been really good for us from a performance standpoint,” Harvick said. “And I think, from a confidence standpoint, being able to adjust on the car and know what we’re looking for, I think this is definitely a racetrack where a lot of those things came into play.”

ROAR! WEEKLY RACING MAGAZINE: JULY 30, 2020

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THE POSSIBILITY OF MORE TROUBLE AROUND THE BUBBLE

A

fter being involved in a wreck at Kansas Speedway on July 23 when the NASCAR Cup Series last raced, Jimmie Johnson finds himself on the wrong side of the playoff cutoff. However, the seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion isn’t the only one on edge about his playoff prospects as the series heads to New Hampshire. Also on the wrong side of the bubble but likewise still within striking distance are Joe Gibbs Racing’s Erik Jones and impressive rookie standout Tyler Reddick. Just ahead of the cutoff but by no means comfortable are Clint Bowyer, Matt DiBenedetto and William Byron. With 10 of the original 16 available playoffs belonging to 2020 race winners, only six spots are up for grabs in the final seven races of the regular season. Of course, that number could dwindle even more if someone who hasn’t won in 2020 manages to break through on Sunday.

Perhaps Johnson, who will be making his final start at NHMS, wants it most.

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ROAR! WEEKLY RACING MAGAZINE: JULY 30, 2020

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5 THINGS TO WATCH

1

CONTINUED DOMINATION FROM DENNY HAMLIN

REPLACEMENT

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enny Hamlin hasn’t been the most consistent driver this season in terms of finishes, but the Joe Gibbs Racing driver has been consistently fast. So fast that Hamlin leads the NASCAR Cup Series in wins with five — the most recent one coming at Kansas Speedway on July 23. When you also factor in that Hamlin is a three-time winner at New Hampshire, there’s no good reason to doubt his No. 11 Toyota prepared by crew chief Chris Gabehart will be a major player on Sunday afternoon. “I think we’re doing a great job of putting ourselves in good position to win races,” Hamlin said. “We really could have a boatload of wins right now. It’s incredible. Chris set a very lofty goal at the end of the (2019) season for how many races he thinks we’re going to win.

I said, ‘You’re nuts.’ Now I’m thinking, ‘We are a few blown tires really away from it happening and we still can get there.’”

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ROAR! WEEKLY RACING MAGAZINE: JULY 30, 2020

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RECAPPING JIMMIE JOHNSON’S NASCAR CAREER

■■ Jimmie Johnson and crew chief Chad Knaus earned their fifth championship in 2010.

PUTTING FIVE ON IT RACING FOR THE FIFTH CHAMPIONSHIP WITH JIMMIE JOHNSON

BY JA RED TURNER

T

he pundits and prognosticators said no driver would ever again win three NASCAR Cup Series championships in a row.

Yet it happened. A history-making fourth consecutive title?

That was an even greater stretch. Five in succession? That was downright inconceivable. Until, of course, Jimmie Johnson did exactly that.

Looking to again make history after tying history in 2008 and becoming the first winner of four consecutive championships in 2009, Johnson raised the bar to unparalleled in heights in 2010 by capturing a fifth straight title. Rest assured it wasn’t easy, though.

Entering the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Johnson trailed championship rival Denny Hamlin by 15 points for the series lead and also had to keep an eye on Kevin Harvick, who remained firmly in the championship discussion.

But when the dust settled on that Sunday in South Florida, Johnson was again the champ — buoyed by his second-place finish in the race combined with Hamlin’s disappointing 14th-place result.

Notably, Johnson’s previous four championships didn’t require

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ROAR! WEEKLY RACING MAGAZINE: JULY 30, 2020

overcoming a points deficit in the final race, which made No. 5 that much sweeter.

“The first championship, first win, that stuff has meant the most to me,” Johnson said after beating Hamlin by a final margin of 39 points, with Harvick finishing third in the standings and 41 points out. “This one, I think this takes the lead just because of the circumstances.

It’s not that the other playoff runs weren’t competitive. We were stronger, I think, in the previous two playoff years, at least. Maybe all four. But this one, I’m just so proud.”

Only one other driver — the legendary Cale Yarborough — had won three championships in a row. Let alone four or five.

In earning his fifth ring, Johnson also became one of only three drivers in NASCAR history to secure more than four championships.

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BUBBA WALLACE’S ALL-STAR BUMPER SELLS FOR MORE THAN $20,000

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arParts.com, the e-commerce auto parts company, recently made the winning bid of $20,034 to own the one-of-a-kind memento from the first-ever NASCAR All-Star race at the Bristol (Tenn.)

Motor Speedway with all proceeds benefiting Motor Racing Outreach (MRO). Now, CarParts.com will pay it forward by making an additional donation of $20,043 to Victory Junction in honor of Darrell “Bubba”

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ROAR! WEEKLY RACING MAGAZINE: JULY 30, 2020

Wallace, Jr., and Richard Petty Motorsports (RPM).

The front bumper off the No. 43 was placed on the No. 34 hauler immediately after an on-track incident between McDowell and Wallace during the NASCAR All-Star race event. Front Row Motorsports (FRM) and McDowell quickly made plans to auction the bumper to benefit MRO with the blessing of Wallace and RPM as well as the aid of The NASCAR

PRESS RELEASE Foundation. The bumper proved to be a popular item, and in its first day of bidding rose to over $15,000. A final push put it over to $20,000 with the final bid coming from CarParts.com.

“We are proud and excited to be a participant in the NASCAR community,” said Lev Peker, CEO of CarParts.com.

“We felt that making the final bid allowed us to continue to do good for everyone in the community – and beyond.

We’re proud to donate to Motor Racing Outreach on behalf of Front Row Motorsports and Michael McDowell and make an additional donation to Victory Junction on behalf of Richard Petty Motorsports and Bubba Wallace.”

For over 30 years, MRO has been travelling the NASCAR circuit, providing spiritual support to drivers and their families. MRO is the center for children who travel with their racing families, providing a safe place to play and learn at the track. MRO also provides a weekly service to all drivers and crew members. The charitable organization relies on donations to continue to travel and serve. McDowell serves as a board member.

“I have to thank our partner, CarParts.com for making such a generous impact to MRO, through The NASCAR Foundation, and to Victory Junction,” said McDowell. “It’s amazing to see the attention the auction got and what an impact we’ve all made. I must thank Bob Jenkins (owner) of Front Row Motorsports for having this idea and then letting us all put it together for such great causes.”

Victory Junction is a medically safe camping facility that provides a life-changing experience for children, ages six to 16, with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses. The camp was founded by the Petty family in honor of Adam Petty.

“It’s like I said before, we’re making lemonade out of lemons,” said Wallace. “And now we’re making a lot of lemonade for the children at Victory Junction and that’s pretty cool. Thanks to CarParts.com for making this donation and creating a big win for everyone.”

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13 JEREMY CLEMENTS

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ROAR! WEEKLY RACING MAGAZINE: JULY 30, 2020

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ROAR! WEEKLY RACING MAGAZINE: JULY 30, 2020 5/15/2020 8:30:21 AM

DRIVER Q&A

CORY ROPER SEES YEAR OF GROWTH IN THE TRUCK SERIES

BY JOSEPH WOLK IN

Few people above the age of 40 decide it’s time to not only start a NASCAR team, but drive one as well. That’s where Texas’ Cory Roper steps in. The driver of the No. 04 Ford in the Truck Series is growing his organization and looks to improve in 2020.

■■ Cory Roper made his NASCAR Truck Series debut in 2018 at Martinsville.

▶ WHAT IS IT LIKE FOR YOU TO RUN THIS SMALL TEAM? “It’s got its challenges, but it has its rewards.

We tried to make a good living so we could afford to build racecars, and it’s what has kept our family together. My team does this on their spare time and everybody loves it, but it wears on their families.” ▶ WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO DO THIS NOW AND HOW DIFFICULT IS IT TO CATCH UP TO THE PACK? “I feel like our Achille’s heel is we aren’t associated with another team. We don’t have 0 3 0

ROAR! WEEKLY RACING MAGAZINE: JULY 30, 2020

any notes to go off of except our own. We don’t have factory support other than Ford’s tire data. We’re doing all of this in-house, and it’s difficult. I’m really happy with our speed and our crew chief Shane Whitbeck is doing a great job to help us.” ▶ WHAT DO YOU WANT TO ACCOMPLISH THIS YEAR? “I think we have a top-15 truck every week. We’re going to figure it out. My goal is to finish where I think we can, and that might be as high up as a top five. But we have a long way to get there. We can do that.”

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BY THE NUMBER

CAR NO.

7

BY K EITH WA LTZ

A

total of 113 racers have driven cars carrying No. 7 in the NASCAR Cup Series, but the number is most closely associated with Wisconsin short-track graduate Alan Kulwicki.

Kulwicki began using No. 7 in 1987 and he won five times in 179 starts. Two of those victories came during the 1992 season when the NASCAR Hall of Famer became the most recent owner/driver to capture the NASCAR Cup Series championship.

■■ 1992 – Alan Kulwicki (ISC Archives via Getty Images photo)

Overall statistics show that cars carrying No. 7 in the NASCAR Cup Series have visited Victory Lane 23 times while posting 286 top10 finishes in slightly more than 1,520 starts.

Bob Flock was the first driver to use No. 7 when he wheeled a 1946 Hudson during the inaugural series race on June 19, 1949, at the three-quarter-mile Charlotte Speedway. Flock started from the pole and led the first five laps before a blown engine ended his day.

Flock was also the first driver to win a race in car No. 7. That victory came in series race No. 3 on Aug. 7, 1949, at Occoneechee Speedway in Hillsborough, North Carolina.

Flock started from the pole in a 1948 Oldsmobile and led all 200 laps.

Jim Reed (7), Kulwicki (5), Geoff Bodine (4) and Flock (4) are the drivers with multiple wins in car No. 7. Robby Gordon has the most starts with 226.

■■ 2020 – J.J. Yeley (Getty Images photo)

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ROAR! WEEKLY RACING MAGAZINE: JULY 30, 2020

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OFFICIAL NASCAR MEMBERS CLUB

STREETS DREAMING FLORIDA MAN REFLECTS ON NASCAR’S HIGHS

BY DA N GUT TENPL A N

S

ome of Tommy Streets’ fondest memories involve NASCAR. In fact, he married his wife, Fran, at the finish line of Daytona International Superspeedway on July 7, 2001, the day Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the Pepsi 400.

Streets, 74, and his wife spent the next 17 years taking in the NASCAR experience as members of the Original NASCAR Members Club until Fran’s death.

“We always had a great time, no matter what,” Tommy Streets said. “When we joined the club, it was outstanding. The garage tours were the big thing for us.”

Streets has been a NASCAR fan just about his entire life.

He skipped school as a senior in high school to attend a race at Daytona. The Southwest Florida resident attended a

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■■ The highlight of Tommy Streets’ ONMC club membership was seeing Tony Stewart in the garage at Darlington.

race at Daytona for 32 consecutive years before his wife got sick.

“The people in the club have been so good to me since my wife died a year and a half ago,” Streets said. “I won a fan appreciation award last year and had a whole weekend at Homestead. It was good for me, but also sad for me. I didn’t have my partner with me.”

Streets was drawn to the sport by racers like David Pearson and Richard Petty. He later rooted for “The Intimidator”, Dale Earnhardt.

“If you were from the South and you didn’t love Mr. Earnhardt, you better move North,” Streets said.

More recently, he has supported Tony Stewart and Kevin Harvick. He said he is attracted to the “outlaws” of the sport.

“One of the highlights for me was getting a garage tour at Darlington, and there was something going on at Tony Stewart’s semi,” Streets said. “Seven champions were crowded around; it was unbelievable. All of these legends were congregating by Tony Stewart’s semi, and I was able to get right up close and take pictures.”

Throughout the years, Streets said he and his wife impressed other members with their energy and enthusiasm.

“Everybody knew Tommy and Fran,” Streets said. “We had a lot of great memories going to races.”

ROAR! WEEKLY RACING MAGAZINE: JULY 30, 2020

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ROAR! WEEKLY RACING MAGAZINE: JULY 30, 2020

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