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FEATURE STORY, NASCAR - Sprint Cup Series »

By Jonathan Ingram | Senior Writer RacinToday.com

Bill Elliott is one of the old-schoolers who is off to a good start at Speedweeks. (Photo courtesy of NASCAR)

By Jonathan Ingram | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com

From the Monday Morning Crew Chief:

Daytona Beach, Fla. – A big, round slice of blue sky at the top of the ramp was a welcome sight to those who came into the infield at Daytona through the Turn 4 tunnel on the first day of stock car competition last weekend – especially after a lot of rain.

The open sky framed by the mouth of the tunnel’s exit is always a symbolic sight at this time of year. Like baseball’s spring training, early NASCAR Speedweeks is all about the upside and wide-open possibilities.

As it turned out, some of NASCAR’s longest-running competitors had quite a time on Saturday. That somehow seemed appropriate given NASCAR’s current effort to restore some luster to the sport’s traditional appeal.

The legacy-team owners – those who have come up to ownership through the sport without relying on outside businesses – took win, place and show in the Budweiser Shootout. Richard Childress was the winning car owner, one of the Fords of Richard Petty Motorsports was second and Earnhardt Ganassi Racing’s Chevy finished third.

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Mon, 8/02/10 – 8:12 | No Comment

Ingram: Legacy Teams Find Blue Sky

Jonathan Ingram | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com

By Jonathan Ingram | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
From the Monday Morning Crew Chief:
Daytona Beach, Fla. – A big, round slice of blue sky at the top of the ramp was a welcome sight to those who came into the infield at Daytona through the Turn 4 tunnel on the first day of stock car competition last weekend – [...]

Mon, 8/02/10 – 8:12 | No Comment

Drivers Size Up Super Bowl

Jim Pedley | Managing Editor
RacinToday.com

It’s the day which the NFL holds its annual Daytona 500 of football games – the Super Bowl.
Here are some driver picks for this afternoon’s game, which is the second biggest sports event in February:
Kyle Busch, No. 18 M&M’s Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing
“I think the Saints are going to beat the Colts. They [...]

Sun, 7/02/10 – 11:21 | No Comment

Pedley: Did Patrick Make the Grade?

Jim Pedley | Managing Editor
RacinToday.com

It’s report card day for Danica Patrick.
She has put in her first weekend of stock car racing, the smoke (literal and figurative) has cleared and it’s time to send her home to her people with the news. And here is the news:
Punctuality. A+. She showed up for all her meetings with the public, media and [...]

Sun, 7/02/10 – 10:52 | 13 Comments

Schatz Wins Outlaws Opener

Info Manager |
RacinToday.com

RacinToday.com
Donny Schatz began the 2010 season the way he ended up the 2009 season; on top.
On Saturday night, the 2009 World of Outlaws champion won the season-opening 39th Annual Florida DIRTcar Nationals by University of Northwestern Ohio at Volusia Speedway Park.
Schatz lined up third in the Armor All J&J and quickly moved into second and [...]

Sun, 7/02/10 – 10:21 | No Comment

Shootout Hints At Exciting Days Ahead

Jonathan Ingram | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com

By Jonathan Ingram | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
Daytona Beach, Fla. – Kevin Harvick crossed the finish line first in his Richard Childress Racing Chevy, but a faster, braver NASCAR appeared to be the winner in the season-opening Budweiser Shootout.
An off-season decision by NASCAR officials to turn NASCAR racing back into a contact sport and a larger carburetor [...]

Sun, 7/02/10 – 0:13 | No Comment

Harvick Wins Shootout

Info Manager |
RacinToday.com

Kevin Harvick won the Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway Saturday night to make it two in a row in the annual all-star event which kicks off Speedweeks.
His victory came as a result of passing for the lead just prior to a wreck that ended the race less than a lap into a green-white-checkered restart.
The [...]

Sat, 6/02/10 – 22:14 | No Comment

Flag to Flag: Bud Shootout

Nick Bromberg | Contributing Writer
RacinToday.com

Watching the Budweiser Shootout?
Nick Bromberg is.
Follow along here with him as he blogs all the action Flag to Flag at Daytona.

Sat, 6/02/10 – 19:09 | 40 Comments

Danica The Show-Stopper In Daytona

Jonathan Ingram | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com

Daytona Beach, Fla. – Danica Mania arrived at Daytona during the ARCA 200. Although difficult to pinpoint the exact time of its arrival, it began aproximately on lap 53. That’s when stock car rookie Danica Patrick saved her Chevy after getting knocked into the tri-oval grass and began a comeback through the pack.
In a race [...]

Sat, 6/02/10 – 18:57 | 3 Comments

Ageless Martin Wins 500 Pole

Jim Pedley | Managing Editor
RacinToday.com

Apparently Mark Martin’s wonderful 2009 story was not a fluke, apparently Dale Earnhardt’s Jr.’s horrible 2009 story was and apparently Hendrick Motorsports will again be the team to beat in Sprint Cup this season.
All of that being apparent, that is, if qualifying for the 2010 Daytona 500 means anything.
Martin, who turned 51 in last month, [...]

Sat, 6/02/10 – 15:49 | No Comment

A Few Words With: Danica

Info Manager |
RacinToday.com

Danica Patrick was the star of an ARCA Racing Series press conference on Friday evening. Below are excerpts from her Daytona International Speedway Media Center appearance:
Question: Talk about your car so far this weekend.
Patrick: The car’s pretty good. We started off the day yesterday with a long practice session which was nice. I probably won’t [...]

Sat, 6/02/10 – 9:32 | One Comment