Garage chatter: What everybody's talking about heading to Richmond
Sept. 11 news and notes
Biffle admits Chase spot alters approach – 1 p.m. ET
Greg Biffle is about as close to being locked into NASCAR’s Chase for the Sprint Cup as any driver can be. He needs only to finish 42nd – ahead of one car – in tonight’s Air Guard 400 at Richmond International Raceway to snap up his position in the field.
For Biffle, it will be his fourth Chase appearance in six seasons. He is already a NASCAR Camping World Truck and Nationwide Series champ and finished as the Cup series runner-up to Tony Stewart in 2005.
Biffle and his Roush Fenway Racing team will certainly be keeping an eye on the first car to fall out of the race Saturday, but otherwise he admits that his close proximity to a berth in the field allows his team a little more breathing room this weekend – and the chance to maybe try some things to give it a leg up once the Chase does begin the following week at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
“We can kind of use it as a test,” he says of the Richmond race. “The one thing that comes to mind that I’m thinking of is we haven’t had our new front suspension package on a short track yet. Yes, we did race Bristol, but that’s kind of its own animal and it doesn’t really qualify. That one is kind of out there by itself, so I’m kind of curious to see how it runs at places like Richmond, Loudon, Phoenix, and Martinsville.
“We’ve really proven it and run well so far at Chicago, Indy, Pocono, Michigan and Atlanta. The package has been good, so my outlook is, ‘How is it going to work on these short tracks? How is it going to turn? Is it going to have forward drive?’ That’s kind of what I’m looking for.”
Biffle admits that the fact that 10 drivers are already locked in, and possible all 12 will be by the race’s final laps, could alter the nature of the racing at the .75-mile oval. But he also cautions that it’s easy to overstate that. Certainly all the Chase drivers would like a win and the 10 bonus points it equates to once the title-determining segment of the season begins. But there’s only so much one can do.
“I see that a little bit with the top three or five guys that are running on the track,” he said. “Let’s say we’re running sixth, there’s not a lot I’m gonna be able to do. You always want to race for your best position, so it’s not like I can just go, ‘To hell with it. I’m going crazy. All I care about is winning from sixth.’ That’s probably not gonna happen.”
Well, unless a caution crams the field together with just a few laps to go – and that tight-knit group includes several Chase contenders.
“Yeah, then we’re going crazy and we’re going for it,” he said. “But I guess what I’m saying is once things settle down a little bit and if you’re running sixth or something like that, I don’t care what I do – I can stand on my head and wiggle my toes and my ears, but that’s not gonna help me get by those guys. If I could drive to the front and take the lead, then I would do that – just like any other situation – but there will be guys taking chances.
“They’ll be trying anything – two tires, no tires, driving over your head and doing what you can do – but you’ve got to be in one of the top three or four spots to be able to do that. There’s a lot left on the line. For the top 11, all we have to do is win. That’s the only thing that matters. If I finish 25th or I finish fifth, it does not matter.”
—Rea White
Sept. 10 news and notes
Kyle Busch goes commercial – 9 a.m. ET
“Who doesn’t like kittens, bunnies and little baby seals?”
It’s a somewhat famous line by Kyle Busch in a series of Toyota Racing commercials – and now it is an actual car that will appear at Richmond International Raceway. The line was uttered in the ad for Toyota’s “Sponsafy Your Ride,” which encouraged fans to design and submit their own scheme. Now, life is imitating fiction.
The Joe Gibbs Racing driver may hereafter be known as the Man in Pink after he takes to the track in a pink race car adorned with baby animals, butterflies and a unicorn. Busch will drive the entry in Friday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race at the track.
Busch will be appropriately adorned in a matching pink firesuit as well.
The 25-year-old doesn’t seem fazed by the attention or the change of uniform.
“I just said, ‘All right, whatever, let’s do it.’ I wasn’t too offended by it at all, so it wasn’t too big of a deal,” he said. “It was a neat commercial and the way that it turned out was really fun. Doing it and showing some sarcasm during it was neat.”
And, for once, he says that the fan outpouring has been all positive.
“There’s been a huge reaction,” he said. “Everybody has been pumped about the commercials and more pumped about seeing me in the pink suit and driving that car. Overall, it’s been a big deal to the fans and they’ve seen a lot of it and they think it’s one of the best.”
Busch won’t be the only one decked out in pink, either. Crew chief Jason Ratcliff will wear matching gear on the pit box – though he was surprisingly concerned about coordinating his outfit.
“I was making fun of Kyle and he said he was going to fix me up and he said he was going to make sure I was going to get one,” Ratcliff said. “I told him I was not getting a pink firesuit but, unfortunately, I’m getting a pink firesuit. I have to find out what kind of shoes you wear with a pink firesuit. I don’t want to look out of place and wear my black shoes with a pink fire suit. I’m going to try to stay up on top of the pit box and hide.”
Busch, on the other hand, seems more than comfortable with the concept of standing out.
“I told somebody last week that if we’re going to race a pink car, we better run well because you can’t show up with a pink car and run badly,” Ratcliff said. “If you do, it’s like a double-whammy. It will be fun and, with the new-generation car, it will be interesting. … It should be fun and I know it’s something Kyle’s been looking forward to. He loves that pink suit. You know Kyle – he likes to stand out in the crowd.”
— Rea White
Sept. 8 news and notes
Update: NASCAR places driver on indefinite suspension — 4 p.m. ET
Camping World Truck Series driver Jack Smith has been indefinitely suspended by NASCAR, the governing body of the sport announced Wednesday.
Although it wouldn't specify what exactly led to his suspension, officials cited NASCAR rule book section 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and revealed the violation took place July 23.
Sirius Satellite Radio reported the reason: Smith was allegedly arrested and charged with three felony counts of fraudulently attempting to obtain a controlled substance in Wentzville, Missouri last month. According to Sirius, NASCAR was informed of the arrest on July 23, hence the suspension date. The story says that Smith will appear in circuit court on Oct. 12 for a hearing.
The Medina, Ohio native made three starts this season in the truck series, earning a best finish of 15th at Kansas Speedway in May. He made four starts in 2007 and 2008 as well.
— Jorge A. Mondaca
Gordon to honor fallen police officers — 9:30 a.m. ET
Jeff Gordon and his Hendrick Motorsports team will honor police officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty at Richmond International Raceway.
With the race falling on Sept. 11, the date of the attacks in New York City, Gordon and his group decided to team with the National Law Enforcement Museum to run a paint scheme promoting www.PoliceMuseum.org. The goal is to raise awareness and funds for the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund by “inspiring public donations,” according to a news release.
Gordon will also help raise funds through the sale of DuPont/Police Museum branded die-cast cars and commemorative T-shirts.
The memorial is the nation’s monument in Washington, D.C., honoring law enforcement officials who have died in the line of duty. Groundbreaking for the museum will take place Oct. 14.
“We were all devastated and I think most of us felt helpless at first,” Gordon said of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. “Then as we watched the police and firefighters work tirelessly at Ground Zero for the days and many months following 9-11, I think many of us stepped up and did what we could - whether we donated money, time or just words of encouragement to our neighbors.
“I know NASCAR fans rallied and I think we have to do our part to not only remember what law enforcement did for us then but what they continue to do for us every day.”
The logos will appear on the quarter panels and TV panel of the predominantly black and silver car. In addition, the deck lid will bear the group’s Rose and Shield symbol.
— Rea White
Sept. 7 news and notes
Blessing in disguise for Jeff Gordon? — 11:30 a.m. ET
Admit it, you can’t imagine Jeff Gordon shopping at a Walmart.
Luckily, you won’t have to live with that farce next season.
Monday, the Sporting News Wire Service reported that talks between the retailing giant and Hendrick Motorsports have broken down. While that’s not good news for Hendrick, which is still searching for a primary sponsor for the No. 24 Chevrolet in 2011, it could be a blessing in disguise. For years, fans have gotten to hate on Gordon because of his New York lifestyle and supermodel wife – imagine if all of a sudden he started hawking products for the retailer.
That’s not a knock on Walmart - but I have a much easier time imagining Gordon strolling down Fifth Avenue than searching for lower prices up-and-down the aisles at the retailer (Heck, I can barely see the four-time Cup champion shopping at the higher-end Target).
The possible Gordon-Walmart marriage would have been almost as unbelievable as the Joey Logano-Home Depot partnership (the 20-year-old babyfaced driver seems much better suited for his Nationwide Series sponsor Gamestop than the home improvement store).
Would Walmart-Gordon have worked? Who should sponsor the veteran driver in 2011? Leave your comments below.
— Jorge A. Mondaca
Sept. 6 news and notes
From the editors’ desks ... — 10 a.m. ET
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series got back to action in exciting form in the Labor Day weekend spectacle at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Stewart-Haas Racing’s Tony Stewart headed back to Victory Lane after almost a year’s absence, holding off Carl Edwards at the finish to take the win. It was a race in which Chase for the Sprint Cup contender Denny Hamlin found trouble early with an engine failure. However, he's among those who are locked into the Chase with one race remaining. (Highlights)
In the Nationwide Series, Jamie McMurray held off Kyle Busch to take the Atlanta win. (Highlights)
The NASCAR Camping World Series headed to Kentucky Speedway, where Todd Bodine won and then had some criticism for Kyle Busch.
In weekend news, Red Bull Racing tested at North Wilkesboro with Mattias Ekstrom, and he could be driving for the team in the NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Richmond International Raceway.
Braun Racing team owner Todd Braun says he's attempting to strengthen his independent Nationwide Series team, a move that Lee Spencer says could include a possible sale of the organization.
Hendrick Motorsports announced that it would continue its relationship with Quaker State for the next three seasons.
Meanwhile, Speedway Motorsports Inc. President Bruton Smith continued to rail against NASCAR hosting the final race of the season at Homestead-Miami Speedway, a site he refers to as "North Cuba."
Now, the Sprint Cup teams turn their attention to Richmond International Raceway, the final event before the Chase for the Sprint Cup begins.
What will happen next? Stay logged on to FOXSports.com all week long — we’ve got you covered.
— Jorge A. Mondaca and Rea White
