As the 2012 season nears, one last look back at the year that was for your favorite drivers. We continue on with several of the non-Chase competitors.
First up, Kasey Kahne, the guy who came on very strong at the end of the season. 2012 is going to be a good year for him, we can feel it.
Next up, AJ Allmendinger, another guy who ended 2012 in a lot better position than he started:
Finally, Greg Biffle, who continues to get close but not close enough:
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/2uHe5le-nNU/
Virgil Ernest Irvan III Kenny Dale Irwin Jr Dale Arnold Jarrett Jimmie Kenneth Johnson
Welcome to Power Rankings! Sure, it's the offseason, but that doesn't mean we can't kick around some arbitrary rankings like we were at an infield tailgate. And speaking of infield tailgates, let's give the Power Rankings for the most important items you'll need at your next gathering. Prepare accordingly.
1. Flags. You've got to represent. Doesn't matter if you've got a banner the size of an auto dealer's flag or a soap-scrawled "88" on your windshield; you've got to back your driver. Now, NASCAR drivers' propensity to change teams can throw a wrinkle into this, so here's a handy rule: the more popular the driver, the less time you have to change over your flags. Dale Earnhardt Jr. fans needed to ditch the old "8" merchandise within days. Clint Bowyer fans probably have a good six months of lead time. Casey Mears fans? You guys are looked on with a mixture of indifference and pity. Get to it when you can.
2. Beer. Seriously, you even need to ask? This is like saying "oxygen is necessary." Encompassed in this category are all forms of mixed drinks: Jack Daniels and Coke, Jack Daniels and ice, Jack Daniels and cereal, Jack Daniels and more Jack Daniels. (What, there are other mixers besides Jack Daniels?) Tip: when drivers wander over to your campsite, and they occasionally do, don't offer them a drink. They have to drive, after all.
3. Music. Playing "Sweet Home Alabama" isn't just recommended, it's required. There are plenty of other candidates for the rest of the playlist, though; "Chicken Fried" by the Zac Brown Band has played at literally every race I've been to since its release. "Red Solo Cup" by Toby Keith wants so badly to enter that rotation, but its contrived need for acceptance should keep it on the outside looking in. Anyway, get yourself a good playlist. We'll whip one up here sometime soon.
4. Grilled meats. A necessity. Plus, you need to get yourself a specialty. Ribs, wings, whatever. Do something better than anybody else around you ... and then don't share.
5. Campfire. Or fire barrel. Or fire pit. Or fire of any kind, really. Most of the world's problems have been solved by five dudes standing around a campfire in a NASCAR infield. Problem is, they're usually too drunk to remember the solutions the next morning. Anyway, flame is seductive, especially in the infield. Just be careful who you seduce. That brings up a whole new set of problems.
6. A tricked-up ride. Sure, you could show up in a pickup and throw your tent on the ground, but why not go all the way? Spot-weld an old school bus into a traveling NASCAR freakshow! Invest half a million dollars into an RV nicer than your home! People will be so impressed, and isn't that what's important?
7. Disinfectant. I know this goes against the rules of the infield from the earliest days of NASCAR, but in the last few decades, infield diseases have mutated into these super-strains of virus so lethal that they have to be kept contained within the semi-sterile confines of the infield itself. Be careful, friends, lest you be skeletonized within minutes by sharing a beer.
8. Golf cart. This is a necessity for getting around the vast expanses of the infield, but it's not always logistically possible. Still, if you can get yourself a golf cart, you will never lack for a beer. (Which you should not drink while driving the golf cart, but still.) Never underestimate how badly people need to get to that bathroom a hundred yards away.
9. Satellite receiver. Because the worst place on earth to watch a NASCAR race is actually inside the infield at a NASCAR track, many technologically motivated fans will actually bring a satellite dish into the infield to, yes, watch the race as it circles around them. Postmodern America, baby!
10. Sharpie. Or ballpoint pen. Or chunk of ashy firewood. Or anything that you can use to get autographs. NASCAR drivers are among the best in sports for signing autographs, and you don't want to be caught without a writing implement. Of course, if you can goad one of them into punching you (not always tough to do, particularly after a race) you can just get the fist-mark tattooed.
N/A: Shower facilities, vegetables, recording devices of any sort. Should be self-explanatory in all three cases.
Got more to add? The comments are your playground, friends.
Kasey Kahne will be serving as Jedi master to newcomer Brad Sweet in the Nationwide Series, as the two will be splitting time in Turner Motorsports' No. 38 Great Clips Chevy. Kahne will drive 15 Nationwide races, while Sweet will take the remaining 18. Sweet has competed for Kahne's Kasey Kahne Racing World of Outlaws team for the last two years.
This is a bit of closing-the-circle with Kahne, who started in Nationwide driving the Great Clips 38. Kahne drove the car to his first victory in the Nationwide series, back in 2003 in Homestead. Kahne would return to the car for eight races in 2010 and 2011, taking four top-five and six top-10 finishes.
Of note: Great Clips is currently the longest-running sponsor in the Nationwide Series, having served as a sponsor for the last 11 years. So give 'em a little thanks next time you see one. You'll confuse the hell out of the stylists in there when you do.
And Brad? Don't go to Kasey for tips on how to use Twitter. That doesn't always go so well.
Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/nascar/article_external/bobby_hamilton_jr_files_for_bankruptcy/9282542
Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/real-world-racing/3rdparty/strakka-time-right-for-lmp1-move/
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/mtCd1I8Anwg/
Perhaps Kurt Busch has found himself a ride after all.
Busch and Phoenix Racing have reached a handshake agreement for Busch to drive Phoenix's No. 51 Chevrolet in 2012. While Phoenix is obviously a much smaller organization than Penske Racing, Busch's prior employer, this could end up being an ideal situation. Phoenix owner James Finch was, naturally, enthusiastic about having a championship driver drop in his lap:
"All we want to do is win," Finch said in a statement. "Winning is why I've been in racing for as long as I have, but NASCAR is a very competitive sport, and winning ? especially at the Sprint Cup level ? is hard. But now with Kurt Busch as our driver, we have a shot to win every week. He's a past champion and he's proven he can win everywhere. Our sponsors are looking forward to Kurt representing their brands."
[Related: AJ Allmendinger to drive No. 22 for Penske Racing]
Phoenix Racing has an alignment with Hendrick Motorsports. In 191 starts, Phoenix has three top fives and one win, that one being a name familiar to Busch: Brad Keselowski, who won at Talladega in 2009. (You remember, the Carl Edwards-in-the-fence race.) Most recently, Landon Cassill drove for Phoenix this year and finished 30th in the standings. Nick Harrison will continue to serve as the 51's crew chief.
"I'm very happy to join Phoenix Racing and after entertaining a lot of quality offers, there's no better place for me," said Busch. "We're going to run the full schedule together, and we're going to have fun doing it.
"It's going to be old-school racing, where we show up, race hard and go for the win. And if we don't win, we'll go back to the shop, work hard and do it all over again next week. That's the way we all started racing, and it's great to get back to that."
Still in play: the 43 of Richard Petty Motorsports. Will this mean David Ragan now has a ride? Or David Reutimann, Brian Vickers or Cassill? Plenty yet to be decided, but the biggest pieces for 2012 are now in place.
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Source: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/01/10/todays-headlines-1299/
Ryan Joseph Newman Kyle Eugene Petty Floyd Anthony Raines Scott Russell Riggs
Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Hybrid, Technology, Crossover, Volvo, Electric, Luxury
Here are the numbers: a 35-mile all-electric range, a recharging time of just 3.5 hours from a 220V outlet (7.5 hours from a more common 110V). Volvo estimates U.S. fuel economy of 105 miles per gallon equivalent and 50 mpg when the battery runs dry. 0-60 is reached in 5.8 seconds on the way to a 130-mph top speed. Oh, and there are eight gears in the auto transmission.Continue reading XC60 Plug-In Hybrid shows where Volvo is headed
XC60 Plug-In Hybrid shows where Volvo is headed originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Jan 2012 16:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsSource: http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/10/volvo-xc60-plug-in-hybrid-detroit-2012/
In the tradition of NASCAR greats like Dale Earnhardt and Fireball Roberts, Carl Edwards will co-host a NYC-based morning talk show, in this case the Regis-less "LIVE! with Kelly" on Tuesday, Jan. 10.
"LIVE!" (we're very sensitive about the proper use of the exclamation point here at Yahoo!) stars, of course, Kelly Ripa, and in this case she's taking on various pro athletes as co-hosts for a week. Other co-hosts will include Reggie Bush, Boomer Esiason, Jesse Palmer and Apolo Anton Ohno.
Jeff Gordon co-hosted the show once; Edwards has been a guest but not a co-host. Check your local listings, Cuz fans.
Kevin Michael Harvick Virgil Ernest Irvan III Kenny Dale Irwin Jr Dale Arnold Jarrett
Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/real-world-racing/3rdparty/dakar-stage-six-cancelled/
Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/real-world-racing/3rdparty/wilson-returns-for-daytona/
Parker Kligerman Trevor Bayne Out! Pet Care Toyota Jason Leffler
Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/iracing-news/o%e2%80%99keefe-gilliland-conquer-charlotte/
Source: http://www.nascarracinglive.com/nascar/aric-almirola-to-drive-no-43-for-rpm.html
Peter Gethin Piercarlo Ghinzani Bruno Giacomelli Dick Gibson
Kyle Eugene Petty Floyd Anthony Raines Scott Russell Riggs Hiroshi Fushida
Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/real-world-racing/3rdparty/kimber-smith-wants-lmp1-seat/
Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/stenhouse_to_race_in_daytona_500/9207115
Source: http://www.motorsportsjournal.com/archives/2011/12/mike_conway_signs_with_aj.php
Parker Kligerman Trevor Bayne Out! Pet Care Toyota Jason Leffler