Frontstretch Fan Q & A: Focus On The Chase

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So apparently people are _still_ complaining about the Chase format, and you can look no further than this very website to see it. It seems like weekly leading up to the Chase and every weekend during NASCAR’s version of the playoffs, I can’t read one bit of analysis from fan nor media without seeing some criticism of the format.

Look, I’m not saying it’s perfect nor was it popular with NASCAR’s base. But aren’t we past the point of the constant bitterness and complaining? It’s the system we have and it, too, will change with time. But expecting NASCAR to go back in time is unrealistic. Make the most of it, sit back, and enjoy the show.

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Beyond the Cockpit: Talking Engines and EFI with Doug Yates

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_After speaking with “Doug Yates last week”:https://frontstretch.com/mneff/41414/ about growing up around racing and how he ended up in the engine business, we’ll explore the technical side of building engines that go very fast. Fans always hear about finding horsepower and helping cars gain speed. Yates will give fans a glimpse at what it takes to make a car produce horsepower, talk about his role in the EFI program for NASCAR and settles the direct fuel injection vs. throttle body injection question. He also touches on Hendrick’s engines woes at Michigan, building engines for drag boats and aftermarket performance nuts._

Charity Corner: NAPA, Truex, Jr. To Reward Wounded Soldiers at Chicagoland

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This weekend, NAPA Auto Parts and Michael Waltrip Racing team up to give two special soldiers and their guests a VIP experience at Chicagoland Speedway. Sergeant Erik Blank and Staff Sergeant Otis Hooper will enjoy a weekend of hospitality full of memories at they attend the Chase opening GEICO 400. In a contest that ran through July 31st, fans had the chance to nominate their favorite soldiers for the experience. Once the nominations closed, representatives from the NAPA Chicago Distribution Center and NAPA Illinois store owners chose the winners.

Recent Events Remind Fans of the Risks of Racing

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Last week, former Champ car driver Alex Zanardi won two gold medals in handbiking events at the Paralympic Games 2012 in London. His impressive victories (in one race, Zanardi bested the second place finisher by 27 seconds), served as a personal statement of his love of competition and his ability to overcome his terrible accident from 2001 in which he lost both of his legs. His story is an amazing one, showcasing the proverbial indomitable spirit of man and the testament to overcome serious problems. But it is, at the same time, a reminder of the inherent dangers in racing.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Power Rankings: Top 15 after Richmond II

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So, did everyone enjoy the 24 Hours of Richmond? Those of you who stayed up to watch the end got to see a roaring comeback by Jeff Gordon and a heartbreaker of a race for Kyle Busch. Mix that in with Denny Hamlin’s dominance one-upped by Clint Bowyer’s steal in a last ditch effort for bonus points, and the rain that pushed the race into the wee hours of the morning became an afterthought.

Looking For This Weekend’s Best Race? It Might Not Be in Chicago

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Of course there will be the Sprint Cup race at Chicagoland, the first of 10 races in the Chase for the 2012 championship. Several storylines, from who will come out strongest out of the gate to how Kyle Busch will take missing the Chase, are sure to form over 400 miles Sunday afternoon.

And of course there will also be that race’s predecessor, a Chicagoland Nationwide Series event that will see Elliott Sadler and Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. continue to battle for the season championship, with Cup regulars Paul Menard, Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano and Kurt Busch hoping to play spoiler along with young newcomer Alex Bowman.

Mirror Driving: Chase Scenarios, Best Of The Rest And Down The Stretch

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Summer: Well, for starters I think you have to look at Hamlin. I would say _the_ favorite, though, is Jimmie.
Mike N.: You can’t ignore Hamlin. He’s been on fire the last few races, but Johnson has been strong since Indy and I just think they are poised for another one. The early favorites are Johnson, Hamlin, Kenseth and Biffle. In theory, none of the top 12 can be counted out, but I honestly don’t think Harvick, Kahne, Truex or Bowyer have a shot.