Allmendinger is Out Indefinitely!!

By Sherri Breaton

Penske Driver A.J. Allmendinger was suspended indefinitely by NASCAR
Photo courtesy of NASCAR.com

Despite it being an off week in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, there was still lots of news happening around the tracks.

 A. J. Allmendinger has been suspended indefinitely from NASCAR following his failure to pass the “B” test sample provided following a positive “A” test a few weeks ago for a banned “stimulant”. Allmendinger maintains that he did not knowingly ingest any banned substance and has even suggested that he may have come from a stimulant. He recently signed on with sponsor “Fuel in a Bottle”. It is unclear if this could have been the cause.

His business manager, Tara Ragan, said that the driver is still waiting for information to determine what caused the positive test. NASCAR has since revealed that the substance was amphetamine:

 “He has no idea why the test was positive, and he has never knowingly taken any prohibited substance. A.J. is collecting his medicines and supplements for testing to determine whether an over-the-counter product caused his positive test” Ragan stated following the test outcome.

Allmendinger has chosen to enter the “Road to Recovery” path to reinstatement. David Black, NASCAR’s substance abuse program administrator said that the timetable for Allmendinger's potential return is unclear. It can take Allmendinger anywhere from a few months to more than a year to be reinstated.

Black also went on to state that he would be surprised to learn that the positive result came from a supplement. As Black explained to ESPN:

“On every positive test we have, we look to rule out the possibility of a supplement being involved. Of course, we have not identified the drug (this has since changed) but I'm not aware of any commercial products that would have influenced the test outcome."

NASCAR's substance abuse policy bans stimulants including amphetamine, methamphetamine, Ecstasy (MDMA), Eve (MDEA), MDA, PMA, Phentermine and other amphetamine derivatives and related compounds.

Just hours after the revelation became public, Allmendinger took to Twitter to say a few words (all words sic’d):

"I just want to say thank you first and foremost for all if u sticking by me. Please dont think me being means i havent been reading all ur / Support. And man, it means more than u eill ever know. Im sorry we even have to have this going on. But i promise..i will do whatever it / Takes to get to the bottom of this and get back our there no matter what. Thanks guys."

Typically, the grammar police of Twitterland kicked the poor guy when he was down and in no time he was being ridiculed for his poor English skills. He later tweeted:

"Hey..sorry to u guys jumping on my spelling..it wasnt a "pr" statement..it was me typing from my heart...sorry it wasnt perfect".

Sam Hornish Jr., who subbed for Allmendinger at Daytona and New Hampshire, will again drive the No. 22 car this weekend at Indianapolis and in the following race at Pocono.

Kasey Kahne is riding on a post win high after stealing a win away from Denny Hamlin in New Hampshire July 15^th, 2012. A major communication screw up between Hamlin and crew chief Darian Grubb in the pits cost Hamelin the win after he had been leading 150 of the 300 one-mile laps.

Kasey Kahne celebrates in victory lane at Louden holding the
traditional "lobsta"
Photo courtesy of NASCAR.com

"Darian asked me how much of the tires I felt I'd used up. I felt like I had used up a substantial amount," Hamlin said. "(I said) give me tires and no adjustments. He thought I meant four tires. Nothing's a given. Even though it looked like we had one in the bag if we took two tires, you never know."  Apparently Hamlin only wanted two tires.

Kahne took advantage of the foul up and on the restart jumped in to first on lap 240 while Hamlin restarted 13^th.   The victory for Kahne made him start looking like an actual Cup contender and helped his chances of qualifying for the Chase (the last 10 races of the season in which the top 10 drivers in the point standings win automatic berths). Two additional spots go to the drivers with the most wins who are ranked 11th to 20th in points.

Kahne went from 16th to 12th, and his two wins are more than anyone in the second group of 10. The win was the fifth of the year for Hendrick Motorsports in 19 races. Seven remain before the Chase begins at the Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill., on Sept. 16.

Just when NASCAR fans can not possibly take any more ridicule directed at them, 72 year old Linda Chase of Michigan gives them more ammo. Last month police discovered that Ms. Chase had been keeping her 67 year old friend Charles Zigler’s mummified dead body in his apartment since approximately 2010. Once a week she would dress him, clean him and sit with him so that they could enjoy the NASCAR race on TV. Oh she was also cashing his social security checks probably to pay for the beer and Doritos. Who say’s we NASCAR fans aren’t “die hard”??

On a more “lively” note, NASCAR Chairman, Brian France made a statement about his commitment to making changes in the sport:

"There aren't a whole lot of people who don't want to see more lead changes, or a photo finish, or slamming and banging coming out of the fourth turn."

"It's a contact sport and if you have a chance to win and are in second place on the last lap, would I expect there to be some contact if you have a faster car? Absolutely...we want to see what everybody else wants to see - excitement."

Bring it!

Sunday we resume racing as we go green at the Brickyard in Indy for the Curtiss Shaver 400. Let’s see who is fast enough to kiss the bricks when the checkered flag flies!

The Lowe's 48 Team of Jimmie Johnson kissing the bricks
at the Brickyard
Photo courtesy of Hendrick Motorsports

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You Did Your Daddy Proud Dale! Jr. Ends the Drought on Father’s Day in Michigan

By Sherri Breaton

It's been 4 yrs since Jr. Nation witnessed a burnout in Victory Lane.
Four years, same place.
Michigan International Speedway
Photo Courtesy of Nascar.com

 Well it goes without saying that the fans of Junior Nation are celebrating loud and proud tonight. And rightly so! It has been four years ago and 143 races since, at this very same track, Jr. fans celebrated in Victory Lane. How fitting for this to happen on Father’s Day yet again. Today, June 17^th, 2012, Dale Earnhardt Jr. took home the rain delayed checkered flag at the Quicken Loans 400 at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn Michigan.  

Jr. crosses the finish line at the 2012 Quicken Loans 400 at MIS
Photo courtesy of Nascar.com

Leave it to NASCAR’s current reigning champion and resident mouthpiece to chime in: "Dale had the fastest car all day. It's not a national holiday, guys. This morning they were celebrating his fourth anniversary of his last win, so I guess we're all in a state of mourning now, because he's broke that string now, so I don't know what we're all supposed to think."

Dale Earnhardt Jr. leads the charge to the finish line
Photo courtesy of Nascar.com

Tony....come on, suck it up buttercup. So you didn’t win this one. You had a beyond respectable second place finish. Even if you had, Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s hauler STILL would have outsold yours in merchandise!

How can you not get caught up in the royalty and the loyalty that surrounds Dale Earnhardt Jr?  Following the death of his father Dale Sr. at the Daytona 500 in 2001, I had to pick a new driver to follow. I chose Jimmie Johnson. He was new, he was young and most of all, like Dale Sr., he was fearless and could drive the crap out anything he got behind the wheel of. However, like every other fan in NASCAR, no matter whom you threw your support and loyalty behind, you still your heart, hoped for Jr. to win.

After his ordeal with his Step-Monster Teresa Earnhardt and subsequent departure for DEI,  I could not have been more thrilled to see him hop on board the Hendrick’s Motor Sports Team. Like everyone else I expected great things to happen for him, but they just never seemed to pan out. Dale Jr. to this day, regardless if he were to ever win another race, would still be ranked as NASCAR’s most popular driver. He is the Crown Prince. He can do no wrong. You have to be at a race, live, whenever Jr. takes the lead. The thunderous roar and eruption of cheering is mind blowing in the least, deafing at best. Remember, these are people sporting numbers of every other driver as well as Jr. fans. It’s NASCAR, its family.

Team Earnhardt and the Diet Mountain Dew/National Guard #88 Chevrolet celebrate.
Dale Jr.'s girlfriend Amy Reimann pictured above.
Photo courtesy of Nascar.com 

When he makes mistakes and cause wrecks, it’s okay, “it’s just Dale”. You have to love a sport and a fan base that still supports and cheers on a driver that has not won in four years. He sells more merchandise than any other driver – ever-except for his Dad. We have all known that he has the talent, the God given gift of driving. It was nice to finally see him shake those demons and bring it home for his long suffering team, sponsors, owners but more importantly, his FANS.

Champagne toast for Jr.!
Photo courtesy of Nascar.com 

Top ten results are as follows:

Jr. followed by Tony Stewart, Matt Kenseth, Greg Biffle, Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Clint Bowyer, Juan Montoya, Marcos Ambrose and Kevin Harvick.

Jr. Nation is celebrating tonight!
Photo courtesy of Nascar.com

Overall Sprint Cup current standings are found here:

http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2012/data/standings_unofficial.html

 Next week is the road course at Infineon where the likes of Marcos Ambrose and Tony Stewart always shine. However this is also a place where Jimmie Johnson has conquered. Who is it gonna be?

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Welcome to the Club Kasey!

By Sherri Breaton

Opening Ceremonies for the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motorspeedway
Photo courtesy of Nascar.com

When Kasey Kahne drove into Victory Lane at the Coca-Cola 600 on May 27^th, he earned his wings into the winning club that is Hendrick Motorsports. He now joins the ranks of the many great drivers that helped achieve 200 plus Cup victories.

''It's something I've been looking forward to for a long time,'' Kahne said after winning NASCAR’s longest race for the third time.

Kasey Kahne captures the checkered flag at the 2012 Coca-Cola 600
Photo courtesy of Nascar.com

Kahne crossed the finish line nearly five seconds ahead of Denny Hamlin followed by Kyle

Busch in third and current points leader Greg Biffle fourth. It was Kahne's 13th career win

and first since last November in Phoenix.

For much of this race, it looked as if Biffle was untouchable. He led 204 laps and dominated the race early on. His car seemed to be performing the best in the Charlotte NC heat. Once the sun went down and night fell, the track cooled but Kahne got HOT! Kahne led 96 laps, including the final 42.

''Kasey's car was just better at night,'' Biffle said.

It was just a matter of time for Kahne to get a win this season. Up until now he basically had a streak of bad luck with his cars. Once they figured things out all he had to do was what he does best-DRIVE IT! Congrats Kasey for one of hopefully many wins in the future for you and your team!

Kasey Kahne with his first trip to Victory Lane with his new team at Hendrick's
Photo courtesy of Nascar.com

What the heck happened to the stellar pit crew of Jimmie Johnson? After taking home last week’s top honours at the All Star Pit Crew Challenge, their performance this week cost their driver a possible victory. When Johnson attempted to make his final pit stop of the long night on Lap 354 of the 400-lap event at Charlotte Motor Speedway, he was running third behind race winner Kahne and Denny Hamlin.

Crew Chief Chad Knaus has requested a two tire pit stop in an attempt to save Johnson time to get off pit road and jump in front of the current leaders. Then things got ugly. Once the jack drops that is the cue to the driver that he is good to go. Well the jack dropped and Johnson took off...with his gas man Brandon Harder and his fuel can still stuck to the car.

I looked at my husband and said “I can’t wait to hear the radio transmission from Knaus after this. He is going to be flipping out.” A few moments later we watched the replay of an animated Chad on the pit box and listened to the following.

"Go! Go! Go! STOP! STOP! STOP! ", Knaus yelled over the radio as he watched the chaos ensue. "Oh my God! We just destroyed our [#*&%ing] day!"

The Gas Man for the #48 walks away after a major pit crew foul up
Photo courtesy of Nascar.com

NASCAR tends to frown upon cars leaving pit road with equipment and/or people still stuck to the cars.

So the powers that be at NASCAR handed him a scolding. The Lowe’s 48 car was ordered to serve a stop-and-go penalty. This ended up dropping his position to 13^th place and a lap down from the lead lap. Johnson was never able to recover the momentum he needed and finished just outside the top 10 in 11^th place.

Of note, Danica Patrick was the first woman to drive the 600 since Janet Guthrie in 1976. She finished the race five laps down in 30th place, which was her best finish in her three Sprint Cup races so far. Her sole goal for the race was to just finish and she managed to accomplish just that. It really is a long race and she had a poor starting position due to a lousy qualifier but she stuck it out to the end. Kudos to Danica!

The race was the quickest ever for the 600 at 3 hours, 51 minutes, 14 seconds, nearly five minutes faster than the mark set in 1995.

This week we are headed to the “Monster Mile” at Dover International Speedway for the Fedex 400 Autism Speaks to see if 2011 winner Matt Kenseth can pull off a repeat.

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