2009 Ride: No. 39 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet
2009 Primary Sponsors: U.S. Army, Haas Automation
2009 Car Owner: Tony Stewart
2009 Crew Chief: Tony Gibson
Stats: 36 Starts, Wins, 5 Top 5s,...
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Hey Matt! Finally, we have some entertainment! The Keselowski and Hamlin feud is the best one since Gordon and Rusty. I think it will last longer and make more fireworks, too! Thanks guys, there is...
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Lots to get to this week, and I’m sure you know what’s first on the agenda. So let me post your link to contact me and we can get rolling.
Oh yeah, and the wedding and honeymoon were great, blah,...
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Matt, can you tell me a little about the history of the No. 48? I don’t remember that number being used before Jimmie Johnson. Was it a number used by any one driver in the good old days? I’ve been...
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I don’t care if he doesn’t outright own the team anymore, it’s good to see The King in Victory Lane. Seeing him with a shot at a championship will be even better, whether the 9 wins it or not (and...
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I’m a little confused. Why was Kyle Busch running the rookie stripes on his car at Montreal? Last I checked, he ran a full schedule for Hendrick a few years ago. And he certainly made enough starts...
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I am not a TV critic. I leave that up to Frontstretch’s own Phil Allaway. And I’ve never been one to get my panties in a wad over a particular broadcaster’s production of a race or its on-air talent....
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A quick observation that somehow waded into my head amidst the congestion and cloudiness of a mid-August head cold:
For as much as we, as fans and media, like to complain about the slanted nature...
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How was it Robby Gordon and [Joey] Logano were not penalized for rough driving long before Gordon drove him into the wall [in Saturday’s Nationwide Series race at the Glen]? NASCAR penalized Gordon...
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I read about the Nationwide Series needing an “identity” every week. It’s a common theme on this site and others. My question is how can that series do so if guys like Mike Bliss, a Nationwide-only...
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With apologies to my colleagues here on the Frontstretch, the column everyone should be reading this week (actually, every week) is by Dr. Diandra Leslie-Pelecky at StockCarScience.com. It shines...
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Move over, Tom Watson. Herschel McGriff, at 81 years of age, finished 13th in this past weekend’s NASCAR Camping World West race at Portland International Raceway. We’ve all heard about that,...
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Anyone see where former U.S. figure skating champion Nicole Bobek was charged in a New Jersey court with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine? (Anyone care?) Wonder if she’ll “follow the...
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I was just putting the finishing touches on this column when word came to me that Jeremy Mayfield’s indefinite suspension had been lifted by U.S. District Court Judge Graham Mullen in Charlotte. The...
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Recently I’ve had quite a few questions sent my way in regards to a Silly Season like no other. This one is centered not on driver movement, but on shifts (seismic shifts, at that) in the...
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A few random thoughts while running through the DVR’d version of last Sunday’s LifeLock 400 from Michigan, just prior to jumping up and down like a maniac on the white flag lap:
A “Through the...
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Matt, my question is what is the big deal about the NEW restart? I may be a little on the old age side, but I remember that was the way it was in the old days of NASCAR or any racing for that matter....
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Carl Long, we are with you bud. Just so you know, there are a lot of long-time fans of the sport out here that are appalled by the situation you find yourself in. Thank you for fighting the good...
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I meant to ask this a couple weeks ago when it was more relevant, but oh well. How many Nationwide and Truck Series drivers have won a race on their birthday?
— Kevin
A: Kyle Busch came close...
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Hi Matt. So the natural question this week would be how many guys have won the All-Star Race and the Coke 600 in the same year? Just trying to keep you on your toes! Thanks!
— Ann Florence
A:...
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Matt, with all the changes the All-Star Race has undergone over the previous decade can you give me a rundown of who is eligible and what the new rules in place for this season’s race are? Thanks!
—...
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I always look forward to the month of May. Spring is upon us, the fish are biting, the weather is absolutely beautiful, the mosquitoes aren’t too bad just yet and the NASCAR circuit hits its grandest...
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Why is everyone complaining about the [Talladega] finish? The fence held! The drivers walked away! It worked like it was supposed to! Let them race and quit complaining!
— Kevin Hart
A: I’ll give...
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(In your best ring announcer voice) In this corner, weighing in at roughly 500,000 unique hits per year, a quirky little website long on passion but short on funding and struggling for legitimacy...
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Concerning David Gilliland [from last week’s column], who exactly is TRG Motorsports? What’s their background, who owns it, and where did they come from? I’m impressed with what they’ve done with so...
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RCR’s Busch program is always competitive and has full-time sponsors. Maybe he could have used a year or two in a lower series to grow and sharpen some of his racing skills. And finally, who knows, a...
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My buddies are saying that Jeff Gordon will never win a championship again and that he is at his end. What many people fail to realize [is] that if it wasn’t for the Chase, J.G. would have two...
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Ah, Bristol; you gotta love it. Even when we have a race that isn’t considered to be one of the all-time classics (Sunday’s was at best a 5.0 on the excitement scale) the fervor generated amongst the...
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Matt, can you give us the rundown about when the legends race is at Bristol? What’s the full field and is it televised? Also, Bristol’s banks are now variable, but what exact degree of banking is...
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Hey Matt. My friend and I were talking after the race and I noticed on the internet that Ryan Newman was awarded the WIX Filters Lap Leader of the Race [at Atlanta]. We talked about it, and I did...
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10. Owwww! Those lugnuts hurt when they hit you in the hiney!
9. To avoid a non-attentive Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
8. Instead of “Drop and give me 20!” Coach Kerr says, “Sprint to...
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Hi Matt. The engine problems at Las Vegas aside, do you think the testing ban is the reason for some of the smaller teams (i.e., not Hendrick, Roush, Gibbs and Childress) are showing more success...
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WARNING: You are not going to agree with what you read in the following three paragraphs. Not many of you, anyway. See, I didn’t think the California race was as bad as most of you out there. There...
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There has been a lot of talk this year about the start and park cars potentially entered into the 500. The talk also has placed the payout figure to these cars as starting at some $250,000 (just to...
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Strong stuff in the inbox this week, guys ‘n’ gals. Thanks for the input once again. I wasn’t able to get to a few of you this week… but I haven’t thrown anything out. Keep the...
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Didn’t we talk just, like, two Thursdays ago? Has it actually been over two months since Thanksgiving? Is the Christmas season really over a month gone in our rear-view mirror? Was that the Arizona...
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Before we get rolling with this week’s questions, I have a question of my own: What’s with all the Kyle Busch hate in NASCAR fandom? I’ve read more than a few columns and message boards this month,...
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If you’re like me, you don’t spend the majority of April Fool’s Day looking over your shoulder anymore. Yeah, I used to be one of those guys that took full-on advantage of the one...
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Q: Besides prima donna Joey Logano — who Gibbs is trying to force-feed the 2009 Rookie of the Year award by sandbagging his 2008 schedule and making him the new No. 20 successor to Tony Stewart — who...
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Q: Matt, let me preface my question by saying this: I know we are dealing with NASCAR, so there is no such thing as consistency. But how is it that [David] Gilliland gets parked for wrecking [Juan...
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Good questions this week and I’m feeling a bit long winded, so let’s get to it. However, I do have to mention this first: I can be reached by clicking on this link with questions, comments, opinions,...
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Seven down, three to go. With that in mind, I figure it’s time for another Chase stat update that I enjoy so much (if you don’t, skip down to paragraph 4). It became apparent to me after two...
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Q: Hi Matt. Do poles won due to a rainout in qualifying count as an actual pole won in a driver’s stats? There is no more Bud Shootout set by poles, so I don’t know if it matters. But for the sake of...
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I hate numbers. I’m a step behind in any discussion that requires a working knowledge of simple multiplication, division, algebra in any form; heck, I’ll even throw subtraction in there (for some...
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In case you didn’t hear, we had a little controversy at Talladega this weekend and the second Dr. Jerry Punch exclaimed, “They are saying Tony Stewart has won the race. Tony is the official...
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Q: Hi Matt. My question is why would Hall of Fame Racing take Joey Logano out of the No. 96 car? Is this a directive of Joe Gibbs, or is HoF acting on its own? Logano got off to a bad start, but he’s...
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After watching Greg Biffle put a hurtin’ on the field at both Loudon and Dover, that got me thinking: How has the top Chase finisher in each season’s first two playoff events fared in the final...
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For those of you that did not catch last week’s Fanning the Flames, I have to share one of the funnier post-article comments I’ve seen in a year and a half of writing for the Frontstretch. In...
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Q: KARMA! And it came at Richmond of course! Nothing so sweet as to see Kyle Busch skidding across the track and the 88 right up under him! First Carl at Bristol, now Dale, Jr. at Richmond. How’s...
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And with that, the Open Wheel Invasion has ended. If you’re wondering about the “that” of which I speak, it’s Chip Ganassi Racing’s announcement that Dario Franchitti will return to...
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With apologies to the Bristol Night Race, this week was all about Darlington on the Fanning the Flames circuit. NASCAR’s announcement last week that a three-race date swap involving Atlanta,...
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Q: My God, just what we need: another pathetic race at Kansas Speedway, the monkey’s who run NASCAR are putting a worse and worse show together, but that’s OK since the real racing...
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I find myself totally enraptured by this summer’s Games. No, NASCAR has not taken a back seat, but it is riding shotgun. And the best race I’ve seen since May occurred on Saturday evening — or Sunday...
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Q: When we hear about the astronomical fines being levied by NASCAR, who pays the crew chief’s fine? And if the owner pays for fines assessed against the owner and the crew chief, why...
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Q: Six of the last 10 Brickyard winners have gone on to win the Cup title [Jimmie Johnson in 2006, Tony Stewart in 2005, Jeff Gordon in 2001 and 1998, Bobby Labonte in 2000, and Dale Jarrett in...
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As I listened to the Jim Rome Show while sitting at my desk on Tuesday, I cringed when I remembered that Dale Earnhardt, Jr. was to be a guest. Don’t get me wrong, I like Junior — I’m no rabid...
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Q: My question is why would Martin Truex, Jr. leave DEI to take a seat at Penske Racing’s No. 12 car? That’s a big rumor that I keep hearing, but it doesn’t seem like a step up to me. If a driver is...
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Q: Hi Matt! My husband and I were trying to remember the last time brothers won three straight races before Kyle and Kurt did so. We can’t think of a time it has happened unless Terry and Bobby...
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For the second straight year, the Coke Zero 400 from Daytona International Speedway will be broadcast by TNT Saturday night using a concept called “Wide Open Coverage.” You remember last...
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Q: Matt, what is the penalty for running over the air wrench supply hose? In the past, it was either a pass through pit road, a 15 second Stop-N-Go, or being held a lap. I know every situation is...
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Good batch this week, everyone; lots of questions to tackle. Keep ‘em coming in … this column doesn’t exist without you. In case you need it, here’s the link to my...
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Q: Hey Matt. I’m writing about another Matt, Matt Kenseth, who looks to have found the groove! He did the same thing in 2005 and made the Chase. They have momentum on their side. Is this a team of...
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Q: Besides Mark Martin, who would you say is the most “old school” driver on the Cup circuit right now?
? Dale Petty
A: That?s an interesting question, one the may have a few right...
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No time for an intro this week; you’ve given me so much feedback, it’s time to get right down to it. Still have questions, comments, concerns, or just looking to tell me where to go?...
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Something about NASCARs annual All-Star weekend gets the rumor mill churning every year. Yes, this season has been wackier than usual (Im vowing to find other adjectives to use besides...
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Before we get rolling with this weeks questions, I have a question of my own: Whats with all the Kyle Busch hate in NASCAR fandom? Ive read more than a few columns, message boards and received a...
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My beloved Derby has come and gone, and so have Talladega and Richmond; but all three gave us spectacular racing action. Now, there’s Darlington on Mother’s Day Eve, two weekends in...
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Richmond is a great track. Steeped in history, yet progressive enough to keep it a state-of-the-art facility, this jewel in the capital of the South provides cant-miss racing year in, year out. One...
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Although no one asked, we did catch a few bass last weekend, even with a stiff wind and temps in the 40s. (When I mention fishing at the end of a column, its your cue to ask me how I did so I can...
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Q: Its so good to see Kenny Schrader get in a ride at Talladega that stands a fighting chance! The BAM deal was going nowhere for him, even though it was good to see him on the track. Is this a...
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Q: The Texas race was nap-inducing. Why didnt NASCAR take (Texas Motor Speedway president) Eddie Gossage up on his offer to let the teams test at the track? When Jeff Gordon and his team are that...
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If youre like me, you don’t spend the majority of April Fools Day looking over your shoulder anymore. Yeah, I used to be one of those guys that took full-on advantage of the one day of the...
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Peaks of jubilation and valleys of heartbreak. Devotion. Sacrifice. Harrowing escapes, crushing defeats, and glorious victories. Good choices and bad… and it all equates to 46 wins, 13th on the...
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What a perfect time for an off week. Lets be honest; who among us is not thinking NCAA Tournament? In fact, the presence of March Madness actually brings me to my annual mid-March rant as to how to...
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Q: Glad to see that the drivers are speaking up about the Carl Edwards infraction. Dale, Jr., Elliott Sadler and others were vocal in their opinions that Jack Roush and Edwards were not being...
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Q: Hi Matt! I love the podcasts, and Tom is great on them. I wish they were longer, like an hour-long podcast.
Have you heard anything about the rumor of Tony Stewart going to Richard Childress...
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He does it bigger, better and with more pizzazz than anyone in racing. Whether youre talking about a state-of-the-art fan experience at Las Vegas Motor Speedway complete with day-long concerts in...
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Matt, I have been watching NASCAR for close to 20 years and I am speechless over the events that happened on Sunday at California oh, Im sorry, Auto Club Speedway. Having been watching for what...
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Another solid batch, guys and gals. The diversity of questions is just outstanding, so keep em rolling in Thus far you all have absolutely topped yourselves from where we were at this point last...
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Q: Matt, I have been trying to figure this out. Busch deliberately hit Tonys car three times coming off the track. Even if Tony blocked Busch from exiting pit road, he wasn’t using his car as...
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The end of the offseason always seems to bring an unexpected surprise… and this year was no exception. Just when you thought the driver / car owner dance was over, up jumps Robby Gordon like...
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Quick, name the track that hosts the IRLs season opening race.
Did it take a second? Still don’t know? Heck…I had to look it up myself, as Im not the die-hard IndyCar enthusiast....
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The year was 2002. It was my 27th birthday. My father was receiving the Mayors Award of Excellence for community service. Darrell Waltrip was there too, accepting the award for excellence in sports....
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2007 Ride: No. 00 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota
2007 Sponsors: Burger King / Dominos Pizza
2007 Owner: Michael Waltrip / Robert Kauffman (came on board in October)
2007 Crew Chief: Frank...
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2007 Ride: No. 31 AT&T Chevrolet
2007 Owner: Richard Childress
2007 Crew Chief: Scott Miller
Stats: 36 races, 1 Win, 9 Top 5s, 18 Top 10s, 8th in points.
High Point: Burtons six...
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Q: Will Gene Haas sentencing have any effect at all on his (Haas CNC Racing) team? Allen McCarty
A: Apparently not, Allen. The team has been operating with the knowledge that Haas could face...
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Thanks for the fresh batch of questions this week, race fans! The inquiries continue to trickle in – go ahead, insert 1989 Winston Cup Rookie of the Year joke here – but seriously, folks,...
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Chalk another one up for Bruton Smith.
And this time, chalk one up for the rest of us, too.
Smith, the CEO of Speedway Motorsports, Inc. and a France family bane, has expanded his empire to...
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It’s safe to say the boom is over. With NASCARs television ratings dropping at an alarming rate (down 16.7% from Atlantas 2007 telecast) and a half-full house at said track Atlanta! A...
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