****Official 2012 NASCAR thread****

[Bugeater]

August 19 Michigan 12 p.m.
August 25 Bristol 7 p.m.
September 2 Atlanta 6:30 p.m.
September 8 Richmond 7 p.m.
September 16 Chicago 1 p.m.
September 23 Loudon 1 p.m.
September 30 Dover 1 p.m.
October 7 Talladega 1 p.m.
October 13 Charlotte 7 p.m.
October 21 Kansas 1 p.m.
October 28 Martinsville 1 p.m.
November 4 Texas 2 p.m.
November 11 Phoenix 2 p.m.
November 18 Homestead 2 p.m.

[Al Bundy]

Rooti.... what a tool. Hopefully they sit him down for a few weeks.

[Dylan]

Newman started the wreck

[mlyonsd]

Originally Posted by Dylan

Newman started the wreck

Yup.

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by Dylan

Newman started the wreck

Meh, Jimmie and Jeffie were sitting ducks, it was inevitable that something bad was going to happen.

[Al Bundy]

I think everyone hates Rooti at this point.

[Dylan]

Junior had words with another driver...

Edit: Junior had words with Rudy

Clint hit them in the rear and caused the wreck. Newman also caused a little chaos by getting underneath Clint. But in the end, Clint made it three wide and caused the wreck.

Rudy was entertaining

Watching SPEED TV

[Dylan]

2012 Martinsville: Dale Earnhardt Jr. NASCAR Sprint Cup Post-Race Press Conference

Excerpts:
Q. What's your take on the 10 car? It seemed like about five laps out there, he was going about five miles an hour, and finally came to a stop. You guys were running 1, 2, 3 for Hendrick at the time. What's your thoughts on just all that happened there with that and how that brought out the last yellow?

DALE EARNHARDT, JR.: Well, I would like an explanation on why that happened, from him, his crew chief, somebody. But there's no it doesn't seem like there could be a logical reason for him to end up stopped on the track.

He was running around slow; you got a problem, you really get down and get on pit road. I don't believe he had any trouble getting down. When we went by him the first time he was low. I would like to hear a good excuse to be honest with you, because I'm sure it would be laughable. (Laughter).

Q. Talk about the first green and white checkered, what did you see on the inside line with Newman and Bowyer get going that kind of caused the chain reaction that led to the way the race finished?

DALE EARNHARDT, JR.: Now that I think about it, the leaders had more than a hundred laps on their tires, and the guys behind them had new tires at least on one side of the car. And we all took off and ran in the back of the leaders, all of us.

So Clint went to the inside, and that was his prerogative, man. He was going for the win and I thought it was a good move. Just not enough room for all three of them down there in that corner and everybody got together.

Q. Obviously Hendrick going for win No. 200 today, I think you guys were one two, three up until the final caution. So did David Reutimann pretty much just cost you guys the big day, and can you talk about the disappointment for you and Jeff and Jimmie not getting 200?

DALE EARNHARDT, JR.: Disappointing for everybody to run as good as we did today and not finish up there. I know Jeff is especially disappointed because of the way his year's been going. And I've got a real good idea of what his opinion is about that.

I don't think I want to talk about it too much. I don't want to say more until I get an explanation from them or read one somewhere. Maybe you guys can track one down.

Q. If you don't mind, we have comment from Reutimann if you would like to hear it.
DALE EARNHARDT, JR.: Sure.

Q. He said: I would not have stopped on the freaking racetrack to think (indiscernible) going on the back straightaway, I know it sucks and I hated for everybody to be affected, but I can't get out and push the thing. I was just trying to finish the day out and stay in the top 35. So can I get your reaction to that?

DALE EARNHARDT, JR.: No.

[Dylan]

2012 Martinsville: Ryan Newman NASCAR Sprint Cup Winner's Press Conference

Excerpts:
Q. Clint maintained after the race that you would have done the exact same thing if given the opportunity; but also AJ was in here after the race and was raving about how well and clean you raced him on those last two laps. Which one would it have been?

RYAN NEWMAN: Well, if I was in Clint's position, I would have tried not crashing the guys and won the race. I mean, I was trying to do the same thing to him as he did to the 24, and he actually whether he was trying to block me or he was just trying to get his run on the 24, he pulled down and my little bump, I think it was a pretty good shot, propelled him up next to the 24.

Whether he hit turn one faster than he wanted to or not, he still has got three pedals on the car and a steering wheel; it's his job to control it. I don't know if he hit the curb or if he ran out of room or the 24 pinched him down. It doesn't matter.

[Dylan]

Danica Patrick Signs $100 Million NASCAR Sprint Cup Deal With Stewart-Haas

The rumors are true... NASCAR Nationwide driver Danica Patrick has signed a 5-year $100 million deal to race with Stewart-Haas Racing beginning in 2013. The final deals of the contract were ironed out and reviewed by the lawyers late last week with the signatures coming today, April 1st, 2012 in Stewart's motor coach at Martinsville Speedway.

With the blockbuster marriage, three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion and team-boss Tony Stewart has landed one of the sports most marketable personalities, and rising race stars.

Neither Stewart nor Patrick would comment on the deal pending the official announcement mid-week. Though a brief text from Stewart's PR person indicated to "presser mid-week".

Danica Patrick is a former IndyCar driver and is the most sought after driver since Michael Waltrip back in the late-90s when the up-and-coming star was clearly a winner if he could just get in the right equipment. Today, Patrick has one IndyCar win in 115 IndyCar races, 30 NASCAR Nationwide and six Cup race which puts her ahead of Waltrip's stellar pace. With her arrival at Stewart-Haas she will finally have the equipment she deserves, and should be competing for the NASCAR Sprint Cup championship year-after-year.


One top Patrick aid quoted Patrick saying, "This is the best day of my life since leading the Indianpolis 500, only it pays better!"

She belongs in ARCA. It makes no sense:

[Bugeater]

That comment from Rooty doesn't make any damn sense at all.

[Dylan]

Bug,
The 10 car is in partnership of Stewart Haas Racing and Tommy Baldwin Racing. If they can keep the 10 car ranked in the top 35 - Danica Patrick would automatically get a provisional exemption when she takes over the car on May 12th. Meaning, she would not have to qualify to get in the race. But, the car dropped to 36th. Patrick might have to earn it for once - at DARLINGTON RACEWAY!


Excerpts: USA Today - Drivers lambaste Reutimann's costly move

MARTINSVILLE, Va. – Danica Patrick won't return to Sprint Cup until May 12 at Darlington Raceway, but her nascent career in NASCAR's premier series indirectly made a heavy impact Sunday at Martinsville Speedway.

Mindful of the points at stake, Reutimann wrestled a wounded car for most of the day after spending more than 60 laps on garage repairs earlier in the race.

Third-place finisher Dale Earnhardt Jr. said Reutimann changed the outcome by "driving around at 15 mph for two or three laps" before the yellow and should have went to the pits rather than risk stopping on the racetrack.

Other drivers weren't able to be so cavalier about the circumstances involving Reutimann, who is sharing the No. 10 with Patrick. Sunday's 35th dropped the car to 36th in the standings, one point outside the top 35 positions guaranteed a spot in each race. If it remains there, Patrick would have to qualify on speed for the Southern 500 at Darlington, the toughest track on the circuit. LOL

Mindful of the points at stake, Reutimann wrestled a wounded car for most of the day after spending more than 60 laps on garage repairs earlier in the race.

Said Brad Keselowski, who finished ninth: "That was really, really uncalled for and ruined the day for a lot of people from having a lot better finishes. I think we're all really, really frustrated with (Reutimann)."

"I just hate that I was involved in anything that changed the complexion of the race, so I've got to apologize to the guys that it affected," Reutimann said. "It broke a tie rod or something. I was just trying to limp around. We needed to finish the next couple of laps to try to stay in the top 35.

The yellow for Reutimann essentially cost Hendrick Motorsports its 200th victory.

Teammates Jeff Gordon, who led a race-high 328 laps, and Jimmie Johnson, who led 112, were running 1-2 and elected not to pit when the rest of the lead-lap cars did. On the next restart, Clint Bowyer made contact with Gordon with an inside pass for the lead, triggering a crash that also collected Johnson, who finished 12th, and handed the lead to Newman.

Gordon, who ran out of gas under caution before the final restart and settled for 14th, said, "That's (a) Martinsville green-white-checkered. There are no guarantees at this place."

And for Patrick, there now might not be a guarantee at Darlington.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/motor...ove/53935638/1

[Dylan]

2012 Martinsville Jeff Gordon Jimmie Johnson Bowyer Crash

[In58men]

Tony Stewart goes to a back up car after scraping wall during practice.

[Dylan]

[Demonpenz]

Tony what the crap?