Frontstretch Newsletter: Sept. 9, 2020
Volume: XIV, Edition CXXIV
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- Teams are still preparing at their shops for this weekend's races in Richmond. Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series teams will be loading up tonight for their drive to Virginia for the race. We'll bring you any news that breaks today at
Frontstretch.
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| | NASCAR Plans to Convert Auto Club Speedway into Short Track for 2022 Season
NASCAR has submitted plans to San Bernardino County (in which Fontana, Calif. resides) to completely revamp Auto Club Speedway into a
short track. According to plans that have been revealed, the track would maintain a D-shaped oval design, but that would be paired with a design similar to Martinsville with banking similar to Bristol in the turns.
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| | Entry List: 2020 Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond
Saturday night's Federated Auto Parts 400 has 38 cars entered. The only change of note is that Reed Sorenson will replace Ross
Chastain in the Spire Motorsports No. 77.
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| | Entry List: 2020 Go Bowling 250 and Virginia is for Racing Lovers 250 at Richmond
For this weekend's Xfinity Series races at Richmond Raceway, there will be 37 cars in Friday night's race and 36 in Saturday's race.
Friday sees Kyle Busch replace Denny Hamlin in Joe Gibbs Racing's No. 54 in his final Xfinity start of the year. That car will not compete on Saturday.
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| | Entry List: 2020 ToyotaCare 250 at Richmond
For Thursday night's Truck race, there are 36 trucks entered. David Ragan has changed his points eligibility in order to race this
week. Ty Majeski is out of the No. 45 in favor of Trevor Bayne.
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| | Keegan Leahy Dominates at Virtual Darlington in eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series
Denny Hamlin Racing's Keegan Leahy led 152 of 184 laps Tuesday night to win Round 14 of the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series at the
virtual Darlington Raceway. Michael Conti was second, then Nick Ottinger, Logan Clampitt and Malik Ray.
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Photos are courtesy of Nigel Kinrade Photography, Auto Club Speedway and iRacing.
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Rev's Picks: Southern 500 Eyecatchers
by John Willoughby
For several years now, NASCAR's premier series has taken to NASCAR's oldest track on the circuit – Darlington Raceway – while honoring the past and present champions and drivers of our beloved sport. Despite having multiple events at the track this season, Labor Day weekend was no different than in
years past.
Humbly, the 2020 throwback weekend has been one of the best I've seen yet. Numerous paint schemes resurfaced after being retired for years while others paid homage to the grit that raised this sport to what it is today. As we proceed to the second race in the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, I take a look back at my top three favorite
schemes from this year's Southern 500, and the thoughts behind the paints and wraps.
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3) Happy Harvick Remembers The Busch Series
Kevin Harvick has been on a hot streak this year and apologizes to no one, which was made evident after securing his eighth win of the season at the historic track Sunday night, locking himself into the Round of 12 in the process. Harvick's Ford Mustang had us all reminiscing about a
time we all undoubtedly enjoyed. The Busch Series, now the Xfinity Series, brought to the Cup Series favorites such as Denny Hamlin, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Martin Truex Jr., and even Harvick who made his debut in the series at Rockingham in 1999. Harvick went on to gain notoriety as the NASCAR Busch Series Rookie of the Year in 2000 after amassing three wins (Gateway, Bristol and Memphis). Harvick later made the move to the Cup Series, filling an untimely void no one was ready
for.
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2) Kyle Busch Nods To The Days Of Elliott Sadler
Driving for Robert Yates Racing, 2004 was an important year for the now-retired Elliott Sadler, and a successful year for M&M's candies who had plenty of television time thanks to Sadler's ability to capture his last two of three career Cup Series wins at Texas Motor Speedway and
Auto Club Speedway. Aside from crossing the finish line first, he held on for a top 10 finish in the season-opening Daytona 500 and made the Chase, completing his season ninth in points. Kyle Busch and M&M's have been faithful to each other since Busch's move to Joe Gibbs Racing and Toyota in 2008. How fitting is it to throw it back to M&M's early days in the sport.
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1) Jimmie Johnson Gives Honor Where Honor Is Due
The most-recent seven-time champion did not disappoint. Jimmie Johnson stepped out of his motor coach with the King's hat and the
Intimidator's Gargoyles sunglasses before climbing into his unique, multi-color Chevrolet Camaro in his final Darlington start. As you can see, the car was painted black and silver on the sides, with the No. 48 leaned in the opposite direction from normal. In addition, the "8" was in the Earnhardt font. Up top, Petty Blue and the iconic bright red stripes lined the hood, roof and deck-lid.
Both Petty and Earnhardt had a lot of success at the circuit's oldest track. The King amassed three wins (including the 1967 Southern 500) with 25 top five and 33 top 10 finishes. Earnhardt scored nine wins at Darlington, including three
Southern 500 victories (1987, 1989-1990). He also had 19 top fives and and 24 top 10s in his career on the egg-shaped oval.
John Willoughby is a Contributor for Frontstretch. Photos are courtesy of Nigel Kinrade Photography.
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