Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
>>> OVERCAST AND COOLING OFF AT
CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY AT THE
NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES TEAMS
LOOKS TO COME OUT FOR THEIR
FINAL PRACTICE TO GET SET FOR
SATURDAY NIGHT'S BANK OF AMERICA
500.
YOU SEE THE CARS ALL BEING
LOADED UP WITH THEIR DRIVERS.
THEY'LL BE ROLLING OUT OF THE
GARAAREA SHORTLY FOR A FINAL
RUN ON THIS RACETRACK.
REGAN SMITH IS GETTING READY TO
CLIMB INTO HIS RACE CAR.
ONE OF THE MAJOR STORIES.
LAST SUNDAY, THE LAST LAP OF THE
RACE AT TALLADEGA, A HUGE 25-CAR
PILEUP.
THAT STARTED WITH TONY STEWART
RACING FOR THE LEAD AND ENDED
WITH THAT.
ENDED IN A LOT OF PEOPLE
SCRATCHING THEIR HEADS AND
SHAKING THEIR HEADS.
SOME FOR MORE REASON THAN
OTHERS.
ON TO CHARLOTTE.
WHERE ON THURSDAY, JUST BEFORE
THE START OF PRACTICE, DALE
EARNHARDT JR. ANNOUNCE HEAD
WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DRIVE THIS
RACE.
REGAN SMITH WOULD REPLACE HIM
GETTING FITTED FOR THAT 88 CAR.
UNEXPECTED TURN OF EVENTS FOR
THE DRIVER WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO
DRIVE FOR JAMES FINCH IN THE 51
HERE THIS WEEKEND.
OPENING PRACTICE SAW A LOT OF
PEOPLE PUSHING THE LIMITS ON
THAT REAR END MOVEMENT T REAR
END HOUSING MOVEMENT DESIGNED TO
HELP THE CAR MAXIMIZE THE
MOVEMENT.
QUALIFYING, GREG BIFFLE
MAXIMIZED EVERYTHING, SETTING A
NEW TRACK RECORD HERE AT
CHARLOTTE.
>> HE HAD A GOOD TIME MANY HIS
TRIP AROUND THIS RACETRACK.
GREG BIFFLE, POLE SITTER FOR
SATURDAY NIGHT'S RACE, STANDING
BY HIS CAR, GETTING READY TO
CLIMB ABOARD FOR FINAL PRACTICE.
THE LAST SIX DAYS IN THE NASCAR
SPRINT CUP SERIES.
MAJOR STORY OUT OF ALL OF THAT,
OF COURSE, THE ANNOUNCEMENT BY
DALE EARNHARDT JR. THAT HE WOULD
NOT BE ABLE TO COMPETE HERE AT
THIS WEEKEND AND NEXT WEEKEND IN
KANSAS.
PROMPTING THE NAMING OF REGAN
SMITH IN THE 88 CAR.
AT THE RACETRACK, ALLEN BESTWICK
WITH DALE JARRETT AND FORMER
CHARLOTTE WINNING CREW CHIEF
ANDY PETREE.
WE START WITH THE DALE EARNHARDT
JR. STORY.
A LOOK BACK AT THE CRASH AT
TALLADEGA THAT ENDED THE RACE,
PAYING PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO
JUNIOR'S 88 CAR.
DIDN'T LOOK TOO SEVERE.
>> NO.
WE'VE SEEN HARDER HITS.
HE GETS HIT A NUMBER OF TIMES
HERE.
IT'S RIGHT ABOUT HERE BOBBY
LaBONTE COMES AND CATCHES HIM IN
THE LEFT REAR.
>> THE ANNOUNCEMENT FROM JUNIOR
HERE ON THURSDAY MORNING.
>> THE SHOT AT KANSAS WAS -- I
THINK WE GOT THE DATA, BUT IT
WAS AROUND 40 Gs AND THE SHOT AT
TALLADEGA WAS ONLY 20 Gs.
IT WASN'T THAT BIG OF A WRECK.
THE FACT THAT I FELT THE WAY I
DID IS WHAT CONCERNED ME AFTER
THE HIT AT TALLADEGA BECAUSE IT
WASN'T THAT HARD OF A HIT.
SO I WANTED TO, YOU KNOW,
PROCESS HOW I FELT OVER A COUPLE
OF DAYS AND I WENT TO THE DOCTOR
TUESDAY ACTUALLY.
ANY WAYS -- YOU KNOW, I JUST
WANTED TO PROCESS WHAT WAS
HAPPENING.
I KNEW HAVING THEM TWO
CONCUSSIONS BACK TO BACK WAS NOT
A GOOD THING.
SO I NEEDED TO GO SEE SOMEBODY
REGARDLESS OF WHETHER I WANTED
TO GET OUT OF THE CAR OR NOT.
SO JUST FOR MY OWN WELL BEING, I
COULDN'T -- IF I DIDN'T NEED TO
GO BACK IN THE RACE CAR AND GO
GET HIT AGAIN, I NEEDED SOMEBODY
TO TELL ME THAT BECAUSE I WAS
GOING HAVE TO A HARD TIME MAKING
THAT DECISION FOR MYSELF.
BECAUSE I FEEL PERFECTLY FINE,
BUT I DON'T WANT TO KEEP GETTING
HIT IN THE HEAD.
>> AND IT WAS 190 PLUS MILES AN
ARP.
LIKE THEY'LL BE DOING HERE IN
CHARLOTTE IN JUST A COUPLE
MINUTES.
THE ANNOUNCEMENT BY DALE
EARNHARDT JR. 30 HOURS AGO TO
STEP OUT OF THE RACE CAR SET OFF
A HUGE INDUSTRY WIDE DISCUSSION
OVER A DRIVER'S RESPONSIBILITY
AND NASCAR'S RESPONSIBILITY IN
AN INJURY SITUATION LIKE THIS.
FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVES, THE
HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS DISCUSSION
AND DEBATE ARE WHAT?
>> WELL, I THINK THE BIGGEST
THING IS THE ATHLETE HIMSELF
HAVING THE GUTS TO ADMIT THAT HE
HAS A PROBLEM AND SEEK HELP AND
WHAT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
AND AS MANY OF YOU MAY NOTE,
ONCE YOU HAVE A CONCUSSION,
YOU'RE MORE APT TO HAVE ANOTHER
IN THESE TYPE SITUATIONS.
THEY DON'T JUST GET BETTER.
AND THE PROBLEM COULD GET MORE
SEVERE IF YOU DON'T TAKE ACTIONS
TO GET TREATED AND GET HEALTHY
BEFORE YOU GET BACK IN.
>> YEAH.
THE PROBLEM IS THE DRIVER IS THE
CENTER OF THE RACING.
HE'S THE MAIN PART OF THAT.
AND THAT'S A LOT OF
RESPONSIBILITY TO PUT ON ONE
MAN.
HE HAS TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS
FOR HIMSELF BUT HE'S THINKING
ABOUT THE RACE TEAM.
THEY MADE THE CHASE.
THEY HAD A CHANCE TO WIN THE
CHAMPIONSHIP.
THAT WAS A PRETTY BIG DECISION
TO MAKE.
IT WAS THE RIGHT ONE.
I UNDERSTAND WHY IT'S A TOUGH
ONE FOR A LOT OF THESE DRIVERS.
>> MANY PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT ALL
THE STEPS IN THE PROCESS OF
DRIVER'S MEDICAL -- THE DRIVER'S
RESPONSIBILITY TO HIMSELF AND TO
HIS SPONSORS AND THE OTHER
COMPETITORS AND SO ON THAT THIS
WHOLE ISSUE HAS BROUGHT ABOUT.
RICK HENDRICK A BIG PART OF
THOSE DISCUSSIONS.
>> ALLEN, RICK, IF THERE WAS ANY
SECOND GUESSES AFTER YOU MADE
THE DECISION, ALMOST EVERYONE IN
THE GARAGE AREA PLAY AI PLAIDING
WHAT YOU AND DALE EARNHARDT JR.
HAVE DONE, PULLING HIM OUT OF
THE CAR TO PROTECT HIM.
YOUR THOUGHTS?
>> JERRY, YOU JUST DON'T WANT TO
TAKE A CHANCE ON HAVING ANOTHER
ACCIDENT.
AND WHEN DOCTOR PETTY EXPLAINED,
YOU KNOW, WHAT COULD HAPPEN WITH
ANOTHER IMPACT AND WE JUST NEED
TO LET HIM REST AND HAVE QUIET
TIME, LET IT HEAL.
YOU KNOW, TO TRY TO RUIN
EVERYTHING WE'VE WORKED SO HARD
FOR THIS YEAR, HE AND STEVE HAVE
DONE A GREAT JOB.
BUT HIS HEALTH AND THE HEALTH OF
ALL OF YOUR DRIVERS IS MORE
IMPORTANT THAN ANY RACE OR ANY
SEASON.
SO, YOU KNOW, GIVE HIM TEN DAYS
AND HE'LL BE BACK.
YOU KNOW, WE WON'T HAVE TO WORRY
ABOUT IT.
BUT IT JUST WAS A DECISION ONCE
DR. PETTY GAVE US THE
INFORMATION, WE KNEW IT WAS THE
RIGHT THING TO DO.
>> I KNOW YOU'VE TREATED DALE
EARNHARDT JR. LIKE A SON.
HE CAME OVER TO BE A PART OF
THIS OPERATION.
YOU KNEW HIM AND WERE FRIENDS
WITH HIS DAD.
WHEN HE KNEW WHAT WAS GOING TO
BE DECIDED, HOW DIFFICULT WAS IT
FOR HIM TO REALIZE HE WAS GOING
TO HAVE TO STEP OUT OF THE CAR?
>> NO RACE CAR DRIVER WANTS TO
GET OUT OF HIS CAR.
HE FEELS LIKE, YOU KNOW, HE
DOESN'T WANT TO LET THE FANS
DOWN.
HE DOESN'T WANT TO LET HIS TEAM
DOWN, HIS SPONSORS DOWN.
BUT ALL OF US NEED HIM
LONG-TERM.
AND, YOU KNOW, TO TAKE A WEEK OR
TWO TO MAKE SURE HE'S OKAY, YOU
KNOW, IS A WHOLE LOT BETTER THAN
LOSING HIM IF HE HAD A PROBLEM.
SO, IT'S HARD FOR A DRIVER.
IT'S HARD FOR DALE BECAUSE HE
WANTS TO DRIVE SO BAD.
WHEN HE WAS OVER HERE AT THE
PRESS CONFERENCE AND SAW HIS CAR
HERE, HE WANTS TO GET IN IT.
BUT HE KNOWS THAT'S NOT THE
SMART THING TO DO.
AND WE'LL LOOK BACK AND KNOW WE
DID THE RIGHT THING.
>> RICK, WE ALL APPLAUD YOUR
DECISION.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
TIME.
>> THANK YOU, JERRY.
>> THANKS.
AS YOU CAN HEAR THE ROAR IN THE
BACKGROUND T FINAL PRACTICE HAS
BEGUN.
CHARLOTTE NOW AS WE TURN OUR
ATTENTION TO THE ON-TRACK
ACTION, LITTLE REPUTATION FOR
BEING ONE OF THE MORE
WEATHER-SENSITIVE RACE TRAX.
YESTERDAY WAS WARMER.
THIS AFTERNOON'S FIRST PRACTICE
LITTLE WARMER THAN IT IS NOW.
THE RACE TONIGHT WILL BE COOLER
YET.
CREW CHIEF AND DRIVER, WHAT ARE
YOU LOOKING OUT TO FIND OUT?
>> THE FIRST THING YOU WANT TO
DO IS GET YOUR CAR OUT.
YOU HAVE TO START.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE A PLACE TO
ADJUSTMENT FROM.
SO IF THEY'RE GOING TO GET THE
CAR BALANCED.
IF THEY HAVE SOMETHING THEY WANT
TO TRY MAKE MAKE SOME SPEED.
THEY CAN DO THAT NOW.
YOU SEE THAT OVERCAST.
YOU HAVE A LITTLE OVERCAST SKY.
IT WILL HELP THE TRACK
CONDITIONS BE MORE CONSISTENT.
THAT'S ABOUT ALL YOU COULD ASK
FOR RIGHT THERE.
>> YEAH.
FROM THE DRIVER'S STANDPOINT,
THIS CLOUD COVER IS THE BEST
THING THAT COULD HAPPEN.
IT WILL GIVE THEM SOMEWHAT OF A
BETTER IDEA OF WHAT TO EXPECT.
THIS IS WHERE HAVING SUCCESS AT
A TRACK AND HAVING EXPERIENCE AT
A TRACK REALLY WORKS TO THOSE
DRIVER'S FAVOR BECAUSE YOU KNOW
THE FEEL OF THE RACE CAR THAT
YOU'RE LOOKING FOR IN THE NIGHT.
YOU CAN MAKE ADJUSTMENTS FROM
THERE.
THAT'S THE OTHER THING IS YOU
HAVE TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE AN
ADJUSTABLE CAR FOR TOMORROW
EVENING.
>> DENNY HAMLIN IN THE 11 CAR.
LITTLE BIT LATE GETTING GOING IN
THE FIRST PRACTICE SESSION.
HE MISSED ABOUT 20 MINUTES OF
THAT OPENING PRACTICE.
WORD IS THAT THERE WAS A
FUNCTION OVER AT JOE GIBBS
RACING THAT INVOLVED DENNY HERE.
HE FOUGHT HIS WAY THROUGH SOME
OF THE TRACK AT THE BEGINNING
HERE.
>> I DON'T KNOW THAT FIRST
PRACTICE SESSION, I'M NOT SURE
HOW MUCH OF THAT YOU WANTED TO
RUN ANY WAY.
>> THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THE TEAM
SAID WHEN I ASKED THEM WHERE IS
DENNY.
AH, WE'RE NOT MISSING ANYTHING
THEY SAID.
DENNY, WITH A GOOD STARTING SPOT
FOR SATURDAY NIGHT'S RACE.
STARTING IN NINTH.
AND FINISHED SECOND HERE IN THE
COCA-COLA 600 ON MEMORIAL
WEEKEND.
JOE GIBBS RACING TEAMMATE KYLE
BUSCH HAS LED A LOT OF LAPS HERE
AT CHARLOTTE IN RECENT RACES.
HE'S DONE EVERYTHING BUT TAKE
HOME THE TROPHY.
>> AS YOU SAID, HE'S ALMOST
MASTERED THIS PLACE EXCEPT FOR
GOING TO VICTORY LANE.
I CAN'T BELIEVE WHEN IT GETS
DOWN TO THE END OF 500 MILES
TOMORROW NIGHT, HE'LL MIX THINGS
UP WITH THESE CHASE DRIVERS TO
SEPARATE THEM BY POINTS.
>> TALK ABOUT DENNY HAMLIN
FINISHING SECOND HERE IN MAY.
THE GUY HE FINISHED BEHIND
REPORTED ON BY VINCE WELCH.
>> THAT GUY IS KASEY KAHNE.
HE WILL START TENTH.
KASEY IS ONE OF THE FAVORITES.
YOU MENTIONED A WINNER HERE IN
SPRING.
LED 96 LAPS IN THAT RACE.
THEY'VE BEEN HAPPY WITH THEIR
RACE CAR SO FAR THIS WEEKEND.
IN THE FIRST PRACTICE THIS
AFTERNOON, THEY WERE LITTLE TOO
TIGHT WHEN THE CAR LOADED ON
ENTRY.
THEY'RE WORKING ON THAT HERE IN
THE SECOND SESSION.
WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY HELP IT
WITHOUT HURTING IT ON EXIT.
STARTING THIS SESSION, MOST OF
THE TEAMS ARE SAVING STICKERS
FOR LATER IN THE PRACTICE.
KASEY KAHNE HAS BEEN FAST IN
PRACTICE.
5 IS ONE OF THE FIRST MENTIONED
WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT FAVORITES ON
SATURDAY NIGHT.
>> HE IS MINE TOO.
WONDER WHAT THEY'RE WORKING ON?
MUST HAVE FOUND SOMETHING THEY
DIDN'T LIKE SO THEY WANT TO GET
RIGHT ON IT.
>> CERTAINLY NOT PLAYING ANGRY
BIRDS THERE.
KEEPING TRACK OF THE TIME.
SOME OF THE OTHERS THAT ARE ON
THE RACETRACK, BRAD KESELOWSKI
LEADING THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP
CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS COMING INTO
SATURDAY NIGHT'S RACE.
AND THIS DRIVER MID PACK IN THE
STARTING GROUP TOMORROW NIGHT,
DOC.
>> EXACTLY.
14-POINT LEAD BY VIRTUE OF THE
TWO WINS BEFORE THE CHASE RACE.
AS YOU SAID, HE STARTS 20th IN
THE FIELD.
NOW THIS PRACTICE SESSION, AS
YOU HEARD VINCE SAY, IT IS THE
MOST CRITICAL SESSION OF THE
WEEKEND.
I SPOKE TO BRAD A MOMENT AK,
THEY SAID WHAT THEIR PLAN IS TO
GO OUT IN THIS SESSION AND MAKE
LONG RUNS.
20, 25 LAPS.
HALF OF A FUEL RUN.
THEY WANT TO SEE WHAT'S GOING TO
HAPPEN WITH THE RACETRACK,
WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THE
BALANCE OF THE CAR.
THEY KNOW AS IT GETS COOLER, HOW
COOL IT WILL BE IN TERMS OF
TOMORROW NIGHT, THE CAR WILL
FREE UP AS THE SPEEDS GO UP.
SO THEY WANTED TO TAKE A LOOK AT
THE CAR AND BE ABLE TO SEE WHAT
THEY'VE GOT BUT ALSO LISTEN TO
THIS, GUYS, MAYBE NOT SHOW THEIR
HAND.
AS THEY DID IN CHICAGO.
>> I NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS
DOING THAT.
>> BUT ONE THING -- WHAT'S
HAPPENING IS LOT OF THESE TEAMS
HAVE DEVELOPED THEIR CHASSIS, IT
AFFECTS THEIR BODY.
THEY WANT TO KNOW NOW WHAT'S IT
GOING TO DO ON THIS TRACK.
IF THEY START DOING THAT, THEY
NEED TO HAVE MORE DATA.
MAKING THAT LONG RUN MAKES A LOT
OF SENSE.
>> ONE THING I'M WATCHING BRAD
@@ IN THIS 2 CAR, HE'S MOVING
AROUND ON THE RACETRACK A LOT.
STARTED BACK WHERE HE IS, THAT
AIR IS GOING TO BE PRE@@TTY DIR
FOR A WHILE.
HE'S STARTING TO RUN INTO PLACES
THAT MAYBE SOME OTHER PLACES
WON'T BE HERE THREE AND@@ FOUR
IN THE SECOND -- HE'S IN THE
THIRD LANE, MAKE PASSES TO GET @
HIS WAY TO THE @@FRONT.
>> THAT'S BASIC RACING @@
PHILOSOPHY, IF YOU'R@@E GOING T
PASS THEM, YOU HAVE@@ TO RACE
WHERE THEY'RE NOT.
>> 14 POINTS, BIGGEST LEAD IN
THE CHASE FOR BRAD OVER JIMMIE
JOHNSON.
DENNY HAMLIN IS IN THIRD.
HOW FAR BACK IS TOO FAR BACK?
THERE'S AN AWFUL LOT OF RACING
TO GO, INCLUDING A VERY
>>> OUR FULL FRIDAY OF
MOTORSPORTS COVERAGE HERE IN
CHARLOTTE CONTINUES NEXT AFTER
SPRINT CUP FINAL PRACTICE IT'S
THE NASCAR NATIONWIDE SERIES
PRESENTED BY GODADDY.COM.
ALL THE CHAMPIONSHIP CONTENDERS
STARTING UP FRONT IN THIS ONE
TONIGHT.
IT WILL BE OVER ON ESPN NEXT.
THEN TOMORROW NIGHT RACE LIVE IS
THE BANK OF AMERICA 500, IT'S ON
ABC STARTING AT 7:00 EASTERN
TIME A CRISP, COOL NIGHT, SPEEDS
WILL BE UP.
200 MILES AN HOUR INTO THE
CORNER.
IT WILL BE AN EDGY RACE FROM
BEHIND THE WHEEL AS YOU LIKE TO
GO BACK AND FORTH WITH US DURING
THE COURSE OF THIS PRACTICE,
TONIGHT'S RACE OR TOMORROW
NIGHT'S RACE FOLLOW US ON
TWITTER
@NASCARESPN.
KEVIN HARVICK IS A BIG TWITTER
GUY.
NOT RIGHT NOW.
HE'S BUSY ON THE RACETRACK
WORKING OUT THIS 29 CAR.
THAT IS GOING TO START IN THE
11th POSITION ON SATURDAY NIGHT.
>> PRETTY GOOD.
I'M JUST HAVING TROUBLE GETTING
INTO ONE NOW.
GOOD THROUGH THREE AND FOUR.
I CAN'T KEEP IT ON THE BOTTOM
LIKE I NEED TO INTO ONE.
>> RIGHT THERE.
>> I SEE HIS HANDS NERVOUS
GETTING INTO THE CORNER.
IT'S ONE THING TO REALLY FIGHT.
YOU CAN FIX IT, BUT WHAT HAPPENS
THE CAR IS WAY TOO TIGHT
EVERYWHERE ELSE.
YOU HAVE TO LIVE WITH THAT AND
DO WHAT YOU CAN TO MAKE THAT
SET -- SETTLE THE CAR DOWN.
>> I WAS FORTUNATE THIS MORNING,
I DROVE A BIT.
IT BROUGHT BACK THE MEMORY JUST
HOW MUCH DOWN IN TURNS ONE AND
TWO HOW DIFFERENT IT THAN THREE
AND FOUR.
HOW MUCH THAT CARLOADS UP AND
JUST HOW IT SITS YOU BACK IN THE
SIT, DOWN IN THE SEAT AS YOU
EXIT OFF OF TURN TWO.
40 MILES AN HOUR SLOWER THAN
WHAT THESE GUYS ARE GOING.
BUT STILL THAT BANKING REALLY
WORKS ON YOU, ESPECIALLY ON THAT
END OF THE TRACK.
>> IF YOU SAW THAT, WHEN THE 48
CAR WENT INTO TURN ONE, LITTLE
PUFF OF SMOKE FROM THE LEFT
FRONT CORNER OF THE CAR.
SPARKS LIKE HI BOUNCED THAT
FRONT SPLITTER OFF THE
RACETRACK.
THAT N THAT SPOT WHERE THE CAR
GOES OVER THE BUMP AND SETTLES.
>> AS YOU GO UP AND THEN WHEN
THE CAR LANDS, THERE'S NOTHING
LIKE THE LANDING AT DOVER.
YOU CAN SEE JIMMIE JOHNSON, THIS
CAR IS TURNING SIDEWAYS THERE.
>> HE WASN'T THAT LOOSE GETTING
INTO THE CORNER.
>> THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS
ABOUT THIS TRACK.
THIS IS DIFFERENT BECAUSE OF THE
WAY IT LOADS UP.
THE WAY THE TRANSITIONS INTO THE
CORNER.
>> JIMMIE JOHNSON GOING TO TAKE
THE GREEN FLAG IN THE FIFTH
POSITION.
TRACK POSITION IMPORTANT.
YOU WANT TO QUALIFY UP FRONT AND
START UP FRONT.
WHEN YOU HAVE A STARTING SPOT UP
FRONT T LAST THING YOU WANT TO
DO IS GIVE IT AWAY.
RYAN NEWMAN WAS SUPPOSED TO
START IN THIRD POSITION, NOT
ANYMORE.
>> I DON'T LIKE THAT.
>> I DIDN'T SEE WHAT THE NUMBERS
WERE.
IT WAS GOING UP.
>> RYAN NEWMAN BEFORE HE BROUGHT
THIS CAR OFF THE TRACK INTO THE
GARAGE.
YOU SEE THEY'VE GOT HER BACKED
IN AND STARTING TO DISCONNECT
THE THINGS FROM THE ENGINE TO
TAKE IT OUT AND CHANGE IT.
>> THE ENGINE HAD PROBLEMS
EARLIER, FEW ENGINE PROBLEMS.
LOOKED LIKE THEY HAD THAT
STRAIGHTENED OUT.
WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANY KIND OF
ISSUES FROM THEM LATELY.
THIS HAS GOTTEN THEIR ATTENTION.
>> IF THEY TAKE THAT OUT AND TRY
TO DIAGNOSE THIS VERY QUICKLY,
WON'T THEY, AND GIVE THEM AN
OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THEIR
OTHER CARS OUT THERE AND OTHER
ENGINES.
>> I'LL BE SURPRISED IF THEY
DON'T GET THAT CARTED OUT THE
TUNNEL AS SOON AS THEY GET IT
OUT.
>> TONY STEWART ON THE RACETRACK
IN THIS 14 CAR, DOC.
>> YEAH.
I WANT TO COMMENT ON WHAT'S
GOING ON IN THE ENGINE
SITUATION.
TONY'S GUYS WERE TELLING ME THAT
THEY BASICALLY HAVE BEEN GIVEN A
NUMBER BY THE ENGINE BUILDER AT
THE BEGINNING OF THE WEEKEND.
THEY DO IT EVERY WEEKEND.
THEY TAKE HOW MANY MILES YOU CAN
PUT ON THE WEEKEND, CONSIDERING
THE RACE IS 500 MILES.
250 ON TOP OF THAT, 750 MILES.
WHAT THAT MEANT WAS IF YOU ADD
PRACTICE, ALL THE QUALIFYING,
AND THIS SESSION HERE, THEY HAVE
ABOUT 43 LAPS THEY CAN RUN IN
THIS SESSION BEFORE THEY HAVE TO
STOP THEN THEY HAVE 500 MILES
LEFT.
THEY WATCH THEM VERY CLOSELY.
THEY DO LOG EVERY SINGLE LAP.
GIVEN THE FACT THAT HIS TEAMMATE
HAS HAD AN ENGINE ISSUE, MAYBE
TONY IS NOT RUNNING QUITE SO
MUCH IN THIS SESSION.
>> ONE THING THAT THEY DO, THEY
THINK, WELL, THEY CAN BUILD AN
ENGINE THAT RUNS LONGER THAN
THAT.
YOU WANT TO MAKE THESE ENGINES
MAKE AS MUCH POWER AS POSSIBLE.
OKAY.
WE NEED TO RUN 500-MILES PLUS.
THEN THEY BUILD TO THAT.
WHAT HAPPENED WITH RYAN NEWMAN
WAS WAY BEFORE THAT.
THEY'LL HAVE TO FIND OUT WHAT
THAT WAS.
>> WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THE NIGHT
RACES WHEN IT'S TWILIGHT LIKE
THIS PRACTICE, STILL SEE THE
DRIVER.
TONY HAS THE CLEAR SHIELD ON.
WATCH THE EYES, WHERE HE'S
LOOKING WHEN HE'S IN THE CORNER.
HOW HE CHECKS THE MIRROR WHEN
HE'S ON THE STRAIGHTAWAY.
I'M FASCINATED BY THAT.
IT'S NOT A LOOK WE NORMALLY GET
TO SEE.
>> G FORCE WILL SLOW YOU DOWN IN
THE SEAT WITH THIS BANKING.
>> LOOKING WAY AHEAD AROUND THAT
CORNER.
DOC?
>> I WANT TO ASK ANDY TO SEE IF
THEY CAN DEPFEIFFER WHAT TONY
JUST SAID.
I STARTED OFF THREE NOW I'M
TIGHT.
GUYS, I LACK COMPRESSION IN BOTH
ENDS.
>> I'M NOT SURE.
THAT'S THE THING.
WE TALK ABOUT COMMUNICATION WITH
CREW CHIEFS AND DRIVERS.
THEY ALL HAVE THESE SAYINGS THAT
THEY'LL USE.
THAT MAY BE SOMETHING THAT HE
LIKES TO USE.
I DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND.
COMPRESSION TO ME WOULD MEAN
THAT THE CAR COMPRESSES INTO THE
RACETRACK THAT HE DOESN'T FEEL
LIKE THE CAR IS INTO THE TRACK.
>> THAT'S WHAT I'M GETTING.
HE FEELS LIKE HE'S UP ON THE
RACETRACK.
HE WANTS THE CAR TO FEEL LIKE
IT'S DIGGING DOWN.
LET IT ROLL FASTER AND JUMP INTO
THE THROTTLE HARDER.
ALL OF THAT TRANSLATES TO SPEED.
>> WHILE TONY COMES BACK INTO
THE GARAGE, LET'S GO BACK DOWN
TO HIS TEAM CAR WHERE VINCE HAS
MORE ON THE RYAN NEWMAN
SITUATION.
>> YOU ADDED A MOMENT AGO THAT
RYAN NEWMAN QUALIFIED THIRD
QUICK.
TONY GIBSON, WHAT'S THE ISSUE
WITH THE CAR?
>> SOMETHING HAPPENED THERE.
WE STARTED OFF HAPPY HOUR TO
MAKE A A LONG RUN.
WE GOT SIX LAPS IN, HE SAID
STARTED TO LOSE A CYLINDER.
STARTED TIGHTENING IT UP ON HIM
GOOD.
THERE'S SOMETHING BIG WRONG.
NOT SURE WHAT.
BUT SCOTTY AND SOME OTHER GUYS,
THEY'LL FIGURE OUT WHAT'S WRONG
AND WE'LL PUT ANOTHER ONE IN IT
AND BE GOOD TO GO TOMORROW.
IT SUCKS TO HAVE THE TRACK
POSITION, BUT THAT'S PART OF IT.
AND WE'LL GET AFTER IT.
I KNOW THEY'LL FIGURE OUT WHAT
HAPPENED.
WE'LL GET ANOTHER MOTOR AND BE
FINE.
>> THANKS.
ALLEN?
>> BETTER TO FIND OUT SIX LAPS
INTO FINAL PRACTICE THEN SIX
LAPS INTO THE 500-MILE RACE THAT
YOU HAVE A PROBLEM UNDER THE
HOOD.
>> KIND OF BAD LUCK GOOD LUCK
THING.
>> THE REASON THAT NEWMAN HAS TO
GO TO THE BACK, IF YOU'RE KNEW
TO NASCAR TO SAVE MONEY TO KEEP
TEAMS FROM BUILDING SPECIAL
ENGINES THAT THEY TAKE OUT AND
SPEND A BOAT LOAD OF MONEY ON,
THERE IS A ONE-ENGINE PER
WEEKEND RULE.
THE ENGINE THAT YOU PRACTICE AND
QUALIFY YOU MUST RACE WITH.
IF YOU CHANGE IT DURING THE
WEEKEND, YOU HAVE TO GIVE UP
YOUR STARTING POSITION.
IN NEWMAN'S CASE THAT MEANS
GOING FROM THIRD TO 43.
>> THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING
WRONG WITH IT.
THEY'LL HAVE TO SEE WHAT'S WRONG
WIT.
THEY DON'T CHANGE ENGINES
BECAUSE THEY WANT TO.
THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING WRONG
WITH IT.
>> SAM HORNISH IN THE PENSKE 22.
STARTED 14th ON SATURDAY NIGHT.
GETTING READY FOR THAT BANK OF
AMERICA 500.
>>> TOMORROW THE RED RIVER
RIVALRY IS ON ABC AS DAVID ASH
LEADS THE LONG HORNS INTO THE
COTTON BOWL.
THEY FACE AGAINST LANDRY JONES
AND THE NUMBER 13 RANKED
SOONERS.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL NUMBER 15 TEXAS
AND NUMBER 13 OKLAHOMA.
TOMORROW AT 9:00 A.M. PACIFIC ON
ABC.
CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY GETTING
READY FOR THE ALL-NIGHT RACE IN
THE CHOICE FOR THE BANK OF
AMERICA 500 THAT YOU WILL SEE
AFTER THAT RED RIVER RIVALRY.
TOMORROW NIGHT ON ABC AT 7:00.
HERE IS CLINT BOWYER.
HAD A GREAT STARTING SPOT FOR
THE RACE.
FOURTH POSITION OUTSIDE ROW TWO.
NOW 1 1/2 TRACKS HAVE NOT BEEN
BOWYER'S FORTE IN HIS NASCAR
SPRINT CUP CAREER.
YET FOUR OF THE LAST RACES WILL
BE ON THE 1 1/2 TRACKS.
IF HE'S GOING TO WIN THE
CHAMPIONSHIP, HE'S GOING TO GET
IT DONE ON THESE BIG, HIGH-SPEED
SPEEDWAYS.
>> THIS TEAM HAS A GOOD PACKAGE
FOR INTERMEDIATE RACETRACKS.
MARK MARTIN HAS BEEN REALLY FAST
IN FIRST PRACTICE AND ALL OF THE
LONG RUNS HE WAS THE BEST CAR
AND THIRD QUICKEST IN THIS
PRACTICE IN THE FASTEST LAP AND
LEADS THE FIVE-LAP AVERAGE.
>> I LIKE THAT IDEA.
MARTIN TRUEX HAS BEEN REALLY
GOOD.
ANOTHER TEAMMATE.
BUT I LIKE HIS CREW CHIEF.
GETTING ACCLIMATED TUESDAY AND
WORKING IN THEIR -- THAF COME UP
WITH GOOD SHOCK PACKAGES AND
MAKES ALL OF THAT WORK.
IF YOU CAN REMEMBER BACK WHEN HE
WAS WITH MONTOYA.
I KNOW LOTS OF THINGS HAVE
CHANGED.
CLINT BOWYER IS CAPABLE ON THESE
TRACKS.
HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO PERFORM
AND DO IT AT A HIGH LEVEL.
THEY CAN'T BE FINISHING OUTSIDE
THE TOP TEN.
>> SEVEN 1 1/2 RACETRACKS FOR
CLINT BOYER THIS YEAR.
GREG BIFFLE, WILL LEAD THIS
FIELD WITH THE GREEN FLAG.
HERE IS TEAM THAT THOUGHT THEY
WERE IN GOOD SHAPE COMING INTO
THE CHASE AND THOUGHT MAYBE THEY
WEREN'T IN GOOD OF SHAPE AS THEY
THOUGHT.
THEIR FIRST FEW RACES WERE NOT
TOO GOOD.
THEY HAVE ROLLED UP THE SLEEVES
AND GONE TO WORK.
BIFFLE SAYING THEY HAVE TESTED
AT FIVE DIFFERENT RACETRACKS IN
THE LAST TWO WEEKS TRYING TO GET
DIALED IN AND CAUGHT UP.
>> THAT'S ALL WHILE YOU'RE GOING
TO THESE RACES.
IT'S PAYING OFF.
SETTING THAT RECORD LAST NIGHT.
WHEN BIFFLE STARTED THE CHASE,
HE LED THE CHASE MOST OF THE
YEAR.
THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE SET FOR
IT.
ALL OF A SUDDEN EVERYBODY SET
OFF.
IT'S PAID OFF FOR HIM WITH ALL
THE HARD WORK.
>> DID NOT WIN IN MAY.
JAMIE McMURRAY.
GOING TO HAVE AN ANNIVERSARY OF
SORTS HERE TOMORROW.
McMURRAY IS GOING TO BE -- IS
GOING TO HAVE HIS WORK CUT OUT
FOR HIM IF HE'S GOING TO ENJOY
THAT ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION THE
FINEST WAY POSSIBLE.
STARTING IN 30th POSITION
TOMORROW NIGHT.
BUT WE ALL REMEMBER WHAT A
MAGICAL MOMENT IT WAS WHAT WILL
BE TEN YEARS AGO TOMORROW WHEN
IN JUST HIS SECOND START IN THE
NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES, JAMIE
McMURRAY WENT TO VICTORY LANE.
>> THAT IS STILL ONE OF THE MOST
INCREDIBLE PERFORMANCES I'VE
EVER SEEN OUT OF SOMEBODY JUST
STARTING OUT IN THE SERIES
>> CHARLOTTE, NK NNK, WHERE
ALMOST ALL THE TEAMS AND DRIVERS
IN THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP TEAMS
ARE BASED.
IT'S HOMECOMING WEEKEND SATURDAY
NIGHT FOR 500 MILES AT THE
CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY IN RACE
FIVE FOR THE NASCAR SPINT CUP
CHASE.
FINAL PRACTICE ON GOING.
WHILE THE WORK CONTINUES IN THE
GARAGE WITH VARIOUS EXPERIMENTS.
WHERE CHASSIS SETUPS ARE
CONCERNED.
ON THE RACETRACK, JEFF GORDON IS
OUT TRYING OUT THE LATEST
ADJUSTMENTS IN THIS 24 CAR.
>> WHAT A START TO THE CHASE
IT'S BEEN FOR GORDON.
IF NOT FOR THE HICCUP RUNNING
FOURTH IN THE CHASE OPENER IN
CHICAGOLAND WHERE THEY HAD THE
MECHANICAL PROBLEM UNDER THE
HOOD THAT FORCED THEM INTO THE
WALL, RUNNING FOURTH MIND YOU,
HE WOULD BE RIGHT THERE IN THE
THICK OF IT FOR THE
CHAMPIONSHIP.
INSTEAD, THEY'RE TRYING TO CLIMB
FROM A LONG WAY AT THE BAM WITH
A HAIL MARY EFFORT.
>> THEY HAVE THE PERFORMANCE TO
BE IN THERE.
IF THEY CAN KEEP IT UP, THEY CAN
GET BACK INTO THE CONVERSATION.
>> YEAH.
I THINK ALL JEFF IS LOOKING FOR
AT THIS POINT, JUST GIVE ME A
CHANCE AT HOMESTEAD.
YOU GO THERE, ANYTHING CAN
HAPPEN AT THAT RACE.
SO HE'S JUST LOOKING TO GET @@
HIMSELF -- KEEP HIMSELF
MATHEMATICALLY @@ELIGIBLE WHEN
EVER HE GETS THERE.
HE WOULD@@ LIKE FOR IT TO BE A
MARGIN IF HE@@ WON THE RACE THE
HE COULD MAKE IT HAPPEN.
@@>> HIS TEAM HAS HAD ALL SEASO.
JUST THE FIRST HALF OF THE
SEASON, THEY HAD SO MANY FLUKY
THINGS HAPPEN TO HIM @@LIKE THE
600 HERE IN@@ CHARLOTTE WHERE
THERE HAD BEEN A SERIES OF
CAUTIONS.
THEY LEFT HIM OUT ON THE TRACK
TO GET THE LEAD.
JEFF PITTED AS SOON AS HE GOT
DOWN PIT ROAD, A CAUTION CAME
OUT.
>> YOU WORK HARD ALL YOU WANT,
BUT IF YOU DON'T HAVE A LITTLE
BIT OF RACING LUCK TO GO WITH
IT, YOU'LL HAVE A HARD TIME
WAITING IN THIS SERIES, MUCH
LESS WINNING A CHAMPIONSHIP.
>> JEFF'S TEAMMATE, JIMMIE
JOHNSON BACK OUT ON THE
RACETRACK.
THIS ON HIS RADIO WHEN HE WENT
TO THE GARAGE AFTER THE LAST
RUN.
>> THAT WAS A LITTLE BIT BETTER
THERE.
BUT I STILL CAN'T GET TIGHT,
ESPECIALLY AFTER.
I CAN HEAR LITTLE BIT OF METAL
DRAGGING WHERE THE SPLITTER IS
TOUCHING.
LITTLE BIT OF A HIGH FREQUENCY.
MAYBE IT'S A TIRE OR SOMETHING
THAT I CAN FEEL WHEN I SLIP THE
TIRE.
IT'S A HIGH FREQUENCY.
IT'S A DIFFERENT SENSATION.
>> YEAH.
WHAT HAPPENS LOT OF TIMES WHEN
HE SLIPS THE TIRES, YOU FEEL
CHATTER THROUGH THE WHEELS.
WHAT HE SAID IT'S A HIGHER
FREQUENCY THAN HE FELT BEFORE, I
DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S -- THE WAY
THEY HAVE THE CAR SET UP.
SHOCKS AND ALL THAT CAN MAKE THE
DIFFERENCE.
I'M SURE HE'S EXPERIENCED THAT
WHERE YOU HAVE THAT CHATTER IN
DIFFERENT FREQUENCIES.
>> YEAH.
SOMETIMES HAS YOU HAVE THAT,
IT'S NOT GRIPPING THE WAY YOU
WANT.
YOU GIVE IT MORE WHEEL, THAT'S
WHEN YOU'LL PICK UP THE CHATTER
BECAUSE YOU'RE HAVING TO GIVE IT
EXTRA WHEEL.
>> SO WE TALK ABOUT THE 24 AND
THE 48.
LET'S CONTINUE WITH THE HENDRICK
MOTORSPORTS LINE AND TALK ABOUT
THE 88.
REGAN SMITH IS OUT FOR ANOTHER
RUN.
NOW HE HEADS BACK TO THE GARAGE,
ABLE THAT THAT 88 CAR HAS
POSTED THE SECOND BEST.
>> HE DIDN'T GO OUT THERE TO SET
THE WORLD RECORD RIGHT OFF THE
BAT.
HE'S WORKED HIS WAY AND GOTTEN
COMFORTABLE IN THE CAR.
NOW HE'S SECOND ON THE BOARD.
HE'S SECOND IN TEN-LAP AVERAGES.
HE'S GOING TO HAVE A SHOT AT
WINNING THIS THING.
>> HE REALLY WILL.
THIS IS A YOUNG MAN THAT WE'VE
TALKED ABOUT HAVING A LOT OF
TALENT.
GETTING A BREAK TO GET IN THE
BEST EQUIPMENT.
I'VE WATCHED HIM IN PRACTICE T
CAR LOOK VERY GOOD.
I'VE BEEN IMPRESSED THAT THEY
DON'T HAVE PROBLEMS AS HE RUNS
THE LAP.
>> IS THAT YOU STANDING BY THELE
88, VINCE?
>> SIT.
WHEN THEY RAN THE FIRST RUN OF
THE PRACTICE SESSION, HE WAS
HAPPY.
THEY RAN A TEN-LAP RUN THERE.
HE WAS VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE
CHANGES THEY HAVE MADE AND THE
WAY THE CAR AND DRIVER ADAPTED
TO THEM.
REGAN WAS PLEASED WITH HIM.
NOW THEY'RE TWEAKING ON IT A
BIT.
IT'S TOO LIGHT IN THE MIDDLE AND
THEN IT WATCHES UP FROM THERE.
THEY DON'T QUITE VISIT IN THE
COMFORT ZONE, THE SWEET SPOT.
IT'S BEEN A GREAT WEEKEND SO FAR
FOR REGAN SMITH AS YOU SAID.
>> WELL, ALL OF THE CONFIDENCE
THAT YOU HAVE CLIMBING INTO A
HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS CAR WOULD
TURN TO NERVES WHEN YOU FIRST
BUCKLE INTO THAT MACHINE, I
WOULD IMAGINE, THERE'S SOME
PRESSURE FOR THE DRIVER TO
PERFORM HERE.
IF THIS CAR DOESN'T GO FAST,
PEOPLE WILL LOOK AT IT AND SAY
IT'S NOT BECAUSE THE CAR ISN'T
FAST.
>> YEAH.
DALE EARNHARDT JR. HAS BEEN FAST
IN THIS CAR ALL YEAR LONG.
THEY STILL HAVE BEEN VERY SOLID
RACE TEAM.
SO IF YOU DON'T GET IT TO
PERFORM, IT DOESN'T LOOK GOOD ON
YOUR RESUME.
THERE'S A LOT OF PRESSURE ON HIM
TO GO IN THERE.
HE HAS CONFIDENCE IN HIS ABILITY
AND GETTING COOPERATION FROM
STEVE LeTARTE AND THIS TEAM THAT
THEY'RE LISTENING TO HIM WHAT
HE'S LOOKING FOR THIS CAR.
>> THEN WHEN YOU TURN AROUND
FROM THAT APPREHENSION THAT,
HEY, I HAVE TO FIND IT.
NOW IT TURNS TO CONFIDENCE.
HEY, I GOT SOMETHING I CAN WORK
WITH HERE.
>> YEAH.
IT'S AMAZING HOW QUICKLY THAT
CAN TURN AROUND TOO TO GET YOU
IN THAT SITUATION.
>> YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT
SOMETHING TO WORK WITH WHEN
YOU'RE DRIVING A HENDRICK
MOTORSPORTS CAR AT CHARLOTTE,
PARTICULARLY IN 2012, BECAUSE
THE MONTH OF MAY AT THIS
RACETRACK WAS GREAT FOR THEM.
THEY WON THE SHOWDOWN.
THEY WON THE ALL-STAR RACE.
AND THEY WON THE COCA-COLA 600
ALL IN THE MONTH OF MAY.
THAT ALL-STAR RACE RIDE FOR RICK
HENDRICKS -- KASEY KAHNE IS
WINNING THE SEASON'S LONGEST
RACE BACK OVER MEMORIAL DAY
WEEKEND.
HENDRICK MORTAR SPORTS A GOOD
RIDE FROM THE PARKING LOT OF
CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY.
AND IT HAS CERTAINLY BEEN MR.
H'S HOUSE AT THIS RACETRACK.
>> THAT'S IMPRESSIVE NUMBERS
RIGHT THERE.
THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO PULL THAT
OFF.
IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S LOT OF
OTHER TIMES THAT THEY'VE BEEN
RIGHT IN CONTENTION TOO THAT
THAT NUMBER COULD BE EVEN
GREATER, IF YOU COULD IMAGINE
THAT.
>> WOULD BE NO SURPRISE IF ONE
OF THE HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS CARS
GO OVER TO VICTORY LANE ON
SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE END OF THE
BANK OF AMERICA 50
>>> FINAL PRACTICE ON GOING HERE
IN CHARLOTTE TO BE FOLLOWED BY
THE NASCAR NATIONWIDE SERIES
RACE TONIGHT.
300 MILES PRESENTED BY
GODADDY.COM.
IT'S OVER ON ESPN COMING UP
NEXT.
BANK OF AMERICA 500 70:00 EASTEN
TIME ON ABC.
HOW DOES THIS RACE EFFECT THE
CHAMPIONSHIP?
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER
@NASCARESPN AND WE'LL TALK OR
TYPE ALL ABOUT IT WHILE WE'RE
HERE IN CHARLOTTE.
LET'S SEE HOW THAT NATIONWIDE
SERIES AND CUP SERIES FUNNEL ALL
TOGETHER.
THE DEFENDING NATIONWIDE SERIES
CHAMPION, WHO STARTS UP FRONT
TONIGHT IN THE 300 MILER IS ALSO
SPRINT CUP START THIS WEEKEND IN
THE 6 CAR, THIS IS RICKY
STENHOUSE JR.
>> GETTING A HEAD START WITH
SPONSORSHIP AND ANOTHER
RACETRACK IN THE SPRINT CUP
TOMORROW.
SEEING THE DIFFERENCES THERE.
>> CHECK OUT THE NUMBERS FOR THE
DOUBLE DUTY WEEKEND FOR RICKY
STENHOUSE JR.
>> HE DOES PRETTY WELL.
>> WHAT DID I SAY ABOUT DON'T
TRY THIS AT HOME?
>> AND OF COURSE, CAUTIONARY
TAIL TANNOUNCERS THAT YES THIS
6 AND 17 LOOK EXACTLY ALIKE.
>> OH, THAT'S GOING TO BE
TOMORROW NIGHT.
>> BE WEAR OF THE ORANGE NUMBER,
THAT'S THE ONLY WAY YOU'LL TELL
THESE TWO CARS APART.
I DON'T KNOW WHO MADE THE
MISTAKE AND PUT THAT ORANGE 6 ON
THAT CAR.
MAYBE THEY DID IT ON PURPOSE.
>> REALLY?
>> MAYBE.
>> OKAY.
I AM TOTALLY CONFUSED NOW.
>> YEAH.
>> YOU KNOW, LOT OF OPEN WHEEL
RACING, TEAM CARS WILL BE
PAINTED IDENTICAL.
SO AS THAT PRACTICE DEVELOPS,
SOMETIMES CONVERSATIONS WILL BE
HAD WITH TELEVISION PARTNERS,
HEY, YOU HAVE TO DISTINGUISH
THESE TWO CARS FROM EACH OTHER.
I REMEMBER DOING A ROAD RACE
ONCE WHERE THEY PAINTED THE
REAR-VIEW MIRRORS ON ONE CAR RED
AND ON ONE CAR GREEN.
RACE CAR IS COMING BY YOU AT 170
SOMETHING MILES AN HOUR AND
YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO PICK OUT THE
COLOR OF THE REAR-VIEW MIRROR.
>> YOU ARE A TRAINED
PROFESSIONAL.
>> YEAH, SOME DAYS ARE BETTER
THAN OTHERS.
MATT KENSETH HAS REALLY HAD A
LOT OF SUCCESS HERE AT
CHARLOTTE.
COMING OFF THE WIN AT TALLADEGA
LAST WEEK, HE'S THE DEFENDING
WINNER AT THIS BANK OF AMERICA
500.
IT WAS HIS FIRST SPRINT CUP WIN
AT THIS RACE
>> LSU, IT SHOULD BE A LOW
SCORING GAME FOR THEM.
>> NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
FINAL PRACTICE ON GOING FOR RACE
FIVE IN THE CHASE.
BANK OF AMERICA 500 HAPPENING
HERE TOMORROW NIGHT ON ABC
STARTING AT 7:00 ON ABC.
BRAD KESELOWSKI THE LEADER
COMING INTO THE CHASE.
SO FAR IN THE CHASE FOR THE
NASCAR SPRINT CUP, TWO WINS,
SIXTH AND A SEVENTH FOR HIS FOUR
FINISHES.
AND YOU SEE HE HAS GOING FROM
BEING A POINT BEHIND AFTER THE
SECOND RACE IN THE CHASE TO
BEING UP 14, LARGEST LEAD IN THE
CHAMPIONSHIP SO FAR.
>> THOSE ARE THE KIND OF NUMBERS
THAT WILL WIN YOU A CHAMPIONSHIP
FOR SURE.
ESPECIALLY A TEN-RACE SETTING.
WHAT'S BEEN IMPRESSIVE TO ME, IS
THEY'VE DONE IT WITH SPEED, GOOD
FUEL MILEAGE, GOOD STRATEGY AND
LITTLE BIT OF GOOD LUCK LAST
WEEK.
I TELL YOU WHAT'S BEEN
IMPRESSIVE FOR ME, THIS TEAM IS
SWITCHING MANUFACTURERS AT THE
END OF THE SEASON.
LOT OF TIMES THAT WHAT WILL
HAPPEN IN THAT SITUATION, IS
YOU'LL STOP INVESTING IN NEW
INVENTORY OF THE CURRENT MODEL
BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO BUILD NEW
PARTS NEXT YEAR.
THIS TEAM CONTINUES TO ROLE OUT
NEW PARTS IN A TEAM THAT DOESN'T
KNOW ITS FUTURE.
>> I DON'T KNOW.
I TALKED TO THE TEAM ABOUT THIS.
ABOUT THE ENGINE IN PARTICULAR,
IT'S REALLY KIND OF GOT ALL
THEIR STOCK BUILT UP FOR THE
REST OF THE YEAR.
THEY'VE GOT A REALLY GOOD
PACKAGE OBVIOUSLY BECAUSE YOU
SEE HOW GOOD THIS CAR RUN.
BUT THAT DODGE, IT HAS SOMETHING
THAT THESE OTHER MODELS DON'T
HAVE.
IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT SOME
OF THE ADVANTAGE THEY HAVE THERE
IS JUST KIND OF THE ARCHITECTURE
OF THAT CAR'S ENGINE.
IT'S KIND OF IRONIC THAT THAT
WILL BE GOING AWAY FOR THEM.
IT'S REALLY A GOOD TOOL TO HAVE
IN YOUR TOOL BOX, ALONG WITH A
FAST RACE CAR, RIGHT, DOC?
>> ABSOLUTELY, ANDY.
YOU TALKED ABOUT THE DODGE
ENGINE AND HOW IT WAS PUT
TOGETHER.
ONE OF THE ADVANTAS THEY DO
HAVE IN TALKING TO SOME OF THE
FOLKS HERE IS THEY HAVE FOUR OR
FIVE DIFFERENT MASSING OPTIONS.
THEY ACTUALLY CAN SAVE FUEL AND
NOT USE VERY MUCH HORSEPOWER.
THEY WERE ABLE TO HANG UP IN
DELAWARE AND GET MAXIMUM FUEL
MILEAGE.
MANAGE THAT, YOU HAVE A
MANUFACTURER GOING AWAY, THESE
GUYS STILL WORKING VERY, VERY
*** THE ENGINE THAT SEEM TO
BE GETTER BETTER THAT COULD GIVE
THEM A CHAMPIONSHIP DOWN THE
STRETCH.
>> THAT COMES PRETTY CLOSE TO
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE.
>> WE TALK ABOUT MAPPING T WAY
THEY PUT THESE SYSTEMS, THEY CAN
MAKE IT DO A LOT OF THINGS.
ALMOST UNLIMITED NUMBER OF
THINGS YOU CAN CHANGE IN THERE
AND WAY YOU CAN MAKE THE FUEL
AND THE POWER TIMING AND ALL
KINDS OF THINGS.
THAT IS A BIG PART OF THAT WHY
THEY GET GOOD FUEL MILEAGE.
THEY GOT GOOD MAPPING.
THEIR NATIONWIDE SERIES CARS
ALSO GET REALLY GOOD GAS
MILEAGE.
AND THEY DON'T HAVE FUEL
INJECTIONS.
>> THE OTHER THING THAT HELPS
THEM, THEY HAVE GOOD HANDLING
RACE CARS.
IT ALLOWS BRAD TO CARRY SPEED
AND NOT HAVE TO SLOW THE CAR
DOWN AND GET IT BACK UP TO SPEED
BY USING JUST THE THROTTLE ALL
THE TIME.
I THINK THAT HELPS.
>> THEY HAVE A RATHER SHOCKING
SITUATION DEVELOPING FOR MARTIN
TRUEX JR.
>> MARTIN, THAT RIGHT REAR SHOCK
WAS BOUND UP JUST LIKE WE HAD IN
ATLANTA.
WE'RE PUTTING A DIFFERENT ONE ON
IT.
>> OKAY.
MAKES ME FEEL BETTER.
>> DOESN'T MAKE ME FEEL GOOD
ABOUT IT.
FIGURE OUT WHAT'S CAUSING IT TO
DO IT.
>> MAKES ME WONDER WHAT THEY'RE
DOING TOO.
SOMETHING EVIDENTLY TO DO WITH
THE KIND OF SHOCK VALVING THAT
THEY HAVE THAT'S GETTING IT UP
IN THERE, I GUESS, THE WAY IT
SOUNDED TO ME.
>> SO, TRUEX AND HIS CREW CHIEF
CHAD JOHNSON TRYING TO FIGURE
THAT OUT AND GET THAT 56 CAR
BACK OUT SORTED OUT.
>> ONE REASON THAT MARTIN
SAID -- HE WAS GLAD TO KNOW THAT
BECAUSE THEY HAD SOMETHING GOOD
GOING ON.
GLAD THEY FOUND A SMOKING GUN
THERE OF WHAT WAS CAUSING IT.
>> AND THE RED SHIRT MOVING
LEFT, TEAM OWNER MICHAEL WALTRIP
CHECKING IN ON HIS CAR.
>> HE'LL FIX IT.
>> SEE WHAT'S GOING ON THERE.
>> HOW ABOUT IT, VINCE?
>> HAD A CONVERSATION WITH CHAD
JOHNSON T CREW CHIEF BEFORE
PRACTICE TODAY, THEY WERE REALLY
HAPPY WITH THEIR CAR FROM THAT
FIRST PRACTICE THIS AFTERNOON
AND HOPING THAT THEY WERE GOING
TO BE ABLE TO JUST TWEAK ON IT
HERE.
HE SAID IT'S SOMETHING BECAUSE
THIS IS NOT ONE OF MARTIN'S
FAVORITE PLACES.
NOT A TRACK THAT HE TYPICALLY
HAS GOOD RESULTS AND LIKES.
HE WAS PRETTY HAPPY.
FEEL LIKE WE'VE MADE STRIDES SO
FAR TODAY.
NOT GOING QUITE AS WELL IN THIS
SESSION AS YOU JUST HEARD HIM
DOCUMENT IN REGARDS TO THAT
SHOCK.
>> YEAH.
IT'S A TOUGH RACETRACK.
WE TALK ABOUT THIS ALL THE TIME,
THE DIFFICULTY OF THIS.
YOU'LL HEAR A LOT OF DRIVERS WHO
HAVEN'T HAD MUCH SUCCESS, IT'S
NOT ONE OF THEIR FAVORITE
PLACES.
@@IT IS JUST SO DIFFICULT.
THE TWO ENDS MAY LOOK SIMILAR,
DRIVE VERY, VERY DIFFERENT.@@
WE TALK ABOUT ALL THESE
DIFFERENT 1 1/2 TRACKS, THIS
DOES TO ME DRIVE TOTALLY
DIFFERENT THAN ANY OF THESE
OTHER 1 1/2 TRACKS.
THERE'S A LOT THAT GOES INTO IT.
THAT'S WHY@@ DRIVERS APPRECIATE
WHEN THEY ARE ABLE TO@@ GET THA
@@OPHY HERE, YOU KNOW YOU'VE
DONE YOUR WORK AS A DRIVER.
>>@@ MICHAEL WALTRIP ALMOST GOT
TROPHY AT TALLADEGA LAST SUNDAY
IN THAT 55 AR, PUSHING TO THE
FRONT WITH CASEY MEARS, WHEN
TONY STEWART MOVED DOWN TO
BLOCK.
HE APPEARS TO HAVE A PRETTY FAST
TOYOTA.
>> YEAH.
IF, IF, IF.
THAT 55 CAR WAS HEADED TO THE
FRONT.
HE COULD HAVE WON THAT THING IF
HE HADN'T BEEN IN THAT BIG
WRECK.
>> MARK MARTIN MAKING HIS 850th
NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES START
TOMORROW NIGHT.
>> HE LEARNED FROM IT.
>> SO FOR PERSPECTIVE, MARK
MARTIN HAS BEEN DOING THIS A
LITTLE WHILE.
THERE ARE 14 DRIVERS IN THE
FIELD NOT EVEN BORN YET WHEN
MARK MARTIN MADE HIS NASCAR
SPRINT CUP SERIES DEBUT.
>> WOW.
>> DON'T ASK ME HOW MANY HAD NOT
BEEN BORN YET WHEN HE SCORED HIS
FIRST WIN.
THAT WAS A FEW YEAR AFTER.
1989, REMEMBER THIS DAY WELL,
NORTH CAROLINA MOTOR SPEEDWAY AS
IT WAS THEN KNOWN ROCKY HAMIN A
RELATIVELY NEW TEAM OWN BY THE
NAME OF JACK ROUSH HAD TEAMED UP
AND CARRIED FORWARD TO VICTORY
LANE.
>> YOU KNOW WHAT AMAZES ME TO
MARK MARTIN, EVERY TEAM HE'S
GONE WITH, HELPED THAT
ORGANIZATIONS TREMENDOUSLY.
YOU LOOK AT EVERY ORGANIZATION
THAT HE HAS GONE TO HE HAS RUN
WELL AND MADE A DIFFERENCE AND
MADE EVERYBODY ELSE BETTER WHERE
HE'S GONE.
>> I ACTUALLY LOOK BACK AT
MARK'S CAREER AND MY CAREER OF
BEING IN THE SPORT, I'VE
NEVER -- HE'S ALWAYS -- HE'S
ALWAYS SET THE STANDARD FOR
SPEED.
HE'S THE FASTEST DRIVER THAT
I'VE SEEN RUN THESE CARS.
IT TAKES MORE THAN BEING FAST TO
WIN CHAMPIONSHIPS CAN, HE'S DONE
EVERYTHING BUT WIN A
CHAMPIONSHIP.
TO ME HE IS THE FASTEST RACE CAR
DRIVER THAT I'VE EVER SEEN.
>> FASTEST FIVE-LAP AVERAGE IN
THIS FINAL PRACTICE.
>> SEE WHAT I MEAN?
>> AND, AGAIN, IF YOU WEREN'T
WITH US, AT THE BEGINNING OF
PRACTICE, RYAN NEWMAN WENT JUST
SIX LAPS AND FELT SOMETHING
WRONG GO UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF
THAT CAR.
NOW, THEY ARE CHANGING THE
ENGINE.
NOW HE'LL GO TO THE BACK OF THE
FIELD FROM BEING UP IN THIRD
PLACE.
THAT'S NOT WHAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE
INSIDE THERE.
>> NO.
HE'LL HAVE A TOUGH TIME KEEPING
HIM UP.
>> PEDAL HARD?
>> RYAN NEWMAN CAN GET IT DONE
FROM THE BACK.
LONG RACE.
500 MILES.
>> PART OF THE LINEUP CHANGES
FOR SATURDAY NIGHT, TALKED ABOUT
REGAN SMITH BEING IN THE DALE
EARNHARDT JR. CAR.
REGAN DISPLACED FROM HIS 78 WHEN
THE TEAM SIGNED KURT BUSCH FOR
NEXT SEASON AND DECIDED TO GET A
HEAD START ON 2013 IN THE FINAL
SIX RACES OF THIS YEAR.
KURT BLIND THIS CAR FOR THE
FIRST TIME THIS WEEKEND.
>> SEE SPARKS FLYING OUT OF THAT
CAR.
>> KURT HAS BEEN DRIVING JAMES
FINCH'S 51 CAR.
SO WHEN HE WENT TO 78, REGAN
SMITH WAS GOING TO DRIVE THE 51
THIS WEEKEND.
BUT WHEN RICK HENDRICK SAID I
NEED REGAN FOR THE 88, JAMES
FINCH GOT A.J. ALLMENDINGER AND
PUT HIM ABOARD THE 51 CAR FOR
THIS WEEKEND.
>> A.J.'S FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO
GET BACK IN A SPRINT CUP CAR
BACK AT THE END OF JUNE.
>> HE RAN AFOUL WITH NASCAR'S
SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROGRAM AND WAS
TAKEN OUT OF RACING COMPETITION
JUST BEFORE THE START OF THE
INDEPENDENCE RACE AT DAYTONA AND
SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED NASCAR'S
ROAD TO RECOVERY PROCESS AND WAS
REENSTATED AND GETS A SHOT
SATURDAY NIGHT.
BACK TO REGAN SMITH ABOARD THE
DALE EARNHARDT JR. 88 CAR.
SECOND FASTEST TEN-LAP AVERAGE
IN THIS PRACTICE.
THIRD FASTEST FIVE-LAP AVERAGE
FOR THIS 88.
>> STILL TURNING GOOD LAPS OUT
HERE TOO.
>> SEEMS LIKE THE BOTTOM IS
ALWAYS GOOD AT ONE AND TWO.
SEE A LOT OF CARS WILL MOVE UP
AS THE RACE GOES ON AS THE TIRES
WEAR IN THREE AND FOUR.
>> I'VE ACTUALLY SEEN A FEW
MORE.
IMAGINE KASEY KAHNE IS BEING ONE
OF THOSE.
IT NEVER HAS BEEN THE PREFERRED
LINE DOWN THERE.
BUT YOU SEE A LOT OF DIFFERENT
GROOVES DOWN IN THREE AND FOUR.
>> ANDY'S PICK FOR SATURDAY
NIGHT'S WIN.
>> HE JUST HAS SOMETHING HERE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS.
BUT HE'S GOT SOMETHING.
>> THERE HE IS.
GETS A NICE RUN.
HELP YOU CARRY A LOT OF SPEED
OFF THE EXIT OF THE CORNER, MAKE
THAT STRAIGHTAWAY LONGER.
KASEY IS SO GOOD DOING THIS AT
THESE 1 1/2 RACETRACKS WHERE HIS
CAR CARRIES A LOT OF MOMENTUM,
LOT OF SPEED.
TURNS A LOT OF RPMs AND LOT OF
FAST TIMES ALMOST 200 MILES AN
HOUR, UP TO 199.
>> ALMOST GOT IT.
AND THAT WAS AFTER A FEW LAPS.
>> SWITCH BACK TO THE RIGHT WITH
THE HANDS THERE.
FOUR TIMES A WINNER IN THE LAST
3 RACES HERE, KASEY KAHNE.
SO WHEN YOU GET UP THERE, YOU
CAN SEE, NOT A LOT OF STEERING
INPUT WITH TURNING THE WHEELS TO
THE LEFT AND RIGHT.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT AS
MUCH THE BANKING HOLDS YOU RIGHT
THERE.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT.
IT IS LONGER AROUND THERE.
IF YOU GET YOUR CAR RIGHT AND
KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING, AS KASEY
KAHNE DOES, YOU CAN MAKE A LOT
OF TIME.
>> IF HE'S GOING TO VICTORY LANE
HE'LL HAVE CONTEND WITH THIS
CAR, IT'S DRIVER KYLE BUSCH.
HE'S TURNED THE FASTEST SINGLE
LAP IN THIS PRACTICE.
SECOND FASTEST FIVE-LAP AVERAGE.
>> I DON'T THINK HE'S RUN -- I
DON'T THINK HE'S RUN TEN.
>> HE RAN NINE HIS FIRST TIME
OUT.
HE DIDN'T QUITE GET TO THAT TEN.
HIS NINTH LAP WAS ONE OF THE
FASTEST ONES THAT I SAW IN THOSE
FIRST RUNS.
>> LAST TWO CHARLOTTE RACES LED
A LOT OF LAPS.
>> DIDN'T WIN.
AT THE END FRUSTRATION.
>> THAT'S THE THING ABOUT THIS
TRACK.
AT THE END OF THE NIGHT, IT'S
USUALLY SOMEBODY KNEW THAT SHOWS
UP AND THE TRACK CHANGES A LOT
AS IT GOES ON.
SOMETIMES AT LEAST THE FIRST TWO
THREE QUARTERS OF THE RACE HE'S
NOT THE GUY TO BEAT AT THE END.
>> IN THIS BANK OF AMERICA 500,
LAST TWO YEARS, KYLE BUSCH
LEADING THE MOST LAPS, FINISHING
SECOND.
FOUR TRUCKS WINS AT THIS
RACETRACK.
LOT OF SECOND PLACE FINISHES IN
THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES.
THEY WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE THAT.
>> THEY SURE WOULD.
FOUR TIMES HE'S LED THE MOST
LAPS THIS YEAR AND HAS NOT
GOTTEN TO VICTORY LANE IN ANY OF
THOSE FOUR RACES.
MAYBE THIS IS THE RACE.
THEY'VE BEEN RUNNING VERY FAST
LAPS AND RUNNING WITH A
CONSISTENT RACE CAR ON ALL
TIRES.
THEY FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE THE CAR
PRETTY GOOD AND THEY'RE DOING
THAT ON ALL TIRES.
THAT MIGHT BE BAD NEWS FOR
EVERYBODY ELSE WHO MIGHT CHASE
HIM TOMORROW NIGHT.
>> KYLE BUSCH STARTING IN EIGHTH
POSITION ON SATURDAY NIGHT.
>> HE'S COMING HERE WITHSOME
CONFIDENCE.
THEY HAD GOOD LUCK AT THE END OF
THE RACE LAST WEEKEND.
THEY HAVEN'T HAD MUCH OF THAT ON
THEIR SIDE.
>> THAT'S FOR SURE.
DENNY HAMLIN OUR IN-RACE
REPORTER FOR SATURDAY'S RACE.
NINTH POSITION AND WORKING ON
THIS CAR TO GET IT TUNED UP.
>> REALLY TIGHT IN THE CENTER.
REALLY TIGHT.
>> IS IT THE SPLITTER TIGHT?
>> I DON'T FEEL IT BUT SOMETHING
HAS TO BE WRONG.
>> YOU CAN KEEP RUNNING.
>> YEAH.
THAT'S HARD TO DISTINGUISH
SOMETIMES.
YOU TALK ABOUT HOW FAST YOU'RE
ENTERING THESE CORNERS.
YOU GET LOADED UP THERE, YOU'RE
JUST NOT SURE.
BECAUSE ALL IT TAKES IS JUST A
LITTLE BIT OF THAT SPLITTER
HITTING THE RACETRACK AND YOU
LOSE THE FRONT END.
IT COULD JUST BE A SITUATION
THAT THEY ARE NOT SITTING DOWN
ON THE SHOCKS QUITE RIGHT.
>> YEAH.
>> WHAT HAPPENS --
>> 10-4.
>> THERE'S MAYBE ONE OF HIS
PROBLEMS.
>> WATCH HIS RIGHT HAND ON THAT
STEERING WHEEL AS HE TURNS INTO
THE CORNER.
AND THE CAR JUST LOOKS LIKE IT'S
FIGHTING AS HE TURNS IN.
HOW MUCH OF THAT IS NORMAL AND
HOW MUCH OF THAT IS FIGHTING?
>> A LOT HERE IS NORMAL BECAUSE
YOU GET DOWN IN AND WITH
THESE -- THESE CARS RUN ROUGH ON
THESE BUMP SPOTS.
YOU CAN'T GO DOWN IN THERE MOST
OF THE TIME AND HOLD YOUR
STEERING WHEEL.
IT TAKES LITTLE BIT OF ENERGY
AND YOU HAVE TO CHASE IT LITTLE
BIT.
WHAT WE'RE SEEING LOOKS LIKE A
LOT BUT IT'S NOT MOVING THE
WHEELS NEARLY AS MUCH AS WHAT IT
MAY SEEM.
>> AND THAT'S IT.
THE RED AND BLACK FLAGS ARE OUT.
FINAL PRACTICE IS COMPLETE.
AND THE TRACK GOES LENT FOR A
VERY SHORT TIME.
STILL TO COME, THE NASCAR 300
MILER STILL COMES.
WE STILL HAVE MORE SPRINT CUP
COVERAGE COMING.
RESEARCHCH
>>> ALREADY GETTING THE
THREE-RACE STAGE IN POSITION AND
THE TRUCKS FOR THE DRIVER DRIVE
AROUND AFTER THE INTRODUCES.
OUR TELECAST TONIGHT PRESENTED
BY GODADDY.COM.
COMING UP NEXT OVER ON ESPN AT
THE TOP OF THE HOUR RIGHT AFTER
WE FINISH UP WITH OUR SPRINT CUP
FINAL PRACTICE COVERAGE.
TOMORROW BANK OF AMERICA 500ING
IS ON ABC 7:00 EASTERN TIME.
WHO WINS?
WE'LL FIND OUT TOMORROW NIGHT
OVER 500 MILES.
SO THE TEAMS NOW GET TO GO BACK
AND HAVE THEIR DEBRIEF
CONVERSATION, GO BACK OVER THE
CHANGES THAT THEY MADE.
DISCUSS WHERE THEY'RE AT.
SOME OF THE DRIVERS COMPETING IN
TONIGHT'S NATIONWIDE RACE DON'T
HAVE THAT LUXURY TO HANG AROUND
FOR LONG.
THEY HAVE TO GET OUT TO THE
STAGE AND GET READY FOR
INTRODUCTIONS.
SHORTLY CLIMB ABOARD THEIR
NATIONWIDE SERIES CARS FOR THEIR
300 MILES HERE TONIGHT.
THOSE CARS ALREADY BEING ROLLED
OUT ON TO THE GRID AND FORMED UP
BEFORE THE START.
>> SHOULD BE A GOOD ONE TOO.
LOT OF CHAMPIONSHIP GUYS AT THE
FRONT OF STARTING GRID.
>> IT WILL BE GREAT TO WATCH
THESE NATIONWIDE GUYS.
>> IT COULD HAPPEN TONIGHT.
>> WOULDN'T YOU LIKE TO HAVE ONE
OF THOSE THINGS WHERE WE COULD
PUT CAPTIONS OVER PEOPLE'S
HEADS?
>> I WAS GOING TO SAY, WHAT ARE
YOU GOING TO DO TO THIS THING TO
HELP ME ABOVE THE DRIVER.
>> SO AS FAR AS THE ONE FAST LAP
IN THE PRACTICE IS CONCERNED,
HERE IS THE TOP-TEN RANKING.
KYLE BUSCH SETTING THE QUICK LAP
OVER AL MUCH REGAN SMITH WITH
THE SECOND FASTEST LAP AND
SECOND TEN-FASTEST LAP.
>> OBVIOUSLY YOU'RE A VETERAN
DRIVER.
NOT YOUR FIRST RODEO.
BUT STILL, LOT OF DIFFERENT
CIRCUMSTANCES HERE.
ASSESS WHAT YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH
OVER THE COURSE OF THE PAST 48
HOURS.
>> I THINK BIGGEST THING IS JUST
GETTING ACCUSTOM TO ALL THE
DIFFERENT THINGS IN THE CAR.
THE DIFFERENT FEELS.
THE DIFFERENT SOUNDS.
THE DIFFERENT LITTLE KNEW
ANSWERS.
EVERY CAR HAS ITS OWN DIFFERENT
THING.
EVERYTHING IS BUILT AROUND DALE
WHAT HE LIKES AND WANTS.
JUST LEARNING ALL THAT STUFF AS
IT GOES.
EACH TIME I GET IN I FEEL LIKE I
GET MORE COMFORTABLE.
LEAN ON IT MORE.
I CAN GET SIDEWAYS HERE AND I'LL
SAVE IT.
WHERE AS YESTERDAY F I GOT
SIDEWAYS AT A CERTAIN SPOT I
DIDN'T KNOW I WAS GOING TO SAVE
IT.
IT'S A BUILDING PROCESS.
THESE GUY ARE DOING A GREAT JOB
WORKING WITH ME.
IT'S A GREAT RACE TEAM.
HENDRICK HAS DONE A GREAT JOB
GETTING ME COMFORTABLE IN THE
CAR AND GETTING THE SEATS
TRANSITIONS.
I THINK WE HAVE A GOOD RACE CAR.
I DON'T KNOW HOW GOOD IT IS YET
BUT WE HAVE SOME WORK TO DO ON A
FEW AREAS TO GET FASTER AND
WE'LL SEE IF WE CAN'T GET THE
CHEVROLET OUT FRONT AND DO DALE
PROUD.
>> WHAT WERE THE STRIDES THAT
YOU MADE TODAY.
IT SEEMED LIKE THE FIRST RUN OF
THIS PRACTICE SESSION YOU MADE A
PRETTY GOOD JUMP AND FOUND
SOMETHING.
>> YEAH.
WEUST WENT TO WORK AFTER THAT
FIRST SESSION.
WE DIDN'T WANT TO -- WE HAD SOME
STUFF WE WANTED TO WORK THROUGH.
WE DIDN'T WANT TO CHANGE THE
RACETRACK.
HAD A GOOD IDEA WHERE WE WANTED
TO START SECOND ONE.
HAD IDEA OF THINGS WE WANTED TO
WORK ON.
WE FOCUSSED ON COUPLE AREAS OF
RACETRAC@@K.
THEY DO A GOOD JOB OF DISSECTING
EVERYTHING.
GOING THROUGH THE NOTES AND@@
DETAILS.
EVERY I IS DOTTED AND EVERY T IS
CROSSED.
>> HAVE YOU SPOKE ON THE DALE?
>> I DID LAST NIGHT.
@@I'M SURELY TONIGHT.
JUST TOUCH BASE WITH HIM AND,
@@U KNOW, JUST LEARNING PEOPLE.
THAT'S THE MAIN THING AND
LEARNING PERSONALITIES@@ AND
LEARNING WHAT CHARACTERISTICS
TH@@ROUGH THE NIGHT, HOW THING
WILLS GO.
IT'S SOMETHING -- I'VE BEEN USED
TO ONE ING FOR FOUR YEARS.
JUST TRYING TO ADJUST AS QUICKLY
AS POSSIBLE.
>> IN YOUR CONVERSATION WITH HIM
R YOU ABLE TO PICK HIS BRAIN ON
HOW WELL HE KNOWS THE CAR AND
HOW WELL HE KNOWS THIS TEAM?
OR IS IT MORE JUST FEED BACK?
>> I THINK IT'S PICKING HIS
BRAIN IS PART OF IT.
WE DIDN'T DO TOO MUCH LAST
NIGHT.
YESTERDAY WITH BEING QUALIFYING
TRIM, THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT.
WE ALL KNOW WHAT WE HAVE TO GO
OUT THERE AND GO FAST.
I SAY THAT AND QUALIFIED 26th.
EVIDENTLY LAST NIGHT I DIDN'T
KNOW THAT.
THERE'S A LOT OF LITTLE THINGS
I'LL TALK TO HIM ABOUT TOMORROW
WITH THESE GUYS WITH
CHARACTERISTICS THAT WILL HELP
OUT.
>> THANKS FOR THE TIME.
GOOD LUCK TOMORROW.
>> THANKS.
>> WHAT DO WE EXPECT TOMORROW
NIGHT OUT OF REEG SNN.
>> DON'T BE SURPRISED WHEN HE'S
WELL INSIDE THE TOP TEN TOMORROW
NIGHT.
VERY TALENTED DRIVER WITH A GOOD
RACE TEAM.
VERY IMPRESSIVE HOW HE'S GONE
ABOUT THESE TWO DAYS WITH SUCH
SHORT NOTICE.
>> IT'S OBVIOUS TO ME THAT
HENDRICK HAS PICKED THE RIGHT
GUY TO DO THIS.
I MEAN, HE'S DONE SUCH A GOOD
JOB.
VERY METHODICAL.
NOT GETTING IN TROUBLE WHEN HE
FELT WEIRD THINGS.
HE HAS MOVED UP THE BOARD AS
HE'S GOTTEN CONFIDENCE.
>> REGAN IS A GREAT GUY.
SORRY FOR THE TOUGH
CIRCUMSTANCES FOR BOTH HIM
LOSING THE RIDE WITH WITH THE 78
TEAM.
>> THAT'S WHAT THIS SPORT IS
ABOUT IS GETTING THE RIGHT
OPPORTUNITY.
YOU KNOW, IT MIGHT NOT BE IN A
HENDRICK CAR.
IF HE GOES AND SHOWS WHAT I
THINK HE'S GOING TO THESE NEXT
COUPLE WEEKS, THEN SOMEBODY WILL
SAY, WE NEED TO LOOK AND MAKE A
PITCH FOR HIM WITHIN OUR
ORGANIZATION.
>> SO REGAN SMITH HAS SOME WORK
TO DO AT THE START OF TOMORROW
NIGHT'S RACE.
HE'LL BE BACK 26th ON THE GRID.
I THINK HE SAID WE HAVE WORK TO
DO IN THE START.
HE DOES INDEED.
WE LOOK AHEAD TO THE BANK OF
AMERICA 500.
TOMORROW AT 7:00 EASTERN TIME.
ANDY IS STILL LIKING KASEY KAHNE
FOR THAT ONE.
>> I SURE DO.
HE HASN'T DISAPPOINT MED SO FAR.
>> KYLE BUSCH MAY UPSET THE
CHASERS IN WHAT THEY WANT TO BE
DO.
I BELIEVE HE WINS THIS RACE.
>> IT WILL BE A FAST AND FURIOUS
RACE TOMORROW NIGHT IN CHARLOTTE
UNDER THE LIGHTS.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO RACE NUMBER
FIVE IN THE CHASE FOR THE NASCAR
SPRINT CUP.
COMING UP NEXT ON ESPN2 IS
PARDON THE INTERRUPTION AND AS
YOU E THOSE NATIONWIDE SERIES
CARS GRIDDED AND THE PRE-RACE
CEREIES BEGINNING TO BE
FORMED UP.
REMIND YOU THAT THE RACE IS OVER
ON ESPN.
STARTING WITH NASCAR COUNTDOWN.
NICOLE, RUSTY, AND RAY COMING UP