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IT'S ALL YOURS, ALLEN.
>> THANKS, MARTY.
AS WE TURN OUR ATTENTION FROM
THE NASCAR NATIONWIDE SERIES,
TO-TO-THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP
SERIES.
WHAT IS THE LEAD STORY OF THE
DAY?
THE LEAD STORY, HE ANNOUNCED IT
EARLY THIS MORNING THAT DALE
EARNHARDT JR. WOULD NOT DRIVE
THE 88 CAR FOR HENDRICK
MOTORSPORTS.
THIS WEEK AT CHARLOTTE OR NEXT
WEEKEND AT KANSAS.
DALE EARNHARDT JR. SAYING THAT
HE HAD SUFFERED A CONCUSSION AT
KANSAS AND TALLADEGA LAST
WEEKEND.
IT LEFT HIM SEARCHING FOR
ANSWERS OVER THESE LAST COUPLE
OF DAYS.
>> 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.
THE FACT THEY FELT THE WAY I DID
IS WHAT CONCERNED ME AFTER THE
ACCIDENT 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 WENT TO THE DOCTOR
TUESDAY ACTUALLY.
SO ANY WAYS -- YOU KNOW, I JUST
WANTED TO PROCESS WHAT WAS
HAPPENING.
AND I KNEW HAVING THEM TWO
CONCUSSIONS BACK TO BACK WAS NOT
A GOOD THING.
SO I KNEW 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, I COULD GET IN THE RACE CAR
AND GO GET HIT AGAIN.
I NEEDED SOMEBODY TO TELL ME
THAT BECAUSE I WAS HAVING A HARD
TIME MAKING THAT DECISION FOR
MYSELF.
I FEEL PERFECTLY FINE.
>> ONE THING THAT EVERYBODY
ADMIRES ABOUT DALE IS HOW HONEST
AND UP FRONT HE IS.
AND HE CARES A LOT ABOUT THE
TEAM, HIS FANS, AND THE SPORT IN
GENERAL.
AND -- BUT WHEN HE KNEW THAT
THERE WAS SOMETHING NOT RIGHT,
HE WENT TO SEE DR. PETTY HERE.
AND, YOU KNOW, I ADMIRE HIM.
I THINK A LOT OF GUYS WOULD TRY
TO PLAY HURT.
BUT WHEN THE DOCTOR TELLS YOU
YOU GET HIT AGAIN LIKE RIGHT
AWAY, IT COULD BE CATASTROPHIC.
SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS DEAL
HAS WORKED OUT EXTREMELY WELL AS
IT COULD.
>> SO THAT TIRE TESTING CRASH AT
KANSAS WAS BACK ON AUGUST 29th.
AND THEN THE INCIDENT AT THE END
OF THE RACE LAST SUNDAY, WHICH
FROM ALL OUTWARD APPEARANCES
@@WASN'T AS SIGNIFICANT.
YOU SEE DALE EARNHARDT JR. IN
THE GREEN AND WHITE, 88
CHEVROLET AND THE FIRST INCIDENT
WAS NOT ONE THAT APPEARED TO
CONCERN HIM.
JUNIOR'S COMMENTS THIS MORNING,
GET HIT IN THE LEFT REAR CORNER
THERE AND SPINS THE CAR AROUND.
HE SAID THAT LEFT HIM WITH AN
UNCOMFORTABLE FEELING THAT A
COUPLE OF DAYS LATER HE KNEW HE
NEEDED TO PURSUE MORE.
OUR DR. JERRY PUNCH WITH MORE ON
THIS ENTIRE SITUATION FROM THE
MEDICAL PERSPECTIVE.
>> YOU HAVE TO ADMIRE DALE
EARNHARDT JR.
I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT MANY
TIMES IN YEARS AGO AND EVEN
TODAY WHEN A DRIVER HAS A
CONCUSSION, THEY WILL NOT ADMIT
THE SYMPTOMS FOR FEAR OF BEING
PULLED OUT OF THE CAR, WOR RIG
ABOUT LOSING A RIDE OR
SPONSORSHIP.
FOR DALE EARNHARDT JR., FOLKS,
THE WORSE CONCUSSION COMES FROM
SHAKING.
DALE EARNHARDT JR. ADMITTED THAT
IMPACT AT KANSAS.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DO THAT
THE BRAIN SLOSHES FORWARD AND
THEN BACK WARD.
THE FRONT OF THE BRAIN IS THE
MEMORY LOBES.
PEOPLE HAVE AMNESIA AFTER A
CONCUSSION.
NOW, WHEN DALE EARNHARDT JR. THE
SYMPTOMS ON MONDAY WERE PURELY
HEADACHE.
IT COULD BE OTHERS BUT HEADACHE
IS THE ONE THAT BOTHERED HIM THE
MOST.
HE HAD AN MRI DETERMINING IF HE
HAD A BLEED OR BRUISING ON THE
BRAIN.
THOSE WERE NEGATIVE.
THE CAUSE OF THOSE SYMPTOMS AND
PRIOR CONCUSSION IN 2002 AND
GIVEN THE IMPACT AT KANSAS THEY
OPTED TO PULL HIM OUT OF THE CAR
HERE AT CHARLOTTE AND KANSAS.
AS TO WHEN HE'LL GET BACK, SEVEN
TO TEN DAYS AFTER A DRIVER IS
COMPLETELY SYMPTOM FREE, HE
WOULD BE CLEAR.
RIGHT NOW DALE EARNHARDT JR. IS
NOT SYMPTOM FREE.
HE HAS TO BE SYMPTOM FREE FOR
SEVEN TO TEN DAYS.
SOME PEOPLE HEAL QUICKLY, OTHERS
NOT SO.
IT COULD BE TWO DAYS, TWO WEEKS,
TWO MONTHS.
AS OF RIGHT NOW, DALE EARNHARDT
JR. AT HOME RECOVERING.
TOLD TO BE QUIET, STAY AWAY.
THEY PUT REGAN SMITH IN THE CAR
FOR AT LEAST THE NEXT TWO WEEKS.
>> THERE IS REGAN SMITH,
STANDING, WAITING TO CLIMB
ABOARD THE 88 MACHINE.
GETTING THE CALL EARLY THIS
MORNING AND THE CHANGE OF GEARS
FOR REGAN, WHO WILL DRIVE THIS
88 CAR FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS.
WHY REGAN?
WE COME INSIDE THE ESPN PIT
STUDIO.
DALE JARRETT, ANDY PEA TRY.
>> FROM THE DRIVER'S
PERSPECTIVE, COULD THERE BE
ANYTHING MORE DIFFICULT FOR DALE
EARNHARDT JR. TO DO THAN TO CALL
UP THAT DOCTOR AND SAY, HEY, I
DON'T FEEL RIGHT.
I NEED YOU LOOK AT ME?
>> NO.
I CAN OVERCOME THIS.
THESE WILL GO AWAY.
I WILL TAKE SOMETHING FOR THESE
HEADACHES.
BY THE TIME IT'S RACE TIME, I'LL
BE FINE.
FOR HIM TO TAKE THAT INITIATIVE,
IT SHOWS HOW MUCH AT KANSAS IT
RUNG HIS BELL.
OBVIOUSLY I BELIEVE IT WAS 2002
WHEN HE HAD A CONCUSSION.
DROEF WHEN HE SHOULDN'T HAVE
BEEN.
I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT SOMEONE
LIKE DALE EARNHARDT JR., WHO IS
RECOGNIZED AND HEARD BY A LOT OF
PEOPLE NOW NOT JUST OUR SPORT
HERE IN NASCAR BUT FOR A LOT OF
SPORTS TOUNS HOW BAD THIS CAN
BE.
>> WE KIND OF HAVE BEEN LULLED
TO SLEEP.
THEY HAVE GOTTEN SO MUCH SAFER.
IT'S RIDICULOUS HOW SAFE THEY
HAVE GOTTEN.
WE FORGET THAT YOU CAN GET HURT
IN THESE THINGS.
I WAS SURPRISED.
I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS THAT BIG
OF A WRECK AT TALLADEGA.
AFTER A PRESS CONFERENCE, IT
GOES BACK TO ANOTHER HIT AT
KANSAS.
WE HAVE SOME WORK TO DO.
THESE CARS ARE VERY, VERY SAFE.
WE STILL HAVE TO WORK ON THEM.
>> WE HEARD DR. JERRY PUNCH SAY
THAT WHEN YOU HAVE A CONCUSSION,
IT DOESN'T TAKE AS MUCH FORCE.
EVEN THOUGH IT WASN'TED A BAD,
HIS BRAIN STILL WAS UNDERGOING
SOME TRA MA.
THE THINGS THAT WE'VE GOTTEN
THESE CARS SAFER.
THE DRIVER RESTRAINT SYSTEMS ARE
SAFER.
THE ONE THING THAT WE CAN'T
CONTROL REALLY IS THE MOVEMENT
OF THE INTERNAL ORGANS IN THE
BODY.
SPEAKING TO SOME OF THE DRIVERS,
THEY SUPPORT THE MOVES THAT DALE
EARNHARDT JR. MADE GOING
FORWARD.
SOME OF THE THINGS THAT MAY NOT
BE SEEN, GUYS THAT WORRY ABOUT
IT TEN YEARS FROM NOW.
THE SENSE IN THE GARAGE AREA,
SOMEBODY IS APPLAUDING HIM TO
SAY, I NEED TO TAKE A WEEK OR
TWO OFF.
>> TALKING TO TONY STEWART AT AN
EVENT LAST NIGHT, AND TONY WAS
STILL SORE FROM THE CASH AT
TALLADEGA.
WHAT WE SEE ON CAMERA SOMETIMES,
WE SEE THESE DRIVERS IN THE
ACCIDENT, CLIMB OUT AND DO THE
INTERVIEWS.
WE THINK EVERYTHING IS OKAY.
THE EVENTS OF THESE CRASHES ARE
MORE THAN WE SEE AND LAST FOR
LONGER.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
YEAH.
YOU CAN SEE THE MOVEMENT HERE.
WHICH IS A LOT LESS.
WE TALK ABOUT MAKING THESE CARS
SAFER.
THE CARS ARE FANTASTIC.
WE GO BACK TO WHEN WE STARTED
RACING AND WHEN WE WERE DOING
THINGS.
THERE ARE THINGS THAT YOU WON'T
BE ABLE TO DO THAT MUCH WITH
WITH THE WAY THAT THE BODY
REACTS AND MOVES AROUND.
IT'S INCREDIBLE TO BE THINK
ABOUT IT ALL.
WE'VE ALL BEEN IN THESE
SITUATIONS.
I DON'T LIKE TO GO BACK AND LOOK
AT THE THINGS I WAS INVOLVED IN.
>> THESE DRIVERS ARE VERY
RESTRAINED IN THESE CARS.
THAT WAS PRETTY HARD.
>> AGAIN, THE GOOD NEWS IS
EVERYONE DID WALK AWAY.
THE TOUGH NEWS IS DALE EARNHARDT
JR. WILL MISS THESE NEXT TWO
WEEKS.
OUT OF THAT BAD NEWS COMES GOOD
NEWS, ONE OF THE BIGGEST STARS
HAD THE COURAGE TO STAND UP AND
SAY, HEY, I NEED TO SIT OUT FOR
A MINUTE AND THOSE SURROUNDING
HIM, INCLUDING HIS TEAMS AND
SPONSORS SAID ABSOLUTELY DO
WHAT'S BEST FOR YOU.
THAT OPENS UP AN OPPORTUNITY TR
REGAN SMITH, WHO WAS LOSING HIS
RIDE THIS WEEK.
FOR REGAN, WHO HAD A RIDE FOR
THIS WEEKEND'S RACE, BUT THAT
WAS A ONE OFF.
THE OPPORTUNITY CAME ABOUT
BECAUSE OF THINGS THAT WERE
GOING ON WITH NEXT YEAR WAS
CONCERNED.
LOT OF CONVERSATION AND RUMOR
GOING TO DRIVE FOR DALE
EARNHARDT JR. NATIONWIDE TEAM.
IN THE CONFERENCE THIS MORNING,
RICK HENDRICK SAID CONVERSATIONS
ARE GOING ON TO PUT REGAN FULL
TIME NEXT YEAR WITHIN THE
ORGANIZATION.
THAT'S HOW IT BECAME EASY TO
PULL HIM INTO THE FAMILY.
WHAT THAT MEANS FOR THIS YOUNG
MAN TO DRIVE THIS RACE CAR THE
NEXT WO WEEKS.
>> ANOTHER THING THAT GOT HIM IN
THAT RACE CAR, THE SAME THING
THAT GOT JEFF GORDON, RICK
HENDRICK LIKES TO PUT PEOPLE IN
THERE THAT WILL MAKE HIS CARS GO
FAST.
REGAN SMITH IS A GREAT
QUALIFIER.
AND HE MAKES CARS GO FAST.
>> OF COURSE NO TIME TO GET TO
VICTORY LANE, A YEAR AGO AT
DARLINGTON.
HE DID AN AWFUL LOT BEHIND THE
WHEEL TO GET THAT CHECKERED
FLAG.
>> HE SURE DID.
THAT WAS TREMENDOUS RUN.
I THOUGHT HE HAD NO CHANCE BUT
HE DID A TREMENDOUS JOB.
THIS YOUNG MAN, THIS MIGHT BE
HIS OPPORTUNITY, YOU KNOW.
I KNOW HE'S PROBABLY LITTLE BIT
NERVOUS HAVING THAT CHANCE.
THINGS COME AROUND FOR A REASON.
I DON'T LIKE TO TALK ABOUT
THINGS THAT HAPPEN FOR MYSELF,
BUT I WAS OUT OF THE SPRINT CUP
SERIES.
A AFTER 1989 RUNNING MY
NATIONWIDE CAR AND DIDN'T HAVE A
RIDE IN 1990 WHEN NEIL WAS
INJURED AT DARLINGTON T WOOD
BROTHERS CAME TO ME AND SAID WE
DON'T KNOW IF THIS WILL BE ONE
OR TWO OR FIVE RACES WHAT IT MAY
BE, BUT WE NEED A REPLACEMENT.
WILL YOU DO THIS?
THAT GVE ME MY SECOND CHANCE.
>> I KIND OF FINISH A LITTLE
BIT.
I WAS THERE AT BRISTOL WHEN YOU
GOT THAT CHANCE.
YOU LED MOST OF THE RACE AND
ALMOST WON IT.
THAT'S WHAT DID IT BECAUSE YOU
GOT TO SHOW WHAT YOU CAN DO.
I HAVE TO THINK, WHAT'S GOING
THROUGH REGAN'S HEAD?
IS THERE A LOT OF PRESSURE ON
HIM?
>> YEAH THERE IS PRESSURE THERE
BECAUSE THIS IS OBVIOUSLY THE
STORY OF THE WEEKEND RIGHT HERE.
SO HE'S PROBABLY IN THE WORST
POSITION.
IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY, BUT
IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT BECAUSE
THIS IS A HARD, HARD RACETRACK.
PARTICULARLY IN THE AFTERNOON IN
THE SUN.
THAT WILL MAKE PIT DIFFICULT.
HE'LL GO OUT AND GET A FEEL AND
GET EVERYTHING RIGHT INSIDE THE
CAR.
THAT'S THE IMPORTANT THING THAT
HE FEELS COMFORTABLE IN THIS
CAR.
THE SPEEDS WILL PICK UP TONIGHT.
>> IT CAN HAPPEN FOR YOU.
JAMIE McMURRAY, WHEN HE GOT
HURT, CAME HERE AND WON THE
SECOND TIME HE WAS EVER IN THE
SERIES.
IT CAN HAPPEN.
>> WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THE
TRANSITION OF THE DRIVER AND
CREW GETTING USED TO EACH OTHER
ON SHORT NOTICE AS HIS PRACTICE
UNFOLDS.
GET BACK TO NASCAR SPRINT CUP
PRACTICE AND THE CHAMPIONSHIP
PICTURE COMING INTO CHARLOTTE ON
SATURDAY NIGHT.
BRAD KESELOWSKI, 14 POINTS UP ON
JIMMIE JOHNSON.
THE BIGGEST LEAD WE'VE SEEN IN
THE CHASE SO FAR.
AND JEFF GORDON, WITH SUCH A
SOLID FRONT RUNNING CAR THROUGH
THE CHASE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF
THAT ONE HOBBLE IN CHICAGOLAND
THAT SENT HIM BACK SO FAR.
THEY HAVEN'T GIVEN UP HOPE YET
IN THE 24 CAMP.
>> THEY HAVEN'T.
THE 24 STARTING TO CREEP BACK
INTO THE CONVERSATION.
MAYBE HAVING THAT OUTSIDE CHANCE
AT THE CHAMPIONSHIP.
YOU MENTIONED THAT CHASE OPENER
WHERE HE WAS 35th IN CHICAGOLAND
SPEEDWAY.
SINCE THEN, HE'S GONE THIRD,
SECOND AND SECOND.
AND WITH LAST WEEK'S RUNNER UP
FINISH AT TALLADEGA, GORDON
JUMPED FOUR SPOTS IN THE
STANDINGS FROM TENTH IN THE
STANDINGS TO SIXTH IN THE
STANDINGS.
STILL 42 POINTS BEHIND THE
LEADER.
BUT CREW CHIEF ALLEN TOLD ME
JUST BEFORE PRACTICE TODAY,
THEIR GOAL IS TO CUT THAT
DEFICIT EACH WEEK AND BE IN
POSITION TO CAPITALIZE WHEN THE
FRONT-RUNNERS STUMBLE AND JUST
HAVE A CHANCE, JUST A CHANCE FOR
JEFF GORDON WHEN THEY GET TO
THAT FINAL RACE AT HOMESTEAD.
YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO
HAPPEN.
GORDON EXPECTED TO BE IN
QUALIFYING TRIM THROUGHOUT THIS
FIRST PRACTICE SESSION.
>> VINCE, HE'S MADE THE ONE LAP
ON THE TRACK SO FAR AND HAS
POSTED THE EIGHTH FASTEST LAP AT
THIS POINT.
>> IT WILL BE IMPORTANT TO PUT
UP A LAP HERE.
YOU WANT TOW GO AS LATE AS
POSSIBLE TONIGHT WITH THIS
QUALIFYING STARTING LITTLE AFTER
SEVEN.
>> I SPENT TIME IN THE GARAGE
AREA, ASKING THE CREW CHIEFS,
WHAT'S THE AGENDA.
ALL OF THEM SAID IT'S ALL ABOUT
QUALIFYING.
>> TONY STEWART SEEMS TO THINK
THEY'LL DO PRACTICE RUNS IN RACE
TRIM FIRST.
>> THEY ALWAYS DO.
>> THAT'S WHAT WE'LL DO TODAY.
>> NASCAR SPRINT CUP QUALIFYING
INCLUDES NASCAR NOW COMING UP
NEXT THEN NATIONWIDE SERIES
FINAL PRACTICE.
WILL IT BE A TRACK RECORD NIGHT
HERE IN CHARLOTTE?
THEN TOMORROW, ANOTHER FULL DAY
OF COVERAGE INCLUDING NATIONWIDE
SERIES QUALIFYING STARTING AT
4:00, NASCAR NOW, SPRINT CUP
FINAL PRACTICE AND THE 7:00 RACE
AT CHARLOTTE.
SATURDAY NIGHT BANK OF AMERICA
5007:00 EASTERN ON ABC.
THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND, WE'LL BE
FIRING BACK AND FORTH WITH YOU
ON TWITTER AT N
>>> NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
PRACTICE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY
PENNZOIL.
WE LOVE CARS JUST AS MUCH AS YOU
DO.
>> OPENING NASCAR SPRINT CUP
SERIES PRACTICE.
FOR THE BANK OF AMERICA 500 THAT
COMES UP SATURDAY NIGHT ON ABC
AT 7:00 AS DRIVERS AND TEAMS
TAKE TO ONE OF THEIR FAVORITE
RACETRACKS.
VERY FAST 1 1/2 TRACK.
MATT KENSETH FITS IN THAT
CATEGORY.
ALTHOUGH, THE OPENING LAPS ARE
NOT HIS FAVORITE RIGHT NOW HE'S
PRETTY FAR DOWN THE BOARD.
>> HE MIGHT HAVE FORGOTTEN TO
TAKE SOMETHING OFF FROM LAST
WEEK.
WE HEARD A LITTLE RADIO
COMMUNICATION.
SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT
TO BE ABLE TO PUT A WHOLE LAP IN
HERE AND THIS TRACK DOES HAVE
BUMPS IN IT.
IF THAT SPLITTER IS HITTING TOO
HARD, YOU CAN'T GO FAST.
>> THIS IS SO HARD OF A
RACETRACK, ESPECIALLY TURNS 3
AND 4 WHERE THE SUN IS ON THERE
EVERY SINGLE DAY.
1 AND 2 IS SHADED MORE.
YOU HAVE LITTLE BIT MORE GRIP.
I GUESS IT'S BECAUSE THE SUN
DOESN'T GET THAT AS MUCH, THAT
CORNER ALWAYS HAS MORE GRIP.
BUT WHEN YOU GET DOWN TO 3, GET
A LOT OF GRIP UP THERE.
1 AND 2 GIVES YOU SPEED TO GET
DOWN TO TEND THAT DOESN'T HAVE
GRIP.
>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS ABOUT
THIS RACETRACK, THIS ONE LOOKS
FAST.
THIS ONE LOOKS FASTER THAN A LOT
OF THEM.
>> IT MIGHT BE THE TRANSITION
THE WAY IT COMES OFF THE CORNER.
IT ABRUPTLY DROPS OFF.
THE CARS JUST LOOK SO FAST HERE.
>> DENNY HAMLIN.
HOW FAST IS DENNY?@@
@@ THIRD IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP
COMING IN WAS THE RUNNER UP IN
THE @@600 HERE IN MAY.
FIGURES GAVE AWAY A FEW POINTS
IN CHICAGOLAND AND@@ DOVER.
CHICAGOLAND THEY RAN OUT OF FUE@
WHILE RUNNING REALLY WELL.
SAYS, THEY'RE STILL WITHIN
STRIKING DISTANCE.
>> I'M VERY CURIOUS IN THE WAY
THEY WENT ABOUT TALLADEGA.
IT'S JUST LIKE THEY NEVER HIT
THE GO BUTTON.
I UNDERSTAND HANGING BACK.
TRYING TO AVOID THE RECK AT THE
END.
THEY GOT OUT OF THERE AND STILL
WITHIN STRIKING DISTANCE SO
EVERYTHING IS GOOD.
>> I GOT A FAST RACETRACK.
JUST GOT A MAKE A LAP TO KEEP
MORE TIRES ON IT.
>> 10-4, BUDDY.
WE'LL GET IT.
>> I'M NOT WORRIED.
IT'S GOOD.
>> YEAH, 10-4.
>> I THINK WHAT HE'S TALKING
ABOUT, THEY WENT OUT FOR THEIR
FIRST RUN, DID NOT MAKE A
COMPLETE LAP.
CAME BACK IN.
SOMETHING HE DIDN'T LIKE ABOUT
IT.
MADE THE ADJUSTMENT AND HE'S
BACK OUT THERE.
NOW 24th ON THE BOARD ON HIS
FOURTH LAP.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I
TALKED TO THE CREW CHIEF ABOUT,
WHEN WE USED TO COME HERE, WE
USED TO HAVE SPRINGS AS THE
GUYS -- IF THEY'RE GOING TO GO
SO MUCH FASTER TONIGHT THAT IT
IS SO CRITICAL TO FEEL THOSE
BUMPS AND NOT HAVE GONE OVER
THEM.
WHEN YOU PICK UP THE SPEED, THE
CAR TRAVELS NOW.
THAT'S WHAT MOST OF THE GUYS ARE
WORRIED ABOUT.
>> DENNY HAMLIN IS OUR IN-RACE
REPORTER.
GOT A FEW QUESTIONS PREPARED FOR
HIM?
>> I HAVE SOME REALLY GOOD ONES.
SEND THEM IN.
>> ESPN.COM SEARCH IN-RACE
REPORTER AT NASCAR ESPN.
SO THERE HE IS, REGAN SMITH IN
HIS FIRST RUN.
BACK TO YOUR EXPERIENCE OF YEARS
TO AGO, PROBABLY JUST GET A FEEL
FOR THE CAR AND SETTLE IT IN.
>> IT'S NOT HIS SEAT.
NOTHING IN IT WAS MADE FOR HIM.
THIS ALL JUST TOOK PLACE IN A
VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
SO THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GO
DO A WHOLE LOT.
HE'S BEEN OVER THERE WHERE
THEY'VE GOTTEN THINGS ADJUSTED
FOR HIM LITTLE BIT MORE.
SECOND LAP ON THE TRACK, HE
MOVED UP.
WENT FASTER.
THIS YOUNG MAN KNOWS HOW TO
DRIVE A RACE CAR FAST, BUT HE
WON'T GO DO ANYTHING CRAZY RIGHT
NOW.
IT'S TIME TO GO FAST.
BUT HE'S LOOKING TO SHOW DAYS
CASE THIS ON SATURDAY.
>> HOW ABOUT THIS 88.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
REGAN SMITH SAID THEY ARE GOING
TO GET ACCLIMATED TO THIS RACE
CAR OVER THIS INITIAL RACE RUN.
START OUT IN RACE TRIM AND THEN
SWITCH TO QUALIFYING TRIM LITTLE
BIT LATER.
GOT-20-MINUTE LATE START.
GOOD THING THEY FOUND THAT
BEFORE THEY WENT OUT.
GOT LITTLE BIT DELAYED IN
GETTING OUT THERE.
REGAN SAID HE GOT A TEXT MESSAGE
AT 7:00 THIS MORNING AND IT WAS
FROM STEVE LE START, SAID GIVE
ME A CALL ASAP.
REGAN HAD NO IDEA WHAT IT WAS
ABOUT.
WHEN I SAW ASAP.
HE GAVE STEVE A CALL AND STEVE
SAID, WE NEED YOU TO DRIVE THE
RACE CAR THIS WEEKEND.
HE IMMEDIATELY WENT TO THE
HENDRICK SHOP, GOT FITTED FOR
THE SEAT AND HERE HE IS, JUST A
FEW HOURS LATER ON THE RACETRACK
AT CHARLOTTE IN THE 88.
>> GOOD THING REGAN ISN'T ONE OF
THOSE GHIES SLEEPS UNTIL 10:00
IN THE MORNING.
KURT BUSCH IN HIS FIRST RIDE FOR
THE 78 FOR FURNITURE ROW RACING.
WE'LL TRACK HIM BUT COULDN'T
KEEP UP AGAINST THEM.
>> NASCAR SPRINT CUP AT
CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY.
KYLE BUSCH HAS BEEN TOUGH TO
KEEP UP WITH.
>> I THINK THAT THEY MAY FEEL
BETTER THAT MAYBE THEIR LUCK AUZ
TURNED AROUND A LITTLE BIT.
THEY'VE DONE A LOT OF GOOD
THINGS.
BUT HAVEN'T HAD MANY GOOD THINGS
HAPPEN FOR THEM.
TO BE ABLE TO MISS THE BIG WRECK
LAST WEEK AND COME OUT OF THERE
THIRD, GOT A LAP BACK DURING THE
RACE.
IF THEY CAN GET THAT REAL GOOD
FORTUNE, THEY HAVE A FAST CAR
AND OBVIOUSLY A FAST DRIVER.
>> RYAN NEWMAN LITTLE DIFFERENT
LOOK ON THAT CAR THIS WEEK.
THAT WOULD BE TEENAGE MUTANT
ANYONE JA TURTLES.
>> RYAN HAS ALWAYS HAD A LOT OF
SPEED ON THIS RACETRACK.
>> THEY'RE GOING TO GO OUT -- I
HEARD THEM SAY THEY'RE GOING TO
GO OUT AND SEARCH AND FIND SOME
GRIP AND MAKE SOME QUALIFYING
RUNS.
YOU KNOW, IT DOES REMIND YOU,
ANDY AND DALE, HOW TRICKY THIS
PLACE IS IN THE SUN.
YOU DO FORGET ABOUT HOW MUCH
YOU'RE CHASING IN THE AIR.
>> COLDER TEMPERATURES, I
WOULDN'T THINK IT WOULD BE AS
BAD AS IT WAS.
ALLEN SAID BEFORE, ARE WE GOING
TO SEE A RECORD RUN TONIGHT?
>> TURTDLES SLOW AND STEADY,
HARD SHELL.
ARE YOU REFERENCING A PARTICULAR
CREW MEMBER?
>> HE WASN'T MOVING VERY QUICK.
>> THERE'S YOUR OLD BUDDY WITH A
MUTANT NINJA TURTLE TOO.
>> YEAH.
HE IS PREPARING TO DO ALL
QUALIFYING RUNS.
THEY ARE PUMPED UP WITH THE
PERFORMANCE THAT THEY'VE HAD
SINCE THE INCIDENT AT CHICAGO.
AND REALLY BELIEVE 100% THAT
THEY ARE STILL IN THIS.
BUDDY, YOU OWN THIS PLACE.
I'LL SEE IF I CAN GET A PIECE OF
IT THIS WEEKEND.
>> THEY'RE ONLY 28 BEHIND
SECOND.
IF SOMETHING SHOULD HAPPEN TO
BRAD SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY,
THEN 28 POINTS IS MUCH MORE
DOABLE.
>> FIRST I WANT TO BRING YOU
BACK UP TO THE SPEED.
WHILE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT DALE
EARNHARDT JR. IN PRACTICE.
THERE WAS ONE RED FLAG THAT CAME
OUT BECAUSE OF SOMETHING FROM
THIS 29 CAR.
>> THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM
THE 29.
THE GOOD NEWS IS IT WAS NOT
ENGINE RELATED AT ALL.
THEY HAD A BAD TIRE RUB ON THE
LEFT REAR.
KEVIN HARVICK CAME IN.
THEY ADJUSTED.
THEY WENT BACK UP.
IT WAS STILL RUBBING IN 1 AND 2.
THEY'RE CONTINUING TO WORK ON
THAT ISSUE.
THE GOOD NEWS FOR KEVIN HARVICK
REPORTS THAT THE BALANCE IS FINE
AS THEY WORK ON THIS CAR IN RACE
TRIM.
>> KEVIN HARVICK WON THIS RACE
IN THE SPRING OF 2011.
UT BUT IT HASN'T BEEN A GOOD
CHASE.
STILL LOOKING FOR HIS TOP TEN IN
THE CHASE.
HE IS NOW 48 BACK IN THE CHASE.
THEY NEED GOOD THINGS TO HAPPEN
HERE IN CHARLOTTE.
>> SPEAKING OF SMOKE, I DON'T
MEAN TONY STEWART, ALSO SHOWING
SMOKE FROM KASEY KAHNE AS HE WAS
COOLING UP ON THE RACETRACK.
HE'S COME BACK INTO THE GARAGE.
AND HAVE A LOOK AT THIS ON THAT
CAR.
>> LOT OF TEAMS ARE USING THAT
REAR -- THEY'RE REALLY RUBBING
THOSE UPPER TIRES.
THEY'RE TRYING TO MOVE THAT
TIRE.
SHIFT THE BODY OVER TO MAKE SIDE
FORCE.
WHAT THAT DOES, TAKE IT TOO FAR,
YOU CAN SEE THAT IT WILL GIVE
HIM THAT LEFT REAR QUARTER PANEL
AND MAKE IT RUB.
>> I KNOW THEY'VE PUT A LIMIT ON
HOW FAR THEY CAN GO WITH IT.
THEY SAID THEY'LL GET IT BACK
THE OTHER WAY.
WE MIGHT BE SEEING SOME OF THE
WAYS THEY'RE TRYING TO GET IT
BACK THERE.
>> YEAH.
THEY HAVE STATIC LIMIT.
THEY HAVE A SKEW LIMIT.
BUT THEY HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW
TO DYNAMICALLY MAKE THAT THING
GO MORE IN THE SAME DIRECTION
BECAUSE IT'S SO GOOD FOR
PERFORMANCE.
NOW WE'RE SEEING SOME TEAMS
PUSHING IT.
>> I TALKED TO SOME OF THESE
DRIVERS ABOUT IT.
HOW DOES THIS THING DRIVE LIKE
THAT?
MY LAST YEAR OF DRIVING, WE HAD
DONE SOME STUFF.
IT DID MAKE THE CAR FEEL
DIFFERENT.
THEY TAKE IT TO A WHOLE
DIFFERENT LEVEL.
THEY SAY THEY'RE HARDER TO DRIVE
DOWN THE STRAIGHT AWAY.
THE THING THAT THEY'RE DOING TO
IT THROUGH THE CORNER, IT IS
HELPING THE CAR BE BETTER.
BUT DOWN THE STRAIGHT AWAY, IT'S
MORE DIFFICULT.
>> I WAS TALKED TO CHAD.
DO THE DRIVERS COMPLAIN THE WAY
IT DRIVES?
>> NOT REALLY.
JIMMIE IS NOT SAYING A LOT ABOUT
THE DYNAMIC PART OF IT.
>> REMEMBER KASEY KAHNE HAD THE
PROBLEM AT DOVER THAT WAS
RELATED TO HOW FAR SIDEWAYS
THEY'RE TRYING TO RUN THESE
CARS.
YOU MENTION POINTS FROM SECOND
PLACE.
BRAD KESELOWSKI HAS HAD GREAT
RACE IN THE CHASE.
HISTORY TELLS US HE'LL HAVE ONE
PROBABLY, HE GOT THROUGH
TALLADEGA.
HE'LL PROBABLY HAVE ONE.
THIS IS WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, IF
HE HAS THAT PROBLEM, NOW THIS
BECOMES KIND OF THE ACCORDION TO
EVERYTHING, HOW PEOPLE ARE FROM
SECOND PLACE.
>> YEAH.
YOU CAN SEE A LOT OF THESE
NUMBERS ARE MUCH MORE DOABLE.
YOU JUST OUTRUN JIMMIE AND
DENNY, THEN YOU'RE GAINING A
GOOD BIT OF POINTS.
>> HERE HE IS ON THE RACETRACK.
>> WE WILL DO THAT.
>> WELL, THEY HAVE BEEN SOLID
THROUGH THESE OPENING FOUR
RACES.
>> THEY HAVE BEEN.
THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT HOW --
WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE
NEXT SIX.
I TALKED TO BRAD K. BEFORE HE
WENT OUT TO PRACTICE.
I ASKED HIM, NOW YOU HAVE
14-POINT LEAD.
HOW DO YOU PLAY IT?
NO ONE HAS HAD THIS BIG OF LEAD
IN THE CHASE.
HOW DO YOU FEEL?
HE SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT, IF I
BACK OFF NOW BECAUSE I GOT A
POINTS LEAD I'M DOING THE WRONG
THING.
I'M NOT BEING TRUE TO WHO I AM
AND MY TEAM IS.
I SAID I BELIEVE THAT I NEED DO
EXACTLY WHAT I HAVE DONE THE
LAST 14 RACES.
THAT'S RUN THIS CAR AS HARD AND
AS COMFORTABLE AS I CAN RUN IT
AND WE WILL WIN THE
CHAMPIONSHIP.
IF I BACK OFF AND DO ANYTHING
ELSE, I'M NOT BEING ME.
AN PAUL WOLFE SAID, YOU KNOW
WHAT, YOU DO IT AND GO OUT AND
BE YOU.
LOT OF THESE GUYS COMPARE HIM TO
RUSTY WALLACE.
HE IS A TALENT ON THE RACETRACK.
VERY THINKING AND SMART RACE CAR
DRIVER.
HE BELIEVES HE HAS THE BEST CAR
AND CAN GO AND WIN THE
CHAMPIONSHIP AS WELL AS WINNING
RACES.
>> TWO WINS IN THE CHASE SO FAR
FOR BRAD KESELOWSKI.
THAT 14-POINT LEAD COMING INTO
CHARLOTTE OVER JIMMIE JOHNSON.
>> HE HAS DONE IT IN DIFFERENT
WAYS TOO.
RAN JIMMIE AT TEND OF THE RACE
IN CHICAGOLAND.
THEY DID FUEL MILEAGE AT DOVER.
HAD A SOLID RACE AT NEW
HAMPSHIRE AND LAST WEEK AS ALL
CHAMPIONSHIP DRIVERS AND TEAMS
DO, THEY HAD TO HAVE GOOD
FORTUNE.
>> JIMMIE SITTING ON PIT ROAD
WAITING FOR SOME OPEN RACETRACK
TO GO OUT AND MAKE ANOTHER
QUALIFYING ATTEMPT.
JIMMIE AT ONE TIME WAS DUMPING
IN RACETRACK.
LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, IT HAS NOT
BEEN AS CLEAN.
THAT WAS A YEAR AGO.
THIS IS LAST OCTOBER.
LOOK OUT.
NASTY CRASH AND WOUND UP TAKING
JIMMIE OUT OF CHAMPIONSHIP
CONTENTION.
HE WAS STILL PRETTY CLOSE TO THE
LEAD UNTIL THAT FINISH CAUSED BY
THAT.
BY THE WAY, PIT LANE SET HIM
BACK AS HE WAS TRYING TO MAKE UP
SOME GROUND.
THEN LAST YEAR, THEY HAD A
MISCUE AND HAD TO COME BACK AND
WOUND UP FINISHING IN 11th
POSITION.
JIMMIE TALKED ABOUT THE RIGHT OF
DEMARCATION.
WHEN THEY CHANGE THE SURFACE OF
THIS RACETRACK BACK IN 2005 AND
2006 AND YOU CAN SEE THAT AFTER
DOMINATING THIS RACETRACK AND
THE PERIOD LEADING UP TO THAT,
HE'S HAD ONE WIN IN THE LAST 13
WINS.
AND WAS THE WORST CHASE FINISHER
IN THE RACE A YEAR AGO.
>> THEY'VE HAD SO MUMP SUCCESS
EARLY, BUT WE HAVE RUN REALLY
GOOD YEAR.
HE SAYS WE JUST -- THE WRECK
THEY HAD HERE LAST YEAR.
HE SAID, WE HAVE A GOOD SETUP
FOR HERE.
HE FEELS VERY CONFIDENT THEY'LL
BE ABLE TO COMPETE FOR THE WIN
HERE SATURDAY NIGHT.
>> JACK AND HIS TEAMMATE
POSITIVE GETTING BACK TO THEIR
OLD WAYS.
I ASKED HIM, WHY DIDN'T YOU
BRING THE CAR THAT YOU DOMINATED
WITH IN CHICAGOLAND, HE SAID
WE'RE SAVING THAT CAR FOR KANSAS
NEXT WEEK.
WHAT DO YOU HAVE HERE?
>> WE DECIDED GIVEN THE FACT
THAT WE HAVE STRUGGLED HERE, WE
DECIDED TO BRING THIS CAR.
THIS IS THE CAR THEY WON THE
ALL-STAR RACE WITH IN MAY.
THEY KNOW JIMMIE SAID IT'S A
KNOWN QUANTITY.
HE KNOWS WHAT THE CAR WILL DO,
HOW IT WILL REACT TO THE CHANGES
ON THE RACE TRAR.
THEY KNOW IT'S FAST AND
COMFORTABLE IN TRAFFIC.
LET'S GO BACK TO WHAT WE KNOW
AND BE WHO WE WERE A FEW YEARS
AGO.
>> JIMMIE JOHNSON COMING IN.
THIRD FASTEST LAP POSTED IN THE
OPENING PRACTICE FOR THE NASCAR
SPRINT CUP
>> IT'S A BEAUTIFUL CITY,
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA.
CERTAINLY A BEAUTIFUL@@ DAY AT
CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY FOR THE
NASCAR SPRINT CUP @@SERIES.
IT@@ WILL BE FAST ON THIS
RACETRACK WHERE SO MUCH OF THE
NASC@@AR INDUSTRY IS CENTERED
AROUND.
HERE IS CLINT BOWYER.
>> COUPLE OF HUNDREDTHS OFF OF
SAM HORNISH.
>> CLINT LOST A LOT OF GROUND
OVER THESE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.
>> LOOKED LIKE HE WAS GOING TO
WIN LAST SUNDAY.
HE WAS RIGHT THERE AT THE END OF
THE RACE, IN THE POSITION TO
MAKE IT ALL HAPPEN.
>> BUT DIDN'T GET THROUGH.
LIKE SOME OTHERS DID AND WOUND
UP LOSING GROUND INSTEAD.
HERE IS REGAN SMITH, VINCE, BACK
OUT IN THIS 88.
>> STARTING TO FEEL LITTLE BIT
MORE COMFORTABLE IN THIS RACE
CAR AS THEY WORK IN RACE TRIM.
ALTHOUGH LITTLE GIVE AND TAKE.
>> NOT OFF THE WALL.
OFF THE GAP.
TRYING TO TURN DOWN ACROSS THE
HILL RIGHT THERE.
IT'S TOO TIGHT WITH THAT.
THE OTHER PART I WAS COMPLAINING
ABOUT ON THE THROTTLE, THAT'S
STUFF I HAVE TO GET USED TO.
I'LL GET THAT FIGURED OUT.
>> SO DIFFERENT DRIVING A RACE
CAR FROM WEEK TO WEEK.
LOT OF THINGS ABOUT DIFFERENT
RACE CARS THAT A DRIVER HAS TO
GET USED TO.
YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT?
>> THERE ARE LOT OF THINGS YOU
HAVE TO GET USED TO.
>> THE CREW CHIEFS ARE DOING TO
THESE CARS, THEY GO ABOUT IT
DIFFERENT FROM TEAM TO TEAM.
EVEN THOUGH HIS TEAM MAY HAVE
BEEN DOING SOME OF IT, THAT'S
PROBABLY PART OF THE FEEL THAT
HE'S TRYING TO GET USED TO.
>> THERE ARE THOUSANDS WAYS THAT
YOU COULD HAVE A GOOD SETUP TO
GO FAST OUT HERE.
THEY ALL FEEL DIFFERENT.
FOR REGAN, HE HASN'T BEEN
INVOLVED IN ANY OF THAT.
HE'S HAD HIS OWN DEAL WITH THE
78.
>> YEAH.
AND JUDGING BY HIS HANDS ON THE
STEERING WHEEL, I THINK THEY
FIXED THE TIGHTNESS FOR HIM.
>> WELL, SO FAR FASTEST IN
PRACTICE AS FAR AS THE ONE-LAP
SPEED HAS BEEN RECORDED BY THIS
MAN, SAM HORNISH JR. IN ROGER
PENSKE'S 22.
>> I'M SURE HE FEELS LIKE HE HAS
TO PROVE.
I THINK HE HAS PROVEN HIMSELF.
HE HAS WHAT IT TAKES.
HE HAS THE TALENT.
YOU TALK ABOUT ALL THIS --
>> IT MAY HAVE BEEN 2008.
>> COUPLE YEARS AGO.
>> I'M SURE I WAS STILL DRIVING.
MAY HAVE BEEN MY LAST YEAR, MY
LAST RACE AND THIS THING SHOWED
UP.
I'M TELLING YOU, I THOUGHT HE
WAS COMING THROUGH THE INFIELD.
>> THAT'S WHEN THEY CAME UP WITH
THE LIMIT.
>> SAM HORNISH JUMPED INTO THIS
22 CAR IN DAYTONA AFTER A.J.
ALLMENDINGER RAN INTO PROBLEMS.
ALLMENDINGER BACK AT THE
RACETRACK FOR FINCH'S CAR.
>> THANK YOU.
A.J. ALLMENDINGER.
FIRST OF ALL, WELCOME BACK.
HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE BACK IN A
RACE CAR?
>> I WAS LITTLE NERVOUS GOING
OUT THERE.
YOU DON'T DO IT FOR THREE
MONTHS, DIDN'T KNOW IF I WAS
GOING TO REMEMBER HOW TO DO IT.
IT'S A LOT OF FUN.
I FEEL GREAT TO BE BACK IN A
RACE CAR.
>> THE TIME YOU'VE BEEN AWAY,
WHAT DID YOU LEARN ABOUT
YOURSELF AND THIS SPORT WHEN YOU
WENT THROUGH THAT ROAD TO
RECOVERY PROGRAM?
>> I MEAN, ULTIMATELY FOR ME
IT'S JUST BEING HAPPY OFF THE
RACETRACK.
THIS SPORT, EVEN WHEN IT'S GOING
WELL, CAN TAKE OVER YOUR LIFE.
WHEN IT'S NOT GOING WELL, IT CAN
REALLY TAKE OVER YOUR LIFE.
I LOST THE FUN OUT OF IT AN I
WAS STRUGGLING.
I LEFT THE RACE WEEK.
ONCE IT GETS TAKEN AWAY FROM
YOU, SEE WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.
I QUICKLY FOUND OUT I LOVE THIS
SPORT AND MISS IT.
I'M ONE OF THE LUCKIEST GUYS TO
BE APART OF IT AND HAVE SECOND
OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE.
IT'S PRETTY GOOD.
FOR ME, IT'S IMPORTANT TO
REMEMBER HOW IT FEELS.
TELL THE GUYS WHAT IS
COMFORTABLE, LITTLE BIT TIGHT IN
3 AND 4.
YOU ALWAYS FIGHT THAT HERE IN
CHARLOTTE.
IT'S STRONG.
I'M LOOK FORWARD TO JUST GO
THROUGH THE REST OF THIS
PRACTICE INTO QUALIFYING, INTO
TOMORROW.
JUST GET BETTER EACH PRACTICE
SESSION AND RUN ALL 5080 MILES
ON SATURDAY NIGHT.
>> WELCOME BACK.
GOOD TO HAVE YOU BACK IN THE
GARAGE.
>> IT'S GREAT TO BE BACK.
THANK YOU TO ALL THE FANS AND
EVERYTHING THAT SENT ME THE LOVE
AND SUPPORT.
HELPED ME GET THROUGH SOME BAD
DAYS AND NIGHTS.
HAPPEN FOYE BE BACK.
>> NOW, I WANT TO SHOW YOU THE
HOOD.
TAKE A LOOK AT THE HOOD OF THIS
CAR.
HAS A BIG SMILEY FACE ON THE
CAR.
FINCH TOLD ME, THIS IS A MESSAGE
TO KURT BUSCH WHO LEFT THIS RACE
CAR TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.
I WANT TO TELL EVERYBODY, I
HAVEN'T HAD A LOT TO SMILE ABOUT
THIS YEAR, I'M SMILING RIGHT
NOW.
I'M A SMALL TEAM WITH A SMALL
DRIVER.
OUR TEAM RIGHT NOW THIS WEEKEND,
OUR MISSION IS TO OUTRUN THE 78
AND THE 88, BY THE WAY, WHO
BORROWED REGAN SMITH WITH US.
WE BELIEVE WE CAN DO IT.
WE'LL HAVE FUN THE REST OF THE
YEAR.
>> JAMES HAS NEVER BEEN ONE TO
MINCE HIS WORDS, HAS HE?
IT'S ALL SMILES DOWN THERE.
>> THEY ARE AHEAD OF THE OTHER
TWO CARS IN PRACTICE SO FAR.
OF COURSE ALLMENDINGER SUSPENDED
JUST PRIOR TO THE START OF
DAYTONA WEEKEND FOR VIOLATION OF
NASCAR'S SUBSTANCE ABUSE
PROGRAM.
HE WENT THROUGH THE ROAD TO
RECOVERY PLAN AND SUCCESSFULLY
COMPLETED THAT.
HE IS BLIND THE WHEEL OF FINCH'S
51 HERE THIS WEEKEND AT
CHARLOTTE.
A.J. TALKED ABOUT HOW QUICKLY
THINGS CHANGE.
YOU'VE BEEN OUT OF A CAR NOW FOR
A COUPLE MONTHS TIME.
BOY, IT MUST FEEL DIFFERENT BE
BACK ON BOARD THAT MACHINE.
>> WE TALKED ABOUT THE CHASE WHO
IS GOING TO HAVE TO HOT HAND.
SEEMS THAT NOBODY HOLDS ON IT TO
FOR THREE OR FOUR WEEKS AT A
TIME.
THESE GUYS HAVE REALLY GOT TO
STAY ON TOP OF HOW THESE CARS
FEEL.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO
GO DOWN IN THAT CORNER AT 200
MILES AN HOUR.
BUT I IMAGINE THAT JUST SMALL,
LITTLE THINGS MAKE A HUGE
DIFFERENCE.
IF THEY KEEP CHANGING THE WAY
THOSE CARS TRACK, IT'S GOT TO
FEEL DIFFERENT.
>> ONE THING I ALWAYS LIKED IS
TO HAVE SOMEBODY IN MY CAR THAT
HAS SOMETHING TO PROVE.
HE HAS A LOT OF TALENT.
WE'LL SEE WHAT HE'S GOT.
>> IT DOES TAKE TIME TO GET YOUR
FEEL BACK TO EXACTLY WHAT THAT'S
LIKE.
THINGS HAVE CHANGED.
AND AS THEY'VE CHANGEED, NO
HE'S WITH A NEW TEAM.
WE ALL DESERVE A SECOND CHANCE.
IT'S GREAT HE'S GETTING THAT
SECOND OPPORTUNITY.
HE SAID SOMETHING THAT I GET A
LOT FROM PEOPLE THAT SAID, WHAT
DID YOUR DAD SAY?
A.J. SAID SOMETHING THERE, THIS
SPORT AT ITS BEST -- WHEN IT'S
AT ITS BEST FOR YOU, IS STILL
VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TO TAKE
EVERYTHING THAT IT GIVES AND HAS
TO OFFER.
HE'S LEARNED A VALUABLE LESSON
EARLY ON AND SEE WHERE HE GOES
FROM THERE.
>> 80 YEARS OLD TOMORROW.
>> HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
>> CAUTION IS OUT FOR A PIECE OF
DEBRIS REPORTED AT PIT EXIT
BEING RETRIEVED NOW.
I BELIEVE THAT 200 MILES AN HOUR
SPEED YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT.
>> YOU CALL THAT A BRAKING
CORNER.
YOU WOULDN'T HAVE TO REMIND ME
TO BRAKE.
I WOULD BE LOT FURTHER BACK.
>> YOU MIGHT WANT THAT MAERK TO
BREAK, THOUGH.
ALL RIGHT.
WE'LL RESUME OUR COVERAGE OF
PRACTICE SOON.
>>> LOTS OF WORK GOING ON IN THE
NASCAR SPRINT CUP AS PRACTICE
CONTINUES HERE ON ESPN2.
FOLLOWED IMMEDIATELY BY "NASCAR
NOW" AND TONIGHT'S NASCAR SPRINT
CUP QUALIFYING.
LOT OF COVERAGE TOMORROW AS
WELL.
NATIONWIDE SERIES QUALIFYING
FOLLOWED BY "NASCAR NOW" AND
THEN SPRINT CUP FINAL PRACTICE
AND THEN THE RACE ON SATURDAY
NIGHT, BANK OF AMERICA 500,
NASCAR SPRINT CUP THAT'S ON ABC
AT 7:00.
MATT KENSETH, DEFENDING WINNER
OF THIS RACE OUT THERE SEEKING A
LITTLE SPEED IN THIS 17 CAR.
THE YEAR HE HAD -- FOURTH PLACE.
JUST INCREDIBLE.
WON HALF OF THEM.
SHOULD HAVE WON THE OTHER ONES.
WAS IN POSITION TO.
>> WATCH THE HANDS.
>> I TALKED TO HIM AFTER SUNDAY
UP IN BRISTOL, CONNECTICUT ON
MONDAY AS WE WERE DOING "NASCAR
NOW."
YOU DRIVE THAT CAR FOR A
RACETRACK THAT YOU DON'T TALK
ABOUT HANDLING MUCH, YOU HAD
YOUR HANDS FULL.
HIS CAR LOOKED THE LOOSEST, MOST
UNSTABLE CAR IN THE FIELD.
BUT WHEN IT WAS ALL OVER, IT HAS
CHAMPAGNE ALL OVER IT.
>> REGAN SMITH.
STORY OF THE DAY.
>> QUALIFYING LATER THIS
EVENING.
SWITCHING THE CAR OVER FROM THE
RACE TRIM AND QUALIFYING SETUP.
FIRST OF ALL, HOW ABOUT THE
ADJUSTMENT.
WHAT KIND OF RACE CAR DID YOU
HAVE?
>> IT'S BEEN A BIG ADJUSTMENT.
LOT OF THINGS DIFFERENT.
BUT GOING GOOD SO FAR.
JUST TRYING TO GET ACCLIMATED TO
THE CAR, COCKPIT, DIFFERENT
CONTROLS THAT THEY HAVE ON THIS
OR WHAT I'VE BEEN USED TO WITH
MY CARS EARLIER IN THE YEAR.
>> TAKE US THROUGH THESE LAST
TEN, 11, 12 HOURS AND WHAT'S
IT'S BEEN LIKE FOR YOU THE
MOMENT THAT YOU FIRST FOUND OUT?
>> IT'S BEEN A BUSY TEN HOURS.
I GOT A PHONE CALL AT 7:00 THIS
MORNING FROM STEVE AND GAVE HIM
A CALL AND CALMED HIM AND IT WAS
AN HOUR LATER I WAS WALKING IN
THE HENDRICK SHOP TO GET A SEAT
FITTED.
EVERYTHING HAS BEEN GOOD.
IT'S OBVIOUSLY GOT LOT OF GREAT
PEOPLE OVER THERE THAT WORK HARD
ON THESE RACE CARS AND
APPRECIATE ALL THEIR HELP
GETTING THAT DONE THIS MORNING
AND EARLIER TODAY.
AS I SAID, WE'LL SEE WHAT
QUESTION GET THE CHEVROLET TO DO
IN TRIM AND GET A GOOD SPOT TO
GO LATER ON TONIGHT.
THIS PLACE COOLS DOWN AND SEE
WHAT HAPPENS.
>> JUST BEFORE THE CHASE BEGAN
IN CHICAGOLAND, YOU FOUND OUT
YOU WEREN'T GOING TO BE WITH
FURNITURE ROW TEAM.
SCHEDULED TO BE IN THE 51 HERE
TODAY.
NOW IN THE 88.
CAN YOU JUST PUT IN PERSPECTIVE
THE ROLLER COSTAR YOU'VE BEEN
ON?
>> I GO WITH THE FLOW, MAN.
IF THERE'S A RACE CAR THAT I'M
FORTUNATE TO SIT IN, THEN THAT'S
GOOD.
I'M EXCITED TO DO IT.
AND I THINK YOU CAN TELL I
PLANNED ON BEING 51 THIS
WEEKEND.
IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR ME
TO HOP INTO THE RACE CAR.
TOMORROW WE'LL FINE TUNE IT AND
WORK ON LITTLE STUFF AND GET ME
COMFORTABLE IN IT AND GET THE
SPEED OUT OF IT.
I KNOW IT'S GOT IT BUT I'M NOT
GETTING IT ALL OUT OF IT.
WE'LL GO FROM THERE.
>> WISH YOU THE BEST.
THANKS FOR YOUR TIME, REGAN.
>> AGAIN, REALLY TALL TASK TO
JUMP INTO ANOTHER CAR ON SHORT
NOTICE.
>> STEVE HAS GOTTEN NOTES AND
THINGS HE NEEDS TO RELY ON.
THAT COMMUNICATION STILL COMES
DOWN TO THE DRIVER WHEN YOU GET
HERE.
YOU DON'T HAVE YOUR DATA AS MUCH
AS YOU HAVE SIMULATION HOW REGAN
DESCRIBED -- I HAVE TO STOP
CALLING HIM REAGAN -- HOW REGAN
DESCRIBES THINGS AND HOW STEVEN
UNDERSTANDS TO MAKE THE CHANGES,
BIG, SMALL AND GIVE SOME THINGS
TO THINK ABOUT.
THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
THE LANGUAGE BETWEEN DRIVER AND
CREW CHIEF IS IMPORTANT.
>> RIGHT NOW HE'S TRYING TO GO
THROUGH THIS ADJUSTMENT.
FIGURE OUT WHAT HE NEEDS.
THAT'S WHY HE'LL KEEP
INTERROGATING HIM.
GET ALL HE CAN.
I REALLY THINK THAT STEVE
LeTARTE IS GOOD WITH THIS.
HIM AND REGAN WILL DO VERY GOOD.
>> I'LL MOVE ON.
>> I HAD A COUPLE LINES BUT I'LL
MOVE ON.
FASTEST LAP IN PRACTICE SO FAR
MARK MARTIN IS JUST ON THE TOP
OF THE BOARD AS JIMMIE JOHNSON
GETTING BUCKLED IN TO HEAD BACK
OUT.
FIVE-TIME CHAMP.
AND YOU MENTIONED EARLIER,
JIMMIE WINNING THE ALL-STAR RACE
HERE IN MAY.
HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS HAD
THEMSELVES THIS RACETRACK.
KASEY KAHNE WON THE 600.
JIMMIE JOHNSON WON THE ALL-STAR
RACE AND RICK HENDRICK DR I KNOW
YOU KNOW@@ THIS PERSONALLY, RAY
BUT YOU@@ COULD ALMOST HIT A GO
BALL TO HIS HEAD QUARTERS, HIS
RACE TEAM'S HEAD QUARTERS FROM
THE PARKING LOT OF@@ THIS
RACETRACK.
>> YOU'RE RIGHT.
THIS IS A TRACK THAT IS
IMPORTANT TO MR. HENDRICK.@@
IT IS HIS HOMETOWN.
HE ENTERTAINS A LOT OF PEOPLE.
THIS IS A TRACK THAT THEY HAVE
WON A LOT OF RACES AT.
I CAN TELL YOU AS WE PREPARE TO
COME HERE IN THE MEETINGS, IT
WAS PRETTY MUCH EXPLAINED TO
YOU, THIS WAS A TRACK THAT WAS
IMPORTANT.
SO WE WANTED TO COME HERE.
PERFORM WELL IN FRONT OF
HOMETOWN CROWD.
AGAIN, THEY'VE DONE THAT.
THEY'VE GOT A GOOD HANDLING
PACKAGE.
THEY HAD A GREAT MAY.
THIS RACE FOR SOME REASON IS A
RACE THAT WE SEEM TO STRUGGLE
AT.
IF YOU LOOK BACK AT HISTORY WITH
JEFF GORDON AND I AND JIMMIE HAS
DONE WELL HERE, OF COURSE.
BUT THE HENDRICK JUGGERNAUT, IF
YOU WILL, HAS NOT BEEN AS STRONG
IN OCTOBER AS IT HAS BEEN IN
MAY.
>> 17 WINS JUST IN POINTS SPRINT
CUP RACES AT CHARLOTTE MOTOR
SPEEDWAY FOR RICK HENDRICK.
THAT'S AMAZING.
17 OF THEM.
AND JIMMIE JOHNSON HEADED BACK
OUT FOR A RUN IN MR. HENDRICK'S
48 CAR.
NOW, NEW NAME, MARK MARTIN.
>> THAT'S NOT A NEW NAME.
>> IT'S NEW ATOP THE LEADER
BOARD AT THIS IMMEDIATE MOMENT.
BUT, NO, IT'S NOT A NEW NAME.
IN FACT, MARK ON SATURDAY NIGHT
WILL MAKE HIS 850th NASCAR
SPRINT CUP SERIES START.
NOW, THAT DOESN'T CHANGE WHERE
HE SITS IN THE ALL-TIME RANKS.
STILL FIFTH ALL TIME.
BUT IT'S STILL A NUMBER OF GREAT
SIGNIFICANCE.
850 STARTS, MARK MARTIN'S FIRST
RACE WAS BACK IN APRIL OF 1981
IN THIS SERIES.
HE'S STILL GOING STRONG AND
STILL VERY CAPABLE OF WINNING AT
ANY MOMENT.
>> HE'S BEEN FAST FROM THE VERY
BEGINNING.
I MEAN, 1981, I DON'T KNOW IF IT
WAS THE DEBUT RACE, BUT ONE OF
THOSE RACES HE SAT ON THE POLE.
I THINK IT WAS AT RICHMOND.
HERE HE IS FASTEST AT CHARLOTTE
SOME HOW MANY YEARS LATER, 31
YEARS LATER?
>> NOW, HE WAS FAST.
IT TOOK A WHILE TO GET TO
VICTORY LANE FOR MARK.
I KNOW I REMEMBER THIS DAY WELL.
MARK PARTNERING UP WITH JACK
RAUSH, THEN NEW OWNER IN THE
WINSTON CUP SERIES AND THAP GOT
THEIR FIRST WIN TOMORROW.
THERE'S JACK.
IN NORTH CAROLINA.
AND YOU LOOK BACK AT ALL THAT
MARK HAS ACCOMPLISHED, 40 WINS,
55 POLES.
BEEN A GREAT LIFE FROM APRIL
1981 TO
>>> THAT'S WHERE ALL THE ACTION
IS NASCAR SPRINT CUP PRACTICE
HERE AT CHARLOTTE MOTOR
SPEEDWAY.
BACK IN THE GARAGE, ONLY ONE CAR
OUT ON THE RACETRACK.
EVERYBODY ELSE WORKING ON THEIR
MACHINES, TRYING TO GET THEM AS
FAST AS THEY CAN BE FOR WHAT
COULD BE A RECORD-SETTING
QUALIFYING SESSION LATER ON
TONIGHT.
>> YEAH.
WHAT ABOUT 15 MINUTES TO GO,
EVERYBODY HAS THEIR DECISIONS
MADE.
PUTTING THEIR FINAL ADJUSTMENTS
IN.
I'M EXPECTING TO SEE THE TOP OF
THE LEADER BOARD CHANGE THERE A
GOOD BIT.
GUYS WILL -- YOU'VE HAD TIME TO
PIX YOUR TIRES AND MAKE YOUR
CHANGES.
TEMPERATURES ARE GETTING COOLER.
SHADOWS ARE GETTING LONGER, SO
THE SPEEDS SHOULD GO UP.
>> ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF A PROBLEM
WE'VE SEEN A COUPLE OF TIMES IN
THIS PRACTICE WITH SMOKE COMING
FROM A CAR.
THIS IS DAVID GILLILAND'S 38.
>> EVERYBODY IS GETTING IN ON
THE ACT.
HIS CAR JUST SHIFTS OVER TO THE
RIGHT.
THAT'S THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR
SPEED.
>> AND A COUPLE OF THINGS WE'VE
SEEN.
JEFF BURTON, KASEY KAHNE, DAVID
GILLILAND.
THE REAR OF THE CAR SHIFT TO THE
RIGHT T FASTER IT WILL GO
THROUGH THE CORNER WITH THAT TOP
FORCE.
BUT THEY HAVE TO KEEP MAKING
CLEARANCE ON THAT LEFT-REAR
QUARTER PANEL SO THEY CAN GO
OVER THERE.
>> LOT OF DRIVERS ON THEIR CARS
LOOKING AT THEIR CREW TINKER
WITH THE CAR.
>> BRAD, YOU SAID THE CAR IS
BETTER BUT THE CAR DRAGGING.
WHAT'S THE ISSUE?
>> NOT SURE.
QUALIFYING TRIM HASN'T BEEN OUR
STRONGEST WOULD BE THE BEST WAY
TO SAY IT.
I FEEL CLOSER THIS WEEK THAN
WHAT WE'VE BEEN OVER THE LAST
FEW WEEKS.
THAT SAYS A LOT ABOUT HOW WE
FEEL.
I'M PUMPED ABOUT THIS CAR.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT.
IT'S THE CAR I RAN AT INDY.
WE'VE MADE UPGRADES IT TO.
IT WILL BE STRONG.
SO I'M NOT TOO CONCERNED.
>> MIND SET NOW, 14-POINT LEAD.
DO YOU BACK OFF THE GAS?
DO YOU TAKE IT EASE SNI WHAT DO
YOU DO, IF ANYTHING?
>> I THINK YOU STICK WITH WHAT
GOT YOU TO WHERE YOU'RE AT.
FOR US IT'S BEEN NOT FOCUSSING
ON OTHER GUYS.
JUST DOING OUR THING AND DOING
THE BEST THAT WE CAN AND PUTTING
NUMBERS ON THE BOARD.
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO PUT SOME
DECENT NUMBERS ON THE BOARD SO
IF WE KEEP DOING WHAT WE'VE BEEN
DOING, IT WILL BE OURS TO LOSE.
>> GOOD LUCK TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> BRAD KESELOWSKI, TWO WINS IN
FOUR STARTS IN THE CHASE
ALREADY.
HOPING TO GET A WIN IN THE FIRST
TIME IN A CUP CAR AT CHARLOTTE
MOTOR SPEEDWAY.
>> HERE IS ANOTHER GUY THAT'S
HAVING A GOOD CHASE AS WELL.
STARTED 11th IN THE STANDINGS,
NOW IN FOURTH.
WE SEE THE MOVE UP TO THE CHASE,
WHERE DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR
POSITION TO BE AS WE ARE A FEW
RACES INTO IT?
>> I FEEL GOOD.
I THINK WE'VE GAINED SOME POINTS
ALL SEASON LONG BUT IN THE CHASE
AS WELL.
AND WE MISSED OUT THE LAST TWO
WEEKS WHEN WE DIDN'T GAIN AS
MANY AS WE COULD HAVE.
THE SAME TIME, WE CAME OUT OF
THERE BETTER THAN MOST.
STILL FEEL GOOD ABOUT WHERE
WE'RE AT.
IT'S BEEN GREAT TODAY.
WE'LL TRY COUPLE QUALIFYING RUNS
HERE TO GET READY FOR TONIGHT.
I LIKE QUALIFYING HERE.
HOPEFULLY TONIGHT WE CAN SHOOT
FOR THE POLE.
>> YOU WON THIS RACE IN MAY.
HOW DIFFERENT DO YOU EXPECT IT
TO BE WHEN WE RUN ON SATURDAY
NIGHT?
>> IT PLB SIMILAR.
IT'S LOOSER THIS TIME OF YEAR
WHEN IT GETS DARKER.
WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THAT.
EVERYTHING THAT WE DID THEN TO
GET THE RIDE AND GET THE CAR TO
TURN AND THINGS LIKE THAT, KIND
OF SIMILAR TO WHAT WE'RE WORKING
ON TODAY AND TOMORROW AFTERNOON.
>> THANKS, KASEY.
>> VINCE, YOU TALKED ABOUT KASEY
KAHNE AND HIS CHAMPIONSHIP SO
FAR.
HOW HE'S MOVED UP IN RANK.
BUT FALLING MORE POINTS BEHIND
THE LEADER THAN BRAD KESELOWSKI
THAN HE WAS AT THE START OF THE
CHAMPIONSHIP RUN.
>> DOVER, WHATEVER ISSUE THAT
WAS THAT THEY WERE NOT
DIVULGING, THEY WERE IN POSITION
TO WIN THE RACE AND PICK UP
POINTS.
THEY HAD MORE FUEL SO THEY COULD
HAVE RUN HARDER THAN KESELOWSKI
DID AT THE END.
THEY WERE IN A VERY GOOD
POSITION.
BUT THAT WAS A COSTLY MISTAKE OR
PROBLEM.
>> I TALKED TO KENNY, HE SAID
THAT WAS A LEFT-REAR ISSUE.
IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE
SOME OF THE ISSUES WE'RE DEALING
WITH.
SHIFT THE BODY TO THE RIGHT.
PUT STRESS ON THAT PART OF THE
SUSPENSION.
THEY FAILED A PART THAT MADE THE
CAR FEEL FUNNY.
HE CAME IN THINKING HE HAD A
LOOSE WHEEL.
WHEEL WAS NOT LOOSE.
THEN THEY MADE THE MISTAKE THAT
COST HIM.
HE'S HAD THE PERFORMANCE.
HE HAS GREAT TRACKS COMING UP.
HE'S GREAT ON HIS 1 1/2s.
HE'S GREAT HERE.
HE CAN MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN
THESE NEXT FEW RACES.
>> KASEY IS ONE OF THE SEVERAL
DRIVERS WHO SUFFERED IN THAT BIG
CRASH.
STEWART RACING FOR THE LEAD.
WANTING TO DEFEND.
INTO THE FINAL CORNER OF THE
FINAL LAP.
55, 13, TRIED TO GET IN FRONT OF
HIM TO PICK UP THE BOOST.
>> TONY IS SUCH A GREAT DRIVER,
WHY WOULD HE MAKE A MISTAKE LIKE
THAT.
YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND, HIS
CAR -- IT DOESN'T GIVE YOU AN
IDEA HOW QUICKLY THE CLOSING
RATE IS.
YOU'RE TRYING TO LOOK AT WHERE
IS YOUR BEST OPTION.
HE JUST FELT LIKE HE HAD ENOUGH
TIME TO GET DOWN AND GET A
BOOST.
>> WHAT THAT DID, THAT WHOLE
ACCIDENT F YOU LOOK AT THE
STANDINGS OF WHERE DRIVERS WERE
AT THE WHITE FLAG VERSUS AT THE
CHECKERED FLAG, THINGS CHANGED
AROUND QUITE A BIT.
AND SOME OF THESE DRIVERS IN
THAT ONE CORNER OF THE RACE LOST
GOOD BIT OF CHAMPIONSHIP GROUND.
KASEY KAHNE IS ONE OF THOSE GUYS
THAT LOST FIVE POSITIONS AND
FIVE POINTS IN THAT LAST CORNER.
>> THAT WAS ONE OF THE MOST
INCREDIBLE FINISHES IF THEY
COULD MADE IT THROUGH TURN FOUR,
THINK OF WHAT WE WOULD HAVE HAD
START/FINISH LINE.
>> THEY WERE FIVE-WIDE THROUGH
THE CORNER, YOU KNOW THEY WERE
GOING TO BE AT LEAST THAT.
IT WAS EXCITING.
>> WE WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW
PHYSICALLY PUNISHING SOME OF
THOSE ACCIDENTS CAN BE.
DOC, I KNOW THAT'S SOMETHING
TONY STEWART HAS HAD TO WORK OUT
SINCE TALLADEGA.
>> HE HAS.
I COMMUNICATED WITH HIM ON
MONDAY.
HE TALKED ABOUT BEING SLOWER.
I KNEW I WOULD BE SOAR.
I'M OKAY.
THAT'S WHY HE STAYS IN GOOD
DRIVERS SHAPE.
HE'S NOT GOING TO WIN ANY
100-YARD DASHES.
HE IS PHYSICALLY FIT ENOUGH.
NOW AS FAR AS HERE TODAY, TONY
IN TYPICAL FASHION PUT THE FIRST
45 MINUTES OF THE 90 MINUTES IN
RACE TRIM.
WHY?
HE SAID HE BELIEVES WE LIKE TO
GO OUT IN RACE TRIM.
HE BASES HIS QUALIFYING TRIM OFF
HOW HE FEELS ABOUT THE CAR IN
RACE TRIM.
HE WENT OUT A MOMENT AGO FINALLY
IN QUALIFYING TRIM.
SAID THE CAR WAS FREE.
CAME BACK AND MADE AN
ADJUSTMENT.
HE SAID A MOMENT AGO T CAR IS
BETTER, OKAY IN TURNS 1 AND 2.
I QUOTE NOW, A WRECK, THOUGH, IN
TURNS 3 AND 4.
SO RACE TRIM PRENOM NANTLY.
NOW QUALIFYING TRIM.
REMEMBER THE CHICAGO RACE,
APPARENTLY HIS EPISYSTEM SEEMS
TO WORK.
>> HE TOLD ME THEY WERE TRYING
SOME NEW THINGS ON THIS RACE
CAR.
AND HE WANTED TO SEE IF IT'S
BETTER.
WELL, YOU HAVE SOME PRETTY GOOD
PACKAGES FOR THESE 1 1/2s.
HE SAID, YEAH, WE'RE GOING TO GO
BACKWARDS AND GO AFTER THIS.
TRY TO GET BETTER AND BETTER.
THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE DOING HERE
TODAY.
>> SO STEVE ADDINGTON, WORKING
ON TONY STEWART'S RIDE SOME
MORE.
WE'LL HEAD TO TONIGHT'S
QUALIFYING THAT YOU'LL SEE LIVE
STARTI IT'S TASTE-TOBER AT Suby
>> THE CHALLENGE OF THE HOME
GAME AND THE COMFORT OF THE HOME
GIG AS THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP
RACE AT CHARLOTTE MOTOR
SPEEDWAY.
MOST OF THE DRIVERS AND TEAMS
ARE BASED.
THEY'RE SETTING IN QUALIFYING
ORDER FOR TONIGHT'S TRIAL AND
THEN THE STARTING ORDER FOR
SATURDAY'S NIGHT BANK OF AMERICA
500.
MINUTE TO TALK ABOUT SATURDAY
NIGHT COLLEGE FOOTBALL.
S.E.C. MATCHUP THAT IS GOING TO
BE A BIG ONE ON ESPN SATURDAY.
STEVE SPURRIER'S GAMECOCKS
TRAVELING TO DEATH VALLEY TO
TAKE ON THE NINTH-RANKED TIGERS.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PRIMETIME
PRESENTED BY HAMPTON HOTELS.
SOUTH CAROLINA/LSU, SATURDAY AT
8:00 ON ESPN AND LIVE ON
WATCHESPN.
>> THEY HAVE TO TURN AROUND AND
DO IT AGAIN AGAINST THE TIGERS
AFTER WINNING AGAINST THE
BULLDOGS.
>> BATTEN ROUGE NO EASY PLACE TO
GO.
THAT'S FOR SURE.
HERE IS MATT KENSETH.
HE SEARCHES FOR SPEED IN THIS 17
CAR.
HE GOT SOME SPEED THERE.
>> ALL THE WAY TO THIRD.
PRETTY GOOD.
>> WE CHECK IN WITH VINCE.
>> LOT OF WORK BEING DONE HERE
AROUND THE 24 CREW AS THEY
PREPARE FOR ANOTHER JEFF GORDON
QUALIFYING RUN.
OF COURSE YOU DON'T PUT A FRESH
SET OF TIRES EVERY TIME YOU GO
OUT AND MAKE A MOCK RUN, BUT YOU
WANT TO GET THOSE TIRES COOLED
BACK DOWN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
LOT OF GUYS ARE TAKING COOL, WET
RAGS, FANS BLOWING AIR ON THESE
TIRES AS WELL.
ALL PART OF THE PREPARATION TO
TRY TO SIMULATE WHAT JEFF GORDON
WILL FEEL WHEN HE GOES
THROUGHOUT TO MAKE THE REAL
QUALIFYING RUN LATER TONIGHT
HERE IN CHARLOTTE.
>> WHY?
>> YOU KNOW, PICKING YOUR TIRES
FOR QUALIFYING AND HOW MUCH TIME
YOU WANT ON THEM, SOME GUYS LIKE
STICKERS.
SOME GUYS LIKED SCUFFS.
THESE GUY WILLS GO THROUGH THE
SYSTEM TO FIND OUT WHAT THE CAR
RUNS THE BEST ON.
YOU ALSO WANT TO TAKE LITTLE BIT
OF THAT MOLD WAX OFF.
WHAT THEY'RE DOING NOW IS TAKING
THE TEMPERATURE OUT OF THE THOSE
TIRES.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY LAPS THEY
HAVE ON THEM.
BRING THEM BACK IN, PUT THEM ON
THE CAR AND MAKE SURE THEY'RE
TOTALLY COOLED DOWN.
HE MAY BE PLANNING ON QUALIFYING
ON SCUFFED TI@@RES RATHER THAN
ST@@ICKERS.
>> THEY'LL BE COLD WHEN THEY GO
OUT.
THAT'S A GIVEN.
THAT'S ONE REASON THOEPT MAKE
SURE WHEN THEY GO OUT TO MAKE
TH@@ESE SIMULATED QUALIFYING RU,
THAT IS AS CLOSE@@ AS POSSIBLE.
THAT'S W@@ITH COLD TIRES WHEN TY
COME OFF PIT ROAD.
>> I HEARD SOMEBODY DID THAT ON@
TIME.
>> WELL, YOU KNOW T THEORY
THERE -- WAS JUST BECAUSE --
>> PAY ATTENTION TO THAT AND NOT
SOME OF THE OTHER STUFF I WAS @@
DOING.
>> WAS THAT JUST A DIVERSE?
>> BRAD KESELOWSKI, NASCAR
SPRINT CUP CHAMPIONSHIP LEADER.
LET'S TALK ABOUT QUALIFYING
TONIGHT.
IN MAY, THE WINNING POLE TIME,
LAP TIME, WAS 27.988 SECONDS.
THAT'S 192.9 MILES AN HOUR.
ARIC ALMIROLA DID THAT.
THE TRACK RECORD IS 29.08.
IT IS GOING TO BE COOLER TONIGHT
THAN IT WAS IN MAY.
WE'LL PROBABLY SEE A RUN AT THE
TRACK RECORD TONIGHT?
>> I THINK SO.
>> MARK MARTIN HAS ALSO SET UP A
NUMBER.
LOOK FOR THE CARS THAT GO LATE.
I THINK THAT THEY CAN PICK UP AT
LEAST THAT MUCH.
I THINK WE'LL SEE A TRACK RECORD
TONIGHT.
>> 193.216 ELLIOTT SADLER DID ON
OCTOBER 13, 2005.
THE TEMPERATURE AND WHAT THE
TEMPERATURE IS FORECASTED TO BE
AT THE START OF QUALIFYING
TONIGHT.
>> IT WILL BE LITTLE BIT
>>> JOEY LOGANO JUST WENT TO THE
TOP OF THE CAR.
191 MILES AN HOUR BUT STILL HAVE
11 MINUTES TO GO IN THIS
PRACTICE SESSION AND THERE WILL
BE A LOT F PEOPLE OUT THERE.
>> HIS TEAMMATE KYLE BUSCH
SECOND RIGHT NOW.
JOE GIBBS RACING SHOWING SOME
STRENGTH HERE.
>> THERE'S JAMIE McMURRAY.
WHAT ABOUT 11?
>> WELL, NOT AS GOOD AS HIS
TEAMMATE LOGANO.
IN FACT, DENNY HAMLIN JUST NOW
GETTING READY MOMENTARILY TO
CLIMB BACK IN THE CAR.
HE'S BEEN HERE 15 MINUTES
WAITING.
THEY HAD A RUB ON THE TIRE.
THEY MADE SOME ADJUSTMENTS ON
THE CAR TO GET RID OF THE RUB.
MAKING SOME SIGNIFICANT
ADJUSTMENTS.
THEY PUT THE TIRE BACK ON NOW
AND SEND DENNY BACK OUT.
NOT WHERE HE WOULD LIKE TO BE.
YOU CAN TELL FROM HIS FACE THAT
HE WASN'T HAPPY WITH THE FENDER
RUB AND TIRE RUB.
HOPING TO GO OUT AND FIND IS
SAME SPEED HIS TEAMMATE JOEY
LOGANO HAD.
>> SEEN A LOT OF THE FENDER
RUBBING IN THIS THIS PRACTICE.
>> MOST OF THE TEAMS ARE
PROBABLY DOING SOMETHING SIMILAR
TO WHAT THEY DID IN CHICAGO.
BUT THIS TRACK DOES HAVE A LOT
MORE SIDE FORCE THAN YOU SEE AT
A LOT OF OTHER TRACKS.
HAS A LOT OF BUMPS THAT MAKES
THAT LEFT REAR RUB EVEN MORE.
>> REGAN SMITH HEADING OUT TO
MAKE A RUN.
>> HE PICKED UP HIS SPEED
CONSIDERABLY.
THIS IS GOING TO BE A
QUALIFYING.
AS WE WERE SAYING BEFORE, THIS
KID IS A REALLY GOOD QUALIFIER
AND KNOWS HOW TO FIND SPEED.
WE'VE SEEN MARK MARTIN JUMP BACK
TO THE TOP OF THE CHART.
>> WHEN'S IS LAST TIME THE
NASCAR SPRINT CUP STARTED
WITHOUT AN EARNHARDT IN THE
FIELD?
>> 1979.
>> 1979.
YOU'RE RIGHT.
RACE AT DARLINGTON, SEPTEMBER
'79 DAVID PEARSON GUNNING FOR
DALE EARNHARDT SR.
PEARSON WON THAT RACE IN HIS
CAR.
SEPTEMBER 1979.
>> THAT'S AMAZING.
>> REALLY IS.
>> BUT WE'LL HAVE THAT ON
SATURDAY NIGHT WITH DALE
EARNHARDT JR. SITTING OUT THESE
NEXT TWO RACES.
TRYING TO HEAL UP AFTER
SUFFERING A COUPLE OF
CONCUSSIONS IN RELATIVELY SHORT
PERIOD OF TIME.
>> HE GOES UP TO TENTH QUICKEST.
.3 OFF WHAT MARK MARTIN RAN.
>> HE'S GETTING THERE.
>> HE KNOWS HOW TO MAKE THESE
CARS GO FAST, REGAN SMITH.
STEVE LeTARTE GETTING READY TO
TALK TO HIS SUBSTITUTE DRIVER.
THEY HAVE A FRESH SET OF TIRES.
>> THEY SEEM TO MAKE IT BETTER.
THEY DO HAVE TIME.
THEY COULD DO THAT AND SEE IF
THEY CAN PICK UP A LITTLE BIT.
>> HERE IS MARTIN TRUEX JR.
14th COMING UP TO THIS RUN.
FOURTH AFTER IT.
>> YEAH.
1 1/2 HIS BEST FRIEND THIS YEAR.
>> CHARLOTTE HAS BEEN A LITTLE
BIT OF A STRUGGLE FOR HE AND
THIS TEAM.
THIS PARTICULAR TRACK.
>> FOUR OF THESE LAST SIX RACES
WILL BE ON 1 1/2 TRACKS, BUT
THEY'RE ALL JUST A LITTLE BIT
DIFFERENT.
>> YEAH.
WE WERE TALKING HOW WITH MR.
HENDRICK, HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS
TO DO WELL HERE.
AS A DRIVER, YOU WANT TO DO WELL
HERE TOO BECAUSE YOU HEAR ALL
THESE DRIVERS TALK ABOUT HOW
DIFFICULT THIS RACETRACK IS.
YOU KNOW THAT IF YOU DO WELL
HERE, HAVING THE CHARLOTTE WIN
ON YOUR RESUME, SOMETHING YOU
CAN BRAG ABOUT.
>> HOW ABOUT THE 48?
>> WE TALKED ABOUT THIS IS THE
HOUSE OF JIMMIE JOHNSON.
THAT'S GONE AWAY THE LAST THREE
OR FOUR RACES.
WATCHING JIMMIE RIGHT NOW,
JIMMIE WAS SMILING WHEN HE
CLIMBED IN THE CAR.
THIS IS THEIR FINAL QUALIFYING
RUN.
THEY'RE GOING TO TURN IT DOWN TO
THESE FEW LAPS HERE AND GET
READY FOR QUALIFYING.
APPARENTLY THEY FEEL GOOD ABOUT
WHAT THEY GOT.
SEE WHAT THEY DO SPEEDWISE HERE
ON THIS RUN.
>> PICKS IT UP A LITTLE BIT, DOC
M.
>> JIMMIE UP TO FOURTH.
AND 190.5 MILES AN HOUR AS ONE
MORE RACE IS ON THE 1 1/2 THAN
ANYBODY ELSE, JIMMIE JOHNSON HAS
WON THEM.
NOBODY WOULD BE SURPRISED IF HE
WON HERE THE AMERICAN G Gr ]
>>> WELL, MOST FOLKS BACK IN THE
GARAGE ARE DONE WITH THEIR
OPENING PRACTICE NASCAR SPRINT
CUP HERE AT CHARLOTTE.
THERE ARE A WHOLE HOST OF OTHERS
TRYING TO GET A BETTER SPOT IN
THE QUALIFYING DRAW, HOPING IT
WILL HELP THEM GET A BETTER
START FOR THE BANK OF AMERICA
500 ON SATURDAY NIGHT.
BRAD KESELOWSKI IS ONE OF THOSE.
>> HE'S 24th.
I KNOW THEY WERE WORKING ON
NOTHING BUT QUALIFYING TRIM.
THEY WANT TO GET THE BEST RUN
THEY CAN.
IT'S BEEN ONE OF THEIR
WEAKNESSNESS.
THEY WANT TO FOCUS ON THAT
TODAY.
>> HE FEELS THEY HAVE A GOOD
CAR.
ALLEN BROUGHT A FEW NEW THINGS
THAT THEY WANT TO TRY.
HE KNOWS HE NEEDS TO BE IN GOOD
STARTING SPOT TO CONTINUE TO
GAIN POINTS AS HE'S BEEN DOING.
>> I REALLY LIKE THAT PAINT JOB,
BY THE WAY.
THAT IS SHARP.
>> THAT'S A FAST-LOOKING RACE
CAR.
KESELOWSKI MOVES UP TO EIGHTH
WITH THAT RUN.
>> YEAH.
I THINK HE HAS TO BE INSIDE
THOSE LAST 15 CARS TO HAVE A
SHOT AT THE POLE.
>> VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE THAT
LATE DRAW HERE.
>> HERE IS THE MAN WHO WAS ON
THE POLE IN THE MAIN RACE HERE
FOR THE COCA-COLA 600, ARIC
ALMIROLA HAD HIS FIRST EVER
SPRINT CUP WIN HERE.
WITH THAT EXPERIENCE UNDER HIS
BELT, THEY COULD CONTEND FOR THE
WIN HERE.
THERE IS THE MAN WHO HAS POSTED
THE FASTEST LAP, DENNY HAMLIN
JUST BROUGHT IT BACK IN AFTER
GOING TO THE TOP OF THE BOARD.
>> WHEN I MAKE A WRONG TURN LIKE
THAT, WE SAY ANY QUESTIONS.
>> YEAH, 10-4.
>> ANY QUESTIONS?
>> ENOUGH SAID.
THERE WE GO.
DENNY HAMLIN, TOP OF THE BOARD
FOR THE MOMENT WITH ANOTHER 1:30
TO GO.
REMINDER, SPORTS NATION IS
COMING UP NOW AND THEN IT'S
"NASCAR NOW" AT THE BOTTOM OF
THE HOUR AND THEN SPRINT CUP
QUALIFYING SESSION.
ALL THAT COMING UP HERE ON
ESPN2.
THEN TOMORROW, WE START OUR
COVERAGE FROM CHARLOTTE,
NATIONWIDE SERIES QUALIFYING
FOLLOWED BY "NASCAR NOW" AND THE
NATIONWIDE SERIES RACE.
SATURDAY IT'S RACE CHASE FOR THE
BANK OF AMERICA 500 ABC STARTING
AT 7:00 EASTERN TIME.
THAT'S WHAT'S COMING UP ON THE
ESPN NETWORK FROM HERE IN
CHARLOTTE THIS WEEK.
REGAN SMITH OUT FOR ANOTHER RUN.
HE PUT A NEW SET OF STICKERS ON
THERE AND GIVE IT A SHOT.
>> SEE IF THIS NEW SET OF TIRES
AND LITTLE ADJUST MS TO GET HIS
SPEEDS UP.
>> HE MOVES UP.
SEVENTH.
>> HE'S GETTING A FEEL FOR THAT
CAR.
>> REALLY NICE JOB, BUDDY.
>> NICE WORK TODAY, MAN.
>> NICE WORK!
>> SUBBING FOR DALE EARNHARDT
JR. IN THAT 88 CAR, CERTAINLY
THE LEAD STORY OF THE DAY HERE
IN CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY.
"NASCAR NOW" AND THEN WE'RE BACK