2014 Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway Weekend Discussion

[ShadowKnight508]

Discuss the Charlotte race weekend here. With the Camping World Truck Series off until their race next week at Talladega, both the Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series take a short trip to the confines of Charlotte Motor Speedway for their respective races. In 2013, Brad Keselowski's rough season in which he missed the 2013 Chase finally had a bright spot when he overcame a penalty for taking the jack out of his pits and held off Kasey Kahne in the closing laps to take home the win at Charlotte. Race weekend info, TV listings, entry lists, and other info credit to Jayski:

Race Weekend Schedule
Wednesday, October 8
6:00 PM NSCS HAULERS ENTER

Thursday, October 9
8:30 AM NSCS GARAGE OPENS & INSPECTION BEGINS
12:30 PM NSCS ROOKIE & SPOTTER MEETINGS & RANDOM DRAWING
1:30 - 3:00 PM Bank of America 500 PRACTICE
3:30 PM-4:30 PM Drive for the Cure 300 PRACTICE
5:00 PM APPROX. Ladies Race (25 Laps) Timed Event
5:30 PM-6:50 PM Drive for the Cure 300 FINAL PRACTICE
7:20 PM Bank of America 500 QUALIFYING (ESPN2)
10:00 PM NSCS GARAGE CLOSES

Friday, October 10
1:30 PM NSCS GARAGE OPENS
3:00 - 3:50 PM Bank of America 500 PRACTICE (ESPN2)
4:10 PM Drive for the Cure 300 QUALIFYING
5:30 - 6:50 PM Bank of America 500 FINAL PRACTICE (ESPN2)
7:30 PM 2014 Drive for the Cure 300 Presented By Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (ESPN2)
9:00 PM NSCS GARAGE CLOSES

Saturday, October 11
12:30 PM NSCS GARAGE OPENS
1:20 - 2:50 PM Charlotte Motor Speedway / SCC Track Walk
5:30 PM NSCS DRIVER / CREW CHIEFS MEETING
6:55 PM NSCS DRIVER INTRODUCTIONS
7:30 PM 2014 Bank of America 500 (ABC)

ALL POSTED TIMES LOCAL TO TRACK

Entry Lists
2014 Drive for the Cure 300 Presented By Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (45 Drivers)
Jayski's® NASCAR Silly Season Site - Charlotte Nationwide Series Entry List

2014 Bank of America 500 (44 Drivers)
Jayski's® NASCAR Silly Season Site - Charlotte Entry List

2013 Bank of America 500 Highlights
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekw5smhgx0U]2013 Bank Of America 500 Race Highlights - YouTube[/ame]

 

[ShadowKnight508]

NASCAR News and Updates (Credit to Jayski):

Sam Hornish Jr. Will Replace Departing Marcos Ambrose in the #9 at Richard Petty Motorsports in 2015

Richard Petty Motorsports announced that three-time IndyCar Series Champion turned NASCAR winner, Sam Hornish, Jr. will join the storied organization to drive the #9 Ford in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series full-time in 2015. Hornish, Jr. joins RPM from Joe Gibbs Racing where he competed part-time in the NASCAR Nationwide Series this season scoring one win and four Top-Five finishes in only eight starts. Hornish, Jr. has competed in three full seasons in the Sprint Cup Series as well as two full seasons in the Nationwide Series for Penske Racing where he finished second in points in 2013 by a mere three markers.

In 2014, Hornish, Jr. has made the most of his time behind the wheel while driving a partial Nationwide Series schedule at Joe Gibbs Racing with two poles and a win. He is now ready to rejoin the Sprint Cup Series with RPM. "This is a great opportunity to join Richard Petty Motorsports and the No. 9 Ford team in the Sprint Cup Series," said Hornish, Jr. "Owners Richard Petty, Andrew Murstein and Doug Bergeron have built this organization into a championship-contending team with world-class sponsors and partners. Many people have noticed to the progress being made here and I'm ready to build off this momentum. My goal is to put the #9 team in victory lane in 2015 and be a competitor in 'The Chase'." The #9 team will continue to be led by Crew Chief Drew Blickensderfer who has three Sprint Cup Series wins to his credit. Co-Owner Richard Petty is proud to welcome Hornish, Jr. to the team. "Sam is a really good fit for RPM and will be a great addition to the team," said Petty. "He's a family man who fits well with our core values and he will be a great ambassador for our partners.

Sam's also proven that he can win races and compete for a championship. He came into the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with a steep learning curve from open wheel racing, but has shown in the Nationwide Series that he is a winner. We feel that he can get the #9 team to Victory Lane and compete in 'The Chase' for us."

Trevor Bayne Will Attempt Race at Charlotte in the #6 Advocare Fusion for Roush/Fenway Racing

Trevor Bayne will make his Roush Fenway Racing Sprint Cup debut this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway behind the wheel of the #6 AdvoCare Ford Fusion. This marks the first time that a #6 Roush Fenway Ford will start a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race since the 2012 season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Bayne will take the wheel of the #6 Ford Fusion full time in 2015. "I am very excited to be behind the wheel of the #6 AdvoCare Ford Fusion this weekend," said Bayne. "The #6 is such a legendary number to both the sport and this company. To be able to say that I am one of a handful of drivers to race this number in the Cup series is a huge honor. I can't wait to get to Charlotte."

Bayne is not locked into the field for Saturday's race and must qualify his #6 AdvoCare Ford based on time during Thursday night's three-round qualifying session. If Bayne makes the race on speed, he will become just the fourth driver to start the #6 in the NSCS for team owner Jack Roush, joining former Roush Fenway drivers Mark Martin and David Ragan, as well as current Roush Fenway teammate Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. This weekend also marks the return of 18-time NSCS race-winning crew chief Bob Osborne, who will be atop the pit box for the AdvoCare team at Charlotte.

When the announcement was made in May at Charlotte that Bayne would be moving full-time to the Sprint Cup Series, Roush Fenway Racing president Steve Newmark indicated that there was a strong likelihood that Bayne would run a handful of Sprint Cup races with the team toward the end of the season. Newmark said at the time, "I still think that you'll see us try to position something where you'll see the 6 roll out the latter part of this year." There is no word if Charlotte will be the only Sprint Cup event that Bayne will run with Roush Fenway in 2014.

The #95 of Michael McDowell to Run Special Decal on the Hood for Child Who Lost Battle With Cancer at Charlotte

The Charlotte Motor Speedway race weekend will be a meaningful one for Michael McDowell and the Leavine Family Racing team as they honor a Davidson, N.C. child who recently lost his battle with cancer. Pieter Cornelis Swart, IV, age 5, passed away on Sept. 21, 2014 after a long battle with Neuroblastoma, an aggressive pediatric cancer. Pieter was diagnosed at age 3 and his family stated "he fought with dignity and strength, inspiring many along his journey." McDowell's son Trace, 5, has been a preschool classmate with Pieter for the past three years. To celebrate Pieter's life and bring awareness to this type of cancer, Pieter's Pals will be placed on the hood of the #95 KLOVE Ford Fusion. "It's really special to me and I'm thankful that Bob and Sharon (Leavine, team owners) are so supportive," McDowell said. "It's great for their friends and families and all the kids at the school to see. We want to bring some awareness to what this particular neurological cancer is and try to help prevent this from happening in the future."

Race fans can offer words of support and find more information at the Pieter's Pals Facebook page. The family has stated that memorials may be made to: Pieter's Pals at DCPC Preschool, P.O. Box 337, Davidson, NC 28036. The donations will "be distributed to organizations helping kids & their families battling cancer and groups committed to finding a cure for childhood cancers."

Detroit Genuine Parts Returns to the #2 Team Penske Fusion for the Bank of America 500

This weekend the #2 Team Penske Ford Fusion will feature blue Detroit Genuine Parts colors. This marks the second race that the #2 Ford Fusion is appearing in the livery this season (Richmond). A key Alliance Truck Parts partner, Detroit Genuine Parts is a premiere brand in the transportation aftermarket that supplies remanufactured parts to commercial on- and off-highway customers around the world. After a tough result at Kansas last weekend, Keselowski is now ranked 10th in the Chase standings. This marks just the third time through 30 races this season that he has been that low in the standings. Keselowski was ranked 11th for races 10 and 11 (Talladega and Kansas).

He had not been outside the top-five since the first Pocono race and had held the No. 1 spot for the four weeks heading into Kansas. Keselowski enters the Bank of America 500 race as the defending race winner after he notched his lone victory of 2013 during the annual Charlotte fall classic, leading just 11 laps en route to the win.

 

[AMLNet49]

Petty plans to keep #9: With Chase Elliott expected to run a partial Sprint Cup schedule starting next season, some believed that Hendrick Motorsports would try to get the #9 car number for Chase to drive, since his father Bill drove that number for much of his Cup career. RPM was asked about that Tuesday during the press conference announcing Sam Hornish, Jr's hiring:
THERE HAS BEEN SPECULATION RPM WOULD GIVE UP THE 9 TO HENDRICK WHEN CHASE ELLIOTT IS READY TO GO CUP RACING. HAVE YOU BEEN APPROACHED ABOUT CHANGING THE NUMBER NOW?
SAMMY JOHNS, Director of Competition, Richard Petty Motorsports - "Currently, we're committed to racing the number 9 and we have no immediate plans to change."

This annoys me so much. Chase Elliott should not drive the number 9 in Cup unless he is driving for Melling Oil Pumps, Ray Evernham, or Medallion Group, because that number is associated with those teams. I hate the concept of a team changing a number for a driver, I think the continuity of the number within the team is more important. I hated when Hendrick gave Dale Jr. the #88 because it made him seem better than all of the drivers who had driven the #25 and it was disrespectful to them. Now if Hendrick wanted to change that number, or Chase's for that matter, to a historic Hendrick number, such as #57 or #50 or something, I would have no problem with it. It puts the driver who changes the number above everyone else who ever drove for the old number. I have no problem with changing for a sponsor though, like RCR changing the more traditional Childress number #30 to #07 for Jack Daniels, because sponsors are the most important element, much more than driver or team.

 

[ShadowKnight508]

Harvick Fastest in Opening Practice (Credit to NASCAR.com):

Kevin Harvick was fastest in Thursday's opening practice at Charlotte Motor Speedway for Saturday's Bank of America 500 event. Harvick lapped the track at a speed of 196.192 mph. The No. 4 driver has two previous wins at the North Carolina track.

Second-fastest was Richard Childress Racing driver and Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender Austin Dillon with a speed of 196.107 mph.

Stewart-Haas Racing driver and co-owner Tony Stewart (195.327 mph), Jeff Gordon (195.016 mph) and Kurt Busch (194.911 mph) completed the leaderboard's top-five.

Dillon, Stewart, Kurt Busch, Danica Patrick Greg Biffle and Martin Truex Jr. were the non-Chase drivers in the top 10. All four SHR teammates were in the top 10.

Defending race winner Brad Keselowski came in as 31st-fastest (191.932 mph). The Team Penske driver, who was once the top seed in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, now sits in 10th in the standings after a right-front tire issue sent Keselowski to the garage early at Kansas. The No. 2 driver now must race his way into the top eight in order to continue to the Eliminator Round.

Another driver who had a poor showing at Kansas that now finds himself in the bottom of the Chase running is seven-time Charlotte winner Jimmie Johnson. Johnson rounded the track at a speed of 194.049 mph coming in as 14th-fastest. The six-time Cup champion is currently sitting 12th in the Chase standings.

The Sprint Cup Series will return to the track at Charlotte for Coors Light Pole Qualifying at 7:20 p.m. ET with TV coverage on ESPN2.

Top-5 Speeds (Credit to Jayski):

#4-Harvick 196.192
#3-Dillon 196.107
#14-Stewart 195.327
#24-Gordon 195.016
#41-Busch 194.911

 

[ShadowKnight508]

197.976 MPH

Holy crap, Kasey Kahne. What a lap

 

[Highbank]

This annoys me so much. Chase Elliott should not drive the number 9 in Cup unless he is driving for Melling Oil Pumps, Ray Evernham, or Medallion Group, because that number is associated with those teams. I hate the concept of a team changing a number for a driver, I think the continuity of the number within the team is more important. I hated when Hendrick gave Dale Jr. the #88 because it made him seem better than all of the drivers who had driven the #25 and it was disrespectful to them. Now if Hendrick wanted to change that number, or Chase's for that matter, to a historic Hendrick number, such as #57 or #50 or something, I would have no problem with it. It puts the driver who changes the number above everyone else who ever drove for the old number. I have no problem with changing for a sponsor though, like RCR changing the more traditional Childress number #30 to #07 for Jack Daniels, because sponsors are the most important element, much more than driver or team.

A little cash changing hands will probably change all this...

 

[ayrwolf]

A little cash changing hands will probably change all this...

A bucketful of cash will definitely settle it

 

[AMLNet49]

Well after my rant on the #6 2015 page about the system being broken and Bayne being able to crap the bed on his lap and still qualify in the top 30, as opposed to Ragan and Kluever not qualifying back in 2006, it appears Bayne might actually not qualify. Either he needs to beat three additional cars on speed or the remaining cars that havent gone need to run slower than him, which wont happen.

EDIT: Bayne went out again, ran 37th, he will definitely DNQ

EDIT #2: It is official, Bayne couldn't have gotten off to a worse start in his new ride

 

[EatSpit24]

Looked like they showed up with Mark Martins 1997 chassis. Man that pissed me off, so unprepared.

 

[Goblin]

I'm not surprised that Bayne DNQ'ed, but I am surprised that Bayne DNQ'ed in a ROUSH car. You're kidding me. I think Jack made a horrible decision bringing this kid to Cup full time. He's only finished on the lead lap once out of nine races this year, and he can't even post a lap fast enough to MAKE the first race he starts in for Roush? Pathetic.

 

[burtonbraves]

Can't imagine Advocare is too happy with that.

 

[EatSpit24]

I'm not surprised that Bayne DNQ'ed, but I am surprised that Bayne DNQ'ed in a ROUSH car. You're kidding me. I think Jack made a horrible decision bringing this kid to Cup full time. He's only finished on the lead lap once out of nine races this year, and he can't even post a lap fast enough to MAKE the first race he starts in for Roush? Pathetic.

It had nothing to do with his ability to drive the car he would've easily qualified top 25 in a wood brothers car. If you've been watching the NNS races the past month you've been seeing the drift show that Bayne has been putting on trying to deal with the garbage they give him every week.

 

[Highbank]

Partial season woes? Ya you know it!

 

[AMLNet49]

Why is ESPN showing the Q times in MPH in their leaderboard? I dont think theyve used that instead of lap time in NASCAR since about 2000. When Fox came in they started the lap time thing being popular but its weird to see MPH being used again

 

[theravenousbeas]

Kyle Busch on pole, Hamlin 3rd. Looking pretty good for JGR and Kyle, if he gets a good enough result he might be able to take a more conservative approach to Talladega. I'm pleasantly surprised of his consistency so far throughout this Chase.

 

[4WideRacing]

Kyle Busch on the pole with Tony 4th! Hopefully Tony will be able to pull off the win and spoil it for the chase drivers.
And Bayne with a DNQ doesn't seem too bad because I'm sure the majority of the resources went to the #16 and #99 for the chase, and now just the #99.

 

[evan07]

I still surprised at the 6 DNQ'd I mean that's gotta hurt. Roush needs to get it together. It obviously ain't those engines it's gotta be their cars. This has been Ford's best season in years and Roush hasn't really played much into it.

 

[MillsLayne]

I LOVE the front row! Kyle and Jeff, 1st and 2nd, respectively.

 

[zaw24fan]

I'm not surprised that Bayne DNQ'ed, but I am surprised that Bayne DNQ'ed in a ROUSH car. You're kidding me. I think Jack made a horrible decision bringing this kid to Cup full time. He's only finished on the lead lap once out of nine races this year, and he can't even post a lap fast enough to MAKE the first race he starts in for Roush? Pathetic.

You're not surprised Bayne DNQ'ed? You do know he wasn't locked into those races he ran with Wood Brothers this year, right?

Unfortunate for Bayne. Would have been fun to see Trevor and Jeff racing on Saturday night, but Trevor just couldn't get it done. Maybe Roush will try it again with Bayne next weekend at Talladega. Chances most certainly are that the best equipment went to the #99. I will agree with you that I am surprised he did DNQ in a Roush car after qualifying for every race he attempted with Wood Brothers this season.

 

[labontefanboy]

197.976 MPH

Holy crap, Kasey Kahne. What a lap

Kurt Busch topped it in round 2 with 198.771 mph. Yes you read that right.

Fastest lap EVER on a 1.5-mile track in NASCAR. Freaking unbelievable how far the engineering has come with these cars this year.