NASCAR makes news at Chicagoland Speedway

by Carol Henrichs

It is always eventful when the NASCAR race circuit cycles through to the Chicagoand Speedway at Joliet.

The Chicagoland weekend marks the beginning of the second half of NASCAR’s season. There are just eight races before the field is set for the Chase for the Championship, NASCAR’s version of the playoffs for the top 12 drivers in points standing. Things are really getting heated as drivers feel the pressure of the fierce competition.

Although with the points leader, Kyle Busch in his Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota prevailing in both the Friday and Saturday races, there is little doubt that the younger of two competing Busch brothers, will be a serious contender for a championship.

Under the lights

The race track itself made news this weekend, when for the first time since Joliet’s 2001 opening season, both weekend races — the Nationwide race Friday night and the big event – the Sprint Cup race Saturday night — were run under the lights. Lights were installed during the off-season at the 1.5 mile oval track.

Petty celebrates 50 years

Another huge event at this weekend’s race was the celebration of the man whose name is synonymous with racing — Richard Petty, or “The King” of stock car racing as he has been called. Petty came to Chicagoland Speedway to celebrate 50 years of racing. Petty drove a racecar for 32 years, the son of a race car driver who has witnessed the growth of the sport from the dirt tracks in North Carolina to the superspeedways like Chicagoland.

At 71, Petty no longer drives a race car. Today he is a team owner – the CEO of Petty Enterprises — which fields two cars. One is driven by Petty’s son Kyle. The other car is driven by another racing legend with family ties in the sport, Bobby Labonte. Petty’s storied career includes 200 race wins and seven championships.

Stewart to become owner

But the big news in NASCAR this weekend, had to be the big announcement by Indiana native Tony Stewart, driver of the #20 Home Depot Toyota. For months, race fans have speculated about Stewarts’ future — whether or not he would remain with Joe Gibbs Racing where he has competed successfully for 10 years.

Stewart held a press conference prior to the race Friday to announce that he has decided to partner with Haas-CNC Racing as an owner/driver at the new Stewart-Haas Racing.

Stewart’s announcement has been called the first domino in a series of decisions that would be affected by what he chose for his future. Now that he has made that decision, there are other drivers who will soon make their decision as to where they will race next year.

Newman likely to be next

Speculation is high that this year’s Daytona 500 winner, Ryan Newman who drives the #12 Alltel Dodge for Penske Racing South will join Stewart at Stewart-Haas Racing.

Newman says he hasn’t made up his mind if he will leave Penske when his contract expires at the end of the 2008 season or if he will stay. The big question mark for Newman is performance. For the casual observer, it may appear as though Newman’s win at Daytona in February was a fluke and that his performance since then has been less than stellar.

But Newman’s poor showing this season has had little to do with his ability. He has been plagued by poor equipment. Dodge has not been as aggressive as some of the other manufacturers, especially with its engine program. Dodge is working on a new engine and claims to be in the testing phase. There are reports that it will be on the track toward the end of this season. But that won’t be quick enough to give Newman the horsepower he is looking for.

In the last several races, Newman has been critical of the lack of horsepower, telling his crew chief during the race that he is unable to pass cars because of the lack of power.

Newman has had several engine failures this season and his luck is as bad as anyone in racing. At the most recent Daytona race, he was involved in three accidents – none of which were of his making. He was running in first at one point, but after the final melee finished the race in 37th place.

And, it isn’t just the car. Newman’s team has seen three new crew chiefs in the past two seasons as well as the retirement of Penske South President Don Miller. Miller was Newman’s mentor, and without him the entire complexion of the company has changed.

In addition, Newman’s sponsor Alltel is in the process of being purchased by Verizon. The uncertainty of a sponsor is also at issue.

There has also been some criticism of Roger Penske, claiming that he has put more resources and energy into his Indy car program than into NASCAR.

So whatever the speculation, a decision about Newman’s future will likely come soon. It seems that all Newman wants is to be able to drive hard and win races.

Stewart’s #20 car will be an open seat. And depending on what Newman decides, there will be an open seat either at Penske or Stewart-Haas. The Stewart domino has fallen. It appears that the Newman domino will be the next one in line. And his decision will likely cause decisions to be made by other drivers, such as Casey Mears, Martin Truex, Jr., and Scott Riggs.

Some call this set of circumstances silly season. I call it as the dominos fall.