NASCAR evaluates engines
NASCAR’s decision to take 10 Nationwide Series engines to its research and development center in Concord, N.C., for evaluation isn’t an unprecedented move, but it may be an indication of upcoming changes to rules governing engine packages in the series.
In its second year of competition, Toyota has dominated the Nationwide Series this season, winning 14 of 20 races. Of those victories, 13 have come from Joe Gibbs Racing – five from Tony Stewart, four from Kyle Busch, three from Denny Hamlin and one from rookie Joey Logano.
Busch also has the other Toyota win, in the No. 32 Camry fielded by owner Todd Braun.
Toyota’s dominance, particularly that of the nine-time winner No. 20 JGR Camry, has irritated drivers of other makes of cars, prompting series points leader Clint Bowyer, a Chevrolet driver, to assert that “a monkey could drive that 20 car and win.”
Does Toyota have a horsepower advantage, as non-Toyota teams have claimed? The last set of dynamometer numbers, taken after Carl Edwards won in a Ford at Milwaukee, would support that assertion. A garage source told Sporting News that Edwards’ peak horsepower was measured at 611, compared with 632 for the No. 20 Toyota, 628 for the No. 40 Dodge and 612 for the No. 88 Chevrolet.
After Friday night’s Dollar General 300 at Chicagoland Speedway, which Busch won in the No. 18 JGR Camry, Bowyer’s crew chief, Dan Deeringhoff, told Scenedaily.com’s Bob Pockrass, “The peak number is maybe 20 (horsepower difference), but I think the average is quite a bit more than what we’ve got.”
Take your time, pal
It’s no secret that Mark Martin’s sights are set on winning the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard on July 27. Jimmie Johnson hopes he’ll wait a year – until Martin has made his off-season move from the No. 8 Dale Earnhardt Inc. Chevrolet to Hendrick Motorsports’ No. 5 Chevy.
“I think a California guy, especially a guy from El Cajon, California, would be best to win that thing for a second time,” said Johnson, who happens to be from El Cajon. “But you can’t help but respect Mark Martin and respect what he’s done in the car and want to see him do well.”
Newman ponders switch
Daytona 500 winner Ryan Newman said he still hasn’t decided who he’ll be driving for next season.
He’s in the final year of his contract with Penske Racing. “It’s not an easy decision,” Newman said Saturday.
One option might be to join Tony Stewart’s new team.
“He’s got an open seat,” Newman said. “Have we had discussions? I’ve had a lot of discussion with a lot of people.”
Petty gesture by drivers
Saturday marked the 50th anniversary of Richard Petty’s NASCAR debut. The King competed in a Convertible Division race on July 12, 1958, at the Columbia (S.C.) Speedway. The 43 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers who started the LifeLock.com 400 wore Petty’s signature Charlie 1 Horse hat as a salute before the race.