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Eye on NASCAR blog has moved

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 21:27:13 EST

Hello there. The CBSSports.com Eye on NASCAR blog has moved to a new URL

You can now find us at:

http://www.cbssports.com/nascar/blog/eye-on-nascar

Be sure to bookmark the new location for the latest NASCAR news, notes and commentary.

Hendrick appeal set for Tuesday

Sun, 11 Mar 2012 20:19:46 EDT

By Pete Pistone

NASCAR announced the Hendrick Motorsports appeal for penalties levied in teh aftermath of the No. 48 team failing pre-Daytona 500 inspection will be heard next Tuesday.

Hendrick Motorsports and crew chief Chad Knaus will both get to plead their case before the National Stock Car Racing Commission’s Appeals Board.

Knaus and the team appealed the $100,000 fine and six race suspension for NASCAR's contention that illegally modified c-posts were found on Jimmie Johnson's car during Daytona inspection on February 17.

Brian Vickers to drive Waltrip's No. 55 car

Sat, 10 Mar 2012 18:12:06 EST

By Pete Pistone

Elliott Sadler's inability to drive Michael Waltrip Racing's No. 55 car for five races has opened the door for Brian Vickers to get an opportunity.

Vickers will pilot the entry in the six events as an addition to the car's schedule for Mark Martin and Waltrip.

Sadler was named as the team's choice to fill the seat last week but withdrew after team owner Richard Childress felt it necessary to have the driver concentrate on his full-time Nationwide Series effort for RCR.

Behind the Hauler: Greg Biffle

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 12:55:00 EST

By Pete Pistone

(Biffle has started the year with solid runs in the Daytona 500 and last week at Phoenix - Getty Images)

Greg Biffle vowed to have a much better season in 2012 than he did a year ago. So far he’s come through on that promise with a pair of third place finishes to start the season at Daytona and Phoenix.

The Roush Fenway Racing driver shared his expectations for the new year including his relationship with crew chief Matt Puccia when he visited with SIRIUS/XM NASCAR Radio’s “The Morning Drive” recently:

Audio: Brad Daugherty sounds off on cellphones

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 15:38:30 EST

Posted by Pete Pistone

AUDIO: BRAD DAUGHERTY SHARES VIEWS ON CELLPHONE USE BY DRIVERS

Team owner and ESPN analyst Brad Daugherty has concerns about drivers taking their cellphones inside the cockpit of their racecars.

Daugherty explained his views when he visited with SIRIUS/XM NASCAR Radio's "The Morning Drive" Thursday and said among other things the policy needs to be changed as a precautionary measure of potential data tampering and cheating.

Name change coming for Infineon Raceway

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 21:31:43 EST

By Pete Pistone

Speedway Motorsports Inc. will need to find a replacement title sponsor for Infineon Raceway.

Sports Business Journal reports Infineon Technologies has decided to end its sponsorship of the Sonoma, California road course.

The 10-year deal reportedly worth $34.4 million expires in May and the copany has indicated it will not renew.

Regan Smith and Paul Menard uninjured in accident

Sat, 10 Mar 2012 11:34:25 EST

By Pete Pistone

Regan Smith and Paul Menard were uninjured in a road accident while in Colorado Wednesday morning.

The two Sprint Cup Series drivers, Smith’s wife Megan and a friend were in a Chevy Silverado driving to a ski slope when the accident happened at approximately 8:45 a.m..

The foursome escaped injury after the vehicle being driven by Smith slid through a patch of ice, skidded off the road and into several trees.

Idle Thoughts: Pressure already on for some

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 10:18:46 EST

By Pete Pistone

(This scene has been all too familiar to Kasey Kahne in the first two weeks of the season - Getty Images)

Two races do not make a season by any means. However there is a group of drivers who come into Sunday’s Kobalt Tools 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway already in need of a good finish.

The opening weeks in Daytona and Phoenix have not gone very well for some high profile names most expected to be factors in 2012. While there is certainly time to get things back on track, you wouldn’t blame these drivers for perhaps grabbing that steering wheel a little tighter Sunday in Vegas:

Poll Position: Stewart regretting firing Grubb?

Sat, 10 Mar 2012 8:21:56 EST

It didn't take long for Darian Grubb (right) to taste success with Denny Hamlin, winning Sunday at Phoenix. (AP) Did Tony Stewart make a mistake dropping Darian Grubb as crew chief after winning 2011 title? Pete Pistone We'll probably never know the whole story of why Stewart decided to make a crew chief change. While Darian Grubb is one of the most talented in the sport, Stewart didn't downgrade by bringing Steve Addington into the fold.

Let's face it, the driver-crew chief role is as much about chemistry and building relationships as it is anything. While Grubb is as adept at setting up a car and calling a race as they come, maybe there was something not clicking exactly the right way between the duo. Addington is equally talented at the nuts and bolts of the job and his personality seems to mirror Stewart's. They've both said many times they are "cut from the same cloth," guys who grew up short track racing and worked their way to the top level of the sport. They share an old school racer's mentality and Stewart appears quite comfortable working with and hanging out with Addington.

Audio: Robin Pemberton on appeal timeline

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 11:41:51 EST

Posted by Pete Pistone

AUDIO: ROBIN PEMBERTON ADDRESSES HENDRICK APPEAL PROCESS

NASCAR vice president of competition Robin Pemberton explained the timeline for the Hendrick Motorsports appeal process regarding penalties levied against the No. 48 team at Daytona when he visited with SIRIUS/XM NASCAR Radio's "The Morning Drive" on Tuesday.

Pemberton said the process was moving forward and he expected the hearing to tak eplace within the next two weeks.

Martinsville names Gary Sinise grand marshal

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 20:55:11 EST

Posted by Pete Pistone

Martinsville Speedway announced that award-winning actor Gary Sinise will serve as the grand marshal for the April 1 running of the Goody's Fast

Relief 500.

The track also announced local hero and wounded veteran Marine Cpl. Josh “J.B.” Kerns will wave the green flag to start the 500-lap event.

Elliott Sadler confirms Waltrip deal won't happen

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 12:02:59 EST

By Pete Pistone

(Sadler's win Saturday in Phoenix has him in the thick of the Nationwide championship hunt - Getty)

Elliott Sadler won't run five races for Michael Waltrip Racing's Sprint Cup team after all.

Sadler confirmed Monday on SIRIUS/XM NASCAR Radio's "Sirius/XM Speedway" program the proposed deal that would have put him behind the wheel of MWR's No. 55 Toyota for five races was indeed off as was reported by Fox Sports.com late Sunday night.

Jeffrey Earnhardt to make Bristol debut

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 15:32:05 EST

By Pete Pistone

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(There hasn't been an Earnhardt in a Ford since Dale Sr. back in 1983)

Jeffrey Earnhardt will make his Bristol Motor Speedway debut in two weeks when the half-mile track hosts the NASCAR Nationwide Series.

Report: Chevy nixes Sadler's plan with Waltrip

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 3:25:43 EST

By Pete Pistone

Elliott Sadler's deal to drive five races for Michael Waltrip Racing's Toyota Sprint Cup Series team is in jeopardy.

Fox Sports.com reports Chevrolet, the manufacturer Sadler drives for in his full-time Nationwide Series effort at Richard Childress Racing, won't allow him to pilot MWR's Camry in the proposed five race deal.

Here's the full report:

Hamlin, Grubb, Gibbs post Phoenix comments

Sun, 04 Mar 2012 20:18:19 EST

Posted by Pete Pistone

This has got to feel very, very good, getting this first win as the crew chief for the No. 11 FedEx Toyota.

DARIAN GRUBB: It really does. It's a great team effort. All of Joe Gibbs Racing did a great job getting us here. Did a lot of work in the off-season. Did a great job with the pit crew and everybody that was here at the racetrack and back at home, we couldn't do it without them and the support of FedEx and Toyota and TRD engines has been pretty good.

KERRY THARP: Our race winner has joined us, Denny Hamlin, congratulations on winning here at Phoenix, the driver of the No. 11 FedEx Office Toyota goes to victory lane. It's his 18th career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win, his first win at Phoenix, and you are the points leader after two races. He's joined by team owner coach Joe Gibbs, and Denny, congratulations. I know this one has got to really feel good for you coming out here and winning this race, making a statement early in the season.

Biffle, Harvick post Phoenix comments

Sun, 04 Mar 2012 20:09:59 EST

Posted by Pete Pistone

Congratulations on a very strong run out there today, and you're second in points heading into Las Vegas. You've got to have a good feeling about all of that.

GREG BIFFLE: Yeah, I really do. You know, I certainly would have thought we would have run better today than we did. We fought the car really bad beginning of this race. I guess the track is just a lot different than it was on Friday. I don't care so much for this format of doing all of our practice on Friday when we get here. I like to practice and qualify, and then Saturday we have happy hour. We have two race practices to get ready for the race.

It's difficult coming into a green racetrack and doing all your race stuff in one day to get set up for the race and just qualify on Saturday. It was challenging, and I missed it a little bit. Matt never gave up on the car. He kept adjusting on it, adjusting on it. I never thought it would get that good. I was in trouble. I was ready to write that thing off for a 15th, 20th place finish, but boy, it started coming around, coming around, and really took off.

Video: Newman wrecks after contact with Edwards

Sun, 04 Mar 2012 20:05:01 EST

By Pete Pistone

Ryan Newman rallied back from a pit road penalty to get back into contention Sunday at Phoenix only to have contact with Carl Edwards send him into the wall.

The wreck didn't knock Newman out of the race, but the damage was bad enough to cost him a couple of laps and he wound up 21st. Edwards ran out of fuel on the final lap and finished 17th.

Speed Read: Phoenix

Sun, 04 Mar 2012 19:43:36 EST

By Pete Pistone

SUBWAY FRESH FIT 500 RESULTS

After the madness of Daytona it was good to have a return to “normalcy” for the second Sprint Cup Series race of the season.

Video: Allmendinger, Menard, McMurray crash

Sun, 04 Mar 2012 16:54:52 EST

Posted by Pete Pistone

A three car melee in the first half of Sunday's Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway involved A.J. Allmendinger, Paul Menard and Jamie McMurray:

More NASCAR coverage

NASCAR headlines | Driver pages | Track pages | Photo gallery

Video: Early trouble for Bowyer, Kahne at Phoenix

Sun, 04 Mar 2012 16:34:36 EST

Posted by Brian De Los Santos

Clint Bowyer and Kasey Kahne found trouble early during the Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix. Bowyer blew a tire not once, but twice, while Kahne got loose and smacked the wall. The damage was severe enough that Kahne had to take his car to the garage for repairs.

It's the second straight race Kahne has run into trouble as he wound up 29th in Daytona. Bowyer was coming off an 11th-place finish.

Phoenix pre-race chatter

Sun, 04 Mar 2012 13:35:17 EST

By Pete Pistone

The countdown is on to Sunday afternoon's second Sprint Cup Series race of the season at Phoenix International Raceway and the Subway Fresh Fit 500:

Mark Martin races to Phoenix pole

Sat, 03 Mar 2012 16:37:51 EST

By Pete Pistone

SUBWAY FRESH FIT 500 STARTING LINEUP

Veteran Mark Martin was the fastest of the field Saturday afternoon and won the pole for the Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway.

The 53-year-old Martin toured the one-mile desert oval with a lap of 136.814 mph to score the 52nd pole of his Sprint Cup pole and second at Phoenix.

Elliott Sadler to drive MWR car in five races

Sat, 03 Mar 2012 16:03:53 EST

By Pete Pistone

Elliott Sadler made his return to the Sprint Cup Series in the Daytona 500 when he piloted a Richard Childress Racing entry.

That outing didn't last long as Sadler was involved in a lap two multi-car accident.

But last year's Nationwide Series second place finisher will get more time in NASCAR's top division this year with a five race deal to drive Michael Waltrip Racing's No. 55 Toyota.

Race Preview: Phoenix

Sun, 04 Mar 2012 16:54:08 EST

By Pete Pistone

(Stewart had a great deal of success on the old Phoenix layout and finished third last fall at "new" PIR - Getty)

The cliché every year after Daytona is that the real season now begins at (insert track here).

Richmond, then Rockingham, then Fontana and now Phoenix have all hosted the second race of the Sprint Cup calendar. With Speedweeks in the rear view mirror the meat and potatoes of the campaign does begin with the post-Daytona weekend.

Second Phoenix practice led by Martin Truex Jr.

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 19:53:50 EST

By Pete Pistone

SUBWAY FRESH FIT 500 PRACTICE TWO

Michael Waltrip Racing's Martin Truex Jr. led the way Friday afternoon at Phoenix International Raceway in the weekend's second practice for the Subway Fresh Fit 500.

Truex Jr. recirded a lap of 139.481 mph to top the final warm-up before Saturday's qualifying session.

Tony Stewart tops first Phoenix practice

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 17:08:40 EST

By Pete Pistone

SUBWAY FRESH FIT 500 PRACTICE ONE

Defending Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart led the way in Friday's opening practice session for the Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway.

Stewart turned a lap of 138.680 mph around the one-mile oval to pace the 90 minute session.

Juan Pablo Montoya reflects on Daytona crash

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 12:22:17 EST

By Pete Pistone

Juan Pablo Montoya has played the scary-looking incident from last Monday niight's Daytona 500 over in his head all week and understand just how lucky he is that things ended up the way they did.

Montoya's fiery crash with a jet dryer working on the track in turn three was the result of a parts failure on his Target Chevrolet as he was trying to catch up to the field under caution.

“There was a vibration; an issue or the gear box broke," Montoya explained Friday at Phoenix International Raceway. "It started to feel weird because then I shifted and it depends on the rpm; it was like on or off. And I said (to the crew on the radio) look, I think there’s something wrong. We looked at everything and everything was fine. And I went out again and we had a problem with the car and that was it, you know. We move on.”

Brad Keselowski defends cellphone in car

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 23:23:39 EST

By Pete Pistone

(Keselowski says his testing crash at Road Atlanta last year is another reason why he carries a phone)

Brad Keselowski says he has a practical reason for having his cellphone with him when he straps into a stock car.

It's not just to have a device capable of tweeting pictures or thoughts to fans. Keselowski maintains there's a safety aspect to have the phone with him.

Drivers mixed on tweeting and devices in race

Sat, 03 Mar 2012 10:16:13 EST

By Pete Pistone

(Monday night's red flag at Daytona gave drivers a chance to releax and for some tweet - Getty)

Brad Keselowski’s Twitter session during the red flag at last week’s Daytona 500 has sparked some interesting discussion throughout the NASCAR world.

Some drivers think the interaction through social media is something that will greatly benefit the sport in terms of popularity. Others aren’t so sure that any kind of tweeting or social media initiatives during a race are over the line.

Chad Knaus surprised by penalties

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 19:04:02 EST

By Pete Pistone

(Knaus is with Johnson and the 48 team this week after the Daytona penalties until the appeal is heard)

Chad Knaus maintained his innocence regarding the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet failing pre-Daytona inspection and completely surprised by the penalty handed down by NASCAR in the aftermath.

Knaus met with the media Friday morning at Phoenix International Raceway and said he's not sure why Jimmie Johnson's car didn't pass inspection and why the subsequent penalties announced by NASCAR were so severe.